________________________ Best in the State Washington Post's The Fix, 2011, 2009 Best in Pittsburgh Region PoliticsPA, 2011 "[W]idely cited as one of the oldest and most-read political blogs in the city" Pittsburgh City Paper, 2007 ________________________ Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Barbara Bush died April 17, however, she will be forever engraved in our hearts and minds as an individual involved in many literacy organizations, and who also served and chaired many literacy committees/organizations. Not only was she the first lady of the United States, but she was fully devoted and dedicated to eliminating the generational cycle of illiteracy in America by supporting programs where parents and their young children can learn together. I don't have children of my own, but I started working at the Cape May City Elementary School so that I could love and educate children as if they were my own so that I could also contribute to society, same as Bush. This has led me on a different journey or path than I wanted to be on for many years. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Scientists are preparing to launch the world's first machine to clean up the planet's largest mass of ocean plastic. The system, originally dreamed up by a teenager, will be shipped out this summer to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, between Hawaii and California, and which contains an estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic. It will be the first ever attempt to tackle the patch since it was discovered in 1997. The experts believe the machine should be able to collect half of the detritus in the patch -- about 40,000 metric tons -- within five years. Read more at The Independent Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Consortium News Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Image by en.kremlin.ru) Details DMCA There is something tragic about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The harder he tries, the more he fails. That has been the case with many of his attempts to sabotage diplomacy with Iran and push the US to take military action against the country. And that was certainly the case with his underwhelming powerpoint presentation Monday. What was supposed to be a smoking gun to once and for all nix the Iran nuclear deal, inadvertently made a powerful case as to why the the deal must remain in place. The Israeli government had promised "significant new revelations" about the nuclear program. Yet Netanyahu offered nothing new. The bulk of his presentation focused on what the world already knew: That between 1999 and 2003, Iran had engaged in activities with possible military dimensions. As I describe in Losing an Enemy: Obama, Iran and the Triumph of Diplomacy, these past Iranian activities constituted a tricky dilemma during the nuclear talks. If it was revealed that the Iranians had indeed engaged in illegal military research, that could jeopardize the entire agreement, as voices would be raised to have it punished for its past violations. Completely disregarding it without allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to complete its investigation -- which the Iranians had not been cooperating with -- was also not an option. What it came down to was a choice between punishment for Iran's past violations and guarantees that those violations would never be repeated in the future. Obama's Choice The obvious choice for Obama was the latter: punishing Iran for its past errors was of little value if punishment came at the expense of a deal that would prevent Iran from building a bomb. Politically, however, this choice was feasible only if the IAEA could complete its investigation -- with the cooperation of the Iranians -- to make a final judgment on the issue and close the file. The P5+1 needed neither an admission of guilt nor a guilty verdict; they just needed Iran's cooperation to complete the investigation. The Iranians feared that giving the IAEA more access would only lead to more demands and investigations. To Iran, it was critical that any investigation would be time-limited, so it couldn't drag on indefinitely, and delinked from the sanctions relief process, so that the decision to lift sanctions couldn't be held hostage to the Possible Military Dimensions (PMD) investigation. Eventually, a compromise was reached in which the Iranians would make their documents accessible and their scientists available for interviews for the purposes of producing a time-limited report that would contain both the IAEA's assessments and Iran's responses and contributions. The report would essentially include two narratives, which meant that there wouldn't be an authoritative judgment. More importantly, the sanctions relief process would be linked to the completion of the IAEA investigation and not its conclusion. That is, the IAEA would have to report only that Iran had cooperated with the investigation and that the IAEA's questions were answered in order for the green light for sanctions reform to be lit. In July 2015, the head of the IAEA flew to Tehran and concluded a final agreement that established a timeline for resolving the question of Iran's past activities whereby Iran would turn over all information requested by the IAEA, and the IAEA would provide its final assessment by December 15 of that year. The IAEA issued its report on December 2, 2015 concluding that Iran had pursued a nuclear weapons program prior to 2003, but that this organized program ended that year and that there was no evidence that any undeclared activities had taken place since 2009. Case Closed Following the report, the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors voted unanimously to conclude the investigation into Iran's past weaponization work. The case was officially closed. Now, without presenting any new information -- and without even attempting to claim that Iran's undeclared activities had continued beyond 2009 or 2015 -- Bibi wants to convince the world that he has discovered something new. He hasn't. As one former IAEA official publicly commented: "I just saw a lot of pictures I had seen before." Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. It began, of course, with the invasion of Afghanistan in October 2001, the second Afghan war of our era. In November 2002, in Yemen, the CIA conducted its first drone assassination strike outside of Afghanistan, killing six al-Qaeda suspects in a car. (More strikes would follow there years later, along with Special Operations raids of various sorts, and finally in 2015, the devastating U.S.-backed Saudi war.) In March 2003, there was the invasion of Iraq, the second Iraq war of our era. Then, in 2004, there would be the first drone strike in Pakistan. (At least another 429 were to follow.) In 2011, the U.S. and its NATO allies intervened in Libya, taking down that country's autocratic ruler, Muammar Gaddafi, and causing chaos, the rise of a branch of ISIS, the disintegration of the country into a failed state, and the spreading of Gaddafi's looted arsenals of weapons to terror groups from Africa to Syria. In 2014, after ISIS militants swept into major cities in Iraq and the American-backed Iraqi military collapsed and fled, abandoning vast stores of U.S.-supplied equipment, Iraq War 3.0 was launched with what would develop into a vast air campaign beginning that August and also extending the American wars of this era to Syria. And I haven't even included Somalia in this list, a country where, in a sense, American intervention and conflict have been intermittent since the Black Hawk Down era of the early 1990s and where U.S. air strikes have doubled and U.S. special ops missions have similarly increased in the Trump era. And don't forget Niger, the West African country where even key American senators had no idea the U.S. was fighting until four Green Berets died in action against a local terror outfit last October. The U.S. military is now finishing the construction there of a $110 million airbase, from which armed drones will, according to the New York Times, "be used to stalk or strike extremists deep into West and North Africa." So America's conflicts in Africa are essentially guaranteed to spread as the Trump administration, which recently launched a barrage of more than 100 missiles against three Syrian targets, threatens to add one more country to its Middle Eastern list as well: Iran. In other words, from Pakistan to Niger, across thousands of miles over the last 16-plus years, the U.S. has conducted what was initially known as the "Global War on Terror" (or GWOT), then the lower-cased "war on terror," and now a no-name set of conflicts that have been uprooting millions, turning major cities into rubble, and spreading terror outfits in its wake. And as TomDispatch regular U.S. Army Major Danny Sjursen, author of Ghost Riders of Baghdad: Soldiers, Civilians, and the Myth of the Surge, writes today, in not a single one of these conflicts, whether against a country (as in Afghanistan and Iraq) or insurgents, or both (as in Syria), has Congress declared war. Yes, "authorizations" or "resolutions" have passed, but an actual declaration of war? No way. Think of it as the abdication of the power of the people through their elected representatives when it comes to perhaps the most devastating decision a country can make. But let Sjursen explain. Tom War and the Imperial Presidency Congress Offers a Bipartisan Blank Check to Donald Trump By Danny Sjursen It may be too late. The president of the United States is now a veritable autocrat in the realm of foreign policy. He has been since at least 1945, when the last congressionally declared war finally ended. Wars in Korea, Vietnam, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen (among other places) were all waged via executive fiat or feeble, open-ended congressional authorizations for the use of military force, aka AUMFs. So it has been with increasing intensity for 73 years and so, most likely, it will remain. Along with many others, this military officer has repeatedly decried the no-longer-new normal of congressional acquiescence to presidential power to no avail. When, in September 2017, Republican Senator Rand Paul sought to repeal (and replace within six months) the existing 2001 AUMF, which had authorized the president to use force against the perpetrators and enablers of the 9/11 attacks, he could barely muster 35 votes. Given that any president, Republican or Democrat, would veto such a curtailment of the essentially unlimited executive prerogative to make war, that's still some 32 votes short of a Senate override. In hopelessly divided Washington, that's the definition of impossibility. Fear not, two brave "centrist" senators, Republican Bob Corker and Democrat Tim Kaine, are riding to the rescue. Their recently announced bill to repeal and replace the existing AUMF promises to right seven decades of wrong and "establish rigorous congressional oversight," "improve transparency," and ensure "regular congressional review and debate." In reality, it would do none of those things. Though Senator Kaine gave a resounding speech in which he admitted that "for too long Congress has given presidents a blank check to wage war," his bill would not stanch that power. Were it ever to pass, it would prove to be just another blank check for the war-making acts of Donald Trump and his successors. Though there have certainly been many critiques of their piece of legislation, most miss the larger point: the Corker-Kaine bill would put a final congressional stamp of approval on the inversion of the war-making process that, over the last three-quarters of a century, has become a de facto constitutional reality. The men who wrote the Constitution meant to make the declaration of war a supremely difficult act, since both houses of Congress needed to agree and, in case of presidential disagreement, to be able to muster a supermajority to override a veto. The Corker-Kaine bill would institutionalize the inverse of that. It would essentially rubber stamp the president's authority, for instance, to continue the ongoing shooting wars in at least seven countries where the U.S. is currently dropping bombs or firing off other munitions. Worse yet, it provides a mechanism for the president to declare nearly any future group an "associated force" or "successor force" linked to one of America's current foes and so ensure that Washington's nearly 17-year-old set of forever wars can go on into eternity without further congressional approval. By transferring the invocation of war powers to the executive branch, Congress would, in fact, make it even more difficult to stop a hawkish president from deploying U.S. soldiers ever more expansively. In other words, the onus for war would then be officially shifted from a president needing to make a case to a skeptical Congress to an unfettered executive sanctioned to wage expansive warfare as he and his advisers or "his" generals please. How to Make War on Any Group, Any Time Should the Corker-Kaine bill miraculously pass, it would not stop even one of the present ongoing U.S. conflicts in the Greater Middle East or Africa. Instead, it would belatedly put a congressional stamp of approval on a worldwide counter-terror campaign which isn't working, while politely requesting that the president ask nicely before adding new enemies to a list of "associated" or "successor" forces; that is, groups that are usually Arab and nominally Muslim and essentially have little or no connection to the 9/11 attacks that produced the 2001 AUMF. So let's take a look at just some of the forces that would be preemptively authorized to receive new American bombs and missiles, Special Operations forces raids, or whatever else the president chose under the proposed legislation, while raising a question rarely asked: Are these groups actually threats to the homeland or worthy of such American military efforts? Al-Qaeda (AQ) proper naturally makes the list. Then, of course, there's the Afghan Taliban, which once upon a time sheltered AQ. As nearly 17 years of effort have shown, however, they are militarily unbeatable in a war in their own homeland that is never going well for Washington. In addition, there are no significant al-Qaeda forces left in Afghanistan for the Taliban to potentially shelter. AQ long ago dispersed across the region. The age of plots drawn up in the caves of the Hindu-Kush is long over. In addition, the focus of the Taliban remains (as it always was) highly local. I fought those guys for 12 months and, let me tell you, we never found any transnational fighters or al-Qaeda vets. The vast majority of the enemies Washington mislabels as "Taliban" are poor, illiterate, unemployed farm boys interested, at best, in local power struggles and drug running. They rarely know what's happening just one valley over, let alone in Milwaukee. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Sodium Peroxide Market | Top Key Players- Solvay, Akzonobel, Hebei Shijiazhuang Shenze Chemical, Energy Chemical, Macklin, Bailingwei Technology, Beijing Huawei Ruike Chemical | Estimated to Grow High CAGR | Forecast till 2025 Sodium Peroxide Market https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/71535 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/71535/single https://www.businessindustryreports.com/check-discount/71535 BusinessIndustryReports.com has new research report on the global Sodium Peroxide Market. The global Sodium Peroxide market is growing continuously and expected to grow healthy CAGR by Forecast year 2025Sodium Peroxide Market is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2O2. This yellowish solid is the product of sodium ignited in excess oxygen. It is a strong base. This metal peroxide exists in several hydrates and peroxyhydrates including Na2O22H2O24H2O, Na2O22H2O, Na2O22H2O2, and Na2O28H2O. The octahydrate, which is simple to prepare, is white, in contrast to the anhydrous material.Sodium Peroxide Market crystallizes with hexagonal symmetry. Upon heating, the hexagonal form undergoes a transition into a phase of unknown symmetry at 512 C. With further heating above the 675 C melting point, the compound decomposes to Na2O, releasing O2.Premium Sample Report Available atThis report studies the global Sodium Peroxide market status and forecast, categorizes the global Sodium Peroxide market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).The major manufacturers covered in this reportSolvayAkzonobelHebei Shijiazhuang Shenze ChemicalEnergy ChemicalMacklinBailingwei TechnologyBeijing Huawei Ruike ChemicalBeijing Universal Century TechnologyHanhong GroupThe regional scope of the study is as follows:- North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Rest of Middle East & Africa.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoExperimental ClassIndustrial GradeOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingBleachFungicideDisinfectantOxidantOtherThe study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Sodium Peroxide capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Sodium Peroxide manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Key StakeholdersSodium Peroxide ManufacturersSodium Peroxide Distributors/Traders/WholesalersSodium Peroxide Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsComplete report on Global Sodium Peroxide Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 is spread across 104 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and landscape details in this niche sector. Get Direct Copy of this Research Report @Major Table of Content1 Global Sodium Peroxide Market Research Report 20182 Global Sodium Peroxide Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Sodium Peroxide Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Sodium Peroxide Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Sodium Peroxide Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Sodium Peroxide Market Analysis by Application7 Global Sodium Peroxide Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Sodium Peroxide Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Sodium Peroxide Market Forecast (2018-2025 )13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixKey questions answered in the report:What will the market growth rate of Sodium Peroxide market in 2025 ?What are the key factors driving the global Sodium Peroxide market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Sodium Peroxide market?Who are the distributors, traders and dealers of Sodium Peroxide market?Who are the key manufacturers in Sodium Peroxide market space?What are the Sodium Peroxide market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Sodium Peroxide market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Sodium Peroxide market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Sodium Peroxide market?What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Sodium Peroxide market?Get a Corporate Discount atAbout usBusinessIndustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Market ReportsPune Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940 Whey Protein Isolate 2018 Global Industry Key Players - Hilmar Ingredients , AMCO Proteins , Fonterra , Glanbia Nutritionals Market Analysis And Forecast To 2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3150894-world-whey-protein-isolate-market-research-report-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3150894-world-whey-protein-isolate-market-research-report-2023 World Whey Protein Isolate MarketExecutive SummaryWhey Protein Isolate market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Request a Sample Report @The Players mentioned in our reportHilmar IngredientsAMCO ProteinsFonterraGlanbia NutritionalsGrain MillersGlobal Whey Protein Isolate Market: Product Segment Analysis90% Protein IsolateGlobal Whey Protein Isolate Market: Application Segment AnalysisFoodBeverageGlobal Whey Protein Isolate Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaTable of Content-Key Points CoveredChapter 1 About the Whey Protein Isolate Industry1.1 Industry Definition1.1.1 Types of Whey Protein Isolate industry1.1.1.1 90% Protein Isolate1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a Glance..Chapter 5 Company Profiles5.1 Hilmar Ingredients5.1.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.1.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.1.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.2 AMCO Proteins5.2.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.2.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.2.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.3 Fonterra5.3.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.3.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.3.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.4 Glanbia Nutritionals5.4.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.4.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.4.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating Profits5.10 Grain Millers5.10.1 Company Details (Foundation Year, Employee Strength and etc)5.10.2 Product Information (Picture, Specifications and Applications)5.10.3 Revenue (M USD), Price and Operating ProfitsContinued.Complete Report Details @Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Global Hardware Tool Boxes Market Forecast 2018-2025 Stanley, Bosch, Great Wall Precision, Sheffield Hardware Tool Boxes Market https://bit.ly/2rdxGyE https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-hardware-tool-boxes-market-6124 A market study "Global Hardware Tool Boxes Market" examines the performance of the Hardware Tool Boxes market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Hardware Tool Boxes market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Hardware Tool Boxes market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Hardware Tool Boxes Market 2018 report includes Hardware Tool Boxes market Revenue, market Share, Hardware Tool Boxes industry volume, market Trends, Hardware Tool Boxes Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Hardware Tool Boxes Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Hardware Tool Boxes Market 2018 :SATAStanleyBoschGreat Wall PrecisionSheffieldPro'sKitEnduraSantoHuaFeng Big ArrowHoboHardware Tool Boxes Market : By TypeHand ToolsElectrical ToolsFasteners and SealsOtherHardware Tool Boxes Market : By ApplicationHardware Tools SaveHardware Tools CarryHardware Tools CategoryOtherFirstly, the report covers the top Hardware Tool Boxes manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Hardware Tool Boxes report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Hardware Tool Boxes industry, Hardware Tool Boxes industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Hardware Tool Boxes Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Hardware Tool Boxes research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Hardware Tool Boxes market revenue worldwide.Finally, Hardware Tool Boxes market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About US:GlobeInfoResearch.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@globeinforesearch.com Global Photo Merchandising: Market Demand, Growth Analysis & Opportunity and Forecast to 2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3149292-global-photo-merchandising-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3149292-global-photo-merchandising-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 This report studies the global Photo Merchandising market size, industry status and forecast, competition landscape and growth opportunity. This research report categorizes the global Photo Merchandising market by companies, region, type and end-use industry.This report focuses on the global top players, coveredAmerican GreetingsHPShutterflyWalmartCafePressCVS PharmacyHallmark CardsRite AidSmileboxTarget CorporationVistaprintRequest a Sample Report @Market segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoWall decorPhoto cardsCalendarsPhoto giftsMarket segment by Application, Photo Merchandising can be split intoOnlineIn-storeThe study objectives of this report are:To study and forecast the market size of Photo Merchandising in global market.To analyze the global key players, SWOT analysis, value and global market share for top players.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, end use and region.To analyze and compare the market status and forecast between China and major regions, namely, United States, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia, India and Rest of World.To analyze the global key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Table of ContentsGlobal Photo Merchandising Market Size, Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of Photo Merchandising1.1 Photo Merchandising Market Overview1.1.1 Photo Merchandising Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Photo Merchandising Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.2.1 United States1.2.2 Europe1.2.3 China1.2.4 Japan1.2.5 Southeast Asia1.2.6 India1.3 Photo Merchandising Market by Type1.3.1 Wall decor1.3.2 Photo cards1.3.3 Calendars1.3.4 Photo gifts1.4 Photo Merchandising Market by End Users/Application1.4.1 Online1.4.2 In-store2 Global Photo Merchandising Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Photo Merchandising Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 American Greetings3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.2 HP3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.3 Shutterfly3.3.1 Company Profile3.3.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.3.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.3.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.4 Walmart3.4.1 Company Profile3.4.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.4.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.4.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.5 CafePress3.5.1 Company Profile3.5.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.5.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.5.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.6 CVS Pharmacy3.6.1 Company Profile3.6.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.6.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.6.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.7 Hallmark Cards3.7.1 Company Profile3.7.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.7.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.7.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.8 Rite Aid3.8.1 Company Profile3.8.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.8.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.8.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.9 Smilebox3.9.1 Company Profile3.9.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.9.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.9.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.10 Target Corporation3.10.1 Company Profile3.10.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.10.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.10.4 Photo Merchandising Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.11 Vistaprint4 Global Photo Merchandising Market Size by Type and Application (2013-2018)4.1 Global Photo Merchandising Market Size by Type (2013-2018)4.2 Global Photo Merchandising Market Size by Application (2013-2018)4.3 Potential Application of Photo Merchandising in Future4.4 Top Consumer/End Users of Photo Merchandising5 United States Photo Merchandising Development Status and Outlook5.1 United States Photo Merchandising Market Size (2013-2018)5.2 United States Photo Merchandising Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 United States Photo Merchandising Market Size by Application (2013-2018)6 Europe Photo Merchandising Development Status and Outlook6.1 Europe Photo Merchandising Market Size (2013-2018)6.2 Europe Photo Merchandising Market Size and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Europe Photo Merchandising Market Size by Application (2013-2018)ContinuedAccess Complete Report @ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Global Pneumatic Riveter Market Forecast 2018-2025 Beta Utensili, Arconic, Ingersoll Rand, TAPPEX Pneumatic Riveter Market https://bit.ly/2jo7NrG https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-pneumatic-riveter-market-6141 A market study "Global Pneumatic Riveter Market" examines the performance of the Pneumatic Riveter market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Pneumatic Riveter market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Pneumatic Riveter market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Pneumatic Riveter Market 2018 report includes Pneumatic Riveter market Revenue, market Share, Pneumatic Riveter industry volume, market Trends, Pneumatic Riveter Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Pneumatic Riveter Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Pneumatic Riveter Market 2018 :ArconicAtlas Copco Industrial TechniqueBeta UtensiliFARIngersoll RandRODCRAFT-KORBVVG-Befestigungstechnik GmbH & Co.SAM OUTILLAGESumake IndustrialTAPPEXTOX PRESSOTECHNIKPneumatic Riveter Market : By TypeStationary Pneumatic RiveterPortable Pneumatic RiveterPneumatic Riveter Market : By ApplicationElectronics IndustryShipping IndustryAutomobile IndustryDecorateOtherFirstly, the report covers the top Pneumatic Riveter manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Pneumatic Riveter report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Pneumatic Riveter industry, Pneumatic Riveter industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Pneumatic Riveter Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Pneumatic Riveter research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Pneumatic Riveter market revenue worldwide.Finally, Pneumatic Riveter market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About US:GlobeInfoResearch.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@globeinforesearch.com Global Automotive Power Steering Fluid Industry Forecast Analysis Market Research Report 2018 Global Automotive Power Steering Fluid Industry Forecast Analysis Market Research Report 2018 http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1565177.html http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ or http://www.qyresearch.com/ The Global Automotive Power Steering Fluid Market Research Report 2018 is in-depth study of overall Automotive Power Steering Fluid market including introduction of product, definition, scope, Automotive Power Steering Fluid global sale, and forecast up to 2025.The Automotive Power Steering Fluid industry report clarifies the past experience and trends, on the basis of these past experiences, it offers the future prediction considering other factors influencing the growth rate. This worldwide report offers the detailed analysis of the important factors such as market dynamics (DROT), PEST, and PORTER which assists the growth of the Automotive Power Steering Fluid Industry. These past experience and factors assist to build the strategy and future planning of Automotive Power Steering Fluid Market and hold a place in the competitive world.This report is the extensive analysis of the Automotive Power Steering Fluid industry based on the primary and secondary in-depth research. The scope of the report includes the global and regional sale, product consumption in terms of volume and value. The Automotive Power Steering Fluid market report offers a forecast of revenue, CAGR, and cumulative revenue. The gathered information about Automotive Power Steering Fluid global business is represented in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs.The Automotive Power Steering Fluid industry Market report offers the competitive scenario in the Automotive Power Steering Fluid industry based on the type of product, applications, and the companies that are present in the Automotive Power Steering Fluid market, and covers the company profiles, their development policies, lined up products and recent launched along with the SWOT analysis of companies.Get a complete report sample from this link:This report studies the global Automotive Power Steering Fluid market status and forecast, categorizes the global Automotive Power Steering Fluid market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).Global Automotive Power Steering Fluid market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingAMSOILExxon MobilLucas Oil ProductsShellValvoline...Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanOther Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa)The regional scope of the study is as follows:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoSeniorOrdinaryOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingPassenger CarCommercial VehicleThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Automotive Power Steering Fluid market size (value & volume) by company, key regions/countries, products and application, history data from 2013 to 2017, and forecast to 2025.To understand the structure of Automotive Power Steering Fluid market by identifying its various subsegments.To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).Focuses on the key global Automotive Power Steering Fluid manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.To analyze the Automotive Power Steering Fluid with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Automotive Power Steering Fluid submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.This research study focuses to product specifications, Automotive Power Steering Fluid cost specifications, production capacity, distributors list, Automotive Power Steering Fluid marketing channel, and detail analysis of the export/import of the product. The Automotive Power Steering Fluid research document also offers raw material suppliers, cost, and downstream consumer list.All features mentioned above is included in the Automotive Power Steering Fluid Market Report 2018 which can offer solution to the difficulties to the prominent members of the Automotive Power Steering Fluid market.Additionally, the important terminologies, government policies, and regulations related to Automotive Power Steering Fluid market product are added.Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchTina| Sales ManagersTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Email: sales@qyresearchglobal.com or tinaning@qyresearch.comWeb:QYResearch, established in 2007, focuses on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, and data base &seminar services. The company owns large basic databases (such as National Bureau of Statistics Database, Customs Import and Export Database, Industry Association Database, etc.), expert resources (including industry experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D in industries of energy, automotive, chemicals, medical ICT consumer goods, etc.), professional survey team (the team members obtained more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years deep expert interview experience), and excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team).Room 2901 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Baby Car Seat Market Prevalent Opportunities upto 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14044 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14044 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Global Baby Car Seat Market: OverviewBaby car seats are specially designed seats in the car for infants. The basic idea behind manufacturing baby car seats is to protect the children from injury or death during collisions until they are big enough to use seatbelts. These exclusively designed seats come in various sizes according to the height and weight of a child. As the law and regulations about safety car seats are stringent in various regions including U.S., U.K., Germany and New Zealand, car manufacturers are likely to include baby car seats as an inbuilt feature of the car.Baby car seats were first manufactured in the early 1930s, however, the purpose was not the safety of children. They were manufactured to bring the kids to a height so that the driving parent can easily keep a watch on them. It was only in 1962 that British inventor Jean Ames made a rear-facing baby car seat with a sole intention of protecting the child. Later on, a forward-facing baby car seat with a metal frame was made to increase the protection of the child. Baby car seats are of various types, however, they are mainly categorized as infant seats, combination seats, booster seats and convertible seats.Global Baby Car Seat Market: DriversIncreasing incidents of fatal car accidents across the globe is one of the important reasons behind the growth of the global baby car seat market. Rising urbanization is equally important in driving the global baby car seat market growth. High disposable income and increasing spending on passenger cars is also creating a positive impact on the baby car seat market. Growing birth rate, especially in countries like China and India in the APAC region, is expected to fuel the demand for baby car seats in the global market.Request for Table of Contents @The quality of baby car seats has improved in the last few years. Various new features such as an anti-rebound bar to keep the seat steady in case of collision and energy-absorbing foam layers are attracting buyers. This factor is also creating a robust development in the global baby car seat market. Stringent laws regarding child safety and increasing awareness among the global population about baby car seats are other factors that are creating a lucrative market for baby car seats across the globe.Global Baby Car Seat Market: RestraintsDeclining birth rate in developed regions is the major factor hindering the growth of the global baby car seat market. High-priced baby car seats are refraining the global population from buying them and this is one of the precise reasons for hampering the development of the global baby car seat market. In some of the developing regions, cars are still a luxurious commodity and unaffordable to several people. This factor creates a negative impact on the baby car seat market in developing regions. Lack of awareness of child safety while driving and the absence of stringent laws are the other reasons for impeding the development of the global baby car seat market.Global Baby Car Seat Market: Key RegionsStringent government laws regarding the use of baby car seats are anticipated to boost the market in North America and Europe during the projected period. Increasing trend of e-retailing particularly in North American countries such as U.S. and Canada is also expected to drive revenue growth of the baby car seat market in North America. Rising population in China is also expected to create numerous opportunities in the baby car seat market in the APAC region.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Global Baby Car Seat Market: Key Market PlayersChicco, Britax, Recaro, Kiwi Baby, Newell Rubbermaid, Orbit Baby, Bebe Confort and Nuna are some of the key players in the global baby car seat market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Prevalence of CVDs to Boost Cardiovascular Monitoring and Diagnostic Devices Market https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/207872 A report on the global cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic devices market has been added to the rapidly growing portfolio of Marketresearchreports.biz. Titled, Cardiovascular Monitoring and Diagnostic Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2024, the report analyzes the overall growth of this market. The latest trends, growth drivers as well as threats that could be faced by the market are discussed in detail in this report. The comprehensive study includes the future prospects and reports of the industry, including market size and share. This report forecasts revenue growth at global, regional, and country levels and provides an reports on industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2017 to 2024.Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) have emerged as a significant reason for millions of deaths reported worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases include a number of chronic ailments such as coronary artery diseases, pulmonary conditions, and peripheral artery diseases. The largely sedentary lifestyles of people across the globe are putting them at risk to conditions such as weakening of heart muscles, obesity, hypertension and diabetes. The rising prevalence of these conditions are triggering the need for technological advances in the diagnosis and monitoring of CVDs. This is a key factor responsible for driving the global cardiovascular diagnostic and monitoring devices market.Some other trends influencing the global cardiovascular diagnostic and monitoring devices market are the emergence of medical tourism and greater awareness among end-users regarding health insurance, coupled with the steadily expanding geriatric population. The ongoing technological advances in medical devices, treatments and diagnostic modalities are revolutionizing the way CVDs are diagnosed and monitored. The recent shift in preference towards remote monitoring on account growing inclination towards home care of patient is further fuelling the demand for effective remote monitoring, propelling the cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic devices market.For Sample Copy, click here:Regionally, North America is a key market in the global cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic devices market. The dominance of this region may be ascribed to the efficient reimbursement policies, healthcare infrastructure and facilities and high incidence of CVDs. Asia Pacific is another lucrative region on account of the high potential in emerging countries such as China and India.Vendors operating in the global cardiovascular monitoring and diagnostic devices are expected to foray into developing economies in order to benefit from their untapped potential. The players must maintain a highly diverse product portfolio, in order to thrive in the competitive market. Some of the key market players operating in the global cardiovascular monitoring diagnostic devices market are Jude Medical, Inc., GE Healthcare, Boston Scientific Corporation, Philips Healthcare, and LivaNova PLC.About usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.To order report Call Toll Free: 866-997-4948 or send an email on sales@marketresearchreports.biz Transradial Access Market 2018 Outlook, Growth by Top Key Manufacturers, Company, Region, Application, Driver, Trends and Forecasts by 2025 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPHE100000955 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPHE100000955 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/transradial-access-market The Insight Partners.com added Transradial Access Market to 2025 Global Analysis and Forecasts by Product (Catheters, Guidewires, Sheaths and Sheath Introducers and Accessories); Application (Drug Administration, Diagnostics and Testing, Fluid and Nutrition Administration and Blood Transfusion) and By End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Others) report to their offering.Catheters, guidewires, sheaths and sheath introducers are various products used for transradial access during various procedures such as cardiac catheterization, a procedure to diagnose and treat various diseases such as coronary artery disease and peripheral artery disease. Transradial access offers various advantages such lower rate of vascular complications compared to the transfemoral and the transbrachial approaches and as better comfort for the patient.The global transradial access market is driven by increasing prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, rising demand for devices and accessories for various invasive and minimally invasive surgical procedures drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. As per the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2015, approximately 17.7 million people died from CVDs, which was 31.0% of all the global deaths. Additionally, rising geriatric population and increasing focus on early diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases also influence the growth of the market.The Global Transradial Access Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the transradial access industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global transradial access market with detailed market segmentation by product, material, application, and geography. The global transradial access market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.FREE | Request a Sample Report atThe global transradial access market is segmented on the basis of product, application and end user. On the basis of product, the market is segmented into catheters, guidewires, sheaths and sheath introducers and accessories. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into drug administration, diagnostics and testing, fluid and nutrition administration, blood transfusion, and others.The report provides a detailed overview on the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global transradial access market based on product, application and end user. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall transradial access market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South & Central America. The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 13 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Inquiry before Buying atNorth America, being the largest market, is driven by presence of key players in the US and increasing focus on research and development activities. Additionally, rising prevalence for cardiovascular diseases and available treatment options is likely to boost the market growth.The report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions namely; North America, Europe, APAC, MEA and South & Central America after evaluating political, economic, social and technological factors effecting the market in these regions.The report also includes the profiles of key transradial access manufacturing companies along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. In addition, the report focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years. Some of the key players influencing the market are Becton, Dickinson and Company, Terumo Corporation Teleflex Incorporated, Medtronic, Medtronic, Smiths Medical, Ameco Medical, Edward Lifesciences Corporation, Merit Medical System, Boston Scientific Corporation, and Nipro Medical Corporation.Some of the important playersBecton, Dickinson and CompanyTerumo CorporationTeleflex IncorporatedMedtronicSmiths MedicalAmeco MedicalEdward Lifesciences CorporationMerit Medical SystemBoston Scientific CorporationNipro Medical CorporationComplete Report is Available atContact Us:Call: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.Address533, 5th Floor,Amanora Chambers, East Block, Amanora Township,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Winter Care Creams Market Expansion Projected to Gain an Uptick During 2015 - 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14032 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14032 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com When the temperature drops down, cold and windy weather takes the toll on skin and the most affected part of a body is the face. The only saviour when the face skin becomes dry and dull due to cold weather is winter care creams. The skin cream which is generally enriched with vitamin E, natural oils such as jojoba and olive oil, rose petals and various fruit extracts particularly grape seed, protect the face skin from getting dry and provide a glow, softness and fairness. It, therefore, becomes necessary for the consumers to keep a face cream in winter cosmetic kitty. Winter care creams are suitable for the three types of face skins, i.e. normal, oily and dry. Many winter care face creams are designed to reduce the signs of peeling and repair fragile face skin due to winter dryness. The strong moisturising formula in face cream also fulfils the therapeutic purpose of consumers during winters.Winter Care Creams Market: Advantages and disadvantagesAppropriate use of winter care creams boost hydration in skin and creates the protective layer of moisturiser which prevents the face skin from flaking. Every region has different winter pattern. In some areas, winters meant for chilled nights and sunny days. In such condition, winter care creams not only moisturise the face skin but also work as a sunscreen which protects the face skin from UV radiation. Many winter care creams have medicinal qualities and apart from only moisturising the face skin, they have the ability to reduce a pimple and have antiseptic/ anti-fungal qualities. The winter care cream, however, has disadvantages too and the heavy hand with it lead to breakouts, clogged pores and dull skin. Facial skin is very sensitive and delicate and therefore excessive use of winter care creams suffocates the skin instead of giving a glow on the face in winters.Winter Care Creams Market: Drivers and restraintsHuge promotion of winter care creams is one of the important factors which is fuelling the growth of the winter care creams market across the globe. Whether it is Television, newspaper, magazine or social media websites, the worldwide luxurious brands are competing with each other by hammering their products into the minds of consumers. Increasing per capita income and lavish lifestyle are also creating the lucrative market for winter care creams across the globe.Request for Table of Contents @Earlier, the cosmetic products were mainly meant only for women, however, now-a-day men are equally interested in using various cosmetic products which are creating robust development in the global winter care cream market. However, there are some hindrances which are adversely affecting on the growth of the winter care cream market. For example, none of the winter care cream is entirely herbal. There are certain chemicals elements included in the winter care cream which gives temporary glow but affects adversely on the skin. Many countries such as India and Israel and the European Union have banned the sale of any cosmetics that have been tested on animals. This banned will certainly hamper the growth of the winter care lotion market in few regions of the world. All these factors are acting as restraints for winter care creams market.Winter Care Creams Market: Region and forecastWestern and Eastern Europe are likely to dominate the winter care creams market in the forecasted period. North America is a close competitor of Eastern and Western Europe in the case of leading the winter care creams market. Young population, the especially huge population of teens is likely to be a reason for fuelling the growth of winter care creams market in these regions. The countries in Asia-Pacific region are also likely to be the fastest growing economies during the projected period.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Winter Care Cream Market: Global brandsNivea, Shiseido, LOreal, Lancome, Clarins, Ponds and Aesop are some of the worldwide winter care cream brands.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, types and applications.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Potassium Acetate Market Size to Surge Vigorously during the Forecast Period 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4035 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4035 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Potassium acetate also denoted as KCH3COO is the potassium salt of acetic acid. Potassium acetate is white deliquescent crystalline powder. The compound is soluble in alcohol, liquid, and ammonia. The industrial production of potassium acetate includes treatment of bicarbonate and potassium carbonate with glacial acetic acid followed by heating the compound at an ambient temperature and 100C.It is an acetate salt form of potassium and an essential micromineral. Potassium maintains intracellular tonicity, which is required for nerve conduction, smooth muscle, and skeletal contraction, production of energy, maintaining the blood pressure and normal renal function. The compound has potential antihypertensive effects and prevents hypokalemia when consumed as the nutritional supplement. Potassium acetate has various end uses, one of them being industry usages such as agricultural chemicals, anti-adhesive agents, working fluids, intermediates, and processing aids. Under consumer usage, the compound is used for farm products, anti-freeze and de-icing products, and construction/building materials not covered elsewhere.A sample of this report is available upon request @Global Potassium Acetate Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe major factor driving the global potassium acetate market is that the compound is being used as an alternative to potassium chloride owing to the environmental restrictions on the application of potassium chloride. Potassium acetates functionality properties are identical to the later. Potassium acetate is more time soluble than potassium chloride and has a high potential usage in the high-density brines. Few other factor includes it provides a chloride free fluid; it is ideal for use in environmentally sensitive areas, and also provides shale hydration and swelling inhibition through cation exchange and electrolytic balance.However, the significant restraint in the global potassium acetate market is the side effects of the compound when not used in an appropriate composition. Few of the common symptoms of the potassium intoxication are burning sensation and tingling in the hands and feets, amongst others.Global Potassium Acetate Market: SegmentationBy product type the global potassium acetate market is segmented into:Pharmaceutical gradeFood gradeTechnical gradeBy application the global potassium acetate market is segmented into:Food & BeveragesChemical & MaterialPharmaceuticalGlobal Potassium Acetate Market: Segmentation OverviewThe global potassium acetate market is mainly segmented into two major segments namely by product types and by an application. By application the global potassium market is further sub-segmented into food & beverage, chemical & material, and pharmaceutical. In food & beverage division, potassium acetate is used as a food additive, acidity regulator, and preservative. The compound is approved for usage in U.S., New Zealand, and Australia.Further, potassium acetate is majorly used in medicinal and biochemistry as a part of auxiliary procedures in the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis due to its capability to break into bicarbonate and further help in neutralizing acidotic state.Global Potassium Acetate Market: Regional OutlookThe potassium acetate market is segmented by regions into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), and Japan. Europe, North America, and Asia Pacific are the major regions in the global potassium acetate market. Within these regions, the major countries contributing to the global value are U.S., Germany, China, and Japan.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Global Potassium Acetate Market: Prominent vendorsFew of the prominent players in the global potassium acetate market are Niacet, Lancashire Chemicals, Jiangsu Zidong Food, Anhui Hongyang Chemical, Wuxi Yangshan Biochemical, Jiangsu Kolod Food, Lianyungang Tongyuan Chemical, and Shanxi Zhaoyi Chemical. Few of the strategies adopted by the key players in the market are partnership and collaboration with other operators, expansion into the untapped market, and joint ventures with the organizations in emerging countries to gain the strong foothold in the market.To ensure product differentiation and to acquire a considerable share of the market, major vendors are adopting creative strategies and are constantly developing innovative products. Most of the major potassium acetate manufacturers concentrate on capitalizing their funds to maintain applications and technical marketing groups are appointed to serve the ever-changing needs of clients.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Needle Biopsy Market 2023 Forecasted by type, by utility, by applications, by Segmentation Needle Biopsy Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3830 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/3830 Market research future has a half cooked research report on Global Needle Biopsy Market. The Global Needle Biopsy Market is growing at a rate of 5.2 % and is expected show a similar trend during the forecast period.The Needle Biopsy Market is chiefly driven by product development and the fall in prices of raw materials and components. The increasing cases of cancers and growing usage of biopsy needles is driving the market. Companies should focus on improving the distribution efficiency so as to reduce the pressures on prices due to huge market fragmentation. Distributional agreements between large players and advanced products such as multilayer needles will be extremely beneficial. The emergence of needle biopsy is estimated to pose the greatest threat to the biopsy needle market. Needle biopsy offers non-invasive diagnostic tests for detecting cancer as it used liquids such as blood, urine, saliva etc. to detect malignancy. Increasing automation will enhance the capabilities of needle biopsy and it may substitute the needle biopsy procedures. Real time progression of cancers is also possible in needle biopsy which raises the level of threat it possess to needle biopsy. The falling cost of products due to greater market fragmentation and the emergence of Chinese companies is expected to put additional pressures on prices.In our estimates vacuum assisted needle biopsy will be the fastest growing segment. The increasing screening rates for cancers through the world will stimulate the market. Among the various cancers, breast cancer is expected to generate the largest use of needle biopsy. Needle Based Biopsy Guns is another lucrative strategy that is being pursued by many players. Core needle biopsy has a higher efficiency and detectability rate than fine needle aspiration biopsy. There is increasing bias to use core needle biopsy in combination with needle aspiration biopsy to achieve highest sensitivity and detectability. Thus, the two tests are complementary, and the effectiveness rate is highest with both tests are done together.Global Needle biopsy Market Players:Boston Scientific Corporation, Cook Medical, CareFusion Corporation, Hologic, Inc., and Cardinal Health, Inc., Medax, C. R. Bard, Inc., Moller Medical GmbH, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Hakko co. ltd., Kompass, Argon Medical Devices, Inc. and others.Get Sample Copy atSegmentation:The Global Needle Biopsy Market is segmented on the basis of type and applications. Based on type, the market has been segmented as fine-needle aspiration biopsy, core needle biopsy, vacuum-assisted biopsy and image-guided biopsy. Based on the utility, the market has been segmented as disposable and reusable. Based on the applications, the market has been segmented as tumor, infection, inflammation and others.Regional analysisUS accounts for the maximum market share due to favorable reimbursement scenarios and greater expenditure on healthcare. The faster market uptake of new technology in the US is also an important driver of the market for global needle biopsy. Europe is the second largest market due to large disposable income and rising awareness. Asia Pacific region is the fastest growing region because of large unmet needs which is led by China and India. The Middle East & Africa market is led by the gulf nations particularly Saudi Arabia and UAE. The poor regions of Africa are expected to be a laggard due to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare penetration.Needle Biopsy Market Illustrations1. Introduction2. Research Methodology3. Market Dynamics4. Market Factor Analysis5. Global Needle Biopsy Market, By Type6. Global Needle Biopsy Market, By Utility7. Global Needle Biopsy Market, By Applications8. Global Needle Biopsy Market, By Region9. Competitive Landscape10. Company ProfileToc ContinuedApply for discount @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.comMRFR has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions.Our Research Analysts are eager to share their knowledge and assist you in refining market research parameters, choosing right market studies, and evaluating both the market scope and the research methodologies of varied segments.We bridge the gap between our clients and their clients by identifying and decoding just the target group, while generating leads with the highest accuracy.Years of research into diverse fields of work has ingrained within us, a proficiency so distinguished that our industry-specific specialists identify with your business ideas and feel the pulse of your challenges and opportunities. This enables us for providing assistance, through our consulting and strategic consulting services, in informed managerial decision making. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industries, WantStats Research and Media often conducts industrial visits for its research analysts. Relevant inputs from various established market participants, help our clients make significant contribution in respective markets are a huge motivation for all of us to endlessly furnish quality. We depend greatly on profound insights into complex realms of our study.Pune, India Optical Proximity Sensors Market in Global Industry 2018: Key Players, Share, Trend, Segmentation and Forecast to 2025 Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1692756 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-optical-proximity-sensors-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-optical-proximity-sensors-sales-market-report-2018-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Optical Proximity Sensors market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Optical Proximity Sensors for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Optical Proximity Sensors market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Optical Proximity Sensors sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingOmronSchneider ElectricSharp MicroelectronicsROHM SemiconductorSilicon LabsVishaySTMicroelectronicsBroadcom LimitedIntersilMurataON SemiconductorMolexGravitechMaxim IntegratedOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoDigital Output Optical Proximity SensorsAnalog Output Optical Proximity SensorsOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingAutomobiles & MotorcyclesConsumer ElectronicsLights & LightingOthersView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Market Report 20181 Optical Proximity Sensors Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Optical Proximity Sensors1.2 Classification of Optical Proximity Sensors by Product Category1.2.1 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Digital Output Optical Proximity Sensors1.2.4 Analog Output Optical Proximity Sensors1.3 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Automobiles & Motorcycles1.3.3 Consumer Electronics1.3.4 Lights & Lighting1.3.5 Others2 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Optical Proximity Sensors (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Optical Proximity Sensors Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Optical Proximity Sensors (Volume and Value) by RegionBrowse Report @3 United States Optical Proximity Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Optical Proximity Sensors Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Optical Proximity Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Optical Proximity Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Optical Proximity Sensors (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Optical Proximity Sensors Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Optical Proximity Sensors Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Optical Proximity Sensors Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China Optical Proximity Sensors Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on Blogger at: Global Active Implantable Medical Devices Market Visions & Future Growth Valuation during 2017 - 2025 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/4491 https://www.mrrse.com/active-implantable-medical-devices-market https://www.mrrse.com/ It has been noticed that, the global market for active implantable medical devices has been on a rise due to increasing prevalence of certain chronic diseases like neurological and cardiovascular disorders. Furthermore, the constant issuance of new product launches, together with shortened approval process has been motivating the growth of the concerned market quite substantially. To study the active implantable medical devices market further, a new research report titled Active Implantable Medical Devices Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Volume, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2017 2025, has been added to the vast storehouse managed by Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE). This evaluation is quite beneficial to readers who wish to gather supreme knowledge about the current & future market status. Above all, future revenue generation linked to active implantable devices utilized for medical procedures, is also enclosed in the report.Get Inside Scoop of Sample Report @This report offers an estimated market size (US$ Mn) for product, end user, procedure and geography, during the period 2016 to 2025. Furthermore, the market overview portion examines the market dynamics, namely, drivers, restraints and opportunities which are expected to influence the ongoing implantable medical devices market in the near future. Interestingly, a precise update about the Porters five force analysis is available in the report that drops light over the competitive intensity. On the basis of geography, the target market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Under this, readers can acquire detailed country-specific analysis important in interpreting the actual scenario in the implantable medical devices market. According to research findings, North America acquired a total share of 33%, emerging as the dominant market region in the year 2016. However, in the years to follow, Asia Pacific is projected to offer promising growth to several market player; this is primarily due to notable rise across Asian economies like China, South Korea and India.For More Information About This Report Visit at:Considering the product type, the overall implantable medical devices market is segmented into implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), nerve stimulators, cardiac pacemaker, cochlear implants, insertable cardiac monitor (implantable monitoring devices) and ventricular assist devices (VAD). Moreover, the significant end-users for these devices are hospitals, specialty clinics and ambulatory surgery centers. The final section of the report includes detailed information about the major players, such as Boston Scientific Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, Medtronic Plc., BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG, Sonova Holding AG, LivaNova PLC, Nurotron Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Cochlear Ltd., MED-EL Medical Electronics and William Demant Holding A/S.About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of market intelligence reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.comWebsite: Zeolite Market : Opportunities, Demand and Forecasts, 2017 to 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5648 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5648 www.futuremarketinsights.com Zeolite is basically a crystalline solid mineral made of silicon, aluminum and oxygen. It is also referred to as aluminosilicates or molecular sieves. Zeolite is a naturally occurring mineral and can be developed synthetically as well. It is an exceptionally stable compound which can resist many different kinds of environmental conditions. Zeolites exhibit properties, such as high melting point, high resistance to oxidization, high pressure resistance and do not easily dissolve in water or other inorganic solvents. However, the most significant property of zeolites is their porous molecular structure, which is such that they form a 3D framework structure which contains cavities or cages, thereby making zeolite a porous compound. Owing to these properties, zeolites are extensively used as an ion exchanger, mostly in water softeners and filters. Zeolites can also be used as catalysts (shape selective catalysts) and adsorbents in many applications. Zeolites find wide applications in the detergent industry, refinery industry, etc. Therefore, owing to these unique properties of zeolite and wide usage in end use industries, the zeolite market is expected to witness steady growth over the forecast period.Zeolite Market: DynamicsZeolite is widely used in end use industries as a catalyst and to induce ion exchange, adsorption and separation. The shape selective catalyst is widely used as a detergent builder in the detergent industry. Furthermore, it is also used in water treatment and nuclear and agricultural applications. Detergents are one of the most prominent applications of zeolite. Factors, such as rising disposable income and growing standard of living, have positively impacted the detergent industry over the past few years. Therefore, the increasing demand for detergents is one of the key driving factors for the zeolite market. Zeolite also finds usage in agricultural and household products where they are used as an odor controller. They are also a key component in water treatment processes where they are used for water filtration, heavy metal removal and in swimming pools. The demand for zeolites as a refrigeration adsorbent is also growing, which is expected to positively impact demand. Therefore, the aforementioned reasons are some of the key driving factors which may fuel the demand over the forecast period.Molecular properties of zeolite makes it one of the ideal shape selective catalysts. Furthermore, they require less technical complexity in their manufacturing. However, threat from substitutes which are equally cost competitive as catalysts is a significant factor which might hamper the growth of zeolite market over the forecast period.Improvements in manufacturing techniques coupled with technological innovations will enhance the overall manufacturing process. Furthermore, the manufacturers are focusing on building upon technologies with lesser complexity in production.Request For Report Sample @Zeolite Market: SegmentationThe global zeolite market can be segmented on the basis of type, function and application. On the basis of type, the zeolite market can be segmented into Natural zeolite and Synthetic zeolite. On the basis of function, the zeolite market can be segmented into Catalysts, Adsorbents and Separators and ion exchange (detergent builders). On the basis of application, the zeolite market can be segmented into Chemical, Agriculture, Petrochemicals, Water treatment and Others.Zeolite Market: Regional OutlookEurope is expected to dominate the global zeolite market in terms of consumption. This can be attributed to the increasing production of bio-based chemicals and growing usage in thermal and nuclear applications. After Europe, Asia Pacific is estimated to account for a significant share and record robust growth owing to increasing usage of zeolites in water treatment and its growing demand in the detergent industry. North America is estimated to record steady growth owing to the usage of zeolite in nuclear industry and refineries. Latin America and Middle East & Africa are expected to show steady growth over the forecast period.Request For Table Of Content @Zeolite Market: Market ParticipantsExamples of some of the market participants in the global Zeolite market are-Tosoh CorporationBASF SEInterra Global CorporationArkema GroupZeochem AGZeox CorporationHoneywell International IncClariantEurecatYingkou Zhongbao molecular sieve co, .ltdKNT GroupDalian Haixin Chemical Industrial Co. LtdFuture Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +13479183531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Smart Grid Home Area Network (HAN) Market Predicted to Rise at a Lucrative CAGR throughout 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1865 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1865 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Electricity is the most widely used form of energy across the globe. Generation of electrical energy is the major source of carbon dioxide emission, as it relies on fossil fuels, followed by transportation, and is thus a significant contributor to climate change. In order to cater to growing demand for electricity and reduce the impact on the environment, electric systems need to be efficient and effective enough to conserve and reduce the electricity wastage. Smart grid solutions offer a comprehensive approach to meet the aforementioned challenges. Smart grid systems offers demand response capabilities in order to balance electrical consumption with supply as well as potential to integrate new technologies. HAN is a subsystem within the smart grid primarily oriented towards the demand-side management. Smart grid home area network is basically a network of signal-controlled appliances, consumer devices, and energy management devices. This enables connected devices to send and receive signals from meter, displays and other home management devices.A sample of this report is available upon request @Smart Grid Home Area Network: DriversGrowing supply-side deployment of smart grid solution, government initiatives towards energy management and smart cities, increasing wireless network connection speeds, growing demand for cloud based solutions are expected to drive the growth of smart grid home area network market during the forecast period. In addition, consumer privacy and security is another factor that can hinder the growth of the market. In addition, rising energy prices and increasing sophisticated conservation solutions are anticipated to drive the smart grid home area network market to a certain extent.Smart Grid Home Area Network: ChallengesIntegration of various product solutions to existing metering systems, interoperability between various solutions provided by manufacturers, lack of consumer awareness in developing regions are certain challenges that can hinder the growth of smart grid home area network market.Smart Grid Home Area Network: SegmentationSmart grid home area network market is segmented on the basis of solution type, and region. On the basis of solution type, the smart grid home area network can be segmented into hardware, software and services. On the basis of region, smart grid home area network market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA).Smart Grid Home Area Network: Regional OutlookThe smart grid home area network market in North American dominates among all the other regions. The smart grid home area network market in Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific are expected to pose most lucrative opportunity during the forecast period due to growing government initiatives towards smart cities and the growing awareness among the consumers about energy management. The smart grid home area network market in Middle East and Africa and Latin America are among the potential markets but are listed after Asia Pacific and Eastern Europe.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Smart Grid Home Area Network: Competition LandscapeKey vendors of smart grid home area network include Control4, Cisco Systems, GE Energy, Silver Spring Networks, Tendril Networks, Honeywell International, Inc., icontrol Networks, Inc., Energate Inc., Calico Energy Services, and Onzo Ltd.About UsFuture Market Insights is the premier provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries. FMI is headquartered in London, the global financial capital, and has delivery centres in the U.S. and India.FMIs research and consulting services help businesses around the globe navigate the challenges in a rapidly evolving marketplace with confidence and clarity. Our customised and syndicated market research reports deliver actionable insights that drive sustainable growth. We continuously track emerging trends and events in a broad range of end industries to ensure our clients prepare for the evolving needs of their consumers.Contact Us:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way,Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage,New York 10989,United StatesTel: +1-347-918-3531Fax: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Overview of Organic Wine Market in Global Industry 2018: Analysis, Growth Opportunities and Forecast to 2022 Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1692931 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-organic-wine-market-professional-survey-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-organic-wine-market-professional-survey-report-2018-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Organic Wine Market Professional Survey Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies Organic Wine in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringE&J GalloThe Wine GroupConstellation BrandsCastelAccolade WinesCantine Riunite & CIVConcha y Toro.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Treasury Wine EstatesGrupo PenaflorPernod-RicardBronco WineCaviroTrinchero Family EstatesAntinoriChangyuCasella Family BrandsDiageoChina Great Wall WineJacob's CreekKendall-Jackson Vineyard EstatesOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoOrganic Sparkling WineOrganic Still WineBy Application, the market can be split intoSupermarkets and HypermarketsSpecialist RetailersOnline ChannelOtherBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal Organic Wine Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of Organic Wine1.1 Definition and Specifications of Organic Wine1.1.1 Definition of Organic Wine1.1.2 Specifications of Organic Wine1.2 Classification of Organic Wine1.2.1 Organic Sparkling Wine1.2.2 Organic Still Wine1.3 Applications of Organic Wine1.3.1 Supermarkets and Hypermarkets1.3.2 Specialist Retailers2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Organic Wine2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Organic Wine2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Organic Wine2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Organic WineBrowse Report @3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Organic Wine3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Organic Wine Major Manufacturers in 20173.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Organic Wine Major Manufacturers in 20173.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Organic Wine Major Manufacturers in 20173.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Organic Wine Major Manufacturers in 20174 Global Organic Wine Overall Market Overview4.1 2013-2018E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2013-2018E Global Organic Wine Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2017 Organic Wine Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2013-2018E Global Organic Wine Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2017 Organic Wine Sales Analysis (Company Segment)5 Organic Wine Regional Market Analysis5.1 North America Organic Wine Market Analysis5.1.1 North America Organic Wine Market Overview5.1.2 North America 2013-2018E Organic Wine Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.1.3 North America 2013-2018E Organic Wine Sales Price Analysis5.1.4 North America 2017 Organic Wine Market Share Analysis5.2 China Organic Wine Market Analysis5.2.1 China Organic Wine Market Overview5.2.2 China 2013-2018E Organic Wine Local Supply, Import, Export, Local Consumption Analysis5.2.3 China 2013-2018E Organic Wine Sales Price AnalysisAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on Blogger at: China Residential Construction Market, Top Trends, Absolute Opportunity and Value Chain 2017 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3148918-residential-construction-market-in-china-market-size-growth https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3148918-residential-construction-market-in-china-market-size-growth China Residential Construction MarketSynopsis"Residential Construction Market in China: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2022" contains historic and forecast market data for the residential construction market in China, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the residential construction segments such as Residential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing.. This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2013-2017 and an illustrative forecast to 2022.Click here for sample report @SummaryResidential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing.The Chinese residential construction category continued to increase in the review period with a value of CNYxxx.xx million (US$xxx.xx million) in 2017 and increased at a rate of xx.xx% over 2016. The market recorded a CAGR of x.xx% from 2013 through 2017."Residential Construction Market in China: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2022"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the residential construction market in China. It is an essential tool for companies active across the China construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the residential construction market in China.Historic (2013 through 2017) and forecast (2018 through 2022) construction market output values are provided.A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services).This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Residential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing..Reasons To Buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type.Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition).Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services).Details the segments covered under commercial construction market.Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions1.3 CAGR Definition and Calculation2 Overall Residential Construction: Market Analysis2.1 Overall Residential Construction Output Value, 2013 - 20172.2 Overall Residential Construction Output Value Forecast, 2018 - 20222.3 Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type2.3.1 Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2013 - 20172.3.2 Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type Forecast, 2018 - 20223 Residential Construction Output: Analysis by Category3.1 New Construction Output Value, 2013 - 20173.2 New Construction Output Value Forecast, 2018 - 20223.3 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type3.3.1 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2013 - 20173.3.2 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type Forecast, 2018 - 2022List of TablesTable 1: Timetric- Residential Construction Market DefinitionsTable 2: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value (US$ Million), 2013 - 2017Table 3: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2013 - 2017Table 4: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value (US$ Million), 2018 - 2022Table 5: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2018 - 2022List of FiguresFigure 1: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2013 - 2017Figure 2: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value (CNY Million), 2018 - 2022Figure 3: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type (CNY Million), 2013 - 2017Figure 4: Chinese Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type (CNY Million), 2018 - 2022Figure 5: Chinese Residential Construction Output Value, New Construction (CNY Million), 2013 - 2017.ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Driveline Control Systems and Devices Market to Register Steady Growth During 2017 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5951 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5951 www.futuremarketinsights.com Technological advancements, modern automatics, high demand for smooth gear shifts and superior fuel efficiency vehicles are triggering the wave of the global driveline control system and devices marketthroughout the forecast period. Driveline control system primarily depends on rotational velocities and torques of transmission units as uniform torque distribution provides yaw stability to the vehicle and provides better vehicle performance. Therefore, traction and stability of a vehicle can be controlled by driveline system and braking torque. Four wheel drive manufacturers are implementing cutting-edge technologies, such as the transfer case, fluid coupling and Limited Slip Differential (LSD), for improving the traction and enhancing the handling performance by monitoring distribution of the driving torque. The primary components of a driveline system are engine, clutch, transmission, propeller shaft, final drive and wheels. Electronic devices, such as inductive sensor, are used for detecting the angular velocity of rotating wheels or transmission parts.The manufacturers are also utilizing driveline modelling technique for measuring the engine speed, transmission speed and wheel speed. For driveline modelling, lower gear is the prime focus as it transmits higher torque to the drive-in as well the amplitude of the resonance in the wheel speed is high for lower gears. The manufacturers are also poised towards pneumatic clutch actuator in automated manual transmissions while servo system for hydraulic clutch for easy operation of the clutch, provides lighter paddle force in comparison to cable clutch. Furthermore, the manufacturers are also providing Electronic Limited Slip Differential technology for filling the gap between four wheel drive and two wheel drive and delivering maximum tractive effort, higher torque capacity, better stability while cornering, and also to provide better controllability over the vehicle.Driveline Control Systems and Devices Market: Dynamics Demand for lightweight transmission system developed in governing automotive electronics, ease of gear shifting on congested roads, reduced clutch wear, extended component life are the factors driving the global driveline control system and devices market. Additionally, emerging state of the art technologies such as cruise control system, new driveline management applications and high powered engines may surge the future of this market. Moreover, increasing focus toward reduced pedal force, attenuated drive train noise and increased reliability are some of the factors driving the global driveline control system and device market during the forecast period.Request for Sample @High initial cost, regular maintenance, quick response as compared to manual transmissions and stretched time to change the gears are the factors that may hinder the market during the forecast period. The governments all over the world have taken initiatives to reduce the emission of carbon mono oxide and nitrogen oxide, for instance, the Chinese government is spending a huge sum in R&D in order to improve the air quality by cutting edge vehicle technology, which is promoting new energy-efficient vehicles, such as hybrid vehicles, under stringent regulations and standards.Driveline Control Systems and Devices Market: Segmentation The global driveline control system and devices market can be segmented on the basis of vehicle types: Passenger Car (PC), Conventional PC, Electric PC, others; Heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) Conventional HCV, Electrical HCV, Others; Off-road vehicle Conventional off-road vehicle, Electrical off-road vehicle, othersDriveline Control Systems and Devices Market: Regional Outlook It is expected that North America will grow with a healthy CAGR owing to aggressive promotion of energy-efficient vehicles by major players. The market in Asia Pacific is also expected to flourish during the forecast period, particularly in the Japan and China, owing to push by the respective governments to place more emphasis on electric vehicles. The Europe is also posed for a healthy growth, increasing preference towards electric vehicle to consumers. Latin America and MEA are growing at a stagnant pace owing to availability of low-cost fuels such as flex fuel in Brazil and copiousness of petroleum in the Middle East.Request For Table Of Content @Driveline Control Systems and Devices Market: Key Participants Examples of some of the key participants in the global driveline control system and devices markets are: BorgWarner Inc., ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Schaeffler Group USA Inc., Eaton Corporation, AISIN AW CO., LTD., Voith GmbH, EXEDY Corporation, Magna International Inc., Honda Transmission Manufacturing of America, Inc., AVTEC LTD.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +13479183531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Research of Aerospace Materials Market in Global Industry 2018: Rio Tinto Alcan, Kaiser Aluminum, Constellium, AMI Metals, Arcelor Mittal Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1705733 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-aerospace-materials-market-professional-survey-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-aerospace-materials-market-professional-survey-report-2018-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Aerospace Materials Market Professional Survey Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies Aerospace Materials in Global market,especially in North America,China,Europe,Southeast Asia,Japan and India,with production,revenue,consumption,import and export in these regions,from 2013 to 2018,and forecast to 2025.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market,with production,price,revenue and market share for each manufacturer,coveringAlcoaRio Tinto AlcanKaiser AluminumAlerisRusalConstelliumAMI MetalsArcelor MittalTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Nippon Steel & Sumitomo MetalNucor CorporationBaosteel GroupThyssenkrupp AerospaceKobe SteelMaterionVSMPO-AVISMAToho TitaniumBaoTiPrecision Castparts CorporationAperamVDMCarpenterAMGATI MetalsToray IndustriesCytec Solvay GroupTeijin LimitedHexcelTenCateOn the basis of product,this report displays the production,revenue,price,market share and growth rate of each type,primarily split intoAluminium AlloysSteel AlloysTitanium AlloysSuper AlloysComposite MaterialsOtherView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @By Application,the market can be split intoCommercial AircraftMilitary AircraftBy Regions,this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaTable of ContentsGlobal Aerospace Materials Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of Aerospace Materials1.1 Definition and Specifications of Aerospace Materials1.1.1 Definition of Aerospace Materials1.1.2 Specifications of Aerospace Materials1.2 Classification of Aerospace Materials1.2.1 Aluminium Alloys1.2.2 Steel Alloys1.2.3 Titanium Alloys1.2.4 Super Alloys1.2.5 Composite MaterialsBrowse Report @2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Aerospace Materials2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Aerospace Materials2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Aerospace Materials2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Aerospace Materials3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Aerospace Materials3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Aerospace Materials Major Manufacturers in 20173.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Aerospace Materials Major Manufacturers in 20173.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Aerospace Materials Major Manufacturers in 20173.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Aerospace Materials Major Manufacturers in 20174 Global Aerospace Materials Overall Market Overview4.1 2013-2018E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2013-2018E Global Aerospace Materials Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2017 Aerospace Materials Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2013-2018E Global Aerospace Materials Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2017 Aerospace Materials Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price AnalysisAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on Blogger at: Commercial Vehicle Foundation Brakes Market Size, Analysis, and Forecast Report 2017 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-5949 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-5949 www.futuremarketinsights.com Increasing population, industrial activity and the ensuing rise in demand for transportation are creating an idiosyncratic opportunity for the global commercial vehicle foundation brake market. Additionally, the steady rise in logistics, development of road infrastructure and distribution & public transportation are also spurring the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market. A foundation brake is an assembly of brake components, such as calipers, rotors, drums, vacuum boosters and master cylinders, spring actuators and mechanical brake mechanism, which includes the brake shoes & friction material. This assembly is mounted around the wheels to operate the braking system, particularly in an air brake system.The s-cam drum brake is the most popular kind of foundation brake. It is a drum brake that utilizes linkage and air brake chambers to perform the braking operation in a vehicle. On the flip side, the disc brake is also gaining significant traction in foundation brakes, in which the rotor is partially visible, owing to the fact that the wheel, caliper and dust shield usually cover a part of it. Furthermore, the wedge air brake system is a type of drum brake that encompasses brake shoes and brake drums without exposed brake linkage. Wedge air brakes have a self-adjusting mechanism. Flexibility and low operational cost remain the prime focus of key manufacturers in the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market. It is anticipated that the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market will grow with a remarkable CAGR during the forecast period.Globalization of vehicle concepts, rising transportation infrastructure and increasing demand for food trucks, refrigerated vehicles and improved safety features in commercial vehicle are expected to embellish the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market by the end of 2027. Moreover, National Green Tribunal (NGTs) push on replacement of old diesel vehicles along with government regulations for modernization program are expected to trigger the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market during the forecast period.Government regulations pertaining to vehicle length and overloading norms are expected to hinder the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market during the forecast period. Incipient trends, such as increasing luxury buses and emerging advanced technology, such as ABS (Anti-lock brake system), electronic systems and ASR (Automatic traction control system) for safer driving are estimated to drive the future of this market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Commercial Vehicle Foundation Brakes Market Segmentation By Product Type S-Cam Brakes, Disc Brakes, Wedge Brakes; By Pricing Model One-Time Fee, Monthly Fee, Billed By Carrier/OEM; By Commercial Vehicle Type Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV)(Vans, Others), Medium Commercial Vehicle (MCV)(Travel Trailers, Box Trucks, Semi-Trucks), Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV)(Trucks, Buses, Trailers, Other); By Sales Channels Oems, AftermarketIncreasing demand for transportation of goods and passengers is giving impetus to the market and triggering a wave for the manufacturing of commercial vehicles in Asia Pacific. It is anticipated that North America is gaining significant traction in the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market, owing to the increasing demand for medium commercial vehicles (Classes 4 to 7). In Europe, light and medium commercial vehicles are also attaining high traction in comparison to heavy commercial vehicles, owing to the stringent government regulations pertaining to the replacement of old heavy trucks.It has been observed that over the past few years, the export of goods has been declining; subsequently, it is anticipated that this factor may play a critical role in hindering the growth of heavy commercial vehicles during the forecast period. In MEA, OEMs sales channels are expected to grow with significant CAGRs. Increasing tourism activity, particularly in Egypt and Morocco may give added impetus to transportation as well as the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes market during the forecast period.The key participants of the global commercial vehicle foundation brakes markets are: Robert Bosch GmbH, Akebono Brake Corporation, Continental AG, Knorr-Bremse AG, MASU BRAKES PVT LTD, R M Brake Dicss & DrumMando Corporation, KNOTT, Nabtesco Automotive Corporation, HOV AUTO LTD, SilverBack HD, Tata AutoComp Systems Ltd.Request For Table Of Content @The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, application, and industry.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +13479183531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Audio Cable Industry Forecast Analysis Market Research Report 2018 Global Audio Cable Industry Forecast Analysis Market Research Report 2018 http://www.qyresearchglobal.com/goods-1565166.html http://www.qyresearcheurope.com/ or http://www.qyresearch.com/ The Global Audio Cable Market Research Report 2018 is in-depth study of overall Audio Cable market including introduction of product, definition, scope, Audio Cable global sale, and forecast up to 2025.The Audio Cable industry report clarifies the past experience and trends, on the basis of these past experiences, it offers the future prediction considering other factors influencing the growth rate. This worldwide report offers the detailed analysis of the important factors such as market dynamics (DROT), PEST, and PORTER which assists the growth of the Audio Cable Industry. These past experience and factors assist to build the strategy and future planning of Audio Cable Market and hold a place in the competitive world.This report is the extensive analysis of the Audio Cable industry based on the primary and secondary in-depth research. The scope of the report includes the global and regional sale, product consumption in terms of volume and value. The Audio Cable market report offers a forecast of revenue, CAGR, and cumulative revenue. The gathered information about Audio Cable global business is represented in the figures, tables, pie chart, and graphs.The Audio Cable industry Market report offers the competitive scenario in the Audio Cable industry based on the type of product, applications, and the companies that are present in the Audio Cable market, and covers the company profiles, their development policies, lined up products and recent launched along with the SWOT analysis of companies.Get a complete report sample from this link:This report studies the global Audio Cable market status and forecast, categorizes the global Audio Cable market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).The major manufacturers covered in this reportBELKINMonsterSONMUSENordostBetter CablesPHILIPSYarboCE-LINKShenzhen ChosealTonetronGeographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanOther Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa)The regional scope of the study is as follows:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAudio Signal CableAudio Optical Signal CableOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingCommunication ProductsElectronic ProductsOtherThe study objectives of this report are:To study and analyze the global Audio Cable market size (value & volume) by company, key regions/countries, products and application, history data from 2013 to 2017, and forecast to 2025.To understand the structure of Audio Cable market by identifying its various subsegments.To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks).Focuses on the key global Audio Cable manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in next few years.To analyze the Audio Cable with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market.To project the value and volume of Audio Cable submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries).To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market.To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.This research study focuses to product specifications, Audio Cable cost specifications, production capacity, distributors list, Audio Cable marketing channel, and detail analysis of the export/import of the product. The Audio Cable research document also offers raw material suppliers, cost, and downstream consumer list.All features mentioned above is included in the Audio Cable Market Report 2018 which can offer solution to the difficulties to the prominent members of the Audio Cable market.Additionally, the important terminologies, government policies, and regulations related to Audio Cable market product are added.Contact Details:Company Name: QYResearch CO.,LIMITED | focus on Market Survey and ResearchTina| Sales ManagersTel: 0086-20-22093278(CN)Email: sales@qyresearchglobal.com or tinaning@qyresearch.comWeb:QYResearch, established in 2007, focuses on custom research, management consulting, IPO consulting, industry chain research, and data base &seminar services. The company owns large basic databases (such as National Bureau of Statistics Database, Customs Import and Export Database, Industry Association Database, etc.), expert resources (including industry experts who own more than 10 years experiences on marketing or R&D in industries of energy, automotive, chemicals, medical ICT consumer goods, etc.), professional survey team (the team members obtained more than 3 years market survey experience and more than 2 years deep expert interview experience), and excellent data analysis team (SPSS statistics and PPT graphics process team).Room 2901 VILI International Building No.167 Linhe West Road Global Dry Construction Market Research Report, Analysis, Share, Size, Leading Player and Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2846 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/dry-construction-market-2846 Market OverviewMarket research future published a half cooked research report on Global dry construction market. The dry construction market is expected to grow over the CAGR of around 5 % during the period 2017 to 2023.The major factor expected to drive the dry construction market is the boom in the construction industry in the developing nations. The rapidly increasing industrialization and urbanization are leading to an increase in use of dry construction materials. The increase in adoption of lightweight materials by construction industry is also driving the growth of the market. The various characteristics of dry construction materials such as ease of installation, reduction in construction time, better thermal and sound insulation, moisture resistance, and fire safety drive is expected to increase the use of such material by both residential as well as non-residential end-users. This will further contribute the growth of the dry construction market.Receive Sample Copy @Market Research AnalysisThe Asia-Pacific region is expected to grow the highest in the dry construction market. With the rapid increase in population and the undertaking of various construction projects to fulfill the needs of the increasing population in the developing nations such as India and China, the dry construction market is expected to gain traction in the Asia-Pacific region. In the region of North America and Europe, the concept, do-it-yourself is gaining traction. This emerging concept in the dry construction is also expected to contribute to the growth of the market. The need for better and improved housing technologies is also expected to contribute to the growth of the dry construction market.Scope of the ReportThis study provides an overview of the global dry construction market, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region. The scope of the study segments the global Dry construction market by its service, application and region. By Type Supporting Framework Boarding By System Wall Flooring ceiling Others By Material Metal Wood Plastic Others By Region North America Asia Pacific Europe Rest of the WorldBrowse Full Report @Key Players Xella Group (Germany) Saint-Gobain S.A. (France) Etex Group SA (Belgium) CSR Limited (Australia) Armstrong World Industries, Inc. (U.S.), Fletcher Building (New Zealand) USG Boral (Malaysia) Knauf (Germany) Panel Rey S.A. (Mexico) Pabco Gypsum (U.S.)About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com IoT Sensor Market - Grows Owning to Innovations in Technology, Industry survey and new business opportunities 2018 2025 The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000711 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/iot-sensor-market Sensor is an electronic device which is used to detect events or changes in its environment and send the information to other system such as computer processor. Sensors in IoT play an important role for determining the physical quality of objects and compute it into a value which is further read by another device or user.The major drivers which help in surging the growth of IoT sensor market include its connectivity and analytics to the supply chain along with its lower cost and more advanced capabilities of RFID tags whereas limitation in bandwidth connection may act as a restraining factor for this market. Development of smart cities will add new opportunities for this market in the coming years.Get sample of this Report @The objectives of this report are as follows:-To provide overview of the global IoT Sensor market-To analyze and forecast the global IoT Sensor market on the basis of type and end-users.-To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall IoT Sensor market with respect to five major regions-To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend.-To provide exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.The Global IoT Sensor Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the IoT sensor industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global IoT sensor market with detailed market segmentation by type, connectivity type, application and geography. The global IoT sensor market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global IoT sensor market based on type, connectivity type and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall IoT sensor market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 16 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Segmentations Covered in the IoT Sensor Market:Overview: Global IoT Sensor Market By type, By End-User, By Region, By CountryGeographical Analysis: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East & Africa (MEA), South America (SAM)Some of the leading players in IoT Sensor Market:1. Texas Instruments Incorporated.2. NXP Semiconductors N.V.3. Broadcom Limited (Avago)4. Robert Bosch GmbH5. Infineon Technologies AG6. Analog Devices, Inc.7. OMRON Corporation8. Sensirion AG9. SmartThings Inc.10. Honeywell International Inc.Get Complete Report @About The Insight Partners:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comOrganization: The Insight Partners Remote Access Management Market 2018 Global Leaders: Symantec, NetScreen Technologies, Palo Alto Networks, Brocade Communication Systems, Sophos, Citrix Systems, Fortinet, VMware, Cisco Systems https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3217 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/remote-access-management-market-3217 Market Research Future published a research report on Remote Access Management Market Research Report- Global Forecast 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market HighlightsIn this rapidly changing world of technology, remote access management market is projected to show major growth prospects during the forecast period. Remote access management provides secure connectivity to machines through a virtual private network which is set up between a user and a network.As compared to other regions, the remote access management market in North America is expected to witness significant growth. North America is expected to dominate the Remote Access Management Market during the forecast period. U.S and Canada are anticipated to drive the growth of remote access management market. This is owing to the presence of large number of security vendors in that region. In addition to this, the region also has a well-established infrastructure and allows high penetration of devices, while the increasing adoption of advanced technologies is another reason for the growth of remote access management market.The remote access management market is growing rapidly over 11% of CAGR and is expected to reach at approx. USD 47 billion by the end of forecast period.Get Sample of Report @Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on Remote Access Management Market Research Report-Forecast to 2023.Key PlayersThe prominent players in remote access management market are Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Juniper Networks (U.S.), VMware, Inc. (U.S.), Fortinet (U.S.), Citrix Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Sophos Ltd. (U.K.), Brocade Communication Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (U.S.), NetScreen Technologies, Inc. (U.S.) and Symantec Corporation (U.S.) among others.Remote Access Management Market SegmentationThe remote access management market has been segmented on the basis of component, technology, organization size and vertical. The vertical segment is further bifurcated into BFSI, manufacturing, healthcare, IT and telecommunication, aerospace and defense and government. The popularity of remote access management market is increasing among the vertical segment owing to expanding their go-to-market models and providing better support for customers and employees.Market Research Analysis:The global remote access management market, by geography, has been segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Others. In the global remote access management market, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness relatively faster adoption and hence is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Within Asia Pacific, remote access management market is projected to contribute faster to the growth of revenue backed by increasing employee strength in countries such as Japan, China and India.Across Europe, countries including Germany, France and the U.K. are anticipated to drive the growth of remote access management market. In Europe, the presence of advanced infrastructure and with the increasing adoption of technology and technological advancements in numerous countries is driving the market growth of remote access management market. High focus on innovations owing to increasing research and developments in this region are other major factors driving the Remote access management market. The developed economies in these regions is the main reason for the growth of remote access management market. North America is followed by Europe in terms of market share and growth rate in remote access management market.Get Complete Report @Intended Audience Technology investors Integrated device manufacturers (IDMs) Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Research/Consultancy firms Government agencies Remote access management vendors Network solution providers IT security agencies Managed Security Service ProvidersAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Direct Thermal Labels Market International Key Players 3M Company, NPI , AM Labels, Thermal Label Warehouse and More https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4093 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4093 MarketResearchFuture.com added New Report Named Direct Thermal Labels Market 2018: Global Industry Analysis, Market Growth and Opportunity Assessment, Segmentation by Face stock Material (Paper and Plastic), by Application (Food & Beverages, Pharmaceuticals, Personal Care, Retail and Others) and By Region | Outlook to 2023 to its Database.Global Direct thermal labels market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period.The prominent players in the direct thermal labels market include Technicode, Inc. (Michigan), Avery Dennison Corporation (U.S.), 3M Company (U.S.), NPI (U.S.), AM Labels Ltd (UK), Resource Label Group (US), Thermal Label Warehouse LLC (U.S.), Brady Corporation (U.S.), Consolidated Label Co (U.S.), and Labelmakers Group Pty Ltd (Australia).Get a Sample Copy of Global Report Direct Thermal Labels Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2023 @The report for Global Direct Thermal Labels Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.On the basis of regions, global direct thermal labels market is segmented as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). Asia-Pacific dominates the global direct thermal labels market. It is expected to be the fastest growing region for direct thermal labels market. Rapid growth in e-commerce and transportation sectors, is driving the growth of the market in Asia-Pacific region. The growing organized retails have widened the scope of warehousing solutions, which staggers the demand for direct thermal labels. North America is expected to contribute significantly during the forecast period.Global direct thermal labels market has been segmented based on face stock material, application and region. On the basis of face stock material, the market is segmented as paper and plastic. Different types of plastic such as polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and others are used in face stock. These synthetic direct thermal labels offer better durability, longer-lasting are used in face stock to abrasion, moisture, and chemicals. On the basis of applications, the market is segmented as food & beverages, pharmaceutical, personal care, retail and others. Food & Beverages segment dominates the application segment of the market. Growing demand of processed and packaged food across the globe, is driving the demand of the market. The retail segment is anticipated to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period.Direct thermal labels are chemically treated, heat sensitive labels that print without the use of a ribbon. These labels are less expensive but have a shorter life span as the image will fade with time and light exposure.Product Analysis Product matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional Information Regulatory Landscape Pricing Analysis Macroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis Geographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany Information Profiling of 10 key market players In-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report title Competitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesGet Attractive Discount on Global Report Direct Thermal Labels Market Research Report - Global Forecast to 2023 @Brief TOC :1. Executive Summary2. Research Methodology3. Market Dynamics4. Global Market, By Packaging Type5. Global Market, By Technology6. Global Market, By Application7. Global Market, By End-user8. Regional Market Analysis9. Competitive Analysis10. Conclusion11. List Of Tables12. List Of FiguresAsk for your specific company profile and country level customization on reports.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Industrials.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence Industrials to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Thermal Paper and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Artificial Retina Market to Perceive Accruals of US$ 102.9 million by 2023 with 2.1% of CAGR with Industry Top Vendors; MRFR Unleashes Industry Prognostications Artificial Retina Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2812 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2812 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2812 Global Artificial Retina Market - Study Objectives To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 6 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Artificial Retina Market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the Artificial Retina Market based on various factors such as price analysis, supply chain analysis, Porters Five Forces analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries- Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Middle East & Africa.Try Sample Report Here @Global Artificial Retina Market - Key PlayersSome of the key players in this market are: SECOND SIGHT (US), Nano Retina (Israel), Retina Implant AG (Germany), PIXIUM VISION (France), Bionic Vision Australia.Global Artificial Retina Market - OverviewRetinal degeneration is major reason for blindness in humans and no clinical treatments can cure this medical condition. Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is rare and inherited eye disorder that causes progressive degeneration of the rod photoreceptor cells of the retina which leads to blindness. Artificial retina helps blind person to see objects. Artificial retina are placed either in the internal surface of the retina or outer surface of retina. There are around 1.5 million people suffering from retinitis pigmentosa which ultimately causes blindness. Approximately, 280 million people with visual impairment and about 40 million people are completely blind.Artificial retina is new hope for blind people. Artificial retina manufacturers are investing huge money in R&D which is leading to new and innovative product development which is driving the growth for the market. Artificial retina manufacturers are collaborating with hospitals to provide product and service which is key driver for the market. Global Market for Artificial Retina is growing steady and expected to continue its growth near future. Global artificial retina market is expected to grow US$ 102.9 million by 2023 at CAGR of 2.1%.Get Discount on Report @Global Artificial Retina Market - SegmentsGlobal Artificial Retina Market has been segmented on the basis of type of retinal implants which comprise Epiretinal Implants, Subretinal Implants. On the basis of End user it comprise Eye hospitals, Research laboratories, and others.Global Artificial Retina Market - Regional AnalysisConsidering the global scenario of the market, North America is believed to be the largest market for artificial retina. Moreover the European market is also growing and second largest market for artificial retina. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific market is expected to grow at the fastest pace in the artificial retina during the forecasted period. Rest of the World is likely to have a limited but steady growth in the artificial retina market.The report for Global Artificial Retina Market of Market Research Future comprises extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides detail information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different markets segments and regions.To Know More Enquire @BRIEF TOC1. Report Prologue2. Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3. Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model4. Market DynamicsContinued.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Performance Appraisal Software 2018 Global Market Net Worth US$ 3000 million Forecast By 2022 Performance Appraisal Software Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3136824-global-performance-appraisal-software-market-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3136824-global-performance-appraisal-software-market-report-2018 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Performance Appraisal Software 2018 Global Market Net Worth US$ 3000 million Forecast By 2022.Description:The Performance Appraisal Software industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Performance Appraisal Software market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 14.47% from 800 million $ in 2014 to 1200 million $ in 2017, The analysts believe that in the next few years, Performance Appraisal Software market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2022, The market size of the Performance Appraisal Software will reach 3000 million $.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers.Sections:-Section 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailOracleSabaSAPSumTotal SystemsUltimate SoftwareCornerstone OnDemandPerformlyImpraiseMAUSBambooHRNamelyZoho CorporationBreatheHRTrakstarClearCompanyActusInsperityReviewsnapPeopleGoalBeisenContinued..Report Details @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsSection 1 Performance Appraisal Software Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Performance Appraisal Software Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Performance Appraisal Software Business Revenue2.3 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer Performance Appraisal Software Business Introduction3.1 Oracle Performance Appraisal Software Business Introduction3.1.1 Oracle Performance Appraisal Software Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.1.2 Oracle Performance Appraisal Software Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Oracle Interview Record3.1.4 Oracle Performance Appraisal Software Business Profile3.1.5 Oracle Performance Appraisal Software Product Specification3.2 Saba Performance Appraisal Software Business Introduction3.2.1 Saba Performance Appraisal Software Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.2.2 Saba Performance Appraisal Software Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 Saba Performance Appraisal Software Business Overview3.2.5 Saba Performance Appraisal Software Product Specification3.3 SAP Performance Appraisal Software Business Introduction3.3.1 SAP Performance Appraisal Software Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.3.2 SAP Performance Appraisal Software Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 SAP Performance Appraisal Software Business Overview3.3.5 SAP Performance Appraisal Software Product Specification3.4 SumTotal Systems Performance Appraisal Software Business Introduction3.5 Ultimate Software Performance Appraisal Software Business Introduction3.6 Cornerstone OnDemand Performance Appraisal Software Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.1.2 Canada Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.2 Japan Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.3 India Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.4 Korea Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.2 UK Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.3 France Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.4 Italy Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.5 Europe Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.2 Africa Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.3 GCC Performance Appraisal Software Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.6 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2014-20174.7 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2014-20175.2 Different Performance Appraisal Software Product Type Price 2014-20175.3 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2014-20176.2 Different Industry Price 2014-20176.3 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2014-20177.2 Global Performance Appraisal Software Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisContinued..For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Market Demand and Growth Rate During 2018-2025 QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1729915&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-4-pole-dp-contactor-sales-market-report-2018.htm/toc http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report 4-Pole DP Contactor to its huge collection of research reports.Several regional and global trends account for the attractive stride the global 4-Pole DP Contactor market is experiencing over the forecast period. The report offers a granular assessment of all such trends impacting the current outlook and emerging growth dynamics. The study on the global 4-Pole DP Contactor market highlights the key factors shaping the various elements of the industry ecosystem, including value-chain, capital investment, and strategic and operational risks. The analysis also takes into account of sharply contrasting trends the surfaced in recent years. In addition, it analyzes their transformative effect on the overall competitive landscape of the global 4-Pole DP Contactor market. The research keeps a tab of the key technological advances in recent years, which led to innovations in products and services offered by various players.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of 4-Pole DP Contactor for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaFor more info, get sample report for FREE here:Global 4-Pole DP Contactor market competition by top manufacturers/players, with 4-Pole DP Contactor sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingABB (Switzerland)Chint Electric (China)Eaton (Ireland)GE Industrial (Boston, Massachusetts)Honeywell (USA)Mitsubishi Electric (Japan)Rockwell Automation (USA)Schneider Electric (France)Siemens (Germany)Shihlin Electric (Taiwan)TE Connectivity (Switzerland)Table of ContentsGlobal 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales Market Report 20181 4-Pole DP Contactor Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of 4-Pole DP Contactor1.2 Classification of 4-Pole DP Contactor by Product Category1.2.1 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 FLA Below 30A1.2.4 FLA 30A-60A1.2.5 FLA30A-90A1.2.6 FLA90A-150A1.2.7 FLA Above 150ARead Complete Table of Content of the Report at:2 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global 4-Pole DP Contactor (Volume) by Application3 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States 4-Pole DP Contactor Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)...About QYResearchReports.comQyresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from Qyresearchreports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market 2018-2022 | Size, Trend, Forecast | ResearchByMarkets Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2018-2022) https://www.researchbymarkets.com/report/global-industrial-wood-pellet-market-size-trends-forecasts-2018-2022-15049.html https://www.researchbymarkets.com/inquiry/15049 ResearchByMarkets adds report title "Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2018-2022)" to its online repository.More Information:Enviva Partners, Graanul Invest Group, Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc., and Drax Group (Drax Biomass) are some of the prominent players operating in the global industrial wood pellet market whose company profiling has been done in the report which covers business overview, financial overview and business strategies adopted by the respective companies.The report provides an in-depth analysis of the industrial wood pellet market with sizing and growth. The analysis includes industrial wood pellet market in terms of demand and market share by region. It also includes an overview of wood pellet market by demand and market share by segments.The report also covers a brief regional analysis of the UK, Europe, South Korea, Japan and ROW with their actual and forecasted market size in terms of demand. The UK has the largest stake in the global demand for industrial wood pellets which is projected to grow over the forecasted period also.Moreover, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global industrial wood pellet market has also been forecasted for the years 2018-2022, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.Request Sample Pages or Make an Inquiry:Company CoverageEnviva PartnersGraanul Invest GroupPinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc.Drax Group (Drax Biomass)Region/Country CoverageThe UKEuropeSouth KoreaJapanROWExecutive SummaryThe continuous depletion of renewable sources such as coal, crude oil etc. arise the demand for a substitute source of energy. Biomass is one of the few renewable sources of energy which support the other intermittent renewable energy alternatives. Wood pellet is one such example of biomass fuel. Such fuel is clean-burning, renewable and cost-efficient as compared to other renewable sources of energy. Raw materials used in the production of wood pellets are sawdust, shaving and chips which are then compacted into tiny pellets. On the basis of use, wood pellets are categorized into two segments namely commercial/residential and industrial wood pellets.Industrial wood pellets are mainly used in power plants for generation of heat and electricity. They can also be used in combined power and heating plants and even on smaller heating plants. Pellets can be used at the whole power plants or on 1-2 boilers only in big power station. Power plants which run on wood pellets need them all over the year.The global industrial wood pellet market has shown tremendous growth over the past few years and projections are made that the market would grow at a rapid pace over the forecasted period i.e. 2018 to 2022. Rising fossil fuel prices, growing environmental concern, supporting government policies, low cost of production, technological advancements are some of the key factors that would positively influence the market in the coming years. However, the market is restrained by some challenges such as inability to fulfill certification criteria and gradual reduction in sawmill residue.Contact:ResearchByMarketsMs. Lia Seth | Client Relations Managerenquiry@researchbymarkets.comResearch By Markets is an online Market Research Report Repository.Our repository contains reports segmented by Geography and Industry. We cover all major Industry Verticals - Information Technology, Semiconductor, Electronics, Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Telecommunications, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Automotive, BioTechnology, Energy & Power, Banking and many more.Research By Markets3, Nagar Road,Pune 411 014, Maharashtra, Indiaenquiry@researchbymarkets.com+1-800-416-3124 Leading Technology Innovations in Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Market 20182025 QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1729665&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-artificial-intelligence-ai-chips-market-research-report-2018.htm/toc http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips to its huge collection of research reports.The global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips market will be extensively covered in our latest report, which mainly outlines key occurrences in the market. Product launches, advancements in technology, and collaborations within businesses are some of these events, which are exhaustively covered in the report. The study has been carried out based on qualitative as well as quantitative information derived from primary and secondary research. This study describes market size from a global and local perspective, trends, progress, and various other parameters. A thorough representation of the competitive landscape has been given in the report.This report studies the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips market status and forecast, categorizes the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in United States, Europe, China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan and other regions.For more info, get sample report for FREE here:The major manufacturers covered in this reportAMD (Advanced Micro Devices)GoogleIntelNVIDIA...The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Read Complete Table of Content of the Report at:Table of ContentsGlobal Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Market Research Report 20181 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips1.2 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 GPU1.2.4 ASIC1.2.5 FPGA1.2.6 CPU1.3 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Segment by Application1.3.1 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Electronics1.3.3 Automotive1.3.4 Consumer Goods2 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Market Competitive Situation and Trends3 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 United States Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe Artificial Intelligence (AI) Chips Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)...About QYResearchReports.comQyresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from Qyresearchreports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com 0 Vietnam Switchgear market revenues are projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% during 2018-24 Vietnam Switchgear Market (2018-2024) http://www.6wresearch.com/press-releases/vietnam-switchgear-market-share-forecasts-size-growth-opportunity-shipments-cagr-players-trends-news.html http://www.6wresearch.com/market-reports/vietnam-switchgear-market-2018-2024-forecast-by-voltage-low-medium-high-insulation-ais-gis-mcb-mccb-cr-acb-cos-verticals-regions-competitive-landscape.html Burgeoning Power Sector and Rising Investment in Transportation Infrastructure would be the Key Drivers for the Growth of Vietnam Switchgear Market 6WresearchGovernment efforts to develop power related infrastructure to ensure 100% electrification rate in rural region of Vietnam under the National Power Development Plan VII (2011-2020) along with the strengthening of urban infrastructure including housing and transportation would increase the demand for the switchgears in the country.According to 6Wresearch, Vietnam Switchgear market revenues are projected to grow at a CAGR of 7.1% during 2018-24. According to the Department for Economic Zones Management (DEZM), industrial parks and special economic zones in Vietnam attracted more than 850 domestic and foreign investment projects worth $12.4 billion in 2017. Stable economic growth and rising inflow of foreign direct investment in industrial sector would be some of the key factors on account of which the switchgear market of the country would register a healthy growth during 2018-24.Browse Press Release :According to Ravi Bhandari, Assistant Manager, 6Wresearch, The residential sector of Vietnam experienced robust growth in past years due to shift in trend towards luxury and mid ranged housing units. Further, the government of Vietnam is also supporting the development of green buildings in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi regions. The demand for medium and high voltage switchgears is also expected to increase on account of significant growth in the transmission grid network across the country.According to Vietnam Electricity (EVN), the total installed power generation capacity of Vietnam would reach around 64 GW by 2020, thus resulting in construction of several new power plant projects in the next few years which would aid the demand for switchgears in the power sector of the country. Ravi further added.According to Akash Jain, Research Analyst, 6Wresearch, demand for low and medium voltage switchgears is expected to remain strong due to growing construction activities in residential and commercial segments. The government is looking to develop social infrastructure across Vietnam to attract investment in retail and commercial sectors of the country, especially outside metropolitan cities such as HCM city and Hanoi.The $450 billion Economic Restructuring Plan 2016-2020 would focus on the construction of transportation infrastructure, affordable housing and industrial construction in Vietnam, Akash concluded.Some of the key players in Vietnam Switchgear market include- Schneider Electric, Siemens, ABB, Fuji Electric and Mitsubishi Electric.Vietnam Switchgear Market (2018-2024) provides in-depth analysis with 67 figures and 28 tables covered in 155 pages. The report estimates and forecast the overall Vietnam switchgear market by voltage, types, insulation, applications and regions. The report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of the on-going trends, opportunities/high growth areas and market drivers which would help the stakeholders to device and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics.For Sample Pages & Detailed Report Description Visit :6Wresearch is the premier, one stop market intelligence and advisory center, known for its best in class business research and consulting activity. We provide industry research reports and consulting service across different industries and geographies which provide industry players an in-depth coverage and help them in decision making before investing or enter into a particular geography.Delhi/NCR Office1107-1108, PEARLS BEST HEIGHTSTOWER 1, NETAJI SUBHASH PLACEPITAMPURA, New Delhi-110034Phone: +911143024305 Oman Residential Construction Market Research Report 2017 Analysis and Forecast to 2022 http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3148921-residential-construction-market-in-oman-market-size-growth https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3148921-residential-construction-market-in-oman-market-size-growth Oman Residential Construction MarketSynopsis"Residential Construction Market in Oman: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2022" contains historic and forecast market data for the residential construction market in Oman, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the residential construction segments such as Residential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing.. This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2013-2017 and an illustrative forecast to 2022.Click here for sample report @SummaryResidential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing.The Omani residential construction category has observed some fluctuations in the review period with a value of OMRxxx.xx million (US$xxx.xx million) in 2017 and declined at a rate of x.xx% over 2016. The market recorded a CAGR of x.xx% from 2013 through 2017."Residential Construction Market in Oman: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2022"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the residential construction market in Oman. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Oman construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the residential construction market in Oman.Historic (2013 through 2017) and forecast (2018 through 2022) construction market output values are provided.A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services).This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Residential construction market covers new construction, renovation and demolition of residential buildings such as houses, townhouses, cottages, condominiums, single-unit dwellings, sub-divisions and apartments. This market includes two categories: single-family housing and multi-family housing..Reasons To Buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type.Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition).Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services).Details the segments covered under commercial construction market.Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 What is this Report About?1.2 Definitions1.3 CAGR Definition and Calculation2 Overall Residential Construction: Market Analysis2.1 Overall Residential Construction Output Value, 2013 - 20172.2 Overall Residential Construction Output Value Forecast, 2018 - 20222.3 Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type2.3.1 Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2013 - 20172.3.2 Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type Forecast, 2018 - 20223 Residential Construction Output: Analysis by Category3.1 New Construction Output Value, 2013 - 20173.2 New Construction Output Value Forecast, 2018 - 20223.3 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type3.3.1 New Construction Output Value by Cost Type, 2013 - 2017List of TablesTable 1: Timetric- Residential Construction Market DefinitionsTable 2: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value (US$ Million), 2013 - 2017Table 3: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value (OMR Million), 2013 - 2017Table 4: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value (US$ Million), 2018 - 2022Table 5: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value (OMR Million), 2018 - 2022List of FiguresFigure 1: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value (OMR Million), 2013 - 2017Figure 2: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value (OMR Million), 2018 - 2022Figure 3: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type (OMR Million), 2013 - 2017Figure 4: Omani Overall Residential Construction Output Value by Cost Type (OMR Million), 2018 - 2022Figure 5: Omani Residential Construction Output Value, New Construction (OMR Million), 2013 - 2017.ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Impressive Growth of Digital Pathology Market Striking CAGR with Top Players Philips Healthcare, Huron Digital Pathology Inc, ViewsIQ Inc., 3DHISTECH Ltd and Apollo Enterprise Imaging Corp Digital Pathology Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1955 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1955 Digital Pathology Market has been segmented on the basis of types which comprises of human pathology and animal pathology. On the basis of products, market is segmented into scanners, storage server systems, software and others. On the basis of application, market is segmented into mHealth, telemedicine, disease diagnosis, drug discovery and others. On the basis of end user, market is segmented into pharmaceutical companies, hospital/clinics, reference laboratories, research institutes and others.Digital Pathology Market Scenario:Digital Pathology is a computer aided image-based information environment. Digital pathology comprises of a practice of converting glass slides into digital slides that can be viewed, and analyzed on a computer screen. It allows for the management of information generated from a digital slide. Digital pathology helps in speeding up the process of diagnosis and further treatment. It also helps research procedures by offering an easy access to the previously stored digital information.Get Exclusive Sample Report @Global Market for Digital Pathology Competitive LandscapeMikroscan Technologies, Inc., microDimensions GmbH, Omnyx, LLC, Philips Healthcare, ViewsIQ Inc., Apollo Enterprise Imaging Corp., Definiens, Q2 Solutions, GE Healthcare, Huron Digital Pathology Inc, 3DHISTECH Ltd, and Xifin, Inc. are some of the top companies mentioned MRFRs reportThe market is expected grow with the same trends during the forecast period. The major drivers will be rapid technological advancements in digital pathology system such as advancements in digital imaging, robotic light microscopy, and multiple fiber optic communications among others. Moreover, growing prevalence of chronic conditions, that has expected to uplift the demand for digital pathology in order to improve existing patient diagnostic imaging measures and reduce high cost associated with the traditional diagnostics methods. For instance, as per National Pathology Programme, nearly 800 million tests are being performed annually which is equal to 14 for each person in England and Wales. Additionally, increasing R&D applications of static and dynamic systems is fostering the market growth of digital pathology market.Global Digital Pathology Market - Competitive AnalysisThe market for digital pathology is characterised by the presence of several well-established and small players, the global market of digital pathology appears to be highly competitive and fragmented. Global players are increasingly expanding their footprint in the emerging nations, making it putting pressure on the regional players, especially in terms of features such as type, product portfolios, and pricing. The market is witnessing intensified competition which is expected to get more intensified further during the forecast period. Well established players are entering into mergers & acquisitions, collaboration, partnership, expansion, and product launch in order to gain competitive advantage in this market and to maintain their market position.Companies like Leica Biosystems; Hamamatsu Photonics, Inc.; and Olympus Corporation are increasingly adopting extensive collaborative strategies to gain more profits and capturing new markets. For instance, in March 2017, Leica Biosystems entered into a strategic partnership with Leeds Hospital to improve productivity and workflow.Key participants like Royal Philips has acquired the Irish PathXL, one of the largest pathology, image-based analysis firms in order to develop integrated tools targeting applications in computational biology, workflow solutions, education, and image analytics. In addition, these key activities the companies are aiming towards supporting the gradual transition of medical institutions present across the globe from the conventional pathology systems to digital pathology systems.Thus, we can say that these competitive developments will further enable pathologists to perform high-throughput analysis of clinical image datasets that are diverse in nature and expedite improvement in the diagnosis quality, thereby presenting a potential for adoption new ad improved therapies to enhance patient health outcomes.microDimensions GmbH (Germany), Mikroscan Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Q2 Solutions (U.S.), Omnyx, LLC (U.S.), GE Healthcare (UK), Philips Healthcare (U.S.), Huron Digital Pathology Inc. (Canada), ViewsIQ Inc. (Canada), 3DHISTECH Ltd (Hungary) Apollo Enterprise Imaging Corp. (U.S.), Xifin Inc. (U.S.), Definiens (Germany) and others. are some of the prominent players at the forefront of competition in the Global Digital Pathology Market and are profiled in MRFR Analysis.Get Your Customized Report @1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS1.2.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.2.2 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET STRUCTURE:2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS:2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH:3 MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 DRIVERS3.2 RESTRAINTS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.4 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL4.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS4.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS4.4 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS4.5 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES4.6 INTENSITY OF RIVALRY5 GLOBAL DIGITAL PATHOLOGY MARKET, BY TYPES5.1 HUMAN PATHOLOGY5.2 ANIMAL PATHOLOGYTOC Continued!About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Factors Driving the Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market in Coming Years Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1126346-global-thin-film-lithium-ion-battery-sales-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1126346-global-thin-film-lithium-ion-battery-sales-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1126346-global-thin-film-lithium-ion-battery-sales-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1126346 HTF MI broadcasted a new title Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Sales Market Report 2018 with 104 pages and in-depth assessment including key market trends, upcoming technologies, industry drivers, challenges, regulatory policies, with key company profiles and strategies of players such as Cymbet Corporation, Infinite, Front Edge Technology, STMicroelectronics & Prologium. The research study provides forecasts for Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery investments till 2022.Get Access to sample pages @Product Analysis:This Report provides a detailed study of given products. The report also provides comprehensive analysis of Key Trends & advance technologies. The Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Polymer Battery & Inorganic BatteryApplication Analysis:This report provides an advance approach to the market growth with a detailed analysis of the overall competitive scenario of the Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery market. The market is segmented by Application such as Electric Car, Aerospace & Medical Care with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Industry Growth:An in-depth study about key trends and emerging drivers with market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, shares, trend and strategies for Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery market. The market is expected to estimate at XX million by 2023 growing at a CAGR of XX%.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Key Highlights of the Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market : Market Share of players that includes Cymbet Corporation, Infinite, Front Edge Technology, STMicroelectronics & Prologium to better understand how deeply they have penetrated the market. Conceptual analysis of the Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market products, application wise segmented study. Clear study and pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics Analysis of major regional segmentation on the basis of how the market is predicted to growKey questions answered in this comprehensive study Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Sales Market Report 2018What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Market?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery market? Get in-depth details about factors influencing the market shares of the North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey & Rest of Middle East & Africa?Enquire for customization in Report @There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery, Applications of , Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, Export & Import, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey & Rest of Middle East & Africa, Segment Market Analysis (by Type) [Polymer Battery & Inorganic Battery];Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Change Management Software Segment Market Analysis (by Application [Electric Car, Aerospace & Medical Care]) Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Polymer Battery & Inorganic Battery], Market Trend by Application [Electric Car, Aerospace & Medical Care];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery by region, type and application;Chapter 12, to describe Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Thin Film Lithium Ion Battery sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Buy this research report @Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.com Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market 2018 Key Players: Amcor, Bemis, Berry Global, Sealed Air, Pactiv. Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3151868-global-meat-poultry-and-seafood-packaging-market-research-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3151868-global-meat-poultry-and-seafood-packaging-market-research-report-2018 Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2025reports to its database.Executive SummaryThis report studies the global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging market status and forecast, categorizes the global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).The global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx.x % between 2018 and 2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportAmcorBemisBerry GlobalSealed AirPactivAEP IndustriesBischof + KleinClondalkin GroupConstantia FlexiblesCoverisDS SmithGraham PackagingHuhtamakiWinpakGeographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanOther Regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America and Middle East & Africa)On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFlexible packagingRigid packagingOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingMeatPoultrySeafoodRequest Sample Report @The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key StakeholdersMeat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging ManufacturersMeat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Distributors/Traders/WholesalersMeat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsAvailable CustomizationsWith the given market data, We offers customizations according to the company's specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:Regional and country-level analysis of the Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging market, by end-use.Detailed analysis and profiles of additional market players.Table of Content:Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Research Report 20181 Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging1.2 Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Flexible packaging1.2.4 Rigid packaging1.3 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Segment by Application1.3.1 Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Meat1.3.3 Poultry1.3.4 Seafood1.4 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025)2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.8 Japan Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)4 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)4.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Consumption by Region (2013-2018)4.2 North America Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.3 Europe Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.4 China Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.5 Japan Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.6 Southeast Asia Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.7 India Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.8 South America Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.9 Middle East and Africa Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)5 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.3 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Price by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Production Growth by Type (2013-2018)6 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Market Analysis by Application6.1 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Consumption and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6.2 Global Meat, Poultry, and Seafood Packaging Consumption Growth Rate by Application (2013-2018)6.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities6.3.1 Potential Applications6.3.2 Emerging Markets/CountriesContinuousFor further information on this report, visit Contact Us:Norah Trentsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042 Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Market Overview, Opportunities, In-Depth Analysis by QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1747969&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-zirconium-carbonate-oxide-market-professional-survey-report-2018.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1747969&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Market Professional Survey Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringAlfa ChemistryStrem ChemicalsMDP ChemControlCity ChemicalsVWR InternationalJ & K ScientificMeryer Chemical TechnologyHangzhou J&H Chemical3B Pharmachem InternationalChengdu Ai Keda Chemical TechnologyDownload Free exclusive Sample of this report:Numerous opportunities for the global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide market have been identified in the report, in order to help players sustain the intense prevailing competition. In case of segmentation, the report closely segregates the global market for Zirconium Carbonate Oxide, and evaluates every segment on the basis of growth opportunities. All other segments have been clearly studied in the report, and have been assessed based on their market shares, and other crucial aspects. The study mainly covers segments based on generalized criteria such as product type, application type, region, and end users, among others.Table of ContentsGlobal Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide1.1 Definition and Specifications of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide1.1.1 Definition of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide1.1.2 Specifications of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide1.2 Classification of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide1.2.1 Purity 98%1.2.2 Purity 99%1.2.3 Other1.3 Applications of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide1.3.1 Chemical Industry1.3.2 Electronics Industry1.3.3 Other2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Major Manufacturers in 20173.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Major Manufacturers in 20173.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Major Manufacturers in 20173.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Major Manufacturers in 20174 Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Overall Market Overview4.1 2013-2018E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2013-2018E Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2017 Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2013-2018E Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2017 Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2013-2018E Global Zirconium Carbonate Oxide Sales PriceComplete table of content is available at:List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of Zirconium Carbonate OxideTable Product Specifications of Zirconium Carbonate OxideTable Classification of Zirconium Carbonate OxideFigure Global Production Market Share of Zirconium Carbonate Oxide by Type in 2017Figure Purity 98% PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Purity 98%Figure Purity 99% PictureTable Major Manufacturers of Purity 99%Figure Other PictureEnquiry For Discount Visit @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Cervical Dystonia Market 2018 | By Type Torticollis, Retrocollis, Laterocollis and others |Top 10 Market Players Forecast 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1416 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1416 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1416 Global Cervical Dystonia Market Research Report, By Type (Torticollis, Retrocollis, Laterocollis and others), By Treatment (Oral Therapy, Intravenous, Surgery and other), on End User (Hospital, Clinics and other) - Forecast till 2023Global cervical dystonia market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5% during forecasted period 2017-2023.KEY PLAYERS FOR GLOBAL CERVICAL DYSTONIA MARKETALLERGAN (Ireland), Solstice Neurosciences LLC, Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals Inc. (France), Merz Inc (US), Addex Therapeutics (Switzerland) Revance Therapeutics Inc. (US) and many other.Get Sample Report @MARKET SCENARIO FOR GLOBAL CERVICAL DYSTONIA MARKETCervical dystonia is a rare disease also known as spasmodic torticollis. It is one of the painful chronic neurological movement disorder causing the neck to turn involuntary to any of the direction. It is a rare disease. The major driving factors for the market for cervical dystonia is increasing aging population across the globe. Females are more likely to be get affected by cervical dystonia. Beside this increasing number of treatment for cervical Dystonia and improvement in infrastructure has provided fuel for the growth of the market. On other hand success rate of the treatment and increasing cost of the treatment is the major cause for restraining the growth of cervical Dystonia market.SEGMENTATION FOR GLOBAL CERVICAL DYSTONIA MARKETGlobal cervical dystonia market has been segmented on the basis of type which includes torticollis, retrocollis, laterocollis and others. On the basis of treatment they are segmented into oral therapy, intravenous, surgery and other. On the basis of end user they are segmented into hospital, clinics and other.REGIONAL ANALYSIS FOR GLOBAL CERVICAL DYSTONIA MARKETOn regional basis, global cervical dystonia market is dominated by North America which is followed by Europe. Increasing prevalence of cervical dystonia and increasing aging population is the major factor for growth of this market in this region. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the cervical dystonia market. While due to less development in pharmaceutical and medical sector Middle East and Africa contribute least in cervical dystonia market.Get Discount @MAJOR TOC FOR GLOBAL CERVICAL DYSTONIA MARKETCHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS & LIMITATIONS1.2.2.1 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.2.2 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET STRUCTURE:CHAPTER 2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS:2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH:CHAPTER 3. MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 DRIVERS3.2 RESTRAINTS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.4 MACROECONOMIC INDICATORSCHAPTER 4. MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODEL4.2 BARGAINING POWER OF SUPPLIERS4.3 BARGAINING POWER OF BUYERS4.4 THREAT OF NEW ENTRANTS4.5 THREAT OF SUBSTITUTES4.6 INTENSITY OF RIVALRYCHAPTER 5. GLOBAL CERVICAL DYSTONIA MARKET, BY DRUG TYPE5.1 TORTICOLLIS5.2 RETROCOLLIS5.3 LATEROCOLLIS5.4 OTHERSTOC Continued.Ask to Expert Inquire @About Us:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research Future, Office No. 528,Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar, Pune - 411028 Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Additive Manufacturing with Metal Powders Market to Reach USD 1.1bn by 2024 Additive Manufacturing with Metal Powders Market https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1783 https://www.gminsights.com/inquiry-before-buying/1783 https://bit.ly/2sKemHW https://www.gminsights.com Additive Manufacturing with Metal Powders Market size from oil & gas application is likely to be valued at over USD 45 million over the projected timespan. Prototyping and modelling for exploration and operational equipment, chemical injection stick tools, gears, impellers, pipeline rigs, nozzles for downhole cleanout tools, control valve components, large scale downhole tools and sealing accessories including O rings are produced through 3D printing which are used in the industry. Increased usage of these technologies in making complex components for oil & gas industries, while cutting costs, reducing emissions and boosting performance, should trigger additive manufacturing with metal powders demand.Additive Manufacturing with Metal Powders Market size is expected to cross USD 1.1 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc. Increase in trend towards adoption of prototype has led to the development and validation of design faster along with reduction in production time & cost in various industrial sectors which has stimulated additive manufacturing with metal powders market demand. Increasing E&P activities in oil & gas sector has forced manufacturers for various technological advancements in 3D printing for efficient oil recovery, thereby propagating metal additive manufacturing market growth.Request for a Sample copy of this Report @Positive application scope in aerospace industry in making engine, turbine parts and interiors should trigger additive manufacturing with metal powders market growth. Over 20% of aerospace engineering companies are using this technology to make tooling components. The industry is constantly putting effort to minimize aircraft weight by using lightweight metals such as stainless steel, titanium, aluminum, and copper. Growing trust for these technologies in aerospace firms, should minimize costs for developing models and prototypes, resulting in additive manufacturing with metal powders market growth.U.S. additive manufacturing with metal powders market size may exceed USD 400 million during the forecast timeframe. Growing health concerns, ageing population and long track of chronic disease coupled with strong regulatory regimes regarding medical device industry should propel regional demand. Improvement in long-term patient outcomes for surgeries and treatment along with growing oral rehabilitation demand should surge technology growth in the region.Stainless steel, aluminum, cobalt, nickel and titanium powders are the prominent raw materials used in the additive manufacturing with metal powders method. Infringement law issues regarding the product and the technology along with volatility in regional raw material prices may impact demand supply gap and hinder industry profitability.Make an Inquiry for Purchasing this Report @Aluminum alloys from additive manufacturing with metal powders market demand should witness gains over 27% upto 2024. Components manufactured from aluminum powder have usage in automotive, motor racing and general engineering as it is light and rigid. Superior properties such as corrosion resistance, durability and welding properties make aluminum metal powders suitable for automotive industries, thus enhancing product demand.PBF technology from additive manufacturing with metal powders demand would surpass USD 950 million up to 2024. This technique along with titanium powder is widely used to make orthopedic devices owing to cost-effectiveness and less lead time. DMLS technique from this particular technology is used in making prototypes and end products.Browse Report Summery @UK additive manufacturing with metal powders market demand should witness growth at over 25% during the forecast timeline. Laser Engineering Net Shape (LENS) and Electron Beam Melting (EBM) technique is widely used in making of complex geometrical structures for automotive and aerospace sectors. Increased production and sales of motor vehicles along with demand of lightweight vehicles in the region should favor industry growth.GE, 3D Systems, EOS, Pratt & Whitney, Optomec, Renishaw, Arcam, ExOne and Trumpf are the some of the industry participants in additive manufacturing with metal powders market. Manufacturers are engaging in partnerships and collaborations to strengthen their global presence along with increased investments in AM equipment and research to further develop the technology may drive metal 3D printing market demand.About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone:1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb: IP Telephony Market with Focus on Emerging Technologies, Regional Trends, Competitive Landscape, Regional Analysis & Forecasts to 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5695 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ip-telephony-market-5695 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/low-noise-amplifiers-market-5559 Global IP Telephony Market Research Report: By Component (Hardware, Service), By Organization Size (Smes, Large Enterprises), Connectivity (Wired, Wireless), Vertical (BFSI, IT & Telecommunication, Retail, Government) Forecast Till 2023Market Overview:IP telephony is a form of technology involving the internet to transfer IP packets over networks. These packets can be of the form of voice, fax, or any other information. The IP telephony is often run on IP packet switched connections. The working of IP telephone is similar as to a public switched telephone network. The transfer of information over the internet becomes easier as it being an open standard wherein the data transfer is highly secure, reliable and it can maintain consistency.One of the major challenge that enterprises and users face in IP telephony Market services is the delivery of voice, fax, and even video in a reliable manner. As the number of internet users increase, it gets difficult for the internet service providers to manage, the growing traffic, and thereby results in latency. The increased use of voice over IP has also resulted in decline of traditional vendors. At present, the IP telephony services are not regulated by the Government and are expected to not to be regulated for connections between a phone user and an IP telephony service provider.Get Sample Report @Major Key Players:Ascom Holding AG (Switzerland), Avaya Inc. (U.S.), Cisco Systems Inc. (U.S.), Gigaset Communications (Germany), LG Electronics Inc. (South Korea), Mitel Networks Corporation (Canada), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Polycom Inc. (U.S.), Yealink Inc. (China), NEC Corporation (Japan), Grandstream Networks, Inc. (U.S.) among others, are profiled in Market Research Future analysis and are at the forefront of competition in the global IP Telephony market.Industry News:April 18, Evolve IP Acquires Leading UK Cloud Communications Provider the voicefactory Ltd.Evolve IP has acquired the voice factory Ltd. which is a leading cloud communication provider in UK. This acquisition will add distribution channels in UK and Europe. Also, this will lead in generating larger client base in verticals like hospitality, automotive, finance and legal.April 18, BT pushes ahead with plans to switch off telephone network.BT is planning to shift all of its customers to IP telephony services by 2025. This switch of technology will result in closure of public switched telephone network (PSTN). The broadband division will make enhancements in its network by replacing analog network to digital, fibre-led networks.March 18, Polycom acquisition expands Plantronics endpoint portfolio.Plantronics Inc. has acquired Polycom Inc. that has helped Plantronics to expand and rise in competition against Cisco and Logitech. The acquisition is expected to provide enhancement to Plantronics in the line of headsets unveiled by Cisco, giving rise to the competition.March 18, Tasmania picks suppliers for IP telephony services.The Government of Tasmania has chosen My Net Fone, a subsidiary of Australias MNF enterprise and three other carriers as the preferred suppliers for IP telephony services for the state Government. This will provide the Government with an alternative to traditional PSTN network.Access Full Report @Segmentation: Segmentation by component: hardware (IP desktop phones, audio conference phones and DECT phones), softphones and services (professional and managed). Segmentation by organization size: wired and wireless. Segmentation by vertical: BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, IT & telecommunication, retail, Government and others. Segmentation by region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world.Regional Analysis:The regional analysis of IP Telephony market is studied for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. North America and Europe are contributing a large share in market growth. Followed by Asia Pacific, Japan, China and India which are moving towards digitization. Due to increase in customer support services, the usage of IP telephony services has grown in developing in Asia Pacific region.The dominance of countries like U.S. and Canada is prominently seen due to fast adoption of IP telephony services. In addition to this, adoption of IP telephony solutions in industry verticals such as BFSI, healthcare and IT & telecommunications is an important factor which is driving the growth of IP telephony market in the same region.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Market Research FuturePune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Jeff Lindsay is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Appleton, Wisconsin, back from 9 years in Shanghai. Jeff writes about the Book of Mormon, life in China, liberty, preparing for the future, and the joys of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Operational Intelligence Market 2018 Key Leaders: OpsVeda, Siemens AG, Software AG, OpenText Corporation, Axway Inc https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5873 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/operational-intelligence-market-5873 Market Highlights:The global operational intelligence market is projected to witness a rapid growth during the forecast period owing to increasing demand for operational intelligence applications. Moreover, growing popularity of industrial operational intelligence solutions and business intelligence services is another major factor driving the growth of operational intelligence market.The global operational intelligence market by geography is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. The North America market is expected to witness significant growth in the global operational intelligence market during the forecast period. U.S. and Canada are anticipated to drive the growth of the operational intelligence market in North America owing to the presence of a large number of established key players such as OpsVeda, Inc., Splunk Inc., SQLsteam, Vitria Technology, Inc., Axway Inc., Intelligent InSites, Inc., Starview Inc., Oversight Systems, Inc., and Space Time Insight, Inc. among others. Due to sustainable and well-established economies in the region, the market is likely to show immense growth in the coming future. Additionally, the region also has a well-established infrastructure, which allows a higher penetration of devices and ultimately provides better connectivity. The growth of the market is also attributed to easy accessibility of operational intelligence through mobile applications. Also, growing popularity of cloud-based analytical solutions is another major factor driving the market growth.The global Operational Intelligence Market is projected to reach USD 3.46 billion at a CAGR of over 12% by the end of the forecast period 2017-2023.Request a Sample Report @Major Key Players: OpsVeda, Inc. (U.S.) Splunk Inc. (U.S.) Siemens AG (Germany) SQLsteam (U.S.) Vitria technology, Inc. (U.S.) Flexeye Ltd. (U.K) Axway Inc. (U.S.) Intelligent InSites, Inc. (U.S.) Starview Inc. (U.S.) Oversight Systems, Inc. (U.S.) Space Time Insight, Inc. (U.S.) Software AG (Germany) OpenText Corporation (Canada) VisionWaves B.V. (The Netherlands)Operational Intelligence Market Segmentation:The global operational intelligence market is segmented on the basis of the type, deployment, application and vertical. The vertical segment is classified into BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, automotive, oil & gas, and others. Operational intelligence offers real-time monitoring capabilities for the organizations in order to make immediate decisions. This helps in improving the overall business processes of the organization and hence is boosting the growth of global operational intelligence market.Market Research Analysis:North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market and is also projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The market in North America is witnessing rapid growth due to advancements in technology and rise in demand for operational intelligence solutions across different industry verticals in this region.North America is expected to be the highest revenue generating region globally in operational intelligence market by the end of forecast period. Increasing demand for industrial operational intelligence solutions is another major factor driving the growth of operational intelligence market in the region.Access Report Details @Intended Audience: Technology Investors Research/Consultancy Firms Government Bodies Consulting Service Providers Solution Providers Cloud Solution Providers Cloud Service ProvidersTable of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Scope of the Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast ModelContinuedList of TablesTable 1Global Operational Intelligence Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table 2North America Operational Intelligence Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 3Europe Operational Intelligence Market: By Country, 2017-2023ContinuedList of FiguresFigure 1 Global Operational Intelligence Market SegmentationFigure 2 Forecast MethodologyFigure 3 Five Forces Analysis of Global Operational Intelligence MarketContinuedAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our clients to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Solutions, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.ContactMarket Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Blood Glucose Test Strip Market Technological Innovation by Key Vendors - HMD Biomedical, I-Sens, Inc., Lifescan, Inc., Roche Diagnostics and Taidoc Technology Corporation Forecasts by 2027 Blood Glucose Test Strip Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/892 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/892 Blood Glucose Test Strip Global Market Competitive Analysis:The market of Blood Glucose Test Strip is fiercely competitive as well as fragmented due to the presence of numerous matured & small key players in the market. These market players try to gain competitive advantage through strategic partnership, acquisition, expansion, collaboration, product & technology launch. Heavy investments are transpired in the R&D to develop a completely different technology compared to their competition.Acon Laboratories, Inc, Abbott Laboratories, Allmedicus, Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings Ag, Apex Biotechnology Corporation, B.Braun Melsungen Ag, I-Sens, Inc., HMD Biomedical, Lifescan, Inc., Taidoc Technology Corporation and Roche Diagnostics are some of the leaders driving the Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market. Profiling those in its analysis MRFR finds out their strategies placing them at the forefront of completion.Get Exclusive Sample of Report @Global Blood Glucose Test Strip Market Synopsis:Blood Glucose Test Strips or Diabetes Test Strips, helping people to monitor their Glucose level and control their diabetes have come a long way since the day of invention. From a dye based technology to based on electrochemical technology, totally digitalized and from one test strip to gluco plus blood ketone tests, combo test strips. Growing prevalence of diabetes coupled with the important role these strips play in keeping a tab on diabetes levels; drive the demand for these strips in multiplication.Obviously, the market of Blood Glucose Test Strips is ever increasing, flooding with the various brands of blood glucose test strips, floating in the space. Each brand having their own technology & design, spend increasingly on R&D activities to perfect the product. This, in turn, is paying off well & increasing the market size, elevating it on the global platform.Acknowledging the exponential growth the market perceives currently and gauging the potential the market holds to grow in the future; Market Research Future (MRFR), in its recently published market forecast asserts that the global Blood Glucose Test Strip market will grow exponentially by 2027, registering a striking CAGR throughout the forecast period (2018 2027).Industry, Innovation & Related News:April 13, 2018 Livongo Health (US) a start-up developing connected devices and software for diabetics and other chronic conditions. The company completely devoted to provide cost-competitive aid for diabetes, has already developed its own glucometer & apps providing accurate readings. Livongo, also ships test strips to patients at no additional cost. The company announced that it has bagged the investment for USD 105 million to support the further development of its technology and a partnership from Cambia Health Solution.Worldwide Blood Glucose Test Strip Market Segments:The Blood Glucose Test Strip Market can be segmented in to 2 key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding;By Technologies: Comprises Thick Film Electrochemical, Thin Film Electrochemical, & Optical among othersBy Regions: North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.Glad to Know If there are Any Queries @Worldwide Blood Glucose Test Strip Market Regional Analysis:North America market leads the global Blood Glucose Test Strip market with the significant market share. The market is further expected to reach astronomical amounts growing at a substantial CAGR throughout the forecast period (2017-2027). Well-developed healthcare sector, increasing prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. & Canada coupled with the high per capita healthcare expenditures of these economies, together drive the regional market growth. Moreover, presence of some of the matured market players fuels the market growth.Europe & Asia Pacific is the second & third largest market respectively in the global Blood Glucose Test Strip market. Expected to be a fastest growing market Asia pacific region is estimated to grow rapidly over the projected period. Increasing healthcare expenditures along with favourable government policies of developing economies like India and China foster the market growth in APAC.While the worlds second largest market of Blood Glucose Test Strip, Europe is predominantly driven by the availability of funds for research, well-developed healthcare infrastructure, huge patient population, & government support for research & development. Besides, economieshaving high healthcare expenditures such as the UK & Germany propel the growth of the Europe market.BRIEF TABLE OF CONTENTS:1 INTRODUCTION1.1 DEFINITION1.2 SCOPE OF THE STUDY1.2.1 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE1.2.2 ASSUMPTIONS1.2.3 LIMITATIONS1.3 MARKET STRUCTURE2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 RESEARCH PROCESS2.2 PRIMARY RESEARCH2.3 SECONDARY RESEARCH2.4 MARKET SIZE ESTIMATION2.5 FORECAST MODEL3 FORECAST INDICATORS3.1 GROWTH DRIVERS3.1.1 CONVENIENCE OF SELF BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING OVER TRADITIONAL METHODS3.1.2 TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS3.1.3 RISING DIABETIC POPULATION3.1.4 PLAYERS ENGAGED IN CREATINGAWARENESS REGARDING REGULAR BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING3.1.5 GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES TO PROPEL AUSTRALIAN BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST STRIP MARKET3.1.6 RISING DISPOSABLE INCOME OF EMERGING ECONOMIES3.2 GROWTH BARRIERS3.2.1 INADEQUATE REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEST STRIPS3.2.2 LOW ADOPTION OF SMBG IN EMERGING ECONOMIES AS COMPARED TO DEVELOPED REGIONS3.2.3 ADVENT OF GENERIC BLOOD GLUCOSE TEST STRIPS3.3 OPPORTUNITIES3.3.1 EMERGING ECONOMIESTOC Continued!About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Iron ores Market Study Report 2023 Product Overview & Scope, Share of Key Manufacturers https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/818138/?utm_source=OPR-SL https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-iron-ore-market-2018-forecast-to-2023/?utm_source=SL https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/2018-global-dioxane-ultra-pure-industry-report-history-present-and-future/?utm_source=RR-SL https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ Market Study Report adds Global Iron ores Market By Manufacturers, Countries, Type And Application, Forecast To 2023 report to its research database. The report spread across 107 pages with table and figures in it.Iron ores are rocks and minerals from which metallic iron can be economically extracted. The ores are usually rich in iron oxides and vary in color from dark grey, bright yellow, or deep purple to rusty red. Ores containing very high quantities of hematite or magnetite (greater than about 60% iron) are known as "natural ore" or "direct shipping ore", meaning they can be fed directly into iron-making blast furnaces. Iron ore is the raw material used to make pig iron, which is one of the main raw materials to make steel?98% of the mined iron ore is used to make steel.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Iron Ore market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a sample copy of Iron ores Market Research Report @Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers Vale, Rio Tinto, BHP, Fortescue Metals, Anmining, ArcelorMittal, Anglo American, HBIS Group, Beijing Huaxia Jianlong Mining, Evrazholding Group, Metalloinvest, LKAB Group, Cleveland-Cliff.Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis covers:North America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Table of Contents:Global Iron ores Market OverviewGlobal Iron ores Market Manufacturers ProfilesGlobal Iron ores Market Competition, by ManufacturerGlobal Iron ores Market Analysis by RegionsGlobal Iron ores by CountriesGlobal Iron ores Market Segment by TypeGlobal Iron ores Market Segment by ApplicationIron ores Market Forecast (2018-2023)Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and DealersResearch Findings and ConclusionAppendixMarket Segment by Type, covers Iron Ore FinesIron Ore PelletsOtherThere are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Iron ores market.Chapter 1, to describe Iron ores Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Iron ores, with sales, revenue, and price of Iron ores, in 2016 and 2018;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2018;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Iron ores, for each region, from 2012 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2018;Chapter 12, Iron ores market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Iron ores sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceFor More Info on Market Research @Related Reports: -2018 Global Dioxane Ultra Pure Industry Report - History, Present and FutureThe global market size of Dioxane Ultra Pure is $XX million in 2017 with XX CAGR from 2013 to 2017, and it is expected to reach $XX million by the end of 2023 with a CAGR of XX% from 2018 to 2023. There are 3 key segments covered in this report: geo...Centralize market research purchases across your entire organization in one place.Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-201-355-0868US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:Connect with us: Google+ | LinkedIn | Twitter China Distributed Power Generation Market 2018-2022 | Aggreko plc, APR Energy Ltd, VPower Featured China Distributed Power Generation (DPG) Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2018-2022) https://www.researchbymarkets.com/report/china-distributed-power-generation-dpg-market-size-trends-forecasts-2018-2022-15197.html https://www.researchbymarkets.com/inquiry/15197 "China Distributed Power Generation (DPG) Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2018-2022)"This report delivers an in-depth analysis of the China DPG market with comprehensive analysis of market sizing and growth. The analysis includes market size in terms of installation capacity, market share by segments and by penetration rate. A detailed analysis of market segment has also been provided in the report with their actual and forecasted value.More Information:Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities available in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of China DPG market has also been forecasted for the period 2018-2022, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.Currently there are only few major players in the market which are competing with each other. VPower is one of the major players in China DPG market. Aggreko plc., APR Energy Ltd., and VPower company profiling has done in the report, which include their business overview, financial overview and respective business strategies.Make an Inquiry:Company CoverageAggreko plc.APR Energy LtdVPower Group InternationalExecutive SummaryDistributed power generation (DPG) as the name implies refers to the distribution of power that is generated on-site at or very close, to the location where it can be utilize. Conventional power distribution such as coal-fired, gas and nuclear powered plants are mostly centralized and require electrical energy to be distributed over long distances. During centralized transmission lot of electricity wasted, therefore to overcome such problems distributed generation came into existence.Distributed power generation project has a total capacity of 10-200MW and generally installed close to the end-users, by combining a number of PGSs fueled by gas, biomass, oil, wind, etc. On the basis of fuel type, distributed power generations can be categorized into five major segments: biomass, wind, solar, gas and small hydro.China DPG market in terms of installation capacity has shown continuous growth trends over the past few years and is anticipated that the market would boom in the coming years also. China DPG market is expected to grow on the back of rising demand for electricity, increasing use of solar technology in power distribution, environmental policies set by government, growth of digital technologies and adoption of net metering policy. However, the growth of the market is restrained by some major factors such as lack of efficient price mechanism, deficiency of development strategy & planning, etc.Contact:ResearchByMarketsMs. Lia Seth | Client Relations Managerenquiry@researchbymarkets.comResearch By Markets is an online Market Research Report Repository.Our repository contains reports segmented by Geography and Industry. We cover all major Industry Verticals - Information Technology, Semiconductor, Electronics, Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Telecommunications, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Automotive, BioTechnology, Energy & Power, Banking and many more.Research By Markets3, Nagar Road,Pune 411 014, Maharashtra, Indiaenquiry@researchbymarkets.com+1-800-416-3124 Hyperscale Data Center Market 2018-2023 Key Players by: Dell, IBM, Huawei Technologies, Ericsson, Cisco Systems, NVIDIA, Lenovo, Cavium, Quanta Computer https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5878 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/hyperscale-data-center-market-5878 Global Hyperscale Data Center Market Research Report By User Type (Cloud Providers, Colocation Providers), Components (Solution, Services), Datacenter Size (Small Data Centers), Deployment (On-Premise, On-Cloud), Industry (BFSI, Retail) Forecast Till 2023Market Overview:Hyperscaledata centers have distinctly unique design and management requirements to support the huge scale of new workloads and storage demands. IT organizations are expanding their infrastructure to support the ever-increasing data. Technically, Hyperscaledata centers Market are big, run by large internet giants, cloud or collocation providers, and large enterprises. Hyperscaledatacenters benefit organizations by reducing downtime losses, providing scalability, easy transition to cloud and many others. They help in reducing the cost of data interruptions. Hyperscaling benefits companies to minimize downtime due to excessive demand or other technical hitches. Hyperscaling also helps IT systems to get back ontrack rapidly.Get Sample Report @The increasing need for reducing operational and capital expenditures and rising demand for Hyperscaledata centers are primarily driving the global Hyperscaledata center market. The proliferation of IoT which leads to huge amount of data generation and surge in data center traffic are fuelling the market growth. However, the excess heat generated by Hyperscaledata centers and provision of cooling methods are hindering the market growth.Global Hyperscaledatacenters market is estimated to reach USD 105 Billion at CAGR 28% through the forecast period 2023.Major key Players: Dell Inc. (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.) Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China) Ericsson (Sweden) Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.) NVIDIA Corporation (U.S.) Lenovo Group Ltd. (China) Cavium (U.S.) Quanta Computer Inc. (Taiwan) Broadcom Ltd. (U.S.) Intel Corporation (U.S.) Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP (U.S.). Amazon.com, Inc. (U.S.) Google Inc. (U.S.) Microsoft Corporation (U.S.) Facebook Inc. (U.S.) Apple Inc. (U.S.) Baidu, Inc. (China) China Telecommunications Corporation (China) China United Network Communications Group Co., Ltd. (U.S.) CyrusOne, Inc. (U.S.) Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (U.S.) Equinix, Inc. (U.S.) OVH (France).Segmentation:The Global Hypers cale Data Center Market is segmented into user type, components, data center size, deployment, industry, and region. On the basis of user type, the segment is further classified into cloud providers, colocation providers, and enterprises. On the basis of the component, the segment is further classified into solution and services. On the basis of solutions, the segment is further classified into servers, storage, networking, and many others. On the basis of services, the segment is further classified into professional and managed services. The professional services can be further classified into installation and deployment, consulting, and maintenance & support.On the basis of data center size, the segment is further classified into small and medium-sized data centers and large data centers. On the basis of deployment, the segment is further classified into on-premise and on-cloud. The Hyperscaledata centers are being deployed in major industry verticals like BFSI, retail, IT and telecommunications, healthcare, manufacturing and many others.Regional Analysis:The global Hyperscaledata centers market is studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world. North America holds the major market share for global hyper-scale data centers market and is expected to continue through the forecast period. The presence of major players in the region, adoption of cloud-based services are primarily driving the market in this region. Asia Pacific is expected to show major growth rate during the forecast period. The rising prominence of cloud-based services and demand for data centers among small and medium-sized data centers are primarily driving the market in this region. The growing data among organizations and need for infrastructure are fuelling the market in this region.Access Full Report @Intended Audience: Original equipment manufacturers System integrators Consultancy firms Research Organizations Managed service providers Data security providers Government Agencies Data center providers Cloud operatorsTable of ContentChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationContinues...List of TablesTable 1 Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment Industry Synopsis, 20172023Table 2 Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment Market Estimates and Forecast, 20172023, (USD Million)Table 3 Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment Market, By Region, 20172023, (USD Million)Table 4 Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment Market, By Type, 20172023, (USD Million)Table 5 Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment Market, By Diagnosis, 20172023, (USD Million)Continues...List of FiguresFigure 1 Research ProcessFigure 2 Segmentation for Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment MarketFigure 3 Segmentation Market Dynamics for Glioma Diagnosis and Treatment MarketFigure 4 Global Glioma Diagnosis And Treatment Market Share, By Type 2016Figure 5 Global Glioma Diagnosis And Treatment Market Share, By Diagnosis 2016Continues...About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Automotive Pumps Market 2018 Global Sales, Size, Statistics, Opportunities, and Key Country Forecast To 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2090 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-pumps-market-2090 Automotive Pumps Market 2018 Research Report by MarketResearchFuture Industry Expert analyzes Global Automotive Pumps Market growing at Impressive growth rate. According to market expert this growth of Automotive Pumps Market will remain steady for coming years. Global Automotive Pumps Market by product (Fuel Pump, Oil Pump, Steering Pump, Water Pump, Fuel Injection Pump and other), Technology (Mechanical, electrical) By Vehicle type (Passenger car, LCV, HUV, two wheeler) analyzed for this global research report.Some Major Players in the Automotive Pumps are analyzed in this report:Aisin Seiki Co. Ltd., Delphi Automotive, Denso Corporation, Robert Bosch Gmbh, Johnson Electric, KSPG AG-A- Rheinmetall, Mikuni Corporation, Magna International, TRW Automotive and SHW AG.Visit to Get Sample Report:Global Automotive Pumps Market Insights:The automotive pumps market is very fragmented in nature. Therefore, the key players are focusing on business expansion in emerging markets through mergers and acquisitions. Establishment of new manufacturing facilities and reinforcement of existing ones is a major strategy adopted by the leading players in the market. The well-established vendors that are currently growing their customer base and increasing their investments in R&D. Due to the advancement in technology and stringent government regulations, the competitive environment in the market will further intensify.The major driving factors for the global automotive pumps market are rising vehicle production, growing vehicle electrification, increasing execution of environmental regulations and manufacturers increasing integration of advanced automation techniques such as automatic transmission and gasoline turbocharged direct injection into vehicles to restrict automobile emissions worldwide.Global Automotive Pumps Market Regional Analysis:In Asia Pacific region, steady automotive sales and increasing emphasis on curbing vehicular emissions will continue to boost demand of the automotive pumps market. Strict emission regulations, combined with rising demand for fuel-efficient automobiles and growing focus on original equipment manufacturers expanding the market contribute towards the market growth in Asia Pacific region. However, rising adoption of electric motors and long replacement cycles can pose challenges to growth of the market.The automotive sector in regions such as the North America and Europe is shifting towards electric vehicles due to the growing environmental concerns, increasing fuel prices, and high maintenance and purchasing costs of internal combustion engine vehicles.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the global Automotive Pumps market, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region.The report for Global Automotive Powertrain System Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:July, 2017 - Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. and the Aisin Group are announced that a lineup of products have been installed in the New Camry, released by Toyota Motor Corporation. 2-Motor FWD Hybrid Transmission, jointly developed with Toyota, has had its layout drastically changed to achieve compact size and fuel efficiency.March, 2015 - Coimbatore-based automotive components manufacturer Pricol Ltd has sold its entire 49 per cent stake in DENSO Pricol India Pvt Ltd to JV partner Japans Denso Corporation, for Rs 20 crore ($3.18 million). Pricol manufactures and markets automotive components like dashboard instrument, speedometer cables, oil pumps, disc brakes, sensors, oil pumps, industrial gauges, vehicle security systems.March, 2015- Auto-industry supplier KSPG AG, a member of the Rheinmetall Group, expects added sales and another improvement in operating result for the present fiscal year. With sales up 13 percent, the Mechatronics division was the prime growth driver at KSPG, with products such as electric pumps and exhaust-gas recirculation systems needed in order to arrive at the regulatory emission restrictions.June 2006- Bosch announced the launch of its first manufacturing facility in the country for common rail high pressure pumps at Bangalore, thereby further expanding its presence in India. The new production line in Bangalore has an initial installed capacity of upto 1,000 common rail high pressure pumps per day.Target Audience:OrganizationsManufacturerResearch Institute / Education InstitutePotential InvestorsMajor Table Of Content:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope Of The Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces AnalysisContinuedTo know more on this Global Automotive Pumps market Research Report Visit:About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312sales@marketresearchfuture.com Critical Illness Insurance Market is Growing Exponentially in Order to Gain More Demand by 2022 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/140684 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/discount/140684 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/ Worldwide Market Reports added Latest Research Report titled Critical Illness Insurance Market is Growing Exponentially in Order to Gain More Demand by 2022.Critical illness insurance, otherwise known as critical illness cover or a dread disease policy, is an insurance product in which the insurer is contracted to typically make a lump sum cash payment if the policyholder is diagnosed with one of the specific illnesses on a predetermined list as part of an insurance policy.Request Sample Copy of the Business Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Critical Illness Insurance in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversChina Life Insurance, Ping An Insurance, China Pacific Insurance, Aviva, Legal & General, New China Life Insurance, AXA, Prudential plc, Aegon, Allianz, AIG, UnitedHealthcare, Zurich, MetLife, Dai-ichi Life Group, Sun Life Financial, Huaxia life Insurance, Aflac, Liberty Mutual, HCFMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoGet discount on this report :Table of Contents1 Critical Illness Insurance Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles3 Global Critical Illness Insurance Market Competition, by Players4 Global Critical Illness Insurance Market Size by Regions5 North America Critical Illness Insurance Revenue by Countries6 Europe Critical Illness Insurance Revenue by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Critical Illness Insurance Revenue by Countries8 South America Critical Illness Insurance Revenue by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Revenue Critical Illness Insurance by Countries10 Global Critical Illness Insurance Market Segment by Type11 Global Critical Illness Insurance Market Segment by Application12 Global Critical Illness Insurance Market Size Forecast (2018-2023)13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixList of Tables and Figures**If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.About WMR :Worldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave,U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.comWEBSITE : Global Healthcare CMO Market | 2018-2022 Edition | ResearchByMarkets Global Healthcare CMO Market (2018-2022 Edition) https://www.researchbymarkets.com/report/global-healthcare-cmo-market-2017-2021-edition-5005.html https://www.researchbymarkets.com/inquiry/5005 "Global Healthcare CMO Market (2018-2022 Edition)"The report analysis the growth and sizing of global healthcare CMO market and its segments. This report provides the analysis of global healthcare CMO market by value and by segment.More Information:The analysis of global medical device CMO market is done by value, by players and by cost structure and analysis of global pharmaceutical CMO is done by value and by segments. The global pharmaceutical CMO market by segments is analyzed in detail by providing analysis of each of its segment.This report includes the analysis of global active pharmaceutical ingredient CMO market by value and analysis of finished dosage formulation CMO market by value, by revenue structure, by geographical approach and by dosage formulation.This report also provides the analysis of global pharmaceutical CDMO market. This analysis includes the global pharmaceutical CDMO market by value, by players and by geography. The regional analysis of global pharmaceutical CDMO market is also done in this report. The regions included are United States of America, Europe, China and India.This report also includes the growth drivers, market trends and challenges faced by global healthcare CMO market. Company profiling of major players of healthcare CMO industry is also done in this report. The companies included are Catalent Pharma Solution, Recipharm, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd. and Boehringher Ingelheim. Business overview, financial overview and business strategy for each company is provided.Make an Inquiry:Company CoverageCatalent Pharma SolutionRecipharmAurobindo Pharma Ltd.Boehringher IngelheimRegional CoverageThe USEuropeIndiaChinaExecutive SummaryContract manufacturing is a type of outsourcing in which a firm contacts with a third party (contract manufacturing organization) for the manufacturing of components of its product or whole of its product. A contract manufacturing organization (CMO) undertakes the production of product(s) under the brand name of another firm.A big or a mid-sized firm opt for a CMO mainly for two reasons, either it wants to shift (or reduce) its cost and focus to its core activities, or the manufacturing of its products require special or expert handling.CMOs provide independent manufacturing services in healthcare sector also. Healthcare CMOs can be segmented into pharmaceutical CMOs and medical device CMOs. After the discovery of chemical formula of a new drug, the pharmaceutical CMOs are given the task of manufacturing it into a whole product, so that the pharmaceutical companies are able to sell it into the market under their brand name. Services offered by pharmaceutical CMOs can be divided into two main activities: primary manufacturing (Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients) and secondary manufacturing (Finished Dosage Formulation). Contract manufacturing for medical devices is one of the fastest growing segments of the medical device industry, as companies are in the race to bring new devices to the market.From last few years, many pharmaceutical CMOs have included development part into their activities, apart from manufacturing of drugs and they are called contract development & manufacturing organizations (CDMOs). The market for pharmaceutical CMOs and CDMOs can neither be taken as same, nor be taken as completely distinct from each other. Also, these two markets cannot be combined together, as it will exaggerate the global pharmaceutical CMO market.The global healthcare CMO market has recorded a continuous growth since last few years and is expected to follow the same trend in coming years. The main driving factors for this growth are rise in global pharmaceutical industry, increased need for outsourcing, increased approvals and outsourcing of NMEs, innovations and increased regulatory pressure on quality. Yet there are some challenges, which healthcare CMO industry faces, such as fragmented nature of market, less preference for outsourcing of profitable and biological drugs by big pharmaceutical companies.Contact:ResearchByMarketsMs. Lia Seth | Client Relations Managerenquiry@researchbymarkets.comResearch By Markets is an online Market Research Report Repository.Our repository contains reports segmented by Geography and Industry. We cover all major Industry Verticals - Information Technology, Semiconductor, Electronics, Manufacturing, Food & Beverages, Telecommunications, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Automotive, BioTechnology, Energy & Power, Banking and many more.Research By Markets3, Nagar Road,Pune 411 014, Maharashtra, Indiaenquiry@researchbymarkets.com+1-800-416-3124 Computer Keyboards Market to Showcase Healthy Expansion at 2.3% CAGR During 2015 - 2025 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-269 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-269 www.futuremarketinsights.com According to a new market report published by Future Market Insights titled Computer Keyboards Market - Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015 - 2025, the global computer keyboards market was valued at US$ 4,780.5 Mn in 2014 and is expected to register a CAGR of 2.3% from 2015 to 2025. Growth of the computer keyboards market is primarily driven by increasing sales of ergonomic keyboards.Ergonomic keyboards are designed to reduce muscular stress and conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive stress injuries (RSIs) that result from persistent keyboard usage.On the basis of type, the computer keyboards market is segmented into basic and ergonomic keyboards. The basic keyboards segment was valued US$ 4,287.4 Mn in 2014 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 0.8% during the forecast period 20152025. This sluggish growth can be attributed to rising adoption of ergonomic keyboards by heavy users as they prevent RSIs and Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).Request For Report Sample@Leading players, such as Microsoft Corporation, Logitech International SA, Gold Touch Inc., and Fellowes Inc., who manufacture basic keyboards are shifting towards ergonomic keyboards production in order to capitalize on the high demand for the same. Additionally, tools and user interface technologies such as speech processing, brain mapping interface, and most importantly touchscreen keyboards are expected to impact the adoption of computer keyboards significantly in the near future.Ergonomic keyboards accounted for 10.3% share of the total computer keyboards market in 2014. Adoption of ergonomic keyboards is expected to increase at a strong rate due to growing awareness about their benefits such as comfortable positioning of the hand, wrist, and forearm, and easy approach to keys (due to the curved key layout which reduces stress while typing).The ergonomic keyboards market is further segmented on the basis of type (vertical, compact, adjustable, split, and others), switching mechanism (membrane based and mechanical), size (standard, laptop, thumb-size, and numeric keyboards), and applications (corporate, personal, and gaming).This report covers trends driving each segment and offers analysis and insights regarding the potential of the computer keyboards market in key regions including North America, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific (excluding Japan), Japan, and the Middle East & Africa.North America accounted for the largest market share in 2014, owing to growing complaints of RSIs and carpal tunnel syndrome at workplaces. In order to increase operational productivity, enterprises in this region are adopting ergonomic workstation solutions including keyboards, mice, and office furniture.In terms of value, Asia Pacific (including Japan) commanded 21% share of the total ergonomic keyboards market in 2014. The region is expected to witness the highest growth throughout the forecast period, owing to increasing adoption of ergonomic keyboards in countries such as India, China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and the Philippines.Market growth across these countries is primarily driven by growing numbers of multinational companies, such as Tata Group, Intel Corporation, Global Sources, Induchem AG, and HubSpot, Inc., establishing offices in the region. In order to make the most of this opportunity, computer keyboard manufacturers (especially ergonomic keyboards manufacturers) are expected to expand distribution channels in this region during the forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Computer Keyboards Market: Key PlayersKey players of the global computer keyboards market include Microsoft Corporation, Logitech International SA, Kinesis Corporation, Gold Touch Enterprises Inc., Adesso Inc., Fellowes Inc., Posturite Ltd., Datadesk Technologies, Fentek Industries, Inc., and Shenzhen V4 Electronics Co., Ltd.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Foley Catheters Market Incredible Growth at CAGR ~7.8% with Latex and Silicone Material Type, Analysis and Top Players 2023 Forecasts Foley Catheters Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/922 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/922 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/922 The Global Foley Catheters Market is estimated to expand enormously up to USD 171.5 Billion with a whooping CAGR of 7.7 % between 2016 and 2023. In 2015, Global Foley Catheters market valued around US$ 94.5 billion. Foley Catheterss are devices or tissue that placed inside or outside the body to cure certain medical conditions. Foley Catheterss are replacement of missing or damaged body part which supports or enhance an existing biological structure. These are mostly made up of metal, polymer and ceramic but some of them also contain electronics such as artificial pacemaker. Increasing number of orthopaedic patients and patient with heart diseases are driving the growth for the market. Number of dental treatment are leading the growth for dental implants while increasing cosmetic surgery is driving the growth for cosmetic implants. Increasing aging population, growing healthcare sector and technological advancement are the major drivers for the market.Braun Melsungen AG (Germany), Coloplast Ltd (Denmark), Cook (US), Teleflex (US), Medline Industries, Inc. (US), and Medtronic (Republic of Ireland), C. R. Bard, Inc. (U.S.) are some of the leading players at the cutting edge of the competition in the market of foley catheters drug, globally.Get Exclusive Sample Copy @Global Foley catheters Market OverviewThe global Foley catheters market is showing the significant growth; mainly due to increase in patient population suffering with Urinary tract infection, kidney and other renal diseases. Also increasing in aging population is one of the major factor for the growth of Foley catheters market. According to National Kidney foundation, 10% of worlds total population was affected by chronic kidney disease in 2015. Foley catheters are consider very useful in treatment management of acute urinary retention and chronic urinary retention. According to American Society of Nephrology, around 26 million Americans are suffering from chronic kidney disease.Companies are showing much interest toward the market of involuntary urination, as they feels there are huge opportunity and gap between the market demand and supply of effective treatments. Thus, companies are showing more interest in merger and acquisition activities for introducing quality product that meet the requirement of market. The development has been made by B. Braun Melsungen AG in 2016, they collaborate with Omnicells Performance Center and IV Automation Technology to increase system interoperability and to help reducing the time and clinical support needed to manage IV Infusions and IV compounding. Also in 2016, company launched the Only Macro and Micro Compounder with 26-lead preassembled sets the APEX Compounding System. It is the newest addition to B. Brauns Clinical Nutrition 360 offering, which is a comprehensive approach to meeting the individualized clinical needs of patients and customers.In 2015, C R Bard Inc. agrees to acquire Liberator Medical and has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Liberator Medical Holdings Inc. by this acquisition C R Bard Inc. will improve its product portfolio as liberator medical has a strong list of products thus further improving its quality of products globally.Global Foley catheters Market - Regional AnalysisThe market of foley catheters is much higher in the Americas region. There are huge population suffering with various urologic diseases. According to Urology Care Foundation, in 2015, quarter to a third of men and women in the United States were suffering from involuntary urination. Millions of the Americans are facing the problems of involuntary urination and about 33 million have overactive bladder representing symptoms of urgency, frequency and with or without urge incontinence.Europe is also consider huge market for foley catheters players, owing to increasing number of hospitalized patients due to various medical complications. According to last statistics published by EUROPA in 2014, an average duration of hospital stay in the European country is 5.2 days to 10.5 days.Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa region are considering the big market. Whereas country like India and china of Asia Pacific region are considering fastest growing region due to presence of huge population suffering with urologic diseases, additionally they are open to adopt new technology, and best treatment option from developed, this gap between the developed and developing countries will present significant growth opportunity for the foley catheters market players in the coming years. Whereas the Middle East and Africa are low market due to his incapability of investment.Avail Prime Discount @Table of Content1. Report Prologue2. Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 Limitations2.3 Market Structure2.4. Market Segmentation3. Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation3.5 Forecast Model4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints4.3 Opportunities4.4 Mega Trends4.5 Macroeconomic IndicatorsLIST OF TABLESTABLE 1 FOLEY CATHETERS MARKET BY TYPETABLE 2 FOLEY CATHETERS MARKET BY TYPE OF MATERIALTABLE 3 FOLEY CATHETERS MARKET BY END USERTABLE 4 FOLEY CATHETERS MARKET BY REGIONAsk Questions To Expertise @LIST OF FIGURESFIGURE 1 RESEARCH PROCESSFIGURE 2 PORTERS FIVE FORCES MODELFIGURE 3 FOLEY CATHETERS MARKET BY TYPEFIGURE 4 FOLEY CATHETERS MARKET BY TYPE OF MATERIALFIGURE 5 FOLEY CATHETERS MARKET BY END USERAbout US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com . A quartet of Minnesota State softball player have received All-NSIC honors for their efforts this season.Senior, sophomoreand freshmanhave received All-NSIC First Team honors, while juniorclaimed All-NSIC Second Team honors. Esselman was also named to the NSIC Gold Glove Team.An outfielder from Lakeville, Minn., Meidl has started in all 48 games for the Mavericks this season. She leads the Maverick offense several categories including runs scored (51), hits (73), doubles (20) and RBI (57). Meidl is also batting .442 and has stolen 21 bases. This is the second time Meidl has been named to the All-NSIC First Team.An outfielder from Farmington, Minn., Esselman has started in all 48 games for Minnesota State. So far this season, Esselman has batted .450 with 67 hits and 50 runs batted in. She has also scored 45 runs and leads the Mavericks in triples with seven and in stolen bases with 23. Esselman also boasts a 1.000 fielding %. This is the first time that Esselman has been named to the All-NSIC First Team and the NSIC Gold Glove Team.A freshman infielder from LaVista, Neb., McCarville played in 35 games this season, while making 32 starts. She owns a .340 batting average, with 22 runs scored and 24 runs batted in. She is also tied for second on the team in doubles with nine.A junior outfielder from Excelsior, Minn., Paap has started and played in 44 games this season in left field for the Mavericks. Paap is batting .411 this season, with 48 runs scored and 69 hits. She has also recorded 22 stolen bases, six doubles and is currently on a 17-game hitting streak. This is Paap's third All-NSIC honor in as many seasons.The Mavericks begin competition in the NSIC Tournament on Thursday as they take on Southwest Minnesota State in Sioux Falls, S.D. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m.-30- Intelligent Power Modules Market Share, Analytical Overview, Emerging Opportunities, Future Plans, Competitive Landscape, Sales Revenue and by Forecast 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5881 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/intelligent-power-modules-market-5881 Global Intelligent Power Modules Market By Voltage Rating (Up To 600v, 1200v), Current Rating (Up To 100a, 101 600a), Circuit Configuration (6-Pac, 7-Pac), Power Device (Igbt, Mosfet), Application Areas (Automotive) Research Report Forecast Till 2023Market Overview:Intelligent power modules are high voltage integrated devices which are capable of delivering high voltage output of more than 1200V over a single SIP (system-in-package) module. The output voltages are transmitted through IGBT (Insulated Gate Biased Transistor) for gate shutdown at abnormal conditions, which acts as protection for the circuit. The features of intelligent power modules are overcurrent protection circuit, under-voltage lockout for various channels, motor control system, upper or lower prevention circuits and many more. These devices can be integrated into many applications like controllers, network processors, low noise applications, embedded computing, and many more.The rising demand for Intelligent Power Modules Market in consumer electronics is majorly driving the market. The high performance and high voltage level shifting of intelligent power modules are increasing the demand for consumer electronics like air conditioners, washing machines, refrigerators, and many more. The rising trend of renewable energy resources and hybrid automotive are fuelling the growth of intelligent power modules. The emerging trends in the electronics industry and demand for GaN and SiC power semiconductors might power the market through the forecast period. However, the low adoption rate of power electronic devices and high power dissipation of small IGBT modules are hampering the market growth.Get Sample Report @The global intelligent power modules market is estimated to grow up to USD 3 billion at CAGR 11% through the forecast period 2023Major Key Players: Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (Japan) Fuji Electric Co., Ltd. (Japan) Semikron (Germany) Infineon Technologies AG (Germany) ON Semiconductor Corporation (U.S.), STMicroelectronics N.V. (Switzerland) ROHM Co., Ltd. (Japan) Sanken Electric Co., Ltd. (Japan) Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. (U.S.) Future Electronics Inc. (Canada) Renesas Electronics Corporation (Japan) Texas Instruments (U.S.) Digi-Key Electronics (U.S.) NXP Semiconductors (the Netherlands) Taiwan Semiconductor (Taiwan) Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd (Taiwan) Samsung Electronics (South Korea) Panasonic Corporation (Japan) Intel Corporation (U.S.) and others.Segmentation:The market for global intelligent power modules market is segmented into voltage rating, current rating, circuit configuration, power device, application areas, and region. On the basis of voltage rating, the segment is further classified as, up to 600V, 601-1200V and more than 1200V. On the basis of the current rating, the segment is further classified into up to 100A, 101-600A, and more than 600A. On the basis of the circuit configuration, the segment is further classified into 6-pac, 7-pac, dual, Phase Bridge, and others. On the basis of power device the segment is further classified into IGBT (Insulate Gate Bi-Polar Transistor) and MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor). On the basis of application areas, the segment is further classified into consumer electronics, automotive, renewable energy, servo drives, UPS, and others.Regional Analysis:The global intelligent power modules market is studied in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world. Asia Pacific is estimated to hold the major market share for global intelligent power modules during the forecast period. The presence of major key players in the region coupled with the rising demand from consumer electronics is driving the market in the region. The low manufacturing costs and supporting government policies are fuelling the market growth in this region. North America is estimated to hold a significant share in the forecast period.The rising adoption of renewable energy resources and demand for high voltage transmissions without much losses in developed countries are driving the market in this region. In Europe, the demand for hybrid and electric vehicles are resulting to show considerable growth in the intelligent power modules market.Access Full Report @Intended Audience: Semiconductor manufacturers Original equipment manufacturers System integrators Consultancy firms Research Organizations Managed service providers Data security providers Government AgenciesTable of Contents1 Executive Summary2 The Scope of the Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Markets Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast ModelContinues...LIST OF TABLESTable 1 Global Intelligent Power Modules Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table 2 North America Intelligent Power Modules Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 3 Europe Intelligent Power Modules Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 4 Asia Pacific Intelligent Power Modules Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 5 the Middle East & Africa Intelligent Power Modules Market: By Country, 2017-2023Continues...LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1 Global Intelligent Power Modules Market SegmentationFigure 2 Forecast MethodologyFigure 3 Porters Five Forces Analysis of Global Intelligent Power Modules MarketFigure 4 Value Chain of Global Intelligent Power Modules MarketFigure 5 Share of Global Intelligent Power Modules Market in 2017, By Country (In %)Continues...About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Tissue Banking Market Will Propagate at An Impressive CAGR of 11.5% During The Forecast Period of 2017 - 2024. https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=893339 https://www.researchmoz.us/tissue-banking-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2014-2024-report.html/toc http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Tissue Banking Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Global Tissue Banking Market: OverviewTissue banking refers to recovery and collection of human cadaver tissue for medical purposes. The tissues are stored under cryogenic conditions for keep them safe and usable. Technological developments, growing geriatric pool, and increasing blood donations are collectively expected to fuel the growth of the global tissue banking market in the coming years.The research report on the global tissue banking market offers a detailed outlook on the market dynamics. The market has been assessed using Porters five forces analysis and SWOT analysis to determine the various factors likely to influence the trajectory of the overall market.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Tissue Banking Market: SegmentationIn terms of application, the global tissue banking market is segmented into clinical and therapeutic, drug discovery, and research and development. Of these, the freezers segment held a dominant share in the global market in 2015. This application is projected to witness a high demand in the coming years due to a growing need for organ transplants, regenerative medicines, blood transfusions, vaccines, and cellular therapies. The segment also stands to benefit from the exponential population growth, increasing expenditure on healthcare, and increasing usage of a wide range of tissues for research and development purposes.The demand for freezers is expected to improve in the coming years as they are being developed to offer temperatures as low as -86C for storage of tissues on a long-term basis. The demand for storage of tissues will continue to rise in the coming years due to widespread of chronic diseases that are likely to propel import and export of tissues.Global Tissue Banking Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, the global tissue banking market is segmented into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Over the past few years, North America has held a dominant position in the global market as region has a well-established healthcare facility and access, which has allowed a high rate of diagnosis of various diseases. Thus, awareness and diagnosis of various diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions in North America has propelled the regions growth over the past few years.Europe followed North Americas lead with government initiatives such as Cells Directives (EUTCD) and the European Union Tissues. This move is aimed at improving the responsiveness of safety and quality standards for human cells and tissues across the region. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is also expected to offer lucrative opportunities for growth to the global market due an exponentially growing patient pool, improving disposable incomes, and robust government initiatives to improve healthcare facilities.Key Players Mentioned in the Report are:The important leading players operating in the global tissue banking market are Taylor-Wharton, Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Backman Coulter Inc., Custom Biogenic Systems, Inc., Panasonic Biomedical, BioLife Solutions, Inc, and Brooks Automation.Table of ContentSection 1 Preface1.1 Report Scope and Market Segmentation1.2 Research HighlightsSection 2 Assumptions and Research Methodology2.1 Assumptions2.2 Research MethodologySection 3 Executive Summary3.1 Global Tissue Banking: Market Snapshot3.2 Global Market Share Analysis by Region, 20153.3 Global Tissue Banking Market: Opportunity MapSection 4 Market Overview4.1 Product Overview4.2 Global Tissue Banking Market: Key Industry DevelopmentsGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Section 5 Market Dynamics5.1 Drivers and Restraints Snapshot Analysis5.2 Drivers5.2.1 Increasing Demand for Regenerative Medicines5.2.2 Advancements in bio banking technology5.2.3 Growing awareness5.2.4 Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases5.2.5 Increasing health insurance coverage5.2.6 Increasing Healthcare Expenditure5.2.7 Increasing company and government awareness programmes5.2.8 Rapid Economic development5.3 Restraints5.3.1 Stability issues and storage problems5.3.2 Regulatory issues5.4 OpportunitiesContinue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ Exclusive Market Study Estimates that Global Smart Factory Market will Grow at 13.3% CAGR During 2015-2025 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-446 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-446 www.futuremarketinsights.com According to the latest market report published by Future Market Insights titled, Smart Factory Market - Global Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment, 2015-2025, the market was valued at US$ 51.9 Bn in 2014 and is expected to register a CAGR of 13.3% from 2015 to 2025.Growth of the smart factory market is primarily driven by rising focus on advanced manufacturing techniques. Furthermore, developments in information and communications technology (ICT), increased focus on energy consumption, rising prices and stringent environmental regulations are expected to be key factors driving growth of the smart factory market over the forecast period.FMIs report segments the global smart factory market on the basis of market structure, component, manufacturing vertical, and region. Market structure includes to collect, to connect, to analyse and to control. A detailed analysis of each segment is presented in the report to deliver an accurate view of the market.Request For Report Sample@On the basis of manufacturing vertical, the smart factory market is further segmented into automotive & transportation, food & beverages, electrical & electronics, aerospace & defence, oil & gas, garment & textile, chemical and others (healthcare & pharmaceutical).Among these, the automotive & transportation segment dominated the global smart factory market in terms of revenue contribution in 2014. Growth of this segment is primarily driven by increasing investments by leading automobile manufacturers. For example, in September 2015, German luxury car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz announced an investment of US$ 1.3 Bn to expand and upgrade its SUV manufacturing unit in Alabama, U.S. This expansion would add 300 new jobs and support end-to-end digitalization of the production process as a part of the companys smart factory initiative.This report also covers trends driving growth of each market segment and offers analysis and insights about market potential across key regions namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and the Middle East & Africa. Furthermore, the market is sub-segmented on the basis of major countries in each region in order to provide a regional analysis of the overall market.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Asia Pacific was the largest revenue contributor to the global smart factory market, accounting for US$ 20.4 Bn in 2014. This is mainly attributed to increasing investment in manufacturing plants in the region. For example, in April 2015, the South Korean government along with Samsung Electronics announced an investment of US$ 12.6 Mn to promote the smart factory concept in the country.Smart factory market in Europe accounted for US$ 14.7 Bn in 2014and is expected to register a CAGR of 14.3% during the forecast period. Growth of the market in this region is expected to be driven by increasing government support for development of innovative production technologies in countries such as Germany and the U.K. Also, increasing spending by key players is expected to further drive growth of the market in Europe.Smart Factory Market: Major PlayersKey players in the global smart factory market include ABB Group, Rockwell Automation, Inc., General Electric Co., Siemens AG, Oracle Corporation, IBM Corporation, SAP SE, PTC Inc., Accenture PLC and Atos SE. These players focus on mergers and acquisitions, new product launches, expansions and partnerships in order to remain competitive in the market. A competitive dashboard has also been included in the report to provide detailed information about key players in the market.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Acaricides Market Analysis, Top Key Players | E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company , Chemtura USA Corp., FMC Corporation , Arysta LifeScience Corporation, Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5267 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/acaricides-market-5267 Market Scenario:Acaricides are a class of pesticides, which are used in the agricultural sector to restrict the attack of arachnid on the agricultural produce. Apart from the agriculture, acaricides are increasingly used in the animal husbandry. Growing demand for food grains coupled with the shrinking farmland is expected to drive the demand for acaricides. Most commonly used acaricides include organochlorine, organophosphorus, natural acaricides, and others.Acaricides help in improving agricultural productivity by restricting the growth of arachnids such as ticks and mites. Additionally, increased demand for acaricides for adequate disease control support and increased crop productivity has uplifted the global acaricides market. Moreover, high acceptance of modern farming techniques among the crop cultivators is adding fuel to the growth of acaricides market. Additionally, rising demand for agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, and pulses is projected to drive the growth of the global acaricides market over the forecast period.Key manufacturers are emphasizing on the new product development in order to enhance the customer base. Apart from that, the key players are promoting their products through advertisements in television and social media, which, in turn, escalates the acaricides demand. The global acaricides market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Receive a Sample Report@Key Players:Some of the key players profiled in the global acaricides market: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Chemtura USA Corp. (U.S.), FMC Corporation (U.S.), Arysta LifeScience Corporation (Japan), Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (Germany), BASF SE (Germany), Nissan Chemical Industries, Ltd. (Japan), Syngenta AG (Switzerland), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), and Merck & Co., Inc. (U.S.)Key Findings:The Asia Pacific region is dominating the global acaricides marketAcaricides have a massive opportunity in the pesticide industryIntended Audience:Acaricides manufacturersFertilizer industryCrop cultivatorsRaw material suppliersRetailers and wholesalerTraders, importers, and exportersSegments:On the basis of the type, it is segmented into organochlorine, organophosphorus, natural, and others. Among all, the organophosphorus acaricides segment is dominating the market followed by organochlorine. Organophosphorus acaricides are rich in phosphorous content and are also highly effective against arachnids.On the basis of the application, it is segmented into agriculture, animal husbandry, and others. Among all, the agriculture segment is dominating the market. Growing demand for fruits, vegetables, cereals, and other agricultural products among the rising population is expected to surge the growth of this segment over the review period.Access Complete Report @Regional AnalysisThe global acaricides market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and rest of the world (RoW). The Asia Pacific region is leading the global acaricides market followed by Europe. India and China are the major contributors to the growth of acaricides market in this region. Furthermore, high demand for agricultural products from the farmers is considered to be the key driving factor in the Asia Pacific market. Additionally, regulatory approval for the use of acaricides on agricultural products for crop protection is projected to raise the growth of the acaricides market.However, the European region is expected to witness a significant growth during the forecast period. European countries like Germany, France, and the U.K, is projected to boost the growth of the acaricides market during the review period. However, stringent environmental regulations in the developed economies of North America and Europe region are expected to restrain the market growth in these regions.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com IoT Microcontroller Market- 2023, Future Growth, Business Prospects Global Leading Players by: Atmel, Freescale, Infineon, ST Microelectronics, Texas Instruments, Fujitsu https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5888 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/iot-microcontroller-market-5888 IoT Microcontroller Market Research Report by Type (8-bit, 16 bit and 32 bit.), End-User (Consumer Electronics, Automotive, Industries, Healthcare) Global Forecast till 2023Market Scenario:Internet of Things (IoT) microcontroller is as a combination of IoT technology and microcontroller. The IoT requires sensors and actuators to link the physical and digital worlds. A sensor converts a physical state into an analog or digital signal, while an actuator turns a digital signal into some physical effect. The next step in the IoT architecture is the computing system which processes or generates the digital signals which can be performed by the microcontroller.The key players in the global IoT microcontroller market are Atmel (U.S), Freescale (U.S.), Infineon (Germany), ST Microelectronics (Switzerland), Texas Instruments (U.S), Fujitsu Ltd (Japan). Atmel, a prominent player in IoT microcontroller market, has joined hands with Microchip Technology Inc. to create a powerhouse in the Internet of Things (IoT). The tie between both the companies is to create full-stack silicon house with all the IoT hardware ingredients ranging from microcontroller units (MCUs) to analog to flash.Get Sample Report @The key factors driving the market include advancements in the application of fields of the internet of things to meet the demands of technologically advanced products of a wide consumer base. The deployment of smart meter across several residential and commercial sectors for close monitoring of the total consumption of energy is aiding the market growth. Further, IoT MCU growth in the industrial sector can quickly address and resolve issues such as inadequate security, meagre consumer demand, technology barriers, and lack of standards.Global IoT Microcontroller Market is estimated to grow at CAGR of approximately 12% during the forecast period of 2017-2023.Key Players: Atmel (U.S), Freescale (U.S.), Infineon (Germany), ST Microelectronics (Switzerland), Texas Instruments (U.S), Fujitsu Ltd (Japan), Microchip Technology (U.S.), Samsung Group (South Korea), Intel Corporation (U.S.).Segments:The global IoT microcontroller market is segmented into product type and application. The product type segment consists of 8 bit, 16 bit, and 32 bit IoT microcontrollers. The application segment consists of consumer electronics, automotive, industries, healthcare, and others.Regional Analysis:The global IoT microcontroller market is studied in Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World. North America accounts for the highest share in the global IoT microcontroller market, owing to the increasing IT requirements and rising demand from the smart home segment. The rapid technological advancements in the smart devices segment are fueling the market growth in the North American region. Asia Pacific market is growing with the highest CAGR owing to rising advancement in the automotive industry associated with vehicle connectivity and interactive safety system, which is anticipated to leverage the demand of IoT microcontroller market.Furthermore, increasing demand for various consumer electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, smart television and smart watches among others is also expected to propel the demand for microcontroller in the region. Moreover, the presence of major smart device manufacturers is boosting the market growth in the region.Access Full Report @Intended Audience: Technology Investors Research/Consultancy Firms Software Providers System Integrators Government and Standardization Bodies Hardware providersTable of Contents1 Executive Summary2 Scope of the Report2.1 Market Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objectives2.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations2.3 Market Structure3 Market Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Secondary Research3.3 Primary Research3.4 Forecast ModelContinues...List of TablesTable 1 Global IoT Microcontroller Market: By Region, 2017-2023Table 2 North America IoT Microcontroller Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 3 Europe IoT Microcontroller Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 4 Asia Pacific IoT Microcontroller Market: By Country, 2017-2023Table 5 Rest of the World IoT Microcontroller Market: By Country, 2017-2023Continues...List of FiguresFigure 1 Global Iot Microcontroller Market SegmentationFigure 2 Forecast MethodologyFigure 3 Five Forces Analysis of Global Iot Microcontroller MarketFigure 4 Value Chain of Global Iot Microcontroller MarketFigure 5 Share of Global IoT Microcontroller Market in 2017, By Country (In %)Continues...About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Global Reinsurance Market Size,Status and Forecast 2025 - Munich Re, Swiss Re, Hannover Re, SCOR SE, Lloyds, https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1692451 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-reinsurance-market-sizestatus-and-forecast-2025-report.html/toc http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Reinsurance Market Size,Status and Forecast 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the Reinsurance market status and outlook of global and major regions, from angles of players, regions, product and end Application/industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and major regions, and splits the Reinsurance market by product and Application/end industries.The major players in global market includeMunich ReSwiss ReHannover ReSCOR SELloydsBerkshire HathawayGreat-West LifecoRGAChina REKorean RePartnerReTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @GIC ReMapfreAlleghanyEverest ReXL CatlinMaiden ReFairfaxAXISMitsui SumitomoSompoTokio MarineGeographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with, Premiums, market share and growth rate of Reinsurance for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast)North AmericaEuropeAsiaLatin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaOceaniaOn the basis of reinsurance Type, the Reinsurance market is primarily split intoP&C ReinsuranceLife ReinsuranceTable of Contents1 Industry Overview11.1 Reinsurance Market Overview11.1.1 Reinsurance Product Scope11.1.2 Market Status and Outlook11.2 Global Reinsurance Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2025)31.2.1 North America Reinsurance Market Status and Outlook51.2.2 Europe Reinsurance Market Status and Outlook61.2.3 Asia Reinsurance Market Status and Outlook61.2.4 Latin America Reinsurance Market Status and Outlook71.2.5 Middle East & Africa Reinsurance Market Status and Outlook81.2.6 Oceania Reinsurance Market Status and Outlook91.3 Classification of Reinsurance by Type101.3.1 Global Reinsurance Premiums (M USD) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)101.3.2 Global Reinsurance Premiums Market Share by Type in 2017111.3.3 P&C Reinsurance111.3.4 Life Reinsurance122 Global Reinsurance Competition Analysis by Players132.1 Global Reinsurance Premiums (M USD) by Players (2013-2018)132.2 Global Reinsurance Loss Ratio by Players (2013-2018)162.3 Competitive Status and Trend202.3.1 Global Reinsurance Market Share of Top 5 Players202.3.2 Global Reinsurance Market Share of Top 10 Players212.3.3 Product/Service Differences213 Analysis of Reinsurance Industry Key Players223.1 Munich Re223.1.1 Company Profile223.1.2 Market Share233.1.3 Premiums and Loss Ratio233.2 Swiss Re233.2.1 Company Profile233.2.2 Market Share253.2.3 Premiums and Loss Ratio253.3 Hannover Re253.3.1 Company Profile253.3.2 Market Share273.3.3 Premiums and Loss Ratio27Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3.4 SCOR SE273.4.1 Company Profile273.4.2 Market Share283.4.3 Premiums and Loss Ratio293.5 Lloyds293.5.1 Company Profile293.5.2 Market Share303.5.3 Premiums and Loss Ratio303.6 Berkshire Hathaway313.6.1 Company Profile313.6.2 Market Share323.6.3 Premiums and Loss Ratio323.7 Great-West Lifeco33Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ India Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Research Report 2018 - Capsa Healthcare, Cerner Corporation, Baxter International, https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1694519 https://www.researchmoz.us/india-pharmacy-automation-systems-market-research-report-2018-report.html/toc http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "India Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Research Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.The global Pharmacy Automation Systems market is valued at XX million USD in 2017 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.India plays an important role in global market, with market size of xx million USD in 2017 and will be xx million USD in 2025, with a CAGR of xx%.This report studies the Pharmacy Automation Systems development status and future trend in India, focuses on top players in India, also splits Pharmacy Automation Systems by type and by Application, to fully and deeply research and reveal the market general situation and future forecast.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The major players in India market includeCapsa HealthcareCerner CorporationBaxter InternationalScriptProARxIUM Inc.Parata SystemsTalyst SystemsKUKATCGRx Pharmacy Workflow SolutionsRxSafeBecton Dickinson and CompanyOn the basis of product, this report displays the sales volume, revenue, product price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAutomated Medication Dispensing SystemsAutomated Packaging And Labelling SystemsAutomated Table Top CountersAutomated Medication Compounding SystemsAutomated Storage And Retrieval SystemsOn the basis of the end users/Application, this report coversInpatient PharmaciesOutpatient PharmaciesPharmacy Benefit Management Organization And Mail Order PharmaciesRetail PharmaciesTable of ContentsIndia Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Research Report 20181 Pharmacy Automation Systems Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Pharmacy Automation Systems1.2 Classification of Pharmacy Automation Systems by Product Category1.2.1 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units) Market Share by Type in 20171.2.3 Automated Medication Dispensing Systems1.2.4 Automated Packaging And Labelling Systems1.2.5 Automated Table Top Counters1.2.6 Automated Medication Compounding Systems1.2.7 Automated Storage And Retrieval Systems1.3 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Inpatient Pharmacies1.3.3 Outpatient Pharmacies1.3.4 Pharmacy Benefit Management Organization And Mail Order Pharmacies1.3.5 Retail Pharmacies1.4 India Revenue and Sales of Pharmacy Automation Systems (2013-2025)1.4.1 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units) and Growth Rate (%)(2013-2025)1.4.2 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Revenue (Million USD) and Growth Rate (%)(2013-2025)2 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers2.1 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) of Key Players/Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Revenue and Share by Players/Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players/Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.4.1 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Concentration Rate2.4.2 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Players/Manufacturers2.4.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion in India Market2.5 India Players/Manufacturers Pharmacy Automation Systems Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area, Product Type3 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales and Revenue (Value) by Type (2013-2018)3.1 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Type/ Product Category (2013-2018)3.2 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.3 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2013-2018)3.4 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales Growth Rate (%) by Type (2013-2018)Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @4 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales by Application (2013-2018)4.1 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4.2 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales Growth Rate (%) by Application (2013-2018)4.3 Market Drivers and Opportunities5 India Pharmacy Automation Systems Players/Suppliers Profiles and Sales Data5.1 Capsa Healthcare5.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base and Competitors5.1.2 Pharmacy Automation Systems Product Category, Application and Specification5.1.2.1 Product A5.1.2.2 Product B5.1.3 Capsa Healthcare Pharmacy Automation Systems Sales (K Units), Revenue (Million USD), Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)5.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview5.2 Cerner CorporationContinue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ Flexible Solar Panel Industry Research Report 2018 - Uni-Solar, MiaSol, Global Solar SoloPower, Systems, Flisom, Sun Harmonics, FWAVE Company, https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1704825 https://www.researchmoz.us/2018-market-research-report-on-global-flexible-solar-panel-industry-report.html/toc http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "2018 Market Research Report on Global Flexible Solar Panel Industry" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the Flexible Solar Panel market status and outlook of global and major regions,from angles of manufacturers,regions,product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top manufacturers in global and major regions,and splits the Flexible Solar Panel market by product type and applications/end industries.The major players in global Flexible Solar Panel market include:Uni-SolarMiaSolGlobal SolarSoloPower SystemsFlisomSun HarmonicsFWAVE CompanyPowerFilmTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Geographically,this report is segmented into several key Regions,with production,consumption,revenue,market share and growth rate of Flexible Solar Panel in these regions covering:United StatesEuropeJapanRest AsiaROWOn the basis of product,the Flexible Solar Panel market is primarily split into:Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS)Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)On the basis on the end users/applications,this report covers:CommercialResidentialMobileTable of Contents1 Flexible Solar Panel Market Overview11.1 Product Overview and Scope of Flexible Solar Panel11.2 Flexible Solar Panel Segment by Types (Product Category)21.2.1 Global Flexible Solar Panel Output (MW) Comparison by Types (2013-2025)21.2.2 Global Flexible Solar Panel Output Market Share by Types in 201731.2.3 Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS)31.2.4 Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)41.3 Global Flexible Solar Panel Segment by Applications51.3.1 Global Flexible Solar Panel Consumption Comparison by Applications (2013-2025)51.3.2 Commercial Application61.3.3 Residential Application71.3.4 Mobile Application81.4 Global Flexible Solar Panel Market by Regions (2013-2025)91.4.1 Global Flexible Solar Panel Revenue (Million USD) Comparison by Regions (2013-2025)91.4.2 United States Flexible Solar Panel Status and Prospect (2013-2025)101.4.3 Europe Flexible Solar Panel Status and Prospect (2013-2025)101.4.4 Japan Flexible Solar Panel Status and Prospect (2013-2025)111.4.5 Rest Asia Flexible Solar Panel Status and Prospect (2013-2025)121.5 Global Market Size of Flexible Solar Panel (2013-2025)131.5.1 Global Flexible Solar Panel Revenue (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2013-2025)131.5.2 Global Flexible Solar Panel Capacity,Output (MW) Status and Outlook (2013-2025)142 Global Flexible Solar Panel Market Competition by Manufacturers162.1 Global Flexible Solar Panel Output and Share by Manufacturers (2015-2017)162.2 Global Flexible Solar Panel Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015-2017)182.3 Global Flexible Solar Panel Average Price and Gross Margin by Manufacturers (2015-2017)202.4 Manufacturers Flexible Solar Panel Manufacturing Base Distribution,Sales Area,Product Types222.5 Flexible Solar Panel Market Competitive Situation and Trends242.5.1 Flexible Solar Panel Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers242.5.2 Mergers & Acquisitions,Expansion25Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 Global Flexible Solar Panel Output and Revenue by Regions263.1 Global Flexible Solar Panel Output and Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)263.2 Global Flexible Solar Panel Revenue and Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)283.3 Global Flexible Solar Panel Output,Revenue,Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)303.4 United States Flexible Solar Panel Output,Revenue,Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)313.5 Europe Flexible Solar Panel Output,Revenue,Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)323.6 Japan Flexible Solar Panel Output,Revenue,Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)333.7 Rest Asia Flexible Solar Panel Output,Revenue,Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)344 Global Flexible Solar Panel Supply (Output),Consumption,Export,Import by Regions354.1 Global Flexible Solar Panel Consumption by Regions (2013-2018)354.2 United States Flexible Solar Panel Consumption and Growth Rate (2013-2018)374.3 Europe Flexible Solar Panel Consumption and Growth Rate (2013-2018)384.4 Japan Flexible Solar Panel Consumption and Growth Rate (2013-2018)38Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ Automotive Lighting Market 2018 Global Future Trends, Sales, Size, Share, and Key Country Forecast To 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1819 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-lighting-market-1819 Automotive Lighting Market 2018 Research Report by MarketResearchFuture Industry Expert analyzes Global Automotive Lighting Market growing at Impressive growth rate. According to market expert this growth of Automotive Lighting Market will remain steady for coming years. Global Automotive Lighting Market by Technology (Halogen, LED, and Xenon), by Vehicle Type (Passenger Car, Light Commercial Vehicle & Heavy Commercial Vehicle), by Application (Front Lights, Side Lights, Rear Lights and Interior Lights) and by End Market (OEM & Aftermarket) and by Region analyzed for this global research report.Some Major Players in the Automotive Lighting are analyzed in this report:Magneti Marelli (Italy), Philips Lighting NV (Netherlands), Ichikoh Industries Ltd (Japan), HELLA KGaA Hueck & Co (Germany), KOITO MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.( Japan), ZKW Lichtsysteme GmbH (Wieselburg), Peterson Manufacturing company (U.S.), OSRAM GmbH (Germany), Stanley Electric Co. Ltd (Japan), General Electric (U.S.) and among others.Visit to Get Sample Report:Global Automotive Lighting Market Insights:The increase in sales of new vehicles has been fuelling the growth of automotive lighting market. The increase in the sales of new vehicles has mainly been because of competitive and diverse options available for finance. The availability of finance has eased the purchase of vehicles, due to which there has been a rise in the use of automotive lighting. Another factor responsible for the increase in vehicle sales, is the macroeconomic development and the rise in the global middle class consumers. According to OICA, the sales of new vehicles have been increased from 2013 to 2016. In 2013, the number of vehicle sold were 85.6 million while in 2016 it was 9.38 million.Major emerging countries such as China, India, Thailand, and Indonesia, among others are becoming manufacturing hubs for global automotive players. As a result of increasing prosperity in the emerging economies, more and more people are able to afford their own car, particularly in emerging Asian economies such as China and India.Global Automotive Lighting Market Regional Analysis:Being home to the most populous countries of the world such as China and India among others, the dominance of APAC becomes evident in the global automotive lighting market value. The market has been experiencing rapid growth in the last two years owing to the rising sales of passenger cars, increasing usage of lighting on vehicles, increasing popularity of LED lights and technological advancements are giving a much needed thrust to the automotive lighting market. Another major reason behind APAC leading the global market is that the countries within this region were able to sustain its economy during the global economic crisis of 2008-09 and have been able to showcase continued growth in automobile production and sales across the globe.China, being the largest populated country in the world, has gained the top position in the global automotive market, surpassing the U.S. in 2014. The country has for long maintained the reputation of standing at the forefront of the electronics industry, rapidly progressing towards miniaturization and innovation. Therefore, in spite of being the market leader in the global automotive marketplace, the country holds immense potential to grow in terms of lighting sales for automobile applications. The preference for mid-end cars has been identified to be the highest in China, and therefore, contributes the maximum revenue in the total market value for the country.North America is one of the major producers of automotive lighting due to the presence of big giants in automotive lighting. Moreover, the rising demand for passenger cars have resulted in increasing demand for automotive lighting has augmented the North American market. Geographically, US has consumed around 75.4% of market share in 2016 followed by Canada.Scope of the Report:This study provides an overview of the global Automotive Lighting market, tracking three market segments across four geographic regions. The report studies key players, providing a five-year annual trend analysis that highlights market size, volume and share for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC) and Rest of the World (ROW). The report also provides a forecast, focusing on the market opportunities for the next five years for each region.The report for Global Automotive Lighting Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Target Audience:OrganizationsManufacturerResearch Institute / Education InstitutePotential InvestorsMajor Table Of Content:1 Executive Summary2 Research Methodology2.1 Scope Of The Study2.1.1 Definition2.1.2 Research Objective2.1.3 Assumptions2.1.4 Limitations2.2 Research Process2.2.1 Primary Research2.2.2 Secondary Research2.3 Market Size Estimation2.4 Forecast Model3 Market Dynamics3.1 Market Drivers3.2 Market Inhibitors3.3 Supply/Value Chain Analysis3.4 Porters Five Forces AnalysisContinuedTo know more on this Global Automotive Lighting market Research Report Visit:The report for Global Automotive Lighting Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.About Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312sales@marketresearchfuture.com Machine Vision Systems Market Global Key Players- OmniVision, Basler AG, Cognex Corporation, Keyence Corporation The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000156 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000156 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/machine-vision-systems-market Worldwide Machine Vision Systems Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Machine Vision Systems industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Machine Vision Systems Market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Machine Vision Systems Market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Machine Vision Systems players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Global Machine Vision Systems market is expected to grow from US$ 8.1billion in 2015 to US$ 15.01 billion by 2025 at a CAGR of 7.0% between 2015 and 2025. Machine Vision Systems are the next generation intelligent systems mainly used in industrial applications for detection, identification, measurement, inspection and so on. These systems play major roles in robotics; these are used to guide the autonomous robots also known as self-navigating robots. Various industries such as automotive, food & beverage, pharmaceuticals are much concerned about reducing labor intensive processes, increasing accuracy and speed; machine vision systems are in demand to overcome these concerns.FREE | Request a Sample Report atThe Machine Vision Systems market report focuses on an in-depth segmentation of this market based by type, components, and end-users. The geographic segmentation of the report covers six major regions including; North Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SA). The regional market has been further bifurcated by respective countries. Machine vision and components market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years due to the increasing demand in industries such as automation, robotics and nonmanufacturing which include intelligent transport system, logistics and medical, exhibiting substantial Machine Vision Systems market growth.The Machine Vision Systems market report aims to provide an overview of global machine vision systems market with detailed Machine Vision Systems market segmentation. Also, it analyzes the current machine vision systems market scenario and forecasts the market till 2025. The report covers market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period. Furthermore, the report analyzes the competitive scenario, geographic trends, and opportunities in the markets with respect to all geographic regions. The report also includes the detailed company profiles of the key players in the market along with their market strategies. The Machine Vision Systems market report also provides porters five forces analysis and SWOT analysis for all company profiled in the Machine Vision Systems market report.Machine Vision Systems market has set the highest growth record in North America in 2014. Whereas, Europe is the major manufacturer and exporter of these systems worldwide. Rapidly growing economies in Asia-Pacific (APAC) with significant growth in automotive sector will pave the path for increasing adoption and propel the market for machine vision systems. The region is expected to lead the market with highest CAGR during the forecast period.Inquire before Buying atMachine Vision Systems are the next generation intelligent systems mainly used in industrial applications for detection, identification, measurement, inspection and so on. Recently ISRA Vision AG, one of the leading competitors in the market launched a new solution that performs the optical inspection of plastic films that is used in various end-user purposes. Detecting defects, optimizing processes, increasing yield-optical inspections are some of the functions of the solution. Such developments in the market are anticipated to further fuel the growth of machine vision systems in the years to come.Some of the leading machine vision systems market players are Basler AG, Cognex Corporation, Keyence Corporation, Omron Corporation and National Instruments. OmniVision, DataLogic, and Microscan Systems among others.The report segments the global machine vision systems market as follows:Global Machine Vision Systems Market By TypesSmart Machine Vision SystemsPC-Based Smart Machine Vision Systems3D Machine Vision SystemsGlobal Machine Vision Systems Market By ComponentsCamerasFrame GrabbersProcessorsIlluminations & OpticsVision SoftwareOthersGlobal Machine Vision Systems Market By End-usersAutomotiveConsumer ElectronicsFood and BeveragePharmaceuticalsLogisticsOthersGlobal Machine Vision Systems Market By Geography Global Machine Vision Systems Market By GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaMexicoEuropeFranceGermanyItalySpainU.K.Asia Pacific (APAC)JapanChinaIndiaAustraliaMiddle East & Africa (MEA)Saudi ArabiaU.A.E.South AfricaSouth America (SA)BrazilView Complete Report atAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:533, 5th Floor,Amanora Chambers, East Block, Amanora Township,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Sales Market Size, Developments, Demand, Trends, Revenue and Future Scenario Forecast Until 2025 Market Research Hub https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1750643 https://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-electrostatic-discharge-protection-diode-sales-market-report-2018-report.html https://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=enquiry&repid=1750643 A fresh report has been added to the wide database of Market Research Hub (MRH). The research study is titled Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Sales Market Report 2018which encloses important data about the production, consumption, revenue and market share, merged with information related to the market scope and product overview. The report anticipates that the sector for Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market would rise at a positive CAGR during the period 2018-2025.Click here for Free Sample Report@This report studies the global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode market status and forecast, categorizes the global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, China, Japan, Southeast Asia India and Other regions (Middle East & Africa, Central & South America).In 2017, the global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode market size was xx million US$ and it is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, with a CAGR of xx.x % between 2018 and 2025.The major players covered in this reportVishayOn semiconductorToshibaTexas InstrumentsLittelfuseInfineonNXPSTMicroelectronicsSOCAYGeographically, this report studies the key regions, focuses on product sales, value, market share and growth opportunity in these regions, coveringUnited StatesEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaThe regional scope of the study is as follows:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoUnidirectional ESD Protection DiodeBidirectional ESD Protection DiodeOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingTelecommunicationsAutomotive electronicsIndustrialOthersIn this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode are as follows:History Year: 2013-2017Base Year: 2017Estimated Year: 2018Forecast Year 2018 to 2025For the data information by region, company, type and application, 2017 is considered as the base year. Whenever data information was unavailable for the base year, the prior year has been considered.Key StakeholdersElectrostatic Discharge Protection Diode ManufacturersElectrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Distributors/Traders/WholesalersElectrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsBrowse Full Report with TOC@Table of Contents1 Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode1.2 Classification of Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode by Product Category1.2.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Unidirectional ESD Protection Diode1.2.4 Bidirectional ESD Protection Diode1.3 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Telecommunications1.3.3 Automotive electronics1.3.4 Industrial1.3.5 Others1.4 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market by Region1.4.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Europe Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 China Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global Electrostatic Discharge Protection Diode (Volume) by ApplicationRead More@@Enquire about this Report@About Market Research HubMarket Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of chemicals market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.Contact Us90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United StatesToll Free: 800-998-4852 (US-Canada)Email: press@marketresearchhub.com Hydrocarbon Storage Tank Cleaning Service Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1598167 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1598167 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Hydrocarbon Storage Tank Cleaning Service Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.Increasing production of hydrocarbons such as crude oil and natural gas coupled with rising demand of them makes inventory management a crucial aspect of the hydrocarbon market. With fluctuating prices and demand, maintenance of inventory is vital from operations point of view. Every process in the hydrocarbon industry, starting from production, refining of crude oil, and distribution of refined products requires storage tanks of various types and sizes depending on the operation. The storage tanks range from small welded or bolted tanks ideal in crude oil production fields to larger welded tanks mainly used in refineries and distribution terminals. Storage tanks are selected based on the type of product to be stored, operating conditions, designing issues such as location of installation and space constraints, and storage capabilities for any operation. As storage tanks form an essential part of the hydrocarbon industry, their cleaning and maintenance is of great importance for proper functioning, safe, and continuous operation of the industry.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Cleaning of hydrocarbon tanks allows for full and safe access of tanks for inspection and maintenance purposes. It increases the dynamics of operational safety at the storage location. In order to maximize the lifetime or total service life of a tank, sufficient maintenance should be undertaken to counteract degradation mechanism such as corrosion or deposition. Cleaning of the tank is recommended even when one decides to change its storage content, so as to prevent the mixing of one content with another. Cleaning plays an important role in the maintenance of tank and it potentially helps in increasing the service life of the tank; however, it requires the tank to be out of commission for a certain period of time. Moreover, the cleaning process in itself can be a potentially hazardous procedure both for the environment and human life.Based on type of tank, the global hydrocarbon storage tank cleaning service market can be classified into crude oil storage tank, refinery storage tank, distribution terminal storage tank, and others. The crude oil storage tank segment includes tanks used for storing of crude oil either for transportation or for processing purposes. The segment is estimated to hold the leading share of the global hydrocarbon storage tank cleaning service market. The refinery storage tank segment comprises tanks used in a refinery for storing of refined products or intermediate products. The distribution terminal storage tank segment consists of tanks used for storing of refined products at distribution terminals out of the refinery. The others segment includes storage tanks utilized for storing of liquefied natural gas (LNG) or storage tanks installed at retail outlets.In terms of type of service, the global hydrocarbon storage tank cleaning service market can be divided into manual tank cleaning service and automated tank cleaning service. The automated tank cleaning service possesses several advantages over its manual counterpart such as safety to human life from hazardous nature of operation along with reduced downtime of cleaning.Based on region, the global hydrocarbon storage tank cleaning service market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to lead the global hydrocarbon storage tank cleaning service market during the forecast period. Europe is projected to follow the lead of North America during the forecast period. The hydrocarbon storage tank cleaning market in Asia Pacific is estimated to grow at a healthy rate during the forecast period due to the increasing demand of hydrocarbons in the developing economies such as India and China.Make an Enquiry of this report @Key players operating in the global hydrocarbon storage tank cleaning service market include Schlumberger Limited, ARKOIL Technologies Nederland, KMT INTERNATIONAL INC, ORECO A/S, and TRADEBE.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ Malt Ingredient Market to Register Steadfast CAGR of 4.8% Over Forecast Period, 2017 - 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-835 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-835 www.futuremarketinsights.com According to a recent research report titled Malt Ingredient Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (2017-2027) published by Future Market Insights, the global market for malt ingredients is likely to witness moderate growth during the period of assessment. The research report covers several factors that drive this growth as well as few other aspects that have a negative influence over it. The exhaustive research publication includes trends, threats, opportunities, growth drivers and challenges and their impact on the global malt ingredient market. Detailed pricing analysis of different malt ingredients across key regions is also discussed in the research study. The segmental analysis across North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Latin America, Japan and Middle East and Africa (MEA) is carried out which is used to track the future projections for a period of ten years, pertaining to value and volume of the global malt ingredient market.Global Malt Ingredient Market: OutlookThe global malt ingredient market is driven by various factors such as use of advanced technologies for malt ingredient production, use of better for you strategy, rising health awareness among people, high nutritional value of diastatic malt extract, rising demand from consumers for traditional foods, easy availability of grains, growing popularity of malternatives as a substitute for beer and growing popularity of non-alcoholic brews. The global malt ingredient market has observed several trends which indirectly influence its growth product innovation, huge demand for dark malt, offering additive free products, rising number of breweries in various developing regions (India and China), increasing consumption of processed and convenience foods, rising gluten free product preference, high demand for malt based nutritional dairy products and malt based drinks and high demand for clean label products. There some restraining factors such as price fluctuations of barley, changing climatic conditions resulting in increasing cost of raw material and threat of substitutes for malt-based beverages.Request For Report Sample@Global Malt Ingredient Market: Key Segmental HighlightsThe global malt ingredient market is segmented by product type (malt extract, malt flour, others), by raw material (barley, wheat, rye, maize, rice and oat), by end use (food and beverage industry, pharmaceutical industry and personal care industry), by grade (specialty malt, standard malt) and by region.Western Europe region is anticipated to dominate the global malt ingredient market with respect to high value during the 2017-2027 assessment period. This region is expected to grow at a high growth rate to register a 5.3% CAGR during the period of forecast. Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region is likely to show potential growth in the coming years. By 2027 end, this region is estimated to reflect a value of around US$ 7.3 Bn growing at a 5.2% CAGR in the forecast periodBy raw material, oat and rye segments are poised to grow at comparatively high growth rates and poised to register CAGRs of 5.9% and 5.8% respectively. However, barley segment is expected to dominate the global market in the coming yearsBy product type, the malt extract segment dominated the global market in 2017 and is expected to remain dominant throughout the period of assessment. This segment also grows at high rate compared to other segments to register a CAGR of 5.1% throughout the period of forecast 2017-2027By grade, standard malt segment is witnessing high value share. It is estimated to reflect a high value of about US$22.4 Bn in 2027 thus dominating the global market. The specialty malt segment is poised to grow at a significant growth rate in the forecast periodFood and beverages industry segment by end use poised to expand at a high rate of 5.0% CAGR throughout the period forecast. It is also expected to lead the market with respect to market value in the coming yearsGlobal Malt Ingredient Market: ForecastThe global malt ingredient market is anticipated to grow at a moderate CAGR of 4.8% during the period of assessment. In this timeline, the global market is expected to witness significant growth in revenue to reach an evaluation of around US$ 33.3 Bn by the end of 2027.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Global Malt Ingredient Market: Competitive AssessmentThis exhaustive research contains detailed intelligence on various players involved in the manufacturing and distribution of malt ingredients. Prominent players are Cargill, Incorporated, Dohler GmbH, Ireks GmbH, The Soufflet Group, Axereal (BOORTMALT NV), GrainCorp Ltd., Vivescia Industries SCA, Malteries Soufflet SAS, Holland Malt B.V., Cooperativa Agraria Agroindustrial, Chunlei Malt Group Company, and Shun Taimai bud Group Co., Ltd. There are few other players such as Polttimo Oy, Malt Products Corporation, Barmalt India Pvt. Ltd., Viking Malt Oy, Polttimo Oy, Malt Products Corporation, Muntons Plc., and Crisp Malting Group.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Drug Discovery Informatics Market: Opportunity Analysis, 20162024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/224 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/talk-to-analyst/224 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ Drug discovery informatics and development is an extremely complex process that involves generation of large volumes of data. At present the market for drug discovery informatics is largely unmet. The existing approaches to gather information from various sources have been dealt with in some cases where the data types are very least well-defined or largely homogeneous. Nonetheless, the world on the verge of a new age of drug discovery informatics, the methods and approaches in which are dealing with gathering information from data and knowledge from information are experiencing a paradigm shift. The demands of this industry are well defined: huge amounts of data are produced using various innovative technologies and the restraint is searching, integrating, and accessing this data. Additionally, the inclination is to make important development decisions in the early life cycle of the discovery process. It has become crucial to take care of these issues with the vast amount of data available from ongoing projects and also from early efforts of drug development. The future of drug discovery informatics will be the assimilation of distributed and heterogeneous data. Domain specific data mining and data integration such as genomic and chemical data will continue to offer significant opportunities for drug discovery informatics. Procurement and management of graphical, textual and undefined data are some of the challenges in this field. However, these will become a vital part of data searching as well as building knowledge and information-bases. These factors will eventually lead to the growth of the data discovery informatics market during the forecast period.To understand Research Methodology, please click:Increasing chronic illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD), and diabetes mellitus is the chief concern for healthcare professionals and government organizations around the globe. The U.S. government in association with Presidents Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) has taken initiatives intended to improve financial stimulus to induce modernization in the pharmaceutical industry, which will drive the overall market for drug discovery informatics. Furthermore, collaborations amongst pharmaceutical companies have given rise to infusion of money and sharing of technologies amongst them, which has enabled these companies to develop local as well as global products.Advent of technology and the increasing number of clinical trials will drive the overall drug discovery informatics marketWith the advent of technology, innovative cloud-based and analytics technologies, storage and analysis of large amount of data is now possible at a lower cost. For example, Infosys popularized a cloud-based application to accelerate the management of data services for clinical trials. This in turn is likely to drive the whole drug design procedure. Infosys has been working in partnership with various clinical trial organizations and pharmaceutical companies to master the application and to provide easy access and management of data.The facilities that are offered can be outsourced to other organizations or can be used in-house via licensed solutions. In-house informatics segment holds a significant market share in the present scenario owing to the presence of information technology platforms in most of the companies. However, outsourced informatics segment is likely to grow at a considerable pace during the forecast period as the key industry players are opting for collaborations with the IT providers to increase their access to the tools and databases for clinical drug discovery.Have a doubt? Speak to our analyst now!Europe accounted for the major market share in the drug discovery informatics market. Some of the major factors for the same are rise in the clinical discovery ventures as well as various activities carried out by research institutes, universities, and companies. Nonetheless, Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period owing to high prospect of drug nanotechnology sector in this region as well as advancements in research software.Some of the key players operating in the global drug discovery informatics market are Albany Molecular Research, GVK Biosciences, Infosys, Certara, ChemAxon, Jubilant Biosys, DiscoverX, Novo Informatics, Charles River Laboratories, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, and Selvita.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Aluminum Cookware Market: Industry Analysis, Opportunity Assessment and Forecast upto 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aluminum-cookware-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=36920 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=36920 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Cookware made of aluminum as the main material is made up of aluminum cookware. Aluminum is of two types: anodized aluminum and cast aluminum. There are different types of aluminum cookware such as bowls, aluminum topes, aluminum trays, aluminum casserole, aluminum bucket, aluminum vessels, aluminum pots, and milk pans.Aluminum cookware is low-priced compared to cookware made from other materials. Aluminum is light weight but equally strong. It is a good conductor of heat and does not twist when exposed to high temperatures. Aluminum works fine for frying and browning foods due to its heat conductivity.Obtain ReportThe disadvantage of aluminum is that it has strong affinity to alkaline and acidic foods, triggering it to corrode the taste of the food cooked in aluminum utensils. Aluminum is usually used as an essential heat conductor or an anodized coating to preserve the food. Aluminum is generally not harmful to humans or animals, because aluminum is so firmly bound within minerals that animals hardly absorb these minerals, which are harmful for them.Aluminum cookware is preferred by consumers as it has considerable beneficial features. These include its cost effectiveness, fire resistant quality, and it is a good conductor of heat. Similarly, aluminum cookware heats quickly, making cooking easy and a less time consuming process. These cookware are safe to be used in the kitchen as the material is not reactive to acidic food. In addition, aluminum cookware does not disturb the foods taste and can be stored for a long period of time.Request BrochureBeing cost effective is one of the beneficial qualities of aluminum cookware. Buying pans and pots prepared from this material is cheaper compared to those manufactured from other standard materials such as stainless steel. Aluminum heats and cools quickly, making it popular with short-order cooks who need to work super quick.This means both are the finest materials that are suitable to sustain for longer period of time. Aluminum is weighs lighter, which is great when moving pots and pans all day or night. Aluminum cookware is also long lasting compared to other materials used to manufacture cookware. The benefit of aluminum is its thermal heat transfer property.Request Table of ContentThe only drawback of aluminum is that it is inclined to develop a grayish texture over a period of time. However, this staining would not affect the cookwares capability of thermal conductivity in any way. This will only raise concerns among those consumers who desire exquisite looks in cookware. Many companies are starting to add a coating to the bottom of pots and pans, which prevents the food from sticking to the pan and also makes it easy for cooking and cleaning the surface. Aluminum cookware is rigid and durable and also has thermal conductivity that is 16 times that of stainless steel.The aluminum cookware market is segmented based on type, application, and region. In terms of type, the market is segmented into cast aluminum cookware and anodized aluminum cookware. Furthermore, the market is segmented by application into residential and commercial. Based on regions, the aluminum cookware market covers North America (USA and Canada), Europe (Germany, France, U.K, and Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (China, Japan, India, and Rest of Asia Pacific), South America (Brazil and Rest of South America.), Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and Rest of South Africa).The key player of the aluminum cookware market are SEB, Alluflon, Illa SpA, Ballarini, Norbert Woll GmbH, Meyer, Fissler GmbH, Risoli, ALZA, SCANPAN, Newell, Maspion, Y&T, and Zhongxin Cookware.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports thrive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Growth Opportunities of Healthcare Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Market in Global Industry 2017-2025: Mckesson Corporation, GE Healthcare, SSI Group Inc Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1598351 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1598351 https://www.researchmoz.us/healthcare-electronic-data-interchange-edi-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Healthcare Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.Electronic data interchange is a concept of electronic business communication. Healthcare electronic data interchange allows the interchange of computer-processable electronic healthcare data in a user-friendly format among healthcare institutions, healthcare professionals, and patients. Standardization, cost savings, improved productivity, and faster processing are some of the benefits offered by healthcare EDI. For instance, healthcare providers can send claim status requests and procure information using a predefined transaction set for organized, compliant information exchange. Healthcare electronic data interchange transactions are not email exchanges, unlike normal EDI. There are various applications of healthcare EDI systems some of them are dental and medical patient database management, clinical trials and regulatory data management, and insurance and reimbursement data management. Healthcare EDI contains exchange of electronic healthcare data between applications and computer systems.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @There are different modes for transaction in healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) such as point-to-point EDI, web-based EDI, van EDI, mobile EDI, and EDI via AS2, employed by several end-users such as pharmacies, medical device & pharmaceutical industries, healthcare providers, and healthcare players. Healthcare EDI systems need to be modified with a data-centric system in order to provide a high level of data security and quality and to keep pace with the changing healthcare trends.A key factor driving the healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market is the rising need to curtail healthcare cost and regularize electronic transaction. Moreover, rising government support for healthcare IT plays a vital role in driving the healthcare EDI market. The development of new regulations for transaction process is also positively affecting the expansion of the healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market. Additionally, the usage of electronic data interchange (EDI) provides affordable solutions for small as well as for medium-sized healthcare providers with improved scalability and flexibility. However, data security of patients is an issue that is likely to hamper the healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market. Moreover, initial high implementation cost for EDI software is a factor restraining the healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market.Make An Enquiry @The healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market can be segmented based on component, transaction type, delivery mode, end-user, and geographic regions. Based on component, the healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market can be classified into services and solutions. In terms of transaction type, the market can be segregated into claims management and healthcare supply chain. The claim management segment can be further sub-segmented into claim status, claims submission, eligibility verification, claim payment, payment remittance, referral certification & authorization, and other EDI transaction. Based on delivery mode, the healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market can be segmented into van EDI, web & cloud-based EDI, mobile EDI, and point-to-point EDI.In terms of end-user, the market can be divided into pharmacies, medical device & pharmaceutical industries, healthcare providers, and healthcare players. Based on geographic regions, the global healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa. The market in Asia-Pacific is expected to expand at a significant growth rate due to the consistent rise in patient volume and the need for proper management of massive patient data.Browse Report @Key players operating in the global healthcare electronic data interchange (EDI) market include Capario Inc. Mckesson Corporation, GE Healthcare, SSI Group Inc., Passport Health Communication Inc., Siemens Healthcare, Experian PLC, Optum Inc., Cerner Corporation, and Allscripts Healthcare Solutions, Inc. These players are vigorously involved in various organic and inorganic growth strategies in order to gain competitive advantage in the market. Some of the vital strategies followed by these companies include collaborations, agreements, partnerships, and launch of new products.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on Blogger at: New Research on Global Sprockets Market Highlights Growth Overview and Estimates Market Size by 2027 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=T&rep_id=707 https://www.factmr.com/report/707/sprockets-market https://www.factmr.com/checkout/707/S https://www.factmr.com/ As per the current market trends and the promising nature of the global sprockets market, it can be estimated that the future holds positive outcomes. In order to provide a deep insight about the concerned market, Fact.MR would be publishing a resourceful analysis that will enclose knowledge about the regional market size, revenue and opportunity status. Readers will be offered the privilege to decode various facets of the market during the period 2018 to 2027, together with the active access to secondary and primary research methodology. Furthermore, various segments of the market associated to product, application, end-user etc., would also be present in this intelligent research report.Request TOC of this Report-Promising Future for Motorcycles to Fuel Growth of Sprockets MarketSprockets, toothed wheels designed for engaging with components such as chains and belts to pull over the wheel, typically seek adoption in motorcycles. Size of the sprockets are reduced or increased to comply with different gearing of motorcycles, enabling drivers to make their movements efficient and powerful. Sprockets also seek adoption in various other types of motorized vehicles.An influx of household in cities of industrializing countries coupled with elevating GHDI of consumers in these countries has been reflecting on demand for motorcycles over the past few years. The global motorcycle industry witnessed a slack owing to intensified import competition in the recent past, which led several manufacturers to relocate their production plants to emerging markets, where demand has been rising significantly. However, remarkable opportunity exists for growth of the global motorcycle industry in the upcoming years, wherein overall supply chain participants in the industry are emphasizing on integration and incorporation of business intelligence and advanced analytics.Industry participants are taking efforts to counteract the past slack by increasing efficacy of their production facilities, meanwhile tapping the demographic segments other than Baby Boomers such as young, female and minority population, with attractive marketing strategies such as celebrity endorsements. Such efforts will reflect on the growing demand for motorcycles, thereby fuelling growth of the sprockets market.Robust Expansion of Material Handling Industry to Influence Demand for SprocketsSprockets form an integral component of various material handling equipment that seek adoption across most industrial sectors including construction, mining, oil & gas, and machine tools. Superior durability even in extreme operating conditions, noise-free operations, high-load capacity, and low vibration are key attributes of sprockets that make their use in material handling equipment lucrative. Future of material handling is foreseen to be smart, with growing interconnection between technologies and equipment, also known as Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT).Smart manufacturing enterprises are focusing on maximizing their efficiency and safety via intuitive collaboration and networking with their customers. The overall manufacturing floor from picking & sorting systems to conveying systems - are witnessing evolution for accommodating more flexible business requirements and predictive planning. Abreast these evolvements, demand for various innate material handling components such as sprockets is likely to gain an uptick in the near future.To know more @ Global Sprockets Market, visit Proliferation of Industrial Robotics to Create High Demand for SprocketsIndustrial robotics imparts myriad benefits in terms of operational precision, quality, and productivity, and its deployment in industrial sectors entails the need for high-degree precision control. Advancements in robotic vision has significantly fuelled the efficiency of industrial processes since the recent past. Growing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI), along with evolution of technologies incorporated in robotics have led toward the development of advanced robots with improved vision capabilities.This has created high demand for components such as gears, drives and sprockets for ensuring better precision control and flexibility of robots during their deployment. With components such as sprockets assisting robots to control directional and rotational motion, and cascading effect of demand for customized robots is likely to prompt vendors of sprockets to improve their design capabilities and develop new technology.For example, Pitsco, Inc. has recently introduced its TETRIXMAX Sprockets, which are manufactured from heavy-duty aluminum, designed for competitive and tough robots, and offer high performance even in heavy load operations. Product variants of the lightweight yet sturdy TETRIXMAX Sprockets include 16-tooth, 24-tooth, and 32-tooth sprockets with 3-D animation.Key Developments from ManufacturersRENOLD, a prominent manufacturer of material handling components, has recently developed a new array of high-performance sprockets. These sprockets have been made available by the company in pitch sizes 06B-16B simplex in the pilot bore configuration. RENOLDs new high-performance sprockets are manufactured by using C45-grade carbon steel, and comply with ISO 606 standard. Teeth of these sprockets are induction hardened to tight tolerance in 40-50 HRC range.Tsubaki, leading manufacturers of various industry-specific transmission equipment & component, has unveiled its new range of sprockets made from high-quality, heat-treated steel. These sprockets are claimed to perform well in all kinds of challenging and heavy-duty applications. Resistant to wear and shock loads, Tsubakis new sprockets require minimal maintenance.Pre-book Global Titanium Dioxide Nanomaterials Market Forecast Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; thats why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MRSuite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-6111-593Email: sales@factmr.com/Web: Pyrogen Testing Market moving toward 2024 With New Procedures https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/243 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/talk-to-analyst/243 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ Pyrogen testing is used to measure the presence of pyrogen in an organism that causes fever. Pyrogens are substances that can cause fever and these substances can be found in lipopolysaccharides and lepoteichoic acid. Pyrogen contamination can be found in pharmaceutical drugs & medical devices and thus, it is essential for healthcare companies to conduct pyrogen testing to assess concentration level for pyrogens and ensure that it is well within the prescribed level. Pyrogen testing is conducted in three ways:-Rabbit pyrogen test,-Limulus amoebeocyte lysate test (LAL) and-Monocyte activation test.To get detailed table of content (ToC), please click:The pyrogen testing market is slowly making a transition from rabbit pyrogen testing to limulus amoebocyte lysate test, due to the growing focus on in-vitro testing.Growth in the pharmaceutical industry and stringent drug approval will steer the Pyrogen testing market forwardThe pharmaceutical market was worth $1 trillion dollars in the fiscal year 2014 and it can potentially reach $1.6 trillion by 2020. Key pharmaceutical companies are making major investments in Research and Development to introduce new and innovative drugs for the emerging markets such as India, China and Japan. However, with the regulatory scenario becoming stringent, the pharmaceutical companies have introduced better quality assurance processes. The demand for pharmaceutical drugs is estimated to increase significantly in countries such as U.S., China and Japan as the population ages. The Market size of Pyrogen testing will be driven by the growth in medical devices industry. The development of advanced medical devices such as stents, pacemakers, and catheters has been a major factor for the growth of pyrogen testing market.Further, the regulations for drug approval are getting rigorous with FDA and EMA scrutinizing drugs closely for public safety. The FDA issued statement about pyrogen testing, its importance and the need for parenteral drug manufacturing to manage drug safety. Additionally, the regulatory bodies are motivating the pharmaceutical and medical devices companies to opt for Monocyte Activation Test in place of animal testing. An estimated 100,000 rabbits are used on an annual basis in Europe for pyrogen testing and the European authorities inducted MAT in the European Pharmacopoeia in 2010 to counter the animal testing.Pyrogen testing market will witness significant growth in the Asia Pacific regionNorth America is the biggest market in terms of geography for pyrogen testing, due to stringent regulations imposed by the US FDA on drugs and medical devices approval. Furthermore, key pharmaceutical companies are making major investments in Research & Development and quality assurance. Europe is the second-largest market for pyrogen testing due to a well-established R&D infrastructure and the extensive government support & funding for the development of novel drugs and medical devices.China, India and South Korea constitute 40% of global R&D spending. Major pharmaceutical companies are now outsourcing drug development and manufacturing to Asia Pacific region to capitalize on economies of scale, which will drive demand for pyrogen testing in the region. Global medical devices manufacturers will conduct clinical trials totes the safety and efficacy of the devices which will make a positive impact on the pyrogen testing industry. The governments of India and China have been promoting development of novel drugs by providing government funding. Both the countries are projected to invest US$ 100 billion and US$ 300 billion, respectively over the following 10 years in research & development. This in turn will create a highly conducive environment for growth of the pyrogen testing market.Have a doubt? Speak to our analyst now!Key players are focusing on transitioning from conducting test on rabbitsThe key players in the pyrogen testing market are Thermo Fisher Scientific, Merck KGaA, Lonza Group, Associated of Cape Cod Inc. and Charles River Laboratories Inc, among others. The market has been in a state of consolidation as the key companies hold the dominant share with Merck KGaA leading from the front. These companies are introducing rabbit-free pyrogen testing methods due to the growing concern over extensive use of animals. Monocyte Activation Test is emerging as an innovative method, however the challenge lies in the logistical problems associated with the extraction of fresh human blood. The pyrogen testing market is estimated to evolve as the existing players continue to opt for mergers and acquisitions of small companies which will enable them to stay competitive in the market.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Growth of Nail Care Market Trends, Share, Industry Size, Opportunities and Forecast 2017-2021 Research Nester https://www.researchnester.com/sample-request/2/rep-id-76 https://www.researchnester.com/toc-request/1/rep-id-76 https://www.researchnester.com/payment/rep-id-76 https://www.researchnester.com/reports/global-nail-care-market-analysis-opportunity-outlook-2021/76 Global Nail Care Market Analysis & Opportunity Outlook 2021Nail Care Market OverviewNail care is one of the most essential parts of female fashion. Approximately 92% of females use nails care products in the world. It is believed that women aged 55 and above are the major consumers of nail care services across the globe.Market Size and ForecastGlobal Nail Care Market is estimated to reach USD 9.2 Billion by 2019, thus making it one of the most appealing businesses for the new and existing players. North America nail care market grew by 11.8% from 2013-2014 and it is further anticipated to grow with almost same Y-O-Y growth in the upcoming years.Request Report Sample @In Asia Pacific, Japan is the major market for the nail care owing to increasing popularity of manicures in the country followed by China. In addition to that, India and China, Malaysia, Thailand are projected to be the emergent countries for the nail care market. Europe nail care market is believed to flourish from increase in total number of beauty salons and nail bars in the region over next few years.Request for TOC Here @By RegionGlobal nail care market is further classified on the basis of region as follows:North America (U.S. & Canada) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisLatin America (Brazil, Mexico, Rest of Latin America) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisEurope (U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Netherlands & Luxembourg, Rest of Europe) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisAsia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Rest of Asia) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity Analysis.Middle East and Africa (GCC, North Africa, South Africa, Rest of Middle East) Market size, Y-O-Y growth & Opportunity AnalysisBuy This Premium Reports Now @Growth Drivers and challengesIncreasing fashion & beauty consciousness and rising disposable income across the globe are the major drivers of the global nail care market. Trending trying new looks according to dress and numerous occasions promise the un-doubtable great opportunity for the growth of the global nail care market.However, factors like counterfeits of original products, un-organized market flushed with non-branded and cheaper options, increasing concern of customer for nail damages and side effects of the chemical substance combined in the nail care products are the key challenges for the global nail care market at present.For more details visit @Research Nester is a leading service provider for strategic market research and consulting, serving clients from 120+ countries across the globe. We aim to provide unbiased, unparalleled market insights and industry analysis to help industries, conglomerates and executives to take wise decisions for their future marketing strategy, expansion and investment etc. We believe every business can expand to its new horizon, provided a right guidance at a right time is available through strategic minds. Our out of box thinking helps our clients to take wise decision so as to avoid future uncertainties.Contact for more Info:Name:- Ajay Daniel1820 Avenue M, Suite# 1113,Brooklyn, New York 11230Email: ajay.daniel@researchnester.comU.S. +1 646 586 9123U.K. +44 203 608 5919 Infrastructure Construction Singapore Market Segment and Trend with Foresight 2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3148917-institutional-construction-market-in-oman-market-size-growth https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3148917-institutional-construction-market-in-oman-market-size-growth www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts Synopsis"Institutional Construction Market in Oman: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2022" contains historic and forecast market data for the institutional construction market in Oman, with a detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) and by cost type( construction materials, construction equipment and construction services). This report also contains overall values of the institutional construction segments such as Institutional construction market covers the development of government, public and religious buildings. This market includes five categories: educational buildings, healthcare buildings, institutional buildings, religious buildings and research facilities.. This research report provides up-to-date market size data for the period 2013-2017 and an illustrative forecast to 2022.GET SAMPLE REPORT @SummaryInstitutional construction market covers the development of government, public and religious buildings. This market includes five categories: educational buildings, healthcare buildings, institutional buildings, religious buildings and research facilities.The Omani institutional construction category has observed some fluctuations in the review period with a value of OMRxxx.xx million (US$xxx.xx million) in 2017 and declined at a rate of x.xx% over 2016. The market recorded a CAGR of x.xx% from 2013 through 2017."Institutional Construction Market in Oman: Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics to 2022"' provides a top-level overview and detailed insight into the operating environment of the institutional construction market in Oman. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Oman construction value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.Scope An overview of the institutional construction market in Oman. Historic (2013 through 2017) and forecast (2018 through 2022) construction market output values are provided. A detailed breakdown of the data by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition) is provided at the market level while the values for the segments are provided by cost types (construction materials, construction equipment & construction services). This report covers all the segments of commercial construction market including Institutional construction market covers the development of government, public and religious buildings. This market includes five categories: educational buildings, healthcare buildings, institutional buildings, religious buildings and research facilities..Reasons to Buy Enhances your knowledge of the market with key figures detailing construction type. Provides you with a breakdown of the market by construction activity (new construction, repair and maintenance, refurbishment and demolition). Provides you with a breakdown of the segments by cost type (construction materials, construction equipment &construction services). Details the segments covered under commercial construction market. Allows you to plan future business decisions using the forecast figures given.Table of Content: Key Points1 Introduction2 Overall Institutional Construction: Market Analysis3 Institutional Construction Output: Analysis by Category4 Educational Buildings construction: Market Analysis5 Healthcare Buildings construction: Market AnalysisContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Contraceptive Drugs and Devices Global Insights and Forecast till 2024 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/365 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/365 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ Use of contraceptives is low in emerging economies especially in Africa, according to report Trends in Contraceptive Use Worldwide 2015, of the United Nations in 2015. Moreover, WHO estimates that around 225 million women in as of 2015, emerging economies who would like to delay their pregnancy are not using any contraception method. The impact of this is realized through the number of abortions carried out each year, with around 21.6 million unsafe abortions reported annually. Around 85% of these are reported in emerging economies in Africa and Asia, as per estimates of WHO (2016). Increasing awareness among the population through government initiatives and increasing accessibility to various contraceptive devices and drugs are expected to propel growth of contraceptive drugs and devices market in the near future.Request a sample copy of this report:The demand for advanced contraceptive options such as IUD, injectables, combined oral pills and diaphragms is observed to be high globally. This is owing to growing awareness among the populace, availability of reimbursement and growing demand for long term contraceptive methods.The global contraceptive drugs and devices market was valued at US$ 18,273.2 million in 2015 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.8% during the forecast period (2016 2024).High unmet need, especially in the African regionAccording to the United Nations (UN) study in 2015, the number of married and in-union women (15 years49 years age group) using contraceptives is expected to reach 778 million by 2030, from a reported 758 million in 2015. Moreover, the study reflects a high unmet need at 22% (2015) in the African region, followed by Asia Pacific with 12.5% (2015). Also, there has been increase in usage of contraceptives among the sexually active women population in Nigeria from 23% in 2014 to 30% in 2015, post the Federal Governments advocacy on usage of contraceptives among its women population, as per the report of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in 2015.Thus, market players such as Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Church & Dwight Co. Inc., Reckitt Benckiser Plc, Pfizer, Inc., Bayer AG, Cooper Surgical, Inc., and Allergan plc. should focus on the African market for potential revenue opportunities in the long run.Ask for customization:High preference for modern contraceptive methods in developed regionsAs per results of a detailed study by the United Nation in 2015, 9 out of 10 married or in-union women opt for modern contraceptive methods. Use of IUD in the U.S. women population has resulted in decrease in the rate of unintended pregnancies from 51% (20062010) to 45% (20092013) as per the CDCs National Survey of Family Growth. Furthermore, higher success rate and availability of reimbursement is encouraging women to opt for these methods over contraceptive pills. With increasing consumer awareness and rising accessibility to modern contraceptives methods, demand for these products is expected to increase in emerging economies such as India, China, and Brazil during the forecast period. Gynecologists and sexologists are recommending use of long-acting reversible contraceptives for couples who do not intend to have a child in near future, owing to their low side-effects and high effectiveness as compared to conventional contraceptives such as oral hormonal pills.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Polio Vaccines Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/380 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/380 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ Poliomyelitis is highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus. It is also known as polio or infantile paralysis. The virus belongs to genus Enterovirus which is a type of single-stranded RNA virus. There are three serotypes of poliovirus: P1, P2 and P3 and development of immunity to one serotype does not produce significant immunity to the other serotypes. The virus is transmitted primarily via the fecal-oral route, by ingesting contaminated food or water and less commonly through oral-oral route. Those who are infected may spread the disease for up to 6 weeks even if no symptoms are present. Poliovirus colonizes the gastrointestinal tract, specifically intestine and oropharynx and after about a week, it invades local lymphoid tissue and enters bloodstream, and then may infect cells of the central nervous system. Replication of poliovirus in motor neurons of the anterior horn and brain stem results in destruction of cell and thus causes the typical manifestations of poliomyelitis. This is projected to favor a significant growth for polio vaccines market over the forecast period.Request a sample copy of this report:Symptoms of Poliomyelitis:Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age. Up to 70% of all the infections in children are without any symptoms and about 25-30% of infections in children causes nonspecific illness without clinical or laboratory evidence of central nervous system invasion. This has created a gesture for the organizations to focus on the vaccines options for making prophylactic approach towards the prevention of the disorder, which in turn is expected to fuel the polio vaccines market in the near future.Polio vaccines market relies on the fact that around 1% of polio cases can develop into paralytic polio which causes paralysis in the spinal cord (spinal polio), brainstem (bulbar polio), or both (bulbospinal polio).According to WHO, 1 in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis. Among those paralyzed, 5% to 10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. The statistics regarding the prevalence of the disorder is expected to be one of the crucial factor that is to fuel the market of polio vaccines.In a report, WHO has reported that Polio cases have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated 350 000 cases then, to 74 reported cases in 2015. The reduction is the result of the global effort to eradicate the disease. Of the 3 serotypes, P2 was eradicated in 1999 and number of cases of P3 has decreased significantly.America has been declared polio free in 1994. In 2004, polio was declared to be eliminated from Australia, China and other 37 Pacific countries. Since 2011, there has been no cases of wild polio infections in India. This factor is projected to hinder the polio vaccines market in the near future.There are only 3 countries left in which wild polio infections still persist; Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan, which are somehow the reason for significant growth in the polio vaccines market in the near future.To get detailed table of content (ToC), please click:Indigenous wild poliovirus type 2 has not been detected since 1999. In 2015, the World Health Assembly agreed that all Member States which currently use OPV should prepare for the global withdrawal of the type 2 component of OPV in April 2016. According to WHO, member countries are required to introduce at least 1 dose of the IPV into routine immunization schedule.Sanofi Pasteur and Bilthoven Biologicals/ Serum Institute of India are the 2 companies which was awarded in 2014 by UNICEF for the supply of IPV in 1, 5 and 10 dose vials, and long term supply agreements were established through to 2018.Since 2000, UNICEF OPV procurement has averaged 1.8 Bn doses annually. GPEI launched the End Game Strategic Plan 2013-2018 at the World Health Assembly in May 2013. This comprehensive strategy focuses on eliminating both wild and vaccine-derived polio incidence through routine immunization programs thereby gradually replacing OPV use with IPV vaccine. This in turn is expected to favour the growth in polio vaccines industry in the near future.According to UNICEF report, Bio Farma (Indonesia), GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) (UK) and Sanofi Pasteur (France) are the only OPV bulk manufacturers. Novartis (Switzerland) has stopped their manufacture of OPV.Other players of polio vaccine market are: Merck & Co, Bibcol, Pfizer, Beijing Tiantan Biological, Bio-Med, Panacea Biotec Ltd, Adithya Vaccine Pharma, Sinovac Biotech Ltd, IPOLand Aventis Pasteur.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Insightful Forecast on Expansion of Global Disconnect Switch Market During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1834 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1834 www.futuremarketinsights.com Disconnect switch or isolator switch is used for the purpose to de-energize or cutoff the electric circuit, when the circuit is scheduled for servicing or maintenance. These switches have wide applications in large industries and power distribution applications, where high-powered machines have their own power source connected, in order to drive them and at a time of repairing or servicing, isolator or disconnect switch breaks the circuit and make machine isolated from the power source. On the basis of electric circuit requirement disconnect switch is categorized into three types; low voltage disconnect switch, medium voltage disconnect switch & high voltage disconnect switch, disconnect switches frequently work as enclosures for overcurrent safety when they have fuses. Some of them are also a part of larger safety scheme, when they are equipped with a shunt trip which is usually signaled by relays present at any place in the network.Disconnect Switch: Market Drivers and RestraintThe key trend responsible for the growth of global disconnect switch is the growth in distribution and transmission network worldwide, as electric power is an essential infrastructure for any developing and developed region, hence every region is trying to expand in the area of power systems.The key growth drivers of global disconnect switch market are rapid growth of urbanization and industrialization across the globe, and also increasing safety concern among the industrialist regarding their labors/workers, are some factors which are boosting up the growth of global disconnect/isolator switch market across the globe. On the other hand there are also some factors which are hindering the growth of global disconnect switch market, those restraints are fluctuating price of raw material being used to manufacture these disconnect switch, presence of low quality cheap products by other manufacturers in the market are key restraints of global disconnect switch market.Request For Report Sample@Disconnect Switch: SegmentationSegmentation of disconnect switch market is done on the basis of technology type, mount type, operating voltage, application & Geography. On the basis of technology type, global disconnect switch market is segmented as non-fused disconnect switch and disconnect switch. Among above segments, fused disconnect segment is the most popular segment has been used in most of the industrial applications. Furthermore, on the basis of mount type, global disconnect switch market is segmented into din rail mounted disconnect switch, panel mounted disconnect switch and other disconnect switch.By operating voltage, global disconnect switch market is segmented into low voltage disconnect switch, medium voltage disconnect switch and high voltage disconnect switch. On the basis of application, global disconnect switch market is segmented into industrial disconnect switch and commercial disconnect switch, from which industrial disconnect switch is further sub segmented into utility, manufacturing and inverter based generation and other application.Geographically, disconnect switch is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among all the regions North America is the highest contributor in term of revenue in global Disconnect switch market followed by Western Europe & Asia Pacific and it is expected that same trend is being followed in near future as well.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Disconnect Switch Market: Key PlayersThe key players of global Disconnect switch market are ABB Limited, General Electric Company, Schneider Electric SE, Crompton Greaves Limited, Havells India Ltd, Siemens AG and others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Uncooled Thermal Imaging Market to Register Stable Expansion During 2016-2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1835 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1835 www.futuremarketinsights.com Thermal imaging is a technology, which is invented specially for military operation in 1950, but it has been implemented in other applications as well due to realized benefits. Cameras based in thermal imaging technologies are able to capture clearer image even in dark surrounding. They dont need any light to operate in darkest of night and allow seeing objects without making itself visible. Thermal imaging cameras can see object even in fog and smoke that is why it is more preferable for military operations in battleground. In short, thermal imaging technology is used to observe the objects in dark environment or in unfavorable atmospheric condition with the help of some parameters like temperature difference in the human body, electrical appliances, mechanical equipment and many other assets. The key component used in thermal imaging camera is the detecting material (detector) that detects change in temperature and helps to create an image. On the basis of nature of detector, thermal imaging technique is segmented into cooled thermal imaging technique and uncooled thermal imaging technique. Those devices which use thermal imaging technique with mechanism to cool down temperature of sensor is termed as cooled thermal imaging systems and those devices which make use of thermal imaging technology without any necessity of cooling down the sensor is termed as uncooled thermal imaging system.Request For Report Sample@Uncooled thermal imaging market has been witnessed a tremendous growth of double digit in 2014 and is expected to grow with a substantial CAGR over forecast period.Uncooled Thermal Imaging: Market Drivers and RestraintThe key trend of global uncooled thermal imaging has been recorded for past some years is that the different vendors are launching the integration of uncooled imaging technology with smart phones and tablets (consumer goods). The key growth drivers of global uncooled thermal imaging market are increasing demand in industrial and commercial application because of its low price as compare to cooled thermal imaging system, also the increasing adoption in military application under soldier modernization programs help in driving the growth of global uncooled thermal imaging market. On the other hand there is also some factors which are deterring the growth of global uncooled thermal imaging market as availability of advanced technology with clearer image quality, which suppresses the growth of global uncooled thermal imaging market.Uncooled Thermal Imaging: SegmentationSegmentation of uncooled thermal imaging market is done on the basis of spectrum range, application, vertical & Geography. On the basis of spectrum range, global uncooled thermal imaging market is segmented as short wave IR, mid wave IR and long wave IR. On the basis of application, global uncooled thermal imaging market is segmented as building surveillance, night vision camera, firefighting, military, mapping & surveying and others.By vertical, global uncooled thermal imaging market is industrial, medical, automotive, test and measurement, maritime, research & development, commercial, security and surveillance, test & measurement, maritime and others.Uncooled Thermal Imaging Market: Regional OutlookGeographically, uncooled thermal imaging is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA). Among all the regions North America is the highest contributor in term of revenue in global uncooled thermal imaging market followed by Asia Pacific and it is expected that same trend is being followed in near future as well.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Uncooled Thermal Imaging Market: Key PlayersThe key players of global uncooled thermal imaging market are FLIR systems, Inc., Bosch security systems, Axis communications AB, Infrared Integrated Systems Ltd, Safran Group, Danaher Corporation and others.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Demand of Neuro Microscopy Market in Global Industry by Top Manufacturers and Trends 2018 QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1729837&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-neuro-microscopy-market-research-report-2018.htm/toc http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Neuro Microscopy to its huge collection of research reports.The international market for Neuro Microscopy has been researched with every detail in the publication with increased emphasis on various important factors such as opportunities, and restraints, growth drivers. Each of the factors that pertain to shaping of the market dynamics has been studied and analyzed in detail by the analysts, so as to offer the best and most evaluative and exhaustive study to the report buyers. The snapshot or the executive summary that has been provided in the market intelligence study has been designed in such a way so as to give a quick overview of the market for receiving information on the go. This could help readers with hands-on data needed to make quick decisions anytime during their growth journey in the market.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Neuro Microscopy in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaFor more info, get sample report for FREE here:Global Neuro Microscopy market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingHitachiGE HealthcareSiemensOlympusDanaher CorporationCarl Zeiss MeditecKoninklijke PhilipsPridex MedicareHaag-Streit AGSynaptive MedicalTable of ContentsGlobal Neuro Microscopy Market Research Report 20181 Neuro Microscopy Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Neuro Microscopy1.2 Neuro Microscopy Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Neuro Microscopy Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Neuro Microscopy Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Standalone1.2.4 Portable1.3 Global Neuro Microscopy Segment by Application1.3.1 Neuro Microscopy Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Hospitals1.3.3 Specialty Clinics1.3.4 ASCs1.3.5 Research FacilitiesRead Complete Table of Content of the Report at:2 Global Neuro Microscopy Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Neuro Microscopy Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Neuro Microscopy Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Neuro Microscopy Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Neuro Microscopy Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Neuro Microscopy Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Neuro Microscopy Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Neuro Microscopy Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Neuro Microscopy Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Neuro Microscopy Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Neuro Microscopy Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Neuro Microscopy Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Neuro Microscopy Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Neuro Microscopy Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Neuro Microscopy Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America Neuro Microscopy Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.6 Europe Neuro Microscopy Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.7 China Neuro Microscopy Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)...About QYResearchReports.comQyresearchreports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from Qyresearchreports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact US:Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-618-1030Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Organic Fertilizer Market is Estimated to be Valued at US$ 10.23 Bn by 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/organic-fertilizer-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11950 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/11950 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/11950 Belgium will continue to be the largest exporter of organic fertilizers, with total exports totalling 1.15 million tonnes in 2015. Netherlands and the U.S. will be the other two key exporters. In terms of imports, France continues to be the largest market globally.Request for Table of Contents @Global organic fertilizer demand was pegged at 17 million tonnes in 2016. In terms of value, the market was valued at US$ 5.57 billion. Persistence Market Research projects the market to grow at 7% CAGR through 2025 and reach US$ 10.23 billion.Key DriversGovernment initiatives and subsidies promoting the use of organic fertilizers. For instance, in the EU, government is promoting organic sector via conversion subsidies and large subsidies on agricultural inputs.Rising awareness among consumers about organically produced food will continue to provide growth opportunities. From a US$ 15 billion market in 1999, the global organic food and drink market has grown to become a US$ 80 billion market in 2014.Request to Sample of Report @Organic fertilizers dont cause the same level of damage to the environment as conventional fertilizers. This is promoting their adoption among end-users.While Persistence Market Research maintains a positive outlook on the global organic fertilizer market, premium prices for organic fertilizers are a key impediment to adoption.Organic Fertilizer Market TrendsIntegrated nutrient supply system (INSS) is being adopted by farm owners, as the lower nutrient content alone is insufficient to supplement the demand for nutrients in plant growth.Considering the fragmented nature of organic fertilizers market, leading players are focusing on strengthening their distribution partnerships in local markets.Manufacturers in Europe are focusing on expanding their customer base in high-growth regions, including Latin America and North America.Request Report Multiple Chapter @Non-profit organizations are playing a key role in promoting the use of organic fertilizers.According to Persistence Market Researchs analysis, demand for animal-based organic fertilizers is higher than plant-based variants. While 6.84 million tonnes of plant-origin organic fertilizers were sold in 2016, animal-origin organic fertilizer volume was pegged at 10.15 million tonnes.Use of organic fertilizers remains highest in the farming of cereals and crops. This application segment accounted for over 70% revenue share of the market in 2016. By volume, demand from cereals and crops was estimated at 12.53 million tonnes in 2016.Historically, solid organic fertilizers have remained sought-after, and the trend is expected to remain unchanged during the forecast period 2017-2025. While solid organic fertilizers are projected to grow at 6.2% CAGR, liquid organic fertilizers growth rate is estimated to be 5.1%.global organic fertilizer marketEurope & Asia Pacific Collectively Account for over 60% Revenue ShareEurope is the largest market for organic fertilizers, followed by Asia Pacific. While Europe will continue to be the largest market for organic fertilizers, it will lose 2.3% revenue share to APAC during the forecast period. North America, the third largest market for organic fertilizers, is expected to account for 21.8% revenue share of the market by 2025-end.Get full report now @In its report, Persistence has profile key players in the organic fertilizers market, including Italpollina SpA, ILSA S.p.A, BioStar Renewables, Sustane Natural Fertilizer Inc., True Organic Products Inc., California Organic Fertilizers Inc., The Fertell Company, Purely Organics LLC, Pupuk Kaltim, and Qingdao Sonef Chemical Co., Ltd.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Outdoor Fitness Equipment 2018 Global Market Key Players PlayCore, Landscape Structures, Kompan, Inc, PlayPower, ELI, Henderson..... Outdoor Fitness Equipment Market 2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3147206-global-outdoor-fitness-equipment-market-research-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3147206-global-outdoor-fitness-equipment-market-research-report-2018 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Outdoor Fitness Equipment Global Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2025 To Its Research Database.Description:This report studies the global Outdoor Fitness Equipment market status and forecast, categorizes the global Outdoor Fitness Equipment market size (value & volume) by manufacturers, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top manufacturers in North America, Europe, Japan, China, and other regions (India, Southeast Asia, Central & South America, and Middle East & Africa).The global Outdoor Fitness Equipment market is valued at xx million US$ in 2017 and is expected to reach xx million US$ by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of xx.x % between 2018 and 2025.The major manufacturers covered in this reportPlayCoreLandscape StructuresKompan, IncPlayPowerELIHendersone.BeckmannSportsPlayChildformsKaiqiABC TeamDYNAMORequest for Sample Report@Geographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanOther RegionsThe regional scope of the study is as follows:North AmericaUnited StatesCanadaMexicoAsia-PacificChinaIndiaJapanSouth KoreaAustraliaIndonesiaSingaporeRest of Asia-PacificEuropeGermanyFranceUKItalySpainRussiaRest of EuropeCentral & South AmericaBrazilArgentinaRest of South AmericaMiddle East & AfricaSaudi ArabiaTurkeyRest of Middle East & AfricaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAction StationHeavyduty SeriesRegular SeriesOthersOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingSchoolsParks & RecreationMilitary Fitness TrainingPlaygroundsFitness TrailsCommunityOthersComplete report details @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table Of Content:Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Market Research Report 20181 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Outdoor Fitness Equipment1.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Action Station1.2.4 Heavyduty Series1.2.5 Regular Series1.2.6 Others1.3 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Segment by Application1.3.1 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Schools1.3.3 Parks & Recreation1.3.4 Military Fitness Training1.3.5 Playgrounds1.3.6 Fitness Trails1.3.7 Community1.3.8 Others1.4 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Market by Region (2013-2025)1.4.1 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Market Size (Value) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 North America Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 Europe Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 China Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Outdoor Fitness Equipment (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Revenue Status and Outlook (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production Status and Outlook (2013-2025).7 Global Outdoor Fitness Equipment Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 PlayCore7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 PlayCore Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Landscape Structures7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Landscape Structures Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Kompan, Inc7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Kompan, Inc Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.4 PlayPower7.4.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.4.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.4.2.1 Product A7.4.2.2 Product B7.4.3 PlayPower Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.4.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.5 ELI7.5.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.5.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.5.2.1 Product A7.5.2.2 Product B7.5.3 ELI Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.5.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.6 Henderson7.6.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.6.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.6.2.1 Product A7.6.2.2 Product B7.6.3 Henderson Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.6.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.7 e.Beckmann7.7.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.7.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.7.2.1 Product A7.7.2.2 Product B7.7.3 e.Beckmann Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.7.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.8 SportsPlay7.8.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.8.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.8.2.1 Product A7.8.2.2 Product B7.8.3 SportsPlay Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.8.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.9 Childforms7.9.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.9.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.9.2.1 Product A7.9.2.2 Product B7.9.3 Childforms Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.9.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.10 Kaiqi7.10.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.10.2 Outdoor Fitness Equipment Product Category, Application and Specification7.10.2.1 Product A7.10.2.2 Product B7.10.3 Kaiqi Outdoor Fitness Equipment Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.10.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.11 ABC Team7.12 DYNAMOContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Men Perfume 2018 Global Market Key Players LVMH, Elizabeth Arden, Saint Melin, Interparfums, Loreal, AVON, CHANEL..... Men Perfume Market 2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3053250-global-men-perfume-industry-market-research-report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3053250-global-men-perfume-industry-market-research-report Men Perfume Market 2018Wiseguyreports.Com Adds Men Perfume Global Market Demand, Growth, Opportunities, Manufacturers, Analysis of Top Key Players and Forecast to 2023 To Its Research Database.Description:The Men Perfume market revenue was xx.xx Million USD in 2013, grew to xx.xx Million USD in 2017, and will reach xx.xx Million USD in 2023, with a CAGR of x.x% during 2018-2023.Based on the Men Perfume industrial chain, this report mainly elaborate the definition, types, applications and major players of Men Perfume market in details. Deep analysis about market status (2013-2018), enterprise competition pattern, advantages and disadvantages of enterprise Products, industry development trends (2018-2023), regional industrial layout characteristics and macroeconomic policies, industrial policy has also be included. From raw materials to downstream buyers of this industry will be analyzed scientifically, the feature of product circulation and sales channel will be presented as well. In a word, this report will help you to establish a panorama of industrial development and characteristics of the Men Perfume market.The Men Perfume market can be split based on product types, major applications, and important regions.Major Players in Men Perfume market are:LVMHElizabeth ArdenSaint MelinInterparfumsPuigLorealShiseidoEstee LauderJahwaAVONAmore PacificCHANELProcter & GambleSalvatore FerragamoICR SpaCotyRequest for Sample Report@Major Regions play vital role in Men Perfume market are:North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanMiddle East & AfricaIndiaSouth AmericaOthersMost important types of Men Perfume products covered in this report are:EssencePerfumeEau de toiletteCologneAftershaveMost widely used downstream fields of Men Perfume market covered in this report are:Specialist RetailersFactory outletsInternet salesOtherComplete report details @If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Table Of Content:Global Men Perfume Industry Market Research Report1 Men Perfume Introduction and Market Overview1.1 Objectives of the Study1.2 Definition of Men Perfume1.3 Men Perfume Market Scope and Market Size Estimation1.3.1 Market Concentration Ratio and Market Maturity Analysis1.3.2 Global Men Perfume Value ($) and Growth Rate from 2013-20231.4 Market Segmentation1.4.1 Types of Men Perfume1.4.2 Applications of Men Perfume1.4.3 Research Regions1.4.3.1 North America Men Perfume Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2013-2018)1.4.3.2 Europe Men Perfume Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2013-2018)1.4.3.3 China Men Perfume Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2013-2018)1.4.3.4 Japan Men Perfume Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2013-2018)1.4.3.5 Middle East & Africa Men Perfume Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2013-2018)1.4.3.6 India Men Perfume Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2013-2018)1.4.3.7 South America Men Perfume Production Value ($) and Growth Rate (2013-2018)1.5 Market Dynamics1.5.1 Drivers1.5.1.1 Emerging Countries of Men Perfume1.5.1.2 Growing Market of Men Perfume1.5.2 Limitations1.5.3 Opportunities1.6 Industry News and Policies by Regions1.6.1 Industry News1.6.2 Industry Policies.8 Competitive Landscape8.1 Competitive Profile8.2 LVMH8.2.1 Company Profiles8.2.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.2.3 LVMH Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.2.4 LVMH Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.3 Elizabeth Arden8.3.1 Company Profiles8.3.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.3.3 Elizabeth Arden Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.3.4 Elizabeth Arden Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.4 Saint Melin8.4.1 Company Profiles8.4.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.4.3 Saint Melin Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.4.4 Saint Melin Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.5 Interparfums8.5.1 Company Profiles8.5.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.5.3 Interparfums Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.5.4 Interparfums Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.6 Puig8.6.1 Company Profiles8.6.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.6.3 Puig Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.6.4 Puig Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.7 Loreal8.7.1 Company Profiles8.7.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.7.3 Loreal Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.7.4 Loreal Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.8 Shiseido8.8.1 Company Profiles8.8.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.8.3 Shiseido Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.8.4 Shiseido Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.9 Estee Lauder8.9.1 Company Profiles8.9.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.9.3 Estee Lauder Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.9.4 Estee Lauder Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.10 Jahwa8.10.1 Company Profiles8.10.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.10.3 Jahwa Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.10.4 Jahwa Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.11 AVON8.11.1 Company Profiles8.11.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.11.3 AVON Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.11.4 AVON Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.12 Amore Pacific8.12.1 Company Profiles8.12.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.12.3 Amore Pacific Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.12.4 Amore Pacific Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.13 CHANEL8.13.1 Company Profiles8.13.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.13.3 CHANEL Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.13.4 CHANEL Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.14 Procter & Gamble8.14.1 Company Profiles8.14.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.14.3 Procter & Gamble Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.14.4 Procter & Gamble Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.15 Salvatore Ferragamo8.15.1 Company Profiles8.15.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.15.3 Salvatore Ferragamo Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.15.4 Salvatore Ferragamo Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.16 ICR Spa8.16.1 Company Profiles8.16.2 Men Perfume Product Introduction8.16.3 ICR Spa Production, Value ($), Price, Gross Margin 2013-2018E8.16.4 ICR Spa Market Share of Men Perfume Segmented by Region in 20178.17 CotyContinued..Contact US:NORAH TRENTPartner Relations & Marketing Managersales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:: Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt Ltd: Pune 411028: Maharashtra,: Ph: +91 841 198 5042 Arthroscopy Devices Increasing Geriatric Population Provides a Sea of Opportunities https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/412 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/412 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ The examination of inside structures of the body is known as arthroscopy and the devices used for examination are known as arthroscopy devices. It is a minimally invasive procedure and is performed by using small probe through an incision. The primary application of arthroscopy is diagnosis of inner structure of the body. As the name suggests, surgical arthroscopy is the use of these devices during surgical procedures. Arthroscopy is widely used by orthopedic doctors to treat bone disorders and joint problems such as knee, shoulder and elbow related disorders.Arthroscopy devices include mechanical instruments, motorized instruments, electrosurgical instruments and special instruments such as probes, punches, shavers, electrocautery, laser, ACL sets, meniscus repair sets respectively.To get holistic SAMPLE of the report, please click:As the arthroscopy procedure is minimally invasive, it helps avoid post-surgery complications, infection during surgery and significantly reduces patient recovery time.Increase in joint replacement surgery leading the growth of the arthroscopy devices market in developed regionsAs per the stats of Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), around 113,000 knee and hip surgeries are performed in Canada annually. The number of knee replacement surgery increased by 20.3% and hip replacements surgery increased by 20% in between 2009 to 2015 in the country. Furthermore, as per Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in U.S., 54.4 million adults were diagnosed with arthritis during 2013-2015 and the number is expected to reach 78.4 million by 2040. This in turn would increase number of knee and joint surgeries and consequently, drive growth of the arthroscopy devices market in the near future.Integration of various technologically advanced features such as wireless camera heads and high-definition monitors will help increase adoption of these devices across the globe. Companies are increasingly inclined towards offering customizable solutions to doIncrease aging population is expected to be one of the primary factor for the growth of arthroscopy devices marketAccording to the data of Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, in 2016, 103 million people in India were over 60 years of age. Also, as per data published by Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the geriatric population accounted for 17.26% and 14.50% of the overall population in the U.K. and U.S., respectively in 2014 and the number is expected to steadily increase.As the rate of knee replacement and hip replacement surgical procedures is high among the geriatric population, it is expected that the aging population will be the major factor for the growth of arthroscopy devices market in the near future.Increase in arthroscopic surgeries is expected to fuel the growth in arthroscopy devices marketContinuous rise in aging population is the major factor leading to rise in arthroscopic surgery procedures around the globe. As per the stats published by Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, in 2012-13, 33,682 patients aged over 55 years were admitted in hospitals for knee arthroscopy.Ask for customization:Furthermore, according to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (U.N. DESA), in 2015, 1 in 8 people were aged over 60 years, which is expected to increase to 1 in 6 people by 2030. It is expected that this high increase in aging population will support the growth in number of arthroscopic procedures worldwide.The technological advancements in arthroscopic devices such as high definition camera, LCD touch panel interface, deflectable tip and flexible endo-eye video scopes are also the factors supporting to increase the adoption of arthroscopy devices in healthcare facilities around the globe.ctors in order to enhance their market presence. For instance, Olympus offers multi-specialty digital imaging platform to specialize each procedure along with maintained standards and enables healthcare professional to record, store and share high quality moving images.Also, some companies such as Smith & Nephew provide enhanced design of arthroscopic device that allows for steam sterilization of whole equipment and also offers complex camera system for autoclave sterilization.The global arthroscopy devices market was valued at US$ 3,910.7 million in 2016 and is expected to witness a robust CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period (2017 2025).About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Zika Vaccines Market - Global Industry Insights 20172025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/413 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/413 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ Zika vaccines are developed for immunization & prevention against diseases caused by Zika virus. This virus belongs to genus Flavivirus and is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The virus can also be transmitted through blood transfusion, sexual contact or from infected pregnant women to the fetus. Diagnosis of this infection is confirmed by detecting viral DNA through PCR. However, only 1 in 4 people with zika infection are prone to develop symptoms. In November 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that zika infection no longer constitutes a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) as major cases of zika virus were asymptomatic.In April 2015, a major ongoing outbreak of Zika virus was registered in Brazil, which later affected the population in South and Central America. This outbreak caused mild illness (fever, rashes, joint pains, conjunctivitis, nausea, and muscle pain), though the recent outbreaks showed severe complications such as microcephaly, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and various congenital neurological abnormalities in infants who were born to infected mothers. The link between zika virus and microcephaly and Guillain-Barre syndrome was identified and reported in 2015 in Brazil.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 70 new zika virus infection cases were reported in the U.S. in 2015, which increased to 41,181 cases in 2016. Lack of reporting is a major factor for lower incidence rate in 2015. Increase in awareness can result in more diagnosis and reporting thus generating growth of the global zika vaccines market.To understand Research Methodology, please click:Researchers at the Queensland University of Technology found that the extract of San Francisco plant (Codiaeum variegatum) found in Australia, can kill the zika virus. This extract can arrest the virus and stop it from replicating without causing any damage to the host cells.Continuous increase in human clinical trials and rise in number of zika cases will drive the growth of Zika vaccines marketAs of March 2016, 67 companies and research institutions were working on various kinds of R&D projects and clinical trials aided to develop effective vaccines against zika virus. The FDA approved the first human clinical trial for GLS5700 in June 2016, a zika vaccine being developed by Inovio Pharmaceuticals. Further in 2017, a grant was approved for phase 2 clinical trials for a DNA vaccine conducted by NIAIDs Vaccine Research Center (VRC).Increasing awareness among the population would aid in controlling the incidence rate of zika infection. The WHO implemented a global framework for creating public awareness through its Zika Strategic Response Framework and Joint Plan in February 2016. This plan outlines all the points to be taken care of at the time of infections. In June 2016, WHO Regional Office for Europe developed a training curriculum to increase awareness by the publication of Zika Risk Assessment for European Region.High investment costs required for R&D and the development of effective zika virus vaccines serves as a restraining factor for the global zika vaccines market.While major of the Zika virus cases occur in tropical regions such as Brazil, Paraguay, Venezuela, Colombia and Suriname, there are higher chances of mosquito infections in tropical areas of the U.S. like Texas and Florida. According to Pan American Health Organization, around 1,246 suspected and confirmed cases were reported between epidemiological week (EW) 10 and EW 14 of 2016 in the sub region which involves Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Ecuador.To get detailed table of content (ToC), please click:Competitive LandscapeSome key players operating in the zika vaccines market are Cerus Corporation, Biken Inc, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Bharat Biotech International Pvt. Ltd, GeneOne Life Science, Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Immunovaccine Inc., NewLink Genetics Corp. and Sanofi S.A. The companies launched various R&D measures and clinical trials to attain immunogenicity against zika virus. In February 2016, Sanofi S.A launched a vaccine research and development project, with the introduction of Dengvaxia (Dengue vaccine) that will aid the company understand the Zika virus and develop an effective vaccine against it. Likewise, Inovio Pharmaceuticals initiated a clinical study of zika vaccine (GLS-5700) in Puerto Rico in August 2016. This trial may provide a potential push to Inovios vaccine if positive results are reported as there was a rapid progression of zika outbreak in Puerto Rico at that time. This could benefit the trial in assessing true efficacy and safety of the vaccine. Rapid progression in clinical trials and approval would augment the zika vaccines market growth.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Global Artificial Lift Systems Market Report Till 2024 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/467685/?utm_source=OPR&utm_medium=AN https://empowerednews.net/author/gminsights/ https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/united-states-wood-pellets-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and-application-forecast-to-2023?utm_source=RR-AN https://www.marketstudyreport.com https://www.marketstudyreport.com/category/news-releases/ Market Study Report adds a new report Artificial Lift Systems Market Research Report for the period of 2017-2024 that shows the growth of the market is rising at a Steady CAGR to 2024. The report spread across 230 pages with table and figures in it.Artificial Lift Systems Market is projected to surpass USD 14 billion by 2024. Rising demand for crude oil coupled with increasing number of marginal & stripper wells will stimulate industry growth. The Energy Information Administration in the U.S. predicted around 380,000 stripper wells in comparison to around 90,000 non stripper wells in the FY2015. Further, according to Artificial Lift R&D Council, about 80 percent of the wells in the country are stripper wells, and majority of them are deployed with sucker rod pump.U.S. ALS market was valued over USD 3 billion in 2017. Increasing shale exploration along with continuous E&P spending will positively impact the business growth. According to the EIA, 44 companies operating in the offshore field in the country have increased their capital expenditure by 72% in FY2015-2016. Additionally, the U.S. DOE has projected 89 BBL of untapped oil throughout onshore wells that will further drive the product adoption.Get Sample Copy of This Research Report:Offshore ALS market is projected to witness a robust growth on account of the continuous expansion of deep-water projects. The U.S. Federal Government unveiled five-year plan in 2018, comprising of expansion projects of offshore drilling, targeting Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic oceans. Abundant availability of resources along with increasing offshore investments will further enhance the industry outlook.Hydraulic pump artificial lift systems market is set to expand by 5% by 2024. Reduced work requirement of downhole pump coupled with ability to minimize the resistance will complement the industry growth. Minimum intervention cost, easy operability and uncomplicated design will further augment the product penetration.Ongoing government strategies and plans to fuel crude production coupled with growing number of mature fields is set to have a positive impact on the deployment of these systems. The Government of Iraq announced its crude oil output target of 7 million bpd by 2022, in 2018. Furthermore, operators? focus toward unconventional wells to meet the increasing demand for crude oil will boost the global ALS market share.More Report At:Advancements in technology to offer cost efficient solutions for low rate gas-lifted oil wells and liquid-loaded gas wells will augment the gas lift systems market growth. In addition, innovations comprising the enhancement of smart gas lift systems to provide minimized manual intervention, rig-less installation, increased visibility and data logging, reduced OPEX, multi-well control and decreased flowline backpressure will further compliment the product adoption.Iran artificial lift systems market is set to witness a growth owing to rising focus toward sustainable measures to extract crude O&G along with growing primary energy consumption. According to the British Petroleum, the primary consumption of energy increased to 266.5 million tonnes oil equivalent in 2016 in the country, when compared with 237.4 million tonnes oil equivalent in 2013.Key market vendors operating across the artificial lift systems market include Halliburton, General Electric, Weatherford, Borets Co. LLC, JJ Tech, National Oilwell Varco, Schlumberger, NOVOMET, BCP Group, Occidental Petroleum, Dover Corporation, and Aker Solutions.Table of Contents:Chapter 1 Methodology & Scope1.1 Methodology1.2 Market definitions1.3 Market estimation & forecast parameters1.4 Data Sources1.4.1 Primary1.4.2 Secondary1.4.2.1 Paid Sources1.4.2.2 Public SourcesChapter 2 Executive Summary2.1 Artificial lift systems industry 360 degree synopsis, 2013 - 20242.1.1 Business trends2.1.2 Technology trends2.1.3 Application trends2.1.4 Regional trendsChapter 3 Artificial Lift Systems Industry Insights3.1 Industry segmentation3.2 Industry landscape, 2013 - 2024 (USD Million)3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1 Vendor matrix3.4 Innovation and sustainability3.4.1 General Electric3.4.2 Tenaris3.4.3 National Oilwell Varco3.4.4 Schlumberger3.4.5 Other innovations3.5 Regulatory landscape3.5.1 International standards3.5.1.1 ISO 15551-1:20153.5.1.2 ISO 15136-1:20093.5.2 U.S.3.5.3 Middle East3.5.3.1 Oman3.5.3.2 Iran3.5.3.3 UAE3.5.3.4 QatarRelated Reports: -United States Wood-Pellets Market by Manufacturers, States, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023Wood pellet is a solid fuel that is produced by crushing and densifying waste timber like sawdust, forestry residues, industrial byproducts like old paper and forestry wastes. The length is 1-2 cm and the diameter is generally 6, 8, 10, or 12mm. It is possible to produce 25mm wood pellet at maximum. In Sweden, 6mm wood pellet is encouraged to use in house as it can realize the best condition of combustion. Wood pellet production doesn't need to add binder as lignin, an element of wood, plays a role of binder and helps to pelletize when it is melted by heat.About Us:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Contact Us:Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975USAPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News: Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market to Reach an Estimated Value of US$ 36,900 Mn by 2026 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/industrial-refrigeration-equipment-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/17908 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/17908 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/17908 There is a growing use of industrial refrigeration equipment in different end-use industries such as food and beverage processing, applications related to cold storage and processing of chemicals. Due to the growing applications of industrial refrigeration equipment in such end-use industries, this market is growing at a brisk pace. The global industrial refrigeration equipment market is also positively influenced by the growing use of natural refrigerants, a growing food processing industry and efforts tuned towards attaining energy efficiency, mostly in developed countries.Request for Table of Contents @Another important use of industrial refrigeration equipment is in the pharmaceutical industry, where such equipment is used for the storage of various samples that are utilized in the R&D process for the development of new drugs. However, the rising cost of fuel is an important factor that is restraining the growth of this market. The manufacturers of industrial refrigeration equipment are focusing their efforts on manufacturing environment friendly products that have a greater efficiency of chilling.A new report presented by Persistence Market Research titled Industrial Refrigeration Equipment Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2026 studies the performance of the global industrial refrigeration equipment market over a nine year assessment period starting from the year 2017 and ending in the year 2026.RRequest to View Sample of Research Report @The report presents the forecast by value of the global industrial refrigeration equipment market and provides important information regarding the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, opportunities and trends. As per the projections of Persistence Market Research, the global industrial refrigeration equipment market was estimated to be valued at nearly US$ 22,650 Mn at the end of the year 2017 and is slated to reach a valuation of nearly US$ 36,900 Mn at the end of the assessment period in 2026, and in the process exhibit a CAGR of 5.6% during 2017-2026.The condenser segment in the equipment category of the global industrial refrigeration equipment market is the largest in terms of value and is likely to exhibit a CAGR of 5.1% during the period of assessment. The condenser segment is projected to reach a value of nearly US$ 12,600 Mn at the end of the period of assessment.Request Report Multiple Chapter @The food processing segment in the application category of the global industrial refrigeration equipment market is forecasted to exhibit a CAGR of 4.8% during the period of assessment. The food processing segment was estimated to be valued at nearly US$ 6,350 Mn in the year 2017.The beverage production segment in the application category of the global industrial refrigeration equipment market is poised to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 7.5% during the period of assessment. The beverage production segment is anticipated to reach a market valuation of nearly US$ 6,600 Mn by the end of the year 2026.The industrial refrigeration equipment market in North America is the largest in terms of revenue and is likely to exhibit a CAGR of 5.1% during the period of assessment. The North America regional market is likely to reach a valuation of nearly US$ 10,900 Mn by the end of the period of forecast in 2026.Get full report now @The competition landscape section of this report profiles some of the leading companies operating in the global industrial refrigeration equipment market. Some of the top companies profiled include Daikin Industries, Ltd., Ingersoll-Rand plc, Emerson Electric Co., Parker Hannifin Corp, Johnson Controls Inc., GEA Group AG, United Technologies Corporation, Dover Corporation, Lennox International Inc., and Danfoss A/S.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Ultra Fine Copper Powder Market Size Projected to Rise Lucratively during 2017-2023 https://www.researchtrades.com/request-sample/1565618 https://www.researchtrades.com/checkout/1565618 https://www.researchtrades.com/report/united-states-ultra-fine-copper-powder-market-by-manufacturers-states-type-and-application-forecast-to-2023/1565618 This report focuses on the Ultra Fine Copper Powder in United States market, to split the market based on manufacturers, states, type and application.Get FREE and detailed sample copy of updated Analysis & Status @Scope of the Report:Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers"GGP MetalpowderMitsui KinzokuSumitomo Metal MiningGripmNippon Atomized Metal PowdersJinchuan GroupFukuda Metal Foil & PowderHebei Hengshui RuenzeHefei Quantum QuelleHaotian nanoSuzhou Canfuo NanotechnologyShanghai CNPC Powder MaterialKun Shan Detai MetalNanjing Emperor Nano MaterialTongling Guochuan....Market Segment by States, coveringCaliforniaTexasNew YorkFloridaIllinoisMarket Segment by Type, coversNano Copper Particles PowderMicro Copper Particles PowderMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoElectronic IndustryChemical IndustryMechanical IndustryPharmaceutical IndustryOthersYou can get a single user copy at USD 4480 and can get discount on it @Table of Content:There are 17 Chapters to deeply display the United States Ultra Fine Copper Powder market.Chapter 1, to describe Ultra Fine Copper Powder Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by States, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Ultra Fine Copper Powder, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the United States market by States, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Ultra Fine Copper Powder, for each state, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, to analyze the key States by Type and Application, covering California, New York, Texas, Illinois and Florida, with sales, revenue and market share by types and applications;Chapter 12, Ultra Fine Copper Powder market forecast, by States, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, to analyze the manufacturing cost, key raw materials and manufacturing process, etc.Chapter 14, to analyze the industrial chain, sourcing strategy and downstream end users (buyers);Chapter 15, to describe sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, etc.Get complete analysis @Chapter 16 and 17, to describe Ultra Fine Copper Powder Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source.Continue....Who we areResearch Trades has team of experts who works on providing exhaustive analysis pertaining to market research on a global basis. This comprehensive analysis is obtained by a thorough research and study of the ongoing trends and provides predictive data regarding the future estimations, which can be utilized by various organizations for growth purposes.We distribute customized reports that focus on meeting the clients specific requirement. Our database consists of a large collection of high-quality reports obtained using a customer-centric approaches, thus providing valuable research insights. Health Caregiving Market to Exceed US$ 218.4 Bn in 2024 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/12865 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/health-caregiving-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/12865 https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-health-caregiving-market-to-reach-us-2184-billion-over-2016-2024-period---pmr-forecast-612533663.html https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/12865 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Noble services offered by caregivers from around the world continue to nurture the fragile health of elderlies as well as the blooming lives of infants. Demand for health caregiving services will continue to surge in the years to come as people will keep appointing professional help for nursing the health of their loved ones. By now, the global market for health caregiving has evolved into a key aspect of the worlds medical services sector. After raking in more than US$ 75 billion revenues in 2015, the global health caregiving market fared well to reach market valuation of an estimated US$ 84.5 billion in 2016. According to a recent study conducted by Persistence Market Research, global health caregiving revenues will continue to increase at an impressive CAGR of 12.6%, reaching US$ 218,469 million by the end of 2024.Request to Sample of Report @Persistence Market Researchs report, titled Health Caregiving Market: Global Industry Analysis & Forecast, 2016-2024, estimates that increasing presence of nuclear families, that were instrumented by the popularity of DINK trend (Double Income, No Kids), has turned out to be a key factor driving the demand for health caregiving services. These services are being used for taking care of toddlers in families with both parents working, while consanguineal or extended families are also opting for health caregivers to take care of their aged family members at home.Request for Table of Contents @Surging Demand for Health Caregiving on Daily BasisAssistance in daily essential activities can be clubbed up to be identified as a key type of health caregiving service being utilized in the world. According to the report, nearly three-fourth of global health caregiving revenues will continue to be accounted by services availed for seeking assistance in daily essential activities. Meanwhile, health caregiving services that provide health & safety awareness and improve quality of life are anticipated to contribute more than US$ 30 billion worth of global revenues by the end of 2024. However, health caregiving services availed for social well-being will continue to lose traction in 2016 and beyond, registering a revenue growth at the lowest CAGR 11.9%.Request Report Multiple Chapter @Aged People Worlds Largest End-user of Health Caregiving ServicesA segmental analysis of global health caregiving market on the basis of end-users has predicted that by the end of 2024, geriatric population will account for nearly one-third of the global market revenues. The worlds disabled population will be attributing to global health caregiving revenues worth over US$ 50 billion over the forecast period. In 2016, more than US$ 16 billion revenues were amassed from health caregiving services availed for neonatal & pediatric population, rendering infants and toddlers as prominent end-users of health caregiving services.For more information @Regional Overview of Global Health Caregiving MarketNorth America is predicted to be the worlds largest market for health caregiving services. In 2016 and beyond, North America will contribute with more than 50% of global revenues, registering a 15.3% CAGR.Companies such as Seniorlink, Inc., GreatCall, UnaliWear Inc., Cariloop, Inc., HomeHero Inc., Hometeam, and Honor Technology Inc., are leading providers of health caregiving services in the world, and are all based in the US.Asia-Pacifics health caregiving market is being forecasted to reach market value of an estimated US$ 14,756.3 million by the end of 2024.Demand for health caregiving services in Latin America and the Middle East & Africa (MEA) region is projected to grow at a comparatively sluggish pace.Europe, on the other hand, is likely to be the fastest-growing regional market for health caregiving services during the forecast period.Get full report now @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Fall Detection System Market: Industry Size, Shares, Trends, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Regional Analysis With growing CAGR of 4.5% Till 2025 http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-fall-detection-system-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-fall-detection-system-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-fall-detection-system-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/?dbmr=global-fall-detection-system-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-innovation-management-market/ Worldwide Fall Detection System Industry 2017 Market Research Report centers around value, deals, income and development rate of each sort, and additionally the sorts and each compose cost of key producers, through talking key makers. Second on premise of fragments by producers, this report centers around the business, cost of each kind, normal cost of Credit Insurance, income and piece of the overall industry, for key makers.Global Fall Detection System Market is expected to reach USD 479.55 Million by 2025 from USD 341.17 Million in 2017, growing at a CAGR of 4.5% in the forecast period 2018 to 2025. The new market report contains data for historic years 2016, the base year of calculation is 2017 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.For In depth Information Get Free Sample Copy of this Report@Market Definition: Global fall Detection System MarketFall detection system is the system used in alerting emergence in the incident of fall. Fall detection system such as automatic fall detection system and manual fall detection system are used in such detection. Such devices have the potential to diminish some of the adverse consequences of a fall. It has its application in hospitals, nursing, senior assisted living facilities, lone workers, and others. Increased demand for multimodal technology is the major driver for the growth of fall detection system market. On the other side low practicality of the technology among elders somewhere hinders the market.Global Fall Detection System Market, By Product Type (Automatic Fall Detection System, Manual Fall Detection System), By Algorithm (Simple Threshold, Machine Learning), By Component (Accelerometers & Gyroscopes, Unimodal/Bimodal Sensors, Multimodal Sensors), By System (Wearable Systems {Watches, Clip-On, Necklace}, Non-Wearable Systems {Camera, Wall Sensors, Floor Sensors}, In-Home Landline System, In-Home Cellular Systems), End-User (Home Care Settings, Hospitals and Senior Assisted Living Facilities, Lone Workers, Others), By Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa)- Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Complete report on Global Fall Detection System Market Research Report 2017-2024 spread across 350 Pages, profiling Top companies and supports with tables and figuresKey Questions Answered in Global Fall Detection System Market Report:-Our Report offers:- What will the market growth rate, Overview and Analysis by Type of Global Fall Detection System Market in 2025? What are the key factors driving, Analysis by Applications and Countries Global Fall Detection System Market? What are Dynamics, This Overview Includes Analysis of Scope, and price analysis of top Vendors Profiles of Global Fall Detection System Market? Who are Opportunities, Risk and Driving Force of Global Fall Detection System Market? Who are the opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in Global Fall Detection System Market? Business Overview by Type, Applications, Gross Margin and Market Share What are the Global Fall Detection System Market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Market?Request for Detailed TOC:Major Market Drivers and Restraints: Regulatory changes in the US with the implementation of PPACA Pressure to reduce rising healthcare costs Shift to ICD-10 coding standards and upcoming ICD-11 Loss of revenue due to billing errors Consolidation increasing in the healthcare industry Rising need for structured processes and documentations Hidden costs of outsourcing Fear of losing visibility and control over the business processTop Key Players: Medical Guardian LLP LifeFone Koninklijke Philips N.V. Intel Corporation VitalConnect Blue Willow Systems LifeCall Williamson Corporation Life Assure Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd Semtech Corporation Connect America Tunstall Bay Alarm Medical MobileHelp Mytrex, Inc. AlertOne Services, LLC MariCare among others.Key Drivers: Global Fall Detection System Market Low acceptance of technology among elder population is the factor which may hinder the growth of this market. Rising geriatric population and implementation of machine learning approach to detect fall are some of the factors which will drive the market in future.Inquire Before Buying @Key Factors: Global Fall Detection System Market Some of the key factors driving the market for global fall detection system are ability to assist in case of fall, growth in enhanced medical alert services. Increased demand of wearable technology based fall detection system and growth in demand of smart phones are the other factor which will drive the demand of global fall detection system market. The major factors driving the growth of market are ability to assist in case of fall, growth in enhanced medical alert services, increased demand of wearable technology based fall detection system and growth in demand of smart phones. On the other hand, low acceptance of technology among elder population may hinder the growth of the market.Customize report of "Global Fall Detection System Market" as per customers requirement also available.Company Share Analysis: Global fall Detection System MarketThe report for global fall detection system market include detailed vendor level analysis for market shares in 2016 for Global, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa and South America specifically. Also impact and development analysis of key vendors is registered in the market and factored on the basis of Vendor Positioning Grid Analysis which measures the vendors strengths and opportunities against present market challenges, measure providers ability to identify or satisfy present market needs, map providers market vision to current and upcoming market dynamics among others. The report also measures technology life line curve and market time line to analyze and do more affective investments.Market Segmentations:Global Fall Detection System Market is segmented on the basis of Product Type Algorithm Component System End User GeographyMarket Segmentations in Details:On the basis of Product Type into two notable segments; automatic fall detection system and manual fall detection system.On the basis of Algorithm into two notable segments; machine learning and simple threshold.on the basis of Component into three notable segments; accelerometers and gyroscope, multimodal sensor and unimodal or bimodal sensor.on the basis of System, the global fall detection system market is segmented into four notable segments; wearable, non-wearable, in-home cellular system and in-home landline system.on the basis of End User into four notable segments; home care setting, hospital and senior assisted living facilities, lone worker and others.On the basis of Geography, North America South America Europe Asia-Pacific Middle East & AfricaKey Points: Global Fall Detection System Market Accelerometers and Gyroscope market is growing with the highest CAGR Automatic fall detection system is driving the market with highest market share. Wearable segment is dominating the fall detection system marketSpeak to Author of the report @Other ReportGlobal Innovation Management Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Innovation Management Market, By Geography; Type (Software, Services); Organization Size (Large Enterprises, Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)); Deployment Model (On-premises, Cloud); Application (Product Research & Development Platforms, Marketing, Design, Idea Platforms, Collective Intelligence & Prediction Platforms, Human Resource & Freelancers Platforms); Vertical (Banking, Financial Services, Insurance, IT, Media & Communication Technology, Aerospace & Defense, Public Sector & Education, Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Retail & Consumer Goods, Automotive & Manufacturing, Transportation & Logistics) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Data Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com Global Frozen Ready Meal Market By Key Players Analysis Like ConAgra, Nestle, Pinnacle Foods, JBS and Iglo Group 2018 - 2025 https://www.researchtrades.com/discount/1548278 https://www.researchtrades.com/request-sample/1548278 https://www.researchtrades.com/report/global-frozen-ready-meal-market-professional-survey-report-2018/1548278 www.researchtrades.com This report studies Frozen Ready Meal in Global Market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2013 to 2018, and forecast to 2025.This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringRequest for discount atConAgraFleury MichonKraft HeinzNestleUnilever2 Sisters Food GroupKerry GroupPinnacle FoodsSanquan FoodAmy's KitchenEuropastryIceland FoodsLDC SableIglo GroupAjinomoto GroupGeneral MillsJBSKelloggFindus GroupFrostaMaple Leaf FoodsNichirei FoodsSchwan's CompanyGreencore GroupOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoBeef MealsChicken MealsFrozen PizzaFrozen Vegetarian MealsOthersBy Application, the market can be split intoSupermarketConvenience StoreOnline StoresOthersBy Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North AmericaChinaEuropeSoutheast AsiaJapanIndiaIf you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.Request for free sample atTable of ContentsGlobal Frozen Ready Meal Market Professional Survey Report 20181 Industry Overview of Frozen Ready Meal1.1 Definition and Specifications of Frozen Ready Meal1.1.1 Definition of Frozen Ready Meal1.1.2 Specifications of Frozen Ready Meal1.2 Classification of Frozen Ready Meal1.2.1 Beef Meals1.2.2 Chicken Meals1.2.3 Frozen Pizza1.2.4 Frozen Vegetarian Meals1.2.5 Others1.3 Applications of Frozen Ready Meal1.3.1 Supermarket1.3.2 Convenience Store1.3.3 Online Stores1.3.4 Others1.4 Market Segment by Regions1.4.1 North America1.4.2 China1.4.3 Europe1.4.4 Southeast Asia1.4.5 Japan1.4.6 India2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Frozen Ready Meal2.1 Raw Material and Suppliers2.2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Frozen Ready Meal2.3 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Frozen Ready Meal2.4 Industry Chain Structure of Frozen Ready MealBrowse complete report at3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Frozen Ready Meal3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Frozen Ready Meal Major Manufacturers in 20173.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Frozen Ready Meal Major Manufacturers in 20173.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Frozen Ready Meal Major Manufacturers in 20173.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Frozen Ready Meal Major Manufacturers in 20174 Global Frozen Ready Meal Overall Market Overview4.1 2013-2018E Overall Market Analysis4.2 Capacity Analysis4.2.1 2013-2018E Global Frozen Ready Meal Capacity and Growth Rate Analysis4.2.2 2017 Frozen Ready Meal Capacity Analysis (Company Segment)4.3 Sales Analysis4.3.1 2013-2018E Global Frozen Ready Meal Sales and Growth Rate Analysis4.3.2 2017 Frozen Ready Meal Sales Analysis (Company Segment)4.4 Sales Price Analysis4.4.1 2013-2018E Global Frozen Ready Meal Sales Price4.4.2 2017 Frozen Ready Meal Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment)Who we areResearch Trades has team of experts who works on providing exhaustive analysis pertaining to market research on a global basis. This comprehensive analysis is obtained by a thorough research and study of the ongoing trends and provides predictive data regarding the future estimations, which can be utilized by various organizations for growth purposes.We distribute customized reports that focus on meeting the clients specific requirement. Our database consists of a large collection of high-quality reports obtained using a customer-centric approaches, thus providing valuable research insights.Contact us:Email: sales@researchtrades.comCall us: +1 6269994607 (USA), +91 7507349866 (IND)Web:Skype ID: researchtradescon Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/816 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/816 http://www.coherentchronicle.com The managed service segment held the dominant position in 2016 and is projected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Increasing government initiatives towards digitalization and increasing government investments to boost the adoption of IOT technology in various industries such as utilities and manufacturing are expected to drive growth of the IOT market. The professional services segment is expected exhibit the highest CAGR over the forecast period.The industrial internet of things is a term used to describe the interconnectivity of industrial processes and manufacturing equipment by adoption of IOT technology. The adoption of sensors in industries have given the birth to industrial IOT market. Sensors help convert information from analog to digital. Data networking and computing power have increased the demand for sensors in the automation industry. Continuous development of sensors technology and adoption of data, computing, and connectivity technology, analytics and artificial intelligent, human machine interaction, and digitalization are major factors driving growth to the industrial IOT market.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @The manufacturing segment held a dominant position in 2016. This segment is projected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The high adoption of wireless connectivity, sensors, and software solutions help create communication networks using IP connectivity. This in turn, helps reduce the production cost and time.Industrial Internet of Things Market Outlook Asia Pacific holds significant market shareOn the basis of geography, the global industrial internet of things market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. North America holds a dominant position in the global industrial internet of things market and is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Growing digitalization and high adoption of IOT solutions by manufacturing and automation industries have contributed to growth of the market in North America. Similarly, the Asia Pacific is projected to exhibit the highest CAGR over the forecast period. India, china, Japan, and South Korea are some of the major countries that help drive growth of the market for IOT in the Asia Pacific region. Dense population, increasing disposable income, and large scale industrialization in the region are boosting growth of the market. In addition to this, the increasing adoption of digitalization by various industries to reduce the production time and operating costs also create a conducive environment for growth of the industrial IOT market in Asia Pacific.Key Players in the Global Industrial Internet of Things MarketABB, ARM Ltd., Cisco Systems, Inc., Dassault Systemes, General Electric, Honeywell International Inc., Huawei Technology Co., Ltd., Intel Corporation, Rockwell Automation, Inc., and Texas Instruments Inc. are some of the major players in the global industrial internet of things market.Request for Customization As per your Need @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website : China Distributed Power Generation (DPG) Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2018-2022) http://orbisresearch.com/contact/purchase/2124547 http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2124547 http://orbisresearch.com/reports/index/china-distributed-power-generation-dpg-market-size-trends-and-forecasts-2018-2022 http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/2124547 https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbis-research https://twitter.com/orbisresearch The study of the China Distributed Power Generation (DPG) Market provides the market size information and market trends along with the factors and parameters impacting it in both short and long term. The study ensures a 360 view, bringing out the complete key insights of the industry.Place a purchase order of this report @Scope of the Report:The report titled China Distributed Power Generation (DPG) Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2018-2022), delivers an in-depth analysis of the China DPG market with comprehensive analysis of market sizing and growth. The analysis includes market size in terms of installation capacity, market share by segments and by penetration rate. A detailed analysis of market segment has also been provided in the report with their actual and forecasted value.Furthermore, the report also assesses the key opportunities available in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of China DPG market has also been forecasted for the period 2018-2022, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.Currently there are only few major players in the market which are competing with each other. VPower is one of the major players in China DPG market. Aggreko plc., APR Energy Ltd., and VPower company profiling has done in the report, which include their business overview, financial overview and respective business strategies.Company Coverage: Aggreko plc. APR Energy Ltd VPower Group InternationalRequest a sample of this report @Executive Summary:Distributed power generation (DPG) as the name implies refers to the distribution of power that is generated on-site at or very close, to the location where it can be utilize. Conventional power distribution such as coal-fired, gas and nuclear powered plants are mostly centralized and require electrical energy to be distributed over long distances. During centralized transmission lot of electricity wasted, therefore to overcome such problems distributed generation came into existence.Distributed power generation project has a total capacity of 10-200MW and generally installed close to the end-users, by combining a number of PGSs fueled by gas, biomass, oil, wind, etc. On the basis of fuel type, distributed power generations can be categorized into five major segments: biomass, wind, solar, gas and small hydro.China DPG market in terms of installation capacity has shown continuous growth trends over the past few years and is anticipated that the market would boom in the coming years also. China DPG market is expected to grow on the back of rising demand for electricity, increasing use of solar technology in power distribution, environmental policies set by government, growth of digital technologies and adoption of net metering policy. However, the growth of the market is restrained by some major factors such as lack of efficient price mechanism, deficiency of development strategy & planning, etc.Browse the complete report @Some Points from Table of Content:1. Executive Summary2. Introduction2.1 Distributed Power Generation (DPG) Overview2.1.1 Distributed Power Generation: An Introduction2.1.2 Distributed Power Generation Project Types2.1.3 Distributed Power Generation Types2.1.4 Distributed Power Generation Benefits2.1.5 Distributed Power Generation Technologies3. Market Analysis3.1 China DPG Market Analysis3.1.1 China DPG Market by Installation Capacity3.1.2 China DPG Installation Capacity by Fuel/Segments (distributed wind generation, distributed photovoltaic (solar), small hydropower, biomass, and gas-fired distribution generation)3.1.3 China DPG Market by Penetration Rate3.2 China DPG Market: Segment Analysis3.2.1 China Biomass DPG Market by Installation Capacity3.2.2 China Wind DPG Market by Installation Capacity3.2.3 China Solar DPG Market by Installation Capacity3.2.4 China Gas DPG Market by Installation Capacity3.2.5 China Small Hydro DPG Market by Installation CapacityMake an enquiry of this report @4. Market Dynamics4.1 Growth Drivers4.1.1 Environmental Policy Goals by Government4.1.2 Growth of Natural Gas Networks4.1.3 Rising Demand for Electricity4.1.4 Increasing Use of Solar Technology in Distributed Generation4.1.5 Reduction of Carbon Emissions from Power Generation Sources4.2 Challenges4.2.1 Lack of Efficient Pricing Mechanism4.2.2 Economic Problems Caused by Poorly Matched Systems4.2.3 Lack of Data and Information4.2.4 Deficiency of Development Strategy and Planning4.3 Market Trends4.3.1 Growth of Digital Technologies4.3.2 Rising Tide of Natural Disasters4.3.3 Net Metering Policy4.3.4 Rising Energy Demand that Favor DPG5. Competitive Landscape5.1 Southeast Asia DPG Market Players Comparison by Features5.2 VPower and Aggrekos Power Solution Segments Comparison6. Company Profiles6.1 Aggreko plc.6.1.1 Business Overview6.1.2 Financial Overview6.1.3 Business Strategy6.2 APR Energy Ltd6.2.1 Business Overview6.2.2 Financial Overview6.2.3 Business Strategy6.3 VPower Group International6.3.1 Business Overview6.3.2 Financial Overview6.3.3 Business StrategyContact sales@orbisresearch.com for more information.About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter: Automotive Sheet Metal Components Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/822 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/822 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Rise in demand of the passenger vehicles, increase in manufacture of light weight automobiles, and rise in demand of hybrid and electric vehicle are some of the major factors driving the growth of the automotive sheet metal components market. However, intermittent price of metals is one of the major factor restraining the growth of the automotive sheet metal components market. According to World Steel Association, which is one of the largest and most dynamic industry associations in the world, approximately 30% of the total steel produced in the world is used in automotive sector and mechanical equipment manufacturing.Automotive Sheet Metal Components are made from steel or aluminum. These are mainly made by the processes such as cutting, bending, and drawing. Various type of dies and press are used for manufacturing of automotive sheet metal components.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Automotive sheet metal component market outlook:Asia Pacific is the largest region for the automotive metal sheet components market. China is a leading market for aluminum and steel sheet components followed by Japan and India. According to World Steel Association, China is accounted as a number one in steel production. In 2016, China produces approximately 808 million tons of steel, which is nearly a half of total steel production of the world. Also, in August 2017, high demand for trucks and passenger cars in China led to the rise in it sales to around 5.3%. Automotive Steel metal sheets are more widely used as compare to aluminum sheets owing to its strength and durability. Therefore demand for steel sheets will remain dominant in the forecast period. However, increase in demand of light weight and hybrid vehicles will rise the demand for aluminum metal sheet components in the forecast period.According to World Steel Association, in 2015, European Union was estimated as the second largest region for steel production, with a projected 166 million metric tons of global steel production. Countries of European Union such as Germany, Italy, France, and Belgium are the top importer and exporter of steel products. Germany is projected to have exported around 24.7 million metric tons of steel and imported around 25 million metric tons. Also, in UK, support from government for the automotive research and development and the funding of around US$ 1.63 billion in R&D in car industry for the manufacturing of lightweight material, low-carbon propulsion, and autonomous vehicles has augmented the growth of automotive sheet metal components market in this region.North Americas automotive industry is the largest automotive manufacturing sector in the world. U.S., Canada, and Mexico are the top manufacturers of automotive parts. According to International Trade Administration, Canada is the top exporter of automotive parts followed by Mexico. Exports of automotive parts of U.S to European Union shows steady growths since 2012 to 2015, which increases approximately from US$ 5 billion to US$ 7.2 billion. The demand for automobiles and rise in technology in automobile manufacturing increases the demand for automotive sheet metal components in the market over the forecast period,In March 2017, Motherson Sumi Systems Limited (MSSL) successfully acquired 93% shares of Finlands PKC Group Plc. PKC group is global commercial vehicle industry and MSSL is the leading manufacturer of many automotive parts which provides significant presence in the Europe and American commercial vehicle segment.Key players in the Global Automotive Sheet Metal Components MarketSome of the key players operating in automotive sheet metal component market include Larsen Manufacturing, LLC, General Stamping and Metal Works, Aleris International, Inc., Mayville Engineering Company, Inc., Paul Craemer GmbH, O'Neal Manufacturing Services, Omax Autos Ltd., Novelis, Inc., and Frank Dudley Ltd.Request for Customization As per your Need @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website : Bio-butanol Market Trends, outlook and Forecast 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/696 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/696 North America is the largest bio-jet fuel market due to the presence of low temperature weather in most of the countries followed by Western Europe which is second largest. Bio-butanol used in automobile sectors are the main reason for these largest market industry. Significant investment in R&D in these regions has resulted in alternatives for petroleum derived fuels.Asia Pacific is estimated to be the fastest growing market in the forecast period due to the population increase and demand for greener paints and coatings. India and China are expected to have the most demand in the bio-jet fuel market in the forecast period due to rise in the aviation and transportation segments.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @In Europe, demand for bio-butanol is increasing due to the government initiatives and stringent environmental regulations to shift away from petroleum products. These regulations are result of meeting the aims set out in Kyoto Protocol.In Middle East, the crude oil derived fuels such as gasoline, diesel, and kerosene and jet fuel are very cheap due to proximity to the resource. This makes it very difficult for bio-based alternatives to enter the market, as they are easily out priced.Bio-butanol Market ChallengesThe variation in availability and cost of raw materials is a major problem as it increases the production cost of bio-butanol. Currently, bio-butanol costs more than bio ethanol. Also the government regulations against the use of raw material are the challenges for the bio butanol market.Some of the key companies dominating the market are Biobutanol include Bioenergy International, Butalco GmBH, Cobalt Biofuels and Arbor Biofuels backed by oil manufacturers like TetraVitae Biosciences and Metabolic Explorers.The raw materials used in process of bio-butanol are wheat, sugar beet, corn, straw and wood. The availability of raw material is a major concern with the bio-butanol preparation process. The properties like polymer chain formation, blending, paint and cleaner makes it applicable for the products such as acrylates, acetates, glycol ethers, solvent and plasticizer. Bio butanol is used as a fuel in internal combustion engines in petrochemical and automotive industry. Bio-butanol has the potential to reduce carbon emissions by 85% compared to gasoline. It is a possible large scale alternative to gasoline.To get detailed table of content (ToC) @Bio-butanol fuel Market TaxonomyOn the basis of raw material, the bio-butanol market is classified into: Wheat, Sugar, beet, Corn, Straw, Wood, OthersOn the basis of application, the bio-butanol market is classified into:Acrylates, Acetates, Glycol ethers, Solvents, Plasticizers, OthersOn the basis of end users, the bio-butanol market is classified into:Petrochemical industry, Automobile industry, Aviation industry, Consumer goods, Textile industry, OthersAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200 Seattle,WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Soy Lecithin Market Challenges and Demand 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/705 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/705 https://www.coherentnews.com/ Asia Pacific is estimated to be the largest and fastest growing market in the forecast period owing to the high demand for the product and abundance of raw materials. India and China contribute significantly to the market growth in the region. The forecasted growth is backed by the immense demand for the product from food, construction, and paint industriesNorth America is the second largest market of soy lecithin. The market growth is primarily supported by the rising demand for protein-rich as well as processed food. Busy life schedules of modern society has augmented the demand for packaged nutritional supplements, which in turn boosts the demand for soy lecithinAsk for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Europe is an emerging market in the global soy lecithin market. The rising use of cheap source of high-quality protein in food and supplements increases the demand for soy lecithinThe Latin America and Africa soy lecithin markets are witnessing sluggish growth rate, however, the growing economy of these regions creates a better platform for soy lecithin market in the upcoming yearsSoy lecithin being of lower price and easily available is preferred over other protein enriched food items.Soy Lecithin Market ChallengesExcess consumption of soy lecithin leads to many health issues. Strict government regulations pertaining to genetically modified soybeans hinder the soy lecithin market growth to an extent.Soy Lecithin Market ParticipantsSome of the key market players identified in the value chain of global soy lecithin market are Archer Daniels Midland Company, Cargill, Lipoid GmbH, American Lecithin Company, Lasenor emul, Lecico Gmbh, Ruchi Soya Industries Ltd., Ceresking Ecology & Technology Co. Ltd., and Bunge Limited.To get detailed table of content (ToC) @Soy lecithin is largely used in food, industrial as well as pharmaceutical industries due to the rich protein content and protective cover formation property.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702News Website: Metabolomics Market Trends, Business Strategies and Opportunities with Key Players Analysis https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/metabolomics-market/report-sample https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/metabolomics-market https://www.psmarketresearch.com The global metabolomics market is projected to achieve a lucrative growth rate during the forecast period due to the increased government and private funding in research and development, and rise in metabolic application in personalized medication. The market is led by instruments, in terms of size, majorly attributable to the fact that metabolomics instrument is extensively used while following the various steps of the experimental protocol. Metabolomics bioinformatics tools and services are expected to witness the faster growth in future, as it facilitates simpler analysis and data interpretation of widely available biological data.Explore Report Sample at:Metabolomics has wide application in various field, these include biomarker discovery, drug discovery, toxicology testing, nutrigenomics, functional genomics, personalized medicine, and others. The biomarker discovery was the largest application area of metabolomics in 2016, due to to the rise in prevalence of chronic diseases on the global level. Additionally, the extensive oncological research with inclination towards study of new biomarkers and its cancer application drives the larger contribution of biomarker discovery in the market.Various factors leading to the growth of the metabolomics industry include the rise in funding for technological research from government as well as private organizations, along with increase in collaborations & partnerships of key players for enhancement of their product portfolio. There has been significant rise in the R&D expenditure by the key players for development of technologically advanced metabolomics platforms, which is expected to drive the growth of the market during the forecast period. The advent of personalized medication also acts as a driving force to the growth of the market.Explore Report at:Some of the other key players in the global market include Agilent Technologies, Inc., Danaher Corporation, Waters Corporation, Shimadzu Corporation, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc., Bruker Corporation, Human Metabolome Technologies Inc., Metabolon, Inc.About P&S Market ResearchP&S Market Research is a market research company, which offers market research and consulting services for various geographies around the globe. We provide market research reports, industry forecasting reports, business intelligence, and research based consulting services across different industry/business verticals.As one of the top growing market research agency, were keen upon providing market landscape and accurate forecasting. Our analysts and consultants are proficient with business intelligence and market analysis, through their interaction with leading companies of the concerned domain. We help our clients with B2B market research and assist them in identifying various windows of opportunity, and framing informed and customized business expansion strategies in different regions.Contact:P&S Market Research347, 5th Ave. #1402New York City, NY - 10016Toll-free: +1-888-778-7886 (USA/Canada)Email: enquiry@psmarketresearch.comWeb: Dust Monitor Market SWOT analysis & New Technological Innovation by Leading Players- TSI Group, Thermo Fisher, Met One Instruments, Durag Group Dust Monitor Market SWOT analysis & New Technological Innovation by 2023 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1127093-china-dust-monitor-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1127093-china-dust-monitor-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1127093-china-dust-monitor-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1127093 Latest research study from HTF MI with title China Dust Monitor by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the market and contains Future trend, Current Growth Factors, attentive opinions, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry validated market data. The study is segmented by products type, application/end-users. The research study provides estimates for China Dust Monitor Forecast till 2023.If you are involved in the Dust Monitor industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. Its vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Applications Environmental Protection Department, Construction, Mining, Home Appliance & Other, Product Types such as [Fixed & Portable] and some major players in the industry. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.Request Sample of China Dust Monitor Market Research Report 2018 @:Key Companies/players: TSI Group, Thermo Fisher, Met One Instruments, Durag Group, Dynoptic Systems, Yokogawa Electric Corporation, Horiba, Trolex, Tecora, Codel, Palas Gmbh, Aeroqual, Kanomax, Sintrol & Casella.Application: Environmental Protection Department, Construction, Mining, Home Appliance & Other, Product Type: Fixed & Portable.The research covers the current & Future market size of the China Dust Monitor market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography [South China, East China, Southwest China, Northeast China, North China, Central China & Northwest China]. The market competition is constantly growing higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. On the basis of attributes such as company overview, recent developments, strategies adopted by the market leaders to ensure growth, sustainability, financial overview and recent developments.Stay up-to-date with Dust Monitor market research offered by HTF MI. Check how key trends and emerging drivers are shaping this industry growth as the study avails you with market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, shares, trend and strategies for this market. In the China Dust Monitor Market Analysis & Forecast 2018-2023, the revenue is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2023. The production is estimated at XX million in 2017 and is forecasted to reach XX million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2023.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Key questions answered in this report - China Dust Monitor Market Research Report 2018What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate beWhat are the key market trendsWhat is driving China Dust Monitor Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in Dust Monitor Market space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the China Dust Monitor Market ?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the China Dust Monitor Market?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the China Dust Monitor market? Get in-depth details about factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, and EMEA?Enquire for customization in Report @There are 15 Chapters to display the China Dust Monitor market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of China Dust Monitor, Applications of Dust Monitor, Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, Export & Import, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes South China, East China, Southwest China, Northeast China, North China, Central China & Northwest China, Dust Monitor Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Dust Monitor Segment Market Analysis (by Application [Environmental Protection Department, Construction, Mining, Home Appliance & Other]) Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Fixed & Portable], Market Trend by Application [Environmental Protection Department, Construction, Mining, Home Appliance & Other];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of China Dust Monitor by region, type and application ;Chapter 12, to describe Dust Monitor Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Dust Monitor sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Buy this research report @Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a 5-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsThanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Deapth Research of Infant Nutrition Market Forecast from 2017 to 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/400 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/400 In the next few years, it is expected that the global infant nutrition market will show healthy growth. In the last few years the sale of infant nutrition products in developed countries has shown single digit growth rate. As the slowly increasing population, low birth rate and due to market saturation. In case of emerging countries, the market has grown by double digit rate due to increasing population and economy of the countries at high rates and increasing awareness about infant nutrition.China holds the largest market share in APAC region as it has the highest birthrate and the companies are focusing on the sale of premium products in China, considering its growing economy and growing income of the middle class population.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report@Infant Nutrition Market DynamicsAccording to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the total number of births in the U.S. in 2014 was 3,988,076. The birth rate was 12.5 per 1000 people in the region. Moreover, the general fertility increased to 62.9% per 1000 women in the age group of 15 to 44. This rise in fertility is an indicator of the increased birth rate. Owing to the above mentioned reasons, the global infant nutrition market is estimated to grow at a considerable rate over the forecast period.According to the worldstat.org, the birth rate in Asia was 17.56 in 2011. The birth rate of boys was more than the birth rate of girls in this region. The population of Asia has risen from 4.16 billion in 2010 to 4.43 billion in 2016, which is an increase of around 266 million. This rise in the number of births along with the rise in disposable income and per capita spending on baby care have made the infant nutrition market in this region, a promising one. A new trend observed in the market is that of increasing consumer inclination towards organic infant nutrition products.Competitive LandscapeStringent regulatory scenario, creates high entry barrier for new entrants in the market. As per the data of China Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA), after implementation of quality and safety standards in 2013, out of over 800 foreign brands selling their product of infant formula, only 94 have received approval to sell their products in China and only two-thirds of the local Chinese have received production permit renewals, who has their infant formula products.Some major players in this market include Nestle, Mead Johnson Nutrition, Bledina, DANONE, Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd, Abbott Nutrition, The Kraft Heinz Company, FrieslandCampina, and Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co. Ltd.The Mead Johnson Nutrition and Abbott Nutrition holds the largest market share with their Enfamil and Similac brands.In 2012, Nestle bought Pfizers baby food division for US$11.9 billion. This acquisition helped Nestle to expand its reach into emerging markets, as Pfizer had large market share in countries such as India and China.Infant Nutrition Market Taxonomy:Global Market by Product Type:Baby Food, Infant FormulaGlobal Market by Formulation:Powder, Liquid, Ready-to-eatGlobal Market by Distribution Channel:Retail Pharmacies, Super Markets & General Stores, E-commerceGlobal Market by GeographyNorth America, EuropeAPAC, Latin America, Middle East, AfricaTo get detailed table of content (ToC) @The infant nutrition product market is broadly classified as baby food and infant formula. These segments are similar in application, though have different growth drivers. Prepared food, dried food and other foods come under the baby food segment, whereas the follow-On milk, specialty baby milk, infant milk and growing milk comes under the infant formula segment. Product innovation is a major factor fueling growth of the baby food segment, while constant endeavor of market players towards enhancing product quality augments growth of the infant formula segment. A recent trend observed in the global infant nutrition market is that of increasing consumer inclination towards organic products. Consumers, especially in developed countries in North America and Europe are willing to pay premium amounts for such products, owing to the general perception of these being more healthy and safe as compared to conventional products.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Seismic Survey Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 Increasing demand for oil and gas is a major driving factor for growth of the global seismic survey. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, fossil fuels is estimated to account for 77% of the global energy use by 2040. Advantages of seismic survey such as reduction of probability of drilling dry wells thereby, preventing further drilling and minimizing environmental effects of oil and gas exploration is propelling growth of global seismic survey market. Advancements in technology in seismic survey is expected to fuel growth of the global seismic survey market over the forecast period (20182025). For instance, in April 2017, Explor Geophysical Ltd. launched PinPoint seismic technology that enables ultra-high density seismic imaging of oil sands targets. Furthermore, in August 2016, CGG launched TopSeis, offshore seismic technology. Government regulations on seismic survey such as 2013 European Union regulations 2013 SI 134 that assess the environmental impact of petroleum exploration is a major factor restraining growth of the global seismic survey market. Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/829 Seismic survey is a method used to investigate geological properties of earth and is majorly used to explore natural gas, petroleum, and mineral deposits. Data acquisition, processing, and interpretation are the three phases of seismic survey. This technique determines the time interval between the initiation of waves at a shot point and the arrival of reflected or refracted waves by the seismic detectors. Various techniques including air guns, dynamite blast, and seismic vibrator among others are used for initiation of seismic waves. The amplitude and time are recorded on arrival of these waves at the detector. The time taken by wave to return to the surface gives several information such as types of rocks, possible fluids, and gases in the formation, providing a detailed image of the subsurface and the location of oil and gas reserves. 3D seismic survey was the dominant technology segment in 2017, owing to its advantages such as continuous and clear images of subsurface stratigraphic features and good lateral resolution. 3D seismic survey technology finds applications in reservoir characterization and monitoring reservoir fluid movements. According to Petroleum Geo-Services, the 3D seismic survey demand in 2006 increased up to 120% by the fourth-quarter of 2012 calculated by square km. Market Outlook North America was the dominant region in the global seismic survey market in 2017. Shale explorations along with offshore shallow water and deep water exploration has increased in this region in the recent past, leading to high demand for seismic survey. For instance, in January 2018, TGS announced commencement of three new 3D seismic projects in the basins of West Hackberry, Sanderson, and Dawson in North America. Seismic survey market in Europe is witnessing a significant growth, owing to increasing exploration activities to cater to the high energy demand. According to European Commission, 72.5% of all energy was produced from fossil fuel, including crude oil and natural gas in the EU-28 in 2015. Asia Pacific seismic survey market is expected to exhibit high growth over the forecast period. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, total mineral exploration expenditure increased by 6.1% to US$ 201.28 million in December 2016 from previous year in Australia. This growth in expenditure is in turn driving growth of seismic survey market in Asia Pacific. Furthermore, increasing demand for oil and gas is leading to high utilization of seismic survey, which in turn is fuelling growth of seismic survey market. According to International Energy Agency, gas demand is expected to increase by 1.6% globally, from 2017 to 2022, with China contributing 40% to this growth. Also, consumption in China is expected to increase to 340 billion cubic meters by 2022. Middle East and Africa are lucrative markets for seismic survey, due to increasing oil and gas exploration and production activities in these regions. According to the World Energy Council, the natural gas reserves in Middle East was 80,040.9 billion cubic meters in 2015. Also, the oil demand in this region is estimated to grow by 1.4% between 2014 and 2020. This will augment demand for seismic survey in this region. Furthermore, increasing mineral and oil & gas exploration activities in Africa is fuelling growth of the seismic survey market. For instance, in April 2017, Shearwater GeoServices announced that it would conduct 3D marine acquisition survey in offshore North Africa; and SeaBird Exploration announced 2D seismic survey in offshore West Africa. Key Players Key players operating in the seismic survey market are Breckenridge Geophysical, LLC, BTW Company Ltd., Dolphin Group ASA, Polaris Seismic International Ltd., Spectrum ASA, Terraseis Ltd., MMA Offshore Limited, Kuwait Oil Company, Seismic Surveys, Inc., and LoneStar Geophysical Surveys LLC. Request for Customization As per your Need @ https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/829 About Coherent Market Insights: Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity. Contact Us: Mr. Shah Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Tel: +1-206-701-6702 Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Visit our news Website : http://www.coherentchronicle.com This release was published on openPR. Permanent link to this press release: Copy Please set a link in the press area of your homepage to this press release on openPR. openPR disclaims liability for any content contained in this release. Organic Baby Food Market Demand and Opportunity Analysis, 2017-25 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/557 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/557 The global organic baby food market was valued at US$ 6,516.0 million in 2016, according to a new report on Organic Baby Food Market, by Product (Infant Milk Formula (Starting MF, Follow On MF, Toddlers MF, Special MF) Ready to Eat Baby Food, Powder, Liquid, Others), by Distribution Channel (Hypermarkets, Supermarkets, Specialty Stores, Convenience Stores, Online) published by Coherent Market Insights. Organic baby food is considered to be a healthier alternative to conventional baby food. High income and awareness among consumers make it a popular choice among the consumers, which has resulted in burgeoning market growth for the same. North America and Europe are the prime markets for organic baby food products. High consumer awareness about the benefits offered by such products, stringent regulations imposed by the government, and widespread availability of such products across all channels are some of the major factors fueling the growth of organic baby food market in these regions. The organic baby food market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 10.8% over the forecast period.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @Key Trends and Analysis of the Organic Baby Food Market:Infant milk formula dominated the product type segment in 2016 and is expected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period, according to Coherent Market Insights. China has witnessed a significant growth in the infant milk formula segment due to the influence of western culture, in terms of feeding habits, and rising concerns about domestic dairy produce. Supermarkets are the preferred distribution channel for organic baby food among consumers. However, the online channel is expected to project the fastest growth during the forecast period. Rising consumer inclination toward online purchases is one of the major factors responsible for rapid growth of this segment.Key Takeaways of the Market:North America dominated the organic baby food market in 2016 and is expected to retain its dominance during the forecast period. The toddler and infant population in the U.S. stood at 22.9 million in 2016, which is expected to boost the demand for organic baby food in North America. Further, in Western Europe, the infant population stood at 27.1 million in 2016. High living standards coupled with increasing awareness among the populace in these regions has resulted in an increasing demand for chemical-free nutritious food. The organic baby food market in North America was valued at US$ 2,092.9 million in 2016.India, despite having a sizeable infant population, lags behind other countries mainly because of the high preference toward homemade food. Due to the rapid growth of female working population in India, China, and ASEAN countries, the demand for ready to eat organic baby food is rising. The ease and flexibility of ready to eat foods are compatible with the hectic lifestyles of 21st century working parents. However, stringent regulations make it difficult for any new player to enter this market. The organic baby food market in Asia Pacific was valued at US$ 1,408.1 Million in 2016.Africa is a swiftly growing market due to population boom. According to the UN, the population of Africa is expected to reach 1.3 billion by 2050. Africa has a huge investment potential and the market is slated to grow at a very fast rate as the region develops further economically. South Africa has witnessed a significant growth in the organic baby food market over the past few years and is expected to maintain the same growth path throughout the forecast period. Further, apart from the international players, the growth of this market is expected to intensify due to the emergence of several local players as well. Baby food in South Africa is required to meet the South African Infant Feeding Regulations.Requst For Customization@Abbott Laboratories, Groupe Danone, Nestle S.A., Kraft Heinz Company, Hero Group, Amara Organics, Baby Gourmet, Bellamy's Australia, Green Monkey, Healthy Sprouts Foods, HiPP, Initiative Foods, and Little Duck Organics are a few key players operating in the global organic baby food market. Some of the major strategies adopted by these players to ensure long-term sustenance in the market include product and packaging innovations, tactical mergers & acquisitions, and joint ventures, among others. In 2013, Groupe Danone acquired the U.S.-based Happy Family in order to increase its presence in North America. In addition, in 2015, Groupe Danone invested US$ 286 million to set up a baby food production plant in the Netherlands.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com RF Duplexer Market in Global to peak demand by 2019 at a cagr of 14.9% Avago Technologies, Murata Manufacturing, TDK RF Duplexer Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/request-discount/197411-global-rf-duplexer-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=197411 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/197411-global-rf-duplexer-market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/197411-global-rf-duplexer-market https://www.linkedin.com/company/13388569/ https://plus.google.com/u/0/+Htfmarketreportinsights https://www.facebook.com/htfmarketintelligence/ https://twitter.com/htfmarketreport A new independent 64 page research with title 'Global RF Duplexer Market 2015-2019' guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. The study covers geographic analysis that includes regions like APAC ,Americas, EMEA and important players/vendors such as Avago Technologies, Murata Manufacturing, TDK , TriQuint Semiconductor etc With n-number of tables and figures examining the RF Duplexer Market, the research gives you a visual, one-stop breakdown of the leading products, submarkets and market leaders market revenue forecasts as well as analysis to 2022Get customization & check discount for report @About RF DuplexerAn RF duplexer is a semiconductor device that allows simultaneous transmission and reception of RF signals over a single path with minimal interaction and degradation of the different RF signals. They are used in various electronic devices such as cellphones, portable PCs, set top box, and tablets. There are several ways to implement duplexers depending upon the application requirements. They are compact in size, which helps them fit easily in smartphones and other wireless communication devices.HTFs analysts forecast the Global RF Duplexer market to grow at a CAGR of 14.9 percent in terms of revenue over the period 2014-2019.Covered in this ReportThe Global RF Duplexer market can be divided into four application segments including: Cellular, Portable PC, Set Top Box, and Tablet.HTFs report, Global RF Duplexer Market 2015-2019, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the APAC region, the Americas, and the EMEA region; it also covers the Global RF Duplexer market landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key Regions Americas APAC EMEAKey Vendors Avago Technologies Murata Manufacturing TDK TriQuint SemiconductorOther Prominent Vendors RFMD Skyworks SolutionsPlace a Purchase Order for this Market Study (Single User License) at:Key Market Driver LTE Deployments For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market Challenge Increase in RF complexity For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Market Trend RF Integrated Solutions For a full, detailed list, view our reportKey Questions Answered in this Report What will the market size be in 2019 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the key vendors? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors?Request a sample report @01. Executive Summary02. List of Abbreviations03. Scope of the Report03.1 Market Overview03.2 Scope of Definition03.3 Product Offerings04. Market Research Methodology04.1 Market Research Process04.2 Research Methodology05. Introduction06. Market Landscape06.1 Market Size and Forecast06.1.1 By Unit Shipment06.2 Market Size and Forecast06.2.1 By Revenue06.3 Five Forces Analysis07. Market Segmentation by Application07.1 Global RF Duplexer Market by Application08. Geographical Segmentation08.1 Global RF Duplexer Market by Geographical Segmentation09. Summary of Key Figures09.1 Global RF Duplexer Market by Application09.2 Global RF Duplexer Market by Geography10. Buying Criteria11. Market Growth Drivers12. Drivers and their Impact13. Market Challenges14. Impact of Drivers and Challenges15. Market Trends16. Trends and their Impact....ContinuedView Detailed Table of Content @Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us at Text Analytics Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/833 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/833 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Increasing stiff competition have forced companies to understand the demand of their customers and market trend. Text analytics help the companies to find real insights of the market by analyzing data which is present on social media websites in the form of comments, posts, tweets, photos, and many more. This help companies to extract the real insights regarding customer experience, product description and many more. In addition, the increasing data on social media fuel the demand for text analytics in various organizations. For instance, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, LinkedIn are some of the major player of the social media industry. In sixty seconds, on YouTube near 27,000 videos are watched, around 3 million posts are shared on Facebook, nearly 430,000 tweets are posted on Twitter and around 120 new users are registered on LinkedIn. Hence, increasing data on social media channel fuels the demand of the text analytics market.The global text analytics market was valued at US$ 3,031.5 million in 2016 and is estimated to witness a CAGR of 17.7% over the forecast period.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Text analytic is a process which is used to extract the insights from unstructured text. This insights help organizations to measure the customer expectations, product description, and also to understand the market trend. The increasing high volume and variety of data in feedback channels become one of the major drivers for the growth of text analytics market. The increasing data on feedback channels provides wealth information to the companies to analyze their customer demand. To improve their business process and customer experience, the companies are increasingly turning to text analytics to extract the insights from unstructured text generated by social media post, open-end survey questions and many more.The customer relationship management application holds the dominant position in the text analytics marketOn the basis of application, the text analytics market is diversified into brand reputation, competitive intelligence, customer relationship management, fraud detection, and predictive analytics. The customer relationship management application held a dominant position in the market in 2016, owing to high focus on customer engagement and increasing adoption by small and medium enterprises, fuels the customer relationship management application in text analytics market.North America holds a dominant position in the global text analytics marketAccording to Coherent Market Insights, North America held the dominant position in the global text analytics market in 2016, valued US$ 1045 million and is projected to reach US$ 4,237.6 million by 2025, with a CAGR of 16.9% over the forecast period. The U.S. and Canada are the major countries driving growth of the text analytics market in North America region. This is owing to factors such as dominance of digitalization and high presence of leading companies, provides the dominant position to the market in the region. Moreover, Asia Pacific text analytic market is projected to exhibit largest CAGR of 19.1% over the forecast period. India, China, and Japan are some of the major countries which drives the growth of this market in Asia Pacific region. This is due to factors such as increasing economy and rising online business industry, which fuels the text analytics market in the region.Request for Customization As per your Need @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website : Neurostimulation Devices Market - Opportunity Analysis, 20162025 http://www.coherentchronicle.com/ Neurostimulation therapy is used for treatment and diagnosis of nervous disorder. It reduces chronic pain associated with conditions such as Parkinsons disease, epilepsy, nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and depression. It helps to improve quality of life of patients suffering from paralysis, obesity, and severe loss of sensory organs. Neurostimulation devices is a key element used in neural prosthetics for artificial vision, artificial limbs, and hearing aids. They include implantable and non-implantable devices, which deliver chemical, electrical or other agents that reversibly modify nerve cell activity and brain cells. They are surgically inserted into the patient organs and are operated with the help of thin wires and leads.Intracranial stimulation, peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), Spinal cord stimulation (SCS), deep brain stimulation, and motor cortex stimulation are among the most widely used neurostimulation devices. As per the data published by European Brain Council, worldwide around 6.3 million people were suffering from Parkinsons disease in 2015 and the number is expected to increase steadily in the near future. Spinal cord stimulation is widely used in failed back surgery, pain due to peripheral neuropathy, and pain due to low supply of blood to the limb, chest pain, urinary incontinence, and occipital neuralgia. The deep brain stimulation is generally use to treat Parkinsons plus syndromes.Increasing prevalence of Parkinsons disease is expected to fuel growth of neurostimulation devices marketAccording to National Institutes of Health (NIH), around 50,000 people were suffering from Parkinson disease (PD) in the U.S. North America accounted for largest share in neurostimulation devices market and is expected to retain its dominance through the forecast period, owing to increasing patient awareness regarding treatment of disease and increasing investments on healthcare in this region. Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing market, owing to high prevalence of PD in economies such as India and China.According to World Health Organization (WHO), around 6.3 million people worldwide suffered from Parkinsons disease in 2013. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), around 10% to 15% women develop postpartum depression worldwide. Major depression includes bipolar disorder which are accompanied by delusions and hallucinations or paranoia, which is called as psychotic depression. These conditions can be effectively treated using neurostimulation devices. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), around 20% of people in U.S are suffering with major depressive disorder develop psychotic symptoms hallucinations.Essential Tremor (ET) leads to action tremor with prevalence rate of up to 10% in the US. Which creates a highly conducive environment for growth of the neurostimulation devices market. Some of the major players operating in neurostimulation devices market include Virtual Medical Centre Inc Neurosigma, Boston Scientific Corporation, St. Jude Medical Inc., NDI Medical, electroCore LLC, Electro Medics, Endostim Inc., and NeuroPace, Inc.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave, #3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website: Infusion Pump Market Global 10+ Players Analysis by Shares, Size, Industry Analysis and Forecasts with BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG, Baxter, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Fresenius Kabi AG, ICU Medical, Inc and Smiths Medical Infusion Pump Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1509 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1509 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1509 The Global Infusion Pump Market has been evaluated as steadily growing market and expected that the market will reach high growth figures. There has been a tremendous growth in the adoption rate of the infusion system in the delivery of medication and other necessary fluids into the body. The main purpose of the infusion pump is to control the flow of the fluid while being delivered into the body of the patient.The increasing use of infusion pumps is driving the growth of the market. Additionally there are some factors such as rising prevalence of chronic and fatal diseases, high demand of the infusion systems in the military medical units, technological advancements in the infusion pumps from the leading market players are believed to boost the infusion pump market.Get Exclusive Sample Copy @Global Infusion System Market Players:The major participants of this market are 3M, B. BRAUN MELSUNGEN AG, Baxter, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Fresenius Kabi AG, ICU Medical, Inc, Smiths Medical, and Terumo Medical Corporation.Global Infusion Pump Market Segmentation:Infusion pump market has been segmented on the basis of pump type which comprises of volumetric pump, syringe pump, ambulatory pump & others. Volumetric pump accounted for the largest market share of the total market in 2016. On the basis of application, market is segmented into Chemotherapy, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, pediatrics, and others. Chemotherapy segment accounted for the largest market share of the total market in 2016. On the basis of end user, market is segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, homecare, and others. Hospitals dominated the global market with the largest market share in 2016.Infusion Pump Market Regional Analysis:Depending on geographic region, infusion pump market is segmented into four key regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Globally North America is the largest market for infusion pump. The North America market for infusion pump is expected to reach at USD 2.42 billion by the end of the forecasted period. Europe is the second-largest market for infusion pump which is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2%. Asia pacific region is expected to be fastest growing region in infusion pump market. Middle East & Africa region is projected to have a limited growth.Ask Questions to Expertise @Major TOC for Infusion Pump Market Research Report- Global Forecast To 2023:1 REPORT PROLOGUE2 MARKET INTRODUCTIONS2.1 Definition2.2 Scope Of Study2.3 Research Objective2.4 Assumptions & Limitations2.4.1 Assumptions2.4.2 Limitations2.5 Market Structure3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size Estimation4 MARKET DYNAMICS4.1 Introduction4.2 Drivers4.2.1 Increased Use Of Infusion Pumps For The Delivery Of Drugs And Other Fluids4.2.2 Rising Prevalence Of Chronic And Fatal DiseasesT.O.C Continued!Get Discount @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Diabetes Devices Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=14 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=14 Global Diabetes Devices Market: OverviewDiabetes mellitus, often referred as diabetes, is a chronic condition that results when there are elevated levels of glucose in the blood. High blood glucose levels occur when our body is unable to produce any or enough of the hormone insulin or use it effectively. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and is an essential hormone for transporting glucose from our blood stream into the body cells where it gets converted into energy. The lack of insulin or the inability of the cells to respond to insulin leads to high levels of blood glucose, or hyperglycemia, which causes diabetes. If diabetes is undiagnosed and treatment for it is not taken correctly, it leads to damage of other body organs and development of life-threatening health complications such as neuropathy, cardiovascular disease, nephropathy and eye disease, leading to retinopathy and blindness. Presently 415 million people are living with diabetes.Get PDF Brochure For More Industry Insights@According to the research report, the global diabetes devices market is expected to be worth US$66,053.1 mn by the end of 2025 from US$37,220.8 mn in 2016. During the forecast years of 2017 and 2025, the global market is estimated to exhibit a CAGR of 6.7%.Glucose Monitoring Devices to Remain Popular Disease Management ToolsThe global diabetes devices market has been segmented based on product type, distribution channels and geography. Considering the product type the global diabetes devices market is classified in to major segments- glucose monitoring devices, insulin delivery devices, diabetes monitoring software, and artificial pancreas system. The glucose monitoring devices includes four main sub-segments such as self -monitoring blood glucose meters, blood glucose testing strips, lancets and continuous glucose monitoring meters. Insulin delivery devices segment includes insulin syringes, insulin pens and insulin pumps. Different types of pens and pumps with various designs are available in the market depending upon the customers requirement. In 2016 glucose monitoring devices accounted for the major market share in terms of revenue. Growth in incidence of diabetes and development of innovative technology for insulin delivery is likely to drive the market the market during forecast period.Insulin pumps accounts for the prominent share in the diabetes devices market. Rising number of oral drugs and supplements for diabetes treatment is restraining the market during the forecasted period. However, continuous developments in medical device technology will lead a significant growth in the diabetes devices market during the forecasted period. Based on distribution channel the global diabetes devices market can be divided into hospital pharmacies, retail pharmacies, online pharmacies, and diabetes clinics/centers. The hospital pharmacy segment contributes maximum share in terms of revenue in the forecast period. Also rise in the number of online platforms providing prescription and non-prescription diabetes care devices is estimated to drive the segment during the forecast period.Asia Pacific Shows Promise of Growth as Incidence of Diabetes Remains on the RiseGeographically, the diabetes devices market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America contributed for the largest share of 37.5% of the global diabetes devices market in 2016, followed by Europe with 34.4% market share. This is attributed to developed economy and advanced health care infrastructure coupled with awareness of population regarding the treatment of diabetes and associated diseases. In North America and Europe the glucose monitoring device segment of diabetes devices market contributes the maximum share. Asia Pacific may show a promising market for the diabetes devices business because of increasing population and increasing healthcare facilities and developing economy. Additionally the Asia pacific, Latin America regions are focusing on increasing diabetes clinics which will be driving the market during forecast period.Get Sample PDF Of Research Report@In the global diabetes devices market the major operating players are Medtronic plc, Sanofi S.A., Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk A/S, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. and others. These are the major players of diabetes devices market and exhibit the largest geographical outreach with presence of range of worldwide.About Us:-Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us:-State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Matrix to Exhibit Time-Attendance and IP Telephony Solutions at HR Tech MENA Summit www.matrixcomsec.com Matrix to showcase its intelligence solutions tailored for human resources professionals at HR Tech MENA Summit. The event organized on 7th May-8th May18 at Palazzo Versace Dubai, is an apt platform for HR and IT personnel to network.From the Telecom domain, Matrix will display its Enterprise Video Collaboration Endpoint SPARSH VP710. The IP deskphone equipped with seven inch touch screen helps HR professional to conduct a video call for proper evaluation of overseas candidate. The phone offers high quality audio and video enabling HR professionals to bridge communication gaps between the employees and create cohesive environment. We will also exhibit Premium IP Phone SPARSH VP510 at the event. Engineered with 16 DSS keys, four context sensitive keys and fixed function keys, the IP phone enhances convenience in calling activities helping HR to improve team engagement.Matrix is to highlight its perfectly tailored range of biometric devices, elaborating on its advanced Time-Attendance applications. Matrix offers some extraordinary Biometric Door Controllers with optical and multi-spectral sensors. Matrix will demonstrate its Time-Attendance Solutions to escalate productivity and security of SME, Large Enterprises. Matrix will showcase enterprise grade Time-Attendance solution with real-time features such as Auto Push Events to Server, Instant Notification, Automatic Device Identification, Scheduler Service for Report and Backup, and more.We look forward to have insightful interactions with HR and key decision makers of different companies at the event. We aim to explain how our solutions can help them create a connected and secured atmosphere for the employees, said Ganesh Jivani, Managing Director.Matrix cordially invites you to visit us at booth number: B9, HR Tech MENA Summit on 7th and 8th May18 at Palazzo Versace Dubai, to have a glimpse of latest security and Telecom solutions.About MatrixEstablished in 1991, Matrix is a leader in Telecom and Security solutions for modern businesses and enterprises. Matrix, an innovative, technology driven and customer focused organization, is committed to keep pace with the revolutions in the telecom and security industries. With more than 40% of its human resources dedicated to the development of new products, Matrix has launched cutting-edge products like IP-PBX, Universal Gateways, VoIP Gateways and Terminals, GSM Gateways, Access Control, Time-Attendance and Video Surveillance solutions. These solutions are feature-rich, reliable and conform to the international standards. Having global footprints in Asia, Europe, North America, South America and Africa through an extensive network of more than 1,000 channel partners, Matrix ensures that the products serve the needs of its customers faster and longer. Matrix has gained trust and admiration of customers representing the entire spectrum of industries. Matrix has won many international awards for its innovative products.Head Office: 394-GIDC, Makarpura, Vadodara-390010, IndiaPh.: +91 265 2630555E-Mail: Customer.Care@Matrixcomsec.com Radiation monitoring and Dosimeter Badges Market to Witness an Outstanding Growth During 2017 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/15037 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/15037 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Radiation monitoring is device which can identify the present and measure the radiation quantity. Radiation monitoring device are so sensitive that can provide the dose of the radiation during the radiology procedures. The radiation monitoring devices can monitor the environmental contaminations. The Nuclear power plants produce electricity by fission and used uranium, which is a radioactive material, according to a report from Nuclear Energy Institute (NEI), in November 2016, about 30 countries over the globe are operating 450 nuclear reactor and 60 new nuclear plants are going to develop in 15 countries. This statics also fuel the market over the forecasted period.The radiation monitoring and dosimeter badges market have the huge market as they are used in various application like oncology treatment, and other chronic diseases. According to National Cancer Institute (NCI), in 2016, 1,685,210 new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the U.S.Request Report for Table of Contents @Radiation monitoring and dosimeter badges market is huge market in the term of use, and technology advancement. The growth in number of cancer patients and the uses by different organization like defenses, environmental organization. Now a days food industry are also using the radiation monitoring and dosimeter badges to check the food and crops in the fields of having the present of radiation. Government are also motivating the radiation monitoring and dosimeter badges market by providing funds. For instance, USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) are more concerned about high level of UV-B (ultraviolet radiation) from the Sun, which may harmful for crops, USDA is releasing the funds of $1,308,336 for the study to different agricultural college, who come under the eligibility area. As of restraints the peoples are not much aware of using the product and they are not technology trained.Radiation monitoring and Dosimeter Badges Market: SegmentationRadiation Monitoring and Dosimeter Badges segmentation based on:Based on the product type:Personal dosimetersEnvironmental radiationRadioactive materialActive dosimetersSurface Contamination MonitorsArea Process MonitorBased on detection type:Solid-state detectorGas-filled detectorScintillatorsBased on End User:Nuclear industriesHospitalDefenseRadiation Therapy and Caner Treatment CenterOthersBased on Geography:North AmericaEuropeLatin AmericaAsia-PacificMiddle East and AfricaRadiation monitoring and dosimeter badges market have a huge potentials for the growth in the forecasted period as owning by the technology advancement for developing new devices which will be more accurate and handy to use. The awareness program should be more to increase the utilization in various fields.As a geography conditions the Radiation Monitoring and Dosimeter Badges is segmented into: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. North America will be having huge market share in various fields like medical, nuclear power plant and scientific applications. According to the U.S., NRC (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) that radiation therapy is used by 7 out of every 10 people in the U.S. As Asia Pacific is also a growing market as they have the increasing number of nuclear plant and as well as use in medical treatment.Request a Sample Brochure of the Report @Some players in Radiation Monitoring and Dosimeter Badges Market are Landauer, Inc., Ludlum Measurements, Inc., ECOTEST, Mirion Technologies, CHP Dosimetry, Renentech Laboratories Pvt. Ltd, MP Dosimetry, Sierra Radiation Dosimetry Service, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Fluke Corporation, RDC Inc, and Biodex.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Urology Devices Market 2018 | Top Players CAGR 7.1% Expected To Grow with KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Medtronic (US) and Boston Scientific Corporation (US) Forecasts by 2023 Urology Devices Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1120 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1120 Global Market for Urology Devices Segmental AnalysisBase on types, the market has been segmented into urinary stone treatment devices, benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment devices, dialysis equipment, urinary incontinence & pelvic organ prolapsed devices, endoscopy devices and others. The dialysis equipment segment is further sub-segmented into haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis and others. The urinary incontinence & pelvic organ prolapsed devices segment is further sub-segment into vaginal meshes & slings, urethral inserts & pessaries, sacral neuromodulator and others. The urinary stone treatment devices segment is further sub-segmented into lithotripsy, ureteral stents and others. The Benign prostatic hyperplasia treatment devices segment in further sub-segmented into catheter ablation, prostatic stents and others. Based on application, the market has been segmented into prostate cancer, urinary incontinence, benign prostatic hyperplasia, urinary stones and others. Based on technology, the market has been segmented into robotic surgery, minimally invasive surgery and others. By end users, the market has been segmented into ambulatory services, hospital and others.The Latest Report Published by Market Research Future (MRFR) projects that the Global Urology Devices Market will expand at 7.1% CAGR during the assessment period (2017-2023). Increased prevalence of disorders associated with organs such as ureters, urethra, adrenal glands, urinary bladder, ureters and other organs in the urinary system has driven the need for more advanced and cost-effective urology treatments and therapeutics. The number of individuals affected by chronic kidney disorders has also increased in recent years. Changing lifestyle and increased consumption of junk food is partly responsible for the rising number of medical cases associated with urinary system. Factors as such is influencing the global market for urology devices. These devices are used in various surgical treatments including kidney stones surgery, prostate surgery and uninary tract surgery among others.Get Exclusive Sample Report @Healthcare expenditure per capita has improved globally, at the same time the ratio of geriatric population continues to grow indifferently, which is also playing an important role is driving the market. Over the years, a wide range of novel medical technologies has arrived in the field of urology. Several groundbreaking minimally invasive surgical procedures have also been developed for treating urological disorders. Such incessant progress has led to development of cutting-edge urology devices. Manufacturers are also focusing on developing and designing organ-specific devices that can better assist surgeons in diagnosing and treating disease in any particular organ in the urinary system.Global Market for Urology Devices Competitive Analysis:Some of the prominent market participants profiled in the MRFRs report include Stryker (US), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Boston Scientific Corporation (US), Cook (US), Dornier MedTech (Germany), NIKKISO CO. LTD (Japan), KARL STORZ GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), HealthTronics, Inc. (US), Medtronic (US), Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co. KGaA (Germany), and C. R. Bard, Inc. (US).Urology Devices Market Regional Overview:The market in Americas is expected to witness a healthy growth during the projection period. This is mainly attributed to increasing incidences of traumatic injuries, prostate cancer, kidney stones across the region. Also, existence of an advanced healthcare infrastructure and higher healthcare expenditure is favoring the growth of the market in the region. Meanwhile, Europe holds the second spot in the global urology market. Favorable government policies and expanding geriatric population is propelling the regions market. In Asia Pacific (APAC), rapid industrialization and economic growth has contributed to the growth the healthcare sector, which is auguring well for market player operating in the region.Ask to Experts @Major Table of Contents:1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of The Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations1.2.2.1 Assumptions1.2.2.2 Limitations1.3 Market Structure:2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3 Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Macroeconomic Indicators4 Market Factor Analysis4.1 Porters Five Forces Model4.2 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers4.3 Bargaining Power Of Buyers4.4 Threat Of New Entrants4.5 Threat Of Substitutes4.6 Intensity Of Rivalry5. Global Urology Devices Market, By Types5.1 Dialysis Equipment5.1.1 Peritoneal Dialysis5.1.2 Hemodialysis5.1.3 Others5.2 Urinary Stone Treatment Devices5.2.1 Uretral Stents5.2.2 Lithotripsy5.2.3 Others5.3 Endoscopy Devices5.4 Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment Devices5.4.1 Prostatic Stents5.4.2 Catheter Ablation5.4.3 Others5.5 Urinary Incontinence & Pelvic Organ Prolapsed Devices5.5.1 Sacral Neuromodulation5.5.2 Urethral Inserts & Pessaries5.5.3 Vaginal Meshes & SlingsTOC Continued....!About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Conveyor Oven Market - New Innovations, Application, Recent Technology Updates & Forecast https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=18935 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=18935 Global Conveyor Oven Market: SnapshotThe global conveyor oven market is gaining from changing food habits in several parts of the world. Globalization, economic liberalization, and proliferation of media in nations such as India coupled with rising disposable incomes have been key factors for the adoption of newer foods, of which baked foods are one. The movement of people because of work opportunities and leisure travel have also created a fancy for new foods such as baked goods.Get PDF Brochure For More Industry Insights@Globally, rising demand for baked goods is primarily driving the global conveyor oven market. The increasing consumption of baked goods such as pizzas, cakes, and cookies have played a major role in the growth of food industry and ancillary industries. For instance, pizzerias display a substantially high demand for conveyor ovens as they help reduce cooking time considerably, which in turn helps attain efficiency and improved customer experience.A report by Transparency Market Research projects the global conveyor oven market to rise at a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period between 2017 and 2025, for the market to become worth US$123.2 mn by the end of 2025.Industrial/heavy Type Conveyor Oven to Contribute Substantial Revenue through 2025Based on type, the conveyor oven market is divided into countertop and industrial/heavy. Of the two, industrial/heavy type conveyor oven segment is anticipated to lead the market over the forecast period. The segment is estimated to contribute US$53.2 mn revenue to the overall market by the end of 2025. Rising demand for baked goods and adoption of modern equipment in the commercial food sector for fast and convenient cooking are primary factors for the growth of industrial/heavy type conveyor oven segment. However, countertop type conveyor oven segment are also anticipated to rise at a significant pace between 2017 and 2025.On the basis of power source, electric conveyor oven and gas conveyor oven are the segments into which the global conveyor oven market is divided in this report. In 2016, electric conveyor oven segment held the leading share in the overall market; going forward, electric conveyor oven segment is likely to surpass gas conveyor oven segment over the forecast period.By technology, the global conveyor oven market is divided into convection and radiation. In 2016, convection type oven held the leading share in the global conveyor oven market. However, radiation type oven is likely to surpass in terms of growth rate over the forecast period. Radiation type segment is also likely to surpass convection type technology segment by the end of 2025.Adoption of Modern Equipment in Commercial Food Segment to Make Europe Key MarketBy geography, the global conveyor oven market is segmented into: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa. North America is currently the leading regional market for conveyor oven due to the increasing adoption of fast and convenient cooking practices in the commercial food segment.Get Customize Report@In 2016, Europe stood as the second-leading market for conveyor oven in terms of revenue contribution to the overall market; going forward, the region is anticipated to display the leading growth rate in the conveyor oven market over the forecast period. The rising adoption of modern equipment to cook more food in less time in restaurants, bakery, hotels, and food catering services contribute to the growth of European conveyor oven market.Leading players operating in the global conveyor oven market that have been profiled in this report include Middleby Corporation, Lewco Inc., PICARD OVENS INC., Davron Technologies Inc., Star Manufacturing, Wisconsin Oven Corporation, Zanolli, Stoddart International Thermal Systems, Mahan Oven & Engineering Co. Inc., Infratrol LLC, Doyon, Moretti Forni, OEM-ALI Spa, Ovention, Italfornia USA, Lincoln, and XLT Inc.About Us:-Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us:-State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Global Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023 Global Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-pulse-oximeters-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-pulse-oximeters-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-pulse-oximeters-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-pulse-oximeters-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Global Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market :By Type (Hand Held, Tabletop, Finger Tip, Others), By Animal Type (Ruminants, Equine, Canine, Feline, Swine, Others), By End User (Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics), and Geography Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market: Market DynamicsPulse Oximetry is a noninvasive method of measuring the percentage of oxygen saturation in arterial blood using spectrophotometry. Pulse oximeter has a probe which is placed on hairless minimally pigmented areas with pulsating arteriolar bed of patient body. Factors like growing prevalence of zoonotic diseases, increase in incidence of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disorders, respiratory disorders in animals propels the growth of Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market globally. Furthermore, increase in awareness regarding animal health, growing pet adoption, increase in awareness programs by pet welfare societies drives the growth of Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market. However, difficulty in placing probe on animals, lack of awareness may hinder the growth of the Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market globally.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Veterinary Pulse Oximeters MarketVeterinary Pulse Oximeters Market is segmented on the basis of Type, Products, Animal Type, and Distribution channel and Geographical regionsBased on the Type, Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market is segmented into the following Hand Held Table Top Finger Tip OthersBased on the Animal Type, This Market is segmented into the following: Ruminants Equine Canine Feline Swine OthersBased on the End User, This Market is segmented into the following: Veterinary Hospitals Veterinary ClinicsTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Veterinary Pulse Oximeters MarketGeographically, Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and theMiddle East and Africa regions. North America expected to be a major market for Veterinary Pulse Oximeters owing to factors such as increase in prevalence of chronic diseases in animals, well established veterinary healthcare infrastructure, and increase awareness about the animal health among the households and animal owners. Europe is expected to grow at notable rates owing to increase in awareness about animal health and rising health concerns on animals. Asia-Pacific region Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market is expected to be a lucrative market due to increase in animal adoptions and entry of market players into the market.Competition Assessment: Veterinary Pulse Oximeters MarketKey playersprofiled in the global Veterinary Pulse Oximeters Market include: NONIN MEDICAL (U.S.) Smiths Medical (UK) MASIMO (U.S.) Medtronic (U.S.) Bionet America, Inc. (U.S.) PetMAP (U.S.) Burtons Medical (UK)Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2023) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key marketdevelopments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies and regulatory framework The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Gene Delivery System : US$ 4,281.0 Mn by 2025 Market : Novartis AG, Amgen Inc. Gene Delivery System https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1723095 https://www.researchmoz.us/gene-delivery-system-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html/toc www.researchmoz.us Press Release - 03 May2018Global Research and Development News --. ."Gene Delivery System Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025" with coming years Industries Trends, projections of Global Growth, Major key player and Case study, Review, Share, Size, Effect.' ' Global Gene Delivery System Market: OverviewThis report analyzes the current and future scenario of the global the global gene delivery system market. Rise in investments for R&D of novel advanced technologies, increase in incidences of chronic diseases such as cancer, surge in demand for gene therapy, and rise in awareness regarding treatment options expected to drive the market. Gene delivery systems are used to deliver therapeutic drugs to a targeted area. Gene delivery is a procedure to introduce foreign DNA into host cells. The global gene delivery system market is segmented according to type of delivery system, application, route of administration, and geography.. . Get Sample Report_' 'The global gene delivery system market report comprises an elaborate executive summary, which includes a market snapshot that provides information about various segments of the market. It also offers data analysis of the global market with respect to the segments based on type of delivery system, application, route of administration, and geography. A detailed qualitative analysis of drivers and restraints of the market and opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. Moreover, the section comprises competitive matrix and company profiles with business overview to understand the competitive landscape in the market. This section of the report also provides market attractiveness analysis, by geography, and market share analysis by key players, thus presenting a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global gene delivery system market. Global Gene Delivery System Market: Key SegmentsBased on delivery system the global gene delivery system market is segmented into viral gene delivery system, non-viral gene delivery system, and combined hybrid system. The viral gene delivery system is further classified into adenovirus system, lentivirus vector, retrovirus vector, adeno-associated virus vector, sendai virus vector, herpes simplex virus vector, and others. The non-viral gene delivery system is further divide into natural organic compounds, physical methods, and chemical methods. The market size and forecast for each of these segments have been provided for the period from 2015 to 2025, along with their respective CAGRs for the forecast period from 2017 to 2025, considering 2016 as the base year.Based on application, the global gene delivery system market is segmented into infectious diseases, oncology, ophthalmology, urology, diabetes, CNS, and others. The oncology segment dominates the market. The market size and forecast for each of these segments have been provided for the period from 2015 to 2025, along with their respective CAGRs for the forecast period from 2017 to 2025, considering 2016 as the base year.In terms of route of administration, the global gene delivery system market is segmented into oral, injectable, inhalation, transdermal, ocular, nasal, topical, and others. The injectable segment dominates the market. The market size and forecast for each of these segments have been provided for the period between 2015 and 2025, along with their respective CAGRs for the forecast period from 2017 to 2025, considering 2016 as the base year. Global Gene Delivery System Market: Regional OutlookBased on geography, the global gene delivery system market has been categorized into five major regions and key countries in the respective regions: North America (the U.S., Canada), Europe (the U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, and Rest of Europe), Asia Pacific (India, China, Japan, and Rest of Asia Pacific), Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, and Rest of Latin America) and Middle East & Africa (South Africa, GCC countries, Israel, and Rest of Middle East & Africa). The market size and forecast for each of these regions and the mentioned countries have been provided for the period from 2015 to 2025, along with their respective CAGRs for the forecast period from 2017 to 2025, considering 2016 as the base year. The research study also covers the competitive scenario in these regions. Companies Mentioned in ReportThe report also profiles major players operating in the market and provides various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, product portfolio, business strategies, and recent developments. Major companies profiled in the global gene delivery system market are Novartis AG, Amgen Inc., Oxford BioMedia plc, SIBIONO, Shanghai Sunway Biotech Co. Ltd., Pfizer Inc., Bayer AG, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Human Stem Cells Institute, and Epeius Biotechnologies Corporation.The global gene delivery system market has been segmented as follows: Gene Delivery System Market, by Delivery SystemViral Gene DeliveryAdenovirus VectorLentivirus VectorRetrovirus VectorAdeno-associated Virus VectorSendai Virus VectorHerpes Simplex Virus VectorOthersNon-viral Gene DeliveryNatural Organic CompoundsPhysical MethodsChemical MethodsCombined Hybrid Delivery System Gene Delivery System Market, by ApplicationInfectious DiseasessOncologyOphthalmologyUrologyDiabetesCNSOthers Gene Delivery System Market, by Route of AdministrationOralInjectableInhalationTransdermalOcularNasalTopical Gene Delivery System Market, by GeographyNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainRest of EuropeAsia PacificIndiaJapanChinaAustralia & New ZealandRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCC CountriesIsraelSouth AfricaRest of MEA. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents_' '1. Preface1.1. Market Definition and Scope1.2. Market Segmentation1.3. Key Research Objectives1.4. Research Highlights2. Assumptions and Research Methodology3. Executive Summary : Global Gene Delivery System Market4. Market Overview4.1. Introduction4.1.1. Delivery System Definition4.2. Overview4.4. Market Dynamics4.4.1. Drivers4.4.2. Restraints4.4.3. Opportunities4.5. Global Gene Delivery System Market Analysis and Forecasts, 201520254.5.1. Market Revenue Projections (US$ Mn)4.6. Porters Five Force Analysis4.7. Market Outlook4.8. Technological Advancements in Gene Delivery Products4.9. Regulatory Scenario4.10. Gene Therapy Pipeline Molecules5. Global Gene Delivery System Market Analysis and Forecasts, by Delivery System5.1. Introduction & Definition5.2. Key Findings5.4. Market Value Forecast by Delivery System, 201520255.4.1. Viral Gene Delivery5.4.1.1. Adenovirus Vector5.4.1.2. Lentivirus Vector5.4.1.3. Retrovirus Vector5.4.1.4. Adeno-associated Virus Vector5.4.1.5. Sendai Virus Vector5.4.1.6. Herpes Simplex Virus Vector5.4.1.7. Others5.4.2. Non-viral Gene Delivery5.4.2.1. Natural Organic Compounds5.4.2.2. Physical Methods5.4.2.3. Chemical Methods5.4.3. Combined Hybrid Delivery System5.5. Market Attractiveness by Delivery System6. Global Gene Delivery System Market Analysis and Forecasts, by Application6.1. Introduction & Definition6.2. Key Findings6.4. Market Value Forecast by Application, 201520256.4.1. Infectious Diseases6.4.2. Oncology6.4.3. Ophthalmology6.4.4. Urology6.4.5. Diabetes6.4.6. CNS6.4.7. Others6.5. Market Attractiveness by Application7. Global Gene Delivery System Market Analysis and Forecasts, by Route of Administration7.1. Introduction & Definition7.2. Key Findings7.4. Market Value Forecast by Route of Administration, 201520257.4.1. Oral7.4.2. Injectable7.4.3. Inhalation7.4.4. Transdermal7.4.5. Ocular7.4.6. Nasal7.4.7. Topical7.5. Market Attractiveness by Route of Administration8. Global Gene Delivery System Market Analysis and Forecasts, by Region8.1. Key Findings8.2. Market Value Forecast by Region8.2.1. North America8.2.2. Europe8.2.3. Asia Pacific8.2.4. Latin America8.2.5. Middle East & AfricaContinue.....ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Prostate Cancer Biomarker Market Anticipated to Grow at a Significant Pace by 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/15097 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/15097 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States and worldwide is the prostate cancer. The Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is widely used for screening of men for prostate cancer. However, PSA test has some significant limitations and has challenges like test. Prostate cancer biomarkers have advanced in high throughput technologies for estimating gene and protein expression in minimally invasive samples like blood, urine. The Prostate Cancer biomarkers can predict the prognosis of the disease more accurately.The key driver to the Prostate Cancer Biomarkers market is the growing focus Improving technology aiming at genetic analysis has led to the discovery of abundant new biomarkers that can be used in identifying the PCa incidence, outcomes as well as response to the therapy.Request Report for Table of Contents @Prostate cancer biomarkers market is likely to witness beneficial growth over the forecast owing to rising prevalence of prostate cancer, improper food habits. Additionally, some internal factors which also add to the increased cases of prostate cancer are hormonal imbalance, genetic mutation, and metabolic mutation, these can also raise the prostate cancer biomarkers market. Furthermore, increasing awareness regarding the usage of prostate cancer biomarkers at various stages of prostate cancer and rising demand for clinical diagnosis in the early stage of prostate cancer are some factors that are most likely to boost the usage rates of prostate cancer biomarkers. However, the high cost associated with prostate cancer biomarkers and poor reimbursement policies by the respective countries are some factors that are estimated to block the market growth.Geographically, North America is the dominating region in the Prostate Cancer Biomarkers market owing to the high incidence of prostate cancer rates in the men in that region. Also, rising awareness of Prostate Cancer Biomarkers has fueled the Prostate Cancer Biomarkers market. Growing awareness and demand for minimally or non-invasive diagnostic methods, clinical trials requiring less time and less expenditure compared to invasive diagnostic methods is driving the prostate cancer biomarkers market.Increased government funding for R&D and spending on pharmaceutical and biotechnology projects is eventually rising the number of biomarker development projects driving the prostate cancer biomarker market in North America. North America is trailed by Europe including Germany, France, and UK. The Asian market for Prostate Cancer Biomarkers is also expected to witness a high CAGR during the coming years. Increased foreign investments. In this region will also boost the Prostate Cancer Biomarkers market ahead. China and Japan are projected to be the fastest-growing in the Prostate Cancer Biomarkers market.Request a Sample Brochure of the Report @Key Players such as Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Roche Diagnostics Limited, Beckman Coulter Inc, Myriad Genetics, Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer Inc, MDx Health are all actively adopting strategies of partnerships and collaborations, to ensure their growth in the biomarkers market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Flushing Systems Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20182025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/665 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/665 www.coherentchronicle.com Flushing systems form an integral part of a lavatory, owing to the requirement to flush discharged waste matter. It uses water or vacuum to force waste matter down the pipeline connected to the disposable location. These consist of water tank, mechanical components, and electronic sensors and components depending on the user requirements. Requirement to maintain hygiene and proper disposal is expected to create product demand through the forecast period.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :Advent of advanced and automatic flushing systems would provide considerable market tractionConventional requirement for seven gallons of water per flush (gpf) has been reduced to 1.6 to 1.28 gpf of water in order to reduce wastage of water. Kay companies in the market including, Kohler Co., Jaquar, Cera, Mueller Water Products, Inc., and Geberit have started offering products that use water, lower than 1.28 gpf for urinals and toilets. Moreover, industry participants are making significant advancements such as integration of sensors, electronic touchpads, introducing vacuum equipment or making the whole system automatic, for consumer convenience. For instance, in November 2014, American Standard introduced Optum Vormax Toilet technology, that was featured with self-cleaning features. Automatic and touchless products that feature minimized germs spreading have also gained significant traction over the past few years, specifically in commercial places such as hotels, malls, and restaurants. Such advancements are expected to provide strong industry growth prospects over the forecast period.Government initiatives to cease open defecation and large potential in Asia Pacific emerging economies are expected to fuel the market growth in the regionAsia Pacific is home to the worlds largest population base and is expected to account for the highest volume consumption through the forecast period. However, open defecation prevalent in some emerging economies including India, Pakistan, and Indonesia, is among the major factor that is expected to hinder the flushing system market growth through the forecast period. Open defecation refers to the practice of using open fields, bushes, forests, open water bodies or any other places other than the toilets.Rising awareness regarding health and hygiene and increasing infections such as worms and diarrhea owing to open defecation is expected to be a factor for growing demand for toilets and flushing systems. According to United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), India has the most prevalence of open defecation accounting for around 50% of the nations population. However, government initiatives to reduce these practices through programs such as Swachh Bharat Mission and provide funding for households to build proper sanitation facilities is expected to aid in market growth in the region.The U.S. and other developed countries in Western Europe are expected to witness consistent demand and flat growth trend over the next few years. This is primarily owing to presence of already developed sanitary infrastructure. Demand in these regions would primarily comprise renovation of old infrastructures and new water saving equipment and technologies.Gravity flush was the most conventional form of equipment and accounted for the largest share in 2016 in the market. Owing to low cost, ubiquitous availability, and easy manufacturing, it is expected to be the largest segment in terms of volume consumption. However, changing consumer tastes and increasing inclination towards aesthetically appealing products and other commercial applications is expected to increase demand for electronic and other product segments.Chief industry participants in the global flushing systems market includes Hindware, GROHE, Geberit, TOTO, Kohler, Caroma, Enware, Jaquar, Lecico, Sanitaryware, CERA, Parryware, RAK Ceramics, Roca, Sonas, Seima, TECE, Villeroy & Boch, Verotti, and VitrA.Request For Customization as per Your Need :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: Global Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023 Global Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-veterinary-invitro-diagnostics-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Global Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market: By Type (Software and services, Instruments, Reagents and consumables), By Products (Blood testing, Immunodiagnostics, Tissue diagnostics, Molecular diagnostics, Chemical chemistry), By Disease Condition(Immune system disorders, Infectious disease, Neurological disorders, Cancer, Nephrological diseases, Gastrointestinal disorders, Others), By Animal Type (Ruminants, Equine, Canine, Feline, Swine, Others), By End User (Veterinary Hospitals, Veterinary Clinics), and Geography Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market: Market DynamicsVeterinary In-vitro diagnostics are used for detecting infections, conditions and diseases, and also used to monitor the health status of animals and therapeutic procedures by examining the specimens like blood, tissue, urine, stools and other bodily fluids derived from body of the animal. Various technologies are incorporated in Invitro diagnostics such as micro array techniques, mass spectrometry, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing technology are used for testing the sample preparation. Factors such as upsurge of pet adoption, increase in zoonotic diseases, rise in Veterinary healthcare awareness in pet owners are driving the Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market globally. Furthermore, increase in healthcare expenditure on animals, technological advancements in veterinary diagnostics also propels the growth for Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market globally. However, lack of awareness, high cost of the tests, stringent regulatory framework may hamper the growth of the Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market globally.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics MarketVeterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented on the basis of Type, Products, Animal Type, and Distribution channel and Geographical regionsBased on the Type, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into the following: Software and services Instruments Reagents and consumablesBased on the Products, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into the following: Blood testing Immunodiagnostics Tissue diagnostics Molecular diagnostics Chemical chemistryBased on the Disease Condition, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into the following: Immune system disorders Infectious disease Neurological disorders Cancer Nephrological diseases Gastrointestinal disorders OthersBased on the Animal Type, This Market is segmented into the following: Ruminants Equine Canine Feline Swine OthersBased on the End User, This Market is segmented into the following: Veterinary Hospitals Veterinary ClinicsTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics MarketGeographically, Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and theMiddle East and Africa regions. Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market is dominated by North America followed by Europe due to the increasing practitioners in veterinary and well established veterinary healthcare in those regions. Due to the increase in adoption of animals, growing health concerns about the pets and humanization of animals are the factors which are supporting the Asia Pacific regions such as India and China to show a significant growth in the Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market.Competition Assessment: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics MarketKey playersprofiled in the global Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market include: IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.) Heska Corporation (U.S.) Pfizer, Inc. (U.S.) Bio-Rad Laboratories Inc. (U.S.) Life Technologies Corporation (U.S.) VIRBAC (France) Abaxis (U.S.) Prionics AG (Switzerland)Notable Market Developments: Veterinary Invitro Diagnostics Market In February 2017, Samsung Electronics entered into veterinary market by collaborating with Henry Schein, Inc., a provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, animal health, and medical practitioners and Samsung launched PT10V, its point-of-care (PoC) blood analyzer to expand its business in US Pet market. In 2016, Fujifilm Corporation entered into clinical laboratory outsourcing services for animals by acquiringMonolis Co., Ltd. a Japanese outsourcing provider of veterinary clinical laboratory services including blood tests for pets,Need more information about this report @Key Features of the Report: The report provides granular level information about the market size, regional market share, historic market (2012-2016) and forecast (2017-2023) The report covers in-detail insights about the competitors overview, company share analysis, key marketdevelopments, and their key strategies The report outlines drivers, restraints, unmet needs, and trends that are currently affecting the market The report tracks recent innovations, key developments and startups details that are actively working in the market The report provides plethora of information about market entry strategies, and regulatory framework The report analyses the impact of socio-political environment through PESTLE Analysis and competition through Porters Five Force Analysis in addition to recent technology advancements and innovations in the marketGet access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Industry Insights of Thin Insulation Market Future 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/363 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/363 North America has limited share of the global thin insulation market. However, North America is expected to generate huge demand for thin insulation during the forecast period owing to growing demand in shale gas equipment, hydraulic fracturing equipment, and other high-end industries. In Asia Pacific, India is expected to create bog opportunities for market owing to increasing demand from automotive and construction industry. China is expected to remain the leading market for thin insulation during the forecast period. Other countries in Asia Pacific such as Malaysia, Thailand, South Korea, and Taiwan with large scale industrial output are also expected to drive the demand for thin insulation in the region during the forecast period. Middle East & Africa has witnessed steady rise in industrial activities. Increasing activities in the oil & gas industry in the region are expected to drive the demand for thin insulation during the forecast period. Latin America is also expected to witness increase in demand for thin insulation owing to increasing production in automobile and construction industries.Request Sample Copy of this Report:Market Driven By R&DThe global thin insulation market is driven by research and development and new product development by leading companies. Companies are implementing various strategies to introduce new products with better insulation and less thickness. Companies are striving to bring in new materials for thin insulation. Some of the major companies operating in the global thin insulation industry include Cabot Corporation, Armacell International S.A., Owens Corning, Dow Chemical Company, Johns Manville, 3M Company, Kingspan Insulation, Actis Insulation Ltd., ContiTech AG, Xtratherm, BASF Polyurethanes GmbH., Celotax Saint Gobain, Rockwool Group, BNZ Materials, Inc., and Huntsman Corporation among others.Global Thin Insulation Market TaxonomyThe global Thin Insulation market is classified on the basis of the following segments:Product Type: Coatings, FoamsVacuum insulation panels, Foils, Sheets & films, OthersApplication:Thermal packaging, Wires & cables, Building thermal insulation, Pipe coatingsAutomotiveOthersMaterial Type:Automobile industry, Healthcare industry, Firearm industry, Electronics industry, Power tools industry, Other industriesTo get detailed table of content (ToC) @Prevalent Scenario in Thin Insulation MarketIncreasing industrial activities and industrial applications are driving the demand for thin insulation across the globe. Increasing demand for durable and compact products is also expected to boost the demand for these thin insulation materials. End user industries such as automobile and buildings and construction utilize thin insulation materials in a large scale. Buildings use thin insulation materials for thermal insulation from outside forces. In automotive industry, thin insulation assists in heat and noise insulation. Thin insulation also contributes in improving braking performance of the vehicle. These factors are driving the demand for thin insulation materials in these industries. Oil & gas industry also utilized tin insulation material in various machinery and equipment. Currently, Asia Pacific is the leading market for thin insulation.Countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, and Taiwan among others drive thin insulation market in this region. China is the dominant player in this market not only in Asia pacific but also globally. The demand for thin insulation in China is growing due to increasing industrial production and specialized equipment and machinery production. In Europe, thin insulation market is dominated by Germany and France among others. Germany is one of the leading markets for thin insulation owing to presence of major automobile manufacturers in the country. Other high-end industries in the country also contribute to drive the demand for thin insulation in Germany.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Precast Concrete : CAGR at a 6% by 2018-2025 Market Precast Concrete https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1731890 https://www.researchmoz.us/precast-concrete-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2025-report.html/toc www.researchmoz.us Press Release - 03 May2018Global Research and Development News --. ."Precast Concrete Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2025" with coming years Industries Trends, projections of Global Growth, Major key player and Case study, Review, Share, Size, Effect.' ' Precast Concrete Market: OverviewPrecast concrete products are manufactured in a controlled factory environment under stipulated conditions. Precast concrete construction involves casting of concrete in a mold, curing it in a controlled condition, and transporting the product to the construction site, followed by installation of the product. Precast concrete products include load-bearing precast elements, foundation walls, reinforced concrete pipes, floor and roof slabs, architectural panels, sound-barrier walls, retaining walls, box culverts, utility boxes, modular housing, manholes, paving elements, grease and oil interceptors, precast tanks, septic tanks, bridges, piers, and tunnels. They offer various advantages over conventional construction techniques, such as reduction in lead time, quality control, aesthetics & value, accuracy, durability & strength, optimization, and low maintenance.. . Get Sample Report_' 'This report analyzes and forecasts the precast concrete market both at the global and regional levels. The forecast has been represented in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) for the period of 2016 to 2025. The study includes drivers and restraints of the global precast concrete market and their projected impact on the market during the forecast period. It also highlights the business opportunities exhibited by the market at the global and regional levels.The report comprises a detailed analysis of the value chain of the precast concrete market, which provides a comprehensive view of the global market. Porters Five Forces model has also been included in the study to help understand the competitive landscape of the precast concrete market. It further contains market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.The report provides a decisive view of the global precast concrete market by segmenting it in terms of process and application. These segments have been analyzed based on their present and future trends. Further, regional segmentation of the precast concrete market includes the current and projected demand for the product in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The report also covers demand for individual processes and application segments of the market across regions.The study includes profiles of the major companies operating in the global precast concrete market such as Bison Manufacturing Limited, Cemex S.A.B. De C.V., China National Building Material Company Limited, Coltman Precast Concrete Limited, CRH plc, Elematic Oyj, LafargeHolcim Ltd., Larsen & Toubro Limited, Taisei Corporation, and Weckenmann Anlagentechnik GmbH & Co. KG. They have been profiled in terms of attributes such as company overview, overall revenue, business strategies, recent developments, and SWOT analysis. The report comprises indications regarding market position, offerings, R&D focus, top-line growth, market share, segment growth, infrastructure facilities, and future outlook of these players.The report presents the market size of precast concrete for 2016 and its estimated size for the next eight years in terms of revenue. The numbers have been estimated based on process and application segments of the market. Market size forecast for each major process and application has also been provided for the global as well as regional market.Global Precast Concrete Market: Segmentation Structure System AnalysisBeam & Column SystemFloor & Roof SystemBearing Wall SystemFacade SystemOthersEnd-use AnalysisBuilding WorksResidentialNon-residentialCivil WorksHydraulic WorksTransportation WorksPower Plants & Communication WorksSpecialized Works Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.CanadaEuropeGermanyU.K.FranceItalySpainPolandRest of EuropeAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaASEANRest of Asia PacificLatin AmericaBrazilMexicoRest of Latin AmericaMiddle East & AfricaGCCSouth AfricaRest of Middle East & Africa Key TakeawaysA comprehensive analysis of the trends and value share of the precast concrete market from 2016 to 2025 to help identify and track market opportunities and industry developmentsAn examination of key factors responsible for developing the future roadmap of the precast concrete market at the global, regional, and country levelAn in-depth analysis of the regulatory scenario likely to impact the global precast concrete market between 2016 and 2025An insight into the opportunities that the market holds for its stakeholders and a detailed competition landscape of the key players dominating the market, and,Porters Five Forces analysis that highlights the efficacy of buyers and suppliers and enables stakeholders to make profit-oriented business decisions. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents_' '1. Preface1.1. Market Definition and Scope1.2. Market Segmentation1.3. Key Research Objectives2. Assumptions and Research Methodology3. Executive Summary: Precast Concrete Market4. Market Overview4.1. Product Overview4.2. Key Industry Developments4.3. Key Market Indicators4.4. Market Dynamics4.4.1. Drivers4.4.2. Restraints4.4.3. Key Opportunities4.5. Global Market Analysis and Forecasts, 2016 - 20254.5.2. Market Revenue Projections (US$ Mn)4.6. Porters Five Force Analysis4.7. Value Chain Analysis5. Global Precast Concrete Market Analysis and Forecasts, by Process5.1. Introduction5.2. Key Findings5.3. Market Size (US$ Mn) Forecast, by Process5.3.1. Measuring Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)5.3.2. Monitoring Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)5.3.3. Reporting Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)5.3.4. Other Processes Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)5.4. Market Attractiveness, by Process6. Global Precast Concrete Market Analysis and Forecasts, by Application6.1. Introduction6.2. Key Findings6.3. Market Size (US$ Mn) Forecast, by Application6.3.1. Fuel Consumption Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)6.3.2. Efficiency Level Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)6.3.3. Fleet Management Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)6.3.4. Viscosity Control Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)6.3.5. Other Application Precast Concrete Market, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)6.4. Market Attractiveness, by Application7. Global Precast Concrete Market Analysis and Forecasts, By Region7.1. Key Findings7.2. Market Size (US$ Mn) Forecast By Region7.2.1. North America7.2.2. Europe7.2.3. Asia Pacific7.2.4. Middle East & Africa7.2.5. Latin America7.3. Market Attractiveness, by Region8. North America Precast Concrete Market Analysis and Forecast8.1. Key Findings8.2. North America Market (US$ Mn) Forecast, by Process8.3. North America Market Size (US$ Mn) Forecast, by Application8.4. Market Attractiveness Analysis8.4.1. By Process8.4.2. By Application8.4.3. By Country8.5. U.S. Market Forecast, By Process, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)8.6. U.S. Market Forecast, By Application, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)8.7. Canada Market Forecast, By Process, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)8.8. Canada Market Forecast, By Application, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)9. Europe Precast Concrete Market Analysis and Forecast9.1. Key Findings9.2. Europe Market Size (US$ Mn) Forecast, by Process9.3. Europe Market Size (US$ Mn) Forecast, by Application9.4. Market Attractiveness Analysis9.4.1. By Process9.4.2. By Application9.4.3. By Country9.5. Germany Market Forecast, By Process, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)9.6. Germany Market Forecast, By Application, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)9.7. France Market Forecast, By Process, 2016 - 2025 (US$ Mn)Continue.....ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Away from Home Tissue Products Market - New Innovations, Application, Recent Technology Updates & Forecast https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=33359 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=33359 Global Away from Home Tissue Products Market: SnapshotThere is a growing demand for various home tissue products for managing sanitation and hygiene across hotels and foodservices, healthcare institutions, businesses and commercial institutions, educational institutes, and public places. The growing significance of a better hygiene in hotels, restaurants, and catering sector and in workplaces has bolstered the demand for various away from home tissue products. The rising focus on adequate hygiene in the sector is boosting the adoption of HACCP paper towels. In several regions, the mounting concern of contagious diseases has led to the demand for various away from home tissue products to be used in public places and commercial facilities. The advent of away from home as well as recyclable tissue products at affordable prices is expected to boost the adoption across various end users in several regional markets. The advent of ergonomic dispenser designs and premium products made from 100% recyclable materials is a notable trend opening up exciting avenues for market players.Get PDF Brochure For More Industry Insights@The global away from home tissue products market stood at US$24,610.0 Mn in 2016 and is projected to reach a valuation of US$31,449.9 Mn by 2022 end. The market is estimated to rise at a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period of 20172022.Toweling Expected to be Most Lucrative Product SegmentThe major product types of away from home tissue products comprise napkins, toweling, toilet tissues, facial tissues, and sanitary products. Of these, the toweling segment holds the major share of 45.3% by 2022 end, amounting to US$14,252.2 Mn. The segment is anticipated to be worth US$11,626.0 Mn by 2017 end, representing a share of 45.3% of the product market. The segment is projected to clock a CAGR of 4.2% during the forecast period. The annual growth of the segment is pegged at US$525.2 Mn annually over 20172022, representing the leading absolute growth. The vastly rising demand for toweling as away-from-home tissue products among various end users, especially in the healthcare and food service industries, is attributed to the notable versatile applications of these products.North America Currently Leads but Asia Pacific excluding Japan to be at Forefront by 2022 endThe various regions for the market for away from home tissue products are North America, the Middle East and Africa (MEA), Latin America, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Japan, and Europe. Of these, currently North America is the leading market in 2017, mainly attributed to the rapidly rising demand for environmental-friendly hygiene products. However, over the years, the APEJ market is projected to rise at higher CAGR and stay ahead of the pack by the end of the assessment period.The North America market is projected to rise from a valuation of US$7,372.7 Mn in 2017 to reach US$8,305.8 Mn in 2022. On the other hand, APEJ market stood at US$ 6,204.2 and is expected to lead the market with a worth of US$8,841.4 by 2022 end. The expected dominance of the market is likely to be attributed to a burgeoning demand for away from home tissue products for managing hygiene and catering in several developing and developed countries in the region.Get Customize Report@Meanwhile, the MEA away from home tissue products market is projected to rise at an impressive CAGR of 4.7% CAGR from 2017 to 2022 and and reach US$3,021.6 Mn by the end of the assessment period.Competitive AnalysisA number of leading players operating in the away from home tissue products market are focused on developing high-quality, eco-friendly sanitation products for various end-use applications, in a move to strengthen their positions in various regions. Key companies operating in the market include Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Georgia-Pacific LLC, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget, Cascades Inc., Procter & Gamble Co., Sofidel Group, Weifang Lancel Hygiene Products LTD, Asia Pulp and Paper, Kruger Inc., and MPI Papermills.About Us:-Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact Us:-State Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Oil and Gas Accumulator : CAGR of 3.65% by 2018-21 Oil and Gas Market | Competitive Landscape and Key Vendors - Bosch Rexroth, Eaton, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies Oil and Gas Accumulator https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1476414 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-oil-and-gas-accumulator-market-2017-2021-report.html/toc www.researchmoz.us Press Release - 03 May2018Global Research and Development News --. ."Global Oil and Gas Accumulator Market 2017-2021" with coming years Industries Trends, projections of Global Growth, Major key player and Case study, Review, Share, Size, Effect.' 'Oil and gas is one of the biggest sectors in the world in terms of revenue generation. The industry includes a majority of the national oil companies that generate billions of dollars, which contributes significantly toward the economic development of any country. Several industries are dependent on the oil and gas sector, which require either the final petroleum product or general oil and gas services. This industry is responsible for providing thousands of jobs, and its success or failure has a huge impact on several industries. An accumulator is a pressure storage reservoir, which stores a specific amount of fluid that is under pressure. This fluid is later released to perform a specific operation in the hydraulic system.. . Get Sample Report_' 'Technavios analysts forecast the global oil and gas accumulator market to grow at a CAGR of 3.65% during the period 2017-2021. Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global oil and gas accumulator market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report considers the number of active rig count across the world. The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Oil and Gas Accumulator Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Key vendorsBosch RexrothEatonFreudenberg Sealing TechnologiesNIPPON ACCUMULATORPARKER HANNIFIN Other prominent vendorsAirmoAccumulatorsGeneral ElectricHANNON HYDRAULICSHydac InternationalRoth IndustriesTECHNETICS Market driverIncrease in oil rig countFor a full, detailed list, view our report Market challengeUncertainties associated with low crude oil pricesFor a full, detailed list, view our report Market trendIoT in accumulatorsFor a full, detailed list, view our report Key questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents_' 'PART 01: EXECUTIVE SUMMARYPART 02: SCOPE OF THE REPORTPART 03: RESEARCH METHODOLOGYPART 04: INTRODUCTIONMarket outlinePART 05: MARKET LANDSCAPEMarket ecosystemMarket segmentation analysisPART 06: MARKET SIZINGMarket definitionMarket sizing 2016Market size and forecast 2016-2021PART 07: FIVE FORCES ANALYSISBargaining power of buyersBargaining power of suppliersThreat of new entrantsThreat of substitutesThreat of rivalryMarket conditionPART 08: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY END-USERSegmentation by end-userComparison by end-userOnshore Market size and forecast 2016-2021Offshore Market size and forecast 2016-2021Market opportunity by end-userPART 09: MARKET SEGMENTATION BY APPLICATIONSegmentation by applicationPART 10: REGIONAL LANDSCAPEGeographical SegmentationRegional comparisonAmericas Market size and forecast 2016-2021EMEA Market size and forecast 2016-2021APAC Market size and forecast 2016-2021Key leading countriesMarket opportunityPART 11: DECISION FRAMEWORKPART 12: DRIVERS AND CHALLENGESMarket driversMarket challengesPART 13: MARKET TRENDSIoT in accumulatorsRise in deep and ultra-deepwater drilling projectsIntroduction of laser drillingPART 14: VENDOR LANDSCAPECompetitive scenarioPART 15: VENDOR ANALYSISVendors coveredBosch RexrothEatonFreudenberg Sealing TechnologiesNIPPON ACCUMULATORPARKER HANNIFINPART 16: APPENDIXList of abbreviationsList of ExhibitsExhibit 01: Major segments of oil and gas industryExhibit 02: Bladder accumulatorExhibit 03: Parent marketExhibit 04: Global oil and gas equipment marketExhibit 05: Market segmentsExhibit 06: Market definition - Inclusions and exclusions checklistExhibit 07: Market size 2016Exhibit 08: Validation techniques employed for market sizing 2016Exhibit 09: Global oil and gas accumulator market Market size and forecast 2016-2021 ($ millions)Exhibit 10: Global oil and gas accumulator market Year-over-year growth 2017-2021 (%)Exhibit 11: Petroleum upstream activity stagesExhibit 12: Reasons for low crude oil pricesExhibit 13: Five forces analysis 2016Exhibit 14: Five forces analysis 2021Exhibit 15: Bargaining power of buyersExhibit 16: Bargaining power of suppliersExhibit 17: Threat of new entrantsExhibit 18: Threat of substitutesExhibit 19: Threat of rivalryExhibit 20: Market condition - Five forces 2016Exhibit 21: End-user Market share 2016-2021 (%)Exhibit 22: Comparison by end-userExhibit 23: Onshore Market size and forecast 2016-2021 ($ millions)Exhibit 24: Onshore Year-over-year growth 2017-2021 (%)Exhibit 25: Offshore Market size and forecast 2016-2021 ($ millions)Exhibit 26: Offshore Year-over-year growth 2017-2021 (%)Exhibit 27: Market opportunity by end-userExhibit 28: Regional Market share by geography 2016-2021 (%)Exhibit 29: Regional comparisonExhibit 30: Americas Market size and forecast 2016-2021 ($ millions)Exhibit 31: Americas Year-over-year growth 2017-2021 (%)Exhibit 32: EMEA Market size and forecast 2016-2021 ($ millions)Exhibit 33: EMEA Year-over-year growth 2017-2021 (%)Exhibit 34: APAC Market size and forecast 2016-2021 ($ millions)Continue.....ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Construction Dumper Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20182025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/667 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/667 www.coherentchronicle.com Construction dumpers find major application in transportation of loose materials such as gravel, sand, aggregates and other related materials and equipment. It consists of an open bed box at the back-end of the truck, with a hydraulic piston to lift the trailer or hauler for dumping the material at the required location. Several factors that include growth of infrastructure activities, growth of rental equipment industry, smart city infrastructure demands and the changing regulatory scenario for the emission standards are expected to fuel the industry growth through the forecast timeframe.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :Growing infrastructure activities, specifically for residential and transportation, are anticipated to be the primary growth factorAccording to Coherent Market Insights, global construction market is expected to witness growth at over 3% CAGR over the forecast period, owing to high infrastructural developments taking place across the major economies, specifically that includes Middle East countries and emerging economies in Asia Pacific such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia. Moreover, proliferating smart city projects, government initiatives regarding provision of residence to the middle and lower economic class population, and the requirement to enhance transport facilities to boost the trade avenues of the country are projected to present strong growth prospects for construction dumper market over the forecast period.For instance, a white paper released by Government Technology under the name, Evolution of Smart Cities and Connected Communities, co-sponsored by the United Parcel Service (UPS) and the Consumer Technology Association, have reported development of around 600 smart city projects in India and around 285 similar projects in China. Interest subsidies for first time home buyers in India, government initiatives to help build new residences on brownfield lands in UK are few of the instances supporting the development of residential sector. This are few of the many factors that will fuel the infrastructure demands which will in turn drive the construction dumper market.Development of regulations to restrict the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are expected to drive the innovation in the heavy load vehiclesEU and U.S. among few other regions are taking substantial leaps to reduce the emission of pollutants and their impacts on the environment, in conjunction with the increased fuel economies. For instance, Environmental protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in U.S have introduced the requirement of reduction in emissions over the next few for heavy vehicles manufacturers. Similarly, European Council (EC) has set certain fuel economy related expectations to be met in the coming years. Such initiatives are expected to propel the innovation and developments in the construction dumper market through the forecast period.Construction dumper accounts for the largest number of accidents in the infrastructure segmentsSeveral causes of dumper accident includes overturning, collisions at the blind spots, and incompetence of the drivers among few others. According to our research, around 35% of the overall accounted incidents in the infrastructure segment reported, were related these heavy load vehicles. Requirement to reduce the accidents is expected to be the prominent challenge for the industry participants. Moreover, high total cost of ownership (TCO) is expected to remain the primary challenge for the new equipment sales. Thus, rental segment is expected to present considerable growth prospects for the industry participants, which will lead to significant decline in the new product sales.Industry is highly consolidated owing to the presence of international players providing extensive portfolio for infrastructural development. However, industry is expected to remain moderately competitive owing to presence of regional dealers and contractors intervening the businesses in some regions. Key players in the construction dumper market include Caterpillar, Komatsu, J.C. Bamford Excavators, Ashok Leyland, AB Volvo, BEML, Asia Motor Works, CNH Industrial America, Deere & Company, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Kenworth, KAMAZ Motors, Mercedes-Benz, New Holland, Liebherr Group, and Navistar.Request For Customization as per Your Need :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: Grain Analysis Market Size & Share to See Modest Growth Through 2025 Grain Analysis https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/948 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/948 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region in grain analysis market. China and India are the major economies in this region with largest number of consumers and producers. According to the Food and Agricultural Organization, the production of rice in Asia is around 90% of the total world rice production, which is a major growth driver for growth of grain analysis market. The large quantities of grains being damaged from insects and microorganisms and exposure from heat has also resulted in the demand for grain analysis. Stringent government regulations, improvement in technology, and need of analysis for preservation of food for longer period is a key factor in driving the growth of grain analysis market.North America and Europe are the leading market for grain analysis in 2016. The U.S, Canada, Germany, and France are some of the major economies in agricultural trade in these regions. According to United States Department of Agriculture, in 2012, about 355 million metric tons of food grain was produced by the U.S, which increased to 443 million metric tons in 2014. The increase in production of food grains offers an attractive market for grain analysis in this economies. Grain analysis also helps to detect pesticide residue and offers prevention from different food borne diseases, which is expected to further drive the growth of grain analysis market over the forecast period.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Key players in the Grain Analysis Market:Some of the major players in the Grain Analysis market are Waters Corporation (U.S), Bureau Veritas SA (France), Intertek Group plc (U.K), R J Hill Laboratories Ltd, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (U.S), Futari Grain Technology Services (Australia), Bioprofile Testing Laboratories Llc (U.S), Great Tew Grain Processing Ltd (U.S), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), SGS SA (Switzerland), and Shimadzu Corporation (Japan).Some of the major drivers of the global grain analysis market are stringent quality and safety regulations by the government, globalization in grain trade, and prevention from potential foodborne illness outbreak. Technological advancement of instruments with high accuracy and ability to test wide range of contaminants is a major driving factor for the growth of grain analysis market. However, lack of awareness among population and improper regulatory laws are some of the major restraints in the grain analysis market.Grain Analysis Market Taxonomy:On the basis of target tested, the Grain Analysis Market is segmented into:Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs),Pathogens,Pesticides,Mycotoxin,Organic contaminants,OthersOn the basis of grain types, the Grain Analysis Market is segmented into:Oilseeds,Pulses,CerealsOn the basis of components, the Grain Analysis Market is segmented into:Instruments,Reference materials,Consumable,ReagentsOn the basis of end use, the Grain Analysis Market is segmented into:Feed,FoodAccess Table of Content (TOC) of the report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.comWebsite: LED Lighting Horticulture Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20182025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/668 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/668 www.coherentchronicle.com LED lighting horticulture market is directly addressed to the businesses associated with the commercial, indoor and R&D activities associated with plants, which is in contrast of the field farming and animal husbandry. These addressable segments are directly dependent on the presence of sunlight for the crops growth. However, with the increase in global population and lack of adequate sunlight in regions that include North Central Europe and Nordic countries, requirement of additional production of vegetables, fruits, medicines and other agricultural products is expected to drive the demands for these industry products.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :Increased power saving features of LED lights will present lucrative product demands through the forecast periodIndustry is largely characterized by the presence of conventional alternatives such as fluorescent and high pressure sodium (HPS) products. These products are featured with high power consumption, these in turn lead to heavy electricity bills and lower profit margins for commercial applications. However, horticulturists are increasingly encouraging the use of LED lighting for applications owing to the related power savings, optimum plant light outputs and considerably longer lifecycles up to 5X the conventional products. These factors are expected to provide major traction to the LED Lighting Horticulture market during the next few years.Moreover, rather than increasingly focusing on the commercial sales of the products, major industry participants that include Philips Lighting and Osram Sylvania are increasingly focusing on awareness through investing in trial projects. For instance, Philips has already made significant investments in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific for several such projects to gain higher consumer inclinations. Moreover, offering products with 3 to 5 years warranty is expected to garner higher consumer inclinations over the long run.Low light intensity is the major drawback that will restrain the growth of LED lighting horticulture marketConventional alternatives that includes specifically includes HPS are associated with additional costs owing to their short lifecycles, requirement to alter the lights almost every year and high labor costs. However, these are expected to remain in the industry for long owing to their high intensity and low light degradation that is 1% every thousand hours of utilization. However, long term warranties of the LED counterparts only ensures only 70% of the initial lumen output over its lifecycle. This is expected to remain as the major restraining factor for the industry over the forecast period. Moreover, low overall initial outputs also require the plants to be located in the close proximity. This in turn can lead to blocking of the naturally available sunlight, which may lead to 24 hours requirement of these lights. This may hamper the overall yield up to 30% which is not ideal for growers who want to maintain the annual yield which may in turn lead to decreased consumer inclinations.These factors are anticipated to be most likely be dealt with the utilization of increased intensity with certain product developments over the next few years. Moreover, aforementioned benefits outweigh these drawbacks and LED lighting horticulture market is expected to gain highest traction over the coming years.U.S. is expected to remain the most lucrative regional business segment owing to the unfavorable climatic conditions for conventional agriculture methodologyU.S has legalized the cultivation of marijuana in locations away from public spaces, along with certain other countries in the Americas. In conjunction with this demands for high nutrition foods, will drive the requirement for vegetable and fruits over the next few years. Owing to unfavorable weather conditions, requirements to meet these demands, construction of commercial greenhouses and LED lighting equipment will drive the market growth through the forecast period.Chief industry participants in the LED lighting horticulture market include Fluence Bioengineering, Cree, Illumitex, Kessil Lighting, Heliospectra, Hubbell Lighting, LumiGrow, Lemnis Oreon, Osram Sylvania and Smart Grow Technologies. Industry is expected to be characterized by the next generation product launches to garner higher consumer inclinations. For instance, in January 2014, Philips Lighting launched LED toplighting range for commercial applications, which was featured with relatively higher efficiency than the other available LED modules.Request For Customization as per Your Need :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: Dental Consumables Market to Grow at a CAGR of 6.1% through 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dental-consumables-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=554 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=554 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The key players in the global dental consumables market accounted for nearly 62% of share in the overall market. Dentsply Sirona, Henry Schein Inc., and Danaher Corporation have been on the forefront in the market because of the strategy of low pricing and outstanding recognition of the brand. These players in the market are expected to concentrate on mergers, takeovers, and joint ventures to enhance their overall presence the in the international market.The global market for dental consumables stood at an overall valuation of US19.6 bn in the year 2015. This valuation is expected to grow and reach a figure worth US$33.4 bn by the fall of 2024. This growth of the market is expected to be achieved with the help of a strong CAGR of 6.1% over the course of the given forecast period of 2016 to 2024.Obtain Report Details @Of the various products available in the global market for dental consumables, the segment of crowns and bridges is projected to witness a promising growth during the given period of forecast. The segment is estimated to develop with an impressive CAGR of 7.2% over the course of the given forecast period of 2016 to 2024.In terms of geography, the global market for dental consumables can be segmented into key regions such as North America, the Middle East and Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Of these regions, Europe is expected to be the leading regional market thanks to the growing facilities of oral healthcare across different nations such as Greece, the U.K., Spain, and Italy among others. The Europe market for dental consumables is projected to account up to 41.1% of overall market share across the globe.Request for Sample Copy of Report @New and Effective Methods of Treatment to Drive Market GrowthThe emergence of new services such as dental tourism in emerging nations such as Hungary, Turkey, and India have augmented a huge demand for dental consumables over the last few years. The less expansive nature of oral health care services offered in these upcoming economies has attracted several customers over the last few years to take up dental treatment. The low cost of labor, enhanced and effective methods of treatment, and minimal intervention of government regarding healthcare companies in the emerging nations are expected to act in favor of driving the overall development of the global market for dental consumables in the coming years.The growing success rates of dental implants, specifically for the upper jaw is also projected to play an important role in the overall growth of the global market for dental consumables. This has resulted in the increased adoption of several processes that make use of dental implants. The market is also benefitting from the increasing incidences of dental disorders such as gum decay, tooth decay, mouth sores, and tooth erosion. In addition to this, the high prevalence of chronic diseases have also helped in fuelling the growth of the market for dental consumables. The increasing disposable income in the developing nations and altering lifestyles have made patients prefer improved oral care treatment and thus, helping the growth of the market in the coming future.Enquiry for discount on this report @Expensive Treatment Costs with Poor Reimbursements to Impede Market GrowthThe main restraining factor for the growth of the global market for dental consumables is considered to be the high costs of products due to heavy spending on the activities of research and development. Additionally, poor policies of reimbursement after the treatment are also expected to hamper the growth of market in the coming years.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Complete Report Details with List of Tables and Figures @ https://www.mrrse.com/high-performance-anticorrosion-coatings-market MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1589 https://www.mrrse.com/high-performance-anticorrosion-coatings-market Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has recently updated its massive research catalog by adding a new study, titled High Performance Anti-corrosion Coatings. The study offers a clear insight about the prevailing trends and innovations happening in the High Performance Anti-corrosion Coatings Market. Readers can further access details about research highlights and executive summary to gain a better idea about this assessment. The market overview covers key industry developments and market opportunity map during the mentioned forecast period. In addition, a holistic view of the entire global market scenario across all the prime regional segments, such as (Regions) has been delivered.Free | Request a Sample copy of Report @The thriving infrastructural development in developed and developing regions of the world has triggered a demand for protective high performance anti-corrosive coatings, reports MRRSE. To keep up with the demand, players in this market are expanding their production facilities and making strategic collaborations with regional players to enter new markets. For instance, 3M Company joined hands with Russell NDE/PICA Corporation that will give the former player a chance to strengthen its position in the U.K., Canada, and the U.S.The top three leading players, Akzo Nobel N.V., Nippon Paint Co., Ltd., PPG Industries Inc., and The Sherwin-Williams Company, collectively held a more than half of the shares in the global high performance anti-corrosion coatings market in 2017, says the lead author of this research report. To maintain a competitive edge in the overall market competitors are investing in result-oriented research and development activities and focusing on launching sustainable coating products.According to the research report, the opportunities in the global high performance anti-corrosion coatings market will be worth US$18.22 bn in 2023 as compared to US$13.64 bn in 2017. This translates to a CAGR of 5.0% between 2017 and 2023. The oil and gas industry will be the leading end user of high performance anti-corrosion coatings, accounting for 32.1% of the total share in the market in 2017. This end user segment will capture a share of 32.3% by the end of 2023. In terms of geography, Asia Pacific will dominate the global market at a positive CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period.Future of High Performance Anti-Corrosion Coatings Depends on Oil and Gas Drilling and Exploration ActivitiesThe increasing oil and gas drilling and exploration activities in the recent past have been the indirect cause of the growing consumption of high performance anti-corrosion coatings. The rise of these activities have led to an urgent need for maintenance of the industry equipment, which has spurred the demand for protective coatings that improve the lifespan of metal surfaces and prevent it from corroding or getting damaged due to weathering and harsh climatic conditions. These coatings are increasingly being used on storage tanks, oil rigs, transmission pipelines, steel structures, and other oil vessels.Infrastructural development such as the flourishing construction, transportation, and manufacturing industries and across the Asia Pacific region are propelling the usage of high performance anti-corrosion coatings market. This trend is predominantly seen in emerging economies of India, China, Vietnam, China, and Singapore.The report includes Porters Five Forces Model to gauge the degree of competition in the high performance anti-corrosion coatings market. The report encompasses a qualitative write-up on market attractiveness analysis, wherein end-users have been analyzed based on their attractiveness, growth rate, market size, raw material availability, profit margin, impact strength, technology, competition, and other factors (such as environmental and legal) have been evaluated to derive general attractiveness of the market. The report also includes price trend analysis of raw materials derived from petrochemicals such as propylene, ethylene, and aromatics as well as high performance anti-corrosion coatings from 2014 to 2023.Secondary research sources that were typically referred to include, but were not limited to company websites, financial reports, annual reports, investor presentations, broker reports, and SEC filings. Other sources such as internal and external proprietary databases, statistical databases and market reports, news articles, national government documents, and webcasts specific to companies operating in the market have also been referred for the report.In-depth interviews and discussions with a wide range of key opinion leaders and industry participants were conducted to compile this research report. Primary research represents the bulk of the research efforts, supplemented by extensive secondary research. Key players product literature, annual reports, press releases, and relevant documents were reviewed for competitive analysis and market understanding. This helped in validating and reinforcing our secondary research findings. Primary research further helped in developing the analysis teams expertise and market understanding.Complete Report Details with List of Tables and Figures @The report covers a detailed competitive outlook that includes market share and profiles of key players operating in the global market. Akzo Nobel N.V., The 3M Company, Chugoku Marine Paints, Ltd., Nippon Paint Co., Ltd., Hempel A/S, Jotun A/S, PPG Industries Inc., and The Sherwin-Williams Company are key players profiled in the report. Company profiles include attributes such as company overview, number of employees, brand overview, key competitors, business overview, business strategies, recent/key developments, acquisitions, and financial overview.This report segments the global high performance anti-corrosion coatings market as follows:High Performance Anti-Corrosion Coatings Market Product Segment AnalysisEpoxy CoatingsUrethane CoatingsAcrylic CoatingsOthers (Alkyd Coatings, etc.)High Performance Anti-Corrosion Coatings Market End-User AnalysisOil & GasMarineConstructionTanks & PipesPower GenerationOthers (Paper & Pulp, etc.)About Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com EEG-EMG Equipment Market Market to Expand at a CAGR of 7.4% by 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/eeg-emg-equipment-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=2872 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=2872 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) market has been anticipated in a report by Transparency Market Research (TMR) to witness the lead secured by top companies such as Masimo Corporation, Electrical Geodesics, Inc., and Nihon Kohden Corporation. In 2016, these players collected a 58.5% share, indicating their dominance in the market. In order to expand their business, they have been expected to improve their presence in developing regions. If they ever lose their supremacy in the market, you might see them taking to acquisition strategies and diversifying their product portfolios.TMR analysts have foreseen the market to rise at a 7.4% CAGR between 2016 and 2024 to be valued at a US$2.4 bn by the final forecast year. In 2015, there had been a valuation of US$1.3 bn attained by the market. With respect to product, the market could have EEG securing a 62.4% dominating share by 2024. A regional analysis of the market has foretold North America to possess a 36.5% share by the completion of the same year.Obtain Report Details @Aging Population Prone to Neuron Disorders Increases GrowthSeveral researches have highlighted the vulnerability of geriatrics to brain-related health problems such as neuron disorders. EEG and EMG neurophysiology devices find application in helping physicians to examine the functionality of the peripheral and central nervous system. Thus, the increase in the size of geriatric population has been predicted to bode well for the world EEG-EMG equipment market. According to the Census Bureau, the U.S. could see a 20.0% of its population being elderly by the closure of 2030. In this regard, you could find a number of companies developing improved technologies and manufacturing enhanced products to cater to the needs of the healthcare industry and also patient demands.Request for Sample Copy of Report @You could expect the growth trajectory of the world EEG-EMG equipment market moving toward the right direction with rising complications in the diagnosis of neural and brain disorders. In the foreseeable future, you could find the demand for EEG-EMG equipment reaching to new heights with increasing prevalence of epilepsy, brain tumors, spinal degenerative diseases, movement disorders, neuropathies, and pediatric neurological disorders.Advancing Structural Neuroimaging Data Options Eat into DemandIf you are a company regularly vending EEG-EMG equipment to the market, you may know that the availability of substitutes could deter your growth in the near future. The same scenario has been communicated in the report, but it has been backed by well-researched opportunities envisaged to prevail in the market. PET, SPECT, MRI, DTI, CT, and other structural neuroimaging data alternatives going through innovations have been foretold to cause a threat to the international EEG-EMG equipment market. Moreover, the expensive cost of EEG-EMG equipment could discourage the rise in the demand.Enquiry for discount on this report @However, the need for improved treatment options for neurological disorders and technological advancement have been envisioned to set the tone for a valuable growth in the international EEG-EMG equipment market. The report has shared more prospects that could help players to make a strong comeback in the market or successfully face market challenges.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Contact UsTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Spacesuit Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20182025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/669 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/669 www.coherentchronicle.com Spacesuit market primarily caters to the limited list of space agencies such as Russian Space Agency (ROSCOSMOS) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) that utilize these products for the astronaut survival in the outer space. These also find significant application for the crew members inside the spacecraft to ensure safety mechanism in the event of loss of the cabin pressure. According to Coherent Market Insights, the business can be largely characterized low volume and high margin industry.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :Difficulty in surviving in space owing to substantially different conditions is the primary growth driver of the industryUtilization of distinct advanced materials in the designing and development for next generation suits, such as urethane-coated nylon, Dacron, Neoprene, aluminized Mylar, Gortex, Kevlar and Nomex, to enable living in space have gained significant traction as the key industry trends. These materials enhance the strength, reduce overall weights, and enable the required sustenance of pressure and air. Moreover, participants are increasingly focusing on development of more innovative materials to differentiate their portfolio from the competitors and provide tailored solutions with enhanced safety and versatility for the end users.Spacesuit market are poised for renaissance owing to increasing interests of private sector roles in the space industryCommercial space travel concept is among the key trend that is expected to transform the industry landscape over the next decade. For instance, In May 2014, U.S. space travel agency has partnered with a Japanese advertisement agency for endorsing its future spaceflight missions. Commercial space travel offering companies will make efforts to distinguish themselves by offering their products based on better capabilities, aesthetics, and comfort. These factors will drive the demands for commercial grade suits and fuel the spacesuit market growth over the forecast period.EVA segment dominated the global industry share in 2016, owing to its necessary applications in the spaceThese dominated the industry share by value primarily owing to the significant usage of these suits for the examination and research operations. Moreover, these form necessary inclusions in the space missions owing to probability of damage owing to orbiting space debris. Owing to these requirements, EVA segment application is anticipated to continue its dominance over the forecast period.U.S. is expected to continue to dominate the global industry share owing to significant advancement and large number of space related operations taking place in the country. Other countries that include Russia, China, Japan, and India are expected to highly contribute to the global demands over the next few years. High involvement of countries in various space programs such as the launch of satellites and the availability of potential opportunities to provide low-cost space missions, will propel the growth of the spacesuit market.Industry is largely characterized by the fragmented industry share owing to number of players sharing the industry share. According to our analysis, the intensive competition is expected to be largely characterized by the substantial development of new materials, low overall weights, and high reliability of the suits. Advent of commercial space companies further alleviate the competition and will drive the innovation in shortening the design cycles, computer simulations, 3D printing, and product durability. Chief industry participants in the industry include Boeing, ILC Dover, David Clark, Oceaneering International, NPP Zvezda, Final Frontier Design, Pacific Spaceflight, Austrian Space Forum (OeWF), and UTC Aerospace Systems.Request For Customization as per Your Need :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: K Ultra High Definition Technologies Market Outlook with Industry Review and Forecasts by 2025 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/20350 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/20350 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Presently, there are several display screen technologies existing in the market, including liquid-crystal display (LCD), and high definition (HD). Ultra-High Definition technology is a new display technology that has emerged recently in the market. This Ultra-High Definition technologies offer better resolution quality as compared to high definition technologies, and owing to which adoption of Ultra-High Definition technologies is increasing significantly, in various consumer electronics products.Request Report for TOC @4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe demand for 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies is mainly driven by their application in commercial sectors which includes hospitality, and retail industry. Moreover, reduction in the implementation cost will create future opportunities for the vendors to increase the adoption of 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies in a positive manner.High implementation cost is the major restraint faced by most of the vendors in 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies market.Global 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies Market: Market SegmentationSegmentation OverviewGlobal 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies market can be divided into three segments, on the basis of type of technology, vertical, and region.Major players operating in the 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies market includes AU Optronics Sharp Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd., Koninklijke Philips N.V., Sony Electronics, Inc., Hisense Group Co., Ltd., Toshiba Corporation, and Innolux Corporation.Request to Sample of Report @Global 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies Market: Regional OutlookOn the basis of geography, 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies market can be segmented into seven key regions namely North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan and Middle East & Africa. Among various regions, the 4k Ultra-High Definition (UHD) Technologies market in North America is expected to dominate during the forecast period owing to high consumer demand and awareness regarding acceptance of new technologies.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Offshore Decommissioning Market to Observe Strong Development by 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/offshore-decommissioning-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=28364 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Decommissioning is the last phase of any offshore oil and gas project. The process of decommissioning involves safe plugging of the wellbore in the earths surface and disposal of equipment used in offshore oil and gas production. In the Gulf of Mexico, decommissioning of offshore oil and gas platform has become mandatory for oil and gas operator companies. Decommissioning operation helps maintain safety and sanity of the offshore environment. An offshore decommissioning operation requires 10 steps to be followed for successful completion of the project. These 10 steps are project management; engineering; and planning; permitting and regulatory compliance; platform preparation; well plugging and abandonment; conductor removal; mobilization and demobilization of derrick barges; platform removal; pipeline and power cable decommissioning; materials disposal; and site clearance. Companies operating in the decommissioning market either specialize in one of the aspects or may provide complete services mentioned above.Read report overview at:The offshore decommissioning market can be segmented into two broader areas: decommissioning services or activities; and application in shallow water, deep water, and ultra-deep water.The major driver for decommissioning market is strengthen & mandatory legal guidelines for offshore oil and gas operations setup by the regulatory bodies of respective nations. Presence of the aging oil reserves and abandoned wells in matured offshore oil fields across the world is another factor driving the decommissioning market. Major potential risk of oil spill or leakage through these abandoned oil and gas wells may cause ocean water pollution, thereby threatening the marine ecosystem. This poses difficulty in cleaning and recovery of oil spill and then decommissioning the well after any such incident. The cost involved in decommissioning of such disturbed oil wells or platforms is high. Technically, this poses various challenges. Discovery and development of new oil reserves in offshore (mostly deep water) areas around the world is another factor boosting the global offshore decommissioning market. New discoveries of offshore oil deposits such as Liza field in Guyana, Offshore Kutch basin in India, and Tupi offshore oil field in Brazil indicate the future oil production opportunity in these offshore fields, which are likely to require decommissioning services after their abandonment.Get Brochure of this report at:Recent downturn in prices of oil is expected to be a key restraint to not only exploration and development activities of oil and gas but also decommissioning operations. Decrease in oil prices has caused a continued decline in cash inflow and rise or hike in debt levels could challenge the future of oil and gas industry.The global offshore decommissioning market is expected to expand in the near future. North America is anticipated to be a major region of this market, owing to the presence of the Gulf of Mexico offshore oil reserves in the region. Europe is also estimated to contribute significantly to the offshore decommissioning market, as its North Sea offshore oilfields are & aging. Latin America has significant undeveloped offshore oil reserves in countries such as Venezuela, Brazil, and Guyana. Thus, the region is likely to be an attractive market for offshore decommissioning in the near future. Middle East & Africa has large fossil fuel wealth; thus, the region is expected to be a major contributor to the decommissioning market. The decommissioning market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a steady pace during the forecast period.Key players operating in the decommissioning market are Petrofac Limited, Aker Solutions, TechnipFMC plc., Ramboll Group, Deepocean Group Holding B.V., Amec Foster Wheeler, PLC., AF Gruppen, Claxton Engineering Services, Ltd., DNV GL AS, and Allseas.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Flexographic Printing Inks Market Future and Demand 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/383 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/383 Flexographic printing process involves dyestuff as colorants for printing applications. Growing preferences among consumer for flexible & colorful packaging and technological advancements in printing techniques coupled with high quality printing inks with low VOC content is expected to boost growth of the flexographic printing inks market. Major players in the market focus on new product development and integrating new technologies in existing product portfolio to meet rising demand of its customer base. For instance, on May 01, 2017, Sun Chemical introduced new high performance UV Flexo Inks during Label Summit in Latin America 2017.Request Sample Copy of this Report:UV-cured inks market is projected to witness the highest growth during 2017-2025. According to the stats provided by Coherent Market Insights, the UV cured inks market is expected to witness a CAGR of 6.1% in terms of value. Favorable government regulations, owing to rising safety standards of packaged food is in turn surging demand for UV cured inks. UV cured inks also find wide application in various end-use industries such as pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, printing and publication due to its high durability, zero volatile organic compound, and superior adhesion properties.The global flexographic printing inks market size was valued at US$ 6.57 Billion (revenue) and 1,611.4 Kilo Tons (volume) in 2016 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.6% in terms of revenue and 4.4% in terms of volume during 2017 2025.Product InsightsRapid industrialization in emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil is projected to increase trade activities across the region, which in turn driving demand for flexible packaging. Also, growth of the food and beverages sector is expected to exponentially drive growth in demand for flexible packaging and in turn fuel growth of the flexographic printing inks market over the forecast period, as these packaging finds wide applications in packaging and promoting brand. Cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries are major end users of flexible packaging due to low VOC content and environment friendly. For instance, on April 01, 2007, the Environmental Protection Department of Hong Kong, amended the VOC regulation to control the in-house air pollution and planned to reduce the amount of VOC in air up to 55% by 2010. Also, The Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) was enforced to protect the environment and health in Canada by setting VOC concentration limits for 53 categories of architectural coatings.Request For Customization @Regional InsightsAsia Pacific, followed by Europe and North America, respectively accounted for major share in the global flexographic printing inks market both in terms of revenue and volume in 2016 and are projected to retain their dominance in the market over the forecast period. In 2016, Asia Pacific held a share of 39.2% in terms of volume, followed by Europe (25.4%). The growing demand for corrugated container in Asia Pacific due to extensive use in packaging of goods such as cosmetics, food products, beverages, hazardous chemicals, pharmaceuticals and other materials in turn creates a highly favorable environment for growth of the global flexographic printing inks market. These packaging finds large applications due to its light weight, high durability, high strength, cost effectiveness, appealing aesthetic value and recyclability. Moreover, growing e-commerce and retail sector around the world is also expected to fuel the demand for corrugated container, which in turn is increasing the global flexographic printing inks market in the following years. According to a study conducted by Coherent Market Insights, the global corrugated container market is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.0% from 2017 to 2025 which is expected to fuel growth of the global flexographic printing inks market.Multinational players need to tap potential addressable market in the emerging regions with the help of geographical expansionProduct portfolio expansion and geographical expansion are the key market trends which are expected to shape the industry in the near future. For instance,2016, Flint Group acquired Printec Industries Inc, located in Marietta, Georgia, U.S.2015, Flint Group acquired Xeikon a leading digital solutions provider to the packaging and commercial printing marketsMajor players in the global flexographic printing inks market include Flint Group, Siegwerk Druckfarben AG & Co., Huber Group, Sun Chemical Corporation, Wikoff Color Corporation, Zeller+Gmelin GmbH & Co. KG., INX International Ink Co, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co, ALTANA AG and XSYS Print Solutions (Shanghai) Ltd. among others.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Computational Photography Market Current Trend Analysis Over 2025 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/20404 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/20404 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Increasing disposable incomes combined with rapid advancements in technology, leading to incredible achievements is the foremost reason for rising market for computational photography. The way photography has evolved has ruled out any limitations that individuals used to face with traditional photography techniques. Traditional photography just meant, capturing what is visible to eyes. The scenario has totally changed after the evolution of computational photography.Computational photography is the use of superior hardware such as high quality sensors to capture images with high resolution and then processing them with the use of various software which apply various algorithms in order to create an image with high dynamic range and improved picture quality using de blurring algorithms, tone mapping algorithms, matting algorithms and many more. As a result, Computational photography, has high growth potential and therefore, the Computational photography market is anticipated to witness healthy double digit CAGR in the near future.Request Report for TOC @Global Computational Photography Market: Market DynamicsThe rising trends of sharing videos and images with growing use of social media networking is the major factor driving the growth of computational photography market. Individuals today tend to remain connected globally, through social media apps, such as what Sapp, Facebook. All this has led to integration of high end cameras in smartphones. Moreover, the smartphone penetration has increased globally, further encouraging the adoption of high end smartphones with advances cameras.Also the rapid advancements in technology, has led to numerous developments in terms of image processing where individuals can capture and generate high quality images, manipulate them using various apps, and share them with their convenience. With the rise in disposable incomes and enhanced standard of living, the computational photography market, is anticipated to boost exponentially in the near future.However, less awareness and high costs involved in computational photography techniques may restrain the growth of computational photography market in underdeveloped regions such as Latin America and MEA.Global Computational Photography Market: SegmentationGlobal Computational Photography market is segmented on the basis of application and region.On the basis of application, the global Computational Photography market can be segmented into smartphone, camera, standalone camera and machine vision.Global Computational Photography Market: Competition LandscapeThe key vendors in the global Computational Photography market are Apple Inc., Google, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., NVIDIA Corporation, Light, Algolux, Movidius, ALMALENCE INC., and Pelican Imaging.Key DevelopmentIn October 2015, Google acquired Digisfera, a startup focused on panoramic images. The acquisition was aimed at enhancing the customer experience with Street View technology developed by Google for Google Maps, by using 360 degree photography.Request to Sample of Report @Global Computational Photography Market: Regional OutlookRegionally, the global Computational Photography market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Middle East & Africa (MEA), Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) and Japan.In the developed economies of the North America and Western Europe, there is a high focus on innovations owing to rising disposable income and high presence of vendors. As a result, North America has the highest revenue contribution to computational photography market. APAC region is also expected to be the show significant growth rate for computational photography market owing to a large number of smartphone manufacturers in the region.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Shingles Treatment Market to Record an Exponential CAGR by 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/15136 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/15136 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Shingles is an excruciating skin rash. It is brought about by the varicella-zoster infection a similar infection that causes chickenpox. While it isnt an existence debilitating condition, shingles can be extremely excruciating. Antibodies can help diminish the danger of shingles, while early treatment can help abbreviate a shingles disease and decrease the possibility of difficulties. It is unrealistic to have shingles on the off chance that you have never been presented to chickenpox or the varicella infection that causes it. Once uncovered, the infection can lay lethargic for a considerable length of time. Indeed, the latent infection may never create any issues.However, in few individuals, it might reactivate in different circumstances. Shingles is most normal in individuals beyond 50 years old; about portion of all cases happen in men and lady matured 60 or over. Be that as it may, the infection may return in individuals of any age who have beforehand had chickenpox. As indicated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are an expected one million instances of shingles detailed each year in the U.S. Besides, CDC expresses that around one in each three individuals in the U.S. will create shingles in their lifetime. Side effects incorporate skin rashes, nerve pain, vision loss, chills, resentful stomach, muscle shortcoming, skin disease, and scarring. Treatment for shingles incorporates antiviral prescriptionacyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir. These medications help abbreviate the length and ease the seriousness of the sickness. Advance, analgesics may help mitigate the torment.Request Report for Table of Contents @Shingles market has influenced the demand in recent years. The expanding cooperation between the key players for securing the Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) keeping in mind the end goal to manufacture the molecule through licensed innovation is relied upon to drive overall growth of shingles treatment market . The healthcare market is boosting 20% a year. Current drugs/vaccines for shingles treatment are now creating an intensive market to keep patients healthier and minimize costs by neglecting unnecessary hospitalizations. Medications include: Acyclovir (Zovirax), Valacyclovir (Valtrex), and Famciclovir (Famvir). The expanding predominance of vaccines combined with developing interest for quick acting and more productive medications is assessed to drive overall market growth. The expanding ageing population is filling the predominance of diseases, for example, skin infections and cancer. Pervasiveness of shingles is expanding over the globe, fuelled fundamentally by expanding maturing populace. It is assessed that around 190,000 individuals in the UK get shingles each year, the majority of them matured more than 50.North America and Europe are relied upon to all in all record for a noteworthy share of the shingles treatment market. It is fundamentally determined by rising demand in the U.S. and U.K., while the market in Europe is relied upon to be driven by expanded remedial request from European Union. Developing interest for antiviral prescriptions, over-the-counter pain medicines and topical anti-infection agents for shingles treatment. Likewise, the risk of side effects and infection increments with age, yielding a higher rate in grown-ups matured 60 years or more. Troublesome manufacturing procedures of this medication is in charge of its high value, which confines its utilization.However, high price of antibodies is constraining inoculation drive in developing economies, described by insufficient protection scope. The significant worry among social insurance specialists is lessening in postherpetic neuralgia from the shingles vaccine. Zostavax has been fruitful to a specific degree in lessening postherpetic neuralgia because of the impact of the immunization on diminishing danger of creating herpes zoster. Better results of Shingrix would be a help for exceedingly lucrative worldwide shingles treatment market. Uncertainty by the government regulations, also low guidance from doctors in selecting proper anticoagulant, reimbursement coverage may be weak sometimes and accuracy or medical technology infancy is concern to a certain extent during the forecast period.Geographically, the Shingles market is segmented into five regions, namely North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Overall medications and treatments are rapidly growing at a healthy CAGR. North American region has a huge market owing to large number of manufacturers, technological advancements with increasing ageing population and growing brand awareness about the upcoming drugs and treatments. North America, shingles treatment market account for maximum share of the market by volume followed by European countries. A few nations including France, Japan, and Spain have received good nonexclusive policies that urge medical experts to recommend drugs for full treatment. Vaccines for shingles are expected to witness lucrative development over the forecast period.Asian countries (mainly China and India) and Latin American countries (mainly Brazil) are having more growth opportunities for market players in the forecast period. China is required to be a developing business sector for key pharmaceutical organizations because of the nearness of target population and high neglected clinical needs. Higher growth of Shingles market is mainly due to the increasing awareness among healthcare sectors/patients and penetration of top manufacturers in the untapped segment to capture more market. In Asia pacific regions pharmaceutical industries are starting to make acquisitions, now improving the efficiency of the healthcare delivery system as well as workforce in other sectors too.Request a Sample Brochure of the Report @The key players in the global Shingles market are, Inc. GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Foamix Ltd., Epiphany Biosciences and Merck & Co.Astellas PharmaFoamix Ltd.NovartisRoche PharmaceuticalsGlaxoSmithKline Plc.Epiphany BiosciencesMerck & Co.Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Co.GeneOne Life Science, Inc.NAL Pharmaceuticals Ltd.TSRL, Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Anti-Skinning Agents Market Revenue Growth Predicted by 2017-2022 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/446 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/446 Asia Pacific market is expected to grow at a rapid pace due to demand from the expansive construction industry, which in turn driving paints and anti-skinning agents market. The growing urbanization, rising paints and coatings industry, and rise in disposable incomes of the population are the major drivers for the burgeoning growth of anti-skinning agents in the Asia Pacific region. For instance, according to the India Paint Association, the paint industry in India is valued at US$ 7.6 billion in 2017 and is expected to grow to US$ 10.8 billion by 2020. Also, as per statistics released by India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)-a Trust established by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India-the Indian government plans to invest US$ 376.53 billion in infrastructure development over the following three years.Request Sample of Anti-Skinning Agents Market:Growth in the developed world i.e. North America and Europe is dependent on the market of the construction industry. These markets are matured and growth is typically slow than in emerging markets. With increased environmental regulations in these countries new technologies and products are been developing at a rapid pace. Hence, allowing the anti-skinning agent market to grow at a descent rate.Latin America is experiencing mixed growth figures. Brazil is the largest market of anti-skinning agents in Latin America. However, Brazil has experienced a slight slowdown in construction industry, but the countries such as Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina have experienced moderate to rapid growth in construction activities, which in turn allowing the significant growth of anti-skinning agents market over the following years.Major companies are adopting various organic and inorganic growth strategies to sustain a better market position in the anti-skinning agent market. For instance, the company named Brochers has developed an oxime-free anti-skinning agent, which have anti-oxidant properties similar to oximes and phenols, and are non-hazardous substitutions for them. Oximes provide a major advantage of being oxygen scavengers are also toxic in nature. Some of the major companies operating in the Anti-Skinning Agents market are Borchers, Dura Chemicals, Gelest Inc., OMG Americas, Polyrheo Inc., GSFC Ltd., Arkema, and Troy Corporation.Prevention Measures include proper sealing of paint pails, anti-skinning agents, straining paint through a nylon strainer, storage of paint in cool areas and replacing air by nitrogen in headspace of storage containers. The only disadvantage of using anti-skinning agents is the increase in drying time due to anti-oxidant property. Dosage should be carefully optimized to attain right level of anti-skinning activity and drying time.Anti-Skinning Agents Market TaxonomyOn basis of type of agent usedOximes; Butyraldoxime, 2-butanone ketoxime (methylethylketoxime (MEKO)), Cyclohexanone oximePhenols: Hydroquinone, 2,6-di-t-butyl-4-methoxyphenol (BHT), O-alkylphenol, Others, Solvents, Retention AidsOn basis of Application: Solvent Borne, SprayedIncorporation, Water BorneOn basis of End User: Printing InksIndustrial Woods, General Industrial, Decorative, Pigment Dispersions, Others, Composites, AutomotiveTo get detailed table of content (ToC) @Anti-skinning agents are generally used as solvent borne coating, mainly in alkyd based paints. The increasing use of methylethylketoxime (MEKO) skinning agent in alkyd based paints used for printing inks, industrial wood, pigment dispersions, and general industrial end-uses to prevent skinning factor are fueling the growth of global anti-skinning agents market. Moreover, oximes and phenols are well-known as oxygen scavengers and largely helps in reducing oxidation rates. Hence, they are the primary constituent in most anti-skinning agents. MEKO is the most widely used anti-skinning agent and is added in very small proportions to the paint (0.5%). Retention aids prevent applied paint films from drying too quickly. Furthermore, solvents used as anti-skinning agents dissolves the components which form skins.The growing demand for anti-skinning agents from printing inks industry is the major driver for the growth of anti-skinning market globally. The decorative end-use segment is the fastest growing segment in the anti-skinning agent market. The factors such as the growing GDP and rapid urbanization in Asia Pacific, primarily in China, and India creates a highly conducive environment for market growth. Due to which, the demand for new and improved infrastructure is increasing, enabling the growth of decorative paints, which in turn is fueling the anti-skinning agents market during the forecast period.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200 Seattle,WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Air Traffic Control (ATC) 2018 Global Market By Key Players : Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Thales, Raytheon, Harris - Analysis and Forecasts 2022 Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market 2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3084676-global-air-traffic-control-atc-market-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3084676-global-air-traffic-control-atc-market-report-2018 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Air Traffic Control (ATC) 2018 Global Market By Key Players : Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Thales, Raytheon, Harris - Analysis and Forecasts 2022.Description:The Air Traffic Control (ATC) industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Air Traffic Control (ATC) market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 7.83% from 18990 million $ in 2014 to 23810 million $ in 2017, The analysts believe that in the next few years, Air Traffic Control (ATC) market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2022, The market size of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) will reach 33720 million $.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers.Sections:-Section 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailLockheed MartinNorthrop GrummanThalesRaytheonHarrisIndraBAE SystemsHoneywell International Inc.Sierra Nevada CorpTelephonics CorporationFrequentis AGSection 4: 900 USDRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Continued..Report Details @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsSection 1 Air Traffic Control (ATC) Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Air Traffic Control (ATC) Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Revenue2.3 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Introduction3.1 Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Introduction3.1.1 Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Control (ATC) Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.1.2 Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Lockheed Martin Interview Record3.1.4 Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Profile3.1.5 Lockheed Martin Air Traffic Control (ATC) Product Specification3.2 Northrop Grumman Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Introduction3.2.1 Northrop Grumman Air Traffic Control (ATC) Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.2.2 Northrop Grumman Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 Northrop Grumman Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Overview3.2.5 Northrop Grumman Air Traffic Control (ATC) Product Specification3.3 Thales Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Introduction3.3.1 Thales Air Traffic Control (ATC) Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.3.2 Thales Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 Thales Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Overview3.3.5 Thales Air Traffic Control (ATC) Product Specification3.4 Raytheon Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Introduction3.5 Harris Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business Introduction3.6 Indra Air Traffic Control (ATC) Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.1.2 Canada Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.2 Japan Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.3 India Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.4 Korea Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.2 UK Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.3 France Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.4 Italy Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.5 Europe Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.2 Africa Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.3 GCC Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.6 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2014-20174.7 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2014-20175.2 Different Air Traffic Control (ATC) Product Type Price 2014-20175.3 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2014-20176.2 Different Industry Price 2014-20176.3 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2014-20177.2 Global Air Traffic Control (ATC) Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisContinued..For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Automotive Artificial Intelligence Market 2018-2023 Global Key Players: Qualcomm, Tesla, Volvo Car, BMW AG, Audi AG, General Motors Company, Ford Motor Company, Toyota Motor Automotive Artificial Intelligence Market 2018 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4258 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-artificial-intelligence-market-4258 Automotive Artificial Intelligence Market 2018Global Automotive Artificial Intelligence Market Information Report by Technology (Deep Learning, Machine Learning, Context Awareness, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing), by Process (Signal Recognition, Image Recognition, Data Mining), by Application (HumanMachine Interface, Semi-autonomous Driving, Autonomous Driving) and by Regions - Global Forecast To 2023Market ScenarioThe booming automotive industry is a constant source of driving demand in the automotive artificial intelligence market. With the emergence of cloud-hosted intelligence, driver assist features and internet of thing the market for automotive artificial intelligence is expected to witness significant growth in the near future. Additionally with major players in the automotive industry heavily investing in development of artificial intelligence for automobiles, the industry wide standard such as the adaptive cruise control, advanced driver assistance systems and blind spot alert would further trigger the growth in the automotive artificial intelligence market. Changing consumer preference towards convenience and safety provides an opportunity for original equipment manufacturers in the automotive AI market. The global automotive artificial intelligence market is expected to register a healthy growth rate of more than 10%.High cost and relative lack of awareness among consumers is expected to act as a major restraint in the automotive AI market.Get Sample Report @Key PlayersThe key players of global Automotive Artificial Intelligence market Qualcomm Inc. (US), Tesla Inc. (US), Volvo Car Corporation (Sweden), BMW AG (Germany), Audi AG (Germany), General Motors Company (US), Ford Motor Company (US), Toyota Motor Corporation (Japan), Hyundai Motor Corporation (South Korea), Uber Technologies Inc. (US) .Regional AnalysisBy 2023, North America is expected to be the dominant region in the Automotive Artificial Intelligence market primarily due to the presence of major manufacturers in this region. In addition availability of sophisticated technology to develop artificial intelligence programs are much more easily accessible in this region as compared to others. Growing expectance of autonomous vehicles in the U.S. has significantly contributed towards the growth of the automotive artificial intelligence market in this region. Favorable government norms coupled with Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Fiat-Chrysler Automotive leading the charge in the development of the artificial intelligence in automotive by constantly upgrading their product will have a positive impact on the market.Company InformationProfiling of 10 key market playersIn-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report titleCompetitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesThe report for Global Automotive Artificial Intelligence Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Complete Report Details @Table of Contents1 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of Study1.3 Research Objective1.4 Assumptions & Limitations1.5 Market Structure.10 Company Profile10.1 Qualcomm Inc10.1.1 Company Overview10.1.2 Product/Business Segment Overview10.1.3 Financials10.1.4 Key Developments10.2 Volvo Car Corporation10.2.1 Overview10.2.2 Product/Business Segment Overview10.2.3 Financials10.2.4 Key Developments10.3 BMW AG10.3.1 Overview10.3.2 Product/Business Segment Overview10.3.3 Financials10.3.4 Key Developments10.4 Thales10.4.1 Overview10.4.2 Product/Business Segment Overview10.4.3 Financials10.4.4 Key Developments10.5 Ford Motor Company10.5.1 Overview10.5.2 Product/Business Segment Overview10.5.3 Financials10.5.4 Key Developments10.6 Toyota Motor Corporation10.6.1 Overview10.6.2 Product/Business Segment Overview10.6.3 Financials10.6.4 Key Developments10.7 Hyundai Motor Corporation10.7.1 Overview10.7.2 Product/Business Segment Overview10.7.3 Financials10.7.4 Key DevelopmentsContinued.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.CONTACT US:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312sales@marketresearchfuture.com Fire Safety Equipment Market Trends Research and Projections 2017 - 2025 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/15049 www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/15049 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Safeguarding human life and property are key concerns that drive the fire safety equipment market. Aside from the aforementioned, the cost associated with the loss of man hours due to fire hazards is a vital concern worldwide, which in turn encourages industries to deploy fire safety equipment wherever relevant. Fire safety equipment can be bifurcated on the basis of two key elements i.e. fire detection and fire suppression.Request Report for TOC @It is forecasted that advancements in technology such as wireless sensor networks will drive the fire safety equipment market in the near future. These advancements are also expected to contribute in reducing manufacturing costs involved in fire safety equipment, thereby increasing its future market potential. Also, strict regulations are imposed by various regulatory bodies for the implementation of fire safety procedures, thereby making it mandatory for organizations to use fire safety equipment at workplaces; which consequently increases the demand for fire safety equipment. These factors are expected to rapidly develop the global fire safety equipment market.In the near future, advanced technologies such as nanotechnology, human machine interface solutions and smart building are anticipated to enter the fire safety equipment market. Recent innovation has produced advanced sensors which help in relaying accurate data to control units. The advancement of technology through the use of intelligent sensors and detectors and their connectivity with distant users through WAN/LAN networks has been driving demand for fire safety and protection equipment worldwide.As a result of stringent building and safety codes by regulatory bodies, industries worldwide have been taking cognizance of the fact that fire accidents not only pose threat to human life and assets, but also render sustainable businesses uneconomical to such an extent that investing in fire safety and protection equipment is a more viable option.However, it should also be noted that there is inconsistency in the implementation of fire safety codes in certain regions of the world hamper the overall growth fire safety equipment market. Furthermore, increasing maintenance and replacement costs of fire safety and protection equipment discourages potential buyers to a certain extent; thereby making it imperative for producers to offer their products at an attractive price point while maintaining acceptable quality standards. Small manufacturers worldwide find this a major challenge since they need to sustain business in a highly competitive environment.Request to Sample of Report @End-users face a different challenge due to the complexity in integration of fire detection systems with other fire detection or suppression systems, thereby making it mandatory for them to learn using multiple interfaces.Portability of fire extinguishing equipment enhances product usage. Advanced fire alarm systems offer added advantages and additional features such as photoelectric detectors, etc. Both these factors are expected to encourage potential users to invest in fire safety and protection equipment in industrial, commercial as well as residential applications.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: LDL Test Market ~5.5 % CAGR Booming with Major Players Sekisui Diagnostics, Express Biotech International, Randox Laboratories Ltd, Reckon Diagnostics and F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd LDL Test Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4215 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/4215 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/4215 The Global LDL Test market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 5.5 % during the forecast period 2017-2023. The Worldwide LDL Test Market report provide past and estimated future revenue of the markets segments and sub-segments with respect to four main geographies and their countries - the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific along with Middle East & Africa. LDL Test Market Major Players: Sekisui Diagnostics, Express Biotech International, Randox Laboratories Ltd, Reckon Diagnostics, DiaSys Diagnostics India Private Limited, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and others.The LDL Test Market Segments:The global LDL test market has been segmented on the basis of types, components, applications and end users. Based on types, the market has been segmented into LDL-C, LDL-P, LDL-B and others. Based on components, the market has been segmented into devices, kits & reagents and others. Devices is further sub-segmented into syringes & needles, spectrophotometers and others. And kits & reagents is further sub-segmented into toxicity assays kit, blood chemistry assays kit, cytotoxicity assays kit. Based on application, the market has been segmented as atherosclerosis, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes, angina, stroke, carotid artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, others.Based on the end users, the market has been segmented as hospitals and clinics, pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies and others.Premium Sample Report Available @LDL is also mentioned as bad cholesterol since high levels of LDL results in cholesterol build-up which may lead to heart attack and strokes. LDL is one of the five major types of lipoproteins and other four are chylomicrons, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate-density lipoprotein (IDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The major role of lipoprotein particles is to transport fats such as triglycerides and cholesterol in the blood between the organs of the body.According to Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, (2015) 71 million American adults have high low-density lipoprotein (LDL), or bad cholesterol level. Only 2 out of every 3 adults with LDL cholesterol has the condition under control.Key Players in the Global LDL test Market:Some of key players profiled in the report are Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Sekisui Diagnostics, Express Biotech International, Randox Laboratories Ltd, Reckon Diagnostics, DiaSys Diagnostics India Private Limited, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd and others.LDL Test Market Regional analysis:The Americas account for a significant market share owing to the presence of huge number of people suffering from obesity and overweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2014), 73.5 million adults in the US have diagnosed with high cholesterol level. Additionally, increasing awareness among the people regarding different monitoring procedures and well developed technology has also contributed in the growth of the market.Europe is the second largest market in the world due to high income and encouragement by government in research and development.Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly and China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast growing healthcare sector during the forecast period.Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. The African region is expected to witness a moderate growth owing to poor economic and political conditions and poor healthcare development.Get Your Customized Report @Major TOC for LDL Test Market:1. Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of Study1.2.1 Research Objective1.2.2 Assumptions & Limitations1.2.2.1 Assumptions1.2.2.2 Limitations1.3 Market Structure2. Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3. Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Macroeconomic Indicators4. Market Factor Analysis4.1 Porters Five Forces Model4.2 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers4.3 Bargaining Power Of Buyers4.4 Threat Of New Entrants4.5 Threat Of Substitutes4.6 Intensity Of Rivalry5. Global LDL Test Market, By Types5.1 Introduction5.2 LDL-C5.3 LDL-P5.4 LDL-B5.5 Others6. Global LDL Test Market, By Components6.1 Introduction6.2 Devices6.2.1 Syringes & Needles6.2.2 Spectrophotometers6.2.3 OthersTOC Continued!Get Discount @About Us:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Curved Smart TV Market increasing demand with key Players Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sony Curved Smart TV Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1126809-emea-europe-middle-east-and-africa-curved-smart-tv-market-2 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1126809-emea-europe-middle-east-and-africa-curved-smart-tv-market-2 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1126809-emea-europe-middle-east-and-africa-curved-smart-tv-market-2 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1126809 Latest research study from HTF MI with title EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2023. The Research report presents a complete assessment of the market and contains Future trend, Current Growth Factors, attentive opinions, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry validated market data. The study is segmented by products type, application/end-users. The research study provides estimates for EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV Forecast till 2023.If you are involved in the Curved Smart TV industry or intend to be, then this study will provide you comprehensive outlook. Its vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Applications Home Use & Public Use, Product Types such as [Below 60 inch, 60-70 inch & Above 70 inch] and some major players in the industry. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.Request Sample of EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV Market Report 2018 @:Key Companies/players: Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, TOSHIBA, Hisense, TCL, Skyworth, ChangHong, KONKA, Letv, Philips, Xiaomi & Haier.Application: Home Use & Public Use, Product Type: Below 60 inch, 60-70 inch & Above 70 inch.The research covers the current & Future market size of the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data. It also covers various types of segmentation such as by geography [Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Benelux; & Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE and Iran;]. The market competition is constantly growing higher with the rise in technological innovation and M&A activities in the industry. Moreover, many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. On the basis of attributes such as company overview, recent developments, strategies adopted by the market leaders to ensure growth, sustainability, financial overview and recent developments.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Stay up-to-date with Curved Smart TV market research offered by HTF MI. Check how key trends and emerging drivers are shaping this industry growth as the study avails you with market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, shares, trend and strategies for this market. In the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV Market Analysis & Forecast 2018-2023, the revenue is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2023. The production is estimated at XX million in 2017 and is forecasted to reach XX million by the end of 2023, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2018 and 2023.Key questions answered in this report - EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV Market Report 2018What will the market size be in 2023 and what will the growth rate beWhat are the key market trendsWhat is driving EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV Market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in Curved Smart TV Market space?What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV Market ?What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV Market?What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV market? Get in-depth details about factors influencing the market shares of the Americas, APAC, and EMEA?Enquire for customization in Report @There are 15 Chapters to display the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV, Applications of Curved Smart TV, Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, Export & Import, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes Europe: Germany, France, UK, Russia, Italy and Benelux; & Middle East: Saudi Arabia, Israel, UAE and Iran;, Curved Smart TV Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Curved Smart TV Segment Market Analysis (by Application [Home Use & Public Use]) Major Manufacturers Analysis;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Below 60 inch, 60-70 inch & Above 70 inch], Market Trend by Application [Home Use & Public Use];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) Curved Smart TV by region, type and application ;Chapter 12, to describe Curved Smart TV Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Curved Smart TV sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Buy this research report @Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a 5-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsThanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.About Author:HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.com Fire Truck 2018 Global Market By Key Players : Rosenbauer, Oshkosh, MORITA, Magirus, REV Group, Gimaex - Analysis and Forecasts 2022 Fire Truck Market 2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3150131-global-fire-truck-market-report-2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3150131-global-fire-truck-market-report-2018 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Fire Truck 2018 Global Market By Key Players : Rosenbauer, Oshkosh, MORITA, Magirus, REV Group, Gimaex - Analysis and Forecasts 2022.Description:The Fire Truck industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, Fire Truck market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of 3.79% from 3900 million $ in 2014 to 4360 million $ in 2017, The analysts believe that in the next few years, Fire Truck market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2022, The market size of the Fire Truck will reach 5230 million $.Get a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThis Report covers the manufacturers data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data.Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers.Sections:-Section 1: FreeDefinitionSection (2 3): 1200 USDManufacturer DetailRosenbauerOshkoshMORITAMagirusREV GroupZieglerGimaexBronto SkyliftZhongzhuoCFETianheYQ AULD LANG REALJieda Fire-protectionSection 4: 900 USDRegion SegmentationNorth America Country (United States, Canada)South AmericaAsia Country (China, Japan, India, Korea)Europe Country (Germany, UK, France, Italy)Other Country (Middle East, Africa, GCC)Continued..Report Details @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsSection 1 Fire Truck Product DefinitionSection 2 Global Fire Truck Market Manufacturer Share and Market Overview2.1 Global Manufacturer Fire Truck Shipments2.2 Global Manufacturer Fire Truck Business Revenue2.3 Global Fire Truck Market OverviewSection 3 Manufacturer Fire Truck Business Introduction3.1 Rosenbauer Fire Truck Business Introduction3.1.1 Rosenbauer Fire Truck Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.1.2 Rosenbauer Fire Truck Business Distribution by Region3.1.3 Rosenbauer Interview Record3.1.4 Rosenbauer Fire Truck Business Profile3.1.5 Rosenbauer Fire Truck Product Specification3.2 Oshkosh Fire Truck Business Introduction3.2.1 Oshkosh Fire Truck Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.2.2 Oshkosh Fire Truck Business Distribution by Region3.2.3 Interview Record3.2.4 Oshkosh Fire Truck Business Overview3.2.5 Oshkosh Fire Truck Product Specification3.3 MORITA Fire Truck Business Introduction3.3.1 MORITA Fire Truck Shipments, Price, Revenue and Gross profit 2014-20173.3.2 MORITA Fire Truck Business Distribution by Region3.3.3 Interview Record3.3.4 MORITA Fire Truck Business Overview3.3.5 MORITA Fire Truck Product Specification3.4 Magirus Fire Truck Business Introduction3.5 REV Group Fire Truck Business Introduction3.6 Ziegler Fire Truck Business IntroductionSection 4 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Region Level)4.1 North America Country4.1.1 United States Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.1.2 Canada Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.2 South America Country4.2.1 South America Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3 Asia Country4.3.1 China Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.2 Japan Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.3 India Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.3.4 Korea Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4 Europe Country4.4.1 Germany Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.2 UK Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.3 France Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.4 Italy Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.4.5 Europe Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5 Other Country and Region4.5.1 Middle East Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.2 Africa Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.5.3 GCC Fire Truck Market Size and Price Analysis 2014-20174.6 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Region Level) Analysis 2014-20174.7 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Region Level) AnalysisSection 5 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Product Type Level)5.1 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) Market Size 2014-20175.2 Different Fire Truck Product Type Price 2014-20175.3 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Product Type Level) AnalysisSection 6 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Industry Level)6.1 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Industry Level) Market Size 2014-20176.2 Different Industry Price 2014-20176.3 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Industry Level) AnalysisSection 7 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Channel Level)7.1 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Channel Level) Sales Volume and Share 2014-20177.2 Global Fire Truck Market Segmentation (Channel Level) AnalysisContinued..For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Growth Opportunities of Global and United States UV-LED Market 2025 | Nichia, SETi, Seoul Viosys, Crystal IS, SemiLEDs, DOWA, Philips Lumileds UV-LED Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1704865 https://www.researchmoz.us/2018-2025-uv-led-report-on-global-and-united-states-marketstatus-and-forecastby-playerstypes-and-applications-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "2018-2025 UV-LED Report on Global and United States Market,Status and Forecast,by Players,Types and Applications" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies the UV-LED market status and outlook of global and United States,from angles of players,regions,product types and end industries; this report analyzes the top players in global and United States market,and splits the UV-LED market by product type and application/end industries.The global UV-LED market is valued at XX million USD in 2017 and is expected to reach XX million USD by the end of 2025,growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.The Asia-Pacific will occupy for more market share in following years,especially in China,also fast growing India and Southeast Asia regions.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @North America,especially the United States,will still play an important role which cannot be ignored. Any changes from United States might affect the development trend of UV-LED.United States plays an important role in global market,with market size of xx million USD in 2017 and will be xx million USD in 2025,with a CAGR of XX.Geographically,this report is segmented into several key regions,with sales,revenue,market share (%) and growth Rate (%) of UV-LED in these regions,from 2013 to 2025 (forecast),coveringUnited StatesNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMiddle East and AfricaThe major players in global and United States market,includingNichiaSETiSeoul ViosysCrystal ISSemiLEDsDOWAPhilips LumiledsLG InnotekNIKKISOConvergEverHexaTechEpistarEpiledsHPLRayvioQingdao JasonOn the basis of product,the market is primarily split intoUV-A LEDUV-B LEDUV-C LEDOn the basis on the end users/application,this report coversCuringAnalytic ToolsSterilization and DisinfectionTable of Contents2018-2025 UV-LED Report on Global and United States Market,Status and Forecast,by Players,Types and Applications1 Methodology and Data Source1.1 Methodology/Research Approach1.1.1 Research Programs/Design1.1.2 Market Size Estimation1.1.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation1.2 Data Source1.2.1 Secondary Sources1.2.2 Primary Sources1.3 Disclaimer2 UV-LED Market Overview2.1 UV-LED Product Overview2.2 UV-LED Market Segment by Type2.2.1 UV-A LED2.2.2 UV-B LED2.2.3 UV-C LED2.3 Global UV-LED Product Segment by Type2.3.1 Global UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Growth (%) by Type (2013,2017 and 2025)2.3.2 Global UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Type (2013-2018)2.3.3 Global UV-LED Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Type (2013-2018)2.3.4 Global UV-LED Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2013-2018)2.4 United States UV-LED Product Segment by Type2.4.1 United States UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Growth by Type (2013,2017 and 2025)2.4.2 United States UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.4.3 United States UV-LED Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.4.4 United States UV-LED Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2013-2018)Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 UV-LED Application/End Users3.1 UV-LED Segment by Application/End Users3.1.1 Curing3.1.2 Analytic Tools3.1.3 Sterilization and Disinfection3.2 Global UV-LED Product Segment by Application3.2.1 Global UV-LED Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Application (2013,2017 and 2025)3.2.2 Global UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Application (2013-2018)3.3 United States UV-LED Product Segment by Application3.3.1 United States UV-LED Sales (K Units) and CGAR (%) by Application (2013,2017 and 2025)3.3.2 United States UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Application (2013-2018)4 UV-LED Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1 Global Market Status and Outlook by Regions4.1.1 Global UV-LED Market Size and CAGR by Regions (2013,2017 and 2025)4.1.2 North America4.1.3 Asia-Pacific4.1.4 Europe4.1.5 South America4.1.6 Middle East and Africa4.1.7 United States4.2 Global UV-LED Sales and Revenue by Regions4.2.1 Global UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2013-2018)4.2.2 Global UV-LED Revenue (Million USD) and Market Share (%) by Regions (2013-2018)4.2.3 Global UV-LED Sales (K Units),Revenue (Million USD),Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.4 North America UV-LED Sales (K Units),Revenue (Million USD),Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.5 Europe UV-LED Sales (K Units),Revenue (Million USD),Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.6 Asia-Pacific UV-LED Sales (K Units),Revenue (Million USD),Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.7 South America UV-LED Sales (K Units),Revenue (Million USD),Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2013-2018)4.2.8 Middle East and Africa UV-LED Sales (K Units),Revenue (Million USD),Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (%)(2013-2018)4.2.9 United States UV-LED Sales (K Units),Revenue (Million USD),Price (USD/Unit) and Gross Margin (2013-2018)5 Global UV-LED Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers5.1 Global UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.2 Global UV-LED Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Global UV-LED Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2013-2018)5.4 Global Top Players UV-LED Manufacturing Base Distribution,Sales Area,Product Types5.5 UV-LED Market Competitive Situation and Trends5.5.1 UV-LED Market Concentration Rate5.5.2 Global UV-LED Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 Players5.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions,Expansion6 United States UV-LED Market Competition by Players/Manufacturers6.1 United States UV-LED Sales (K Units) and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.2 United States UV-LED Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 United States UV-LED Average Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2013-2018)6.4 United States UV-LED Market Share (%) of Top 3 and Top 5 PlayersContinue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Overview Of Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Market 2018 | TP-Link, D-Link Systems, Cisco Systems, Huawei Technologies Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1692806 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-virtual-private-network-vpn-routers-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingTP-LinkD-Link SystemsCisco SystemsHuawei TechnologiesShenzhen Tenda TechnologyBelkin InternationalNetgearEdimax TechnologyAsusTek ComputerUbiquiti NetworksZyxel CommunicationsBuffalo AmericasOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoWireless VPN RoutersWired VPN RoutersOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingPersonal UseCommercial UseTable of ContentsGlobal Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Market Report 20181 Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers1.2 Classification of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers by Product Category1.2.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Wireless VPN Routers1.2.4 Wired VPN Routers1.3 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Personal Use1.3.3 Commercial Use1.4 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Market by Region1.4.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan Virtual Private Network (VPN) Routers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global Population Health Management Market Is Projected To Expand At A CAGR Of 16.1% From 2017 To 2025 To Reach US$ 69,000.0 Mn Population Health Management Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1714443 https://www.researchmoz.us/population-health-management-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1714443 https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Population Health Management Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.This report analyzes the current and future prospects of the global population health management market. The report comprises an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments.The research is a combination of primary and secondary research. Primary research formed the bulk of the research efforts along with information collected from telephonic interviews and interactions via e-mails. Secondary research involved study of company websites, annual reports, press releases, stock analysis presentations, and various international and national databases. The report provides market size in terms of US$ Mn for each segment and sub-segment for the period from 2017 to 2025, considering the macro and micro environmental factors. Growth rates for each segment within the global population health management market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, and regulatory requirements.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @A detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining the market and future opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. This section of the report also includes market attractiveness analysis that provides a thorough analysis of the overall competitive scenario in the global population health management market.Market revenue in terms of US$ Mn for the period between 2015 and 2025 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2017 to 2025 are provided for all the segments, considering 2016 as the base year. Market size estimations involved in-depth study of product features of different types of population health management platforms. Additionally, market related factors such as rise in preference for cloud-based computing, prevalence of chronic diseases, projected launch of new products in various geographies and historical year-on-year growth have been taken into consideration while estimating the market size.Population Health Management: SegmentationPopulation health management (PHM) is a methodical and transparent delivery of services to improve the health status of a given population at a prospective price and to deliver better outcomes at lower cost. PHM programs are designed to keep defined patient populations, especially those with high-risk diseases, as healthy as possible while decreasing the need for costly interventions such as emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and invasive tests and procedures.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Based on component, the global population health management has been segmented into software, services, and hardware. The services segment is anticipated to hold a significant share of the global market during the forecast period.In terms of mode of operation, the global population health management has been classified into web-based, cloud-based, and on-premise. The web-based segment is anticipated to dominate the market during the forecast period due to advantages such as efficient communication with stakeholders and tracking the progress of patient over multiple centers.Based on end-user, the global population health management has been divided into health care providers, insurance providers, pharmaceutical companies, and others. Reduction in per capita health care cost is one of the benefits of PHM tools for health care providersPopulation Health Management: Geographical and Competitive DynamicsGeographically, the global population health management market has been segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. In addition, the regions have been divided into major countries from each region.The report also profiles major players in the global population health management market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, SWOT analysis, key business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Key companies profiled in the report include Koninklijke Philips N.V., Lumeris, Health Catalyst, McKesson Corporation, Cerner Corporation, ZeOmega, Healthagen LLC, UnitedHealth Group, International Business Machines Corporation, and Persivia.The global population health management market has been segmented as follows:Global Population Health Management Market, by Component- Software- Services- HardwareGlobal Population Health Management Market, by Mode of Operation- Web-based- Cloud-based- On-premiseGlobal Population Health Management Market, by Distribution Channel- Health Care Providers- Insurance Providers- Pharmaceutical Companies- OthersMake an Enquiry of this report @Global Population Health Management Market, by RegionNorth America- U.S.- CanadaEurope- Germany- U.K.- France- Spain- Italy- Rest of EuropeAsia Pacific- China- Japan- India- Australia & New Zealand- Rest of Asia PacificLatin America- Brazil- Mexico- Rest of Latin AmericaMiddle East & Africa- GCC Countries- South Africa- Rest of Middle East & AfricaAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Chatbots Market Research & Overview by Worldwide Type, Industry Vertical, Usage, Deployment Type, End User, Geography, Key Points and Outlook, 2018-2025 "Global Chatbots Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025" http://databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-chatbots-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/inquire-before-buying/?dbmr=global-chatbots-market http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-chatbots-market/ http://databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-data-center-interconnect-market/ Global Chatbots Market is expected to reach USD 4125.3 Million by 2025, from USD 750.3 Million in 2017 growing at a CAGR of 36.5% during the forecast period of 2018 to 2025. The upcoming market report contains data for historic years 2014 & 2015, the base year of calculation is 2016 and the forecast period is 2018 to 2025.Get Free Sample Report Visit @Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. Get 10% Discount on Report by emailing sopan.gedam@databridgemarketresearch.com . We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate.Global Chatbots Market, By Type (Software, Services), By Usage (Websites, Contact Centres, Social Media, Mobile Platform), By Industry Vertical (Financial Services, Healthcare, Communication, Retail, Travel and Hospitality, Government, Education, Utilities), By Deployment Type, By End User (Small and Medium Enterprises, Large Enterprises), By Geography Industry Trends and Forecast to 2025Major Market Competitors/Players:Some of the major players operating in the global chatbots market are IBM, Nuance Communications, Inc., eGain Corporation., Creative Virtual Ltd., Artificial Solutions, Next IT Corp., [24]7.ai, Inc., CX Company, Speaktoit, Inc., iDAvatars, Baidu, Inc, Poncho, Kik., WeChat., Varo, Babylon, ReplyYes, SRI International, Inbenta Technologies Inc., Anboto, among others.Report Definition:This market report defines the market trends and forecast the upcoming opportunities and threats of the chatbots market in the next 8 years. Chatbots is a computer program designed to simulate chat with human users, over the Internet. It conducts conversation via auditing and textual messages. These are the computer programs that imitate conversation with people using artificial intelligence. The chatbot ecosystem includes several cross-linking features that enable enhanced performance of chatbots in various applications. Many companies prefer in-built chatbots on their websites as they facilitate companies in providing immediate customer interaction. Mostly slack and twitter messaging platforms are preferred by businesses. Chatbots allows companies to engross in continuous communication with their customers. Chatbots installed by the companies offer information related to product and brand, which helps the company to increase brand awareness, and inspire customers to sign up for the companys account. There is a huge growth for chatbots because large enterprises widely employ chatbot for digital marketing applications and for easy communication. The Kik Bot Store is going to launch chatbot with 16 bots, which will include the Weather Channel, H&M, Vine and Funny or Die.The Global Chatbots Market report consists of below pages: No of pages: 350 No of Figures: 60 No of Tables: 220Competitive Analysis:The global chatbots market is highly fragmented and the major players have used various strategies such as new product launches, expansions, agreements, joint ventures, partnerships, acquisitions, and others to increase their footprints in this market. The report includes market shares of chatbots market for global, Europe, North America, Asia pacific and South America.Inquiry Before Buying Visit @Major Market Drivers and Restraints: Acceptance of cloud-based technology Increasing demand for automated patient management tools in the healthcare industry Penetration of websites and mobile applications are increased. Lack of awareness due to early presence in tech-adoption life cycle High deployment cost and system integration complexitiesScope of the Report:The global chatbots market is segmented into type, industry vertical, usage, deployment type, end user and by geography.Based on type, the global chatbots market is segmented into software and services. Services are further segmented into professional services and managed services.On the basis of usage, the global chatbots market is segmented into websites, contact centres, social media, and mobile platform.On the basis of industry vertical, the global chatbots market is segmented into financial services, healthcare, communication, retail, travel and hospitality, government, education, utilities and others.On the basis of deployment type, the global chatbots market is segmented into on-premises and on-cloud.On the basis of end user, the global chatbots market is segmented into small and medium enterprises, large enterprises.Based on geography, the global chatbots market report covers data points for 28 countries across multiple geographies namely north America & south America, Europe, Asia-Pacific And, Middle East & Africa. Some of the major countries covered in this report are U.S., Canada, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and, Brazil among others.Read more about the Global Chatbots Market Visit @Key Reasons to Purchase:To gain insightful analyses of the market and have comprehensive understanding of the Global Chatbots Market and its commercial landscape.Assess the Chatbots production processes, major issues, and solutions to mitigate the development risk.To understand the most affecting driving and restraining forces in the Chatbots Market and its impact in the Global market.Learn about the market strategies that are being adopted by leading respective organizations.To understand the future outlook and prospects for Global Chatbots Market.Related ReportGlobal Data Center Interconnect Market Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Global Data Center Interconnect market, By Geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa), By Type {Product (Packet Switching Networking, Packet Optical Transport/Packet Optical Networking, Converged Packet Optical), Software, Services (Professional Services, Managed Services)}; By Application (Real-Time Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity, Shared Data and Resources/Server High-Availability Clusters (Geoclustering), Workload (VM) and Data (Storage) Mobility) By End-Users (Communication Service Providers, Carrier Neutral Providers/Internet Content Providers, Government, Enterprises) Industry Trends and Forecast to 2024Report Access:About Data Bridge Market Research:Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavors to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process.Contact:Vishal DixitData Bridge Market ResearchTel: +1-888-387-2818Email: Sales@databridgemarketresearch.com In-Vitro Fertilization Market Value to Reach US$ 725.9 Million by the End of 2022 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=12698 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=12698 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12698 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com The global in-vitro fertilization market is poised to attain unprecedented growth over the coming years on account of the dexterous efforts of market players. The leading market players are projected to introduce innovative business strategies in order to sustain themselves in the market. Furthermore, the market players are also expected to engage in research and development of novel products that would persuade consumers to resort to in-vitro fertilization.Request for Sample Copy of Report @The leading vendors in the market include Ovascience, Inc., Rocket Medical PLC, Vitrolife AB, Cook Medical, Genea Ltd., Merck KGaA, CooperSurgical, Fertility Focus Ltd., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc, and EMD Serono, Inc. The strategies adopted by these market players will play a pivotal role in deciding the fate of the market over the coming years. Transparency Market Research (TMR) analyses the current approach of these market players to prophesize their future moves.The global market for in-vitro fertilization is expected to inflate at a sturdy CAGR of 6.5% during the period from 2017 to 2022. The market was valued at US$529.8 mn at the end of 2017 and is projected to rise to a value of US$725.9 mn by the end of 2022. Based on the type of products, the reagents segment is expected to outdo the equipment segment over the coming years. The former is expected to reach a net value of US$385.9 mn by 2022. Based on regions, the market for in-vitro fertilization is anticipated to be reigned by Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) with a regional CAGR of 6.7% CAGR over the forecast period. The prominence of the region is attributable to the initiatives of the governments to promote medical tourism.Enquiry for discount on this report @Chromosomal Defects in Humans Propel Market GrowthThe rates of infertility amongst men and women have risen in recent times. Several anatomic factors have contributed to the infertility of men and women who have found hope in in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This is the primary factor that is driving demand within the global market and is creating growth spaces for market players. Furthermore, chromosomal defects have also been a causative agent of infertility in individuals, and biological sciences have pointed to a greater instance of such chromosomal defects in recent times. This factor coupled with the high awareness quotient of the people has given a significant boost to the market for IVF.Lifestyle changes have also been found to affect fertility of humans, and even after years of unprotected intercourses, females havent been able to conceive. Hence, the lifestyles of the people have also been an underhanded factor contributing to market demand. It is anticipated that the efforts of the healthcare industry in educating people about IVF would play to the advantage of the market in the coming years. Besides this, the development of better technologies within the domain of IVF has garnered the faith of consumers, thus, propelling the market to fruition. By spreading awareness about the pros of IVF, medical tourism has also been an integral market driver.Request Report Brochure @Fertile Couples Resorting to IVF Fortify MarketThe presence of hereditary disorders amongst a large part of the population has also given an impetus to market growth. Fertile couples suffering from maladies resort to IVF to prevent their progeny from inheriting the disorder. The identification of such hereditary diseases has become easier across the globe in contemporary times, thus, substantiating market growth. Efforts of institutionalized systems coupled with better computerization has lowered the cost of IVF, which has further expanded the market.About UsTransparency Market Research is a next-generation market intelligence provider, offering fact-based solutions to business leaders, consultants, and strategy professionals.Our reports are single-point solutions for businesses to grow, evolve, and mature. Our real-time data collection methods along with ability to track more than one million high growth niche products are aligned with your aims. The detailed and proprietary statistical models used by our analysts offer insights for making right decision in the shortest span of time. For organizations that require specific but comprehensive information we offer customized solutions through adhoc reports. These requests are delivered with the perfect combination of right sense of fact-oriented problem solving methodologies and leveraging existing data repositories.TMR believes that unison of solutions for clients-specific problems with right methodology of research is the key to help enterprises reach right decision.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Artificial Intelligence Market: Recent Industry Developments And Growth Strategies Adopted By Players https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ASK&rep_id=4674 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/artificial-intelligence-market.html www.transparencymarketresearch.com Globally, there is a wave of artificial intelligence across various industries, especially consumer electronics and healthcare. The wave is likely to continue in the years to come with the expanding base of applications of the technology. The global market for artificial intelligence is expected to witness phenomenal growth over the coming years as organizations worldwide have started capitalizing on the benefits of such disruptive technologies for effective positioning of their offerings and customer reach. In addition, the increasing It spending by enterprises across the globe for better advancements in their services and products.According to a study by Transparency Market Research (TMR), the global Artificial Intelligence Market is estimated to post an impressive 36.1% CAGR between 2016 and 2024, rising to a valuation of US$3,061.35 bn by the end of 2024 from US$126.14 bn in 2015. The upward growth of the market is, however, hampered by the low upfront investments. The majority of companies operating in the market are facing difficulties in accumulating funds for early stage research and development of prototypes and their underlying technologies. The dearth of personnel with adequate technical knowledge is also restricting the market from realizing its full potential.Get PDF Sample of This Report @On the basis of type, the report segments the global artificial intelligence market into digital assistance system, expert system, embedded system, automated robotic system, and artificial neural network. The expert system segment was at the forefront of growth in 2015, representing 44% of the overall market revenue and is poised to maintain its dominance until 2024. The growth of the segment can be attributed to the rising implementation of artificial intelligence across various sectors such as process control, monitoring, diagnosis, design, planning, and scheduling.Digital assistance is estimated to be the most promising segment in terms of revenue during the review period. The proliferation of portable computing devices such as tablets and smartphones is the primary factor propelling the growth of the segment. Based on application, deep learning held the lions share of 21.6% in the global market in terms of value in 2015, closely trailed by smart robots. The demand for artificial intelligence in image recognition is likely to rise at a noteworthy rate over the forecast horizon.North America was the major revenue contributor in 2015, accounting for approximately 38.0% of the overall market. The domicile of a large number of the leading technology firms enables early introduction and high acceptance of artificial intelligence in the region. Moreover, high government funding is playing a pivotal role in the technological development of artificial intelligence in the region. The widening scope of applications the technology in various verticals, including media and advertising, retail, BFSI, consumer electronics, and automotive are also contributing the market in North America. Owing to these factors, the region is expected to retain its leadership through 2024.View Our Report @On the other hand, the Middle East and Africa is anticipated to exhibit a remarkable CAGR of 38.2% during the forecast period, which is higher than any other region. Rapid technological innovations, including robotic automation and increasing implementation of concepts such as smart cities are boosting the adoption of artificial intelligence in the region. Ongoing infrastructure projects such development of new airports are rendering the market in MEA highly opportunistic.Some of the prominent participants in the global artificial intelligence market are Nuance Communications, MicroStrategy Inc., QlikTech International AB, Google Inc., IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Brighterion Inc., Next IT Corporation, IntelliResponse Systems Inc., and eGain Corporation.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendationsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Anti-collision Sensor Market: Understanding The Key Product Segments And Their Future https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=ASK&rep_id=19208 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/anti-collision-sensor-market.html www.transparencymarketresearch.com The leading driver of the global anti-collision sensor market at the moment is the increasing number of vehicles on road, coupled with the increasing percentage of vehicular accidents. The growing scope of road accidents is prompting for the faster development of better anti-collision technology. The global anti-collision sensor market is also being propelled by the implications of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) in North America specifically. Advancements in sensor technology and its implementation in autonomous transportation system are also increasing scope with which anti-collision technologies can operate. The global anti-collision sensor market is also likely to be driven by the rising application of UAVs in military, scientific, commercial, agriculture and recreation. However, the high cost of anti-collision sensors is currently impeding the overall growth rate of the global anti-collision sensor market.The global anti-collision sensor market was valued at US$3.8 bn in 2015. The markets revenue is expected to continue expanding at a CAGR of 19.8% from 2016 to 2024, eventually accounting for US$18.543 bn by the end of 2024.Get PDF Sample of This Report @Europe is the leading market player in global anti-collision sensor market, owing to a large number of European countries such as Russia, Germany and Italy that are adopting automated transportation system in metro rail, and other vehicles. Adaptive cruise control has the leading share in this market. European car manufacturing companies such as BMW, Honda are incorporating this technology in their cars, thus broadening the market scope of radar and camera sensors. Aerospace and defense is the leading market in terms of end users as Russia, Germany make huge investment on defense products. Drones have been extensively used in this region thus increasing scope of anti-collision sensors.Asia Pacific is likely to acquire a significant market share as Japan and China are some of the important nations that contribute to the growth trajectory of anti-collision sensor market. Japan implemented autonomous decentralized transportation system and this increases the number of automated rail network in this country. China is just next to USA in terms of car population and adaptation to automation is the latest trend there. Hence, Asia Pacific region has substantial contribution in triggering the growth of anti-collision sensor market. North America holds around 18% market share in global anti-collision sensor market. US, Canada and Mexico are some of the important nations that contribute to the growth of anti-collision sensor market.US is a major economy in driving the growth prospect of global anti-collision sensor market. Large number of US car manufacturing companies are installing anti-collision sensors in their cars. Due to the growing popularity of driverless cars, US car manufacturers adopting this design to sustain in competitive automobile market as their European counterparts. US regulation also stress on the need for anti-collision system in automobiles and that finally lead North American region as a major market for anti-collision sensors.View Our Report @The global anti-collision sensor market is segmented on the basis of technology into segments are radar, ultrasonic, lidar, and camera. Radar sensors is expected to hold the leading market share and it is likely to be a very swiftly-growing segment during the forecast period. Radar sensors can detect objects at longer distance and this sensor work with high speed and efficiency. This sensor is used in adaptive cruise control and forward collision warning system. Radar sensor in combination with camera sensor are expected to hold significant market share in anti-collision sensor market. On the other hand, ultrasonic sensors are of low price and that is expected to increase their usability as parking sensor.Leading market players in the global anti-collision sensor market so far, have been Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), Denso Corporation (Japan), ZF Friedrichshafen (Germany), and Delphi Automotive (UK).Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendationsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Aircraft Brake System Market: Understanding The Key Product Segments And Their Future https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=34613 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/aircraft-brake-system-market.html www.transparencymarketresearch.com The aircraft brake system is a critical component of an aircraft and plays a vital role in aircraft handling operations such as takeoff, landing, and taxiing while the aircraft is on the ground. The brakes are not only useful in slowing down the aircraft and further stopping it, but also offer a reliable way of restraining the aircraft from gaining motion during engine run-ups. Moreover, the advanced aircraft braking systems, currently employed in civil and defense aircraft, also allow steering of the aircraft on the ground by means of differential braking. Aircraft brake systems are mostly deployed on the main wheels of an aircraft and on the rotor in case of helicopters. The modern aircraft brake system has evolved from merely an assembly of cables and mechanical links operated through a single lever as a braking system in older aircraft, to a system comprising multiple systems components, ranging from hydraulic pumps to master cylinders.A major driver supporting the growth of the global aircraft brake system market is the increasing fleet size of commercial and defense aircraft. The aircraft industry is witnessing tremendous increase in the number of aircraft due to increased passenger movement across the globe. This is indirectly boosting the aircraft brake system market and is anticipated to further propel the market during the forecast period. Moreover, factors such as demand for lightweight aircraft, development of lightweight brake materials, and increased military spending are expected to fuel the global aircraft brake system market during the forecast period.Get PDF Sample of This Report @Global aircraft brake system market is segmented based on components, brake type, end-use, and region. Based on components, the global aircraft brake system market has been segmented into wheels, brakes, and others (sensors & transducers, valves & actuators, and mechanical links). In terms of brake type, the aircraft brake system market is further segmented into carbon brakes, steel brakes and others. Based on end-use, the global aircraft brake system market is segregated into commercial aircraft and defense aircraft. The commercial aircraft segment is further sub-segmented into business or private aircraft, helicopters, and civil aviation aircrafts. The defense aircraft segment is further sub-segmented into fighter jets, cargo aircrafts, and helicopters. In terms of region, the global aircraft brake system market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America.North America is expected to be the largest contributor toward the global aircraft brake system market, in terms of revenue, due to the presence of prominent manufacturers of aircraft components such as brakes and wheels, in the region. Moreover, increased spending in research and development activities to develop and incorporate electrically actuated brakes systems in lightweight aircraft is estimated to further drive the aircraft brake system market in the region. The global aircraft brake system market in Middle East & Africa and Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a prominent growth rate due to the increased passenger movement and rise in investments in defense infrastructures in developing countries such as the UAE, China, and India. Furthermore, the commercial aircraft segment is anticipated to hold a major share of the global aircraft brake system market during the forecast period.View Our Report @Key players operating in the global aircraft brake system market include UNITED TECHNOLOGIES, Nasco Aircraft Brake, Inc., Honeywell International Inc., Safran Landing Systems, Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems Corporation, PARKER HANNIFIN CORP, Crane Aerospace & Electronics, AAR, Beringer-aero, MATCO mfg, Lufthansa Technik, and Grove Aircraft Landing Gear Systems Inc. The report provides an in-depth analysis about the strategic business activities along with the market dynamics shaping the global aircraft brake system market over the period of study.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a next-generation provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendationsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Coated Flat Glass Market Growth to be Fuelled by Advancements in Chemical Industry https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/coated-flat-glass-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=38702 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Glass plays an important role in modern day architecture. It can be designed to incorporate many desirable properties by modifying its composition and processing. The glass industry offers glazing with technical features that can be used for heat, solar, or sound protection. It can also be used as design components, safety glass, or part of solar energy systems. Flat glass coatings are used for ecofriendly processes as they help save energy and reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, they offer features such as solar protection, self-cleaning, corrosion resistance, and special transmission/reflection properties. Coating technology is used to produce a variety of products such as low-E glass, solar control glass, anti-reflective glass, and hydrophobic self-cleaning glass.View Report Preview:End-user industries of coated flat glass include construction, automotive, and solar glass. Advancements in glass coating technologies have resulted in reduction of global energy consumption, primarily in construction and automotive sectors, as architects and designers are striving to achieve zero-energy buildings and reduce CO2 emissions.Surface coatings can be applied to glass to modify its appearance and give it many of the advanced characteristics and functions available in the currently available flat glass products. These characteristics include low maintenance, special reflection/transmission/absorption, scratch resistance, and corrosion resistance. Coatings are usually applied by controlled exposure of the glass surface to vapors, which bind to the glass, thereby forming a permanent coating. The coating process can be applied while the glass is still in the float line with the glass still warm, producing what is known as hard-coated glass. Alternatively, under the off-line or vacuum coating process, the vapor is applied to the cold glass surface in a vacuum vessel.Coated flat glass is available in many highly specialized forms. It is used in different products and applications. Coated flat glass produced through the float process is often further processed to give it certain qualities or specificities. In this way, the industry can meet various requirements of construction, automotive, and solar energy industries.Rise in demand for solar thermal panels is one of the major drivers of the coated flat glass market. Coated flat glass is used in solar power plants. It is also used for energy conservation in residential and commercial buildings. Advanced glazing techniques can be used to reduce the requirement of heating and cooling in buildings. Thus, it lower energy consumption in buildings.Focus on eco-friendly approach in manufacturing is the latest trend gaining momentum in the market. Manufacturing processes of flat glass release plenty of toxic substances such as greenhouse gases. This results in environment pollution and global warming. In order to address this issue, companies in Europe are now focusing highly on eco-friendly approaches for manufacturing glass.Based on region, the coated flat glass market can be segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The coated flat glass market in Europe and North America has been expanding due to the presence of mandatory regulations on the ecofriendly products. The market in Asia Pacific is also expanding owing to the remodeling of existing buildings, wherein coated flat glass is used, as it offers insulating and solar control properties to increase energy efficiency. China, Brazil, and India are expected to create lucrative opportunities for the coated flat glass market.Request to view Sample Report:Key manufacturers of coated flat glass are NSG Group, AGC, Saint-Gobain, and Guardian.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Dye Intermediates Market Poised for an Explosive Growth in the Near Future https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/dye-intermediates-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=38750 www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Dyes are used to impart colors to a substance or surface. Dye intermediates are raw materials used to manufacture dyes. Dye intermediates comprise petrochemical products that are processed to manufacture the final dyes and pigments. H-acid (1-amino, 8-napthol, 3,6-disulfonic acid) is an extensively used dye intermediate. These intermediates are used in the production of hair dyes. Dye intermediates are manufactured from nitro-aromatics, which are manufactured from benzene and toluene. Benzene and toluene are petrochemical downstream products. Therefore, any change in the crude oil prices affects the dye intermediates market significantly.Increase in demand for dye intermediates in textile and extensive use of dye intermediates in printing inks are some factors driving the dye intermediates market. This is prompting companies to increase production of dye intermediates. Additionally, easy availability of raw materials is anticipated to boost the demand for dye intermediates in the near future.View Report Preview:The global dye intermediates market is witnessing technological advancements. Companies are constantly striving to develop new and better ways to manufacture dye intermediates. Development of new manufacturing processes of dye intermediates and applications is estimated to propel the dye intermediates market. However, volatility in prices of raw material is projected to inhibit the market.Based on products, the dye intermediates market can be divided into beta naphthol, vinyl sulfone, Gamma Acid, H-Acid, CPC Blue, J-Acid, -Naphthyl Amine, and others. The beta naphthol segment of the dye intermediates market is anticipated to expand at a significant pace owing to increasing demand from emerging economies such as India and China.In terms of application, the dye intermediates market can be divided into textiles, plastics, paints, printing inks, paper, and others. The textiles segment of the dye intermediates market is anticipated to expand at a considerable pace due to increasing demand of appeals from the emerging economies.Based on geography, the dye intermediates market can be segregated into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific is anticipated to constitute a key share of the market during the forecast period. The dye intermediates market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand a considerable pace owing to the increase in demand for dye intermediates in the paints and printing inks. Middle East & Africa is likely to be an attractive region for the dye intermediates market during the forecast period due to the rise in demand for these in the textile industry in the region.Prominent players operating in the global dye intermediates market include Odyssey Organic Pvt. Ltd., Jay Chemical Industries Ltd., Dispo DyeChem Pvt. Ltd., and Afine Chemicals Limited, and Jiangsu YaBang Dyestuff Co.,Ltd.Request to view Sample Report:The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: Form-in Place (FIP) Liquid Gaskets Market: Worldwide Industry Analysis and New Market Opportunities Explored https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=32093 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=T&rep_id=32093 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/formin-place-liquid-gaskets-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com http://www.techyounme.com/ Form-in place liquid gaskets are used in all industrial sectors like medical, aerospace, automotive, electronics and appliance. The form-in place is an accurate technology and a consistent system which involves the process of applying a reusable elastomer seal on plastics and metal housings. The elastomer seal is applied directly on the edges of the closure and could be conductive electrically for EMI protection. The form-in place gasketing involves application of a liquid owing to which it can be carried out by programmable automation, automation in the process makes it highly accurate, repeatable and fast.Request PDF Sample@Generally, the material used is a one or two part silicone which is metered precisely and then mixed. Once it is applied on the product, depending on the material of the product, it can be cured either at room temperature or in ovens. The form-in place liquid gasketing, a cost reductive technology, was initially applied in automotive industry as an alternative to die cut gaskets or extruded gaskets in moisture and dust sealing.It is beneficial when the design is more complex or in situations where the application of die cut gasket will result in loss. The initial cost of dispensing system is generally high and the available foam chemistries are limited, especially polyurethane.Get ToC of This Report @Form-in Place (FIP) Liquid Gaskets Market: DriversThe factors driving the form-in place liquid gaskets market are related to the salient features or advantages of the FIP liquid gaskets which is stimulating the quick adoption of these gaskets in various industries. Advantages such as improved reliability, easier application and service, quick curing time, smaller cross sections, quicker adaptability, short lead times, excellent effectiveness in shielding and excellent adhesion are facilitating the adoption of the form-in place liquid gaskets and thereby fuelling the growth of the global market.Form-in Place (FIP) Liquid Gaskets Market: RestraintsThe process involved in form-in place (FIP) liquid gasketing is a highly specialised process. It requires extensive programming and set up in order to confirm that the gasket works properly. Certain challenges are associated with this system. Limitations such as they cannot be properly used on uneven or non flat surface and problems relating to gasket thickness are questioning the growth of form-in place liquid gasket market.View Report@However, with proper calculation, the costs that are difficult to ascertain would prove that this technique is a more cost-efficient solution in gasketing.Form-in Place (FIP) Liquid Gaskets Market: Key PlayersThe key players involved in the form-in place (FIP) liquid gaskets market are Tangent, Vibra, Central Coating Co. Inc., VTI Vacuum Technologies Inc., New Precision Technology Inc., Parker Chomerics, Dymax and Delo Adhesives.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.ContactTransparency Market ResearchState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Research Blog: Glass Ceramics Market Size, Segmentation, Application 2025 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=38849 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/glass-ceramics-market.html http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/ Global Glass Ceramics Market: OverviewThe global glass ceramics market is prognosticated to find housing and construction as a larger end-user industry since ceramic abrasives and ceramic tiles are extensively engaged for exterior and interior applications. A crystallized variety of glass ceramic, Neoparium could easily weather harsh environments and is impermeable to liquids. With that being said, glass ceramics also find applications in medical, electrical, optical, and aerospace industries, indicating a bright future of the market. There could be a steady growth in the demand for glass ceramics in the medical industry with the rise in the number of osteoporosis cases on the global platform.Request Report Brochure @The global glass ceramics market could be classified as per end-user industry and type of material. According to experienced analysts, housing and construction is predicted to grab a larger share of the market.The report offers a comprehensive analysis of the global glass ceramics market with key aspects such as market segmentation, market size, and market share taken into consideration. It provides a perspective on various market threats and opportunities along with a study on key trends that could influence growth in the near future. Furthermore, it offers a detailed profiling of important market players.Global Glass Ceramics Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe world glass ceramics market is foreseen to gain impetus due to the boom in the construction industry and the rising demand therein. Compared to other types of materials, glass ceramics cost less. Moreover, they help to reduce sound and find important applications in industrial and commercial sectors. In the aerospace industry, glass ceramics are currently used in nosecones of high-end aircrafts and missiles. They are required to withstand harsh conditions resulting from atmospheric reentry, erosion, and rain. As a result, they are employed in the aerospace industry owing to their combination of properties such as excellent abrasion resistance and high mechanical strength.Read Report Overview @The growing manufacture of antennas for Wi-Fi applications and mobile phones in the electronics industry could bode well for the demand for glass ceramics. Antennas with glass ceramics and copper exhibit a high response to frequencies and offer improved performance. Glass ceramics are surveyed to be choice materials for the semiconductor sector as well. This could be because of their outstanding conducting and insulating properties.Global Glass Ceramics Market: Regional OutlookThe swelling demand for glass ceramics in the construction industry is anticipated to augur well for the growth of the international glass ceramics market in Asia Pacific. By the end of the forecast period 2017-2025, this region could secure a dominating share of the market. Players could expect new prospects taking birth on the back of the speedily growing education and healthcare industries. A massive consumption of implantable devices is projected to take place in the healthcare industry due to the increase in the geriatric population. Nonetheless, the market is predicted to see expansion in Europe and North America due to the impressive growth in the medical and electronics industries.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact UsTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite: HOMECOMING HOMECOMING The Orchard Park School District held its annual homecoming events this past weekend. The events included a powder puff football game, parade, carnival and varsity football game. In... Former supervisor lambastes Majchrzak Since leaving the highest post in the town almost a year ago, the Orchard Park community has barely heard any public statements from former Supervisor Patrick Keem. That changed this... Orchard Park native set to star on Netflixs Baking Impossible Those searching for something new to stream on Netflix will soon have the opportunity to watch one of Orchard Parks own in action. Sara Schonour, a native of Orchard Park,... Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire [] Three cities in Washington County are celebrating 125th birthdays this year. Once known as Beaverdam, Smockville and Free Orchards, today they are the communities of Beaverton, Sherwood and Cornelius. Photo Courtesy of City of Cornelius Cornelius 125th Birthday Event The city of Cornelius was incorporated in 1893 and held its first council meeting on May 5th of that year. Exactly 125 years later, Cornelius will host the city's 125th birthday celebration from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, May 5 at Cornelius Elementary School. The event will feature period costumes and historic memorabilia from the Washington County Museum, including a hat owned by the city's namesake, Col. Thomas R. Cornelius. Antique farm implements, vintage cars, the 1910 Forest Grove fire pumper and other mechanical memorabilia will be on display in the school parking lot. A cake cutting by Mayor Jef Dalin is planned for 4 p.m. with light food and beverages. Don't Edit City of Cornelius The Cornelius School House, circa 1875 As part of the birthday celebration, the city is sponsoring a drawing contest that asks Cornelius students in grades kindergarten to 12th to imagine "What Did Cornelius and its Residents Look Like in 1893?" The drawings will be on display and should be no larger than 22-inches by 28-inches. The Cornelius Youth Advisory Council will judge the entries and pick two winners from each age category. Prizes for the winners will be awarded at the event. Don't Edit City of Cornelius Business Street in Old Cornelius An Oregonian article from the 1993 centennial celebration of Cornelius offers a bit of the town's history: White settlers began arriving in the area now known as Cornelius in the 1850s, thanks to the steamboats that toured the Tualatin River. The region was then dubbed Solomon Emerick's Landing. Benjamin Tucker settled in the area in 1845. He eventually sold the land, and in 1871, W.L. Halsey deeded 107 acres of his farm to the public for a town site. The town of Free Orchards was platted Sept. 22, 1871. Don't Edit City of Cornelius Historic Cornelius Businessman Ben Holladay brought in the railroad in 1871. A depot went up on the southern edge of town, followed by the St. Joseph's Hotel for railroad workers. A post office and telegraph office soon followed. Holladay renamed the town Cornelius after Col. Thomas Cornelius, owner of the largest store in town. Don't Edit City of Cornelius Col. Thomas Cornelius The city of Cornelius website tells a bit about its namesake: "After the Indian War of 1855-56 Col. Cornelius served 20 years in the Territorial Legislature. He then returned to his 1300-acre farm in 1871, and over time built a grain warehouse, creamery, two sawmills, a grocery store, several houses and barns over a wide area." Don't Edit Don't Edit Michael Lloyd/ File photo The old Smock House Long before it was known as Sherwood, the community in southern Washington County went by the moniker of Smockville. The town was named for J.C. Smock, who granted the Southern Pacific railroad a right of way through his property in 1885. But no one, it seems, liked the name Smockville. Don't Edit Michael Lloyd/ File (2006) Sherwood Historical Society Heritage Center A large meeting was held in 1892 to come up with a new name for the town. The owner of the brick yard, Robert Alexander, suggested they call it Sherwood, partly because the dense forests surrounding the town reminded him of forests near his hometown of Sherwood, Michigan. That town had been named after Sherwood Forest in England. Don't Edit The Sherwood Robin Hood Festival, 1954 Sherwood officially became a city on Feb. 10, 1893. Earlier this year, the city passed an official proclamation honoring the 125th anniversary of its incorporation. The proclamation, signed by Mayor Lee Weislogel on Feb. 6, notes that "the name Sherwood is shared with a legend that inspires people in every corner of the globe, especially the oppressed and downtrodden." For the town's 125th anniversary, he proclaimed, "May adventurers from realms at home or far away feel especially welcome in Sherwood, Oregon." Don't Edit Courtesy of the city of Beaverton Beaverton's Broadway Street at West Avenue, 1892 According to the Beaverton Historical Society, the Atfalati Tribe of the Kalapuya people who lived near modern-day Beaverton called the area Chakeipi or "Place of the Beaver." When white settlers moved into the area in the 1840s and 1850s, they called the land "Beaverdam." Don't Edit City of Beaverton Beaverton's Main Street With a slight name change, Beaverton was incorporated on the same day as Sherwood - Feb. 10, 1893 - with a population at the time of 400. According to the Beaverton Area Chamber of Commerce, Alonzo Cady, a local businessman, was the city's first mayor. Don't Edit Don't Edit City of Beaverton Beaverton's 125th year The Beaverton City Council celebrated the city's 125th birthday with a cake celebration in February. Thursday 3 May 2018 1:24pm The research team...(L to R) Dr Sarah Donovan, Dr Amanda Kvalsvig, Carmen Timu-Parata, Dr Marie Russell University of Otago, Wellington (UOW) researchers are leading a new collaborative study to find out why New Zealand breastfeeding rates are so low and even dropping. The study will investigate the reasons why New Zealands breastfeeding rates are poor and declining, particularly for Maori, and will work with stakeholders across multiple sectors to identify policy solutions. The research will have womens voices as the starting point for the research to develop new policy solutions to improve breastfeeding rates. It also aims to strengthen collaboration across sectors to achieve better focused and proactive policy direction. The researchers worked together with relevant sector groups, in particular the New Zealand Breastfeeding Alliance (NZBA), to design the project. Through a series of qualitative interviews with new mothers, well explore and document the barriers to breastfeeding they experience, and gather their ideas on what would help them, says research team member Dr Sarah Donovan, from UOWs Department of Public Health. We hope to develop specific, action-oriented evidence to guide more effective public health support for breastfeeding. Public health support for breastfeeding is a highly cost-effective strategy for reducing infant mortality and supporting population health and well-being. Populations in which breastfeeding is a near-universal experience, show that virtually all mothers are able to breastfeed if they have the right support. In Aotearoa/New Zealand, despite a high rate of breastfeeding initiation, rates decline steeply during the first few months of life: in 2015, only 19 per cent of babies were exclusively breastfed at six months, and the rates are substantially lower for Maori and Pasifika infants and those from socioeconomically deprived families. Were excited to start this study on such an important topic, especially as breastfeeding has really slipped off the policy agenda in the last decade. This is despite breastfeeding being a very fundamental public health good that is fiercely endorsed by WHO as healthy public policy, says Dr Donovan. The research team will investigate how current breastfeeding policies and practices could be improved, and also seek to find out how breastfeeding information could be better integrated and reported into policies and practices to evaluate current strategies and guide future action. The project will also include interviews with key clinical, policy and community health sector stakeholders to determine the structural (rather than informational/educational) barriers to breastfeeding. The researchers will also review breastfeeding data and reporting practices to develop recommendations for a national data framework in which the right information is collected for the right end-users. The joint project has received funding from Lotteries Health, and the research team consists of Dr Amanda Kvalsvig (principal investigator), Dr Donovan and Dr Marie Russell all from Department of Public Health at the University of Otago, Wellington, and Carmen Timu-Parata from the NZBA. Weve had a great initial advisory group with all kinds of sector input including from the late, highly respected paediatrician Dr Leo Buchanan, representatives from Plunket, the NZ College of Midwives, La Leche League, NZBA, Eru Pomare Maori Research Unit (University of Otago, Wellington) and lactation consultants, which has helped us define and refine the direction of the study, says Dr Donovan. For further information, contact: Dr Sarah Donovan Department of Public Health University of Otago, Wellington Email sarah.donovan@otago.ac.nz Dr Amanda Kvalsvig Department of Public Health University of Otago, Wellington Email amanda.kvalsvig@otago.ac.nz Fleur Templeton Senior Communications Adviser Department of Public Health University of Otago, Wellington Tel 021 225 4218 Email fleur.templeton@otago.ac.nz U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Timothy P. Harman, a KC-10 Extender boom operator with the 76th Air Refueling Squadron, 514th Air Mobility Wing, gives the thumbs up as aerial porters with the 81st Aerial Port Squadron load a cargo pallet at Joint Base Charleston on March 3. For the Grand Rapids Police Department, "It's been a bear of a day," according to the department's Facebook post late Thursday morning. At about 9:30 a.m. on May 3, police were informed of a black bear spotting in Grand Rapids. The bear was eventually found in a tree near the intersection of Dayton Street SW and Deloney Avenue SW, according to the police department's 11 a.m. post. For the first time, The Dow Chemical Co. has been included on the Top 50 Companies For Diversity list from DiversityInc, placing 50th. The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued annually since 2001, recognizes the nations top companies for diversity and inclusion management. This year's companies that made the list were announced at DiversityIncs marquee event on Tuesday, May 1, held in New York City. The Dow Chemical Co. hired its first chief inclusion officer, Karen S. Carter, in July 2017. It is an honor to have achieved this significant milestone in recognition of our progress, Carter said. And as we celebrate this achievement, we also recognize that there is more work to do as we maintain our commitment and focus on delivering the culture of inclusion and diverse workforce necessary to deliver better business outcomes. Carter spoke Jan. 24 at the Great Lakes Bay Regional MLK Celebration at Saginaw Valley University about the state of diversity and inclusion at the chemical company. During the event Carter said progress has been made in terms of diversity and inclusion, but it has been too slow. To create Carter's position, Andrew Liveris, chairman and CEO of Dow and Director and former executive chairman, DowDuPont, looked to AT&T for advice on best practices. AT&T has claimed a spot in the top three of the list for the second year in a row -- this year at No. 3. Claiming the No. 1 spot this year is Johnson & Johnson and Marriott International coming in second on the DiversityInc list. At Dow we strive to create an inclusive culture that encourages all employees to contribute, and an environment where every employee trusts in his or her ability to bring their true selves and unique perspectives to work, Liveris said. It is an honor to be recognized and is a testament to our strategic journey. DiversityIncs extensive annual survey yields an empirically driven ranking based on recruitment, talent development, senior leadership commitment and supplier diversity. This years competition was improved by new survey questions, increased emphasis on fairness over chasing numbers and more sophisticated analysis from DiversityIncs data scientists. It is a true honor for Dow to be recognized for the progress weve made in driving an inclusive culture across our company. Inclusion and diversity is simply not only the right thing to do, but is critical for business success as we must reflect the world we compete in today and will compete in tomorrow, said Jim Fitterling, chief executive officer-elect for Dow and chief operating officer, DowDuPont Materials Science Division. Today we will celebrate this incredible milestone for the Company. It was love at second sight for Ora Flaningam and Donalee Graham. Both were students at the same time at Michigan Tech, a college in Houghton in the Upper Peninsula. But it wasn't until they met at a Young People's Business Group get-together in Midland that their romance started. They began dating, were engaged in 1962 and married in April 1963. Their love story continued for the next 40 years until Donalee's death in December 2002. Donalee was in the hospital at Jacksonville, Florida being evaluated for a liver transplant. The doctors decided that her health was too fragile to risk a transplant and gave her a few months to live. She died in three days. This is Ora's story before, during and after Donalee. Genealogy has long been a love of Ora's and today one of his treasures is a sampler designed by his wife Donalee showing his family line all the way from Patrick Flaningam to their daughter Lian (pronounced Lee Ann). Ten generations are depicted in needlepoint on a sampler that contains 125,000 stitches, 162 colors, 6 different fibers and took 800 hours of work over 22 months to complete in 1993. In the 1980s Ora and Donalee were researching his Flaningam history and discovered that a young relative named Priscilla Clark had made a sampler in 1794 of her grandparents, her parents and her siblings. That sampler was now in the Gloucester County Historical Society Museum in Woodbury, New Jersey. Ora got a photograph of it and said to his wife it would be nice to have a sampler with the generations of the Flaningam family beginning with Patrick Flaningam who had emigrated from England to America and ending with their daughter Lian. Donalee designed the 10-generation genealogy by hand and then proceeded to work on it. For the better part of the next two years Donalee was busy with her project. Each husband and wife have their own icon. Patrick Flaningam's icon was a ship because he came to America as an immigrant. He married Elizabeth Hillman and her icon was the White Horse Inn. George Flaningam's icon was two flags because he was a patriot during the Revolutionary War. He married Sarah Jennings and her icon was the nine children that she bore. Isaac Flaningam's icon was a blacksmith because that was his profession and his wife was Susannah Chew. Her icon was a fireplace depicting her skill as a homemaker. Donalee's sampler is an artistic marvel as well as a treasured piece of family history. And here is Ora's story beginning with his grandfather, Ora Daniel. Ora Daniel Flaningam was born in 1882 in Lawrence, Nebraska and died in 1956 in Freeport, Illinois, at the age of 74. He married Augusta Wakeley in 1907 in Danville, Illinois. Born in 1888, she died in 1979 at the age of 90. Ora Daniel was a printer by trade living first in Danville, Illinois and then moving to Dixon, Illinois. He set type for high school and college yearbooks until he had a stroke (some thought he had Alzheimers) and was a semi-invalid for years. With such ill health, Ora Daniel and Augusta moved to Freeport, Illinois to live with their daughter Pauline. After Ora Daniel died, Augusta later succumbed to Alzheimer's and spent the rest of her life in a nursing home. Ora Wakeley was the son of Ora Daniel and Augusta Wakeley. Born in 1909. he died in 1991, at age 82. He married Ethel Cramer in 1934. He had two nicknames, Wake and Mike. He attended Western Michigan in Kalamazoo from 1929 to 1932 and graduated with a teacher's certificate in manual arts. He was in a bad car accident as a teenager, which left him with a pronounced limp and spells of depression. Unable to find a teaching position, he became a commercial painter. Ora Wakeley and Ethel had a son in 1935, naming him Ora Ley. In 1943, World War II was in progress and many teachers were drafted. Ora Wakeley was offered a job teaching drafting and shop in Lapeer. Ora and his family moved from Dixon, Illinois to Lapeer, but bad luck pursued Ora Wakeley and he spent a year in a tuberculosis sanitarium. Unable to teach for a year because of ill health, the cards seemed to be stacked against him. World War II ended and the regular teachers at Lapeer returned, leaving Ora Wakeley out of a teaching position.. Ora's dad returned to painting. Ora's mom Ethel died at the age of 54. Both his mom and dad are buried in Lapeer. Graduating from high school in 1953, a counselor told Ora, "You ought to go and apply at Michigan Tech." It was the cheapest and the best. Ora took a Greyhound bus from Lapeer to Houghton. The trip took 19 hours and only stopped to pick up passengers on the way. There was a toilet on the bus so there were no other stops during the trip. The year was 1953 and the Mackinac Bridge hadn't been built yet. The Straits separated the Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. On one end was Mackinaw City and on the other end was St. Ignace. A ferry service was begun to transport people and cars in 1923. The bridge opened in 1957 and ferry service was discontinued the same day. But Ora remembers the ferries and the time involved in crossing the Straits. Michigan Tech was located 1 mile from the city of Houghton. Ora said, "There were forty-three girls and sixteen hundred boys." A young woman named Donalee Graham enrolled at Michigan Tech two years after Ora Flaningam enrolled, but while he remembers seeing her on campus, they never met. Money was always a problem and summers found Ora working at anything he could find. He dug ditches and poured concrete for the Detroit Edison Co. Two summers he worked with his dad painting. One job in particular was painting huge tanks 15 feet in diameter and 50 feet long. "I used a small paint brush," Ora said. "There was no spray paint then." (This ends Part I. Part II will appear in two weeks.) Twenty-two Midland-area bell ringers recently participated in the Handbell Musicians of America Area 5 Spring Festival on April 27-28 at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. Dan Musser III, president of Grand Hotel, opened the festival by ringing the opening bell. Three candidates are running for the Midland City Council seat to represent the citys first ward. The current sitting Ward 1 councilman, Tom Adams, has held the position for 13 years and decided not to run in this years election. Pam Hall, John Metevia and Jeremy Rodgers are the three candidates Ward 1 voters can consider during the Aug. 7 primary election. The two candidates with the highest number of votes cast in the primary election will be placed on the Nov. 6 ballot for ward 1. The person receiving the highest number of votes in the November election will be declared council member for that ward and be sworn into office on Nov. 12 for a two-year term. Pam Hall Pam Hall says her wide range of creative interests combined with her administrative experience will make her a good addition to Midlands City Council. The 62-year-old was born in Kalamazoo and raised in Saginaw but has lived in Midland for 38 years and says she has seen firsthand how the city has changed. I care about my community and I want to leave behind something better, Hall said. I want to improve where Im at, I dont want to leave a mess for somebody else to clean up. Aging homes and infrastructure in Ward 1 is an issue the district needs to address, Hall said. Our ward is kind of a mess, its looking run down, peoples homes are aging, and their incomes are fixed. You cant build buildings fast enough to accommodate that, so why not help people where they are. Hall has plans to finish her bachelors Degree in business and has held many different jobs over the years in the service industry, journalism, sales and office administration. Hall is a mother to two children who were born and raised in Midland, and is a member of the League of Women Voters and the Humane Society. In her free time, she enjoys belly dancing, considers herself a strong animal advocate, and is a member of the Harmony Diversity Choir. Ive worked a lot of different jobs, Hall said. One of the things a new person can bring to the table is a fresh perspective. Hall said her communication skills and desire to educate herself on all the issues brought forth to council will make her a good addition to the governing body. In collecting signatures for her nominating petition, Hall said her fellow ward 1 residents spoke with her about issues she could absolutely relate with. Im planning to try to meet everyone, Hall said. I know thats really ambitious but I will try to meet everyone in the ward, so they know Im listening and taking notes. Jeremy Rodgers A love for American history and learning about the founding of the United States has led to a natural transition to an interest in politics for Jeremy Rodgers. Rodgers, 23, graduated from Central Michigan University in December 2017 with a degree in history and political science. He was born in Grand Rapids but has lived in Midland for seven years. Rodgers works for Bridgeport Manufacturing and has plans to carry on the family business. Rodgers worked on Rep. Gary Glenns campaign in 2014, and volunteered for U.S. Rep. John Moolenar and Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette. I learned a ton from Garys campaign, Rodgers said. Working in that role on a campaign you learn a lot about what to do, what not to do, all around it was a really great learning experience for me. Rodgers said he knows some people in the community are not favorable of Glenn because of his stances. Im aware of that, and Im not necessarily in agreement with everything he stands for, but I think hes done really good work in Lansing working on deregulating the energy market. Rodgers interest in politics has led him to question the proper role and purpose of Americas government. I also have come to believe the government that governs least governs best, Rodgers said. Because the city council is a local government, its close to the people and the most responsive to the people. In many ways its probably the most efficient types of government it does the most with the least amount of money and thats what appeals to me. Making sure the council continues maintaining a high level of fiscal responsibility and representing the taxpayers will be Rodgers main priority if he is elected, he said. For Rodgers, age does not have an impact on his passion and desire to serve the Midland community, he said. The most underrepresented demographic in the U.S. is people ages 18-25, Rodgers said. There are very few people in that age group that are in elected positions and Im hoping that maybe whether I win or not that I can be an inspiration to other people (my) age to show them that they can get involved. Being accessible to constituents is something Rodgers said is important to him, and he plans on making it a priority if he is elected. He has been attending council meetings and graduated in the Midland Citizen Academy 2018 class. John Metevia John Metevia hopes to become a new voice on Midlands city council, especially with a lot of important discussions coming up and construction happening downtown, he said. I hope to be a voice of reason, someone willing to listen who isnt going to be quick to make decisions, and not always go along with what may be the popular thinking, Metevia said. The 61-year-old is a John Glenn High School Graduate from Bay City and has lived in Midland for almost 30 years. Metevia works for the Great Lakes Loons and previously was a supermarket manager. He went through the Midland Citizens Academy and served two terms on the City of Midland Parks and Recreation Commission. Metevia served his last term as chairman of the board. From his business background and working for the last eight years with the Loons, Metevia said he has gotten to meet and speak with many people across town, and is well versed in the citys issues. With all the things happening downtown, I think my business experience will help, Metevia said. The next few years there will be a lot of changes, especially in the downtown landscape. Metevia plans on interacting with constituents face-to-face. Metevia said he knows all of his neighbors, and as an active biker around town, going door to door will likely be his preferred approach in communicating with residents. People are risk-averse. Weirdly so where wine is concerned. They fear what they arent familiar with and worse, they tend to make the very incorrect assumption that stuff thats more expensive is that way because its better. Folks: up to a certain tipping point that can be true, especially in the sense that it costs more to grow and make and distribute wine thats made in small quantities and under strict and high standards. But I have sad news: Cabernet and Chardonnay command Ginormo prices because they can get away with it because they have dominated the market for decades. If you think its the best wine and that the more expensive it is the better it must be you are, to be blunt, what is known as a fashion victim. (Ask a Merlot producer. Again, more on that later.) One place where some of the Le Snoot factor can be shunted aside is in the Eternal Casual Friday zone where pink wines dwell. You can make rose wines from any red wine grape (some blends are primarily white varietals with a little red splashed in; also valid) and you can do it in a number of ways, of which the most common is simply limiting skin contact with the juice because thats where the pigment (and much of the tannic acid) in red grapes lives. Depending on varietal(s), skin time, and other factors, you can have a wine with ghostly, barely-there colors, electric cherry-red and everything in between. Degree of color might but very much might not correlate with degree of intensity in the wine so dont assume a boldly hued Tempranillo will be assertive and an ethereal-looking Grenache will be demure because you could easily be wrong. Rose Road Rules (lay level; I am assuming you are not a master sommelier) Pink wine is best enjoyed chilled. That and its general light and juicy nature make it seem summery and indeed it is, but so is a big inky Zinfandel, and its not like your white shoes that you are supposed to put away after Labor day. I Rosati are always in season. Always. Always. Thank you. Pink wines are, with few exceptions, easygoing companions to all kinds of food and also delightful aperitifs, which is French for you drink it without bothering with solid food calories. Along with dry sparkling wines they are in this wine-geeks opinion the most versatile class of wines on the planet. Les Pinks tend to be of lower Le Pricepoint than their red counterparts. Dont believe for un minuto that this means wine equivalent of sausage meat. They are largely less expensive because they dont take up valuable real estate in expensive oak barrels for several years. They are probably often a little less spendy because of what I noted above: The peanut gallery effect. Because rose does feel quick and casual it is perceived as less important or like a byproduct. (Oh, occasionally it is a byproduct! Sometimes that can be a fine thing, like how bread pudding or chawan mushi or, yes, sausage is a repurposing-oriented food. Sometimes its Beringer White Zinfandel, which damn near ruined the whole category for anyone who attended a wedding in the 1980s and has never forgotten the vicious hangover they suffered.) While, as I said you can make pink wine from any red wine grape (as well as a few grapes that are naturally pink versus purple to black), some wines seem especially born for low-skin-contact expressions and some are relatively touchy about being treated like that. Some of the most commonly-awesome rose grapes are: Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Pinot Noir, Carignan and Sangiovese (and although youll be hard put to find it, if you do come across a pink Nebbiolo grab it. The Mount Olympus of pink wine is Provence, France. But its made everywhere wine is made and trust me, it doesnt have to be French to be awesome. Following are 52 rose wines to try. Please note I have not called out vintages. That stuff matters with long-aging wines but youre not aging this stuff. In fact, to quote Ser Alliser Thorne yelling sarcastically at his recruits in Game of Thrones: What you waitin for? Summer? In just about all of these cases, the currently available vintage is the one Im talking about and if its a wine that has a tendency to be really different year to year, Ill mention it. Otherwise: Grab, Chill, Apply Corkscrew, Bottoms Up. Dig? A to Z Wineworks Rose (Oregon, $12) The Pacific Northwest is the Land of The Rules Dont Apply to Me, and that can be a good thing. This is a brash but somehow still approachable wine with a vivid color and extreme juiciness. Citrus, plum, a little pomegranate. Theres even a touch of hibiscus, which is funny because this stuff looks a lot like the Jamaica hibiscus agua fresca at your local taqueria. In fact, Id call it a very sane choice for pairing with good Mexican food. Big personality, a little eclectic. Very tasty. Alpha Estate Rose (Greece, $21) Youve never heard of Xinomvaro? Thats okay: Its good. In this case it comes in a liquid-strawberry color and thats the dominant note on both nose and palate, along with fresh roses. Juicy, refreshing, pleasing finish. Winemaker suggestions for pairing include light tomato-based pasta dishes but Im going to disagree on that one (hey, we like what we like) and make the oddball counter-suggestion that this wine would pair beautifully with lamb if that is a thing you eat. If you dont, Im sure it wouldnt mind hanging out with a wide range of foods especially if they are of Mediterranean descent. Angels and Cowboys Sonoma Rose (Sonoma County, $16) The 2017 release is, like its predecessors, a Grenache-fest made in the dry and light Provence style. Vegetarians and lovers of shellfish take note, this is a wine that will pair with some of the more difficult-to-pair veggies (and spices!) but it handles simple stuff just fine too. Ethereal, delicate, acidity in the racy or zippy range balanced with strong mineral presence. Tangerine, pomegranate, a ghostly floral note that might be almond or peach blossom. Epic deliciousness. Argiolas Serra Lori Rosato Isola dei Nuraghi (Sardinia, $15) This rosato is composed of four Sardinian grapes that are ideally suited to rose styles. Cannonau (one of many aliases for Grenache) and Monica lend strawberry fruitiness, while Carignano and Bovale Sardo bring freshness and aroma. Serra Lori is a beautiful rosy-pink wine full of juicy, vibrant raspberry and alpine strawberry flavors. Its vivacious and affable and while it can certainly stand on its own, its a wine thats happiest paired with a bunch of friends and a nice dinner party. It is a fan of outdoor cookery, and will hang out happily with grilled veggies, oily fish-it has enough body and structure to hold its own with grilled meats of the red variety. Artner Blaufrankisch Rose (Austria, $14) As always, I try to concoct these lists without too many wines that are difficult to locate; this is probably one of the more obscure ones, but it did pop up on the wine list at my local pizza joint. And (again) this is where we all give thanks that there is this Internet Shopping Thing. Blaufrankisch (Lemberger, if youre in Germany) is a tasty grape that makes very aromatic and spicy wines. This one has a blushy rosepetal hue, fairly light body but with enough tannin that you notice it. The nose is predominantly black cherry and spring flowers, and on the palate, there is a spicy overlay on a strawberry jam character, with strong minerality and lots of backbone. One of those But seriously, pair it with anything wines, it also stands its ground as an aperitif. Fairly high acid, in a good way-its bracing and fresh. Bairaktaris Monolithos Rose (Greece, $17) Ive said it before: France may rule the wine scene in many situations, but back when it was called Gaul and was the most godforsaken armpit of the Roman Empire, Greece already had centuries of viticulture under its belt. This delectable Greek rose comes from Assyrtiko and Agiorgtiko grapes, and has an eye-popping clear cherry-red color. Its a great addition to a summer meal, providing both refreshing fruit and fuller structure that pairs excellently with fruits and grilled meats. The nose emits intense aromas of cherry and strawberries. Gentle tannins provide structure in the mouth, and the finish is full and fruity. This family-operated winery is very sustainability-focused, as well, for those who care about the footprint of their wine (arguably this should be everyone). This is one of the planets most ancient and venerable winemaking regions-take advantage of centuries of knowhow at a fantastic price point. Banshee Rose Pinot Noir (Mendocino, CA $22) My mega-crush on Banshee has not ended. In fact, it seems to be getting worse. Biodynamically-farmed pinot noir is blended with Barbera, Grenache and Syrah. The result is a peachy-pink wine with complex layers of floral notes including rose petal, violet and almond blossom, followed by deep yet subtle red plum core with traces of ripe melon and nectarine with a tiny hint of marzipan. Vivid acidity, lovely structure, and just incredibly good. This is one of my favorite wines for white pizzas, especially if there is truffle oil involved. But like most self-respecting roses, it is a generalist and will enhance virtually anything (its also equally well-suited to company and solitude). Happiness in a bottle. Belguardo (Tuscany, Italy $14) A Sangiovese-Syrah marriage from the Maremma region of Tuscany. Theyre kind of an odd couple, but as we all know, sometimes those are the relationships that have staying power. This is an example of a wine whose light, soft color will trick you into thinking youre drinking something delicate-nope! This is an intense one and a bit of a cherry-bomb, with a strong mineral streak indicative of its limestone soil origins. One thing that can sometimes be a rough pairing with pink wines is a dish with lots of tomatoes. But this one would probably enjoy it. Beronia (Rioja, Spain $12) Tempranillo with just a few hours of skin contact. Bright pink with an intense strawberry-cherry tone and fairly full-bodied. Long, quite punchy finish. If you do not like the shy and retiring type, pull the cork on this guy. Its unabashedly fruity and juicy and fun. Bieler Pere et Fils Sabine (Provence, France, $13 ) Classic Provence. Pale but concentrated with a lovely balance of floral, herbaceous, fruity and earthy notes, and a slightly creamy texture-a fruit salad wine in all the right ways, with intriguing layers of peach, cherry, citrus and apricot with lingering mineral notes and a long dry finish. This wine wants to hang out with shrimp or other members of the crustacean family. Bonny Doon Vin Gris de Cigare (Central Coast, California, $17) I am a novelty-seeker and will gravitate toward wines I have never tried usually. This is an exception: If you dont want an unpleasant surprise, youre never going to get one from the original Rhone Ranger. The Vin Gris de Cigare is a genre-defining and yet genre-defying little minx with a pale-salmon tone behind which there is an almost dizzying, but still elegant, array of continuously unfurling aromatics. Bergamot and green tea, something almost smoky, something marine, and a base of alpine strawberry and chalk. It is a lithe and vivacious wine with a very firm grip. I cannot think of a single food that would disagree with this stuff. And its in the $15-20 range depending on where you encounter it. This is a wine with serious moxie, epic wit, and a lot of layers. Always correct, always absolutely fab. Center of Effort 2014 Pinot Noir Rose (San Luis Obispo $18) I love these guys, who hail from what I think must be the single most marine-climate AVA in California-theres not a vineyard more than five miles from the Pacific and the climate is so temperate that sometimes the vines have to be induced to go dormant. Its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay paradise, and also home to a range of other aromatic whites. Their pink pinot is a nice blend of sweetness and salinity, with some spiciness and a lot of cherry on the palate. Rock-solid, medium bodied, and the intriguing stoniness that seems to unite the wines of this area. Will not disappoint. Charles & Charles Rose (Washington) $14 Charles Smith wines are, by and large, exceptionally high quality for the price point, and this Syrah-based pink blend is made to be approachable and party friendly. If you like your rose fruity, this is your guy. A salmon-to-rose colored blend, this wine is vibrant and not one to hold back. Red fruit, red fruit, red fruit, with a little hint of lavender, a soft grassiness and a bit of stone. Relatively low acid, high vivacity. A great backyard party wine. Pair it with a poolside chaise longue and a patch of shade. Chateau DAqueria Tavel (Cotes-du-Rhone, France, $20) Anything labeled Tavel is a Grenache-based Rhone blend. Vivid salmon color. Full bodied and super dry, with good earthiness and raspberry notes. A little bit of lemon and some herbaceous subtones. Really good food wine, though certainly holds its own as an aperitif. Excellent foil for cream-based sauces, grilled meat, goat cheese, and well, dinner. Chateau dEsclans 2014 Cotes de Provence Whispering Angel ($20) According to the producer, the best rose in the world. Huh. Well, I love this stuff, from the voluptuous bottle to the beautiful barely-there pink color to the lovely, balanced dry yet juicy palate-palette, which leans toward strawberries. Super light, a guaranteed crowd-pleaser on a hot afternoon, just an all-around great go-to bottle. This is the kind of very restrained, refined, elegant rose that defines drinkable. Its a people-pleasing Grenache-Syrah-etc blend with a soft approach, predominantly strawberry and citrus notes, and a lovely berry bouquet. The worlds greatest rose? Thats not my call. Worth putting into the shopping cart? Always. Chateau de Fontenille Bordeaux Rose (Bordeaux, France, $12) Cabernet Francs lighthearted side. Soft and subtle, citrusy and fresh. Primary aromatics are floral; primary palate notes mineral, with a through line of redcurrant, lime and grapefruit. This is a fabulous sushi wine but it certainly doesnt have to be, you can pair it with anything or let it stand on its own, which it does with grace. Chateau Minuty Rose (Cotes de Provence, France $17) A pleasure, starting with the voluptuously curvy Burgundian bottle. Blended from Grenache and Cinsault, this frosty-pale pink wine does a beautiful balancing act between fruit and flower, acid and stone. Dominant notes are nectarine and ripe oranges, along with some white-flowers action. A cant-go-wrong wine from a pretty ancient estate and your friend no matter whats for dinner. Clean Slate Pinot Noir Rose (Mosel, Germany, $18) Spatburgunder, if youre drinking in German, means Late Burgundian in reference to Pinot Noirs late-season ripening. The words crisp and refreshing are used relentlessly in the description of white and pink wines so Id love to be able to tell you this wine was insouciant and diffident or something but the truth is, its crisp. And refreshing. Your new BFF for spicy stuff is a noseful of raspberries and alpine strawberries, and the youthful acidity and wet-rock finish are lovely. Clos Pegase Rose (Napa Valley, CA, $22) Bright pink, highly perfumed, very nuanced. Expresses a lot of nifty herb notes (I get chamomile and fennel), blood oranges, and tart cherries. Dry yet juicy, great mineral finish, balanced acidity. Totally solid. Cote Mas Rose Sud De France Aurore (Languedoc, France) $11 A blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah (destemmed and vinified separately in coated cement vats, then blended before bottling), this expressive wine is pale salmon-tinted in the glass; the nose is not pale, its complex and quite fruity. Cherry and strawberry jam notes kind of jump out of the glass at you. Its smooth, well-balanced and richer than its pale hue would lead you to believe. On the palate, ripe red fruits dominate, but are tempered by the chalky minerality that lets you know the stuff came from the limestone soils of the south of France. Like almost all pink wines, this will pair with an extremely wide range of foods, but Id probably be inclined to serve it with light, hot-weather-friendly dishes like salads (poultry would like it, too). Festive, friendly, unfussy, and screw-capped, reminding you that it would be happy to follow you to the beach or hang out in the panier of your bike on the way to the park. DeLille Cellars Rose (Washington, $25) Salmon to tangerine color brought to you by Mourvedre. Red berries for days: Grenache. Hint of watermelon? Cinsault. This is a traditional rose trio for a reason, guys. Juicy, bright, fruit-forward, with whippy acidity and a nuanced finish. This wines ideal pairing is the beach. But youll enjoy it wherever you are. Domaine de Millet Rose (Cotes de Gascogne, France, $15) A Syrah blend from Gascony with a striking, violet-tinged pink color. Expresses a lot of cherry notes and a hint of strawberry. Pleasantly mineral on the finish. Another good draft pick for highly spiced dishes, but it certainly doesnt require them. Domaine de Triennes 2014 Rose ($19) A pale Cinsault-driven wine, this is a pretty classic expression of Provence pink. In addition to the fairly ubiquitous strawberry tone, there is a lot of white floral on the nose here, and a soft, rounded, creamy hint of vanilla. Its restrained and elegant and very, very drinkable. Donnafugata Lumera (Sicily, $14) Maybe I dont get out much, but I think this might be the only rosato of Nero dAvolo grapes I have ever had, and its got quite a personality. Bright pink-really bright pink. And has a lot going on, with an attention-grabbing bouquet (violets and alpine strawberry mainly) and a mixture of floral and red fruit notes on the palate (I get quite a lot of pomegranate). This stuff is a good candidate for drinking quite thoroughly chilled and its a friend to seafood and vegetable dishes. This wine is not on the sedate and dignified end of the spectrum; its playful. Erath Rose of Pinot Noir (Oregon, $12) Pale and delicate looking. Dont be fooled. There is an intense rosepetal and ripe peach nose, and a very full-bodied and decidedly tropical array of fruit notes (I admit it, I dont typically expect bananas to pop out of a Pinot!). Melon. Lots of melon. And a note Im having a hard time identifying but Im tentatively going with gooseberry. This is a complex, expect-the-unexpected wine and the kind of thing I might have a glass of while sitting quietly outside by myself. Or editing something. But thats not to say its not a food wine; you seldom meet a rose that isnt. El Coto Rosado 2015 (Rioja, Spain, $12) Rioja is one of Spains major-league wine regions, and their signature grapes are Tempranillo and rose superstar Garnacha (Grenache). El Cotos Rosado is a blend of the two, with a clear watermelon tone and a spicy, herbaceous nose. Cherries dominate on the palate. High altitude vineyards give this wine a unique character. Its light-bodied, juicy, a bit tangy, and very clean on the finish. Really ideal for hot weather, and a good companion for anything from a light salad to a feisty Thai curry. Will wake up a tired palate. I think this is a great party wine and worth buying in quantity. Roses dont age indefinitely but you dont have to worry: Youll polish it off before that ever becomes an issue. E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rose (Cotes du Rhone, France, $18) Exuberant? I think thats the word. The Guigal family have been making wine for a long time, and they pretty much know what theyre about. This lovely pink has a certain bursting out of the glass juiciness and assertive red-fruit aromatics. Its full-bodied and has a long, raspberry-and-rock kind of finish with a little whisper of citrus. Take it on a pique-nique. Figuiere Magali Rose (Provence, France, $18) Figuiere aims for tight wines that express the unique terroir of coastal Provence. Magali Rose is a medium-bodied rose with aromas and flavors of strawberries, orange peel and white flowers. The wine shows bright and refreshing acidity and salinity thanks to the influence of the nearby Mediterranean Sea. Barely-there coral-pink color, delightful minerality. Any Mediterranean dishes in your repertoire would be happy to find themselves on the table with this wine. Figuiere Premiere Rose (Cotes de Provence, France) Holy schist? Some winemakers are influenced by the tiniest specifics of the soil composition in their vineyards. Some are driven by it, and this is an example of that. Marine notes come into play too, but this is really a stony character. The nose is resinous and herbaceous (lavender and lemon thyme) with white florals and peach notes mid-palate and a decidedly mineral finish with a light savory salinity. This wines also moderate on the alcohol content spectrum, which is a plus in warm weather because in addition to being crisp and refreshing wine is also ultimately dehydrating. Any food from any culture that puts a toe in the Med is your companion for this bottle. When I tasted it my first thought was actually falafel. But oily fish, herby grilled veggies, potato salad dressed in good olive oil? Sure, and keep going. Itll take a while to find something that argues with this wine. Gorman Rosey Rose (Washington, $15) If you like your wine to have a slightly edgy sense of humor, look into Gorman. Their pink blend is a Cabernet-Syrah-Merlot situation sourced from a range of vineyards and its not a shy one. Actually its a bit of a check me out type, but you wont mind because its a pleasure to check out. Racy-type acidity, full body, highly aromatic. Lots of cherries. A bit of citrus peel. Some plum. Flitting florals. Dry finish. Its got a pretty big personality but also doesnt take itself overly seriously, which is always nice. Gundlach-Bundschu Rhinefarm Rose (Sonoma CA, $25) Mmmmmmmmmm. OK: I can never resist throwing at least one or two its an adventure wines into large lists, and heres one: Its only available at the winery or for members of the wine club. Id disqualify it on those grounds except that I happen to think if youre looking for a wine club to join, Gun-Bun is a very sound choice. And then you can get this yummers Rose, in all its pale-violet-pink aromatic awesomeness. This Pinot-plus blend is a saignee wine, and that is a method controversial in some circles. Basically, the world has been saddled with quite a bit of bad wine made in this fashion, but these guys prove it can be done well. The blend, which can include Gewurtztraminer, Merlot, and other interesting players, varies a bit year to year but the result is consistently nuanced and layered. The current release has a white flower and plum thing going on, with a honeyed note (though its very dry) and some peachy tones alongside black cherry and strawberry notes. Horse and Plow (Sonoma, CA, $20) I buy this old vine, organic Carignan a lot when Im not sure which direction to go. My local market always has chilled and its always rock-solid. That said, it might be one of the slightly tougher wines on this list to find outside California, so consult your local Internet. It has a lovely orange-zest character, with strawberry and watermelon accompaniment. Its never disappointing. Ever. Very summery, very light, very sensuous. Worth seeking out if you are not a lucky person like me whose shopping cart it just falls into. Justin 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rose ($20) So those nearly-colorless, whispery wines you can get from, say Grenache? Cabernet doesnt do that. Pink cabs often look like Kool-Aid. Do not be fooled. It is very light, super refreshing, and very layered. I love the aromatic herb notes in this one violets, chamomile, lavender. Cherry and plum flavors predominate. Lingering finish. Leyda Rose of Pinot Noir (Chile, $14) Pinot Noir just loves beachfront property. This wine comes from vineyards just a few kilometers from the Pacific, and expresses all the lovely subtleties of cold-climate pinot: Strong acidity, but a surprisingly creamy texture. Subtle aromatics with an emphasis on herbaceous notes (is that rosemary?) and red fruits (cherry and strawberry mostly). Theres some citrus on the finish as well-I get blood orange. Lingering finish. This is a restrained and subtle pink with good structure and its really refreshing. Pair it with whatever you want-I find its attracted to smoked fish, BBQ, roast chicken, and herbed potatoes, for example. Youd honestly have a harder time finding a bad pairing for this stuff. Long Shadows Julias Dazzle (Washington, $20) Okay, I admit I was guilty of prejudice against this wine at first because entre nous the name bugs me. Then to complicate things I really disliked the first vintage of this wine I tried (I think it was 2014). This is a younger wine that was going through some growing pains: The last two vintages have been eminently drinkable. Terrific, in fact. This unique Rose of Pinot Gris is named after Allens granddaughter, Julia (no offense, Julia, its the dazzle that lands weird for me), and is sourced from a special block from The Benches Vineyard in Horse Heaven Hills. Pinot Gris usually makes white wines, but the grapes have a significant enough tint that they will produce a colored wine if you give them time. These grapes were left to hang until they developed a bright hue, then gently pressed and the clarified juice slowly fermented at cool temperatures to retain the wines intensely vibrant aromatics and flavors. Lively, though voluptuously ripe and slightly off-dry, this has concentrated aromatics of ripe strawberry and melon; brisk acidity saves the finish from any potential flabbiness. Its richer than some roses, but clean and not heavy. Try it with seafood dishes, or eggs (Id pair it with a goat cheese souffle in a hot second). Its substantial enough to stand up to meat as well, so dont take it off your BBQ-companion list. Los Dos Grenache / Cabernet Sauvignon (Spain, $8) This is a pretty suave wine for eight bucks, I have to say. Grenache and Cabernet dont hang out all that much, generally speaking, so its interesting to see what happens when they do. Theres a significant raspberry situation here, with some tangerine and an unexpected (to me, anyway) lychee note. Long dry finish, nice balance, texture in the silky range. This is a good option for large summer gatherings. It is wide-ranging in its food affinities, a likely crowd-pleaser, and a very approachable price point. Maculan Costadolio Rosato Breganze (Veneto, Italy, $15) 100% Merlot, light pink with violet notes. Intense fruity bouquet, plum-heavy but also apple and white peach. Medium-bodied and on the intense side. Pleasantly bracing acidity and great structure. I would be inclined to pair this with shellfish or grilled chicken. Also a pleasure to drink solo. Veneto is a great region for warm-weather-friendly wines and this is a great example at a great price. Masciarelli Villa Gemma Cerasuolo (Abruzzo, Italy $16) I always need a cheat-wine on these lists just to show off a couple of weirdos that are worth your attention but maybe not on your radar because theyre not a well-known varietal, and my draft pick for pinks is Villa Gemmas rose-oid Cerasuolo. This wine looks like a rose, it acts like a rose, but its actually a fun example of a red wine that happens not to have much tint. This complex wine is a deep cherry pink, offering an exquisite floral bouquet with hints of thyme, pomegranate and walnuts. With a palate that is balanced and fresh with subtle tannins and boasting flavors of red fruit, this wine is bold, elegant and a perfect pairing with lighter fare. Mastroberardino Lacrimarosa Irpinia Rosato (Irpinia, Italy, $17) Lacrimarosa means pink tear but this wine is anything but sad or melancholy. I dont find a lot of pink Aglianico in California so this was a great one to be introduced to. Pale ballet-pink in color, it has a delicate but distinctive array of stone fruit, berry and flower notes (strawberry is prominent but not flying solo, theres white peach, raspberry, and a touch of orange blossom honey in there). Its unusual to meet an Italian wine that isnt built for food and youre not getting an exception here. Pair it with anything. Pasta with some good olive oil and grilled summer veggies would not be a bad place to start but you have my permission to run with this one. M. Chapoutier Vignes de Blia-Haut (Pays dOc, France $11) A flower-fest from Laguedoc, with sweet wildflowery notes including clover, rose blossom, linden, and I get wisteria? Palate is fruity but not plush-ripe-fruity, its more on the tart redcurrant, grapefruit and lime rind side of things. Whispery, delicate, pleasant finish. Michael Mondavi Family Isabel Rose (Los Carneros, CA $20) First of all, its really whats in the bottle that matters, but may I just note that this is a really pretty bottle of wine? This rose, made by vintner Dina Mondavi, is produced in a Provencal style, but with mostly Napa Cabernet fruit (Barbera and Muscat Canelli make up the rest). Cabernet Sauvignon is not a drag-and-drop varietal for rose and it can have unpleasant results. Not so in this case. Accessible and friendly, with a salmon tint in the glass, this wine exhibits fresh aromatics (cranberry, strawberry and a touch of Comice pear). Strikingly light-bodied for a Cab, Isabel has a pleasant acidity and a long, lingering finish. This is a straightforward and quaffable wine that will pair with most anything you can think of. Novelty Hill Spring Run Rose (Washington, $18) Ive never had a wine from Novelty Hill that I didnt like, and this one has the additional good-guy factor of $2 of the bottle price supporting the restoration of salmon runs. Its vividly strawberry-forward and slightly spicy, with some lightly tropical notes (I feel weird saying I taste starfruit but I think I do) and raspberry on the finish. Bracing, super-fresh acidity. High tastiness factor. Eco-conscious. What more do you need? Quivira 2014 Dry Creek Valley Rose ($24) Seriously, they dont pay me. Some wineries just get you, and to me these are some of the best wines in the region. Starring Grenache with judicious additions of Cunoise, Syrah and Mourvedre in supporting roles, this wine is a medium pink, rounded, with great acidity and a dreamy array of cranberry, strawberry, melon, sour cherry notes. One of those Happy in a Bottle bottles you will want to have a few of for special occasions. And by special I mean Oh look: its 5:30! Pico Maccario Lavignone Rosato (Piemonte, Italy, $12) A rosato of Barbera with what I have to say is an extra-pretty tone, luminous and slightly salmony. Some of the aromatics are typical pink-wine standards (watermelon and strawberry) and some are not (hay or grass-in fact if you like the grassiness of Sauvignon Blanc this is a wine to look for, its a similar feel). Blackberry and tart cranberry play on the palate and theres a pronounced wet-stone finish. And as always, if it comes from Italy you can almost 100% bank on it being easy to pair with almost anything youre eating. Its just like that with Italian wines, especially pink ones. Portugal Ramos Vinhos Vinho Verde Rose (Portugal, $11) So a few months back we talked about the traditional grapes of Portugals Douro region, whose superstar is Touriga Nacional. Here its blended with a couple of local natives, macerated briefly and left to think things over in stainless steel vats to preserve its youthful acidity and brightness. Limpid bright pink in the glass, its a fairly nuanced wine but the main notes youll notice are strawberry, watermelon and orange. Theres a little bit of quince on the nose too, which makes me think this would be quite appealing with a round of finger-foody appetizers, like some Marcona almonds, a few olives, and some manchego cheese with membrillo. Pursued By Bear Blushing Bear Rose (Washington, $25) Dunham Cellars and Kyle MacLachlan (yes, that Kyle MacLachlan) collaborated to create Pursued By Bear, which produces small runs of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and this beauty, which is blended from Mourvedre, Grenache and Cinsault. Bandol thinking, Washington terroir. A little hard to come by (these wines sell out, meaning literally they all get bought, not the other kind of sellout, which they are not remotely) and not the most inexpensive rose in the world but if youve ever spent time in Washington in June, you might have experienced the kind of psychedelic beauty of the solstice in a latitude where theres a hell of a lot of summer evening to enjoy, and the sun just seems to hang there in suspension forever, and flowers are going nuts and bees are drunk and birds are in love and the sky is pale and clear and perfect. This is that. In a bottle. Round Pond Rosato di Nebbiolo ($24) Nebbiolo is the grape that is used to make Italian Barolo and Barbaresco wines. You seldom see it planted in California, and until a visit to Round Pond I had no idea there was such a thing as a rose version. (Even in Piemonte they are unusual.) I try to restrict myself to wines you can find without a sherpa on these lists. This one is a rarity but I include it because it is soooooo worth it to seek it out (The Internet has no ZIP code; hit up the winery!). Salmon color, red berries and an intriguing note of herbes de provence, primarily lavender buds but other little herbaceous tones too. Its a small production run and youll have to work for it a little more than some of these bottles, but isnt that true of much of the good stuff? Saved Magic Maker Rose (California, $20) In the hella cute category, this might actually be one of the few times I call something a chick drink, though regardless of your identification your inner chick will dig it. (I was gifted a bottle that included a talismanic rose-quartz pendant for keeping bad vibes at bay, but I think the wine does that already). A blend of Pinot Noir, Grenache and Cabernet Franc, this is a bone-dry wine and on the rich side, with an aromatic and flavor profile that leans toward peaches and nectarines, but also has discernable traces of apples and mandarins. Pour a glass and stare at the label for a while. Its quite symbolically rife, and very eye catching. This is a very fun bottle to bring with you to a dinner get-together, because its a drag and drop food wine and because everyone will want to gaze at the label art. Seven Hills Winery Dry Rose ($16) From Washingtons Columbia Valley, this rose is pale, heavy on the aromatic florals, and quite brisk, with notes of peach and citrus zest, largely grapefruit. Herbaceous and mineral tones on the finish. Really approachable and nicely balanced. Sonoma-Cutrer Rose of Pinot Noir (Russian River Valley, about $25) Beautiful pale rose-pink hue, crisp acidity-an ultralight wine. The nose is fruity (strawberry upfront but raspberry, cherry and hibiscus are present. Juicy, approachable, perfect for a hot afternoon. This is a delicate wine in the somewhat austere style characteristic of the Cote de Provence. Viansa Sonoma Rose (Sonoma County, CA, $18) Some of the wines on this list are really wine-geek wines. Viansa isnt. Its a people-pleaser: Accessible, year-round-appealing, Everyman kind of stuff. Crafted to be shared around a table of fresh food with family and friends, Viansa Sonomas Rose is an elegant, pink-hued wine with bright citrus, raspberry and lychee aromas that arouse the senses. Crisp acidity and pleasant, refreshing finish. Goes with everything. No secret handshake required. Yamhill-Carlton Oregon Rose of Pinot Noir (Oregon, $21) The Gran Moraine Vineyard gets those nice cool afternoon breezes that Pinot Noir grapes happen to love, and thats the main source for the fruit in this whole-cluster-pressed dry pink, which has a lot of personality. Assertive acidity, aromas of pinapple, roses, mandarins, marasca cherry and honeysuckle, and some unexpected mid-palate supporting players like almonds, lemongrass, kiwi, watermelon and something earthy-tart that might be tamarind. The finish is long and lemony. Certainly food-friendly but this ones got a complex enough personality that I think I might like it best on its own. Habitat for Humanity's goal is to provide a hand up in addition to shelter Notes From The Road When it comes to mountain biking, I am a the-grass-is-greener-somewhere-else-oholic. The struggle is real. It began by gazing at double page spreads in magazines a couple decades back, then brought to breaking point with the never-ending look where I am stream of social media image fodder. The good news is my condition is under control. The bad news is, its the end of February in the upper reaches of northeastern North America, and the grass that is starting to show beneath the slowly melting snow is a brown spongy mess. The only thing to do in this situation is embrace the reality that at this time, the grass really is greener somewhere else. Road trip anyone? A March break in Brevard, North Carolina, here we come.Why Brevard? Location, location, location. Being sandwiched between Pisgah National Forest and DuPont State Recreational Forest is the reason why Brevard is firmly entrenched on the list of the best mountain biking towns in the USA. With 800 km (480 miles) or so of trails to explore, our four-day visit will barely scratch the surface. Were okay with that as long as the scratching is done in shorts and short sleeves and a thick slathering of sun applied vitamin D.As we drive south, winters grip is proving hard to shake as snowstorms swirl around us all the way to the north end of Tennessee. With the average March temperature for Brevard hovering around 15C (59F), we had warm hopes. So the 0C (32F) on day one is a bit disappointing but the forecast is looking good, the sun is shining and the trails are dry.Ask anyone for DuPont State Recreational Forest ride advice, and a couple must do trails always rise to the top of the list with the Ridgeline taking the top spot. Whats a tourist to do? Listen to those who know of course. Jim Branch, Buck Forest Rd, White Pine, Hooker Creek, Ridgeline, the approximately 10 km (6 mile) loop is a perfect way to get our winter-weary legs accustomed to the long uphill again. Never doubt local knowledge, the flowy Ridgeline trail definitely qualifies as a must do and another go at it is a perfect carrot dangling at the end of the climb that keeps us pushing lap after lap.All rides need a beginning and an end, in todays case they both happen to be at the same place, the bike shop and tourist attraction, The Hub. Our group swells to nine as friends of friends join in, ending up almost fifty-fifty between locals and visitors.There might be no financial cost to access the trails in Pisgah National Forest but there is a price to pay in the form of sweat equity as there always seems to be a one hour plus grind uphill before the fun begins. On todays agenda Buckwheat Knob and Bennett Gap. Combined, we are looking at a 640m (2100 feet) elevation drop over 6.9 km (4.3 miles), but first, we have to pony up for the above mentioned sweaty price tag, which today is 11km long 590m up along Avery Creek Road.Unlike the flow of Dupont, the trails in Pisgah are more like the flow of water, point it downhill and hold on. Turns are only inserted when absolutely necessary to avoid going off a cliff or hitting a tree. Stay focused, the roots and rocks are relentless, as are the smiles, what an awesome ride.Two days into our visit and we are adapting nicely to local bike life. A few hours on the trail then back to the epicentre of Brevard mountain biking which happens to be where Asheville and Pisgah Highway cross. Here you will find two bike shops, The Hub and Sycamore Cycles, a brewery, a BBQ joint and usually a couple food trucks in the parking lot. But the most sought-after post ride real-estate in the area is a bar stool at the end of the mechanics workbench at the Hub, AKA, the Pisgah Tavern. Yes, my Canadian friends, down here bike shops serve beer.There are about 140 km of trail in DuPont State Recreational Forest and thanks to todays GPS assistance its not hard to find your way around, that said, its hard to beat local knowledge. We meet up with Jenna and Barrett from Red Woulf Mountain Bike Tours at the Fawn Lake access point for a morning rip on Duponts less travelled trails. When I say less travelled, it has nothing to do with the quality of the ride, just that at the more popular trailheads you might find yourself in the company of dozens. The ride begins with instant smiles as we drop into a downhill right off the bat, then its follow the leader, uphill, downhill and repeat. We skirt lakes, crawl under waterfalls and take in grand views. Jenna, Barrett, thanks, that was so good. The best thing about it, I didnt have to pull out my phone or check a map just enjoy the ride.Before we head back into town in search of a bar stool, there is one more Dupont must do we have to check off our list. Cedar Rock, as the name implies rock is the star of this loop as it traverses giant slabs of eastern slick rock. The ride is super fun but its the view from the top that leaves the long-term impression.It sure feels like summer as sweat drips from my helmet and streaks down my glasses. We are half an hour into the climb and halfway into its length. Spring has sprung in Pisgah and its sunshine and short sleeves, our last day on the trails and its March in Brevard at its finest. Ask around, what is the best trail in Pisgah and it seems the variety of answers is equal to people asked. Rephrase the question to what is the most ridden trail, in which case Black Mountain filters to the top of the list.The trail is broken down to the top, middle and lower sections and while the more popular plan is to the access the middle and enjoy the spoils of the downhill, we push on upwards. Presenting our plan to a local we met along the climb, his advice was you dont want to go there! Yes we are aware that upper Black is more adventure than ride, as the gravel road climb ends, the hike a bike and scramble upwards begins. Our efforts are rewarded with spectacular views and then a long downhill run that goes from typical Pisgah, full on rocks and roots along the top and middle section, then finishes off with lower Black which has been sculpted into Pisgahs version of flow, awesome.No matter how many vacation days you have at your disposal when it comes to good times its never enough. March in Brevard, if you havent you should. Our four days just scratched the surface of the areas riding potential but it did deliver what we were after, fantastic trails, good vibes and sunshine. A trips success can be judged by the first words you speak when its over. Next time we should Yes Brevard, Dupont, Pisgah, till next time.While you can ride Transylvania County year round but you can expect a few snow days during the winter months. By March, spring is well underway with average temperatures that are short sleeve worthy. A perfect time for us northerners to head south, avoid summer crowds and get an early start to the mountain bike season.The area is well mapped and local advise is easy acquired. Hiring a guide is sometimes the best way to make the most of your time. The crew at Red Woulf Mountain Bike Tours and The Bike Farm will make sure you have an awesome time. Another option is attending one of the mid-week rides put on by Sycamore Cycles.For accommodations, its hard to beat the mountain bike friendly Pilot Cove. If camping is your thing, I can't recommend The Bike Farm highly enough. They are within minutes of Pisgah and offer ready-made sites and glamping tents as well. Another great spot is Davidson River Campground, located just inside Pisgah. Prices are low and they offer all the services you'd need. At Ash Grove Cabins and Camping you can choose between cabins or camping. There are also several free campsites that are available in Pisgah on a first come, first serve basis, as well as a number of private property rentals suitable for small or large groups.Special thanks to RSD Bikes and Brevard/Transylvania Tourism for the assistance in making this adventure happen. What do the following have in common: magic tricks, science fiction, ghosts, oversized insects, space aliens, vampires, the Devil, fairy tales, color, product placement, historical re-enactments, docu-drama, animation and pornography? The twofold answer is that they are all common elements in contemporary movies and they were all first rendered in motion pictures by one remarkable man, French magician-turned-filmmaker Georges Melies. Melies is the most important filmmaker youve (probably) never seen, or at least, havent seen enough of. Considering his importance, he remains surprisingly little-known, even to avowed film buffs. In a breathtakingly short span of 16 years, from 1896 to 1912, he made more than 500 movies, an extraordinary output of productivity. Admittedly, many of these movies were a mere minute or two long, and the first 70 or so were simple documentations of street scenes and so forth. They soon became far more complicated, however, reflecting Melies theatre background; incorporating elaborate sets, costumes, and a dizzying array of camera tricks that Melies himself invented. In his memoirs, the Frenchman would write of this outburst, The demon of invention tormented me, and this is easy to believe when considering the vocabulary of film that he single-handedly created. (Georges Melies, Mage et Mes Memoires par Georges Melies, Jean-Jacques Pauvert, editeur Paris, 1961) Melies grew up in Paris, the youngest son of a successful factory owner. His early interests included puppetry and stage magic, and as a young man he left factory work to buy the theatre that had belonged to the recently deceased Robert-Houdin, a hugely influential stage magician of the time. (So influential that Harry Houdini, a Hungarian-turned-American illusionist originally named Erik Weisz, took a variation of Robert-Houdins name as his own.) Melies stage career was reasonably successful, but everything changed on a December afternoon in 1895, when he was invited to an exhibition of the Lumiere brothers invention, the cinematographe. Melies sat in a cafe basement with 32 other astonished spectators and watching as pictures moved upon the wall. Melies, however, saw more than just pictures; he saw the future. He wasted little time. Within a few months he had a camera of his own, built from a modified design because the Lumieres wouldnt sell him one of their own (protesting that they couldnt take his money, that the camera was an invention without a future). Melies churned out films by the score those first months: street scenes, card games, factory gates, cityscapes, anything that was suitable for a moving picture which was, of course, just about anything at all. It seems impossible to parse the particular moment when a man changes from dabbler to visionary, but if any man has documented that moment it is Melies. In his Memoires considered by many to be less than entirely accurate Melies relates the incident that transformed him from documentarian to creator. One day, while shooting a street scene in Paris, the film jammed in his hand-cranked camera, and a few moments of judicious jiggling were needed to get the mechanism moving again. When he developed and screened the film, Melies was startled to see the substitutions that had taken place during the moments when the film was not advancing. Women changed into men, adults into children, horses into human beings, and most ominously an omnibus full of workers blinked into a hearse. Reliable or not, the story neatly encapsulates the filmmakers growth from observer to manipulator. Melies intuitively understood what had happened, and soon his movies were utilizing and expanding upon the substitution trick in such films as The Vanishing Lady (1896) and The Magician (1898). Other tricks followed: multiple exposures against a black background allowed Melies to sing and argue with his decapitated self in The Four Troublesome Heads (1989) or call forth ghostly spirits to glide across the screen in Blue Beard (1901). The Four Troublesome Heads (1898) Dissolves resulted in fade-ins and fade-outs; split screen exposures, in which half the lens was covered for one shot, then the other half for the rewound films subsequent exposure, allowed Melies to have conversations and argument with himself without the need for a black background. Double exposures combined with differing camera placement allowed midgets to converse with giants, or in the case of 1902s justly celebrated The Man with the Rubber Head allowed body parts to grow or shrink before the audiences disbelieving eyes. A cartoon spaceship splashes into the sea and is rescued by a cartoon steamship in 1902s A Trip to the Moon. Nor were his innovations limited to tricks of exposure and substitution; cleverly-placed tanks allowed fish to swim between the camera and the actors portraying divers in his faux-documentary Divers at Work on the Wreck of the Maine (1898). Melies was the first person who understood both the ramifications of the substitution technique, and the larger issues of film as a two-dimensional representation of three-dimensional space. As if that were not enough, his hand-colored films available to exhibitors at a considerable surcharge dazzled audiences 40 years before the arrival of the Technicolor splashed The Wizard of Oz. For a time, all this made Melies the most popular filmmaker in the world. Audiences loved the magic in his films the dizzying tricks and misdirection, such as the man who morphed into two men, then three, eventually seven, each playing a different musical instrument, all gesticulating wildly and hamming it up for the camera. (All, naturally, were played by Melies himself in 1900s One Man Band.) His appeal ranged far beyond tricks, though. Fairy tales like Cinderella (1899) were just as popular, as were historical recreations such as The Coronation of Edward VII (1902) which married location shots of Westminster Abbey to interior scenes filmed in Paris and such comic shorts as The Colonels Shower Bath (1902) or the multi-episode faux-documentary The Dreyfus Affair (1899). This remarkable series of nine films, most only about one-minute long, dramatized the plight of a Jewish captain in the French army who was convicted of treason, imprisoned, sentenced to death, pardoned, imprisoned again and finally released. Melies, who had served in the army himself, was outraged at what he felt to be unduly harsh treatment of a slandered man innocent of wrongdoing. His depiction of Dreyfus plight foreshadowed the docu-drama genre that would produce such films as The Insider (1999) and Erin Brockovich (2000). The Demon of Invention The Infernal Caldron (1903) The Demon of Invention Its doubtful that any single individual not Godard, not Fellini, not Kurosawa or Kubrick or Scorsese has exercised the totality of vision that Melies did over his work. More than anyone since, Melies was a true auteur. In our current age and for several decades prior the directors primary role has been that of a shepherd, leading his flock of 300-odd actors, cinematographers, set designers, wardrobe and props people, lighting and sound technicians, and so on. [The epic Troy (2004) reportedly employed five hair stylists, among other necessities.) Melies, on the other hand, was directly involved in every facet of his productions: he wrote the scripts, designed and helped build the sets, sketched out the costumes, directed the action, (usually) starred in the show, and edited the final product. Its doubtful that any single individual not Godard, not Fellini, not Kurosawa or Kubrick or Scorsese has exercised the totality of vision that Melies did over his work. For better or for worse, and it was usually for the better, the films we see today are reflections of what the artist carried in his head, without intervention from intermediaries. Usually for the better; sometimes not. Melies films are peppered with occasional unsavory depictions of savage Africans and goofy Chinese; one scene from The Palace of the Arabian Knights (1905) features a Buddhist priest in a mosque, making an animal sacrifice to a Hindu goddess while surrounded by vestal virgins. (Hey, whatever works.) Entire doctoral dissertations are waiting to be written about the depiction of gender in his oeuvre, with his women generally falling into two categories: pure, noble spirits [as in the heroic Joan of Arc (1900) or the innocent young wife who, in Blue Beard, stumbles upon a grim row of hanged women) or else oddly inhuman creatures, literal objects of the manipulators art. In The Vanishing Lady (1896), a magician tosses a sheet over a woman, causing her to disappear; she reappears as a skeleton, then returns to normalcy. Another woman is transformed from stone to flesh by the artists touch in The Magician (1898); the same year brought The Temptation of St Anthony, with its female temptresses, one of whom appears, jarringly, as a Jesus-substitute occupying a crucifix. In The Drawing Lesson (1903) a clownlike artist conjures up a woman piece by piece, who appears first as a statue, and then undergoes a bizarre transformation into a fountain. Also in 1903 came Extraordinary Illusions, in which Melies removes pieces of manniquins from a magical box and assembles them into a living woman, whom he dresses and undresses, transforms into feathers and finally disassembles. Women appear as stars and planets in A Trip to the Moon (1902), as the blades of a fan in The Wonderful Living Fan (1904) and as the Queen of Hearts in The Living Playing Cards (1905); elsewhere they are mermaids and fairies and butterflies and goddesses. Sometimes it seems that Melies is willing to see women as anything at all except actual human beings. All the chorus girls and dancing girls and matrons in crowd scenes are rarely asked to do anything significant or interesting. The titles of Eight Girls in a Barrel (1901) and Ten Ladies in an Umbrella (1903) are pretty much self-explanatory. However, any criticism along these lines must take into account the fact that in his films, no one suffers more at the hands of Melies than Melies himself. He is constantly tearing off his own head, being harassed by unseen forces, or as the Devil being chased away and vanquished. If Melies carried the prejudices of his time against women and minorities, as seems likely, he was equally ready to make fun of himself onscreen as well, and to poke fun at established white-male hierarchies such as the university and the army. (Although not, if we are to judge by his surviving films, the church.) So what does this all have to do with audiences nowadays? Well, quite a lot. As I write this, Avatar has become the highest-grossing movie in history, Twilight is a cultural phenomenon, and special-effects films like Clash of the Titans regularly fill movie houses. The cinema of the fantastic is alive and well; Georges Melies invented it. He placed vampires onscreen in 1897 with The Devils Castle, and sent travelers into space with A Trip to the Moon and The Impossible Voyage (1904), which is nothing less than a trip to the sun. He pioneered ornately staged, special-effects-laden work such as The Palace of the Arabian Knights (1905), The Merry Frolics of Satan (1906) and The Conquest of the Pole (1912) a 30-minute epic featuring an enormous ice-giant that eats an explorer and vomits him up again and would not be surprised at the longevity of the genre he helped create. Nor would Melies have raised an eyebrow at the long, long reach and profitability of the video porn industry. After all, he invented that too, when he dressed a thick-hipped actress named Jeanne Dalcy in a flesh-colored body suit and filmed her bathing in a 70-second opus called After the Ball (1897). Please dont ad block PopMatters. We are wholly independent, with no corporate backers. Simply whitelisting PopMatters is a show of support. Thank you. After the Ball doesnt look like much these days its more apt to elicit laughter than arousal but thats not the point. Its the first, faltering step of an industry that would continue unabated to such cultural touchstones as Deep Throat (1972) and beyond, to the Internet depravities of our age. In the same way, A Terrible Night (1896), with its oversized cockroach harrying a guy who just wants a good nights sleep, foreshadows giant-insect movies from Them! (1955) to Eight-Legged Freaks (2002). James Camerons Avatar, with its indigenous aliens resisting the imperial advances of Earthling soldiers and corporate executives, is a recognizable reinterpretation, or perhaps refutation, of Meliess most famous film, A Trip to the Moon. That movie, with its iconic image of the moons face, tells a surprisingly sinister story of a group of human scientists who, upon finding indigenous life on the moon, promptly try to eradicate it. Given the nature of the era, and the fact that the savage, alien Selenites carried spears and were ruled by an alien monarch, its not surprising that the audience was expected to identify with the civilized explorers/invaders. Its tempting to say that, without Melies, there would be no Avatar, no vampire movies, no Star Wars or Star Trek, no special-effects extravaganzas, no docu-dramas like Erin Brockovich or Monster the 2003 version with Charlize Theron no animation, no Walt Disney, and no porn. Tempting, yes, but wrong. Surely even without Melies, someone would have thought to draw pictures on paper and then move them a little at a time between frames. Someone would have thought to invent product placement by adding a consumer item to a scene, as Melies did with a gigantic bottle of champagne in Blue Beard. Without a doubt, someone would have eventually thought to turn the movie camera upon naked women or men! with or without the questionable benefit of a body stocking. Yet the fact remains that all of these things were done first by Georges Melies, not by Ferdinand Zecca or Thomas Edison or the Lumiere brothers. His remarkable vision deserves to be recognized and celebrated. For how often is an entirely new art form invented? When it is, consider how vital are the pioneers who, perhaps tormented by the demon of invention, urge that form into new, previously unimagined realms. The Man With The Rubber Head (1901) Kate Nashs second self-released album and fourth overall, Yesterday Was Forever took a lot of perseverance and dedication in its making, including a Kickstarter campaign. Those attributes make this a worthy record, and Nashs introspective lyrics explore her struggles and experiences openly across the albums collected tracks. Leading up to the albums release, Nash admitted the personal connections explored in the album, prominently highlighted by its frankness about mental health, morbidity, and sheer existence. Nashs pop sensibilities soften the rougher edges to the deeply personal lyrics, while simultaneously documenting the varied realities of day to day interactions and larger questions about life and death. Yesterday Was Forever is simply summed up by Nashs self-identification as contradictory, as the pop elements seemingly dont sync with the frank and at times darker lyrics. Yet, they generally work well together, an attribute Nash has enjoyed from her debut Made of Bricks in 2008 through her first self-released album, Girl Talk in 2013. The openness also carries from her career, but the distinction for this album is the success she wields in weaving together of danceable songs with lyrics about depression, anxiety, and even obsession. Tracks like Call Me, Take Away, Hate You, and Drink About You, incorporate those disparate elements perfectly, while a track like Body Heat directly examines the anxieties of modern relationships. Deep listening to the lyrics is required to hear the dynamic elements at work on the album, and this aspect lends to a problematic experience. Nash sings about confrontational and extremely worthy issues she has experienced and worked to overcome, yet the backdrop of a pop and dance-tinged album at times subverts that component. Karaoke Kiss illustrates this duality well, Nash sings about drinking too much, and it leads to an intimate interaction designed as necessary to create a feeling. The resulting anxieties from either a one-night stand or initiated relationship emerge, but the fun atmosphere generated by the music and style on the track belies the issues in the frank lyrics. It doesnt help that the lyrics are mixed on top, often slightly louder than the music, yet overshadowed by the bass and tone of the track overall. Nash sings of feeling so dark, but the track is conversely bright. Too contradictory. Nashs self-focus in the lyrics emerges most prominently on Musical Theatre, a track that tackles her depression and self-destruction. The music is interestingly subdued far behind her vocals, and the resilience demonstrated by her singing references real-life struggles Nash offers in interviews promoting the album. Within Musical Theatre she recounts the breaking down and offers a personal method of rebounding and recovering, with the music building in sound behind this transition. There is a range of styles explored across Yesterday Was Forever, too. In the latter half of the album, the darker lyrics in early tracks are more conceptually realized by contemporary dynamic and musical shifts. The mix in California Poppies blends similarly personal lyrics, sung with a screech at times and softly in the refrains, with music that purposefully complements those efforts before the song entirely fades, but loudly rather than softly. After an acoustic guitar-backed track taking apart a relationship in Always Shining, Nashs lyrics finally tell herself and us that everything will be alright on Today. The honesty of the album achieves its most honest admissions in Today, as Nash comforts herself and by extension, anyone listening to that has experienced similar fears or faults. The song tackles body image, self-defeat and destruction, and longing for more when everything seems to be falling in on her/you. It is a song about getting up and going on, despite those feelings, and again the lyrics drive the song and the music complements nicely. Except for My Little Alien, a quirky song about the effects of love and others entering your existence, the second half of the album is stronger than the first. Not that My Little Alien is a bad track, it is just an oddity alongside better composed, arranged, and mixed tracks like Twisted Up and the albums best track, closer To the Music I Belong. To the Music I Belong admits the reality Kate Nash intended by the album and her explorative lyrics about mental health and personal connections: that music, whether playing or listening, comforts and drives experiences in modern existence. Nash is a performer so her belonging to music is a twisted admission of the necessities of making music for income, as well as necessary to live and survive: Music is the only one / Music is by my side / Music will never leave / To the music, hold on / Music is the only one / All the music I own. Nashs generosity in admitting her fears coalesces in this track, and it best sums up the successes and relevance of Yesterday Was Forever. The album documents struggle, immediately by its attempt at blending day to day concerns through introspective lyrics with strong music that opines for fun and escape. Nash calls herself and this approach contradictory, and maybe thats the best way to describe this album, but that carries a semblance of dismissing the issues she sings through and the realities she and her fans, listeners, and others experience all too often. Assistant Columbia bureau chief Adcox returned to The Post and Courier in October 2017 after 12 years covering the Statehouse for The Associated Press. She previously covered education for The P&C. She has also worked for The AP in Albany, N.Y., and for The Herald in Rock Hill. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Thunderstorms likely. High 79F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening giving way to periods of light rain late. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Columbia/Myrtle Beach Managing Editor Andy Shain runs The Post and Courier's newsrooms based in Columbia and Myrtle Beach. He was editor of Free Times and has been a reporter and editor for newspapers in Charlotte, Columbia and Myrtle Beach. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication. Writings on the Wall This week I am going to talk about the race for governor, but first I want to mention booster shots. Last Wednesday, I went to the university Read more Alzheimer s disease Treatment Market Projected To Grow With Significant CAGR Over The Forecast Period Alzheimer s disease Treatment Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 09:34:55 Press Information Precision Business Insights Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX Satya Lead Marketing +1-866-598-1553 email https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com # 739 Words Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553 Global Alzheimer s disease Treatment Market : Alzheimers disease is a neurodegenerative autoimmune disorder that attacks brains nerve cells called neurons leading to cell death and degeneration. The common symptoms involved with Alzheimers diseases are disorientation, in cognition, personality and behavioral changes, memory loss and trouble in reading and writing. Alzheimers mostly affect the aged population who are 60 years or older which can lead to 60-70% of cases of dementia. The major cause of Alzheimer is genetic disorder and diseases caused by brain degeneration. The diagnostic tests include blood tests, cognitive testing with medical imaging. The risks involved with Alzheimers disease can be overcome by physical and mental activities and controlling obesity.A sample of this report is available upon request @According to the WHO, the rise in geriatric population at a significant growth is affecting the Alzheimers disease market positively and the CAGR is also expected to grow. Factors such patent expiration, R & D investments, new entries of generics, increase in the healthcare sectors are expected to push the growth of the Alzheimers disease market. In addition to that, newer and better drug discovery, the presence of vast market and buyers will also help the market grow. However, limited and precise diagnosis and detection of the Alzheimer disease, lack of government funding and limited treatment options for drugs and research can hamper the market growth for Alzheimers disease.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Alzheimers disease treatment market is divided as follows-1. Drug type Cholinesterase Inhibitors NMDA Receptor Antagonists Others2. Route of administration Oral Implants Others3. End-usersHospital Pharmacies, retail pharmacies and online pharmacies.Need more information about this report @And lastly, the Alzheimer disease treatment market is divided into geographical regions- North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. North America is the largest market for the Alzheimer drug usage due to excessive demand. According to the American Alzheimers Association, almost 5 million adults are suffering from Alzheimer disease due to increase in geriatric populations. Similarly, Alzheimers Association the UK is expected to grow due to more and more patients suffering from dementia contributing to the overall growth of the European Alzheimers disease treatment market. Also, a report based on United Nations Population Fund, people over 60 will be 12.3% of the worlds populations which is expected to surpass almost 22% by 2050. Some of the important players in the global Alzheimers disease treatment market are Eli Lilly and Company (U.S.), Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., (U.S.), AstraZeneca (U.K.), Pfizer Inc. (U.S.), Forest Laboratories (U.S.), are named to few. In 2014, Eli Lilly and AstraZeneca came together to co-develop a partial treatment beneficial for Alzheimers disease.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and global dominance of the disease among the older population, the cases of Alzheimer disease will be tripled, increasing the numbers to 13.8 million cases by 2050. However, drug failure, FDA rejection, etc. can hamper the market growth of the Alzheimers disease treatment market. For e.g. Eli Lilly Solanezumab and Pfizer/Johnson & Johnsons Bapineuzumab have failed to treat the symptoms during the clinical trials. On the other hand, the positive response and acceptance of FDA approved Cholinesterase inhibitors, and Memantine for the treatment of cognitive symptoms, Namzaric by Allergan are out in the market for the treatment of Alzheimers disease. Researchers and drug developmental companies can mask the symptoms but cannot stop the progression of the disease. With more government funding in R & D, in future, there will be newer ways to treat Alzheimers disease.Get access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com Toll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 13:00:18 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 393 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for American Manganese Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - American Manganese Inc. (TSX Venture:AMY). has issued a press release with the following headline:American Manganese Inc. Integrating Blockchain Technology to Source Lithium Ion Battery SupplyTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on American Manganese Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/American Manganese Inc.Source: American Manganese Inc. (TSX Venture: AMY, OTC Pink: AMYZF, FWB: 2AM, WKN: A0YJSR, ISIN: CA02735A1057)Date: May 03, 2018Time: 7:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of American Manganese Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment Market Projected To Grow With Significant CAGR Over The Forecast Period Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 11:48:05 Press Information Precision Business Insights Kemp House, 152 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX Satya Lead Marketing +1-866-598-1553 email https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com # 696 Words Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXLead Marketing+1-866-598-1553 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treatment Market:Chronic lymphocytic is a common type of leukemia of WBC in adults, it is also known as cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia. -cells lymphocytes are a type of WBC, which are produced in the bone marrow and developed in lymph nodes. These cells produce antibodies which fight infection. In chronic lymphocytic leukemia, -cells are produced in an uncontrolled fashion and segregate in blood and bone marrow and they crowd out healthy blood cells. Majorly, chronic lymphocytic leukemia occurs in adults, however, cases are seen in children too. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is diagnosed by testing complete blood count, gene test, flow cytometry and bone marrow tests.A sample of this report is available upon request @Due to increase in the number of cases, the market for chronic lymphocytic leukemia is expected to grow globally. According to WHO, chronic lymphocytic leukemia is more noticeable in developed nations such as North America and Europe due to genetic factors. The global increase in the number of the leukemia patients has increased from 123,379 in 2010 to 282,683 new cases for 2020. Factors such as genetic blood disorders, excessive exposure to carcinogenic chemicals and increase in aging population are contributing to the growth of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment market. In addition to the above factors rising awareness, new drug development and innovation in oncology department increased R & D, and increasing incidence of comorbidities can expedite the growth of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia market. However, high cost of the treatment, stringent regulatory policies can cause setback in the growth of the chronic lymphocytic leukemia.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment market is categorized as-1. Drug type Targeted Drugs Purine Analogues Alkylating Agents Corticosteroids Other Drugs2. Cancer type B-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia T-cell Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Natural Killer Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia3. Route of administration, Parenteral Oral Others4. End usersHospital Pharmacies, retail pharmacies, and online PharmaciesNeed more information about this report @And lastly, it is divided into 5 geographical regions- North America, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa and Asia-Pacific. According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 15,000 new cases that are surfacing every year in the US. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is more prominent in developed nations such as North America and Europe due to their sedentary and unhealthy lifestyle and genetic factors. The Asia-Pacific market will show considerable growth with the rise in R & D in the drug developing industries, and improving healthcare infrastructure in India and China.Some important companies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia market are Genzyme Corporation (US), Ono Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd. (Japan), AbbVie Inc. (U.S.), Infinity Pharmaceuticals (U.S.), AstraZeneca (UK), GlaxoSmithKline Plc (UK). In 2016, USFDA approved the drug name Venetoclax for the treatment chronic lymphocytic leukemia by Roche with 17p chromosome deletion and in 2014 Genentech had launched the GA101/RG7159 for the chronic lymphocytic leukemia treatment.With the global market still in the nascent stage, conventionally chemo drugs are still dominating the chronic lymphocytic leukemia market. For e.g. Rituximab, Imbruvica, and Idelalisib are chemotherapy drugs which are used alone or in combination for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Collaborative agreement and co-development are being accepted for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. For e.g. GSK and Genmab A/S have entered into co-development and collaborative agreement for the drug Arzerra (Ofatumumab), is used extensively for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.Get access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@ precisionbusinessinsights.com Toll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 05:01:02 Compass Offices latest addition takes the flexible office concept a step further. Compass Offices Continues to Push the Frontiers of Flexible Workspace in Hong Kong Compass Offices Brian King, +852-3975-2656 brian.king@compassoffices.com Compass Offices, Hong Kongs fast expanding flexible workspace provider has launched its own dedicated co-working space on the 5th floor of Silvercord Tower 2 right in the heart of Tsim Sha Tsuis business district. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502006 This new space will be an environment conducive to connection and collaboration, with a choice of private office suites and open plan co-working complete with a breakout area, cafe and casual hot desks. (Photo: Business Wire) Less than a stones throw away from the Ocean Terminal and the Harbour City Mall - one of the centerpieces of Hong Kong retail, this new space will be an environment conducive to connection and collaboration, with a choice of private office suites and open plan co-working complete with a breakout area, cafe and casual hot desks. The new floor creates a warm, contemporary environment with locally influenced details that encapsulate Compass Offices modern, bright, and stimulating interiors. Also considered are functional layouts and flow that encourage interaction and collaboration while respecting workers who may require isolated environments for heads-down work. When we approach designing a new space and its amenities, we draw inspiration from the personality of the location were moving into, the flare of its culture, the lessons learned from past spaces, and from the overall Compass Offices aesthetics. The end product is always completely unique, while still representing the Compass Offices brand and values explains Andrew Chung, Founder and CEO of Compass Offices. Compass Offices decided to incorporate co-working into their existing portfolio at the Silvercord Tower due to the rising demand for uniquely affordable workspaces in Hong Kong and across APAC. The resulting workplace is spread over three floors; the existing 11th and 17th floors with the new floor for co-working and private office space being the latest addition. By putting the business communitys best interests first, Compass Offices have created a work environment focused on openness, collaboration, community, sustainability, and accessibility. The common thread is this: that startups and SMEs work smarter and become more productive together as a community than alone. About Compass Offices Compass Offices is a dynamic community of industries and skill sets, connected by a collaborative mindset, supportive attitude and entrepreneurial spirit. Our clientele includes growing start-ups, entrepreneurs, independent professionals and enterprise teams. Founded in 2009, Compass Offices has grown to over 30 centres with a network of more than 10,000 workstations in eight cities in APAC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502006 PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 22:05:16 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 394 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Namibia Rare Earths Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Halifax, Nova Scotia (FSCWire) - Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (TSX Venture:NRE). has issued a press release with the following headline:Gecko Namibia Announces Acquisition of Shares of Namibia Rare Earths Inc.To view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Namibia Rare Earths Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Namibia Rare Earths Inc.Source: Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (TSX Venture: NRE, WKN: A1H9VG, ISIN: CA62986A1057, : )Date: May 03, 2018Time: 4:05 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Namibia Rare Earths Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 03:02:02 Global Switch First in Singapore to Adopt Design for Manufacturing and Assembly Methods for Data Centre Construction Sam Lee Managing Director, Singapore Global Switch +65 6213 9773 slee@globalswitch.com or Ali Ballantine Group Director, Marketing & Communications Global Switch +44 20 7802 5154 aballantine@globalswitch.com Global Switch, a leading owner and operator of large scale carrier and cloud neutral data centres in Europe and Asia-Pacific, announced that its Singapore Woodlands data centre, is the first project in the island state to adopt prefabricated mechanical and electrical and plumbing (MEP) modular techniques on a large scale. The data centre is due to launch later this year. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502006 Global Switch Singapore Woodlands (Photo: Business Wire) Earlier this month, a delegation from the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) led by Mr Neo Choon Keong, Deputy Chief Executive Officer (Industry Development), visited the development in order to view first-hand the advanced Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) methods being used to construct the project. Mr Neo commented, Global Switch Singapore Woodlands is contributing to our initiative to raise construction productivity. Visiting the site was an eye opener and we believe this project will boost the industrys confidence in adopting prefabricated MEP systems for higher productivity and quality, in line with Singapores construction industry transformation efforts. Gammon Construction, which were awarded the contract by Global Switch, are assembling over 60% of the MEP works off-site. This method of manufacturing elements off-site has multiple benefits including increased productivity, safety and quality. Singapore Woodlands, will be strategically located in the north of the island and physically distanced from Global Switchs existing Tai Seng data centre to meet dual occupancy demand. Global Switch Singapore Woodlands will provide 25,000 square metres of world-class critical infrastructure, supported by 30MVA of utility power supply capacity. The SGD280 million data centre will host multiple connectivity options with the ability to directly access the dense networks currently operating from within Global Switch Tai Seng, which is recognised as one of the leading communication hubs in the Asia-Pacific region and has significant sub-sea cable system infrastructure present. Singapore Woodlands will be a leading example of an environmentally sustainable data centre and will be targeting a Platinum BCA Green Mark as well as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Rating. The data centre will have a design PUE of 1.38, with reconfigurable and highly efficient power and cooling distribution, variable speed fans and high energy efficient CRAH units. Sam Lee, Global Switchs Managing Director for Singapore, stated We were extremely pleased to host the delegation led by the BCA and were delighted to receive such acknowledgement for the approach we have taken with construction of Global Switchs second data centre in Singapore. Singapore Woodlands is on target to launch at the end of 2018 and will become Global Switchs twelfth data centre in our portfolio. It follows closely on from the launch of the first stage of our Hong Kong data centre as well as the completion of our Sydney East data centre at the end of last year. Singapore Woodlands will deliver a highly resilient environment allowing scalable and flexible solutions supported by numerous connectivity options. It is also designed to meet best-in-class operational and environmental management processes and will operate to Tier III plus standards. --- ENDS --- NOTES TO EDITORS: About Global Switch Global Switch is a leading owner, operator and developer of large-scale, carrier and cloud neutral, multi-customer data centres in Europe and Asia-Pacific. Founded in 1998, Global Switch has a proven business model, demonstrable track record and is the highest credit rated data centre company in the world with investment grade credit ratings from Fitch, Moodys and Standard & Poors. Global Switch is a vital and strategic partner for customers that require secure and resilient data centre services with scalable capacity and a high level customer service. The Company's focus is on highly resilient, central, low latency, network dense locations in prime city centre locations and internet hubs close to its customers on the edge of financial and business districts. Global Switchs data centres operate exclusively in the Tier I markets of Europe and Asia-Pacific to Tier III or higher and currently total around 340,000 sq m (3,650,000 sq ft) of floor space and are occupied by a broad range of customers, global and national, large and small including government organisations, financial institutions, enterprises, global systems integrators, telecommunication carriers, cloud and managed service providers and other hosting businesses. For more information visit: www.globalswitch.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502006 PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 04:02:02 SYDNEY, Australia and MINNEAPOLIS, May 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medibio Limited (MEB or the Company) (ASX:MEB) (OTCQB:MDBIF), a mental health technology company, is pleased to confirm it has received CE (Conformite Europeenne) Marking certification for its first release technology product and platform. Demonstrating that the product complies with European health and safety standards, the CE Marking was granted on 2 May 2018 (GMT) by DQS Med for Medibio's product and platform. The successful introduction of rest of world applications in key countries will provide Medibio with the ability to further commercialize its technology and platform in alignment with our strategic plans for additional product releases. Supported by its technological and scientific platform, Medibio's product enables clinicians and individuals to evaluate stress-level phenotypes, combined with dimensional circadian heart-sleep biometrics and physiological biometrics. With the support of Medibio's app-based and web-based scientific platforms, this comprehensive system will allow for the non-invasive, comprehensive evaluation and monitoring of mental health. "Acquiring CE Marking represents the successful completion of a lengthy and thorough evaluation process, and marks an important threshold for the company. We are pleased to have delivered against this key milestone. Alongside the recent announcement of our corporate mental health product, this accomplishment provides further validation of the product offering and technology," said CEO and Managing Director, Jack Cosentino. "We are eager to progress to a new phase, and committed across the organization to deliver exceptional product quality and operational excellence as we work towards transforming mental health care delivery." About Medibio Limited Medibio (ASX:MEB) (OTCQB:MDBIF) is a mental health technology company that has pioneered the use of objective biometrics to assist in the screening, diagnosing, monitoring and management of depression and other mental health conditions. The company offers comprehensive mental health solutions for business through its Corporate Health programs and is developing products to serve both the consumer and regulated healthcare provider markets. The company was founded in Australia, with offices located in Melbourne (Vic), Perth (WA), and U.S. offices in Minneapolis, MN. Medibio is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange Ltd and trades on the OTCQB Venture Market. Investors can find additional information on www.otcmarkets.com and www.asx.com.au. PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 22:00:17 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 391 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Namibia Rare Earths Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Halifax, Nova Scotia (FSCWire) - Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (TSX Venture:NRE). has issued a press release with the following headline:Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Closes $4,000,000 Private PlacementTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Namibia Rare Earths Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Namibia Rare Earths Inc.Source: Namibia Rare Earths Inc. (TSX Venture: NRE, WKN: A1H9VG, ISIN: CA62986A1057, : )Date: May 03, 2018Time: 3:59 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Namibia Rare Earths Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 08:10:15 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 376 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Centamin plc--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Perth, Australia (FSCWire) - Centamin plc (TSX:CEE). has issued a press release with the following headline:Q1 2018 ResultsTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Centamin plc, or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Centamin plcSource: Centamin plc (TSX: CEE, LSE: CEY)Date: May 03, 2018Time: 2:10 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Centamin plc and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 08:03:01 Tech Nations website and corporate brand are revealed at www.technation.io Tech Nations expanded mission is to connect ambitious digital tech entrepreneurs across the UK. The Solar logo - illustrates how Tech Nation will build a network of networks to help support digital tech founders wherever they are, as a connected hub that radiates energy and ideas for the tech sector Tech Nation Takes Off Burlington.cc for Tech Nation Sayula Kirby sayula@burlington.cc Tel. 07909 985 621 A new voice for the UKs fast-growing digital tech sector was launched today. Tech Nation the UK network for ambitious tech entrepreneurs is a new organisation that combines and expands the activities and reach of Tech City UK and Tech North, which have been helping to accelerate the digital tech sector in London and the North of England. The Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced plans to create Tech Nation last November. The organisation came into being on 2 April 2018. Its first major event will be the launch of its nationwide 11 city Tech Nation on Tour and release of its respected annual research report Tech Nation 2018, at an event in London on 17 May. Tech Nation works to accelerate the growth of the digital tech sector across the UK, help ambitious founders succeed, increase digital skills, share learning and knowledge between sectors and communities and help present the UK tech sector on the world stage. The organisation will do this through: Growth programmes Tech Nation programmes like Upscale and Future Fifty will expand to reach more companies. The organisation will also introduce new sector programmes like Fintech Insights Tech Nation will produce data and research that shines a light on the sector and help inform policy decisions Visas Tech Nation will work to attract international tech talent to the UK by providing access to tier 1 Exceptional Talent visas Networks Tech Nation will promote the tech sector across the country, by establishing a virtual networks of like-minded companies and individuals, who will be able to share experience, best practice and knowledge. Gerard Grech, chief executive of Tech Nation, said: The UK has an amazing creative digital tech sector that is the envy of Europe and second in the world only to the US. To make sure we continue to be a global tech powerhouse, Tech Nation will work to harness the power of entrepreneurs into a national network. By passing on knowledge, expertise and connections, we can support those in the sector to grow faster than ever. As Britain prepares to leave the EU and to strike trade deals around the world, it is the right time to form a national body that works to encourage the expansion of the tech sector across the whole country. With the UK already demonstrating global leadership in sectors like Fintech and Artificial Intelligence, we will link businesses working in the sectors across the country to leverage their knowledge and expertise. Tech Nations brand identity is designed to emphasise the organisations role in bringing people together so that they benefit from shared knowledge, experience and expertise. The award-winning design team, Adrian and Zoe Philpott, created the logo. Called the Solar, the logo illustrates a central hub that radiates energy, a place where illuminating ideas converge and where rays of innovation can be shared. The website technation.io features details on all Tech Nation programmes and how to apply for them. It also provides information on the Tech Nation visa scheme and how to begin an application. Blogs and video content about the digital tech sector across the country can also be found on the website. Information about Tech Nation and contact details for the organisation are also displayed. Tech Nation begins its Tech Nation on Tour journey to 11 UK tech clusters in May. The Tour will create opportunities for communities around the country to discuss the findings of the 2018 report and learn about Tech Nations plans to serve the UKs vibrant tech ecosystem. Tech Nation will host events across the country from May to mid-October, the dates are as follows: Thurs 17th May am - London Wed 24th May am - Cambridge Thurs 21st June pm - Edinburgh Wed 27th June pm - Newcastle Wed 18th July am - Reading Thurs 26th July - Belfast Wed 12th Sept pm - Bristol Wed 19th Sept am - Birmingham Thurs 27th Sept pm - Leeds Thurs 4th Oct pm - Manchester Thurs 11th Oct pm - Cardiff To get involved with one or more of these events, please go to www.technation.io ENDS View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502006 PR-Inside.com: 2018-05-03 04:06:58 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 1129 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 JAKARTA, Apr 30, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - Wintermar Offshore Marine ( WINS.JK) has announced 1Q2018 results. Driven by an improvement in vessel utilization, Owned Vessel revenue jumped 48% to US$14 million, compared with a loss of US$0.3 million in 1Q2017. This comprised 84% of the quarter's revenue, boosting the overall gross margin to 20%, compared to -2% for 1Q2017.Total revenue for 1Q2018 stood at US$16.6 million, up 27% compared to 1Q2017, reflecting the recovery in the oil and gas industry. Total gross profit stood at US$3.3 million, compared with a loss of US$0.3 million for 1Q2017.Owned Vessels DivisionOwned Vessel Utilization rose to 70% for 1Q2018 compared to only 50% in 1Q2017, supported by better utilization of mid- and high-tier vessels which had been idle in the same period last year. The new vessel purchased during 4Q2017 also contributed positively.With a higher number of vessels becoming operational, crew costs also increased by 19% to US$2.45 million and maintenance costs rose by 56% to US$0.9 million, as vessels which were previously warm stacked were mobilized for work.Fuel costs also increased 159% to US$0.4 million, resulting from a new "wet contract" where fuel is included in the vessel owner's cost. Depreciation fell slightly to US$6.7 million as a result of vessel sales and impairments taken in 2017.This quarter saw the start of a collaboration with a new consortium to provide air diving and ROV services on our modified AHTS vessel, for the inspection of underwater pipelines. Contracts in Papua New Guinea and Seismic work in Eastern Indonesia also concluded during the quarter, and the vessels which were deployed in those projects underwent maintenance to prepare for new contracts beginning in 2Q2018.Chartering and Other ServicesThe Chartering Division saw a 41% decline in revenue to US$1.7 million compared to US$2.9 million in 1Q2017, following the completion of a drilling project last year which has not been renewed. Management continues to prioritise Owned Vessels for tendering as the margins are higher. Gross profit from chartering fell by 90% from US$0.56 million in 1Q2017 to US$58,000 for the same quarter this year.The fall in income from the Chartering Division was offset partially by an 81% YoY rise in gross profit from Other Services to US$ 0.4 million, owing to higher ship management income and fees relating to completion of one of our contracts.Indirect Expenses and Operating ProfitIndirect expenses fell slightly by 4% YoY to US$1.8 million for 1Q2018, mainly as a result of lower staff expenses, while other marketing expenses rose because of much more activity in tendering.After a year of operational losses, the Company turned in an Operating Profit for 1Q2018, which amounted to of US$1.5 million. This compares with an operating loss of US$2.2 million in 1Q2017.Other expenses and interest bearing debtInterest expenses fell by 26% in 1Q2018 to US$1.6 million. The Company paid down a significant amount of debt over the past 12 months, thus reducing interest bearing debt by US$29 million as at end March 2018 compared to one year ago at March 2017.Apart from fully paying off loans on two vessels in 1Q2018, there was a debt prepayment made, using part of the proceeds of new equity issuance received in the quarter. Two old vessels were sold for scrap and one low tier vessel was committed to be sold in April, resulting in a small loss on sale of fixed asset amounting to US$0.2 million.EBITDAEBITDA for 1Q2018 jumped by 72% YOY to US$8.2 million as compared to US$4.8 million in 1Q2017, reflecting much better operational results from Owned Vessels.Net Loss Attributable to ShareholdersThe Net Loss Attributable to Shareholders fell to US$1.3 million for 1Q2018 compared to a loss of US$ 4 million in 1Q2017.Industry OutlookOil Prices continued to be robust in 1Q2018, finally rising above US$70 per barrel in April for the first time since 2014 on tensions in the Middle East and Venezuela.Although activity has picked up, OSV charter rates are still weak as there is still an oversupply of vessels. New Projects are also being approved at much lower costs, driving more efficiency in the industry. Over the quarter we noticed more transactions of older vessels, and some troubled companies going under, as well as a few fortunate ones being rescued. Scrapping of rigs and OSVs continued, which is taking the demand and supply balance to a better level.Globally, the rising geo-political risks in 2018 have triggered upward adjustments to oil price forecasts by EIA and the World Bank for the next few years, supporting a stronger business outlook for oil support services.In Indonesia, SKK Migas has announced that there are 50 upstream oil and gas projects due to start production in the next ten years that are expected to produce 84,700 bpd of petroleum output and 6,100 mmscfd of gas, with a total investment of Rp160 trillion (US$11.9 billion). Of these 50 projects, 30 are offshore fields.Not included in the projections are two large projects, which are in the process of Front End Engineering Studies, which are the Indonesian Deepwater Development (IDD) Project and the Masela Field, which if approved to proceed, will significantly increase the level of drilling activities in future years.Business OutlookThere are some longer term tenders in progress, but commencement begins in 3Q2018 onwards. In the meantime the higher tier fleet will be deployed on spot contracts. The plan is to continue to sell older and low tier vessels in line with keeping a younger fleet, and we hope to book more vessel sales in the coming months.The tendering activity in 2Q2018 combined with a lower net gearing ratio of 44% by end 1Q2018 compared to 50% as at end December 2017 should contribute to better profitability in the second half of the year.Total contracts on hand as at end March 2018 were US$83.4 million.About Wintermar Offshore Marine GroupWintermar Offshore Marine Group ( WINS.JK) , developed over 40 years with a track record of quality that is both a source of pride and responsibility that we are dedicated to upholding, sails a fleet of more than 70 Offshore Support Vessels ready for long term as well as spot charters. All operated by experienced Indonesian crew, tracked by satellite systems and monitored in real time by shore- based Vessel Teams.In 2011, Wintermar became the first shipping company in Indonesia to be certified with an Integrated Management System by Lloyd's Register Quality Assurance, comprising ISO 9001:2008 (Quality), ISO14001:2004 (Environment) and OHSAS 18001:2007 (Occupational Health and Safety). For more information, please visit www.wintermar.com Contact:Ms. Pek Swan Layanto, CFAInvestor RelationsPT Wintermar Offshore Marine TbkTel: +62-21-530-5201 Ext 401Email: investor_relations@ wintermar.com Source: Wintermar Offshore Marine GroupTopic: Press release summarySectors: Marine/OffshoreFrom the Asia Corporate News NetworkCopyright 2018 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network. Nigerian energy firm, Forte Oil, on Wednesday said it plans to quit operations in Ghana. Reuters reports that the firm plans to sell its upstream services and power businesses in Nigeria and divest from Ghana to focus on its core fuel distribution operation at home. The move comes as a surprise for a company that recently announced plans to aggressively pursue opportunities along the energy value chain. Forte Oils Chief Executive, Akin Akinfemiwa, told investors in Lagos in August that the company also wanted to acquire marginal oilfields to boost its upstream business. Reports said the company, majority owned by billionaire Femi Otedola, had also been in talks with a major refinery to form a strategic partnership for local refining of petroleum products. Forte Oils share price plunged 49 per cent last year after the company struggled to get hard currency to import products. It now has a total market value of 57.3 billion naira ($188 million) but gave no indication on Wednesday of how much the businesses for sale might fetch. It said interest costs attributable to the businesses to be sold stood at N2.2 billion as of December and It now plans to seek shareholder approval for the sale on May 23 and appoint advisers. In 2016, the Nigerian government increased petrol prices by 67 per cent to 145 naira to cut subsidies paid for fuel imports. The development came after a plunge in oil prices hit state revenues, caused dollar shortages and halted infrastructure projects with firms laying off tens of thousands of workers. The hike however did not prevent gasoline shortages which have plagued Nigerians for much of 2017 and 2018. In a notice, Forte oil did not give a reason for the change in direction but said the downstream sector in Nigeria had gone through changes in recent years and was expected to evolve further. It added that the industry has operated under a tightly regulated fixed margin but could be deregulated especially given its impact on the Nigerian currency and import bill. The Federal Government has begun a campaign to sensitise Nigerians on the implications and opportunities of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiative of the African Union (AU). The Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN) in a statement on Wednesday said it kicked off the country-wide campaign in Kano State for the North-West zone, in compliance with the directive by President Mohammadu Buhari to deepen understanding of AfCFTA among Nigerians. The 18th Ordinary Session of the Heads of States and Governments of the African Union (AU) in 2012 had agreed to establish the AfCFTA. On March 21 this year in Kigali, Rwanda, a summit attended by 44 African leaders finally adopted and signed the agreement establishing the AfCFTA. Nigeria, however, was one of the countries that did not attend the summit to sign the agreement as President Buhari said government would further consult with stakeholders before taking a final decision on the continental trade pact. The decision of Mr Buhari to shun the summit in Rwanda elicited criticism from a section of Nigerians, including former president Olusegun Obasanjo who described it as a missed opportunity to assert the countrys leadership role in the continent. In its statement on Wednesday on the impact of the AfCFTA, NOTN said upon entry into force, with the deposit of 22 instruments of ratification, the AfCFTA shall be the largest Free Trade Area (FTA) in the global economy. This will boost job creation through increased intra-African Trade and expand market access for Nigerias exporters of goods and services, covering a market of over a billion Africans with a combined GDP of US$2.5 trillion. The Chief Negotiator at NOTN, Chiedu Osakwe, at the sensitisation programme in Kano said In implementing the directive of President Buhari to sensitive and consult nation-wide, we shall make the AfCFTA count in the range of efforts underway to trigger a catapult effect for Nigerias growth and job creation. Today, Kano, for the Northwest, caused a first class lift off, Mr Osakwe said. Governor of Kano State, Abdullahi Ganduje, who was represented at the event by the state Secretary to the State Government, Usman Usman, said the state was willing to take specific steps to reactivate and update historic trade corridors with the objective of boosting Nigerian exports and intra-African trade. He also urged participants to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area for the economic growth of their respective states, Nigeria and Africa in general. According to NOTN, when the AfCFTA is fully implemented, Nigeria stands to benefit from rules-based trade governance in intra-African trade to ensure fair trade and legal right to use trade remedies to safeguard the Nigerian economy from dumping and injurious trade practices. As estimated by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), AfCFTA will expand the size of Africas economy to US$29 trillion by 2050. Nigeria as the biggest economy in Africa stands to benefit tremendously from this, it said. U.S. Army Special Forces have secretly deployed to Saudi Arabias border with Yemen to help battle Houthi rebels, U.S. media reported on Thursday. In what it called a continuing escalation of Americas secret wars, the New York Times, citing U.S., European and Arab officials, reported that a team of about a dozen U.S. Army Green Beret commandos arrived at the border region in December. The U.S. Special Forces are providing training and helping the Saudi military locate and destroy missile caches and launch sites that Houthi rebels have used to attack cities in the kingdom. The team is closely coordinating with U.S. intelligence analysts in the Saudi city of Najran to try to locate Houthi missile sites in Yemen, the report added. The Pentagon has said that the U.S. militarys involvement in Yemen is limited to aircraft refuelling missions, intelligence sharing and other logistical support. Lawmakers have pressed President Donald Trumps administration to reveal more about the Pentagons mission in Yemen, and some have proposed legislation that would limit U.S. involvement in the conflict. Since March 2015, a Saudi-led coalition of mostly Persian Gulf countries has been carrying out airstrikes against the Houthis at the request of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi. Human rights organisations have criticised the Saudi-led coalition for engaging in indiscriminate bombings during which thousands of civilians have been killed. According to the UN, a record 22 million people in Yemen, or 75 per cent of the population, remain in need of immediate humanitarian aid. (Sputnik/NAN) North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has told visiting Chinese diplomat on Thursday that he is committed to denuclearisation, Chinas foreign ministry said. The ministry said the Korean leaders comment followed diplomatic efforts to bring lasting peace to the Korean peninsula. China is North Koreas most important economic and diplomatic supporter in spite of its anger at North Korea repeated nuclear and missile tests, and its support for strong UN sanctions against the North. However, China also welcomed moves by North Korea to improve ties with South Korea and the U.S. Chinas top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, is visiting North Korea following recent historic meeting between South Korean President, Moon Jae-in and the Norths Kim Jong Un, when both pledged to improve ties. The North surprised the world several days before the summit by declaring it would dismantle its nuclear test site to transparently guarantee its dramatic commitment to stop all nuclear and missile tests. Meeting in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, Kim told Wang that recent positive changes on the peninsula were beneficial to a peaceful resolution, Chinas foreign ministry said in a statement. Kim Jong Un said achieving the denuclearisation of the peninsula is the firm position of the North Korean side, the ministry said. Wang told Kim that North Korea had seized the day and made a decisive decision, bringing positive changes. Last weeks summit talks between the leaders of the two Koreans had brought about an opportunity for a political resolution. China supported an end to the state of war on the peninsula, North Koreas shift to economic development and the resolution of North Koreas legitimate security concerns during the denuclearisation process. China is willing to maintain communication with North Korea on this and increase coordination, Wang stressed. Wang also met North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. (Reuters/NAN) Those to be elected into offices in the forthcoming 2019 general election must make healthcare delivery a priority, Nigerias medical experts have said. The charge was the focal point of a town hall meeting on politics and healthcare delivery organised Tuesday by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to kick start its 58th Annual Delegates Meeting and Scientific Conference. The event, which was chaired by a former Minister for Information, Jerry Gana, also had a host of dignitaries in attendance including legislators, representatives from different political parties, the electoral body, civil and non-governmental organizations among others. In his opening remark, the president of the NMA, Mike Ogirima, highlighted many critical challenges bedevilling the countrys health sector. He said the health and socio-demographic indices of Nigeria are a source of shame and ridicule to every patriotic citizen of Nigeria. Nigeria constitutes only 2 per cent of the world population but is contributes 14 per cent of maternal mortality for example. Up to 64 per cent of our pregnant women still deliver without the assistance of skilled birth attendants, Mr Orgirima, a medical doctor, said. He noted that same narrative applies to many others infant and child mortality, HIV/AIDS & TB, the non-communicable diseases, accidents and injuries, including the menace of insurgency as some parts of the nation have been converted to a theatre of war with attendant loss of lives. On the social developmental space, he said worsening poverty and ignorance have contributed to the unacceptable high population of out of school children and poor rates of girl child education. In Nigeria, About 70 million people lack access to safe drinking water, over 110 million lacked access to improved sanitation in 2013, and open defecation rates at 28.5 per cent, pose grave public health risks across the land. Not doing well is neither in our genes nor is it a curse from the gods, the NMA leader queried rhetorically. Former NMA President, Mike Ogirima, a professor of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery 2019 is now around the corner. They have started canvassing for our support and vote. We must engage the politicians differently this time. We must bring issues to the table. We must resolve to educate and enlighten Nigerians as 2019 beckons, not to be carried away by sentiments, ethnicity, religion or sugar coated soap vituperations, but to ask what plans the politicians have for them to improve healthcare delivery and other sectors and how they intend to achieve them. Also speaking, Toyin Saraki, the wife of the Senate President, decried the low coverage of the National Health Insurance Scheme. She said same amount of money allotted to defence should also be allotted to health. For every dollar spent on health, four is spent on defence. Same amount should be allotted to both sectors as they are critical, she noted. Using a projection slide, Oyewale Tomori, the Chairman, National Bio-vaccines, explained the pattern of trend in the health sector from the 1880s till date. Mr Tomori, a professor, described as worrisome that Nigeria is still battling the same diseases that plagued the country years ago. For Mike Egboh, to get health right, charity should begin at home. Mr. Egboh decried the protracted rivalry between medical doctors and other health workers. He said the both professional bodies should unite and speak with one voice for a better deal for the health sector. Tony Enihari said medical doctors always appear to shy away from politics. Doctors dont care when it comes to politics. The NMA should get more involved in politics so as to have enough influence in driving a better deal for the health sector. Do not rely on political parties because they are all the same. Take this campaign on prioritisation of health as a major influencer in the forthcoming election to the grass roots, units, states and the national level so the candidates and prospective electorates will put health on their topmost list. Various political parties were also allowed to explain how they will tackle the challenges facing the health sector if they gain power. The ban on codeine by the federal government has sparked mixed reactions across the country. The federal government on May 1 ordered an immediate ban on the issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as an active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparation. The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, who gave the directive, said the move became necessary due to the gross abuse of codeine in the country. In 2016, an investigation, published on PREMIUM TIMES, by the Nigeria-based International Centre for Investigative Reporting published a two-part investigation showed how codeine and other substantives were threatening a generation of young Nigerians of Northern origin While some Nigerians believe the ban is a welcome development, others, however call for a thorough investigation into the illegal production as well as distribution of the product. Reacting to the ban, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Lanre Tejuoso (APC, Ogun Central), stressed the need to address the issue of open drug markets which is responsible for unwholesome drug distribution. The #codeine #DrugAbuse trend, especially among our youth population is not news. We need to address the issue of open drug markets which is responsible for unwholesome drug distribution. Can you imagine? 3 million bottles of codeine consumed in Kano & Jigawa alone? Major problem, he tweeted via his official twitter handle. Another lawmaker, Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna Central) described codeine as an opium that symbolises social dislocation and societal collapse. He also expressed dissatisfaction at how the product has mentally deformed the generation. Codeine is an opium that symbolizes our social dislocation and societal collapse. What we have is a system that has over the years ostracized and mentally deformed a generation, dispatching them to seek solace in aphrodisiac . Codeine is a problem and the bigger problem remains a corrosive socio economic order that created a state of hopelessness. We must continue to work hard in order to change it so as to give meaning to the lives of our young ones, Mr Sani posted on his Facebook page. Another senator representing Bayelsa East senatorial district, Ben Murray-Bruce was, however, said the federal government should ban bad governance in place of the product. He blamed the government (himself inclusive) of the influence of codeine on Nigerians. Instead of banning codeine, Nigeria should ban the bad governance that makes young people so desperate that they have nothing to look forward to in life. We cant keep insulting them for being uneducated when we dont build schools or as lazy when we dont provide jobs for them, he tweeted. Below are the reactions of some Nigerians on Facebook: Muhammed Muzdaleefa wrote: There is some good sense in what is captured above. We must in every respect support in totality any move aimed at disbanding our social ills. Those providing codeine to our teeming youths for political thuggery must be mindful of the fact that their children will never be immuned from this bush fire. Mb Saleh wrote: So no commendation for the Buhari led FG for banning the production and distribution of all drugs containing codeine? Jagunmolu Lasisi wrote: Codeine is the new Cocaine in Nigeria now. ADVERTISEMENT Below are some reactions from other Nigerians on twitter: Heartbreaking and distressing watching conversations on #codeine addiction become a north vs south issue. Nigeria breaks my heart everyday. Why can't we understand that unless we unite and fight all the scourges, together as one , we have no hope? Kadaria Ahmed (@KadariaAhmed) May 1, 2018 Banning Emzor #codeine is not the answer to the drug abuse trend. We are talking about People who are trying everything, (from sniffing petrol to pit toilet) just to get high. How long will it take them to find another drug to abuse? Samuel Nwite (@sunansammy) May 1, 2018 Can't get over the images &stories that I saw & heard in the #Codeine documentary. Such a shame that popular & influential musicians are endorsing habits that are killing off a generation #diet #codeinediet. Bt hey not everyone believes their influence should be used positively Bolanle Olukanni (@bolanleolukanni) April 30, 2018 Ban #codeine and #Tramadol booms Ban #Tramadol and #methylatedSpirit booms Ban #methylatedSpirit and we still have to deal with Evostic Pit toilet sniffing Paracetamol sniffing Alabukun sniffing CLEAR THE MYTH (@MRoseConsult) May 1, 2018 Dear NIGERIANS, The target isn't #codeine ban, but OML 141 operated by Emerald Energy Resources Limited where Mrs Stella Chinyelu Okoli (OON) is Board Member, & she is also the Founder/CEO of Emzor Pharmaceuticals. Oil licenses will be renewed soon Join the dots, use your head. Onyechimeleze 1 (@KolawoleIlori14) May 1, 2018 3. How Is Codeine Abused? There are people that drink 100mls of cough syrup with codeine ALL AT ONCE. Some people mix it with alcohol or carbonated drinks such as coke, sprite and lacasera.#codeine #codeineisnotwater #Notodrugabuse #Tramadol Tramadol is not food (@NoToDrugAbuse) May 1, 2018 Parents, Guardians, Teachers, Religious Organizations: They have to be vigilant. If you notice any unusual behavior from your teen or youth, don't assume. Ask questions, investigate, then if necessary, send your child to see a doctor immediately.#Codeine #codeineisnotwater Tramadol is not food (@NoToDrugAbuse) May 1, 2018 A ban on #codeine may be a good move but not the solution to our problem. A fix in the pharmaceutical industry is. Until we stop to sell medicines in markets and with or without prescriptions then we are not up for a change in this matter honestly. #EndArewaDrugAbuse Maryam Walida (@Mwaleedah) May 1, 2018 https://twitter.com/Peters_Sage/status/991401890540859393 https://twitter.com/TAYOADULOJU/status/991399327493967872 British marketing research firm, Cambridge Analytica and its parent company, SCL Election, are shutting down operation after being caught in a major scandal of misusing users data obtained from Facebook. In a press release late Wednesday, the firms blamed negative media coverage that followed revelations of their alleged misuse of over 15 million Facebook users data which they allegedly obtained from the social networking giant under false pretense. Cambridge and SCL Elections filed applications to commence insolvency proceedings in the U.K. The company is immediately ceasing all operations and the boards have applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP to act as the independent administrator for Cambridge Analytica, the statement said. The statement added that media siege had driven away virtually all of the companys customers and suppliers and as a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration. Different accounts said it was possible that as many as 87 million users data might have been collected in the Facebook scandal linked to Cambridge Analytica in a ruthless bid to profile prospective voters and target them for campaign ads in several countries, especially the United States. Internal company documents made public by some Cambridge Analytica former employees alleged that SCL Election was involved in questionable election practices in Nigeria since 2007. During the 2015 elections, Cambridge allegedly deployed scare tactics to dissuade potential voters of Muhammadu Buhari after being contracted by an unnamed businessman with ties to then-incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, the UK Guardian reported. President Buhari and former President Goodluck Jonathan Mr Jonathan denied asking any businessman to contract Cambridge Analytica for him and also denied entering into any contract with the marketing firm. The companies addressed the allegations contained in the wave of scrutiny they received, saying Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas. In further denying the allegations, the companies said an independent investigator who was hired to probe the companies practices found no wrongdoing. In light of those accusations, noted Queens Counsel Julian Malins was retained to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations regarding the companys political activities. Mr Malins report, which the Company posted on its website today, concluded that the allegations were not borne out by the facts. Regarding the conclusions set forth in his report, Mr Malins stated: I had full access to all members of staff and documents in the preparation of my report. My findings entirely reflect the amazement of the staff, on watching the television programmes and reading the sensationalistic reporting, that any of these media outlets could have been talking about the company for which they worked. Nothing of what they heard or read resonated with what they actually did for a living,' the statement said. The company maintained its innocence but said it would shut down notwithstanding after losing all its clients and suppliers and discovered that its brand had been irreparably damaged. Despite the companys precarious financial condition, Cambridge Analytica intends to fully meet its obligations to its employees, including with respect to notice periods, severance terms, and redundancy entitlements, it said. Most of the operational equipment used by the Nigeria Police Force Armoured Personnel Carriers, vehicles, body armours, communications equipment and boats are provided by state governments and the private sector, a new report by the Network of Police Reform in Nigeria has shown. The report, released Wednesday, highlighted the problems associated with budget preparation and implementation in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF). For instance, according to the report, the Forces budget preparation using a top-down approach leads to a lack of coherence in the budget process. Other than salaries, the NPF budget represents a contribution to costs rather than an attempt to fund the NPF, the report stated. Rather than being based on operational needs, the budget is prepared using broad budget headings, with budgets based on increments of the previous year. This leads to conflict with the National Assembly, which questions why, for example, the same number of new computers is requested annually. Another example is the annual budget line for the refurbishment of barracks; what barracks have been refurbished? As budgets are both inadequate and never released in full, all MDAs are incentivised to inflate budget requests (by line and in total). Operational needs are not considered. For example, there is no list of vehicles, no certainty about personnel numbers and no policy on equipment needs, such as minimum equipment per officer. For decades, the NPF has been bedeviled by poor funding which has, in turn, resulted in poorly trained, ill-equipped personnel. A 2008 Presidential Committee on Police Reform headed by M.D Yusuf recommended an estimated N2.8 trillion or N560 billion annually to effectively reform and transform the NPF over a period of five years. Nigeria Police on patrol Also, the Parry Osayande Committee constituted in 2012 echoed the recommendations of the 2008 committee, adding that police funding should be made a first line charge or a special fund be created to accommodate the needs of the NPF. In a document presented at the Senate Public Hearing on the bill for the establishment of a Police Trust Fund, Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector General of Police, said only N16.1 billion was allocated to the police in 2016 for capital development, out of which N10 billion was released. Out of the N31.6 billion allocated to the police in the 2017 budget, only N8 billion has so far been released, Mr Idris added. In addition to the poor funding, the corruption within the NPF had also ensured that almost zero benefits trickle down to the rank and file of the force. A personnel audit earlier this year uncovered over 80,000 ghost police officers. The NOPRIN report, in partnership with Konung International Ltd, reflected the opinions of 12 serving and eight retired police officers as well as four nongovernmental organisations and nine others with knowledge of police operations. The interviews were conducted between November 2017 and February 2018 and were held on unofficial basis as no response was received to a request for a letter of authorisation from the Inspector General of Police, the report said. NOPRIN recognises that budgeting is a sensitive subject in Nigeria, a fact which was immediately apparent when many serving officers declined to be interviewed, stating that the subject is too sensitive, the report stated. ADVERTISEMENT Several officers who did agree to participate in interviews declined to discuss all budget matters. Other interviewees stated that the interview could only take place because they were no longer employed by the NPF. Unlike the Ministry of Foreign Affairs whose budgets are analysed by the various embassies and consulates, the report stated, the NPF budgets are not analysed by operational units, zones, states, divisions or police stations. There are 300,892 police officers as at December 2017, according to the NPF, comprising of core police personnel, traffic wardens, and civilian staff spread across 12 Zones, 37 State Commands and the FCT, 128 Area Commands, 1388 Divisional Commands, 1579 Police Stations, and 3756 Police Posts. The budget does not take account of significant funding from state governments, local governments, corporates, individuals or the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, the report continued. The budget does not take account of releases from special funds, such as Capital Supplementation or Service Wide Vote. One private citizen serving on a community relations committee made the following comments: (i) the budget process is a charade (ii) they have no money to run their activities (iii) they come to us for basic and simplest expenditure and mostly we oblige them (iv) the whole system is dysfunctional. One interviewee asked: when the Police Service Commission decides to recruit new police officers, does it understand the financial implications? Since August last year, residents of St. Finbarrs College road in Akoka have been exposed to hazards arising from water pollution caused by a fuel leakage in the community. PREMIUM TIMES Oladeinde Olawoyin, who investigated the matter, reports the dangers that residents face due to the exposure and continuous use of polluted water. I know the water smells of fuel but we only use it to cook on Sunday, Oluchi Duru, a trader who sells bean cakes on the street adjacent to Abdullahi Street, told PREMIUM TIMES reporter amidst forced laughter. I just pray that God protects us, she concluded, with a weary voice. Ms Duru is one of thousands of residents affected by soil and underground water pollution in the residential areas adjoining the Total Filling station along St. Finbarrs College road, Akoka, Lagos State. The areas include Abdullahi Street, Aiyetoro Street and other residential buildings around the filling station. The pollution, PREMIUM TIMES findings revealed, was caused by a leakage that occurred in the neighborhood. Tanks belonging to a filling station was widely alleged to be the source of the pollution, although the operators of the filling station deny culpability, citing other possible sources. Genesis Of Pollution Signs that the water had become contaminated became evident around August 2017, many residents who spoke to this reporter said, but some residents feared that the pollution and exposure might have happened much earlier before then. Ifeamaka Umeike, who lives in Abdullahi Street, told PREMIUM TIMES that the offensive smell became unbearable around August. I came back (from abroad) around August and we noticed that the area and our water smelt of fuel. We couldnt even imagine such thing could happen until complaints came that the water has been polluted and it smelt of fuel, she said. Water from our tanks smell strongly of PMS and we couldnt use it for any purpose. We buy water for drinking and cooking and that has shot up our budget. Another resident, who identified himself as Yakubu, told PREMIUM TIMES he noticed the offensive smell when his children began to complain. I am naturally not sensitive to smell, he told this reporter. I noticed it around August last year when my wife and children complained that the water smelt of fuel. I initially didnt take them seriously until I noticed it myself and advised that we stopped using the water. We have had to use alternative sources of water since then, he said. Mr Nwelu, a neighbor to Mr Yakubu, lamented the situation, saying life has never been the same for the residents since the incident. He however raised concerns over the state of health of other residents who are still exposed to the water. Initially, we didnt know it was from the filling station; we were using the water to bathe and brush mouth and all until the smell became intense. Coincidentally, we got to know from the taxi drivers here that there was a leakage at the filling station, he said. They saw them working on their tanks because there was caution sign at the station. Initially, the dealer was a little bit hard on us. But he later sent in some people. We felt it was something we could flush out; but later the water became creamy and very serious. Then they said they reported to LASEPA (Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency) and that in two weeks everything will be okay. But up till now there is nothing. After complaints, they brought a tank to be supplying water. After sometime, they said they want to dig borehole. We rejected saying that we werent sure if the environment itself was safe for another borehole. Ms Umeike said due to the pungent smell that pervaded the area, the manager of the filling station was informed and the station provided remediation plans. She explained that the station provided some of the affected residents with alternative water tanks and promised to replenish it periodically. But she said that although the tank was supplied, the arrangement has since suffered setbacks as the water provided was supplied in an unhygienic way and it was barely sufficient for residents use. When PREMIUM TIMES visited last Saturday, many residents complained of not having water to take their bath as the water had not been supplied for a while. Mr Nwelu said his plans to attend a function on Saturday was truncated by the unavailability of water. The Scary Sign In the middle of the crisis and apprehension caused by the pollution, one of the affected buildings on Abdullahi Street requested that their water pipes be cleaned and changed. Ms Duru explained that a few people were invited to help flush out the contaminated water and cleanse the pipe. The exercise would later create apprehension around the area after water flushed out of the pipes into a nearby gutter caused a fire outbreak, PREMIUM TIMES gathered. A bean cake seller on the street, who simply identified herself as Mama Akara, narrates the incident. I and other sellers were here frying our bean cake and other stuff. The fire didnt come from my coal. We were more than three here cooking and frying things. They flushed the water from this building (No. 4, Ayetoro Street) into the gutter here and suddenly, the gutter was taken over by fire. I didnt cause the fire. What we know is that there is fuel in the water. The trader explained that they learnt that the coal from one of the traders fell into the gutter and caused the fire. She however said that they were consequently told to make use of gas cooker, rather than coal. The fire incident was confirmed by multiple residents of the area. Poor Business For Water Vendors For people involved in the business of selling water in jerry cans in the area, the development has dealt a big blow to their business. Many of them told PREMIUM TIMES people now reject their water as the smell had become offensive. Mr Wahab, an itinerant water supplier, popularly known as Mai ruwa, told this reporter that he barely sells half of the jerry cans he moves around with since the incident occurred. People dont buy my water again and business has been very bad. The water smells of fuel and people complain a lot, he said. His colleague, another itinerant water supplier, affirmed Mr Wahabs position saying people dont accept their water anymore. In Ayetoro street, PREMIUM TIMES gathered that an aged woman (identified as Mama) who owns a borehole facility and sells water for other residents now orders water from outside the community for her own domestic use. I am the one that supplies Mama her water now and look at her borehole and tank with water inside. But the water is filled with fuel, Mr Wahab told our reporter. Efforts to speak with the old woman were unsuccessful as our reporter was told that she has been very ill and her people would not entertain press interview. Meanwhile, there is a sachet water production factory located on the sloppy street. Although PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the claim, a resident hinted that it has since moved production site away from the street. Total Denies Culpability Ms Umeike has been the most vocal member of the community speaking against the development. This has led to a disagreement between her and the filling station dealer, Aleem Moruf. According to a correspondence seen by PREMIUM TIMES, addressed to Ms Umeikes lawyer by lawyer to the filling station dealer, Mr Moruf, the station dealer accused her (Ms Umeike) of making outrageous remediation demands. The dealer, through his lawyer, also claimed that it has put remediation measures in place, not because the station is culpable of the said pollution, but as a means of playing good host to the community. Total Akoka The letter claimed that LASEPA affirmed that there is an illegal pharmaceutical company, a sawmill and mechanic workshops with substantial utilisation of oil in the neighbourhood, raising suspicion that the filling station might not be the source of the pollution. Despite repeated efforts, PREMIUM TIMES could not independently verify the location of the illegal pharmaceutical firm and sawmill in the neighbourhood. When this reporter contacted Mr Moruf, the dealer in charge of the Akoka filling station, he declined to give details of the incidence and safety measures taken so far, especially for the larger community. Mr Moruf claimed that the case between him and Ms Umeike has been taken to court and directed this reporter to Total Head Office for clarification. No, no, no, no it is already in court, he said. If you want details, go to Total head office in Victoria Island, he said. The court claim was however denied by Ms Umeike, who said there had been correspondences between her lawyer and Mr Morufs lawyer but it has not gotten to court. She also raised concerns about other poor residents of the neighbourhood who are still exposed to the risks with no safety measure in place. Segun Toikumo, a staff of Total Nigeria Plc involved in the entire remediation talks, confirmed that Total was aware of the issue but declined to give any official information on the case. He told this reporter to contact the companys Head of Corporate Affairs Department. On Monday, this reporter visited Totals head office in Victoria Island, Lagos. Mabuyaku Albert, the companys Corporate Affairs Manager, said the company had been involved in the case but affirmed that he would not comment on the case between Ms Umeike and the dealer because it might likely be taken to court. When asked whether the company was responsible for the incident, especially as it concerns the larger community, he said the dealer would be in the best position to explain. The dealer manages the station; the dealer is responsible for the management of the station, he said. He however didnt debunk the claim that the operating licence for the station was obtained by Total, although he declined to give clarification. LASEPA Keeps Mum When this reporter visited LASEPA office in Ikeja, the agency also declined to comment on the issue, saying the filling station management may institute a legal action. Adebola Shabi, the General Manager of LASEPA, told this reporter that although the agency had been involved in the case and had indeed monitored the remediation measures put in place by the dealer, he would not comment on the issue. It is unclear whether community residents who are ignorant of the situation are still not exposed to dangers arising from the pollution. Mr Abubakar, who runs a kiosk on Ayetoro street and lives in a large compound in the neighborhood, told this reporter many are still ignorant of the issues. We dont use the water to cook anymore but I cant say the same about others who dont know the danger of these things, he said. Community Leader Speaks The Community Development Association (CDA) chairman, Segun Adesanya, told PREMIUM TIMES in an interview that he was not officially involved in the case. My involvement is just as a community leader and you know Total is part of my CDA and the people too are part of my CDA. What I know is that government agencies have been coming. My own concern is to maintain peace. There is an agency responsible for it and I am sure they are aware. If they are aware, what will my own CDA be doing when I am trying to poke nose into what does not concern me. The essence of the CDA is to maintain peace and harmony within the community. My own is to maintain a neutral ground and I hear the matter is in court. PREMIUM TIMES observed that at the entrance of Ayetoro street, just opposite the building affected by the contamination, there is a new borehole facility erected for water supply. Some residents said concerns have been raised over the purity of the water from the borehole source especially as it is located in the middle of the affected area. But Mr Adesanya said there is no cause for alarm. I dont think so, he said of speculation that the water may be contaminated. You must show the scientific result to show that the water is contaminated. For me, I cant base my judgement on something I cant lay my hands on. That one you saw has been there and I dont think anything is wrong with that water. You can see they just put solar on it and water treatment plant. So it is not for anybody to tell me the water is polluted and nobody has complained about it; you must show me result that the water is actually polluted. People have been using this water and it hasnt affected them. Medical Implications Francis Duru, a medical practitioner and professor at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, while addressing the issue said the danger is in the chemical content of the contaminated water. Apparently there were leaks from the underground storage tanks into the surrounding soil. As it is, its going to be moving with water that is flowing beneath the soil and that has the likelihood of contaminating the water tanks. There are lot of underground water tanks in the area. The boreholes and underground water tanks would be contaminated and some are already contaminated because some of the houses in the neighborhood. Tests have been carried out to show. The danger in this is that petrol contains some chemicals. For example lead is in it, we have benzene, we have several other things. Some of these things are cancer-causing chemicals; they can cause cancer over a long period. Some of them can cause congenital malformations in children born in the area during the period; some can cause kidney failure, liver problems, brain problems and thats why we are alarmed. It is a serious matter. And it could even happen years later. The proper safety measures should be taken to de-contaminate the area and monitor the health of the individuals here. Our intention is not to disrupt anybodys business but to make sure everyone is safe. You can imagine water in a gutter burning like fuel. We look up to God While some residents have since realised the danger inherent in the pollution and have taken measures to address its effect by not using the water, others still wallow in ignorance. Mr Abubakar, one of the residents, told PREMIUM TIMES many people still consume the water and use it for domestic purposes. Many people feel because they have used it and there are no signs of illness, they are fine, he told this reporter. Mr Duru, the UNILAG professor, who is also a resident of the community, said the effects of the exposure may not show up until years later. It could happen after people have moved out of the neighbourhood and years later they begin to suffer from the exposure. Sometimes they would not even be able to link it to the fact that they stayed in an area with contaminated water in the past. And we do not want the filling station to sweep it under the carpet, he says. Ms Oluchi, on her part, prayed to God to protect them and other residents. It is getting worse. But shebi you are a Yoruba man? We (will) just pray to God for protection. May God protect us, she said.. President Muhammadu Buharis whereabouts appears shrouded in mystery, two days after he left Washington following a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump. The president was expected in Nigeria on Wednesday. Mr Buharis official aircraft, Eagle One, left Joint Base Andrews military airfield in Washington on Tuesday morning and arrived in London at 9:42 p.m., according to Flight Radar 24, which tracks air traffic across the world. But as at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, the aircraft was still in London amidst unclear circumstances. An April 27 State House press release which announced Mr Buharis scheduled take-off from Nigeria on May 28, did not say he would stop by in London. The statement only gave highlights of the presidents engagement while in the U.S. Mr Buhari arrived in Washington on April 29 and had a series of bilateral meetings with Mr Trump, including a working launch and a joint press briefing. Mr Buhari then left the American capital in the morning of May 1, according to one of his media aides. Bashir Ahmad, said the president was on his way to Abuja, Nigeria. President @MBuhari has departed Joint Base Andrews Airport for Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja after a Working Visit to Washington DC where he had a bilateral talks with US President @realDonaldTrump, and met with a group of business executives. #PMBinDC pic.twitter.com/QgFgDYN2Sv Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) May 1, 2018 There was no official announcement updating the nation about a possible change of route for the president. PREMIUM TIMES reached out to senior presidential spokespersons Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu to clarify the presidents whereabouts. None of them responded to phone calls and text messages about the matter as at Thursday morning. Mr Buhari was treated for an undisclosed ailment in London for months between 2016 and 2017, . Since returning to work, most of the presidents foreign trips have been planned with stopovers in London, officials say. The presidency has not given details of Mr Buharis health, and it is not clear whether he was billed for medical evaluation in the UK during his current trip. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has urged the police to prioritise the health and safety of a senator, Dino Melaye, who is in their custody. Mr Dogara stated this on Thursday during plenary while responding to a point of order raised by Sunday Karimi (PDP, Kogi) who urged the house to intervene in the senators ordeals with the law. Mr Dogara, while admitting that nobody is above the law, however said that he had not seen any country where anybody had been arraigned in court on a stretcher. Mr Melaye was arraigned for attempted suicide and other charges at an Abuja court on Wednesday while lying on a stretcher. Immediately he was granted bail in the sum of N90 million by the judge, he was rearrested by the police and transferred to Lokoja, Kogi State, where he is facing criminal charges. I have not seen in any country where someone is arraigned in court on stretchers when he or she is not fit to plead guilty or not guilty. If anything happens to him, (Dino) the responsibility will be on the security agency, Mr Dogara said. Mr Karimi said Mr Melaye is being persecuted for his political beliefs and that it could happen to any lawmaker. He appealed to the House to look at the issue and make sure due process is followed, a prayer which the Speaker said is being handled by the Senate. The embattled senators ordeal started last week last week when the Nigerian Immigration Service stopped him from travelling to Morocco. He was detained for some hours and later released. Operatives of the Police Special Anti-robbery Squad (SARS) later besieged his Maitama District residence in a bid to rearrest him. He however submitted himself to the police. But a distraught Mr Melaye reportedly jumped out of a moving police vehicle while trying to escape being taken from Abuja to Lokoja, Kogi State, by the police to face trial. He was rushed to Zankli Hospital and later taken to the National Hospital by the police who monitored him on his sickbed until Wednesday when he was arraigned for attempted suicide and destruction of public property, among other allegations. He was arraigned in an FCT Magistrate Court after he was confirmed fit for trial, the police said. He was again taken to another court in Lokoja by the police, Thursday morning, where he was charged for separate offences. Mr Melaye had earlier gotten a court judgement directing the police to arraign in Abuja rather than his home state where he claimed his life is in danger. The police have ignored the ruling. The senator had repeatedly linked his travails to the state governor, Yahaya Bello. The latter has denied the allegations. Mr Melaye over the weekend escaped an attempt by some of his constituents to recall him as the process did not sail through. A Lokoja Chief Magistrates Court on Thursday remanded a senator, Dino Melaye, and two others in police custody until June 11 over alleged gun running. The accused are standing trial on a seven-count charge bordering on criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms. This is contrary to Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code and Section 27 (1) (a) (1) of the Firearms Act CAP P28, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 2004. Earlier, Alex Izinyon, lead counsel to the prosecution, urged the court to remand the other defendants Kabiru Seidu, 31, and Nuhu Salihu, 25, in police custody. The Senior Advocate said this was to assist the police in furtherance of their investigations. He, however, pleaded that Mr Melaye be remanded in prison custody because he is influential and could jeopardise investigation. He pointed out that the minimum sentence upon conviction was 10 years imprisonment under the Firearms Act. But Mike Ozekhome, leading six other lawyers for the defendants, in his oral application, prayed the court to grant bail the senator. He said the senator should be granted bail because he was asthmatic and sick and needed more medical attention. Mr Ozekhome said that Melaye was only on Wednesday granted bail by a court in Abuja on liberal terms and had been in police custody. The senior advocate said it was discriminatory for the prosecution to ask the court to keep other defendants in police custody and ask that the senator be remanded in prison custody. We can apply for bail for this traumatised senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria lying here before your worship on a stretcher. Melaye here is not charged with murder in this case; the senator who is seen every day on the floor of the Senate making laws for the country, will stand his trial. To send him to prison is to encourage him to breach the bail condition granted him yesterday. I humbly urge my lord to grant bail in self recognisance to the fourth defendant because he will not jump bail; he will stand his trial and meet the bail conditions, he said. In his ruling, the Senior Magistrate, Sulyman Abdullah, said the essence of bail was to secure the attendance of the defendant before a court of competent jurisdiction. However, this application is not granted as a matter of course. It is anchored upon certain well timed, honoured principles of the law that would guarantee the production and appearance of the defendant. The court however has a grave responsibility to exercise such discretion with utmost caution and to act within the accepted principles of administration of justice. Having gone through all the submissions of counsels in respect of this oral application, I decline to exercise my discretion in favour of the fourth defendant; the oral application is accordingly refused, he said. Mr Abdullah further ordered the Inspector-General of Police to furnish the senator with all medical needs he required and adjourned the case until June 11, for further mention. The judges ruling indicates that the police could choose to keep Mr Melaye in their custody till June 11. In a telephone interview with PREMIUM TIMES Thursday afternoon, Mr Ozekhome rationalized that the senator got some form of victory from the Thursday court decision. He explained that the decision of the court was for the Inspector-General of Police to take adequate care of the defendant. What happened was that the prosecution asked the court to remand him in prison, but the judge refused and rather said the Inspector-General of Police should take care of Mr Melaye until he fully recovers. Mr Ozekhome said he believes the police will have no alternative but to return Mr Melaye to the National Hospital Abuja, especially since hospitals in Kogi State are all on strike. Efforts to get the Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood to react was not successful. It is not yet clear if the police will bring the senator back to Abuja or keep in Lokoja. Mr Melaye was earlier arraigned at an FCT Magistrate Court for attempted suicide and destruction of public property, among other allegations on Wednesday. He reportedly jumped out of a moving vehicle when the police attempted earlier to move him to Lokoja to face trial a few days ago. He was thereafter hospitalised for a few days under the close watch of police personnel. Mr Melaye was arraigned after he was confirmed fit for trial, the police said, although the lawmaker appeared at the court session on a stretcher. He was thereafter taken to Lokoja after the Abuja judge granted him a N90 million bail. A presidential spokesperson on Thursday provided reasons why President Muhamamdu Buhari was still in London when he was supposed to have returned to Nigeria. Garba Shehu said the president had to stop over in London on his way back from the United States for technical reasons. In apparent response to a PREMIUM TIMES story published earlier Thursday which showed that Mr Buhari was yet to arrive Nigeria two days after he left Washington, Mr Shehu said the presidents main aircraft is under repairs and he had to use a smaller jet. The big jet is under repair. It has been taken for major repairs. So the president is using a small plane and there is a limit to the distance the small plane can cover, he said in response to inquiries by State House correspondents. Mr Shehu also said the technical stopover I talked about is that the journey from U.S. to Abuja is broken into two. Technical stopover is that the plane stops at a point, refuel, do some checks and then proceed on the journey, he said. Mr Shehu said such stopover is very normal adding there is nothing unusual about it. He added that Mr Buhari is already on his way back to Abuja. It is a routine thing. The plane can do Abuja-Washington, thats about 12 hours and the maximum the plane can fly is 12 hours, 40 minutes. But you dont need to push it to the edge, he said. Mr Buhari was in the U.S. on an official visit. He met with President Donald Trump and both leaders addressed a joint press conference. The police have taken Dino Melaye to their medical centre in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, hours after a magistrate remanded the senator in police custody following arraignment. Gideon Ayodele, Mr Melayes media aide who provided the information to PREMIUM TIMES Thursday night, also said the senators lawyers would file fundamental rights enforcement at the Federal High Court, Lokoja, on Friday morning. He said the lawyers believe the decision to remand Mr Melaye in police custody was flawed and expressed confidence in the ability of a higher court to show a greater degree of understanding in dissecting the complex web that the case had become. The police arraigned Mr Melaye before a Chief Magistrates Court in Lokoja on Thursday morning on seven counts of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of firearms. Sulyman Abdullah, a senior magistrate who sat over the preliminary hearing, said Mr Melaye should be remanded in police custody but the Inspector-General of Police must ensure his health does not deteriorate. He adjourned the trial to June 11. Mr Melaye has been hospitalised since April 24 when he reportedly jumped out of a moving police vehicle, thereby sustaining injuries. One of his Senate colleagues, Ben Murray-Bruce, said he forcibly exited the vehicle after officers repeatedly spayed tear gas at him despite being an asthma patient. The police did not deny the allegations. He was receiving care at the National Hospital, Abuja, since the incident until May 2 when the police arraigned him before the Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates Court, Abuja. He received a N90 million bail there after being charged with attempt suicide and vandalism. But rather than allow him to post the bail, the police immediately re-arrested the senator and held him at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, until about 4:30 a.m. Wednesday when they drove him to Lokoja for another arraignment before another magistrate. He was brought to the Lokoja courtroom in an ambulance around 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning. Following arguments by the prosecution and defence teams, Mr Abdullah said Mr Melaye should be remanded in police custody until June 11. The police approached the Magistrates Court to get further approval to detain Mr Melaye and other suspects pending their proper arraignment at a higher court with requisite jurisdiction to hear criminal charges. The prosecution team, led by senior lawyer Alex Izinyon, argued that Mr Melaye should be remanded in prison because he could deploy his influence to jeopardise the case if granted bail or kept anywhere outside a prison facility. Mike Ozekhome, Mr Melayes counsel, urged the magistrate to accord his client a bail on own recognisance, especially as a serving senator. Mr Abdullah denied Mr Ozekhomes plea, but also said Mr Melaye should be kept in police custody rather than being whisked to prison as demanded by Mr Izinyon. Mr Ozekhome saw a bright spot for Mr Melaye in the outcome of Wednesday proceeding, saying the police will have no alternative but to return him to the National Hospital Abuja, especially since hospitals in Kogi State are all on strike. Still, Mr Ayodele said the team would spare no effort in ensuring that Mr Melaye does not spend six weeks in custody as ruled by Mr Abdullah. It is important that we approach the Federal High Court tomorrow morning, Mr Ayodele said. The police proceeded with Mr Melayes arraignment despite concerns from other lawmakers at the National Assembly. ADVERTISEMENT At Thursdays plenary in the House of Representatives, Speaker Yakubu Dogara urged the police to be professional and careful with Mr Melayes case, saying his health should be prioritised. I have not seen in any country where someone is arraigned in court on stretchers when he or she is not fit to plead guilty or not guilty, Mr Dogara said. If anything happens to him, (Dino) the responsibility will be on the security agency. Ten more people have died from wounds sustained during Tuesdays attack on a church in Central African Republic, the Red Cross said on Thursday, bringing the toll to 26. Unidentified armed assailants attacked the Notre Dame de Fatima church in the capital Bangui with grenades and guns during morning mass, initially killing at least 15 and critically wounding scores of others. The number of dead is expected to rise further, said Antoine Bogo, President of the Central African Republican Red Cross. We have counted 99 seriously wounded, some of whom are being treated. And some are dying because there was nothing to be done, in spite the work of the doctors, he said. The attack adds to a list of recent deadly clashes in Central African Republic where state control is breaking down and inter-faith violence that has long blighted the country threatens to flare again. Mainly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize in 2013, sparking retaliation killings by anti-balaka armed groups, drawn largely from Christian communities. Tuesdays church attack occurred on the edge of the mainly Muslim PK5 neighborhood where 21 people were killed in April when UN peacekeepers and local security forces clashed with criminal gangs. (Reuters/NAN) FAT/WOJ A bill for an Act to make provisions for optional paternity leave to all married male employees in private and public service, on Thursday failed to scale through second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill, sponsored by Edward Pwajok (Plateau-APC), subsequently failed to scale through as it was roundly defeated with a unanimous voice vote. Members, who balked at the idea of granting paternal leave to Nigerian male workers, said that the Nigerian cultural and economic environment was not ripe for such privilege yet. According to Pwajok, the proposal for a two week or more (depending on the decision of the of House) paternity leave is to ensure that mother and child get adequate care from the father. He said the leave became important if the mother or the child had health challenges which would make the presence of the father very significant. The lawmaker also said that the presence of the father would afford the child the care he or she deserved during that early period. No better person can support a newly born baby than the father which will make the child more emotionally stable if the father stays close. This will not be peculiar to Nigeria alone, its done globally, he said. While Saheed Fijabi (Oyo-APC) and Nasir Ali (Nassarawa-APC), supported the proposal saying that since it was a joint responsibility to take care of the children, the leave will afford the husband to take care of the child too. On the other hand, Betty Apiafi (Rivers-PDP), said that since maternity leave issue was discussed in the Labour Act, it would have been better it came as an amendment to the Act and not as a bill. Also Nzoma Nkem-Abonta (Abia-PDP), Rita Orji (Lagos-PDP), Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP) and Kingsley Chinda (Rivers-PDP) aligned with Ms Apiafi that the amendment of the Labour Act would be preferable. According to the lawmakers, the men should be out trying to provide for the upkeep of the family rather than staying back at home. They also wondered how many times a man with six or seven wives would go on leave if the bill becomes law. The motion was defeated by the members when it was put to a voice vote by the Speaker, Yakubu Dogara. (NAN) The intimidation and harassment of journalists and bloggers, as well as violent crackdowns on peaceful protests, show the determination of the authorities to suppress the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Nigeria, said Amnesty International Nigeria on Thursday, World Press Freedom Day. The organisation called on the Nigerian authorities to desist from the disturbing patterns of using security agencies to silence dissenting voices. Many Nigerians are becoming increasingly afraid of exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, said Osai Ojigho, Director of Amnesty International Nigeria. Arbitrary arrests of journalists On January 1, 2018, blogger Daniel Elombah and his brother Izuchukwu Elombah were arrested in Nnewi Anambra State and detained without trial for 25 days by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The blogger was unlawfully detained based on allegations that he published an article critical of the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris. Tony Ezimakor, a journalist with Independent newspapers was detained by operatives of Nigerias secretive service Directorate of State Security (DSS) on February 28, in connection with a story alleging that a ransom was paid to Boko Haram insurgents for the release of 82 of the Chibok school girls. Mr Ezimakor was held in DSS custody for seven days and was only released on March 6 after several attempts to force him to name his sources. On March 13, Musa Kirishi, a reporter with Daily Trust newspapers was abducted by heavily armed police officers in the premises of the National Assembly, Abuja. Police officers told him that they had been given instructions to arrest him and take him to Kano State police command because of an advertorial his newspaper ran that annoyed a top politician. He was released later that afternoon. This trend of harassment and intimidation has created a climate of fear, whereby journalists are perpetually afraid of being arrested for doing their job. Journalists have a responsibility to the public, not the government, and must be allowed to do their job, said Osai Ojigho. Increasingly, across Nigeria there are reports of people being threatened, and often arrested, for merely sharing their opinion via social media. In July 2017 Muhammed Kime was arrested by the police in Damaturu Yobe State for a Facebook post critical of a federal lawmaker. Violent Crackdown On Protests The recent response of Nigerias security agencies to the exercise of the right to freedom of peaceful assembly has been violent, the agency said. On April 16, unarmed members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) who were protesting the unlawful detention of their leader, Sheik Ibraheem El Zakzaky, at Unity Fountain in Abuja were dispersed with live bullets, tear gas and water cannon. More than 115 protesters were arrested and many injured. Subsequent attempts by IMN members to hold peaceful protests in other parts of Abuja were also dispersed violently by the police. IMN members have been peacefully demanding the release of their leader since December 2015 the military killed more than 350 of them during those clashes in Zaria. The persistent use of excessive force by the police to disrupt IMN protests is clear indication that the repression of IMN members is set to continue, said Osai Ojigho. On April 23 and 24, members of the Bring Back Our Girls movement were denied access to Unity Fountain where they have been holding a daily sit-out since 2014. Police used tear gas to chase away the activists, in spite of the fact that their advocacy has always been peaceful. Using the police to prevent these peaceful assemblies violates international and Nigerian laws. It is also worrying that police have always used excessive force on citizens exercising their rights, said Osai Ojigho. Security forces arrest of journalists and violent disruption of peaceful protests are draconian responses to people exercising their rights. Amnesty International is calling on Nigerian authorities to take urgent steps to end the use of excessive force by security forces to disperse peaceful protests and arbitrary arrests, intimidation and harassment of journalists and bloggers. The authorities should launch a thorough, impartial, independent and transparent investigation into the allegations of violent crackdown on protests and arrests of journalists, and to bring those suspected to be responsible to justice. Nigerians must rise to protect her rights, it said. The spate of harassment and intimidation of journalists and violent disruption of protests by security agencies over the last year has created a constant atmosphere of fear and violence that should serve as a wakeup call for both Nigerians and the authorities. Nigerias Constitution 1999 (as amended) guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, the government must therefore do more to protect these rights. Freedom to hold opinion without interference and peaceful protest are legitimate rights that no person should be denied. Protests should be seen as a positive sign of the willingness of Nigerians to express themselves, said Mr Ojigho. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday approved a four-member ministerial committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring speedy completion of the East-West road in the Niger Delta and N142.5 billion for construction of roads across the country. The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and that of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, made the disclosure when they briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the councils meeting which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Mr Amaechi, who spoke on the appointment of the four-member, ministerial committee to be chaired by him, said members of the committee would undertake an inspection tour of the East-West road with a view to ensuring its completion. He said members of the committee included Ministers of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed; Niger Delta, Usani Usani; and that of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola. The minister disclosed that the council also approved N1.67 billion for the procurement of equipment for the LagosKano narrow gauge in line with an initial interim agreement signed between the federal government and the GE (General Electrical). The council also approved N1.2 billion for the purchase of 18 flat-bed wagons to be operated on the narrow gauge rail line by the Nigerian Railway Corporation. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the council approved a total of N99.01 billion for the repair and maintenance works on the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos and construction of various roads across the country. He said N18.874 billion of the amount would be expended on the maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos as part of the federal governments National Bridge Maintenance Strategy. Mr Fashola said the third mainland bridge contract was awarded to one of the original contractors for the project, Borini Prono of Italy. Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola He said the construction company was expected to carry out maintenance works on 33 out of the 177 piles of the bridge which were in critical condition. According to him, part of the repair works on the bridge will also involve the maintenance of General Expansion Joint Replacement and will be completed within 27 months. The minister said the budget for the repair on the bridge was captured in the 2017 appropriation law. He said council also approved N80.19 billion as revised amount for the second section of the 84 kilometres Lagos-Ibadan expressway project. The federal government has initially approved N96.304 billion for the Lagos-Ibadan road project. With yesterdays approval by FEC, the project has been revised to N176.50 billion. FEC also approved the N38.034 billion for the construction of the 9th mile-Orikam road in Enugu state which is 72kilometers. About N10 billion is to be drawn from the Ecological Fund to fund the project. Mr Fashola said council also approved N2.54 billion for the redesign and construction of the Illie bridge in Osun State. The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin, told the correspondents that he gave a progress report on the ministrys activities from 2015 to date. According to him, the ministry only got one approval on Ogoni Clean-up consultancy services in December 2017. The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, disclosed that the council approved N2.9 billion to effect repairs at the completed Gurara Dam and hydro-power plant. He stated another N6.1billion and 25.3 million euros was approved for the final settlement of the contractor of the project. He said that with this approval, the contractor would hand over the project to government while the hydro-power plant would also be given out for concession to interested party for effective management. (NAN) The police on Thursday arraigned two sisters, Favour Ajula and Oluchi Ajula, at an Ikeja Magistrates Court for allegedly assaulting a police inspector by tearing his uniform and dragging his gun. Favour, a 24-year-old hairdresser; and 18-year-old Oluchi, a nurse, appeared before Magistrate F.F. George on a two-count charge of conspiracy and assault. The duo, who reside at Iju-Ishaga in Agege area of Lagos, however, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. George said the sureties should be gainfully employed and must show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government and adjourned the matter until May 14 for mention. The prosecutor, Godwin Awase, told the court that the defendants committed the offences on April 13 at their residence. He said the sisters and one Emeka, a teenager, assaulted Bitrus Zingkur, by tearing his uniform and also dragged his service gun while performing his lawful duty. Mr Awase said a man went to report to the police that the defendants were after his life. He added that one Uche Prince, a co-tenant, reported the defendants to police that they wanted to kill him; and the complainant followed him to the house. When the complainant tried to mediate and settle the disagreement, the two sisters assaulted him. The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 174(b) and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015(Revised). Section 174 stipulates three years imprisonment for assault, while Section 411 attracts two years jail term for conspiracy. (NAN) The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE) has suspended its strike against Kenya Airways over the airlines recent sack of no fewer than 20 Nigerian employees. Olayinka Abioye, NUATEs General Secretary, confirmed the development to journalists in Lagos on Thursday. Mr Abioye said the strike was called off following the intervention of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), adding that a meeting between the union and the airlines management had been scheduled for May 8. The union members had, in the early hours of Thursday, shut down the operations of the airline at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The unionists, who gained access to the terminal as early as 6am, barricaded the airlines check-in counter and prevented its passengers from boarding. Speaking during the protest, Mr Abioye had accused Kenya Airways of anti-labour practices and breach of collective bargaining protocols. He alleged that the airline had violated the extant labour laws by declaring the affected workers redundant and refusing to pay them their entitlements. Mr Abioye claimed the airline management effected the sack while parties were still on the negotiation table, and distributed the letters to 20 workers contrary to the fundamental principles of the Labour Act. However, the airline, through a letter to the union, denied the allegations. The letter, which was signed by Kenya Airways Acting Chief Human Resources Officer, Bridgette Imbuga, said the airline invited the union through a letter dated April 11 for a negotiation over the sacked workers. Mrs Imbuga alleged that the union was unwilling to engage the airline management over the affected workers. She explained that the affected employees were those engaged for sales and commercial services, which had now been contracted out. The airline official argued that the airline had complied with the provisions of Sections 20 (1) (a) and (b) of the Labour Act, Cap 198, Laws of Nigeria, in declaring the affected workers redundant. Mrs Imbuga, however, said that the airline would pay the affected workers one month salary each in lieu of notice and severance allowance at the rate of 23 days basic salary for every completed year of service. She said the workers would also be paid for unutilised leave days that accrued as at the date they were relieved of their duties. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Commandant of the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna, Adeniyi Oyebade, a major general, says over 10,000 candidates have applied for the 600 available admission spaces in the institution. Mr Oyebade disclosed this on Thursday when members of the Kaduna State Council of the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) paid him a courtesy visit. He said due to the limited admission slots, the management of the academy had always tried to ensure that only the best candidates were admitted. The commandant said the institution would not deliberately refuse to give admission to any qualified candidate who had passed the entrance examination. He reiterated the commitment of the academy to continue to partner with the media, especially members of the association in peace building. The Chairperson of the council, Juliet Oyoyo, said that many youths interested in seeking admission into the NDA did not have the opportunity. Mrs Oyoyo appealed to the commandant to look into the matter with a view to giving youth who applied for admission into the academy the opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the country. According to her, the purpose of the visit was to seek for the support of the institution for the councils forthcoming Peace Workshop scheduled hold on May 30 in Kaduna. (NAN) The Police Service Commission (PSC) says 133, 324 applicants have been shortlisted for screening for the recruitment of 6,000 constables into the Nigeria Police Force. The commissions spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani, said in a statement on Thursday that the exercise would commence on May 7 in the 36 state police command headquarters and the Federal Capital Territory. The exercise will start with screening of the applicants physical attributes and their credentials. Already invitations have been sent to the applicants who are expected to report at the screening venues on days indicated in their invitations, he said. Mr Ani said that Kaduna State has the highest number of applicants with 6,962, while Lagos has the least with 1,013. He said Katsina was second with 6,676, followed by Benue and Niger with 6,474 and 6,409, respectively. Bayelsa has 1,097, followed by Anambra with 1,117 and Ebonyi with 1,303. The spokesman said that the commission had deployed its staff to the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to conduct the exercise. He said Mike Okiro, Chairman of the Commission, was the National Coordinator for the exercise. According to him, Musa Istifanus, Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Commission, has warned that the commission would sanction any staff found to be compromising the exercise. Mr Istifanus further warned the staff against undue influence as their activities would be closely monitored, adding that anybody that has nothing to do with the exercise should stay away from the vicinity of the screening. President Muhammadu Buhari recently gave approval for the recruitment of 6,000 policemen to address the nations security challenges. (NAN) The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it has taken delivery of four million Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) for distribution to the electorate registered in 2017. The Chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, disclosed this on Thursday at INEC Campus Outreach on Youth Votes Count at the University of Abuja. Mr Yakubu said the PVCs would be delivered to states for onward distribution to the owners in the next few days. For the four million voters who registered between April and December 2017, all the cards have been printed and will be delivered to the states this weekend. So, by next week they will begin to collect their cards. For those who registered in first quarter of 2018 and those being captured in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), I assure you that your cards will be available ahead of the 2019 general elections. He added that PVCs for newly-registered voters in Ekiti and Osun states would also be ready before the upcoming coming governorship elections in the states. Mr Yakubu disclosed that INEC had so far registered about 8 million new voters in the CVR. We have registered about four million Nigerians in 2017; in the first quarter of 2018 we registered about 2.9 million and in the four weeks of the second quarter, as at yesterday (Wednesday), we registered about 1.1 million more. At the end of the exercise, we expect that about 11 million Nigerians will have been registered, he said. He announced the creation of a registration centre at the University of Abuja campus and advised students and other residents close to the campus to make use of the centre by registering. Mr Yakubu also advised them to endeavor to collect their PVCs and take active part in the 2019 elections, pledging that their votes would count. When you collect your PVCs, please on February 16 and March 2, 2019, make sure you go out to vote. Let me give you an undertaking that in 2019 your votes will count, in 2019 only the votes cast by Nigerians will determine who wins, he said. Mr Yakubu said INEC was working towards ensuring that all Nigerians were carried along, including the People Living with Disability as it prepared for 2019 election. He said the commission would also provide magnified glasses for people with eyesight problem during the election as demonstrated in the recently conducted Anambra governorship poll. Also, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Michael Adikwu, commended INEC for starting its sensitisation campaign against violence for Nigerian students at the institution. Mr Adikwu, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Edward Nwana, said INEC action underscored the important of youth as future leaders of the country. What is happening today gives the youth a lot of hope for the country that we will have elections that will be credible and defensible in every part of the world. I do hope that after todays session, there will be no doubt that we will all play our roles in ensuring that our electoral processes are credible, he said. The President of the Universitys Students Union Government, stressed the need to carry the youth along in the electoral process. It is a great thing for INEC to deem it fit to start the pioneer programme in UniAbuja. You cannot take away youths from politics. Youths in politics, leadership and governance is something that must be taken with utmost value if Nigeria must attain greatness in future. The step by INEC means that it believes in the youth, not only as the leaders of tomorrow but of today and we will lead ourselves into tomorrow. INEC ambassadors, Innocent 2baba Idibia, Helen Paul, Cobhams Asuquo , a multi-award winning musician/producer with visual challenge featured at the panel. (NAN) Lawyers have reacted to the trial of Kogi State Senator, Dino Melaye. Mr Melaye was arraigned for the second time on Thursday at a Magistrates Court in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital. He is accused, among other offences, of aiding the illegal use of firearms in the state. Mr Melaye was hospitalised after he attempted to jump out of a police vehicle while being taken to Lokoja. The senator, representing Kogi West district, was taken to the court on a stretcher on Thursday and arraigned on a seven-count charge of criminal conspiracy and other offences Although details of the charge could not be immediately accessed, Mr Melayes lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, said he is the fourth defendant in the charge. Mr Melaye who, is also accused of attempted suicide, had expressed concerns about his safety and the likelihood of a fair trial in his state. After his arraignment on Thursday, Mr Melaye was remanded in the custody of the police where he will be held till June 11. Reacting to the arrival of Mr Melaye on a stretcher in court, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, described the situation as unacceptable. The arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye in a stretcher in Abuja yesterday and Lokoja this morning is unacceptable in a civilised society. It is particularly degrading and humiliating as it violates the fundamental right to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the Constitution and Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Even though the Senator has my sympathy, it is indistinguishable that he has only been given a little dose of the humiliating treatment that is daily meted out to the flotsam and jetsam of our unjust society by the Nigeria Police Force and other law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. Therefore, the senators case should not be treated in isolation by the Senate and the bourgeois media. While the solidarity of the federal legislators with Senator Melaye is understandable, the tragic turn of events calls for sober reflection. Apart from joining the call for the immediate release of Sheik Ibraheem Elzakzaky and Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) in line with the valid and subsisting orders of competent courts, the National Assembly is called upon to take advantage of Senator Melayes case to adopt and domesticate the United Nations Minimum Standard for the Treatment of Criminal Suspects in Nigeria without any delay, Mr Falana said. In a different opinion, however, another lawyer, Jiti Ogunye, said the current drama trailing the arraignment may not be unconnected with Mr Melayes initial show of power. Mr Ogunye was speaking in a programme on Channels Television. Before he surrendered himself, there were antecidents, there were drama, showmanship and things like that. When you are invited by the police, you should make yourself available. You are not a fugitive of justice, you are a senator of the Federal Republic, Mr Ogunye said. Mr Ogunye described as unnecessary the allegation that Mr Melaye attempted to jump from a moving van, although he noted that the allegations were confirmed by Mr Melayes friends who attributed the attempt to the senators fears about his safety. All that drama was not necessary, Mr Ogunye added. The lawyer cited a similar situation where Kaduna State Senator, Shehu Sani, was invited to the police station, adding that Mr Melaye should have acted like Mr Sani who availed himself to the station without much ado. Politicians Babu Owino and Millicent Omanga have joined the handshake bandwagon. In the spirit of reconciliation as envisioned by President Uhuru and Opposition chief Raila Odinga, the two adversaries came together over the weekend to award bursaries to needy students. Babu Owino, who once claimed that Omanga only got her nomination to Senate by using her waist, referred to the lawmaker as a sister as he thanked various leaders who showed up for the event at Jacaranda grounds. I would love to take this opportunity to appreciate my sister Hon.Millicent Omanga, Lower Savanah Ward MCA Hon Nicholas Okumu and thousands of patriots who showed up at Jacaranda grounds to help me award bursaries to our sisters and brothers in various secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and universities today. Like I promised during the aforementioned function, I will ensure that all those who applied and qualified for bursaries get awarded. God bless Kenya. In February this year, the two leaders ripped each other apart on social media after the senator told the MP to respect Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi. Omanga called Babu a small boy and stated that she would circumcise the vocal MP. Does BABU OWINO or is it BABO OGWANG think that his (he is) the only person with the monopoly of insults. Someone tell him the leaders he insults are the age of his father and mother. If the government is not able to deal with him, personally I am very ready to circumcise him and maybe that will instill some respect manners in him. RESPECT MATIANGI you small boy, said Omanga. In response, Babu claimed Omanga had climbed up the ladder by sleeping around. He also shared a photo of a hippo wearing a bikini and named it Millipedes Omanga. A few days ago, the two put on display a united front for the benefit of over 4000 needy students. Omanga posted on Facebook: As policy makers we should invest more in education. Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities and collectively it can of big benefit to our society and help in building a greater nation. The photos. The U.S., three U.S. allies, Nigeria and 13 other African countries are putting the finishing touches on plans for the largest military exercise in Africa this year, an official said in statement. The Department of Defence, which said this in a statement issued in Washington on Thursday, added that a 60-member planning group were would be drawn from the countries. Co-hosted by the Ghana Armed Forces, [Exercise] United Accord will include four major components: a computer-programmed exercise, field training exercise, jungle warfare school and medical readiness training exercise, the statement said. During the April 30 to May 4 meeting in Ghana, a 60-person combined team is developing plans for the 16-day United Accord exercise to take place this summer, the statement said. About 600 multinational soldiers are expected to participate. Ghana, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chad, Cote dIvoire, The Gambia, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, The Netherlands, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo and the U.S. all sent at least one representative to the final planning event, according to the statement. (Sputnik/NAN) The Arewa Consultative Youths Movement (ACMY) says it will conduct a mock election for top presidential aspirants from the North to ascertain their popularity ahead of the 2019 general election. ACMY President, Kabiru Yusuf, stated this on Thursday in Abuja while speaking at the National Delegate Congress of the movement. Mr Yusuf, who had just been re-elected at the congress, said the aspirants would include President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and a former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, among others. He explained that the essence was to ensure that members of the movement give their support to a youth friendly aspirant that would share their aspirations and visions for Nigerian youth toward a developed and united country. We shall in due course, conduct a mock election with a view to feeling the pulse of Arewa Youth in Nigeria and eventually decide on a most prospective candidate. The mock election will soon commence on our website, and it will last for a period of 60 days before the announcement of the results. I enjoin all of us to think critically about this, before we make our choice and to mobilise our members to take active part. There cannot be a better chance for us to contribute to give Nigeria the kind of leadership it deserves in the 21st century, Mr Yusuf said. He called on youth across the country to ensure that they register and obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) ahead of the 2019 general elections. Mr Yusuf stressed that it was time for members of the movement to enthrone good leadership in the country, because according to him, the countrys past leaders had failed the people. We must take the bull by the horn, we must change the narrative, the time to make this correction is now, and we must not delay any more, he said. Mr Yusuf added that it is now the responsibility of northern youth to ensure that the poverty and insecurity in the region were tackled head on. He maintained that those benefiting from the poverty in the land must be stopped, because the education and general wellbeing of the youth in the region were not their priority. They have failed us, in line with that, we shall focus on the 2019 general elections, it is yet another chance to correct the leadership problems facing the North and Nigeria generally, Mr Yusuf said. He said the movement is poised to give Nigerians a candidate that would rebuild and unify the country as well as obey the rule of law. He noted that several politicians and aspirants had indicated interest in the coming presidential election, saying that the movement had, therefore, short listed notable ones as likely candidates from the North. This, he said, included but not limited to: President Muhammadu Buhari, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, former governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Makarfi and Mr Lamido. He thanked the Almighty Allah and those who ensured his re-election and assured them that he would leave up to the expectations. Mr Yusuf also thanked those who contested the election with him for accepting the majority decision. Tomorrow provides another chance, but before then, we shall work closely to bring succour to our people, our land and Nigeria at large, he said. (NAN) The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has charged the Presidency to come clear on reasons for President Muhammadu Buharis technical stopover in London. The party, in a statement by its publicity secretary, Kola Ologbodiyan, said the presidency should end what they described as official secrecy as the president is not a private citizen, therefore his activities must be fully disclosed. The President, who left Abuja on Saturday on an official working visit to the United States of America, on the invitation of President Donald Trump, left the US after the meeting on Tuesday morning. Mr Buhari was expected on Wednesday as the report released to announce his departure from Nigeria to the US didnt state he would be stopping by in London. He however, arrived London Tuesday evening. Following a report by PREMIUM TIMES that the president was yet to return two days after leaving the US, a presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said he was in London for a technical stopover. The party believes full information should be given especially as President Buharis foreign trips come at great costs with no gains to the country, citing the times when the president made negative statement about the country and its citizens. One of those was when the the President called the Nigerian youth lazy at the just concluded the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London. The PDP invites Nigerians to note that President Buhari left the United States 48 hours ago and embarked on an unofficial visit to United Kingdom for undisclosed reasons without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly. This is impunity and another constitutional breach. Indeed, Nigerians are worried about the signal being sent out by this penchant for secret itinerary, particularly, given the poor reputation and governance transparency issues confronting our nation under the Buhari administration. The Presidency must understand that President Buhari is not a private citizen and as long as his upkeep and itinerary is sourced from our hard-earned resources, there must be full disclosure, as citizens deserve to know the purpose of the visit and the cost to our nation. The party claims Mr Buhari admitted to the Voice of America (VOA) that he was unable to reach any agreement with President Donald Trump on any matter of interest to Nigeria during his US visit and that he has no future development agenda to validate his 2019 re-election bid. The PDP therefore urged the presidents handlers to adequately prepare him before international outings as well as ensure full disclosure on all his visits outside the country. President Muhammadu Buhari has finally touched down in Abuja, two days after he left the United States following an official visit to President Donald Trump. The president landed at 10:17 p.m. at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport from London. The arrival comes hours after PREMIUM TIMES reported the curious disappearance of the president who should have arrived in Nigeria since Wednesday. He went to London without any formal announcement. His media aides, who initially failed to explain the presidents whereabouts when PREMIUM TIMES posed the questions to them on Thursday morning, eventually did following public outcry after the story. The curious stop in London prompted speculation that the president went to see his doctors again, with whom he had been treating an undisclosed illnesses. One of the aides, Garba Shehu, later explained that the president stopped over in London for technical reasons due to a faulty aircraft and use of substitute. The president is expected to depart for his home state of Katsina tomorrow, according to State House sources who informed PREMIUM TIMES about his schedule. Members of the Audu/Faleke Political Organisation in Kogi State have opted out of the forthcoming congresses of the All Progressives Congress (APC). The group said in a statement made available to reporters Lokoja on Thursday, that it was abandoning the congresses because Governor Yahaya Bello had allegedly hijacked the process. Now that the partys congresses are here, the governor, true to type, has hijacked the whole processes, handing over the ward congresses to his local government administrators to compile names from wards to local government areas. Duro Meseko, the organisations Director, Media and Publicity signed the statement. Mr Meseko said that the governor had been using the administrators to function virtually as alternative party executives and refused to fund the authentic party executives. The group also cited the inability of the national leadership of the party to live up to expectations as another reason for boycotting the congresses. The National leadership of the party has also not lived up to expectations in most cases regarding Kogi issue. For instance, the letter from the National Secretariat of the party on the organisation and conduct of the congresses was handed over directly to the governor instead of the leadership of the state executive. Mr Meseko also mentioned the inability to reconcile various factions in the state branch of the party for its decision. He further alleged that thugs were being armed to attack members of the group at the venue of the congresses, adding that the decision to boycott would safeguard lives and property. The group, therefore, directed its members in the three senatorial districts of the state to boycott the congresses. James Faleke was the running mate to late Abubakar Audu in the 2015 governorship election. Since failing to get the governorship slot despite court battles, he has been a consistent critic of the Yahaya Bello led executive. Motorists using the Nnamdi Azikwe bypass on Kaduna-Abuja highway have been stranded for hours following total blockage of the road by drivers of articulated vehicles. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the drivers blocked the road over alleged harassment of one of their members by some officials of Kaduna State Traffic Law Enforcement Agency (KASTELEA). Although neither the driver nor the KASTELIA officials were around, the protesting drivers refused all entries to evacuate the road for normal traffic flow. According to an eye witness, Usman Ilyasu, the traffic officers had removed the battery of a vehicle which refused to stop when it was initially flagged down. The trailer driver was stopped along Amingo Junction by Kastelea officers but he refused to stop, they followed him and when he stopped, the traffic officers went away with the vehicle battery. I was inside a taxi around 4:30pm when I saw them following the trailer. Another witness, Umar Muhammad said that the trailers and tankers blocking the road were to show solidarity to their colleague. Meanwhile, motorist using the road have decried the action of the articulated vehicles drivers, saying it was insensitive. Aliyu Muhammad a motorist said: I am just coming back from work and there is hold up from Bakin Ruwa, vehicles are turning back looking for alternative ways to pass. This is very bad as people traveling would be stranded or reach their destinations late. Policemen have been deployed to the area to maintain law and order. (NAN) The Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has announced the commencement of the 2018 audit of personnel; teaching and non-teaching staff as well as students in all basic education institutions in the state. According to a press statement by the spokesperson to the state governor, Crusoe Osagie, on Thursday, the acting Chairman of the Board, Joan Osa Oviawe, said the exercise is in line with the provisions of the Universal Basic Education Act 2004 for regular audit of basic schools. The law mandates the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) To carry out at regular intervals, a personnel audit of teaching and non-teaching staff of all basic education institutions, establish a basic education data bank and conduct research on basic education in Nigeria. Premium Times reported how the federal government said it conduct the National Personnel Audit (NPA) to produce a data bank of pupils, students and personnel of public and private basic education schools in Nigeria. The minister of education, Adamu Adamu, said the NPA would strengthen the current National Educational Management Information System (NEMIS) which serves as a key pillar of the nations educational planning process. UBEC is coordinating the exercise in two phases across the country between April 30 and May 27, with Edo and 16 other southern states being in the first phase of the exercise. Ms Oviawe said the audit will enable the agency obtain comprehensive and reliable data of children of school-going age enrolled in primary and junior secondary schools as well as existing administrative and management personnel in the schools. She urged stakeholders and partners in the states basic education sector to accord field officers necessary support towards ensuring the success of the exercise. Field officers will be visiting their schools/institutions to administer questionnaires and collect relevant information on their basic education operations, she said. Mrs Oviawe urged school heads especially private operators in remote areas to contact their Local Government Education Authorities and ensure that their schools are adequately covered during the exercise. The Enugu State Police Command has successfully demolished 15 unexploded civil war bombs at the outskirt of Enugu metropolis. The Commands spokesman, Ebere Amaraizu, a superintendent of police, said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Enugu. Mr Amaraizu, however, thanked the residents of the state for their cooperation while the exercise lasted for two days. He said that the exercise was carried out by the operatives of Explosive Ordinance Department (E.O.D) of the command in a hitch-free manner. The command wish to inform members of the public that its bombs demolition conducted between April 25 and April 26 in Enugu was successful. Within the demolition period, the civil war left-over bombs of various calibres recovered during farming, building and road constructions were successfully demolished by the operatives of EOD of the command without any adverse report. The operatives of the EOD also rendered safe and secured the general area used for the exercise, he said. The command on April 24 advised residents of the state not to panic as its EOD personnel carry out demolition of unexploded explosives (bombs) recovered in the state from 2016 to date at Nsude/Udi axis on the outskirt of the state. (NAN) The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has reacted to the closure of the institution by the Osun State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over tax default of N1.8 billion. Reacting to the closure, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Abiodun Olanrewaju, appealed to the state government and promised that the institution is working tirelessly to resolve the issue. The institution was shut down Wednesday morning by the officials of the state IRS led by Oladipo Babatunde after obtaining a court order. Mr Babatunde said that the institution will be reopened when the management is ready to pay its tax debt. The IRS sealed the universitys senate building, administrative block, bursary department and the schools main gate which interrupted the flow of vehicles and registration of fresh students who resumed on Sunday. The state government had earlier issued seven days ultimatum to some companies accused of owing the state well over N12.5 billion as unremitted taxes. According to the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Tax Matters, Gbenga Akano, the government subsequently decided to prosecute the defaulters. We are working tirelessly to resolve the issue. The management is law abiding and will ensure the prompt payment of the tax debt, the school spokesperson said, Thursday in its first official reaction. Mr Olanrewaju said the debt was caused by previous administrations of the institution. Since 2017, the present administration has been paying consistently but a backlog of debt inherited from past administrations is causing this little trouble. The institution is assuring the public that all will be resolved soon. We are doing that administratively. He also said that the fresh students undergoing registration are not affected, as only the Senate and the administrative blocks are affected by the closure. Fresh students registration is carried out at their respective departments, PREMIUM TIMES gathered. According to the state government, other companies owing taxes include: Globalcom, NTA Ile-Ife and 9mobile. Several meetings have been held with affected organisations, but it has been a continuous imperviousness and indebtedness. We are left with no option than to openly mention some tax defaulters who failed to perform their civic responsibilities. We are serious about getting every kobo owed Osun State. The government is doing its best to meet the yawning of the people. We need money to do more. We are not asking for extra. But what is legitimately due to us in taxes must be given to us, Mr Akano had said. The remains of Michael Adeyemo, the late Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly has been buried at his Lanlate home in Ibarapa East Local Government area of the state amidst tributes and tears. The interment on Thursday followed a funeral service held for Mr Adeyemo, 47, who died on April 27. It was a glorious home call for Mr Adeyemo as residents thronged the streets in their hundreds to receive the remains of the late speaker who they described as a worthy representative. There was, however, a gloomy atmosphere amidst tears and bitter exclamations in the air on arrival at Lanlate. The remains had left Ibadan for Lanlate on Thursday morning after a special session and lying-in-state ceremony held in his honour by the State House of Assembly. Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state had at the special session in Ibadan lamented the death of Mr Adeyemo, describing the deceased as a confidant and patriotic partner in progress. Mr Ajimobi said the late speaker contributed immensely to the success of the current administration in the state. Edward Ubosi, the Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, also described the late Mr Adeyemo as not just a speaker but also a speaking speaker. Mr Ubosi, who spoke on behalf of Nigerian Conference of Speakers, noted several contributions of late Mr Adeyemo to the conference and Nigeria. Earlier, Olusegun Ajanaku and Gbenga Oyekola, who spoke on behalf of the lawmakers could not hold back tears while reading their tributes to the deceased, describing the death of Mr Adeyemo as unfortunate and premature. They said Mr Adeyemo died at a time his full potential had not been fully tapped. Rev. Stephen Adekunle, President, Ibadan Baptist Conference at the funeral service gave a sermon entitled When your life becomes history. Mr Adekunle stressed the need for the living to always prepare to leave an impactful history, in view of the inevitability of death. Among those who attended the funeral service are the deceaseds wife, Oyeronke, Mr Ajimobi and his wife, former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Moses Adeyemo, the deputy governor of the state and wife. Others were members of State Executive Council, members of National Assembly, members of the State Assembly, prominent political leaders and associates as well as Ibarapa people. Speakers of Akwa-Ibom, Lagos, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Niger, Kwara, Ondo, Ogun, Delta, Osun and Ekiti states represented the delegation of Nigeria Conference of Speakers at the lying-in-state for the deceased. (NAN) American rap mogul and entrepreneur Rick Ross came, rocked his show, and left his Kenyan fanbase wanting more. However, word on the street has it that not everyone was as pleased. According to reports, some members of the first family did not get to hang out with Rick Ross, even after buying out the VVIP tent at the Carnivore. They included President Uhuru Kenyattas daughter, Ngina Kenyatta, niece Nana Gecaga and PA Jomo. HotSecretz reports that the First family members were set for a photo opportunity with Rick Ross before he walked on stage for his performance at 1 am. But the plan never materialized because Rick Ross security whisked him straight to stage the minute he walked out of his limo. It is said that the First family then sent word via their security detail to the stage manager during Rick Ross performance, asking him to make it happen. That didnt work either and after the show was over, the Hustling hitmaker was once again whisked away to his hotel room. According to an unnamed source, Rick Ross had earlier that night suffered seizures and had breathing problems. His team had to get a masseuse to massage him for an hour before he went on stage. During his whole visit to Kenya, the star did not touch any alcohol. That is why when he got on stage he took the seat and was on it for a while. It is believed Ross health scare explains why he was whisked in and out of the concert venue with little ceremony. For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. BALTIMORE, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 1,129,744 patient records were breached between January and March 2018, according to new data released today in the Protenus Breach Barometer. Published by Protenus, an artificial intelligence platform used by top health systems to analyze every access to patient data inside the electronic health record (EHR), the Breach Barometer is the industry's definitive source for health data breach reporting. In the first quarter of 2018, the average of at least one data breach per day in healthcare continued to hold true with 110 health data breaches. Protenus' proprietary data found that healthcare insiders were most likely to snoop on their family members (77.10% of privacy violations in Q1 2018). Snooping on fellow co-workers was the second most common insider-wrongdoing violation, followed by snooping on neighbors and VIPs. To receive the full report, or for more information, please visit: https://protenus.com/breach-barometer-report The single largest breach disclosed in Q1 2018 was the result of a hacking incident that involved an Oklahoma-based healthcare organization. This breach was the result of an unauthorized third-party that gained access to the health system's network which stored patient billing information for 279,856 patients. Protenus data also found that if healthcare employees breach patient privacy once, there is a greater than 20 percent chance that they will breach privacy again in three months' time, and a greater than 54 percent chance they will do it again in a years' time. This evidence indicates healthcare organizations accumulate risk that compounds over time when proper detection, reporting, and education do not occur. The Breach Barometer reports that it takes healthcare organizations an alarming average of 244 days to detect a breach once it has occurred. This evidence reinforces the growing need for proactive monitoring of all accesses to patient data, which is quickly becoming a standard best practice for healthcare organizations across the country. Protenus, which releases the Breach Barometer quarterly, announced this new report at the annual PANDAS event in Baltimore, Maryland. Founded in 2014, the company helps health systems ensure health data is safe and being used appropriately. About Protenus The Protenus healthcare compliance analytics platform uses artificial intelligence to audit every access to patient records for the nation's leading health systems. Providing healthcare leaders full insight into how health data is being used, and alerting privacy, security and compliance teams to inappropriate activity, Protenus helps our partner hospitals make decisions about how to better protect their data, their patients, and their institutions. Learn more at Protenus.com and follow us on Twitter @Protenus. Contact Kira Caban Director, Public Relations [email protected] 410-913-0274 SOURCE Protenus Related Links http://www.Protenus.com LOS ANGELES, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO) has announced the 11th annual ranking of the 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies during the WPO Annual Conference, in Los Angeles. The aggregate revenues of $8.3 billion represent a $1 billion increase from the 10th annual ranking last year. All 50 companies will be honored at a special event at the 2018 WPO Annual Conference at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 3, 2018, 12:30pm 2:15pm. Following the luncheon and awards ceremony, WPO will host a "Guide to Growth" panel featuring 50 Fastest honorees sharing advice for fellow WPO members working to increase businesses. The top five winners of the WPO 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies include: Pinnacle Group , an industry-leading workforce solution firm in Dallas, TX , is the number one fastest growing women-owned/led business in this year's ranking, led by President and CEO Nina Vaca . , an industry-leading workforce solution firm in , is the number one fastest growing women-owned/led business in this year's ranking, led by The second fastest growing women-owned/led company is Orangetheory Fitness , a fitness solutions company, run by Ellen Latham , based in Boca Raton, Florida , and last year's number one winner. , a fitness solutions company, run by , based in , and last year's number one winner. In the number three spot is professional employer organization Globalization Partners, based in Boston . Nicole Sahin is the company CEO . based in . . The number four spot is TKT & Associates Inc ., a business management firm run by Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne , in Louisville, KY ., a business management firm run by , in Ranked number five is Phyllis Newhouse's Xtreme Solutions, an IT Services and Solutions provider, specializing in information ethical hacking and cyber training solutions, is based in Atlanta . "I am very impressed that the aggregate revenue of this year's winners is up $1 billion from last year," said WPO President & Founder Dr. Marsha Firestone. "Women entrepreneurs have built their businesses into an economic powerhouse, with a significant impact on the economy and job growth. All eligible companies were ranked according to a sales growth formula, combining percentage and absolute growth. To qualify for the ranking, businesses are required to be privately held, woman-owned/led companies and have reached annual revenues of at least $500,000 as of January 1, 2013. Applicants are not required to be WPO members. Additional facts about the 2018 WPO 50 Fastest: Average age of women-owner/leader is 51; half of the winners are in their 30's and 40's Aggregate revenue is $8.3 billion , up $1 billion from last year , up from last year Average 2017 revenue was $165.3 million Average number of employees on first day: 13; projected average for 2018: 799 Funding sources at company start: 70% with their own funds 12% with funds from friends and family 4% with a bank loan 8% with a line of credit 4% with a credit card 4% with private investors/angels The WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting women who own multi-million dollar companies. For more information, contact 212-688-4114 or visit www.womenpresidentsorg.com. Follow the WPO on Twitter @womenpresidents and Facebook @TheWPO. The 2018 50 Fastest-Growing Women-Owned/Led Companies are: 1 Pinnacle Group Nina Vaca Dallas, TX 2 Orangetheory Fitness Ellen Latham Boca Raton, FL 3 Globalization Partners Nicole Sahin Boston, MA 4 TKT & Associates, Inc. Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne Louisville, KY 5 Xtreme Solutions Inc. Phyllis Newhouse Atlanta, GA 6 American Fashion Network Jacqueline Wilson East Syracuse, NY 7 Quality Business Solutions, Inc. Pamela Evette Travelers Rest, SC 8 Maximum Games Christina Seelye Walnut Creek, CA 9 Anne Holland Ventures DBA Marijuana Business Daily Cassandra Farrington Denver, CO 10 Enseo Vanessa Ogle Richardson, TX 11 Atrium Staffing LLC Rebecca Cenni New York, NY 12 Adroit Partners, LLC Kristi Johnson Houston, TX 13 Akorbi Claudia Mirza Plano/TX 14 E2 OPTICS Kristi Alford Haarberg Englewood, CO 15 Influenster Elizabeth Scherle New York, NY 16 Streamlinevents, Inc. Annette Chinn Emeryville, CA 17 Data Systems Analysts, Inc. Frances R. Pierce Trevose, PA 18 Morning Sun Financial Services Rebecca Thomley Golden Valley, MN 19 Administrative Strategies, LLC Linda A Sullivan Fishers, IN 20 Nugate Group, LLC Jamila Stanford San Jose, CA 21 StillPoint Capital Amy C. Cross Tampa, FL 22 CA South Stacy Knight Atlanta, GA 23 twelveNYC Katie Conovitz Brooklyn, NY 24 CJ Chemicals Catherine J. Lee Brighton,MI 25 LifeHealth, LLC Margot Adam Langstaff Littleton, CO 26 BrightStar Group Holdings, Inc. Shelly Sun Gurnee, IL 27 Merrimak Capital Company LLC Mary Kariotis Novato, CA 28 TalTeam, Inc. Sudha Mathew Herndon, VA 29 Ampcus Inc. Ann Ramakumaran Chantilly, VA 30 The Revel Group Britt Whitfield Chicago, IL 31 Anderson Burton Joni Anderson, President Arroyo Grande, CA 32 KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc. Patricia Bible Kodak, TN 33 The Act 1 Group, Inc. Janice Bryant Howroyd Torrance, CA 34 Tribal Tech, LLC Victoria Vasques Alexandria, VA 35 Hawkins Point Partners Heather Morris Kyer North Chelmsford, MA 36 Xclusive Staffing Diane Astley Westminster, CO 37 RiverRoad Waste Solutions, Inc. Kristen Bunnell Tinton Falls, NJ 38 GlobalCare Clinical Trials, LLC Gail Adinamis Bannockburn, IL 39 Point 2 Point Global Security, Inc. Stephanie Point Addison, TX 40 Career Start Lindsay McCutchen Rochester, NY 41 Stronghold Engineering Inc Beverly Bailey Riverside, CA 42 Softpath System LLC Sushumnaa Roy Jalajam Norcross, GA 43 Indian Eyes LLC Roxie Schescke Pasco, WA 44 Innovative Office Solutions LLC Jennifer Smith Burnsville, MN 45 Swoon Staffing Michelle Baker Chicago, IL 46 Coranet Corp. Margaret Marcucci New York, NY 47 Sunstates Security, LLC Kathryn Burrell Raleigh, NC 48 McNDT Pipeline, Ltd Cindy J McCain Channahon, IL 49 Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC Jenny McCuiston Troy, MI 50 Butler/Till Sue Butler Rochester, NY Contact: Andrea Pass Marketing Maven [email protected] 646-661-2203 Office 201-873-6087 Mobile Susan Johnson Women Presidents' Organization [email protected] (212) 688-4114 Office (917) 601-5778 Mobile SOURCE Women Presidents' Organization Related Links http://www.womenpresidentsorg.com Through a partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) and input from the teen members, Aaron's associates and Club officials worked last Tuesday decorating and furnishing the Club's multipurpose space. On Wednesday, local Aaron's associates and Club officials revealed the new space, now equipped with new technology, sectionals, tables and chairs, sound systems and fresh paint. "The Union Street Boys & Girls Club provides a supportive environment for Manchester teens to achieve their goals and grow into leaders in their community," said John Robinson, CEO of Aaron's, Inc. "Aaron's is proud to continue to work alongside the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide the necessary resources and technology that will instill and foster confidence in these teens." Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig attended the unveiling and addressed the crowd. "The support and guidance of the Keystone Club program has a tremendous impact on these teens and they are so deserving of this amazing gift. It was wonderful to see firsthand such an impactful renovation provided by Aaron's to the Teen Center, which helps set our teens up for success. I am grateful for Aaron's commitment to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and to families across Manchester." In 2015, the Aaron's Foundation, Inc. announced a three-year, $5 million national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America's Keystone Program, helping teens develop their character and leadership skills in hopes of helping them reach their potential and creating positive change in the community. Keystone Club teen centers provide members ages 14-18 an environment in which to plan and participate in activities that focus on community service, academic success, career preparation and teen outreach. "The Manchester teens who participate in Boys & Girls Club programs are given the confidence necessary to achieve success in the future," said Diane Fitzpatrick, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Manchester. "The support Aaron's has provided through the new state-of-the-art technology, furniture and appliances will help us further our mission and help our teens grow into confident, successful young adults." The 27 previous Keystone Club makeovers have included Boys & Girls Clubs in cities such as Pittsfield, Cincinnati, Las Vegas, Chicago, Hartford and Miami. The makeover at the Union Street Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester includes an additional in-kind retail donation valued at $25,000. Keystone teen members of the Union Street Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester said the program inspires them to take ownership of their choices to build the lives they deserve. "I've learned so much because of this program. Before I joined Keystone, I was the most introverted person ever. Now, to stop talking is more of a challenge for me." Justin S., 17 "What was really cool is that it wasn't just Keystone that was involved, it was different teens in the Teen Center, and everyone got to participate and say what they wanted to do for the makeover." Nathalie B., 17 "For us to give back to the Club like this was such an awesome opportunity." Justin S., 17 "Keystone is something I believe a lot of people should do because leadership is important; it helps young people have a voice and have a purpose." Atong C., 18 "I always come back to Keystone because I just love it! We're like one big family." Nathalie B., 17 "With the renovation, I'm excited about friendship because a lot of people say the Club is a second home and it will feel more like home now." Ama O., 14 "I'm excited about the new vibe it's going to bring. Now it's going to be brighter and more appealing to teens." Jayda J., 14 To see photos of the Keystone Club remodel at the Union Street Clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of Manchester, visit Aaron's on Facebook (www.facebook.com/aaronsinc), on Twitter (www.twitter.com/AaronsInc) and at www.Aarons.com/Aarons-Gives. About Aaron's, Inc. Headquartered in Atlanta, Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN), is a leading omnichannel provider of lease-purchase solutions. Progressive Leasing, a virtual lease-to-own company, provides lease-purchase solutions through approximately 27,000 retail locations in 46 states. In addition, the Aaron's Business engages in the sales and lease ownership and specialty retailing of furniture, consumer electronics, home appliances and accessories through its 1,719 Company-operated and franchised stores in 47 states and Canada, as well as its e-commerce platform, Aarons.com. Dent-A-Med, Inc., d/b/a the HELPcard, provides a variety of second-look credit products that are originated through federally insured banks. For more information, visit investor.aarons.com, Aarons.com, ProgLeasing.com, and HELPcard.com. About Boys & Girls Clubs of America For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, more than 4,100 Clubs serve nearly 4 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. They provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Club programs promote academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 54 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at www.facebook.com/bgca.clubs and https://twitter.com/BGCA_Clubs. SOURCE Aaron's, Inc. Related Links http://www.aarons.com "Having had the pleasure of working with our talented team for years, I am thrilled to now help implement new initiatives that will empower communities in the Springbrook family to better manage their finances from coast to coast," said Max Schnoedl, President and GM of Springbrook. "We will build on our longstanding experience with 900 local government customers and focus on providing modern cloud solutions and a seamless payment experience to communities and their constituents." A member of Accela's product offering since 2015, Springbrook, along with its KVS and SoftRight brands, is a leader in cloud-based finance and administration software for local government. Springbrook's suite of flexible, high-performance solutions enables agencies to manage their finances, payroll and utility billing efficiently, ensuring financial stability and providing communities with the tools they need to thrive. "The Accela National User Group is excited to work with Max to help bring more value to the Springbrook customer base. We've known Max to be a thoughtful innovator and dedicated in making sure governments have a true partner with Accela," said Steve Corbeille, Finance Director/Treasurer of the City of Manitowoc, and Member of the Board of Directors and past President of the Accela National User Group. "With Max at the helm, Springbrook and its customer base are well positioned to grow further. Max has been instrumental in leading many growth initiatives for Accela over the years and is well versed in what our finance and administration customer base needs today to drive efficiency in their jobs and within their respective communities," said Mark Jung, Accela's Executive Chairman. Springbrook will be demoing its suite of Finance, Administration and Utility Billing solutions at GFOA's 112th Annual Conference in St. Louis May 6-9, 2018. About Max Schnoedl Effective today, Max serves as the President and GM of Springbrook, an Accela company. Before Springbrook, Max held several leadership positions with Accela, including COO, CFO and CSO for the company. Prior to joining Accela, Max served as VP in Deutsche Bank's technology and strategy groups, and as a cabinet member of Austria's Federal Minister of Science. About Accela Accela provides a market-leading platform of SaaS solutions that empower local governments to improve efficiency, increase engagement and deliver transparency to strengthen communities. From asset and land management to licensing, finance, environmental health and more, Accela's solutions serve more than 2,000 communities worldwide, including more than 80% of America's largest cities. Accela is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with offices in New York, Portland, Salt Lake City, Abu Dhabi, Amman, Dubai, Dublin and Melbourne. For more information, visit www.accela.com. Contact: Valerie Pressley 925-659-3200 [email protected] SOURCE Accela Related Links http://www.accela.com NEEDHAM, Mass., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AccuFund, Inc., provider of financial reporting and accounting software for nonprofit, municipal and government organizations, today announced the recipients of its annual Partner Leadership Awards for sales and marketing success in the previous year. Presented at a special dinner during AccuFund's annual reseller meeting, held March 17-19, 2018 the awards recognize the volume sales leaders for the AccuFund Accounting Suite. AccuFund bestowed Partner Leadership awards for overall volume sales leadership, volume sales leadership in the government and nonprofit sectors, volume leadership in add-on sales and total unit sales, volume leadership in representative payee sales, marketing excellence and customer installation and support excellence. The 2017 AccuFund Partner Leadership award recipients were as follows: ComputerWorks NFP volume sales leader overall and volume leader in nonprofit sales, total unit sales and add-on sales; Inventive Software Systems second volume sales leader overall and volume leader in government sector sales; BlumShapiro third volume sales leader overall; NFP Solutions volume leader in representative payee sales; EMK, Inc. partner leader in marketing excellence; BW Consulting partner leader in marketing excellence; Waypoints, LLC partner leader in installation and support excellence; and Financial Technologies & Management Rookie of the Year "We've assembled a team of resellers who are among the best in the government and nonprofit financial management solutions market," said Ian Scotland, vice president of AccuFund, Inc. "These dedicated consultants provide their clients with the best solutions in the market. We are proud that they are committed to solving their customers' problems and addressing their finance management needs with the implementation of our products." "We welcome this honor from AccuFund and their support for our standing as a top reseller in the nonprofit and government markets," said Pat Vaughan, president at Inventive Software Solutions, LLC. "We consider it a privilege to work with a company that is committed to customer excellence and offers an accounting solution that is easy to use yet addresses customers' complex finance management needs. We have the tools we need to do a great job for our customers." "We have represented AccuFund as a reseller for over 10 years and value this annual recognition of our sales and implementation success," said Matt Yezukevich, CPA at BlumShapiro Consulting, Inc. "The AccuFund Accounting Suite has consistently been a leader among financial solutions to nonprofits and government, and it's a product that is simple to implement and support. It is our pleasure to represent AccuFund." Jeff Durante of ComputerWorks NFP added, "We've had another great year with AccuFund and are looking forward to all the exciting changes and enhancements on the horizon. We pride ourselves on working closely with both our clients and AccuFund to deliver software that allows our clients to make a major impact in the communities they serve." The AccuFund reseller meeting was held March 17 -19, 2018 at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In addition to the presentation of the AccuFund Partner Leadership awards, the meeting provided attendees with technical updates, training on new software, and sales techniques. The company has resellers across the United States who attend the annual reseller meeting each year. About AccuFund AccuFund, Inc. is a nonprofit financial improvement systems specialist offering scalable accounting software systems to nonprofit organizations and government agencies. AccuFund uses award-winning financial software, consulting services and industry best practices to help organizations streamline processes, improve efficiency and lower costs. Their nonprofit financial solutions are available on-premise or cloud-based. AccuFund's products are available exclusively through Value Added Resellers (VARs) located throughout the United States. The VARs provide AccuFund's customers with cost-effective onsite training and installation assistance. For more information, call 877-872-2228 ext. 231, email [email protected] or visit www.accufund.com. Contact: Kristen Faiola, Marketing & Media AccuFund, Inc. 400 Hillside Ave. Needham, MA 02494 Phone: 781-433-0233 ext. 231 Fax: 781-453-0460 [email protected] SOURCE AccuFund Related Links https://www.accufund.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Acreage Holdings ("Acreage") (www.acreageholdings.com), one of the nation's largest, multi-state cannabis corporations, has announced its support for H.R.5520, the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 ("Bill"). The bill, which was introduced on April 16, 2018, was introduced by House Committee on Veteran's Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) with the support of Chairman Phil Roe (R-TN), the bill's leading Republican co-sponsor, and Representative Lou Correa (D-CA). If passed, the legislation would authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct and support research on the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis. The legislation will also require annual reports from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Congress on how it intends to exercise that authority once a year for the next five years. Acreage, which announced the appointments of Former Speaker of the House John Boehner and Former Governor of Massachusetts Bill Weld to its Board of Advisors, worked with the bill sponsors to provide assistance and input during the drafting process. Kevin Murphy, Acreage Founder and CEO said, "Acreage is committed to providing access to medicinal cannabis to those in this country who can benefit from it. I do not know of a more deserving group than our military veterans. Cannabis represents a new frontier in medicine and we need to support veterans in both access and research. Introducing this bill is a necessary step to make that happen." Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs is required to follow all federal laws including those regarding marijuana. As long as the Food and Drug Administration classifies marijuana as "Schedule One," VA health care providers may not prescribe or assist veterans in obtaining it. George Allen, President of Acreage, who was recently invited to contribute on behalf of Acreage to a Medical Cannabis Roundtable by the House Veteran's Affairs Committee, added, "This bill offers a real opportunity to give our veterans what they are asking for: access and relief. Allowing the VA to conduct the necessary research is paramount to understanding all of the ways this plant can help both veterans and other patients in need around the country." An American Legion survey released in November 2017 revealed that 92 percent of veterans support research into the efficacy of medical cannabis for mental and physical conditions and 82 percent want to have medical cannabis as a federally-legal treatment option. Currently, 39 Democrats and 11 Republican members of the House support H.R.5520. ABOUT ACREAGE HOLDINGS Acreage Holdings is a vertically integrated, multi-state owner of cannabis licenses and assets in states where either medical and/or adult use cannabis is legal. Headquartered in New York City and currently operating in 11 states, Acreage owns cultivation, processing and dispensary operations and has among the largest footprints of any cannabis company in the U.S. The company is focused on building and scaling the best-in-breed operations and creating the best consumer-focused cannabis experiences and brands in the space. SOURCE Acreage Holdings Related Links https://www.acreageholdings.com COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AEP Generation Resources Inc. (AEPGR), a competitive generation subsidiary of American Electric Power Company (NYSE: AEP), today issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the supply of coal to Cardinal and Conesville power plants. AEPGR is seeking spot coal proposals for fourth-quarter 2018 for Cardinal Plant and spot coal proposals for calendar year 2019 for Conesville Plant. In addition, AEPGR seeks term coal proposals beginning in first-quarter 2019 and lasting up to three years. Proposal packages must be received no later than 5 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2018. They may be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to AEPGR RFP Coal Proposal, ATTN: Kim Chilcote Manager, Coal Procurement, 303 Marconi Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215. Complete details about the RFP are available at www.aep.com/go/coaloffers or by calling Chilcote at (614) 583-6301. American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP's more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 33,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,200 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP's family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. SOURCE American Electric Power Related Links http://www.aep.com Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday took a cue from his Boss and pleaded with Kenyans for forgiveness. Hours after President Uhuru Kenyatta highlighted the need to forge peace and unity in his State of the Nation address, the DP took to social media asking Kenyans to pardon him for any offence he might have committed. Ruto pointed out that he had forgiven all those who had wronged him and urged Kenyans to remain firm in their quest for unity. In keeping with His Excellencys statement, l William Samoei Ruto unreservedly apologise to anyone offended or hurt in anyway by what I have said or done at any time. Find it in your heart to FORGIVE me. I have forgiven ALL those who wronged me. Lets embark on BUILDING the BRIDGES of friendship and UNITY, Ruto tweeted. During the key address, President Uhuru called for national unity to move the country forward. Never again should a Kenyan life be lost for politics sake. Never again should a Kenyan lose property because of politics, he told a joint sitting of Senate and MPs. We leaders have to admit that last year we failed in our duty to preserve the unity of this country and we must make amendments. First I pray that all of us will spend the days and weeks after this address repairing the bones that frayed last year. let us each apologise for our words, anger and malice that Kenya had, said Kenyatta as the House burst in applause. Let us shake hands and embrace our neighbours and let us celebrate the diversity that is Gods gift to us. COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) issued its 12th annual Corporate Accountability Report to provide a comprehensive view of AEP's progress as a business and community partner. The report details AEP's developments in energy and technology, social responsibility, community investments and environmental stewardship, as well as information on the company's business strategy, governance and financial performance. "We're committed to creating the energy infrastructure and providing the services needed to support vibrant communities. Beyond the sale and delivery of electricity, we are collaborating with communities to support economic and business growth, working to increase mobility in underserved areas, investing in education and supporting cultural and community initiatives," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer, in the report's introduction. The report's theme, "Shaping a Brighter Energy Future Together," reflects AEP's commitment to its customers and communities and to building the modern energy infrastructure needed to support advancements in technology and a smarter, more reliable system. This year's report also introduces new sustainability goals, developed by AEP employees, demonstrating shared value for AEP and its stakeholders. The report details AEP's progress on its strategic plans and four key principles of the company's sustainable development strategy: being a catalyst for change, supporting environmental stewardship, supporting strong local communities, and building a brighter energy future together with its customers. Highlights include: AEP employees' commitment to restoring power to customers. In 2017, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria left millions of customers without power. Despite the damage and challenging conditions, AEP's employees worked diligently to safely restore power while demonstrating compassion and mutual care to customers, communities and one another. AEP's new sustainability goals. The goals reflect AEP's commitment to the environment; efficient use of energy; safety, health and well-being of employees and the public; supplier diversity; community building; the customer experience; and economic development. AEP's commitment to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 percent by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050 (both from a 2000 baseline) from its generating facilities. AEP's focus on advancing technology and innovation and its commitment to partnerships to develop smart, comprehensive and sustainable infrastructure solutions. The 2018 Corporate Accountability Report, as well as more details about AEP's sustainable development strategy, can be found at www.aepsustainability.com. American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP's more than 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 33,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 4,200 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP's family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. SOURCE American Electric Power Related Links http://www.aep.com Moisture Miracle is a "moisture plus" collection adding moisture every step of the washing and styling process. For the new Moisture Miracle collection, African Pride utilizes uniquely crafted blends of the following premium, natural, African ingredients without adding any harsh ingredients: Moroccan Red Clay - clarifies hair, improves elasticity Aloe Vera - nourishes, heals and protects against breakage and hair loss Flax Seed Oil - defines curls, provides natural hold Coconut Water - helps strengthen hair, restores moisture Baobab Oil - restores and strengthens damaged hair, locks in moisture Coconut Oil - deeply conditions, hydrates, helps repair hair Cacao Powder - restores hair, prevents damage Coconut Milk - replenishes moisture, softens, detangles Honey - attracts and retains moisture while adding shine Shea Butter - moisturizes, strengthens and protects "At African Pride, we understand that women with natural kinky, coily hair textures struggle with two main issues: dryness, which can make hair hard to style and maintain; and finding the right products that work for their unique hair textures," said Kendria Strong, Director of Marketing. "When developing Moisture Miracle, we looked for quality ingredients that replenished, restored and retained a level of moisture that would provide kinky, coily hair textures with more manageability throughout the entire process of washing, styling and maintaining their hair." The eight-piece Moisture Miracle collection includes haircare and styling products: Aloe & Coconut Water Detangle & Condition Pre-Shampoo ( $4.49 ; 12 oz.) - Start your wash day regimen with this ultra-conditioning pre-shampoo formula that instantly softens and detangles hair with the natural healing and soothing benefits of aloe vera combined with the hydrating properties of coconut water. ( ; 12 oz.) - Start your wash day regimen with this ultra-conditioning pre-shampoo formula that instantly softens and detangles hair with the natural healing and soothing benefits of aloe vera combined with the hydrating properties of coconut water. Honey & Coconut Oil Nourish & Shine Shampoo ( $4.49 ; 12 oz.) - Gently cleans hair of dirt and build-up without stripping the follicles of their natural oils. The humectant and reparative benefits of honey and coconut oil combine to deeply penetrate and hydrate coils and curls. ( ; 12 oz.) - Gently cleans hair of dirt and build-up without stripping the follicles of their natural oils. The humectant and reparative benefits of honey and coconut oil combine to deeply penetrate and hydrate coils and curls. Honey, Chocolate & Coconut Oil Nourish & Restore Conditioner ( $4.49 ; 12 oz.) - This penetrating and deep hydration conditioning treatment restores moisture by combining the nutritive properties of honey and coconut oil with the restorative benefits of chocolate (cacao) to strengthen, transform and repair dry coils and curls. ( ; 12 oz.) - This penetrating and deep hydration conditioning treatment restores moisture by combining the nutritive properties of honey and coconut oil with the restorative benefits of chocolate (cacao) to strengthen, transform and repair dry coils and curls. Coconut Milk & Honey Hydrate & Shine Leave-In Conditioner ( $4.49 ; 8 oz.) - This daily-use, lightweight leave-in spray combines ultra-hydrating coconut milk with replenishing honey so hair is instantly softened, hydrated and shinier. ( ; 8 oz.) - This daily-use, lightweight leave-in spray combines ultra-hydrating coconut milk with replenishing honey so hair is instantly softened, hydrated and shinier. Coconut Oil & Baobab Oil Hydrate & Strengthen Leave-In Cream ( $4.49 ; 15 oz.) - Hydrate and strengthen hair with a nourishing blend of coconut and baobab oils. Rich in vitamins and fatty acids, this leave-in cream infuses strands with nutrients, imparts lasting moisture, helps to protect against breakage and adds shine. ( ; 15 oz.) - Hydrate and strengthen hair with a nourishing blend of coconut and baobab oils. Rich in vitamins and fatty acids, this leave-in cream infuses strands with nutrients, imparts lasting moisture, helps to protect against breakage and adds shine. Shea Butter & Flaxseed Oil Moisturize & Define Curling Cream ( $4.49 ; 12 oz.) - This versatile styling cream blends shea butter and flaxseed oil to provide deep moisture, lasting definition and radiant shine, ensuring coils and curly styles are smooth and bouncy with soft hold. ( ; 12 oz.) - This versatile styling cream blends shea butter and flaxseed oil to provide deep moisture, lasting definition and radiant shine, ensuring coils and curly styles are smooth and bouncy with soft hold. Moroccan Red Clay & Shea Butter Detox & Soften Heat Activated Masque ( $4.49 ; 12 oz.) - This detoxifying and restorative clay masque uses the clarifying benefits of Moroccan red clay to remove impurities and product build-up on hair. Shea butter replenishes moisture and tames frizz. ( ; 12 oz.) - This detoxifying and restorative clay masque uses the clarifying benefits of Moroccan red clay to remove impurities and product build-up on hair. Shea butter replenishes moisture and tames frizz. Strengthen & Protect 5 Essential Oils with Vitamin E ( $4.49 ; 4 oz.) - This must-have restorative hair and scalp oil blend uses a nourishing mix of five premium oils (Castor, Grapeseed, Argan, Coconut, Olive) plus vitamin E to replenish natural nutrients, protect against breakage, promote growth and strengthen strands, all while infusing coils and curls with moisture and body. In June, Moisture Miracle will also be available nationwide in Dollar General stores. About African Pride For 30 years, African Pride has addressed the hair care needs of all hair types and textures whether natural or relaxed with brands like Shea Miracle, Olive Miracle and Dream Kids. African Pride is committed to creating affordable, effective products made from quality ingredients and marketed with integrity and respect. For more information about African Pride's full family of products, visit AfricanPrideHair.com. You can also join the African Pride conversation on Facebook (@MyAfricanPrideHair), YouTube (@AfricanPride), and on Instagram and Twitter (@MyAfricanPride). To start your own conversation about the brand, use its official hashtag #FeelingMyPride. Contact: Sakita Holley [email protected] SOURCE African Pride SEGUIN, Texas, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alamo Group Inc. (NYSE: ALG) today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. Highlights for the Quarter Record net income for a first quarter of $14.6 million , up 19.9% , up 19.9% Record net sales for a first quarter of $238.1 million , up 10.5% , up 10.5% Industrial Division up 5.0% Agricultural Division up 13.3% European Division up 25.1% Backlog at $237.8 million , up 62.0% compared to previous year's first quarter , up 62.0% compared to previous year's first quarter Total effective income tax rate at 27.0% compared to 34.7% in the first quarter of 2017 resulting in a savings of approximately $1.5 million Alamo Group's net sales for the first quarter of 2018 were $238.1 million compared to net sales of $215.4 million, for the first quarter of 2017 an increase of 10.5%. Net income for the quarter was $14.6 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, compared to net income of $12.2 million, or $1.05 per diluted share in 2017, an increase of 19.9% in net income. Primarily as a result of the U.S. tax reform changes in U.S. corporate tax rates, which took effect beginning in 2018, the Company's total effective income tax rate for the first quarter of 2018 was 27.0% compared to 34.7% in 2017. This contributed approximately $1.5 million to Alamo's first quarter net income. The results for the first quarter also included the effects of the acquisitions of Santa Izabel and Old Dominion Brush Company, which were both completed in June 2017, and R.P.M. Tech, which was completed in August 2017. Together these three acquisitions contributed $14.5 million in net sales and $0.7 million in net income to Alamo's first quarter results. Net sales and net income were records for a first quarter for Alamo Group. Results by Division Net sales for Alamo's Industrial Division in the first quarter of 2018 were $132.2 million an increase of 5.0% compared to net sales of $125.8 million in the first quarter of 2017. The Division's income from operations for the quarter was $11.8 million compared to $12.6 million in the previous year's first quarter, a decrease of 6.1%. The Industrial Division's results include the effects of the acquisitions of Old Dominion Brush Company and R.P.M. Tech, which combined contributed $9.6 million in net sales and $0.3 million in income from operations in the first quarter.(1) The Division's results were negatively impacted in the first quarter by a strike at the Company's Gradall plant which resulted in sales being approximately $5.0 million below our estimates for the quarter. The strike, which commenced on March 12, 2018, has now been settled with a new three-year contract agreed to on April 5th and the plant resumed normal operations on Monday, April 9th. The Company's Agricultural Division net sales in the first quarter were $58.6 million compared to net sales of $51.8 million in 2017, an increase of 13.3%. Income from operations for the quarter was $5.3 million versus $4.9 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 8.1%. The Agricultural Division results include the effects of the acquisition of Santa Izabel which contributed $5.0 million in net sales and $0.6 million in income from operations in the first quarter. (1) Alamo's European Division net sales were $47.3 million in the first quarter of 2018, a 25.1% increase compared to net sales of $37.8 million in the prior year. Income from operations for the quarter was $4.3 million compared to $2.8 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 52.7%. Comments on Results Ron Robinson, Alamo Group's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased to have started off fiscal 2018 on a positive note with record sales and earnings for a first quarter. These results were achieved despite several challenges during the quarter, including a strike at one of our bigger operations, our Gradall/VacAll plant in Ohio. This situation has now been resolved and the plant has been back functioning normally since April 9th. We also experienced a higher level of input costs as steel and other purchased components increased at above expected rates. In addition, sales of high margin aftermarket spare parts in the quarter were weaker than we anticipated, partly we believe due to later winter weather conditions. But even with these issues our gross margin percentages were above those achieved in the first quarter of 2017. We feel this is a noteworthy accomplishment as last year's first quarter net income was also at record levels. In response to increasing input costs, several Alamo Group units initiated selective surcharges on items most affected by the cost increases and this is being taken into consideration in price increases planned for the current year. We are also seeing some longer lead times for certain input components, but this has not resulted in delayed shipments of our products so far. "In the first quarter we definitely benefited from the strong backlog position we had at the end of 2017. And, even with record shipments, we finished the quarter with a backlog that was 62.0% above our backlog at the end of the first quarter of 2017. This is certainly a healthy level for us and in some areas a little too healthy as several of our units' lead times are beginning to lengthen. To address this in the short term, we are adding personnel and using more outsourcing. We are also increasing our capital spending for the next few years above historical levels in order to improve our overall production capacity. "Undoubtedly in the first quarter we benefited from the U.S. tax reform measures enacted in December of 2017. This resulted in our total effective income tax rate in the first quarter of 2018 being more than 7% below last year's rate resulting in an increase of net earnings of about $1.5 million. We believe the rest of the year should show improvements at nearly this same rate, all else being equal. "In addition, we are pleased that our markets, while not being robust, are continuing to show signs of incremental improvement. This should benefit us throughout 2018 though it is uncertain how issues such as tariffs and geopolitical events will ultimately impact us. Our Industrial markets have remained steady and even our snow removal products in this segment, which have suffered in recent years due to milder winters, returned to more normal conditions this year. Our Agricultural markets were also up compared to the weak conditions of the last several years, though farm incomes are still well below record levels. Finally, Alamo's strongest sales growth came from our European Division where we are benefiting from continued improvement in the overall European economy as well as from more favorable currency exchange rates. "All in all, we continue to like where Alamo Group is positioned. We have a strong backlog, modestly improving markets, growing margins, the benefits of our ongoing operational improvement initiatives and a more favorable tax environment which should all contribute to improved results for our Company throughout 2018." Earnings Conference Call Alamo Group will host a conference call to discuss the first quarter results on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern (10:00 a.m. Central, 9:00 a.m. Mountain and 8:00 a.m. Pacific). Hosting the call will be members of senior management. Individuals wishing to participate in the conference call should dial 877-879-6209 (domestic) or 719-325-2463 (international). For interested individuals unable to join the call, a replay will be available until Wednesday, May 9, 2018 by dialing 888-203-1112 (domestic) or 719-457-0820 (internationally), passcode 8305796. The live broadcast of Alamo Group Inc.'s quarterly conference call will be available online at the Company's website, www.alamo-group.com (under "Investor Relations/Events & Presentations") on Friday, May 4, 2018, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call ends and will be archived on the Company's website for 60 days. About Alamo Group Alamo Group is a leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for infrastructure maintenance, agriculture and other applications. Our products include truck and tractor mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, street sweepers, snow removal equipment, excavators, vacuum trucks, other industrial equipment, agricultural implements and related after-market parts and services. The Company, founded in 1969, has approximately 3,370 employees and operates 26 plants in North America, Europe, Australia and Brazil as of March 31, 2018. The corporate offices of Alamo Group Inc. are located in Seguin, Texas and the headquarters for the Company's European operations are located in Salford Priors, England. Forward Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause the Company's actual results in future periods to differ materially from forecasted results. Among those factors which could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: market demand, competition, weather, seasonality, currency-related issues, acquisition integration issues and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update the information contained herein, which speaks only as of this date. (Tables Follow) (1) This is a non-GAAP financial measure or other information relating to our GAAP financial measures that we have provided to investors in order to allow greater transparency and a deeper understanding of our financial condition and operating results. For a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure or for a more detailed explanation of financial results, refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliation" below and the Attachments thereto. Alamo Group Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) (Unaudited) March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 75,850 $ 70,662 Accounts receivable, net 234,747 196,244 Inventories 168,211 141,408 Other current assets 9,116 5,246 Total current assets 487,924 413,560 Rental equipment, net 32,751 28,047 Property, plant and equipment 81,485 66,525 Goodwill 85,033 75,298 Intangible assets 51,888 49,302 Other non-current assets 6,813 2,407 Total assets $ 745,894 $ 635,139 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities: Trade accounts payable $ 61,830 $ 54,361 Income taxes payable 5,537 6,924 Accrued liabilities 33,304 27,287 Current maturities of long-term debt and capital lease obligations 275 536 Total current liabilities 100,946 89,108 Long-term debt, net of current maturities 147,000 127,017 Long-term tax liability 12,316 Deferred pension liability 1,052 2,519 Other long-term liabilities 7,391 7,106 Deferred income taxes 10,807 6,533 Total stockholders' equity 466,382 402,856 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 745,894 $ 635,139 Alamo Group Inc. and Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) First Quarter Ended 3/31/2018 3/31/2017 Industrial $ 132,167 $ 125,816 Agricultural 58,647 51,777 European 47,273 37,796 Total net sales 238,087 215,389 Cost of sales 177,830 161,225 Gross margin 60,257 54,164 25.3 % 25.1 % Operating expenses 38,896 33,913 Income from operations 21,361 20,251 9.0 % 9.4 % Interest expense (1,337) (1,327) Interest income 100 76 Other income (expense) (134) (358) Income before income taxes 19,990 18,642 Provision for income taxes 5,407 6,475 Net Income $ 14,583 $ 12,167 Net income per common share: Basic $ 1.26 $ 1.06 Diluted $ 1.24 $ 1.05 Average common shares: Basic 11,606 11,472 Diluted 11,739 11,620 Alamo Group Inc. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliation From time to time, Alamo Group Inc. may disclose certain "non-GAAP financial measures" in the course of its earnings releases, earnings conference calls, financial presentations and otherwise. For these purposes, "GAAP" refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) defines a "non-GAAP financial measure" as a numerical measure of historical or future financial performance, financial positions, or cash flows that is subject to adjustments that effectively exclude or include amounts from the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures disclosed by Alamo Group are provided as additional information to investors in order to provide them with greater transparency about, or an alternative method for assessing, our financial condition and operating results. These measures are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, GAAP and may be different from, or inconsistent with, non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Whenever we refer to a non-GAAP financial measure, we will also generally present the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, along with a reconciliation of the differences between the non-GAAP financial measure we reference and such comparable GAAP financial measure. Attachment 1 discloses the impact of the Company's recently completed acquisitions upon Sales, Operating Income and Net Income all of which are non-GAAP financial measures. Attachment 2 discloses a non-GAAP financial presentation related to the impact of currency translation on net sales by division. Attachment 3 shows the net change in our total debt, net of cash, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), both of which are non-GAAP financial measures. The Company considers this information useful to investors to allow better comparability of period-to-period operating performance. Attachment 1 Alamo Group Inc. Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation (in thousands) (Unaudited) Impact of Acquisitions Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Net Sales (consolidated) - GAAP $ 238,087 $ 215,389 (less: net sales attributable to acquisitions) (14,542) Net Sales less acquisitions (consolidated) - non-GAAP $ 223,545 $ 215,389 Net Sales (Industrial Division) - GAAP $ 132,167 $ 125,816 (less: net sales attributable to acquisition) (9,567) Net Sales less acquisitions (N.A. Industrial Division) - non-GAAP $ 122,600 $ 125,816 Net Sales (Agricultural Division) - GAAP $ 58,647 $ 51,777 (less: net sales attributable to acquisitions) (4,975) Net Sales less acquisitions (N.A. Agricultural Division) - non-GAAP $ 53,672 $ 51,777 Net Sales (European Division) - GAAP $ 47,273 $ 37,796 (less: net sales attributable to acquisition) Net Sales less acquisitions (European Division) - non-GAAP $ 47,273 $ 37,796 Operating Income (consolidated) - GAAP $ 21,361 $ 20,251 (less: operating income attributable to Industrial acquisitions) (279) (less: operating income attributable to Agricultural acquisitions) (557) Operating Income less acquisitions (consolidated) - non-GAAP $ 20,525 $ 20,251 Net Income (consolidated) - GAAP $ 14,583 $ 12,167 (less: net income attributable to acquisitions) (669) Net Income less acquisitions (consolidated) - non-GAAP $ 13,914 $ 12,167 Attachment 2 Alamo Group Inc. Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation (in thousands) (Unaudited) Impact of Currency Translation on Net Sales by Division Three Months Ended March 31, Change due to currency translation 2018 2017 % change from 2017 $ % Industrial $ 132,167 $ 125,816 5.0 % $ 656 0.5 % Agricultural 58,647 51,777 13.3 % 53 0.1 % European 47,273 37,796 25.1 % 5,741 15.2 % Total net sales $ 238,087 $ 215,389 10.5 % $ 6,450 3.0 % Attachment 3 Alamo Group Inc. Non-GAAP Financial Reconciliation (in thousands) (Unaudited) Consolidated Net Change of Total Debt, Net of Cash March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Net Change Current maturities $ 275 $ 536 Long-term debt,net of current 147,000 127,017 Total debt $ 147,275 $ 127,553 Total cash 75,850 70,662 Total debt net of cash $ 71,425 $ 56,891 $ 14,534 EBITDA Three Months Ended Trailing Twelve Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Income from operations $ 21,361 $ 20,251 $ 90,448 $ 89,338 Depreciation 4,540 4,184 17,503 17,147 Amortization 936 832 3,624 3,520 EBITDA $ 26,837 $ 25,267 $ 111,575 $ 110,005 SOURCE Alamo Group Inc. Related Links http://alamo-group.com Fittingly, the theme for this year's Annual Meeting was to honor the past, challenge the present and inspire the future. Over the course of the meeting, attendees learned from colleagues across disciplines, explored advances in research, clinical and team-driven care and discussed new and old ideas with those experienced in the field. "This was a monumental event for ACPA and it's exciting that we were able to come together and celebrate our long and paramount history in the state where it all began," said Amelia F. Drake, MD, ACPA president. "ACPA was welcomed with open arms from both the city of Pittsburgh and the state of Pennsylvania, and we are pleased to report that we saw a record number of members attending this year." In another nod to ACPA's storied history, two proclamations were issued to recognize its founding in the state and celebrate its 75th anniversary. Pittsburgh Mayor William Peduto declared the start of the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association's 75th Annual Meeting as April 10, 2018. Further, Governor Wolf declared April 10-14, 2018, as American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Week in Pennsylvania. In addition to the educational sessions, ACPA's Annual Meeting offered a number of sessions and events to highlighted ACPA's history and commitment to team-based care in conjunction with its 75th anniversary. Dr. Rubin Pillay, a renowned medical futurist and professor of healthcare innovations, provided the keynote address on improving innovation intelligence. Other breakout sessions included a Junior Investigator session, which supports research by investigators either recently graduated or currently enrolled in a cleft and craniofacial training program, and a Game Changer session that celebrated advancements in cleft and craniofacial care. To learn more about the association and cleft and craniofacial conditions, please visit acpa-cpf.org. About the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association The American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) association of interested individuals and health care professionals who treat and/or perform research on oral cleft and craniofacial conditions. Since 1943, ACPA has worked to optimize outcomes for individuals with oral cleft and craniofacial conditions through education, support, research, advocacy and interdisciplinary team care. For more information, visit acpa-cpf.org. SOURCE American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association Related Links http://acpa-cpf.org ROHNERT PARK, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The public universities of Virginia have not escaped the burden of budget cuts. Students are shouldering a larger burden of the costs of attending a public university, according to a recent article. In the meantime, though, students in Virginia who attend public universities are taking out more student loans to make up for the increased costs. When it comes time for repayment, some may need assistance figuring out the best approach. Ameritech Financial, a document preparation company that helps student loan borrowers apply for federal repayment plans, encourages opportunities for easier repayment to mitigate the burden on borrowers. "Virginia is definitely not alone in this phenomenon of budget cuts and tuition hikes, but Virginia students are feeling it just the same," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial. This echoes the story of many public universities in states around the country that have felt steep budget cuts within the past 10 years. Virginia's public university students were only supposed to be shouldering 33 percent of the cost of operation; now students' tuition accounts for 53 percent of it. It begs the question of when a public school becomes private when most funds to operate are not, in fact, from the state. Meanwhile, students are graduating from these public places of higher education with more student loans. Students who have federal student loans and face high student loan balances might benefit from different repayment plans than the Standard plan. Income-driven repayment plans, for example, base borrowers' payments on income and family size and extend the repayment period to a length of 20 or 25 years. Many borrowers find these plans more affordable. Ameritech Financial helps borrowers identify, apply for and recertify their enrollment in income-driven repayment plans. While borrowers are able to apply for these plans offered by the Department of Education for free themselves, those who need extra assistance with the process might benefit from Ameritech's services. Ameritech Financial provides clients with a financial analysis and document preparation services related to applications for income-driven repayment plans. "Students may not have expected to have to take on so much debt to attend public colleges, but their debt still needs to be dealt with," said Knickerbocker. "Ameritech Financial helps student loan borrowers blaze a path to better repayment." About Ameritech Financial Ameritech Financial is a private company located in Rohnert Park, California. Ameritech Financial has already helped thousands of consumers with financial analysis and student loan document preparation to apply for federal student loan repayment programs offered through the Department of Education. Each Ameritech Financial telephone representative has received the Certified Student Loan Professional certification through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). Ameritech Financial prides itself on its exceptional customer service. Contact To learn more about Ameritech Financial, please contact: Ameritech Financial 5789 State Farm Drive #265 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 1-800-792-8621 [email protected] Related Images as-public-universities-face-budget.jpg As Public Universities Face Budget Cuts, Students Take on the Cost BackyardProductions/Bigstock.com image2.png Related Links Ameritech Financial home page Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRza8MbLvuM SOURCE Ameritech Financial Related Links https://ameritechfinancial.com ROHNERT PARK, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ameritech Financial team met at Slater Middle School in eastern Santa Rosa on the morning of Saturday, April 28, 2018, to participate in the Sonoma County Human Race, touted as the largest of such races in the nation. Though it was cool and threatened to rain, crowds gathered to participate in the race and support a variety of local non-profit organizations. Ameritech Financial is a private document preparation company that helps federal student loan borrowers apply for federal income-driven repayment plans. The company prides itself on helping student loan borrowers make a better future for themselves and their families. Ameritech Financial "We work together each day to help our clients, but this event proves just how big we can go to help our community," said Tom Knickerbocker, executive vice president of Ameritech Financial. "As always, our teamwork paid off and we're happy that the fruits of our labor are benefiting our local community." In two months, Ameritech Financial raised $6,427.38 and, when matched by the company, was able to donate a total of $12,854.76, making them one of the top donors. The company saw incredible fundraising participation by turning it into a friendly competition. Ameritech Financial employees split into three teams, each raising funds for a non-profit of their choice: Humane Society of Sonoma County, Abused Children's Fund and Redwood Empire Food Bank. Each team raised over a thousand dollars for their non-profit. "It was an amazing experience being a large group among the thousands of race participants and knowing we raised a lot of money for three local non-profits," said Knickerbocker. "The spirit of the race and the enthusiasm of the community speak volumes, and it aligns so well with the mission at Ameritech Financial. We had a blast and we can't wait to do this again next year." About Ameritech Financial Ameritech Financial is a private company located in Rohnert Park, California. Ameritech Financial has already helped thousands of consumers with financial analysis and student loan document preparation to apply for federal student loan repayment programs offered through the Department of Education. Each Ameritech Financial telephone representative has received the Certified Student Loan Professional certification through the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators (IAPDA). Ameritech Financial prides itself on its exceptional customer service. Contact To learn more about Ameritech Financial, please contact: Ameritech Financial 5789 State Farm Drive #265 Rohnert Park, CA 94928 1-800-792-8621 [email protected] Related Images image1.png image2.png Related Links Ameritech Financial home page Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRza8MbLvuM SOURCE Ameritech Financial Items on display will include nearly three dozen artifacts from the time of King Hezekiah, including the recently discovered royal seal impressions of King Hezekiah and Isaiah from the Ophel excavations, royal Judean clay vessels, and weapons used during the siege of Lachish. The exhibit will also feature key Assyrian history and will include such artifacts as the famous Annals of Sennacherib Prism (aka Taylor/Jerusalem/Oriental Prism), various other Assyrian inscriptions, and replicas of the famous Assyrian wall reliefs. "The stars of the show are the Hezekiah and Isaiah bullae," said Brad Macdonald, curator of the exhibit. "But the supporting cast the arrow heads from Lachish, Sennacherib's prism, the Assyrian wall reliefs is also pretty extraordinary. We will use maps, illustrations, interactive aids, and storyboards to connect all these articles and create what we believe will be a unique and moving experience." Discovered by archaeologist Dr. Eilat Mazar of Hebrew University, the clay seals, called bullae, were found only one yard apart on the Ophel at the foot of the Temple Mount. According to their inscriptions, the seals belong to King Hezekiah of Judah, who ruled in the 8th century B.C. and Isaiah, possibly "the prophet." "This is truly a historic exhibition. Artifacts from the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem have been exhibited previously, but these exhibits have never included the seals of King Hezekiah and Isaiah," Macdonald said. "Visitors would have to travel to London, Jerusalem, Istanbul and Chicago to see everything on display. Here we've brought them all together in one place." Edmond's Herbert W. Armstrong College assists Dr. Mazar's Temple Mount Ophel excavations and helped uncover both the Hezekiah and Isaiah, and now has the honor of hosting the world premiere. A grand opening is scheduled for Sunday, June 10, at 11:00 a.m. at the Armstrong Auditorium. The opening will also celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the AICF's "iron-bridge" partnership with Benjamin and Eilat Mazar. Tickets for the grand opening celebration are available at www.ArmstrongAuditorium.org or by calling (405) 285-1010. The "Seals of Isaiah and King Hezekiah Discovered" exhibition is free and open to the public June 10 August 19 in the lobby of Armstrong Auditorium. Opening hours are 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Fridays and Sundays. The exhibit is closed Saturdays. Free guided tours are available. For more information call (405) 285-1010 or visit www.ArmstrongAuditorium.org. The Edmond-based Armstrong International Cultural Foundation is a non-profit humanitarian organization sponsored by the Philadelphia Church of God with executive offices on the campus of Herbert W. Armstrong College. The foundation's cultural activities include a series of performing arts concerts at Armstrong Auditorium and support of archaeological excavations in Israel. The foundation and college are named after Herbert W. Armstrong, whose Ambassador College entered a 50-50 partnership with Hebrew University and the grandfather of Dr. Eilat Mazar, Dr. Benjamin Mazar, in 1968 to excavate the southern and western walls of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The results of these excavations today form the largest section of the Jerusalem Archaeological Park. SOURCE Armstrong International Cultural Foundation Related Links http://armstrong.foundation NORTHBOROUGH, Mass., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aspen Aerogels, Inc. (NYSE: ASPN) ("Aspen Aerogels") today announced financial results for the first quarter of 2018, which ended March 31, 2018, and discussed business developments during the quarter. Total revenue for the first quarter was $23.1 million compared to $23.0 million in the first quarter last year. First quarter net loss was $6.8 million compared to $9.1 million in the first quarter of 2017. Net loss per share for the first quarter was $0.29 compared to $0.39 in the first quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter was $(2.4) million compared to $(5.1) million in the first quarter of 2017. A reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to net loss is provided in the financial schedules that are part of this press release. An explanation of this non-GAAP financial measure is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Net loss and Adjusted EBITDA included legal and related expenses associated with Aspen Aerogels' ongoing patent enforcement actions of $0.1 million for the first quarter compared to $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2017. Recent Business Developments "During the first quarter, we experienced broad-based growth in our core and adjacent energy markets, most notably in North America, and modest growth in subsea project work. However, total revenue was essentially flat as a result of a decline in sales in Asia resulting from the conclusion of shipments to the South Asia petrochemical project, which comprised over 8% of total revenue in the first quarter of 2017," said Don Young, President and CEO of Aspen Aerogels. "We benefitted from solid manufacturing yields and strong operational productivity in our East Providence, Rhode Island manufacturing facility during the first quarter. In addition, we experienced a significant decline in legal and related expenses associated with our patent enforcement actions due to the successful results of our actions against two China-based companies at the International Trade Commission in February. As a result, we delivered strong year-over-year improvement in gross profit and Adjusted EBITDA during the quarter," continued Mr. Young. "We also made solid progress during the quarter with our strategic initiatives to drive revenue growth and profitability in our energy infrastructure business and to leverage our aerogel technology platform to develop breakout opportunities in new markets. We expanded and enhanced our salesforce, created and staffed a new business development group focused on commercializing innovation, kicked-off our EP20 initiative designed to increase the capacity and profit potential of our existing manufacturing assets, and made great progress in our joint development initiative with BASF focused on the building materials market. We also received the first of two advance payments of $2.5 million expected in 2018 from BASF in support of our capacity expansion plans, our process improvement initiatives and our new business development efforts," concluded Mr. Young. 2018 Financial Outlook Aspen Aerogels updates its 2018 full year outlook as follows: Total revenue is expected to range between $106 million and $116 million , unchanged from prior guidance and , unchanged from prior guidance Net loss is expected to range between $17.6 million and $20.6 million , revised from prior guidance of between $16.9 million and $20.0 million and , revised from prior guidance of between and Adjusted EBITDA is expected to range between $(2.0) million and $(5.0) million , unchanged from prior guidance and , unchanged from prior guidance Net loss per share is expected to range between $(0.74) and $(0.87) , revised from prior guidance of between $(0.71) and $(0.85) Our 2018 outlook assumes depreciation and amortization of $10.8 million, stock-based compensation expense of $4.3 million, interest and other expense of $0.5 million, and weighted average shares outstanding of 23.6 million for the full year. In addition, our 2018 outlook reflects an expected $1.1 million to $1.3 million of costs and expenses associated with our ongoing patent enforcement efforts during the year. A reconciliation of non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA to net loss for this 2018 financial outlook is provided in the financial schedules that are part of this press release. An explanation of this non-GAAP financial measure is also included below under the heading "Non-GAAP Financial Measures." Aspen Aerogels may incur charges, realize gains or losses, incur financing costs or interest expense, or experience other events in 2018 that could cause actual results to vary materially from this outlook. In addition, the timing of projects may have a significant impact on quarterly and annual revenue and profitability and can be difficult to predict. Conference Call Notification A conference call with Aspen Aerogels management to discuss first quarter results and business developments will be held at 5:00 pm EDT on May 3, 2018. During the call, management will respond to questions concerning, but not limited to, Aspen Aerogels' financial performance, business conditions and industry outlook. Management's discussion and responses could contain information that has not been previously disclosed. The conference call will be available live as a listen-only webcast and will be hosted at the Investors section of the Aspen Aerogels website, www.aerogel.com. In addition, shareholders and other interested parties may call 833-287-0799 (toll free, U.S. & Canada only) or +1 647-689-4458 (international) conference ID "8883209" to participate in the conference call. Following the live event, an archived version of the webcast will be available on the Aspen Aerogels website for convenient on-demand replay for at least a year. A copy of this press release is posted in the Investors section on the Aspen Aerogels website. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to providing financial measurements based on generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"), Aspen Aerogels provides additional financial metrics that are not prepared in accordance with GAAP ("non-GAAP"). The non-GAAP financial measure included in this press release is Adjusted EBITDA. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as a measure of operating performance because the non-GAAP financial measures do not include the impact of items that management does not consider indicative of Aspen Aerogels' core operating performance. In addition, management uses Adjusted EBITDA (i) for planning purposes, including the preparation of Aspen Aerogels' annual operating budget, (ii) to allocate resources to enhance the financial performance of its business, and (iii) as a performance measure under its bonus plan. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures reflect Aspen Aerogels' ongoing business in a manner that allows for meaningful comparisons and analysis of trends in its business, as they exclude expenses and gains not reflective of Aspen Aerogels' ongoing operating results or that may be infrequent and/or unusual in nature. Management also believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors in understanding and evaluating Aspen Aerogels' operating results and future prospects in the same manner as management and in comparing financial results across accounting periods and to those of peer companies. These non-GAAP measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. The non-GAAP financial measures do not replace the presentation of Aspen Aerogels' GAAP financial results and should only be used as a supplement to, not as a substitute for, Aspen Aerogels' financial results presented in accordance with GAAP. In this press release, Aspen Aerogels has provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net loss, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Management strongly encourages investors to review Aspen Aerogels' financial statements and publicly-filed reports in their entirety and not rely on any single financial measure. About Aspen Aerogels, Inc. Aspen Aerogels is an aerogel technology company that designs, develops and manufactures innovative, high-performance aerogel insulation used primarily in the energy infrastructure and building materials markets where thermal energy efficiency is at a premium and Aspen's products offer unique value. Headquartered in Northborough, Mass., Aspen Aerogels manufactures its Cryogel, Pyrogel and Spaceloft products at its East Providence, R.I. facility. Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements This press release and any related discussion contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including statements relating to Aspen Aerogels' 2018 Financial Outlook. These statements are not historical facts but rather are based on Aspen Aerogels' current expectations, estimates and projections regarding Aspen Aerogels' business, operations and other factors relating thereto, including with respect to the 2018 Financial Outlook. Words such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "anticipate," "predict," "potential," "continue," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "outlook," "assumes," and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding, among other things, Aspen Aerogels' expectations about revenue, expenses, Adjusted EBITDA, GAAP EPS, cash balances and related variations or trends; beliefs about the general strength or health of Aspen Aerogels' business; beliefs about current or future trends in the energy, energy infrastructure, core, adjacent, North American, subsea, South Asian or other markets and the impact of these trends on Aspen Aerogels' business; beliefs about the conclusion of the South Asian petrochemical project and its impact on Aspen Aerogels' business; beliefs about volume, timing or trends of subsea projects and their impact on Aspen Aerogels' business; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' strategic initiatives and implementation; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' strategic partnership with BASF, including the potential for the joint development agreement to create new product and market opportunities; beliefs about the receipt of advance payments from BASF; beliefs about the potential to develop new market opportunities from Aspen Aerogel's technology platform; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' investment in new initiatives and personnel; beliefs about the potential of new aerogel products, technologies and businesses; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' intellectual property strategy and its implementation; expectations about the cost, timing or likelihood of success of Aspen Aerogels' patent enforcement actions and defense of challenges to the validity of its patents; beliefs about Aspen Aerogels' ability to continue to fund patent enforcement or defense actions; beliefs about the productivity or efficiency of Aspen Aerogels' manufacturing operations; beliefs about the cost, likelihood of success and benefits of Aspen Aerogels' project to expand the capacity and profit potential of the East Providence manufacturing facility; beliefs about the Aspen Aerogel's ability to fund its capacity expansion plans including in the East Providence manufacturing facility; future operating performance on an annual or other basis; and accounting and other assumptions involved in arriving at the expectations. All such forward-looking statements are based on management's present expectations and are subject to certain factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, outcome of events, timing and performance to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: an inability to create new product and market opportunities; any sustained downturn in the energy industry or energy prices; any sustained downturn in the core, adjacent, North American, subsea, South Asian or other markets; any disruption or inability to achieve expected capacity levels in any of our three production lines or the manufacturing facility in which they are located; the failure to receive all regulatory or other approvals required to maintain or expand our operations; any failure of demand for Aspen Aerogels' products; any failure to achieve expected average selling prices for Aspen Aerogels' products; the failure to generate sufficient operating cash flow or to obtain significant additional capital to pursue Aspen Aerogels' strategy; the failure of our products to become widely adopted; the competition Aspen Aerogels faces in its business; any failure to enforce any of Aspen Aerogels' patents; any failure to protect or expand Aspen Aerogels' aerogel technology platform; any future finding of invalidity of any patent in any jurisdiction; any failure to generate sufficient operating cash flow or to obtain sufficient additional capital to continue to pursue Aspen Aerogels' new business, capacity expansion, technology, patent enforcement, or patent defense strategy; any failure of Aspen Aerogels' products to meet applicable specifications and other performance, safety, technical and delivery requirements; the general economic conditions and cyclical demands in the markets that Aspen Aerogels serves; the economic, operational and political risks associated with sales and expansion of operations in foreign countries; the loss of any direct customer, including distributors, contractors and OEMs; compliance with health and safety laws and regulations; shortages of raw materials, utilities or any other manufacturing consumable; the maintenance and development of distribution channels; and the other risk factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on March 1, 2018, as well as any updates to those risk factors filed from time to time in our subsequent periodic and current reports filed with the SEC. All statements contained in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release, and Aspen Aerogels does not intend to update this information unless required by law. ASPEN AEROGELS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited and in thousands) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 9,615 $ 10,694 Accounts receivable, net 20,134 26,764 Inventories 9,974 8,915 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,088 1,289 Total current assets 40,811 47,662 Property, plant and equipment, net 73,292 76,067 Other assets 83 86 Total assets $ 114,186 $ 123,815 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 7,032 $ 10,653 Accrued expenses 3,939 5,862 Deferred revenue 1,019 1,304 Revolving line of credit 3,750 3,750 Total current liabilities 15,740 21,569 Other long-term liabilities 1,263 1,303 Prepayment liability 1,962 Deferred revenue long-term 488 Total liabilities 19,453 22,872 Stockholders' equity: Total stockholders' equity 94,733 100,943 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 114,186 $ 123,815 ASPEN AEROGELS, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited and In thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenue: Product $ 22,521 $ 22,326 Research services 553 676 Total revenue 23,074 23,002 Cost of revenue: Product 20,023 20,470 Research services 241 311 Gross profit 2,810 2,221 Operating expenses: Research and development 1,605 1,576 Sales and marketing 3,499 3,110 General and administrative 4,456 6,587 Total operating expenses 9,560 11,273 Loss from operations (6,750) (9,052) Other expense, net: Interest expense, net (92) (26) Total other expense, net (92) (26) Net loss $ (6,842) $ (9,078) Net loss per share: Basic and diluted $ (0.29) $ (0.39) Weighted-average common shares outstanding: Basic and diluted 23,567,019 23,257,541 Square Foot Operating Metric We price our product and measure our product shipments in square feet. Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (amounts in thousands) Product shipments in square feet 7,742 8,273 Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures The following tables presents a reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measure included in the Aspen Aerogels, Inc. press release dated May 3, 2018 to the most directly comparable GAAP measure: Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss) We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, stock-based compensation expense and other items, which occur from time to time and which we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In thousands) Net loss $ (6,842) $ (9,078) Depreciation and amortization 3,171 2,676 Stock-based compensation 1,136 1,244 Interest expense, net 92 26 Adjusted EBITDA $ (2,443) $ (5,132) For the 2018 full year financial outlook: Year ending December 31, 2018 Low High (amounts in thousands) Net loss $ (20,600) $ (17,600) Depreciation and amortization 10,800 10,800 Stock-based compensation 4,300 4,300 Interest expense, net 500 500 Adjusted EBITDA $ (5,000) $ (2,000) SOURCE Aspen Aerogels, Inc. Related Links http://www.aerogel.com WELLESLEY, Mass., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College is the No. 1 private business college for return on investment, regardless of financial aid, according to PayScale, Inc., the world's leader in precise, on-demand cloud compensation solutions. According to the 2018 PayScale College ROI Report, Babson alumni enjoy a 20-year net return on investment between $793,000 and $941,000, depending on whether or not they received financial aid. This is an 8 percent increase over PayScale's findings in its prior year report. Among all U.S. colleges and universities, Babson has been named No. 14 for value for students who receive financial aid, and No. 19 for those who do not. In Massachusetts, Babson is No. 2 overall, behind Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). "Return on investment is an extremely important factor when deciding on a path for higher education, and we are proud to again be recognized by PayScale for our efforts to increase value for our students and their families," said Babson College President Kerry Healey. From PayScale: "Babson College is among the best value business schools a person can attendFounded in 1919 and situated on a 355-acre campus, this small, private business school is among the highest ranked in the U.S." Babson's Return on Investment Babson students are given the opportunity to accelerate their path to an undergraduate degree in as little as three years--an option that could increase return on investment for students and reduce tuition by up to 25 percent. 99 percent of Babson's undergraduate Class of 2017 was employed or attended graduate school within six months of graduation. 90 percent of students have at least one internship while at Babson. Every Babson graduate is welcomed into a powerful global network of more than 40,000 alumni in more than 115 countries. Ranking Methodology The data used in PayScale's College Return on Investment (ROI) Report are collected through its ongoing, online compensation survey. This year, the report includes 1,461 higher education institutions, which is an increase of 39 schools from last year's report. Of these schools, 922 are private, 534 are public, and five are service academies. The sample considered for this report was 1.4 million bachelor's degree graduates with no higher degrees. In calculating the return on investment, PayScale first determined the investment in college and the return from attending college. The investment is the cost of college as determined by the out-of-pocket cost of attending college plus foregone wages while in school. The return (gain) is the additional expected future income stream received for being a college graduate. Read the full methodology About PayScale PayScale offers modern compensation software and the most precise, real-time, data-driven insights for employees and employers alike. More than 6,500 customers, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, use PayScale to power pay decisions for more than 18 million employees. These companies include Dish Network, Getty Images, Skullcandy, Time Warner, T-Mobile, Macy's, Sunsweet, UnitedHealth Group, Stihl, and Wendy's. For more information, follow PayScale on Twitter. About Babson College Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds. The top-ranked college for entrepreneurship education, Babson is a dynamic living and learning laboratory where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society. We prepare the entrepreneurial leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to make a difference in the world, and have an impact on organizations of all sizes and types. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought & Action as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value. Media Contacts: Michael Chmura Public Relations Director [email protected] Phone: 781-239-4549 This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com. SOURCE Babson College Related Links http://www.babson.edu Hon. Speakers, Hon. Members of Parliament, Today, it is a profound honour for me to deliver the first State of the Nation Address of my second term in office. However, Mr. Speaker, before I proceed any further, let me pay tribute to the late Kenneth Matiba, whose patriotism inspired greatly the constitution under whose authority we meet today. Let us all resolve to emulate the example he set, his desire for a strong, prosperous and inclusive Kenya. I ask all of you to rise to honour his memory with a minute of silence. [Moment of silence] Mr Speaker, It is right and fitting to look back on the achievements of the Eleventh Parliament before setting out our plans for this Parliament. The 11th Parliament was charged with the task of implementing our new constitution; making enabling laws to create institutions, which the new constitutional order called for. Mr Speaker, There is no doubt walking this part of the journey has not been easy. But what is encouraging is that we have made significant progress in implementing the new constitution: the laws were passed, the counties were established; and as such the new constitutional order is in place. I thank your predecessors for discharging their duty so well. Now, Mr. Speaker, let me congratulate your members, both the newly elected and the returning ones, for winning the trust of the Kenyan people. Hon. Members, you and I owe our presence here today to Kenyans who chose us to represent them. The trust they have bestowed on us is sacred. But we must always remember that, as leaders, we do not serve only those who voted for us; we serve all Kenyans as required by our constitution. Mr Speaker, Hon Members, The Constitution that brings us here for this address is a guide, an instruction and a tool to help us craft a Kenya freer, fairer, wealthier and more united. Let us consider whether we have preserved, protected, and honoured it. Indeed, we have. Our constitutional order is stable, secure, and growing in strength. Devolution is no longer a baby; it is now an established framework for governing and delivering public services. Five years of establishing the county governments have taught Kenyans what they want of devolution, and how to get it. Overall, the Government is becoming more responsive to the needs of Kenyans, as we all hoped it would when we passed the new law. Mr Speaker, There is no doubt there have been some challenges in the use of public resources, with some individuals fraudulently and corruptly diverting public resources to benefit themselves. But, we are building preventive tools and ways for citizens to become more involved in reporting graft. My Administration, I must emphasize, despite these challenges, has remained committed to the implementation of Devolution. We are far above the 15% threshold for resource allocations to the counties provided for by the Constitution. From an allocation of Ksh. 210 billion in the 2013/14 financial year, we now stand at Ksh. 327 billion for the financial year 2017/18: an increase of 56% in five years. I also recently signed the Division of Revenue Bill, 2018, which sets aside Ksh. 372 billion for counties in the coming financial year 2018/19. The national government complemented county service delivery in the reporting year by injecting Ksh. 9.6 billion for the Managed Equipment Services, Ksh. 5.2 billion for free maternity, and Ksh. 900 million for user fees. Moreover, two billion shillings was disbursed to 11 counties from the Equalisation Fund to improve services. In addition, and in the spirit of upholding Devolution, my Administration further decentralized service delivery by initiating the Huduma Mashinani Programme. This programme brought vital services from registration services such as identity cards to the NSSF and NHIF Services closer to the people. Kenyans believe in devolution, and my Administration has matched that belief with strong and tangible support for it. Mr Speaker, Hon Members, I now turn to the urgent matter of how we live our constitutional values as a people, before I report on their expression in governance. Kenya is a country of God-fearing and generous people. In our moments of need, we are kept going by the compassion and empathy of our countrymen. In our dealings, most of us are honest to a fault, and intolerant of the fraudulent. In our private lives, we live together, whatever corner of the country we call home, whatever language we speak, and whatever faith we subscribe to. In other words, the Kenyan people are ahead of you, their leaders. That must change. Leaders at every level of government must demonstrate a desire and commitment to serve; and in particular we must maintain highest degree of integrity. Those days when you could enjoy public goods without fear that action may not be taken against you, are gone. To demonstrate this point, last year, ill-gotten public assets valued at about Ksh. 500 million were recovered; and civil proceedings were instituted for the preservation and recovery of other assets valued at more than Ksh. 6 billion. To deepen good governance, we have continued to digitize key services to seal loopholes used for fraud. And I expect the new officials now in office in prosecution and investigations to bring cases against the most powerful and privileged, to show Kenyans that none of us are above the law. I urge the Judiciary to do its part to ensure that orders are not frivolously used by the wealthy and corrupt individuals to avoid justice; I urge you, Hon. Members, to give us the legal tools we need to win the war against the lords of graft. Having made all these efforts, I want to repeat what every Kenyan in their heart of hearts knows: we must all come together to fight this vice, if we are to conquer it. The Government and the private sector also, must report fraud and protect whistleblowers without the slightest hesitation. Kenyans, on their part, must report any crimes they may come across. Families must feel ashamed by one of their member becoming involved in corruption; they must insist on the upholding of their name as a family. Teachers and parents must explicitly teach children the value of honesty and the concept of honour. It is only by coming together as a people that the values in our constitution will take life in the governance of Kenya. And that is how we will manage to position Kenya to join the league of prosperous nations. Hon Members, These constitutional advances must, of course, be paid for, so it is natural to turn our attention to the economy. Where goals are concerned, Hon. Members, we are all in broad agreement: Kenyans want to see lower cost of living; they want jobs for their sons and daughters; and affordable food on their table. Kenyans want to see broad prosperity. These goals are reasonable; some of them are constitutional requirements in their own right. Let us consider whether we have lived up to them. None of us in this August House today will have forgotten that last year was election year, or that the region was affected by severe drought. Hon. Members, It is encouraging to note that, despite these challenges, our economy remained resilient. Our real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 4.9 percent in 2017, much higher than 3.6 percent for World Real GDP and 2.6 percent for sub-Saharan Africa real GDP. Even more encouraging was the performance of our tourism sector; tourism earnings grew twenty per cent proof that even when our politics is at its hottest, Kenya keeps its visitors confidence. Hon Members, We remain on course to meet the tests that Kenyans set for us, but we must admit that we still have a long way to go. Deeper reflection is, therefore, called for. If we are to create the jobs for which Kenyans long, we need investment. When I took office in 2013, my Administration promised and delivered the most aggressive surge of infrastructure development in Kenyas history. We knew that without radical renewal and improvement of our infrastructure and connectivity, we could not hope to attract the investment we needed to create jobs and prosperity, and to beat poverty. Many of you will recall the success of that first phase of development: we started to build the SGR after the 11th Parliament was sworn in, and by the time members returned home to ask voters to renew their mandate, we had brought the SGR to Nairobi. As I speak to you today, less than a year since that first train left Mombasa for Nairobi, nearly 700,000 passengers have taken the Madaraka Express. On the cargo side, I am pleased to state that as promised, the SGR cargo services were up and running on the 1st of January, 2018 with an initial monthly load of 22,345 metric tonnes rising to an impressive 213,559 metric tonnes per month as of the end of April, 2018. But that is not all. I have already launched the second phase of the SGR project, which runs from Nairobi to Naivasha; and negotiations are in progress for the financing of the Naivasha- Malaba line. In short, Hon. Members, I can report that last year we completed the most ambitious infrastructure development in Kenyas history. Hon Members, It was not, of course, the only ambitious work in infrastructure that we undertook. Hon. Members will remember that we opened Terminal 2A at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport some time ago; we would almost certainly have earned less revenue from tourism this year had we not made that investment. You might also recall the expansion of Last-Mile Connectivity, which has brought electricity to 71% of households, up from 27% in 2013. I am particularly proud of this success, for I know its transformative power: I have seen for myself that on the day a family first switches on a bulb, their entire lives change. Hon Members, When I assumed office as President, we promised to tarmac 10,000 kms roads across the country; we are on target having completed 3,000 kms to-date and with a further 5,000 kms under construction. Among the many roads we have constructed, I want to mention one, that is, the Isiolo Moyale Road, part of the Trans Africa Highway Corridor, running to our border with Ethiopia. This road is transforming the economy of this region, for the better of our people. Our people from that part of the country can now easily travel to their national capital, Nairobi, in a matter of hours, contrary to the past when they used to take days. They now feel they have reason to be proud to be Kenyans. These investments in infrastructure laid the firmest of foundations for the broad and shared prosperity that Kenyans expect. This term, Hon. Members, we must deliver it. I have already spoken about the Big Four Agenda in other forums but it deserves me talking about it to you, Hon. Members, not least because I will rely on you to pass the legislation upon which it depends; but, more importantly, to convince you to join me as agents of the desired change. I wish today to speak on the reasoning that informs this agenda. If you Hon. Members leave the House today with a clearer idea of your role as leaders in this development programme, then I will be the happiest man. Hon Members, I conceptualised about the Big Four from discussions I held with Kenyans about their problems and prospects, particularly as we went about seeking their support. The priorities they would want us to focus on are clear. Kenyans want their families kept safe from catastrophic bills for medical care; they want skilled jobs, especially in manufacturing; they want to be food secure, and they want dignified, affordable homes. The Big Four Agenda serves each of these. By providing affordable universal healthcare, we will, quite simply, save lives. Already, extensive work has been done to bring access to quality and affordable health services. We have increased health facilities from 9,000 in 2013 to 11,000 in 2017. The NHIF coverage widened from a membership of 3.8 million in 2013 to 7.2 million currently. We expanded NHIF coverage for expectant mothers and raised deliveries by skilled attendants from 44% in 2013 to 66% in 2017. Access to anti-retroviral drugs to expectant mothers has significantly increased: today, 94% of HIV-positive expectant mothers attending antenatal clinics access the ARVs; mother-to-child HIV transmission has consequently fallen sharply. As a result of our various health intervention programmes, including the mosquito net programme, incidences of malaria have dropped from 11% to 8%; infant mortality has fallen from 52 per 1,000 to 39 per 1,000 live births; under five years mortality came down from 74 per 1,000 to 52 per 1,000. Maternal mortality dropped from 488 per 100,000 to 362 per 100,000. Despite the improvements we have recorded, there is no doubt we still have a way to go. We need to, in particular, take steps to improve immunization which has dropped from 90% to 70%. Hon. Members, I am happy to inform you the county governments are keen and willing to work with the national government towards putting together a programme to up our immunisation to where we were, if not better. We also addressed the medical needs of our older persons and persons with severe disability by extending NHIF coverage to 42,000 of them. And while we are working to deliver food security, we are taking steps to help Kenyans impacted by a long drought that had hit the country. The Hunger Safety Net Programme is cushioning Kenyans against hunger. Through it, cash was transferred to vulnerable households in arid and semi-arid areas giving them the choice where and how to spend the stipend. This method aids farmers and markets, while restoring the dignity of Kenyans who might once have been asked to line up in the hot sun to be given a few goro goros of pre-determined foods. Hon Members, With respect to housing, it is worth noting that demand for decent homes far outstrips supply, particularly in the low-cost and affordable segment. A decent roof over ones head is the most tangible symbol of a decent life, and it should be a critical part of a familys wealth. This new housing programme has been designed to incorporate the private sector so as to properly respond to the demand. We expect hundreds of thousands of affordable new homes to follow, across the country, accompanied by a surge in jobs and incomes. Mr Speaker, My dream is one day, in the not-too-distant future, owning a decent home will be within reach of every Kenyan of median and modest incomes. Families will retire in the evenings to clean, well organized and hygienic houses, and Kenya will go to sleep knowing that all its citizens have a sound roof over their heads. This dream is going to become a reality if we all join hands to eliminate the barriers to its realization, through legislation and new policies to incentivize the private sector. Hon Members, Turning to security, I can say without fear, we are a safer and stronger nation than we were when I last spoke to this House. Our alliances are strong, and growing stronger. Kenya has become indispensable to the international communitys pursuit of stability and security, environmental protection, and of a global community able to respond to large-scale crises when they come. My Administration continues to treat its responsibility to protect Kenyans and their property from crime, terrorism, and other forms of insecurity as its core obligation. In the year under review, the country beat back challenges to security. The general election was more secure than most in the past. Regrettably, we had to respond, firmly, to deliberate disruptions of the process, to the destruction of property, and to isolated attempts to block voting. In every case, the disciplined services did their duty. I commend all our disciplined services for their dedication. Going forward, I commit to strengthening their capacity to keep the peace, because without peace our desire for a better Kenya will remain a mere wish. I have further empowered the National Administration Service, from the Regional Commissioner to the chief, to supervise security operations, to coordinate the work of national government in the counties, and to improve our engagement with the county governments as we serve Kenyans right across the country. Hon Members, The concerted and coordinated response by our disciplined service means that terrorists have less room to target our people. There are fewer and less lethal attacks in Kenya today, even as terrorist groups elsewhere damage democracies. I commend the diligent men and women from multiple agencies who detect and prevent attacks: they have kept Kenya safe, and sometimes paid the highest price for our safety. May God comfort the families of the men and women we have lost, not just in the fight against terrorism, but in every effort to defend Kenyas sovereignty and security. We, however, cannot rest; the threat is ever present and all Kenyans must constantly be on the alert. At this moment, I also recall with great sadness, the tragic loss of Principal Secretary, Mariamu el Maawy, to the consequences of a terrorist attack. I pray that her family, friends, and colleagues may be comforted; and I pray, too, that this nation never forgets the selfless public service she gave it. For all that, I repeat here what I have said elsewhere: ultimately, security will be found and sustained largely by transforming our politics, and in revitalizing the spirit of patriotism and of responsible citizenship. For even though our democracy has become more competitive, and Kenyans have grown freer in the multiparty era, that liberty has come with a price. All of us have endured an almost permanent state of political campaigning, which has divided Kenyans, sometimes tragically, as in 2008. That disunity is a direct threat not just to our freedom, and not just to our prosperity, but also to our nation. Beyond terrorism, we remain vulnerable to other security threats; many of them, from terrorism to trafficking, across borders. So we cannot be self-absorbed: we must be our neighbours keeper no less than our brothers. The same principles that guide us at home govern relations with our neighbours. We defend democracy abroad as we do at home; we want for others the peace that we enjoy here; we are grateful for the solidarity extended us by our brothers and sisters on the continent, so we offer it to others in return. Last years events showed the soundness of these principles. The region is not at peace. Somalia remains troubled, largely by foreign agents who weaken its government, who divide its peoples, and who threaten to reverse the gains we have so painfully won under AMISOM. Through it all, we remember that if our brothers and sisters in Somalia prosper, we prosper; if they are safe, so are we. It has been our policy, then, to help them regain the peace and prosperity they once knew. We worked, and continue to work, to secure foreign funding and support commensurate to Somalias challenges; we helped, and will continue to help, the people of Somalia build a strong and stable government. Indeed, that is why, only a few days after I spoke to this House last year, it was my pleasure to welcome President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed to State House in March, 2017, when we laid plans for a renewal of relations between our two nations. An early outcome of our agreements that day was the resumption of flights between Nairobi and Mogadishu; members may be sure that more will follow. I cannot resist mentioning a visit to Somalia in the first quarter of last year, during which I spoke to our soldiers deployed in Somalia. Their courage and their devotion to their mission were extraordinarily inspiring. I ask you, Hon. Members, to keep them in your prayers and in your deliberations; and to devote yourself as wholeheartedly as they have to our regions peace and the security. Mr. Speaker, If Somalia remains unsettled, let us admit that South Sudan nation remains in crisis. Thousands have died while hundreds of thousands more have been displaced. In the year since I last spoke to the House, we have hosted hundreds of thousands of South Sudanese refugees; and we have joined friends and partners to help those still suffering inside the country. Equally, we have lent our support to the multilateral peace process, and we continue to urge the leaders of South Sudan to put the interests of their people and motherland above their own. As we have in the past year, Kenya stands with the people of South Sudan in their search for lasting peace. Elsewhere in the region, there is better news to report. In the East African Community, we grow closer by the day. Last year, I opened our borders to our brothers and sisters from the region: they can now live and work in Kenya more easily than they ever have, and they can now partner with us in the task of building a free, united and prosperous African nation. That openness to our brothers and sisters is proof of our commitment to the unity not just of the region, but also of the continent. For years, all sorts of barriers, legal and customary, have delayed Africas progress and prosperity. In the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, we have, at last, a real chance of opening up the continents trade, once and for all. If we succeed, then trade, goods and services will flow across Africa, not outside it, bringing jobs, skills, and unity. That we are so close to a final agreement shows the vision of our generation of African leaders, among whom we must count you, Hon. Members of this House, for ratifying the agreement without delay. I can only hope that every African nation will show the same foresight that you, our Hon. Members, displayed. Asanteni. It remains to remind members that in the last year, Kenya has earned her designation as a United Nations Service Centre. I single out for your attention two consequences: first and simply, it means jobs and training for a number of our young people; second, it brings the UN closer to Kenya and to Africa. And this development, Mr Speaker, is a good example of Kenyas continued recognition in the family of nations. The truth is that in 2017, we defended the values we cherish African solidarity; peace and prosperity; the rule of law between nations and we grew in the respect of our partners and friends abroad. So, Mr Speaker, it is quite clear that Kenya today is freer, safer, more prosperous, and held in higher regard than it has ever been. We give thanks for these achievements, but we also recall that the truest measure of a nations strength is the character and unity of its people. The framers of our constitution were wise to ask us to reflect, annually, on the character of our people, and on our adherence to the precepts of the constitution. And the precept of precepts, the animating value of our constitution, is unity. We take pride in our diversity, as we say in the very preamble of our constitution, and we are determined to live as one sovereign people, undivided. These are words of great beauty. Whether we have let them guide us throughout the last year is the big question. Hon Members, Cast your minds back to last years political competition. Kenyans twice cast their votes in peace; in the end, the result reflected the will of the people, and respected the law of the land. Our institutions held firm. To the Judiciary, we ask only that your independence be joined to even greater effort on your part to ensure that your arm of government attains the highest standards of conduct and integrity, and that it never loses sight of the interdependence of all arms and levels of government. Hon Members, We also learned, again, a hard truth. Neither peace nor unity are a given; we have to work for them. I say so because last year taught us that if we dont put an end to unrestrained political competition, it will put an end to Kenya. You saw what happened. In the heat of the campaign, words of anger, malice, and hatred were spoken. Politics was no longer a debate between opponents on issues; it was a clash of irreconcilable enemies. You saw the consequences: lives lost, property destroyed, our unity sapped. I want to be clear here: never again should Kenyan life be lost for politics sake; never again should Kenyans property be destroyed on account of politics. But that will not just happen on its own. All of us, and in particular we leaders here, will have to admit that last year, we failed in our duty to preserve the unity of this country. And we must make amends. First, I pray that all of us will spend the days and weeks after this address repairing the bonds that frayed last year. Let us apologize for our words, and for the anger and malice that Kenyans heard. From Mandera to Maseno, from Mbita to Mvita, from Lodwar to Lunga Lunga, let us shake hands and embrace our neighbours, and let us celebrate the diversity that is Gods gift to us. Let every leader in the country reach out to our sons and daughters, and remind them that they have it in them to forge a Kenya that speaks gently, that criticizes constructively, and that embraces and respects dissent and competition as healthy and civilized ways of collaboration. And since leadership is best done not by exhortation but by example, let me do as I have asked you to do. If there was anything I said last year that hurt or wounded you, if I damaged the unity of this country in any way, I ask you to forgive me, and to join me in repairing that harm. Mr. Speaker, I am not the only leader who deeply felt the need to restore unity: the Right Hon. Raila Odinga, did so too. So let me praise the statesmanship he showed when, on 9 March this year, he and I publicly committed to reconciliation, with the Kenyan people as our witnesses. When he and I met earlier in the year, we agreed to work together to strengthen the unity of our country. We hoped to emphasize then that collaboration, comprises both competition and disagreement. We did not immediately solve all Kenyas most pressing problems, nor did we see eye-to-eye on every proposed answer. It is important to emphasize that unity doesnt mean unanimity. Rt. Hon. Raila and I stood together not because we agreed on every item of politics or policy, but because we agreed that Kenya belongs to all of us. None of us is less or for that matter, more Kenyan than his brother or sister. All of us are entitled to be heard; all of us are entitled to our fair share of Kenyas resources; and all of us are entitled to a government that honours these commitments. Kenyans reacted with a surge of optimism to our meeting, because they wanted a return to unity. Our handshake invited Kenyans to rediscover what they had known all along: when all the politics is said and done, we are each others keeper. But if Kenya is to remain strong, we must change our approach to political competition. We are proud, and rightly so, of our cultural heritage, but it does not follow that our ethnic identity is our political identity. We have done that for half a century, and it has brought us very close to complete ruin. Too many of our leaders have manipulated our ethnicities to seize power, and then exploited it to avoid accountability. We cannot afford another fifty years of farmers struggling to make a living, of families without proper sanitation, or of families bankrupted by healthcare costs. We need change now, in this generation, so that our children grow to adulthood in a totally different Kenya. We must demonstrate we are truly Kenyan citizens. We must do this for our country; not for self. That, Hon. Members, has been, and remains, my vision throughout my time as President. That vision is within reach: all we have to do is to look up, and grasp it. To see it, the leaders seated here can help. Show us all a better way. Teach us to criticize constructively; teach us to adore hard work and reject the easy shilling; and teach us always to preserve the Unity of the House we have inherited from our fathers and founders of this Great Nation. If you do that, Hon. Members, then you will have the eternal gratitude of the Kenyan people; and of those born years from now into a Kenya whose politics revolve around service delivery. Finally, Mr. Speaker, it is now my honour to present three reports to this House as obligated by our Constitution, namely: (i)Report on All the Measures Taken and the Progress Achieved in the Realisation of National Values; (ii) Progress made in fulfilling the International Obligations of the Republic; and (iii) the State of Security. Thank You and God Bless Kenya. ESPOO, Finland, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Basware, the global leader in networked source-to-pay solutions, e-invoicing, and innovative financing services, has released intelligent enhancements to its payment plans, helping customers to further automate their accounts payable processing. Payment plans are used for automating recurring expenses even those without purchase orders (POs) for categories such as rentals, utilities, cleaning and subscriptions. "In a typical organization, around 30% of spend is repeated on a monthly, bi-monthly or bi-weekly basis. Since the average cost of processing an invoice in an environment with no automation or low levels of automation can be up to 20 times greater than the cost of processing in a fully automated environment, we are thrilled to help our customers simplify their operations to save time and money," says Perttu Nihti, VP of Purchase to Pay Product Management, Basware. The first step in driving efficiency through AP automation typically involves funneling more spend through POs; the next step is to look at recurring spend. Even with driving more spend to a PO process, there will always be a certain amount of non-PO invoices, and those are often recurring expenses. The enhancements Basware made to payment plans are streamlining the handling process for those invoices and automating regularly occurring payments for AP professionals. "With the latest enhancements, we have simplified the payment plan process from start to finish so it only requires input from one person and sign-off from approvers, freeing up business users and AP professionals to do more thought-intensive, meaningful work," continues Nihti. With the new enhancements, the business users do not need to track regularly occurring invoices, nor do they need to chase down AP professionals to fill out information for the payment plans. Instead, the solution automatically identifies recurring invoices and recommends the business user to request a payment plan. After the request is placed, the process is easy all required information is automatically populated, so the business user can manage the task from start to finish in just a few clicks. Once completed, the plan is sent for approval with dedicated fields to the reviewer and approver, making it easy for the payment plan manager to enter the new plan into workflow. In addition to schedule-based, recurring invoice, payment plans also support self-billing and budget-based invoices. To learn more about how Basware innovation is empowering companies to simplify operations and spend smarter, visit the Basware blog. About Basware: Basware is the global leader in providing networked source-to-pay solutions, e-invoicing and value-added services. Basware's commerce and financing network connects businesses in over 100 countries and territories around the globe. As the largest open business network in the world, Basware provides scale and reach for organizations of all sizes, enabling them to grow their business and unlock value across their operations by simplifying and streamlining financial processes. Small and large companies around the world achieve significant cost savings, more flexible payment terms, greater efficiencies and closer relationships with their suppliers. Find out more at http://investors.basware.com/en. Follow Basware on Twitter: @Basware, join the discussion on the Basware LinkedIn, Basware Facebook and Basware Blog. Jukka Janonen +358 (0) 400 127147 [email protected] SOURCE Basware Related Links http://basware.com The experts said U.S. OSW has achieved the needed scale to light up boardwalks and boardrooms up and down the East coast with gigawatts of clean wind power from the sea. A new U.S. heavy industry is taking shape to install, connect and service offshore wind turbines 'steel in the water' supported by a supply chain that partners OSW developer initiative with expertise from U.S. oil & gas firms, onshore wind manufacturers and European OSW leaders, to maximize U.S. jobs, synergies and value. "A vast market for U.S. offshore wind power is coming into clear focus in the Atlantic states," said Stephanie McClellan, Director, University of Delaware's Special Initiative on Offshore Wind (SIOW). "In the past two years, the U.S. industry has made dramatic advances in policy commitments and investor confidence. We no longer wonder if this industry will make it to America's shores. U.S. OSW has arrived and is accelerating with utility-scale commitments that already exceed 8 GW of market visibility and a project pipeline that totals nearly 25 GW. There's good reason to be excited and U.S. offshore energy and OSW industry leaders are working to ensure that U.S. companies bring their full expertise to this effort." Roy Francis, Vice President, Business Development, Gulf Island Fabrication (GIF), a Texas-based offshore energy construction firm, told the panel about GIF's strategic relationship with OSW developer Bay State Wind and German steel pipe maker EEW to create a renewable energy supply chain and more jobs in Massachusetts. "The European offshore wind market is 27 years old," said Francis. "We are taking the best from the mature European industry and pairing it with American know-how." "The industry is moving at a phenomenal pace," said Walter Cruikshank, Acting Director, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). "There is great industry-wide confidence in the market," he told the panel, held during the Offshore Technology Conference. "There are strong policy commitments from the states, particularly in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic, and a strong commitment from this Administration," he said. "We are actively working with leaseholders to move their projects forward." "Offshore wind is an important diversification opportunity," said Joseph Orgeron, Special Projects Manager, Falcon Global, a subsidiary of Louisiana-based SEACOR Marine and liftboat operator that helped install the Block Island, RI offshore wind farm. "We're using our assets and putting employees to work alongside local workers on the East coast. It's all positive commerce." "There's lots of room for partnership," said Randall Luthi, President, National Ocean Industries Association (NOIA), on potential synergies between OSW and the U.S. oil & gas sector. "Offshore energy service companies can build anything out in the ocean. It doesn't matter if it's an oil rig or a wind farm," he said. "We can, should and will continue to work together." "The U.S. supply chain is fantastic," said Chris van Beek, President, Deepwater Wind. "OSW is a tremendous opportunity. We estimate that 70 percent of the capital expenditures of an offshore wind farm can be delivered by the U.S. supply chain." The panel noted U.S. OSW's major milestones and data points. About SIOW The Special Initiative on Offshore Wind (SIOW) is affiliated with the University of Delaware's (UD) College of Earth, Ocean & Environment (CEOE) and supports offshore wind power (OSW) as part of a comprehensive US energy solution, offering expertise, analysis, information sharing and strategic partnership to build understanding and drive deployment. UD has a long record advancing OSW through the CEOE, College of Engineering, Center for Composite Materials and more. Please visit http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/siow and http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/research/affiliated-programs/wind-power-program. SOURCE The Special Initiative on Offshore Wind Related Links http://www.ceoe.udel.edu/siow NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BounceX, the leading People-Based Marketing (PBM) cloud, announced today $37M in Series B funding led by Battery Ventures with participation from existing investors, Contour Venture Partners, Cross Creek Capital, Primary Venture Partners, Jason Finger and Rho Ventures. Founded in 2012, BounceX was named the Fastest Growing Software Company in America by Inc.com in 2016 and has quadrupled its revenue since. Over the next two years, the company is planning to expand to 600 employees globally with a concentration in its NYC and UK offices. Today, over 350 companies work with BounceX, including world-leading enterprises such as Uniqlo, Neiman Marcus, Forever21, Samsonite, Hugo Boss, Avis and JetBlue. BounceX created the People-Based Marketing cloud and is the first new revenue channel for marketers with scale in 10 years. "I found BounceX to be incredibly uncommon. I am constantly being offered these 'amazing solutions that are going to solve everything,' but, almost always, they fall short. This isn't the case with BounceX; they consistently double the performance they promise," says Neal Zamore, SVP Global Digital Customer Experience at Avis. Outside of Google, Facebook and batch-and-blast email, there hasn't been a new option for driving meaningful revenue in over a decade. "BounceX is a company truly delivering tangible benefits to customers," says Neeraj Agrawal, a general partner at Battery Ventures. "We're also impressed with the company's ability to expand into new categories like financial services and travel while adding new products, accelerating growth and remaining capital efficient." As part of the investment, Agrawal will join the BounceX Board of Directors. Battery Ventures has been a longtime investor in the marketing technology sector. "Marketing is about growing the business," says Ryan Urban, CEO of BounceX. "There are thousands of vendors out there, but few drive meaningful results and almost all take up the time, effort and energy of already-strapped marketing departments. BounceX was conceived to replace non-performing technologies by identifying a brand's consumers and providing the most relevant digital experience based on their behaviors." In a ranking unveiled this week, BounceX has been named one of the Top 50 Highest Rated Private Cloud Companies to Work For by Battery and Glassdoor. They are also Inc. 5000's fastest growing software company in the US and the seventh fastest growing company overall; #5 on Deloitte's North America Technology Fast 500; #1 in New York for Entrepreneur & Culture IQ's Top Company Culture; and Crain's New York Best Place to Work. About BounceX Founded in 2012, BounceX's People-Based Marketing (PBM) cloud is the first new revenue channel with scale in 10 years. With offices in NYC, San Francisco and London and named the fastest growing software company in America by Inc Magazine in 2016, we currently power thousands of digital properties across a multitude of industries. For the first time, brands and publishers have a meaningful paid channel outside of Google and Facebook. We are trusted by global enterprises such as Uniqlo, Neiman Marcus, Forever21, Samsonite, Hugo Boss, Avis and JetBlue. www.bouncex.com MEDIA CONTACT: Holly Hitchcock Front Lines Media [email protected] (805) 801-9798 SOURCE BounceX Related Links http://www.bouncex.com COPPELL, Texas, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Caliber Home Loans, Inc. ("Caliber"), the nation's fourth largest nonbank residential mortgage originator with approximately $44 billion in 2017 originations and a servicing portfolio in excess of $130 billion, today announced the appointment of Justin Lally as Senior Vice President, Recapture and Direct To Consumer. Justin will report into Chad Smith, Executive Vice President and Head of Recapture and Direct To Consumer efforts, and will directly leverage the Caliber servicing portfolio of more than 650,000 customers. Justin previously held senior positions in Production for First Direct Lending, Discover Home Loans and LendingTree. Russ Smith, Executive Vice President of Production at Caliber, said, "We are delighted to welcome Justin to the team. His extensive experience in Production and his focus on the consumer make him perfectly suited for this important position at Caliber." Chad Smith added, "I'm excited to have Justin join our team as we continue to build an industry-leading team providing financial solutions for Caliber's extensive customer base, which continues to be among the largest of any non-bank financial institution." About Caliber Home Loans, Inc. Caliber Home Loans, Inc. (NMLS ID# 15622) is a privately-held financial services company with headquarters in Coppell, TX. The company is an approved Seller/Servicer for both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, an approved issuer for Ginnie Mae and is an approved originator and servicer for FHA, VA and the USDA. The company carries multiple servicer ratings from Standard & Poor's, Moody's, Fitch and DBRS. To learn more about Caliber, visit www.caliberhomeloans.com. Media Contact Rob Cushman SVP, Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications [email protected] 469-912-3253 SOURCE Caliber Home Loans, Inc. Related Links http://www.caliberhomeloans.com NATCHEZ, Miss., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Callon Petroleum Company (NYSE: CPE) ("Callon" or the "Company") today announced that senior management plans to participate in the upcoming investor events: Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. 14th Annual Hotter 'N Hell Conference The Company will participate in the Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. 14th Annual Hotter 'N Hell Conference hosted by Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. on Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Houston, Texas. Barclays High Yield Bond & Syndicated Loan Conference The Company will present at the Barclays High Yield Bond & Syndicated Loan Conference hosted by Barclays on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at 4:05 PM Mountain Daylight Time. The live and archived webcast for this event will be accessible on Callon's website at www.callon.com in the "Investors" section. Callon Petroleum Company is an independent energy company focused on the acquisition, development, exploration and operation of oil and gas properties in the Permian Basin in West Texas. This news release is posted on the company's website at www.callon.com, and will be archived for subsequent review under the "News" link on the top of the homepage. For further information contact Mark Brewer 281-589-5200 SOURCE Callon Petroleum Company Related Links http://www.callon.com PORTLAND, Ore., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cash&Carry Smart Foodservice today announced its rebranding to Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores. The change from Cash&Carry Smart Foodservice to Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores reflects more than sixty years of evolution in the foodservice industry. Focusing on the Smart Foodservice name allows the retailer to better communicate its mission of selling quality ingredients and restaurant supplies in a simple, convenient warehouse formatproviding customers exceptional service and a dependable source of supply. Since 1955, Smart Foodservice has been providing a convenient and economical solution, selling foodservice supplies to businesses, non-profit organizations and households. With smaller and more convenient locations, the retailer has been able to reach more customers and expand into new markets and states becoming one of the premier store-based foodservice suppliers. Smart Foodservice will continue to utilize the day-to-day business model and add warehouse stores across its markets. This approach will not only better emphasize the go-to market strategy, but will also offer restaurants and businesses the same competitive advantage that is available to some of the largest foodservice operators. "The updated name better reflects our mission and provides a much clearer message to current and future customers about the products and services we offer. This new name is a much more accurate reflection of who we are and what we do," said Derek Jones, President, Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores and Executive Vice President, Smart & Final. Headquartered near Portland, Oregon, Smart Foodservice is a subsidiary of Smart & Final Stores, Inc. and has operated throughout the Northwest for more than 60 years. The division currently has 63 wholesale stores located in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada and Utah catering to the foodservice industry. About Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores: Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores is a chain of warehouse-format stores catering to the foodservice industry based in Portland, Oregon. For over 60 years, the company has offered a wide-range of larger quantity products in a convenient one-stop shop. As of the time of release, the Company operated 63 warehouse stores in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Montana. Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores is the foodservice division of Smart & Final Stores, LLC (NYSE: SFS), headquartered in Commerce (near Los Angeles), California. For more information, please visit the Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores website at www.smartfoodservice.com. SOURCE Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores Related Links http://www.smartfoodservice.com EAGAN, Minn., May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The current legal state of the CBD (cannabidiol) marketplace will be the focus of an afternoon seminar for healthcare practitioners, dispensaries, and other interested parties on Saturday, May 19 at The Denver MarriottWestminster. The seminar, produced by InnoVision Professional Media, will include an update on the medical marijuana and CBD marketplace from a legal perspective by David Bush, ESQ, of the Hoban Law Group, the leading cannabusiness law firm in the United States. Conflicting legislation, court decisions, and administration rules have created a murky legal status for CBD. One of the objectives of this event is to identify and differentiate hemp-based CBD products from marijuana-based CBD products. In 2014, the Farm Bill defined hemp as distinct from marijuana, yet the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) maintains that hemp comes from the Cannabis sativa plant and, as such, falls under the controlled substance act. So where are we at today? The seminar will address this question specifically and provide a path for legal CBD sales. Check-in at the event begins at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 19 at the Denver MarriottWestminster with educational sessions running from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided for all attendees. Speakers include: David Bush, ESQ , from the Hoban Law Group, the leading cannabusiness law firm. , from the Hoban Law Group, the leading cannabusiness law firm. Philip Blair , MD, senior medical director at Elixinol , MD, senior medical director at Elixinol Stuart Titus , PhD, CEO of Medical Marijuana, Inc. Advanced registration for the seminar can be completed at https://managepain2018.com/cbd-seminar or by calling InnoVision at 844-439-4415. Reservations are required, as seating is limited. About InnoVision Professional Media InnoVision is a leading publisher of professional medical journals covering holistic and integrative medicine as well as the sponsor of professional medical seminars providing state-of-the-art education about chronic health conditions. For additional information visit http://www.innovisionhm.com. SOURCE InnoVision Professional Media Related Links http://www.innovisionhm.com PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: CDR the "Company") today reported results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018. Net loss attributable to common shareholders was ($0.26) per diluted share compared to net income of $0.10 per diluted share for the comparable 2017 period. Other highlights include: Highlights NAREIT-defined funds from operations (FFO) of $0.09 per diluted share per diluted share Operating funds from operations (Operating FFO) of $0.13 per diluted share per diluted share Same-property net operating income (NOI) was flat compared to the same period in 2017 Signed 48 new and renewal leases for 578,700 square feet in the quarter Total portfolio 92.6% leased and same-property portfolio 93.7% leased at quarter-end Redeemed 2,000,000 shares of 7 % Series B Preferred Stock on January 12, 2018 "This quarter we renewed a record amount of square footage as we proactively extended the lease terms for five strong anchor tenants," commented Bruce Schanzer, CEO. "Further, we are advancing our urban mixed-use redevelopments and are excited about the value creation opportunities they represent as we continue to transform Cedar." Financial Results Net loss attributable to common shareholders for the first quarter of 2018 was ($23.0) million or ($0.26) per diluted share, compared to net income of $8.2 million or $0.10 per diluted share for the same period in 2017. The principal difference in the comparative three-month results are impairment charges related to properties held for sale along with preferred stock redemption costs in 2018 and gain on sale in 2017. NAREIT-defined FFO for the first quarter of 2018 was $8.4 million or $0.09 per diluted share, compared to $11.5 million or $0.13 per diluted share for the same period in 2017. Operating FFO for the first quarter of 2018 was $11.9 million or $0.13 per diluted share, compared to $11.7 million or $0.14 per diluted share for the same period in 2017. The principal difference between Operating FFO and NAREIT-defined FFO is preferred stock redemption costs. Portfolio Update During the first quarter of 2018, the Company signed 48 leases for 578,700 square feet, all of which are comparable, at a negative lease spread of 7.2% on a cash basis. During the quarter, the Company proactively renewed and extended the rental terms for five anchor tenants totaling 303,000 square feet at reduced or flat base rental rates. These anchor tenants have good credit and generate high foot traffic at their respective properties. Excluding these five anchor renewal leases, on a comparable space basis, the Company's comparable lease spread would have been a positive 2.8%. Same-property NOI for the first quarter of 2018 was flat as compared to the same period in 2017. The Company's total portfolio, excluding properties held for sale, was 92.6% leased at March 31, 2018, compared to 92.9% at December 31, 2017 and 91.2% at March 31, 2017. The Company's same-property portfolio was 93.7% leased at March 31, 2018, compared to 93.8% at December 31, 2017 and 93.2% at March 31, 2017. In April 2018, the Company accepted a payment of $4.3 million in consideration for permitting a dark anchor tenant to terminate its lease prior to the contractual expiration, which will be reflected in the quarter ended June 30, 2018. This anchor tenant was located at a property held for sale, and while paying its contractual rent prior to lease termination, it had closed and ceased retail operations at the property. This termination will increase NAREIT-defined FFO and Operating FFO for 2018 by approximately $4.7 million or $0.05 per diluted share, after GAAP adjustments for amortization of intangible lease liabilities and straight-line rents, offset by foregone rental payments for the remainder of 2018. As of March 31, 2018, Carll's Corner, located in Bridgeton, New Jersey, and West Bridgewater Plaza, located in West Bridgewater, Massachusetts, have been classified as "real estate held for sale". The Company recorded impairment charges of $21.4 million in connection with these properties during 2018. Balance Sheet As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $98.7 million available under its revolving credit facility and reported net debt to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciations, and amortization for real estate (EBITDAre) of 7.9 times. Further, the Company has no debt maturities until early 2021. 2018 Guidance The Company updates its previously-announced 2018 guidance as follows: Net (loss) attributable to common shareholders per diluted share ($0.15) to ($0.13) NAREIT-defined FFO per diluted share $0.53 to $0.55 Operating FFO per diluted share $0.58 to $0.60 This updated guidance reflects the approximately $0.24 per diluted share of impairment charges related to properties held for sale in the first quarter (excluded from NAREIT-defined FFO and Operating FFO) and the approximately $0.05 per diluted share of lease termination income in April 2018. The principal difference between NAREIT-defined FFO and Operating FFO is preferred stock redemption costs. Non-GAAP Financial Measures NAREIT-defined FFO is a widely recognized supplemental non-GAAP measure utilized to evaluate the financial performance of a REIT. The Company considers NAREIT-defined FFO to be an appropriate measure of its financial performance because it captures features particular to real estate performance by recognizing that real estate generally appreciates over time or maintains residual value to a much greater extent than other depreciable assets. The Company also considers Operating FFO to be an additional meaningful financial measure of financial performance because it excludes items the Company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance, such as acquisition pursuit costs, amounts relating to early extinguishment of debt and preferred stock redemption costs, management transition costs and certain redevelopment costs. The Company believes Operating FFO further assists in comparing the Company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding such items. NAREIT-defined FFO and Operating FFO should be reviewed with GAAP net income attributable to common shareholders, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, when trying to understand the Company's operating performance. A reconciliation of net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders to NAREIT-defined FFO and Operating FFO for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 is detailed in the attached schedule. EBITDAre is a recognized supplemental non-GAAP financial measure. The Company presents EBITDAre in accordance with the definition adopted by NAREIT, which generally defines EBITDAre as net income plus interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation, amortization, and impairment write-downs of depreciated property, plus or minus losses and gains on the disposition of depreciated property, and adjustments to reflect the Company's share of EBITDAre of unconsolidated affiliates. The Company believes EBITDAre provides additional information with respect to the Company's performance and ability to meet its future debt service requirements. The Company also considers Adjusted EBITDAre to be an additional meaningful financial measure of financial performance because it excludes items the Company does not believe are indicative of its core operating performance, such as acquisition pursuit and redevelopment costs. The Company believes Adjusted EBITDAre further assists in comparing the Company's performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding such items. EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDAre should be reviewed with GAAP net income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, when trying to understand the Company's operating performance. EBITDAre and Adjusted EBITDAre do not represent cash generated from operating activities and should not be considered as an alternative to income from continuing operations or to cash flow from operating activities. The Company's computation of Adjusted EBITDAre may differ from the computations utilized by other companies and, accordingly, may not be comparable to such companies. Same-property NOI is a widely recognized supplemental non-GAAP financial measure for REITs. Properties are included in same-property NOI if they are owned and operated for the entirety of both periods being compared, except for properties undergoing significant redevelopment and expansion until such properties have stabilized, and properties classified as held for sale. Consistent with the capital treatment of such costs under GAAP, tenant improvements, leasing commissions and other direct leasing costs are excluded from same-property NOI. The Company considers same-property NOI useful to investors as it provides an indication of the recurring cash generated by the Company's properties by excluding certain non-cash revenues and expenses, as well as other infrequent items such as lease termination income which tends to fluctuate more than rents from year to year. Same property NOI should be reviewed with consolidated operating income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. Supplemental Financial Information Package The Company has issued "Supplemental Financial Information" for the period ended March 31, 2018. Such information has been filed today as an exhibit to Form 8-K and will also be available on the Company's website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com. Investor Conference Call The Company will host a conference call today, May 3, 2018, at 5:00 PM (ET) to discuss the quarterly results. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (877) 705-6003 or (1) (201) 493-6725 for international participants. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online on the Company's website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com. A replay of the call will be available from 8:00 PM (ET) on May 3, 2018, until midnight (ET) on May 17, 2018. The replay dial-in numbers are (844) 512-2921 or (1) (412) 317-6671 for international callers. Please use passcode 13677839 for the telephonic replay. A replay of the Company's webcast will be available on the Company's website for a limited time. About Cedar Realty Trust Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. is a fully-integrated real estate investment trust which focuses on the ownership, operation and redevelopment of grocery-anchored shopping centers in high-density urban markets from Washington, D.C. to Boston. The Company's portfolio (excluding properties treated as "held for sale") comprises 59 properties, with approximately 8.7 million square feet of gross leasable area. For additional financial and descriptive information on the Company, its operations and its portfolio, please refer to the Company's website at www.cedarrealtytrust.com. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance and outcomes to differ materially from those expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among others: adverse general economic conditions in the United States and uncertainty in the credit and retail markets; financing risks, such as the inability to obtain new financing or refinancing on favorable terms as the result of market volatility or instability; risks related to the market for retail space generally, including reductions in consumer spending, variability in retailer demand for leased space, tenant bankruptcies, adverse impact of internet sales demand, ongoing consolidation in the retail sector and changes in economic conditions and consumer confidence; risks endemic to real estate and the real estate industry generally; the impact of the Company's level of indebtedness on operating performance; inability of tenants to meet their rent and other lease obligations; adverse impact of new technology and e-commerce developments on the Company's tenants; competitive risk; risks related to the geographic concentration of the Company's properties in the Washington D.C. to Boston corridor; the effects of natural and other disasters; and the inability of the Company to realize anticipated returns from its redevelopment activities. Please refer to the documents filed by Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. with the SEC, specifically the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as it may be updated or supplemented in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the Company's other filings with the SEC, which identify additional risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements. CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 ASSETS Real estate, at cost $ 1,507,644,000 $ 1,534,599,000 Less accumulated depreciation (341,101,000) (341,943,000) Real estate, net 1,166,543,000 1,192,656,000 Real estate held for sale 4,120,000 - Cash and cash equivalents 3,004,000 3,702,000 Restricted cash 3,914,000 3,517,000 Receivables 18,903,000 17,193,000 Other assets and deferred charges, net 42,028,000 35,350,000 TOTAL ASSETS $ 1,238,512,000 $ 1,252,418,000 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Liabilities: Mortgage loans payable $ 127,207,000 $ 127,969,000 Unsecured revolving credit facility 109,500,000 55,000,000 Unsecured term loans 397,309,000 397,156,000 Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 25,338,000 24,519,000 Unamortized intangible lease liabilities 16,952,000 17,663,000 Total liabilities 676,306,000 622,307,000 Equity: Preferred stock 159,541,000 207,508,000 Common stock and other shareholders' equity 401,021,000 420,828,000 Noncontrolling interests 1,644,000 1,775,000 Total equity 562,206,000 630,111,000 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 1,238,512,000 $ 1,252,418,000 CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2018 2017 PROPERTY REVENUES Rents $ 28,161,000 $ 28,223,000 Expense recoveries 9,286,000 8,348,000 Other 121,000 203,000 Total property revenues 37,568,000 36,774,000 PROPERTY OPERATING EXPENSES Operating, maintenance and management 7,794,000 7,044,000 Real estate and other property-related taxes 5,079,000 4,745,000 Total property operating expenses 12,873,000 11,789,000 PROPERTY OPERATING INCOME 24,695,000 24,985,000 OTHER EXPENSES AND INCOME General and administrative 4,494,000 4,136,000 Acquisition pursuit costs - 156,000 Depreciation and amortization 10,054,000 10,418,000 Gain on sale - (7,099,000) Impairment charges 21,396,000 - Total other expenses and income 35,944,000 7,611,000 OPERATING (LOSS) INCOME (11,249,000) 17,374,000 NON-OPERATING INCOME AND EXPENSES Interest expense (5,371,000) (5,429,000) Total non-operating income and expense (5,371,000) (5,429,000) NET (LOSS) INCOME (16,620,000) 11,945,000 Attributable to noncontrolling interests (48,000) (169,000) NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC. (16,668,000) 11,776,000 Preferred stock dividends (2,799,000) (3,602,000) Preferred stock redemption costs (3,507,000) - NET (LOSS) INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS $ (22,974,000) $ 8,174,000 NET (LOSS) INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON SHAREHOLDERS (BASIC AND DILUTED) $ (0.26) $ 0.10 Weighted average number of common shares - basic and diluted 87,623,000 81,734,000 CEDAR REALTY TRUST, INC. Reconciliation of Net (Loss) Income Attributable to Common Shareholders to Funds From Operations and Operating Funds From Operations (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2018 2017 Net (loss) income attributable to common shareholders $ (22,974,000) $ 8,174,000 Real estate depreciation and amortization 10,004,000 10,375,000 Limited partners' interest (87,000) 32,000 Gain on sales - (7,099,000) Impairment charges 21,396,000 - Consolidated minority interests: Share of income 135,000 137,000 Share of FFO (124,000) (105,000) Funds From Operations ("FFO") applicable to diluted common shares 8,350,000 11,514,000 Adjustments for items affecting comparability: Preferred stock redemption costs 3,507,000 - Acquisition pursuit costs - 156,000 Operating Funds From Operations ("Operating FFO") applicable to diluted common shares $ 11,857,000 $ 11,670,000 FFO per diluted common share: $ 0.09 $ 0.13 Operating FFO per diluted common share: $ 0.13 $ 0.14 Weighted average number of diluted common shares: Common shares 91,647,000 85,472,000 OP Units 347,000 351,000 91,994,000 85,823,000 SOURCE Cedar Realty Trust, Inc. Related Links http://www.cedarrealtytrust.com Hollywood celebrities including Storm Reid ( A Wrinkle in Time , Twelve Years a Slave ), Francis Fisher ( Titanic , Fargo ), and Kendrick Sampson ( Vampire Diaries , How to Get Away with Murder ) joined Shailene Woodley ( Big Little Lies , The Descendants ) and Lori Woodley, founders of All It Takes , to celebrate the success that the organization has had in transforming the lives of tens of thousands of middle school students. Douglas Smith ( Big Love , The Bye Bye Man ), Isidora Goreshter ( Shameless , Petal Pushers ) and Ricky Garcia of Forever in Your Mind, which performed at the event, were also among the celebrities at the event. All It Takes Youth Leadership Programs teach young people to create sustainable, positive change among their peers, family members, society and the environment through on-site school programming and overnight trainings. "Our programs teach young people at a critical life stage to practice empathy, compassion, responsibility and purpose to create sustainable, positive change in school, at home and in their communities," said Lori Woodley. "All It Takes and Earth Friendly Products share the same goal of creating bold and compassionate leaders for the next generation who will help create a safer, greener planet," said Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, president and CEO of Earth Friendly Products. "Last year I sent my daughter and her Girl Scout Troop to the All It Takes camp in Malibu, California, where they had amazing, life-changing experiences," she added. "They came away with greater confidence and more empathy for themselves, each other, their families, and our environment." Lori Woodley, who founded All It Takes with her daughter Shailene Woodley, the multiple award-winning actress, said, "Earth Friendly Products embodies everything All It Takes believes our future can be, if the next generation can learn to look out for and care for one another. Earth Friendly Products which provides its employees a high minimum wage and family-friendly benefitsis committed to investing in our youth, the environmental stewards of tomorrow." For more information about All It Takes, please visit allittakes.org. ABOUT ALL IT TAKES All It Takes (AIT) creates proactive, preventative programs that develop an intrinsic desire in our youth to "Look after one another rather than go after one another." After 25 years working as a counselor in public schools, Lori Woodley is now using her expertise to provide impactful curricula, programs, and trainings that tackle the real issues young people struggle with every day. Equipping youth with the fortitude needed to face the challenges they care about most, All It Takes is inspiring meaningful change using a simple and powerful motivation NOTICE, CHOOSE, ACT to assist youth in their decision-making process. When youth are empowered to understand their ability to create the change they want to see in the world, and have the opportunity to connect and learn from one another in meaningful, productive ways, schools become safer, more trusted communities where everyone's emotional, social and academic aspirations can thrive. The organization teaches students the skills needed to create purposefully designed positive outcomes for themselves, others, and the planet. AIT envisions a world where all people are given the tools and education they need to understand their self-worth and inspire sustainable forward momentum. A nonprofit, All It Takes is providing youth from all walks of life with the awareness, empathy, and self-confidence they need to mature into well-rounded, emotionally intelligent adults who will embrace compassion, act boldly and be responsible for their actions. ABOUT EARTH FRIENDLY PRODUCTS Family owned and operated since 1967, Earth Friendly Products is the maker of ECOS Laundry Detergent and over 200 other environmentally friendly products that are safer for people, pets and the planet. Made with plant-powered ingredients, ECOS cleaners are thoughtfully sourced, pH balanced, readily biodegradable, easily recyclable, and never tested on animals. Over 100 ECOS products have received the coveted U.S. EPA Safer Choice certification, which means that every ingredient is the safest in its class and that the product has proven superior performance. ECOS, Baby ECOS, ECOS for Pets! and ECOS Pro cleaners are available at major club and grocery retailers and natural foods stores throughout the U.S., in over 60 countries and online at www.ecos.com and www.babyecos.com. MEDIA CONTACT: Alyson Dutch [email protected] SOURCE Earth Friendly Products "When it comes to optimizing the revenue cycle, you can't resolve issues that you're not aware of," said Marcy Tatsch, senior vice president and general manager, Reimbursement and Analytics Solutions, Change Healthcare. "Most providers are not getting the complete picture from their analytics tools. We've invested in a new version of Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics, now with critical patient access capabilities, including eligibility, estimation, pre-authorization, and medical necessity, to help our customers analyze the entire revenue cycle continuum, and let them reconcile back-end financial outcomes with front-end processes." One reason why revenue cycle managers struggle to optimize their processes is because they lack the ability to analyze how revenue flows through every phase of the cycle and what is slowing it down. That's because most providers have insufficient analytics or may only be able to analyze siloed segments of the revenue cycle. Now, using Change Healthcare Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics, they can gain a holistic view from the beginning to the end of the revenue cycle and fine-tune their operations for optimal performance. With visibility into eligibility, estimation, pre-authorization, and medical necessity, as well as the relationships between processes that span departments and systems, revenue cycle managers now can make decisions to better manage consumer experiences, promote accurate and timely payment from patients and payers, and improve patient access team management. Specifically, Change Healthcare Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics helps providers to: Readily access the data that matters most , regardless of where it resides in the revenue cycle: Views of revenue cycle performance datahistorical, real-time, and within and across facilities are available through a customizable KPI dashboard. Provider revenue cycle managers get near real-time information and can set customer performance alerts without involving IT resources. , Views of revenue cycle performance datahistorical, real-time, and within and across facilities are available through a customizable KPI dashboard. Provider revenue cycle managers get near real-time information and can set customer performance alerts without involving IT resources. Identify issues impeding revenue and address them: Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics taps the Change Healthcare database of over 3.4 billion healthcare financial transactions, including eligibility, authorization, estimation, claims, and remittance data, to support root-cause analysis. This knowledge lets providers monitor patient access team productivity and accuracy to remediate problems and help speed the claims process and cash flow. Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics taps the Change Healthcare database of over 3.4 billion healthcare financial transactions, including eligibility, authorization, estimation, claims, and remittance data, to support root-cause analysis. This knowledge lets providers monitor patient access team productivity and accuracy to remediate problems and help speed the claims process and cash flow. Analyze the full revenue cycle to rein in the departmental ripple effect: Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics' holistic view of the revenue cycle shows how disparate departmentsacross the revenue cycle continuum, from front-end to back-endaffect one another and influence speed and accuracy of payment from payers and patients. Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics' holistic view of the revenue cycle shows how disparate departmentsacross the revenue cycle continuum, from front-end to back-endaffect one another and influence speed and accuracy of payment from payers and patients. Improve accuracy of consumer estimates: Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics makes it easy for providers to understand how estimated patient charges compare to actual adjudicated insurance benefits, whether patient responsibilities are being accurately estimated up front, and whether those estimates are being leveraged to drive higher point-of-service collections. Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics is available immediately and provides robust analytics capabilities to both the Clearance Patient Access Suite and Assurance Reimbursement Management solutions. Change Healthcare will demonstrate Acuity Revenue Cycle Analytics in booth 101 at the NAHAM 44th Annual Conference in Denver, May 3-6, 2018. About Change Healthcare Change Healthcare is inspiring a better healthcare system. Working alongside our customers and partners, we leverage our software and analytics, network solutions, and technology-enabled services to enable better patient care, choice, and outcomes at scale. As a key catalyst of a value-based healthcare system, we are accelerating the journey toward improved lives and healthier communities. Learn more at www.changehealthcare.com. SOURCE Change Healthcare Related Links http://www.changehealthcare.com How quickly things change, especially in Kenyas political landscape. Barely seven months after insulting President Kenyatta, embattled Paul Ongili alias Babu Owino has clearly changed his art of war in order to save his fledgling political career. In the spirit of national reconciliation, the Embakasi East MP on Wednesday heeded to the Presidents calls for leaders to join him in owning up to the mistakes they made during last years electioneering period that left the country polarised and deeply divided along political and ethnic lines. Owino, whose political career is on the line after his election was nullified by the High Court, reached out to the President during his State of the Nation address. After Uhuru said; let us shake hands, Babu Owino walked to the podium, shook hands with President Kenyatta and in a rare show even bowed before the man he called mtoto wa mbwa last September. Asked about the highlight moment during the State of the Nation Address, Babu said; He (President Kenyatta) extended his hand towards where I was seated and I told myself, this is the opportunity to reconcile our differences. Our differences were ideological never personal. He was also full of praise for the President. When asked to rate the Presidents State of the Nation Address out of 10 he said I will give him a 10. That was not all. Outside Parliament, they shook hands again in what Babu described as a golden handshake between the current president and the future president. Heres how that went down. QUAKERTOWN, Pa., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ChemTrace, a Quantum Global Technologies' company, celebrates its 25th anniversary of analytical excellence. "Customers in the semiconductor, solar, photonics and OLED industries have entrusted us for 25-years to reliably provide microcontamination analysis of chamber parts, wafers/depositions, chemicals, cleanroom materials, water and airborne molecular contamination. Our copy exact network of laboratories located in the US, Korea and Taiwan are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical testing instruments ready to support trace metal, organics, anion, cation and particle analysis," states Surjany Russell, Director of Sales. ChemTrace is a globally recognized leader of microcontamination analysis and testing for the semiconductor industry. Since its inception in 1993, it has acquired a global reach with copy exact laboratories that are ISO17025:2005 accredited. Along with our sister company, QuantumClean, our service offerings can bring improvement to your operation by solving critical process chamber manufacturing challenges. Visit booth 1232 at SEMICON West, July 10-12, 2018 at the Moscone Center South in San Francisco California, for special celebration events including food, beverages, a commemorative gift and MORE! We look forward to seeing you at the celebration on July 10-11 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and July 12 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. About Quantum Global Technologies, LLC ChemTrace and QuantumClean are divisions of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. For 25 years, ChemTrace has provided independent analytical verification of semiconductor process tool chamber part cleaning effectiveness. ChemTrace offers unsurpassed microcontamination analysis of tool parts, wafers and depositions, chemicals, cleanroom materials, DI water and airborne molecular contamination, with over 120 employees in 5 labs located in 3 countries (and coming soon 8 labs in 4 countries). chemtrace.com QuantumClean is the global leader in ultra-high purity sub-10nm outsourced process tool chamber parts cleaning and coating services, tool part life extension and process tool part optimization solutions to the semiconductor wafer fabrication, OEM and OPM industries. With 1,400 employees operating 18 Advanced Technology Cleaning Centers in 8 countries, QuantumClean provides unsurpassed cleaning capability and convenience worldwide. quantumclean.com Media Contacts ChemTrace: Robin Puri, +1-503-251-0979, [email protected] QuantumClean: Meg Cox, +1-215-892-9300, [email protected] QuantumClean, ChemTrace, Advanced Technology Cleaning Centers, ATCC, Process Improvement through Consistently Cleaner Parts, Single Part Chemical Clean and SPCC are all registered trademarks of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC. ACS, Atomically Clean Surfaces, Alternative TWAS, Analytical & Engineering Services, C-Coat, Cleancoat, Cleaning, Coating & Testing Center of Excellence, Environmentally Clean Process, ECP, Final Surface Finish, FSF, QGT, M-Coat, PartSmart, PT3, QualClean, Selective Deposition Removal, SDR, Service Request form, SRF, Solution Based Chemistry, TechBriefs, The Perfect Order, The Perfect Qual, The Perfect Process Transfer, Tight-Coat, V-Clean, VeriClean, Waterless Acid, Y-Coat, Z-Coat, Smart, Lean, Clean and Green, Center of Excellence and Validated Ultra-High Purity. Maximum Productivity are all trademarks of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC. SOURCE Quantum Global Technologies, LLC Related Links http://www.quantumclean.com/ AUBURN, Ala., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only southern inspired, fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today it will be expanding in Tennessee with its newest location in Knoxville, marking the brand's 7th location in the state. Located at 8008 Kingston Pike, the Knoxville restaurant will celebrate its grand opening on May 16th, where the first 100 guests will receive free chicken salad for a year. The Knoxville opening kicks off a string of Tennessee expansion, with restaurants in Memphis, Spring Hill and Maryville slated to open over the course of the year. During grand opening week, guests will experience the southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for, with giveaways and specials that include: Wednesday, May 16 Free Chicken Salad for a year The first guest will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a free large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month. * Free Chicken Salad for a year The first guest will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week for an entire year; the next 99 guests receive a free large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month. * Thursday, May 17 The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free 20oz. RTIC Chick tumbler. The first 100 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free 20oz. RTIC Chick tumbler. Friday, May 18 Free Scoop Friday The first 100 guests to purchase The Chick will receive a free scoop of classic carol. Free Scoop Friday The first 100 guests to purchase The Chick will receive a free scoop of classic carol. Saturday, May 19 The first 50 guests to buy two large Quick Chicks will receive a small chick cooler. The Knoxville restaurant is owned and operated by longtime Chicken Salad Chick fan Josh Patton of Volunteer Restaurant Concepts. The Tennessee native had his first Chicken Salad Chick experience at the original Auburn location back in 2008. A senior in college at that time, Patton was a frequent visitor, sometimes even making two trips to Chicken Salad Chick in one day. His love for chicken salad quickly turned into a desire to open his own location and in 2014, that dream became a reality when he opened his first Chicken Salad Chick in Chattanooga. Since then, he's opened additional locations in Chattanooga and Knoxville, with plans to open another three throughout those markets. "When I first walked into the original Chicken Salad Chick restaurant 10 years ago, I knew I stumbled into something special," said Patton. "Founder Stacy Brown used to joke with me about eating there so often, but I couldn't get enough of the high-quality food and southern charm. My passion for the brand led me to open my own locations and I'm grateful for the opportunity to introduce the concept to residents in Knoxville." The Chicken Salad Chick concept, born in Auburn, was established in 2008 in the kitchen of founder, Stacy Brown. When Stacy discovered that the local county health department would not allow her to continue making and selling her delicious recipes out of her home kitchen, she overcame that obstacle by launching her first restaurant with the business expertise of her future husband and fellow founder, Kevin Brown. Together, they opened a small takeout restaurant, which quickly grew; the company now has 88 restaurants across the Southeast. Chicken Salad Chick in Knoxville will be open Monday Saturday from 11 a.m. 8 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.chickensaladchick.com. Follow Chicken Salad Chick on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for the latest news and trends. *Eligible winners must be over 16 years of age, purchase a Chick special and are required to download the Craving Credits app. Redemption will start 5/21. About Chicken Salad Chick Founded in Auburn, Alabama, in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick serves full-flavored, Southern-style chicken salad made from scratch and served from the heart. With more than a dozen original chicken salad flavors as well as fresh side salads, gourmet soups, signature sandwiches and delicious desserts, Chicken Salad Chick's robust menu is a perfect fit for any guest. Today, the brand has more than 85 restaurants in 9 states and is continuing its rapid expansion with both franchise and company locations. Chicken Salad Chick was recently named as one of FastCasual.com's top Movers and Shakers and one of Nation's Restaurant News 2017 Next 20 brands. The brand also ranked #37 on the 2016 Inc. list of the 500 fastest-growing companies in the U.S. See www.chickensaladchick.com for additional information. Contact: Nikki Rode Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Chicken Salad Chick Related Links http://www.chickensaladchick.com DENVER, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Colorado Petroleum Council welcomed activity by the Colorado State Senate, voting down three bills that could have had a harmful effect on the production of natural gas and oil in Colorado, jobs and the economy. "Colorado's existing regulations are comprehensive and ensure that development is completed in a responsible and safe manner," said Tracee Bentley, executive director of Colorado Petroleum Council. "Each of the proposed bills rejected by the Senate were blatant attempts to stifle natural gas and oil production in Colorado and could have negatively affected local economies and business owners that benefit from the opportunity that the industry brings to Colorado." HB18-1289, or 'Exempt Local Government School Districts Forced Pooling,' could have prohibited development in certain areas by exempting local governments and schools from statutory pooling. The rejected bill would have restricted operator's ability to produce the minerals of any mineral owners in a spacing unit without consent from the local government or school, inhibiting production without offering any new protections to mineral and royalty owners. HB18-1352, or 'Oil and Gas Facilities Distance from School Property,' would have required that production facilities be 1,000 feet from the property line, not the building. Existing COGCC regulations mandate that any school or high occupancy building be at least 1,000 feet from natural gas and oil production facilities a distance supported by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The rejected bill would have doubled the current requirements in many cases around the state and significantly reduced the amount of space available for natural gas and oil development, which would be a direct hit to Colorado's economy. HB18-1419, or 'Oil Gas Operators Disclosures Wellhead Integrity,' would have created policy that undermined the regulatory authority of the COGCC. This bill would have required the state to waste money on a rulemaking despite existing, stringent regulations around well integrity. The Governor's oil and natural gas task force highlighted the various wellbore integrity rules that are currently in place and found no reason to revisit these areas. The industry is regulated through every step of production and current regulations ensure that wellbore integrity is maintained from start of construction to the end of well plugging. In addition, this rejected bill is redundant of flowline disclosures that were established at the February 2018 COGCC rulemaking. Local Governments are already privy to that information based off those new rules. "The Senate's actions strengthen Colorado families' ability to prosper from the benefits of local production of natural gas and oil," said Bentley. "The COGCC has the technical expertise to determine and mandate regulations for the industry that ensure safe and environmentally responsible development of natural gas and oil is taking place within Colorado's communities." The Colorado Petroleum Council is a division of API, which represents all segments of America's oil and natural gas industry. Its more than 625 members produce, process, and distribute most of the nation's energy. The industry supports 10.3 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 45 million Americans. 202.682.8114 | [email protected] SOURCE Colorado Petroleum Council PETALUMA, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Company culture is more than just how employees interact. While that is a big part of it, company culture can lead to success if established alongside the company's values and mission. It helps shape team interactions, innovation and even how customers are treated. Brandon Frere, CEO and founder of several companies, describes the power of a healthy company culture in driving innovation and encourages companies to give it some direct attention. Credit: Narith Thongphasuk/Bigstock "Collaboration is one of the most important things in a work environment, and you get that through a good company culture," said Frere. "Team members who feel heard and that their opinions matter will be more likely to speak up when they have a great idea. Company culture helps those individuals feel free to speak up." The phrase "two heads are better than one" rings true in work settings. The diversity of thought drives innovation as ideas commingle and new ideas combine. This requires a culture that encourages everyone to be an active contributor. If any employee stifles another's voice, performance and innovation suffer, as it can take more time to make others hear their suggestions if the others are not open to hearing them. CEOs may not start their company with culture in mind, but it can always be established. In fact, it might change over time as the company evolves. Brandon Frere suggests creating a framework of values and then putting company culture in the hands of those who will benefit from it. Employees who help create the culture may be more likely to participate, value it and pass it on to the customers. "Company culture is one of those things that can change and affect teamwork and employee engagement," said Brandon Frere. "But it's worth it to build a healthy culture that drives the company to success. It touches every part of the business, whether you realize it or not." About Frere Enterprises Brandon Frere is an entrepreneur and businessman who lives in Sonoma County, California. He has designed and created multiple companies to meet the ever-demanding needs of businesses and consumers alike. His company website, www.FrereEnterprises.com, is used as a means to communicate many of the lessons, fundamentals and information he has learned throughout his extensive business and personal endeavors, most recently in advocating on behalf of student loan borrowers nationwide. As experienced during his own student loan repayment, Mr. Frere found out how difficult it can be to work with federally contracted student loan servicers and the repayment programs designed to help borrowers. Through those efforts, he gained an insider's look into the repayment process and the motivations behind the inflating student loan debt bubble. His knowledge of the confusing landscape of student loan repayment became a vital theme in his future endeavors, and he now uses those experiences to help guide others through the daunting process of applying for available federal repayment and loan forgiveness programs. FrereEnterprises.com Related Images company-culture.jpg Company Culture Credit: Narith Thongphasuk/Bigstock image2.png Related Links Frere Enterprises home page SOURCE Frere Enterprises Related Links http://www.frereenterprises.com At this year's Confectionery Pavilion, visitors will meet the top specialists in the confectionery process and packaging supply sector who will showcase innovative solutions, including weighing and dissolving systems from Chocotech, confectionery extruders from Euromec, hard candy cooking & forming lines from Hansel Processing, enrobing machines from Sollich, Mogul equipment from Winkler und Dunnebier Suwarenmaschinen GmbH, and intelligent packaging machines from Theegarten-Pactec. "Theegarten-Pactec specializes in the design and construction of packaging machines for small-pieced confectionery items. As a coordinator of the Pavilion, we saw potential and growth of Asia's confectionery manufacturers last year and it has not been difficult to make a decision to return to ProPak Asia this year to be a part of their success. At this event, Theegarten-Pactec will showcase our EK4 the world's fastest double twist wrapping machine for hard candies to promote to manufacturers in Asia", said Mr. Steffen Hamelmann, Marketing & Public Relations from Theegarten-Pactec one of six German companies located at the Confectionery Pavilion. Apart from those six specialists, there will also be over 30 top confectionery suppliers at the exhibition showcasing and answering questions about the latest processing and packaging machinery and equipment, for example, Buhler - innovative solution provider for chocolate production, A.M.P Rose - one of the world's leading machine builders for the confectionery and chocolate industries, Baker Perkins experienced company in the design and manufacture of confectionery production systems, and Ecomec - worldwide supplier of used confectionery process and packaging machinery for chocolate, candy, biscuit and wafer production. Asia Pacific is the second largest global region for confectionery products with a retail value of USD 41.620 billion in 2017. With a strong CAGR from 2012-2017, the industry is projected to reach almost USD 50 billion in the next five years. With the region having the second lowest per capita spending on confectionery goods worldwide, there are many opportunities for confectionery players who understand and respond to consumer demands. One key factor for confectionery market growth is product variety. Manufacturers must look for solutions, including new product development, pack sizes and affordability through advanced systems and technologies to meet upcoming challenges. In addition to the Confectionery Pavilion, ProPak Asia 2018 contains nine industry zones to drive innovation and enable buyers and sellers to meet and develop their businesses. ProPak Asia hosts companies from over 45 countries representing an estimated 5,000 individual pieces of major packaging and processing equipment. Visitors will find the answers they need to take their operations to the next level at Asia's number one industry event. The show will be held from 13 to 16 June at Bitec. For more information on remaining participation opportunities and upcoming show developments visit www.propakasia.com. Notes to Editor: For more information, please contact Wantita Porntanawong (Bow) Tel: +662 036 0521 Email: [email protected] SOURCE UBM BES EAST LANSING, Mich., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Conquer Accelerator program announced today the five startup teams selected to participate in its third summer cohort. Designed to help both newer and established companies overcome business hurdles, the Conquer Accelerator emphasizes smart planning and growth, extensive mentorship from an experienced bench of professionals, and structured educational components focused on bringing its cohort startups to success. The accelerator program is hosted and managed by Spartan Innovations, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Michigan State University Foundation. "The Conquer Accelerator acts as a final launching platform for startups from MSU and beyond, preparing companies to hit the ground running," says Paul Jaques, program director. "Our program puts the finishing touches on startup teams and prepares them for investment and growth." The program's five teams will work through an intensive ten-week program, starting June 2018. In addition to $20,000 in seed funding, each startup receives tailored mentorship, a creative co-working space, as well as access to networking support and talent resources to enable them to grow their companies. The five Michigan-based startup teams participating in 2018's cohort are: Every Two Minutes tackling campus sexual violence through education, prevention, and resources. Every Two Minutes' first product, (my)Sidekick, is a next-generation mobile learning platform providing immersive prevention education, skills, and on-demand tools at critical moments to help students combat campus sexual violence. tackling campus sexual violence through education, prevention, and resources. Every Two Minutes' first product, (my)Sidekick, is a next-generation mobile learning platform providing immersive prevention education, skills, and on-demand tools at critical moments to help students combat campus sexual violence. Hidlo Studios a digital marketing agency specializing in the creation and management of geofilter campaigns for businesses on the Snapchat platform. Hidlo provides extensive brand research to devise custom-designed, long-term geofilters for maximum brand interaction. a digital marketing agency specializing in the creation and management of geofilter campaigns for businesses on the Snapchat platform. provides extensive brand research to devise custom-designed, long-term geofilters for maximum brand interaction. Lingco Language Labs a modern language-learning platform to give instructors all the tools they need to run successful language courses. In today's fast-paced world, the Lingco Classroom provides tools for instructors, elevating the language learning experience with adaptive technology. Lingco helps every student reach fluency. a modern language-learning platform to give instructors all the tools they need to run successful language courses. In today's fast-paced world, the provides tools for instructors, elevating the language learning experience with adaptive technology. helps every student reach fluency. Smart Staffing optimizes the matching of in-home caregivers with clients of private-duty healthcare companies. Offering an easy-to-use, map-based software, Smart Staffing makes scheduling efficient while ensuring both client and caregiver connect in positive, meaningful ways. optimizes the matching of in-home caregivers with clients of private-duty healthcare companies. Offering an easy-to-use, map-based software, makes scheduling efficient while ensuring both client and caregiver connect in positive, meaningful ways. Vloggle an innovative, video-sharing social platform taking the medium to the next, most accessible level. With Vloggle, users effortlessly create, edit, share, and play quality videos up to ten minutes long. Conquer Accelerator's third season kicks off Monday, June 4th, 2018. For more information or to follow this year's ten-week journey, visit www.conqueraccelerator.com. Follow the teams on Conquer Accelerator's social channels: Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. ABOUT THE CONQUER ACCELERATOR PROGRAM With a strong bench of more than fifty entrepreneurs and business leaders serving as mentors, the Conquer Accelerator provides select teams with ten weeks of intensive programming focused on completing goal-driven benchmarks. Teams work with instructors and mentors on topics like fundraising, technology, and longevity. Any qualifying business may apply to join the Conquer Acceleratoran existing affiliation with Michigan State University is not required. For startups from Michigan State University, Conquer Accelerator serves to fill a crucial gap in the development cycle within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Conquer Accelerator culminates in a week-long, demo roadshow with investors. Learn more about the Conquer Accelerator at conqueraccelerator.com. SOURCE Conquer Accelerator Related Links http://www.conqueraccelerator.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CoverWallet, the leading small business insurance startup, today announced the launch of a new online B2B platform for carriers and agents to manage the entire lifecycle of their customers. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the first carrier to use the technology and will provide the platform to agents for its emerging micro-small commercial business. The CoverWallet B2B platform provides real-time quoting, underwriting, binding, billing, and servicing capabilities to improve overall productivity and reduce technical and operational costs for agents and carriers. The online platform is available 24/7 and can be customized depending on the carrier's needs. "The partnership between The Hanover and CoverWallet demonstrates how carriers and agents can leverage technology to service their customers better and faster," said Inaki Berenguer, Co-Founder and CEO of CoverWallet. "The Hanover is an ideal partner with a rich history of innovation and one of the very best companies in the independent agency channel. We are thrilled about the opportunities ahead." "Using state-of-the-art technology, our team built a platform for The Hanover's agents to provide a transparent, convenient, and simple way for agents to efficiently sell and manage micro-small business insurance," said Aman Khaira, Vice President of Product at CoverWallet. "Our B2B online platform is fully-automated, allowing customers to get what they need online in minutes." Through the partnership, The Hanover will provide CoverWallet's new platform to its independent agents looking for a robust solution to address the micro segment of small commercial businesses. With the platform, the customer will need to input less information, resulting in greater efficiency and further enhancing the customer experience. "The Hanover wanted to provide our agents with a consumer-facing platform that supported the growth of their lower premium policies in a cost-efficient way," said Willard Lee, Vice President and Chief Business Innovation Officer at The Hanover. "CoverWallet has built a robust digital experience with an intuitive interface that allows our agents to concentrate on their value-add services. We look forward to leveraging its state-of-the-art technology in combination with our unique products and disciplined underwriting to support our agents' micro business clients." CoverWallet has raised more than $35 million in funding from leading venture capital firms, and the company recently announced its expansion to Europe. The company is dedicated to becoming the platform of choice for small business insurance, leveraging technology and making the process more transparent and simpler for carriers and agents. About The Hanover The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions in a dynamic world. The Hanover distributes its products through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agents, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. Through its international member company, Chaucer, The Hanover also underwrites business at Lloyd's of London in several major insurance and reinsurance classes, including marine, property and energy. For more information, please visit hanover.com. About CoverWallet Launched in early 2016, CoverWallet combines deep analytics, thoughtful design and state of the art technology to help small businesses with all their insurance needs. CoverWallet delivers a seamless user experience while offering savings, customized coverage and best-in-class service to their customers. In a matter of minutes, any business can get peace of mind, buying and managing their insurance, all through CoverWallet's online platform. Stay in touch at coverwallet.com, @coverwallet or facebook.com/coverwallet. Contact The Hanover Insurance Group Emily Trevallion [email protected] CoverWallet Hally Peck [email protected] SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.; CoverWallet Related Links http://www.coverwallet.com ATLANTA, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its effort to expand its clean energy portfolio, Cox Enterprises announced it has become the majority investor in a $25 million partnership that created four solar farms in Georgia and Florida. The project is part of the company's national Cox Conserves sustainability program, which celebrated its 10th anniversary last year. The program has long employed new sustainable technologies and programs to create environmental solutions and create new business ventures. "This is just one of many Cleantech initiatives that will help us meet our goal of leaving the world in a better place for future generations," said Cox Enterprises Assistant Vice President of Environmental Sustainability Steve Bradley. "Cox has a long history of being aggressive and methodical with respect to driving positive environmental change." In total, the newly installed 42,000 solar panels harness enough energy from the sun to produce 13 megawatts of power. That is enough renewable energy to prevent nearly 14,000 tons of carbon from entering the environment each year, or the equivalent of taking 3,300 cars off roads. The four project sites represent the company's second partnership with PEC Velo, and are a part of 34 total solar PV projects Cox has completed in the past decade. Since the launching of Cox Conserves, Cox Enterprises has invested more than $116 million toward enhancing the efficiency of its operations, improving facilities to save energy and reduce waste and supporting environmental nonprofits. The company has also offset 93,000 tons of carbon. Cox uses solar energy and energy efficiency in its operations and incentivizes employees who choose to use solar. As a way to help propel these efforts, the company invested in alternative energy in 17 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. The farms in Georgia are located in Douglasville, approximately 20 miles west of Atlanta; Cairo in Southwest Georgia, and Winder (west of Atlanta). The fourth, and largest farm of the four, located in Jacksonville, Florida, uses an advanced single-axis tracking system designed to allow the solar panels to track the sun as it travels across the sky from sunrise to sunset. The tracking system allows the solar farm to be 30 percent more efficient than fixed-tilt solar farms. "In Douglasville, we've received great feedback from residents who are thrilled about how the property is being used," said Bradley. "At Cox, our commitment to environmental sustainability is enduring and we aim to accelerate our efforts through more and larger investments in the near future." About Cox Conserves: Launched in 2007 by Chairman Jim Kennedy, Cox Conserves is Cox Enterprises' national sustainability program. Cox Conserves focuses on reducing waste and energy consumption, as well as conserving water. The program engages each of the company's major subsidiaries (Cox Communications, Cox Automotive and Cox Media Group) and encourages Cox Enterprises' 60,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices. The company's sustainability goals are to send Zero Waste to Landfill by 2024 and become Carbon and Water Neutral by 2044. The company also presents the Cox Conserves Sustainability Survey, a nationwide survey that examines sustainability opportunities and challenges for small and medium-sized businesses. About Cox Enterprises: Cox Enterprises is a leading communications, media and automotive services company. With revenues exceeding $21 billion and approximately 60,000 employees, the company's major operating subsidiaries include Cox Communications (cable television distribution, high-speed internet access, telephone, home security and automation, commercial telecommunications and advertising solutions); Cox Automotive (automotive-related auctions, financial services, media and software solutions); and Cox Media Group (television and radio stations, digital media, newspapers and advertising sales rep firms). The company's major national brands include Autotrader, Kelley Blue Book and Manheim. Through Cox Automotive, the company's international operations stretch across Asia, Australia, Europe and Latin America. To learn more about Cox's commitment to people, sustainability and our communities, please visit www.CoxCSRReport.com. SOURCE Cox Enterprises Related Links https://www.coxenterprises.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 1, 2018, Credit Suisse declared coupon payments for the following ETNs: ETN Ticker ETN Name Closing Indicative Value on 4/30/18 Ex-Date Record Date Payment Date Coupon Amount per ETN Coupon Frequency Current Yield1 REML Credit Suisse X-Links Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Mortgage REIT ETN $25.2450 5/10/18 5/11/18 5/21/18 $0.1190 Monthly 20.16%2 AMJL Credit Suisse X-Links Monthly Pay 2xLeveraged Alerian MLP Index ETN $16.4767 5/10/18 5/11/18 5/21/18 $0.1584 Monthly 17.69%2 MLTI Credit Suisse X-Links Multi-Asset High Income ETN $27.3716 5/10/18 5/11/18 5/21/18 $0.0862 Monthly 5.85%2 On May 3, 2018, Credit Suisse announced expected coupon payments for the following ETNs: ETN Ticker ETN Name Closing Indicative Value on 4/30/18 Ex-Date Record Date Payment Date Expected Coupon Amount per ETN3 Coupon Frequency Expected Current Yield4 USOI Credit Suisse X-Links Crude Oil Shares Covered Call ETN $29.2130 5/21/18 5/22/18 5/25/18 $0.4415 Monthly 8.37%5 GLDI Credit Suisse X-Links Gold Shares Covered Call ETN $9.0254 5/21/18 5/22/18 5/25/18 $0.0640 Monthly 6.58%5 SLVO Credit Suisse X-Links Silver Shares Covered Call ETN $7.5934 5/21/18 5/22/18 5/25/18 $0.0566 Monthly 7.82%5 For each ETN, the Current Yield equals the Coupon Amount, annualized and divided by the Closing Indicative Value, as discussed in more detail below. The Current Yield is not indicative of future coupon payments, if any, on the ETNs. You are not guaranteed any coupon payment or distribution under the ETNs. Coupon payments for the ETNs (if any) are variable and do not represent fixed, periodic interest payments. The Coupon Amount may vary significantly from coupon period to coupon period and may be zero. Any payment on the ETNs is subject to Credit Suisse's ability to pay its obligations as they become due. Accordingly, the Current Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant. For more information regarding any ETN's coupon payments, please refer to such ETN's pricing supplement. The Current Yield for the ETN equals the sum of (i) the Coupon Amount plus (ii) the amount of the ETN's two most recent coupon payments, multiplied by four (to annualize such amounts), divided by the Closing Indicative Value, and rounded to two decimal places for ease of analysis. On April 16, 2018 , the Credit Suisse Nasdaq Gold FLOWSTM 103 Index, the Credit Suisse Nasdaq Silver FLOWSTM 106 Index and the Credit Suisse Nasdaq WTI Crude Oil FLOWSTM 106 Index (the "Indices") concluded the notional sale of options on GLD shares, SLV shares and USO shares, respectively, with May 2018 expiration. We expect that the notional cash distribution generated by this sale of options will be withdrawn from the Indices on May 14, 2018 , subject to adjustment in the event of any market disruption events. Assuming no redemption or acceleration of GLDI, SLVO and USOI, and that the notional cash distribution is withdrawn from the Indices on May 14, 2018 , we expect to declare a Coupon Amount for GLDI, SLVO and USOI, respectively, equal to the corresponding Expected Coupon Amount. The Expected Coupon Amount is subject to change upon the occurrence of a disruption event or other unforeseen circumstances. For each ETN, the Expected Current Yield equals the Expected Coupon Amount annualized and divided by the Closing Indicative Value, as discussed in more detail below. The Expected Current Yield is not indicative of future coupon payments, if any, on the ETNs. You are not guaranteed any coupon payment or distribution under the ETNs. Coupon payments for the ETNs (if any) are variable and do not represent fixed, periodic interest payments. The Expected Coupon Amount may vary significantly from coupon period to coupon period and may be zero. Any payment on the ETNs is subject to Credit Suisse's ability to pay its obligations as they become due. Accordingly, the Expected Current Yield will change over time, and such change may be significant. For more information regarding any ETN's coupon payments, please refer to such ETN's pricing supplement. The Expected Current Yield for the ETN equals the sum of (i) the Expected Coupon Amount, plus (ii) the amount of the ETN's two most recent coupon payments, multiplied by four (to annualize such amounts), divided by the Closing Indicative Value, and rounded to two decimal places for ease of analysis. The Expected Current Yield is subject to change upon the occurrence of a disruption event or other unforeseen circumstances. Press Contact Azar Boehm, Credit Suisse AG, telephone +1 212 538 3953, [email protected] Credit Suisse ETNs Telephone +1 800 320 1225, [email protected] The ETNs may not be suitable for all investors and should be purchased only by knowledgeable investors who understand the potential consequences of investing in the ETNs. The ETNs are subject to the credit risk of Credit Suisse. You may receive less, and possibly significantly less, than the principal amount of your investment at maturity or upon repurchase or sale. Coupon payments on the ETNs will vary and could be zero. There is no actual portfolio of assets in which any investor in the ETNs has any ownership or other interest. Investors in the ETNs do not have voting rights, distribution rights or other rights with respect to the assets included in the tracked indices. An investment in the ETNs involves significant risks. For further information regarding risks, please see the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the applicable pricing supplement. Credit Suisse AG Credit Suisse AG is one of the world's leading financial services providers and is part of the Credit Suisse group of companies (referred to here as 'Credit Suisse'). As an integrated bank, Credit Suisse offers clients its combined expertise in the areas of private banking, investment banking and asset management. Credit Suisse provides advisory services, comprehensive solutions and innovative products to companies, institutional clients and high-net-worth private clients globally, as well as to retail clients in Switzerland. Credit Suisse is headquartered in Zurich and operates in over 50 countries worldwide. The group employs approximately 46,370 people. The registered shares (CSGN) of Credit Suisse's parent company, Credit Suisse Group AG, are listed in Switzerland and, in the form of American Depositary Shares (CS), in New York. Further information about Credit Suisse can be found at www.credit-suisse.com. Credit Suisse has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, for the offering to which this press release relates. Before you invest, you should read the applicable Pricing Supplement, the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017 and the Prospectus dated June 30, 2017 that Credit Suisse has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Credit Suisse and this offering. You may obtain these documents without cost by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov or clicking the hyperlinks below: REML: Pricing Supplement dated April 10, 2018, including the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017, and Prospectus dated June 30, 2017: https://notes.credit-suisse.com/csfbnoteslogin/etn/prospectus.asp?Ticker=REML AMJL: Pricing Supplement dated June 30, 2017, including the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017, and Prospectus dated June 30, 2017: https://notes.credit-suisse.com/csfbnoteslogin/etn/prospectus.asp?Ticker=AMJL MLTI: Pricing Supplement dated June 30, 2017, including the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017, and Prospectus dated June 30, 2017: https://notes.credit-suisse.com/csfbnoteslogin/etn/prospectus.asp?Ticker=MLTI USOI: Pricing Supplement dated June 30, 2017, including the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017, and Prospectus dated June 30, 2017: https://notes.credit-suisse.com/csfbnoteslogin/etn/prospectus.asp?Ticker=USOI GLDI: Pricing Supplement dated June 30, 2017, including the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017, and Prospectus dated June 30, 2017: https://notes.credit-suisse.com/csfbnoteslogin/etn/prospectus.asp?Ticker=GLDI SLVO: Pricing Supplement dated June 30, 2017, including the Prospectus Supplement dated June 30, 2017, and Prospectus dated June 30, 2017: https://notes.credit-suisse.com/csfbnoteslogin/etn/prospectus.asp?Ticker=SLVO Alternatively, Credit Suisse, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC or any agent or any dealer participating in this offering will arrange to send you the applicable pricing supplement, prospectus supplement and prospectus if you so request by calling 1-800-320-1225. This document was produced by and the opinions expressed are those of Credit Suisse as of the date of writing and are subject to change. X-Links is a registered trademark of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC. Copyright 2018, CREDIT SUISSE GROUP AG and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. SOURCE Credit Suisse Related Links http://www.credit-suisse.com BOULDER, Colo., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CRG, a leading healthcare investment firm, today announced the appointment of Todd Holmes as Principal in the firm's Boulder office. Mr. Holmes will join CRG's investment team and help in all aspects of the investment process. Mr. Holmes brings to CRG more than 14 years of experience sourcing, structuring, and executing investments in healthcare, biotechnology and life sciences companies. Most recently, Mr. Holmes was a founding member and Director at Gurnet Point Capital, a life sciences and healthcare-focused investment fund. Previously, Mr. Holmes was a Senior Associate at Third Rock Ventures, where he worked on new company formation, due diligence and portfolio company management for their healthcare-focused venture capital fund. Before that, Mr. Holmes held healthcare-focused investment positions with BVF Partners, and Silicon Valley Bank. "Todd is a proven investor whose experience and industry relationships will strengthen our investment team," said Nate Hukill, President and Chairman of CRG. "His addition will serve us well as we continue to see strong demand for our competitive growth capital solutions, which serve as a less dilutive alternative to equity financings." Luke Duster, Managing Director and Partner of CRG, added, "Todd's addition to the firm represents our ongoing commitment to building a world-class healthcare investing team and reinforces our ability to attract high-quality talent to support the firm's growth." "Over the last several years, I have witnessed CRG's rapid growth and momentum in committing capital to commercial-stage healthcare companies and have admired the strong relationships between the fund and its partner companies," said Mr. Holmes. "I look forward to joining the team and contributing to the firm's future success." Mr. Holmes received an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a B.A. in economics from Colgate University. About CRG CRG is a premier healthcare investment firm that has committed more than $3 billion of assets across three funds to date. The firm seeks to invest between $20 to $300 million in companies across the healthcare spectrum, including: medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, tools & diagnostics, services and information technology. CRG provides growth capital in the form of long-term debt and equity to support innovative, commercial-stage healthcare companies that address large, unmet medical needs. The firm partners with public and private companies to provide flexible financing solutions and world-class support to achieve exceptional growth objectives with minimal dilution. CRG maintains offices in Boulder, New York and Houston. For more information, please visit www.crglp.com. CRG Contact: Mike Weinmann Managing Director +1 (212) 716-0011 [email protected] Media Contact: Nick Rust (646) 502-4520 [email protected] SOURCE CRG LP Related Links http://www.crglp.com Ezekiel Mutua should be steaming hotter than a volcanic mountain anytime now. This is because his vigorous campaign against homosexuality in the country has suffered a major blow as Kenyas most prominent gay personality Author Binyavanga Wainaina- gears up for a walk down the aisle early next year. The writer, who publicly outed his sexual orientation during his 43rd birthday on January 18, 2014, in an article titled I am a homosexual, mum, has proposed to the love of his life. While making the announcement on his Facebook page, the Caine Prize winner revealed that his partner is a Nigerian national. They will solemnize their 6-year-old on and off relationship in South Africa where they will also be living. I asked my love for his hand in marriage two weeks ago. He said yes, nearly immediately. He is Nigerian. We will be living in South Africa, where he will be studying next year. We will get married there, early next year, said Wainaina. The author further said that Kenyans will not be left out of his wedding celebrations, with a reception party slated for some time next year in Nairobi. We will have a reception for Kenyans in Nairobi some time next year too. Nigerians will also be included in the celebrations. Binyavanga confirmed this, saying; I am sure we will have a party for Nigerians later next year. Binyavanga, who publicly announced his positive HIV status on Twitter on 1 December 2016, World Aids Day, further sang his partners praises describing him as gentle and with the most gorgeous heart. Nothing has surprised me more than coming to love this person, who is gentle and has the most gorgeous heart. I consider myself hugely lucky that he loves me and I have only recently fallen in love with him, but we have known each other and have been dating on and off since 2012. And in the comments section, Binyavanga revealed what he would love to wear on his big day: a dress. It remains to be seen if KFCB boss Ezekiel Mutua will allow that reception party in Nairobi. SAN DIEGO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced that its Cubic Mission Solutions (CMS) business division is expanding its footprint with the opening of a new office location in Dallas, Texas. Strategically located near AT&T headquarters, the new office allows Cubic to provide localized support for AT&T personnel and its customers, such as onsite product demonstrations, sales, engineering support and training. In 2017, Cubic and AT&T began collaborating to develop an interoperability solution. This year, a formal partnership was established to develop a leading-edge capability for interagency communications, centered on Cubic's next-generation interoperability gateway, the Vocality RoIP. The teams have been working closely to enhance this shared vision for AT&T's customers in verticals such as public safety, energy and business critical infrastructure. "At Cubic, we take pride in our ability to provide exceptional service to our partners and customers," said Mike Twyman, president of Cubic Mission Solutions. "As the commercial side of our business grows, our strategic site in Dallas gives us the opportunity to provide personal and immediate support for AT&T and we are thrilled to continue our great working relationship." The new space is located at 701 Commerce St., Dallas, Texas. Cubic Mission Solutions specializes in integrating Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) technologies, products and solutions for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a market-leading, technology provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions for the U.S. and allied forces. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp. SOURCE Cubic Corporation Related Links http://www.cubic.com SAN DIEGO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) business division will be showcasing a comprehensive range of industry-leading training capabilities at Special Operations Forces Exhibition and Conference (SOFEX) held in Amman, Jordan from May 710. The biennial event brings together international Special Operations, homeland security decision makers and industry leaders from around the world to discuss a wide range of issues pertinent to current counter terrorism and homeland security issues. "Cubic's world-class training technologies accelerate training efficiency and improve overall readiness through individual and collective engagement," said Dave Buss, president of Cubic Global Defense. "We look forward to the opportunity to showcase our innovative training solutions and increase our offerings to our customers in the Middle East region." Cubic will be showcasing the following training solutions at the show: Air Combat Force-on-Force Training: In use by Oman , United Arab Emirates , Egypt , Saudi Arabia and more, Cubic's P5 Tactical Combat Training System (TCTS) relays Time, Space and Positioning Information between participating aircraft during training sorties. This air combat training system enables real-time, live monitoring and recorded mission data of air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air training scenarios for post mission analysis. In use by , , , and more, Cubic's P5 Tactical Combat Training System (TCTS) relays Time, Space and Positioning Information between participating aircraft during training sorties. This air combat training system enables real-time, live monitoring and recorded mission data of air-to-air, air-to-ground and surface-to-air training scenarios for post mission analysis. Ground Live Combat Training: Cubic provides live ground combat maneuver training solutions for training and mission rehearsal exercises. Our systems allow troops to train like they fight, in a realistic battlefield environment, to sustain and improve upon their advanced tactical engagement skills against an opposing force. Cubic provides live ground combat maneuver training solutions for training and mission rehearsal exercises. Our systems allow troops to train like they fight, in a realistic battlefield environment, to sustain and improve upon their advanced tactical engagement skills against an opposing force. Cubic Range Design and Live Fire Training: Cubic's Range Design services allow delivery of complete range design solutions for military, law enforcement, Special Forces and security training centers. Cubic's QuickRange is a full-service, pre-fabricated shooting range that can be delivered to any location ready to use, while eliminating challenges associated with building a traditional shooting range. Cubic's Range Design services allow delivery of complete range design solutions for military, law enforcement, Special Forces and security training centers. Cubic's QuickRange is a full-service, pre-fabricated shooting range that can be delivered to any location ready to use, while eliminating challenges associated with building a traditional shooting range. Firearms Training: Cubic's PRISim Suite PortableTrainer firearms simulator provides an immersive training environment through the use of interactive video scenarios, allowing trainees to experience stress, fear and threats from the virtual actors on screen. Cubic's PRISim Suite PortableTrainer firearms simulator provides an immersive training environment through the use of interactive video scenarios, allowing trainees to experience stress, fear and threats from the virtual actors on screen. Cybersecurity Training: Cubic's Social Media Analytic Replication Toolkit (SMART) provides the tools to create social media content within a scalable, dynamic live, virtual and constructive (LVC) environment for use by Information Operations and Intelligence Analysts in multilevel training exercises. Visit Cubic at booth #608 in the USA Security and Defense Pavilion at the King Abdullah Air Base. Follow Cubic Global Defense at @CubicDefense on Twitter and join the social conversation with #SOFEX. About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a market-leading, technology provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions for the U.S. and allied forces. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp. SOURCE Cubic Corporation Related Links http://www.cubic.com TEL AVIV, Israel, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Coneuron, a startup in stealth mode focusing on making kids' virtual world a better place, announced today the build of a global dream team to tackle the challenges of the screenagers' generation. After selling cybersecurity company Aorato to Microsoft for $200 million, Idan Plotnik, CEO of Coneuron, is turning his focus towards online interactions of youth. Coneuron arms young people with the ability to sense peer intent and feedback of their own online behaviors and interactions. With the goal to empower young people, Coneuron enables them to increase social skills, confidence, and ability to digest potential criticism in a private way. "After a successful exit with Aorato and a prosperous business at Microsoft, I knew my next endeavor would have to be one that could reach global impact. As a new father, my priorities and focus have now changed from wanting to stop hackers from gaining credentials to providing better understanding around how teens are being affected by negative online interactions," said Idan Plotnik, CEO of Coneuron. "With our newly minted advisory team, I am confident that Coneuron is being set up to have an enormous impact." The early-stage company is hitting the ground running with the addition of major global technology players to its advisory board, including: Prof. Gil David , a global expert in the field of AI and Deep Learning, led for seven years R&D teams in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. In his postdoc in Applied Mathematics at Yale University , Gil developed algorithms for learning user behavior. Gil was a member of the Aorato Advisory Board, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2014. , a global expert in the field of AI and Deep Learning, led for seven years R&D teams in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office. In his postdoc in Applied Mathematics at , Gil developed algorithms for learning user behavior. Gil was a member of the Aorato Advisory Board, which was acquired by Microsoft in 2014. Prof. Ely Porat served for 9 years in the 8200-intelligence unit at the IDF. At the age of 21 he received his doctorate, and he was only 27-year-old when he became a professor. In addition he worked for Google and Oracle. Ely specializes in theory of algorithms and has a lot of industry experience in ML in Big Data environments. served for 9 years in the 8200-intelligence unit at the IDF. At the age of 21 he received his doctorate, and he was only 27-year-old when he became a professor. In addition he worked for Google and Oracle. Ely specializes in theory of algorithms and has a lot of industry experience in ML in Big Data environments. Yu-Kai Chou is one of the earliest pioneers and a world expert in Gamification. He was awarded with the "Gamification of the Year" title in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Yu-Kai is a lecturer and consultant in organizations such as Google, Tesla, Stanford University , LEGO and eBay. is one of the earliest pioneers and a world expert in Gamification. He was awarded with the "Gamification of the Year" title in 2014, 2015 and 2017. Yu-Kai is a lecturer and consultant in organizations such as Google, Tesla, , LEGO and eBay. Dr. Eyal Doron is a researcher, lecturer and developer of creative thinking for youth groups and readiness for the 21st century. He is the head of the Psychology and Humanities Division at the New School of Psychology in the Interdisciplinary Center in Israel . "Joining Coneuron is a special project, as we get to merge our backgrounds in the world of cybersecurity behavioral analytics, gamification, big data and creative thinking to employ some of the very same machine learning and AI techniques to the cyberbullying dilemma," said Prof. Gil David. "Idan's vision and the team's ability to execute, will surely create another great venture for all of us." The company develops a mobile application and platform based on a unique patent-pending technology that applies artificial intelligence on social media interactions and combines the expression of youth feelings regarding individuals' activities in social networks. In November 2017, Coneuron announced that CEO Idan Plotnik had invested $4M pre-seed. About Coneuron: Founded in Nov 2017, Coneuron aims to provide teens with a space and interactive environment to develop positive and socially online consciousness. Stemming from a strong background in the cybersecurity arena, the Coneuron team is stacked with global technology leaders aiming to have a big impact on improving social skills, reducing cyberbullying and other negative online interactions. CONTACT: Vicky Fornis, [email protected] SOURCE Coneuron Young Living's Founder Honored for Extraordinary Professional Contributions LEHI, Utah, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- D. Gary Young, the Founder and Chairman of the Board of Young Living Essential Oils, the world leader in essential oils, was honored today by Direct Selling News with its inaugural BRAVO Legacy Award. This new award recognizes the individual who has made extraordinary professional contributions to the direct selling community that will be felt for generations to come. Direct Selling News, the Direct Selling Association's magazine, called it "fitting that the first Legacy award honor Young for leading the way in the essential oils space, as well as for his empowerment of those in his company to pursue a passion for health and well-being. Through Young Living, both Gary and his wife, Mary, have been able to share his discoveries and knowledge with millions around the world and support those in need within the communities where they grow and source the company's oils." "We are extremely proud of Gary for this accomplishment and thrilled that the rest of the direct selling industry acknowledges what we do. Gary is the iconic trail-blazing pioneer, who introduced to the mainstream public essential oils and their benefits to people around the world," said Jared Turner, President and Chief Operating Officer. "Gary has created a proactive, hands-on approach that we all strive to live by as we work to accomplish his vision of introducing the purest essential oils and oil-infused products to homes worldwide." Young Living, one of the largest direct selling companies operating in the U.S., has surpassed $1 billion in sales in each of the last three years and exceeded $1.5 billion in 2017. Its revenues have grown 800 percent over the last five years, and it is in the midst of a 34-percent increase in revenue in 2018 year-to-date. As the leader in the essential oils movement, Young Living has more than 3,000 global employees, 4 million members since founding, 16 corporate and partner farms around the world, 13 offices operating in 22 markets, and products shipping to 133 countries. Young Living is positioned to continue its impressive growth trajectory with many exciting projects on the horizon. These include a new state-of-the-art, environmentally friendly global headquarters that will house a world-renowned essential oils experience center; hosting our largest international grand convention to date; and identifying and developing new corporate and partner farms. About Young Living Essential Oils Young Living Essential Oils, LC, is the world leader in essential oils, with a strict Seed to Seal process that produces pure essential oil products for every individual, family, and lifestyle. This process ensures that all products are genuine, free of synthetic chemicals, and pure. This commitment stems from the company's more than 24 years of stewardship toward the earth and its people. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com. Media Contact For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. SOURCE Young Living Essential Oils LITTLE ROCK, Ark., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- As the HSA market steadily continues to grow, more third-party administrators (TPAs) are looking to add HSA management services to their portfolio. A new whitepaper published by DataPath, Inc. addresses common TPA concerns about entering the HSA market: revenue opportunity, workload, and the need to juggle multiple business and banking relationships. The white paper, entitled "How TPAs Can Overcome Potential Pitfalls to Deliver a Unified HSA Experience and Maximize Earnings," also examines various technology solutions available for HSA management services. Some platforms promote flexibility with options that require a multitude of additional vendor relationships. Depending on the administration setup, this can lead to additional work for TPAs and frustration for employers and account holders. The white paper proposes that a turnkey, all-in-one solution that offers HSA administration, custodial banking and integrated investments may provide a better overall experience for everyone involved. "Many TPAs are looking to join the HSA market. Administering HSAs can be highly profitable, and they need the right solution to offer a first-rate experience to their clients and account holders," says Bo Armstrong, chief marketing officer at DataPath. "With so many platforms out there, evaluating the possibilities and what each means for their business is crucial to a TPA's success." Read the white paper. About the company: DataPath, Inc. is a privately-owned technology company headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. DataPath creates cloud-based solutions for the administration of employer-sponsored benefits, including FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, Transit accounts, and COBRA. The company is also an end-to-end card and payments processor. Learn more at dpath.com. Media Contact: Erin Carlile, [email protected], 614-540-5520 SOURCE DataPath, Inc. Related Links https://www.dpath.com PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti and WASHINGTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FINCA Impact Finance announced that Deetken Impact, an asset management firm based in Vancouver, Canada, will provide a USD 1 million loan to FINCA Haiti SA for on-lending to individual, micro, small- and medium-sized businesses (MSMEs). The three-year loan facility is the first of its kind extended by Deetken to a FINCA Impact Finance subsidiary. FINCA Haiti SA is a microfinance institution that currently serves more than 45,000 customers 85% of whom are women across its eight branches. In 2017, it distributed its first mobile loan via Moncash, a mobile banking system created with mobile operator Digicel now used by 13,000 FINCA Haiti clients. In 2017, FINCA Haiti SA entered into a CAD 7 million partnership with FINCA Canada and Global Affairs Canada to scale up financial inclusion efforts, targeting low-income Haitian women in particular, leading to improved living conditions, health and education. According to FINCA Haiti SA CEO Marie Marcelle Gerard Saint-Gilles: "With 72% of Haitians still unbanked, this new loan facility from Deetken will help our existing and future customers benefit from improved access to a wider array of products and services." Over the next five years, the funds will support FINCA Haiti SA to grow its network of branches and digital financial services and build its capacity to develop customer-centric and gender-sensitive financial products. Moreover, the funds will enable it to better serve farmers and agriculture businesses. The Deetken loan facility will provide FINCA Haiti SA with the capital needed to support its growth path. "We are proud to partner with Finca Haiti SA and Global Affairs Canada for our first investment in Haiti," said Alexa Blain, Chief Operating Officer at Deetken Impact. "This is an example of how public and private sector financing can together support the growth of impact businesses in emerging markets." FINCA Impact Finance is furthering its strategy of diversifying its funding base to promote financial inclusion and has attracted worldwide interest from the investment community. It has recently issued bond offerings in its subsidiaries in Pakistan, Nicaragua and Armenia and a subordinated loan facility in Malawi. Additionally, it reached a landmark loan agreement for its subsidiary in Jordan. About Deetken Impact Deetken Impact's asset management team focuses on impact investments in the Americas with a deeper focus in Latin America. Through deep financial and strategic analysis, and strong local relationships in the countries it works in, Deetken is able to generate sustainable, long-term returns on investments. For more information, visit www.deetkenimpact.com or follow on Twitter @DeetkenImpact. About FINCA Impact Finance FINCA Impact Finance is a global network of 20 microfinance institutions and banks that provides socially-responsible financial services to enable low-income individuals and communities to invest in their futures. For more information, visit http://www.FINCAImpact.com or follow us on Twitter @FINCAImpact. SOURCE FINCA Impact Finance CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy's customers represent the centerpiece of the company's long-term strategy, Chairman, President and CEO Lynn Good today told investors during the company's annual shareholders meeting, held online using a live video webcast. "We're on a journey to deliver the experience our customers expect," Good said. "As we continue to meet our customers' changing needs, building a smarter, more resilient energy grid is essential. That's why we're making investments to improve reliability, integrate more renewable energy and provide customers with the information they need." For example, upgrading Duke Energy's electricity distribution grid with self-optimizing technologies will allow the company to anticipate outages and reroute power when an outage occurs, Good said. "Deployment is underway and will build upon the smart grid investments we've already made which have helped us avoid over 1.2 million power interruptions and save customers 162 million outage minutes," she said. "Our goal is to have 80 percent of our customers connected to our smarter, self-optimized grid in the next decade. "And, we're investing in smart meters that will give our customers real-time information to better control their energy use. In 2017, we deployed 1.2 million smart meters and remain on track to finish our deployment by 2021," she said. Also in 2017, "we provided customers with usage and outage alerts giving them more convenience and control over their energy usage. We started upgrading our customer information system and soon, we will launch a new mobile app, giving customers access to tools that they've come to expect," Good said. Environmental commitment Good also underscored the company's "long-standing commitment" to the environment. "We've cut our carbon emissions by 31 percent from 2005 levels and we plan to reach 40 percent by 2030. To help meet this goal, we're investing $11 billion in cleaner generation while retiring less efficient coal plants," she said. In addition in 2017, "we connected 500 megawatts of new solar projects in North Carolina, helping the state remain second in the nation for solar capacity. We also announced plans for an additional 700 megawatts of solar in Florida, built our first three solar plants in Kentucky, and acquired one of the largest solar projects in New York." Good said Duke Energy is now one of the nation's top renewable energy providers on track to own or purchase 8,000 megawatts of wind, solar and biomass energy by 2020. "We're also investing in natural gas generation a cleaner alternative to coal. Natural gas is a perfect partner for our renewables portfolio, helping us balance demand when renewable resources are not available," she said. Simultaneously, Good said, Duke Energy in 2017 made significant progress toward its long-term goal of closing coal ash basins. "To date, we have excavated and relocated nearly 17 million tons of ash systemwide, with 7 million tons removed in 2017 alone. We're leading the industry on this important issue, and we're committed to closing basins in ways that protect the environment and customers," she said. Good also highlighted Duke Energy's recently posted Climate Report, which provides information on the company's "efforts to mitigate risks from climate change and lower emissions." Duke Energy's goal, she said, "is to reduce carbon emissions 40 percent by 2030, which is consistent with a 'two-degree scenario,'" as discussed in the report https://www.duke-energy.com/_/media/pdfs/our-company/shareholder-climate-report.pdf Economic development, community support Economic development, job creation and community support also remained top priorities for Duke Energy in 2017, Good said. The company "worked side by side with communities to attract $5.9 billion in capital investment, helping create over 12,000 jobs," she said. "And, our (Duke Energy) Foundation and employees contributed over $52 million to local organizations that help our communities thrive." Duke Energy in 2017 also continued its ongoing initiatives to build an increasingly diverse company workforce. "As we evolve for the future, our workforce is also evolving and becoming more agile. As a company, we're supplementing this effort by recruiting employees with diverse viewpoints and skill sets who can create solutions to meet our customers' needs well into the future," Good said. "For instance, we hired 400 veterans last year and plan to fill 12 percent of our open positions with veterans. Their training and leadership qualities will be critical for our business to succeed," she said. Shareholders reject two proposals Also at today's meeting, shareholders rejected a non-binding shareholder proposal that did not receive a majority of shares voted, as required to pass: "Shareholder proposal regarding providing an annual report on Duke Energy's lobbying expenses." Separately, a binding company-sponsored proposal was not approved after failing to receive 80 percent of the total outstanding shares, as required: "Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Duke Energy Corporation to eliminate supermajority voting requirements." Details about the proposals appear in the company's 2018 proxy statement https://www.duke-energy.com/_/media/pdfs/our-company/investors/de-annual-reports/2017/2018-proxy-statement.pdf?la=en Shareholders also elected the 14 board of director nominees, with each receiving at least 92 percent of the shares voted. In addition, Good fielded 12 shareholder questions submitted online before and during the meeting on a range of topics. The company will post responses to all questions on its website. About Duke Energy Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Duke Energy is one of the largest energy holding companies in the United States. Its Electric Utilities and Infrastructure business unit serves approximately 7.5 million customers located in six states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company's Gas Utilities and Infrastructure business unit distributes natural gas to approximately 1.6 million customers in the Carolinas, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee. Its Commercial Renewables business unit operates a growing renewable energy portfolio across the United States. Duke Energy is a Fortune 125 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DUK. More information about the company is available at duke-energy.com. The Duke Energy News Center serves as a multimedia resource for journalists and features news releases, helpful links, photos and videos. Hosted by Duke Energy, illumination is an online destination for stories about people, innovations, and community and environmental topics. It also offers glimpses into the past and insights into the future of energy. Follow Duke Energy on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Contact: Dave Scanzoni 24-Hour: 800.559.3853 SOURCE Duke Energy Related Links http://www.duke-energy.com WUHAN, China, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited (the "Company" NYSE American: DXF) announces that it has filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), which includes its audited financial statements. Pursuant to Section 203.01 of the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") Listed Company Manual, the requirement for an NYSE-listed company to distribute a hard copy of the annual report to shareholders was eliminated. A listed company is required to file with the SEC its annual reports (which include the audited financial statements) and is required to simultaneously make the annual report available to its shareholders on or through the Company's website. Pursuant to the current rule, the Company's annual report on Form 20-F may be accessed through the SEC's website (www.sec.gov), as well as the official website of the Company (http://www.dunxin.us/irwebsite/index.php?mod=annual). The soft copy of the Company's annual report on Form 20-F (in PDF format) may also be downloaded through its website. The Company will deliver within a reasonable time after request a hard copy of its annual report on Form 20-F, including its complete audited financial statements, free of charge, to any shareholder upon request. To request a hard copy of the annual report, please write to: Mr. Chee Jiong Ng Chief Financial Officer Telephone: +86 136 5593 9932 Email: [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will", "expects", "anticipates", "future", "intends", "plans", "believes", "estimates", "target", "going forward", "outlook" and similar statements. Such statements are based upon management's current expectations and current market and operating conditions, and relate to events that involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under law. About Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited ("DXF") is one of the leading licensed microfinance lenders in Hubei Province, China. We have been granted a microfinance license by the Financial Affairs Office of the Hubei Provincial People's Government to provide loans to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises. We were awarded as the Vice President Unit of China Micro-credit Companies Association under the China Banking Regulatory Commission in January 2017 and the President Unit of Hubei Micro-credit Company Association in December 2017. In 2016, we were recognized as a "National Excellent Microfinance Company" by China Micro-credit Companies Association. We have been named one of the "Top 100 Most Competitive Microfinance Companies in China" by China Microfinance Institution Association for four consecutive years since 2013, an "AA- Credit Rating Enterprise" by China Credit Management Co., Ltd in August 2017, and a "Top 10 Private Enterprises in Wuchang District, Wuhan City" by the People's Government of Wuchang District in July 2017. The Group has a strong capital base and professional credit business experience in microfinance industry. For more information, please visit the Company's website at http://www.hbctf.com. For additional information, please contact: Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited Ms Claire Chen Telephone: +86-27-88569912 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Dunxin Financial Holdings Limited Related Links http://www.hbctf.com CHARLESTON, S.C., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ed Mitchell of Daniel Ravenel Sothebys International Realty has earned the Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation, placing him among 3,500 elite real estate professionals in over 45 countries. The designation was awarded to him by the National Association of REALTORS for completing rigorous coursework devoted to learning international real estate practices and demonstrating proficiency in international business. Ed Mitchell The CIPS designation is synonymous with advanced expertise, a global perspective, and distinct understanding of a global buyer. As a designer, Ed Mitchell has the knowledge and resources to efficiently work with international buyers, including U.S. residents looking to invest overseas, foreign buyers purchasing in the United States, as well as recent immigrants who might be unfamiliar with real estate transaction practices in the United States. According to CIPS, "Designees guide global home buyers and sellers through professionally sound and successful real estate transactions. Designees are able to provide this expert service through the use of the knowledge acquired through CIPS courses and experience gained through active participation in the global real estate market." Daniel Ravenel SIR is a premier luxury real estate agency located in Charleston, SC. It is an affiliate of the Sotheby's International Realty global network which has 720 affiliate offices in 52 countries worldwide. Each Sothebys office is independently owned and operated. For more information on the CIPS designation, email: [email protected] and/or [email protected]; visit: www.nar.realtor/whycips and/or www.Facebook.com/EdMitchellRealtor/; call: 207 975-5776. Related Images image1.jpg image2.jpg Related Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLpky5bDtMI SOURCE Ed Mitchell BELLEVUE, Wash., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Egencia, a leading global travel management company, today releases its Egencia Travel Policy Insights: Global Air Edition to highlight findings on air policy trends among its global travelers*. The findings show that companies' concern for improved traveler satisfaction, productivity and talent retention can lead to trends in how policies are defined around the world. Business travel makes up an important component of the $1.6 trillion travel market, and many business trips are not guided by company travel policies. "At Egencia, we see a huge opportunity to help companies move from unmanaged to managed travel. Building good travel policies is fundamental to this shift, but they are rarely benchmarked," says Mark Hollyhead, chief operations officer at Egencia. "With this report, we take a look at our own data to provide clues on how policies are shaped around the world." The Egencia Travel Policy Insights findings show some key trends in prior approval, access to premium cabin class, advanced purchase behavior and day-of-week timing for both booking and traveling. Free to choose approval policies Globally, companies tend to give travelers the freedom to make their travel choices without seeking prior approval. In fact, less than half (45 percent) of travelers are required to adhere to an approval policy. Companies are seeking a balance between using approval policies as a barrier to undesirable behavior and simplifying the booking process by removing the need to get travel choices signed off. Economy travel is the standard Globally, the vast majority of business air travel is done in economy class, and this may include premium economy. However, many companies unlock access to first or business class based on the length of flight, ranging from four to ten hours. This translates to a higher rate of premium travel for international trips: 33 percent of international travelers are allowed access to premium travel, while only 12 percent of domestic travelers get this special treatment. So more than VIP standing, the traveler's comfort is the main driver for allowing premium travel making sure they can make the most out of their trip by arriving rested and productive for the business to be done. It's all in the timing A typical feature of travel policies is a requirement to purchase air tickets well in advance. The recent ARC/Expedia report stated that Egencia clients have been shifting to longer booking windows (15+ days out) for premium cabin tickets originating across multiple countries including the U.S., the U.K. and France. However, among travelers from companies with advanced purchase policies, 50 percent of air tickets are still booked less than 14 days in advance of travel. This suggests that despite policies that require early planning, last-minute bookings are still allowed. With advanced purchase policies, the advantage of choosing the least expensive day to book may not be a priority. However, for last-minute bookings, choosing the best day to save on booking a ticket may make or break business travel plans, especially for a premium fare. The Egencia and ARC data show that Sunday yields the best deals on premium fares. However, the best weekdays to book premium are Monday and Tuesday, although the price will be an average of 25 percent higher than on Sunday. Programs that allow travelers to book anytime, anywhere may give opportunities for greater comfort if they can save on premium travel by booking over the weekend. To bleisure or not to bleisure Around the world, Monday is the preferred day to travel for both premium and economy class travelers this gives them time to get their work done and be home for the weekend. However, travel in proximity to a weekend can lead travelers to incorporate some leisure time in a business trip, to create what's known as "bleisure". The report looks at what type of traveler is more likely to do this. With findings from a recent poll of Egencia travelers showing that 68 percent of global business travelers taking at least one bleisure trip a year, companies should consider creating policies that define responsibilities for costs and traveler security during the leisure portion of a stay. Premium class travelers are nearly twice as likely to stay through Saturday (23 percent v. 12 percent). International travel tends to lend itself to end-of-week travel as well. Twenty percent of international travelers stay through Saturday, compared to only nine percent of domestic travelers. Saturday stays, particularly for international travel, can give workers time to rest and acclimate before starting the work week abroad. Companies and employees can both benefit from bleisure. Saturday travel for international flights may also decrease the price of a plane ticket, so when the cost of extra hotel nights is factored in, for the same total trip cost, the traveler can be rested, more productive and maybe happy to have some time to explore a new city, providing the perfect balance of traveler satisfaction and cost savings. * Findings are based on an Egencia September 2017 study of global travel policies and travelers' online and offline booking behavior. The first Egencia Travel Policy Insights release, inspired by the recent Expedia/ARC 2018 Air Travel Outlook Report published in December, 2017, shows how companies handle air travel policies across the globe. About Egencia Egencia makes every business trip count for travelers and travel managers. The travel management company's industry-leading technology platform simplifies the process of planning, booking and managing business travel. Relying on timely, data-driven insights from Egencia, businesses stay one step ahead by making choices that align with traveler preference and corporate policy. A dedicated team of travel consultants is ready to assist every step of the way, whenever and wherever needed. Egencia serves small, mid-cap and multi-national companies in more than 60 countries. To connect with Egencia, visit www.egencia.com or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn. You can also follow along on our blog. 2018 Egencia LLC. All rights reserved. Egencia, and the Egencia logo are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Expedia Group, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE Egencia Related Links http://www.egencia.com Barely a year into his tenure as Igembe South MP, John Paul Mwirigi has been dragged into the dirty end of Kenyan politics. Mwirigi, who made history as Kenyas youngest MP at the age of 24, has been accused of manhandling an area resident in his constituency. According to the victim, identified as John Gikunda alias Wanugu, the MP attempted to throttle his neck but he let go after the local residents intervened. Yesterday as I was going home from church I met with several vehicles and one of them, a Range Rover, stopped and I saw the MP. He called me and asked why we were demonstrating without addressing him first. I told him we are suffering because of this poor road. He got angry and accused me that Im leading a war against him. It is then that he got out of the car, charged at me and held me by the neck lucky enough as we were speaking, a crowd had gathered to see mheshimiwa. So the locals intervened and that is when the MP let me go. Gikunda is quoted as saying by Citizen Digital. Gikunda added he is now living in fear, adding that he intends to report the matter to the police. I am really fearing for my life right now because I have never seen such a thing where an MP is beating someone who voted for him, he added. The youthful MP has since responded and denied Gikundas allegations. He said Wanugu was out to tarnish his name. I never tried or attempted to throttle Wanugu and the allegations hes making against me are meant to taint my name in bad light, I cannot engage myself in such kind of politics he wants to drag me into let the law take its cause for the truth to be known, said the legislator. The MPs personal aide also denied Wanugus recollection of events, saying that a certain bigwig in the area is out to frustrate Mwirigi. I was personally present when during the area visit and I can attest to the fact that nothing close to that crap happened on the material date, said Jolland. He added: The said man is a well known perennial goon and a conman according to the locals, he thrives in soliciting money from politicians through blackmailing and intimidations. Without fear of contradiction or intimidation, I can clearly literate[sic] that a certain bigwig is fearing to be out-shined by the vibrant lawmaker and are using unorthodox means to fight back the success of the young and able mp of igembe south. Time will definitely tell and the cartels shall be known,The damage is already done as part of their agenda but Almighty God shall eventually be glorified when they will succumb to their own vomits. SAO JOSE DOS CAMPOS, Brazil, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Embraer and American Airlines Inc. signed a firm order for 15 E175 jets with a 76-seat configuration. The contract has a value of USD 705 million, based on current list prices, and will be included in Embraer's 2018 second-quarter backlog. Deliveries will take place in 2019 between March and November. Combined with the airline's three previous orders for the E175, this new contract results in a total of 89 E175s for American Airlines. The most recent order took place in October 2017 for ten aircraft. "We are thrilled that the E175 continues to be the right solution for American. This is American's fourth order for the E175 since 2013 and their repeat order demonstrates how well the aircraft serves their business needs and the confidence they have in our platform," said Charlie Hillis, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, North America, Embraer Commercial Aviation. American Airlines selected Envoy, a wholly owned subsidiary of American Airlines Group, to operate the 15 aircraft, which will be configured with a total of 76 seats, being 12 in First Class and 64 in Main Cabin, including Main Cabin Extra seats. Including this new contract, Embraer has sold more than 400 E175s to airlines in North America since January 2013, earning more than 80% of all orders in this 76-seat jet segment. Since entering revenue service, the E-Jets family has received more than 1,800 orders and over 1,400 aircraft have been delivered. Today, E-Jets are flying in the fleet of 70 customers in 50 countries. The versatile 70 to 150-seat family is flying with low-cost airlines as well as with regional and mainline carriers. Follow us on Twitter: @Embraer PRESS OFFICES: Headquarters (Brazil) Corporate Communications [email protected] Cell: +55 12 98152 4845 Tel.: +55 11 3841 6085 North America Alyssa Ten Eyck [email protected] Cell: +1 954 383 0460 Tel.: +1 954 359 3847 Europe, Middle East and Africa Guy Douglas [email protected] Cell: +31 (0)657120121 Tell: +31 (0)202158109 China Mirage Zhong [email protected] Cell: +86 185 1378 5180 Tel.: +86 10 6598 9988 Asia Pacific Nilma Missir-Boissac [email protected] Cell: +65 9012 8428 Tel.: +65 6305 9955 SOURCE Embraer S.A. HOUSTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Reports Strong Operating Results Achieves Record Returns on First Quarter Capital Investments U.S. Oil Production Near High End of Target Range U.S. Realized Crude Oil Price Exceeds WTI NYMEX Average Per-Unit Transportation and DD&A Expenses Below Targets Maintains Full-Year $5.4 - $5.8 Billion Exploration and Development Expenditure Target - Exploration and Development Expenditure Target On Track to Reduce Well Costs 5 Percent in 2018 Reiterates Full-Year 2018 Oil Production Growth Target of 16-20 Percent Targets $3 Billion Debt Reduction and Higher Dividend Growth Rate EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE: EOG) (EOG) today reported first quarter 2018 net income of $638.6 million, or $1.10 per share. This compares to first quarter 2017 net income of $28.5 million, or $0.05 per share. Adjusted non-GAAP net income for the first quarter 2018 was $689.5 million, or $1.19 per share, compared to adjusted non-GAAP net income of $89.4 million, or $0.15 per share, for the same prior year period. Higher commodity prices, increased production volumes and overall per-unit cost reductions resulted in increases to adjusted non-GAAP net income, discretionary cash flow and EBITDAX during the first quarter 2018 compared to the first quarter 2017. Adjusted non-GAAP net income is calculated by matching hedge realizations to settlement months and making certain other adjustments in order to exclude one-time items. Please refer to the attached tables for the reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures. Operational Highlights EOG achieved record returns on new capital investments in the first quarter 2018. The company increased first quarter 2018 crude oil production by 15 percent compared to the first quarter 2017. EOG maintained its forecast for 16 to 20 percent crude oil growth for full year 2018. Strong production growth reflects the company's premium drilling strategy and technical advances across its diverse inventory of high-return plays. EOG defines premium drilling as prospective well locations that will earn a minimum 30 percent direct after-tax rate of return at $40 crude oil and $2.50 natural gas prices. EOG's prolific Delaware Basin, Eagle Ford and Powder River Basin assets all contributed to growth this quarter. The company realized an average price for U.S. crude oil sales in the first quarter 2018 of $64.24 per barrel. This is $1.35 per barrel above the average WTI NYMEX price during the same period. Overall per-unit operating expenses decreased during the first quarter 2018. This performance was led by a 21 percent reduction in per-unit depreciation, depletion and amortization (DD&A) expenses compared to the same prior year period. Per-unit transportation and general and administrative costs also declined during the first quarter 2018. EOG maintained its forecast for 2018 capital expenditures of $5.4 to $5.8 billion, excluding acquisitions and non-cash transactions. The company remains on track to reduce average well costs by five percent in 2018. "EOG delivered another sterling performance in the first quarter despite a challenging operating environment," said William R. "Bill" Thomas, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "New capital investments produced record-level rates of return. Our innovative employees executed our game plan with high efficiency to deliver results that met or exceeded expectations while remaining on track to lower costs. EOG is well positioned to accomplish its full-year plan and generate high-return, disciplined growth in 2018." Capital Structure and Financial Strategy At March 31, 2018, EOG's total debt outstanding was $6.4 billion for a debt-to-total capitalization ratio of 28 percent. Considering cash on the balance sheet at the end of the first quarter, EOG's net debt was $5.6 billion for a net debt-to-total capitalization ratio of 25 percent. For a reconciliation of non-GAAP measures to GAAP measures, please refer to the attached tables. EOG intends to repay bonds as they mature over the next four years, with a goal to reduce total debt outstanding by $3 billion. In addition, the company is targeting an increase in its historical rate of dividend growth. Sustainable dividend growth is a distinguishing attribute of EOG. The company increased its dividend at a 19 percent compound annual rate from 1999 to 2017 without any reductions. The shift to premium drilling and the recovery in oil prices have increased EOG's after-tax rate of return on new investments to record levels. With an improving financial condition, EOG now aims to grow its dividend at a higher rate than its historical average. "EOG is uniquely positioned to generate strong organic growth, increase return on capital employed, further strengthen the balance sheet and step up cash returns to shareholders," noted Thomas. "Our objectives to reduce debt outstanding and increase the dividend growth rate reflect the strength of our business model. The company is capable of withstanding price volatility and well positioned to create significant shareholder value through commodity cycles." Delaware Basin In the first quarter 2018, EOG shifted to larger-scale development activity in the Delaware Basin utilizing 19 rigs compared to 13 rigs in 2017. Seventy new wells began production across multiple targets, although only 14 of these were brought on-line in January. Activity was focused on further delineating additional targets and testing development patterns in different areas of the basin. In the Delaware Basin Wolfcamp, EOG completed several notable wells, including the State Magellan 7 22H-28H. This seven-well package, drilled on 500-foot spacing, was completed with an average treated lateral length of 4,700 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 2,200 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boed), or 1,455 barrels of oil per day (Bopd), 310 barrels per day (Bpd) of natural gas liquids (NGLs) and 2.6 million cubic feet per day (MMcfd) of natural gas. In the Delaware Basin First Bone Spring, EOG completed the Beowulf 33 State Com 301H in Lea County, NM with a treated lateral length of 6,900 feet and a 30-day initial production rate of 1,735 Boed, or 1,275 Bopd, 200 Bpd of NGLs and 1.6 MMcfd of natural gas. In the Delaware Basin Leonard, EOG completed the Gem 36 State Com 05H and 06H with an average treated lateral length per well of 4,200 feet and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 2,555 Boed, or 1,605 Bopd, 395 Bpd of NGLs and 3.3 MMcfd of natural gas. South Texas Eagle Ford and Austin Chalk EOG's South Texas Eagle Ford continued to generate strong results across the entire extent of its 520,000 net acre position in the crude oil window of the play. EOG continues to optimize its wells with staggered patterns and enhanced targeting, which is producing premium-level returns even in heavily developed parts of the field. Wells completed in the first quarter were drilled with an average distance between wells of approximately 300 feet per well. Lateral lengths are also being extended, primarily in the western half of the field, where lateral lengths averaged 9,200 feet per well in the first quarter. Notable wells in the first quarter included the Presley Unit 12H-14H, a three-well package in Karnes County, TX with an average treated lateral length of 6,800 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 3,360 Boed, or 2,670 Bopd, 350 Bpd of NGLs and 2.0 MMcfd of natural gas. On the western side of the Eagle Ford in Atascosa County, TX, EOG completed the Watermelon Unit 2H and 3H with an average treated lateral length of 12,400 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 1,680 Boed, or 1,490 Bopd, 100 Bpd of NGLs and 0.6 MMcfd of natural gas. Development continued in the Austin Chalk, with the first quarter drilling program highlighted by the Elbrus 101H and 102H, with an average treated lateral length of 4,600 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 4,305 Boed, or 2,980 Bopd, 670 Bpd of NGLs and 3.9 MMcfd of natural gas. Rockies and the Bakken During the first quarter, EOG continued to develop its premium Powder River Basin and DJ Basin positions and began its 2018 drilling program in the Bakken. The company continued to lower well costs in its Rockies plays by improving drilling and completion times along with other efficiency improvements. EOG brought 12 wells on line in the Powder River Basin during the first quarter 2018, including nine targeting the Turner formation. Notably, the Flatbow 16-36H18-36H, a three-well package in the Powder River Turner, was completed with an average treated lateral length of 3,900 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 1,325 Boed, or 775 Bopd, 190 Bpd of NGLs and 2.2 MMcfd of natural gas. These short-lateral wells had an average cost of $2.9 million per well. In the DJ Basin, EOG began production in the first quarter from 12 wells. In particular, a four-well package of DJ Basin Codell wells, the Big Sandy 529, 552, 553 and 554-1423H, was completed with an average treated lateral length of 9,500 feet per well and average 30-day initial production rates per well of 1,340 Boed, or 1,120 Bopd, 135 Bpd of NGLs and 0.5 MMcfd of natural gas. These wells were drilled in an average of 4.2 days per well with an average cost of $3.5 million per well. In the North Dakota Bakken, EOG drilled 4 wells in the first quarter and deferred completions until later in 2018. Woodford Oil Window EOG continued development of its new oil play in the Woodford formation of the Eastern Anadarko Basin. In the first quarter, EOG increased drilling operations to three rigs and added a fourth rig in April. Production began from one well during the quarter. The Terri 1621 #1H was completed with a treated lateral length of 10,200 feet and a 30-day initial production rate of 1,395 Boed, or 1,140 Bopd, 165 Bpd of NGLs and 0.5 MMcfd of natural gas. Hedging Activity During the first quarter ended March 31, 2018, EOG entered into crude oil financial price swap contracts. A comprehensive summary of crude oil and natural gas derivative contracts is provided in the attached tables. Conference Call May 4, 2018 EOG's first quarter 2018 results conference call will be available via live audio webcast at 9 a.m. Central time (10 a.m. Eastern time) on Friday, May 4, 2018. To listen, log on to the Investors Overview page on the EOG website at http://investors.eogresources.com/overview. The webcast will be archived on EOG's website for one year. EOG Resources, Inc. is one of the largest independent (non-integrated) crude oil and natural gas companies in the United States with proved reserves in the United States, Trinidad, the United Kingdom and China. EOG Resources, Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is traded under the ticker symbol "EOG." This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, including, among others, statements and projections regarding EOG's future financial position, operations, performance, business strategy, returns, budgets, reserves, levels of production, costs and asset sales, statements regarding future commodity prices and statements regarding the plans and objectives of EOG's management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. EOG typically uses words such as "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "strategy," "intend," "plan," "target," "aims," "goal," "may," "will," "should" and "believe" or the negative of those terms or other variations or comparable terminology to identify its forward-looking statements. In particular, statements, express or implied, concerning EOG's future operating results and returns or EOG's ability to replace or increase reserves, increase production, reduce or otherwise control operating and capital costs, generate income or cash flows, pay down indebtedness or pay and/or increase dividends are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. Although EOG believes the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable and are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that these assumptions are accurate or that any of these expectations will be achieved (in full or at all) or will prove to have been correct. Moreover, EOG's forward-looking statements may be affected by known, unknown or currently unforeseen risks, events or circumstances that may be outside EOG's control. Furthermore, EOG has presented or referenced herein or in its accompanying disclosures certain forward-looking, non-GAAP financial measures, such as free cash flow and discretionary cash flow, and certain related estimates regarding future performance, results and financial position. These forward-looking measures and estimates are intended to be illustrative only and are not intended to reflect the results that EOG will necessarily achieve for the period(s) presented. EOG's actual results may differ materially from the measure and estimates presented or referenced herein. Important factors that could cause EOG's actual results to differ materially from the expectations reflected in EOG's forward-looking statements include, among others: the timing, extent and duration of changes in prices for, supplies of, and demand for, crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids, natural gas and related commodities; the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to acquire or discover additional reserves; the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to economically develop its acreage in, produce reserves and achieve anticipated production levels from, and maximize reserve recovery from, its existing and future crude oil and natural gas exploration and development projects; the extent to which EOG is successful in its efforts to market its crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids, natural gas and related commodity production; the availability, proximity and capacity of, and costs associated with, appropriate gathering, processing, compression, transportation and refining facilities; the availability, cost, terms and timing of issuance or execution of, and competition for, mineral licenses and leases and governmental and other permits and rights-of-way, and EOG's ability to retain mineral licenses and leases; the impact of, and changes in, government policies, laws and regulations, including tax laws and regulations; environmental, health and safety laws and regulations relating to air emissions, disposal of produced water, drilling fluids and other wastes, hydraulic fracturing and access to and use of water; laws and regulations imposing conditions or restrictions on drilling and completion operations and on the transportation of crude oil and natural gas; laws and regulations with respect to derivatives and hedging activities; and laws and regulations with respect to the import and export of crude oil, natural gas and related commodities; EOG's ability to effectively integrate acquired crude oil and natural gas properties into its operations, fully identify existing and potential problems with respect to such properties and accurately estimate reserves, production and costs with respect to such properties; the extent to which EOG's third-party-operated crude oil and natural gas properties are operated successfully and economically; competition in the oil and gas exploration and production industry for the acquisition of licenses, leases and properties, employees and other personnel, facilities, equipment, materials and services; the availability and cost of employees and other personnel, facilities, equipment, materials (such as water) and services; the accuracy of reserve estimates, which by their nature involve the exercise of professional judgment and may therefore be imprecise; weather, including its impact on crude oil and natural gas demand, and weather-related delays in drilling and in the installation and operation (by EOG or third parties) of production, gathering, processing, refining, compression and transportation facilities; the ability of EOG's customers and other contractual counterparties to satisfy their obligations to EOG and, related thereto, to access the credit and capital markets to obtain financing needed to satisfy their obligations to EOG; EOG's ability to access the commercial paper market and other credit and capital markets to obtain financing on terms it deems acceptable, if at all, and to otherwise satisfy its capital expenditure requirements; the extent to which EOG is successful in its completion of planned asset dispositions; the extent and effect of any hedging activities engaged in by EOG; the timing and extent of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates, inflation rates, global and domestic financial market conditions and global and domestic general economic conditions; political conditions and developments around the world (such as political instability and armed conflict), including in the areas in which EOG operates; the use of competing energy sources and the development of alternative energy sources; the extent to which EOG incurs uninsured losses and liabilities or losses and liabilities in excess of its insurance coverage; acts of war and terrorism and responses to these acts; physical, electronic and cyber security breaches; and the other factors described under ITEM 1A, Risk Factors, on pages 14 through 23 of EOG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 , and any updates to those factors set forth in EOG's subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events anticipated by EOG's forward-looking statements may not occur, and, if any of such events do, we may not have anticipated the timing of their occurrence or the duration and extent of their impact on our actual results. Accordingly, you should not place any undue reliance on any of EOG's forward-looking statements. EOG's forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and EOG undertakes no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) permits oil and gas companies, in their filings with the SEC, to disclose not only "proved" reserves (i.e., quantities of oil and gas that are estimated to be recoverable with a high degree of confidence), but also "probable" reserves (i.e., quantities of oil and gas that are as likely as not to be recovered) as well as "possible" reserves (i.e., additional quantities of oil and gas that might be recovered, but with a lower probability than probable reserves). Statements of reserves are only estimates and may not correspond to the ultimate quantities of oil and gas recovered. Any reserve estimates provided in this press release that are not specifically designated as being estimates of proved reserves may include "potential" reserves and/or other estimated reserves not necessarily calculated in accordance with, or contemplated by, the SEC's latest reserve reporting guidelines. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in EOG's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, available from EOG at P.O. Box 4362, Houston, Texas 77210-4362 (Attn: Investor Relations). You can also obtain this report from the SEC by calling 1-800-SEC-0330 or from the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In addition, reconciliation and calculation schedules for non-GAAP financial measures can be found on the EOG website at www.eogresources.com. For Further Information Contact: Investors David J. Streit (713) 571-4902 Neel Panchal (713) 571-4884 W. John Wagner (713) 571-4404 Media and Investors Kimberly M. Ehmer (713) 571-4676 EOG RESOURCES, INC. Financial Report (Unaudited; in millions, except per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Operating Revenues and Other $ 3,681.2 $ 2,610.6 Net Income $ 638.6 $ 28.5 Net Income Per Share Basic $ 1.11 $ 0.05 Diluted $ 1.10 $ 0.05 Average Number of Common Shares Basic 575.8 573.9 Diluted 579.7 578.6 Summary Income Statements (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Operating Revenues and Other Crude Oil and Condensate $ 2,101,308 $ 1,430,061 Natural Gas Liquids 221,415 153,444 Natural Gas 299,766 230,602 Gains (Losses) on Mark-to-Market Commodity Derivative Contracts (59,771) 62,020 Gathering, Processing and Marketing 1,101,822 726,537 Losses on Asset Dispositions, Net (14,969) (16,758) Other, Net 31,591 24,659 Total 3,681,162 2,610,565 Operating Expenses Lease and Well 300,064 255,777 Transportation Costs 176,957 178,714 Gathering and Processing Costs 101,345 38,144 Exploration Costs 34,836 56,894 Impairments 64,609 193,187 Marketing Costs 1,106,390 736,536 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 748,591 816,036 General and Administrative 94,698 97,238 Taxes Other Than Income 179,084 130,293 Total 2,806,574 2,502,819 Operating Income 874,588 107,746 Other Income, Net 727 3,151 Income Before Interest Expense and Income Taxes 875,315 110,897 Interest Expense, Net 61,956 71,515 Income Before Income Taxes 813,359 39,382 Income Tax Provision 174,770 10,865 Net Income $ 638,589 $ 28,517 Dividends Declared per Common Share $ 0.1850 $ 0.1675 EOG RESOURCES, INC. Operating Highlights (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Wellhead Volumes and Prices Crude Oil and Condensate Volumes (MBbld) (A) United States 359.7 312.5 Trinidad 0.9 0.8 Other International (B) 2.7 2.4 Total 363.3 315.7 Average Crude Oil and Condensate Prices ($/Bbl) (C) United States $ 64.24 $ 50.38 Trinidad 54.86 41.56 Other International (B) 71.61 47.77 Composite 64.27 50.34 Natural Gas Liquids Volumes (MBbld) (A) United States 100.6 78.8 Other International (B) - - Total 100.6 78.8 Average Natural Gas Liquids Prices ($/Bbl) (C) United States $ 24.46 $ 21.63 Other International (B) - - Composite 24.46 21.63 Natural Gas Volumes (MMcfd) (A) United States 853 728 Trinidad 293 308 Other International (B) 30 22 Total 1,176 1,058 Average Natural Gas Prices ($/Mcf) (C) United States $ 2.76 $ 2.32 Trinidad 2.88 2.57 Other International (B) 4.36 3.76 Composite 2.83 (D) 2.42 Crude Oil Equivalent Volumes (MBoed) (E) United States 602.5 512.6 Trinidad 49.8 52.2 Other International (B) 7.6 5.9 Total 659.9 570.7 Total MMBoe (E) 59.4 51.4 (A) Thousand barrels per day or million cubic feet per day, as applicable. (B) Other International includes EOG's United Kingdom, China and Canada operations. (C) Dollars per barrel or per thousand cubic feet, as applicable. Excludes the impact of financial commodity derivative instruments (see Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on EOG's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018). (D) Includes a positive revenue adjustment of $0.41 per Mcf related to the adoption of ASU 2014-09, "Revenue From Contracts with Customers" (ASU 2014-09) (see Note 1 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements on EOG's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2018). In connection with the adoption of ASU 2014-09, EOG presents natural gas processing fees for certain processing and marketing agreements as Gathering and Processing Costs, instead of a deduction to Natural Gas Revenues. (E) Thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day or million barrels of oil equivalent, as applicable; includes crude oil and condensate, NGLs and natural gas. Crude oil equivalent volumes are determined using a ratio of 1.0 barrel of crude oil and condensate or NGLs to 6.0 thousand cubic feet of natural gas. MMBoe is calculated by multiplying the MBoed amount by the number of days in the period and then dividing that amount by one thousand. EOG RESOURCES, INC. Summary Balance Sheets (Unaudited; in thousands, except share data) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 ASSETS Current Assets Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 816,094 $ 834,228 Accounts Receivable, Net 1,702,100 1,597,494 Inventories 584,729 483,865 Assets from Price Risk Management Activities 761 7,699 Income Taxes Receivable 262,789 113,357 Other 218,624 242,465 Total 3,585,097 3,279,108 Property, Plant and Equipment Oil and Gas Properties (Successful Efforts Method) 53,854,438 52,555,741 Other Property, Plant and Equipment 4,082,781 3,960,759 Total Property, Plant and Equipment 57,937,219 56,516,500 Less: Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (31,561,571) (30,851,463) Total Property, Plant and Equipment, Net 26,375,648 25,665,037 Deferred Income Taxes 18,182 17,506 Other Assets 761,590 871,427 Total Assets $ 30,740,517 $ 29,833,078 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Accounts Payable $ 1,915,651 $ 1,847,131 Accrued Taxes Payable 179,646 148,874 Dividends Payable 106,521 96,410 Liabilities from Price Risk Management Activities 84,128 50,429 Current Portion of Long-Term Debt 363,155 356,235 Other 187,657 226,463 Total 2,836,758 2,725,542 Long-Term Debt 6,071,604 6,030,836 Other Liabilities 1,301,938 1,275,213 Deferred Income Taxes 3,689,578 3,518,214 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity Common Stock, $0.01 Par, 1,280,000,000 Shares Authorized and 579,272,616 Shares Issued at March 31, 2018 and 578,827,768 Shares Issued at December 31, 2017 205,793 205,788 Additional Paid in Capital 5,569,194 5,536,547 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (14,289) (19,297) Retained Earnings 11,125,051 10,593,533 Common Stock Held in Treasury, 459,990 Shares at March 31, 2018 and 350,961 Shares at December 31, 2017 (45,110) (33,298) Total Stockholders' Equity 16,840,639 16,283,273 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 30,740,517 $ 29,833,078 EOG RESOURCES, INC. Summary Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited; in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Cash Flows from Operating Activities Reconciliation of Net Income to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: Net Income $ 638,589 $ 28,517 Items Not Requiring (Providing) Cash Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 748,591 816,036 Impairments 64,609 193,187 Stock-Based Compensation Expenses 35,486 30,460 Deferred Income Taxes 171,362 694 Losses on Asset Dispositions, Net 14,969 16,758 Other, Net 2,013 (3,052) Mark-to-Market Commodity Derivative Contracts Total (Gains) Losses 59,771 (62,020) Net Cash Received from (Payments for) Settlements of Commodity Derivative Contracts (21,965) 1,912 Other, Net (478) (428) Changes in Components of Working Capital and Other Assets and Liabilities Accounts Receivable (109,654) 28,688 Inventories (106,799) 24,736 Accounts Payable 53,652 20,426 Accrued Taxes Payable 21,950 (38,613) Other Assets (8,863) (44,677) Other Liabilities (29,055) (51,251) Changes in Components of Working Capital Associated with Investing and Financing Activities 17,988 (63,324) Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 1,552,166 898,049 Investing Cash Flows Additions to Oil and Gas Properties (1,365,111) (912,227) Additions to Other Property, Plant and Equipment (76,100) (34,336) Proceeds from Sales of Assets 2,829 46,812 Changes in Components of Working Capital Associated with Investing Activities (18,045) 63,324 Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (1,456,427) (836,427) Financing Cash Flows Dividends Paid (97,026) (96,707) Treasury Stock Purchased (16,776) (18,628) Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised and Employee Stock Purchase Plan 1,453 2,356 Repayment of Capital Lease Obligation (1,671) (1,619) Changes in Working Capital Associated with Financing Activities 57 - Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (113,963) (114,598) Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash 90 (353) Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents (18,134) (53,329) Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 834,228 1,599,895 Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 816,094 $ 1,546,566 EOG RESOURCES, INC. Quantitative Reconciliation of Adjusted Net Income (Non-GAAP) To Net Income (GAAP) (Unaudited; in thousands, except per share data) The following chart adjusts the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 reported Net Income (GAAP) to reflect actual net cash received from (payments for) settlements of commodity derivative contracts by eliminating the unrealized mark-to-market (gains) losses from these transactions, to eliminate the net losses on asset dispositions in 2018 and 2017, to add back impairment charges related to certain of EOG's assets in 2018 and 2017 and to eliminate certain adjustments in 2018 related to the 2017 U.S. tax reform. EOG believes this presentation may be useful to investors who follow the practice of some industry analysts who adjust reported company earnings to match hedge realizations to production settlement months and make certain other adjustments to exclude non-recurring items. EOG management uses this information for purposes of comparing its financial performance with the financial performance of other companies in the industry. Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Income Diluted Income Diluted Before Tax After Earnings Before Tax After Earnings Tax Impact Tax per Share Tax Impact Tax per Share Reported Net Income (GAAP) $813,359 $(174,770) $638,589 $ 1.10 $ 39,382 $(10,865) $28,517 $ 0.05 Adjustments: (Gains) Losses on Mark-to-Market Commodity Derivative Contracts 59,771 (13,166) 46,605 0.08 (62,020) 22,191 (39,829) (0.07) Net Cash Received from (Payments for) Settlements of Commodity Derivative Contracts (21,965) 4,838 (17,127) (0.03) 1,912 (684) 1,228 - Add: Net Losses on Asset Dispositions 14,969 (3,324) 11,645 0.02 16,758 (5,736) 11,022 0.02 Add: Impairments 20,876 (4,598) 16,278 0.03 137,751 (49,287) 88,464 0.15 Less: Tax Reform Impact - (6,524) (6,524) (0.01) - - - - Adjustments to Net Income 73,651 (22,774) 50,877 0.09 94,401 (33,516) 60,885 0.10 Adjusted Net Income (Non-GAAP) $887,010 $(197,544) $689,466 $ 1.19 $133,783 $(44,381) $89,402 $ 0.15 Average Number of Common Shares (GAAP) Basic 575,775 573,935 Diluted 579,726 578,593 EOG RESOURCES, INC. Quantitative Reconciliation of Discretionary Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) To Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities (GAAP) (Unaudited; in thousands) Calculation of Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) (Unaudited; in thousands) The following chart reconciles the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (GAAP) to Discretionary Cash Flow (Non-GAAP). EOG believes this presentation may be useful to investors who follow the practice of some industry analysts who adjust Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities for Exploration Costs (excluding Stock-Based Compensation Expenses), Other Non-Current Income Taxes - Net Receivable,Changes in Components of Working Capital and Other Assets and Liabilities, and Changes in Components of Working Capital Associated with Investing and Financing Activities. EOG defines Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) for a given period as Discretionary Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) (see below reconciliation) for such period less the total cash capital expenditures excluding acquisitions incurred (Non-GAAP) during such period and dividends paid (GAAP) during such period, as is illustrated below for the three months ended March 31, 2018. EOG management uses this information for comparative purposes within the industry. Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities (GAAP) $ 1,552,166 $ 898,049 Adjustments: Exploration Costs (excluding Stock-Based Compensation Expenses) 27,936 50,734 Other Non-Current Income Taxes - Net Receivable 118,921 - Changes in Components of Working Capital and Other Assets and Liabilities Accounts Receivable 109,654 (28,688) Inventories 106,799 (24,736) Accounts Payable (53,652) (20,426) Accrued Taxes Payable (21,950) 38,613 Other Assets 8,863 44,677 Other Liabilities 29,055 51,251 Changes in Components of Working Capital Associated with Investing and Financing Activities (17,988) 63,324 Discretionary Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) $ 1,859,804 $ 1,072,798 Discretionary Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) - Percentage Increase 73% Discretionary Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) $ 1,859,804 Less: Total Cash Expenditures Excluding Acquisitions (Non-GAAP)(a) (1,477,830) Dividends Paid (GAAP) (97,026) Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) $ 284,948 (a) See below reconciliation of Total Expenditures (GAAP) to Total Cash Expenditures Excluding Acquisitions (Non-GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2018: Total Expenditures (GAAP) $ 1,546,641 Less: Asset Retirement Costs (12,100) Non-Cash Acquisition Costs of Other Property, Plant and Equipment (47,635) Non-Cash Acquisition Costs of Unproved Properties (8,809) Acquisition Costs of Proved Properties (267) Total Cash Expenditures Excluding Acquisitions (Non-GAAP) $ 1,477,830 EOG RESOURCES, INC. Quantitative Reconciliation of Adjusted Earnings Before Interest Expense, Net, Income Taxes, Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Exploration Costs, Dry Hole Costs, Impairments and Additional Items (Adjusted EBITDAX) (Non-GAAP) to Net Income (GAAP) (Unaudited; in thousands) The following chart adjusts the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 reported Net Income (GAAP) to Earnings Before Interest Expense (Net), Income Taxes (Income Tax Provision), Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Exploration Costs, Dry Hole Costs and Impairments (EBITDAX) (Non-GAAP) and further adjusts such amount to reflect actual net cash received from (payments for) settlements of commodity derivative contracts by eliminating the unrealized mark-to-market (MTM) (gains) losses from these transactions and to eliminate the net losses on asset dispositions (Net). EOG believes this presentation may be useful to investors who follow the practice of some industry analysts who adjust reported Net Income (GAAP) to add back Interest Expense (Net), Income Taxes (Income Tax Provision), Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization, Exploration Costs, Dry Hole Costs and Impairments and further adjust such amount to match realizations to production settlement months and make certain other adjustments to exclude non-recurring and certain other items. EOG management uses this information for purposes of comparing its financial performance with the financial performance of other companies in the industry. Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Net Income (GAAP) $ 638,589 $ 28,517 Adjustments: Interest Expense, Net 61,956 71,515 Income Tax Provision 174,770 10,865 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization 748,591 816,036 Exploration Costs 34,836 56,894 Impairments 64,609 193,187 EBITDAX (Non-GAAP) 1,723,351 1,177,014 Total (Gains) Losses on MTM Commodity Derivative Contracts 59,771 (62,020) Net Cash Received from (Payments for) Settlements of Commodity Derivative Contracts (21,965) 1,912 Losses on Asset Dispositions, Net 14,969 16,758 Adjusted EBITDAX (Non-GAAP) $ 1,776,126 $ 1,133,664 Adjusted EBITDAX (Non-GAAP) - Percentage Increase 57% EOG RESOURCES, INC. Quantitative Reconciliation of Net Debt (Non-GAAP) and Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) as Used in the Calculation of The Net Debt-to-Total Capitalization Ratio (Non-GAAP) to Current and Long-Term Debt (GAAP) and Total Capitalization (GAAP) (Unaudited; in millions, except ratio data) The following chart reconciles Current and Long-Term Debt (GAAP) to Net Debt (Non-GAAP) and Total Capitalization (GAAP) to Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP), as used in the Net Debt-to-Total Capitalization ratio calculation. A portion of the cash is associated with international subsidiaries; tax considerations may impact debt paydown. EOG believes this presentation may be useful to investors who follow the practice of some industry analysts who utilize Net Debt and Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) in their Net Debt-to-Total Capitalization ratio calculation. EOG management uses this information for comparative purposes within the industry. At At March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 Total Stockholders' Equity - (a) $ 16,841 $ 16,283 Current and Long-Term Debt (GAAP) - (b) 6,435 6,387 Less: Cash (816) (834) Net Debt (Non-GAAP) - (c) 5,619 5,553 Total Capitalization (GAAP) - (a) + (b) $ 23,276 $ 22,670 Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) - (a) + (c) $ 22,460 $ 21,836 Debt-to-Total Capitalization (GAAP) - (b) / [(a) + (b)] 28% 28% Net Debt-to-Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) - (c) / [(a) + (c)] 25% 25% EOG RESOURCES, INC. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Financial Commodity Derivative Contracts EOG accounts for financial commodity derivative contracts using the mark-to-market accounting method. Prices received by EOG for its crude oil production generally vary from NYMEX West Texas Intermediate prices due to adjustments for delivery location (basis) and other factors. EOG has entered into crude oil basis swap contracts in order to fix the differential between pricing in Midland, Texas, and Cushing, Oklahoma (Midland Differential). Presented below is a comprehensive summary of EOG's Midland Differential basis swap contracts through April 26, 2018. The weighted average price differential expressed in $/Bbl represents the amount of reduction to Cushing, Oklahoma, prices for the notional volumes expressed in Bbld covered by the basis swap contracts. Midland Differential Basis Swap Contracts Weighted Average Price Volume Differential (Bbld) ($/Bbl) 2018 January 1, 2018 through May 31, 2018 (closed) 15,000 $ 1.063 June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 15,000 1.063 2019 January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019 20,000 $ 1.075 EOG has also entered into crude oil basis swap contracts in order to fix the differential between pricing in the U.S. Gulf Coast and Cushing, Oklahoma (Gulf Coast Differential). Presented below is a comprehensive summary of EOG's Gulf Coast Differential basis swap contracts through April 26, 2018. The weighted average price differential expressed in $/Bbl represents the amount of addition to Cushing, Oklahoma, prices for the notional volumes expressed in Bbld covered by the basis swap contracts. Gulf Coast Differential Basis Swap Contracts Weighted Average Price Volume Differential (Bbld) ($/Bbl) 2018 January 1, 2018 through May 31, 2018 (closed) 37,000 $ 3.818 June 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 37,000 3.818 Presented below is a comprehensive summary of EOG's crude oil price swap contracts through April 26, 2018, with notional volumes expressed in Bbld and prices expressed in $/Bbl. Crude Oil Price Swap Contracts Weighted Volume Average Price (Bbld) ($/Bbl) 2018 January 1, 2018 through March 31, 2018 (closed) 134,000 $ 60.04 April 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018 134,000 60.04 Presented below is a comprehensive summary of EOG's natural gas price swap contracts through April 26, 2018, with notional volumes expressed in MMBtud and prices expressed in $/MMBtu. Natural Gas Price Swap Contracts Weighted Volume Average Price (MMBtud) ($/MMBtu) 2018 March 1, 2018 through May 31, 2018 (closed) 35,000 $ 3.00 June 1, 2018 through November 30, 2018 35,000 3.00 EOG has sold call options which establish a ceiling price for the sale of notional volumes of natural gas as specified in the call option contracts. The call options require that EOG pay the difference between the call option strike price and either the average or last business day NYMEX Henry Hub natural gas price for the contract month (Henry Hub Index Price) in the event the Henry Hub Index Price is above the call option strike price. In addition, EOG has purchased put options which establish a floor price for the sale of notional volumes of natural gas as specified in the put option contracts. The put options grant EOG the right to receive the difference between the put option strike price and the Henry Hub Index Price in the event the Henry Hub Index Price is below the put option strike price. Presented below is a comprehensive summary of EOG's natural gas call and put option contracts through April 26, 2018, with notional volumes expressed in MMBtud and prices expressed in $/MMBtu. Natural Gas Option Contracts Call Options Sold Put Options Purchased Weighted Weighted Volume Average Price Volume Average Price (MMBtud) ($/MMBtu) (MMBtud) ($/MMBtu) 2018 March 1, 2018 through May 31, 2018 (closed) 120,000 $ 3.38 96,000 $ 2.94 June 1, 2018 through November 30, 2018 120,000 3.38 96,000 2.94 Definitions Bbld Barrels per day $/Bbl Dollars per barrel MMBtud Million British thermal units per day $/MMBtu Dollars per million British thermal units NYMEX U.S. New York Mercantile Exchange EOG RESOURCES, INC. Direct After-Tax Rate of Return (ATROR) The calculation of our direct after-tax rate of return (ATROR) with respect to our capital expenditure program for a particular play or well is based on the estimated recoverable reserves ("net" to EOG's interest) for all wells in such play or such well (as the case may be), the estimated net present value (NPV) of the future net cash flows from such reserves (for which we utilize certain assumptions regarding future commodity prices and operating costs) and our direct net costs incurred in drilling or acquiring (as the case may be) such wells or well (as the case may be). As such, our direct ATROR with respect to our capital expenditures for a particular play or well cannot be calculated from our consolidated financial statements. Direct ATROR Based on Cash Flow and Time Value of Money - Estimated future commodity prices and operating costs - Costs incurred to drill, complete and equip a well, including facilities Excludes Indirect Capital - Gathering and Processing and other Midstream - Land, Seismic, Geological and Geophysical Payback ~12 Months on 100% Direct ATROR Wells First Five Years ~1/2 Estimated Ultimate Recovery Produced but ~3/4 of NPV Captured Return on Equity / Return on Capital Employed Based on GAAP Accrual Accounting Includes All Indirect Capital and Growth Capital for Infrastructure - Eagle Ford, Bakken, Permian Facilities - Gathering and Processing Includes Legacy Gas Capital and Capital from Mature Wells EOG RESOURCES, INC. Quantitative Reconciliation of After-Tax Net Interest Expense (Non-GAAP), Adjusted Net Income (Loss) (Non-GAAP), Net Debt (Non-GAAP) and Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) as used in the Calculations of Return on Capital Employed (Non-GAAP) and Return on Equity (Non-GAAP) to Net Interest Expense (GAAP), Net Income (Loss) (GAAP), Current and Long-Term Debt (GAAP) and Total Capitalization (GAAP), Respectively (Unaudited; in millions, except ratio data) The following chart reconciles Net Interest Expense (GAAP), Net Income (Loss) (GAAP), Current and Long-Term Debt (GAAP) and Total Capitalization (GAAP) to After-Tax Net Interest Expense (Non-GAAP), Adjusted Net Income (Loss) (Non-GAAP), Net Debt (Non-GAAP) and Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP), respectively, as used in the Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) and Return on Equity (ROE) calculations. EOG believes this presentation may be useful to investors who follow the practice of some industry analysts who utilize After-Tax Net Interest Expense, Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Net Debt and Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) in their ROCE and ROE calculations. EOG management uses this information for purposes of comparing its financial performance with the financial performance of other companies in the industry. 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 Return on Capital Employed (ROCE) (Non-GAAP) Net Interest Expense (GAAP) $ 274 $ 282 $ 237 $ 201 Tax Benefit Imputed (based on 35%) (96) (99) (83) (70) After-Tax Net Interest Expense (Non-GAAP) - (a) $ 178 $ 183 $ 154 $ 131 Net Income (Loss) (GAAP) - (b) $ 2,583 $ (1,097) $ (4,525) $ 2,915 Adjustments to Net Income (Loss), Net of Tax (See Accompanying Schedules) (1,934) (a) 204 (b) 4,559 (c) (199) (d) Adjusted Net Income (Loss) (Non-GAAP) - (c) $ 649 $ (893) $ 34 $ 2,716 Total Stockholders' Equity Before Retained Earnings Adjustment (GAAP) - (d) $ 16,283 $ 13,982 $ 12,943 $ 17,713 $ 15,418 Less: Tax Reform Impact (2,169) - - - - Total Stockholders' Equity (Non-GAAP) - (e) $ 14,114 $ 13,982 $ 12,943 $ 17,713 $ 15,418 Average Total Stockholders' Equity (GAAP) * - (f) $ 15,133 $ 13,463 $ 15,328 $ 16,566 Average Total Stockholders' Equity (Non-GAAP) * - (g) $ 14,048 $ 13,463 $ 15,328 $ 16,566 Current and Long-Term Debt (GAAP) - (h) $ 6,387 $ 6,986 $ 6,655 $ 5,906 $ 5,909 Less: Cash (834) (1,600) (719) (2,087) (1,318) Net Debt (Non-GAAP) - (i) $ 5,553 $ 5,386 $ 5,936 $ 3,819 $ 4,591 Total Capitalization (GAAP) - (d) + (h) $ 22,670 $ 20,968 $ 19,598 $ 23,619 $ 21,327 Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) - (e) + (i) $ 19,667 $ 19,368 $ 18,879 $ 21,532 $ 20,009 Average Total Capitalization (Non-GAAP) * - (j) $ 19,518 $ 19,124 $ 20,206 $ 20,771 ROCE (GAAP Net Income) - [(a) + (b)] / (j) 14.1% -4.8% -21.6% 14.7% ROCE (Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income) - [(a) + (c)] / (j) 4.2% -3.7% 0.9% 13.7% Return on Equity (ROE) ROE (GAAP) (GAAP Net Income) - (b) / (f) 17.1% -8.1% -29.5% 17.6% ROE (Non-GAAP) (Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income) - (c) / (g) 4.6% -6.6% 0.2% 16.4% * Average for the current and immediately preceding year Adjustments to Net Income (Loss) (GAAP) (a) See below schedule for detail of adjustments to Net Income (Loss) (GAAP) in 2017: Year Ended December 31, 2017 Before Income Tax After Tax Impact Tax Adjustments: Add: Mark-to-Market Commodity Derivative Contracts Impact $ (12) $ 4 $ (8) Add: Impairments of Certain Assets 261 (93) 168 Add: Net Losses on Asset Dispositions 99 (35) 64 Add: Legal Settlement - Early Lease Termination 10 (4) 6 Add: Joint Venture Transaction Costs 3 (1) 2 Add: Joint Interest Billings Deemed Uncollectible 5 (2) 3 Less: Tax Reform Impact - (2,169) (2,169) Total $ 366 $ (2,300) $ (1,934) (b) See below schedule for detail of adjustments to Net Income (Loss) (GAAP) in 2016: Year Ended December 31, 2016 Before Income Tax After Tax Impact Tax Adjustments: Add: Mark-to-Market Commodity Derivative Contracts Impact $ 77 $ (28) $ 49 Add: Impairments of Certain Assets 321 (113) 208 Less: Net Gains on Asset Dispositions (206) 62 (144) Add: Trinidad Tax Settlement - 43 43 Add: Voluntary Retirement Expense 42 (15) 27 Add: Acquisition - State Apportionment Change - 16 16 Add: Acquisition Costs 5 - 5 Total $ 239 $ (35) $ 204 (c) See below schedule for detail of adjustments to Net Income (Loss) (GAAP) in 2015: Year Ended December 31, 2015 Before Income Tax After Tax Impact Tax Adjustments: Add: Mark-to-Market Commodity Derivative Contracts Impact $ 668 $ (238) $ 430 Add: Impairments of Certain Assets 6,308 (2,183) 4,125 Less: Texas Margin Tax Rate Reduction - (20) (20) Add: Legal Settlement - Early Leasehold Termination 19 (6) 13 Add: Severance Costs 9 (3) 6 Add: Net Losses on Asset Dispositions 9 (4) 5 Total $ 7,013 $ (2,454) $ 4,559 (d) See below schedule for detail of adjustments to Net Income (Loss) (GAAP) in 2014: Year Ended December 31, 2014 Before Income Tax After Tax Impact Tax Adjustments: Less: Mark-to-Market Commodity Derivative Contracts Impact $ (800) $ 285 $ (515) Add: Impairments of Certain Assets 824 (271) 553 Less: Net Gains on Asset Dispositions (508) 21 (487) Add: Tax Expense Related to the Repatriation of Accumulated Foreign Earnings in Future Years - 250 250 Total $ (484) $ 285 $ (199) EOG RESOURCES, INC. Second Quarter and Full Year 2018 Forecast and Benchmark Commodity Pricing (a) Second Quarter and Full Year 2018 Forecast The forecast items for the second quarter and full year 2018 set forth below for EOG Resources, Inc. (EOG) are based on current available information and expectations as of the date of the accompanying press release. EOG undertakes no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise this forecast, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise. This forecast, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying press release and EOG's related Current Report on Form 8-K filing, replaces and supersedes any previously issued guidance or forecast. (b) Benchmark Commodity Pricing EOG bases United States and Trinidad crude oil and condensate price differentials upon the West Texas Intermediate crude oil price at Cushing, Oklahoma, using the simple average of the NYMEX settlement prices for each trading day within the applicable calendar month. EOG bases United States natural gas price differentials upon the natural gas price at Henry Hub, Louisiana, using the simple average of the NYMEX settlement prices for the last three trading days of the applicable month. Estimated Ranges (Unaudited) 2Q 2018 Full Year 2018 Daily Sales Volumes Crude Oil and Condensate Volumes (MBbld) United States 374.0 - 382.0 387.0 - 401.0 Trinidad 0.4 - 0.6 0.4 - 0.6 Other International 0.0 - 6.0 2.0 - 4.0 Total 374.4 - 388.6 389.4 - 405.6 Natural Gas Liquids Volumes (MBbld) Total 100.0 - 110.0 100.0 - 110.0 Natural Gas Volumes (MMcfd) United States 870 - 910 900 - 950 Trinidad 280 - 300 250 - 290 Other International 25 - 35 28 - 38 Total 1,175 - 1,245 1,178 - 1,278 Crude Oil Equivalent Volumes (MBoed) United States 619.0 - 643.7 637.0 - 669.3 Trinidad 47.1 - 50.6 42.1 - 48.9 Other International 4.2 - 11.9 6.7 - 10.3 Total 670.3 - 706.2 685.8 - 728.5 Estimated Ranges (Unaudited) 2Q 2018 Full Year 2018 Operating Costs Unit Costs ($/Boe) Lease and Well $ 4.50 - $ 4.90 $ 4.20 - $ 4.80 Transportation Costs $ 2.90 - $ 3.40 $ 2.75 - $ 3.25 Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization $ 13.15 - $ 13.55 $ 13.00 - $ 13.40 Expenses ($MM) Exploration, Dry Hole and Impairment $ 100 - $ 120 $ 375 - $ 425 General and Administrative $ 100 - $ 110 $ 415 - $ 445 Gathering and Processing $ 110 - $ 120 $ 430 - $ 470 Capitalized Interest $ 5 - $ 6 $ 19 - $ 23 Net Interest $ 62 - $ 65 $ 244 - $ 248 Taxes Other Than Income (% of Wellhead Revenue) 6.5% - 6.9% 6.5% - 6.9% Income Taxes Effective Rate 20% - 25% 20% - 25% Current Tax (Benefit) / Expense ($MM) $ (90) - $ (55) $ (350) - $ (310) Capital Expenditures (Excluding Acquisitions, $MM) Exploration and Development, Excluding Facilities $ 4,500 - $ 4,800 Exploration and Development Facilities $ 600 - $ 650 Gathering, Processing and Other $ 300 - $ 350 Pricing - (Refer to Benchmark Commodity Pricing in text) Crude Oil and Condensate ($/Bbl) Differentials United States - above (below) WTI $ (1.50) - $ 0.50 $ (1.25) - $ 0.75 Trinidad - above (below) WTI $ (11.00) - $ (9.00) $ (11.00) - $ (9.00) Other International - above (below) WTI $ 2.00 - $ 4.00 $ 0.00 - $ 6.00 Natural Gas Liquids Realizations as % of WTI 32% - 38% 32% - 38% Natural Gas ($/Mcf) Differentials United States - above (below) NYMEX Henry Hub $ (0.70) - $ (0.30) $ (0.60) - $ 0.00 Realizations Trinidad $ 2.30 - $ 2.70 $ 2.15 - $ 2.75 Other International $ 4.15 - $ 4.65 $ 4.00 - $ 5.00 Definitions $/Bbl U.S. Dollars per barrel $/Boe U.S. Dollars per barrel of oil equivalent $/Mcf U.S. Dollars per thousand cubic feet $MM U.S. Dollars in millions MBbld Thousand barrels per day MBoed Thousand barrels of oil equivalent per day MMcfd Million cubic feet per day NYMEX U.S. New York Mercantile Exchange WTI West Texas Intermediate EOG RESOURCES, INC. First Quarter 2018 Well Results by Play (Unaudited) Wells Online Initial Gross 30-Day Average Production Rate Gross Net Lateral Length (ft) Crude Oil and Condensate (Bbld) (A) Natural Gas Liquids (Bbld) (A) Natural Gas (MMcfd) (A) Crude Oil Equivalent (Boed) (B) Delaware Basin Wolfcamp 58 53 5,900 1,335 250 2.1 1,925 Bone Spring 9 8 5,900 1,195 190 1.6 1,645 Leonard 3 3 4,300 1,640 335 2.8 2,430 Powder River Basin Turner 9 8 6,100 675 180 2.1 1,210 DJ Basin Codell 12 9 9,200 895 95 0.4 1,055 South Texas Eagle Ford 72 65 6,900 1,325 150 0.9 1,620 South Texas Austin Chalk 10 8 4,600 1,960 400 2.3 2,750 (A) Barrels per day or million cubic feet per day, as applicable. (B) Barrels of oil equivalent per day; includes crude oil and condensate, natural gas liquids and natural gas. Crude oil equivalent volumes are determined using a ratio of 1.0 barrel of crude oil and condensate or natural gas liquids to 6.0 thousand cubic feet of natural gas. SOURCE EOG Resources, Inc. Related Links http://www.eogresources.com LONG BEACH, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide, today announced it was the winner of the ACE (Awesome Cool Exhibits) Award for Medium Island Booth at the 2018 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Out of 1,700 exhibitors at NAB this year, Epson was one of four to receive an ACE Award, which recognizes exhibitors for their ability to captivate show attendees through their innovations in booth design and execution. "The ACE Awards (Awesome Cool Exhibits) are all about NAB Show booths that engage attendees and really stand out on the Show Floor. Booths are considered by their visual appeal, how well they display their products, how easily attendees can navigate their booth, and the level of engagement by their exhibit staff," said Nicholas Gadino, exhibitor experience specialist, conventions and business operations at National Association of Broadcasters. "Our 2018 NAB Show Medium Island Booth Winner, Epson, displayed an attractive exhibit, provided attendees ample space for product interaction, and had a top-notch exhibit staff that was incredibly knowledgeable and engaging." The ACE Awards are presented to a very select number of exhibitors and judged by tradeshow experts who conduct in-depth evaluations of all exhibits at the show. There is no entry form and winners are chosen based on the booth's ability to; grab visual attention, offer easy navigation, deliver appealing product presentations, and engage attendees. At NAB this year, Epson's booth provided a range of hands-on demonstrations, including the Pro L1755UNL laser projector with an ELPLX02 ultra short-throw lens, delivering vivid, large imagery from an impressive short distance; the Epson Projector Professional Tool Software showed remote multi-projector management; LightScene lit up an interactive bar; three Pro L25000U laser projectors demonstrated the power of projection with a large edge-blended image on a 29-foot by 6-foot custom screen; and Epson Moverio BT-300 smart glasses offered a look into a live drone camera feed. From its extensive line of laser projector technology and software solutions to smart glasses, Epson presented a clear view of its unique solutions for content delivery across a variety of markets, including rental and staging, spatial design and signage, education, and corporate. "We are honored to have Epson's booth recognized as one of four recipients of the ACE Award at NAB this year," said Gavin Downey, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc. "The team works hard to create dynamic, immersive tradeshow experiences utilizing Epson's un-matched display technology, and receiving this award demonstrates our commitment to continuously delivering the wow-factor that attendees are looking for at each show." About Epson Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 80,000 employees in 86 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts. Epson America, Inc., based in Long Beach, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/EpsonAmerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica). EPSON and Moverio are registered trademarks, LightScene is a trademark and EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2018 Epson America, Inc. SOURCE Epson America, Inc. Related Links http://www.epson.com "To be honored in this esteemed award is a testament to the incredible company that I come to work for every day," said Cohen. "I have poured my heart into the pay-TV industry, and it is a pleasure to work with the most talented team I have worked with in more than 30 years in the cable business. I very much appreciate the recognition and want to thank the tenacity of the Evolution Digital team in voting for me these past few days." Cohen has overseen sales operations since 2010 and now currently also heads Evolution Digital's marketing team. He is a key strategist in product and service development for its growing list of customers and is highly-regarded with Evolution Digital's team, customers and partners. Evolution Digital is at the forefront of guiding the cable industry in the important transition to all-IP video distribution, offering its eBOX IP Hybrid Set-Top Box, powered by TiVo, as well as the newly-announced eSTREAM, powered by Android TV, an all-IP streaming box that aggregates live and Video on Demand content with apps available in the Google Play Store. Cohen's feature as FierceCable's 2018 leading executive can be read here. Visit www.evolutiondigital.com to learn more about the company and its world-renowned IP video solutions for the evolving global cable TV industry. About Evolution Digital Evolution Digital L.L.C. is a leading provider of integrated IP hybrid devices and IP video solutions for the global cable industry. Evolution Digital takes an aggressive approach to product innovation to embrace the way viewers are consuming video. It has quickly become an innovator in the era of OTT content and multi-stream households. Evolution Digital provides integrated and managed content delivery across all devices in the home, including managed set-top boxes, third-party streaming devices, smart phones and tablets, subject to the operator's licensing agreements. Evolution Digital was recently named one of Colorado's fastest growing private companies by ColoradoBiz Magazine for its second consecutive year. Visit www.evolutiondigital.com. Follow Evolution Digital on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EvolutionDig and visit our blog. Android TV is a trademark of Google LLC. Media Contact Emily O'Donnell 720.590.7163 [email protected] @EvolutionDig SOURCE Evolution Digital, LLC Related Links http://www.evolutionbb.com "It's an honor to be recognized as an Entrepreneur Of The Year finalist," said Amir Husain, SparkCognition's Founder and CEO. "This award highlights SparkCognition's innovation and impact in the artificial intelligence field and supports our mission to continue advancing the most important interests in society." SparkCognition, one of the world's fastest growing artificial intelligence (AI) companies, builds AI systems that enable large enterprise customers around the world to adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape and accelerate their business strategies with AI capabilities. SparkCognition's AI software solutions optimize operations and find new solutions to old problems in defense, Industrial IoT, and finance industries. The company has been recognized on multiple frontiers, including being named to Entrepreneur magazine's Entrepreneur 360 list and making a top 20 listing on the CNBC Disruptor 50 in 2017. Now in its 32nd year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 17, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, the nation's most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. Sponsors Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America, the Kauffman Foundation and Merrill Corporation. In Central Texas, sponsors also include Broadway Bank, Colliers International, ADP, Aventine Hill Partners, Bridgepoint Consulting, Watkins Insurance Group, Shearman & Sterling, the Austin Business Journal and San Antonio Business Journal. About SparkCognition With award-winning machine learning technology, a multinational footprint, and expert teams focused on defense, IIoT, and finance, SparkCognition builds artificial intelligence systems to advance the most important interests of society. Our customers are trusted with protecting and advancing lives, infrastructure, and financial systems across the globe. They turn to SparkCognition to help them analyze complex data, empower decision making, and transform human and industrial productivity. With our leading edge artificial intelligence platforms, our clients can adapt to a rapidly changing digital landscape and accelerate their business strategies. Learn more about SparkCognition's AI applications and why we've been featured in CNBC's 2017 Disruptor 50, and recognized two years in a row on CB Insights AI 100, by visiting www.sparkcognition.com. About Amir Husain Amir Husain, recognized as Austin's Top Technology Entrepreneur of the Year, is a serial entrepreneur and inventor based in Austin, Texas. He is the founder & CEO of SparkCognition, a member of the Board of Advisors for The University of Texas at Austin, Department of Computer Science, and the Board of Advisors for IBM Watson. He is also a member of the Center for New American Security Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and National Security. In March 2016, Husain won the prestigious Austin 40 under 40 award for Technology & Sciences and in September 2016, he was listed by the Austin Business Journal on the Best CEOs of 2016 list. He is a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award. While in graduate school at the University of Texas at Austin, Husain developed the ideas that led to his first venture-funded startup, Kurion. After Kurion was acquired by iSyndicate, Husain started a systems management company that merged with PC Blade manufacturer ClearCube Technology. Husain was appointed ClearCube's Chief Technology Officer and later to the Board of Directors of ClearCube's holding company. In 2009, Husain became CEO of VDIworks, a Cloud Computing and Virtualization software vendor and grew the company successfully until his departure in early 2013. Husain also serves as advisor and board member to Makerarm, uStudio, ClearCube Technology, S&BMK Foundation, Alif Laila Children's Educational Society, and others. Husain is a prolific inventor with 22 U.S. patents awarded and over 40 pending applications. In 2013, a low-cost computing platform Husain invented was inducted into the collection of the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, the world's largest such institution. His work has also been published in IEEE conferences and in leading tech journals including Network World, Computer World and others. His companies have won numerous awards such as the 2015 Austin Chamber of Commerce A-List, the InnovateApp 2014 competition, the VMWORLD Gold award, Network World's Hottest Products, CRN's Innovation award and PC World's best product award, and SparkCognition was recently named the fastest-growing company in Central Texas. As the driving force at SparkCognition, Husain is known for his honest, open, approachable leadership style. His book, "The Sentient Machine: The Coming Age of Artificial Intelligence," was published by Simon & Schuster in November, 2017. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year, founded by EY, is the world's most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and the local community. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy About EY's Growth Markets Network EY's worldwide Growth Markets Network is dedicated to serving the changing needs of high-growth companies. For more than 30 years, we've helped many of the world's most dynamic and ambitious companies grow into market leaders. Whether working with international mid-cap companies or early stage, venture-backed businesses, our professionals draw upon their extensive experience, insight and global resources to help your business succeed. For more information, please visit us at ey.com/sgm or follow news on Twitter @EY_Growth. About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. The insights and quality services we deliver help build trust and confidence in the capital markets and in economies the world over. We develop outstanding leaders who team to deliver on our promises to all of our stakeholders. In so doing, we play a critical role in building a better working world for our people, for our clients and for our communities. EY refers to the global organization, and may refer to one or more, of the member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit ey.com. This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a member of the global EY organization that provides services to clients in the US. For more information, please visit ey.com. For Media Inquiries: John King SparkCognition [email protected] 512-956-5491 SOURCE SparkCognition Related Links http://sparkcognition.com "With more than a decade of experience in Silicon Valley, Susan brings significant expertise in innovation, digital media and finance to Air Group," said Brad Tilden, chairman and CEO. "Part of our mission in creating an airline people love is embracing new perspectives and innovative practices from people who are the best in their industry. We welcome Susan to our board." At Facebook, Li leads the finance function responsible for business operations and financial planning and analysis. Her responsibilities include financial forecasting and reporting, partnering with business executives to drive resource allocation, and delivering the annual financial plan to the board. Li previously worked at Morgan Stanley in New York, Menlo Park, and Hong Kong. At Morgan Stanley she focused on technology IPOs and had extensive bilingual work experience in English and Chinese. Li graduated from Stanford University with degrees in economics and mathematical and computational sciences. Alaska Air Group has been recognized for its diversity, with women holding 45 percent of the seats on its board of directors. Alaska Air Group directors serve one-year terms. Alaska Airlines and its regional partners fly 44 million guests a year to more than 115 destinations with an average of 1,200 daily flights across the United States and to Mexico, Canada and Costa Rica. With Alaska and Alaska Global Partners , guests can earn and redeem miles on flights to more than 900 destinations worldwide. Learn about Alaska's award-winning service at newsroom.alaskaair.com and blog.alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines, Virgin America and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK). SOURCE Alaska Air Group Related Links https://www.alaskaair.com Just like guitar, ukulele lessons are bite-sized and delivered in high-quality video by experienced instructors. The fun selection of feel-good ukulele songs are familiar and easy to learn. New players will be encouraged to pick up and play as they progress quickly through lessons that are guided, active, integrated and song-driven. "Ukulele is a very inviting instrument to play and a great stepping stone to guitar so we wanted to create a learning platform that's just as welcoming, inspiring and portable as the instrument itself," said Ethan Kaplan, General Manager of Fender Digital. "This comes at a time when universal appeal, affinity for the ukulele continues to grow. From the songs and artists to the sound and feel of the ukulele itself, no instrument captures summer better whether you're on a road trip, at music festivals, backyard BBQs or beach jam sessions with friends." The ukulele path follows the same structure as the guitar with an even more simplified approach, new skills to master and new faces, including: NEW UKULELE INSTRUCTORS: Acclaimed uke experts: Berklee College of Music alum Abe Lagrimas Jr. , Cal Arts alum Abby Lyons and indie-folk musician Katie Norregaard Acclaimed uke experts: alum , alum and indie-folk musician SONGS: Learn songs, including: Learn songs, including: Don't Know My Name - Grace VanderWaal - Riptide - Vance Joy - Hey There Delilah - Plain White T's - Plain White T's Cups - Anna Kendrick - Pumped Up Kicks - Foster The People - Foster The People Let It Go - Demi Lovato - CAMERA ANGLES: An easy-to-see vertical "close up" finger placement camera angle An easy-to-see vertical "close up" finger placement camera angle VARIETY: A blend of musical styles that appeal to all players A blend of musical styles that appeal to all players PLAY & SING: Courses teach players how to "play and sing" and understand the difference between the melody (what you sing) and rhythm (what you strum) Courses teach players how to "play and sing" and understand the difference between the melody (what you sing) and rhythm (what you strum) SKILLS: 82 skills, including fingerstyle, and "world rhythms" including reggae and calypso strumming as well as montuno rhythm To kick start the learning process or new players can sign up for a free 30-day trial at Play.Fender.com and continue their journey for $9.99 (USD) a month with access to guitar lessons and bass soon. Additionally, new players have access to a year of unlimited lessons for $89.99, empowering them to learn ukulele, electric or acoustic guitar at their convenience. Later, Fender Play will add bass lessons, as well as new R&B and metal genre paths for acoustic/electric guitar. Fender Play for ukulele is available now on iPhone, iPad, Android devices and desktop. The app is available in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, and can be accessed globally in 36 countries in English. Watch a preview of a sample ukulele lesson here. Program and lifestyle images can be found here. To learn more about Fender Play, visit: play.fender.com . For additional information on new Fender products, such as the California Coast Series Ukuleles, and to find a retail partner near you, visit www.fender.com. Join the conversation on social media by following @Fender. ABOUT FENDER MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION: Since 1946, Fender has revolutionized music and culture as one of the world's leading musical instrument manufacturers, marketers and distributors. Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC), whose portfolio of brands includes Fender, Squier, Gretsch guitars, Jackson, EVH and Charvel, follows a player-centric approach to crafting the highest quality instruments and musical solutions across genres. FMIC is dedicated to unlocking the power of music through electric and acoustic guitars, amplifiers, pro audio, accessories and digital products that inspire and enable musical expression at every stage, from beginners to history-making legends. ABOUT FENDER DIGITAL: Established in 2015, Fender Digital is a wholly owned division of Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (FMIC) dedicated to connecting a legacy brand with a new digital ecosystem of products and interactive experiences designed to accompany players, across genres, at every stage of their musical journey. Building on the iconic Fender name, Fender Digital designs and develops apps, websites, platforms and tools to complement Fender electric and acoustic guitars, amplifiers and pro-audio gear to inspire players through a 360-degree musical experience. Since its inception, Fender Digital has introduced Fender Tune and Fender Tone for iOS and Android; Fender Play for iPhone, iPad, Android and Desktop; relaunched Fender.com with a refreshed product experience; and created Fender Connect offering a platform for users to store their personalized information from Fender Digital platforms in one place, providing a universally connected experience. SOURCE Fender Musical Instruments Corporation Related Links http://www.fender.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Future Farm Technologies Inc. (the "Company" or "Future Farm") (CSE: FFT) (CSE: FFT.CN) (OTCQX: FFRMF) is pleased to announce that it has agreed to invest $500,000 for a 10% interest in a limited liability company (the "Arizona Operator"), providing turn-key services related to the management, administration and operation of a 70,000 square foot licensed medical marijuana cultivation and processing facility in the State of Arizona. The transaction is expected to close in the next 45 days. In December 2010, Arizona voters passed the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, which became effective on April 14, 2011. As of March 31, 2018, Arizona had 162,528 active Qualifying Patient Registry Card holders, a 31% increase from the year before. Additionally, in March 2018, Arizona dispensaries transacted for more than 9,534 pounds of medical marijuana, a 44% increase over the year before. The Arizona Operator entered into an exclusive Management Services Agreement with an Arizona nonprofit organization (the "Arizona Licensee"), that was awarded a Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registration Certificate ("License") by the Arizona Department of Health Services ("AZDHS"), pursuant to the AZDHS Medical Marijuana Program. The License allows for the operation of an offsite cultivation and processing facility. The Arizona Licensee has granted the Arizona Operator the exclusive right to develop, manage and operate that facility and will pay the Arizona Operator management fees for doing so. "We are thrilled to execute on this opportunity in Arizona, which adds a new geography to our existing portfolio of assets," stated William Gildea, Future Farm's CEO. "The Arizona medical marijuana program has witnessed significant growth and strong demand continues to fuel the market. This operating team has proven successful in cultivation management, and we see great potential for their execution here as well. We look forward to the development and construction of the state-of-the-art cultivation and processing facility." All material terms will be disclosed in the final press release issued upon closing the transaction. On behalf of the Board, Future Farm Technologies Inc. William Gildea, Chairman and CEO About Future Farm Technologies Inc. Future Farm is a Canadian company with holdings throughout North America including California, Massachusetts, Florida, Maine, Puerto Rico and Newfoundland. The Company's mission is to advance sustainable agriculture through production of wholesale and retail cannabis products, including hemp. As a leader in its field, Future Farm is committed to using only the highest quality processes and products. Towards this goal, the Company acquires or partners with licensed cannabis operators, and acquires or develops leading technologies in cannabis production, breeding, genetics, and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). Future Farm's scalable, indoor CEA systems utilize minimal land, water and energy resources. The Company holds an exclusive, worldwide license to use a patented vertical farming technology that, when compared to traditional plant production methods, generates yields up to 10 times greater per square foot of land. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not in any way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. For further information, contact William Gildea Director +1-888-387-3761 SOURCE Future Farm Technologies Inc. CHICAGO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Technomic's Foodservice Planning Program will cover three new studies, along with the industry forecast and outlook, during its Power of Change conference June 18-20 in Chicago. This members-only meeting keeps manufacturers ahead of the curve by discussing the strategic issues and opportunities facing the foodservice industry. Technomic experts and industry guest speakers will address topics such as: The Future of SupportThis study provides an evaluation of new support elements that street operators will look for from manufacturers in the future. This could include everything from app-enabled customized recipes to online streaming for training. The Power of Brands: Manufacturer vs. DistributorThis study takes a deep dive into distributor versus manufacturer brand dynamics from the perspectives of operators. Technomic will assess the future of distributor and manufacturer brand perceptions as competition revs up. The Future Foodservice Consumer Hot ButtonsIn this study, Technomic will explore the issues that will be top of mind for consumers related to the foods they eat, beverages they drink, and other aspects related to purchasing food away from home. "It's interesting to explore how elements such as trust and alignment with personal beliefs play a role in foodservice for consumers," explains Kelly Weikel, director of consumer insights at Technomic. "In our Consumer Hot Buttons session, we will look into the changing wants, needs and concerns of consumers and the effect that these factors will have on our industry." In addition to sessions, the Power of Change conference offers networking opportunities with peers from food, beverage, packaging and equipment along with a first-ever cocktail reception with peers in the adult beverage industry. Conference details: Foodservice Planning Program June Member Meeting Theme: Power of Change Dates: June 18-20, 2018 Location: Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel This meeting is only open to members of Technomic's Foodservice Planning Program. In addition to in-person events, membership to the Foodservice Planning Program includes custom studies and reports, newsletters, and ongoing deliverables. For more information on the program, visit Technomic.com or contact one of the individuals listed below. Contacts: Press inquiries and program details: Bernadette Noone, (312) 506-3853, [email protected] Purchasing details: Patrick Noone, (312) 506-3852, [email protected] About Technomic Technomic Inc., a Winsight company, delivers a 360-degree view of the food industry. It impacts growth and profitability for clients by providing consumer-grounded vision and channel-relevant strategic insights. Its services range from major research studies and management consulting solutions to online databases and simple fact-finding assignments. Its clients include food manufacturers and distributors, restaurants and retailers, other foodservice organizations, and various institutions aligned with the food industry. Visit Technomic at www.technomic.com. About Winsight LLC Winsight LLC is a recognized leader in business-to-business media and information services for the convenience-retailing, foodservice and grocery industries. Winsight has an extensive media portfolio, including five publications: CSP, Restaurant Business, FoodService Director, Convenience Store Products and Winsight Grocery Business. Winsight also offers a suite of digital products, including websites, e-newsletters, webinars, video products, mobile and tablet apps, and custom marketing solutions. In addition to more than 12 major EduNetworking conferences and advisory meetings, Winsight also produces seven exclusive, large-scale executive-level conferences: Restaurant Leadership Conference, Global Restaurant Leadership Conference, Outlook Leadership Conference, Convenience Retailing University, FSTEC, MenuDirections and Restaurant Directions. In 2015, Winsight acquired Technomic Inc., a provider of primary and secondary market information and advisory services for the food industry. For more information on Winsight and its brands, go to www.winsightmedia.com. SOURCE Technomic Inc. Related Links http://www.technomic.com CHICAGO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GAINSystems, a provider of comprehensive supply chain and inventory optimization software solutions, announced that the company will bring together two supply chain leaders for a speaking session during the Gartner Supply Chain Executive Conference 2018. The conference, located at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa in Phoenix, AZ, will be held May 14-17, 2018. Solution Provider Session Details: "The Impact of Optimization from Driveways to Runways" May 16, 2018, from 3:00pm-3:45pm in Grand Sonoran G "The GSEC is an event we look forward to every year connecting with customers, prospects and making new industry and analyst contacts. As a Platinum Sponsor and through our speaking session, we now have an even greater opportunity to actively engage with the Gartner community and share content on GAINS user's results and thought leadership on key topics like Machine Learning," commented Bill Benton, CEO of GAINSystems. GAINSystems will also be displaying its holistic approach to supply chain planning and optimization at Booth 605 in the Solution Showcase of this Gartner-hosted conference on May 15 and 16. GAINSystems' supply chain experts will be available to talk one-on-one with attendees and demonstrate advanced solutions to today's supply chain challenges. Don't forget to follow #GartnerSCC on Twitter to get real-time updates from the conference. About GAINSystems GAINSystems combines an innovative approach and comprehensive supply chain optimization software to think of everything -- delivering amazing results with very little risk. Our holistic approach considers comprehensive error and variability across supply, demand and operations producing inventory optimization that dynamically addresses every SKU by location across the enterprise. With our proven breakthrough methodology, companies such as the Australian Defense Forces, Benco Dental, Broan-NuTone, Textron Aviation, and Sonepar/Vallen, consistently see superior results including lower inventories, reduced operating costs, increased plan accuracy and higher service -- ultimately leading to higher EBITDA and/or mission readiness. To learn more visit www.GAINSystems.com. CONTACT: Jenny Brager, 1-872-206-8431, [email protected] SOURCE GAINSystems Related Links http://www.gainsystems.com MODESTO, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- An affiliate of E. & J. Gallo Winery (Gallo) announced today it has purchased Rancho Real Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley appellation of Santa Barbara County. Located along Highway 101, the 436-acre property sits 13 miles southeast of the town of Santa Maria. Rancho Real Vineyard was tailored specifically to its topography and soil types, and produces a variety of premium Burgundian and Rhone grape varietals, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah, Grenache, Viognier, Pinot Gris, and Gamay, bringing the combined planted acreage to 211. According to Roger Nabedian, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Gallo's Premium Wine Division, "The purchase of Rancho Real significantly establishes Gallo in Santa Barbara County and continues our commitment to having vineyards in the premier winegrowing appellations of California." He added, "With the growth of premium wines in the U.S. and the demand for coastal-sourced grapes, additions like Rancho Real are key to Gallo's growth in the premium and luxury segments." The family-owned company, based in California's Central Valley, continues to expand its presence throughout California's coastal regions. Today, Gallo's presence in the Central Coast includes Edna Valley Vineyard in San Luis Obispo County, Bridlewood Estate Winery in Santa Barbara County, and Talbott Vineyards located in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County. About E. & J. Gallo Winery Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world's largest family-owned winery and the acclaimed producer of award-winning wines and spirits featured in more than 90 countries around the globe. A pioneer in the art of grape growing, winemaking, sustainable practices, marketing and worldwide distribution, Gallo crafts and imports wines and spirits to suit a diverse range of tastes and occasions, from everyday offerings to boutique, luxury bottlings. The Gallo portfolio is comprised of more than 90 unique brands, including Barefoot Cellars, Dark Horse, and Gallo Family Vineyards, as well as premium box wines The Naked Grape and Vin Vault. Premium offerings include Apothic, Carnivor, Chateau Souverain, Columbia Winery, Ecco Domani, Edna Valley Vineyard, J Vineyards & Winery, Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Mirassou, Orin Swift, Talbott Vineyards, and William Hill Estate, along with highly acclaimed imports, such as Alamos, Brancaia, La Marca, Las Rocas, Martin Codax, Whitehaven, and LUX Wines, importers of Allegrini, Argiano, Jermann, Pieropan and Renato Ratti. Gallo Spirits offers New Amsterdam Vodka and Gin and E&J Brandy, in addition to imported Scotch whiskies from Whyte & Mackay, including The Dalmore, Jura Single Malt and John Barr Blended. SOURCE E. & J. Gallo Winery Related Links http://www.gallo.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Snow Phipps Group ("Snow Phipps") is pleased to announce that veteran CFO Gary Spitz has joined as Managing Director, Financial Operations. In this role, Mr. Spitz will provide senior level support to portfolio companies and their management teams aimed at improving financial performance and conduct operational due diligence of new Snow Phipps investment opportunities. This is a new position at Snow Phipps. Ian Snow, CEO and Partner of Snow Phipps Group, said, "Gary will significantly enhance our ability to work with portfolio companies to create value for our investors. I have worked with him as portfolio company CFO on two successful investments, one in our first Snow Phipps fund and the second when I was previously at Ripplewood Holdings. Gary's expertise and insight will be invaluable in working with CFOs across our portfolio to implement best practices in finance, taxation, accounting and controls. We welcome him to the firm." Mr. Spitz noted, "I enjoyed working with Snow Phipps when I was CFO of FiberVisions, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join their team. I am confident that my 30+ years of experience working in private equity-backed and public companies will be an attractive resource for Snow Phipps portfolio companies. I look forward to helping the CFOs and their teams strengthen their finance and accounting functions and systems during Snow Phipps's ownership." Mr. Spitz joins Snow Phipps from Coriant, a private equity-backed leading supplier of optical network equipment to telecommunications companies, cloud computing and data center operators and Web 2.0 content providers. Mr. Spitz was the Chief Financial Officer at Coriant where he was responsible for leading all aspects of global financial services, including accounting, treasury, audit, financial planning and analysis and risk management. Previously, Mr. Spitz was CFO of FiberVisions, a Snow Phipps-backed global manufacturer of polypropylene fibers that was "carved out" of the Hercules Chemical Company and later sold to Indorama Ventures Limited. Before joining FiberVisions, he was corporate vice president and CFO of Kraton Polymers LLC, a $1 billion global manufacturer of engineered materials that was backed by Ripplewood Holdings in a spin-out from Shell Oil Company. Earlier, Mr. Spitz held executive and CFO positions at several other companies, including Sterling Chemical Company and the Grace Davidson Division of W.R. Grace & Company. He holds an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan and a BA from the University of Vermont. About Snow Phipps Group Snow Phipps is a private equity firm focused on lower middle-market control investments with $2.4 billion of total capital commitments raised since its founding in 2005. The firm generally focuses on companies in attractive sub-sectors across the Industrials, Services and Consumer industries and targets platform investments with enterprise values ranging from $100 million to $500 million. The Snow Phipps investment team collaborates with its Operating Partners and portfolio management teams to create value through an operationally focused strategy often led by organic or acquisition-driven growth. Snow Phipps has made 23 platform investments and over 45 add-on acquisitions. The firm has been investing Snow Phipps III, L.P., with $913 million of total commitments, since 2016. To learn more about Snow Phipps, visit www.snowphipps.com. SOURCE Snow Phipps Group Related Links http://www.snowphipps.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Dubai based entrepreneur Ghassan Aboud was awarded as the "Leading Hospitality Investor" during the Leaders in Hospitality Awards event organized by BNC Publishing on April 29, 2018 at the St Regis Hotel, Dubai. Ghassan Aboud is the promoter of the multi-business conglomerate, the Ghassan Aboud Group that was established 25 years back with the UAE as the headquarters. Ghassan Aboud Receiving the 'Leading Hospitality Investor' The annual event is hosted by the leading regional publication Hotel News Middle East to recognize and honour leading regional and international players in the hospitality sector. The winners were judged by a panel of renowned experts drawn from the hospitality industry. The award recognized Ghassan Aboud's pioneering foray into the hospitality sector with project commitments to the tune of AU$ 800 million, through the creation of a portfolio of luxury hotels under the brand name Crystalbrook Collection. Upon receiving the recognition, Ghassan Aboud said, "I am honoured to be recognized at this prestigious event as an international investor. With the outstanding management team that we have, I am confident that Crystalbrook Collection will deliver exceptional customer enjoyment at some of the world's most desirable destinations." Wissam Youhane, CEO-BNC Publishing said, "Once again I am humbled to be associated with this fantastic industry. It is a real honour to see so many talented people assembled in one place to share their achievements with us. At BNC Publishing we endeavor to shine a light on the prowess of those within this amazing sector and that is what the awards were all about taking the opportunity to give something back to those who give so much to us." In the hospitality sector, with an initial focus on Australia, Ghassan Aboud's investments are being deployed in acquisition, development and management of prime hospitality assets. The assets include 5-star hotels, luxury apartments, marina operations and high-end retail. In addition to the hospitality portfolio, the group has invested into a substantial pastoral business with a land area of 35,000 hectares. The ultimate ambition of Crystalbrook Collection is to become a world-class brand associated with unique lifestyle destinations. About Ghassan Aboud Group Established in 1994, the Ghassan Aboud Group operates from its global headquarters in the with business operations in Australia, Belgium, Jordan and Turkey. The multi-billion group is well entrenched in automotive, hospitality, pastoral, real estate, retail, catering, media and art production businesses. The image for this release can be viewed at: www.pressreleasenetwork.com/newsroom/news_view.phtml?news_id=5090 Contact: Moatasem Al Ahmad Ghassan Aboud Group - Marketing Po Box 294377, Dubai United Arab Emirates Email : [email protected] Phone : +9714 881 4300; www.gagroup.net About Crystalbrook Collection Crystalbrook Collection is a portfolio of distinctive luxury hotels where differences are applauded. Each hotel and resort carries an authentic expression of its location. Add playful designs, a stimulating environment and a passion for fun and you have a uniquely enriching experience. Contact: Katie Malone Group Director, Marketing Crystalbrook Collection Surry Hills House Level 2, 10-14 Waterloo Street Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia Phone: +61 2 9048 4403 Email: [email protected] https://www.crystalbrookcollection.com.au Related Files PR Leaders in Hospitality Award.docx SOURCE Ghassan Aboud Group Related Links https://gagroup.net SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- GigaGen Inc., a biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibody therapies, today announced that Sheila M. Keating, Ph.D., has joined the company as Director, Immunology. "We are pleased to welcome Dr. Keating to GigaGen," said Dave Johnson, Ph.D., CEO of GigaGen. "We have successfully created the world's first recombinant hyperimmune gammaglobulins in our laboratory, and look forward to bringing these therapies to the clinic. Dr. Keating's deep experience in viral infections and responses of human B cell repertoires to vaccines will help lead clinical development of these novel therapies in collaboration with our pharmaceutical partner, Grifols." "GigaGen's novel recombinant hyperimmune gammaglobulins are an exciting novel class of drugs that hold great promise for transforming the treatment of infectious disease and immune deficiencies," said Dr. Keating. "Viruses and bacteria constantly evolve, which complicates development of monotherapies. GigaGen's polyclonal drugs are a perfect solution, since they cover broad epitopes and span multiple mechanisms of action. I look forward to advancing our therapies from the bench to the clinic to improve outcomes for patients." Prior to joining GigaGen, Dr. Keating was the Director of the Core Immunology Laboratory at Blood Systems Research Institute (BSRI) in San Francisco. BSRI provides high throughput immunological analysis for large scale medical research projects in the US and internationally. Dr. Keating has spent her career advancing the diagnosis and treatment of infectious and chronic disease through the study of immune biomarkers and immunopathology. She has been the recipient of multiple research grants and has lead both pre-clinical and clinical projects in translational immunology research. Dr. Keating received a Ph.D. in Immunology at Oxford University in Oxford, U.K., a MSPH in Epidemiology and Tropical Medicine at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, and a B.A. in Biology at College of Holy Cross in Worcester, MA. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and has authored more than 80 publications. About GigaGen GigaGen is a privately-held, preclinical biopharmaceutical company developing novel antibody therapies to treat diseases of immune dysregulation. GigaGen's deep understanding of immune dysregulation is enabled by industry-leading technology that quickly captures the genetic makeup of entire immune repertoires to analyze B cells at a rate of millions per hour, while simultaneously identifying their antigen and protein binders. GigaGen has a robust internal pipeline consisting of novel antibodies against immuno-oncology targets, in addition to the first recombinant intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) for patients with immune deficiency. For more information visit www.GigaGen.com. SOURCE GigaGen Inc. Related Links http://www.GigaGen.com ATLANTA, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Franchise Group (GFG), the strategic brand management company and franchisor of Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Pretzelmaker, Marble Slab Creamery/MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery and Round Table Pizza has named Geoff Goodman Executive Vice President of the iconic and popular Round Table Pizza brand. Goodman has more than 20 years' experience in hospitality and franchise leadership and is highly recognized and accomplished in the pizza/restaurant industry. Most recently, Goodman was President of Remarkable Brands Co. LLC (a shared service brand company) where he served simultaneously as President of Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt, Crazy Dough's Franchising, Purpose Snackery, and EOTE Coffee Company. He is also a former Vice President National Brand Excellence for CiCi's Pizza and is a founding member of the National Restaurant Associations' Pizzeria Industry Council. Geoff will lead all operations including bringing Round Table Pizza to the fore-front of the modern pizza space, developing a visionary brand plan, encouraging franchisee growth, and championing GFG's "Franchising First" philosophy. He was attracted to Round Table Pizza because of the brand's quality products, customer loyalty and potential under GFG's leadership. "Geoff is a talented strategic brand leader who knows what it takes to drive franchisee profitability and build a dynamic brand," said Chris Dull, President and CEO of Global Franchise Group. "GFG's mission is to champion brands and the people who build them our goal is to do the same for Round Table Pizza and with Geoff at the helm, we believe the future is very bright." About Global Franchise Group, LLC - www.globalfranchise.com Global Franchise Group, LLC is a strategic brand management company with a mission of championing franchise brands and the people who build them. The company owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes six primary quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise concepts: Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Marble Slab Creamery, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery, Pretzelmaker and Round Table Pizza. The brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group, LLC. Global Franchise Group, LLC is a portfolio company of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, an independent investment firm, with approximately $9 billion of capital under management and substantial franchise management experience. About Round Table Pizza www.roundtablepizza.com Round Table Pizza was founded by Bill Larson in 1959 in the San Francisco Bay Area to create a place where families could relax and share a superb pizza. More than fifty years later, Round Table Pizza remains true to its founder's vision with 440 restaurants across the western United States and the world. Round Table's signature tagline, "The Last Honest Pizza", describes its commitment to quality and authenticity. For the latest news and fun and games from Round Table Pizza, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. SOURCE Global Franchise Group, LLC National Women Build Week encourages women nationwide to devote at least one day to help build decent and affordable housing in their local communities. Women have the strength and determination necessary to build Habitat houses, addressing the problem of affordable housing in a concrete way so that families can achieve stability and independence through safe, decent and affordable homes. In fact, according to a 2018 national study by Lowe's and Habitat for Humanity, more than nine-in-10 American women believe providing and advocating for access to affordable housing for women can benefit society.1 The survey also found: Nearly all women (98 percent) agree access to affordable housing helps women heads of household thrive. Having a safe, stable home is a source of pride (96 percent) that makes women feel more confident (98 percent) and independent (97 percent). Three-in-five (62 percent) women say they cannot afford to purchase a home that meets their family's needs in the neighborhood where they want to live. "For 11 years, National Women Build Week has brought together thousands of strong women of all construction experience levels to build or repair homes with hardworking, empowered Habitat homeowners to address this critical issue," said Lisa Marie Nickerson, associate director, Habitat for Humanity International. "We have seen firsthand the strength and independence that homeownership can provide for families. We are thankful for Lowe's continued support, without which this week would not be possible." Lowe's and Habitat share the vision that every woman, man and child have a decent place to lay their heads at night. Far too often, low-income families are faced with choosing between paying their housing costs and buying necessities like food and medical care to provide for their family. National Women Build Week recruits, educates and inspires women to build, and advocate for decent and affordable houses in their communities alongside their future neighborsmaking a difference in their community, one nail at a time. "Lowe's is proud to sponsor National Women Build Week to educate, inspire and empower women to volunteer alongside other women in their community to address the critical issue of affordable housing. We know women working together are an unstoppable force for creating meaningful change in our communities," said Colleen B. Penhall, Lowe's vice president of corporate social responsibility. "At Lowe's, we believe that a safe, stable home is an important source of strength, pride and security for families. Together with Habitat, our Lowe's Heroes volunteers and women nationwide, National Women Build Week will provide valuable support to advance accessible housing in the communities where we all live and work." Lowe's helped launch National Women Build Week in 2008 and has brought together more than 117,000 all-women construction volunteers to build or repair homes with nearly 5,000 families over the past 10 years. This year, Lowe's donated $2 million to Habitat for Humanity to support the 2018 National Women Build Week, and provides how-to clinics at stores to help equip women volunteers for the builds. Since 2003, Lowe's has committed over $30 million to Habitat for Humanity International and helped more than 6,500 Habitat families improve their living conditions. Both women and men of all experience levels can participate by signing up to volunteer with their local Habitat organization or by joining the conversation online. As part of National Women Build Week, Lowe's and Habitat are activating a social movement to generate conversation about building one another up and sharing the message of women empowerment, positivity and action by using #BuildHer and #WomenBuild. About Habitat for Humanity Driven by the vision that everyone needs a decent place to live, Habitat for Humanity began in 1976 as a grassroots effort on a community farm in southern Georgia. The Christian housing organization has since grown to become a leading global nonprofit working in local communities across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 70 countries. Families and individuals in need of a hand up partner with Habitat for Humanity to build or improve a place they can call home. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Through financial support, volunteering or adding a voice to support affordable housing, everyone can help families achieve the strength, stability and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves. Through shelter, we empower. To learn more, visit habitat.org. About Lowe's in the Community Lowe's, a FORTUNE 50 home improvement company, has a 60-year legacy of supporting the communities it serves through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects. In the past decade, Lowe's and the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation together have contributed nearly $300 million to these efforts, and for more than two decades Lowe's Heroes volunteers have donated their time to make our communities better places to live. For the latest news, visit Newsroom.Lowes.com or follow @LowesMedia on Twitter. 1 The 2018 Lowe's and Habitat for Humanity National Women Build Week Survey presents the findings of an online survey conducted by Toluna from April 5-8, 2018 among a random sample of 1,019 American women age 18+. The margin of error for a sample of this size is 3% at a 95% level of confidence. SOURCE Lowe's Home Improvement We couldnt be what we are if it werent for the work each and every one of you does, Emory President Claire E. Sterk told attendees at the recent Employee Council Spring Leadership Social, who then had an opportunity to mingle with Sterk and members of her leadership team. Emory Photo/Video We dont take enough moments to say we couldnt be what we are if it werent for the work each and every one of you does, Emory President Claire E. Sterk told attendees at the recent Employee Council Spring Leadership Social. The social, held April 23 at the Goizueta Foundation Center, featured remarks by Sterk, followed by a tabling event where members of Sterks leadership team moved among the groups of attendees, answering employees questions about the university, its goals and processes, as well as questions that had been submitted ahead of the meeting. What amazes me over and over again are all the different offices and all the different responsibilities that are held by our staff, Sterk said. Im not the only one who takes it for granted that everything will work well and fall into place because of the work that you do. Emory wouldnt be a special place if it werent for the fact that we have all of you we can count on, she added. Sterk and members of her leadership team circulated throughout the room and answered questions on a variety of topics, including what makes Emory distinctive, favorite things about the university, leadership strategies, priorities and more. Team members who were able to attend included Steve Sencer, Emory senior vice president and general counsel; Chris Augostini, executive vice president for business and administration; Dwight McBride, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs; Paul Marthers, vice provost for enrollment management and interim vice president of Campus Life; Robert Franklin, senior adviser to the president; Susan Cruse, senior vice president for development and alumni relations; and David Sandor, senior vice president of communications and public affairs. Even at this amazing place, Sterk said, theres always room for improvement. What I like about today is that you will get an opportunity to talk together and figure out what can we do better. Sterk noted that she is often asked what it feels like to be president of Emory. I go through my 3 Cs, asking how would you feel to be at a place that has healthy competition, incredible collaboration and its the staff that really are role models for that and has a lot of compassion. Ive learned there are all these people I can count on, and to celebrate and be proud of the things Emory does well, she said. Sterk also said she often gets asked about Emorys annexation into the City of Atlanta. Folks have been intrigued about why are we doing that, she said, explaining there are two key factors: It gives us a seat at the table. With new businesses, new initiatives, [annexation] provides us an opportunity to have much more input than we had before. It also opens a window of opportunity that we would not have had otherwise for public transportation to come to the Clifton Corridor, she noted, citing the logistical difficulties people have coming to Emory for health care, for learning and for jobs. Candid conversations Marlon Gibson, director of Greek Life and immediate past president of Employee Council, summed up the feelings of many who attended the event. I thoroughly enjoyed the leadership social, especially the interaction with President Sterk and her team, he said. Denise Holliday, who works in Libraries and Information Technology Enterprise Applications, called the format thoroughly engaging. Each leadership team representative moved between four stations. At each station, an Employee Council representative presented questions submitted beforehand, then the attendees asked questions of their own. Holliday, who presented the questions at one of the stations, said she appreciated the relaxed format, where leadership team members could just talk about their history and role within the university and how they embarked on the journey to get here. Everyone seemed to enjoy the direct contact, Holliday said. I feel these types of events give employees a voice in what is happening in their careers and how we can make things better at Emory. It was great to hear about what each person on the team is working on to move the university into being a major global academic powerhouse. Melissa Morgan, manager of wellness programs, agreed. The Leadership Social was a very enjoyable event as it provided a forum to get to know our leaders better, especially as there are several new leaders at Emory, she said. I appreciated the openness with which each of them spoke they shared not only what makes Emory great, but were also candid about where we have opportunities to grow and be better, Morgan continued. It was great to hear their perspective on where things are and where they hope to go in the future. The social drew attendees from across the university, who filled the room to hear from Sterk and mingle with other university leaders. Karen Summers, executive administrative assistant to the dean at Oxford College, noted that it was her first time to attend a meeting of this sort, and said it was such a wonderful experience to hear from President Sterk's leadership team. I found that while their areas of expertise are varied, their main focus and future, strategic planning goals align well and are in sync with one another, Summers said. Helping Emory employees prosper and thrive The Leadership Social served as the culmination of the academic year for the Employee Council, which has one more meeting scheduled on May 21 at the Oxford Organic Farm before it adjourns for the summer. Under the leadership of Employee Council President Deena Keeler, the group, which includes representatives from all organizational areas and employee levels throughout the university, has focused this year on the theme To prosper and thrive as an Emory employee. To that end, monthly meetings have explored topics including health, wellness, mindfulness and movement; purpose and vulnerability; resilience and adaptability; creativity and aptitude; happiness, compassion and benevolence; Emory as place; diversity and inclusion; and nourishment as food for life. I have always felt fortunate to work for a university that believes in investing in its people. Emory has many opportunities to teach the core components that allow employees to flourish some of which we have covered in our monthly meetings, Keeler says. Emory has great academic minds and resources for these rich discussions on thriving as human beings; our monthly meetings have brought those minds together with our representatives, which has allowed for extremely rich dialogue, she says. Keeler serves as assistant director of auxiliary services in Campus Services, and will mark 10 years in that position in September. She first joined Emory in 2002 as a subcontractor with Emory Dining, serving as director of special events and director of retail business operations. Employee Council meetings have been held in a variety of locations over the last year, including Winship Cancer Institute, Goizueta Business School, Whitehead Research Building, the Michael C. Carlos Museum, the School of Medicine, Candler School of Theology and Rollins School of Public Health. I have always felt lucky to have a position at Emory that allows me to interface with a campus-wide contingency, Keeler notes. My hope for the Employee Council was that our representatives would have those same opportunities to see areas of Emory that are outside of their daily routines and interface with others that they may not normally come into contact with in their designated departments. Having our meetings in different venues with speakers from all over campus has afforded our representatives those opportunities, she says. Paul Ficklin-Alred, a program coordinator in the School of Medicine, will serve as Employee Council president when the council reconvenes for the 2018-2019 academic year. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Zimmerman has been named Agency of Record for Hair Cuttery, the largest family-owned and operated chain of hair salons in the country. The brainchild of Dennis and Ann Ratner, Hair Cuttery now encompasses approximately 12,000 Associates with over 850 Salons in 16 states. The phenomenal growth of the company can be traced back to its original business model to provide salon quality style at prices anyone can afford. Zimmerman will serve as Agency of Record for Hair Cuttery as well as supporting marketing initiatives for the other Ratner Companies' brands, including Bubbles, Salon Cielo, Salon Plaza and Cibu. Services will include strategic planning, creative development, media planning/buying, digital, social media activation, and hyper-local go-to-market deployment. "Since 1974 Hair Cuttery's number one focus has been to create a culture to attract, train and support the best stylists in the industry because that is the key to making our customers love us. We know Zimmerman is the right partner to help propel our various brands and help us find new growth," said Dennis Ratner, CEO and Co-Founder of Ratner Companies. Jordan Zimmerman, Founder and Chairman, added, "Dennis and Ann Ratner are pioneers in the industry and I share their vision for the brands they represent. There's big potential for growth and we've built an agency with the right tools to achieve that growth." Added Michael Goldberg, CEO of Zimmerman, "We are thrilled to partner with people with big ambitions and even bigger hearts." This is the latest in a string of victories for the retail agency that recently includes winning a significant portion of the franchise business for McDonald's, and winning new accounts like Virgin Mobile and many others. About Hair Cuttery Hair Cuttery is the largest family-owned and operated chain of hair salons in the country, with nearly 900 company-owned locations on the East Coast, New England and the Midwest. A full-service, value-priced salon, Hair Cuttery offers a full complement of cuts and styling, coloring, waxing and texturizing services with no appointment necessary, as well as a full line of professional hair care products. Hair Cuttery is committed to delivering a delightful client experience through WOW Service including a Smile Back Guarantee. Hair Cuttery is a division of Ratner Companies, based in Vienna, VA. www.haircuttery.com About Ratner Companies, L.C. Ratner Companies is the largest family-owned and operated chain of hair salons in the country operating nearly 1,000 salons in 16 states and the District of Columbia. Ratner Companies currently employs over 11,000 licensed stylists and is approaching 1,000 operating locations. Its diverse brands include Hair Cuttery, BUBBLES, Salon Cielo, Salon Plaza and Cibu. About Zimmerman Advertising Zimmerman Advertising, an Omnicom Group company, is the leading integrated, retail agency in the country. Zimmerman's clients represent some of the most prominent retail brands in the country, including Nissan, McDonald's, Tire Kingdom, Advance America, Five Below, AutoNation, Chuck E. Cheese's, La-Z-Boy and Michaels. Headquartered in South Florida, the agency has retail service offices throughout the country, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. For information on the agency, visit http://www.zadv.com . SOURCE Zimmerman Related Links http://www.zadv.com BraunAbility, the world's leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts, released this data as part of their Save My Spot campaign to help educate the public about the meaning and importance of handicap accessible parking. To bring awareness to the challenges wheelchair users face, here are five facts you probably didn't know about handicap accessible parking. The striped lines next to a handicap accessible parking space have a specific purpose. Striped lines next to a handicap accessible parking space primarily indicate it is reserved for a wheelchair-accessible vehicle, yet 42 percent of respondents were unaware of this purpose.15 percent were unaware that the lines had a specific meaning at all. There is a difference between handicap accessible parking for cars and wheelchair-accessible vans. Many handicap accessible parking spaces are reserved for people with a disability who are not driving a wheelchair accessible vehicle. However, when the parking sign says, "Accessible Vans," it is reserved for wheelchair accessible vehicles only. "People with disabilities need much more room when they arrive in a wheelchair accessible van," said Chris Carlisle, Vice President of Marketing at BraunAbility. "Van accessible spaces are wider than regular handicap accessible parking spaces, offering room for people to lower their ramp and enter and exit their vehicle. In our survey, we asked able-bodied people what they would do if a car parked too close to them, and 75 percent said they would climb through a window or opposite door to get in. Wheelchair users don't have this option and need the extra space." Van accessible spaces are easily identified by a blue-striped access aisle on the passenger side. Some people have "hidden disabilities" that may not look like they need a handicap accessible spot, but they do. Twenty-seven percent of survey participants did not know handicap accessible parking spots were also designated for hidden disabilities like deafness or a recent knee injury. "There are no visible supports such as a cane or wheelchair for hidden disabilities, but that doesn't mean the person parking there is misusing the spot," Carlisle said. Businesses are required to have a certain number of handicap accessible spots. The number of handicap accessible parking spaces required depends on the total number of parking spaces in the lot, but at least one in every six handicap accessible spaces must be van accessible, according to the American Disabilities Act. Wheelchairs continue to increase in size requiring more room to maneuver in and out of vehicles. "Chairs continue to get bigger, which can result in maneuverability challenges for chair users as they try to get in and out of vehicles," Carlisle said. Chair users benefit from accessible vehicles that provide more maneuverability such as the BraunAbility Pacifica, which was designed to deliver the most interior space and ease of entry and exit . Vehicles like this are larger and require extra space in a parking spot for the wheelchair user to access a fully deployed ramp. Handicap accessible parking plays a critical role in giving chair users independence and mobility, making it important to understand the rules of the parking lot. BraunAbility is partnering with its dealers across the United States and Canada to give away Save My Spot kits this month. The kits will include a window sticker, Save My Spot "parking tickets" and other items to help spread the message about proper usage of handicap accessible parking. You can learn more and help BraunAbility spread this message during National Mobility Awareness Month by picking up a kit at your local BraunAbility dealer or by sharing the Save My Spot video available at BraunAbility.com. About BraunAbility BraunAbility is the world's leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vehicles and wheelchair lifts. Founded nearly 50 years ago by Ralph Braun, the company has grown into the most well-known and trusted name in the mobility industry, bringing independence to millions of individuals across the world. BraunAbility is a wholly owned subsidiary to Patricia Industries, a division of Investor AB Group. Visit www.braunability.com for more information. Media Contacts: Jordan Rogers 913-206-9571 [email protected] SOURCE BraunAbility Related Links http://www.braunability.com TEMPE, Ariz., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hastings & Hastings, a qualified team of experienced personal injury lawyers located throughout the greater Phoenix area, is excited to announce the launch of their 12th office located in Tempe. The new office is off Broadway Road and Mill Avenue, just blocks from the Arizona State University campus, and was opened to offer legal support and guidance to personal injury and auto accident victims in the Tempe area. Tempe is a busy and bustling city, with a large amount of local & college traffic, as well as being bordered by Interstate 10, Loop 101 and 202 freeways, traffic accidents and injuries are frequent. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were over 125,000 auto accidents in Arizona in 2016, Hastings & Hastings strives to support and represent as many of these victims as they can, allowing them to focus on the recovery and healing process. Hastings & Hastings offers 150 years of combined legal experience in handling all types of accident injuries. Over the decades that they have been handling accident cases, insurance companies have come to respect their aggressive but fair negotiation style. With over 36 years and 12 locations in Arizona, wherever you live in the Valley, Hastings & Hastings has an office nearby where they are always offering a free consultation handled by a licensed attorney, not a paralegal or salesperson. The team at Hastings & Hastings understands that hiring legal representation for car accidents or other personal injury cases can be overwhelming for victims. Hastings & Hastings has proven case after case, to be a positive solution for Arizona car accident victims. Their personal injury attorneys are carefully selected and closely supervised at Hastings & Hastings. They have been representing accident victims in Arizona for more than three decades and strive to put their experience to work for their clients. To learn more about Hastings & Hastings and their 11 other Valley Wide locations visit www.hastingsandhastings.com or email them at [email protected]. SOURCE Hastings & Hastings Related Links http://www.hastingsandhastings.com MT. PLEASANT, S.C., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A settlement agreement has been reached in historic litigation for classes of potentially thousands of South African gold miners and the dependents of workers who developed or will develop tuberculosis and silicosis caused by exposure to silica dust while working in the gold mines. The settlement is the result of years of litigation and negotiations among lawyers and consultants Richard Spoor Inc., Motley Rice LLC, Abrahams Kiewitz Inc., Hausfeld, LLP the Legal Resources Centre; the Occupational Lung Disease Working Group, representing the respondents: African Rainbow Minerals, Anglo American SA, AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields, Harmony and Sibanye Stillwater. The Settlement will be presented to the Court in South Africa for approval and members of the class and interested parties will be provided notice of the Agreements in advance of the approval process. South Africa human rights lawyer Richard Spoor, of the Law Office of Richard Spoor Inc., retained U.S. plaintiffs' law firm Motley Rice LLC to consult on the litigation in 2011. This is the very first class action settlement of its kind in South Africa. The agreement creates a Trust to compensate all eligible workers suffering from silicosis and/or tuberculosis who worked in these Companies' mines from 1965 to date as well as their dependents. The settlement includes a significant budget for the Trust to locate potential class members, medically examine eligible miners and provide compensation to all qualifying class members. The settlement is not a limited fund or fixed amount. The Companies have agreed to compensate all eligible Claimants. "I am pleased with this settlement. We have managed to provide access to justice and meaningful compensation to thousands of current and former gold mine workers and their dependents spread throughout Sub-Saharan Africa," said Motley Rice attorney Michael Elsner who has been a consultant in the South Africa litigation since the beginning and was one of the lead settlement negotiators. "This agreement is proof that when opposing counsel are willing to listen, work together and think creatively, significant public good can be achieved. In this case, we could not have accomplished these results in a trial judgment. It is a credit to the lawyers working on behalf of the settling companies and the class." Read the specifics on the proposed settlement. "I am looking forward to the day that I will receive my compensation so that I can take care of myself and my family. I am happy for other mine workers too, who will benefit from this as we waited for years, but I never lost hope. I knew that one day justice will rule in our favour," said Zama Gangi, a class representative living in Lusikisiki in the Eastern Cape who has been diagnosed with silicosis. "Today's settlement is proof that civil litigation can bring about much needed reforms," said Richard Spoor. "I have been pleased by the cooperation among the parties and hope the Court will approve this settlement that will no doubt help thousands of gold miners and their families who are currently suffering and in desperate need of assistance." In May 2016, the South Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg certified this class action, the first in South African history for sick workers, allowing gold miners suffering from silicosis and tuberculosis to proceed with their claims against the gold mine companies. The Court's order was on appeal at the time of settlement. Few class actions have been brought in South Africa and none for sick workers prior to this litigation. Read the joint statement. For more about the history of the litigation, visit www.goldminersilicosis.co.za. About Silicosis Silicosis is caused by breathing in crystalline silica dust, which comes from the common mineral known as quartz. When inhaled, it damages lung tissue and results in scarring or fibrosis, which reduces lung function. Many mining processes, such as blasting, drilling, handling and transporting rock containing quartz, can generate crystalline silica dust. The most usual complication of silicosis, and a frequent cause of death, is tuberculosis. Individuals with silicosis are three times more likely to develop tuberculosis, which is already at epidemic levels in South Africa. Silicosis is irreversible, progressive and incurable. About Motley Rice LLC Motley Rice is one of the United States' largest plaintiffs' litigation firms. With a tradition of representing those whose rights have been violated, Motley Rice attorneys gained recognition for their pioneering asbestos lawsuits, their work with the State Attorneys General in the landmark litigation against Big Tobacco, and their representation of 9/11 families in the ongoing lawsuit against terrorist financiers. The firm continues to handle complex litigation in numerous areas, including securities fraud; antitrust; consumer protection; mesothelioma; environmental contamination; prescription and over-the-counter drugs; other medical devices; human rights; aviation disasters; and wrongful death. Motley Rice is headquartered in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and has additional offices in Connecticut; Louisiana; Washington, D.C.; New York; Missouri; Rhode Island; and West Virginia. For more information, contact Motley Rice attorney Michael E. Elsner (NY, SC, VA) at 1.800.768.4026 or visit www.motleyrice.com. Connect with us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. SOURCE Motley Rice LLC Related Links http://www.motleyrice.com MALVERN, Pa. and WASHINGTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HMP, a leading health care education and events company, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality, today announced the launch of the Health Care Quality Congress. The new Congress will take place October 5-7 in Dallas, Texas. Designed to bring together thought leaders from across the health care landscape, the Congress will spotlight best practices and innovative approaches to quality improvement, including how to collect and leverage HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) measures to evaluate and improve population health outcomes. In addition to presentations from those driving improvements, subject matter experts from NCQA will explore in depth the annual HEDIS measures update, as well as clarify new or challenging health plan standards. The Congress is ideal for health plan and health management professionals, government agencies, ACO/CINs, physician practices, consultants, and others involved in reporting, analysis, interpretation and measurement of NCQA's Health Plan Accreditation Standards and HEDIS measures. HEDIS is used by more than 90 percent of health plans in the U.S. to measure and improve quality of care and services. HEDIS data also help employers and consumers reliably compare the performance of health plans in order to select the best plan for their needs. "We are pleased to collaborate once again with NCQA," said Randy Robbin, president, NACCME, the medical education subsidiary of HMP. "The new Health Care Quality Congress is designed to be interactive and address the unique needs of health plan and other population health professionals. Led by expert faculty directly involved with NCQA HEDIS measure development and accreditation standards, the program will present updates to the measures, address significant clarifications, offer complex case examples, and include discussion of areas of interest as identified by attendees that directly intersect with health plan accreditation." The new meeting represents the second educational offering developed by the two organizations. The Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Congress, launched in 2015, is an annual gathering for primary care practices and other professionals involved in NCQA's PCMH Recognition program, the most widely adopted PCMH evaluation program in the country. The three-day program focuses on best practices that improve the patient experience, enhance care quality and coordination, and reduce health care costs. "The expanded partnership with HMP will give NCQA the ability to deliver even greater value to those working hard to improve the health of their patients and members," said Lisa Slattery, vice president, accreditation and recognition operations, NCQA. "This new Congress will provide the often-requested live interaction with our NCQA experts, clarifying the most current information on HEDIS measures and NCQA Accreditation standards. In addition, there will be ample opportunities for meaningful peer-to-peer sharing of best practices, challenges, and collaborations. As we have witnessed with PCMH Congress, HMP's strengths in educational program development, marketing, and meeting management will ensure an excellent educational experience for our attendees as they continuously work to raise the bar on health care quality." Registration for the Health Care Quality Congress is now open. To learn more, visit healthcarequalitycongress.com. About HMP HMP is the force behind Healthcare Made Practicaland is a multichannel leader in healthcare events and education, with a mission to improve patient care. The company produces accredited medical education events and clinically relevant, evidence-based content for the global healthcare community across a range of therapeutic areas. Its brands include Consultant360, the year-round, award-winning platform relied upon by primary care providers and other specialists; Psych Congress, the largest independent mental health meeting in the U.S.; EMS World Expo, North America's largest EMT and paramedic event; and the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care (SAWC), the largest wound care meeting in the world. For more information, visit hmpglobal.com. About NCQA NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/, and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa. SOURCE HMP Related Links https://www.hmpglobal.com The new wearable technology also connects field workers with remote experts in real time and allows them to assimilate valuable skills and knowledge while working. "This new Honeywell Connected Plant technology offers industrial workers the information they need when they need it, wherever they are," said Youssef Mestari, program director, Honeywell Connected Plant. "That means workers carry with them decades of relevant expertise that is accessible at any time by simple voice activation. This makes this solution a particularly good fit for industrial workers who have an affinity for technology and who need more physical freedom to efficiently accomplish their work." Honeywell's new technology uses the latest in handsfree mobile computing, augmented reality, Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and mobility software. It combines the RealWear HMT-1Z1 handsfree wearable computer with Honeywell's Movilizer platform, an industry leading, cloud-based workflow solution, to support field service operations, specifically in hazardous locations. Skills Insight Intelligent Wearables offer several key features: Operator task automation: Guided work instruction and procedures plus visualization of documents to facilitate field work. Guided work instruction and procedures plus visualization of documents to facilitate field work. Visualization of live data: Real-time IIoT data made available to the field worker. Real-time IIoT data made available to the field worker. Video capture and playback: Learning on demand and on site through playback of video, captured by expert operators working on similar tasks, searchable using voice. Learning on demand and on site through playback of video, captured by expert operators working on similar tasks, searchable using voice. Expert on call: Instant access to remote experts via video chat, who can see what the field worker sees and can provide advice, share documents or annotate the video feed. Instant access to remote experts via video chat, who can see what the field worker sees and can provide advice, share documents or annotate the video feed. Geo-localization, navigation and asset visualization: Locates a field operator in the plant and provides navigation and visualization as required for a task. Locates a field operator in the plant and provides navigation and visualization as required for a task. Rapid emergency evacuation: Locates workers in the plant and guides them to an assembly point using geo-localization. Locates workers in the plant and guides them to an assembly point using geo-localization. Man-down assistance: Detects a man down, identifying the location and notifying the emergency team for assistance. "RealWear's 100 percent handsfree, rugged head-mounted computing platform is the world's first to achieve the Zone 1, Class 1/Division 1 level of intrinsically safe certification," said Sanjay Jhawar, co-founder and president of RealWear. "Together with Honeywell's software and services we enable digital transformation that drives higher productivity and safety for people working in hazardous locations and across the industrial sector." Honeywell Connected Plant is a suite of applications that delivers higher levels of safety, reliability, efficiency and profitability. These proven industry solutions are based on decades of domain knowledge and controls experience. They turn data into actionable insight so industrial manufacturers can optimize operations, predict plant failures and eliminate unplanned downtime. This new level of consistent high performance makes every day the best day of production. For more information about Skills Insight Intelligent Wearables, visit Honeywell Connected Plant. Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom. SOURCE Honeywell Related Links http://www.honeywell.com "As former university presidents themselves, the Reids understand how critical giving is to the vitality of an institution of higher learning," says President Dr. Wayne A. I. Frederick. "Their gift will provide deserving students with the resources to continue their coursework and young faculty will benefit as well from the generous research support." A simple meeting through a mutual friend during Pamela's freshman year and Irvin's first year in graduate school would soon blossom into a life-long union that would carry them beyond Howard's hallowed halls and into successful careers. "Howard University was a critical milestone for us and the preparation we received from the Department of Psychology was incredible," recalls Dr. Irvin Reid. "We left Howard with confidence in our training and even when we didn't have the confidence in ourselves, we found that we had the preparation needed to achieve the tasks at hand." Dr. Pamela Reid agrees. "I had a wonderful experience at Howard, I feel like I grew up there," she says. "I was a first-generation college student and Howard was the only place that I applied to. I'd never even visited a college before, but I made good friends and was engaged in the Civil Rights activities of the time. We both got such an outstanding grounding at Howard, it really gives us a lot of pleasure to give back." The Reids decided to divide their scholarship support into three categories: undergraduate and graduate scholarships and a faculty award. Recently, several continuing scholarships were presented. Jasmine Stevens and Bryce Ellen received scholarships designated for undergraduate psychology majors; and Cassandra Shivers-Williams received a fellowship designated for psychology graduate students. Additionally, the 2018-19 recipients are Nekhaila Tyson, undergraduate scholarship; Sharlene Jeffers, graduate fellowship; and Assistant Professor GiShawn Mance, Ph.D., received the Junior Faculty Award. CONTACT: Alonda Thomas, 202-578-1679, [email protected] SOURCE Howard University Related Links http://www.howard.edu CHICAGO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading global insurance brokerage, announced today that it has acquired the shares of Carlton Insurance Brokers Inc. (C.I.B.). Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Headquartered in Jasper, Alberta, C.I.B. offers personal and commercial insurance and specializes in solutions for the transportation industry. C.I.B's focus on the transportation industry supports Hub's recent launch of its Specialty practices by complementing and strengthening Hub's existing solutions in Canada. The C.I.B. team will join Hub Barton, and Tony Carlton, CEO of C.I.B., will report to Doug Lyall, VP of Sales, Hub Barton, and Elizabeth Fiegehen, VP of Operations, HUB Barton. About Hub's M&A Activities Hub International Limited is committed to growing organically and through acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen industry and product expertise. For more information on the Hub M&A experience, visit WeAreHub.com. About Hub International Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Hub International Limited (Hub) is a leading full-service global insurance broker providing property and casualty, life and health, employee benefits, investment and risk management products and services. From offices located throughout North America, HUB's vast network of specialists provides peace of mind on what matters most by protecting clients through unrelenting advocacy and tailored insurance solutions. For more information, please visit hubinternational.com. CONTACT: Media: Marni Gordon Phone: 312-279-4601 [email protected] M&A: Clark Wormer Phone: 312.279.4848 [email protected] SOURCE Hub International Limited Related Links http://www.hubinternational.com The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.'s premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the U.S.A. are eligible to submit nominations public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. More than 200 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's Stevie Award winners. Ayres was recognized for his transformational impact on the end user computing industry and his innovative approach to pivoting the IGEL company direction from a hardware-centric company to a software driven organization. Using bold and captivating marketing campaigns including the giveaway of a Tesla P100D and the launch of a three-continent industry event, "Disrupt EUC" Ayres displayed maverick style in producing more than 5,700 new evaluation requests and 1,888 completed product demos in under nine months for IGEL. As a result, U.S. software license revenue grew by 589% in 2017. "Jed has the unique ability to make the impossible, possible," said Heiko Gloge, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, IGEL. "We couldn't have made the impressive and transformational changes we've made at IGEL over the past couple of years without his insights and creative approach. His marketing-centric perspective and inspirational focus on strategic execution has changed my thinking and has made a massive impact on our business. He truly deserves to be recognized as a maverick of the year." "Jed has driven the IGEL shift to become a software-first business, which has become a tremendous differentiator for our business," said Michael Hogan, president of IGEL partner Hogan Consulting. "He has given the channel and the endpoint management market a turbo boost. While competitors were trying to figure out how to become a better thin-client company, Jed had IGEL figuring out how to be a better software company." More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories, including Startup of the Year, Executive of the Year, Best New Product or Service of the Year, Marketing Campaign of the Year, Live Event of the Year, and App of the Year, among others. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning "crowned," the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Monday, June 11. Tickets are now on sale. "The nominations submitted for The 2018 American Business Awards were outstanding. The competition was intense, and those recognized as Stevie Award winners should be immensely proud of this accomplishment," said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2018 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. Sponsors of The 2018 American Business Awards include HCL America, John Hancock Financial Services and SoftPro. IGEL on Social Media Twitter: www.twitter.com/IGEL_Technology Facebook: www.facebook.com/igel.technology Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/101270758605662221044 LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/igel-technology IGEL Community: http://slack.igelcommunity.com IGEL Community on LinkedIn: http://www.igelcommunity.com YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/IGELTechnologyTV About IGEL IGEL delivers powerful unified endpoint management software that is revolutionary in its simplicity and purpose-built for the enterprise. The company's world-leading software products include the IGEL OS, Universal Desktop Converter (UDC), IGEL Cloud Gateway (ICG), IGEL UD Pocket (UDP) and Universal Management Suite (UMS). These solutions enable a more secure, manageable and cost-effective endpoint management platform across nearly any x86 device. Additionally, IGEL's German engineered and manufactured thin, zero and all-in-one client solutions deliver the industry's best warranty (5 years), support (3 years after end of life) and management functionality. IGEL enables enterprises to precisely control all devices running IGEL OS as well as Windows OS from a single dashboard interface. IGEL has offices worldwide and is represented by partners in over 50 countries. For more information on IGEL, visit www.igel.com. SOURCE IGEL Related Links http://www.igel.com "Our team has developed products that will provide relief to patients. Ilera Healthcare's goal is to provide marijuana-based medicines that address not just the conditions related to an individual's disease state, but to also develop products that match a patient's lifestyle," said Greg Rochlin, CEO, Ilera Healthcare. "We are committed to producing a continuous supply of the highest quality products so that our dispensary and our partner dispensaries across Pennsylvania can meet patients' needs for medical marijuana." Ilera Healthcare's initial product lineup includes Soothe, Shine, Breathe, Dream, Fusion and Choice each name corresponding to a patient's individual needs. All products are designed to produce targeted effects that can be utilized to address specific indications in line with physician recommendation. Packaging is child resistant, tamper-evident, and complete with warning labels. SOOTHE : Provides gentle, non-habit-forming pain relief with carefully selected terpene profile that also reduce inflammation. Provides gentle, non-habit-forming pain relief with carefully selected terpene profile that also reduce inflammation. SHINE : Increases energy and focus and features finely tuned terpene profiles to enhance these energizing effects. Increases energy and focus and features finely tuned terpene profiles to enhance these energizing effects. BREATHE : Promotes calm and helps decrease anxiety with a unique terpene profiles that leaves patients feeling relaxed, not sleepy. Promotes calm and helps decrease anxiety with a unique terpene profiles that leaves patients feeling relaxed, not sleepy. DREAM : A specially formulated terpene profile that promotes natural, restful sleep. A specially formulated terpene profile that promotes natural, restful sleep. FUSION : Formulated with high-purity CO2-extracted and distilled cannabinoids fused with hand-selected natural flavor extracts. : Formulated with high-purity CO2-extracted and distilled cannabinoids fused with hand-selected natural flavor extracts. CHOICE: Delivers pure activated cannabinoids and terpenes for the full complexity, flavor, and aroma of well-known therapeutic strains. Ilera Healthcare's Plymouth Meeting dispensary is located at 420 Plymouth Road and its patient access hours are Tuesdays through Sundays. Please visit http://www.ilerahealthcare.com for updated hours. These hours are part of Ilera Healthcare's mission to provide education to patients, physicians and the community, and fulfill physician recommendations for patients. Ilera Healthcare offers a patient-focused education and access program that includes guidance on how patients and caregivers can apply to be part of Pennsylvania's Medical Marijuana Program. "Ilera Healthcare is focused on elevating the understanding of marijuana-based medicines among patients, caregivers and healthcare providers. While this marks our initial product offering, we will continue to research and develop new products," said Osagie Imasogie, Ilera Healthcare's Chairman. "We are confident our pharmaceutical-caliber medical marijuana products will provide relief for the 21 medical conditions approved by the State of Pennsylvania." Plymouth Meeting is Ilera Healthcare's primary dispensary location and the company plans to open two additional dispensary sites in the Philadelphia region within the year. For more information about Ilera Healthcare, visit http://www.ilerahealthcare.com. Patients interested in learning if medical marijuana is right for them should visit the State of Pennsylvania's Department of Health for more information. About Ilera Healthcare Ilera Healthcare is Pennsylvania's premier medical marijuana cultivator, processor and dispenser, offering patients registered in the Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana program with products that provide the relief they want to lead healthier lives. Ilera Healthcare operates its primary dispensary in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, with plans to open two additional dispensary sites in Pennsylvania within the year. Through their state-of-the-art cultivation, extraction, and processing facility in Waterfall, Pennsylvania, Ilera Healthcare strives to drive medical advancements through its formulations and shape the future of medical marijuana-based therapies. For more information about Ilera Healthcare, visit http://www.ilerahealthcare.com. Note: Individual product images are available upon request. SOURCE Ilera Healthcare Related Links http://www.ilerahealthcare.com A video campaign led by Emory students Sanjay Velappan, Georgia Kossoff, Ellen Shi, Anshuman Parikh and Grace Cleland aims to give millennials across Georgia a voice in Atlantas bid for Amazons second headquarters. Cities around the country are buzzing about where Amazon will choose as the location for its second headquarters. In January, when the shortlist of 20 cities was announced and Atlanta made the cut, Emory seniors Georgia Kossoff, Sanjay Velappan, Grace Cleland, Anshuman Parikh and junior Ellen Shi were already working on a way to advocate for the city that has become their home. After reading a Wall Street Journal article in November 2017 that discussed the strengths and weaknesses of potential contenders, the students immediately recognized Atlanta as a clear fit for Amazon. Thats when they came up with the idea for #WhyAtlanta, a statewide student video campaign. After all, Why Atlanta? was a question the students had already asked themselves a few years earlier when deciding on where to embark on their undergraduate careers. I really wanted to make a lasting impact on my hometown, says Anshuman Parikh, who grew up in Atlanta and has been able to see first-hand how important student culture has been to the city. Ive been surprised to find in the last four years how my appreciation for Atlanta has only grown. Ive been thrilled to be a part of the changes this city is making. Ellen Shi, the only junior on the team, came to Atlanta three years ago from the Northeast. The strong community here has even exceeded my initial expectations, says Shi. I genuinely believe the people here will have the most lasting impact on me, and make up a core part of Emory and Atlanta as a whole. Working with the community Surveying media coverage of Amazons search for a second headquarters, the #WhyAtlanta team quickly noticed that no one was talking to the generation most likely to take those jobs. "We wanted to make sure Atlanta's passionate, innovative spirit was fully captured in the pitch to Amazon, says Kossoff. And what better way to prove Atlantas strength in this area than to have its future workforce come forward to directly highlight the citys talent and culture? The team members created a detailed proposal they distributed throughout multiple channels within Emory, and also to their selected ambassadors at 11 other Atlanta area schools. The proposal called for interested university students in Georgia to create a 1-2 minute, high-quality video that displays Atlantas innovative spirit, talented young work force and vibrant community. The plan was to pull highlights from the submissions to create one final video. The students first approached Andrea Hershatter, senior associate dean of undergraduate education at Emorys Goizueta Business School, with their idea. She connected them with Dan Gordon, an Emory alumnus who was then COO of Atlanta, who was able to get the #WhyAtlanta team a meeting with Invest Atlanta and the Georgia State Department of Economic Development. I really admire the students energy and enthusiasm in setting ambitious goals for partnering with the city and state to help make the case for Atlanta, says Hershatter. This particular group of student leaders is not only intellectually gifted but also pretty experienced in creating positive organizational change. Over 500 people responded to their outreach, and the team received seven official video submissions. The #WhyAtlanta team then selected three finalists, and the final winner was decided by public vote on the #WhyAtlanta Facebook page. The best part of this project for me is the sheer amount of students literally hundreds who were so excited about getting involved and so interested in bringing Amazons powerful presence to our city, says Cleland. Participating schools included Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern University, Oglethorpe University, Medical College of Georgia, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Kennesaw State University, Georgia State University, University of North Georgia, Mercer University and the University of Georgia in Athens. The #WhyAtlanta team was passionate about bringing young people into the decision-making process, something they felt was missing in the proposals from other cities. They are excited and honored to have had the chance to share their voice in this process, and would love to see more students do the same. As a generation looking to find a foothold in which to start their professional careers, students are heavily impacted by where a company chooses to put down roots and grow." Our view was that since students are the future workforce for companies like Amazon, its critical to have their opinions included in a decision regarding a move like this, says Parikh. Additionally, we feel that providing a bottom-up perspective on culture, talent and community allows for a more holistic understanding of the qualities that Amazon has stated they are looking for. Whats next for team #WhyAtlanta Amazon would join Atlanta in a pivotal growth period, notes Kossoff. I think Atlanta is going to grow tremendously in the future, regardless of Amazons decision. Being a part of this growth is why so many students and young professionals are choosing to begin their careers in Atlanta. Speaking of Atlantas young professional population, after Commencement, Kossoff and Parikh will join Bain & Companys Atlanta office as associate consultants. Cleland will join Deloitte Consultings Atlanta office as a business analyst, and Velappan will join Simon Kucher & Partners Atlanta office as a consultant. Shi, a junior, will intern at SunTrusts Atlanta office as a business analyst this summer. These students, like the hundreds who participated in the #WhyAtlanta video, want to be agents of change. They know Atlanta is a vibrant, diverse city on the rise, and their hope is Amazon executives will see their video as a sign of what young people can accomplish. If you want to really understand the city you are choosing as your HQ2, you have to know the community, culture and talent that exists within it, says Velappan. And you have to listen to the people who have chosen to study, work and live in the city. When the leaders of #WhyAtlanta are asked to describe in one word what the city means to them, their passion and enthusiasm is contagious. Rising, says Shi. Dynamic, says Parikh. Potential, says Kossoff. Supportive, says Velappan. Home, says Kosoff. Atlanta to me is home. Its not where I am from, its not where my family lives, yet this city has welcomed me and my dreams and path since I arrived for college. This is a place that has made me comfortable and part of something, and I am proud to call it my home. Both now and in the future. No matter where Amazon decides to go, one thing is clear: With students like this, the city of Atlanta has already won. NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Asia Society announced today that Reuters reporters Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo have won the 2018 Osborn Elliott Prize for Excellence in Journalism on Asia. The Burmese journalists led a team of Reuters reporters in Myanmar and Bangladesh who provided searing accounts of violence against the Rohingya, the widespread burning and looting of Rohingya villages, and the rape and killings of Rohingya children, women, and men. Their arrest in December prompted an international outcry, but efforts to secure their release have failed to date. The independent jury that awards the prize called the reporting "courageous and risk-taking in its real-time chronicling of mass atrocities." This is the first time in the prize's 15-year history that the winners have been jailed for their work. "Four years ago, Reuters won the Osborn Elliott Prize for their coverage of the plight of the Rohingya," said Jury Chair Marcus Brauchli. "They have continued to prioritize coverage of the Rohingya's desperate situation, backing reporting like that done by Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and providing the earliest accounts of the horrific violence and sustained campaigns of ethnic cleansing in Myanmar. Work like this requires tenacity, commitment, and fearlessness." Working in the conflict areas of Myanmar and the refugee camps in Bangladesh, the reporting team covered the army's campaign against the Rohingya in northern Rakhine and revealed the perils faced by refugees crossing the border. Reporting was amplified by interactive multimedia presentations that portrayed the full extent of the refugee problem and the violence, including the widespread burning of Rohingya villages. Reuters will be honored at a luncheon event and awards ceremony at Asia Society in New York on May 23. NPR Middle East correspondent Deborah Amos will moderate a discussion about the series and the Rohingya, and Jury Chair Marcus Brauchli will present the award. Asia Society's "Oz Prize" is the premier honor bestowed for excellence in journalism on Asia. The $10,000 cash award is presented annually to the best example of journalism about Asia during the previous calendar year. It honors the late Osborn Elliott, legendary journalist, author and former editor-in-chief of Newsweek. Elliott was a leading figure in the field of journalism who became one of the earliest practitioners of "civic journalism"the deliberate focusing of the journalistic enterprise on urgent issues of public policy. "This is not just powerful journalism, it is also brave journalism," said Tom Nagorski, Executive Vice President of Asia Society. "We are excited to honor Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, as well as Reuters, with the Osborn Elliott Prize. Their work is precisely the type of reporting that our late trustee Osborn Elliott championed in his illustrious career as an editor." Read Reuters prize-winning stories here: The jury also recognized the following as 2018 finalists: Associated Press Todd Pitman , Kristin Gelineau , Robin McDowell , Esther Htusan, Muneeza Naqvi and photos/video by Wong Maye-E, Rishabh Raj Jain , Bernat Armangue, Gemunu Amarasinghe and Dar Yasin for a series on the "Rohingya Exodus." Rappler Patricia Evangelista with photography by Carlo Gabucocoverage of extrajudicial killings in the Philippines' state-sanctioned drug war. The Oz Prize jury is chaired by Brauchli, managing partner of North Base Media and former editor of the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, and includes Dorinda Elliott, SVP/Director, Center for Business, China Institute; Mei Fong, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author; Alec McCabe, Bloomberg Emerging Markets; and Somini Sengupta, international climate change reporter, The New York Times. Previous winners of the prize are: Ellen Barry , The New York Times series on role of women in India's society and economy (2017) Sudarsan Raghavan , Washington Post series on Afghanistan (2016) Bloomberg News team series on pollution and development in a Changing India (2015) Reuters team stories on the plight of Myanmar's Rohingya (2014) Bloomberg News team Revolution to Riches series (2013) April Rabkin , Fast Company series on China (2012) Keith Bradsher , The New York Times series on China's development of green technologies (2010) International Herald Tribune team coverage of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (2009) Shai Oster , Wall Street Journal series on China's Three Gorges Dam (2008) Evan Osnos , Chicago Tribune series on the global effects of China's growth (2007) Barbara Demick , Los Angeles Times reportage on North Korea and Matthew McAllester of Newsday - series on Nepal (2006) Philip P. Pan , Washington Post stories on individuals challenging authoritarianism in China (2005) John Pomfret , Washington Post inside look at generational changes in China (2004) Elisabeth Rosenthal , The New York Times coverage of the AIDS crisis in China (2003) About Asia Society Founded in 1956 by John D. Rockefeller 3rd, Asia Society is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to address a range of challenges facing Asia and the rest of the world. Asia Society has cultural centers and public buildings in New York, Hong Kong, and Houston, and offices in Los Angeles, Manila, Mumbai, Tokyo, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, Sydney, Washington, D.C., and Zurich. Across the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, Asia Society provides insight, generates ideas, and promotes collaboration between Asia and the world. SOURCE Asia Society Related Links http://www.asiasociety.org JERUSALEM, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Israel Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman will address the American Jewish Committee (AJC) Global Forum in Jerusalem. The four-day conference, June 10-13, is the premier Jewish global advocacy organization's signature annual event. More than 1,500 participants, including hundreds of young Jews, from across the United States and many other countries are expected to attend. It will be the first time in AJC's 112-year history that the AJC Global Forum convenes outside the United States. "We are coming to Israel, to the capital city of Jerusalem, to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Israel's rebirth, and to demonstrate by our presence our deep solidarity with and enduring support for Israel," said AJC CEO David Harris. "Hearing directly from our friend, Minister Lieberman, regarding his perspectives on the security challenges Israel is facing now, whether from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, or others, is especially timely." The nonpartisan AJC maintains headquarters in New York City, 22 regional offices across the United States, 11 posts worldwide, including Jerusalem, and 35 international association agreements. Lieberman and AJC share roots in the former Soviet republic of Moldova. The minister was born in the capital city of Kishinev, the site of pogroms at the beginning of the 20th century that led directly to the creation of AJC in 1906. Lieberman immigrated to Israel in 1978, and first won election to the Knesset in 1999. The founder and leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, Lieberman has served in several Cabinet positions. Prior to his current position, he was the country's Minister of Foreign Affairs. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org LINTHICUM, Md., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Urological Association (AUA) has named Jennifer Robles, MD, as its 2018 Science & Quality Fellow. Now in its second cycle, this program is designed to prepare the next generation of urologists for key roles in the Science and Quality arena through intensive training, and the selection process is highly competitive. The AUA developed the Science and Quality Fellow program in 2016 to advance the fields of guidelines, quality and data, and to help residents and fellows develop insight into how the AUA improves and promotes the advancement of evidence-based science. Science & Quality Fellows spend a full year engaged in critical seminars, conferences and meetings at the national level. Fellows also engage in other educational activities such as attending the Brandeis University Executive Leadership Program in Health Policy and Management and the Epidemiology and Population Health Summer Institute at Columbia University (online course). "We had a number of highly qualified applicants for this year's Science and Quality Fellow, and the committee had quite a challenge to select the best one," said AUA Science & Quality Chair Dr. J. Stuart Wolf Jr., who led the selection committee. "We are proud to recognize Dr. Robles with this honor, and we look forward to watching as she grows and expands her already impressive credentials and work in the field of quality improvement." Dr. Robles is a urologist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, where she is currently completing Endourology/Laparoscopy and VA National Quality Scholar fellowships. She is a graduate of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and completed her residency in urologic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. She has been involved in a number of quality improvement projects during both her fellowships and her residency, including projects related to operating room safety and post-operative care of urologic surgery patients. About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology, and has more than 20,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy. Contact: Wendy Waldsachs Isett, AUA 410-689-3789 (office), [email protected] SOURCE American Urological Association Related Links http://www.AUAnet.org HOUSTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today it has been awarded a contract by Krishak Bharati Cooperative Ltd (KRIBHCO) for a revamp of its ammonia plant at Hazira, India. Under the terms of this contract, KBR will provide technology licensing and basic engineering design (LBED) for a revamp of the KRIBHCO ammonia plant at Hazira, India. "KRIBHCO was one of the first clients in India to implement KBR's Purifier Ammonia technology," said John Derbyshire, President, KBR Technology. "This contract emphasizes the continued trust and confidence that KRIBHCO has in KBR Ammonia technology and strengthens our long standing partnership." KBR is a leader across the world in ammonia technology and has been involved in the licensing, design, engineering, and/or construction of more than 230 grass roots ammonia plants and over 100 revamp ammonia projects globally. Estimated revenue associated with this project was booked into backlog of unfilled orders for KBR's Technology & Consulting Business Segment in FY 2017. About KBR, Inc. KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Government Services and Hydrocarbons sectors. KBR employs approximately 34,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 75 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Services, serving government customers globally, including capabilities that cover the full life-cycle of defense, space, aviation and other government programs and missions from research and development, through systems engineering, test and evaluation, program management, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics Technology, including proprietary technology focused on the monetization of hydrocarbons (especially natural gas and natural gas liquids) in ethylene and petrochemicals; ammonia, nitric acid and fertilizers; oil refining and gasification Hydrocarbons Services, including onshore oil and gas; LNG (liquefaction and regasification)/GTL; oil refining; petrochemicals; chemicals; fertilizers; differentiated EPC; maintenance services (Brown & Root Industrial Services); offshore oil and gas (shallow-water, deep-water, subsea); floating solutions (FPU, FPSO, FLNG & FSRU); program management and consulting services KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, integrated EPC delivery and long term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver. Visit www.kbr.com Forward Looking Statement The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; the scope and enforceability of the company's indemnities from its former parent; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company. KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. SOURCE KBR, Inc. Related Links http://www.kbr.com Mr. Edwin Ng, the Chairman & CEO of KinerjaPay Corp, commented, "This award is a result of our hardwork to build KinerjaPay as a reputable digital payment company in Indonesia. It also gives a strong testimony to everyone including our partners and shareholders that KinerjaPay deserves such recognition after its breakthrough in the Indonesian market. We see this as a stepping stone to achieve our vision and mission. We always ensure that we give our highest quality of service to every user. I am grateful for every staff and director who have supported our company to be better each and every day." About KinerjaPay KinerjaPay enables consumers to "Pay, Play and Buy" through its secure web portal and mobile applications. Based in Indonesia, the Company provides easy and convenient payment solution while shopping online at its marketplace platform. With its current omni-channel platform, users can perform various payment services such as credit card bill payment, utility, phone bill, healthcare insurance and direct transfer to anyone at their convenience. KinerjaPay is also planning to launch other eCommerce verticals such as travel market, delivery services, and online gaming in the near future. The Company's services are available through its mobile applications and on its website at www.kinerjapay.com. Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements, about KPAY's expectations, beliefs or intentions regarding, among other things, its product development efforts, business, financial condition, results of operations, strategies or prospects. In addition, from time to time, KPAY or its representatives have made or may make forward-looking statements, orally or in writing. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan," "may," "should" or "anticipate" or their negatives or other variations of these words or other comparable words or by the fact that these statements do not relate strictly to historical or current matters. These forward-looking statements may be included in, but are not limited to, various filings made by KPAY with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, press releases or oral statements made by or with the approval of one of KPAY's authorized executive officers. Forward-looking statements relate to anticipated or expected events, activities, trends or results as of the date they are made. Because forward-looking statements relate to matters that have not yet occurred, these statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause KPAY's actual results to differ materially from any future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Many factors could cause KPAY 's actual activities or results to differ materially from the activities and results anticipated in such forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the factors summarized in KPAY 's filings with the SEC. In addition, KPAY operates in an industry sector where securities values are highly volatile and may be influenced by economic and other factors beyond its control. KPAY does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Please see the risk factors associated with an investment in our securities which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 11, 2016. For more information, please visit our website http://www.kinerjapay.co. There you will find access to all of our past press releases and SEC filings regarding the activities discussed in this letter. Media Contact: KinerjaPay Corp. Email: [email protected] +62-8229-777-0098 SOURCE KinerjaPay Corp. SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- First 5 commissions representing counties throughout California gathered at the State Capitol today to celebrate the 20th anniversary of voters' passage of Proposition 10. The 1998 ballot initiative created the First 5 network with dedicated funding from a tax on tobacco. Representatives of these Commissions spent the morning and afternoon calling upon lawmakers to prioritize early childhood development programs in budget and policy decisions. During a break between meetings with lawmakers, Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon delivered a keynote during a celebration on the Capitol steps that included a reading corner with Sesame Street's Rosita and Potter the Otter, an interactive science experiment, arts and crafts, an exhibit display of First 5 California's achievements and the First 5 Express Van. The event also featured a First 5 California photo collage on the Governor's Wall. Assemblymembers Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters), Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) received "Champions for Children" Awards for their work advancing early childhood issues. They were recognized for backing efforts this legislative session to increase pay and recruitment of child care providers (Aguiar-Curry, AB 2292); bolstering home visiting for CalWORKs families with small children (Arambula, AB 992); and advancing more rigorous developmental screening practices (McCarty, AB 11). Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) was also recognized for serving as a former commissioner of First 5 Sonoma County. "Our kids are our collective future. These legislators' commitment to the wellbeing of California's youngest children is a step in the right direction," said Moira Kenney, Executive Director of First 5 Association, which represents First 5s in the state's 58 counties. "Families are struggling across our statewith poverty, quality child care, and access to early intervention services. By supporting kids in the early years, we can shape the course of their livesand our society." "A child's wellbeing is a shared responsibility with a shared benefit for our society," said Kim Belshe, Executive Director of First 5 LA. "We need to support children at the earliest possible moments to make the greatest impact. We need leaders and lawmakers to prioritize these voluntary, evidence-based home visiting programs. They are the best way to level the playing field so all kids have the opportunity to succeed." To access the video news release providing coverage of today's launch event please click here, enter Username: five, Password (case sensitive): five. About First 5 LA First 5 LA is an independent County agency in Los Angeles that advocates on behalf of parents with young children to help every child, prenatal to age 5, be healthier, safer and better prepared for kindergarten. Knowing 90 percent of a child's brain is developed by age 5, First 5 LA partners with other county agencies, parents and organizations to help elected officials prioritize funding for early childhood education, health care and other programs that young children and their parents need. Please visit www.first5la.org for more information. About First 5 California voters passed Proposition 10 in 1998, creating First 5 commissions in all 58 counties and a state commission to support the healthy development of children from birth to age five. Together, First 5 touches the lives of more than one million kids, families, and caregivers each year, and strengthens our state by giving kids the best start in life. Learn more: www.first5association.org. SOURCE First 5 LA Related Links https://www.first5la.org Lean Focus CEO, Damon Baker says..."Our unique partnership with Pampered Chef affords us the opportunity to teach clients the Lean Focus Business System set of tools in a working environment and not just a classroom setting. Participants are able to see lean best practices in action and ask questions to understand more deeply how to successfully take these lessons learned back to their respective companies. Participants are able to observe live, Pampered Chef's success in deploying Strategy Deployment in a co-located Obeya (big room) setting, with dedicated staff, visual management, and problem solving in action." World-Class Workshops & Training Curriculum At Lean Focus, the dedicated Training Development staff are always creating new and innovative training workshops and tools. They have over 50 tools & systems available as training options and certifications for your teams in their Lean Focus Business System (LBS). Their experienced instructors have all previously held executive-level roles and average over 20 years of hands-on experience delivering results in world-class organizations such as: Danaher, John Deere, and Boeing. The first sessions at LBSU will be offered June 11-15th and will feature Lean Focus' proprietary workshops on: A3 Problem Solving, Daily Management, and Strategy Deployment. To enroll in upcoming training/workshops or to learn more about Lean Focus Business System University, you can contact Lean Focus at 630.800.8519, [email protected] or visit online at https://leanfocus.com/events About Lean Focus LLC We are results-driven Leaders that use our system to help clients capture Growth, Profit, and Working Capital opportunities. Our VISION is to build lasting continuous improvement cultures that create strategic advantage for our clients. Lean Focus is committed to helping our clients accelerate value creation through the adoption of our Lean Focus Business System. A "who's who" of global leaders in every industry, our clients include some of the world's most respected brands and several members of the Fortune 1000. Our engagements deliver between 5:1 to 12:1 ROI. Contact: April Lee Managing Director Lean Focus LLC Phone: 630.800.8519 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Lean Focus LLC Related Links http://www.leanfocus.com Story Highlights Confidence in honesty of elections at 15% 95% in Lebanon see widespread government corruption Only 16% of Lebanese are thriving WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lebanon heads to the polls this weekend for its first election in nearly a decade. The long-awaited election, along with a new voting system, will likely test what remaining faith Lebanese have in their elections: Just 15% of Lebanese expressed confidence in the honesty of their election process in 2017 -- tying the previous lows. Although national elections are supposed to take place every four years, Lebanon's last election took place in 2009. That year, 39% of Lebanese expressed confidence in the honesty of their elections. Since then, the government has postponed elections on the grounds that the winner-take-all system was not representative of Lebanon's different sects and political voices -- and resulted in a parliament that did not reflect the population. The vote this weekend will use the proportional representation electoral system that was agreed upon only last summer. The new system is supposed to give smaller parties that did not have a chance to compete in the previous system a chance to compete in the new one. The entrance of previously less represented political voices into the election fray has created a new degree of uncertainty about the election's outcome. Nearly All Lebanese See Rampant Corruption in Government Lebanese distrust in the honesty of their elections is one manifestation of their seemingly perpetual belief that their government is corrupt and cannot be trusted. The public almost universally believes that corruption is widespread in their government, with 95% saying this in 2017, up five percentage points from the previous year and one of the highest percentages in Gallup's polling history. With so many questioning the integrity of the national government year after year, Lebanese confidence in their nation's leadership has never been high. However, in the fragile economic and political climate of the past four years, the percentage who are confident in the national government has never topped 25%. In 2017, 22% expressed confidence in the national government. Few Lebanese Thriving Ahead of Election Lebanese will take these long-simmering frustrations with their government into the voting booth with them this weekend, but they will likely also be thinking about their own deteriorating lives under the current leadership. Sixteen percent of Lebanese in 2017 rated their current and future lives positively enough to be considered "thriving" -- down seven points from the previous year and on the lower end of percentages since 2006. For the past decade, Gallup has asked residents of Lebanon and the rest of the world to evaluate their lives on the Cantril Self-Anchoring Striving Scale, where "0" represents the worst possible life and "10" represents the best possible life. Gallup classifies people as "thriving" if they rate their current lives a 7 or higher and their lives in five years an 8 or higher, and "suffering" if they rate both their current and future life situations a 4 or lower. Those in the middle are "struggling." ##SPEEDBUMP## Implications Despite Lebanese President Michel Aoun's recent warnings against vote-buying by candidates and instigating sectarianism, mainstream media, word-of-mouth and social media are all reporting unprecedented levels of vote-buying -- with well-funded candidates reportedly being more generous than ever in enticing voters. This situation is unlikely to instill much faith among an electorate that has very little confidence in the electoral process to begin with. The bigger question is whether Lebanese will listen to Aoun's call and vote their consciences at what could be a political turning point for Lebanon. Julie Ray contributed to this article. HOUSTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Houston-based Leslie Doggett Industries' affiliate the Doggett Auto Group has purchased one of Houston's oldest and largest Ford dealerships, Lone Star Ford (8477 North Freeway, between the North Loop 610 and Beltway 8 on I-45 North) from North Carolina-based Sonic Automotive Inc. (NYSE: SAH) for an undisclosed amount effective May 1, 2018. On July 31, 2018, Doggett will move the store to 9115 North Freeway, to the lot adjacent to Doggett's John Deere Construction and Forestry headquarters. Tony Gracely, one of the best known and well-respected figures in the automobile dealership industry, is heading up the Doggett Auto Group. Gracely said of the transaction: "Doggett's outstanding reputation as the leader in customer service and support in the commercial 18-wheeler, industrial and construction equipment industries is going to translate to success in the Ford business." Gracely continued, "Doggett has a long history acquiring units of large public companies and dramatically improving and growing those businesses with their highly-professional and family-oriented approach." Doggett has become the largest dealership group in North America for three separate first-tier original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the construction equipment and industrial (forklift) industries. This unprecedented success and growth has been made possible by Doggett's extreme focus on customer experience enjoyment and satisfaction. Doggett Ford's general sales manager, Trey Trailer, advises customers looking for a new or used car or truck to "come see Doggett Ford once and you'll be a customer for life. Doggett has been the market leader selling and servicing John Deere tractors, Toyota forklifts, Link-Belt cranes and Freightliner trucks for decades and understands what it means to provide world class customer service." Doggett's used car manager, Ruben Mendoza said "we are dedicated to having one of the best quality and best priced used truck and car inventories in Texas with bilingual sales people ready to help every customer in the market, from first-time used car buyers to commercial fleet owners. We are proud to be the home of the Precio Perfecto". Doggett was ranked as Houston's 10th largest private company by the Houston Chronicle in 2017 with 33 full-service heavy equipment dealerships including 4 Freightliner on-highway and vocational trucks dealerships (dump, waste, mixer and trash bodied trucks), 17 John Deere Construction and Forestry Equipment dealerships, 4 Link Belt Crane dealerships, and 7 Toyota Industrial Equipment (forklifts) dealerships. With over $1 billion in sales and 1300+ full time employees, Doggett is one of North America's largest heavy equipment dealership groups. Doggett is family owned without private equity or outside investment. William Doggett (Doggett's General Counsel) said, "Ford Motor Company and Doggett Ford are eager to return this store to its former status as one of the United States' largest volume Ford stores. We are committed to achieving a customer satisfaction rating among the highest in any major metropolitan market. We are also very proud to represent Ford, and to have the opportunity to take over one of Houston's oldest and best known dealerships." Harry Krusleski, Doggett's parts and service manager, added "we live and breathe customer support at Doggett; our exceptional technicians are our lifeblood, they are everything to us because, in the end, they fulfill our promise and guarantee of a positive experience for all our customers." SOURCE Leslie Doggett Industries VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. (CSE: LDS), (OTCQX: LDSYF), (Frankfurt: LD6, WKN: A14XHT) ("LDS" or the "Company") announces signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with Quality Resources, LLC ("QR") to acquire commercial extraction technology for cannabis products for the California market. QR has developed commercial scalability in the areas of extraction and distillation for cannabis oil. CSPA Group Inc., together with LDS Scientific Inc. and LDS Agrotech Inc., intends to use QR's technology to expand its market capabilities to include customer-specific contract extraction and distillation. In addition to the extraction and distillation technology, QR is developing a pesticide removal technology to achieve clean cannabis oil from previously contaminated cannabis raw plant and processed materials. The addition of the QR technologies is intended to develop new revenue streams that will be capable of supporting the supply chain demands of CSPA Group's products as well as many other manufacturers, and dramatically reduce cost of raw material for all of the CSPA Group's product lines. Brad Eckenweiler, CEO of LDS, stated, "The addition of the QR technologies will allow CSPA Group to offer extraction and distillation to the entire California cannabis industry at a price point that should cause most manufacturers in California to rethink the cost and the challenges of self-operated extraction and distillation." The Company intends to create the highest purity lab tested white label product at every level of extraction and distillation, along with guaranteed on-time deliveries, and dependable service. About Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. is a licensed, state-compliant vertically integrated cannabis-related company. From our isogenic pollination nursery to our cutting edge, state-of-the-art production facility located in Southern California, LDS has become one of the most diverse, innovative and scientifically based cannabis companies throughout North America. The Company's technology produces infused strips (similar to breath strips) that are not only a safer, healthier option to smoking but also a new way to accurately meter the dosage and assure the purity of the product. From start to finish, the production process tests for quality and composition of all the ingredients used in each and every strip, resulting in a delivery system that is safe, consistent and effective. On behalf of the board of directors of Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. Brad Eckenweiler CEO & Director FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: [email protected] 1-866-347-5058 Cautionary Disclaimer Statement: The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. In addition, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Although Congress has prohibited the US Justice Department from spending federal funds to interfere with the implementation of state medical marijuana laws, this prohibition must be renewed each year to remain in effect. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. SOURCE Lifestyle Delivery Systems Inc. Related Links http://www.lifestyledeliverysystem.com BOCA RATON, Fla., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lynn University today announced its official designation as a Fair Trade University. Lynn students, with oversight from the university's new Social Impact Lab, spearheaded completion of the requirements in less than three monthsthe fastest of any designated institution in program history. "Purchasing Fair Trade products and supporting fair working conditions should be the norm at universities nationwide," said senior Gabby Monahan, who led the application process alongside peer Megan Selfridge. "This initiative will help our campus continue to move towards a better, greener and more sustainable future." Fair Trade is an economic system that assures the products consumers buy are grown, harvested, crafted and traded in ways that improve lives and protect the environment. As part of a national initiative, Fair Trade Campaigns officially recognizes U.S. schools that are committed to educating students about the issues of Fair Trade and sourcing Fair Trade products. "Few things are more exciting than seeing today's youth understand the role that they can play as consumers in making the world a fairer and just place," said Billy Linstead Goldsmith, director of Fair Trade Campaigns. "To see them become not just conscious consumers, but advocates for Fair Trade, should challenge all of us to do the same." Lynn met five essential requirements, which included making Fair Trade products available on campus and passing a Fair Trade resolution. "While most campuses have difficulty meeting each of the Fair Trade requirements, Lynn was a step ahead, given that Sodexo has been sourcing Fair Trade products," said Selfridge about Lynn's dining partner. "The added support of the Lynn community was paramount to our success and the swift nature in which we were able to achieve this esteemed designation." Deepening the school's commitment to its new designation, Lynn will serve Fair Trade Vega Coffee on campus beginning fall 2018. Rigoberto Beltran '17, founded Lynn's relationship with the Nicaraguan company when he interned with the organization as part of the Ambassador Corps. Lynn is the second university in Florida and the 48th in the nation to earn the Fair Trade University distinction. About Lynn University Lynn University is an independent college based in Boca Raton, Florida, with approximately 3,000 students from 100 countries. U.S. News & World Report named it no. 1 in the region for most international students. Lynn's NCAA Division II Fighting Knights have won 23 national titles, its Conservatory of Music features a world-renowned faculty of performers, and its nationally recognized Institute for Achievement and Learning empowers students with learning differences. The school's Dialogues curriculum and award-winning iPad program help Lynn graduates gain the intellectual flexibility and global experience to fulfill their potential in an ever-changing world. For more information, visit lynn.edu. About Fair Trade Campaigns Fair Trade Campaigns is a grassroots movement mobilizing thousands of Fair Trade advocates on campuses and communities across the USA. Fair Trade Campaigns recognize towns, colleges, universities, schools and congregations in the US for embedding Fair Trade purchasing practices and principles into policy, as well as the social foundations of their communities. Project collaborators include Fair Trade USA, Fair for Life, and Fairtrade America, third-party certifiers of Fair Trade products in the United States, the Fair Trade Federation, a North American trade association of organizations fully committed to Fair Trade. Visit www.FairTradeCampaigns.org for more information. CONTACT: Jamie D'Aria, 561-237-7629, [email protected] SOURCE Lynn University Related Links http://www.lynn.edu KELOWNA, BC, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Marapharm Ventures Inc. (CSE: MDM) (OTCQX: MRPHF) (FSE: 2M0) ("Marapharm" or the "Company") is very pleased to announce that on Thursday April 26th, NV Energy crews arrived early on an expedited work order to launch the installation of our permanent Three Phase Transformer. NV Energy required complete control of the buildings and surrounding site to provide a safe transition from temporary to permanent power. By late afternoon, NV Energy confirmed that the transformer was successfully connected energizing both buildings, passing multiple stress tests on the system. NV Energy will send a final crew this the week to configure and complete the installation of the electric meter, signifying to the State of Nevada that we are ready for the rescheduling of their follow-up building inspection. The Company holds three recreational cannabis licenses which are approved to operate within these buildings. "We are ecstatic that NV Energy prioritized our installation several weeks earlier than originally anticipated! We thank NV Energy and their great staff for helping us move ahead of schedule in this regard." Corey Klassen, VP of Corporate Development. ABOUT MARAPHARM VENTURES INC. www.marapharm.com Marapharm is a publicly traded company investing in the medical and recreational cannabis space, since 2014. Marapharm has rapidly expanded to include having cultivation, production and dispensary locations in the key North American states of Washington, Nevada, and California, and are seeking expansion opportunities worldwide. SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: facebook.com/marapharm Twitter: twitter.com/marapharm Web Program: marapharm.tv STOCK EXCHANGES: Marapharm trades in Canada, ticker symbol MDM on the CSE, in the United States, ticker symbol MRPHF on the OTCQX, and in Europe, ticker symbol 2M0 on the FSE. Marapharm also trades on other recognized platforms in Europe including Stuttgart, Tradegate, L & S, Quotnx, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Berlin. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQX has approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the CSE, the FSE nor the OTCQX accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. MARIJUANA INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT: Canadian listings (CSE) will remain in good standing as long as they provide the disclosure that is rightly required by regulators and complying with applicable licensing requirements and the regulatory framework enacted by the applicable state in which they operate. Marapharm owns marijuana licenses in California and Nevada. Marijuana is legal in each state however marijuana remains illegal under US federal law and the approach to enforcement of US federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that adverse enforcement actions could affect their investments and that Marapharm's ability to access private and public capital could be affected and or could not be available to support continuing operations. Marapharm's business is conducted in a manner consistent with state law and is in compliance with licensing requirements. Copies of licenses are posted on Marapharm's website. Marapharm has internal compliance procedures in place and has compliance focused attorneys engaged in jurisdictions to monitor changes in laws for compliance with US federal and state law on an ongoing basis. These law firms inform any necessary changes to our policies and procedures for compliance in Canada and the US. FORWARD - LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", 'may", "will", "project", "should", 'believe", and similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward- looking statements are based on reasonable assumption but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and the forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. SOURCE Marapharm Ventures Inc. Related Links www.marapharm.com ORLANDO, Fla., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: VAC) today reported first quarter financial results and reaffirmed its guidance for the full year 2018. The company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," as amended, at the beginning of 2018. With this adoption, the company also restated its 2017 reported financial results and has provided a reconciliation to its previously reported financial results. First Quarter 2018 Results: Net income was $36 million , or $1.32 fully diluted earnings per share ("EPS"), compared to net income of $28 million , or $1.00 fully diluted EPS, in the first quarter of 2017. , or fully diluted earnings per share ("EPS"), compared to net income of , or fully diluted EPS, in the first quarter of 2017. Adjusted net income was $38 million , compared to adjusted net income of $28 million in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 35 percent. Adjusted fully diluted EPS was $1.39 , compared to adjusted fully diluted EPS of $1.01 in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 38 percent. , compared to adjusted net income of in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 35 percent. Adjusted fully diluted EPS was , compared to adjusted fully diluted EPS of in the first quarter of 2017, an increase of 38 percent. Adjusted EBITDA totaled $63 million , an increase of $9 million , or 17 percent, year-over-year. , an increase of , or 17 percent, year-over-year. Total company vacation ownership contract sales were $204 million , an increase of $4 million , or 2 percent, compared to the prior year period. North America vacation ownership contract sales were $187 million , an increase of $4 million , or 2 percent, compared to the prior year period. , an increase of , or 2 percent, compared to the prior year period. vacation ownership contract sales were , an increase of , or 2 percent, compared to the prior year period. The company estimates that the 2017 hurricanes negatively impacted contract sales by more than $6 million in the first quarter. In addition, the company changed its financial reporting calendar at the beginning of 2017, and as a result, the prior year first quarter had two additional days of sales. Excluding both impacts, we estimate that total company and North America vacation ownership contract sales would have grown 6 percent and 7 percent, respectively, over the prior year period. in the first quarter. In addition, the company changed its financial reporting calendar at the beginning of 2017, and as a result, the prior year first quarter had two additional days of sales. Excluding both impacts, we estimate that total company and vacation ownership contract sales would have grown 6 percent and 7 percent, respectively, over the prior year period. North America VPG totaled $3,728 , a 1 percent increase from the first quarter of 2017. North America tours increased 3 percent year-over-year. , a 1 percent increase from the first quarter of 2017. tours increased 3 percent year-over-year. Development margin was $22 million , flat to the first quarter of 2017. Development margin percentage was 12.9 percent compared to 13.8 percent in the prior year quarter. , flat to the first quarter of 2017. Development margin percentage was 12.9 percent compared to 13.8 percent in the prior year quarter. Total company adjusted development margin percentage, which excludes the impact of revenue reportability and other charges, was 16.4 percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 18.4 percent in the first quarter of 2017. North America adjusted development margin percentage, which excludes the impact of revenue reportability and other charges, was 19.9 percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 21.2 percent in the first quarter of 2017. adjusted development margin percentage, which excludes the impact of revenue reportability and other charges, was 19.9 percent in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 21.2 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Rental revenues totaled $74 million , a $7 million , or 10 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Rental revenues net of expenses were $18 million , a $4 million , or 31 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. , a , or 10 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Rental revenues net of expenses were , a , or 31 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Resort management and other services revenues totaled $70 million , a $3 million , or 4 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Resort management and other services revenues, net of expenses, totaled $32 million , a $2 million , or 8 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. , a , or 4 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Resort management and other services revenues, net of expenses, totaled , a , or 8 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Financing revenues totaled $35 million , a $3 million , or 10 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Financing revenues, net of expenses and consumer financing interest expense, were $25 million , a $2 million , or 11 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. , a , or 10 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. Financing revenues, net of expenses and consumer financing interest expense, were , a , or 11 percent, increase from the first quarter of 2017. During the first quarter of 2018, the company returned $23 million to its shareholders through quarterly cash dividends and the repurchase of its common stock. "I am very pleased with our start to 2018. In the first quarter, despite the lingering impact of the 2017 hurricanes, contract sales increased 2 percent and adjusted EBITDA grew 17 percent, as our business continues to grow from the ramp-up of our new locations as well as from marketing programs that continue to grow our tour flow," said Stephen P. Weisz, president and chief executive officer. "Our first quarter performance was in line with our expectations, giving us confidence we can achieve our 2018 full year guidance, including contract sales growth of 7 to 12 percent, net income of $182 million to $193 million, and adjusted EBITDA of $310 million to $325 million." Non-GAAP financial measures, such as adjusted net income, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted fully diluted earnings per share, adjusted free cash flow, and adjusted development margin are reconciled and adjustments are shown and described in further detail on pages A-1 through A-17 of the Financial Schedules that follow. Balance Sheet and Liquidity On March 31, 2018, cash and cash equivalents totaled $324 million. Since the beginning of the year, real estate inventory balances decreased $2 million to $722 million, including $372 million of finished goods and $350 million of land and infrastructure. The company had $1 billion in debt outstanding, net of unamortized debt issuance costs, at the end of the first quarter, an increase of $83 million from year-end 2017, consisting primarily of $750 million of debt related to our securitized notes receivable and $194 million of convertible notes. As of March 31, 2018, the company had approximately $244 million in available capacity under its revolving credit facility after taking into account outstanding letters of credit, and approximately $267 million of gross vacation ownership notes receivable eligible for securitization. Impact of Accounting Changes The company adopted Accounting Standards Update 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)," which, as amended, created ASC Topic 606, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," ("ASC 606"), also referred to as the new "Revenue Standard," on a retrospective basis, at the beginning of 2018, and as a result, recognition of revenue from the sale of vacation ownership products that is deemed collectible is deferred from the point in time at which the statutory rescission period expires to closing, when control of the vacation ownership product is transferred to the customer. In addition, the company aligned its assessment of collectibility of the transaction price for sales of vacation ownership products with its credit granting policies. The company elected the practical expedient to expense all marketing and sales costs as they are incurred. Its consolidated cost reimbursements revenues and expenses increased significantly, as all costs reimbursed to it by property owners' associations are now reported on a gross basis. In connection with the adoption of the new Revenue Standard, the company also reclassified certain revenues and expenses. Summary Restated 2017 Financial Results Reflecting the Impact of Adopting the new Revenue Standard The retrospective adoption of the new Revenue Standard resulted in the following restated quarterly financial results for 2017 for net income and adjusted EBITDA as highlighted below. Net income and adjusted EBITDA are reconciled to the quarterly 2017 reported results on pages A-10 through A-14 of the Financial Schedules. Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 $ in millions Reported Adjusted Reported Adjusted Reported Adjusted Reported Adjusted Net income $33.7 $27.9 $44.3 $48.2 $40.8 $47.0 $108.0 $112.2 Adjusted EBITDA $62.1 $53.6 $77.9 $83.6 $74.0 $84.8 $66.1 $72.0 Outlook The company is reaffirming guidance for the full year 2018 on the non-GAAP financial measures provided below. Pages A-1 through A-17 of the Financial Schedules reconcile the non-GAAP financial measures set forth below to the following full year 2018 expected GAAP results: Net income $182 million to $193 million Fully diluted EPS $6.61 to $7.01 Net cash provided by operating activities $180 million to $205 million Adjusted net income $184 million to $195 million Adjusted fully diluted EPS $6.69 to $7.09 Adjusted EBITDA $310 million to $325 million Adjusted free cash flow $185 million to $215 million Contract sales growth 7 percent to 12 percent First Quarter 2018 Earnings Conference Call The company will hold a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET today to discuss these results and the guidance for full year 2018. Participants may access the call by dialing 877-407-8289 or 201-689-8341 for international callers. A live webcast of the call will also be available in the Investor Relations section of the company's website at www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com. An audio replay of the conference call will be available for seven days and can be accessed at 877-660-6853 or 201-612-7415 for international callers. The conference ID for the recording is 13678402. The webcast will also be available on the company's website. About Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation is a leading global pure-play vacation ownership company, offering a diverse portfolio of quality products, programs and management expertise with over 65 resorts. Its brands include Marriott Vacation Club, The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club and Grand Residences by Marriott. Since entering the industry in 1984 as part of Marriott International, Inc., the company earned its position as a leader and innovator in vacation ownership products. The company preserves high standards of excellence in serving its customers, investors and associates while maintaining a long-term relationship with Marriott International. For more information, please visit www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com. Note on forward-looking statements: This press release and accompanying schedules contain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of federal securities laws, including statements about future operating results, estimates, and assumptions, and similar statements concerning anticipated future events and expectations that are not historical facts. The company cautions you that these statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including volatility in the economy and the credit markets, supply and demand changes for vacation ownership and residential products, competitive conditions, the availability of capital to finance growth, and other matters referred to under the heading "Risk Factors" contained in the company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and in subsequent SEC filings, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in or implied in this press release. These statements are made as of May 3, 2018 and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Financial Schedules Follow MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION FINANCIAL SCHEDULES QUARTER 1, 2018 TABLE OF CONTENTS Consolidated Statements of Income A-1 Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings Per Share - Diluted, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA A-2 North America Segment Financial Results A-3 Asia Pacific Segment Financial Results A-4 Europe Segment Financial Results A-5 Corporate and Other Financial Results A-6 Consolidated Contract Sales to Sale of Vacation Ownership Products and Adjusted Development Margin (Adjusted Sale of Vacation Ownership Products Net of Expenses) A-7 North America Contract Sales to Sale of Vacation Ownership Products and Adjusted Development Margin (Adjusted Sale of Vacation Ownership Products Net of Expenses) A-8 2018 Outlook - Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Earnings Per Share - Diluted, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow A-9 ASC 606 Adjustments - Full Year 2017 A-10 ASC 606 Adjustments - First Quarter 2017 A-11 ASC 606 Adjustments - Second Quarter 2017 A-12 ASC 606 Adjustments - Third Quarter 2017 A-13 ASC 606 Adjustments - Fourth Quarter 2017 A-14 ASC 606 Adjustments - Consolidated Adjusted Development Margin A-15 Non-GAAP Financial Measures A-16 Consolidated Balance Sheets A-18 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows A-19 NOTE: Contract sales consist of the total amount of vacation ownership product sales under contract signed during the period where we have received a down payment of at least ten percent of the contract price, reduced by actual rescissions during the period, inclusive of contracts associated with sales of vacation ownership products on behalf of third parties, which we refer to as "resales contract sales". A-1 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In thousands, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 174,789 $ 163,877 Resort management and other services 70,180 67,419 Financing 35,482 32,111 Rental 74,210 67,679 Cost reimbursements 216,188 197,214 TOTAL REVENUES 570,849 528,300 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 46,363 43,771 Marketing and sales 105,934 97,498 Resort management and other services 37,778 37,471 Financing 4,248 4,017 Rental 55,899 53,708 General and administrative 29,435 27,539 Litigation settlement (103) Consumer financing interest 6,606 5,938 Royalty fee 14,824 16,070 Cost reimbursements 216,188 197,214 TOTAL EXPENSES 517,172 483,226 Gains (losses) and other income (expense), net 446 (59) Interest expense (4,317) (781) Other (3,116) (369) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 46,690 43,865 Provision for income taxes (10,709) (15,975) NET INCOME $ 35,981 $ 27,890 Earnings per share - Basic $ 1.35 $ 1.02 Earnings per share - Diluted $ 1.32 $ 1.00 Basic Shares 26,685 27,251 Diluted Shares 27,306 27,900 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Contract sales $ 203,661 $ 199,618 NOTE: Earnings per share - Basic and Earnings per share - Diluted are calculated using whole dollars. A-2 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION (In thousands, except per share amounts) ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Net income $ 35,981 $ 27,890 Less certain items: Acquisition costs 3,160 412 Litigation settlement (103) (Gains) losses and other (income) expense, net (446) 59 Certain items before provision for income taxes 2,611 471 Provision for income taxes on certain items (629) (173) Adjusted net income ** $ 37,963 $ 28,188 Earnings per share - Diluted $ 1.32 $ 1.00 Adjusted earnings per share - Diluted ** $ 1.39 $ 1.01 Diluted Shares 27,306 27,900 EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Net income $ 35,981 $ 27,890 Interest expense 1 4,317 781 Tax provision 10,709 15,975 Depreciation and amortization 5,601 5,191 EBITDA ** 56,608 49,837 Non-cash share-based compensation 3,601 3,276 Certain items before provision for income taxes 2,611 471 Adjusted EBITDA ** $ 62,820 $ 53,584 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Interest expense excludes consumer financing interest expense. A-3 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA SEGMENT (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 160,696 $ 151,709 Resort management and other services 63,531 62,073 Financing 33,529 30,239 Rental 68,075 62,485 Cost reimbursements 202,626 181,566 TOTAL REVENUES 528,457 488,072 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 40,985 38,923 Marketing and sales 93,383 87,422 Resort management and other services 32,283 32,969 Rental 47,183 46,054 Litigation settlement (211) Royalty fee 1,837 2,690 Cost reimbursements 202,626 181,566 TOTAL EXPENSES 418,086 389,624 Losses and other expense, net (14) (34) Other (2,451) 51 SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS $ 107,906 $ 98,465 SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS $ 107,906 $ 98,465 Less certain items: Acquisition costs 2,500 Litigation settlement (211) Losses and other expense, net 14 34 Certain items 2,303 34 ADJUSTED SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS ** $ 110,209 $ 98,499 Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Contract sales $ 187,144 $ 183,220 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. A-4 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION ASIA PACIFIC SEGMENT (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 11,246 $ 9,155 Resort management and other services 1,313 942 Financing 1,214 1,123 Rental 3,325 2,904 Cost reimbursements 1,766 1,110 TOTAL REVENUES 18,864 15,234 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 3,146 2,058 Marketing and sales 8,637 6,763 Resort management and other services 1,111 872 Rental 5,026 4,326 Royalty fee 253 228 Cost reimbursements 1,766 1,110 TOTAL EXPENSES 19,939 15,357 Losses and other expense, net (20) Other (5) (8) SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS $ (1,080) $ (151) SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS $ (1,080) $ (151) Less certain items: Losses and other expense, net 20 Certain items 20 ADJUSTED SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS ** $ (1,080) $ (131) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Contract sales $ 12,343 $ 11,948 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. A-5 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION EUROPE SEGMENT (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 2,847 $ 3,013 Resort management and other services 5,336 4,404 Financing 739 749 Rental 2,810 2,290 Cost reimbursements 11,796 14,538 TOTAL REVENUES 23,528 24,994 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 410 555 Marketing and sales 3,914 3,313 Resort management and other services 4,384 3,630 Rental 3,690 3,328 Litigation settlement 108 Royalty fee 40 46 Cost reimbursements 11,796 14,538 TOTAL EXPENSES 24,342 25,410 SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS $ (814) $ (416) SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS $ (814) $ (416) Less certain items: Litigation settlement 108 Certain items 108 ADJUSTED SEGMENT FINANCIAL RESULTS ** $ (706) $ (416) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Contract sales $ 4,174 $ 4,450 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. A-6 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION CORPORATE AND OTHER (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products $ 1,822 $ 2,235 Financing 4,248 4,017 General and administrative 29,435 27,539 Consumer financing interest 6,606 5,938 Royalty fee 12,694 13,106 TOTAL EXPENSES 54,805 52,835 Gains (losses) and other income (expense), net 460 (5) Interest expense (4,317) (781) Other (660) (412) TOTAL FINANCIAL RESULTS $ (59,322) $ (54,033) TOTAL FINANCIAL RESULTS $ (59,322) $ (54,033) Less certain items: Acquisition costs 660 412 (Gains) losses and other (income) expense, net (460) 5 Certain items 200 417 ADJUSTED FINANCIAL RESULTS ** $ (59,122) $ (53,616) ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. A-7 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED CONTRACT SALES TO SALE OF VACATION OWNERSHIP PRODUCTS (In thousands) Three Months Ended ($ in thousands) March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Contract sales $ 203,661 $ 199,618 Less resales contract sales (7,540) (5,784) Contract sales, net of resales 196,121 193,834 Plus: Settlement revenue 1 3,514 3,339 Resales revenue 1 2,207 1,585 Revenue recognition adjustments: Reportability (11,509) (14,148) Sales reserve (8,875) (12,723) Other 2 (6,669) (8,010) Sale of vacation ownership products $ 174,789 $ 163,877 1 Previously included in Resort management and other services revenue prior to the adoption of the new Revenue Standard. 2 Adjustment for sales incentives that will not be recognized as Sale of vacation ownership products revenue and other adjustments to Sale of vacation ownership products revenue. MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION CONSOLIDATED ADJUSTED DEVELOPMENT MARGIN (ADJUSTED SALE OF VACATION OWNERSHIP PRODUCTS NET OF EXPENSES) (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Sale of vacation ownership products $ 174,789 $ 163,877 Less: Cost of vacation ownership products 46,363 43,771 Marketing and sales 105,934 97,498 Development margin 22,492 22,608 Revenue recognition reportability adjustment 7,948 9,806 Adjusted development margin ** $ 30,440 $ 32,414 Development margin percentage 1 12.9% 13.8% Adjusted development margin percentage 16.4% 18.4% ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Development margin percentage represents Development margin divided by Sale of vacation ownership products. A-8 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA CONTRACT SALES TO SALE OF VACATION OWNERSHIP PRODUCTS (In thousands) Three Months Ended ($ in thousands) March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Contract sales $ 187,144 $ 183,220 Less resales contract sales (7,212) (5,784) Contract sales, net of resales 179,932 177,436 Plus: Settlement revenue 1 3,492 3,287 Resales revenue 1 2,130 1,585 Revenue recognition adjustments: Reportability (10,904) (13,599) Sales reserve (7,974) (9,767) Other 2 (5,980) (7,233) Sale of vacation ownership products $ 160,696 $ 151,709 1 Previously included in Resort management and other services revenue prior to the adoption of the new Revenue Standard. 2 Adjustment for sales incentives that will not be recognized as Sale of vacation ownership products revenue and other adjustments to Sale of vacation ownership products revenue. MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION NORTH AMERICA ADJUSTED DEVELOPMENT MARGIN (ADJUSTED SALE OF VACATION OWNERSHIP PRODUCTS NET OF EXPENSES) (In thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 Sale of vacation ownership products $ 160,696 $ 151,709 Less: Cost of vacation ownership products 40,985 38,923 Marketing and sales 93,383 87,422 Development margin 26,328 25,364 Revenue recognition reportability adjustment 7,527 9,410 Adjusted development margin ** $ 33,855 $ 34,774 Development margin percentage 1 16.4% 16.7% Adjusted development margin percentage 19.9% 21.2% ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Development margin percentage represents Development margin divided by Sale of vacation ownership products. A-9 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION 2018 ADJUSTED NET INCOME AND ADJUSTED EARNINGS PER SHARE - DILUTED OUTLOOK (In millions, except per share amounts) Fiscal Year 2018 (low) Fiscal Year 2018 (high) Net income $ 182 $ 193 Adjustments to reconcile Net income to Adjusted net income Certain items 1 3 3 Provision for income taxes on adjustments to net income (1) (1) Adjusted net income ** $ 184 $ 195 Earnings per share - Diluted 2 $ 6.61 $ 7.01 Adjusted earnings per share - Diluted **, 2 $ 6.69 $ 7.09 Diluted shares 2 27.5 27.5 1 Certain items adjustment includes $3 million of acquisition costs. 2 Earnings per share - Diluted, Adjusted earnings per share - Diluted, and Diluted shares outlook includes the impact of share repurchase activity only through May 1, 2018. 2018 ADJUSTED EBITDA OUTLOOK Fiscal Year 2018 (low) Fiscal Year 2018 (high) Net income $ 182 $ 193 Interest expense 1 17 17 Tax provision 65 69 Depreciation and amortization 26 26 EBITDA ** 290 305 Non-cash share-based compensation 17 17 Certain items 2 3 3 Adjusted EBITDA ** $ 310 $ 325 1 Interest expense excludes consumer financing interest expense. 2 Certain items adjustment includes $3 million of acquisition costs. 2018 ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW OUTLOOK Fiscal Year 2018 (low) Fiscal Year 2018 (high) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 180 $ 205 Capital expenditures for property and equipment (excluding inventory): New sales centers 1 (10) (10) Other (27) (32) Borrowings from securitization transactions 360 380 Repayment of debt related to securitizations (280) (290) Free cash flow ** 223 253 Adjustments: Net change in borrowings available from the securitization of eligible vacation ownership notes receivable through the warehouse credit facility 2 (2) Inventory / other payments associated with capital efficient inventory arrangements (38) (40) Change in restricted cash 4 Adjusted free cash flow ** $ 185 $ 215 1 Represents the incremental investment in new sales centers. 2 Represents the net change in borrowings available from the securitization of eligible vacation ownership notes receivable through the warehouse credit facility between the 2017 and 2018 year ends. ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. A-10 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION ASC 606 ADJUSTMENTS - FULL YEAR 2017 (In thousands) 2017 As Reported Adjustments 2017 As Adjusted REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 727,940 $ 29,498 $ 757,438 Resort management and other services 306,196 (27,358) 278,838 Financing 134,906 134,906 Rental 322,902 (60,863) 262,039 Cost reimbursements 460,001 289,601 749,602 TOTAL REVENUES 1,951,945 230,878 2,182,823 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 177,813 17,034 194,847 Marketing and sales 408,715 (13,825) 394,890 Resort management and other services 172,137 (17,913) 154,224 Financing 17,951 17,951 Rental 281,352 (57,970) 223,382 General and administrative 110,225 110,225 Litigation settlement 4,231 4,231 Consumer financing interest 25,217 25,217 Royalty fee 63,021 63,021 Cost reimbursements 460,001 289,601 749,602 TOTAL EXPENSES 1,720,663 216,927 1,937,590 Gains and other income, net 5,772 5,772 Interest expense (9,572) (9,572) Other (1,599) (1,599) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 225,883 13,951 239,834 Benefit (provision) for income taxes 895 (5,405) (4,510) NET INCOME $ 226,778 $ 8,546 $ 235,324 NET INCOME $ 226,778 $ 8,546 $ 235,324 Interest expense 1 9,572 9,572 Tax (benefit) provision (895) 5,405 4,510 Depreciation and amortization 21,494 21,494 EBITDA ** 256,949 13,951 270,900 Non-cash share-based compensation 16,286 16,286 Certain items before income taxes 6,805 6,805 ADJUSTED EBITDA ** $ 280,040 $ 13,951 $ 293,991 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Interest expense excludes consumer financing interest expense. A-11 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION ASC 606 ADJUSTMENTS - FIRST QUARTER 2017 (In thousands) Q1 2017 As Reported Adjustments Q1 2017 As Adjusted REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 172,155 $ (8,278) $ 163,877 Resort management and other services 72,964 (5,545) 67,419 Financing 32,111 32,111 Rental 85,256 (17,577) 67,679 Cost reimbursements 123,633 73,581 197,214 TOTAL REVENUES 486,119 42,181 528,300 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 42,620 1,151 43,771 Marketing and sales 100,661 (3,163) 97,498 Resort management and other services 41,645 (4,174) 37,471 Financing 4,017 4,017 Rental 70,432 (16,724) 53,708 General and administrative 27,539 27,539 Consumer financing interest 5,938 5,938 Royalty fee 16,070 16,070 Cost reimbursements 123,633 73,581 197,214 TOTAL EXPENSES 432,555 50,671 483,226 Losses and other expense, net (59) (59) Interest expense (781) (781) Other (369) (369) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 52,355 (8,490) 43,865 Provision for income taxes (18,655) 2,680 (15,975) NET INCOME $ 33,700 $ (5,810) $ 27,890 NET INCOME $ 33,700 $ (5,810) $ 27,890 Interest expense 1 781 781 Tax provision 18,655 (2,680) 15,975 Depreciation and amortization 5,191 5,191 EBITDA ** 58,327 (8,490) 49,837 Non-cash share-based compensation 3,276 3,276 Certain items before income taxes 471 471 ADJUSTED EBITDA ** $ 62,074 $ (8,490) $ 53,584 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Interest expense excludes consumer financing interest expense. A-12 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION ASC 606 ADJUSTMENTS - SECOND QUARTER 2017 (In thousands) Q2 2017 As Reported Adjustments Q2 2017 As Adjusted REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 191,010 $ 10,846 $ 201,856 Resort management and other services 79,158 (7,218) 71,940 Financing 32,530 32,530 Rental 84,188 (14,898) 69,290 Cost reimbursements 110,734 76,086 186,820 TOTAL REVENUES 497,620 64,816 562,436 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 46,143 4,882 51,025 Marketing and sales 104,029 (4,861) 99,168 Resort management and other services 44,008 (4,595) 39,413 Financing 3,449 3,449 Rental 70,163 (12,407) 57,756 General and administrative 29,534 29,534 Litigation settlement 183 183 Consumer financing interest 5,654 5,654 Royalty fee 16,307 16,307 Cost reimbursements 110,734 76,086 186,820 TOTAL EXPENSES 430,204 59,105 489,309 Losses and other expense, net (166) (166) Interest expense (1,757) (1,757) Other (100) (100) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 65,393 5,711 71,104 Provision for income taxes (21,117) (1,801) (22,918) NET INCOME $ 44,276 $ 3,910 $ 48,186 NET INCOME $ 44,276 $ 3,910 $ 48,186 Interest expense 1 1,757 1,757 Tax provision 21,117 1,801 22,918 Depreciation and amortization 5,001 5,001 EBITDA ** 72,151 5,711 77,862 Non-cash share-based compensation 5,175 5,175 Certain items before income taxes 548 548 ADJUSTED EBITDA ** $ 77,874 $ 5,711 $ 83,585 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Interest expense excludes consumer financing interest expense. A-13 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION ASC 606 ADJUSTMENTS - THIRD QUARTER 2017 (In thousands) Q3 2017 As Reported Adjustments Q3 2017 As Adjusted REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 180,522 $ 2,886 $ 183,408 Resort management and other services 76,882 (7,044) 69,838 Financing 34,685 34,685 Rental 81,177 (14,896) 66,281 Cost reimbursements 113,724 62,745 176,469 TOTAL REVENUES 486,990 43,691 530,681 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 42,826 2,996 45,822 Marketing and sales 100,527 (4,687) 95,840 Resort management and other services 44,696 (4,535) 40,161 Financing 5,062 5,062 Rental 71,048 (23,654) 47,394 General and administrative 26,666 26,666 Litigation settlement 2,033 2,033 Consumer financing interest 6,498 6,498 Royalty fee 15,220 15,220 Cost reimbursements 113,724 62,745 176,469 TOTAL EXPENSES 428,300 32,865 461,165 Gains and other income, net 6,977 6,977 Interest expense (2,642) (2,642) Other 104 104 INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 63,129 10,826 73,955 Provision for income taxes (22,367) (4,571) (26,938) NET INCOME $ 40,762 $ 6,255 $ 47,017 NET INCOME $ 40,762 $ 6,255 $ 47,017 Interest expense 1 2,642 2,642 Tax provision 22,367 4,571 26,938 Depreciation and amortization 5,610 5,610 EBITDA ** 71,381 10,826 82,207 Non-cash share-based compensation 3,898 3,898 Certain items before income taxes (1,327) (1,327) ADJUSTED EBITDA ** $ 73,952 $ 10,826 $ 84,778 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Interest expense excludes consumer financing interest expense. A-14 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION ASC 606 ADJUSTMENTS - FOURTH QUARTER 2017 (In thousands) Q4 2017 As Reported Adjustments Q4 2017 As Adjusted REVENUES Sale of vacation ownership products $ 184,253 $ 24,044 $ 208,297 Resort management and other services 77,192 (7,551) 69,641 Financing 35,580 35,580 Rental 72,281 (13,492) 58,789 Cost reimbursements 111,910 77,189 189,099 TOTAL REVENUES 481,216 80,190 561,406 EXPENSES Cost of vacation ownership products 46,224 8,005 54,229 Marketing and sales 103,498 (1,114) 102,384 Resort management and other services 41,788 (4,609) 37,179 Financing 5,423 5,423 Rental 69,709 (5,185) 64,524 General and administrative 26,486 26,486 Litigation settlement 2,015 2,015 Consumer financing interest 7,127 7,127 Royalty fee 15,424 15,424 Cost reimbursements 111,910 77,189 189,099 TOTAL EXPENSES 429,604 74,286 503,890 Losses and other expense, net (980) (980) Interest expense (4,392) (4,392) Other (1,234) (1,234) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 45,006 5,904 50,910 Benefit for income taxes 63,034 (1,713) 61,321 NET INCOME $ 108,040 $ 4,191 $ 112,231 NET INCOME $ 108,040 $ 4,191 $ 112,231 Interest expense 1 4,392 4,392 Tax benefit (63,034) 1,713 (61,321) Depreciation and amortization 5,692 5,692 EBITDA ** 55,090 5,904 60,994 Non-cash share-based compensation 3,937 3,937 Certain items before income taxes 7,113 7,113 ADJUSTED EBITDA ** $ 66,140 $ 5,904 $ 72,044 ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Interest expense excludes consumer financing interest expense. A-15 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION ASC 606 ADJUSTMENTS - CONSOLIDATED ADJUSTED DEVELOPMENT MARGIN (In thousands) Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 2017 Sale of vacation ownership products $ 163,877 $ 201,856 $ 183,408 $ 208,297 $ 757,438 Less: Cost of vacation ownership products 43,771 51,025 45,822 54,229 194,847 Marketing and sales 97,498 99,168 95,840 102,384 394,890 Development margin 22,608 51,663 41,746 51,684 167,701 Revenue recognition reportability adjustment 9,806 (6,858) (805) (16,059) (13,916) Certain items 1,754 1,160 2,914 Adjusted development margin ** $32,414 $44,805 $42,695 $36,785 $156,699 Development margin percentage 1 13.8% 25.6% 22.8% 24.8% 22.1% Adjusted development margin percentage 18.4% 23.2% 23.4% 19.6% 21.2% ** Denotes non-GAAP financial measures. Please see pages A-16 and A-17 for additional information about our reasons for providing these alternative financial measures and limitations on their use. 1 Development margin percentage represents Development margin divided by Sale of vacation ownership products. A-16 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES In our press release and schedules, and on the related conference call, we report certain financial measures that are not prescribed by United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). We discuss our reasons for reporting these non-GAAP financial measures below, and the financial schedules reconcile the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to each non-GAAP financial measure that we report (identified by a double asterisk ("**") on the preceding pages). Although we evaluate and present these non-GAAP financial measures for the reasons described below, please be aware that these non-GAAP financial measures have limitations and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for revenues, net income, earnings per share or any other comparable operating measure prescribed by GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may be calculated and / or presented differently than measures with the same or similar names that are reported by other companies, and as a result, the non-GAAP financial measures we report may not be comparable to those reported by others. Adjusted Net Income We evaluate non-GAAP financial measures, including Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, and Adjusted Development Margin, that exclude certain items in the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, because these non-GAAP financial measures allow for period-over-period comparisons of our on-going core operations before the impact of these items. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate our comparison of results from our on-going core operations before these items with results from other vacation ownership companies. Certain items - Quarter Ended March 31, 2018 In our Statement of Income for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, we recorded $2.6 million of net pre-tax items, which included $3.2 million of acquisition costs, including $2.5 million of acquisition costs associated with the anticipated future capital efficient acquisition of the operating property in San Francisco, California and $0.7 million of other acquisition costs, partially offset by a $0.5 million favorable true up of previously recorded costs associated with Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria (recorded in gains and other income) and a $0.1 million true up of previously recorded litigation settlement expenses. Certain items - Quarter Ended March 31, 2017 In our Statement of Income for the quarter ended March 31, 2017, we recorded $0.5 million of net pre-tax items, which included $0.4 million of acquisition costs and $0.1 million of losses and other expense. Adjusted Development Margin (Adjusted Sale of Vacation Ownership Products Net of Expenses) We evaluate Adjusted Development Margin (Adjusted Sale of Vacation Ownership Products Net of Expenses) as an indicator of operating performance. Adjusted Development Margin adjusts Sale of vacation ownership products revenues for the impact of revenue reportability, includes corresponding adjustments to Cost of vacation ownership products expense and Marketing and sales expense associated with the change in revenues from the Sale of vacation ownership products, and may include adjustments for certain items as itemized in the discussion of Adjusted Net Income above. We evaluate Adjusted Development Margin because it allows for period-over-period comparisons of our on-going core operations before the impact of revenue reportability and certain items to our Development Margin. A-17 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Earnings Before Interest Expense, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA") and Adjusted EBITDA EBITDA is defined as earnings, or net income, before interest expense (excluding consumer financing interest expense), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. For purposes of our EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA calculations, we do not adjust for consumer financing interest expense because the associated debt is secured by vacation ownership notes receivable that have been sold to bankruptcy remote special purpose entities and is generally non-recourse to us. Further, we consider consumer financing interest expense to be an operating expense of our business. We consider EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to be indicators of operating performance, which we use to measure our ability to service debt, fund capital expenditures and expand our business. We also use EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, as do analysts, lenders, investors and others, because these measures exclude certain items that can vary widely across different industries or among companies within the same industry. For example, interest expense can be dependent on a company's capital structure, debt levels and credit ratings. Accordingly, the impact of interest expense on earnings can vary significantly among companies. The tax positions of companies can also vary because of their differing abilities to take advantage of tax benefits and because of the tax policies of the jurisdictions in which they operate. As a result, effective tax rates and provision for income taxes can vary considerably among companies. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA also exclude depreciation and amortization because companies utilize productive assets of different ages and use different methods of both acquiring and depreciating productive assets. These differences can result in considerable variability in the relative costs of productive assets and the depreciation and amortization expense among companies. Adjusted EBITDA reflects additional adjustments for certain items, as itemized in the discussion of Adjusted Net Income above, and excludes non-cash share-based compensation expense to address considerable variability among companies in recording compensation expense because companies use share-based payment awards differently, both in the type and quantity of awards granted. Prior period presentation has been recast for consistency. We evaluate Adjusted EBITDA as an indicator of operating performance because it allows for period-over-period comparisons of our on-going core operations before the impact of the excluded items. Together, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA facilitate our comparison of results from our on-going core operations before the impact of these items with results from other vacation ownership companies. Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow We evaluate Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow as liquidity measures that provide useful information to management and investors about the amount of cash provided by operating activities after capital expenditures for property and equipment, changes in restricted cash, and the borrowing and repayment activity related to our securitizations, which cash can be used for strategic opportunities, including acquisitions and strengthening the balance sheet. Adjusted Free Cash Flow, which reflects additional adjustments to Free Cash Flow for the impact of organizational and separation related, litigation, and other cash charges, allows for period-over-period comparisons of the cash generated by our business before the impact of these items. Analysis of Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow also facilitates management's comparison of our results with our competitors' results. A-18 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION INTERIM CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands, except share and per share data) (Unaudited) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 ASSETS Cash and cash equivalents $ 323,831 $ 409,059 Restricted cash (including $34,987 and $32,321 from VIEs, respectively) 61,298 81,553 Accounts receivable, net (including $4,816 and $5,639 from VIEs, respectively) 63,038 91,659 Vacation ownership notes receivable, net (including $725,835 and $814,011 from VIEs, respectively) 1,132,783 1,114,552 Inventory 726,969 728,379 Property and equipment 251,264 252,727 Other (including $22,497 and $13,708 from VIEs, respectively) 200,768 166,653 TOTAL ASSETS $ 2,759,951 $ 2,844,582 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Accounts payable $ 79,959 $ 145,405 Advance deposits 96,647 84,087 Accrued liabilities (including $616 and $701 from VIEs, respectively) 121,975 119,810 Deferred revenue 114,243 69,058 Payroll and benefits liability 81,425 111,885 Deferred compensation liability 79,201 74,851 Debt, net (including $758,791 and $845,131 from VIEs, respectively) 1,012,350 1,095,213 Other 11,372 13,471 Deferred taxes 96,549 89,987 TOTAL LIABILITIES 1,693,721 1,803,767 Preferred stock $0.01 par value; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding Common stock $0.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 36,976,481 and 36,861,843 shares issued, respectively 370 369 Treasury stock at cost; 10,411,960 and 10,400,547 shares, respectively (695,944) (694,233) Additional paid-in capital 1,184,106 1,188,538 Accumulated other comprehensive income 22,989 16,745 Retained earnings 554,709 529,396 TOTAL EQUITY 1,066,230 1,040,815 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 2,759,951 $ 2,844,582 The abbreviation VIEs above means Variable Interest Entities. A-19 MARRIOTT VACATIONS WORLDWIDE CORPORATION INTERIM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $ 35,981 $ 27,890 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 5,601 5,191 Amortization of debt discount and issuance costs 3,936 1,386 Vacation ownership notes receivable reserve 8,875 12,714 Share-based compensation 3,601 3,276 Deferred income taxes 6,714 3,039 Net change in assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 29,203 34,195 Vacation ownership notes receivable originations (105,378) (112,640) Vacation ownership notes receivable collections 78,999 76,068 Inventory 1,417 19,801 Other assets (24,724) (26,704) Accounts payable, advance deposits and accrued liabilities (42,132) (27,657) Deferred revenue 45,163 38,771 Payroll and benefit liabilities (30,650) (14,500) Deferred compensation liability 4,351 4,147 Other liabilities (785) (197) Other, net 3,082 924 Net cash provided by operating activities 23,254 45,704 INVESTING ACTIVITIES Capital expenditures for property and equipment (excluding inventory) (2,763) (5,055) Purchase of company owned life insurance (9,000) (8,200) Dispositions, net 1 Net cash used in investing activities (11,763) (13,254) FINANCING ACTIVITIES Repayment of debt related to securitization transactions (86,341) (54,340) Debt issuance costs (976) (1,219) Repurchase of common stock (1,882) Payment of dividends (21,255) (19,010) Payment of withholding taxes on vesting of restricted stock units (8,261) (6,644) Other, net 15 (16) Net cash used in financing activities (118,700) (81,229) Effect of changes in exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 1,726 1,551 Decrease in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash (105,483) (47,228) Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 490,612 213,102 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 385,129 $ 165,874 SOURCE Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation Related Links http://www.marriottvacationsworldwide.com NEW YORK, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE: GHL), a leading independent investment bank, announced today that Matthew Morris will join the Firm in New York as a Managing Director and Head of Insurance Corporate Advisory. Mr. Morris has 21 years of investment banking experience focused on the insurance industry. Most recently he has served as a Managing Director at Willis Towers Watson Securities, a specialized investment banking boutique focused exclusively on the insurance industry that is a unit of Willis Towers Watson. Prior to that, Matt was a Managing Director at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he spent 12 years. He began his career with Ernst & Young. Scott L. Bok, Chief Executive Officer of Greenhill, said, "We are pleased that Matt is joining our Firm to lead our corporate advisory efforts in the insurance industry. His deep experience as a senior banker to the industry, combined with the breadth of corporate relationships he has built over time, will be invaluable assets to our Firm. Matt is our seventh Managing Director addition of the year to date, all New York based, with six of those being focused on particular industry sectors that are of strategic interest to us and one in the financing and restructuring advisory area that we have been seeking to expand." Greenhill & Co., Inc. is a leading independent investment bank entirely focused on providing financial advice on significant mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, financings and capital raising to corporations, partnerships, institutions and governments globally. It acts for clients located throughout the world from its offices in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Madrid, Melbourne, San Francisco, Sao Paulo, Stockholm, Sydney, Tokyo and Toronto. Contact: Patrick J. Suehnholz Director of Investor Relations Greenhill & Co., Inc. (212) 389-1800 SOURCE Greenhill & Co., Inc. Related Links www.greenhill.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Mesothelioma Victims Center is appealing to railroad maintenance workers or mechanics who have been recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma to call them anytime at 800-714-0303 for direct access to some of the nation's most skilled, capable and experienced mesothelioma attorneys who will deliver better compensation results for their railroad worker clients. The group is an advocate for railroad workers with mesothelioma - not a law firm - and they are incredibly passionate about making certain railroad workers with mesothelioma receive the very best possible financial compensation results. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com Mesothelioma Victims Center Rail Road Worker According to the group, "Our number one priority is seeing to it that railroad workers with mesothelioma receives the very best possible financial compensation for their ordeal. The fulltime mesothelioma attorneys we suggest are national leaders when it comes to obtaining the best possible financial compensation settlements for their railroad worker clients. Most importantly the mesothelioma lawyers we suggest are respected nationally, they do not get paid unless there is a compensation settlement and, as we would like to discuss anytime at 800-714-0303, they will fight the good fight in behalf of their railroad worker clients." "If you are a railroad worker who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please call us at 800-714-0303 to compare the qualities and expertise of the mesothelioma lawyers we suggest to any other lawyer/law firm in the nation." http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com The types of Railroad Workers with Mesothelioma the Mesothelioma Victims Center is Offering to Assist Include the following: Maintenance Workers Train Engineers Diesel Mechanics Welders Electricians Brake Repairmen For more information about US Railroads please visit their association's website: https://www.aar.org/. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. High-risk work groups for exposure to asbestos include Veterans of the US Navy, power plant workers, shipyard workers, oil refinery workers, steel mill workers, miners, pulp or paper mill workers, printers, factory workers, railroad workers, plumbers, millwrights, boiler technicians, electricians, auto mechanics, machinists, welders, pipefitters, insulators, firemen and construction workers. In most instances a person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma was exposed to asbestos in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s. http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com The Mesothelioma Victims Center says, "Please do not put off beginning the mesothelioma financial compensation process if you have been recently diagnosed with mesothelioma. We invite diagnosed persons or their families to call us anytime at 800-714-0303 for direct access to some of the nation's skilled and experienced lawyers. When it comes to mesothelioma compensation please don't shortchange yourself because your hired a less than qualified lawyer or law firm." http://MesotheliomaVictimsCenter.Com According to the CDC, the states indicated with the highest incidence of mesothelioma include Maine, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Louisiana, Washington, and Oregon. However, based on the calls the Mesothelioma Victims Center receives a railroad worker with mesothelioma could live in any state including New York, Florida, California, Texas, Iowa, Indiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Idaho, or Alaska. For more information about mesothelioma please refer to the National Institutes of Health's web site related to this rare form of cancer: https://www.cancer.gov/types/mesothelioma. Media Contact: Michael Thomas [email protected] 800-714-0303 SOURCE Mesothelioma Victims Center Related Links http://mesotheliomavictimscenter.com Cavallier's newest collection features brilliant hues full of depth and a futuristic, barren setting, to create an atmosphere of positive isolation. His work focuses on the connections between the individual experience of selfreflection to emote a universal subconscious struggling with external and internal turmoil. "There is no complication through concepts, just the invention of shapes and color to create a personalized view of the present." His vibrant use of color and brush strokes has evolved to emote tranquility and beauty amongst turmoil, subtly encouraging the viewer to reflect on the state of their inner and outer world. Raised amongst the vibrant nature and artistic setting of Provence, France, Cavallier's search for meaning has taken him to the far corners of the world such as Djibouti, Mexico, Mali, Zanzibar, Sri Lanka, and Ethiopia, traveling extensively in search for inspiration in culture and nature. His background studies in Les Beaux Art in Avignon have taken on new shapes with the addition of cultural influences such as calligraphy and tribal art. The Superfine! Exhibition will be catalyst for a future project of Cavallier's involving the combination of art and meditation to achieve an equilibrium of mind, body and soul. His lessons will focus on creating a state of introspection in which underlying themes of conflict and resolutions can be brought to the surface. "You can shape your life through reflection on the energy you emit and process." Practice and patience being the key towards finding equilibrium. Cavallier expresses both in his artwork and personal view of the world that "the link between meditation and art is that both are practices of reflection that improve our ability to see ourselves clearly through time and effort." Both his work and his lessons focus on transcending into the metaphysical through openness and honest self-examination. For further information, call Ebony Maclin @ 305 801 7616 [email protected] or www.cedrikcavallier.com SOURCE Cedrik Cavallier Related Links https://www.cedrikcavallier.com WASHINGTON, May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- API today announced that Mike Sommers will be the new President and CEO of the American Petroleum Institute, following an election this afternoon by API's Board of Directors and a thorough search and transition planning process. Known for bipartisan collaboration and visionary strategic planning, Sommers brings two decades of political experience to API, including his current role as president and CEO of the American Investment Council. Sommers will take the helm of API later this summer and succeed Jack Gerard, who announced earlier this year that he will step down this summer after a decade at API and relocate to Salt Lake City. Sommers will work closely with API's member companies, Jack Gerard and API's senior team in the coming months to ensure a smooth leadership transition. "I'm honored to work with API's broad membership and lead one of the most influential trade associations representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry," said Sommers. "At a time of transformational progress when natural gas and oil are pioneering groundbreaking innovation, delivering tremendous environmental benefits, and leading long-term economic solutions, I look forward to continuing the work of API's talented team and representing an industry that is directly enhancing the lives and improving opportunities for Americans and people around the world." Prior to joining the American Investment Council as President and CEO in 2016, Sommers served as Chief of Staff to Speaker of the House John A. Boehner (R-OH) and in other capacities in House leadership for more than a decade. Sommers has served at the center of nearly every major policy decision in the last decade and successfully negotiated bipartisan achievements on landmark legislation, including the Trouble Asset Relief Program in 2008, the resolution of the fiscal cliff in 2013, the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015 and trade promotion authority in 2015. Sommers also served as Special Assistant to the President at the National Economic Council at the White House in 2005. "Mike is a very experienced manager and strategist with a strong track record of working collaboratively to resolve challenging issues," said Darren Woods, API Board Chairman and President and CEO of ExxonMobil. "He is a model of leadership and brings tremendous energy to API at an important time for the organization and our industry. As API approaches its 100th year, advances in our industry are establishing the US as a leader in the world's energy markets. Well-informed, thoughtful policies and regulations will be critical in maintaining this position. Mike is equipped to build on the industry's successes and help guide our future. We have great confidence in him and are excited for the future of our industry and the next chapter at API." Notably, Roll Call newspaper named Sommers one of the top staffers on Capitol Hill each year for a decade and in 2015 named him one of the top 50 staffers in the last 50 years. Sommers has also been profiled in Politico, The Hill and National Journal. API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 10.3 million U.S. jobs and nearly 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API's more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation's energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 45 million Americans. SOURCE American Petroleum Institute Related Links http://www.api.org/ PALO ALTO, Calif., and BASEL, Switzerland, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- monARC Bionetworks, a healthcare technology company that has built an end-to-end clinical research platform to facilitate greater collaboration between patients, physicians, and researchers involved in clinical trials, today announced that it has initiated a strategic integration with the drug development platform of Roivant Sciences, a global biopharmaceutical company focused on reducing the time and cost of the drug development process. monARC's multi-disciplinary team of drug developers and technology experts have built disease-specific patient network applications and online tools that prequalify and engage patients during protocol development prior to study initiation. They have also developed a suite of digital apps, back-end architecture, and telemedicine capabilities to reduce site visits and enable completely virtual clinical trials. This integrated platform has been crafted to accelerate patient enrollment, improve site selection, reduce protocol amendments, decrease patient dropout rates, permit rapid experimentation with novel apps and devices, and ensure that individuals in remote and underserved communities can participate in clinical trials. monARC's current customers include academic researchers, biopharmaceutical companies, and medical device manufacturers. In a pilot program, monARC's platforms yielded clinical trial enrollment 20 times faster than industry benchmarks in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and ensured 90% adherence from elderly patients using digital data collection tools like Bluetooth-connected spirometers, weight scales, and activity watches. "Our core strategy of putting patients first has reduced clinical research timelines," said Komathi Stem, Founder and CEO of monARC. "Roivant shares our passion for improving the process of developing new medicines for patients, and we are delighted to partner with Roivant as we expand the scope of our work." "At Roivant, we are constantly iterating and improving how we run clinical trials across our family of companies to enhance the patient experience, minimize time and risk, and generate higher quality data," said Dan Rothman, Chief Information Officer of Roivant. "Roivant's drug development team supports the companies in our family as they develop innovative medicines in their respective therapeutic areas," said William T. Symonds, PharmD, Chief Development Officer at Roivant. "monARC's capabilities will enhance the design and conduct of our own clinical trials, as well as trials conducted by other companies and institutions." With Roivant's strategic investment, monARC can expand its patient research networks into additional diseases including atopic dermatitis, obesity, and diabetes to help meet growing customer and patient demand. Mr. Rothman and Wasim Malik, PhD, Chief Digital Strategist at Roivant, will be joining monARC's board of directors and Roivant will collaborate with monARC on five disease areas where companies in the Roivant family are currently conducting clinical research. About monARC monARC is on a mission to modernize the clinical research industry by empowering patients to share their data and participate anytime, anywhere. It is the first company to develop a proprietary Smart Health Record, consolidating patient data from Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and other sources including mobile apps into a metadata-rich record that informs study protocol design and provides pre-screening analytics capabilities for clinical trials. The monARC Smart Health Record makes enrollment for a trial much easier and faster than before, solving one of the major challenges of clinical trial recruitment: identifying eligible patients. monARC also provides an end-to-end connected clinical trial platform that allows patients to participate in clinical trials from their home and/or within their community healthcare setting. By allowing patients to directly share their data, monARC is creating a new data-sharing economy that will transform the siloed drug development model into an integrated and collaborative model with patients. About Roivant Roivant Sciences is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on reducing the time and cost of the drug development process to improve the lives of patients and their families. Roivant partners with innovative biopharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to ensure that important medicines are rapidly delivered to patients. The Roivant family of companies includes Myovant (women's health and prostate cancer), Axovant (neurology), Urovant (urology), Enzyvant (rare diseases), Dermavant (dermatology), Genevant (RNA therapeutics), Metavant (cardiometabolic diseases), Datavant (healthcare data analytics), and Arbutus (hepatitis B). There are 23 investigational drugs in 11 therapeutic areas being tested in over 50 clinical trials and over 300 nonclinical studies across our family of companies. For more information, please visit www.roivant.com. SOURCE monARC Bionetworks and Roivant Sciences Related Links http://www.roivant.com While in Chicago, the scholars learned firsthand about the Elks' commitment to veterans by serving alongside staff of the Elks National Veterans Service Commission at the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center. The scholars forged powerful bonds over this and other experiences. The top six winners: First Place, $50,000 over four years Maitland Thull of Mobile, Alabama and Shiv Patel of Elon, North Carolina Second place, $40,000 over four years Aleah Hahn of West Olive, Michigan and David Ma of Lexington, Kentucky Third Place, $30,000 over four years Elizabeth Gex of Houston, Texas and Eric Donohue of Babylon, New York The 13 runners-up will receive $20,000 over four years. In addition, 480 semi-finalists will receive $4,000 over four years. You can find a complete list of Most Valuable Students at enf.elks.org/mvswinners. The 2019 Most Valuable Student scholarship contest, open to any high school senior who is a US Citizen. Applications are judged on scholarship, leadership and financial need. The online application will be available at enf.elks.org/mvs. With nearly 800,000 members and nearly 1,900 Lodges nationwide, Elks are providing charitable services that help build stronger communities across the United States. The Elks National Foundation, the charitable arm of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, helps Elks build stronger communities through programs that support youth, serve veterans and meet needs in areas where Elks live and work. To learn more, visit elks.org/enf. CONTACT: Christine Robinson, 773-755-4856, [email protected] SOURCE Elks National Foundation Related Links http://www.elks.org/enf HOUSTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASA is traveling to the Salt Lake City area May 15-17 to share the accomplishments, promise and opportunities for research aboard the International Space Station. NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik will share experiences from his recent mission to the space station where he and his crewmates supported hundreds of experiments in biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science. He'll also share his perspective on space research opportunities and the special vantage over Earth that the orbital laboratory provides. Station scientist Pete Hasbrook will also participate in events along with Center for the Advancement of Science in Space's (CASIS) Associate Program Scientist Kenneth Savin to share opportunities on the space station with researchers from industry and academia. On Tuesday, May 15, Bresnik and his NASA and CASIS colleagues will highlight the many commercial opportunities the space station provides for attendees at the Governor's Energy Summit taking place at Grand America Hotel Salt Lake City, 555 South Main Street, Salt Lake City. From 8 a.m.- 6 p.m., NASA's Driven to Explore mobile exhibit will be open outside the summit for attendees to explore. The mobile, multi-media exhibit immerses visitors in the NASA story and features a moon rock returned to Earth by the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. At noon, Bresnik will talk about his recent mission to the space station and share his experience through photos and video. From 9:45 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 16, Bresnik, NASA and CASIS will be at the Natural History Museum of Utah. Visitors may tour the Driven to Explore mobile exhibit and learn about the space station. At 11 a.m., visitors will also have a chance to hear from Bresnik who will share stories from his time in space. From 1-6 p.m. Thursday, May 17, Bresnik, NASA and CASIS will be at Thanksgiving Point to share the wonders of space and work aboard the space station. At 1 p.m., guests will have a chance to meet Bresnik and hear about his work and life aboard the space station. Media are invited to all of the venues listed and interview opportunities are available upon request. Media interested in interviewing Bresnik or other NASA personnel should contact Megan Sumner at [email protected]. Find Bresnik's biography at: https://www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/randolph-j-bresnik/biography Learn more about the International Space Station and its crews at: http://www.nasa.gov/station For more information about CASIS, visit: http://www.iss-casis.org SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov WASHINGTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, at its seventh annual Innovating a Healthier Future Summit, the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) announced the 10 finalists for the third annual Catalyst for Change Awards. These awards which include the PHA Partner of the Year Award and the PHA Impact Award recognize partners and community leaders who exemplify positive change by creating solutions to end the childhood obesity crisis and make the healthy choice the easy choice for busy parents and families. The PHA Partner of the Year Award is presented to a partner who is working to ensure the health of our nation's youth, making healthier choices more affordable and accessible to families and children across the country. The partner must demonstrate how it is executing key strategies with and beyond their PHA commitment, including focusing on those populations disproportionately impacted by obesity; doing well while doing good; using an innovative approach to address childhood obesity; or creating a ripple effect within their industry. This year's finalists are: The PHA Impact Award is presented to a group or an individual who has sparked change at the community level to help innovate a healthier future. The finalists must demonstrate how the organization or individual is showing measurable impact and outcomes with a focus on populations disproportionately impacted by obesity; collaborating with other organizations in the childhood obesity effort for greater impact; or using an innovative approach to address the mission to end childhood obesity. The finalists are: "The third annual Catalyst for Change awards finalists are at the forefront our nation's culture shift towards health and wellness," said PHA President & CEO Nancy E. Roman. "Partnership for a Healthier America is extremely pleased to acknowledge the companies and organizations bringing us closer towards our goal of ensuring that all young people grow up free from obesity, diabetes, heart disease and other conditions associated with excess weight. Collectively, the finalists are already making a meaningful difference in thousands of lives. It's thrilling to imagine what lies ahead as these organizations continue to innovate new ways to ensure families live healthier lives." Winners will be announced at the PHA Fit to Celebrate Gala at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue North West, Washington, D.C.) on September 27, 2018. Visit http://www.ahealthieramerica.org/gala for more information and to purchase tickets. About Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) PHA's mission is to leverage the power of the private sector to bring lasting systemic changes that improve the food supply, increase healthy choices, increase physical activity and contribute to a culture of health. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with but independent from Former First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move! effort. PHA identifies, accelerates and celebrates voluntary business practices that improve or increase choice or lead to new norms and behavior around food and physical activity. For more information about PHA, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews. SOURCE Partnership for a Healthier America Related Links http://ahealthieramerica.org SAO PAULO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Neon, the first fully-digital Brazilian bank, announced today it has raised $22 million, the largest amount in a Series A investment in Brazil. Propel Venture Partners, Monashees, Quona Capital, Omidyar Network, Tera, and Yellow Ventures participated in the funding round. Neon has reached over 600,000 users across Brazil, and the team has expanded from eight to 190 employees since its market debut in 2016. In March 2018, Neon launched a credit card and moved into larger headquarters to accommodate further expansion. Pedro Conrade, Neon's CEO, says that the Series A investment will support the company's product expansion, investment in technology and innovation on Neon's leading customer experience. "We have just launched our credit card, and will have some exciting news to share later in the year about additional products and services in the pipeline. This funding shows the investors' confidence in our team, the market opportunity, and in our mission. It will allow us to keep moving at a fast pace while cultivating the creativity and technology to build a leading financial services company in Brazil." As part of the investment agreement, Neon Pagamentos SA transferred its controlling interest to a holding company in the United Kingdom. In addition, as part of the new round, Jay Reinemann of Propel Venture Partners, and Marcelo Lima of Monashees, are joining Neon's board of directors. "We are excited to support Pedro and his team in their mission to build the bank of the future," said Jay Reinemann, General Partner from Propel Venture Partners. "At Propel our focus is on supporting entrepreneurial innovators who are reimagining financial services, and we believe Neon has the right approach to lead Brazil's fintech revolution." Starting 2018 with new talent and products Earlier this year, Neon announced the addition of notable innovators to its teamJean Sigrist, former partner of Guide Investments and former director of Itau; Patrick Sigrist, founder of iFood; and Norberto Giangrande, founder of Rico. They are driven by a desire to face new challenges and make profound changes to the financial services market in Brazil. The Neon credit card, launched in March, complements the company's digital account with a simple, transparent, and no annual fee product. Neon aims to reach one million customers by the end of 2018, and will expand into business banking account services and investing options over the coming months. About Neon Neon launched with the goal of freeing its customers from the bureaucracy of traditional banks. Pedro Conrade, Neon's CEO, founded the company in 2016. Neon does not offer physical branchesto open an account, users need to download the Neon app, be over 18 years of age, and have a valid ID. About Propel Venture Partners Propel Venture Partners is a San Francisco-based venture capital firm focused on investment opportunities at the intersection of technology and financial services. The Propel team believes the future of financial services will be realized by rethinking and rebuilding. Propel partners with technology-driven entrepreneurs who are transforming the market with their vision and expertise. About Monashees Monashees is a Brazilian venture capital firm active globally that invests in entrepreneurs committed to creating innovative solutions for a new world. We invest in the beginning stages and follow alongside the companies that are revolutionizing markets, creating value, and improving people's lives through technology, such as ContaAzul, EduK, Elo7, Enjoei, JusBrasil, Loggi, MadeiraMadeira, Neoway, Petlove, Pipedrive, Rappi and Zap|VivaReal. SOURCE Neon WASHINGTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Americans begin gearing up for the busy summer travel season, new research from the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) suggests that online booking scams and fraudulent and misleading travel websites and companies continue to mislead and confuse consumers. That's why AHLA is encouraging consumers to Avoid Shady Deals and Have a Sunny Stay by searching smarter for their hotel stays through the launch of their summer "Search Smarter" education and awareness campaign. In a new survey commissioned by AHLA, in partnership with Morning Consult, 23 percent of consumers report being misled by third-party traveler resellers on the phone or online translating to 28.5 million hotel stays and $5.2 billion in fraudulent and misleading hotel booking transactions in 2017. These third-party travel resellers use a variety of marketing tactics to mimic hotel websites and call centers but are not, in fact, affiliated with the hotel. These fraudulent and misleading transactions can cost consumers time and money, resulting in lost reservations and additional fees. With 39 percent of travelers reporting that they most often book their hotel rooms through a third-party website, AHLA urges consumers to be cautious when booking travel. "It's easy and convenient to make travel arrangements online. Unfortunately, as online bookings have surged, so too have scams and deceptive behaviors," said Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of AHLA. "That's why we encourage consumers to look before you book, slow down, and search smarter. Taking a few extra seconds to book directly with a hotel or a trusted travel agent can save time and money in the long run, and lead to a better travel experience overall." Among the 23 percent of consumers who say they have been misled by third-party traveler resellers, 46 percent say they were charged extra fees on their credit card; 34 percent had their reservation lost and had to book another room, losing the cost of their original reservation; and 44 percent made a special room request that was not relayed to the hotel. In December, the Federal Trade Commission settled a federal lawsuit with Reservation Counter, LLC, a third-party hotel booking reseller accused of using call centers and websites to mislead consumers into believing they were booking, and speaking, directly with a hotel. Reservation Counter also did not disclose that a traveler's credit card would be charged immediately instead of upon check-in. The settlement resulted in Reservation Counter no longer being able to mislead consumers through these types of practices. Seven in ten (70%) survey respondents support the FTC's enforcement action against Reservation Counter. Seventy-two percent (72%) believe the government should make it a higher priority to enforce consumer protection laws against third-party hotel resellers. "We applaud the Federal Trade Commission for issuing an enforcement action against Reservation Counter," said Lugar. "Unfortunately, the fact that nearly one in four consumers report being misled by third-party resellersand the constant flow of new companies entering the online travel marketsuggests we need to do more to protect consumers. That's why we are asking Congress to pass the Stop Online Booking Scams Act, a bill that would protect consumers by increasing the transparency and security of the online booking process." To reach consumers booking their travel online, AHLA will be launching an online campaign featuring educational materials and video, which can all be viewed here. AHLA will also be hosting an educational day on Capitol Hill where staff will learn about misleading marketing tactics and fraudulent third-party travel resellers and the benefits of booking direct. When booking travel online, AHLA encourages consumers to book directly through the hotel website or mobile app. In addition to helping consumers avoid scams, direct booking often results in the best deal and more travel perks and benefits. AHLA is a national partner of the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which offers a tips page to educate consumers on how to avoid costly and painful scams when booking hotels online. The tips page on the BBB website is https://www.bbb.org/en/us/article/tips/14155-bbb-tip-booking-a-hotel-room. For more on AHLA's Search Smarter program, visit https://www.ahla.com/searchsmarter. Survey Methodology Morning Consult, on behalf of AHLA, conducted the online survey of 2,201 adults from February 26-28, 2018. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of +/- 2 percentage points. About the American Hotel & Lodging Association Serving the hospitality industry for more than a century, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the sole national association representing all segments of the 8 million jobs the U.S. lodging industry supports, including hotel owners, REITs, chains, franchisees, management companies, independent properties, bed and breakfasts, state hotel associations, and industry suppliers. SOURCE American Hotel & Lodging Association Related Links https://www.ahla.com/ WINFIELD, Ill., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During an acute stroke blood flow to the brain stops. Every minute that passes without oxygen, another 1.9 million neurons die. With two comprehensive stroke centers, clinical research and a growing telestroke program, Northwestern Medicine is focused on providing rapid diagnosis and treatment for the more than 1,600 patients the academic medical system treats each year. Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital is home to the first Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU) in Illinois. This state-of-the-art ambulance contains specialized equipment and staff to quickly diagnose a stroke on-site. To learn more, visit westmobilestrokeunit.nm.org. The Northwestern Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit team includes neurologists, critical care nurses, CT technicians, critical care paramedics, and emergency medical technicians. The specialized ambulance is equipped with a 16-slice CT scanner to take detailed images of the brain, a direct telemedicine connection to neurologists at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) and stroke-specific medications, including the clot-busting drug tPA. The Northwestern Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit is a specialized ambulance equipped with a 16-slice CT scanner to take detailed images of the brain, a direct telemedicine connection to neurologists at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and stroke-specific medications, including the clot-busting drug tPA. The latest tool in Northwestern Medicine's clinical offerings is a Mobile Stroke Unit, a specialized ambulance equipped with a 16-slice CT scanner to take detailed images of the brain, a direct telemedicine connection to neurologists at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital (CDH) and stroke-specific medications, including the clot-busting drug tPA. During its first year of service, the Northwestern Medicine Mobile Stroke Unit provided life-saving treatment 30 minutes faster than traditional transport. A data analysis found, on average, the Mobile Stroke Unit delivered tPA to ischemic stroke patients 52 minutes after 9-1-1 dispatch, compared to an average of 82 minutes for patients transported via ambulance. Currently, tPA is the gold standard for the treatment of ischemic strokes caused by a clot. However, it can't be given until a CT scan or other imaging can determine if the stroke is ischemic or hemorrhagic. The Mobile Stroke Unit allows clinicians to make that determination from the patient's driveway. "Every minute the brain goes without oxygen there is a 3.1 week acceleration of the natural aging process," said Harish Shownkeen, MD, medical director of the Stroke and Neurointerventional Surgery Programs at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. "By treating stroke patients faster, we are greatly improving the odds patients will suffer minimal to no long term deficits." The goal is to diagnose and treat stroke within the "Golden Hour", the first 60 minutes following onset of symptoms when patients have much better outcomes. A 2014 study in JAMA found that less than 1% of patients treated with tPA in the U.S. receive the life-saving medication within the "Golden Hour". During the first year of service, 27% of eligible Mobile Stroke Unit patients received tPA within one hour of onset of symptoms. "The Mobile Stroke Unit is a tangible example of Northwestern Medicine living its commitment to our 'patients first' mission," said Gary A. Noskin, MD, senior vice president of quality, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. "The experience and knowledge gained from the Mobile Stroke Unit, cutting-edge clinical trials, our telestroke program and other innovative programming are helping our clinicians and researchers better understand and improve the treatment of stroke." For patients, like Cynthia Reid from Glen Ellyn, Ill., rapid treatment in the Mobile Stroke Unit means walking out of the hospital instead of going to a post-acute care rehabilitation facility. One year after suffering what could have been a debilitating or deadly stroke, Reid's speech and memory have been fully restored. She is undergoing outpatient physical therapy to address residual numbness of her left hand. Reid says she is doing remarkably well, especially considering what could have happened. "The Mobile Stroke Team at Central DuPage Hospital absolutely saved my life," said Reid. "They were able to give me the medication I needed right away, while also keeping me calm by reassuring me. If you think you might be having a stroke, I urge you to call 9-1-1 right away." The first of its kind in Illinois and one of the largest in the nation, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital's Mobile Stroke Unit can be directly dispatched by 9-1-1 to patients within the hospital's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) area, which includes Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Roselle, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield. Due to the excellent results, Northwestern Medicine is working on innovative ways to expand the service to reach more patients in the far western suburbs of Chicago. For areas outside the region, Northwestern Medicine is developing a secondary service area in which fire protection districts and ambulance services can request the MSU for patients who meet stroke criteria. Currently, participating locations include Geneva, Batavia, St. Charles, Elburn, North Aurora and the area served by the Fox River & Countryside Fire Rescue District. Depending on the estimated arrival time, the Mobile Stroke Unit may go to the patient or arrange to meet an ambulance half-way. "We are essentially bringing the hospital to the patient," said Mehr Mohajer-Esfahani, MSN, RN, program manager, Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital Mobile Stroke Unit. "Diagnosis and treatment begin in the Mobile Stroke Unit before the patient is transported to the closest comprehensive stroke center." Stroke is the leading cause of disability and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States according to the American Stroke Association. Anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital, ranked among the top ten hospitals in the United States for neurosciences by U.S. News & World Report, Northwestern Medicine's stroke program is comprised of two Joint Commission Accredited Comprehensive Stroke Centers, two Primary Stroke Centers, a multidisciplinary physician team that includes neurology, neurosurgery, radiology and critical care, and a telestroke program that provides more than 3,000 electronic stroke consultations to eight partner hospitals throughout the Chicagoland area. To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit http://news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html. SOURCE Northwestern Medicine WASHINGTON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nurses have been named the most trusted professional for the past 17 consecutive years, by the Gallup poll, and with that trust comes true responsibility. For me, that responsibility starts with helping the lives of the women, newborns, and families we serve every day. Nurses Week just kicked off and this year's theme is "Inspire, Innovate, and Influence." As nurses, we are humbled to know we inspire and strive for innovation on a daily basis, but I want to talk to you about how we influence incredibly important policy that affects individuals, families, and our country as a whole. There are three current issues that are happening in the world around us right now that need critical attention: the opioid epidemic, maternal mortality, and paid family leave. And, our members at the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) are on it. Opioid Epidemic Did you know babies can be born dependent on opioids? Yes, it can happen. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of babies born in the United States dependent on opioids has tripled in the last 15 years. Currently, 6 of every 1,000 babies born in the United States are diagnosed with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. What is the process of helping those babies who are suffering from opioid withdrawal? It is a lengthy process that requires hospitalization for an average of 17 days after delivery, compared with a healthy baby who spends 2 days in the hospital after birth. The cost of hospitalization for each baby withdrawing from opioids is $66,700 compared to $3,500 for a healthy newborn. That is a jaw-dropping difference. Right now, there is a bill looking to help reduce this rate, the Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act. This bill would help fight the opioid epidemic which will ultimately reduce the number of babies born with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. It expands addiction treatment capacity by expanding the list of providers eligible to prescribe buprenorphine, an office-based form of medication-assisted treatment, to include advanced practice registered nurses (nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, certified registered nurse anesthetists, and clinical nurse specialists.) Maternal Mortality Every year in the United States, 700 women die each year as a result of pregnancy or a pregnancy-related condition. This is an issue that is near and dear to my heart, and one that is of significant importance and urgency to AWHONN. It is hard to believe that the United States ranks 49th out of 184 countries for maternal deaths and is one of eight countries where rates are on the rise. And, to make things more troubling, black women are 243% more likely than white women to die from complications of pregnancy or childbirth, according to the latest data from the CDC. This is an issue that clearly needs to be addressed. In the U.S., more than half of all maternal deaths occur after birthoften after discharge from the hospital. This does not have to happen. In fact, at least half of all pregnancy-related deaths are preventable when the warning signs of pregnancy or childbirth complications emerge and a mom can get the timely care she needs from her healthcare providers. There are two primary ways we are taking action at AWHONN. First, we are pushing for more Maternal Mortality Review Committees to be established. Right now, there are companion bills in the House and Senate that would create exactly that: H.R. 1318: Preventing Maternal Deaths Act and S. 1112 Maternal Health Accountability Act. We support these bills because maternal mortality review committees have been shown to lead to reduction in the maternal mortality rate. These bills would provide funds for states to establish formal committees to identify and review all pregnancy-related deaths, to submit annual reports to the CDC on the Committee's findings, and to develop recommendations for solutions. Our goal? To ensure that every maternal death will be reviewed and more fully understood so we can prevent future deaths. Secondly, AWHONN has created specific instructions for acting on these warning signs called "SAVE YOUR LIFE: Get Care for these POST-BIRTH Warning Signs." Recognizing and acting on these warning signs and complications that can lead to a mom's death or injury is essential to reducing maternal deaths in the U.S. Share this information with pregnant women and new mothers you may know. Paid Family Leave Breastfeeding is important in the development of a newborn and helps strengthen the bond between a mother and her newborn. Did you know if 90% of new mothers breastfed exclusively for six months, 13 billion health care dollars would be saved? That's significant. The act of breastfeeding has a number of financial benefits for families, society, public and private insurers, employers, and government programs. When a baby is breastfed, the family has lower medical bills and fewer lost days of work because the infant is healthier. Unfortunately, many women do not get the opportunity to breastfeed their baby as long as is recommended, between six months and a year, because they do not have access to paid family leave. Right now, just 13 percent of the workforce in the United States has access to paid family leave through their employer, and less than 40 percent has leave through an employer-provided short-term disability program. There is hope though because currently there is a bill in the House of Representatives, Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act, that would establish a fund administered by the Social Security Administration to provide paid leave for 12 weeks for any family member for any family-related medical leave, including maternity care. We, at AWHONN, are working to have this bill passed so women can establish and sustain breastfeeding while minimizing loss of income for their families. Our Role Last month, AWHONN hosted an all-day event on Capitol Hill called AWHONN on the Hill. We had nurses from across the country come to D.C. to talk about these critical issues with their local representatives, urging them to support each of these bills. As nurses, we take these issues seriously because we see the detrimental effects they have on our patients and their loved ones. But do you want to know something? It's not just nurses who have the power to speak up to fight the opioid epidemic. It's not just nurses who can raise their voice to reduce the rising maternal death rate. And, it's not just nurses who can help mothers be able to breastfeed with financial stability. You can make a difference too! I urge you to call your representative on Capitol Hill to support these House bills: the Addiction Treatment Access Improvement Act (H.R.3692 ), Preventing Maternal Deaths Act ((HR 1318) and Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act (H.R. 947). Also, call your two Senators to support: S: 1112 Maternal Health Accountability Act and the Family and Medical Insurance Leave (FAMILY) Act (S. 337). Go to www.congress.gov to find who your representative is and have your voice be heard. Together we can create a brighter and healthier future for our families, women and babies. About AWHONN Since 1969, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) has been the foremost authority promoting the health of women and newborns and strengthening the nursing profession through the delivery of superior advocacy, research, education, and other professional and clinical resources. AWHONN represents the interests of 350,000 registered nurses working in women's health, obstetric, and neonatal nursing across the United States. Learn more about AWHONN at www.awhonn.org. About Jennifer L. Doyle, MSN, WHNP-BC Mrs. Jennifer Doyle, MSN, WHNP-BC, is a Perinatal Outreach Educator at the Women's Health Services, Summa Health System Akron City Hospital. She is a former AWHONN Chapter Leader and spent a total of eight years as an elected AWHONN Ohio Section leader, Section Secretary-Treasurer and Chair. Mrs. Doyle is currently serving in her final year of a second term as an AWHONN member of the Board of Directors. During her tenure, she has been honored to be a member and Chair of the Public Policy Committee. As part of the committee, Mrs. Doyle advocated for and assisted in writing two of AWHONN's position statements: 'Criminalization of Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorders' and the 'Infertility Treatment as a Covered Health Insurance Benefit. Mrs. Doyle is currently advocating for development of an AWHONN position statement regarding Human Trafficking and participated as a member of the AWHONN Writing Team for a new EBG: Diabetes and Pregnancy, which is currently Pending Publication. SOURCE AWHONN Related Links http://www.awhonn.org PORTLAND, Ore., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OIA Global, a leading worldwide logistics, packaging, and material sourcing provider, announces the opening of its 65th global location, in Ningbo, China. This new office will support OIA's continued growth in global ocean forwarding leveraging the Ningbo-Zhoushan Port, one of the busiest ports in China. OIA's Asia Managing Director, Mr. Peter Wong, noted Ningbo's distinction as a national hub, "Ningbo handled over 20 million TEUs last year and is a major economic driver of the city's economy," he reported. Key industries in Ningbo include petrochemicals, electrical machinery, telecom equipment, IT, and consumer goods. Dante Fornari, OIA's Executive Vice President of Global Logistics said, "I salute our entire China team who helped make this 65th office opening possible." "This new office will complement our existing China locations and enables OIA to offer contingency plans for our customers who may need alternatives when Shanghai is facing peak season congestion," Fornari added. About OIA Global Since its founding in 1988, OIA has grown into a $1 billion supply chain management leader, delivering clients a unique combination of global logistics, packaging, and materials sourcing solutions. With over 1,200 professionals, and 65 owned offices in 28 countries, OIA designs innovative solutions that optimize supply chains around the world. OIA is privately owned by Indianapolis-based LDI, Ltd., with more than a century of experience funding and operating high potential, middle-market companies. For more information, please visit www.oiaglobal.com and www.ldiltd.com. OIA Global Media Contact Madison Erickson Marketing Manager T: 503.736.5900 E: [email protected] SOURCE OIA Global Related Links http://www.oiaglobal.com JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- One Call, the nation's leading provider of workers' compensation care management services is excited to announce that they will be the presenting sponsor for the race portion of Chemo Noir's 1 Mile Run and Wine Tasting event on June 16, beginning at 4 p.m. at the Jacksonville Beach pier. One Call, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, launched their One Call Gives charitable program in January 2018. The program gives employees opportunities to participate in various charitable and volunteer programs to raise both awareness and funds throughout the year. Each month, the program supports a different charity, all of which were chosen based on employee feedback. In 2018, One Call Gives has participated in the Hunger Fight 'Color Me Fed' color run, The Donna Breast Cancer Run, the Humane Society's Mutt March, Jacksonville's Corporate 5K and Operation Gratitude. Chemo Noir is a local Jacksonville charity established to raise funds to help alleviate the financial burden of those fighting cancer. "We selected Chemo Noir as our June charity partner because the employees who have been exposed to it have really latched on to the culture of the charity and the difference it is making in the lives of people in our own community," said Laura Land, vice president of marketing at One Call. "Chemo Noir is honored to be a part of the One Call Gives charitable program as they seek to philanthropically invest in both their people and local charities," shared Katrin Casey, founder at Chemo Noir. "My goal with Chemo Noir was not just to start a nonprofit, but more so to create a lifestyle brand and a community around our mission. This initiative is very near and dear to my heart, and although it was founded on my story it will very soon be about all of our impact stories. Thank you to the people at One Call for helping us to continue to have impact." As the presenting sponsor, One Call employees will have the opportunity to register for the race for $1. One Call is excited to join the elite group of sponsors such as, Tom Bush Family of Dealerships, Harbor View Advisors and The Adecco Group for this event. Sign up for the race http://1stplacesports.com/races/chemonoir/. About One Call One Call is a growing health care network management company and the nation's leading provider of specialized solutions to the workers' compensation industry. We are passionate innovators providing comprehensive solutions that deliver more efficient and cost-effective claims resolution through an expansive network of high quality providers. One Call has locations throughout the United States and is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. For more information, visit onecallcm.com or follow One Call on Twitter @onecallcm and on Facebook at facebook.com/onecallcm. About Chemo Noir Our philanthropic mission is to host and inspire wine centric events that raise money to provide financial support to the families, friends and fighters in their battle with Cancer. Be a part of our movement @chemonoir and chemonoir.com. Media Contact: Jessica Taft One Call, Director of Corporate Marketing and Communications [email protected] SOURCE One Call Related Links http://www.onecallcm.com - Quarterly results: Net Revenues Increased by 34.1% Year-over-Year Net Income Attributable to OneSmart Increased by 107.3% Year-over-Year Monthly Average Student Enrollments1 Increased by 38.4% Year-over-Year - First half results: Net Revenues Increased by 34.5% Year-over-Year Net Income Attributable to OneSmart Increased by 154.8% Year-over-Year SHANGHAI, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OneSmart International Education Group Limited (NYSE: ONE) ("OneSmart" or the "Company"), the largest premium K-12 after-school education service provider in China, today announced its unaudited financial results for the second fiscal quarter of 2018 ended February 28, 2018. Highlights for the Second Fiscal Quarter Ended February 28, 2018 Total net revenues increased by 34.1% year-over-year to RMB663.5 million ( US$104.8 million ), of which net revenues from premium tutoring services (OneSmart VIP Programs) increased by 30.0% year-over-year to RMB561.6 million ( US$88.7 million ) and net revenues from premium young children education services including both HappyMath and FasTrack English increased by 82.1% year-over-year to RMB89.2 million ( US$14.1 million ). ( ), of which net revenues from premium tutoring services (OneSmart VIP Programs) increased by 30.0% year-over-year to ( ) and net revenues from premium young children education services including both HappyMath and FasTrack English increased by 82.1% year-over-year to ( ). Operating income increased by 85.6% year-over-year to RMB78.1 million ( US$12.3 million ). Operating profit margin increased from 8.5% in the same period of fiscal year 2017 to 11.8%. ( ). Operating profit margin increased from 8.5% in the same period of fiscal year 2017 to 11.8%. Non-GAAP operating income increased by 73.5% year-over-year to RMB82.0 million ( US$13.0 million ). Non-GAAP operating profit margin increased from 9.6% in the same period of fiscal year 2017 to 12.4%. ( ). Non-GAAP operating profit margin increased from 9.6% in the same period of fiscal year 2017 to 12.4%. Net income attributable to OneSmart increased by 107.3% year-over-year to RMB77.4 million ( US$12.2 million ) from RMB37.3 million in the same period of fiscal year 2017. ( ) from in the same period of fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart increased by 91.2% year-over-year to RMB81.3 million ( US$12.9 million ) from RMB42.5 million in the same period of fiscal year 2017. ( ) from in the same period of fiscal year 2017. Monthly average student enrollments[1] increased by 38.4% year-over-year to 102,613, of which monthly average student enrollments from premium young children education services including HappyMath and FasTrack English increased by 100.7% from the same period of fiscal year 2017. Prepayments from customers balance recorded RMB1,793.0 million ( US$283.3 million ) as of February 28, 2018 , up 44.0% year-over-year. Highlights for the First Half Ended February 28, 2018 Total net revenues increased by 34.5% year-over-year to RMB1,104.6 million ( US$174.6 million ), of which net revenues from premium tutoring services (OneSmart VIP Programs) increased by 29.3% year-over-year to RMB920.5 million ( US$145.5 million ) and net revenues from premium young children education services including both HappyMath and FasTrack English increased by 82.6% year-over-year to RMB159.7 million ( US$25.2 million ). ( ), of which net revenues from premium tutoring services (OneSmart VIP Programs) increased by 29.3% year-over-year to ( ) and net revenues from premium young children education services including both HappyMath and FasTrack English increased by 82.6% year-over-year to ( ). Operating income increased by 31.0% year-over-year to RMB61.7 million ( US$9.8 million ). ( ). Non-GAAP operating income increased by 23.6% year-over-year to RMB71.3 million ( US$11.3 million ). ( ). Net income attributable to OneSmart increased by 154.8% year-over-year to RMB105.0 million ( US$16.6 million ) from RMB41.2 million in the same period of fiscal year 2017. ( ) from in the same period of fiscal year 2017. Non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart increased by 121.2% year-over-year to RMB114.6 million ( US$18.1 million ) from RMB51.8 million in the same period of fiscal year 2017. ( ) from in the same period of fiscal year 2017. Number of study centers increased to 273 as of February 28, 2018 , which represents a total classroom capacity increase of 24.9% year-over-year. Of which 192 were OneSmart VIP study centers, 56 were HappyMath study centers and 15 were FasTrack English study centers. Key Financial Results (In thousands/RMB) 2Q FY2018 2Q FY2017 % of change Net revenues 663,459 494,567 34.1% Operating income 78,073 42,062 85.6% Non-GAAP operating income 82,028 47,280 73.5% Net income attributable to OneSmart 77,380 37,319 107.3% Non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart 81,335 42,537 91.2% 1H FY2018 1H FY2017 % of change Net revenues 1,104,645 821,466 34.5% Operating income 61,713 47,098 31.0% Non-GAAP operating income 71,336 57,715 23.6% Net income attributable to OneSmart 104,963 41,193 154.8% Non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart 114,586 51,810 121.2% Mr. Steve Xi Zhang, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OneSmart, commented, "We are pleased to report strong financial and operational results for the first time as a public company. As the largest premium K-12 after-school education service provider in China, we continue to benefit from the faster growth of premium segment with the consumption upgrade." "I believe these strong quarterly results demonstrated our capabilities to further strengthen our leadership in the premium market and the effectiveness of our growth strategies, which focuses on three core areas: customer satisfaction, profitable growth, and diversification. Looking forward, we expect to continue our strong momentum in driving top line growth and continue to gain more market share in the premium segment while maintaining stable profitability." Customer Satisfaction: "As the most recognized premium education brand in China, OneSmart aims to offer best-in-class teaching quality and comprehensive customized services to its students and their parents, which is the foundation to our success. In December 2017 , we launched iOneSmart Study Master version 10.0 applications to incorporate the latest application of Adaptive Learning Through Socialization (ALTS) and data analytic technology to fine-tune our personalized aptitude assessment, personalized teaching plan and visualized learning progress reports. , we launched iOneSmart Study Master version 10.0 applications to incorporate the latest application of Adaptive Learning Through Socialization (ALTS) and data analytic technology to fine-tune our personalized aptitude assessment, personalized teaching plan and visualized learning progress reports. We upgraded approximately 20% of our OneSmart VIP and HappyMath classrooms with up-to-date hardware and software during the second fiscal quarter of 2018. Out of the 21,833 parents of our OneSmart VIP program who responded to our first half fiscal year 2018 semi-annual parents' satisfaction survey, 91.2% of parents expressed that they are satisfied about our teaching services, and 73.5% of the parents confirmed that their children made good progress while attending our program. We generated over 56% of our cash revenues from renewal and referral of existing OneSmart VIP and HappyMath customers during the second fiscal quarter of 2018." Profitable Growth: "We aim for faster top-line growth while maintaining solid profit growth. We added three more subjects, Chinese, science, and computer programming, into HappyMath's program and total student enrollments for the Chinese subject reached to approximately 3,000 during the second fiscal quarter of 2018. Revenues from one-on-three premium K-12 tutoring program as a percentage of total revenue increased to 16.4% from 12.1% in the same period of fiscal year 2017. We deliberately opened more learning centers in those top cities that we operate to achieve higher operation efficiency and we are very selective in entering into new cities with great potential. New study centers opened in mature markets ( Shanghai ) and sub-mature markets ( Hangzhou , Guangzhou , Shenzhen , Nanjing and Beijing ) accounted for over 80% of total new study centers we opened during the second fiscal quarter of 2018. ) and sub-mature markets ( , , , and ) accounted for over 80% of total new study centers we opened during the second fiscal quarter of 2018. We continued to roll out our success in Shanghai to more cities we operate. During the second fiscal quarter of 2018, our study centers in 10 key second tier cities achieved student enrollments growth of more than 50% year-over-year, including Chengdu , Suzhou, Xiamen , Chongqing , Changsha , Kunming, Fuzhou , Shenyang , Dalian and Tianjin ." Diversification: "OneSmart aims to build up a one-stop shopping platform that can provide best-in-class K-12 premium education services for affluent and mass-affluent families in China. In January 2018 , we successfully acquired the controlling stake of FasTrack English, a leading English tutor in East China for children aged 3 to 10. , we successfully acquired the controlling stake of FasTrack English, a leading English tutor in East China for children aged 3 to 10. We prepared to launch OneSmart Class and OneSmart Online programs in the coming summer". Mr. Dong Li, OneSmart's Chief Financial Officer added, "We successfully improved our operating profit margin by 330 bps year-over-year during the second fiscal quarter of 2018 despite the fact that we opened more study centers and expanded our classroom capacity by 24.9% year-over-year. Leveraging our strong brand influence, excellent teaching and service quality, and superior delicacy management capabilities, we expect to continue improve our operation efficiency and to attract new students, word-of-mouth referrals, and cross-selling of additional subjects and services to existing students in a more effective way, which will lead to lower customer acquisition costs and higher student life-time revenue contributions as they progress through their educational lifecycle with us." "OneSmart will continue to invest in talent recruitment and training, research and curriculum development, and to integrate the latest technology to strengthen the teaching and services capabilities and to enhance the overall learning experience of our students. We are confident that our clear growth strategy and increasingly diversified business portfolio ideally positions OneSmart in a broader market to deliver more sustainable revenue and profitability growth for our shareholders in the long-run." Financial Results For the Second Fiscal Quarter Ended February 28, 2018 Net Revenues Net revenues were RMB663.5 million (US$104.8 million), an increase of 34.1% from RMB494.6 million during the same period last year. The increase was mainly driven by an increase in the monthly average student enrollments in both the Company's premium tutoring services as well as premium young children education programs compared with those in the same period of last year. Monthly average student enrollments increased by 38.4% year-over-year to 102,613. Operating Costs and Expenses Operating costs and expenses for the quarter were RMB585.4 million (US$92.5 million), an increase of 29.4% from RMB452.5 million during the same period last year. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were RMB581.4 million (US$91.9 million), an increase of 30.0% from RMB447.3 million during the same period last year. Cost of revenues increased by 36.4% year-over-year to RMB331.1 million ( US$52.3 million ). The increase was primarily due to an increase in rental costs and compensation to teaching staff and study advisors. increased by 36.4% year-over-year to ( ). The increase was primarily due to an increase in rental costs and compensation to teaching staff and study advisors. Selling and marketing expenses increased by 14.3% year-over-year to RMB129.6 million ( US$20.5 million ). Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were RMB129.4 million ( US$20.4 million ), an increase of 14.3% from RMB113.2 million during the same period last year. The increase was primarily as a result of an increase in compensation for sales and marketing staff as well as higher rental expenses in support of the greater number of programs and service offerings on offer compared to the same period last year. increased by 14.3% year-over-year to ( ). Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were ( ), an increase of 14.3% from during the same period last year. The increase was primarily as a result of an increase in compensation for sales and marketing staff as well as higher rental expenses in support of the greater number of programs and service offerings on offer compared to the same period last year. General and administrative expenses increased by 29.4% year-over-year to RMB124.8 million ( US$19.7 million ). Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excludes share-based compensation, were RMB121.0 million ( US$19.1 million ), an increase of 32.4% from RMB91.4 million during the same period last year. The increase was primarily due to, among others, increases in compensation for general and administrative personnel, rental expenses, and service expenses. Total share-based compensation expenses, which were allocated to related operating expenses, decreased by 24.2% year-over-year to RMB4.0 million (US$0.6 million) in the second fiscal quarter of 2018. Operating Income and Operating Margin Operating income for the quarter was RMB78.1 million (US$12.3 million), an 85.6% increase from RMB42.1 million in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP Operating Income, which excludes shared-based compensation, was RMB82.0 million (US$13.0 million), a 73.5% increase from RMB47.3 million during the same period last year. Operating margin for the quarter was 11.8%, compared to 8.5% in the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin was 12.4%, compared with 9.6% during the same period last year. Other income was RMB4.2 million (US$0.7 million), compared with RMB1.0 million during the same period last year. Income tax expense was RMB23.0 million (US$3.6 million), compared with RMB18.2 million during the same period last year. Net Income Attributable to OneSmart Net income attributable to OneSmart was RMB77.4 million (US$12.2 million), compared with RMB37.3 million during the same period last year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart was RMB81.3 million (US$12.9 million), compared with RMB42.5 million during the same period last year. Capital Expenditures Capital expenditures for the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 were RMB87.8 million (US$13.9 million), an increase of RMB7.9 million from RMB79.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. The increase was mainly due to leasehold improvements as a result of the opening of new learning centers and renovations of existing learning centers. Financial Position As of February 28, 2018, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of RMB577.3 million (US$91.2 million) and short-term investments of RMB537.2 million (US$84.9 million). The Company completed its initial public offering of 16,300,000 American depositary shares traded on the New York Stock Exchange on March 28, 2018. Proceeds from the offering were US$179.3 million before deducting underwriting discounts, commissions and offering expenses. OneSmart's prepayments from customers balance, which is cash collected from enrolled students for courses and recognized proportionately as the tutoring sessions are delivered, at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 was RMB 1,793.0 million (US$283.3 million), an increase of 44.0% from RMB1,245.3 million at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2017. Cash Flow Net cash provided by operating activities in the second quarter was RMB51.1 million (US$8.1 million). Net cash provided by investing activities in the second quarter was RMB39.4 million (US$6.2 million). Net cash used in financing activities in the second quarter was RMB333.7 million (US$52.7 million). Financial Results for the Six Months Ended February 28, 2018 For the first six months of fiscal year 2018, OneSmart reported net revenues of RMB1,104.6 million (US$174.6 million), representing a 34.5% increase year-over-year. Monthly average student enrollments in the first six months of fiscal year 2018 increased by 42.3% to approximately 96,746. Operating costs and expenses for the first six months of fiscal year 2018 were RMB1,042.9 million (US$164.8 million), a 34.7% increase year-over-year. Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses for the first six months of fiscal year 2018, which excluded share-based compensation expenses, were RMB1,033.3 million, representing a 35.3% increase year-over-year. Cost of revenues increased by 37.9% year-over-year to RMB583.7 million ( US$92.2 million ). ( ). Selling and marketing expenses increased by 29.0% year-over-year to RMB236.0 million ( US$37.3 million ). Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were RMB235.6 million ( US$37.2 million ), an increase of 29.1% from RMB182.6 million during the same period last year. ( ). Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, which excludes share-based compensation expenses, were ( ), an increase of 29.1% from during the same period last year. General and administrative expenses increased by 32.7% year-over-year to RMB223.3 million ( US$35.3 million ). Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, which excludes share-based compensation, were RMB214.0 million ( US$33.8 million ), an increase of 35.5% from RMB158.0 million during the same period last year. Income from operations for the first six months of fiscal year 2018 was RMB61.7 million, representing a 31.0% increase year-over-year. Non-GAAP income from operations for the first six months of fiscal year 2018 was RMB71.3 million, representing a 23.6% increase year-over-year. Operating margin for the first six months of fiscal year 2018 was 5.6%, compared to 5.7% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Non-GAAP operating margin, which excludes share-based compensation expenses for the first six months of fiscal year 2018, was 6.5%, compared to 7.0% for the same period of the prior fiscal year. Net income attributable to OneSmart for the first six months of fiscal year 2018 was RMB105.0 million, representing a 154.8% increase year-over-year. Non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart for the first six months of fiscal year 2018 was RMB114.6 million, representing a 121.2% increase year-over-year. Outlook for Fiscal Year 2018 For fiscal year 2018, OneSmart expects net revenues to be between RMB2,750 million (US$434.6 million) and RMB2,880 million (US$455.1 million), an increase of 33.6% to 40.0% from fiscal year 2017. This forecast reflects OneSmart's current and preliminary view, which is subject to uncertainty. Exchange Rate Information This announcement contains translations of certain RMB amounts into U.S. dollars at a specified rate solely for the convenience of the reader. Unless otherwise noted, all translations from RMB to U.S. dollars are made at the noon buying rate on February 28, 2018, as set forth in the H.10 statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, which was RMB6.3280 to US$1.00. Conference Call Information OneSmart's management will hold an earnings conference call at 8AM on May 3, 2018, U.S. Eastern Time (8 PM on the same day, Beijing/Hong Kong Time). Dial-in details for the earnings conference call are as follows: International: 1-412-902-4272 China: 4001-201203 US: 1-888-346-8982 Hong Kong: 800-905945 A telephone replay will be available after the conclusion of the conference call through May 10, 2018. The dial-in details are: International: 1-412-317-0088 U.S. Toll Free: 1-877-344-7529 Passcode: 10119615 Additionally, a live and archived webcast of this conference call will be available at http://www.onesmart.investorroom.com/. About OneSmart Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Shanghai, OneSmart International Education Group Limited is the largest premium K-12 after-school education service provider in China in terms of revenue in 2016 and 2017, according to Frost & Sullivan. Since commencement of our business, our vision is to build the most trusted "Third Classroom" outside of home and school and our mission is to bring out the utmost learning power in each student by cultivating his or her study motivation, capability and perseverance, and enable our students to pursue their life-long success. Our company culture is centered on the core values of customer focus, execution, innovation and teamwork. OneSmart has built a comprehensive K-12 after-school education platform that encompasses its acclaimed premium tutoring services under "OneSmart VIP" programs, which offer premium tutoring services in one-on-one and one-on-three teacher-to-student settings with a full spectrum of course offerings covering core academic subjects taught in primary and secondary schools in China at levels between the third and twelfth grades; premium young children education services under "HappyMath" programs, and other language and culture programs. In 2017, OneSmart had the largest market share of 2.4% in China's premium K-12 after-school education market, and "HappyMath" was the largest after-school mathematics education service provider for students in kindergarten to the third grade in Shanghai, as measured by revenues, according to Frost & Sullivan. As of February 28, 2018, OneSmart operated a nationwide network of 273 study centers across 46 cities in China. For more information on OneSmart, please visit http://www.onesmart.investorroom.com. Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. OneSmart may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about OneSmart's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements that involve factors, risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: OneSmart's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to penetrate premium K-12 after-school education services market; diversify and enrich our education offerings; enhance the development and management of our teacher team and teaching materials; competition in our industry in China; its ability to maintain and expand online education presence; relevant government policies and regulations relating to the corporate structure, business and industry; and its ability to protect our students' information and adequately address privacy concerns. Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in the Company's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and OneSmart does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law. Non-GAAP Financial Measures In evaluating its business, OneSmart considers and uses the following measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC as supplemental metrics to review and assess its operating performance: non-GAAP operating costs and expenses, non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses, non-GAAP general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart. To present each of these non-GAAP measures, the Company excludes share-based compensation expenses. The presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the table captioned "Reconciliations of non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP measures" set forth at the end of this release. OneSmart believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding its performance and liquidity by excluding share-based compensation expenses that may not be indicative of its operating performance from a cash perspective. OneSmart believes that both management and investors benefit from these non-GAAP financial measures in assessing its performance and when planning and forecasting future periods. These non-GAAP financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to OneSmart's historical performance and liquidity. OneSmart computes its non-GAAP financial measures using the same consistent method from quarter to quarter and from period to period. OneSmart believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. A limitation of using non-GAAP measures is that these non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation charges that have been and will continue to be for the foreseeable future a significant recurring expense in the Company's business. Management compensates for these limitations by providing specific information regarding the GAAP amounts excluded from each non-GAAP measure. The accompanying tables have more details on the reconciliations between GAAP financial measures that are most directly comparable to non-GAAP financial measures. For more information, please contact: OneSmart Ms. Rebecca Shen Phone: +86-21-5255-9339 ext. 8139 E-mail: [email protected] Christensen In China Mr. Christian Arnell Phone: +86-10-5826-4939 E-mail: [email protected] In the US Ms. Linda Bergkamp Phone: +1-480-614-3004 Email: [email protected] [1] "Enrollments", for the purpose of calculation, are to a student who takes at least one class for one subject in a certain period is treated as one enrollment in the same period. Under this methodology, a student taking at least one class for each of two subjects in a certain period is treated as two enrollments in the same period. The number of students enrolled in our invested schools and OneSmart Online is not included for this purpose. ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Amounts in thousands) As of As of As of August 31, February 28, February 28, 2017 2018 2018 RMB RMB US$ (Audited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) ASSETS Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents 981,772 577,328 91,234 Short-term investments 413,883 537,195 84,892 Prepayments and other current assets 126,836 175,183 27,684 Amounts due from related parties 87,254 - - Total current assets 1,609,745 1,289,706 203,810 Non-current assets: Property and equipment, net 272,226 367,297 58,043 Intangible assets, net 9,729 109,170 17,252 Long-term investments 267,051 281,918 44,551 Goodwill 58,676 268,591 42,445 Deferred tax assets 29,096 16,281 2,573 Amounts due from related parties 16,500 16,500 2,607 Other non-current assets 54,587 106,519 16,833 Total non-current assets 707,865 1,166,276 184,304 Total assets 2,317,610 2,455,982 388,114 LIABILITIES, MEZZANINE EQUITY AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT Current liabilities: Short-term loan (including short-term loan of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of RMB5,000 and RMB10,000 (US$1,580) as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 5,000 10,000 1,580 Long-term loan , current portion (including long-term loan, current portion of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil and RMB45,000 (US$7,111) as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) - 45,000 7,111 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of RMB414,371 and RMB468,751 (US$74,076) as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 414,371 468,751 74,076 Income taxes payable (including income taxes payable of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of RMB37,563 and RMB24,773 (US$3,915) as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 37,563 24,773 3,915 Prepayments from customers (including prepayments from customers of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of RMB1,531,424 and RMB1,793,009 (US$283,345) as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 1,531,424 1,793,009 283,345 Total current liabilities 1,988,358 2,341,533 370,027 Non-current liabilities: Long-term loan (including long-term loan of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of nil and RMB405,000 (US$64,001) as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) - 405,000 64,001 Unrecognized tax benefit (including liability for unrecognized tax benefit of the consolidated VIEs without recourse to the Group of RMB13,012 and RMB15,646 (US$2,473) as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 13,012 15,646 2,473 Total non-current liabilities 13,012 420,646 66,474 Total liabilities 2,001,370 2,762,179 436,501 Commitments and contingencies Mezzanine equity: Series A redeemable convertible preferred shares (US$0.000001 par value; 1,890,686,563 and 1,549,430,118 shares authorized as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively; 1,890,686,563 and 1,549,430,118 issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 1,713,344 1,610,167 254,451 Series A-1 redeemable convertible preferred shares (US$0.000001 par value; 35,757,200 and 2,018,935,427 shares authorized as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively; 35,757,200 and 2,018,935,427 issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 36,556 2,662,305 420,718 Total mezzanine equity 1,749,900 4,272,472 675,169 Shareholders' deficit: Class A ordinary shares (US$0.000001 par value; 44,134,792,349 shares authorized; 94,897,359 and nil issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 1 - - Class B ordinary shares (US$0.000001 par value; 2,439,484,566 and 2,296,842,016 shares authorized as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively; 2,439,484,566 and 2,296,842,016 issued and outstanding as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2018, respectively) 16 16 3 Additional paid-in capital 82,139 5,168 817 Statutory reserves 3,739 3,886 614 Accumulated deficit (1,567,136) (4,676,951) (739,088) Accumulated other comprehensive income 19,123 16,922 2,674 Total OneSmart International Education Group Limited shareholders' deficit (1,462,118) (4,650,959) (734,980) Non-controlling interests 28,458 72,290 11,424 Total shareholders' deficit (1,433,660) (4,578,669) (723,556) Total liabilities, mezzanine equity, non-controlling interests and shareholders' deficit 2,317,610 2,455,982 388,114 ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Amounts in thousands) For the three months ended February 28, For the six months ended February 28, 2017 2018 2018 2017 2018 2018 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net revenues 494,567 663,459 104,845 821,466 1,104,645 174,565 Cost of revenues (242,707) (331,069) (52,318) (423,214) (583,671) (92,236) Gross profit 251,860 332,390 52,527 398,252 520,974 82,329 Operating expenses: Selling and marketing (Note 1) (113,396) (129,557) (20,474) (182,933) (235,954) (37,287) General and administrative (Note 1) (96,402) (124,760) (19,716) (168,221) (223,307) (35,289) Total operating expenses (209,798) (254,317) (40,190) (351,154) (459,261) (72,576) Operating income 42,062 78,073 12,337 47,098 61,713 9,753 Interest income 7,109 9,795 1,548 10,482 16,173 2,556 Interest expense (22) (4,572) (723) (22) (4,691) (741) Other income 1,035 4,233 669 5,712 43,561 6,884 Other expenses - (3,083) (487) - (3,083) (487) Foreign exchange gain 734 300 47 370 125 20 Income before income tax and share of net loss from equity investees 50,918 84,746 13,391 63,640 113,798 17,985 Income tax expense (18,197) (22,994) (3,634) (30,851) (32,590) (5,150) Income before share of net (loss)/income from equity investees 32,721 61,752 9,757 32,789 81,208 12,835 Share of net (loss)/income from equity investees (170) 4,394 694 (322) 3,028 479 Net income 32,551 66,146 10,451 32,467 84,236 13,314 Add: Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests 4,768 11,234 1,775 8,726 20,727 3,275 Net income attributable to OneSmart's shareholders 37,319 77,380 12,226 41,193 104,963 16,589 Note 1: Share-based compensation expenses are included in the operating costs and expenses as follows: For the three months ended February 28, For the six months ended February 28, 2017 2018 2018 2017 2018 2018 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Selling and marketing 184 163 26 368 328 52 General and administrative 5,034 3,792 599 10,249 9,295 1,469 Total 5,218 3,955 625 10,617 9,623 1,521 ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Amounts in thousands) For the three months ended February 28, For the six months ended February 28, 2017 2018 2018 2017 2018 2018 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Net income 32,551 66,146 10,453 32,467 84,236 13,314 Other comprehensive income: Unrealized gain on available-for-sale investments, net of tax 5,840 10,645 1,682 10,175 12,215 1,930 Foreign currency translation adjustment - (38) (6) - (14,416) (2,278) Comprehensive income 38,391 76,753 12,129 42,642 82,035 12,966 Add: Comprehensive loss attributable to non- controlling interests 4,768 11,234 1,775 8,726 20,727 3,275 Comprehensive income attributable to OneSmart's shareholders 43,159 87,987 13,904 51,368 102,762 16,241 ONESMART INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION GROUP LIMITED Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to the Most Comparable GAAP Measures (Amounts in thousands) For the three months ended February 28, For the six months ended February 28, 2017 2018 2018 2017 2018 2018 RMB RMB US$ RMB RMB US$ (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) Selling and marketing expenses 113,396 129,557 20,474 182,933 235,954 37,287 Share-based compensation expense in selling and marketing expenses 184 163 26 368 328 52 Non-GAAP selling and marketing expenses 113,212 129,394 20,448 182,565 235,626 37,235 General and administrative expenses 96,402 124,760 19,716 168,221 223,307 35,289 Share-based compensation expense in general and administrative expenses 5,034 3,792 599 10,249 9,295 1,469 Non-GAAP general and administrative expenses 91,368 120,968 19,117 157,972 214,012 33,820 Operating costs and expenses 452,505 585,386 92,508 774,368 1,042,932 164,812 Share-based compensation expense in operating costs and expenses 5,218 3,955 625 10,617 9,623 1,521 Non-GAAP operating costs and expenses 447,287 581,431 91,883 763,751 1,033,309 163,291 Operating income 42,062 78,073 12,337 47,098 61,713 9,753 Share-based compensation expenses 5,218 3,955 625 10,617 9,623 1,521 Non-GAAP operating income 47,280 82,028 12,962 57,715 71,336 11,274 Net income attributable to OneSmart's shareholders 37,319 77,380 12,226 41,193 104,963 16,589 Share-based compensation expenses 5,218 3,955 625 10,617 9,623 1,521 Non-GAAP net income attributable to OneSmart 42,537 81,335 12,851 51,810 114,586 18,110 SOURCE OneSmart International Education Group Limited Publishers can Leverage OneTrust as the First Privacy Management Software Integrated with IAB Europe's Framework LONDON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OneTrust, a global leader in enterprise privacy management software, today announced a partnership with IAB Europe to help publishers in the digital advertising chain meet certain transparency, notice and choice requirements for the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and ePrivacy Directive. OneTrust's innovation, focus on the privacy market and size and scale of its engineering team makes it the first privacy management software to comply with the IAB Europe GDPR Transparency and Consent Framework. OneTrust customers will be able to integrate use of the IAB Europe Framework seamlessly within their websites and applications for digital advertising best practices. Beginning 25 May 2018, organisations that capture personal information of individuals located in the European Union will be required to adhere to GDPR and the existing ePrivacy Directive for the processing of this data. The rules for consent and transparency are particularly important for publishers and advertising technology vendors. The IAB Europe Transparency and Consent Framework provides a common language for these organisations to work together and effectively deliver digital advertising to consumers through approved consent management providers (CMPs). As an IAB Europe-approved CMP, OneTrust customers will have instant access to leverage the IAB Europe Framework built into the OneTrust platform. Customers can use OneTrust to pull vendor privacy declarations from the IAB Europe Global Vendor List and provide necessary information about the approved vendors. Customers can capture consent from a user, where necessary, before personal data is collected and, if approved, share those preferences to ad tech vendors in adherence to the user's choice. This partnership allows OneTrust customers to seamlessly integrate their existing website privacy notice and policies into the IAB Europe Framework, simplify transparency, notice and consent capture and demonstrate compliance across their first- and third-party content ecosystem. "We are pleased to partner with OneTrust in our mutual support of the IAB Europe's Transparency and Consent Framework," said AppNexus Vice President and Chief Privacy Counsel Julia Shullman. "The integration of a CMP from a well-established privacy management provider like OneTrust is a critical milestone in providing publishers and advertisers the tools they need to comply with the existing ePrivacy Directive and prepare for GDPR. OneTrust is a natural fit and will integrate seamlessly with our tags via the IAB Europe Framework." "Our partnership with IAB Europe gives organizations access to the publishing and advertising industry's most active consent framework," said OneTrust CEO and Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP) Kabir Barday, "Our early adoption of the framework is driven by our focus on innovating in the data privacy market and ability to execute in the market with our significant R&D capacity." For additional information, visit OneTrust.com or email [email protected]. Resources: Learn more about how OneTrust supports the IAB Europe Transparency and Consent Framework Request a live OneTrust Privacy Management Software demo Register for a PrivacyConnect event near you and get involved with the PrivacyConnect GDPR network of privacy professionals Connect with OneTrust on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+ About OneTrust OneTrust's privacy management software is used by more than 2,000 organizations to comply with data privacy regulations across sectors and jurisdictions, including the EU GDPR and ePrivacy (Cookie Law). The multi-lingual software is deployed in an EU cloud or on-premise, and is based on a combination of intelligent scanning, regulator guidance-based questionnaires, and automated workflows used together to automatically generate the record keeping required for an organization to demonstrate compliance to regulators and auditors. OneTrust helps organizations implement GDPR requirements, including: Data Protection by Design (PbD), Data Protection Impact Assessments (PIA / DPIA), Vendor Risk Management, Incident and Breach Management, Records of Processing (Data Mapping), Universal Consent and Preference Management, ePrivacy Cookie Consent, Data Subject Access, Portability, and Right to Be Forgotten. About IAB Europe IAB Europe is the leading European-level industry association for the digital advertising ecosystem. Its mission is to promote the development of this innovative sector and ensure its sustainability by shaping the regulatory environment, demonstrating the value digital advertising brings to Europe's economy, to consumers and to the market, and developing and facilitating the uptake of harmonised business practices that take account of changing user expectations and enable digital brand advertising to scale in Europe. Media Contact: Gabrielle Ferree Public Relations +1 770-294-4668 [email protected] SOURCE OneTrust Related Links http://www.onetrust.com Besides the international selection of food, the design of the Bazaar will pique the interest of travelers. With thirty percent of all travelers passing through Terminal C during breakfast hours, OTG worked to develop a creative solution to physically differentiate breakfast concepts from those featured for lunch and dinner hours. The space transforms as the day progresses, changing both food offerings and the space's structure to meet the time-specific needs of hungry travelers. After the breakfast rush departs, the Bazaar's space automatically adapts to accommodate the lunch and dinner crowd. In order to pull off such an ambitious project, OTG sought the imagination of architect and Tony Award-winning scenic designer David Rockwell. Rockwell Group drew upon both its hospitality and theater experience to create individual spaces that morph and change within a limited footprint, providing travelers the widest array of culinary offerings throughout the course of the day. "Developing the best possible experience for Terminal C's travelers required a lot of imagination from our design, culinary and tech teams," said OTG's CEO Rick Blatstein. "This space is truly the first of its kind the Bazaar changes as we move through the day. The space's unique and immersive design, intuitive technology and, of course, great food is something we are incredibly proud to offer to United customers." "We're thrilled that our customers will now be able to enjoy new culinary experiences from notable New York area chefs within the Global Bazaar," said Jill Kaplan, President, New York/New Jersey for United Airlines. "As we continue to work closely with OTG to create a world-class airport experience for our customers in the Tri-State area, we are excited by the new concepts and investments that have gone into the continual improvements at Terminal C." Global Bazaar content can be found here: http://bit.ly/EWR_Global_Bazaar Chef-Driven Dining with Unique Local Flavor Dynamic concepts that change throughout the day include: Creperie Juliet , which features both sweet crepes, like the S'mores Chocolate & Marshmallow, and savory crepes, like the Mushroom, Spinach, & Cheese; which transforms into its lunch and dinner counterpart, Wabi Sabi , a Dim Sum concept with egg rolls, pork gyoza, scallion pancakes and lo mein as the options. , which features both sweet crepes, like the S'mores Chocolate & Marshmallow, and savory crepes, like the Mushroom, Spinach, & Cheese; which transforms into its lunch and dinner counterpart, , a Dim Sum concept with egg rolls, pork gyoza, scallion pancakes and lo mein as the options. Flip Flop Pancake Shop , which serves as a breakfast specializing in pancakes; which transforms into its lunch and dinner counterpart, Notorious P.I.G., offering pulled pork, brisket and BBQ Pork Ribs. , which serves as a breakfast specializing in pancakes; which transforms into its lunch and dinner counterpart, offering pulled pork, brisket and BBQ Pork Ribs. Breakfast Boli focuses on breakfast based Stromboli; while its lunch and dinner counterpart, Uptop Pizza , specializes in customizable, build-your-own personal pizzas. focuses on breakfast based Stromboli; while its lunch and dinner counterpart, , specializes in customizable, build-your-own personal pizzas. Eggy Weggy , which specializes in creating that perfect breakfast sandwich; which transforms into its lunch and dinner counterpart, Custom Burger, featuring a menu of carefully crafted burgers and sandwiches. , which specializes in creating that perfect breakfast sandwich; which transforms into its lunch and dinner counterpart, featuring a menu of carefully crafted burgers and sandwiches. Supreme Bowl brings travelers a range of breakfast bowls; while its lunch and dinner counterpart, Philly Cheesesteaks specializes in crafting that perfect "wit wiz" Cheesesteak. brings travelers a range of breakfast bowls; while its lunch and dinner counterpart, specializes in crafting that perfect "wit wiz" Cheesesteak. Poppy's Bagels focuses on the area breakfast staple, which are hand rolled and baked daily just a few yards away at Melange Bakery & Chocolaterie. This transforms into lunch and dinner counterpart, Casciano's, which is an Italian specialty sandwich shop. Always available concepts include: Melange Bakery , a 24/7/365 from-scratch bakery developed with Chef Jacques Torres , which develops hand crafted baked goods and confections for all Terminal C markets and restaurants. , a 24/7/365 from-scratch bakery developed with Chef , which develops hand crafted baked goods and confections for all Terminal C markets and restaurants. Kaedama , a Tokyo-style slurp shop centrally located in the Bazaar providing travelers traditional & fusion ramen with fresh-pulled noodles, small plates, soups and dumplings. , a Tokyo-style slurp shop centrally located in the Bazaar providing travelers traditional & fusion ramen with fresh-pulled noodles, small plates, soups and dumplings. Tsukiji Fishroom features freshly made sushi made on site using fish flown direct from Tokyo's famed Tsukiji Fish Market weekly by United. Leading-Edge Technology Guests stay in control of their experience via OTG's proprietary Self-Checkout systems seamlessly blended into the Global Bazaar footprint. Additionally, United and OTG have collaborated to enhance benefits for MileagePlus program members, enabling the use of reward miles as a form of payment for food, drink or retail. About United United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,600 flights a day to 354 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 750 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 545 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 191 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "UAL". About OTG OTG is a hospitality group that is transforming the airport travel experience for millions of travelers every year. OTG combines world-class hospitality and award-winning cuisine with innovative design and state-of-the-art technology. OTG's restaurant concepts are complemented by the company's tablet experience, which was the first of its kind in the industry. Since 1996, OTG has been redefining the guest experience in airports, transforming the way passengers interact with the terminal. The company is currently one of the leading airport food and beverage operators in North America with more than 300 restaurants and retail locations across 10 airports. For more information, visit OTGexp.com. SOURCE OTG RAMAT GAN, Israel, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp. (OWCP), a developer of cannabinoid-based therapies targeting a variety of different medical conditions and disorders, today announced the closing of the sale of $5 million of convertible preferred stock to an institutional investor. The preferred stock is convertible into OWCP common stock at a price of $0.20 per share. Newbridge Securities Corporation, through LifeTech Capital, acted as exclusive placement agent for the transaction. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458036/OWC_Logo.jpg ) The company also issued warrants to purchase 12.5 million shares of common stock to the investor. The preferred stock, designated as Series A Preferred Stock, accrues dividends, payable quarterly, at a rate of 5% per annum on the amount invested, payable, in the company's discretion subject to customary restrictions, in cash or common stock. The preferred stock has a liquidation preference of 120% of the amount invested. The company has certain obligations to redeem preferred stock upon the occurrence of certain events, and as to half of the shares over time, and the right to force a conversion of the preferred stock under certain conditions. "This financing is an important milestone for the company," said Mordechai Bignitz, CEO of OWC Pharmaceutical Research. "It enables us to continue to invest in the research and development of our products and to progress our clinical development, which is key to the uniqueness of our company. With this financing, we can also consolidate our movement to commercialization of our first products. We are also very happy to strengthen the institutional presence amongst our shareholders." About OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp. OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp., through its wholly-owned Israeli subsidiary, One World Cannabis Ltd., (collectively 'OWC' or the 'Company') conducts medical research and clinical trials to develop cannabis-based pharmaceuticals and treatments for conditions including multiple myeloma, psoriasis, fibromyalgia, PTSD, and migraines. OWCP is also developing unique delivery systems for the effective delivery and dosage of medical cannabis. All OWCP research is conducted at leading Israeli hospitals and scientific institutions and led by internationally renowned investigators. The Company's Research Division is focused on pursuing clinical trials evaluating the effectiveness of cannabinoids and cannabis-based products for the treatment of various medical conditions, while its Consulting Division is dedicated to helping governments and companies navigate complex international cannabis regulatory frameworks. Mordechai Bignitz, Chief Executive Officer - OWC Pharmaceutical research crop, Email: [email protected] Tel: +972-(72)-260-8004 SOURCE OWC Pharmaceutical Research Corp. WAKEFIELD, Mass. and NUREMBERG, Germany, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Paessler AG, the innovative network monitoring specialist, today unveiled the Uptime Alliance, a new technology partner program designed to help the company's partners include network monitoring functionality in their offerings to help clients prevent the downtime of critical IT systems. Paessler's PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful, affordable and easy-to-use unified monitoring solution relied on by more than 200,000 system administrators worldwide. With PRTG, system administrators can monitor the health and performance of their entire infrastructure, including networks, systems, hardware, applications and devices - all in real time. The Uptime Alliance builds on PRTG's capabilities and fosters collaboration with technology partners to provide integrated and combined solutions that ensure the maximum uptime of IT infrastructure and the business processes and functions they make possible. "We're joining forces with our partners to ensure 100 percent uptime," said Christian Twardawa, CEO of Paessler. "The ramifications can be severe when important systems go down, which is why IT teams and system administrators must know at all times what is occurring across their infrastructure and be alerted immediately when problems arise. By offering our partners seamless integration with PRTG and creating purpose-built sensors for their solutions, we provide our shared customers with unprecedented peace of mind." With intuitive and highly-customizable dashboards and more than 200 pre-configured sensors, PRTG monitors everything from the overall health of the network infrastructure to granular details like the performance and temperature of individual devices and the revolutions-per-minute of the fans within them. Custom sensors are also easily created and integrated with PRTG and enable IT leaders to embrace pivotal computing trends like the internet of things with confidence. PRTG sends alerts to administrators when any pre-determined performance thresholds of their choosing are met or when any problems arise that impact the overall health of the network - all in the form they prefer, including email, SMS, etc. Paessler already offers sensors designed specifically for turn-key performance with some of the best-known and most respected IT brands and is a member of the Cisco Solution Partner Program, the HPE Technology Partner Program, the NetApp Alliance Partner Program and VMware's Technology Alliance Partner (TAP) program. The Uptime Alliance builds on the spirit of those efforts, creates new use cases for PRTG and provides partners with a framework they can use to easily integrate their own products with PRTG. Charter members of the Uptime Alliance include: AppSphere : With ScriptRunner from AppSphere, Paessler integrates a powerful event automation platform into PRTG Network Monitor. With ScriptRunner from AppSphere, Paessler integrates a powerful event automation platform into PRTG Network Monitor. Check Point : PRTG monitors Check Point telemetry in its overall view of a company's corporate infrastructure, providing a holistic view on the security posture of the corporate network. : PRTG monitors Check Point telemetry in its overall view of a company's corporate infrastructure, providing a holistic view on the security posture of the corporate network. Kentix : Kentix MultiSensor technology and Paessler's PRTG provide the ideal solution to monitor all major physical hazards in IT rooms and racks, including critical climate factors, fire and burglary. Kentix MultiSensor technology and Paessler's PRTG provide the ideal solution to monitor all major physical hazards in IT rooms and racks, including critical climate factors, fire and burglary. MachineShop : The integration of Paessler's IT monitoring platform with MachineShop Edge provides enterprises with a simple and unified view of enterprise technology both IT and OT. The integration of Paessler's IT monitoring platform with MachineShop Edge provides enterprises with a simple and unified view of enterprise technology both IT and OT. NetBrain : With NetBrain, a Dynamic Network Map serves as the foundation for network automation. Every task is run through the map, leveraging Executable Runbooks and integrating NetBrain with PRTG Network Monitor. With NetBrain, a Dynamic Network Map serves as the foundation for network automation. Every task is run through the map, leveraging Executable Runbooks and integrating NetBrain with PRTG Network Monitor. Plixer : Paessler and Plixer provide a complete solution adding flow and metadata analysis to a powerful network monitoring tool. Paessler and Plixer provide a complete solution adding flow and metadata analysis to a powerful network monitoring tool. Savision : By integrating PRTG with Savision iQ, administrators can add a fast analytics layer to improve uptime, visualize the IT environment and integrate all of the IT systems into a single pane of glass. : By integrating PRTG with Savision iQ, administrators can add a fast analytics layer to improve uptime, visualize the IT environment and integrate all of the IT systems into a single pane of glass. SonicWall : PRTG provides several ways to monitor SonicWall equipment including out-of-the-box sensors to keep an eye on the overall health of the firewall and the traffic on SonicWall devices. PRTG provides several ways to monitor SonicWall equipment including out-of-the-box sensors to keep an eye on the overall health of the firewall and the traffic on SonicWall devices. UVnetworks : UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform. UVexplorer integrates tightly with PRTG to bring fast and accurate network discovery, detailed device inventory and automatic network mapping to the PRTG platform. WatchGuard: WatchGuard offers a line of network security appliances. With PRTG, administrators can remotely monitor Watchguard firewalls and always have an eye on their Firebox's availability. Beyond generating additional benefits for customers and end users, Paessler's Uptime Alliance also creates new business opportunities and synergies to provide partners and organizations across industries with new solutions and improved services. Paessler invites any interested parties to learn more about the Uptime Alliance, including co-marketing, by emailing [email protected]. More information is also available at https://www.paessler.com/partners/uptimealliance. Follow Paessler on social media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn About Paessler AG Paessler AG's award-winning PRTG Network Monitor is a powerful, affordable and easy-to-use Unified Monitoring solution. It is a highly flexible and generic software for monitoring IT infrastructure, already in use at enterprises and organizations of all sizes and industries. Over 200,000 IT administrators in more than 170 countries rely on PRTG and gain peace of mind, confidence and convenience. Founded in 1997 and based in Nuremberg, Germany, Paessler AG remains a privately held company that is recognized as a member of the Cisco Solution Partner Program, the HPE Partner Ready Program, the NetApp Alliance Partner Program and VMware's Technology Alliance Partner program. Learn more about Paessler and PRTG at www.paessler.com. SOURCE Paessler AG Related Links http://www.paessler.com NASS is the preeminent U.S. spine society in which health insurance companies and health care providers look to for guidance when determining appropriate coverage decisions for state-of-the-art technologies, such as coflex. NASS' multi-disciplinary team of spine specialists systematically review available scientific literature. Searches include meta-analyses, clinical guidelines, and the highest level of clinical data with randomized controlled trials, of which there are two such trials for coflex. The recently issued NASS coverage policy recommends the use of coflex for the treatment of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis. The recommendations only apply to devices that are used in conjunction with a direct decompressive procedure, which currently and in the foreseeable future is only coflex, and states, "More recently ISP devices have been used in conjunction with direct decompression via laminotomy. Some devices, such as coflex, according to its FDA labeling and available published data, are specifically approved for use in this manner." "It's gratifying to see the NASS Coverage Committee issue a coverage recommendation for coflex," said Dr. Richard D. Guyer of the Texas Back Institute and past-President of NASS. "I've been a member of NASS for over 20 years and trust in their process and recommendations for new technologies. I know the process is thorough and evidence-based which gives me confidence in offering the latest and proven technologies to my patients. In particular with coflex, I think we as surgeons have the opportunity and responsibility to utilize the abundant clinical evidence and our experience to provide a superior alternative to decompression alone or spinal fusion for our patients with lumbar spinal stenosis." "The NASS coverage policy recommendation for coflex is a major milestone for validating our technology and allows us to reach more private payors in the U.S. market," said Marc Viscogliosi, Chairman and CEO of Paradigm Spine. "Over the past decade, Paradigm Spine has worked diligently to build the pieces of the puzzle in establishing coflex as the new standard of care for the treatment of moderate to severe lumbar spinal stenosis. Those pieces have been 1) the FDA IDE clinical trial which demonstrated positive, long-term Level I evidence of coflex compared to fusion, 2) establishment of CPT and site-of-service facility coding pathways 3) the recent publication of the landmark Level 1 ESCADA clinical trial which demonstrated superiority of coflex compared to decompression alone, and now 4) the stamp of approval from NASS with their coverage recommendation in support of coflex. As a company, we believe these achievements provide the evidence private payors require to create access to this important technology for patients suffering from lumbar spinal stenosis." About Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (LSS) Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS), affecting 1.6 million patients annually in the United States, is a debilitating and degenerative disease often associated with significant leg and back pain, leg numbness and weakness, and significant reduction in an active lifestyle. Historically, the two traditional surgical treatment options for LSS included decompression alone or decompression with lumbar fusion. Decompression alone has proven effective at relieving pain symptoms caused by lumbar spinal stenosis, however, patients may not experience long term symptomatic relief, resulting in subsequent opioid pain control, epidural injections for pain management, or additional surgeries for conversion to a fusion. Decompression with fusion has proven to provide pain relief and stabilize the diseased segment, but may lead to adjacent level disease requiring subsequent surgeries. About NASS The North American Spine Society (NASS) is comprised of more than 8,000 members from several disciplines, including orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, physiatry, neurology, radiology, anesthesiology, research and physical therapy. Its mission is to foster the highest quality, evidence-based and ethical spine care. About Paradigm Spine, LLC: Paradigm Spine, LLC, founded in 2004, is a privately held company and remains focused on the design and development of solutions for the disease management of spinal stenosis. The Company's signature product is the coflex Interlaminar Stabilization device, which is currently used in over 60 countries worldwide. coflex is the only lumbar spinal device that has produced Level I evidence in two separate prospective, randomized, controlled studies against two different control groups, changing the standard of care for lumbar spinal stenosis treatment. For additional information visit www.paradigmspine.com or www.coflexsolution.com. SOURCE Paradigm Spine, LLC Related Links http://www.paradigmspine.com PARSIPPANY, N.J., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE: PBF) today reported first quarter 2018 income from operations of $95.7 million as compared to income from operations of $0.8 million for the first quarter of 2017. Excluding special items, first quarter 2018 income from operations was $8.0 million as compared to income from operations of $16.8 million for the first quarter of 2017. Special items in the first quarter 2018 results, which increased operating income, include a net, non-cash, after-tax gain of $64.5 million, or $0.56 per share, lower-of-cost-or-market ("LCM") inventory adjustment. The company reported first quarter 2018 net income of $41.8 million and net income attributable to PBF Energy Inc. of $30.4 million or $0.27 per share. This compares to net loss of $20.0 million, and net loss attributable to PBF Energy Inc. of $31.1 million or $(0.29) per share for the first quarter 2017. Adjusted fully-converted net loss for the first quarter 2018, excluding special items, was $33.4 million, or $(0.29) per share on a fully-exchanged, fully-diluted basis, as described below, compared to an adjusted fully-converted net loss of $22.7 million or $(0.20) per share, for the first quarter 2017. PBF Energy's financial results reflect the consolidation of PBF Logistics LP (NYSE: PBFX), a master limited partnership of which PBF indirectly owns the general partner and approximately 44.1% of the limited partner interests as of quarter-end. Tom Nimbley, PBF Energy's Chairman and CEO, said, "During the first quarter we completed approximately 70 percent of our planned maintenance for the year by executing turnarounds in our East Coast, Gulf Coast and Mid-continent regions. Our Torrance operations were strong during the quarter and with our other assets now out of turnaround, we feel we are well positioned for the coming summer driving season." Mr. Nimbley continued, "Looking forward, market fundamentals appear favorable. Demand continues to drive inventories of gasoline and distillate to more normalized levels and the distillate market in particular appears to be very strong. Our focus remains the safe, reliable and environmentally responsible operation of our five-asset refining system and positioning ourselves to benefit from prevailing market conditions." PBF announces successful closing of upsized $3.4 billion credit facility PBF's subsidiary, PBF Holding Company LLC, announced today that it and certain of its subsidiaries' have entered into a new five year revolving credit agreement. Commitments under the facility have increased from $2.6 billion to $3.4 billion. The credit agreement will be used for working capital and other general corporate purposes. PBF's Chief Financial Officer Erik Young said, "This successful syndication demonstrates the growth and development of our business and we thank our banking partners for their commitment to PBF. Our new credit facility provides us with increased financial flexibility and ability to grow." Bank of America N.A. is the Administrative and Collateral Agent for the 28-bank syndicate participating in the facility. Bank of America N.A., ABN Amro Capital USA LLC, BNP Paribas, Citibank N.A., Credit Agricole CIB, Deutsche Bank, MUFG Bank, Ltd., Natixis, Royal Bank of Canada and Wells Fargo acted as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners. Barclays Bank plc, Regions Bank, Societe Generale, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and SunTrust Bank acted as Co-Documentation Agents. PBF Energy Inc. Declares Dividend The company announced today that it will pay a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share of Class A common stock on May 30, 2018, to holders of record as of May 15, 2018. Outlook For the second quarter 2018, we expect East Coast total throughput to average 340,000 to 360,000 barrels per day; Mid-Continent total throughput is expected to average 150,000 to 160,000 barrels per day; Gulf Coast total throughput is expected to average 180,000 to 190,000 barrels per day and West Coast total throughput is expected to average 155,000 to 165,000 barrels per day. For the full-year 2018, we expect East Coast total throughput to average 330,000 to 350,000 barrels per day; Mid-Continent total throughput is expected to average 150,000 to 160,000 barrels per day; Gulf Coast total throughput is expected to average 175,000 to 185,000 barrels per day and West Coast total throughput is expected to average 160,000 to 170,000 barrels per day. Adjusted Fully-Converted Results Adjusted fully-converted results assume the exchange of all PBF Energy Company LLC Series A Units and dilutive securities into shares of PBF Energy Inc. Class A common stock on a one-for-one basis, resulting in the elimination of the noncontrolling interest and a corresponding adjustment to the company's tax provision. Non-GAAP Measures This earnings release, and the discussion during the management conference call, may include references to Non-GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) measures including Adjusted Fully-Converted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted Fully-Converted Net Income (Loss) excluding special items, Adjusted Fully-Converted Net Income (Loss) per fully-exchanged, fully-diluted share, gross refining margin, gross refining margin excluding special items, gross refining margin per barrel of throughput, EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization), EBITDA excluding special items, Adjusted EBITDA and projected EBITDA related to the refinery acquisitions. PBF believes that Non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about its operating performance and financial results. However, these measures have important limitations as analytical tools and should not be viewed in isolation or considered as alternatives for, or superior to, comparable GAAP financial measures. PBF's Non-GAAP financial measures may also differ from similarly named measures used by other companies. See the accompanying tables and footnotes in this release for additional information on the Non-GAAP measures used in this release and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. Conference Call Information PBF Energy's senior management will host a conference call and webcast regarding quarterly results and other business matters on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 8:30 a.m. ET. The call is being webcast and can be accessed at PBF Energy's website, http://www.pbfenergy.com. The call can also be accessed by dialing (877) 876-9177 or (785) 424-1669, conference ID: PBFQ118. The audio replay will be available two hours after the end of the call through May 17, 2018, by dialing (800) 839-3013 or (402) 220-7233. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this press release relating to future plans, results, performance, expectations, achievements and the like are considered "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which may be beyond the company's control, that may cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to the risks disclosed in the company's filings with the SEC, as well as the risks disclosed in PBF Logistics LP's SEC filings and any impact PBF Logistics LP may have on the company's credit rating, cost of funds, employees, customer and vendors; risk relating to the securities markets generally; and the impact of adverse market conditions affecting the company, unanticipated developments, regulatory approvals, changes in laws and other events that negatively impact the company. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. The company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable law. About PBF Energy Inc. PBF Energy Inc. (NYSE:PBF) is one of the largest independent refiners in North America, operating, through its subsidiaries, oil refineries and related facilities in California, Delaware, Louisiana, New Jersey and Ohio. Our mission is to operate our facilities in a safe, reliable and environmentally responsible manner, provide employees with a safe and rewarding workplace, become a positive influence in the communities where we do business, and provide superior returns to our investors. PBF Energy Inc. also currently indirectly owns the general partner and approximately 43.9% of the limited partnership interest of PBF Logistics LP (NYSE: PBFX). PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenues $ 5,802,776 $ 4,754,473 Cost and expenses (Note 1): Cost of products and other 5,132,102 4,196,767 Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense as reflected below) 426,135 451,266 Depreciation and amortization expense 83,273 59,170 Cost of sales 5,641,510 4,707,203 General and administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization expense as reflected below) 62,813 43,830 Depreciation and amortization expense 2,714 1,762 Loss on sale of assets 79 883 Total cost and expenses 5,707,116 4,753,678 Income from operations 95,660 795 Other income (expense): Change in fair value of catalyst leases 13 (2,588) Interest expense, net (43,198) (37,183) Other non-service components of net periodic benefit cost (Note 17) 278 (101) Income (loss) before income taxes 52,753 (39,077) Income tax expense (benefit) 10,942 (19,047) Net income (loss) 41,811 (20,030) Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 11,445 11,047 Net income (loss) attributable to PBF Energy Inc. stockholders $ 30,366 $ (31,077) Net income (loss) available to Class A common stock per share: Basic $ 0.27 $ (0.29) Diluted $ 0.27 $ (0.29) Weighted-average shares outstanding-basic 110,820,379 108,760,374 Weighted-average shares outstanding-diluted 115,193,491 108,760,374 Dividends per common share $ 0.30 $ 0.30 Adjusted fully-converted net income (loss) and adjusted fully-converted net income (loss) per fully exchanged, fully diluted shares outstanding (Note 2): Adjusted fully-converted net income (loss) $ 31,113 $ (32,473) Adjusted fully-converted net income (loss) per fully exchanged, fully diluted share $ 0.27 $ (0.29) Adjusted fully-converted shares outstanding - diluted 115,193,491 112,603,580 See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF AMOUNTS REPORTED UNDER U.S. GAAP (Unaudited, in thousands, except share and per share data) RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO ADJUSTED FULLY-CONVERTED Three Months Ended NET INCOME (LOSS) AND ADJUSTED FULLY-CONVERTED NET INCOME (LOSS) March 31, EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS (Note 2) 2018 2017 Net income (loss) attributable to PBF Energy Inc. stockholders $ 30,366 $ (31,077) Less: Income allocated to participating securities 201 271 Income (loss) available to PBF Energy Inc. stockholders - basic 30,165 (31,348) Add: Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (Note 3) 1,288 (1,856) Less: Income tax (expense) benefit (Note 4) (340) 731 Adjusted fully-converted net income (loss) $ 31,113 $ (32,473) Special Items (Note 5): Add: Non-cash LCM inventory adjustment (87,653) 16,039 Less: Recomputed income taxes on special items 23,149 (6,313) Adjusted fully-converted net loss excluding special items $ (33,391) $ (22,747) Weighted-average shares outstanding of PBF Energy Inc. 110,820,379 108,760,374 Conversion of PBF LLC Series A Units (Note 6) 3,535,140 3,843,206 Common stock equivalents (Note 7) 837,972 Fully-converted shares outstanding - diluted 115,193,491 112,603,580 Adjusted fully-converted net income (loss) (per fully exchanged, fully diluted shares outstanding) $ 0.27 $ (0.29) Adjusted fully-converted loss excluding special items (per fully exchanged, fully diluted shares outstanding) (Note 5) $ (0.29) $ (0.20) Three Months Ended RECONCILIATION OF INCOME FROM OPERATIONS March 31, TO INCOME FROM OPERATIONS EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS 2018 2017 Income from operations (Note 17) $ 95,660 $ 795 Special Items (Note 5): Add: Non-cash LCM inventory adjustment (87,653) 16,039 Income from operations excluding special items $ 8,007 $ 16,834 See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF AMOUNTS REPORTED UNDER U.S. GAAP EBITDA RECONCILIATIONS (Note 8) (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, RECONCILIATION OF NET INCOME (LOSS) TO EBITDA AND EBITDA EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS 2018 2017 Net income (loss) $ 41,811 $ (20,030) Add: Depreciation and amortization expense 85,987 60,932 Add: Interest expense, net 43,198 37,183 Add: Income tax expense (benefit) 10,942 (19,047) EBITDA $ 181,938 $ 59,038 Special Items (Note 5): Add: Non-cash LCM inventory adjustment (87,653) 16,039 EBITDA excluding special items $ 94,285 $ 75,077 RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA TO ADJUSTED EBITDA EBITDA $ 181,938 $ 59,038 Add: Stock-based compensation 5,072 6,025 Add: Net non-cash change in fair value of catalyst leases (13) 2,588 Add: Non-cash LCM inventory adjustment (Note 5) (87,653) 16,039 Adjusted EBITDA $ 99,344 $ 83,690 See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA (Unaudited, in thousands) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 Balance Sheet Data: Cash and cash equivalents $ 362,963 $ 573,021 Inventories 2,579,744 2,213,797 Total assets 8,282,363 8,117,993 Total debt 2,181,046 2,191,650 Total equity 2,915,825 2,902,949 Total equity excluding special items (Note 5, 14) $ 2,898,526 $ 2,950,154 Total debt to capitalization ratio (Note 14) 43 % 43 % Total debt to capitalization ratio, excluding special items (Note 14) 43 % 43 % Net debt to capitalization ratio (Note 14) 38 % 36 % Net debt to capitalization ratio, excluding special items (Note 14) 39 % 35 % SUMMARIZED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOW DATA (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Cash flows used in operations $ (85,433) $ (165,364) Cash flows used in investing activities (93,280) (188,974) Cash flows used in financing activities (31,345) (85,845) Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (210,058) (440,183) Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 573,021 746,274 Cash and cash equivalents, end of period $ 362,963 $ 306,091 Marketable securities 40,054 Net cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities $ 362,963 $ 346,145 See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Note 9) (Unaudited, in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Refining Logistics Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Total Revenues $ 5,799,601 $ 64,039 $ $ (60,864) $ 5,802,776 Depreciation and amortization expense 76,778 6,495 2,714 85,987 Income (loss) from operations (Note 15, 17) 125,713 35,205 (61,236) (4,022) 95,660 Interest expense, net 1,835 9,948 31,415 43,198 Capital expenditures 88,297 3,953 1,030 93,280 Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 Refining Logistics Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Total Revenues $ 4,750,197 $ 60,477 $ $ (56,201) $ 4,754,473 Depreciation and amortization expense 53,818 5,352 1,762 60,932 Income (loss) from operations (Note 15, 17) 10,615 36,041 (42,262) (3,599) 795 Interest expense, net 918 7,984 28,281 37,183 Capital expenditures 167,216 19,467 2,261 188,944 Balance at March 31, 2018 Refining Logistics Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Total Total Assets (Note 16) $ 7,471,210 $ 728,480 $ 115,576 $ (32,903) $ 8,282,363 Balance at December 31, 2017 Refining Logistics Corporate Eliminations Consolidated Total Total Assets (Note 16) $ 7,298,049 $ 737,550 $ 123,211 $ (40,817) $ 8,117,993 See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES MARKET INDICATORS AND KEY OPERATING INFORMATION (Unaudited, amounts in thousands except as indicated) Three Months Ended March 31, Market Indicators (dollars per barrel) (Note 10) 2018 2017 Dated Brent Crude $ 66.90 $ 53.57 West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil $ 62.90 $ 51.70 Light Louisiana Sweet (LLS) crude oil $ 65.84 $ 53.39 Alaska North Slope (ANS) crude oil $ 67.20 $ 53.82 Crack Spreads: Dated Brent (NYH) 2-1-1 $ 12.80 $ 11.58 WTI (Chicago) 4-3-1 $ 11.78 $ 11.19 LLS (Gulf Coast) 2-1-1 $ 12.84 $ 12.03 ANS (West Coast) 4-3-1 $ 16.42 $ 16.52 Crude Oil Differentials: Dated Brent (foreign) less WTI $ 4.00 $ 1.87 Dated Brent less Maya (heavy, sour) $ 9.15 $ 8.95 Dated Brent less WTS (sour) $ 5.40 $ 3.31 Dated Brent less ASCI (sour) $ 4.57 $ 4.08 WTI less WCS (heavy, sour) $ 26.06 $ 12.93 WTI less Bakken (light, sweet) $ 1.04 $ 0.92 WTI less Syncrude (light, sweet) $ 0.30 $ (2.20) WTI less LLS (light, sweet) $ (2.94) $ (1.69) WTI less ANS (light, sweet) $ (4.30) $ (2.12) Natural gas (dollars per MMBTU) $ 2.79 $ 3.06 Key Operating Information Production (barrels per day ("bpd") in thousands) 803.0 742.7 Crude oil and feedstocks throughput (bpd in thousands) 799.6 738.0 Total crude oil and feedstocks throughput (millions of barrels) 72.0 66.4 Gross margin per barrel of throughput $ 2.54 $ 1.01 Gross refining margin, excluding special items, per barrel of throughput (Note 5, Note 11) $ 7.26 $ 7.75 Refinery operating expense, per barrel of throughput (Note 12) $ 5.72 $ 6.58 Crude and feedstocks (% of total throughput) (Note 13) Heavy 34 % 40 % Medium 35 % 29 % Light 20 % 16 % Other feedstocks and blends 11 % 15 % Total throughput 100 % 100 % Yield (% of total throughput): Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks 51 % 52 % Distillates and distillate blendstocks 31 % 29 % Lubes 1 % 1 % Chemicals 2 % 2 % Other 15 % 16 % Total yield 100 % 100 % See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING INFORMATION (Unaudited, amounts in thousands except as indicated) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Supplemental Operating Information - East Coast (Delaware City and Paulsboro) Production (bpd in thousands) 329.6 317.0 Crude oil and feedstocks throughput (bpd in thousands) 332.9 320.3 Total crude oil and feedstocks throughput (millions of barrels) 30.0 28.8 Gross margin per barrel of throughput $ 1.23 $ (0.09) Gross refining margin, excluding special items, per barrel of throughput (Note 5, Note 11) $ 6.47 $ 5.96 Refinery operating expense, per barrel of throughput (Note 12) $ 5.16 $ 5.18 Crude and feedstocks (% of total throughput) (Note 13): Heavy 23 % 37 % Medium 52 % 36 % Light 10 % 10 % Other feedstocks and blends 15 % 17 % Total throughput 100 % 100 % Yield (% of total throughput): Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks 48 % 47 % Distillates and distillate blendstocks 32 % 30 % Lubes 3 % 2 % Chemicals 1 % 1 % Other 15 % 19 % Total yield 99 % 99 % Supplemental Operating Information - Mid-Continent (Toledo) Production (bpd in thousands) 125.0 126.5 Crude oil and feedstocks throughput (bpd in thousands) 122.9 123.8 Total crude oil and feedstocks throughput (millions of barrels) 11.1 11.1 Gross margin per barrel of throughput $ 0.12 $ (1.67) Gross refining margin, excluding special items, per barrel of throughput (Note 5, Note 11) $ 8.22 $ 7.65 Refinery operating expense, per barrel of throughput (Note 12) $ 6.19 $ 6.53 Crude and feedstocks (% of total throughput) (Note 13): Medium 37 % 46 % Light 62 % 53 % Other feedstocks and blends 1 % 1 % Total throughput 100 % 100 % Yield (% of total throughput): Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks 60 % 54 % Distillates and distillate blendstocks 32 % 35 % Chemicals 5 % 7 % Other 5 % 6 % Total yield 102 % 102 % See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATING INFORMATION (Unaudited, amounts in thousands except as indicated) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Supplemental Operating Information - Gulf Coast (Chalmette) Production (bpd in thousands) 167.1 162.7 Crude oil and feedstocks throughput (bpd in thousands) 169.2 155.6 Total crude oil and feedstocks throughput (millions of barrels) 15.2 14.0 Gross margin per barrel of throughput $ 0.06 $ 1.72 Gross refining margin, excluding special items, per barrel of throughput (Note 5, Note 11) $ 4.45 $ 9.20 Refinery operating expense, per barrel of throughput (Note 12) $ 5.01 $ 6.23 Crude and feedstocks (% of total throughput) (Note 13): Heavy 41 % 41 % Medium 19 % 24 % Light 32 % 13 % Other feedstocks and blends 8 % 22 % Total throughput 100 % 100 % Yield (% of total throughput): Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks 40 % 50 % Distillates and distillate blendstocks 33 % 29 % Chemicals 1 % 2 % Other 25 % 19 % 99 % 100 % Supplemental Operating Information - West Coast (Torrance) Production (bpd in thousands) 181.3 136.5 Crude oil and feedstocks throughput (bpd in thousands) 174.6 138.3 Total crude oil and feedstocks throughput (millions of barrels) 15.7 12.5 Gross margin per barrel of throughput $ 5.26 $ 0.39 Gross refining margin, excluding special items, per barrel of throughput (Note 5, Note 11) $ 10.81 $ 10.33 Refinery operating expense, per barrel of throughput (Note 12) $ 7.13 $ 10.24 Crude and feedstocks (% of total throughput) (Note 13): Heavy 80 % 83 % Medium 4 % 1 % Other feedstocks and blends 16 % 16 % Total throughput 100 % 100 % Yield (% of total throughput): Gasoline and gasoline blendstocks 60 % 64 % Distillates and distillate blendstocks 28 % 21 % Other 16 % 14 % Total yield 104 % 99 % See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES RECONCILIATION OF AMOUNTS REPORTED UNDER U.S. GAAP GROSS REFINING MARGIN / GROSS REFINING MARGIN PER BARREL OF THROUGHPUT (Note 11) (Unaudited, in thousands, except per barrel amounts) Three Months Ended Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 March 31, 2017 RECONCILIATION OF GROSS MARGIN TO GROSS REFINING MARGIN AND GROSS REFINING MARGIN EXCLUDING SPECIAL ITEMS $ per barrel of throughput $ per barrel of throughput Calculation of gross margin: Revenues $ 5,802,776 $ 80.64 $ 4,754,473 $ 71.56 Less: Cost of products and other 5,132,102 71.31 4,196,767 63.16 Less: Refinery operating expense 411,447 5.72 436,768 6.58 Less: Refinery depreciation expense 76,778 1.07 53,927 0.81 Gross margin $ 182,449 $ 2.54 $ 67,011 $ 1.01 Less: Revenues of PBFX (64,039) (0.89) (60,477) (0.91) Add: Affiliate cost of sales of PBFX 3,360 0.05 1,215 0.02 Add: Refinery operating expense (Note 17) 411,447 5.72 436,768 6.58 Add: Refinery depreciation expense 76,778 1.07 53,927 0.81 Gross refining margin $ 609,995 $ 8.49 $ 498,444 $ 7.51 Special Items (Note 5): Add: Non-cash LCM inventory adjustment (87,653) (1.23) 16,039 0.24 Gross refining margin excluding special items $ 522,342 $ 7.26 $ 514,483 $ 7.75 See Footnotes to Earnings Release Tables PBF ENERGY INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES FOOTNOTES TO EARNINGS RELEASE TABLES (1) During the third quarter of 2017, we determined that we would revise the presentation of certain line items on our consolidated statements of operations to enhance our disclosure under the requirements of Rule 5-03 of Regulation S-X. The revised presentation is comprised of the inclusion of a subtotal within cost and expenses referred to as "Cost of sales" and the reclassification of total depreciation and amortization expense between such amounts attributable to cost of sales and other operating costs and expenses. The amount of depreciation and amortization expense that is presented separately within the "Cost of sales" subtotal represents depreciation and amortization of refining and logistics assets that are integral to the refinery production process. The historical comparative information has been revised to conform to the current presentation. This revised presentation does not have an effect on our historical condensed consolidated income from operations or net income, nor does it have any impact on our condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of comprehensive income or statements of cash flows. (2) Adjusted fully-converted information is presented in this table as management believes that these Non-GAAP measures, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, are useful to investors to compare our results across the periods presented and facilitates an understanding of our operating results. We also use these measures to evaluate our operating performance. These measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. The differences between adjusted fully-converted and GAAP results are explained in footnotes 3 through 7. (3) Represents the elimination of the noncontrolling interest associated with the ownership by the members of PBF Energy Company LLC ("PBF LLC") other than PBF Energy Inc., as if such members had fully exchanged their Series A Units for shares of PBF Energy's Class A common stock. (4) Represents an adjustment to reflect our estimated annualized statutory corporate tax rate of approximately 26.4% and 39.4% for the 2018 and 2017 periods, respectively, applied to net income attributable to noncontrolling interests for all periods presented. The adjustment assumes the full exchange of existing PBF Energy Company LLC Series A Units as described in footnote 3. (5) The Non-GAAP measures presented include adjusted fully-converted net income (loss) excluding special items, income from operations excluding special items, EBITDA excluding special items and gross refining margin excluding special items. The special items presented for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and for the three months ended March 31, 2017 relate to a lower of cost or market ("LCM") inventory adjustment as discussed further below. Additionally, the cumulative effects of all prior period special items on equity are shown in footnote 14. Although we believe that Non-GAAP financial measures excluding the impact of special items provide useful supplemental information to investors regarding the results and performance of our business and allow for useful period-over-period comparisons, such Non-GAAP measures should only be considered as a supplement to, and not as a substitute for, or superior to, the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. LCM inventory adjustment - LCM is a GAAP guideline related to inventory valuation that requires inventory to be stated at the lower of cost or market. Our inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. Cost is determined using last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory valuation methodology, in which the most recently incurred costs are charged to cost of sales and inventories are valued at base layer acquisition costs. Market is determined based on an assessment of the current estimated replacement cost and net realizable selling price of the inventory. In periods where the market price of our inventory declines substantially, cost values of inventory may exceed market values. In such instances, we record an adjustment to write down the value of inventory to market value in accordance with GAAP. In subsequent periods, the value of inventory is reassessed and an LCM inventory adjustment is recorded to reflect the net change in the LCM inventory reserve between the prior period and the current period. The following table shows the LCM inventory reserve as of each date presented (in thousands): 2018 2017 January 1, $ 300,456 $ 595,988 March 31, 212,803 612,027 The following table includes the corresponding impact of changes in the LCM inventory reserve on income from operations and net income (loss) for the periods presented (in thousands): Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Net LCM inventory adjustment benefit (charge) in income from operations $ 87,653 $ (16,039) Net LCM inventory adjustment benefit (charge) in net income (loss) 64,504 (9,726) (6) Represents an adjustment to weighted-average diluted shares outstanding to assume the full exchange of existing PBF LLC Series A Units as described in footnote 3 above. (7) Represents weighted-average diluted shares outstanding assuming the conversion of all common stock equivalents, including options and warrants for PBF LLC Series A Units and options for shares of PBF Energy Class A common stock as calculated under the treasury stock method (to the extent the impact of such exchange would not be anti-dilutive) for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Common stock equivalents exclude the effects of options and warrants to purchase 3,982,000 and 7,364,616 shares of PBF Energy Class A common stock and PBF LLC Series A Units because they are anti-dilutive for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. (8) EBITDA (Earnings before Interest, Income Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization) and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP. We use these Non-GAAP financial measures as a supplement to our GAAP results in order to provide additional metrics on factors and trends affecting our business. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are measures of operating performance that are not defined by GAAP and should not be considered substitutes for net income as determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, because EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not calculated in the same manner by all companies, they are not necessarily comparable to other similarly titled measures used by other companies. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have their limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. (9) We operate in two reportable segments: Refining and Logistics. Our operations that are not included in the Refining and Logistics segments are included in Corporate. As of March 31, 2018, the Refining segment includes the operations of our oil refineries and related facilities in Delaware City, Delaware, Paulsboro, New Jersey, Toledo, Ohio, New Orleans, Louisiana and Torrance, California. The Logistics segment includes the operations of PBF Logistics LP ("PBFX"), a growth-oriented master limited partnership which owns or leases, operates, develops and acquires crude oil and refined petroleum products terminals, pipelines, storage facilities and similar logistics assets. PBFX's assets consist of rail and truck terminals and unloading racks, tank farms and pipelines, a substantial portion of which were acquired from or contributed by PBF LLC and are located at, or nearby, the company's refineries. PBFX provides various rail, truck and marine terminaling services, pipeline transportation services and storage services to PBF Holding and/or its subsidiaries and third party customers through fee-based commercial agreements. PBFX currently does not generate significant third party revenue and intersegment related-party revenues are eliminated in consolidation. From a PBF Energy perspective, the Company's chief operating decision maker evaluates the Logistics segment as a whole without regard to any of PBFX's individual segments. (10) As reported by Platts. (11) Gross refining margin and gross refining margin per barrel of throughput are Non-GAAP measures because they exclude refinery operating expenses, refinery depreciation and amortization and gross margin of PBFX. Gross refining margin per barrel is gross refining margin, divided by total crude and feedstocks throughput. We believe they are important measures of operating performance and provide useful information to investors because gross refining margin per barrel is a helpful metric comparison to the industry refining margin benchmarks shown in the Market Indicators Tables, as the industry benchmarks do not include a charge for refinery operating expenses and depreciation. Other companies in our industry may not calculate gross refining margin and gross refining margin per barrel in the same manner. Gross refining margin and gross refining margin per barrel of throughput have their limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider them in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. (12) Represents refinery operating expenses, including corporate-owned logistics assets, excluding depreciation and amortization, divided by total crude oil and feedstocks throughput. (13) We define heavy crude oil as crude oil with American Petroleum Institute (API) gravity less than 24 degrees. We define medium crude oil as crude oil with API gravity between 24 and 35 degrees. We define light crude oil as crude oil with API gravity higher than 35 degrees. (14) The total debt to capitalization ratio is calculated by dividing total debt by the sum of total debt and total equity. This ratio is a measurement that management believes is useful to investors in analyzing our leverage. Net debt and the net debt to capitalization ratio are Non-GAAP measures. Net debt is calculated by subtracting cash and cash equivalents from total debt. We believe these measurements are also useful to investors since we have the ability to and may decide to use a portion of our cash and cash equivalents to retire or pay down our debt. Additionally, as described in footnote 5 above, we have also presented the total debt to capitalization and net debt to capitalization ratios excluding the cumulative effects of special items on equity. March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 (in thousands) Total debt $ 2,181,046 $ 2,191,650 Total equity 2,915,825 2,902,949 Total capitalization $ 5,096,871 $ 5,094,599 Total debt $ 2,181,046 $ 2,191,650 Total equity excluding special items 2,898,526 2,950,154 Total capitalization excluding special items $ 5,079,572 $ 5,141,804 Total equity $ 2,915,825 $ 2,902,949 Special Items (Note 5) Add: Non-cash LCM inventory adjustment 212,803 300,456 Add: Change in tax receivable agreement liability (276,430) (276,430) Add: Debt extinguishment costs 25,451 25,451 Less: Recomputed income taxes on special items 724 (22,425) Add: Net tax expense on TCJA related special items 20,153 20,153 Net impact of special items to equity (17,299) 47,205 Total equity excluding special items $ 2,898,526 $ 2,950,154 Total debt $ 2,181,046 $ 2,191,650 Less: Cash and cash equivalents 362,963 573,021 Net Debt $ 1,818,083 $ 1,618,629 Total debt to capitalization ratio 43 % 43 % Total debt to capitalization ratio, excluding special items 43 % 43 % Net debt to capitalization ratio 38 % 36 % Net debt to capitalization ratio, excluding special items 39 % 35 % (15) The Logistics segment includes 100% of the income from operations of the Torrance Valley Pipeline Company LLC ("TVPC"), as TVPC is consolidated by PBFX. PBFX records net income attributable to noncontrolling interest for the 50% equity interest in TVPC held by PBF Holding. PBF Holding (included in the Refining segment) records equity income in investee related to its 50% noncontrolling ownership interest in TVPC. For the purposes of the consolidated PBF Energy financial statements, PBF Holding's equity income in investee and PBFX's net income attributable to noncontrolling interest eliminate in consolidation. (16) The Logistics segment includes 100% of the assets of TVPC as TVPC is consolidated by PBFX. PBFX records a noncontrolling interest for the 50% equity interest in TVPC held by PBF Holding. PBF Holding (included in the Refining segment) records an equity investment in TVPC reflecting its noncontrolling ownership interest. For the purposes of the consolidated PBF Energy financial statements, PBFX's noncontrolling interest in TVPC and PBF Holding's equity investment in TVPC eliminate in consolidation. (17) The Company adopted ASU 2017-07 effective January 1, 2018. The new guidance requires the bifurcation of net periodic benefit cost. The service cost component is presented within Income from operations, while the other components are reported separately outside of operations. This guidance was applied retrospectively in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company reported income of $278 ($240 related to its Refining segment and $38 related to its Corporate segment) and expense of $101 ($85 related to its Refining segment and $16 related to its Corporate segment), respectively, related to the non-service cost components of net periodic benefit cost in Other income (expense). SOURCE PBF Energy Inc. Related Links http://www.pbfenergy.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- T. Brian Callister, M.D. of Reno, Nevada, will testify this morning before a New York State Assembly health committee in New York City regarding his opposition to physician-assisted suicide and euthanasia. Callister is an internationally recognized expert on care transitions and end-of-life care. He has practiced medicine for 30 years and is currently an associate professor of medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. T. Brian Callister, M.D. "I look forward to sharing my experiences which have resulted in my passionate opposition to physician-assisted suicide with the New York Assembly members," Callister said. "There is a growing ground-swell of insurance companies who believe that physician-assisted suicide is better for patients without consideration of the quality of life, because for them, it's the least-expensive option." Callister said he has seen this first hand when two different patients were denied potentially life-saving procedures, with the insurance companies suggesting that physician-assisted suicide might be a better solution. The New York State Assembly is currently holding hearings regarding a legislative bill (A.2383-A --Paulin) to pass a state law in favor of physician-assisted suicide. The Assembly began hearings on the bill in Albany during April and continues through today in Manhattan. About Dr. Callister T. Brian Callister, M.D., FACP, SFHM, is a Board Certified Internal Medicine and Hospitalist physician and associate professor of medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. He is internationally recognized as an outspoken critic of assisted suicide and euthanasia and a frequent contributor to legislative bodies and the media on this topic. Dr. Callister is the governor-elect of Nevada for the American College of Physicians and was nominated by Modern Healthcare as one of the 50 Most Influential Physician Executives in Healthcare. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Senior Fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine. Callister's medical career has spanned four decades and he is a well-known speaker in the healthcare arena. He received his M.D. from the University of Utah School of Medicine where he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Stanford University with a bachelor's degree in economics. Dr. Callister Photo: https://bit.ly/2jpri2S Dr. Callister CV: https://bit.ly/2FCIz1c Media Contact: Ira M. Gostin, MBA 120 West Strategic Communications [email protected] 775-525-9371 SOURCE T. Brian Callister, M.D. ST. GEORGE, Utah, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PrinterLogic, a pioneer in enterprise print- management software solutions, today announced it has opened its East Coast office in Cary, North Carolina to support continued growth and position more resources close to major U.S. business hubs. The company plans to ramp up hiring in the office and double its headcount there in the next 12-18 months. Cary is part of the greater Research Triangle Park (RTP) area, one of the best educated and largest research parks in the world. With proximity to many universities, research centers and technology companies, RTP is home to an exciting and progressive work culture, and is ranked as one of the best places to live and work in the United States. The location gives PrinterLogic personnel fast access to the Triangle ecosystem, as well as nearby channel partners, including Allscripts, Cisco Systems, and Citrix. "PrinterLogic is thrilled to open its East Coast office in the greater Raleigh-Durham area, which provides a vibrant work environment and access to top talent," said Jonah Livingston, senior vice president of field sales. "The location suits our culture, and the corporate family vibe of PrinterLogic, perfectly. We look forward to becoming part of the greater Cary and Triangle communities." PrinterLogic was named one of Inc. Magazine's Best Workplaces 2017, and ranked as the 99th fastest growing company on Deloitte's North American Technology Fast 500. Explore career opportunities at PrinterLogic by visiting www.printerlogic.com/careers/. About PrinterLogic Thousands of enterprises use PrinterLogic's patent-pending printer and driver management platform to deliver mobile, pull and virtual printing, while eliminating print servers and providing a self-service portal that empowers end users to install their own printers. PrinterLogic was ranked 2nd in the Utah 100 Fastest Growing Companies in 2017 and ranked 8th in software for the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies. In addition, the company has been included multiple times on the Inc. 500 and Deloitte Fast 500 lists of fastest growing companies in North America. For more information, please visit www.printerlogic.com. Press Contact Zachary Allen Email: [email protected] Phone: 801-461-9751 SOURCE PrinterLogic Related Links http://www.printerlogic.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ProAssurance Corporation (NYSE: PRA) reports the following results for the three months ended March 31, 2018: Consolidated Income Statement Highlights ($ in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 % Change Revenues Gross premiums written* $ 243,010 $ 231,345 5.0 % Net premiums written $ 215,132 $ 204,227 5.3 % Net premiums earned $ 187,159 $ 182,903 2.3 % Net investment income $ 22,027 $ 23,186 (5.0) % Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries $ 1,640 $ 1,808 (9.3) % Net realized investment gains (losses) $ (12,517) $ 13,280 (194.3) % Other income* $ 2,723 $ 1,821 49.5 % Total revenues* $ 201,032 $ 222,998 (9.9) % Expenses Net losses and loss adjustment expenses* $ 129,786 $ 119,151 8.9 % Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses* $ 57,360 $ 57,108 0.4 % Total expenses* $ 192,598 $ 182,767 5.4 % Income tax expense (benefit) $ (3,422) $ (1,224) (179.6) % Net income $ 11,856 $ 41,455 (71.4) % Non-GAAP operating income $ 21,487 $ 33,401 (35.7) % Weighted average number of common shares outstanding Diluted 53,682 53,535 0.3 % Earnings per share Net income per diluted share $ 0.22 $ 0.77 (71.4) % Non-GAAP operating income per diluted share $ 0.40 $ 0.62 (35.5) % * Consolidated totals include inter-segment eliminations. The eliminations affect individual line items only and have no effect on net income. See Note 12 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in the March 31, 2018 Form 10-Q for amounts by line item. Consolidated Key Ratios Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 Current accident year loss ratio 81.5 % 80.9 % Effect of prior accident years' reserve development (12.2) % (15.8) % Net loss ratio 69.3 % 65.1 % Expense ratio 30.6 % 31.2 % Combined ratio 99.9 % 96.3 % Operating ratio 88.1 % 83.6 % Return on equity * 3.0 % 9.1 % * Quarterly computations of ROE are annualized Management Commentary "The trends that we noted in our year-end 2017 earnings release continue to drive our results as we enter 2018. We continue to be encouraged by our ability to grow premiums and maintain strong retention in our Specialty P&C and Workers' Compensation segments. Specifically, within our Specialty P&C segment, our retention is increasing, as is our pricing on renewing business. This reinforces our belief that the value of ProAssurance is becoming more important in the face of a possible market change due to increased industry concern about upward trends in losses. The workers' compensation market remains highly competitive, however our differentiated products and disciplined business strategy are allowing us to add new business and retain existing policyholders at rates we believe meet our long-term return expectations. While there have been short-term challenges in our Lloyd's segment operations, we continue to believe the investment we are making is the foundation for future success, and will provide us with a window into additional opportunities outside Lloyd's itself," said W. Stancil Starnes, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ProAssurance. First Quarter 2018 Highlights Consolidated gross premiums written were $11.7 million higher than the year-ago quarter, primarily due to higher premiums in our Workers' Compensation and Specialty P&C segments. In our Worker's Compensation segment, gross premiums written were $91.3 million , $7.1 million higher than in the first quarter of 2017. Gross premiums written in our Specialty P&C segment were $140.5 million , $3.7 million higher than in the year-ago quarter. Premiums written in our Lloyd's segment were $12.4 million , approximately $350,000 less than in the first quarter of 2017. Net premiums earned were $187.2 million in the first quarter of 2018, a $4.3 million increase over the same quarter in 2017. Net premiums earned increased $3.2 million and $3.1 million in our Specialty P&C and Workers' Compensation segments, respectively. Net premiums earned in our Lloyd's Syndicate segment decreased $2.1 million , reflecting the effect of a revision in our reinsurance agreements at the beginning of 2017. Our coordinated sales & marketing programs produced $8.8 million of business in the first quarter of 2018 vs $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2017. Net favorable development was $22.8 million in the quarter, as compared to $28.8 million in the year-ago period. There was net favorable development in all operating segments: $20.6 million in Specialty P&C, $1.9 million in Workers' Compensation and approximately $330,000 in our Lloyd's segment. The consolidated underwriting expense ratio was 0.6 points lower than the same period last year primarily due to lower share-based compensation expenses in our Corporate segment. Our net realized investment losses were $12.5 million in the first quarter of 2018, compared to net realized investment gains of $13.3 million in 2017, which primarily reflected mark-to-market adjustments in our equity trading portfolio. Our consolidated net investment result for the first quarter of 2018 was $23.7 million , a quarter-over-quarter decrease of $1.3 million due to reduced earnings from our fixed income portfolio, primarily reflecting lower average investment balances. Non-GAAP Financial Measures Non-GAAP operating income is a financial measure that is widely used to evaluate performance within the insurance sector. In calculating Non-GAAP operating income, we have excluded the after-tax effects of the items listed in the following table that do not reflect normal operating results. We believe Non-GAAP operating income presents a useful view of the performance of our insurance operations; however, it should be considered in conjunction with net income computed in accordance with GAAP. The table on the following page reconciles net income to Non-GAAP operating income: Reconciliation of Net Income to Non-GAAP Operating Income (in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 Net income $ 11,856 $ 41,455 Items excluded in the calculation of Non-GAAP operating income: Net realized investment (gains) losses 12,517 (13,280) Net realized gains (losses) attributable to SPCs which no profit/loss is retained (1) (410) 824 Guaranty fund assessments (recoupments) 84 65 Pre-tax effect of exclusions 12,191 (12,391) Tax effect (2) (2,560) 4,337 After-tax effect of exclusions 9,631 (8,054) Non-GAAP operating income $ 21,487 $ 33,401 Per diluted common share: Net income $ 0.22 $ 0.77 Effect of exclusions 0.18 (0.15) Non-GAAP operating income per diluted common share $ 0.40 $ 0.62 (1) Net realized investment gains (losses) on investments related to our SPCs are recognized in the earnings of our Corporate segment and the portion of earnings related to the gain or loss, net of our participation, is distributed back to the cells through our SPC dividend expense (income). To be consistent with our exclusion of net realized investment gains (losses) recognized in earnings, we are excluding the portion of net realized investment gains (losses) that is included in SPC dividend expense (income). (2) 21% and 35% are the annual expected incremental tax rates for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, associated with the taxable or tax deductible items listed above. The effective tax rate for each period was applied to these items in calculating net income. See further discussion under the heading "Taxes" in the Executive Summary of Operations section of our 2018 Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2018. Balance Sheet Highlights (in thousands, except per share data) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Total investments $ 3,498,645 $ 3,686,528 Total assets $ 4,678,924 $ 4,929,197 Total liabilities $ 3,109,755 $ 3,334,402 Common shares (par value $0.01) $ 630 $ 628 Retained earnings $ 1,614,344 $ 1,614,186 Treasury shares $ (418,009) $ (418,007) Shareholders' equity $ 1,569,169 $ 1,594,795 Book value per share $ 29.28 $ 29.83 Capital Management We have not repurchased any shares of our stock in 2018 and did not repurchase any shares in 2017. As of April 30, 2018, approximately $110 million remains available in our Board-authorized stock repurchase program. In March 2018, our Board of Directors declared a regular dividend of $0.31 per share, which was paid in April 2018. This dividend continues our demonstrated commitment to effective capital management and value creation for shareholders, having returned more than $2.0 billion to shareholders in the form of regular and special dividends in the almost eleven years the current management team has been in place. Conference Call Information ProAssurance management will discuss the results and the Company's strategic direction on a conference call at 10:00 a.m. ET on Friday, May 4, 2018. Investors may dial (888) 349-0134 (US), (855) 669-9657 (Canada) (toll free) or (412) 317-5145; no access code is required. We will webcast the call at Investor.ProAssurance.com. A replay will be available by telephone through at least July 31, 2018 at (877) 344-7529 (US), (855) 669-9658 (Canada) (both toll-free), or (412) 317-0088, using access code 10119093. A replay also will be available for one year on our website, Investor.ProAssurance.com. We also will make the replay and other information about ProAssurance available on a free subscription basis through Investor.ProAssurance.com or through Apple's iTunes. Investors may follow @PRA_Investors on Twitter to be notified of the latest financial news about ProAssurance. About ProAssurance ProAssurance Corporation is an industry-leading specialty insurer with extensive expertise in healthcare professional liability, products liability for medical technology and life sciences, legal professional liability, and workers' compensation insurance. The Company is recognized as one of the top performing insurance companies in America by virtue of our inclusion in the Ward's 50 for eleven straight years. ProAssurance Group is rated "A+" (Superior) by A.M. Best; ProAssurance and its operating subsidiaries are rated "A" (Strong) by Fitch Ratings. For the latest on ProAssurance and its industry-leading suite of products and services, cutting edge risk management and practice enhancement programs, follow @ProAssurance on Twitter or LinkedIn. ProAssurance's YouTube channel regularly presents thought provoking, insightful videos that communicate effective practice management, patient safety and risk management strategies. SEGMENT RESULTS Specialty P&C Segment ($ in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 % Change Gross premiums written $ 140,520 $ 136,858 2.7 % Net premiums written $ 121,966 $ 117,297 4.0 % Net premiums earned $ 116,276 $ 113,058 2.8 % Total revenues $ 117,532 $ 114,256 2.9 % Net losses and loss adjustment expenses $ 84,585 $ 74,994 12.8 % Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses $ 28,276 $ 25,977 8.9 % Segregated portfolio cell dividend expense (income) $ (30) $ (28) (7.1) % Total expenses $ 112,831 $ 100,943 11.8 % Segment operating results $ 4,701 $ 13,313 (64.7) % Specialty P&C Segment Key Ratios Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 Current accident year loss ratio 90.4 % 88.7 % Effect of prior accident years' reserve development (17.7) % (22.4) % Net loss ratio 72.7 % 66.3 % Underwriting expense ratio 24.3 % 23.0 % Combined ratio 97.0 % 89.3 % Gross premiums written were $3.7 million higher than in the first quarter of 2017, driven by a $2.9 million increase in healthcare facilities business, primarily resulting from one large entity which increased their coverage by consolidating certain policies that were not previously insured by us. Physicians written premium increased $500,000 quarter-over-quarter, which includes an increase in premiums assumed in which we participate on a quota share basis. We added $10.2 million of new business in the quarter, including $5.0 million of new physician business, $2.1 million of new healthcare facilities business and $1.4 million in our other healthcare providers line, including a policy written for a multi-state dental group policy, our largest dental policy to date. This compares to total new business of $10.2 million, new physician business of $6.4 million and new healthcare facilities business of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2017. Much of this new business added in the first quarter of 2018, including the large dental policy, is the result of broker-driven submissions, which highlights the success of our broker-outreach initiatives. Our premium retention rate in physician professional liability, the largest line in this segment, was 91% in the quarter, 1.0% higher than in the first quarter of 2017. Renewal pricing on physician business, the largest source of revenue in this segment, increased 1.0% quarter-over-quarter, and renewal pricing in the largely broker-driven healthcare facilities line was 3.4% higher, quarter-over-quarter. Every other line of business in this segment also produced higher renewal pricing. The current accident year net loss ratio for the first quarter of 2018 was 1.7 points higher than the prior year's first quarter, driven by both higher premiums earned as well as increased loss expectations in our excess and surplus lines business in the current period. These upward pressures were somewhat offset by the impact of the revision to our quota share reinsurance agreement with Syndicate 1729, in which we are retaining more premium at a lower loss ratio as compared to the total book of business in this segment. Net favorable loss development in the first quarter of 2018 was $20.6 million, as compared to $25.3 million in the year-ago quarter. Our underwriting expense ratio was 1.3 points higher, quarter-over-quarter, due to higher acquisition costs, primarily commission expense, partially offset by an increase in net premiums earned as compared to 2017. Workers' Compensation Segment ($ in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 % Change Gross premiums written $ 91,349 $ 84,230 8.5 % Net premiums written $ 81,325 $ 75,570 7.6 % Net premiums earned $ 58,407 $ 55,283 5.7 % Total revenues $ 58,773 $ 55,428 6.0 % Net losses and loss adjustment expenses $ 36,715 $ 34,650 6.0 % Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses $ 17,333 $ 16,691 3.8 % Segregated portfolio cell dividend expense (income) $ 1,894 $ 1,174 61.3 % Total expenses $ 55,942 $ 52,515 6.5 % Segment operating results $ 2,831 $ 2,913 (2.8) % Workers' Compensation Segment Key Ratios Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 Current accident year loss ratio 66.1 % 67.0 % Effect of prior accident years' reserve development (3.2) % (4.3) % Net loss ratio 62.9 % 62.7 % Underwriting expense ratio 29.7 % 30.2 % Combined ratio 92.6 % 92.9 % Our Workers' Compensation segment operating results were $2.8 million for the quarter, consistent with the $2.9 million in the first quarter of 2017, despite a quarter-over-quarter decrease of approximately $700,000 related to our equity-owned Segregated Portfolio Cell (SPC) results. The decrease reflects the impact of SPC equity-owned investment results during the quarter. The SPC equity-owned underwriting results were consistent quarter over quarter. Gross premiums written increased 8.5% compared to the first quarter of 2017, driven by growth in new business writings, partially offset by renewal rate decreases of 2.6% in a very competitive workers' compensation pricing market. The quarter over quarter increase in gross premiums written was driven by the Great Falls Insurance Company renewal rights transaction and consistent production results across our operating regions. For the first quarter of 2018, premium retention was 86%, and we retained 9 of the 10 alternative market programs that were available for renewal. Audit premium totaled $1.3 million in 2018 compared to $1.2 million in 2017. New business increased to $16.6 million for the quarter, compared to $14.0 million in the first quarter of 2017, driven by new business of $3.7 million from the Great Falls transaction. The 2018 net loss ratio of 62.9% for the quarter was consistent with the net loss ratio of 62.7% in the first quarter of 2017, which reflected more favorable trends in claims closing patterns, partially offset by severity-related claim activity. Prior year net favorable loss reserve development totaled $1.9 million for the quarter compared to $2.4 million in the first quarter of 2017, and included approximately $400,000 in both periods related to the amortization of purchase accounting fair value adjustments. The decrease in the 2018 underwriting expense ratio primarily reflected the increase in net premiums earned and the continued effective management of operating expenses. Lloyd's Syndicate Segment ($ in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 % Change Gross premiums written $ 12,361 $ 12,713 (2.8) % Net premiums written $ 11,841 $ 11,360 4.2 % Net premiums earned $ 12,476 $ 14,562 (14.3) % Net investment income $ 751 $ 372 101.9 % Other gains (losses) $ 277 $ 418 (33.7) % Total revenues $ 13,504 $ 15,352 (12.0) % Net losses and loss adjustment expenses $ 8,486 $ 9,507 (10.7) % Underwriting, policy acquisition and operating expenses $ 7,246 $ 6,211 16.7 % Total expenses $ 15,732 $ 15,718 0.1 % Total income tax expense (benefit) $ 6 $ (7) 185.7 % Segment operating results $ (2,234) $ (359) (522.3) % Lloyd's Syndicate Segment Key Ratios Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 Current accident year loss ratio 70.7 % 72.9 % Effect of prior accident years' reserve development (2.7) % (7.6) % Net loss ratio 68.0 % 65.3 % Underwriting expense ratio 58.1 % 42.7 % Results of our Lloyd's Syndicate segment, which currently represents our 58% participation in the results of Lloyd's Syndicate 1729, are generally reported on a one-quarter lag, except in those quarters where we believe investors will benefit from knowing the projected effects of a material event occurring during the quarter. Additionally, results associated with the majority of investment assets solely allocated to Syndicate operations and certain U.S. paid administrative expenses are, and have been, reported currently for each period. Effective January 1, 2018, we increased our participation in the operating results of Syndicate 1729 from 58% to 62% and, as previously reported, began our 100% participation in the operating results of Syndicate 6131. However, due to the quarter delay, these changes will not be reflected in our Lloyd's Syndicate segment results until the second quarter of 2018. As such, results reported this quarter reflect only our 58% participation in Syndicate 1729. Gross premiums written were $12.4 million in 2018's first quarter, a decrease of approximately $350,000 compared to the first quarter of 2017. Net premiums earned declined 14.3% to $12.5 million as a result of an increase in ceded premiums earned which reflected earnings pattern of premiums ceded under certain external reinsurance contracts which were revised in 2017. The net loss ratio increased quarter-over-quarter by 2.7 points, driven by a decrease in net premiums earned, as discussed above and, to a lesser extent, a decrease in net favorable prior year development as a result of higher ultimate loss estimates on previous years of account. Underwriting and operating expenses were approximately $1.0 million higher quarter-over-quarter, primarily due to increased staffing to address the anticipated growth in Syndicate 1729 operations and operational expenses associated with the establishment of Syndicate 6131, a newly formed special purpose arrangement (SPA), focusing on contingency and specialty property business that is underwriting on a quota share basis with Syndicate 1729. Syndicate 1729's maximum underwriting capacity for 2018 is approximately $185.0 million, which excludes approximately $11.2 million dedicated to Syndicate 6131 for which ProAssurance is the sole capital provider. The capital we are providing for Syndicate 6131 comes from capital we have already committed to the Lloyd's segment. We support our commitment with investment securities deposited with Lloyd's which had a fair value of approximately $123.9 million at March 31, 2018. Corporate Segment ($ in thousands) Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 % Change Net investment income $ 21,276 $ 22,814 (6.7) % Equity in earnings (loss) of unconsolidated subsidiaries $ 1,640 $ 1,808 (9.3) % Net realized investment gains (losses) $ (12,463) $ 13,253 (194.0) % Total revenues $ 11,396 $ 38,048 (70.0) % Operating expenses $ 4,678 $ 8,315 (43.7) % Segregated portfolio cell dividend expense (income)* $ (117) $ 1,229 (109.5) % Interest expense $ 3,705 $ 4,133 (10.4) % Income tax expense (benefit) $ (3,428) $ (1,217) (181.7) % Segment operating results $ 6,558 $ 25,588 (74.4) % * Represents the investment results attributable to the SPCs at our Cayman Islands reinsurance subsidiaries. The quarter-over-quarter decrease in operating results in our Corporate segment resulted from a $25.7 million swing from $13.3 million of net realized investment gains in 2017 to net realized investment losses of $12.5 million in 2018. Earnings from unconsolidated subsidiaries decreased approximately $170,000 due to an increase in partnership operating losses related to our tax credit partnerships as compared to the same period of 2017, almost entirely offset by an increase in our allocable portion of earnings from our investments in LPs/LLCs. Partially offsetting these declines was a quarter-over-quarter reduction in operating expenses, primarily due to a reduction in share-based compensation expense. Our projected annual effective tax rates for 2018 and 2017 were a benefit of 2.4% (the result of both the lower statutory federal tax rate and our ability to utilize tax credits in the current period and the previous period through carryback provisions of the tax law) and an expense of 4.8% as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Our effective tax rates for the 2018 and 2017 three-month periods were benefits of 40.6% and 3.0%, respectively, which differs from the projected annual effective tax rates due to certain discrete items which reduced our projected annual effective tax rates by 38.2% and 7.8% for the 2018 and 2017 three-month periods, respectively. In the current quarter, the most significant discrete item that decreased our effective tax rate was the treatment of net realized investment losses in the first quarter of 2018. Our calculation of our projected annual effective tax rate during interim periods has historically included an estimate of annual net realized investment gains and losses based on year-to-date results. Due to the recent volatility in the securities markets, we believe that projections for changes in net realized investment gains and losses during the year cannot be reliably estimated and could cause a significant distortion in the projected annual effective tax rate. Therefore, beginning in the first quarter of 2018, net realized investment gains and losses are treated as discrete items and reflected in the effective tax rate in the period in which they are included in income. This treatment of net realized investment losses of $12.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 accounted for 34.7% of the 38.2% reduction in the projected annual effective tax rate due to discrete items. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this news release that are not historical fact or that convey our view of future business, events or trends are specifically identified as forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon our estimates and anticipation of future events and highlight significant risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary materially from our expected results. We expressly claim the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for any forward-looking statements in this news release. Forward-looking statements represent our outlook only as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law or regulation, we do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by words such as, but not limited to, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "hope," "hopeful," "intend," "likely," "may," "optimistic," "possible," "potential," "preliminary," "project," "should," "will," and other analogous expressions. When we address topics such as liquidity and capital requirements, the value of our investments, return on equity, financial ratios, net income, premiums, losses and loss reserves, premium rates and retention of current business, competition and market conditions, the expansion of product lines, the development or acquisition of business in new geographical areas, the availability of acceptable reinsurance, actions by regulators and rating agencies, court actions, legislative actions, payment or performance of obligations under indebtedness, payment of dividends, and other similar matters, we are making forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks, assumptions, and uncertainties, including, among other things, the following factors that could affect the actual outcome of future events: changes in general economic conditions, including the impact of inflation or deflation and unemployment; our ability to maintain our dividend payments; regulatory, legislative and judicial actions or decisions that could affect our business plans or operations; the enactment or repeal of tort reforms; formation or dissolution of state-sponsored insurance entities providing coverages now offered by ProAssurance which could remove or add sizable numbers of insureds from or to the private insurance market; changes in the interest and tax rate environment; resolution of uncertain tax matters and changes in tax laws, including the impact of the TCJA; changes in U.S. laws or government regulations regarding financial markets or market activity that may affect the U.S. economy and our business; changes in the ability of the U.S. government to meet its obligations that may affect the U.S. economy and our business; performance of financial markets affecting the fair value of our investments or making it difficult to determine the value of our investments; changes in requirements or accounting policies and practices that may be adopted by our regulatory agencies, the FASB, the SEC, the PCAOB or the NYSE that may affect our business; changes in laws or government regulations affecting the financial services industry, the property and casualty insurance industry or particular insurance lines underwritten by our subsidiaries; the effect on our insureds, particularly the insurance needs of our insureds, and our loss costs, of changes in the healthcare delivery system and/or changes in the U.S. political climate that may affect healthcare policy or our business; consolidation of our insureds into or under larger entities which may be insured by competitors, or may not have a risk profile that meets our underwriting criteria or which may not use external providers for insuring or otherwise managing substantial portions of their liability risk; uncertainties inherent in the estimate of our loss and loss adjustment expense reserve and reinsurance recoverable; changes in the availability, cost, quality or collectability of insurance/reinsurance; the results of litigation, including pre- or post-trial motions, trials and/or appeals we undertake; effects on our claims costs from mass tort litigation that are different from that anticipated by us; allegations of bad faith which may arise from our handling of any particular claim, including failure to settle; loss or consolidation of independent agents, agencies, brokers or brokerage firms; changes in our organization, compensation and benefit plans; changes in the business or competitive environment may limit the effectiveness of our business strategy and impact our revenues; our ability to retain and recruit senior management; the availability, integrity and security of our technology infrastructure or that of our third-party providers of technology infrastructure, including any susceptibility to cyber-attacks which might result in a loss of information or operating capability; the impact of a catastrophic event, as it relates to both our operations and our insured risks; the impact of acts of terrorism and acts of war; the effects of terrorism-related insurance legislation and laws; guaranty funds and other state assessments; our ability to achieve continued growth through expansion into new markets or through acquisitions or business combinations; changes to the ratings assigned by rating agencies to our insurance subsidiaries, individually or as a group; provisions in our charter documents, Delaware law and state insurance laws may impede attempts to replace or remove management or may impede a takeover; law and state insurance laws may impede attempts to replace or remove management or may impede a takeover; state insurance restrictions may prohibit assets held by our insurance subsidiaries, including cash and investment securities, from being used for general corporate purposes; taxing authorities can take exception to our tax positions and cause us to incur significant amounts of legal and accounting costs and, if our defense is not successful, additional tax costs, including interest and penalties; and expected benefits from completed and proposed acquisitions may not be achieved or may be delayed longer than expected due to business disruption; loss of customers, employees or key agents; increased operating costs or inability to achieve cost savings; and assumption of greater than expected liabilities, among other reasons. Additional risks, assumptions and uncertainties that could arise from our membership in the Lloyd's market and our participation in Lloyd's Syndicates include, but are not limited to, the following: members of Lloyd's are subject to levies by the Council of Lloyd's based on a percentage of the member's underwriting capacity, currently a maximum of 3%, but can be increased by Lloyd's; Syndicate operating results can be affected by decisions made by the Council of Lloyd's which the management of Syndicate 1729 and Syndicate 6131 have little ability to control, such as a decision to not approve the business plan of Syndicate 1729 or Syndicate 6131, or a decision to increase the capital required to continue operations, and by our obligation to pay levies to Lloyd's; Lloyd's insurance and reinsurance relationships and distribution channels could be disrupted or Lloyd's trading licenses could be revoked making it more difficult for a Lloyd's Syndicate to distribute and market its products; rating agencies could downgrade their ratings of Lloyd's as a whole; and Syndicate 1729 and Syndicate 6131 operations are dependent on a small, specialized management team and the loss of their services could adversely affect the Syndicate's business. The inability to identify, hire and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future, could adversely affect the quality and profitability of Syndicate 1729's or Syndicate 6131's business. Our results may differ materially from those we expect and discuss in any forward-looking statements. The principal risk factors that may cause these differences are described in "Item 1A, Risk Factors" in our Form 10-K and other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as our current reports on Form 8-K, and our regular reports on Form 10-Q. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which are based upon conditions existing only as of the date made, and advise readers that these factors could affect our financial performance and could cause actual results for future periods to differ materially from any opinions or statements expressed with respect to future periods in any current statements. Except as required by law or regulations, we do not undertake and specifically decline any obligation to publicly release the result of any revisions that may be made to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events. SOURCE ProAssurance Corporation Related Links http://www.proassurance.com MAYFIELD VILLAGE, Ohio, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today's news cycle moves faster than ever, with readers demanding immediate information with no room for error. Progressive recently launched a brand-new Newsroom, designed to provide reporters with the right information at their fingertips day or night. Information will be updated regularly, so visitors who find interesting content are encouraged to sign up for alerts a maximum of two emails a month - and/or check in often. Here are some of the categories you'll see in the Newsroom. Latest news about Progressive and its products and services and recent coverage of Progressive: This includes press releases, spotlight stories and anything members of the media post about products and services and employees. This includes press releases, spotlight stories and anything members of the media post about products and services and employees. Custom assets created for reporters : The new site contains news-centric fact sheets to help reporters get the correct information whenever they need it. : The new site contains news-centric fact sheets to help reporters get the correct information whenever they need it. Media-ready images and videos : Downloadable images and videos are readily available on the newsroom for reporters to utilize in stories. : Downloadable images and videos are readily available on the newsroom for reporters to utilize in stories. Commercials: If you love Flo or Jamie, or any of our other cast of characters, you can check out what's out there. Progressive recognizes that no two days are the same in the world of news. That's why this new newsroom will continuously evolve to provide reporters with the most interesting and relevant content to share with their readers. Please subscribe for the latest news on the newsroom: Anyone interested in receiving alerts when new content is posted can opt-in to receive e-mail with a link to content. About Progressive The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies makes it easy to understand, buy and use auto insurance. Progressive offers choices so consumers can reach us whenever, wherever and however it's most convenient - online at progressive.com, by phone at 1-800-PROGRESSIVE, on a mobile device or in-person with a local agent. Progressive provides insurance for personal and commercial autos and trucks, motorcycles, boats, recreational vehicles, and homes. Home insurance is underwritten by select carriers, including American Strategic Insurance Corp. and subsidiaries (ASI), our majority owned subsidiaries. Progressive is the fourth largest auto insurer in the country; a leading seller of motorcycle and commercial auto insurance; and through ASI, one of the top 20 homeowners insurance carriers. Founded in 1937, Progressive continues its long history of offering shopping tools and services that save customers time and money, like Name Your Price, Snapshot and HomeQuote Explorer. The Common Shares of The Progressive Corporation, the Mayfield Village, Ohio-based holding company, trade publicly atNYSE: PGR. SOURCE Progressive Insurance "These 16 suppliers represent the best qualities of the North American automotive supply base," said Scott Thiele, Chief Purchasing Officer, FCA. "We recognized our partners and thanked them for their collaborative nature, their resiliency in an ever-changing industry and their dedication to innovation." Award recipients were determined based on an evaluation of each company's supplier scorecard performance in 2017 a rating system that evaluates supplier performance in areas such as quality, delivery, cost, warranty and partnership and input from FCA senior leadership. "We are very honored to be recognized as the Foundational Principles Supplier of the Year award winner by FCA. Our core values at Quaker directly align with these foundational principles and have helped guide our local associates that routinely work with FCA," said Karl Kunkel, Quaker Metalworking Industry Business Director. "This strong collaboration and partnership has made FCA one of our best, longstanding, and valued global customers." Quaker has been a long time supplier of metalworking fluids and chemical management services to FCA. This award highlights Quaker's commitment to FCA principles including Integrity, Empathy and Advocacy, Continuous Improvement, and Proactive Collaboration, which support the Quaker Core Values. For more information on Quaker Chemical Management Services please visit: https://www.quakerchem.com/chemical-management-services/ For more specific information on the Quaker product line for the Automotive industry, please visit: https://www.quakerchem.com/industry/automotive-and-heavy-equipment/ About Quaker Chemical Corporation: Quaker Chemical is a leading global provider of process fluids, chemical specialties, and technical expertise to a wide range of industries, including steel, aluminum, automotive, mining, aerospace, tube and pipe, cans, and others. For 100 years, Quaker has helped customers around the world achieve production efficiency, improve product quality, and lower costs through a combination of innovative technology, process, knowledge, and customized services. Headquartered in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, USA, Quaker serves businesses worldwide with a network of dedicated and experienced professionals whose mission is to make a difference. Visit quakerchem.com to learn more. SOURCE Quaker Chemical Corporation Related Links http://www.quakerchem.com COLUMBIA, Mo., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Religion News Foundation (RNF) today announced that Lilly Endowment Inc. has approved a $4.9 million grant to RNF aimed at enhancing the quality and scope of religion journalism around the world. The Global Religion Journalism Initiative grant, conditional upon receiving a favorable determination regarding private foundation tax law requirements, would be an unprecedented investment in religion journalism. "Religion News Foundation is grateful to Lilly Endowment for its vision and for its support of religion journalism," said Tom Gallagher, RNF/Religion News Service CEO and publisher. Additional details about the grant will be made available upon final approval. About Religion News Foundation Religion News Foundation is a secular, educational and charitable 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with the University of Missouri School of Journalism. RNF advances religious literacy through websites, resources, networks, training workshops, events and other programs tailor-made for media professionals, corporate clients and the general public. RNF facilitates and encourages discourse about religion in a neutral and informative way without endorsing or promoting any particular belief system or point of view. For more information, visit RNF here. About Religion News Service, LLC Religion News Service is a secular, nonprofit and award-winning source of global news on religion, spirituality, culture and ethics, reported by a staff of professional journalists. Founded in 1934, RNS seeks to inform readers with objective reporting and insightful commentary and is relied upon by commercial and faith-based news organizations in a number of countries. RNS is affiliated with the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, and is a subsidiary of Religion News Foundation. For more information, visit religionnews.com. Contact Katie Garcia, Athene Strategies [email protected] 914-525-1386 SOURCE Religion News Foundation Related Links http://religion.news NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Direxion today announces the hiring of Robert D. Nestor as President. Mr. Nestor brings over 25 years of experience in investment management, including more than 15 years directly in the ETF industry. He will be based in New York and report to Direxion CEO Dan O'Neill. This hire bolsters Direxion's senior management team, as the duties of President have been performed by Mr. O'Neill for several years. "We're very excited to work with an industry executive like Rob Nestor, who has a proven track record of building and executing successful product and distribution plans across client channels," said Mr. O'Neill. "Given his broad experience in both product strategy and functional leadership, Mr. Nestor's expertise will prove invaluable in helping us reach our next growth phase, as we meet the rise in demand from both retail and institutional traders and investors." Before joining Direxion, Mr. Nestor held several executive roles at BlackRock's iShares unit, most recently serving as the Head of US Smart Beta ETFs, driving commercial strategy, including product R&D, distribution support and the tools/analytics ecosystem for the Smart Beta product line. Previously, Mr. Nestor led the iShares Pillar for US Wealth Advisory (USWA) business. Prior to BlackRock, he spent 16 years at Vanguard working in a variety of product and business development roles in both the retail and institutional divisions. Mr. Nestor is a CFA charter holder. He holds an MBA from Drexel University in FinanceInvestment Management and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Delaware. He is also a member of the Financial Analysts of Philadelphia and the CFA Institute. "Direxion is a powerhouse in the leveraged ETF space," Mr. Nestor said. "The firm is widely respected among tactically-oriented ETF traders, with significant potential for product and business extension. I'm looking forward to working with Dan and the senior management team to help lead the firm into the next growth phase." For more information about Direxion, please contact James Doyle at 973-850-7308 or [email protected]. About Direxion: Direxion builds bold products for investors who want more than the status quo. Our index-based products deliver directional options, magnified exposure, and long-term, rules-based strategies. Founded in 1997, the company has approximately $14 billion in assets under management as of March 31, 2018. Direxion's diverse suite of products helps investors navigate today's ever-changing markets. For more information, please visit www.direxioninvestments.com. There is no guarantee that the Funds will achieve their objectives. For more information on all Direxion Shares daily leveraged ETFs, go to direxioninvestments.com, or call us at 866.476.7523. The ETFs are not suitable for all investors and should be utilized only by investors who understand the risks associated with seeking daily leveraged and inverse investment results, and intend to actively monitor and manage their investments. Due to the daily nature of the leveraged and inverse investment strategies employed, there is no guarantee of long-term inverse returns. Past performance is not indicative of future results. An investor should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of Direxion ETFs carefully before investing. The prospectus and summary prospectus contains this and other information about Direxion ETFs. Download a prospectus and summary prospectus at direxioninvestments.com. The prospectus and summary prospectus should be read carefully before investing. Distributor: Foreside Fund Services, LLC. CONTACT: James Doyle JConnelly 973.850.7308 [email protected] SOURCE Direxion Related Links http://direxioninvestments.com TORONTO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that Salesforce Ventures, the company's global corporate investment group, has launched the Canada Trailblazer Fund, a $100 million fund to invest in Canadian startups and fuel cloud innovation and customer success in the region. Salesforce Ventures has supported the Canadian startup community since 2011, investing in innovative Canadian companies such as Vidyard and LeadSift. Comments on the News: "There is incredible innovation happening in Canada today and we want to encourage and empower the next generation of enterprise cloud startups in the region," said John Somorjai, EVP of Corporate Development and Salesforce Ventures at Salesforce. "Salesforce Ventures' Canada Trailblazer Fund is a commitment to our mission to help startups grow and enable our customers to reach new levels of success." "Canada is recognized as an excellent place to start and build globally competitive technology companies," said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. "Corporate initiatives such as Salesforce Ventures' new Canada Trailblazer Fund provide valuable support to technology entrepreneurs throughout their start-and-scale journey. I congratulate Salesforce on the launch of this important new fund, and look forward to future successes as they make progress toward their goal of investing $2 billion in Canadian businesses in the next five years." "Salesforce Ventures is an incredibly strong partner to Canadian startups," said Ali Asaria, CEO and founder of Tulip, a mobile platform built for next generation retail store associates to offer a world-class omnichannel experience. "Their investment and the unique access we get to the Salesforce ecosystem has enabled us to expand our business faster and maintain that rapid pace of growth." Empowering Canadian Startups through Salesforce Ventures' Canada Trailblazer Fund IDC forecasts that Canada's public cloud software market will grow almost six times faster than on-premise software deployments to reach C$4.1 billion by 20191. Salesforce Ventures' Canada Trailblazer Fund will provide funding and support to the companies driving this growth and empower entrepreneurs to deliver unique capabilities to Salesforce customers. The first round of funding recipients include: Tier1CRM: A provider of cloud-based CRM solutions for the capital markets industry built on Salesforce. Traction Guest: A developer of cloud-based visitor management systems (VMS) that enable global enterprises to shape the workplace experience, strengthen security and leverage visitor data with its Salesforce integration. Tulip: A mobile application provider focused on empowering workers in retail stores. Tulip integrates with Salesforce to deliver simple-to-use apps for store associates to look up products, manage customer information, check out shoppers and personalize the customer experience. OSF Commerce: A top digital cloud transformation specialist focused on building multi-cloud and unified commerce projects using Salesforce. Driving customer success and innovation with World Tour Toronto and Dreampitch The unveiling of the fund kicks off Salesforce World Tour Toronto, taking place today at Beanfield Centre. The Salesforce World Tour is a global roadshow where Trailblazers share how they're using the Customer Success Platform to create connected customer experiences, learn new skills, innovate at their companies and shape the future. World Tour Toronto will feature a keynote from Salesforce CFO Mark Hawkins, specialized breakout sessions for every role and industry and live demos of cutting-edge technologies. As part of World Tour Toronto, Salesforce Ventures will also host its first Canadian Dreampitch competition. Three early-stage Canadian startups that have built products leveraging the Salesforce Platform will pitch to a panel of expert judges and compete for an opportunity to win a $100,000 USD investment from Salesforce Ventures. Committed to the growth and success of Canadian businesses Salesforce recently announced its intent to invest $2 billion in its Canadian business over the next five years. More than 6,000 Canadian companies are using Salesforce to connect with their customers in new ways across sales, service, marketing, commerce and more. Additionally, Canadians have earned more than 87,000 badges on Trailhead Salesforce's free, gamified online learning platform acquiring the skills needed to succeed in today's technology-driven economy and be part of Salesforce's flourishing ecosystem. Additional Information Join Salesforce, alongside thousands of customer Trailblazers, at World Tour Toronto today: https://www.salesforce.com/events/ To learn more about Salesforce Ventures, please visit: www.salesforce.com/ventures To learn more about how Salesforce is driving workforce development with Trailhead, please visit: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en Connect with Salesforce Like Salesforce on Facebook http://facebook.com/salesforce Follow @salesforce and @SalesforceVC on Twitter IDC Software Tracker 2017 About Salesforce Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information about Salesforce, visit: www.salesforce.com. About Salesforce Ventures Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. Salesforce Ventures the company's corporate investment group invests in the next generation of enterprise technology that extends the power of the Salesforce Customer Success Platform. Portfolio companies receive funding, access to the world's largest cloud ecosystem and guidance from Salesforce's innovators and executives. With Salesforce Ventures, portfolio companies can also leverage Salesforce's expertise in corporate philanthropy by joining Pledge 1% to make giving back part of their business model. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 275 enterprise cloud startups in 17 countries since 2009. For more information, please visit www.salesforce.com/ventures. SOURCE Salesforce Related Links http://www.salesforce.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Chuck Ocheret, a 30-year software-engineering veteran in the finance, multimedia, and science industries, has joined VRBex, a cryptocurrency exchange and security-token trading platform, as its first chief technology officer, effective immediately, the company announced. Ocheret was most recently chief innovation officer at NEX Optimisation, a financial-technology firm, which he joined in August 2016. His focus there was on the integration of distributed ledger, AI, cloud, and cyber security technologies. He is also on the CFTC's (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) Technical Advisory Committee. VRBex pre-sale ICO opened on April 23. It runs through June 18 at 7 a.m. (EST). The main sale begins that same day at 8 a.m. (EST) and closes on July 23 at 8 p.m. (EST). Ocheret reports to VRBex CEO Gene Grant, who said, "Chuck is deeply knowledgeable about building end-to-end systems in a robust way to make sure people's assets and digital wallets are secure. His experience with fintech companies and disruptive approaches, which requires tremendous interaction with regulators, will be a key contributor to the success of VRBex." Throughout his career, Ocheret, who will divide his time between New York and VRBex's headquarters in Houston, Texas, has run technology, architecture, and development at tier-one hedge funds and investment banks where his responsibilities included the supervision of algorithmic trading, program trading, index and statistical arbitrage, and client and market connectivity for high-volume trading operations. Before NEX Optimisation, he spent three years as director of cloud product development and R&D at CSC, a global provider of IT and professional services across all sectors. "Building elegant, industrial-grade, secure, and high-performance systems is my business," Ocheret said. "At VRBex, we're building systems from inception that will allow agility within this rapidly evolving technical, business, and regulatory environment. Trust is a big issue in financial services and is sorely needed in the cryptocurrency markets. We'll provide that." Ocheret holds degrees in biomedical and electrical engineering from The Johns Hopkins University. He began his career at Bendix as an engineer in the algorithm development group and held software-engineering positions with increasing executive responsibility at companies, such as American Data Systems and Market Vision. He joined Morgan Stanley as a senior staff engineer, responsible for implementation of one of the first real-time automated trading and research environments. As a partner at Thinkbank and later as Managing Director at WR Hambrecht+Co, Ocheret was responsible for OpenIPO, OpenBook, and other auction systems, including the Freddie Mac reference note auction system. In 2005, Ocheret joined UBS as executive director and head of U.S. Program Trading and as U.S. Equities architect. He went on to Managing Director positions at Bear Stearns, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Deutsche Bank. In 2012, Ocheret founded ReadyPosition, a consultancy providing advisory services and custom software services for BBVA, Sberbank, and a wide variety of startups. About VRBex Established in 2018 and based in Houston TX, VRBex intends to establish a cryptocurrency exchange and security-token trading platform that seeks to be compliant with U.S. financial regulations. It plans to offer a robust, transparent and secure platform for exchange of US$ for select cryptocurrencies; a platform for the trading of security tokens; and digital VRBex wallets. Read more at VRBex.com. Contact Jay Kolbe [email protected] T: +1 646 934 6924 | M: +1 646 499 1059 Disclaimer: This press release is not intended to be an offer to sell, or a solicitation of any offer to buy, any security or other financial instrument or to invest in the tokens issued by VRBex ("VRBex Tokens"). The offering of VRBex Tokens has not been registered, qualified, or approved under any securities, futures, financial instruments, capital markets, or exchange control legislation, regulation, or ordinance of any jurisdiction. In all jurisdictions, any offer to sell or solicitation to buy VRBex Tokens, when made, will be directed solely to qualified institutional investors, qualified professional investors, and those other sophisticated persons to whom offers and solicitation may be made without any licensing, registration, qualification, or approval under applicable law. Before you decide to invest in VRBex Tokens, you should carefully read the VRBex offering documents and consult with your own advisors. An investment in VRBex Tokens is speculative and involves risks, which you should understand prior to making an investment. The private placements of VRBex Tokens have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or any state securities laws, and the VRBex Tokens are being offered pursuant to an exemption from registration provided by Rule 506(c) of Regulation D under the Securities Act and in reliance on similar exemptions under applicable state laws. An investment in VRBex is suitable only for sophisticated, well-informed investors, and investors will be required to represent that they are accredited investors as such term is defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation under the Securities Act. SOURCE VRBex Related Links http://vrbex.com FOREST, Va., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cleanliness is a challenge for all facilities but especially so for healthcare. Hospitals, physician offices, dental offices and surgery centers are under tremendous pressure to maintain a high level of cleanliness to help ensure the health of their patients. And the perception of cleanliness can be a major factor in maintaining Medicare reimbursement rates as well as retaining patients in a competitive landscape. Narrow self-cleaning counter mat for physician and dental office reception window NanoSeptic self-cleaning skin applied to a door handle in the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine NanoTouch Materials, in Forest, Virginia, has leveraged new advances in nanotechnology to create the world's first NanoSeptic self-cleaning surfaces, enabling healthcare facilities to achieve a higher level of cleanliness. NanoSeptic skins and mats turn dirty high traffic touchpoints, like reception counters, door handles, and over-the-bed tray tables into continuously self-cleaning surfaces. "When we were conducting research, we knew we wanted to use technology rather than toxins," says Mark Sisson, co-founder of NanoTouch Materials. "Not only do the surfaces work 24/7, but they contain no chemicals, diluted poisons or heavy metals. We wanted the products to work in a powerful way, but we also wanted them to be green and not contribute to antimicrobial resistance." Using a combination of proprietary material science, the NanoSeptic surface incorporates a mineral nanocrystal which is charged by visible light and creates an oxidation reaction stronger than bleach. And while NanoSeptic products use some pretty amazing science, one of the biggest benefits is not what the surface does, but how seeing the surfaces make people feel. "Our patients love the NanoSeptic touch points and other self-cleaning products in our facility," says Lauren Bennett, Director of Operations for Central VA Family Physicians. "Now we can have these products professionally maintained and replaced for as little as $1 per day per facility. That's an amazingly low price to pay for the peace of mind this service provides for our patients and staff." See TV Coverage Here This psychological aspect involving people's perception of "clean" was shown to be very powerful. In a study conducted by Montage Marketing, which surveyed people in a facility where visible self-cleaning surfaces were used, the responses indicated overwhelmingly that a "halo effect" was created. This meant that when people saw these surfaces they assumed the rest of the facility was cleaner. Hospital administrators will appreciate how this might affect HCAHPS scores in addition to patient experience, improving the perception of a facility and the perception of the healthcare being provided. In fact, healthcare facilities are embracing self-cleaning surfaces because patients are asking for them. "We maintain a very clean facility with assistance from NanoSeptic Self-Cleaning Surfaces. LUCOM is a high traffic facility with nearly 500 individuals weekly and multiple touch points throughout," says Christopher Breedlove, Director of Marketing at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine. "Partnering with NanoSeptic helps us in our continual goal of maintaining a quality of health. It is our hope that this will translate into the lives of our student-doctors and one day, their future patients." See TV Coverage Here At ISSA's International InterClean convention, the largest trade show for the cleaning industry, NanoTouch Materials took home coveted innovation awards in 2016 and 2017. "Not only are we providing a cleaner healthcare environment for our medical and dental clinic patients, we're providing piece of mind," says Jess Baidwan, CEH, Division Head Southern Ute Indian Tribe. "The NanoSeptic products provide visual confirmation that we're doing everything possible to protect their health and well being." Additional self-cleaning products included reusable tissue box covers, mouse pads, reception counter mats, and placemats that provide a cleaner resting area for personal effects and medical equipment. And the newest product the team is about to launch is a clear self-cleaning film for kiosks and tablets. A recent study found that kiosks had 100 times more CFUs (bacterial colony forming units) than a toilet seat. "Bacteria, viruses and other germs are not only an ongoing threat, but a growing concern for the public," says Dr. Michael Miller, Surgeon at Commonwealth Oral & Facial Surgery. "For this reason, anything we can do in the medical community to help in this fight is a good thing. There's no one fix. We need many tools. NanoSeptic surfaces work in concert with disinfectants, cleaners, hand sanitizers and other methods for creating cleaner environments. It's a great, new addition to the tools we have at our disposal." Media Contact: Dennis Hackemeyer 888-411-6843 [email protected] SOURCE NanoTouch Materials, LLC IRVINE, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Spireon, the vehicle intelligence company, announced its NSpire 3.0 IoT platform was awarded Silver for New Product or Service of the Year in the 16th annual American Business Awards. NSpire is the powerhouse behind the company's unmatched telematics data repository and analytics capability, capturing more than 326 billion driving miles to date. This is the third Stevie Award for Spireon in the past 12 months the other two earned for the company's outstanding customer service. Honored in the software subcategory, NSpire 3.0 powers Spireon's FleetLocate, GoldStar and Kahu web and mobile apps. It supports nearly 4 million active subscribers and processes more than 10 billion data events from connected vehicles and drivers each year. With advanced analytics and machine learning capabilities, NSpire delivers actionable insights that increase productivity and profits while protecting assets for auto dealers, lenders, transportation companies, rental car companies and consumers. NSpire 3.0 launched in 2017, adding significant enhancements to the platform that dramatically increased scalability, type and volume of data collected, interoperability and mobility support. "NSpire is the backbone of our solutions, providing the vehicle and driver data intelligence our customers can't get anywhere else," said Kevin Weiss, Spireon CEO. "With the launch of NSpire 3.0, Spireon was able to bring more new products to market in 2017 than any other year in company history. We are thrilled to see NSpire recognized by the world's premier business awards program and add another Stevie award to our list of achievements over the past year." In addition to supporting new Spireon solutions in the automotive and commercial fleet markets, the platform's architecture can scale as Spireon's subscriber base expands. The NSpire platform can also incorporate data from third-party devices, services and applications, with limitless potential to utilize connected vehicle data for a variety of use cases, from improving traffic conditions, reducing insurance costs and dynamically changing billboards, to municipal and commercial planning. "We designed NSpire 3.0 to capture 1,000 times more data than we collect today. We'll likely exceed 10 billion data events per month by the end of this year, but the applications and reporting features are critical to make sense of the data and drive business results. Ultimately, our goal is to allow our customers and partners to develop their own IoT applications that leverage NSpire's Big Data and platform services," said Rich Gruenhagen, CTO of Spireon. "The nominations submitted for the 2018 American Business Awards were outstanding. The competition was intense, and those recognized as Stevie Award winners should be immensely proud of this accomplishment," said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. The American Business Awards program recognizes the achievements of organizations and working professionals across all major industries in the United States. Winners will be presented with their awards on June 11 in New York City. Full details about the Stevie Awards and the complete list of 2018 winners are available at https://stevieawards.com/aba/2018-stevie-award-winners. About Spireon Spireon, Inc. is North America's leading connected vehicle intelligence company, providing businesses and consumers with powerful insights to track, manage and protect their most valuable mobile assets. The award-winning Spireon NSpire platform supports nearly 4 million active subscribers across the company's growing suite of products for new and used car dealers, lenders and financial institutions, rental car agencies, commercial and local fleet operators, and consumers. Learn more at www.spireon.com. For more information, contact Emily Lynn Ashley Havas Formula for Spireon [email protected] 619-234-0345 SOURCE Spireon, Inc. Related Links http://www.spireon.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Standard Motor Products, Inc. (NYSE: SMP), an automotive replacement parts manufacturer and distributor, reported today its consolidated financial results for the three months ending March 31, 2018. Consolidated net sales for the first quarter of 2018 were $261.8 million, compared to consolidated net sales of $282.4 million during the comparable quarter in 2017. Earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2018 were $8.6 million or 37 cents per diluted share, compared to $16.4 million or 70 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2017. Excluding non-operational gains and losses identified on the attached reconciliation of GAAP and non-GAAP measures, earnings from continuing operations for the first quarter of 2018 were $10.5 million or 46 cents per diluted share, compared to $17.1 million or 74 cents per diluted share in the first quarter of 2017. Mr. Eric P. Sills, Standard Motor Products' Chief Executive Officer and President stated, "Our overall business experienced declines in sales and margins in the first quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2017, with different dynamics affecting each division. The shortfall is largely due to events that are either timing-related or temporary, as described below. "Engine Management sales decreased by 5.6% in the first quarter, compared to the first quarter of 2017. Excluding our wire and cable business, which is in general decline due to the product life cycle, the Engine Management business was down 2.7%. As previously reported, a few of our large customers placed heavy pipeline orders during the early months of 2017, as they looked to expand their offering in both depth and breadth. This was not repeated in 2018 and that accounts for the entire shortfall. "Overall, our major customers reported a sales increase in Engine Management in the low single digits during the first quarter, in line with our long-term forecasts. As we have said, our customers' sales are a better indicator of our results than their purchases, which can vary significantly quarter to quarter based on ordering patterns. "Our Engine Management gross margins continue to be impacted by temporary costs associated with the multiple plant moves. On a positive note, in March of this year we were able to fully exit both the Orlando and Nogales facilities, and going forward we will have eliminated these duplicate plant expenses. The receiving locations are doing well and showing continuous improvement, but are still working towards returning to historic run-rate efficiencies, which we expect to achieve by year-end. "Our Temperature Control sales were down 14% compared with the first quarter of 2017. The Temperature Control business in the first quarter is comprised almost entirely of pre-season build orders, which reflect the previous year's selling season and resulting customer inventory levels. 2016 was a very warm summer, and our customers ended that year with below average inventories. Their first quarter 2017 orders were therefore very strong up 24% from the first quarter of 2016, which makes the comparisons this year quite difficult. Again, these sales are merely positioning our customers for the summer ultimately, our year is determined by how hot it gets in-season, and time will tell for 2018. "Temperature Control gross margin reductions were entirely due to our decreasing of production in response to the cooler 2017 season and the resulting under-absorption of overhead in our factories. Now that the closure of Grapevine is complete and our two Chinese joint ventures are performing well, we expect a return to our more recent healthy margin performance. "In conclusion, while we are not satisfied with our first quarter results, we believe that the causes are relatively short-term in nature, and that as we continue to implement the initiatives we have begun, we anticipate gradual improvement throughout the balance of the year." The Board of Directors has approved payment of a quarterly dividend of 21 cents per share on the common stock outstanding. The dividend will be paid on June 1, 2018 to stockholders of record on May 15, 2018. Standard Motor Products, Inc. will hold a conference call at 11:00 AM, Eastern Time, on Thursday, May 3, 2018. The dial-in number is 877-876-9173 (domestic) or 785-424-1670 (international). The playback number is 800-839-8798 (domestic) or 402-220-6078 (international). The conference ID # is STANDARD. Under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Standard Motor Products cautions investors that any forward-looking statements made by the company, including those that may be made in this press release, are based on management's expectations at the time they are made, but they are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward looking statements. Among the factors that could cause actual results, events or performance to differ materially from those risks and uncertainties discussed in this press release are those detailed from time-to-time in prior press releases and in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the company's annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. By making these forward-looking statements, Standard Motor Products undertakes no obligation or intention to update these statements after the date of this release. STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations (In thousands, except per share amounts) THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 2017 (Unaudited) NET SALES $ 261,826 $ 282,378 COST OF SALES 189,237 198,268 GROSS PROFIT 72,589 84,110 SELLING, GENERAL & ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 57,717 57,417 RESTRUCTURING AND INTEGRATION EXPENSES 2,836 1,547 OTHER INCOME, NET 271 316 OPERATING INCOME 12,307 25,462 OTHER NON-OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE), NET (31) 880 INTEREST EXPENSE 632 468 EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE TAXES 11,644 25,874 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES 3,047 9,507 EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS 8,597 16,367 LOSS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATION, NET OF INCOME TAXES (608) (633) NET EARNINGS $ 7,989 $ 15,734 NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE: BASIC EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ 0.38 $ 0.72 DISCONTINUED OPERATION (0.02) (0.03) NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - BASIC $ 0.36 $ 0.69 DILUTED EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ 0.37 $ 0.70 DISCONTINUED OPERATION (0.02) (0.03) NET EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE - DILUTED $ 0.35 $ 0.67 WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES 22,498,510 22,846,595 WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON AND DILUTIVE SHARES 22,967,281 23,313,773 STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC. Segment Revenues and Operating Income (In thousands) THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 2017 (Unaudited) Revenues Engine Management $ 199,488 $ 211,314 Temperature Control 60,231 70,290 All Other 2,107 774 $ 261,826 $ 282,378 Gross Margin Engine Management $ 56,470 28.3% $ 64,124 30.3% Temperature Control 13,667 22.7% 17,707 25.2% All Other 2,452 2,279 $ 72,589 27.7% $ 84,110 29.8% Selling, General & Administrative Engine Management $ 36,264 18.2% $ 36,028 17.0% Temperature Control 12,829 21.3% 13,006 18.5% All Other 8,624 8,383 $ 57,717 22.0% $ 57,417 20.3% Operating Income Engine Management $ 20,206 10.1% $ 28,096 13.3% Temperature Control 838 1.4% 4,701 6.7% All Other (6,172) (6,104) 14,872 5.7% 26,693 9.5% Restructuring & Integration (2,836) -1.1% (1,547) -0.5% Other Income, Net 271 0.1% 316 0.1% $ 12,307 4.7% $ 25,462 9.0% STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC. Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Measures (In thousands, except per share amounts) THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 2017 (Unaudited) EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS GAAP EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ 8,597 $ 16,367 RESTRUCTURING AND INTEGRATION EXPENSES 2,836 1,547 GAIN FROM SALE OF BUILDINGS (218) (262) INCOME TAX EFFECT RELATED TO RECONCILING ITEMS (681) (514) NON-GAAP EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ 10,534 $ 17,138 DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS GAAP DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ 0.37 $ 0.70 RESTRUCTURING AND INTEGRATION EXPENSES 0.12 0.07 GAIN FROM SALE OF BUILDINGS (0.01) (0.01) INCOME TAX EFFECT RELATED TO RECONCILING ITEMS (0.02) (0.02) NON-GAAP DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ 0.46 $ 0.74 OPERATING INCOME GAAP OPERATING INCOME $ 12,307 $ 25,462 RESTRUCTURING AND INTEGRATION EXPENSES 2,836 1,547 OTHER INCOME, NET (271) (316) NON-GAAP OPERATING INCOME $ 14,872 $ 26,693 MANAGEMENT BELIEVES THAT EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS, DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS, AND OPERATING INCOME, EACH OF WHICH ARE NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS AND ARE ADJUSTED FOR SPECIAL ITEMS, ARE MEANINGFUL TO INVESTORS BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE A VIEW OF THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO ONGOING OPERATING RESULTS. SPECIAL ITEMS REPRESENT SIGNIFICANT CHARGES OR CREDITS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE COMPANY'S OVERALL OPERATING RESULTS IN THE PERIODS PRESENTED. SUCH NON-GAAP MEASUREMENTS ARE NOT RECOGNIZED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES AND SHOULD NOT BE VIEWED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO GAAP MEASURES OF PERFORMANCE. STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (In thousands) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 (Unaudited) ASSETS CASH $ 26,226 $ 17,323 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, GROSS 165,816 145,024 ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS 5,243 4,967 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE, NET 160,573 140,057 INVENTORIES 329,784 326,411 UNRETURNED CUSTOMER INVENTORY 18,674 - OTHER CURRENT ASSETS 12,672 12,300 TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 547,929 496,091 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET 92,237 89,103 GOODWILL 67,534 67,413 OTHER INTANGIBLES, NET 54,411 56,261 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 32,469 32,420 INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES 35,703 31,184 OTHER ASSETS 15,917 15,095 TOTAL ASSETS $ 846,200 $ 787,567 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY NOTES PAYABLE $ 90,000 $ 57,000 CURRENT PORTION OF OTHER DEBT 5,880 4,699 ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 90,718 77,990 ACCRUED CUSTOMER RETURNS 43,031 35,916 ACCRUED CORE LIABILITY 23,751 11,899 OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES 85,148 98,393 TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 338,528 285,897 OTHER LONG-TERM DEBT 42 79 ACCRUED ASBESTOS LIABILITIES 32,769 33,376 OTHER LIABILITIES 15,352 14,561 TOTAL LIABILITIES 386,691 333,913 TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 459,509 453,654 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 846,200 $ 787,567 STANDARD MOTOR PRODUCTS, INC. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (In thousands) THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 2017 (Unaudited) CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES NET EARNINGS $ 7,989 $ 15,734 ADJUSTMENTS TO RECONCILE NET EARNINGS TO NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES: DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION 6,016 5,631 OTHER 4,459 3,870 CHANGE IN ASSETS AND LIABILITIES: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE (20,367) (45,325) INVENTORY (3,390) (19,344) ACCOUNTS PAYABLE 10,674 13,664 PREPAID EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT ASSETS 1,559 2,065 SUNDRY PAYABLES AND ACCRUED EXPENSES (12,997) (2,269) OTHER (95) (910) NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES (6,152) (26,884) CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES ACQUISITIONS OF AND INVESTMENTS IN BUSINESSES (6,472) - CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (6,903) (3,234) OTHER INVESTING ACTIVITIES - 2 NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES (13,375) (3,232) CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES NET CHANGE IN DEBT 34,054 27,224 PURCHASE OF TREASURY STOCK (3,221) (1,267) DIVIDENDS PAID (4,721) (4,338) OTHER FINANCING ACTIVITIES 1,885 3,650 NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES 27,997 25,269 EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH 433 632 NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS 8,903 (4,215) CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at beginning of period 17,323 19,796 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS at end of period $ 26,226 $ 15,581 SOURCE Standard Motor Products, Inc. Related Links http://www.smpcorp.com DETROIT, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Stroh Brewery Co. is releasing a new beer called "Perseverance" that is brewed in the style of a Detroit Session IPA. It's the first product launch for the company since reintroducing the iconic Stroh's Bohemian-Style Pilsner in 2016. Perseverance IPA will be sold exclusively in Michigan, and a symbolic first pour will be held at 6 p.m. on May 9 at Brew Detroit. This free event is open to all who wish to celebrate the tradition of Stroh's beer brewed in Detroit (must be 21+). Stroh's releases new brew to Michigan Perseverance IPA "The return to Detroit began with Bohemian two years ago, and Perseverance is the next vital step in our homecoming," said Andy Gurjian, Stroh's Brand Manager. "Perseverance IPA represents a shift from the reintroduction of historical beers to new formulations that will define the next great generation of Stroh's brewing. Our renewed spirit of innovation is a direct reflection of the drive, resurgence and grit that is alive and well in Detroit." Stroh's Perseverance IPA is a flavorful, hoppy session beer that satisfies IPA-lover's needs, all with a moderate, 4.5% ABV. Perseverance IPA is brewed exclusively at Brew Detroit under direct supervision of Stroh's Master Brewer, Greg Deuhs. Detroit artist Kobie Solomon worked in collaboration with Stroh's to design the brew's label. "The Chimera" is an original illustration by Kobie, showcased as one of the largest graffiti wall murals in the state of Michigan at nearly 9,000-square feet. Perseverance IPA has begun shipping to independent beverage retailers throughout Michigan. It will be available on draft and in 12 oz. bottles at select pubs beginning next week. WHAT: First Pour: Stroh's Perseverance IPA WHERE: Brew Detroit 1401 Abbott Street Detroit, Mich., 48216 WHEN: Wednesday, May 9 6:00 10:00 p.m. ABOUT THE STROH BREWERY COMPANY In 1848, during the German Revolution, Bernhard Stroh, having apprenticed at his father's side, immigrated to the United States. He established his own brewery in Detroit in 1850. Stroh originally named his new company Lion's Head Brewery, adopting the Lion's Crest logo from the Kyrburg Castle in Germany the same crest that adorns Stroh beers today. Over the years, Stroh's has become synonymous with the city of Detroit and strives to honor the creativity, determination, and hard work of its communities. In 2016, Stroh's released its first new brew in decades, bringing back a treasured archival recipe for Stroh's Bohemian Style Pilsner. Stroh's is owned by Pabst Brewing Company, America's largest independent brewer. For more information, visit StrohBeer.com/Perseverance. SOURCE Stroh Brewery Co. After six years serving with the United States Air Force, Alanis devoted 20 years working with the City of Corpus Christi's Police Department and has experience in traffic safety, fleet operations, community relations and all levels of the incident command system. He served as the assistant chief of police for the last two years. Kyle Lehne, director of emergency response, Sun Coast, said, "Michael brings valuable additional expertise to our emergency management team and will work to improve Sun Coast's capabilities and bolster our nationwide reputation as the 'go-to' emergency fuel company. We are delighted to welcome him to the team." Alanis graduated from the FBI's National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and the Senior Management Institute for Police in Washington D.C. He holds a bachelor of arts degree and will complete his master's degree in criminal justice at Midwestern State University in May 2018. About Sun Coast Resources, Inc. Sun Coast Resources, Inc., founded in 1985 by Kathy Lehne, is one of the largest wholesale petroleum marketers in the nation. Licensed in 39 states, with locations in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana, the company offers a vast array of petroleum products and services, including high quality fuels, lubricants, chemicals, diesel exhaust fluid, crude oil transportation services, emergency response fueling and much more. Sun Coast has the breadth and depth of products, equipment and resources to support the needs of your business. To find out more, visit: www.suncoastresources.com. SOURCE Sun Coast Resources, Inc. Related Links http://www.suncoastresources.com INTERSECTIONS INCLUDE 40.0 G AU/T OVER 4.80 METRES, 36.9 G AU/T OVER 3.40 METRES, 100.2 G AU/T OVER 1.25 METRES AND 16.2 G AU/T OVER 5.35 METRES TORONTO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Superior Gold Inc. ("Superior Gold" or the "Company") (TSX.V:SGI) is pleased to announce additional results from the ongoing underground diamond drill program at its 100%-owned Plutonic Gold mine in Western Australia. The drilling was conducted from February 1, 2018 to February 28, 2018 and is part of the year-round ongoing program of underground drilling. Results are provided for 65 drill holes for a total of approximately 5,800 metres. The drill holes were completed for resource definition and grade control purposes. Resource definition was designed to increase the confidence level of the resource in areas where drilling was limited as part of the ongoing work to upgrade resources to reserves. Grade control drilling was completed to provide additional information for stope design ahead of mining. The drilling focussed on five zones Caribbean; Caspian; Cortez; Indian; and Pacific. A number of significant intersections were encountered. KEY FINDINGS 83 intersections encountered more than 5g Au/t 45 intersections encountered more than 10g Au/t 16 intersections encountered more than 20g Au/t 4 intersections encountered more than 50g Au/t The location of the most significant intersections are shown in Figure 1 and the details of all holes are summarized by zone in Table 2. Reported intersections are over a minimum downhole width of 0.30 metres (0.20 metres true width). Chris Bradbrook, President and CEO of Superior Gold stated: "We continue to be very encouraged by the results of our underground diamond drill program, which demonstrate the strength of the Plutonic Gold mine's mineralized system, and which illustrate the long term potential of the mine. As recently announced (April 30, 2018) we have added a third underground diamond drill to accelerate our reserve and resource definition work, with the goal of further increasing our underground reserves and resources as soon as possible." HIGHLIGHTS The most significant intersections are summarized in Table 1 below: Table 1 Key Intersections Designed Target Drill Hole # Easting (Mine Grid) Northing (Mine Grid) Drill hole collar RL (Mine Grid) Dip (degrees) Azimuth (degrees, Mine Grid) End of hole depth (m) Downhole From (m) Downhole To (m) Downhole Intersection (m) Au (gpt) uncut Est True Thickness (m) CASPIAN UDD20028 4218 10800 1365 29 133 79 3.40 6.45 3.05 8.5 2.1 69.66 72.26 2.60 32.5 1.8 UDD20033 4199 10799 1365 32 145 90 13.00 18.35 5.35 16.2 3.7 Including 16.70 18.35 1.65 43.3 1.2 UDD20034 4199 10799 1366 45 164 71 6.65 11.45 4.80 40.0 3.4 Including 7.65 8.00 0.35 41.9 0.2 and 8.55 9.30 0.75 63.3 0.5 and 10.20 11.45 1.25 100.2 0.9 UDD20035 4199 10799 1365 29 152 105 17.60 21.00 3.40 36.9 2.4 Including 18.95 21.00 2.05 58.6 1.4 UDD20036 4198 10799 1366 46 183 81 3.25 6.30 3.05 6.6 2.1 Including 3.25 3.80 0.55 24.1 0.4 UDD20037 4199 10799 1365 35 164 107 16.20 18.80 2.60 10.4 1.8 Including 17.80 18.80 1.00 15.4 0.7 UDD20038 4218 10800 1365 36 120 62 49.80 51.30 1.50 12.5 1.1 UDD20040 4218 10801 1364 16 108 86 4.50 5.50 1.00 20.2 0.7 UDD20126 4336 10866 1265 10 259 81 57.46 58.59 1.13 16.7 0.8 CORTEZ UDD19718 4829 11919 1191 83 274 35 17.05 22.00 4.95 4.7 3.5 UDD19720 4816 11856 1182 44 195 63 26.30 32.65 6.35 7.3 4.4 Including 30.60 31.65 1.05 30.1 0.7 UDD19722 4829 11870 1186 59 301 41 11.50 14.85 3.35 5.3 2.3 UDD19724 4831 11903 1190 38 264 41 22.80 25.60 2.80 6.2 2.0 INDIAN UDD20136 4002 11452 1131 -38 150 158 111.78 117.00 5.22 8.8 3.7 Including 111.78 113.55 1.77 19.5 1.2 UDD20137 4002 11452 1131 -45 150 175 149.75 150.75 1.00 14.6 0.7 UDD20140 3991 11452 1134 -13 150 153 110.80 112.00 1.20 15.5 0.8 UDD20141 3991 11452 1133 -34 150 159 88.65 89.15 0.50 84.1 0.4 UDD20154 3974 11448 1136 -38 199 216 26.30 28.00 1.70 8.4 1.2 PACIFIC UDD20049 4817 12904 1172 17 56 63 46.30 48.30 2.00 8.6 1.4 58.50 60.20 1.70 10.0 1.2 Qualified Person Scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Pascal Blampain, who is a member of the AusIMM and the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG) and a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101. Mr. Blampain is an employee of the Company and serves as Chief Geologist. Quality Control Protocols Core is drilled BTW core diameter (42 mm). Core intervals are whole core sampled. All gold results were determined by ALS Minerals (Perth) using fire assay fusion (40g charge, lead collection method) with an ICP finish. Drill program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control and interpretation of results are performed by qualified persons employing a Quality Assurance/Quality Control program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. Standards, blanks and duplicates are included in approximately every 20 samples for Quality Assurance/Quality Control purposes by the Company as well as the laboratory. Approximately 5% of sample pulps are sent to secondary laboratories for check assays. About Superior Gold Superior Gold is a Canadian based gold producer that owns 100% of the Plutonic Gold operations located in Western Australia. The Plutonic Gold operations include the Plutonic underground gold mine, which is a producing underground operation with a central mill, the Hermes open pit gold mine and an interest in the Bryah Basin joint venture. Superior Gold is focused on expanding production at the Plutonic Gold operations and building an intermediate gold producer with superior returns for shareholders. Forward Looking Information This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws that is intended to be covered by the safe harbours created by those laws. "Forward-looking information" includes statements that use forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "potential" or the negative thereof or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made. Furthermore, such forward-looking information involves a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future plans, intentions, activities, results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. See "Risk Factors" in the Company's prospectus dated February 15, 2017 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com for a discussion of these risks. The Company cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Superior Gold This month, the Dr. Sheffield's Naturals brand will launch an engaging new app that blends authenticity with forward-thinking innovation. The downloadable Sheffield AR app -- available on the App Store and Google Play is the first of its kind in the personal-care category. Dr. Sheffield's classically bearded, aristocratic mug activates when lined up with the outer packaging on-shelf at participating retail stores nationwide. When activated, Dr. Sheffield playfully lectures today's "little whippersnappers" about the benefits of returning to life's simpler pleasures--and that includes natural, flouride-free oral care. "We are very proud of our company's history and heritage, and we are also looking forward, innovating, and staying on the cutting edge, just as Dr. Sheffield did in his dental practice 168 years ago," said Jeffrey Davis, President & Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield Pharmaceuticals. "There really is no better technology for us to blend old and new, than through Augmented Reality," he added. The full line of great tasting Dr. Sheffield's Certified Natural Toothpastes is available at CVS, CVS.com, select Bed Bath & Beyond, BedBathandBeyond.com and HarmonDiscount.com. All varieties are certified according to the strict standards of the Natural Products Association and contain no fluoride, GMOs, synthetic detergents or foaming agents, and no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. Dr. Sheffield's Naturals is also certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, signifying no animal testing at any stage of product development. About Dr. Sheffield's Certified Natural Toothpaste Dr. Sheffield's Naturals is a new line of toothpaste made from an age-old recipe reminiscent of simpler times. In the mid-1870s, Dr. Washington W. Sheffield, a respected dentist from New London, Connecticut, invented a 'creme dentrifice' for his patients, replacing the unsavory powders of the time. He put it in a tube, and the rest is history. Over 160 years later, Sheffield is back and harsh synthetics are out. Sheffield's timeless formulas are still free of fluoride, synthetic detergents and foaming agents, GMOs and artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners - and actually taste good! For more information, visit www.drsheffieldsnaturals.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. SOURCE Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, LLC Related Links http://www.drsheffieldsnaturals.com SAN DIEGO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Teradata Corp. (NYSE: TDC) reported revenue of $506 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, compared to $491 million reported in the first quarter of 2017. Recurring revenue of $302 million was up 11 percent from the first quarter of 2017. Subscription booking mix was 62 percent in the quarter, significantly higher than the 40 percent - 50 percent anticipated. Teradata's first quarter year-over-year revenue comparison benefited from approximately 4 percentage points of foreign currency translation(1). Teradata reported a net loss under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) of $(7) million in the first quarter, or $(0.06) per share, which compared to a net loss of $(2) million, or $(0.02) per share, in the first quarter of 2017. Non-GAAP net income in the first quarter of 2018, which excludes stock-based compensation expense and special items, was $23 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, as compared to $37 million, or $0.28 per diluted share in the first quarter of 2017.(2) Non-GAAP earnings per share exceeded expectation and guidance for the quarter. "I am pleased with Teradata's strong momentum as we continue to execute our growth strategy. We exceeded our plan for revenue and earnings per share, and importantly, we attained these results while achieving a better rate of adoption of subscription licenses. Our increasing sales funnel and the accelerating shift to subscription are clear demonstrations of the value of Teradata to our customers," said Vic Lund, President and Chief Executive Officer, Teradata. "The Teradata team has performed an amazing accomplishment in driving Teradata's transformation, and I remain confident in our ability to continue to deliver our winning strategy in 2018." Gross Margin For the first quarter of 2018, GAAP gross margin was 44.1 percent versus 45.8 percent for the first quarter of 2017. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding stock-based compensation expense and special items, gross margin for first quarter 2018 was 48.4 percent, versus 51.1 percent in the prior-year period.(2) Operating (Loss)/Income Operating loss reported under GAAP in the first quarter of 2018 was $(4) million compared to breakeven in the first quarter of 2017. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding stock-based compensation expense and special items, operating income was $35 million in the first quarter of 2018, versus $59 million in the first quarter of 2017(2). As expected, non-GAAP operating income was lower due to the shift to subscription and strategic transformation investments as compared to the prior year. Income Taxes Teradata's GAAP tax rate was 12.5 percent for the first quarter of 2018, as compared to 0 percent in the first quarter of 2017. Excluding special items, Teradata's non-GAAP tax rate was 25.8 percent in the first quarter of 2018 versus 35.1 percent in the first quarter of 2017.(2) The decrease in the non-GAAP effective tax rate was largely due to the decrease in the U.S. statutory rate effective in 2018 as a result of recently enacted U.S. tax reform. Cash Flow Teradata generated $184 million of cash from operating activities in the first quarter of 2018, compared to $248 million in the same period in 2017. In the first quarter of 2018, Teradata generated $156 million of free cash flow (cash from operating activities less capital expenditures and additions to capitalized software), compared to $230 million in the first quarter of 2017.(3) The expected decrease in cash from operating activities and free cash flow was due to the company's ongoing transition to subscription-based purchasing options, which result in the company collecting less cash in the current period as customers pay over time, the higher expense run rate from prior-year strategic transformation investments, and timing of cash collections. Balance Sheet Teradata ended the first quarter of 2018 with $939 million in cash. As of the end of the first quarter of 2018, the company repatriated cash to pay off its revolving credit facility and fund share repurchases. Teradata plans to repatriate the majority of its remaining offshore cash across the balance of 2018 to fund share repurchases and to retain the remainder for general corporate purposes. As of March 31, 2018, Teradata had total debt of $525 million, all of which was outstanding under a term loan. Teradata had no borrowings under its $400 million revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2018. During the first quarter of 2018, Teradata repurchased $76 million of the company's common stock, or approximately 2.1 million shares. Guidance Due to higher than expected bookings mix shift to subscription-based transactions, where revenue is recognized over time rather than up front in the current period, Teradata now expects 2018 full year revenue to be approximately $2.15 billion to $2.18 billion. Also, due to the accelerating shift in mix to subscription, Teradata expects revenue in the second quarter of 2018 to be in the $520 million to $530 million range. Teradata also now expects full-year 2018 GAAP earnings per share to be $0.58 to $0.64 as a result of the faster than anticipated shift of bookings mix to subscription-based transactions. On a non-GAAP basis, which excludes stock-based compensation expense and special items, earnings per share is expected to be in the $1.40 to $1.46 range(2). GAAP (loss)/earnings per share in the second quarter of 2018 is expected to be in the $(0.02) to $0.00 range. Non-GAAP earnings per share in the second quarter is expected to be in the $0.17 to $0.19 range(2). Earnings Conference Call A conference call is scheduled today at 2:00 p.m. (PT) to discuss the company's first quarter 2018 results. Access to the conference call, as well as a replay of the call, is available on Teradata's website at investor.teradata.com. Supplemental Financial Information Additional information regarding Teradata's operating results is provided below as well as on the Investor Relations page of Teradata's website. 1. The impact of currency is determined by calculating the prior-period results using the current-year monthly average currency rates. See the foreign currency fluctuation schedule on the Investor Relations page of the company's web site at investor.teradata.com, which is used to determine revenue on a constant currency ("CC") basis. Revenue (in millions) For the Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 % Change as Reported % Change in Constant Currency Recurring $302 $273 11% 7% Perpetual software licenses and hardware 69 90 (23%) (27%) Consulting services 135 128 5% 0% Total revenue $506 $491 3% (1%) Americas $264 $267 (1%) (1%) International 242 224 8% (1%) Total revenue $506 $491 3% (1%) 2. Teradata reports its results in accordance with GAAP. However, as described below, the company believes that certain non-GAAP measures such as non-GAAP gross profit, non-GAAP operating income, non-GAAP net income, and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share, or EPS, all of which exclude certain items (as well as free cash flow) are useful for investors. Our non-GAAP measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, results determined in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The following tables reconcile Teradata's actual and projected results and EPS under GAAP to the company's actual and projected non-GAAP results and EPS for the periods presented, which exclude certain specified items. Our management internally uses supplemental non-GAAP financial measures, such as gross profit, operating income, net income and EPS, excluding certain items, to understand, manage and evaluate our business and support operating decisions on a regular basis. The company believes such non-GAAP financial measures (1) provide useful information to investors regarding the underlying business trends and performance of the company's ongoing operations, (2) are useful for period-over-period comparisons of such operations and results, that may be more easily compared to peer companies and allow investors a view of the company's operating results excluding stock-based compensation expense and special items, (3) provide useful information to management and investors regarding present and future business trends, and (4) provide consistency and comparability with past reports and projections of future results. Teradata's reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results included in this release. (in millions, except per share data) For the Three Months Ended March 31 Gross Profit: 2018 2017 % Chg. GAAP Gross Profit $ 223 $ 225 (1%) % of Revenue 44.1% 45.8% Excluding: Stock-based compensation expense 4 3 Acquisition, integration and reorganization related costs 3 2 Capitalized Software ASC 985-20 15 21 Non-GAAP Gross Profit $ 245 $ 251 (2%) % of Revenue 48.4 % 51.1% Operating (Loss)/Income: GAAP Operating Loss $ (4) - - % of Revenue (0.8%) 0.0% Excluding: Stock-based compensation expense 19 15 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 2 2 Acquisition, integration and reorganization related costs 3 21 Capitalized Software ASC 985-20 15 21 Non-GAAP Operating Income $ 35 $ 59 (41%) % of Revenue 6.9% 12.0% Net (Loss)/Income: GAAP Net Loss $(7) $(2) (250%) % of Revenue (1.4%) (0.4%) Excluding: Stock-based compensation expense 19 15 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 2 2 Acquisition, integration and reorganization related costs 3 21 Capitalized Software ASC 985-20 15 21 Income tax adjustments* (9) (20) Non-GAAP Net Income $23 $37 (38%) % of Revenue 4.5% 7.5% Three Months Ended March 31 Earnings Per Share: 2018 2017 2018 Q2 Guidance 2018 FY Guidance GAAP (Loss)/Earnings Per Share $(0.06) $(0.02) $(0.02) - 0.00 $0.58 - 0.64 Excluding: Stock-based compensation expense 0.16 0.12 0.13 0.55 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets 0.02 0.02 0.01 0.05 Acquisition, integration and reorganization related costs 0.02 0.16 0.01 0.03 Capitalized Software ASC 985-20 0.12 0.16 0.10 0.40 Income tax adjustments* (0.07) (0.15) (0.06) (0.21) Impact of dilution ** - (0.01) - - Non-GAAP Diluted Earnings Per Share $0. 19 $0.28 $0.17 - 0.19 $1.40 1.46 * Represents the income tax effect of the pre-tax adjustments to reconcile GAAP to Non-GAAP income based on the applicable jurisdictional statutory tax rate of the underlying item. Including the income tax effect assists investors in understanding the tax provision associated with those adjustments and the effective tax rate related to the underlying business and performance of the company's ongoing operations. As a result of these adjustments, the company's non-GAAP effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2018 was 25.8% and 35.1% in the first quarter of 2017. ** Represents the impact to earnings per share as a result of moving from basic to diluted shares. 3. As described below, the company believes that free cash flow is a useful non-GAAP measure for investors. Teradata defines free cash flow as cash provided/used by operating activities less capital expenditures for property and equipment, and additions to capitalized software. Free cash flow does not have a uniform definition under GAAP and therefore, Teradata's definition may differ from other companies' definitions of this measure. Teradata's management uses free cash flow to assess the financial performance of the company and believes it is useful for investors because it relates the operating cash flow of the company to the capital that is spent to continue and improve business operations. In particular, free cash flow indicates the amount of cash generated after capital expenditures for, among other things, investment in the company's existing businesses, strategic acquisitions, strengthening the company's balance sheet, repurchase of the company's stock and repayment of the company's debt obligations, if any. Free cash flow does not represent the residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since there may be other nondiscretionary expenditures that are not deducted from the measure. This non-GAAP measure is not meant to be considered in isolation, as a substitute for, or superior to, results determined in accordance with GAAP, and should be read only in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. For the Three Months Ended March 31 (in millions) 2018 2017 Cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) $184 $248 Less capital expenditures for: Expenditures for property and equipment (26) (16) Additions to capitalized software (2) (2) Total capital expenditures (28) (18) Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP measure)(3) $156 $230 Note to Investors This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements generally relate to opinions, beliefs and projections of expected future financial and operating performance, business trends, and market conditions, among other things. These forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the factors discussed in this release and those relating to: the global economic environment and business conditions in general or on the ability of our suppliers to meet their commitments to us, or the timing of purchases by our current and potential customers; the rapidly changing and intensely competitive nature of the information technology industry and the data analytics business, including the increased pressure on price/performance for data analytics solutions and changes in customer's buying patterns; fluctuations in our operating results, including as a result of the pace and extent to which customers shift from perpetual to subscription-based licenses; our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of our business transformation program or other restructuring and cost saving initiatives; risks inherent in operating in foreign countries, including the impact of economic, political, and legal conditions, and foreign currency fluctuations; risks associated with data privacy, cyber-attacks and maintaining secure and effective internal information technology and control systems; the timely and successful development, production or acquisition and market acceptance of new and existing products and services; tax rates and the impact of recent tax reform legislation; turnover of workforce and the ability to attract and retain skilled employees; protecting our intellectual property; availability and successful exploitation of new acquisition and alliance opportunities ; recurring revenue may decline or fail to be renewed; the impact on our business and financial reporting from changes in accounting rules, including Topic ASC 606; and other factors described from time to time in Teradata's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its annual report on Form 10-K and subsequent quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q, as well as the company's annual report to stockholders. Teradata does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. About Teradata Teradata helps companies achieve high-impact business outcomes. With a portfolio of cloud-based business analytics solutions, architecture consulting, and industry leading big data and analytics technology, Teradata unleashes the potential of great companies. Visit teradata.com. http://www.twitter.com/teradata http://www.facebook.com/Teradata http://www.linkedin.com/company/teradata http://www.youtube.com/user/teradata Teradata and the Teradata logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Teradata Corporation and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and worldwide. INVESTOR CONTACT: Gregg Swearingen Teradata (937) 242-4600 [email protected] MEDIA CONTACT: Benjamin Hendricks Teradata (919) 522-2978 [email protected] Schedule A TERADATA CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS (in millions, except per share amounts - unaudited) For the Period Ended March 31 Three Months 2018 2017 % Chg Revenue Recurring $ 302 $ 273 11% Perpetual software licenses and hardware 69 90 (23%) Consulting services 135 128 5% Total revenue 506 491 3% Gross profit Recurring 212 206 % of Revenue 70.2% 75.5% Perpetual software licenses and hardware 21 29 % of Revenue 30.4% 32.2% Consulting services (10) (10) % of Revenue (7.4%) (7.8%) Total gross profit 223 225 % of Revenue 44.1% 45.8% Selling, general and administrative expenses 152 155 Research and development expenses 75 70 Loss from operations (4) - % of Revenue (0.8%) - Other expense, net (4) (2) Loss before income taxes (8) (2) % of Revenue (1.6%) (0.4%) Income tax benefit (1) - % Tax rate 12.5% - Net loss $ (7) $ (2) % of Revenue (1.4%) (0.4%) Net loss per common share Basic $ (0.06) $ (0.02) Diluted $ (0.06) $ (0.02) Weighted average common shares outstanding Basic 121.4 130.4 Diluted 121.4 130.4 Schedule B TERADATA CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in millions - unaudited) March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 Assets Current assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 939 $ 1,089 Accounts receivable, net 451 554 Inventories 43 30 Other current assets 97 77 Total current assets 1,530 1,750 Property and equipment, net 172 162 Capitalized software, net 107 121 Goodwill 401 399 Acquired intangible assets, net 21 23 Deferred Income Taxes 58 57 Other assets 66 44 Total assets $ 2,355 $ 2,556 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities Current portion of long-term debt $ 68 $ 60 Short-term borrowings - 240 Accounts payable 110 74 Payroll and benefits liabilities 110 173 Deferred revenue 532 414 Other current liabilities 93 102 Total current liabilities 913 1,063 Long-term debt 456 478 Pension and other postemployment plan liabilities 111 109 Long-term deferred revenue 72 85 Deferred tax liabilities 9 4 Other liabilities 150 149 Total liabilities 1,711 1,888 Stockholders' equity Common stock 1 1 Paid-in capital 1,350 1,320 Accumulated deficit (637) (579) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (70) (74) Total stockholders' equity 644 668 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 2,355 $ 2,556 Schedule C TERADATA CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (in millions - unaudited) For the Period Ended March 31 Three Months 2018 2017 Operating activities Net loss $ (7) $ (2) Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 34 36 Stock-based compensation expense 19 16 Deferred income taxes (5) (8) Changes in assets and liabilities: Receivables 83 106 Inventories (13) (6) Current payables and accrued expenses (27) (44) Deferred revenue 124 145 Other assets and liabilities (24) 5 Net cash provided by operating activities 184 248 Investing activities Expenditures for property and equipment (26) (16) Additions to capitalized software (2) (2) Net cash used in investing activities (28) (18) Financing activities Repurchases of common stock (60) (43) Repayments of long-term borrowings (15) (8) Repayments of credit facility borrowings (240) - Other financing activities, net 10 7 Net cash used in financing activities (305) (44) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents - 4 (Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (149) 190 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 1,089 974 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 940 $ 1,164 Schedule D TERADATA CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in millions - unaudited) For the Three Months Ended March 31 2018 2017 % Change As Reported % Change Constant Currency (2) Segment Revenue Americas $ 264 $ 267 (1%) (1%) International 242 224 8% (1%) Total segment revenue 506 491 3% (1%) Segment gross profit Americas 147 151 % of Revenue 55.7% 56.6% International 98 100 % of Revenue 40.5% 44.6% Total segment gross profit 245 251 % of Revenue 48.4% 51.1% Reconciling items(1) (22) (26) Total gross profit $ 223 $ 225 % of Revenue 44.1% 45.8% (1) Reconciling items include stock-based compensation, capitalized software, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets and acquisition, integration and reorganization-related items. (2) The impact of currency is determined by calculating the prior period results using the current-year monthly average currency rates. SOURCE Teradata Related Links http://www.teradata.com RANCHO PALOS VERDES, Calif., May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Terranea Resort, a premier resort and ecological center south of Los Angeles, confirmed today that it has been cleared of all ties to a lawsuit involving two employees of an outside temporary staffing agency. The lawsuit included sexual harassment allegations made by the former staffing company employee against another staffing company employee. "We said at the time that this lawsuit and these allegations have nothing to do with Terranea," said Terranea President Ms. Terri A. Haack, "and the settlement between Excel and Ms. Pezqueda validates that we were right. We are a woman-led business with a zero-tolerance policy toward harassment. We have created thousands of career opportunities for thousands of men and women from wonderfully diverse backgrounds, and we are very proud of our employees and their accomplishments." In 2016, a lawsuit involving allegations of harassment was filed involving two former employees of an outside staffing agency assigned to the Terranea Resort. Terranea originally was not a party to this 2016 lawsuit, but only in August 2017 did plaintiffs amend their lawsuit, seeking to add Terranea. Terranea diligently denied and defended itself in this outside lawsuit. On April 16, 2018, the original parties Excel Maintenance Services and Sandra Pezqueda settled their lawsuit with full release of Terranea from the matter. "As a champion of opportunities and protections for women, minorities and all individuals for my entire career," Ms. Haack said, "I am very proud of what my friends and fellow employees have accomplished for themselves, for their families and for their futures. They are truly remarkable people." Contact: Jessie A. Burns Terranea Resort (o) 310-265-2857 SOURCE Terranea Resort WILMINGTON, Del., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- First Quarter 2018 Highlights Net Sales of $1.7 billion , up 20% , up 20% Net Income of $297 million , up 98% with EPS of $1.58 , up 100% , up 98% with EPS of , up 100% Adjusted Net Income of $266 million , up 103% with Adjusted EPS of $1.41 , up 101% , up 103% with Adjusted EPS of , up 101% Adjusted EBITDA of $468 million , up 64% , up 64% Completed first acquisition of ICOR International in April 2018 Repurchased approximately $400 million shares since December 1, 2017 The Chemours Company (Chemours) (NYSE: CC), a global chemistry company with leading market positions in fluoroproducts, chemical solutions and titanium technologies, today announced its financial results for the first quarter 2018. Chemours President and CEO Mark Vergnano said, "Last year's momentum has continued into 2018. We are delivering improved business performance across the company driven by preference for our Ti-Pure titanium dioxide, continued Opteon refrigerant adoption, and increased demand for our fluoropolymers products. Complementing this impressive organic growth, I am pleased to announce the completion of our first acquisition," Vergnano continued. "Our first targeted acquisition bolsters our refrigerant portfolio and broadens our channel access across our markets as we continue to expand our low GWP Opteon portfolio. At the same time, we continued to execute on our balanced capital allocation strategy, repurchasing a total of approximately $400 million of shares since inception, further demonstrating our confidence in our future growth." First quarter net sales were $1.7 billion, a 20 percent increase from $1.4 billion in the prior-year quarter. Volume growth across all three segments drove a 6 percent increase in revenue. Higher global average prices in Titanium Technologies added another 10 percent to revenue, while currency was a 4 percent benefit. First quarter net income was $297 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, versus net income of $150 million, or $0.79 per diluted share in last year's first quarter. Adjusted EBITDA for the first quarter 2018 improved 64 percent to $468 million, versus $285 million in the first quarter of 2017. This improvement was primarily driven by higher global average price for Ti-Pure titanium dioxide and broad-based volume growth across all segments, somewhat offset by higher distribution and raw material costs. Fluoroproducts Fluoroproducts segment sales in the first quarter were $732 million, a 12 percent increase in comparison to the prior-year quarter. Opteon refrigerant sales growth and continued demand for fluoropolymers drove volume increases versus last year's first quarter. Price impact was negligible versus last year's first quarter primarily due to mix, while favorable currency exposure resulted in a benefit versus the prior-year quarter. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $206 million, a 33 percent improvement versus the prior-year quarter. This was a result of increased sales growth and better plant utilization modestly offset by higher distribution expenses, water treatment costs and increased raw material costs. Chemical Solutions In the first quarter 2018, Chemical Solutions segment sales were $144 million, a 4 percent increase versus the prior-year quarter. Improved demand in comparison to last year's first quarter resulted in higher volume across the segment. Price impact was negligible in the quarter, primarily due to mix, while currency movements were favorable when compared to the previous year's first quarter. First quarter 2018 segment Adjusted EBITDA was $11 million, versus $12 million in the prior year quarter, reflecting sales growth partially offset by higher raw material expenses, costs related to the construction of the new mining solutions facility and lower licensing income in the quarter. In March, construction on the new mining solutions facility in Mexico was suspended. A civil association in Mexico filed a complaint against several local and federal authorities involved in the permitting process of Chemours' new mining solutions facility. As a result, the construction of the facility has been temporarily suspended. Chemours is working with local and federal authorities along with community leaders to address the claims in order to resume construction. Titanium Technologies Titanium Technologies segment sales in the first quarter were $854 million, a 32 percent increase versus the prior-year quarter. Global average selling prices and demand for Ti-Pure titanium dioxide products increased in comparison to last year's first quarter, along with favorable currency movement. Segment Adjusted EBITDA was $294 million, an 85 percent year-over-year increase. Results were driven by higher Ti-Pure titanium dioxide sales, partially offset by increased variable costs, including distribution costs and expected raw material costs. Corporate and Other Corporate and Other represented a negative $43 million of Adjusted EBITDA. Expenses in the first quarter of 2018 increased $2 million versus the prior-year quarter. This increase was primarily related to higher long-term compensation costs. The company realized an effective tax rate of approximately 22 percent in the quarter. The company expects its effective tax rate for the full-year 2018 to be in the low-twenties on a percentage basis, reflecting the company's anticipated geographic mix of earnings and US tax reform impacts. Liquidity As of March 31, 2018, gross consolidated debt was $4.2 billion. Debt, net of $1.4 billion cash, was $2.7 billion, resulting in a net debt-to-EBITDA ratio of approximately 1.7 times on a trailing twelve-month basis. On April 3, 2018, Chemours refinanced its current credit agreement, providing for a new seven-year senior secured term loan facility and a new five-year $800 million senior secured revolving credit facility. The term loan was issued with two tranches, a $900 million portion and a 350 million portion. In addition, the company modified certain terms and conditions of its credit agreement to allow for more operational flexibility. Operating cash flow for the first quarter was $196 million, versus $41 million in the previous year quarter. Working capital for the quarter was a use of $192 million of cash, consistent with normal seasonal patterns. Capital expenditures for the first quarter 2018 were $102 million, versus $69 million in last year's first quarter, reflecting the investments in the construction of the Opteon refrigerants and mining solutions facilities. The company expects its capital expenditures for the full-year 2018 to be within a range of $475 to $525 million. Free Cash Flow for the first quarter was $94 million, a $122 million improvement versus the previous-year quarter of negative $28 million. Outlook Vergnano remarked, "Given our strong first quarter results and visibility into the rest of 2018, we are reiterating our expectation that earnings will be at the high end of our previously announced range. We have modified the corresponding Adjusted EPS range to reflect our lower share count. We also expect to deliver over $700 million Free Cash Flow in 2018. Our anticipated 2018 performance is indicative of the high returns we believe Chemours can deliver over the next three-years." Conference Call As previously announced, Chemours will hold a conference call and webcast on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 8:30 AM EDT. The webcast and additional presentation materials can be accessed by visiting the Events & Presentations page of Chemours' investor website, investors.chemours.com. A webcast replay of the conference call will be available on the Chemours' investor website. About The Chemours Company The Chemours Company (NYSE: CC) helps create a colorful, capable and cleaner world through the power of chemistry. Chemours is a global leader in fluoroproducts, chemical solutions, and titanium technologies, providing its customers with solutions in a wide range of industries with market-defining products, application expertise and chemistry-based innovations. Chemours ingredients are found in plastics and coatings, refrigeration and air conditioning, mining and general industrial manufacturing, and electronics. Our flagship products include prominent brands such as Teflon, Ti-Pure, Krytox, Viton, Opteon, Freon and Nafion. Chemours has approximately 7,000 employees and 26 manufacturing sites serving approximately 4,000 customers in North America, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Chemours is headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed on the NYSE under the symbol CC. For more information please visit chemours.com. Non-GAAP Financial Measures We prepare our financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles ("GAAP"). Within this press release, we may make reference to Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free Cash Flow, Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) and Net Leverage Ratio which are non-GAAP financial measures. The company includes these non-GAAP financial measures because management believes they are useful to investors in that they provide for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in its financial and operational decision making. Management uses Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EPS, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free Cash Flow, ROIC and Net Leverage Ratio to evaluate the company's performance excluding the impact of certain noncash charges and other special items which we expect to be infrequent in occurrence in order to have comparable financial results to analyze changes in our underlying business from quarter to quarter. Accordingly, the company believes the presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures, when used in conjunction with GAAP financial measures, is a useful financial analysis tool that can assist investors in assessing the company's operating performance and underlying prospects. This analysis should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. This analysis, as well as the other information in this press release, should be read in conjunction with the company's financial statements and footnotes contained in the documents that the company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The non-GAAP financial measures used by the company in this press release may be different from the methods used by other companies. For more information on the non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the attached schedules or the table, "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures" and materials posted to the company's website at investors.chemours.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to a historical or current fact. The words "believe," "expect," "will," "anticipate," "plan," "estimate," "target," "project" and similar expressions, among others, generally identify "forward-looking statements," which speak only as of the date such statements were made. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, the outcome or resolution of any pending or future environmental liabilities, the commencement, outcome or resolution of any regulatory inquiry, investigation or proceeding, the initiation, outcome or settlement of any litigation, changes in environmental regulations in the U.S. or other jurisdictions that affect demand for or adoption of our products, anticipated future operating and financial performance, business plans and prospects, capital investments and projects, plans for dividends or share repurchases, sufficiency or longevity of intellectual property protection, cost savings targets, plans to increase profitability and growth, our ability to make acquisitions, integrate acquired businesses or assets into our operations, and achieve anticipated synergies or cost savings, and our outlook for net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EPS, Free Cash Flow, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), all of which are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized. These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Forward-looking statements also involve risks and uncertainties that are beyond Chemours' control. Additionally, there may be other risks and uncertainties that Chemours is unable to identify at this time or that Chemours does not currently expect to have a material impact on its business. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Chemours assumes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as required by law. CONTACT MEDIA Alvenia Scarborough Sr. Director, Brand Marketing and Corporate Communications +1.302.773.4507 [email protected] INVESTORS Alisha Bellezza VP, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations +1.302.773.2263 [email protected] The Chemours Company Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Net sales $ 1,730 $ 1,437 Cost of goods sold 1,193 1,081 Gross profit 537 356 Selling, general, and administrative expense 143 150 Research and development expense 20 19 Restructuring, asset-related, and other charges, net 10 12 Total expenses 173 181 Equity in earnings of affiliates 12 7 Interest expense, net (52) (51) Other income, net 57 42 Income before income taxes 381 173 Provision for income taxes 84 22 Net income 297 151 Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 1 Net income attributable to Chemours $ 297 $ 150 Per share data Basic earnings per share of common stock $ 1.63 $ 0.82 Diluted earnings per share of common stock 1.58 0.79 Dividends per share of common stock 0.03 The Chemours Company Interim Consolidated Balance Sheets (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 1,434 $ 1,556 Accounts and notes receivable, net 1,083 919 Inventories 992 935 Prepaid expenses and other 75 83 Total current assets 3,584 3,493 Property, plant, and equipment 8,719 8,511 Less: Accumulated depreciation (5,614) (5,503) Property, plant, and equipment, net 3,105 3,008 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 165 166 Investments in affiliates 166 173 Other assets 464 453 Total assets $ 7,484 $ 7,293 Liabilities Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 1,121 $ 1,075 Current maturities of long-term debt 14 15 Other accrued liabilities 487 558 Total current liabilities 1,622 1,648 Long-term debt, net 4,141 4,097 Deferred income taxes 244 208 Other liabilities 475 475 Total liabilities 6,482 6,428 Commitments and contingent liabilities Equity Common stock (par value $0.01 per share; 810,000,000 shares authorized; 185,903,112 shares issued and 178,537,554 shares outstanding at March 31, 2018; 185,343,034 shares issued and 182,956,628 shares outstanding at December 31, 2017) 2 2 Treasury stock at cost (7,365,558 shares at March 31, 2018; 2,386,406 shares at December 31, 2017) (361) (116) Additional paid-in capital 846 837 Retained earnings 876 579 Accumulated other comprehensive loss (366) (442) Total Chemours stockholders' equity 997 860 Non-controlling interests 5 5 Total equity 1,002 865 Total liabilities and equity $ 7,484 $ 7,293 The Chemours Company Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Cash flows from operating activities Net income $ 297 $ 151 Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 70 71 Gain on sale of assets and businesses (42) (16) Equity in earnings of affiliates, net 17 (7) Amortization of deferred financing costs and issuance discount 3 3 Deferred tax provision 35 5 Other operating charges and credits, net 8 10 Decrease (increase) in operating assets: Accounts and notes receivable, net (150) (103) Inventories and other operating assets (29) (31) (Decrease) increase in operating liabilities: Accounts payable and other operating liabilities (13) (42) Cash provided by operating activities 196 41 Cash flows from investing activities Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (102) (69) Proceeds from sales of assets and businesses, net 39 9 Foreign exchange contract settlements, net 5 (3) Cash used for investing activities (58) (63) Cash flows from financing activities Debt repayments (4) (4) Purchases of treasury stock at cost (240) Proceeds from exercised stock options, net 5 20 Tax payments related to withholdings on vested restricted stock units (1) Payment of dividends (31) (5) Cash (used for) provided by financing activities (271) 11 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 11 7 Decrease in cash and cash equivalents (122) (4) Cash and cash equivalents at January 1, 1,556 902 Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, $ 1,434 $ 898 Supplemental cash flows information Non-cash investing and financing activities: Changes in property, plant, and equipment included in accounts payable $ (1) $ 14 Obligations incurred under build-to-suit lease arrangement 11 Purchases of treasury stock not settled by quarter-end 15 Tax payments accrued for withholdings on vested restricted stock units 4 The Chemours Company Segment Financial and Operating Data (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions) Segment Net Sales Three Months Three Months Ended Ended Sequential March 31, Increase / December 31, Increase / 2018 2017 (Decrease) 2017 (Decrease) Fluoroproducts $ 732 $ 652 $ 80 $ 656 $ 76 Chemical Solutions 144 139 5 134 10 Titanium Technologies 854 646 208 785 69 Total Net Sales $ 1,730 $ 1,437 $ 293 $ 1,575 $ 155 Segment Adjusted EBITDA Three Months Three Months Ended Ended Sequential March 31, Increase / December 31, Increase / 2018 2017 (Decrease) 2017 (Decrease) Fluoroproducts $ 206 $ 155 $ 51 $ 159 $ 47 Chemical Solutions 11 12 (1) 20 (9) Titanium Technologies 294 159 135 261 33 Corporate and Other (43) (41) (2) (46) 3 Total Adjusted EBITDA $ 468 $ 285 $ 183 $ 394 $ 74 Adjusted EBITDA Margin 27% 20% 25% Quarterly Change in Net Sales from March 31, 2017 Percentage Percentage Change Due To March 31, 2018 Net Sales Change vs. March 31, 2017 Local Price Volume Currency Effect Portfolio / Other Total Company $ 1,730 20 % 10 % 6 % 4 % % Fluoroproducts $ 732 12 % % 8 % 4 % % Chemical Solutions 144 4 % % 3 % 1 % % Titanium Technologies 854 32 % 22 % 5 % 5 % % Quarterly Change in Net Sales from December 31, 2017 Percentage Percentage Change Due To March 31, 2018 Net Sales Change vs. December 31, 2017 Local Price Volume Currency Effect Portfolio / Other Total Company $ 1,730 10 % 3 % 6 % 1 % % Fluoroproducts $ 732 11 % % 10 % 1 % % Chemical Solutions 144 8 % 3 % 4 % 1 % % Titanium Technologies 854 9 % 5 % 3 % 1 % % The Chemours Company Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions) Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income to GAAP Net Income Reconciliation Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (Adjusted EBITDA) is defined as income (loss) before income taxes, excluding the following items: interest expense, depreciation, and amortization; non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit costs, which represent the components of net periodic pension (income) costs excluding the service cost component; exchange (gains) losses included in other income (expense), net; restructuring, asset-related, and other charges, net; asset impairments; (gains) losses on sale of business or assets; and, other items not considered indicative of the Company's ongoing operational performance and expected to occur infrequently. Adjusted Net Income is defined as net income (loss) attributable to Chemours, adjusted for items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA, except interest expense, depreciation, amortization, and certain provision for (benefit from) income tax amounts. Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2017 Net income attributable to Chemours $ 297 $ 150 $ 228 Non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit income (7) (8) (10) Exchange gains (5) Restructuring, asset-related, and other charges, net 10 12 26 Gain on sale of assets or businesses (1) (42) (16) (8) Legal and other charges (2) 4 7 Adjustments made to income taxes (3,5) (5) (10) (3) Provision for (benefit from) income taxes relating to reconciling items (4,5) 9 1 (4) Adjusted Net Income 266 131 229 Net income attributable to non-controlling interests 1 Interest expense, net 52 51 54 Depreciation and amortization 70 71 69 All remaining provision for income taxes (5) 80 31 42 Adjusted EBITDA $ 468 $ 285 $ 394 (1) For the three months ended March 31, 2018, gain on sale includes a $42 gain associated with the sale of the Company's Linden, New Jersey site. For the three months ended March 31, 2017, gain on sale includes a $12 gain associated with the sale of the Company's Edge Moor, Delaware site and a $4 gain associated with the sale of the Company's land in Repauno, New Jersey that was previously deferred and realized upon meeting certain milestones. For the three months ended December 31, 2017, gain on sale includes a $9 gain associated with the sale of the Company's land in Repauno, New Jersey that was previously deferred and realized upon meeting certain milestones, net of certain losses on other disposals. (2) Includes litigation settlements, water treatment accruals, and other charges. (3) Includes the removal of certain discrete income tax impacts within the Company's provision for income taxes. For the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, the adjustment is primarily attributable to windfall benefits on the Company's share-based payments of $5 and $10, respectively. For the three months ended December 31, 2017, the adjustment is primarily attributable to a benefit for the net impact of U.S. tax reform, which amounted to $3. (4) The income tax impacts included in this caption are determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which income or expense occurred and include both current and deferred income tax expense or benefit based on the nature of the non-GAAP financial measure. (5) The total provision for income taxes reconciles to the amount reported in the consolidated statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 and for the three months ended December 31, 2017. The Chemours Company Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) Adjusted Earnings per Share to GAAP Earnings per Share Reconciliation Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) is calculated by dividing Adjusted Net Income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted Adjusted EPS accounts for the dilutive impact of stock-based compensation awards, which includes unvested restricted shares. Diluted Adjusted EPS considers the impact of potentially-dilutive securities, except in periods in which there is a loss because the inclusion of the potentially-dilutive securities would have an anti-dilutive effect. Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2017 Numerator: Net income attributable to Chemours $ 297 $ 150 $ 228 Adjusted Net Income 266 131 229 Denominator: Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic 182,069,982 183,408,309 185,445,024 Dilutive effect of the Company's employee compensation plans 6,263,215 5,741,621 6,553,935 Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - diluted 188,333,197 189,149,930 191,998,959 Earnings per share - basic $ 1.63 $ 0.82 $ 1.23 Earnings per share - diluted 1.58 0.79 1.19 Adjusted earnings per share - basic 1.46 0.72 1.23 Adjusted earnings per share - diluted 1.41 0.70 1.19 2018 Estimated Adjusted EBITDA to 2018 Estimated GAAP Net Income Reconciliation (*) (Estimated) Year Ended December 31, 2018 Low High Net income attributable to Chemours $ 985 $ 1,080 Other adjustments (45) (45) Restructuring, asset-related, and other charges, net 35 25 Provision for income taxes relating to reconciling items (1) 5 5 Adjusted Net Income 980 1,065 Interest expense, net 220 220 Depreciation and amortization 280 280 All remaining provision for income taxes 295 285 Adjusted EBITDA $ 1,775 $ 1,850 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic (2) 179,000,000 179,000,000 Dilutive effects of Chemours' employee compensation plans (2) 6,000,000 6,000,000 Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted (2) 185,000,000 185,000,000 Earnings per share - basic $ 5.50 $ 6.03 Earnings per share - diluted 5.32 5.84 Adjusted earnings per share - basic 5.47 5.95 Adjusted earnings per share - diluted 5.30 5.76 (1) The income tax impacts included in this caption are determined using the applicable rates in the taxing jurisdictions in which income or expense occurred and include both current and deferred income tax expense or benefit based on the nature of the non-GAAP financial measure. (2) The Company's estimates for the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - basic and diluted reflect results for the year ended December 31, 2017, which are carried forward for the projection period and updated for the estimated impacts of the Company's 2018 share repurchase and other activity on a weighted-average basis. (*) The Company's estimates reflect its current visibility and expectations of market factors, such as, but not limited to: currency movements, titanium dioxide prices, and end-market demand. Actual results could differ materially from the current estimates due to market factors and unknown or uncertain other factors, such as non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit activity with respect to the Company's foreign pension plans, including settlements or curtailments, cost savings actions that may be taken in the future, the impact of currency movements on the Company's results, including exchange gains and losses, and the related tax effects, or the impact of new accounting pronouncements. The Chemours Company Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures to GAAP Financial Measures (Unaudited) (Dollars in millions) Free Cash Flow to GAAP Cash Flow Provided by Operating Activities Reconciliation Free Cash Flow is defined as cash flow provided by (used for) operating activities, less purchases of property, plant, and equipment as shown in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Three Months Ended March 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2017 Cash flow provided by operating activities $ 196 $ 41 $ 303 Less: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (102) (69) (165) Free Cash Flow $ 94 $ (28) $ 138 2018 Estimated Free Cash Flow to GAAP Cash Flow Provided by Operating Activities Reconciliation (*) (Estimated) Year Ended December 31, 2018 Cash flow provided by operating activities > $1,225 Less: Purchases of property, plant, and equipment (525) - (475) Free Cash Flow > $700 (*) The Company's estimates reflect its current visibility and expectations of market factors, such as, but not limited to: currency movements, titanium dioxide prices, and end-market demand. Actual results could differ materially from the current estimates due to market factors and unknown or uncertain other factors, such as non-operating pension and other post-retirement employee benefit activity with respect to the Company's foreign pension plans, including settlements or curtailments, cost savings actions that may be taken in the future, the impact of currency movements on the Company's results, including exchange gains and losses, and the related tax effects, or the impact of new accounting pronouncements. Return on Invested Capital Reconciliation Return on Invested Capital is defined as Adjusted EBITDA, less depreciation and amortization (Adjusted EBIT), divided by the average of invested capital, which amounts to net debt, or debt less cash and cash equivalents, plus equity. Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Adjusted EBITDA (1) $ 1,605 $ 979 Less: Depreciation and amortization (1) (272) (289) Adjusted EBIT 1,333 690 Total debt 4,155 3,552 Total equity 1,002 358 Less: Cash and cash equivalents (1,434) (898) Invested capital, net $ 3,723 $ 3,012 Average invested capital (2) $ 3,327 $ 3,257 Return on Invested Capital 40.1 % 21.2 % (1) Based on amounts for the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Reconciliations of Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) attributable to Chemours are provided on a quarterly basis. See the preceding table for the reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income attributable to Chemours for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. (2) Average invested capital is based on a five-quarter trailing average of invested capital, net. SOURCE The Chemours Company Related Links http://www.chemours.com ATLANTA, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The investment fraud attorneys at The Doss Firm, LLC and O'Dell & O'Neal, Inc. said today that their investigation of Stacy Jamison and her alleged involvement in an investment fraud scheme is continuing after the filing of fraud claims against CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc., IBM Southeastern Employees Credit Union, and Stacy Jamison. Also included in this investigation is Christopher A. Parris, an alleged partner with Stacy Jamison. Former CUNA Brokerage Services customers Edward G. Ray, Jr. and Yvonne M. Ray of Marietta, Georgia filed a lawsuit in the Cobb County State Court against IBM Southeastern Employees Credit Union and Stacy Jamison, Case No. 18-A-240, as well as a FINRA arbitration against CUNA Brokerage Services, Inc., FINRA Case No. 18-00332, seeking damages in excess of $350,000 as a result of the fraudulent scheme. The complaints allege fraud, violations of the Georgia Securities Act, breach of contract, breach of duty, violations of the Georgia RICO Act, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud, negligent misrepresentation, conspiracy to defraud, aiding and abetting liability, attorneys' fees and/or punitive damages. The complaints allege that the Rays were referred by IBMSECU to meet with CUNA financial advisers to discuss how IBMSECU and CUNA could assist the Rays by transferring and consolidating their retirement assets to CUNA so that they could be better managed under a single umbrella. Mr. Ray worked for IBM for 38 years prior to his retirement in 2012. The fateful meeting occurred on November 18, 2016 at the IBMSECU bank branch in Kennesaw, Georgia, and the financial advisers who attended the meeting were Stacy Jamison and Christopher A. Parris. At the meeting at the IBMSECU branch, Jamison, a CUNA representative, and Parris convinced the Rays to transfer in excess of $300,000. The Rays' money, however, never made it to their CUNA accounts and were diverted in whole or in part to a company called United RL Capital Services, which was owned and controlled by Christopher Parris, according to public records. Jason Doss with the Doss Firm, LLC said: "Our investigation indicates that the Rays are not the only victims and that this may be a widespread fraudulent scheme spanning over multiple states." Justin O'Dell with O'Dell & O'Neal, Inc. said: "The last thing that the Rays expected was to be invited to their bank and get defrauded out of their retirement savings." Anyone who has had dealings with Stacy Jamison or Christopher Parris are welcome to contact The Doss Firm, LLC and O'Dell & O'Neal, Inc. for free case evaluations. About The Doss Firm, LLC and O'Dell & O'Neal, Inc. Jason Doss literally wrote the book on how to effectively represent investors in disputes with their advisers and firms. His book, A Practitioners Guide to Securities Arbitration (American Bar Association) is used in law schools and by practicing attorneys across the country. The attorneys at the law firm collectively have more than 40 years of experience representing aggrieved investors. The law firm often represents investors who lost money as a result of Ponzi schemes, investment fraud, or stockbroker misconduct. Justin O'Dell owns and operates a Cobb County law firm focusing primarily on litigation. Mr. O'Dell has successfully represented consumers in cases involving bank misconduct and other predatory practices. SOURCE The Doss Firm, LLC and ODell & ONeal, Inc. - Marietta, GA CLEVELAND, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovators, researchers, business and military leaders will convene at The One Ohio Series: Defense Summit on May 30-31 at Sawmill Creek Resort in Sandusky. The Summit, led by Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI), with special guest Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, will spark collaborations between Ohio's aerospace and defense assets and the Department of Defense (DoD) to grow Ohio's defense supply share and create aerospace and defense jobs. Highlights include presentations from Ohio's Congressional delegation, DoD representatives, Tier One Suppliers, Office of the Undersecretary of Defense, NASA, Ohio Federal Research Network and others. The Summit will include networking with defense experts, showcase strengths of Ohio industry and academia, highlight resources available to businesses and address evolving DoD needs. "OAI is proud to support this Summit, with Congresswoman Kaptur, in partnership with many other Ohio organizations," said Jeff Rolf, OAI President/CEO. "Ohio industries and universities have incredible capabilities and we look forward to showcasing those to the Department of Defense." Congresswoman Kaptur, longest-serving woman in U.S. House of Representatives history and member of the Defense Appropriations Committee, will offer insight on increasing Ohio jobs through expanding the share of goods and services provided to the DoD. "There is no doubt that Ohio can and should contribute more to help meet America's defense needs. The fiscal year 2018 and 2019 Defense budgets focus the Pentagon on a mission of restoring readiness, which will require innovative and creative research and technology development. There are dozens of leading-edge groups throughout Ohio, and it is my pleasure to help bring Members of Congress, experts, researchers, and businesses together to highlight Ohio's talent and help create opportunity at the Department of Defense for Ohio's aerospace, health, and defense industries," said Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur. Attendees will join Air Force Research Laboratory, Cleveland Clinic, Navy, Ohio National Guard, General Electric, Boeing, Parker, and other innovators in dialogue regarding all Ohio offers to our national defense. Standard registration is $170 ($95 for military/federal government personnel). For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Mary Roberts at [email protected]. About OAI OAI enhances its partners' aerospace competitiveness through research and technology development, workforce preparedness, and engagement with global networks for innovation and advocacy. Please visit www.oai.org. SOURCE Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) Related Links http://www.oai.org ALLENDALE, N.J., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the hugely successful inaugural year of international Destination Series travel photography workshops in India and Myanmar, Leica Camera has announced the first 2018-2019 locations. Passionate and aspiring photographers will join instructor teams of renowned photographers to visit stunning locales in India, Hawaii, Colombia and Romania. The Destination Series workshops, exclusively produced once again by Momenta Workshops, are intimate, all-inclusive, customized journeys created specifically for photographers. Each itinerary is designed to allow photographers a balance of independent exploration combined with guided photographic instruction from world-class instructors, while traveling at a leisurely pace. "All-inclusive, small group, experiential learning is where the Leica Akademie excels," said Tom A. Smith, Director of the Leica Akademie, North America. "Attending a Leica Destination workshop adventure is like being invited on private assignment with a world class, professional photographer and your goal is capture beautiful, decisive moments together." These exclusive trips skip the typical tour bus approach to travel and, instead, provide luxurious four- and five-star single room accommodations, delicious local meals, and a focus on daily photographic instruction amid incredible scenery. "Each year, our team researches new countries and events for Destination attendees to explore the world's most gorgeous locations with their cameras," said Jamie Rose, COO of Momenta Group. "Last year's adventures were some of the most special workshops we have ever experienced and we expect the next series to be even more exciting." November 4-14, 2018, Destination: India, featuring internationally-known street photographer Vineet Vohra, will travel to Jodhpur, Varanasi, and Delhi during Diwali, the colorful festival of lights. This unforgettable, ten-day experience is a must for any passionate travel or street photographer. For more information about Destination: India, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_MomentaIndia18 December 11-16, 2018, Destination: Hawaii will explore Oahu and the North Shore with celebrated waterman and adventure photographer Jeff Johnson. Mixing breathtaking landscapes, surf culture and venerable local traditions, our itinerary offers the chance to see the island from an insider's perspective. For more information about Destination: Hawaii, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_MomentaHawaii18 March 1-7, 2019, Destination: Carnaval will document the vibrant pageantry and celebration of Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia with documentary photographer Nicholas Pinto. Travelers will be able to become fully immersed in the magical parades and revelry that makes this one of the top festivals in the world. For more information about Destination: Carnaval, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_MomentaCarnaval19 July 21-31, 2019, Destination: Romania featuring photographer Dotan Saguy will take you off the typical tourist path and into the history and cross-section of cultures that is Romania. From the architecture of Bucharest to rural village life celebrating Sighisoara Festival of Medieval Arts and Crafts, this trip will open your eyes to all that Romania offers. For more information about Destination: Romania, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_Romania19 Destination trips are open to all photographers, including those who do not already own a Leica. Those who don't currently own a Leica, but would like to experience shooting with the first-class photography equipment, will have the chance to use a variety of Leica cameras, free of cost, during the trip. For more information on each of the Destination trips, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaDestinations2018 About Leica Camera Passion for creating perfect pictures. Leica represents a union of craftsmanship, design and experience. It is a beautiful collision of art and engineering, and the future of form and functionality. Leica Camera is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the supreme quality and performance of cameras and lenses, and the iconic images that artists and photojournalists everywhere captured with them. For more information about Leica visit www.leicacamerausa.com, or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. SOURCE Leica Camera Related Links http://www.leicacamerausa.com SANTA CLARA, California, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Trianz, a global digital transformation consulting and technology services firm, has appointed Sheppard B. Lyngdoh as its Chief Delivery Officer. A 25-year veteran in the software solutions industry, Sheppard will be based out of Trianz' Bangalore (India) office. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/452308/PRNE_TrianzUpdated_Logo.jpg ) Sheppard brings extensive experience in successfully leading global teams, with direct P&L responsibility. An accomplished business and technology leader, his areas of expertise encompass customer facing and global delivery across the value chain including business unit management, delivery leadership, client engagement, solution and platform innovation, product development, program/account management, and operations. He is also an industry knowledge expert in the BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, consumer retail, telecom and e-commerce domains. Prior to joining Trianz, Sheppard worked for major tier 1 technology firms including TCS, Infosys and Wipro, where he has successfully managed large customer accounts with multiple engagements. The scope of these engagements has covered application development, maintenance and support, infrastructure management services, business process operations and management in managed services delivery, testing, transition strategy and execution, portfolio rationalization, and consulting with various pricing models for clients across U.S., Canada, UK and mainland Europe. Sheppard is a Computer Science Engineering graduate from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras (India), and has earned his PG Diploma in Management (Systems and Finance) from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Calcutta (India). Speaking on the development, Ganeshan Venkateshwaran, Head - Global Technology Services at Trianz, said, "We are very happy to welcome Sheppard to the Trianz family as our Chief Delivery Officer. With him on board, we are certain Trianz' Digital Evolution-facilitating expertise will gain an unprecedented edge - both in terms of technology enablement, as well as competitive agile business transformations." About Trianz Trianz simplifies digital evolutions through effective strategies and excellence in execution. Collaborating with business and technology leaders, we help formulate and execute operational strategies to achieve intended business outcomes by bringing the best of consulting, technology experiences and execution models. Powered by knowledge, research, and perspectives, we enable clients to transition to a digital enterprise by leveraging Cloud, Analytics, Digital, Infrastructure and Security paradigms. With offices in Silicon Valley, Washington DC Metro, Rosemont, Chicago, Austin, Boston, Denver, Irvine, Raleigh, San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Dubai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, we serve Fortune 1000 and emerging organizations across industries globally. For more information, visit http://www.trianz.com. Trianz Media Team [email protected] +1-408-387-5800 SOURCE Trianz PHOENIX, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Hopi Tribe and United Mine Workers of America today demanded that the Central Arizona Project (CAP) Board begin negotiations on a power agreement with investors that are evaluating an ownership position in the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) to operate the plant long-term. The delegation led by Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma and United Mine Workers Local 1924 President Marie Justice asked the CAP Board to support the ownership transition by coming to the table to talk with potential NGS investors who indicate they believe they can meet all of CAP's power needs as the most cost-competitive and reliable provider of power. The request was amplified by nearly 5,500 petitions the coalition presented to the board from Arizona residents who are asking the board to honor its obligation to take long-term power from NGS and fulfill its obligation to the tribes and taxpayers. "The Hopi agreed to offer our natural resources to the Navajo Generating Station and the Central Arizona Project for the prosperity of Arizona based on assurances that we would receive sustaining revenues for the useful life of the mine and power plant over 70 years," said Hopi Chairman Timothy Nuvangyaoma. "Once again we are asking the CAP board to set aside proposals to purchase non-NGS power and come to the table in good faith. At risk are 85 percent of the Hopi's annual revenues and 350 Hopi tribal jobs that support essential school, police, health care and veteran services across our villages." "There is tremendous momentum toward new ownership that will protect thousands of jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in annual economic benefits and keep families together on tribal lands," said Justice. "Why would the board authorize an action that it knows will devastate Navajo and Hopi economies when new investors have stepped up to deliver low-cost power? Hundreds of thousands of Navajo and Hopi people and thousands of tribal workers will be put in jeopardy if CAP walks away." Enormous progress has been made in the past 30 days to transition the plant to new owners. Key progress points include: A new potential owner has been identified and confirms it can provide CAP's power at or below the lowest cost prices cited in the CAP's recent power solicitation; Arizona Governor Ducey signed legislation exempting NGS fuel from the state sales tax, contributing to the plant's competitive profile; Governor Ducey signed legislation exempting NGS fuel from the state sales tax, contributing to the plant's competitive profile; Resources are being dedicated to assist potential investors with negotiations on agreements involving key stakeholders; Congressman Gosar hosted a hearing in Washington D.C. , demonstrating Congressional support for continued operation of the plant; and , demonstrating Congressional support for continued operation of the plant; and The U.S. Department of the Interior indicates it will maintain its ownership position in the plant. NGS was commissioned to run 70 years through 2044 and adds reliability and resilience to the electric grid at a time when natural gas prices are fluctuating. Premature shut down of NGS would spark higher power prices, electric reliability concerns and higher water rates, according to several studies. If the plant shuts down prematurely, at risk are: 1,200 direct mine, power plant and Hopi jobs along with thousands of support jobs; More than 85 percent of the Hopi's annual general fund budget; and About 22 percent of the Navajo's annual general fund budget. "Yes to NGS" is a broad coalition of industry, labor and consumer groups representing more than 100,000 U.S. businesses and organizations. Visit Yes to NGS.org, Yes to NGS on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter @YestoNGS to learn more. SOURCE Yes to NGS Coalition Related Links http://yestongs.org Initial metallurgical and geometallurgical work on in-pit and below-pit samples concluded that cobalt is found primarily within three mineral species: cobaltiferous pyrite, cobaltite, and carrollite. A majority (+80%) of the cobalt is found in pyrite which preferentially reports to the copper tails. Further test work will be forthcoming on producing a cobaltiferous pyrite concentrate. At a 100ppm cutoff, cobalt assays range from 0.01% to 0.04% Co and includes intervals such as: 18.44m of 0.35% Co (RC-34), 36.85m of 0.1% Co (RC11-0187), and 6.79m of 0.42% Co (RC11-0184). of 0.35% Co (RC-34), of 0.1% Co (RC11-0187), and of 0.42% Co (RC11-0184). Geometallurgical and metallurgical studies are ongoing to better understand mineralogic distribution and metallurgical response. Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President and CEO of Trilogy Metals commented, "It has become imperative that the United States secure its own sources of critical minerals. We have known that cobalt occurs with copper mineralization at Bornite for some time. With the completion of our metallurgical work related to copper, we decided to put forth further effort to understand how the cobalt was distributed. Now that we have established from our initial test work that ~80% to 90% of the cobalt reports to the copper tails as cobaltiferous pyrite, we will complete flotation test work to concentrate cobalt into a pyrite-rich flotation product that can be considered for further upgrading and recovery of cobalt metal at the Bornite site." Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse continued, "With the market interest in finding significant cobalt sources outside of the Congo where child labor and worker exploitation have been highlighted by Amnesty International and others as problematic for the Auto and Electric Battery Industries, defining a large, North American cobalt resource has become a priority for the Company. With cobalt currently trading over $40 per pound, we believe the cobalt potential at Bornite could be significant and is worth pursuing. We look forward to reporting a maiden cobalt resource next quarter now that our QAQC work has been completed." Cobalt was recently identified by the United States of America as 1 of 35 critical mineral commodities. On February 16, 2018, U.S. Department of the Interior issued a notice presenting a draft list of 35 mineral commodities deemed critical pursuant to Executive Order 13817 issued on December 20, 2017, "A Federal Strategy To Ensure Secure and Reliable Supplies of Critical Minerals". See the notice, which contains the draft list of critical mineral commodities on the Federal Register at the following link: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2018/02/16/2018-03219/draft-list-of-critical-minerals). A "critical mineral" as defined by the Executive Order is a mineral identified to be (i) a non-fuel mineral or mineral material essential to the economic and national security of the United States, (ii) the supply chain of which is vulnerable to disruption, and (iii) that serves an essential function in the manufacturing of a product, the absence of which would have significant consequences for the U.S. economy or national security. The notice states: "These commodities merit considerations in furthering the policy of the Federal Government to reduce the Nation's vulnerability for the security and prosperity of the United States". The critical minerals list was developed with input and information from the U.S. Geological Survey ("USGS"), the Department of Defense and other U.S. Government agencies. Trilogy Metals is also entering into a Technical Assistance Agreement with the USGS to research the distribution of critical elements in the carbonate-hosted Bornite copper deposit, particularly Germanium (Ge), Rhenium (Re), Gallium(Ga), and Cobalt (Co), which enables the USGS to assess the potential for the United States' critical mineral resources. The draft list of critical minerals specifically identifies cobalt as a critical metal because of its use in rechargeable batteries such as in electric vehicles and to harden steel in jet engines and other high-tech applications. Based on the U.S. Department of the Interior's and the USGS's publication titled "Mineral Commodity Summaries 2018", the Democratic Republic of the Congo continues to be the world's leading source of mined cobalt, with 58% of cobalt production in 2017 coming from the Congo an unreliable source because of significant political unrest. China was the world's leading consumer of cobalt, with nearly 80% of its consumption being used by the rechargeable battery industry. The report continues that "Growth in world refined cobalt supply was forecast to increase at a lower rate than that of world cobalt consumption, which was driven mainly by strong growth in the rechargeable battery and aerospace industries". Bornite Project As previously announced by the Company on April 19, 2016, a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate was filed for the Bornite deposit. At a base case 0.5% copper cutoff grade, the Bornite Project is estimated to contain in-pit Indicated Resources of 40.5 million tonnes at 1.02% Cu and Inferred Resources of 84.1 million tonnes at 0.95% copper. At a base case 1.5% copper cutoff grade, the Bornite Project is estimated to contain below-pit Inferred Resources of 57.8 million tonnes at 2.89% copper. Preliminary work shows that although cobalt is broadly associated with copper mineralization, cobalt does not have a one-to-one correlation. It mostly occurs as a cloud of cobaltiferous pyrite in and around the copper mineralization. Cobalt composites using a 100ppm cut-off grade include 6.79m of 0.42% Co in drill hole RC11-0184 and 18.44m of 0.35% Co in drill hole RC-34 within the in-pit resource area (see Table 1). Cobalt composites from the below pit resource area include 36.85m of 0.1% Co from drill hole RC11-0185 and 21.23m of 0.23% Co from drill hole RC12-0198 (see Table 2). We will continue to work on understanding the controls of the higher grade cobalt zones. Figure 1 highlights the locations of these cobalt intercepts. All of the ranges of potential quantity and grade contained in this news release are conceptual in nature. There has been insufficient exploration to define a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the target being delineated as a mineral resource. ________________________________________ See "Amended and Restated NI43-101 Technical Report on the Bornite Project, Northwest Alaska, USA" with an effective date of April 19, 2016 and a release date of October 12, 2017 available on the Company's website and under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. Table 1: Co Intercepts Within Pit Drill hole From (m) To (m) Length (m) Co% Cu% RC11-0184 327.43 334.22 6.79 0.42 28.98 RC-34 292 310.44 18.44 0.35 26.81 RC11-0185 182.88 191.84 8.96 0.09 3.32 RC13-0219 442.5 468.48 25.98 0.06 1.82 RC11-0182 212.01 230.9 18.89 0.19 3.433 Table 2: Co Intercepts Below Pit Drill hole From (m) To (m) Length (m) Co% Cu% RC11-0187 458.79 495.64 36.85 0.10 12.07 RC12-0198 631.65 652.88 21.23 0.23 3.86 RC12-0200 572.46 595.57 23.11 0.21 2.67 RC13-0213 347.45 349.27 1.82 0.38 3.36 RC13-0237 321.02 374.86 53.84 0.03 1.69 RC13-0224 653.03 721.94 68.91 0.02 2.15 QAQC Program The drill program and sampling protocol is managed by qualified persons employed by Trilogy Metals. The diamond drill holes are typically collared at HQ diameter drill core and reduced to NQ diameter during the drilling process. Samples are collected using a 0.2-meter minimum length and a 2.5-meter maximum length. Three quality control samples (one blank, one standard and one duplicate) are inserted into each batch of 20 samples. The drill core is sawn, with half sent to ALS Minerals in Fairbanks for sample preparation and the sample pulps forwarded to ALS's North Vancouver facility for analysis. ALS Minerals, North Vancouver, B.C. Canada facility is certified as ISO 9001:2008 and accredited to ISO / IEC 17025:2005 from the Standards Council of Canada. A third party has completed a QAQC review on all historic (where data was present) and recent cobalt analytical work. The analytical method for cobalt quantification is multi-element ICP with mass spectroscopy. The QAQC review shows overall very strong precision and accuracy for cobalt results for the 2011 to 2017 Bornite assay results. The cobalt mineral resource estimate is being prepared by Bruce M. Davis, FAusIMM, BD Resource Consulting, Inc., and Robert Sim, P.Geo., SIM Geological Inc. who are both independent Qualified Persons as set forth by National Instrument 43-101. Qualified Person Andrew W. West, Certified Professional Geologist, Exploration Manager for Trilogy Metals Inc., is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. West has reviewed and verified the technical information in this news release and approves the disclosure contained herein. About Trilogy Metals Trilogy Metals Inc. is a metals exploration company focused on exploring and developing the Ambler mining district located in northwestern Alaska. It is one of the richest and most-prospective known copper-dominant districts located in one of the safest geopolitical jurisdictions in the world. It hosts world-class polymetallic VMS deposits that contain copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver, and carbonate replacement deposits which have been found to host high grade copper mineralization. Exploration efforts have been focused on two deposits in the Ambler mining district - the Arctic VMS deposit and the Bornite carbonate replacement deposit. Both deposits are located within the Company's land package that spans approximately 143,000 hectares. The Company has an agreement with NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., a Regional Alaska Native Corporation that provides a framework for the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities. Our vision is to develop the Ambler mining district into a premier North American copper producer. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, including, without limitation, the future price of copper and cobalt, the estimation of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the realization of mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, the market for cobalt, the timing and amount of estimated future production, costs of production, capital expenditures, costs and timing of the development of projects, the results or prospects of testing and studies, the identification of cobalt as a critical mineral commodity, completion of test work and other research relating to the distribution of critical elements in the carbonate-hosted Bornite copper deposit, world refined cobalt supply and consumption, the potential future development of Bornite, the exploration and potential development of the Ambler mining district in cooperation with local communities and the development of the Amble mining district into a premier North American copper producer, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties; exploration plans and budgets; mineral reserves and resource estimates; work programs; capital expenditures; timelines; strategic plans; market prices for precious and base metals; or other statements that are not statements of fact. Forward-looking statements involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the uncertainties involving success of exploration, development and mining activities, permitting timelines, requirements for additional capital, government regulation of mining operations, environmental risks, unanticipated reclamation expenses; mineral reserve and resource estimates and the assumptions upon which they are based; assumptions and discount rates being appropriately applied to the PFS; our assumptions with respect to the likelihood and timing of the AMDIAP; capital estimates; prices for energy inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services the interpretation of drill results, the need for additional financing to explore and develop properties and availability of financing in the debt and capital markets; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results and geological tests and the estimation of reserves and resources; the need for cooperation of government agencies and native groups in the development and operation of properties as well as the construction of the access road; the need to obtain permits and governmental approvals; risks of construction and mining projects such as accidents, equipment breakdowns, bad weather, non-compliance with environmental and permit requirements, unanticipated variation in geological structures, metal grades or recovery rates; unexpected cost increases, which could include significant increases in estimated capital and operating costs; fluctuations in metal prices and currency exchange rates; and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 30, 2017 filed with Canadian securities regulatory authorities and with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and in other Company reports and documents filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time. The Company's forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by law. Cautionary Note to United States Investors This press release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this press release have been prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by the CIM Council, as amended ("CIM Definition Standards"). NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource" does not equate to the term "reserves". Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve" unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" or "inferred mineral resources" or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves" by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of "measured" or "indicated resources" will ever be converted into "reserves". Investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources" have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources" may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves" are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by Trilogy Metals in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves" under SEC standards. Arctic does not have known reserves, as defined under SEC Industry Guide 7. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. SOURCE Trilogy Metals Inc. Related Links www.trilogymetals.com "As the Chino Hills market continues to grow by leaps and bounds, Bristol's location ideally positions it within walking distance to an exciting array of new restaurants and retail establishments underscoring the urban walkable lifestyle that today's homebuyer desires," said Mike Maples, Co-Founder of Trumark. "We are pleased with the reception at Bristol to date and look forward to welcoming more and more new homeowners to the community." The 31-acre Bristol community is located within the bounds of the Chino Hills General Plan, a greater city effort aimed to bring new housing, retail and commercial spaces to the area. At full buildout, the neighborhood will include 42 attached townhomes and 107 detached single-family homes inclusive of two- and three-story floorplans, ranging in size from 1,814 square feet for townhomes and up to 2,945 square feet for single-family homes. Community features include a five-acre walking trail, oversized landscaped walkways and easy freeway access. Prices start in the mid $500,000s for Towns, and low $800,000s for Courts and Manors. "Our buyers range from Orange County professionals to first-time homebuyers and everyone in between," said Richard Douglass, Southern California Division President at Trumark Homes. "We look forward to welcoming more homeowners to Bristol and are proud to introduce them to the caliber of home crafted in every Trumark community." Located off Soquel Canyon Parkway in Chino Hills, Bristol lies within walking distance to restaurants and stores in the city's masterplan. On Saturday, May 12, the community will host a Home Stretch Event to welcome prospective homebuyers to tour the last offering of homes at Bristol. Featuring refreshments and delicious bites, the event will allow attendees to learn about the remaining single-family homes and townhomes, ranging from three-bedrooms to five-bedrooms and beginning in the mid-$500,000s. Bristol broke ground in August 2016 and is expected to be complete in December 2018. About Trumark Homes Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2018, Trumark Homes is a visionary, next generation homebuilder with a robust portfolio of new home neighborhoods spanning the state of California. Emphasizing distinction and innovation in every home, Trumark Homes focuses on core infill developments in locations that exhibit strong job growth and provide access to major job centers. The nationally award-winning homebuilder is part of the Trumark Group of Companies, a diversified real estate development and building firm that also includes: Trumark Communities, a residential land development platform; Trumark Commercial, which builds, leases and sells commercial buildings; and Trumark Urban, a vertically integrated residential developer focused on core urban neighborhoods. For more information, visit www.TrumarkHomes.com SOURCE Trumark Homes Related Links http://trumarkhomes.com NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- To commemorate World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO brought together major news organizations from all over the world to rise above the competitive nature of journalism and band together in support of a common cause: a free and independent press. The global campaign encourages each participating news organization to rally behind a radical idea: that news organizations should actively encourage their audience to not just engage with their platform but to read, listen and watch others as well. Based on the idea that consuming a range of news, sources, points of view and political ideologies encourages a more informed citizenry, the campaign underscores its message of support for access to information and the importance of journalistic independence with this simple phrase: Read more. Listen more. Understand more. It all starts with a free press. This effort is a collaboration between multiple organizations, major news outlets and creative agency Droga5 as a show of solidarity in support of World Press Freedom Day, an annual day on which nations, media organizations and individuals come together to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom. The day is an opportunity to raise awareness and to assess the state of press freedom throughout the world. At the main conference in Accra, Ghana, on May 2 and 3, UNESCO will also pay tribute to journalists who go above and beyond in the exercise of their profession. Publications and organizations that stand in support of this initiative include: Baltimore Sun, BBC News, Chicago Tribune, CNN, Daily Press, Financial Times, Hartford Courant, Helsingin Sanomat, IPS World News, la Repubblica, Los Angeles Times, MSNBC, National Review, NBC News, New York Daily News, New York magazine, NPR, Orlando Sentinel, Philadelphia Inquirer, Rappler, Sun Sentinel, The Atlantic, The Economist, The Guardian, The Morning Call, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and others. "We are delighted to see a broad coalition of media organizations coming together in support of World Press Freedom Day, as we strongly believe the press should be at the heart of this celebration," says Guy Berger, Director for Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO. "It's inspiring to see this common effort to promote the fundamentals of press freedom at a time when we need it most. We much appreciate Droga5's initiative to make this happen." "This campaign shows the power and promise of creativity and the role it can play in helping people understand the importance of press freedom," says David Droga, Creative Chairman and Founder at Droga5. "We are honored to have had the opportunity to partner with incredible organizations in support of this initiative." The campaign kicks off on May 3, 2018, via donated media buys in participating publications. For more information, please visit ReadMoreListenMore.com and follow #ReadMoreListenMore on Instagram and Twitter. About Droga5 Droga5 is a creative and strategic advertising agency headquartered in New York, with an office in London. Founded in 2006, Droga5's clients include Blue Apron, Chase, COVERGIRL, Danone, ESPN, Georgia-Pacific, Google, Heineken, IHOP, Johnsonville, LVMH, MailChimp, Mondelez International, The Nature's Bounty Co., The New York Times, Peroni, Prudential, Sprint, Under Armour, Unilever, and the Y, among others. Droga5 has won Agency of the Year 13 times in the last 12 years and is the only agency to be named to Advertising Age's A-List over eight consecutive years. For more information, visit droga5.com. About UNESCO UNESCO works to fosters dialogue and mutual understanding among the peoples of the world. UNESCO's actions contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 2015. As the United Nations agency with a specific mandate to promote "the free flow of ideas by word and image," UNESCO works to foster free, independent and pluralistic media in print, broadcast and online. SOURCE Droga5 and UNESCO Related Links http://www.droga5.com "Josh is a proven leader and world-class communications strategist who has thrived when the stakes are the highest - and the margin for error is the smallest. He'll play a crucial role on our leadership team as we position our brand and this company for success. I am looking forward to working closely with him to continue to expand United's global leadership," said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Airlines. "United Airlines is an iconic, global brand with a long history - but it's United's bright future that makes me enthusiastic about joining the team. Cutting through the noise of the modern media environment is a challenge, especially in the highly competitive airline industry. United's advantage will continue to be its customer-focused core values, dedicated employees and visionary leadership team. That's the story that I am excited to tell," said Earnest. Most recently, Earnest has been a political analyst for NBC News and MSNBC, making appearances on the network's leading news programs including the Today Show, Meet the Press and NBC Nightly News. Prior to that, Earnest served for eight years in the Obama White House, first as deputy press secretary before being promoted to White House Press Secretary in 2014. In 2015, Earnest was voted the "best White House press secretary I've worked with" by White House correspondents surveyed by Politico. In addition to his work in front of the cameras, Earnest played a leading role behind the scenes to develop and implement an innovative communications strategy that was paired with a fully-integrated digital media presence to drive the Administration's agenda. His two-decade career in politics has taken him from Capitol Hill to some of the largest states and most competitive races in the country, including four presidential campaigns, statewide races in Texas and Florida and Mike Bloomberg's first campaign for Mayor of New York. Earnest received his degree in political science and policy studies from Rice University. He will move to Chicago this summer with his wife, Natalie and their two children. Earnest's first day at United will be Monday, May 21. About United United Airlines and United Express operate approximately 4,500 flights a day to 338 airports across five continents. In 2017, United and United Express operated more than 1.6 million flights carrying more than 148 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates 744 mainline aircraft and the airline's United Express carriers operate 507 regional aircraft. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 191 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol "UAL". SOURCE United Airlines North Reno Creek adds further scale to an already large, fully permitted and construction-ready in-situ recovery ("ISR") project located in the United States . . North Reno Creek is situated within UEC's existing permitting boundary at Reno Creek, allowing for integrated development. Increases Reno Creek's combined Measured and Indicated resource by 20%, based upon Uranerz's previously reported NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated resource of 3.8 million tons grading 0.056% U 3 O 8 yielding 4.3 million lbs at North Reno Creek. UEC plans to engage a qualified person to compete the necessary work to incorporate the North Reno Creek resource estimate into the Company's Reno Creek Project and complete an updated technical report under NI 43-101. * ** O yielding 4.3 million lbs at North Reno Creek. UEC plans to engage a qualified person to compete the necessary work to incorporate the North Reno Creek resource estimate into the Company's Reno Creek Project and complete an updated technical report under NI 43-101. Opportunities to enhance UEC's development of Reno Creek by optimizing the mine plan to remove the effects of property boundaries that had previously separated mineralized roll-fronts on both properties. In particular, significant synergies exist in co-development at both the North Reno Creek Resource Unit and the Southwest Reno Creek Resource Unit, which are expected to be the first units developed within the project area. Further augments UEC's footprint in the strategic Powder River Basin in Wyoming , a uranium mining-friendly state with excellent infrastructure and an experienced labor force. Amir Adnani, President & CEO, stated: "We are very pleased to complete this highly synergistic acquisition integrating North Reno into our broader Reno Creek project area. This further cements our position in controlling one of the largest, fully permitted and 100% un-hedged low-cost ISR portfolios in the United States. This acquisition also comes at a time when international trade and geopolitical developments underscore the importance of domestic uranium supplies in support of American energy security." Transaction Details UEC has now provided to Energy Fuels the following material purchase price consideration at the closing of the Agreement: (a) $2,940,000 in cash; and (b) 1,625,531 common shares of UEC (each, a "Share"), at a deemed issuance price of $1.5072 per Share, representing the volume weighted average price of UEC's common shares on the NYSE American for the five trading days immediately prior to (but not including) closing. North Reno Creek ISR Project Overview The North Reno Creek ISR Project is located in the Powder River Basin, Campbell County, Wyoming, approximately 80 miles northeast of Casper. Substantial historical exploration, development and project permitting have been performed on the North Reno Creek property. Beginning in the late 1960s and continuing into the mid-1980s, Rocky Mountain Energy ("RME"), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad, drilled more than 800 exploration drill holes on the North Reno Creek property. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, RME successfully operated and restored and reclaimed a uranium ISR pilot plant. Subsequently, RME nearly completed permitting and licensing for a commercial scale ISR facility. In 1992, the Reno Creek Project was acquired by Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. ("EFN") from RME. Over the next decade EFN and its successor, International Uranium Corporation (now Denison Mines), continued to advance the project toward full permitting and licensing. Subsequently, Rio Algom and Power Resources held the project until dropping all of their interests in 2003. Between 2006 and 2008, Uranerz acquired mineral and surface land interests covering approximately 1,280 acres of fee mineral leases and federal mining claims comprising the North Reno Creek Project. In June 2015, Energy Fuels Inc. acquired Uranerz, whose development assets included the North Reno Creek property. In October 2010, Uranerz issued an NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report, Reno Creek Property, Campbell County, Wyoming, U.S.A", dated October 13, 2010 (the "Technical Report"). The Technical Report, prepared by Douglass Graves, P.E. of Trec, Inc., in accordance with NI 43-101, outlined a Measured and Indicated resource of 3.8 million tons containing 4.3 million pounds of U 3 O 8 at a grade of 0.056 percent. In addition, they reported an Inferred resource of 190,000 tons containing 142,200 pounds of U 3 O 8 at a grade of 0.039 percent. The Technical Report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.* ** The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and was reviewed by Clyde L. Yancey, P.G., Vice President-Exploration for the Company, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Advisors and Counsel Haywood Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to the Company and McMillan LLP and Holland & Hart LLP are acting as legal advisors to the Company. About Uranium Energy Corp. Uranium Energy Corp. is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company. The Company's fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility is central to all of its projects in South Texas, including the Palangana ISR mine, the permitted Goliad ISR project and the development-stage Burke Hollow ISR project. Additionally, the Company controls a pipeline of advanced-stage projects in Arizona, Colorado and Paraguay. The Company's operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. *Notice to U.S. Investors The mineral resources referred to herein have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101 and are not compliant with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") Industry Guide 7 guidelines. In addition, measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources referred to herein are economically or legally mineable. **Resource estimate Upon the closing of the transaction the Company plans to engage a qualified person to complete the necessary work in order to update and incorporate the Uranerz North Reno Creek resource estimate into the Company's Reno Creek Project and complete an updated technical report under NI 43-101 (the "Updated Report"). Until such work is completed and the Updated Report completed and filed Uranerz's prior Technical Report resource must be considered historical in nature and cannot be relied upon and should not be construed to reflect a current resource estimate in accordance with NI 43-101. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes "forward-looking statements" as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans, "estimates" or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as "forward-looking statements". Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. SOURCE Uranium Energy Corp Related Links http://www.uraniumenergy.com/ The U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance created the Sustainability Officers Council to provide food companies with access to the farmer and rancher perspective. It is critical for farmers and ranchers to have a voice in conversations with others in the supply chain about sustainability, food and agriculture. The Sustainability Officers Council allows anyone who would like to speak with a farmer or rancher about current and future sustainability practices in agriculture to easily set up a meeting through USFRA. USFRA is pleased to announce six new Sustainability Officers: Kyle Bridgeforth Alabama crop farmer crop farmer Tom Crave Wisconsin dairy farmer dairy farmer Cassidy Johnston New Mexico cattle rancher cattle rancher Nancy Kavazanjian Wisconsin crop farmer crop farmer Hilary Maricle Nebraska cattle, pig, corn and soybean farmer cattle, pig, corn and soybean farmer Leon Sheets Iowa pig, corn and soybean farmer "As former chairwoman of the U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, I look forward to serving voluntarily as one of the Sustainability Officers and highlighting how all farmers make environmental sustainability a priority," said Nancy Kavazanjian, Wisconsin crop farmer. "These farmers and ranchers serve as a great representation of today's agriculture making continuous improvement a priority by utilizing technology to enhance animal welfare and conserve our natural resources." As part of the Sustainability Officers Council, these six farmers and ranchers will participate in conversations with food companies and retailers, offering data, research and knowledge about modern agricultural practices on today's farms and ranches. In addition, the Officers will participate in USFRA's Food Dialogues panel discussions at The Sustainable Consortium (May 1-3 in Chicago, Ill.), National Restaurant Association Conference (May 19-22 in Chicago, Ill.) and Sustainable Brands (June 4-7 in Vancouver, B.C.). To provide additional resources and information for food companies, and further showcase the sustainable farming and ranching practices taking place today, USFRA created a website at straighttalk.fooddialogues.com. The website is a valuable resource which includes our Agriculture in America Sustainability Report, infographics, sustainability-focused videos and more. About U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance (USFRA) consists of more than 100 farmer and rancher led organizations and agricultural partners representing virtually all aspects of agriculture, working to engage in dialogue with consumers who have questions about how today's food is grown and raised. USFRA is committed to continuous improvement and supporting U.S. farmers and ranchers' efforts to increase confidence and trust in today's agriculture. To learn more, visit our website at www.fooddialogues.com. You can also find USFRA on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Contact: Paul Spooner, USFRA Senior Manager, Media and Communications, [email protected] or 636-449-5079. SOURCE U.S. Farmers & Ranchers Alliance Related Links http://www.fooddialogues.com LAVAL, Quebec, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE/TSX: VRX) ("Valeant") today announced that Paul S. Herendeen, executive vice president, Finance, and chief financial officer, is scheduled to participate at the Goldman Sachs Third Annual Leveraged Finance Conference in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at 2:10 p.m. PDT (5:10 p.m. EDT). A live webcast and audio archive of the event will be available on the Investor Relations page of the Valeant web site at: http://ir.valeant.com/events-and-presentations/2018. About Valeant Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. (NYSE/TSX: VRX) is a global company whose mission is to improve people's lives with our health care products. We develop, manufacture and market a range of pharmaceutical, medical device and over-the-counter products, primarily in the therapeutic areas of eye health, gastroenterology and dermatology. We are delivering on our commitments as we build an innovative company dedicated to advancing global health. More information can be found at www.valeant.com. SOURCE Valeant Pharmaceuticals International, Inc. Related Links http://www.valeant.com SAN JOSE, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectra, the leader in automating the hunt for in-progress cyberattacks, today announced that the company has been named the winner of four Gold Stevie Awards, including the Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year, in the 16th Annual American Business Awards. The American Business Awards is the premier business awards program. All organizations operating in the United States are eligible to submit nominations public and private, for-profit and non-profit, large and small. More than 3,700 nominations were submitted this year for consideration in a wide range of categories. Vectra was named the Gold winner in the following categories: Most Innovative Tech Company of the Year up to 2,500 employees New Product or Service of the Year (software) artificial intelligence/machine learning solution New Product or Service of the Year (software) network security solution Technical Innovation of the Year organizations with up to 1,000 employees "Vectra is honored to have the distinction of winning Gold Stevie Awards in multiple categories from the 2018 American Business Awards," said Vectra CEO Hitesh Sheth. "We owe our success to an immensely talented team of employees and to the hundreds of customers who continue to bet the security of their business on Vectra." The Cognito platform from Vectra enables enterprises to detect and respond to cyberattacks in real time. Cognito uses artificial intelligence (AI) to perform non-stop, automated threat hunting with always-learning behavioral models to quickly and efficiently find hidden and unknown attackers before they do damage. Cognito provides full visibility into cyberattacker behaviors from cloud and data center workloads to user and internet-of-things devices, ensuring attackers have nowhere to hide. Vectra was positioned by Gartner, Inc. in the Visionaries quadrant in its 2018 Magic Quadrant for Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems. "The nominations submitted for the 2018 American Business Awards were outstanding. The competition was intense, and those recognized as Stevie Award winners should be immensely proud of this accomplishment," said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning "crowned," the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Monday, June 11. Tickets are now on sale. More than 200 professionals worldwide participated in the judging process to select this year's winners. Additional details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2018 Stevie winners are available at www.StevieAwards.com/ABA. Gartner, Inc., Magic Quadrant for Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems, Craig Lawson, Claudio Neiva, January 10, 2018. Gartner disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Vectra Vectra is transforming cybersecurity with AI. Its Cognito platform automates cyberattack detection and empowers threat hunters from data center and cloud workloads to user and IoT devices. Cognito correlates threats, prioritizes hosts based on risk and provides rich context to empower response with existing security systems, reducing security operations workload by 32X. The company has been issued five U.S. patents with 14 additional patents pending for cybersecurity applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Vectra is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. and has European regional headquarters in Zurich. For more information, visit vectra.ai. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Sponsors of The 2018 American Business Awards include HCL America, John Hancock Financial Services and SoftPro. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. Media contact John Kreuzer Lumina Communications for Vectra [email protected] (408) 896-3307 SOURCE Vectra Related Links http://vectra.ai TORONTO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Your Digital Experience - Amplified. Veriday Inc., Canada's leading digital transformation solution provider, is honoured to have been listed as a Top 10 Portal Software Solution Provider by CIO Applications. The CIO Applications Magazine highlights enterprises who are at the forefront of tackling real world problems effectively, using portal software. CIO Applications magazine is a leading media brand, with a unique editorial focus on bringing to light the core innovations in technology. The magazine stands out due its ability to learn from technology professionals and provide a comprehensive collection of technology trends. The use of portal applications has been proven to be a necessity for any organization to function effortlessly. Providing a solution that facilitates the interaction with relevant information assets is no longer a luxury, but a must have in today's world. "Veriday provides the perfect on-ramp that helps companies move beyond the catchphrase of digital enablement, and realize tangible business outcomes out of it," says Chris Lamoureux, Chief Operating Officer at Veriday. "Liferay provides a framework to integrate with different technologies such as CRM and ERP, depending upon client requirements and their existing IT systems." "We couldn't be more excited for this recognition, which is a true testament to our Veriday team, our portal experience and our affiliation with Liferay," says Lamoureux. Veriday has worked with large enterprises in digital transformation projects from the retail, banking, and healthcare sectors. Read the full cover page feature with CIO Applications' interview with Veriday's Chief Operating Officer Chris Lamoureux. ABOUT THE COMPANY Veriday specializes in developing products and solutions that enable organizations to transform their business. The company's methods and processes transform online user experience and engagement, and increase productivity and create business efficiencies. The company is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. Connect on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and the Veriday Blog. SOURCE Veriday Inc MCLEAN, Va., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American: WYY), a leading provider of Trusted Mobility Management (TM2) specializing in Telecommunications Lifecycle Management (TLM) and Cybersecurity solutions, announced today a modification agreement with Access National Bank. Effective as of April 30, 2018, this modification agreement extends the Revolving Commercial Note dated June 15, 2017 between WidePoint and Access National Bank in the original principal amount of $5 million. Mr. Kito Mussa, Chief Financial Officer of WidePoint Corporation, said, "WidePoint is pleased to have renewed our terms and looks forward to continuing our relationship with Access National Bank." Mr. Jin Kang, President and Chief Executive Officer of WidePoint Corporation, stated, "This credit line provides WidePoint with the flexibility required to implement and achieve our plan. Thanks to Adam Nalls and the Access National Bank team for their efforts in support of WidePoint." About WidePoint WidePoint Corporation (NYSE American: WYY) is a leading provider of technology-based management solutions including telecom management, mobile management, access management and identity management. For more information, visit www.widepoint.com For More Information: Kim Rogers or Dave Fore Hayden IR (646) 419-4300 [email protected] / [email protected] SOURCE WidePoint Corporation Related Links http://www.widepoint.com BROOKFIELD, Wis., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A 20-year-old study examining how nurses are represented in the media is getting a fresh look from the George Washington University School of Nursing, thanks to support from Nurse.com by OnCourse Learning. The Woodhull Study on Nurses and the Media, which first launched in 1997, will be presented at 9 a.m. ET May 8 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The presentation is available for streaming free with unlimited viewing. "It is odd that nursing is one of the most trusted professions yet it does not receive as much attention in the media in general," said Maria Morales, MSN, RN, CPAN, OnCourse Learning's executive director for healthcare programs. "Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that as visible as nurses are in the everyday care of patients and with colleagues, there is so much that nurses do behind the scenes to help patients." About the study Nurse.com by OnCourse Learning provided financial support for the study. Some other organizations who provided support were the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Sigma Theta Tau International, the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. The original study was replicated by the Center for Health Policy and Media Engagement at George Washington University's School of Nursing to gauge progress over the past 20 years. Journalists also were interviewed about using nurses as sources. The revamped study also included an analysis of Twitter usage by the top 50 schools of nursing across the country. The original study was a project launched by the late Nancy Woodhull, a founding editor at USA Today, and it was modeled after other media studies Woodhull had conducted. To sign up for the online presentation, visit the GW School of Nursing signup page. Nurse.com is the largest digital resource dedicated to registered nurses, providing news, employment opportunities, and continuing education programming through the publication and its complementary digital products including website, blogs, e-books and social media outlets. To learn more, visit Nurse.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For media inquiries, contact: Barry Bottino, Communications Director 847-908-8007 [email protected] About OnCourse Learning OnCourse Learning delivers licensure, regulatory and compliance education solutions throughout the nation's leading industries including financial services, healthcare and real estate. Through trusted industry expertise, compliance management and technology solutions, OnCourse Learning focuses on advancing the e-learning environment for individuals and businesses to help to build new careers, empower employees through knowledge and identify efficiencies in corporate training management. OnCourse Learning offers a full suite of educational products including state and federally approved prelicensing and continuing education programs, accredited course content, exam prep tools, publications, e-books, events and a sophisticated and customizable learning management system and course-authoring tool. To learn more, visit OnCourseLearning.com. SOURCE OnCourse Learning Related Links https://www.oncourselearning.com On May 8th 2012, the 62th World Smile Day, Hello Smile 1.0, China's first smile-drifting book officially started its happy journey from Shenyang to every corner of the world, and left its footprints in dozens of countries and regions, evoking strong resonance among millions of people. A series of books like Hello Smile and Smile Travel Journal have been published one by one, and Shenyang Broadcasting and Television Station has traced the whole process. The themes of Smiling Shenyang have varied over the past six years: 2012 -- The smiles setting sail from Shenyang; 2013 -- Smiling Shenyang welcoming National Games; 2014 -- Loving Smiling Shenyang; 2015 -- Connecting the world with smiles; 2016 -- See the smiles, city smiles; 2017 -- Smiles, the power of change. All these themes of the past 6 years share the same idea, the power of smiles. E-mail: [email protected] Image Attachments Links: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=311134 http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=311478 SOURCE Shenyang Broadcasting and Television Station NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Zola, the fastest growing wedding company in the U.S., announced a $100 million Series D financing. This round was led by existing investor Comcast Ventures, as well as adding new investors NBCUniversal and Goldman Sachs Investment Partners. Total investment now stands at over $140 million, which positions Zola to continue to invest in its products and accelerate its momentum as a digital leader in the $100 billion U.S. wedding industry. This funding comes at a time of explosive growth and rapid expansion for Zola. Over the past year, Zola has doubled its employee headcount, added over 300 brands to its online store of registry gifts, and expanded its product offering to reach couples at every stage of their wedding planning journey. In April 2017, Zola launched a free suite of wedding planning tools including beautiful wedding websites, a customizable checklist and a guest-list manager, all designed to make wedding planning easier and more integrated for couples and their guests. "Our vision at Zola is to make it as easy as possible for couples to plan their big day and enjoy newlywed life. We started by reinventing wedding registries, and now we are redefining wedding planning by combining innovative design, technology, and world class customer service," said Shan-Lyn Ma, CEO and Co-Founder of Zola. "Our next generation e-commerce model has given us the opportunity to serve couples during the most memorable years of their lives. We are now the go-to wedding company for millennials, and we are assembling the best possible team to create products that meet the needs of every couple." Zola will leverage this funding to invest further in cross-device product development and its proprietary platform technology. The company will continue to innovate on existing wedding planning and registry tools in order to serve couples from the day they get engaged through their newlywed life. "There is no other wedding company today that captures the attention of engaged millennial couples like Zola does," said Sam Landman, managing director of Comcast Ventures. "We're impressed by the company's fast growth, capital-efficient business model, and strong leadership team and are thrilled to be investing in Zola in a much bigger way." "NBCUniversal is excited to co-invest with Comcast Ventures to provide Zola with both financial and strategic support," said Maggie Suniewick, President of NBCUniversal Digital Enterprises. "We are committed to working with Zola to find both promotional and commercial partnership opportunities across the NBCU portfolio that drive mutual value and accelerate growth." This round saw participation from existing investors including Lightspeed Venture Partners, Canvas Ventures, Thrive Capital, BBG Ventures and Female Founders Fund. Several new investors also joined this round of funding including Goldman Sachs Investment Partners, Balyasny Asset Management, Founders Circle, GingerBread Capital and Jerry Yang of AME Cloud Ventures. "Zola has taken a novel approach to delivering a '10 out of 10' experience to their customers and suppliers in an industry ripe for innovation, making it exactly the kind of company that we look to partner with," said Ian Friedman, Co-head of Goldman Sachs Investment Partners venture capital & growth equity team. "We are excited to help further its position as the leading force driving change in the $100 billion wedding industry." About Zola We're Zola, the wedding company that will do anything for love. We're reinventing the wedding planning and registry experience to make the happiest moment in our couples' lives even happier. From engagement to wedding and decorating your first home, Zola is there, combining compassionate customer service with modern tools and technology. All in the service of love. For more information about Zola, please visit www.zola.com or follow @Zola on Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook. Media Contact: Emily Forrest Skurnik [email protected] SOURCE Zola Related Links https://www.zola.com/wedding-registry Bonava is selling a rental project in Lielahti in Tampere. The buyer is the investor LocalTapiola Real Estate Ltd and the transaction encompasses 106 rental apartments. The project is estimated to be handed over to the customer and recognised in profit in the third quarter of 2019. There are alrea... [] EXPERT OBSERVATION The latest annual taxation data shows that state and local government coffers were boosted by $52.5 billion in 2016-17 due to taxes on property. Each year, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) releases taxation statistics and the latest data for 2016-17 was released recently. Over the 2016-17 financial year, state and local governments collected $52.5 billion in taxes from property with the figure climbing by 5.9% over the year. The taxation take from property is now more than double what it was in 2005-06. Property taxes accounted for an historic high 52.8% of all tax revenue for state and local governments, up from 51.9% over the previous year. Click here to enlarge. Property taxes are broken down into two broad types, taxes on immovable property and taxes on financial and capital transactions. Taxes on immovable property include: land tax, municipal rates and other smaller taxes. Taxes on financial and capital transactions include predominately stamp duties as well as a few other smaller taxes. Taxes on immovable property were recorded at $29.185 billion over the year with the remaining $23.338 billion being taxes on financial and capital transactions. Over the year, taxes on immovable property increased by 7.9% while taxes on financial and capital transactions increased by 3.6%. The table highlights the value of taxation revenue between 2006-07 and 2016-17 across each state and territory for land tax, municipal rates and stamp duty, which are the three largest sources of taxation revenue at the state and local government level. Probably the most notable change over the period has been the uplift in revenue, particularly from stamp duty, in NSW and Vic which reflects the strength of these housing markets over the past decade relative to other states and territories. Between 2006-07 and 2016-17, stamp duty revenue in NSW has increased by 115% and it has increased by 114% in Vic. Revenue from land taxes have doubled over the period in Vic (153%), Qld (123%) and WA (125%) while revenue from municipal rates has doubled over the period in WA (125%) and ACT (184%). In NSW, stamp duty revenue accounted for 49.1% of all property tax revenue in 2016-17 up from a recent low of 32.3% in 2008-09. It is a similar story in Vic where stamp duty revenue accounted for 42.6% of property tax revenue, up from a recent low of 36.5% in 2012-13. The cyclical nature of housing market transactions makes stamp duty a volatile source of revenue for state governments. Another way to look at this is in WA where the housing market has been weak for a number of years, stamp duty revenue accounted for just 28.5% of all property related tax revenue in 2016-17 down from a peak of 54.5% in 2007-08. Click here to enlarge. From here, we are now seeing the combined effect of dwelling values and transaction numbers falling in Sydney and Melbourne along with a number of regional areas of NSW. Both the NSW and Vic governments have benefitted substantially from stamp duty revenue over recent years and it now appears set to fall over the coming years as the housing market weakens after a number of years of surging values. With a volatile source of taxation revenue such as stamp duty that taxes the small proportion of individuals that transact property each year, moving away from a transactional tax to a tax on all physical properties seems to make a lot of sense. Especially considering transaction volumes remain well below their peak and stamp duty revenue growth is largely being driven by higher values rather than a greater number of transactions. Of course the transition to a broad based land tax will be difficult and recent owners may have to be compensated however, a more guaranteed source of revenue for state and territory governments means that they can much better plan for the future rather than being reliant on dwelling values and transactions remaining high in order to boost revenue. Over the second half of 2017 and into 2018 we have seen residential housing markets weaken with values and transactions falling, particularly in NSW and Vic. As a result we would expect over the current financial year that stamp duty revenue will fall and as a result so will total property taxation revenue. In London, there is Soho; in New York, Chelsea and Greenwich Village; and in San Francisco, there is the Castro. In Sydney, there is Darlinghurst and, more specifically, Oxford Street. These are neighbourhoods of large cities that have, since at least the 1950s and often earlier, developed a reputation as queer spaces. In more recent years, those reputations have begun to fade and the enduring meanings of the gaybourhood have come into question. But what each of these places represents is the centrality of urban space to the emergence of visible, out and proud lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer identities and communities. Queer Sydney in the Golden Mile era The peak years of Oxford Streets queer life extended from the mid-1970s until the mid-1990s. In the years after the second world war, many gay men in Sydney socialised in CBD hotels, including the Hotel Australia. Author provided The first LGBTQ clubs on Oxford Street were Ivys Birdcage and Capriccios, which both opened in 1969. By the beginning of the 1980s, Oxford Street was home to a string of bars, clubs, saunas and cafes and had become known as Sydneys gay Golden Mile. The emergence of this gay heartland represents extraordinary social change. Male homosexuality remained illegal in New South Wales until 1984. The homosexual men socialising in 1950s CBD hotels were required to do so with discretion the consequences of discovery could be devastating. In contrast, the queerness of a venue like Capriccios was defiantly visible and undeniable. As more venues were opened along the Golden Mile, the street itself became a gay space, as did the surrounding neighbourhoods where LGBTQ people particularly gay men made homes in the terraces and apartments of Darlinghurst and Paddington. A simple walk along the street became an act of participation in an emerging community. Sydney Pride History Group, Author provided Members of a marginalised social group were thus using urban space to resist oppression and build a community. For some, this produced a kind of utopia. In an interview with Sydneys Pride History Group, DJ Stephen Allkins described his first visit to the Oxford Street disco Patchs as a teenager in 1976. He remembers: I was home. That was it. It was the most fabulous place Id ever been in my life Its full of gay people and theyre all dressed to the nines. Theyre not hiding under a rock Theyre expressing and happy. Finding a place in the queer community But these feelings of joy at having found such a space can be complicated by a range of factors. The gay community was certainly not free from sexism, racism and transphobia, meaning that some within the LGBTQ community were granted far easier access to these spaces than others. Indeed, although Golden Mile-era Oxford Street included venues popular with lesbians, including the women-only bar Ruby Reds, the surrounding neighbourhood was more identifiably gay than lesbian. Sydney Pride History Group, Author provided Katy O'Rourke recalls her first visit in the 1970s to queer venue Chez Ivy in Bondi Junction. Inner-west suburbs including Leichhardt and Petersham were far more significant urban spaces in the lives of many queer women. Lesbian share-houses in these neighbourhoods became central sites of feminist politics, activism, sex and romance. Penny Gulliver, a resident of legendary 1970s share-house Crystal Street, has remembered that women who were just coming out, because there was nothing like a counselling service then, theyd come to Crystal Street. Into the new millennium, Oxford Streets place as the gay heart of Sydney became less certain. As LGBTQ businesses failed and venues closed, questions emerged as to whether a community now more a part of the mainstream still needed its own spaces. Pride History Group, Author provided Angela Crimmon talks about the ongoing importance of queer spaces in Sydneys west. For a time, King Street in Newtown dominated as a queer alternative. In 1983 gay publican Barry Cecchini took over the Milton Hotel on Newtowns King Street, renamed it Cecchinis and launched it as the areas first gay venue. Shortly after, the Newtown Hotel, just across the road, also became a gay pub. Cecchini told the Sydney Morning Herald in 1984 that gays were leaving the scene of Oxford Street looking for a more cosmopolitan mix in Newtown. Through the following decades, venues including The Imperial in Erskineville (made famous as the site from which three drag queens launched their adventures in a bus named Priscilla) and the Sly Fox in Enmore, home to a popular lesbian night, further developed the areas queer reputation. Protecting queer space In recent years, however, a range of factors, including changes to licensing laws, have produced significant challenges for queer socialising in that neighbourhood. Newtown sits outside the zone of the so-called lockout laws. Late-night partiers who might once have ventured to Kings Cross are instead heading to pubs along King Street, and reports of anti-LGBTQ abuse and violence have increased. In response, a campaign called Keep Newtown Weird and Safe has attempted to maintain the queer meanings of this urban space. Despite changes in Oxford and King streets, efforts to keep Newtown weird highlight the continued value of urban space to LGBTQ communities. Indeed, among a younger generation, new forms of queer identity continue to inspire the search for spaces in which to celebrate difference. In pockets of the inner west, for example, young queer, transgender and genderqueer people are creating spaces of activism, partying, performance and everyday life. This new generation is exploring the fresh possibilities of queer identity and developing their community. Access to urban space remains central to this. Like the city itself, the LGBTQ community continues to be less a fixed entity than a process of movement, adaptation and change. Scott McKinnon, Vice-Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of Wollongong This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Posted by Mark Williams | May 3, 2018 For the ninth year, Ram is partnering with Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ken., for the 144th running of the Kentucky Derby providing support vehicles and a full Ram-brand experience for racegoers. To commemorate the occasion, Ram is introducing an all-new 2019 Ram 1500 Kentucky Derby Edition pickup truck complete with a unique Run for the Roses bed decal at the storied horse race. The new special edition, based on the Limited trim, marks the first time that a body-colored appearance trim will be available for the newly redesigned 2019 Ram 1500. The pickup displayed during Saturday's race will be Ivory White Tri Coat, but the Derby edition also will be available in Delmonico Red, Diamond Black Crystal, Granite Crystal, Max Steel or Patriot Blue. Although limited to crew-cab 4x4 configuration with a short bed, the special edition will be offered with a choice of 4x2 or 4x4 drivelines. Pricing will start at $57,325, including $1,645 destination charge. The production run will be limited to 2,000 units. Kicking off the Kentucky Oaks race Friday will be the Kentucky Oaks Survivors Parade. A pink-wrapped Ram 3500 Limited dually will lead the parade of 144 breast and ovarian cancer survivors. Ram ProMaster vans will be used to deliver winners' garlands for each race. Manufacturer images One of Brisbane's top luxury car dealers Greg Willims, who heads up Willims Motor Group, sold his redundant Ascot home for $2.1 million last week. Having traded up to an opulent nine bedroom home nearby in 2015 when he spent $6 million with wife Susanne, Willims listed the home with mid $2 million hopes. It was on and off the market through various agents before being sold by Milan Markanovic at Tom Offermann Real Estate. Completed in 2002, the five bedroom home on 518 square metres comes with a private master suite on the ground floor. A swimming pool with water feature is accompanied by an outdoor entertaining area. Willims, who deals cars from Bentley's to Lamborghini's, struck a deal to offload most of his empire to Sydney-based Autosports Group. This article first appeared in The Weekend Australian. If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. The fourth annual North Texas Teen Book Festival took place on April 21 at the Irving Convention Center in Irving, Tex. Winner of the ALAs 2017 John Cotton Dana Award for outstanding library programming, the event featured more than 75 authors who spoke on panels, signed books, and met with teen readers. More than 13,000 fans braved the rain for this years NTTBF, which included publisher-sponsored booths and events, a presentation by middle grade author Dav Pilkey, and a closing keynote by YA authors Cassandra Clare and Angie Thomas. In conjunction with the festival, Ed Day @ NTTBF was hosted by Sam Houston State Universitys Library Science Department and the SHSU College of Education on April 20. The series brought together more than 700 educators for a professional development day, which featured panels and discussions with a number of authors. Weve gathered a selection of highlights from the festival and Ed Day events. Photos by Christy Archibald at Christy Archibald Photography and Joon Koo at SJKoo Photography. #1000BlackGirlBooks founder Marley Dias (center) shared life advice during the Girl Bosses session, with fellow panelists (from l.) Becky Albertalli, Ally Carter, Justina Ireland, and Jennifer Mathieu. A young reader snagged a copy of Leigh Bardugos Wonder Woman: Warbringer. We Need Diverse Books co-founder Dhonielle Clayton addressed an audience of more than 700 teachers and librarians about the organizations mission, during NTTBFs Educator Day. 2017 National Book Award winner Robin Benway (Far from the Tree) spoke with a fan. SHSU library science professor Dr. Karin Perry (far l.) moderated the Stories of the Heart panel, featuring authors (from l.) Arvin Ahmadi, Mary K. Choi, Gayle Forman, Morgan Matson, Jennifer E. Smith, and Siobhan Vivian. Penguin Teen got in the regal spirit for Rachel Hawkinss new novel, Royals. NTTBF attendees had an exclusive opportunity to purchase the book before publication. Authors Malinda Lo (l.) and Julie Murphy discussed the importance of LGBTQ+ representation during the Ed Day in Conversation series. Books, books, and more books! Fans lined up to purchase titles provided by Barnes and Noble. Captain Underpants and Dog Man creator Dav Pilkey signed and drew a picture for a fan. (From l.): Authors Nicole Castroman, Melissa Albert, Emily X.R. Pan, and Ashley Woodfolk discussed their craft during the New Kids on the Block panel. YA stretches the imagination. Authors Cassandra Clare (l.) and Angie Thomas discussed YA storytelling, the importance of writing groups, and more during their closing keynote. The 2018 Christian Book Awards, which recognize excellence in Christian book and Bible publishing, were presented by the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA) in Washington, D.C. on May 1. The ECPAs top award the Book of the Yearwent to Sarah Youngs 365-day devotional, Jesus Always (Thomas Nelson). The book, which features personal reflections and words from scripture, broke records at HarperCollins Christian Publishing with an initial print run of one million copies, and it sold over one million copies within a year of its 2016 release, according to the publisher. Frequently ranked among PWs Religion Nonfiction Bestsellers, Jesus Always is a follow-up to Youngs previous 365-day devotional, Jesus Calling (Thomas Nelson). The 2004 title has sold over 25 million copies worldwide since its publication, according to the publisher. Young has written a handful of other titles since then, but during an interview with PW in 2016, the reclusive author said Jesus Always was written in response to her readers. My books tend to speak to different people in different ways, said Young. My other books have been well received, but people have been clamoring for another 365-day devotional. Finally I can offer them that. Other 2018 Christian Book Award winners include the Kenneth N. Taylor Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, John and Elizabeth Sherrill, authors of over 30 books on Christianity and the founders of Chosen Books Publishing, now a division of the Baker Publishing Group. Following a tie, the award in the Christian Living category went to both Brett McCracken, author of Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community (Crossway), and Mark Batterson, author of Whisper: How to Hear the Voice of God (Multnomah). For a complete list of the winners, click here. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. ZeroUI and its smart interaction robotic kit Ziro received top honors at the recent TiE50 Silicon Valley awards program that named just 50 companies as most innovative tech startups from a pool of more than 7,000 nominees from 28 countries. ZeroUI is recognized for making robotics widely accessible through its plug and play IoT robots and smart interactions. Ziro hand-controlled robotic kit, which allows for free-form robotic construction using wireless motor modules, was recognized at the event as next-generation, interactive educational tech products. A video about the technology can be viewed here. The technology was researched and developed at Purdue University by Karthik Ramani, the Donald W. Feddersen Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Ramani is a fellow in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and has published in numerous venues, including the ACM Computer and Human Interaction, ACM Interaction Design for Children, ASME Journal of Mechanical Design and the User Interfaces and Software Technology. The Ziro kit allows users to build and create free-form robotics construction and operate the robot using gestures with their hands when wearing a glove that comes with the kit, Ramani said. We have basically made something that is complicated and made it easy and fun. As a result we hope to engage more kids in engineering and other STEM fields. Ramani serves as chief science officer and co-founder of ZeroUI, with Raja Jasti, who also serves as CEO of the company. TiE50 is a highly competitive technology showcase, and we are very humbled by the recognition that ZeroUI and the whole team have received for the technology, Jasti said. I am proud of the teams hard work to move Ziro and our other technologies to the public. TiE50 judges are composed of a panel of experts in the entrepreneurial arena. Criteria for winning is based on a nominees intellectual property and potential for strong growth. An awards ceremony will be held Friday (May 4) at TiE Inflect 2018, the worlds largest conference for tech entrepreneurs, at the Santa Clara (California) Convention Center. The Ziro technology was previously called one of the "Best Gadgets of CES 2016" when it made its debut at the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show. ZeroUI licensed the technology through the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. The company has offices in West Lafayette, Indiana and San Jose, California. About TiE50 TiE50 is TiE Silicon Valley's premier annual awards program competitively contested by thousands of early-stage technology startups worldwide. Awards are announced at TiE Inflect hosted by TiE Silicon Valley, one of the worlds largest ecosystems for technology professionals, entrepreneurs, tech influencers, domain experts, enterprise executives, venture capitalists, and educators. TiE Silicon Valleys network operates out of 61 cities in 18 countries, impacting more than half a million techies. We currently track more than 180,000 technology startups, directly engage with 11,000-plus innovative tech startups globally, and bring together more than 3,000 influencers to support our initiatives. We are the only organization of its kind with a compelling 25-year history of promoting technology entrepreneurship. Follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. About Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization The Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization operates one of the most comprehensive technology transfer programs among leading research universities in the U.S. Services provided by this office support the economic development initiatives of Purdue University and benefit the university's academic activities. The office is managed by the Purdue Research Foundation, which received the 2016 Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Award for Innovation from the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. For more information about funding and investment opportunities in startups based on a Purdue innovation, contact the Purdue Foundry at foundry@prf.org. For more information on licensing a Purdue innovation, contact the Office of Technology Commercialization at innovation@prf.org. Writer: Cynthia Sequin, 765-588-3340, casequin@prf.org Sources: Karthik Ramani, 765-494-5725, ramani@purdue.edu Raja Jasti, raja@zeroui.com According to Kantar IBOPE Media ratings published by Sony, Canal Sonys prime time audience in Mexico increased by 25% among 18-49 during the first quarter of 2018, driving the network to become the countrys fifth most-watched non-kids pay-TV channel. Canal Sonys viewers also increased in Colombia by 13% (becoming the eight most-watched pay-TV network in the country) and by 10% in Argentina within the same demographic.AXN has also managed to increase its viewership figures among its target audience, people 18-49 with a medium-high purchasing power. In Argentina, it saw a 19% increase within the demographic, a 17% in Mexico and a 16% in Colombia.According to Sony Pictures Television, growth was boosted by local content, especially in the case of Canal Sony, which broadcast Shark Tank Mexico and Shark Tank Colombia The important year-on-year growth seen by Canal Sony and AXN audiences reinforces our strategy of combining the best Hollywood series with local productions that bring our signals closer to audiences, affiliates and advertisers, said TV Schultz, EVP and GM, Sony Pictures Television for Latin America and Brazil. Leading over-the-top service Hulu has surpassed 20 million US subscribers, just ahead of pinning down a brace of content deals at its 2018 upfront event, including a major coup with DreamWorks Animation. The streaming company, which has seen an 18% increase in subscribers since the end of 2017, has inked a big agreement with DreamWorks to bring the studios future theatrical releases to the platform. Also under the deal, DreamWorks Animation Television will develop and produce original kids and family series for Hulu beginning in 2020.The announcement is notable given that DreamWorks has an existing exclusive agreement with Netflix, and announced last week that it will be bringing a Fast & Furious spinoff series to the OTT giant.In addition to the DreamWorks deal, Hulu announced an exclusive streaming deal for The Good Doctor, ABCs breakout primetime drama of the 2017-18 season, and renewed The Handmaids Tale or a third season.Additional series orders include Four Weddings and a Funeral from Mindy Kaling and Ramy, a Muslim-American comedy from Ramy Youssef and Jerrod Carmichael. This strategic territory expansion for the all-reality service will extend the number of hayu subscriber markets to eight countries; hayu has been available in the UK, Ireland and Australia since March 2016 and in Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark since November 2017.*** Hayu *** features top reality content, the majority of which debuts on the service the same day as it premieres in the US. Series include Keeping Up with the Kardashians and spin-offs, along with The Real Housewives and Million Dollar Listing franchises, among others.The curated service also offers users the ability to download their favourite reality shows to view on the go without access to the internet.Given that reality content is hugely popular in Canada, we are pleased to be readying hayu an SVOD product with a proven track record specifically curating the service for Canadian fans of the genre, said Hendrik McDermott, SVP, Branded On-Demand, NBCUniversal . We look forward to introducing hayu to a whole new community and to establishing the kinds of innovative partnerships weve set up in other markets. As the world was ensconced in Bitcoin euphoria this past fall, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange made headlines as the first to offer bitcoin futures, and bitcoins value skyrocketed to nearly $20,000 in December before its value plummeted to well below half that value. The gyrations of the cryptocurrency market that includes Bitcoin, Dash, Ripple, and a growing basket of other currencies has roiled global finance and governments. In March, the G20 finance ministers wrapped up a special meeting in Buenos Aires to coordinate laws to prevent cryptocurrencies from being used for criminal and terrorist purposes. Blockchain Efforts Bitcoin and its supporting technology, blockchain, were first proposed in a ground-breaking proposal in 2008 under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Intended as both an asset and a currency, Bitcoin was envisioned to be a global and transformational way to conduct electronic payments cheaply, securely, and anonymously without the traditional interference from a third party, such as a government or financial institution. The proposal was followed a short time later by the release of the first open-source blockchain software in 2009. Initially, Bitcoin gained traction among a small cadre of cyber enthusiasts but has grown exponentially in both popularity and use, primarily because of the anonymity and security it affords. It is for these very reasons that blockchain has captured the attention of crime syndicates and the worlds militaries. Estonia, a member of NATO, is moving forward with blockchain initiatives as has DARPA. Even though the Department of Defense is sprinting to cloud-based networking, Section 1646 of the 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) requires that blockchain be assessed for military employment. Specifically, the Secretary of Defense and other federal agencies will be required to brief Congress on the cyber applications of blockchain technology[and] potential offensive and defensive cyber applications by May of 2018. The NDAA language also requires an assessment of how adversaries and criminals are using blockchain and legal ways in which the U.S. government could integrate blockchain into dealing with these threats and protecting government networks and critical infrastructure. Meanwhile, Russian news sources report that Voentelecom, a telecommunication company that provides communication and integration services to federal executive authorities and the Ministry of Defense, is assessing the applicability of blockchain for the Russian military. It begs the question, what does one of Americas cyber competitors, China, think of blockchain? In China, officials became unnerved by the loss of muchly needed currency to bitcoin exchanges, the widespread use of bitcoin for nefarious or illicit purposes, and unabated enthusiasm swirling around the cryptocurrencies. After their official warnings of a bitcoin bubble reminiscent of the Dutch tulip mania were not heeded, an official crackdown began in the fall with an orderly exit for all citizens in the cryptocurrency business. With the lockdown in the commercial sector, has Chinese interest in blockchain shifted to other industries or sectors, such as the military (Peoples Liberation Army (PLA))? Blockchain as Chinas Newest Cyber Tool One new and aspirational proposal published in a 2016 military journal posits that it should. The short, 5-page proposal contends that Chinas defense and security sectors should leverage blockchain to discretely distribute funds for intelligence operations, safeguard sensitive personnel management and weapons lifecycle information, and make logistics operations more resilient. Except for the role in intelligence operations, blockchain is entertained in a uniquely defensive role to protect key data and information systems. Of particular note, one of the three Chinese cyber expert writers is not only a leader in Chinas artificial intelligence efforts but is also a colonel in the PLA and a director of a center within Chinas National Defense University. Regardless of the supposed benefits of the blockchain, the proposals authors do acknowledge that the liberalism behind blockchain may be the greatest impediment to broader use specifically because it is at odds with Chinese values of governance and control. Despite the dynamism of the proposal, there was little public enthusiasm or interest until June 2nd, 2017. On that day a slimmed down summation of the proposals findings was widely circulated in multiple media outlets across China, such as Xinhua and other PLA-friendly sites. Further, this past February, one Chinese website opined that blockchain could even be used in media operations to verify both content and contributors in shaping public opinion. In this way, blockchain would be used to secure sources of public opinion, ostensibly to the detriment of any adversarial counter-information operations. More broadly speaking, public opinion warfare is one of three pillars key of Chinas Three Warfare strategy (the other two being legal warfare and psychological warfare). While it appears that these ideas remain speculative, blockchain employment by the PLA would be a marked departure from its altruistic bitcoin roots. Yet, blockchain would appear to follow broader Chinese security goals as part of their informatization drive. Wilson VornDick is a Commander in the Navy Reserve and served at the China Maritime Studies Institute at the U.S. Naval War College and various positions at the Pentagon. These are his personal views and are not associated with a U.S. government or U.S. Navy policy. Follow CDR VornDick on twitter VornDick 10:24 India is doing "extremely well" on electrification with nearly 85 per cent of the country's population having access to electricity, the World Bank has said. Between 2010 and 2016, India providing electricity to 30 million people each year, more than any other country, the World Bank said in its latest report released this week. While challenges still remain to provide electricity to the rest of the 15 per cent of the 1.25 billion population, India is all set to achieve the target of universal access to electricity before the 2030 target date, Vivien Foster, Lead Energy Economist at the World Bank here told PTI. The report comes less than a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that all the villages in the country have been electrified. The report said that nearly 85 per cent of the country's population has access to electricity. "India is doing extremely well on electrification. We are reporting India about 85 per cent of the population has access to electricity," said Foster, lead World Bank author of the latest report on Energy Progress. This figure, she pointed out, is higher than that of the Indian government. "That might surprise you. The government is currently reporting in low 80s," she said. While the World Bank's methodology is based on household survey, which includes even those who are off grid, while the figures of the government is based on official utility connection, she said. "In absolute terms, India is doing more on electrification than any other countries. Thirty million a year, is really an astounding performance and it stands out from the crowd," Foster said. However, India is not the fastest country in electrification. Bangladesh and Kenya, for example are faster in electrification than India, she noted. -- PTI No May Day would be complete without fawning coverage of socialism, the ideological strain that traces back to Karl Marx. It wasnt always this way, of course, a more recent embrace which has sought to soften the rough edges of the practical (meaning genocidal) consequences of the mans philosophy. The key to it, as always, is labor. Right now, on Netflix you can watch a series called Genius of the Modern World. Historian Bettany Hughes has chosen three men whose contributions she claims shaped the world in which we live. They are Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and, of course, Marx. They all contributed, all right, but the last one in particular not so much in a good way. Genius. The New York Times, as it has been doing a lot the past few years, published an op-ed this week in time for May Day that outright stated Marx was right. Happy birthday to him: In 2002, the French philosopher Alain Badiou declared at a conference I attended in London that Marx had become the philosopher of the middle class. What did he mean? I believe he meant that educated liberal opinion is today more or less unanimous in its agreement that Marxs basic thesis that capitalism is driven by a deeply divisive class struggle in which the ruling-class minority appropriates the surplus labor of the working-class majority as profit is correct. The author of those words was Jason Barker. Mr. Barker is an associate professor of philosophy at Kyung Hee University in South Korea. One wonders if he cant see over to the other side of the DMZ (a well-earned cheap shot). As you can tell from just this one quote, Barker is no recent convert. He has been preaching about Marxism for some time. This isnt particularly new or interesting, many especially in the academic world having been doing just that since Das Kapital was first made widely available. The question we need to ask ourselves is, why now? Marxism is relatively simple in its criticism of capitalism, even though it gets to it by a long, superfluous road. It denies there is any such thing as voluntary exchange. In any modern economy, you are no longer the owner of your own labor. You cant survive on your own therefore you are forced into a labor/wage arrangement that greatly benefits the business owner (capitalist). This latter person or persons steals your labor by pocketing a surplus. They win, you lose. There is no mutually beneficial arrangement by this understanding. This massive income inequality becomes paramount, on both sides. For the socialist, it is the animating feature of worker unrest and dissatisfaction. For the capitalist, it is an inherent flaw that inevitably, as Marx forecast, leads to the systems destruction. Too much wealth concentrates at the top, can only concentrate at the top, torches and pitchforks not long after. Thats ultimately what Marxists have been waiting for the worldwide revolution and total overthrow of the old order. Whenever you hear one denying the empirical proof of socialisms destructive traits, economic as well as in its human toll, they will uniformly claim that it whatever it was wasnt true socialism. Marx knew even in the nineteenth century that so long as even a small sliver of capitalism was left available somewhere in the world, the revolution could never be complete; it would fall short of true socialism. Thus, Venezuela today or the Soviet Union yesterday were not really communist or socialist according to this rigid doctrine. In 1850, Marx told the Central Committee to the Communist League: [It is our duty] to make the revolution permanent until all the more or less propertied classes have been driven from their ruling positions, until the proletariat has conquered state power and until the association of the proletarians has progressed sufficiently farnot only in one country but in all the leading countries of the worldthat competition between the proletarians of these countries ceases and at least the decisive forces of production are concentrated in the hands of the workers. To most people upon being exposed to such dogma it sounds like lunacy. To base an entire philosophical structure upon the idea of strict coercion just doesnt comport with a life full of choices. Only someone like Bernie Sanders could complain about twenty-three kinds of mens deodorant. In bringing up that topic in 2015 during the early stages of the 2016 Presidential Campaign, many thought Senator Sanders was disqualifying himself by being obviously ridiculous. Not so, his supporters responded. To them, it was another genius statement, a cutting critique worthy of this Marx revival. Matt Bruenig of the Progressive outfit Demos wrote in defense of the Senator, calling the underarm argument one of the most substantive of the campaign so far. Whenever someone argues that we should distribute the national income more evenly so as to reduce poverty and inequality (as Sanders does), the very first thing someone says in response is that doing so will reduce growth and innovation. Sanders is mocking this argument, saying he'd gladly cut poverty and inequality even if it meant a reduction in superficial product innovation. In other words, the Socialist in power would be there to redirect the nations energies away from developing 18 different pairs of sneakers and toward inventing the internet, clean fuel, and all the stuff capitalism has already provided (in addition to 23 types of deodorant). That waste, what Bruenig claims is superficial, could then be channeled into ending hunger (despite the fact that today even the most impoverished among us are in far more danger of obesity than starvation). The New York Times was once somewhat less willing to stand for all this. In January 1982, the newspaper reported what was still a common occurrence on the other side of the Iron Curtain. We might forget today that it was ultimately food shortages that spurred on the Solidarity movement in Poland, one of the most crucial developments that eventually toppled the Eastern bloc dominoes. In Russia itself, the Times noted the irony of one state food store situated just two miles down Krasnoprudnaya Street from the mighty walls of the Kremlin. At noontime one day last week the meat counter was down to pitiful cuts of beef and mutton, mostly fat and bone. After a few weeks late last year when it disappeared from Moscow shops, butter was on sale again, but with a limit of 1.1 pounds per shopper. The vegetable counter boasted symmetrically arranged displays of carrots, beetroot and cabbage, but much of it was rotten. A foreigner not long in the Soviet Union who visited the shop whispered his surprise to a Muscovite companion. But the man was not dismayed. 'Comparatively speaking, this is really quite good, better than many of the stores in the suburbs,' he said. There, you're lucky to find butter at all, and there's hardly ever any mutton.' Just four months later, in May 1982, Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev was forced to defend two decades of disastrous top-down agricultural policy. How in the world could a supposedly modern nation in nineteen eighty-two descend into such mismanagement that its government would have to declare food an urgent national emergency? Again, from the New York Times: Although Mr. Brezhnev went to some lengths in his speech to defend the agricultural policies he has pursued in his 17 years in power, he underscored the urgency of the problem when he declared that a rapid improvement of food supplies 'is not only a top economic priority, but also an urgent sociopolitical task.' Brezhnevs speech was never shown, instead his words were redelivered on state television read by local announcers. He blamed the capitalist West, as was and is standard practice, for not sharing its overabundance without ever noting the stinging irony of the complaint. Food embargoes were one thing the poor Soviets were forced to endure, but that only meant the system wasnt quite the self-sufficient powerhouse Josef Stalin once claimed Communism would create for, could only create for, Russia. In the long document, the Soviet leader recited the increasingly familiar litany of Soviet agricultural problems -chronic inefficiency in all areas of food production, shortages in mechanization, migration of peasants to the cities, shortages of fertilizer and herbicides, an antiquated and irrational pricing policy, lack of coordination among sectors, and transportation and storage problems that led to immense waste through rot or loss. This was no minor backwater new to the doctrine, it was Soviet Russia the worlds pre-eminent example of Marxism and nominally a global superpower. But Brezhnev never had to contend with twenty-three kinds of underarm sprays. He might have spared himself, and his country, quite a lot by doing nothing more than reading Leonard Reads actually powerful 1958 essay I, Pencil. if you can become aware of the miraculousness which I symbolize, you can help save the freedom mankind is so unhappily losing. If Marx was ever right about one big thing (he was actually correct about a number of smaller things), it was that without worldwide revolution nobody would voluntarily choose socialism so long as an alternative mode of producing pencils existed somewhere. They would need to be coerced, either confronted directly or through neglect. Hugo Chavez rose to power in Venezuela in 1998. After first trying an unsuccessful coup, he won the election on the same old leftist promises borrowed from the medieval tale of Robin Hood; he would take from the rich who had stolen from the poor under their forced system of repression. Since Venezuela had a lot of poor, it wasnt a tough sell for a majority. But in December 2007, Chavez was defeated at the ballot box. He proposed greatly expanding his already dictatorial powers, paving the way for a more complete socialist transformation of Venezuela. Presumably, that would have meant a bigger, badder Robin Hood. Yet, 50.7% of voters disapproved. It was an odd turn of events. After all, oil producers like Venezuela were in the midst of an epic boom. The global credit bubble, created by the massive growth of the eurodollar system, had allowed these places to amass unparalleled (for them) amounts of wealth and prosperity. Since Chavismo populism like all good socialism is aimed at the poor, why would they not support going still further? Writing for Foreign Affairs in March 2008, Francisco Rodriguez observed: Neither official statistics nor independent estimates show any evidence that Chavez has reoriented state priorities to benefit the poor. Most health and human development indicators have shown no significant improvement beyond that which is normal in the midst of an oil boom. Indeed, some have deteriorated worryingly, and official estimates indicate that income inequality has increased. The Chavez is good for the poor hypothesis is inconsistent with the facts. It appears that enough of them agreed and were willing to express it in the form of an official vote. It didnt stop the man, of course, and he went ahead with many of his reforms anyway. Coercion. I could spend the rest of this essay recounting the almost literal Hell the country has become now that dollars arent so plentiful for Chavezs successors, but youve likely already heard enough stories of pure devastation and the vast economic wasteland the near Bolivarian paradise has become. Thats not really my intent here. As necessary as it is to remind ourselves of these dangers, thats not enough to keep them at bay. Not even close. Many Americans, Europeans, Brazilians, etc., will be seduced by equality surmising that a relatively small turn in that direction wont mean Venezuela or Brezhnev. You can forgive them, or you should, for exploring the idea that no matter the costs a little socialism just might turn out better than what weve got right now. Maybe allowing Mr. Socialist Government to strike three or four varieties of deodorant from the store shelves would be worth the risk for an unproven promise of actual wage growth and labor market security. Its this reason that should trouble us. Why now? Because the state of labor in this world is as precarious as it has been in four generations. Worse, Economists refuse to address the deficiency honestly. They say either the economy is already doing great now, which it clearly isnt, or that it will 100% absolutely completely totally guaranteed turn great any day now - never mind the 3,921 days already exhausted and wasted since August 9, 2007, waiting for it to yet be plausible. The statistics are truly grim, where all of a sudden they lend credence to the Jason Barkers of the world who claim capitalists are stealing your wages when ten years ago the same idea wouldnt have merited any reaction at all. The numbers are worth recounting still another time. Real Personal Income excluding Transfer Receipts was estimated to have been $12.2 trillion in March 2018 (at a seasonally-adjusted annual rate). This particular data series is one of the few, and the only one pertaining to income, which the NBER uses to date business cycles. And it has barely moved in more than two years. Going back to October 2015, a period of twenty-nine months, it has gained just 2.8% total. During that same period, the unemployment rate has fallen well below what Economists claim is full employment. This latter measure, despite inherent difficulties addressing the participation problem, has been used as the primary source to claim the economy right now is doing very well; booming. Even President Trump, who campaigned on it being fake, now in office has embraced the low level, pointing to it as a measure for successful policies. On the ground, out in the public, that may not be the perception at all. Instead, you might hear and see the 4.1% unemployment rate and wonder who it is doing well in this economy. It might even seem that maybe those kooky sneaker haters have a point; as if some unseen force of inequality is holding you back unfairly while others profit at your (opportunity) expense. The number of people who may start thinking this way isnt really revealed by the lack of income growth since the 2015-16 downturn. It is a far, far larger problem. If the Great Recession had been an actual recession, the economy and its labor market would have returned to its prior baseline even after the large contraction it did suffer. It may have taken some additional time, a longer recovery than other business cycles, but by now ten years later that would all have been in the past. Yet, Real Personal Income excluding Transfer Receipts would have been just less than $15 trillion in March 2018 had recovery actually taken place. Thats an enormous, incomprehensible difference, this $2.7 trillion missing income ($12.221T - $14.956T pro forma). Worse, it doesnt show up in any mainstream analysis. What gets reported is the simple and misleading fact that Real Personal Income in March was higher than it was in February, which was higher than January. Its described as growth, and often purposefully mischaracterized as strong growth, when it is anything but. The US labor market last year experienced one of its worst (non-recession) years in a long time. How could it have been any other way given the state of income growth? But thats not at all how it has been defined. Again, even Trump has moved away from the actual situation. He might do well to pay attention to Chavezs 2007 electoral defeat, the difference between mainstream characterization and on-the-ground reality and perception of that reality. Its not enough to recall the horrors and desperately dangerous deficiencies of economic socialism, and in truth it avoids the real issue at hand, a logical fallacy of sorts. Doing nothing more than that risks further alienation of the already vulnerable. The labor market must be addressed in an honest fashion. The unemployment rate is at best ambiguous, and more likely deceptive and utterly worthless. The American labor force is suffering like it hasnt since the 1930s, but nobody seems willing to challenge Economists easily disproved claims. Into that vacuum had swept Mr. Trump himself, but also Mr. Sanders. The mere election of the former didnt immediately fix the problem; rather, things have gotten worse since the campaign ended (to be clear, it had nothing to do with Trump and everything to do with the lingering effects of the 2014-16 rising dollar). Its become a worldwide phenomenon. Communists always focus on labor, though often for the exact wrong reasons. But since 2007, thats where all the trouble has been, and remains. Workers need someone other than them to get serious about it, where deodorant is just the beginning of the seduction. May Day is still only trending toward becoming an official holiday. Pop quiz: how many branches of government are there in the United States? If you said Four, go to the head of the class. As of May 17, 2017, the traditional three branches of Congress, the Executive, the Judiciary, are joined by the Office of Robert S. Mueller III, Special Counsel in charge of destroying the president. The final debate before next weeks Indiana Republican Senate primary quickly became a test of one thing: Who has the best Trump credentials? Rep. Luke Messer used his opening statement to say hed be a true ally of President Trump to help make America great again. Rep. Todd Rokita followed by saying he was the most trusted candidate to support our president in draining the swamp. And later, Mike Braun said Trump was the inspiration for his run for office and highlighted his business background: Just like President Trump, Ive built real things. The theme was indicative of that coloring many Republican primaries across the country: Seeking support from Trumps loyal base of voters, candidates are going to extraordinary lengths to link their credentials to the president. In a trio of races with May 8 primary elections -- Indiana, Ohio and West Virginia -- Trump has become perhaps the central message in the final stretch. One Republican strategist, who requested anonymity to assess candidates strategies, said there is no such thing as Team Not Trump among Republican primary voters. The animosity and hatred level of the left attacking the presidents legitimacy has translated into everybody on the conservative side putting their jersey on, the strategist said, pointing to Trumps high support among GOP voters in polls. If youre running in a primary, you have to communicate and make sure voters understand that you have your jersey on too and that you are glad to have the presidents enemies as your enemies. Rokita and Messer doubled down on Wednesday. Rokita released an ad linking incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly to Robert Mueller, the Department of Justice special counsel, and asking: Whos tough enough to stop the witch hunt? Not to be outdone, Messer released a letter officially nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his promising efforts to negotiate with North Korea. Of the 17 Republican House members who signed the letter, four are running for Senate, and one is locked in a gubernatorial primary. In Ohio, Rep. Jim Renacci is viewed as the frontrunner of a much quieter, less acrimonious primary than the other two. But he still faces several challengers, most notably businessman Mike Gibbons, who has invested his own money in the race. In what may be the only public poll of the race, conducted in early April, Renacci was the only candidate with double-digit support, but nearly two-thirds of the primary electorate remained undecided. Trump endorsed Renacci last week, and the Trump re-election campaign followed up with an endorsement Tuesday of the Ohio Republican, who hopes to take on incumbent Sherrod Brown. As I travel this state, I see more and more people, thats the first thing they ask me, Do you support this president? Renacci told Fox Business Channel on Wednesday. I say I absolutely do and theyre happy to hear that. Everybody in the primary talks about being with the president. Im the only one who has the support of the president, the congressman added. Gibbons spokesman Chris Schrimpf offered a different view: If you look at which candidate most Trump voters are going to find appealing, most of them will like Mike Gibbons more than a career politician in Washington, D.C., Schrimpf said, pointing out that the candidate served as a co-chair of Trumps Ohio campaign. I think Ohio voters know Mike Gibbons is a strong Trump supporter. Though the effort to court Trump supporters is the same, candidates messaging strategies differ greatly. Messer, a member of House GOP leadership and a low-key campaigner, has pitched himself as the staunchest backer of Trumps agenda and attacked Rokita for voting against a spending bill earlier this year, saying his colleague had not been there for the hard votes. Rokita, who is more brash, has pitched himself as the hard-charging defender of the president. In the debate, he called the special counsel investigation into Trumps campaign a witch hunt. It comes down to: Who do you trust to be strong enough with the president to defend him? Rokita said. Braun, meanwhile, has attempted to own the outsider label in the race, highlighting similarities between his background and Trumps and calling his two opponents swamp brothers. Andy Surabian, a Republican strategist and former special assistant to the president in the White House, said it is important for candidates tethering themselves to the president to do so in a way that fits their style rather than mimic Trump and seem inauthentic. Every candidate is wrapping their arms around America First Trumpism: Im the most MAGA candidate there is, Surabian said, using an acronym for Trumps slogan, Make America Great Again. Its not like everyone is trying to mimic Trumps speaking style, but they certainly all are trying to wrap their arms around him and his agenda. In West Virginia, where Republicans hope to unseat Joe Manchin, its much the same. In the final candidate debate Tuesday night, which aired live on Fox News, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey pointed out that he was part of the Electoral College vote for Trump, citing that as evidence that he can be trusted as an ardent supporter. Rep. Evan Jenkins argued that he is the staunchest defender of the presidents agenda, having supported his tax cuts and deregulation efforts on Capitol Hill. The two candidates have spent much of the primary hurling bombs at each other, and the debate was no different. Jenkins, who has previously run ads calling Morrisey a Never Trumper, asked him pointedly who he voted for in the 2016 presidential primary. Morrisey responded, I support the president before firing back: Evan supported him the day before the primary. Thats no profile in courage. Meanwhile, Don Blankenship, a former coal baron who spent a year in prison for conspiring to violate mine safety standards, has pitched himself as an outsider in the race, and has owned a particular brand of Trumpism with his brash, controversial remarks , most of them aimed squarely at Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. But Blankenship has also been slightly more willing than either Jenkins or Morrisey to allow daylight between himself and Trump, if only slightly. In a debate last month, the candidates were asked if there was anything they disagreed with Trump on. Morrisey and Jenkins both used it as an opportunity to heap praise on the president: Morrisey called it a historic presidency and Jenkins said Trump was doing a darn good job. Blankenship, however, cited several disagreements. He said he didnt support the presidents personal behavior sometimes and that he had concerns about foreign policy, that there is a tendency to police the world at the expense of the American taxpayers. Still, he didnt linger on the disagreements. I agree with [James] Comey that his ties a little too long and I think he tweets too much, Blankenship said, citing a sartorial critique written by the former FBI director in his new book. But if thats the only failings that he has, I think were in for a great six years ahead of us, or seven, and I think we should all be very grateful we have President Trump. Outside money has streamed into West Virginia aiming to shape the primary race in the final weeks. Duty and Country PAC, a Democratic outside group, is running ads attacking Jenkins and, to a lesser extent, Morrisey. The group is ignoring Blankenship, who is being attacked by outside groups linked to national Republicans. Mike Plante, a Democratic strategist in the state and adviser to the outside group, said Trump remains popular and called it a wise strategy for Republicans to link themselves to the president. But he maintained that Trump wouldnt be enough to carry either candidate over the top. Theyre still going to have to defend their own records and run on their records, Plante said. The question remains: Will the presidents coattails alone be enough? The more voters learn about Morrisey and Jenkins, the less, I think effective the presidents coattails will be. The reform movement fueled by political centrists is getting stronger all over the country, but it needs a heavyweight 2020 Independent presidential candidate to gain national traction and big-time financial backing. Ohio Gov. John Kasich ought to take up that challenge. He cant get the nomination of his own party. Although hes a lifelong Republican who won statewide in a key battleground state the GOP needs to win the presidency, hes become much too moderate, not to mention high-principled and independent, for the party. But he could be the strongest, best-financed and most compelling third-force presidential candidate in decades. The nation clearly needs a high-energy, optimistic spokesman for citizens in despair over the vicious, hyper-polarization into which the Democratic and Republican parties have plunged us. A 2017 Pew poll showed that only 34 percent of Americans are satisfied with the two parties, while 61 percent would like to see a third choice. Voters have every right to be dissatisfied, as the red-blue duopoly continues to serve itself and its special-interest donors, at the expense of the American public. Kasich, finishing up two successful terms as governor of the nations seventh-largest state, is traveling often and appearing on TV talk shows nearly every week, raising his national profile and preaching a gospel of unity, problem-solving and serving others above self. He tells all interviewers, including me, that he cant predict what hes going to do in 2020 and is keeping all options open. I believe him. On CNNs State of the Union Sunday, he said that he is still a Republican and is determined to bring the party back to its longtime time principles -- pro-immigrant, pro-trade, pro-growth, worried about debt. He also told me, Im not a moderate. Im a conservative. But whether he acknowledges it or not, he has much more in common, in both tone and substance, with Independent, centrist and reformist groups like Unite America , No Labels, Issue One, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Bridge Alliance, and Represent.us than with the GOP. These national organizations and nearly 100 kindred groups operating in every state and dozens of localities are working to empower what Kasich refers to as the great middle. But this working plurality of Americans is forced in every election by design -- to choose between a right-wing/populist Republican candidate and ever-more-left-wing Democrats. (A list of state and local initiatives can be found here and developments across the centrist reform movement can be tracked here.) As Kasich said last Sunday, You have a department store thats red and a department store thats blue, and neither of them are providing products for the great middle. You know what happens: Another store opens up in the neighborhood. Hes also said, I don't think either party is answering people's deepest concerns and needs. We may be beginning to see the end of a two-party system. I'm starting to really wonder if we are going to see a multi-party system at some point in the future in this country." The big idea of Country Over Party is advanced explicitly by No Labels, Unite America, and the Bridge Alliance and in spirit by other reformers. Its also the leading slogan on the official Kasich for America website. While he wants to keep the option open, realistically Kasich is all but dead in the Republican Party. He refused to endorse Donald Trump in 2016 and didnt attend the GOP convention in his home state. During Trumps presidency, Kasich has also criticized many of his policies and statements. Trump has blasted him back. Thats a big 2020 problem for Kasich if hes still thinking of running as a Republican. More than 80 percent of Republicans consistently support Trump, and a recent Ohio poll showed that although Kasich beat Trump in the Buckeye State in 2016, Trump would clobber Kasich in a primary held there now. Its possible Trump might not run in 2020 for one reason or another, but even in that case, Kasich is out of step with his party. He was one of only 11 GOP governors (out of 30) to expand the Medicaid program under the Affordable Care Act and hes defended Obamacare against Trump and the GOPs Congresss efforts to undermine it without replacing it with something better. Hes also criticized the single achievement of that Congress tax reform for exploding the deficit by failing to include spending cuts. Hes declared Congress "totally dysfunctional" for failing to pass common-sense gun control legislation or protect young people brought to this country illegally and previously covered by President Obamas DACA program. And he also says that members of Congress should be held absolutely accountable in the next elections for their failures. Kasich told me, Republicans are angry with me now, but maybe tomorrow they will follow me. Its far more probable that if they stopped following Trump theyd follow someone loyal to the party. Whether he knows it or not, Kasich is considered an apostate. Hes said hes unlikely to run as an Independent, but hasnt ruled it out, and his chief political strategist, John Weaver, told me thered be space for a successful third candidate if Democrats nominated a Bernie Sanders-style left-winger and Republicans stick with an unpopular Trump. Weaver said up to 25 percent of Republicans and 25 percent of Democrats might be open to voting for an Independent. Leading potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates do seem to be adopting Sanderss agenda. Sens. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Kamala Harris of California, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Cory Booker of New Jersey and Jeff Merkley of Oregon all support a single-payer health care system. Lately, they have lined up behind Sanderss proposal for the federal government to guarantee everyone a job. Both ideas along with other Democratic favorites such as free college, higher teacher salaries, and expanded early childhood education -- would be enormously expensive and require significant tax increases or huge increases in the national debt, or both. Kasich told me he considers himself a positive populist and if hes a conservative, hes definitely of the compassionate type. Arguing for Medicaid expansion, hes given a variation of this explanation for five years: Now, when you die and get to the meeting with St. Peter, hes probably not going to ask you much about what you did about keeping government small. But he is going to ask you what you did for the poor. You better have a good answer. Hes also for criminal justice and incarceration reform, better workforce education, an end to gerrymandering, and balanced budgets. His biggest goal, he told me, is to combat the post-truth environment thats taken hold in America and separate those who are extreme in their views and not open to facts and figures, as opposed to those who are objective, rational and fact-based. He said he thinks most Americans fall into the second category. Heres how different he is from the generic politician: In his final State of the State address in March, after reviewing Ohios record of achievement under his tenure -- closing an $8 billion budget deficit, creating 500,000 jobs, and lowering the rate of opioid deaths he then cited 10 different philosophers to divine the values that should govern public and private life, which he described as love, compassion, humility, forgiveness, responsibility, and justice. Formidable challenges obviously would face Kasich if he ran as an Independent. These include the long history of failed third-force bids, and lack of a party organizing base. Then theres money. Although Weaver, his political guru, believes funding is doable, the numbers are daunting: Weaver himself estimates it would cost $100 million to $150 million simply to get Kasichs name onto 50 state ballots. The cost of campaigning itself is in a whole other realm. In 2016, Hillary Clinton and the super PACs supporting her spent nearly $1.2 billion on the general election. Trumps side spent another $647 million. The Democratic Party and Clintons joint DNC campaign committee spent $850 million more, and the Republican Party and the Trump-RNC committee, $580 million. Kasich and his committees spent just $45 million during his GOP primary run. Kasich for America, his official fundraising group, has raised a mere $290,000 during the 2018 election cycle. Theres a big gap there, but Weaver told me he thinks there are a lot of rich CEOs who are fed up with the current state of politics. Kasich just met with one of them, billionaire investor Ron Burkle, who usually supports Democrats. Win or lose, it would serve the country if Kasich mounted a campaign aimed at the great middle. It would help, too if Kasich enlisted fed-up CEOs to support the centrist reform movement, which so far they have not done in any major way. And he could help the movement gain traction: It needs the impetus a serious presidential contender could provide. So far, Issue One has been unable even to get a congressional hearing for an Honest Elections Act, backed by both Facebook and Twitter, which would require the same sponsor disclosure on Internet political ads as currently run with TV and print ads. The No Labels-originated bipartisan House Problem Solvers Caucus has proposed a House rules change requiring a 60 percent (that is, bipartisan) majority to elect the next speaker. Its going nowhere. Unite America is aiding Independents running for governor in Alaska, Kansas and Maine and for the U.S. Senate in Missouri and Maryland, and state legislative candidates in Colorado and Washington. Represent.us is backing anti-corruption initiatives in South Dakota and Alaska and anti-gerrymandering measures in Ohio, Michigan, Missouri, Utah and Colorado. Most Americans probably arent aware of all this action going on in the center of American politics. A strong Independent running for president would establish in everyones mind that the great middle is moving. Country Over Party. In the months leading up to her death 75 years ago, the controversial French intellectual Simone Weil feverishly filled notebook upon notebook with essays and articles. Brought to England by Charles de Gaulles Free French forces, Weil had sketched many of these pieces with an eye on post-liberation France and Europe. Many of her posthumous writings have deeply influenced not just political thinkers, but also policymakers. For instance, elements from The Need for Roots, with its emphasis on needs and duties, filtered into the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Other writings by Weil, however, have been brushed under the carpet as embarrassing aberrations. Most famously, there is her proposal to parachute unarmed and white-uniformed nurses -- including herself -- into Nazi-occupied France. Divining that their duty was less to aid dying soldiers than to invite their own deaths as symbols of self-sacrifice, de Gaulle dismissed the idea as crazy. What the authoritarian general might not have found to be folle, though, was another of Weils ideas -- one that moreover seems tailor-made for our politically polarized era. Buried in the towering pile of unpublished papers she left behind is her Note on the General Suppression of Political Parties. Scholars have mostly ignored the paper, if only because it seems so foolhardy even for Weil. Perhaps. But if Weil was crazy, it was like the proverbial fox. Why do we have political parties? Such a question seems like asking why we have gravity. Startled, some of us might answer that parties represent competing interests within the body politic. Others might reply more simply that, as a self-respecting democracy, we have no choice. For Weil, though, such replies simply reflect the damage that our parties have already wrought. Neither parties nor democracy are ends in themselves, but instead are the means to the ends of justice and the public interest, which Weil lumps under the word goodness. When it comes to democracy, Weil reminds us that it often falls short of so-so-ness, not to mention goodness. She had in mind Frances treatment in the 1930s of Spanish Republican refugees, who were herded into hastily constructed and utterly inadequate concentration camps, only to be joined a short time later by waves of Jewish refugees from Central Europe. When it comes to such camps, we can all too easily substitute the Roosevelt administrations treatment of Japanese-Americans during WWII. That democracies in both countries built these camps does not, Weil concludes, make them one atom more legitimate. But the real enemy of goodness, Weil argues, is political parties. Not just the extremes like the Communists and Fascists, but every party in between. Socialist or Catholic, liberal or conservative, nationalist or internationalist: a pox on all of them because all of them share three essential traits. They are created to generate collective passions, designed to exert collective pressure upon the minds of its members, and motivated to seek their own growth at the expense not just of other parties, but the nation itself. Weil makes her point by shrewdly observing a tick shared by all politicians and accepted by all citizens not just of her time, but our time as well. Everybody feels, she writes, that it is completely natural, sensible and honorable for someone to say, As a conservative or As a Socialist, I do think that In our own age, it remains the case: just as Republicans fall over one another to speak as Republicans, so too do Democrats insist on speaking as Democrats. Yet a moments reflection, Weil suggests, reveals how just unsettling this claim in fact is. It implies that truths are not just many -- a position that a pragmatist or pluralist might legitimately argue for -- but that they are tailored according to the measurements of a particular party. This claim, which distills the nature of politics, destabilizes the primacy of reason and reality in political discourse. One thinks what one thinks, Weil declares, not because one happens to be French or Catholic or Socialist or, for that matter, American or Baptist or a Sanders Socialist. Instead, one thinks what one thinks simply because the irresistible light of evidence forces one to think this and not that. This is tantamount, in Weils eyes, to having no thoughts at all. By way of illustration, Weil asks us to imagine a political candidate who announces that, regardless of the issue at hand, she will absolutely forget that I am the member of a certain political group. Instead, the candidate continues, my sole concern will be to ascertain what should be done in order to best serve the public interest and justice. Of course, we expect ostensibly apolitical figures like judicial nominees to pay lip service to such claims. But because it is suicidal -- we cannot imagine such language at a Republican or Democratic meeting hall -- we almost never expect it of our politicians. Unless that politician happens to be Edmund Burke, who famously informed his Bristol constituency that he owed them not just his industry, but his judgment; and he betrays instead of serving you if he sacrifices it to your opinion. Predictably, when Burke acted on this conviction, he sacrificed his political career when the good people of Bristol voted him out of office. Perhaps surprisingly for someone claimed by the extreme left, Weil shared Burkes conservative worldview and would have applauded his defense of reasoned judgment (if not his defense of political parties as a form of legitimate opposition). Of course, it is easy to cheer Weil when she excoriates politicians and political parties. Does it not ring true when she writes that political parties are designed for the purpose of killing in all souls the sense of truth and of justice? Or, again, that any issue that does not pertain to particular interests is abandoned to collective passions, which are systematically and officially inflamed? She is slamming not just the political parties that, come 1940, helped prepare the ground for Frances staggering military defeat. She is also slamming, 75 years later, the politicians who seem to be steering our own country to social and economic disaster. It becomes a bit less easy to cheer her, though, when you realize she has your party as well as the other parties in her crosshair. Tragically, it has become as oxymoronic to be a pro-life Democrat as it is to be a pro-gun-control Republican. And it is even more difficult to cheer when you ask yourself if, as Weil insists, truth really is indivisible. One need not be a raging relativist to think twice about the philosophically problematic nature of such claims, as well as the politically problematic direction they can lead. (Think of the multiple religious and ideological inquisitions that pock world history.) Besides, was Weil truly serious about ridding France -- or, by extension, the United States -- of political parties? The answer, I think, is that she was as serious about this as she was about parachuting nurses into occupied France -- namely, very serious. (She was shattered by her failure to persuade de Gaulle to follow through on the plan.) But this does not mean we need to either outlaw parties or send nurses on suicide missions to acknowledge the power of her insights. When she observes that nearly everywhere, instead of thinking, one merely takes sides: for or against, we cannot help but recognize she is describing not just France 75 years ago, but the United States today. Nor can we gainsay her conclusion: Such a choice replaces the activity of the mind and is an intellectual leprosy. While Weils prescription is unacceptable, her diagnosis seems incontrovertible. It is for us to find a reasonable cure. At first, I thought I had inadvertently entered an active war zone. I was on a lonely two-lane road in southern New Mexico heading for El Paso, Texas. Off to the side of the road, hardly concealed behind some desert shrubs, I suddenly noticed what seemed to be a tank. For a second, I thought I might be seeing an apparition. When I stopped to take a picture, a soldier wearing a camouflage helmet emerged from the top of the Stryker, a 19-ton, eight-wheeled combat vehicle that was regularly used in military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. He looked my way and I offered a pathetic wave. To my relief, he waved back, then settled behind what seemed to be a large surveillance display mounted atop the vehicle. With high-tech binoculars, he began to monitor the mountainous desert that stretched toward Mexico, 20 miles away, as if the enemy might appear at any moment. That was in 2012 and, though I had already been reporting on the militarization of the U.S.-Mexican border for years, I had never seen anything like it. Barack Obama was still president and it would be another six years before Donald Trump announced with much fanfare that he was essentially going to declare war at the border and send in the National Guard. (We really havent done that before, Trump told the media on April 3rd, or certainly not very much before.) Operation Nimbus II, as the 2012 mission was called, involved 500 soldiers from Fort Bliss and Fort Hood and was a typical Joint Task Force North(JTF-N) operation. Those troops were officially there to provide the U.S. Border Patrol with intelligence and surveillance. Since JTF-N was tasked with supporting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on the border, its motto was protecting the Homeland. However, it was also deeply involved in training soldiers for overseas military operations in ongoing American wars in the Greater Middle East. Only weeks before, 40 Alaskan-based Army airborne engineers had parachuted into nearby Fort Huachuca as if they were part of an invasion force landing in Southern Arizona. That border operation (despite the dramatic arrival, all they did was begin constructing a road) mirrors the type of mission the 40 soldiers might conduct if they were deployed to Afghanistan, JTF-N project organizers told the Nogales International. As JTF-N spokesman Armando Carrasco put it, "This will prepare them for future deployments, especially in the areas of current contingency operations." So seeing combat vehicles on the border shouldnt have surprised me, even then. A war against immigrants had been declared long before Trump signed the memo to deploy 2,000-4,000 National Guard troops to the border. Indeed, there has been a continuous military presence there since 1989 and the Pentagon has played a crucial role in the historic expansion of the U.S. border security apparatus ever since. When, however, Trump began to pound out tweets on Easter Sunday on his way to church, Americans did get a vivid glimpse of a border battlefield more than 30 years in the making, whose intensity could be ramped up on the merest whim. The president described the border as getting more dangerous because 1,000 Central Americans, including significant numbers of children, in flight from violence in their home countries were in a caravan in Mexico slowly heading north on a Holy Week pilgrimage. Many of them were intending to ask for asylum at the border, as they feared for their lives back home. Fox & Friendslabeled that caravan a small migrant army and so set the battlefield scenario perfectly for the shows number one fan. The end result -- those state National Guards caravaning south -- might have been as ludicrous a response to the situation as a tank in an empty desert pointed at Mexico, but it did catch a certain reality. The border has indeed become a place where the worlds most powerful military faces off against people who represent blowback from various Washington policies and are in flight from persecution, political violence, economic hardship, and increasing ecological distress. (Central America is becoming a climate-change hot spot.) Yet these twenty-first century border battlefields remain hidden from the public and largely beyond discussion. The Fetish of the Border As I moved away from the Stryker that day, I wondered what that soldier was seeing through his high-tech binoculars. Its a question that remains no less pertinent six years later as yet more National Guard troops head for the border. Even today, such forces arent likely to ever see a caravan of 1,000 refugees, only -- possibly -- tiny groups of crossers moving through the U.S. borderlands to look for work, reunite with family, or escape potentially grave harm. Such people, however, usually travel under the cover of night. Even less likely: anyone carrying drugs into the United States. According to the Drug Enforcement Agency, the majority of illicit narcotics that cross the border into the worlds largest market (valued at approximately $100 billion per year) arrive through legal ports of entry. Least likely of all: a person designated as a terrorist by the U.S. government, even though thats became the priority mission of Joint Task Force North and Customs and Border Protection. A flood of money has, in these years, poured into border budgets for just such a counterterrorism mission, yet no such person, not a single one, has been reported crossing the southern border since 1984. (And even that incident seems dubious.) Indeed, the most likely thing to glimpse along that divide is evidence of the countless billions of dollars that have been spent there over the last 30 years to build the most gigantic border enforcement apparatus in U.S. history. You would be quite likely, for instance, to see armed U.S. Border Patrol agents in their green-striped vehicles. (After all Customs and Border Protection, or CBP, the Border Patrols parent outfit, is now the largest federal law enforcement agency.) You might also catch glimpses of high-tech surveillance apparatuses like aerostats, the tethered surveillance balloons brought back from American battle zones in Afghanistan that now hover over and monitor the borderlands with long-range cameras and radar. Those binoculars wouldnt be able to see as far as the small town of Columbus, New Mexico -- the very town that Mexican revolutionary Pancho Villa so famously raided in 1916 -- but if they could, you might also see portions of an actual border wall, built with bipartisan support after the Secure Fence Act of 2006 passed, with votes from Democrats like Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, and Chuck Schumer. Those 650 miles of walls and barriers cost an average of $3.9 million per mile to build and additional millions to maintain, money that went into the coffers of the military-industrial complex. In 2011, for example, CBP granted the former Halliburton subsidiary Kellogg Brown & Root (a company known for its profiteering in Iraq) a three-year, $24.4 million contract for border wall maintenance. And you can multiply that so many times over since, year after year, bigger and bigger budgets have gone into border and immigration enforcement (and so into the pockets of such corporations) with little or no discussion. In 2018, the combined budgets of CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement amount to $24.3 billion, a more than 15-fold increase since the early 1990s, and a $4.7 billion jump from 2017. So, in those desert borderlands, that soldier was really looking at a market, a profit zone. He was also viewing (and himself part of) what sociologist Timothy Dunn, author of the pioneering book The Militarization of the U.S-Mexico Border, 1978-1992, calls the fetishization of the border. That Stryker -- the Cadillac of combat vehicles made by General Dynamics -- fit the bill perfectly. The slick armored beast, which can travel at speeds up to 60 miles per hour, could track down just about anything, except the real forces that lay behind why people continually arrive at the border. Low Intensity Doctrine and the Hidden Battlefields In 2006, George W. Bushs administration sent 6,000 National Guard troops to the border during Operation Jump Start, the largest military deployment there of the modern era. Those troops, however, were meant as no more than a placeholder for a post-9/11 enforcement apparatus still to be organized. Before then, as Timothy Dunn told me in an interview, there had normally been only 300 to 500 soldiers in border operations at any given time, whose justification then was the war against drugs. That Bush deployment was, as Dunn put it, the first to have them out there in high-profile, explicitly for immigration enforcement. Still, what those soldiers could do remained largely limited to reinforcing and supporting the U.S. Border Patrol, as has been the case ever since. As a start, the U.S. military operates under grave restrictions when it comes to either making arrests or performing searches and seizures on U.S. soil. (There are, however,loopholes when it comes to this, which means that National Guard units under state control should be watched carefully during the Trump deployments.) What those troops can do is perform aerial and ground reconnaissance, staff observation posts, and install electronic ground sensors. They can supply engineering support, help construct roads and barriers, and provide intelligence -- in all, Dunn reports, 33 activities, including mobile teams to train the Border Patrol in various increasingly militarized tactics. However, the Border Patrol, already a paramilitary organization, can take care of the arrests, searches, and seizures itself. It is, in fact, the perfect example of how the Pentagons low-intensity-conflict doctrine has operated along the border since the 1980s. That doctrine promotes coordination between the military and law enforcement with the goal of controlling potentially disruptive civilian populations. On the border, this mostly means undocumented people. This, in turn, means that the military does ever more police-like work and the Border Patrol is becoming ever more militarized. When Bush launched Operation Jump Start, Washington was already undertaking the largest hiring surge in Border Patrol history, planning to add 6,000 new agents to the ranks in two years, part of an overall expansion that has never ended. It has, in fact, only gained momentum again in the Trump era. The Border Patrol has increased from a force of 4,000 in the early 1990s to 21,000 today. The Bush-era recruitment program particularly targeted overseas military bases. The Border Patrol, as one analyst put it, already operated like a standing army on American soil and that was how it was sold to future war vets who would soon join up. To this day, veterans are still told that they will be sent to the front lines to defend the homeland. The Border Patrol not only recruits from the military and receives military training, but uses military equipment and technology prodigiously. The monoliths of the military-industrial complex -- companies like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Elbit Systems -- have long been tailoring their technologies to homeland security operations. They are now deeply involved in the increasingly lucrative border market. As one vendor told me many years ago, we are bringing the battlefield to the border. Much like the military, the Border Patrol uses radar, high-tech surveillance, complex biometric data bases, and Predator B drones that fly surveillance missions across the Southwest, at the border with Canada, and in the Caribbean. Such forces operate in 100-mile jurisdictions beyond U.S. international boundaries (including the coasts), places where they essentially have extra-constitutional powers. As one CBP officer told me, We are exempt from the fourth amendment. Border zones, in other words, have become zones of exception and the DHS is the only department the federal government permits to ethnically profile people in such areas, a highly racialized form of law enforcement. By deploying heavily armed Border Patrol officers, building walls, and using surveillance technologies in urban areas that traditionally had been crossing spots for the undocumented, such migrants are now forced to traverse dangerous and desolate areas of the southwestern deserts. Its a strategy that anthropologist Jason De Leon has described as creating a remote deathscape where American necropolitics are pecked onto the bones of those we deem excludable. Instances of overt violence on the border, the sort that might be associated with increased militarization, sometimes make the news, as in multiple incidents in which Border Patrol officers, deputized police, or even military troops have shot and killed people. Most border crossers, however, are now funneled away from the television cameras and reporters to those distant desertscapes where hidden battles with the elements remain unseen and so are no longer a political problem. According to Dunn, this is the low-intensity-conflict doctrine at work. Along the U.S. border with Mexico, 7,000 corpses have been found since the early 1990s and a reasonable estimate of the actual death toll is triple that number. Thousands of families still search for loved ones they fear lost in what journalist Margaret Regan has termed the Southwest killing fields. Recently, while I was giving a talk at a New York state college, a young man approached me, having realized that I was from Arizona. He told me that hed last seen his mother in the desert near Nogales and asked if I had any idea how he might search for her, his eyes brimming with tears. Globally, since 2014 the International Organization on Migration has recorded 25,000 migrant deaths -- a figure, the group writes, that is a significant indicator of the human toll of unsafe migration, yet fails to capture the true number of people who have died or gone missing during migration. On such hidden battlefields, the toll from the fetishization of the worlds borderlands remains unknown -- and virtually ignored. Securing the Unsustainable At a global level, the forecast for the displacement of people is only expected to rise. According to projections, when it comes to climate change alone, by 2050 there could be between 150 million and 750 million people on the move due to sea level rise, droughts, floods, super storms, and other ecological hazards. Former Vice President Al Gores former security adviser, Leon Fuerth, wrote that if global warming exceeded the two degree Celsius mark, border problems would overwhelm U.S. capabilities beyond the possibility of control, except by drastic measures and perhaps not even then. At the same time, estimates suggest that, by 2030, if present trends continue, the richest one percent of people on this planet may control 64% of global wealth. In other words, what we may have is an unsustainable world managed with an iron fist. In that case, an endless process of border militarization and fortification is likely to be used to control the blowback. If the booming border and surveillance markets are any indication, the future will be as dystopic as a Stryker in the beautiful desert highlands of New Mexico -- a world of mass displacements that leave the super-rich hunkered down behind their surveillance fortresses. Pouring billions of dollars into border zones to solve political, social, economic, and ecological problems is hardly a phenomenon limited to the United States. The border fetish has indeed gone global. Border walls now commonly zigzag between the global north and south and are being built up ever more as a rhetoric -- caught perfectly by the Trump administration -- focusing on criminals, terrorists, and drugs only ratchets up, while the huge forces that actually fuel displacements and migrations remain obscured. Borders have become another way of making sure that nothing gets in the way of the sanctity of business as usual in a world that desperately needs something new. Reprinted with permission from TomDispatch. Todd Miller, a TomDispatch regular, has written on border and immigration issues for the New York Times, Al Jazeera America, and the NACLA Report on the Americas. His latest book is Storming the Wall: Climate Change, Migration, and Homeland Security. You can follow him on Twitter @memomiller and view more of his work at toddmillerwriter.com. Rudolph W. Giuliani, a new lawyer on President Trump's team, claimed a broad constitutional immunity for his client from being subpoenaed in a criminal proceeding, a predictable claim but one unsupported by any Supreme Court decision. He cited the "Founding Fathers" for his assertion, saying they "created this immunity," something the Supreme Court has never said. The high court has not confronted the question of whether a president must comply with a grand jury subpoena for testimony in a criminal case. But it has rejected efforts to immunize the president from the demands of courts, civil and criminal. Giuliani made his assertions Wednesday night on Sean Hannity's show on the Fox News Channel. He also said that Trump had made a series of payments reimbursing his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 settlement with Stormy Daniels, despite Trump's assertion last month that he was unaware of the payment, as The Post reported. Giuliani said that he would advise the president to resist any questioning by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III that went beyond two and a half hours. "Two and a half hours. We end. Walk out. Give us your questions in advance." "I would like to get one not under oath," said Giuliani, who is a former U.S. attorney and assistant attorney general. "I'd want it . . . not videotaped but audiotaped. I'd want to make sure they didn't misrepresent his answers." The Post's Carol D. Leonnig and Robert Costa reported earlier this week that Mueller was prepared to issue a subpoena for the president to appear before a grand jury in light of the resistance of Trump's lawyers to a voluntary interview in connection with the probe of Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election. The Supreme Court has ruled in two cases involving claims of presidential immunity from judicial processes. In U.S. v. Nixon, the Watergate tapes case, a unanimous court rejected President Richard M. Nixon's arguments that he did not have to turn over secretly recorded White House tapes in response to a subpoena. "Neither the doctrine of separation of powers nor the need for confidentiality of high-level communications, without more, can sustain an absolute, unqualified Presidential privilege of immunity from judicial process under all circumstances," the court said in an opinion written by Chief Justice Warren E. Burger. The case differed from any that Trump would face largely because it involved a subpoena not for testimony but for tapes. In Clinton v. Jones, the court ruled unanimously that then-President Bill Clinton enjoyed no immunity from a civil suit brought against him by Paula Jones, alleging sexual advances by Clinton when he was governor of Arkansas. It also declined to defer the litigation until the end of Clinton's presidency, saying that was not constitutionally required either. The administration is expected to challenge any subpoena. Giuliani cited no precedent in support of his firmly stated views, though Hannity at one point referenced Harvard professor emeritus Alan Dershowitz. But even Dershowitz, who has advanced a controversially broad interpretation of the presidential privileges and has been critical of the Mueller probe, has said recently that he does not think Trump would win if he were to contest a subpoena. "He can argue you can't subpoena a president in a criminal case in front of a grand jury," Dershowitz said on Fox News's "America's Newsroom" earlier this week. "He would probably lose on that broad issue." LITCHFIELD Art teacher Robin Christophers family can keep a secret. For weeks they knew that she had been named the Best Teacher of the Year for Regional School District No. 6. But a slew of winter storms caused the awards ceremony to be delayed about six times. It was finally held last month, but those in the know still didnt even hint to Christopher that she was the recipient. Christopher has taught at Wamogo Regional High School for six years and in the Region 6 district for 16. During a reporters visit to her classroom this week, students were working on individual projects such as ceiling tile art. Were repurposing the tiles. They go in the hallway ceilings, said senior Miranda Calhoun. She used a sponge brush to paint figures of flying pigs over a blue background. Calhoun said Christopher offers helpful suggestions. She shows me step-by-step and gives me good criticism, she said. Calhoun first had Christopher as a teacher in kindergarten. A graduate of the Parsons School of Design in New York City, Christopher earned a bachelors degree and then a masters degree in early childhood education. I like to promote an atmosphere where students feel respected and welcome. Their time in art class is like a therapy session, its comfortable, Christopher said. Sophomore Destiny Fuller heads to the art room as often as she can, including during a mini-study hall after lunch. She received an honorable mention award in January from the Connecticut Scholastic Art & Writing Award contest. I used a Sharpie to make dots on tiny squares; it is pointillism, Fuller said. The piece, called, Good Manners, depicts a surprised face of a young woman. Its clear that Christopher is proud of her students accomplishments. Her love of art comes in part from her father, Jim Christopher, who taught art at Litchfields Center School. I started my day as a kid in his art classroom as he was setting up (for class), she said. By winning the district award, Christopher is now eligible to enter the state-wide contest. The winner will be announced in the next school year. Its nice to be nominated, but this is not just one person. We work collaboratively. Its team work that makes us look so good, she said. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said Christopher has been working in the Region 6 school system for seven years. She has been working in the district for 16 years, since 2002. WASHINGTON At the Waldington Farm, customers can choose from 21 varieties of heirloom tomatoes. But Will OMeara, the 24-year-old assistant manager at the Litchfield County farm, cant choose to own his own agricultural business. Thats because his student loan debt is nearly $59,000, with a monthly loan payment of $670. My end goal is to own a farm. But purchasing or renting land in difficult, OMeara said, given his debt load. To make farm ownership an achievable goal for recent college graduates, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., has introduced legislation to support beginning farmers who have less than 10 years of experience. The Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act calls on the Senate to help young farmers to grow a successful business. Murphy met with about a dozen young farmers in the farm store building to learn more about the difficulties they face. He told the group that he is still paying off his student loan. Im one of the few members of Congress to have a student loan payment, he said. The impetus for the bill, in part, is the growing number of young people who are choosing to be farmers, Murphy said. Theres been a turnaround trajectory of farm growth in the last 10 years, he noted. There are now 33 percent more farmers in Connecticut than a decade ago. Murphy said it is important for legislators to think about policies that would support an increase in local agriculture. It makes sense to feed the renaissance of young farmers in Connecticut, he said. He sees farming as a public service, in line with the teaching profession in which some teachers receive loan forgiveness for working in low-income schools. The proposed loan-forgiveness legislation comes as Congress takes up the 2018 Farm Bill, which Murphy thinks could go to a vote in early 2019. He asked the group what wording they would like to see included in the proposed legislation. One item discussed was an update of the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, which provides $500 million in financial and technical assistance to help conserve agricultural lands and wetlands. Chelsea Gazillo, of the American Farmland Trust, said the program should only apply to farm land and not forest lands. This is not a budget buster for the farm bill, Murphy said. Jed Borkon, the farm manager at Waldington Farm, said college students are learning about sustainable agriculture. Theyre taking (it) in school. Theyre applying it, but it is very difficult to obtain land, especially with student loan debt. Im familiar with the challenge of farming. Im the wife of a farmer, said Susan Paxton. In a news release, Murphy wrote that between 2007 and 2012, the state saw a 15 percent increase in beginning farmers, the largest increase in the country. Correction: This story has been updated to correct the total given in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program . A court in Cambodia has sentenced Hun Chea, a nephew of Prime Minister Hun Sen, to 18 months in prison following a whirlwind trial that took place on the same day he was arrested for firing a gun during a domestic dispute. Hun Chea, who is also a three-star general, had been drinking on the evening of May 1, when he fired off at least 10 rounds near his home in the capital Phnom Penhs Daun Penh district, according to local authorities. He was arrested the following morning, sent to the Ministry of Interior for questioning, and was in trial by afternoon at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court, where Judge Ros Piseth handed him the 18-month sentence for making death threats and intentionally damaging property. The Phnom Penh Post quoted Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak as saying Hun Chea had shot into the air and that no one was hurt during the incident. It was not immediately clear who he had threatened or what property was damaged. Sok Eysan, spokesman for Hun Sens ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP), told RFAs Khmer Service that anyone who breaks a law shall be held accountable before the law, adding that the courts decision showed authorities are working to ensure that our laws are implemented, and that such arrests are not influenced by anyone. The speed with which Hun Chea was arrested, tried, and sentenced, is a rarity of in Cambodias court system, where legal cases routinely drag on for months. Phnom Penh Municipal Court spokesman Y Rin told the Post that, in Hun Cheas case, authorities invoked a provision which allows the court to open a hearing immediately if the prosecutor has all of the evidence needed to convicta procedure that legal expert Sok Sam Oeun confirmed exists, but said is used infrequently because there are very few cases like that. Repeat offender Hun Chea, the son of Hun Sens older brother, Hun San, had numerous run-ins with the law from 2000-2011including as the result of his alleged involvement with his cousin Hun To in a 2001 shooting incident in the capital that left two people injured. While the cousins were briefly jailed, the case against them was dropped due to insufficient evidence that they were in possession of weapons at the time. In 2008, he was involved in a hit-and-run accident that left a motorist dead. Despite several arrests, Hun Chea has always been released after a brief detention, and any charges against him have been dropped. San Chey, the executive director for the Affiliated Network for Social Accountability (ANSA), said he found it amusing that Hun Sen had promoted his nephew to the rank of three-star general, despite his legal history. He called on authorities to ensure that cases facing Hun Sens relatives are addressed seriously and that Hun Chea serve out his sentence. Hun Cheas conviction is likely to frustrate the prime minister ahead of general elections set for July 29, which the CPP has sought to legitimize, despite a Supreme Court ruling in November that dissolved its only real challengerthe opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)for its alleged role in a plot to topple the government. The court ruling also comes months after Hun Sen ordered authorities to shoot on sight Hun Sans son-in-law Thai Pany if he resisted arrest, following the bust of two large cockfighting rings he was alleged to operate. Thai Pany, also known as Thai Mab, was detained and charged in December 2017. A July 2016 report by London-based Global Witness found that Hun Sens family members are amassing vast personal fortunes in Cambodias private sector, and wield significant control across most of its lucrative industries, and they have been accused of exploiting their status to bypass the countrys laws. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Germany-based writer Liao Yiwu has released a recording of a phone call with Liu Xia, widow of late Nobel peace laureate and political prisoner Liu Xiaobo, amid growing calls for her release from house arrest at her Beijing home. Liu Xia has been under house arrest since the announcement of her late husbands Nobel prize in October 2010, sparking an international public outcry. She has repeatedly asked to be allowed to leave China, possibly for Germany or the United States, but the ruling Chinese Communist Party appears reluctant to allow this to happen. Liao released a recording of the seven-minute phone call with Liu Xia, with her consent, to highlight her growing psychological distress. She has already been diagnosed with clinical depression. "The German Embassy knows my situation ... so why does it keep on asking me to do these documents over and over again?" a sobbing Liu asks him in the recording. "I am incommunicado; I have no cell phone and no computer. They know I don't have these things, but they keep asking for them anyway." "Are you recording this? I am at my wits' end. I might as well die here," she says. "I'll just die and forget the whole thing. They know very well that I don't have any of this stuff." Liu said she is ready to leave China at a moment's notice. "When I got the call from the German Embassy, I started packing up my things," she says. "I haven't delayed the process in any way. But they are insisting that I do things that I have no way of doing." Reports emerged earlier this year that Chinese officials may be getting ready to allow Liu Xia to leave the country. Rights groups say she currently remains in a state of de facto incommunicado detention, cut off from the outside world and barred from making her own free decisions about where to go, or whom to associate with. In talks with China An official source in the German Foreign Ministry confirmed it is in talks with China about Liu. "The German Government has been discussing the case of Liu Xia with the Chinese Government and will continue to do so," the source said. "According to the information available to us, Liu Xia has not been accused of any crime. She should be allowed to travel, also for humanitarian considerations," the source said. "Should she choose to come to Germany, Liu Xia would be welcome here at any time." Liao told RFA that the German government is very concerned for Liu Xia. "Chancellor Angela Merkel is extremely concerned about the situation, and there have been very positive moves from the German Foreign Ministry," he said. "They have been in talks for a long time now, and actually the Chinese side has agreed [to allow Liu Xia to go to Germany] but they keep delaying the process." "So things have dragged on until now, and now Liu Xia can't find the officials who made her those promises," he said. "There has been no explanation ... it's disgusting behavior." Emotional collapse He said he fears that Liu's mental health is deteriorating. "Liu Xia is in a state of total emotional collapse and despair," Liao said. "I thought that releasing this recording ... would illustrate that very clearly." He said Liu had also expressed the desire to "use her death as a protest" in a recording made on Monday. "If Liu Xia wants to do this, then I think a change of strategy is called for, because previously ... we took a very low-key approach regarding everything that was going on behind the scenes," Liao said. "We believed we were following protocol, whether it was mine with the German government or Liu Xia's conversations with the state security police over there." "But it seems that our goodwill has been repaid with ill-intention, and that the Chinese Communist Party is playing a very dirty game, by dragging things out for so long." A U.S. State Department spokesperson told RFA by e-mail that Liu Xia's freedom to move around within China and her right to leave the country are being "inappropriately restricted." Emotional collapse Guangdong-based writer Ye Du, a close friend of Liu Xia's, said her situation looks far less hopeful than it did when he last spoke to her. "The last time [we were in touch], Liu Xia seemed pretty confident that she would leave China, so her mood had improved considerably," Ye said. "At the time, the Chinese government had guaranteed that she would be allowed to leave." But he said he fears Liu Xia may now face a backlash from the authorities over the recording. "I think there will be a negative impact on Liu Xia," he said. Beijing-based rights activist Hu Jia said he is particularly worried that Liu may attempt suicide. "Liu Xia has talked about dying before. She lives on the fifth floor, and she has been suffering for so many years now," Hu said. "Our worst fear is that she may suddenly get to a psychological dead end, and attempt it." Liu Xiaobo died last July, weeks after being diagnosed with late-stage liver cancer, and after repeated requests from his family to seek medical treatment overseas were ignored. Police have since detained a number of activists who staged memorials in his honor, and his name is still a banned search term on China's tightly controlled internet. Reported by Wen Yuqing, Dai Weisen, Ho Shan, Ng Yik-tung and Yeung Mok for RFAs Cantonese Service, and by Lin Ping for the Mandarin Service.Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Chinese police order foreign journalists to leave the street opposite the Beijing No. 3 Intermediate People's Court where the trial of veteran former journalist Gao Yu on charges of leaking state secrets is taking place in Beijing, Nov. 21, 2014. As the ruling Chinese Communist Party achieves almost total control of all forms of news and information seen by its citizens, concerns are growing that the government will soon extend its reach to people's private thoughts and actions, and possibly across the internal immigration border into Hong Kong. While military and intelligence-related topics have long been highly restricted, and anti-corruption and pro-democracy voices are largely silenced in China, the administration of President Xi Jinping has been broadening the reach of government censorship to include proactive attempts to control what people think and do most of the time. A journalist from the northwestern region of Gansu surnamed Wu told RFA on Thursday, which is World Press Freedom Day, that the traditional media has effectively been totally neutralized since Xi came to power. "There is no media law, and so the media have no freedom of speech," Wu said. "Instead, the media has been enslaved, ravaged and trampled underfoot." "Journalists can be arrested at any time, or lose their freedom at any time," he said. He said the controls seem to grow ever-tighter, year after year. "There is no doubt about it that things have gotten worse," Wu said. "There used to be a bit of leeway, but no the authorities give none at all." A Shandong journalist surnamed Zhang said many of his colleagues had long since given up any idea of carrying out their profession in any meaningful way, and have resigned themselves to being tools of the system. "When such a phenomenon becomes universal, there is no such thing as news values anymore," Zhang said. "A lot of journalists are just seeing their job as a meal ticket now and nothing more." Liu Kaiming, who directs the Institute of Contemporary Observation in the southern city of Shenzhen, said that traditional media controls have also expanded to include minutely managed control over what social media users can see and say online. "Everyone knows that it's much, much tighter than before," Liu said. "It's incredibly common to get your social media posts deleted nowadays, or for your account to be shut down, that's so common." Micro-targeting online activities The government's technological dominance within China's borders suggests that it can exert control over social media even more closely than it once did traditional media, through "micro-targeting" of people's online activities, according to Hong Kong-based scholars. King-wa Fu, associate professor at Hong Kong University's Journalism and Media Studies Centre (JMSC), said the government had only begun to aim for total control of the internet after President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012. "The watershed years were 2012, 2013, 2014, just after Xi Jinping took power," Fu said. "It was Xi who set up the Central Cybersecurity and Informatization Group, which he led himself, and from that point onward there was a huge sea change in policy." "Before then, they would only start restricting [the internet] after something happened, but at that time they set up an entire infrastructure [for controlling it]," he said. "And it's not just monitoring and control; the government uses it to initiate propaganda and to boost Xi Jinping's personal image and its own policies," he said, adding that the government is now using new channels and websites to put out its message in disguised form. "They have set up various new media organizations, because people have lost trust in the traditional media ... These appear on the face of it to be non-mainstream, but in fact they are also being controlled [by the government]." He said media controls are no longer limited to a list of topics deemed "sensitive" by the government, but are morphing into a nationwide monitoring and censorship system targeting individual thoughts and actions. "It's not just sensitive areas anymore; it extends into every area," Fu said. He said the recent introduction of a "social credit" scoring system using an individual's data to grant or deny certain privileges, such as buying a plane ticket, was a perfect example. "There is data from everything in there, to the extent that the social credit system will mean less freedom in people's lives: to buy tickets; take a course of study; leave the country; it will all become more difficult," he said. Digital dictatorship Hong Kong University research Leung Kai Chi said that mainland China is now in the grip of a "digital dictatorship." "People need to realize that they leave a huge digital footprint just living their daily lives, and that these data can be used by a third party to figure out what they are doing," Leung said. "You will realize that there is someone you have never met before who knows you better than you know yourself," he said. "Information is power, and it can be very bad when such information gets used by powerful people." Official media reported in March that China is on track to complete a nationwide facial recognition and surveillance network, achieving near-total surveillance of urban residents, including in their homes via smart TVs and smartphones, by 2020. The nationwide "Sharp Eyes" platform will be able to link up public surveillance cameras and those installed in smart devices in the home, to a nationwide network for viewing in real time by anyone who is given access. Hong Kong-based online news editor Chung Pui-kuen said Beijing also has the technological know-how to bring that entire suite of surveillance and proactive thought control across the international immigration border to Hong Kong. "A year ago I might have said that was far-fetched, but now ... they are already planning to pass Article 23 laws [banning subversion and sedition], so speech crimes will become part of our legal system," Chung said. "We won't enjoy the same freedom of the press after Article 23 that we have now." "Technologically speaking, they totally have this capability," he said. "The question is whether or not they deploy it in Hong Kong, and looking at where we are today, I can't be sure that they won't." The city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, requires the city to legislate against "treason, sedition and subversion" and crimes relating to national security, but also protects the right of Hong Kong citizens to freedom of speech. But last month, a pro-Beijing political activist reported prominent law professor and rights activist Benny Tai to police for "sedition" over speculative comments he made relating to possible independence for the city, as Beijing stepped up its campaign to ban any talk of autonomy for the city. Reported by Qiao Long for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Lam Kwok-lap for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Chinese internet censors have begun deleting video featuring the animated pink Peppa Pig from online video sites, as the ruling Chinese Communist Party's official media denounced her as "counter-cultural" after her image was taken up in numerous memes by what the authorities see as an online counter-culture. Peppa Pig has been subject to takedowns on the Douyin video platform, while a keyword search and a hashtag of her name yielded no results. The move came as part of a drive to delete antisocial content from China's already tightly controlled internet, the Global Times newspaper, sister paper to party mouthpiece the People's Daily, reported. Peppa Pig only "broke" in China in 2015, but was quickly taken up by netizens as a perfect vehicle for memes. The Global Times described the meme-makers as "unruly slackers" who are "usually poorly educated with no stable job." "It takes a stretch of the imagination to link the seemingly innocent Peppa Pig with China's ... subculture, but after going viral, the piglet has caused considerable domestic controversies," the paper said, warning of "negative influence" to the younger generation. Parents had complained that their children had become addicted to the show, and had begun "oinking and jumping into puddles" after watching it, the paper said, citing numerous media reports. Primary and high-school students vied with each other to find the best Peppa temporary tattoos, watches and other accessories, while adults have been spotted dressing up in full Peppa costumes and posting photos to social media. But the real concern for the administration of President Xi Jinping is the widespread enjoyment of "spoofing," and other forms of satire, according to the Global Times. A homegrown pig icon, Dudu Pig, has been offered to China's social media users instead. "It is not clear yet whether this domestic pig can quell subversive enthusiasm for Peppa Pig," the Global Times reported. Meanwhile, the People's Daily appeared not to have received the memo detailing the social harm that could be caused by Peppa. Its official account on the Sina Weibo social media platform featured a video demonstration on Tuesday, showing readers how to draw the cartoon character themselves. Commentators appeared somewhat surprised, as the paper had commented in an April 26 editorial that "dodgy entrepreneurs" were making money from the use of the copyrighted image of the cartoon pig. "Has the People's Daily account been hacked?" wrote user @tiebanshangdedalongxia, while @strive-by-life wrote: "I thought Peppa Pig had been banned?" Others couldn't resist a jibe at the party's official newspaper. "So the People's Daily is counter-cultural now?" wrote user @beijingtufa, while user @manweikengli quipped: "So this is the Subversive People's Daily now, haha!" Sharing suppressed An internet user based in the southern city of Guangzhou surnamed Liang said the government is trying to police every aspect of online speech in China now. "If something displeases those in authority, they will deliberately suppress interactive sharing platforms and have it deleted," Liang said. "The social media platforms have no choice, if they want to go on existing." "There's nothing they can do about it; they just have to keep their mouths shut," he said. A Hunan-based internet user surnamed Ou said his son watches Peppa Pig most days, but that the appeal appears to be spreading. "I see the image of Peppa Pig in various situations in my daily life," Ou said. "I think it is something to do with Winnie the Pooh ... who was used by some people online to satirize Xi Jinping. Maybe the censoring of Peppa Pig has something to do with that." Winnie the Pooh was banned from China's internet last year, after netizens claimed a resemblance between the cuddly bear and Xi Jinping. An employee who answered the phone at China's powerful Cyberspace Administration in Beijing on Wednesday declined to comment. "You'll have to make further inquiries," the employee said. "I don't know." Calls to the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television were connected to a fax machine during office hours on Wednesday. Reported by Wong Lok-to for RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. North Korean party workers and other members of the countrys elite given coupons for meals at high-end restaurants in Pyongyang are now offering them for sale on the black market, earning instant cash and driving prices up for less-privileged residents of the capital, North Korean sources say. Especially popular are coupons for meals at Pyongyangs Okryu-gwan restaurant, which serves a well-known cold noodle dish, one source living in the capital told RFAs Korean Service. However, famous restaurants like this and the restaurant at the Koryo Hotel are not easy places for the general public to visit if they dont have the right family or social background, RFAs source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Coupons for lunch at the Okryu-gwan, which serves an estimated 4,000-5,000 helpings of the restaurants coveted signature dish each day, are distributed each month to party officials, factory managers, and others rewarded by the government for their work, the source said. But these officials then sell their coupons to merchants on the black market, who offer them to the public at prices dozens of times higher than the national standard price, he said, adding that coupons for dishes valued at 300 North Korean won (U.S. $0.04) can be resold for 10,000 won (U.S. $1.25). Higher-ranking officials, who are often issued several coupons to distribute to lower-ranking workersnot just for Okryu-gwan but for other famous restaurantsoften pocket these and sell them all, earning even more, the source said. And because merchants on the black market are protected by the officials, they can openly sell meal coupons right outside the restaurants, he said. Gaming the system Also speaking to RFA, a second source in Pyongyang said that food supplies for the Koryo Hotel and high-end restaurants such as Okryu-gwan and Chongryu-gwan are provided by the state, enabling party officials in the capital to take advantage of the system and confiscate meal coupons for their own enrichment. The [ruling Korean Workers Partys] Central Committee says that these coupons for meals and beer demonstrate the states care for its workers, and that people should therefore be loyal to the party, but the people openly laugh at this, he said. Meanwhile, ordinary workers recognized as outstanding in the performance of their duties now receive only about one coupon each year, he said. And they say that people who buy meals on the black market with the money they earn on their own are smarter than those who wait for meal coupons to be distributed by the state, he said. Reported by Hyemin Son for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Richard Finney. Journalists stage a protest to demand the release of detained Reuters journalists Thet Oo Maung and Kyaw Soe Oo (pictured on posters in rear) in Pyay, south-central Myanmar's Bago region, Dec. 27, 2017. Some countries in East and Southeast Asia have little to celebrate on this years World Press Freedom Day, with the media worse off than they were a year ago as journalists face more instances of harassment, lawsuits, and even detention. On Wednesday, a civil society coalition led by PEN Myanmar issued a scorecard noting a significant lack of progress in making key reforms to secure free expression in Myanmar and backsliding in other areas, such as freedom of assembly, speech, and opinion. Concurrently, a national survey of more than 200 journalists conducted by Free Expression Myanmar found that media professionals believe that press freedom is in decline on account of the government and the military. Both reports noted an increase in legal threats against journalists, harassment and imprisonment of media professionals, reporting restrictions preventing journalists from entering conflict areas, and a lack of changes to media laws and institutions as reasons for the decline. Working journalists believe that media freedom has declined over the past year, and that the government, including the military, has shown little willingness to reverse this trend said Yin Yadanar Thein, program manager of free Expression Myanmar, in a statement. We call on the government to develop a plan of action to increase media freedom in a holistic way, including changing laws as well as the behaviors of public officials, he said. Myanmar in its second year of civilian government rule under State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi saw a decline in press freedom, with a six-point drop in ranking over the last year in an annual survey released in April by Paris-based press rights group Reporters Without Borders (RSF). We expected very much for press freedom under civilian government, but it turned out the opposite of what we expected, said Lut Latt Soe, a joint secretary of the Myanmar Journalists Association and editor-in-chief of Peoples Age online journal. We have more challenges and risks with digital platforms than before, she said. But, the NLD government still has three years to go. If it can start working on media freedom, we can expect to have at least a little more media freedom. Eleven journalists were arrested last year in Myanmar, and 24 are currently facing lawsuits, with several on charges related to defamation, unlawful association, or violations of the countrys Media Law. Arrests and detentions Two reporters from Reuters news agency, meanwhile, remain in detention while on trial on charges of obtaining state secrets while investigating the murders of Rohingya Muslims by the Myanmar military during a crackdown in Rakhine state. Thet Oo Maung, also known as Wa Lone, and Kyaw Soe Oo were taken into custody on Dec. 12 on the outskirts of Yangon shortly after they had dinner with two police officers who gave them documents related to the violent campaign. They were formally charged on Jan. 10 and face up to 14 years in prison if found guilty. On Wednesday, Amnesty International called on the Myanmar government to immediately and unconditionally release the detained journalists and ensure that media workers in the country are able to exercise their right to freedom of expression and carry out peaceful journalistic work, including sensitive investigations, without fear of reprisal or arrest. In June 2017, authorities arrested three journalists for unlawful association for covering an event hosted by an armed militia in northeastern Shan state, but released them in September after charges against them were dropped. That same month, the editor-in-chief and satire writer of The Voice Daily newspaper were arrested and later charged with defamation for an article that mocked a military-produced propaganda film. The armed forces dropped the charges in September. Because of arrests, charges, and the sentencing of journalists in 2017 and the detentions of the Reuters reporters this year, Myanmar journalists are fearful, and this fear is spreading throughout their news offices, said Swe Win, editor-in-chief of the nonprofit independent Myanmar Now news service, who was charged with defamation after refusing to apologize for criticizing the extremist Buddhist monk Wirathu on Facebook. Because of this fear, many reporters and media are exercising self-censorship and avoiding sensitive news, he said. It hurts Myanmars media freedom because people lose their right of having information. If people dont know true information, how can we build a democratic country? More must be done Not everyone agrees with RSFs lower ranking of Myanmar in the group's latest World Press Freedom Index. Aung Hla Htun, Myanmars deputy information minister, said the current media situation is much better than it was when he worked as a reporter, but that work still must be done in the area of press freedom when the country was ruled by military governments. We have been abolishing and amending existing laws that counter press freedom and issuing new media laws, he told RFAs Myanmar Service. We were working during a time when we didnt have press freedom for 60 years, he said. We had to struggle to free ourselves from this situation. Aung Hla Htun went on to say that the Information Ministry and central government has not lost sight of journalists needs. I really believe that press freedom can raise our countrys dignity, foster more trust between people and the government, and stop corruption, he said. But having press freedom cant be done in a day. Myanmar writer and journalist Hane Latt expressed hope that the situation of the media in Myanmar would be better under new President Win Myint, the former speaker of the lower house of parliament who took office on March 30. We now have a new president who knows the law and who talked about respect for the media in his first speech, he said. He is the first president who mentioned the media in his [inauguration] speech. I hope our media world will change because he is a former political prisoner, a former house speaker who learned much about the people and the country through the parliament, and he has a law background. Former RFA journalists Yeang Sothearin (L) and Uon Chhin (R), in undated photos. Credit: RFA Harassment must end Over the past year, reporters and editors from independent news organizations in Cambodia were imprisoned on trumped-up charges of espionage as Hun Sen, the worlds longest-serving prime minister who has ruled the country since 1985, has cracked down on the media in the run-up to a general election in July. In September 2017, RFA closed its Phnom Penh bureau and ended in-country operations because the crackdown on independent media had made it impossible to continue operating in Cambodia, which fell 10 places to 142 on RSF's World Press Freedom Index. Independent English-language publication The Cambodia Daily was also forced to close and 15 radio stations were threatened with shutdowns unless they stopped broadcasting reports by U.S. government-funded RFA and Voice of America. Former RFA Khmer Service reporters Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin have been in detention since police took them into custody on espionage on Nov. 14, initially for allegedly running an unlicensed karaoke studio. They were later accused of setting up a studio for RFA and were formally charged with illegally collecting information for a foreign source under Article 445 of Cambodias criminal code, and face jail terms of up to 15 years. A consortium of local, regional, and international press rights groups issued a united call in February for their immediate release, saying their lengthy pretrial imprisonment has violated Cambodias constitutional right to freedom of expression. Awareness campaign In response to the current climate, the Cambodia Center for Human Rights (CCHR), an NGO that promotes democracy and respect for human rights throughout the country, launched a 30-day social-media campaign to raise awareness of how journalists and other media professional function as a watchdog on those in power. The theme is in keeping with the global theme of this years Worlds Press Freedom Day, Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice, and the Rule of Law, which also highlights the role of the press in elections to ensure transparency, accountability, and the rule of law. Press freedom is a crucial component of any healthy democracy, said Sorn Ramana, CCHRs protecting fundamental freedoms coordinator, in a statement. The open exchange of information and ideas, including in relation to political and social issues, is key to ensuring transparency, justice, and the rule of law. Moreover, the cultivation and protection of a free press is a key part of the governments obligations to protect the right to freedom of expression, as guaranteed under the Cambodian constitution and binding international human rights law, she said. However, recent events have seen these obligations disregarded, as Cambodian media actors have come under relentless pressure amid a crackdown on critical voices. The harassment of independent journalists and media outlets must end, she said. Access to independent information and a free media is in everyones interests, and vital to the future sustainable development of Cambodia. Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a message on Wednesday for World Press Freedom Day, which is held annually on May 3 to raise awareness about freedom of the press and to remind governments of their duty to uphold the right to freedom of expression under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To ensure that there is justice and the rule of law, media are required to continue to strive to improve the knowledge, faithfulness in profession, and brevity in reporting the truth that reflects the reality of the society, he said. Press freedom is better enjoyed in Cambodia than in some democratic countries in ASEAN, he said referring to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a regional grouping that promotes economic, political, and security cooperation among its 10 members. There are more than 6,000 registered national and international reporters in Cambodia. The Cambodian government has a technical working group looking into drafting a law to regulate fake news, similar to controversial legislation recently passed by Malaysias parliament, The Phnom Penh Post reported on April 6. Though it contains vague definitions as to what constitutes fake news, the Malaysian legislation gives the government broad powers to impose jail terms of up to six years and fines as high as U.S. $130,000 on those found guilty of creating or spreading inaccurate reports. The news media under the control of a communist or an authoritarian regime always produces fake news and manipulation in order to propagate and promote the regime and its leaders in deceitful way while attacking the opposition, Kul Panha, head of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (Comfrel), wrote on his Facebook page on Wednesday. Such news media cannot provide true information that is critical of the regime and its rulers, he said. Now, Hun Sen is considering a law against fake news. Actually, such a law should have been made to address his news media instead. Behind bars in China Meanwhile, the ruling Chinese Communist Party has 41 journalists behind bars as of November under the newly strengthened leadership of President Xi Jinping, New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said in its annual report issued in December. In March, the party ditched a constitutional clause limiting presidential service to two terms in office, clearing the way for Xi to serve for an indefinite period. In its annual report in December, CPJ pointed also to the use of medical neglect to target writers and journalists in jail and detention centers, citing the death of Nobel peace laureate and writer Liu Xiaobo in hospital under prison supervision last July, following a diagnosis with late-stage liver cancer. Writer and journalist Yang Tongyan, who was better known by his pen name Yang Tianshui, died in November under similar circumstances, shortly after release on medical parole with a serious brain tumor, the CPJ said. And Huang Qi, founder and editor-in-chief of the Tianwang rights website, has been held for more than a year on spying charges with repeated delays and inadequate medical treatment for his kidney disease. Fourteen of the 41 imprisoned are Uyghurs in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region, where authorities have extended their reach to include the relatives of six reporters from RFAs Uyghur Service who have been harassed or detained in re-education camps. On Wednesday, the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) called on the Chinese government to stop its intimidation of the RFA journalists, who have reported on excessive repression and incarceration of the mostly Muslim minority group, by targeting their family members. RFA has reported that hundreds of thousands of Uyghurs deemed suspicious by authorities have been forced into re-education camps in the Kashgar region where they receive political indoctrination in jail-like settings. Chinas record on press freedom is abysmal, said UHRP director Omer Kanat in a statement. The leading monitors of press freedom agree that China is one of the worst violators of the right to a free press within its borders. What is particularly concerning about the cases of the RFA Uyghur journalists is that China is now attempting to export its repression overseas, he said. The intimidation of the Uyghur journalists based in DC amounts to an attempt to restrict counter-narratives to the Chinese government propaganda that all is well in East Turkestan, he said, using the Uyghur name for Xinjiang. Tibetan Filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen is shown in San Francisco following his escape from Tibet, Dec. 26, 2017. Credit: Filming for Tibet Punished for simple expression Chinese authorities also maintain a firm grip on information control and dissemination by Tibetans who live in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in neighboring provinces. As elsewhere in China, those who violate censorship policy have increasingly been subject to surveillance and arrest over the past 18 months. That is certainly the case in Tibet [with] more people being detained, punished, and even prosecuted, because of communications over WeChat, said Sarah Cook, a senior researcher at Freedom House, referring to a Chinese messaging app. China enacted a new Cybersecurity Law in June 2017 and other new regulations restricting online communications and the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) under which bloggers and social media users have been arrested or sentenced to prison for online comments critical of the government or in support of human rights. There is no good explanation for why people would be punished for simple expression, said Michael Kozak, a senior advisor in the U.S. State Departments Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. Tibetans, for instance, are not permitted to disseminate information that is sensitive to the Chinese government, said Dhondup Wangchen, a Tibetan filmmaker and former political prisoner, who jailed for six years for his role in producing the documentary film Leaving Fear Behind, which contains interviews with Tibetans describing the harsh conditions of their lives under Chinese rule. One will be arrested and prosecuted if any information that is dispersed goes against the regime, he said. Tibetans know the risk of being prosecuted if they are caught giving out information about Tibet to the outside world. I was sentenced to six years for giving out information. The crackdown on information dissemination has grown worse in the past decade, he said It was easy to get details of news information within 24 hours from eastern Tibet in 2008 and the year after when self-immolations were taking place in Ngaba [(in Chinese, Aba) county in southwestern Chinas Sichuan Province] and in [northwestern Chinas] Qinghai province, said Lobsang Yeshi, a Tibetan monk from the Kirti monastery in Sichuan province who lives in exile in Dharamsala, India, referring to Tibetans setting themselves ablaze in protest against Chinese policies. But lately it has become so hard to get exact information from the region, he said. Nowadays, the information we receive on certain things are month old. Its all due to the Chinese clampdown. Meanwhile, despite Chinas increased efforts to suppress pro-democracy factions in Hong Kong, the former British colony rose three places to 70 in the latest RSFs World Press Freedom Index. Though violence against journalists has all but stopped, the Hong Kong media continues to be subject to growing interference by Chinese authorities, making it difficult for them to cover topics related to governance on the island or in mainland China, RSF said on its rankings website. But several independent online media have pushed back hard to resist Beijings meddling. The resistance is being led by a handful of independent online media such as Citizen News, the Initium, Hong Kong Free Press, and inMedia, RSF said. After years of fighting, these new online outlets finally obtained official recognition by the authorities last year. A terrible situation Not much changed over the past year in Vietnam, Laos and North Korea, which continued to fall close to or at the very bottom of RSFs annual press freedom ranking on account of severe restricted or nonexistent press freedom. In Vietnam, authorities routinely use catch-all articles of the criminal code punishable by long prison terms against bloggers and citizen-journalists critical of the one-party regime to stifle dissent. As the media all take their orders from the Communist Party, the only sources of independently-reported information are bloggers and citizen-journalists, who are being subjected to ever-harsher forms of persecution including violence by plainclothes policemen, RSF said of Vietnam, which was ranked at 175 of 180 countries. After hardliners got control of the party leadership, 2017 saw a marked increase in the level of terror, with many citizen-journalists either expelled or jailed in connection with their posts, the group said, citing two women bloggers, Tranh Thi Nga and Me Nam, who were sentenced to nine and 10 years in prison, respectively, in 2017. The Lao government, meanwhile, wont allow foreign new organizations, except those from fellow communist states China and Vietnam, to set up bureaus in the country. And the foreign journalists who do operate in Laos must submit the content of their reports to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before publication, Daniel Bastard, Head of RSF's Asia-Pacific desk, told RFAs Lao Service in April that The Lao government strictly controls the press, he said. The government should allow foreign and independent reporters to establish offices in Laos without any government control, he said. Bounthone Chanthalavong-Wise, president of the Alliance for Democracy in Laos, told RFA that restrictions on the press also extend to others, such as ordinary citizens and workers who take to the internet to express their displeasure with the government. Laotians dont have freedom to express themselves, to gather together and protest, he said, noting that three workers were arrested last year after they protested in front of the Lao embassy in Bangkok and posted comments critical of the Lao government on Facebook. In 2016, Bounthanh Thammavong, a Lao-Polish man, was sentenced by a Lao court to four years and nine months in jail for posting negative comments about the Lao government online. There is no free press in Laos, Phil Robertson, deputy director of the Asia division at New York-based Human Rights Watch. All TVs, radios and newspapers are strictly controlled by government, and Lao people turn to social media such as Facebook to express themselves. But many Laotians are warned at an early age not to be openly critical of the one-party government in speech or in writing. Our parents keep teaching us not to speak against high-level [authorities], said a young resident of Laos capital Vientiane. In other words, we are taught from our childhood until adulthood both at home and in schools not to express ourselves freely. Worst of the worst North Korean authorities have maintained their tight grip on the authoritarian countrys repressive media environment, despite leader Kim Jong Uns summit with President Moon Jae-in of rival South Korea on April 27 and his expected meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump later this month or in early June. Authorities confine residents who have had contact with media outside the isolated nation to labor camps. [I]t is not getting any better; it is a terrible situation, Bastard told RFAs Korean Service in April. Unlike Laos, North Korea has allowed only a few foreign news agencies to set up bureaus in the country. But Bastard noted that the country does not even guarantee freedom of the press for the outlets, including Agence France-Presse, one of the three largest news organizations in the world, which has operated a bureau in Pyongyang since September 2016. AFP mostly reports information that it receives from the North Korean government, he said. It is very difficult to directly get any information from North Korean residents. They [reporters] have to be very careful about what they write what the Pyongyang office writes because if it really displeases North Korean authorities, then the bureau can be closed. Reported and translated by RFAs Myanmar, Khmer, Tibetan, Lao, and Korean Services. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. It encapsulated Sarajevo's post-World War II boom -- the icing on the cake, so to speak, of an expanding, prosperous, and confident city that was always multicultural and increasingly cosmopolitan. In its window displays, Viennese tarts jostled with baklavas of Middle Eastern origin alongside the owner's original, delectable creations. The war that began in 1992 forced its proprietors into exile, but its reopening in 2016 had seemed like a sign of a city recovering some of its prewar cheer and sophistication. Now, as the Jadranka cake shop closes its doors for good, many argue that something essential about the city is being lost along with it. Growing up in the same neighborhood in the second half of the 1950s, I remember the Sachertortes and mushroom-shaped cakes, among other things; the best chestnut puree in the city was served in winter. But above all, I remember the pastry shop's owner, Nikola Bukvic, who invariably let us kids sample the cookies for free as a reward for good grades in school. Birthdays, weddings, funerals -- no important occasion was complete without Nikola's cakes. It was the first successful "family business" in the Grbavica neighborhood, which was then -- in the mid-1950s -- a giant construction site. Grbavica was a typical socialist housing project, made up of five- to six-story apartment buildings that passed for "high-rises." The architecture of the new urban landscape of Grbavica was not particularly inspiring, but people came from all corners of Sarajevo for Nikola's cakes. Like so many others who drove the city's postwar recovery and growth, Nikola came from elsewhere -- in his case, he and his family had moved to Sarajevo from Kosovo. Yet his pastry shop brought a decidedly Mittel-European ambience to Grbavica, a neighborhood being built for the new Yugoslav elite. Sarajevan novelist Miljenko Jergovic wrote in his requiem for the Jadranka pastry shop: "Although the multiculturalism of the Sarajevan pastry makers of yesteryear -- the end of which is marked by the closure of Jadranka -- was rooted in the fusion of the oriental and the urbane, Jadranka was a blend and not merely the coexistence [side by side] of various ethnicities: The baklava was no more a Muslim symbol than the cakes and tarts were Christian. In any case, the city's inhabitants who had brought the tradition of cake-making belonged to all faiths and ethnicities, and those who had brought baklava with them from the orient belonged to all faiths and ethnicities." Jergovic said he felt that the real reason for the closure of the famed pastry shop -- which shut its doors in the first week of April -- was the "broken chain of remembrance" of a city whose defining characteristic had been an effortless blending of traditions. From Sugary Dreams To Nightmares... Sasa Bukvic, the son of Jadranka founder Nikola, explained that business had been slow for the past three years and that the time had come to admit defeat. From his father he inherited a talent for baking cakes, but sculpture is his second great passion. One of Sasa Bukvic's artistic creations in the realm of pastry-making that remained in popular memory, albeit for the wrong reasons, was a cake he made not long before the war in the shape of Yugoslavia, topped with red gelatin and strawberries. Photographs of the cake appeared on the cover of the Sarajevo magazine Lica (Faces); because of the conflict that soon followed, the image of Sasa Bukvic's cake was interpreted as presaging the war and the bloody disintegration of Yugoslavia. As propitiously chosen and happy as the surroundings of the Jadranka pastry shop had been in post-World War II Sarajevo, in the midst of a booming urban neighborhood that housed the new country's elite, so in the Bosnian war of the 1990s Grbavica became a place of death and destruction, a sort of prison camp for its inhabitants. Jadranka was located in the only part of the urban core that was under Serbian occupation in 1992-95 (Serbian forces were mainly entrenched in the hills surrounding the city) and 500 meters from the front line between Serbian forces and the Bosnian Army. Some of the worst atrocities perpetrated during the conflict were committed in Grbavica -- against its non-Serbian inhabitants but also against Serbs who tried to defend their Muslim neighbors. Sasa Bukvic managed to escape from Grbavica at the start of the war, and emigrated to Canada with his family. Even though he was able to renew both his great passions in his new home -- pastry making and sculpture -- he returned to Sarajevo in 2007. He reassembled Jadranka's original staff, renovated the old space that had been damaged by the fighting, and reopened for business. He also revived another tradition -- that of using the profits of his pastry business to fund a group of which he was a founding member, called Zvono, dedicated to the promotion of art and culture. The reopening of Jadranka in 2016 was hailed as a sure sign that wartime divisions had been bridged, that life was returning to its prewar patterns, and that Sarajevo was in the process of renewing its civil society and urban values. Now, with its second and seemingly final closure, Jadranka may serve instead as the most poignant testament to how much easier it is to repair buildings in the aftermath of the war than it is to rebuild society. The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect those of RFE/RL Britain's Foreign Office says a U.K. citizen reportedly arrested in Iran is not currently being detained by authorities there. An independent news site, IranWire, reported the arrest of a dual British-Iranian national named Mahan Abedin on May 2, citing an unidentified source in Tehran. Asked on May 3 about Abedin's arrest, the British Foreign Office said it was "aware of media reports of the arrest of a British citizen in Iran." But a Foreign Office spokesman said British officials had been "in contact" with Abedins family and they "confirmed that he is not currently in detention." IranWire said Abedin worked as a security analyst but did not specify when or where he was arrested or where he lived. The report indicated that Abedin was visiting Iran when he was taken into custody. British officials also say they are seeking information about the reported detention in Iran of Aras Amiri, a London-based Iranian citizen who is employed by the British Council. The British Council, which promotes cultural ties between Britain and other countries, said on May 2 that it was aware that Amiri, 32, had been detained while she was visiting her family in Iran. "Despite an assertion that this individual has travelled to Iran for work, this is not the case," the British Council said. IranWire, created by Iranian-Canadian journalist and former detainee Maziar Bahari, reported that Amiri was detained by Iranian authorities on March 14. It said her parents had initially declined to go public about her detention. The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI) said on April 25 that Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) also detained Abbas Edalat, a British-Iranian national who is a professor of computer science at Imperial College in London, in mid-April. At least three other British-Iranian dual citizens are known to be held in Iran. With reporting by Reuters, IranWire, AP, and The Guardian This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. The Supreme Court of the Chechen Republic will hear an appeal on May 3 in the case of Oyub Titiyev, a prominent human rights defender who has spent nearly four months in detention on drug charges that associates say were fabricated. Amnesty International on May 2 called on Russian authorities to "immediately and unconditionally" release Titiyev, who heads the Chechen office of Memorial, Russias leading human rights organization. Denis Krivosheev, a deputy director at Amnesty, in a statement called Titiyev's continued detention and prosecution "an affront to justice, human rights, and the rule of law in Russia." He said Titiyev, 60, for years "worked tirelessly to help victims of grave human rights abuses in Chechnya and beyond. Now he is paying with his own freedom for his work." Titiyev was stopped in his car and detained by police on January 9. Chechen authorities later said that drugs had been found in his car. Titiyev denied the allegations and he and Memorial insisted the bag of marijuana was planted. The Shali City Court in Chechnya ordered Titiyev's pretrial detention on drug possession charges on January 11. He has remained in custody ever since. A district court in Grozny extended Titiyevs detention for an additional month on April 25. If convicted, Titiyev faces a maximum 10-year prison sentence. Western governments have also voiced concern about Titiyev's case and called for his release. In recent years, Memorial has been the target of multiple attacks. Shortly after Titiyevs detention, the Memorial office in Nazran, Ingushetia, was burned down. The perpetrators have not been identified. On March 28, Sirazhutdin Datsiyev, the head of Memorials office in Daghestan, was severely beaten by an unknown man. Memorial said the attack was "linked to his professional activity." SIMFEROPOL, Ukraine -- The Russia-controlled Supreme Court of Crimea has upheld a suspended two-year prison sentence for a Crimean Tatar activist who opposes Moscow's rule in the Ukrainian region. The court ruled on May 3 that a previous decision by a court in the city of Feodosia on March 1 that found Suleyman Kadyrov guilty of "publicly instigating to the violation of Russia's territorial integrity" was right. The May 3 ruling also barred Kadyrov from "public activities" for one year, a sentence that prevents him from taking part in demonstrations. The charge stems from Kadyrov's 2016 reposting of a video on Facebook about a pro-Ukrainian volunteer military unit and a comment he added to the video that said, "Crimea was, is, and will always be Ukraine!" Kadyrov pleaded not guilty, arguing that he has the right to express his opinion. Rights groups and Western governments have denounced what they call a campaign of repression targeting members of the Turkic-speaking Crimean Tatar minority and others who opposed Moscow's seizure of the Black Sea peninsula in March 2014. The majority of Crimean Tatars opposed the Russian takeover of their historic homeland. In March last year, the European Parliament called on Russia to free more than 30 Ukrainian citizens it said were in prison or under restricted freedom in Russia, Crimea, and parts of eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists. BRUSSELS -- EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini has voiced concern over the slow pace of an investigation into the disappearance in 2014 of more than $1 billion from Moldova's banking system. Mogherini on May 3 said at a joint news conference with visiting Moldovan Prime Minister Pavel Filip that "investigations must be thorough and comprehensive with the view to recovering the misappropriated funds and to bringing all those responsible to justice irrespective of their status or political affiliation." Moldova was thrown into political and economic turmoil after the disappearance of more than $1 billion from three major Moldovan banks -- Banca de Economii, Banca Sociala, and Unibank. The money's disappearance from Moldova's banking system between 2012 and 2014 was dubbed by Moldovans the "theft of the century" and cost the country roughly one-eighth of its annual gross domestic product. A number of people including former Prime Minister Vlad Filat have been jailed in connection with the case, which crippled the national currency and led to street protests and aid freezes. Mogherini said that, for the country's political leadership, solving the huge financial fraud "is about the credibility of the anticorruption reforms in Moldova." Filip said the money was "not easy to recover" and that "this type of investigations takes years," but stressed that he was "sure that all the perpetrators will be identified and will be brought to justice in due course." Tehran will not renegotiate a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on May 3. "Iran will not renegotiate what was agreed years ago and has been implemented," Zarif said in video posted on YouTube. U.S. President Donald Trump has been a strong critic of the agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), under which Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Trump has given the European signatories a May 12 deadline to fix what he calls the "terrible flaws" in the deal, threatening to effectively pull Washington out by refusing to extend waivers on U.S. sanctions if they do not do so. Zarif said the United States has "consistently violated the nuclear deal, particularly by bullying others to prevent businesses from returning to Iran." Meanwhile, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on May 3 warned against ditching the JCPOA if it could not be replaced with a viable alternative. "If one day there is a better agreement to replace it, it's fine, but we should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative," Guterres said in an interview with the BBC. "I believe the JCPOA was an important diplomatic victory, and I think it will be important to preserve it. But I also believe there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaningful dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position," he said. Other signatories of the accord -- France, Britain, Germany, Russia, and China -- have urged Washington to remain a part of the deal, although the Western allies have also expressed concerns about the terms. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, dpa, and AP Based on reporting by Reuters and BBC et YEREVAN -- Armenian protest leader Nikol Pashinian has been officially nominated as a candidate for the post of prime minister in the upcoming vote on May 8, after he secured the backing of 41 lawmakers in the 105-seat parliament, a member of the Pashinian-led Yelk faction told RFE/RL on May 3. Ararat Mirzoian's statement came amid a pause called by Pashinian on May 2 in the three-week-long demonstrations, after the ruling Republican Party (HHK) indicated that it would support him for prime minister in a May 8 parliamentary vote. Separately, in a video posted on Facebook, Pashinian said on May 3 that he had a meeting with the head of the parliamentary faction of the HHK, Vahram Baghdasarian, who assured him that the HHK will support him as the peoples candidate, reiterating his party's support for any candidate who secured the backing of one-third of lawmakers. Pashinian has been antigovernment protests that forced Republican leader and former President Serzh Sarkisian to step down as prime minister just days after he was elected to the position by the parliament. WATCH: Live stream from RFE/RL's Armenian Service Sarkisian had been president for a decade but term limits forced him to step aside last month. However, the HHK-dominated parliament quickly appointed him as prime minister, a switch made possible by constitutional changes that weakened the presidency while bolstering the prime minister's powers. The move prompted thousands to heed Pashinian's call and to take to the streets, outraged that the new system would have allowed Sarkisian to remain Armenia's leader indefinitely. Pashinian-led protests which expanded beyond the capital, Yerevan, forced the parliament to hold a first vote on May 1 on a new prime minister to replace Sarkisian, but the HHK-controlled legislature voted 55-45 against Pashinian, and protests continued the following day. After calling on May 2 for a halt in protests, Pashinian on May 3 asked all his supporters to come to Yerevan's Republic Square at 11 a.m. on May 8 -- the day the parliament votes again on a prime minister. Until then, he told supporters to stay in touch with him through Facebook, should the political situation change. PHOTO GALLERY: General Strike Paralyzes Armenian Capital (click to view) Under Armenias constitution, if a prime minister is not elected in the second vote on May 8, parliament will be dissolved and early general elections would be held with the HHK-led acting government in charge of the electoral process. Yelk's Mirzoian told RFE/RL on May 3 that Pashinian has also received the backing of representatives of the Tsarukyan Alliance, which has 31 seats, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun), which has seven seats. Pashinians Yelk faction has nine seats. President Armen Sarkisian, who is not related to Serzh Sarkisian, called for talks to be held to resolve the crisis before the second vote. "I deeply regret that the political crisis continues despite the fact that everyone is talking about how dangerous it is for the future of the country," Armen Sarkisian said in a statement. His calls were echoed by acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetian. The May 3 pause in the wave of protests came after a dramatic previous day during which crowds Pashinian had called into action blocked nearly every major road in the country, paralyzing traffic and business activity on May 2. Main highways blocked included the one connecting Yerevan with the country's main airport and those leading to the Georgian and Iranian borders. However, passage was allowed for all emergency vehicles and the two strategic highways connecting Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh were kept open. Nagorno-Karabakh, the ethnic Armenian-populated breakaway region of Azerbaijan, was the cause of a deadly war between Armenia and Azerbaijan that started in 1988 and ended in a 1994 cease-fire. A four-day flare in the fighting in 2016 resulted in nearly 100 being killed. With reporting by AFP, AP, and dpa Five Russian men known as the "Primorye Partisans" have been sentenced to prison terms of between eight and 25 years in prison on murder charges in a high-profile retrial. The Primorye Regional Court in Russia's Far Eastern city of Vladivostok on May 3 found the men guilty of involvement in the murders of four local people in 2009. The defendants, who have pleaded not guilty, were sentenced the same day. The men were initially acquitted in 2016, but the Supreme Court ordered a retrial. Four of the men are already serving lengthy prison terms on separate charges for their involvement in a series of 2010 attacks against police, the murder of two police officers, attempted murder, robbery, theft, and illegal weapons possession. The group was captured in 2010 after thousands of law enforcement agents took part in one of the largest manhunts in Russia in recent years. The group explained their attacks as a protest against "corruption and lawlessness" in Russia's law enforcement structures. Based on reporting by Interfax and Rapsinews TASHKENT -- A prosecutor has asked a court in Tashkent to sentence independent journalist Bobomurod Abdullaev to five years in prison for allegedly plotting to overthrow the Uzbek government. The prosecutor also asked the Tashkent City Court late in the afternoon on May 2 to acquit Abdullaev's co-defendants -- blogger Hayot Hon Nasriddinov and businessmen Ravshan Salaev and Shavkat Olloyorov. The prosecutor's request came ahead of World Press Freedom Day on May 3. The high-profile trial is seen as a test for the new government of President Shavkat Mirziyoev, who has promised to carry out reforms in the Central Asian nation. The charges against Abdullaev and his co-defendants stem from a series of articles under the byline Usman Haqnazarov, which has been used by more than one person. The articles touched on issues related to circles close to former President Islam Karimov, who ruled the Central Asian nation of more than 30 million people for more than a quarter of a century before his death in 2016. Abdullaev, who was arrested in September, denies the charge, saying that he was doing his job as a journalist. In February, 12 human rights groups called for Abdullaev's immediate release and an independent investigation of allegations that he was tortured. Mirziyoev, who took over the country in 2016, has carried out reforms in the government, particularly in the powerful security services and Interior Ministry. In October, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that Uzbek authorities had taken "some positive steps" during Mirziyoevs first year but still needs to make "sustainable" improvements on human rights. However, in its latest report released on March 28, HRW stated that journalists and other critics of the government in Uzbekistan remain under pressure from legal restrictions, politically motivated prosecutions, and fear-induced self-censorship. The Russian Embassy in Washington has demanded that a flag removed from the now-closed Russian Consulate in Seattle be put back. The embassy claims that the U.S. removal of the flag "under the cloak of night" over the weekend violated international law and was "unacceptable treatment" of the Russian national symbol. But U.S. State Department officials countered on May 2 that the Russian flag was lowered "respectfully" from the Seattle consul-general's residence after it was vacated last month under orders from the department. While the Russian Embassy said the mansion is still its property and the flag should still be flying there, the department countered that the house was built on U.S. government-owned land. The State Department said it asked Russian consulate personnel to take the flag down themselves before they vacated the premises. U.S. officials say that U.S. diplomats took down an American flag flying at the U.S. Consulate in St. Petersburg with a brief ceremony when they were similarly ordered to leave by Moscow. "Since the Russians chose not to treat their own flag with such respect, we have done so for them," the department said, adding that it will return the flag removed in Seattle to the Russian Embassy. The Seattle Consulate was shut down in response to allegations that the Russian government poisoned a former Russian spy living in the United Kingdom with a nerve-agent in March. Based on reporting by AP and TASS KABUL -- Afghanistan's slain journalists were remembered on World Press Freedom Day -- May 3 just three days after the deadliest attack on the country's media since the fall of the Taliban regime in 2001. Ten journalists were killed on April 30 -- nine by an Islamic State (IS) suicide bomber in Kabul and another in the eastern province of Khost -- in what all appeared to have been targeted attacks. The attacks killed two RFE/RL journalists and an RFE/RL trainee, an AFP photographer, a BBC reporter, and journalists from Afghanistan's Tolo News, 1TV, and Mashal TV. Omar Waraich, Amnesty International's deputy director for South Asia, said on May 3 that Afghanistans journalists are "among the bravest in the world." "Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation, and violence for simply doing their jobs," Waraich said. The killings have shaken Afghanistan's tight-knit journalist community, where many reporters and photographers are close friends and colleagues who look out for one another as they work in an increasingly hostile environment. But they have remained defiant, with dozens of Afghan news editors and executives returning to the site of the Kabul bombings hours later on April 30 in protest. "World Press Freedom Day reminds me and my colleagues of the importance of reporting -- reporting for a vibrant democracy," said Parwiz Kawa, editor-in-chief of the Hasht-e-Subh Daily newspaper. 'Unfathomable Crime' 1TV editor-in-chief Abdullah Khenjani said May 3 was a "mourning day" for the broadcaster, which lost a reporter and cameraman in the April 30 blast. Khenjani said his colleagues ae heartbroken, "especially when we see the empty chairs... in our newsroom." RFE/RL President Thomas Kent said the deliberate killing of journalists in Afghanistan was "an unfathomable crime," and the those killed in the April 30 attacks "embodied courage and hope for their country." "Afghan journalists who work in an increasingly hostile environment deserve more support and protection," said Lotfullah Najafizada, director of Tolo News. Afghanistan was ranked in 2017 by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) as the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists. Afghan media outlets have condemned the government's failure to protect them, particularly at the scene of suicide attacks where secondary blasts are a constant concern. In London on May 3, around 100 journalists held a vigil outside the BBC's Broadcasting House to pay tribute to the fallen journalists in Afghanistan, observing a minute's silence. In Pakistan, where fears of militant attacks as well as government crackdowns are growing, journalists marked World Press Freedom Day with a protest march in Islamabad. They carried photos of fallen colleagues, including those from Afghanistan, and banners with slogans like "Killed but not silenced." Targeting Of Journalists Pakistan also is considered one of the most dangerous places for media workers, with journalists caught between militants and the military. Enforced disappearances are on the rise, newspaper columns are being censored by authorities, and TV channels have been forced off the air for failing to follow the government's official line. The Islamabad office of Radio Mashaal, a Pashto-language service of RFE/RL, was closed by Pakistani authorities on January 19 on the orders of the ISI intelligence agency -- which accused Radio Mashaal journalists of threatening Pakistan's unity, national security, and reputation. Russia's Ministry of Justice has designated RFE/RL as a "foreign agent." RFE/RL journalists are serving jail sentences on politically motivated charges or are being held incommunicado in Ukraine's Russian-occupied Crimea region and Russia-backed separatist-controlled territory in eastern Ukraine. RFE/RL journalists and their families also have faced abuse and crackdowns by authorities in Iran, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. The targeting of journalists anywhere must stop, Kent, the RFE/RL president, said. With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, AFP, and BBC A statue of a hero of the Soviet Union will be returned to its original place in central Tashkent, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev has said. While visiting the eastern region of Namangan on May 2, Mirziyoev said the return of General Sobir Rahimov's statue to central Tashkent "will be an act of restoration of historical justice." Rakhimov, an ethnic Uzbek, fought in World War II and was the commander of a Soviet rifle division in the last part of the conflict. Sabirov, whose nickname was the "Iron General," was killed in March 1945 in Europe, weeks before Nazi Germany was defeated. In 1965, he was posthumously awarded with the title of Hero of the Soviet Union, and his statue was erected in Tashkent in 1981. In 2010, the statue was moved from the city center to a remote park, and a street and a district in Tashkent previously named after him were renamed. Mirziyoev last month ordered the return to its original place in central Tashkent of a Soviet-era monument dedicated to an Uzbek family who adopted 15 children of different ethnicities during World War II. Based on reporting by podrobno.uz and gazeta.uz Syrian rebels said they have accepted a deal brokered by Russia to leave territory they hold near Homs, the country's third-largest city and one of the last rebel enclaves left in the war-torn country. The agreement announced on May 2 a day after rebels surrendered in the area would restore state rule and require rebel fighters to hand over their heavy weapons, Syrian officials and allied Hizballah militia said. The agreement is the latest in a string of capitulations by rebels worn down after seven years of civil war. Earlier this year, the government took back control of suburbs around Damascus and two neighborhoods held by the Islamic State extremist group inside the capital. As with previous Russia-brokered agreements, the latest deal offered rebels and civilians in the Homs area the option of pledging their allegiance to the Syrian government or relocating to the last large pocket of rebel-held territory in Idlib Province, located in northern Syria near the Turkish border. An evacuation of rebels who refuse to settle with the government is expected to start on May 5, officials and Syrian state news agencies said. Tens of thousands of people have departed to northern Syria instead of living again under the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. The Homs enclave was the most populous zone still under siege in Syria and had seen heavy fighting and bombing in recent days. It includes the towns of Houla, Rastan, and Talbiseh and villages around them, on a main highway between the cities of Homs and Hama. The international highway will reopen in three days under the deal, officials said. Officials said rebels in a second pocket, south of the capital, have also effectively agreed to a surrender deal, though they have yet to evacuate. The Syrian Army, backed by allied Russian and Iranian forces, targeted the enclave north of Homs city last week after retaking most insurgent territory around the capital last month. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and TASS KYIV -- He is shaggy-haired and bearded, clad in a blue button-up shirt, dark trousers, and worn-in boots -- inconspicuous enough among the monks and their apprentices roaming the grounds of Kyiv's Svyato-Pokrovskyy Holosiivskyy Monastery. But this blue-eyed man is different from all the others here. He is 33-year-old Brazilian Rafael Lusvarghi, a former volunteer fighter and poster boy for Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine before his arrest in Kyiv, conviction on terrorism charges, and 13-year prison sentence that would later be overturned. Since his surprise release in December, after 14 months in jail, he has been secretly living within the red-brick walls of this monastery of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, where he says he is learning the ascetic ways of a monk. "When I was in prison I was reading books about the [Orthodox] religion, and I became a man of God," Lusvarghi, donning an apron, says in English after being approached outside the monastery's kitchen on April 29. "I pray every day." Catch And Release Lusvarghi's journey from Kalashnikov-firing pagan on the battlefields of eastern Ukraine to a monastic-in-training on the Orthodox Christian grounds of a monastery whose name translates as Holy Protection began on September 20, 2014, when he arrived via Russia in the area of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions controlled by Russia-backed separatists. By mid-2015, the self-described former member of the French Foreign Legion with a history of scrapes with the law at home in Brazil and an avowed "great love for Russia" had fought in signal Ukrainian battles like the fights for the town of Debaltseve and Donetsk airport, while also serving as a military instructor and scout for separatist forces. At the time, Lusvarghi -- a native Portuguese speaker who is fluent in Russian (he tried unsuccessfully to join the Russian Army in 2010) and has a strong grasp of English -- was not one to shy away from media, and his combat was regularly glorified by Russian and separatist propaganda. In interviews with separatist propaganda outlets in Donetsk, he explained he came to Ukraine to fight "fascism." In an interview after he was injured in a firefight in summer 2015, he claimed also to have family roots in Eastern Europe. "When the war began, I was in Brazil, because I'm Brazilian. My family, we believe we're also Russian, because our ancestors -- though it was long ago -- were Belarusian," he said. "So it's a war for my motherland, too." Such visibility helped him carry out another task at the time: recruiting foreign fighters in a yearslong conflict with many Russian combatants but also occasionally fighters from the United States, United Kingdom, Central Asia, or nearby Georgia. Lusvarghi left eastern Ukraine via Russia and returned to Brazil in summer 2016, with the battle lines in Donbas mostly frozen but skirmishes creating casualties almost daily. Then he decided to return to Ukraine later in the year, following what he would soon discover was a false job offer from the Ukrainian Security Service. He was arrested upon arrival at Kyiv's Boryspil International Airport that October and soon put on trial. In January 2017, Lusvarghi became the first non-Russian convicted for crimes related to the war when he was found guilty of creating a "terrorist organization" and "recruiting mercenaries for terrorists." In an exclusive jailhouse interview with RFE/RL in March 2017, sporting a buzz cut and clean-shaven, the Brazilian said he hoped to be included in a future prisoner exchange with Russia-backed separatists, and that he was trying to overturn his conviction. Much to Lusvarghi's surprise, in August, the Kyiv Court of Appeals quietly overturned the verdict, accepting the defense's arguments over jurisdiction and the prosecution's focus on his admission of guilt without considering all the evidence or his allegation of illegal force used against him, the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group reported at the time. The appeals court ordered further investigation and a retrial, while extending Lusvarghi's detention. Then in December, for reasons unknown to him, he was released from prison. "Why I'm not in [prison], I don't know," he says, adding that the Ukrainian authorities gave neither him nor his lawyer, Valentin Rybin, a reason for his release. "I can't explain and I don't understand." "It's chudo" -- a miracle -- he adds in Russian. But it's a miracle with restrictions. Without his passport, currently held by Ukrainian authorities while they continue to investigate his case, he is stuck in the country he took up arms to fight. Ukraine's Justice Ministry, Prosecutor-General's Office, and Security Service did not respond to requests to clarify the nature of his release and the status of the investigation. Eat, Pray, Wait It is thanks to a tip from a source with knowledge of his case who asked not to be identified, and confirmation from his lawyer, of his presence in Ukraine, that RFE/RL was able to track down Lusvarghi at the the Svyato-Pokrovskyy Holosiivskyy Monastery after two previous visits to another monastery nearby. Tucked inside the forested Holosiiviskyy National Park just 10 kilometers from the center of the busy Ukrainian capital, life at the monastery is quiet and slow. On the Sunday that RFE/RL visits, a few dozen visitors stroll its landscaped courtyard and a wedding party poses for photos. Around the corner from the courtyard, workers shuffle to and from a storeroom and a kitchen. This is where we find Lusvarghi. With tousled hair and a bushy beard, he looks more like the fighter he was in 2015 than the clean-shaven prisoner he was in 2017. When RFE/RL first approaches Lusvarghi and questions his identity, his eyes widen and he replies in Russian, "No, I'm not him," before backtracking and agreeing to an interview. Against the backdrop of a golden-domed church and the recordings of singing monks wafting from surrounding speakers, Lusvarghi, who acknowledges he was not religious growing up and has been described as having a penchant for pagan symbols, says it was his idea to come here after his release in December. "I was already reading some books about [Orthodox] religion. I search a few monasteries here in Kyiv, and...," he explains, gesturing to the church. A monk who identifies himself as Father Samson would later approach RFE/RL to say that the monks here believe Lusvarghi is innocent of the crimes Ukraine accuses him of committing, and that they agreed to provide him shelter. Lusvarghi says he got a chilly reception from the Brazilian Embassy in Kyiv, which was unable to provide much help to him. Reached by phone, the embassy and the Brazilian Foreign Ministry decline to comment on Lusvarghi's situation. Lusvarghi says he spends most of his days praying and working. That work can be general maintenance of the monastery grounds or food preparation. "Early in the morning, go to the service, pray. If you have time, you read some books," he says of his routine. If work for the day is completed early, then in the evenings he says he's granted some "personal time." The rules for those who have made a commitment to become a monk are "very strict," he adds. Partly because of that and partly because he tries to keep a low profile, Lusvarghi's communication with the outside world is minimal. He is not on social media, and he doesn't own a smartphone or a laptop computer. Instead, he carries an old-school, push-button Nokia phone. He says he is able to access the Internet using a monastery computer but rarely logs on, because it is frowned upon by his "spiritual fathers." He says he is almost completely unaware of current events, including the status of the simmering, bloody war -- now in its fifth year -- in which he once fought. "Can you tell me something about negotiations of prisoner exchanges?" he asks RFE/RL, referring to the swaps between Kyiv and Russia-backed separatists in Donetsk and Luhansk. He says he had hoped to be included in the large prisoner exchange in December. He still hopes that he might be included in a future swap. "Why I stayed back? Are there others who stayed back as well?" Lusvarghi asks. "I wanted to be exchanged. The fact that I stayed behind, it's against my will." "I would like to return to my country. But, if it's the only option, I'm fine with returning to [separatist-held Donetsk]," he adds. Frustration And Retrial Lusvarghi, the father of two young boys -- 8 and 2 -- who is separated from his partner, explains that he has experienced "some depression" but mostly "frustration" over his current situation. Eating away at him is that he has been away from his family for a year and a half. Asked whether he thinks about his days fighting in eastern Ukraine and has any remorse, he refuses to discuss that period. Lusvarghi says his retrial is expected to begin on June 6. While Lusvarghi worries about possibly being convicted again and handed a stiff prison sentence, history has shown there's a chance he could yet walk away from the ordeal. He says he remains hopeful that he will be able to leave Ukraine someday. "Everything that's happened so far has been completely a surprise," he says. "Everything's possible." With reporting by Levko Stek If there were any doubt, the danger faced by journalists in carrying out their work in Afghanistan was made tragically clear on April 30, when a total of 10 reporters were killed in separate attacks. Among the killed were three RFE/RL colleagues -- two reporters and a trainee who was about to start work. On May 3, which is marked around the globe as World Press Freedom Day, RFE/RL remembered the sacrifices that its journalists and others have made in pursuit of press freedom. "Sometimes journalists die by accident, caught in crossfires or other sudden circumstances," RFE/RL President Tom Kent said at a memorial service held at RFE/RL's headquarters in Prague. "This was different. This was murder, premeditated murder directed specifically against journalists." Video producer Sabawoon Kakar, 30; video journalist Abadullah Hananzai, 26; and university student and trainee Maharram Durrani, 28, were among nine journalists killed in a suicide bombing in Kabul on April 30. Kakar and Hananzai were covering an earlier suicide attack when a second bomber, disguised as a reporter, approached the throng and detonated his explosives. Durrani was also on the scene and was killed in the attack. Claimed by Islamic State (IS) militants, the two blasts combined killed at least 25 and injured 45. Later the same day a BBC journalist was shot and killed in the eastern province of Khost. Hashem Mohmand, director of RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan, described Kakar, Hananzai, and Durrani as "promising young journalists who had the potential of becoming future role models. Their cruel murders remind us daily that our contribution to peace and stability is vital." 'Brave Young Journalists' Kakar was a key member of Radio Free Afghanistan's video team who was just a day short of completing his fifth year with RFE/RL. His work included feature stories about social issues in Afghanistan as well as news about counterterrorism operations and security issues. "Sabawoon Kakar, our brave young journalist, was always rushing to cover suicide attacks and bomb blasts to get people the most accurate information from the ground," said Qadir Habib, a senior editor for Radio Free Afghanistan. Hananzai was a video journalist who had been working since October 2016 on an antinarcotics project called Caravan Of Poison. A graduate of Kabul University, Hananzai was preparing to celebrate his first wedding anniversary on May 8. Habib recalled a trip to Kabul last year during which he spoke to Hananzai about the dangers he faced in reporting on the drug trade. "I told him: 'It's a very challenging project you will be working on. There are dangerous people involved.' But he just smiled at me and said, 'It doesn't matter how difficult it is because we are not afraid of covering difficult stories. What matters is that we reveal the truth.'" "I was really amazed by the bravery and courage of these two young men," Habib added. Durrani was being trained to take part in a weekly woman's program at Radio Free Afghanistan -- a job she was due to start on May 15. She was a third-year student of Islamic law at Kabul University who was just starting her career as a journalist. "She was confident and passionate about reporting on women's issues in Afghanistan," said Mohmand, who met Durrani last month in Kabul. Media Gains Under Threat The Taliban and the IS militant group have threatened and deliberately targeted major TV and radio stations and their staff members recently across Afghanistan, carrying out deadly attacks that have killed dozens of journalists and media employees. The attacks have made Afghanistan one of the deadliest countries in the world for journalists. "Afghanistan's journalists are among the bravest in the world. Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs," said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International's deputy director for South Asia, in a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day. "At a time when many have sadly turned their attentions away from the country, and the work of a journalist means constantly putting your life at risk, they have continued to confront injustice and give voice to victims," Twenty journalists and media workers were killed in Afghanistan in 2017, marking the deadliest year for reporters in the country, according to the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee, a local media watchdog. The International Federation of Journalists and its affiliate, the Afghan Independent Journalists Association, said at least 73 journalists and media workers were killed in Afghanistan from 1994 to 2017. Afghanistan's media development is often cited as one of the biggest achievements of the past decade, following years of Taliban strictures or outright prohibitions on all forms of music and television, as well as independently reported news. Despite the gains, independent media have come under constant attack and pressure not only from militants but also from religious leaders, ex-warlords, and sometimes even the government itself. Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders ranked Afghanistan 118 out of the 180 countries in its Press Freedom Index. International media watchdogs say militants have greatly contributed to the climate of fear by explicitly targeting journalists for reporting deemed unfavorable and have condemned the impunity enjoyed by those responsible for crimes of violence against media personnel in Afghanistan. YEREVAN -- Police in Yerevan have arrested a traffic police officer in the Armenian capital on charges that he killed two men -- a bank employee and another police officer -- while trying to rob a bank on May 3. Yerevan's police department identified the suspect as Yerevan traffic police Colonel Daniel Danielian. Earlier on May 3, authorities said that a man armed with a hand grenade, a rifle, and a knife rushed into a branch of HSBC Bank Armenia in downtown Yerevan and attacked two bank employees -- killing one and wounding the other. They said the attacker took an unspecified amount of cash and was trying to flee when police arrived. Authorities said the attacker fired his rifle at police and wounded one officer who died later of his injuries. They said the attacker was then detained. Hundreds sign to stop Puerto Morelos mangrove destruction Puerto Morelos, Q.R. Hundreds of signatures have been collected in an attempt to stop the destruction of 60 hectares of mangrove at Puerto Morelos. Land bordering El Cid hotel, which continues to be worked on by heavy machinery, sparked members of the Social Movement for the Rights of the People to collect signatures and file complaints with authorities. Katherine Ender Cordoba, president of the group explained, From the month of November we verified that the wetland had been damaged, the mangrove had been damaged and there was a garbage dump, there is still After we saw on the page of Voces Unidas for Puerto Morelos that there was still damage inside the wetland and the mangrove, we went and we called a meeting with the inhabitants of Puerto Morelos. During that meeting they collected more than 700 signatures and also expanded the existing complaints. With this, we managed to show what we had that day, we had a good response, the documents were already submitted with the PGR and in PROFEPA, both in offices in Cancun and via e-mail in Mexico City, she said. She stressed that this fight is a joint effort in which they should not lower their guard. They should join with the institutions for the defense of the environment, where until now, they have had the support of organizations such as CONANP. In recent days, environmentalists continue with the defense of the mangroves and wetlands of Puerto Morelos. Unfortunately the devastation continues and the people of Puerto Morelos asked us for support, explained activist Katherine Ender. The legal representative of the Social Movement for the Rights of the People, AC and Guardians of Mangrove Cancun explained that a meeting will be held and minutes will be drawn up. The minutes will be attached to the complaints already admitted to Profepa and the PGR in defense of the protected flora and fauna, which is being affected by invasive projects, she said adding that one of the companies that has caused the most environmental damage in Puerto Morelos is the Hotel Cid. BLINK and youll miss it the tours two races could shoot through Rotherham in just 15 minutes each. Wentworth, Swinton and Conisbrough are among the villages making preparations for the womens and mens races pedalling past tomorrow (Friday) - and there are events planned throughout the day - but the riders will only be here for a short spell. The women will come through first and are timetabled to enter the borough at Wentworth at around 9.25am, before competing in the intermediate sprint in Swinton at 9.38am and heading on to reach Hooton Roberts at 9.43am and Conisbrough at 9.47am. Competitors in the mens race are due to pass through Wentworth at 3.17pm, before a sprint is contested at Swinton at 3.28pm. The route takes in Barrowfield Lane, Main Street and Cortworth Lane at Wentworth, Hoober Lane at Hoober, the whole of Wentworth Road between Upper Haugh and Kilnhurst, with a sprint around the High House pub at Swinton, Kilnhurst Road at Hooton Roberts and Doncaster Road all the way to Conisbrough, before turning west through Denaby and on through Mexborough, Adwick on Dearne, Harlington, Barnburgh and Hickleton. Roads will be closed on a "rolling" basis due the race. Fans watching the race can pick up freebies en route. The womens race will feature world number one Anna van der Breggen, world champion Chantal Blaak and 2016 Tour de Yorkshire winner Kirsten Wild. Reigning Olympic champion Greg Van Avermaet is the biggest name lined up to ride in the mens race, which will also feature the UKs Olympic silver medallist and former Tour de France points champion Mark Cavendish. Estimated timings for the full route, which are subject to race conditions and racing tactics, can be found at on the official Tour de Yorkshire site. TWO men who worked at a 500,000 cannabis farm found in a former town centre card shop have been jailed for 20 months each. Florjan Duraj (31) and Ha Vo (34), both of no fixed address, were jailed at Sheffield Crown Court today (Thursday) after admitting a joint charge of cannabis production. Duraj, an Albanian national, and Vo, a Vietnamese national, who appeared via video link, both pleaded guilty on the basis they had a less significant role in the operation at the former Clinton's Cards shop on College Street. Police discovered a total of 867 cannabis plants being cultivated by Duraj and Vo on March 29. Ms Susan Evans, prosecuting, said both accepted they had been motivated by money to help cultivate the drugs. The cannabis plants were being grown in an empty shop premises in the centre of Rotherham, she said. Both offenders tried to escape from the back of the property. The police found 867 cannabis plants with a further 200 saplings being grown. Ms Evans said the plants had an estimated street value of between 320,000 and 500,000. Mr Francis Edusei, representing Vo, said his client was only employed to water the plants. He needs money to get a passport and tickets back to Vietnam and he had been at the property for about two days at the time of his arrest, he said. Mr Edusei said Vo entered the UK six years ago and wanted to return to Vietnam. Mr Ian Goldsack, representing Duraj, said: He is aware that he is liable to be returned to Albania at the end of his sentence. Judge Paul Watson said Duraj and Vo would have been jailed for at least two-and-a-half years had they pleaded not guilty. He said: You were both engaged, I accept, by others to look after and cultivate a very large crop of cannabis. Over 850 plants were found with a street value of over a quarter of a million pounds. I accept that you were being used by others and that you were both in need of what seemed to be easy money. You both involved yourselves in serious offending. FIREFIGHTERS are urging the public not to swim in lakes and reservoirs this Bank Holiday weekend, with warm sunny days forecast for South Yorkshire. A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said crews attend dozens of water related incidents each year. Most are flooding or animal related, but others involved rescuing people from open water - particularly during hot weather. Safety officers said people should avoid open water - like rivers and lakes - because they may not always be aware of the danger it poses. River flows can be unpredictable and water is often deeper, colder and faster than expected. People should enjoy water safely in swimming pools or safer, specialist facilities instead. Area manager Steve Helps, said: We regularly receive 999 calls in the summer about people getting into difficulty in water, so its only a matter of time before someones safety is really put at risk unless people listen to our advice. "It can be tempting to cool off in the summer months, but stick to a swimming pool. Hundreds of people drown each year in the UK and places like rivers, lakes or flooded quarries are completely unsuitable for swimming as they hide a number of hidden dangers. Over 400 people die in the water every year in the UK, and firefighters are urging people to follow some basic rules to stay safe. The dangers of open water are: Cambridge Analytica To Shut Down After Facebook Scandal Cambridge Analytica, the UK-based political consulting firm embroiled in a massive data-harvesting scandal that compromised the personal information of up to 87 million Facebook users, has announced that it would immediately cease operations as the controversy had driven away virtually all of its customers. The decision was made less than two months after Cambridge Analytica and Facebook became embroiled in the scandal. Revelations about the misuse of data plunged Facebook into crisis and prompted regulators to open investigations. Cambridge Analytica denies any wrongdoing but says that the negative media coverage has left it with no clients and mounting legal fees which have forced it to resort to closure. "Despite Cambridge Analytica's unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the company's customers and suppliers," the company said in a statement. "As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration," it added. Cambridge Analytica bankruptcy announcement Advertisement The firm's board has applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill to act as the independent administrator for Cambridge Analytica. Additionally, parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced on behalf of Cambridge Analytica and certain of the Company's US affiliates in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Noting that over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations, the company said despite its efforts to correct the record, it has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas. Yesterday company's employees were asked to return their keycards immediately. "SCL Elections, as well as certain of its and Cambridge Analytica LLC's UK affiliates, filed applications to commence insolvency proceedings in the U.K.," the company said. This could impact its Indian operations as well. During a conference by Julian Wheatland, SCL Group's chairman and the man who was supposed to become the next full-time CEO of Cambridge Analytica after former CEO Alexander Nix stepped down, said that the board determined that rebranding the company's offerings in the current environment is futile. The offices of Cambridge Analytica in central London The report of an independent investigation released by Cambridge Analytica said that it was involved in several elections in India since 2010, but refuted allegations that it was involved in interference. The firm was accused of improperly obtaining personal information on behalf of political clients. According to Facebook, data on up to 87 million of its users were harvested by an app and then passed on to the political consultancy. The social network said its own probe into the matter would continue. "This doesn't change our commitment and determination to understand exactly what happened and make sure it doesn't happen again," a Cambridge Analytica (CA) spokesperson said. The company said its parent company, SCL Elections, would also commence bankruptcy proceedings. This could impact its Indian operations as well. The chair of a UK Parliament committee investigating the firm's activities also raised concerns about CA and SCL Elections' move to shut down. "They are party to very serious investigations and those investigations cannot be impeded by the closure of these companies," said MP Damian Collins. Advertisement MP Damian Collins "I think it's absolutely vital that the closure of these companies is not used as an excuse to try and limit or restrict the ability of the authorities to investigate what they were doing," he said. Cambridge Analytica has been linked to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's campaign denies having used CA's data. It sought information on Facebook to build psychological profiles on a large portion of the US electorate. The company was able to amass the database quickly with the help of an app that appeared to be a personality test. The app collected data on tens of millions of people and their Facebook friends, even those who did not download the app themselves. Facebook has since tightened its privacy restrictions. With insights from more than 8,200 marketers, this year's State of Marketing Report reveals the biggest priorities and challenges that will shape the future of marketing strategy in 2021 and beyond. Colleges and universities are struggling with the question of who decides what is acceptable speech on campus. When does a controversial topic become hate speech? When should it be allowed as free speech? Two Cornell University researchers say psychological science's extensive study of bias offers an important lens to view these conflicts, understand and reduce them. There is no alternative to free speech, say co-authors Stephen Ceci, professor of developmental psychology and Wendy Williams, professor of human development in "Who Decides What Is Acceptable Speech on Campus? Why Restricting Free Speech Is Not the Answer." Their analysis appeared in Perspectives on Psychological Science as the lead article. "Free speech isn't just for opinions that we all share. That kind of speech doesn't need protecting," Ceci said. "It's for expressions that can be vile and hateful and disgusting. That has to be part of the cultural understanding." Students should be made to understand they are entering a place that believes deeply in the importance of dialogue and free speech, according to Ceci. Since the 1950s, psychological science has demonstrated that many types of bias can prevent opposing sides from accepting the validity of each other's arguments For people with selective bias, "it's not just that they interpret their perceptions differently; they actually see different things," Ceci said. This and many other biases explain why a sizable percentage of students favor banning nearly every controversial topic. "In such a climate, the heckler's veto reigns supreme and any expression that is offensive to any subgroup on campus would be banned," Williams said. College experiences should involve challenging our beliefs, even when those experiences go beyond our comfort level, and no campus group has the right to determine for the entire community what can be discussed, the authors said. Just as colleges require that freshmen understand codes of conduct for sexual harassment, plagiarism and intoxication, they could require freshmen to understand the differences between free speech and hate speech, between First Amendment protections and speech codes, and the meaning of "evidence." Populations of freshwater dolphins in the Amazon basin are in steep decline, dropping by half about every decade at current rates, according to a study published May 2, 2018 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Vera da Silva from Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia, Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, and colleagues. The Amazon basin is home to two species of river dolphins -- the boto (Inia geoffrensis) and the tucuxi (Sotalia fluviatilis) -- that were once considered to be abundant in some places. However, the development of dolphin hunting to provide fish bait at around the beginning of this millennium and a Data Deficient IUCN Red List conservation status suggest that more information is needed about their current population numbers and trends. To assess the status of these freshwater dolphins, da Silva and colleagues analyzed data from 22 years of surveys in the Mamiraua Reserve, Brazil. The dolphins were surveyed by boat monthly from 1994 to 2017. The analysis revealed that populations of both boto and tucuxi Amazonian dolphins are dropping rapidly. At current rates, boto populations are halving every 10 years, and tucuxi populations are halving every nine years. These rates of decline are some of the most severe of those known for cetaceans since the early years of modern whaling. The researchers conclude that if IUCN Red List criteria were applied based on this work, both species would be classified as Critically Endangered. River dolphins are legally protected in the Amazon basin, and given these findings, the researchers call for greater enforcement of these laws. The humble glass microscope slide may be primed for a makeover. A study published online today (May 2, 2018) in the journal Nature Communications describes how an updated version of this centuries-old tool can now enable scientists to see tiny objects while also measuring their temperature. The advancement, made possible by a new transparent coating at the forefront of optics theory, has the potential to streamline and enhance scientific research worldwide, from clandestine government biology labs to high school chemistry classes. It may also have implications in other industries, such as computers and electronics, whose products require measurement and control of heat in highly confined spaces. "We have instruments that magnify incredibly small objects. And we have tools that measure heat, like infrared thermometers. But we haven't been able to combine them in a low-cost and reliable manner. This new coating takes a big step in that direction," says the study's co-lead author Ruogang Zhao, PhD, assistant professor in the University at Buffalo Department of Biomedical Engineering. The department is a multidisciplinary unit formed by UB's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB. advertisement Zhao collaborated with researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, including co-lead author Liang Feng, PhD, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, and electrical and systems engineering. For decades, researchers have tried to combine thermal imaging and microscopy. Images produced from systems that use thermocouples lack resolution and are often too coarse for modern science. Terahertz and infrared thermal mapping techniques interfere with the microscope's lenses. Other techniques are expensive and time-consuming. The new coating is made of a layer of acrylic glass (the same material used in most eyeglasses) that's sandwiched between two layers of transparent gold. The gold is transparent because it's only 20 nanometers thick; a typical sheet of paper is 100,000 nanometers thick. Engineers fabricated the coating so that "exceptional points" -- the sweet spots where unusual light behavior happens -- can develop within the tri-layered structure. The coating, which significantly enhances the slide's sensitivity to light detection, would be added to slides during the manufacturing process. Either the slide or cover slip could receive the coating. To make use of the new coating, a laser is needed. Zhao says a common helium-neon laser, which can be seamlessly integrated with most microscopes, will do the job. Common slides, which are often bought in bulk, typically cost around 5 cents. The new coating would likely add a few pennies to the cost, Zhao says. The research is supported by funding from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health. They're in the country illegally. Or maybe they had protected status before, but lost it due to policy changes by the current presidential administration. Or they're waiting for word from Congress or the courts on whether they'll get to stay. Whatever their situation under the law, the 11.3 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States still need, and sometimes get, health care. Even if they don't have health insurance, federal law requires hospitals to care for them in emergencies. They can turn to safety-net clinics for basic needs. Now, a new analysis highlights an ironic development in the intertwined issues of immigration and health care -- two areas where the current and previous administrations differ greatly. Undocumented people in certain states may get more medical help while they are here, it finds, thanks to the current administration's effort to give states more flexibility with their health care spending. And in a reversal of the previous administration's stance, states may find it easier to get that permission. advertisement In a new article in the New England Journal of Medicine, two members of the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation unpack recent events, political philosophies and medical evidence about caring for the undocumented. They conclude that more states may want to apply for permission to use state and federal dollars to pay safety-net hospitals that care for everyone -- whether or not they are here legally. Waivers already in action Such permission, which requires the government to approve an application called a waiver, has already gone into effect in Florida and Texas. As two of the states with the highest numbers of undocumented immigrants living in their borders, they've seen the amount of money they can award to safety-net hospitals rise by 50 percent to 70 percent. advertisement "Ironically, the same administration that is targeting undocumented immigrants with one set of policies may be helping them get care by preserving hospitals' abilities to serve them with other policies," says A. Taylor Kelley, M.D., M.P.H., who led the analysis. Kelley says their example may bode well for other states that, like Florida and Texas, didn't choose to expand Medicaid under the ACA. "The United States has one of the highest rates of uninsured people in the world among developed countries, and the Affordable Care Act was designed to increase health insurance options for men, women and children across the country. But undocumented immigrants were excluded," so they can't enroll in Medicare or Medicaid, or buy a plan on the ACA marketplace, explains Kelley, who is a clinical lecturer in general internal medicine at the U-M Medical School and a National Clinician Scholar at IHPI. "Undocumented immigrants rely on safety-net institutions that deliver care for people, with insurance or without insurance," he explains. "Safety net hospitals are also major employers and economic drivers in their communities. And so to keep their doors open, states can seek federal permission to increase the funding they get. And generally, the current administration has been very receptive." States didn't get a warm welcome from the Obama administration for such waivers, because that administration's priority was encouraging states to expand Medicaid coverage to all low-income adults -- or at least those who had legal status. In fact, the previous administration said it would take away existing funding for safety-net hospitals in states that didn't expand Medicaid. Florida actually decided to redirect some of its own funds to help its hospitals, rather than expand Medicaid, when its waiver was ended by the Obama administration. A door closes, a door opens But with the change in administrations, Kelley and co-author Renuka Tipirneni, M.D., M.Sc., write, the states that didn't expand Medicaid and have high numbers of undocumented residents may find it easier. States along the Mexican border, for instance, may want to seek a waiver -- or apply to take part in a program that incentivizes new care delivery models for poor patients. As for the states that did expand Medicaid, only time will tell if the government will also approve waivers to further ease the financial burden on safety net hospitals and clinics there. A recent IHPI report about Michigan's Medicaid expansion finds that while hospitals saw their uncompensated care drop by an average of 50 percent in the first year after expansion, the level has stayed flat since that time. So hospitals are still absorbing the cost of caring for many people who can't pay their medical bills, whether it's because they have no insurance or they can't afford the part of their bill that their insurance expects them to pay. Around half of the undocumented immigrants in the U.S. lack insurance of any kind, according to estimates. "The major question when talking about state flexibility is, where are the limits? And how much are we going to honor states' rights?" says Kelley. "Both Medicaid expansion and support for the safety net are programs where states are now being given the autonomy to act as they feel best for the people within their borders. Will these approaches be honored by the administration as a state right?" Spending up front, or later At the same time, Kelley notes, the inpatient hospitals that have historically received the waiver funds are more and more likely to be part of new network-based models of care, such as accountable care organizations, which makes it easier for them to offer integrated care for those who come through the doors of their emergency rooms. That may mean it's easier to care for undocumented immigrants in a preventive or early-stage way, rather than waiting for an emergency. In addition, Congress recently extended funding for federally qualified health centers that provide care to underserved patients outside of the hospital. Such care can actually save money, according to research cited in the new piece. For instance, one study showed that states can save money by covering dialysis care for undocumented immigrants whose kidneys are failing, rather than waiting to provide the legally required emergency dialysis when they are in crisis. Illinois has even gone so far as to cover kidney transplants for undocumented people, because of the potential long-term cost savings. Other research shows that expansion of individual insurance coverage provides better outcomes and use of resources than insurance for some and no insurance for others who must turn to safety net care, says Kelley. But the political philosophies and policy stances of current leadership don't make expanded coverage likely right now. "We've come out of eight years of one way of thinking, now we're in a new way of thinking," says Kelley. "And it's a new shift for states if they're going to cover the people they need to cover and help institutions out, then they have to shift their focus and their thinking." "Some might ask, what does care for the undocumented have to do with me as an American citizen. And the reality is that, because we provide care to anyone who stands in need of a health emergency, we all pay for everyone's healthcare sooner or later," he says. "When we provide access to care for undocumented immigrants, it's not necessarily going to be a cost burden every time. In some ways, it may be beneficial to us in both indirect ways and even in direct ways." A team of chemists has developed an MRI-based technique that can quickly diagnose what ails certain types of batteries -- from determining how much charge remains to detecting internal defects -- without opening them up. "The use of alternative energy and electrically powered vehicles will further increase the demand for better and safer batteries," observes Alexej Jerschow, a professor in New York University's Department of Chemistry, who led the research team. "However, there are currently only a very limited set of tools available to diagnose a battery's health without destroying the battery -- our non-invasive technique offers a faster and more expansive method for making these assessments." The work, described in the journal Nature Communications, also included Andrew Ilott, an NYU post-doctoral fellow at the time of the study and now a research investigator at Brisol-Myers Squibb; Mohaddese Mohammadi, an NYU doctoral candidate; and Christopher Schauerman and Matthew Ganter, research scientists at the Rochester Institute of Technology. "Ensuring cell quality and safety is paramount to the manufacturing process that can save companies significant cost and prevent catastrophic cell failures from occurring," says Ganter, co-director of the RIT Battery Prototyping Center. "This work not only supports the battery industry as a whole, but also the growing energy storage ecosystem in New York," adds Christopher Schauerman, co-director of the RIT Battery Prototyping Center. The research focuses on rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are used in cell phones, laptops, and other electronics. Notably, rechargeable batteries are at the heart of new technologies, including electric cars or storage for renewable energy sources. However, recent malfunctions in hand-held devices and electric vehicles have highlighted the difficulties in designing batteries for these cutting-edge technologies. In addition, engineers often cannot determine the nature of defects or even impending battery failures without taking apart the device, which typically results in its destruction. In general, magnetic resonance (MR) methods provide the ability to measure tiny changes in magnetic field maps and, as a result, create a picture of what lies inside a structure -- for example, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can produce images of the human body's organs in a non-invasive manner. In their Nature Communications work, the scientists adopted a procedure similar to MRI. Here, they measured tiny magnetic field changes surrounding the battery's electrochemical cells. In their experiments, they examined Li-ion batteries in different states -- various levels of charge (i.e., battery life) and conditions (i.e., some damaged and others not). Such cells were prepared by collaborators at RIT's Battery Prototyping Center. With these cells, the NYU team was able to match magnetic field changes surrounding the batteries to different internal conditions, revealing state of charge and certain defects. These included bent and missing electrodes as well as small foreign objects in the cell, which are flaws that can occur during the normal manufacturing process. "With future enhancements to this method, it could provide a powerful means of predicting battery failures and battery lifetimes as well as facilitate the development of next-generation high-performance, high-capacity, and long-lasting or fast-charging batteries," adds Jerschow. What happens in a crocodile's brain when it hears complex sounds? An international research team headed by Dr Felix Strockens from the Department of Biopsychology at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) has provided the answer to this question. In a first, the researchers examined a cold-blooded reptile using functional MRI. They were thus able to determine that complex stimuli triggered activation patterns in the crocodile's brain that are similar to those in birds and mammals -- a deep insight into evolution. The results were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences on April 25, 2018. Link to dinosaurs Crocodiles count among the most ancient species of vertebrates and have barely changed over the space of more than 200 million years. Accordingly, they constitute a link between dinosaurs and bird species today. "Analyses of crocodile brains thus provide deep insights into the evolution of the nervous system in mammals and may help us understand at which point certain brain structures and behaviours associated therewith were formed," explains Felix Strockens. Overcoming technical obstacles The objective pursued by the team of researchers from the Iran, South Africa, France, and Germany was to study Nile crocodiles and to ascertain the way sensory information is processed in their brain. To this end, they deployed functional MRI (fMRI) -- a method that is routinely used in clinical diagnostics and research, but which has never yet been utilised to study a cold-blooded reptile. "In the first step, we had to overcome a number of technical obstacles," says research team member Mehdi Behroozi. "For example, we had to adjust the scanner to the crocodile's physiology, which differs massively from that of mammals in several aspects." Astonishing similarity of patterns Subsequently, the researchers exposed the animals to various visual and auditory stimuli, including classical music by Johann Sebastian Bach. At the same time, they measured the animals' brain activity. The results have shown that additional brain areas are activated during exposure to complex stimuli such as classical music -- as opposed to exposure to simple sounds. The processing patterns strongly resemble the patterns identified in mammals and birds in similar studies. Processing patterns formed at an early stage Consequently, the researchers assume that fundamental neuronal processing mechanisms of sensory stimuli formed at an early evolutionary stage and that they can be traced back to the same origins in all vertebrates. By successfully deploying fMRI for the examination of a reptile for the first time worldwide, the researchers, moreover, demonstrated that the method does work for poikilothermic organisms. This non-invasive technology can thus be used for many other species that have not yet been studied in depth. Challenges and differences in opinion are inevitable when working in a team. But new research from the UBC Sauder School of Business suggests some of these conflicts can be reduced, or even avoided, through team mindfulness. Team mindfulness refers to a shared belief within a team of focusing on the present moment and ensuring team members interact with one another without judgment. While individual mindfulness has gained traction around the world, research has yet to properly delve into the benefits of mindfulness in a group setting, which the researchers say could be achieved through activities such as meditation or yoga practiced as a team. The study is the first to challenge the common belief that mindfulness is a solitary activity, and explores how team mindfulness can be beneficial to teams. "Mindfulness has been proven to increase job satisfaction and psychological well-being and decrease stress in employees, so we wondered how these benefits may or may not transfer to a team environment," said Lingtao Yu, the study's lead author and assistant professor at Sauder. "We found that when teams are more mindful, this reduces interpersonal conflicts and helps teams better focus on the task at hand." For the study, the researchers conducted two field studies with a total of 394 students in Masters of Business Administration programs in the United States to develop a scale of team mindfulness and to test the benefits of team mindfulness in reducing conflict. A third field study tested the benefits of team mindfulness within a different work culture using 292 health care workers in China. The researchers found that, when teams are more mindful, the degree of interpersonal conflict decreased. Team members were also less likely to transform their frustration with a particular task into a personal conflict with their colleagues. This helped the team members detach from the task and eliminated strong emotions and feelings of prejudgment. "Our research shows that interpersonal conflict can further spill over into interpersonal social undermining behaviours, harming teamwork as a whole," said study co-author Mary Zellmer-Bruhn of the University of Minnesota. "Team mindfulness can act as a safeguard against this and ensures that the task, rather than the person, remains the focus of reactions. It can also limit the intensity of one's opposition and negative emotions, thereby limiting escalation." The researchers argue that more companies should consider making a concerted effort to be mindful -- not only for individual employees, but as a team. Organizations such as Google, Target, General Mills and UBC have been early adopters of individual mindfulness practices and recognize the benefits of it. For example, companies could benefit from bringing a meditation expert to carry out meditation sessions for teams. "Given that more companies are employing a team-based organizational structure, where team interactions are critical and stress levels are high, we hope to design an evidence-based team mindfulness program that organizations can offer," said Yu. "We believe teams may benefit from doing meditation or yoga together, and setting aside time to share experiences so that team as a whole becomes more mindful." The study was recently published in the Academy of Management Journal. The amount of mercury extracted from the sea by industrial fishing has grown steadily since the 1950s, potentially increasing mercury exposure among the populations of several coastal and island nations to levels that are unsafe for foetal development. These are the findings of a study carried out by researchers from Universite de Montreal's Department of Biological Sciences and published this week in Scientific Reports. The study combined data on the amount of mercury fished out of oceans and seas from 1950 to 2014 and the weekly consumption of fish and seafood by the populations of 175 countries between 1961 and 2011. By comparing this data, which was published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), postdoctoral fellow Raphael Lavoie was able to estimate these populations' per capita intake of methylmercury (MeHg), a highly toxic form of mercury. Working under the direction of Professor Marc Amyot, Lavoie estimated that the people of 38 per cent (66 of 175) of the countries examined by the study might be exposed to methylmercury levels higher than the maximum deemed safe for fetal development. The highest-risk countries include the Maldives, Iceland, Malaysia, Lithuania, Japan, Barbados and South Korea. When humans ingest excessively high levels of methylmercury, the toxin's molecules can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and impact cerebral development, especially in children and foetuses. advertisement Industrialization has released vast quantities of mercury into the atmosphere, which have settled in oceans and waterways. This mercury is absorbed by sea creatures, many of which are consumed by humans. Since 1950, demand for seafood has skyrocketed while technological breakthroughs have enabled more intensive forms of industrial fishing. Since the 1990s, when overfishing drastically reduced stocks, industrial fishing has gradually migrated to deep-sea and international waters. "The global marine catch totals 80 million tonnes of fish per year, which means that we are also pulling out increasingly large amounts of mercury," said Amyot. Of the industrial fishing areas listed by the FAO, the Northwest Pacific currently exports the most fish -- and the most methylmercury. The Western Central Pacific holds second place, while the Indian Ocean ranks third. "Together, these three fishing areas exported 60 per cent of the mercury resulting from global seafood production in 2014," said Lavoie. advertisement The people in these regions are some of the world's top seafood consumers. Species high up on the food chain contain the highest concentrations of mercury. From 1950 to 2014, large fish represented approximately 60 per cent of the global catch (by weight) and nearly 90 per cent of the mercury ingested by consumers from fish. To be safe for fetal development, the threshold for methylmercury consumption is 1.6 micrograms for each kilogram of a person's body weight per week (1.6 g/kg/week). "By comparing FAO data on global seafood consumption, we observed that from 2001 to 2011 the populations of 38 per cent of the 175 countries we analyzed would have been exposed to weekly doses of methylmercury far above the maximum safe level of consumption for fetal development," said Lavoie. "Many of these populations are in coastal and island nations, especially developing countries." For instance, during that 10-year period, people in the Maldives would have consumed an average of 23 micrograms of methylmercury per kilogram of body weight each week, or more than 14 times what's deemed safe. The next highest-ranking were people in Kiribati (8 g/kg/week), Iceland (7.5 g/kg/week), Malaysia and Samoa (6.4 g/kg/week), French Polynesia (5 g/kg/week), Lithuania, Japan and Barbados (4.8 g/kg/week) and South Korea (4.7 g/kg/week). By contrast, the global average for mercury exposure over the same 2001-2011 period was estimated at 1.7 g/kg/week. In Canada, exposure totalled 1 g/kg/week. Lavoie and Amyot said their estimates are conservative. The global catch by the fishing industry, including artisanal and illegal fishing, is probably 50 per cent higher than the FAO data indicates, they said. Both researchers believe these estimates could help authorities find ways to reduce the risk of mercury exposure, especially among high-risk populations such as children and pregnant women. Some methods of preparing and consuming fish seem to reduce the risk of methylmercury contamination, they pointed out. In a recent study, they found that cooking fish or consuming it in combination with certain polyphenols contained in foodstuffs like tea could reduce the bioavailability of methylmercury in the human body. Which is good news, because contrary to prevailing opinion, the methylmercury we consume may not be fully absorbed. On May 1, 2018 a federal court in Jackson, Mississippi unsealed the Commission's previously filed fraud charges against a Mississippi company and its principal who allegedly bilked at least 150 investors in an $85 million Ponzi scheme. The defendants agreed to permanent injunctions, an asset freeze, and expedited discovery. The SEC's complaint alleges that Arthur Lamar Adams lied to investors by telling them that their money would be used by his company, Madison Timber Properties, LLC, to secure harvest timber rights from various land owners located in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi, and promised annual returns of 12-15%. But Madison Timber never obtained any harvesting rights. Instead, Adams allegedly forged deeds and cutting agreements as well as documents purportedly reflecting the value of the timber on the land. Adams also allegedly paid early investors with later investors' funds and convinced investors to roll over their investments. According to the complaint, Adams used investors' money for personal expenses and to develop an unrelated real estate project. In a parallel action, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi yesterday also announced criminal charges against Adams. The SEC's complaint, filed under seal in federal court in Jackson, Mississippi on April 20, 2018 and unsealed yesterday, charges Adams and Madison Timber Properties with violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws, i.e. Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. The court granted the SEC's request for an asset freeze and permanently enjoined Madison Timber and Adams from violating the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws and ordered Adams to surrender his passport. Adams and Madison Timber consented to the entry of the court order. The SEC's continuing investigation is being conducted by Krysta Cannon and Justin Delfino in the agency's Atlanta office and is being supervised by Peter Diskin. The SEC's litigation will be led by Shawn Murnahan and supervised by Graham Loomis, with assistance from Kristi H. Johnson, an Assistant United States Attorney in the civil division of the United States Attorney's Office from the Southern District of Mississippi. The SEC appreciates the assistance of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Mississippi and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Securities and Exchange Commission has filed a subpoena enforcement action against Shawn Carter seeking an order directing him to comply with an investigative subpoena for his testimony. According to the application and supporting papers, which were filed in federal court in the Southern District of New York, the SEC is investigating potential violations of the federal securities laws related to the financial reporting of New York-based Iconix Brand Group, Inc., which paid Carter more than $200 million to acquire intangible assets associated with Carter's Rocawear apparel brand. After the acquisition, Carter and Iconix maintained publicly-disclosed partnerships related to the Rocawear brand. In March 2016, Iconix publicly announced a $169 million write down of Rocawear, and in March of this year, Iconix announced a further write down of $34 million. The SEC's application states that the Commission seeks Carter's testimony to inquire about, among other things, Carter's joint ventures with Iconix. The SEC initially issued a subpoena for Carter's testimony on November 16, 2017. On February 23, 2018, after Carter retained new counsel, the SEC issued a second subpoena for Carter's testimony. Carter failed to appear as required by the subpoenas and, through his counsel, Carter has declined to provide any additional dates on which he will agree to appear for investigative testimony. As stated in the SEC's application, a subpoena enforcement action is appropriate where the information sought from the witness is relevant to the investigation. The application does not reflect a determination by the SEC or its staff that Carter has violated provisions of the federal securities laws at issue in the investigation. The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against a Wheaton, Illinois-based securities lawyer and his law firm for their roles in a fraudulent scheme to conceal the identity of a company's principal control person, a convicted felon who had been previously incarcerated for securities fraud. According to the SEC's complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Adam Tracy and his law firm, Securities Compliance Group, Ltd., were retained by a convicted felon and his company, Sonant Communications Corp., to file a registration statement with the SEC for an initial public offering of 10 million shares of common stock. The SEC alleges, however, that the felon asked Tracy to conceal his role with the company such that his involvement would be hidden from the SEC and the investing public. As alleged in the complaint, Tracy agreed to participate in the ruse by drafting and filing with the SEC two registration statements that omitted the felon's name, and, instead, named others, without their knowledge or consent, as being the principal officers and control persons of Sonant. The SEC's complaint charges Tracy and Securities Compliance with aiding and abetting violations of Sections 17(a)(1) and (3) of the Securities Act of 1933. To settle the SEC's charges, the defendants agreed, without admitting or denying the allegations, to the entry of permanent injunctions, disgorgement of all legal fees received in connection with the scheme with prejudgment interest in the amount of $2,655.71, a civil monetary penalty of $25,000, and a penny stock bar against Tracy. Subject to court approval of the settlements, Tracy also has consented to the entry of an order suspending him from appearing or practicing before the SEC as an attorney. The investigation was conducted in the SEC's Atlanta Regional Office by Edward H. Saunders and supervised by Justin C. Jeffries. Tom Levy / The Chronicle 1986 The life and legacy of the late Doris Ward, the first African American president of San Franciscos Board of Supervisors, will be celebrated May 19 at the Delancey Street Foundation. Ward, known for her advocacy on issues of racial and economic equality, died in her San Francisco home on April 14 following a brief illness. She was 86. Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. SUNDAY Voter information: The League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo holds a voter information session. The first part of the program will provide an overview of where, when, and how to vote in the county, which is implementing a new system giving residents more ways an d more days to vote. The second part is a nonpartisan analysis of the five initiatives on the state ballot and Regional Measure 3, which would raise bridge tolls to pay for transportation projects. 7 p.m. at the San Mateo Public Library, 55 W. Third Ave. More information is here. MONDAY S.F. mayoral forum: Northeast mayoral forum, hosted by the San Francisco Neighborhood Network. 5:30-8 p.m., Broadway Studios, 435 Broadway. To register and for more information, go here. TUESDAY Walk for peace: March and rally on Golden Gate Bridge, organized by Codepink. Start from either end on the eastern walkway and converge at midspan. 6:12-9:12 p.m. More information is here. WEDNESDAY Disabled rights: Forum on disability access and rights. Sponsors include Berkeley Peace and Justice Commissions Subcommittee on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and the Commission on Disability. 3-5 p.m., Ed Roberts Campus, 3075 Adeline St., Berkeley. More information is here. Affordable housing: Discussion on community-based interim uses and permanent community services at the McDonalds site at Haight and Stanyan streets in San Francisco, which has been purchased for affordable housing development. Hosted by the Community Coalition for Affordable Housing and Interim Uses. 7-9 p.m., Waller Center, 1525 Waller St., San Francisco. THURSDAY Voter information: The League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo holds a voter information session. The first part of the program will provide an overview of where, when, and how to vote in the county, which is implementing a new system giving residents more ways an d more days to vote. The second part is a nonpartisan analysis of the five initiatives on the state ballot and Regional Measure 3, which would raise bridge tolls to pay for transportation projects. 7 p.m., San Mateo Public Librarys Oak Room, 55 West Third Ave. More information is here. MAY 11 Players coalition: Alameda County District Attorney Nancy OMalley and election challenger Pamela Price are invited guests at a criminal justice reform being moderated by NFL players Malcolm Jenkins, Richard Sherman, Doug Baldwin and Johnson Bademosi. 1-2:30 p.m., New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St., Oakland. Registration and more information is here. Voter information: The League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo holds a voter information session. The first part of the program will provide an overview of where, when, and how to vote in the county, which is implementing a new system giving residents more ways an d more days to vote. The second part is a nonpartisan analysis of the five initiatives on the state ballot and Regional Measure 3, which would raise bridge tolls to pay for transportation projects. 2 p.m., South San Francisco Library, Grand Branch. 306 Walnut Ave. More information is here. MAY 12 Health rights march: Coalition protesting cuts in the Affordable Care Act, Medicare and Medicaid, and lobbying for Medicare for all, holds a march in downtown Oakland. 11 a.m., Frank Ogawa Plaza. More information is here. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. MAY 14 Voter information: The League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo holds a voter information session. The first part of the program will provide an overview of where, when, and how to vote in the county, which is implementing a new system giving residents more ways and more days to vote. The second part is a nonpartisan analysis of the five initiatives on the state ballot and Regional Measure 3, which would raise bridge tolls to pay for transportation projects. 7 p.m. at the San Carlos Public Library, 610 Elm St. More information is here. MAY 17 Voter information: The League of Women Voters of North and Central San Mateo holds a voter information session. The first part of the program will provide an overview of where, when, and how to vote in the county, which is implementing a new system giving residents more ways and more days to vote. The second part is a nonpartisan analysis of the five initiatives on the state ballot and Regional Measure 3, which would raise bridge tolls to pay for transportation projects. 6:30 p.m., Half Moon Bay Library, Ted Adcock Community Center. 535 Kelly Ave. More information is here. MAY 21 S.F. Politics 101: United Democratic Club hosts a primer on local politics. Free. 6:30-8:30 p.m., 55 Fillmore St., San Francisco. Registration and more information are here. To list an event, email tbyrne@sfchronicle.com By the end of the summer, the sidewalks of San Franciscos busiest corridors will be dotted with another 20 new high-tech trash bins a small step in combatting the citys big problem with dirty streets. At 150 gallons, the self-compacting receptacles, called Bigbelly containers, can accommodate nearly five times as much trash, recyclables and compost materials in separate compartments, compared with traditional 32-gallon, wire-mesh trash cans. And, unlike traditional trash cans, Bigbelly bins are designed to keep the stuff inside, away from whipping winds or rummaging hands. So far, five Bigbellies have been installed in the Castro district, from Harvey Milk Plaza to 14th Street. Sandra Zuniga, director of the citys Fix-It Team, which is overseeing their installation, said the bins were placed there because the Castro/Upper Market Community Benefit District was able to swiftly approve where they would be installed. This is another step toward a much larger commitment to cleaning the streets of San Francisco, said Mayor Mark Farrell, who unveiled a two-year, $12.8 million budget proposal for street cleaning last week. The status quo is unacceptable, and Im going to fund programs and push policies that work and have an effect on our streets. While the city is adding 20 new bins, there are dozens of Bigbelly containers already scattered across the city. Union Square has 20 of them, Zuniga said. Waste hauler Recology will continue its trash pickup duties at the new bins as well. Zuniga is working with the citys community benefit districts merchant groups that tax themselves to provide additional services like sidewalk cleaning and street ambassadors to determine exactly where the bins should be placed. The community benefits districts are leasing the bins, with funding from the citys Office of Economic and Workforce Development. Each of the 20 new bins will cost $3,000 per year to lease, and OEWD has also set aside $15,000 for maintenance or other unforeseen expenses for all the bins. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Were also working around Central Market, Civic Center and a few locations in the Tenderloin places that have a lot of foot traffic and transportation options, those are the areas where well be putting in cans, working with the CBDs, Zuniga said. The bins are also solar-powered and send data directly to Zuniga indicating how full they are. Zuniga said shell be monitoring that data to determine whether the bins can be serviced less frequently. Currently, all of the Bigbellies are emptied three times each day. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa San Francisco mayoral candidate Angela Alioto may be headed to court to protest a ruling by the Ethics Commission barring her from participating in the citys public financing program, which provides candidates up to $975,000 in campaign funds. In a letter to the Alioto campaign on Wednesday, the commissions executive director, LeeAnn Pelham, said that Alioto had again failed to qualify for the program. To do so, mayoral candidates have to prove theyve raised $50,000 in campaign contributions from at least 500 city residents in amounts of between $10 and $100. Pelhams letter indicates that 8 percent of the contributions Alioto submitted were ineligible to count toward her qualification, mostly because of insufficient documentation verifying that they came from San Francisco residents. The Ethics Commission granted Alioto another chance to apply for public financing money after a hearing last month, but with the condition that it would be the campaigns last shot. Alioto failed to qualify on three previous attempts, according to Alioto campaign manager Mike Mallen. The other contenders in the mayors race London Breed, Jane Kim and Mark Leno have all qualified for public financing. Aliotos campaign has blamed its previous troubles on a glitch in the software the Ethics Commission uses to process campaign finance filings, a program called Netfile. The program, the campaign claims, was omitting information from Aliotos filings when the campaign submitted them. Mallen said the campaign was contacted by representatives from Netfile, which acknowledged the problem and rectified it with the commission. A Netfile spokesman declined to comment. Aliotos campaign claims that the Ethics Commission was aware of the software glitch and failed to speak up about it. The fact that you knew the software did not upload, and you knew that fact at the last commission hearing, and you did not tell us or the commissioners, is unconscionable and illegal, Alioto wrote in an email to Pelham Wednesday. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The campaign has requested another hearing before the Ethics Commission. If the commission doesnt grant a hearing, Mallen said the campaign is prepared to press its case in court. Im not aware of what the Alioto allegations are, and Im happy to respond in the appropriate way at the appropriate time, once we understand what the allegations are, Pelham said. Dominic Fracassa Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa A scant hope of catching the Zodiac Killer perhaps lies on the back of a postage stamp, licked by the murderer 50 years ago. The arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo, the man law enforcement believes is the East Area Rapist, has sparked myriad questions about the use of genealogy websites to revive long-cold cases. After DeAngelos capture, investigators revealed they submitted the East Area Rapists DNA to an open-source genealogy website called GEDmatch, where it found a match with a relative who also used the service. Detectives were then able to narrow their list of suspects, eventually arresting DeAngelo on suspicion of a string of rapes and murders across the state during the 1970s and 1980s. Armed with millions of DNA profiles, uploaded online by curious family-history seekers across the world, could investigators finally decipher the Zodiacs identity? Like most things about the Bay Areas most infamous serial killer, the answer is murky. Now Playing: Almost everything we know about the Zodiac Killer is speculation. In letters and ciphers he sent to Bay Area newspapers in the 1960s and 70s, he claimed to have killed 37 people. The police have only officially confirmed his connection to seven victims, but assume there were more. Here's a look at what we know for sure. Video: Edited by Katie Wood/SFGATE Unlike the East Area Rapist, Zodiac didnt leave his blood or semen at the crime scenes. The 1968 murders of David Faraday and Betty Lou Jensen on Lake Herman Road and the 1969 attack on Michael Mageau and Darlene Ferrin at Blue Rock Springs Park were committed with a gun, as was the murder of San Francisco cab driver Paul Stine. The remaining attack, on Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell at Lake Berryessa, was done with a knife. There is no confirmed DNA evidence from Zodiac at any of the scenes. The closest police have to Zodiacs DNA are the stamps he used to post his cryptic letters. In the early 2000s, San Francisco investigators developed a partial profile by testing saliva traces retrieved from beneath a stamp. Because the profile is incomplete, it cannot rule anyone in. But it did rule out long-time suspect Arthur Leigh Allen in 2002. "Because it's a partial, the process they used on the Golden State Killer would be much more difficult to narrow down to a specific individual," said Michael Butterfield, writer and researcher for ZodiacKillerFacts.com. "... They wouldn't be able to narrow it down to a single family unit." There are, of course, theories that Zodiac didnt lick the stamps himself. But with the use of DNA profiling nearly two decades in the future, its unlikely Zodiac would have avoided licking stamps to foil the cops. Then theres the case of Cheri Jo Bates. If you believe, as some do, that Bates murder was committed by the Zodiac Killer, a whole new avenue of possibilities opens up. Bates was 18 years old when she was found dead outside of the Riverside City College library on Halloween morning 1966. The college freshman had been beaten and stabbed repeatedly, her throat cut so deep she was almost decapitated. Six months after Bates death, an unsigned letter arrived at the Riverside Daily Enterprise. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. BATES HAD TO DIE, it read in block letters. THERE WILL BE MORE. The Bates murder remains unsolved, but Riverside police have evidence that could someday point to a suspect. Under Bates fingernails were skin scrapings. Strands of hair, belonging to a stranger, were clutched in her hand. The Zodiac Killer's last confirmed letter arrived at the San Francisco Chronicle in 1974. He was never heard from as far as anyone knows for certain again. "The idea that Zodiac must be dead or in prison because we haven't heard from him is wrong," Butterfield said. "I am somebody who subscribes to the idea that Zodiac is, in a sense, like DeAngelo. He was just leading in his life. "... I believe the case will be solved by the types of DNA evidence they have today. With that partial profile, with some renewed efforts that I've heard are going on, it's possible they could get a complete profile and do what they did with the Golden State Killer." Paul Holes, the retired Contra Costa County investigator who led an elaborate effort to track down the man suspected of being the Golden State Killer by using a genealogy site, has hired an agent to negotiate a deal to sell the rights to his story. Holes, who traced DNA from a crime scene to distant relatives of the suspect, plans to write a book about his work on the case, said his representative, Peter Clemente of XG Productions, a talent management company that specializes in true crime. Holes recently retired from the Contra Costa Countys district attorneys office and had been tracking the Golden State Killer also known as the East Area Rapist, who police say killed 12 people and raped 45 between 1976 and 1986 for 24 years. It was definitely an obsession, he said in an interview with ABC News last week. After criminal DNA databases produced no matches to the killers DNA, Holes ran it through a publicly accessible genealogy site called GEDmatch, which contains DNA profiles of 960,000 people. The genetic data are uploaded to the site by people who obtain the information from a number of testing companies and want to trace their heritage or find possible relatives. Each profile is connected to a name. Holes found between 10 and 20 distant relatives, roughly equivalent to third cousins, which he used to trace back to a common ancestor great-great-great-grandparents from the 1800s, according to the Washington Post. He began filling in the blanks of the family tree using other sources, including a grave site locator, old news clippings and census data. Then he narrowed down the pool of suspects to men around the projected age of the killer who had connections to Sacramento and other California cities where the crimes were committed. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. It led to the arrest of Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, on April 24. The effort is being lauded by some DNA experts as a law enforcement tour de force. But it is also prompting privacy concerns over law enforcements access to peoples sensitive genetic information. Catherine Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cho@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Cat_Ho When we learned that our Datebook section boss, David Wiegand, had been found dead in his condo, we at The Chronicle went into professional overdrive, calling community leaders for comment, seeking out information on his early years, preparing and organizing the facts and data that would constitute his obituary. He had a rich life, was well known in the cultural world, and sometimes the personal and professional parts overlapped. There was, of course, way too much information to use. One major relationship acknowledged by each as their closest friendship was with fiction writer Ann Beattie, with whom he attended American University in Washington, D.C. Her admiration for his editing skills was quoted in the obituary, but that wasnt why I loved him, she emailed. We shared a dark sense of what was funny, we felt of course we did, over the years that wed really grown up together. We could finish each others sentences, so we were comfortable also with silence. (Music infiltrated silence, to be sure this was David.) Still, his enthusiasm always came sparking off the page, even in his emails, in an anecdote about Angus, his dog (and the late, great Morgan), or about his friends and family. We sent each other books without gift cards, because it was obvious who the sender was. He had so many talents, painting among them. For my 40th birthday, he worked all year on a painting that still hangs in Beatties home office, based on a bad photograph I showed him (we both loved snapshots that misfired). The work pictured a child they both knew, looking at a cow. He really liked certain children, wrote Beattie, and he never took them for granted or talked down to them. They got it that he had magic, and that he was both serious and a goofball. In most ways, actually, he was a loner though he wanted to be active, involved, finding things out, re-thinking things when he needed to. When I was in Vincennes, near Paris, a couple of years ago, I went to a teachers class (young kids maybe they were 10 or 11) and (I dont speak French) the interpreter told me their question in English and I answered, then that got translated. But everything stopped when I talked about the invaluable editing and encouragement my best friend always gave me, and how deeply I depended on him, how much I adored him. Beattie was stunned at the kids response to this. All further questioning had to stop while I explained how it was that I was a married woman whose best friend was a man. On the professional side, Carey Perloff , artistic director of the American Conservatory Theater, recalled the February 2017 opening of A Thousand Splendid Suns, which Perloff had directed. At the end of the show, I turned around, and David was literally a puddle. He was weeping and smiling at the same time, so unlike the way critics (or editors!) usually behave. He was just letting himself fully feel everything that he felt. And it was clear how open he was to the emotional magic of theater, even after so many years of covering it! That lack of cynicism totally amazed me. Id worked with David for 26 years; he was still a copy editor when he showed me, with justifiable pride, that one of his stories had won an O. Henry Award, for short stories of exceptional merit. In the years to come, I would watch him morph from copy editor to critic to manager, accumulating skills as he stretched his wings at every level. He made demands on himself, as he did on his staffers. At times he was impatient with colleagues; he could be cutting about things he didnt like; he urged shooters of the office breeze to get to the point. If some humans got tough love, the other kind was most visible in his relationship with Angus, his prancing, barking, jumping Australian shepherd. The dog was irrepressible, and his master didnt try to repress him. David was unironically straight-up adoring, and watching him with Angus gave me, a co-worker, the best glimpse of what a best-friend relationship might have been. Gotta go home to Angus, said the editor who worked 20 hours a day. He died with Angus at his side. Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @leahgarchik PUBLIC EAVESDROPPING Woman: Spring is finally here, cause its overcast and chilly. Man: Yeah. Its not cold enough yet to be summer. Conversation near Freight & Salvage in Berkeley, overheard by Ellen Pelissero Note: This article inaugurates my weekly column on dining culture in the Bay Area. As someone who has lived here for a quarter century, consider it my love letter to the region, and like any great love, it is a complicated one, interrupted by melancholy, fury and the occasional eye roll. Operating a restaurant here has become a perilous task, and yet I marvel at how many cooks are still dedicated to producing food at every price point with the power to stop conversation. In a region where gentrification is changing every aspect of our lives, this column honors our cities that are being lost as well as those that are becoming. Most important, it is a celebration of the places and the people who make the food we eat every day. J.K. *** The curry charcoal pineapple buns at Dragon Beaux in the Richmond District make for a dramatic Instagram photo, three goth-black buns with crackly yellow caps, resembling a particularly malevolent species of mushroom. Scroll down. They pale in Like-worthiness, though, to the dim sum restaurants Five Guys xiao long bao: a steamer of pink, green, yellow, black and white soup dumplings, the perfect circle to photograph for the perfect square. Scroll down again. Dragon Beaux may be the first Cantonese restaurant in the Bay Area to add charcoal powder to its buns, but its not alone in tinting cheong fan (rice noodle rolls) stoplight red and dusting steamed mushroom buns with cocoa powder so the brown tops are shot through with white fissures, just like real shiitakes. A new spirit of playfulness, or maybe a new aptitude for social-media crack, has infused dim sum of late. When did dumplings become so cute? Custard buns with pig faces pink ears and snout, black-sesame eyes have migrated from restaurant to restaurant. So have swans with feathery pastry bodies. I have taken so many dumpling photos that I found myself wondering why this hadnt happened sooner. Have we been forcing California dim sum chefs to imitate Hong Kong so faithfully that any innovation comes off as ersatz? Why shouldnt dim sum chefs be free to go wild? Could the flavors of our taro cakes and shiu mai actually speak to the city around them? Cell phone cameras, Im beginning to believe, may be changing dim sum in the Bay Area for the better. Peter Dasilva Peter Dasilva / Special to The Chronicle Advances in dumpling aesthetics have not been limited to the major dim sum kitchens. As part of Eight Tables high-priced tasting menu, George Chens cooks spoon osetra caviar and uni into the upper folds of har gow. Dumpling Time fills bright-pink beet buns with taro puree and crafts a soup dumpling the size of a pomelo. At Chili House, chef Tong Gang Wang, a lifelong student of Beijing court cuisine, sculpts pastry chicks so lifelike I suspect more than one customer has adopted his dessert rather than bite its head off. Does it photograph well? has become such a critical question for restaurant owners of all stripes more than 11 million Instagram posts are tagged #eeeeeats that its a wonder no one has yet come up with a unicorn swirly-rainbow egg custard tart. The closest thing may be the gram-ready sampler at sister restaurants Hong Kong Lounge on Geary Boulevard and Lai Hong Lounge in Chinatown. You can get at least five Like-bait photos out of the large steamer: piggy buns, translucent rabbits, dumplings in purple, gold and green. Theyre uniformly gummy. In fact, theyre some of the weakest dishes on the menu. But they do look good. (For the best pig-face buns around right now, visit Peony in Oakland.) No restaurant has embraced the technicolor as enthusiastically as Dragon Beaux in the Outer Richmond, owned by the Ng brothers, who also own Koi Palace in Daly City. As the 3-year-old restaurant evolves, it keeps pushing dim sum in more varied directions, leading Los Angeles food writer David Chan to muse on his blog last month, Does Dragon Beaux serve the best dim sum in the United States? Dragon Beauxs loudest shot over the bow of tradition may be a deep-green soup dumpling made with spinach juice and kale. Kale! Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle Co-owner Willy Ng says that he came upon the idea of using kale in a dumpling at a juice bar a decade ago. The multicolored potatoes and cauliflower at Berkeley Bowl have inspired him. So have trips to Hong Kong, Taiwan and Singapore, where theatricality can sometimes reach absurd levels. Ng shows me a cell phone video of a sweet-and-sour fish he ate on his last trip to China: a whole fish, scored, battered and deep fried, is smothered in a 2-inch layer of cotton candy. A vinegary red sauce is poured onto the sweet batting at the table, where the spun sugar melts into it. (How did it taste? I ask him. Like sweet-and-sour, he replies with a smile and a shrug.) Dennis Leung, a former pastry chef and the general manager at Dragon Beaux, freely acknowledges the importance of Instagram. Hes seen the restaurant groups social-media impressions rise 500 percent in the past few years. Some people say its a gimmick, and we should focus on the food, but advertising has always been there, he says. With these colorful items, its one way to help us boost that advertisement. Dragon Beauxs green matcha pineapple buns and black-and-gold steamed custard roll, Ng adds, may be new but reflect traditional Chinese culinary theory, which prizes appearance as well as aroma and taste. We make them colorful to stimulate the eyes, he says, but always with red rice paste, turmeric or spinach, not food coloring. Mason Trinca/Special to The Chronicle Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Were a little slow here compared to Asia, Leung adds. The chefs here (in America) are more from the older generation, and not as willing to try new things. Younger dumpling masters are content to stay in China, and while young American-born cooks are all for innovation, they dont have the same technical proficiency. Koi Palaces customers are older and more likely to speak Cantonese, and theyre finely attuned to the quality of classic dim sum items, while Dragon Beauxs nontraditional items bring in more non-Chinese diners and more second- and third-generation Chinese Americans. In all its experimentation, a few of Dragon Beauxs most visually striking items can suffer the same fate as the Lai Hong Lounge sampler. Pitch-black squid ink dumplings stuffed with pork and peanuts, as well as the spinach-green dumpings crowned with a dollop of XO sauce, tend to go flaccid in the steamer. Mongolian beef bao, served with sizzling onions in a tiny skillet and drizzled with rice wine that spits and steams, are a cute conceit that provide more drama than payoff. But when playful flavors bolster the spectacle of, say, the deep purple crackle-topped buns encasing Japanese yam puree, or fragile half-moon pastries with char siu and braised apple, the dish answers a call for novelty we may never have thought to listen for. When you can taste the same steamed spareribs at 100 restaurants in the Bay Area, the rapidity with which photogenic dumplings migrate from one place to the next doesnt come as a surprise. Perhaps its flat-out copying. After all, no one seems to have protected the piggy bao IP. But each time a flaky carrot-shaped turnip bun comes out of a new kitchen, and a diner posts a photo on Yelp for other diners to spot and chase down, its inducement for American dim sum chefs to come up with their own ideas. That is what makes Dragon Beauxs adventurousness so appealing: By being unafraid to experiment, they make us all reconsider our brunch. Jonathan Kauffman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkauffman@sfchronicle.com. Twitter/Instagram: @jonkauffman Four things worth knowing Address: Dragon Beaux, 5700 Geary Blvd., S.F., (415) 333-8899, www.dragonbeaux.com. Open for dim sum 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. (The evening menu is different.) Will there be a wait? Yes, an hour or more on weekends. Best time to drop in is after 1 p.m. on weekdays. Cost: Expect to pay $35 per person, more if you splurge on seafood and larger plates. To taste the rainbow: Matcha (green) and yam (purple) pineapple buns; (red) rice crepe with fish; charcoal custard roll (gold and black); and the Five Guys soup dumplings (yellow, green, black, red and white). Most San Franciscans dont know what La Grande Tank is. But residents of the Excelsior neighborhood, one of the most unsung parts of the city, certainly do. I grew up on La Grande, right where that blue tower is, said filmmaker H.P. Mendoza, referring to the Tiffany-blue McLaren Park water tower, a distinctive landmark easily spotted from Interstate 280 that dates to 1956. I was really happy because I always wanted to get that blue tower in a movie. Thats like our Salesforce Tower! Mendoza grew up in the Excelsior neighborhood, a working-class, immigrant-rich area rarely visited by tourists or populated by hipsters. So when Mendoza wanted to make his most personal film yet, one that draws on his Filipino American upbringing, he knew it was time to come home. Everything is still there. Many of the houses look the same, Mendoza said during a chat at his Mission District apartment. You do feel like youre standing in a super residential area that feels like it could be right out of Edward Scissorhands, but then youre facing that San Francisco skyline. CAAMFest 36 The Excelsior is prominently on display in Bitter Melon, Mendozas comedy-drama set within a dysfunctional Filipino American family, which makes its world premiere as a Centerpiece presentation at CAAMFest 36, the Asian American film, music and food festival that has moved to May for the first time to align itself with Pacific Asian Heritage Month. The film plays three times, beginning with the premiere at 6:50 p.m. Saturday, May 12, at the AMC Kabuki. Mendoza established himself as a filmmaker with two musicals Colma: The Musical (2006), a collaboration with director Richard Wong that he wrote and starred in; and his directorial debut, Fruit Fly (2009). He then branched out with a low-budget horror film, I Am a Ghost (2012). But Bitter Melon is new territory for Mendoza: a tragicomedy that deals with hidden issues of domestic abuse in Filipino American and other immigrant communities. Declan (Jon Norman Schneider), a gay Filipino American living in New York City, and his brother Moe (Brian Rivera), living in Philadelphia, travel home to San Francisco for a family get-together, and come face to face with the way their brother Troy (Patrick Epino) is terrorizing his wife, Shelly (Theresa Navarro). And Shelly is not the only victim; the family matriarch, Prisa (Josephine de Jesus), who lives with Troy and Shelly, also is affected. This is a situation Prisa knows all too well her husband, who has left the family and has not been seen for years, abused her. Bitter Melon is a comedy the dysfunctional interactions of family and friends make for some side-splitting moments. But clouds gather as the family realizes they have to do something about Troy, and their solution might not be legal. Asked how close to home this was for Mendoza, he pauses for a moment before answering. Im so happy that my mother is no longer with my father, he said. My father kinda brought that machismo over to San Francisco when they flew here (from the Philippines) in 1968. I was watching my mother change. How many more times can I take this abuse from my husband? And now its trickling down to my children, I need to do something about this. So she finally did she finally left him. And the strange thing is, my mom kind of became a pariah for a while in the Filipino American community. Like, Why would you do this? Now youre alone, youre raising your children, your children need a father. And these weird things that would come out of that. Your son is gay. I wonder why. And its so funny because those women all had abusive husbands too. Mendozas family is huge his mother had 11 brothers and sisters, who all live in California and have raised families. His fathers side is similarly large. As much as I want to say this is a universal story, I think theres something about this that really hits home with immigrant families, Mendoza said. We had some test screenings, and it seemed like the people who were hit the hardest were second-generation Filipino Americans. Mendoza, 41, first began working on the concept in 1997, but drafts of the screenplay grew and matured over the years as he did. What started out as a simple revenge story has evolved into something more complex. What if I honored the actual drama of this? Mendoza said. Instead of examining just spousal abuse, what if I examined the cycle of violence? Which is something I didnt feel like I was ready to do in 1997. I was younger and I was a little more myopic. Bitter Melon is the first film to be produced out of the Filipino ABS/CBN program Cinematagrafo, which awards grants to help ethnic Filipinos abroad tell their stories. Its funding provided half the budget; the other half was put together by Ersatz Film, the production company owned by Mendoza and his husband, Mark Del Lima, who produced the film. While still a low-budget movie by any definition, it was about 10 times more than the shoestring budgets Mendoza has cobbled together for past projects. It was my first time dealing with department heads, Mendoza laughed. I never met with department heads before we all wore so many hats on the previous films. Also, this was my first time working with an orchestra. I was just working with the string section and I was like, Oh. My. God! I had to snap myself out of it every so often and remember were not stealing. I got so used to stealing locations. Colma had so many public transportation musical numbers, and Fruit Fly opens with multiple modes of Muni transportation, and we stole all that. On Fruit Fly, our code word was scramble. If cops come, wed just split, like roaches. After years of hard work and desire, Mendoza can finally call himself a full-time filmmaker. He pays the rent shooting commercials and corporate films, and works for an anti-poverty program that has had him shoot short films in locations such as Kenya, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Cambodia. It was from this hard-won perspective that he was able to look back at his childhood with the maturity and experience that informed Bitter Melon. At the world premiere, Mom will be there, and so will many members of his family, enthusiastically cheering him on. His dad? Hes somewhere. I dont know, Mendoza said. I havent talked to my father in a very long time. G. Allen Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ajohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BRfilmsAllen SFFilm RBG takes the familiar figure of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg the second woman to be appointed to the Supreme Court and currently the courts oldest member and shows us lots of things we didnt know about her. Given the partisan divide, the documentary probably will be of interest only to people who already admire Justice Ginsburg, but its a good story that will inspire many and should appeal to anyone with an open mind. Directors Julie Cohen and Betsy West make a persuasive case that Ginsburg was, essentially, the Thurgood Marshall of the womens movement. In the 1970s, she argued six cases before the Supreme Court and won five, all of them dealing directly or tangentially with the issue of womens equality under the law. In this way, she was to womens rights what Marshall was to civil rights, both as a lawyer and as a member of the Supreme Court. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a recent addition to President Donald Trump's legal team, said Wednesday night that Trump made a series of payments reimbursing his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 settlement with an adult-film actress - despite Trump's assertion last month that he was unaware of the payment. "The president repaid it,'' Giuliani told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity. Trump "didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this with my clients," Giuliani said. "I don't burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people.'' Later, Giuliani said in an interview with The Washington Post that when Cohen paid the settlement to actress Stormy Daniels, he knew he would eventually get paid back by Trump, as he was for other expenses. Giuliani said it was his understanding that repayment from Trump came in a series of transactions after the election that he believes were completed in 2017 but could have included a reimbursement in 2018. "The president was always going to make sure he got it back, and enough money to pay the taxes," Giuliani said. "There probably were other things of a personal nature that Michael took care of for which the president would have always trusted him as his lawyer . . . and that was paid back out of the rest of the money, and Michael earned a fee out of it." Giuliani said that even though Trump reimbursed Cohen, he does not know when the president learned of the nature of the payment Cohen had made to Daniels. Giuliani said the president didn't learn many of the details about the settlement until the past two weeks, in the wake of an FBI raid on Cohen's office and residence. "I don't know if he distinguished it from other things Cohen might have done for him during the campaign," Giuliani said, adding, "He trusted Michael, and Michael trusted him." Last month, a reporter on Air Force One pressed Trump about the payment, asking him, "Did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels?" Trump responded, "No." The reporter then asked, "Then why did Michael Cohen make [the payment], if there was no truth to her allegations?" "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen," Trump said. "Michael's my attorney, and you'll have to ask Michael." Another reporter asked the president, "Do you know where he got the money to make that payment?" "No," Trump said. "I don't know." Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Cohen's business practices, including whether there were any crimes committed as part of a possible pattern or strategy in 2016 of buying the silence of people who could have damaged Trump's candidacy, according to people familiar with the probe. Cohen has said he arranged the financing of the settlement with Daniels through his home-equity line of credit. In a statement earlier this year, he did not mention any role by Trump. "Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly," Cohen said, using Daniels's real name, Stephanie Clifford. Campaign finance watchdog groups have filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission and Justice Department alleging that the then-secret payment amounted to an illegal campaign expenditure. On Wednesday night, Giuliani argued that the payment to Daniels could not have violated campaign finance laws because no campaign money was involved. As a candidate, Trump was permitted to donate unlimited sums to his campaign, but any such donations or expenditures are required to be disclosed. Larry Noble, general counsel for the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, said Giuliani's statements do not end the questions about possible campaign finance violations - and in fact could point to further concerns. "What is surprising is that Trump recently said he knew nothing about the payment. Now, Giuliani is trying to get the stories in sync, but this still leaves several potential violations," Noble said. "The timing of the payment is still strong evidence of it being campaign-related. And the fact that Trump paid Cohen back strengthens that argument." Michael Avenatti, an attorney for Daniels, said Giuliani's comments were an indication of campaign finance violations and possibly bank fraud and money laundering. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. "According to Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen were co-conspirators in a felony," he said. "Now it is time for justice to be served, and we intend to serve it." Trump's attorney in the Daniels case, Charles Harder, did not respond immediately late Wednesday to a request for comment. The disclosure by Giuliani was viewed by some White House advisers as a misstep. "Everyone in Trump world will see this as a total unforced error and further affirmation that hiring Rudy wasn't the best idea," said one presidential adviser, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the internal dynamics. However, Giuliani told The Post that he and Trump discussed the fact that he planned to disclose that Trump reimbursed Cohen. "Oh, yeah, yeah," he said. "Sure, sure. He was well aware that at some point when I saw the opportunity, I was going to get this over with." In his Fox interview Wednesday night, Giuliani referred to the FBI agents who searched Cohen's home, office and hotel room as "storm troopers," a particularly harsh term, considering Giuliani once served as the U.S. attorney in New York, overseeing federal law enforcement agents. Giuliani also offered new rationale for why Trump fired then-FBI Director James B. Comey in May 2017, saying the president was justified in removing Comey because Comey would not publicly say that the president was not under investigation as part of the FBI's probe of Russian election interference. "He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation," Giuliani said. "He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that, and he couldn't get that. So he fired him, and he said, 'I'm free of this guy.' " - - - The Washington Post's Philip Bump and Beth Reinhard contributed to this report. Months after a state appeals court found that his $350,000 bail was unconstitutionally excessive because he couldnt come close to affording it, a San Francisco robbery defendant was told Thursday he will soon be sprung from jail before trial as a result of his landmark legal case. As part of his conditional release, 64-year-old Kenneth Humphrey must sign up for ankle monitoring through the San Francisco Sheriffs Department and undergo drug and alcohol treatment at a live-in facility for senior citizens, Superior Court Judge Brendan Conroy ruled. This is a monumental decision today by the judge, San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi said outside court. Were very grateful that the judge did apply the new law and that hes recognized Mr. Humphreys case changed the state of the law. Humphrey was arrested in May 2017 on robbery, elder abuse and burglary charges and ordered held on $350,000 bail. But in January, the First District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled that his bail was excessive and unfair, a major victory for advocates in a long fight against the states cash-bail system. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra decided in February not to appeal the decision, prompting a critical shift in the system. The ruling upended the long-standing practice by judges of setting bail in fixed amounts based on the charges a defendant faces and their prior criminal history. Judges must now consider a defendants ability to pay when setting bail. Now, prosecutors in San Francisco are no longer asking judges to set bail amounts, whether $5,000 or $1 million. Instead, they are seeking hearings in which they either ask judges to order no bail for defendants they believe are a high threat to public safety, or to grant conditional release, similar to probation. At Thursdays hearing, the district attorneys office asked that Humphrey be held without bail, arguing that he was a threat to public safety, but Conroy ruled in favor of the defendant. Humphreys attorney, Deputy Public Defender Anita Nabha, said her client was pleased. Hes obviously very happy that hes going to be able to continue this fight outside jail and continue to work on his health and progress in his life, she said. He will be monitored, and I certainly think he will be up for those challenges and expectations. Prosecutors have raised broader questions about the potential danger to the public in releasing defendants like Humphrey who face serious criminal charges. We need to make sure that when were going to eliminate money bail that we know whats left, and right now that still hasnt been determined, said Max Szabo, a spokesman for the San Francisco district attorneys office. District Attorney George Gascon who has said hes in favor of bail reform in general has asked the California Supreme Court to review the court of appeals case, arguing that the ruling has hampered his ability to protect the public from defendants who dont meet the state Constitutions strict standard of no bail. The state Supreme Court has until May 24 to decide if it will review the Humphrey decision, which comes as bail-reform advocates work to change the states system in the Legislature and the federal courts. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Thanks to Mr. Humphreys leadership and willingness to fight this issue, judges are now required to consider nonmonetary alternatives to incarceration, said Deputy Public Defender Chesa Boudin, a longtime bail-reform advocate. Its not simply a question of if you are accused of a crime, you sit in jail unless youre rich. Humphrey is set to be released in the coming days and will go into Golden Gate for Seniors, a residential recovery facility in San Francisco that has set a bed aside for him. Conroy ordered him to stay in the facility around the clock, and said he must submit to searches by city probation officers. The judge also signed a restraining order, mandating Humphrey stay away from his alleged victim. Humphrey is a retired shipyard worker with a history of drug addiction and a criminal record dating back to 1980, records show. His most recent arrest came after he allegedly followed a 79-year-old neighbor into the mans apartment, threatened to put a pillowcase over the victims head, demanded money and stole $5 and a bottle of cologne. Humphreys attorney said he was simply trying to collect a debt owed to him. A judge is scheduled Wednesday to set a date for Humphreys trial on the criminal charges. Evan Sernoffsky is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: esernoffsky@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @EvanSernoffsky When Gail Wilsons husband Bob Kantor died unexpectedly in 2013, she had to quickly figure out what to do with Memphis Minnies, the San Francisco barbecue restaurant they had co-owned since 2000 in Lower Haight. It was Bobs baby, not mine. He built that place from the ground up, she said. He just loved being there. He loved feeding people. And I loved it because of him. Memphis Minnies, known as much for its fire-engine-red facade as its heaping piles of slow-smoked, Southern-style barbecue, was named after Kantors mother, Minnie, who was from Memphis. Wilson decided to put Tom Campbell, the restaurants manager at the time, in control of day-to-day operations while she stayed on as the owner. Over the next four years or so, we didnt miss a step, she said. A few months ago, Campbell told Wilson he was stepping down from his post to pursue other culinary projects, leaving the Memphis Minnies owner once again with a familiar dilemma. Instead of finding a way to keep the business up and running, Wilson has sold it. It was a decision she admits she wanted to make back in 2013 when her husband passed. The restaurant is now in the hands of a new owner, identified by liquor license applications as Gui Bok Lee. Though Wilson said she cant speak as to what changes are in store for Memphis Minnies, she did say the restaurant will remain a barbecue business. Its bittersweet to see it go, she said. It was a place Bob loved dearly. Luckily, we were able to carry on his legacy for the four-plus years after he passed. Wilson said before and after her husbands death, Memphis Minnies has been profitable, despite San Franciscos tumultuous restaurant environment. The only complication shes had with the restaurant has come at the end, she said. People arent buying small restaurants right now in San Francisco, it seems, Wilson said. We had a really hard time finding buyers. I think its because of the minimum wage issues and just the cost of just staying open. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Without the daily concern of the business, Wilson, who currently lives in Asheville, N.C., has yet another dilemma to face what to do next. I wont be opening a restaurant, she said with a laugh. Its going to take some getting used to when it comes to not running the place, but Im happy to see how we kept it alive with Bob gone. Thats what Im going to miss the most. Memphis Minnies: 576 Haight Street: Tues - Sat: 11am - 10pm; Sunday: 11am - 9pm; Closed Monday; www.memphisminnies.com Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @JustMrPhillips A year after a scathing state audit found that the University of California presidents office squirreled away $175 million for preferred projects rather than disclosing the money to the public, a new report concludes that the office missed the April 30 deadline for complying with the recommended fixes. At stake is whether students will see their tuition rise next fall. Failure to comply with the audit deadline places at risk not only UCs request from the state for a $140 million budget boost, which the university says would eliminate the need for a tuition increase, but also $50 million the governor withheld last year on condition that UC comply with the auditors recommendations and other requirements. This is real money, said Assemblyman Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, who requested the audit two years ago with Assemblyman Kevin McCarty, D-Sacramento. Clearly, its important that we have confidence in their financials before we can augment it. The report comes days after the UC regents announced that they would not raise tuition this fall if state lawmakers allocate the $140 million they have requested. A growing number of state lawmakers who dont want to see a 3 percent tuition hike have supported giving UC the money it has requested. California residents currently pay $13,887 in tuition and mandatory fees at UC. For its part, UC says the presidents office met its deadline and fully complied with all 10 audit recommendations and has a consultants report to prove it. State Auditor Elaine Howle disagrees, saying the office completed just six of the 10 tasks. The new report calls that a significant deficiency. We recognize that the Office of the President has invested significant resources and made progress in implementing our recommendations by improving its fiscal, staffing, and systemwide initiative processes, the report says. We expected the Office of the President would have prioritized meeting deadline because of the money at stake in its 2018-19 budget. But it failed to do so. The UC presidents office in Oakland is the $813.5 million brain that oversees the universitys 10 campuses, five medical centers, three national laboratories, and other endeavors. Last years audit studied the presidents office from 2012 to 2016 when its budget was $686 million and it employed nearly 1,700 people. Under President Janet Napolitano, the office paid employees significantly more than state workers in comparable jobs and amassed $175 million in reserve funds it didnt disclose in its budget presentations to its governing Board of Regents, Howles audit found. It did so in part by overestimating how much it needed to run the UC system, then spending less than budgeted, the audit said. The audit included 33 recommended repairs, including 10 to be completed by April 30, and the remainder over the next two years. Napolitano and the regents have called the fixes constructive and said they would complete them thoroughly, on time, and in a transparent manner. To oversee its process, UC hired a consultant former state auditor Kurt Sjoberg who, on April 18, issued a report detailing the ways in which UC has satisfied or exceeded all 10 expectations. Yet Howles report says Napolitanos office has failed in four areas: It has taken no action to align staff costs with the needs of campuses to encourage employee development and ensure pay equity. Campuses pay dues to the presidents office, and can pay too much, the audit had found. The office has taken only partial steps to understand how it can determine whether the money it collects from campuses is too much and how it can be returned. The office also has only partially developed a reserve policy to better understand how much should be set aside and why. An effort to overhaul its budget presentation to the regents in which disclosed and undisclosed funds would be combined into one is pending. UC spokeswoman Dianne Klein said the presidents office believes that two of the areas, aligning staff costs and steps for returning money to campuses, are not due until 2019. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. She said the presidents office has developed several reserve policies for its various funds, and called the auditors criticism puzzling. As for the budget presentation, Klein said the office has shared its budget templates with the auditor, though not its actual numbers, which will be presented to the regents next month. She said the auditor had recommended this approach. There appears to be a disagreement about dates here, and we will be discussing this further with the state auditors office, regents Chairman George Kieffer told The Chronicle. I expect well work it out. Ting said hell meet with Howles audit team Friday to determine how egregious the missed steps are. There has been improvement, he said. They have been working very hard and taken this very seriously which is what we were hoping to see. Ultimately, the Department of Finance will be the umpire. They get to make the call and they have always said they are following the auditors lead on this issue. That office said Wednesday that its keeping mum on the subject until Gov. Jerry Brown releases his revised budget proposal for the 2018-19 fiscal year, sometime before May 14. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov As elected insurance commissioner a decade ago, Republican Steve Poizner was unsuccessful in his attempts to persuade the Democrat-controlled Legislature to make it a nonpartisan office. He believed the job as regulator required a commitment to independence and integrity that transcended any party loyalties and to an impressive degree, that is how he performed his duties during his four years in office. Now the entrepreneur-turned-politician is back in pursuit of his old job, having shed his party affiliation. Poizner is making a bid to become the first independent or no party preference, as its listed on the ballot to be elected to a statewide office. A cynic might question whether the switch was strategic: After all, no Republican has won a statewide office since Poizner was elected and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was re-elected in 2006. Today, only 1 in 4 California voters is registered as a Republican. But Poizner makes a persuasive case that he wants to return to the office, and there is no dispute about either his knowledge of the issues or his effectiveness when he was in the post. His tenure oversaw the arrests of more than 3,000 people for insurance fraud and savings of almost $2 billion in lower insurance rates for drivers and homeowners. His streamlining of the departments bureaucracy resulted in a 13 percent budget reduction, saving $17 million, without staff layoffs. If returned to office, Poizner said one of his top priorities will be to assure that coverage is aligned with the evolving risks of wildfire, flood and other effects of climate change. He also looks forward to enforcing regulations that he initiated years ago to require that insurers who sell full replacement policies are truly prepared to cover all such costs associated with a loss. The industry had challenged that regulation in courts, and the state Supreme Court last year ultimately upheld the insurance commissioners authority on the matter. I now want to fully implement the policy, Poizner said. Any assessment of Poizners public life cannot ignore his ugly immigrant-bashing in his 2010 campaign for governor, when he tried to run to the right of Meg Whitman in a Republican primary. He opposed sanctuary cities, called for a cutoff of public assistance to illegal aliens and supported Arizonas controversial show me your papers law. Poizner is effusively contrite when challenged about that dark chapter in what seemed to have been a personality and policy transplant from the centrist, consensus-seeking Republican of his earlier campaigns for the state Assembly and insurance commissioner. I would never, ever again be a politician with a divisive tone, he said. One of the Democrats in the race, state Sen. Ricardo Lara of Los Angeles County, strikes many of the same policy themes as Poizner: prepare for climate change, hold insurers accountable for rates and claims and significantly boost consumer education to make sure they are sufficiently protected. The difference is that Poizner has an established track record. The other Democrat, Dr. Asif Mahmood, is one of the more intriguing candidates we met this primary season. Im a physician, not a politician, he said. Raised in rural Pakistan, Mahmood views his candidacy as a way to giving back to a state where he has prospered the past two decades. If I dont run, I have a better life, he said. Mahmood certainly has a wealth of ideas, especially about the need for single-payer health care, but no political experience to suggest how he might perform in the rough and tumble of Sacramento. No Republican is listed on the ballot. In electing Poizner, Californians would not only get an insurance commissioner who shows he can navigate this critical position, they would be sending a message to Republicans and Democrats alike that this does not need to be a one-party state. Vote on the merits, not the party label. Poizner is our choice in the June 5 primary. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. Michael Macor/The Chronicle The California Water Commission has been meeting this week to discuss how to invest $2.7 billion in water storage funds approved by voters under Proposition 1. The commission and all Californians should bear in mind that water storage doesnt necessarily mean a dam with water behind it. The commissions charge is not to fund the biggest new dam but to fund projects with the greatest net benefits to California cities, farms and wildlife. The commission is considering 12 projects, ranging from traditional surface storage projects, such as the proposed Sites and Temperance Flat reservoirs, to multiple use projects such as expanding Los Vaqueros Reservoir in Contra Costa County or the Inland Empire Utilities Agencys project, which would time water releases for benefit of the native fish runs and farmers. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle 2015 On May 3, the San Francisco Unified School District board committee on school assignment will discuss its plans to improve the enrollment process, in hopes of making our citys schools less racially segregated. I have a simple suggestion that will increase participation from our diverse communities across the city: make the application process available online and on our phones. I understand the importance of diverse, equitable schools. As a teacher in Baton Rouge, La., I will never forget one of my African American students explaining to me that white children go to white schools and black children go to black schools. At the age of 5, that student had already observed a system that promoted separation and inequality. I returned to my hometown of San Francisco only to find a complicated school assignment system that is even more segregated than it was in my youth. A lot of roads are paved with good intentions, but they usually dont end up anywhere good. Thats definitely true of Sacramentos go-it-alone plan on net neutrality by passing legislation to regulate the Internet just in California. A vital, open Internet where everyone can participate and no company can discriminate, censor or manipulate our data is the right goal but this is the wrong way to get there. I have worked for years to protect and expand the publics access to the airwaves and to give the unheard a voice. I run Crossings TV, an Asian language network dedicated to providing an outlet for growing but underserved communities in our state. But this commitment has deeper roots, from my childhood growing up as an African American in the 50s, when a person of color on TV was as unheard of as a Republican-controlled California Legislature is today. And I continued working on these issues in the Carter White House, where we created the Minority Tax Certificate, which tripled the number of minority-owned broadcast and cable TV outlets, and at the FCC, where we planted the first seeds of the breakup of AT&T to give Americans more choice in their communications. From these experiences, I can see that the California net neutrality plan will fail because it will be struck down in the courts. Even the most active champions of net neutrality recognize this, like the legal counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation who wrote: The legislators sadly chose an approach that is vulnerable to legal attack. This is because the federal government has already pre-empted state efforts to directly regulate the Internet. But even if the California bill could survive, the true test is in the marketplace. Again and again, well-meaning bills like this one nevertheless spin off unintended consequences that are self-defeating in terms of higher costs and/or lower innovation. There is only one Internet a seamless, organic, interconnected whole that respects no state boundaries and requires one consistent set of technical and legal standards to operate. California cannot stop emails at the border and scan them for compliance with the whims of Sacramento. And privacy protection is only as good as its weakest link so no matter how strong the go-it-alone rules we enact in our state may be, theyll mean nothing if Nevada or some other state adopts a Wild West approach and leaks our information when it passes through that state. Internet businesses cannot comply with 50 different versions of net neutrality. The result will be higher costs for consumers, slower innovation of our networks, and an inward-looking Internet that worries more about navigating red tape than connecting and empowering our people. Even worse these rules will only empower the near-monopoly platforms that already dominate a space that has too little competition. Small upstarts cant afford the legal and compliance teams needed to survive that kind of regulatory obstacle, but Facebook and Google can. Or at least they could if the proposed rules even applied to them. And thats the biggest gap of all in Californias legislation the rules completely exempt the Big Tech platforms that are responsible for so much abuse and anticompetitive behavior online. Everyone now understands that these platforms must be reined in. Yet the California rules give these platforms a hall pass and then further distort the market by imposing inconsistent regulation on their competitors only. We need one set of comprehensive rules for the entire Internet. But thats a job for Congress, not for Sacramento. Frank Washington is president of Crossings TV and a member of the California Chamber of Commerce Board. GOP leaders would love to have one of their own facing Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein on the November ballot. Unless that GOP candidate is Patrick Little, a neo-Nazi from Albany who is running a strong second in a recent poll. I am the only America First candidate in California, Little proclaims on his website. No more of Feinsteins jewish supremacist wars for Israel. Aghast at the possibility of being represented by a Senate candidate whose platform calls for limiting representation of Jews in the government and making it U.S. policy that the Holocaust is a Jewish war atrocity propaganda hoax that never happened, California Republican leaders were quick to denounce Little. Mr. Little has never been an active member of our party. I do not know Mr. Little and I am not familiar with his positions, Matt Fleming, a California Republican Party spokesman, said in a statement. But in the strongest terms possible, we condemn anti-Semitism and any other form of religious bigotry, just as we do with racism, sexism or anything else that can be construed as a hateful point of view. Little, who bills himself on the ballot as a Civil Rights Advocate, is well on the way to his 15 minutes of national fame, mostly at the expense of a state Republican Party that hasnt been able to recruit a serious candidate for one of the nations most visible political offices. The partys dismay also doesnt explain how Little, who according to Federal Election Commission records hasnt reported raising a nickel for his campaign, was backed by 46 percent of Republicans in the poll that SurveyUSA did for a number of California television stations, including KPIX in San Francisco. The poll put Feinstein way in front with 39 percent support. She was followed by Little at 18 percent, with Los Angeles Democratic state Sen. Kevin de Leon and San Diego Republican businessman Roque Rocky De La Fuente tied for third at 8 percent. The top two finishers in the June 5 primary advance to the fall general election. De La Fuente, by the way, is also running for the U.S. Senate in Floridas Aug. 28 GOP primary, after unsuccessfully seeking the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and then becoming the Reform Party nominee for president. The poll, which was conducted online April 19-23, found Feinstein and Little in a virtual tie, 29 percent to 28 percent, among Central Valley voters, with Little pulling support from 42 percent of self-identified conservatives. The poll of 520 likely voters had a margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points. SurveyUSA, which has polled the Senate race three times this year, listed Little among its six leading candidates in the most recent poll because of how he performed in the earlier surveys, Jay Leve, president of SurveyUSA, said in an email. There was one other Republican among the six De La Fuente. For the first time, there is clarity on (Feinsteins) likely November opponent, pollsters said in their report on the survey. It is Republican Patrick Little, who today polls at 18 percent overall, but whose rural coalition is strong enough that he ties Feinstein in Californias Central Valley. Littles platform isnt all about anti-Semitism. He also calls for nationalizing Google, Twitter and all other natural monopolies in the IT industry and banning all lobbying groups, except nonprofit lobbies that work to protect the Bill of Rights. Expect his campaign to be a topic of discussion anguished discussion at this weekends state Republican Party convention in San Diego. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth Sometime next week, every voter in San Mateo and Napa counties will get a June primary ballot in the mail, whether they asked for it or not. And dont even think about going to your local polling place on election day. It wont be there. The two Bay Area counties are among five in the state taking the first steps to implement the Voters Choice Act, a law passed in 2016 that will dramatically change the way Californians cast ballots. Almost every other county is expected to join them in 2020. There will be plenty of differences from the way the state has long run elections. Most voters will cast their ballots by mail, accelerating a trend that is already under way. Neighborhood polling places will be replaced by far fewer county voting centers, where people can register and then vote at the same time. Voters will now have more options for when, where and how they cast ballots, Secretary of State Alex Padilla said earlier this year as he released a public service announcement on the changes. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle It all starts Monday, when ballots are expected to be mailed to every registered voter in San Mateo, Napa and the other counties participating in the new system this year Sacramento, Nevada and Madera. People can return completed ballots in the mail or take them to drop boxes that will be provided in virtually every community. Local centers where residents can vote in person will also be opened in the days leading up to the election. In San Mateo County, for example, four centers will be open weekdays, beginning Monday. Five more will be opened May 26, and 30 additional centers for the four days before the June 5 primary election. Beginning May 26, the centers will open seven days a week, including Memorial Day. The local voting centers will be key to the new program. Staffed 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by election workers, they will allow residents to drop off their ballots, cast ballots on voting machines and register to vote all the way up to election day. People also will be able to register and immediately cast a ballot at the centers. Voters now must register 15 days before an election, although those who sign up after the deadline at their county election offices can cast a provisional ballot. Because the centers are connected to the voter registration database, residents can instantly confirm whether their registration is up to date. Voters can cast ballots at any center in the county, not just the one nearest to where they live. Each center can provide ballots for any community in the county and can also replace damaged or mismarked ballots. Michael Short / Special to The Chronicle A lot of people say they like to vote at their polling place, where they can meet with their neighbors, said Mark Church, county clerk and chief elections officer for San Mateo County. Theyll still be able to do that at the voting centers. They might have to travel a bit farther to do it, however. San Mateo Countys 39 voting centers will replace more than 200 polling places. Voters in Napa and San Mateo counties already have been hit with a flood of educational material, letting them know whats coming. Along with mailed and social-media notices, Padilla has joined election officials at public meetings to answer questions about the switch. But for many voters, the changes wont be that big a deal. About 90 percent of our voters already vote by mail, said John Tuteur, county clerk and registrar of voters in Napa County. We have gone from 96 polling places in 2006 to 11 in 2016, mostly in (the cities of) Napa and American Canyon. Thats a story being told throughout California, where more than half the states 19.4 million registered voters have signed up to receive a mail ballot for every election. In 2016, nearly 58 percent of the votes in the presidential election were cast by mail. In 2015, San Mateo County was one of a handful of counties selected to do a test run for the new voting system. While the local elections didnt attract nearly as many voters as this years statewide elections will, everything went smoothly. More than 97 percent voted by mail, with only 2.5 percent showing up at polling places, Church said. One of the main reasons for the voting change is the belief that it will boost turnout. While the countys turnout in the 2015 local elections was only 29 percent, that was up from 25 percent two years earlier. That doesnt mean there wont be challenges with the new system. Both San Mateo and Napa counties are hustling to hire enough people to staff the long hours at the new voting centers. Well have eight centers and 56 people to cover the hours, said Tuteur of Napa County. Instead of poll workers just putting in a single long shift on election day, this is a commitment of weeks. The vote center workers, who as intermittent county employees must be fingerprinted and undergo background checks, need more skills than the traditional election day crews, said Church. Theyll be paid around $18 an hour. Luckily, weve been able to hire a number of former poll workers who have the technical knowledge to operate the voter centers, he said. But were still recruiting. The system has been in place for Colorado for years, but its new to California. That means election officials around the state are going to be closely watching San Mateo, Napa and the three other counties for what works and what doesnt. What happens in this election will determine what happens going forward, Church said. Under the law, 14 counties were eligible to participate in the new voting program this year, but nine of them, including Santa Clara County, declined, for a variety of reasons. In 2020, the other counties can come aboard, although theres no requirement. If there was, the state would have had to pick up the local tab for new equipment and other costs, which would have been a deal breaker. But in Napa and San Mateo counties, election officials are convinced that the extended voting period and added convenience of mail ballots and voting centers will persuade more people to vote. The benefits will outweigh any challenges, said Church. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth Party animals raised a whopping $1.12 million last week at ZooFest, the annual fundraiser benefiting the exhibition, education and conservation programs at the San Francisco Zoo. This beloved fete celebrated its 50th anniversary as S.F. Zoo Director Tanya Peterson honored Marie Lipman and her husband, S.F. Zoo trustee emeritus Barry Lipman for their dedicated support. After visiting the zoo in 1985 with their three daughters, the Lipmans signed on as zoo members. Soon after, Barry, co-founder of Goldfarb and Lipman law firm, joined the board. Every community deserves a world-class zoo. But for me its all about education and connecting to nature, said Mr. Lipman. There are so many animals in the world. But the reality is, 99 percent of people will never see those animals to the extent you can experience them right here. Their growing interest in wildlife conservation led the family to explore Madagascar, an Indian Ocean island-nation that boasts the worlds oldest primates and most extensive biodiversity. Yet that diversity is threatened by the massive deforestation and poaching practices of the impoverished populace. And though our atmospheric skies didnt mimic that island weather, the McCalls catering crew not only served a delicious dinner but also designed a tropical-inspired tent for 450 guests decked out in an array of safari-inspired ensembles and animal-print cocktail dresses. When it comes to dressing in animal print, Im getting an education from Tanya, said S.F. City Administrator Naomi Kelly, with a laugh. My vision tonight is some sort of cross between an owl and a monkey. The Lipmans philanthropic efforts extend to myriad causes (the California Academy of Sciences, S.F. Ballet, Homeless Prenatal Program). But Barry realized everyone no matter their race, religion or sexual orientation eventually visits the zoo. In 2001, the couple were lead donors to the zoos $4 million Lipman Lemur Exhibit. They also supported the zoos red panda exhibition in 2014, after winning naming rights at a previous ZooFest. In recognition of the Ailuridaes native Himalayan home, they chose Tenzing after the sherpa who scaled Mount Everest with Sir Edmund Hilary. And a leadership gift from the Lipmans gave rise in 2016 to the zoos first Sifaka exhibition, the largest jumping lemur exhibit of its kind. Its an extension of the 1.5-acre Lipman Family Lemur Forest, the largest lemur habitat in the country and home to 19 lemurs comprising eight species. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The 3 Cs define the zoos mission: connect, care and conserve. Tonight the Lipmans add a fourth C to our mission: community, enthused Peterson. Like many conservationists, Barry and Marie learned that first, they had to help local people before they could save endangered wildlife. To that end, the philanthropic couple established the Lipman Family Prize (administered by Barrys alma mater, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania) that annually awards global nonprofits demonstrating social and sustainable impact for communities in third-world countries. But back at the zoo, next year the Lipman Family Madagascar Center will open featuring lemur care condos, a rainforest and a remodel of the adjacent primate center. Our hope is to create the best Madagascar habitat outside of the island, Barry Lipman enthused. This will help connect people to nature and inspire them to care for nature. And with advanced conservation, well save nature on Madagascar. Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow SACRAMENTO The Sacramento County Sheriffs Department can take photos, fingerprints and additional DNA samples of accused serial murderer and rapist Joseph James DeAngelo, a judge ruled Thursday. DeAngelo, 72, was in a wheelchair and appeared alert in his third court appearance since being arrested last week. He is accused of being the criminal known as the Golden State Killer or East Area Rapist, who terrorized California in the 1970s and 80s. Authorities said last week that the one-time police officer in Auburn (Placer County) was arrested after detectives ran DNA collected from a 40-year-old crime scene through a genealogical website. The DNA was a close match for relatives, and authorities eventually were led to DeAngelos home in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights, not far from where many of the sexual assaults occurred. DeAngelos public defenders had sought to block authorities from collecting additional DNA from him, taking his picture and collecting fingerprints as he sits in Sacramento County jail. They argued that a search warrant that prosecutors sought for law enforcement had been granted before DeAngelo was arrested and given a public defender, and thus void. Collecting new evidence from him to beef up charges violates DeAngelos constitutional right not to incriminate himself, they argued. Judge Michael Sweet of Sacramento County Superior Court ruled Thursday that collecting biological evidence and photographs does not require DeAngelo to talk to investigators and thus does not violate his rights. Sweet added that similar evidence is taken when a person is charged with a serious felony in California. Court records show authorities had planned to take photos of DeAngelos entire body, including his penis, and collect DNA on Wednesday before his attorney, Diane Howard, objected. Howard declined to comment after Thursdays hearing. Prosecutors have not said why photos of DeAngelos penis are needed for their investigation. But he is suspected in as many as 45 rapes, and some victims at the time of his crimes described him as having a small penis. DeAngelo has been charged with two murders in Sacramento County, but is suspected in 10 additional killings throughout the state. He has not entered a plea. Prosecutors in Ventura, Orange and Santa Barbara counties are expected to file additional murder charges for crimes committed there. DeAngelo is scheduled to return to court May 14. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez Recommendations of recent books from the staffs of a rotating list of Bay Area independent bookstores. This weeks list is from the Booksmith, 1644 Haight St., San Francisco. (415) 863-8688. www.booksmith.com The Recovering: Intoxication and Its Aftermath, by Leslie Jamison: In this refreshing examination of addiction and sobriety, Jamison straddles several genres at once by weaving her experiences with the struggles of writers who came before her. False Report: A True Story of Rape in America, by Ken Armstrong and T. Christian Miller: The authors posit that police cant handle rape the way they handle murder because with a rape, the victims trauma is staring you in the face. Then we meet Marie, a woman who was raped and charged legally with false reporting. Eloquent Rage: A Black Feminist Discovers Her Superpower, by Brittney Cooper: Smart, intense and necessary, Coopers book looks at why black feminism demands an uncoupling from the power structures of white patriarchy. Hippie Food: How Back-to-the-Landers, Longhairs, and Revolutionaries Changed the Way We Eat, by Jonathan Kauffman: The Chronicle food writer takes an in-depth look at the splash that counterculture made in the way we eat, cook and grow our food. Early vegetarianism, free-food activism, co-ops and health food trends Kauffman covers it all, and shows us the historic context for where we are now. FICTION Children of Blood and Bone, by Tomi Adeyemi: Adeyemis arrival in the world of fantasy is a cause to celebrate. This is the sweeping, riveting story of a young woman who gets drawn against her wishes into a struggle for the survival of her people. The Chandelier, by Clarice Lispector: The first English translation of this novel is a treat: strange, mysterious, glorious. Love, by Hanne rstavik: In this novel, a single mother and her son venture apart one night and find themselves in increasingly strange, cold scenarios. Its a remarkable novel that will linger long after. The Sparsholt Affair, by Alan Hollinghurst: Any new work by Hollinghurst is a cause for celebration, and this is no exception. Far-reaching, tender and smart, this book is perfect for a big, immersive summer read. LONDON The company at the center of the Facebook privacy scandal, political consultancy Cambridge Analytica, is going out of business. But that doesnt mean those behind the entity will escape the scrutiny of regulators. As authorities continue to investigate the use of the data of millions of people, heres a look at what the bankruptcy filings in Britain and the U.S. mean for the probe. How did this start? Facebook suspended Cambridge Analytica in light of allegations that it had improperly harvested personal data from as many as 87 million Facebook accounts and used the material in Donald Trumps presidential election campaign. Cambridge Analytica says it bought the data from another company that was contractually required to comply with data protection rules and that none of the Facebook data was used in the Trump campaign. The scandal triggered a sharp drop in Facebook shares amid concern the revelations could threaten the social networks business model of offering a free service in return for data that could be marketed to advertisers. At one point, the sell-off wiped $50 billion off the Menlo Park companys market value. What does Cambridge Analytica say? The company suspended its CEO, Alexander Nix, pending an investigation. Last week it said it was no Bond villain and had been vilified by inaccurate reporting, including footage of Nix boasting of the companys dirty tricks including honey traps and fake news to win elections. Cambridge Analytica also hired an outside lawyer to investigate the allegations. Results of the probe released Wednesday contradicted claims made by whistle-blower Christopher Wylie and described his involvement with the firm as being very modest. What now? Britains Information Commissioners Office has been investigating Cambridge Analytica and its parent company, SCL Group, as part of a wider look at the use of personal data and election campaigns. That probe, which involves as many as 30 other companies, goes on. The commissioners office said Thursday that it will continue civil and criminal investigations and will seek to pursue individuals and directors as appropriate and necessary, even where companies may no longer be operating. The office also promised to monitor closely any successor companies, meaning that the people behind Cambridge Analytica wouldnt be able to avoid scrutiny simply by incorporating under a new name. British corporate records show that Nix is also director of a company called Emerdata Ltd. that was incorporated in August 2017. Other Emerdata directors include people associated with Cambridge Analytica. The New York Times reported that officials from Cambridge Analytica and SCL have raised the possibility of using Emerdata as a rebranding of Cambridge Analytica by buying the latters data and intellectual property. More details could emerge when Cambridge Analytica files for bankruptcy protection in New York, as planned. Damian Collins, the chairman of Parliaments media committee, told Sky News that he was alive to the risk that the company might try to rebrand itself. Will the bankruptcy stop the investigation? Absolutely not, say British authorities. Collins told Sky News that company leaders will be in for a nasty surprise if they think shutting Cambridge Analytica will make it possible to erase the data that prompted the investigation. Facebook also says it will continue to seek answers to understand exactly what happened and make sure it doesnt happen again. Individuals and businesses are typically required to preserve evidence for known investigations, and in the U.S. it is a crime to intentionally destroy records or documents in a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. It doesnt appear the closure would directly affect the parent company, SCL Group, making it more difficult to get rid of evidence on insolvency grounds. Wednesdays news release announcing the decision lists only Cambridge Analytica and SCL Elections, not the parent company. Is Facebook off the hook? Not at all. CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified last month to the U.S. Congress about the use of the data in the presidential election. He acknowledged that tighter regulation of data is inevitable, but otherwise came away relatively unscathed Facebook shares rose after his testimony. The British and EU parliaments also want Zuckerberg to answer their questions publicly, though he has so far declined. Collins this week repeated that, insisting that he needs to come clean on 40 questions Chief Technology Officer Mike Schroepfer failed to fully answer last week. Collins also said there was no precedent for a senior executive refusing a summons, adding that even Rupert and James Murdoch chose to appear during an investigation into phone hacking. The Federal Trade Commission in the U.S., meanwhile, also is investigating Facebook. From the moment T-Mobile and Sprint announced their $26.5 billion merger on Sunday, the wireless carriers have positioned their proposed deal with an eye toward Washington. After all, regulators in the Obama administration blocked one of their previous efforts to combine. This time around, the chief executives emphasized that merging would help them to: Build a next-generation wireless network, one robust enough to keep up with China in a growing technological arms race. Create thousands of jobs, especially in rural areas. Keep prices low for consumers, especially as cable companies like Comcast try to enter the market. Not everyone is convinced theyll do everything. The heads of both companies began a charm offensive in Washington on Tuesday; heres what three government agencies will weigh as they consider the bid. Is the deal in the national interest? In a regulatory filing on Monday, the companies acknowledged that they would need approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. It is an intra-agency panel run from the Treasury Department that reviews mergers and can block them on national security grounds. The reason for two U.S. carriers to need approval? T-Mobile, which is acquiring Sprint, is controlled by Deutsche Telekom of Germany. Sprint is mostly owned by SoftBank of Japan. Deutsche Telekom and SoftBank had to undergo reviews by the committee when they bought control of their respective American wireless providers years ago, which suggests that any transfer of assets between the two now would pass muster. But the Trump administration has recently taken a harder stance on foreign-owned acquisitions. It pre-emptively blocked Broadcoms hostile bid for chipmaker Qualcomm. While Broadcom is based in Singapore, and had announced that it would relocate to the United States, the logic was that any change at Qualcomm could hamper its ability to help build out the next-generation wireless network, known as 5G, in the United States. The administration has also said it might consider nationalizing the 5G network, underscoring the sensitivity of the technology that underlies a merger between Sprint and T-Mobile. Complicating matters are the business dealings of SoftBank. It has ties to Huawei and ZTE, two Chinese tech companies whose connections to Beijing have been a matter of controversy. But Sprint and T-Mobile are likely to point out that each has already passed the committees review in the past, and are willing to make concessions to win over the panel now. Whats in the public interest? The Federal Communications Commission has scrutinized a possible T-Mobile-Sprint merger before. In 2014, SoftBanks founder, Masayoshi Son, met with the chairman of the FCC at the time, Tom Wheeler, and the Justice Departments antitrust chief at the time, Bill Baer. Sons goal: to convince the regulators that AT&T and Verizon were an oligopoly that had a stranglehold on the U.S. wireless market. The best way to combat that, Son argued, was by letting Sprint combine with T-Mobile. Wheeler and Baer rejected the argument, concluding that effectively reducing the wireless market to three major carriers from four would not be good for consumers. Sprint and T-Mobile are now betting that the new FCC chairman, Ajit Pai, feels differently. One question is how the FCC will regard Sprint and T-Mobiles argument that they need to fend off new players in the market. The carriers have pointed out that Comcast has begun bundling wireless service with cable television offerings, essentially by reselling access to Verizons network. Charter Communications is expected to unveil a similar service as well. Will people pay higher prices? The biggest regulatory wild cards may be the Justice Department and its current antitrust chief, Makan Delrahim. Late last year, the Trump appointee sued to block AT&Ts $85.4 billion takeover of Time Warner, arguing that the combination would lead to higher prices for content from HBO and Turner Broadcasting channels. Though corporate America assumed that a Trump presidency would be more lenient toward dealmaking, it has maintained an aggressiveness in regulating mergers, according to Norman Armstrong Jr., the co-head of the antitrust practice at the law firm King & Spalding. Overall I havent seen much change from the last administration to this one, he said. Michael J. de la Merced and Alan Rappeport are New York Times writers. Southwest Airlines provided more details about its planned launch to Hawaii by announcing it intends to fly to the islands from four California cities: Oakland, San Jose, Sacramento and San Diego. The highly-anticipated announcement for the highly-anticipated expansion was made Thursday morning in Honolulu. TravelSkills with Chris McGinnis sponsored by See More Collapse Southwest did not reveal when services would begin operating, the exact routes that would be flown, or the date when tickets would be available for sale although airline president Tom Nealon said they expect fares would be available to buy sometime this year. Southwest said it still needs approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate its Boeing 737s across the Pacific (the certification is required for those long overwater flights). ASK CHRIS: Got a hot travel question about airlines, airports, hotels, or regulations? Submit it here and Chris may answer it in an upcoming TravelSkills article. Prominently missing from the list of California airports it will serve from Hawaii are San Francisco SFO and Los Angeles LAX. As a matter of fact, there are no cities in the LA Basin that will get Southwest flight to Hawaii for now. That could be part of its strategy to avoid direct competition from the entrenched major airline players in those major markets. Last week, Southwest announced the four cities it intends to serve in Hawaii: Honolulu on Oahu, Kahului on Maui, Lihue on Kauai, and Kona on the Big Island. Today, the airline also made an unexpected announcement that it would operate inter-island flights between those four Hawaiian cities, but the exact details of routes was not announced either. The inter-island flight market is currently dominated by Hawaiian Airlines, and it will be interesting to see what Southwest's entry will do to airfares within the state. "The way we plan to serve Hawaii requires us to share these initial details now so that our facilities in the airports will be ready for all that we intend to offer," Southwest's Nealon said in a statement. In January, the airline said it expected to begin its Hawaii flying in late-2018 using its Boeing 737-800 and eventually, its brand new Boeing 737 MAX airplanes. Will you fly Southwest Airlines to Hawaii? Why or why not? Please leave your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. SACRAMENTO The Sacramento County Sheriffs Department can take photos, fingerprints and additional DNA samples of accused serial murderer and rapist Joseph James DeAngelo, a judge ruled Thursday. DeAngelo, 72, was in a wheelchair and appeared alert in his third court appearance since being arrested last week. He is accused of being the serial criminal known as the Golden State Killer or East Area Rapist, who terrorized California in the 1970s and 80s. Authorities said last week that the one-time police officer in Auburn (Placer County) was arrested after detectives ran DNA collected from a 40-year-old crime scene through a genealogical website. The DNA was a close match for relatives, and authorities eventually were led to DeAngelos home in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights, not far from where many of the criminals sexual assaults occurred. DeAngelos public defenders had sought to block authorities from collecting additional DNA from him, taking his picture and collecting fingerprints as he sits in Sacramento County jail. They argued that a search warrant that prosecutors sought for law enforcement had been granted before DeAngelo was arrested and given a public defender, and thus void. Collecting new evidence from him to beef up charges violates DeAngelos constitutional right not to incriminate himself, they argued. Judge Michael Sweet of Sacramento County Superior Court ruled Thursday that collecting biological evidence and photographs does not require DeAngelo to talk to investigators and thus does not violate his rights. Sweet added that similar evidence is taken when a person is charged with a serious felony in California. Court records show authorities planned to take photos of DeAngelos entire body, including his penis, and collect DNA on Wednesday before his attorney Diane Howard objected. Howard declined to comment after Thursdays hearing. Prosecutors have not said why photos of DeAngelos penis are needed for their investigation. But he is suspected in as many as 45 rapes, and some victims at the time of his crimes described him as having a small penis. DeAngelo has been charged with two murders in Sacramento County, but is suspected in 10 additional killings throughout the state. He has not entered a plea. Prosecutors in Ventura, Orange and Santa Barbara counties are expected to file additional murder charges for crimes committed there. DeAngelo is scheduled to return to court May 14. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez Stormy Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti didnt arrive at The Late Show With Stephen Colbert empty-handed on Wednesday night. Avenatti brought what he said was a receipt for a $130,000 wire payment made by attorney Michael Cohen. This is a copy of the incoming wire receipt from Ms. Daniels prior counsel showing the origin of the $130,000, he told Colbert. He said the payment came from the Bay Area branch of a company Cohen created, meaning that if California Attorney General Xavier Becerra were to bring charges against Cohen, Trump would not be able to pardon him. That could take away his get-out-of-jail-free card right there, Colbert said. Absolutely, Avenatti replied. Also Read: Stormy Daniels Lawyer Asks to Go on 'Hannity': 'We Are Both Street Fighters' Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is suing Trump to vacate the nondisclosure agreement she signed in 2016 for $130,000 paid by Cohen. She is also suing Trump for defamation after he called some of her statements fraud on Twitter. A California judge set a July hearing date for the first lawsuit. Also Read: Giuliani Says Trump Repaid the $130K Given to Stormy Daniels (Video) When Colbert asked why he didnt believe that Cohen simply cut the $130,000 check for Trump, Avenatti replied: Its absurd to suggest that an attorney would advance $130,000 for somebody from a personal home equity loan, never tell him about it not just anyone, but a billionaire running for president never seek reimbursement, never tell him about it. Its just absurd, its ridiculous, nobody believes that. What if theyre a terrible attorney? Colbert responded. What if hes just really bad it his job? Also Read: Porn Star Jessica Drake Backs Stormy Daniels' Trump Threat Story on 'GMA' (Video) Avenatti also told Colbert that he has been approached by other women who he cant name presently who say they have NDAs with the president or intermediaries. Colbert held up his fingers and asked Avenatti to respond as to how many women could potentially approach him. It turns out that the late-night host doesnt have enough fingers to count them all. How long is this show? I forget, Avenatti joked. Read original story Stormy Daniels Lawyer Shows Colbert Receipt for $130K Wire Payment From Michael Cohen At TheWrap Aimee Server doesn't want to stay in San Francisco, but she can't leave. "If I move out of this place, I probably won't be able to come back to the city. I won't be able to afford it," Server said. The 42-year-old has lived in a two-bedroom, rent-controlled apartment for three years. She'd like to escape the city for a spell, to travel and teach English in a foreign country. "If I returned [to San Francisco], I could get my job back," she said. But a below market-rate apartment in the heart of the city? "I don't think so." In an expensive place like San Francisco, affordable monthly rent by most residents' standards, "affordable" means below $1,500 can feel like "golden handcuffs." Real estate prices continue rising in the San Francisco Bay Area; the regional median home cost hit a new high of $820,000 in April. Some locals fear that if they leave their fair-priced apartments, they won't be able to re-enter the golden gates of San Francisco. "When your place is rent-controlled, you end up being a prisoner of it, in some ways," said Vince Mancini, a 37-year-old journalist. "You end up staying in the one spot you can afford in San Francisco, even if you don't like it. You end up in a neighborhood you don't love just because it's the only one you can afford. You end up in weird roommate situations you probably wouldn't be in otherwise." The tether of cheap San Francisco rent can stunt a person. Job opportunities in other cities may be forgone, opportunities to move in turned down ("I've got rent control, toots, I'm not leaving"). Vicki Woodard moved to the Fillmore District from Hawaii about 10 years ago. The 52-year-old lives in a two-bedroom in a small complex off Geary Boulevard. "My apartment is not nice; it's just an average place," Woodard said, but "I couldn't think about moving anywhere now." The rent is just too cheap. Woodard pays just under $2,000 a month. Median monthly rent for a two-bedroom in San Francisco is $4,351, according to RentCafe. "The consideration ends up being: Are you going to stay in San Francisco and make it work, or are you willing to give up the city? A lot of people have to give up the city," she said. Woodard almost did just that last year. Her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and she wanted to be there for the treatments, which could last for months. Rather than giving up the apartment, Woodard moved her adult daughter into it. Woodard's daughter was listed on the lease, and she needed a place to land after a year in New Zealand. "If it weren't for my daughter, I was ready to give up San Francisco." Woodard returned in March. Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf. David Tennant was the 10th Doctor Who, and hes a first rate psycho in Bad Samaritan, a pretty slick thriller that proves, if nothing else, that not enough films are shot in Portland, Ore. Do you know why youre not in that little jail now? Tennants Cale Erendreich asks Sean Falco (Robert Sheehan), a petty thief whos in way over his head. Because youre in mine. Indeed. Sean and his best friend Derek (Carlito Olivero) have a neat little scam going. They are valets at a high-end Italian restaurant. Instead of parking the cars of rich clients, they drive them back to their houses and rob them. When Cale pulls up in a $200,000 Maserati, Sean and Derek are practically salivating over their anticipated haul. But when Sean enters Cales house, he finds a woman (Kerry Condon) chained up in a makeshift dungeon. Unable to free her from his shackles, he vows to get help. First he gets the car back to the restaurant, then he places an anonymous 911 call. But, of course, Cale, sensing something is up, zips straight home and when the police do arrive, there is no trace of his victim. Sean is shaken by what he saw. Im never so much as stealing a piece of gum for the rest of my life, he tells Derek. Vowing to save the woman, Sean gives himself up to the police, admits he was trying to rob Cales place and tries to convince them to find the missing woman. But Cale wont press charges, and with Sean free on the streets, Cale begins unraveling Seans life and the lives of those close to him. Dean Devlin (Geostorm), directing from Brandon Boyces original script, expertly ratchets up the tension when the mano a mano battle escalates, a personal war that is fought in cyberspace as much as on the streets of Portland. Still, sometimes the movie is a little too slick. Some of the characters, such as Seans girlfriend (Jacqueline Byers) and the FBI agents who begin to believe Seans story, are underdeveloped. But Tennant, excellent as a creep, and Sheehan, who is appealing in his helplessness, provide the necessary depth. Oh, and the next time you have the option of valet parking, maybe park on the street and walk a block or two instead? G. Allen Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ajohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BRfilmsAllen Bad Samaritan Thriller. Starring David Tennant, Kerry Condon, Robert Sheehan. Directed by Dean Devlin. (R. 111 minutes.) Movie newsletter Get the latest movie reviews, Mick LaSalles views, critics picks and more film news each week in the San Francisco Chronicles revamped movie newsletter! Sign up here for Popcorn Picks and other Chronicle and SFGATE newsletters like the Taploid, Chronicle Commuter, and breaking news alerts. Jabo Starks, a drummer steeped in blues whose steady groove became the backbone for many of James Browns hits, died on Tuesday at his home in Mobile, Ala. He was 79. His manager, Kathie Williams, confirmed the death. He had leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes and had been in hospice care for about a week, she said. Starks, whose first name was John and whose nickname was sometimes spelled Jabo, was one of two drummers closely identified with Brown during his heyday in the 1960s and 70s. The other was Clyde Stubblefield, remembered for his indelible drum solo on Browns Funky Drummer, perhaps the most sampled drumbeat of all time. (Stubblefield died last year). Both drummers played on some of Browns best-known albums, including Sex Machine, I Got the Feelin, Say It Loud Im Black and Im Proud and Cold Sweat. Starks drummed on singles like Get Up I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine, Super Bad and The Payback. All those songs, like most of Browns work, have had long afterlives. They have been sampled in songs by hip-hop artists like L.L. Cool J, Kendrick Lamar, A Tribe Called Quest, the Roots, the Black Eyed Peas and Kool Moe Dee. Starks and Stubblefield appeared together onstage and on records, seeing each other as partners and not competitors, they said. You have to understand this, were two different drummers, Starks said in an interview with NPR in 2015. Starks came from a blues background, while Stubblefield came up playing soul and funk. Starks style was more straightforward, without some of Stubblefields flourishes, but it drove Browns songs and got audiences on their feet. If you cant pat your feet and clap your hand to what Im doing, then Im not doing anything worthwhile, Starks said. Brown was a demanding boss, known to fine his musicians for errors. But according to both Starks and Stubblefield, Starks was never fined. By his account, he sometimes caught Brown in a mistake. Sometimes James would miss a change or a cue, but I wouldnt, he was quoted as saying in a profile in Mobile Bay magazine in 2015. Hed turn around and say, You got me, Jab! John Henry Starks was born in Jackson, Ala., on Oct. 26, 1938. His father, Prince Starks, worked in a lumberyard, and his mother, Ruth Starks-Watkins, worked in food services at a public school. Starks, who acquired his nickname as a baby, grew up listening to gospel and blues. He became enamored with drums while watching a marching band in a Mardi Gras parade in Alabama. You could tell when that drummer stopped playing and when he started playing, he had that much command over the band, Starks said in 2015. I must have walked two miles with that band, watching and listening to him. And I made up my mind and said, Id sure like to be able to play just like that. He taught himself to play on an improvised drum kit a bass and snare drum tied to a chair, and cymbals on a stand but received little formal instruction. After graduating from high school in the mid-1950s, he started playing with blues artists like John Lee Hooker, Smiley Lewis, Howlin Wolf and Big Mama Thornton at the Harlem Duke Social Club in Prichard, Ala., a famous venue on the so-called chitlin circuit. Starks joined Bobby (Blue) Blands band in 1959 and played on some of his hits, including Turn On Your Love Light, I Pity the Fool and Thats the Way Love Is. He left to join Browns band in 1965 and stayed with him until the mid-1970s, when he began touring and recording with B.B. King. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Naomi Starks (formerly Taplin); two sisters, Ruth Brown and Sally Bumpers; a daughter, Sonya Starks; a son, Mark; and two grandchildren. Starks and Stubblefield played together again years after they parted ways with Brown. They formed a duo called Funkmasters, which released music and recorded instructional videos, and also worked together on the soundtrack for the 2007 movie comedy Superbad. Williams, his manager, said that Starks last performed in March, at the Red Bar in Grayton Beach, Fla., where he had played since the mid-1990s. Starks said that even after decades onstage, he never lost the joy of playing music. When Im playing music, man, let me tell you one thing: There aint nobody in the world higher than I am, he said. I get so high playing music, it scares me. Daniel E. Slotnik is a New York Times writer. WASHINGTON A spiraling controversy over anti-Semitic comments and conspiracy theories has roiled the Washington city government, seemingly getting worse with every public attempt to ease the tensions. The issue resulted in the resignation of Josh Lopez, the mayoral appointee who organized a disastrous unity rally that featured a speaker who called all Jews termites. At the heart of the debacle is City Councilman Trayon White, who ignited a firestorm on March 16 by posting a video on his Facebook page claiming that an unexpected snowfall was because of the Rothschilds controlling the climate to create natural disasters. Fellow council members and Jewish community leaders accused White of spreading an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory about Jewish control of world events. The Rothschilds, a prominent Jewish family whose banking dynasty dates to the 18th century, are a frequent target of global conspiracy theories. White said he was unaware the Rothschild theory could be construed as anti-Semitic. The first-term African American councilman reached out to try to mend fences, but several of the gestures seem to have made things worse. He attended a Passover Seder and met with Jewish community leaders for breakfast over bagels and lox. He went on a guided tour of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum but abruptly left halfway through without explanation. Then a video surfaced from a February meeting of top city officials that showed White floating a similar conspiracy. The video shows city leaders in the room, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, awkwardly laughing it off and moving on. Ashraf Khalil is an Associated Press writer. WASHINGTON President Trump on Thursday directly contradicted his earlier statements that he knew of no payment to Stormy Daniels, the pornographic film actress who says she had an affair with Trump. Trump said he paid a monthly retainer to his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, and suggested that the payment by Cohen to the actress could not be considered a campaign contribution. The presidents comments reiterated an explosive announcement late Wednesday by one of his recently hired attorneys, Rudy Giuliani, who said on Fox News that the president reimbursed Cohen for the payment to actress Stephanie Clifford, who performs as Stormy Daniels. Though Giuliani described his interview as part of a strategy, the disclosure caught several Trump advisers by surprise, sending some scrambling Thursday morning to determine how to confront the situation. In three Twitter posts Thursday morning, the president repeated some of what Giuliani said a day earlier, specifically that Trump repaid a $130,000 payment Cohen made to Clifford just days before the presidential election in 2016. Giuliani and Trump said this removed the question of whether it was a campaign finance violation. Trump also continued to deny the affair. Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, Trump wrote. These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction. The changing accounts about the president, the payment and the pornography actress came as a surprise to the attorneys of Clifford and Cohen and are forcing some of Trumps advisers to prepare for a new round of questions from the public. Clifford is suing Cohen to try to be released from the nondisclosure agreement. And Cohen is under federal investigation for bank fraud, raising concerns in the presidents inner circle that Trumps longtime personal lawyer will cooperate with the government. Eileen Sullivan, Matt Apuzzo and Maggie Haberman are New York Times writers. WASHINGTON President Trump is trying to hit reset at the State Department on the eve of a critical decision on the Iran nuclear deal and a potential summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump made his first visit to the department on Wednesday for the ceremonial swearing-in of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, highlighting his relationship with the head of a Cabinet agency he largely neglected during the tenure of Rex Tillerson. The former Exxon Mobil CEO was unceremoniously dumped by Trump as the top U.S. diplomat in March after months of personality and policy clashes. Tillerson felt undercut in the job and was viewed overseas as an unreliable emissary for the mercurial Trump. Tillerson went unmentioned during Wednesdays brief ceremony, but Pompeos contrasting status was on full display. The former CIA director is personally close to the president and gained stature abroad after his secret visit to North Korea last month to meet with Kim. Thats more spirit than Ive heard from the State Department in a long time, Trump said as he took the podium to applause from the crowd on the ornate seventh floor. It was a tacit acknowledgement that department morale had suffered under Tillerson, who undertook an unpopular restructuring of the department before he was fired. Pompeo has repeatedly promised to reinvigorate the department. I want the State Department to get its swagger back, he said. Trumps visit put a spotlight on his close ties with Pompeo. Tillerson and Trump rarely saw eye to eye on policy, and Trump felt little chemistry with the fellow former business executive. After a heated debate at the Pentagon over Afghanistan policy last summer, Tillerson reportedly called Trump a moron to other officials and the revelation of the comment in the media irreparably damaged his rapport with the president. Pompeo, by contrast, developed a strong relationship with Trump in large part through his regular attendance at the presidents daily intelligence briefing at the White House. Trump developed a personal liking for Pompeo during the 2016 campaign, when the then-GOP congressman from Kansas was one of his earliest Washington endorsers. Pompeo was the top graduate of his West Point class and an Army tank officer, and his credentials and blunt demeanor fit the mold for a top national security aide in Trumps mind, White House officials said. At the CIA, Pompeo oversaw a secret back channel to the North Korean government, and on April 1, weeks after his State Department nomination, Pompeo made a secret trip to Pyongyang to meet with Kim in advance of a potential meeting with Trump. Zeke Miller and Matthew Lee is an Associated Press writer. Morocco has called on European and African countries to enhance dialogue on migration in a bid to tackle common challenges and set out a new win-win partnership serving the interest of the two continents, Africa and Europe. Addressing the, convened Wednesday in Marrakech within the frame of the Rabat process, Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita told European partners that African countries should not be viewed as border guards but as full-fledged partners. We are gathered here () to define a new strategic framework of the Euro-African dialogue adapted to the changing migratory situation, said the minister, noting that there is no alternative to dialogue which remains the only way to keep up with the new migration policies and regulations. He also said that the Rabat Process aspires to be the incubator of a new migration governance in line with the goals set by the UN Global Compact, the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) and all instruments linking migration to development, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The minister recalled in this regard, the efforts made by the North African Kingdom in the field of migrants socioeconomic integration, asylum and respect of the migrants rights. According to the Moroccan official, Euro-African migration cooperation should be based on solidarity with African countries and not focusing only on border control and the fight against criminal networks of migrants smugglers. Moroccos migration policy is based on a comprehensive and open approach seeking to consolidate peace, stability and development of the African continent. Morocco hosted the 5th Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development due to its noteworthy experience in migration management, and its support and respect of migrants rights, especially those from sub-Saharan Africa. The North African Kingdom co-chairs with Germany the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) aimed at contributing to the United Nations Global Compact on Migration. The Compact is intended to constitute a strong signal of the international community for an enhanced global migration policy. Morocco will also host later this year the intergovernmental conference on international migration. The conference, due Dec.10-11, is expected to work out a global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration. The global compact for migration will be the first, inter-governmentally negotiated agreement, prepared under the auspices of the United Nations, to cover all dimensions of international migration in a holistic and comprehensive manner. Riser has traveled from Golden Gate Fields to Churchill Downs for an ambitious goal: the Grade 3, $200,000 Twin Spires Turf Sprint on Fridays Kentucky Oaks undercard. Owned by Jared Chappell and trained by Blaine Wright, Riser has won four of nine starts, but hasnt raced since finishing third in the Grade 3 British Columbia Derby on Sept. 9 at Hastings Park. As a 2-year-old in 2016, Riser won his debut at Golden Gate Fields and was well-beaten in three subsequent starts. He spent his 3-year-old season in the Pacific Northwest and won the Emerald Downs Derby. Jared called me two months ago and said, Ive got something Im going to throw at you, and it might sound crazy, Wright said. He said hed like to run Riser in this race. I told him if hes working well and doing well, well go. Hes been tearing up the track. Risers 5-furlong workouts in 1:00.00 April 21 and 59.20 April 14 were the fastest of 54 and 64 drills, respectively. Chappell needed to be in Louisville, anyway, as his brother is graduating from dental school there next week. And he bred Kellys Humor, who runs in the Kentucky Oaks. We took the rider (Aaron Gryder), the groom and everybody whos had anything to do with the horse, Wright said. Were here and well try to blow the tote board up. Dreaming can be prosperous sometimes. Hopefully, well represent Golden Gate Fields and Emerald Downs in fine fashion. Riser is 20-1 in the morning line for the 5-furlong race against a field headed by Grade 2 winner Bucchero, who finished a close-up fourth in the Breeders Cup Turf Sprint, and Vision Perfect, who beat Bucchero by 5 lengths in the Silks Run Stakes on March 18. Larry Stumes is a freelance writer. Moroccos foreign ministry said that severing diplomatic ties with Iran is a sovereign decision that was not taken under whatsoever influence of any country. After the Kingdom of Morocco cut diplomatic ties with Iran, some parties lacking arguments, alleged that the Kingdom took such a decision under pressure from some countries, the foreign ministry said in a statement. It added that Morocco sent its ambassador to Iran in 2016 at a time Tehran was in crisis with Arab and Western states. The parties that spread such fallacies about Moroccos sovereign decision had better answer the irrefutable proofs presented by the Moroccan diplomacy showing stark involvement of Hezbollah in backing militarily the Polisario separatists in connivance with Irans embassy in Algiers, said the statement. In response to Polisarios claims that cutting ties with Iran is a reaction to the adoption by Security Council of resolution 2414, the statement said the resolution strengthens Moroccos stance and acknowledges the pre-eminence of its autonomy initiative to end the Sahara conflict. The resolution echoed the position of the international community in line with Moroccos stance in condemning the Polisarios violations of the ceasefire, Moroccos Foreign Ministry said. The connivance of the Polisario with terrorist groups raises questions and pushes the international community to take realistic positions in order to avert regional instability, it said, adding that the same resolution urges the Polisario to withdraw from Guerguarat and Bir Lahlou, two localities east of the Morocco-built security wall in the Sahara buffer zone. The statement made it clear that the decision to cut ties with Iran is not targeted at the Iranian or Lebanese peoples. The Foreign Ministry also extended thanks to the countries that have backed Moroccos decision. 1 Tripoli bombing: A suicide bomber and other militants attacked Libyas election commission in the capital on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people in what appeared to be an attempt to disrupt a vote planned for later this year. The suicide bomber blew himself up inside the building in central Tripoli, while other militants set fire to it, said Health Ministry spokeswoman Wedad Abu Niran. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the raid, but Islamic extremists are opposed to democratic elections and have targeted them in other countries. Libya was plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Moammar Khadafy, and is now split between rival governments, each backed by an array of militias. 2 Lion attack: A lion has been killed after attacking the owner of a wildlife center in South Africa, a mauling recorded in a graphic video. A staff member at Marakele Predator Center in Limpopo province shot dead the male lion named Shamba after it mauled Michael Hodge, the proprietor of the facility. Hodge suffered neck and jaw injuries and is being treated at a Johannesburg hospital. M orocco cut ties with Iran over its connivance in helping Hezbollah arm and train the Polisario. The news put Algeria in such a big embarrassment that its foreign ministry summoned Moroccos Ambassador in Algiers to protest. Morocco understands Algerias embarrassment and its need to express solidarity with its allies, Hezbollah, Iran and the Polisario as well as its attempts to deny its blatant role in this action against Moroccos national security, Moroccos foreign ministry spokesperson said. It is an established fact that Algeria has been hosting, arming, financing, training and backing diplomatically the Polisario separatists since 1975, the Spokesperson said. Morocco has accurate information and tangible proof concerning the political, media and military support of Hezbollah for the Polisario in connivance with Iran, the foreign ministry said. Morocco took time to meticulously examine all the information it has before a decision was made, it said. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) An attorney representing residents in San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood filed a class action lawsuit Tuesday against a firm contracted by the U.S. Navy to rid the area's former naval shipyard of radiation. The lawsuit against Tetra Tech Inc., filed in San Francisco Superior Court by attorney Charles Bonner, is seeking $27 billion in damages, according to court documents. The suit accuses Tetra Tech of "blatant, conscious, callous disregard of Bayview Hunters Point residents live, born and unborn" and "unfair and fraudulent business practices." The suit seeks to represent all of the neighborhood's 38,484 residents, a figure based on a 2010 census. Pasadena-based Tetra Tech first began cleaning up radiation at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in 2002 as the area was slated for redevelopment. The Navy paid Tetra Tech $1 billion for the job. In 2012, workers contracted by Tetra Tech claimed that data on the firm's cleanup had been falsified and manipulated in order to minimize evidence of soil contamination, according to the environmental watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. In September 2017, the Navy released a preliminary analysis of the cleanup specifically at two of the site's numerous parcels and determined that nearly half of the samples taken from the site had in fact been falsified or manipulated. In the Navy's findings, 15 percent of the soil samples at Parcel B needed retesting, while 49 percent of soil samples at Parcel G were in need of retesting. In December 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Department of Public Health, independently reviewed the Navy's report and found further signs of potential falsification, manipulation and data quality concerns at the parcels. The agencies recommended resampling for roughly 90 percent of Parcel B and resampling for about 97 percent of Parcel G. "The data analyzed showed a widespread pattern of practices that appear to show deliberate falsification, failure to complete the work in a manner required... or both," John Chesnutt, a regional EPA Superfund manager, wrote to the Navy on Dec. 17. Chesnutt's letter to the Navy was made public in April by PEER, after the organization obtained it in a Freedom of Information Act request. Tetra Tech Inc. was not immediately available to comment on the lawsuit. Last week, in an attempt to prove that it's cleanup data was not falsified, Tetra Tech offered to pay for an independent third party contractor to retest the site. "We want to assure the residents and neighbors at Hunters Point that what we did was proper and followed all Navy and regulatory guidelines, protocols and work plans," Tetra Tech's chief engineer Bill Brownlie said on April 25. The radiation contamination stemmed from the use of the yard to clean ships exposed to atom bombs and for research on defense against nuclear weapons. Other contaminants from shipyard operations included petroleum compounds, mercury and lead. The area, closed as a Navy shipyard in 1974, was designated in 1989 as an EPA Superfund site, having priority as one of the most toxic cleanup sites in the nation. Supervisor Malia Cohen has called for a hearing on the cleanup, set for May 14 before the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee. ### OAKLAND (BCN) The Oakland City Council has voted to approve the purchase and installation of new hydration stations at 110 public schools in the city to ensure that students have access to clean drinking water at school, city and school officials said. The project was initiated after the Oakland Unified School District found elevated lead levels in certain water fountains at McClymonds High School last summer. The district moved quickly to remove all fountains with elevated lead at all of its schools and replace them with lead-free fixtures. The school district then asked for assistance in paying for water stations at 15 high schools, 14 middle schools, 54 elementary schools and 28 child development centers. The district said the hydration stations complement and expand its efforts to provide clean and safe water to students by making drinking water easily accessible and more attractive. Oakland's Sugar Sweetened Beverage tax, which was approved by the city's voters in 2016, will provide $371,000 in funding for the stations. Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan will also allocate $100,000 from the county's Measure A discretionary funds for the hydration stations. School district officials said the combined funds give them the necessary dollars to purchase and install water stations. Chan said in a statement, "Children and youth are better prepared to learn when they are drinking water instead of sugar sweetened beverages." After the council's vote Tuesday night, Oakland Councilwoman Annie Campbell Washington, who authored the city's soda tax, said, "The goal of the soda tax funding is to provide children with healthy choices and educate the public on the risks associated with soda and other sugary beverages." Campbell Washington, said, "These new hydration stations not only ensure students drink safe water, but it encourages students to drink water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages." The new hydration stations will allow students to fill reusable water bottles and cups and will provide clean drinking water to students and reduce the use of disposable water bottles, resulting in a positive environmental impact, according to school officials. School district Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell said, "We deeply appreciate this partnership with the city of Oakland and Alameda County. We all have the same goals of ensuring the health and well-being of our young people and fighting obesity." Johnson-Trammell said, "The hydration stations will help provide clean water to our students, and if they can help cut down on student consumption of sodas, juices and other sugary drinks, then they will serve multiple important purposes." The school district said it plans to install the fountains over the summer so they will be ready when the new school year starts in the fall. ### Iran and Algerias proxies, Hezbollah and the Polisario respectively, have entered into an alliance to undermine Moroccos security and stability. The involvement of Hezbollah in arming and training the Algerian-backed Polisario separatists on urban warfare is indicative of the failure of the guerrilla war tactics previously used by the Polisario. After Morocco retrieved the Sahara from colonial Spain, Algeria along with few communist nations hosted and armed the Polisario to launch hit and run attacks on the Moroccan armed forces. The achievement of the security wall by Morocco has curbed the effect of the guerrilla tactics and left the Moroccan army with space to pursue Polisario fighters without conducting hot pursuit into the Algerian territory. The UN-brokered ceasefire of 1991 was indicative of Polisarios failure to continue guerrilla warfare at a time its ally was battling extremists in what came to be called black decade. Now, as Polisario and its mentor refuse to engage in negotiations with Morocco on the autonomy initiative and stick to the referendum option that proved its unfeasibility, prospects are gloomy for separatists selling the chimera of an independent state in Moroccos southern provinces to be used by Algeria as an outlet to the Atlantic. The failure of the guerrilla tactics is probably pushing Polisario to prepare for urban warfare in theory of course because they are based in Tindouf camps in Algeria. Hence its alliance with Hezbollah, with Iran and Algerias consent. Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita told reporters in Marrakech Wednesday that Morocco has irrefutable proof of Hezbollahs plan to train Polisario separatists on urban warfare to destabilize Morocco. He said ties between Hezbollah and the Polisario have been growing since the arrest by Morocco of Kacem Taj Eddine in Casablanca in March 12, 2017, following an international arrest warrant against him for money laundering. Polisario militias whose hit and run tactics were disabled as a result of Moroccos fortified security wall are probably seeking a new form of warfare against Morocco, hence their alliance with Hezbollah in connivance with Iran and Algeria. Hezbollah experts have trained Polisario members on guerrilla war in the camps of Tindouf, said Bourita, but the straw that broke the camels back is the supply 15 days ago of SAM missiles to Polisario separatists. Bourita accused Irans ambassador in Algiers of facilitating contacts between Hezbollah leaders and the Polisario and offering logistical support for such an alliance between the two groups. He added that during his visit to Tehran tangible proof was laid on the table. We informed Tehran in line with diplomatic norms. SANTA CRUZ (BCN) A suspect who assaulted an employee with a skateboard at the Outdoor World store in Santa Cruz in April has been identified and arrested, according to police. Santa Cruz police said in a Facebook post published Wednesday night that a tip from a community member helped officers identify the suspect shown in surveillance footage as Santa Rosa resident Joshua Erwin, 29. A police sergeant located and detained Erwin on the west river levee near Cathcart Street last weekend, officers said. Around 6:50 p.m. on April 22, Erwin allegedly entered the store on River Street and was stealing items when an employee asked him to return them. During the confrontation, Erwin threatened and struck the man with the skateboard he walked in carrying. Erwin was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and theft. Santa Cruz police thanked their "Facebook force" for coming together to find the suspect responsible for the assault. ### RICHMOND (BCN) A mural depicting jazz musicians playing on saxophone, butterflies, red roses and a medicine wheel is taking shape at North Richmond's Rancho Market, a storefront that was once distinguished only by bullet holes and painted-over graffiti. Dozens of North Richmond residents have been working for more than a year along with artists and public officials to transform the storefront at 500 Market Ave. in unincorporated Contra Costa County. "The community has consistently expressed a desire to improve the aesthetics in North Richmond. We heard from residents about the condition of the building," Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia said. With that in mind, in 2017, the supervisor brought in Richmond Love Your Block, a grant-funded city program that helps residents reimagine their neighborhoods. The city of Richmond Arts & Culture Commission kicked in a mini-grant of $7,500 to pay the lead artists and apprentices. Jumping on the bandwagon, Kelly-Moore Paints in San Pablo and Home Depot in El Cerrito donated paint and materials. Work on the mural is nearly done, and organizers are planning a blowout unveiling party May 11 with food, live music and community resource booths. "This is beautiful for the community," said Todd Warner, who lives next door to the market and has lived in North Richmond for 26 years. North Richmond, like the city of Richmond, is battling a longstanding reputation for crime. It's also close to Chevron's Richmond refinery. The mural was designed in a collaborative process with about 100 residents that began in 2017. "There were several meetings with people of all age groups, from little tiny kids drawing on butcher paper all the way up to the elders," said artist Agana Espinoza, assistant lead artist in the project, which was overseen by lead muralist and project manager Richard Muro Salazar. "There was so much input, so many amazing ideas, and it evolved into what it is now, these different fabrics and threads woven together to make all the different narratives of every person in the community," Espinoza said. Gioia said, "It was truly a team effort." Echoing Gioia's comment, Stephanie Ny of Love Your Block said Lucky Braimah, the owner of the store, was on board with the effort from the beginning. "The elements of the mural include jazz culture because there were a lot of jazz and blues clubs in North Richmond back in the day," said Ny, referring to the saxophone player in the mural. "That's not a very well-known fact." In October, residents showed up and worked with the artists to prep and re-paint the store to get it ready for the mural. On April 21 and 22, the latter of which was Earth Day, the volunteers converged on the store with the artists and put in hours of work on the mural. Now, the artists and their apprentices -- Alfonso Leon, Jahira Fragozo and Jacinto Mingura -- are putting on the final touches. ### 221-7221 Tania Pulido, Community Housing Development Corporation (510) 253-9221 Robert Rogers for Gioia (510) 231-8688 or robert.rogers@bos.cccounty.us Stephanie Ny, Richmond Love Your Block (510) 620-6563 or stephanie_ny@ci.richmond.ca.us OAKLAND (BCN) The Oakland City Council has voted unanimously to approve an ordinance that will prohibit the use of single-use plastic straws in the city's restaurants, bars and cafes unless customers ask for them. City Councilman Abel Guillen, who authored the ordinance, said in a statement, "Plastic straws pose a long-term threat to marine life, waterways and natural habitats, such as Lake Merritt, and eventually local residents by way of food consumption and collateral environmental effects." Guillen said, "There are easy, convenient and economical ways around this environmental health problem, like 'straw on request only' rules, and Oakland should be a leader in this effort." The ordinance approved by the City Council at its meeting on Tuesday night includes a provision that directs City Administrator Sabrina Landreth to return to the council in six months with draft legislation for including containers, utensils and other disposable food-service ware in the restrictions in addition to single-use straws. Guillen said the straw restrictions, which will take effect after the ordinance has its second reading in two weeks, "will be good for the community, good for the environment and good for business." He said, "It's a sensible policy that may actually help reduce costs and save time for businesses and customers will welcome the positive ecological benefits." Guillen said the ordinance is supported by Save the Bay and the Sierra Club, leading advocates for plastic bag and straw ban legislation in California and local community groups such as East Bay Animal PAC. Santa Cruz County and the cities of Alameda, Davis and Manhattan Beach have adopted similar plastic straw regulations. The city of Berkeley is exploring zero-waste measures that would also require straws-by-request, require reusable foodware for all food consumed on-site and impose a surcharge on to-go containers. Last month the council passed Guillen's companion resolution in support of Assembly Bill 1884, which would prohibit food facilities statewide from providing plastic straws unless requested by customers. The National Park Service says Americans discard about 500 million plastic straws every day. Guillen said the California Coastal Commission has reported picking up more than 835,000 discarded plastic straws between 1988 and 2014. Guillen said most straws are made from polypropylene, a petroleum-based plastic, and plastic straws, which were introduced in the 1960s, can take 200 years to decompose. ### (510) 238-7246 SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A driver accused of speeding away from a traffic stop Friday and colliding with two other vehicles on Interstate Highway 80 in San Francisco -- all while a California Highway Patrol officer clung to the side of her Jeep -- has been charged with a slew of felonies. CHP officers arrested Nicole Wade, 33, of Pittsburg immediately after the incident, which occurred on the highway's eastbound lanes east of Fourth Street and near the Bay Bridge around 5 p.m. Wade has been charged with 20 counts, which include attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. She's also being charged with resisting an officer, driving while under the influence, child endangerment and evading an officer, according to court documents. Wade was arraigned today in San Francisco Superior Court. She's expected to appear in court again on Friday. According to the CHP, the event unfolded when CHP Officer K. Spears pulled over a red Jeep, which had three adults and a child inside. Wade allegedly gave Spears a driver's license not issued to her and Spears asked for additional identification, according to the CHP. When Wade walked back to her car, Spears followed her. Wade then got into the driver's seat of the Jeep to try to get away as Spears tried to stop her, CHP officials said. Driving on the right shoulder, Wade allegedly sped away with Spears hanging outside the driver's side door. Reaching speeds of 35 to 40 mph, Wade sideswiped a white Honda Civic and then rear-ended another vehicle, according to CHP officials. Spears was able to force the steering wheel to the right and the right front wheel hit the right-side concrete bridge rail, breaking the Jeep's front axle, disabling the vehicle and causing it to come to a stop, CHP officials said. Spears was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. He was treated and released. After Wade was arrested, the adult passengers in the car were released and the child was entrusted to Child Protective Services, according to the CHP. Wade was found to have three outstanding warrants out of Contra Costa County, CHP officials said. Wade remains in police custody and is being held without bail, according to jail records. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A firm accused in a lawsuit filed Tuesday of putting the lives of residents in San Francisco's Bayview and Hunters Points neighborhoods at risk by allegedly falsifying radiation cleanup data says the suit is baseless. "We believe the lawsuit is factually incorrect and without merit. Tetra Tech stands by this work at Hunters Point. Our work was done properly and to the standard required by the U.S. Navy," Tetra Tech said in a statement. "We believe so strongly in the quality of our work that we have offered to pay for independent testing to demonstrate that the false and misleading allegations, such as contained in this lawsuit, are wrong," the statement said. The lawsuit, filed in San Francisco Superior Court by attorney Charles Bonner, accuses Tetra Tech of "blatant, conscious, callous disregard of Bayview Hunters Point residents' lives, born and unborn" and "unfair and fraudulent business practices." The suit is seeking $27 billion in damages on behalf of the neighborhood's 38,484 residents, a figure based on a 2010 census. The U.S. Navy contracted the Pasadena-based firm to clean up radiation at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in 2002 as the area was slated for redevelopment. The Navy paid Tetra Tech $1 billion for the job. However, in 2012, workers contracted by Tetra Tech claimed that data on the firm's cleanup had been falsified and manipulated in order to minimize evidence of soil contamination, according to the environmental watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. In September 2017, the Navy released a preliminary analysis of the cleanup specifically at two of the site's numerous parcels and determined that nearly half of the samples taken from the site had in fact been falsified or manipulated. The Navy found that 15 percent of the soil samples at Parcel B needed retesting, while 49 percent of soil samples at Parcel G were in need of retesting. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Department of Public Health, independently reviewed the Navy's report in December and found further signs of potential falsification, manipulation and data quality concerns at the parcels. The agencies recommended resampling for roughly 90 percent of Parcel B and for about 97 percent of Parcel G. In a Dec. 17 letter to the Navy, John Chesnutt, a regional EPA Superfund manager, wrote, "The data analyzed showed a widespread pattern of practices that appear to show deliberate falsification, failure to complete the work in a manner required ... or both." The letter was made public in April after PEER obtained it in a Freedom of Information Act request. The area was closed as a Navy shipyard in 1974 and in 1989 was designated as an EPA Superfund site, having priority as one of the most toxic cleanup sites in the nation. Radiation contamination there stemmed from the cleaning of ships exposed to atom bombs and from research on defense against nuclear weapons. Other contaminants from shipyard operations included petroleum compounds, mercury and lead. Supervisor Malia Cohen has called for a hearing on the cleanup, set for May 14 before the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee. ### SAN RAFAEL (BCN) Former Marin County Chief Deputy Coroner Darrell Harris was sentenced today to one year in the Marin County Jail and five years probation for committing a lewd act with a minor. It was disclosed in court that the victim is Harris' biological daughter. Harris, 47, was remanded after the sentencing. Harris must register for life as a sex offender, may not own a gun, not seek employment with law enforcement and stay away from the victim for 10 years, Horngrad said. With good conduct credits, Harris will serve six months of his sentence, Deputy District Attorney Yvette Martinez-Shaw said. Harris pleaded guilty to one felony charge at his scheduled preliminary hearing on Jan. 11. Under the plea, Harris did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to plead guilty in consideration of the plea agreement, Horngrad said. Earlier in the court proceedings, Marin County Superior Court Judge Kelly Simmons expressed displeasure about the proposed plea agreement. She agreed to the plea today after Harris' daughter wrote her a letter stating she wanted the case to end and did not want to testify at a trial, Martinez-Shaw said this afternoon. Horngrad said the crowd in the courtroom was comprised of separate supporters of Harris and his daughter. Horngrad said, "Everyone walked out unhappy." Harris was charged with five counts of sexual misconduct when the victim was a minor and an adult between May 2008 and March 2017. Four counts were dismissed at sentencing. At the time of Harris' plea, Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian said the disposition was in the interest of the victim. San Rafael police asked the Santa Rosa Police Department to investigate the case because Harris' work caused him to interact with many different Marin County law enforcement officers, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Terry Anderson said. Santa Rosa police arrested Harris in Humboldt County, and he was booked in the Marin County jail on May 8, 2017. Harris was employed with the Marin County coroner's office since 2003 and was promoted to chief deputy coroner in 2015. 473-6450 Attorney Douglas Horngrad (415) 397-9509 Deputy District Attorney Yvette Martinez-Shaw (415) 473-6450 or ymartinezshaw@marincounty.org SAN JOSE (BCN) A lawyer for a former Netflix executive indicted in federal court in San Jose on charges of taking an alleged $690,000 in kickbacks said today his client "vigorously disputes the allegations of the indictment." Michael Kail "looks forward to vindication at trial where these allegations will be proven untrue," said defense attorney Joseph Ainley. Kail, 49, of Los Gatos, was vice president in charge of internet technology at the Los Gatos-based video streaming company from 2011 to 2014. His position gave him the authority to enter into contracts with outside technology companies providing services to Netflix. He was indicted by a federal grand jury in San Jose on April 26 on 29 counts of fraud and money laundering in connection with his alleged receipt of kickbacks in cash and stock options from nine technology companies that had contracts with Netflix. The indictment was issued under seal and was unsealed after Kail was arraigned before a federal magistrate in San Jose Tuesday and pleaded not guilty to the charges. U.S. Magistrate Nathanael Cousins allowed Kail to remain free on a $200,000 property bond while awaiting trial. Kail's next court appearance is a status conference on July 10 before U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, the trial judge assigned to the case. The indictment alleges Kail's total gain from the kickbacks was $690,000. The charges include 19 counts of wire fraud for documents sent electronically to and from the outside companies in 2013 and 2014, three counts of mail fraud for documents sent by postal mail and Federal Express, and seven counts of money laundering of alleged profits. The fraud counts each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and the money laundering counts 10 years, if Kail is convicted. He could also be fined twice the amount of his gross gain from fraud. The indictment additionally seeks forfeiture of any property Kail bought with the alleged proceeds, including his Los Gatos house. The Los Gatos house served as the address of a one-person consulting company Kail set up called Unix Mercenary LLC. The indictment alleges Kail created the company for the purpose of having the kickbacks sent to its bank account. He allegedly then transferred the payments to his personal accounts. Ainley said in his statement, "As a known technology leader in Silicon Valley, Mr. Kail frequently advises cutting edge startups on next generation technology. "This indictment is unfounded and takes direct aim at the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that makes the valley such a vital part of the economy," Ainley said. After leaving Netflix in August 2014, Kail went to work for Sunnyvale-based Yahoo as chief information officer. He left that job the following May in the wake of a civil lawsuit filed against him by Netflix in Santa Clara County Superior Court in November 2014. Netflix's lawsuit included claims of fraud, unjust enrichment, fraudulent concealment and breach of fiduciary duty. It alleged that Kail fraudently took so-called "commissions" of 12 to 15 percent on the contracts he approved. The lawsuit was settled on a confidential basis in 2015. After leaving Yahoo, Kail co-founded a Boston-based cyber security company called Cybric. ### 436-7263 Defense attorney Joseph Ainley (4089) 465-4518 SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A San Francisco Superior Court judge today agreed to release a man from custody ahead of his trial after he spent nearly a year in jail because he couldn't afford to pay bail. Kenneth Humphrey's case inspired a landmark decision earlier this year when the state's 1st District Court of Appeal in San Francisco ruled that judges must consider a defendant's finances when setting bail for pretrial detention. Humphrey, 64, accused of entering his elderly neighbor's home, threatening him, and then stealing $5 and a bottle of cologne, was initially booked into jail on May 24, 2017. Subsequently charged with burglary, robbery, elder abuse and theft, Humphrey has remained in custody since then. Prosecutors Allison Macbeth and Courtney Burris had sought to keep Humphrey in jail, citing previous robbery convictions going back to the 1980s, which they said showed that Humphrey was a threat to public safety and had a pattern of preying on vulnerable victims such as women and the elderly. Judge Brendan Conroy today, however, agreed to grant Deputy Public Defender Anita Nabha's request that Humphrey be released to a Mission District residential recovery facility for seniors, which has already agreed to take him in. Although released, Humphrey will be put on house arrest, meaning he can't leave the treatment facility, will be monitored electronically 24 hours a day and be subject to searches. Additionally, he is to stay away from the victim in the case and the Turk Street residential senior facility where the 2017 crime occurred. After issuing his ruling, Conroy warned Humphrey to abide by the conditions set upon him, in light of his case being used as an example to challenge the state's bail system. "A lot is on your shoulders," Conroy told Humphrey. "I wish you all the best. I don't want to be negative -- this is a zero tolerance policy." Prosecutors on Tuesday had said the victim in the case wanted to give a statement today in court, but the victim was unable to attend because he is sick and bed-ridden, according to prosecutors. Outside of court, Nabha said of Humphrey, "He's obviously very happy that he's going to be able to continue this fight outside of jail and continue to work on his health and progress." "This is a monumental decision today by the judge and we're very grateful that he is abiding by the new law and he's recognizing that this case, Mr. Humphrey's case, changed state law," Public Defender Jeff Adachi said. After his 2017 arrest, Humphrey's bail had initially been set at $600,000 based on the state's bail schedule, but a judge eventually lowered it to $350,000 after the San Francisco public defender's office argued that the initial amount was excessive and that Humphrey did not poses a risk to the public. In January, after reviewing Humphrey's case, the state appeals court ruled that a judge must consider the defendant's ability to pay when setting bail. Setting bail higher than a person can afford effectively jails the defendant for being poor, the ruling concluded. While San Francisco District Attorney George Gascon has been in favor of changing the money bail system, last month in a letter sent to the state Supreme Court, Gascon asked to allow trial courts to consider public safety when setting bail for a defendant, which he says the January ruling does not make clear. "We're firmly supportive of the elimination of money bail. I think the primary concern in this case is that you have a defendant who's alleged to have targeted an elderly individual and now the court has chose to release him to a target-rich environment where he'll be surrounded by elderly individuals," District Attorney's Office spokesman Alex Szabo said outside of court. "What we're concerned about going forward, however, is that the Humphrey decision didn't answer all of our questions about where do we go from here," Szabo said. "It's basically answered part of the equation but hasn't really answered the full equation about how we move away from money bail safely." "We need to so in a way that's thoughtful and doesn't jeopardize public safety. That's what we're really concerned about," he said. ### ALBANY (BCN) An Oakland man was charged with murder today for the fatal shooting of a Vallejo man on the Ohlone Greenway in Albany in broad daylight on Sunday morning. Thomas Shimamura, 31, was arraigned on the murder charge today for the shooting of 23-year-old Raphael Fuentes-Lee on the Ohlone Greenway between Portland and Garfield avenues at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday and is scheduled to return to court on Thursday to be assigned an attorney and possibly enter a plea. Fuentes-Lee was taken to a local hospital after he was shot but died there a short time later, according to police. Kayla Gibson-Wytch, 21, of Berkeley, was also arrested in connection with the shooting but the Alameda County District Attorney's Office hasn't filed any charges against her at this point. However, she's still being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin without bail, according to Alameda County jail records. Albany police Detective Jose Lara wrote in a probable cause statement that a witness saw Shimamura and Gibson-Wytch talking to each other on the Ohlone Greenway before the shooting and then heard a gunshot and looked over and saw them running north on the greenway toward El Cerrito. Lara said a second witness gave police photos of Shimamura and Gibson-Wytch as they walked away from the shooting scene. That witness reported hearing a loud noise and saw Gibson-Wytch stepping back and covering her ears, according to Lara. The photos of Shimamura and Gibson-Wytch were sent to neighboring police agencies in an attempt to identify them and a Berkeley homicide detective was able to identify Gibson-Wytch from previous contacts and arrests, Lara wrote. Gibson-Wytch was arrested on Monday morning and told police that Shimamura was the person who fatally shot Fuentes-Lee, according to Lara. Police then "established that Shimamura was the person who fired the fatal shot that killed the victim," Lara wrote. Shimamura was then arrested at the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Jones Street in North Berkeley at about 6:15 p.m. on Monday, police said. Shimamura admitted to police that he was in Albany on the day of the shooting but he declined to talk about the shooting and said he wanted to be represented by a lawyer before he provided a statement, Lara said. ### 272-6280 Albany police (510) 525-7300 BERKELEY (BCN) A person was arrested Tuesday night following a robbery near the University of California at Berkeley, university police said today. At about 9:34 p.m. Tuesday, a suspect got out of a vehicle near Bancroft Way and Fulton Street and punched the victim in her face before taking her laptop. Police said the suspect got back into the vehicle and drove away. A university police officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description of the one involved the robbery. Police said they arrested the driver of the vehicle for their connection to the robbery. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Berkeley police at (510) 981-5900. ### After Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, Moroccos other Gulf allies, Qatar and Kuwait, have also condemned Irans support for the Polisario separatists and expressed solidarity with Morocco in preserving its sovereignty and security. Kuwait firmly opposes any attempts to undermine security and stability in Morocco, said a Foreign Ministry source on Thursday. Kuwait stands in support of measures taken by Morocco to keep its security intact and fend off any attempt to meddle in its internal affairs, the source was quoted by official news agency Kuna as saying. The Foreign Ministry source emphasized that the principle of respect for the sovereignty of states is deeply embedded in the UN charter. Qatar on its part expressed its full solidarity with Morocco in preserving its sovereignty against any attempts aimed at undermining its unity or targeting its security and the safety of its citizens. Qatar stresses the importance of respecting the principles governing relations between states, foremost among them respect for the sovereignty of states, non-interference in their internal affairs and the resolution of disputes through dialogue and peaceful means and internationally recognized methods, Qatars Foreign Affairs Ministry pointed out in a statement released on Tuesday. The Gulf Cooperation Council, as an institution, voiced its full and firm solidarity with Morocco, and affirmed support for all initiatives undertaken by the kingdom to consolidate its sovereignty and territorial unity. Following Moroccos decision to sever diplomatic relations with Iran, the GCC expressed, through the voice of its Secretary General, Abdellatif Ben Rached Ziani, its total and firm support for this decision. At the same time, the GCC condemns in the strongest terms Iranian interference in the internal affairs of the brotherly Kingdom of Morocco, through the military support provided by Tehran to the so-called Polisario, the GCC Secretary General said in a statement Wednesday. Morocco announced on Tuesday its decision to sever its diplomatic ties with Iran over Tehrans support for Hezbollah in arming and training Polisario separatists. Announcing the decision, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita Said We have tangible proof of Irans involvement in backing Hezbollahs alliance with the Polisario. He said the Iranian embassy in Algiers facilitated the shipment of surface to air missiles to the Polisario as well as the training of separatist militias on urban warfare by Hezbollah military experts. Hezbollah provided Sam9 and Sam11 missiles to Polisario, Bourita said, insisting that the decision to cut ties with Iran is a bilateral issue in response to Tehrans involvement in facilitating an alliance with Polisario. Immediately after the announcement, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain, condemned in separate statements Irans support for the Polisario separatists and welcomed Moroccos decision to sever ties with Tehran. Saudi Arabia officially condemned the Iranian interference in the internal affairs of brotherly Morocco and said it will always stand by Morocco in the defense of its security, stability and territorial integrity, pointing out that Saudi Arabia expresses solidarity with brotherly Morocco against whatever may undermine its security. Riyadh also strongly condemned the involvement of Irans puppet, Hezbollah, in arming the polisairo to destabilize Morocco, saying that the Lebanese shiiite militia is a terrorist organization. We support Morocco which has always backed Bahrain and we endorse its timely decision to sever ties with Iran who supports the enemies of the North African Kingdom using the terrorist organization Hezbollah, said Bahrains foreign minister, Khalid bin Ahmed AL Khalifa, expressing backing to the Moroccan decision. In the same vein, UAEs foreign minister Anwar Gargash said that his country supports Moroccos supreme interests against Irans meddling. Our policy and position is in line with the longstanding line drawn by Sheikh Zayed and King Hassan II, Anwar Gargash said in a Tweet. WATSONVILLE (BCN) A documented local gang member was arrested in Watsonville this morning on suspicion of attempted murder after a shooting in April, according to the city's Police Department. On April 18 at about 4:30 p.m., an unnamed 25-year-old Watsonville resident was allegedly approached by another man as he was sitting in a parked car on Lawrence Avenue just north of South Green Valley Road, Watsonville police said. The suspect challenged the victim seated in his vehicle, making gang references. The suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and fired one round toward him, which passed through the vehicle and hit a parked vehicle in a driveway across the street, according to officers. The suspect fled on foot, according to police. The victim was not injured. Investigators from the Watsonville Police Department were among the first on scene and conducted an investigation over the span of two weeks. After interviewing several witnesses and gathering surveillance footage, they were able to identify a suspect. Juan Hernandez, 39, has known gang affiliations and was positively identified as the shooter, police said. Investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest along with a search warrant for his home. This morning at 6:30 a.m., Watsonville and Santa Cruz county authorities located Hernandez in a vehicle on South Green Valley Road near Freedom Boulevard, according to Watsonville police. Hernandez was detained without incident and authorities allegedly found evidence inside his home linking him to the shooting. Police allege they encountered two pit bulls at Hernandez's residence, so Santa Cruz County Animal Services went to the scene to secure the dogs while police searched. For precautionary purposes, nearby Freedom Elementary School was placed on a short lockdown while the home was secured, according to the police. Hernandez was booked into the Santa Cruz County jail on suspicion of attempted murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, personal use of a firearm during a crime and gang enhancements. His bail was set at $1.5 million, police said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Watsonville Police Department Investigations Division at (831) 768-3350 or submit their details anonymously by calling the tip line at (831) 768-3544. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The San Francisco Police Department will host a night of remembrance this evening at the department's headquarters to remember SFPD officers who have died in the line of duty. In collaboration with Law Enforcement Appreciation Month and the California Peace Memorial Ceremony in Sacramento, the SFPD's ceremony will start at 6 p.m. today. Among the dignitaries that are scheduled to speak at the memorial are San Francisco Mark Farrell, Police Chief William Scott and Former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. The family of officers who have died on duty will also be in attendance. The ceremony will have a memorial video presentation and a candlelight moment of silence. ### PACIFICA (BCN) The U.S. Coast Guard is working with state and local authorities on the salvage of a 33-foot sailboat that ran aground in Pacifica last weekend and then sank when crews tried to tow it away Wednesday. The vessel, the Hectate, ran aground after it ran out of fuel with four people and a dog on board, according to the Coast Guard. Pacifica police had responded around 11:05 p.m. Saturday to a report of a sailboat in distress near Linda Mar Beach. The four people aboard the boat -- a 24-year-old woman from Spokane, Washington, a 33-year-old man from Crescent City, a 49-year-old woman from Long Creek, Oregon, and a 20-year-old woman also from Spokane - were all hospitalized with minor injuries. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco officials have worked with the boat's owner to ensure a salvage plan was put in place and collaborated with the city of Pacifica, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response, and Global Diving and Salvage. On Wednesday afternoon, contractors tried to tow the Hectate from the beach but the boat took on water and sank about 600 feet offshore. Coast Guard officials are continuing to monitor the situation and review future salvage plans now that the boat is underwater, and are asking the public to stay away from the area until it is resolved. "Our top priority is the safety of the public and the responders working on this incident," Chief Warrant Officer Jeremiah Winston said in a statement. The Hectate was reportedly 8 to 10 feet underwater as of Wednesday night. The boat's owner said there were no hazardous materials or fuel on board, according to the Coast Guard. ### A pedestrian who died after being hit by a car while crossing a road in South San Jose on Monday night has been identified by the Santa Clara County medical examiner's office as resident Nhan Ngo. The 48-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene after he was walking north across Tully Road at 10:24 p.m. and was knocked to the ground by a Nissan Rogue, according to San Jose police. The car was traveling west when the driver, a woman, hit Ngo, police said. She stayed at the scene and cooperated with officers. Ngo's death marked the 17th fatal car crash on San Jose city streets since the beginning of this year, according to police. Police said anyone with information about the case should call Detective Kelvin Pham at (408) 277-4654. Two assailants confronted a man, demanded money from him and then shot him when he tried to run away this morning in San Francisco's Bayview District. Around 4 a.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting at Evans Avenue and Rankin Street, police said. After an investigation, officers learned that the two suspects had demanded money from the 26-year-old victim. The victim ran away and then heard gunshots and realized that he had been struck, according to police. He was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, police said. No arrests were made and descriptions of the two suspects were not immediately available. The U.S. Coast Guard is working with state and local authorities on the salvage of a 33-foot sailboat that ran aground in Pacifica last weekend and then sank when crews tried to tow it away Wednesday. The vessel, the Hectate, ran aground after it ran out of fuel with four people and a dog on board, according to the Coast Guard. Pacifica police had responded around 11:05 p.m. Saturday to a report of a sailboat in distress near Linda Mar Beach. The four people aboard the boat -- a 24-year-old woman from Spokane, Washington, a 33-year-old man from Crescent City, a 49-year-old woman from Long Creek, Oregon, and a 20-year-old woman also from Spokane - were all hospitalized with minor injuries. Coast Guard Sector San Francisco officials have worked with the boat's owner to ensure a salvage plan was put in place and collaborated with the city of Pacifica, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's Office of Spill Prevention and Response, and Global Diving and Salvage. On Wednesday afternoon, contractors tried to tow the Hectate from the beach but the boat took on water and sank about 600 feet offshore. Coast Guard officials are continuing to monitor the situation and review future salvage plans now that the boat is underwater, and are asking the public to stay away from the area until it is resolved. "Our top priority is the safety of the public and the responders working on this incident," Chief Warrant Officer Jeremiah Winston said in a statement. The Hectate was reportedly 8 to 10 feet underwater as of Wednesday night. The boat's owner said there were no hazardous materials or fuel on board, according to the Coast Guard. A Pleasanton woman has been convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated for killing a Sunnyvale man in a crash in San Lorenzo in unincorporated Alameda County three years ago, prosecutors said. Jurors convicted former registered nurse Michelle Biala, 33, for the death of Steven Lin, 38, on July 13, 2015, in a trial in Alameda County Superior Court that concluded on Monday. Alameda County prosecutors said Lin, who was driving a Toyota Prius, ran over something in the roadway on southbound Interstate Highway 880 just south of state Highway 238 at about 9:45 p.m. on July 13, 2015, and suffered a flat tire. Lin pulled his car to the shoulder, activated his flashing lights and remained buckled while he called for a tow, according to prosecutors. Several other vehicles also had flat tires and were parked on the shoulder of Highway 880. A short time later, at 9:57 p.m., Biala was driving southbound on Highway 880 when she swerved her 2007 Chevrolet TrailBlazer across several lanes and collided with the Prius, killing Lin, prosecutors said. A blood test two hours after the crash showed that Biala had significant levels of marijuana and Ambien, a sleeping pill, according to prosecutors. Biala, who was a registered nurse at the time, had marijuana in her purse and an Ambien pill bottle that she had picked up from a pharmacy two hours before the crash and had five of its 10 pills missing, prosecutors said. Two years before the crash, Biala had been convicted of "wet" reckless driving and was ordered to attend a 30-hour DUI class, according to prosecutors. Five months prior to the crash, Biala was arrested for DUI for an incident in which she was found disoriented on the side of a freeway with damage to her vehicle, prosecutors said. Biala admitted at that time that she had used marijuana, Xanax and Valium and was too high to drive, according to prosecutors. Biala is scheduled to be sentenced by Alameda County Superior Court Judge Michael Gaffey on June 29. Fairfield police have arrested an 18-year-old man on suspicion of committing a string of robberies in March and April. Detectives have linked Fairfield resident Daviyon McClure to five of eight robberies that occurred between March 25 and April 23 in the 500 block of Alaska Avenue, police said. The three other robberies remain under investigation. The suspect in the robberies was described as a black male in his late teens who is approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and wore a hood to hide his face, police said. The suspect was armed with a kitchen-style knife when he demanded money and property from the victims. During an undercover operation where the robberies occurred, police saw a male matching the suspect's description hiding in bushes as he watched people and vehicles approach. The male, later identified as McClure, fled when detectives approached him and he was taken into custody after a short foot pursuit, police said. Police said some items that were taken during the robberies were found when they searched a residence in the 500 block of Alaska Avenue were McClure was staying. McClure was booked in Solano County Jail on suspicion of robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, and being armed during the commission of a felony. A suspect who assaulted an employee with a skateboard at the Outdoor World store in Santa Cruz in April has been identified and arrested, according to police. Santa Cruz police said in a Facebook post published Wednesday night that a tip from a community member helped officers identify the suspect shown in surveillance footage as Santa Rosa resident Joshua Erwin, 29. A police sergeant located and detained Erwin on the west river levee near Cathcart Street last weekend, officers said. Around 6:50 p.m. on April 22, Erwin allegedly entered the store on River Street and was stealing items when an employee asked him to return them. During the confrontation, Erwin threatened and struck the man with the skateboard he walked in carrying. Erwin was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and theft. Santa Cruz police thanked their "Facebook force" for coming together to find the suspect responsible for the assault. A 24-year-old man was arrested in Berkeley after a woman reported him peeking into her window while masturbating early Tuesday morning, according to police. The woman reported the lewd act at about 2:50 a.m. Tuesday and officers responded and stopped someone matching the description she provided, police said. The suspect, Daniel Ramos-Mora, a Berkeley-area transient, was identified by the woman as the suspect and he was booked into Berkeley City Jail on suspicion of lewd conduct, peeping and a probation violation, police said. A man accused of assaulting a cop in an incident in which he fired multiple gunshots was convicted Tuesday of being a felon in possession of a gun, but was acquitted on charges of attempted murder and assaulting an officer, according to San Mateo County prosecutors. Ivan Dejesus Gomez, 26, was allegedly firing shots into the air when police responded to First Lane in South San Francisco around 3 a.m. on New Year's Day in 2015, according to the district attorney's office. They couldn't find him at first, as Gomez was hiding in the shadows in the 600 block of the roadway. But they found his car, and while running his plates an officer observed Gomez watching through the windows of a parked vehicle, prosecutors said. When an officer ordered Gomez to put his hands up, he allegedly drew a weapon and advanced toward police, firing one shot at an officer who retreated to their patrol vehicle and returned fire before Gomez fled the scene. His attorney said Gomez had fired his weapon, but not at the police, according to District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe. "The defense attorney argued that the officers mistook what the defendant was doing," Wagstaffe said. "He was firing the gun up into the air, not at the officer." Gomez went to trial on felony charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, attempted murder and felony assault on a police officer, but the jury deadlocked on the second and third charges, prompting the judge to declare a mistrial. Gomez faces up to three years in state prison for being a prohibited person in possession of a gun. He returns to court for sentencing on May 10. It's not yet clear whether prosecutors will seek another trial on the attempted murder and assaulting an officer charges, according to Wagstaffe. Defense attorney Peter Arian declined to comment on his client's behalf. A mural depicting jazz musicians playing on saxophone, butterflies, red roses and a medicine wheel is taking shape at North Richmond's Rancho Market, a storefront that was once distinguished only by bullet holes and painted-over graffiti. Dozens of North Richmond residents have been working for more than a year along with artists and public officials to transform the storefront at 500 Market Ave. in unincorporated Contra Costa County. "The community has consistently expressed a desire to improve the aesthetics in North Richmond. We heard from residents about the condition of the building," Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia said. With that in mind, in 2017, the supervisor brought in Richmond Love Your Block, a grant-funded city program that helps residents reimagine their neighborhoods. The city of Richmond Arts & Culture Commission kicked in a mini-grant of $7,500 to pay the lead artists and apprentices. Jumping on the bandwagon, Kelly-Moore Paints in San Pablo and Home Depot in El Cerrito donated paint and materials. Work on the mural is nearly done, and organizers are planning a blowout unveiling party May 11 with food, live music and community resource booths. "This is beautiful for the community," said Todd Warner, who lives next door to the market and has lived in North Richmond for 26 years. North Richmond, like the city of Richmond, is battling a longstanding reputation for crime. It's also close to Chevron's Richmond refinery. The mural was designed in a collaborative process with about 100 residents that began in 2017. "There were several meetings with people of all age groups, from little tiny kids drawing on butcher paper all the way up to the elders," said artist Agana Espinoza, assistant lead artist in the project, which was overseen by lead muralist and project manager Richard Muro Salazar. "There was so much input, so many amazing ideas, and it evolved into what it is now, these different fabrics and threads woven together to make all the different narratives of every person in the community," Espinoza said. Gioia said, "It was truly a team effort." Echoing Gioia's comment, Stephanie Ny of Love Your Block said Lucky Braimah, the owner of the store, was on board with the effort from the beginning. "The elements of the mural include jazz culture because there were a lot of jazz and blues clubs in North Richmond back in the day," said Ny, referring to the saxophone player in the mural. "That's not a very well-known fact." In October, residents showed up and worked with the artists to prep and re-paint the store to get it ready for the mural. On April 21 and 22, the latter of which was Earth Day, the volunteers converged on the store with the artists and put in hours of work on the mural. Now, the artists and their apprentices -- Alfonso Leon, Jahira Fragozo and Jacinto Mingura -- are putting on the final touches. Three falcon chicks from the nest on top of San Jose City Hall were outfitted with personalized bands this morning by University of California at Santa Cruz researchers so they can be tracked and studied. UC Santa Cruz expert Glenn Stewart has been taking the elevator to the top floor of City Hall and rappelling to the nest to band 3-week-old peregrine falcon chicks for 10 years, he said. At three weeks, chicks are almost full-grown and their legs are as long as they will get so Stewart has deemed it as the most opportune time to fit each chick with a lock-on band and an identification band with a unique letter and number. By six weeks, the chicks have feathers and learn how to fly. UC Santa Cruz biologists of the federally permitted Predatory Bird Research Group have helped in the recovery of the breed of falcons in California. Their work has aided the previously endangered population to grow from two known pairs to more than 350 known pairs today, according to Stewart. The rare birds nest at both San Jose City Hall and PG&E headquarters in San Francisco, meaning that local bird enthusiasts are excited to be able to see the chicks fly at six weeks in person. "A lot of people love these birds," Stewart said. "In about three weeks, there will be a bunch of people standing outside City Hall just waiting for them to fly for the first time." Stewart said a lot of people appreciate having a symbol of the wilderness without having to go deep into the wild to get it and like to contribute as bird watchers by reporting sightings of each bird by their band so researchers can note that location. UC Santa Cruz researchers were made aware of the nest in 2005 when a 1-year-old peregrine falcon was seen standing on the ledge of City Hall, appearing to want to breed at that location. Sure enough, researchers found chicks in the gravel box they had provided for breeding the next spring. The female falcon has had about 42 babies and he UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group has banded all of them, Stewart said. He said they know where about half of those birds are. There's a challenge in tracking the falcons because they are one of the fastest animals in the wild and they primarily live in the air, Stewart said. Nest cameras broadcast live video of both San Jose City Hall and the PG&E headquarters for the community to enjoy and for the research group to be able to monitor the young. This stream can be found at www2.ucsc.edu/scpbrg. ### An Oakland man was charged with murder Wednesday for the fatal shooting of a Vallejo man on the Ohlone Greenway in Albany in broad daylight on Sunday morning. Thomas Shimamura, 31, was arraigned on the murder charge Wednesday for the shooting of 23-year-old Raphael Fuentes-Lee on the Ohlone Greenway between Portland and Garfield avenues at about 11:30 a.m. on Sunday and is scheduled to return to court today to be assigned an attorney and possibly enter a plea. Fuentes-Lee was taken to a local hospital after he was shot but died there a short time later, according to police. Kayla Gibson-Wytch, 21, of Berkeley, was also arrested in connection with the shooting but the Alameda County District Attorney's Office hasn't filed any charges against her at this point. However, she's still being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin without bail, according to Alameda County jail records. Albany police Detective Jose Lara wrote in a probable cause statement that a witness saw Shimamura and Gibson-Wytch talking to each other on the Ohlone Greenway before the shooting and then heard a gunshot and looked over and saw them running north on the greenway toward El Cerrito. Lara said a second witness gave police photos of Shimamura and Gibson-Wytch as they walked away from the shooting scene. That witness reported hearing a loud noise and saw Gibson-Wytch stepping back and covering her ears, according to Lara. The photos of Shimamura and Gibson-Wytch were sent to neighboring police agencies in an attempt to identify them and a Berkeley homicide detective was able to identify Gibson-Wytch from previous contacts and arrests, Lara wrote. Gibson-Wytch was arrested on Monday morning and told police that Shimamura was the person who fatally shot Fuentes-Lee, according to Lara. Police then "established that Shimamura was the person who fired the fatal shot that killed the victim," Lara wrote. Shimamura was then arrested at the corner of San Pablo Avenue and Jones Street in North Berkeley at about 6:15 p.m. on Monday, police said. Shimamura admitted to police that he was in Albany on the day of the shooting but he declined to talk about the shooting and said he wanted to be represented by a lawyer before he provided a statement, Lara said. A driver accused of speeding away from a traffic stop Friday and colliding with two other vehicles on Interstate Highway 80 in San Francisco -- all while a California Highway Patrol officer clung to the side of her Jeep -- has been charged with a slew of felonies. CHP officers arrested Nicole Wade, 33, of Pittsburg immediately after the incident, which occurred on the highway's eastbound lanes east of Fourth Street and near the Bay Bridge around 5 p.m. Wade has been charged with 20 counts, which include attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon other than a firearm, false imprisonment and assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer. She's also being charged with resisting an officer, driving while under the influence, child endangerment and evading an officer, according to court documents. Wade was arraigned Wednesday in San Francisco Superior Court. She's expected to appear in court again on Friday. According to the CHP, the event unfolded when CHP Officer K. Spears pulled over a red Jeep, which had three adults and a child inside. Wade allegedly gave Spears a driver's license not issued to her and Spears asked for additional identification, according to the CHP. When Wade walked back to her car, Spears followed her. Wade then got into the driver's seat of the Jeep to try to get away as Spears tried to stop her, CHP officials said. Driving on the right shoulder, Wade allegedly sped away with Spears hanging outside the driver's side door. Reaching speeds of 35 to 40 mph, Wade sideswiped a white Honda Civic and then rear-ended another vehicle, according to CHP officials. Spears was able to force the steering wheel to the right and the right front wheel hit the right-side concrete bridge rail, breaking the Jeep's front axle, disabling the vehicle and causing it to come to a stop, CHP officials said. Spears was taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital with injuries not considered to be life-threatening. He was treated and released. After Wade was arrested, the adult passengers in the car were released and the child was entrusted to Child Protective Services, according to the CHP. Wade was found to have three outstanding warrants out of Contra Costa County, CHP officials said. Wade remains in police custody and is being held without bail, according to jail records. Former Marin County Chief Deputy Coroner Darrell Harris was sentenced Wednesday to one year in the Marin County Jail and five years probation for committing a lewd act with a minor. It was disclosed in court that the victim is Harris' biological daughter. Harris, 47, was remanded after the sentencing. Harris must register for life as a sex offender, may not own a gun, not seek employment with law enforcement and stay away from the victim for 10 years, Horngrad said. With good conduct credits, Harris will serve six months of his sentence, Deputy District Attorney Yvette Martinez-Shaw said. Harris pleaded guilty to one felony charge at his scheduled preliminary hearing on Jan. 11. Under the plea, Harris did not admit wrongdoing but agreed to plead guilty in consideration of the plea agreement, Horngrad said. Earlier in the court proceedings, Marin County Superior Court Judge Kelly Simmons expressed displeasure about the proposed plea agreement. She agreed to the plea Wednesday after Harris' daughter wrote her a letter stating she wanted the case to end and did not want to testify at a trial, Martinez-Shaw said Wednesday afternoon. Horngrad said the crowd in the courtroom was comprised of separate supporters of Harris and his daughter. Horngrad said, "Everyone walked out unhappy." Harris was charged with five counts of sexual misconduct when the victim was a minor and an adult between May 2008 and March 2017. Four counts were dismissed at sentencing. At the time of Harris' plea, Marin County District Attorney Ed Berberian said the disposition was in the interest of the victim. San Rafael police asked the Santa Rosa Police Department to investigate the case because Harris' work caused him to interact with many different Marin County law enforcement officers, Santa Rosa police Sgt. Terry Anderson said. Santa Rosa police arrested Harris in Humboldt County, and he was booked in the Marin County jail on May 8, 2017. Harris was employed with the Marin County coroner's office since 2003 and was promoted to chief deputy coroner in 2015. An attorney representing residents in San Francisco's Bayview Hunters Point neighborhood filed a class action lawsuit Tuesday against a firm contracted by the U.S. Navy to rid the area's former naval shipyard of radiation. The lawsuit against Tetra Tech Inc., filed in San Francisco Superior Court by attorney Charles Bonner, is seeking $27 billion in damages, according to court documents. The suit accuses Tetra Tech of "blatant, conscious, callous disregard of Bayview Hunters Point residents live, born and unborn" and "unfair and fraudulent business practices." The suit seeks to represent all of the neighborhood's 38,484 residents, a figure based on a 2010 census. Pasadena-based Tetra Tech first began cleaning up radiation at the former Hunters Point Naval Shipyard in 2002 as the area was slated for redevelopment. The Navy paid Tetra Tech $1 billion for the job. In 2012, workers contracted by Tetra Tech claimed that data on the firm's cleanup had been falsified and manipulated in order to minimize evidence of soil contamination, according to the environmental watchdog group Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. In September 2017, the Navy released a preliminary analysis of the cleanup specifically at two of the site's numerous parcels and determined that nearly half of the samples taken from the site had in fact been falsified or manipulated. In the Navy's findings, 15 percent of the soil samples at Parcel B needed retesting, while 49 percent of soil samples at Parcel G were in need of retesting. In December 2017, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, along with the California Department of Toxic Substances Control and the California Department of Public Health, independently reviewed the Navy's report and found further signs of potential falsification, manipulation and data quality concerns at the parcels. The agencies recommended resampling for roughly 90 percent of Parcel B and resampling for about 97 percent of Parcel G. "The data analyzed showed a widespread pattern of practices that appear to show deliberate falsification, failure to complete the work in a manner required... or both," John Chesnutt, a regional EPA Superfund manager, wrote to the Navy on Dec. 17. Chesnutt's letter to the Navy was made public in April by PEER, after the organization obtained it in a Freedom of Information Act request. Tetra Tech Inc. was not immediately available to comment on the lawsuit. Last week, in an attempt to prove that it's cleanup data was not falsified, Tetra Tech offered to pay for an independent third party contractor to retest the site. "We want to assure the residents and neighbors at Hunters Point that what we did was proper and followed all Navy and regulatory guidelines, protocols and work plans," Tetra Tech's chief engineer Bill Brownlie said on April 25. The radiation contamination stemmed from the use of the yard to clean ships exposed to atom bombs and for research on defense against nuclear weapons. Other contaminants from shipyard operations included petroleum compounds, mercury and lead. The area, closed as a Navy shipyard in 1974, was designated in 1989 as an EPA Superfund site, having priority as one of the most toxic cleanup sites in the nation. Supervisor Malia Cohen has called for a hearing on the cleanup, set for May 14 before the Board of Supervisors Land Use and Transportation Committee. Students at schools in three Bay Area counties planned to participate in a 16-minute walkout Wednesday morning to support gun rights, according to Stand for the Second (Amendment), a group affiliated with the Tea Party Patriots. The campuses in question include Santa Rosa's Montgomery High School, San Jose's Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School, San Ramon's California High School and College Park High School in Pleasant Hill, according to the Tea Party Patriots. Staff at California High School said about 50 students participated in a peaceful protest with signs and speeches in front of the campus administration building. A spokeswoman for Downtown College Prep Alum Rock High School in San Jose did not confirm that a walkout had occurred, calling reports to the contrary a "scurrilous rumor." Officials at Montgomery High School and College Park High School did not immediately respond to requests for confirmation that the walkouts had occurred as planned. Students at participating schools were advised to schedule their walkouts at 10 a.m. Wednesday, according to https://www.standforthesecond.com. They were asked to check with school officials to ensure that timing wouldn't conflict with any standardized testing. Organizers called the nationwide walkout campaign a response to recent anti-gun walkouts and other activism that have occurred in the wake of the shooting in Parkland, Florida, which killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14. They want to draw attention to gun owners who use firearms for self-defense and are exercising their rights in a legal and effective manner. The website also makes reference to "viewpoint discrimination," directing students who feel they've been affected by bias for their pro-gun viewpoints to call a hotline for more information. A San Francisco Superior Court judge Wednesday agreed to reduce a felony child endangerment/abuse charge to a misdemeanor for a former Mission District elementary school teacher accused of dangling a student from a second-floor balcony last December. Andres Tobar, a former teacher at Marshall Elementary School, was allegedly seen cradling the student and holding them over the balcony on Dec. 19 at the school located at 1575 15th St. Tobar's defense attorney, Deputy Public Defender Vilaska Nguyen, has described the alleged incident as a "playful mistake" and an "isolated incident that snowballed" and previously asked that Judge Stephen Murphy reduce the felony charge or dismiss it entirely. Wednesday morning, dozens of Tobar's supporters, wearing shirts that read "Justice 4 Mr. Tobar," rallied outside the Hall of Justice after the hearing and cheered Murphy's decision. "They were relieved," Nguyen said of Tobar and his family. "Yet at the same time, the gravity of a criminal case is still hanging over their head. They're still worried about the ultimate outcome." "What my client is really worried about is being able to teach again," Nguyen said. Tobar has worked for the San Francisco Unified School District for 21 years, Nguyen said. After an investigation into the allegations, Tobar turned himself in to police on Jan. 30 and he was placed on administrative leave by the school district. According to Gentle Blythe, school district spokeswoman, Tobar resigned from the district on March 1. Tobar is set to appear again in court on May 9 in connection with the misdemeanor child endangerment/abuse charge. Berkeley police are seeking the suspects who tried to steal a laptop at Caffe Strada in Berkeley on Monday. One suspect allegedly grabbed the laptop from a patron who was using it at 12:51 p.m. in the coffee shop at 2300 College Ave. and tried to run to a waiting car. Police said two people grabbed the suspect and attempted to hold him until police could arrive. The awaiting driver of a blue Chevrolet Impala exited the car, allegedly assaulted one of the good Samaritans and the two suspects fled the scene. Police have released a video of the crime and are asking the public to help in identifying the suspects. The western portion of San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, home for decades to a sizeable leather and fetish community, will be recognized as the LGBTQ and Leather Cultural District following a unanimous vote by the city's Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. The resolution, sponsored by Supervisors Jane Kim and Jeff Sheehy, is intended to commemorate sites connected to LQBTQ history and to preserve existing spaces for the community. "This item came out of the desire to make sure this is more than just a historical district with name plaques and art and culture that would commemorate history," Kim said. "We want to give them the tools to ensure that this could continue to be a living, breathing district where we could we support our small businesses that represent the leather community," she said. The city's SoMa neighborhood became a haven for LGBTQ leather and fetish enthusiasts around the 1970s and now remains home to several bars and businesses associated with that community. Tens of thousands of people still flock to the ever-growing annual Folsom Street Fair, an event synonymous with leather and kink, as well as the annual Up Your Alley Fair. The creation of SOMA's LGBTQ and Leather Cultural District has been in the works for more than 10 years, Kim said. Also at Tuesday's meeting, Sheehy introduced a resolution to designate the city's Castro neighborhood as an additional LGBTQ cultural district. "I see this as an additional move to really preserve the history and culture of the Castro neighborhood and highlight the structures and sites important to the history," Sheehy said. If approved, the proposed LGBTQ Castro Cultural District would join other established cultural districts in the city, including the SOMA Pilipinas-Filipino Cultural Heritage District and the Calle 24 Latino Cultural District, as well as the new LGBTQ and Leather Cultural District. "People come to San Francisco, to the Castro seeking safety, acceptance and a family they create on their own," Sheehy said. "I hope to protect this enclave from the many challenges through the rapidly changing community, so the Castro could be the heart of the LGBTQ movement as it progresses well into the future," he said. Semo, the country's oldest known male bottlenose dolphin living under human care, died Tuesday at Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo. The cause of Semo's death is pending the results of a necropsy, but it's likely that old age was a contributing factor, officials with Six Flags Discovery Kingdom said. The average dolphin's life span under human care is 25 years, and often 12 more years in the wild, according to data by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums. Semo lived 54 years and spent the last six years as an animal ambassador to millions of guests at Six Flags. Six Flags Animal Care Director Dianne Cameron said Semo was a "ruggedly handsome, infinitely joyful and playful large and imposing male. "We feel so fortunate to have been a part of his life," Cameron said. Semo arrived at Six Flags in 2012. His previous home was the Minnesota Zoo and for many years before that he lived at Sea World. At Six Flags he was integrated into a primarily female dolphin social group for a few years before the arrival of a pair of males and a calf born at the park. Six Flags officials said Semo kept mentally and physically stimulated by participating in the park's Dolphin Discovery education program, which led to a new generation of fans. Six Flags Discovery Kingdom also cared for a 51-year-old female bottlenose dolphin that died in 2011 and cares for older dolphins that are now in their late 30s. With the proper geriatric care, a lack of predation and a healthy environment most animals can live longer expected. More information and photos of Semo are available on Facebook. A person was arrested Tuesday night following a robbery near the University of California at Berkeley, university police said today. At about 9:34 p.m. Tuesday, a suspect got out of a vehicle near Bancroft Way and Fulton Street and punched the victim in her face before taking her laptop. Police said the suspect got back into the vehicle and drove away. A university police officer made a traffic stop on a vehicle matching the description of the one involved the robbery. Police said they arrested the driver of the vehicle for their connection to the robbery. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Berkeley police at (510) 981-5900. A documented local gang member was arrested in Watsonville this morning on suspicion of attempted murder after a shooting in April, according to the city's Police Department. On April 18 at about 4:30 p.m., an unnamed 25-year-old Watsonville resident was allegedly approached by another man as he was sitting in a parked car on Lawrence Avenue just north of South Green Valley Road, Watsonville police said. The suspect challenged the victim seated in his vehicle, making gang references. The suspect pointed a handgun at the victim and fired one round toward him, which passed through the vehicle and hit a parked vehicle in a driveway across the street, according to officers. The suspect fled on foot, according to police. The victim was not injured. Investigators from the Watsonville Police Department were among the first on scene and conducted an investigation over the span of two weeks. After interviewing several witnesses and gathering surveillance footage, they were able to identify a suspect. Juan Hernandez, 39, has known gang affiliations and was positively identified as the shooter, police said. Investigators obtained a warrant for his arrest along with a search warrant for his home. This morning at 6:30 a.m., Watsonville and Santa Cruz county authorities located Hernandez in a vehicle on South Green Valley Road near Freedom Boulevard, according to Watsonville police. Hernandez was detained without incident and authorities allegedly found evidence inside his home linking him to the shooting. Police allege they encountered two pit bulls at Hernandez's residence, so Santa Cruz County Animal Services went to the scene to secure the dogs while police searched. For precautionary purposes, nearby Freedom Elementary School was placed on a short lockdown while the home was secured, according to the police. Hernandez was booked into the Santa Cruz County jail on suspicion of attempted murder, shooting into an occupied vehicle, personal use of a firearm during a crime and gang enhancements. His bail was set at $1.5 million, police said. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Watsonville Police Department Investigations Division at (831) 768-3350 or submit their details anonymously by calling the tip line at (831) 768-3544. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday condemning inhumane treatment of foreign nationals detained at San Francisco International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They also called on federal officials to open an investigation into allegations by Jerome Aladdin Aba, a human rights advocate from the Philippines, who claims that interrogators forced him to strip naked in front of an industrial fan and provided him with a gun and a hand grenade during a 28-hour detention. Customs officials have confirmed that Aba arrived at SFO around 8 p.m. April 17 and was denied entry into the U.S. Aba was held in a secure area of the airport until around 12:30 a.m. April 19, when he boarded a flight back to Manila. Customs officials said that during his time in detention he had access to food, water, restrooms, reclining chairs and blankets. They categorically denied Aba's allegations that he was asked or forced to remove his clothing. They also said customs officers would never give a detainee access to a gun, which could be used against them, and that customs does not issue grenades to their personnel. Pam Tau Lee, chair of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines in the U.S., called that statement an "outrageous lie." "So many thousands of migrants have told horror stories of the violent attacks, withholding of food and water, intimidation and coercion, and humiliating and misleading interrogation they've experienced at the hands of CBP agents," Lee said in a statement Tuesday. "It is well documented that such abuse has become routine practice for the agency, but we will not stand for the CBP's 'business as usual' behavior." Copies of the supervisors' resolution have been forwarded to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, as well as U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday condemning inhumane treatment of foreign nationals detained at San Francisco International Airport by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. They also called on federal officials to open an investigation into allegations by Jerome Aladdin Aba, a human rights advocate from the Philippines, who claims that interrogators forced him to strip naked in front of an industrial fan and provided him with a gun and a hand grenade during a 28-hour detention. Customs officials have confirmed that Aba arrived at SFO around 8 p.m. April 17 and was denied entry into the U.S. Aba was held in a secure area of the airport until around 12:30 a.m. April 19, when he boarded a flight back to Manila. Customs officials said that during his time in detention he had access to food, water, restrooms, reclining chairs and blankets. They categorically denied Aba's allegations that he was asked or forced to remove his clothing. They also said customs officers would never give a detainee access to a gun, which could be used against them, and that customs does not issue grenades to their personnel. Pam Tau Lee, chair of the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines in the U.S., called that statement an "outrageous lie." "So many thousands of migrants have told horror stories of the violent attacks, withholding of food and water, intimidation and coercion, and humiliating and misleading interrogation they've experienced at the hands of CBP agents," Lee said in a statement Tuesday. "It is well documented that such abuse has become routine practice for the agency, but we will not stand for the CBP's 'business as usual' behavior." Copies of the supervisors' resolution have been forwarded to Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, as well as U.S. Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris. ### The wolves arent just at the door of Missouri Governor Eric Greitens: theyre dividing up his political carcass. Photo: Jeff Roberson/AP/REX/Shutterstock At this point the big question involving the career of Missouri Governor Eric Greitens is whether hes going to be convicted of a serious crime, or impeached, or cop a plea and resign. If he avoids all these bad things and finishes his term (which doesnt run out until 2021), hes Houdini reincarnated. Heres the latest blow to the pol who was once considered a national rising star for his Republican Party, as reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Gov. Eric Greitens ran an off-the-books political campaign in 2014, took a charity donor list to raise campaign funds and lied about that list in a signed statement to the states ethics commission, according to documents and testimony from six of his former employees. The findings are outlined in a 23-page report released Wednesday by a Missouri House committee investigating Greitens, a Republican. The report contains evidence that Greitens and associates lied in campaign filings, a class A misdemeanor, and violated campaign finance law a civil offense when he operated a shadow campaign before filing required paperwork with election authorities. Compared to the other forms of legal peril Greitens is facing, that doesnt sound so bad. But the political damage to him and to his party is terrible when you think about it: The report and its reams of exhibits plot the former Navy SEALs methodical rise from non-profit founder to conservative outsider governor of Missouri by relying on money he raised from members of the charitys donor list he had pledged to keep private. Compounding the seediness of the story is the charge that Greitens set up a campaign staffer for the fall by getting him to pretend to be the one who obtained the purloined list. The legislative findings will speed the work of criminal prosecutors in St. Louis who have charged Greitens with felony computer tampering in connection with misuse of the charity donor list. Thats separate from the charges in the same jurisdiction of felony invasion of privacy in connection with a lurid sex scandal in which he allegedly forced his lover into sex acts, hit her, took a nude photo without her consent, and threatened to blackmail her into silence during his gubernatorial campaign (according to another state legislative investigatory report). Oh, and Greitens also faces a lawsuit for allegedly destroying public records. Before the latest revelations, legislative leaders, and not just Democrats, were lining up to show Greitens the door, as the Kansas City Star reports: Republican leaders in the House and Senate have already asked Greitens to resign over the allegations of abuse and blackmail stemming from his affair. Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, R-Joplin, called for Greitens immediate impeachment if he refuses. And Republican House Speaker Todd Richardson wants legislators to return for a special session this summer to decide the governors fate or more likely, to talk him into going quietly. The clock is ticking not just for Greitens but for his fellow party members who dont want to go into a general election season with this millstone around their necks (all members of the Missouri House and half of the Missouri Senate are up for reelection this year). That is particularly true of the GOPs putative nominee in the critical fight to take down Senator Claire McCaskill: Attorney General Josh Hawley, who has investigated Greitens himself and called for his speedy resignation. It will be interesting to see exactly how stubborn Eric Greitens proves to be. The great peacemaker in a reflective moment. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The idea that Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his strange diplomacy with North Korea is no longer a stray thought from the president of a South Korean client government massively invested in the success of current negotiations, or idle chatter for the smitten MAGA crowd, or the way to drive up the blood pressure of your liberal friends. As is their prerogative as qualified nominators for the prize (under the Nobel Foundations procedures), 18 Members of the U.S. House of Representatives, all Republicans, have formally offered the name of the 45th president as a worthy recipient of the prize usually reserved for leaders of a more peaceful disposition. While some proponents of a Peace Prize for Trump have been careful to make the suggestion contingent on what actually happens in the weeks and months ahead (given the rather abundant history of fizzled Korean peace initiatives), these brave 18 lawmakers want to move right ahead, as indicated in the letter from U.S. Republican representative of Indiana Luke Messer, they signed: President Trumps peace through strength policies are working and bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula, Messer wrote in his letter, We can think of no one more deserving of the Committees recognition in 2019 than President Trump for his tireless work to bring peace to our world. You have to assume that any talk of waiting around to see if the peacemaker actually achieved peace would be waved off by Republicans with a sos-your-old-man reference to Barack Obamas equally premature Nobel in 2009. Sure, Obama was self-deprecating in accepting his award, while Trump would almost certainly pocket it like an early medieval chieftain accepting tribute from a newly enslaved enemy. But thats a style point, I suppose, and its all in the future. This rush to judgment on Trumps behalf becomes more understandable if you look at the collection of House members recommending his apotheosis. Five of them (including chief signatory Luke Messer) are running for higher office this year, and are facing or could face primary contests in which chanting hymns of praise to the president is the way to win or head off outsider or right-wing opposition. Others (e.g., Scott DesJarlais, Matt Gaetz, Steve King, Mark Meadows, and Ralph Norman) are known for being positioned somewhere to the right of Jimmy Dean Sausage, and/or for having a screw or two loose. This is not a group that is broadly representative of the American population, unless you think America is confined to fans of InfoWars. There is another rather fundamental problem with the Trump-for-Peace-Prize hypothesis that might inhibit the Nobel Foundation even if things work out relatively well on the Korean peninsula: What kind of precedent does it set to reward a leader whose strategy for peace is to engage not just in brinkmanship, but in militaristic bluster reminiscent of a schoolyard bully? Lets remember this high moment in Trumps public diplomacy toward North Korea: North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times. Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018 Luke Messer may call this peace through strength, but its better known by the term Richard Nixon made famous: the madman theory, whereby adversaries are frightened into compliance by the credible fear that otherwise missiles will fly. Its uncomfortably similar, in fact, to the kind of strategy North Korea itself has always pursued. Is this the future of peace? Trump brandishing the Peace Prize like one of the spoils of war could sure make it look that way. A job fair in Detroit, Michigan. Photo: Joshua Lott/Getty Images Medicaid work requirements, the shiny new toy for Republican lawmakers across the country, may soon make their way to Michigan. But the proposal that passed the state senate in Lansing last week and is expected to sail through the house in coming days, puts a new, racist twist on the already-bad idea. The bill, which requires proof of working 30 hours each week to maintain Medicaid coverage, contains an exemption for people residing in counties where unemployment exceeds 8.5 percent. That would leave the largely white residents of rural areas, some of which are represented by the bills sponsors, exempt from the onerous new rule. Meanwhile, people living in places such as Detroit and Flint would not get the same exemption despite the unemployment rate in those cities exceeding the same threshold. Columnist Nancy Kaffer explains in the Detroit Free Press: [Detriots] unemployment rate is higher than 8.5%, but the unemployment rate in surrounding Wayne County is just 5.5% meaning Detroiters living in poverty, with a dysfunctional transit system that makes it harder to reach good-paying jobs, wont qualify for that exemption. The same is true in Flint and the states other struggling cities. Get that? Rural residents of up-north counties with high unemployment are protected; urban Michiganders who live in high-unemployment cities in more prosperous counties are left to twist. Lawmakers havent offered an explicit explanation as to why this exemption is administered at the county level, but Kaffer suggests its an attempt to pit urban and rural Michiganders with common interests against each other. The racial dynamics are also hard to ignore. Detroit Free Press reporter Niraj Warikoo notes that Detroit and Flint are both majority-black and adds that other racial minorities would be harmed too. Note: This GOP bill would also affect a lot of Arab-Americans and Muslims in cities like Dearborn & Hamtramck, which have high poverty rates. Because they're in Wayne County, they would not be exempt from the Medicaid work requirements like rural counties.https://t.co/8gggPQu9zg Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) May 3, 2018 Even without the preferential treatment toward rural residents, the work requirement is a cruel and potentially useless policy. Though proponents argue that work requirements will spur Medicaid recipients to become self-sufficient and find work, most Medicaid recipients in Michigan are either already working or unable to work. A study published last month found that only a quarter of Michigan residents receiving Medicaid are considered out of of work but capable of holding a job. Of that group, two-thirds claim a physical illness and a third say they have a mental illness. Under the new rules, they would be required to prove that they qualify for an exemption, a process that is made intentionally difficult and results in fewer people on the Medicaid roles. As long as those people dont live in their districts though, the Republicans pushing Michigans requirements dont seem to mind. Outspoken Trump critic Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles) weighed in on Kanye West's latest string of hot takes this week at a meeting of the Congressional Black Caucus attended by Politico. West rejoined Twitter in mid-April in advance of the release of a forthcoming album after a hiatus of about a year. He has used the platform to make polarizing comments about his support for conservative commentator Candice Owens and his love of President Donald Trump, with whom he says he shares "dragon energy." "Kanye West is a very creative young man who has presented some of the most revolutionary material in the African-American community," said Waters, who is among Trump's most vocal critics in Congress and has repeatedly called for the president to be impeached. "But we also think that sometimes Kanye West talks out of turn and perhaps sometimes he needs some assistance in helping him to formulate some of his thoughts," she continued. West has since drawn more ire for comments to TMZ implying that black Americans were complicit in the institution of slavery. ALSO: Kanye raps about Trump and Obama in new song "When you hear about slavery for 400 years for 400 years? That sounds like a choice," West said Tuesday before later tweeting a probably-apocryphal quote attributed to Harriet Tubman. Right-wing media leapt on Waters' criticisms of West as evidence of liberal hypocrisy, claiming she was trying to silence Kanye because she found his views threatening. "Hey @kanyewest," Ben Shapiro wrote on Twitter, "the Thought Police are coming for you." Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter One day after repeatedly saying he wanted to punch Warriors forward Draymond Green in the face, TNT analyst Charles Barkley apologized on Wednesday. Barkley first did so on a Chicago-based radio show. Then, while appearing on TNTs Inside the NBA before Wednesday nights Utah-Houston game, he said, I apologize to Draymond Green. What I said was wrong and inappropriate. I would never punch an NBA player. Draymond annoys me at times, but hes a hell of a player. Quiet Sean, Im trying to tell you whats in the pee tape. Two weeks ago, President Trump finally found a new attorney to lead the understaffed team handling his response to the Russia probe: his old friend Rudy Giuliani. Through public statements, apparent leaks, and the exit of White House lawyer Ty Cobb (who advocated for cooperation with Robert Mueller), the former New York mayor signaled that he was cleaning up Trumps legal team. From now on, they would be a unified force making aggressive, carefully calculated moves to undermine the special counsel. Then in his very first TV interview as Trumps attorney, with Trump shadow adviser Sean Hannity no less, Giuliani contradicted the presidents stories on potential obstruction of justice, the Stormy Daniels affair, and even his relationship with fixer Michael Cohen. In response to Hannitys first softball whats the status of the Russia investigation Giuliani basically confirmed that he leaked Muellers questions for Trump (which were actually composed by the presidents attorneys) as part of an effort to paint the special counsel as unfairly biased. Then he offered up a brand-new explanation for why Trump fired FBI director James Comey: He fired Comey because he would not, among other things, say that he was not a target of the investigation. Hes entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that, and he couldnt get that. So he fired him, and he said Im free of this guy and he went on Lester Holt [Trump] said I did it because I felt that I had to explain to the American people their president was not the target of the investigation. Giuliani on Trump being interview by Mueller: "Are they objective? A lot of things point in the direction that they think James Comey is telling the truth and not the president." Argues Trump was justified in firing Comey because he wouldn't say Trump wasn't a target. pic.twitter.com/YzCb8l9ggh Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 3, 2018 Many pundits were quick to note that firing Comey because he wouldnt say what Trump wanted about the Russia investigation sounds like the very definition of obstruction of justice. But Giulianis statement is like an onion of legal errors. It also contradicts two of Trumps previous explanations for Comeys firing. In Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosensteins official justification for firing Comey, which Trump supported, he faulted him for publicly releasing derogatory information about Hillary Clinton regarding her private email server, though she was not charged. Later on Hannity, Giuliani said the problem was actually that Comey didnt go far enough: Hillary, I know youre very disappointed you didnt win. But youre a criminal. Equal justice would mean you should go to jail. Comey being fired because he wouldnt publicly clear Trump also contradicts the presidents claim that he ousted him over the Russia probe in general. Moreover, Giulianis description of the Lester Holt interview is factually incorrect. Trump said he fired Comey because he was thinking, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. He said nothing in the NBC interview about his duty to let the American people know their president isnt a crook. Giuliani was just getting started. Later in the interview he claimed that paying some Stormy Daniels woman $130,000 would turn out to be perfectly legal, not a violation of campaign finance law. Sorry Im giving you a fact now that you dont know. Its not campaign money. No campaign finance violation, he said. They funneled it through the law firm Hannity interjected, offering Giuliani one last out, which he didnt take. Funneled it through a law firm, and then the president repaid it, Giuliani replied. A month ago, Trump said no when asked if he knew anything about the Stormy Daniels payment. When pressed on why his lawyer gave her $130,000, Trump said, Youll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. Youll have to ask Michael. Giuliani says Trump's payment to Stormy Daniels was legal because it didn't come from campaign funds. On Cohen, Giuliani says, "[Trump] knew he would take care of things like this -- like I take care of this stuff with my clients, I don't burden them with every single thing." pic.twitter.com/ZFgjNtCbnY Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 3, 2018 Giuliani went on to offer details on how Trump reimbursed Cohen. He pointed to Cohens hefty retainer, saying, When I heard Cohens retainer of $35,000, when he was doing no work for the president, I said thats how hes repaying it, with a little profit and a little margin for paying taxes for Michael. That also bolstered the argument from federal prosecutors in Manhattan that much of what was seized in the Cohen raid is not protected by attorney-client privilege, as he was in fact, performing little to no legal work. When Hannity pointed out that Cohen said he acted without Trumps knowledge, Giuliani backtracked a bit, saying the president didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this. I take care of things like this for my clients, Giuliani said. I dont burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people. It seems Giuliani thought that Trump reimbursing Cohen would clear him of alleged campaign finance violations, but he might have actually done the opposite. As the Washington Post explained, its still not okay for Trumps campaign to take a massive, unreported loan: By not reporting a loan from Cohen meant to aid the election of Donald Trump, the campaign would have violated the law. Had Cohen not been repaid, the violation was his own, as an agent of the campaign making a contribution to it of that size. Giulianis various gaffes were so bad that even other Fox News anchors had to acknowledge them. Fifteen minutes after Hannity ended, Laura Ingraham highlighted the inconsistencies in his statements. I love Rudy, but they better have an explanation for that. Thats a problem, Ingraham said. But about two hours after Giuliani made his remarks, the White House had yet to come up with anything. "We have nothing to say about it." -@hogangidley45 responds to Rudy Giuliani's statement that #Trump reimbursed Cohen for Stormy Daniels payment https://t.co/C8jTlglAFv @foxnewsnight pic.twitter.com/smSE388nlR Fox News (@FoxNews) May 3, 2018 WASHINGTON For years, the U.S. military has sought to distance itself from a brutal civil war in Yemen, where Saudi-led forces are battling rebels who pose no direct threat to the United States. But late last year, a team of about a dozen Green Berets arrived on Saudi Arabias border with Yemen, in a continuing escalation of Americas secret wars. With virtually no public discussion or debate, the Army commandos are helping locate and destroy caches of ballistic missiles and launch sites that Houthi rebels in Yemen are using to attack Riyadh and other Saudi cities. Details of the Green Beret operation, which has not been previously disclosed, were provided to The New York Times by U.S. officials and European diplomats. They appear to contradict Pentagon statements that U.S. military assistance to the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen is limited to aircraft refueling, logistics and general intelligence sharing. There is no indication that the U.S. commandos have crossed into Yemen as part of the secretive mission. But sending U.S. ground forces to the border is a marked escalation of Western assistance to target Houthi fighters who are deep in Yemen. Beyond its years as a base for al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemen has been convulsed by civil strife since 2014, when the Shiite Muslim rebels from the countrys north stormed the capital, Sanaa. The Houthis, who are aligned with Iran, ousted the government of President Abed Rabu Mansour Hadi, the Americans main counterterrorism partner in Yemen. In 2015, a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia began bombing the Houthis, who have responded by firing missiles into the kingdom. Yet there is no evidence that the Houthis directly threaten the U.S.; they are an unsophisticated militant group with no operations outside Yemen and have not been classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist group. The Green Berets deployed to the border in December, weeks after a ballistic missile fired from Yemen sailed close to Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The Saudi military said it intercepted the missile over the citys international airport a claim that was cast in doubt by an analysis of photos and videos of the strike. But it was enough for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to renew a long-standing request that the U.S. send troops to help the kingdom combat the Houthi threat. Helene Cooper, Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Eric Schmitt are New York Times writers. NEW DELHI A powerful dust storm ripped through northern India on Wednesday, killing at least 94 people and toppling houses, trees and electricity poles, government officials said. The storm damaged communities in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, where more than 400 people were injured as thunder pierced the sky and visibility plummeted. Cities and villages in at least four other states lost power, authorities said. Witnesses described being shocked by the storms speed and the devastation left in its path. A resident of the village of Khakhawali in Rajasthan, who goes only by the name Surendra, said that within a few short minutes, dust gathered with such speed that it was impossible to see millimeters away or keep my eyes open. There was the clanking sound of tin roofs being blown away and motorcycles getting dragged, he said. Utensils, clothing, it seemed like everything was flying away. We found it hard to stay rooted. The whooshing sound of the wind made our children howl. Damage was caused by flying debris, lightning and rain as wind speeds in some areas reached 100 mph. By the end of the storm, a young girl who was buried under rubble in the village had died, and a woman nearly lost her arm after she was struck by a tin rooftop that had been dislodged by the wind. Hemant Gera, who oversees disaster management in Rajasthan, said the storm was the worst to hit the state in nearly three decades. Many people died in their sleep after their homes were destroyed, he said. The storm struck when people were all at home, he said. Mud walls collapsed, burying them under it. In many places, trees were uprooted and people were hit by the trunks and branches, resulting in injuries. Gera said that the families of those killed would each be given about $6,000 in compensation. Mahesh Palawat, a meteorologist at Skymet Weather Services, a private forecaster, called the storm a freak incident, telling the Hindustan Times that dust storms were not usually as large or intense as the one that hit the country Wednesday. Other meteorologists said abnormally high temperatures in parts of northern India had contributed to the storms formation. The Indian National Disaster Management Authority provided updates on Twitter, writing that the worst-hit district was Agra, home to the Taj Mahal, where at least 36 people were killed. Over 150 animals also died during the storm, the government agency said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences, writing on Twitter that he was saddened by the loss of lives. He directed officials to assist those who had been affected by the storm. Suhasini Raj and Kai Schultz are New York Times writers. TIJUANA, Mexico The group that organized a monthlong caravan of Central Americans seeking asylum in the United States wanted to draw attention to the plight of people fleeing violence. If headlines are any measure, it has been a smashing success. President Trump and Cabinet members have called the caravan a deliberate attempt to overwhelm U.S. authorities and proof that more must be done to secure the border with Mexico, including construction of a wall. The rhetoric from the White House and its allies has also fueled an outpouring of support from Mexicans and Americans, with food and other staples, financial contributions, free legal advice and offers of a place to live in the U.S. NAIROBI, Kenya Every school day, Abdirizack Hussein Bashir rises at dawn for an five-mile trek through a dangerous forest where he sometimes faces harassment by Kenyan army patrols hunting down extremists. Now the 12-year-olds dream to become a doctor is threatened. Attacks by the al Qaeda-linked al-Shabab against non-Muslims have forced the transfer of hundreds of teachers from the border area with Somalia, where the extremist group is based. Schools have closed and thousands of children are affected. At least 224 primary schools and 42 secondary schools in Wajir County can no longer function after non-local teachers fled. The exodus was caused by the Feb. 16 al-Shabab attack on a primary school in which two non-Muslim teachers were killed. Kenyas Teachers Service Commission transferred 329 teachers elsewhere for their safety. Many others left on their own. In all, 917 non-Muslim primary school teachers have left the region. It is the largest mass exodus of teachers from the region, observers say. Analysts say the extremist group threatens gains in education in a region that until recently was the most marginalized in Kenya and has been described as a hotbed for recruitment for extremist groups, which oppose Western education. Children out of school become easy targets. For al-Shabab, the closure of schools will be seen as a success, said Abdullahi Boru Halakhe, an expert in countering violent extremism. Schools and education is one of the antidotes against the narratives of the (extremist) group. Thus, if you close the school, how else can you build a counter-narrative? he asked. Al-Shabab has carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya since 2011, calling it retribution for Kenya sending troops to Somalia to fight the extremists. Attacks include the April 2015 raid on Garissa University that left 147 people dead. Some 120 non-Muslim teachers have left their posts in Mandera County due to the latest insecurity. The teachers have been sleeping in the Kenya National Union of Teachers boardroom for nearly two months and spend their days camped out at the offices of their employer, the Teachers Service Commission. Police routinely use tear gas on them as they protest and demand better protection from the extremist threat. Tom Odula is an Associated Press writer. SEOUL President Trump added to speculation that North Korea may make a goodwill gesture before his planned summit with leader Kim Jong Un when he tweeted of a possible update soon on the status of three detained Americans. Trump tweeted Wednesday: As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! Of the three Americans currently known to be held in North Korea, two were arrested after Trump took office meaning the Obama administration would not have sought their release. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, suggested on Thursday afternoon that Trump was including Otto Warmbier among the three hostages the president had referred to in his Twitter post. Warmbier, an American college student, was detained in North Korea in January 2016. He was flown back to the United States last June in a vegetative state and died at a hospital in Ohio shortly after. Heres a brief look at the three detained U.S. citizens: Kim Hak-song was arrested on May 6, 2017 for alleged anti-state activities. He worked in agricultural development at an experimental farm run by the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. The university is the only privately funded college in North Korea and was founded in 2010 with donations from Christian groups. Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-duk, was detained on April 22, 2017 at the Pyongyang airport. He taught accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. He was accused of committing unspecified criminal acts intended to overthrow the government. Kim Dong-chul has been held in North Korea since October 2015. The South Korean-born U.S. citizen is the only one of the three who was detained during the Obama administration. The former Virginia resident was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor after being convicted of espionage. He reportedly ran a trade and hotel service company in Rason, a special economic zone on North Koreas border with Russia. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim discussed the three Americans last month when Pompeo visited North Korea. Trumps national security adviser, John Bolton, said the release of the Americans would be a demonstration of their sincerity in the lead-up to the summit. Press Secretary Sanders said she couldnt confirm the validity of reports about the hostages release, referring to a Thursday interview during which Rudy Giuliani who recently joined the presidents legal team said the three Americans would be released today. Asked if Giuliani was authorized to discuss foreign policy on the Trump administrations behalf, Sanders said: Not that Im aware of. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Linda Qiu is a New York Times writer. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organizations culture, industry, and practices. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRMs permission. To request permission for specific items, click on the reuse permissions button on the page where you find the item. Page Content More than 40 years ago, Congress enacted the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), which forbids employment discrimination against anyone 40 years of age or older in the United States. As the U.S. experiences a rapidly aging population, the ADEA may be more important than ever: In 2016, the nonprofit Population Reference Bureau projected that the number of Americans ages 65 and older would more than double, from 46 million to over 98 million by 2060. It estimated that by 2022, 27 percent of men and 20 percent of women ages 65 and older would be in the labor force, up from the current 23 percent and 15 percent, respectively. But four decades after the ADEA became law, nearly two-thirds of workers ages 55 to 64 report their age as a barrier to getting a job, according to a 2017 survey by the AARP. A study in 2015 using resumes for workers of various ages found significant discrimination in hiring for the oldest applicants, according to a co-author of the research, Patrick Button, assistant professor of economics at Tulane University and a researcher with the National Bureau of Economic Research Disability Research Center. But age discrimination is very difficult to prove, workplace experts say. Although age discrimination was alleged in about 23 percent of all charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in fiscal year 2016, ADEA cases constituted only 2 percent of the cases that the EEOC lawyers felt had enough evidence in the allegations to file a lawsuit. The things that employers say, write or insinuate about age can be so subtle that they don't provide a smoking gun that can prove discrimination, said Laurie McCann, a senior attorney for the AARP Foundation Litigation. "Most employers know enough not to say, 'You're too old,' or 'I'd rather hire a younger person for the job,' " she said. "In most cases, the individual does not know who was hired instead. Therefore, they cannot compare their qualifications with those of the person hired to determine if age bias may have been at work." [SHRM members-only toolkit: Employing Older Workers] ADEA Cases to Watch The AARP notes that there are at least three relatively recent age-discrimination lawsuits that deserve the public's attention. Cheryl Fillekes, a systems engineer who applied unsuccessfully for four different jobs at Google between 2007 and 2014, filed a lawsuit against the company in 2015. She claims that one Google recruiter told her to put her graduation dates on her resume "so the interviewers [could] see how old [she was]." Fillekes' complaint also points out that the median age for Google's workforce is 29 years, compared with 42.8 years for computer programmers and 41.7 years for computer-hardware engineers nationally. At least 269 other plaintiffs have signed on to the case. Google has denied the allegations, stating that it has strong anti-discrimination policies. Two Google spokesmen did not reply to requests for comment. In the spring of 2017, Texas Roadhouse, a national, Kentucky-based restaurant chain, agreed to pay $12 million and furnish other relief to settle an age-discrimination lawsuit. The EEOC had filed suit on behalf of applicants the EEOC charged had been denied front-of-the-house positions, such as servers, hosts, server assistants and bartenders, because they were age 40 or older. As part of the settlement, Texas Roadhouse agreed to change its hiring and recruiting practices. Texas Roadhouse's press office did not reply to a request for comment. In 2013, Spirit AeroSystemsa company in Wichita, Kan., that makes parts for airplaneslaid off 360 employees. Twenty-four of those workers have filed an age-discrimination lawsuit, arguing that the company manipulated their job-performance evaluations and subsequently fired them based on their age and to avoid having to pay the potentially expensive costs of their health insurance. Many more have joined the lawsuit. According to the suit, prior to the layoffs, the company identified employees and their family members whose health care expenses made them "high-cost claimants." Many of the conditions that put employees into this category were illnesses more common among older Americans, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer. Keturah Austin, a spokeswoman for the company, said that "Spirit is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in its employment practices, including hiring and termination decisions. The company takes that responsibility very seriously. Reductions in force are never easy; however, all decisions are based on job-related, nondiscriminatory criteria." Austin said the company would not discuss this particular lawsuit. In addition to these cases flagged by the AARP, ProPublica recently reported that IBM slashed its U.S. workforce by as much as three-quarters of its 1980s peak, replacing a substantial share of those fired with younger, less-experienced and lower-paid workers and sending many positions overseas. In the past five years, ProPublica wrote, IBM eliminated the jobs of more than 20,000 U.S. employees ages 40 and over, about 60 percent of its estimated total U.S. job cuts during those years. The publication reported that the one confidential planning document stated the company needed to "correct seniority mix." ProPublica asserted that "in making these cuts, IBM has flouted or outflanked U.S. laws and regulations intended to protect later-career workers from age discrimination." IBM employees tend to have a higher median age38than workers at other top tech companies, according to a report from Business Insider. In late March, according to one news report, the company notified a number of employees that they would be laid off in coming months and offered some the chance to move to different positions. On job-tracking site TheLayoff, some IBM workers whose jobs were cut indicated in their posts that they were veteran employees of the company. An IBM spokesman declined to comment on the ProPublica report or to answer questions about how the company attracts or nurtures the careers of older workers. Culture Tends to Be 'Forgiving' of Ageism Jacquelyn B. James is co-director of The Center on Aging & Work at Boston College. Older workers frequently consult her, wanting to know if they have legitimate age-discrimination complaints. For instance, James said, she recently heard from one man who had enjoyed a stellar career but wanted to change directions and enroll in a university's doctoral program. "He was told by the program chair that his credentials were above reproach but that the university didn't want to invest in someone that old," James recalls. "Why would they spend their money on someone who may not be around that long?" Yet among all the discrimination complaints that the EEOC investigates, age discrimination remains among the hardest to prove, despite what seem to be blatant examples like the one James related, said Corbett Anderson, assistant legal counsel at the EEOC. "I think the culture is more forgiving of ageism than it is for some of the other, more-vile forms of discrimination," he said. "Age-based comments are more-infused in the culture. So when those types of comments show up in a case, courts tend to view those comments a little differentlyand perhaps that's subconsciousthan if the comments were made, for instance, about someone's race." James agreed: "Age-related comments are trivialized as merely stray remarks or office banter," she said. There's also the burden imposed by a 2009 U.S. Supreme Court ruling, which held that to prove age discrimination in the workplace, a plaintiff must show that age was the predominant reason for an employer's action. "It's not enough to show that the employer was thinking about age when making a decision," Anderson said. A plaintiff has to show "that the employee's age was determinative in the [hiring or firing] decision, not just that it played a role. That's a more difficult burden to meet." Page Content California employers can expect to see more changes to the state's sexual-harassment-prevention laws during the current legislative year, but exactly how those laws will change remains to be seen. Every year there's a trend regarding the type of bills state lawmakers introduce and consider. The dominant themes for the 2018 legislative session continue to be sexual harassment and the #MeToo movement, said Michael Kalt, an attorney with Wilson Turner Kosmo in San Diego and the director of government affairs for the California State Council of SHRM (CalSHRM). From Hollywood to Silicon Valley, employers in the state have been revisiting their harassment-prevention programs. "In the last year, the technology industry joined the growing list of industries making headlines for allegations of sexual harassment and gender inequality," said Elizabeth Stonhaus, a labor and employment attorney at Kaufman Dolowich & Voluck in San Francisco. "Since Northern California is home to a significant number of technology companies, we anticipate many technology employers in the area will be closely following new legislation related to the #MeToo movement." [SHRM members-only toolkit: Complying with California Sexual Harassment Training Requirements] Out-of-state employers should also keep up with what's happening in California, Kalt said during a session at CalSHRM's 2018 California State Legislative & HR Conference in Sacramento. "What happens in Sacramento doesn't always stay in Sacramento." Here are some key anti-harassment bills employers should be watching: SB 1038 would make employees personally liable for retaliating against workers who complain about harassment and discrimination. This bill would probably have the most impact on HR professionals, Kalt said. It is well-intentioned, but as it is written now, could apply very broadly to any employees who make personnel decisions. CalSHRM is committed to preventing unlawful retaliation and working with employers and legislatures to prevent it, but it opposes S.B. 1038 because the bill could chill effective workplace management. SB 1300 is an omnibus bill that would make numerous changes to the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). It would require employers with five or more employees (rather than 50 or more) to provide sexual harassment training to all employees (not just supervisors). Additionally, it would prohibit employers from requiring workers to sign a release of FEHA claims in exchange for a raise or a bonus or as a condition of employment, and it would make employers potentially liable for any type of harassment (not just sexual harassment) by nonemployees. The bill would also make it possible for workers to sue employers for conduct that hasn't yet reached the "severe or pervasive" harassment standard in certain situations. Furthermore, a prevailing defendant in a lawsuit would not awarded legal fees unless the court finds that the lawsuit is frivolous, unreasonable or totally without foundation. SB 1343 would require employers with five or more employees to provide at least two hours of sexual harassment training to all employees by 2020 and once every two years thereafter. It would also require the Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) to produce and publish a two-hour video training course for employers. "This bill appears largely unopposed, and it unanimously passed key committee votes," Kalt said. AB 1867 would require employers with 50 or more employees to retain records of sexual-harassment complaints for 10 years, and would allow the DFEH to seek an order requiring the employer to comply. AB 3081 would amend the California Labor Code to provide protections for victims of sexual harassment. The labor code already precludes discrimination or retaliation against victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. This bill would also prohibit an employer from firing or otherwise discriminating or retaliating against an employee because of his or her status as a victim of sexual harassment. These are just some of the bills state lawmakers are considering. "Legislators proposed nearly two dozen workplace bills concerning sexual harassment this year," Stonhaus said. The training-related bills aim to expand which employers must offer sexual-harassment training and to whom it must be provided. Other bills seek to more effectively unmask workplace sexual harassment and expand employer liability. California employers should be prepared. "It is not clear which sexual harassment bills will pass, but it is clear that some will," Kalt noted. Walter Stella, an attorney with Miller Law Group in San Francisco, recommends that employer policies: Prohibit all unwelcome conductnot just unlawful conduct. Reinforce a culture of respect and tolerance. Provide examples of prohibited behavior and harassment. Prohibit abusive conduct and bullying. Address the effects of alcohol. Businesses should include the policy in their employee handbook and should distribute it at least once a year, he said during a session at the CalSHRM conference. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Red for Ed. Photo: Ralph Freso/Getty Images After the 2008 recession blew up its budget, Arizona implemented sweeping cuts to education spending. Many teachers accepted this austerity, on the assumption that it would end when the downturn did. But by the time the recovery arrived, Republicans had taken full control of Arizonas government and they felt it more important to cut taxes than to restore funding for public education. As a result, the Grand Canyon State spends 14 percent less per pupil on school funding today than it did a decade ago, making its education system among the most poorly funded in the nation and its public-school teachers, the least well-paid of any states, once one accounts for cost of living. So, when Arizona teachers saw their peers in West Virginia win a raise by going on strike, they quickly threatened to follow suit. Republican governor Doug Ducey tried to preempt a walkout by offering the teachers a 20 percent raise by 2020, last month. But the teachers shot him down. They wanted a plan that included a dedicated revenue source (to ensure the raises would actually happen); a raise for non-instructional school employees; and the restoration of pre-recession levels of overall education spending Duceys blueprint offered none of those things. On April 26, teachers across the state abandoned their classrooms and launched the #RedForEd protests. Thousands of teachers (adorned in red clothing) have protested at the capitol and marched through downtown Phoenix each day since. Finally, on Thursday morning, Ducey ostensibly put an end to the strikes, by signing a new education budget bill that gives (some, but not all) Arizona teachers a 20 percent raise by 2020 but doesnt include a sustainable revenue source, raise for non-instructional school staff, or restoration of 2008-level education funding. I think theyre pretty frustrated, Joe Thomas, president of the states largest teachers union, said of his members reaction to the budget in an interview with Phoenixs 12 News Thursday. They wanted to see a more robust package What we do see is a lot of promises by the governor that are not going to come true. Still, Thomas suggested that teachers will now be moving toward the classroom, having apparently decided that maintaining the strike any longer would jeopardize public support. And keeping Arizona voters on their side is no idle concern for the states teachers: Public educators have no legal right to strike in Arizona, and one of the main things preventing local officials from taking advantage of that legal reality by canceling striking teachers contracts and/or revoking their teaching certificates is the sense that this would be politically unwise. Under the new budget, teachers will receive a 10 percent raise next year, and then an additional ten percent by 2020 but that isnt guaranteed. Instead of directly mandating such raises, the plan allocates education funds to individual school districts, and gives them discretion to hand out raises as they see fit. In some districts, officials wont receive enough state funding to give all of their teachers 20 percent raises even if they wanted to do. The budget does increase state spending on education by $200 million more than Ducey initially offered, but that still leaves overall funding far below pre-recession levels. Whats more, even that modest increase is jeopardized by the absence of a sustainable funding source. The budget pays for its new spending on schools and teachers by raiding special funds (including one dedicated to cleanup efforts following leaks from underground gasoline storage tanks), and with an unexpected revenue boost that the state took in during the first quarter of this year, thanks to the strength of its economy. Which is to say: Once the current economic expansion subsides, most of the revenue for new education spending will disappear. Nonetheless, an underfunded 20 percent raise and a bump in school spending are a lot more than Arizona Republicans were prepared to offer before the states teachers first threatened to strike. After taking office in 2015, Ducey insisted that, although Arizonas classrooms were underfunded, the states education system wasnt schools were simply misspending the money they already had. Meanwhile, the governor pushed through a radical expansion in school vouchers that will divert funding out of the public system and into private schools unless voters shoot down the measure in a ballot initiative this fall. Through labor militancy, Arizona teachers succeeded in forcing Republicans to make investments in public education that they did not want to. But to fully realize their ambitions for their schools and students, the states teachers are going to have replace their elected representatives with ones more sympathetic to their cause and this November, they intend to do just that. The admission by the Commonwealth Bank that it didn't tell customers it had lost almost 20 million account records has been labelled an "extraordinary blunder" by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. "It's hard to imagine how so much data could be lost in this way," Mr Turnbull said on Thursday after the bank said it believed it had destroyed the records in 2016 but could not be sure that the destruction had been carried out. With the big banks set to join the comprehensive reporting regime, much more financial data will be held on consumers by the credit agencies that hold the credit records accessed by lenders when someone applies for credit. Gerard Brody, the chief executive of the Consumer Action Law Centre, said he was particularly concerned by the decisions of the Office of the Australian Information Commission and the Commonwealth Bank not to inform customers. Many of the new jobs created from the development of two new solar energy plants in Victoria have been filled with overseas workers, according to the Electrical Trades Union. The complaint comes as the Australian Council of Trade Unions released a five-point plan to target local jobs and exploitation of temporary visa workers. The plan urges government to toughen the rules on companies hiring overseas workers. The ACTU said unemployment was widespread in many regions because employers rely on temporary visa workers. It has called for labour market testing to become more stringent and for international trade agreement exemptions to be removed. ETU Victorian state secretary Troy Gray. Credit:Penny Stephens Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews last year announced winners of a tender to build two new large scale solar projects would generate hundreds of jobs in regional Victoria during construction. Daniel Barresi, 44, has been relying on charity since Christmas when he and thousands of other injured workers lost their weekly benefits under the NSW workers' compensation scheme. Mr Barresi was awarded ongoing weekly benefits until retirement age after a factory machine tore the skin off his foot in 1995. However, state government changes to the scheme introduced in 2012 took the $800 weekly payments away. The father of five children now receives $250 a week in welfare payments and has to rely on charity. Daniel Barresi receives $250 a week in welfare payments and has to rely on charity to survive. Credit:Kate Geraghty "We are not coping on $250 a week," Mr Barresi said. "We are going to Vinnies and anonymous people are dropping off donations and our friends are helping out. "We are finding it difficult with schooling, getting the kids new shoes and clothes, school fees and every day living. We are having to choose to pay a bill or put food on the table." A painting contractor allegedly sacked a worker after he was coerced into joining the national construction and maritime union. The Australian Building and Construction Commission is taking action in the Federal Court against painting contractor, Prolac Pty Ltd, and its director, Tim Petrusic, for allegedly terminating a workers contract because he had not paid a membership fee to the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU). Australian Building and Construction Commissioner Stephen McBurney. Credit:Louie Douvis The ABCC alleges two CFMMEU shop stewards, Maurice Campanaro and Joe Caratozzolo, forced the worker to pay union fees on two separate occasions to be able to start work on two different sites in the Melbourne CBD. In a statement of claim filed with the court, the ABCC alleges the worker was told in October 2016 that before starting work he would need to prove his CFMMEU membership to work at the construction sites. The worker made a $380 up-front payment and planned to pay the remaining $1100 owed in $55 fortnightly payments. Amazon has stepped up its expansion into Australia, announcing its will open a warehouse and fulfilment centre in Sydney. The e-commerce goliath said on Thursday it would open its second Australian fulfilment centre in Moorebank, in Sydney's south west, in the second half of 2018 to support its growing operations. Amazon is opening a warehouse in Sydney's south west. Amazon opened its first fulfilment centre in Dandenong South, in Melbourne's south-east, ahead of the launch of its local retail offer late last year. The company said its new 43,000-square metre centre in the Goodman Centenary Distribution Centre would enable it to increase its range and support more third-party sellers who use Amazon's fulfilment services. In a world increasingly dominated by a handful of tech giants, companies (and not just media companies) face a clear choice: Try to fight them, or figure out a way to embrace them and still survive. Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, Australia's largest media company, has chosen to fight. News Corp's NYC headquarters Credit:Bloomberg If that wasn't clear already, it was reinforced by a 144 page, 52,000 word submission from News to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's inquiry on digital platforms, made public on Thursday. It was by far the lengthiest contribution from any of the key protagonists - more than double the length of Facebook's, the social media behemoth which is the very subject of this inquiry, and which has been under serious pressure in recent months. Global fashion retailer Esprit is pulling out of Australia and New Zealand and will close more than 60 outlets in the region, leaving 350 employees without jobs. The company, which was founded in California in 1968 and has been operating in Australia since the 1980s, said on Thursday it had been unprofitable in the local market for some time and had now made the "unfortunate but unavoidable" decision to leave. Esprit's operations in the region consist of 16 retail stores, 13 factory outlets and 38 concession stores inside Myer stores, which will all close by the end of the 2018 calendar year. The 67 outlets are split between NSW (25), Victoria (17), Queensland (12), Western Australia and New Zealand (6), and South Australia (1). There will be about 100 jobs lost in NSW, 90 in Victoria, and 30 in New Zealand. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and Donald Trump Photo: Mikhail Palinchak/TASS via Getty Images After the United States agreed to sell Ukraine some weapons, the Ukrainian government halted all cooperation with Robert Muellers probe. (Ukraine had previously supplied investigators with important evidence, like incriminating details of Paul Manaforts secret payments from a Russian-backed party.) The weapons sale was the stated reason for this turnabout. I suggested the weapons sale might have been, at least in part, a bribe intended to induce Ukraine to withhold cooperation from Mueller. Natasha Bertrand reports out more details on how the deal went down in Ukraine. The Ukrainians hired a Republican lobbying firm: The Ukrainian government hired Haley Barbour, former Republican National Committee chairman and founding partner of BGR Group, to lobby in the United States just after Trump was elected, according to foreign lobbying registration documents filed with the Justice Department. Ed Rogers, the chairman of BGR, was hired for the lobbying work, too. The firm has ties to this White House: The Trump transition team held meetings with lobbyists at BGR Groups offices, according to the Washington Post. And Rogers is as inner circle Jeff Sessions as they come, a source with knowledge of their relationship told me on condition of anonymity, referring to Attorney General Jeff Sessions. (Both men are from Alabama.) BGR also worked with Corey Lewandowski. Ed Rogers! Readers of this space will recognize Rogers as Americas Worst Columnist. In addition to his inability either to present a coherent argument or to write passable prose, Rogers, who somehow has a perch at the Washington Post op-ed page, is also a working lobbyist who brings massive, undisclosed conflicts of interest to virtually every topic he attempts to cover. Rogers has repeatedly argued (or, to put it more accurately, asserted) that Trump has not colluded with the Russian government. I dont recall any of his columns mentioning the fact that he was lobbying on behalf of the Ukrainian government. And of course, this relationship would seem to make it all the more likely that the arms deal involved a quid pro quo. Somebody had to explain to Ukraines government that it might be in their best interest to stop cooperating with Mueller if they wanted some new anti-tank missiles. The Republican lobbying firm Ukraine hired seems like a strong candidate to be that somebody. Another foreign-owned lottery disrupter is set to launch in Australia, despite the Turnbull government pressing ahead with plans to institute a nationwide ban on so-called "synthetic lottery" services. MyLotto24, owned by the Frankfurt-listed Zeal Network, will launch on Friday and announce it has struck a partnership with the Victorian Newsagents' Association, under which 1200 outlets will offer in-store payment systems for gamblers to top up their online lottery-betting accounts. In return, newsagencies will receive a 12 per cent cut on all in-store deposits, and 3 per cent for all online deposits made by customers they refer to MyLotto24. Up to 1200 news and lotto outlets will partner up with an online lottery disrupter. Credit:Jim Rice The timing of the company's launch has been met with raised eyebrows in the gambling industry. It comes as the federal government remains steadfast in its commitment to pass legislation banning the provision of lottery-betting services or "synthetic lotteries" which let punters bet on lottery outcomes without having to buy a ticket in any draw. Lottery-betting websites, including the controversial Lottoland, have faced criticism in Australia and around the world for cutting into the businesses of lottery-selling newsagencies, and eroding vital tax revenue paid by actual lotteries that helps fund public infrastructure, including schools, roads and hospitals. The relentlessly chirpy Tom Waterhouse finishes up on Friday, May 4, at Matthew Tripps CrownBet - which has now taken control of William Hill and brands like TomWaterhouse.com. But how could you keep Waterhouse away from the industry that he loves, despite the two year non-compete clause with CrownBet? The good news is Waterhouse is already making use of his brand name and website - which he will take as a going away present when he departs CrownBet. And the TomWaterhouse.com site now informs us: This is not a bookmaking and wagering site, no bets are received. We only provide a tipping service. My greatest pet hate in the office is the Reply All button, used by colleagues indiscriminately for matters barely relevant to even one of the recipients, let alone all of them. The worst offender is the person who replies all just to say thanks. No capitalisation. No full stop. Just a single word, almost always directed to a solitary individual but with everyone else unnecessarily copied in. Granted, their intentions are usually good, and Im no doubt being petty and difficult, but still, its my truth. Any additional email is an unwelcome interruption. Credit:Alamy Stock Photo Maybe you can relate. If so, its probably because youre aware employees send and receive an average of 122 emails a day and that almost a third of our time is spent doing nothing but managing the darn things. So any additional email, particularly if it serves no purpose at all, is an unwelcome interruption that disrupts productivity and concentration. Actually, even when its necessary, even if its relevant, even then its an interruption. There are multiple times throughout the day, for example, when Ill step away from my laptop for just half an hour and then Ill haltingly log back on, nervous the mess I cleaned up only minutes earlier will have returned, this time on steroids. With rare variation, thats exactly what occurs, like stubborn dust on a mantelpiece. Its clearly not just email thats a problem. With the proliferation of instant online messaging tools, such as Skype, Flock and Slack, were rarely able to remain uncontactable these days; always within reach of whoever needs us most. And for many of us, that extreme level of connectivity is stress inducing. New mining and energy discoveries are rapidly increasing resources like coal, uranium, oil and gas but only half the countrys non-renewable energy resources are economically viable, a government report has found. The latest Australian Energy Resource Assessment (AREA) study by Geoscience Australia, the Department of Environment and Energy, and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency, found 3.52 million petajoules of the nations total demonstrated resources of 6.28 million petajoules were potentially viable for future development. Aerial of the three major LNG projects in Gladstone, which are driving LNG exports. Credit:Ashley Roach But even if only 56 per cent of Australia's resources can be effectively utilised, this figure is still globally significant, and nearly 600 times the nation's total primary domestic energy consumption. Australia has in excess of 3,500,000 petajoules of Economic Demonstrated Resources like coal, gas, oil and uranium, Federal Minister for Resources Matt Canavan said. Together, coal, gas, oil and uranium make up more than 20 per cent of Australias total exports, and are projected to earn around $90 billion a year over the next five years alone. NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes will push for the urgent dumping of NAPLAN, saying the national test is being used dishonestly as a school rating system and has sprouted an industry that extorts money from desperate families. At a meeting of education ministers on Friday, Mr Stokes will call on the federal government to replace NAPLAN in "haste" with a less high-stakes test that assesses each student's progress as recommended by the Gonski report. NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes says NAPLAN should be replaced 'with some urgency'. Credit:Brook Mitchell His call has the support of teachers and the state opposition, with Labor's education spokesman Jihad Dib urging him to go a step further and ask for the NAPLAN data to be immediately removed from the My School comparison website. Mr Stokes said NAPLAN, through its publication on My School, had become a rating tool rather than a measurement of student progress. "I am all for transparency, but this is not transparency - this is actually dishonesty," he said. Jessica Townsend chipped away at her children's fantasy novel - between working at the Australia Zoo, copywriting and selling insurance - for nearly a decade. It was a slow, steady and private project. The whirlwind came when she finished Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow - the major publishing houses vying for the rights, the six-figure deal, the acquisition of film rights by 20th Century Fox and a long book tour. Author Jessica Townsend was inspired by the London Tube when she wrote her debut novel Nevermoor. Credit:Louie Douvis And it still hasn't stopped. Townsend, 33, was the major winner at the 2018 Australian Book Industry Awards on Thursday night, nabbing the overall Book of the Year as well as the Matt Richell Award for New Writer of the Year and Book of the Year for Younger Children (ages 7-13). Other winners were: Jimmy Barnes, who was awarded Biography Book of the Year for the second year running for his hugely popular second autobiographical instalment Working Class Man; Michael Robotham, who won General Fiction Book of the Year for his thriller The Secrets She Keeps after missing out on the prize four times in the past, and Sarah Schmidt, who was awarded Literary Fiction of the Year, for her re-imagining of the Lizzie Borden murders in See What I Have Done. The industry body which controls the Oscars - the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences - confirmed it would expel comedian Bill Cosby in the wake of his conviction on aggravated indecent assault charges. The Academy also confirmed it would expel director Roman Polanski, who was charged in the late 1970s with unlawful sex with a minor but subsequently fled the US to France, where he continues to live in exile. The two expulsions sent a powerful signal in Hollywood, which is still deeply bruised from six months of brutal headlines and successive revelations connected to a hidden culture of sexual harassment and sexual assault. The Academy said the decision to expel Cosby and Polanski "was in accordance with the organisation's Standards of Conduct". It was an incident that gained a suburban cinema in Perth international attention for all the wrong reasons. A theatre full of kids and parents on Anzac Day getting ready to see Peter Rabbit was accidentally shown a trailer for the horror movie Hereditary, described as "this generation's The Exorcist". The screen was shut off, audience members were offered complimentary tickets as a goodwill gesture, and the cinema's parent company said the issue was being "investigated internally to ensure situations like this do not occur again". A Peter Rabbit viewing turned into a horror show for Perth kids. WAtoday's story was splashed across the internet for a brief time - but to Professor Elizabeth Handsley from the Australian Council on Children & the Media the incident highlighted an ongoing struggle. Two brothers have been charged with manslaughter following police investigations into the death of their mother last year. The 73-year-old woman died in palliative care at Blacktown Hospital in September 2017. Police were contacted by hospital staff, who claimed the woman was admitted to hospital after she was allegedly denied care and medical assistance by her sons, who were her carers. Police could not detail the woman's health concerns due to privacy reasons, a police spokeswoman said. Walking the talk. Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images Scott Walker is about to give every family in Wisconsin a $100 check for each child that its raising an economically incoherent policy thats clearly intended to bribe voters into giving the governor a third term. And Democratic officeholders should really be implementing more policies like it. But before we get that point, lets take a closer look at the Badger-State Buyoff. Thanks to a combination of Walkers spending cuts and good economic times, Wisconsin currently boasts a budget surplus. It also has one of the most depleted rainy-day funds of any U.S. state. Thus, it would seem fiscally prudent to put the surplus into that emergency reserve or else, into public investments that would pay long-term dividends for the state, such as infrastructure or public education. But Walker is more concerned with political prudence, at the moment. A series of Democratic upsets in recent Wisconsin special elections has the governor afraid of drowning in a blue wave this November. And if he wants to alert the public to the fact that his superior economic management has produced a budget surplus, investing the excess funds in programs that will pay off years from now wont cut it. He needed something splashy, and instantly gratifying like say, by setting up a website where every Wisconsinite with kids can claim $100 checks: Starting May 15, parents in Wisconsin can log on to a state-run website, answer a few questions and sign up to get checks worth $100 per child. To Gov. Scott Walker (R), who drove the one-time tax payout into law, its a chance to turn a state budget surplus into a bonus for parents who could use extra cash. To his critics, who note that Walker is a few months away from a tough reelection bid, it looks like campaign-year bribery of the up to 671,000 families who could receive checks. And to independent economists, its a mystifying piece of tax policy that has no clear long-term economic purpose and few, if any, recent comparable examples, given that tax breaks are traditionally incorporated for tax filing season not in the months before an election. As cynical policy stunts go, Walker could have done something much less defensible than hand out a universal child tax credit (like, for example, he could have given billions in taxpayer subsidies to a Taiwanese tech company). But its fair for Democrats to point out that most working-class Wisconsinites would be better off with a more generous Medicaid expansion and a better-funded public education system than theyll be with a $100 bucks for their kids back-to-school shopping. And its legitimate for progressives to worry that greater visibility of the latter benefit will lead some voters to ignore the broader costs of Republican rule. But between bouts of bellyaching, liberals should consider how they can construct equally politically savvy (but more substantively sound) policies. One of the major challenges facing progressives in the United States is that so many popular government programs are virtually invisible to voters. A significant portion of social-welfare spending is doled out through a complicated patchwork of tax credits that dont register to Americans as public aid. A 2008 poll from the Cornell Survey Research Institute famously found 57 percent of Americans saying theyd never benefited from a government social program even as 94 percent of that group subsequently acknowledged benefiting from at least one program, when they were asked about 21 federal policies individually. And yet, Democrats havent always made a conscious effort to make their programs more visible. In 2009, Barack Obama deliberately made the tax rebate in his stimulus package indiscernible to voters, by modestly reducing workers withholding payments instead of mailing out lump-sum checks. The former method was expected to be more economically efficient, but it was politically unwise; and theres nothing economically prudent about making it easier for Republicans to win elections. None of this is to suggest that there arent policy principles worth suffering electoral losses to uphold; or that Democrats should design policies with nothing save political advantage in mind. But thinking about how one can craft policies to maximize their visibility to beneficiaries and their electoral utility to your officeholders is just good politics. Scott Walker knows that. Democrats could do more to demonstrate that they do, too. South American authorities are attempting to track down the ex-boyfriend and business partner of Cecilia Haddad, after a preliminary post-mortem examination of the body of the Sydney mining executive confirmed she was murdered. Police want to speak to a number of "persons of interest" over the death of Ms Haddad, 38, including her former lover Mario Marcelo Santoro, from whom she recently separated and who travelled from Sydney to Brazil in the past few days. Police sources have confirmed investigators are using a liaison officer based in South America to establish contact with Mr Santoro. There is no suggestion that Mr Santoro is a suspect, and police continue to investigate other leads. Walking along the waters edge of Pyrmont, past apartment towers with million-dollar views of Sydney Harbour, there are few signs of the suburbs industrial past. Rusting steel balls salvaged from the Colonial Sugar Refinery, which operated for more than a century, sit in a harbourside park near the site of 19th-century factories transformed into residential high-rise blocks. Alana Valentine, pictured at The Terminus Hotel in Pyrmont, says her new play The Sugar House examines our relationship with the past. Credit:Louise Kennerley It was in one of these renovated buildings - the former CSR pay office - that playwright Alana Valentine read an early version of her play The Sugar House, set in the inner-city suburb. I felt that Pyrmont was a perfect metaphor to think about what our relationship to the past is, she said. Because so much of the past is still there and yet there is all this urban renewal. The AFP will allege in court the women charged on Thursday belonged to a group which claimed care of children for up to 14 hours a day, five days a week. We will allege in court that this group methodically went about enrolling more than 1600 children for the maximum amount of family daycare available, and then claiming full benefits for each of these children," acting AFP commander Kate Ferry said. The message today is that greed on this scale will not be tolerated by authorities." Fairfax Media revealed in April a Merrylands mother of three, Zahraa Lami, 34, was charged with fraud and dealing in more than $1 million in proceeds of crime relating to the case. Prosecutors have since dropped the fraud charges. A Merrylands day care provider owned in Ms Lami's name, iGrow, claimed to have enrolled more than 1600 children last July and backdated each to a single date in March, according to court documents. The pay provided to teachers doesnt take into account the number of times they dig into their own pockets (one survey found on average $1900 per year) to restock classroom resources, or fund a childs forgotten lunch. But Mr Lamings views on teachers show an ignorance of what the teachers in his seat of Bowman, and every other electorate in the nation, do and what they could possibly deliver for our children under the Gonski reforms. Each day, parents drop their children off at the school gates and our teachers fill their minds with curiosity, knowledge and social skills. Every time politicians like Mr Lamings mates want something else done, they pile it onto teachers, who are expected to cram it into an already bulging curriculum. The result? Teachers are being forced to issue instructions to children on how to tie shoelaces, wash their hands properly, and display good manners. As our children travel through high school they are also provided lessons in critical thinking skills, relaxation, and digital literacy. I digress, but that latter skill is something Andrew Laming could spend less time on, because it routinely gets him into trouble. Indeed, there was another time this week when he showed a similar spectacular ignorance. Its taken almost half a century but Australian forces who fought in one of the bloodiest battles of the Vietnam War are finally to be recognised for their bravery. Soldiers who resisted attack at the Battle of Coral-Balmoral, which claimed 26 Australian lives, learnt on Thursday they were to be honoured with a Unit Citation for Bravery. The recommendation comes ahead of the 50th anniversary of the battle on the weekend of May 12-13. Troops arriving in Vietnam Credit:Fairfax Media Last month Fairfax Media highlighted concerns that men had died and others had taken their lives not knowing the outcome of the tribunal. The Defence Honours and Awards Tribunal posted the decision on its website on Thursday morning, stating that members had arrived at the recommendations unanimously. Australia's oldest scientist is on his way to Europe to end his life through voluntary euthanasia. David Goodall, who doesn't have a terminal illness but whose quality of life has deteriorated at age 104, plans to visit family in France before dying in Switzerland on May 10. Edith Cowan University honorary research associate David Goodall doesn't have a terminal illness, but is determined to travel to Switzerland to voluntarily end his life. Credit:ABC News There were a few tears but most of the friends and family who gathered to farewell Professor Goodall at Perth Airport on Wednesday afternoon had prepared themselves to say goodbye. From his wheelchair, he hugged them all in turn, thanking everyone and wishing them a wonderful life before he and his nurse boarded the plane. Taxpayers face a $2 billion annual interest bill from the federal governments growing outlay on off budget projects that could help produce a faster surplus in next weeks budget but deepen Commonwealth debt. The capital expenses are climbing toward $73 billion as the approach Labor used to finance the national broadband network is replicated by the Coalition for projects such as the inland rail line from Brisbane to Melbourne. Economists are warning of time bombs in the budget papers from mammoth outlays that are not included in the deficit because the policies are treated as a commercial investment where the debt is balanced by the asset value of the project. The government is within sight of producing a surplus in 2019-20, one year earlier than planned, after posting deficits worth $373.9 billion under both sides of politics over the decade to June 2018. The way Malcolm Turnbull and Bill Shorten are preparing for next weeks federal budget shows there is a case to be made for personal tax cuts, even as their plans confirm the chronic weakness on both sides of Australian politics. The two leaders are both focused, rightly, on the need for a more compelling message to voters about the economic forces that will shape the next election especially the need for stronger growth across the country. Illustration: Andrew Dyson Wage growth, job creation, the cost of living: these are the key challenges for the budget at a time when the Australian economy grew just 2.4 per cent last year and the same the year before. The budget forecasts assume this will rebound to 3 per cent. Who will make this happen? Turnbull and Shorten must have an answer, even if economists agree that political leaders have far less control over the economy than they like to think. The public service had 4600 more empty desks last year despite a push to reduce vacant space in its buildings. Nearly 26,000 desks sat empty in 2017 as the government reported agencies faced a lag between falling staff numbers and the chance to renegotiate leases to cut their office space. The increase went against the trend in new figures from the Finance Department's latest report on occupancy in public service offices, which showed the government has continued to cut its floorspace since 2014. A massive task awaits despite the progress as it continues leasing or owning nearly 2.9 million square metres of offices, more than 15 per cent of it empty. There were 158,806 "work points" in its buildings and only 133,117 of them were occupied. The submarine build has featured prominently during French president Emmanuel Macron's visit to Australia, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Thursday that critical design work for the new fleet would move to South Australia from 2022. Defence science and technology officials in the internal memo complained that SEA1000 contractors have: Appeared to try hiding labour hire workers by registering them as service providers, who are paid for delivering an outcome. Labour hire workers are meant to be paid on an hourly rate. Engaged other contractors using purchasing orders designed for buying simple items, and without oversight by Defence Department public servants. Signed contracts on behalf of the science and technology group, and paid invoices without apparent oversight by Defence staff. The Defence Department confirmed a number of concerns were raised internally about the role and performance of some contractors. [The group] conducted a quick assessment of the issues raised, and has taken initial action to address the concerns raised, a spokesperson said. Defence takes this matter seriously and is conducting a thorough review of the issues raised. Not cooperative Group officials said one contractor had proposed his company provide contractual assistance on SEA1000 while he was already contracted to the program through a different firm. The contractor had access to insider knowledge and quoted for other work under his own company name, the internal memo said. The memo said Defence science and technologys maritime division should not consider the contractors company for SEA1000 contracts while he or any other of his firms employees were contracted through another contracting firm. Latest public service news Do you know more? Send confidential tips to ps@canberratimes.com.au A spokesperson said Defence took allegations of suspected wrongdoing and conflicts of interest seriously and had established and proven mechanisms to address issues. Further, Defence monitors its contractors and consultants and reviews their performance, including when specific concerns are raised. Contractor boom The complaints coincide with growing scrutiny of the federal governments booming spend on labour hire contractors and consultants, now the subject of a parliamentary inquiry and the focus of criticisms aimed at the Coalitions cuts to public service staffing. Fairfax Media reported last year the Defence Department would launch a hunt for contractors on its books masquerading as "service providers", as bosses feared managers were disguising the composition of their workforces to try to get around a departmental cull of consultants and contractors. Former departmental secretary Dennis Richardson, before retiring from the role, expressed his frustration in 2017 that after his cuts to public servant numbers in his department then down to about 17,200 he was told there were up to 18,000 service providers, consultants and contractors on the books. A senior analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Marcus Hellyer, said Defences contractor numbers had risen to the point where it was not unusual in some areas to have only a thin layer of public servants overseeing a project run entirely by contractors. Loading In some areas, this model worked well, he said. Contractors often supervised other contractors, and had a different culture to public servants. Potentially they havent grown up in the public service for example and may not understand the way things are done, Dr Hellyer said. So without commenting directly on the allegations its potentially just a culture issue when youve got people coming in who youve brought in with a specific skill set, and that skill set is not understanding the niceties of Defence contracting rules and regulations. Australia hadnt built submarines since the last Collins Class fleet was delivered in 2003, meaning much of the specialist knowledge for SEA1000 needed to be contracted in, he said. Chinatown market district in Honolulu, Oahu. Photo: Paul Giamou Photography Ltd./Getty Images Its gritty, raw, and changing fast. Remnants of Chinatowns dicey past as a red-light district and clandestine gambling spot are fading away as the neighborhood enters a new era of traditional Chinese markets and bakeries co-existing with artists lofts, galleries, performance spaces, hip boutiques, tattoo parlors, and artisanal chocolate shops. Honolulu native Laurien Lala Nuss has witnessed this transformation with her own eyes and had a hand in helping it along. She is the founder of Conscious Concepts, a social enterprise focused on community development and public programming through the arts, and the programs and events manager of Arts at Marks Garage, a nonprofit community arts center in Chinatown. Heres how Nuss navigates this historic neighborhood. Being born and raised in Hawaii, no one went to Chinatown when I was growing up. It was considered the seedy area a lot of drugs, prostitution, and underground gambling rings. This was in the 80s and 90s. But because of the arts, the whole neighborhood has been rejuvenated over the past 15 to 20 years. You experience adversity, diversity, and resiliency here. It is an eclectic combination of Native Hawaiian, immigrant, and creative industry components living and/or working in the same place. Hawaii Theatre. Photo: David Inc/Getty Images/Perspectives There are two distinct sections to Chinatown. The Arts District, which we say is the Diamond Head side of Chinatown covering Fort Street to Maunakea Street and King Street to Beretania Street, has more of the restaurants, boutiques, cafes, bars, studios, and co-working spaces. The Hawaii Theatre is an iconic piece of architecture. When the historic vaudeville theater and cinema opened in 1922, local newspapers called it The Pride of the Pacific. It was equal in opulence to any theater in San Francisco or beyond. If you go further west, you still have the traditional flower and lei shops, Chinese herbalists, fruit and vegetable booths, and meat markets. This section of town is an example of the thriving multigenerational, multicultural immigrant community, including Chinese, Lao, Thai, Vietnamese, Micronesian, Korean, Filipino, and Portuguese, plus Native Hawaiians. Chinatown market street. Photo: Paul Giamou Photography Ltd./Getty Images At the outdoor meat market, for example, you can watch butchers chop up fresh pork, beef, and poultry. Chinese baked-goods shops and fruit-juice vendors provide refreshing and sweet treats along your journey. There is a wet market where you can choose fresh seafood from all over the Pacific, and the Chinese trinket shops sell kanji classical paintings, porcelain vases, and jade jewelry. Ong King Arts Center. Photo: Courtesy of Ong King Arts Center The Old Blaisdell Hotel, a Spanish Colonialstyle building that has been turned into a commercial space with creative studios in the Fort Street Mall, has the only live elevator operator left in Honolulu. Its not officially open to the public, but you can still ride the old brass-cage elevator and talk to Javier Fombellida, who is originally from Cuba. He works weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The rent here is cheap, and the first floor is home to Ong King Arts Center, a theater for all kinds of visual arts from hip-hop performances and poetry readings to theater shows about identity politics. The Mendonca Building, five minutes away, is home to a courtyard landscaped with tall bamboo and willow trees, a waterfall, and a koi pond. Its an oasis in the middle of the urban core. Grondin French-Latin Kitchen. Photo: Jenny Grondin/Courtesy of Grondin One of my favorite locally owned restaurants in the area is Ethiopian Love. Owner Abe Samuel serves delicious vegetarian and meat dishes. I always order the sambusas (homemade pastries stuffed with brown lentils, green onions, and herbs) and the lamb tibs with onion, garlic, ginger, and rosemary. You also have Grondin French-Latin Kitchen, a fusion bar and restaurant highlighting owner Dave Segarras Puerto Rican roots through its creative cocktails and Latin-inspired, French-twisted dishes like tapas-style petits plats of chicharrons [fried pork rinds with lime crema and chili salt] or the pan-roasted market fish with corn ragu and annatto rice. Topped. Photo: Topped/Facebook For authentic Korean cuisine, you have Topped, known for the best bibimbap in Honolulu. And Madre Chocolate is another gem. Co-founder Nat Bletter is a chocolate connoisseur, working toward facilitating the local sourcing of chocolate farms in Hawaii. His shop offers bean-to-bar chocolate and truffle-making classes, plus free tastings during shop hours. One of my favorites is the Hawi, Hawaii, Criollo 70 percent cacao dark chocolate: an incredibly subtle and nutty bar with the color and sweetness of milk chocolate, but all the health benefits and flavor of dark chocolate. First Fridays in Chinatown started 15 years ago. It was the vessel that brought people back to Chinatown to partake in a social, interactive, family-friendly neighborhood experience. Ravizza Brownfield. Photo: Courtesy of Ravizza Brownfield Art galleries to visit include Louis Pohl Gallery, named after a well-known local painter, illustrator, art teacher, mentor, printmaker, and cartoonist. Designated a Living Treasure of Hawaii by the 1994 Hawaii State Legislature, he was always an advocate for Hawaii artists. Today, the gallery still showcases watercolors, acrylic painting, ceramics, art glass, and printmaking textiles by locals. Pegge Hopper Gallery is named after its artist founder Pegge Hopper, who originally came to Honolulu from Oakland, California, in 1963. She was working as an art director for a local agency, but after visiting the State Archives and seeing old photographs of Native Hawaiians, she was inspired to start painting again. She established the gallery in 1983 and continually hosts a variety of work from folk art to contemporary treasures in the two-level loft space. Ravizza Brownfield is the newest gallery on the block. Its small but impactful, promoting European art in Hawaii while supporting the bridge between East and West. Black Cat Tattoo Studio usually has something for First Friday, but going here anytime is cool. They have Native Hawaiian tattoo artists, modern tribal artists, and traditional American portrait artists. Tattoo culture in Hawaii is huge. Sailor Jerry was an infamous American tattoo artist who went to Japan and revolutionized contemporary American tattooing by infusing it with Asian techniques and perspectives. He was a resident of Chinatown for the last 20 or 30 years of his life, and the Sailor Jerrys Original Tattoo Shop [now called Old Ironside Tattoo] is still there. Bars like Manifest, Bar 35, Tchin Tchin! Bar, and the Dragon Upstairs are also collaborating on First Fridays to close down Hotel Street to vehicles and invite the public over for live mural painting, live music, and other performances. A traditional lion dance during Chinese New Year. Photo: JOHN SEATON CALLAHAN/Getty Images Beyond First Fridays, Chinatown hosts other big events. Theres a parade and festival with lion dancers and drummers for Chinese New Year and a huge St. Patricks Day block party. Also of note: MAMo, a month-long May festival celebrating contemporary Native Hawaiian arts, culture, fashion, craft, and design. Craving more? For an even deeper dive into Chinatown, Nuss recommends a juicy narrative walking tour with Carter Churchfield of Honolulu Exposed or a 1.5- to 2-hour walkabout with guides from the Hawaii Heritage Center. The latter includes food tastings around the neighborhood and a short, informational film screening at the historic Hawaii Theatre. If you want to see what the classrooms of the future will look like under David Gonski's blueprint, go to Belle Vue Park Primary. This small school in Glenroy, in Melbourne's north, has become more than just a school. It boasts an on-site kindergarten, two maternal and child health nurses and a "first mothers' club", geared toward creating a smooth transition into school life. "It really makes it easier for the families and mums, they dont have to run from here to there," says principal Paul Kenna, who has led the school for 14 years. Early child education and getting parents more involved in school life are key parts the Gonski 2.0 plan to improve Australia's ailing academic results. In particular, it argues children need to master the basics of literacy and numeracy by age eight to set them up for ongoing success. If you want to see what the classrooms of the future will look like under David Gonski's blueprint, go to Merrylands East Primary. At this western Sydney school, the day starts at 8am and ends at 1.15pm, kids can eat fruit when they want and there's no school bell to herd the troops in and out of class. But it's not just a more relaxed structure that singles out Merrylands East. Principal John Goh's innovative approach to learning, and his partnerships with industry, make it emblematic of the kind of school Mr Gonski wants to become commonplace. The changing look of learning: year 5 and 6 students at Merrylands East Primary School. Credit:James Brickwood "Many of the Gonski recommendations are happening in my school, just as in other schools," Mr Goh tells Fairfax Media. "Weve been on this for quite a while." The Premier, Gladys Berejiklian, says Australias immigration levels are about right but called on the states to have a national discussion on how to cope with the increasing pressures on infrastructure and local services. Ms Berejiklian, the daughter of Armenian migrants, said the work ethic, skills, talent and energy from all over the world will be what gives NSW its edge in the future. But she said the states needed to be focused and disciplined when planning for the future. The Premier Gladys Berejiklian is the daughter of Armenian migrants. The Premier gave the annual address to the Sydney Institute gala dinner on Thursday night, drawing on her familys experience as migrants to Australia in the 1960s. Telstra and Vodafone each announced new "unlimited" mobile data plans earlier this week, giving customers the option to stream, download and surf to their hearts' content without the danger of excess data charges, but in some ways the limitations have simply been moved around. The Telstra plan costs $69 a month on a minimum 12 month plan, and includes 40GB of data at uncapped 4G speeds, after which the connection is slowed to 1.5Mbps for the remainder of the month. Vodafone offers three plans that similarly divide data into "max speed" (i.e. regular 4G performance) and "streaming speed" (1.5Mbps). These include a $60 plan with a 30GB max speed data cap, an $80 plan with 60GB and a $100 plan with 100GB. These are available month-to-month, and Vodafone says it will include extra max speed data for any customers signing up before May 22. Customers currently have a choice between plans that charge extra if the data limit is exceeded, and plans that drop in speed. Credit:Glenn Hunt The slower 1.5Mbps speed may be enough to stream standard definition video on a platform like Netflix or Stan (co-owned by Fairfax Media), as Vodafone's terminology suggests, but it's a significant drop from standard speeds. Research published by OpenSignal earlier this year puts Australia's average 4G LTE speed at more than 36Mbps. At 8.15am on August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the first combat atomic bomb, Little Boy. It exploded 43 seconds later, creating a massive fireball that incinerated much of Hiroshima. Nearly 350,000 people were in the Japanese city that day, and most were civilians. Twenty-seven years later, a scientist from across the Pacific Ocean arrived in Hiroshima with what was considered then a novel idea. A jawbone that belonged to a Hiroshima atomic bombing victim had absorbed 9.46 grays of radiation. Just half of that is enough to kill a person. Credit:Courtesy of the Public Library of Science Brazilian physicist Sergio Mascarenhas, at the time a visiting professor at Harvard University, said that exposure to radiation made human bone magnetic, and that "magnetic memory" existed in the bones of atomic bombing victims years after the explosion. Scientists could measure radiation exposure by examining the bones of victims, Mascarenhas proposed. With the help of two Japanese scientists in Hiroshima, Mascarenhas obtained several samples of victims' bones, including a jawbone that belonged to a person who was less than two kilometres away from ground zero. Washington: The US has issued a formal complaint to the Chinese government over the use of high-grade lasers near the military base in Djibouti that were directed at aircraft and resulted in minor injuries to two American pilots, the Pentagon said on Thursday. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said that the US is confident that Chinese nationals are responsible for the use of the lasers, which targeted aircraft on several occasions in the last few weeks. White said the incidents represent a serious threat to US airmen, and that the US has asked China to investigate the incidents. She estimated there have been fewer than 10 laser incidents in recent weeks, and the Pentagon sought the formal complaint because of the injuries and the growing number of instances the problem happened. China dispatched members of its People's Liberation Army to Djibouti as a key part of a wide-ranging expansion of the role of China's armed forces. Credit:Xinhua/AP Marine Lieutenant Colonel Chris Logan, a Pentagon spokesman, said that reports from pilots indicate that on three occasions the lasers were military grade and came from the Chinese base nearby. Jakarta: The 92-year-old Malaysian opposition leader, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has effectively dared police to charge him under a new law that bans "fake news". Malaysian police confirmed on Thursday they were investigating Mahathir, the country's former prime minister, over his claim last week that a charter plane he had hired had been sabotaged to prevent him flying to Langkawi to nominate for the election. Mahathir has teamed up with his former political foes and now leads the Pakatan Haripan opposition coalition, which is trying to blast out of office the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak. China, whose cities are being transformed overnight as the economy races ahead, has hit out at "senseless" destruction of its cultural heritage and historical buildings. Communist China was suffering "a third round of havoc" after the disastrous Great Leap Forward in the late 1950s and the chaos of the 1966-76 Cultural Revolution, state media said. Qiu Baoxing, vice-minister of construction, hit out at local officials for their "senseless actions" that have "devastated" historical sites and cultural relics in the name of renovation. "Some local officials seem to be altering the appearance of cities with the determination of moving the mountain and altering the water course," he told a news briefing on Sunday, the China Daily said. "They are totally unaware of the value of cultural heritage." US President Donald Trump said on Thursday money from his presidential campaign was not used to pay off adult-film star Stormy Daniels, publicly acknowledging the payment for the first time and denying any sexual encounter with her years ago. In a series of early posts on Twitter, Mr Trump said he had reimbursed his lawyer Michael Cohen the $US130,000 that Mr Cohen paid Daniels in 2016 as part of a contract for her silence over an alleged one-night stand with Mr Trump in 2006. "Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll (sic) in this transaction," Mr Trump wrote. Australian nurse Ruth Jebb was feeding malnourished children in the midst of Sudan's civil war when her car was stolen at gunpoint by a militant tooling up for the next fight. Clearly marked on the car's doors was a red cross, a symbol which, by powerful international conventions, should have granted her immunity from this kind of violence. Ruth Jebb, centre, working in Darfur, Sudan. Anaesthetist Dr Jenny Stedmon was just starting her long career in war zones for the Red Cross when one of her best friends was killed by masked militants as she slept in a hospital compound. New Zealand nurse Cheryl Thayer was one of six who died that night in Chechnya. Government has given an all clear to the contract awarded to Swiss company Societe Generale De Surveillance (SGS) for mandatory vehicle inspection, saying it cannot be terminated as demanded by the MPs because it is legal. Earlier in March this year, speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga tasked the attorney general to communicate to the House on the risks and gains government would incur if the SGS contract were to be cancelled. The attorney general has given a green light to the vehicle inspection contract The contract with SGS was signed in March 2015 to routinely inspect vehicles, largely to get cars in poor mechanical condition off the roads so as to reduce accidents. The contract however drew controversy and was subjected to an inquiry by the parliamentary committee on physical infrastructure last year. Issues raised included the contract's commencement date, payment of concession fees. MPs also accused SGS of charging prohibitive costs on vehicle inspection and influence peddling in order to get the contract. The majority committee report by committee chairperson Lillian Nakate (Luwero Woman MP) indicated that the attorney general had warned that terminating the contract would attract huge penalties in compensation while the minority report drafted by West Budama Norh MP Richard Othieno noted that the contract be terminated due to illegalities committed. The report also called for investigations into the matter of tax evasion and involvement in fraudulent activities by the company. The two reports indicated that Eng Denis Sabiiti, now Rubanda West MP who was the mastermind of the contract was guilty of causing financial loss to the government. Sabiiti was accused of having used his former office in the ministry of Works and Transport to steer the lucrative vehicle inspection contract to SGS and that he had been hired by SGS as a consultant for the same project, which depicts conflict of interest. However, deputy attorney general Mwesigwa Rukutana told parliament on Wednesday that there was nothing in the agreement that was in breach of the laws of Uganda. Whether the allegation is true or false, we do not find any justification to impute fraud on part of SGS for alleged employment. We agree with the observation by the majority report that having been cleared by the attorney general, the contract is valid, Rukutana said. MPs including Othieno, Nandala- Mafabi (Budadiri West), Herbert Ariko (Soroti Municipality), Bernard Atiku (Ayivu), Joshua Anywarach (Padyere), Patrick Isiagi Opolot (Kachumbala) and James Kakooza (Kabula) among others cited conflict of interest and unethical behaviour as grounds for which the contract should be terminated. There was a lot of conflict of interest in the matter and therefore government needed to terminate the contract with SGS, Nandala-Mafabi said. Rukutana insisted that the said contract was subjected to the clearance by the attorney general under article 119 of the Constitution as required by law and the contract was found to be valid. In practice, the attorney general chambers do not pro all agreements. Officials from the attorney general chambers may participate in the negotiations and drawing agreements, Rukutana said. namuloki16@gmail.com Three Americans held in a North Korean prison will be released on Thursday (local time), Rudy Giuliani, a member of President Donald Trump's legal team, said. "We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today," the former New York mayor told Fox News' Fox & Friends program on Thursday. Trump, at a National Day of Prayer event at the White House a short time later, did not mention Korea directly but said "you'll see some very good announcements very shortly". Giuliani made his proclamation hours after Trump made reference to the three Americans in a tweet that reflected optimism the case of the Americans would soon be determined. Switzerland: New electronic notification system for exports and imports Posted by Publisher Internet From March 1, 2018, all businesses must notify the Swiss customs authority (EZV) of cross-border transactions of goods with Switzerland electronically. With regard to the export of goods from Switzerland: the Swiss VAT Law (SVATL) defines the place of delivery where the transport of the goods begins. Tax-exempt delivery therefore requires a correct export document. All exports from Switzerland, except for exports of goods through private travelers, have to be registered prior to crossing the border with the goods in the electronic system of the federal customs authority ?e-dec?. There are three categories applicable to importing goods into Switzerland: goods only, mail order business with private individuals, and goods with services, such as goods for installation, repair and maintenance. The following applies when importing goods only: since the place of delivery is outside Switzerland according to the SVATL, the importer is the client (unless in the mail order business), so the import notification procedure ?Unterstellungserklarung? is not applied and the incoterm?2010 DDP is not used. The Swiss customer has to file the import document ?eVV? electronically and has to be named as importer of the goods in the eVV. A printed copy is valid proof neither for the federal tax administration ?ESTV? for VAT purposes nor for the federal customs authority ?EZV?. Where the mail order regulation is applicable, the supplier must be VAT registered in Switzerland from January 1, 2019, and all goods have to be imported into Switzerland in the supplier?s name for his or her account., The supplier therefore has to file the eVV electronically in order to claim the import VAT in his or her Swiss VAT return. As per January 1, 2018, most of the changes occurred in the third category. Suppliers selling goods involving installation or providing repair and maintenance in Switzerland with a worldwide turnover of more than CHF 100,000 have to be VAT registered in Switzerland. The supplier is therefore the importer, even when the delivery address is at the customer?s place. The import VAT is based on the value of the goods including the freight costs up to the first place of delivery within Switzerland. The supplier can claim for the import VAT in his or her Swiss VAT return, if he or she has a correctly issued, electronically stored eVV as proof. How can customs duty be avoided? When the goods have their preferential origin in the EU, the goods can be imported into Switzerland at a reduced customs duty rate or even at a zero rate. The preferential origin needs to be declared to the customs authority before the goods leave the customs area and the customs procedure is closed. If the supplier is an authorised exporter or the value of the invoice does not exceed EUR 6,000/CHF 10,300 the declaration can be made directly on the invoice. If this is not the case a correct EUR1 has to be presented to the customs authority while the goods are still under customs control. Should the goods already have left the customs area and the customs procedure closed, the preferential origin cannot be claimed retroactively and a formally wrong declaration cannot be corrected, warn the experts at Ecovis. In this case, the customs duty remains as an expense. It is also possible to save customs duty on goods with a high customs duty rate if they are transported cross-border for repair and maintenance, conditioning or return of goods. Instead of regular export and import duties, a special customs regime can be applied. Author: Marianne Esther Meier, certified tax expert/certified expert in accounting and controlling, Ecovis ws&p ag, Lucerne, Switzerland Ecovis is a leading global consulting firm with its origins in Continental Europe. It has over 5,000 people operating in over 60 countries. Its consulting focus and core competencies lie in the areas of tax consultation, accounting, auditing and legal advice. The particular strength of Ecovis is the combination of personal advice at a local level with the general expertise of an international and interdisciplinary network of professionals. Every Ecovis office can rely on qualified specialists in the back offices as well as on the specific industrial or national know-how of all the Ecovis experts worldwide. This diversified expertise provides clients with effective support, especially in the fields of international transactions and investments ? from preparation in the client?s home country to support in the target country. In its consulting work Ecovis concentrates mainly on mid-sized firms. Both nationally and internationally, its one-stop-shop concept ensures all-round support in legal, fiscal, managerial and administrative issues. The name Ecovis, a combination of the terms economy and vision, expresses both its international character and its focus on the future and growth. Uranium Energy Corp Completes the Acquisition of the North Reno Creek ISR Project Posted by Publisher Internet Uranium Energy Corp (NYSE American: UEC, the ?Company? or ?UEC? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b0H0iWRXk0&t=6s) is pleased to announce that the Company has recently completed its previously announced Purchase Agreement (the ?Agreement?) with Uranerz Energy Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Energy Fuels Inc. (collectively, ?Energy Fuels?), and now holds 100% of its advanced stage North Reno Creek ISR project (?North Reno Creek? or the ?Project?) located immediately adjacent to and within UEC?s existing Reno Creek Project permitting boundary in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming (see Figure 1 below; the ?Acquisition?).? The North Reno Creek leases and claims acquired through this Acquisition consolidate UEC?s land and resource* position in the region. Transaction Highlights North Reno Creek is situated within UEC?s existing permitting boundary at Reno Creek, allowing for integrated development. Increases Reno Creek?s combined Measured and Indicated resource by 20%, based upon Uranerz?s previously reported NI 43-101 Measured and Indicated resource of 3.8 million tons grading 0.056% U3O8 yielding 4.3 million lbs at North Reno Creek. UEC plans to engage a qualified person to compete the necessary work to incorporate the North Reno Creek resource estimate into the Company?s Reno Creek Project and complete an updated technical report under NI 43-101.* ** Opportunities to enhance UEC?s development of Reno Creek by optimizing the mine plan to remove the effects of property boundaries that had previously separated mineralized roll-fronts on both properties. In particular, significant synergies exist in co-development at both the North Reno Creek Resource Unit and the Southwest Reno Creek Resource Unit, which are expected to be the first units developed within the project area. Further augments UEC?s footprint in the strategic Powder River Basin in Wyoming, a uranium mining-friendly state with excellent infrastructure and an experienced labor force. Amir Adnani, President & CEO, stated: ?We are very pleased to complete this highly synergistic acquisition integrating North Reno into our broader Reno Creek project area.? This further cements our position in controlling one of the largest, fully permitted and 100% un-hedged low-cost ISR portfolios in the United States.? This acquisition also comes at a time when international trade and geopolitical developments underscore the importance of domestic uranium supplies in support of American energy security.? Transaction Details UEC has now provided to Energy Fuels the following material purchase price consideration at the closing of the Agreement: (a)??????? $2,940,000 in cash; and (b)??????? 1,625,531 common shares of UEC (each, a ?Share?), at a deemed issuance price of $1.5072 per Share, representing the volume weighted average price of UEC?s common shares on the NYSE American for the five trading days immediately prior to (but not including) closing. North Reno Creek ISR Project Overview The North Reno Creek ISR Project is located in the Powder River Basin, Campbell County, Wyoming, approximately 80 miles northeast of Casper. Substantial historical exploration, development and project permitting have been performed on the North Reno Creek property.? Beginning in the late 1960s and continuing into the mid-1980s, Rocky Mountain Energy (?RME?), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Union Pacific Railroad, drilled more than 800 exploration drill holes on the North Reno Creek property.? In the late 1970s and early 1980s, RME successfully operated and restored and reclaimed a uranium ISR pilot plant.? Subsequently, RME nearly completed permitting and licensing for a commercial scale ISR facility. In 1992, the Reno Creek Project was acquired by Energy Fuels Nuclear, Inc. (?EFN?) from RME.? Over the next decade EFN and its successor, International Uranium Corporation (now Denison Mines), continued to advance the project toward full permitting and licensing. Subsequently, Rio Algom and Power Resources held the project until dropping all of their interests in 2003.? Between 2006 and 2008, Uranerz acquired mineral and surface land interests covering approximately 1,280 acres of fee mineral leases and federal mining claims comprising the North Reno Creek Project.? In June 2015, Energy Fuels Inc. acquired Uranerz, whose development assets included the North Reno Creek property. In October 2010, Uranerz issued an NI 43-101 technical report titled ?Technical Report, Reno Creek Property, Campbell County, Wyoming, U.S.A?, dated October 13, 2010 (the ?Technical Report?). The Technical Report, prepared by Douglass Graves, P.E. of Trec, Inc., in accordance with NI 43-101, outlined a Measured and Indicated resource of 3.8 million tons containing 4.3 million pounds of U3O8 at a grade of 0.056 percent.? In addition, they reported an Inferred resource of 190,000 tons containing 142,200 pounds of U3O8 at a grade of 0.039 percent.? The Technical Report is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.* ** The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and was reviewed by Clyde L. Yancey, P.G., Vice President-Exploration for the Company, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Advisors and Counsel Haywood Securities Inc. is acting as financial advisor to the Company and McMillan LLP and Holland & Hart LLP are acting as legal advisors to the Company. About Uranium Energy Corp. Uranium Energy Corp. is a U.S.-based uranium mining and exploration company.? The Company?s fully-licensed Hobson Processing Facility is central to all of its projects in South Texas, including the Palangana ISR mine, the permitted Goliad ISR project and the development-stage Burke Hollow ISR project. ?Additionally, the Company controls a pipeline of advanced-stage projects in Arizona, Colorado and Paraguay. ?The Company?s operations are managed by professionals with a recognized profile for excellence in their industry, a profile based on many decades of hands-on experience in the key facets of uranium exploration, development and mining. *Notice to U.S. Investors The mineral resources referred to herein have been estimated in accordance with the definition standards on mineral resources of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101 and are not compliant with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the ?SEC?) Industry Guide 7 guidelines. In addition, measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources and inferred mineral resources, while recognized and required by Canadian regulations, are not defined terms under SEC Industry Guide 7 and are normally not permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC. Accordingly, we have not reported them in the United States. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral resources in these categories will ever be converted into mineral reserves. These terms have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. In particular, it should be noted that mineral resources which are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to a higher category. In accordance with Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources cannot form the basis of feasibility or other economic studies. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part of the reported measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources or inferred mineral resources referred to herein are economically or legally mineable. **Resource estimate Upon the closing of the transaction the Company plans to engage a qualified person to complete the necessary work in order to update and incorporate the Uranerz North Reno Creek resource estimate into the Company?s Reno Creek Project and complete an updated technical report under NI 43-101 (the ?Updated Report?).? Until such work is completed and the Updated Report completed and filed Uranerz?s prior Technical Report resource must be considered historical in nature and cannot be relied upon and should not be construed to reflect a current resource estimate in accordance with NI 43-101. Safe Harbor Statement Except for the statements of historical fact contained herein, the information presented in this news release constitutes ?forward-looking statements? as such term is used in applicable United States and Canadian laws. These statements relate to analyses and other information that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management. Any other statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as ?expects? or ?does not expect?, ?is expected?, ?anticipates? or ?does not anticipate?, ?plans, ?estimates? or ?intends?, or stating that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might? or ?will? be taken, occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and should be viewed as ?forward-looking statements?. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others, the actual results of exploration activities, variations in the underlying assumptions associated with the estimation or realization of mineral resources, the availability of capital to fund programs and the resulting dilution caused by the raising of capital through the sale of shares, accidents, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry including, without limitation, those associated with the environment, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, title disputes or claims limitations on insurance coverage. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this news release and in any document referred to in this news release. Certain matters discussed in this news release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of the Company may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the Federal securities laws. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectations will be achieved. Forward-looking information is subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Many of these factors are beyond the Company?s ability to control or predict. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially and that could impact the Company and the statements contained in this news release can be found in the Company?s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. For forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities. First Cobalt Doubles Length of Kerr Area Target Posted by Publisher Internet First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V: FCC; ASX: FCC; OTCQX: FTSSF) (the ?Company? -?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY4qXCoWstE&t=1s) is pleased to announce that results of recent drilling have doubled the strike length of the mineralized zone in the Kerr area to over 200 metres. Further potential for mineralization exists along strike of this newly-identified mineralized zone, located south of Kerr Lake in the Cobalt North area of the Canadian Cobalt Camp. The Kerr area contains several drill targets, with the Kerr #2 target now a priority for follow up. Highlights New assay results confirm the mineralized zone at the Kerr #2 target has doubled in strike length from the previously reported 100m to over 200m The zone contains a polymetallic network of veins and disseminated mineralization with cobalt, silver, copper, lead and zinc [list] High grade intercepts include?0.56% Co over 1.8m?as well as?1.45% Co, 940 g/t Ag and 0.44% Ni over 0.3m?within longer intervals of mineralization including?5.0m of 0.10% Co?and?4.6m of 0.27% Co A silver intercept of?8.0m of 31 g/t Ag?is part of the same vein network, highlighting the potential for undiscovered cobalt-rich areas near the historic mines Mineralized zone remains open along strike and drilling in the area is ongoing [/list] Trent Mell, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented: ?In short order First Cobalt has doubled the strike length of a newly discovered cobalt-rich zone and there is potential to increase this further. This is a testament to the integrated geological model our team has developed and continues to update with new data. The presence of a network of veins and disseminated mineralization across more than 200 metres is encouraging for our strategy of identifying open pit targets in this historic Canadian mining district. Our 2018 drilling program will continue targeting 15 areas containing past-producing mines, but the Kerr area is now a high priority for exploration work.? Drilling in the Kerr #2 target in Cobalt North has confirmed that a zone of cobalt mineralization recently identified by First Cobalt (see March 26, 2018 press release) extends across more than 200 metres, double the size initially recognized. A network of multiple veins, at various orientations, containing cobalt and several other metals has been intersected along with disseminated mineralization. Further potential for mineralization exists along strike and additional drilling will continue to test the target. Drill holes are designed using a 3D geological model of the entire Kerr area compiled by First Cobalt and based on digital compilation of historic mine workings, integrated with exploration drilling and surface bedrock geology maps. At the Kerr #2 target, elevated silver was intersected by historic drilling but not developed by underground mining. Four holes were initially planned to test this intersection along the general trend of mineralization in the area. Assay results from two holes, FCC-18-0021 and FCC-18-0023 collared over 160m apart, showed cobalt mineralization also occurs with grades including 10.4m of 0.15% Co and 44 g/t Ag. Mineralization in these two holes is considered continuous and is now extended by two additional holes, FCC-18-0022 and FCC-18-0032, based on oriented drill core interpretation (Figure 1).? Two distinct zones of mineralization were intersected in FCC-18-0032 with cobalt-bearing veins occurring along with veins containing copper, zinc and lead. Silver and nickel occur within the cobalt-bearing veins (Table 1). Assays from FCC-18-0032 returned 5.0m of 0.10% Co, including 1.45% Co, 940 g/t Ag and 0.44% Ni over 0.3m. Additional intercepts include 4.6m of 0.27% Co, including 0.56% Co and 11 g/t Ag over 1.8m and 0.21% Co over 0.3m. A separate cobalt-bearing vein was also intersected containing 0.21% Co and 10 g/t Ag over 0.3m that reflects an extension of this network beyond these two zones. Within the network, veins occur in varying directions as measured in oriented core. Hole FCC-18-0022 was collared in the same location as FCC-18-0021 drilling eastward and intersected an 8.0m zone of fractured rock with thin calcite veins containing elevated silver along with copper, zinc and lead. This silver mineralization is considered part of the same network of veining containing cobalt in the nearby drill holes and demonstrates a similar metal zoning seen throughout the Cobalt Camp. The northeast trend of the mineralized zone is roughly parallel to the trend mined at both the Kerr Lake and Drummond mines. Similarly, the trend of the contact between the Nipissing Diabase and Archean sedimentary rocks occurs in the same orientation. A regional fold structure is interpreted from compiled map information also trending northeast and is considered the major control of the location of the vein network developed at Kerr Lake. North-south vein orientations similar to those occurring at the historic Hargrave Mine may have developed parallel to the orientation of the sedimentary rocks. Intersections between the regional fold orientation and sedimentary rocks are high priority targets for further exploration drilling. Coarse cobalt minerals occur within veins with and without calcite. Nickel and silver are also concentrated within the cobalt-bearing veins. Copper, zinc and lead occur as separate minerals and are often in separate veins or disseminated within the host rocks. The host to the mineralization zones are fine grained sedimentary rocks considered to be part of the Archean sequence below the unconformity with the Proterozoic sedimentary rocks. In places the Archean sedimentary rocks contain up to 5% disseminated iron sulphide mineralization that predates the veins. For a table of drill hole locations and assay results to date, visit?https://firstcobalt.com/projects/greater-cobalt-project.? Cobalt North The Kerr Lake area contains several historic mines including Crown Reserve, Kerr Lake, Lawson, Drummond, Conisil and Hargrave, and produced over 50 million ounces silver mainly between 1905 to 1950. Other historic mines owned by First Cobalt in the Cobalt North area include the Silver Banner, Juno, Silverfields, Hamilton, Ophir mines. The Kerr Lake Mine consisted of thirteen separate shafts with underground development over 20km. The deepest shaft was less than 200m. Cobalt was not previously an exploration focus in this area although some cobalt, nickel and copper were produced as secondary metals at the Kerr Lake and Drummond mines. Cobalt had not been assayed within the mines or in exploration drill holes previously, so the potential for an extensive polymetallic mineralization system remains to be explored. Limited exploration activities in the 1970s and 1980s around Kerr Lake examined copper-zinc-lead mineralization within the Archean rocks. Silver-bearing veins are concentrated along a northeast-trending corridor beneath Kerr Lake, but north-south trending veins were also mined, specifically at the Drummond and Hargrave mines. The 2018 Cobalt North drill program consists of 17,000 metres with over 7,000 metres in the Kerr Lake area designed to test trends in mineralization found in historic drilling and major structures interpreted to be associated with mineralization. Disseminated polymetallic cobalt-silver-copper-zinc-lead mineralization has been recognized in samples from underground material in muckpiles from the Drummond mine showing a wide range of styles occur in this area (October 26, 2017 press release). Quality Assurance and Quality Control First Cobalt has implemented a quality control program to comply with common industry best practices for sampling and analysis. Samples are collected from drill core from a range of 30 to 100cm length. Half-core samples are submitted for analysis. Standards and blanks are inserted every 20 samples. Duplicates are made from quarter core splits every 20 samples. Geochemical data were received from AGAT Laboratories in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. All results have passed QA/QC protocols. AGAT has used a sodium-peroxide fusion and ICP finish for analyses on all samples. High silver values (>20 g/t) are determined by a separate three-acid digestion and ICP finish. Qualified and Competent Person Statement Dr. Frank Santaguida, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Dr. Santaguida is also a Competent Person (as defined in the JORC Code, 2012 edition) who is a practicing member of the Association of Professional Geologists of Ontario (being a ?Recognised Professional Organisation? for the purposes of the ASX Listing Rules). Dr. Santaguida is employed on a full-time basis as Vice President, Exploration for First Cobalt. He has sufficient experience that is relevant to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. About First Cobalt First Cobalt aims to create the largest pure-play cobalt exploration and development company in the world. The Company controls over 10,000 hectares of prospective land covering over 50 historic mines as well as mineral processing facilities in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. The First Cobalt Refinery is the only permitted facility in North America capable of producing cobalt battery materials. First Cobalt seeks to build shareholder value through new discovery, mineral processing and growth opportunities, with a focus on North America. On March 14, 2018, First Cobalt announced a friendly merger with US Cobalt Inc. (TSX-V: USCO, OTCQB: USCFF), which remains subject to regulatory approvals. This transaction will strategically position First Cobalt as a leading non-DRC cobalt company with three significant North American assets: the Canadian Cobalt Camp, with more than 50 past producing mines; the Iron Creek Project in Idaho, which has a historic mineral resource estimate (non-compliant with NI 43-101) of 1.3M tons grading 0.59% cobalt; and the only permitted cobalt refinery in North America capable of producing battery materials. US Cobalt is scheduled to hold a shareholder vote on May 17, 2018 with the transaction expected to close by the end of May 2018. On behalf of First Cobalt Corp. Trent Mell President & Chief Executive Officer For more information visit www.firstcobalt.com or contact: Heather Smiles Investor Relations info@firstcobalt.com +1.416.900.3891 Swiss Resource Capital AG Jochen Staiger info@resource-capital.ch www.resource-capital.ch Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, ?forwardlooking statements?) within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as ?plans?, ?expects\-\-, ?estimates?, ?intends?, ?anticipates?, ?believes? or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results ?may?, ?could?, ?would?, ?might?, ?occur? or ?be achieved?. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking information included in this news release includes, without limitation, the anticipated closing date of the Transaction, the receipt of final court approval and other regulatory approvals. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for each of First Cobalt and US Cobalt, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although First Cobalt and US Cobalt believe that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, First Cobalt and US Cobalt disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Historic Estimates US Cobalt considers the cobalt and copper tonnage and grade estimates above as historical estimates. The historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (?NI 43-101?) and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. They were prepared in the 1980s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and US Cobalt is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including, but not limited to, drilling, will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM Definition Standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Iron Creek property. US Cobalt has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical estimates nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the accuracy of the information. US Cobalt believes that the historical estimates are relevant to continuing exploration on the Iron Creek property. How to build smarter, more secure cities from the ground up Today, we live in a technology-obsessed age. Whichever way you look, its hard to avoid the increasing number applications, products and solutions that continue to redefine the boundaries of what we previously thought possible. From autonomous vehicles and edge computing to 5G and the Internet of Things, all facets of our lives are continuing to evolve, thanks to an endless stream of differentiated innovations. In this article, well be focusing on the latter of these - the Internet of Things (IoT). Deployment of IoT technologies Smart homes, smart utilities, smart retail, smart farming, smart supply chains and many of the other smart versions of sectors that were already familiar with, are all called as such because of the implications of IoT. Indeed, it is a technology that has manifested itself in billions of devices, which today underpin the truly transformational levels of connectivity that we see across industries of all shapes and sizes. The statistics speak for themselves. According to Statista, over US$ 1 trillion is expected to be spent on IoT technology worldwide, in 2022. Be it added convenience, efficiency, productivity or intelligence, many benefits are poised to emerge from this spike in IoT-related activities. Yet to say this digital transition is going to be entirely positive would be naive. Threats faced by smart cities It is said that by 2040, 65 per cent of the worlds population will be living in cities Lets consider smart cities. It is said that by 2040, 65 per cent of the worlds population will be living in cities. To accommodate such an influx, without facing significant logistical issues, with limited space and infrastructure, policy makers have begun to recognise that these urban environments need to become not only larger, but smarter as well. As a result, the global smart cities market is on the rise. Statista states that, globally, technology spending on smart city initiatives is expected to double from US$ 81 billion in 2018 to US$ 189.5 billion in 2023. Threat of attackers with expanding IoT landscape The challenge here is that such a stark uptick will drastically expand the IoT landscape, presenting more opportunities than ever to threat actors. As connectivity and computing power is distributed more widely across large-scale outdoor networks, hackers will scale-up their own operations in tandem. According to a Nokia report from October 2020 (based on data aggregated from monitoring network traffic on more than 150 million devices globally), IoT devices now account for roughly 33 per cent of all infected devices, up from the 16 per cent estimated in 2019. Whats more concerning is how these figures are translating into real world events. 2021 alone has already witnessed an attack on a water plant in Oldsmart, Florida, which was designed to poison residents drinking water. Furthermore, Colonial Pipeline, one of the largest fuel pipelines in the US was also hacked, earlier this year, resulting in major shortages across the countrys East Coast. Security through IoT authentication From weak password protection, a lack of regular patch updates and insecure interfaces, to insufficient data protection, poor IoT devices management and an IoT skills gap, there are plenty of weaknesses existing within the IoT ecosystem, which continue to provide open goals for attackers. To defend against such lethal threats, security-by-design and open standards should be the guiding principles of IoT, working to prioritise security, interoperability and robust, internet-based protocols to mitigate risks. Device authentication and encryption A sound place to start is to make device authentication and encryption the central pillars of your IoT security architecture A sound place to start, in this regard, is to make device authentication and encryption the central pillars of your IoT security architecture. The goal is to be able to prove that each and every device joining a network is not malicious, with tell-tale signs being rogue code, for example. By ensuring each device is uniquely identifiable with digital certificates and therefore, properly authenticated when joining a network, you can ensure no tampered devices are able to infiltrate your overarching network. Using technologies, such as Hardware Secure Element Critically, passwords should be avoided altogether, these vulnerable to being stolen and cracked. And, while a similar vulnerability lies in the fact that all secure devices contain a private key, you can leverage technologies, such as Hardware Secure Element (a chip designed specifically to protect against unauthorised access, even if the attacker has physical access to the device), as an extra layer of defence. Digital certificates are not the only option available in protecting those IoT devices that, if tampered with, could become the cause of physical threats. Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) can also be used to prevent tampering. Physical Unclonable Function (PUF) Through Physical Unclonable Function (PUF), a form of IoT device fingerprint is developed from the unique make up of a piece of silicon, which can be used to create a unique cryptographic key. Unlike digital certificates, a secure infrastructure can be achieved through PUF, without the need for any additional hardware, as the key is not only stored securely, but it also becomes invisible to hackers, when the device is not running. The importance of encryption Use of AES encryption within radio chips, to scramble messages on the move, is the method adopted at Wi-SUN Alliance Now, lets turn attentions to encryption. The use of AES encryption within radio chips, to scramble messages on the move, is the method that we have adopted here at Wi-SUN Alliance. Its a means of maximising data security, but also reducing power consumption in the devices themselves. Beyond AES encryption, its also worth considering topography at the design stage. Indeed, mesh networks are advantageous for several reasons. They are more reliable, allowing data to be re-routed, should devices lose contact unexpectedly. Transmissions usually travel shorter distances, which improves power efficiency and performance, and frequency hopping functionality prevents attackers from jamming signals, which could deny the service altogether. Open standards and interoperability But where do open, interoperable standards fit in? As is defined by the European Committee for Interoperable Systems (ECIS), interoperability enables a computer programme to communicate and exchange information with other computer programmes, allowing all programmes to use that information. Open standards then allow any vendor of communications equipment or services to implement all standards necessary, to interoperate with other vendors. This is incredibly useful from a security perspective. It means that all specs are stress-tested and verified by many users, and that any vulnerabilities are quickly detected, and remediated, enhancing security and reliability. Need for open standards Equally, open standards can accelerate time-to-market, reduce costs and ensure products are usable, with a variety of manufacturers processors and radios, with a steam of publicly available protocol stacks, design information and reference implementations available that can help build and future-proof secure products. Indeed, large-scale corporate IoT networks alongside smart cities, smart utilities, and other key smart infrastructure will only continue to evolve, in the coming years. With the immense threats of attackers in mind, these systems must prioritise security-by-design, both now and in the future. Increased government borrowing from domestic commercial banks is making it difficult for the private sector to get credit, two parliamentary reports have found. The reports, released recently, were written by the parliamentary committee on national economy chaired by former minister Syda Bbumba. Former minister Syda Bbumba with President Museveni The reports, one on the state of indebtedness, grants and guarantees, and the other on the performance of the economy during the financial year 2016/17, note that government borrowing from the banking sector is adversely affecting growth and distribution of the much-needed credit to the private sector. It adds that as at June 30, 2017 commercial banks held the largest portfolio of government securities at 41.95 percent of the total stock of Shs 5.744 trillion. From the interviews the committee had with various private sector players, ministry of finance, Bank of Uganda and other officials, it was discovered that one of the top six largest banks in the country in terms of portfolio, lends mainly to government. The contribution of such a bank and other banks that lend to government to the growth and development of the Uganda economy remains in doubt, the report notes. The report further notes that domestic debt stock relative to private sector credit declined by 1.9 percent from June 2016 to June 2017, although it exceeded the public debt management framework threshold. This decline, the report notes, was due to a rise in private sector credit by 10 percent in 2016/2017 financial year owing to the reduction in nonperforming loans. However, exceeding the threshold implies that government domestic debt is constraining funding to the private sector. If this persists, the private sector will be outcompeted by government for credit from financial system, the report warns. It advises government to adhere to the domestic borrowing limit of 10 percent to domestic revenues as provided for in the Public Finance Management Act, 2015. The committee also notes that the current banking institutions in Uganda cannot meet the financial service needs for majority of people engaged in the productive sectors, especially agriculture. Even microfinance institutions are not helping people because credit from these institutions is more expensive than credit from commercial banks. The committee advises government to support the emergence of financial institutions that serve the needs of the people who are engaged in productive sectors. Uganda Microfinance Support Centre and Post Bank Uganda Ltd should be restructured with a view to making credit affordable to people that engage in the productive sectors, the committee recommends. Middle-income status impossible At the beginning of his current term in 2016, President Museveni assured the country that by 2020, Uganda will have attained middle-income status of $1,036 per capita. However, according to figures provided by the ministry of finance, BoU and Uganda Bureau of Statics, during the 2016/17 financial year, the per capita income was recorded at only $681 which is $355 (34%) lower than the middle-income status target. bakerbatte@observer.ug Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Overcast. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 82F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Showers and scattered thunderstorms. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Paul Sutter is an astrophysicist at The Ohio State University and the chief scientist at COSI science center. Sutter is also host of "Ask a Spaceman" and "Space Radio," and leads AstroTours around the world. Sutter contributed this article to Space.com's Expert Voices: Op-Ed & Insights. We are losing the night sky. Year after year, as cities and suburban projects continue to grow, the accumulated light from parking lots, office buildings, homes and streets wash out and overwhelm the comparatively weak light from the stars themselves. Constellations and patterns that were second nature to our ancestors are now almost alien to adults and children in industrialized countries. Even the great arch of the Milky Way, a dazzling fixture of the night sky visible in many locations throughout the year, is nearly invisible to most people, who aren't even aware of the grandeur right above them. [Stunning Photos of Our Milky Way Galaxy (Gallery)] Thankfully, there are many community efforts to work with local political and business leaders to preserve the night sky while respecting economic needs. In the meantime, for most of us, seeing a dark sky means packing your bags and heading on an adventure. So Where to? When I co-founded AstroTours last year, I set about finding the best opportunities in the world to connect people with the true night sky. I honestly believe that personal experiences are the most powerful, and by bringing people face-to-face with the expansive and overwhelming beauty of the natural world, we can create a stronger appreciation for science in our communities. But stargazing, like real estate, is all about location, location, location. There are plenty of deep, rich, dark skies in the world. And if you're willing to travel to, say, the polar ice caps or the middle of the Pacific, you can enjoy nature's splendor to your heart's content. A more challenging but fun puzzle to solve is finding good skywatching locations that are actually reasonably accessible. That means proximity to a major airport, relatively affordable food and lodging, reliability of good sky conditions, and so on. Deserts are always good stargazing options, given their dry and clear atmospheres and general remoteness. But that same remoteness that provides a precious glimpse of the unpolluted night sky means that facilities such as hotels, restaurants and sometimes even bathrooms can be hard to come by, as the lack of water in those regions precludes development. Europe and the United States are dotted with major observatories, including centuries-old giant telescopes that were first used to reveal the mysteries of the cosmos. But what might have been a decent dark spot a hundred years ago is now smack-dab in the center of a major urban center. While those classical observatories are easily accessible and offer great opportunities to learn about the history of astronomy, their skies aren't the greatest. One surprising alternative that we landed on for our next AstroTour is Costa Rica. You may not normally equate "lush tropical jungle" with "brilliant stargazing," but winter and spring in the country are relatively dry, and the nation has long distinguished itself as a premier destination for ecotourism, meaning that industrialization and development are kept far away from pristine wilderness habitats. The same preservation of the rich biodiversity in the tropical jungles of Costa Rica also make for excellent even extraordinary stargazing opportunities. And since the country is near the equator, it provides a unique view of both northern and southern constellations something that most desert stargazing locales can't beat. Costa Rica has always been high on my list of AstroTour priorities, and I was thrilled when we finally secured a contract to lead a group of stargazers to this amazing biologically diverse country. Our trip departs in March 2019, and we are accepting reservations on our website and through the form below. I'd love for you to join us for this incredible opportunity! Editor's note: This commentary is a sponsored post by AstroTours, promoting astronomical tourism for travelers. If you book a trip through the AstroTours form, Space.com may earn money to support our work. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. Scientists now think that a molten ocean once swirled in the moon's mantle, the layer between the crust and the core. The ancient moon may have had a gooey interior: A new study suggests that some 4 billion years ago, Earth's beloved satellite harbored a secret subsurface ocean of magma. The churning of this molten ocean may have created a magnetic field similar to the one that protects Earth from charged space particles today. Measurements of moon rocks brought back by the Apollo astronauts in the 1960s and 1970s prove that the moon once had a strong magnetic field above its surface, but how the satellite managed to sustain this field is a complete mystery. "We're trying to understand what could cause this really strong magnetic field," said Krista Soderlund, a planetary scientist at the University of Texas at Austin and a co-author of the new study. [How the Moon Formed: 5 Wild Lunar Theories] Mysterious magnetism There are three ingredients for creating a planetary magnetic field, Soderlund told Live Science: a liquid, motion and electric conductivity. Earth and other planets with magnetic fields owe these features to the movements of the worlds' molten, metallic cores. The moon has a core, but it's small, Soderlund said. It's not capable of creating a magnetic field as strong as the ancient one recorded in moon rocks picked up from the lunar surface. That field remained strong until likely around 3.5 billion years ago and then gradually diminished. Today, the moon doesn't have a geomagnetic field other than a very weak one created by magnetic forces in the crust, but no one knows when the large-scale field finally disappeared, Soderlund said. [Why Doesn't the Moon Have a Name?] Researchers have offered various explanations for the strength of the ancient moon's magnetic field, from extra churning in the core caused by the mantle to some sort of disruption caused by impacts from space debris. Soderlund and her colleagues, Princeton University researcher Aaron Scheinberg and Arizona State University planetary scientist Linda Elkins-Tanton, were trying to create computer models of the moon's core that would explain the satellite's magnetic field. They couldn't, but they did find that all of their models resulted in a very hot, melty mantle, the layer of the moon between the crust and core. That led to a revelation that perhaps the melt was key, Soderlund said. The team modified their model to take a melty mantle into account. Magma ocean The researchers found that by assuming the existence of a metal-rich, fully molten "magma ocean" sitting right on top of the core, they could create virtual geomagnetic fields of the same strength as that recorded in real moon rocks. Even better, Soderlund said, the "magma ocean" hypothesis could explain why the moon's magnetic field gradually weakened and vanished. As the mantle eventually cooled and solidified over billions of years, the magnetic field would weaken as the amount of liquid churn diminished. A swirling magma ocean in the moon's mantle may have set up a lunar magnetic field billions of years ago. (Image credit: Aaron Scheinberg) "It's like a natural evolution of the moon's cooling that we're able to have this sequential type of magnetic field generation," Soderlund said. "It's a really interesting idea that absolutely is feasible," said Christina Dwyer, who proposed the idea of the magnetic field as driven by the core being agitated by interactions with the mantle in 2011 while a graduate student at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Dwyer, who now works for Schmahl Science Workshops in San Jose, California, wasn't involved in the current research. Because it brings the driver of the magnetic field closer to the surface, the hypothesis overcomes the problem that the core itself is too weak to create the field, Dwyer said. More measurements and experiments on moon-rock conductivity could help show whether the magma-ocean idea really fits the evidence, she told Live Science. "How big is the core? When were different portions of it liquid? [It all] lets us know about big-picture formational questions about the moon," Dwyer said. And because the moon formed after being flung from Earth due to a giant impact early in the solar system's formation, understanding the satellite's evolution could help explain how the Earth formed, too. Original article on Live Science. An artist's rendering of a Kilopower nuclear power plant on the surface of the moon. The prominent heat radiator makes it look like a beach umbrella. The actual unit will have cables carrying electricity away from the reactor. Scientists, engineers and reporters gathered at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland on May 2 for a news conference announcing the latest results of the Kilopower nuclear power plant project: It has finished all of its major ground tests and met or surpassed the development team's expectations. NASA is developing the experimental reactor to provide reliable energy for long-duration crewed missions to the moon, Mars and destinations beyond. For decades, spacecraft have relied on nuclear power as a compact, reliable source of electricity, especially on missions for which solar power is not feasible, like expeditions to the moon's polar regions. The Voyager 1 and 2 spacecraft, which are now billions of miles from the sun, still have enough nuclear energy after more than 40 years to transmit signals back to Earth. Meanwhile, the Curiosity rover has been driving around the Red Planet for nearly six years courtesy of a trunk full of plutonium. [Nuclear Generators for NASA Deep Space Probes (Infographic)] In spacecraft like the Voyagers and Curiosity, a device called a radioisotope thermoelectric generator (RTG) converts heat energy from passive radioactive decay directly into electricity. The decay causes a temperature difference across plates of two kinds of metal one connected to the reactor, and the other attached to a radiator, thereby producing a voltage. This component, called a thermocouple, is commonly used in thermometers and temperature sensors. Although RTGs are not particularly efficient, they are simple and have no moving parts, making them perfect for applications in which repair is not an option. But many future missions, especially those involving human crews, will require much more power than the RTGs can produce. That's why NASA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) are collaborating to create a space-ready nuclear reactor, which harvests energy from active nuclear fission, or atom splitting. At the news conference, NASA and DOE officials announced the completion of successful ground tests of the experimental reactor, called the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY). The team tested the reactor at the DOE Nevada National Security Site in four phases. The first two were conducted without power, to ensure that the components reacted as expected. During the third phase, the team gradually increased power to heat the core. The final phase consisted of a 28-hour, full-power test that simulated an actual mission. The team evaluated the reactor's startup sequence, steady state performance, efficiency and more. In each category, the test reactor met or exceeded the team's benchmarks, running at full power under vacuum conditions, according to Kilopower lead engineer Marc Gibson. "We threw everything we could at this reactor, in terms of nominal and off-normal operating scenarios, and KRUSTY passed with flying colors," said David Poston, chief reactor designer at the National Nuclear Security Administration's Los Alamos National Laboratory. Marc Gibson, Kilopower lead engineer at NASA's Glenn Research Center, and Jim Sanzi of Vantage Partners install equipment on KRUSTY (Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology) at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS). (Image credit: NNSS) The significance of these results is hard to overstate, said Gibson. Research on space-ready fission reactors has been mired by high costs and lengthy time frames from the late 1970s to the early 2000s, which resulted in many canceled projects. "This is the first nuclear-powered operation of a new fission reactor concept in the U.S. in 40 years," Gibson said. Fission reactors have many practical advantages over RTGs. For instance, RTGs generally produce only a few hundred watts, but the reactor is scalable to 10,000 watts. Four units could provide enough power to establish an extraterrestrial outpost, according to a statement NASA released after the event. Another advantage is that, unlike an RTG, which runs continuously, a reactor's output can be tailored to current demands, Gibson said. That also means it can remain dormant during launch and travel and turn on once it reaches its destination. This ability, combined with the increased efficiency of fission reactors over RTGs, means that a Kilopower generator could maintain its 1-kilowatt output for at least 10 years, NASA officials said in the statement. Self-regulation has been a crucial requirement in designing the reactor, according to Poston. This feature not only increases the safety of the reactor but also frees astronauts from having to monitor the controls. "We're not going to have operators there," Poston said. "And even if there are astronauts around, they're not going to be wanting to sit at a reactor control center the whole time." [NASA's Human Mars Mission Will Require Living Off the Land] The KRUSTY experiment tested the Kilopower reactor's safety and performance. The equipment on the right is part of the experiment, not the reactor itself. (Image credit: NASA) The system works like a thermostat, where feedback keeps the device at a preset temperature, Poston said. If the reactor overheats, the Stirling engines that produce electricity draw more heat from the uranium core. If it is too cool, the core naturally contracts, trapping more free neutrons, which then increases the rate of fission. Responding to concerns over Russia's recently launched, floating nuclear power plant, Poston explained that the reactor will pose little or no risk to the public. NASA follows all relevant protocols, including those set out by the United Nations, he said. Additionally, the reactor will not be turned on until it is far away from Earth. "We've done calculations to show that, under all worst-case conditions, we don't believe that there's any chance the reactor would come on accidentally, [even] during a launch accident," Poston said. The team has also considered safety at the reactor site. Engineers at NASA's Johnson Space Center are designing containers to safely store spent fuel on-site, since returning it to Earth would not be practical, said Patrick Cahalane, the principal deputy associate administrator for safety, infrastructure and operations at the National Nuclear Security Administration. The reactors have no radioactive coolant that would pose a contamination risk, and the development team is researching mechanisms to shield astronauts from radiation that the reactor may emit, including building in protection and burying part of the reactor under the surface. Although the prototype isn't the same as units that will be deployed into space, it was designed with the flight-unit in mind, Gibson said. Flight tests are the next major step in development, though NASA has yet to plan them. The Kilopower generator is optimized for use on surface missions, but officials at the news conference said it could also be used to power ion propulsion systems or be included on the Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, a proposed outpost for astronauts positioned in the space near Earth's moon. Follow Harrison Tasoff @harrisontasoff. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. The lunar meteorite NWA 2727, which contains evidence of moon water, according to a new study. A mineral that requires the presence of water to form has been discovered in a lunar meteorite, a new study reports. The find suggests that hidden caches of water ice potentially useful for human exploration might be hidden under the surface of the moon, study team members said. A team of Japanese scientists led by Masahiro Kayama from the Department of Earth and Planetary Materials Science at Tohoku University found the mineral, called moganite, in a lunar meteorite discovered in a desert in northwest Africa. [The Search for Water on the Moon in Photos] Moganite, a crystal of silicon dioxide similar to quartz, is known to form on Earth in specific circumstances in sedimentary settings from alkaline fluids. It has never before been detected in samples of lunar rock. Kayama and his team believe the mineral formed on the surface of the moon in the area called Procellarum Terrane, as water originally present in lunar dirt evaporated due to exposure to strong sunlight. According to Kayama, there is a good reason to believe that, deeper under the lunar surface, crystals of water ice could be abundant, protected from the harsh solar rays. "For the first time, we can prove that there is water ice in the lunar material," Kayama told Space.com. "In a moganite, there is less water, because moganite forms from the evaporation of water. That's the case on the surface of the moon. But in the subsurface, much water remains as ice, because it's protected from the sunlight." Scientists already knew that there's water on the moon. For example, NASA's Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite detected the stuffin a shadowed crater near the moon's south pole. And India's probe Chandrayaan-1 recorded evidence of water in the thin atmosphere above the moon's surface. Schematic of the history of precipitation of moganite and subsurface water ice on the moon. (Image credit: Masahiro Kayama and M. Sasaoka (SASAMI-GEO-SCIENCE)) But, according to Kayama, there has been no evidence so far of the presence of water in the subsurface at mid and lower latitudes. "Many people think that remote-sensing spacecraft only found the evidence of water around the poles simply because we can't see under the surface below a few millimeters," Kayama said. "This is the first insight into water in the subsurface zone." The researchers estimate that the water content in the lunar soil under the surface could be up to 0.6 percent. If that's right, future moon pioneers could theoretically extract about 1.6 gallons of water per 36 cubic feet (6 liters per cubic meter) of lunar rock, Kayama said. "This value means that water is very abundant," he said. "It would be enough for future astronauts and people that could perhaps live on the moon in the future to extract enough water to cover their needs." Kayama said that the widespread presence of water ice under the surface of the moon in other areas than just the poles would mean future explorers would have easier access to the resource, which could also be used to make rocket fuel for missions to asteroids and other planets. "We wouldn't need to bring all the water for drinking and the fuel to return to Earth or to travel to Mars, for example, with us from Earth," Kayama said. "If water is abundant in the lunar subsurface, we can easily use it." Kayama and his colleagues analyzed 14 lunar meteorites using sophisticated methods, including micro-Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy. They found moganite in only one of those samples. However, they said, concentrations of the mineral suggest that it was unlikely to have formed when the meteorite was already lying in the African desert, exposed to terrestrial weather. "Moganite formation as a result of terrestrial weathering can be excluded, because this scenario would imply a wide distribution of moganite in the sands of the hot desert where the meteorites were found," the researchers wrote in the new study, which was published online today (May 2) in the journal Science Advances. "This case has not been reported. Moganite is readily and completely lost via water alteration at ambient pressure." Kayama hopes that Japan's space agency JAXA will go ahead with plans to launch a lunar sample-return mission in the future, which would allow researchers to attempt to detect moganite in other lunar rocks. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. 3 1 of 3 H John Voorhees III / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Chris Bosak / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 FuelCell Energy officials will be in Hartford on Friday morning pleading their case for the passage of an amendment to Senate Bill 9 that would benefit the states fuel cell industry. The Danbury companys CEO Chip Bottone and General Council Jennifer Arasimowicz plan to hold a press conference at the Legislative Office Building before the House of Representatives goes into session. The amendment would expand the megawatts available for request for proposals, or RFPs, considered by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection to make room for fuel cell projects. Alexander Soule / Hearst Connecticut Media Connecticut is home to some 12,000 businesses selling products or services on Amazon, according to a company study, equal to about 3 percent of the total companies statewide as tracked by the U.S. Census Bureau. Amazon stated Thursday that half the products sold on its websites are from small and mid-sized businesses, with 20,000 of those companies generating at least $1 million in sales annually using Amazon. The amiable law professor, Joe Oloka-Onyango, has released a legal spellbinder: When Courts Do Politics: Public Interest Law and Litigation in East Africa. It couldnt have come at a better time, writes PIUS MUTEEKANI KATUNZI. The country is waiting for the decision of the Constitutional court on the petition against the amendment of article 102(b). The article provided that for one to qualify as president of Uganda, he/she, among other qualifications, had to be aged between 35 and 75. Through the Constitution (Amendment) Bill No.2, 2017, parliament deleted that requirement. Legislators also changed their and local councils tenure from five to seven years. Even the tenure for the president was amended. Depending on the outcomes of the referendum, the president would lead for seven years instead of five. Spirited petitioners ran to the Constitutional court to challenge the amendments. When the five-judge panel court finally delivers the decision, would their work be characterized as doing politics? Can courts claim to be fully insulated from politics? Does it matter whether the decision is perceived by court as having been delivered according to the black law letter or the spirit of the law? In his definitive scholarly work on public interest litigation (PIL), Prof Oloka has shone light on some of the questions. This book chronicles the origin, struggles, successes and pitfalls of public interest litigation (PIL) in East Africa. Whereas this research was done in East Africa, this review will focus on only Ugandas experience. What kind of politics is court doing? Courts are doing politics because they have become final umpires of issues and contests that have been lost elsewhere. For instance, President Museveni attempted to maintain or reappoint former chief justice Benjamin Odoki for another two years. Museveni claimed Odoki was still resourceful, and the country needed not waste such a resource the constitutional bars notwithstanding! Ultimately, the matter, which was dressed in legal and political garbs, ended in a court challenge in the case of Gerald Karuhanga vs Attorney General, Constitutional petition No. 0039 of 2013. A spirited individual and member of parliament, Karuhanga took a political matter to court for determination. Indeed, court held there was no law under which the chief justice could be maintained or reappointed for another two years. This is politics being determined in courts of law. The perception of courts doing politics is further reinforced by the apparent collapse of the classic doctrine of separation of powers. Under this doctrine, there are three arms of government the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary. Under this functional and formalistic theory of the doctrine, the Executive branch is concerned only with the design of policy and implementation of legislation. Laws are generated by the Legislature. The Judiciary simply interprets the law, says Oloka. Judges, according to this formulation, definitely do not make law; and by similar token should steer clear of making comments on, let alone deciding issues to do with, politics. Judges should just judge. Obviously, this formulation is not tenable in East Africa. For instance, in Uganda, the judges are appointed by the president on the advice of the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), and vetted by parliament. Ultimately, judges take the judicial oath before the president. When courts protect human rights and public interest, however, they are entering into the arena of politics. When the work of courts is to determine a procedural flaw of the legislature, protect vulnerable groups or protect civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights, they are limiting the political powers. That is judicialization of politics. When judicialization of politics favours the petitioner, then it is welcomed cheerfully by the public, and courts are branded independent. At times, the state has reacted with hostility to the judicial decisions. For instance, in Paulo K Ssemogerere & Others v Attorney General, (constitutional Appeal No1, 2001), court poked holes in the manner in which the Referendum Bill was passed with no quorum, and basically curtailed the powers of parliament. State response, especially President Museveni and former speaker of parliament James Wapakhabulo, was instructive. The former characterized the decision as the judiciary overstepping their power, promising to straighten the judiciary. The latter stated: Our constitution says that a judicial officer must not be told by any authority, including parliament, how to do his or her job. Likewise, during his tenure of office, the President of Uganda is not bound to be sued or charged in any court of law. In similar strain, it is important that parliament, as the third organ of the state, is also protected from interference by other organs of the state. The decision of the Supreme court that opened internal proceedings to litigation in courts of law removed the protection which parliament is supposed to enjoy There are also several instances where the Constitutional court has nullified or invalidated laws. Isnt court in that respect making laws? Isnt court meandering into the realm of the Legislature? The book has shown in detail some of those tensions and the need for courts to act. Also, there is a need for courts to restrain depending on the matter before them. Prof Oloka has succeeded in showing that to the extent that political leaders are limited and confronted by courts, there is going to be an increasing effort in controlling the judiciary. Illustrating this assertion, when Justice Sempa Lugayizi granted bail to the Popular Resistance Army (PRA) suspects in a treason trial in 2005, the executive responded with unprecedented show of might. Government raided High Court with military men, notoriously labelled Black Mamba Urban Hit Squad. Whereas the right to bail is guaranteed by the Constitution, the executive angrily objected to the decision of court to grant terrorists bail. This book not only gives us the trajectory of PIL in East Africa, it also highlights limitations and the likelihood of abuse by some petitioners who file ridiculous and frivolous petitions. In chapter seven, Oloka warns about the likely pitfalls for PIL. For example, Oloka says PIL is sadly sketchy. Not all judges have fully warmed up to PIL. Women lawyers are visibly absent in PIL causes. Oloka says as PIL grows in scope and prominence, it would attract more actors. Indeed, the growth of successful PIL interventions may lead to law and NGO careerists bringing such cases in search of self-aggrandizement or simply to make a quick buck, he observes. He adds: PIL lawyers in East Africa are often very busy, very complicated, very expensive, and very elusive. A few have filed petitions to appropriate PIL for corporate gain, political advantage, or personal benefit. Frivolous and vexatious suits some of them masquerading as PIL, but essentially feeding egos and retrogressive agendas threaten to stifle the innovation and enthusiasm of this most powerful instrument of legal change. Faults notwithstanding, one of the main achievements of PIL has been the transformation of courts and tribunals in East Africa into major political-legal decision-making arena. In Uganda, articles 43, 50 and 137 of the Constitution have dispensed with the requirement for locus standi or standing in court. He concludes: The judicialization of politics has expanded to encompass questions of pure politics electoral processes and outcomes, restorative justice, regime legitimacy, executive prerogatives, collective identity, and nation-building. These developments reflect the demise of the political question doctrine and mark a transition to what I have termed juristocracy. In Kenya and Uganda, Oloka explains the existence of a constitutional framework that promotes the judicialization of politics; a relatively autonomous judiciary that easily encourages judicial officers to dive into deep political waters have nurtured the deepening of PIL. pmkatunzi@observer.ug As it entered a critical 24-hour stretch during which its future could be determined, Xerox reported it cut an additional 400 jobs in the first quarter of 2018 as earnings dropped more than 40 percent from a year ago. With Xerox in flux after its board capitulated this week to investors Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason who oppose the companys proposed sale to Fujifilm Holdings, Xerox moved up the release of its first-quarter results to Wednesday night from its original planned release on Thursday afternoon. Xerox earned $23 million for the quarter, down 43 percent from a year ago, with revenue dropping less than 1 percent from a year ago to $2.44 billion. Equipment sales were off nearly 3 percent to $499 million, below what Xerox had expected to start the year. After CEO Jeff Jacobson negotiated a $6.1 billion sale of Xerox to Fujifilm early this year, Deason sued to block the deal in New York state court, with a judge last week issuing a temporary stay. On Tuesday night, Xerox announced it would accede to Deasons and Icahns demands, including replacing Jacobson with Greenwich resident John Visentin, who had been considered last year for the CEO job, and whom Icahn and Deason had hired to lead a proxy fight this spring for control of the Xerox board. The two sides agreement includes an expiration clause at 8 p.m. on Thursday if the judge overseeing the Deason lawsuit does not approve the stipulated terms of the agreement. Fujifilm filed court papers on Wednesday, stating it had not given its explicit consent to the agreement between Deason and Icahn, and protesting what it described as a lightning maneuver in which the men were trying to secure court ratification of their deal. The current hurly-burly of private communications with the court, make-shift submissions and midnight filings is not the proper procedure to decide the fate of a $7 billion publicly traded company, stated James Hough, an attorney in the New York City office of Morrison & Foerster representing Fujifilm. They offer no explanation or justification for that artificial deadline. Any urgency here is entirely of these parties voluntary creation. Deasons attorneys responded that their agreement benefits Xerox shareholders more than the sale agreement to Fujifilm would; that the Japanese company lacks the legal standing to interfere; and that there is no basis for a court to overrule two parties that no longer wish to litigate a case against each other, as Deason had with Xerox prior to reaching an outline of a settlement. Fuji is asking this court to force litigation to continue between parties who wish for it to cease, Deasons lawyers stated in a formal rejoinder in court. Such a result would be legally unprecedented and seriously injurious. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman NORTH HAVEN The remains of a body were found Thursday morning following an explosion Wednesday at a Quinnipiac Avenue residence, according to Connecticut State Trooper First Class Kelly Grant. Grant said the body has not been identified, and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of death. The identity of the deceased is pending identification and next of kin notification, according to a press release. The house, located at 385 Quinnipiac Ave., was torn down later in the day Thursday as neighbors looked on. It was crazy ... it was a bad night, said Angela Riccio, who lives across the street. Its over, thank God. Authorities said Wednesday a woman had been held against her will at the residence and managed to escape after a man had left the premises. The victim then went to the police station and was treated there. A source told the Register she had significant injuries on her face. While state police are investigating the cause and origin of the explosion, a source said preliminary indications are it was intentionally set off. They were saying it was enough that it was felt everywhere, the source said. In total, 10 officers were injured in the explosion, according to the North Haven Police Departments Facebook page. Nine of them five from East Haven, three from North Haven and one from Branford were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital. Four of the officers have been treated and released from the hospital, and five are still being treated for a variety of trauma-related injuries, the post said. East Haven Police Lt. Joseph Murgo said in a release that two of the East Haven officers have been released while three remain hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Their injuries are consistent with being in close proximity to the blast and range from concussions to leg injuries, he said. This impacted not only the North Haven Police Department, not only our community, but this is a far-reaching incident to the other communities that serve the South Central Region, Deputy North Haven Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said. More News Wife escapes after being barricaded in North Haven home, 6 officers injured in explosion Police were called to the residence Wednesday around 2 p.m. to respond to a domestic violence report. Property and judicial records show the woman who owns the housefiled for divorce April 18 after 40 years of marriage. Through the course of the investigation, officers developed information that determined a tactical team response was needed due to a man barricading himself inside the home, where he had held his wife for the last few days, according to North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda. The first selectman said Wednesday night he was worried about the possibility of booby traps in the house. The North Haven Fire Department pre-deployed apparatuses and resources to manage the incident effectively, North Haven Fire Chief Paul Januszewski said. A regional tactical team, consisting of North Haven police officers and officers from surrounding towns, responded to the scene and attempted to enter the residence and make contact with the suspect. Officers attempted to coax the man out of the home, but were not successful. As tactical team members were attempting to enter the residence, a significant explosion in the barn behind the home occurred, injuring 10 police officers, the release said. They were saying it was enough that it was felt everywhere, a source said. The explosion went off in the back building, and then the house caught on fire from the outside. It burned from the outside in, the source said. The source said the firefighters ensured the fire stayed to the property of origin the objective of the Fire Department was to save the neighbors houses, he said and it was determined by the incident commander that the fire in the main house was to let burn for the safety of police officers. There was no telling what other explosives could have been in there. While officers believed the man was in the house, the source said they wanted to wait until daylight to clear an RV, trailers and cars that were in the back. They let [the fire] burn so they couldnt confirm if [the man] was in the house or the backyard, he said. During the investigation of the barricaded suspect and subsequent explosion, residents were asked to shelter in place. Several residents of the North Haven neighborhood reported hearing the explosion, with many commenting on the Police Departments Facebook page that they heard it, as well. Geoff and Sarah Kenyon live next door to 385 Quinnipiac Ave. Geoff Kenyon was home with their 4-year-old daughter Wednesday night when the incident took place. He said he had put his daughter in the room farthest from the 385 Qunnipiac Ave. residence when an explosion shook the home. He and his daughter left the home and took refuge with a neighbor. The Kenyons said they had several unpleasant experiences with the neighbor and had lodged a complaint with the town. Shawn Pitts also lives across the street from 385 Quinnipiac Ave. Pitts said he saw the home explode, after the barn had gone up and other explosions had sounded in the backyard. I saw the flash; I heard the shake. I saw the fire bust through the windows, said Pitts. Police had previously been called to deal with vehicles on the front lawn, Riccio said. Neither she or Pitts said they knew their neighbor well, although Pitts said he had seen him yell at his wife in the past. Margaret DeMartino also saw the blast from her home up the road. It was just a huge fireball. I saw it; I heard it; I felt it, said DeMartino. Dennis Walsh, of Detroit, Mich.,, who was visiting his parents house on Pentway Lane, said that after 8 p.m., he felt the entire house shake. At first, he thought something had happened to the house, but when he went outside, he saw huge orange flames and giant plumes of black smoke. He said a procession of emergency vehicles and first responders had already arrived police cars had been camped in front of his parents house since 3 p.m., he said and police told him to get back in the house. David DiMartino, who lives around the corner from Quinnipiac Avenue, said he heard the explosion just as it was getting dark. I felt my house shake, DiMartino said. It felt like a bomb went off in my attic. Rick Simeone said he also heard an explosion about the same time. As he stood on the street, watching the response, he said, Were just kind of observing what these guys are doing. Nancy Sundwall said she was on Turner Avenue when the explosion happened. North Haven shook. I mean, everyone heard it, Sundwall said. The whole sky turned pitch black with smoke. The Kenyons thanked first responders for their efforts, as did Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and Lt. Gov Nancy Wyman Wednesday. (The) police department and fire department were incredible with what they were able to do under the circumstances, said Sarah Kenyon. Malloy said in a statement Our hearts go out to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line, and we wish those injured a safe and speedy recovery, Malloy said in a statement. Yesterdays tragedy serves as a stark reminder that domestic violence is a serious issue that must continue to be addressed and remain at the forefront of the national conversation, he said. If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, please know that you have a voice and there are resources available to help. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman in a statement We are grateful to the emergency workers and first responders who were on the scene last night and today. For those who were injured in the line of duty, you have our deepest appreciation for having put your lives on the line for your community, she said. I applaud the woman who reported this incident; she showed tremendous bravery and courage. Her actions may have saved lives, including her own. jessica.lerner@hearstmediact.com; @jesslerner on Twitter The following excerpt is from The Staff of Entrepreneur Media, Inc. and Javier Hasses book Start Your Own Cannabis Business. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes | IndieBound The following questions will not only allow you to figure out if you can and should participate in the cannabis industry, but also shape your business going forward. Answering these questions will be essential to creating your business plan and financial model, to determining your capital needs and applying for a license if you need one. So, take a seat, ask yourself these questions and think about them -- hard. The answers you end up with should be unequivocal and unambiguous. Are you ready? 1. Is this business the right one for you? Support for cannabis legalization in the U.S. stands at a record high. In April 2016, CBS News released a poll showing that 61 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legal. This number rose to 64 percent by October 2017, according to a Gallup survey. As Gallup concludes, these figures demonstrate that, as the positive results of legalization become more evident in multiple states, public perception of marijuana is shifting, and the stigma around weed is being steadily overcome -- largely driven by the medical marijuana movement. The only real stigma that remains today is related to cannabis' illegality, rather than to public perception, BDS Analytics' Tom Adams contends. "Regulations around cannabis are changing rapidly around the world, along with social acceptance," says Derek Riedle, founder and CEO of the cannabis and lifestyle media company Civilized. "Think about this in the fullness of time: In a few years, opposition to cannabis will become marginalized as cannabis becomes more mainstream and people continue to realize that it is not the 'boogie man' that we have been told it is for generations." Having said that, Viridian Capital Advisors' Scott Greiper warns that a percentage of the U.S. population still frowns on marijuana. There are legal implications as well: Anyone who wants to get involved in this industry has to take on the reputational risk and the legal risk, because even though numerous states have legalized it, cannabis is still a Schedule I, federally illegal drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Related: 9 Business Ideas for People Looking to Cash in on the Marijuana Boom 2. Are you prepared for the unique business model? On top of the risk of federal prosecution, IRS targeting and asset seizure, cannabis entrepreneurs have to cope with the hazards of conducting a business that deals mostly in cash, since a majority of traditional financial institutions -- banks, credit card issuers, and payment transaction companies -- won't provide services to the industry. That's why hiring a security service will be essential. Canna Advisors' Tyler Stratford adds that this is an industry for people with thick skin. "You need to withstand and fight against adversity in this space and be willing to help change the course forward," he says. "Be ready to be an industry operator and advocate." No matter how progressive our society has become, we're still not completely familiar with cannabis; we're not used to having it around, as we are with alcohol. So, anybody who opens one of the first operations in any given jurisdiction has to be an advocate. As an entrepreneur, you'll have to "be able to explain why this isn't something to be feared. Cannabis has actually been a part of our culture for thousands of years; only for a short period of time was it put into prohibition," Canna Advisors' cofounder Diane Czarkowski adds. "If you can't talk about this with people, I don't see how you're going to be successful, as you're going to keep perpetuating the same belief system." So, prepare to challenge the stigma, educate, advocate and fight, both for people's right to use cannabis and your right to run a cannabis business. The road will run uphill. Related: Why Your Cannabis Business Is Failing, and How You Can Fix It 3. Are you comfortable with uncertainty and frequent change? If not, then this nascent industry isn't for you. "None of this has ever been done before," Czarkowski asserts. "Sometimes change happens so frequently that you don't have time to implement the last change before you have to make a change again." Of course, there's one chance you'll have to take as an entrepreneur starting a business in any industry: Are you ready to put all your faith in your problem-solving abilities, risking your financial safety in the pursuit of a larger reward? "You need to be able to get to the edge of the cliff and decide that you're going to jump," Civilized's Riedle concludes. "Since you don't always know where the landing spot is, your challenge is to build a hang glider and eventually turn that hang glider into a plane and, ultimately, a jet." Related: Global Businesses Dig deep into Indian Culture for Growth 3 Questions to Help You Decide If You Should Open a Cannabis Business Entrepreneur Elevator Pitch Season 2 Ep. 2: The Power Is in the Percentage Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The royal wedding is less than three weeks away, and megafans are already getting fired up about exclusive souvenirs of the big day. Candy maker PEZ is releasing one exclusive dispenser set in the likeness of Prince Harry and his fiancee Meghan Markle next week. The one-of-a-kind dispensers will be auctioned to support the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In this series, Instagram Icon, Entrepreneur speaks with the individuals behind popular Instagram accounts to find out the secrets of their success. One bad date helped launch Samira Kazans Instagram career. She had begun to grow frustrated with online dating when, on the evening of July 14, 2015, she wore a tight top to a first date and saw the man eyeing her food baby. Embarrassed, she went home and teared up, searching for stomach toning tips online. After discovering that eating a healthy breakfast was a top tip, she decided to give it a go. I said, Im going to try this because Im going to look after myself -- and screw all guys! she says. She resolved to focus on being happy while single -- and to eat healthy for herself and no one else. Kazan, who goes by @AlphaFoodie on Instagram, has more than 600,000 followers and is known for her creatively-topped smoothie bowls, geometric fruit shapes and wildly colorful breakfasts. But before sharing her food art on social media, she rarely ate breakfast -- resulting in feeling distracted most mornings at work. She would regularly ask her co-workers to grab lunch at 11 a.m. -- and they always said it was too early. In Kazans line of work, focus is vital. Shes a postdoctoral research fellow at University College London, and in her research she analyzes brain signals from experiments conducted in MRI scanners to gauge which areas of the brain are active when. The Oxford University PhD graduate also teaches physics and mathematics to university students, but shes currently taking a gap year in order to focus on Instagram and tutor in London. How did such a unique background help Kazan reach Instagram success? Im a scientist, she says. I see what works and what doesnt work based on statistical analysis. If she sees her followers engage more with certain content -- like her popular smoothies -- she knows posting similar photos will help her account grow. Plus, she began using math, symmetry and shapes to set her account apart (think avocado stars and dragon fruit spheres). Read on to learn how much Kazan makes from Instagram compared to her day job, her take on edible flowers and why she turned down an advertisement offer for almost $35,000. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. 1. How did you get your start with Instagram? I went to Google to look for healthy breakfast ideas, and I started hearing more about things like chia seeds and kale. I had never heard of those before -- this is about two and a half years ago. I went to the market and bought some greens, and I started experimenting. My first was a smoothie bowl with pineapple, banana, lime, ground oats and spinach or kale. When I started trying these smoothie bowls, I was feeling better at work and concentrating more. I started encouraging everyone to eat them because it was really helping me. The intention was never to post these photos on any social media -- it was just for me. But when I showed pictures to my sister, she said, Why dont you put it on Facebook? I said, No, I dont want to show off what Im eating. She insisted, so I made a Facebook album and shared my breakfasts with friends for a month or two. Then, they said, Please stop spamming us with the food! Can you go to Instagram? I wasnt comfortable with social media, but after two or three months, I was bored one day, opened an Instagram account and started sharing. I noticed people starting to like the photos, and when I reached 100 followers, that was a big deal to me. I was like, One hundred people believe in what I do! I started to notice a trend -- anytime I posted a smoothie, it became very popular, and I got loads of followers. It was growing and growing. After that, I was featured in Vogue magazine, and I think that brought exposure. After that, I was invited to China to appear on their national TV. While all of this was happening, I was working full-time teaching MRI physics and mathematics to university students. As the account grew, I started getting offers to fly to places -- Cannes, Dubai, Italy -- to do workshops or sponsored events. In academia, you have a month of holiday, and I would take off work and use these holidays as Instagram workdays. 2. How much of your time do you spend on a post, and what does that entail? I spend maybe two hours planning and creating, plus buying and shopping for ingredients. I have three people working for me -- two part-timers and one full-timer. Usually, we dont just go into the kitchen and create -- we go to a coffee shop to plan. Well say, Tomorrow, well make a smoothie that will look like this. I always experiment and come up with ideas, but sometimes it works well, and sometimes its so bad. But experimentation is fun! Lets say were going to make a smoothie bowl. I always have the frozen ingredients in my fridge. In drawers, I have frozen bananas, blueberries, strawberries -- all the fruits that can possibly be frozen to use in a smoothie. Whats involved is the design: Are we going to make a smoothie bowl? What kinds of decorations are we going to put on it? Its important to think about what the feed looks like (like, I want to do pink today). One thing we always buy is edible flowers. I spend so much money on edible flowers. Its an investment! What we really spend a lot of time on is campaigns for clients. If we know were making an advert for somebody, then we spend a lot more time on it than for our own picture. We want to make sure it looks interesting, engaging and creative because if the advert looks a bit more creative, then the followers dont mind. 3. Whats your content strategy? How do you decide what and when to post? Its statistics and mathematics. If you see your followers engage with certain content, and the number of likes and saves are up, you think, OK, I must be making more of this if I want my account to grow. The other aspect is the mathematical shapes. I dont know what it is, but people react to any mathematical design. My followers really like circles of fruit, symmetry and pairs. If I put two smoothies next to each other, itd be more engaging than one smoothie alone. Twos always seem better than ones. And if you have a pie decorated with squares and triangles, it gets much more engagement than a pie with some strawberries on it. As for inspiration -- you get inspiration even from walking in the street. Theres inspiration from other people. Theres art everywhere. Its your own twist and how you look at it. One day, workers were outside making a brick wall. I thought, Im going to make a fruit wall. 4. How do you leverage your Instagram account, and to what extent do you monetize it? The money isnt the main drive here. Sometimes, in one day on Instagram, I earn the same amount as I make as a university professor in two months. But Instagram is not stable. In general, its very variable. I love mathematics, and I teach mathematics as a hobby -- I still do that every day here in the U.K., even with Instagram. I rely on that as my income even though it doesnt make as much. You could make a lot of money in one Instagram campaign, but you dont know -- one day, you could wake up and Instagram isnt here anymore. I really love long-term collaborations because theyre better for both you and the brand. It shows loyalty, and that means you have stability of income for the next six months. Sometimes from a six-month contract, you make more than in a whole year as a university teacher. I get loads of campaign requests, and I turn down so many -- either because I dont like them or they dont align with what I do. Two weeks ago, I got a request for something I would never do: 25,000 pounds for two posts to advertise for electronic cigarettes. And I dont even drink, I dont smoke, I dont support smoking and thats not something I agree with. The brand was trying to go with the angle of it being healthier with no nicotine, and I said, Im really sorry -- its not for me. 5. What advice do you have for other people who want to build brands on the platform? Use hashtags, and make your picture interesting. Dont worry if your account is not growing. If you post a cool photo, then everybody will share it and tag you in it. People gain followers by sharing your photo, and you gain followers and exposure. Also, look at the grid and plan your feed. Lets say I have nine pictures for next week -- I would see how they look next to each other. Ask your followers questions, and show your interest. People like to be asked -- if I say, Left or right? in a caption, they want to engage with it. I also love Instagram stories. I always do polls and ask my followers, Which one do you prefer -- this or this? Also, if you have an Instagram account, you cant spam your followers all the time with adverts. Balance is very important. If you advertise for something, its very important that you actually believe in what youre advertising for. When you do collaborate with any brand, whether its small or big, its very important to do the best you can because if you do a good job, they will come back to you. 6. What's a misconception many people have about Instagram? People think its easy. I get so many negative comments sometimes. People think we dont know what were doing and that were entitled. They dont realize we really worked hard for our followers. Its like a full-time job -- thats why I have people to help. Its a lot of work. See below for five of @AlphaFoodies favorite posts. "I love these geometric patterns, which my students also love. They're inspired by my love of mathematics." "My signature smoothie bowl, which resulted in one of the coolest collaborations ever with one of of my favorite brands, Royal Albert of England (to be launched worldwide at the end of September 2018)." "I love this fruit wall, and it's therapeutic to do." "I also love this campaign for Baileys that I did because it involved a bit of science to make (making ice cream in 10 seconds using dry ice)." "This is my favorite smoothie bowl ever, since it's my favorite color (and flavor too) and was shared all over the Internet." Related: This College Professor Makes More Money in One Day From Instagram Than in Two Months Teaching. Here Are Her Secrets to Success. Why Beauty Hack Guru Huda Kattan Turned Down a $185,000 Instagram Sponsored Post Deal This Cartoonist Uses Social Media to Brighten Days and Build a Global Brand Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved A French hospitality giant on Thursday showed its confidence in London as it splashed out 858 million for a portfolio of hotels. Investor Fonciere des Regions has bought 14 properties, operating under the Principal Hotels and De Vere brands, from Starwood Capital Group. They include the five-star Principal London in Bloomsbury, as well as buildings in Edinburgh, Leeds, and other regional cities. The buyer also revealed on Thursday it has agreed long leases with FTSE 100 firm InterContinental Hotels Group to operate the sites. The investment was made despite some hoteliers warning of weaker tourist demand in London after a spate of terror attacks. Fonciere des Regions deputy chief executive Dominique Ozanne said the transaction would help the company cement its leading position on the hotel real estate investment market in Europe. For Holiday Inns owner IHG, the partnership will aid plans, unveiled in February, to boost its luxury division. IHG will rebrand the hotels, and some will be converted to its US upmarket boutique brand Kimpton. It said the deal will make it the leading luxury hotel operator in the UK. Knight Franks head of hotels, Julian Evans said: Overseas capital continues to pour in to Britain for good quality hotels. Despite the threat of terrorist attacks and concerns around Brexit, the UK is considered a safe haven for investors. H ere the Evening Standard business team highlights all the major tech news today. There's only one story every one is talking about and that's Elon Musk's earnings conference call last night. Elon Musk revels in being a showman and last night turned his ire on financial analysts for not entertaining him. On Teslas earnings call he dismissed questions from analysts concerning the car-makers Model 3 as boring, not cool and so dry with Toni Sacconaghi at Bernstein coming in for particularly harsh treatment after he dared to ask about capital-expenditure. Excuse me, excuse me. Next, next. Boring bonehead questions are not cool. Next, Musk said. When Joseph Spak, an analyst from RBC Capital Markets posed a question about the Model 3, Musk reportedly paused for 15 seconds, before adding: 'These questions are so dry. They're killing me.' During the call Musk, who is also CEO of aerospace firm Spac X and brain augmentation startup Neuralink, admonished the press for its handling of crashes involving Teslas on autopilot mode. According to a transcript of the call, Musk added: 'It's really incredibly irresponsible of any journalists with integrity to write an article that would lead people to believe that autonomy is less safe. 'Because people might actually turn it off, and then die. So, anyway, I'm very upset by this.' So uninterested was Musk that at one point he took several questions from a Tesla fan and Youtuber called Galileo Russell. Musk has repeatedly pushed back manufacturing targets for the Model 3, Teslas first mass-market electric vehicle, and there are also concerns over cash burn. The shares were doing ok, despite a record $710 million loss, but the call sent them falling by 5%. Meanwhile here in London startup incubator firm Zinc, which helps entrepreneurs launch companies that can solve social problems, has raised 3 million in seed funding from the London School of Economics (LSE), among others. A look at the recent openings in London reveals the extent of talent and diversity in emerging theatremakers. We get a peek through windows that have, in the mainstream, been shuttered up by privilege. Getting a foot in the stage door might seem intimidating. Whether you want to direct, write, produce or act, its worth getting as much help as you can. We spoke to five people who work with some of Londons best youth arts programmes, to see what advice they would give to young people wanting to get a start in theatre. Paul Roseby (chief executive and artistic director of National Youth Theatre), Brendan OHea (director of Shakespeares Globe on Tour), Freyja Winterson (youth theatre director at Orange Tree Theatre), Nicholai la Barrie (director of young people at Lyric Hammersmith) and Lara Taylor (producer of over 11s at Battersea Arts Centre) all pitch in to offer advice. Start local All the theatre directors and producers we spoke to said that seeking out a theatre class or group is important, not only to develop skills but to build confidence. Look to your local theatre, arts venue or youth club for classes. Most of them will have some kind of programme of work for young people, says Nicholai La Barrie, youth theatre director at Lyric Hammersmith. It might be an acting class, or a dance class or they might be able to tell you where to go. If they dont have one you should tell them that they need to. Dont be afraid tell them what you want. The Lyric keep all their classes under 10 and have bursary places available. He adds: Its really important for us that anyone who want to can come take part. Read as many plays and watch as much theatre as you possibly can The best way to learn is by throwing yourself into it head first. Watch a lot, read a lot and try to see as much as you can, says Paul Roseby. You learn by doing and watching. The West End can be expensive but theres lots of cheap ticket schemes for young people like Mousetrap Theatre Projects and TodayTix. Brendan OHea agrees: This will inform your personal view of the arts and theatre and enable you to discuss it with peers and professionals confidently. There are some great ticket discounts for young people. At the Globe you can come and watch any performance in the yard for 5. Many theatres will now have cheaper tickets just for young people. There are countless options outside the West End. The Almeidas under 25s scheme puts aside 5 tickets for all of their productions. Find a mentor and dont be afraid to ask for help It can seem like a tricky thing to do, but pick up the phone, send an email and book a meeting with people who are doing what youd like to do, says Lara Taylor, producer of over 11s at Battersea Arts Centre. It can sometimes feel that there is an outside and an inside but there really isnt, and good arts organisations should be all about collaboration so keep trying. No actor, playwright, director or producer has ever made it completely on their own. Find someone whose work you admire and reach out to them. Paul Roseby says: Im also a great believer in letter writing. Be prepared for 1000 nos for every yes. As well as industry letters, write to your local MP, councillors and school governors asking them to support free arts opportunities for young people. Remember that your mentors dont always have to be your elders either. Gather your peer support network While the arts can be rewarding and stimulating, it can also be really tough, especially when youre starting out. Having emotional support is crucial, says Freyja Winterson, youth theatre director at Orange Tree Theatre: Often people find themselves feeling a bit lonely or lost. I would recommend actively searching for your team the friends or peers who are at a similar stage to you and aiming for similar things, so that you can have a bit of a moan when you need it, ask advice without someone judging you, support each other through the hard times and celebrate each others successes. Try your hand at everything you can If you are going into theatre with little or no experience of creative classes at school, you may not have had a chance to explore your options. Give everything a go at least once, La Barrie says because you never know where it will lead. Try a dance class, a music class, DJ-ing, writing. Try it at least once, because you might think that you want to be an actor, but you might be a writer waiting to create the next Famalam or Game of Thrones. London's best new writing theatres 1 /12 London's best new writing theatres King's Head Theatre When it opened in 1970, The Kings Head Theatre was the first theatre pub since the days of Shakespeare. With a diverse programme, it has been known for being a champion of LGBTQ+ work since the beginning. While their annual festival in July gives us a concentrated few weeks of new writing, its non-stop throughout the year across the genres. Its so popular with theatre lovers and practitioners alike - Sir Ian McKellen has been known to frequent - that it is moving a few doors down to a bigger space, so more can enjoy the magic. Bush Theatre With an emerging writers group and bursaries for BAMER writers, the Bush Theatre is a well-established powerhouse for new writing that reflects British contemporary culture. Stephen Poliakoff, Conor McPherson, Helen Edmundson and Irvine Welsh are just a few to have debuted work at the Bush in the past. Now, with Madani Younis at the helm as artistic director, they receive nearly 2,000 scripts each year and have cemented themselves as the place to go for groundbreaking work as diverse as its audiences. Philip Vile Arcola Theatre The Arcola Theatre in Dalston is a truly community focused endeavour, with endless opportunities and support when it comes to new work. Its committed to creating diverse theatre with and for local people, but its still worth visiting even if east isnt your area. For the past decade, Grimeborn - Glyndebournes ever so much trendier younger sister - has presented some of the greatest new, offbeat opera around. Recent highlights of that include the Marriage of Kim K, a combination of Kim Kardashian and the Marriage of Figaro. The Yard Every piece of work presented at The Yard theatre in Hackney Wick is new. Plays first seen on the Yard stage have transferred to the National Theatre and made their way around the country. They pride themselves on offering insights that can only be seen in theatre, and run the Live Draft series, where playwrights test their new scripts out on an audience. If you want to be fully immersed in the theatremaking experience, go here and see its inception. The Yard Theatre503 Theatre503 has a year round submission policy, the annual Playwriting Award for unproduced writers, and a rapid response short play scheme, where playwrights attend a show in the first week and submit a 10 minute script inspired by the play - a handful of scripts are selected and staged two weeks later. They stage more work from first-time writers than anywhere else in the country and many alumnae have gone onto great things, including Vinay Patel, who won a BAFTA for Murdered By My Father. Soho Theatre For comedy, cabaret, drag and one-handers, this is your place. Every year, they pick the Soho Six, a group of six invited artists, who become playwrights-in-residence. Upstairs or downstairs, there is something on every night of the week, whether its hard-hitting, real life stories or lighthearted pop culture. The Vaults You may know it for the Vaults Festival - Londons answer to Edinburgh Fringe and the capitals biggest arts festival - but the Vaults never stops. The multidisciplinary arts venue stages everything from immersive musicals to immersive drama to immersive theatrical dining (theyre big on the immersive stuff). Its a really interesting place to catch new work that might not conform to a traditional stage. Hackney Showroom Diversity, inclusivity and uniqueness are behind everything staged at Hackney Showroom. Co-artistic directors Nina Lyndon and Sam Curtis Lindsay provide the space (a warehouse full of it) for each artist or company to produce new work you wouldnt catch somewhere else. With such associate artists as Zawe Ashton, Travis Alabanza and Lucy McCormick, you can be sure that youll see something completely out of the mainstream. Royal Court Theatre The Royal Court in Sloane Square premiered John Osbornes Look Back in Anger in 1956 and was met with largely damning reviews. Only two critics, Kenneth Tynan and Harold Hobson, saw the play as a radical change for modern British drama. They went on to become two of the most respected theatre critics of all time. Since then, the Royal Court has continued to champion new writing that pushes boundaries, supporting fresh, young voices in producing work with an edge. National Theatre The National Theatre is a trusted source for some of the biggest production and names in theatre, both on stage and behind the scenes. Even so, it isnt averse to taking risks. Since launching in 2015, the New Work Department has seen thousands of artists work on developing new projects in house. Their focus is working with mid-career artists and elevating them to mainstream stages, so this is the place to go for playwrights with a few years under their belt. Old Red Lion Theatre Sunday and Monday nights at this theatre pub are scratch nights, where emerging theatre-makers can try out their new work. Plays often transfer to the West End, with Trafalgar Studios being a regular recipient: a world premiere of an unearthed Arthur Miller play, No Villain, transferred there after debuting at the Old Red Lion in 2015. Mischief Theatres The Play That Goes Wrong was born here, going on to win an Olivier and prompting similar success with The Comedy About a Bank Robbery. Finborough Theatre The Finborough above a pub in Earls Court may be tiny - just 50 seats - but it packs a punch. Dedicated exclusively to producing new work or revivals of forgotten plays, youre guaranteed to find something special, in a particularly intimate setting. Under the reign of artistic director Neil McPherson, the theatre has won numerous fringe awards, as well as the Encouragement of New Writing award from the Writers Guild of Great Britain. Be yourself (unless you're playing a part) It may seem like a contradiction when talking about working in theatre. Having mentors and role models are useful, but Paul Roseby emphasises just how important it is to know your own voice. He says: Theres not one clear defining route into our creative industries and your individuality is key to success. Dont try and emulate someone else, learn first and foremost to be yourself and be confident with it. Theres only one you, so be proud of it whoever or whatever you are, and be curious. Use the arts to tell your own stories Theatre companies and audiences are always looking for something new - this is London after all, and no one wants to see the same thing over and over again. Use your individual voice to tell different stories and the industry will follow you. Our art is a reflection of our communities and by extension our society, says La Barrie. Acting on past experience, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) is beefing up security in major urban centres ahead of the Islamic holy month of fasting. The month of Ramadhan is expected to begin in about two weeks, and based on past experience, the al-Shabaab militants usually carry out attacks during the period. Brig Paul L'Okech speaking to the media in Somalia "We have always had challenges during that month [of Ramadhan]; we always get propping attacks from the al-Shabaab but this time, we want to ensure that our brothers observe the fasting peacefully," Brig Paul L'Okech, the Uganda contingent commander in Somalia told journalists at his offices in Mogadishu, the Somali capital. L'Okech said, the AMISOM forces are working with the Somali National Army (SNA) and the police to increase check points on all routes into urban centres. Urban centres have been al-Shabaab's main targets during Ramadhan, planting improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in busy areas like markets, restaurants, hotels, mosques and security installations. "al-Shabaab is not in one place, they keep propping up which requires us to be vigilant," L'Okech said. In most of its attacks, al-Shabaab uses IEDs - loaded on vehicles that are driven into their target points. The AMISOM supply routes are sometimes also planted with IEDs that have left a number of trucks destroyed and some personnel injured. W hether breathing fresh life into an already lauded play or resurrecting a flop, it could be an intimidating prospect for a director to take on a script with so much history behind it. We love seeing old favourites - and new favourites for that matter - coming back to London so weve rounded up some of the best theatre revivals coming up in the city. You can bet that you havent seen the last of any of these fantastic scripts. Company Company set the Tony Award record in 1971 with fourteen nominations. Sondheims musical, which revolves around protagonist Bobbys inability to settle down, has been showered with accolades each time it has returned. The most recent iteration is somewhat different: the upcoming production is led by War Horse, Angels in America and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time director Marianne Elliott, who has changed the lead role to Bobbi, played by Rosalie Craig. Sondheim has given his blessing to the gender-switch for the first time. September 26 to December 22, Gielgud Theatre; gielgudtheatre.co.uk Follies Another Sondheim classic is Follies. First gracing Broadway in 1971, Follies was the most costly production seen so far, running for 500 shows and losing all of its investment. It was ultimately worth it though, returning time and again with stellar casts. Imelda Staunton helped bring the National Theatres 2017 to sell out audiences and Olivier Awards. Its storming success means we will see it return to the London stage in 2019 (albeit with different casting). Opens February 14, National Theatre; nationaltheatre.org.uk Caroline or Change In 2004, Caroline, or Change bowled over audiences and critics alike, with Aniki Noni Rose in the lead as Caroline. The story is set loosely on Tony Kushners life and the maid of a family in Louisiana, but with added singing inanimate objects. This revival saw Sharon D Clarke steer the musical to rave reviews (five stars from the Standard) at Chichester and Hampstead Theatre. While its not as old as some of the others, it has just as much history and is sure to inspire just as many reprisals in the future. Clarke returns in the lead role at the Playhouse Theatre this November. November 20 to February 9, Playhouse Theatre Summer and Smoke Written in 1948, Tennessee Williams Summer and Smoke didnt quite generate the same hype as his previous smash A Streetcar Named Desire. But a revival a couple of years later starring a legendary performance from Geraldine Page is credited with starting the Off-Broadway movement. The 2018 revival, starring Patsy Ferran and Matthew Needham, sold out its run in February at the Almeida Theatre, prompting a transfer to the Duke of Yorks Theatre. Ferran and Needham play Alma and John, who meet one summer in Mississippi, but their differing desires and obligations clash. November 10-January 19, Duke of Yorks Theatre Summer and Smoke - in pictures 1 /9 Summer and Smoke - in pictures Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Summer and Smoke - in pictures Marc Brenner Twelfth Night Kwame Kwei-Armah takes on Shakespeare for his first season in charge of the Young Vic. This is Twelfth Night with a twist - its a musical adaptation. Combining jazz and R&B melodies with the Bards gender-bending tale of unrequited love and confusion has music and lyrics by Shaina Taub. Having premiered in the US with Public Theater in 2016, this production will feature a community chorus from Southwark and Lambeth. October 2 - November 17, Young Vic; youngvic.org Don Quixote Helen Maybanks Originally playing at the RSCs Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon to great applause in 2016, this adaptation of Cervantes novel by James Fenton makes a welcome return in its move to London. With David Threlfall in the title role and Rufus Hound playing his long-suffering squire, Angus Jackson directs the production at the Garrick Theatre. Losing his grip on reality, self-styled knight Don Quixote goes off on a farcical adventure with his sidekick Sancho Panza through medieval Spain. October 27-February 2, Garrick Theatre I and You Lauren Gunderson wrote I and You in 2014, winning the American Theatre Critics Association new play award. Last year she was the most produced playwright in America after Shakespeare. Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams makes her stage debut at Hampstead Theatre in this story of how a girl, housebound through illness, with nothing but Instagram for company forms a deep bond with a Walt Whitman-loving teen boy. October 18 - November 24, Hampstead Theatre; hampsteadtheatre.com True West Another Game of Thrones star makes the journey over to stage. Kit Harington isnt new to the West End, but he has been away for a while. Sam Shepards play True West was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1983, and has seen the two leads played by Tommy Lee Jones, John Malkovich, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Mark Rylance. Harington stars across from Johnny Flynn as warring brothers Austin and Lee. November 23-February 16, Vaudeville Theatre Antony and Cleopatra Shakespeares play about one of historys most famous couples has been performed time and again - the RSCs production ran at Barbican at the beginning of this year. Now the National are in on the act with this much anticipated show starring Ralph Fiennes and Sophie Okonedo as the fated pair and directed by Simon Godwin. Politics and passion become intertwined when General Mark Antony falls in love with the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. September 18-January 19, National Theatre; nationaltheatre.org.uk Where to watch Shakespeare in London 1 /7 Where to watch Shakespeare in London Hamlet - Young Vic Dean Chalkley Where to watch Shakespeare in London & Juliet - Shaftesbury Theatre Romeo and Juliet - Shakespeare's Globe Getty Images Where to watch Shakespeare in London Upstart Crow - Gielgud Theatre BBC/Colin Hutton Where to watch Shakespeare in London Romeo and Juliet - National Theatre Where to watch Shakespeare in London The Taming of the Shrew - Sam Wanamaker's Playhouse (Johan Perrson) Where to watch Shakespeare in London Romeo and Juliet - Regent's Park Open Air Theatre Measure for Measure Another twist on a Shakespearean classic. Measure for Measure at the Donmar Warehouse goes the whole hog with gender-swapping. Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden will both play Angelo and Isabella, switching halfway through the play. This experimental piece from artistic director Josie Rourke will be a world-first. K udos is the final instalment in Rachel Cusks semi-fictional trilogy, which began in 2014 with Outline and continued in 2016 with Transit. Like its predecessors, Kudos is a triumph, a highly original work filled with perfectly-honed sentences that puts most contemporary fiction to shame and marks a brilliant return to form for Cusk, who suffered badly after over-exposing herself in memoir form. While her early novels established her as a sarkily-gifted observer of the middle classes, it wasnt until 2001 that she set the cat among the pigeons with her landmark motherhood misery memoir, A Lifes Work, about the horrors of pregnancy, childbirth and loss of self. It divided critics: some loved her for saying the unsayable, while others savaged her for being an unfit mother. Eleven years and several books later, Cusk did it again with Aftermath, a candid, vitriolic account of her divorce from Adrian Clarke and the ensuing fallout over their two daughters. It was over-written and teetering on deranged. Journalist Camilla Long won the Hatchet Job of the Year award for her review of it, trashing Cusk as a brittle little dominatrix and peerless narcissist who exploits her husband and her marriage with relish, while Cusk herself told one interviewer, without wishing to sound melodramatic, it was creative death after Aftermath. That was the end. I was heading into total silence. Apparently Cusk was unable to put pen to paper for nearly three years afterwards, but what then emerged, Outline, was not quite silence, although its new narrative structure suggested that she had silenced a part of herself. The first-person narrator, named just once in 247 pages as Faye, was, like Cusk, a middle-aged writer with two children, fresh from her marriage break-up, travelling to Athens to teach a writing workshop. What followed were 10 short stories: encounters with different characters related as a series of conversations or near monologues as each revealed details of their lives, while Faye remained a near silent, impassive listener, barely reciprocating but still ruthlessly observant. Then came Transit, in which Faye returned to London with her sons and bought a house. While it exposed more details about her life than Outline had, the book retained a similar structure. Fayes conversations again involved people she encountered daily, from the estate agent and her hairdresser to an ex-boyfriend, each of whom would tell her about their lives. These stories were really vehicles to express Cusks thoughts on subjects such as responsibility, loss of freedom and loneliness, with a formal constraint that had been so lacking in her previous work. And here now is Kudos, in style closer to Outline than Transit, but with conversations that have been abstracted further still. Once again Faye is travelling, to a literary festival in southern Europe. With its description of a national fare of pastel de nata custard tarts, the location bears a resemblance to Portugal, where Cusk attended a literary festival last May. Her acid put-downs of selfregarding journalists too busy talking about themselves to ask her questions are beautifully savage if a little overdone, but who can blame her? One journalist tells Faye all about her marriage, before concluding I think I have everything I need In fact, I looked up all the details before I came. Its what we journalists do nowadays. Another gets angry when told his allotted time with her is up, having done nothing but posture. Female characters voice Cusks ambivalence towards feminism; shes certainly no card-carrying member of the sisterhood and women in general seem to dislike her. An attractive television presenter confides that the power of beauty is a useful weapon that too often women disparage or misuse, while another, a divorcee, says her own mother despises her for having got it so wrong. Look at what all your equality has done for you the men no longer respect you and can treat you like the dirt on their shoe. As for what happens when a group of women get together, writes Cusk, far from advancing the cause of femininity, they end up pathologising it. The suffering of children from broken relationships runs like a thread through the book, especially when fathers manipulate them to punish the mothers, as tends to be the way in Cusks world. Faye reveals how her son once wished he had belonged to a different family, such as the family of a friend, where huge comforting meals were served and where everything was discussed but nothing examined, so that there was no danger of passing through the mirror, as he had put it, into the state of painful self-awareness where human fictions lose their credibility, until eventually realising that far from being consoling, those mealtimes were a yoke, he now saw, by which the parents sought to bind their children to them and to perpetuate, as he saw it, the family myth... So Cusk has found a new way to say the things she has always said: quieter, but to devastating effect. O f the 70,453 emails I received flogging products off the back of the poor, blameless royal baby, one of the most surprising was for Biotulin, a miracle gel which, according to the sender, is the reason the Duchess of Postpartum Amazingness looked so great. That she recommended said gel to her good friends Michelle n Meghan (Obama and Markle, duh) is allegedly the reason they both look so great, too. Naturally, Im sold. Slather me in Biotulin, baby. No one is more susceptible to miracle skincare claims than a pollution-addled Londoner past the first flush of youth. You know the most traumatic thing about ageing? Watching all your peers look dramatically plumper, firmer and smoother, while you stand there like a raddled crone. In the quest to remain Botox/filler-free, there are no rewards. Why am I even bothering? Its like Im playing a game with myself called: How Long Can I Hold Out? Nobody gives a f*** how long I hold out. My family wouldnt even notice if I came home one day with lips like Jackie Stallone. When youre a Botox refusenik, you become an expert on non-invasive procedures. The best facial is Skinwork (at Alex Eagle; Mick Jagger and Sam Taylor Johnson are fans). The best non-injectable skin specialist is Debbie Thomas. The best DIY treatment is a 25 rose quartz sculpting tool (a leading plastic surgeon told its biochemist creator that if women spent two minutes a day massaging their face, he would see 80 per cent fewer clients). And the best skincare for those serious about preserving their youth is bespoke. Swiss brand Allel (available at the Cadogan Clinic) tailors its skincare according to the results of a DNA test that studies 16 genetic markers: at 1,500 (which includes three months of products) its not cheap, but neither is a Restylane habit. The market for personalised skincare is predicted to grow hugely: the Me generation expects nothing less. If you want to age gracefully with no more sophisticated an arsenal than gallons of filtered water and a pot of cold cream, move to Denmark. This is London: we all need to do whatever it takes. Mis-quoted They started off being quite sweet, but TFLs Quotes of the Day, generally written up on a whiteboard are beginning to grate a bit. During the heatwave please dress for the body you have not the body you want! quoth the missive greeting hapless passengers at Blackhorse Road station last week. Nobody wants a side order of body-shaming with their morning commute. Stick with the Shakespeare quotes. Fringe Benefits Twice a year, I go to George Northwoods salon and get my hair cut by Roi, an affable bloke whom Tatler once described as extremely attractive. I saw Roi on Tuesday and, as always, tried to pump him for hair trends. Everyones growing out their fringes, he said. I waited for more. Nothing was forthcoming. I cant spin a column out of that, I told him. Pause. Maybe Ill write about you. Roi looked nonplussed, as nonchalantly talented hairdressers are wont to do. The problem with writing about Roi is that, while he does everyone and I mean everyone its bad form to name them. So I wont. Meanwhile, Daniel Hersheson has defected from Conduit Street and opened a shiny new salon round the corner from Georges, at 29 Berners Street. Seems like Fitzrovia is Mayfairs new, um, hair apparent. I wish some cool London hairdresser or other would open a salon named like a bad 1980s pun. Million Hairs? Sherlock Combs? I think theyd do well. D ivorce rates are at the highest theyve been in a decade. The Office for National Statistics announced this last year, adding that the average UK marriage lasts just 12 years. It was cheery reading for my fiance and I, fresh from posting our Save the Date to friends and family. In Kensington, a similar tale played out, minus the trip to the Post Office on Mare Street. The royal household announced that our zingiber Prince was, like me, to marry his sweetheart later this month. And our wedding date is not the only thing Miss Markle and I have in common. No, Im not a princess in waiting with crossover on our guest list. I, like Meghan, am a divorcee. Like her too, I was with my ex-husband for seven years before getting engaged. Youd think seven years was enough time to be sure I was doing the right thing it turns out marrying at 24 isnt a smart move if you havent yet grown into the person youd like to be. In the UK there are still only five ways to get divorced. The process is archaic and it takes much longer to get out of than a wedding ceremony, even if you share no children or assets. Grounds of adultery or unreasonable behaviour are the fastest two options. Its baffling to think that in 2018 that the reason (most people) get married falling in love cannot be reversed as the reason to get divorced. Heading into a second marriage, surrounded by statistics that say how unlikely it is to last, how expensive itll be to perform at least 15,000, which is presumably why more than 50 per cent of couples now ask for cash as a wedding gift isnt a decision I take lightly. For Meghan, the pressure is even higher. Even if the aisle is beautifully nestled within the grounds of Windsor Castle and you dont have to pay for your dress, walking down any aisle again, let alone walking down to meet a Prince on the worlds stage, is not something you could do without a lot of soul-searching. Second timers tell me the second one is the best (I tell them not to gift my never-been-wed-fiance with this insight). And although saying I do almost a decade after I tried felt like an easy decision initially, the months that followed were filled with questions and self-doubt. Royal Wedding: What will Meghan Markle wear on her wedding day? The crippling sense of failure you experience as a divorcee-to-be is horrible and unexpected. Declaring I do in front of all of your loved ones is a big deal. To then say I cant. Or in my case, I wont - can be extremely difficult. The shame and uncertainty that filled my head back then appeared in the months after I became engaged for the second time. Was I making the same mistake again? When a mother holds her newborn child, the halo effect is attributed to the euphoric feelings that magically wash away the pain of the labour. I had a similar experience, but for me the birth was my decree absolute. And the labour was my divorce. My pain is not forgotten. Its still there and as accessible as Netflix. But its a manageable pain. A place I draw strength from to protect myself. A place that allows me to say hand on heart, in front of everybody I love, that I am utterly in love with the man Im marrying. And I know, Ive been there, man. The differences between Meghans second wedding and mine are many, as are the differences between my second wedding and my first. My new love and I met on an old-fashioned app called Tinder (its all about meeting people in a gender-fluid changing room or an Uber pool these days). That alone is a world apart from how I met my first husband (as a teenage waitress in my local village pub). This time Im a grown- up and in my self-imposed dont-let-history-repeat-itself quest, I will be doing a speech. I love my father dearly and I cant wait to dance with him (again) at my (second) wedding but the thought of him using the same speech content as before was a bit much. My decision to talk at my second wedding is more than an excuse to make my friends laugh. Its a sign to show all of those present that Im not passive. That I have found my voice and Im entering this marriage being heard. Most couples in their thirties even those who look miserable are incessantly questioned about when theyre going to get married. The average age to marry in the UK is 28, so by the time I hit 32 Id been asked a thousand times when I was going to settle down. If I was in a good mood Id reply well, Ive done it before and hes in no rush, so leaning on my past as an excuse for my future. Meghan Markle's handbag collection 1 /30 Meghan Markle's handbag collection Anzac Day Service of Commemoration Getty Images Bag: Jimmy Choo, 721 Getty Images Anzac Day Dawn Service Getty Images Bag: Gucci, 625 Getty Images Stephen Lawrence Memorial Service Getty Images Bag: Wilbur & Gussie, 205 Getty Images The Queen's Birthday Party Concert Getty Images Bag: Naeem Khan, 1,067 Getty Images The Invictus Games Reception at Australia House PA Wire/PA Images Bag: Roland Mouret, 695 Getty Images Women's Empowerment Reception Getty Images Bag: Gucci, 625 Getty Images Commonwealth Youth Forum Getty Images Bag: Oroton, 171 AFP/Getty Images Visit to Belfast Getty Images Bag: Charlotte Elizabeth, 175 AFP/Getty Images Commonwealth Day Service AFP/Getty Images Bag: Mulberry, 550 AFP/Getty Images Visit to Birmingham Chris Jackson/Getty Images Bag: Altuzarra, 1,160 AFP/Getty Images First Official Visit to Scotland Getty Images Bag: Strathberry, 395 Getty Images The Endeavour Fund Awards Ceremony Getty Images Bag: Prada, 1,823 Getty Images Walkabout at Cardiff Castle Chris Jackson/Getty Images Bag: DeMillier London, 295 Chris Jackson/Getty Images Christmas Day Church Service AFP/Getty Images Bag: Chloe, 1,055 Getty Images First Official Engagement In Nottingham Getty Images Strathberry, 455 AFP/Getty Images Drawing up my guest list was an interesting way of reassessing whos still in my life and who I want in my future. I cant imagine Meghan has much say on whos invited but I hope when she scans the room shell see the faces she needs to make her feel grounded. When you go through a big life change, you really do work out who your friends are. In lieu of a hen party I recently filled a room with my favourite humans to throw a big party and say a big old sloppy thank you. Its not an easy thing sticking by somebody whos newly divorced, in pain, partying and living like theyre 18 when theyre 28. But my friends did just that and I love them all the more for it. Like Harry, my partner has never been married before, claiming hed never found the right person. We did speak at length about his feelings around my previous marriage OK, I spoke at length and tried to coax out his true feelings through humorous bullying. He said it honestly didnt bother him at all, noting if I hadnt ended the marriage, or if I clearly still had feelings for my ex or had children together it would perhaps have been different. For me, coming out of a divorce was a liberating process. The world outside looked brighter and I immediately moved from Cambridge to London to start my new life. The blossom sparkled and I warned my best friend not to come and stay with me for a while because my happiness had reached Disney-levels of insufferable. But behind my new smile I did feel tainted. I imagine Meghan feels similar. Divorce scars you but it also makes you stronger. Theres no compromising this time around. No inviting people for the sake of politeness. Weddings naturally bring about enough pressure, money, family, the bloody cake without the added need to please others outside of the newlyweds. Read more from Business Insider UK Meet the Instagram-famous travel blogging couple who get paid up to 7,000 to post a single photo What it's really like to swap city life to live on one of the most remote islands in the world A woman who travels the world taking stock photos tells us how you can make 6,000 from a single image Read the original article on Business Insider UK 2017. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter A s Brits, we get a limited amount of direct sunlight exposure and so sunscreen is essential when going on a summer holiday. Sunscreen helps to prevent UV radiation from reaching the skin, as UV rays can damage the skin, cause premature ageing and increasing your risk of skin cancer. This we know. In Hawaii, though, a new legislation has made it illegal for certain sunscreens to be sold. Senator Will Espero wrote on Twitter: We passed SB2571 which bans the sale of sunscreen with oxybenzone and octinoxate which harms our coral reefs. Hawaii is the first state in the nation to pass a measure of this magnitude. The world was watching. We delivered. Preserve and protect our ocean environment. People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} The new legislation prohibits the sale and distribution of any sunscreen that contains the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. The only way you can use these sunscreens if with a prescription from a doctor. UK's top beaches - in pictures 1 /10 UK's top beaches - in pictures Bournemouth Beach, Bournemouth, Dorset TripAdvisor Luskentyre, Isle of Harris, Scotland TripAdvisor Rhossili Bay, Rhossili, Wales TripAdvisor Brighton Beach, Brighton, East Sussex TripAdvisor Weymouth Beach, Weymouth, Dorset TripAdvisor St. Brelades Bay Beach, St Brelade, Jersey TripAdvisor Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth, Dorset TripAdvisor Three Cliffs Bay, Swansea, Wales TripAdvisor Fistral Beach, Newquay, Cornwall TripAdvisor Barafundle Beach, Stackpole, Wales TripAdvisor Studies have revealed that chemicals found in some popular sunscreens can be harmful to ocean ecosystems. One study by Haereticus Environmental Laboratory found these chemicals seep into young coral and contribute to coral bleaching. The legislation will now go to the office of the Hawaiian Governor and, if signed, will go into effect from January 1, 2021. Luckily, to protect our skin as well as the environment we can opt for natural sunscreens. These sunscreens are made out of minerals, not chemicals and reflect the suns rays. Some great natural sunscreens are Green People Sun Lotion SPF 15 (6; greenpeople.co.uk), Annemarie Borlind Sun Care Screen SPF 30 (18.03; amazon.co.uk) and UVBIO Sunscreen SPF 50 (26.19; ecco-verde.co.uk). O ne of the subsidary's of Europes fastest growing airlines has today been given permission to operate out of UK airports. Wizz Air UK - a subsidary of the larger Wizz Air Holdings - has been granted an Air Operators Certificate and Operating Licence by the United Kingdoms Civil Aviation Authority. This will ensure the airline can continue to operate in the UK after Brexit. The new branch will begin operations today, May 3, out of their headquarters at Londons Luton airport with the first flight between Luton and Bucharest, Romania. By the end of 2018, Wizz Air UK expects to have eight new Airbus A320 and Airbus A321 aircrafts and will have created 300 new jobs. People. Fashion. Power. Delivered weekly. Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} It will fly to destinations such as Larnaca, Tirana, Tallinn, Bratislava, Lviv, Athens, Keflavik and Bari with fares staring as low as 13.99. Jozsef Varadi, Chief Executive Officer at Wizz Air said in a statement: Today marks the start of a new era in air travel in the United Kingdom, as we celebrate Wizz Air UKs first flight following the approval of its UK operating licence. While Wizz Air UK is a key part of our Brexit contingency plan, it is also the first genuine ultra-low cost carrier licensed in the UK and the natural next-step in the development of our UK business. 10 cheapest city break destinations for 2018 - in pictures 1 /10 10 cheapest city break destinations for 2018 - in pictures Riga, Latvia Shutterstock Vilnius, Lithuania Shutterstock Lisbon, Portugal Pixabay Moscow, Russia Pixabay Krakow, Poland Pixabay Prague, Czech Republic Pixabay Athens, Greece Shutetrstock Budapest, Hungary Pixabay Warsaw, Poland Pixabay Lille, France Shutterstock P olice officers tackled a teenager to the ground after violence erupted outside the funeral for stabbed burglar Henry Vincent. Today, a funeral procession of black limousines left Vincents house in Swanley to travel to St Marys Church, near his family home in Orpington, Kent. A Met Police spokesman said a male, believed to be in his teens, was arrested on suspicion of assault at 1.15pm on Orpington High Street. He has been released pending investigation. Tensions mounted outside the church as mourners reportedly "threw eggs and rocks" at the press. Police pin a man to the ground outside Henry Vincent's funeral / Tony Kershaw / SWNS.com LBC's Mike Hughes told the station: "Chaos has descended here. In my 10 years as a journalist, I have never felt so under threat. Tensions ran high between the police and Vincent mourners / SWNS "I've had bottles thrown in my face. I am covered in egg, which was pelted at me. Police patrol where Henry Vincent was killed whilst burgling a house / PA "It all came from members of the funeral cortege. I was surrounded by people who were very angry, very upset and became very violent, very quickly." Vincent was killed while robbing a pensioner's home in Hither Green / EPA Around 200 people are believed to have attended the funeral / PA Vincent, 37, was stabbed during a struggle with pensioner at Richard Osborn-Brooks home in Hither Green on April 4. He died at the scene. Birthday tributes to Hither Green burglar taken down 1 /5 Birthday tributes to Hither Green burglar taken down The road after the floral tributes in Hither Green were removed. Isobel Frodsham People remove floral tributes in Hither Green. Isobel Frodsham People remove floral tributes in Hither Green. Isobel Frodsham Friends and relatives of Henry Vincent bring birthday tributes to the scene earlier in the day. PA Wire/PA Images Friends and relatives of Henry Vincent bring birthday tributes to the scene earlier in the day. PA Wire/PA Images Officials said the procession was not expected to pass Mr Osborn-Brookss home and residents were asked to move the cars. One resident, named only as "Dave", said: "I'm just a concerned local resident...I believe [the funeral] is due to happen to take place between 1.30pm and 2.30pm but we've planned to have people here all day." He told ITV: "Unless the police are going to stand here physically and stop me doing it then I'm gonna carry on blocking the road. "Rather than driving around wasting petrol, they could just park up here." A man has stabbed his co-worker to death after a row over a staff room light switch at an US airport, police say. The argument, involving three workers at Philadelphia International Airport, happened at about 11.30am local time on Thursday. Police said one worker turned off the light in the room, angering another employee. A third worker then pulled out a knife, cutting the victim, a 28-year-old man, across the stomach. He was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead. The other two workers are understood to have fled the scene but were soon detained by police. The three men work for a company that cleans planes for Frontier Airlines, a Philadelphia Police spokesman added. The incident happened in a secure area near Gate E6. A fashion designer wept in court as she admitted attacking her French nanny but insisted "it doesn't make me a murderer". Sabrina Kouider and her partner, Ouissem Medouni, are accused of torturing and killing Sophie Lionnet before dumping her body on a bonfire. The couple had allegedly become obsessed the 21-year-old was conspiring to drug and molest the family with Kouider's ex-boyfriend Mark Walton, the founder of Boyzone, the Old Bailey has heard. They have blamed each another for her death last September, each saying they were asleep at the time. Under cross-examination, Kouider, 35, sobbed as she was challenged on how often she had attacked Miss Lionnet at her home in Wimbledon, south-west London. Orlando Pownall QC, representing Medouni, said: "How many times did you accept you assaulted Sophie?" Kouider replied: "I told you I don't want to discuss that anymore because I'm not proud of myself." When pressed, she said: "Once when I hit her with a cable and a second time when I pushed her, and again a third time. "I never deny I did hit Sophie, it doesn't make me a murderer." Victim: Sophie Lionnet was killed last September / Facebook Kouider told jurors that while Miss Lionnet was living with her they had a "good time" together, doing a makeover and chatting over cups of tea. But Mr Pownall read a passage from a note Miss Lionnet appeared to have written to her employer saying there was "no reason to insult me" and call her names. Mr Pownall asked about hours of taped interrogations about Mr Walton, which culminated in a videoed confession shortly before Miss Lionnet died. He said: "You were saying to her if you want to go (home) you have to admit to this. Kouider admitted she was trying to trick her into a confession. Jurors were played extracts of the taped interrogations in which Miss Lionnet was quietly sobbing in the background after a loud slapping sound. Kouider denied she had slapped her, saying she had done it to herself. Mr Pownall gave examples of Kouider's alleged "obsession and imaginings" including spiders in the house and helicopters hovering above. Kouider insisted the helicopters were down to "Mark Walton and his friends". Becoming emotional, she said: "I saw the same one at least 20 times." Turning to the jury, she said: "I can see the jury making a joke of me. I'm telling you what I saw and this is not a joke. I wish you could see who is Mark Walton. "We are here about Sophie; we are not here about helicopters and I don't know what." Kouider denied the suggestion she stamped and kicked Miss Lionnet up to three days before her death, fracturing four ribs and cracking her sternum. And when it was alleged she was responsible for the nanny's death in the bath, Kouider said: "I did not kill Sophie. He (Medouni) is the one who murdered her. "He used me because he saw me, the way I was shaking, and not feeling well and he said if I go to prison Mark Walton will come and hurt me. When he made love to me he said to me 'this is going to be the last time'." Concluding his questioning, Mr Pownall said Medouni, 40, could not stand up to Kouider or keep her obsession with Mr Walton in check. He said: "He knew that if he resisted your obsessive allegations, you would shout at him. The mirror of Mr Medouni shows somebody who is not violent, passive, should have been more assertive, should have controlled you but didn't. "You have this obsession with Mark Walton and sex. You are somebody who has been violent to many many people." Kouider responded: "I can shout, I can argue but it does not make me a murderer." The defendants have admitted perverting the course of justice but deny murder. The trial continues. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body Auburn University is helping minority youth to discover first-hand how agriculture, engineering, technology and natural resources relate to the world around them and to experience the excitement of academic excellence, leadership, technical development and teamwork. Attended by 132 students from 40 schools located across the state, Auburn Universitys School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences recently hosted the first Alabama Jr. Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences Leadership Institute, or MANRRS, to stimulate interest in science, technology, engineering, agricultural and mathematics fields. MANRRS is a national program with chapters located at colleges and universities throughout the country. Created to support long-term academic success and leadership development of minorities, the Jr. MANRRS program serves to encourage junior high and high school students to attend college and pursue degrees in agriculture, natural resources and related sciences. For those minority students wishing to pursue forestry and natural resources management degrees at Auburn, the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences offers generous scholarships through the African American Alumni Endowed Scholarship and the Resource Management Service Annual Scholarship. In addition to increasing and expanding the awareness of young people regarding career choices and possibilities, Jr. MANRRS provides a networking opportunity that includes meeting new people, making contacts and creating a foundation for professional relationship building. We wanted the students to know that there are many career choices and to get a chance for them to explore those career opportunities with varying professionals, said Michelle Cole, an outreach coordinator with the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and co-advisor for Auburns MANRRS and Jr. MANRRS. Some of the activities included a team building exercise, an impromptu speaking contest, a dress for success presentation and a college prep awareness forum. Our goal was for the students to learn about science and how it relates to everyday life and how it could be fun, Cole said. Brenda Allen, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences assistant professor of urban forestry and faculty advisor for Auburns MANRRS and Jr. MANRRS, said she believes Jr. MANRRS is a good way to teach and strengthen leadership skills in students which can be used in all aspects in their lives. At the same time we are also introducing them to science, technology, engineering and mathematics, also known as the STEM disciplines, said Allen. Brandi Douglas, a parent whose children attended the Jr. MANRRS Leadership Institute, believes the experience was very beneficial to her daughters. As a parent, I loved watching my girls branch out into leadership positions and learn new and exciting concepts. As an educator, I appreciated the value of the learning experiences that they received at the conference. It had a positive impact on my girls and Im sure they will use what they learned while attending, she said. Lillian Douglas, a fifth-grade student at Prattville Middle School, said she was so inspired by Jr. MANRRS that she is considering starting a program at her own school. I would probably want to start a Jr. MANRRS at my school because of the fact that a lot of people at my school love planting, they love animals, and I believe that it will be like a really fun thing for me and my classmates and my peers to do, she said. The program was made possible with the support of LaRay Martin Transportation, Marcus Washington, Toyota Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, USDA Veterinary Services and Weyerhaeuser and major sponsors, including Auburns College of Agriculture and the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences. Exhibitors who participated in the event included Auburns Office of Admissions and Outreach, the Colleges of Agriculture, Science and Mathematics, School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Army Corp of Engineers, National MANRRS organization and the U.S. Forest Service. Because this years Jr. MANRRS Leadership Institute was so successful, Cole said there are plans to make it an annual event which will rotate among the three chapters located within the state. Although established to benefit minorities, MANRRS offers opportunities for all students. A smartphone app that predicts whether pregnant women are likely to go into labour early is being trialled in hospitals across London. It aims to provide reassurance to the majority of women who will not give birth within a week of experiencing symptoms, and to avoid unnecessary treatment and hospital admissions. The QUiPP app was designed at Kings College London and Guys and St Thomas hospitals, and has proved effective in two smaller studies. Now 580 women will take part in a year-long research project at 13 hospitals including Chelsea and Westminster, UCLH, Lewisham, and The Royal London. Pregnancy: It aims to reassure women and avoid unnecessary treatment and hospital admissions / PA Wire/PA Images About 60,000 babies are born prematurely in the UK each year, putting them at higher risk of health problems. Professor Andrew Shennan, consultant obstetrician at Guys and St Thomas and chief investigator, said: The more accurately we can predict risk of preterm birth the better we can manage a womans pregnancy to ensure the safest possible birth. It can be difficult to accurately assess a womans risk given that many who show symptoms of preterm labour do not go on to deliver early. The app calculates risk based on a womans history of premature births, her cervical length measurement, and the level of fetal fibronectin, a glue that binds the amniotic sac to the lining of the uterus. Study coordinator Dr Katy Kuhrt said: Women are often admitted or transferred to other hospitals just in case and given medication like corticosteroids. This means maternity beds and neonatal cots are blocked, which can be hugely costly to the NHS. Jo Deery, 36, a mother of three who had suffered seven miscarriages, benefited from the app at St Thomas in 2015. The research nurse from Margate said she had been told that there were concerns with the pregnancy: I felt panic and was sick to my stomach that I was going to lose my baby again. The doctors used QUiPP and it turned out my chance of going into preterm labour was very small. I was able to go home and it gave me peace of mind. I carried my son Cooper to full term. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has launched an independent review after he revealed a computer error dating back to 2009 meant many women aged 68 to 71 in England were not invited to their final routine screening. He admitted 450,000 women could be affected, and that between 135 and 270 women could have had their lives shortened as a result. Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, said it was a "colossal systemic failure". Jeremy Hunt apologises 'wholeheartedly and unreservedly' for breast screening failures Widower Brian Gough said his wife Trixie never received a letter inviting her to go for a screening in 2009 - and that a scan in October 2010 revealed she had stage-three breast cancer. The 77-year-old from Norfolk told the Press Association he was watching the television on Wednesday when the news of the screening error broke, leaving him "shell shocked". Upset: Brian Gough and his wife Trixie Gough, 76, from Norfolk, who died three days after Christmas in 2015 from breast cancer / PA "There has always got to be some blame these things don't just happen ... it is never the computer that goes wrong it is the person that put the information in or took it out," he said. On Wednesday Mr Hunt said "administrative incompetence" meant some families may have lost, or may be about to lose, a loved one to cancer. Apology: Jeremy Hunt addresses MPs / Parliament TV Women in England between the ages of 50 and 70 are currently automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years. The issue was first brought to the attention of the Department of Health and Social Care in January, but was initially thought to pose a "limited" risk to patients. It was escalated to ministers in March by PHE following an urgent clinical review, with the Government told the error should not be made public to ensure existing screening services were not overwhelmed. Despite his shock, Mr Gough said he admired the Health Secretary for "getting up and not trying to hide the truth". Scandal: Trixie's grieving husband has described his shock at realising his wife is possibly among those whose lives were cut short due to a breast cancer screening error / PA He said his wife of 56 years died three days after Christmas in 2015, and that the 76-year-old never once complained during her cancer ordeal. Mr Gough said she missed the wedding of her grandson as she was too ill to attend, and died just before her granddaughter's nuptials. "All of that she missed because she didn't get diagnosed and she didn't know anything about it until a year too late," he said. Trixie with her family during her treatment / PA Baroness Morgan said Breast Cancer Now welcomed the inquiry to ensure similar mistakes cannot be made. She said: "It is beyond belief that this major mistake has been sustained for almost a decade and we need to know why this has been allowed to happen. Patricia Minchin, 75, said she was not offered a screening in 2013 when she turned 70, and is battling breast cancer, which has also spread to other parts of her body. The grandmother and mother-of-four from Bushey, Hertfordshire told the Telegraph: "I feel so disappointed. I don't know if I'm going to survive. I would like an explanation from somebody why this happened, why I didn't get a recall. "I feel absolutely let down. I worked for the National Health Service all my life, I was a nurse." Of those who missed invitations, 309,000 are estimated to still be alive and all those living in the UK who are registered with a GP will be contacted before the end of May. All women who were not sent an invitation for their final screening will be given the opportunity to have a new appointment. Those under the age of 72 will receive an appointment letter informing them of the time and date, while those over 72 will also be offered a screening and have access to a helpline to decide if it will be beneficial. The helpline for those who think they may be affected is 0800 169 2692. W omen face delays in undergoing routine or urgent breast scans following the NHS cancer screening fiasco, doctors warned today. A shortage of radiologists across the NHS, as well as the technicians who perform the scans, will make it a challenge to perform the thousands of extra scans necessary by October, the Royal College of Radiologists said. Between 135 and 270 women may have died prematurely after not being called for their final routine mammogram since 2009 due to an IT error. Women under 72 are now being contacted and invited at attend a catch-up check to see if breast cancer has been missed. Technical error: women have missed out on screenings / PA The royal college said the 79 NHS breast screening units, of which there are seven in London, were already stretched to the limit. The units are often located alongside symptomatic screening services for women, often under 50, who are referred urgently by a GP after experiencing symptoms, such as the discovery of a suspicious lump. Such women would typically undergo an ultrasound scan rather than a mammogram, but performed by the same staff. There are about 380 radiologist vacancies in the NHS. Dr Caroline Rubin, a vice-president of the Royal College of Radiologists, told the Standard: Its going to be a challenge for the screening programme. It has the potential to impact on the symptomatic programme, because the same staff cover both aspects. If you prioritise one, it can impact on the other. Obviously services will do their best, but there is nowhere we can magic staff out of the ether from. Jeremy Hunt apologises 'wholeheartedly and unreservedly' for breast screening failures Mammograms should be conducted every three years for women aged 50 to 70. An IT fault resulted in 450,000 women aged 68 to 71 not receiving their final check-up. Of these, the 309,000 women who are still alive will be offered a catch-up scan. Those under 72 will receive a letter by the end of May, while those over 72 have been told to call a phone line (0800 169 2692). Public Health England said extra capacity was being identified to carry out the scans. Women must receive their results within two weeks of a scan, and undergo any follow-up check within three weeks. A street bonfire to celebrate a Jewish holiday erupted like a bomb leaving 10 people injured, shocked witnesses said. Seven of the injured were taken to hospital after the blast sent a fireball into the crowd at the Lag BaOmer event in Stamford Hill last night. Witnesses said children were among those hit outside a synagogue. Video footage shows members of the community standing around the bonfire as it exploded moments after being lit with a torch. The fire is traditionally made from cotton wool soaked in olive oil. It has been claimed locally that some children had poured petrol or another accelerant onto it before it was lit. Stamford Hill: an explosion erupted from the bonfire / Hatzola Witnesses claimed the explosion happened after a rabbi threw a mobile phone on to the fire having given a speech warning about the dangers of smartphones and the negative impact on young minds. Rabbi Osher Shapiro was at the front of the crowd when it was being lit. He said: He [the local rabbi] did put a smartphone on the bonfire. It is wrong to suggest that it caused the problem. The phone did not cause the explosion. It went up very fast. It was just a metal frame covered in cotton wool and olive oil. There were hundreds of children there and a lot of them were at the front to get a better view. Luckily there were barriers. Without those, the injuries could have been worse. Rabbi Shapiro added: Putting the phone on the fire is symbolic to show the negative impact they can have on young people. Paramedics rushed to treat those who were injured in the explosion / London Ambulance Service/Twitter Paramedics arrived in Ravensdale Road just before 9.30pm and treated 10 people at the scene. Those taken to hospital suffered minor burns and injuries. Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer emergency medical service, said it provided a mega response team and said multiple patients were treated at the scene. Rachel Szwarc was at the event with her children aged four, six and eight. She said: It went off like a bomb, people were screaming and shouting and tearing off their clothes because they were on fire. Everyone was trying to find their children. The children were all at the front to get a better view so they were the ones worst hit. My six-year-old had been at the front but luckily we went towards the back just before the fire was lit. We could see people with burns, it was very shocking. T his is the moment a huge fireball erupted from a bonfire in an explosion that left 10 people injured at a Jewish celebration in north London. Dramatic footage shows dozens of people surrounding the fire in Stamford Hill before it explodes in the faces of those closest to the flames. The footage, posted online by volunteer emergency responders Hatzola, appeared to show a number of people's clothing set alight after the huge fireball spread. Large crowds had gathered in the area on Wednesday evening for the annual Jewish celebration of Lag BaOmer, which typically involves the lighting of bonfires. Hatzola described the explosion as a major incident and said that paramedics were scrambled to the scene. Ten people suffered injuries but no one was seriously hurt, police said. Hackney Police wrote on Twitter: Ten individuals suffered minor injuries following large fire lit as part of local Jewish community celebration in Ravensdale Road, Stamford Hill. The bonfire suddenly exploded in the faces of those gathered around it / Hatzola/Twitter No criminal allegations reported. No serious injuries. Paramedics rushed to treat those who were injured in the explosion / London Ambulance Service/Twitter The Standard has approached the London Ambulance Service and the Metropolitan Police for further comment. T heresa May was today warned she was heading for a crushing Commons defeat on the customs union if she allows Brexiteers in her Cabinet to call the shots. Senior MPs on all sides of Parliament united after yesterdays bruising Cabinet committee where the Prime Minister was outgunned by Right-wingers. Mrs Mays latest attempt to bridge the divide in the Tory party with a customs partnership foundered after strong objections by ministers including Boris Johnson, Michael Gove, David Davis, Gavin Williamson and new Home Secretary Sajid Javid. Tory Brexiteers said the proposal was dead in the water but No 10 insisted final decisions will now go to the full Cabinet. Senior members of every main party said that if compromises were taken off the table by the Brexiteers, then they would unite to ensure Britain remained part of a customs union. Theresa May concedes customs partnership plan is 'dead' after senior ministers turn their backs Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said: They [Brexiteers] may get 60 signatures to a letter, but the reality is there may be 500-plus MPs who disagree with them. Former education secretary Nicky Morgan said Chief Whip Julian Smith could not get the numbers to push a hard Brexit through Parliament. If Government cannot make this critical decision, then I think Parliament is going to have to provide a real lead, she said. Urging ministers to accept softer Brexit proposals, she said: We remain prepared to help No 10 get to that position. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: I hope that the large number of Conservatives who share our concerns about the doctrinaire obsession with leaving the customs union vote to remain within it. 23 March 2017 U.S. President Donald J. Trump gets in the driver's seat of an 18-wheeler while meeting with truck drivers and trucking CEOs on the South Portico prior to their meeting to discuss health care at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, 23 March 2017. The House of Representatives has yet to vote on the Republican-crafted American Health Care Act, that would replace the Affordable Care Act, as it remained unclear whether Republicans had enough votes to overcome opposition from Democrats and those within their own party. EPA/JIM LO SCALZO EPA M illions of people across the UK took to the polls today to cast their vote in the local elections. All seats in London's borough councils are up for election, as well as mayoral elections in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford while the first-ever mayor for the Sheffield City region will also be chosen. Once the ballots close, councils will begin counting the results. Loading.... Most will be expected to come through during the course of the night with the busiest period being the early hours of the morning. But some boroughs - Bromley, Hackney, Haringey, Harrow, Hounslow, Islington, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets - are counting their votes on Friday so their results are expected to come through later. Local elections: All you need to know Your guide to the night: Polls close - 10pm Wandsworth 2am Sutton between 1am and 2am Hillingdon 2.30am Westminster 2.30am Barking 3am Ealing 3.30am Lambeth 3.30 Redbridge early hours (unspecific) Merton between 3am and 4am Enfield 4am Richmond 4am Croydon 4.30am Barnet 5am Waltham Forest between 3am and 5am Brent 5am Kensington and Chelsea 5am Hammersmith and Fulham 5am Camden 5.30am Southwark between 3am and 6am Tower Hamlets Mayoral results early hours, council results in the afternoon Bexley early hours (unspecific) Havering 6am Hounslow between 10.30am and 11am Bromley 12pm Greenwich Friday afternoon Hackney Friday afternoon Haringey Friday afternoon Islington Friday afternoon Kingston Friday afternoon Newham Friday afternoon Lewisham 5pm Harrow 5pm Outside of London - ones to watch: 1pm Friday Manchester - Labour are just two short of taking all 96 seats. Birmingham, Leeds and Newcastle also have all-up elections where Labour could potentially make significant gains. Friday afternoon Tories are battling the Lib Dems to keep Huntingdonshire blue and defending recently won Newcastle-under-Lyme from Labour. T heresa May has conceded that her plans for a customs partnership with the EU are dead after senior cabinet ministers turned on her. Newly-appointed Home Secretary Sajid Javid was among those who came out against the proposals following a crunch meeting with the Prime Minister on Wednesday. And a source close to the Prime Minister told the Telegraph Mrs Mays proposed model for a customs partnership is dead and that there cannot be one. Sajid Javid, the new Home Secretary, was among those to turn on the Prime Minister / AP The source told the newspaper: Its possible that elements of the customs partnership idea might be incorporated into a new model, but in its current form the customs partnership idea is dead. Brexit negotiator Olly Robbins and his team are expected to come forward with amended proposals swiftly so that ministers can arrive at a preferred option, possibly as early as next week. New Cabinet members Mr Javid and Gavin Williamson both came out in the meeting against the "customs partnership" model, under which the UK would collect tariffs on behalf of the EU. Senior Brexiteers Boris Johnson, middle, David Davis, right, and Liam Fox, left, voiced a preference for the so-called "maximum facilitation" arrangement / PA Their opposition came after Eurosceptic Tory backbenchers signalled that they regarded the partnership plan - branded "cretinous" by Jacob Rees-Mogg - as unacceptable, because it would deliver Brexit in name only. The Home Secretary and Defence Secretary are understood to have joined senior Brexiteers like Boris Johnson, David Davis and Liam Fox in voicing a preference for the so-called "maximum facilitation" arrangement - known as "Max Fac" - which would use new technology to avoid the need for border checks in Ireland. What is a customs partnership with the EU- How would it work- A Number 10 source said there was agreement in the Brexit strategy and negotiations sub-committee that Britain should leave the European customs union in order to be able to have control of its own trade policy. In a meeting which ran over to last two and a half hours, Mrs May told colleagues that the final arrangement must ensure there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic and no customs border down the Irish Sea, and leave trade with the remaining EU "as frictionless as possible". R esidents in parts of England where controversial ID trials are taking place have been barred from voting in the local elections. Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking councils are trialling the scheme which is designed to help reduce the number of fraudulent votes. As part of the scheme, voters have to show council-approved ID before they cast their ballot. MPs and councillors have said people, including elderly residents, are being turned away from the polls because they do not have appropriate ID. Voters: A woman leaves a polling station after casting her ballot in local government elections / REUTERS Angela Wilkins, leader of the Labour group in Bromley, said five people have been unable to vote at polling stations as a result of the pilot and that the scheme is also causing long delays. She tweeted: "Just been round the C Palace polling stations. 5 people not able to vote due to #voterID pilot and several walked away because of queues @CatSmithMP @labour4bromley. So why are we doing this .@LBBromley ?" Labour councillor Tahir Aziz said a man was turned away from voting at a polling station on Walton Road in Woking because his form of ID, a Surrey County Council document with his picture on it, was not accepted. Mr Aziz said: "This gentleman turned up, showed his ID which included a picture that was clearly him, it was an exact resemblance, but they wouldn't accept it as it was not on the list of acceptable forms of ID. Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn vote in local elections "He was fuming. He was furious. He is a British national and he couldn't vote. It is having an impact on certain people being disenfranchised by this trial." Ellie Reeves, Labour MP for Lewisham West, also said that two people had been turned away from voting this morning because they did not have ID on them. She tweeted: "Just been to vote. Was informed that two people had already turned up without ID this morning so had been unable to vote. Very worrying and backs up all the evidence that the voter ID pilot in Bromley is plain wrong." All the best dogs at polling stations 1 /23 All the best dogs at polling stations Buddy's owner was first in to vote this morning Buddy Storey Sadiq Khan took his dog Luna for her first trip to a polling station Sadiq Khan Evening Standard's doggy rePAWter George makes his early evening vote @georgethesausage Dylan at Winchmore Hill polling station in north London Henry made sure to stop for a quick selfie on election day in Littleborough Twitter/ZoeDAttwood Bramble patiently waited for his master to return from voting in Derbyshire Twitter/@Rick9525 Percy the lurcher eager to have his vote in Lower Cumberworth Ann Chinn 'When the beagles rule the world it will be a better place!' Ruby Garamond Bonnie the Newfoundland at St Vincents polling station in Hull Rebecca Hill Chomsky in Wakefield West Catherine Tabner Hugo had time for a selfie after voting in Chorleywood Dane Clarke Politics can be a tiring business so this furry friend decided to have a rest in the sun Twitter/@evaboehm It took some convincing to get Simba to his polling station today, according to his owner, but he did agree to pose for a quick snap Twitter/@Vinsharma Douglas was pretty excited for his first election day, his owner Robin said Robin Tuddenham This little pup is taking the local elections very seriously Twitter/@BenWinfield98 This pooch couldn't wait to get in the polling booth Twitter/@Kirium311 This very good dog kept guard of the polling station sign earlier today Twitter/@thelittlesthomebrew Lia the Pomeranian brought a much needed touch of fluff to her local polling station Twitter/@Paulineyau Here he is waiting patiently outside his local polling station in Calderdale Robin Tuddenham While Rooney the Border Terrier enjoyed the morning sunshine as election day kicked off Twitter/@Rooney_the_Dog And Bertie was a very good boy in London Kevin McArdle Here's one good pup supporting the election in Long Preston, Yorkshire Twitter/@IvoriesStrings1 Spike's been taking dog politics to new heights Twitter/@Jaq421 One elderly Bromley resident who was also turned away at the polls this morning said he was "shocked" to be denied his vote because he did not have a bank card or passport. "This is a nonsense scheme," Peter White, 76, told the Independent. Hazel Walters, a resident of Bromley since 1983, told the newspaper: "It's absurd. I think it will discriminate against people. Not everyone's got a passport, a driving licence and all of that. I think people will be disenfranchised," she said. "We're trying to get homeless people to exercise their right to vote, and then at the same time we're putting all these barriers in place. The council didn't consult on this or anything. "It's so arbitrary and unnecessary when there are real problems we've got to deal with." Taking the relationship between snacking and travelling to the next level, popular Indian snacks company Haldiram's has started a travel company by the name Travhos Experience. The travel sector in India is booming currently and Haldiram's does not just want to only provide accompaniments. Haldiram's has also hired a handful of tourism professionals to steer the budding company. Like other travel companies such as SOTC and Thomas Cook, Travhos is also going to offer everything from package tours to treks. They will be offering services in heritage and spiritual as well as in business and other packages for India and abroad. Siddharth Sharma, Managing Director of the company said, "Our model is to make all kind of travel experiences accessible to the public," as mentioned in a report in The Economic Times. Haldiram's Travhos Experience will start its Delhi chapter in the coming weeks and will be marketing its products in its outlets across the city. The company plans to sell its travel services from its outlets eventually. Based in Nagpur, the snacks company has its presence across India as well as in 50 other countries including countries like UK, USA, Australia, Japan, Thailand, New Zealand, UAE and Sri Lanka. Founded by Ganga Bhisen Agarwal in 1937, it started exporting to the US in 1993. V oters will today head to the polls for local elections across England. More than 4,000 seats are being contested in around 150 councils, including all 32 London boroughs, as well as every ward in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Mayoral elections are also taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Watford while the first-ever mayor for the Sheffield City region will also be chosen. There are no local elections in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but a parliamentary by-election for the Westminster seat of West Tyrone is taking place. London is the major battleground after recent polls pointed towards a substantial swing to Labour. Jeremy Corbyn's party will be hoping to win control of Tower Hamlets and Barnet and possibly even the flagship Conservative councils of Wandsworth and Westminster. Most councils are counting votes overnight but others will declare results during the day on Friday. Local elections 2018 UK- The key London council battlegrounds to watch The first results could begin to arrive at around midnight and are expected to be in full flow by 2am. Pilot schemes forcing voters to prove their identity before casting their ballot will be trialled at polling stations including Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking. Ministers say the scheme will help combat electoral fraud but critics argue it will suppress turnout. The Electoral Commission website gives full details about which ID is required in each of the pilot areas. The elections will give voters a chance to pass their verdict on the Prime Minister's handling of Brexit, and Liberal Democrats are hoping their promise of a second referendum will help them regain Remain-backing Kingston and Richmond in south London. Elsewhere, Conservatives may be boosted by Ukip's decline in the polls, with targets like Basildon or Great Yarmouth potentially up for grabs if the Eurosceptic party performs poorly. Recent national opinion polls have seen Conservatives and Labour running neck-and-neck on about 40 per cent each. How to find out where your local polling station is Polling stations are open until 10pm today. The location of your polling station will be on the poll card that was sent to you before polling day. But if you have lost your poll card or are unsure how to get to your polling station, you can enter your postcode into this online tool - from The Democracy Club - to find out where to go. B rits are bracing themselves for a weekend washout as heavy rain and thunderstorms move across large swathes of the country. Dry and bright conditions will start to give way to wet weather from Saturday with the south of England expected to be the worst affected. Forecasters have warned that hours of heavy rain are expected to fall in London and the south east on Saturday afternoon. The deteriorating conditions come after days of unusually hot and sunny weather for May. Britain basks in the hottest Bank Holiday Monday on record 1 /10 Britain basks in the hottest Bank Holiday Monday on record A woman takes a photo of the wildlife in Regent's Park, London PA A jogger on Brighton seafront as the Bank Holiday Monday PA Sunbathers in Regent's Park PA An elderly couple eating ice cream in the hot weather, in Regent's Park, London PA People enjoying the hot weather in a pedalo in Regent's Park, London PA A woman working on her laptop in the hot weather on a Bank Holiday, in Regent's Park, London PA Paddle boarders enjoy the weather in the sea at Hastings, Britain REUTERS People enjoying the hot weather in a pedalo in Regent's Park, London PA Women reading books in the hot weather in Regent's Park, London PA Paddle boarders enjoy the weather in the sea at Hastings, Britain REUTERS This week's early May Bank Holiday was the hottest on record as temperatures soared 28.7C in west London. Met Office forecaster Mark Wilson told the Standard: It is a mixed weekend to come. For many areas it will be a dry, bright start but through the day you are going to see rain moving in. There will be heavy rain in the afternoon in London and the south east and East Anglia. London will see heavy rain for at least a few hours and there is a low risk of thunder storms. There will be showers across south west England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and thunder storms in those areas are more likely. Northern cities including Manchester will experience drier and brighter conditions with a lower chance of showers. On Saturday, the mercury is expected to peak more than 10C lower than earlier in week, with maximum temperatures of around 16 or 17C. On Sunday, southern parts of England will continue to experience damp conditions, while other parts of the country will avoid the washout. Mr Wilson added: On Sunday we are looking at a similar picture. There will be heavy showers in eastern parts of Scotland and southern England, with the areas in between seeing drier, brighter weather. Temperatures will be much cooler than what we have seen of late, again around 16 or 17C. D onald Trump repaid his lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 (95,000) so-called "hush payment" to porn star Stormy Daniels, a member of the US President's legal team has claimed. Ex-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani appeared to contradict the US president during an appearance on Fox News show Hannity, saying the money to repay Mr Cohen had been "funnelled ... through the law firm and the president repaid it." Asked if the president knew about the arrangement, Mr Giuliani said: "He didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know." Michael Cohen has said he was not reimbursed for the payment / AP He added: "But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this for my clients. "I don't burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people." He said that the repayment was made "over a period of several months". He added that the payment "is going to turn out to be perfectly legal" because "that money was not campaign money." Mr Trump's new lawyer Rudy Giuliani said the repayment was made 'over several months' (AFP) / AFP/Getty Images The White House has referred questions to the president's personal legal team. Ms Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, called the comment "a stunning revelation." "Mr Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people," he said. Stormy Daniels on 60 Minutes claims she was 'threatened to keep quiet' over Donald Trump Mr Cohen, who has denied the affair between Ms Daniels and Mr Trump, claims he paid the money out of his own pocket. He has said neither the Trump Organisation nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms Daniels and he was not reimbursed for the payment. Ms Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, says she had a sexual encounter with Mr Trump in 2006 and was paid to keep quiet as part of a nondisclosure agreement she is now seeking to invalidate with a lawsuit filed in March. She has also filed a defamation suit against Mr Trump after he questioned a composite sketch she released of a man she says threatened her to stay quiet about the encounter with Mr Trump. The White House has said Mr Trump denies having a relationship with Ms Daniels. Mr Cohen's payment to the president's accuser in the weeks leading up to the presidential election could be cast as an illegal contribution but not if he were acting on the president's behest and with his money. The revelation from Mr Giuliani came as Mr Cohen is under escalating legal pressure. He is facing a criminal investigation in New York and FBI agents raided his home and office several weeks ago. The FBI was seeking records about the nondisclosure agreement. T oronto Police have launched a public mischief investigation after a car was discovered dangling from a bridge. The blue Sedan was found suspended from Milwood Road Bridge on Wednesday at 7 am local time (12 pm BST). Commuters and officers were left baffled as to how the car, which was missing windows and appeared to have had its interior burned out, ended up swinging from the bridge. Officers who attended the scene said they believed it may have been part of a prank. Toronto Police said: On Wednesday, May 2 at 7.06 am, police responded to a call indicating there was a motor vehicle dangling from the bottom of the Millwood Road bridge. With assistance from Toronto Fire Services, an investigation was started and the vehicle was recovered. At this time, it is believed this incident was intended as a prank. This incident resulted in the use of significant resources that were not available to attend to genuine emergency calls for service. As emergency services were called to bring the car down to the ground, onlookers gathered below. Fire fighters brought the car down to the ground at 10 am, it is unclear how long it had been suspended. I've never ever seen anything like that before, one cyclist told CTV News: I've driven these trails for years and years and never seen anything like this. This is hilarious." I t was easy to guess that Meghan Markle was going to look breathtaking on her wedding day and, as we expected, she didn't disappoint. Chosen by the bride herself, Markle was dressed in a haute couture Givenchy gown for the lavish Windsor Castle ceremony. For most brides-to-be, finding a suitable wedding dress can be a long and stressful process especially if you are a bride on a budget. Thanks to a number of high street bridal ranges, your perfect gown neednt cost a fortune. And while opting for something more wallet-friendly might sound scary to the future wifey who wants it all, it could mean more cash for an exotic honeymoon or for decorating your first home. From traditional floor-length gowns to marvellously modern midis, theres an affordable gown for every type of ceremony. Here are our top picks. Chi Chi London Bridal Kate Dress Online fashion retailer Chi Chi London launched its first bridal collection last year, catering to modern-day brides with luxe-looking gowns at affordable prices. It is priced from 75 and includes plus sizes so theres something for every budget and shape. If you have curves, then this is the dress to show them off in. The figure-hugging silhouette flows from an intricate embroidered neckline into a floor-sweeping fishtail hem finish. 120 | Chi Chi Clothing | Buy it now Monsoon Lucia Embellished Bridal Dress Monsoons Wedding Boutique range features a line-up of gorgeous bridal gowns that evoke modern femininity. Boasting everything from dramatic trains to short ensembles, the exclusively-designed collection is truly something special. For brides-to-be that want to channel Grecian glamour, this flowy silhouette fits the bill beautifully. The sparkly adornments on the empire waistline add an ethereal feel and pair perfectly with the 40cm train. Whats more, the lightweight material means you can dance carefree at the reception. 299 | Monsoon | Buy it now ASOS EDITION Bandeau Prom Midi Wedding Dress You can rely on ASOS for something affordable but fabulous. With prices starting from 95, the online giants wedding range is packed with pretty styles for modern brides in almost every shape and size. If you plan to transform into a princess on the big day, look no further than the Bandeau Prom Midi dress. Created with a frothy tulle underskirt, it has an inner grip tape for a secure fit and is fully lined for comfort. 140 | ASOS | Buy it now Bardot Bridal Gown by Flynn Skye Topshop entered the bridal market last year with five limited-edition wedding dresses. The high-street favourite is currently stocking the Flynn Skye Bridal range which works perfectly for free-spirited brides. Our top pick is this easy-to-wear Bardot number, available in four sizes and finished with romantic lace details. Its bohemian-inspired silhouette allows you to move around comfortably while flattering the shoulders and decolletage. 100 | Topshop | Buy it now Needle & Thread Astral Maxi Dress Future brides who want to sparkle on their big day ought to consider the lavish wedding gowns by Needle & Thread. With layers of lighter-than-air tulle and exquisite embroidery, the British brand has created the collection with fashion-forward style and comfort in mind. Among the designs is this decadently embellished maxi dress which starts with a feminine camisole bodice and flares out beautifully from a grosgrain ribbon waistband. The delicate tulle skirt will trail behind as you walk down the aisle, creating a dramatic princess-worthy effect. This is the ultimate wedding dress for outdoor ceremonies. 750 | Needle & Thread | Buy it now Missguided bridal white lace cross low back fishtail maxi Back in February, Missguided answered the prayers of soon-to-be wifeys watching the pennies by releasing a budget bridal line think killer necklines and sequin embellishments. And the best part? Most are under 100. Make a jaw-dropping entrance in this fiercely-modern maxi ensemble, featuring all-over lace details and a fishtail-inspired silhouette. It comes in a regular fit to get you down the aisle in comfort. 35 | Missguided | Buy it now Whistles Theodora Wedding Dress Searching for the perfect contemporary gown? The Whistles wedding dress range is brimming with of-the-moment styles, but its the incredible attention to detail that really makes this collection stand out. The elegant Theodora dress, designed with a corset-style top and tiered column skirt, is just what the modern yet feminine bride needs for the new wedding season. 599 | Whistles | Buy it now French Connection Cari Sparkle Maxi Wedding Dress When French Connection launched its first bridal range earlier this year, we couldnt believe our luck. The collection is full of fresh and floaty designs that will help you slay your wedding look without breaking the bank. Another great sparkly option, this floor-length number boasts a fluid shape with a voluminous skirt for plenty of drama. It has balloon sleeves that enhance its classic Bohemian feel, while a plunging neckline with eyelash lace insert provides a modern touch. 250 | French Connection | Buy it now Quiz Ava Sequin Embellished Fishtail Bridal Dress Thanks to the super affordable bridal collection by Quiz, you can shop within a budget without sacrificing on style. Featuring glitzy embellishments and vintage lace, theres a dreamy dress for all different themes and ceremonies. Were swooning over the mesh and sequin embroidered details on this high-neck maxi. With a sweetheart neckline, this sleeveless wedding dress is not only flattering but blissfully cool to wear. H ere's the BBCs riposte to their great disaster. Two years ago Love Productions took The Great British Bake-Off away from them and sold the next three series to Channel 4 for 75 million. Since the final BBC series of GBBO had provided nine out of 10 of the most-watched programmes of the year, that must have stung a little. Luckily for the BBC actually, almost miraculously for the BBC Mary Berry didnt go with the show and kept a-hold of Auntie instead, saying: My decision to stay with the BBC is out of loyalty to them, as they have nurtured me and the show that was a unique and brilliant format from day one. Shes a brick, isnt she? BBC One: The newest cookery show has arrived / BBC/KEO Now heres the revised, no longer quite so unique, format, hoping to win back those record audiences by swapping baking for the broader opportunities of home cooking (although including baking) and borrowing a few tricks from The Apprentice (banging up the hopefuls together) and Big Brother (video diaries). Ten contestants leave their homes and go to stay in a big house together supposedly for eight weeks, although perhaps filming happens a bit quicker than that? being sent out each day not to a marquee but a big studio kitchen, to compete against one another, dishing up what is meant to be the best food they make at home. The very idea of home fare seems antithetical to the ponciness that scores in most cookery shows. Never mind. The great advantage this extraordinary new concept offers is a chance to appreciate what diverse homes the contestants have, through whats on the plate as well as in person. As one of them, the groups charmer, Tobi, helpfully explains: Everyone comes from somewhere slightly different, so we have different ingredients and different backgrounds. Perky Claudia Winkleman comperes. She makes a running joke of her ignorance of cooking and perhaps of food altogether, for she is strikingly thin, compared to several of the contestants, who clearly have been enjoying their tuck very much indeed. You are not meant to have these thoughts, despite it being a show all about grub, but you do. Just wait and see. Cooks: 10 chefs are hoping for glory / BBC/KEO The other two judges have clearly been selected to channel familiar life-forms in similar roles. Top chef Dan Doherty is the knowledgeable, taciturn one: John Torode. Former market trader and fresh produce importer Chris Bavin is the chirpy down-to-earth barrow boy: Gregg Wallace. There are three rounds tonight, starting off with a kind of signature challenge: making the ultimate burger plus two sides. This produces impressively diverse results, from a Welsh-style rarebit burger to an Indian spicy patty with pakoras, from Nigerian suya spiced beef (not really a burger?) to Asian shredded beef in a home-made bao bun, not to mention the more humdrum face-stuffers. Thats followed by a round in which the most has to be made of a single ingredient (this week, berries or nuts someones having fun) and lastly, an openly sadistic elimination round, in which the four contestants already at the bottom of the pile bid for mercy by trying to follow the instructions to produce classic asparagus with a poached egg and hollandaise: not just a bit tricky but a nightmare task in the circs. Tears are shed. Berrys back. This one will run and run. Pick of the day Silicon Valley - Sky Atlantic, 10.10pm Things get pretty, pretty weird in the Californian computer comedy when Pied Piper begins to collaborate with Eklow labs on an artificial intelligence project. In what looks like a reference to the real-life case of Hanson Robotics and Sophia, the human-like robot, Eklows unkempt and antisocial boss Ariel (Todd Louiso) has developed a female robot called Fiona (Suzanne Lenz). But matters take a dark turn when she crashes PiperNets systems, sending several messages to the phone of Richard (Thomas Middleditch), reading, Under attack. Help Fiona!. Artificial intelligence: Fiona the robot / HBO Can a robot be abused? Thats the question at the heart of the episode. What she had been trained to view as normal interpersonal contact was finally seen for what it was a perverse series of clumsy gropings the sickening advances of a handsy, greasy little weirdo, Richard announces. In other news, Jared does a TV interview in which he embarks on a metaphor about the Great Horse Manure Crisis of 1894, which makes him unaccountably popular and suddenly self-conscious. Things dont improve when he decides to get saline injections to plump up his lips. Screen time Syria: the Worlds War - BBC2, 9pm In THIS exhaustive documentary on the Syrian conflict, Lyse Doucet opens by noting that it has now lasted longer than the Second World War, and has caused the deaths of half a million people. Its chastening, then, to cut back to 2011, when protesters took to the streets, calling for political freedom. There were hints from President Assads advisers of major reforms, but instead what followed was a crackdown and a spiral into conflict. Former US Secretary of State John Kerry says this was one of the tragic miscalculations of the regime, turning a peaceful protest into a civil war. Doucet has been reporting from Syria throughout, and hears the accounts of Syrians from all sides as well as key political players. London Go - Tomorrow, London Live, 7pm One of this weeks guests will have influenced the way millions see London, though you might not know it Paul Catherall has produced 21 Tube posters for TfL, all of which depict London in bold simplicity. Host Luke Blackall welcomes Catherall into the studio to discuss his retrospective at the gallery@oxo, which covers 20 years of his work. Gerry - London Live, 10pm Six years after Good Will Hunting made maths even sexier than asking for Carols big ones on Countdown, Gus Van Sant reunited with Matt Damon to do for hiking what the pair had done for adding up. Matt Damon and Casey Affleck star, both playing characters called Gerry, whose venture into the wilderness is reputedly based on a true story. This walk, miles from help, goes about as well as Kanye Wests return to Twitter. Gerry and Gerry neither of them nicknamed Ben, which is a no-brainer are soon lost and tire of each other. Director Van Sant uses the emptiness of their open prison to magnify their isolation, the silence around them enveloping the pair as they wander towards a grim, dry-mouthed fate. Serial box The Street - ITV Hub Series two of Jimmy McGoverns drama is now showing on ITV3 but the whole of series one (from 2006) is available for a few more days. It starts with married mum Angela Quinn (Jane Horrocks, below) having an affair but the street is thrown into turmoil when someone is run down by a car. A great cast (Jim Broadbent, Sue Johnston, Lee Ingleby, Timothy Spall) and writing from the top drawer. Red Riding - All 4 The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) website is the latest government-run body to get caught in a data leak scare. The Aadhaar details of over 2 crore members of the EPFO, who had linked their PF accounts to their Aadhaar numbers, was reportedly stolen by hackers in March. According to a report in Business Standard, confidential data of formal sector employees enrolled under the EPFO was stolen by hackers, forcing EPFO to temporarily shut the Aadhaar-seeding portal. The Labour and Employment Ministry was informed about the alleged data theft by the Intelligence Bureau (IB). Meanwhile, the retirement fund body said it has discontinued Aadhaar-seeding portal services provided through Common Service Centre (CSC) "pending vulnerability checks" and ruled out any leakage of subscribers' data from a government website. CSC comes under the Ministry of Electronics and IT. "Warnings regarding vulnerabilities in data or software is a routine administrative process based on which the services which were rendered through CSC have been discontinued from March 22, 2018," said an EPFO statement issued after the report went viral. It said the report is related to the services through CSC and not about EPFO software or data centre. "No confirmed data leakage has been established or observed so far. As part of the data security and protection, EPFO has taken advance action by closing the server and host service through CSC pending vulnerability checks," EPFO said. It said there is nothing to be concerned about and EPFO has been taking all necessary measures to ensure that no data leakage takes place and will continue to be vigilant about it in the future. The retirement fund body has been seeding Aadhaar with Universal Account Numbers of its subscribers to improve delivery of services. It has planned to go paperless by August this year. Thus, all its services would be provided online also. In a letter dated March 23, Central Provident Fund commissioner V P Joy had written to Dinesh Tyagi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Common Service Centre (CSC) which is managing the website's server about the data leak by hackers 'by exploiting the vulnerabilities prevailing in the website (aadhaar.epfoservices.com) of EPFO'. The letter, titled 'Secret', carried the following subject line: "Data Theft from ICT Infrastructure of Aadhaar Seeding Service for Employees' Provident Fund Organisation". On the EPFO's web portal, employees have the option of linking their Aadhaar number with their provident fund accounts. The possible data leak from the website may include employees' Aadhaar number, name, date of birth, father's name, PAN, employment details, among others. "The IB has advised adhering best practices and guidelines for securing the confidential data, re-emphasising regular and meaningful audit and vulnerability assessment and penetration testing (CAPT) of the entire system from competent auditors and testers," the letter reportedly stated. Of the over 5 crore EPFO members, as many as 2.75 crore had seeded their Aadhaar with their PF accounts. Last July, Aadhaar-seeding was made mandatory by EPFO for new subscribers. The above-mentioned letter had further requested CSC to "immediately" deploy its "technical team in order to plug in the identified as well as other vulnerabilities if any" in the website. It added that EPFO had stopped the servers and discontinued hosting services till the matter could be resolved. A senior IT ministry official said that as a vulnerability has been pointed out, the ministry will take action to plug the gaps, in case they exist, the PTI reported. "We will have it looked at. A vulnerability has been pointed out, and so we will (undertake) the exercise to plug the vulnerability, if it is there," said the official who did not wish to be named. With PTI inputs Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe Justice Minister Tudorel Toader states in a Facebook post that he will attend a Question Time in Parliament on Thursday at the invitation of the opposition National Liberal Party (PNL) to answer questions about a Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) report. "Tomorrow, May 3, 2018, at 12:00hrs, at the invitation of PNL, I will participate in a Question Time to answer questions regarding the GRECO report! On this point, on April 25, 2018, at 13:01 I received the invitation, confirming my participation the same day at 17:07hrs!," Toader says in his post. In a statement to AGERPRES, Toader said that at the time he published the post, he had received no notification for rescheduling the invitation, reiterating that he would participate in the debate, according to the schedule.PNL national leader Ludovic Orban announced on April 11 that the Liberals had decided to request Justice Minister Tudorel Toader to participate in a Question Time in the Senate following the report by the Council of Europe's GRECO. GRECO is deeply concerned about certain aspects in the Law on the Statutes of Judges and Prosecutors, the Law on the Organisation of the Judiciary and the Law on the Supreme Council of Magistrates recently adopted by the Romanian Parliament, as well as draft amendments to criminal legislation.On Wednesday, PNL deputy floor leader Eugen Pirvulescu announced that Justice Minister Tudorel Toader will come to the Senate's plenary session for a Question Time on May 9, at 10:00hrs, instead of on May 3 as initially established. He added that the postponement was proposed by Senate PSD leader Serban Nicolae, who motivated the postponement by the fact that on Thursday, May 3, Minister Tudorel Toader attends the Government meeting. AGERPRES Premier Viorica Dancila announced that she will meet on May 8 with representatives of the health union federation in an effort to identify solutions to the health workers' grievances. "Together with the Labor minister and the Finance minister we decided to hold on May 8, as of 10:00 hrs, a meeting with representatives of the health union federation, to look at their grievances and see what solutions we can find," Dancila said at the beginning of Thursday's government meeting. The PM said that Health minister Sorina Pintea had presented her the proposals of the trade union representatives."We sat down with hospital managers, we created a working group with managers of hospitals under the authority of the Health Ministry, the County and Local Councils, as well as representatives of single specialty hospitals. After Mrs. minister Sorina Pintea's meeting with the representatives of the health union federation, I saw their proposals," Dancila said.Minister Sorina Pintea announced at the end of talks this Wednesday with health union representatives that she will table to the PM the proposals for the health care payroll.The minister mentioned that, to a great extent, the trade unions' proposals overlap the proposals sketched by the authorities. President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday sent to Parliament for reexamination the Law for the amendment of Art. 19 with Law No. 41/1994 on the organisation and functioning of the Romanian Radio Society (SRR) and the Romanian Television Society (SRTV), both public broadcasters. "The law for the amendment of Art. 19 with Law No. 41/1994 on the organisation and functioning of the Romanian Radio Society (SRR) and the Romanian Television Society (SRTV), is aiming on the one hand at amending the provisions referring to the number of votes necessary to designate in Parliament the members of the Board of the RRA and the SRTV, respectively, and on the other hand at the increase of the number of nominations the joint parliamentary groups of the two chambers have at their disposal within the two public societies' boards of directors. These legislative interventions raise issues in terms of the correlation with the other provisions of Law No. 41/1994, and also as regards the clarity and predictability of regulations, which is why their reexamination by Parliament is required," says president Iohannis in his request for reexamination. President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday sent to Parliament for review the Law on the approval of Government's Emergency Ordinance no. 33/2017 for the amendment and completion of Art. 11 of Government's Emergency Ordinance no. 22/2009 on the establishment of the National Authority for Administration and Regulation in Communications (ANCOM), arguing that it has provisions that generate uncertainty in the application. The President shows that on December 27, 2017, Parliament sent him this law for promulgation, which envisages legislative interventions regarding the procedure of appointing and dismissing the ANCOM leadership. He points out that this law has been subject to constitutional control, with Romania's Constitutional Court establishing in February this year that its provisions are constitutional."Considering the decision of the Constitutional Court (...) and distinct from the criticism of unconstitutionality presented in the objection on which the Constitutional Court has pronounced, we consider that the said law still contains some provisions that could generate uncertainty in their application through the difficulties it creates in order to ensure the continuity, stability and independence of ANCOM's operation, which is why Parliament must reexamine it," President Iohannis says. The steps referring to the revision of the fundamental law regarding the family are 'a necessary gesture for the long-term health of the Romanian society', and yet they go 'against the European trend', the Social-Democrat Senator Titus Corlatean asserted on Thursday. 'We have come to a moment that makes the difference at the referendum for the revision of the Constitution.(...) All Romanians must understand that what we are doing in Romania, we are struggling with our limited powers, goes against the European trend. Whether we like it or not, it is a reality. The fact that in central and East-European countries there are exceptions, thank God, positive situations where referendums of this kind were conducted and resulted in a positive outcome, is a good example, but these are exceptional situations,' Corlatean told the international conference 'Referendum for marriage. National and international perspectives' organized by the Coalition for Family. He added that this is a necessary gesture that 'goes against the trend.''We must be aware that what we are doing today is a necessary gesture for the health on the long term of the Romanian society, for our children's future, but goes against the trend. Hence, a series of very tough political opposition, starting with the President of Romania and his people in Parliament, not all of them from the opposition. These are people I do respect and with whom I've been together in the same cause to promote this topic. Not to mention the seen or unseen segments, the stances of the embassies and ambassadors who can either call the opposition parties, or ask for an audience to the ruling coalition's parties to tell us what we should do, what we should not do. This is the reality we live as I speak,' Corlatean stressed.The PSD Senator went further to say that President Iohannis has no constitutional right to be against the organization of the referendum.'So, the stakes we have are very serious stakes, they are the stakes of democracy. To stage a referendum at the request of 3 million citizens are at stake as far as the observance of the democratic and constitutional rules are concerned and he, the President of Romania, alongside all the others in keeping with him, has no constitutional right to oppose the organization of the referendum which is a democratic exercise demanded by the 3 million citizens. If only 5 people ask for something one must pay attention. (...) There also exists a more profound stake that that has to do with our liberties. Do we have the right to believe in anything? Or is it only the others, a minority, who have the right to believe in their things, only the others who have the right to impose the adoption of a brand new set of values, in quotes, to the majority?! (...) We, the ones who believe in God, know that the stakes are of a spiritual nature, too,' Titus Corlatean concluded. The Romanian state has wired a first instalment, of 153 million lei (around 33 million euro) in the accounts of the Romanian National Post Company (CNPR), thus starting the process of raising the share capital of the postal service operator, according to legal provisions, announced Thursday, the Ministry of Communications and Information Society (MCSI), in a press release, transmitted by AGERPRES. According to the source, the rest of 170 million lei will be wired towards the postal company in the 4th trimester of this year. "The Romanian state has raised the share capital of the Romanian Post, according to the Government regulation no. 38/2018. Thus, the sum of 153 million lei was wired in the company's accounts, and the difference until it reaches 170 million euro will be wired in this year's 4th trimester, according to article 21 of Law 500/2002. It is the first capitalization that the Romanian state, as a majority shareholder, carries out, through the Government's decision for the Romanian National Postal Service. This process represents both a major investment, as well as a confidence investment on behalf of the Executive in the capacity of the national postal service operator to reinvent itself both in a medium and long term," reads the MCSI press release."The Romanian Post is one the biggest employers in Romania, and reconfirming the support on behalf of the Romanian state represents a message of stability for those over 24,000 employees that the company has. Also, this capitalization is a solid and trustworthy investment in the company's ability to become strong and profitable again." I am glad that I joined the Romanian Post in this special time," Costin Tudor, CEO of CNPR underscored.The shares issued for raising the equity capital will be offered for subscription according to the participation quota owned by the company, at around 170 million shares respectively, for the majority shareholder and 56,666,667 shares for the minority shareholder.The Romanian state, through the Ministry of Communications and Information Society (MCSI) owns 75 percent of the Romanian Postal Service and Fondul Proprietatea (FP) owns 25 percent. There have been a number of developments in the endless inquiry into possible collusion between the Russian government and Donald Trump to manipulate perceptions and voting relating to the two presidential candidates in the November 2016 election. In particular, it has been alleged that the Russians were, with the connivance of some in the Trump team, able to obtain information damaging to Hillary Clinton while also misusing social media to send a message critical of the Democratic Party candidate. Russiagate was born out of a desire to explain how Trump was able to defeat the Establishment candidate Clinton and it quickly focused on emails in possession of Wikileaks and meetings of Trump associates with Russians as a plausible explanation for the electoral result. The media opined that It had to be the Russians, who also had motive in their recognizing that Clinton was the stronger candidate whose harsh and steely glare was focused on the various crimes and misdemeanors alleged to be committed by Kremlin President Vladimir Putin in places like Ukraine and Georgia, not to mention Syria. Clintons campaign message was that she was prepared to do something about Putin while Trump was instead arguing that a good relationship with Moscow was a sine qua non for American foreign policy. There are currently three investigations proceeding simultaneously looking into the Russian-Trump collusion, though one of them has finally come to an end. The House of Representatives Intelligence Committee investigation has concluded that there was no evidence that there had been collusion, conspiracy, or coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russians to influence or subvert the outcome of the election. The committee did, however, accept that there had been Russian active measures interference, apparently based largely on assumptions about WikiLeaks and the alleged activities of employees of Putin confidant Yevgeny Prigozhins Internet Research Agency on social media sites. However, no evidence was produced by the committee to support the claim of Kremlin interference, described as an influence campaign having strategic objectives for disrupting the US election, and it is to be presumed that the judgement is based on suspicions regarding Russian behavior as well as assessments produced by administrators of the social sites themselves which revealed sketchy and often contradictory evidence based on presumed political ads purchased by the various Russian entities. Even the US media admits that the Facebook ads had little or no real impact on the election while claims that Democratic Party emails were either hacked or stolen by Russian agents or proxies have never been demonstrated. Nor is there any actual evidence in the Congressional report that anyone in the Kremlin was trying to help Donald J. Trump get elected and it is interesting to note that many of the allegations about insinuations of foreign involvement in the election can be traced back for former senior intelligence figures who were themselves active in the Clinton campaign. The House judgment was immediately attacked by the media and also by the outnumbered Democrats on the committee, claiming that the premature decision to end the investigation was political, to bail out an under-pressure president, but no one has produced any evidence suggesting that the contacts between Russians and Americans, ill-advised as some of them were, led to any deliberate or incidental electoral malfeasance. The Democrats and their allies in the media merely assert that more digging and additional otherwise unidentified witnesses would have produced the desired result. Meanwhile, the investigation continues at the offices of the Robert Mueller Special Counsel and also at the Senate Intelligence Committee, which has proportionately more Democrats on board than does the corresponding committee at the House of Representatives. Senator Mark Warner has already warned that the work of his committee will continue, presumably until their either find something or have to finally admit that there is nothing to find. Concerning Mueller there are daily newspaper reports explaining how his noose is tightening around President Trump, though no one quite explains credibly how that is so. What is clear so far is that Donald Trump is a highly immoral man by most standards and that a lot of his friends, if not criminals, were engaged in activity that might easily be described as sleazy. But sleazy does not exactly equate to a deliberate attempt to fix a national election and subvert the Constitution of the United States of America. Washington has confirmed the delivery of FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile systems to Kiev. Ukrainian personnel start training with the new weapons on May 2. The aid package approved in March specified 210 Javelin anti-tank missiles and 37 Javelin launchers. Since 2014, the US has provided over $850 million to bolster Ukraines security. Although the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 allocates $350 million for this purpose, this is the first time Kiev has received lethal weapons from Washington. Shipments of Barrett M107A1 rifles are next. The news has come at a time when the anti-terror operation (ATO) in the separatist Donbas region in eastern Ukraine has just ended (on April 30), to be replaced by a joint-forces operation (JFO). The regular military, the security forces (the SBU), the police, the national guard, and the border service will all be united under one command. The SBU had been in charge before what is being called the Donbas reintegration law was signed and took effect in late February. The US supports the idea of bringing in UN peacekeepers who will be deployed under the terms demanded by Kiev. From now on, the talks between Volker and Surkov will be seen in a different light, because Washington is no longer a mediator, but rather an accomplice who is fueling the conflict. With such explicit US support, Kiev will double down on its military solution. Corruption is rampant in Ukraine. It will be no surprise if the weapons fall into wrong hands and are used against the US military somewhere outside of Europe. The weapons deliveries are always followed by military instructors who come in to provide local training. It being gradually sucked into an armed conflict that has absolutely nothing to do with Americas national security. After all, Ukraine is a European headache. The US Navy is already present in Ochakov. Their military presence so close to Russias borders cannot go unnoticed by Moscow. Washington will be responsible for the consequences. Russia has not deployed its military along the American border. Nor has it sent weapons to any US neighbors. The Javelins have been shipped to a country that has just been slammed for its human-rights violations in a report drafted by the State Department. Many international organizations have sounded the alarm over the abuse of power in Ukraine, which has just become a recipient of American military aid. There is nothing US officials love more than lecturing others on freedom, democracy, and human rights. Those are their words. Deliveries of lethal weapons to one of the most corrupt countries in the world are their deeds. The Javelins sent to Ukraine will swell the power of the oligarchs who are raking in fortunes thanks to their cozy relationships with the powers that be. The conflict in the Donbas is being used to distract public attention from the worsening domestic problems. Washington is turning a blind eye to the abuse of power in that country because Kiev has agreed to relinquish its own national sovereignty and allow itself to be turned into a tool of US foreign policy. It has recently joined an anti-Russia bloc of three nations and was rewarded by being granted an official status in NATO. Every move has consequences. Russia can easily supply the self-proclaimed republics in eastern Ukraine with the Kornet anti-tank system, which is militarily superior to the Javelin. The Russian weapon has proven itself effective on the battlefield even against state-ofthe-art tanks such as the Israeli Merkava IV. Moscow can supply the republics with weapons and electronic warfare systems in greater quantities for the simple reason that it does not have to ship that equipment across the Atlantic Ocean and all of Europe. And now that the US has crossed the red line, Russias hands are now free. In theory Russia could recognize the republics as independent states, once the Minsk II accords have been forgotten and war preparations are in full gear. If their governments invite Russian forces in, in order to guarantee their own security, Moscow will act strictly in accordance with international law by agreeing to those requests. The Javelins will not change anything. Those weapons systems are not powerful enough to give Ukrainian troops the crucial advantage they will need to ensure a victory. But the move will certainly inflame tensions, making the lives of ordinary Ukrainians worse, not better. They need political and economic reforms, not new weapons. The last thing Europeans want is the resumption of war in Ukraine. But the weapons are there. The warnings have been ignored and there is no turning back. The repercussions will be destructive. From this moment forward Washington must bear the responsibility for whatever goes wrong. The Pakistani military has found a new ally in the Pakistani Supreme Court, which has often been caught in the middle as elected politicians and military leaders struggled for control of the government. The military has persuaded the Supreme Court to work with the military to make needed improvements in how Pakistan is run. The Supreme Court wants to crack down on corruption and ineffective government. The military is also corrupt, but not nearly as corrupt as elected politicians and much of the wealth the military has access to is legal, as in generous pay and fringe benefits for the military leadership. The military has also gained control over much of the economy and the military leaders are rewarded (legally) for looking after those operations. In this way, the military makes itself less of a target for the reform minded Supreme Court judges and help by backing up Supreme Court decisions (like recently ousting a prime minister for corruption, as well as some of his ministers). Left unsaid is occasions in the past where the military threatened the Supreme Court with armed resistance to unpopular (with the generals) decisions. While Islamic terrorist violence is fading away in Pakistan the same cannot be said for the Pakistan sponsored violence in northwest India (Kashmir) where the Pakistani Army defies its elected political leaders and a growing percentage of the population by continuing to support the violence in Indian Kashmir as well as regularly breaking the ceasefire on the Indian border, especially in Kashmir and having troops fire across the border and then blame the Indians for starting it because Indians fire back. This deadly charade is one reason Pakistan is under growing international pressure to behave. The official Pakistani response it that the rest of the world is somehow being deceived by some kind of conspiracy. A Kashmir peace deal could have been worked out decades ago had not the Pakistani military not decided to use Kashmir as a way to justify their existence and growing wealth. The Pakistani generals are pleased with their progress in Kashmir where violence is up for the third year in a row. So far in 2018 Islamic terrorism related deaths in Kashmir are up about 25 percent from 2017. This scam held up in Pakistan far longer than it did with the Indians but now the Pakistani generals are under growing pressure from Pakistanis, in general, to back off in Kashmir. That is not happening and the Pakistani military has responded by seizing more political and government power in Pakistan. This is making Pakistan more unstable. The problem here is that a lot more Indians are willing to risk war, even nuclear war, to halt the Pakistani military and Islamic terror operations in Kashmir (and less successful Islamic terror efforts throughout India.) A growing number of Pakistani allies are warning the Pakistani military that the violent theatrics and posturing in Kashmir are costing Pakistan a lot of credibility and sympathy. So far the Pakistani generals are not making any changes to their Kashmir strategy. Civilians on both sides of the border report that the violence, especially damage to civilian structures, is worse than the 1990s when this border violence last peaked. Peace For Me, None For Thee Pakistan continues to reduce Islamic terrorist violence inside Pakistan. Terror related casualties are headed for the fourth year of sharply reduced violence. The Islamic terror groups hostile to the Pakistani government (mainly the Pakistani Taliban) are now a nuisance, not a threat, inside Pakistan. Most of the remaining terror related deaths are from groups that have been killing for generations. This is mostly about Sunni Islamic terrorists killing Shia and non-Moslems. There is growing Baluchi violence in the southwest but it is no worse now than it has been at times in the past. Meanwhile, the Pakistani military has succeeded in exporting Islamic terrorism to Afghanistan and India (and less successfully to Bangladesh). This is a remarkable (and despicable) achievement but one that the Pakistani military cannot openly take credit for. There is one Islamic terrorism related achievement the Pakistani military can talk openly about. In 2014, when the army finally decided to shut down sanctuaries for Islamic terror groups not under military control, there were 5,496 Islamic terror related deaths. In 2015 that dropped to 3,682, then to 1,803 in 2016, 1260 in 2017 and so far in 2018 it looks like these deaths will fall to under 700. India, with six times as many people, has had terror related deaths under a thousand a year since 2012 and most of those have nothing to do with Islamic terrorism. Despite the growing popularity (among Moslems) of Islamic radicalism in the last three decades, Moslem majority Bangladesh has been largely free of it. Compared to Pakistan (with a ten percent larger population) Bangladesh still had only six percent as many terrorist deaths as Pakistan during 2017. So far it looks like Bangladeshi terror related deaths will decline even more in 2018, to about three percent of the Pakistani total. The current head of the Pakistani military, Qamar Javed Bajwa, has expressed an interest in making some kind of peace deal with his neighbors (especially India). Bajwa seems to recognize that he cannot run Pakistan (via another military government) and that the growing tensions with India are indeed dangerous. The Indians have nukes and a track record of defeating Pakistan every time the two nations get into a war. China has openly proclaimed that it is not a military ally of Pakistan so Bajwa realizes he actually is in a weak position that is liable to get worse and end very badly for Pakistan, Bajwa and the Pakistani military. China also openly urges Pakistan to make peace with India. As open to peace talks as Bajwa says he is he cant even admit that he has imposed on himself a lot of difficult restrictions. He cannot admit that Pakistan is sponsoring Islamic terrorism in Afghanistan and India. Then there is the Pakistani history of making peace deals and regularly violating them. No wonder Bajwa sounds worried and unsure what he can do about the mess he and his predecessors have created. In private discussions with Chinese and American officials, Bajwa is called out on his actual policies. Bajwa can deny the accusations from the Americans but the Chinese cannot be lied to. The Chinese support Pakistani lies publicly but privately urge the Pakistanis to face reality before they trigger a nuclear war that would destroy a lot of valuable Chinese investments. To help this peace effort along the Chinese openly deny they are any kind of military ally of Pakistan. The Pakistan supported violence in Kashmir has become the major public safety issue for India because the other two major sources of disorder (communist Maoist rebels in the east and tribal rebels in the northeast) are very much on the defensive and causing much less disorder. The Economic Scorecard Then And Now India expects its GDP to grow by 7.4 percent this year, making it the fastest growing large economy in the world and surpassing long-time champion China. That is a promising trend but its only part of an Indian effort to match the much larger and more developed Chinese economy. Right now India has much less developed infrastructure, an inferior education system, much more corruption and a much less efficient government. All this is nothing new. It was noted in 2017 when India, Pakistan and Bangladesh celebrated the 70th anniversary of British India (and centuries of British rule) being replaced with independent India and Pakistan (which, after 25 years, split into Bangladesh and what is now Pakistan). Today these three nations have a population equal to China but have fared differently when it comes to economic growth. After 70 years India has seen its GDP per capita increase 5.5 times, Pakistan 3.9 times and Bangladesh 2.4 times, Neighbor China saw an increase of 17.9 times. Back in 1947, the GDP per capita in India was 38 percent higher than China while in what is now Pakistan it was 50 percent higher and in Bangladesh 21 percent higher. In 1947 China has just ended four decades of rebellion, civil war, invasion and one more civil war that put the communists in power. During that time British India was much more peaceful and undergoing the industrial revolution and the attendant changes. The Chinese economy didnt grow much more quickly than that of India until the 1980s when the Chinese government decided to give economic (but not political) freedom a chance. India always had political freedom but the economy was crippled by corruption and state control. In the 1990s India introduced more economic freedom but still, like Pakistan and Bangladesh, suffered more from corruption than neighboring China. There were also cultural differences between the four nations but it is interesting to see how the four did after 70 years of independence. Pakistan is also experiencing high GDP growth now, which is expected to hit 6.2 percent over the next year. This growth is the result of less terrorist violence since 2014 and more Chinese investments. But the Pakistani economy is in much worse shape than Indias. Pakistan also has a higher illiteracy rate (about 50 percent) and more civil disorder in cities and rural areas. Pakistan has always been more violent, suffering about six times more terrorist violence than India. In Pakistan, military spending takes 23 percent of the government budget and is taking more next year. Paying interest on, or repaying, debt takes 30 percent leaving less than half the government budget for everything else. Economic development gets about 15 percent of spending but it isnt nearly enough, especially since a lot of it is diverted or stolen by corrupt officials. Meanwhile, a former part of Pakistan (East Pakistan now Bangladesh) is outperforming Pakistan and India when it comes to economic growth. The primary reason for this is Bangladesh never adopted Islamic terrorism as a national policy. Quite the opposite, Bangladesh was more like India in forcing the Moslem clergy to refrain from trying to impose Islamic lifestyle rules or form radical groups to impose lifestyle rules that cripple the economy and prevent much progress at all. Bangladesh always encouraged the education of women and widespread employment of women throughout the economy. In a way Bangladesh didnt have a choice. West Pakistan (what is currently Pakistan) had far more economic resources than East Pakistan and Bangladesh had to concentrate on developing the capabilities of its people or be stuck with perpetual poverty. Bangladesh Versus The Burmese Generals The biggest problem Bangladesh faces is not Islamic terrorism sponsored by Pakistan (that has been kept under control) but problems created by an independent military in neighboring Burma. The military ran Burma from the 1960s until 2011, when it finally allowed elections to get out from growing international hostility (and sanctions). But like in Pakistan the Burmese military is still an independent (of government control) organization and it played a large role in over 700,000 Burmese Moslems (Rohingya, Bengalis who had been in Burma before the British colonial government left the region in 1948) fleeing to Bangladesh. Burma, or at least the Burmese military and its Buddhist nationalist allies, do not want to take the Rohingya back. But that would leave Burma with a huge refugee population that, even with foreign aid paying for the camps, would be nothing but trouble for Burma. The 700,000 Burmese Rohingya Moslem refugees in Bangladesh are stuck there and for what appears to be a long time. The Burmese government insists that only validated Burmese residents will be allowed back and the verification process is stalled. Burma is approving less than ten percent of the names Bangladesh presents as authentic Burmese Rohingya. The repatriation back to Burma of was supposed to begin in January 2018 but continued army violence against Rohingya still in Burma made that impossible. Added to that were the administrative problems and so much more. Those Rohingya going back must do so voluntarily but there have been many reports of Rohingya refugee camp leaders putting Rohingya on the will return list even if the refugee does not want to return. This abuse of the lists may have to do with corruption or Rohingya politics. There has been some violence in the camps over this issue and others. Back in Burma UN officials report that adequate preparations have not been made to handle a large scale return of Rohingya. A further complication is that those Rohingya willing to return want to return to their homes. If their home was destroyed (as many were during the military violence) the returnees want an opportunity to rebuild and for the government to supply money and supplies to make that possible. That would be difficult because in many of the areas Rohingya fled from local officials have treated the former Rohingya property as abandoned and available or resale and reuse. Rohingya refugees are aware of this and will not return until the government clears up the property ownership issues. That happening is considered an impossible dream by all concerned. As a result many Rohingya refugees are seeking new homelands. Bangladesh is not considered a good candidate because the country is already crowded and poor and long the source of illegal migrants to other nations. At the moment Moslem refugees are a hard sell, even in Moslem countries. No one is willing to take a lot of Rohingya and Bangladesh does not like being stuck with these large refugee camps near the Burmese border. Because the Rohingya are Moslem most Moslem nations have been quick to condemn Burma and urge international efforts to force Burma to take back the Rohingya. That has not worked either, just like international pressure on Pakistan has not eliminated Pakistani support for Islamic terrorism. Pakistani Pushtun Protest The PTM (Pashtun Tahafuz Movement or Pashtun Protection Movement) is a growing Pushtun nationalist movement in Pakistan. That is where most Pushtuns live but the Pushtuns are a small minority in Pakistan while in Afghanistan half as many Pushtuns are the largest minority in the country and a force to be reckoned with. Pushtuns on both sides of the border also agree that India is more of a friend than the Moslem majority of Pakistan who like to treat India as an enemy (which Indians insist they are not) and Afghanistan as a subordinate nation (which the Afghans do not like at all). India can now trade freely with Afghanistan via a new sea/rail link in Iran and most Afghans prefer this to dependency on Pakistan for access to the rest of the world. Attitudes and alliances are changing and Pakistan and the Taliban they created are the big losers. April 29, 2018: The leaders of India and China finished two days of meetings in China. This was an informal summit meeting requested by China, which wants to peacefully settle, or at least suspend, some or all of the current disputes it has with India. China would also like to get Indian cooperation for the OBOR (One Belt, One Road) project. Already China is building one land branch through Pakistan and would like to build another branch through India as well as obtain Indian cooperation for a maritime OBOR link via the Indian Ocean. Neither country got all they wanted but the two days of talks did quiet things down between the two most populous nations on the planet and set in motion some efforts to increase economic, diplomatic and military cooperation. One of the long shot opportunities China sees with India is another customer for Chinese military equipment. Since 2000 India has bought less from Russia, long the main supplier, and depended more on Western nations (mainly the U.S. and Israel). China has become a major threat to customers Russia long believed they had a lock on. China can offer a wider range of inexpensive weapons similar to what Russia has long offered but deliver stuff of higher quality, higher quantity and customized to customer requirements. Moreover, China turns around these orders more quickly. There are still some Chinese weapons suppliers who have acquired some of the bad Russian habits but these are usually bottom feeders supplying the lowest cost stuff to the most desperate customers. China encourages its arms manufacturers to take the high road, except when it comes to practical measures like paying bribes to get the sale and get it delivered. If India and China did not have some many border disputes India would be buying Chinese weapons in place of the increasingly shoddy ones Russia is offering. April 28, 2018: Pakistan has increased its military spending by an unprecedented 20 percent a year (to $9.6 billion). This was a very unpopular move but seen as essential by the military which is apparently accepting the fact American military aid is gone for good. The military applied a lot of pressure, including threats, to get enough votes in parliament for this large increase. This cause a lot more resentment against the military. April 23, 2018: Pakistani and Russian officials met in Russia to discuss how much Russia could replace the United States as a military ally and supplier of military equipment. This is a major shift for Pakistan and Russia, which have long been on bad terms. But that has changed, especially with the Americans cutting off military aid for Pakistan because of continued Pakistani support for Islamic terrorists. Russia, like China, is not bothered by that as long as the Pakistani backed Islamic terrorists leave Chinese and Russians alone. While Russia is a poor (literally) replacement as a military supplier and supporter, Pakistan cannot afford to be choosy. Russia and China are allies (of a sort) whereas the same could not be said for the United States and China. Although the American and China are the two largest economies on the planet, Russia is number 12 and declining. Still, the Russian economy is five times the size of Pakistans and able to produce a wide range of military equipment. Since 2014 Russia and Pakistan have formed several military links. Back in late 2014, Russia agreed to sell Pakistan up to twenty Mi-35s helicopters. The Pakistani army has been calling for all the helicopter gunships it can get, as these aircraft have proved a key weapon in the battles against Islamic terrorists in the tribal territories. The Pakistanis were, as always, short of cash. The Russians are not known for offering generous credit terms like they did in the Cold War, but deals can be made if the long term benefit is attractive enough. The Russian offer to sell Pakistan weapons came as a surprise. Thats because India has long been the largest export customer for Russian weapons. But India is becoming disillusioned with Russia as a weapons supplier. Late deliveries, quality problems and inadequate support are all complaints that India finds Russia has no solutions for. So Russia apparently feels free to sell to Indias archenemy Pakistan. After all, Russia has long been the major weapons supplier to the other Indian archenemy; China. April 22, 2018: Despite a government ban the PTM (Pashtun Protection Movement) held a large demonstration in Lahore and spoke out against the police state tactics the government was using throughout the tribal territories as part of the effort to destroy Islamic terror groups that oppose the Pakistani government (rather than work for Pakistani military). The army has been kidnapping and murdering suspected Islamic terrorists and often killed people who simply didnt want to cooperate with the government or the military. The government refused to allow the PTM to hold the demonstration because of possible threats to PTM leaders. This is what PTM is protesting, the government policy of threatening unofficially and then restricting Pushtun political activities because the Pushtun politicians or protest leaders were in danger. April 21, 2018: India revealed that it had, in February, withdrawn from the joint development and manufacturing agreement with Russia regarding their Su-57 stealth fighter. That agreement committed India to eventually contribute over $8 billion to developing and building Su-57s. India said they might still purchase the Su-57 once it is ready for sale and might even rejoin joint development efforts. But for now India is writing off nearly $300 million it has already invested but is no longer obligated to spend over $8 billion to develop and manufacture an aircraft they have lost confidence in. April 20, 2018: In China state owned media pointed out that China and Pakistan are not military allies. Pakistan may be the largest export customer for Chinese weapons and the recent withdrawal of American military aid makes Pakistan largely dependent on China for advanced tech weapons and equipment. China and Pakistan criticize the United States for insisting that Pakistan cut its support for Islamic terrorists like the Afghan Taliban and Haqqani Network if they want to receiver military aid. Pakistan insists there is no such support for the Taliban and Haqqani, but most of the world disagrees. At the same time China insists that Pakistan keep Chinese personnel and construction projects in Pakistan free of terrorist attack and Pakistan quite visible and competently complies. For Pakistan that is different. China is a business partner. April 19, 2018: In Pakistan the largest TV network, Geo, was allowed back on the air after being shut down by the military in late March for criticizing the military and the Supreme Court. Apparently Geo management agreed to censorship by the military as the cost of getting back on the air. This is not the first time the military and ISI (military intelligence) have clashed with Geo over press freedom. Back in November 2014 the head of Geo was sentenced to 26 years in prison. He had been convicted of blasphemy for allowing the broadcast of a video the court considered anti-Islamic. Most Pakistanis see this as another example of the army and ISI using their control of some courts to use the blasphemy laws as a form of censorship against those who criticize the army or ISI. Pakistan still has severe blasphemy laws that are mostly used by Moslems against innocent Christians or other non-Moslems. Efforts to repeal these laws, or at least limit their misuse, are violently resisted by Islamic political parties. The Pakistani blasphemy laws are usually only used by Moslems against non-Moslems and when they are used against Moslems it is usually for revenge or political reasons. The laws are unpopular with the majority of Pakistanis. But the minority who do support the laws, are willing to use lethal force to keep the laws on the books. These blasphemy laws were enacted in the 1970s at the behest of the military. The opposition to repealing these laws is violent and fearless. In 2011 the Punjab province governor Salman Taseer was shot dead by one of his own bodyguards because Taseer had openly opposed the blasphemy laws. While no one had ever been executed because of these laws, many are accused and jailed each year, and often condemned to death (and later reprieved). But over 30 of those accused have been murdered by Islamic fanatics, who are a large, and violent, minority of the population. The ISI had been after Geo since June 2914 and from the start used trumped up charges that the station was guilty of blasphemy. This resulted in the normally anti-ISI civilian government ordering Geo shut down for 15 days in June for slandering the ISI. The station also had to pay a $102,000 fine. The ISI also mobilized Islamic conservative groups to attack Geo and its employees. The military was angry with the Geo TV news channel mainly for accusing the military of being behind an April 19th attack against a prominent Geo TV journalist (Hamid Mir) who frequently criticized the ISI and the army during his Geo show. Mir survived the attack and the army denied it had anything to do with it. Similar attacks have been traced back to the army and ISI in the past. In Pakistan its understood that openly criticizing the ISI or army can have unhealthy consequences. The army first tried using jammers to block Geo from being received on military bases and also banned newspapers that were also making these accusations. The military then mobilized its political and media allies to back this attack on Geo, which resulted in the fake blasphemy charges and repetition of these charges in Islamic and pro-military media. On May 26th Geo surrendered and printed and broadcast a groveling apology to the military and ISI over the issue. That was not enough, nor was the order to have the station is shut down for 15 days. The military and ISI want the increasingly aggressive media to remember that there are some subjects that are simply not covered in Pakistan. Geo was undeterred though and went to court to sue ISI for defamation. The military fought back and managed to get the head of Geo convicted of blasphemy. Eventually Geo agreed to be more sensitive to military complaints about unwarranted criticism. But the military got worse, especially when it formed a partnership with the Supreme Court and Geo felt it essential to report what was going on with this. That, Geo learned, was not allowed. April 18, 2018: In northwest Pakistan (Kurram) Pakistani troops agreed to move back from disputed territory on the Afghan (Paktia province) border. South of Kurram, adjacent to Khost province in Afghanistan (adjacent to North Waziristan) there was a similar withdrawal of Pakistani forces. This is a temporary fix for the continued disputes over where the Afghan border actually is. April 17, 2018: In southwest Pakistan (Baluchistan) several Iranian Baluchi separatists based in Pakistan crossed the Iranian border at night and clashed with Iranian border guards. Three Baluchis were killed as were three Iranians. The surviving Baluchis apparently fled back into Pakistan and Iran urged Pakistan to look into the matter. April 16, 2018: In northwest Pakistan, on the Afghan border (Khost province) there was another clash between Afghan security forces and Pakistani border guards. It was all about Pakistanis and Afghans disagreeing where the border was. Fighting broke out yesterday. At least seven people died, five of them Pakistani and two Afghan border police. One Pakistani border guard was captured. The Pakistani entered an area that the Afghans insisted was on their side of the border and fighting broke out when the Pakistani border guards would not back away. Today a ceasefire was arranged by tribal leaders and Afghanistan returned the bodies of the Pakistani dead and the one captured Pakistani. The Afghan government ordered the army to send additional troops to the border in case the Pakistanis escalated. These clashes are occurring more frequently. April 15, 2018: In southwest Pakistan (Quetta, capital of Baluchistan) four gunmen on motorcycles fired on Christians coming out of a church and left two of the Christians dead. ISIL later took credit for this attack. ISIL attacks non-Moslems and Shia Moslems frequently and describes it as Gods work. April 14, 2018: The Afghan security forces are having more success shutting down Taliban smuggling routes from Pakistan. These routes are used to bring in weapons, including explosives, as well as foreign Islamic terrorists. Both bombs and foreign Islamic terrorists are unwelcome in Afghanistan because that means more dead civilians. So it has become easier for the security forces to find out which remote smuggling routes the Taliban are using and disrupt them (at great cost to the Taliban). April 13, 2018: Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), an Islamist political party has called for more mass demonstrations, meant to disrupt the economy until the Islamic radicals get what they want. April 10, 2018: In northwest Pakistan the army fired more shells across the Afghan border into Kunar province. Some of the fire was directed at a village. This left one civilian dead and one house destroyed. Over 300 people fled their homes to avoid the rockets and shells. When it was all over nearly 200 rockets and shells had been fired. Most had landed in uninhabited areas. April 9, 2018: China and India are trying to negotiate yet another border dispute, one that was kept quiet until today. In this case Indian patrols caught Chinese troops inside the Indian state of Ladakh (northwest India) twice in March. In one case the Chinese were six kilometers from the border. In both cases the Chinese troops retreated when confronted. The country is still chaotic because of the hundreds of militias and private armies operating with little supervision. Many of these, especially the ones that are Islamic, are unifying behind what is left of the GNA (Government of National Accord) in Tripoli in an effort to survive. Many Islamic militias are losing their most radical members to ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant), which is still trying to establish a base area in Libya. To this end ISIL is deliberately attacking targets that will prevent elections and the formation of a unified national government. Meanwhile in eastern Libya the LNA (Libyan National Army) continues to defeat or absorb defiant militias, especially ones that are religion based or outright Islamic terrorists. While many Western nations consider the LNA, or at least some of its commanders, to be war criminals the fact is that pro-GNA faction leaders are no better and often a lot worse. The Arab nations that have long supported the LNA and its creator Khalifa Hiftar and understand this and the fact that Hiftar is simply a more effective military leaders. After living in the U.S. for over a decade, Hiftar knows first-hand what works. Hiftar works for the rival Libyan HoR (House of Representatives) government in Tobruk. Most Libyans, having little or no personal experience of a much less corrupt and more productive Western economy, just want someone to make all the chaos and pain go away. There is no easy way to make that happen. A first step would be to form a united government. That is still a work in progress but at least progress is being made. Hiftar is also popular in Libya (and with other Moslem governments in the region) for his steadfast and effective opposition to Islamic terrorists and Islamic radicalism in general. The Wages Of Sin ISIL and AQIM (Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) are continuing to survive in Libya by controlling the movement of illegal migrants through Libya to the coast and then on boats that take them to Europe. This is big business and generates enough cash for the Islamic terrorists to bribe local militias and government officials to make it possible to continue the people smuggling. AQIM is more into the money and will work with ISIL if offered the opportunity. But AQIM leaders know that ISIL will ultimately turn on all other Islamic terror groups (because ISIL considers itself the only true holy warriors). Even where the two groups are cooperating ISIL is calling on the more zealous AQIM members to join ISIL. May 2, 2018: In Tripoli an ISIL force consisting of two suicide bombers and several gunmen attacked the HNEC (High National Elections Commission) building killing at least 16 people and wounding 19. Fires were started when the two suicide bombers detonated. This was a very deliberate and direct attack on the effort to restore national government in Libya. European and Arab nations offered additional help to keep the plans for national elections this year on track. May 1, 2018: The LNA has managed to arrange an end to fighting between black African and Arab tribes around the southeastern town of Kufra (near the Chad border.) This had been going on since late 2011 and flared up again in February 2018. The disputes are largely about control of water and land and are part of centuries old animosity between the Arabs (the much larger Zuwai tribe) and black Africans (Tebu tribe). The two tribes involved have a long history of conflict. Belgasim Al Abaj, an LNA general arrived in mid-April to negotiate a lasting peace deal. Abaj is a Zuwai and the Tebus in general respect the LNA. One reason for this respect is that the LNA has established a track record of negotiating peace deals in several tribal conflicts by establishing good relations with the major tribes (Magharba, Baraasa, Hasa, Obaidat, Zuwai and Zintan) and getting these larger tribes to make peace with their smaller rivals. Some of these peace deals are only temporary, until Libya is united and no longer in danger of massive social and financial collapse. But that is enough. . The UN, which keeps track of such things, reports that in April 31 civilians were killed (4) or wounded (27) as a result of fighting in Libya. As low as these civilian casualties were in April that was up sharply from March when five civilians were killed and eleven wounded by this largely terrorist violence. This was a sharp drop from January and February when there were several major terror attacks. There were many more casualties among the military forces (LNA and militias) as well as the few Islamic terror groups still operating. Various surveys indicate that nationwide fewer than 500 civilians died during 2017 from the fighting between militias, Islamic terror groups, criminal gangs and the LNA. The armed men in these groups suffered higher casualties, most of them among the Islamic terror groups, which were considered legitimate targets by everyone. April 30, 2018: Heavy fighting broke out in Tripoli between two rival pro-GNA militias. The fighting was apparently over possession of an armored vehicle. The fighting took place in several parts of the city and was settled by the end of the day. Elsewhere in Tripoli it was revealed that Wisam Ben Hamid, the leader of the largest coalition of Islamic militias in Tripoli, had recently been killed. His family made the announcement and did not give any date of death but the LNA had been after him for a long time. April 29, 2018: Egypt and France confirmed that they are working together to assist Libya in holding elections by the end of 2018 and thus making possible a united government. April 28, 2018: In Tripoli American and GNA officials signed an agreement in which the United States will provide assistance in improving airport security and improvements in policing, running prisons and the judicial system. The Americans also back the formation of a united government between the GNA and HoR. April 27, 2018: In the southwest, across the border in Algeria (Illizi Province) Algerian troops patrolling the border have found and destroyed more weapons apparently brought across the border from Libya and hidden for Algerian arms dealers to pick up. April 26, 2018: LNA commander Khalifa Hiftar returned to Benghazi after receiving medical treatment. Hiftar fell ill while visiting France in mid-April on official business and remained under treatment until he was deemed fit to return to Libya. Hiftar appeared healthy on his return today. He is 75 years old and was believed to have suffered a stroke but today he walked off the airliner and gave a speech and then held meetings. In Morocco officials from the GNA and HoR met to work out a political compromise so Libya could have a unified government by the end of 2018. Both groups are confident that such a deal can be worked out this year. One reason for that confidence is the growing control HoR has over the country as the LNA under Hiftar continues to pacify unruly areas. GNA is still dealing with internal disorder and loss of popular support. April 25, 2018: In the south (Sabha, 770 kilometers south of Tripoli) fighting, apparently between Tebu and Zaghawah tribesmen broke out again and left 12 dead and over 50 wounded. Over a thousand civilians fled the area where the fighting was going on. The Zaghawah are nomads from Chad to occasionally try to move into Libya seeking water and pasturage. April 24, 2018: LNA forces clashed with the few remaining Islamic terrorists in Derna (200 kilometers east of Benghazi). This is the only eastern coastal city not under LNA control but has been under siege by the LNA since 2017. Since early 2017 LNA forces from further east followed the ISIL and other Islamic terrorist remnants to Derna. Some ISIL men managed to establish a presence there and have been seeking to carry out bombings and other terror attacks on the coastal areas (where most of the people are). Derna remains a problem as this city is about the same size (100,000 population) as the former ISIL capital Sirte. Earlier ISIL failures in Derna were the result of stubborn local militias who disliked outsiders in general. Hiftar was not popular with some of the Derna militias, especially those composed of Islamic conservatives and these groups were not cooperative. Now they are under attack by Hiftar forces and being pushed out of the area. The UN opposes the LNA tactics because it cuts many civilians off from essential supplies. The LNA points out that the Islamic terrorists control who gets what when supplies get through the current blockade. April 23, 2018: Two former Guantanamo inmates from Libya were returned to Libya, apparently involuntarily. The two then disappeared, apparently seized by a hostile (to Islamic terrorism) militia. April 22, 2018: In the east (Benghazi) a clash between an LNA unit and a police unit left two dead. The dispute was over a police investigator accused of corruption. April 21, 2018: In the east an oil pipeline was damaged by local Islamic terrorists. This group had last attacked that pipeline in December 2017 and were still being hunted. The recent attack halted 80,000 BPD to the el Sider export terminal. It took four days to repair the damage. April 19, 2018: Outside Tripoli someone fired rockets at the airport, damaging a passenger aircraft belonging to Libyan Airlines. No one took responsibility for the attack but it was believed to be one of the militias that used to control access to the airport and made a lot of money doing so. April 18, 2018: Tunisia reopened its consulate in Tripoli. In the east (outside Benghazi) some used a car bomb in an unsuccessful attempt to kill the chief-of-staff (and second in command) of the LNA. One civilian was killed and several wounded. This attack was believed to be the work of ISIL. April 16, 2018: The World Bank reported that Libya is about to exhaust its foreign exchange reserves and be unable to purchase essential imports like food and medicine. April 14, 2018: In Sudan RSF (Rapid Support Forces) leaders asked the EU to pay them for guarding the Sudan-Libya border and preventing migrants from reaching the Mediterranean Sea. An RSF commander said his units are defending the EU. The RSF has been accused of committing atrocities and now they are trying export some money from the EU for preventing illegal migrants from reaching Europe via the activities of well-armed and financed people smuggling gangs. TICKERS: , CYP; CYDVF; C1Z1, LAC Source: Peter Epstein for Streetwise Reports (5/2/18) Peter Epstein of Epstein Research discusses the maiden resource estimate for a Nevada lithium project. WOW! Cypress Development Corp. (CYP:TSX.V; CYDVF:OTCQB; C1Z1:Frankfurt) killed it with its maiden NI 43-101 compliant lithium resource estimate yesterday! The whisper number was 4 to 6 million Inferred tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equiv. (LCE), (which would have been a tremendous result), but Global Resource Engineering Ltd. determined there's an estimated 6.54 million metric tonnes LCE. Perhaps even more exciting than the size of the resource, (we knew it would be large), was something I never even considered, 44% (2.857 M tonnes) of the resource is in the "Indicated" category. I thought it would 100% Inferred. That just goes to show how strong the continuity of the lithium zones is in this giant, thick, tabular formationwhere 21 of 23 drill holes ended in mineralization. In the boxed paragraphs above, notice the added level of evidence or "confidence" (highlighted in green) needed to be designated an Indicated resource vs. Inferred. The sizable Indicated portion will make it easier and less costly to reach PEA stage (expected in Sept/Oct). Importantly, Cypress is funded through PEA, especially as a wave of options and warrants will likely be exercised on the back of this news. Putting this into perspective, consider that Lithium Americas Corp.'s (LAC:TSX; LAC:NYSE) (formerly Western Lithium) clay-hosted Li project (then called Kings Valley) also in Nevada, had the following maiden mineral resource estimate: It had an impressive 53% of its total resource classified as Indicated, but the absolute size of the resource was 24% & 16%, respectively, the number of tonnes of LCE in Cypress Development's maiden Indicated & Inferred resource. Bacanora Minerals Ltd.'s clay project in Sonora Mexico had the following maiden resource: Bacanora Minerals' (London: BCN) maiden resource was 25% the size of Cypress Development's Inferred resource. However, Bacanora had no tonnage at all in the Indicated category. Fast forward to today, Lithium Americas' project now hosts a combined Measured & Indicated resource just shy of 6 million tonnes LCE, plus an Inferred inventory of about 2.3 million tonnes. Recall that LAC has a clay-hosted lithium project, also in Nevada. An entirely new (will replace the prior) Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) on LAC's clay project is expected in June. Likewise, Bacanora's net attributable resource has soared to 4.1 million tonnes LCE (Measured & Indicated), and 3.2 million tonnes (Inferred). Bacanora's BFS-stage clay project is in Sonora Mexico. Near-term Catalysts to Keep Market on its Toes Readers should know that there are important near-term catalysts leading up to a PEA as soon as August (I've been saying in September/October). First and foremost, ongoing metallurgy test results will be released. The full maiden mineral resource technical report will be filed on Sedar this month. And, assays from up to 30 new drill holes are coming this spring and summer. Management expects to be in talks with prospective strategic partners, but there's no rush because, as mentioned, Cypress is funded through PEA. Cypress should be able to substantially upgrade its NI 43-101 compliant Indicated & Inferred resource to the Measured & Indicated categories, potentially ending up with a resource around the same size and level of confidence (albeit lower grade) as Lithium Americas' and Bacanora's. In fact, in today's press release management stated that it believes 30 additional drill holes would be sufficient to upgrade the Inferred portion to Indicated. Cypress' Indicated-only portion at nearly 3 M tonnes LCE is larger than most hard rock, and many brine projects around the world. Cypress is trading at Enterprise Value (EV) to tonne LCE ratio of just C$3.5, (share price C$0.33 intra-day May 1) and that's on a fully diluted share count. Compare that to C$18/t for Lithium Americas (I assume 25% of LAC's EV is attributable to its Nevada clay project), C$27/t for Bacanora, and an average of C$92/t for several other global hard rock and brine projects (most peers in the chart below are more advanced than Cypress). The graph below, from a recent Lithium Americas' corporate presentation, shows where clay-hosted lithium projects fit into the conventional world of hard rock (mostly in western Australia) and brine (mostly in Chile and Argentina). Generically speaking, clay is right in the middle on both operating costs and lithium grade. What the chart doesn't show is that the most significant clay projects (BCN's, LAC's and now CYP's) are quite sizablemuch larger than the average conventional lithium project. To recap, this is a major advancement for Cypress. It puts the company on the map, not just U.S. and North American maps, but global maps. A KEY TAKEAWAY is that the amount of TIME and CASH needed to drill out the entire resource for a Bank Feasibility Study (BFS) next year should be relatively low, especially compared to the time and capital deployed by Lithium Americas and Bacanora to get to PFS and BFS, respectively. Cypress is now (in my opinion only) in a position to deliver a BFS in mid-to-late 2019 at a total cost (including company overhead) of 6 million tonnes of LCE (combined Indicated & Inferred). Therefore, Cypress need never worry again about resource size; it already has huge scale and could potentially reach BFS-stage much faster and considerably cheaper than LAC and BCN did. Peter Epstein is the founder of Epstein Research. His background is in company and financial analysis, and he is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He holds an MBA degree in financial analysis from New York University's Stern School of Business. Want to read more Energy Report articles like this? Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and you'll learn when new articles have been published. To see a list of recent articles and interviews with industry analysts and commentators, visit our Streetwise Interviews page. Disclosures: The content of this article is for information only. Readers fully understand and agree that nothing contained herein, written by Peter Epstein of Epstein Research [ER], (together, [ER]) about Cypress Development Corp., including but not limited to, commentary, opinions, views, assumptions, reported facts, calculations, etc. is to be considered implicit or explicit investment advice. Nothing contained herein is a recommendation or solicitation to buy or sell any security. [ER] is not responsible under any circumstances for investment actions taken by the reader. 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Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. Charts and graphics provided by author. Daughter of Former Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz on Thursday vowed to beat the invisible forces in upcoming general elections of 2018. Talking to the media outside accountability court, Maryam Nawaz said that reality cannot be ignored by closing the eyes and that banning the speeches cannot suppress their voices, she added. Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader asserted that the people have come out of the fear of victory and defeat as they are now standing for their rights. Yesterday, while addressing a public gathering in Sadiqabad, Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said that Imran Khan is being exclusively treated. She said the political turncoats would not succeed this time around, hailing Khawaja Asif for his loyalty. People hold Khawaja Asif in high esteem for he is a loyal person. The entire city turned up to welcome Asif after he was disqualified. The former first daughter said the ones deserting the party would meet such an end that they would think ten times before jumping ship. To posses Iqama becomes an offence of Nawaz Sharif. No joint investigation team (JIT) is constituted on offshore company of blue-eyed person, stated Maryam while adding at the same time that instead of nabbing Pervez Musharraf, Nawaz Sharif was being punished.Keeping verbal onslaught up, Maryam claimed that all parameters of justice were changed in cases against Nawaz Sharif. She said, Even no proof of corruption became a crime of Nawaz Sharif. Maryam inquired whether it was Nawaz Sharif who had tried to alter results of NA-126 by-poll and that whether it was Nawaz Sharif who had indulged in horse-trading during Senate elections. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) ambassador to Pakistan Hamad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al-Zaabi called on Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement. During the meeting, the two dignitaries discussed matters of mutual interest and the UAE-Pakistan Assistance Programme (UPAP) projects under way in Pakistan, the militarys media wing said. Earlier, according to an ISPR statement, the Turkish Chief of General Staff General Hulusi Akar met Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat to exchange ideas on security, regional affairs and bilateral military cooperation. During the meeting, General Hulusi Akar lauded the professional capabilities of the Pakistan Army and acknowledged Pakistans sacrifices in the war against terrorism, the ISPR said. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Saqib Nisar has taken notice of the high levy charged on mobile phone cards in the country. The chief justice asked why such a huge amount is deducted by the private mobile companies and under what tax heads. The Supreme Court issued notices to all the mobile telephone operators in the country and summoned the attorney general over the issue. The apex court will take up the case next week, according to some media reports. At present, as per some reports, on the charge of a Rs100 pre-paid mobile card, a 19.5 per cent federal excise duty is charged along with 12.5 per cent withholding tax and 10 per cent service/maintenance charge. According to statistics revealed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority in January this year, the number of mobile phone users stands at 144 million as compared to 142.5 million in October 2017. Islamabad Police on Thursday clashed with journalists participating in a rally to mark World Press Freedom Day. The police stopped the rally at D Chowk and was not allowing journalists to march towards the Parliament, resulting in clashes between the two parties. The participants of the rally which included journalists from various news organisations, including foreign news agencies and Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists, were marching towards the Parliament to present their charter of demands. Protesting the clashes, the journalists staged a sit-in in the area. Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar has taken notice of the incident. World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3 May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day. The co-chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and former president Asif Ali Zardari lashed out at former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and said that he has made the country empty and futile. Addressing to workers at Bilawal House in Lahore, Asif Ali Zardari said that present government has no foreign policy as Pakistan was enjoyed friendly relations with neighbouring countries during PPP tenure. One can want to become friend of Indian PM Modi, however the enemy of Pakistan is our enemy, he warned.He also lamented on Imran Khan and said that he delivered long speeches but did not has any particular manifesto as Imran took the step after five years that was taken by me five years before. Zardari revealed that Benzair Bhutto had approached court for the FATA-KP merger as they are truly patriotic Pakistanis. Both factions of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday night announced to hold joint public meeting in Liaquatabad area of Karachi on May 5. Addressing a joint press conference at MQM Bahadurabad office, Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan s PIB Colony chief Farooq Sattar and Bahadurabad factions Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui announced to hold a joint public meeting at Tanki Ground in Liaquatabad on Saturday (May 5). Farooq Sattar critically criticized Pakistan Peoples Party and said that it is their governments treatment of Mohajirs which has united the community once again. Speaking on the occasion, Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui said that this will be a historic public meeting which will show the emotions of Mohajir community. Earlier, Dr Farooq Sattar along with his supporters arrived at the MQM Bahadurabad faction office where he was received by Faisal Sabazwari and other party leaders. Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi says his country fully supports North Koreas efforts to bring about denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, some two weeks after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un declared that Pyongyang would suspend its nuclear and missile tests and dismantle a nuclear test site. The Chinese foreign minister made the remark during a meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Ri Yong-ho, at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang during a rare visit to the North on Wednesday. China is willing to strengthen communication with North Korea and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue, Wang said. On April 20, Kim said his countrys quest for missile and nuclear weapons capability was complete and it no longer needs to test its weapons capabilities. He said he would thus suspend such tests and also shut down a site where the country had conducted its previous six nuclear tests. He said the measures were aimed at pursuing economic growth and peace on the Korean Peninsula. World leaders around the globe, including those of the United States and South Korea, hailed Kims decision to suspend the tests, which have drawn harsh sanctions from both the US and the United Nations. The visit to North Korea by the Chinese foreign minister came amid a wave of diplomacy that offers hope to bring peace to the Korean Peninsula. Pyongyangs biggest diplomatic feat so far is the sudden betterment of relations with South Korea a long-time adversary that fought a war with the North in the early 1950s. Furthermore, then-CIA chief and now-US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also earlier secretly visited Pyongyang and met with Kim, and a summit is also being planned to be held between the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump in May or June. Pompeo said on Wednesday that North Korea would have to completely dismantle what he called its weapons of mass destruction program. It is not clear if Pyongyang would agree to such a demand. During a historic summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, the two leaders signed a joint declaration, dubbed the Panmunjom Declaration for Peace, Prosperity and Unification on the Korean Peninsula. In it, while they confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, no commitment was made by the North Korean state to dismantle its weapons programs, including its nuclear weapons. Wang also said that Beijing would also fully supported Pyongyangs decision to concentrate its efforts on economic development instead of developing nuclear arms and ballistic missiles. However, he also said that China appreciated North Koreas reasonable and legitimate security concerns. Referring to the upcoming meeting between Kim and Trump, Wang said Beijing hoped the dialog between the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea and the United States will be conducted successfully and that substantial progress will be made. Meanwhile, a brief statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Wang also met with Kim on the second day of his two-day visit to the North. From Greg Swank, 12-4-2 You are about to read a list of 45 goals that found their way down the halls of our great Capitol back in 1963. As... New Zealand is "awash" with imported methamphetamine, which is so cheap and easy to get its now more available than cannabis, a drug researcher says. A new Massey University study published today showed a sharp rise the use of imported crystal methamphetamine, known on the street as ice. It was being made on an "industrial scale" in China and South East Asia which meant it was now cheaper to import it than make it locally, says Associate Professor Chris Wilkins. "In Asia theres been a quite a massive increase in the supply... so this part of the world is really awash with methamphetamine." Read Broken Bad, RNZs in-depth look at NZs methamphetamine problem here. His study of 300 frequent drug users found the proportion who reported crystal methamphetamine was easier to obtain more than doubled from 17 per cent in 2015 to 35 per cent in 2016. The proportion using crystal methamphetamine also increased sharply from 54 per cent to 76 percent over that period. The findings were consistent with record seizures of imported P made at the border in 2016, including the one-off find of 496 kilos on a Northland beach. A more recent online survey of 6,000 drug users in March this year by Massey University found P was now more available than cannabis, says Dr Wilkins. Former P addict Bex Mabley spent most of the last decade using and injecting meth on almost a daily basis. She knew just how easy it was to get a fix. "I was just getting it given to me. Meth is everywhere, its so cheap now its flooding New Zealand. You cant get away from it," she says. Its a reality Eastern District Organised Crime head detective senior sergeant Brent Greville knows well. Ninety per cent of his investigations were now focussed at stopping gangs wholesaling the drug in the Hawkes Bay and Gisborne regions. He had been a cop in the district for 30 years and seen meth-related crimes had grown "astronomically" in the last 10 years, he says. "And even more so in the last five years... its certainly the most insidious drug Ive ever dealt with." P was rarely manufactured in this region anymore as gangs flooded the market with imported drugs from Asia, he says. "Its always very satisfying to take out them out and get the drugs off the street for a while, because Ive seen the harm this stuff causes to people in our community. But...theres always going to be someone to fill that gap." "Until people stop using the stuff then well always have something to do." Ambitious Tax System Changes Still Necessary In Greece: OECD by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London 03 May 2018 In the OECD's latest report for the country, Greece has been urged to broaden its tax base and further clamp down on tax evasion. While praising steps taken by Greece to implement recommendations in its last report, the OECD says Greece's tax system still relies on high rates and narrow bases mainly due to tax evasion. It recommends further action to fight tax evasion through improved risk analysis, targeted tax audits, and strengthened incentives to encourage voluntary tax compliance. Greece's narrow VAT base was also criticized, with the OECD observing many exemptions have no social purpose, including exemptions for casinos, betting shops, post office services, and national broadcasting networks, and reduced rates for hotels. To address the continuing issue of non-performing loans, the OECD recommended banks should be given tax relief to dispose of them. To this end, it says tax incentives under loan servicing and securitization laws should be aligned. While the report is critical of Greece's complex tax system, stating it discourages participation in the formal economy and lowers tax compliance, it said the setting up of a new independent revenue agency last year was a big step in the right direction. Australia To Scrutinize Company Vehicle Tax Claims by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong 03 May 2018 The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has said that it will be examining claims for car expenses this tax time as part of a broader focus on work-related expenses. More than three and a quarter million people made a work-related car expense claim in 2016-17, with claims totalling around AUD8.8bn (USD6.6bn). Assistant Commissioner Kath Anderson said: "While most people want to do the right thing, we know the rules can be a bit tricky for some and we are seeing a lot of mistakes. We are particularly concerned about taxpayers claiming for things they are not entitled to, like private trips, trips they didn't make, and car expenses that their employer paid or reimbursed." There are two ways to calculate a deduction for car expenses. A taxpayer can use a cents per kilometre method, which is limited for work-related travel up to 5,000 kilometres, or they can use a log book to determine the work-related percentage of actual expenses incurred. Anderson said that the ATO is concerned that some taxpayers believe that 5,000 kilometres is "a 'standard' deduction they are entitled to, without needing to provide any evidence of having travelled that distance, or even having taken any travel at all." She explained that while claims of up to 5,000 kilometres using the cents per kilometre method do not require a log book, taxpayers must still have done the travel as part of their job and show how they calculated their claim. According to Anderson, the ATO compares taxpayers to others in similar occupations earning similar incomes, to identify people making false or incorrect claims. Ireland Introduces New Sugary Drinks Tax by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London 03 May 2018 Ireland's new sugar-sweetened drinks tax launched on May 1. The tax agency has released updated guidance on how businesses should comply with the measure. The tax was originally due to enter into force on April 6, but implementation was delayed while the Government sought state aid approval from the European Commission. The Commission has now provided approval and the SSDT commenced on May 1. The tax operates as an excise duty and will be administered on a self-assessment basis. As the guide explains, the SSDT will apply on the first supply of sugar-sweetened drinks in Ireland, with the supplier making the first supply liable for accounting for and paying the tax. Revenue said that a supplier must register with Revenue in advance of making a first supply of sugar-sweetened drinks in Ireland. They must file returns within one month after the end of the accounting period during which the supplies were made. A relief will be available where sugar-sweetened drinks sourced in Ireland are supplied outside Ireland on a commercial basis. To claim this relief, "exporters" will need to register with Revenue in advance of making supplies outside Ireland. The tax will apply to non-alcoholic, water-based, and juice-based drinks with an added sugar content of five or more grams per 100 millilitres or above. Drinks with between five and eight grams of added sugar per litre will attract a tax of 20 percent. Drinks with a sugar content of eight grams or more per litre will be taxed at 30 percent. Ahead of the SSDT's entry into force, the Irish Beverage Council said that three quarters of soft drinks sold in Ireland will not be subject to the tax. Director Colm Jordan said: "In Ireland, 10 billion calories have been removed annually between 2005 and 2012 through voluntary sugar reduction in soft drinks. That is a 10 percent reduction in seven years. Today, soft drinks represent less than three percent of Ireland's calorific intake." New Zealand Consults On Imposing GST On Low-Value Imports by Mary Swire, Tax-News.com, Hong Kong 03 May 2018 New Zealand has launched a consultation on proposals to charge goods and services tax on consignments worth less than NZD400, which currently benefit from a tax exemption for low-value imports, from October 1, 2019. Presently goods worth no more than either NZD226 (USD158) or NZD400 (depending on if they are subject to duty) are not subject to goods and services tax on import. In essence, the tax authority waives liability to GST if the amount of tax at stake is not more than NZD60. The proposed change is in line with the recommendation of the OECD in its Action 1 base erosion and profit shifting report and resulting VAT/GST Guidelines, that countries should do away with exemptions for low-value consignments. Australia is likewise removing its exemption. Launching the consultation, Revenue and Small Business Minister Stuart Nash said: "Domestic businesses have long called for greater fairness in the treatment of low-value goods from offshore retailers. Foreign companies are not required to collect GST on goods under NZD400. We are now calling for feedback on a system to register these suppliers for GST. There are more than 26,000 small businesses employing more than 62,000 people in the retail sector. Many are in competition with foreign firms who enjoy this tax break. Local firms compete on an uneven playing field. Large multinationals sell exactly the same product into our market without collecting GST." "GST has always been payable on low-value goods but it is not cost effective for Customs to collect it when it is NZD60 or less," added Customs Minister Meka Whaitiri. "We propose making offshore suppliers collect GST on low-value goods at the moment of sale, and in turn, buyers of these goods will no longer pay Customs tariffs or border security and biosecurity fees. This will simplify compliance and administration costs at the border. This supports the focus of Customs to make cross-border transactions easier without compromising the need to keep out illicit substances and materials." "GST has been collected on services and digital products from offshore, such as streamed movies and music, since 2016. This extends that to goods," explained Nash. Kirk Hope, the Chief Executive of BusinessNZ welcomed the move, saying there would benefits for consumers as well. "It would not mean extra compliance for New Zealand customers, and it would provide some certainty around pricing of imported goods." He warned, however, that the system will take time to develop, with more work needed on policing of overseas providers and their reporting systems for tax collection, he suggested. "We have treaty arrangements with other countries that would allow us to request them to collect unpaid GST on New Zealand's behalf, and we need to develop joint registration and collection systems with those countries," he noted. "Once the system [is] fully developed, we [will] achieve a GST system that [is] comprehensive in New Zealand and aligned with other sales tax systems internationally." The US government's crusade against Chinese phone makers isn't stopping anytime soon. For the unaware, in January, AT&T dropped Huawei's devices from their phone line-up following government pressure and Verizon followed suit weeks after for similar reasons. With distribution through two of the US' biggest mobile carriers off the table for Huawei, the company turned to retailers like Amazon and Best Buy to sell their devices. Unfortunately for them, in March, Best Buy also opted to cut their ties with the Chinese company. This decision came not long after we reported on six US intelligence chiefs' decision to warn the public against buying devices from Huawei and ZTE. Now, the Pentagon is blocking the two Chinese companies from selling their devices at retail stores on US military bases, according to the Wall Street Journal. "Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the departments personnel, information and mission," a Pentagon spokesperson said... "Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the departments personnel, information and mission," a Pentagon spokesperson said to the outlet. "In light of this information, it was not prudent for the departments exchanges to continue selling them." For the time being, this ban doesn't seem to prevent US military personnel from buying Huawei and ZTE devices from other outlets that still carry them, though that could change in the future. Huawei isn't oblivious to the US government's feelings towards them. Shortly after the aforementioned US intelligence chiefs warned Americans against purchasing the company's phones, Huawei issued a statement claiming they were "aware of a range of U.S. government activities" aimed at inhibiting the company's business in the US. In response to the Pentagon's latest decision, Huawei offered the following statement to The Verge: Huaweis products are sold in 170 countries worldwide and meet the highest standards of security, privacy and engineering in every country we operate globally including the US. We remain committed to openness and transparency in everything we do and want to be clear that no government has ever asked us compromise the security or integrity of any of our networks or devices. Large-capacity SD cards are great for storing lots of HD and 4K content, but for devices that record continuously, such as dash cams, body cams, and surveillance or security systems, reliability and endurance are just as important. Thats where Samsungs aptly named Pro Endurance cards come in. Samsung describes its new microSDHC/microSDXC cards as being built for intensive video monitoring applications, offering industry-leading endurance. They last around 25 times longer than other speed-focused cards, with the 128GB model able to handle up to 43,800 hours of 1080p video recording. Thats equal to five years of continuous use, and Samsung is backing up this claim with a five-year limited warranty. The Pro Endurance cards can deliver read speeds of up to 100 MB/s with support for FHD recording and 4K with write speeds of up to 30MB/s. Samsung says these cards are about as tough as you can get, able to withstand harsh environments and, as they feature the company's 4-proof protection, are water, temperature, magnetic, and X-ray-proof. They also ship with a full-size SD card adapter for devices that use the format. Consumers want to feel assured with their video surveillance solutions, and the need for longer-lasting, higher performing memory cards that can withstand extreme conditions and capture critical moments is at an all-time high, said Un-Soo Kim, senior vice president of Brand Product Marketing, Memory Business at Samsung Electronics. The Samsung Pro Endurance memory cards come in three capacities. Unsurprisingly, theyre not cheap. Its $25 for the 32GB card, $45 for the 64GB version, and $90 for 128GB, but they could be the last SD card you need to buy for a long time. The attack planners, Orlando Bosh and Luis Posada, were protected by the United States. They died of old age without ever being punished. | Read More Its been an open secret for some time that National Australia Bank was contemplating an exit from its scandal-ridden wealth management business. Andrew Thorburn confirmed it on Thursday, foreshadowing a demerger and float or trade sale of its MLC business. In announcing what was, before the costs associated with its bold restructuring plan, a flat interim result or a 16.2 per cent slump in earnings if the $755 million of restructuring expenses are included Thorburn said NAB would exit its advice, platform, superannuation and asset management businesses before the end of next calendar year. Andrew Thorburn was at pains to distance the decision to offload MLC from the unpleasant evidence provided to the royal commission. Credit:Jessica Hromas He was at pains to distance the decision from the unpleasant evidence provided to the royal commission of false witnessing of client forms by NAB advisers and the more combustible evidence elsewhere in the sector, saying NAB had been considering offloading its wealth management businesses (other than JB Were and nabtrade) for nine months. He also said there was nothing new, to NAB, in what had emerged in the royal commission about the failings of the advice sector. It was all known to NAB and the regulator, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission. Ten Network is vowing to appeal a court ruling that will allow its rivals, Seven Network and Nine Network, to seize control of the nation's free-to-air broadcast towers for $1. The towers are owned by a business called TX Australia, which Ten, Seven and Nine jointly founded in 1999. It provides transmission services across Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. Ten will appeal a decision made by the Supreme Court of NSW allowing Seven and Nine to acquire its stake in TX Australia for $1. Credit:Jessica Hromas When Ten went into administration last year, it triggered a clause in the shareholders' agreement allowing Nine and Seven to buy Tens one-third share. Ten was later bought by US-based broadcaster CBS, which took the company out of administration. Nine and Seven each proposed to obtain half of Ten's 33.3 per cent interest in TX Australia. Price revival Concern over tightening supplies has revived prices. European coal for export has almost doubled from the lows of 2016, and US futures are 50 per cent higher on average in 2018 than two years earlier. One reason for the output slide is the lack of coal-industry financing. With growing concern about climate change, lenders shrank funding for the industry to $US14.9 billion ($18.7 billion) last year from $US22.5 billion in 2015, according to BankTrack. Big investors are increasingly turning their backs on coal. Credit:Bloomberg At least 15 of the biggest global banks have policies that prevent investing in coal projects. JPMorgan., HSBC and Credit Suisse won't fund new mines, while Societe Generale and Deutsche Bank go even further with bans on loans for coal-fired power plants. And it's not just banks. Big investors are increasingly turning their backs on coal. In 2012, activist group 350.org started the climate divestment movement. So far, more than 850 institutions have committed to quitting coal investments. Norway's $US1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, the world's largest equity investor, sold off most of its coal stocks. California lawmakers required the state's pension funds to divest any coal holding. Asset managers including Allianz, Swiss Re and Storebrand have similar policies. Loading "The pressure on the investment industry to reduce the amount of capital that we make available to the coal industry is increasing," said Nick Stansbury, a fund manager at Legal & General Group, the UK's largest manager of pension assets. "That will lead to this industry facing a rising cost of capital." Here in Australia, the $2.9 billion Carmichael coal venture illustrates the challenge. Prices are the highest in six years, and the government was so eager to get production started that it overruled concerns the project could damage the Great Barrier Reef. Despite that support, developer Adani Enterprises is struggling to get funding and has abandoned a 2020 target date to begin mining. It's already been rejected by three Chinese banks and lenders including Goldman Sachs to Investec. Going cold on coal Even big producers -- which have deep enough pockets to build projects without bank support -- aren't interested in adding to supplies. BHP has said the world needs to combat climate change by reducing harmful emissions. Anglo American says burning coal will increasingly be contested by governments and consumers, and that use of the fuel will ultimately decline. Anglo American cut production by 20 per cent in the past five years and won't spend any more money on its existing mines. BHP, which mostly mines coking coal used to make steel, plans to run its thermal coal mines for cash, while it focuses on commodities like oil and copper. Rio Tinto sold all its mines. No new mines Glencore, the top seller on international markets, is the only major producer committed to the fuel. The Switzerland-based company is buying mines from rivals, but the company says it won't build new ones. While declining supply should support profits for those still mining the fuel, the industry remains at risk. Most thermal coal mined each year is used by domestic power plants, leaving less than a fifth of output available for the export market, which is dominated by China. China burns five times as much coal as the US, and it both mines and imports more than anyone else. The country relies on overseas purchases to make up for domestic supply shortfalls. That poses a "cliff edge risk" for companies including Glencore and Anglo, because even a small drop in Chinese consumption could have a disproportionate impact on international demand, according to Stansbury, the Legal & General fund manager. Loading In 2016, prices for thermal coal more than doubled after China curbed production. Desperate to address a chronic air-pollution problem by reducing industrial emissions, China has continued to mandate further cuts. In March, it pledged to shrink coal output by 150 million tons this year and steel capacity by 30 million tons. Imports of coal may drop in 2018 for the first time in three years, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Renewables getting cheaper Ultimately, higher prices for coal could accelerate the shift toward cleaner fuels. Already, competition has increased from power stations running on natural gas, wind turbines and solar panels, all of which are getting cheaper to build and operate. That's eroding the economic argument for continuing to burn a fuel with such high emissions, even in developing countries. Toxic levels of pollution led to the early annual death of an estimated 7 million people, according to a new World Health Organization report. Telcos were in crisis meetings on Friday morning, with some issuing social media posts telling customers of the outage. Vodafone responded by calling back customers who had rung emergency services to "check on their welfare and offer assistance," a spokeswoman said. Services appeared to be restored for some providers earlier in the day, including TPG Telecom whose chief operating officer Craig Levy said mid-morning tests showed emergency calls were coming through. Problem first noticed by emergency services The disruption to triple zero calls was first picked up by police, fire and ambulance call centres about 2am, emergency services said. While some people struggled to get through to operators, the State Emergency Operations Controller acting Deputy Mark Walton said no one had died nor been seriously harmed as a result. The reliability of the service is still a concern, he said. The technical elements of that really remain unresolved. What I can, again, reassure everyone is that there's been no loss of service. Loading Mr Walton said state emergency services had contingency plans in place for events such as this, and the public should be confident their emergency calls would be answered. While there's no indication when the full triple zero emergency call service will be restored, he said people should continue to call that number in an emergency. "If people can't get through on triple zero, they're still advised to call the Police Assistance Line on 131 444," he said. NSW Ambulance acting Assistant Commissioner Tony Gately said there was no indication anyone had died or been seriously affected by the outage. "We're continuing to monitor and assess and we're doing everything we can to make sure that we provide ambulance service, and working closely with other agencies to make sure the public is safe," he said. A spokesman for Victoria's emergency call answering service ESTA said it was aware of the problem, but urged people to keep trying triple zero if they cannot get through on the first go. "We're making every attempt to call them back," he said. While NSW Ambulance did not have an exact number of people affected, Queensland Ambulance Service said it had identified 11 patients "who experienced a delay in getting through to our operations centres", "Of the affected patients weve contacted, were satisfied there has not been any adverse impact to their care," the QAS said. "We will continue to rigorously monitor the service throughout the day." Queensland Police said they were aware of emergency call issues in other parts of the country, but triple zero calls were still getting through in Queensland. A spokeswoman for the Australian Communications and Media Authority, which regulates and monitors carriage service providers and the emergency call service for triple zero, said it was working with Telstra to fix the problem. "The ACMA is closely liaising with Telstra about the recent disruptions to its network which affected calls to the triple zero service," the spokeswoman said. "At this stage the ACMAs primary concern is the restoration of access to triple zero as quickly as possible." She said the emergency call service was provided by Telstra under contract to the federal government. Services issues widespread Telstra customers including businesses and government departments are also having problems with their phone lines after the cable fire. The NSW Department of Justice said it experienced interruptions to its court registries and calls to the NSW Court Services Centre, but a department spokesman said phones were up and running again at 9.40am. Commonwealth Bank also apologised to customers who were experienced difficulties due to supplier network issues. We are aware some customers may be having difficulties with some of our services. This is due to network issues with our supplier, the bank tweeted. We apologise for the inconvenience and have our teams working on this as a priority. It's the second widespread network outage for Telstra within a week. On Tuesday, Telstra customers across the country were unable to make or receive calls for about three hours after a major network outage. Telstra said it became aware of that issue with its NBN and 4G networks about 1pm, and by 4pm a company spokesman said the problem had been fixed. (M) Selected cinemas (90 minutes) To be drawn to the idea of parallel universes, you don't have to be a particular fan of science fiction. All of us are capable of wondering what our lives might look like if things had turned out just a bit differently. Jacqueline McKenzie in The Gateway. Credit:Filmscope Entertainment The Gateway, from enterprising Western Australian writer-director-producer John V. Soto, has a intriguing plot hook. Jane (Jacqueline McKenzie) is a widowed physicist who travels to a universe where her husband Matt (Myles Pollard) is still alive. Logically (if hastily), she brings the new Matt home with her and installs him in place of the old one. But despite appearances, is he someone she ought to trust? This could have been a starting point to explore the psychological gap between Australian men and women via a magic-realist spin on the marriage thriller. But anybody with such hopes will be disappointed. Soto's characterisation is purely functional and his actors seem to have received little or no direction (this sometimes creates an uncanny effect, as when Jane explains the situation to her teenage children while they stare at her blankly). Nor does the film succeed as a more abstract kind of sci-fi puzzle. There are a couple of twists, but the ending is such an anti-climax that the real mystery is how Soto and co-writer Michael White thought they could get away with it. Jacqueline McKenzie and Myles Pollard. Credit:Filmscope Entertainment If The Gateway can be recommended to anyone, it's to buffs with a cultivated taste for Z-grade, bare-bones filmmaking (the scenes in Jane's laboratory, for instance, look as if they were shot out the back of an office supplies shop). Colombia Hoy Para nunca olvidar Paginas vistas en total 'Parasite' painted on a statue of Queen, Elizabeth in Kent, England Sin palabras La UE le apunta a la paz Cada vez mas solo Precio del Brent To get the BRENT oil price, please enable Javascript. Precio del WTI To get the oil price, please enable Javascript. Dolar USA Vs Euro Precio del Oro To get the gold price, please enable Javascript. LULA y su Pueblo Bye Bye Homenaje al genial Quino Fueron ellos Una imagen que resume Tan bajo ha caido que se deja tocar el trasero? Porky y el Nene (archiconocido narcotraficante) Ladrones al poder Asi mira el perrito a su amo Crazy Clamor popular La nueva inquisicion Bolivia Chile Hoy Eso es todo amigos! Piensalo! Pinerachet No More Trump Adios Macri, hasta nunca La Marioneta se desinfla Asi o mas cinico Almugre Mexico en 1794 Mas arrastrado imposible Hasta cuando! La pura verdad Solidaridad con Palestina Serie Capitalismo Espejismos de la clase trabajadora Asi es! Comerciantes o delincuentes No pasaran! Asi es la vida USA HOY 01/01/1959 La avaricia no tiene limites AYUDA HUMANITARIA? Chile Hoy Asi son las cosas Mapa Electoral de Venezuela Patagonia argentina? Un aniversario mas del mayor genocidio de la Humanidad Retrato del franquismo en Espana Visca Catalunya! El Chulo de Madrid Cuando la policia se roba la democracia Una imagen dice mas que mil palabras La purita verdad Asi gobierna la maldita burguesia Mi pobre clase media Como Chavez nadie Comparte La Colmena via twitter Twittear Programa de la MUD Asi o mas clarito Por que Trump no ataco Corea del Norte? Hace 15 anos Por que la OEA no se pronuncio? Una verguenza nacional La luz que nos guia La Union Europea Premio Nobel de la Paz? Feudalismo ayer y hoy Obama, el mentiroso Curiosa coincidencia Un mundo de cerdos No es extrano? La Marioneta Los ricos protestan, los pobres celebran MARICORI Y OBAMA Cuantas muertes este ano? 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Por culpa de Chavez Cerveza Polar Algun dia Colombia volvera a la ideologia de Bolivar Translate LOS REVOLUCIONARIOS NO TOMAN CACA-COLA No se trata solamente de un capricho, sino de una sana actitud en todos los sentidos. Desde la solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano donde la empresa Caca-Cola ha cometido los mas grandes abusos contra sus trabajadores incluyendo el presunto secuestro y asesinato de los dirigentes del sindicato, hasta la proteccion de la salud de nuestros hijos, enviciados por ese jarabe de cola y azucar, que les produce obesidad prematura. Pensemos tambien los revolucionarios, que ese dinero que gastamos en los refrescos es utilizado por esas empresas para financiar el terrorismo en nuestro pais. Es cierto, no se trata solo de la Caca-Cola, sino tambien de la cerveza, de los cigarrillos y todos esos articulos innecesarios y mas que eso, daninos para nuestra salud. Podriamos incluso pensar en un dia de parada para cada uno de ellos. Es cuestion de irnos organizando. Pero para empezar, que tal si dejamos de comprar Caca-Cola y sus similares? Cuando lo extraordinario se vuelve cotidiano... Discurso del Acto de Grado en Barinas en 12 de Febrero del 2005 Queridos Graduandos: Mas que un discurso, quiero dirigirles algunas palabras que escribi anoche, despues de visitar en las clinicas, a los estudiantes heridos, a consecuencia de los enfrentamientos con la policia de hace apenas dos dias. Me ha tocado por razones del destino, ser la persona que les otorgue el titulo que bien merecieron con sus estudios. Y me siento sumamente orgulloso de serlo. Me consta que la Universidad de Los Llanos Occidentales Ezequiel Zamora, a pesar de lo dicho por los enemigos de esta universidad, es una universidad de primera. No tendremos la mejor planta fisica, en los salones hace calor. En el comedor hace calor. Pero no es en lo material que las cosas deben valorarse. El mayor capital es el ser humano. Y en eso, nuestra UNELLEZ, lo digo con conocimiento de causa, esta sobrada. Los llaneros venezolanos son nobles, valientes, de coraje. En la UNELLEZ hacen vida, en este momento, aproximadamente 67000 personas. El 97% de ellas son estudiantes. Jovenes que, como Ustedes hasta el dia de hoy, buscan ese titulo, que constata los anos de dedicacion y de estudio. Los jovenes son el rio de la vida, ustedes graduados deben ser los capitanes de esos barcos que naveguen por el rio de la vida. Nuestra Patria atraviesa momentos muy dificiles porque decidio dejar de ser esa matrona de edad vetusta y complaciente, para ser joven, rebelde y altanera. Nuestra imagen ya no es la de una acaudalada ricachona mayamera. En nuestro rostro brilla ahora la sonrisa del Che Guevara, con su diente delantero torcido, su pelo largo y su boina con la estrella. Entender esto, a mi me ha tomado practicamente toda la vida. Tengo 53 anos, y ya perdi mi oportunidad de derramar sangre joven a causa de un ideal. Ustedes son jovenes, estan en la flor de la vida. No cometan por favor el error de renunciar a su instinto de rebelion. El Che Guevara fue Ministro de a Economia en Cuba. Los billetes y las monedas se adornaban con su rostro. Nada de eso le importo. Primero fue a Angola donde paso un penoso ano de combate. Despues se fue a Bolivia, donde encontro la muerte. El Che era el ultimo que comia, el que cargaba la mochila mas pesada. Siempre se sacrificaba por los demas en un estoicismo que mas parecia fervor religioso que ideologia marxista. Si quieren un modelo de vida. Ahi lo tienen. Dije hace unos momentos que el 97% de la poblacion de la UNELLEZ es estudiante. Se imaginan Ustedes la Universidad que podriamos tener si todos los estudiantes tuvieran la abnegacion, la combatividad del Che? Los momentos que se avecinan van a requerir de una gran unidad del pueblo venezolano. La alternativa de continuar siendo libres o regresar a la pobreza se nos planteara en los proximos dias de forma enmascarada, o quizas peor, desenmascarada, vestida con uniforme de soldado del Imperio. Por nuestra parte podemos esperar lo mejor. La macroeconomia no podria ir mejor, la justicia social ha mejorado notablemente. Las misiones ocupan un papel muy importante en el pago de dicha justicia social. Aqui en Barinas ya hemos cumplido con dos de las misiones, la mision Robinson y la mision Sucre. No hay analfabetismo y no hay exclusion en la educacion superior, en estas tierras de Zamora. Pero ay malhaya! Son precisamente estos exitos los que nos hacen mas antipaticos al Imperio. Para ellos, somos inclusive un mal ejemplo que se esta contagiando al resto del continente y cuidado sino al resto del mundo. Nunca venceremos al Imperio. Estara siempre ahi, acechando. Por lo menos hasta que el mismo no se autodestruya. Porque, sepanlo senores, el neoliberalismo es canibal. Cuando le ataque el hambre, se devorara a si mismo. Ustedes, queridos graduandos, a partir de hoy pasan a conformar la elite profesional que debe sostener este pais en los proximos cuarenta o cincuenta anos. Anos decisivos para el logro de nuestra libertad y del rescate de nuestra Soberania. No se dejen comprar. No se dejen corromper. No se dejen gritar. No se dejen pisar. Que nadie les diga que comer, o que vestirse, o que leer. Sean siempre autenticos, rebeldes, contestatarios. Pero eso si, profundamente patriotas, dignos de ser hijos de Bolivar. Muchas gracias y que Dios los bendiga. Alguna duda? Medio siglo de Holocausto Palestino Oscar Zanartu Nacio en Caracas en 1960. Ha realizado exposiciones individuales en las galerias Minotauro, Clave y San Francisco, y en salas de Coro, estado Falcon, y Puerto Ordaz, estado Bolivar. En Paris su obra ha sido exhibida en el Centro Cultural Tanagra, en la Exposicion Cite Internationale des Arts, en las galerias De Mars y Arver Space, al igual que en la Galeria Municipal Levallois, en Levallois Perret (Francia). En muestras colectivas, su obra se ha expuesto en Belgica, Francia, Estados Unidos y Venezuela; en Caracas intervino en la exposicion "Del genesis a la memoria", 1995, organizada por la Fundacion La Previsora. En 1982 obtuvo el Premio Nacional Critven y en 1990 la Mencion de Honor Jose Antonio Paez, en la Embajada de Venezuela en Paris. En 1991 se le concedio el primer premio de Pintura Itinerante, en Levallois Perret, Francia. OZ1 OZ2 OZ3 OZ4 Homenaje a Jason Galarraga La Victoria de Samotracia Odalisca Mas fotos de la nevada del pasado agosto 2008 La Sierra Nevada de Merida Nuestro precioso Churum Meru Homenaje a Picasso Autoretrato Sabes lo que bebes en una Coca-Cola? La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar. Mi profesion? Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos. Sal en la Coca Cola? A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar. De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla: Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gusto Acido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido) azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa) Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantas Mucha Cafeina Conservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o Potasio Dioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebe Sal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracion El uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja. Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos. Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja. En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero). Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma. La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate. Bebidas Light? Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal. Publicado por loretahur En realidad, la formula secreta de la Coca-Cola se puede detallar en 18 segundos en cualquier espectrometro optico, y basicamente la conocen hasta los perros. Lo que ocurre es que no se puede fabricar igual, a no ser que uno disponga de unos cuantos millones de dolares para ganarle la demanda que te metera la Coca-Cola ante la justicia (ellos no perderian).La formula de la Pepsi tiene una diferencia basica con la de la Coca-Cola y es intencional, para evitar el proceso judicial. La diferencia es a proposito, pero suficientemente parecida como para atraer a los consumidores de Coca-Cola que prefieren un gusto diferente con menos sal y azucar.Tuve que aprender quimica, entender todo sobre componentes de gaseosas, conservantes, sales, acidos, cafeina, enlatado, produccion, permisos, aprobaciones y muchas otras cosas. Monte mi propio mini-laboratorio de analisis de productos.A patadas. El Cloruro de Sodio no solo refresca sino da mas sed, como para pedir otra gaseosa. Y no resulta desagradable porque la sal mata literalmente la sensibilidad al dulce... del que por cierto tambien tiene mucho: 39 gramos de azucar.De los 350 gramos de producto liquido, mas del 10% es azucar, o sea que en una lata de Coca-Cola mas de un centimetro y medio es puro azucar en polvo. Aproximadamente tres cucharadas soperas llenas de azucar por lata!!La formula de la Coca Cola es muy sencilla:Concentrado de azucar quemado caramelo- para dar color oscuro y gustoAcido fosforito (para darle el sabor acido)azucar (HFCS-jarabe de maiz de alta fructosa)Extracto de hojas de la planta de Coca (Africa e India) y otros pocos aromatizantes naturales de otras plantasMucha CafeinaConservante que puede ser Benzoato de Sodio o PotasioDioxido de Carbono en cantidad para sentir freir la lengua cuando se bebeSal para dar la sensacion de refrigeracionEl uso del acido fosforito y no del acido citrico como en todas las demas gaseosas, es para dar la sensacion de dientes y boca limpia al beber. El acido fosforito literalmente frie todo y dana el esmalte de los dientes, cosa que el acido citrico lo hace en menor grado.Trate de comprar acido fosforito para ver las mil recomendaciones de seguridad que te dan para su manipulacion (quema el cristalino del ojo, quema la piel, etc...). Esta prohibido usar el acido fosforito en cualquier otra gaseosa; solo la Coca Cola tiene permiso. Porque claro, sin el acido fosforico, la Coca Cola sabria a jabon.El extracto de coca y otras hojas casi no cambia en nada el sabor. Es mas bien un efecto cosmetico. El extracto forma parte de la Coca-Cola porque legalmente tiene que ser asi. Pero sin el, no se nota ninguna diferencia en el gusto, que esta dado basicamente por las cantidades diferentes de azucar, azucar quemada, sales, acidos y conservantes.Sabor a que...? ja, ja, ja.Aqui en Bartow, sur de Orlando, hay una empresa quimica que produce aromatizantes y esencias para zumos. Envian diariamente camionadas de sales concentradas y esencias para las fabricas de helados, gaseosas, jugos, enlatados y comida colorida y aromatizada.Cuando visite por primera vez la fabrica, pedi ver el deposito de concentrados de frutas, que deberia ser inmenso, especialmente los de naranja, pina, fresa y tantos otros. El encargado me miro, se rio y me llevo a visitar los depositos inmensos... pero de colorantes y componentes quimicos.Las gaseosa de naranja no contiene naranja.En los zumos dizque de fresa, hasta los puntitos que quedan en suspension estan hechos de goma (una liga quimica que envuelve un semi-polimero).Pina, es un popurri de acidos y goma.La esencia para helado de aguacate usa peroxido de hidrogeno (agua oxigenada) para dar la sensacion espumosa tipica del aguacate.Quieres saber la cantidad de basura que tiene un refresco 'light'? Yo ni siquiera los uso para destapar mi lavaplatos pues temo que danen los tubos de PVC. Los productos endulzantes 'ligth' tienen una vida media muy corta. Por ejemplo el aspartamo , despues de tres semanas mojado, pasa a tener gusto de trapo viejo sucio.Para evitar eso, se agregan una infinidad de otros productos quimicos, uno para alargar la vida del aspartamo, otro para neutralizar el color, otro para mantener el tercer quimico en suspension porque sino el fondo de la gaseosa quedaria oscuro, otro para evitar la cristalizacion del aspartamo, otro para realzar el sabor, dar mas intensidad al acido citrico o fosforito que perderia su sabor por el efecto de los cuatro productos quimicos iniciales... y asi sucesivamente.Un consejo final !!Despues de toda mi experiencia con la produccion de bebidas embasadas, puedo afirmar sin dudar un segundo: la mejor bebida es el agua, como tambien los jugos exprimidos de naranja o limon. Nada mas, cero azucar y cero sal.Publicado por loretahur MARGARINA o MANTEQUILLA La margarina fue producida originalmente para engordar a los pavos; cuandolo que hizo en realidad fue matarlos.Las personas que habian puesto el dinero para la investigacion quisieronrecobrarlo asi que empezaron a pensar en una forma de hacerlo.Tenian una sustancia blanca, que no tenia ningun atractivo como comestible,asi que le anadieron el color amarillo, para venderselo a lagente en lugar de la mantequilla.Que tal esa?... Ahora han sacado algunos nuevos sabores para vender mas alos incautos como usted y yo.CONOCE USTED la diferencia entre la margarina y la mantequilla?Siga leyendo hasta el final... porque se pone bastante interesante!Comparacion entre mantequilla y margarina: 1.- Ambas tienen la misma cantidad de calorias. 2.- La mantequilla es ligeramente mas alta en grasas saturadas: 8 gramos,comparada con los 5 gramos que tiene la margarina. 3.- Comer margarina en vez de mantequilla puede aumentar en 53% el riesgo deenfermedades coronarias en las mujeres, de acuerdo con un estudiomedico reciente de la Universidad de Harvard. 4.- Comer mantequilla aumenta la absorcion de gran cantidad de nutrientesque se encuentran en otros alimentos. 5.- La mantequilla provee beneficios nutricionales propios mientras lamargarina tiene solo los que le hayan sido anadidos al fabricarla. 6.- La mantequilla sabe mucho mejor que la margarina y mejora el sabor deotros alimentos.7.- La mantequilla ha existido durante siglos mientras que la margarinatiene menos de 100 anos. Ahora... sobre la margarina: 1.- Es muy alta en acidos grasos trans. (Si, esos que recien ahora loscientificos descubrieron que son malisimos y los gobiernoscomenzaron a prohibirlos) . 2.- Triple riesgo de enfermedades coronarias. 3.- Aumenta el colesterol total y el LDL (el colesterol malo) y disminuye elHDL (el colesterol bueno). 4.- Aumenta en cinco veces el riesgo de cancer. 5.- Disminuye la calidad de la leche materna. 6.- Disminuye la reaccion inmunologica del organismo. 7.- Disminuye la reaccion a la insulina. Y he aqui el factor mas inquietante (AQUI ESTA LA PARTE MAS INTERESANTE! ):A la margarina le falta UNA MOLECULA para ser PLASTICO...!!Solo este hecho es suficiente para evitar el uso de la margarina de porvida, y de cualquier otra cosa que sea hidrogenada (esto significaque se le anade hidrogeno, lo cual cambia la estructura molecular de lassubstancias).Usted puede ensayar lo siguiente:Compre un poco de margarina y dejela en el garaje o en un sitio sombreado.Dentro de unos dias notara dos cosas: * No habra moscas; ni siquiera esos molestos bichos se le acercaran (esto yale debe decir a usted algo). * No se pudre ni huele mal o diferente porque no tiene valor nutritivo; nadacrece en ella. Ni siquiera los diminutos microorganismos puedencrecer en ella.Por que? Porque es casi plastico!! No a la guerra, Si a la Paz Misterios de la ciencia... Los costos de la guerra medicos y capitalismo... Capitalismo... medicos (2) Quien educa a nuestros hijos? Los Medios... Sin Palabras... Chistes feministas - Cual es el problema, Eva? - Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas. - Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas... - Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti. - Que es un hombre? - Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente. - Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente. - Cual es el truco?. - Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion. - Cual? - Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer. Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Un dia, en el Paraiso, Eva llamo a Dios: Tengo un problema.- Cual es el problema, Eva?- Se que me has creado, que me has dado este hermoso jardin, todos estos maravillosos animales y esa serpiente con la que me muero de risa... pero no soy del todo feliz... - Como es eso, Eva? - replico Dios desde las alturas.- Me encuentro sola, y ademas estoy harta de comer manzanas...- Bueno Eva, en tal caso, tengo una solucion... creare un hombre para ti.- Que es un hombre?- Un hombre sera una criatura imperfecta, con muchas artimanas. Mentira, hara trampas, sera engreido... vamos, que te va a dar problemas... Pero, va a ser mas fuerte y rapido que tu y le gustara cazar y matar cosas... Tendra un aspecto simple, pero como te estas quejando, le creare de tal forma que satisfaga tus... eh... necesidades fisicas... Y tampoco sera muy listo, y destacara en cosas infantiles como pegarse o dar patadas a un balon... Necesitara tu consejo siempre para actuar cuerdamente.- Suena bien - dijo Eva, mientras levantaba la ceja ironicamente.- Cual es el truco?.- Pues... que lo tendras con una condicion.- Cual?- Como te decia, sera chulo, arrogante y muy narcisista... asi que le tendras que hacer creer que le hice a el primero... recuerda... es nuestro secreto... de mujer a mujer.Por que a los hombres no les puede dar la enfermedad de las vacas locas? Porque todos son unos cerdos Ellas... Ellas (2)... Tres venganzas femeninas VENGANZA NUMERO 1 Hoy mi hija cumple 21 anos y estoy muy contento porque es el ultimo pago de pension alimenticia que le doy, asi que llame a mi hijita para que viniera a mi casa y cuando llego le dije: -Hijita, quiero que lleves este cheque a casa de tu mama y que le digas que: Este es el ultimo maldito cheque que va recibir de mi en todo lo que le queda de su puta vida!!! Quiero que me digas la expresion que pone en su rostro. Asi que mi hija fue a entregar el cheque. Yo estaba ansioso por saber lo que la bruja tenia que decir y que cara pondria. Cuando mi hijita entro, le pregunte inmediatamente: -Que fue lo que te dijo tu madre? -Me dijo que justamente estaba esperando este dia para decirte que no eres mi papa! VENGANZA NUMERO 2 Un hombre que siempre molestaba a su mujer, paso un dia por la casa de unos amigos para que lo acompanaran al aeropuerto a dejar a su esposa que viajaba a Paris. A la salida de inmigracion, frente a todo el mundo, el le desea buen viaje y en tono burlon le grita: - Amor, no te olvides de traerme una hermosa francesita Ja ja ja!! Ella bajo la cabeza y se embarco muy molesta. La mujer paso quince dias en Francia. El marido otra vez pidio a sus amigos que lo acompanasen al aeropuerto a recibirla. Al verla llegar, lo primero que le grita a toda voz es: - Y amor me trajiste mi francesita?? - Hice todo lo posible, - contesta ella - ahora solo tenemos que rezar para que nazca nina. VENGANZA NUMERO 3 El marido, en su lecho de muerte, llama a su mujer. Con voz ronca y ya debil, le dice: - Muy bien, llego mi hora, pero antes quiero hacerte una confesion. - No, no, tranquilo, tu no debes hacer ningun esfuerzo. - Pero, mujer, es preciso - insiste el marido - Es preciso morir en paz. Te quiero confesar algo. - Esta bien, esta bien. Habla! - He tenido relaciones con tu hermana, tu mama y tu mejor amiga. - Lo se, lo se Por eso te envenene, hijo de puta!!! machismo y cibernetica Chiste machista La NASA ha enviado al espacio una mision experimental tripulada por dos monos y una mujer.Apenas abandona la atmosfera, se establece comunicacion con Houston. -Atencion, simio 1, verifique sistemas hidraulicos, controle adecuada presion de los propulsores de arranque. A 60.000 pies disminuya un 25% la velocidad. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, simio 2, nivele al cruzar la estratosfera y active sistemas anticongelantes. No olvide monitorear sistemas de comunicacion e indicadores de presion. Comprendido?. El simio hace la sena de OK. -Atencion, Houston llamando a mujer: no se olvide. -Mujer: Si, si, ya se! -interrumpe enojada- que no me olvide darles de comer a estos monos de mierda y que no se me vaya a ocurrir tocar nada!. .Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti. Un abogado mantiene un romance con su secretaria.Al poco tiempo, esta queda embarazada y el abogado, que no quiere que su esposa se entere, le da a la secretaria una buena suma de dinero y le pide que se vaya a parir a Italia.Esta pregunta: Y como voy a hacerte saber cuando nazca el bebe ? El abogado responde: Para que mi mujer no se entere, tan solo enviame una postal y escribe por detras: Spaghetti. Y no te preocupes mas, que yo me encargare de todos los gastos. Pasan los meses y una manana la esposa del abogado lo llama al bufete, algo exaltada: Querido, acabo de recibir el correo y hay una postal muy extrana viene desde Italia. La verdad, no entiendo que significa.El abogado, tratando de ocultar sus nervios, contesta:Espera a que llegue a casa, a ver si yo entiendoCuando el hombre llega a casa y lee la postal, cae al suelo fulminado por un infarto.Llega una ambulancia y se lo lleva. Ya en el hospital, el jefe de cardiologia se queda consolando a la esposa y le pregunta cual ha sido el evento que precipito tan masivo ataque cardiaco. Entonces la esposa saca la postal y se la muestra diciendole: No me explico, doctor; el solamente leyo esta postal. Vea usted mismo lo que trae escrito.Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti, Spaghetti."Tres con salchicha y albondigas y dos con almejas Gol !!!! Chistes de Borrachos Entra un borracho a su casa todo manchado con lapiz labial por todos lados hecho un desastre, y la mujer le pregunta:-Hombre que te paso?Y el borracho le responde:-No me vas a creer, me pelee con un payaso! Este es un borracho que entra en un bar y le dice al camarero:-Me da cinco copas de whisky?Al rato:-Me da cuatro?Al rato:-Me da tres copas?Despues:-Me da dos copas?Luego le dice:-Me da una copa?Y le dice al camarero:-Ves? Cuanto menos bebo, mas borracho estoy! In the book, surfing transforms Winton's young narrator, as he watches men "dancing themselves across the bay with smiles on their faces and sun in their hair How strange it was to see men do something beautiful. Something pointless and elegant, as though nobody saw or cared." I'm not talking about surfing, although that is part of the film's achievement: the stunning water footage captures what it's like to be out there, cold and fearful, on a swell that threatens mortality. I'm talking about relating the notion of beauty to the emotions of men, specifically Australian men. In Breath, we see men pursuing something higher, not lower. If he never makes another movie, Simon Baker can be proud of Breath. Most of the credit goes to Tim Winton's book, of course, but Baker has managed not to botch its adaptation to the screen an achievement for an actor on debut as director. More than that, he has made a movie of sometimes transcendent beauty, about something rarely depicted on our screens. Simon Baker (left) and the cast of the film Breath, based on the Tim Winton book. Credit:Nic Duncan The book is set on the coast of Western Australia where Winton learned to surf. His voice serves as narrator in a script adapted by Winton and Gerard Lee. Baker filmed around the town of Denmark, on the south coast near Albany, and it's an astonishingly powerful landscape: huge trees in thick, dank forests, rocky shores and cliffs plumed with seaspray. There's a sense of loneliness, wildness and impermanence as though the small shacks clinging to the land could be blown away any minute by a whim from Antarctica. And this is where men and boys go into the cold hard water for fun? The setting is the 1970s. Pikelet (Samson Coulter) and Loonie (Ben Spence), two 13-year-olds, stare out at the waves and wonder if they could do that. They have already taught themselves the basics when an older man with saltwater-bleached hair and a Kombi ute takes them under his wing. Sando (Simon Baker) lives just back off the beach with his mysterious American girlfriend Eva (Elizabeth Debicki), who's sullen. The boys don't care: they are just grateful they can leave their boards in Sando's shed, and not have to carry them home on their bicycles. Pikelet is shy, bookish and sensitive a good student with a level head and loving parents (Richard Roxburgh and Rachael Blake). Loonie is wild and funny and untethered: his father, the publican in their small town, biffs him often. They're an unlikely pair, except that Loonie is fearless and Pikelet wishes he was. Surfing becomes their path to manhood the place where they learn to manage their fears. Sando becomes their zen master, teaching them the water arts: how to read swells and weather, how to be in the moment, how to feed off the fear. It would be easy to ruin Sando with too much soul-surfer mysticism and there was a lot of that about in the 1970s but Baker only gives us a little. He concentrates on bringing out strong performances from the boys, whose characters are looking for role-models. Eva may wonder why her grown man is so interested in these weeds, but she's too consumed by her own crippling leg injury to care. French President Emmanuel Macron has wrapped up his lightning Australian charm offensive with a visit to the Carriageworks cultural centre, where he mingled with some of the most prominent names in the Sydney art world before flying out to New Caledonia at lunchtime on Thursday. Accompanied by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Mr Macron was given a VIP walkthrough of the current Biennale exhibition, stopping at several large-scale works including that of French artist Laurent Grasso. French President Emmanuel Macron and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at Carriageworks, Sydney, on Thursday. Credit:AAP However the main focus was on Indigenous artists, with the two leaders watching a performance by the resident Marrugeku dancers on the theme of climate change, before Mr Macron met Aboriginal artists, including Jonathan Jones, Tony Albert and Daniel Boyd. Mr Turnbull has kept the focus of the visit on strengthening defence, trade and strategic ties, announcing on Thursday that detailed design work for Australias 12 new submarines will move from France to Australia in 2022. A Ballarat policeman has been charged with assault almost a year after allegedly punching his neighbour in the face and leaving her unconscious on the footpath. Samantha Mitchell, 32, is also expected to launch civil court action against Victoria Police over the alleged attack by Ballarat sergeant David Berry that left her with a broken nose and deeply traumatised. Samantha Mitchell, 32, after being allegedly assaulted by Ballarat police sergeant David Berry. Mr Berry has been charged on summons and is due to appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court on July 5 for a mention hearing. Professional Standards Command has been criticised for taking almost 12 months to lay charges against Mr Berry, who admitted to punching Ms Mitchell in May last year, but claimed his actions were in self-defence. The Health Department has asked former lord mayor Robert Doyle to attend an interview within 10 days to respond to sexual harassment allegations, or undertake an independent medical assessment. The department wrote to Mr Doyle on Thursday, after the woman who alleges the former lord mayor repeatedly touched her inner thigh under a table told ABC radio she was "gutted" an investigation into the matter had made no findings and criticised the process. Former lord mayor Robert Doyle. Credit:Penny Stephens The woman, Carla, who does not want her surname made public, said she was so disenchanted with the process she would not report a case of harassment again: No, definitely not. This has been humiliating, Im really insulted. Responding on Twitter to the news of the department's fresh request to Mr Doyle, Carla said: "If this is true, great. But why did it have to take coming forward on radio to prompt this? This was the response expected ... when [the] report was issued." The woman whose sexual harassment allegations against former Lord Mayor Robert Doyle sparked an investigation says she is gutted it made no findings and is so disenchanted with the process that she would not report harassment again. The Age revealed Carla, the wife of a senior specialist at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, alleged Mr Doyle sexually harassed her at the medical awards ceremony in June 2016. Health Minister Jill Hennessy ordered the department to investigate the complaint. There were no findings because Mr Doyle was not well enough to participate. Carla, who does not want her surname made public, told ABC radio host Jon Faine on Thursday that she put no pressure on the department to finalise the investigation and wanted it to remain open until Mr Doyle who was hospitalised for a period of time over mental health concerns was well enough to be interviewed. It was part of a huge seizure of a chemical that, because of a loophole in the law, is perfectly legal to import, but can become the deadly drug GHB. One drum after another was dragged from the back of white vans in a Craigieburn junkyard by police wearing white plastic jumpsuits and face masks. It was like a scene from Breaking Bad. Police seize hundreds of litres of the chemical used to make GHB. Credit:Jason South North West Regional Crime Squad detectives found more than two tonnes of 1,4-Butanediol known as "bute" at a factory in Melbourne's north on Saturday in what they say is a record seizure for Victoria. Police estimate the street value of the haul could be as high as $10 million. "It's not often you clean a crime scene out with a forklift," Detective Senior Sergeant Jeff Cocks said. A forklift was needed to remove the chemicals. Credit:Jason South The chemical, which turns into GHB in the stomach once consumed, has been linked to dozens of overdoses in clubs and at festivals across Melbourne. But under Commonwealth law it is not illegal to import the chemical for industrial purposes. The ABC has issued a grovelling apology to former prime minister Kevin Rudd in a bid to fend off legal action, admitting its much-hyped "Cabinet Files" coverage was botched amid a growing number of "editorial mistakes" by the national broadcaster. In a letter to Mr Rudd obtained by Fairfax Media, ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie "unreservedly apologised" to Mr Rudd over a much-publicised January report that claimed the Labor prime minister was warned of "critical risks" relating to the home insulation scheme. Four men lost their lives installing home insulation under the controversial economic stimulus program. Former prime minister Kevin Rudd and ABC managing director Michelle Guthrie. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen However the story implied the former prime minister ignored critical safety concerns when the document actually referred to financial risks associated with the scheme. It also emerged the cabinet paper had already been made public and was not a new document, as the ABC suggested. A furious Mr Rudd - who was cleared of any wrongdoing at the royal commission - launched legal proceedings, and the ABC quickly rewrote the story and said it never intended to "suggest that Mr Rudd recklessly ignored critical risks before the deaths of four young installers" or "that he lied to the royal commission that examined those deaths". Labor has warned that the United States is looking with bemusement at Australias lack of leadership in the Pacific as China dramatically expands its footprint in the region. Opposition defence spokesman Richard Marles told a prestigious think tank in Washington on Thursday night that while China was spreading its wings and asserting itself, Australia had failed to grasp that its leadership of the Pacific was vital in proving its mettle to the two 21st century superpowers. Loading Developments such as a possible strategic partnership between China and Vanuatu were the consequence of our own behaviour. As America effectively offers its strategic weight in the service of our leadership, in return we offer at best a holding pattern policy in the Pacific, he told the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Call it the battle for the links. Novembers poll is shaping as a potential choice between the Liberals controversial East West Link and a $16.5 billion toll road project favoured by Labor. On Thursday Opposition Leader Matthew Guy suggested that if elected a Coalition government may not sign the contracts for the Andrews government's North East Link. Opposition Leader Matthew Guy And he did not hold back in his criticism of the project, which is planned to run through his electorate. The fledgling Victorian Socialists party has been given a major boost in its push for a seat in state parliament, securing a $50,000 donation from the Electrical Trades Union. The powerful blue-collar union has backed the party's maiden campaign, in which it hopes to steal votes from Labor and the Greens in Melbournes northern suburbs. The Victorian Socialists applied to register as a political party on Thursday, having secured the necessary 500 members. Victorian Socialists candidates Stephen Jolly and Sue Bolton. Credit:Joe Armao The party is headed by Stephen Jolly, a prominent Yarra City councillor who has previously run against Labor MP Richard Wynne in the lower house seat of Richmond. It's a demographic crisis that threatens China's economy and the fabric of family life. Businesses must chug along with fewer workers. A generation of single children care for ageing parents on their own. In 2013, the Chinese government made a law mandating parental visits. In practice, millions of "empty nest" elderly - seniors who don't live with their spouses or children - have little protection. Children leave. The social safety net is full of holes. A wedding photo of Han's younger son is displayed in Han's living room/bedroom. The son's family migrated to Canada in 2003. Credit: for The Washington Post by Yan Cong Han had tried and failed to find caregivers. This time, a woman saw him taping a note to a store window, snapped a picture and posted it on social media with a plea: "I hope warm-hearted people can help." A television crew from an online site called Pear Video came to tell the story of the lonely Tianjin grandpa. Han's phone started ringing. And through his last three months, it did not stop. At first, Han was hopeful. He had been trying for years to get people to listen to him, stopping neighbours to tell them he was lonely, that he was scared of dying, that he didn't want to die alone. Now people were reaching out, showing concern. A local restaurant offered food. A journalist from Hebei province promised to visit. He struck up a telephone friendship with a 20-year-old law student in the south. The view through a window in Han's apartment. Credit:for The Washington Post by Yan Cong But his mood soured when he realised the family he imagined living with would be tough to find. He rejected offers he considered below him. When a migrant worker called in January, he dismissed him and hung up the phone. Han had lived through a lot. Born in 1932, he was a boy when the Japanese invaded China, a teenager when Mao Zedong founded the People's Republic, a young man in the hungry years that followed. Han's breakfast: soy milk, Chinese buns, a roasted chicken leg and some spring onion with fermented bean curd dip. Credit:for The Washington Post by Yan Cong He got a job working at a factory, met his wife and eventually enrolled in night classes and then enrolled in university. Their sons grew up during the Cultural Revolution, a decade of mayhem that fractured families and minds. "Chinese people my age have really suffered," he said. Having endured so much, his generation expected to grow old like those before them: living in a family compound, cared for by sons and grandsons. For Han and millions of others, that has not happened. That made him mad. The problem, Han told anyone who would listen, was that young people have abandoned the old model, but the government had yet to find a new system for senior care. Jiang Quanbao, a professor of demography at the Institute for Population and Development Studies at Xian Jiaotong University, said the challenge was that China was both an ageing society and a developing country. China "got old before it got rich", he said. Peng Xizhe, a professor of population and development at Shanghai's Fudan University, called the supply and quality of nursing homes in China "seriously inadequate". Even those like Han who could afford a decent room in a nursing home are generally sceptical. Older people don't want their peers to think their children abandoned them, said Peng. Children are afraid of appearing unfilial. Han said he fell out with one son and that the other emigrated to Canada in 2003 and didn't call him enough. But he declined to provide their contact numbers - he didn't want to embarrass them, he said. Han compared his plight to that of a withering plant. Elderly people are "like flowers and trees", he said. "If we are not watered, we cannot grow." But when people who saw his story called to check in, he often launched into tirades against the government or the food at the local seniors home - which he tried and hated. The portions were too small for the price, he said. The soup was thin. As winter settled in, the calls became less frequent. Han was once again consumed by fear that he would die in bed, alone. The last weeks of Han's life are a mystery, an ending obscured by stubborn silence and missed calls. What is clear is that the system failed him - and will most likely fail others. Han spent his final days trying to connect. In February, he started making calls to a helpline for seniors called the Beijing Love Delivery Hotline. The line's founder, Xu Kun, founded the service to prevent suicide, particularly among seniors who live alone. Xu said the elderly often get angrier as they age. The problem is that this pushes people away just when they are needed most. "Family and society find it hard to understand the grumpiness, the depression that comes with growing old," she said. Han would call the line a couple of times a week, venting to the staff about his loneliness and lamenting the state of China's seniors homes. He stopped calling in early March, Xu said. Han also kept in touch with his law-student friend, Jiang Jing. He told Jiang there was another young person, a military man named Cui, who was in regular contact and interested in adopting him. Jiang last chatted to Han on March 13. On March 14, she missed a call from him. The next time she called, in early April, an unfamiliar voice picked up: his son, she later learnt. He said his father died on March 17. In Tianjin, Han's death went unnoticed. Two weeks after he died, the neighbourhood committee that is supposed to keep an eye on residents was surprised by news of his death. Five neighbours said they had noticed his absence in the hallway, but did not check on him. Han's son, Han Chang, flew in from Canada to handle his affairs. He was angry at his father for posting an adoption notice and angry at reporters for covering it. The younger Han said his father had been lying, that the old man had three sons, not two, and that they took good care of him. He refused to provide the names or numbers of his siblings or anyone else who could confirm his account. His father had not been lonely, he insisted, just old. "This could happen anywhere," he said. He did not want to discuss his father's life, but confirmed the basic details of his death: When Han fell ill on March 17, he called an unknown number in his phone. The son would not say who - it could have been the military man, another prospective adopter, or someone else. Madrid: Basque separatist group ETA publicly declared its dissolution on Thursday, bringing an end to a campaign against Spain that saw more than 850 people killed over more than four decades of bombings and shootings. In an open letter to the Basque people, ETA said it has "completely dismantled all of its structures" and "will no longer express political positions, promote initiatives or interact with other stakeholders." Basque people hold up signs against the impunity of the Basque armed group ETA, during a tribute for all people killed by ETA, in the Basque city of San Sebastian. Credit:AP Its announcement was dismissed as propaganda by victims' groups, while the Spanish government said it would continue to prosecute anyone with any links to any of the violence conducted during the ETA campaign, which blighted Spain's transition to democracy from the late 1970s onwards. ETA formally announced its dissolution in a letter read out at the headquarters of a conflict resolution group in Geneva. That came a day after the group's intentions were known in a separate leaked letter that had been sent in April to the Basque regional government, workers' unions and others. She was paid $US130,000 by Cohen before the 2016 election to keep quiet about the allegations. Trump has denied having sex with Daniels. Trump told reporters several weeks ago that he didn't know about the payment to Daniels as part of a non-disclosure agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election. Asked by a reporter aboard Air Force One whether he knew about the payment, Trump said flatly: "No." The reporter then asked: "Then why did Michael Cohen make [the payment], if there was no truth to her allegations?" "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen," Trump said. "Michael's my attorney, and you'll have to ask Michael." Loading Another reporter asked Trump: "Do you know where he got the money to make that payment?" "No," Trump said. "I don't know." Cohen has said he arranged the financing of the settlement with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, through his home-equity line of credit. In a statement earlier this year, he did not to mention any role by Trump. "Neither the Trump Organisation nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly," Cohen said then. Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Cohen's business practices, including whether any crimes were committed as part of a possible pattern or strategy of buying the silence of people who could offer accounts in 2016 that could have damaged Trump's candidacy, according to people familiar with the probe. Michael Avenatti, an attorney for Daniels, called Giuliani's comment "a stunning revelation". Former US attorney-general and mayor of New York Rudy Giuliani is now on Trump's legal team. Credit:AP He said they suggested campaign finance violations and possibly, bank fraud and money laundering. "According to Mr Giuliani, Mr Trump and Mr Cohen were co-conspirators in a felony," he said. "Now it is time for justice to be served, and we intend to serve it." Giuliani, who joined Trump's legal team last month, told he show's presenter Sean Hannity that the President had repaid Cohen over several months, indicating the payments continued through at least the presidential transition, if not into his presidency. Illustration: Matt Golding Later, Giuliani said in an interview that when Cohen paid the settlement to Daniels, he knew he would eventually get paid back by Trump, as he was for other expenses. Daniels is now seeking to invalidate the non-disclosure agreement. That suit also named Essential Consultants, a company that Cohen set up as a vehicle for the payment. She has also filed a defamation suit against Trump. "Mr Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people," Avenatti said. Cohen's payment to the accuser in the weeks leading up to the presidential election could be cast as an illegal contribution but not if he were acting on Trump's behest and with his money. Trump hires Clinton lawyer Illustration: Matt Golding Meanwhile, sources say Trump is hiring the lawyer who represented former president Bill Clinton in his impeachment proceedings to replace outgoing White House lawyer Ty Cobb. Cobb, who served as the administration's point person in dealing with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, is stepping down and is expected to be replaced by Emmet Flood, according to senior administration officials. Flood, who also served as special counsel in George W. Bush's administration and is currently a partner at Williams & Connolly, was quietly interviewed by Trump in March. At the time the President denied reports he was considering adding a lawyer to his team. He tweeted it was a "false story," adding, "I am VERY happy with my lawyers, John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. They are doing a great job". In a statement, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Cobb was retiring without offering a reason. "For several weeks Ty Cobb has been discussing his retirement and last week he let Chief of Staff Kelly know he would retire at the end of this month," she said. Cobb's departure is the latest shake-up of Trump's legal team and comes as his attorneys face increasing pressure to determine whether the President should agree to sit down for an interview with Mueller. The Washington Post reported on Tuesday that Mueller raised the possibility of subpoenaing Trump if he declined to sit down for a voluntary interview. Wellington: New Zealand is fed up with being left on the cutting room floor. Realising the country, known for its breathtaking beauty, Edmund Hillary and the Lord of the Rings films, is often missing from world maps, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has joined a lighthearted campaign by Tourism NZ to #getNZonthemap. Ardern posted a video featuring herself and local comedian Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords) on her social media account, and it had clocked up almost half a million views in the 24 hours since it was posted on Wednesday. It's safe to say that when you've written more than 80 plays over the course of your career, some will be better than others. The prolific, still-working British dramatist Alan Ayckbourn is bound to have a few less compelling works up his sleeve, and his latest, A Brief History of Women at 59E59 Theaters, is disappointingly one of them. On the surface, A Brief History of Women (canonically No. 81) is typical Ayckbourn, pushing the boundaries of our theatrical imaginations while exploring English class and gender divides over different periods of time. Unlike his more successful works, however, this one feels comparatively dashed off. It may look and feel like an Alan Ayckbourn play, but A Brief History of Women doesn't have the same impact as his brilliant, genre-bending works like The Norman Conquests and How the Other Half Loves. For starters, the play is neither brief nor about women (in fact, it treats women rather poorly). Comprising four scenes each set two decades apart, A Brief History follows an unremarkable man named Anthony Spates (Antony Eden) and his decades-long relationship to the stately Kirkbridge Manor house in England. We first meet Spates when he's a 17-year-old footman for the wealthy Kirkbridge family in 1925. At a jazz-flavored party, Spates comes between the feuding Lord and Lady Kirkbridge (Russell Dixon and Frances Marshall), with dire consequences. In 1945, the estate has been transformed into a preparatory school for girls where Spates, now 37, has become an English teacher romantically entwined with fellow teacher Ursula Brock (Laura Matthews). Laurence Pears, Antony Eden, and Russell Dixon in A Brief History of Women. ( Tony Bartholomew) Twenty years later, Spates, 57, finds himself as the administrator of an arts center as its annual holiday panto takes shape around him. Finally, in 1985, the 77-year old Spates takes stock of his life when he meets an old acquaintance at the Kirkbridge Manor Hotel, where he recently retired as manager. As a director of space, Ayckbourn is eternally skillful, here splitting the action among several different rooms, each of which has its own particular look and sound depending on the time period (Kevin Jenkins designed the impressively adaptable set and traditional costumes). More than a feat of directing, it's a feat of sound design as actors move from room to room, the din changes as soon as the actors mime a doorknob twist. While composer Simon Slater punctuates each scene with piano-driven Downton Abbey-style underscoring, it feels especially odd that there's no credited sound designer. As a director of actors, Ayckbourn is less skillful, and the six performances are all over the place, ranging from bombastically funny (Dixon, particularly when he's playing the larger-than-life panto director in 1965) to opaque (Eden, whose character is the definition of cipher). For a play called A Brief History of Women, the female characters end up being the least engaging of the lot, despite the best efforts of actors Marshall, Matthews, and Louise Shuttleworth. They also receive some horrific treatment at the hands of their onstage male counterparts (one is cheated on, another abused, another blown up by a rocket during a fireworks display). That's more a problem with the script than the direction, though. A Brief History of Women feels a lot like a school assignment where a young dramatist was tasked with writing a play in Ayckbourn's signature style, and walked away with just that, a shadow of a work. Here's hoping No. 82 fares better. 2019 Mazda CX-3 Preview Mazdas subcompact crossover SUV features an elegantly upgraded interior and enhanced powertrain, among other updates May 2, 2018 2019 Mazda CX-3 goes on sale later this month with a starting MSRP of $20,390 Switching to an electronic parking brake allows space for a newly redesigned center console and armrest Beautiful Japanese aesthetics and a refined SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine headline exquisite and edgy updates IRVINE, Calif. (May 2, 2018) No adventure is too big or too small for Mazda CX-3, Mazdas award-winning subcompact crossover SUV. Mazda CX-3 has exceeded expectations by providing class-above and segment-above features in a package that makes it ideal for cityscapes. Introduced at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, the updated 2019 Mazda CX-3 continues to impress. For the new model year, CX-3 has been retuned and refined to deliver a heightened feeling of elegance, driving performance and efficiency. The 2019 Mazda CX-3 incorporates improved materials, sound insulation, newly available full-leather seating surfaces and a standard electronic parking brake. As a result of adopting the electronic parking brake, CX-3s center console and center armrest have been fully redesigned to accommodate significantly greater storage space. Other updates include fully redesigned front seats and new rear armrest with built-in cupholders. The 2019 CX-3 carries a new front grille design in addition to new tail lights and wheels. For 2019, the entry Mazda CX-3 Sport comes standard with new Direct Tire Pressure Monitoring System and Blind Spot Monitoring with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, fabric-upholstered seats, power windows, power remote door locks, power mirrors, push-button start, two USB ports, 16-inch alloy wheels, rearview camera and Bluetooth hands-free calling and audio pairing, among a long list of other features. The standard MAZDA CONNECTTM features a 7-inch, full-color display that combines infotainment and diagnostic functions that can be controlled through voice command or the multi-function Commander control knob. Smart City Brake Support continues to be a standard safety feature on all CX-3 models. Mazda CX-3s new Sport i-ACTIVSENSE Package adds Mazdas full suite of safety technologies, including Advanced Smart City Brake Support with Pedestrian Detection, Smart Brake Support, Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Control, Adaptive Front-lighting System, Active Driving Display, rain-sensing windshield wipers, automatic climate control, automatic on/off LED headlights and LED combination tail lights. The mid-level CX-3 Touring upgrades to 18-inch wheels and adds Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry, heated side mirrors, automatic on/off LED headlights, automatic climate control, rain-sensing wipers and new piano black pillar accents. CX-3 Touring features black leatherette seating surfaces with three-level heating adjustment for the front seats. The driver is also treated to a leather shift knob and steering wheel, while the front passenger seat adds a new manual seat lifter. CX-3 Touring also receives a newly available Touring i-ACTIVSENSE Package. This package adds Mazda Radar Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, Lane Departure Warning, High Beam Control, Adaptive Front-lighting System, Active Driving Display, Advanced Smart City Brake Support with Pedestrian Detection, Smart Brake Support, LED headlights and LED combination tail lights to the CX-3 Touring trim level. Also available is the Touring Preferred Equipment Package with BOSE7-speaker premium sound system, power glass moonroof, SiriusXM satellite radio with a 4-month subscription, HD radio and a cargo cover. Finally, the top-level CX-3 Grand Touring builds upon the all the available CX-3 Touring standard and available features and includes Parchment or black full-leather seating surfaces with high-gloss, pleated piping. Chrome accents on the front bumper and side sills, as well as the design of the LED combination taillights, complement its upmarket appeal. CX-3 Grand Touring comes with a full-color Active Driving Display head-up unit, power moonroof, adaptive LED headlights, LED fog lights, LED daytime running lights, Mazda Navigation and paddle shifters. The Grand Touring Premium Package tops off CX-3 with 6-way power drivers seat, power drivers lumbar support, 2-position driver memory system, heated steering wheel, Traffic Sign Recognition and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. All 2019 CX-3 models come equipped with a SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter engine, paired with a SKYACTIV-DRIVE six-speed automatic transmission with manual-shift and sport modes. The engine has been retuned for refinement and efficiency. For 2019, it is rated to deliver 148 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 146 lb-ft torque at 2,800 RPM. Front-wheel drive standard; Mazdas predictive i-ACTIV all-wheel drive is available on every trim level. Along with standard G-Vectoring Control vehicle dynamics enhancements, a retuned suspension for both improved and sportier ride, and recalibrated power steering and chassis setups contribute to a smoother, quieter and more enjoyable driving experience. MSRP for the 2019 Mazda CX-3 is as follows: Front-Wheel Drive i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive Mazda CX-3 Sport $20,390 $21,790 Sport i-ACTIVSENSE Package $1,100 $1,100 Mazda CX-3 Touring $22,475 $23,875 Touring i-ACTIVSENSE Package $1,000 $1,000 Touring Preferred Equipment Package $1,410 $1,410 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring $25,745 $27,145 Grand Touring Premium Package $710 $710 Premium Paint Colors: Soul Red Crystal $595 Machine Gray Metallic $300 Snowflake White Pearl Mica $200 The 2019 Mazda CX-3 arrives at Mazda dealerships nationwide this month. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. Toyota Research Institute (TRI) Building New Facility To Test Autonomous Vehcles OTTAWA LAKE, Mich. (May 3, 2018) The Toyota Research Institute (TRI) is constructing a closed-course test facility to develop automated vehicle technology. Construction permits were filed this week to transform an approximately 60-acre site at Michigan Technical Resource Park (MITRP) in Ottawa Lake. When it becomes operational this October, the new site will be used exclusively by TRI to safely replicate demanding edge case driving scenarios, too dangerous to perform on public roads. By constructing a course for ourselves, we can design it around our unique testing needs and rapidly advance capabilities, especially with Toyota Guardian automated vehicle mode, said Ryan Eustice, TRI senior vice president of automated driving. This new site will give us the flexibility to customize driving scenarios that will push the limits of our technology and move us closer to conceiving a human-driven vehicle that is incapable of causing a crash. The TRI facility will be constructed inside MITRPs 1.75-mile oval test track. It will include congested urban environments, slick surfaces and a four-lane divided highway with high-speed entrance and exit ramps. Leasing the land from MITRP, TRI is responsible for design, construction and ultimate maintenance of the facility. TRI will also have access to the oval track and other onsite facilities and services, which are owned by MITRP and provided to all its customers. This new site expands TRIs closed-course testing capabilities, adding to partnerships with GoMentum Station in California, and Mcity and the American Center for Mobility in Michigan. We are very excited about the partnership with TRI, said Mike Jones, president of MITRP. We believe that this relationship will be a proven winner. The MITRP site has been a vehicle proving ground since 1968 when it was created by a tier-one automotive supplier. The 336-acre technology park was sold to a private developer in 2010, and it now operates as a venue available to the automotive, commercial vehicle and mobile off-highway vehicle builders and component suppliers for testing and advanced engineered technology development. About Toyota Research Institute Toyota Research Institute is a wholly owned subsidiary of Toyota Motor North America under the direction of Dr. Gill Pratt. The company, established in 2015, aims to strengthen Toyotas research structure and has four initial mandates: 1) enhance the safety of automobiles, 2) increase access to cars to those who otherwise cannot drive, 3) translate Toyotas expertise in creating products for outdoor mobility into products for indoor mobility, and 4) accelerate scientific discovery by applying techniques from artificial intelligence and machine learning. TRI is based in the United States, with offices in Los Altos, Calif., Cambridge, Mass., and Ann Arbor, Mich. For more information about TRI, please visit http://tri.global. Find these stories and more in the May 3 issue of The Carillon. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Find these stories and more in the May 3 issue of The Carillon. Stay informed The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19 delivered to your inbox every weeknight. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. ANAVET title eyed Sports editor Terry Frey heads west to Nipawin and returns with Steinbach Pistons coverage from the continuing ANAVET Cup series. Smoke filled skies Reporter Jordan Ross heads to Badger where the RM of Piney is closely eyeing the impact of fires in the area. Swidersky starts over Reporter Dave Baxter talks to Jim Swidersky in Zhoda, where the Stuartburn reeve reflects on losing his own home in a weekend fire. For Immediate Release Download full letter here >> Dear Senators: As health professionals, bioethicists, and public health experts opposed to torture and ill-treatment, we write to express our grave concern over the nomination of Gina Haspel as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Haspels reported role in the CIAs post-9/11 rendition, detention, and interrogation program raises grave concerns about her qualifications to lead the agency. She has been implicated in supervising the first black site in Thailand, where agency personnel tortured detainees using waterboarding and other long-outlawed techniques. We urge you to undertake a close examination of Haspels involvement in the rendition, detention, and interrogation program and to reject her nomination if there is evidence that she played any role in carrying out, supervising, or directing the torture or abuse of people in U.S. custody. Credible evidence also indicates that Haspel was instrumental in the destruction of videotapes and other evidence of criminal conduct. Given this background, it should be clear that Haspel lacks the judgment and character necessary to oversee the development of intelligence in compliance with U.S. laws and treaty obligations. As health experts who understand the profound mental, physical, and societal effects of torture, we oppose the selection of a nominee who helped conceal the use of torture and held a leadership position at a black site where it occurred. She was in a position to know about and influence aspects of a program that purposefully inflicted severe suffering and harm on individuals, to whom the United States has yet to provide rehabilitation or redress as required under the UN Convention Against Torture, a treaty ratified by the United States. Moreover, the program enlisted health professionals to inflict this harm, a grave breach of medical ethics. In Thailand, Haspel worked with contract psychologists James Mitchell and Bruce Jessen, who developed the experimental torture methods used on Abu Zubaydah, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, and many others. The CIAs use of torture is detailed in the Executive Summary of the Senate Intelligence Committees report, including authorized techniques such as waterboarding, sleep deprivation, stress positions, and extreme isolation as well as unauthorized abuses such as mock executions and rectal feeding. As Physicians for Human Rights has documented, the program used the presence of health professionals to legitimize and sanction torture, extending to the policy authorization of these practices, despite their absolute prohibition under U.S. and international law. Such complicity in torture is a fundamental perversion of medical ethics and has long-term consequences for the integrity and professionalism of all institutions involved. Haspels senior role in the now-discontinued CIA torture program should be investigated and disclosed. Promoting her to the CIAs highest position would send a dangerous message contrary to the nations laws and values. It would also represent a betrayal to victims of torture everywhere, as well as to the American public, which expect U.S. personnel to adhere to the highest legal and ethical standards. It is essential that all records of Haspels involvement in this secret program be disclosed and declassified prior to her confirmation hearing on May 9 to ensure proper vetting by the Senate. Senators must be afforded the ability to fully scrutinize the degree to which Haspels conduct while overseeing the black site prison in Thailand complied with or failed to comply with U.S. human rights obligations, including the absolute prohibition against torture. We urge you to make clear that torture and other ill-treatment by U.S. officials will not be tolerated with the promotion of those responsible for this dark chapter in American history. Placing Haspel in charge of the CIA would undo efforts including those of Congress to repudiate torture and to persuade the world that the United States does not condone its use. We urge you to oppose this nomination and to demand the selection of a nominee with a record of rejecting torture. Such a record is critical to demonstrating a nominees recognition of the extensive damage torture causes to U.S. national security interests, U.S. moral leadership, and the health and human dignity of victims. Sincerely, Kerry J. Sulkowicz, MD Chair, Board of Directors Physicians for Human Rights Scott A. Allen, MD Medical Advisor, Physicians for Human Rights Professor Emeritus, Clinical Medicine University of California Riverside School of Medicine George J. Annas, JD, MPH Director, Center of Health Law, Ethics & Human Rights Boston University School of Public Health Deborah D. Ascheim, MD Board Member, Physicians for Human Rights Chief Medical Officer, Capricor Therapeutics, Inc. M. Gregg Bloche, MD, JD Professor of Law Georgetown University J. Wesley Boyd, MD, PhD Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School Faculty, Center for Bioethics, Harvard Medical School Arthur L. Caplan, PhD Professor and Director, Division of Medical Ethics NYU School of Medicine R. Alta Charo, JD * Warren P. Knowles Professor of Law and Bioethics University of Wisconsin Madison Robert L. Cohen, MD * Member NYC Board of Correction Susan Craddock, PhD Professor University of Minnesota Dennis M. Debiak, PsyD * President, Division of Psychoanalysis American Psychological Association Rohini Haar, MD, MPH Research Fellow, Human Rights Center University of California Berkeley School of Law Vincent Iacopino, MD, PhD Senior Medical Advisor Physicians for Human Rights Steven Joffe, MD, MPH * Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Medical Ethics & Health Policy University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine Allen S. Keller, MD Associate Professor of Medicine Director, Bellevue/NYU Program for Survivors of Torture Director, NYU School of Medicine Center for Health and Human Rights Michael J. Klag, MD, MPH * Dean Emeritus Professor, Epidemiology, Medicine, Health Policy & Management and Nursing Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Robert S. Lawrence, MD, MACP Founding Member, Board Member Emeritus, and Past Board Chair, Physicians for Human Rights Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Mark A. Levine, MD * Faculty Associate, University of Colorado Center for Bioethics and Humanities Past Chair, Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association Robert Jay Lifton, MD* Lecturer in Psychiatry, Columbia University Distinguished Professor Emeritus, The City University of New York Alice LoCicero, PhD, ABPP, MBA * President, Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence, American Psychological Association Div. 48 Past President, Society for Terrorism Research Supervisor, Wright Institute Sanctuary Project Ranit Mishori, MD, MHS, FAAFP Professor of Family Medicine Georgetown University School of Medicine. Jonathan D. Moreno, PhD * David and Lyn Silfen University Professor of Ethics Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, University of Pennsylvania Elena O. Nightingale, MD, PhD * Member and Scholar-In-Residence Emerita The National Academy of Medicine Steven J. Reisner, PhD Psychological Ethics Advisor, Physicians for Human Rights Founding Member, Coalition for an Ethical Psychology Adam Richards, MD, PhD, MPH * Board Member, Physicians for Human Rights Assistant Professor, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research University of California Los Angeles Joshua M. Sharfstein, MD * Professor of the Practice Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Jane Snyder, PhD* President Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Stephen Soldz, PhD * Anti-Torture Advisor, Physicians for Human Rights Director, Applied Social Justice and Human Rights Program, Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis Member, Council of Representative, American Psychological Association Homer Venters, MD, MS Director of Programs Physicians for Human Rights Ron Waldman, MD President Doctors of the World USA Matthew K. Wynia, MD * Director, Center for Bioethics and Humanities University of Colorado Brigadier General (Retired) Stephen N. Xenakis, MD * Former Erik Erikson Scholar, The Austen Riggs Center Adjunct Professor, The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences Stuart J. Youngner, MD * Professor of Bioethics and Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine *Asterisk denotes affiliation for identification purposes only Download full letter here >> Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) is a New York-based advocacy organization that uses science and medicine to prevent mass atrocities and severe human rights violations. Learn more here. Charlie Rose. Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images In a Washington Post report last fall, eight women accused veteran TV journalist Charlie Rose of sexual harassment adding his name to an ever-growing list of powerful men accused of abuse. On Thursday morning, the Post published its long-anticipated follow-up expose on the Rose scandal featuring accusations of forcible kissing, unwanted groping, and inappropriate sexual comments from an incredible 27 women. Reporters Amy Brittain and Irin Carmon also delved into just how widespread Roses behavior was, who exactly at CBS News was made aware of Roses alleged behavior, and how the allegations were handled internally. The longtime anchor denied the allegations in a one-line email to the Post: Your story is unfair and inaccurate. Here, some of the biggest bombshells from the report. More than two dozen women have come forward with additional allegations against Charlie Rose dating back to 1976. According to the report, this number includes 14 women who worked with him at CBS, and 13 who worked with him elsewhere. His alleged harassment was reported to managers as early as 1986 and as recently as 2017, according to the Post. At least three managers at CBS had allegedly been warned about Roses behavior. The report found that, over the course of 30 years, three managers had been told that Rose was being abusive toward female employees including CBS News manager in 1986, a CBS News manager shortly after Rose joined CBS This Morning in 2011, and a CBS News manager in 2017. Former CBS News chairman Jeff Fager told the Post he was not aware of the allegations, and likewise, current CBS News president David Rhodes told the Post in March, I was not aware of harassment by Charlie Rose at CBS. Women at CBS warned others to stay away from Rose. The report shows that some women at CBS allegedly had a whisper network of their own about Rose: When Susan MacArthur was interviewing in the late 1990s for a job to be Roses assistant, she said, a CBS News executive told her to steer clear because of the hosts history of questionable behavior. She looked me dead in the eyes and said, You are going to be working alone with this man and being alone with this man in his hotel, and you need to think really hard about whether you want to do this, MacArthur said, declining to name the executive. MacArthur heeded the advice and stopped returning Roses calls. Rose is accused of groping womens breasts, answering the door to his home naked (holding a towel), and exposing his penis and sometimes, the allegations were brought to supervisors. The report includes disturbing allegations of sexual harassment and abuse toward women. In 2003, he allegedly told then-20-year-old intern Corrina Collins, who worked on his PBS show, during a business trip for 60 Minutes (that he brought her along for), I want you to ride me. Collins told the Post that she told Yvette Vega, an executive producer of the PBS show, about the behavior, to which Vega allegedly responded that Rose was harmless. He allegedly forcibly kissed a staffer at a holiday party at the Spotted Pig. Rose hosted a holiday party in 2011 for PBS and CBS staffers at the New York City hot spot, during which he forcibly kissed a CBS This Morning employee. The woman told former CBS This Morning executive producer Chris Licht the next day, but asked him not to share the allegations with the companys HR department. Licht instead spoke to Rose about his conduct, which CBS News says was within the scope of CBS policy at the time. A lawsuit against Rose and CBS will be filed in the next few days. The Post reports that Ken Goldberg, an attorney representing three women, sent a letter to Rose and CBS in February alleging that Rose subjected them to repeated physical and verbal harassment, and that management, numerous broadcasters and studio staff witnessed Mr. Roses unlawful conduct and complaints were made. Goldberg added that both Roses separate company and CBS failed and refused to take any remedial action and that conduct continued unabated. Read the full report here. Illustration: Lauren Tamaki With a practice exceeding 15,000 patients, Patricia Wexler, the New York City dermatologist, is in high demand. She treats everyone from Hollywood A-listers to Manhattan socialites, all of whom trust her sharp eye and soft touch for smoothing wrinkles and sucking out fat. Wexler says she rarely strays from her robotic schedule, which allows her to see up to 50 patients a week while squeezing in power naps, Pilates, and daily dinner dates with her husband. Heres how she gets it all done. On a typical morning: I wake up at 5:30 a.m., shower, and get ready for work. Three times a week I have someone come to my house to blow out my hair because its naturally really curly and I dont wear it that way. I have an unbelievable amount of clothing. I have closets and closets of clothes, but lately my uniform is a black skirt or black jeans, a black top, and heels. I always wear heels because Im five-foot-one-and-a- so I wear 3- or 4-inch heels. My driver picks me up a little before 8 a.m. I call him my wife because he does everything I need done during the day errands and pickups. On my ride to the office I go over my emails and social media. I arrive around 8:15 a.m., at least 30 minutes before my patients start at 9 a.m. When I get to the office, I eat breakfast, which is either three hard-boiled eggs or three soft poached eggs, and thats when I read the New York Post and the Times. I love reading the paper every day, and its nice because I have something to talk to my patients about. I call it talk-a-thesia, while Im giving injections. We can speak about what Trump did today or what he did last night. I have my shtick. If I went to the theater, we talk about what theater I went to and I give my reviews. On seeing patients in a timely fashion: We have 11 exam rooms and two operating rooms, but I only work out of two of them because I dont like to crowd patients and keep them waiting. I try to always run on schedule. While one person is numbing in one room Im working on another person. I see eight to ten patients every day because I usually schedule 45 minutes to an hour with each of them. My patients have multiple procedures done at the same time. Theyre getting filler, theyre getting toxin, theyre getting body checks. And were talking, because Ive developed relationships with people over years. I still have the first patient who ever came into the office. And thats how the practice develops. On staying fit: I do Pilates and weights with my instructor three nights a week at 6:30 p.m., before dinner. Im very dedicated to it. Theres a great gym in my building with all the Pilates equipment and I have it in my home in the Hamptons, too. On keeping up with whats new in her field: I just came back from a conference in South Beach on innovations in dermatology. There is always something new to learn. If you dont learn something new, it was a waste of a conference. And there are certainly conferences in New York where I dont have to travel. All the universities: Mount Sinai, Cornell, Columbia, they all offer conferences. There is always something innovative to learn and there are always new fillers coming out. That doesnt mean that the new filler is going to be better than the one youre using. You have to evaluate. I like to say, Im never the first and never the last to use a new filler. Its not always necessary to use the new one. On having a happy office: There are four doctors in the practice including me, and we each have our own consultation room thats designated to us. Its decorated the way we like it, with our desks, our computers, our books. And I think thats important because when we see a new patient, we see them in that room first. We dont see them in the clinical setting in the exam room. My room looks like my apartment. It has an 1800s partner desk. Its got a beautiful Chippendale chair with a leaf design. Its got a British khaki armoire with hundreds of books. I have a couch, so I can take my power naps sometimes. The walls are a blush color with gray carpet, and there are touches of burgundy in the leather upholstery. Its a pretty room. Im here enough hours, I want it to be comfortable. I have a huge photography collection of Cindy Sherman, Annie Leibovitz, and Amy Arbus throughout the office it looks like a gallery in the hallways. Patients constantly say we have a happy office. On taking lunch breaks with her team: The office goes on lunch together from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. at least three times a week. Were 19 people, and its really important to me that everyone bond. We have a very big lunch room and most of us eat at the same time: the doctors, the medical assistants, and the front desk people. I call it global takeout we order in Chinese, tacos, deli, Italian. Twice a week my husband [Dr. Eugene Wexler] and I take our date lunch. We go to the same Italian restaurant because we never have time together. Were in the same office, but we never see each other. Were 19 people, and its really important to me that everyone bond. In the office, we dont always eat for the full hour and a half, so if I take a half-hour break to eat, sometimes Ill make a meeting with a drug company to talk about a new product or a new technology. Sometimes Ill take a 20-minute power nap if Im really tired and had a busy morning. Sometimes well have an administrative lunch where well talk about problems. The doctors dont take many breaks during the day, and I try not to look at my phone. I can get 60 emails by the time I get a break, and have to quickly scan them and see if theres anything important that I missed. The only telephone calls I take are from my family. I have two daughters and two grandsons, so if I get a call, I will stop and take it. Otherwise, I try not to interrupt my patient schedule. On treating celebrities: My high-profile patients are actually so down-to-earth, I think because this is New York, and not L.A. Ive realized the bigger and more successful they are, the more down-to-earth they are. Theyre real people. Ive become friends with many of them. Weve gone out for dinner, weve gone out for coffee. Ive had people come over for breakfast on a Saturday. And theyre less stressed about a bruise than a lot of my Upper East Side patients. I remember doing one patient who was getting a special award at the Tonys and I gave her a terrible bruise on her lip and she said, I guess Ill be wearing red lipstick, darling. I felt terrible, and she was such a lady about it. On ending the workday: Im out of the office by 6 p.m. My schedule is robotic almost. I have to keep the schedule. I tell people if theyre running late, sorry, tonight I cant leave late. My schedule is robotic almost. I have to keep the schedule. Im up all day long, so on the nights I dont work out, I wind up taking an hour nap before dinner. It kills my sleep, but because Ive been up all day I just sort of crash when I get home. I dont cook dinner because I have no time to cook. My husband, God bless him, makes a turkey meatloaf once a week, and that will last for a couple of meals. Its really delicious. E.A.T. is great for some chicken soup, and then we have a really good Chinese place that sends over wonderful steamed shrimp with steamed eggplant. Well also go to Sette Mezzo usually at least once a week, or I like Milos for seafood. On her nighttime routine: Before I go to bed, I put out all my makeup for the morning, and I put out my clothes for the next day. Im sort of neurotic about getting all set up so I can just get up and run in the shower. I use my Patricia Wexler M.D. Universal Anti-Aging Cleanser to take my makeup off or my Serge Lutens makeup pads and then I put my Patricia Wexler M.D. Intensive Night Reversal & Repair Cream all over my face. Im a terrible sleeper, I usually dont sleep more than four or five hours. There are certain television programs I really like watching. I like This is Us, I like The Alienist, I still like Law and Order. Its decompressing time, and usually to get myself tired Ill read a little before bed. I usually dont go to sleep before 11 p.m. or 12 a.m. As of one month ago, I knew of just one friend who microdosed; my friend, who is a musician, said he was taking 0.1 grams of mushrooms a few mornings a week so he could finish up an album that had been taking him years. Then, a few weeks later, I was at a different friends house when he walked into his kitchen, took a teeny-tiny, shriveled-up mushroom stem out of the freezer, snapped off a minuscule amount, and popped it into his mouth, a thing he now does regularly to feel more open while on the many work calls he has throughout the day. This was while telling me about another friend, whos devised a way to, as precisely as possible, dilute liquid LSD into 10-microgram doses. That guy uses it for painting. Its been quiet but also quick: Microdosing, which usually means taking tiny amounts of psychedelics (one-20th to one-tenth of a recreational dose) has spread from San Francisco to New York and around the country. People say they are using it not to escape their everyday lives but to enhance them: If youre microdosing, you might even forget youre doing drugs in the first place. The amounts are sub-perceptual, without the seeing-stuff side effects. Theyre still themselves, users say, only a little better. Recent reports show that millennials are drinking less and less interested in drugs like cocaine. But in a strange turn of events, theyve taken up LSD and mushrooms in the way someone else might pop an Adderall. The most common self-reported benefits include improved mood, better eating and sleeping habits, and less of a need for caffeine. And, really, what could be more millennial than rebranding some of the most potent drugs out there as illegal vitamins that combine the feel-good-ness of self-care with the possibility of gaining a competitive edge on colleagues? Drug dealers I surveyed have reported an uptick in microdosing requests: Maybe 10 to 15 percent of my clients plan on microdosing, which is definitely up from when I first started selling mushrooms, says one Brooklyn dealer. Another says that while shes noticed more people buying mushrooms and LSD, return customers are consuming them more slowly. One dealer even brings around his scale for microdosers who want to measure out smaller amounts; another creates tinctures of diluted LSD. And a growing number of posts on Reddit devoted to the subject indicates that people are microdosing all sorts of things, from ketamine (for depression) to cannabis (for pain management). What Is a Microdose? A microdose is generally considered to be one-20th to one-tenth of a recreational dose. If someones seeing things, he or she has taken too much. Most people microdose mushrooms or LSD, but other drugs have also become popular of late. Between 2010 and 2013, microdosing began to gain steam in Silicon Valley coder circles, thanks in part to the preachings of LSD researcher James Fadiman. The appeal of a drug regimen that allows for hours of uninterrupted focus and concentration was not lost on this crowd. Fadiman thinks microdosing caught on so quickly because it has a small positive effect and its not scary, though, as is the case with all drugs, fear is subjective. Particularly because microdosing is both highly unresearched and incredibly imprecise, and therefore prone to all kinds of dosage mix-ups and unintended trips. In fact, there have been zero controlled clinical trials related to microdosing. In England, Amanda Feilding of the Beckley Foundation is close to beginning a study that will involve hooking up microdosers to an EEG while they play the strategy game Go in an attempt to measure both creativity and cognitive function. For now, thats it. Anecdotal accounts already suggest that microdosing is not for everyone. For those who have any sort of bipolar or psychosis history, there is the possibility of overstimulation. It also doesnt seem to agree with those with existing anxiety, says Fadiman. And, of course, it is illegal. Yet the curiosity only grows, in part because of renewed interest in the potential therapeutic benefits of psychedelics taken in traditional doses. In Michael Pollans new book on the subject, How to Change Your Mind, out in May, he goes deep on the science from professionally guided, federally approved studies that looked at the effects of psilocybin (thats the psychoactive part of mushrooms) on cancer patients in significantly lessening signs of anxiety and depression. Which is why some people are ignoring the risks and microdosing to get in on some of the reported benefits. Eventually, people take things into their own hands, says Dr. Michael Mithoefer, a Charleston psychiatrist involved in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy for the treatment of PTSD. Certainly not the ideal way to do it, but thats one of the problems that happens when the regulatory and scientific community isnt responding to the need for better medicines. And perhaps the science will catch up with the culture. Its a very plausible question whether microdosing has antidepressant activity, says Matthew W. Johnson, a Johns Hopkins psychologist who has published psilocybin studies. If that was true, that could be a novel treatment to one of the worlds biggest medical disorders. The Big Seven: What Out There Is Being Microdosed Micropot. By Katy Schneider In the absence of clinical trials and studies, we created this chart by going straight to the source: lots of individual microdosers. We shared our findings with two experts in the field of psychedelics psychologist James Fadiman and psychiatrist Julie Holland who confirmed that what we learned meshed with the anecdotal evidence theyve accumulated over the years. Note: Many of these drugs have serious associated risks, so do not use this as a guide. LSD Illustration: Mark Nerys What it is: A drug manufactured from lysergic acid, which is found in the fungus that grows on rye. It is taken in tablets, capsules, gelatin squares, or pieces of paper. How microdosing it feels: Users describe experiencing a boost in energy, focus, and the feeling that life is meaningful. A proper microdose, according to users of the drug, is like a day in which youve gotten enough sleep and eaten well. Its often used to help kick addictions, from cigarettes to heroin. Many LSD microdosers find that its made it easier to lose weight, stop drinking, and even cut back on playing video games. Mushrooms Illustration: Mark Nerys What it is: Magical mushrooms contain the psychoactive compound psilocybin. They can be eaten, brewed into tea, or coated with chocolate. How microdosing it feels: About an hour or two after ingesting the microdose, people notice an increase in focus and energy. Many users find that it helps with weaning off and staying off anti-depressants. It can help lessen the side effects of withdrawal and even mitigate depression. Many speak to the drugs ability to increase empathy, too. Cannabis Illustration: Mark Nerys What it is: Cannabis is a psychoactive drug from the cannabis plant. Its either smoked, vaporized, or taken in tinctures or edibles. How microdosing it feels: Cannabis in microdose form has been found to be helpful for a wide variety of physical ailments: chronic pain, nausea, inflammation, indigestion, fibromyalgia, PTSD-associated insomnia, even nightmares. But it also helps with mood: It can boost interest in ones surroundings, creativity, happiness, and focus, while also combating stress. DMT Illustration: Mark Nerys What it is: The active hallucinogenic compound in ayahuasca. It is most often smoked in powder form or consumed in a brew. How microdosing it feels: DMT has a faster onset than any of the drugs on this list it can kick in seconds after use, and its acute effects last only about a half-hour. It brings users to a place of introspection and, as one frequent microdoser put it, cuts out anything that isnt serving me in the present moment, so I can just enjoy being. Ayahuasca Illustration: Mark Nerys What it is: An Amazonian plant mixture that contains the psychoactive substance DMT. Its generally consumed in a tea. How microdosing it feels: Microdosing ayahuasca can increase sensitivity and openness in users many feel their boundaries and defenses dissolve. It is not optimal for work, as it can make physical and mental tasks slightly more strenuous and can make users feel passive It made it hard to answer emails, write queries, research, said one. Iboga Illustration: Mark Nerys What it is: A rarely microdosed, difficult-to-get perennial rainforest shrub, some take it in premade TA (total alkaloid) powder. How microdosing it feels: Iboga in small doses can promote introspection, clarity, thoughtfulness, and a feeling of connectedness to people and the world. One user reported feeling too introspective. I was often lost in thought, she said, and had no interest in conversing with others, because small talk seemed too tedious and unimportant. Its also been known, in large doses, to reset opiate receptors and therefore help curb cravings. Ketamine Photo: Mark Nerys What it is: Ketamine is a medication used for maintaining anesthesia. It is typically snorted, though occasionally injected. How microdosing it feels: Some users report feeling a physical high and a decrease in physical sensation. If you have pain in your knees, says one user, youre not going to feel that on a microdose of ketamine. It also eases stress and depression. With larger doses, users report that those anti-depressive effects can last for days, weeks, or even a month. The Guy Whos Microdosed It All (Or a Lot of It) Cooper M., 23, department lead at a cannabis start-up, Seattle LSD: A couple of years back, I was quitting antidepressants. It was tough, and microdosing helped me get through. It was much more effective than any antidepressant Id ever taken. I took small doses a couple times a week for a few months, and I found that my focus, mood, energy, and creative thinking all improved not only the day of, but the days following as well. Related Stories We Tested 12 CBD Beauty Products CBD Oil Actually Helped With My Anxiety Mushrooms: Like LSD, it makes me feel in the moment, and my day-to-day feels fresher and less stale. The main difference is that its shorter and less energizing. It makes me feel more go with the flow and less analytical and sharp. CBD: I take CBD the non-psychoactive element of cannabis every day to help calm my mind and body. I microdose Mr. Moxeys Mints when I need a little kick or I get stuck in a bad thought loop at work. Its less impactful per dose than LSD, but I owe being able to function in a 40-hour workweek to them. DMT: Ive also tried DMT. It onsets within seconds compared to oral psychedelics that can take an hour to set in. This allows me to very quickly reach the thoughtful, centering mental space Im looking for but also not feel stuck in it for too long if I take too much. K.S. Why Does Everyone Keep Bringing Up James Fadiman? James Fadiman. Photo: Renee Fadiman Up until a few years ago, the longtime LSD researcher who published The Psychedelic Explorers Guide in 2011 was individually responding to any would-be microdosers questions as to suggested dosage or possible side effects through his personal Gmail. He created a protocol based on his many emailed-in reports from users thats pretty much become the microdosing standard. Now Fadiman is working with fellow researcher Sophia Korb as they embark on the largest nonclinical microdosing study to date (59 countries and over 400 participants). Some Unexpected Side Effects May Include Five findings from Fadimans email in-box. Period relief A number of women who have had difficult periods report that their periods are now normal. We got a note from a woman in her 20s who said that during the month she microdosed, her periods, which are usually extraordinarily difficult and painful, were now normal. Others say they microdose before their period and their periods are now fine. We dont know much, but were hoping to get much more conventional research going. Better sex Just a few reports of this, but one example: Married 15 years, male, 38. Sex is great with microdosing my attention is at 100 percent in the bed, easily expressed in our lovemaking and sensual touching. There is no hurry and no wait. Decreased coffee consumption The most common comment is I just dont feel the need. More anxiety We do not know if anxiety goes up or if they are more aware of their anxiety, but in either case we feel microdosing is not beneficial. Better first drafts I never reveal my sources (especially if they are drug-using journalists). How Do People Who Do It, Do It? The Microdosers Tool Kit Illustration: Mark Nerys A dealer In New York, some dealers are adjusting to the spike in microdoser clients by creating diluted liquid-LSD tinctures; others are offering use of their scales to help weigh mushrooms. A scale One that registers a thousandth of a gram helps people start as small as possible. A grinder Dried mushrooms are quite fragile, but a grinder (some like a mortar and pestle, others use coffee grinders) will yield a fine powder that microdosers will sprinkle into various ingestible things, even smoothies. Gel caps Strongly earthy is one way dried mushrooms have been described. Weighing them, grinding them into powder form, and putting them into gel capsules is a way to make measured-out microdoses and avoid their polarizing taste. Or This Starter Pack Illustration: Mark Nerys The Third Wave, a start-up dedicated to responsible psychedelic use founded by Paul Austin, offers both online guides to microdosing various substances and a $47 LSD starter pack that includes a sterilized amber bottle with distilled water for diluting, scissors for cutting off tabs of LSD, a sterile syringe for measuring out microdoses, and an LSD-testing kit (to make sure it really is LSD). The Pretty-Much-Agreed-Upon Regimen According to the Fadiman approach, people generally microdose once every three days for about a month one day on, two days off. But why space it out? After reading a lot of reports and talking to a lot of people, the effects were lasting for up to two days, Fadiman says. The psychedelics are actually gone within a few hours, but you have the same kind of feeling functioning better for two days. Theres another reason to space it out: Psychedelics, while nonaddictive, can cause a tolerance to build. The most important thing to keep in mind: Fadiman advises taking a microdose before 10 a.m. Taking it later may make it harder to fall asleep. From there, people should keep to their daily schedule: work, leisure, meals, medications, exercise. After the month, Fadiman found that most people continued to microdose only occasionally, on an as-needed basis for an exam, a presentation. Plus, like with most things, its good to take a break. A Dosers Diary Tao Lin, whose book Trip: Psychedelics, Alienation, and Change comes out May 1, has dabbled in microdosing. Anticipating questions he thought hed get on the topic while on tour, he did a trial run. Day 1 10 A.M. Used one-sixth of a tab of 100 micrograms of LSD a brand called Aztec Xtal, which may or may not be LSD or 100 micrograms. 11:58 A.M. Have more of a sense of humor and less despair than normal, smiling sometimes. 12:35 P.M. Feel distracted by the world instead of my thoughts, which are a lighter yet more controllable overlay than normal. 12:55 P.M. Half-consciously and pleasurably and unexpectedly biked from 25th to 3rd Street. 4:52 P.M. Attention span became lower than normal; feeling the lack of what I gained earlier. 10 P.M. Continued working reading, writing after temporary loss of attention. Feel like I had a day like when I used to use Adderall but with less underlying despair. Day 2 10 A.M. Four days later, used one-sixth of a tab again. Id planned on three days, but I was meeting my editor and wanted to be in a more familiar mental space. 11:41 A.M. Have greater ability to end undesirable thoughts. 11:54 A.M. Instead of blankly gazing at nothing, as can happen normally, my focus is flitting somewhat randomly around, scanning. My memory images seem stronger. 10:38 P.M. In bed. Had another almost continuously productive day doing a phone interview, reading, writing, drawing. Day 3 10 A.M. Two days later. Used one-12th of a tab half as much. 4:11 P.M. Time has passed fast. The half-dose seems preferable. One-sixth felt sometimes overwhelming and disruptive to my normal routine, but this amount seems good to use occasionally and strategically. Microtripping Nine to Five What its like to be high and functioning on the job. Normal. Photo: Joe Belanger/Alamy Stock Photo Microdosing. Photo: Joe Belanger/Alamy Stock Photo A Blueberry Edible Before a Meeting I take chocolate-covered blueberry edibles, which are about 5 mg. each of THC the psychoactive part of cannabis on the way to work. Its about a 45-minute commute, so by the time Im at my desk, its starting to work. During meetings, I feel more lucid in my thoughts and confident sharing ideas that I may have thought were too radical before. I find myself making more jokes, laughing more. Before, I think I was always trying to say the right thing, playing it safe in a way. It worked, but it was also sort of boring. Anonymous animator A Sliver of LSD Before Talking to the Boss When I microdosed LSD a couple of times before work, it was a mixed bag: When talking to my boss who I never had problems with I felt much more anxiety. I was more in my head, nervous about what I was going to say. On the other hand, I had much more empathy which was a big deal, because I wasnt very fond of my co-workers. It also made it much easier to do boring, heads-down work. Time kind of flew by my job was basically spreadsheet farming, and I was able to do that a lot more efficiently. Anonymous recruiter for a financial-services firm A Sip of Iboga Before Visiting Patients I work in palliative care. All my patients are dying. Since I started taking 50 mg. of iboga TA powder in the morning, pain- and symptom-management visits are filled with much more laughter and happiness. Before, I was prone to burnout from these visits I was tired and sluggish and often only able to provide the necessary care to my patients. I missed small subtleties in their physical and emotional state. This doesnt happen as often when Ive taken iboga. I am able to sit with a grieving family, feel their pain, and be present, without allowing it to shatter me. Anonymous nurse K.S. But Whats the Worst That Could Happen? Illustration: Mark Nerys Okay, I Guess Im Tripping at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday It took a few tries before this Brooklyn musician landed on his ideal dose. The first time I did it, I took 0.2 grams of mushrooms at 8 a.m. Its what I thought was a very small amount, so I was like, Okay, Ill take that and I can up it from there. Maybe 20 minutes later I was in the park walking my dog, and I looked up at the trees, and I was like, Huh, that looks weird. Then I looked down at my hands, which is always the test: Do my hands look trippy? And I was like, Oh, yeah, theyre trippy. The grass beneath them was super-vibrant, moving in a weird way. I was like, Okay, I guess Im tripping at 8 a.m. on a Tuesday. I tried to go home and work, and I was not okay to work, so I lay down, put headphones on, and listened to music in my bed in the dark for like an hour. So after that I started doing .07 grams, which is really small, then slowly worked my way up to .1 gram. Sometimes Ill do .08 grams if its a day I know Im going to be doing a lot of phone calls. Theres no impairment, but if Im doing 0.1 or 0.125, I definitely feel a little extra something. When I hit the ideal dosage, it helps me get into a flow state. Its a feeling you can totally have without doing drugs, its just one that I rarely achieve. If youre working on something, you have a feeling that you can do no wrong, and because you have that feeling, it kind of comes true. Microdosing. Photo: Masahiro Noguchi/Getty Images Tripping. Photo: Masahiro Noguchi/Getty Images One of the Biggest Dangers of Microdosing is Accidentally Macrodosing Sara Gael, director of harm reduction at the MAPS Zendo Project, an organization committed to supporting people going through bad psychedelic trips, on the best ways to ride it out. Move the body Qi Gong, yoga, stretches like that can be helpful; they get energy moving. When were really stuck in our head, feeling comfortable in our body can help. Eat something This can instantly help you feel grounded. Go outside Being in nature is a big one. Go to the park; it doesnt have to be in the middle of nowhere, though still try to avoid a ton of people. Put on some music Something instrumental classical, piano, guitar; mellow is key. How Illegal Is It? Psychedelics are Schedule 1 drugs. Though laws vary by state, if youre caught possessing or selling even a small amount of psychedelics in New York State as a first-time offender, you could face jail time anywhere from less than a year to up to nine years. New Mexico is unique in that it is legal to grow mushrooms there, while a Florida loophole lets people off the hook who dont realize the mushrooms they are in possession of are magic ones. Meanwhile, current decriminalization efforts in California and Colorado could show up on ballot measures later this year. And Now, a Naysayer Richard A. Friedman, professor of clinical psychiatry and director of the psychopharmacology clinic at Weill Cornell Medical College, thinks microdosers should hold out for more-conclusive science. The problem is that the large-dose therapeutic studies that have been done so far the NYU and Johns Hopkins ones in particular are flawed, I think, so we dont really know how safe or effective it is. For example, niacin, which was used in the NYU study as a placebo, doesnt really have a psychedelic effect, so my objection is that its just a weak study. And then theres the sample: Who raises their hand and does a hallucinogen? Those people might be more psychologically hardy and drawn to novel experiences. With microdosing, if youre going to posit x or y about it, then go study it and get good data. Otherwise everybody thinks its perfectly safe, but there are people who are going to do it who are at risk for various psychiatric problems like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression, or who have a genetic loading for psychotic disorders and could unleash a latent illness. Thats who I worry about. Claims that are made based on anecdotes and individual stories are interesting but not conclusive, and they need to be subjected to the same rigorous study as any drug company that wants to sell a drug on the market. Did We Get All These People to Be in a Clinical Trial That Were Going to Realize, One Day, Was a Bad Idea? Some microdosing early-adopters look back. Reply All, the podcast that got things going On November 5, 2015, the Gimlet Media podcast Reply All aired a show on which one of its co-hosts, PJ Vogt, secretly took small portions of acid and recorded what happened. (Vogt ended up panicking and ditching the experiment.) Its become one of its most listened-to episodes. Vogt and Gimlet co-founder Matt Lieber reflect on how the episodes aged since. PJ Vogt: One of the things I didnt predict would happen is that everybody now tells me when theyre microdosing. Theyll say, Hey, remember when you did that episode where you took acid? And it always goes the same way: Its them grinning and going, Well, Im trying it right now. It happened two mornings ago in the elevator. Matt Lieber: I remember telling you that I was pretty sure you were going to inspire many people hundreds or even thousands to try acid. People that otherwise wouldnt. If you ask me how I feel about it I feel very conflicted, actually. PJV: Sometimes I wonder, Did we get all these people to be in a clinical trial that were going to realize, one day, was a bad idea? But most people whove talked to me had good experiences, and I think they feel that theyre in a secret society. ML: Have you done it since then? PJV: No, oh my God, no. No. Its worth reiterating: I messed up the dose and did not enjoy my experience. But I have the rest of the acid in this Orbit-gum box on my bookshelf. It feels like Chekhovs gun in my apartment. Margaret Rhodes Ayelet Waldman, the mom who microdosed In 2017, Waldman introduced many to microdosing with her memoir, A Really Good Day: How Microdosing Made a Mega Difference in My Mood, My Marriage, and My Life. What does she think about it now? I was writing about microdosing psychedelics, but at the heart of it, I was writing about taking responsibility for mental illness and finding a way out of your deepest darkest place, and when you write about that, you have to take responsibility for your reader. Thats why Im much less interested in people who have a more jokey approach to it. Look, I did it as an ad hoc personal experiment. I obviously dont think theres anything wrong with that, as long as people are very aware of what theyre getting into and they understand the neuroscience, the therapeutic elements, the history, the criminal-justice ramifications. We spend too much time in this country taking really strong drugs without thought; people are gobbling up Paxil without anybody considering how incredibly difficult it can be to get off them. Weve just been swallowing thoughtlessly, both legal and illegal, so if youre going to microdose, I want you to really do your homework, or at least just read my book. One of the beauties of microdosing is that there isnt a Sackler family forcing you to become addicted theres no advertising dollars [behind it] so you can have a more thoughtful decision-making process. *This article appears in the April 30, 2018, issue of New York Magazine. Subscribe Now! About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile President Donald Trump signs an Executive Order entitled Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative at the National Day of Prayer in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on May 3, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Trump Signs Order to Protect Religious Freedom From Government Overreach President Donald Trump has signed an executive order meant to give faith groups a voice in Washington and protect religious organizations from government overreach. The president signed the document on May 3, which he earlier proclaimed National Prayer Day. The order establishes the White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative, which is tasked with advising the president on how policies impact faith groups and serves as a watchdog to protect religious organizations from government outreach. The faith initiative will help design new policies that recognize the vital role of faith in our families, our communities, and our great country, Trump said. We take this step because we know that, in solving the many, many problems and our great challenges, faith is more powerful than government, and nothing is more powerful than God. Since assuming office in 2017, Trump has taken a series of steps to protect religious liberty. On May 4 , 2017, he signed an order directing the IRS to relax its enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, which prohibited religious organizations from engaging in political speech and activities, with the threat of revoking their tax-exempt status. In October last year, the Justice Department introduced 20 principles of religious liberty to the departments litigation strategy meant to protect religious freedom. In January, the department updated its manual to raise the profile of religious liberty cases and create a point of contact for the issue at each U.S. attorneys office. In January, the Department of Health and Human Services created its Conscience and Religious Freedom Division, meant to enforce existing laws protecting Americans right to choose medical care based on their religious beliefs. Our country was founded on prayer, Trump said. Our communities are sustained by prayer. And our nation will be renewed by hard work, a lot of intelligence, and prayer. Trump became the first president to address the annual March for Life on Jan. 19. Though the annual event is not religious, it is often promoted by religious groups, as it raises awareness about the lives of unborn children killed through abortion. The president also reinstated the Mexico City Policy, which prevents $9 billion in taxpayer funds from being used to fund the global abortion industry through foreign aid. Trump also noted that his administration is fighting religious persecution around the world, but did not provide specifics. Whats going on is horrible, Trump said. And were taking action. We are taking action. Recommended Video: Why is Falun Gong persecuted? TOPSHOT - Supporters of Armenian protest leader Nikol Pashinyan attend a rally in downtown Yerevan on May 1, 2018. (Photo by Vano SHLAMOV / AFP) (Photo credit should read VANO SHLAMOV/AFP/Getty Images) Armenian Protest Leader Pauses Strike for Talks With Ruling Party The leader of a protest movement that has rocked Armenia called on May 1 for a pause in a campaign of civil disobedience while he seeks assurances that the ruling party will back him to be the next prime minister. After a day of protests that blocked roads and railways and brought parts of the country to a standstill, a senior official with the ruling party hinted it may be willing to back Nikol Pashinyan when his candidacy for the premiers job comes up for a vote in parliament next week. That would signal a dramatic shift in power in Armenia and cause disquiet in Russia, which sees the ex-Soviet state as a strategic ally and does not want any changes that could pull the country out of its orbit. Pashinyan, a 42-year-old former journalist who has spent time in jail on charges of fomenting unrest, said that on the face of it the ruling Republican Party was conceding defeat. But he said he needed to be certain it was not a ruse. Tomorrow, we will stage no actions, Pashinyan, who has won a large following by accusing the ruling elite of corruption and cronyism, told tens of thousands of supporters gathered in a square in the capital, Yerevan. You will be resting tomorrow. We will be working in parliament and we will try to get the necessary guarantees that the statements made by the Republican party are true. He urged his supporters to listen out for further announcements, saying that if the talks did not go to plan, he may need to call them back out on to the streets. We should be vigilant, he said. On May 2, the head of the Republican Party in parliament, Vahram Baghdasaryan, told reporters that when lawmakers vote on who will fill the vacant prime minister post, his party will not put forward its own candidate. He said it will back whoever is nominated. So far, Pashinyan is the only nominee. Baghdasaryan did not say explicitly, though, that this meant his party would back Pashinyan. His party has already sown confusion over its intentions, saying last week it would not stop Pashinyan from becoming prime minister, and then opposing his candidacy when it was put to a vote in parliament on May 1. The re-run of the vote is scheduled to take place on May 8. If parliament fails on the second attempt to choose a new prime minister, the legislature will be dissolved and early parliamentary elections called. Armenia hosts a Russian military base and is nestled strategically between Turkey and energy exporter Azerbaijan, with which it has been in a state of conflict since the Soviet Unions collapse. Pashinyan says that if he comes to power, he will keep close ties with the Kremlin. But Moscow is wary that Armenia could go the same way as Ukraine, where an uprising in 2014 swept to power new leaders who moved their country closer to the West. Standoff The crisis in Armenia has pitted Pashinyans movement against a ruling elite that controls parliament and the security apparatus, and has Moscows backing. Throughout May 2 in Yerevan all main streets were blocked by cars, minibuses and garbage bins. Protesters marched shouting Nikol! Victory! and waving flags and blowing horns. Police tried to persuade them to open roads, but did not use force. In a sign of cracks in the ruling elite, acting Culture Minister Armen Amiryan resigned, according to his spokeswoman. She said protesters came to his ministry, and after meeting them he came outside and announced he was quitting. By evening, blockades on roads outside the center of the capital had been lifted. For most of the day, roads leading in and out of the capital were blocked, including the road to the international airport. A spokesman for the civil aviation authority said one flight had been cancelled. Residents and local media reported protests in several other cities in the country of three million people. The national railway operator said it was forced to suspend some rail services because tracks were blocked. The crisis was sparked when Armenias veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan, forbidden by the constitution from standing for a third term as president after a decade in office, tried to become prime minister last month. His switch to the new job triggered protests by people who saw it as a cynical ploy to hang onto power, and he stepped down after just a week. The ruling elite has since dug in its heels and resisted ceding power to Pashinyan. Not all Armenians back the protests. Some see Pashinyan as a demagogue who is trying to oust the countrys democratically elected leaders by whipping up public anger. Reuters reporters witnessed two incidents in Yerevan when the drivers of vehicles remonstrated with protesters blocking their path. The country cant exist like this. I couldnt get to work today, said Zhanna Petrosyan, a 56-year-old doctor. The nameplate of political consultancy, Cambridge Analytica, is seen in central London, Britain March 21, 2018. (Reuters/Henry Nicholls) Cambridge Analytica and British Parent Shut Down After Facebook Scandal Cambridge Analytica, the firm embroiled in a controversy over its handling of Facebook Inc user data, and its British parent SCL Elections Ltd, are shutting down immediately after suffering a sharp drop in business, the company said on Wednesday. The company will begin bankruptcy proceedings, it said, after losing clients and facing mounting legal fees resulting from the scandal over reports the company harvested personal data about millions of Facebook users beginning in 2014. The siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Companys customers and suppliers, the statement said. As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration. Allegations of the improper use of data for 87 million Facebook users by Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by President Donald Trump for his 2016 Republican Party presidential primaries campaign, has hurt the shares of the worlds biggest social network and prompted multiple official investigations in the United States and Europe. Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas, the companys statement said. The firm is shutting down effective Wednesday and employees have been told to turn in their computers, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier. The Cambridge Analytica sign had been removed from the reception area of its London offices on Wednesday. At SCLs Washington, D.C. office, a man declined to answer questions from a Reuters reporter. After the announcement, Britains data regulator said it would continue civil and criminal investigations of the firm and will pursue individuals and directors as appropriate despite the shutdown. We will also monitor closely any successor companies using our powers to audit and inspect, to ensure the public is safeguarded, a spokeswoman for the Information Commissioners Office said in a statement. Recommended video: Media Tries to Implicate Trump in Syria Chemical Attack A group of asylum seekers raise their hands as they approach RCMP officers while crossing the Canadian border between Champlain, New York, and St. Bernard de Lacolle, Quebec, on Aug. 4, 2017. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Canada Working With US to Stop Nigerians Using US Visas as Ticket to Canada OTTAWACanadian officials in Nigeria are working with the United States on developing tools to flag Nigerians applying for U.S. visas who may be at high risk of crossing illegally into Canada across the U.S. border. So far this year, the majority of illegal migrants arriving in Canada are Nigerians who have recently been issued U.S. travel visas. It is apparent that they obtained those visas with the express intent to actually go to Canada, said Hursh Jaswal, communications director for Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen. They land in the United States, where they stay for a very short period of time, and then make their way to Canada. Thats why Canada is now working with its American counterparts to try to stop Nigerian travellers to the United States from using their U.S. visas as a ticket to Canadaa practice Jaswal calls an abuse of U.S. visas for the purpose of asylum. Canadian officials in Nigeria are now working directly with their U.S. counterparts to develop assessment indicators that would flag cases deemed to be high risk, Jaswal said. Last year, the majority of irregular migrants who arrived in Canada were Haitian, which was largely attributed to the Trump administrations decision to lift the temporary protected status for immigrants from Haiti living in the United States. This years shift toward Nigerians is not surprising to Kehinde Olalere, a Canadian immigration lawyer who grew up in Nigeria and regularly travels to the country. Nigerians fleeing the violence of Boko Haram and other systemic persecutions in Nigeria find it marginally easier to obtain travel visas from the United States compared to Canada. But many see the United States as merely a transit point on the way to Canada, Olalere said. The U.S.A. is not an attractive place to most Nigerians right now. It used to be the most attractive place, but with the Trump factorthe old-style immigration climate in the United States compared to Canadamost people are going to find their way to Canada. Jean-Nicolas Beuze, president of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees in Canada, disagreed with the Trump factor theory, saying he believes the influx of Nigerian refugee claimants is more closely related to Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus more welcoming messaging about immigrants. Many Nigerians face persecution for their sexual orientation and women face high rates of domestic violence from their partners, as well as the threat of genital mutilation. Canadas more progressive laws and attitudes towards these populations make it a more desirable place to live, Beuze said. They think that Canada will be a country where they will receive asylum and where they feel they will be able to integrate and resume a normal life, far away from persecution. Individuals and families fleeing from the violence and oppression of Nigeria are well-versed in Canadas immigration laws and have likely seen the statistics showing Nigerian refugee claimants have a 35 percent success rate in having their claims accepted, Olalere said. Thats why he believes the flow of migrants from Nigeria is likely to continue. I dont see this ending any time soon. Meanwhile, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said work is ongoing to improve screening processes for American visas, keeping in mind a need to balance safety and protection concerns with legitimate travel and immigration to the United States. However, no changes have yet been made to the U.S. visa application process. From The Canadian Press Chinese dredging vessels are purportedly seen in the waters around Fiery Cross Reef in the disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, in this still image from video taken by a P-8A Poseidon surveillance aircraft provided by the United States Navy, on May 21, 2015. (U.S. Navy/Handout via Reuters/File Photo) China Installs Cruise Missiles on South China Sea Outposts: CNBC WASHINGTONChina has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, U.S. news network CNBC reported on May 2, citing sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports. The installations, if confirmed, would mark the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratly Islands, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival sovereignty claims. China has made no mention of any missile deployments but says its military facilities in the Spratlys are purely defensive measures for national security, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory. Chinas Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest report. CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to U.S. intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. The U.S. Defense Department, which opposes Chinas installation of military facilities on outposts it has built up in the South China Sea, declined to comment. We dont comment on matters of intelligence, a spokesman said. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washingtons Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank, said deploying missiles on the outposts would be important. These would be the first missiles in the Spratlys, either surface to air, or anti-ship, he said. He added that such deployments were expected as China built missile shelters on the reefs last year and already deployed such missile systems on Woody Island further to the north. Poling said it would be a major step on Chinas road to dominating the South China Sea, a key global trade route. Before this, if you were one of the other claimantsyou knew that China was monitoring your every move. Now you will know that youre operating inside Chinese missile range. Thats a pretty strong, if implicit, threat, he said. CNBC said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles allowed China to strike vessels within 295 nautical miles. It said the HQ-9B long-range, surface-to-air missiles could target aircraft, drones, and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. Last month, U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson, nominated to head the U.S. Pacific Command, said Chinas forward operating bases in the South China Sea appeared complete. The only thing lacking are the deployed forces, he said. Once these were added, China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania. Davidson said China could use the bases to challenge the U.S. regional presence, and would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants. China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States, he said. By David Brunnstrom South Korean President Moon Jae-In (R) shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump (L) during the joint press conference at the presidential Blue House on November 7, 2017 in Seoul, South Korea. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images) Contrary to Past Anti-Trump Rhetoric, Chinese State Media Wants Trump to Win Nobel Peace Prize Chinas state-run media have repeatedly criticized President Donald Trump since he announced trade tariffs on Chinese goods, setting off trade tensions. However, a state-run publication has recently made an about-face and changed its rhetoric completely. The Paper, a state-run newspaper based in Shanghai, ran an editorial on May 1 saying that Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for precipitating talks leading to promises of denuclearization from North Korea. In a separate news report published on the same day, The Paper mentioned that South Korean President Moon Jae-in said at a cabinet meeting: President Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize. What we need is peace. On April 27, Moon met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un at Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone and signed a historic agreement, the Panmunjom Declaration, for an end to the Korean War and complete denuclearization of North Korea. Current affairs commentator Tang Jingyuan analyzed Beijings intentions behind the suddenly positive coverage. He told The Epoch Times that as a U.S. delegation prepares to visit China on May 3 and 4 to discuss their trade relationship, Beijing is nervous. Whether China and the U.S. can reach an agreement will not only affect the economy of China and the U.S., but also affect the direction of the worlds trade in the future, he said. So we see Beijing has done something to express their so-called goodwill to pave the way for their meeting. Beijing may also be trying to kiss up to Trump so that the administration does not come down too harshly during trade discussions, Tang believes. If the trade war continues, Beijing will definitely suffer big losses, he said. The sanction on ZTE is one such example. The Chinese smartphone maker was recently punished by the U.S. government, whereby it prohibited all American firms from supplying tech parts or software to ZTE. Tang added that the Chinese Communist regime has been displeased about the Panmunjom Declaration because Beijing was marginalized in the talks. The state-run newspaper Global Times expressed Beijings discomfort, as it especially mentioned that the Declaration refers to a future peace meeting between either three partiesthe U.S., South Korea, and North Koreaor four parties, the U.S., China, South Korea, and North Korea. This indicates that Beijings role is not essential. If the Trump-Kim summit is successful, then they wont need Beijing to be involved. That is what makes Beijing very anxious, Tang said. Tang added that The Papers tone indicates China would like to recognize Trumps leadership in Korean peninsula affairs, in the hopes that Beijing can still have a chance to be involved in peace talksbecause it involves Beijings economic and political interests, Tang said. Epoch Times staff member Luo Ya contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers Treasury Board President Scott Brison, acting minister of democratic reform, during a press conference on proposed legislation to modernize the Canada Elections Act in Ottawa on April 30, 2018. (The Canadian Press/Justin Tang) Elections Bill Aimed at Tighter Rules on Spending, Fake News, Privacy OTTAWAThe federal government wants to make it easier for Canadians to cast a ballot, while making it harder for political partiesor foreign entitiesto violate their privacy or persuade them who to vote for using falsehoods or vast sums of money. We are committed to maintaining the trust of Canadians in our democratic process, said Treasury Board President Scott Brison, who is acting as democratic institutions minister while Karina Gould is on maternity leave. Brison introduced legislation on April 30 meant to address several promises Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made in 2015, including tackling how much political parties and third-party advocacy groups can spend before and during election campaigns. It is also meant to buttress the Canadian electoral system against new threats to democracy by reining in the proliferation of so-called fake news and barring any organizations, including social media sites, from knowingly selling election advertising bought with foreign funds. The proposed measures include forbidding the spreading of materials, whether on paper or online, designed to mislead Canadians about their source. Canada is not immune to threats from foreign influence and online disruption, Brison said. The proposed legislation, if passed, would also introduce a limit on how much political parties can spend on partisan advertising leading up to the official campaign period, which would be about $1.5 million in 2019. There is currently no cap on the amount of money political parties can spend at that time. Third-party advocacy groups, meanwhile, would be limited to spending $10,000 per electoral districtup to $1 million in totalon partisan advertising, activities, and election-related surveys. After the writs are dropped, however, those third parties would be able to spend up to $500,000 in 2019. Thats more than is currently allowed, but it would cover a wider range of activities and none of it could come from foreign entities. Bill C-76 would also give the federal elections commissioner greater investigative powers. Brison said that, coupled with the $7.1 million over five years in the 2018 budget, would help the watchdog improve the ability to respond, even in real time. Still, Brison acknowledged the proposed changes to the Canada Elections Act cannot be the only solution and that the federal government would continue to work with other countries to boost cybersecurity. This is inherently a global issue, Brison said. The bill would also push political parties to be more proactive about online privacy, an issue that hit close to home this spring when Facebook acknowledged the data of more than 620,000 Canadians was likely shared improperly with political consulting company Cambridge Analytica. The proposed legislation would require all political parties to create and publish a policy on how they will protect the privacy of voters, including what information they are collecting from potential voters, how it will be safeguarded, and how it will be used. They would also have to designate someone to handle privacy complaints, but there would be no actual consequences for violations. Additional measures Bill C-76 also contains measures to make voting easier, including by allowing someone with a disability to vote at home, and having advance polls remain open for 12 hours in an effort to reduce wait times. It would also create a registry of Canadians between the ages of 14 to 17 who would be allowed to vote within the next few years. The proposed legislation also includes measures to make it easier for those with caregiving responsibilities to run for federal political office, by reimbursing candidates 90 percent of the cost of daycare, home care, or other health-care services for their family members, and not have it count toward the campaign spending limit. The Liberals introduced some reforms in November 2016, aimed at undoing some of what the Conservatives introduced through their Fair Elections Actincluding restoring the use of the voter identification card as a valid piece of ID. The reforms would also repeal the ban on voting by expat Canadians who have been away from the country for longer than five years. That bill, stalled at the introductory stage ever since, will be rolled into the new one. The legislation does not, however, come through on the promise to create an independent commission to organize televised debates among party leaders, even though the 2018 federal budget commits $6 million over two years to support a new process for that exercise. Meanwhile, acting chief electoral officer Stephane Perrault has cast doubt on the ability to implement any major reforms in time for the next election, telling a House of Commons committee last week that anything meant to apply in 2019 should have been in place by now. Brison said that given the proposed legislation contains many reforms Elections Canada itself has suggested, he is confident they can get it done. From The Canadian Press Former Trump campaign aide Michael Caputo arrives to testify before the House Intelligence Committee during a closed-door session at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center in Washington on July 14, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Former Trump Campaign Aide Clobbers Senate Committee in Closing Statement A former Trump campaign aide told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday that the panels Russia investigation was crushing his family financially due to legal fees and had forced them out of their home. Today, I cant possibly pay the attendant legal costs and live near my aging father, raising my kids where I grew up, Michael Caputo said in his closing statement which was obtained by Washington Examiner. Your investigation and others into the allegations of Trump campaign collusion with Russia are costing my family a great deal of moneymore than $125,000and making a visceral impact on my children. God damn you to hell, Caputo told them. Caputo accused the panel of being part of the swamp, a term President Donald Trump uses to describe the corruption and bureaucracy in Washington. As an example, Caputo pointed out that Daniel Jones, a former staffer for Sen. Diane Feinstein, a current member of the committee, was the source for a McClatchy article about Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. The article says that Cohen secretly made a late-summer trip to Prague during the 2016 presidential campaign, citing two unnamed sources. Cohen has denied the allegations in the report. But who is McClatchys second source? Caputo said. It couldnt be Dan; he was the first source So who could it beperhaps one of his former Senate Intelligence colleagues? I mean, youre all in this together. Youre the swamp. Caputo said that the investigators should themselves be investigated, demanding they explain who was coordinating the attack on the president. Forget about all the death threats against my family. I want to know who cost us so much money, who crushed our kids, who forced us out of our home, all because you lost an election, Caputo said. I want to know because God damn you to hell. The committee asked Caputo about some 20 people connected to the Trump campaign and whether he knew about any communications theyve had with Russian officials. My answer for each of them was the same, Caputo said. There was none. Caputo also met with Special Counsel Muellers team on Wednesday. After the interview, he told ABC that Mueller is still focused on investigating collusion claims. The investigators at the special counsels office are following leads all the way to the end, Caputo said. But they have a very clear direction in their question. Its all about collusion. Mueller and the Senate Intelligence Committee are investigating allegations of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the 2016 election. Neither investigation has produced any proof of collusion. A third investigation into the same allegations by the House Intelligence Committee released a final report last week which concluded that there is no evidence of collusion. Recommended Video: Leaders of Two Koreas Shake Hands Before Historic Summit Grandfather Could Face Charges After Duct-Taping Autistic Boy to Keep Him From Running into Traffic The child duct-taping incident that grabbed headlines in Tacoma, Washington, is a reminder of the tough choices caregivers have to make when it comes to restraining children with autism. Police issued an amber alert on Monday, April 30, after video surfaced showing a man using duct tape to restrain a child, before putting him in a car and driving away, KXLY reported. Fearing a kidnapping, authorities issued the child abduction alert, only to cancel it after it was revealed the boys grandfather duct-taped his autistic grandson to reportedly keep him from running out into traffic. He was a special needs child who was being restrained by his grandfather, Puyallup police tweeted, according to MailOnline. This was a Tacoma Police incident. Thanks for helping spread the word. Better to be safe than sorry, police added. But the incident has brought into the light the controversy about using restraints on children with autism who show signs of violence or doing things that could harm themselves. Tacoma police said the grandfather may have broken the law. Yes, this family could be charged with some sort of assault against this child, said Tacoma Police officer Loretta Cool, shortly after the incident Monday night. Theres also the possibility, depending on what the investigation reveals, that maybe assisting them in getting better care for taking care of the child, she continued. Calleen Peterson, a mother of an 11-year-old boy with autism, said her son sometimes acts out in ways that are violent. He has a really kind heart and he really, really wants to be good and to be a part of everything and have friends, Peterson says in the video report. This is my daughters room, she says, showing a bedroom door in their home that bears signs of damage. It has multiple holes, and multiple divots in it where my son tried to attack her because she had a tablet that he wanted and could not have. Families often feel at a loss as to how best to deal with a child who cannot always control their actions. He can break my doors, he can hurt us and theres not a whole lot that we can do, other than just continue trying to advocate for him and all the other families that deal with this, she said. Petersen shares about her familys trials and tribulations on a personal blog. We arent trained in therapy, we arent trained in how to do this, she said. Were just parents. The grandfather who duct-taped his grandson told officers he was trying to prevent him from running into traffic and hurting himself. Wandering is another behavior that about half of the children afflicted with autism exhibit, Q13 Fox reported. Restraints should be used only as a last resort, experts say, if better methods fail. A child who is acting out can be placed alone in a room, for instance, as a way to get them to calm down. Caregivers should also learn proper de-escalation techniques. Tacoma police told Q13 Fox reporters that the boy from Mondays incident is no longer in the care of the grandfather who restrained him. Other family members are looking after the boy. Investigators are reportedly considering charges of unlawful imprisonment. Sun Qian, a Falun Dafa adherent who has been illegally detained in China since February 2017, in an undated photo. (The Epoch Times/Handout) Husband Who Allegedly Swindled Company From Chinese-Canadian to Testify Against Her Vancouver resident Sun Qians pre-trial hearing takes place in Beijing Two days after Canadian citizen Sun Qian was arrested in China last February, her husband allegedly stole 2 billion yuan in shares that belonged to Sun from their jointly owned company and had her removed from the board by forging her signature. The husband, Shen Guangqian, is one of the witnesses appointed by the state to testify against Sun at her upcoming show trialsomething her lawyer argued against during a pre-trial hearing in Beijing on April 23. Other witnesses include Shens girlfriend and her niece, as well as some of Shens subordinates at Beijing Leadman Biochemistry, the multi-billion-dollar company of which he was chairman and CEO, while Sun was vice-president. Last month, the company was transferred into the name of Shens son from a previous marriage. The company was founded by Sun and her family members in 1994. She married Shen a year later. A resident of Vancouver who became a citizen in 2007, Sun, 52, was detained in China on Feb. 19, 2017, for practising the traditional spiritual discipline Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa. She has since been held at the No. 1 Detention Centre in Beijing. According to one of Suns family members, it was Shen who reported Sun to the authorities for practising Falun Gong, knowing she would be arrested. Suns lawyer stated at the hearing that her family has filed multiple legal complaints over Shen having swindled the business from Sun, who was the driving force behind its success. However, the complaints fell on deaf ears, says Suns sister, Sun Zan. Instead, Sun is being treated as the criminal. My sisters husband colluded with certain individuals in the public security bureau, using the policy of suppressing Falun Gong to bring about Suns illegal detention and prosecution. In the meantime, Shen forged Suns signature and produced a fake document, thereby gaining 2 billion in assets, she said in an interview. The procuratorate and the court not only turned a blind eye to Shens criminal acts, but are also using Shen to illegally sentence my sister. Sun Zan added that Shen had been having extra-marital affairs for years and the couple had actually been discussing divorce. During the April 23 hearing, Suns lawyer also pointed out that practising Falun Gong does not violate any law or the Chinese constitution. According to B.C.-based lawyer and China analyst Clive Ansley, that will hold little sway with the court because Falun Gong cases are pre-decided and trials are just for show. The court is not going to be interested in their evidence, whether people are appropriate witnesses, or whether even procedures are followed even. The court will do what it wants to do, and it has made up its mind beforehand. Ansley noted that the argument about who should or should not be allowed to testify against Sun is a secondary issue. The larger issue, he said, is that practising Falun Gong is not a crime. Practising Falun Gong is not a crime even under Chinese law, and its not something that would be prohibited under international law. Its not anything other than exercising peoples freedom of belief. After she started practising Falun Gong, Sun experienced improved health, with abdominal problems and a series of liver and heart ailments disappearing, according to her sister. Her depression also improved; she became more kind and tolerant and was better able to handle her husbands affairs. Since being detained, Sun has been shackled, handcuffed to a steel chair, and continuously pepper-sprayed in the face, among other abuses. She was also forced to undergo brainwashing sessions earlier this year. Suns trial is expected to take place in Beijing sometime in the next few months. Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer JS Ashigara (DDG 178), foreground, the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Wayne E. Meyer (DDG 108) and the Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) transit the Philippine Sea on April 28, 2017. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Z.A. Landers) Japan Should Increase Military Ties With Taiwan, Says Former Japanese Navy Chief WASHINGTONAs the Chinese regime continues to flex its military muscle, the former chief of Japans naval forces said it is high time for Japan to increase its military exchanges and cooperation with its close neighbor Taiwan, which is also being threatened by Beijings aggressive activities in the region. At a Sasakawa Peace Foundation forum in Washington on May 2, Tomohisa Takei, the retired admiral and former chief of staff of Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF), said that Japan should remain vigilant in ensuring that China doesnt get an opportunity to change the status quo in the region. Takei also called for Japan to increase military communication and exchanges with its southern neighbor Taiwan, and said that currently there is almost nothing in terms of cooperation between the Taiwanese Navy and the JMSDF. Taiwan has a strong navy. There must be more interaction between Japans Maritime Self-Defense Force ships and Taiwanese navy ships to avoid accident situations, said Takei. Japan and China already agreed to set up maritime and air communication mechanism. Japan should also establish such communication with Taiwan. Takei, who was the head of Japans naval forces from 2014 to 2016 and is now a fellow at the U.S. Naval War College, also said that Beijings military buildup and ever-increasing aggression in the region are primarily aimed at retaking Taiwan. Takei said Japan needs to increase engagement with like-minded countries in the Indian Ocean to resist the expansionist power. The United States maintains a close military relationship with Japan, as the two countries have a mutual defense treaty in place. Due to political pressure from Beijing, however, Japan does not have any established military cooperation or exchange mechanism with Taiwan, which is Japans closest neighbor to the south. There is a lot of potential for Taiwan to cooperate more with Japan, especially in military aspects, David An, a senior research fellow with the Global Taiwan Institute, told The Epoch Times. Since much of [Taiwans and Japans] equipment are of U.S. origin and already have military communication systems in common, there is a lot of interoperability between Taiwans and Japans militaries. An, a former U.S. State Department political-military affairs officer, cautioned, however, that Taiwans military cooperation with countries outside of the United States is often done in a quiet and low-profile manner, so as to avoid interference by Beijing. If cooperation is quiet, then it is hard to tell the exact extent of cooperationwhether high, medium, or low, An said, citing Taiwans military exchanges with Singapore, which does not formally recognize Taiwans statehood but regularly sends troops to Taiwan for training exercises, a low-profile program that has been in existence for decades that Beijing has consistently opposed. Athena Gervais, who died after reportedly consuming a high-sugar, high-alcohol beverage. Groups testified before a House of Commons committee on April 30 about how to best restrict the sale and consumption of the controversial beverages. (Laval Police) Keep Potent Alcoholic Drinks Out of Young Hands: Substance Abuse Experts OTTAWASubstance abuse experts, medical professionals, and industry leaders have kicked off what they hope will become a national conversation about keeping pre-mixed drinks loaded with alcohol, caffeine, and sugar off shelves and away from young people. The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Abuse was among the groups that testified before a House of Commons committee on April 30 about how to best restrict the sale and consumption of the controversial beverages, which are popular among minors and young adults. We were asked to come up with recommendations to limit both the physical availability and the affordability of these drinks, said Dr. Catherine Paradis, a senior researcher with the centre. She said making the drinks with ethyl alcohol, rather than fermented malt, would make them more expensive and limit where they are sold. Ethyl alcohol would be subject to excise duties, meaning taxes on cans of highly-sweetened alcoholic beverages would jump from 18 cents to 82 cents per can, Paradis told the committee. They would also have to be sold in publicly owned outlets, rather than convenience stores. When you know those drinks are especially popular among minors, thats a huge deal, Paradis said in an interview. A national outcry about the accessibility of the drinks erupted earlier this year following the accidental death of 14-year-old Athena Gervais in Laval, Que. Police are awaiting a toxicology report to determine whether a sugary alcoholic beverage sold in Quebec was a contributing factor. The day she died, Gervais allegedly consumed a product called FCKD UP, which boasts an alcohol content of 11.9 percent in a single 568-ml cana size equivalent to four alcoholic drinks. The province pulled the drink from stores across Quebec, but similar alternatives remain for sale. Reducing the size of containers, limiting their alcohol content, moving away from deceptive advertising, and reducing sugar contentwhich masks the taste of alcoholwere other solutions proposed by witnesses at the committee. After Gervais death, Health Canada issued an online alert in March of this year, warning youth of the risks associated with the beverages. The health agency announced plans to amend food and drug regulations soon after, entering into a period of public consultations scheduled to end May 8. From The Canadian Press Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer participates at a discussion at the 9th China Business Conference at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington on May 1, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Trumps Trade Team Faces Its First Critical Challenge in Beijing US trade delegation seeks to resolve IP theft and open up the Chinese market WASHINGTONSpeaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ahead of his participation in the trade delegation to China, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said resolving the trade dispute with the Chinese communist regime would be a very challenging task. I am always hoping, but not always hopeful. So it is a big, big challenge, he said on May 1 about the chances of reaching a deal during the meetings in China, starting May 3. Besides Lighthizer, the U.S. delegation to Beijing includes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, White House trade and manufacturing adviser Peter Navarro, and top White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow. Our list of things that are troubling is very long, said Lighthizer. President Donald Trump proposed imposing $50 billion in tariffs on Chinese products on March 22. The administration outlined on April 3 more than 1,300 imported goods that might face 25 percent tariffs. U.S. companies have until May 22 to object to the proposed tariffs. And after that, we legally can put them in place, Lighthizer said. Whether the United States will impose the proposed tariffs or not depends on the outcome of these negotiations, he added. According to Lighthizer, the main focuses for the U.S. delegation during the negotiations will be to resolve the problem of intellectual property theft and to open up the Chinese market to U.S. companies in many areas, including agriculture, manufacturing, and financial services. China has been taking about $300 billion a year of our intellectual property. Thats something we cant live with. Stephen Moore, economist, The Heritage Foundation Trump has recently taken measures to crack down on decadeslong unfair trade practices by China that have cost the U.S. economy hundreds of billions of dollars a year. China has been taking about $300 billion a year of our intellectual property. Thats something we cant live with, Stephen Moore, an economist at The Heritage Foundation and former economic adviser to Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, told NTD, part of the Epoch Media Group. Trump signed a presidential memorandum on March 22 directing the U.S. trade representative (USTR) and the Department of the Treasury to take action based on the findings of the Section 301 investigation launched in August 2017, which determined that the Chinese regime has been unfairly acquiring U.S. intellectual property for years. Trumps punitive measures include restricting Chinese investment in the United States and imposing tariffs on Chinese products. According to a report by the USTR, Beijing is implementing laws, policies, and practices that harm American intellectual property rights, innovation, and technological development. The report focuses on four key practices, including forced technology transfer, forced licensing in a noneconomic way, state capitalism, and cyber theft. It is not my objective to change the Chinese system, said Lighthizer. But I have to be in a position where the United States can deal with it, where the United States is not the victim of it. Through joint venture requirements and investment restrictions, the Chinese regime has been forcing technology and IP transfer from U.S. companies, and these actions have damaged American manufacturing, jobs, and innovation. They have also negatively affected U.S. exports and contributed to the trade deficit with China. Trump also ordered the Treasury secretary to propose an action to stop unfair acquisitions or investments in the United States that are directed by China. Chinese companies that seek to invest in the United States are often believed to be acting at the direction of the regime. It would be madness to let state capitalism come in and buy our technology, said Lighthizer. Foreign companies cannot acquire the crown jewels of Chinese technology, and hence the Chinese should have the same restrictions in the United States, he argued. Previous administrations warned China but turned a blind eye to its unfair trade practices, according to Moore. This is a big moment for the relationship between the two countries, he said. Its not that complicated for China to make some concessions, and I dont think Trump is asking for the world. Recommended Video: Business is War Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Mom Gets Arrested for What Her 3 Young Children Drank Police said that three young children drank vodka after their mother left them home alone for seven hours. Tyeisha Coneisha Streater, 26, of Gastonia, North Carolina, was charged with misdemeanor child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor, reported The Associated Press. Officers found Streaters children outside their Gastonia apartment on Monday. The officials told AP that her seven-year-old girl wandered into traffic and tried to stop cars. She also exhibited very erratic behavior, said Assistant District Attorney Megan Rhoden. She had been exhibiting very erratic behavior, at one point trying to go into a laundromat, breaking the glass out to get the fire (extinguisher), throwing dishes with officers, trying to eat food off the floor, Rhoden said, as reported by the Gaston Gazette. Behavior that was obviously very concerning to the police officers. Streater told officials that her children were asleep when she went to the laundromat with an 8-month-old child. Police said she was gone for seven hours, but Streater said that she was only gone for about an hour and a half. Streater, who works at a Wells Fargo, also disputed reports that her children were heavily intoxicated. The alcohol bottles that was there was filled with water, she said, reported the Gazette. AP reported that the children are in the care of Streaters grandmother. There are resources available for parents who might feel overwhelmed. The National Parent Helpline is available by calling 1-855-427-2736. Recommended video: I Was a Communist Slave North Korea to Release 3 Detained Americans: Report Three Korean Americans imprisoned in North Korea will be released before or during the upcoming summit of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean communist dictator Kim Jong Un, according to Korean media Naver. The prisoners have already been moved from a forced labor camp to a hotel outside Pyongyang and are undergoing a course, where they are receiving treatment and are being educated, a North Korean source told Choi Sung-ryong, representative of the families of the prisoners. The prisoners are Kim Dong-cheol (arrested in October 2015), Kim Sang-deok (arrested in April 2017), and Kim Hak-seong (arrested in May 2017). The prisoners are receiving treatment because they seemed to have deteriorated during the imprisonment, Naver wrote. If North Korea wants to use the release as a sign of goodwill, it may want to avoid last years outrage after American college student Otto Warmbier was released from a North Korean prison in a coma, only to die a week later. North Korea is now looking for a way to deliver the released prisoners to the United States. It may happen during the summit with Trump, which is planned to take place in three to four weeks. Kim Dong-cheol is a businessman born in South Korea who later became an American citizen. He lived in China close to the North Korean border until he was arrested in October 2015 for espionage. In March 2016, he apologized on North Korean state television for spying on behalf of South Korea, BBC reported, and was later sentenced to 10 years of forced labor, in line with the Norths practice of forced confessions leading to harsh sentences. Kim Sang-deok formerly taught accounting at Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China, near the North Korean border. He went on an assignment as a guest lecturer in accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology and was arrested when attempting to leave the country, Kyodo News reported. Kim Hak-seong worked at the same Pyongyang university before his arrest, Kyodo News reported. The release of the three would be another win for Trump, whos been credited by South Korean and Japanese officials for the historic breakthrough with the North. The South and North Korean leaders met at the dividing line between the two countries on April 26 and agreed to work on a peace deal and complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. Eighteen U.S. lawmakers then formally nominated Trump for the prize. His Administration successfully united the international community, including China, to impose one of the most successful international sanctions regimes in history, the letter says. The sanctions have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table. Recommended Video: Leaders of Two Koreas Shake Hands Before Historic Summit Officials Give Update on Cargo Plane That Crashed in Georgia A Puerto Rico Air National Guard cargo plane crashed on Wednesday near Savannah, Georgia, scattering fiery debris over a highway and railroad tracks, and likely killing all nine people aboard, officials said. At least five were confirmed dead, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity, adding that the number of fatalities could rise. The Hercules C-130J aircraft went down about 11:30 a.m., shortly after takeoff from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, about 175 miles southeast of Atlanta, officials said. The plane, which was on a training mission, was headed to Arizona and was going to be essentially retired after Wednesdays flight, Major Paul Dahlen, spokesman for the Puerto Rico National Guard, told Pentagon reporters. It was basically its last flight, Dahlen said. Although it was an older aircraft, it was in good mechanical condition. I think it was 50-plus years old, but it was still, with all of the modern updates of a regular C-130. Dahlen declined to say whether all nine aboard were dead, but acknowledged that images of the crash appeared to speak for themselves. Of the nine on the plane, five were crew members and four were passengers who were military maintenance and operations personnel, all from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard. The four-engine plane sent up a towering cloud of black smoke, with a tail wing coming to rest on a highway median, television images showed. A witness, Michael Garrett, told WSAV-TV the plane was upside down before it crashed. That plane really flipped over on its back, slowly, like it was in slow motion, Garrett said. Gena Bilbo, spokeswoman for the Effingham County Sheriffs Department, told reporters: It is an absolute miracle that no vehicles were hit in the busy intersection at the crash site. Senior Master Sergeant Roger Parsons, an Air Force spokesman, said at a news conference that the cause of the crash was under investigation. The crash was at least the fifth deadly accident involving a U.S. military aircraft since early April and the first of a U.S. military C-130 since July, when 16 service members were killed in a Mississippi crash. Roads in the area may be closed for weeks, Bilbo said. The C-130 is a transport workhorse for the U.S. military, and Parsons described the crashed aircraft as a cargo plane. Reporting by Phil Stewart Recommended Video: GoPro Dropped Down Deep Well to Check Out Reports of Limestone Caves Undercover Probe Shows Union President Covering for Teachers Crimes NEW YORKIn the second part of an undercover investigation series, a teachers union president was exposed explaining how they protect the jobs of teachers, even after they have committed heinous crimes. In this particular case, shielding a teacher who allegedly had sex with an underage girl. The latest video released by Project Veritas, a non-profit specializing in exposing corruption through undercover journalism, puts the spotlight on Union City Education Association President Kathleen Valencia, in New Jersey. It comes on the heels of a May 2 video where Hamilton Township Education Association President Dr. David Perry is captured spelling out the unions protective protocols. After the video was released, Perry was suspended by the townships superintendent. In the newly released May 3 footage, a hidden camera catches Valencia saying how a teacher who physically abused a so-called scumbag student would be fine and would not be reprimanded. Did the kids parent come in? No? Nothing happened Theres no video? Nothing happened [The teacher] is fine, Valencia told an undercover Project Veritas journalist. Valencia then talks about what would happen if the student spoke out after being abused. God forbid the kid decides to tell the principal. It happened two weeks ago, hes not [going to tell.] Lets say the kid does. [The teacher] is going to be like kid tripped and fell,' she said. In one point of the video, the journalist asks Valencia if other teachers have escaped repercussions from doing anything as bad as physical abuse. Valencia then points to a document: This file right here is from a teacher who had sex with a student, she said. Know what this file is about? Its about whether or not the teacher gets to keep his pension. Is he going to jail? No. How come? Because the childs not pressing charges. Theres no proof. Project Veritas founder, James OKeefe, said that the union association must reveal the identity of the teacher they mentioned who escaped without any charges. Any and all parents should be paying attention. This union would rather protect their teachers than their students, OKeefe said in the release. On how the purported teacher should keep his job, Valencia said keep his [expletive] mouth shut, and to act like, nothing happened. This wide blanket of protection for union members is reflected in Valencias answer to another question in the investigative video. She was asked if unions usually assist teachers who abuse students to which she replied, it happens, yes it does! She then gives out specific details on how the union ensures a teacher keeps his or her job. Im going to get your brother a lawyer. Your brothers not going to admit anything happened. The only witness is the scumbag kid hes got a record. Valencia explains if teachers want to protect themselves they should also keep [their] mouth shut, and to act as if, nothing happened. President Donald Trump states in his 2015 book Crippled America that teachers unions have become one of the main obstacles to school reform. When there is a legitimate complaint against a teacher in the New York system, rather than having a quick hearing to determine the validity of the complaint, teachers are assigned to an area known as the rubber room while they wait for their hearing, Trump writes. And they wait. They sit in empty classrooms or converted closets and do nothingbut they still get paid their whole salary. Some teachers spend several years waiting. Recommended Video: The Origins of Antifa Texas Teen Charged With Plotting ISIS-Inspired Shooting at Mall WASHINGTONA 17-year-old boy in Plano, Texas, has been arrested and charged with plotting a mass shooting inspired by the ISIS at a shopping mall, law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and police said high-school student Matin Azizi-Yarand had planned the attack for mid-May and had sought to recruit others for the shooting. Authorities also said he had drafted a Message to America justifying his planned attack. The FBI and local authorities in Collin County, Texas, said that at the time of his arrest, Azizi-Yarand had sent more than $1,400 to others to buy weapons and tactical gear. In an affidavit, investigators said Azizi-Yarand began communicating online with an FBI confidential human source last December about his desire to travel abroad or to conduct an attack in the United States. He compared himself to other recent lone wolf attackers, investigators said. Look at all the other lone wolves// What training did they have yet they simply killed the kuffar? Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source, using the Arabic word for disbelievers, according to the affidavit. Prosecutors say Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source: The brothers in Europe the brother in Spain the brother in New York? Had no military training//its not about numbers its about getting a message across to these taghut countries, using an Islamic term denoting a focus of worship other than Allah. Later in the discussion, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source he wanted to put America in the state that Europe is in which is having to have soldiers deployed in streets. In other conversations, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand talked about his interest in traveling to Pakistan and then crossing into Afghanistan where he could join ISIS. At another point, he told the FBI source he knew a person in India who had information on jihadi activity in Libya, and who invited Azizi-Yarand to travel there with him. In one conversation, Azizi-Yarand said that he had converted to Islam, in part because of fighting. When I first became Muslim fighting was a big part of why I came to this religion, he said. I saw men facing so many tribulations but remained steadfast and believed in Allah. Thats one of the Core things that led me to convert seeing the strength the Muslims had. In numerous online conversations, investigators said, Azizi-Yarand shared multiple forms of ISIS propaganda. At another point, he sent the FBI source a document authored by one of the 1999 shooters at Columbine High School in Colorado containing detailed instructions for building pipe bombs. The suspect also discussed various possible targets for a domestic U.S. attack, including a school. Later still, Azizi-Yarand discussed with an undercover FBI employee the possibility of attacking a shopping mall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and at one point sent the FBI employee three pictures of a mall near Plano called the Stonebriar Centre. While the FBI and a Joint Terrorism Task force conducted the investigation leading to Azizi-Yarands arrest, so far he has only being charged under Texas state law. Under federal law, the 17-year-old is considered a juvenile, U.S. prosecutors in Texas said. Federal law limits our ability to certify a juvenile as an adult for prosecution, and in light of that, we determined that state prosecution of the subject will best address the case, U.S. Attorney Joseph Brown said in a statement. Authorities said if that if Azizi-Yarand is convicted, he would face up to life in prison for soliciting others to participate in his planned attack, and up to 10 years in prison for making a terroristic threat. Azizi-Yarand is in custody and bond has been set at $3 million. By Mark Hosenball and Lisa Lambert Recommended video: Father Punishes Bully Son by Forcing Him to Run to School Troubled Chinese Energy Conglomerate Bribed Chad President to Obtain Rights to Oil Fields When news emerged that the founder and former chairman of Chinas largest privately-held energy company, CEFC China Energy, was being investigated by Chinese authorities, many began to speculate about what crimes had led to his downfall. Newly released evidence from a court case in New York City has revealed some details. Last November, Hong Kong businessman Patrick Ho Chi Ping was arrested in New York City. The U.S. Justice Department alleged that Ho had bribed government officials in Chad and Uganda in order to secure business advantages for an unnamed Shanghai-based energy company. That company has now been revealed as CEFC China Energy. This, along with other information about how Ho helped CEFC, was unveiled in court documents submitted for Hos third bail application hearing, according to a news report by pro-Beijing publication, DW News. Ho had pleaded not guilty back in January and was denied bail twice. At the time of the alleged bribery, Ho was the deputy chairman of CEFC Hong Kong Non-Governmental Fund Committee, a foundation and think tank established by CEFCs former chairman, Ye Jianming. In 2014, Ho visited Chad president Idriss Deby, with the intention of helping Ye and his company secure business with the African nation. The meeting was arranged by former Senegal foreign minister Cheikh Gadio, another defendant in the case. At the time, there were business disagreements between Chad and Chinas state-owned oil company, China National Petroleum Corporation. Ho introduced the possibility of working with CEFC instead, and promised to provide funding for infrastructure projects and power stations in Chad in exchange for giving CEFC exclusive rights to mining oil fields in the country, according to DW News, citing the documents. Gadio helped Ho convey a $2 million bribe offer to Deby, in exchange for which Ho paid Gadio $400,000, according to the court indictment. Email exchanges between Ho and African officials, revealed in the documents, confirmed that Ho was indeed working for Ye at the time. Furthermore, then-CEFC executive director Zang Jianjun signed off on a letter promising that the company would give Deby $2 million. According to an April 28 South China Morning Post report, other court documents filed by the prosecutor earlier revealed that a Shanghai-based energy company had played a central role in both choosing and funding [Hos legal counsel], the documents said. Though the papers did not reveal the company name, the new information all but confirms that it was CEFC. Background Previously, The Epoch Times reported that Yewho stepped down in Marchhad formed connections to the Chinese military. Hong Kong media, such as the newspaper Apple Daily, had long speculated that his close ties with some military officials meant he was a money launderer for them. Investments in Africa have also been a central part of the Chinese regimes One Belt, One Road initiative, whereby the regime has sought to buy geopolitical influence via infrastructure projects throughout Africa, Southeast Asia, and Europe. CEFCs lack of transparency over its ownership and financing also recently came under scrutiny, some details of which were unveiled in an expose published in the Chinese business magazine Caixin. Recommended Video: Business is War The Pisces By Melissa Broder Hogarth. 270 pp. $25 --- Toward the end of Melissa Broder's page-turner of a novel, "The Pisces," the protagonist, Lucy, a 38-year-old woman at a rough crossroads in her life, receives a bit of advice from her group therapy leader: "The question that you might want to ask yourself, isn't so much what is love," she says. "But is it really love I'm looking for?" This could be the governing principal of the book as well. "The Pisces" is many things: a jaunt in a fabulous voice, a culture critique of Los Angeles, an explicit tour of all kinds of sex (both really good and really bad), but possibly most of all, it is a persuasive excavation into what might drive Lucy's compulsion for a certain kind of connection. The book begins with Lucy's breakup with her long-term boyfriend. She is tired of him and bored of the relationship, but after she provokes the split, she immediately starts to crave him like a drug. She is working in Phoenix, stuck on her dissertation about the spaces unspoken in Sappho's poems. When her sister offers the respite of dogsitting at her fancy house in Venice Beach while she and her husband leave for a summer abroad, Lucy packs up and heads west. The novel largely focuses on this time in California, with Broder's sharp eye focused first on the absurdity of Los Angeles consumerism, then moving closer into Lucy's own actions and thoughts. After some brutally unsatisfying dates and fairly scathing observations of the women in her group therapy, she meets a sensitive swimmer named Theo on the beach in Venice near some rocks, and they begin a passionate love affair complicated by the fact that he is part fish. As Lucy falls deeper into either love, or addiction, the reader watches the world around her both crumble and build itself back up again. Seeing Lucy battle with herself is at times cringeworthy, but that is because it is also insistently honest. Broder's voice has a funny, frank Amy Schumer feel to it, injected with moments of a Lydia Davis-type of abstraction that can turn the existence of a woman walking by in skimpy silk shorts into a meditation on meaninglessness. These are often the strongest moves of the novel's voice: from the minor keen observation into the resonant theoretical. At other times, though, we are so centered in Lucy's head that the outside world drifts too far away. Brief digressions into Greek myth provide a helpful counterpoint, but some of the consequences of Lucy's experiences are skipped over. This is partly a real reflection of her personal vortex and partly a less-developed aspect of the book. That said, the intensity of Lucy's point of view is often richly satisfying, and the sex refreshingly human - involving bladder infections, stains and foibles on both female and male sides, while also describing with more wide-eyed prose the transcendent physical connection between Lucy and Theo. Although the bulk of the storyline is the string of these fraught love affairs, rumbling underneath is also a discussion of the nature of nothingness, and what it means to be a bit "death-ish," as the intuitive Theo calls Lucy. To be a bit "death-ish" is to be aware of possible purposelessness and to try to learn to bear it instead of filling it up with all manner of things. While out peering into stores, Lucy wonders, "Could you get, any more Sisyphean than a pair of socks emblazed with sushi rolls?" Though Lucy herself shops at a crystal shop, she is as irritated by any whiff of New Age-iness as she is susceptible to it, and the book slides between a yearning for some kind of solution - whatever kind, an amethyst, sure! - and a pointed critique of a Southern-California vapidity, and, finally, a sober assessment of how we manage that knowledge of nothingness and still live some kind of life. For an author who has primarily written poetry and nonfiction, and who is clearly comfortable with a confessional voice, Broder uses the fantastical elements to complicate and deepen her novel. The climactic conclusion works because of its strangeness, because of its imaginative reach and implications. Although some of Lucy's psychological discoveries along the way may feel a bit indistinct, other insights ring strong and true, and the ending carries the emotional weight of the book because it is borne from the world Broder has created. This is why the group therapist's advice feels so apt. By the end, the character and Broder acknowledge something else is going on. There is plenty of lively sex and humor here for readers to relish, but trade Eros for Thanatos for the book's center - and depth. --- Bender is the author, most recently, of "The Color Master." A Democrat running for the nomination to challenge Rep. Comstock, R-Va., strolled into a gun show in Chantilly, Virginia, last month and purchased a semi-automatic rifle in about 10 minutes without a background check, according to an undercover video produced by his campaign. Dan Helmer, an Army veteran, said he bought a firearm similar to the one he carried in Iraq and Afghanistan to show how easy it is to legally obtain an "incredibly dangerous piece of weaponry that's meant for war" from a private seller. He bought the gun less than two miles from a public school, he said. While background checks are required for purchases at gun shows from federally licensed dealers, Helmer wants to close the so-called "gun show loophole" that allows anyone to buy a weapon from an unlicensed seller without scrutiny. The video is the latest volley in the six-way Democratic primary in which each candidate is calling for tougher gun laws. The issue took on new resonance after the Parkland school shooting and appeals to the suburban women voters who helped Gov. Ralph Northam, D, win last year - a victory Democrats in Virginia's 10th district hope to replicate in November. The 2017 election represented a turning point for gun-control advocates. They cite exit polls that showed voters who care about gun policy were just as likely to turn out for Northam, who pledged stricter gun laws, as they did for Republican Ed Gillespie, who opposed new restrictions. Gun policy was the second most important issue for voters, ranking below health care and just above taxes. Lori Haas, Virginia state director for the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, said the "passion gap" has shifted as more Democrats cast ballots to make a statement about guns. "Ralph Northam, who did not shy away from the issue on any level won by almost 10 points," she said. "I contend that gun violence prevention actually helped him increase his winning margin. I think we'll see that continue if not increase in 2018." Northam and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence endorsed state Sen. Jennifer Wexton, D-Loudoun, the most well-known in the primary field. Most Virginians - 91 percent - support requiring background checks for all gun buyers, according to a June 2017 Quinnipiac poll. That survey found 51 percent support stricter gun laws overall and 48 percent said it's too easy to buy a gun in Virginia. Independent analysts consider Comstock one of the most vulnerable incumbents in the nation, but she remains steadfast in her opposition to tighter gun laws. While she has at times broken with Republican orthodoxy and President Donald Trump, she has an 'A' rating from the National Rifle Association and ranks 10th among members of Congress who have received the most in donations from the NRA, which is headquartered outside the 10th district in Fairfax County, Virginia. The Democrats running for the chance to unseat her, meanwhile, hold nearly identical positions on guns and each has been named "candidates of distinction," by Moms Demand Action, an offshoot of the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety. They all favor background checks for every gun purchase, including private sales at gun shows and online. Helmer has repeatedly criticized Wexton, the establishment favorite and the only elected official in the primary field, for voting for a 2016 legislative deal that expanded the rights of concealed-carry handgun permit owners in Virginia and around the country. The bill was part of a compromise brokered by then-governor Terry McAuliffe, D, GOP lawmakers and the National Rifle Association that also forced some domestic abusers to relinquish their firearms and allowed voluntary background checks at gun shows. But according to data from the Virginia State Police Firearms Transaction Center few private sellers have voluntarily required background checks. In 2016, state police conducted 39 background checks on private sales at gun shows. The number was down to 30 in 2017, but was already up to 30 in the first three months of 2018. The numbers are a tiny fraction of the 41,919 background checks conducted at gun shows in 2016, 35,267 in 2017 and 10,617 in the first three months of 2018, data show. There are no records to indicate how many private sales were conducted without background checks. While the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence denounced the concealed carry aspect of the deal at the time, it has endorsed Wexton because she has supported and carried bills that would make it harder for domestic violence offenders to have guns and would require background checks for private sales at gun shows. The standalone legislation has gone nowhere in the GOP-controlled Generally Assembly, In his video, Helmer repeatedly asks the seller if he needs to undergo a background check or provide a social security number to buy the gun. The seller asks, "Are you a felon?" When Helmer responds "No," a bystander laughs. Helmer says that Wexton's vote on the gun compromise legislation did not bring Virginia closer to requiring background checks on all sales at gun shows. In response, Wexton's campaign manager, Ray Rieling, said, "Senator Wexton is the one candidate in this race who has actually passed legislation making it harder to get a gun and carried legislation to close the gun show loophole." After buying the semi-automatic rifle for about $900, Helmer said, he altered it to stop it from firing and plans to turn it in to a police station that will not resell it. NORWALK Construction workers took a break from The SoNo Collection midday Thursday and grabbed a bite to eat as part of an employee appreciation lunch thrown by general contractor VCC/KBE. Jeffery Britton, who lives in Wethersfield and works for United Steel, reflected upon his contribution thus far to the nearly million-square-foot upscale regional shopping center slated to open late next year. We started over there, started putting in 130,000-pound beams on the lower level and thats what well be carrying over the road, too, Britton said. Im from a whole history of ironworkers. Its just another project but its a big one. I think theres nine cranes here. Approximately 300 workers from various construction trades filled plates with chicken, pulled pork, baked beans, potato salad and macaroni and cheese catered by Bobby Qs Cue & Co. of Norwalk. Dozens of tables set up made the future first-retail level look like a dining hall. VCC/KBE gave away insulated water mugs, gift certificates and other prizes during a raffle. Chicago-based mall developer General Growth Partners broke ground last summer on the shopping center, which will be anchored by a Bloomingdales on the south side of North Water Street, a Nordstrom store to the north, and 80 to 100 smaller retailers and public realm space in between on the dozen-acre site off West Avenue and Interstate 95. Nearly a year later, the foundations, steel framework and floors are largely in place in many portions of the future mall. Thursday seemed the ideal time to celebrate that progress and say thank you to the workers. We are thankful for the effort you guys have put in on this project thus far and hope to see it through to the end, said John Edminson, general superintendent with VCC/KBE. Several elected officials, including Mayor Harry Rilling, attended the appreciation event. We all know that were here, at this juncture, at this part of the project, because of all the hard-working men and women in the room, Rilling said. You come here every day and you put your blood, sweat and tears into this job. And as you pass through Norwalk in the future, you can proudly look at this mall and say, You know what? I helped build that mall, so thank you all. Vendors set up tables at the edge of the lunch area to showcase power tools, flashlights, safety items and other construction-related products. GGP anticipates the project will generate 2,220 full-time construction jobs with an average salary of $76,400. Douglas Adams, senior director with the Chicago-based mall development company, said contractors typically hold a topping-off party when construction reaches full height. This is a little different because its been built in stages, so they felt it had gotten to a point where we crossed over the road, and it was important to take a breath and thank all the subcontractors that have been working to get it to this point so far, Adams said. So its just sort of a natural lets take a minute to appreciate the men and women who are building it. The thank you comes a month after workers began placing above North Water Street massive steel beams that will support the overpass connecting the north and south sections of The SoNo Collection. Britton said hell be employed with the project until about September when work turns to the interior. But hell be back after the mall opens. Im going to come down here, Britton said. I go to the city a lot, anyway. PORTLAND A 10-year-old girls desire to travel to Rome and be blessed by Pope Francis was granted Wednesday during a moving gathering at St. Clements Castle. Fernando and Mayra Zhanay of Stratford, along with their daughter Brianna, older sons Peter and Gabriel, and many other relatives celebrated their impending trip, made possible through a $10,000 donation from St. Clements Castle/Roncalli Charities founder and owner Edward C. Doherty and Make-A-Wish Connecticut. Brianna, who has Down Syndrome and epilepsy, and is nonverbal, will leave for a weeklong stay in Italy May 20 with her parents. She was dressed up Wednesday morning in a sparkly black dress with white tights, with her raven hair carefully braided. She sat on her mothers lap, seemingly a little overwhelmed by the attention she received from about 25 people gathered in the dining room. Before the celebration, staff prepared Brianna a special bowl of pureed fresh strawberries. We were afraid to ask if we could go to see the Pope because we thought it was impossible. It is so far away, said Fernando Zhanay, who believed the Trumbull-based charity wouldnt be able to make arrangements for him, his wife and daughter to travel outside the country. In January, when he was told by Make-A-Wish staff there was a waiting list of a year or more, he and his wife, who are devout Catholics, werent ready to abandon hope, said Fernando Zhanay, who came to America at 23 from Ecuador. That changed in April with a simple phone call his wife got. Then, one day I came home, she was crying, was laughing, and said, Ive got to tell you something. The impossible seemed ready to become real: There had been a cancellation and the family had been moved up on the list. Patty Frering, volunteer wish granter, said about half the requests she handles are for children who want to visit Disney. Already, during her time volunteering for the nonprofit, she has helped make 50 wishes come to fruition for children with terminal conditions. There have been other requests for Rome to meet the Pope, but Ive never had one. Its fabulous. Youre not really sure what Make-A-Wish is able to do. The charity works to creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. We are on a quest to bring every eligible childs wish to life, because a wish is an integral part of a childs treatment journey, according to the website. Every two weeks, a newsletter is published with the childrens names and ages, so wish granters, as they are called, can pick a recipient based on where the child lives and his or her diagnosis. Frering worked with a translator to speak with Briannas parents and make arrangements to meet. We had a lot of laughs. Dad is actually funny. We found out what her true wish was, Frering said. This was a beautiful wish, she said, choking up. Her doctor gave her a thumbs-up to travel. Her family will be receiving tickets to attend a papal visit May 23, followed by several days sightseeing in Rome and the surrounding area. Its a public viewing. Its a special area where shell be closer to the Pope, explained Barbara Vincent, Make-A-Wish wish manager. Pope Francis offers such blessings every Wednesday to a large group of people. Afterward, some, like Brianna, will go inside to have a special benediction amid a smaller, more intimate audience. The Pope, like anyone else of his stature, you never know whats going to happen with his schedule, so we try to be open about what will actually happen, Vincent said. We have another wish. We want to go back in December, Fernando Zhanay joked during a break in the proceedings. The family are parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Bridgeport. I received three signs from the Virgin Mary, Mayra Zhanay said, as she showed photographs she had taken on her smartphone. The first happened when Brianna was just 2 months old. I felt [Gods] hand on my shoulder, she said. Everybody told me the Virgin Mary likes red candles, so she set some up at her house. When I looked at the candle the next day, I saw this image, Mayra Zhanay said, revealing a picture of the top of a melted candle with an image resembling the Virgin Mary in black. The second sign was on a white blanket the family placed on top of the Virgin Mary statue to move it. It was an accident, her father explained. While he was walking with the burning candle, it was leaking melted wax. All of the wax went into the blanket, he said, pointing out a photograph of a white shroud with what appeared to be the outline of a womans figure. Its very magical that our community has come together to give this gift to us. It is so wonderful, said Briannas adult brother Gabriel Zhanay, who lives with his brother Peter in New York. He doesnt come from a traditional college background, hes worked very hard his whole life, Gabriel Zhanay explained about his father. These blessings are just amazing, because all of us go through hardships, and seeing these moments all together is truly wonderful. Every time she gets better and takes three steps forward, she has a seizure, and then takes one step back, Peter Zhanay said. Its always the constant attention, the constant love that shes getting from everyone helps her move forward. Seminarian Alexis Barreto delivered a touching rendition of Ave Maria in Spanish and How Great Thou Art, which brought tears to the eyes of many in attendance. Barreto is a student of the Catholic Church priesthood who attends Holy Apostles Seminary in Cromwell. As he prepared to sing without musical accompaniment, he added, Sometimes I do better a cappella, with a big grin. Im always happy if I have to sing. To gather together to do good things out of charity for others is a great, great way to spend your life. Im very lucky to have my baby. Shes very blessed, her mother said. For information on Make-A-Wish Connecticut, visit ct.wish.org. Managing Editor Cassandra Day can be reached at cassandra.day@hearstmediact.com or Twitter @cassandrasdis. EDWARDSVILLE Marcus J. Thornton, 37, of Edwardsville, has pleaded guilty to federal charges of brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. The plea came just over a month after he had pleaded guilty to robbing banks in Lebanon and O'Fallon, Ill. The trio of charges were included in an indictment that had been filed by the office of Donald S. Boyce, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois. Sentencing is scheduled for July 27 at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis. On the gun charge alone, Thornton faces a prison term of at least seven years in prison and as much as life imprisonment, according to a news release from Boyce's office. He also faces a fine of up to $750,000, and a minimum of five years of supervised release. He may also be ordered to make restitution for his offenses. For the bank robbery charges, Thornton faces a prison term of up to 40 years, a fine of up to $500,000, a minimum of five years of supervised release after his prison term, and an amount of restitution that is yet to be determined. The first robbery charged in the indictment happened on Oct. 13, 2016, when prosecutors say Thornton went to Lebanon, entered the Regions Bank on Shuetz Street, and demanded money from bank tellers. He took $13,710 in cash before fleeing in a vehicle. Four months later, Thornton robbed the US Bank branch on Lincoln Avenue in O'Fallon. According to a news release from Boyce's office, Thornton brandished a silver and black semi-automatic handgun and made off with $10,720. At his recent plea hearing, Thornton admitted to using the gun in connection with the second robbery. At the time of both robberies, Thornton was on federal supervised release after his conviction in 2009 of two bank robberies in Mississippi. The investigation into the Illinois robberies was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime. The case was investigated by the FBI, Illinois State Police, and the Lebanon and O'Fallon police departments. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel T. Kapsak and James G. Piper, Jr. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. KAZ Minerals PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and processing copper and other metals primarily in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. It operates through Bozshakol, Aktogay, East Region and Bozymchak, and Mining Projects segments. The company operates the Aktogay and Bozshakol open pit copper mines in the east region and Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan; three underground mines in the east region of Kazakhstan; and the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. It also develops greenfield metal deposits; operates Koksay deposit in Kazakhstan, and the Baimskaya licence area in the Chukotka region of Russia; and produces and sells various by-products, such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and zinc. In addition, the company supplies and distributes heat, water, and electricity; and offers construction, project management, financing, management, sales and logistics, and repairs and maintenance services. The company was formerly known as Kazakhmys PLC and changed its name to KAZ Minerals PLC in October 2014. KAZ Minerals PLC was founded in 1930 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More Ormat Technologies, Inc. operates as a holding company. The firm engages in the provision of geothermal and recovered energy power business. It operates through the following segments: Electricity, Product and Energy Storage. The Electricity segment focuses in the sale of electricity from the company's power plants pursuant to PPAs. The Product segment involves in the manufacture, including design and development, of turbines and power units for the supply of electrical energy and in the associated construction of power plants utilizing the power units manufactured by the company to supply energy from geothermal fields and other alternative energy sources. The Energy Storage segment consists of battery energy storage systems as a service and management of curtailable customer loads under contracts with U.S. retail energy providers and directly with large commercial and industrial customers. The company was founded in 1965 and is headquartered in Reno, NV. Read More 6 hours ago 3 Energy Stocks to Buy if You Are Bullish on Oil Prices The energy sector absolutely ignited in September, and its evident that there is still an appetite for exposure to these stocks amidst the market selloff. While many of these companies have already moved up substantially in 2021, its important to understand that a large majority of them are still below their pre-pandemic prices. Read Article Prayer can reveal what a loving God does for his children LOS ANGELESSpotify Technology SA suffered its worst stock decline since becoming a public company, slammed by investors who werent impressed with a 45-per-cent jump in subscriptions last quarter. The shares tumbled as much as 11 per cent on Thursday after the music-streaming service said it reached 75 million premium users last quarter. Though the number matched Spotifys projections, it wasnt the breakout growth shareholders expected after a strong debut on the New York Stock Exchange last month. Spotify has pitched itself as the dominant player in music streaming, and chief executive officer Daniel Ek has set out to claim the largest share of a market that should one day number billions of people. Read more: Spotify co-founders will hold onto control with super-voting shares Investors are grooving to Spotifys IPO as its stock price closes at $149 While the fundamentals look solid and Spotify came in line with its guidance, todays after-hours stock reaction can be viewed as an expectations correction, said Rohit Kulkarni, an analyst at SharesPost Inc. The companys stock fell as low as $151.11 (U.S.), marking its biggest intraday drop yet. Before the rout, it had climbed 29 per cent over the past month. Sometimes, the market just gets stupid and just trades on its own momentum, chief financial officer Barry McCarthy said. The broader music business is staging a comeback, and the big question surrounding Spotify is how much it can capitalize on the recovery. So far, no music streaming service has proven it can generate huge profits on its own. Pandora Media Inc. is worth a fraction of what it was when it went public, while other major music streaming services are owned by technology companies that dont rely on music for their profits. Still, Spotify is losing money. The Stockholm-based company reported an operating loss of 41 million ($49 million) last quarter on sales of 1.14 billion. The losses werent as steep as most analysts had feared. Spotify has improved its profit margins by squeezing music-rights holders, and it plans to use its growing heft to negotiate better terms in the next year. The labels will pay Spotify for helping them better target potential listeners, McCarthy said. Spotify has also invested in non-music programming such as podcasts, opening a new front in its rivalry with Apple Inc. The recent growth of Apples music app has raised concerns that it will limit Spotifys popularity. Ek has downplayed the threat from Apple, as well as Amazon.com Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s YouTube. And so far, he has a comfortable lead: Spotify is more than twice as large as Apple Music, its closest competitor. We see no meaningful impact from competition, Ek said on a call with analysts. We dont think this is a winner-take-all market. Read more about: EDMONTONTwo years after The Beast roared through Fort McMurray, the town is still rebuilding. Mayor Don Scott and regional fire Chief Jody Butz said on the second anniversary of the devastating wildfire that ripped through the area, the mood in Fort McMurray is one of reflection. We dont want it to be our identity, but its certainly a piece of our history and it will be there forever, Butz said. Weve moved on and were stronger for it. The first rebuilding permit was issued Aug. 11, but so far, only 20 per cent of homes have been rebuilt. Scott said this is in line with what the municipality expected, and by years end, an anticipated 1,000 families should be back in their homes. I always want more, Scott said. Im never going to be satisfied until everybody is back in their home. Mental health is still one of the foremost concerns for Scott and Butz. Were all neighbours, Scott said. I want to make sure we as neighbours are looking out for our neighbours and looking out for each other. Butz said while he wasnt fire chief at the time, he was still in the community. But, hes noticed conversations about The Beast happen less frequently now, as first responders heal. We had some psychological injuries post-incident, but that was expected, he said. Since that time, weve recognized those and were in a much better place than we were 18 months ago. I can say that with certainty. A month ago, Sarah Seifred, her mom and their cat Ziggy were allowed to move back into their Beacon Hills home. I loved moving back into my house, but I didnt like seeing the damage that was done, Seifred said. I didnt like seeing it every day. She recalled waking up around 10 a.m. to beautiful blue skies and sunshine. Within two hours, she and a friend were fleeing under smoke-covered skies. Her mom packed irreplaceable photos, two shirts and two pairs of pants. A week later, through satellite images, Seifred saw her home had been spared from the destruction leaving hope that Ziggy survived the blaze. Me and my mom were jumping up and down and we were hugging each other, she said, adding Ziggy was off for a few days, but returned to his normal self soon. Rob de Pruis, director of consumer and industry relations, western region, for the Insurance Bureau of Canada, said the fire event was unprecedented, with 60,000 claims topping $3.6 billion. The statue of limitations means on May 3 two years after the wildfire reached the town insurance claims are due. As of Thursday, 95 per cent of claims have been settled, de Pruis said. More than 80,000 people were forced to flee as the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo was evacuated in 2016. The fire was officially declared out 15 months later, on Aug. 2, 2017. Two months after the blaze broke out, the Insurance Bureau of Canada called the fire the costliest natural disaster on record, a fact that remains true. Scott said the municipality had asked for insurance extensions for affected residents. They did not grant an extension, but instead put out a note suggesting people should be asking their insurers for extensions and it would be done on a case-by-case basis, Scott said. Im a little bit concerned about that. I dont want people relying on the generosity of insurance companies for extensions. In response, de Pruis has said insurance companies are governed by legislation that sets out the time limits. As of May 1, 89.5 per cent of the $325 million in recovery funds have been spent or committed, according to an update from the Canadian Red Cross. In a news release, Conrad Sauve, president and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross, said the resiliency of Fort McMurray residents has been remarkable. Every person has a story to share of how their lives were impacted, Sauve said. Their struggles are real. Their strength is inspiring. And their circumstances are as unique as each person. Of the close to 65,000 families who registered to receive support, 1,500 families are still relying on Red Cross assistance. The province and federal government have a good relationship as far as the rebuild, Scott said. We never get everything we want necessarily, but theyve certainly been very co-operative and very helpful, he said. The long-term health impacts on firefighters is being studied by the University of Alberta. The fire department also established a peer-support network. In emergency services, the fact of mental health is always an ongoing issue, regardless of what happened two years ago, Butz said. The work the first responders do, they put themselves out in situations that does give them some of those psychological things the residents wouldnt witness on a day-to-day basis. Scott said he hopes residents will be more prepared for the next emergency or natural disaster. He said he has heard from residents who say younger children were concerned about the fire. This is not over for a lot of people and it might take some time for that to emerge, Scott said. Emily Ryan, the daughter of the deputy fire chief for Saprae Creek, died in a head-on collision on Highway 881 while fleeing the fire. Read more about: ANTIGONISH, N.S.A Canadian chocolate company founded by Syrian refugees has produced its first chocolate bar and given it an Indigenous name. Peace by Chocolate of Antigonish, N.S., revealed Wednesday its new milk chocolate and hazelnut bar is to be called Wantaqoti (pronounced Wan-tahk-oo-di), the Mikmaq word for peace. Nothing is nobler than spreading our message in the mother tongue of this land we are on and we call home, founder Tareq Hadhad said via email. He said it is his companys mission to translate the familys concept of peace to all Canadians, starting with the Mikmaq of his home province. He said he and his company felt the need to be part of the noble process of truth and reconciliation so they reached out to Mikmaq leaders to help translate and guide them during the process. Hadhad said other versions of the bar will be sold using the Arabic, French and Mandarin words for peace. Peace is beautiful in every language, Hadhad said. He hopes to sell bars in 20 languages, including other Indigenous languages, by the end of the month. Some proceeds will go to local and national Indigenous organizations as well as the Special Olympics Canada 2018 Summer Games, to be held in Antigonish. The bars will be available for $4.99 online and at Atlantic Canada Sobeys stores next week and Ontario in two weeks. The company is also working on developing wrappers profiling leaders of global peace movements. They will be available in two weeks, he said. A Syrian refugee family who settled in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, in 2016 welcomed the community on Sept. 9 to the opening of their chocolate factory. Tareq Hadhad says Peace by Chocolate aims to employ around 20 people. (The Canadian Press) Peace by Chocolate has until now mostly sold boxes of chocolates. An aspiring physician, Hadhad said he abandoned his studies and fled to Lebanon with several family members after a 2012 bombing destroyed his fathers chocolate factory in Syria. The family spent three years at a refugee camp, then settled in Antigonish in early 2016, as Canada accepted a wave of more than 25,000 Syrians. When we came here as newcomers to this country, we really wanted to support this country to grow and prosper, he said. Read more: Life in Antigonish is like a box of chocolates for Syrian family Syrian refugee family a sweet success story for Nova Scotia town Mikmaw Native Friendship Centre invites Halifax to come with us on journey to create new space Read more about: HALIFAXAs the waters continue to rise in parts of New Brunswick, one of Nova Scotias most experienced disaster managers has been sent to lend a hand. Dartmouth-based Ancel Langille of the Canadian Red Cross is on the ground, along with hundreds of trained volunteers from New Brunswick, to assist people displaced by flooding. He has a lot of experience with disaster responses here and elsewhere in Canada, said Dan Bedell, spokesperson for the Canadian Red Cross in the Atlantic region. Read more: New Brunswick shuts down Trans-Canada Highway as floodwaters rise to record levels New Brunswick residents urged to leave their homes as floodwaters rise B.C. officials warn flooding this year may be worse due to 2017 wildfires Langille was sent to Fort McMurray during the 2016 wildfires and to New Brunswick last year when the province was rocked by a dangerous ice storm. Bedell said the Red Cross has set up emergency shelters in University of New Brunswick dormitories in Fredericton and Saint John, and its busy registering people who need assistance of any kind. Last night there were 15 people in the Saint John shelter, and Bedell expects that number to rise tonight. Geoffrey Downey of the Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) said floodwaters surging in parts of New Brunswick have sent the province into uncharted territory. He explained Thursday that the water in Saint John has hit 5.4 metres above sea level levels not seen since 1973 and will likely exceed that on Saturday, when forecasts say it could reach 5.8 metres. The EMO in Saint John recommends that anyone in low-lying areas along the Saint John River evacuate their homes immediately with their pets and seek accommodation with family or friends, the municipality said in a statement. Bedell said volunteers in Nova Scotia, P.E.I. and Quebec remain on standby, but the best way for Nova Scotians to contribute right now is by donation, either online or by calling 1-800-418-1111. Krista Higdon, a spokesperson for Nova Scotias EMO, said the province has reached out to New Brunswick. We understand this is a difficult time, having had a similar experience in Cape Breton in 2016. We have reached out to offer assistance, and although they appreciate our offer, at this time they do not need our help. They know we are ready to assist whenever needed, Higdon said in an email. With files from The Canadian Press Read more about: LONDONSweden, land of Ikea and social welfare, has something to tell the world news that could shock the palate. Swedish meatballs, the signature national dish, are really Turkish. The countrys national Twitter account made the announcement in a tweet this week. Swedish meatballs are actually based on a recipe King Charles XII brought home from Turkey in the early 18th century, the tweet said. Lets stick to the facts! It was not immediately clear why Sweden decided that now was the right time to set the record straight, but the admission created a storm of reaction. Turks rejoiced. Some Swedes were dismayed. And the revelation set off some good-natured ribbing between the two countries. My whole life has been a lie, one Swede lamented on Twitter. Some Turks urged Sweden to change the name of its meatballs to the Turkish name, kofte. Turkish media called the Swedish tweet a confession and suggested that Charles, who reigned from 1697 to 1718 and spent some years in exile in the Ottoman Empire early in the 18th century, took other Turkish products back to Sweden, including coffee beans and stuffed cabbage. Swedens national Twitter account, apparently not wanting to start a culinary war, responded somewhat neutrally: Mind you, we love coffee even more than meatballs! At one point, we even had a coffee prohibition in Sweden! But it also seized the opportunity to highlight some of the countrys inventions. (Behold, the three-point seat belt.) The private Turkish news agency Dogan went to the northwestern city of Inegol, which is famous for its meatballs, to get reaction to the Swedish announcement. Ibrahim Veysel, a chef at a local meatball restaurant, exulted, It is an honor that these tastes have become an example to different cuisines all over the world. The Swedish statement raised many burning questions, among them: What does it mean for Ikea? The Swedish furniture giant has long made Swedish meatballs a staple of its cafeterias in stores worldwide. Two million meatballs are consumed there around the globe each day. But there may be no cause for panic. Even in Turkey, where meatballs are readily available at food stalls, cafes and restaurants, many families flock to Ikea on the weekends to eat Swedish meatballs on the cheap: A portion of eight meatballs with sides of fries and vegetables costs about $1.60 U.S. Its not surprising that a countrys staple dishes can have foreign origins: See the debate over the origins of the croissant (experts agree it was inspired by the Austrian kipfel). Turkish meatballs are distinct from Swedish meatballs in some ways. The former are made with a combination of ground beef, ground lamb, onions, eggs, bread crumbs and parsley. The current version of Swedish meatballs can sometimes contain pork and is usually served with gravy. OTTAWAThe Saskatchewan MP expelled from the NDP caucus Thursday after a three-month harassment investigation says his behaviour was far from what most Canadians would think of as harassment, and hopes leader Jagmeet Singh welcomes him back to the party fold. Singh revealed the conclusion of a third-party investigation of ReginaLewvan MP Erin Weir Thursday morning, when he announced his decision to kick him out of the NDP caucus. The probe concluded that one claim of harassment and three claims of sexual harassment against Weir were sustained, Singh said. Singh said he was originally willing to work with Weir so that he could remain in caucus, but that the MPs statements about the investigation and the motivations of one of the complainants this week showed he is unwilling to take appropriate responsibility for his actions. This makes it clear that the rehabilitative approach was no longer possible, Singh said. The party leader would not disclose the exact nature of Weirs behaviour, but said the investigator defined sexual harassment as acts of a sexual nature that might reasonably be expected to cause offence. Singh said the investigation found Weir did not recognize non-verbal signs in social situations and that this behaviour led to significant negative impacts on the complainants. He added that when Weir was told his advances were unwanted, he immediately stopped. Weir responded by calling the investigation deeply flawed and that he should be reinstated as an NDP caucus member. In an interview with the Star, Weir said he was presented with a summary of the allegations last month, which made it clear to him that he has missed social cues and sometimes sat or stood too close to women, or spoke with them for too long. He said he was not told when, where or who was making the allegations, but that the investigation involved people who were NDP staff or volunteers and that the complainants did not work for him. There was no finding of unwanted touching or of any comments or gestures of a sexual nature, said Weir, 36. It was entirely about physical proximity to people and talking to people more than they wish to speak with me. A party official speaking on background told the Star later Thursday that Weirs explanation is a mischaracterization of the reports conclusion. It was more than simple proximity, the official said, describing the alleged actions as a pattern of behaviour of a sexual nature. Weir said the investigation found he did not have authority over any of the complainants, and that the publicized conclusion has tarnished his reputation. Anytime anyone Googles Erin Weir now, what theyre going to find is harassment. And now we have this term sexual harassment being used to describe what everyone seems to agree are quite minor incidents, he said. This is about talking to people at cocktail parties over whom I had no authority, he said. Im a bachelor, so I will approach women that Im interested in. I dont know that Ive ever been described as especially flirtatious. The investigation into Weir began in February, after Quebec NDP MP Christine Moore sent an email to the NDP caucus that included unspecified allegations that Weir harassed women, including party employees. Singh responded by saying it is important to believe women, called for a third-party investigation into the allegations and suspended Weir from his party duties while it was being conducted. Earlier this week, CBC reported that an unnamed woman who took part in the probe accused Weir of making her feel physically intimidated when he acted in an angry and belligerent way. Weir responded with a public statement that alleged the complaint was from someone in former NDP leader Thomas Mulcairs office, and that he was being accused of harassment because of his stance on carbon pricing. NDP MPs stood behind Singhs decision to boot Weir from caucus, with several of them pointing to Weirs comments about the complainants and the fairness of the investigation. At the end, he expelled himself, because there was no trust. There was no will from his part to change anything or to accept the conclusions and recommendations of this independent report, said Quebec MP Alexandre Boulerice, who said he does not know the details of the report. I trust the third-party investigator to have done her work, said NDP caucus chair Matthew Dube. Its the reason why we put in place this independent process, so that I dont have to politically speculate on the seriousness or not (of the allegations). I trust in that process and I think thats very important. Read more about: MONTREALA Quebec mall says it is dropping a controversial decision to ban people under the age of 18 unless accompanied by a parent. Le Carrefour du Cap shopping centre, about halfway between Quebec City and Montreal in Trois-Rivieres, said in a statement Thursday that it was ending the practice despite what it calls escalating problems regarding vandalism, theft and misbehaviour. It said the temporary measure was driven by theft, increased vandalism, bullying against employees and clients, the use of bikes and skateboards inside the centre and other factors. Share your thoughts The mall also said in a statement issued through a public relations firm that it wanted to apologize for employing a measure without realizing the impact it could have on teenagers and their parents. The intention was to swiftly ensure security for all clients and all retailers, in face of an increasingly important level of problematic situations, the statement said. The shopping centre says it will meet with local police and school board officials on May 7 to discuss solutions to vandalism, theft and misbehaviour at the centre. Trois-Rivieres police spokesperson Luc Mongrain said Wednesday he was surprised by the malls decision because he doesnt consider the location to be particularly problematic. He said officers were called to respond to loitering complaints about 10 times in the last year but did not make any arrests. Read more about: Within a half-hour of getting the call about the van rampage on Yonge St., staff at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre had transformed an auditorium into a hub for family members trying to find loved ones injured or killed at the scene. The Family Information and Support Centre (FISC) is based on a model created after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York to reunite families during a disaster. It was activated for the first time last week when Sunnybrook called a code orange for mass casualties. I would have to say that we sprung into action very quickly not knowing the specifics, said Sunnybrooks Illana Perlman, who led the co-ordination efforts. Ten patients were killed last week when a van mounted the sidewalk near Yonge St. and Finch Ave. and began striking pedestrians. Sixteen others were injured. From critical care ambulances to multi-patient buses, about two dozen response vehicles were dispatched to Yonge St. on April 23, with most emergency runs routed back to Sunnybrook. Perlman, a social worker with 26 years of experience, said she heard the code orange called on the hospitals overhead system and rushed to the emergency department. When we saw the numbers of ambulances arriving and the numbers of people being brought in through the doors because we were all stationed in the emergency (room) it was clear to me that we needed a FISC. Sunnybrook hospitals Illana Perlman coordinated the setup efforts of a Family Information and Support Centre, a hub for family members trying to find loved ones injured or killed during the van rampage on April 23. She called in staff and they immediately cleared out the auditorium, which was being used for an education event. They set up large tables, snacks and water bottles, registration desks, and room dividers for privacy. The FISC is more than just a waiting room, Perlman said. (Its) an interprofessional group of people that focuses on the psychological, the emotional, and the social needs of the family members, which at the very onset of such a mass casualty really speaks to the need to know where their loved one is and how they are. Bottom line. Social workers, psychiatrists, chaplains, occupational therapists, and volunteers filled the space and tended to dozens of families, who began surging in a couple hours later. They gave them the most up-to-date information on the whereabouts of victims, and provided support for those waiting for updates on their loved ones. But it was not without its challenges. While having a central information hub for families sounds straightforward, there were limits to the kinds of information different hospitals could communicate to each other due to patient privacy concerns. There were also a number of patients at area hospitals, and although we liaised with those hospitals, there were privacy implications that prevented them early on in disclosing who those family members were, Perlman said. A number of families were waiting for several hours for information on victims who were later determined to be killed at the scene. That was very challenging, because to waste half an hour, let alone two or three waiting and not knowing, and us not being able to tell them We could see a number of them escalating, understandably, emotionally and feeling very upset, she said. It was heartbreaking to watch. The hospital will soon have a debriefing on how it handled the code orange, and identify improvement areas for the FISC. Perlman said she had to resort to using her own cellphone to take photos from family members of possible victims, and pass them along to the Hospital Emergency Operations Centre to see if police on that team could help make identifications from the crime scene. This is one of the processes that can become more sophisticated going forward, she said. Given the circumstances, I was extremely impressed with how every part of our team worked, and it really flowed seamlessly considering wed never done it before for real, Perlman said. There isnt currently a FISC plan set up to include integrating information among all GTA hospitals. I cant just blame it on a Canadian thing, said Alan Dick, a Toronto social worker who specializes in disaster medicine, referring to patient privacy laws that make information sharing between hospitals a challenge. This exists across North America It is a generally setup belief system and they dont have any central portals anywhere that I know of. Dick, who has spearheaded past FISC efforts, witnessed the need for centralization in disaster situations while working with families during the 9-11 attacks. I was taking people to Ground Zero three weeks afterwards, and for some of those families, they had gone to every hospital in Manhattan and New Jersey, which is about 60 hospitals, he said. Though there is limited academic research on psychosocial responses to mass disasters, Dick said, There is a lot of anecdotal information out there that shows that families go looking for their loved ones no matter what. In Toronto, he helped create a FISC plan in preparation for the G20 conference in 2010. That plan included co-ordinating information among 10 hospitals plus one reception centre in the GTA. All the hospitals had to sign onto the reunification plan to facilitate the sharing of information, which happened at 11 p.m. the night before the conference and was only valid during its duration. Hospitals are fast becoming aware that they need to be prepared to deal with families and psychological casualties, and those kinds of things, and not just the injured patients. With files from Michele Henry Ebrahim Karimi is the Canada Research Chair in Structured Light and has led a team of researchers in developing new ways to transmit data in a more secure fashion. Six years after being on successive work permits as a professor and researcher at the University of Ottawa, the Iranian academic is pondering a move to Germany where a three-year, $5.4 million research grant is on offer. Hes looking elsewhere because his future here is unclear: Karimi has been waiting a year for Canada to grant his security clearance. Without it, he is unable to apply for permanent resident status. The post-doctoral student from China I supervised got his permanent status in seven months. Here Im still waiting, said Karimi whose current work permit expires in August. We need to do proper security screening, but not being able to set down roots here is killing other opportunities for me. It is affecting my professional career. The 40-year-old is among a growing number of Iranian applicants many with postgraduate degrees earned in Canada who say they face unreasonable delays in getting security clearance due to their nationality. We feel we are singled out, said Amin Jafari Sojahrood, 34, who came to Canada from Iran in 2009 for a masters program in medical physics at Ryerson University. He has been waiting for the results of his security check since July; the average processing time is six months. Sojahrood said he has been granted 11 American visas to attend academic conferences in the U.S. over the last nine years, including three after President Donald Trump introduced travel bans against those from Iran and other Muslim-dominant countries. He said he has also previously passed three background and criminal checks by Canadian officials for his study and work permits. So, he doesnt understand why his current security check is taking so long. According to immigration data, China and Iran make up more than a third of the security screening requests sent to the Canada Border Services Agency, which conducts the checks along with the RCMP and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. In the first eight months of 2017, almost 11,000 Iranian nationals 825 permanent residence applicants and the rest for study, work and travel visas were subject to security checks, just short of the 13,300 for those from China. We appreciate the frustration of some applicants of Iranian nationality with the processing time of their security screenings, and we are grateful for their patience, said Jayden Robertson, a border agency spokesperson. Security checks are done on a case-by-case basis and their processing time varies depending on several factors, he noted. The Government of Canada is committed to a fair and non-discriminatory application of immigration procedures while protecting the safety and security of Canadians. While 80 per cent of skilled immigration applications take six months to process under the Express Entry management system, Robertson said the rest take longer depending on how easily information can be verified, how well and how quickly the applicant responds to requests or concerns, and whether an application is complete. At a meeting in April, the Iranian Canadian Congress told immigration and border enforcement officials that some 300 Iranian applicants, mostly students and recent graduates in Canada, have sought help from the national body over extended delays in their permanent residence applications. Public data and self-reported data point to a possible and concerning trend of Iranian applications being targeted and singled out for extra security screening causing significant delays in the processing of these applications, the congress said in a report. Amin Badriahari, 30, applied for permanent residence in September 2015 under the provincial nominee immigration program after he graduated with a masters degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Windsor and accumulated the required Canadian work experience. He has yet to get his security clearance. I own a house here. I have a well-paid job in Canada and I pay taxes. But when you dont have permanent status in Canada, everything is a battle, noted Badriahari. Read more about: Yara Polo loves the peace she has found in Canada, but since January, the Kurdish immigrant has been at the forefront of weekly protests in Toronto. The hairstylist, who came from Syria to join her sister here in 2012, has waved protest signs and shouted anti-war slogans at Yonge-Dundas Square every weekend in opposition to Turkeys military action in Afrin. Turkey began its offensive against the northern Syrian city in January, taking full control from the Kurds in March. Against the backdrop of Syrias long-standing civil war, an autonomous Kurdish region at the Turkish-Syrian border was perceived as a threat by Turkey, which has had its own share of Kurdish insurgency movements. I dont book any client on Saturday after 4 p.m. because I have to be here, said Polo, 32. My people in Afrin dont have a voice. We need to be their voice so they can be heard and Canada will do something to stop the killing and suffering. The United Nations said Turkeys latest offensive killed dozens of children and injured scores of civilians, displacing thousands of people. Human Rights Watch said people in Afrin are stranded, with limited food, clean water and medical supplies as armed groups working with Turkish forces loot and destroy civilian property. However, Turkish officials said the action targeted only terrorist groups that have launched attacks on Turkey. Turkey is not an occupying force and unequivocally supports the territorial integrity and unity of Syria, said Turkish ambassador to Canada Selcuk Unal. We will continue our operations to ensure our border security, clear the region from terrorists and save Syrians from the oppression and cruelty of terrorist groups controlling the region. The Kurdish Canadian community, estimated at 30,000, has been holding weekly protests in Toronto, as well as Calgary, London, Montreal, Ottawa and Vancouver. However, the rallies have so far drawn little attention. Community members have written to MPs, asking for a meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, but, like the international community, Canadas response has been relatively muted. A statement by Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland in February urged restraint and called for full respect of international humanitarian law. Its not the first time and wont be the last for Kurds to feel betrayed by the world, said Zheger Hassan, a political science professor at Western University and a Kurd who settled in Canada as a child with his family in 1992. After the First World War, Kurds were promised their own state under the Treaty of Sevres in 1920. However, that never materialized, and millions of Kurds are now minority groups in Iran, Iraq, Syria and Turkey. In 2005, Kurds in Iraq were granted autonomy with their own Kurdistan Regional Government, however Kurds in the other three countries have been denied political, economic and cultural rights, said Hassan. The Kurds just feel abandoned again, said Hassan. Chato Wany, president of the Greater Toronto Kurdish House, said he has been inundated with calls from Torontos Kurdish community over the action against Afrin. An engineer by day with a renovation business on the side, Wany uses social media to organize political rallies in Toronto. I only get three hours of sleep each day but we cant sit home and do nothing, said the 52-year-old Kurdish Iraqi, who came to Canada with his wife as government-sponsored refugees in 1993. Our people in the Middle East do not have a voice. We are obligated to do this for them. Read more about: Jose Novo had bed sores so deep that bone was exposed. Lioubov Luba Ijnatieva felt something crawling inside a skin wound on her leg. It was infested with fly maggots. Their stories are detailed in two separate statements of claim for a pair of proposed class actions that allege negligence at two Ontario nursing home giants with facilities in the GTA. The plaintiffs have since died but were both elderly patients at facilities run by Extendicare and Leisureworld (now Sienna Senior Living). These allegations have not been proven in court. None of the proposed class actions have been certified by a judge. Both statements of claim say the two defendants were negligent, breached fiduciary duties, breached terms of contract and failed to provide proper care. The long-term care services provided by them were substandard, the statements of claim say. In an emailed statement, an Extendicare spokesperson said that we care deeply about the residents, clients and families that we serve, and our staff work hard to provide them with comfort, care, and compassion. Spokesperson Rebecca Rawn said that Extendicare does not believe the lawsuit has merit and intends to demonstrate through the court process. Extendicare has very comprehensive programs which ensure that residents of its homes are appropriately cared for and conducts regular internal audits, external audits, and program evaluations to continuously improve, and our performance is shared publicly, Rawn said. We cannot speak to the specifics of any of our residents care or treatment. We reiterate our deep commitment to providing high-quality care to our residents and to doing better in any cases where we are thought to have fallen short of that goal. We work with our residents and families to address issues and concerns and it is unfortunate when they cannot be resolved. A spokesperson from Sienna said the company had just received the claim and are currently reviewing it. The health and wellbeing of all residents is our primary focus, and we take pride in the quality of care our team members provide, Brian Richardson, Siennas chief marketing officer, said in an emailed statement to the Star. Our mission is to help residents live fully, every day. The plaintiffs are being represented by Oakley and Oakley, one of three law firms that recently formed the Nursing Homes Action Coalition, set up to handle the two recent legal actions and a third filed in summer 2016. According to one of the statements of claim filed May 1, 2018, Leisureworld Senior Care was systemically negligent in caring for Novo, 65, who was a resident at the companys Tullamore Nursing Home in Brampton. Novo died on May 27, 2016. Novos son Jimmy Novo is named as the representative plaintiff in the lawsuit, in the statement of claim. The action is seeking general damages of $50 million and aggravated and punitive damages of $100 million. According to the statement of claim, Novos family noticed that (he) would choke on his food as a result of staff at the nursing home trying to make him eat faster. In October 2015, Novo was taken to the hospital for infected decubitis ulcers (bed sores), the statement of claim says. A month later, his bed sores continued to worsen, with some were recorded as stage four, with bone being visible, according to the statement of claim. In the second statement of claim filed in November 2017, Lioubov Luba Ijnatieva, 91, a former resident of Extendicares West End Villa nursing home in Ottawa, says she suffered harm and damages due to the negligence, breach of fiduciary duties and breaches of contract. Ijnatieva has since died and is represented by her daughter Larisa Gerol. The plaintiffs are seeking general damages of $50 million and aggravated and punitive damages of $100 million, the statement of claim says. In the statement, Ijnatieva complained of a crawling sensation in her leg wound to Extendicare staff. She was hospitalized to address the chronic wound, and was shocked and extremely upset to learn that the wound had been infested with fly maggots, according to the statement of claim. Gerol also learned that staff at West End Villa had found that her mothers wound had fly maggots in it when they had removed bandaging from the leg, after the bandaging had not been cleaned or changed for an extended period of time, the statement says. The third legal action, filed in 2016 by Oakley and Oakley against nursing home chain Revera, has not yet been certified as a class action but has grown to more than 90 cases, senior partner Amani Oakley said. A statement of claim has been filed. Revera has filed a notice of intent to defend. Larry Roberts, senior manager of corporate affairs for Revera, said that residents and staff are the companys highest priority. We work very hard to foster a caring environment, he said in an emailed statement. Our staff are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment in which all our residents are treated with dignity and respect. Roberts said that to protect the privacy of Revera residents, the company does not publicaly discuss individuals. As the class action suit brought against Revera is before the courts, out of respect for the system and for all parties involved, we cannot speak to the specifics of the lawsuit he said. We do not believe there is merit in the class action lawsuit and we are prepared to go through the court process. Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti threatened city staff to push for a land sale in his ward, says a secret investigative report. The report from Torys LLP, hired by the city to investigate the now-cancelled deal, was presented to council at a closed-door meeting in April and obtained by the Star on Wednesday. It says Mammoliti played a central role in advocating for the land sale and made express and direct threats to a city staff member and appeared to be actively pushing for staff to direct the Toronto Parking Authority, an agency of the city, to acquire the parcel of land in his York West ward. For the first time, the report also confirms that two parking authority executives were fired by the city on April 4 based on the information in the report from Torys. The now-cancelled land deal is currently under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police. Speaking to the Star on Wednesday, Mammoliti said he couldnt speak to report, as it is still confidential, but pointed out that he, in a public portion of the council meeting last week, insisted the report be made public. Id love to speak publicly on this, he said. I dont think this is about Mammoliti at all. I think theres much more to this than what you think there is here. When asked whether he threatened staff as described in the report, he said: Im going to say absolutely no to that. Mammoliti would not be interviewed by Torys investigators, which included former Supreme Court judge Frank Iacobucci, without them paying his legal fees or sending questions in advance, which they didnt do, the report says. Mammoliti did not dispute this Wednesday. The two fired parking authority executives, president Lorne Persiko, and vice-president of real estate and development Marie Casista were interviewed by investigators, along with several board members, parking authority staff, city staff and others. During the investigation, the board has been governed on an interim basis by senior city staff. The earlier proposed land sale between a real estate broker, who owns the five-acre strip at Finch Ave. and Arrow Rd. near Hwy. 400, and the parking authority first came under scrutiny in 2016. Councillor John Filion, who was then a member of the parking authoritys board, brought his concerns about the deal and a lack of due diligence to the citys auditor general. After a 10-month investigation, in 2017 auditor general Beverly Romeo-Beehler told council that the parking authority was poised to approve the deal that would have seen them overpay for the land by $2.63 million what resulted, she said, from a hairball of relationships. The auditor general alerted Toronto police, who forwarded the case to the OPP for investigation. The Arrow Rd. land has long been of interest to Mammoliti, who has pushed to build a project in the area that includes a 125-metre, monumental flagpole which is supported by the local Emery Village BIA. The land at the centre of investigation is owned by Katpa Holdings Inc., according to public records, which is solely registered to real estate broker Frank De Luca. In recent years, the BIA and Mammoliti looked to the parking authority to purchase the land, both the earlier auditor generals report and the Torys report explain. Ahead of a March 2016 council meeting, city staff were preparing a report about public realm improvements to coincide with the proposed Finch West LRT, which will run through the area at Arrow Rd. The Torys report found Mammoliti told Jeffrey Climans, the director of major capital infrastructure co-ordination, that if the report did not provide the direction regarding 1111 Arrow Road, he would actively work against all of the public realm improvements, in his own ward. Ultimately, the final staff report approved by council did include a recommendation for the parking authority to acquire the property. The citys legal department had concerns that the wording of the recommendation might suggest the parking authority was required to close the deal even if the terms were not acceptable, but those concerns werent addressed in the staff report. Climans told legal staff hed ensure Mammoliti knew an amendment to the recommendation needed to be made at council, the Torys report says. Councillor Mammoliti did not want the amendment and it was abandoned, according to the report. The Torys report outlined several concerns with how the sale was negotiated and how the parking authority determined the value of the deal. For example, the parking authority recommended its board approve a conditional agreement to purchase the Arrow Rd. land for $12 million despite, the investigators say, there being, to their knowledge, no information or documentation that explains clearly how the TPA arrived at the $12 million purchase price and in spite of appraisals valuing the land at $7.5 million and $8 million. There was also never a business case for the land sale or explanation of parking needs in the area, Torys found. At one point, despite Casista having significant doubts about the quality of work to value the price of a digital sign on the property and potential for a second sign for the site that would not have been blocked by provincial rules, Torys reported that both Casista and Persiko repeatedly pushed an independent appraiser, Altus, working on an updated land value to include the sign values in their report to the parking authority board. Altus refused to include the sign values in their report but attached the work as an appendix. The concerns about that sign valuation were never disclosed to the board, Torys found. Both Persiko and Casista have maintained, including to Torys investigators, that they would have completed a due diligence review but that it was interrupted by the auditor generals investigation. Its no giant rubber duck, but this years Redpath Waterfront Festival will feature yet another oversized inflatable installation. The organizers announced Wednesday that a pendulum installation made of giant beach balls is coming to the Toronto waterfront. Named HTO Pendulum Wave, the custom-made feature is made up of six 6.5-feet-tall beach balls that will swing back and forth while suspended from a large frame. The entire installation will be 22 feet tall, 42 feet wide and 12 feet deep, and it will weigh 19,000 pounds. Have your say More than 130 square feet of PVC material will be used to create the balls. With two significant development projects underway (Sugar Wharf and Waterfront Innovation Centre), this sponsorship is particularly meaningful as it further supports our ongoing commitment to the waterfront, said Menkes Developments Ltd., the presenting partner of the installation, in a statement. Were sure this installation will add a fun and playful element to this remarkable event. The festival is hoping that the beach balls will attract the same number of visitors as last years giant yellow rubber duck. At the time, the provincial government was criticized for spending more than $120,000 to help land the duck. But according to a report, it attracted 750,000 visitors and had a $7.6-million economic impact. Construction for the giant pendulum wave is already underway. Its made by Canadian design firm Decor & More and was inspired by the a popular science instrument, the pendulum wave. The interactive installation is partially funded by Celebrate Ontario, a provincial government enhancement grant. The festival will run from June 22-24, and will also feature a variety of programs including a circus show, an artisan market, a family fun zone and more. The Worlds Largest Rubber Duck made its Canadian debut on Torontos waterfront in 2017 for Canada Day celebrations. Read more: Giant duck gives Torontos waterfront a boost Opinion | Shawn Micallef: Lord love a duck Toronto sure did Giant rubber duck all it was quacked up to be, after all A six-month licence suspension was reasonable for a Toronto doctor who sexually abused four female patients, the Ontario Court of Appeal ruled Thursday in a decision that reversed a lower court ruling. While declaring that Dr. Javad Peirovys conduct was reprehensible and should be roundly condemned, the majority of a three-judge panel found that the suspension imposed in 2016 by a discipline committee of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario was appropriate under the circumstances. Its a failure, an absolute failure brought on by a broken system, Temerra Dixon, one of Peirovys victims, told the Star. To have a doctor, whose whole profession is built on trust, sexually abuse patients and continue to practise is reprehensible. Im devastated. After eight years, there is no justice, said Dixon, who had the publication ban on her name lifted. The decision is also a blow to Ontarios medical regulator and its message of zero tolerance for sexual abuse. The college has spent the past two years arguing at two levels of court that its own discipline committee, made up of doctors and members of the public and which acts independently of the college, failed in the Peirovy case, and should have revoked his licence. The college was successful on an appeal to Divisional Court, where the judges blasted the discipline committee and ordered that a new penalty hearing be held. But Peirovy appealed to the Court of Appeal, where the majority sided with him in Thursdays ruling. The discipline committees penalty should be restored, wrote Justice Paul Rouleau, joined by Justice Lois Roberts. Dr. Peirovys behaviour was reprehensible. However, the discipline committee is the expert tribunal created by the legislature to assess allegations of misconduct in the medical profession and to determine the penalty appropriately tailored to the circumstances of each case. In a dissenting opinion, Justice Mary Lou Benotto said she would have dismissed Peirovys appeal, calling the six-month suspension clearly unfit. The college said it is reviewing the appeal ruling. Although we are disappointed with the outcome of the courts decision, we are heartened to know that as a result of recent amendments made to the colleges legislation, a similar finding would result in automatic revocation of a health professionals licence, said interim college registrar Dan Faulkner in a written statement Peirovys lawyers did not return the Stars request for comment. In finding him guilty of sexual abuse, the discipline committee said that in 2009 and 2010, Peirovy placed his stethoscope on the nipples of two patients and cupped their breasts. Regarding two others, he touched their nipples when there was no clinical reason to examine the women in that way. The CPSOs lawyers have always argued that the committees decision on guilt is inconsistent with its later decision on punishment. With regards to guilt, the panel found the touching of the patients breasts to be deliberate and accepted the womens description of Peirovys conduct as blatantly sexual, the college had argued at the Court of Appeal. In its penalty decision, the panel chaired by former CPSO president Dr. Marc Gabel, and including Dr. John Watts, Dr. Robert Sheppard and community member Diane Doherty largely accepted the evidence of a forensic psychiatrist when it found Peirovy was embarrassed by his actions, did not have a sexual motivation and can improve through counselling. Rouleau described the committees findings as nuanced and said the six-month suspension was within the range of penalties previously imposed by discipline panels for similar and more egregious conduct. He said the Divisional Court should not have intervened by effectively retrying the case and ordering a new penalty hearing. (The Divisional Court had called the six-month suspension clearly unfit and described previous punishments handed down by the discipline committee in cases of sexual abuse as a litany of clearly unfit penalties.) Deference is owed to discipline committees because they are tribunals composed of members of the profession and of the public with the expertise to assess the level of threat to the public and the...profession by certain forms of behaviour, Rouleau wrote. In her dissenting opinion, Benotto found the Divisional Court had in fact identified significant errors in principle in the discipline committees reasons. She sided with the college in noting that the discipline committees findings on guilt and punishment are inconsistent and the penalty imposed was therefore unreasonable. I recognize that the penalty imposed was within the range of penalties imposed in past discipline committee decisions involving sexual abuse. However, reasonableness is not a static concept and ranges are not set in stone, Benotto wrote. Our collective social conscience is continuously changing. What was once reasonable may no longer accord with the modern conscience. Where society has evolved such that a range no longer reflects societal values, there is reason to question the validity of the range. In this case, the discipline committee imposed a penalty that failed to fulfil its mandate and is clearly unfit. Having served his suspension, Peirovy now practises at the walk-in clinic at Ultimate Diagnostics in North York. One of the conditions on his licence is that he not practise on women unless in the presence of a female health professional. The conditions placed on Dr. Peirovy demonstrate a lack of confidence in his ability to practise medicine, Benotto wrote. It is unreasonable for a patient to attend a walk-in clinic with a physician who requires a chaperone with half the worlds population and which features a prominent sign indicating his limited capacity. Such conditions in these circumstances belies the trust inherent in the doctor-patient relationship, undermines public confidence, and fails to protect the public. Peirovy pleaded guilty in 2013 to two criminal charges of simple assault relating to two of the patients who were later the focus of his discipline hearing at the college. He was given a conditional discharge and 18 months probation and was ordered by the court to take counselling. The landscape in the health professions with regards to sexual abuse has changed dramatically since the Peirovy case was first heard by the discipline committee. In 2017, the provincial government amended the law following a Star investigation into doctors who continued to work after been found to have sexually abused their patients. It is now mandatory for discipline panels to revoke a health professionals licence for groping. Ontario Health Minister Helena Jaczek said in a statement that she was disappointed with the courts ruling, and is reviewing advice from an external consultant regarding the College of Physicians as part of our ongoing, regular work to modernize oversight of Ontarios health workers. Paul Harte, a medical malpractice lawyer not involved with the case, described the ruling as a significant step backwards in the eradication of sexual abuse in the health professions. The majority decision failed to consider the importance of general deterrence in protecting the public, Harte said. Revoking the licence of a doctor who sexually abused multiple patients sends a clear message: If you sexually abuse patients, you will lose your licence. It is that general deterrence which is necessary to eradicate sexual abuse of patients. The family of a 20-year-old Seneca College student who was fatally hit by a car in Richmond Hill last week, is pleading to the driver to come forward. Ethann McAulay was struck by a black 2011 or 2012 Hyundai Sonata while walking on Highway 404 near Major Mackenzie Dr. on April 23. Police said the driver fled the scene and was last seen exiting the highway at Elgin Mills Rd. McAulay was pronounced dead at the scene. In a video released by the Ontario Provincial police on Thursday, McAulays family held back tears as they spoke of his kind and loving nature. They described him as a smart and quiet person who loved playing with his nieces and nephews, as well as his dog Lucy. The nicest boy you would ever need. He would do absolutely anything for anybody. He was a great person, his sister said in the video. The family, who lives in Orillia, called on the public, asking them to come forward with anything they might know so that they can have closure. What if it was their kid or their sister or someone along those lines, how would they feel if the person slowed down, looked at them and took off after hitting them? McAulays mother Janette Harmer said while holding a picture of her son. He was just starting to become a man and I was just so looking forward to that, Harmer said. He wont be at (his sisters) wedding, he wont be an uncle to (his sisters) kids. The family held a funeral service for McAulay on Thursday. In a news conference, also on Thursday, OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt asked any witnesses to talk to police. If you have your spidey senses tingling, thinking, You know, my co-worker always comes to work with a black car, and now he or shes driving a rental. I wonder where the car is, thats something we want to find out, Schmidt said. Police said the car sustained heavy damage to the passenger side. Schmidt said debris, including parts of a side mirror and a front tail light, were spread across portions of the highway. Witnesses have told investigators that they saw the car stopping and slowing before fleeing the scene. If you are a body shop or a repair facility that has had inquiries into having a vehicle repaired, please help us with this investigation to provide answers to the family. He also directly appealed to the driver of the vehicle to surrender to police, do the right thing and acknowledge the mistake that was made. There is nothing we could do right now to bring Ethann back. But if you are that person, is your conscience eating at you? Investigators are still figuring out the circumstances around why the Seneca student, who was just finishing his exams, was walking on the highway, which had no pedestrian access. We dont know exactly where Ethann was standing at the time of the collision, said Schmidt, who added that they also dont know how long hed been there. Schmidt said the investigation will be very tedious and time consuming, and it might take time to identify whos responsible. Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers. Peel police have charged four officers with perjury after they were accused of stealing a statue of Scarface character Tony Montana from a drug dealers storage unit in 2014, and then lying about it twice under oath. It is a unique situation, 100 per cent, Sgt. Joshua Colley, Peel police spokesperson, told the Star of the 13-month criminal investigation. As far as I can remember, only one officer has ever been charged (with perjury), and no one has been convicted in the 44-year history of Peel Police. In May 2017, an Ontario Superior Court Justice described the conduct of Major Drugs and Vice Unit constables Richard Rerrie, Mihai Muresan, Emanuel Pinheiro and Damian Savino as profoundly and demonstrably inconsistent with what a fair justice system requires. Upon learning about the ruling, I immediately ordered an internal investigation to be conducted by our Professional Standards Bureau into the conduct and actions of the involved officers, Peel police Chief Jennifer Evans said in a press release. Our officers are held to a high standard in order to maintain the trust that we have worked so hard to build with our community. In June 2014, Peel police witnessed a drug deal involving Lowell Somerville, of Brampton. During an investigation into his activity, officers took out a search warrant for a storage locker he owned in downtown Toronto; they told the court, nothing had been taken from the unit once in a preliminary hearing, and again during a cross-examination. Surveillance footage, however, showed the four officers leaving the storage facility with a large object under a beige sheet. After Somerville was released from custody, he discovered that some of his possessions were missing, including a one-metre-tall, one-of-a-kind hand-painted wood statue of fictional drug dealer Tony Montana, which he stored under beige cloths. He reported the apparent theft to his lawyer, Kim Schofield. Read more: Peel cop stole statue of Tony Montana from drug dealers locker, judge rules Rerrie told the court, he had taken a stand-up heater from a hallway in the storage facility, which he claimed was in a green or black garbage bag and had a sign taped to it saying it was free. Rerrie testified, he threw the heater out a few days later as it didnt work properly. In her judgment, the Ontario Justice noted the shape of the object that was carried out of the facility by Officer Rerrie appears very similar to the shape of the statue of Tony Montana, and that a heater was really not a necessity as it was June. Schofield is surprised and impressed by the decision to charge the officers with perjury. I had lost faith in the process, she told the Star on Thursday. We had met with investigators . We had cooperated and then no charges were laid. I had assumed nothing would happen. The decision to charge the officers came after consultations with the Ministry of Attorney Generals office. Under the Criminal Code of Canada, a person can be charged for perjury if they provide false evidence or lie under oath. Schofield believes that the officers are in big trouble now, and that the charges came because she was lucky to obtain footage. Were in a different era, she said. As society and police activity becomes more and more monitored, whether intentionally or by happenstance, (police) are going to face more scrutiny like this. Hopefully, in this case, justice delayed will not be justice denied, she said. I hope this is prosecuted with vigilance. The four officers, who remain suspended, also face one count of theft under $5,000 and one count of Obstruct Police. They will appear in court on June 4. With files from Jackie Hong Read more about: Goodbye, sweet Charity. After months of udder confusion and indecision, a Toronto judge put a swift end to Markhams ongoing cow statue debacle this week after he dismissed a motion by the developer for an injunction to prevent the sculpture from being moved. The residents of Markham do not want the gift that the plaintiff wishes to give them, Superior Court Justice Andras Schreck said in his decision Wednesday. I am not satisfied that forcing them to accept the unwanted gift by granting an injunction is required to preserve the plaintiffs rights or to prevent irreparable harm, he said. Last week, Markham council passed a motion to have Charity removed within 10 days, after residents said a sharp leaf from around her neck fell on the ground. Further examination of the sculpture by an engineer found there was insufficient welding attaching 20 to 25% of the leaves to the rest of the sculpture and that there was a risk that those leaves would fall, Schreck said. But on Tuesday, lawyers for the developer Helen Roman-Barber and her company Romandale Farms Ltd. were in court arguing that moving the 25-foot high stainless steel statue on stilts, called Charity: Perpetuation of Perfection, would cause it irreparable harm. They also argued that Markham breached the artwork donation agreement when it reneged on its decision to keep Charity at the current location on Charity Cres., in the community of Cathedraltown at Elgin Mills Rd. and Major Mackenzie Dr. Romandale Farms also filed a lawsuit seeking $3 million from the City of Markham, or a lesser amount of $1 million if the city also declares that it never acquired ownership of the statue, and if it returns it to the developer at a time and place determined Roman-Barber, at the citys own risk and expense. Roman-Barber is fighting to keep the memorial on the crescent as a tribute to her late father who owned a part share in Charity, a famous show cow, and the farm the subdivision now sits on. But since it was installed last year, residents have complained that the statue is too close to their homes, and was installed without consultation and notice to them. In a statement, the city of Markham said following the courts decision, the donor has agreed to accept the return of the sculpture to the Donor. The City of Markham is working on removing the sculpture as soon as reasonably possible with the assistance of a contractor. The City will arrange for security personnel and by-law patrols to ensure the safety of residents and workers. The City of Markham has not yet confirmed when this work will take place. In his decision, Schreck commended Roman-Barber for her donation but said her will could not trump the desire of residents. The residents of Markham have stated, through their elected representatives, that they do not want the gift that Romandale wishes to bestow on them. A true philanthropist respects the wishes of those he or she wishes to benefit, he said. The balance of convenience does not favour allowing Romandale to continue to try to impose on the residents of the City a gift they do not want. Read more about: Premier Kathleen Wynne on Thursday called allegations contained in potential class action lawsuits in Ontario against two nursing home giants extremely disturbing and very upsetting. The allegations against Extendicare and Leisureworld Senior Care (now Sienna Senior Living) are detailed in statements of claim for two proposed class action lawsuits. They allege the nursing home companies were negligent and failed to provide proper care for elderly residents one of whom, the statements of claim say, had a maggot-infested leg wound and another who had bed sores down to the bone. I just have to say that, to the extent that any of these allegations are true, its extremely disturbing, the premier told reporters. They should not happen. In an emailed statement to the Star, a Sienna Senior Living spokesperson said Wednesday the company had just received the claim and are currently reviewing it. The health and well-being of all residents is our primary focus, and we take pride in the quality of care our team members provide, said Brian Richardson, Siennas chief marketing officer. Our mission is to help residents live fully, every day. Extendicare spokesperson Rebecca Rawn said in an emailed statement Wednesday the company cares deeply about the residents, clients and families that we serve, and our staff work hard to provide them with comfort, care, and compassion. Rawn said Extendicare does not believe the lawsuit has merit and intends to demonstrate that through the court process. Family members detailed their claims against the nursing homes at a Queens Park press conference Thursday morning. Jeffrey Novo spoke about his father, Jose Novo, who was a resident at Tullamore Nursing Home in Brampton, run by Leisureworld Senior Care (now Sienna Senior Living), from June 2014 until his death at age 65, in May 2016. The statement of claim against Leisureworld says Jose Novo was hospitalized for infected decubitis ulcers (bed sores) in October 2015. In November, his bed sores continued to worsen, with bone being visible on some. On Thursday, Jeffrey Novo said the bedsores on his fathers body were just disgusting. Its not right, he said. They should never (have gotten) that bad. Speaking to reporters at a separate event, Wynne said the number of inspections and personnel in long-term care homes has increased. (A spokesperson for the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care, Laura Gallant, said an enhanced inspection strategy was rolled out in fall 2016, and 100 inspectors were added around late 2013.) I think there are very reasonable questions about how such a thing could happen, given that those inspections are in place and we need to be honest about asking those questions, Wynne said. But I will say that it is very, very disturbing to read of (this) situation. Health Minister Helena Jaczek said she could not comment on the lawsuits because they are before the courts but told reporters the Liberal government which is up for re-election June 7 has increased funding for nursing homes since taking power in 2003. We have a system of inspection in this province that, I think, is showing good results. Orders are being served on homes that are not compliant, even with minor offences, Jaczek, a medical doctor, said after the Legislatures daily question period. In response to the lawsuits, New Democrat MPP France Gelinas, her partys health critic, said the government is falling short in protecting residents of nursing homes. I dont want to paint every nursing home with the same brush but in a lot of homes the care is not up to standard, said Gelinas, a physiotherapist. The plaintiffs lawyers also announced a Nursing Homes Action Coalition at the press conference. We want to help people across Canada that are in these homes, said Amani Oakley, senior partner at Oakley and Oakley. We believe we will set standards. We believe that through the actions of the courts, were going to get some justice for some of these victims. The newly formed coalition, made up of three law firms, will handle the two proposed class action lawsuits and a third, from 2016, against nursing home chain Revera. None of the legal actions have been certified. In a statement to the Star Wednesday, Larry Roberts, senior manager of corporate affairs for Revera, said the legal action against Revera is before the courts, and out of respect for the system and for all parties involved, we cannot speak to the specifics of the lawsuit, he added. We do not believe there is merit in the class action lawsuit and we are prepared to go through the court process. With files from Robert Benzie and Kristin Rushowy. Dr. Lawrence Currie Wisers Saskatchewan employer wont say if he is the same Dr. Lawrence C. Wiser who was found to be clinically brain damaged by Californias medical board. There is only one Lawrence Wiser registered with the provinces medical regulator. They are the same man. Read more on the Stars Medical Disorder investigation In 1979, fresh out of a residency in Saskatchewan, Wiser travelled to work in Colusa, Calif., but his career at the California practice did not blossom as expected, according to public records posted to his professional profile on the California medical boards website. Wiser became depressed, and in April 1983 he attempted suicide for the third time in almost as many months. He was left in a coma and on life support for two weeks. Tests at the time established Wiser was clinically suffering brain damage, the California disciplinary record states. Wiser spent the next two years undergoing a further battery of testing, which the board found demonstrated he was impaired his ability to think and act quickly. In October 1985, an administrative law judge recommended that the medical board place Wiser on probation for 10 years with a list of conditions, including a requirement that he must first pass an oral clinical exam, and if he does he must be prohibited from solo practice. The consequences of Wisers physical disabilities at this time should not be suffered by patients, the judge said. Read more: Bad doctors who cross the border can hide their dirty secrets. We dug them up Canada's medical watchdogs know more about bad doctors than they are telling you Regulators expect doctors to tell the truth about their past. Here's what happens when they don't Four months later, the medical board rejected the probation penalty, saying it would instead decide whether a different decision should not be made to provide greater protection to the public. But Wiser surrendered his California licence before that could happen. In 1989, Manitobas health minister, Donald Orchard, hired Wiser as a special policy adviser. Investigative reporters Diana Zlomislic and Rachel Mendleson discuss the doctors discipline investigation which took 18 months to complete. Orchard told the provincial legislative assembly Wiser has a record of distinction in terms of his clinical practice, and said he would be assigned to work with the provinces college of physicians and surgeons on major health care reforms. Wiser has never been licensed to practise in Manitoba, the college told the Star. In 1991, the Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons, which granted Wiser his first medical licence in 1976, added him back to its roster, where he remains. Wiser, who was trained in Saskatchewan, is among almost 50 doctors licensed to work in Canada who faced discipline by U.S. medical regulators, according to data compiled by the Star. The Saskatchewan college knows about his California tests, but has never publicly disclosed them, the Star has confirmed. The Toronto Star made several attempts to reach Wiser by letter and phone and has received no response. It is unclear if Wiser is still impaired by his injuries. The final round of tests in California found Wiser had a patent difficulty rapidly using new material in emergency or stressful situations Where there are time limits and a significant amount of information to process respondent has a difficult time putting it all together. Eighteen months after waking from his coma, Wiser showed substantial recovery in verbal skills but significant impairment of a number of adaptive abilities, the California board records state. At least three assessments predicted Wiser could probably function in very familiar situations but not well in novel situations that required quick judgment and action. Medical evidence has established that the majority of cognitive recovery takes place within 18 months of a traumatic brain injury, and thereafter an individuals neuropsychological/cognitive status generally remains static, the board record states. At his 18-month assessment, Wiser scored an 84 for performance IQ on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale an index of the test takers evaluation of and ability to organize and solve a new problem. That result was indicative of significant cognitive impairment, the medical board record states. Wiser didnt necessarily talk or look like a man with brain damage, the records state, but extensive testing over a period of time has established that (Wiser) continues to experience the residuals of brain damage and a pattern of diffuse injury The consequences of (his) physical disabilities at this time should not be suffered by patients. The Saskatchewan college website hosts public profiles for the provinces doctors, which include information about education, qualifications, licence history and discipline broken down by cases in process and completed cases. The Saskatchewan college lists no information about the actions of the California board. Wisers profile states he has no discipline history. The colleges associate registrar Bryan Salte told the Star the regulator completed due diligence prior to granting Wiser an intern/resident licence upon his return in 1991. He said the college reviewed a copy of the neuropsychological assessment done of Dr. Wiser, as well as other information about his efforts to return to medical practice, including an assessment done by the Clinicians Assessment and Enhancement Program in Manitoba. Salte said the college did not have Wiser evaluated by its own expert and that the neuropsychological assessment it reviewed was part of a file provided to the college by the doctor. The California proceedings, Salte said, are based upon a situation which has now changed and is not relevant to his ability to practise in the limited role in Saskatchewan. In August 1999, an appeal board hearing directed the Regina QuAppelle Health Authority, which managed hospitals in the Regina area, to give Dr. Wiser a hospital appointment to practise as a surgical assistant, Salte said, adding he is not permitted to share a record of that decision. In 2000, the college granted Wiser a regular licence that restricted him to practising as a surgical assistant. Surgical assistants may perform duties like retracting tissues, tying blood vessels, inserting tubes and intravenous lines or closing surgical wounds. They also perform pre-operative and post-operative patient care. The Saskatchewan Health Authority, which now controls the Regina authority, would not confirm that the Wiser it employs is the same Wiser who suffered brain damage. We do have a Dr. Lawrence Wiser, who is an active member of the practitioner staff in the Regina Area with the Saskatchewan Health Authority, and works as a surgical assistant in our facilities. We cannot confirm whether this is the same Dr. Wiser you may be inquiring about, a spokeswoman wrote in an email. Wiser has been an assistant clinical professor with the College of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan, his alma mater, since 2010. A spokeswoman for the university would not provide details about Wisers role with the medical school, only that he may be involved in either clinical teaching of students and medical research, or both. With files from Emma Jarratt Read more about: When Dr. Jacques Lemire took his laptop to get fixed in January 2004, the technician made a disturbing discovery. On his hard drive, Lemire had collected photos of what a judge described as sadistic images of prepubescent boys who were engaged in sexually explicit conduct. The technician alerted authorities in San Diego, Calif., where Lemire had been treating children for 23 years. A criminal investigation confirmed he had also traded the images with others. Read more on the Stars Medical Disorder investigation The California medical board revoked Lemires licence. He was sentenced to 15 months in prison after pleading guilty to possession and distribution of child pornography. After he was released and deported to Canada, Quebec issued Lemire a new licence that allowed him to see patients. His licence restricted him to working in institutions and Lemire spent three years at an old-age home for retired nuns. Nothing would have prevented Lemire from working with children, however the institutions category also includes child and youth protection centres. Today, Lemires licence restricts him to administrative duties. His criminal history does not appear on the registry of the Quebec college. Read more: Bad doctors who cross the border can hide their dirty secrets. We dug them up Canada's medical watchdogs know more about bad doctors than they are telling you Regulators expect doctors to tell the truth about their past. Here's what happens when they don't He is one of 13 doctors the Star identified with criminal convictions in the U.S. who later practised in Canada. Lemire says he has worked hard to rehabilitate himself and agrees with the Quebec colleges decision to keep his criminal history secret. The fact that Im doing administrative (work), Im not working with patients, I think (my criminal history) shouldnt be disclosed because Im not even close to any patient, Lemire told the Star. There is a brief note on his Quebec profile stating that he was the subject, in the past, of a decision modifying his/her right to practise, and providing a number to phone for more details. If you call, the college will not tell you what Lemire was disciplined for, where or when it happened. Investigative reporters Diana Zlomislic and Rachel Mendleson discuss the doctors discipline investigation which took 18 months to complete. But if you Google Jacques Lemire, his story is easy to find. As a high-profile specialist in pediatric nephrology the treatment of childrens kidney problems Lemires guilty plea shocked the public and his colleagues at the University of San Diego. They wrote letters of support to the court, saying Lemire had never had any inappropriate contact with any of his patients. After Lemire pleaded guilty, a judge at sentencing accepted a psychiatric evaluation showing Lemire was not a pedophile. Although Dr. Lemire is guilty of possession of child pornography, Dr. Lemire, according to the examining professionals, is not a pedophile, said Judge Jeffrey Miller, according to a court transcript. Were dealing with someone here who I may assume is not a pedophile and who has had no inappropriate contact with children himself even though certainly over the years he has had occasion if that had been his proclivity. Then why did he do it? Lemires lawyer Ezekiel Cortez in court blamed the doctors Catholic upbringing in Quebec. He went to catechism. He attended church functions, said Cortez. He was an altar boy, and what I can tell the court is that experiences as he grew up contributed to a part of his personality that he had to confront with this case. Im very ashamed of what I did, Lemire said in court. The pictures on Lemires computer, which he had traded with a man in Orange County, Calif., were of a particularly cruel nature. Theres just no explanation for it, said federal prosecutor Anne Perry at his sentencing in California in 2007. These are not pictures of naked babies lying on blankets These are damaging pictures that represent abuse to children. And here is a fine man, a fine doctor, somebody whos done nothing wrong in his life, but hes got a lot of these images on his computer. Lemires 15-month sentence was light, according to the judge, who noted another defendant had been sentenced to five years for the same crime in a nearby county. Lemire was added to the Californias registry of sexual offenders. His name and photo were removed from the registry after he was released and deported in 2008. Back in Quebec, where he had gone to medical school, Lemire reapplied to be a doctor. To reactivate his Quebec licence, Lemire says he was required to do rotations in hospital settings with a supervising physician present. In July 2010, the Quebec college issued Lemire medical licence that limited his practice to an institution. The Quebec college defines an institution as a local community service centre, a hospital centre, a child and youth protection centre, a residential and long-term care centre or a rehabilitation centre, adding that Dr. Lemires limitation was not aimed at a specific institution. He was not formally prevented from working with children. From 2010 to 2013, Lemire worked at the Jacques-Viger residential and long-term-care centre, which housed retired nuns. In 2014 the college stripped Lemires right to treat patients, limiting his licence to administrative duties. He now reviews medical files for Quebecs public health insurance program. Lemire told the Star he has served his time and should be allowed to keep going and be productive. The problem is you go through something like this. Its terrible. You paid what you have to do to society. Then its hard. You lose everything and restart from scratch. Look for a job. Its a long ordeal, Lemire said. Read more about: Dr. Arun Jains medical history spanning two Canadian provinces and one American state features a string of disciplinary actions, lawsuits and lies. The Ontario-educated doctor, entrepreneur and real-estate agent has been licensed to practise as a general surgeon in New Brunswick, Maine and Ontario. He has faced discipline in all three involving the mysterious abandonment of patients in New Brunswick, flagrant mistreatment of patients in Ontario, which prompting the revocation of his licence, and deceit about his record in Maine. He remains a licensed physician in Ontario, where he was reinstated in 2008 with restrictions limiting his practise to surgical assisting. Jains disciplinary record begins in 1992, when Jain surreptitiously disappeared from Edmunston, N.B., where he was director of the local hospitals intensive care unit. Without warning, Jain moved, cleared his home of furniture and abandoned his patients and their records, according to an affidavit filed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick in that provinces superior court in October 1992. Read more on the Stars Medical Disorder investigation The Royal Bank hired a private investigator to find him, but came up empty, court documents show. At the time, Jain he was in serious financial straits, according to the affidavit. He was named as a defendant in seven lawsuits in New Brunswick from 1984 to 2000, according to an internal college document provided to the Star. Jain declined to be interviewed for this story. But a written statement from his lawyer in response to questions says the physician did not surreptitiously disappear from New Brunswick in 1992, but was instead on a medical leave of absence granted by his hospital. According to the colleges affidavit, Jain obtained medical leave for May 10 to May 31, 1992. But the college says it discovered on May 10 that Jain had moved out of his home. Jain would hold a clean New Brunswick licence for 15 years after the incident until he pleaded guilty in 2007 to charges of professional misconduct for abandonment of his patients and their care. He received a reprimand and was ordered to pay costs of $1,800. Read more: Bad doctors who cross the border can hide their dirty secrets. We dug them up Canada's medical watchdogs know more about bad doctors than they are telling you Regulators expect doctors to tell the truth about their past. Here's what happens when they don't Jain obtained a medical licence in Maine on May 14, 1992, days after he disappeared from New Brunswick. Jains response to the Star said he had applied for a medical licence in Maine well before May 10, 1992 and that he has never practised medicine in the state of Maine. Jain later told the Ontario college that he and his wife Madhu left New Brunswick not for Maine, but for India. The couple was seeking to liquidate assets there and lately return to Canada, but Jain said his wife was kidnapped, tortured and forced to sign over her assets before that could happen. By April 1993, Jain was working in Ontario as a general physician. New problems emerged: According to a 1999 college disciplinary decision, an arm of Health Canada became concerned that Jain was buying an unusual amount of Demerol, an opioid pain medication. Jain admitted that most of the Demerol was being administered to his wife to treat injuries related to her alleged kidnapping and torture in India. Investigative reporters Diana Zlomislic and Rachel Mendleson discuss the doctors discipline investigation which took 18 months to complete. At a May 1994 meeting with college officials, the decision reads, Jain freely admitted that the Demerol treatments for his wife were inappropriate and volunteered to give up his privileges to prescribe narcotics. He didnt keep his word. Eight months later in January 1995 Jain ordered four ampoules of Demerol for his wife and persuaded another physician to write a prescription to cover the order, college records state. He eventually placed a second order, but when the other physician refused to cover it, Jain wrote it on his own prescription pad. As his wifes need for Demerol grew, he wrote further prescriptions for her use, and to a lesser extent for use in the clinic, the 1999 disciplinary decision reads. The college suspended his medical licence in March 1996. That November, Jain applied to renew his inactive licence in Maine. Asked on the states application if he had any disciplinary actions against him, Jain answered: No. The lie worked. Maines board renewed Jains licence. Three years later the board caught the lie, finding fraud and deceit in the application process. In September 1999, Jain admitted that his failure to disclose his Ontario suspension violated standards of professional conduct. He was reprimanded and ordered to pay a $1,500 fine. By this time, Jains practice had been under scrutiny in Ontario for several years. A complaint from one of Jains patients triggered an Ontario college review of 71 patient charts. One expert found problems in 37 cases. The college found that Jain had exposed multiple patients to unnecessary and unacceptable risks, inappropriately performed surgical procedures in a clinic setting, inappropriately performed surgical procedures on patients, inappropriately administered anaesthetic and once administered a toxic dose of anaesthetic. Jain pleaded guilty to disgraceful conduct, failing to maintain the standards of the profession and breaching Canadas narcotics act. The Ontario college revoked Jains licence in August 1999, saying a flagrant failure to maintain the standard of practice of the profession and his disgraceful, dishonourable and unprofessional behaviour together with contravention of the federal law, require the imposition of the most severe penalty. In 2008, less than a decade later, the Ontario college reinstated Jains licence with restrictions, including mandatory oversight by a surgical supervisor, mandatory training and a prohibition on prescribing medications and narcotics. When New Brunswick college registrar Dr. Ed Schollenberg heard about Jains reinstatement in 2010, he puzzled over why the Ontario colleges legal counsel did not oppose the move. Schollenberg was extremely surprised that there was no inquiry and/or investigation relative to verifying the history of Dr. Jain with the New Brunswick College and the Edmundston Regional Hospital, reads a March 2010 letter to the Ontario college from their New Brunswick colleagues. The New Brunswick College has some concern as to what appears on its face to be a lack of candour in Dr. Jains arguments for reinstatement. In a recent interview, Schollenberg said there were factors about Jain from his time in New Brunswick that the Ontario college could have pursued from us. In a response to Schollenbergs letter, an Ontario college official said Jains reinstatement included restrictions with very limited terms. Jain remains listed as a licensed physician in Ontario. His public record on the college website makes no reference to his disciplinary actions in Maine and New Brunswick. His written statement to the Star says he worked as a surgical assistant for a few months after the licence reinstatement, but has not been involved in the clinical practice of medicine or in any direct patient care since March 2009. Jain is also chairman and CEO of SteriPro Canada, a medical device reprocessing company in Mississauga. The companys website touts the firm as a leader in the industry. In his bio, Jain is described as a staff surgeon with 20+ years experience. Read more about: St. Catharines, Ont.Dr. John Cryslers colleagues in Plattsburgh, N.Y., thought he was dead. At least, thats what they were told. A death certificate, dated Dec. 17, 2001, declared suicide the cause. The pediatrician was only dead on paper. He practised in Ontario for six years before New Yorks medical regulator ruled the death certificate a fake, drafted by Crysler himself. Read more on the Stars Medical Disorder investigation A copy of the boards 2007 disciplinary order and its allegations against him are posted online in New York. Crysler, the board determined, signed the names of fictitious officials on the death certificate, which he submitted to the Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and Plattsburgh Pediatrics. None of this information has been shared with Canadian patients by the Ontario physicians college, which granted Crysler his medical licence five months before the date on his forged death certificate. His profile on the college website shows no disciplinary history or restrictions on his licence. New Yorks medical regulator charged Crysler with practising fraudulently, filing a false report and engaging in conduct which evidences moral unfitness. In 2007, Crysler, a graduate of Queens Universitys medical school, formally surrendered his state medical licence. Read more: Bad doctors who cross the border can hide their dirty secrets. We dug them up Canada's medical watchdogs know more about bad doctors than they are telling you Regulators expect doctors to tell the truth about their past. Here's what happens when they don't Investigative reporters Diana Zlomislic and Rachel Mendleson discuss the doctors discipline investigation which took 18 months to complete. In an interview with the Star at his pediatric office in downtown St. Catharines, Crysler said his actions were motivated by a personal issue with a colleague that left him feeling harassed. At Cryslers request, the Star agreed not to disclose details about the nature of the harassment. Eventually, I got to the point where I sent a letter to these people, Crysler said, referring to the death certificate he sent to his former employers. Please leave this guy alone This was not a fraud for financial gain. This was not some means of escaping punishment or avoiding taxes. Crysler asked the Star not to publish information about his New York discipline. Does everything need to be reported? Have you never done anything wrong in your life that your boss wouldnt like to know about? Crysler said the Ontario college knew he surrendered his New York licence. He said the college ordered him to enrol in a monitoring program for five years, during which he completed psychological assessments, drug and alcohol testing and an ethics course. Crysler said he treated patients throughout this monitoring period. The college would not confirm this information and refused to comment on the case. Their level of enforcement goes beyond whats available from police, Crysler said of the college. Theyre more like the SS than they are the humane society. Crysler, who described himself as a child psychiatrist, said the college started a complete new investigation. They talked to every witness down there. The Star spoke with two of Cryslers former colleagues in Plattsburgh, N.Y. They told a different story. His own actions, I think, prevented him from being employed, said Dr. David Cohen, a pediatrician who once offered Crysler a job and later worked alongside his employers. Both Cohen and Dr. Clarke Knutson, a former partner at Plattsburgh Pediatrics, who retired from the New York practice just a few years ago, said no one from the Ontario college contacted them to discuss Cryslers history. If they did reach out to me, Knutson said, they didnt reach far enough. WINDSORIn a busy plaza, across the hall from the Real Canadian Superstore, a triptych of posters advertises the breadth of wellness services that once attracted thousands of patients to Dr. Thomas Joseph Barnard. One image depicts a grey-haired Barnard performing anti-aging laser treatment under a banner that promises, Prevention. That cheery facade fades inside Fresh Medical Spa, the vestiges of Barnards Windsor health-care empire. In the waiting area, above the display case featuring before-and-after photos, two signs outline the restrictions on Barnards Ontario medical licence: He must not practise family medicine. He must not prescribe narcotic drugs. He may only provide certain aesthetic and cosmetic services and nutritional counselling. Read more on the Stars Medical Disorder investigation There is a lot the signs dont say. Using court records and public documents from medical regulators on both sides of the border, the Star has pieced together eight sanctions against Barnard in Ontario, Michigan and California that stretch back more than a decade. Thats eight times Barnard has been penalized for a range of offences, including improper prescribing, signs of incompetence and failing to disclose pending discipline on a licence application. It also includes a guilty finding in Ontario for fraud under the provincial Health Insurance Act, which was unknown to the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) for almost a year, until March. Barnard, a family doctor and former head of the Essex County Medical Society, is among the most disciplined physicians in the Stars analysis of 159 cross-border doctors with sanctions in their records. He still holds licences in Ontario and Michigan. Some details appear on the websites of medical regulators in Ontario, Michigan and California. But none of Barnards public profiles lists the full history the Star has compiled, highlighting the weaknesses in the North American regulatory system that prevent medical boards and colleges from receiving timely disciplinary details and sharing that information with you. Barnard did not respond to phone messages at the Fresh Medical Spa or a hand-delivered letter, which was accepted by a manager who said the doctor was in the office, but not available. After repeated attempts, a spa receptionist told the Star Barnard had made it clear he is not going to be commenting. Read more: Bad doctors who cross the border can hide their dirty secrets. We dug them up Canada's medical watchdogs know more about bad doctors than they are telling you Regulators expect doctors to tell the truth about their past. Here's what happens when they don't Licensed in Ontario since 1980, Barnard first appeared before the colleges discipline committee on Nov. 28, 2006, following an investigation into how he charged patients for uninsured services and for giving some patients gold member cards, which they believed entitled them to preferential service, according to the decision by the Ontario college. Barnard didnt dispute the professional misconduct charges. In a decision reached that same day, Barnard was ordered to pay $2,500 and received a two-month suspension, one month of which was to be suspended if he complied with conditions. Six days before the college hearing, Barnard applied for a licence in Michigan. The application, obtained through a freedom of information request to Michigans licensing department, included the question: Have you ever had a federal or state health professional or controlled substance license revoked, suspended, or otherwise disciplined; been denied a license; or currently have disciplinary action pending against you? Barnards answer: No. In Michigan, Barnards lie went undiscovered for nearly a decade. The state granted him a licence in December 2006, eventually fining him $2,500 in July 2015 for failure to notify the regulator within 30 days. Investigative reporters Diana Zlomislic and Rachel Mendleson discuss the doctors discipline investigation which took 18 months to complete. Michigan learned of the 2006 Ontario suspension when it was examining another allegation against Barnard from the CPSO in 2014, said Pardeep Toor, spokesperson for the state licensing department. Toor did not provide detail about the allegation. (The Michigan action is not listed on Barnards Ontario profile, because the college does not post discipline imposed in other jurisdictions before Sept. 1, 2015.) In 2010, Barnard was criminally charged for submitting fraudulent OHIP billings, a charge that would not be resolved for seven years. Then, in the fall of 2012, the provinces chief coroner and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care contacted the CPSO over concerns about the standard of care Barnard was providing. Over the next five years, experts retained by the college conducted seven reviews of Barnards practice. The findings, as the college observed, were strikingly similar. In the case of a patient whose overdose death sparked the complaint from the coroner, one expert concluded in July 2013 that Barnard continued to prescribe drug combinations with known risks of harm, even after it became obvious the patient was unable to control her use, according to college records. The coroners report said the cause of death was multi-drug toxicity from controlled substances Barnard prescribed to the patient. In May 2015, a review of 37 patient files by another doctor found that Barnard displayed a lack of knowledge and judgment in each case. That June, another investigation, which looked at Barnards treatment of 25 patients, found his care of 11 patients did not meet the standard of practice and that he demonstrated various degrees of a lack of knowledge, skill or judgment. Seven patient charts showed evidence of a potential risk of exposing patients to harm or injury. California, where Barnard was licensed in 1990, took action in 2016, when the Ontario college issued a formal disciplinary charge and imposed an interim order, pending a hearing. According to California records, Ontario imposed the order the third sanction Barnard faced in February 2016, based on signs of incompetence and his failure to maintain the standard of practice in the care of three patients. The order imposed restrictions on Barnards practice, including a prohibition on prescribing narcotics, and led the California board to file charges. In September 2016, Barnards fourth sanction: an in-person caution from Ontario for a delay in diagnosis of a lymphoma. A patient at Barnards clinic had had an ultrasound in 2014 that showed abnormally enlarged nodes, but he made no attempt to contact the patient, the college decision states. A year later, the patient had developed multiple lumps which were very widespread. While Barnard acknowledged not following up on the ultrasound results, the committee was not convinced Dr. Barnard fully appreciates the repercussions of his error, the decision states. Barnard agreed to surrender his California licence in late 2016, his fifth sanction. In January 2017, yet another action: Barnard signed an undertaking with the Ontario college in which he agreed, among other things, that he would no longer practise family medicine and no longer bill OHIP. (Undertakings are agreements between doctors and the colleges complaints committee.) Barnard agreed to limit his practice to esthetics, cosmetics and nutritional counselling, which includes treatments such as Botox injections. These are the restrictions posted in his waiting rooms. A month later, the college announced Barnards seventh penalty: His licence had been suspended for four months after he admitted to allegations stemming from the seven reviews over five years. At the time, Barnard claimed to have a roster of more than 25,000 patients, the Windsor Star reported. Barnard told the paper that he was shocked by his patients overdose death, which he blamed for creating a witch hunt atmosphere. He said he would have loved to work another decade. Im retiring from family practice to avoid a $70,000 hearing that I would have to pay for, he said, adding that he will miss treating the many, many people Ive been able to help. Barnards Ontario profile contains a more complete record of his discipline history than those posted by California and Michigan. However, until recently, it was missing at least one key detail it is mandated to make public the latest sanction on our list. Court records obtained by the Star show the 2010 criminal case against Barnard resolved last spring. After seven years, Barnard pleaded guilty on May 31, 2017, to fraud under the provincial Health Insurance Act a lesser offence that does not result in a criminal record. He was fined $8,000, given two years of probation and ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution. The next day, four criminal charges of fraud over $5,000 were withdrawn at the request of the Crown. In an email, a college spokesperson said that as part of the annual renewal process, physicians are required to notify the CPSO of any criminal convictions that occurred since the previous years renewal. That process is about to commence for the previous year. In Michigan, Barnards profile does not list actions in Ontario or the fraud case. Toor said the regulator became aware of the Ontario colleges decision in February 2017 when it was issued, through the National Practitioner Data Bank, an American clearing house containing information on malpractice payments and disciplinary actions that is not available to the public. He said there is an ongoing investigation and further actions are being considered. Ontario Health Minister Helena Jaczek says the provinces medical watchdog should provide patients with as full a picture as possible of physicians disciplinary and criminal histories after a Toronto Star investigation found the public is being deprived of information about sanctions imposed in other jurisdictions. Obviously, Im in favour of as much transparency as possible, Jaczek said in an interview at Queens Park on Thursday. I think that people have a right to know. The Stars 18-month investigation identified 159 disciplined doctors who have held licences on both sides of the Canada-U.S. border, and used public records to piece together their disciplinary histories across provincial, state and country lines. Ninety per cent of these doctors public profiles in Canada failed to fully report sanctions taken against them for a range of offences, including incompetence, improper prescribing, sexual misconduct and fraud, the investigation found. Read more: Bad doctors who cross the border can hide their dirty secrets. We dug them up Canada's medical watchdogs know more about bad doctors than they are telling you Regulators expect doctors to tell the truth about their past. Heres what happens when they dont The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO), the self-regulating body that oversees the provinces doctors, recently amended its bylaws to allow it to post some information about discipline imposed in other jurisdictions on its physician profiles. However, the college only posts sanctions imposed on Ontario doctors outside the province after Sept. 1, 2015. Jaczek said the disciplinary information on the colleges website should be retrospective. If a physician has committed an offence in another jurisdiction previously, say, in the U.S., I dont know why we couldnt add that, she said. Obviously, the longevity of a (physicians career) could go back 40 years, so one would want as full a picture as you could get. Considering the relatively small number of cross-border doctors with disciplinary histories, Jaczek said, the workload in terms of importing that data wouldnt be that onerous. I think it does require a little more of a conversation potentially between the ministry and the CPSO as to whether they could enhance that website, she said. I think there is room to improve. Investigative reporters Diana Zlomislic and Rachel Mendleson discuss the doctors discipline investigation which took 18 months to complete. Jaczek said she wont have an opportunity to discuss her concerns with the college before the June 7 election, but said the issue is certainly on an agenda should we return. Speaking to reporters at a transit event in Etobicoke on Thursday, Premier Kathleen Wynne said the province has worked with the CPSO to improve oversight but, in terms of the transparency, I think that is the question. I think we need to ask is there more that needs to be done in terms of peoples ability to get information? Wynne said. NDP health critic France Gelinas said greater transparency by the CPSO should have been mandated long ago. The health minister must demand the physicians college posts all disciplinary measures that have happened to any of their members, no matter what jurisdiction its from, she said. We know full well that physicians move. The CPSO is there to protect the public. People expect that. Lets meet peoples expectations. Earlier this week, Albertas health minister pledged to work with her provinces medical college to post information about sanctions imposed on its doctors by regulators in other jurisdictions. Sarah Hoffman also said she would review the colleges current practice of scrubbing all disciplinary details from doctors online profiles after five years. Unlike in the U.S., Canada has no national agency that collects and disseminates licensing and disciplinary information on doctors. The Stars investigation found some Canadian physicians colleges keep secret basic information readily disclosed by other regulators. Quebecs college, for example, told the Star that a physicians credentials when and where they graduated from medical school is confidential information. The secrecy of Canadian colleges is in sharp contrast to their counterparts in the U.S., where consumer legislation governs many medical boards and mandates openness. Jaczek said there should be more consistency between medical regulators across Canada in terms of making disciplinary information public. I think it would be something that if I should be in this position (after the election) I would bring to that federal-provincial-territorial table, she said. The Ontario government will provide funding for Torontos relief line subway, the extension of the Yonge north line as well as the Waterfront LRT, the premier said Thursday at an announcement with Mayor John Tory. The two signed a memorandum of understanding at GO Transits Willowbrook maintenance yard in the citys west end, an agreement that officially gets construction on the citys SmartTrack project moving along, with the city funding six stations to be ready by 2025. Provincial funds for the subway and LRT were included in the spring budget, but specific projects were not named at that time. The announcement is about getting shovels in the ground on the next phase of major transit lines, Wynne said. Both Wynne and Tory said the next step is to finalize federal funding so that we can move forward. A total of $9 billion will be put towards the three projects from the different levels of government. Were building the kind of integrated rapid transit systems that a growing exciting region like this absolutely has to have, Wynne said at the announcement. And were moving forward, we cant allow Toronto to be dragged back into endless debates. The days of throwing out plans and starting from scratch, those have to be over. We have to just continue to move forward. Taking a swipe at Progressive Conservative Leader and former city councillor Doug Ford, Wynne added: We all remember what happened between 2010 and 2014 and I will just say that was the last time that Doug Ford was involved in running the city. Were still paying the price for the turmoil and the cancellation of transit projects that were underway ... the wasted years where there was not progress and there were millions of dollars of work that did not get done and did not build one new inch of subway or LRT. Tory said the memorandum of understanding the two signed represents a written agreement between the city and the province to move forward, for example, with a service level of six to 10 minutes in peak times for SmartTrack. Under the SmartTrack plan, the province will cover operating as well as ongoing and longer-term maintenance costs. And I think people will really appreciate the specificity of that and the fact that it is going to achieve that level of service. The six stations are Finch-Kennedy, Lawrence-Kennedy, Gerrard-Carlaw, East Harbour (Stouffville/Lakeshore East corridor), and King-Liberty and St. Clair-Old Weston. The trains are to run between 5.5 and 10 minutes during rush hour. Funding a northern extension of the Yonge line would add further pressure on an already overcrowded subway line the TTC is struggling to manage. The southern portion of the relief line, proposed from Pape Station on Line 2 to Queen Station on the Yonge line, would significantly help with congestion. But experts say the relief line needs to be extended north to at least Eglinton to provide longer-lasting relief. Last year, Tory ruffled provincial feathers when he threatened to block plans for a Yonge-line extension if Wynne didnt agree to pay for the relief line. The relief line north has yet to be advanced beyond early planning stages. With files from Jennifer Pagliaro Read more about: WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trumps new lawyer Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday that Trump repaid his personal attorney Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, directly contradicting the presidents past statements. During an appearance on Fox News Channels Hannity, Giuliani said the money had been funneled through the law firm and the president repaid it. Asked if Trump knew about the arrangement, Giuliani said: He didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this for my clients. I dont burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people. Trump told reporters several weeks ago that he didnt know about the $130,000 payment to Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election. Last month, a reporter on Air Force One pressed Trump about the payment, asking him: Did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels? Trump responded: No. Donald Trumps new attorney, former New York City mayor and U.S. prosecutor Rudy Giuliani contradicted the U.S. presidents account of a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels. The reporter then asked: Then why did Michael Cohen make (the payment), if there was no truth to her allegations? Youll have to ask Michael Cohen, Trump said. Michaels my attorney, and youll have to ask Michael. Another reporter asked the president: Do you know where he got the money to make that payment? No, Trump said. I dont know. Read more: Trump ignores question about Stormy Daniel interview on 60 Minutes Porn star Stormy Daniels sues Trump for defamation Giuliani, who joined Trumps legal team last month, said the president had repaid Cohen over several months, indicating the payments continued through at least the presidential transition, if not into his presidency. He also says the payment is going to turn out to be perfectly legal because that money was not campaign money. President Trump, last month, denied knowing about the $130,000 his personal attorney paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels. This apparently contradicts his new attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who told Fox News Trump reimbursed Michael Cohen. (The Associated Press) Daniels says she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 and was paid to keep quiet as part of a nondisclosure agreement she is now seeking to invalidate. She has also filed a defamation suit against Trump, who denies having sex with Daniels. Michael Avenatti, who represents Daniels, called the comment a stunning revelation. Mr. Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people, he said. According to Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen were co-conspirators in a felony, he said. Now it is time for justice to be served, and we intend to serve it. Cohens payment to the presidents accuser in the weeks leading up to the presidential election could be cast as an illegal contribution but not if he were acting on the presidents behest and with his money. With files from The Washington Post Read more about: WASHINGTONPresident Donald Trump is asking a federal judge in Maryland to dismiss a lawsuit that argues that Trumps acceptance of payments from foreign and state governments at his Washington hotel violates the U.S. Constitution. A private lawyer for the president wrote in court papers this week that the suit should be tossed because the president cannot be sued in the matter either as an individual or in his official capacity. At issue is the Constitutions emoluments clause, which prohibits a president and other government employees from accepting gifts and payments from foreign or state governments without congressional approval. In this case, the payments come from foreign governments that have patronized the Trump International Hotel near the White House since his inauguration in January 2017. Read more: Trump has complained for months that Comey leaked classified info but are his claims credible? Trumps political attacks on FBI make U.S. less safe, Comey says Lawyer says Mueller floated idea of issuing Trump subpoena as President slams disgraceful leak of questions Ethics experts had warned that this kind of situation could arise because Trump refused to divest from his financial holdings when he became president. Trump instead promised to turn over profits from foreign government business at Trump Organization properties to the U.S. Treasury. The first such annual payment was made earlier this year for $151,470 (U.S.) but the company would not say how that figure was determined. Maryland and the District of Columbia originally sued Trump only as president, but later accused him as a private citizen after U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte raised that legal issue at a hearing in January. Messitte noted at the time that the original suit was not challenging a presidential function. Theyre challenging the president as an individual. Trump lawyer William S. Consovoy, in his court filing, argued that federal officials can only be targeted for accepting unconstitutional payments in their official government function and not as private citizens. But in the case of the president, Consovoy added, Trump is also absolutely immune from legal action in his official capacity. Consovoy added that this litigation has the potential to divert the Presidents attention from his official duties. Consovoys arguments suggest Trump is beyond the reach of the law, said Norman Eisen, chair of the left-leaning public policy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which is a co-counsel with the two jurisdictions against Trump. Eisen, who was chief ethics officer in the Obama administration, said the court has already rebuffed one cluster of those arguments relating to Mr. Trumps official capacity, and we will vigorously argue it should do the same here regarding his personal capacity. A city spokesperson said Washingtons response would come in upcoming legal briefs. A Maryland official did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Attorneys in the case are scheduled to argue over the constitutional aspects of the emoluments clause in a hearing June 11. Read more about: SAN FRANCISCODetectives in Northern California are trying to get a DNA profile on the Zodiac Killer to find him with the family tree-tracing technology investigators used to make a recent arrest in another decades-old case. Vallejo police Det. Terry Poyser tells the Sacramento Bee his agency has submitted two envelopes that contained letters from the Zodiac Killer for DNA analysis. The recently developed technology was used to arrest Joseph DeAngelo, the alleged Golden State Killer. Poyser says the department is working with a private lab to try to obtain a full DNA profile from saliva on the envelopes flaps and stamps. Results are expected in the next few weeks. The Zodiac Killer killed five people in Northern California in 1968 and 1969. He sent taunting letters and cryptograms to police and newspapers that included astrological symbols. Read more: Detectives used genealogical website to help identify suspect in Golden State Killer case Former FBI director James Comey on Thursday chastised Rudy Giuliani, a recent addition to U.S. President Donald Trumps legal team, for referring to FBI agents in New York as stormtroopers during a television interview. During an appearance Wednesday night on Fox News, Giuliani decried the FBI raid last month of the Manhattan home, office and hotel room of Trumps longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. In doing so, Giuliani referred to the agents as stormtroopers, a term originally used to describe specialist soldiers of the German Army in World War I and adopted by the Nazi Party for members of its paramilitary wing. I know the New York FBI, Comey, who once served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, wrote on Twitter on Thursday morning. There are no stormtroopers there; just a group of people devoted to the rule of law and the truth. Our country would be better off if our leaders tried to be like them, rather than comparing them to Nazis. Read more: Rudy Giuliani, Trumps new lawyer, says president repaid Michael Cohen $130,000 for payment to porn star Trump has complained for months that Comey leaked classified info but are his claims credible? Trumps political attacks on FBI make U.S. less safe, Comey says Though Giuliani was not mentioned by name in the tweet, it was clear that Comey was targeting him. Giuliani also once served as U.S. attorney in the Southern District, overseeing federal law enforcement agents, before he became mayor of New York. In recent days, as Giuliani has made a string of media appearances, he has taken repeated shots at Comey, whom Trump fired last year. Comey is currently on a publicity tour to promote a new book that is highly critical of Trump. During an appearance on Fox News on Thursday morning, Giuliani accused special counsel Robert Mueller of trying to trap Trump into perjury by making him sit for an extended interview as part of his probe into Russian interference in the 2016 campaign. Giuliani said he feared that Muellers team would be more inclined to believe contradictory testimony from Comey on a range of issues. Giuliani called Comey a disgraceful liar, adding that they should put him in the same jail cell as Martha Stewart, the business executive and television personality. As the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Comey prosecuted Stewart in 2003 for making false statements to federal investigators, among other charges, related to a stock trading case. Stewart served five months in federal prison. During a raid last month, FBI agents seized records about Cohens clients and personal finances including documents related to money Cohen paid porn star Stormy Daniels to remain silent about an alleged decade-old affair with Trump. Read more about: Several police officers were injured in a large explosion Wednesday evening during a standoff with a barricaded suspect in North Haven, Conn., officials said. The explosion was so powerful that residents more than a kilometre away said their homes shook. The property where it happened burst into flames and was still burning more than four hours later, filling the neighbourhood with smoke. Yale New Haven Hospital confirmed on Twitter that it had received seven patients. The towns first selectman, Michael J. Freda, and its third selectman, Sally J. Buemi, said the injuries were not life-threatening. The North Haven Police Department had responded to the scene several hours earlier in response to a domestic-violence call. Freda said the suspect had barricaded his wife inside their house, which property records indicate is owned by John and Deborah Sayre. A SWAT team was subsequently called in, and officers tried to gently and compassionately coax the individual out of his home, Freda said, but the man would not come out. Then the emergency responders went around back, where there was a barn, and when they entered the barn, he said, the barn exploded. Buemi said she felt the blast in her own home about three-quarters of a mile away. Another explosion followed about 20 minutes later, Freda said. He added that officials believed the blasts were from explosive devices, not an accidental cause like a gas leak. The woman escaped, but the mans location was unknown, Freda said, adding that it was possible he was still inside. The investigation was turned over to the Connecticut State Police. We heard a loud noise, said Sandra Celano, who lives nearby. It sounded like a large like a bomb. Thats how I can describe it. It shook the house. Pretty scary. Celano went outside after hearing the explosion, she said, but around 15 minutes later, officers told her and other residents to go back inside for their safety. Another neighbour, Carol Ann Phelps, lives about 500 m from the explosion but said it was so loud that she initially thought it might have come from her own basement. Reached by phone around 30 minutes later, she said the street was teeming with emergency vehicles. I couldnt tell you how many police are right here, she said. The internet ranks among the greatest innovations in history. Yet in spite of continuing progress, four billion people around the world still remain offline, and some of them live in Canada. The bulk of todays public discourse takes place online, so those who lack access to digital media are less likely to be civically engaged. The stakes are highest for Indigenous people, whose deprivation limits their political participation. Their assimilation, should they continue to abandon reserves, also jeopardizes Canadas diverse character. Canadians are obliged to recognize that fortifying our democratic society, and reconciling with Indigenous Peoples in a tangible manner, requires us to remedy the digital disparity that exists. For many Indigenous communities, gaining reliable and affordable broadband access is a matter of cultural survival. The community of Maskwacis, which comprises four First Nations reserves, is a telling example. Located in central Alberta, many there have long struggled with gang violence, addiction, and a shortage of potable water. They are also missing an acceptable communications infrastructure, the lack of which is stymieing economic development. At least one residents resourcefulness gives cause for optimism. An Al Jazeera documentary last summer showcased Bruce Buffalos effort to help revitalize Maskwacis by providing free Wi-Fi to his neighbourhood. Bruce told me last fall that fundraising has helped him sustain the project. Still, the reserves rural location forces him to pay a high price relative to the quality of service received, and he is looking to raise more money to expand coverage. As a tech entrepreneur, Bruces MaskwacisFibre project is his livelihood. In search of a better life, Indigenous Canadians are migrating to cities faster than any other ethnic group. Although young people who choose to leave reserves will pass down aspects of their ancestors culture, the communities they leave behind will atrophy so long as successive generations withdraw. On-reserve development can ensure that no one is forced to choose between their culture and their future. Some might say digital access cannot be a priority compared to the mental health and contaminated-water crises that continue to plague Indigenous communities. Compared to these problems, high-speed internet may seem like a luxury to which attention can be postponed. Yet it would be a mistake to put broadband on the back burner. Peering in on a dire situation from a position of privilege makes one vulnerable to the bigotry of low expectations. We must guard against the callous and hypocritical temptation to treat the meagre gains of impoverished communities as good enough if the ensuing standards dont meet those which we take for granted ourselves. It is true that physical, logistical, and fiscal hurdles will hinder infrastructure development, especially for Inuit communities whose remoteness poses immense engineering challenges. It is also true that appeals to pragmatism too often serve as cover for apathy and double standards. And while a modern digital communications infrastructure on its own is no silver bullet for the poverty trap, without one a brighter future is impossible. The internet occupies and connects people, helps them search for work, and enables telemedicine. Digital media make learning more accessible and engaging for students, offering them greater incentive to finish school. Tech projects like Bruce Buffalos have the potential to allay a number of the most pressing difficulties that Indigenous reserves face, including brain drain. The standard of living in Canada is one of the highest in the world except in many Indigenous communities. That is a glaring caveat. Providing all with satisfactory digital access will enrich Canadas economy and democracy by incorporating new voices into our public discourse. Most of all, though, closing the internet gap will set the stage for real, lasting reconciliation. Digital access permits Indigenous people to become equal citizens in more than word alone: by stimulating economic development and promoting civil engagement, it returns local autonomy to Indigenous communities, instantiating a sovereignty that should never have been taken from them in the first place. Canadians must live up to our values by bridging the digital divide. Failing to act decisively would mean allowing a great injustice to fester, and risks the erosion of Indigenous cultures over time, all to the detriment of our democracys unique vibrancy. Brad Stollery is a federal public servant by day and a blogger by night. He grew up in central Alberta, but now lives in Ottawa. Read more about: U.S. President Donald Trump and former FBI Director James Comey dont agree on much anymore. One of the more alarming sentiments they did share near the end of Comeys chaotic tenure last year was an exchange in which Trump suggested that journalists might talk about their sources if they spent a couple days in jail, according to a Comey memo released as part of his book tour. Comey said he laughed at the suggestion. Trumps antipathy toward the media is well known, but to see the depth of his hatred for journalists come out in a private exchange like this with a federal law official threatens more sinister days to come. For the 262 journalists currently languishing in jails in countries such as Turkey, China and Egypt, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, government punishment for reporting the truth is no laughing matter. Today is World Press Freedom Day, and this year its more important than ever. Threats, intimidation, even killings of journalists for their work is on the rise from South America to Europe to Asia. Elections are coming this year in some of the more challenging countries, including Myanmar, Indonesia, and Mexico. One Mexican journalist, Emilio Gutierrez Soto, is already sitting in jail in the United States. He faces deportation by Trump a decade after fleeing here from Mexico in fear for his life after being named to a hit list of journalists. As president of the World Editors Forum, a group of international journalists tied to news and publishing organization WAN-IFRA, I watch colleagues around the world bravely fight oppression and privacy violations in their countries. Reporting to overturn state capture in South Africa; deep state censorship in Pakistan, where news organizations are forced to remove stories or stop reporting by unknown forces tied to the security apparatus; investigations of digital media in India, where editors say they are routinely intimidated by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, despite constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech. My WhatsApp editors group list buzzes daily with each new challenge. Just Wednesday, 13 more journalists were jailed in Turkey, which has more than 70 currently behind bars. We work together to support each other and lobby governments as best we can, but without public support it is always a difficult fight. That support does exist, when the public gets riled up enough. We saw it two months ago in Slovakia, after journalist Jan Kuciak and his finance were shot dead in their home, apparently by local mafia. Public protests swelled in the days following the murders, to the point where several government officials were forced to resign for alleged ties to the mafia. We saw it after the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia in October, who was blown up in her car near her home. European officials have piled pressure on Maltese authorities to solve the murder in recent weeks. Arrests have been made in both cases, but nobody believes the people who ordered the killings are anywhere near justice. In fact, more than 90 per cent of killings of journalists worldwide have gone unsolved, according to the CPJ. Back in the U.S., the more Trump agitates, the more his supporters turn against the press. Colleagues covering the president report death threats and online trolling daily, including horrible verbal harassment against woman reporters. The idea of jailing journalists may have been a shared joke to the president and Comey, but its no joke to an industry that is fighting for its life in a growing list of countries. The U.S. fell two places this year in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index, put together by Reporters Without Borders. It placed at No. 45 among 180 countries in terms of press freedom, above Italy and behind Romania. Think about that. Romania. Trump is to blame here. Verbal violence leads to actual violence. We can see it playing out right in front of us. Jailings in Turkey and harassment in India are happening. Dont take free speech for granted, and dont wait for a journalist to be murdered to protest. Wherever you are including the U.S. it can happen there too. And is. David Callaway is president, World Editors Forum and CEO of The Street, USA. Read more about: In a show of solidarity with residential school survivors, Parliamentarians this week called on Pope Francis to visit Canada and apologize for the role that Roman Catholic priests, nuns and other officials played in the abuse of Indigenous children. It was the latest nudge to the Pope to do the right thing, following a personal appeal Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made last year during a visit to the Vatican. Survivors of the church-run residential school system deserve no less. But while an apology from the Pope would help to heal the wounds of yesterdays Indigenous children, Parliament and the provinces should focus more on what they can do to protect the children of today. The uncomfortable fact is that in todays Canada more Indigenous children are being taken out of their homes and communities than were displaced at the height of the residential school system. The difference is that those responsible now are provincial child welfare services, which place them in foster care at rates far higher than their share of the population. Consider these disturbing numbers. In 2016 more than 14,000 Indigenous children were in foster care. They accounted for just over half of all foster kids in the country even though they make up only 7 per cent of children in Canada. By comparison, at the height of the residential school system in the late 1950s, about 11,500 Indigenous children were housed there. Of course, residential schools werent the same as foster care. They were rife with abuse of all kinds, which has been well documented. But one of the greatest injuries done to Indigenous children back then was the simple fact of severing their ties with community and family. Foster care can inflict similar long-lasting damage. Indeed, earlier this year Indigenous Services Minister Jane Philpott herself called the over-use of foster care for Indigenous kids a humanitarian crisis. Children are being apprehended because of poverty, a lack of adequate housing, or food, she noted, adding: We should be addressing the housing issue or the adequate food issue, not taking kids from their families. Philpott had it right. The federal government has been at fault in the past for underfunding reserves, with children paying the price. In 2016, in fact, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal slammed Ottawa for discriminating against vulnerable First Nations children by providing less money for child welfare services than would be available off-reserve. Perversely, that creates an incentive to bring children into care, the tribunal found. There has been a great deal of attention focused on exposing the damage wrought by residential schools. Persuading the Pope to deliver a personal apology for the role of the church in that tragic chapter of our history would be another welcome step along that path. But how much more useful it would be for governments to pay serious attention to the wrongs still being inflicted on far too many Indigenous children. A coordinated effort by Ottawa and the provinces to limit the use of foster care would be a perfect place to start. Apologies are good. Action on present problems is better. Toronto residents could be forgiven if their eyes glazed over at yet another revelation about a failed Toronto Parking Authority land deal promoted by Councillor Giorgio Mammoliti. After all, the proposed transaction which would have have seen the city overpay for a plot of North York land in Mammolitis Ward 7 by $2.63 million has more twists and turns than a game of Snakes and Ladders. It took the citys auditor general Beverly Romeo-Beehler, 10 months of investigating before she concluded the deal resulted from from a hairball of relationships and potential conflicts involving Mammoliti, the local business improvement association, a lobbyist, a sign consultant, and two parking authority executives who were fired in April. Not satisfied, the city hired Torys LLP to investigate the now-cancelled deal and, not surprisingly, Mammoliti doesnt look good in that report, either. It says that Mammoliti made express and direct threats to a city staff member while advocating for the land deal in his ward. It also says Mammoliti refused to be interviewed by Torys investigators unless they paid his legal fees or sent him questions in advance. This is ridiculous. Mammoliti is already being paid by taxpayers. He should want to be forthcoming about all the business dealings he undertakes as an elected official. After two years of this ongoing saga, which is now being investigated by the Ontario Provincial Police, its time for Mammoliti to clearly explain his role in this mess. He does, after all, answer to constituents. For its part, council should also be more transparent by making public the secret Torys report, which the Stars Jennifer Pagliaro obtained and reported on this week. As Councillor Josh Matlow said last summer: We have a situation here that just smells. Agreed. Its time both Mammoliti and council cleared the air for good on how this bad deal almost went down. Voters deserve the unvarnished truth. Asylum-seekers are not causing a crisis for Canada, Opinion, May 2 Senator Ratna Omidvars opinion that the publics concern with border crossings between official checkpoints is based on anti-immigration populism is diverting attention from the real basis of public concern, which I believe is twofold. First, these border crossings are illegal. Despite the senators characterization of these crossings as irregular or informal, the bottom line is that they are illegal, since they violate the Canadian Customs Act and are done to avoid the Safe Third Country Agreement between Canada and the United States. Second, the right to claim asylum under Canadian immigration law is reserved for those who are fleeing persecution on specific grounds or are in danger of torture, risk to their life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. Large numbers of these asylum seekers do not meet these requirements. They are economic migrants or are attempting to leave a country where they are uncomfortable with the current political climate. These are not recognized grounds for an asylum claim. A fundamental principle of the Canadian Constitution is the rule of law and there is no reason that this principle should be abandoned. Greg Sheehan, Mississauga Do the numbers not warrant the creation of a proper border crossing at the Chemin Roxham? (More than 90 per cent of the 20,953 irregular asylum seeker crossings happened at the border with Quebec.) Irregular crossings would then become regular and a bridge to a new beginning. True Canadians build bridges, not walls. Monika Buxton, Schomberg Theres at least one thing Kanye West needs to get straight. As long as there was slavery, there was resistance. As long as there is racism, there will be resistance. And as long as there are history erasers who say things like slavery was a choice, there will be resistance. It might take the form of #MuteKanye protest, or a helpful list of books to strengthen free thinking, or even a brilliant explosion of satirical comedy on Twitter under #IfSlaveryWasAChoice. Jamie Foxx joined a chorus of voices suggesting West was mentally unwell. It is very possible that West who on Tuesday told TMZ, When you hear about slavery for 400 years, for 400 years? That sounds like a choice is carefully orchestrating outrage to time the ensuing publicity with the release of his upcoming album. Heck, if capitalism enables exploitation of social ills for financial benefits think of advertising companies using racism as a publicity stunt why cant a Black man get his share? But even pretzels can be twisted only so much. West isnt operating in an America of the 90s, bursting with health with a good economy and optimistically wearing a so-called post-racial glow. He is operating in an era when an openly racist and xenophobic U.S. government has deliberately brought an ugly past to the forefront, when white nationalism is on the rise and xenophobia considered debate-worthy again. Only days before West spouted his embarrassing views, a top staffer at a pro-Trump advocacy group was defending past racist comments as statistical observations. In 2013 and 2014, Carl Higbie, now director of the non-profit group America First Policies, commented on a lax of morality in the Black race, and on how Black women thought having babies was a form of employment. And then, this: I believe wholeheartedly, wholeheartedly, that the Black race as a whole, not totally, is lazier than the white race, period. This, in a country that became a superpower and built white wealth off of Black labour. When West, a Black man, supports a racist president and denigrates the collective Black experience, its not a simple matter of disagreement. It damages the cause immeasurably. Backlash as Kanye West suggests slavery was a choice. West was already dealing with angry comments after saying he "just loves" the U.S. President. (The Canadian Press) This is because, unlike white people, people of colour are unfairly burdened with the expectation of speaking in one voice, especially on issues of racism. A non-white minority who might not experience racism, or is simply sidling up to white power, is held up as proof positive that all the others advocating for racial equality are liars or exaggerators. While this is true in any circumstance, in a time of heightened racial tensions Wests words have no chance of harmlessly bouncing off internet walls. Instead of treating him like the modern-day court jester he is the man also said MLK and Malcolm X are too far in the past and not relatable in that interview his words are being seized on with delight by racists everywhere, who are hailing his ignorance as independence. Hes talking about mental slavery, they say. About not letting the past drag you down today. Kanye himself backpedalled somewhat later on Tuesday. The reason why I brought up the 400 years point is because we cant be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. We need free thought now. Even the statement was an example of free thought. It was just an idea. Once again I am being attacked for presenting new ideas. Right. The very new idea of victim blaming. As someone promptly said on social media, slavery was only successful due to mental imprisonment. Uh, no. How comforting to skim over chains, whips, guns, castration, amputation, rape and torture and call it mental imprisonment. How wonderfully absolving of white supremacy to think that Black people are struggling simply because they havent shaken off their self-imposed slavery mentality. Let them change. No need then to think of freed slaves left illiterate and hungry, segregation, targeted criminalization with vagrancy laws and drug laws, denial of housing, denial of proper education, continued denial of social value, and discrimination in education and the job market. No need to think of studies that definitively end the race versus class debate, with data showing how even the wealthiest Black boys turn into adults who earn less than white men who began with similar backgrounds and how they are likely to become poorer over time. Instead, if only they Black people pulled themselves up by the bootstraps. No need for the rest of us to change. As you were, society. As you were. Shree Paradkar writes about discrimination and identity. You can follow her @shreeparadkar Read more about: The other morning, I was laying in bed. And I had to take my dog out for a walk. Taking him for a walk means going outside, a place where my bed is not. The outdoors is a long-standing nemesis of mine. Going there encapsulates a large portion of my anxieties and frankly, every bad thing that has happened started with leaving the house. So, in lieu of attending to my responsibilities, I wondered which major tech company would come up with a robot assistant who could take the dog for a stroll. Which didnt solve the poor dogs problems and ultimately posed a serious threat to my carpet. I would love for technology to solve all my problems. Which is why I empathize deeply with all the people grappling with last weeks attack in Toronto and some of the suggestions theyve put forward. In the days that followed, we learned more about the suspect, a young man who seems to be fuelled by incel culture. Incels believe that it is womens fault that women arent having sex with them. Many women responded to say, Yeah, these guys are a danger and weve been saying it. There are weeks when I have to cut through a thicket of rape threats to get to my moms email about brunch at Grandmas. Then the men piped up. But who cares? wrote Stephen Marche of the suspects apparent association with incel ideology. So how should we react to mass murder? In many cases, by doing nothing, wrote Jonathan Kay. A mass murder perpetrated because of a murderous disdain for 51 per cent of the world requires no action, he insists, except maybe to get more self-driving cars. Hes not the only man to suggest that technology will solve misogyny. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat suggested that sex robots could be one solution to the we must give men sex problem. In this vision of the future, sex workers, who are people but Im not sure Douthat knows that, can also be drafted to hand out a sexual favour to the local leader of the He-Man Woman Haters Club. The headlines for these piece could all read: Man Speaks Loudly On Problem He Doesnt Want To Solve, Really. Indifference, self-driving cars and an electronic sexcape. These could not be more gendered solutions. Its the old magicians trick of misdirection. If you look in the box now, youll see that the misogyny you saw earlier has vanished and is now a treatise on how not getting laid is like discrimination. It is like looking at the hanging of women at the Salem witch trials and concluding that all the drama could have been spared if those ladies worked out their neck muscles. If the answer to misogyny was technology, feminism could have had a wrap-up party when the hand-held vacuum came out. If I learned anything that morning, its that you can dream of all the fancy technology you want, but theres still a large hairy dog in the house and you have to take him out. Like misogyny, no matter how much you ignore it, it will eventually ruin your house. Clarification- May 4, 2018: This column refers to writer Jonathan Kay as insisting that a mass murder perpetuated because of a murderous disdain for 51 per cent of the population requires no action. Kay did not say those words. That statement represents the StarMetro columnist's opinion of views about mass murder Kay expressed in an April 26 National Post column. The Senate seems determined to slow the Liberal governments timeline for marijuana legalization and Justin Trudeau seems just as determined to deliver his legalization on time give or take a few weeks. The prime minister will get his way, but that doesnt mean the Senate, and Indigenous leaders, are not flagging some important issues. Opposition Conservatives would like nothing more than to push the rollout of legal recreational pot into an election year, the better to take political advantage of the inevitable stumbles that will come with such a momentous move. So, their senators can find a danger under every leaf of every plant, and some of their proposed amendments or complaints can fall into the category of frivolous or vexatious. Senate committees studying the cannabis legislation, Bill C-45, have proposed amendments to prohibit home cultivation, leaving the authority to regulate the matter of home grown pot to the provinces. They want the THC levels to be posted on all cannabis products and Conservative senators have unsuccessfully pushed to have the minimum age for legal purchase raised from 18 to 21 and to limit the THC level, keeping it much lower for younger consumers. It also tried and failed to have the legislation (except for provisions which prohibit promotion of cannabis products) take effect one year after a companion bill on cannabis impaired driving came into force. But there are more substantive recommendations. The Senate aboriginal peoples committee has called for implementation to be delayed for up to a year for a reason that should make Liberals wince, that the government hasnt consulted properly with Indigenous communities where youth may be more vulnerable to drug abuse or with Indigenous leadership on revenue sharing. In essence, that committee said legalized cannabis promises more pain with no financial gain for Indigenous communities. The Assembly of First Nations, already showing its impatience with the speed with which Trudeaus reconciliation promises are manifesting themselves in concrete policies, raised the same matter this week. It passed a resolution calling on First Nations to share in the marijuana excise tax that is now shared solely between the provinces and the federal government, and it vowed to lobby the government for this change. There is no reason such consultation should delay the legislation, but Trudeau risks Indigenous pushback if their communities cannot share in revenue. Senators have also raised an issue that deserves further attention, the potential peril for Canadian travellers at the U.S. border. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale says no laws will be changed it will still be illegal for pot to be taken over the border in either direction but Canadians should remain vigilant because they can be barred from the U.S. for admitting to marijuana use, even if it is legal. It would not be paranoid to believe more marijuana questions at the U.S. border might follow marijuana legalization on this side. The Senate committee on national security requested the government table a plan to protect Canadian travellers at the border and the chair of the committee, former OPP commissioner and Trudeau appointee Gwen Boniface, said the government must continue to make diplomatic overtures to Washington. Goodale says he is doing just that and has had conversations with past and present Donald Trump homeland security chiefs to ensure the U.S. understands the reasoning behind the legislative change. His office downplays concerns, saying marijuana use already affects border operations because one in eight Canadians use cannabis, yet 400,000 people move between the two countries each day, virtually seamlessly. Trudeau Thursday promised full speed ahead on his timetable, but he should be pushed on another matter that the Senate has ignored. His government is illogically using resources and clogging court systems by charging people with pot possession. Goodales office said Thursday the government will study solutions to make things more fair for those who had been charged with possession of small amounts of marijuana. In the meantime, as chronicled in this newspaper, those being charged are disproportionately young, Black and Indigenous. The current pardon system is a mess and the cost of $631 in processing costs alone has driven down the number of applications. The government knows that because it consulted Canadians on it and heard the complaints. In the meantime it makes little sense to keep preaching the law is the law when you are hellbent on changing it. Tim Harper is a former Star reporter who is a current freelance columnist based in Toronto. Follow him on Twitter: @nutgraf1 Read more about: I recently watched one of the Hot Docs docs, The Silence of Others. Like most classical documentaries, its about justice, directly or indirectly. Its set in Spain, where aging victims of the fascist era from the end of civil war in 1939 till the death of the dictator, Franco, in 1975 still fight for a reckoning. Some simply want disinterment of their parents from anonymous mass graves, so they can be reburied together with family. Its painstaking. They spend years in court, get authority to dig up the scattered bones, sift them like archeologists, then await DNA identification. For what? To be buried again? A dead mans 88-year-old daughter sighs with relief when her efforts succeed: Poor thing. He spent his whole life underground. Another was tortured as a student in the 1960s by Billy el nino, Billy the kid, now retired in Madrid and whose extradition to Argentina for crimes against humanity, has been rejected. Hes disappointed but feels better when Madrid city council renames the street he lives on, named for a Franco general, the butcher of Badajoz, who had 4,000 people murdered in a bull ring. Hell no longer have to wake up each morning on Calle del General Yague. Are these sheer romantic, idealistic, impractical and in this case, quixotic, responses? I dont think so. You could measure their results in quantifiable, physiological terms: lessened stress, rate of breathing, perhaps extended longevity, better relationships. Quixotic and practical dont exclude each other. I think this is how people often make political decisions, from choosing to sacrifice your life for a cause to casting a vote in a provincial election: in a chaotic blender of emotion, calculation, ideology etc. Theres been a recent turn in the social sciences to factor in elements of feeling alongside rational self-interest in areas like economics. But only academics, pundits and Cambridge Analytica make these distinctions neatly. If you ask people why they vote as they do, they often say they dont know. Like a U.K. voter who told the Financial Times that Jeremy Corbyns stubbornness in the face of political prudence is almost like he cant help himself, which I kind of like about him. I prefer this model the chaotic blender for why voters stick with Trump or are ready to go with Doug Ford, over straightforward explanations such as racism, misogyny, stupidity, privilege etc. In many cases, I dont think its just a matter of raw emotion or ugly motives taking over. The blender is always switched on. (Nor is Trump the only president who lies constantly, despite the daily lists: presidents normally lie but those lies were treated deferentially until now.) What has changed isnt the basis for voting but the suite of options viewed as acceptable. That used to mean the main parties and candidates acting within traditional norms. That model ran aground after the crash of 2008, when the parties and leaders capitulated to big money and shamefully sold out ordinary people. As a result, they lost their automatic precedence. New actors and modes of conduct came into play, like Trump and Ford. What I like about the blender model is it still leaves room for change and for wide swings between options, versus being stuck in a static politics of us versus them. The proof of this is the success of Bernie Sanders and Corbyn; in fact the same voters seem to gravitate to both (socalled) extremes. Canadas not quite there yet, even with Doug Ford. Look how quickly he reversed himself on building in the Greenbelt, like any pol. Trump mightve backtracked but hed never have admitted it, as Ford did because, I govern through the people, not through the government. (And hes running to be the government? I used to think of Doug as Robs brain. Got that wrong, clearly.) In Joyce Waynes new novel, Last Night of the World, she says, quoting Masha Gessen, that resistance means making a choice even when the options are unacceptable. Her novel is about another leftist generation, Canadian Jews in the last century, caught between Stalinism and a vile capitalism. Her point is: bad choices are still choices, but not choosing at all means freedoms demise. Rick Salutin appears Fridays. Read more about: VANCOUVER If all goes as planned, the topic of Anna Mittelholzs three university degrees so far is about to finally take off Saturday just after 4 a.m. The University of B.C. doctoral student will be at Californias Vandenberg Air Force Base, three hours up the coast from Los Angeles, to watch the launch of the InSight mission. Its the first lander sent to Mars in roughly six years, and Mittelholzs first launch. Shes on the international scientific team set to dig a borehole up to five metres into the red planets crust. There with her will be her supervisor, planetary geophysicist Catherine Johnson, and a fellow PhD student. Its an important day for the UBC team, so Mittelholz can only imagine how it must feel for its lead investigators at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The senior researchers have awaited a permanent geophysical base on another planet for decades to measure seismic activity shaking Mars from within (marsquakes, Johnson said), and how heat flows deep within the planet. The InSight mission is long overdue; NASA had to call off its original 2016 launch for technical problems. They have been working on Martian seismicity since before I was born, Mittelholz, 27, told StarMetro in her teams UBC Earth Sciences laboratory. I think its going to be quite emotional for some of the people involved. Of course, for me too. Holding a globe portraying the planet shes studied since her undergraduate degree in her country, Germany, she pointed out the landing site in a vast plain just south of Elysium Mons, a 14-kilometre tall volcano in Mars low-lying northern hemisphere (on the globe, the hemisphere is mostly blue, indicating lower elevations). Aboard InSight is a seismometre to measure marsquakes so sensitive it can capture movement as small as a single hydrogen atom, Johnson explained in a phone interview from Maryland, where she attended a planetary science conference before heading to California for regular InSight researcher meetings and this weekends launch. The missions weve had over the last decade the rovers and satellite missions have told us a lot about the surface and we now have beautiful, really high-resolution images and samples, she said. But we still dont know just dont know much about Mars interior, or how much water is tied up there, for instance. This mission will offer us a chance to complete the picture of what we know. Mittelholzs focus is on an electromagnetic tool among InSights payload, part of an environmental monitoring station to help ensure seismic readings are not caused by wind or magnetic storms, for instance. But it can also collect electromagnetic data deep into the planet, offering a glimpse perhaps of water stored in rocks. Besides measuring marsquakes and weather, the lander will also bore a hole up to five metres underground, using a specially designed self-hammering device that drives down a millimetre at a time, allowing temperatures to be measured along the way without the wild day-to-night surface changes. This is basically how we take Mars temperature, Johnson said. Were going to basically go down beneath the surface where that signal is very, very muted. And though the mission is long in the making initially announced about six years ago according to Sharon Kedar, an InSight mission scientist on the U.S. team at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory, its origins are even older. Actually, there have been attempts to put a geophysical station on Mars even since the Viking days, referencing NASAs 1975 Viking missions. They had a seismometer (a tool that measures the motion of the ground), but its instruments were out of date and it was only on the surface. So this will be the first dedicated, high-quality geophysical station outside Earth the first time were studying deep inside another planet. Some have described the borehole tool as a drill, but Kedar said its actually a self-hammering mechanism pushing downward in tiny jolts, dragging a heat-measuring cord just one more way InSight hopes to round out our current knowledge of the Martian environment. But does he think sending a person to the red planet is on the horizon? Human exploration of the solar system is tremendously exciting, but its a lot harder, Kedar mused. And taking all the steps necessary to understand where were going before we go there is the way to go. For Johnson, the chance to explore and make discoveries off-Earth drove her into planetary science in the first place (The excitement is very addictive, she quipped). But Mars missions, even though many have failed over the decades, are also a way to captivate peoples curiosity about research and exploration. Planetary science is its just an incredible venue for getting people excited about science, she said, because, no matter what, you always have beautiful images and even for people who arent as interested in science, theres always some technological thing thats really amazing, like on InSight. Read more: This UBC leader is fighting inequality with data Canadas newest astronauts want to pass on passion for space Better sex is (almost) all in your head, UBC profs new book says Read more about: VANCOUVERLast year was rough for Melissa Hope. She suffered a retinal detachment in January, followed by persistent nerve pain that began in March. Then she had a mix of unexplained neurological symptoms in the summer. The combination of ills kept Hope, director of operations of the co-working space, HiVE, working at home. It was hard. Having to work from home when my job is to manage a co-working space was an extra piece of irony, she said. To do her job, she said she needed to talk to humans, I need to see people. Only after spending months working from home was Hope diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes damage to nerve cells that can be progressive or episodic. Hope said shes been fairly lucky to be able to continue working full-time since her diagnosis something not everyone living with MS can do. That was the topic of a report released Wednesday by the Conference Board of Canada, which concluded this country could improve its employment insurance benefits program to get more people with MS participating in the labour force. The recommendation is especially relevant for Canada considering how many Canadians have MS. MS is unfortunately Canadas disease, said Benjamin Davis, vice president, government relations for the MS Society of Canada. Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world. The Employment Insurance sickness benefit allows employees in Canada to apply to receive up to 15 weeks of pay through the federal government when they are unable to work because of illness. But some requirements and limitations of the benefit may disqualify people with MS and other conditions that cause unpredictable episodes of illness. One is the requirement that employees must have worked 600 hours in the last 52 weeks to get the benefit a threshold some people with chronic illness may not meet. Another is that the benefit maxes out at 15 weeks. People with relapsing-remitting MS have flare-ups that can last days or weeks or months, Davis said. The ability to take the benefits when you need them, he said, is what would help more people with MS re-enter or stay in the work force. The report said if the employment insurance benefit was made available to employees who have fewer than 600 hours in the last year, and lasted 26 weeks instead of 15, 11,400 additional Canadians with MS could get back to work. Three-quarters of the people affected would be women whom MS disproportionately affects and the increase in participation would contribute an estimated $1.1 billion to the gross domestic product, the report says. Making those changes would cost the government $1.3-billion offset somewhat by a predicted increase in income tax revenue from more people working. Christopher McLeod, associate professor at UBCs school of population and public health, said programs channelled through Canadas employment insurance system can be an effective tool for change, since its uniform across the country. I think that their general proposal is an excellent one: That they should expand as well as make EI more flexible for individuals with chronic conditions, McLeod said. MS is one of many episodic conditions, McLeod said, where people might have long periods of health and productivity and could benefit from working. For Hope, the advantages of working while living with MS are personal as well as financial. After she was diagnosed, Hope was able to get her pain under control and go back to work in her office. There she has found support and maintained a sense of control in the face of a diagnosis that can have the opposite effect. Not only did I get a ton of support, I also got a lot of peoples stories about their own struggles with health issues, she said. Its been very enlightening to me how many people around me have been facing these questions and concerns. Alex McKeen is a Vancouver-based reporter covering wealth and work. Follow her on Twitter: @alex_mckeen Read more about: VANCOUVERCity council gave the go-ahead Monday for staff to develop a proposal for a new affordable housing and treatment facility in the Grandview-Woodland neighbourhood. Several residents raised concerns at council about the pace of decision-making around the facility, including Thomas Ferguson, who questioned whether another site might be more appropriate. Why this location? he asked. Weve also seen no evidence that other, more appropriate sites were assessed. But Christine Boyle, a Grandview-Woodland resident and hopeful OneCity candidate for city council, said such opposition was disappointing. I dont want my kids to learn that they should be fearful of people who are homeless or struggling, Boyle said. I worry thats the lesson coming out of this. The proposal is a partnership between the City of Vancouver, BC Housing and Vancouver Coastal Health. It would involve consolidating and rezoning 11 city-owned lots along East 1st Avenue at Clark Drive. The 118,000-square-foot facility would include up to 100 affordable rental units, a 55,000-square-foot withdrawal management and treatment services centre, and an Indigenous healing, wellness and community economic development centre. The treatment centre the largest of its kind in the province would take over duties for the current, smaller detox centre on East 2nd Avenue, which has operated without a safety complaint for three decades, according to city officials. Councillor Kerry Jang, in his final remarks, reminded attendees the reason some questions had not yet been answered was the partnership had not even been approved. This simply gets the ball rolling so we can talk about these issues, he said. Boyle said her one concern was the affordable units would not be inexpensive enough to address the enormous pressures of Metro Vancouvers housing crisis. (Many affordable units) still are unaffordable to many of the people who need them most, Boyle said. I think the city needs to figure out how to create deep affordability in more of the units. But Boyle welcomed the facility, and said more such developments around the city would benefit communities by providing better access to services and a deepening of empathy. Matt Kieltyka, a Vancouver Coast Health public affairs specialist, said the treatment facility would streamline the delivery of health services to those that need it most. For us, its a good news thing, Kieltyka said. Were really excited about the prospect of being able to do this. Past opposition came most noticeably from a Grandview-Woodland residents group called Community 1st. The group raised $900 from nine anonymous donors through a GoFundMe page for the cost of printing posters and flyers detailing its opposition. In an earlier interview, Ferguson, who is also a member of Community 1st, said the groups members had each contributed personal money to the fund, though it was unclear whether this was through the GoFundMe site. The flyers stated explicitly, We are against a detox centre being relocated to the neighbourhood, listing safety concerns around its proximity to schools and family dwellings. Ferguson earlier said he supported access to health services for those who needed them, but was frustrated the city had failed to respond to questions he had posed. Read more about: VANCOUVER The University of British Columbia is defending a professor who has become the focus of complaints from owners of multi-million homes who blame him for a steep increase in their property taxes. The universitys provost, Andrew Szeri, told complainants that UBC will not bow to requests to stop Tom Davidoff, an economics professor at the Sauder School of Business, from speaking up about property taxation policies. The controversy comes as homeowners on Vancouvers Westside reacted angrily to the BC NDPs decision to increase the school-tax portion of property taxes for properties worth over $3 million. Following a massive property value run-up that started in 2015, that basically includes every single family home west of Cambie Street. Attorney General David Eby, NDP MLA for Vancouver-Point Grey, announced earlier this week that he had decided to cancel a town hall event because of security concerns. Advertisements from two real estate offices and a letter from the leader of the Opposition had encouraged people to enter the event even if the hall was full or if they didnt have a ticket. But homeowners ire hasnt only fallen on Eby, who has long advocated for measures to slow skyrocketing home prices and speculation. Westside residents have also been encouraged to complain to UBC about Twitter commentary from Davidoff. His name appeared on a sign at a Tuesday protest (Buzz off, Davidoff!). Perhaps coincidentally, a huge lawn sign protesting the tax recently appeared across the street from his house, Davidoff said. https://twitter.com/Meerakati/status/991469239138631680 Point Grey resident Andrew Webb wrote an email Monday to other residents who are affected by the tax, urging them to complain to the university about Davidoff. How this American socialist transplant is crafting predatory tax policies for the government, and robbing homeowners of unrealized gains is beyond me and beyond words, he wrote in the email. You need to consider the fact that this guy is teaching our children this stuff at UBC Sauder Business School. Is this representative of a balanced curriculum for the students of families that have grown up in Vancouver and Canada? Davidoff has long advocated for loosening single-family zoning to allow for higher-density housing. Hes also the author, with a group of other academics from UBC and Simon Fraser University, of a proposed tax framework called the B.C. Housing Affordability Fund, which proposed increasing property tax for homeowners who dont live or work in the province. In the February budget, the BC NDP government adopted a version of that taxation framework. But they also increased the school tax by 0.3 per cent for homes over $3 million and by 0.4 per cent for homes worth over $4 million. (Davidoff pointed out that that particular policy idea actually comes from SFU professor Rhys Kesselman.) Davidoff often defends his ideas on Twitter, sometimes irreverently and using thought experiments. Webb said he took particular offence to a tweet in which Davidoff suggested selling a home for millions of dollars was not really a hardship, and then flippantly responded to a homeowner who protested that if they did sell, it would likely be to a foreign buyer who would leave the house empty. Matt Ramsey, a communications staffer with UBC, confirmed the university had received about six complaints about Davidoff. In response, the university sent a letter stating that UBC upholds Davidoffs academic freedom. Central among these rights is the freedom, within the law, to pursue what seems to them as fruitful avenues of inquiry, to teach and to learn unhindered by external or non-academic constraints, and to engage in full and unrestricted consideration of any opinion, UBCs statement reads in part. Calls to interfere with the communication of scholarly opinions amount to a request to violate University policy. Respectfully, we cannot accede to such requests. Davidoff said he thinks his primary job is to be a good researcher and teacher, but I do think that part of that is informing public discussion, he said. My job is not to be political. The whole point of academic freedom is that I shouldnt be swayed by incentives to say things that arent supported by research. Jen St. Denis is a Vancouver-based reporter covering affordability and city hall. Follow her on Twitter: @jenstden Read more about: VANCOUVERThe leader of the B.C. Green Party, Andrew Weaver, announced Wednesday he will introduce a private members bill next week to provide legal protection for businesses pursuing social and environmental goals. The bill has been drafted, and Weaver said hes hopeful the B.C. Liberals and NDP will support it. It would amend the Business Corporations Act to allow businesses to incorporate as benefit companies meaning they pursue a triple bottom line of people, profits and the planet. Businesses currently incorporated under the act have a responsibility to shareholders to maximize profits. The proposed legislation would allow businesses registered as benefit companies to be governed according to social and environmental aims, as well as shareholder profit. Companies would need majority shareholder approval to become a benefit company under the act, Weaver said. Theyd also need to meet some requirements, like putting benefit commitments in their articles, meeting standards of transparency, and reporting progress against an independent third party standard, Weaver said. Bernie Geiss, founder of North Vancouver insurance advisory company Cove Continuity, said the legislation would protect his companys social commitments. Cove is a certified B-corp, meaning it has passed an audit by a third-party non-profit that affirms its commitment to transparency and social and environmental responsibility. But some of the initiatives the company takes on could be challenged under the current law, Geiss explained. Were concerned that we have a minority shareholder that comes in and says: We don't like that you gave $100,000 away, Geiss said. We want protection so that cant happen. Laara Yaghujaanas, who runs an Indigenous business consultancy in North Vancouver, said the legislation could allow her clients to establish corporations that have alignment with the values of the community. Yaghujaanas said shes currently working with Tsilhqotin Nation to set up a company, and is running into the common problem of trying to make the community-centred mission of the company fit within the legal framework of the Business Corporations Act. Were hoping that this is something that we can take, and roll out, and be able to say: Heres a corporate model now that actually works with and for First Nations, she said, calling it a new way of doing business. Read more: Virtually impossible to ramp up oil and gas in Canada and hit climate targets, report warns B.C. government cant have their cake and eat it too: Green Party leader Andrew Weaver Opinion | Thomas Walkom: Green election surge puts B.C. in centre of climate debate: Walkom To take the legislation further, Yaghujaanas would like to see it directly acknowledge the Truth and Reconciliation call to action 92, which calls on the corporate sector to consult with Indigenous people and commit to inclusion of Indigenous people within company policies. Weaver said the legislation, if passed, would encourage more B.C. companies to pursue social and environmental goals, and would put the province on the map as a leader in the global benefit corporation movement. Becoming the first jurisdiction in Canada to champion benefit corporations is a huge opportunity to position the province as a leader and to send a signal to the market that British Columbia is open for business in the new 21st century economy, he said. Weaver said the legislation wouldnt provide any tax benefits to benefit companies. Alex McKeen is a Vancouver-based reporter covering wealth and work. Follow her on Twitter: @alex_mckeen Read more about: VANCOUVERThe companies behind two controversial resource projects one approved, one rejected faced off Tuesday during a National Energy Board hearing in Kamloops, B.C., that could affect a portion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion route. KGHM Ajax Mine Inc., which was denied a provincial environmental assessment certificate for a copper and gold mine in December, called for Trans Mountain to move its pipeline route to avoid the site where the mining company planned to put a tailings storage facility. While the proposed project was rejected, transcripts from the hearing show Robert Richler, the mining companys lawyer, said this is a valuable resource and its going to get mined sometime. But Greg Toth, a senior director with Trans Mountain, called the Ajax Mine a speculative project. It wasnt a major consideration in the pipeline route planning, he said, adding its not possible to fully assess the safety risks to the pipeline of a project that doesnt exist and might never be approved. Toth did say, though, that if the mine was approved Trans Mountain would relocate the pipeline at the mining companys cost. That approach doesnt make sense to KGHM. They said digging it up causes just as much environmental damage as putting it in, Richler said. So why do that? Why have those effects when we can move it now and negate that? It would make much more sense if we accept that eventually this deposits going to be mined and the (tailings storage facility) is going to be there. The National Energy Board panel is tasked with deciding whether the proposed route is the best option within an already approved corridor for the pipeline project. James Stevenson, a spokesperson for the board, said 66 per cent of the detailed route is already approved mostly on lands where it was unopposed by the landowners. In this case, the board will be choosing sides between two companies that have faced considerable public opposition to their projects. The proposal for a 1,700-hectare open-pit mine about 10 kilometres southwest of Kamloops, faced unequivocal opposition from the city. In a letter sent last October, Kamloops Deputy Mayor Arjun Singh said the city opposed the project because of concerns about air quality, the impact on city infrastructure and services, and the fact that public opinion among Kamloops residents was split. In December, the province announced it would not grant the company an environmental certificate, noting the mine could have negative impacts on the City of Kamloops and areas that were culturally important to Stkemlupsemc te Secwepemc Nation. At the same time, the province, the City of Burnaby, First Nations and environmental groups have raised serious concerns about the environmental risks of the federally approved pipeline, which would twin the existing 1,100 km pipeline, triple its flow of diluted bitumen and increase tanker traffic in the Burrard Inlet sevenfold. Amidst a political fight between the B.C., Alberta, and federal governments, Kinder Morgan has cancelled all non-essential spending on the project and set a deadline of May 31 for an agreement. Ainslie Cruickshank is a Vancouver-based reporter covering the environment. Follow her on Twitter: @ainscruickshank Read more about: EDWARDSVILLE Regardless of the age you choose to pursue a degree, specifically one in nursing, its not easy. But, what you gain in return for your nursing efforts is worth more than money can buy. This is the wisdom shared by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville School of Nursing senior Terry Wooten, of Godfrey. On Friday, May 4, the 61-year-old will walk across SIUEs commencement stage and celebrate having earned a bachelors in nursing. When people ask me whether nursing school is hard, I tell them yes, but if it were easy, everyone would be doing it, Wooten explained. You have to be committed and not give up. In the end, no one can take this achievement or knowledge away from you. Wooten says he always wanted a degree but was unsure what area of study he should pursue. It was later in life that he discovered nursing was his calling. I have lived a good life, and have experienced loss and disappointment along the way, he said. Ive taken a broad range of college credit classes over the years in search of finding my right fit. I never realized how challenging and time consuming a nursing education would be, but I know it was the right decision because of the patients I have had the opportunity to care for. Everyone I have worked with has made it all worthwhile. One of the most memorable aspects of Wootens academic journey was a service trip to Costa Rica in March 2018. It was his first time out of the country and an eye-opening experience. This was an opportunity of a lifetime to help the less fortunate, and see how individuals in other countries receive healthcare, Wooten said. I was humbled and touched deeply by the connections we all made on this trip. Not only with each other, but also with the people we served. Everyone appreciated our efforts and welcomed us. Professionally, it expanded my nursing knowledge ten-fold. Now, with this huge academic venture complete, Wooten is interviewing for positions in the St. Louis area. I want to be part of an organization where I can contribute my skills and continuously learn from my coworkers, he said. I hope I am able to continue to give back throughout life. The International Trade Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (ITC at SIUE) welcomes existing and future exporters to participate in Discover Mexico, a four-day trade mission to Mexico from Monday, July 23, through Thursday, July 26. The Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council (SWITIC) will lead the trade mission with the full support of the ITC at SIUE, the Office of Trade and Investment of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, and the U.S. Department of Commerce. This trip is a critical part of the SWITIC mission, which is to raise awareness of global exporting and foreign direct investment as an opportunity for economic stability and growth in Southwest Illinois, stated the ITC at SIUE Director Silvia Torres Bowman in a news release. Mexico is the second-largest goods export market for the United States, as well as Illinois and the second-largest economy in Latin America. The International Trade Center at SIUE is creating customized connections and one-on-one conversations for Southwest Illinois mission participants, Torres Bowman said. She will represent the ITC and SIUE, as she travels with the delegation, assists the group with all involved details and provides consulting support during the trip. We know this trip will be one of many that our organization spearheads as a means of helping companies in our region develop long-term relationships with their global customers and partners, Torres Bowman said. The International Trade Center at SIUE will be involved in every step of the mission, including collaborating with the State of Illinois Latin America Office in Mexico City and other main economic development corporations to establish mutually beneficial relationships for our region and our businesses. The four-day trade mission is different than other opportunities, as participants will spend their first full day in Mexico holding discussions with various professionals who have expertise in trade, logistics, e-commerce, Mexican law and other areas. This differs from most missions traditional one- to two-hour briefing session. This trade mission to Mexico creates an unparalleled opportunity for businesses to gain expert assistance and guidance in developing long-term international opportunities and connections, said SWITIC board President David Kniepkamp, also president of Smart Controls LLC. Each participating company will have an interpreter and driver. Locations visited will be customized to fit the specific needs of individual participants, and the International Trade Center at SIUE will provide follow-up consultation services. The trade mission is open to Southern Illinois businesses from all industries and sectors with an interest in: exploring export opportunities for their products and services; finding or expanding distribution channels; getting first-hand market information; and, experiencing Mexicos business environment. Torres Bowman urges interested businesses to indicate their interest now, so organizations have time to prepare and support them in mission planning. For information on how companies can participate in Discover Mexico, contact Torres Bowman at sitorre@siue.edu or call the ITC at SIUE at 618-650-2452. The Southwest Illinois Trade and Investment Council has been in existence since 2015. The nonprofit organization educates, equips and connects area businesses with the expertise and contacts to begin and expand exporting their products. The International Trade Center (ITC) at SIUE serves businesses in Southern Illinois by providing individualized, no-cost export consultation, identification of foreign buyers, agents and/or distributors through trade leads, international market analysis and more. The ITC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) and SIUE. It has a longtime partnership with the Illinois Office of Trade and Investment, which maintains a full-time staff of both foreign and domestic-based international trade and marketing experts. The Illinois Office of Trade and Investment also manages seven foreign trade offices located in Belgium, Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico, Canada, China and Israel. Numbers can be powerfully thought-provoking, especially when related to the deeply rooted epidemic of sexual harassment. 33 million The estimated number of women nationwide who have been sexually harassed. 45 The percentage of federal employment complaints that are based on sexual harassment, gender identity or sexual orientation. 75 The percentage of employees who said they have faced retaliation, including being fired, for reporting harassment. 113-0 The margin by which the Illinois House voted to approve a measure to prohibit the use of state money to pay off claims of sexual harassment against lawmakers. The first three numbers are a source of shame. The final number is a cause for celebration. Although no hush money payouts have been revealed so far in Illinois, they have in other states. As more men and women find their voice and speak out, dont be surprised to hear more revelations about lawmakers who also have been lawbreakers. Accusations already have been leveled against a handful of Illinois lawmakers, contending there have been inappropriate comments or sexual advances that either never were reported or were reported and nothing was done. Drawing a proactive line in the sand is the right move. The Legislature should take a clear and decisive stand against the potential. Barrington Hills Republican state Rep. David McSweeney has made a good start. The idea of taxpayers money potentially being used to buy silence in sexual harassment cases against Illinois legislators is an affront to taxpayers, McSweeney said in a statement. As we learn more about cases of sexual harassment in Springfield, we need to be proactive in making sure our tax dollars are not being used to cover up incidents of harassment and abuse. The proposal, under the sponsorship of Villa Park Democrat Sen. Tom Cullerton, now moves to the Senate for approval. We hope the numbers there show just as strong a message as the repudiation of sexual harassment by House members. Then, lawmakers should turn their attention to other facets of a long-standing and deeply rooted problem. This is just a minuscule part of a boys will be boys culture that allows harassment to feed and fester. The sickness has gone untreated for too long. That will make it even harder to cure. The path to recovery has to begin somewhere, though. McSweeneys law is a good starting point. It shows messages from campaigns like #MeToo and Times Up are not just being heard, but finally are being understood. India's Aadhaar technology does not pose any privacy issue and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded the World Bank to take this approach to other countries as it is worth emulating, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said. The 62-year-old multi-billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist said Nandan Nilekani, Infosys founder who is considered as the chief architect of Aadhaar, was consulting and helping the World Bank on the project. Asked if India's Aadhaar technology is worth emulating by other countries, he replied, "yes". "The benefits of that (basic IDAadhaar) are very high," he told PTI. More than a billion people in India have enrolled in Aadhaar, the world's largest biometric ID system. "Yes, countries should adopt that approach because the quality of governance has a lot to do with how quickly countries are able to grow their economy and empower their people," Gates said in response to a question. "We have funded the World Bank to take this Aadhaar approach to other countries," he said. It is believed that several countries, including some from India's neighbourhood, have approached New Delhi for assistance in this matter. "Aadhaar in itself doesn't pose any privacy issue because it's just a bio ID verification scheme," Gates, the head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said when asked about the concerns about privacy issues raised by certain quarters in India. "The individual applications that use Aadhaar, you have to look and see what's been stored and who has access to that information. And so, application by application, you have to make sure that's well managed. In the case of the financial bank account I think it's handled very well," he said. "(It uses) Aadhar to set up the accounts so that you can both get your cell phone and get your bank account," he added. Observing that Aadhaar was started before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into office, Gates said that it was very much to his credit that he was willing to embrace it. "I'm both good friend and an admirer of Nandan Nilekani and some of the initiatives of digitisation efforts that can help with education that can help with governance," he said. In his lecture on 'Technology for Transformation' organised by NITI Aayog on November 2016, Gates had said Aadhaar is something that had never been done by any government before, not even in a rich country. Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number for Indians, based on their biometric and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2009 by the Government of India. The Google homepage today showcases a two-minute 360 Visual Reality (VR) video titled Back to the Moon. The video follows an illusionist exploring the magic of stars and the oceans, chasing a Queen of hearts. The film begins with Georges Melies setting up the camera against a black and white backdrop and the rest of the video shows the illusionist on a stage. As a tribute to his legacy in special effects, the character then moves through a sequence of scenes from under the ocean through a ball room and duel, and ends in a beautiful romance in outer space. This doodle marks the 106th anniversary of Georges Melies silent film A la conquete du pole (The Conquest of the Pole) released on this day in 1912. Georges Melies, often known as the 'Father of Visual Effects' was a renowned French filmmaker, illusionist and pioneer of special effects and narrative film techniques during the early days of cinema. The video title Back to the Moon is a wordplay on one of his most famous works A Trip to the Moon (1902). His other famous silent films include The Impossible Voyage (1904), The Vanishing Lady (1896) and The Living Playing Cards (1905). For a filmmaker who has revolutionised special effects in early cinema, it is not surprising that Google would pay homage with a technology that is now doing the same to modern visual mediavirtual reality. In 1998, for the first time Google co-founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin created a stickman figure on the Google logo to celebrate Nevadas Burning Man Festival. This temporary alteration to the logo which later came to be called as Google Doodles evolved into creative art work used to commemorate important events, days and personalities. In the 20 years since the first doodle, Google has showcased a wide range of creativity from stationary pictures to interactive games and now a virtual reality experience. The VR project was a joint effort between Google Spotlight stories (the companys VR video developer), Google Arts and Culture, and French film organisation Cinematheque Francaise. The video can be watched with a VR experience using a VR gear such as the Google Cardboard or as a usual 360 video by panning through the screen using a mouse or touch screen. Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar on Thursday said it is "shameful" that the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah hangs in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) but people, who are protesting against it, should also oppose the "temples made to honour Godse". The 73-year-old writer took to Twitter to voice his opinion on the ongoing controversy at the university which was triggered after Aligarh MP Satish Gautam objected to the Pakistan founder's picture on the walls of the AMU student union office. "Jinnah was neither a student nor a teacher of Aligarh. It's a shame that his portrait is there. The administration and students should voluntarily remove it from there and those who were protesting against this portrait should now protest against the temples made to honour Godse," Akhtar wrote. AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai had defended the presence of the portrait, which has apparently been hanging there for decades, saying that Jinnah was a founder member of the university court and was granted life membership of the student union. Traditionally, photographs of all life members are placed on the walls of the student union office. The row sparked violence at the campus yesterday which resulted in at least six people being injured when the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students, who were demanding the arrest of the protesters who had earlier barged into the campus shouting slogans. The AMU students alleged that the protesters were from Hindu Yuva Vahini, and were allowed to leave a police station even after being initially detained. At least 27 people were feared dead when a bus fell into a roadside pit and caught fire in Bihar's East Champaran district on Thursday, Disaster Management Department Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav said. The accident occurred under the Kotwa police station area, over 75km from the state capital, reports PTI. The bus was on its way to Delhi from Muzaffarpur. According to media reports, a police official said only four people could be rescued from the bus. Rescue operations were under way and the death toll is expected to go up. (With agency inputs) The West Bengal CPI(M) has been losing members steadily in recent years, since its been out of power in the state after three-and-half decades of rule. Ironically, most of them have joined the BJP, as claimed by the saffron party. The last party congress of the CPI(M) in Hyderabad has put a figure to this heavy decline in members in West Bengal, since 2011. Out of little more than 2 lakh party members in 2011, around 60,000 have not renewed their membership until now. A central committee member said, Its a fact that large number of party members did not renew their membership. And many of them have joined BJP. The leader said the main reasons behind such a fall in membership were the attacks faced by activists at the hands of Trinamool Congress workers across the state. Many of the party members have faced false criminal cases and went out of the state. Also many became inactive, anticipating that attacks would come on their families as well. The BJP has claimed that more than 60 per cent of these members have joined their party. Dilip Ghosh, president of BJP's West Bengal unit, told THE WEEK, Yes, we have received huge number of activists from CPI(M). They have come to us for shelter as CPI(M) could not give them protection any more. The process is on and we could get many more former comrades into our party. Ghosh sounds ambitious when he said that BJP in West Bengal today has reached the stage where it could outshine the ruling Trinamool Congress. It has already pushed CPI(M) from the number 2 position and become the principle opposition party in the state. The work began after I took over as the BJP state chief. The situation would have been completely different had things been done as before, said Ghosh. The state BJP president said the BJPs vote share in West Bengal has crossed 25 per cent from being six per cent in 2011. Wait for some time, it would cross 30 per cent very soon, Ghosh said. Senior leaders of the BJP are currently campaigning across the state for the panchayat election. But the party eyes next years general elections as the real target. Ghosh said West Bengal would give maximum seats to Modi next year. As of now, we will win fifty per cent of the total seats, which is 21. One year to go to election, it could even be more than 25, said Ghosh during an exclusive interaction with THE WEEK. BJP chief Amit Shah recently sought a report from the state leadership about the prospects of the party in West Bengal. And he was very happy seeing the prospects of the party. A senior leader of BJP in West Bengal said, Amitji asked us to target more than 25 seats. He has assigned senior central party leaders for 25 such targeted seats. Shah is scheduled to visit West Bengal after the Karnataka election. Following a directive of the Kerala DGP that the victim not be named as there are suspicions she was raped, THE WEEK, henceforth, will not be naming her or showing her photographs. There is a beauty salon in Cork Town, Ireland, named Beauty Crime: Commit Something Beautiful. The owner of the salon, Ilze Skromane, however, has been having a harried time in God's Own Country for the past two months looking for her missing sister, who was found dead two weeks ago. Ironically, her sister had given that strangely beautiful name to Ilze's salon. Ilze was busy travelling the length and breadth of Kerala, looking for her sister, who went missing while undergoing ayurvedic treatment for depression in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. The duo had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram on February 21, looking for treatment for the 33-year-old victim for post-traumatic depression. They checked into an ayurvedic treatment centre in Pothencode in Thiruvananthapuram. Barely a month into the treatment, the victim who was showing signs of improvement, went to a beach in Kovalam, about 30km from the state capital, without informing Ilze. The victim reached Grow Beach in Kovalam in an autorickshaw, as per police records, and paid Rs 800 to the driver. That was the last time the victim was caught on a CCTV camera. The day was March 14 and there was no trace of her after that. Though the matter was reported to police, the latter took a long time to respond, complains Ilze. Had the police been more serious in the initial days, as they are now, we would not have lost her,'' she says. Ilze is upset that around 10 days were lost since she first reached out to the police for help. "Police smiled at me and kept assuring me that she would return. They just could not understand my state, my tears and the situation. Crucial days were lost between me reaching out to them and the special investigation team being set up," Ilze told the media. The police, however, refutes this claim. "We have been doing our job right from the beginning. A large team of police officials and resources have been deployed to probe the case," said police commissioner P. Prakash. Ilze, meanwhile, left no stone unturned to trace her sister, who was just an year older to her. She travelled all over Kerala, pasting posters of her missing sister wherever possible. When the victim's decomposed body was found on April 21that is more than a month since she went missingIlze was in Kasargodethe northernmost district of the state. There also, she had pasted posters with the victim's photographs in various phases. The victim's headless body was found from a mangrove near Vazhamattom in Thiruvananthapuram. The spot is nearly 5km from Kovalam beach. According to the post-mortem report, the victim was strangled to death. Her head was found a little away from her body. The body had decomposed to such an extent that it required a DNA test to confirm it was the victim. Police, citing the autopsy report, said the cause of death was blunt force exerted on the neck, which could either have been caused by strangulation or stamping during an assault. There were a few minor injuries on other parts of the body, too, which were not serious enough to cause death. According to police, the autopsy did not establish any sexual assault on the victim. However, on Thursday, police officials said they suspect she could have been raped. Results of chemical analysis tests done on the internal organs are awaited. Adding a mystic element into the case, Ilze, in between, conducted a parallel investigation with the help of a clairvoyant. She scouted for her sister as per the guidance of the clairvoyant who had told her to look for Ilze in wetlands and water bodies. She visited almost all wetlands and marshy tracts in Kerala, as per the sketch given by the clairvoyant. In fact, Ilze had even reached a place that was barely kilometres away from the spot from where the victim's body was found eventually. Thinking that the mangrove forest belonged to a private person, I did not enter there,'' said Ilze. The police have taken five persons into custody; they were from a gang belonging to the area where the victim's body was found. The autopsy report had hinted at the possibility of the involvement of more than one person in the murder. The police is continuing their investigation at the secluded mangrove forest near Panathura, the area where the body had been recovered. The banks of the Karamana river have also been combed for evidence. Divers were also deployed as the police suspect that the victim, along with her alleged murderers, reached the spot on a fibre boat. The incident is, not surprisingly, a blot on the much hyped tourism market of Kerala. The possible involvement of drug peddlers in the case has brought negative publicity for the state. The use of ganja and other drugs among tourists has increased off late. It is a huge interstate racket, said a local guide who did not want to be named. The mushrooming of illegal spas and resorts and also fake tourist guides are responsible for these illicit activities, according to him. He hoped that the Latvian tourist's death will open the eyes of authorities to clear the beaches of these rackets. State Tourism Minister Kadakampilly Surendran said a team consisting of 750 persons has been formed to conduct a survey on all resorts and spas in the state. It is our duty to ensure the safety of all tourists who visit the state. We are determined to weed out the illicit activities in and around tourist destinations,'' said the minister. Ilze, meanwhile, is getting ready to go back to Latvia with the ashes of her sister. Our custom is to keep the ashes in a wooden box inside the house. But my sister would always tell me that she did not want to be kept like that; she wanted to be one with nature. So, we will plant a tree,'' said Ilze. The Skromane sisters belong to Latvia, which was earlier part of the USSR. Now with Latvia being an independent country that is in the EU, the sisters had moved to Ireland for studies. The victim, an avid reader, did a course in public relations and Ilze studied architecture. Ilze's sister had been working with an NGO there. The victim's live-in partner Andrew had also assisted Ilze in her search for her sister. The sisters have a brother and their parents are still in Latvia. Ilze, despite the tragedy, is full of feelings for Kerala. We have lost my sister and will never recover from that. But then, it could have happened anywhere in the world. It is just that she happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time and met the wrong people. But the people and the government here were so warm and supportive,'' she said. According to Ilze, the victim too had fallen in love with Kerala. She would tell me that it was not for nothing that this place is called God's Own Country. I too share those feelings even now. I will come back again,'' Ilze said. The victim would be cremated in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday evening. And the ashes would be taken to Latvia where she will grow as a tree and spread her branches. The troops of the Indian and Malaysian armies are learning tricks of jungle warfare as part of the joint exercise 'Harimau Shakti 2018' in Kuala Lumpur. This is the first ever bilateral military exercise between the two armies, which will enable mutual capacity enhancement, and assist in building strong friendship and cooperation between India and Malaysia in the future. During first phase of the two-week long exercise, Malaysian Army's combat engineers exchanged their expertise on chemical warfare and protection from chemical agents in jungle warfare, with combat engineer team from engineer regiment of Indian Army. The two armies will also share techniques of construction of traps for survival in the forests at Wardieburn camp in Kuala Lumpur. Malaysian soldiers have taught survival techniques like lighting fire from the resources available in a jungle to their Indian counterparts. "As part of the exercise, Indian Army combat engineers and Malaysian Army combat engineers carried out practical training on individual protection equipment to fight in chemical warfare scenario during counter insurgency operations in jungles," said an officer. Indian Army is largely deployed for counter-insurgency operations in urban areas or semi urban areas, deserts, and plains. They hardy have any exposure to thick jungle operations. Four Grenadiers from the Indian Army are participating in the joint training exercise, which will be concluded on 13 May, while one Royal Malay Regiment is from Malaysia. As part of the cross training phase of the exercise, the Indian Army contingent was introduced to the US-made M4 A1 assault rifle of Malaysian Army, and a firing practice with the weapon was organised at Firing Range 'A' at Sungai Besi Military Camp, Kuala Lumpur. M4 carbine is widely regarded as the best weapon in its segment with highest user satisfaction and weapon performance. "This practice enabled the Indian contingent to get acquainted with the weapon and use the same to practice battle inoculation. Conditions akin to the field challenges were simulated using smoke grenades," an officer added. A statement by the Indian Army said both the armies stand to hone their tactical and technical skills in counter-insurgency and counter- terrorist operations under the UN mandate. "Due emphasis will be laid on increasing inter-operability between forces, which is crucial for success of any joint operation," the statement said. Playing the nationalism card, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of "insulting national heroes" and the Indian Army by "questioning" the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes. He also said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi "disrespected" the national song 'vande mataram'. "Forgetting the national heroes, patriots and history is the nature of a family in the Congress. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and V.K. Krishna Menon insulted General (KS) Thimayya, who had to resign. They neglected General (K.M.) Cariappa," Modi told an election rally in Kalaburagi in Karnataka, as he sought to connect with the voters of the home state of the two legends of the Army. Invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the prime minister said the independent India's first home minister, was instrumental in forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad, who controlled the region where Kalaburagi is located, to accede to the country. "But one family in the Congress loses its sleep whenever Sardar Patel's name crops up," he said. Seeking to appeal to patriotic sentiments of voters, the prime minister raked up the issue of cross-LoC surgical strikes, claiming the Congress questioned the genuineness of the assault by the Indian Army. "They (Congress) sought proof about the genuineness of the surgical strike. Bodies of Pakistani soldiers were carried on trucks, a newspaper said that...and they need proof. Should our soldiers go on such operations with a camera or a gun?" he said. The prime minister said a Congress leader even called the Army chief a "goonda" (gangster) after the surgical strike. The prime minister reached out to farmers of Karnataka, saying his government would take up farming of pulses in a big way. Rejecting the Congress claim that it was a champion of Dalit causes, Modi referred to "atrocity" on a Dalit girl in Karnataka's Bidar. "But the state's ruling party did not speak about it. they had no candlelight protests," he said. "This party (Congress) only knows how to prostrate before the members of one family. But we have decided to construct memorials to the tribals who fought against the British since 1857 to 1947 when India became independent," he said. AICC president Rahul Gandhi attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-corruption claims by mocking at the BJP giving tickets to the tainted Reddy brothers. Modi imposed Gabbar Singh Tax (GST), which looted the common man. But today, he is trying to bring not just Gabbar Singh, but all his menKaalia and Samba (characters of film Sholay)into the Karnataka Assembly to loot, said Gandhi, while campaigning at Aurad in Bidar district, on Wednesday. Gandhi also charged Modi with imposing demonetisation on the common man, while allowing fraudsters like Nirav Modi, the main accused in the PNB scam, to flee the country. Dubbing the BJP as anti-Karnataka, Gandhi claimed the Modi government had purchased the Rafale fighter planes at an escalated cost, and deprived Bengaluru-based HAL of revenue by cancelling an earlier contract. The youth of Bengaluru have lost out on employment as HAL's deal stands cancelled. The contract was given to Modi's rich friends, mocked Gandhi, adding that he would never make personal attacks on the prime minister of this country, though Modi has targeted him. Modi makes personal attacks when he gets nervous. The PM should speak out on Reddy Brothers, Nirav Modi or the corruption of BJP president Amit Shah's son, Jay Shah, who has illegally multiplied Rs 50,000 to Rs 80 crore. Meanwhile, Modi, who was addressing a rally in Kalburgi, the home turf of veteran Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge, accused the Congress of "betraying" the dalits. "The Congress has betrayed the voters by projecting veteran leader Mallikarjun Kharge as the chief minister candidate last elections only to wrest the dalit votes. Is this not misleading the dalits? asked Modi. Wherever the Congress comes to power, only some families prosper. Do you have any idea how huge Kharge's total assets are? People who hold candlelight vigils at Delhi do not bother to condemn atrocities against a dalit girl in Karnataka. Why? asked Modi. Modi also slammed the Congress party for disrespecting Sardar Vallabhai Patel. Sardar had forced the Nizams to accede their kingdoms to united India. What the British did at Jallianwala Bagh, Nizams did to the martyrs of Gorta. I appreciate the locals and BJP Yuva Morcha for building a memorial. The Congress' hatred for Patel is not new; it is in their nature to insult and demean the martyrs to serve the interests of only one family, said Modi, recalling how the Congress had ill-treated stalwarts like Field Marshal Cariappa and General Thimmaiah, who continue to inspire Indian soldiers. Earlier, Modi who was elated at watching a huge gathering cheering him, said the huge turnout was proof that people of Karnataka were ready to bear the heat but not tolerate the Congress government. Even as Gandhi and Modi were launching verbal attacks on each other, from the neighbouring districts of Kalburgi and Bidar, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who began his three-day election tour of Karnataka, landed in the coastal town of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada, the hotbed of Hindutva politics. "In Uttar Pradesh, there are no jihadis or criminals after the BJP came to power. In Karnataka, the Congress government's backing of jihadis has led to the killing of innocent Hindu activists. The previous government in UP too had turned UP into a party ATM just like in Karnataka, which has become a Congress ATM. Stop Karnataka from becoming the Congress ATM, said Adityanath, who also struck an emotional chord with the crowds by invoking the long association of Uttar Pradesh, the land of Lord Ram, with Karnataka, the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. He also reminded the people of the deeper connections of Lord Manjunath and Adi Chunchungiri Mutt's Bhagwan Bhyraveshwara worshipped in Karnataka with Lord Goraknath of UP. Another dust storm may hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours due to a cyclonic circulation formation in the region, a meteorology department official said on Thursday. The warning came even as the two north Indian states were reeling under the impact of a severe overnight dust storm that killed nearly 100 people and left a trail of destruction. "There is a high probability that winds will intensify in the next 48 hours in Rajasthan, which may lead to another dust storm. It will affect areas on the Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan border, especially Karauli and Dholpur," Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Himanshu Sharma told reporters in Jaipur. Satellite images have shown wind pressure developing in parts of Rajasthan, which may lead to high-intensity winds and dust storm. The meteorological department has warned that a dust storm, rainfall or thunderstorm may occur at some areas in Bikaner, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Jhunjhunu, Swai Madhopur, Sikar, Sriganganagar and Jaisalmer districts. Sharma said the department had issued warnings in the last couple of days about a dust storm in Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh, the high-intensity dust storm left 64 people dead and 47 injured. In Rajasthan, 33 were killed, taking the combined death toll to 97. About 100 people were injured in the state, officials said. In UP, Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for 36 deaths and injuries to 35 others, officials said. Besides Agra, the other affected UP districts were Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. In Rajasthan, Dholpur district was the worst affected, with 17 killed, according to officials. Violence broke out at the Aligarh Muslim University campus on Wednesday as the row over Muhammad Ali Jinnah's portrait on the campus triggered a right-wing protest and sparring between BJP leaders. At least six people were injured when the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students, demanding the arrest of protesters who had earlier barged into the campus shouting slogans. Hospital sources said about 20 students were treated with injuries, though a university official gave the lower mumber. A function to grant life membership of the student union to former vice president Hamid Ansari, scheduled for this evening, was called off and he returned to Delhi. The AMU students alleged that the protesters were from Hindu Yuva Vahini, and were allowed to leave a police station even after being initially detained. Earlier on Wednesday, a BJP MP demanded the expulsion of Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister Swami Prasad Maurya from the party for praising Jinnah, which the minister denied he ever did. Media reports had said that the minister called Jinnah a 'mahapurush' (a great personality) from the time of undivided India. Maurya reportedly praised him when asked to comment on the row sparked by another BJP MP Satish Gautam, who had objected to Jinnah's portrait being displayed at AMU. The minister told reporters today that he had not made any statement even as Harnath Singh Yadav, a Rajya Sabha member from his own party, targeted him. "Government minister Swami Prasad Maurya who had called Muhammad Ali Jinnaha heinous criminal who trifurcated the country a great personality should retract his statement, apologise or be immediately removed from the party, Yadav tweeted in Hindi. A BJP ally, Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party leader Om Prakash Rajbhar also took a jibe at Maurya, describing him as "Jinnah's relative." "When there is no picture of Mahatma Gandhi in any of the universities of Pakistan then why should there be Jinnah's portrait here," Rajbhar, who is a minister in Yogi Adityanath's government, said in Ballia. But when asked by reporters to clarify his remarks on Jinnah, Maurya said in Unnao that the media was wrong. "Koi bayaan nahi hai, yeh bayaan aap log baat ka batangar bana ke badhaate hai (There was no statement. You are making a mountain of a molehill)," he said. Yadav had also tagged his anti-Maurya tweet to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, UP BJP chief Mahendra Nath and party leader Sunil Bansal. The Rajya Sabha MP from UP said in another tweet, The photograph of Jinnah who trifurcated India can be put up at AMU but Bharat Mata ki Jai, Vandemataram cannot be said. The violence erupted hours after Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi expressed hope that the portrait issue would be resolved with a sensitive approach. The AMU administration and the students there are patriotic and there is no question of raising questions over their patriotism, the Minority Affairs Minister said. AMU proctor Mohsin Khan said that a small group of Vahini activists arrived around 2 pm at the University Circle, a short distance from the vice chancellor's office. The security staff managed to overpower the slogan-shouting group and took the protesters to Civil Lines police station and handed them over to the police. But later, a large group arrived at the police station and managed to take away their supporters, according to the AMU. This group then marched towards the Bab-e-Syed gate and the few policemen there failed to prevent them from entering the campus. City Superintendent of Police Atul Srivastava said security around the campus has been tightened. AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai had defended the portrait, apparently hanging at AMU for decades, saying that Jinnah was a founder member of the University Court and granted life membership of the student union. "Traditionally, photographs of all life members are placed on the walls of the student union," he said. Student union president Mashqoor Ahmad Usmani said they strongly opposed the two-nation theory and the creation of Pakistan, which was a result of the movement led by Jinnah. There is no question of being inspired by such a separatist ideology. He said. But we also feel that his photograph is a part of the legacy of undivided India's freedom movement in which AMU played a stellar role, he added. The state of school education in India is nothing to be happy about, but technology may soon change that perception. While edu-tech firms have been there, a set of non-profit start-ups are targeting the real problem in educationthat of quality teachers. A large part of the problem in education is the lack of trained teachers and that is where these start-ups are focusing their energies. Take for example, the Million Sparks Foundation. It has a mobile-centric technology platform called ChalkLit, which offers teacher training content to make classroom teaching more interesting. The platform gives tactical inputs to teachers on how to plan and teach their next class. In March 2016, ChalkLit was launched with an aim to support the teachers in affordable private schools. The platform is currently in use by over 10,000 teachers, spread over 3,600 schools impacting more than 6,00,000 students. Nearly 87 per cent out of 599 teachers reported that their conceptual understanding of the topic covered has improved. The ChalkLit platform is currently being used by Delhi government teachers and also in Haryana, Goa and Uttar Pradesh. Similarly, there is TheTeacherApp, which offers digital learning courses for teachers in maths, languages and science through interactive videos. It has 95,000 registered users, out of whom 2,000 are average daily return users. It has a 67 per cent course completion rate and is currently being used by governments in Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. "By 2022, we plan to impact 1 million teachers and 30 million children. We are currently creating content till class 5, but we would like to scale it up to class 8, says Vinod Karate, CEO and founder of TheTeacherApp. Google's philanthropic armGoogle.organnounced on Thursday a funding grant of $1 million for TheTeacherApp. It had funded Million Sparks Foundation last year. Google.org will also provide a $2 million grant and technical assistance from the YouTube Learning team to the Central Square Foundation to aid the expansion of high-quality, curriculum-aligned educational video content. The grant will support a minimum of 20 content creators to produce at least 200 hours of quality science, technology, engineering and maths content in Hindi and vernacular languages. India was among the first countries to receive grants from Google.orgs global $50 million commitment to support non-profits that are building tech-based learning solutions that tackle education challenges in developing countries. With the additional grants, Google.orgs total grant for NGOs in India to support learning and education efforts stands at $11.4 million. Germanys justice minister has asked Facebook chief executive, in a letter, to be transparent with users by giving them more control, saying allegations of the improper use of data for millions of people is unacceptable, a German media group reported on Thursday. Media group RND said, in her letter, Katarina Barley also called on Facebook to strictly implement privacy by default settings and to set up an internal mechanism to protect users from misuse by third parties like Cambridge Analytica. NEW YORK/LONDON Thomson Reuters has expanded its North American wealth management brokerage processing platform, BETA, to include automated international post-trade processing for multi-market and multi-currency securities, representing a significant advancement in a continuous effort to better serve both retail and institutional clients. Powered by NRIs I-STAR/GX platform, Thomson Reuters North American BETA customers will now benefit from automated settlement and straight-through processing of trades executed across all markets, through a high-volume solution with a single-stock record across all asset classes and markets, driving domestic and international corporate actions processing. The fully integrated solution also provides real-time updates of intra-day transaction status changes throughout the lifecycle of the settlement, along with straight-through-processing enabled communication with global and local custodians. It also serves as a multi-tenant solution that segregates each firms data while supporting multiple clients within. The need for a well diversified portfolio continues to drive wealth managers to seek greater investment opportunities for their clients beyond U.S markets. Our enhanced multi-market capability allows our North American BETA customers to reach new financial markets and grow their existing business by offering a broader array of investment options and opportunities globally, said David Akellian, Global Head of Wealth Management for Thomson Reuters. As regulatory demands increase globally, the fully automated single-stock recording process allows firms to be more operationally efficient and transparent in managing custodianship, ultimately mitigating risk, reducing error rates, reducing costs, and freeing up resources to work on other aspects of their business. NRI is excited to be partnering with Thomson Reuters - an important milestone in NRIs international growth, said Naohiro Sako, Senior Managing Director, NRI. Thomson Reuters is a highly respected organization, and together with Thomson Reuters, we look forward to catering to an even wider range of clients needs, expanding the reach of our services. Our two organizations will be able to fully automate post-trade processing for international trades, creating a faster, cleaner flow between the US and international markets. Thomson Reuters BETA is a complete suite of solutions that enables institutions to manage the daily tasks of their brokerage business. It offers all the tools needed to manage daily operations, plus forward-thinking features to keep the organization positioned for the future. The parameter-driven customization features of BETA deliver a hosted solution with a unique level of flexibility to meet the needs of individual businesses. Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is the worlds leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com. About NRI NRI (Nomura Research Institute) is an award-winning global provider of system solutions and consulting services for broker-dealers, asset managers, banks and insurance providers with annual sales exceeding $3.7 billion. Founded in 1965, NRI offers clients holistic support, underpinning all aspects of operations. NRI has a deep understanding of the operational issues financial services firms face globally and provides innovative and research driven solutions to ensure success. NRI has 50 offices globally, including global financial centers such as New York, London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and Singapore, with more than 12,000 employees across the world. For more information, visit https://www.nri.com/fit. CONTACT Lemuel Brewster Senior PR Director Thomson Reuters +1 646-223-5147 lemuel.brewster@thomsonreuters.com George Doel External Communications Thomson Reuters +44 207 542 0146 george.doel@thomsonreuters.com Sayaka Takeda Global Marketing and Branding NRI +1 212 636 0539 sayaka.takeda@nria.com TORONTO, May 2, 2018 Thomson Reuters (NYSE / TRX: TRI) today provided information related to the companys future financial reporting in connection with its proposed transaction to sell a majority interest in its Financial & Risk (F&R) business. The company will report its first-quarter earnings on May 11, 2018. The information in this news release supplements the company's announcement on January 30, 2018 that it signed a definitive agreement to sell 55% of its F&R business to private equity funds managed by Blackstone. As previously announced, the proposed transaction is expected to close in the second half of the year and is subject to specified regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Pre-Closing Financial Reporting F&R will be reported as a discontinued operation in the company's ongoing 2018 results beginning with its first-quarter results and continuing through the closing date of the transaction. Prior to the closing, 100% of F&R's results will be reported in a single line item on the company's income statement titled Earnings from Discontinued Operations, net of Tax. The presentation of results for 2017 in the companys ongoing 2018 results will also be restated to reflect F&R as a discontinued operation. The following supplemental information will be provided for the F&R business for each quarter: Revenues and related growth rate Adjusted EBITDA, related growth rate and corresponding margin Capital expenditures Free cash flow Debt outstanding (provided post-closing) Thomson Reuters will continue to retain full ownership of its Legal, Tax & Accounting and Reuters News businesses (effective January 1, 2018, Reuters News is a reportable segment). Attached to this news release are restated non-IFRS results for the full-year 2017. Thomson Reuters' non-IFRS measures, including adjusted earnings per share (EPS), will exclude F&Rs results except for free cash flow. The companys Legal business unit has been restated to include the Regulatory Intelligence and Compliance Learning businesses that Thomson Reuters will retain as part of the transaction. These businesses generated approximately $69 million of revenues in 2017. Results for these businesses were previously reflected in F&R's results. Quarterly restatements for 2017 will be provided with the release of the first-quarter 2018 results. Shares outstanding As of April 30, 2018, the company had 711,640,953 common shares outstanding. The company has not repurchased any shares this year. Full-Year 2018 Business Outlook On May 11, 2018, the company plans to provide a full-year 2018 business outlook for its continuing operations on a consolidated basis. The company's 2018 outlook will exclude F&R. The company previously announced that it expects to retain stranded costs in 2018, 2019 and 2020 that will not be eliminated with the sale of the 55% interest in F&R. The company will provide an update of these expected costs when it reports its first-quarter 2018 results. These costs will be included in the companys non-IFRS measures and outlook. The company also expects to incur costs and will make investments in 2018 and 2019 in the ongoing Thomson Reuters business resulting from the operational separation of F&R from the rest of the company. These costs and investments are expected to be incurred starting in the second quarter of 2018. An estimate of these costs and investments will be provided as part of the 2018 outlook. These costs and investments will be included in the companys non-IFRS measures. These costs and investments are included in the estimate of transaction-related expenses and taxes of $1.5 billion - $2.5 billion, as previously disclosed. Post-Closing Financial Reporting Following the closing of the transaction, the companys IFRS results will include the companys 45% share of F&Rs results reported in a single line item on the company's income statement titled Share of post-tax earnings in equity method investments. The companys non-IFRS measures, including adjusted earnings, will exclude its share of post-tax earnings in equity method investments. Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is the worlds leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. Thomson Reuters shares are listed on the Toronto and New York Stock Exchanges. For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com. NON-IFRS FINANCIAL MEASURES Thomson Reuters prepares its financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). This news release includes certain non-IFRS financial measures, such as adjusted EBITDA, adjusted earnings and adjusted EPS. Thomson Reuters uses non-IFRS financial measures as supplemental indicators of its operating performance and financial position. These measures do not have any standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS and therefore are unlikely to be comparable to the calculation of similar measures used by other companies, and should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance calculated in accordance with IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures are defined and reconciled to the most directly comparable IFRS measures in Thomson Reuters 2017 annual report. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking, including the companys expectations regarding the timing for closing of the proposed Financial & Risk transaction. These forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and reflect our companys current expectations. As a result, forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations. There is no assurance that a transaction involving all or part of the Financial & Risk business will be completed or that other events described in any forward-looking statement will materialize. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements which reflect expectations only as of the date of this news release. Except as may be required by applicable law, Thomson Reuters disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements. CONTACT MEDIA David Crundwell Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs +1 416 649 9904 david.crundwell@tr.com INVESTORS Frank J. Golden Senior Vice President, Investor Relations +1 646 223 5288 frank.golden@tr.com The following companies are subsidiares of Boston Scientific: 34 Biomedical Merger Corp., 9357-1867 Quebec Inc., Acurate Industria e Comercio Ltda., Advanced Bionics, Advanced Stent Technologies, American Medical Systems, American Medical Systems Europe B.V., Apama Medical, Apama Medical Inc., Asthmatx, Atritech, Augmenix, Augmenix Inc., Augmenix K.K., BSC International Medical Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., BSC Medical Device Technology (Shanghai) Co. 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Ltd., Boston Scientific Lebanon SAL, Boston Scientific Limited, Boston Scientific Ltd., Boston Scientific Medical Device, Boston Scientific Medical Device Limited, Boston Scientific Medizintechnik GmbH, Boston Scientific Middle East FZ-LLC, Boston Scientific Middle East SAL, Boston Scientific Nederland B.V., Boston Scientific Neuromodulation Corporation, Boston Scientific New Zealand Limited, Boston Scientific Nordic AB, Boston Scientific Peru S.A.C., Boston Scientific Philippines Inc., Boston Scientific Polska Sp. z o.o., Boston Scientific Portugal - Dispositivos Medicos Lda, Boston Scientific Pty Ltd, Boston Scientific Romania S.R.L., Boston Scientific S.A.S., Boston Scientific S.p.A., Boston Scientific Scimed, Boston Scientific Scimed Inc., Boston Scientific Services Private Limited, Boston Scientific TIP Gerecleri Limited Sirketi, Boston Scientific Technology & Engineering Services Private Limited, Boston Scientific Uruguay S.A., Boston Scientific Vietnam Company Limited, Boston Scientific de Costa Rica S.R.L., Boston Scientific de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Boston Scientific del Caribe Inc., Boston Scientific do Brasil Ltda., Bravo Bidco Limited, BridgePoint Medical, Cameron Health, Cardiac Pacemakers Inc., Cardiac Pathways Corp, Catheter Innovations, Claret Medical, Claret Medical Inc., Cosman Medical, Cosman Medical LLC, CryoCor, Cryterion Medical, Cryterion Medical Inc., Cryterion Medical Ireland Limited, EKOS LLC, EMcision, EMcision International Inc., EP Technologies, EP Technologies Inc., Electron Acquisition Corporation, EndoChoice, EndoChoice Holdings Inc., EndoChoice Inc., EndoChoice Innovation Center Ltd., EndoChoice Israel Ltd., Endotex, Enteric Medical Technologies, Galil Medical Inc., Galil Medical Ltd., Galil Medical UK Limited, Guidant, Guidant Delaware Holding Corporation, Guidant Europe NV, Guidant Puerto Rico B.V., Hong Kong Medtech Trading Limited, Intelect Medical, Millipede, Millipede Inc., NXT Merger Corp., Notebook Merger Sub Ltd., Novate Medical Limited, NxThera, NxThera Inc., PT Boston Scientific Indonesia, PneumRx GmbH, PneumRx LLC, PneumRx Liimited, Protherics Medicines Development B.V., Protherics Medicines Development Limited, Protherics UK Limited, Provensis Limited, RMI Acquisition Corp., Remon Medical Technologies, Rhythmia Medical, Robert S. Smith M.D. Inc., Roxwood Medical Inc., SNS Merger Corp, Sadra Medical, Sadra Medical Inc., Securus Medical Group, Securus Medical Group Inc., Special K Merger Corp., StarMedTec, Stream Enterprises LLC, Symetis, Symetis SA, Target Therapeutics, Target Therapeutics Inc., The LumenR Tissue Retractor System, Veniti, Veniti Inc., VertiFlex, Vertiflex Inc., Vessix Vascular, Xlumena, Zuma Investment Pty Ltd, iogyn, nVision Medical, and nVision Medical Corporation. ALBANY A state appellate court has scuttled the village of Lake Placid's attempt to use eminent domain to acquire land in the heart of the resort village that's currently owned by the Adirondack Experience museum. For more than a year, the village has been seeking to force the sale of two hillside lots the museum has owned since 2007 at the site of a former church adjacent to a municipal parking lot. The vacant parcels are roughly 60 miles from the museum, located in Blue Mountain Lake in Hamilton County. The village wants the .35 acre space for a garage to alleviate parking problems in the village, which can become severe in the summer and winter seasons. They also say the project, which could ease parking shortages on the town's main street, would allow the village to obtain a government grant to help with sewer renovations to protect Mirror Lake. The museum has characterized the village's actions as a "mad rush," while Troy attorney Patrick Seely, who is representing Lake Placid in the proceedings, has argued that the local government is doing nothing more than attempting to take over a long-vacant lot. In a decision released Thursday, the state Appellate Division's Third Department found that while the village's environmental impact assessment of the project was not improperly structured, Lake Placid officials had not done sufficient work on the specific issue of potential traffic impacts from the development. "During both the public hearing and the written comment period, concerns regarding increased traffic congestion and other potential traffic impacts associated with the proposed condemnation were repeatedly voiced," the unanimous decision states. "Yet, the record is bereft of any evidence that the Village Board took the requisite hard look at these potential traffic implications. Indeed, the sum total of the proof of the Village Board's "hard look" is its negative response to the question on the EAF as to whether there would be a substantial increase in traffic above present levels made without articulating a reasoned elaboration for the basis of such determination and the wholly conclusory statement in its resolution that '(t)here is no significant environmental impact that could not be mitigated with reasonable measures.'" " ... In light of this, and given the wholesale failure on the part of the Village Board to set forth a record-based elaboration for its conclusion that the identified traffic concerns were not significant, the (State Environmental Quality Review Act assessment) findings and determinations made in connection with the condemnation of the subject property must be vacated," the decision concludes. "We're thrilled," said David Kahn, executive director of the Adirondack Experience. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Kahn acknowledged that the decision could mark only a temporary victory for the museum. "I suppose if nothing else, this opens up the possibility ... that some citizens group could step forward to raise this traffic issue," he said. He denounced what he said was "underhanded" tactics by village leaders, including the cancellation of the tax-exempt status on the two lots. The museum has a separate lawsuit concerning that decision, though that legal action has been suspended as the suit over the environmental impact assessment has proceeded. Seeley, the attorney for the village, was not immediately available for comment on Thursday morning. Eminent domain cases are sporadically pursued under a law that allows a governmental body to force the sale of land if it is needed for public uses. Typically, it's used for projects like road expansions or construction of utility lines. ALBANY In the absence of a nomination by President Donald Trump, interim U.S. Attorney Grant Jaquith will remain the Northern District's top federal prosecutor after a judge officially appointed him to the role Wednesday. Jaquith's term was set to expire May 5. If the president does not nominate someone for the position, judges in a district can select a U.S. attorney for the role until the Senate confirms a permanent appointment. In a similar move last week, judges in the Southern District of New York appointed Geoffrey Berman as U.S. Attorney in Manhattan, a post he was appointed to on an interim basis in January. Berman's term was also scheduled to expire this week. "I care deeply about the office, its mission and the people," Jaquith said in a phone interview. "I'm excited and grateful." He plans to stay in Niskayuna, where he lives. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions appointed Jaquith as acting U.S. Attorney in January. Sessions praised the prosecutor for his "well-deserved reputation for determination and toughness as an attorney." "Over the last 28 years, he has prosecuted drug dealers, cop killers and violent criminals. That work has had a major impact on the community," Sessions said. "With Grant as interim United States attorney for the Northern District of New York, I believe that New Yorkers are in good hands." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Comprised of 32 counties, the Northern District extends from Albany to Syracuse, and from Binghamton to the Canadian border. Jaquith, a former Army colonel, has been a member of the office since 1989. He previously served as first assistant to former U.S. Attorney Richard Hartunian before Hartunian left office in June 2017, more than three months after the Trump administration removed dozens of U.S. attorneys who were holdovers from the prior administration. The most high-profile attorney ousted was Preet Bharara of the Southern District, whom Trump had initially asked to remain in the job. miszler@timesunion.com 518-454-5018 @madisoniszler Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Courtesy of the New York Department of States Division of Consumer Protection The Department of State's Division of Consumer Protection is asking the federal government to recall a toy car set called the MOD Modified Street Runner. Testing by the DCP found that the car set "failed to comply with federal mechanical hazard standards," they said in a statement. The toy cars break when pressure is applied, exposing a sharp point that could cause harm, they said. Albany The state has prevailed in a legal challenge over a snowmobile expansion plan in the Adirondacks in a ruling by the state's second-highest court. On Thursday, the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court supported the state Department of Environmental Conservation in a lawsuit brought two years by an environmental group over state plans for former timber company land around the Essex Chain of Lakes. That plan call for 22 miles of snowmobile trails between Indian Lake and Newcomb, although work has not started due to the suit filed by Protect the Adirondacks and Adirondack Wild, which argued against the legality of expanding motorized uses in the state Forest Preserve. Fred Monroe, executive director of the Adirondack Park Local Government Review Board, which represents towns and villages in the park, said there is local support for the snowmobile plan. "This ruling ought to allow the DEC to move forward with construction this year," said Monroe. The trail would split about 10,000 acres of former Finch, Pruyn lands roughly between the lakes and the western side of the Hudson River at the Hudson Gorge Wilderness. The state acquired about 19,000 acres of property in 2012 and 2013 from The Nature Conservancy. However, Peter Bauer, executive director of Protect the Adirondacks, said the ruling still allows opponents to "live to fight another day." He said part of the ruling said a challenge could not be mounted until after DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency issue permits for the project. "We most likely will go to court once permits are issued," he said. The permit has not yet been proposed by either agency. Another part of the ruling includes a dissenting opinion on whether the snowmobile plan violates the state Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System Act, adopted in 1972, and the park's State Land Master Plan. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. That dissent allows for an automatic appeal to the the Court of Appeals, said Bauer. He said that the state's plan would make it much easier to allow for snowmobiles and other motorized uses elsewhere in the Adirondacks and could change the character of the park. Running from Pelon Road near Indian Lake to Newcomb on Route 28N, the snowmobile trail hinges on APA reclassification of a 500-foot-wide corridor as "wild forest" under agency land use rules. Wild forest allows for snowmobile use, while land on either side of the corridor remains classified under wilderness or primitive categories, which do not allow motorized uses. The plan also calls for construction of a new snowmobile bridge over the Cedar River, and snowmobile use of a former Finch logging bridge (Polaris Bridge) on the upper Hudson River. A DEC statement said the agency was pleased with the decision because it supports the state's position that the rivers protection law "allows existing uses to continue, including the use of snowmobiles on existing trails." bnearing@timesunion.com - 518-454-5094 - @Bnearing10 ALBANY The state is shutting down an insurance program backed by the National Rifle Association that's designed to protect gun owners from lawsuits, and fining its Kansas City-based insurance provider $7 million. That insurance, called "Carry Guard," is held by about 680 New Yorkers and provides liability insurance for owners who fire their weapons and later face legal charges or claims for damages. But the state Department of Financial Services said the insurance was illegal under state law because it offers coverage even if gun owners were to be found to have broken the law, used unreasonable force, or engaged in "intentional wrongdoing." More for you Siena College conservative forum features Roger Stone, protests, free speech DFS Superintendent Maria Vullo said the state "will not tolerate conduct by any entity, licensed or otherwise, in contravention of New York Insurance Law, especially when that conduct is such an egregious violation of public policy designed to protect all citizens." The NRA promotes the Carry Guard program prominently on its website, warning that "Without insurance, lawful self-defense can cost you a fortune!" The policy is offered through Kansas City-based Lockton Companies, which is the world's largest private insurance broker, with $1.4 billion in annual sales. Under the agreement with New York, the company agreed to cancel all Carry Guard policies in New York within 10 days. Lockton also agreed not to offer similar insurance in the state with any involvement from the NRA. No claims were filed under the Carry Guard program, which was available in New York from April 2017 to mid-December, when the firm suspended it after the state began its investigation. The company provided a free year of NRA membership for anyone who bought a policy. Between 2000 and this year, Lockton collected about $12 million in premiums on the Carry Guard program and about a dozen other NRA-related insurance programs in New York, according to DFS. The insurance provided coverage for bail money, premiums on bonds, attorney consultation fees and retainer expenses, expenses incurred for the investigation or defense of criminal charges, and costs taxed against the insured or the insured's resident family member in a criminal proceeding arising out of a shooting. Lockton spokesman Dean Davidson said the company takes "compliance matters seriously" and cooperated with the state investigation that started last fall. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "As part of our settlement, we will continue to cooperate with the New York regulators to remediate any issues or concerns," he said. "It is our responsibility to ensure we are fully compliant. We believe this settlement is the best way to resolve these issues." The NRA's New York state director referred questions to NRA headquarters in Washington, D.C., which did not provide a comment. In addition to the fine, Lockton agreed to refrain from participating in the Carry Guard program or any similar program in New York, and from providing Carry Guard or similar policies for or to New York residents regardless of where they are written. Among other elements of the settlement, Lockton also agreed to not procure from unauthorized insurers insurance policies covering New York residents that provide liability insurance that offers defense coverage in a criminal proceeding. Pit bulls or similar dogs often get a bad rap for being an aggressive breed, so when a Texas police officer was called out for a vicious dog, he prepared for the worst. Officer Travis Frost with the Texarkana Police Department arrived at the location where the supposedly aggressive dog had been seen and found a large pup lying on someone's front porch. SO FITTING: Dog names that perfectly define what it means to be from Texas According to a post on the department's Facebook, Frost got out of his patrol unit and left the door open in case he needed to make a quick escape, but when he whistled, the dog trotted right up to him, tail wagging and all. After the officer petted the pooch, it jumped right into the patrol car and made himself at home until Animal Control showed up. "Pit bulls have a bit of a bad reputation," the police department wrote. "While you should always be careful around any dog that you don't know, you shouldn't automatically assume that all pit bulls are bad dogs. They might be really loving like this guy was this morning." Gold, as the officer later found out, is an American bully and not a pit bull. He was taken to a local shelter, where his owner was able to pick him up since Gold was chipped, so all's well that ends well. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Take a look through the gallery above to see some of the most popular dogs breeds in America. Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli is a digital producer at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on twitter at @Dani_DiNapoli. SARATOGA SPRINGS - A reduction in funding from the New York Racing Association has dramatically cut back the operation of a health clinic that has provided free basic health care services to hundreds of backstretch workers. Grooms, hot walkers, stable workers and others at Saratoga Race Course who live in the city for up to six months of the year used to have access to medical care for their chronic ailments or injuries for the duration of their stay, from mid-April until mid-November. But Backstretch Employee Service Team, which has managed the clinic since it opened in 2008, now only has the funds to run the facility during the six-and-a-half week meet, July 20 to Sept. 3. On Monday, NYRA's President and CEO Chris Kay told the state Franchise Oversight Board that it has reduced its funding for the BEST clinic in recent years, from more than $1 million annually to $800,000 in 2017 and $600,000 in 2018. He said the reason is because NYRA was paying more to help fund the clinic than the New York Thoroughbred Horsemen's Association, the group of owners and trainers who employ the workers. "There was a substantial difference between what NYTHA has been paying as opposed to what NYRA was paying," Kay told the board. "Our people are working with them to help (BEST) try to find ways to raise money. This would be a great opportunity for BEST people to look to NYTHA, look to us and look to the outside world to find a way to raise some money." NYTHA did not return Times Union phone calls to comment on this matter. But Rick Violette, co-chair of the BEST board said that in 2017 NYTHA and the horsemen combined donated $862,980 to BEST. "It's important to understand that NYRA has a decades-long legacy of providing 100 percent of the funding for programs like BEST and its predecessors," Violette said. "It was not until NYRA began to reduce its contributions that the horsemen were called upon to step in and help. ... When NYRA reduced its contribution to BEST by $200,000 for 2018, it had a materially adverse effect on BEST and their ability to serve the backstretch community." Advocates for the backstretch workers are appalled. Among them is the volunteer medical translator Diana Barnes who has spent the last five summers at the health clinic located in a single-wide trailer behind the Recreation Center near the Oklahoma track. "This is a huge loss," said Barnes, who is also a professor at Skidmore College where she teaches U.S. Mexico Border Studies. "That trailer, which is centrally located, provides the workers with a sense of dignity. They feel like they can go there and someone will care for them. There, they don't have to feel like an extension of the animal. The trailer represents so much more than medical care. That is why they like coming to Saratoga." Barnes is also concerned about how the current national political climate is impacting the backstretch workers. "Things have gone from bad to worse," Barnes said. "The backstretch workers are afraid to go off-site. They are continuously stressed and it's not just individuals without legal status. I've had a worker tell me that he was riding his bike and someone drove by and pushed him off the bike. This sounds like rhetoric, but because their skin is brown they are afraid." During the meet, the clinic is up and running five to six days a week and has doctors on call for emergencies. Until this year, during the shoulder season which begins in April when the Oklahoma training track opens the clinic would at first open one day a week and gradually increase its days of operation as the weeks go on. At this point, the clinic would be open two days a week for the 100 backstretch workers who are at the track now. Once the meet is over, it would then gradually closes down again. By Halloween, the clinic would be open only one day a week. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. In addition to check-ups and medications, the clinic also provides backstretch workers with mental health services, as well as appointments with an optometrist, a dentist and a chiropractor. At the height of the meet, the clinic serves about 2,000 backstretch workers. Kay said that NYRA gave BEST 14 months notice that it would reduce its funding for the clinic. NYRA also gave BEST its 2018 allocation in 2017, Kay said, so it could plan. "They knew ahead of time," Kay told the Oversight Board. "It wasn't an empty promise from us. It was designed so they could use time and money to engage in their own fundraising activities." A NYRA spokesman said that it has done a lot for the backstretch workers over the years including investing nearly $53 million "to improve the living and working conditions for the backstretch community at all three NYRA tracks." He also said that "NYRA is steadfastly committed to assisting BEST in its fundraising efforts and activities to supplement its financial contributions." Terry Diggory, coordinator of the Saratoga Immigration Coalition, said NYRA should be ashamed. "They are spending millions of dollars at the Saratoga Race Course for a new building but downgrading essential services for the workers who make it possible," Diggory said. "I know they are not employees of NYRA, but NYRA is the host. They have a certain obligation for hospitality and to share the responsibility for decent health care facilities. They want reliable workers then they need to make it possible for them to keep in good health." ALBANY - A handful of Senate Democrats raised questions on Wednesday about the beneficiaries from expanded tax cuts proposed by Senate Republicans. More than a dozen bills passed the chamber as part of the Republican's majority jobs and opportunity agenda, including two bills advertised as income tax cuts and property tax relief for small business owners. State Sen. Liz Krueger, a Manhattan Democrat, argued during debate on the two bills that they didn't benefit the type of mom-and-pop establishments people think of as small businesses. "I think they both flunk the test of defining small businesses," she said. Krueger pointed to the bill expanding a tax cut for pass-through businesses, like LLCs and partnerships, which eliminates a requirement that they employ at least one person and said real-estate moguls without employees could benefit. "I might be a very wealthy investor, in a large number of LLCs, without even having any employees and I would be able to maximize my reductions and my taxes thanks to this bill," she said. Greg Biryla, executive director of the business coalition Unshackle Upstate, rejected Krueger's characterization of the bill and maintained it provided much needed assistance to small businesses. "That's an extreme twisting of reality," he said of Krueger's example, arguing that the vast majority of businesses that would benefit have employees. At least one real-estate and construction interest, the New York City based Genting New York LLC, is interested in the proposal, as they have lobbyists registered on the bill. Sen. Brad Hoylman, a Manhattan Democrat, voiced concerns on the floor about the increased income eligibility in the bill, which raised the threshold for corporate tax cuts from $390,000 to $500,000. The bill also doubled the limit for personal income tax exemptions for pass through entities to $500,000. Hoylman noted a federal census study that found the median income in New York for individuals self-employed at their own incorporated businesses was about $52,000 in 2015 and less than half that for individuals self-employed at their own unincorporated firms. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Biryla said expanding the lower rates was a positive step and hoped it would allow all of these businesses to grow, regardless of their income. Senate Republicans said it would be beneficial to farmers in New York. Krueger and Hoylman also spoke out against legislation expanding the state's popular residential property tax rebate program to include businesses. Hoylman faulted the bill for not including an income threshold and Krueger said an individual with multiple LLCs could abuse the benefit. Sen. Fred Akshar, a Binghamton Republican, argued that the bills addressed the state's "abysmal business climate" and made New York more affordable. Neither bills that drew the attention of the Democrats are expected to pass the state Assembly, which Democrats control. Saratoga County economic development officials are working privately on a plan to form a new non-profit company that would oversee the county's efforts to recruit businesses and create jobs. The new non-profit economic engine would be set up so that it would not be subject to oversight from the state Authorities Budget Office and would also be outside the reach of the state Freedom of Information Law, according to a draft proposal shared with the Times Union. The effort that multiple sources say involves people associated with the county's oft-competing economic development entities the Saratoga County Economic Development Corp. and the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership is being kept so secret that some board members and officials involved with the organizations say they don't have knowledge of the discussions. "I'm just surprised that people are talking about this," said Dennis A. Brobston, the longtime president of the SEDC. "I'm not involved in those discussions ... if they are going on. The only thing we're working on is doing our job and it does not include partnering with anybody or merging with anybody." Several town supervisors who are members of the board of directors of SCPP either declined to be interviewed or referred comment to Kevin Hedley, a Halfmoon accountant who is chairman of SCPP's board. But both Hedley and Marty Vanags, who is the president of SCPP, declined requests to be interviewed. SCPP board member Rocco Ferraro did confirm that there are talks of collaboration between SEDC and SCPP, but was uncertain of the details. Milton Supervisor Scott Ostrander, who also sits on SCPP's board, also confirmed that a merger is in the works. He said a special negotiating team has been formed, of which he is not privy. The draft proposal, labeled "confidential," indicates the plan calls for scaling back of both SEDC and SCPP, the latter which has come under fire for its failure to draw businesses or create jobs despite receiving $3.12 million in county funds since it was formed about three years ago. But the draft plan, which calls for the new company to be under contract with both SEDC and SCPP, states that the SCPP, which was formed after county supervisors had a falling out with the SEDC, would continue to receive revenues the county's hotel bed tax. The draft plan also proposes for the new company to receive the county's financial support but only by having it contract with the existing economic development arms, thereby preserving its ability to do the work but without public scrutiny. It's staff salaries, benefits, travel and personal expenses, along with any audits or annual reports would potentially remain private under the plan. "There would still be no accountability," according to a person briefed on the effort but not authorized to comment publicly. "It's doubling down with taxpayer money in lieu of accountability and transparency. It's only resolving a problem that was created by egos." In an interview in February, Hedley acknowledged that his group was open to working with SEDC. By that time, though, county supervisors had already held a caucus at the end of last year and discussed whether to map out a plan for the SEDC and SCPP to work out their differences. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Prosperity Partnership has also come under fire for spending too much money on travel, not following through on projects and not understanding how to properly complete IDA paperwork. Much of the criticism was directed at Vanags, but Hedley had said that he had complete confidence in Vanags because "he brings a long track record in economic development." It is also unclear who would direct the new entity. Brobston has said he alienated some supervisors because he wouldn't let them serve on the SEDC board. SEDC officials were concerned about leaks of confidential information and politicizing the organization to favor one region of the county over another. At the time of its creation in 2015, Prosperity Partnership was meant to supersede SEDC. The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors pulled SEDC funding, which maxed out at $320,000 a year, and created the Partnership, which it fully funds with an annual budget of $800,000 to $775,000 per year. Half of the funds are drawn from the bed tax, which in 2016 was $943,000 and in 2017 was $994,000. But Vanags, who earned $182,116 in 2016 and has spent more than $98,000 in travel to conferences in 2016, has not brought in the promised businesses or jobs like SEDC has done for the past 40 years. Thus far, in three and a half years, he and SCPP have created 12 jobs at Land Remediation in Waterford. Hedley has deflected SCPP criticism by saying hotel bed tax are not tax dollars. In addition to full county funding, the Partnership's 14-member board includes five town supervisors. ALBANY Albany police arrested two men Wednesday night in separate incidents, one involving a four-wheeler and another involving a dirt bike, within an hour of each other. The first arrest occurred after a man driving a four-wheeler ran a red light at Quail and Second streets and, after swerving to avoid a stopped vehicle, crashed into an unmarked police car. Police say that 30-year-old Jamar Cooper fled the scene on foot and led officers on a brief chase before he was apprehended and taken into custody around 6:40 p.m. SCHENECTADY In May 2016, Tarchand Lall took out a $150,000 life insurance policy on part-time employee Charles Dembrovsky, telling an insurance agent they were "domestic partners." Lall contacted the agent three times in August, October and November to make sure the policy on was still in effect. On Nov. 21, 2016, Lall contacted the agent a fourth time. It was a Monday morning at 9 a.m., less than two days after Dembrosky, 49, was found mysteriously shot to death outside his home on Campbell Avenue. That was the testimony Thursday of James Hicks, an Albany-based insurance agent for Primerica insurance, on the witness stand in Schenectady County Court. Prosecutors allege Lall arranged the Nov. 19, 2016 predawn execution of Dembrosky to collect on the policy. They called Hicks to testify at the first-degree murder trial of Joevany "Moon" Luna, 42, and Kyshaan Moore, 27, the two alleged hitmen from Wilmington, Del., whom Lall allegedly recruited to kill Dembrosky. When he called on Nov. 21, 2016, Lall was looking to collect on the policy, the agent said. "He wanted me to meet with him," Hicks testified. The agent said Lall now said he and Dembrovsky had not been domestic partners but business partners. Had he known that in May, Hicks testified, Lall's policy on Dembrovsky "never would have been written." He said he would have put Dembrosky into a "buy-sell" policy that would have directed the life insurance money go to Dembrovsky's family. Prosecutors showed a copy of text messages Lall and Hicks exchanged after the policy went into effect. "Mr. Hicks, can you please give me a call," Lall text-messaged the agent on Aug. 18, 2016. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "He asked me if the policy was still in force. I told him it was still in force," Hicks testified. "He called me again in October and in the beginning of November." During cross-examination by Moore's defense attorney, Michael Mansion, Hicks said Dembrosky had also said he and Lall were domestic partners. Mansion asked Hicks if Moore's name ever came up in his paperwork. Hicks said no. Lall, 53, of Schenectady, will be on to trial later this month charged with ordering the murder. Prosecutors say he paid the reputed hitmen $10,000 for the killing. Luna, a native of Panama, and Moore, are charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy and weapon charges. The trial continues Friday before County Judge Matthew Sypniewski. SCHENECTADY A Schenectady County Sheriff's deputy was placed on administrative leave Thursday, two days after he was arrested in a scandal involving the Galway Police Department. Mark Kirker will remain on leave until his court case is resolved, at which time a final decision will be made about his job, the sheriff's office said. SCHENECTADY -- The former girlfriend of the alleged getaway driver in the 2016 contract killing of Charles Dembrosky contradicted her previous testimony before a grand jury Wednesday, prompting a prosecutor to impeach his own witness. The witness, Rahneisha Bacon, who was subpoenaed to testify in Schenectady County Court, said then-boyfriend Kyshaan Moore had access to her red 2015 Mazda 6 sedan, but said she didn't know her car had been in Schenectady on Nov. 19, 2016. That morning, prosecutors say Moore, 27, and alleged triggerman Joevany Luna, 42, known as "Moon," rode from Wilmington, Del. to Schenectady to carry out the execution of Dembrosky, 49, outside his Campbell Avenue home. Police said a third man, Tarchand Lall, hired them to execute Dembrowsky, who worked for him. "Did he tell you whether the car had been in upstate New York?" Assistant District Attorney Peter Willis asked Bacon. "No," she replied, clearly uncomfortable on the witness stand. Bacon, of Chester, Pa., is the mother of Moore's 1-year-old daughter. In an attempt to refresh the memory of the witness, Willis showed her a copy of her testimony before the grand jury, which she said had been emailed to her weeks ago. In the prior testimony, Bacon had said Moore did tell her the car was in New York. "That's my testimony, but I don't remember it," Bacon testified Wednesday. The judge assigned the county's public defender, Stephen Signore, to represent Bacon in court. Bacon testified Wednesday that she understood Moore was in New York with friends for a dice game and that a shooting broke out. She said Moore told her, "The less you know, the better." Bacon acknowledged that the car caught by street surveillance footage in Schenectady did appear to be her vehicle. At the end of her testimony, outside the presence of the jury, Willis told Schenectady County Judge Matthew Sypniewski he wanted to enter Bacon's grand jury testimony into evidence. Moore's attorney, Michael Mansion, opposed the proposal, saying it was an attempt by the prosecution to bolster the testimony of the witness. The judge said because the witness denied any recollection of making the statements to the grand jury, he might allow it into evidence. He declined to rule. During cross-examination, Mansion asked Bacon, "You ever know Kyshaan to carry a gun?" "No," Bacon responded. "I have never seen him with a gun - period." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Earlier, State Police Investigator Andrew Behrens testified about wiretapped cell phone conversations between Moore and Bacon -- as well as a conversation Moore had with an unidentified man on May 24, 2017. "(Expletive) shot his ass as soon as he came out," Moore said on the recording, which was played in court. Moore and Bacon were recorded talking about efforts by police to speak to Bacon's grandmother about the car, which might have been in her name. Moore appeared initially concerned on the recordings of what the grandmother might tell police, but was less so after speaking to her. "I know that she can't get in no trouble because if she could have they would have locked her up already," Moore said. "They would have locked me up already." Bacon told Moore, at one point in the recordings, "They have nothing on you. They have no idea who was driving that car." Luna, 42, both from Wilmington, are charged with the first-degree murder of Dembrosky who was discovered by his friend and roommate on the steps of his home the victim of a single shot to the neck, authorities allege. The district attorney's office says the men killed Dembrosky as a contract hit for Lall, who had taken out a $150,000 insurance policy on Dembrosky's life. Luna is represented by attorney Mark Juda. Menands Thursday evening, May 3rd at 6:30 p.m. the Turkish Cultural Center Albany at 291 Broadway will host a fundraising dinner for refugees, many of whom have fled Turkey across the Agean Sea for bare bones encampments in Greece. As the event organizers observe, there is a tragic irony in this latest wave of refugees; Turkey permitted thousands of Iraqi and Afghan refugees to enter its border to relative safety from the war. Now, political instability and religious divisions have prompted Turkish families to make the perilous sea voyage for a safe haven in Greece. With just two weeks to go before his scheduled execution, lawyers for lovers' lane killer Juan Castillo filed another plea for clemency Tuesday, arguing that the San Antonio man wasn't the shooter and highlighting the "manifest unfairness" of his case. The 37-year-old former cook and laborer, who was sent to death row for his role in a 2003 slaying in Bexar County, is slated to die by lethal injection May 16 - his fourth execution date in the past year. Now, Castillo's attorneys are asking the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles for a commutation in light of claims that he was framed as the shooter based on false testimony. "He's been wrongfully convicted," said clemency attorney Greg Zlotnick. "No physical evidence places him at the crime scene at all." Instead, Castillo's conviction rested largely on witness accounts, a fact that's come up in court filings, the first clemency petition in April and a supplement to the petition filed on Tuesday. The clemency requests also point to claims of bad lawyering and a judge who "rubber-stamped" an appeal rejection without letting the defense weigh in first. "Our system of justice cries out for clemency in Mr. Castillo's case," the 173-page April petition notes. The condemned man was originally convicted in 2005 of killing teenage rapper Tommy Garcia Jr. during a botched robbery. Castillo's then-girlfriend lured the targeted man to a secluded spot with the promise of sex and drugs. But while the two were making out in his Camaro, Castillo and another man attacked, according to court filings. Wearing ski masks and carrying weapons, they dragged Garcia from the car - and Castillo shot him seven times in the process. Castillo was one of four people convicted in the crime, but the only one hit with a capital sentence. Now, defense counsel says he wasn't even there at the time of the slaying. During the punishment phase, Castillo represented himself - a decision made after he was "stunned" by the guilty verdict, and disappointed in his trial lawyer's performance. He was scheduled for execution last May, but the date was reset after prosecutors failed to give 90-day notice to the defense. In September, he was again scheduled to die, but the date was pushed back again, this time in light of the impacts of Hurricane Harvey. Two months later, his next execution date was called off in light of claims of false testimony from a jailhouse snitch. "I described what Juan Castillo supposedly told me about the capital murder," former Bexar County inmate Gerardo Gutierrez wrote in 2013, according to court records. "Juan Castillo never told me this information about this capital murder case. This testimony was untrue about Juan Castillo. I made up this testimony to try to help myself." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Because of the recanted testimony, the case was sent back to a trial court. There, prosecutors filed recommended findings - but a judge ruled on them one day later, before the defense got a chance to file its recommended findings. The whole process, Zlotnick said, makes a "mockery of fundamental fairness." But once the judge decided that the bad testimony wouldn't have actually made a difference in the outcome of the case, Castillo was given the May execution date. "Failure to grant clemency to Mr. Castillo may lead to the execution of an innocent man," the petition argues. The Board of Pardons and Paroles is expected to decide on May 14. If they side with Castillo, the plea for clemency goes to the governor's desk for a final decision. In addition to the pleas for a commuted sentence, Castillo's appeals attorneys with Texas Defender Services still have claims in front of the U.S. Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. "I'm not the worst of the worst," Castillo argued in a hand-written letter attached to the petition. "My life still has value." Jorge Carmond stood staring at the pack of reporters grouped at the end of his street in South Bexar County, where hours earlier an elderly couple known in the community as church-going foster parents had been stabbed to death. Citing his untidy gym shorts and T-shirt, the 17-year-old declined to be interviewed on camera that Thursday morning, but he said he'd be willing to answer a couple questions about his slain neighbors, John and Melinda Smith. Mid-interview, he was pulled aside by a Bexar County deputy for questioning. Hours later, he was charged in the Smiths' deaths and jailed. Now, the recording of the exclusive interview Carmond gave to mySA.com is helping shed new light on the mental state of the accused teen only hours after he allegedly stabbed his neighbors to death. RELATED: Deputies make arrest in fatal double stabbing in Southeast Bexar County Carmond first approached a mySA.com reporter around 9 a.m., asking what had happened to cause such a large law enforcement response. When he was informed that John Smith, 61, and Melinda Smith, 59, had been stabbed to death around 5:30 a.m., he seemed to absorb the information with minimal visible shock. He then said he lived on the same block as the Smiths and said he knew the couple. He agreed to an interview, the audio of which is included in the video above. He gave a false name, George Bravo, and said he was 17, about to be 18. He had lived in the 4400 block of Lost Hills Drive, where the killings occurred, for about a year and a half, he said. "There hasn't been anything like this," he said of the double stabbing. "I've seen people shooting guns in the air. There's been people doing drug deals in the area right here at the end of the street. They just pass though the windows." With his hands balled up inside his shirt, Carmond said the Smiths were a quiet couple who kept to themselves, but their dogs were loud. He had been friends with the couple's daughter, who recently moved to Houston, and one of their sons, but he didn't really know the Smiths themselves and was only able to recall John's name, he said. "They didn't really like me, you know," he said. "They were pretty mean." Before he could explain their alleged animosity, a sergeant with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office approached and asked Carmond what he was doing in the area, as someone had just made a suspicious person report on him. The sergeant then pulled him aside for further questioning. RELATED: Nearly 60 credit card skimmers found in San Antonio over 2-month span According to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, deputies took Carmond to their downtown headquarters for further questioning. "Though the process of the investigation, investigators gather enough information to charge and book Jorge Carmond for capital murder," reads a statement from the sheriff's office on the arrest. The sheriff's office has provided no other information about the evidence against Carmond. Johnny Garcia, the spokesman for the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, said in a press conference after the killings that a caller reported hearing a verbal altercation around 5:30 a.m. at the Smith's house. The caller then reported hearing a gunshot. Responding deputies found a car with its trunk open in the couple's driveway. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. On the front porch of the home, the deputy found John Smith suffering from multiple stab wounds. He found Melinda Smith inside the home with similar wounds. Authorities pronounced Melinda Smith dead at the scene. Paramedics rushed John Smith to Brooke Army Medical Center for treatment, but he was later pronounced dead. RELATED: San Antonio high school seniors had troubled relationship prior to murder-suicide, friends say Authorities have declined to comment further on the killings, citing an open investigation. "I don't know if you can ever really explain something like this," said the couple's son, Matt Smith. According to the Smiths' obituaries published in the Wilson County News, both husband and wife were God-fearing, devoted members of Salem Sayers Baptist Church in Adkins, Texas. They were San Antonio natives who fostered many children throughout their lives. John Smith was described as a "gentle giant" who loved others more than himself. "He loved his grandson, loved his Spurs and spent a great deal of time mentoring others to have a closer walk with the Lord," reads his obituary. Melinda Smith loved her family dearly, "but most of all she loved and faithfully served her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." She also loved animals and working with children at church. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns All-Ireland winning Tipperary senior hurler Niall O'Meara has spoken of how he hates social media, pointing out that it is so false. The Kilruane MacDonagh man was speaking at an event in Nenagh Arts Centre dealing with mental health. Social media is one of the biggest influences in getting you down, he told Time to Talk: Promoting Positive Mental Health. I hate social media. It is so false. You never see anybody put up a bad picture, he told the gathering. Mr O'Meara, a primary school teacher in Newport, lost his brother Paul to suicide some years back, and a friend also took his own life. He said that Paul's death had had a big effect on him and his family from every point of view, and the loss of his brother had been hard to take. However, he emphasised the important role sport and the GAA had played in helping him and the family through. With sport you experience the highs and lows. It is massive for people with mental health issues because you are surrounded by people who want to see you do well in sport, he said. But, he said that hurling for Tipperary, you can get a lot of knives in the back from supporters. We are a very negative country, which is a terrible thing to say, said Mr O'Meara. However, he said that the smallest things can make you feel better and urged people to write down three things they did well each day. He also recommended going for a walk to take physical excercise and to emphsise the positive constantly. I got a punctured lung last January and all I did was complain. I was down but then I saw I was better off than others in the hospital. Then I hurt my shoulder, he said. And pointing to the amount of organisations and leaflets available at the event, he said: No matter how things are, there is always somebody out there to talk to. However, Mr O'Meara stated that you need to be organised to avoid negativity. He urged people to support fellow Tipperary hurler Seamus Hennessy on his Arctic run, Running for Josie, which will raise funds for and awareness of organisations dealing with suicide. Mr Hennessy's mother died by suicide in 2000. Mr O'Meara thanked the organisers, Aisling and Sinead Horrigan and Virginia O'Dowd for putting the event together. Living Links founder Michael Egan explained the role his organisation has in helping those bereaved by suicide. Founded in Cloughjordan in 2002, and now a national organisation, the group meets on the second Thursday of every month in the Innovation Centre, Stafford Street, at 8pm. He said the organisation grew out of the local community's response to a death by suicide. Six of us got together and spent nine months researching it, he said. Much more needs to be done to promote tourism around Thurles and Templemore, with the emphasis on improving broadband, and building a Greenway cycle route to attract visitors, heard the April meeting of Thurles Templemore Municipal District. Cllr Eddie Moran suggested that the local authority needs to do more to promote a joined-up approach to promoting tourism with horse-racing. They are not coordinated. Why cant the tourist board liaise with the horse racing authorities to link up with Thurles, Limerick Junction, and Clonmel, asked Cllr Moran. Cllr Michael Smith said they must do everything possible to encourage tourism. Its fantastic news regarding Feile. We have to reach out to the GAA, to businesses, and everybody in Thurles and Templemore. The local authority could showcase everything that is good about Thurles and Templemore. That should be done as soon as possible. Cllr Smith said he didnt see enough joined up thinking regarding linking Thurles, Templemore, and other local areas to tourism campaigns such as the Hidden Ireland tours. We have to be saying what will we do to encourage people to visit this fantastic location. I would like to see more emphasis on that. Cllr Jim Ryan said the return of Feile will be a huge boost to the town. Its badly needed. I think it will be massive for Thurles. This Council will do whatever it can to promote it. I hope people will stay. All the accommodation around Thurles was booked out within minutes of it being announced, but other towns can get involved. Cllr Ryan said he would like to promote the idea of a Greenway cycle route from Thurles to Clonmel. He met an official from Waterford Co. Council and I was gobsmacked by the level of support that came from the County Council to ensure that project was fulfilled. The Waterford to Dungarvan Greenway has attracted over 300,000 people and the Thurles to Clonmel line would bring huge benefits to Co. Tipperary. I think this project should be seriously looked at, added Cllr Ryan. There is one currently being constructed from Dublin to Galway. Cllr Ryan also pointed to the need for more high-speed broadband. Some 36% of households have no access to high-speed broadband. I have asked Eir, Sky, and I live a quarter of a mile outside Thurles. Its an absolute joke. Its not good enough. This is a crisis. We talk about trying to bring people and jobs, and industry, but we cannot get the basics right. That cannot continue. Its a huge problem for Tipperary. Cllr John Hogan said the lands for a Greenway from Thurles to Clonmel have been sold, and have been in private ownership for 60 years. It would be an absolute nightmare to ask people to sell their land. In Waterford, the land was still in the ownership of Iarnrod Eireann. A better route would be the one going through Bord Na Mona lands, from Templetuohy to Littleton to Killenaule. Cllr Hogan said there is fantastic infrastructure already in place, and it goes through amazing scenery. The infrastructure is intact. To me, thats the one that should be pursued. Regarding the Feile, Cllr Hogan said he agreed the Council should link up with the various agencies to promote Thurles, perhaps by putting something in the Square. For two to three hours beforehand, festival goers will be in Thurles so there should be a Fair in the Square to showcase Thurles that evening. Cllr Sean Ryan said the Bord Na Mona lands are a vast area of track, stretching all the way to the border. It has huge potential. A local bike-shop owner had asked him if the Greenway would come to fruition. Bord Na Mona owes it to give something back. Many people have worked there for a very long time. Bord Na Mona are leaving us now. It would be a nice legacy. We need somebody to take care of that land, and to deal with anti-social behaviour. Cllr Sean Ryan said the Feile will be a huge boost. Many people in the 1990s could rent out rooms for the night, so this time round people should get a boost. Peter Casey from Dragons Den had visited Tipperary recently, and complained about the poor reception on his phone. There are too many blackspots around, added Cllr Ryan. We need to improve the broadband. Reliable broadband and wi-fi is so important. We could have free wi-fi in the town. Women played a vital role in the fight for Irish freedom and it is important to remember and record their stories. In recent years historians have produced well researched publications to ensure that the vital role played by these women is outlined and celebrated. They explain how the effective guerrilla warfare tactics employed by the IRA in the War of Independence would not have been possible without the support of women in every part of the country. Women administered first-aid to injured IRA men, provided safe houses for those on the run, gathered and disseminated intelligence and transported weaponry. They took considerable risks and paid dearly when exposed. Revolutions leave behind few records, as written records, if discovered by the authorities, were dangerous to the carrier and their cause. In the 1930s the Irish government established the Bureau of Military History in an attempt to remedy this problem. Men and women, who had played a role in the revolutionary movement (1913-1921), were invited to make statements describing events in their own words. Although Laois women are mentioned in the statements of their male counterparts, statements were not made by any of the women. In 1933 the Military Service Pension Committee issued a circular to the Old IRA brigades requesting they compile and forward information relating to Cumann na mBan in their area. Unfortunately, the Secretary of the Old IRA in Laois, Lar Brady, responded with a brief note indicating that the task would be very difficult. Shockingly, no information was ever forwarded and the Cumann na mBan file for Laois remained empty. Apart from Wicklow, Laois is the only county in the Republic of Ireland without official Cumann na mBan membership lists. Laois County Library is appealing for information on Laois woman who participated in the struggle for Independence. It is hoped that family member who have information and/or records of these women will come forward and participate in a project to record their stories before they are lost forever. Laois County Library is launching the appeal with a talk on the topic by Sinead McCoole, noted Irish historian on revolutionary women. The talk will take place in Portlaoise Library on 22nd May at 7.30pm. All are welcome. Nenagh Gardai are trying to identify thieves who stole trailers in the locality in recent days. A horsebox was stolen in broad daylight in Kilruane on Thursday last after been detached from a jeep. At around lunchtime on the following day a trailer was stolen from a premises at Portland, Lorrha. Meanwhile, local Gardai continue their clampdown on drink driving. A driver was arrested in Silver Street in Nenagh on Thursday last at around 11am. Three drivers were arrested at a checkpoint on the M7 at Tullaheady on Friday last, two on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs and one under the influence of alcohol. A male was arrested for drink driving at Kenyon Street in the early hours of Saturday last and another on the same date at MacDonagh Street in the town. A vehicle was stolen from Shower in Newport on Sunday last. It was last seen being driven in the direction of Limerick. A person was detained on suspicion of stealing over 300 of alcoholic drink from Tesco in Roscrea last Thursday. [May 03, 2018] Xen Project Community Hosts Annual Developers Summit in Nanjing Jiangning, China SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Xen Project, a project hosted at The Linux Foundation, today announced the program and speakers for the Xen Project Developer and Design Summit. The summit brings together developers, engineers, and Xen Project power users for in-person collaboration and educational presentations. The event will take place in Nanjing Jiangning, China from June 20 -22, 2018. The Xen Project is used by more than 10 million users and powers some of the largest clouds in production today. It is the base of commercial virtualization products from Citrix, Huawei, Inspur and Oracle, and security solutions from Qubes OS, Bromium vSentry, A1Logic, Bitdefender, Star Lab's Crucible Hypervisor, Zentific and Dornerwork's Virtuosity. As the hypervisor moves beyond the data center, the Xen Project is leading the way in hypervisor advancements in embedded and automotive. This is the fifth annual Xen Project Summit with sessions focusing on performance testing, unikernels, security, embedded, automotive, hardware and more. "This is the one time a year the Xen Project community and user base can come together to understand what is currently happening within the project and to discuss the next phase forward," said Lars Kurth, chairperson of the Xen Project Advisory Board. "Having an event like this is essential for open source communities, and a great place for us to continue to plan for the future." In addition to panels and presentations, the Xen Project will be running design sessions that share a similar format to Xen Project hackathons. Attendees of the conference have the opportunity to propose design sessions during the conference. Current design topics include Making Safety Certifications for Xen Easier, From Hobbyist to Maintainer: Why andHow and Reworking x86 in Xen (Current and Future Plans). This event features presentations on the latest developments, best practices, collaboration, product roadmap updates, and future planning from developers and users who are leading the way in server density, hardware, automotive, cloud and enterprise security. Confirmed speakers include: Lars Kurth , chairperson of the Xen Project and director of open source at Citrix, will open the conference with a weather report on the Xen Project that includes progress and achievements for the year and areas needing improvement. , chairperson of the Xen Project and director of open source at Citrix, will open the conference with a weather report on the Xen Project that includes progress and achievements for the year and areas needing improvement. Sung-Min Lee , principal engineer at Samsung Electronics, will present a production-ready automotive virtualization solution with Xen. The demo will explain key requirements needed for performance effective graphic rendering and performance for ARM-based automotive systems. , principal engineer at Samsung Electronics, will present a production-ready automotive virtualization solution with Xen. The demo will explain key requirements needed for performance effective graphic rendering and performance for ARM-based automotive systems. Marek Marczykowski-Gorecki, senior systems developer, Invisible Things Lab, will present on linux-based device model stubdomains in Qubes OS. Julien Grall , senior software virtualization engineer at Arm, will share capabilities that were added to the latest revision of the ARmv7-A architectures and how Arm has been improving virtualization support with incremental versions of the Armv8 architecture. , senior software virtualization engineer at Arm, will share capabilities that were added to the latest revision of the ARmv7-A architectures and how Arm has been improving virtualization support with incremental versions of the Armv8 architecture. Felipe Huici , chief researcher at NEC, and Florian Schmidt , research scientist at NEC, will co-present on Unikraft, a sub-project of the Xen Project aimed at automating the process of building customized unikernels tailored to a specific applications. The goal of the project is to simplify the process of making unikernels to bring this OSes benefits to market faster. , chief researcher at NEC, and , research scientist at NEC, will co-present on Unikraft, a sub-project of the Xen Project aimed at automating the process of building customized unikernels tailored to a specific applications. The goal of the project is to simplify the process of making unikernels to bring this OSes benefits to market faster. Bo Zhang , business analyst at Huawei, will introduce Huawei Cloud's optimization on the Xen platform to solve regular problems that occur in customer scenarios. To view the full schedule, please head here. Citrix is a diamond sponsor for the event. If you are interested in sponsoring, please contact xenevents@linuxfoundation.org. In addition, follow updates on the event via Xen Project's Twitter or Facebook page. The hashtag for the event is #xendevsummit. About Xen Project Xen Project software is an open source virtualization platform licensed under the GPLv2 with a similar governance structure to the Linux kernel. Designed from the start for cloud computing, the Project has more than a decade of development and is being used by more than 10 million users. A project at The Linux Foundation, the Xen Project community is focused on advancing virtualization in a number of different commercial and open source applications including server virtualization, Infrastructure as a Services (IaaS), desktop virtualization, security applications, embedded and hardware appliances. It counts many industry and open source community leaders among its members including: Alibaba, Amazon Web Services, AMD, Arm, Bitdefender, Cavium, Citrix, Huawei, Intel, Oracle, and Qualcomm. For more information about the Xen Project software and to participate, please visit XenProject.org. Media Contact Zibby Keaton Xen Project 208-290-4853 zkeaton@linuxfoundation.org View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xen-project-community-hosts-annual-developers-summit-in-nanjing-jiangning-china-300641568.html SOURCE Xen Project [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] CoverWallet Expands its Innovative Insurtech Platform to The Hanover Insurance Group Agents NEW YORK, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CoverWallet, the leading small business insurance startup, today announced the launch of a new online B2B platform for carriers and agents to manage the entire lifecycle of their customers. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the first carrier to use the technology and will provide the platform to agents for its emerging micro-small commercial business. The CoverWallet B2B platform provides real-time quoting, underwriting, binding, billing, and servicing capabilities to improve overall productivity and reduce technical and operational costs for agents and carriers. The online platform is available 24/7 and can be customized depending on the carrier's needs. "The partnership between The Hanover and CoverWallet demonstrates how carriers and agents can leverage technology to service their customers better and faster," said Inaki Berenguer, Co-Founder and CEO of CoverWallet. "The Hanover is an ideal partner with a rich history of innovation and one of the very best companies in the independent agency channel. We are thrilled about the opportunities ahead." "Using state-of-the-art technology, our team built a platform for The Hanover's agents to provide a transparent, convenient, and simple way for agents to efficiently sell and manage micro-small business insurance," said Aman Khaira, Vice President of Product at CoverWallet. "Our B2B online platform is fully-automated, allowing customers to get what they need online in minutes." Through the partnership, The Hanover will provide CoverWallet's new platform to its independent agents looking for a robust solution to address the micro segment of small commercial businesses. With the platform, the customer will need to input less information, resulting in greater fficiency and further enhancing the customer experience. "The Hanover wanted to provide our agents with a consumer-facing platform that supported the growth of their lower premium policies in a cost-efficient way," said Willard Lee, Vice President and Chief Business Innovation Officer at The Hanover. "CoverWallet has built a robust digital experience with an intuitive interface that allows our agents to concentrate on their value-add services. We look forward to leveraging its state-of-the-art technology in combination with our unique products and disciplined underwriting to support our agents' micro business clients." CoverWallet has raised more than $35 million in funding from leading venture capital firms, and the company recently announced its expansion to Europe. The company is dedicated to becoming the platform of choice for small business insurance, leveraging technology and making the process more transparent and simpler for carriers and agents. About The Hanover The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. is the holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, which together constitute one of the largest insurance businesses in the United States. The company provides exceptional insurance solutions in a dynamic world. The Hanover distributes its products through a select group of independent agents and brokers. Together with its agents, The Hanover offers standard and specialized insurance protection for small and mid-sized businesses, as well as for homes, automobiles, and other personal items. Through its international member company, Chaucer, The Hanover also underwrites business at Lloyd's of London in several major insurance and reinsurance classes, including marine, property and energy. For more information, please visit hanover.com. About CoverWallet Launched in early 2016, CoverWallet combines deep analytics, thoughtful design and state of the art technology to help small businesses with all their insurance needs. CoverWallet delivers a seamless user experience while offering savings, customized coverage and best-in-class service to their customers. In a matter of minutes, any business can get peace of mind, buying and managing their insurance, all through CoverWallet's online platform. Stay in touch at coverwallet.com, @coverwallet or facebook.com/coverwallet. Contact The Hanover Insurance Group Emily Trevallion ETrevallion@hanover.com CoverWallet Hally Peck Hally.Peck@CoverWallet.com View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/coverwallet-expands-its-innovative-insurtech-platform-to-the-hanover-insurance-group-agents-300642393.html SOURCE The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc.; CoverWallet [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Statement By The Committee To Protect California Jobs On Submission Of Signatures For Internet Regulation Ballot Measure SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The following is the statement of Andrea Deveau of TechNet, Robert Callahan of the Internet Association, and Allan Zaremberg of the Chamber of Commerce, leaders of the Committee to Protect California Jobs, on the submission of signatures to qualify a ballot measure that calls for the California-only regulation of the Internet. "This ballot measure disconnects California. It is unworkable, requiring the internet and businesses in California to operate differently than the rest of the world -- limiting our choices, hurting our businesses, and cutting our connection to the global economy." "The internet is a seamless and global network. Yet th proponent, a multi-millionaire real estate developer with no background in privacy regulation, is seeking to create a California-only regulatory scheme. It makes no sense to attempt to wall off our state cutting off Californians from convenient services." "The only real beneficiaries of this measure will be trial lawyers, who will be allowed to sue businesses for violation of the measure even if they cannot prove anyone has been harmed. This will open the floodgates for abusive, costly lawsuits." "A broad-based coalition of businesses and organizations already opposes this poorly written, misguided proposal. We are confident that when the voters are educated on the true motivations and impacts of this ballot measure they will agree it is bad for California." View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/statement-by-the-committee-to-protect-california-jobs-on-submission-of-signatures-for-internet-regulation-ballot-measure-300642494.html SOURCE Committee to Protect California Jobs [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Mettler-Toledo International Inc. Reports First Quarter 2018 Results COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE: MTD) today announced first quarter results for 2018. Provided below are the highlights: Sales in local currency increased 5% in the quarter compared with the prior year. Reported sales increased 11% as currency increased sales growth by 6% in the quarter. Net earnings per diluted share as reported (EPS) were $3.58 , compared with $3.48 in the prior-year period. Adjusted EPS was $3.74 , an increase of 12% over the prior-year amount of $3.34 . Adjusted EPS is a non-GAAP measure, and we have included a reconciliation to EPS on the last page of the attached schedules. First Quarter Results Olivier Filliol, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Sales growth in the quarter came in as expected, and was impacted by the excellent sales growth in the prior-year period. China, in particular, had very strong broad-based sales growth in the quarter. This solid sales growth drove another quarter of strong Adjusted EPS growth." EPS in the quarter was $3.58, compared with the prior-year amount of $3.48. Adjusted EPS was $3.74, an increase of 12% over the prior-year amount of $3.34. Sales were $660.8 million, a 5% increase in local currency sales, compared with $594.6 million in the prior-year quarter. Reported sales increased 11% as currency increased sales growth by 6% in the quarter. Compared with the prior year, local currency sales increased 5% in the Americas and 10% in Asia/Rest of World. Sales declined 1% in local currency in Europe. Adjusted operating income amounted to $139.5 million, a 10% increase from the prior-year amount of $126.5 million. Adjusted operating income is a non-GAAP measure, and a reconciliation to earnings before taxes is provided in the attached schedules. Outlook The Company said that, based on its assessment of market conditions today, management anticipates local currency sales growth in 2018 will be approximately 6%. This sales growth is expected to result in Adjusted EPS in the range of $20.10 to $20.25, which reflects growth of 14% to 15%. This compares with previous guidance of Adjusted EPS in the range of $19.95 to $20.15. Management anticipates that local currency sales growth in the second quarter 2018 will be approximately 6%, and Adjusted EPS is forecasted to be in the range of $4.55 to $4.60, an increase of 16% to 17%. While the Company has provided an outlook for Adjusted EPS, it has not provided an outlook for EPS as it would require an estimate of non-recurring items, which are not yet known. The Company noted in making its outlook that economic uncertainty remains in certain regions of the world and market conditions are subject to change. Conclusion Filliol concluded, "Our outlook for 2018 remains promising despite facing difficult comparisons given our very strong performance last year. We acknowledge there is more uncertainty in the global economy compared with a few months ago but overall demand remains solid. We believe we are well positioned for continued share gains. Our Spinnaker sales and marketing programs, new product launches and continued investments in sales activities are generating returns. Our margin and productivity programs complement our sales growth initiatives and will yield continued earnings growth and funds for additional investments for growth." Other Matters The Company will host a conference call to discuss its quarterly results today (Thursday, May 3) at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To hear a live webcast or replay of the call, visit the investor relations page on the Company's website at www.mt.com/investors. The presentation referenced in the conference call will be located on the website prior to the call. METTLER TOLEDO (NYSE: MTD) is a leading global supplier of precision instruments and services. We have strong leadership positions in all of our businesses and believe we hold global number-one market positions in most of them. We are recognized as an innovation leader and our solutions are critical in key R&D, quality control, and manufacturing processes for customers in a wide range of industries including life sciences, food, and chemicals. Our sales and service network is one of the most extensive in the industry. Our products are sold in more than 140 countries and we have a direct presence in approximately 40 countries. With proven growth strategies and a focus on execution, we have achieved a long-term track record of strong financial performance. For more information, please visit www.mt.com. Statements in this press release which are not historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our or our businesses' actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect," "plan," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "estimate," "predict," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see the discussion on forward-looking statements in our current report on Form 10-K. All of the forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by reference to the factors discussed under the captions "Factors affecting our future operating results" and in the "Business" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of our annual report on Form 10-K for the most recently completed fiscal year, which describe risks and factors that could cause results to differ materially from those projected in those forward-looking statements. METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (amounts in thousands except share data) (unaudited) Three months ended Three months ended March 31, 2018 % of sales March 31, 2017 % of sales Net sales $660,821 (a) 100.0 $594,567 100.0 Cost of sales 285,888 43.3 251,178 (b) 42.2 Gross profit 374,933 56.7 343,389 57.8 Research and development 34,713 5.3 31,200 (b) 5.3 Selling, general and administrative 200,674 30.4 185,656 (b) 31.2 Amortization 11,735 1.8 10,045 1.7 Interest expense 8,359 1.2 7,741 1.3 Restructuring charges 4,413 0.6 1,432 0.2 Other charges (income), net (2,400) (0.4) (6,533) (b)(c) (1.0) Earnings before taxes 117,439 17.8 113,848 19.1 Provision for taxes 24,135 3.7 21,382 3.5 Net earnings $93,304 14.1 $92,466 15.6 Basic earnings per common share: Net earnings $3.66 $3.57 Weighted average number of common shares 25,468,323 25,932,112 Diluted earnings per common share: Net earnings $3.58 $3.48 Weighted average number of common 26,095,647 26,586,061 and common equivalent shares Note: (a) Local currency sales increased 5% as compared to the same period in 2017. (b) In accordance with the new accounting rules that went into effect on January 1, 2018, the Company reclassified a net pension benefit of $0.8 million into other charges (income) from other income statement categories for the three months ended March 31, 2017 to be consistent with the 2018 presentation. (c) Other charges (income), net for three months ended March 31, 2017 also includes a one-time gain of $3.4 million relating to the sale of a facility in Switzerland in connection with our initiative to consolidate certain Swiss operations into a new facility. RECONCILIATION OF EARNINGS BEFORE TAXES TO ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME Three months ended Three months ended March 31, 2018 % of sales March 31, 2017 % of sales Earnings before taxes $117,439 $113,848 Amortization 11,735 10,045 Interest expense 8,359 7,741 Restructuring charges 4,413 1,432 Other charges (income), net (2,400) (6,533) (b)(c) Adjusted operating income $139,546 (d) 21.1 $126,533 21.3 Note: (d) Adjusted operating income increased 10% as compared to the same period in 2017. METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (amounts in thousands) (unaudited) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Cash and cash equivalents $98,949 $148,687 Accounts receivable, net 483,919 528,615 Inventories 278,318 255,390 Other current assets and prepaid expenses 66,186 74,031 Total current assets 927,372 1,006,723 Property, plant and equipment, net 696,890 668,271 Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 769,511 766,556 Other non-current assets 118,134 108,255 Total assets $2,511,907 $2,549,805 Short-term borrowings and maturities of long-term debt $14,883 $19,677 Trade accounts payable 164,639 167,627 Accrued and other current liabilities 457,360 502,369 Total current liabilities 636,882 689,673 Long-term debt 978,715 960,170 Other non-current liabilities 335,563 352,682 Total liabilities 1,951,160 2,002,525 Shareholders' equity 560,747 547,280 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $2,511,907 $2,549,805 METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (amounts in thousands) (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2018 2017 Cash flow from operating activities: Net earnings $93,304 $92,466 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation 9,157 7,966 Amortization 11,735 10,045 Deferred tax benefit (6,416) (1,470) Gain on facility sale - (3,394) Other 3,085 3,812 Decrease in cash resulting from changes in operating assets and liabilities (34,301) (41,826) Net cash provided by operating activities 76,564 67,599 Cash flows from investing activities: Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 4,507 10,003 Purchase of property, plant and equipment (29,774) (21,015) Acquisitions (500) - Net hedging settlements on intercompany loans 3,304 312 Net cash used in investing activities (22,463) (10,700) Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from borrowings 336,512 472,732 Repayments of borrowings (331,114) (409,881) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 5,669 8,201 Repurchases of common stock (118,750) (124,997) Net cash used in financing activities (107,683) (53,945) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 3,844 3,265 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (49,738) 6,219 Cash and cash equivalents: Beginning of period 148,687 158,674 End of period $98,949 $164,893 RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO FREE CASH FLOW Net cash provided by operating activities $76,564 $67,599 Payments in respect of restructuring activities 5,242 2,578 Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 4,507 10,003 Purchase of property, plant and equipment (29,774) (21,015) Free cash flow $56,539 $59,165 METTLER-TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC. OTHER OPERATING STATISTICS SALES GROWTH BY DESTINATION (unaudited) Europe Americas Asia/RoW Total U.S. Dollar Sales Growth Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 12% 6% 18% 11% Local Currency Sales Growth (Decrease) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 (1%) 5% 10% 5% RECONCILIATION OF DILUTED EPS AS REPORTED TO ADJUSTED DILUTED EPS (unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2018 2017 % Growth EPS as reported, diluted $3.58 $3.48 3% Restructuring charges, net of tax 0.13 (a) 0.04 (a) Purchased intangible amortization, net of tax 0.10 (b) 0.06 (b) Income tax expense (0.07) (c) (0.14) (c) Gain on facility sale (0.10) (d) Adjusted EPS, diluted $3.74 $3.34 12% Notes: (a) Represents the EPS impact of restructuring charges of $4.4 million ($3.4 million after tax) and $1.4 million ($1.1 million after tax) for both the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which primarily include employee related costs. (b) Represents the EPS impact of purchased intangibles amortization, net of tax, of $2.5 million and $1.5 million for the three month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. (c) Represents the EPS impact of the difference between our reported tax rate of 21% and 19% during the three months ending March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and our annual income tax rate of 22%, due to excess tax benefits associated with stock option exercises. (d) Represents the EPS impact of a one-time gain of $3.4 million ($2.7 million after tax) for the three months ended March 31, 2017 relating to the sale of a facility in Switzerland in connection with our initiative to consolidate certain Swiss operations into a new facility. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mettler-toledo-international-inc-reports-first-quarter-2018-results-300642486.html SOURCE Mettler-Toledo International Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Saint Jean Carbon Signs Definitive Agreement to Acquire Lochaber Property OAKVILLE, Ontario, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With reference to its prior News Release dated February 23rd, 2018, Saint Jean Carbon Inc. (Saint Jean or the Company) (TSX-V:SJL) (OTCQB:TORVF), is pleased to announce that the Company entered into an arms length definitive agreement with Great Lake Graphite Inc. (the Vendor) to acquire a 100% ownership of the historical mining property known as the Lochaber claims located in South Western Quebec (the Lochaber Property) in the same general region as the Companys other flag ship properties, subject to regulatory approval. As consideration for the Lochaber Property, the Company is obligated to: (i) issue 3,000,000 common shares of the Company at a deemed value of $0.05 per share to the Vendor; (ii) pay aggregate cash consideration of $425,000 to the Vendor in four yearly installments of $106,250.00 with the first payment due on May 7, 2018 and the following three installments on May 7, 2019, May 7, 2020 and May 7, 2021; (iii) pay a 1.75% net operational operating cost royalty to the Vendor for 10 years (the Royalty); and (iv) enter into and offtake agreement with the Vendor providing the Vendor with a first right of refusal to purchase up to 10,000 metric tons per year for the life of the Lochaber mine. For clarity, the supply of the material under the proposed offtake agreement will be at market value and the Royalty will not apply to purchases made pursuant to the proposed offtake agreement. All securities issued will be subject to a hold period of four months and one day pursuant to applicable securities laws. About Saint Jean Carbon Saint Jean is a publicly traded carbon science company, with specific interests in energy storage and green energy creation and green re-creation, with holdings in graphite mining and lithium claims in the province of Quebec in Canada. For the latest information on Saint Jeans properties and news please refer to the website: http://www.saintjeancarbon.com/ . On behalf of the Board of Directors Saint Jean Carbon Inc. Paul Ogilvie, CEO and Director Information Contact : Email: info@saintjeancarbon.com Tel: (905) 844-1200 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Saint Jeans business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, intends budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements include those with respect to the closing of acquisition of the Lochaber mining property. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. The forward-looking statements in this news release assume, inter alia, that the conditions for completion of the acquisition of the Lochaber mining property, including regulatory approval, will be met and that the Company will be able to fund the required cash payments. Although Saint Jean believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. There are risks which could affect Saint Jeans future results and could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements including closing failure or delay, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada and globally and the risk that they will deteriorate, industry conditions, including fluctuations in the price of supplies and the risk that they will increase, that required consents and approvals from regulatory authorities will not be obtained and the liabilities and risks inherent in Saint Jeans operations. Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Saint Jean assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Construction Begins for The Elisabetta, a New Community That Will Bring High-Quality, Affordable Housing to the Globeville Neighborhood of Denver Community leaders, housing and health advocates, and development partners today celebrated the start of construction for The Elisabetta, a new 91-unit affordable-housing development in the historically diverse Globeville neighborhood of Denver. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006727/en/ Community leaders and development partners celebrate the start of construction for The Elisabetta, a new 91-unit affordable-housing community being built in the Globeville neighborhood of Denver. From left: Patrick Gordon, UnitedHealthcare; Doug McNeill, CEO, Laradon; Kimball Crangle, Gorman & Company; Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock; Tim Sandos, North Denver Cornerstone Collaborative; Robin Kniech, Denver City Councilmember At-Large; Debbie Ortega, Denver City Councilmember At-Large; Robin Hyerstay, Enterprise; Cris White, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (Photo: Bear Gutierrez). Developed by Gorman & Company, The Elisabetta will be located on the campus of Laradon, a Denver nonprofit that provides education, training and support for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The new community will feature one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for residents earning 30, 50 and 60 percent of Area Median Income. Monthly rents will range between $506-$1,012 for one-bedroom, $607-$1,215 for two-bedroom, and $701-$1,402 for three-bedroom apartments. Nearly a quarter of the apartments will be set aside for residents living with a disability, and all the apartments are designed to be adaptable and accessible for tenants and visitors with varying disabilities. "Today marks an important step in creating long-term affordable-housing options in the Globeville neighborhood of Denver," said Kimball Crangle, Colorado Market President, Gorman & Company. "The Elisabetta will provide residents an important link to housing and supportive services, particularly those who are living with a disability" Laradon, which serves more than 650 children and adults with developmental disabilities each year and is the largest and most diverse service provider of its kind in Colorado, will occupy 12,500 square feet of space on the first floor to provide on-site programming and support to adults with disabilities. "Today's groundbreaking is another example of Laradon's ongoing commitment to our community by helping spur long-term investments in our campus and partnerships," said Laradon CEO Doug McNeill. "The Elisabetta will provide much needed affordable housing in Globeville and additional opportunities for individuals with disabilities to be involved in the community and live life without limits." During the groundbreaking event, UnitedHealthcare - the largest investor in the new development - announced it is investing $14.7 million in equity with Optum Bank through the use of Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. UnitedHealthcare partnered with Enterprise, a national organization that improves communities and people's lives by making well-designed homes affordable, to invest in The Elisabetta. "UnitedHealthcare's investment in The Elisabetta is part of a company initiative to help people live healthier lives by connecting affordable, quality housing to better health," said Jeri Jones, West Region CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community & State. "This model community will expand housing opportunities and offer residents on-site supportive services to help them thrive and succeed." UnitedHealthcare, which employs 2,600 people in Colorado and serves the health care needs of nearly 1.5 million people statewide, is making the investment as part of a company initiative to help people live healthier lives by connecting affordable, quality housing to better health. Since 2011, the company has invested $384 million to build more than 70 affordable-housing communities in 14 states, helping create nearly 3,400 affordable homes for individuals and families. "By pairing homes for people with disabilities with supportive services that help them live independently, home becomes more than just shelter. They're a springboard that helps people reach their full potential," said Charlie Werhane, President and CEO of Enterprise Community Investment. "Enterprise is proud to partner with UnitedHealthcare and Gorman & Company on this new development." The Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) awarded federal and state Low Income Housing Tax Credits to support the development. The State of Colorado is providing $800,000 in financing through the Colorado Housing Trust Fund as well as Project Rental Assistance with 22 Section 811 vouchers. Additional major funding for the development includes $1.8 million in financing from the City of Denver; and $500,000 from Laradon as part of its commercial lease agreement. Citibank is providing $14.5 million in construction proceeds and an $8.2 million permanent loan. "Today marks an important milestone in helping create new models for quality, affordable housing in Colorado," said Cris White, CHFA Executive Director and CEO. "When completed next year, The Elisabetta will offer new opportunities and hope for the individuals and families who will call this new community their home." "This groundbreaking represents the amazing results that can happen when our community comes together," said City of Denver District 9 Councilmember Albus Brooks. "The Elisabetta helps lay the groundwork for great opportunities for our neighborhood, particularly with new, affordable houses with on-site support where individuals and families can live together for generations to come." Shopworks Architecture is the architect for The Elisabetta, and the construction contractor is Deneuve Construction. The development is expected to open in late 2019. Ross Management Group will manage the property. The Elisabetta will include fully equipped kitchens, ample storage space, central laundry facilities and a community room with fitness equipment and gathering spaces. An in-house bicycle-share program will be created at the property to encourage multi-modal transit options. Click here to subscribe to Mobile Alerts for UnitedHealth Group. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006727/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] 2018 Offshore Technology Conference Celebrates 50th Edition Offshore energy industry experts and leaders from across the world came together at NRG Park in Houston 30 April-3 May to celebrate the 50th edition of the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC). As it has since 1969, the conference convened professionals to make critical decisions, share ideas, and develop business partnerships to meet global energy demands. In addition, OTC directly benefitted the advancement of the energy sector by supporting the conference's 13 nonprofit sponsoring organizations, and the Houston community. The 50th edition of OTC focused on subjects such as the current state of the industry, reducing costs and improving overall value, breakthrough technologies in a low oil price environment, and industry-leading safety practices in addition to recurring topics. More than 61,300 attendees from more than 100 countries gathered at the annual conference while the exhibition covered more than 585,000 net square feet, including outdoor exhibits. This year's conference also had more than 2,300 exhibiting companies representing 44 countries. Nearly 300 were new exhibitors, and international companies made up 55 percent of exhibitors. "We are very pleased with this year's attendance, as it is above our 52,570 attendance average across OTC's 50 editions. We are also seeing high interest in next year's event. 2019 exhibition space in NRG Center was sold out before our 2018 event, and rebooking for the other exhibition areas is underway," said Wafik Beydoun, 2018 OTC Board of Directors Chairman. OTC celebrated its 50th edition with special events on 30 April, including an opening ceremony and ribbon pulling, Legacy Luncheon, and Chairman's Panel on Energy Transformation. CEOs and presidents from across the global energy industry came to OTC 2018 to help celebrate its 50th edition, including Patrick Pouyanne, Total; Ryan Lance, ConocoPhillips; Jeff Miller, Halliburton; Clay Williams, National Oilwell Varco; Eldar Saetre, Statoil; Remi Eriksen, DNV GL; Lorenzo Simoneli, Baker Hughes (News - Alert) , a GE company; Steve Demetriou, Jacobs Engineering Group; Luis Araujo, Aker Solutions; Rod Larson, Oceaneering International; and Jean Cahuzac, Subsea 7. Their presntations provided the opportunity for technology transfer and insights into the offshore sector's future. "OTC 2018 began the celebration of 50 years of OTC, culminating in 2019, and reminded all of us of this conference's deep commitment to the people and companies who have helped it reach this milestone," added Beydoun. "We are grateful to the offshore energy industry, our exhibitors, and our attendees who have and continue to collectively work to uncover new techniques, technologies, and connections at OTC year after year. More importantly, we look forward to the innovations and discoveries we will make together at OTC over the next 50 years of the conference." The Legacy Luncheon paid homage to the volunteers and exhibitors who have given their time and hard work throughout the years to make OTC what it is today. Former OTC Board Chairs Dennis Gregg and Susan Cunningham were joined by Cindy Taylor, CEO and President from Oil States-a company with a long history of exhibiting at OTC-to share their memories of OTC. OTC's annual Spotlight on New Technology (News - Alert) Awards recognized 17 technologies from exhibiting companies for their new and innovative products and services, including two companies who won the Small Business Award. OTC's Distinguished Achievement Awards Luncheon raised USD 150,000 for its beneficiary, the Young Women's College Preparatory Academy. During the luncheon, OTC presented its 2018 Distinguished Achievement Award for Individuals to Brian Skeels and the Distinguished Achievement Award for Companies, Organizations and Institutions to Shell and SBM Offshore. OTC's Heritage Award was presented to Cesar del Vecchio, and Tom Sifferman received a Special Citation. The topical breakfasts and luncheons featured top executives from international and national oil companies on a wide range of management, research, and technology-related issues. In one of Thursday's breakfasts, PEMEX provided an update on its E&P activities following the Energy Reform, including how it is tackling challenges derived from a legacy complex cost structure, a maturing E&P portfolio, and limited access to financial resources. Carlos Trevino Medina, CEO of PEMEX, was among those in attendance. OTC also hosted the Rice Alliance Startup Roundup for the fourth time, where 50 emerging companies met one-on-one with investors. More than 275 attended to learn more about these startups and enabled potential partnerships as well as investments. The WISE (Women in the Industry Sharing Experiences) event, a staple at OTC since 2012, offered an opportunity for women and men to share experiences and collaborate on topics such as improved diversity, mentorship, and communications in the workplace. OTC's The Next Wave program, "The Next 50: The Evolution of the Industry," included keynote speakers Ashild Larsen, CIO and Senior Vice President Corporate IT, Statoil and Emeka Emembolu, Vice President, Reservoir Development, Gulf of Mexico, BP. The program helped young industry professionals with open communication between the generations by providing a forum for attendees to share, learn, and network with their peers. Additionally, as part of OTC's continuous commitment to education, the Energy Education Institute conducted two events during the week - one for high school students and another for all grade level teachers. Participating teachers and students engaged in grade-appropriate, hands-on energy exploration experiments provided by the NEED Project. Finally, a separate group of 60 local high school students also participated in the OTC Energy Challenge, which asked them to solve real-world energy challenges. Teams from Stratford High School, Westside High School, and The Village School were recognized for their creative solutions. OTC 2019 will take place 6 -9 May at NRG Park. ABOUT OFFSHORE TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE (OTC) Celebrating 50 years since 1969, OTC is where energy professionals meet to exchange ideas and opinions to advance scientific and technical knowledge for offshore resources and environmental matters. OTC's flagship conference is held annually in Houston. OTC has expanded technically and globally with the Arctic Technology Conference, OTC Brasil, and OTC Asia. For more information, visit www.otcnet.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006737/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] The Law Offices of Gilda A. Hernandez, PLLC; Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C.; and Weiner & Sand LLC Announce the Filing of a Collective Action Lawsuit against Courier Express Freight, Inc. and IDEXX Pharmaceuticals, LLC, on Behalf of All Drivers The Law Offices of Gilda A. Hernandez, PLLC; Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C.; and Weiner & Sand LLC announce that a nationwide class/collective action lawsuit was filed in the Southeast region on February 16, 2018, against one of the nation's largest courier companies. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the lawsuit asserts that Courier Express Freight, Inc. ("Courier Express"), and its affiliates, including IDEXX Pharmaceuticals, LLC, violate the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and state wage and hour law. The relevant time period is February 16, 2015 through the present (the "Class Period"). The lawsuit, entitled Kincaid v. Courier Express/Charlotte, Inc., asserts that Courier Express and its affiliates have failed to pay its drivers/couriers all minimum wages, overtime wages, and other wages lawfully due under federal and state wage and hour law. Plaintiffs assert that Courier Express and its affiliates misclassify their drivers/couriers as independent contractors, to avoid legally compensating drivers/couriers all of their wages, including, but not limited, to time and one-half for hours worked over forty in a workweek, pursuant to the FLSA and applicable state wage and hour laws. Plaintiffs also contend that because Courier Express and its affiliates exercise extensive control over drivers/couriers, this precludes any defense that they have been correctly classified as independent contractors, including, but not limited to, scheduling their shifts, directing their work, seting their rates, directing their routes, tracking their location, and requiring that they wear Courier Express attire, among other things. Plaintiffs further allege that the expenses that Courier Express and its affiliates make their drivers/couriers incur, such as for workers' compensation insurance policies, constitute an unlawful reduction or deduction from drivers'/couriers' wages, in violation of federal and state law. If you worked as a driver for Courier Express and IDEXX during the Class Period, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Jill Hernandez at ghernandez@gildahernandezlaw.com or telephone at (919) 741-8693; Matt Thomson (News - Alert) at mthomson@llrlaw.com or telephone at (617) 994-5800; or Jeff Sand at js@atlantaemployeelawyer.com or telephone at (404) 254-0842. There is no cost or obligation to you. The Law Offices of Gilda A. Hernandez, PLLC is a North Carolina-based law firm concentrating in wage and hour and collective/class action litigation. Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C. is a Boston-based law firm concentrating in labor, employment, and class action litigation. Weiner & Sand LLC is an Atlanta-based law firm concentrating in employment and consumer law litigation. For additional information about The Law Offices of Gilda A. Hernandez, PLLC, please go to www.gildahernandezlaw.com; for Lichten & Liss-Riordan, P.C., please go to www.llrlaw.com; or for Weiner & Sand LLC, please go to www.atlantaemployeelawyer.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006751/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP Announces Investigation on Behalf of Unum Group Investors (UNM) Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP ("GPM") announces that it has commenced an investigation on behalf of Unum Group ("Unum" or the "Company) (NYSE: UNM) investors concerning the Company and its officers' possible violations of federal securities laws. To obtain information or aid in the investigation, please visit the Unum investigation page on our website at www.glancylaw.com/case/unum-group. On May 2, 2018, Unum disclosed that its first quarter 2018 loss ratio for its long-term care business was a disappointing 96.6%, compared to only 88.6% for the first quarter of 2017. The first quarter 2018 loss ration also far exceeded the Company's earlier-stated expectation of 85-90%. On this news, Unum's share price fell $8.12 per share, or nearly 17%, to close at $39.78 per share on May 2, 2018, thereby injuring investors. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : twitter.com/GPM_LLP. If you purchased Unum securities, have information or would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Lesley Portnoy, Esquire, of GPM, 1925 Century Park East, Suite 2100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-201-9150, Toll-Free at 888-773-9224, by email to shareholders@glancylaw.com, or visit our website at www.glancylaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number and number of shares purchased. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006822/en/ Nokia returned to the U.S. mobile market last year with the Nokia 6, a solid midrange offering that delivered a clean, albeit somewhat forgettable Android experience. A new version is about to arrive that looks to fix the Nokia 6's most significant flaw. (Image credit: HMD Global) Today (May 3) Nokia announced the $269 Nokia 6.1 a more powerful version of last years 5.5-inch device with a host of critical improvements. The old Nokia 6 used a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, but this new one replaces it with a 630, which should make a huge difference for power users who multitask, or those who enjoy gaming on the go. The company is touting 60 percent better performance than the previous model. Nokia has also bolstered that commitment to a better user experience with an extra gigabyte of RAM the Nokia 6.1 has 4GB, rather than 3GB in its predecessor. Additional updates include a switch from Micro USB to USB Type-C, which should improve charging speed, as well as a relocation of the fingerprint sensor to the back of the device. But the other major change with the new Nokia 6 is that its an Android One-certified device, meaning users can expect a Pixel-like clean installation of Android Oreo 8.0 with no bloatware, as well as timely software updates for two years. No other budget handset sold in the U.S., save for the Project Fi-ready Moto X4 Android One, can claim those perks. The Nokia 6 successor was first previewed at Mobile World Congress in February by HMD Global, which develops phones under the Nokia brand. MORE: Best Unlocked Smartphones: Phones Under $200, $300, $500 Nokias latest will inevitably draw direct comparisons to what Motorola is cooking up. We recently went hands on with the upcoming Moto G6, and while there was a lot to like about that device, we were dismayed to learn Motorola opted for a Snapdragon 450 processor rather than 600-series silicon as was used in the G5 Plus. Perhaps the Nokia 6.1 will add a desperately-needed dash of healthy competition to the American budget phone space. Its also worth noting that the Moto G6 will command a price of $249 unlocked when it launches. For our money, wed rather spend the extra $30 on the Nokia 6.1 and get what looks to be (on paper, anyway) a considerably more powerful phone. However, we wont know for sure whether Nokia has the advantage until we review both devices something you can look forward to over the next few weeks. At the time of writing, the Nokia 6.1 has already sold out at Amazon, but can still be purchased from Best Buy. The device comes in a single 32GB configuration in either black or white, and exclusively supports GSM carriers including T-Mobile and AT&T. Under development since 2015 or so, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan, the companys first-ever SUV, will be unveiled on May 10. The luxury hauler its said to become the worlds most luxurious SUV will break over next Thursday at 7:00 a.m. EDT. As usual, we will be here to report it and take a closer look at the preliminary details. The company's first-ever SUV, will be unveiled on May 10 Rolls-Royces announcement didnt include information about the SUV, but we already know quite a few things from spy shots of test vehicles and leaked data. Design-wise, its pretty obvious that it will be a Phantom station wagon on stilts. The hauler will borrow many styling cues from the companys latest limousine, including the prominent grille, the rectangular headlamps, and the vertical taillights. It will also have a tall beltline and rear-hinged rear doors. The cabin will be one of the most luxurious on the market, and it will compete with the Bentayga in terms of features, technology, and appointments. On top of the digital instrument cluster and the iDrive-based controller, it will also get premium leather upholstery and genuine wood trim. Power will be provided by the twin-turbo, 6.75-liter V-12 from the Phantom, with more than 550 horsepower sent to the wheels through an automatic transmission. Expect it to cost in excess of 200,000. Stay tuned for more information and a full review of the SUV on May 10. References Read our full speculative review on the 2019 Rolls Royce Cullinan. Read more Rolls Royce news. The much anticipated India-South Africa Business Summit 2018 (ISABS 2018) concluded on 30 April 2018 at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg with a session on India South Africa Relations The Way Forward. Noted speakers and distinguished experts / diplomats from India and South Africa including those from the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA), DIRCO, DTI, and business leaders sought to chart out the way forward for the India-South Africa relationship. The second day of the two-day ISABS 2018 started with the Report back to the Ministers by the India-South Africa CEOs Forum wherein key issues concerning trade, investment, promotion of business, which were identified by the CEOs, were compiled into a report and placed before the two Ministers for action. The Opening Plenary session was graced with keynote addresses delivered by Shri Suresh Prabhu, Honble Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Government of India; Dr. Rob Davies, Honble Minister of Trade and Industry, Government of South Africa and Mr. Pravin Gordhan, Honble Minister of Public Enterprises, Government of South Africa. The Summit also saw the participation of the Honble Premier of Gauteng Province Mr. David Makhura, as well as Ministers and representatives from SADC Countries including Lesotho, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia, top government officials, CEOs and industry specialists from India and South Africa. These included Mr. Anil Agarwal, Chairman & Founder, Vedanta Resources (largest Indian investor in Africa); Mr. Sipho Maseko, CEO, Telkom; Mr. Deepak Bagla, MD & CEO, Invest India; Mr. Yunus Hoosen, Acting Head InvestSA; Mr. Rakesh Bharti Mittal, President, CII & VP of Bharti Enterprises; Mr. Adi Godrej, Co-chair of India-SA CEO Forum & Chairman Godrej Group; Mr. Vuyani Jarana, CEO, South African Airways; Mr. Colin Coleman, Partner Goldman Sachs and Mr. Vivian Reddy, Co-chair of India-SA CEO Forum, Founder of Edison Group SA. Mr. Suresh Prabhu, Honble Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Government of India, lauded the efforts of the High Commission of India and various South African government departments including the DTI and GGDA in organizing this Summit in the run up to the BRICS Summit in July 2018 and stated that this Summit was a harbinger of good things to come, conveying as well that South Africa and India were poised to take off in the next few years on a higher growth trajectory. Mr. Pravin Gordhan, Honble Minister of Public Enterprises, Government of South Africa, underscored the need for old friends India and South Africa to be a part of each other's growth story as together they stepped into a new era of friendship and cooperation. In her remarks, High Commissioner Ruchira Kamboj observed that the India-South Africa partnership was not just about the undeniable unbreakable ties of solidarity that have linked the peoples and the liberation movements of India and South Africa. This partnership was also about a shared future. Through synergies, through shared strengths and through membership in multilateral settings where the two countries sought constantly to engage, deliberate and collaborate. The main Plenary Session was followed by 7 Breakaway Sessions on Start Ups, Automobile industry, Health Care & Pharma, Mining, Agro Processing, Women Entrepreneurs in Business and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, all of which are sectors which have scope and potential for growth in a bilateral context. The Summit also witnessed the signing of an MoU between InvestSA and Invest India, strengthening a rapidly growing economic and trade partnership between two strategic partner countries. A CII sponsored white paper was also released which spotlights the good work being done by Indian businesses in South Africa, with an accent on localisation, skilling South Africans and working in a collaborative spirit for mutually beneficial growth and progress. Additionally, there were an interface between India and SADC countries, with SADC Ministers and representatives from Lesotho, Botswana, Zambia and Mozambique attending the Business Summit. Earlier, the first day of the event opened on Sunday with the India-South Africa CEOs Forum, Curtain Raiser Dinner and a unique Tribute to Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi: Khadi Couture produced by UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Gavin Rajah and South African designer Stephen van Eeden using Indias hand-woven fabric Khadi associated with Mahatma Gandhi. Other notable aspects of the two-day Summit was the display of Indian and South African fusion dance forms Pulse (A fusion of Bharatnatyam and Zulu) performed by local artists and also the fusion of Indian and South African cuisine served to the guests manifesting the historical, cultural and people to people connect of the two countries. The performance by the Grammy Award-winning South African flautist, producer and composer Wouter Kellerman mesmerized the audience. The event also saw the launching of a book The Red Fort Declaration The Legacy 20 Years on, Commemoration of 20 years of Strategic Partnership, authored by noted journalist Mr. Fakir Hassen. The India-South Africa Business Summit 2018, which has the tag line United by Legacy, Unified for Prosperity, was organized by the High Commission of India in Pretoria in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry-Government of India, the Department of Trade & Industry (the dti)-Government of South Africa, the Gauteng Growth and Development Agency (GGDA), South Africa, Invest India, the Confederation of Indian Industry, and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. India and South Africa share a strategic partnership that is over 200 years old. 2018 marks a significant year in India-South Africa relations, being the 25th year of establishment of diplomatic relations; 125 years of the Pietermaritzburg train incident and the centenary of President Nelson Mandela. There are over 130 Indian companies in South Africa which have invested about US $ 8 billion into South Africa, employing approximately 18,000 South Africans. South African investment into India is approximately US $1 billion. Parliament has approved the continental free-trade zone pact, making Kenya the first African country to offer legal backing to the continental trading bloc. The National Assembly endorsed the report of the Defence and Foreign Relations committee that recommended ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) after it was tabled in the House by Industrialisation Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed early this month. The MPs at the same time approved the ratification of the Common Markets for East and Central Africa (Comesa), East Africa Community (EAC), Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) agreements. The committee recommends that, pursuant to Section 8 of the Treaty Making Ratification Act, the House approves the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the Comesa-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Agreement (TFTA) as they are in Kenyas national interest, Katoo ole Metito, who chairs the Foreign Affairs committee said in the report that was unanimously approved. The AfCFTA pact is expected to establish a single market with duty-free access among traders in order to spur industrialisation, infrastructure development and economic diversification across Africa that is home to more than 1.2 billion people. Similarly, the TFTA deal seeks to provide an expanded market for both manufactured and primary goods for Kenyan products within a single economic space of the three regional economic communities with a population of 625 million people. The implementation of the TFTA agreement will resolve the challenges faced with multiple memberships to regional economic communities, Mr Katoo said in the report. For further details, see tralacs resources pages: Vacation Agent Magazine A version of this article appears in print in the May 2018 issue of Vacation Agent Magazine. Subscribe Proper lighting at night is important for safety in cities and along highways, but all of those lamps require a lot of electricity to keep them going all night. Many places have transitioned to LED lighting, the most energy efficient lighting currently available, to cut down on the energy use of street lamps, but a renewable energy source for the lighting would be ideal. Researchers at the Technical University of Denmark think there is an even better solution; one that requires no electricity at all but could still illuminate city streets: algae. Bioluminescent microalgae exist throughout warm parts of the world's oceans. The source of the bioluminescence is two molecules: luciferase (an enzyme) and luciferin (a molecule produced by photosynthesis). These molecules are activated by a chemical reaction triggered by movement such as the crashing of waves upon the shore or a passing fish. When this reaction occurs, the algae emit a blue light, but it's only for a moment. Phil Gibbs/CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 The research team believes that the genes for bioluminescence could be isolated and then transferred to other, larger plant organisms that could be used to provide a continual source of blue light at night. An algae-based lamp would work like a solar cell and battery storage combo where solar energy during the day is converted into fuel for the organism which it stores and then uses to emit blue light at night. If this gene transference can be done, these bio-lamps could be used to light up parking garages, buildings, shop windows and highways. The resulting light will be a bluish hue, which will change the way our cities and towns look at night but it will also be an electricity-free and carbon neutral source of light. The researchers are trying to identify those genes that cause bioluminescence. The next step would be figuring out how the transfer those genes and then cause the plants to emit light continually during the night and without the trigger of movement. Treehugger and our third-party partners use cookies and process personal data like unique identifiers based on your consent to store and/or access information on a device, display personalized ads and for content measurement, audience insight, and product development. To change or withdraw your consent choices for Treehugger.com, including your right to object where legitimate interest is used, click below. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data. List of Partners (vendors) Do you have a news tip? Want to share good news story, or do you have information that should see the light of day? Then we want to hear from you. More here "I curious to know if there is an available helicopter service that can help me get around the island in a quicker fashion." Yes there is this type of service in Jamaica. Try Captain John's Island Hoppers. "I was thinking of flying to Negril from mobay then having a driver pick us up and take us to pelican bar." The flight from Montego Bay to Negril is no problem. In Negril you can land at the Negril airport. The helicopter can also can land at some, but not all, resorts in Negril. You need to ask the Helicopter company where exactly then can land in Negril. As to the drive to Floyds bar, almost any tour company working out of Negril will offer this service. Your hotel can arrange this for you. I have indeed traveled with A&K. Once in 2007 for a week in Kenya, and just last August (2017) for about two weeks in Tanzania and Kenya. I haven't used other companies to travel to Africa so I can't compare them, but there are many things they do very, very well and make it seem well worth the price to me. In particular, we had a weird/short turnaround between our Emirates flight to Nairobi and our puddle jumper to Kilamanjaro. A&K had arranged for an agent to meet us at the plane take us through some empty hallways, past various lines and up to a check-in desk where everything was taken care of for us. My travel stress disappeared from then on. Our safari was one night in Arusha then on to Tarangire, Ngorongoro, Serengeti, then the Masai Mara in Kenya. However, when we woke up in Arusha before starting on the journey, my husband had a fever and was feeling terrible. A&K arranged for a doctor and arranged for alternate lodging for us when we had to stay in Arusha one more night waiting for my husband to get better. The Coffee Lodge needed our room so A&K gave us a couple of choices and then took us to the hotel we chose. That seems like small potatoes, but they also held back a vehicle from the safari so the next day when we were ready to go they took us to Tarangire where we joined the rest of the tour group. Looking at other vehicles in the various parks A&K's stood out for the fact that no one has to sit in a middle seat. The driver-guides are excellent and everyone is super focused on customer service. One difference I noticed between 2007 and 2017 was that A&K seem to offer fewer lodging choices with a heavy emphasis on their Sanctuary properties. I feel like (but I could be wrong) in 2007 they had a broader range of choices. I think if we go to East Africa again we will probably look into Micato because they seem only marginally more expensive and I am tempted to try them out. I should also mention that on our first night in Tarangire--after my husband being ill, and many planes to get to Africa in the first place--it was wonderful to be sitting at dinner and have the entire staff sing their version of Happy Birthday as they presented me with a cake. It was a total surprise to me--and to my husband who had totally forgotten my birthday and was confused about the celebration wondering about who's birthday it was until the moment they set the cake in front of me. I have booked on a cruise of Japan next April and intend to go beforehand to Kyoto and Takayama by train. Is three days long enough for Kyoto or is 4 better? I want to see temples and shrines but I dont have to see them all. I also want to go to the Geisha area and surrounds and to the Arashiyama district and do a few walking tours and other places of interest. Is 3 nights good for Takayama? This would give me 2 full days there. Any advice would be much appreciated. KarenH ( Melbourne, Australia ) Our crazy New Year Holidays are from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3 in Japan, when many people return to their home town to cerebrate the New Year with their parents, relatives, or old friends. In general, you should not move during these period, because we Japanese can book any long distance JR trains from exactly 10am Japan Time one months before, while you foreign visitors can only book the seats of long distance JR trains run only by JR East. Among your itinerary, you can day trip Kobe from Osaka on Dec. 31 and move to Himeji on Jan. 1. But you should avoid moving to Hiroshima from Himeji on Jan. 3 and should move to Hiroshima on Jan. 4. Most people start working from Jan. 4, and thus you can move from Jan. 4. Exchange Yen in Waikiki. Do not exchange in any banks here in HI. You'll have the best rates in Waikiki. Some of the shops don't have transaction fees and some give kamaaiana rates (about 1/2 to 1 yen less than what you see online). Sometimes you'll get better rates or equal rates when exchanging in Japan. Of my 3 trips to Japan, not once did I use my credit card in Japan. I dropped some US$ in Waikiki exchanging for yen and just hand carried all the yen with me. Lots of my friends do that also. No problem with money being stolen or being robbed or whatever. Only prob would be misplacing it but I'm always careful. I've been lucky that 2 of my trip bought yen high before my trip and when came to trip it was 5-8 yen diff. At one point when it was about $1 = 115yen, I exchanged about $500 at that time. A week before trip it was $1 = 107. The other trip was like 3-5 yen diff. Last trip (just last month) was a wash. Yen was going up and down vs US$. Pacific Money Exchange & DFS is the most popular exchange shops in Waikiki. PME is right across DFS on one of the side streets (google). PME is like a hole in the wall shop that looks sketchy but I always see long lines of Japanese tourists exchanging there. I think right now since Mid-March PME has been taking reservations only exchange (due to Cherry Blossom season and the exchange rate is good). My coworker (driver that delivers in Waikiki) said he still sees rsvp sign up. During high season, PME takes rsvp only. Most times you can just walk up to counter. Google/YELP PME for address & phone number or if in area stop by for more info. This is if you decide to exchange some US$ to yen (starter or most/all) and using CC up there. From what I hear, exchanging locally in Waikiki is better than exchanging in Japan or using CC and taking out from atm at 7-11 and jpost. I think it's because we have a high concentration of Japanese tourists exchanging yen in Waikiki that they can give out really good rates. Security doesn't care how many nights you booked and where. Immigration and/or customs may question you, if they think something is not right. I would imagine vast majority of visitors from North America are never asked about accommodation booked. I was never asked. Watch some episodes of "Border Security". It works the same way worldwide. If they don't believe you are trying to enter the country with a legitimate purpose, they will question everything. No one other than the officer who's interviewing you can say "3 night is sufficient". If you are not doing anything illegal, and have prepared adequately for your trip, you have nothing to worry about even if it's only 1 night booked. - Matele had been separated with his deceased wife for a long time - He however wanted to pay his last respect when she passed away - But his brother-in-law, Wabusya, wouldn't hear any of it - Matele sued Wabusya for trying to stop him from burying the mother of his five kids A man who was blocked from attending his wife's funeral by his brother-in-law will now be able to grieve and bury his wife in peace after a court ruled in his favour. James Matele, a retired financial officer, had locked horns with his brother-in-law, Sylvester Wabusya, over the burial of his wife Beatrice Nyongesa with whom he had been separated for years. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: William Kabogo ajipata pabaya baada ya kumtumia 'slay queen' ujumbe James Matele (right) will now have an opportunity to bury the mother of his five children, Beatrice Nyongesa, after court on Wednesday, May 2, ruled in his favour. Photo: Nation. TUKO.co.ke gathered Wabusya had denied Matele access to the deceased, arguing the two were already separated. Left with no other option, Matele moved to court to challenge Wabusya's attempts to stop him from paying his last respect to the mother of his five children. READ ALSO: Five family members transporting body killed in nasty accident While delivering her ruling on the sorrowful family dispute on Wednesday, May 2, Senior Resident Magistrate, Agnes Makau, said the petitioner (Matele) had a right to bury the deceased because the couple never dissolved their marriage in accordance with the laid down customary law. The judge ruled there was overwhelming proof the petitioner was still married to Nyongesa at the time of her demise at a Nairobi hospital on March 15, 2018. READ ALSO: Eldoret court blocks burial of MCA's father over family dispute The Magistrate pointed out the petitioner paid dowry even after he had split up with Nyongesa. The respondent (Wabusya) admitted in court that the petitioner had in fact took four cows to Nyongesa's parents as dowry, further confirming they were legally married. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Rejected for naming son Uhuru Kenyatta | Untold stories - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - The former Kakamega senator savagely criticised Uhuru's State of the Nation address - He said the speech lacked presidential touch and that it was most likely written for him - Khalwale also warned Uhuru against extending his term through constitutional amendment - Atwoli had suggested Uhuru should not retire because he is still too young - Atwoli's remarks were made amid intense debate over proposal to amend the Constitution - During the speech, the president asked Kenyans to forgive him for any wrongdoing in the past Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has rejected President Uhuru Kenyatta's public apology to Kenyans. The vocal Western Kenya politician revealed he had not considered forgiving the president because in his view, Uhuru did not clearly explain what he was apologising for. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: William Kabogo ajipata pabaya baada ya kumtumia 'slay queen' ujumbe Boni Khalwale said he had not considered forgivingPresident Uhuru Kenyatta because the president did not explained why he was asking for forgiveness. Photo:TUKO. READ ALSO: Powerful ODM governor sides with Ruto, tells off Raila over proposed governance structure Speaking on Citizen TV's morning talk show on Thursday, May 3, Khalwale said he will not accept Uhuru's apology unless he is convinced why. "I have not accepted the apology. The president needs to be specific. The apology would have sat very well if he specified the various areas in which he was asking forgiveness for," Khalwale argued. The president had pleaded with Kenyans to forgive him for the wrongs he might have done or said during the chaotic and divisive 2017 electioneering period. "If there was anything I said last year that hurt or wounded you, if I damaged the unity of this country in any way, I ask you to forgive me," he said. READ ALSO: Uhuru confidently walked into his 5th State of the Nation address and TUKO.co.ke knows why Khalwale extensively poked holes into the president's 5th State of the Nation address delivered on Wednesday, May 2, in Parliament. He argued Uhuru's speech lacked a presidential touch and that it must have been written and handed over to him to just read. "The President should have added his own thoughts into the speech to personalise it. I saw it as a speech that was prepared for him, without the touch of the president," Khalwale said. READ ALSO: Never again should Kenyans die for the sake of politics - Uhuru declares during State of the Nation address The bull-fighter, as he is sometimes referred to, also took a swipe at the proponents of constitutional amendment and those suggesting that Uhuru should not retire in 2022. He said as a member of Ford Kenya, he and his party leader, Moses Wetangula, were against any proposal to review the Constitution with the aim of creating new slots in government for anyone. "I would urge the president to resist any temptation by those close to him to extend his term. Ford Kenya is opposed to the three-tier government structure. We are also opposed to restructuring the executive to accommodate certain people," Khalwale said. READ ALSO: William Ruto follows Uhuru's cue, apologises to anyone he may have wronged The three-tier system of governance had been proposed by Raila. In the now controversial proposal, the former prime minister had suggested establishment of 14 regional administrative blocs besides the 47 counties and the national government. The proposal to change the governance structure received strong backing from Raila's ODM party, which also called for the return of the prime minister's position. READ ALSO: ODM secretary general criticises Uhuru's State of the Nation address A few leaders, including COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, expressed their support for the proposed constitutional review. Atwoli even suggested new positions should be created in government so that Uhuru will not have to retire, a suggestion that was met with severe backlash from a section of politicians, mostly from Deputy President William Ruto's camp. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Rejected for naming son Uhuru Kenyatta | Untold stories - On Tuko TV Source: Kenyan Breaking News - An ex-ray scan showed five metals in the baby's abdomen and two on her back - Her grandmother said Chepchumba started complaining of abdominal pain and fever - The guardians suspected it was a case of black magic Doctors at Kapenguria Referral Hospital in West Pokot county are looking for answers on how seven sewing machine needles could have penetrated the body of a three-year-old infant. An ex-ray scan on Thursday, May 3, showed five tiny metals lodged in baby Dorcas Chepchumba's abdomen while two others are sandwiched between tissues on her back. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Her maternal grandparents who are taking care of Chepchumba after her mother married elsewhere, were not aware how the needles got into her body. READ ALSO: Mother of baby who was found with 14 needles lodged in her behind charged with torture An ex-ray scan showed five metals are lodged in baby Dorcas Chepchumba's abdomen while other two are sandwiched between tissues on her back. Photo: Nation. READ ALSO: Mother of baby with fourteen needles in her body arrested by police "The mother escaped because the child was sickly. She is now married to someone else. We used to give her pain killers and we took her to Center Kwanza Dispensary.We are stranded and we dont know where to start from, said grandfather, John Chepkokei Lingaa. Her grandmother said Chepchumba started complaining of abdominal pain, cough and fever and has been receiving medication at the facility for two days. At first, the guardians suspected it was a case of black magic as she then used to stay with the mother and the new husband. READ ALSO: Mother of toddler who was found with 14 sewing needles lodged in her 'behind' could go to jail At first, the guardians suspected it was a case of black magic as she then used to stay with the mother and the new husband. Photo: Maryanne Chai. READ ALSO: Kericho Nursing Home on the spot after woman dies from 3 botched surgeries Chepchumba was born well in a hospital. She has been with her mother but when she started being sickly, the mother ran away. I was left to take care of her. "We thought that she was bewitched because the child doesnt belong to the family where my daughter is married," Ling'aa said. Medics advised the patient be transferred to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to have the needles removed. West Pokot County Health Officer Ibrahim Longolomoi confirmed the bizarre incident. Baby Chepchumba is the latest of such nature to have been reported in Kenya. In December 2017, 10-month-old Jacinta Ndunge was admitted at Thika Level Five hospital after doctors found 14 sewing needles in her flesh. Police arrested Ndunge's mother to help in investigations. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. I've slept with over 100 men, tried taking away myself 5 times - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke -The investor is blaming the State for trespassing into his property - The parliament had approved KSh 3.2 billion payment when passing supplementary budget - Senate's accounts committee directed the treasury not to pay KSh1.7 billion after KSh 1.5 billion payment - The investor said he was ready to return the paid amount and have his property back An investor embroiled in a land ownership row with the government has threatened to go to court to seek KSh 6 billion compensation over illegal occupation. Francis Mburu had asked the government to pay him KSh 3.2 billion for building two schools in his 13-acre-piece of land situated in Ruaraka. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens The two schools-Ruaraka Secondary and Drive Inn Primary schools were built on the land in 1984 and 1987 respectively. Francis Mburu told the Senate he will sue the government for illegal occupation of his land. Photo: Parliament. READ ALSO: Kenyans speak their mind after Uhuru told them to surrender corrupt family members to police The government had agreed to pay Mburu KSh 3.2 billion for the prime land through the National Land Commission (NLC) and deposited KSh 1.5 billion into his different accounts on different dates between Tuesday, January 30 and Monday, February 5, 2018. Trouble however began when the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) sought to investigate the transaction and even obtained orders to freeze Mburus accounts. The tycoon who appeared before the Senates County Public Accounts and Investments Committee on Monday, April 30, expressed his frustration after the legislators ordered the National Treasury from paying the remaining KSh 1.7 billion pending conclusion of investigations. Francis Mburu told the Senate committee he is willing to return KSh 1.5 billion paid to him by government and take over his prime land. Photo: The Standard. I am ready to refund the KSh 1.5 billion paid to me and have my property back. I will consider suing the government to compensate me KSh 6 billion for making developments on my land and occupying it for three decades, said Mburu. The billionaire who is the director of Afrison Import Export Limited among an array of other companies reiterated he was the legal owner of the land and needs to be treated with respect. READ ALSO: Olympic champion Asbel Kiprop denies doping claims, maintains he is a clean man The lands value is over KSh 6 billion but I settled for less due to public interest but my kindness is being abused, Mburu added. The committee chaired by Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang however assured Mburu he will be treated fairly and explained the move to halt further payment was in the interest of ensuring public money is utilized prudently. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Top 5 Facts About Uhuru Kenyatta - Raila Odinga Pact - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - Safaricom customers can now pay HELB loans using Bonga points - The move was introduced as the government announced 100% waiver on HELB penalties - CS Amina Mohamed advised all University students to acquire HELB smart cards Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) beneficiaries who are Safaricom subscribers can now breathe easy following a latest move of loan repayment plan through Bonga points. This is after the government announced 100% waiver on HELB penalties until June 30, 2018, in a bid to boost loan repayment. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens In a Twitter post from HELB's official page seen by TUKO.co.ke, on Thursday, May 2, the board CEO Charles Ringera announced a feature which will allow Safaricom customers to repay their loans by redeeming Bonga Points. READ ALSO: Raila Junior amkejeli Ruto baada ya kukataliwa kumuona Moi Embracing cryptocurrency, you can use your Safaricom PLC Bonga points to repay your HELB loan, said Ringera. READ ALSO: Kenyans speak their mind after Uhuru told them to surrender corrupt family members to police The latest move to introduce the new feature of Safaricom to repay HELB loan came after the board announced a 100% waiver on loan defaulters, until June 2018. Education Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed while speaking during a consultative forum with employers, urged the beneficiaries to take up the advantage and repay KSh 8.1 billion owed by 78,000 graduates. Seventy eight thousand loanees owe HELB KSh 8.1 billion. With 100% penalty waiver until June, we call upon all the beneficiaries to take advantage of the generous offer by the government," READ ALSO: Yes, we killed our dad siblings confess "From today Thursday, May 3, to June 30, all HELB loan beneficiaries will benefit 100% penalty waiver, said the CS. Additionally, Mohamed advised all university students to acquire HELB smart cards to enable them to easily get loans and monitor their repayment. She also asked employers to submit deductions to HELB saying it is a legal requirement. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: I've slept with over 100 men, tried taking away myself 5 times - On Tuko TV Source: Breaking News - Kimeu and Kisilu noticed Athi River was about to explode - They decided to run along the river's course alerting residents along the banks - And just as they predicted, Athi River couldn't take any more water -The raging spillage swept everything on its path leaving behind a trail of destruction Although many strongly believe rain is a blessing from heaven, some may question why it also sometimes brings with it too much pain and suffering. The ongoing downpour and the resultant floods have swept away homes, left thousands in the cold, lives have been lost, farms and crops destroyed and roads rendered impassible. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Makueni County Governor Kivutha Kibwana (center) and Kimeu Nthiwa and Patrick Kisilu. Photo: Kithutha Kibwana/Twitter. READ ALSO: Raila Junior amkejeli Ruto baada ya kukataliwa kumuona Moi TUKO.co.ke has learnt the already disastrous situation would have been much worse in Machakos and Makueni counties were it not for Kimeu Nthiwa and Patrick Kisilu. According to Makueni County governor, Kivutha Kibwana, these two gentlemen saved thousands of lives. Many more would have been carried away by the flash floods. "When Athi River burst its banks, these two amazing Kenyans, Nthiwa and Kisilu, ran along the river course warning people against the looming flooding disaster and many evacuated. The situation would have been extremely fatal if not for their efforts," Kibwana revealed in a Twitter post seen by TUKO.co.ke on Thursday, May 3. READ ALSO: Section of Nairobi-Narok road sinks following heavy rains, motorists urged to use other routes TUKO.co.ke confirmed that Athi River indeed broke its banks as was predicted by Nthiwa and Kisilu, and what ensued was massive destruction. The few people who ignored the warning to keep off the banks of the river came face-to-face with the wrath of mother nature. According to Machakos Base Commander Abdinasir Harun, the river exploded at Mto wa Mawe bridge, rendering the usually busy road impassable. READ ALSO: Met Department issues yet another warning on heavy rains,flash floods The houses at the Green Park estate along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway were soon flooded by the spillage following long heavy rains. Machakos County governor, Alfred Mutua, said in a Facebook post emergency services had been dispatched to the affected areas and some 50 people were rescued. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Nairobi floods: Heavy rains rock Nairobi city - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - Millicent Omanga publicly announced her forgiveness towards Babu Owino on Facebook - Omanga and Babu were recently spotted in a function organised by the MP - The two had been in a longstanding rivalry after Babu hurled insults at the senator - The move comes barely a day after Uhuru apologised to Kenyans Jubilee's nominated senator Millicent Omanga has decided to officially bury the hatchet with her long time political nemesis, Babu Owino. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens In a post on her Facebook page seen by TUKO.co.ke on Thursday, May 3, Omanga publicly announced she had forgiven the combative Embakasi East MP. READ ALSO: Raila Junior amkejeli Ruto baada ya kukataliwa kumuona Moi Omanga said she has forgiven all those who insulted her including Babu Owino. Photo: Milicent Omanga/ Facebook READ ALSO: Government should pay me KSh 6 billion for illegal occupation of my land Investor tells Senate She divulged she had started unblocking some people she had denied access to her Facebook page, while at the same time apologising to those she could have offended. "I have started unblocking all those people I blocked to access my Facebook page.For those who insulted me including Babu Owino I forgive you. For those I offended I'm also asking for forgiveness. One Kenya, one people. Lets share positive ideas of transforming our country, read her post on Facebook. READ ALSO: 7 needles discovered in stomach of 3-year-old baby in Kapenguria In a quick rejoinder, the controversial Embakasi East MP who dramatically reconciled with President Uhuru Kenyatta, acknowledged the gesture from Omanga by commenting on the post. "My sister tibim," wrote Owino. Her moves comes barely a day after Uhuru apologised to Kenyans for any offense he might have committed at the height of the political tension in 2017. Deputy President William Ruto also took the cue from his boss and apologised to Kenyans for any wrong he might have committed. As formerly reported by TUKO.co.ke, Omanga and Owino seemed to have ended their rivalry after being spotted together at a recent event. Omanga was among several politicians who honoured Owino's invitation to a bursary awarding event held in his constituency on Monday, May 1. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Rejected for naming son Uhuru Kenyatta | Untold stories - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko.co.ke - The man had stolen the bag from a lady in a nearby town - Frank Japhet, a Tanzanian native, was however not so lucky in his spree - The bag ended up getting stuck on his back in a bizarre twist An unlucky thief was forced to surrender himself to authorities in Tanzania, after a sack of maize he had stolen stuck on his back. Frank Japhet, a resident of Dar es Salaam, was subjected to hours of unprecedented torture after the 20 kilograms sack literally wouldnt get off his back, hours after he stole it. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Raila Junior amkejeli Ruto baada ya kukataliwa kumuona Moi Thief forced to surrender to police after sack of maize he stole stuck on his back. Photo: globalpublishers READ ALSO: Houseboy bewitched after being caught having lungula with boss's wife, pleads for mercy He revealed the bag was stolen from an unfortunate woman residing in Nyambwiro on the evening of Wednesday, May 2, but it had been torture as the bag somehow stayed on his back ever since. TUKO.co.ke has learnt that the unfortunate man was to leave the bag at a friends house and go back for another one, but the bag clung to his body mysteriously. Residents now believe the woman sought the services of a witchdoctor to reclaim her stolen bag of maize. Photo: globalpublishers READ ALSO: New research details how Kenyan men have been bewitched by their wives Residents now believe the woman sought the services of a witchdoctor to reclaim her stolen bag of maize. Before resorting to the police station, Japhet had been strolling for hours in the hope that the bag would eventually fall off to no avail. READ ALSO: Lucky Kenyan lady gifted top-of-the-range European car after delivering first born It is the latest bizarre bewitching incident that has shocked neitizens, after a similar scenario in November 2017 which saw a man allegedly return stolen goods after he was descended upon by bees. The thief surrendered the woofer and DVD player in November 2017 in the most bizzarre witchcraft incident of the year. Photo: Courtesy READ ALSO: William Ruto impromptu meeting with retired president Daniel Moi aborts The man in question had allegedly stolen a DVD player and a music system but returned them barely a day later, after bees pitched camp on his body in Masindi town, Uganda. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram Rejected for naming son Uhuru Kenyatta | Untold stories Tuko TV: Source: Tuko - Ruto's meeting with retired president Moi flopped as the old man was said to be with his doctor - It is said the DP visited Moi's Kabaraka home without a formal appointment - The development came a few weeks after Raila successfully met the retired president - Uhuru has also had a successful meeting with the former Kanu party leader Deputy President William Ruto's flopped meeting with retired President Daniel arap Moi continues to draw critism and mockery. Among those making fun of the DP is ODM leader Raila Odinga's son, Raila Odinga Junior. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Jamaa ajisalimisha polisi baada ya mzigo alioiba kukwama mabegani (picha) Deputy President William Ruto failed to meet retired President Daniel arap Moi at his Kabarnet home. Photo: William Ruto/ Facebook. READ ALSO: Gideon Moi blamed for blocking Rutos planned meeting with ex president Daniel Moi In a naughty tweet seen by TUKO.co.ke, Junior noted the DP should not have popped up at Moi's Kabarnet home unannounced. "Lol can't just rock up at a dude's house unannounced!" tweeted Raila's son. Although the aborted meeting comes as an embarrassment to Ruto, Kenyans thought it was partly his fault by pulling a surprise visit on the retired president. READ ALSO: Award-winning corporate guru takes over as Nyeri County's deputy governor Ruto alongside Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter, Ainabkoi MP William Chepkut and lawyer Stephen Kipkenda boarded a Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC) helicopter to Moi's home but failed to meet him. Prior report by TUKO indicated Senior Director of Innovation, Digital and Diaspora Communication in the Office of the President, Dennis Itumbi however blamed Moi's son for being behind the botched meeting. READ ALSO: Twisted narrative of KSh 500 million Nairobi parcels of land which have cartels literally drooling Gideon, who is Moi's son, however claimed a doctor's appointment hindered the retired president from meeting the DP. Ruto's efforts to meet the retired president came after Moi played host to both President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Top 5 Facts About Uhuru Kenyatta - Raila Odinga Pact - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko.co.ke Over the past day, May 2, the situation in the joint forces operation (JFO) area in Donbas remained tense. The armed hostilities took place mainly in Avdiivka and Mariupol directions. The enemy used artillery and mortars 22 times, the JFO Headquarters press center reports. "Three servicemen were wounded in fighting. They were promptly taken to the hospital. Their health status is satisfactory," the report reads. According to intelligence, four militants were wounded over the past day, May 2. Ukrainian soldiers did not obstruct their evacuation. "During the night of May 3, the situation on the contact line was relatively calm. As of 6:00, no casualties among Ukrainian troops were reported," the Headquarters reports. ol The U.S. will double financial assistance to strengthen the cyber security of Ukraine from $5 million to $10 million. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs A. Wess Mitchell said this at a briefing after his meeting with President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko at the Presidential Administration, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "We also discussed the issue of cyber security, and I can proudly announce that we will double the amount of assistance in this direction, in strengthening of cyber security - from $5 million to $10 million," he said. As Ukrinform reported, on May 1, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs A. Wess Mitchell started a three-day visit to Ukraine, during which he held meetings with state officials, political leaders and representatives of non-governmental sector. ish Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has met with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Wess Mitchell to discuss important issues regarding cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The sides talked about the fight against Russian aggression, in particular on the international scene, as well as mutual trade, especially in the context of restrictions on imports of steel products to the U.S., according to the Ukrainian government portal. "The issue of financial stability is an important priority, and cooperation with the IMF is of paramount importance here," Groysman said, adding that cooperation with international financial institutions is very important to Ukraine, in particular given the burden of debts incurred before 2014. He recalled that Ukraine was holding talks with the IMF on two issues - the creation of an anti-corruption court, which is at the stage of adoption of the necessary legislation, and the introduction of a market-oriented formula for determining the price of gas for Ukrainian consumers. In the context of fuel prices, Groysman said that the Ukrainian side had its own solution option and that U.S. support on this issue would be very timely. I understand how difficult it is to be in a situation in which Ukraine is now. Our priority is to make Ukraine stable and secure. My proposal is that you take all the necessary steps in your competence in order to show the IMF that your intentions are serious. An analysis of the situation, the reasoning of decisions and their implementation should work, Mitchell said. According to Mitchell, support for Ukraine from the United States is very deep. It is provided not only at the level of the branches of government, but also the people of the United States. It is important for us to introduce programs of support and protection, especially defense programs, for Ukraine, he added. This was the second meeting between Groysman and Mitchell over the past few months. op Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) has imposed new sanctions against Russian companies and individuals for aggression against Ukraine, the council's press service has reported. "Ukraine's NSDC imposed sanctions on legal entities and individuals involved in Russian aggression against Ukraine," reads the statement. Sanctions are introduced on the initiative of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Security Service of Ukraine and the National Bank of Ukraine for three years or indefinitely against individuals and legal entities involved in Russian aggression against Ukraine, in preparing for and conducting illegal voting in the occupied Crimea as part of the Russian presidential election, against representatives of the Russian occupation administration in Crimea and militants of Russian armed groups in the occupied territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, etc., the NSDC said. Sanctions were also imposed on persons involved in information and cyber aggression against Ukraine, unlawful actions against Ukrainian citizens illegally detained in Russia, as well as on State Duma deputies and members of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly, etc. In addition, the sanctions imposed in previous years have been extended, the NSDC added. op The new Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine can start to hear the first cases in early 2019. Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko said this in an interview with Reuters in London. According to him, the law on the creation of the Anti-Corruption Court is expected to be approved before parliaments summer recess. (Then) after six or eight months it is possible to hear the first cases, Lutsenko said As reported, on December 22, 2017, President Petro Poroshenko submitted bill No. 7440 On the Supreme Anti-Corruption Court to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. On December 27, the text of the document was posted on the parliaments website. On March 1, the Verkhovna Rada adopted at first reading the presidential bill "On the High Anti-Corruption Court" (No. 7440). A total of 282 MPs voted for the approval of the respective draft law. iy Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy Parubiy states that Poland and Lithuania remain the most reliable partners of Ukraine. He said this during his speech at the ceremonial meeting of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania in Vilnius on the occasion of the 227th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of May 3, 1791, the press service of the parliament reported. "I am convinced that we will gain a victory in the struggle waged by Ukraine. The empire cannot be stronger than the people's striving for freedom and dignity. I am sure that Lithuania and Poland will always support us in this struggle. Together we are invincible. Together we are successful and free," the speaker stressed. According to him, Lithuania and Poland remain the largest and most reliable allies, "because they understand that Ukrainian soldiers defend not only Ukraine but the whole of Europe." ish Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy believes that historical issues should help countries and peoples build their future. The parliament speaker said this at a joint briefing of the speakers of Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania in Vilnius on Thursday, the parliament's press service reported. "We must find such historical events as the one today, about the creation of the first constitution in Europe, which unites our people, which make us stronger. The common past should not stand between us. It should help us build a future that is common to our peoples and a free Europe," Parubiy said. The Ukrainian speaker expressed gratitude for the invitation to attend a solemn sitting of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania on the occasion of the anniversary of the Constitution and stressed that, remembering the history, one must think about the present and the future. "When our peoples were together, we secured peace and security, aspiration for democracy, freedom and dignity," Parubiy said, noting that today Lithuania, Ukraine and Poland are facing the same challenges. According to him, these challenges are most acute in front of Ukraine and in the regions that have a common border with Russia, where the states are most susceptible to hybrid threats in all spheres. According to him, Ukraine, first of all, rebuffs military aggression, but Russia carries out dangerous actions in the field of energy, information, economic, cybersecurity - in all areas where an attack on Europe and all peoples is taking place. In this context, Parubiy said that he was a supporter of closer regional cooperation, and emphasized the importance of inter-parliamentary assemblies. He also expressed confidence that Lithuania and Poland would make efforts to help create this assembly and share their experience. "We must create and implement joint initiatives together," Parubiy said, recalling the signing of a letter by the six speakers on the unacceptability of the Nord Stream 2 project, which demonstrated a common approach and understanding of the energy threat from the Russian side for pressure on Europe and spread of its impact. The Verkhovna Rada chairman also took part in the ceremony of raising the state flags of Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine on Independence Square in Vilnius. op The Ukraine-EU Summit will be held in the first half of July. Ukrinform's correspondent in Brussels learnt this from the diplomatic circles of the European Union. "The date of July 9 is being considered, but it has not been formally approved yet," the source said. Bilateral summits between Ukraine and the European Union are held once a year, in Kyiv and Brussels alternately. The Ukrainian delegation at the summit is headed by the president, and the European side - by the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. As a reminder, Brussels will also host the NATO summit on July 11-12. ish Direct scheduled flights to New York could be launched from the Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport in autumn. Roman Kokotaylo, the acting director of the department for roads, transport and communication of the Lviv Regional State Administration, and Tetiana Romanovska, the director general of the Lviv International Airport, said this during the celebrations on the occasion of the Lviv-London flight launch. "It is very important to link Lviv with the three worlds major financial cities: London, New York and Tokyo. The first step has been taken today, and now it is necessary to work to make Lviv the fourth business capital. I thank Tetiana Romanovska for the work done, and I would like you to join us with the second capital, New York, in autumn," Kokotaylo said. Tetiana Romanovska confirmed the plans of the Lviv airport about the launch of flights in the trans-Atlantic direction and announced the early launch of two new flights. ol The relatives of Ukrainian hostages held in occupied Donbas and Russia, as well as former prisoners, have demanded in the European Parliament that pressure be strengthened on Russia in the issue of the release of hostages. First Deputy Chairwoman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Iryna Gerashchenko wrote this on her Facebook page. "The relatives of Ukrainian hostages and political prisoners held in certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Russian prisons, former prisoners who passed through the hell of captivity and torture, spoke on Wednesday, April 2, about the crimes of the Russian Federation and its puppets in the European Parliament. We call on the world to intensify pressure on the Russian Federation in the issue of the release of hostages and strengthen solidarity with Ukraine," she said. Gerashchenko thanked the relatives of hostages for their active position and joint struggle for their liberation. "In May, we will have a few more important events in Britain, Germany. The world should know more about the Kremlin's prisoners. Only families will better describe the suffering of Ukrainian hostages," she said. On May 2, the European Parliament hosted a conference "The human price of Russian aggression in Ukraine." As reported, Gerashchenko stated on April 27 that Kyiv expected Moscow to give a concrete answer to the proposal to transfer to Russia 23 Russians convicted of crimes against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine in order to get the release of Ukrainians held in Russian prisons. Earlier media reports said that Russia's representative in the Trilateral Contact Group, Boris Gryzlov, said that there is a prospect for a large-scale prisoner swap in Donbas in the near future. The next meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group will take place on May 4. op Ukraines Infrastructure Minister Volodymyr Omelyan promises to complete a repair of Odesa-Reni highway in 2018. This issue was discussed during a meeting of the Infrastructure Minister of Ukraine with Chairman of the Odesa Regional State Administration Maksym Stepanov, the Infrastructure Ministry reported. "Odesa region has demonstrated good dynamics in the restoration of roads. A lot has been already done, and I thank the head of the region for quality teamwork aimed at the result. This year, the repair of the Odesa-Reni highway is number one issue. I sincerely want this route to be the best in 2018. This is an instruction of the President of Ukraine, the Prime Minister, and we must do it. We will make every effort to do this," Omelyan said at a briefing following the meeting. The infrastructure minister notes that the roads are built with at least a five-year warranty. At the same time, Chairman of the Odesa Regional State Administration Maksym Stepanov stresses that the repair of the Odesa-Reni highway is a key issue on the agenda of the local authorities' work. ish Balukh's defense and human rights activists assert that he is a victim of repression over his public pro-Ukrainian position. Russian occupation authorities should release Volodymyr Balukh, a local man who was imprisoned in a politically-motivated case, according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, Heather Nauert. "Russian occupation authorities in Crimea should release political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh, who has been on hunger strike for 43 days. Unacceptable for Russia to jail a Ukrainian citizen for flying a Ukrainian flag in Crimea and deny him medical care," Nauert wrote on Twitter. As UNIAN reported earlier, the Federal Security Service of Russia (FSB) detained Balukh on December 8, 2016. FSB operatives claimed that they had allegedly found 90 ammunition rounds and several TNT explosives in his attic. Balukh's defense and human rights activists assert that he is a victim of repression over his public pro-Ukrainian position. Read also"It's better to die": Ex-political prisoner Chiygoz on conditions in Simferopol's remand facilityOn March 14, 2018, the Kremlin-controlled "Supreme Court of Crimea" reviewed Balukh's original verdict and sentenced him to three years and five months in a penal colony settlement and a RUR 10,000 fine. On March 19, Balukh said he would go on hunger strike in response to the verdict. While on hunger strike, he drinks only water and tea. On April 20, the Russian-appointed administration of a pretrial detention center in the Russian-occupied city of Simferopol in Crimea placed Volodymyr Balukh in punitive confinement. The alleged reason is "violation of internal regulations," Balukh told his lawyer. The article by The New York Times states that Ukraine officials have frozen four criminal investigations involving Paul Manafort, being "wary of offending President Trump." U.S. law enforcement officials did not apply to the Prosecutor General's Office for assistance in their investigation into possible wrongdoings by Donald Trump's ex-campaign chief Paul Manafort, Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine Yevhen Yenin wrote on Facebook. "Neither the FBI nor [Robert]Mueller turned to the PGO with any requests for legal assistance in connection with the Manafort case," Yenin wrote. The comment came in a response to the NYT article claiming that Ukraine officials, "wary of offending" U.S. President Donald Trump, have "effectively frozen" four criminal cases involving Manafort. "I'd like to hope that this is a banal case of 'lost in translation,' since there are no problems in international legal cooperation between the PGO and our American partners. The best evidence proving this is more than $600,000 returned from the U.S. to Ukraine in the framework of investigations related to those mentioned in the New York Times article," Yenin said. Read alsoThe Guardian: Former Trump aide approved 'black ops' to help Ukraine president YanukovychIn turn, People's Deputy Volodymyr Ariev, who was referred to in the NYT piece, stated that his words were pulled out context. "I did not expect this from an acclaimed publication," he wrote on Facebook. "When a journalist, Andrew Kramer, asked Ariev if I knew something about the investigation of Manafort having been stopped in Ukraine and if I was aware whether the American colleagues contacted Ukrainian law enforcers, I answered [translated from a Facebook post in Russian] 'I don't know for sure whether the American side addressed their Ukrainian colleagues. I can assume that due to the situation in the country, Ukraine avoids all situations that could irritate the U.S. administration, but if American investigators turn to Ukrainian ones, the Ukrainian side will do everything necessary under the existing bilateral agreements.' I insisted that the continuity of this phrase be maintained if I were to be quoted, and it's not in vain. Another comment of mine went like this: 'It is possible that the Manafort case could be put in a long-term box, but it's mainly because we simply have not enough investigators who could carry out quality investigation in cases of such level of complexity," Ariev explained. The parliament had approved a draft law on the court in March. Ukraines new corruption court, whose creation is a key condition set by Western aid donors, should be ready to hear its first cases early next year, General Prosecutor Yuriy Lutsenko said. While slow progress in tackling corruption has been an obstacle in Ukraines efforts to fulfill requirements for a long-delayed loan tranche from the International Monetary Fund, Lutsenko told Reuters in London he expected the final law on setting up the anti-corruption court to pass before parliaments summer recess. The parliament had approved a draft law on the court in March. (Then) after six or eight months it is possible to hear the first cases, Lutsenko said on the sidelines of an event at London think-tank Chatham House. Reform campaigners and Ukraines Western backers have pushed for an independent court to handle corruption cases, saying it is essential for the ex-Soviet republics efforts to cement the rule of law and reduce the power of vested interests. Read alsoG7 countries call on Ukraine to create anti-corruption court as Venice Commission recommendsBut foreign backers have expressed concern that the legislation is not in line with recommendations from the Venice Commission, a rights watchdog. While policy makers in Kyiv were still in discussion with the International Monetary Fund, Lutsenko was optimistic plans would be amended to take IMF concerns into account. There is a little bit of discussion about the system of testing the judges, because the IMF set us requirements that are so high, he said. He said the type of cases which should be heard by the court had also been another subject of debate. We should choose a common solution with IMF in these two points. The ball is on the U.S. side," he said. Ukraine's Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko says he hopes to join forces with the FBI on an investigation relating to U.S. President Donald Trump's ex-aide Paul Manafort. Asked by Reuters about progress on investigations in Ukraine relating to Manafort, Trumps former campaign chairman, Lutsenko said he was told in autumn by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that they had launched their own investigation and could not provide information at this stage. "The ball is on the U.S. side... (we) can't finish our investigation without their results, because we need some information," he said. "I am going to have negotiations with FBI officials and will talk about a joint investigation group with them." Read alsoUkraine's prosecutors refute NYT report claiming Kyiv halted cooperation in Manafort probeIn November, the head of special investigations at the general prosecutor's office Serhiy Horbatiuk, told Reuters that Ukraine had sent requests in 2014 and 2015 to question representatives of a law firm and Manafort relating to two cases involving misuse of Ukrainian state funds. In the United States, Manafort faces two indictments accusing him of conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, failing to register as a foreign agent for lobbying work he did for the pro-Russia government of Ukraine, bank fraud and other offenses. They stop some ships several times. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine says Russian coast guards stop foreign vessels heading to Ukraine to ID crews on a daily basis. The inspections began on April 30. First, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) officers stopped and inspected the ship sailing from Greece (Chios) to Ukraine (Mariupol), as well as its crew consisting of nationals of Turkey, Nigeria, Georgia and Egypt. On the same day, Russia's border guards checked the ship sailing from Israel (Ashdod) to Ukraine (Mariupol) with a Ukrainian crew on board. The next day they stopped a ship from Italy, whose crew consisted of Bulgarian nationals. "Some ships are checked several times. A Malta-flagged vessel (with crew of 16 Ukrainian natives and two Turkish citizens) and following the route from Italy (Monfalcone) to Ukraine (Mariupol) was stopped as it was passing through the Kerch Strait in the same way. Furthermore, the vessel was stopped by the occupiers for a second inspection and ID-ing crew as she was sailing on the recommended course in the Azov Sea along a traverse of the Berdyansk Spit," the report said. Russian coast guards also stopped a Panama-flagged ship on route from Italy's Marghera to Mariupol. Read alsoRussia boosts navy presence in Azov Sea, provocations possible Ukraine militaryAs UNIAN reported earlier, the Russian-flagged and Crimea-registered fishing vessel Nord operated by a crew of 10 was seized by the Ukrainian Border Guard Service in the Sea of Azov on March 25 on charges of infringements on the Ukrainian border crossing rules in relation to the occupied territory. The vessel and crew were brought to the Ukrainian port of Berdyansk. The Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine announced that the captain of the Nord, Volodymyr Horbenko, who turned to be a citizen of Ukraine, was indicted on March 31 under Part 2 of Article 332-1 (violation of entry/exit rules into/from temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. On April 8, the Ukrainian Border Guard Service reported an attempt to smuggle the Nord's crew out of Ukraine in Russian diplomatic cars. The sailors presented Russian-issued emergency travel documents instead of passports. The border guards drew up a report on the incident and denied the crew exit out of Ukraine. Read alsoTwo sailors of Crimean ship seized in Ukraine flee to Belarus with Russian-issued passportsOn April 9, sailors made a second attempt to cross the Ukrainian border, having chosen the Chonhar checkpoint, but the Ukrainian border guards remained vigilant. On April 10, Captain Horbenko was indicted on new charges illegal fishing. On April 19, two crew members of the Crimean-registered Nord fishing vessel seized in Ukraine managed to flee to Belarus, using Russian-issued passports where their names were spelled partly differently, thus allowing to avoid quality database checkup. The statement says that the two crew who managed to cross out of Ukraine did so "by fraudulent means." The tentative date is July 9. The European Union and Ukraine have tentatively agreed a date for a Ukraine-EU summit, which may take place on July 9. "The EU-Ukraine summit is preliminary set for 9 July in Brussels. That means that [Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko should be able to stay for the NATO summit on 11-12 July. Hungary permitting...," Brussels reporter for Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty Rikard Jozwiak tweeted on May 3. the EU-#Ukraine summit is preliminary set for 9 July in Brussels. that means that Poroshenko should be able to stay for the NATO summit on 11-12 July. #Hungary permitting... Rikard Jozwiak (@RikardJozwiak) May 3, 2018 The Ukrainian news outlet Yevropeiska Pravda writes that the journalist joked about Hungary's permit, as EU member states cannot block events organized by the EU. The final date of the Ukraine-EU summit is to be officially announced within the coming week, Yevropeiska Pravda said. Read alsoAmbassador: Meeting of UA-NATO Commission "depends on Hungary and the whole Alliance" On July 11-12, Brussels will host a NATO summit, and Ukraine has been invited officially to one of its events. It is still unknown whether Poroshenko is going to stay in Brussels between the summits. Meanwhile, a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO commission at the level of the heads of state and government remains blocked by Hungary over the language provisions of Ukraine's new education law. A recent meeting of the Ukraine-NATO commission at the level of foreign ministers planned for April 23 was blocked by Hungary. The enhanced menu includes first and second courses, dried fruit, chocolate, jam, honey, coffee, etc. Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has posted photos of a new daily ration of Ukrainian soldiers in the Donbas war zone, complied in line with NATO standards. Read alsoNATO Trust Fund improves services to amputees in Ukraine Def. Ministry"Our military in Donbas will see a new food ration, developed in line with NATO standards. Seven different sets for each day of the week. Now, if a military is away from a field kitchen, they still have an opportunity to receive an adequate, high-quality and balanced nutrition," Poroshenko wrote on Facebook. "The enhanced menu includes the first and second courses, dried fruit, chocolate, jam, honey, coffee and the like. Moreover, a set of special retort pouches includes a flameless heater for dishes. The new ration is simply not to be compared with the previous one, which had no such variety of quality dishes," the president added. Major Oleksandr Tsvilikhovsky earlier told a briefing at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry that almost 78 tonnes of poor-quality food had been supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine since the beginning of 2018. On Wednesday, Odesa was marking the fourth anniversary of street clashes and a massive fire in the House of Trade Unions, which on May 2, 2014, killed 48 people. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine on May 1 banned entry into the country of three "hostile" individuals -- citizens of Italy, the Czech Republic and Russian Federation, who came to Ukraine to "cover" the 4th anniversary of the May 2 tragedy in Odesa. The citizens of Italy and the Czech Republic were denied crossing into Ukraine in the Boryspil International Airport based on information received from other security agencies. As reported, they have been falsely covering the events in Ukraine over the recent years, the Border Guard Service reported. "In particular, an Italian citizen under the guise of a photographer stayed in the occupied Donbas and repeatedly appeared on the so-called "Oplot TV Channel" where he voiced frankly falsified information about developments in eastern Ukraine. A citizen of the Czech Republic, who was also banned from entering Ukraine, turned out to be a journalist of a political publication. He distorted information and falsely covered the Ukrainian events as well. Of course, no one should hope for impartiality of those 'journalists' in covering the May 2 events in Odesa," the report said. Read alsoSome Russian journalists not be allowed to cover Champions League final from KyivBorder guards also denied entry to a Russian national who failed to confirm the purpose of his trip during a routine interview. The Russian arrived with two children, allegedly as a representative of a designer clothes sales firm, but in fact he turned out to be a political observer of a Russian media outlet. All three foreigners were put on return flights. As was earlier reported, on the eve of May 2, enhanced security measures were taken in Odesa as the city on Wednesday was marking the fourth anniversary of street clashes and a massive fire in the House of Trade Unions. UNIAN memo. On May 2, 2014, as a result of mass riots in Odesa involving pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian activists, 48 people were killed and nearly 300 - injured. Clashes broke out in the city center, where several people were shot. Then pro-Ukrainian activists moved to the Kulikovo field, where separatists had sent their tents. The tents caught fire and then another fire broke out in the Trade Unions' House resulting in more casualties. There are 19 suspects in a criminal case launched into the tragic events. One of them, Vladislav Ilnitsky, managed to flee to Russia in August. Shells that remained in the open area have suddenly detonated. Munitions are exploding at a military warehouse near the town of Balaklia in Kharkiv region, eastern Ukraine. Balaklia Mayor Ivan Stolbovyi confirmed the information to an UNIAN correspondent on Thursday, May 5. According to the official, the planned demolition of munitions, which could not be taken out, was being carried out at the depot today. Shells that remained in the open area have suddenly detonated. Evacuation of residents (about 1,500) people from nearby streets is underway, the mayor said. Read alsoBalaklia, nearby villages cleared from unexploded ordnance after March 23 accidentAs UNIAN reported earlier, a large-scale fire engulfed a military munitions depot in Balaklia, Kharkiv region, in the early hours of March 23, 2017. Mass detonations led to an evacuation of nearly 20,000 residents of nearby settlements. There were no casualties among the military, but one civilian woman was killed and several others were injured. Law enforcers qualified the accident as an act of sabotage. The Ukrainian government allocated UAH 100 million, or $3.8 million, to eliminate the aftermath of the incident. Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak said that about a third of munitions remained intact in the Balaklia depot. In October 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers allocated another UAH 100 million for measures to improve the security of munition storage facilities. Two firefighting tanks, an obstacle-clearing vehicle, eight fire trucks, an An-32 plane and a Mi-8 helicopter are engaged in the operation. Explosions of ammunition at a military warehouse near the town of Balaklia in Kharkiv region, eastern Ukraine, stopped as of 16:00 local time on Thursday, May 3. "The number of explosions decreased after 15:00, and no explosions were reported as of 16:12 local time," chief of the media liaison office of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant-Colonel Bohdan Senyk told Radio Liberty's Ukrainian-language service. Read alsoUkraine reveals over 15,000 fire safety violations amid large-scale inspection of public places "Comprehensive measures are being taken to extinguish the fire. [Residents from] the closest buildings have been evacuated in keeping with a decision by the local administration," he said. Two firefighting tanks, an obstacle-clearing vehicle, eight fire trucks, an An-32 plane and a Mi-8 helicopter are engaged in the operation, he said. "There were reports about alleged casualties. As of now, different sources haven't confirmed this information. There have been no military or civilian casualties," Senyk said. "There is no reason to panic," he added. "All necessary measures are being taken to safeguard local residents against the aftermath of the fire." The State Emergency Situations Service of Ukraine told UNIAN that the fire had covered about 35 hectares (ha) of the 65th Arsenal arms depot in Balaklia. The Emergency Situations Service said that the fire had been caused by ignition of dry grass, which was followed by single explosions of ammunition on an area of about 35 ha. According to the service, 37 pieces of equipment and 150 people are engaged in the elimination of the fire hazards. The arms depot in Balaklia, which survived a large-scale fire more than a year ago, late in March 2017, again caught fire on May 3, 2018. The local authorities have been evacuating about 1,500 local residents while the population of Balaklia is nearly 30,000 people. Over the past day, militants employed artillery and mortars 22 times. In the past 24 hours, three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in action as pro-Russian militants opened fire 22 times against the Ukrainian positions in Donbas. "Over the past day, May 2, the situation in the Joint Forces Operation zone remained unchanged. The fighting continued mainly in Avdiyivka and Mariupol directions," the JFO Staff wrote on Facebook. "Ukrainian units performed active defense. The enemy used artillery and mortars 22 times," the report says Read alsoJFO Commander says new operation in Donbas not aimed at escalation"Three of our soldiers were injured in combat and promptly evacuated to a hospital. Their condition is satisfactory," the JFO Staff said. According to intelligence data, over the past day, May 2, enemy casualties are four WIAs. Ukrainian soldiers did not hinder their evacuation. "Overnight Thursday, May 3, there was a relative calm along the contact line. As of 6:00 Kyiv time today, May 3, there are no casualties among our soldiers," the report said. As UNIAN reported earlier, a Ukrainian military went missing following an enemy shelling. According to Gen. Nayev, Ukraine forces will continue to fortify and upgrade defense positions along the contact line in eastern Ukraine to secure troops and hardware. Joint Forces Commander Serhiy Naiev believes that the Ukrainian Army's adversary in Donbas is insidious but at the same time predictable. Speaking at a briefing in Kramatorsk on Wednesday, Nayev said, "We are well aware of how insidious and at the same time predictable our adversary is. Therefore, all efforts will be made to strengthen positions of Ukraine's Armed Forces on the line of contact." Read alsoJoint Forces Commander vows "quick and effective" response in case of expansion of Russian aggressionHe added that the measures include mandatory upgrading and strengthening of defensive fortifications, setting up new shelters for troops and military hardware. "The Ukrainian soldiers proved their sustainability and professionalism on the battlefield, their courage and loyalty were never questioned," the Commander emphasized. The OSCE SMM sometimes records hundreds of ceasefire violations on a daily basis in the wider area surrounding the Donetsk filtration station. Chief Monitor of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) to Ukraine Ertugrul Apakan says that the ongoing failure to implement the Minsk peace agreements on Donbas, eastern Ukraine, jeopardizes the Donetsk filtration station's work. Sometimes hundreds of ceasefire violations have been recorded on a daily basis by the SMM in the wider area surrounding the Donetsk filtration station, endangering lives and jeopardizing the operation of the facility upon which more than 300,000 people on both sides of the contact line depend for drinking water, he said, the OSCE said in a statement on May 3. Read alsoOSCE SMM's Chief Monitor: Protection of civilians in Donbas must be paramount These violations are being committed, the Chief Monitor said, despite the security guarantees recently provided. He stressed that the sides had committed to a cessation of fire as far back as September 2014, and had specifically reached an understanding last year that the Donetsk filtration station and other critical civilian infrastructure facilities must be protected. Apakan stressed that civilian workers maintaining the Donetsk filtration station and the civilian monitoring officers from the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine currently facilitating their access must be protected. While the SMM continues and stands ready to further facilitate dialogue, ultimately "responsibility rests exclusively with the sides to ensure the well-being of the civilian population," the Chief Monitor said. A further 25 Moldovans are on international wanted lists in connection with the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Moldova has handed prison sentences to eight citizens for fighting on the side of pro-Russian rebels in the separatist conflict in eastern Ukraine, Moldovan General Prosecutor Eduard Harunjen said on Thursday, May 3. Those convicted face varying jail terms, Reuters said. Read alsoRussia blocks expansion of OSCE SMM mandate to border adjacent to occupied Donbas A further 25 Moldovans are on international wanted lists in connection with the conflict in eastern Ukraine, Harunjen said in parliament. According to Harunjen, Moldovans working in Russia were at ongoing risk of being drawn into the conflict, which has killed more than 10,000 people since fighting broke out in 2014. "This is when brothers, fathers and husbands go away to work in eastern countries and there they are recruited into military groups. Sometimes they die there and sometimes they come home, but their hands are bloodied," he said. Relations between Moldova and Russia are at a low ebb following tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats last year. At the time, sources told Reuters this was linked partly to attempts by Moscow to recruit fighters in Moldova for the conflict in Ukraine. Two crew were killed in the crash, the report says. A Russian Su-30SM fighter jet has crashed in Syria, the Russian defense ministry confirms. The plane went down in the Mediterranean Sea after taking off from Khmeimim Airbase Thursday morning, MK.ru reports. Two crew were killed in the crash, the report says. Preliminary reports claim a bird may have hit an engine during a take-off, according to RIA Novosti. There is no evidence at the moment that the jet has been fired upon. As UNIAN reported earlier, a Russian An26 transport plane crashed in Syria on March 6, killing all 32 people on board. McCain says it is time for America to go on the offensive in the information war with Russia. U.S. Senator John McCain wrote in his new book that America should seriously consider a cyberattack to retaliate for Russia's meddling in U.S. elections, to send a strong message to the superpower. "I'm of the opinion that unless [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is made to regret his decision he will return to the scene of the crime again and again," wrote McCain, the well-known Arizona Republican who is battling brain cancer, DefenseNews reported. The book, titled "The Restless Wave" and scheduled for a May 22 release, also touches on accusations that Russia could have compromising material related to U.S. President Donald Trump and confirms that McCain has reviewed a copy of the Steele dossier opposition research authored by an ex-British spy that includes salacious allegations about Trump and his alleged ties to Russia. Read alsoUkraine energy ministry website hit by ransomware attack media Though sanctions and trade restrictions against Putin and his friends are deterrents, "to make Putin deeply regret his assault on the foundation of our democracy free and fair elections we should seriously consider retaliating with the kinds of weapons he used," McCain wrote. "We have cyber capabilities too. They should be used to expose the epic scale of his regime's corruption or to embarrass [Putin] in other ways," McCain wrote. It's time for America to go on the offensive in the information war with Russia, McCain added. McCain, the feisty Senate Armed Services Committee chairman and arguably the most prominent defense voice of his party today, announced in book excerpts earlier this month that he will not run for re-election when his current term expires. He has been fiercely critical of Trump since the president took office early last year, particularly for not dealing harshly enough with what he perceives as a growing Russian threat. Throughout the book, McCain argues for a muscular foreign policy that embraces alliances and champions Western values as morally superior. He also refutes Trump's America First approach as "thoughtless," compounding what he sees as President Barack Obama's foreign policy mistakes. "I worry we are at a turning point, a hinge of history, and the decisions made tomorrow might be closing the door on the era of the American-led world order," McCain said. "I hope not, and it certainly isn't too late. But my time in that fight has concluded." Referring to Trump, McCain wrote: "He has declined to distinguish the actions of our government from the crimes of despotic ones. The appearance of toughness, or a reality show facsimile of toughness, seems to matter more than any of our values." (@ChaudhryMAli88) The International Monetary Fund has acknowledged Pakistan's strong GDP growth due to improved energy supply and strong credit growth WASHINGTON,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :"The International Monetary Fund has acknowledged Pakistan's strong GDP growth due to improved energy supply and strong credit growth. In its latest Regional Economic Outlook, IMF also said that additional efforts are also being made by the middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan (MENAP) countries to bolster the business environment. "Improved energy supply, investment related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and strong credit growth helped to raise Pakistan's growth to an estimated 5.6 percent in FY2018, from 5.3 last year, the IMF report noted but projected the growth to moderate to 4.7 percent in FY2019. The report also noted that upcoming elections in Pakistan, Lebanon, Mauritania and Tunisia and a more challenging political environment could slow the reform process. Stronger prospects for the euro area should benefit the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan, and Pakistan (MENAP) region, especially oil importers, through higher exports. The region should also benefit from a marginal strengthening of the outlook for China, a key partner for the region. According to the recent project, following three years of decline, exports of MENAP oil-importing countries that included Pakistan grew by 6.4 percent in 2017 and are projected to accelerate by 8.4 percent in 2018 and 8.6 percent in 2019. "This largely reflects improved external demand, greater exchange rate flexibility (Egypt, Pakistan, Tunisia), gains in competitiveness (Morocco, Tunisia), and a pickup in the prices of phosphates (Morocco, Tunisia), metals (Mauritania), and cotton (Pakistan). " In spite of higher oil prices relative to 2017, which posted strong growth in the second half, import growth is projected to slow to 4.8 percent in 2018 from 6.8 percent in 2017 and remain broadly steady around 5.5 percent over the medium term. This import compression partly reflects an anticipated slowdown in capital imports for infrastructure projects in Pakistan, Djibouti and Mauritania. Following three years of decline, exports of MENAP oil-importing countries, including Pakistan, grew by 6.4 percent in 2017 and are projected to accelerate by 8.4 percent in 2018 and 8.6 percent in 2019. This largely reflects improved external demand, greater exchange rate flexibility in Pakistan, Egypt and Tunisia and gains in competitive is some other regional countries. Exports in Pakistan also posted growth due to pickup in prices of cotton, the report said. The report said that to enhance resilience, the authorities need to continue to strengthen regulatory and supervisory frameworks in Djibouti, Mauritania, insolvency and bankruptcy regimes and Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia, and in some cases deposit insurance arrangements in Egypt and Pakistan. Overall, the global growth continued to strengthen in the second half of 2017 and is now estimated at 3.8 percent for the full year, the highest level since 2011 and 0.2 percentage point stronger than forecast in the October 2017 World Economic Outlook. The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore organised a weeklong training workshop on Evaluation of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Vaccine under a project titled Establishment of Center for Biologics Production (TCBP-FMD) LAHORE (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) The University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore organised a weeklong training workshop on Evaluation of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus Vaccine under a project titled Establishment of Center for Biologics Production (TCBP-FMD). Dr Nedret Celik, Dr Hidayat Bozoglu, Dr Muslum Kaan Arichi, Dr Pelin Tuncer Goktuna Scientists from SAP (FMD) Institute Ankara, Turkey, trained the local scientists and UVAS faculty members on production and evaluation of Foot and Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) Vaccine using mamalian cell suspension culture technology. This technology has not been previously used in Pakistan for mass scale production. Pakistani scientists also performed successful tests for FMDV vaccine matching. Previously, this kind of tests were used to be outsourced from abroad. The Turkish scientists also visited UVAS Ravi Campus Pattoki where they visited the newly-built building for Biologics Production. There is an ongoing cooperation between the ministries of Pakistan and Turkey to increase the capacity of diagnosis of FMD to exchange data on circulating viruses and to help in vaccine production in Punjab. They also held meetings with Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Talat Naseer Pasha and Secretary Livestock Punjab Naseem Sadiq and reiterated their full cooperation with the UVAS and the Punjab government. On the occasion, Secretary Livestock Naseem Sadiq and Dr Pasha thanked to Turkish experts and Turkish government to provide full support especially in the production & evaluation of FMD vaccine in Pakistan. (@rukhshanmir) Pakistan has called on the United Nations to highlight the serious violations of human rights taking place in Indian Occupied Kashmir, a call that evoked strong objections from India UNITED NATIONS,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :Pakistan has called on the United Nations to highlight the serious violations of human rights taking place in Indian Occupied Kashmir, a call that evoked strong objections from India. Speaking in a session of the UN Committee on Information, a world body's key forum, the Press Minister at the Pakistani Mission to the UN, Masood Anwar, raised the issue of Kashmir, saying that human rights violations are taking place against the oppressed Kashmiri people. "The world we live today is marred with conflict and strife while we maintain unity in fighting terrorism and extremism. Countering the narrative of this twisted ideologies is imperative," Anwar said. He said the UN's Department of Public Information (DPI) can play an important role in defusing tensions and promoting interfaith harmony. "Human rights violations in particular are a matter of serious concern to the international community," he said. He urged DPI to highlight situations where "grave violations of human rights are taking place", especially against the Rohingya, Kashmiris and Palestinians." India rejected Anwar's reference to Kashmir, saying his remarks were irrelevant to the work of the committee. "We have seen another attempt here today to make reference to issues extraneous to the agenda of the committee. We completely reject these remarks as they have no relevance to the work of the Committee," S. Srinivas Prasad, minister in the Indian mission to the UN, said during the debate. In his speech, Masood Anwar, the Pakistani delegate, also said that large movements of refugees and migrants trying to escape conflict and strife had rightly engaged the attention of and elicited the deep concern of the international community. However, situations of protracted refugee presence where persons remained displaced for decades must not be forgotten. Recalling that Pakistan had hosted millions of Afghan refugees for more than 40 years, he urged the Department to focus on such situations, also drawing attention to his country's renaissance in music, art and film. Young Pakistanis were breaking stereotypes, and society now reflected modernity and vibrancy rooted in the country's ancient civilizational roots. As Pakistan was one of the main troop contributing countries to United Nations peacekeeping operations, he said it was working with other contributors on norm building discussions including on the reform of that key United Nations enterprise and urged the Department to bolster its efforts to support that project. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif lauded the services of the firefighters, as they provide support to people during incidents of fire without caring for their lives LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif lauded the services of the firefighters, as they provide support to people during incidents of fire without caring for their lives. In his message issued here on Thursday, on the eve of International Firefighters' Day, Chief Minister said that the purpose of celebrating the day is to pay homage and tributes to the efforts of the firefighters for saving the people in need. He said that the day highlights the commitment to make comprehensive efforts to reduce the incidents of arson and their damages. He said that specialised training of fire fighters is need of the hour so that they could fully handle the incidents of fire. "This way, the extent of damage of untoward incidents can be reduced with a professionally trained firefighting force," he added. He said that it is imperative to fully implement the safety standards to save the high-rise buildings from fire. That is why the Punjab government has provided resources for giving the best training to the firefighters, he added. It is the need of the hour to give the institution of firefighting a stable footing so that the lives and property of the people could be fully saved, concluded the chief minister. (@rukhshanmir) A delegation of Industrialist Association Peshawar (IAP) called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Central Police Office (CPO) Peshawar on Thursday. PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :A delegation of Industrialist Association Peshawar (IAP) called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at Central Police Office (CPO) Peshawar on Thursday. Zahir Khattak, Malik Imran and other members included in the delegation. The members of the delegation paid rich tributes to the sacrifices of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police in line of duty against the terrorists. They recalled that the traders community and industrialist were shifting their business to other provinces a few years ago due to unabated incidents of terrorism in the province but now thanks to Al-Mighty Allah and unparalleled sacrifices of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police that the industrialists were coming back and were investing their hard earn money in the province which was an ample proof of prevailing better law and order situation. The members of the delegation demanded of establishing a separate police station in the Industrial Estate and also informed the IGP about the traffic problems confronting to the industrialist. While talking to the delegation, the IGP dwelt at length about the force strategy in combating terrorism and sacrifices rendered by the jawans for safe guarding the nation. The IGP further informed that due to day night strenuous efforts and best strategy of the police, extortions cases dwindled down to 84% while other crimes were also declying to a great extent. The IGP assured the members of the delegation that all their genuine problems would be solved on priority basis and for this purpose a comprehensive strategy would be adopted with due consultation of traders community and police force. The members of the delegation thanked the IGP for giving patient hearing to their problems and assured their full support to the police for maintenance of law and order in the province. As the holy month of Ramadan is approaching fast and mosques throughout the country are being readied to accommodate the increased number of worshippers in the holy month. ISLAMABAD, May 3 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :As the holy month of Ramadan is approaching fast and mosques throughout the country are being readied to accommodate the increased number of worshippers in the holy month. According to a report aired by private news channel, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar Calendar, when Muslims around the world fast during the daylight hours. The department of mosques, which has directed imams and muezzins to keep the place tidy and ensure adequate supply of power and water during the holy month to cater the increased number of Muslims. Improvised partitions for women will be built in mosques that do not have separate prayer halls for them.Some of the mosques are busy in replacing their carpets and others are washing them to ensure they look fresh for the holy month. An Imam of local mosque said "everyone likes to come to the mosques for prayers during the holy month and we expect a larger congregation for Taraweeh prayers". He added the holy month not only provides a good opportunity for Muslims to greet one another and but also helps them perform good deeds. Another Imam Mulana Usman said "We are making every effort to provide worshippers with a conducive environment to offer their prayers in a serene atmosphere at the mosque." Meanwhile, different tv and Radio channels are also keen to provide its viewers with coverage of Ramadan Special Transmission during the holy month. Saudi Arabia and most Arab countries are expected to sight the Moon on May 15. ISLAMABAD, May 2 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 2nd May, 2018 ) :The National Security Committee(NSC) on Wednesday directed the Water Resources Division to forcefully pursue the violations of the Indus Water Treaty by India with the World Bank since protracted inaction by the Bank was only facilitating Indian designs. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the 21st meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held at Prime Minister's House. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Miftah Ismail, Minister for Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Director General ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar, National Security Adviser Lt Gen (R) Nasser Khan Janjua and senior civil and military officials. At the outset, the Committee condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan and observed that the people of Pakistan shared the pain of their Afghan brethren and stood by them in complete solidarity in this hour of grief. The Committee noted that the Prime Minister's recent visit to Afghanistan was a very important step in strengthening the relations between the two brotherly countries. The Deputy Chairman Planning Commission briefed the meeting on the water policy approved by the Council of Common Interests on 24th April 2018, along with a water charter, which was signed by the Prime Minister and the four Chief Ministers. The Committee observed that this was a very significant achievement and if properly implemented could prove instrumental in averting the water crisis that was seriously threatening Pakistan. The Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs briefed the Committee on the economic performance of Pakistan over the last five years and the 'fast growth strategy' underlying the budget for FY 2018-19. The Committee was of the view that while the sustained five years' growth was a matter of much satisfaction, potentially destabilising factors needed to be addressed simultaneously. The Committee also reviewed the status of FATF compliance and expressed its overall satisfaction. The Secretary Interior gave a presentation to the Committee on the several initiatives towards a more facilitative visa regime being formulated by the Ministry, especially with respect to tourists, students and people traveling to Pakistan for medical care. The Committee appreciated the steps taken so far and directed the Ministry of Interior to finalize and introduce the new policy at the earliest in coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Committee reviewed the proposed administrative reforms package for Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, and directed that while finalizing the recommendations it shall be ensured that the new arrangements are in complete harmony with the aspirations of the people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Committee also reviewed the prevailing situation in the Indian Ocean Region and directed to keep a robust security posture for the maintenance of security and safeguarding national interests of Pakistan. Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Thursday stressed the need for strengthening democracy and ensuring supremacy of Parliament by working jointly to protect the country. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :Leader of the Opposition Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Thursday stressed the need for strengthening democracy and ensuring supremacy of Parliament by working jointly to protect the country. Resuming discussion on the federal budget, Khursheed Shah said only democracy could protect and strengthen Pakistan and the democracy was guarantee to strong federation. He was of the view that the government should have upheld supremacy and sovereignty of the parliament, adding that the people who run away from the parliament disappeared from the political landscape. "Pakistan is our country and it is joint responsibility to protect it. Every institution should also work in its ambit enshrined in the constitution," he said. Shah said the country could not become prosper till raising and debating various issues it has been confronting in the Parliament. He said the opposition would never accept the budget but it was our right to give point of view. He regretted that ministers always remained absent from the house proceeding and did not bother to give importance to the parliament. He said Pakistan People Party always struggled for the supremacy of the parliament and democracy in the country. However, he regretted that due importance was not being given to the parliament. The opposition leader said that the country was facing challenges like rapid increase in population, environmental degradation, water scarcity, education and health problems and stressed that there was need to revise policies to take the country forward and counter these challenges. Shah also pointed out to the water scarcity issues, saying that Pakistan had been threatened to be among water scarce countries, but no attention was being paid towards it. He also called for imposing water emergency in the country. Regarding budget, Shah alleged that despite tax-free budget, taxes worth Rs 400 billion were imposed in the budget while only Rs184 billion relief was announced. He said PPP government was severely criticized for imposing only Rs08-10 per liter levy on petroleum products by the then opposition party PML-N but now the government was going to impose Rs30 per liter levy on petroleum products. He said the government employees always paid more tax than other people. PPP led government had carried out a survey and identified three million potential tax payers but the issue was politicized. Shah said only 0.3 per cent people pay tax in the country, alleging that the government was not ready to impose taxes on elite class while poor people have continuously been over burdened. He said his party had proposed to appoint chairman Federal board of Revenue (FBR) through parliament but due to vested interest, the government was not ready to accept it. He alleged that the government borrowed trillion of rupees loans and a sum of Rs1600 billion interests was being paid on it. Shah said every party's manifesto contains welfare of poor at the top but despite enjoying five years in government, the incumbent government never bothered to fulfill their promises and commitment. He said there should be political crime act under which political parties should be tried for not fulfilling their elections commitments and promises. Shah also questioned decrease in tax collection from cigarette and tobacco industry. "Some Rs.114 billion tax was collected from cigarette in 2015 but it has reduced to Rs.79 billion in 2016-17," he said. He said that he brought this issue to the parliament and sought response of FBR or government in sharp decline in tax collection from the cigarette industry. He also question, how Rs30 billion loss would be recovered. Regarding unemployment, Shah said that the budget lack any concrete policy and plan to control unemployment in the country. He said there was also huge gap between import and export bill resulting fiscal deficit. He also criticized the government for tall claims to end power load-shedding in the country and alleged that more electricity was being pilferage in areas of Lahore Electric Supply Company than Sukkur and Hyderabad Electric Supply Companies. He also criticized the government for reducing subsidy from Rs.8 billion to Rs.5 billion on agri tube wells electricity bills in Balochistan. Shah said the losses of public sector enterprises had also surged to Rs.1200 billion from Rs.400 billion during the last five years. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Pakistan in collaboration with the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Embassy of Sweden celebrated the World Press Freedom Day here ISLAMABAD,(UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) :The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Pakistan in collaboration with the European Union, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Embassy of Sweden celebrated the World Press Freedom Day here. The event engaged 70 participants including university students, journalists and media workers, civil society organizations, government officials, UN counterparts and representatives of international community in a discussion on importance of a free and independent media. The main segment of the event was debates held on sub-themes of online speech regulation and the role of social media in the times of elections. In his welcome address, EU Ambassador Jean-Franois Cautain reminded it was the 25thanniversary of World Press Freedom Day and called for a moment of reflection. The ambassador further added, "Free press is the key to peace, free press is the key to justice, free press is the key to stable democracy. Looking at the state of press in any country is looking at how a country is doing when it comes to state of human rights and the state of democracy." Shafqat Jalil, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and Heritage, in his opening remarks acknowledged the relevance of media in context of upcoming general elections in Pakistan: "The independence of media and provision of justice are inseparable. As free media is fundamental to check misuse or abuse of power, building the capacity of journalists enables them to act as a watchdog." Neil Buhne, UN Resident Coordinator in Pakistan in his remarks pointed out that in the face of rapidly changing nature of social and mainstream media, it was important to examine how these changes could have positive or negative effects in Pakistan. He said in the light of recent attack on journalists in Kabul, press freedom was more relevant than ever. Ms. Ingrid Johansson, the Swedish Ambassador for Pakistan closed the ceremony noting that the diverse audience present at the event symbolized the universal relevance of and commitment to media freedom: "Online speech and social media has become part of everyday life and gives us unforeseen possibilities to receive and share information, yet these new media platforms also face new types of challenges. However, we must safeguard and appreciate this scrutinizing institution of media, because it makes our societies more effective and enlightened." Cambodia on Thursday dispatched 428 peacekeepers, including 24 females, to join United Nations peacekeeping missions in the African nations of Mali and South Sudan. PHNOM PENH, May 3 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd May, 2018 ) ::Cambodia on Thursday dispatched 428 peacekeepers, including 24 females, to join United Nations peacekeeping missions in the African nations of Mali and South Sudan. The troops were went as the one-year mission of the fourth batch of 309 troops to Mali and the sixth batch of the 119 troops in South Sudan comes to an end. Speaking at a departure ceremony held at the Military Airbase here, Gen. Pol Saroeun, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), said the peacekeepers included airport engineers, deminers and military medics. He advised them to strictly abide by the UN rules and disciplines, the RCAF code of ethics, and the host countries' laws. "It's necessary to create good relations with the host countries and peoples and to respect their tradition and custom," he said. Alexandre Huynh, representative of the United Nations System in Cambodia, said Mali and South Sudan were a long way from home and this mission would undoubtedly challenge the peacekeepers professionally and personally. "Your service does great honor to your country, and to Cambodia's contribution to international peace, security and friendship," he said. "The ceremony today reminds us that more than two decades ago UN peacekeeping forces were sent here. But Cambodia now sends troops and expertise to UN peacekeeping operations in many countries to bring peace and stability and to protect civilians," he said. Huynh said that since 2006, Cambodia had sent a total of 5,257 troops, including 236 females, to Sudan, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Syria, Lebanon, and Mali under the UN framework. Jordan Patik has consistently distinguished himself since joining the inaugural class of The University of Texas at Arlingtons College of Nursing and Health Innovations Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology program. Jordan Patik, left, is in the inaugural class of UTA's College of Nursing and Health Innovations Doctor of Philosophy in Kinesiology program. His mentor, Matthew Brothers, is next to Jordan. He has presented his research at five regional conferences and six national conferences. Patik, whose research interests include the role of vascular dysfunction in the risk for a variety of diseases, recently finished one study and will soon have three papers published in which he is lead author. He also has had a chance to work with faculty members from several of the colleges 12 nursing and kinesiology labs. In April, he received the Caroline tum Suden/Frances Hellebrandt Professional Opportunity Award at the Experimental Biology annual meeting in San Diego. The award comes with a $500 check and free conference registration. The doctoral kinesiology program was launched with 11 students in Fall 2016. Now Patik is poised to become its first graduate after just two years. Patik, who defended his dissertation on April 9, transferred to UTA after his mentor, Matthew Brothers, an associate professor of kinesiology, took a job at the College. Brothers is also the director of the colleges Integrative and Vascular Physiology Laboratory. Patik studied under Brothers as a masters student. The two share a mutual interest in vascular dysfunction and disease. Jordan was not only a great student but a great researcher from a graduate student perspective, Brothers said. He saw the vision and thought UTA would be a great place to grow and get expertise from many leaders in the field. Anne Bavier, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Innovation, said Patik personifies the kind of vision and excellence in scholarship for which the college is rapidly becoming known around the country. Four years ago, the PhD in kinesiology program was a blank slate, she said. Now we are not only producing our first graduate but sending someone out into the academic world who has proven time and again through his presentations, awards and soon-to-be published work that he is one of the best. As part of his research, Patik examines diseases like hypertension, stroke, diabetes and Alhzheimers and their link to vascular dysfunction. He focuses on two populations that are at risk for vascular dysfunction: African-Americans and the obese. The college has a wonderful collaborative approach between professors and graduate students that works really well, Patik said. I have been exposed to a vast array of research opportunities at UTA. I have worked with professors from several of the colleges labs. This type of collaboration has helped me grow personally and professionally and set me up for a promising career. Upon graduation, Patik will work as a postdoctoral research scientist at the University of Delaware. Pope Francis has told Nigerian Catholic Bishops who visited him, last Thursday that he is praying for Nigerians in the face of mounting insecurity. Paul Samasumo Vatican city Pope Francis urges Nigerian Bishops to be courageous Pope Francis told Nigerian Catholic Bishops who visited him, last Thursday, in what is known as an Ad limina Visit, that he is praying for Nigerians in the face of mounting insecurity in that country. This is according to the Archbishop of Lagos, Alfred Adewale Martins who spoke to Vatican News. The Holy Father was particularly saddened by the recent attack on St Ignatius Catholic Parish, Mbalom in Gwer West, Local Government Council of Benue state. Last week, on Tuesday, suspected herdsmen stormed the Church and killed 18 persons, including two priests. Several parishioners were injured. Nigerian Bishops believe that terrorists and mercenaries have infiltrated the Fulani herdsmen to cause insecurity and mayhem in the Middle Belt of the country. Nigeria is at the same time battling a nine-year-old insurgency by Boko Haram Islamist militants, in the north-east. Lagos Archbishop says that during the Bishops visit to Pope Francis, they felt his closeness to the people of Nigeria. He said that we should be courageous particularly with regard to the recent troubles (and) with regard to terrorists that masquerade as herdsmen. (The Holy Father) told us to tell our people that he is with us in spirit and he is praying for us, Archbishop Martins said. Pope Francis told Bishops they could criticise him Archbishop Martins praised Pope Francis openness and willingness to listen. He said to us that we could tell him whatever it is that we needed to say even if it meant criticising him. I thought that was very, very interesting that we have a man that is open and ready to listen, said the Lagos prelate. Bishops invite Pope Francis to visit Nigeria The Bishops have invited Pope Francis to visit Nigeria and hope that he accepts their invitation. If he does, it would be a big boost to the African continents most populous nation. Pope Saint John Paul II visited Nigeria in 1998 In 1998, Pope Saint John Paul II made a second Apostolic Voyage to Nigeria during a turbulent period. The countrys president at the time was the military ruler, General Sani Abacha. During the three-day visit to Nigeria, Pope John Paul II repeatedly challenged Abachas military government to respect human rights and work towards national reconciliation. In an extraordinary gesture, Pope John Paul II handed to Abachas government a list of 60 names comprising political prisoners and journalists who were languishing in Nigerian prisons. The Holy Sees Secretary of State at the time, Cardinal Angelo Sodano gave the list to Nigerian Foreign Minister, Tom Ikimi, asking that clemency be extended to those arrested for opposing Abacha. Asked about the names on the list, Vatican officials stated only that it included all the names best known to the public." Nigerias famous political prisoner at the time was Moshood Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 elections annulled by the military. While in Nigeria, John Paul II beatified Cyprian Michael Flash floods have displaced nearly 175,000, leaving them more vulnerable to malnutrition and diseases such as Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) and cholera. By Robin Gomes Almost 500,000 people are hit by devastating floods in central Somalia, with high risk of malnutrition and epidemics, Save the Children charity group and United Nations agencies in the country have warned. Families displaced by drought and near-famine conditions last year are now on the move again, with catastrophic flash flooding displacing nearly 175,000, leaving them more vulnerable to malnutrition and diseases such as Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) and cholera. According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the current floods are some of the worst the region has ever seen, and the current water level exceeds a 50-year return period in most locations. Yngvil Foss, the deputy head at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Somalia said that UN relief agencies have been able to raise funding over the past week to scale up critical interventions. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) delivered 4.5 million metric tons of medicines and other medical supplies to Belet Weyne, the capital of the hard hit HirShabelle province, on 29 April. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General told reporters in New York on Monday that humanitarian partners on the ground have prioritized water, sanitation, hygiene, [health,] shelter and food response in their interventions. Save the Children has distributed 12,000 sandbags this week, and is providing clean and safe drinking water to 7,000 households. The aid agency is also constructing 90 emergency latrines to address a lack of sanitation facilities and to prevent disease outbreaks in and around Belet Weyne. Local Church Giada Aquilino of Vatican News contacted Bishop Giorgio Bertin of Djibouti who is also Apostolic Administrator of Mogadiscio Diocese, in Somalia, to know more about the ground situation in the country. Bishop Bertin said that people living along the rivers Webi Shabelle and Webi Jubba are badly hit. Areas in lower Webi Jubba, he said, had been earlier hit by drought in the previous years, which combined with the insecurity situation caused by Islamist extremists had displaced many. These people had taken refuge particularly near Belet Weyne, Kismayo and other towns in lower areas of river Jubba. Bishop Bertin said that the situation has exacerbated with heavy rains in Somalia and Ethiopia, because both rivers come from Ethiopia and flow through Somalia into the Indian Ocean. Bishop Bertin said that the local Church was doing its best the assist the affected people. It was collaborating with other local organizations to provide food, especially in around Belet Weyne. Several WWE superstars made their return in these past few weeks after being sidelined for months due to injuries. One of those is the miraculous return of Daniel Bryan, who hasnt been medically cleared to wrestle for years. The recent Superstar Shake-Up also saw the returns of other top stars such as Jeff Hardy, Big Cass and Samoa Joe. Who else is most likely to return soon? Tamina Snuka Tamina Snuka has not been seen in a WWE ring since getting eliminated by Lita at the first ever Women's Royal Rumble. A torn Rotator Cuff has kept Tamina on the sidelines for some time now. It was last March 13 that she tweeted a photo of her arm in a sling with the caption: Last day of being in this arm sling!!! Finally...time for the next level. Tamina has struggled to stay healthy in her recent years. Whether it's her age catching up with her, a return for Tamina would most likely be her last run with the company. As for the timetable of her return, fans should expect to see Tamina again around SummerSlam season. Jason Jordan Jason Jordan has not been seen on TV since the beginning of February. His promising push was derailed with a critical injury to his neck. Jordan had to undergo neck surgery which ruined WWEs huge plans for him. He was rumored to face former tag team partner Seth Rollins at WrestleMania this year but the feud had to be put on hold. Wrestling Observer Newsletter reports that Jordan was supposed to make an appearance at this year's WrestleMania but was nowhere to be seen. Now that Chad Gable is on Raw, fans are screaming a future American Alpha reunion. Kurt Angle's projected timetable while talking to Chad Gable on Raw is six months meaning Jordan isn't expected to return until around SummerSlam but with Backlash just around the corner, there possibly are plans being made. Dean Ambrose Dean Ambrose's tricep injury last December is what halted huge plans for SHIELD 2.0. Ambrose has recently undergone medical evaluation with the WWE doctors on the status of his recovery. Ambrose could be making a big return at SummerSlam but if not then, September might be the latest. Rumor has it that Dean has been working on changes to his in ring persona. This might be that imminent heel turn but unlike Tamina, this injury will definitely have a bearing when it comes to his position on the card. Did we miss anyone on the injured list? Let us know in the comments below. For more Wrestling news, click here for the latest updates. Vegans, Baby, Las Vegas only comprehensive guide to vegan living in Las Vegas, will launch its inaugural Vegans, Baby Vegan Food Tour on Saturday, June 2. As the vegan dining scene in Las Vegas continues to grow exponentially and put the city on the map for its plant-based options, the latest vegan attraction will take participants on a three-hour guided tour to some of Downtowns most vegan-friendly restaurants. I am constantly asked where to go for amazing vegan food in Las Vegas, explains Vegans, Baby Founder Diana Edelman. After the release of the Las Vegas Vegan Food Guide, I decided the next logical step would be to actually take people to some of the places I recommend in the book and also highlight other restaurants that are working hard to cater to the plant-based community. The first tour includes stops at five restaurants in Downtown Las Vegas, including a dessert collaboration from two of Downtowns most popular spots, DonutBar and VegeNation. Ive handpicked the restaurants on the Downtown Vegans, Baby Vegan Food Tour and love every item being served, Edelman said. The tour is for people who are vegan, but also for those who simply want to eat really good food. I want people on the tours to see how fun and flavorful vegan food can be. I certainly encourage those who arent vegan to give it a try, the dishes are that good. Edelman plans on running the Downtown tour biweekly on Saturdays starting in July and will also provide special tours by request for parties of seven or more. Later this summer, Vegans, Baby Vegan Food Tours will expand to The Strip to highlight vegan-friendly restaurants in select properties. The Vegans, Baby Vegan Food Tour is just the start, says Edelman. Im eager to kick off Strip tours in the near future and offer even more opportunities for people to see how dynamic the vegan dining scene is in Las Vegas, as well as raise awareness about the restaurants in the resorts that are working to cater to this growing audience. A UN-sponsored Khmer Rouge tribunal in Cambodia is currently trying two surviving former Khmer Rouge leaders, Khieu Samphan and Nuon Chea. After its inception 12 years ago the tribunal has sentenced one mid-level leader to life in prison. Critics say the tribunal has moved too slowly. But a former judge at the tribunal shared a different view on the courts work. Marcel Lemonde, who served as the International Co-Investigating Judge at the tribunal from 2006 to 2010, sat down in April 2018 for an interview with VOA Khmer reporter Men Kimseng in Paris, France. As the world celebrated Press Freedom Day on Thursday, the mood among Cambodian journalists was subdued following a months-long crackdown on dissent in the media. The theme of this years event was Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law, and special attention was given to the role of the judiciary in ensuring journalists and media organizations are protected from prosecution for doing their job, according to the United Nations. "On World Press Freedom Day 2018, I call on governments to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists. Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth, Antonio Guterres, United Nations secretary-general, was quoted as saying on UNs website. According to a recent Reporters Without Borders (RSF) report, Cambodias independent media has been left in ruins by a government-led crackdown on the political opposition, civil society and the media ahead of Julys general election. Cambodia placed 142nd out of 180 countries in this years World Press Freedom Index, which said the country seems dangerously inclined to take the same path as China after closing dozens of independent media outlets and plunging ten places, one of the biggest falls in the region. Prime Minister Hun Sens regime launched a ruthless offensive against media freedom in 2017, shutting down more than 30 independent media outlets and jailing several journalists in a completely arbitrary manner. His suppression of independent voices, his increased dominance of the mass media and his meticulous control of social media is a disturbing echo of the methods used in China, which has invested millions of euros in Cambodias pro-government media, the report reads. "On World Press Freedom Day 2018, I call on governments to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists." The Crackdown In September, the leader of Cambodias main opposition party, the Cambodia National Rescue Party, was jailed and the CNRP dissolved for alleged involvement in a plot to overthrow Hun Sen. In September, the Cambodia Daily newspaper was closed after the government handed it a hefty tax bill. Days later, Radio Free Asia (RFA) closed its Phnom Penh office under government pressure over tax. In November, two former RFA reporters, Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin, were charged with espionage. Two former Cambodia Daily reporters -- Aun Pheap, 54, a veteran Cambodian journalist and his Canadian colleague, Zsombor Peter -- have also been charged with inciting a crime for asking questions about voting habits. Pheap has since fled the country and has been granted refugee status by the United Nations. Pheap denies the charges, saying this is just an excuse to mistreat us. There are some higher people who pushed that lawsuit. Voice of Democracy, an opposition-friendly news outlet that gained popularity since the 2013 election, which saw the CNRP gain a large minority of seats in parliament, has also stopped broadcasting. Pa Nguon Teang, executive director of the Cambodian Center for Independent Media (CCIM), which runs VOD, said the stations owners did not offer explanations as to why VODs programs were dropped. Teang has been charged in a separate case and also fled the country last year. Min Pov, VODs news editor, still runs the publication via the groups Facebook page, which has more than 900,000 likes. But he says his reporters are taking extra precautions to avoid a backlash from the authorities. Some stories are kept aside and not reported, said Pov, 34, who has worked with VOD for nearly 10 years. This is because of sensitivity. Both the political situation and media crackdown have alarmed experts, NGOs workers, and analysts. They dont dare to comment like before, he said. They just speak off-the-record, not on the record. Most Cambodian media are directly or indirectly controlled by the government, giving the ruling party and Hun Sen a pass on most issues. Family Concerns Phak Seangly, a reporter with the Phnom Penh Post, said the current outlook was not good for news outlets who were critical of the government. I have many stories in hand, but the election is approaching so we have to be careful and pay attention to our safety, he said. No-one stops us from reporting, but due to the situation, I myself feel a need to step back from reporting very critically. Seangly added that, like many Cambodian journalists, his family had become increasingly concerned over his safety and had suggested he looked for another career, but he could not leave a job he had invested so much in and believed in. I am happy reporting about forests, logging... I want the media to serve the public, no the parties or powerful individuals, he said. Chhiev Hong, Seanglys wife, said she was very worried for her husbands safety. We dont know whether his writing affects other people or not. And if he goes to the provinces, I cant sleep, waiting up for him, wondering what time hell get back, she said. We cant stop him, but we are more worried than before. Under Watchful Eyes Evidence of increased government surveillance of journalists is not hard to come by. On a recent reporting trip to Battambang province, a team of VOA reporters was followed by police while conducting interviews with former CNRP officials. At one point, the police interrupted an interview and requested identification cards, saying they were concerned that people are coming here to cheat villagers. Some stories are kept aside and not reported. Another group of police officers following the VOA team filmed reporters as they conducted interviews with a local commune chief and requested a letter stating the purpose of the reporting trip. From Pen to Plowshares Many journalists have left the profession, fearing imprisonment if they continue their work. In the pouring rain on Thursday, hundreds of Cambodian troops and military engineers bid farewell to Cambodia at a ceremony as they departed for yet another United Nations peacekeeping mission in war-torn Mali and South Sudan. More than 400 troops from three army engineering, demining and military police units, who are set to leave Cambodia early Friday morning, were honored by a series of military musical performances that could be heard beyond Pochentong airbase. The new deployment comes after two attacks on Cambodian peacekeepers in the past twelve months by guerrilla forces and militiamen in the host countries. A deadly ambush in the Central African Republic on a traveling convoy of Cambodian troops took place in May last year, killing four of the countrys peacekeepers. Another attack in Mali in March saw a Cambodian base shelled, destroying the troops logistics equipment but causing no casualties. But despite its troops have been increasingly under attack, Cambodia continues to remain committed to take part in the U.N.s peacekeeping mission and vowed to send more troops, Royal Cambodian Armed Forces commander-in-chief Pol Saroeun said. Although Cambodian troops have recently been attacked by rebel forces in Mali, Cambodia is not backing down and is absolutely struggling to sacrifice our flesh and blood, being committed to sending more troops in contribution to the peacekeeping mission under the framework of the United Nations in the cause of global peace and humanity, Gen. Saroeun said. The commitment expressed by the countrys top military officer echoed a statement by Prime Minister Hun Sen soon after the attack in March. Gen. Saroeun, who previously warned of violent retaliation against anti-government protesters, also said his forces would eliminate the opposition ahead of the July poll for the sake of peace. Thus, in the cause of strongly protecting peace, its foundation, political stability, and the harmonization of the society, Cambodia has been required to take a serious legal action to successfully obstruct a trick to exercise the Color Revolution by the former opposition party that was attempting to topple the legitimate government, he said. Since 2006, Cambodia has sent more than 5,000 troops to serve in U.N. peacekeeping missions in Africa and the Middle East, according to the U.N. statistics, with more than 800 troops currently posted abroad. A U.N. representative at the ceremony on Thursday did not directly address the security concerns for the Cambodian peacekeepers on U.N. missions but praised their commitment to their duties abroad. With your departure today, you are entering a community of nations united in the quest for peace and a better future for all, said Alexandre Huynh, a U.N. representative presiding over the ceremony. In this role you will [not only] be soldiers of Cambodia, but [also] the citizens of the world. Your dedication to helping others and sharing your skills will say that your professionalism and good conduct will be a source of inspiration to many. The Thursday event was concluded with a swearing-in of the troops and a brief parade. On the sidelines of the event, Sao Lyna, a military nurse whose mission to Mali would be her second deployment, said that nothing would stymie her commitment to the mission. Of course, there have been attacks from the rebels [in Mali]. But my fellow colleagues and I are flexible and fast to ensure no danger. Our morale remains strong, brave, and we will never deviate from our assigned service and responsibility, she said. And yes, we are highly committed. Thats why we return to the mission another time. For military police officers like Uch Dararoth, the repeated missions abroad have become normal. Departing for the mission this time, I feel normal due to previous experiences I have had. Yes, there have been attacks from the rebels, but I do not feel any kind of worry since I get used to it. But for the troops family members at home, concerns are constant. Yun Seak, whose husband is departing for the demining mission, said she had to be supportive for her spouse. I am always concerned and fearful for my husbands situation because things are unpredictable in the field and some people may come and mistreat [the troops], so I worry as I sleep at night, she said, before leaving for home in Kampots Kampong Trach district. Sphere apartments Cleveland The former Chesterfield apartments, now called Sphere, in downtown Cleveland are set for renovations after being acquired by a Canadian residential developer. (Michelle Jarboe/The Plain Dealer) CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The former Chesterfield apartments, a once-tony downtown Cleveland address that recently has been a relative lagger in the hot rental market, has been sold to a Canadian residential developer. An affiliate of Marlin Spring, a Toronto-based company, acquired the property at 1801 E. 12th St. in a deal that closed April 23, according to public records. The seller was Metropolitan Properties of America, Inc., a Boston real estate investment firm that had owned the building for 30 years. Property records didn't reveal a purchase price for the 407-unit building, which MPA renamed Sphere a few years ago. But public filings show that Marlin Spring secured a $35.9 million mortgage, indicating that the property might have sold for $45 to $48 million. MPA paid $10.3 million for the Chesterfield in 1988. Cuyahoga County values the building at just under $8.6 million. Marlin Spring, a developer of high-end condos and townhouses in Canada with apartment investments in a few U.S. cities, didn't respond to interview requests. The 407-unit apartment building opened in 1967 and was one of downtown's most prestigious addresses. A local apartment company, the NRP Group, has stepped in to manage the building. NRP wouldn't talk about the transaction. A principal at Vocon, the Cleveland architecture firm that Marlin Spring has hired to oversee renovations, declined to comment. Occupancy at Sphere is hovering in the low- to mid-80 percent range. At the end of last year, apartment occupancy downtown was 93 percent, according to a report from the nonprofit Downtown Cleveland Alliance. Over the past decade, the building has been beset with tenant complaints, critical online reviews and, at times, code violations. Matthew Wolf, a local architect who started working with MPA on renovation plans in 2013, recently asked the city to renew a long-languishing construction permit to allow a planned conversion of second-floor office space at Sphere into apartments. In a phone interview, Wolf said that MPA completed limited updates at Sphere. But he expects Marlin Spring to do something much more dramatic. "There's a long history of stupidity with this project. ... I have every indication to suggest that this new group is not anything like that," he said. "They seem, pointedly, that they're going to turn the building around and give it its much-needed renovation." Completed in 1967, the Chesterfield is old enough to be eligible for federal tax credits for historic preservation, to assist with the costs of a renovation project. The building also sits in the in-the-works Erieview historic district. Once that district is established, it will be easier for the Chesterfield and other nearby buildings to access federal tax credits and to qualify for state historic tax credits. New U.S. Secretary of State Mike Popmeo says there is "an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of history on the Korean peninsula" with President Donald Trump planning to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. I underscore the word opportunity; we are in the beginning stages of the work and the outcome is certainly yet unknown, Pompeo said after his ceremonial swearing in at the State Department Wednesday. Trump was in attendance. Pompeo said the Trump administration will not repeat the mistakes of the past, adding, Our eyes are wide open. He said "We are committed to the permanent, verifiable, irreversible dismantling of North Koreas weapons of mass destruction program and to do so without delay." Trump made his first visit to the State Department Wednesday for the ceremonial swearing-in. "Mike is a true American patriot," Trump said as he praised Pompeo. "I have no doubt that you will make America proud as our nations chief diplomat." Pompeo has vowed to bring back the swagger to the State Department. The United States diplomatic corps needs to be in every corner, every stretch of the world, executing missions on behalf of this country, and it is my humble, noble undertaking to help you achieve that, said Pompeo Tuesday while speaking to personnel who gathered as he arrived for his first full day at the State Department. WATCH: Pompeo Sees Chance to 'Change the Course of History on the Korean Peninsula' Thomas Hill, of the Washington-based Brookings Institution said I would say he needs to go further than restore, but I would say he needs to modernize the department, while also fighting the interagency battles that will inevitably come about. As well as just dealing with the problems of normal, international diplomacy: Iran, North Korea, Russia, etc. The former CIA director takes the helm of the State Department after Trump's decision to fire then-secretary of state Rex Tillerson in March, hours after Tillerson had returned from a trip to Africa. Unlike with Tillerson, Trump is said to have a close working relationship with Pompeo. Mike Pompeo is someone who I think has the close ear of the president, said Nile Gardiner of the conservative-leaning Washington-based research institution, The Heritage Foundation. Pompeo took selfies with several State Department employees Tuesday, vowing to reach out to as many staff members as possible. Ill spend as little time on the 7th floor and meet people in many parts of this organization, he said. A U.S. foreign service officer, who did not want to be named, told VOA he hopes Pompeos experiences in Congress, the U.S. military, and the intelligence community highlight that the United States faces real adversaries abroad, and that the [State] Department's career employees are resources - not the enemy. Tillerson was under fire at the State Department for leaving many senior vacancies unfilled and proposing dramatic budget cuts, lowering the morale of the diplomatic workforce. Pompeo, who was confirmed last week, boarded a plane just hours after being sworn in Thursday, traveling to the NATO foreign ministerial meeting in Brussels. He continued on to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Jordan. I do think he is going to be a far bigger presence on the world stage than Rex Tillerson was, said The Heritage Foundations Gardiner. And while Tillerson brought just one reporter on his first foreign trip to Asia, Pompeo left Washington with six journalists on his plane last week. Pompeo picked up two more reporters as he continued his overseas trip to the Middle East, before returning to Washington on Monday. I think I have the record for the longest trip on the first day of work, Pompeo joked on Tuesday. WASHINGTON __ Editors note: David P. Chandler, widely known as the preeminent historian of Cambodia, recently received a prestigious career achievement award from the Association of Asian Studies, a U.S.-based academic organization. The emeritus professor at Monash University has written six books on the history of Cambodia, including A History of Cambodia and Brother No. 1: A Political Biography of Pol Pot. Chandler was in Washington DC two months ago to receive the award and attend the groups annual conference. The 85-year-old scholar sat down March 24 with VOA Khmers Hong Chenda and discussed challenges Cambodia currently is facing. Her interview was the second VOA Khmer interview conducted with Chandler that day. The first can be read here. This interview is edited for length and clarity. You are one of the most respected historians studying Cambodia. If you were to write another history book about Cambodia, how would you describe the current Cambodian situation? "I think the political scene has contracted and its become less open to a positive change, or you can say democratization, or whatever word you want to use." Well, I am possibly going to have a contract to write a 5th edition of my A History of Cambodia. The new edition, if I go ahead with it, and I think I probably will, is going to be different from the 4th edition. I am going to expand and deepen the Angkor chapter because the archaeological work has been wonderful, the work in the last 10 years. There has been a big leap with the Lidar. There have been big leaps of knowledge about Angkor. The other thing that has got to be changed, as you suggest, is the last chapter, because that will be Cambodia from 79 till now, thats the [past] 30 years. I try to avoid making too many political judgments. I certainly try to avoid making predictions, because Im not equipped to predictas anybody isnt, except maybe some magiciannobody can predict what is going to happen. I havent written it yet, I havent thought it through, but I have a feeling that the closing pages of that last chapter, which would take you to 2018, 2019, whenever I finish writing the book, would be more pessimistic than the last paragraphs were in the 4th edition, where I just saw more possibilities for positive political change in Cambodia. Which doesnt mean regime change, but just opening up and liberalizing and so on. I saw more of them in 2005, when I wrote the last edition, than I do now. I think the political scene has contracted and its become less open to a positive change, or you can say democratization, or whatever word you want to use. Is what is happening now in Cambodia a repeat of its own history? "Its never had an open opposition, its never been a multi-party country; thats not a system that Cambodians are accustomed to." Cambodia has had an authoritarian government since Angkorian times, or pre-Angkorian. Its never had an open opposition, its never been a multi-party country; thats not a system that Cambodians are accustomed to. Not that some Cambodians wouldnt want to have one, but they have not had one. They have no history of a democratically elected government. Its just going to be more difficult over the next few years, thats what Im going to suggest, to predict: That it will be more difficult. I cant see whos around to pull it back from some of the tendencies that its displaying at the moment. Whos the leadership who is going to alter that behavior? No one is influential enough or has enough leverage to do that. I dont think the Cambodian government should be punished for its behavior, as some people are saying, because if you punish the Cambodian government for authoritarianism, youve really got to punish every government in Southeast Asia, and the United States is not willing to do that because they have more powerful interests in, say, the Philippines or Thailand or Indonesia than they do in Cambodia, which is a small country. In your view, do you think there will be a change in Cambodia in the near future or in the long term? I hope in the long term, but I cant predict, and I dont see what its going to be. As somebody once wrote, in the long term were all dead. We dont know. I cant say what changes might [occur], because it depends on what changes take place in Asia or elsewhere. I dont see the world getting to be an easier place to live in. There are going to be too many people, not enough water, terrible climate conditions, not enough food. I cant see it becoming a nicer place to be, for my grandchildren, for example. I dont see those changes coming in Cambodia any faster than anywhere else. You said before that you dont believe in electoral politics in Cambodia. So are you saying that Cambodian people are not the owners of their own fate? Oh no, I wouldnt go that far. Cambodia has become a very prosperous country. Many Cambodians are profiting from this and have a much more comfortable life than they had before. This is not connected in their minds with electoral politics at all. I think much of the world is that way. I think people dont think about politics as much as people like VOA or me would like to think they do. They think about how comfortable they are, how comfortable their children are, what kind of education they are getting, how much money they have, and if thats all improved, as it has in the last 15 years for the middle class in Cambodia, not just the very rich, but the middle class, its unlikely that theyre going to say, Wow weve got to change the form of the government, because it all goes alongHun Sen says it all goes alongwith his form of government. Nobodys there to contradict it and say, No, its not. Who knows? You cant put a cost to it. How about people in the lower class who dont get benefits like people in the middle class? Well theyve never had benefits. Theyre worse off now than they were before. We have inequality of the very rich and the very poor all over the world. Its like pulling a piece of rubber. At the top, a few have got a lot more than they used to have, the poor have not enough more. Cambodiawhen I was there years and years ago, in the 1960s, Cambodians didnt see more than maybe $500 a year. But they had clean water, they owned their land, they had crops that could feed [them], they were well-fed. They would have lives that were more stable than they are today. Now they are impoverished and they have TVs, but they dont have security. "Where economies change, the poor people always lose out." They were secure, these people. They were not being thrown off their land in those days. So now you just have tremendous inequality. I think some people see that. In the past, in other countries, this has led to rebellions, but thats not going to happen in Cambodia. Its too late. Nobodys got any arms anyway. This discontent is also happening in the United States; people who are at the lower edges are saying, This isnt fair. Were being mistreated. Its happening all over the world. Its happening in Cambodia. Theyre the ones who never benefit from these things. The industrial poor of Britain, today or [in the] Industrial Revolution, is another one. Where economies change, the poor people always lose out. Could you discuss the challenges that Cambodia is facing right now? What are the biggest challenges? I just think every year the opportunities for opening and for joining a diminishing group of democratically elected countries is getting less likely. You cant ask them to imitate Vietnam or Thailand or Burma or even Malaysia or the Philippinesthese are all dictatorships. They all are countries where the dictators are happy. I dont think currently the Cambodian regime is the worst. Brunei is completely one-man ruled for about 20 or 30 years. So, theres nowhere to imitate and why should they imitate a Western country? The Western countries dont imitate them. Cambodia cant become, say, America or Denmark. They dont have a tradition of that. Theres more discontent in Cambodia now than there used to be, but I dont see [how] it can produce results that these people want. Thats why I am pessimistic. What drives a leader to fear being replaced? Well, the main thing in Cambodia, I think hes fearful of something happening to him if he were replaced. He would not go into an opposition partythis is your prime minister. Hes scared something would happen to him if he got taken off the throne. Anytime there was any kind of change of government in Cambodiayou know, the Lon Nol government was condemned to death. When the Khmer Rouge came in, they condemned the Lol Nol regime to death. When people were on the Thai frontier, they condemned Khmer Rouge to death. The Vietnamese did that. You dont say, Oh, you used to be in charge, come join me in a two-party system. They say, You used to be in charge and now were in charge and well condemn you to death. Its the history. Now, this is scary for someone who is in power and who people dont like. Are you saying that because those leaders have committed something wrong? No, I didnt say that they committed something wrong, but loyal opposition is not a phrase that exists in Cambodia. I am not going to get too much into Cambodian politics, but Sam Rainsy never suggested, When I come to power, Id welcome Hun Sen in an opposition party. He has had long experience in the country. I welcome his advice. He never came up with a sentence like that. [Instead he said], When I am in power, I am in power. I know there were some negotiationsthis is years agothere were negotiations behind the scene between Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy: If you came in, what would you do? They were working on an amnesty arrangement. Never worked it out to Hun Sens satisfaction. They didnt work out any system where you could have a peaceful transition of government. Its not a Cambodian tradition. Its just not a tradition. In your view, what will a future transition of power in Cambodia be like? I have no idea. I really dont have a view for that, the future of Cambodia. I cannot make predictions.I am not authorized. I am not a Cambodian. I dont know what would happen. I am not sure. Its a penetrating question but I cant answer it. I just dont know how to answer it, not that I dont want to answer it. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani launched long-delayed electronic citizen ID cards Thursday, but his governing partner, Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah, boycotted the ceremony and questioned the legitimacy and timing of the process. The president and first lady Rula Ghani, along with several top officials, received their ID cards, locally known as e-tazkiras, marking the formal rollout at a special ceremony in Kabul. The existing national ID cards are made of paper and, officials say, are highly prone to tampering and fraud. President Ghani reiterated those concerns at Thursdays ceremony. An important reason for launching this card is that terrorists have taken advantage of the paper ID card, endangering security of all our countrymen, and protecting lives and property of Afghans is the fundamental responsibility of the government, Ghani said. Ghani also said the digitized national ID card is an essential and crucial step toward better governance, economic development, transparency and delivery of services. Not everyone is happy with the electronic card. The document identifies its holder as Afghan, which some critics say is used to denote the countrys majority ethnic Pashtuns. However, President Ghani, an ethnic Pashtun, defended the card, saying it represents every Afghan ethnic group. Some within the Dari-speaking Tajiks, the country's second largest ethnic group, are leading the opposition to the new ID cards. Shortly after Ghani introduced the digitized cards, Chief Executive Abdullah, also a Tajik, addressed a news conference to reiterate his reservations and rejected what he said was a one-sided decision. The reason I have not participated in distribution of e-tazkiras is that I know this process lacks legitimacy and support from the Afghan people... It will lead to to crisis and more problems, Abdullah warned. Abdullah, however, went on to say he was not among those questioning the use of the term "Afghan" on the new card. "I as an Afghan am proud of my identity as a Muslim and Afghan. I know there are individuals and groups that are preaching the message that I am against certain words being mentioned in e-tazkira. This is completely false." Abdullah explained he was not opposed to electronic ID cards for Afghans but the timing of its launching was not right. President Ghani had intended to enable Afghans to use e-tazkira cards in the October 20 parliamentary and district council elections to deter fraud and rigging. But the plan was abandoned in the wake of technical delays and political differences over including ethnicity and nationality on the card. Afghan voters will be using the old paper cards for the October polls. The ruling Republican party of Armenia has indicated it will support the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyans bid to become the interim Prime Minister in a parliamentary vote scheduled for May 8. The decision follows weeks of protests that forced the resignation of former Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and culminated in blockades and strikes. Republicans had blocked Pashinyans bid to become prime minister in a parliamentary vote on Tuesday, bringing protesters back onto the streets. Pashinyan called a halt to the demonstrations Thursday as all sides try to negotiate a political solution. Speaking Thursday, the Republicans deputy head, Armen Ashotyan, told reporters that his party would support Pashinyans candidacy, so long as he won at least a third of the votes in parliament. We had two criteria to assist any candidate. The first is a necessary threshold of the signatures, amount of signatures, and the second is to calm down the situation on the streets, not blocking the interstate roads, airports, etcetera. So, the man who could cope with this criteria is considered to be Nikol Pashinyan and in case before 8 May he keeps these two criteria as promised, as agreed, we will assist his election. If the May 8 vote fails to elect a prime minister, parliament will be dissolved and fresh elections will be called. The protests erupted last month after Sargsyan was accused of manipulating the constitution to cling to power, fueled by frustration over poverty, corruption and poor governance. The protests have been largely non-violent and appear on the verge of forcing a change of government. I have a feeling that Im in another, new Armenia. And I am certain that the new government, the new leader will try to do his best for the people to have a decent living, 40-year-old builder and Yerevan resident Seyran said Thursday. The protesters lack any grand strategy but instead have used their power to demand change, says Lilit Gevorgyan of risk analysts IHS Markit. The next stage will be looking into the electoral law, to change it to make sure that the parties are real parties. Following that, there is an even bigger problem or obstacle or battle, and that will be holding free and fair elections, said Gevorgyan. Opposition leader Pashinyan has been the figurehead of the protests, but it is a grassroots revolution, argues Gevorgyan. People came out simply to protest and say that, we dont care whos leading this movement, but we want to say that the system is failing to meet the basic needs of the state. Inability to rein in oligarchs, close the wealth gap, deal with the fact that every third Armenian is earning two dollars per day and is below the poverty line, said Gevorgyan. Outside Yerevan, that poverty is starkly evident. Sixty kilometers (37 miles) north lies the village of Lusagyugh. Locals say there is no work, only subsistence farming. A third of the houses are empty as families have gone abroad for work, mainly to Russia. WATCH: Armenia Protest Leader on Course to Become Prime Minister Among them was 20-year-old Samwel Zakaryan, who left his home village last year. Now he's back and studying at a technical school in Yerevan and he has barely missed a day of the protests. Many people participate in protests. I participate, too. Today I didnt have time. Otherwise, I participate every day. We go to Yerevan and come back. Most of my friends are there now, Zakaryan said. Their protests could be about to put the opposition leader into the most powerful office of state. But with political and legal hurdles to overcome, analysts say this is likely the opening battle for Armenias future. Bangladesh would consider an out-of-court settlement with a bank in the Philippines over $81 million stolen from its accounts in New York by hackers who wired the money to Manila, Bangladesh central bank officials said on Thursday. In one of the world's biggest cyber heists, the hackers stole the Bangladesh Bank money held at the New York Fed in February 2016 using fraudulent orders on the SWIFT payments system and sent it to Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. From there, it disappeared into the casino industry in the Philippines. No one has been charged for the heist despite an international investigation and two years of finger-pointing among Bangladesh, Philippines, the Fed and SWIFT. "There is an option before us to settle the issue out of court," a senior official at Bangladesh's central bank told Reuters. The official, who declined to be identified, cited as a precedent an out-of-court settlement in February reached by Ecuador's Banco del Austro and Wells Fargo over a 2015 cyber heist. Bangladesh's Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on Thursday met Carlos Dominguez, Finance Secretary of the Philippines, on the sidelines of a four-day annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank in Manila to discuss the cyber heist, said two senior central bank officials close to the issue. Bangladesh is yet to take legal action but had planned a suit to recover $66 million. Around $15 million has been recovered from a Manila junket operator, a job that involves marketing casinos to VIPs. "We will try for all possible options to recover our stolen money," the officials added. There was no immediate comment from Dominguez or Rizal bank in Manila. Canada has officials in Lagos, Nigeria, working with U.S. visa officers as Ottawa leans on its neighbor to stop issuing so many visas to Nigerians who then make refugee claims in Canada. The Canadian government is trying to stem the flow of asylum seekers illegally walking across the U.S. border even as their ranks grow: About 2,500 asylum seekers crossed into Canada to file refugee claims in April, according to estimates from the federal immigration and refugee department the highest level since August and almost triple last April's figure. More than 26,000 people illegally crossed the Canada-U.S. border in the past 15 months to file refugee claims. The Canadian government says many of the more recent arrivals are Nigerians who arrived bearing valid U.S. visas after having spent very little time in the United States. It is apparent that they obtained those visas with the express intent to actually go to Canada. ... Weve been sharing that information with the United States with the view of preventing the abuse of U.S. visas, a Canadian immigration department spokeswoman told Reuters in an email. Canada wants agreement change Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers faced pointed questions this week after Reuters reported that Canada wants U.S. help turning back thousands of asylum seekers. A Canadian official familiar with the matter told Reuters that Canada wants to amend a bilateral agreement to allow it to block border-crossing refugee claimants. Canada has asked for this change at least a dozen times since September, the official said. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has said it is reviewing Canadas proposal but has not made a decision. Two Canadian officials have been sent to Lagos to work directly with their counterparts in the U.S. visa office, a spokeswoman for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said in an email on Wednesday. Under pressure The department had not yet responded on Thursday afternoon to queries as to what exactly the Canadian officials are doing. A spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department wrote that consular officers in the field often coordinate with our close partners from other countries to discuss matters of shared concern. She did not elaborate on the role the Canadian officials are playing. Trudeau's government is under pressure to appear in control of the countrys border and refugee system while obeying Canadian law and maintaining its image as compassionate and welcoming of newcomers. Six German Roman Catholic cardinals have held talks with other top Church officials at the Vatican about the possibility of allowing non-Catholic Christian spouses to receive communion. Any such move is likely to alarm conservative Catholics who believe Pope Francis is already veering too far from the traditional doctrine. German cardinals and other prelates met Thursday to discuss possible access to the Eucharist for non-Catholic spouses. The issue is delicate, as conservative Catholics have grown increasingly displeased with the liberal attitudes and stances of Pope Francis during the past five years. A group of German bishops requested the meeting after a vote in their countrys bishops conference last February overwhelmingly approved a proposal for non-Catholic Christians married to Catholics to be allowed to receive Holy Communion, under certain circumstances. On the eve of the Vatican meeting, one German bishop said, Enough is enough! The time has come to no longer put off a well-justified decision - even if some people still insist on contradicting it. Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg said, Missing a chance like this would be both shameful and macabre! In November 2015, at the Lutheran Church in Rome, Pope Francis said the question of Lutherans receiving communion was one for the individual's conscience. He said non-Catholic Christians share one baptism, one Lord, one faith. At the time, the pope said, I ask myself: Dont we have the same baptism? If we have the same baptism, then we must walk together. Not all German bishops agree on the way forward. Cardinal Gerhard Mueller has called the proposal a "rhetorical trick," stressing that interdenominational marriage is "not an emergency situation" and "neither the pope nor the bishops can redefine the sacraments as a means of alleviating mental distress and satisfying spiritual needs." North Korean leader Kim Jong Un says he is committed to denuclearizing the Korean peninsula, according to China's Foreign Ministry. "Kim Jong Un said achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula is the firm position of the North Korean side," the ministry said after Kim met with Chinas top diplomat Thursday in Pyongyang. Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi had a rare meeting with Kim the week after South Korean President Moon Jae-in met with the North Korean leader. Moon and Kim vowed to improve relations at the historic meeting. Several days before the summit, Kim surprised the world by saying he would dismantle its nuclear test facilities and "transparently guarantee" a halt to all nuclear and missiles tests. After Thursday's meeting, Wang expressed support for an official end to the war between the North and South that has technically been ongoing since the 1950s. Wang's visit with Kim precedes a planned meeting between the North Korean leader and U.S. President Donald Trump in the coming weeks. China is North Korea's only major ally and its most significant economic and diplomatic supporter. But China has backed a number of U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang for its nuclear and missile programs. Police raided a migrant shelter in southern Germany on Thursday three days after officers clashed with residents over the deportation of an asylum seeker from Togo. The unrest at the shelter in the southern town of Ellwangen has been seized upon by politicians from across the spectrum to highlight the difficulties Germany faces in integrating the more than 1.6 million migrants who have arrived since 2014 and that the influx poses a security risk. Police said it arrested a handful of individuals suspected of drugs offenses during Thursday's raid and moved 17 residents of the hostel, home to around 500 mostly African asylum seekers, to other locations. Three people and one police officer were slightly hurt during the raid, said a medical team spokesman. Officers also found the 23-year-old Togolese man, identified by media as Yussif O., whom they had been trying to deport on Monday, police said. No weapons were found during the operation, which started at dawn and was ongoing. Senior officer Bernhard Weber said police believed a 'lawless area with organized structures' was developing at the hostel to prevent authorities carrying out deportations, so they took action. "We will not let any lawless areas, as were apparent here, develop," Weber told reporters. On Monday police said they were forced to release the Togolese man due for deportation when around 150 residents of the hostel surrounded and threatened them and damaged one of their cars. 'Law and order' Many politicians, including some Greens, praised the police and said German law must be adhered to. Some on the right said the clashes showed the influx of migrants, many fleeing war in the Middle East, has led to a collapse in law and order. German authorities are still wading through a backlog of asylum cases, a result of Chancellor Angela Merkel's 2015 open-door migrant policy which has also dented her popularity and hit her conservatives' popularity in last year's election. Conservative Interior Minister Horst Seehofer, former leader of Merkel's Bavarian sister party, the CSU, said he supported the police operation and condemned violence by refugees. "Such behavior has to be tackled with the full force of the law," he told reporters in Berlin. "This is a slap in the face of law-abiding citizens." Seehofer is trying to finalize a deal with his Social Democrat (SPD) coalition partners to allow a limited number of family reunions for some migrants, a hotly contested issue. Germany is also trying to find ways to integrate migrants better into the labor market as well as into mainstream society. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which scored nearly 13 percent in the election and is the main opposition, also seized on the incident. "The rule of law is being trampled on by its 'guests.' This is just the beginning," said AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. A high-level U.S. trade delegation has begun talks with Chinese officials in Beijing as Washington tries to address deep concerns about Chinas economic policies. The meeting is seen by some as a positive step, as the two sides attempt to avoid the possible outbreak of a trade war. Analysts say it is unlikely their differences will be resolved during the meetings but a decision to keep talking would be welcome progress. President Donald Trump said on Twitter U.S. officials are "trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade." Raymond Yeung, a senior economist for Greater China at the Australia and New Zealand Banking Group, says if the two sides can at least agree to keep talking with each other that would be big progress. I think it is too demanding to expect that both sides can come up with an agreement or an announcement or sign a deal, Yeung said. But if they are able to promise that they are willing to sit down and continue the dialogue and try and resolve their differences, at least that would signal that the relationship between the two governments is warming up. Differences over trade policy and market access have been a persistent concern for the United States and other foreign investors in China. In recent weeks, the debate has become even more heated with President Trump threatening to slap a long $50 billion list of tariffs on Chinese goods to punish Beijing for what his administration calls its unfair trade practices: forced technology transfer, intellectual property rights and state subsidies for technology development. Beijing has denied Washingtons accusations and insists its market is opening. It recently pledged to do away with a 25 percent tariff on imported foreign cars, albeit by 2022. The Chinese government has also responded with threats of its own, saying that if the U.S. presses ahead with tariffs it will respond in kind. The seven-member U.S. delegation is led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and is meeting with a group of Chinese officials led by Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a close aide to Chinas president, Xi Jinping. Although it is difficult to predict how the meetings will turn out, Liao Qun, chief economist at China CITIC Bank International, says it is a positive sign that both sides have a desire to sit down and negotiate. How much can be accomplished, depends on Washington, he says. It depends on how big Washingtons expectations are and how big its demands for reform and opening up of the Chinese market, Liao says. China will make some concessions, but if Washingtons appetite is too big, that will be tough for Beijing to accept. Since Xi Jinping rose to power in 2012, China has taken big steps to increase the central government and the communist partys control over the economy and business, even as Beijing pledges to continue to further open its markets. In 2015, the government unveiled a key policy plan called Made in China 2025, a plan that aims to make China dominant in 10 major next generation industries from robotics to electric cars, artificial intelligence, bio-tech and aerospace, among others. An investigation by the Trump administration into Chinas unfair trade practices mentions the policy more than 100 times. The policy clearly sets goals for domestic industries to dominate over foreign players in the Chinese market and globally. Beijing has characterized President Trumps threats to tax exports and attack the governments policies as an attempt to contain China and force the Chinese market to become more open, something that officials and state media have repeatedly stressed will never happen. Bridging such a huge gap during two days of talks will be difficult, says Christopher Balding, a professor at Peking Universitys HSBC Business School. I would be somewhat surprised if there was any real change in the negotiating stance of either party. Specifically China, they dont want to open their markets, thats the fundamental point, Balding says. He says the best that could be hoped for is that the two can find enough room to compromise to not go forward with the trade war. But these disputes are unlike any other in recent history, he adds. This is about how disputes are settled: About how one country views the international system as compared to the other. This is about how one country views how a country should be run and how they have conflicting views of those two things, Balding says. Imphal : The troops of Assam Rifles had seized three foreign made sophisticated weapons and apprehended an illegal arms dealer in Manipur on Wednesday. According to the reports, based on intelligence input, Assam Rifles troops had launched operation at Churachandpur area and seized the arms from a person, who smuggled the arms from neighbouring Myanmar. Security personnel had recovered one US made M4 A2 Carbine, one Myanmar made MA MK3 rifle, a German made 9mm GSG-5 Carbine and magazines in possession from the person. A top official of Assam Rifles said that, the arms were smuggled from Myanmar. Security personnel had apprehended the person and interrogated him to collect more information. Security personnel had earlier also recovered huge cache of smuggled arms in Manipur. The young mother stepped onto the scale for the doctor. Even with all her black robes on, she weighed only 84 pounds - 38 kilograms. Umm Mizrah is pregnant, but starving herself to feed her children. And her sacrifice may not be enough to save them. The doctor's office is covered with dozens of pictures of emaciated babies who have come through Al-Sadaqa Hospital in Aden, casualties of a three-year war in Yemen that has left millions of people on the edge of famine. Mothers like Umm Mizrah are often the only defense against the hunger that has killed thousands. They skip meals, they sleep to escape the gnawing in their stomachs. They hide bony faces and emaciated bodies in voluminous black abaya robes and veils. The doctor asked the mother to get back on the scale holding her son, Mizrah. At 17 months, he was 5.8 kilograms (12.8 pounds) - around half the normal weight for his age. He showed all the signs of severe acute malnutrition, the most dire stage of hunger. His legs and feet were swollen, he wasn't getting enough protein. When the doctor pressed a finger into the skin of his feet, the indentation lingered. Around 2.9 million women and children are acutely malnourished; another 400,000 children are fighting for their lives, in the same condition as Mizrah. Nearly a third of Yemen's population - 8.4 million of its 29 million people - rely completely on food aid or else they would starve. That number grew by a quarter over the past year. Aid agencies warn that parts of Yemen could soon start to see widespread death from famine. More and more people are reliant on aid that is already failing to reach people. The war, now three years old, drags on interminably between Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels who hold the country's north, and the Saudi-led coalition, armed and backed by the United States. which has sought to bomb the rebels into submission with a relentless air campaign in support of the Yemeni government. It is unknown how many have died, since authorities are not able to track cases. Save the Children late last year estimated that 50,000 children may have died in 2017 of extreme hunger or disease, given that up to 30 percent of children with untreated cases of severe acute malnutrition die. Unfortunately, now Yemen is considered to be the world's largest humanitarian emergency, said Stephen Anderson, the Yemen director of the World Food Program. Some 18 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from. Even before the war, the Arab world's poorest nation struggled to feed itself. It is a country of deserts and mountains with dwindling water resources where only 2 to 4 percent of the land is cultivated, so almost all of its food and supplies must be imported. The war has shattered everything that kept Yemen just above starvation. Coalition warplanes blasted hospitals, schools, farms, factories, bridges and roads. The coalition has also clamped a land-sea-and-air embargo on Houthi-controlled areas, including the Red Sea port of Hodeida, once the entry point of 70 percent of Yemen's imports. Now far less gets in as coalition ships off shore allow through only U.N.-inspected and approved commercial ships and aid, often with delays. The United States gives significant backing to the coalition campaign, providing intelligence and billions of dollars-worth of munitions as well logistical help like air-to-air refueling of coalition warplanes. The U.S. State Department says Washington has provided nearly $854 million to address the humanitarian situation in Yemen. In many places there is food in the markets, but people simply can't afford it, since salaries are going unpaid, work is harder to find and the currency has collapsed in value. Umm Mizrah and her husband, who have three young daughters in addition to Mizrah, usually eat one meal a day, often just bread and tea. The Associated Press is identifying her by the nickname she often goes by - meaning mother of Mizrah - to protect her privacy. When the doctor in Aden told her malnutrition can be fatal, she trembled. The parents felt helpless. Cigarette burns were visible on the baby's belly. Desperate, the father had turned to a Yemeni folk cure called maysam, or branding - using burns to expel evil spirits. I don't know what is right, she said quietly. He was playful and doing fine then he started to get sick and stopped breastfeeding and playing. The AP traveled across southern Yemen, territory held by the coalition-backed government, and visited several districts among the 107 areas nationwide that the U.N. warns are most likely to fall into outright famine. It is a landscape of desperation . Death by starvation A video filmed by a doctor shows 8-month-old Fadl in his last days of life. The baby twitches his legs in pain. He's crying but he is so dehydrated his eyes can't produce tears. His belly is inflated as taut as a balloon. You can easily count the 12 rows of protruding ribs on his rapidly palpitating chest. His desperate parents plastered his head with black henna, a dye that is used as a folk cure. Fadl was born in the wilderness. His mother, Fatma Halabi, was eight months pregnant when she and thousands of others fled the area around her district of Mowza as government forces descended on the Houthis. Separated from her husband, Halabi led her four children and two goats across the Great Valley, the arid plain spilling down from the mountains toward the city of Mocha on the Red Sea. These desolate stretches are historically a site of death. More than 400 years ago, a Muslim ruler forcibly sent almost the entire Jewish population of Yemen here for refusing to convert. Chroniclers say two thirds of them died in the heat and deprivation. Halabi and the children hid in thorn bushes to avoid artillery and airstrikes along the shifting front line. One day in April last year, she went into labor and, alone, gave birth to Fadl under a tree. And then fainted. Eventually, she and her husband reunited and settled in an abandoned hut in the valley. Speaking from inside her makeshift home in February, Halabi sat with a rope cinched around her emaciated waist, her blue robe sliding off her bony shoulder. She spoke in short, exhausted sentences. When asked what she had eaten that day, she said, Bor, the local Arabic word for flour. We stay patient, she said. We have to feed the children. When she gets hungry, she lies down and tries to sleep. Often she and her husband eat one meal in the morning, and nothing again until the next day. Unable to breastfeed Fadl, she gave him goat or camel milk, which lack the nutrients of breast milk or formula. The newborn kept getting fever and diarrhea, so she repeatedly borrowed money to take him to the hospital in Mocha. The hospital has seen 600 malnutrition cases over the past 10 months, but is so short on supplies it doesn't even have pain relievers for headaches, said one doctor, Abdel-Rehim Ahmed. It has no therapeutic feeding center. None of its doctors have been trained in treating malnutrition. And Mocha is swelling with 40,000 displaced people. Left untreated, prolonged malnutrition causes the body to lose its stock of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The body starts to eat itself. The brain struggles to find energy, the heart shrinks, and the skin cracks, exposing the body to infections. The kidney and the liver stop functioning properly, so toxins build up inside the body, leading to a vicious cycle of disease. Fadl's last visit to the hospital was Nov. 29. At eight months old, he weighed 2.9 kilograms (6 pounds), a third of the normal weight. The circumference of his upper arm, a common measure for malnutrition, was 7 centimeters, less than 3 inches. That indicated severe acute malnutrition. Unable to pay for a hospital stay, Fadl's parents took him home. He gave his last breath not long after in the arms of his grandmother. His exhausted parents were asleep on the floor. The grandmother woke them and told them their boy was dead. The only image of Fadl from his short life of hunger and pain is the video, taken by the head of the nutrition center. His parents don't have mobile phones or a camera. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I remember he's no longer there and I start to cry, Halabi said. Who wouldn't cry for their children? "Liberated," and still starving Even in parts of Yemen that are wrested from Houthi rule, starvation persists - or gets worse. In late February, mothers carrying babies mobbed the nutrition center at the main hospital in al-Khoukha, a little town on the Red Sea, expecting to receive monthly allotments of baby formula and nutrient supplies. They left empty-handed. The center ran out of supplies weeks ago. Some of the women, cloaked in black abayas, pushed and shoved feebly. But most were too weak to complain and silently shuffled away. Al-Khoukha was taken back from the Houthis in December by coalition-backed forces marching up the coast. In rebel hands, the town had been directly connected to the Hodeida port farther north, the biggest entryway for international aid into Yemen. Now cut off from the port, no supplies have come from the south. We have no vaccinations. There are shortages in medicines. The aid stopped, said Abdullah Doubala, head of al-Khoukha health department. The burden is increasing as families fleeing fighting elsewhere stream into al-Khoukha, bringing more thin and hungry children. Doctors estimate that 40 percent of the children in the town suffer from malnutrition. Barefoot kids fill the center's corridors, many visibly emaciated, some with malaria or cholera. Some can barely stand. Nine-month old Galila, her ribs sharply outlined, her eyes bulging in shrunken sockets, sat in the lap of her mother, Aisha. The baby girl caught malaria and began to lose weight. Now she is all of 4.5 kilograms (9.9 pounds), compared to the average of 6 to 8 kilograms (13-17 pounds) for a 9-month-old girl. Her mother is tiny as well, ravaged by giving up food for a family that is constantly growing. Aisha has been giving birth each year; Galila is her 14th child. Her husband, a woodcutter, can hardly find any work. Even coming to the hospital is too expensive; if she wants to come, she has to wait for her brother, who has a motorcycle, to take her. I eat whatever is available or wait till next day, Aisha said. A meal once a day. The mothers' hunger is repeated over and over throughout the war-ravaged country. A mother's hunger It isn't just those driven from their homes who suffer. Isolated in a mountain valley, the 450 residents of the village of Qibli are wasting away. Boys and girls running around barefoot in the dirt paths are stunted. Most of the men here are soldiers, who haven't been paid for months, or farm laborers, who can no longer find work. Any money they have goes in search of food. The nearest market is 13 kilometers (8 miles) away, which means paying high gas prices on top of the cost for the food itself, which have doubled over the past year. Sitting on the floor of her home, Sherine fed her two children scraps of bread dipped in besbas, a sauce of tomato and garlic. She took no bites herself. Her 1-year-old daughter Amal, has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition and can no longer stand up. The family lives largely on bread and tea. Her husband is among the ranks of unpaid soldiers. His father, a retired soldier, still gets a meager pension, but uses that to help all his children and grandchildren, a family of 16 in total. Aid hasn't come to Qibli since 2016, according to relief volunteer Rashid al-Khoushbi. Only four families in the area were on the World Food Program lists for food aid. Most households here are considered to have a male breadwinner, making them a lower priority. In the area's main town, al-Mallah, doctors were nowhere to be seen at the hospital. No one pays them so many staffers often don't show up. Sitting in bed, Umm Molham was so weak she could barely lift her 13-month-old son. When the AP met her, she had been at the hospital for three days waiting for someone to examine him. The toddler had been vomiting, coughing and suffered from diarrhea. The family can only afford to give him formula once a day. His body is emaciated, his eyes sunken. His mother sat helplessly, the baby in her lap. She is not breastfeeding, said her husband, Anwar Said. She doesn't eat well and has no milk. Umm Molham didn't say a word, even when asked questions, lost in her internal world of frailty and hunger. Alain Bouhana surveiled the sea of May Day protesters crossing the Austerlitz Bridge on a blustery afternoon. The banners were back and the mood was upbeat, although moments later, it would be destroyed by black-hooded anarchists. But something was missing for 69-year-old Bouhana, who describes himself as an old Trotskyite. "The issues aren't the same," he said of similar marches a half-century ago. "We were more revolutionary then, we wanted real change. Now, we mostly want to earn more and live decently." Graffiti again covers university buildings. Workers are back on the streets, venting their grievances over reforms being pushed through by the year-old centrist government of President Emmanuel Macron. But May 2018 is a very long way from May 1968, an epic period of social turmoil in France that reflected broader international movements and left an indelible mark on this country's society, culture and politics. "At its heart, May '68 was a revolt against authority and very frozen social hierarchies," said French historian and political scientist Nicole Bacharan. "It was about youth, about sexual freedom, about political rights, music, and creativity." Analysts and protesters believe today's upheaval carries few of the same aims in an era of worries over the economy, globalization and climate change. The unity seen on the streets 50 years ago is also absent. "It's not about changing the world," Bacharan said of current demands. "It's about security and protection." But the unrest is unlikely to end anytime soon. Rail workers are carrying out rolling strikes against a massive overhaul of the country's state-run SNCF railway. In western France, anti-capitalist squatters continue to stage often-violent confrontations with police at the site of an abandoned airport project. Health workers, teachers and pensioners are on the streets, worried government measures will strip away their benefits. Barricades at Nanterre University At Nanterre University outside Paris, where the May '68 protests first started over demands for co-educational dormitories, university students are barricading buildings, echoing anger now rippling across other higher education establishments over government plans to overhaul the university admissions system. "The conditions are similar to '68. We're asking for emancipation and more rights for everyone, and better-quality education," said Nanterre's Communist Student Union head Manel Djadoun. "The context is different; we're not in a situation of a general, nationwide strike. But we hope the situation will change, and become even bigger than May '68." The 1968 protests took place during a broadly upbeat period in France. The economy was strong and unemployment was low. Yet trade unions were also strong - as were social traditions. The protests soon spread from universities to factories, as workers demanded better pay. At one point, nearly a million people marched in Paris streets. The French protests fit into a global context of popular revolt among the world's young people. Students took to the streets of Europe and Mexico City, where soldiers opened fire on hundreds of protesters in a crackdown preceding the 1968 Olympics. Americans were marching for civil rights and against the Vietnam war, "which had a very strong resonance in France," historian Bacharan said. At home, the government of then-president and wartime hero Charles de Gaulle teetered but recovered. He dissolved parliament, and his conservative party handily won legislative elections the following month. But de Gaulle resigned a year later, after losing a referendum. Other changes came gradually. In 1974, the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18. A year later, France legalized abortion. Over time, sexual freedom, contraception and generalized higher education came to be considered givens. "There is a kind of nostalgia about May '68 among people in their 20s today," historian Bacharan said. "There's the feeling the '60s and especially the '70s were more fun. That their parents' lives were better. That the music then was so great." Grim backdrop Not everyone remembers May '68 fondly, however. Jean Picollec was a young editor at the time, picking his way through the riots and sit-ins every morning as he headed to work. "I was totally against them," said Picollec, who now owns his own publishing company. "The intellectual atmosphere was dangerous. The protesters were fervent Maoists" supporting leftist powers in the Soviet Union and Asia that turned out to be deeply repressive. He mocks expressions crafted in 1968 such as "It's forbidden to forbid" that still remain in French lexicon. "Everyone did everything and it went overboard," Picollec said. "They burned people's cars, it was destroying just to destroy. A society without rules can't live." The ugly underbelly of May '68 remains in today's unrest, as hundreds of May Day rioters torched cars and destroyed shop windows in Paris. But the broader backdrop is also more grim, as unemployment hovers at nine percent and growth is only recently inching up after stagnating for years. There are other key differences. Half-a-century ago, grandfatherly de Gaulle symbolized the past young revolutionaries were turning the page on. By contrast, 40-year-old Macron is today's generation; a man who casts himself as a reformer, and who was not even born until nearly a decade after the '68 protests. But polls show French are deeply divided over his reforms. While many support the railway overhaul, they are against other labor market measures, and the president's popularity has nosedived in recent months. 2018 has yet to find the unity and resonance of its '68 muse. The French left is in tatters after last year's election and union response is fragmented. Instead of joining forces in May Day protests, for example, rail syndicates marched separately. "They'll try to capitalize on 50 years ago," said analyst Bacharan, "but it's a very different world." Germany said Thursday it would welcome the widow of Chinese Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo after a recording was released of her crying in desperation and indicating that she has given up hope of being able to leave China. "If I can't leave, I'll die in my home," Liu Xia, the widow, said during a recent phone call with her close friend Liao Yiwu, a writer who documented their conversation in an essay published Wednesday. "Xiaobo is gone, and there's nothing in the world for me now," Liu said tearfully. "It's easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me." Liu has never been charged with a crime, but has been kept guarded and largely isolated since her husband, Liu Xiaobo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights activism in 2010. He was still serving a prison sentence for inciting subversion of state power when he died of liver cancer last summer. Germany's Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press on Thursday that the German government has been discussing Liu's case with China and "will continue to do so." "According to the information available to us, Liu Xia has not been accused of any crime," the ministry said in emailed comments. "She should be allowed to travel, also for humanitarian considerations. Should she choose to come to Germany, Liu Xia would be welcome here at any time." Writing from Germany where he is living in exile, Liao said that Chinese state security agents repeatedly promised Liu Xia that she would be able to leave the country and seek treatment for the clinical depression that has long ailed her. Germany was prepared to take her in, according to Liao: "In early April the German Foreign Minister had already made specific arrangements, including as to how they'd not alert the news media, how they'd covertly collect Liu Xia at the airport, and how they'd arrange her treatment and recovery and more." But hopes for a quiet departure have not borne fruit. Hu Jia, a dissident and longtime friend of the Lius, described Liao's essay as a "counterattack" against Chinese authorities prompted by an "awakening" after hearing for months that Liu would soon be released. Corroborating Liao's account, Hu said Liu had initially been told by security agents to wait until after the 19th Party Congress last fall, when President Xi Jinping secured a second term at the helm of the ruling Communist Party. Then, Hu said, they told her to wait until after the meeting of the ceremonial legislature in March. During this time, Liu's supporters kept a low profile because government agents told them that remaining silent about the case would lead to a solution, Hu told the AP. "Why did Mr. Liao call Liu Xia on April 30? Because at that point it was already clear that hope was shattered," Hu said. "We were duped." When asked at a regular press briefing whether Liu will be able to leave the country, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was "not aware of the situation." "But Liu Xia is a Chinese citizen. The competent Chinese authority will handle the relevant matter in accordance with laws," Hua said, repeating a statement often used by China to address Liu's case. Greek riot police fired tear gas Thursday to try to disperse angry protesters on the island of Lesbos who tried to topple a police bus during a demonstration against a European Union migration policy. The protesters were among 2,500 demonstrators who gathered in Lesbos' main port as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived to speak at a conference. A large contingent of riot police formed a cordon to block the protesters from advancing further, and scores of them then tried to push over a police bus. Officers fired tear gas and earlier had discharged a flash grenade. No one has been injured or arrested. The crowd has regrouped, but there hasn't been any further violence. A general strike Thursday virtually shut down the island to protest a 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey that has left thousands of asylum-seekers stranded on Lesbos. Under the deal, migrants arriving on Greek islands from Turkey are held and face deportation to Turkey unless they successfully apply for asylum in Greece. The deal has created a massive backlog, angering people on Lesbos and other Greek islands. Most businesses, shops, cafes and local government offices were shuttered in the main town of Mytilene. The only sign of normality was that police officers were still on duty, and the local tax office was open. Stores were also closed in protest on the nearby island of Chios. More than 15,000 migrants and refugees remain stuck on Lesbos, Chios, and three other islands, most staying in severely overcrowded camps. "Thousands of people are still living in appalling conditions with limited access to medical facilities," the aid group Doctors Without Borders. Conditions at the largest refugee camp in Lesbos, the group said "were putting the health and lives of people stranded on the island at risk." Additional police officers, including anti-riot units, were sent to Lesbos and took up positions around Mytilene. Supporters and opponents of the government used vans fitted with loudspeakers to promote the protest as well as a speech planned by the prime minister later Thursday. Tension on the islands has been building as the number of migrants arriving from Turkey has risen sharply in recent weeks. "The situation on the island is exceptionally difficult. We are feeling the effects of a long-term financial crisis and the way the refugee crisis has been handled," Lesbos Mayor Spyros Galinos said. "For there to be any talk of growth or recovery, we must first be lifted out of this emergency situation." The government has promised to move thousands of asylum-seekers to the mainland but says the effort will take several months to implement requiring additional staff and more shelter sites around Greece. In the meantime, the number of daily arrivals continues to rise on the island and Greece's land border with Turkey. Authorities said 53 people believed to be from Iraq and Syria were picked up Thursday after a yacht used to smuggle them into the country ran aground on a remote mainland beach in northeastern Greece. The 12-meter (40-foot) Turkish-flagged yacht ran aground on Molyvoti beach in the northeastern Rodopi region, far from any of the usual smuggling routes used to ferry migrants and refugees from Turkey to Greece. The group was made up of 19 men, 11 women and 23 children between the ages of 2 and 8. In Indonesia, interfaith marriage is legal but culturally discouraged and some religious figures have made it their mission to help couples of different religious backgrounds get married despite societal obstacles. Indonesias 1974 Marriage Law says a marriage is valid if conducted according to laws of religion and belief of both sides. The words both sides have become a thorn in the side of thousands of interfaith couples contending with the requirements of clergy, relatives, and bureaucrats who stand in the way of their unions. It is common for one partner in these couples to simply convert to make everything easier. But what if neither wants to switch faiths? Some have solved this problem by getting married in Singapore or Australia, where different religious backgrounds are a non-issue. But for those who wish to make their union legal at home, there is help. Among those coming to the rescue such couples is Mohammad Monib, director of the Indonesian Conference on Religion and Peace, a religious freedom advocacy group in Jakarta, who says he has helped more than 300 interfaith couples marry in the last decade. He does this by making them aware of their rights and guiding them through the rules and paperwork. Marriage between people of different faiths is a classic problem in Islam, ever since the 7th century, said Monib. He wears glasses and a knit peci cap, commonly among Indonesian Muslim men, emblazoned with the words GUS DUR, referring to Indonesias late President Abdurrahman Wahid, a man regarded by many as a champion of tolerance and moderate Islam. What I try to explain first to couples that come to me for help is the Muslim perspective on interfaith marriage, he said. There is nothing in the Quran that prohibits this. A human rights issue The Islamic holy book, he said, allows marriage between Muslims and people of the Book, or those of other Abrahamic faiths like Judaism and Christianity. Monib interprets this in the Indonesian context to mean all religions protected by Pancasila, Indonesias political philosophy, which sanctions six acceptable religions: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism. But some disagree. For many Indonesians, interfaith marriage is seen as something impossible, he said. Groups like the Indonesian Ulama Council of clerics have declared haram, or forbidden, and radical groups like the Islamic Defenders Front have used vigilante tactics to scare off interfaith couples, said Monib. Indonesias Constitution and Human Rights Commission both protect peoples right to marry whoever they choose, but mixed-faith couples often come across civil servants who block them from registering their marriage. Monib, a Muslim, is married to a Muslim woman and thus never personally experienced these problems, but he feels compelled to defend those who do. If you speak about human rights, marriage is the basic one, said Monib, who contends that resolving the issue of marriage ultimately addresses other moral concerns. Sex is also a basic human need, he adds. Extramarital sex is banned in all religions, so if we help people get married first, it is actually very positive. He works to spread that message and raise awareness on Facebook, where he has more than 25,000 followers. Young people, he said, seem much more open to the idea now than in 2004 when he first started working on the issue. Facilitating unions Monib has helped lovers end decades of heartbreak. In 2007, he helped a Muslim-Protestant couple who had been dating for 20 years, since middle school, finally get married. Another couple he helped was Renaldi and Cindhe Bosito, a pair of divorces who met in high school and started dating again after their first marriages ended around the same time. We didnt necessarily want to get married but we did know we wanted to have children together, said Renaldi. If youre not married in Indonesia, your child cant have his father listed on his birth certificate. He grew up Muslim and his partner is Catholic. Monib helped them talk to a priest, and later to the local village leader of their neighborhood in Jakarta. It was so much easier than we thought, said Renaldi. We just needed to submit our divorce papers and proof of citizenship that we were really Indonesian, and we only paid one million rupiah [about $72]. But they still decided to skip a ceremony in Jakarta and have a quiet Islamic contract marriage, or nikah siri, in 2010 in Bali. What makes interfaith marriage difficult is the area in which you live, like if your village leader is a devout Muslim, he explained. In [Hindu-majority] Bali, they are much more relaxed about both marriage and divorce. Monib echoed this, saying that even on Java island, there were some towns that had a more relaxed attitude than Jakarta towards interfaith marriage, like Solo and Sragen. I would tell interfaith couples that they dont need to be afraid, said Renaldi. There are many ways to get married in Indonesia officially. Dont get trapped by the fast-track ways, he said, or give up completely. There are ways. Iran's foreign minister said Thursday Iran will not renegotiate a 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers. The statement was made days before President Donald Trump's deadline to decide if the U.S. will remain in the agreement. "We will neither outsource our security nor will we renegotiate or add onto a deal we have already implemented in good faith,'' Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on YouTube. Trump has said he will pull out of the pact if amendments are not made, including a proposal to limit Iran's ballistic missile program, which Iran has maintained is a defensive deterrent. Meanwhile, a foreign policy advisor to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned Thursday Iran would withdraw from the deal if Trump follows through on his threat to pull out of the accord. Ali Akbar Velayati said on Iran's state television website, "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it." Velayati warned against any attempts to renegotiate in exchange for sanctions relief, saying, "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything." There was no immediate response to the comments from the Trump administration. The three European countries that signed the agreement, Britain, France and Germany, have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to withdraw. China and Russia also signed the deal. All of the signatory countries are members of the United Nations Security Council. Iranian security forces have staged a show of force in a northwestern ethnic Kurdish city where shop workers have been on a general strike for 18 days. Baneh residents who spoke to VOA Persian by phone said hundreds of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps troops were deployed in the city on Wednesday, alongside special police forces. They said the mass deployment the first since the strike began on April 15 was meant to intimidate shopkeepers into going back to work. Residents have kept the vast majority of Baneh's thousands of shops closed in protest against the Iranian government's blockade of border footpaths they use to carry in goods from Iraqi Kurdistan. WATCH: Baneh Stores Stay Shut During Strike Baneh's economy is heavily reliant on such imports. Residents have few ways to make a living beyond carrying Iraqi goods into Iran as porters, also known as kolbars, and selling those goods in local stores. Baneh activists who typically communicate with VOA Persian via social media have been unable to do so since late Tuesday, because of what they say is an internet blackout imposed by the authorities. They said IRGC troops forced residents to open around 100 stores on Wednesday, while detaining about 20 pro-strike activists and releasing about 40 others, whom they ordered to sign pledges renouncing the strike. Local activists also said the police commander of Kurdistan province in which Baneh is located, General Masoud Khoram Nia, also visited Baneh on Wednesday to urge residents to end the strike. But the activists said most people in Baneh stayed home and continued the general strike, which has been unprecedented in the region for its length. Iranian authorities have made no commitments to reopen the border footpaths. One local official said last month that the blockade was an Iraqi initiative, but locals have put the blame on Tehran. This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Persian service. Michael Lipin reported from Washington. The April 30 killings of 10 journalists in Afghanistan highlight the dangers journalists face in covering some parts of the world. On VOA's Plugged in with Greta Van Susteren, experts discuss why worldwide freedom of the press is more important now than ever. VOA's Jesusemen Oni has more. Wednesday's deadly suicide bombing of Libya's election commission is the most sophisticated terror attack the country has suffered since 2015. And analysts say it underlines the dangers Libya will need to navigate in the months ahead as divided authorities, encouraged by the United Nations, seek to hold a nationwide poll. Islamic State's Amaq propaganda wing claimed responsibility for the blast, which left at least 12 dead, and involved three gunmen, two of whom blew themselves up, saying the bloodletting in the capitol, Tripoli, was part of a campaign to target polling stations. For weeks the proposed elections have prompted the doubts of some political observers and analysts, who fear the country isn't stable or secure enough to be holding polls and that trying to do so would invite efforts to derail it either from jihadists or militias fearing their power will be undercut. Last month, Human Rights Watch warned against rushing Libya to the polls, while the country remains mired in violence and divided between warring factions featuring rival governments and an array of militias, some ideological, some town-based. The rights group warned that neither the internationally-recognized government in Tripoli nor authorities in the east, led by the renegade General Khalifa Haftar, can guarantee freedom of assembly or free speech essential for any credible vote. "Libya today couldn't be further away from respect for the rule of law and human rights, let alone from acceptable conditions for free elections," said Eric Goldstein, deputy Middle East and North Africa director for the rights group. The last parliamentary elections in Libya in 2014 led to rival governments being set up in Tripoli and the east, backed by competing and shifting armed alliances.That election saw a very low turnout with only 630,000 people voting out of a registered electorate of 2.5 million. Most voters didn't bother to go to the polls, analysts and Libyans said at the time, because they despaired anything would be changed by doing so and feared the country would just continue to be engulfed by the lawlessness and disorder it has seen since the 2011 popular uprising that toppled Libyan autocrat Colonel Moammar Gadhafi. The United Nations mission in Libya condemned Wednesday's suicide bombing on Twitter and extended condolences to the families of the dead. Five successive United Nations envoys have tried to oversee a deal between warring factions in the fractious country, but to little avail.The current envoy, Ghassan Salame, told the U.N. Security Council last month that working towards free and credible elections in Libya to be held this year was a "top priority." He hopes elections will edge the country back to stability and end the impasse between rival governments and militias. The election commission in recent weeks has been registering voters and its officials say the registrations are secure, thanks to a back-up database. The election process has already seen the assassinations of a string of self-declared electoral candidates. Emadeddin Muntasser, a Libyan human rights activist and political analyst, fears the latest U.N. plan backed by Western powers will fail. "With elections only a few months away, the U.N. has not addressed the lack of security or the lack of basic freedoms in areas controlled by various warlords," he argued in a policy paper published by the Atlantic Council, a New York-based research group. Muntasser says the best way forward would be for incremental elections to be held with towns signing up as they see fit and sending representatives to a new parliament that slowly emerges and starts in an evolutionary way to stabilize the country. Other analysts argue the U.N. has little choice but to try to press on with an election, arguing a nationwide poll provides the best opportunity for Libyans to end the disorder. The bombing and gunfire that erupted Wednesday may also herald a new phase in IS efforts to remain relevant and dangerous in the North African state and reflects the difficulty of rooting out jihadists, who have suffered setbacks in Libya. Islamic State had controlled the coastal city of Sirte, hoping to use it as a launchpad for attacks in Libya and in neighboring states. But it was driven out by forces loyal to the United Nations-backed prime minister, with the assistance of U.S. airstrikes and Western special forces. It took a nearly three-year-long effort for General Haftar to oust extremist militias from Benghazi, Libya's second city. And the eastern town of Derna is still occupied by an Islamist militia known as the Shura Council of Mujahideen. Jihadist elements also remain lodged in the southwestern city of Sebha. After repeated assurances from high-level U.N. and Macedonian officials that Skopje is poised to resolve its long-running name dispute with neighboring Greece, the Balkan nation's defense chief says that issue may well be the only thing impeding its pending NATO accession. Following Pentagon meetings with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis, Macedonian Defense Minister Radmila Sekerinska told VOA that Skopje has satisfied all NATO membership criteria, and that Greeces blessing will now prove vital to securing accession at an upcoming alliance summit. Macedonia and Greece have been at odds for a quarter-century over the name Macedonia, but have pledged to resolve the dispute by the summer. Greece argues the country's name harbors territorial claims on its own northern province of Macedonia. Last week, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said he was convinced the name dispute could be resolved, but that any required constitutional changes would have to be decided by referendum. Matthew Nimetz, the U.N. envoy on the matter, expressed optimism about prospects for a deal between Skopje and Athens after talks in Vienna concluded on April 25. Asked whether the dispute could be resolved ahead of the mid-July NATO summit, where Macedonia could be invited to become the alliances 30th member, Sekerinska was cautiously optimistic. She pointed to Skopjes relatively quick resolution of last years domestic political turmoil, when Macedonian nationalists unhappy about the inclusion of ethnic Albanians blocked the formation of a new government, further deepening the worst crisis the nation had seen since narrowly averting an ethnic civil war in 2001. Macedonia has recovered very quickly from political crises, and it has improved its reputation as a democratic, NATO-values-based country, she said. It has increased its NATO defense spending and contribution to NATO-led missions. So, [NATO membership] criteria are met; the only unknown for the July summit is whether we will reach consensus with Greece on the long-running name dispute. We believe it's very important for both Macedonia and Greece to have NATO's door opened for Macedonia. NATO membership would not only enhance stability in the Balkans but also would increase readiness and leverage of both the U.S. and NATO in the region and in the world, she added, referring to Western efforts to counter Russian influence and political meddling in the region. Macedonia is really seen as a kind of litmus test on what happens when a country performs well, she added. Macedonia is a very diverse country, which, though sometimes complicated, we have shown to be an asset. We are a multiethnic, multireligious country that has expanded media freedom, rule of law, and introduced a higher level of accountability and transparency that has been unparalleled around us. Country's efforts praised Mattis had praised Macedonias efforts to resolve its decades-old name dispute with Greece, saying he hoped the Balkan country would soon be able to join NATO. We commend your work with Greece to resolve this issue and I am hopeful it will bear fruit soon, Mattis said Tuesday. We dont wish to see you stopped at NATOs doorstep, Mattis said before lauding what he described as Skopjes resistance to Russias malign influence in the Balkans, saying that he welcomed Skopjes "continued leadership by example in this region. The next NATO summit is slated for July 11 in Brussels, Belgium. This story originated in VOA's Macedonian service. Guwahati: It was a normal celebration of National PR Day in a city hotel, but the deliberation and discussion turned too intense for the audience. Organized by the Public Relations Society of Indias Guwahati chapter on 28 April 2018, the meeting was graced by city police commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath, journalist Nava Thakuria and State electoral officer BD Sharma with many important personalities. Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Nath pointed out that democracy is not only a form of government but a way of life in India. Delivering his points over the theme titled Indian Democracy: Mantra for Effective Elections, Nath also asserted that the Indian form of democracy is the best in the world. The most auspicious duty of a citizen in a democracy is to exercise his/her franchise. At the same time, urban apathy towards the democratic process is significantly noticeable, despite the educated and enlightened being a greater part of the populace, observed Nath. He also answered few queries from the audience comprising of PRSI members, PR & corporate communication professionals and practitioners along with few students, where the IPS officer with over two decades of rich experience in policing held the audience spellbound with diverse perspectives and interesting anecdotes related to the theme. Journalist Thakuria, while addressing the audience commented that as India is a participatory democracy, every citizen must join in the electoral processes with utmost sincerity. Expressing annoyance over the electoral expenditure for the poll candidates, he insisted on holding public debates by the various political party nominees so that the electorate can judge their potential representatives. Emphasizing on making India as the greatest democracy, rather than being the largest, Thakuria also preferred a debate over nominating the second positioned candidate with sizable electoral supports in the poll outcome as a representative, with, of course, lesser power. Electoral officer Sharma in his address spoke on new systems and procedures which have changed the face of Indian elections. He claimed that 82 per cent voting in the last State assembly elections was a manifestation of enhanced participation by the electorate. Malaysias former authoritarian leader Mahathir Mohamad wasnt invited to the forum that planned to debate whether at well past 90 years he was too old to be prime minister again. He turned up anyway. As far as health is concerned, I am not senile yet, he announced to the stunned participants, maybe of whom stood and snapped photos with their smartphones. For good measure, Mahathir sat in the front row and tweeted: Im here guys. Say it to my face. The recent move was trademark Mahathir. During more than two decades of strong-arm rule, he rarely shied from aggressively confronting opponents, real and perceived. And at 92 his appetite for political brawling apparently remains unsated. The difference is that Mahathirs targets arent those of yesteryear, such as an imagined Jewish conspiracy against the Muslim world or the domestic opponents he ruthlessly silenced or imprisoned. At 92, an unlikely comeback In an unlikely comeback, hes switched sides in Malaysian politics, coming out of retirement to unite an opposition thats seeking to end his former partys 60-year hold on power and oust his protege, Prime Minister Najib Razak, in May 9 elections. Mahathir, a maverick in the early days of his political career who survived expulsion from the dominant United Malays National Organization party, was the first commoner to become prime minister of Malaysia. Though credited with transforming the Southeast Asian backwater into a modern economy, his dominance, like that of his contemporary, Lee Kuan Yew in Singapore, was stifling. Under his rule, the judiciary was a tool of the government, the media was muzzled and a system of economic privileges for the Malay majority remained entrenched. His retirement in 2003 was welcomed by many Malaysians who wanted the countrys progress to be measured by more than just GDP figures. Despite that mixed legacy, Mahathir is now welcomed by many as a messianic figure, someone who has come back from the past to redeem the country, said Rashaad Ali, a researcher at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. Even after stepping down, he remained influential, smoothing Najibs ascent to the top in 2009 after criticizing his first successor Abdullah Ahamad Badawi for poor economic management and also supported Najib in 2013 elections. 1MDB scandal Then he became Najibs most ferocious critic as the prime minister, initially regarded as a cautious reformer, turned to Mahathirs authoritarian playbook to survive a multibillion-dollar corruption scandal at the 1MDB state fund that damaged the countrys reputation abroad. The U.S. and several other countries are investigating allegations of cross-border embezzlement and money laundering at 1MDB, which was set up and previously led by Najib to promote economic development but accumulated billions in debt. The U.S. Justice Department says at least $4.5 billion was stolen from 1MDB by associates of Najib and it is working to seize $1.7 billion allegedly taken from the fund to buy assets in the U.S. Najib has denied any wrongdoing. Analysts say the unfair electoral system that Mahathir himself helped maintain means the opposition has only a slim chance of gaining a majority in parliament, even if it wins the most votes as it did for the first time in 2013. But Mahathir could wound Najib, 64, by denying him a decisive victory. An ethnic Malay nationalist, Mahathir by being part of the opposition has lessened the potency of the Malaysian ruling classs perennial race card: playing on fears an opposition win would allow the Chinese minority to dominate Malays. Hectic campaign schedule Despite two coronary bypass surgeries, Mahathir keeps up a hectic campaign schedule. Sometimes he speaks several times a day at rallies that often last into the night and has also updated his tactics for the social media age. He takes questions on weekly Facebook webcasts to reach younger voters. He has written poignant poems and produced short videos, telling Malaysians he only has a short time left and urging them to vote and save Malaysia from a venal elite. I am already old. I am past 90. I dont have much time but within my means, I will try my very best to work together with all my friends to rebuild our nation, Mahathir said in a recent video. He looks remarkably robust but opponents are quick to seize on any sign of physical weakness and often try to portray him as tired and incapable of leading. In February when he was hospitalized for a chest infection, he tweeted a photo of himself undergoing treatment. Taking a short break, it was captioned. The fight will go on. With 27 more women accusing former news anchor Charlie Rose of sexual misconduct, a report Thursday calls into question CBS News' claims that his behavior was a surprise before he was fired last November. The Washington Post said that on least three occasions prior to that, women reported discomfort about Rose's actions to superiors. Rose was fired as CBS This Morning anchor and PBS canceled his interview show after an earlier Post report on women who said he groped them, made lewd remarks or walked around naked around them. In one new allegation, a former research assistant said Rose exposed his penis and touched her breasts when they worked at NBC News' Washington bureau in 1976. The Post said Rose, 76, told the newspaper in an email that its story was inaccurate and unfair. Allegations Since Rose was fired, CBS News said it has taken steps to ensure a safer workplace, including mandatory misconduct training. Network news President David Rhodes and other key managers have said they were unaware of Rose's actions. Yet the Post outlined three episodes where word had reportedly spread: * Annmarie Parr was a 22-year-old news clerk in 1986 when she handed Rose a script and he asked whether she enjoyed sex and how often she liked to have it. She told a senior producer about it and said she didn't want to be alone with Rose, and said her boss laughed and said, "Fine, you don't have to be alone with him anymore." * In 2011, a woman who worked at CBS This Morning said Rose forcibly kissed her at a holiday party. She complained to the show's top producer, Chris Licht, but asked him not to tell human resources about it. Licht told the newspaper he followed her wishes and also talked to Rose about the incident. * A 24-year-old woman who worked the night shift was noticed by Rose last year. He began taking her to expensive restaurants and talked about other jobs. The executive assistant to the show's new producer, Ryan Kadro, said she told her boss about the attention Rose was paying to the young woman, and said he did not seem alarmed. Kadro disputed that she told him about inappropriate behavior. Some of the women told the Post they feared reporting bad behavior to their bosses because the network was more concerned about the male TV personalities. "I had been there long enough to know that it was just the way things went," said Sophie Gayter, 27, who said Rose groped her while they walked down a hall. "People said what they wanted to you. People did what they wanted to you." 'Boys will be boys' Eleanor McManus, co-founder of Press Forward, a group of women who have been victims of sexual misconduct in newsrooms, said the Post report illustrated a systematic problem across news organizations that needed to be addressed. "It's pretty clear that there were people in management who were aware that there was a problem, and nothing was done," McManus told The Associated Press on Thursday. With the stories that have come out about the likes of Rose, Matt Lauer and Mark Halperin, the networks are making strides but women need to know they can report wrongdoings without repercussions, she said. Marcy McGinnis, who was senior vice president of newsgathering at CBS News when she left in 2005, said she didn't know Rose but knew he had a reputation as a "ladies man." His behavior never came up at senior staff meetings, she said, and she was surprised as others when she read about Rose's behavior. "This just proves how important it is for people in positions of authority to believe people when they come forward with complaints, instead of brushing them off [by saying] 'boys will be boys' or 'that's just Charlie,"' McGinnis said. CBS News said it could not confirm or corroborate many of the stories told by the Post. "We continue to look for ways to improve our workplace and this period of reflection and action has been important to all of us," the network said. The network recently appointed a working group led by Karen Raffensberger, CBS standards director, to look at the structure of how CBS handles complaints of inappropriate behavior. For many years, Rose did his PBS interview show at the same time he worked for CBS, and the Post story also examined his behavior there. In 2003, a then-20-year-old intern was brought by Rose on a trip to California, where she alleged that he squeezed her breast while on a car ride. The woman said she complained to PBS management and was told that Rose was harmless. Mozambique rebel leader Afonso Dhlakama died Thursday, according to sources with the Mozambican National Resistance (RENAMO), the country's main opposition party. Party sources and members of his family told VOA Dhlakama died in the remote mountains of Gorongosa, where he had been since 2013 as periodic conflict resumed in the southern African country. A cause of death is not yet confirmed, but some sources say it was a heart attack, and others say it was diabetes-related. Dhlakama led RENAMO for nearly 40 years, including during a 16-year war against the ruling Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) that ended in 1992. RENAMO subsequently emerged as an opposition party that continued to retain armed fighters. He had a series of meetings recently with President Filipe Nyusi and was perceived as playing a significant role in the country's ongoing peace process. Dhlakama and the government announced a truce in December 2016, an apparent step toward a possible formal peace agreement. FRELIMO has ruled Mozambique since it gained independence in 1975 from Portugal, which ruled the country for more than four centuries. Mexicalis Albergue del Desierto Shelter of the Desert is the last place adolescent migrants may find refuge, a hot meal, and a communication life-line before attempting any trek into the United States, legal or otherwise. Its also the first place many land after they have been deported. In the 29-year history of the Baja California, Mexico migrant shelter created for border crossers to feel safe, heard and respected director Monica Oropeza Rodriguez has witnessed National Guard deployments take effect under each of the past three U.S. administrations, Democrat and Republican. And yet, people come again and again and again, out of necessity, Oropeza Rodriguez told VOA. WATCH: National Guard Effect: A Deterrence for Would-Be Crossers? This time, nearly 1,000 National Guard troops have been deployed along the 3,000-kilometer U.S.-Mexico border with more on the way in response to what the Trump Administration has labeled a crisis of lawlessness created in part by a caravan of 1,500 migrants that had been heading across Mexico to the U.S. Border. A few hundred of the migrants arrived at the border in Tijuana earlier this week. We have no idea whats coming through areas that we do not have a way currently to properly and adequately surveil, said Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen, during a recent tour of the San Luis, Arizona border wall and port of entry. To me, she said, that is the definition of a crisis. Secretary Nielsen has cited a roughly 200 percent increase in the total number of apprehensions along the Southwest border in March 2018, as compared to March 2017. But a year-to-year comparison could tell another story. The total number of arrests in 2017 dropped to a 46-year low, and President Donald Trump took credit for it, while calling it still unacceptable on Twitter. More agents on the front lines While the president requested up to 4,000 National Guard troops, the governors of the countrys four border states California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas have to date supplied only about a quarter of that number. Its never enough, said Vinny Duleksy, Special Operations Supervisor for U.S. Border Patrol, Yuma Sector. Based in Arizona, Dulesky told VOA the region has seen an uptick in OTMs short for other than Mexicans who are turning themselves in between ports of entry. The National Guardsmen, he says, are not actually apprehending border crossers. But that doesnt mean theyll benefit border agents any less. [The National Guard] is going to free up those support elements that are usually filled by agents, to get more of our line agents on the front lines, he said. In practical terms for the deployed troops, that means maintenance, clearing roads, [and] helping administratively and logistically, according to Captain Macario Mora, Public Affairs Officer for Operation Guardian Support, which oversees the National Guards coordinated effort with Border Patrol agents. Among the troops are border-area residents who work full-time in other jobs, including police officers, welders, teachers an array of civilian sector jobs that Mora says make them a versatile force. Weve been deployed throughout the world and supportive of our nations defense, so the folks here in this state are more than capable, Mora said. Additional lives lost The National Guard may be armed only in limited circumstances for self-defense, according to U.S. Border Patrol Chief Ronald Vitiello. But guns or not, their presence does not sit well across the border. Were not at war, remarked Oropeza Rodriguez. Were supposedly partner countries, right? Oropeza Rodriguez says past deployments have had adverse consequences, and she doesnt believe this time will be any different. If anything, its more expensive in human lives lost, she claimed. Previous call-ups brought more migrant deaths, and why? Because they are forced to cross through more difficult and risky routes, but it doesnt stop their migration. Yet some migrants admit the U.S. layered approach to security, including the National Guard deployment and use of surveillance technology, is a clear deterrent. The border is tightly guarded. There are no more possibilities, said 17-year-old Cesar Fernandez Morales, a Zacatecas, Mexico-native who sought better economic opportunities for his family, before he was apprehended by U.S. Border Patrol. The dangers Morales faced in his first attempt, he added, were enough to convince him to avoid returning. Frijolitos, pero todos juntos Laura Elena Jimenez, a coordinator at Mexicalis Mana Pastoral Center, a shelter for adult men, says she frequently asks would-be crossers the same question: Why dont you stay in your country, with your family frijolitos pero todos juntos?, which translates roughly to only beans, but at least youre together. Often escaping from violence in Central America, they respond to her the same way: You dont understand. Still, Jimenez entreats migrants to think twice before attempting the dangerous journey by foot. Later, when some of them return, claiming defeat, she weighs in again. I tell them, No, youre not returning defeated. Youre returning alive, Jimenez said. Many have stayed on the path and wanted to return but couldnt. Hold on to that, I tell them. This week, Chads parliament voted to introduce a new constitution that will allow two more terms for President Idriss Deby, who has led the country since 1990. On May 17, Burundians will vote on a constitutional amendment that would enable President Pierre Nkurunziza, president since 2005, to stay in office an additional 16 years. And in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a worsening humanitarian crisis unfolds while President Joseph Kabila refuses to step down, despite reaching the end of his mandated time in office nearly 18 months ago. An analysis by the Africa Center for Strategic Studies (ACSS) earlier this year found that less than 40 percent of countries have enforced constitutional term limits, and leaders in just 15 countries have stepped down after two terms. An author of that study says the consequences can be severe. Joseph Siegle is the director of research at ACSS and worked on the report. He told VOA, The lack of term limits has created these systems where populations cannot change their leaders through constitutional and established political means. It leaves fewer options of using the political process to make those changes and leads to justification for violent alternative measures to be taken, he added. The connection between term limits and conflict reflects the source of political violence in Africa. Most of the conflicts in Africa are the result of political crises, Siegle said. Those include conflicts in the DRC, where Kabila has refused to organize new elections, and in South Sudan, where President Salva Kiir has clung to power in the face of a violent uprising. Africa has seen a succession of historic transfers of power in recent months, including handovers in Angola, Gambia and Zimbabwe. But none of those countries has had leaders step down at the end of a mandated term. In Angola, president Jose Eduardo Santos had been in power 38 years; in Zimbabwe, president Robert Mugabe had ruled for 37. Two of those mens contemporaries remain in office: Teodoro Obiang Nguema of Equatorial Guinea, currently in his 39th year as president, and Paul Biya of Cameroon, in power 35 years. Third democratic wave In the wake of the Cold War, in the 1990s, a global democratic reform movement swept through Africa, Siegle said, leading to the dismantling of the one-party states that were previously enshrined in constitutions and the formation of opposition groups with legal backing. Over time, new systems of governance resulted in elections and the emergence of term limits. Most African leaders who stepped down at the end of their terms did so in the early 2000s. Tanzania was at the forefront of political reforms. Ali Hassan Mwinyi, the countrys second president, stepped down in 1995, after 10 years in power. He was the first African president to fulfill two terms and step down. There was a legacy of the rule of law in Tanzania that you didnt see in some of the other countries, Siegle said. Tanzanias first president, Julius Nyerere, paved the way for Mwinyis two-term presidency, according to Siegle. Although Nyerere led for more than 20 years, he also oversaw the transition to a multi-party state. Nelson Mandela, I think, we could put in that same category. He isnt on our list because he didnt actually serve two terms. Mandela stepped down in 1999, after serving one term. Once Mandela set the precedent, nobody else was going to stay on past their mandates, Siegle said. Press freedoms In countries that observe term limits, press freedoms are much greater, based on 2018 rankings by Reporters Without Borders. Countries with term limits have an average press freedom index of 28. For countries without term limits, with leaders who have not reached their limits, or with limits that have been modified or removed, the average index is 45. Higher scores are worse on RSFs scale, with the worst-possible score being 100. Stability Siegle warned against equating consistent leadership with stability. Indefinite rule, he said, leads to conflict, economic problems and development issues more often than not. Its a misnomer that autocracy leads to stability, he said. Governmental and societal institutions become weaker, he added, eroding the checks and balances necessary for a robust political system. Looking ahead, Siegle foresees that all African nations will have the ability to institute term limits, and all leaders will face increasing pressure to do so. Some pressure to step down is even coming from former leaders. Hailemariam Desalegn, the former prime minister of Ethiopia, called upon South Sudans Salva Kiir to step down, characterizing the conflict in South Sudan as a failure of leadership. Immediately after my resignation, I asked them, please would you resign because you failed to resolve this problem in South Sudan, he said in response to a question from Mo Ibrahim, a Sudanese-British billionaire businessman who hosted a forum in Kigali, Rwanda, last month. Ibrahims foundation awards a one-time $5 million payment, and a $200,000 annual payout for life, to African heads of state who uphold the promise to transfer power peacefully. Leaders should come to their senses, to their mind, and they should somehow leave so that they can give to the new leadership, new blood leadership, who can take the country to the next level, Desalegn added. North Korea on Wednesday dismissed as "nonsense'' what it said was a U.S. claim that Pyongyang hacked the database of the United Nations committee that monitors sanctions against the North, saying the Trump administration should instead be working toward peace. North Korea's U.N. Mission said in a press statement that linking the country to the recent hacking incident is a "stereotyped trick to keep up the atmosphere of sanction and pressure'' against Pyongyang "at all costs.'' The mission said the United States "again picked fault'' with North Korea over the hacking incident at a closed meeting of the sanctions committee on Monday. North Korea is not a committee member and did not participate in the meeting. It quoted what it described as "U.S. and hostile forces'' as saying "it is North Korea that has the biggest concern in the work of 1718 sanctions committee and owns the hacking capacity.'' It added that the U.S. urged the committee "to thoroughly probe the true state and take steps.'' A spokesperson for the U.S. Mission said that "the quotes and comments attributed to the U.S. delegation are entirely false.'' The spokesperson was not authorized to speak publicly and had no further comment. Two diplomats familiar with Monday's meeting, who also were not authorized to speak publicly, said the United States did not speak about hacking during that session. The panel of experts monitoring sanctions against North Korea said in its latest report in March that it "continues to be targeted by a sophisticated hacking campaign,'' first noted in 2017. It said Microsoft confirmed that another attack was conducted by a group associated with a "nation-state.'' The panel said "it is of the view that the strategic nature of the phishing, the emails selected for forwarding and the disruptive nature of the campaign amount to sanctions evasion.'' The Security Council has imposed increasingly tough sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons program that have severely restricted its exports and imports. Many diplomats and analysts credit the sanctions with helping promote the thaw in relations between North Korea and South Korea as well as a planned meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The date for the meeting could be announced by week's end. Sessions of the sanctions committee, which includes all 15 Security Council members and is known as the 1718 committee, are closed. It has imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on 80 individuals and ordered an asset freeze on 75 companies, banks, organizations and other entities. North Korea reiterated that it has never recognized the Security Council's sanctions resolutions and the 1718 committee, calling both "illegal and unlawful.'' The mission added that it "is not interested in what the sanctions committee does.'' The mission said "the U.S. and hostile forces'' should be making an effort to help detente and the peace process on the Korean Peninsula rather than "manipulating plots with that hacking incident.'' Pakistan denied reports Thursday that it is secretly negotiating a deal for the release and handover to the United States of an imprisoned doctor who helped the CIA hunt down and kill al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden in 2011. Shakil Afridi, the Pakistani doctor in question, led a fake hepatitis B vaccination campaign to collect genetic samples of the bin Laden family. The move assisted the U.S. military in tracking down the terror mastermind in the town of Abbottabad deep inside Pakistan. Days later, Afridi was arrested after word spread about his role in the unilateral U.S. military raid that Islamabad condemned as a violation of its sovereignty. The doctor was swiftly tried and sentenced to a jail term of 23 years for treating and financing terrorists in his native tribal district on the Afghan border. U.S. officials praised Afridi as their hero for helping Washington in bringing to justice the mastermind of the September 2001 terrorist attacks in the U.S., and Afridi's continued imprisonment is among irritants straining bilateral ties. No deal [with the U.S.] is being negotiated," Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal told his weekly news conference. U.S. officials maintain that charges against Afridi were framed to punish him for his role in the successful raid that eliminated the fugitive al-Qaida chief. Washington has been consistently calling on Islamabad to release him. Spokesman Faisal asserted that in recent meetings between U.S. officials and their Pakistani foreign ministry counterparts, Afridis issue has not been brought up, nor has there been any proposal under Pakistans consideration to hand him over to any country. On behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I can assure you that he is not being handed over to the U.S., he said. No official comment from US Reports about an alleged Pakistan-U.S. deal surfaced last week when authorities confirmed without explaining that Afridi had been airlifted from the northwestern city of Peshawar to the main prison in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, near capital city Islamabad. The transfer took place ahead of the May 2 anniversary of the bin Laden raid, prompting speculation that Afridi could be on his way out of imprisonment. U.S. officials have not offered any comments on the latest developments involving the doctor. A U.S. State Department official, while speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity last week, declined to speculate on Afridis transfer to another prison. We are aware of reports that Dr. Afridi has been transferred to another prison, and call on the government of Pakistan to take all necessary measures to ensure Dr. Afridis safety, the official said. Pakistani officials maintain they would not release Afridi under any U.S. pressure, saying he has been sentenced for working against the countrys laws and national interests. Relations between Pakistan and the U.S. have deteriorated over allegations that Taliban insurgents fighting local and international forces in neighboring Afghanistan use sanctuaries on Pakistani soil to plan attacks, charges Islamabad rejects. Faisal reiterated Pakistan's stance at Thursday's briefing. There is no organized terrorist presence on Pakistani soil. However, Pakistans porous border with Afghanistan provides opportunities for movement of terrorists from either side, he said. Faisal noted that Pakistani security forces are strengthening border management, hoping Afghanistan and NATO-led forces will enhance security on the Afghan side of the frontier. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says President Donald Trump's plan to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un provides "an unprecedented opportunity to change the course of history on the Korean Peninsula." Pompeo was formally sworn in as the 70th U.S. secretary of state in a ceremony attended by Trump. As VOA's Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports from the State Department, the secretary has been preparing for the summit and dealing with Iran and other foreign policy challenges. Police are bracing for a significant amount of protests for and against guns during the National Rifle Association's meeting in Dallas this weekend following a spate of mass shootings, progun-control marches, and November's congressional elections sharpening an always volatile debate. An estimated 80,000 gun-lovers will be in the city for the NRA's annual convention. President Donald Trump is expected to address the NRA leadership on Friday, the first day of the three-day meeting, and Vice President Mike Pence also is scheduled to attend the convention. The powerful gun lobby, which boasts 5 million members, faces an invigorated gun-control movement this year that has sought to curb the NRA's influence since a man shot dead 17 people at a Florida high school on Feburary 14. Dallas police were hoping for the "highest level of decorum and civility" from the demonstrations, which will include a "die-in" protest outside the convention hall on Friday, when Trump is due to speak. "We will not tolerate property destruction. We will not tolerate violent behavior," Dallas Police Assistant Chief Paul Stokes said at a news conference on Wednesday. The gun debate in America shifted after a 19-year-old former student used a semiautomatic rifle to kill 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Students who survived became national figures by calling for gun control legislation and a check on the NRA's influence. Florida quickly passed a law raising the legal age for buying rifles and imposing a three-day waiting period on gun sales while also allowing the arming of some school employees. Dallas Mayor Pro Tem Dwaine Caraway had even urged the NRA to find another city for its annual meeting. Caraway is calling on the NRA to discuss strategies that will curb gun violence. "In Dallas, gun violence survivors, students and activists are laser-focused on harnessing the momentum from the recent March for Our Lives events to push for gun safety and create lasting policy reform," said Cassidy Geoghegan, a spokeswoman for Everytown for Gun Safety, one of the leading U.S. gun control groups. Guns are banned from Friday's leadership forum because of U.S. Secret Service protocol for protecting the president but elsewhere attendees will be able to carry weapons throughout "15 acres of guns and gear" exhibits at the convention center. Across the street from the center, a coalition of six local gun rights groups plan to hold a counterprotest on Saturday that they expect to draw several hundred people. Participants are encouraged to openly carry sidearms, instead of rifles and body armor, in an effort to appear more approachable. "Gun control supporters have gone largely unchallenged in the protest arena as of late," the counterprotest's organizers wrote on Facebook. "It is time to stand up peacefully and show the media that Gun Rights matter to Texans and that we are not just the fringe." Bipartisan support is increasing in favor of stronger gun regulations, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll in March. Fifty-four percent of Americans support stricter gun control policies such as background checks on gun purchasers and banning so-called assault rifles. A nurse working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been abducted in the Somali capital Mogadishu, the organization has confirmed. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague," said a statement from Daniel O'Malley, ICRC's deputy head of delegation for Somalia. "She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people." A spokesman for the Somali Security Ministry, Abdulaziz Ali Ibrahim, tells VOA that the woman was abducted from the ICRC compound. Ibrahim says the woman is a German national and identified her as Sonja Nientiet. ICRC says the abduction happened around 8 p.m. local time on Wednesday night when armed men entered the ICRC compound in Mogadishu. The ICRC uses private security guards. Neighbors said they did not hear any confrontation or gunshots from the compound. Ibrahim says police have recovered a vehicle used by the abductors. We recovered the vehicle but not the woman, they transferred [her] to another vehicle, he said. ICRC said its in contact with authorities to try to secure her release. It is not appropriate to provide any additional information at this stage, said an ICRC statement. Guwahati: Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE), a SIAM initiative in association with Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Transport Department Government of Assam, organised its annual convention today in Guwahati, Assam. The theme for this year's convention was Enforcement, Intelligent Transportation and Training for Safer Roads, which was aimed at addressing the safety hazards that our roads present due to lack of road safety awareness. The SAFE convention was organised to share the best practices adopted by government and private organisations in areas of vehicular safety, technology innovations, and standards for enhancing road safety. The convention was attended by prominent guests from the ministry and delegates from different backgrounds. Naveen Soni, President, Society for Automotive Fitness & Environment (SAFE), welcomed the chief guests, dignitaries and delegates. During the inaugural session, Guests of Honour, Neeti Sarkar, CEO & PD, NATRiP, along with Ashutosh Agnihotri, IAS, Commissioner & Secretary (Transport, Industries & Commerce & Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department), Government of Assam addressed the delegates. Agnihotri thanks Automobile manufacturers to organised Road Safety Conference at Guwahati and requested all corporates to plan for year long activities across Assam to improve the situation of road safety. Speaking on the occasion, Assam Forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya said that, in our country, we have vehicles with new and best technology and we are trying to make them safer. "We are working in the area of technology for vehicles and for road safety. It is our responsibility to lay emphasis on spreading awareness on road safety as our moral duty. The drivers need to understand the importance of being sensible on roads. The drivers must ensure that their awareness and sensible driving skills can prevent a road fatality. We are working towards initiating better driver training workshops for ensuring we have safer roads," Suklabaidya said. Speaking at the convention, Naveen Soni, President, SAFE said that, road safety is of utmost importance to us. The onus for making our roads safe is on us on us as it is on the regulators. We as manufacturers, apart from ensuring the technical safety aspects in vehicles also invest in creating and spreading awareness about safety. Government intervention and industry participation will be the key to building a robust and sustainable road safety model. Automobiles manufacturers are extensively trying to implement various initiatives in the area of improving road safety. P.K. Banerjee, Executive Director, SIAM said that, with the socio-economic progress of the country happening at such a rapid pace, it is important for road safety measures to also evolve with the times and ensure that the all citizens are covered and safe. We have been working with the government towards holding awareness building workshops across the country as well as introduction of accident, data analytics and implementation of technology based solutions in traffic management. There have been a number of successful programs held across the country that have made some significant difference. Training programs are also being organised to make drivers more aware. SIAM SAFE is working towards ensuring these programs are driven with an agenda of Building the Nation, Responsibly. Three different technical sessions were organised during the convention which focussed on safety. The first technical session highlighted the successful projects on Road Safety implemented by Enforcement Agencies. During the first session, Rakesh Kumar, IAS, Transport Commissioner, Transport Department, Government of Assam, students Anil Chhikara, MLO, Transport Department, Government of NCT Delhi; Sanjay Sasane & Yogesh Bag, Transport Department, Government of Maharashtra and Prerna Singh, Centre for Road Safety, Sardar Patel University of Police Rajasthan, presented their insights to all delegates. The second technical session laid emphasis on safety as a top priority. Traffic planning is one of the strongest steps which will assist in safer and cleaner environment. This session focussed on steps taken in planning the traffic by usage of intelligent transportation and accident data analysis. During this session, Anand Narayanan, Sitikantha Padhy, Manager, ADAC, NATRiP, N Balasubrahmanian, Dy. Vice President; Renault Nissan Technology and Business Centre, India and Anubrata Choudhary, Sr. Manager, IAMHere24x7, shared insights on the ITS usage in traffic planning and accident analysis system required for bringing the reduction in road fatalities on roads. The third technical session drew attention towards the importance of training. This session focussed on driver training and other projects which spreads knowledge in the area road safety and environment. During this session, Mohammed Ali , Head DTI Kaithal, Ashok Leyland Ltd; Arun Lakshman, Asst. General Manager, IDTR, Maruti Suzuki India Ltd; Prabhu Nagraj, Vice President, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt Ltd; Abhijit Kumar Mandal, National Institute for Automotive Inspection, Maintenance and Training (NIAIMT), Silchar and Prashant Chopra, National Safety Head, Hero MotoCorp Ltd. presented their views on the importance of training the drivers. The number of asylum applications by Russian citizens in the United States hit a 24-year high in 2017, jumping nearly 40 percent from the previous year and continuing an upward march that began after Russian President Vladimir Putin returned to the Kremlin in 2012. U.S. authorities received 2,664 new asylum applications from Russian nationals in the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, a 39-percent increase compared to 2016. RFE/RL obtained the 2017 statistics, which have yet to be released publicly, under a Freedom Of Information Act request filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The 2017 figure is more than double the number of first-time applications by Russians since 2012, when Putin was elected to a third presidential term after serving four years as prime minister. It also eclipsed the previous high according to USCIS data for post-Soviet Russia, set in 1994 with 2,127 first-time asylum applications by Russians. Putin has been accused by critics of overseeing a mounting crackdown on dissent including against the political opposition and businesspeople not in step with the Kremlin and fostering stigmatization of sexual minorities since he regained the presidency. A flashpoint of criticism has been law signed by Putin in 2013, a year into his third term, that banned disseminating "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations" to minors, and which has been widely denounced as discriminatory an accusation the Kremlin rejects. The USCIS statistics do not indicate the basis for the asylum claims, though successful applicants must demonstrate "persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution" in their home country "on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." Rights activists and immigration attorneys say the surge in the number of Russian asylum applications in the United States has been driven in part by the 2013 law concerning sexual minorities. In a ruling last year, the European Court of Human Rights said that by enacting such laws, Russian authorities "reinforce stigma and prejudice and encourage homophobia, which is incompatible with the notions of equality, pluralism, and tolerance inherent in a democratic society." 'I had to leave' Vlad, a gay Russian applicant in his 30s, told RFE/RL that he was simply looking to move somewhere where he could live "more freely," and that a lawyer suggested U.S. asylum as an option. He said his family is not aware that he is gay and asked that his last name not be published. Vlad said in a telephone interview that a man he had dated in Russia was killed after leaving a gay club, and that he believes militant antigay thugs may have been responsible. He said he had also been harassed in Russia due to his sexual orientation. "I understood that I had to leave, and that its unlikely I could live peacefully and find a partner in Russia," Vlad said, adding that he applied for U.S. asylum in December 2016. Lyosha Gorshkov, a New York-based activist and asylee who heads RUSA LGBT, a support network for Russian-speaking sexual minorities and their families, told RFE/RL that since 2016 there has also been a "huge influx" of HIV-positive gay men from Russia seeking U.S. asylum. Gorshkov attributes this to significant difficulties in obtaining medication in Russia to treat HIV. Canada and several European countries last year began helping gay men from Chechnya obtain asylum following revelations about an alleged campaign of torture and murder targeting gay Chechens in the mainly Muslim republic in southern Russia. Russian activists say gay Chechens face difficulties in obtaining a U.S. visa that would allow them to travel to the United States and apply for asylum. Wendy Barlow, an immigration attorney with The Law Offices of Grinberg & Segal in New York, told RFE/RL that her firm had "a couple of consultations with members of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community from Chechnya" last year, but had not represented any. 'Getting shaken down' Russian entrepreneurs are also seeking political asylum in the United States, claiming they were targeted by Russian authorities, according to U.S.-based attorneys handling such cases. New York-based attorney Boris Palant said that most of his Russian asylum cases involve "persecution in the form of a fabricated criminal case." "One is a banker, but most of them are young businessmen," Palant told RFE/RL. Another New York-based attorney, Andrew Johnson, said his firm took on 25-30 new cases involving Russian asylum applicants in 2017. Half of those involved "straight political opinion," while 35 percent concerned politically tinged "business-related" cases, Johnson said. He said his firm had clients who say they were "getting shaken down on their business dealings merely because they are partisan and anti-Putin, and funding or being involved in another political party." In some cases, even apolitical asylum seekers say they were accused by Russian authorities of antigovernment behavior after they rebuffed requests for bribes and other official pressure, Johnson said. Putin was recently elected by a landslide to a fourth term as president in a ballot decried by opposition activists as tightly controlled political theater. During his March 1 state-of-the-nation address, delivered at the height of the campaign period, Putin said that Russia must "get rid of everything that enables corrupt officials and law enforcement officers to pressure businesses." Both Putin and his stopgap predecessor, current Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, have made similar calls in the past. 'Hidden' migration The 2,664 new Russian asylum applications in the United States last year a 268-percent increase since 2012 represent, of course, a tiny percentage of Russia's total population of 144 million. But that figure did place the United States ahead of every European Union country except Germany in terms of Russian first-time asylum applications in 2017. According to full-year EU immigration data for 2017, Germany received 4,885 of the more than 12,600 first-time Russian asylum applications in the 28-member bloc. Around 90 percent of Russian citizens who apply for asylum in Germany are ethnic Chechens who enter the EU on the Belarusian-Polish border, according to Olga Gulina, head of the Berlin-based Institute on Migration Policy. In the United States, "there is a lot more variety among (Russian) people seeking asylum," Gulina told RFE/RL. Gulina said, however, that "humanitarian migration" by Russians to Europe is "hidden" to a significant degree. "People prefer not to apply for asylum. They prefer to look for other mechanisms," including educational programs, Gulina said. A study published in January by researchers at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration estimated that annually, around 100,000 Russians have left their homeland in recent years. Around 40 percent of those people have higher educations, according to the study. There searchers surveyed highly qualified Russians who moved to the West and stayed there after 2010. A majority of the respondents said they left due to economic difficulties that snowballed in 2014, when flagging oil prices and Western sanctions over Russia's expansionism in Ukraine battered the Russian economy. A quarter of the respondents said they left due to the "political situation" in Russia, including "disappointment" after the 2012 election that brought Putin back to the Kremlin and the "events of 2014," when Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula and war between Kyivs forces and Russia-backed separatists erupted in eastern Ukraine. President Donald Trump is expected to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear agreement on May 12. Tehran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with China, France, Germany, Russia, Britain, and the United States in 2015. Iran agreed to curbs on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of some sanctions. But the withdrawal of the United States will probably sink the deal. If that happens, Iran could retaliate by undermining the interests of Washington and its allies in the Middle East. Here are some possible scenarios: Iraq When Islamic State seized much of Iraq in 2014, Iran was quick to support Baghdad. Iran has since helped arm and train thousands of Shi'ite fighters in Iraq. These Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) are also a significant political force. If the deal falls through, Iran could encourage PMF factions who want the U.S. to leave Iraq to step up rhetorical, and maybe military, attacks against American forces. These could be rocket, mortar and roadside bomb attacks not directly linked to a specific Shi'ite militia, which would allow Iran to deny it had changed its position of avoiding direct conflict with U.S. forces in Iraq. Syria Iran and paramilitary allies such as Lebanon's Hezbollah have been involved in Syria's war since 2012. Iran has armed and trained thousands of Shi'ite paramilitary fighters to shore up the government. Israel says Iran has recruited at least 80,000 Shi'ite fighters. Iran's presence in Syria has brought Tehran into direct conflict with Israel for the first time, with a series of high-profile clashes in recent months. Israeli officials say they will never let Tehran or Hezbollah establish a permanent military presence in neighboring Syria. If the nuclear deal falls through, Iran will have little incentive to stop its Shi'ite militia allies in Syria from carrying out attacks against Israel. Iran and the forces it controls in Syria could also cause trouble for about 2,000 U.S. troops deployed in northern and eastern Syria to support Kurdish-led fighters. A top adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader said in April he hoped Syria and its allies would drive U.S. troops out of eastern Syria. Lebanon In 2006, Hezbollah fought Israel to a standstill in a 34-day border war. According to Israeli and U.S. officials, Iran is now helping Hezbollah build factories to manufacture precision-guided missiles or refit longer-range missiles with precision guidance systems. Israeli forces have repeatedly attacked Hezbollah in Syria where the group is leading many of Iran's Shi'ite militia allies. The rhetoric between Israel and Iran has ramped up in recent weeks. Though Hezbollah and Israel say they are not interested in conflict, the tensions could easily spill over into another Lebanon war. Hezbollah said last year that any war waged by Israel against Syria and Lebanon could draw thousands of fighters from countries including Iran and Iraq, indicating that Shi'ite militias could come to Lebanon to help Hezbollah. Hezbollah is also a major political force in Lebanon, and may strengthen its position at elections on May 6. For the moment, the group is working with its political opponents, notably Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri, who is backed by Western governments. But if the nuclear deal falls through, Iran could pressure Hezbollah to isolate its opponents, a development experts believe could destabilize Lebanon. "Hezbollah literally controls Lebanese politics," said Hilal Khashan, a professor of political studies at the American University of Beirut. "If they do that, it would be sheer harassment." Yemen Iran has never acknowledged direct military involvement in Yemen. But U.S. and Saudi officials say it is supplying rebel Houthi fighters with missiles and other arms. The Houthis have fired missiles at Riyadh and Saudi oil facilities, saying they are retaliating against air raids on Yemen. Iran and Saudi Arabia are locked in a regional power struggle. Supporters of the Iran nuclear deal say it has prevented the conflict from descending into open warfare. If the deal falls through, Iran could increase support for the Houthis, possibly provoking a military response from Saudi Arabia and Gulf allies such as the United Arab Emirates. "I'm not ruling out Iranian support to the Houthis," said Khashan. Treaty Iran also has options directly related to its nuclear programme. Iranian officials have said that one option they are examining is to withdraw completely from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), an agreement designed to stop the spread of nuclear weapons. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the country is not interested in developing nuclear weapons. But if Iran withdraws from the NPT, it will set off alarm bells globally. "This would of course be a disastrous course for the Islamic Republic, as it will find itself isolated," said Ali Alfoneh, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. Even if Iran does not withdraw from the NPT, it has indicated that it will probably ramp up enrichment of uranium, strictly limited under the deal to help allay fears it could be used to produce atomic bomb material. Under the current deal, Iran's enrichment levels must remain around 3.6 percent. Iran stopped producing 20 percent enriched uranium and gave up the majority of its stockpile as part of the 2015 agreement. Uranium refined to 20 percent fissile purity is beyond the 5 percent normally required to fuel civilian nuclear power plants, although short of highly enriched, or 80 to 90 percent, purity needed for a nuclear bomb. This week, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, said Iran was able to enrich uranium to a higher level than it could before the deal. Iran's actions may be influenced by the extent to which the other signatories to the deal respond to U.S. withdrawal, according to analysts. That will depend on: the extent to which France, Germany and Britain insist that their companies can continue to do business with Iran under what is an international agreement ratified unanimously by the UN Security Council; the level of diplomatic support for Iran from Russia, its partner in Syria; and how much China wishes to bind Iran into its Belt and Road foreign trade and investment initiative. There will be a test of wills if the Trump administration restores sanctions and threatens violators with being shut out of the U.S. banking system. Of the other signatories only China, the biggest buyer of Iranian oil, is able to brush this off. Scotland's criminal appeals body said Thursday that it will review the case of a Libyan man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, as his family tries posthumously to clear his name. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission said it has decided "that it is in the interests of justice" to review the conviction of Abdelbaset al-Megrahi over the bombing, which killed 270 people. Al-Megrahi was convicted in 2001 of blowing up Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie on Dec. 21, 1988, killing all 259 people aboard and 11 on the ground. Many victims were American college students flying home for Christmas. Al-Megrahi lost one appeal and abandoned another before being freed in 2009 on compassionate grounds. He died of cancer in 2012, still protesting his innocence. Review Commission chief executive Gerard Sinclair said al-Megrahi abandoned his second appeal "as he held a genuine and reasonable belief that such a course of action would result in him being able to return home to Libya, at a time when he was suffering from terminal cancer." He said "on that basis" the commission considered it right to review the conviction. The review commission will decide whether to hand the case to an appeals court. Al-Megrahi's family is seeking to overturn the murder conviction, citing concerns about the evidence, including doubts about the timer alleged to have detonated the bomb. Family lawyer Aamer Anwar welcomed the decision, saying "the reputation of the Scottish law has suffered both at home and internationally because of widespread doubts about the conviction of Mr. al-Megrahi." The Syrian Democratic Forces, supported by the U.S.-led coalition against the Islamic State, said they are prepared to respond to any attacks from the Syrian army and its militias as they begin an operation against the final IS strongholds in Deir el-Zour province in eastern Syria. The SDF on Tuesday announced the launch of a military operation, code-named al-Jazeera Storm, against IS remnants who have reportedly regrouped in the border region between Syria and Iraq after losing control over major populated cities, including its once self-proclaimed capital, Raqqa. We have the right to defend ourselves and appropriately respond to any aggression on our forces, said Lilwa al-Abdallah, the SDF spokeswoman for the operation, told VOA. The areas liberated from IS have cost us the pure blood of our martyrs, and we will not relinquish them easily, she added. The new military offensive will aim to oust IS militants from a vast plain in the town of Hajin along the eastern side of the Euphrates River and north of Abu Kamal town along the Iraq-Syria border. It will be supported by the U.S.-led coalition. WATCH: US-Backed Forces Targeting Final IS Enclave in Syria The fighting will be difficult, but we and our partners will prevail, U.S. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. We will defend United States, coalition and partner forces if attacked. Russia and Iran U.S. officials have repeatedly said their battle against IS in eastern Syrias Deir el-Zour has been complicated by the close proximity of the Syrian regime, backed by Russia and Iranian-linked Shiite militias. The province is considered strategic because of its proximity to the Iraqi border and its oil fields. The U.S.-backed forces advanced against IS positions from the eastern side of the province last September, followed shortly by a separate attack from the Syrian army and its allied militants from the western side. The Syrian government now controls the provinces capital, which goes by the same name, and the entire western side, while the U.S.-backed forces hold the east. Over the months, the U.S-led coalition has several times reported that it responded to fire from the Syrian-allied militants and has warned of possible escalation with Russia. A U.S. airstrike in February reportedly killed at least 100 Russian mercenaries after a surprise assault on a U.S.-held base in the province. More recently, the coalition jets Sunday reportedly carried out airstrikes against pro-Syrian government forces after the Syrian army briefly captured a string of villages east of the Euphrates River from the SDF. Rights groups, including the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said at least nine pro-government fighters were killed in the strikes before the territory was regained by the U.S.-backed forces. Hashim Muhammad, the SDF commander of the al-Jazeera Storm operation, accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of playing a game by trying to intentionally hamper their operation in eastern Deir el-Zour. The regime is now collecting information on our operation to make sure we, along with the coalition, fail in our mission against IS, he told VOA, adding that the Syria government conspires to attack our forces each time we prepare to liberate the Syrian soil from terrorism. Muhammad said his forces would coordinate with the Iraqi army to keep the pressure on the Iraqi side and ensure a quick victory. The control of the border area will help SDF secure Deir el-Zour oil fields, including Syrias largest al-Omar field that came under SDF control last October but has faced continued threats from IS militants in the region. The SDF halted its fight against IS in eastern Syria and turned westward in mid-March to fight a Turkish incursion in the Kurdish enclave of Afrin. But the forces trickled back to eastern Syria after Turkish forces announced full control over the city. South Korea is looking into developing and financing economic projects with North Korea that could take effect if a nuclear deal is reached with the United States. South Korean Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said on Wednesday the government was internally carrying out preparations to organize, finance and implement possible inter-Korea projects. But he also emphasized that Seoul would first seek support from the international community for any North Korean development projects, and would only proceed if the U.S. -North Korea summit, expected to be held in late May or June, produces a joint denuclearization agreement. North Korea is under tough sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council for its nuclear weapons and missiles tests, including accelerated efforts in the last two years to develop a long-range nuclear missile that could potentially target the U.S. mainland. The international sanctions ban an estimated 90 percent of the countrys external trade. Seeking sanctions relief is considered a key motivating factor in North Korean leader Kim Jong Uns diplomatic pivot this year to suspend further provocative missile and nuclear tests, and to engage in talks to dismantle his nuclear arsenal. But easing sanctions would make it more difficult to enforce the Norths denuclearization promises. Once the sanctions are lifted, North Korea will gain autonomy over its trade, and considering its low labor costs and skilled workforce, I think the North Korean economy would gain power again, said Shin Beom-chul, the director of Center for Security and Unification at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul. U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted he will keep sanctions in place until North Korea completely dismantles its nuclear program. Infrastructure projects South Korea, however, is considering a range of economic incentives to encourage Kim to follow through on a nuclear deal with Trump. But these investments are prohibited by the U.N. sanctions and would require a Security Council exemption to proceed. At the recent inter-Korean summit, Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in agreed to increase economic cooperation, in addition to supporting the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Developing modern railways that would connect South and North Korea to Russia and China were specifically mentioned in their joint statement. Other possible projects include improving seaports, as well as building roads and electrical power plants in the impoverished and underdeveloped North. The cost of these infrastructure projects could cost more than $65 billion, and would require extensive financing, as South Korea currently has only $1 billion in its Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund that was established for this purpose. If North Korea does give up its nuclear weapons, there will likely be economic aid provided by strategic regional powers, including the U.S., China, Japan and Russia. But South Korea is taking a proactive role to be a major investor in developing the Norths mineral trade and other markets. It is expected that South Korea will carry most of the costs. In fact there are many economic resources that are strategically valuable in developing North Korea, said Joung Eun-lee, a research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification. Peacetime economy Funding infrastructure projects could also help transition the North to a peacetime economy, even while the trade sanctions remain in place. The two Koreas have agreed to pursue a peace treaty to replace the armistice put in place at the end of the Korean War in 1953. If implemented, North Korea would likely be expected to significantly reduce its conventional forces that currently include over one million soldiers. International funding could also be used to provide jobs for former soldiers to work on building roads, bridges and other needed development projects. It is not so much the relaxation of the trade sanctions as it is subsidized infrastructure development. That is what North Korea needs upfront, said Bruce Bennett, a North Korea analyst at the Rand Corporation research organization. South Korea had invested billions of dollars into North Korean development projects in the past, like the Kaesong Industrial Complex that employed over 5,000 North Korean workers before it was shut down in 2016 following a nuclear test, and the Kumgang Mountain tourism program that ended when a South Korean visitor was shot by a North Korean soldier in 2008. The Arizona governor signed a plan Thursday to give striking teachers a 20 percent pay raise, ending their five-day walkout after a dramatic all-night legislative session and sending more than a million public school students back to the classroom. Gov. Doug Ducey's signature awarded teachers a 9 percent raise in the fall and 5 percent in each of the next two years. Teachers did not get everything they wanted, but they won substantial gains from reluctant lawmakers. "The educators have solved the education crisis! They've changed the course of Arizona," Noah Karvelis of Arizona Educators United shouted to several thousand cheering teachers. "The change happens with us!" Hours after Ducey acted, strike organizers called for an end to the walkout. Some schools planned to reopen Friday, with others likely to resume classes next week. The Senate approved the pay raises just before dawn as hundreds of red-shirted teachers followed the proceedings from the lobby, many sitting on the cold stone floor. The night before, the teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the country, held a candlelight vigil in a courtyard outside the original neoclassical Capitol building. They stood together with their right hands over their hearts and sang "America the Beautiful." Wrapped in blankets or sleeping bags, they napped on the ground or in folding metal chairs, occasionally using cellphones to monitor an online video stream of the legislative debate in the chambers. Ducey said the teachers had earned a raise and praised the legislation as "a real win" for both teachers and students. The pay increases will cost about $300 million for the coming year alone. 'Far short' of demands Some teachers returned to the Capitol on Thursday as lawmakers debated the rest of the state's $10.4 billion budget plan. Among them was Wes Oswald, a third-grade teacher from Tucson who made the two-hour drive for a sixth day. Oswald said the budget still does not address serious issues such as the need for higher per-pupil spending, raises for support staff and a smaller-student-to-counselor ratio. Teachers must still fight for those problems to be addressed, Oswald said, adding that "the worst thing would be for this movement to dissolve." Arizona Education Association President Joe Thomas said Thursday that educators now should focus on a campaign for a November ballot measure that would seek more education funding from an income tax increase on the wealthiest taxpayers. "The budget is a significant investment, but it falls far short" of what the movement demanded, Thomas said. The state's largest district in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, as well as districts in the suburbs of Scottsdale and Glendale, planned to reopen Friday. Officials from Tucson's biggest school district said they will not be ready and were working to reopen 86 school sites Monday. Many other Arizona districts had not announced plans for resuming classes. Education cuts over the past decade have sliced deeply into Arizona's public schools. Teachers wanted a return to pre-recession funding levels, regular raises, competitive pay for support staff and a pledge not to adopt any tax cuts until per-pupil funding reaches the national average. Phoenix-area teacher Rebecca Wilson was among those who camped out in the Capitol overnight. "I'm glad it passed and we'll get something because I'm a single mom of three kids, but it's not enough," she told Phoenix-area radio station KTAR. The package provides the state's schools will a partial restoration of nearly $400 million in recession-era cuts, with a promise to restore the rest in five years. Other cuts remain in place. Party lines Minority Democrats mainly voted against the budget plan, drawing criticism from Republicans. "You know, talk is pretty cheap it's your vote that counts," Republican Rep. Anthony Kern said. "If Republicans voted with Democrats tonight, you would be walking away with zero." Democratic Rep. Reginald Bolding urged lawmakers not to congratulate themselves for easing the same crisis they created. "You can't set a house on fire, call 911 and claim to be a hero. And that's what this body has done," Bolding said. One Republican lawmaker upset about the strike proposed amendments to make it illegal for teachers to espouse political beliefs at work, to require the attorney general to investigate schools that allow political activity and to bar schools from closing during a walkout. "There are hundreds of families contacting me that are harmed financially, occupationally," an emotional Rep. Kelly Townsend said. Rep. Mitzi Epstein, a Democrat, tried and failed to win support for an amendment that would mandate a 250:1 ratio for students to school counselors. Epstein said the bill could help prevent suicide and bullying and improve academic performance. "Not only is school not fun anymore, but it's scary," she said. For many international students, being accepted to school in the U.S. and getting a full scholarship is like winning the lottery. Maybe better. "It is my sincerest honor to congratulate you on earning the Presidential Fellow scholarship," wrote Michael Tidwell, president of University of Texas-Tyler, to 100 scholars in Nepal in December. "This means our university and hopefully your new home for the next four years is taking care of tuition, fees, housing, meal plan, and books! "Yes, I'm serious!" Apparently, not really. A few months later, UT-Tyler rescinded most of the full-ride scholarships, saying that "due to extraordinary demand for this year's Fellows program, our scholarship requests exceeded the amount budgeted for this year. "As a result, funds for the Presidential Fellows program are no longer available, and we will not be able to offer you the Presidential Fellows scholarship. We initially thought we could include you as a Fellow this year, but the popularity of the program was far greater than expected." Ouch. Not only was this a financial issue, but this kind of news so late in the acceptance cycle has left the students with few options. "I feel very sad," honors student Roshan Poudel told VOA. "I feel depressed. I was making plans." When he first received his acceptance letter, it took a minute for him to appreciate the enormity of the scholarship offer, he said. "You have until March 1" to pay a $100 deposit to confirm, the university wrote, which Poudel paid promptly. An email February 1 with the word "APPROVED" in big letters arrived, confirming his deposit. Roommates were assigned and their names were sent to him. Another email arrived March 29, inviting Poudel to the honors program and asking him to mark his calendar for an orientation session. But Friday, April 13, came an email marked, "URGENT: Please read ... " The university had erred and was offering a far lesser scholarship, called the Patriot, worth $5,000. The university also offered Poudel and other Nepalese students in-state tuition of $17,000 a year. The email could not have been more stunning. While Poudel comes from Pokhara, a beautiful city on Phewa Lake in central Nepal, his father earns $500 a month. His mother "cried when I got the scholarship, and she cried when I got the scholarship revoked." She wants him to stay in Nepal now, not trusting the U.S. will take proper care of her son. "We had a perfect storm of things," said Lucas Roebuck, UTT chief communications officer. "We were completely unprepared. ... The idea that hundreds of people would apply was new to us. ... It was a SNAFU." SNAFU is shorthand for a situation that has been fouled up. More than 1 million international students are studying in the U.S., with nearly half of them coming from China and India. In the past few years, Nepal a small country of 30 million people living among the peaks of the Himalaya mountains sent more than 11,000 students from Chitwan, Humla, Pokhara, Jhapa, Nawalparasi, Bara, Dang and other places to study in the U.S. Roebuck explained that UTT had made offers to about 100 scholars from Nepal, upping the Nepalese representation at his school from 10 Nepalese undergrads and 20 graduate students. UTT expected what is known as "melt," or some international students not accepting the offer in favor of other schools or programs. But that didn't happen. And the budget did not allow for all those who accepted. So UTT made the cuts, leaving around 30 accepted full-ride students with far lesser offers than what had been announced months earlier. Roebuck said the school understands the students' anguish. "I didn't initially believe the news that UT Tyler had canceled scholarships," Joan Liu adviser at United World College (a high school) in Singapore wrote to VOA in an email. "In my 20 years in admission, I have never seen a U.S. institution do this. It was beyond my comprehension." Liu described the situation for the students as "complicated and chaotic." "They are not American students. If they were, they could file a lawsuit and there could be litigation," she wrote. "UT Tyler put them in a situation where there was detrimental reliance on a scholarship they did not deliver." Poudel and other students orphaned by the foul up took their case to social media and have asked UTT to make good on their original offer. Advisers and schools have reached out, trying to find a spaces and scholarships for the remaining 32 students whom UTT could not admit. The University of Akron, College of Idaho, Robert Morris University, State University of New York, Drake University, Northwestern University, Eastern New Mexico University have all stepped up to the plate to offer help to the students. Other schools that have offered assistance to the Nepalese are Lynn University, University of Denver, Texas Christian University, University of Rochester, Western Illinois University, and, Ashoka University in India. Poudel says he will likely take a slot with a SUNY campus in South Korea. While Poudel, who describes himself as "a constant learner" on his Twitter page, is disappointed, he is also gracious about the experience. "I have learned some lessons. But this has made me a better person," he said. "In a sense, I am thankful to UT Tyler." Adviser Liu was less sanguine. "This is a shame, an absolute shame, because these kids are extremely high-achieving students. You can imagine what a turnaround this is for a teenager who has been aspiring to come to the U.S. for several years," she wrote. VOA's David Byrd contributed to this report. This story was updated to include schools offering assistance. A London-based Iranian woman working for a British cultural organization has been detained in Iran for the past 50 days, a family member has revealed. A cousin of Aras Amiri, 32, announced her detention in a series of Twitter posts beginning Tuesday. Mohsen Omrani, a postdoctoral fellow at Rutgers University in New Jersey, told VOA Persian that he learned the details of his cousin's incarceration by speaking with her parents in the northern city of Amol. He said she was detained on March 14, six days after arriving in Tehran and traveling to Amol to visit her ailing grandmother. Omrani said Amiri was being held at Tehran's Evin prison on suspicion of acting against Iranian national security a common charge filed by the government against Iranians accused of illicit political activity. He dismissed the allegation, saying Amiri is an art student and cultural ambassador who has organized artistic exchanges between Britain and Iran. Amiri had been living for the past decade in London, where she worked for the British Council, a partially government-funded organization promoting British cultural relations with the rest of the world. She also had been a graduate student in art philosophy at London's Kingston University. In a statement emailed to VOA Persian, the British Council said it was aware that one of its staff had been detained in Iran while making a private family visit. It said the British Council does not have offices or representatives in Iran and works remotely to develop people-to-people cultural links with Iranians. The British Council suspended its activities in Iran in 2009 after harassment of its staff by Iranian authorities. Omrani said Amiri had been inviting Iranian artists to participate in events in Britain with approval from Iran's ministry of culture and Islamic guidance. There was no immediate word on Amiri's fate in Iranian state media. This report was produced in collaboration with VOA's Persian Service. The deadly April 23 van attack in Toronto has put the spotlight on an obscure online community of men whose sense of sexual rejection has, at its extreme, grown into a justification for rape, murder and other kinds of violence. The attack, which killed 10 people and injured 14 others, was allegedly carried out by a 25-year-old self-identified incel short for "involuntary celibate" named Alek Minassian, who dropped a hint about the motive before the assault. "The Incel Rebellion has already begun!" Minassian announced cryptically on Facebook just minutes before a group of pedestrians were mowed down with his van. "We will overthrow all the Chads and Stacys! All hail to Supreme Gentleman Elliot Rodger." To most people outside the incel movement, Minassian's elliptical references made no sense. But to incels men who cannot find sexual partners and use online discussion forums to vent about it they were terms of art: "Chads" are sexually successful men and "Stacys" are women who shun incels. And Roger, who killed six people and injured 14 others in Isla Vista, California, in 2014 after being rejected by women, is looked up by some in the community as something of a patron saint. Extremism monitor The Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors extremism and hate groups, views incels as an outgrowth of the "pickup artist" movement, a "male supremacy" community of men who swap tips and strategies on how to seduce women, with the more extreme members going as far as advocating rape and murder. The center earlier this year added male supremacy to its map of hate ideologies, saying it was "fundamental to the foundation of the racist alt-right, and in many ways served as its gateway drug." "It's part of the larger manosphere and ties into the larger tableau of the alt-right in that it is an amalgam of many ideologies, many of which are pulled from the history of white supremacy and white nationalism," said Ryan Lenz, an investigative reporter for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Barbara Perry, a University of Ontario Institute of Technology professor who has studied extremist groups for more than two decades, agreed, saying masculinity remains central to the largely male-dominated alt-right movement's ethos. "This notion of anti-feminism, this notion of traditional gender roles, has long been a part of the movement," Perry said. But far-right radio host Alex Jones, a prominent voice of the alt-right, pushed back against the characterization, telling his listeners the day after the Toronto attack that incels are not "a right-wing movement of men." "It's a movement of scumbags," he said. Canadian's term Ironically, it was a Canadian woman who coined the term "involuntary celibate." In the 1990s, the woman, then a student at Carleton University in Ottawa, Ontario, created an all-text website she called "Alana's Involuntary Celibacy Project." It was aimed at people both men and women who, like herself, were celibate through no choice of their own. "It feels like being the scientist who figured out nuclear fission and then discovers it's being used as a weapon for war," the woman told Elle magazine after the 2014 Rodger shooting and stabbing. Rodger's rampage put the community on the map. In a 137-page manifesto titled My Twisted World, Rodger identified with the incel movement and explained why he had decided to punish both men and women. "All of those beautiful girls I've desired so much in my life, but can never have because they despise and loathe me, I will destroy," Rodger wrote. "All of those popular people who live hedonistic lives of pleasure, I will destroy, because they never accepted me as one of them." The 22-year-old, who killed himself after the attack, became an overnight martyr for many incels, who came to calling him "Supreme Gentleman" and celebrated May 23, the anniversary of his massacre, as "St. Elliot Day." They continued to frequent Reddit, 4Chan and other forums to air their grievances, but when some members called for rape and murder, Reddit stepped in. In November, Reddit shut down a subreddit where many of its 40,000 self-described incels denigrated women and openly condoned rape and murder. But outside their community, the incels largely escaped notice until the Toronto attack. And when word got out last week that Minassian may have been one of their own, many incels were quick to glorify him. On Incels.me, a popular incel hangout, one commenter wrote, "Saint Alek's bravery might have just woken up 1,000's upon 1,000's of incels. Welcome, men." Another commenter wrote: "It is a good time to be an Incel. Our brothers are launching their counterattack, getting their revenge. Thank you St. Rodgers, thank you St. Minassian." Some reject violence The canonization of Minassian worries extremism watchers, who say the violent rhetoric can inspire copycat attacks. But not all incels condone violence. Some say they're unfairly portrayed as an extremist movement prone to violence. "I feel that equating incels with violent criminals would set a dangerous precedent further alienating young men with nothing to lose, as well as amplifying the 'When in Rome' effect," one commenter wrote on Reddit. "A distinction needs to be drawn between those who fit the description of an Incel and those who cope with those feelings in undesirable ways." University of Oregon sociologist Randy Blazak said 99 percent of the violent language used in the incel sphere is made up. For law enforcement, Blazak said, the challenge is "to figure out which of it is fantasy violent role play and which of it is actually connected to real crime." Perry said Minassian represents "a fringe of the fringe." "I wouldn't suspect that we're going to see more of this kind of violence," Perry said. "Certainly it won't be a common threat, unlike what we might see from those who are more racist and Islamophobic in their perspectives." President Trump plans to meet next week with leaders from U.S. and foreign carmakers on trade and changes to emission standards. When the White House wants to meet with us about our sector and policy, we welcome the opportunity, Alliance of American Automobile Manufacturers spokeswoman Gloria Bergquist said Wednesday. The time and agenda of the talks are still to be announced. But the car builders want to make their concerns about possible changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement known to the president. They are also expected to talk about Trump administration plans to revise strict Obama-era emission standards for U.S. cars and light trucks. Seventeen states and Washington, D.C., are suing the administration over the plans, accusing the Environmental Protection Agency of breaking the law. This is about health. This is about life and death, California Governor Jerry Brown said Tuesday. Pollutants coming out of tailpipes does permanent damage to children. The only way were going to overcome this is by reducing emissions. Brown accused Trump of wanting people to buy more gasoline and create more pollution. The lawsuit argues the EPA acted arbitrarily and violated the Clean Air Act when it decided emission standards were too high. In 2012, former president Barack Obama ordered emission standards to be raised to about 21 kilometers per liter of gasoline by 2025. The goal was to cut pollution and make cars and small trucks more energy efficient. The EPA is seeking to freeze fuel efficiency requirements at 2020 levels until 2026. EPA chief Scott Pruitt said last month that Obamas decision was politically based and the emission standards Obama set were too high and did not comport with reality. Pruitt said his EPA will set fresh standards so new cars that use less gas and are safer than older models will be affordable. But environmental groups said the American public overwhelmingly supports the stricter standards. President Bidya Devi Bhandari KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari is scheduled to present the governments policies and programmes on May 15. The policies and programmes will be discussed in the third week of May before it is approved by the Parliament, said Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara at a press conference on Wednesday. Before the budget, the Appropriation Bill will be presented by Finance Minister, and its principle will be discussed in Parliament meeting from May 9 to 12, Speaker Mahara informed. An estimation of annual revenue collection and expenditure will be tabled on May 29 in line with the Constitution, theoretical discussions will be held on the budget on May 31, and thereafter Finance Minister will respond to queries related to the budget, Mahara said. President Bhandari has summoned the second session of the Federal Parliament the same day. Deliberations will be held on the report of the regulation draft committee from May 7 to 9, and the ordinance presented at the first parliament meeting will be endorsed, he said. The White House press secretary acknowledged Thursday that she'd first learned the night before, along with the rest of America, that President Donald Trump repaid his lawyer for a payoff to an adult movie performer made just before the 2016 election. "The first awareness I had was during the interview last night," Sarah Sanders said during a regular televised press briefing. "The White House press office wouldn't coordinate with the president's outside legal team on legal strategy." Sanders was pressed about whether she had lied or had been kept in the dark when she previously told reporters that the president was not aware of the payments. "I've given the best information that I had at the time," she replied. Giuliani remarks confirmed Trump confirmed earlier in the day on Twitter what one of his lawyers, Rudy Giuliani, said on a Fox News Channel program the prior evening: The president reimbursed attorney Michael Cohen for the payments made to Stormy Daniels. This directly contradicted Trump's earlier comments. On Air Force One a month ago, the president responded "no" after a reporter asked whether he knew about the payment Cohen had made to Daniels, and Trump also said he did not know why his attorney had made the payment. The actress and director, whose real name is Stephanie Gregory Clifford, has alleged that she had a one-night affair in 2006 in a Nevada hotel with Trump. The president and his attorneys maintained Thursday there was no such sexual encounter and that no campaign funds were involved in the payments made to Daniels. Daniels has claimed the no-talk agreement is not valid because Trump never signed it. The president's mention of arbitration for damages refers to the fact that Daniels has given interviews about the purported tryst in recent weeks. Daniels has also said that the letter of admission that there was no tryst was signed under duress and that she has since disavowed it. Giuliani, a former mayor of New York City, spoke about Trump's reimbursement to Cohen with Fox host Sean Hannity, a strong on-air defender of the president's who frequently speaks with him. Giuliani told Hannity that Trump "didn't know about the specifics of [the payment], as far as I know, but he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this. Like I take care of things like this for my clients. I don't burden them with every single thing that comes along." On Thursday, in another interview on Fox, Giuliani said the payment to quiet Daniels came at a sensitive time in Trump's campaign, just before the November 8, 2016, election against his Democratic challenger, former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. "Imagine if that came out on October 15th, 2016, in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton," Giuliani said on the Fox & Friends show. "Cohen didn't even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job." Giuliani, who also is a former federal prosecutor, said the president did not know full details about the payments until about 10 days ago. After Giuliani's disclosure about the payment to Daniels, her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said Americans "should be outraged." Cohen, under federal investigation for business deals said to be unrelated to his legal work for the president, acknowledges he received a personal loan to make the payment to Daniels through a corporation he created. The ultimate source of the funds is an important legal distinction. The $130,000 payment far exceeds the allowable size of personal campaign donations that Cohen could have made, although Trump could make sizable donations to his own campaign. Daniels-related expenses have not been reported as campaign donations. Trump "appears to have violated federal law" by failing to disclose he owed Cohen for the hush money payment, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which has filed complaints with the Department of Justice and the Office of Government Ethics about the matter. "There is now more than enough evidence for the DOJ [Department of Justice] to investigate whether President Trump intentionally omitted the Stormy Daniels liability from his personal financial disclosures," CREW Board Chairman Norman Eisen said. "This is a very serious matter, including because there can be criminal penalties for false statements." VOA's Ken Bredemeier contributed to this report. U.S. President Donald Trump met with teachers of the year from several states Wednesday at the White House. Trump conferred the 2018 National Teacher of the Year award, as public teachers in many states protest low pay and criticize the administration for what they see as siphoning education funds from public schools into private alternatives. VOA's Zlatica Hoke has more. Is the #metoo movement coming to Uganda's largest university? The school recently suspended a staff member accused of demanding sexual favors from a female student. Meanwhile, trial preparations are underway for a landmark civil suit filed by a former student who says the university failed to protect her from sexual harassment and violated her rights. For VOA, Halima Athumani reports from the university in Kampala. The United States is promising to hold China to account for what officials describe as a dangerous and reckless use of lasers near a U.S. military base in Africa. There will be near-term and long-term consequences, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters Thursday when asked about Beijings use of high-powered, military-grade lasers to repeatedly target U.S. aircraft flying over the east African country of Djibouti. WATCH: Djibouti Laser Incident Highlights US-China Military Tensions China denies accusations In a brief statement released late Friday, Chinas Defense Ministry said the accusations were false. We have already refuted the untrue criticisms through official channels. The Chinese side consistently and strictly abides by international law and laws of the local country, and is committed to protecting regional security and stability, the statement said. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said the Chinese side had conducted serious checks into the so-called criticisms and told the U.S. that the accusations were groundless. You can remind the relevant U.S. person to keep in mind the truthfulness of what they say and to not swiftly speculate or make accusations, Hua said, speaking at a daily briefing. US warns pilots According to U.S. defense officials, the lasers were fired from the Chinese military base in Doraleh on at least three occasions, resulting in minor eye injuries for two American pilots. They are very serious incidents, Chief Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters Thursday. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen, she said. China has complained in the past about foreign military spy planes flying over its Djibouti outpost, sources familiar with the situation said. The U.S. military issued a warning to pilots about the use of lasers in Djibouti in a notice that was posted last month on the Federal Aviation Administration website, urging them to use extreme caution. Pentagon officials warn the continued use of such military-grade lasers could cause serious harm to air crews and threaten the safety of the surrounding area. They said while there had been some similar instances in the past, Chinas use of the lasers increased over the past several weeks. That, along with the injuries to U.S. airmen, caused rising concern, they said. Chinese military nearby The Chinese military installation in Djibouti, its first foreign base, is close to Camp Lemonnier, the only permanent U.S. military facility on the African continent and a hub for U.S. counterterror operations. During testimony before U.S. lawmakers in March, U.S. Africa Commands Gen. Thomas Waldhauser described the Chinese military base at Doraleh as being right outside our gates. We are not naive, Waldhauser said at the time. We are taking significant steps on the counterintelligence side so that we have all the defenses that we need. The issue threatens to further escalate tensions between the U.S. and China. U.S. President Donald Trumps administration has imposed tariffs on some Chinese products and is threatening more. The administration has also placed new restrictions on U.S. technology exports to the East Asian country. VOA's Steve Herman contributed to this report. U.S. officials have indicated that North Korea could soon release three detained Americans. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a member of President Donald Trump's legal team, said the Americans are expected to be freed Thursday. "We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today," Giluiani told Fox news. Trump hinted at an imminent release in a Tweet Wednesday night. "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" he wrote. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have agreed to meet face to face, although the date and location have not yet been determined. Three Korean-Americans currently are imprisoned in North Korea. Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song were teaching at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, the only private university in the country. They were separately detained in 2017, and accused of participating in anti-state activities and trying to overthrow the government. The third detainee, Kim Dong Chul, was arrested in Rason on the northeast tip of North Korea in October 2015. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor in 2016 after being convicted of espionage. State Department correspondent Nike Ching contributed to this report. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is postponing his plans to travel to Brazil this month in order to ensure foreign policy resources are focused on President Donald Trumps coming talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Pences spokeswoman said on Thursday. The Vice President is delaying his trip to Brazil in order to ensure all diplomatic and national security resources are available as President Trump plans for his historic talks with the Kim regime, said Alyssa Farah, Pences spokeswoman. No exact date or location has been announced for Trumps meeting with Kim but it is expected to take place in late May or early June. Pence did not want divert any attention from the talks, Farah said. Pences trip had been expected to include a stop in Manaus, a city near the border with Venezuela. The Trump administration has been critical of Venezuelas government and has been weighing new sanctions against it. Pence had also been scheduled to visit Rio de Janeiro on May 30 and meet with Brazilian President Michel Temer and cabinet ministers in Brasilia on May 31, a Brazilian government source told Reuters last month. The vice president looks forward to traveling to Brazil in the near future and will continue to work closely with U.S. allies in Latin America to further strengthen our important alliances in the region, Farah said. Three African nations singled out for their track record of voting against the U.S. at the United Nations say they stand by their votes even if those choices may result in the U.S. cutting back on aid. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley made the threat to cut aid in a written statement last week after the State Department released its annual report on U.N. voting trends by member countries. Among the 10 countries listed on the annual State Department report that tracks U.N. voting patterns are nations that have long opposed U.S. interests, such as Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria. This years list also included Burundi, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The American people pay 22 percent of the U.N. budget more than the next three highest donor countries combined, Haley said. In spite of this generosity, the rest of the U.N. voted with us only 31 percent of the time, a lower rate than in 2016. this is not an acceptable return on our investment." "President Trump wants to ensure that our foreign assistance dollars the most generous in the world always serve American interests, and we look forward to helping him see that the American people are no longer taken for granted," she added. We are owed that This transactional approach to international diplomacy has become a hallmark of the Trump administration. At the White House this week, President Donald Trump reminded Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari the United States gives Nigeria more than $1 billion in aid each year. Trump then called on Buhari to lower U.S. trade barriers, saying, We think we are owed that. Zimbabwes government spokesman, George Charamba, literally laughed aloud when VOA asked him what he thought of Haleys statement. Zimbabwe, a longtime critic of the United States and the West, already is under heavy international sanctions anyway, he added. Once he stopped chuckling, Charamba explained why Zimbabwe so often disagrees with the United States. Because we are Zimbabwe, he said. We never pander to the foreign policy of another power, whether it is America or any other power at all. We vote on the basis of principle. He noted that Zimbabwe stood firm by its decision in 2017, to abstain from a U.N. vote to condemn Trump's policy recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The motion passed, with only nine nations -- including the U.S. -- voting in favor of recognizing Jerusalem as the capital. South Africa, which says it has good relations with the United States, also has voted against the U.S. in votes on international human rights abuses, often aligning with China, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela. But Ndivhuwo Mabaya, spokesman for South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, says his nation will not be swayed. You cannot do diplomatic relations based on bribery, he told VOA. ... It is the level of diplomatic relations that South Africa cannot be involved in. We, as a sovereign state, we have got positions on a number of issues. We have got our own national interests, we have our own [Southern African Development Community] and regional interests." Burundian officials, who have previously lashed out at U.S. attempts to cut aid over alleged human rights violations, said they could not comment Wednesday. Mixing money and diplomacy' Analyst Jakkie Cilliers of the Pretoria-based Institute for Security Studies said Haleys words are unlikely to go over well in countries that have long been courted by other powers, like China. Money and diplomacy are never far apart, he told VOA. But the United States is the only country that really places this so firmly, and publicly, on the agenda that is, that countries that do not support us in the [U.N.] General Assembly or elsewhere will not get money, or development assistance through USAID [U.S. Agency for International Development] or elsewhere. "And this is a fairly common practice, but only the United States does this as blatantly as Nikki Haley has done. The other countries that do this are not well-known democracies. So it does not go down well in South Africa, or indeed in Africa. The United States provides hundreds of millions of dollars in aid each year to those three African countries. It goes, among other things, toward improving HIV/AIDS prevention, economic growth, agriculture, food security, refugee assistance, education and maternal and child health. Joice Mujuru of the National People's Party says it is worrying that former President Robert Mugabe once revealed that $15 billion in diamond revenues can't be accounted for and nothing has been done to recover the money. She says Zimbabweans should therefore not vote for anyone linked to Mugabe. Myara Fernandes The leader of RENAMO, the main opposition party in Mozambique, Afonso Dhlakama died Thursday in Gorongosa. Sources from the party and members of Mr. Dhlakamas family told VOA Portuguese. Well talk to you later said a member of the family, without denying or confirming his death. In the meantime, a source from RENAMO said that a statement will be released at 8.30pm, Maputo time. Some diplomats in Mozambique's capital, Maputo, have been sharing information among confirming that Mr. Dhlakama has passed away. The cause of the death is not yet confirmed, but some sources say it was a heart attack, while others say it was diabetes. Zimbabwes war veterans, who lost in the just-ended Zanu PF primary elections, have rejected the outcome of the polls, saying their supporters will not vote for the partys presidential candidate, Emmerson Mnangagwa, in the forthcoming general elections. Some even threatened to vote for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa if Zimbabwe War Veterans Association leaders Christopher Mutsvangwa and Douglas Mahiya are not among parliamentary candidates in the elections to be held sometime this year. Mutsvangwa lost to Langton Mutendereki in Norton while Mahiya claims massive electoral fraud in Harare South where Tongai Mnangagwa, believed to be a relative of the president, is said to have beaten him hands down. The two war veterans now claim that the elections were manipulated by the police allegedly linked to the ousted Generation 40 faction of the ruling party, which wanted former First Lady Grace Mugabe to succeed her husband before the Zimbabwe Defence Forces ousted him last November and installed Mnangagwa as the countrys president. Some Zanu PF supporters backing Mahiya picketed at the ruling party headquarters Thursday demanding a fresh round of internal polls amid allegations of vote rigging in the primary elections. One of them told reporters that Mnangagwa manipulated the elections by distributing money to polling officers and the electorate before and during the polls. As a result, he said, We are not going to vote for him in the forthcoming general elections. We are saying bhora musango (deliberately miss the target) and to make matters worse we will get rid of the father or whatever he is to the president. Mutsvangwa also wrote a letter on the same day to the Zanu PF national political commissar, Engelbert Rugeje, attacking him for failing to properly conduct the elections. This letter is further to my cellphone call of 2nd May 2018 to you Engelbert Rugeje NPC (National Political Commissar) advising you that I was withdrawing from the polls. I unreservedly reject the result of the just-held Zanu PF party polling in Norton. I also refuse to accept your announcement of Langton Mutendereki as the winner. The main reason being the unconstitutional use of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, a state agency as election returning agents. These policemen were principal players in the uninhibited rigging as well as wholesale denial of the act of voting to legions of bona fide party members. He said the voters register was compiled by some people said to be members of the Generation 40 faction of the ruling party, which is still grieved over the Mugabes ouster. Of particular note is that fact that the cell register used for polling was illicitly compiled by Constance Shamu to solely further the illegal win of Langton Mutendereke. It is inconceivable that a politically active constituency such as Norton can only render less than 4,000 votes. This patently false picture would spell electoral danger in upcoming national elections. I am busy collating evidence to back up the charges I have submitted. Shamu, who is said to be a member of the G40 faction, and Rugeje were not available for comment. Botswana Diamonds, Vast join hands to explore for diamonds in Zimbabwe 03 may 2018 News Botswana Diamonds said it has signed a memorandum of understanding with Vast Resources, an AIM-listed mining and resource development company, to prospect for diamonds in Zimbabwe. Vast acquired a database relating to diamonds in Zimbabwe a decade ago and carried out its own exploration in the field using information from the database until 2010. Botswana Diamonds also independently acquired a Zimbabwe diamond database and had expertise in diamond exploration, development and mining. The two companies would exchange information derived from past exploration on areas prospective for diamonds in Zimbabwe and establish a special purpose vehicle, to be jointly owned by each company, for the purpose of developing and exploiting diamond resources in Zimbabwe. However, diamond exploration programmes and mining in Zimbabwe were conducted in line with the countrys joint ownership laws, which now only apply to the stones and platinum. "Zimbabwe is a country with excellent diamond potential, said Botswana Diamonds chairperson John Teeling. Both Botswana Diamonds and Vast Resources have extensive experience in and knowledge of the country. It is opening for business and both BOD and Vast are keen to make the most of this opportunity. Vast chief executive Andrew Prelea applauded the new government's desire to open up business in Zimbabwe. Time has now come for us to make use of its historic diamond knowledge with a view to bringing value for all stakeholders in developing Zimbabwe's diamond resources, he said. Vast had interests in a number of projects in Southern Africa including a controlling 25 percent interest in the producing Pickstone-Peerless Gold Mine in Zimbabwe. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. The perfect sentence does not exist. Language is a way of thinking, but it is a boundary, not the infinite. Perhaps, there is a perfect thought. Or a perfect dream. There is very likely a perfect musical note. Language remains messy and communication is complicated. These are many of the ideas at play in Natesh Anjaan's Dreaming Murakami. The documentary focuses on Mette Holm, the soft spoken, white haired woman who has been translating Haruki Murakami's novels for Denmark's publishers for nearly the entirety of her career. We see her translating of Murakami's first novel over the course of the film, which is as loaded a title as any (English title: Hear The Wind Sing) for a Japanese novel being reconfigured for Danish readers and being captured on film. There are many conceptual nuggets to be found in translation here. Anjaan intercuts Holm's process and struggles (one in particular involves learning the minutiae of a pinball machine) with an adaptation of a Murakami short story, Super-Frog Saves Tokyo, as if the nuances of translation between ideas and language is not complicated enough, and uses the images of a CGI frog as a metaphor for doing the invisible art of good translation. There is a treasure trove of Murakami notions and imagery at play, but the film never panders to the dedicated Murakami fan; it aims to stretch one's understanding of a body of work that the majority of the readership has probably only consumed in translation. "It is important that we understand one another. It is a serious manner," says the frog, as we listen to Holm try to find the right word or phrase to capture the essence of Murakami's dreamy prose, particularly when no literal translation exists between two vastly different cultures. Murakami himself often writes about two parallel worlds; there are many mirrors at play. It is a nearly perfect fit for Holm's academic life with her cats and her university talks, and the unseen Japanese author who lurks in the subject of her endeavours. It is also a love story, of sorts; if your definition of love is truly attempting a deep understanding of your parter. Part scholar, part stalker, but dedicated invisible artist, she travels to Japan often enough, and there, wonderful scene sees her drinking a lonely cocktail at end of a long bar, while the bartender spontaneously belts out a karaoke version of The Velvets' Lana from behind the tumblers and stemware. It is unexpected, almost Lynchian (Roy Orbison on the soundtrack does that) and wonderfully dense. It encapsulates the very rewarding 60 minutes of Dreaming Murakami trying to find perfection by embracing all the blemishes of our intercourse. Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Seguin, TX (78155) Today Morning clouds will give way to afternoon sunshine. High around 90F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Clear skies. Low 62F. Winds light and variable. If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Suzanne Greco is retiring as CEO of Subway, more than three years after she was promoted to the role after her late brother and Subway co-founder Fred DeLuca stepped aside. Subway named as interim CEO Trevor Haynes, who joined Subway in 2006 as a territory manager in Australia, with Haynes worked his way up Subways ladder to chief business development officer today. Greco has set a June 30 retirement date, and will continue as an adviser to the companys executive team. Greco, 60, joined Subway in 1973 as a sandwich artist after graduating from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, and was elevated to CEO in January 2015 as her brother fought cancer. DeLuca died on Sept. 14, 2015. DeLuca created the company in Bridgeport in 1965 as a way to pay for college, with backing from his co-founder and Danbury resident Peter Buck, who continues to hold an ownership stake alongside the widowed Elisabeth DeLuca. Subway began franchising in 1974, and with more than 44,000 locations today has a big lead on McDonalds and Starbucks as the largest restaurant chain in the world. Subway has been part of my life since I was 7 years old, Greco is quoted as saying in a press release issued Wednesday by Subway. I love the brand and the company, and I always will, but its time for me to have more balance in my life. I feel very good about the strategic moves weve made in the last three years, and I have confidence in the future of the company. Subway fell precipitously last year on Entrepreneur magazines annual Franchise 500 list of the top franchise opportunities, with the company also enduring the ignominy the past several years of the indictment and conviction of its former spokesman Jared Fogel on child sex and pornography charges. Under Greco, Subway has pivoted to provide customers a fresh face by updating the look of its restaurants, adopting digital ordering technologies and adding new condiments and menu items, as the case with McDonalds and other rivals. For its newest ad campaign supporting a line of wraps, Subway has turned to humor rather than athletes and other famous spokespeople, one ad juxtaposing a tiny wrap nibbled by a hamster at a miniature restaurant table versus its own stuffed with flavors like chipotle, Caesar dressing or guacamole. Last year, Subway announced it would add 200 jobs in Milford focused on digital marketing and other technology forays, with the town of Milford listing Subways headquarters employment at about 980 people as of 2017. Last November, in what was at the time her first TV interview, Greco expressed confidence the changes would reinvigorate the Subway brand. We were the ones who started this fresh revolution, Greco told CBS Good Morning. Thats who we are, but many brands are starting to do that. ... Being the size that we are, its not as simple to make a change but we are making rapid changes. Greco had given no indication of plans to retire while participating in a Wall Street Journal interview for a profile that ran two weeks ago, telling the newspaper she does not hold shares of Subway. She said her outside activities these days include boating, traveling and shepherding a daughter to equestrian events. In the CBS interview, Greco reflected on the moment her brother handed over the keys to Subway, and the years since. Never did he want people to think that he handed something to me, or that I didnt earn it, Greco told CBS in November. He said, youre ready carry on the legacy. ... I dont think that theres anyone out there who knows more about this brand, or loves this brand, more than I do. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman Greenwich based-XPO Logistics has seen its stock price nearly double over the last year. Its happened as the transportation and logistics giant has repeatedly beat quarterly earnings expectations, the most recent quarter included. The company released its first-quarter results Wednesday, highlighting record-setting numbers for revenue and new business, which totaled $972 million for the quarter. XPOs revenue grew to $4.2 billion, an increase of more than 18 percent since last year. It was a great quarter its a good sign when were above expectations, CEO Bradley Jacobs told Hearst Connecticut Media in an interview. Since the beginning of the year, weve been launching one innovation after another for our customers. Jacobs has cited frequently XPOs technology investments as a competitive advantage. Over the last few months, XPO has announced XPO Direct, which prompted many questions from investors Thursday; XPO Connect, a cloud-based platform for freight shippers; and a security robot C3-XPO, which Jacobs described as a little Star Wars character that patrols XPO facilities and cuts down on security costs. Some investors questioned Jacobs about the goal for such incremental investments. They show that hes building the business to be successful long term, he said, adding Well continue to invest at industry-leading levels in things like technology. ... These innovations should propel earnings growth into 2019 and beyond. Now nine months since XPO shared plans to earmark billions for potential acquisitions, Jacobs said he hopes to close at least one deal by the end of 2018. Our plan is going as expected, he said. Were on track to close one or two transactions by the end of the year. That was the original plan and its moving along. Hes considering companies doing the same, similar or adjacent business, as XPO, he said. Acquisition plans could be announced in three weeks or three months, Jacobs told investors, but it should be by the end of the year. ...We cast a wide net to talk with lots of potential acquisition targets. Looking ahead, Jacobs re-emphasized his confidence about XPOs potential for continued growth. Absent of some geopolitical event, things are looking good, he said. Contact the writer at mbennett@greenwichtime.com; Twitter @Macaela_ Spotlighting modern tendency to invest more in prisons than in schools | Main | An uncertain execution stay for uncertain reasons from the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles The title of this post is the title of this timely new article recently posted to SSRN authored by Rachel Rothberg and Kate Stith. Here are parts of its introduction: An opioid crisis has swept the United States, ravaging communities across the country. In this Article we examine how federal law enforcement has responded to the crisis, both nationally and in a variety of locales. We focus in depth, however, on federal investigators and prosecutors in the District of Connecticut, where the epidemic has hit hard.... What role can criminal law and those who enforce it play in combatting the opioid crisis? The Connecticut U.S. Attorneys Offices shift in policy represents just one of many federal law enforcement reactions to alarming increases in opioid abuse and overdose deaths. As opioid users tolerance increases and their access to prescription pills dwindle, they often transition to cheaper heroin, and then again to the more powerful synthetic opioids sometimes unwittingly. In general, law enforcement has struggled to keep up with the epidemic and the opioid markets evolving characteristics. In Part II of this Article we provide an overview of the nationwide, interagency efforts initiated by the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. In Part III, we briefly survey a number of strategies pursued by various U.S. Attorneys Offices. There are ninety-three U.S. Attorneys Offices in the United States, and although all of them are part of the Department of Justice, each one is semi-autonomous in deciding which cases to investigate and prosecute. Then, in Part IV, we narrow our focus to the federal prosecutorial efforts of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Connecticut. We focus on the Offices two main strategies (1) charging the supplier of an illicit substance resulting in death with the crime of drug distribution; and (2) educating the community, particularly high-school students, about opioid usage and discuss whether they have implications for the national role of federal law enforcement. Lastly, in Part V, we address what more might be needed from federal law enforcement going forward to protect communities nationwide from the devastation wrought by opioid proliferation. STAMFORD The Board of Representatives slashed Mayor David Martins operating budget to run the city and schools in the fiscal year beginning July 1 by $2.2 million late Tuesday night, saying its time to give taxpayers a break. Martins response Wednesday was that the cut is unprecedented and it may be impossible to avoid layoffs and maintain city services. The board far exceeded the $676,000 cut recommended by its Fiscal Committee, lopping off the $300,000 Martin wanted for park ambassadors and rejecting his $120,000 request, reiterated in a last-minute letter, for a citizens services manager. Still, the cut wasnt enough for city Rep. Anzelmo Graziosi, D-13, who proposed chopping $2.8 million to keep the budget increase to an amount that taxpayers can afford. We are being taxed to death, Graziosi said. In the 15 years Ive lived in Stamford, my taxes have doubled. This is the way its been going for decades, but we cant keep it up. Its not feasible, and its only going to get worse. Representatives voted his motion down, saying it would be too big a hit on city services. Rep. Charles Pia Jr., R-18, proposed a compromise cut of $1.4 million - half of what Graziosi suggested. Some representatives were reluctant to make a general cut because, they said, the board would have no control over what gets the ax. But Pia said a $1.4 million cut is not unreasonable, and its Martins job to figure out how to spend the money. He is the chief executive of this city, Pia said. The problem is with him - he has come in with $50 million increases each year. If we think we cant do anything, then its not worth it for us to be here. Martins reaction In an email the next day, Martin wrote that his commitment to making Stamford the best place to live remains unchanged. Responding to the unprecedented level of cuts made by the Board of Representatives last night while minimizing layoffs and maintaining services may not be possible. Many of the cuts appear to be small short-term savings that will compromise our services and our ability to achieve long-term structural cost improvements, Martin wrote. But, over the upcoming days we will determine the magnitude of the impact on our citizens. Eliminating important resources will possibly delay or eliminate progress on improving services citizens deserve and the boards seem to be demanding, he wrote. Representatives made the cuts acknowledging that they would have to come from a small portion of the budget. About 80 percent of it is fixed costs, such as salaries mandated by union contracts, debt service and other obligations, they said. But they approved Pias compromise cut in a 21-15 vote. Four of the boards 40 members were absent Tuesday. Parks debate The total cut comprised the $1.4 million plus the Fiscal Committees recommended $676,000. It also included the remaining portion for Martins $300,000 park ambassador program. The committee recommended cutting it in half. The program drew wide opposition from residents and representatives who said the parks need more police officers instead. After a long discussion, the full board cut the remaining half. There is a very strong consensus from constituents that they want more park police officers, said city Rep. David Watkins, R-1. The problem is how do we get funding for it? If we raise the budget by $300,000 we cant guarantee that the mayor will reallocate it for park police. I have agonized over this, but I decided to vote against the $300,000 and hope the mayor will find money for park police elsewhere. The finance boards total cut spared the Board of Education - members said Superintendent Earl Kim turned in a tight budget -- and outside agencies that provide services for the needy, cultural programs and the library. Half-billion dollar budget Like the representatives, finance board members two weeks ago directed their ax at Martins office and his requests to create new jobs, or fill jobs that are vacant. They cut $3.1 million, including 15 of the 23 positions. When he presented his spending plan in March, asking for $569 million 2.4 percent more than this years budget Martin said he focused on fixing roads and antiquated payroll systems, improving service to citizens, and funding employee retirement benefits. In a letter to representatives the day before the budget vote, Martin asked that they spare the citizens services manager position. The city needs a central manager to track the thousands of reports of zoning violations, damaged roads, illegal dumping and other problems than come into the Citizens Service Center each year, Martin wrote. The managers key role would be coordinating the multiple city departments that are dispatched to make the repairs, Martin wrote. But the position was voted down. Representatives Tuesday lauded Martin for funding post-retirement benefits for city employees - an obligation long neglected by previous mayors. But Graziosi and other representatives said spending must be held in check because taxpayers incomes are not keeping pace. The citys operating budget has been growing 5 percent a year, but the economy in Connecticut is growing only 1 percent a year, said city Rep. Dennis Mahoney, R-20. About 33 percent of city employees are earning more than $100,000 a year, which is substantially more than most of our residents. At some point we are going to run out of our residents money. The board passed a $564 million operating budget, which includes $273 million for schools. They approved $50 million for capital expenditures. Change ahead City Rep. Bob Lion, D-19, said board committees must question the programs and expenditures that come before them each month to develop a clear picture of where taxpayers money goes, in preparation for the vote on next years budget. We cut $2.2 million out of a $564 million budget. Thats all we did, Lion said after the meeting. But it sets the stage for further change. Graziosi said he was unsatisfied with one aspect of the result, and very satisfied with another. The cut should have gone deeper. The No. 1 comment when I was going door-to-door campaigning last year was, Dont raise taxes, the first-term Democrat said. But Im happy that we did what we did in a bipartisan way. On May 15 the finance board will set the mill rate, which will determine the new tax rates for property owners. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com. HARTFORD The General Assembly approved a new family violence law Thursday to prevent domestic abuse victims from being arrested along with their abusers. No victim should have to worry about being arrested if they are being abused, said state Rep. Robyn Porter, D-New Haven, who is a domestic violence survivor. In Connecticut, 20 percent of the time when police are called to the scene of an intimate partner violence incident both the victim and their abuser are arrested, according to the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The "dual arrest" rate is more than twice the national average of 7 percent. The reason for the high rate is Connecticut's mandatory arrest law, which was put in place to protect victims of domestic violence. The law says that if police find evidence that a crime even a minor charge like breach of peace occurred at a domestic violence scene, they must arrest based on probable cause. The House voted Thursday to replace Connecticuts mandatory arrest law with a "dominant aggressor law," which would require law enforcement to arrest only the most significant aggressor or the person who poses the most serious ongoing threat. Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford, was the only House member out of 150 to vote against the measure. The divorce attorney claimed there is no long term effect of a domestic violence victim being arrested because if they committed no crime, their case would be dismissed in court. He also suggested domestic violence is sometimes arranged by women to help them win in their divorces. His remarks drew criticism from legislators of both parties. There is a need for this bill, said Rep. Fred Camillo, R-Greenwich. We all know people in our communities who, because of the possibilities of a dual arrest, wont call the police in an aggressive situation with a partner. The Senate voted unanimously to approve the change Tuesday. The bill will now go to Gov. Dannel P. Malloys desk to be signed into law. emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson GREENWICH Claiming their views have been unfairly silenced, a group of Greenwich High School students walked out on Wednesday afternoon to speak in favor of gun rights. About a dozen students joined the protest outside of the school, holding signs and giving speeches during one of the days lunch blocks. GHS sophomore Anastasia Zygmont, one of the event organizers, said gun-rights advocates at the school were not being heard in a larger debate dominated by gun-reform advocates. A lot of the time at Greenwich High School, Republicans are suppressed and were not allowed to voice our own opinions, Zygmont said in an interview with reporters following the rally. After all the protests that involved getting rid of guns and gun control and moving the age to own a gun to 21 and ban bump stocks, we decided we had had enough and it was time for us to speak up. If theyre allowed to do it then we should be allowed to do it. Students groups across the country led Stand for the Second rallies Wednesday, an effort facilitated by the Tea Party Patriots political organization in response to mass gun-violence protests that have taken place this year. Greenwich High was one of a few schools in Connecticut where students were planning events; others included Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham, E. O. Smith High School in Storrs and Ellington High School. Zygmont said she had hoped more students would attend the Greenwich rally. Im very disappointed because I thought our message would be heard a lot more if more people came, she said. Co-organizer Juliana Salamone, a senior, said she tried to publicize the event on a student-moderated GHS Facebook group but she was blocked and her post was deleted. The school is very liberal, Zygmont said. It has very liberal views. The principal is liberal and often times saying something, the littlest thing, that could trigger somebody, is frowned upon. GHS Headmaster Christopher Winters in a statement later in the day said staff politics do not influence life at Greenwich High. As for my political views, I would be quite surprised if a student had any idea what they are, he said. I do not discuss my personal views with students and I regularly remind all staff that they are not do so either. GHS junior Charles Achoa said gun-rights advocates in the current Greenwich climate are worried about being made into outcasts. I was pretty nervous to come and speak here, he said. You have to woman up or man up and get up to the mic and state your own opinion without caring what anyone else thinks. If you dont like who I am, Im going to do it anyways. Winters said no students violated school policies by taking part in the rally, so no disciplinary actions were taken. Students held signs reading The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun and Were using our First Amendment to protect our Second Amendment. A small counter-rally formed during the event, at which junior Callie Barr held a sign with a picture of a victim of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting on it. I just really dont think its appropriate after we have had all of these incidents of fatal gun violence to have a pro-Second Amendment rally, Barr said. Its disrespectful to the people who lost their lives. If you really wanted to protest, maybe another time would be better. There was some back and forth between the two groups during the event. At one point, one of the counter-rally students shouted You dont know what the Second Amendment is to the pro-gun group, to which Zygmont shouted back, You dont know what America is. Members of the Greenwich High Young Democrats Club released a statement prior to the rally. We respect their right to have their voices heard but do think that its distasteful to have this kind of a protest given current events, Sara Stober, Sophie Lindh and Willa Doss, the three club co-presidents, said in the statement. The debate over guns in America reached an unprecedented intensity following a February massacre at a Parkland, Florida high school in which a shooter killed 17 people. In March, a national day of protests and rallies was held, including a unity rally in the student center at GHS. On April 20 the 19th anniversary of the deadly shooting rampage at Columbine High School hundreds of students walked out of Greenwich High, joining peers across the country in demanding steps to end mass shootings. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com HARTFORD Vowing the days of rubber-stamping charter school renewals are over, the state Board of Education put a Bridgeport and a Stamford charter school on probation Wednesday. Stamford Academy Charter School was given one year to show improvement, despite pleas from its director and board president that the 14-year-old high school deserved a three-year renewal. We need to know that in this year that is coming up ... that what you are doing is benefiting most of the kids with whom you are dealing, Allan Taylor, chairman of the state Board of Education, said. Andrea Weller, principal at Stamford Academy, called a one-year renewal unfair, saying students at the school who are labeled as disconnected and disengaged compare favorably with similar student populations around the state. The amount of time and focus it takes to prepare for a renewal year takes away from the work we do to improve academic gains of students, said Weller. At the same meeting, the board granted a three-year renewal along with probation to New Beginnings Family Academy in Bridgeport. Explorations Charter School in Winsted was given a three-year renewal and a corrective action plan. Brass City Charter School in Waterbury was granted a four-year renewal. All four votes were unanimous. We used to rubber-stamp charters, Joseph J. Vrabely, a State Board of Education member, said. Not any more, he added. The state-funded independent schools, some around since 1997, are now measured on standards adopted in 2015. It is against that measure the four charter renewals were determined on Wednesday. Ronelle Swagerty, CEO at New Beginnings Family Academy, said she does not mind the scrutiny. Student academic performance at her school dropped in some cases below Bridgeport Public Schools because of a fundamental shift in its education model that has taken time to take hold, Swagerty told the state board. Two years ago, the school adopted a Progressive School model that she said has radically reduced suspensions and how students with behavioral issues are treated. It has been a lot of changes both in mind-set and practice, Swagerty said. We are still at it. The bad news, she added, is that test scores do not yet reflect the changes. We are not pleased with ourselves, Swagerty said, adding a remediation plan is in place to bring improvement. At Stamford Academy, 42.3 percent of some 147 high school students are not in attendance at school on any given day and nearly all meet the definition of chronically absent out more than 10 percent of the time. Desi Nesmith, the chief turnaround officer for the state Department of Education, told the board a one-year renewal is warranted to deliver the utmost sense of urgency. He noted the school is coming off a three-year renewal without showing improvement. Weller said most Stamford Academy students were kicked out or dropped out of Stamford public schools. Attendance rates may not be up to state standards but much better than they were before they started at the charter school, she said. The state board was told the school has a planning grant to develop a more effective model. Stamford Academy is not satisfied with the work we have been doing. Weller said. We have to get better for our kids but need time and support to make it happen. Noel Lapine, chairman of the Stamford Academy board, said the school works relentlessly on behalf of its students. Stamford Academy is the last stop for these students and truly their last hope, Lapine said. He called the metric applied in the evaluation improper and unfair. Commissioner of Education Dianna Wentzell challenged that assertion. We have over 80 alternative schools in the state of Connecticut, Wentzell said. All (are) being held to the exact same standards. You are not unique or unfair in any way. After the board action, Yam Menon, state director for the Northeast Charter School Network, said while oversight is important, the charter schools deserve a chance to work on their areas of improvement. We stand ready to support these schools as they too seek out ways to better serve their students, Menon said. lclambeck@ctpost.com; twitter/lclambeck The grand closing ceremony with firework shows was a rendezvous of different cultures with more than 400 artists of domestic art troupes taking part, including Hue Drama Theater, Viet ac Traditional Theater, Bong Sen Traditional Music and Dance Theater, Quang Binh Traditional Art Theater and foreign groups of Mongolia, Thailand, the Philippines. The 6-day festival attracted 1.2 million visitors, received up to 50,000 tourists per day. The ancient capital's biggest intl event under theme of Cultural heritage with integration and development, Hue - one destination five heritage properties" included a series of cultural activities with the participation of nearly 1,300 artists of 39 local and international art troupes, including 15 domestic groups and 24 foreign troupes of 19 countries and territories. Highlights of the activities, such as Royal banquet, street festival, a concert marking musician Trinh Cong Son's death anniversary, Rural Market on Festive Day in Huong Thuy district, Ao Dai fashion show, Am vong Song Huong (Resonance of Perfume River),and a special art performance Van hien kinh ky presenting the building of the capital and implementation of the country's sovereignty, unity of whole nation drew a huge number of people. The 2018 Hue Festival was a venue for international arts exchanges between countries. The biennial festival aims to promote Vietnamese and Hue culture and the tourism-socio-economic development of Thua Thien-Hue Province, said the organization board. The event was also a chance to introduce to international visitors the UNESCO heritages of the old capital of Vietnam, including Hue Complex of Monuments, Hue Royal Court Music, Woodblocks of Nguyen Dynasty, Nguyen Dynasty's royal documents and the royal literature on Hue royal architecture. The closing ceremony bid adieu to all international friends who had come from around the world to enjoy the biggest cultural festival in the country and are already eagerly anticipating Hue Festival 2020. By Kim Khanh Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/5/2018 (1251 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A St. Norbert grocery will rise again. The Marketplace grocery on Pembina Highway that was forced to close due to flooding from a watermain break in January will be rebuilt, Federated Co-op says. Demolition has started and a new store that's 50 per cent larger in size should take its place by next summer, said Pat Smith, Federated Co-op associate vice-president. The new store will be from 25,000 to 30,000 square feet. "It's going to be re-developed," Smith said. The floor layout has yet to be finalized for the 25,000 to 30,000 square-foot building. The drawings, tendering and construction will take about a year to complete, he said. The grocery had almost a cult-like following in St. Norbert until a pipe burst below and flooded the store with at least 15 centimetres of water. The city maintains the break is on the Co-op's property and therefore the Co-op is responsible "That's wonderful news. We've been waiting. Everyone's always asking me if it's going to reopen," said area councillor, Janice Lukes (South Winnipeg-St. Norbert ). "That store was more than a store," she said. St. Norbert prides itself on being a little bit city and a little bit rural. "It's part of the city but it's physically past the Perimeter," she said. Marketplace, with its long-time staff that people often knew on a first name basis, had that rural feel to it that appealed to residents. "It's intimate, it's friendly. It's like a small town community grocery," said Lukes, who grew up outside the city. "Everyone knows everyone. You visit, you talk. You don't have to go dressed up. You can just go in your rubber boots." The store also had its own bakery and deli that customers raved about. It was a big draw for people commuting to Winnipeg from surrounding areas. They would often pick up groceries from Marketplace on their way home. The store is close to a Manitoba Housing development for people with mobility issues and makes it more convenient for them to purchase their groceries. There are also new condos and apartments in the area catering to retired rural residents who have moved to the city but prefer to reside on the outer fringes. St. Norbert resident Bob Roehle said Marketplace was a community booster that helped the neighbourhood set up its own St. Norbert BIZ (Business Improvement Zone), the smallest BIZ in the city. "Unlike those huge stores that come up, you could run into St. Norbert Marketplace and get your groceries in 20 minutes and get out," he said. "I imagine some people who are used to big fancy supermarkets might look down on it but 95 per cent of what you wanted was there. It had a home feel to it and you'd run into your neighbours," Roehle said. Federated Co-op made the decision last week to rebuild after looking at the market and other factors. Smith said the groundswell of support on social media helped persuade the co-op. "The commitment from the community has been very positive. That's another piece of the puzzle we're glad to see," Smith said. Some of the comments on the St. Norbert Marketplace Facebook page include ones like this by Lisa Cohen: "Marketplace was such a relaxing store to shop at... not everyone likes big boxy stores... this was the hidden little gem in St. Norbert." Cheri Vee posted: "Loved that store... loved that it was clean, organized, well stocked and had great deals. I can't stand those big stores. I want my Marketplace back!!!" Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. It has not yet been determined which co-op will operate the store. It could be Red River Co-op or a co-op from outside the city like Homestead Co-op. It will be renamed. Federated Co-operatives oversees the five Marketplace grocery stores in Winnipeg but has been phasing out the name. Smith refused to give a price tag except to say it will cost "many millions of dollars." Federated Co-op is also in discussions with the city about more parking space because the store will be larger. There were 27 people laid off from the store when it was forced to close. Smith said some were relocated at other stores but others cannot be hired back until the store is back in business. bill.redekop@freepress.mb.ca A sure sign that spring has arrived is the sighting of Third + Birds pop-up event this weekend. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. A sure sign that spring has arrived is the sighting of Third + Birds pop-up event this weekend. Third + Bird, co-founded by Chandra Kremski and Charla Smeall, has been around for nearly a decade and operates Winnipegs largest urban market. The company hosts events (such as the spring pop-up) that allow local artisans and shoppers to meet. Kremski says Third + Bird events get bigger every year, adding that theres been a 20 per cent annual increase of shoppers since the company started. Kremski said shes expecting about 8,000 shoppers at this weekends pop-up shop which, like last years, occupies 80,000 square feet in the basement of the downtown Bay store. "Its Winnipeg, (Winnipeggers) love supporting local and they love supporting artisans and something that was handcrafted," Kremski said. "They like the idea of meeting the maker, like coming to the market and meeting the person behind the shirt that theyre wearing, or the jewelry that they have on, or the food or the farmer that made their salad bowl." At the pop-up, there will be 140 vendors providing a range of products from pottery and apparel to baby items and food. Forty new vendors have teamed up with Third + Bird this year. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. One new vendor is Yard Monster Games. The startup takes board games and supersizes them so you can play them outdoors. Two games it sells are Yardzee (giant Yahtzee) and Block Tower (giant Jenga). An entrepreneur named Brooke Drabot creates home decor and ornaments in glass. Kremski seemed especially excited about a vendor called Kate B. Art. The artist, Kate Bartley, is a 25-year-old woman who uses only Sharpies and a type of permanent marker called Copic for her pieces. As much as the pop-up store is about supporting local artisans, Kremski said its also promoted as an experience for the shoppers senses. So theres going to be a DJ, interactive booths and a full-service cafe and bar. Kremski said one of the interactive booths, called Hair-ology, offers hair-braiding services. Third + Birds spring market pops up on Friday from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. To reach the market, shoppers must enter the Bay building on the corner of Vaughan Street and Graham Avenue. Admission is $5 (cash only), but kids age 12 or under get in for free. Strollers are not permitted, although the companys website encourages baby-wearing devices. nicholas.frew@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @n_frew6 Grief, guilt, anger and anguish came to the fore, as those who knew and loved a Winnipeg woman murdered in 2016 expressed their loss -- some telling a Court of Queen's Bench judge they blame themselves for not doing more to prevent her death. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Grief, guilt, anger and anguish came to the fore, as those who knew and loved a Winnipeg woman murdered in 2016 expressed their loss -- some telling a Court of Queen's Bench judge they blame themselves for not doing more to prevent her death. Kevin Grant Klassen, 39, was sentenced Tuesday to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years for the second-degree murder of his former girlfriend, 39-year-old Christina Stoyko. FACEBOOK Christina Stoyko, 39, was murdered by her boyfriend Kevin Grant Klassen, whom she had filed at least two protection orders against. Klassen strangled Stoyko to death in her home on Redwood Avenue in April 2016, after she refused to support his crack cocaine habit. After she was dead, Klassen stabbed her through the neck with a large kitchen knife and hid her body in the attic stairwell. He pawned her belongings, sold one of her rings, and ended up smoking crack cocaine with a then-homeless man who became the prosecution's key witness against him. Although Klassen denied killing Stoyko when he talked to police, he confessed to Gregory Lahaise, who went to the police. Stoyko's friends and co-workers who knew about her relationship with Klassen told court they feared they would one day be informed she'd been killed. Stoyko had been granted a protection order against Klassen, who'd previously been convicted of assaulting her. The couple was together on and off for five or six years, and Stoyko had to call police when Klassen turned violent in the past. At his 2014 sentencing hearing for the assault, she expressed her love and continued support for him, wanting to help him defeat his drug addiction. "Every day, I blame myself that shes gone because I stood by her and I supported her. I knew she wasnt safe and I still trusted her when she said shed be OK. I dont know how many times I told her I was scared to get a call telling me she was no longer with us. Every time, she reassured me and said shed be OK," said Stoyko's friend, Jennifer Duval, through tears. Duval was one of several of Stoyko's friends to submit victim-impact statements in time for Klassen's sentencing hearing Tuesday. "Im mad and angry and Im sad. Im full of so much anger and hatred towards you," she said. "You killed the one angel in this world who loved with her entire heart and soul." Klassen apologized to Stoyko's family and his own family in court, including his parents, who adopted him as a baby and raised him in Winnipeg's River Heights neighbourhood. His lawyer said Klassen doesn't remember the attack. "Despite the cycle of violence, and perhaps because of the cycle of violence, he loved Christina," defence lawyer John Corona said. Crown and defence lawyers reached a plea bargain, securing Klassen's guilty plea to second-degree murder and the automatic life sentence the conviction carries in exchange for an agreement to ask the judge to impose the minimum 10-year parole ineligibility. If the case had gone to trial, the Crown would have been required to prove Klassen had the specific intent to murder, and he could have used his drug intoxication as a possible defence. Court of Queen's Bench Justice Ken Champagne said the fact Klassen expressed remorse by pleading guilty convinced him to go along with the 10-year parole ineligibility recommendation. It means Klassen will have to wait a decade before he can apply to the Parole Board of Canada. However, Champagne said convicted murderers are not typically released after serving only 10 years in prison. "We live in an era where domestic violence is very prevalent. This is nothing new. In the court system, we have created domestic violence courts decades ago. We have a separate stream of courts to deal with domestic violence cases that take up approximately 50 per cent of the criminal work in Manitoba. As a country, were having a very in-depth discussion about violence against women and girls. It has to stop," said Champagne, a former chief judge of Manitoba's provincial court who was appointed as a superior court justice in April. "One of the roles of the court in sentencing offenders convicted of violence against anybody and, in particular, violence against women and children, is to ensure that a broader message is sent to the community that it has to stop." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The judge acknowledged the expressions of guilt, anger and hatred expressed by Stoyko's family, friends and co-workers. "They have those feelings because, in some respects, they were powerless to stop what occurred," Champagne said. "By all accounts, Miss Stoyko was a young woman who was loved and cherished by all. Not only her family but her friends and co-workers," he said. "This was a young woman working hard to support herself and to have her own home. We all should feel safe and secure in our own home. Unfortunately, Miss Stoyko never felt that. And she never felt that for some time leading up to this incident." katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay The Manitoba government appears headed to a showdown in court with the Manitoba Metis Federation. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Manitoba government appears headed to a showdown in court with the Manitoba Metis Federation. MMF president David Chartrand said Crown Services Minister Cliff Cullen has little time left to meet a Friday deadline of reinstating a $67.5-million deal with Manitoba Hydro, which the MMF considers binding. "If not, by Monday or Tuesday, well be filing in court," Chartrand said Wednesday. After a meeting with Cullen last month, Chartrand said: "I assured him Id give him the full two weeks. If not, Im moving right to court, no question." Cullen issued a statement Wednesday, saying theres no meeting scheduled yet with MMF and Hydro representatives. "The tripartite steering committee held a conference call last week, and has been working to define the dispute under the provisions of the Turning the Page agreement," the minister said. (Under Turning the Page, Manitoba recognizes the Crown has a duty to consult with Metis when any proposed Crown decision or action might adversely affect the exercising of the Aboriginal rights of Metis.) "Once formally defined by this group, the three relevant parties will meet. It is too soon to set a date and time for that meeting, but discussions are ongoing and remain positive at this time." However, Cullen has been adamant in estimates hearings that the government wants no part of the deal, and isnt about to budge on its order to Hydro not to proceed. (Estimates hearings are meetings that allow the opposition to ask government ministers detailed questions about their budgets and programs.) Chartrand was furious when, in late March, the provincial cabinet killed a deal it had reached with the electrical utility. Under the 2014 Turning the Page agreement, the federation said, the MMF agreed not to oppose the proposed $453-million electrical transmission line to Minnesota, in return for $67.5 million paid over 50 years. The MMF considers it a land-entitlement agreement and part of the reconciliation process. Cullen told his estimates hearing late last week, while he honours Turning the Page, it doesnt give Hydro and the MMF the authority to reach agreements. Premier Brian Pallisters cabinet stopped a proposal, and not a done deal, he said. "The Turning the Page agreement really, in my view, is a framework for discussion," the minister said. "You know, we have a difference of opinion, clearly, with the Manitoba Metis Federation, over the nature of the proposal, and we will probably continue to disagree on that until proven otherwise. "There was no agreement between Manitoba Hydro and Manitoba Metis Federation. It was a proposal. So the directive was to not to proceed to the next phase, which would have been an agreement," Cullen said in response to questioning from New Democrat MLA Tom Lindsey. In March, Pallister called the arrangement "hush money." Cullen wouldnt tell Lindsey if he agrees with the premiers choice of words, but said the MMF does not speak for all 75,000 Metis in Manitoba. Cullen also said cabinet does not interfere in day-to-day Crown corporation operations, adding nixing the Hydro-MMF deal was the governments first directive to a Crown corporation since taking power two years ago. (The Free Press reported last week the province had recently ordered Manitoba Hydro to stop advertising its PowerSmart programs.) During his hearing, Cullen called the MMF deal unique: it would cover more than just one project, including some not even contemplated yet, and would affect the rights of Metis people for 50 years. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We want to make sure the Crowns have the same policies and same priorities as government. So if we see a Crown stepping out of line with what we view as being our policies or priorities, that would be an opportunity to issue a directive. And, again, these directives and these mandates are all approved by cabinet," the minister said. "Clearly, when theres new policies come forward from a Crown corporation, I think thats maybe when its incumbent upon government to get involved." Hydro chief executive officer and president Kelvin Shepherd told the Free Press staff is working on the issue, and he may meet with Cullen and Chartrand. "The tripartite steering committee... I anticipate theyll deliver some material that potentially the minister and... Chartrand and I may have a look at this week. Theyre in the process of working through that," said Shepherd. with files from Larry Kusch nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca The Manitoba Nurses Union took aim Wednesday at the provinces health-care reorganization plans, in what will likely be the final rally of Sandi Mowats decade-long tenure as MNU president. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 2/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. The Manitoba Nurses Union took aim Wednesday at the provinces health-care reorganization plans, in what will likely be the final rally of Sandi Mowats decade-long tenure as MNU president. More than 600 nurses showed up dressed in white their version of a Winnipeg Jets game Whiteout, one joked to demand the government reverse changes they say are hurting patient care. BORIS MINKEVICH / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Nurses Union Sandi Mowat, centre, speaks at the rally. "Were concerned about some of the decreased staffing levels, the overcrowding in some areas where theres too many patients and not enough nurses," Mowat told reporters, while nurses waived signs and chanted, "Care, not cuts." "Were pleased that theyre delaying" the second phase of Winnipegs health consolidation, she said, "but what wed like to hear is that theyre reconsidering." Nurses on the steps of the Manitoba legislature painted a far less smooth picture of the health-care transition than officials have, describing ongoing increases in mandatory overtime at St. Boniface Hospital, as well as the return of "hallway medicine" at Health Sciences Centre. "From the start, this had 'bad idea' written all over it," Karen Sadler, president of St. Boniface Nurses Local 5, told the crowd. "We asked them to slow down, we asked them to reconsider the impact on patients and staff. We saw big red flags." Already this year, Sadler said staffing changes have resulted in "disaster." In just the first four months of 2018, she said nurses have worked more mandatory overtime at her hospital than they did in all of 2017. By latest union count, mandatory overtime shifts have hit 511 so far this year, well above the 328 total for 2017. "The nurses at St. Boniface Hospital are giving everything they have," Sadler said. "Research shows when you are tired, you are more likely to make mistakes. We are worried for our patients. We are worried for our nurses." WRHA spokeswoman Bronwyn Penner-Holigroski said overtime for St. Boniface nurses was lower in the 2017-18 fiscal year than it was the year before -- although the region doesn't track mandatory versus voluntary overtime. While the overtime did increase this year, she acknowledged, it was a result of a difficult flu season, as well as staffing model changes and vacancies within women and child health areas that "have largely been filled." "The WRHA continues to monitor this situation closely and work with SBH to address staffing concerns," Penner-Holigroski said. The issues aren't contained to St. Boniface, Mowat said. At HSC, she said nurses are now being pulled into hallways to monitor patients on stretchers after theyre been brought in then dropped off by EMS personnel. "The overcrowding, particularly in the emergency rooms with the recent change to the offloading process, is having emergency rooms look for other places to put patients so they can offload them," she said. "I was actually at Health Sciences emergency last week, and they were actually using a hallway to put a stretcher in so they can offload patients. "Were back to hallway medicine yet again." The offloading process did change in early April to try to get paramedics "back out into the community more quickly," Penner-Holigroski said, but "there's no evidence the length of stay of these patients in emergency hallways is longer." While Mowat said shes only heard about hallway medicine increasing at HSC, she noted a "lack of space for patients" is a concern everywhere now. Its an issue NDP health critic Andrew Swan said hes increasingly hearing about. "It started as a trickle, but more and more people want to report their own family situation or their own situation," said Swan, who added he receives multiple emails about hallway medicine daily. "Ive been hearing a lot more from people and nurses who tell us that the rosy story that the minister and the premier try to paint is very different for those people working the front lines," he said. Mowat said shed like to see the government develop a health human resources plan as recommended in a union report released last week. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We need to know how many actual health-care professionals we need now," she said. "We need to know for the future and we need to be planning for that." In a prepared statement that did not address the idea of such a plan, Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen said: "Evidence shows our health-care system has improved in a number of areas... There are always going to be challenges to overcome, but Manitobans should be encouraged by these early results as the system is transformed and modernized." There is no date yet for the launch of Phase 2 of the Winnipeg overhaul. In keeping with the recommendation of the wait times task force released in December, the WRHA is staggering the closures of the Concordia Hospital and Seven Oaks General Hospital emergency departments to allow for extensive renovations to the St. Boniface ER. The Grace Hospitals new emergency department is slated to open this month. Darlene Jackson, a nurse and MNU board executive since 2013, will take over Mowats role July 1. jane.gerster@freepress.mb.ca For a government that is ostensibly pro-business, the provincial Tories seem slow to seize a simple opportunity. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 3/5/2018 (1252 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Editorial For a government that is ostensibly pro-business, the provincial Tories seem slow to seize a simple opportunity. The Retail Council of Canada recently petitioned the Manitoba government to amend legislation that leaves retailers in an awkward position whenever July 1, Canada Day, falls on a Sunday. Due to the fact this occurs semi-regularly but beyond the next election cycle, its not surprising that previous governments havent addressed this. The current government has made clear it isnt contemplating making any changes for this year. As a statutory holiday, federal legislation states that when July 1 falls on a Sunday, employees must receive a day off in lieu of that, which means many people are off the following day. However due to provincial legislation, which doesnt specify Canada Day as July 1, when it falls on a Sunday, it means retailers are expected to be open for business on the Sunday and closed on the Monday. In practical terms, that puts employees at work in retail when they might prefer to be enjoying Canada Day celebrations like everyone else, as well as keeping stores closed the next day when a large number of shoppers have the day off. The oddity has been recognized by most provinces. In April, Nova Scotia became the most recent one to fix the July 1 day as the stat holiday. Most provinces already allow stores to be open on July 2 in such cases, leaving only Manitoba, New Brunswick and Ontario that prohibit it. Given that other stat holidays move around as well (such as Christmas Day), theres no reason July 1 cant be treated the same way. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Furthermore, it would allow retailers to take advantage of a potentially rewarding Monday market, while also allowing shoppers to get what they need without worrying about whether the grocery store is open or not. Manitoba legislation already specifies how employees working on stat holidays should be appropriately compensated, depending on what their normal days of employment are, and whether the stat falls on a weekend. The provinces labour management review committee, which includes representation from business and labour interests, has in the past deferred recommending any changes to provincial legislation, in part because the situation doesnt crop up very often. Thats not a very good reason, since its not a problem thats going away. We saw it in 2005 and 2012, well see it this year, and again in 2029, 2035, 2040... and so on. The need for the change in legislation may not seem pressing until the wheel comes round again and Manitobans face the oddity of having huge numbers of customers staying away from stores on July 1, and then unable to buy anything at the end of a long weekend. Much of Premier Brian Pallisters modus operandi has been to do the opposite of the previous NDP administration of Greg Selinger. If the premier wants to stick to that approach, he has the opportunity to do what the NDP failed to do, by lining up the statutory holiday with the date, and making clear Manitoba is open for business on days that make sense for both retailers and workers. Its the kind of easy legislative move that would make for a better Canada Day for all Manitobans. Allied Minds plc is a private equity and venture capital firm specializing in pre-seed, seed, start-up, and early stage technology investments. The firm prefers to invest across all products, services, and industries with a focus on the life science and technology sector including medical devices, diagnostics, biopharmaceuticals, big data, cyber security, communications, semiconductors, and food safety. It primarily invests in companies based in the United States, but depending on opportunities this could be expanded to a global network of partners and investments. The firm typically invests between $0.25 million and $1 million in seed investments and from $5 million to $10 million in Series A investments. The firm focuses on commercializing technologies from leading United States Universities and national labs. It seeks to take majority equity positions in its portfolio companies. The firm partners with universities to fund licensing deals and corporate spin-outs. It prefers to continue to invest alongside a syndicate for larger Series A and follow-on rounds. Allied Minds plc is based in Boston, Massachusetts with additional offices in London, United Kingdom; Los Angeles, California; Seattle, Washington; New York; New York and Washington, DC. Read More Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. engages in the management of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients. It operates through the following segments: Asset Management, Real Estate, Renewable Power, Infrastructure, Private Equity, Residential Development, and Corporate Activities. The Asset Management segment includes the management of its listed partnerships, private funds and public securities. The Real Estate segment is comprised of the ownership, operation and development of core office, core retail, LP investments and other properties. The Renewable Power segment encompasses the ownership, operation and development of hydroelectric, wind, solar, storage and other power generating facilities. The Infrastructure segment consists of the ownership, operation and development of utilities, transport, energy, data infrastructure and sustainable resource assets. The Private Equity segment refers to the broad range of industries, and is mostly focused on business services, infrastructure services and industrials. The Residential Development segment represents homebuilding, condominium development and land development. The Corporate Activiti Read More Buckeye Partners, L.P. owns and operates liquid petroleum products pipelines in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Domestic Pipelines & Terminals, Global Marine Terminals, and Merchant Services. The Domestic Pipelines & Terminals segment transports liquid petroleum products, including gasoline, jet fuel, and various distillates. This segment also provides crude oil services, including train loading/unloading, storage, and throughput; and turn-key operations and maintenance, asset development, and construction services for third-party pipeline, terminal, and energy assets, as well as operates and/or maintains third-party pipelines. It owns and operates approximately 6,000 miles of pipeline located primarily in the northeastern and upper midwestern portions of the United States, and services 100 delivery locations; 110 active terminals that provide bulk storage and throughput services with aggregate storage capacity of 55 million barrels; and 2 underground propane storage caverns. The Global Marine Terminals segment provides marine accessible bulk storage and blending, rail and truck rack loading/unloading, and petroleum processing services located primarily in the East Coast and Gulf Coast regions of the United States, as well as in the Caribbean. This segment owns and operates seven liquid petroleum products and crude oil terminals. The Merchant Services segment is involved in the wholesale distribution of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, natural gas liquids, propane, ethanol, and biodiesel, as well as petroleum distillates, such as heating oil, diesel fuel, kerosene, and fuel oil. This segment also provides fuel oil supply, butane, and distribution services. Buckeye GP LLC serves as the general partner of the company. Buckeye Partners, L.P. was founded in 1886 and is based in Houston, Texas. Read More Canadian Western Bank provides personal and business banking products and services primarily in Western Canada. The company offers current, savings, cash management, US dollar, and chequing accounts, as well as organization, strata solution/condo, general trust, and trust fund investment accounts. It also offers commercial lending and real estate, and equipment financing and leasing products; loans and mortgages; secured and unsecured lines of credit; registered retirement savings plan; consolidation, vehicle, and recreation vehicle loans; and credit cards. In addition, the company offers cash management services; life and disability insurance products; and ATM, mobile, and online banking services, as well cheque order services. Further, it provides investment products comprising guaranteed investment certificates, registered retirement income funds, tax-free savings accounts, registered education savings plans, and mutual funds, as well as personal and business planning services. Canadian Western Bank has a strategic partnership with Temenos AG to support small and medium sized enterprises with financial decision-making and enhancing their businesses. The company was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Edmonton, Canada. Read More Cartier Resources Inc. engages in the acquisition and exploration of mining properties in Canada. The company explores for gold deposits. Its flagship project is the Chimo mine property located to the east of Val-d'Or, Quebec. The company also holds interest in Benoist, Fenton, Wilson, Cadillac Extension, Dollier, and MacCormack metal deposit projects, which are located in Quebec. Cartier Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2006 and is headquartered in Val-d'Or, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Valero Energy: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC.. Wall Street analysts have given John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but John Hancock Multifactor Mid Cap ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Wall Street analysts have given iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Russell Mid-Cap ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Wall Street analysts have given iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Core MSCI EAFE ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Caterpillar: Advanced Tri-Gen Power Systems LLC, Anchor Coupling Inc., Asia Power Systems (Tianjin) Ltd., AsiaTrak (Tianjin) Ltd., Banco Caterpillar S.A., Berg Propulsion International Pte Ltd., Bucyrus, Bucyrus Australia Surface Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Holdings Ltd., Bucyrus Europe Limited, Bucyrus International (Chile) Limitada, Bucyrus International (Peru) S.A., Bucyrus Mining Australia Pty. Ltd., Bucyrus Mining China LLC, Bucyrus UK Limited, Cat Rental Kyushu LLC, Caterpillar (Africa) (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar (China) Financial Leasing Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (China) Machinery Components Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (HK) Limited, Caterpillar (Huainan) Machinery Service Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Langfang) Mining Equipment Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Luxembourg) Investment Co. S.a r.l., Caterpillar (NI) Limited, Caterpillar (Newberry) LLC, Caterpillar (Qingzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Suzhou) Logistics Co. Ltd., Caterpillar (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar (U.K.) Limited, Caterpillar (Wujiang) Ltd., Caterpillar (Xuzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar (Zhengzhou) Ltd., Caterpillar Acquisition Holding Corp., Caterpillar Americas C.V., Caterpillar Americas Co., Caterpillar Americas Funding Inc., Caterpillar Americas Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Asia Limited, Caterpillar Asia Pacific L.P., Caterpillar Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Asset Intelligence LLC, Caterpillar Belgium S.A., Caterpillar Brasil Comercio de Maquinas e Pecas Ltda., Caterpillar Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Brazil LLC, Caterpillar Castings Kiel GmbH, Caterpillar Centro de Formacion S.L., Caterpillar China Limited, Caterpillar Commercial Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Commercial LLC, Caterpillar Commercial Northern Europe Limited, Caterpillar Commercial S.A., Caterpillar Commercial S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Commercial Services S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Communications LLC, Caterpillar Corporativo Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Cote DIvoire, Caterpillar Credito S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., Caterpillar DC Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Digital Services & Solutions SARL, Caterpillar Distribution International LLC, Caterpillar Distribution Services Europe B.V.B.A., Caterpillar East Real Estate Holding Ltd., Caterpillar Emissions Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Energy Solutions GmbH, Caterpillar Energy Solutions Inc., Caterpillar Energy Solutions S.A., Caterpillar Energy System Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Engine Systems Inc., Caterpillar Equipos Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Eurasia LLC, Caterpillar FS (QFC) LLC, Caterpillar Finance France S.A., Caterpillar Finance Kabushiki Kaisha, Caterpillar Financial Acquisition Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Aftermarket Solutions Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Australia Leasing Pty Limited, Caterpillar Financial Australia Limited, Caterpillar Financial Commercial Account Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Corporacion Financiera S.A. E.F.C., Caterpillar Financial Dealer Funding LLC, Caterpillar Financial Funding Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Caterpillar Financial Leasing (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial New Zealand Limited, Caterpillar Financial Nordic Services AB, Caterpillar Financial Nova Scotia Corporation, Caterpillar Financial OOO, Caterpillar Financial Receivables Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Renting S.A., Caterpillar Financial SARL, Caterpillar Financial Services (Dubai) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services (Ireland) plc, Caterpillar Financial Services (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Argentina S.A., Caterpillar Financial Services Asia Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Financial Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Financial Services CR s.r.o., Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation, Caterpillar Financial Services GmbH, Caterpillar Financial Services India Private Limited, Caterpillar Financial Services Leasing ULC, Caterpillar Financial Services Limited Les Services Financiers Caterpillar Limitee, Caterpillar Financial Services Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Caterpillar Financial Services Netherlands B.V., Caterpillar Financial Services Norway AS, Caterpillar Financial Services Philippines Inc., Caterpillar Financial Services Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Financial Services South Africa (Pty) Limited, Caterpillar Financial UK Acquisition Funding Partners, Caterpillar Financial Ukraine LLC, Caterpillar Fluid Systems S.r.l., Caterpillar Fomento Comercial Ltda., Caterpillar Forest Products Inc., Caterpillar France S.A.S., Caterpillar GB L.L.C., Caterpillar Global Investments S.a r.l., Caterpillar Global Mining America LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Equipamentos De Mineracao do Brasil Ltda., Caterpillar Global Mining Equipment LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Europe GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Expanded Products Pty Ltd, Caterpillar Global Mining Germany Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining HMS GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Holdings GmbH, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong AFC Manufacturing Holding Co. Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining Hong Kong Limited, Caterpillar Global Mining LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Global Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Global Mining SARL, Caterpillar Global Mining U.S. Parts LLC, Caterpillar Global Services LLC, Caterpillar Group Services S.A., Caterpillar Holding (France) S.A.S., Caterpillar Holding Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Holdings Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Hungary Components Manufacturing Ltd., Caterpillar Hydraulics Italia S.r.l., Caterpillar IPX LLC, Caterpillar IRB LLC, Caterpillar Impact Products Limited, Caterpillar India Private Limited, Caterpillar Industrial Inc., Caterpillar Industrias Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Industries (Pty) Ltd, Caterpillar Insurance Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Insurance Company, Caterpillar Insurance Holdings Inc., Caterpillar Insurance Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Finance Designated Activity Company, Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Finance Luxembourg S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Holding S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg I S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Luxembourg II S. a r.l., Caterpillar International Product SARL, Caterpillar International Services Corporation, Caterpillar International Services del Peru S.A., Caterpillar Investment Limited, Caterpillar Investment One SARL, Caterpillar Investment Two SARL, Caterpillar Investments, Caterpillar Japan LLC, Caterpillar Latin America Services S.R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Latin America Services de Panama S. de R.L., Caterpillar Latin America Servicios de Chile Limitada, Caterpillar Latin America Support Services S. DE R.L., Caterpillar Leasing (Thailand) Limited, Caterpillar Leasing Chile S.A., Caterpillar Leasing GmbH (Leipzig), Caterpillar Leasing Operativo Limitada, Caterpillar Life Insurance Company, Caterpillar Logistics (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Logistics (UK) Limited, Caterpillar Logistics Inc., Caterpillar Logistics ML Services France S.A.S., Caterpillar Logistics Services China Limited, Caterpillar Luxembourg Group S.ar.l., Caterpillar Luxembourg LLC, Caterpillar Luxembourg S.a r.l., Caterpillar Machinery Nantong Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Marine Asset Intelligence, Caterpillar Marine Power UK Limited, Caterpillar Marine Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Maroc SARL, Caterpillar Materiels Routiers SAS, Caterpillar Mexico LLC, Caterpillar Mexico S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Mining Canada ULC, Caterpillar Mining Chile Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Motoren (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Motoren GmbH & Co. KG, Caterpillar Motoren Henstedt-Ulzburg GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Rostock GmbH, Caterpillar Motoren Verwaltungs-GmbH, Caterpillar Netherlands Holding B.V., Caterpillar North America C.V., Caterpillar Operator Training Ltd., Caterpillar Overseas Credit Corporation SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Investment Holding SARL, Caterpillar Overseas Limited, Caterpillar Overseas SARL, Caterpillar Panama Services S.A., Caterpillar Paving Products Inc., Caterpillar Paving Products Xuzhou Ltd., Caterpillar Pension Trust Limited, Caterpillar Poland Sp. z o.o., Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (Bangladesh) Limited, Caterpillar Power Generation Systems L.L.C., Caterpillar Power Systems Inc., Caterpillar Power Ventures International Ltd., Caterpillar Precision Seals Korea, Caterpillar Prodotti Stradali S.r.l., Caterpillar Product Services Corporation, Caterpillar Propulsion AB, Caterpillar Propulsion International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Italy S.R.L., Caterpillar Propulsion Namibia (Proprietary) Limited, Caterpillar Propulsion Production AB, Caterpillar Propulsion Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar Propulsion Singapore Pte. Ltd., Caterpillar R&D Center (China) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe LLC, Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Ramos Arizpe Servicios S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar Reman Powertrain Indiana LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Drivetrain LLC, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Renting France S.A.S., Caterpillar Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Caterpillar SARL, Caterpillar Services Germany GmbH, Caterpillar Servicios Limitada, Caterpillar Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Servizi Italia Srl, Caterpillar Shrewsbury Limited, Caterpillar Skinningrove Limited, Caterpillar Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd., Caterpillar Special Services Belgium S.P.R.L., Caterpillar Switchgear Americas LLC, Caterpillar Switchgear Holding Inc., Caterpillar Tianjin Ltd., Caterpillar Torreon S. de R.L. de C.V., Caterpillar Tosno L.L.C., Caterpillar Transmissions France S.A.R.L., Caterpillar Tunneling Canada Holdings Ltd., Caterpillar Tunnelling Canada Corporation, Caterpillar Tunnelling Europe Limited, Caterpillar UK Employee Trust Limited, Caterpillar UK Engines Company Limited, Caterpillar UK Group Limited, Caterpillar UK Holdings Limited, Caterpillar Undercarriage (Xuzhou) Co. Ltd., Caterpillar Underground Mining Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar Used Equipment Services Inc., Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc., Caterpillar Work Tools B.V., Caterpillar Work Tools Inc., Caterpillar World Trading Corporation, Caterpillar Xuzhou, Caterpillar of Australia Pty. Ltd., Caterpillar of Canada Corporation, Caterpillar of Delaware Inc., Centre de Distribution de Wallonie SPRL, CleanAir Systems, Downer Freight Rail, ECM Railway Evolution Romania s.r.l., ECM S.p.A., EDC European Excavator Design Center GmbH, EMC Holding Corp., EMD International Holdings Inc., ERA Information & Entertainment (BVI) Limited, ERA Mining Machinery Limited, Electro-Motive Diesel Limited, Electro-Motive Locomotive Technologies LLC, Electro-Motive Technical Consulting Co. (Beijing) Ltd., Energy Services International Limited, Equipos de Acuna S.A. de C.V., Eurenov S.A.S., F. G. Wilson (Proprietary) Limited, F. Perkins Limited, FG Wilson (Engineering) Limited, GB Holdco (China) Inc., GFCM Comercial Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.N.R., GFCM Servicios S.A. de C.V., Gremada Industries - Assets, Hong Kong Siwei Holdings Limited, Inmobiliaria Conek S.A. de C.V., JCS Co., Kemper Valve & Fittings Corp., Leo Inc., Locomotive Demand Power Pty Ltd., Locomotoras Progress Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Lovat, M2M Data Corporation, MGE Equipamentos & Servicos Ferroviarios, MWM, MWM Austria GmbH, MWM Benelux B.V., MWM Energy Australia Pty Ltd, MWM France S.A.S, MWM Real Estate GmbH, MaK Americas Inc., MaK Americas Inc. (Canada), Magnum Power Products LLC, Marble, Maschinenbau Kiel GmbH, Mec-Track S.r.l., Metalmark Financial Services Limited, Motoren Steffens GmbH, Nippon Caterpillar LLC, P. T. Solar Services Indonesia, PT Caterpillar Finance Indonesia, PT. Bucyrus Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia, PT. Caterpillar Indonesia Batam, PT. Caterpillar Remanufacturing Indonesia, Perkins Engines, Perkins Engines (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd, Perkins Engines Group Limited, Perkins Engines Inc., Perkins Group Limited, Perkins Holdings Limited LLC, Perkins India Private Limited, Perkins International Inc., Perkins Japan LLC, Perkins Limited, Perkins Machinery (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Perkins Motores do Brasil Ltda., Perkins Power Systems Technology (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Perkins Small Engines LLC, Perkins Small Engines Limited, Perkins Technology Inc., Progress Metal Reclamation Company, Progress Rail Arabia Limited Company, Progress Rail Australia Pty Ltd, Progress Rail Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Equipamentos e Servicos Ferroviarios do Brasil Ltda., Progress Rail Equipment Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Holdings Inc., Progress Rail Innovations Private Limited, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems GmbH, Progress Rail Inspection & Information Systems S.r.l., Progress Rail International Corp., Progress Rail Leasing Canada Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing Corporation, Progress Rail Leasing de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Progress Rail Locomotivas (do Brasil) Ltda., Progress Rail Locomotive Canada Co., Progress Rail Locomotive Chile SpA, Progress Rail Locomotive Inc., Progress Rail Maintenance de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Progress Rail Manufacturing Corporation, Progress Rail Raceland Corporation, Progress Rail Rocklin Corporation, Progress Rail SA Proprietary Limited, Progress Rail Services Corporation, Progress Rail Services Holdings Corp., Progress Rail Services LLC, Progress Rail Services UK Limited, Progress Rail Switching Services LLC, Progress Rail Transcanada Corporation, Progress Rail Welding Corporation, Progress Rail Wildwood LLC, Progress Rail de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pyroban Group, Pyroban Group, Pyrrha Investments B.V., Pyrrha Investments Limited, S&L Railroad LLC, SCM Singapore Holdings Pte. Ltd., SPL Software Alliance LLC, Sabre Engines, Servicios de Turbinas Solar S. de R.L. de C.V., Shandong SEM Machinery Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines, Solar Turbines (Beijing) Trading Services Co. Ltd., Solar Turbines (Thailand) Ltd., Solar Turbines CIS Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Canada Ltd./Ltee., Solar Turbines Central Asia Limited Liability Partnership, Solar Turbines EAME s.r.o., Solar Turbines Egypt Limited Liability Company, Solar Turbines Europe S.A., Solar Turbines India Private Limited, Solar Turbines International Company, Solar Turbines Italy S.R.L., Solar Turbines Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Solar Turbines Middle East Limited, Solar Turbines New Zealand Limited, Solar Turbines Saudi Arabia Limited, Solar Turbines Services Company, Solar Turbines Services Nigeria Limited, Solar Turbines Services of Argentina S.R.L., Solar Turbines Switzerland Sagl, Solar Turbines Trinidad & Tobago Limited, Solar Turbines West-Africa SARL, Tangshan DBT Machinery Co. Ltd., Tecnologia Modificada S.A. de C.V., Towmotor Corporation, Traction & Mining Motor Repairs Pty Ltd, Turbinas Solar S.A. de C.V., Turbinas Solar de Colombia S.A., Turbinas Solar de Venezuela C.A., Turbo Tecnologia de Reparaciones S.A. de C.V., Turbomach, Turbomach Endustriyel Gaz Turbinleri Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited, Turbomach France SARL, Turbomach GmbH, Turbomach Netherlands B.V., Turbomach Pakistan (Private) Limited, Turbomach S.A. Unipersonal, Turbomach Sp. Z o.o., Turner Powertrain Systems Limited, UK Hose Assembly Limited, Underground Imaging Technologies Inc, United Industries LLC, VALA Inc., Vasky Energy Ltd., Wealdstone Engineering, Weir - Oil & Gas Division, West Virginia Auto Shredding Inc., Western Gear Machinery LLC, Wetland Sustainability Fund I LLC, Williams Technologies, Yard Club, Zhengzhou Siwei Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Sales Co. Ltd., and okyo Rental Ltd.. Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2 is a close-ended fixed income mutual fund launched by Nuveen Investments Inc. The fund is co-managed by Nuveen Fund Advisors LLC and Nuveen Asset Management, LLC. It invests in fixed income markets of New York. The fund primarily invests its assets in a portfolio of municipal securities with an objective to provide current income exempt from regular federal and New York income taxes. It uses value-oriented strategy to make its investments. The fund employs a fundamental analysis with a combination of top-down and bottom-up stock picking approach to create its portfolio. It conducts in-house research to make its investments. Nuveen New York Municipal Value Fund 2 was formed on January 26, 2009 and is domiciled in the United States. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of The Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Deep Pride Limited, Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., EPS Polidrox Industria e Comercio de Resinas Ltda, Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Guangdong Yuegang Dadi Paints Company Limited, Guardsman Australia Pty Limited, Guardsman Industries Limited, Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Jiangsu Pulanna Coating Co. Ltd., Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Resin Surfaces Limited, Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade, Sayerlack, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (South China) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands (Australia) Pty Ltd, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Luxembourg Investment Management Company S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams Uruguay S.A., Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, TOB Becker Acroma Ukraine, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Germany) GmbH, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Inc., Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited, Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, Vantaco Oy, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. Tableau Software, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides business analytics software products. It offers Tableau Desktop, a self-service, powerful analytics product with data; Tableau Server, a business intelligence platform for organizations; Tableau Online, a hosted software-as-a-service version of Tableau Server; Tableau Prep, a data preparation product for combining, shaping, and cleaning data; and Tableau Public, a cloud-based platform for analyzing and sharing public data. In addition, it offers Visual Query Language (VizQL) for databases, which is a computer language for describing pictures of data, including graphs, charts, maps, time series, and tables of visualizations; Live Query Engine that interprets abstract queries generated by VizQL into syntax understandable by database systems; and Hyper, an in-memory data engine technology that helps customers to analyze a range of data sets by evaluating analytical queries directly in the transactional database. Further, the company provides support, maintenance, training, and professional services. It serves organizations in various industries, including business services, energy and telecommunications, financial services, life sciences and healthcare, manufacturing and technology, media and entertainment, public sector, and education, as well as retail, consumer, and distribution industries. The company sells its products directly, as well as through indirect sales channels, such as technology vendors, resellers, original equipment manufacturers, independent software vendor, and distributors in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Tableau Software, Inc. was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Seattle, Washington. Read More Hershner receives Environmental Leadership Award Erchul Award: VIMS Professor Carl Hershner poses for a photo with fellow dignitaries after receiving the Erchul Environmental Leadership Award during the 2018 Environment Virginia Symposium. From left: Matthew Strickler, Virginia secretary of natural resources; Hershner; Nikki Rovner, associate state director, The Nature Conservancy and 2017 Erchul Award recipient; and Colonel David Gray, director, VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics. Virginia Military Institute photo Photo - of - Hide Caption Carl Hershner was honored with the Erchul Environmental Leadership Award by the Virginia Military Institutes Center for Leadership and Ethics during its annual Environment Virginia Symposium in Lexington on April 5. Hershner is a professor at William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science and director of VIMS Center for Coastal Resources Management (CCRM). The annual award which recognizes a Virginian who has made significant individual efforts to improve the environment is named for VMI professor Ronald A. Erchul, who founded the Environment Virginia Symposium in 1990. Candidates are nominated by members of Virginias environmental community, and judged on the basis of their vision, expertise, commitment, integrity, communication skills, accomplishments, and diplomacy. A panel of judges comprised of past award recipients selects the winner. VIMS Dean and Director John Wells says the recognition is well deserved. Through Carls leadership, CCRM has long been a keystone of advisory service activities at VIMS, and work by Carl and his staff continues to benefit Virginias coastal and watershed resources every day, says Wells. Presenting the award was last years Erchul recipient Nikki Rovner, The Nature Conservancys associate state director. In remarks from the nomination packet, she said, Throughout his career, Carl has taken a systems-level approach to his research, working to integrate both natural and social aspects for effective resource management. Under his leadership CCRM has supported management of coastal, shoreline, tidal, and non-tidal wetlands via the provision of technical and policy guidance, analytical models, and decision-support tools. Hershner says receiving the Erchul award is particularly nice because the final selection is made by previous recipients, and in this case they are all people I have known and respected for years. Previous winners include Tayloe Murphy, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources under then-Governor Mark Warner; David Paylor, director of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; Ann Jennings, Virginia director for the Chesapeake Bay Commission; Joe Maroon, executive director of the Virginia Environmental Endowment; and Russ Baxter, deputy director of the Virginia Department of Conservation. Hershner established CCRMs precursor more than 30 years ago, with the goal of developing and supporting integrated and adaptive management of coastal zone resources. One of many examples of how CCRM has benefited the commonwealth is the growing use of living shorelines now Virginias legally preferred method for coastal protection to guard against shoreline erosion while maintaining the natural linkages between water and land that nurture commercial and recreational fisheries. Hershners contributions to marine resource management are many. He has more than 100 peer-reviewed and report publications in multiple areas of marine science and has trained, mentored, and inspired more than 100 graduate students. He has competed successfully for grants from the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, Packard Foundation, and many othersand used these to create decision tools, mapping portals, and other interactive data products that are used on a daily basis by resource managers and city planners to encourage sustainable use of natural resources. Hershner has also served on countless state, regional, and national committees and panels representing Virginia and VIMS. These include positions as Chair and member of the Chesapeake Bay Programs Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, Virginia Water Quality Academic Advisory Committee, Virginia Water Resources Research Center Advisory Board, the Science Committee of the Intergovernmental Pilot Project, Leadership Team for Systems Approach to Geomorphic Engineering, Albemarle Pamlico National Estuary Partnership Policy Board, and the Water Institute of The Gulf Science and Engineering Advisory Board. His active participation in advisory service has also included science support to the Virginia General Assembly on numerous issues. Each year, VMI honors the Erchul Award winner with a $1,500 donation to a nonprofit environmental organization of the recipients choice. Hershner requested that this donation be made to Wetlands Watch, a Norfolk-based non-profit that like CCRM is actively involved in efforts to improve Virginias resiliency to sea-level rise and recurrent coastal flooding. The strike of nearly 60,000 Arizona teachers and support staff is the latest development in an increasing wave of striking educators both nationally and internationally. The Arizona strike, organized by rank and file teachers on social media and in defiance of the reactionary trade union bureaucracy of the Arizona Education Association (AEA), has struck a chord with workers around the world who recognize the common interests they share in the fight for access to social rights like healthcare, education and decent wages. The efforts of the AEA on Tuesday to preemptively shut down the strike have been met with disgust and rejection by rank-and-file teachers and workers across the country. This is bad. The rank and file is what matters, not the union leaders, said a Virginia Amazon worker when asked by the International Amazon Workers Voice about the latest betrayal of the trade union bureaucracy. They [the unions] need to catch up to what the people on the ground want. We saw in West Virginia that the strike can go on without the leaders. Amazon Fulfillment Center in Woodbridge Township, NJ Amazon Inc., one of the most exploitative employers in the world, whose CEO Jeff Bezos also ranks as the wealthiest human being on Earth, is not immune to the growth of working class anger. Amazon workers, laboring in the Internet commerce giants many fulfillment center sweatshops throughout the US, spoke to the IAWV about the strike and their own working conditions. An Amazon worker in New Jersey who had sorted packages for the company for two years encouraged the teachers, shouting: Keep it up Arizona! Another worker at the same New Jersey sorting center stated, I think it is bad what has been happening to the teachers with the budgets being cut and their pay falling so far behind. It should be better for them, and I think they are doing the right thing by striking. Amazon workers head out from Woodbridge, New Jersey warehouse A younger worker explained, It is good the teachers are going on strike because education is so important today. You need a good education and modern, up-to-date textbooks to survive in todays world. The conditions for workers at Amazon demonstrate the increasingly ruthless exploitation workers must endure so that the corporation, which recently posted record profits, may continue to operate. At the New Jersey plant, workers are banned from going to the bathroom or checking their phone messages at all times except for a brief 15 minute break given once a day. Many workers can expect to be pummeled with additional flex hours, increasing or reducing their workload on the spot depending on the number of packages requiring sorting on a specific day. When WSWS reporters asked one Amazon worker about the safety conditions on the job, his father who had come to pick him up spoke first. Safety should be a big issue here, he said. Im a construction worker, and I dont work here, but it seems to me this is the kind of workplace with heavy packages that can fall on you and injure you. But they dont have steel toed boots for you to wear, long sleeves or maybe hard hats as safety requirements. Here you have trucks to unload; pallets to load that can hurt you as well as forklift equipment. The younger worker relayed that he had been injured by falling boxes several days earlier. Marcos, a steamfitter whose friend works for Amazon in northern Virginia, told the IAWV that he disagrees with any attempt to end the strikes before teachers get what they are calling for. I know lots of teachers, and they are treated very poorly. Education is one of the most important things in society. Another Amazon worker in northern Virginia spoke more broadly about the significance of the strikes. I think theyre very good things, but I hope theyre only the tip of the iceberg with resurgent labor. Like you said, theyre being organized despite the union and political leaders that are supposedly pro-labor. And theyve certainly proven that labor still has the support of the masses. But for now theyre being settled below whats been demanded, and I hope that teachers across the country continue organizing, and inspiring more workers to do the same. When told that teachers were actively considering our call for rank and file committees, and that the trade unions were terrified of these efforts to organize outside their control, he said: Good, honestly. The more worried they are the better things look I say. Apple, Inc. announced Tuesday that it would convert much of its overseas profits, held in a huge cash hoard for several years, into a $102 billion windfall for corporate executives and other shareholders. The financial bonanza for a single company is comparable to the GDP of Ecuador or Sri Lanka. The maker of the iPhone, the Mac personal computer and other consumer electronics is raising its quarterly dividend by 16 percent, from 63 cents a share to 73 cents a share, a move that will provide $2 billion in increased income directly to owners of the companys stock. Apple will become the largest payer of dividends in corporate America, surpassing ExxonMobil. As princely as this payout is, it is dwarfed by the $100 billion buyback of Apple stock, to be carried out over the course of the year. Its effect will be to boost the companys share price indirectly. Moreover, by reducing the number of Apple shares in circulation, it will dramatically increase such financial indicators as earnings per share, the principal measure by which Wall Street judges a company and which corporate boards use to set executive pay levels. The $100 billion figure is not so much a record as it is another dimension in corporate plunder. With that sum, Apple could have bought every share of stock in UPS, Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs or Boeing. It is greater than the market value of 460 of the Fortune 500 largest US companies. The funneling of $102 billion from Apple to its shareholders is a distribution of wealth within the ruling elite. The top five individual shareholders are all Apple executives, including CEO Tim Cook. The top three institutional shareholders, holding nearly 18 percent of the stock, are Vanguard, Black Rock and State Street, three giant investment funds. These and others like them will reap the bulk of the financial plunder from the dividend payout and buyback. The bonanza for the super-rich is the product of two interrelated processes. First is the sweatshop labor of millions of workers in Asia, mainly China, who manufacture components and assemble the iPhones, laptops and watches Apple sells. Second is the tax cut pushed through last December by the Trump administration and the Republican Congress, with only token opposition from the Democrats. Apple reaps superprofits from the labor of cruelly exploited workers in Asia, most of them employed through subcontractors, as well as through monopoly rents generated by its control of intellectual property rights to the underlying technology. As the WSWS has written elsewhere, It has been estimated that the cost of an iPhone, retailing for around $650 to $700, is made up of $220 for the components and $5 for the labor of assembly. This accounts for the cash hoard accumulated abroad, and deliberately held there in a tax avoidance scheme, while the companys paid lobbyists obtained the support of both Democratic and Republican lawmakers to back a one-time cut in the tax rate to induce American companies to return these funds to the United States. Such a measure was initially proposed by Obama and backed by congressional Democrats, but it was not finally adopted until it could be incorporated into the broader tax cut for corporations and the wealthy proposed by Trump and congressional Republicans. The resulting tax cut legislation slashed the basic corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent, the largest single business tax cut in US history. Apple was already paying an effective rate of only 26 percent on its current US earnings, because of various financial manipulations and tax breaks. By far the biggest benefit for Apple came from the provision allowing global companies to bring home profits held overseas and pay a one-time low rate of only 15.5 percent, less than half the statutory rate of 35 percent. Apple had the largest single stockpile of such profits, a staggering $257 billion, accumulated in part from global sales and in part from bookkeeping transactions that artificially diverted profits to overseas accounts to escape US taxation, pending the passage of such a bill. As part of the repatriation of this cash hoard, the company will pay $38 billion in taxes to the Treasuryan amount that will no doubt be hailed as the largest single corporate tax payment in historybut this represents a saving of $47 billion over what Apple would actually have paid if US tax laws had been enforced instead of being treated as a dead letter by giant corporations. Trumps Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 would have been better named the Amnesty for Corporate Tax Cheats Act, or perhaps the An Act to Give Apple $47 Billion While Starving Schools and the Poor. In a democratically organized and rationally planned society, much better use would have been found for the $102 billion being used to enrich those already wealthy. As the chart suggests, Apples $102 billion windfall could have paid for the entire budget of the federal Department of Education, or paid the full tuition cost for every US college student, with $20 billion left over. It is double what all US public schools spend on capital improvements (buildings, playgrounds, school buses, equipment) and nearly twice as much money as the federal government spends on food stamps for more than 40 million low-income families. It is more than three times what the United Nations estimates is needed to feed every hungry family in the world for the next year. When the tax cut bill was passed last December, the White House began hyping a series of announcements by major companies of plans to raise wages, hire more workers, or invest in new facilities, in order to provide evidence for its phony claims that the legislation was aimed at benefiting American workers. Apple, for example, has pledged to hire another 20,000 workers over the next five years, at a cost of $5 billion ($50,000 a year per worker, counting wages and benefits, below the median wage in the United States). Even if this $5 billion materializes, it would represent only 2 percent of Apples total repatriated funds. It is dwarfed by the $102 billion handout to shareholders. In the past week, at least one prominent Republican, Senator Marco Rubio of Florida, has publicly admitted that the tax bill was sold under false pretenses. In an interview with British magazine The Economist , Rubio said, There is still a lot of thinking on the right that if big corporations are happy, theyre going to take the money theyre saving and reinvest it in American workers In fact, they bought back shares, a few gave out bonuses; theres no evidence whatsoever that moneys been massively poured back into the American worker. Surveys by business groups have confirmed that the lions share of the tax cut gains will go the stock buybacks and dividends, while wage gains are estimated at 15 percent (which includes, of course, bonuses and salary increases for executives, as opposed to options and other stock-related compensation) to as low as 6 percent of the total. Wall Street analysts now estimate that stock buybacks and dividend increases will top $1 trillion in 2018, nearly doubling the previous record set in 2007, the year before the financial crash. In the first quarter alone, stock buybacks and cash takeovers topped $305 billion, before Tuesdays $102 billion declaration by Apple. As for working people, nearly half own no stock at all, and the rest have minimal amounts in 401(k) retirement accounts and pensions. The bottom 80 percent of the populationthe entire working class and sections of the middle classown just 8 percent of stocks. The richest 10 percent of Americans own 80 percent of all shares. Such figures only demonstrate the complete irrationality and bankruptcy of the profit system. The historical task of the working class is to organize itself as an independent political force, representing the vast majority of the human race, put an end to capitalism, and establish a planned socialist society under the democratic control of the workers. For several days, the caravan of refugees from Central America has been stranded at the US-Mexico border in Tijuana. Around 200 people have been sleeping on the pavement and enduring rain and cold nights, while their requests for asylum play out. Of the more than 2,000 immigrants that started the journey, the caravan has whittled away to less than 200 in Tijuana. As of this writing, only 28 have been allowed to cross the border to begin asylum procedures, barely 1 percent of the initial group. While the caravan has been subjected to racist and xenophobic vitriol by the Trump administration, they have been helped by Mexican and American volunteers on both sides of the border, who have provided food, legal aid, clothing, diapers, blankets, and tarps and canopies for shelter. Far from bringing drugs and crime, the group is actually escaping horrendous conditions in their home countries, the result of decades of US imperialist support for death squad-backed dictatorships. Reporters for the WSWS were able to visit the makeshift camp in Tijuana and speak to two refugees who shared their experiences. They described unspeakable violence both in their native countries and along the journey through Mexico. Both individuals displayed an articulate and deep understanding of the political situation, pointing out that the Mexican and American governments are both working together to keep refugees from entering their respective countries. Carlos, 29, a painter, told us his story. The things that made me come here are fear for my safety and the lack of employment. Were all looking for political asylum, decent employment and a better opportunity for ourselves. We came here to work, not to steal or commit crimes or steal jobs which is what they always accuse us of doing. I think what Trump is doing with the construction of the wall isnt right. This world wasnt created with borders and nations, we made those. The Mexican government hasnt kept any of the promises it has made. We were supposed to have been provided with 200 visas, but we havent received them to this date. So far theyve taken in 50, and of those from what I hear only eight have been approved so far. The Mexican government are puppets, theyre taking orders from Trump. The people, unlike the government, helped us with a great deal, with food, with clothing, with water, offering shelter. The people of Mexico themselves have been a great help to us and we couldnt have made it without their assistance. We were threatened continually, we had to endure attacks by gangs, bribery, extortion. In Sinaloa, they actually fired on the train at one point. Another refugee, also named Carlos and also 29, was a shopkeeper from Honduras. He told the WSWS, Reporters will ask us what it is that brought us here. I tell them: weve come fleeing from the violence. Were fleeing from the organized crime, which can I tell you is allied with the government. Some people have felt the need to change their answers to why theyve come, as just economic reasonslooking for a better job, a better opportunityperhaps thinking it might improve their odds of getting a visa. But its not one or the other. There is the violence and there is the reality that its hard to find good work. Sixty percent of Hondurans live in poverty, some 40 percent of those in extreme poverty, living on less than a dollar or two a day for the whole family. But the fact is all of us came here because of the violence and the organized crime, thats the biggest factor for us. In my case, they killed three of my brothers and I left the country with my family as soon as I got the chance. I hadnt heard of the caravan until I was nearly to Mexico going through Guatemala. We were all together with our backpacks and whatever we had on hand and a friend had told me that there is a caravan trek that would go all the way to Tijuana. It was grueling, the stretches on foot, on La Bestia [The Beast, the train running through Mexico], on bus. The migra [Mexican border patrol] would harass us or try to get a bribe from us constantly. We walked long stretches enduring the hunger, the thirst, the exhaustion, the heatI cant tell you just how difficult the heat made things. There was a fever going around too, and it affected a lot of us, young and old. Wed faint from the heat and the sun. Unlike the government, the Mexican people helped us in a very big way with water, diapers, clothing, supplies and food. In Lecheria [a station in Mexico City], we boarded the Beast where it stopped in the middle of the route. The government was determined not to let us get past Mexico City on the way to Tijuana. One sees that the government was mostly uninterested in providing assistance for the refugees. At one point, some of us who had finally gotten our visas had gone ahead and split off from the main body and later stopped by officers. They had their visas torn to pieces right then and there. The leaders of the caravan resolved that all of us would stay together. In Veracruz, there was a death after the migra had set up an ambush with some 300 officers. They had stun guns, and stunned a woman who had her baby with her unconscious. While she was unconscious a train went over her leg, severing it. We tried to get what help we could for her but three days in, she had died. Theres definitely an understanding between the Mexican government and Trump. Theres no reason they cant take us in right now. They say theyre at capacity, they say this and that, but its empty! In the mean time we have to sleep out here in the cold. Its not the most pleasant feeling having to be spend the night on the concrete in the rain. Likewise, the train at night was freezingit doesnt heat up at all. It was absolutely miserable. Fortunately we have these tarps now, which were donated to us by people from the United States. Weve gotten so much help and support from the people of Mexico and the United States alike. Those of us here in Tijuana all have the evidentiary material to prove that were political refugees, that our lives really are in danger and thats why we have to leave our countries. The lawyers that wed been able to get help from have told us that theres nobody here that shouldnt be receiving a visa on humanitarian grounds100 percent. We started out more than 2,000 over in Tapachula, now were down to about 200. Those [who left] are the ones who figured their best chance was getting a visa to stay here in Mexico. The rest of my family, my wife and two daughters, was able to get assistance from COMAR [Mexican Commission for Refugee Assistance.] Carlos was asked to comment on the political situation in Honduras, to which he replied, The current president holding office has been nicknamed the Usurper. The elections there were clearly overthrown. For my own part, I dont really go for any of the political parties. I havent voted in the recent elections. I dont think I could vote for any of the candidates without feeling regret about my vote. Dozens of people have been killed following the protests in opposition to the government. [Juan Orlando] Hernandez has been trying to silence UNE TV, one of the main networks over there. Theres been push back from human rights organizations, but either way, the government has been tracking down people who participated in the protests without wearing any kind of face covering or mask. They come in real quiet in the night, and disappear them. The violence, the reason were leaving Honduras, has its origins in the United States. Theres an alliance between our government and the US government. The police and the government are infiltrated by organized crime, and none of us in Honduras have any confidence in the police. Trump has plenty of power, but with it hes just going to pursue his interests. Theres petroleum here, theres gold. Up to now Honduras hasnt been able to exploit those resources. With this government and Trump, who knows how that would play out. Thats where that alliance comes in. The Tate Modern in London held an exhibition, Red Star Over Russia: A Revolution in Visual Culture 1905-55, from November 8, 2017 to February 18, 2018. The show marked 100 years since the October Revolution. Tate Modern exhibition poster The items on display came from the unique, 250,000-piece collection of the extraordinary photographer, designer and archivist David King (1943-2016). During his lifetime King sought to uncover the historical truth about the 1917 Russian Revolution and, above all, the role of Leon Trotsky. King always insisted that Trotsky represented an alternative to Stalinism and dictatorship. The Tate Modern exhibition abandoned this orientation, falsifying Kings life and work. Gallery director Frances Morris shamelessly declared about King, Had he lived this would have been a very different project, but early on we made the decision to respect his spirit without imitating it. In reality, there was neither imitation nor respect in the Tate Moderns presentation. The World Socialist Web Site review of the exhibition concluded, One hundred years after the overthrow of the Tsarist autocracy and the coming to power of the Bolshevik Party, the Tate and other artistic institutions continue to wage a concerted campaign to denigrate the Russian Revolution and insist it has no relevance in the 21st century. This only testifies to its enduring impact and intense political relevance. The Socialist Equality Party (UK) published the review and other material on King in The Falsification of David Kings Work. The WSWS spoke to a number of artists about the Tate Modern exhibition, the WSWS review and related matters. We post their comments below. Roger Hopkinson, architect and sculptor: Roger Hopkinson The first reference to the commemoration of the 1917 Russian Revolution appeared on my Facebook one day. I think seeing the written words Red Star Over Russia triggered my immediate interest. I have been inspired by El Lissitzkys Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge [1919] and have spent the last few years doing a series of paintings based on it. El Lissitzky shows the Bolsheviks fighting back against the White Army and I have tried to rework it to show global relations today, the way the global elite has inflicted suffering and brought us to the edge with the threat of nuclear annihilation. Should an artist speak out now and warn others? I think so, it is a duty of care. It is time to say, Enough is enough. We need a resurgence of people power and we need a voice. When I found the WSWS last year I realised it was a voice. El Lissitzky, Beat the Whites with the Red Wedge (1919) I read Paul Mitchells article and I was not disappointed. My immediate thoughts were, that anyone who was or is seriously challenging the Tate, the establishment and one of the key official gatekeepers to cultural/artistic history in the UK (or any other country), needs to be heard. The Falsification of David Kings Work was a reminder to me that even the Tate can attempt to conceal (or deliberately misinterpret) genuine historic photographic evidence. It came as no surprise to me that Trotsky was being sidelined by the exhibition curators. I was disturbed by the curators approach to David Kings work, first, by allowing previously unseen imagery to be exhibited in the UK without any comments or accompanying text. Second, and most important, allowing history to be distorted over the coverage of the Revolution itselfwhere Trotsky and Marxism are not given a platform so that people realise what potential they had to deliver an alternative to Stalinism. Peter Sylveire is an artist based in London where he has exhibited over many years, as well as in Paris. Peter Sylveire I would recommend anyone to see any exhibition from David Kings archive. It is a marvellous collection. Theres a revealing passage in Paul Mitchells review, which recalls Kings visit to the Soviet Union in 1970, on an assignment for the London Sunday Times, to research material for a forthcoming feature on the centenary of Lenins birth. King said, The one figure who I was most interested in finding out about was nowhere to be seen. I spent a lot of time asking Yes, but where is Trotsky? Feeble attempts were made in the official photo archives to drag out even one picture of the co-leader of the Russian revolution. There was nothing. They had totally wiped him out. The Tate Modern exhibition in no way remedied this tragic falsification. Why is it that Leon Trotsky remains the one leading Bolshevik who has not been rehabilitated in Russia? In the Gorbachev period they rehabilitated Zinoviev, Kamenev and many others, but not Trotsky. He faces an absolute, continuous and fierce silencing which is being redoubled everywhere, including in the Tate exhibition. Trotsky was the inheritor of Lenin and Leninism. The ice pick driven into Trotskys skull by a Stalinist agent in 1940 was not only the assassination of one individual, but the attempted destruction of an entire understanding of history. With his collection David King sought to shed light on that history. It is not that there were no images of Trotsky on display in the exhibition. Rather that they were presented devoid of any real political meaning. The Stalin/Trotsky conflict is presented as a power struggle between two individuals. In the Tate exhibition Trotskyism and the class struggle nature of the period were in the background. In essence, the exhibition was anti-Trotsky. I used to run an art gallery in London called The Young Unknowns. One of its slogans was, For the What over the Who. We wanted to counter the culture of celebrity by curating exhibitions around a theme as opposed to an individual artist. The Tate exhibition was curated in such a way that it teaches us nothing about what drove Stalin or Trotsky, or the other figures in that greatest event of recent time. They are mere names. I remember how the work of Dave King contributed, in the 1970s, to the renewed investigation by the International Committee of the Fourth International into the circumstances surrounding Trotskys assassination in Mexico and the exposure of [US Socialist Workers Party leader] Joseph Hansens role in it, particularly in the pamphlet How the GPU Murdered Trotsky. King devoted his life to uncovering the crimes of Stalinism. He has provided a tremendous service to history and to future generations. His work should be presented in the way he collected it and understood it. We live in renewed revolutionary times and the old lies are being warmed up to convince people that there is no escape from capitalism, that its human nature, that there are always going to be greedy people, and so on. The Tate exhibition was designed to convince people that to try and build a working-class movement and overthrow capitalism is going to end in tyranny as you can see in Russia. Future exhibitions should be curated by someone who understands the real nature of Kings archive. I am sure he would agree. Jarmila Izova is a Goldsmith College Fine Arts graduate working in London. Jarmila Izova I went to see the Tate exhibition after reading Trotskys History of the Russian Revolution. As I was reading his account of those historic events, I was really moved. There are no images in the book, but it grows in your mind and you feel that you are really there. When I finished, I wished I had images to make it visual. As I was walking through the King exhibition I wanted to see how Trotsky was depicted, in cartoons, pictures and books. Coming out the exhibition I felt there was a lack of his presence. I expected to see more of Trotsky, knowing that he was the main enemy of Stalin. The room where Trotsky was shown speaking was so refreshingto see him on the screen and the whole atmosphere of the time. That was in one room, but it was not there in all the other rooms. So the exhibition came very close to the British Library exhibitionjust another way of having a go at Soviet art and culture. This exhibition was not about understanding what happened in Russia. David King dedicated his life to collecting the art and memorabilia of the period but the exhibition, because of the way it was curated, did not amount to much. When I go to see a Cezanne exhibition, I want to weep because of the way it is put together. It vibrates! The Tate exhibition was a real opportunity to inspire people with the great ideas of the Russian Revolution, but it was bland and had no high point. In my country, the Czech Republic, there is a lack of understanding of this history. They associate Communism with the great purges. But there is at least a recognition of Trotsky and his name. Many families in the Czech Republic are connected to the mining industry. After 1989 they closed the mines causing joblessness, homelessness and alcoholism. Like many other questions, there are dark holes that need to be opened up and explained. I was ready to weep when I was presented with this exhibition. They want to bury the truth about 1917 deeper and deeper because they see it as dangerous to the capitalists. They do not want to unearth these beautiful ideas because it is revolutionary material that will help people to fight to bring down capitalism. The exhibition felt almost like burying someone alive, hermetically sealing them off somewhere so as not to affect future generations. David Cowan, a graduate of Fine Art Sculpture who taught Design & Make projects in north-west England before moving into Special Educational Needs teaching in south London: David Cowan Last year I went to the centenary exhibition of the Russian Revolution at the Royal Academy [RA] and was disgusted at the anti-Bolshevik, anti-revolutionary propaganda there. Then I visited the Tate website video for the Red Star Over Russia exhibition and thought it was quite decent with some truthful statements being made. I thought the Tates exhibition, based on the archive of David King, has got to be better than the RAs and hoped that events would be placed in their context. Kings archive is unique and historically important. He defended the 1917 Bolshevik revolution and was supportive of the Trotskyist movement. His whole life was spent gathering information and imagery on 1917, Trotsky and the Stalinist Moscow Trials. I hoped that the Tate exhibition would be in the spirit, passion and dedication to the truth that animated King in pursuit of his collection. I was looking forward to seeing images I had only seen in books, learning about the events surrounding the images and at what stage of the revolution they were produced. While I thought the images exhibited were great, I was astonished as I progressed through the exhibition. There were images I had not seen before with virtually no explanation to place them in context. I came across the room of photographs of those who disappeared under Stalins show trials. There was no serious explanation of who these individuals were, apart from their names. From my own knowledge I recognised members of the Left Opposition led by Trotsky. With prior knowledge of Kings work, you could do that to some extent, but without such knowledge it was impossible. I was very disappointed, not in the images shown, but in the distorted account of the Russian working class taking power under a Marxist leadership. The archive needs to be put into the hands of people who dont reject this out of hand. I totally agree with the review of the exhibition by the World Socialist Web Ste. Truth is everything. Kings archive should be presented truthfully otherwise it can be used as bourgeois propaganda, attacking Trotsky, 1917 and Kings own beliefs. Kings approach to his work is formulated in his publications, including The Commissar Vanishes: The Falsification of Photographs & Art in Stalins Russia and Trotsky: A Photographic Biography. In them he provides a clear historical and political background needed to understand the graphic material that he rescued from oblivion. In the accompanying text, King seeks to reveal the historical truth about the 1917 Russian Revolution and above all, about Trotsky, whom he always insisted represented an alternative to Stalinism and dictatorship. The curators of the Tate exhibition were attempting to offset the thoughts of masses of people who want revolutionary change and believe that everyone should be equal. It was part of a massive ideological brake being applied to this political development. Barry Bliss has been making feature films for over 30 years. He wrote and directed Fords on Water (1984), Poppies (2006), Voices from Afar (2007), Godard and Others (2010), Notes from the Underground (2012) and Art Is (2013) . His novel Hand Upon HeartThe Last Templars was published in 2006. Barry Bliss I saw the Tate exhibition and wasnt very impressed by the curatorship of it, although it was thrilling to see some of the original material that I hadnt seen before. I found it ironic that the exhibition along the corridors of the Smolny Institute in St. Petersburg that I went to last year had a far more accurate representation of Trotskys role in the October Revolution than did the Tate. The paradox was that although the local government of St. Petersburg was by no means pro-Bolshevik, they were very proud of their history and, against the climate emanating from Moscow, were very pro-active in celebrating the October Revolution in some of their official buildings. They have even had an official portrait of Trotsky painted (he was the first head of the St. Petersburg Soviet) and it also hangs along the corridor, in premier position, with other heads of the St. Petersburg Soviet/Council. Trotsky and Lenin in the Smolny exhibition, St. Petersburg The portrait of Trotsky didnt reach the artistic standards of former portraits by Annenkov or Diego Rivera, but the fact that it had been commissioned at all is a remarkable development in reclaiming a once suppressed history. Along this corridor, that ran for over 100 metres (I was proudly informed), were photographs from the revolutionsome of the building, and some more general. The photos were laid out in chronological order and through them I was able to see the development of mass protest to organised opposition and ultimately armed insurrection. Lenin and Trotsky in the Smolny exhibition, St. Petersburg There were many images I had not seen before and this was a thrill for me. But more importantly these images returned Trotsky to his rightful place, along with Lenin at the epicentre of the struggle. To be able to see un-doctored photos of the October events, in the building where many of them occurred, was a once in a lifetime honour. I also saw a centenary exhibition at the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg [The Winter Palace and the Hermitage in 1917]. The first things that impressed you when you entered the exhibition were the huge banners hanging from the ceilings on which were images of the October Revolution. But they were not the usual shots of the restaged storming of the Winter Palace, etc. These were photos of the ordinary people of Petrogradworkers from the factories, peasants arrived from the country, women demanding peace and bread. Winter Palace exhibition, St. Petersburg All these countless faces, names lost to time, staring at the camera, their expressions revealing hope for a better future. All were participants in this historic moment, a moment that changed history. With just these simple images the curators at the Winter Palace gave a lie to the idea that October was somehow a coup by a small, elitist group of people. These frozen moments captured the great movement of the many as they swept away the old regime. However, the Tate exhibition, like those at the Royal Academy and British Library, was a travesty in terms of misrepresentation, not only of Trotskys role, but of the revolution itself. It seems to me that by trying to marginalise these historic events, they hope they will just go away and new generations will not gain inspiration from the seminal event of the 20th century. I think it is instructive to compare the Tates exhibition of Kazimir Malevich in 2014 with that of David Kings archive. The Malevich exhibition was far richer and more comprehensive. One can only assume that this reflects the Tates attempt to separate the artist from his or her historical context. They still seem to believe in the theory of artist as superman/woman and you can almost get away with this when dealing with the artist as an individual. But once you confront a broader perspective, a movement of the tectonic plates of history where that great tide sweeps up all in its path, your creative parochialism is exposed. Just as in the British Librarys final exhibit, where the faces of those purged by Stalin filled the screen in a darkened room, so it was with David Kings exhibition. Through the curatorship one sees the faces of those purged and is left in no doubt that the destruction of the revolution was inevitable. Presumably the curators believe theres a moral here; dont try this again as the same fate awaits you. This of course flies in the face of the evidence, evidence that David King spent a lifetime accumulating to put the record straight. As with so much history if a lie remains unchallenged it will, in time, be treated as fact. Under direct orders from President Donald Trump, US immigration officials have refused to accept the asylum applications of nearly 200 immigrants escaping violence, war and poverty in Central America, forcing them to set up an impromptu encampment on the San Diego-Tijuana border. The caravan of asylum seekers comprises Hondurans, El Salvadorans and Guatemalans who began their perilous 3,000-mile trek on March 25. The Trump administration has employed fascistic language in an effort to scapegoat and threaten the caravan, an annual pilgrimage carried out to highlight the desperate plight of Central American refugees. On April 4, after claiming that our country is being stolen because asylum seekers take advantage of the US, Trump ordered states to deploy the National Guard. The caravan had better be stopped, he threatened. To date, the Trump administration has allowed only a small fraction of the group to file asylum applications. By denying immigrants the right to asylum, the US is acting in flagrant violation of international law. Article 14 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads: Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution. In 1951, the United Nations passed the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, which provides that no one shall expel or return a refugee against his or her will, in any manner whatsoever, to a territory where he or she fears threats to life or freedom. The US governments repudiation of these principles marks a historical turning point in the attack on democratic rights. Passed in the aftermath of the Second World War, the UN protections were intended to shield the millions of people expelled from their homes by the war. Survivors of the Holocaust implored the documents drafters to strengthen language related to the right to asylum, citing the fact that the governments of the allied countries had closed their doors to Jewish and other refugees, leaving them trapped to die at the hands of the Nazis. In 1939, for example, Captain Gustav Schroder took nearly 1,000 German Jewish refugees aboard the MS St. Louis across the Atlantic to apply for asylum in the United States. Officials from the Franklin Roosevelt administration, led by Secretary of State Cordell Hull, barred the ship from landing, first in Cuba and then in the United States. The Canadian government also denied the ship access to Canada, forcing it to turn back to Europe. British officials agreed to accept fewer than a third of the ships passengers, and the rest were sent back to mainland Europe. Nearly half those who returned were killed in the Holocaust. Reports indicate that dozens of immigrants denied the right to stay in the United States are killed in their home countries every year. A 2015 report in the Guardian found that over the previous year, 83 deportees were murdered upon their return to El Salvador, Guatemala and Hondurasthe three main countries represented in the asylum caravan. US imperialism has transformed these countries into social disaster zones. In El Salvador, the US government trained and armed the military dictatorship that massacred tens of thousands of peasants and workers throughout the 1980s. In Guatemala, the US trained and armed the military government of Gen. Efrain Rios Montt, which perpetrated the Mayan genocide, killing tens of thousands of indigenous Mayans in the 1980s. The US-backed regime ethnically cleansed villages and filled the countrys rivers with corpses. The US staged its contra forces in Honduras and used them to carry out death squad terror both within the country and in neighboring Nicaragua. More recently, in 2009, the Obama administration and then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton backed a coup against elected Honduran President Manuel Zelaya, leading to massive state repression. The entire American political establishment is to blame for the abrogation of the right to asylum. The Democratic Party is no less culpable than the Republicans. To give just one example, the Democratic Bill Clinton administration pushed through the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 (AEDPA), which barred all immigrants from applying for asylum more than one year after arriving in the US, among other added restrictions. The AEDPA passed in the Senate by a vote of 91-8 with the support of nearly all Senate Democrats, including Joe Biden, Barbara Boxer, Dianne Feinstein, John Kerry, Ron Wyden, Paul Wellstone and Harry Reid. In the House of Representatives, most Democrats voted for the bill, including Dick Durbin, Charles Schumer, Steny Hoyer and James Clyburn. The Democratic Party is complicit in Trumps fascistic attack on the Central American migrant caravan. Californias Democratic governor, Jerry Brown, agreed to Trumps request for National Guard soldiers and deployed 400 troops to the border. Browns move has freed up immigration officials to man the San Diego-Tijuana crossing where the immigrants are presently camped. No leading Democrat has made a public statement on the caravan. Aside from a single tweet by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on April 5, the Twitter accounts of Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Charles Schumer and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez have been silent on the matter. Nor have the self-absorbed millionaire spokespersons of the #MeToo movement mentioned the fact that 80 percent of women are sexually assaulted or raped while crossing to the US. At border crossings around the world, encampments of asylum seekers are swelling as tens of millions flee their homelands. The bulk of these dispossessed people come from countries devastated by US invasions and bombing campaigns. On April 20, the Syriza government in Greece refused to abide by a court order demanding that it allow refugees to leave the islands where they are being held in deplorable conditions. On April 22, the French government passed a bill dramatically restricting asylum applications. In the United Kingdom, the exposure of systematic mistreatment of Caribbean immigrants has forced the resignation of Home Secretary Amber Rudd. The Israeli government has arrested African immigrants and is threatening to deport thousands more. All over the world, police-state methods tested against immigrants are being prepared or already employed against the entire working class. The transformation of millions of people into stateless refugees is inevitable under capitalism, where money and products can travel freely across borders but human beings cannot. Especially under conditions where rival imperialist ruling classes are preparing to re-divide the globe by means of world war, they stoke up anti-immigrant racism and xenophobia to divide the working class and justify dictatorial methods of rule. In May 1940, Leon Trotsky wrote: The world of decaying capitalism is overcrowded. The question of admitting a few hundred extra refugees becomes a major problem for such a world power as the United States. In an era of aviation, telegraph, telephone, radio and television, travel from country to country is paralyzed by passports and visas. The period of the wasting away of foreign trade and the decline of domestic trade is at the same time the period of the monstrous intensification of chauvinism, and especially of anti-Semitism. Amid the vast expanse of land and the marvels of technology, which has also conquered the skies for man as well as the earth, the bourgeoisie has managed to convert our planet into a foul prison. The Socialist Equality Party calls on workers to defend the immigrants at the US-Mexico border and demand that they be granted political asylum. We oppose all attacks on immigrants, documented or undocumented, and insist on the democratic right of all workers to live and work in the country of their choice, without restrictions and with full political and civil rights. In opposition to the division of the world into competing nation states and all forms of nationalism, the poisonous ideology of the outmoded capitalist system, we fight for the international unity of the working class in the struggle for socialism. Members of the far-right Ukrainian paramilitary group C14 recently attacked a Roma camp in Kiev, forcing families and children to flee. The incident was just one of many assaults in Ukraine committed by right-wing groups against ethnic minorities and those opposed to the oligarchic government of Petro Poroshenko. A report released days after the attack by Amnesty International pointed to the involvement of local government officials: On the night of April 20-21, representatives of the radical organization C14 committed a pogrom of the Roma camp on the Lysi mountain in the Holosiivskyi district of Kiev. The pogrom was preceded by several visits to the camp of representatives of the C14 and workers from the Holosiivskyi district administration, who demanded that the Roma leave the site. According to eyewitnesses, during the pogrom against the Roma, gas cartridges, cutting items and, possibly, firearms were used. According to reports, children were among the injured. In a video posted to YouTube, Roma families are seen fleeing with children and personal items in their arms, as they are chased and attacked by the fascists with rocks and tear gas. C14 later posted photos of members burning the families tents. The group boasted about the attack on Facebook. C14 is an offshoot paramilitary group of the right-wing nationalist Svoboda Party. The 14 in its name refers to the 14-word white supremacist slogan, We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children. Despite the fact that C14 carried out the attack in broad daylight near several busy metro stops and bragged about it on social media, a police investigation was not opened until five days later. While speaking to the Ukrainian press, Andriy Kryshchenko, the head of Kievs police force, refused to acknowledge that any assault took place, stating that only garbage was burned at the camp by firefighters. Claiming he had received no complaints from the Roma themselves, the police chief said there was nothing to investigate. Kryshchenkos statements were contradicted by Amnesty Internationals report, which included statements from members of the Roma community. Several said they later called the police and returned to the camp, but were told all of their personal items were burned or gone and that they should leave Kiev as fast as possible. The Kiev Police finally decided to open an inquiry after the YouTube video of the attack went viral on social media. The federal government likewise responded to the outcry over the attack only after Amnesty International and other NGOs began to denounce the attempted cover-up of the incident by police forces. Interior Minister Arsen Avakov cynically released a statement condemning the attack: Attacking women and children, threatening them, gassing them with tear gas, spoiling their property, and generally treating them like animals due to ethnicity is medieval savagery. It does not fit a modern country that seeks to live up to European standards. Notwithstanding Avakovs assurances that the guilty parties will be brought to justice, the Poroshenko regime tacitly supports far-right fascistic groups such as C14. It is unlikely that the group will ever be seriously charged with terrorizing the Roma camp. Earlier in January, thousands of far-right groups gathered to march in Kiev and were given free rein in the city for the day by Kiev authorities. Avakov himself has ties to the far-right paramilitary Azov Battalion, which now operates with full government support after being integrated into the newly created National Guard. Avakovs deputy minister Vadim Troyan is a former member of the neo-Nazi Patriot of Ukraine organization. Several other officials within the Interior Ministry also have ties to Ukraines myriad far-right groups and parties and have a history of making anti-Semitic statements. In order to prop up his corrupt and widely despised regime, the Poroshenko government allows these fascist groups to operate with impunity, free to terrorize any opposition to Kiev. In concluding its report, Amnesty International noted: It is important to understand that the target for such attacks can and will be anyone: Roma, women, anti-corruption activists, Jews, LGBTs, journalists, artists, students, writers. No one can now be sure that he will not become the next victim of a gang of radicals who have felt their impunity. They are covered with patriotism and concern for society, but in fact they are terrorizing civilians. In this case, law enforcement bodies, in most cases, remain inactive. The Marx 21 network, a pseudo-left grouping inside the Left Party with close connections to the state capitalist International Socialist Tendency (IST), has long been one of the most aggressive supporters of the imperialist offensive against Syria. After the recent attacks against Damascus, it is stepping up its campaign for a more aggressive military intervention in the country. The article, Syria: The Enemy of my Enemy Remains My Enemy, which featured prominently on the Marx 21 web site for several days, exemplifies the reactionary role these pseudo-left organisations play in the imperialist rape of Syria. Under the cynical cover of the struggle for peace, freedom and respect for human rights, Marx 21 tries to portray itself as an opponent of all warring parties. In fact, it acts as a propaganda tool for imperialism. The entire article is directed against representatives of the Left Party, who, in the eyes of Marx 21, do not support the imperialist offensive against Syria vehemently enough. Unfortunately, members of the Left Party had also repeatedly expressed understanding for the government and war of the dictator Bashar al-Assad and indirectly defended him, complains Marx 21 author Hans Krause. As an example, he cites claims that reports of the Syrian American Medical Society or the White Helmets about the victims of a possible Douma poison gas attack were hardly worth anything because they are US-funded organisations. This argument hardly differs from the war-mongering of the bourgeois press. Despite increasing evidence showing that the White Helmets staged the Douma gas attack to provide their imperialist sponsors with a pretext for new air strikes, Marx 21 seeks to suppress any criticism of the official propaganda. Although it is correct not to accept the poison gas attack in Duma as truth just because the American government claims it took place, it was, however, wrong to dismiss the reports as unreliable. The World Socialist Web Site has already commented in an earlier article on the cynical attempt of the Left Party to present itself as an opponent of the Syrian war. In reality, its position largely coincides with that of the German government, whereby it insists that Berlin pursue Germanys imperialist interests more self-assuredly and independently of the United States. This is also the view of Marx 21, but it supports that wing of the ruling class which also urges taking a more aggressive course against Russia. In line with this view, Krause doesnt fundamentally reject the recent US, French and British air strikes on Syria, but criticises them from the right. Even the German-funded Science and Politics Foundation does not believe that NATOs missile strike in Syria has achieved anything positive, he notes at the beginning of his article. Nevertheless, Chancellor Merkel considers them to be successful and appropriate. The entire article leaves no doubt that Marx 21 advocates regime change in Damascus brought about by the imperialist powers. It expresses particular ire towards Moscow and Damascus, even though the US and its European allies have been fighting for domination of the resource-rich and strategically important region for 15 years now. Neither Russia nor Syria are democratic, let alone socialist states, whatever standards are applied, Krause points out to his readers. Both governments have falsified elections for decades, arresting and murdering oppositionists, and in Syria, long before the war. Just because Assad does not base his rule on religion this did not make him a lesser evil. Neither the actions of the Assad government nor those of the Kremlin, which defends the interests of the Russian oligarchy in Syria, can be supported by Marxists and class-conscious workers. Nevertheless, both are engaged in a predominantly defensive reaction to a war of aggression being waged by the imperialist powers contrary to international law. The imperialist powers have been intervening in Syria for the past seven years as part of their attempts to re-colonise the entire Middle East, to overthrow another pro-Russian government and act against Iran and, ultimately, Russia itself. Marxists are not neutral in the war between imperialist powers and oppressed countriesnot because they support the governments of the latter, but in spite of these governments. The fight against the Assad regime, which represents a wing of the Syrian bourgeoisie, and the building of a democratic and equal society in Syria is the task of an independent, revolutionary movement of the working class. By contrast, the overthrow of the Assad regime by the Western imperialist powers and their lackeys would turn the country into an imperialist protectorate and bring to power an even more reactionary regimeas the experience in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya has recently underlined. But this is exactly what Krause has in mind when he demands, when building a new anti-war movement in Germany, it should not downplay any warmongers in this world and neither conceal nor admire murderers, either from Washington, Moscow, Damascus or another place. The slogan Neither Washington nor Moscow, which Krause resurrects here, has a long history. In the 1950s, it was used by the anti-Trotskyist state capitalist tendency from which Marx 21 descends to justify its orientation to imperialism. At that time, the state capitalists refused to defend China and the Soviet Union against the American invasion of Korea during the Korean War. Today, it serves to justify the installation of a pro-Western and potentially Islamist regime in Damascus. For a long time, left-wing organisations and parties repeatedly made the mistake of supporting the government of a state simply because it was hostile to their own government, writes Krause. But a left-wing foreign policy as an antithesis to pro-NATO government should not be to support another imperialist government in its struggle for commodities, markets and military staging areaswhereby he includes not only the Kremlin, but also the Syrian government of Bashar Assad as one of the imperialist governments. In his article, Krause provides the ruling class with the appropriate arguments to denounce the growing opposition to war: Those who oppose the efforts of the imperialist powers to re-colonise the entire Middle East automatically support Assad and the Putin regime. The support of Marx 21 for German imperialism is not limited to propaganda. The pseudo-left group plays an important role in Berlins return to an aggressive foreign policy, and it is deeply integrated into the institutions of German imperialism. Its leading member, Christine Buchholz, has been a defence policy spokeswoman for the Left Party for nine years now; she sits on the Parliamentary Defence Committee and regularly accompanies Defence Minister Ursula von Leyen during troop visits abroad. In this role, Marx 21 and the Left Party helped organ ise the pro-imperialist Syrian opposition in recent years and have repeatedly spoken in favour of military intervention in Syria. Together with representatives of the CDU, SPD and Greens, Left Party leaders had already signed up to a statement in 2012 entitled Syria: freedom needs assistance, which called for humanitarian intervention in the country. The statement was initiated by the group Adopt a Revolution (AaR), with which Marx 21 cooperates to this day. Only in February of this year, Buchholz appeared at an AaR rally in front of the Russian Embassy in Berlin. In Syria itself, Marx 21 works with those who openly act as ground troops for the imperialist powers. Ghayath Naisse, secretary general of the Syrian Revolutionary Left Current (SRLC), is scheduled to speak at the Marx is a must conference in May. The SRLC is part of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which consists of Kurdish nationalist militias, parts of the Free Syrian Army, and Sunni Islamist militias, all of them operating in the region with British, French, and US troops. At the end of the article, when Krause argues that the solidarity of the Left Party must apply to all those people, groups and organisations advocating the survival of the people, he means the pro-imperialist organisations and militias of the SDF. Thus, even the claim of Marx 21 to support neither Washington, nor Moscow, nor Damascus turns out to be a lie. His orientation to Washington is also reflected in his denunciations of the Russian and Syrian governments exclusively, and by failing to mention the massive crimes of US imperialism in Syria and the entire region. The Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party) opposes the imperialist offensive against Syria through the building of an independent, international anti-war movement based on the working class and fighting for a socialist programme. This requires an irreconcilable political struggle against pseudo-left tendencies, such as Marx 21, which present themselves as left-wing or even Marxist, but who support the imperialist war-mongering. Talks begin in Beijing today between a high-level US economic delegation and Chinese authorities on trade, with little prospect of any significant movement by either side in the deepening conflict. Ahead of the negotiations, which will last two days and involve Chinas vice-premier, Liu He, state-owned media insisted that China would not back down in the face of US demands following the imposition of tariffs on $50 billion worth of Chinese goods and the possible addition of a further $100 billion worth of goods. Washington had better not expect that its trade-war stick will force Beijing to take whatever the US delegation offers. China wont abandon its principles despite pressure, the Global Times said in an editorial published on Wednesday. The newspaper is often described as hawkish, but its views on this question reflect those within top government circles. The South China Morning Post cited a government official close to the trade talks as saying that Washington could not set preconditions for the negotiations and China had the strength to fight a trade war to the end if it broke out. We will not offer concessions on anything we consider to be our core interest, the official said. The immediate demand of the US is for a reduction of $100 billion in the Chinese trade surplus with the US, which hit $375 billion last year and could go even higher this year. But the conflict is over more than the trade numbers. The overriding concern of the US is Chinas move under its Made in China 2025 program to develop its high-tech capacities in communications and other areas. Washington regards the program as a threat to American economic and military supremacy. Whether its the 2025 plan or the $100 billion trade deficit we will not bow to threats, nor will we accept any preconditions for negotiations, the Chinese official said. There are too many issues that we may not be able to solve in one round, he said. Both sides can continue the discussions in Beijing or in Washington. If the talks break down and the US escalates their actions, we are also well prepared for it. The US delegation, which is being led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, includes the two leading anti-China hawks within the Trump administration, White House National Trade Council Director Peter Navarro and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Speaking on the eve of his departure for Beijing, Lighthizer said, Our list of things that are troubling [in China] is very long. According to a report in the Financial Times, Lighthizer told a US Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday that Chinas economic model of state capitalism was a direct challenge to the US economy. The Made in China 2025 plan, in which it is seeking to become a world leader in ten industries, represented a threat to the future of the US economy and the employment prospects of our children, he said. Lighthizer claimed it was not his objective to change the Chinese system, but I have to be in a position where the United States can deal with it, where the United States isnt the victim of it. Lighthizer was the leading force behind a declaration from his office earlier this year that the US had erred in its decision to back Chinas entry into the World Trade Organisation in 2001. The report from the Office of the US Trade Representative said that Chinas 2025 strategy had the final goal of capturing much larger world market shares in the targeted areas. Anti-China rhetoric was also a theme of President Trumps address to a Michigan rally at the weekend. [China] became a major power after joining the World Trade Organization, which is a horror show for us, he said. Remarks by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who is also on the delegation, have been no less belligerent. In an interview with CNBC on the trade talks he indicated he had some hope, but made it clear the US was ready to proceed with more tariffs and other measures if it did not win concessions. President Trump is of the view that its now time for action, he said. Our trade deficit is too big, too continuing, too chronic and too inspired by evil practices. According to the US, these evil practices include Chinese theft of intellectual property, forced technology transfers in which US companies investing in China have to divulge knowledge to their joint venture partners, moves by Chinese companies to acquire US firms in order to gain access to technology advances, and the use of state funding to boost technological development. In other words, Chinas recourse to methods similar to those employed by US capitalism in its rise to global dominance represent an existential threat and must be halted. Action is already being taken by the US. Legislation is now before Congress that would give the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US, which examines inbound investments for potential national security threats, the power to investigate joint ventures overseas on the same basis. Yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Trump administration is considering action to restrict the ability of Chinese companies to sell telecommunications equipment in the US on grounds of national security. Chinas two leading manufacturers of telecommunications equipment, Huawei and ZTE, would be adversely affected by any ban. ZTE has already been hit by a decision to ban US firms from selling components to it for seven years, on the grounds that it breached an agreement reached after it had been found to be in violation of US restrictions on trade with North Korea and Iran. It has been reported that the US Justice Department is also considering action against Huawei over the same issue. While there may be some limited announcements from the Beijing talks, which will have to go to Trump for final approval, the underlying conflicts are not going to be resolved and are set to intensify. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Residents in a central Florida neighborhood have been forced to evacuate due to massive sinkholes that have formed over the last week. At least a dozen sinkholes have been reported in the Wynchase neighborhood of Ocala, Florida, about 80 miles northwest of Orlando, according to local media reports. The holes have been forming around a retention pond. Residents from at least eight homes close to the pond were evacuated, with no clear indication of when they might be able to return home, according to ABC affiliate WFTV. One resident, Maren Pinder, said the holes just seem to keep popping and they're getting larger and larger. It's put the entire community on edge, she said. "They just keep coming," Pinder told WFTV on Tuesday. "Are we safe? We don't know. It's really scary. "We just have a bag ready in case they say, 'Yeah, you need to evacuate,' we can just grab it and get out." The Ocala Fire Rescue department said it responded to the Fore Ranch subdivision in Wynchase last Wednesday to investigate reports of large holes opening up on the shore of the retention pond. "The cause may be linked to a private irrigation water main break. Units adjacent to the area have been evacuated as a safety precaution," the department said in a statement last Wednesday, but the holes have multiplied and some have overlapped and/or intersected since then. The city's engineer and the Emergency Management Department said they're investigating the occurrence, with hopes of figuring out a how to fill in the sinkholes and keep them from developing again. It's a case of deja vu for some Ocala residents, though. The town's homeowners association paid thousands of dollars to fill multiple sinkholes back in in 2012, according to WFTV, but officials estimate that the problem could more costly this time around. They said the holes can't be filled until they know the ground has settled. Story continues Shannon Cole, who had to vacate his unit, said complained that officials hadnt given residents enough information about whats going on. "We have not received any answers," Cole, who is currently living with his parents, told local media outlet Ocala.com. "I'm going to have to find somewhere [to live] soon." ABC News' Matt Foster contributed to this report. One Utah teenager's prom dress has sparked a heated debate on the controversial issue of cultural appropriation. Keziah Daum, an 18-year-old senior at Woods Cross High School, Utah, received backlash after she posted photos of her dressed in a red qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, on prom night. After she posted them online, many on Twitter were quick to criticize her choice of wardrobe, accusing her of appropriating the Chinese culture, given she is not of Chinese descent. One of the first criticisms came from a Chinese American student who shared Daums post on Twitter with the caption My culture is NOT your g------ prom dress, pointing out the origins of qipao and its significance within a marginalized minority. For it to simply be subject to American consumerism and cater to a white audience, is parallel to colonial ideology, the student wrote. The post has since been retweeted over 41,000 times. PHOTO: Keziah Daum, an 18-year-old senior at Woods Cross High School, Utah, received immediate backlash after she posted photos of her dressed in a red qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, on prom night. (Michael Techmeyer) Daum told ABC News she bought the dress at a vintage store downtown. As soon as I saw the dress I knew it was the one, she said. At the time, she said, she was only focused on the modesty and subtle elegance of the dress. She said she was not aware of the cultural context thats deeply embedded with the garments history, one that can be traced back to the 17th century. Shortly after I got the dress, I decided to do some research, Daum said. After a quick search, she found that the qipao, or cheongsam (in Cantonese), came with a rich background and learned how it eventually became a symbol for female empowerment, which Daum said made her love it even more. On prom night, Daum said she received compliments from everyone, including her friends, advisers, fellow students she has never met and even waiters at the restaurant they ate at that night. Then at work a few days later, the backlash started pouring in, she said. I wasnt expecting it at all," Daum said. "My intention was never to cause any commotion or misunderstanding." Story continues PHOTO: Keziah Daum, an 18-year-old senior at Woods Cross High School, Utah, received immediate backlash after she posted photos of her dressed in a red qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, on prom night. (Michael Techmeyer ) Some people online are calling her actions thoughtless and even reprehensible, while others are jumping to her defense. But for many, the real offense Daum committed was when she posed in a group photo crouching down with their hands folded in front of them. However, when asked about the group photo, Daum told ABC News the gesture was referring to Papa Bless, a pose inspired by Ethan Klein from h3h3 Productions, a popular Israeli-American comedy YouTube channel. At the time we were deciding on silly pictures, someone suggested those poses, so I just followed the crowd, Daum said, I see where [the critics] were coming from, but I dont think they really got the full context. PHOTO: Keziah Daum, an 18-year-old senior at Woods Cross High School, Utah, is pictured in a red qipao, a traditional Chinese dress, on prom night. (Michael Techmeyer) She insists there was no racial undertone intended, adding, I want to everyone to know that I respect the Chinese culture and every culture." Daums story has quickly gained traction, even making its way overseas to some Chinese publications. One online Chinese newspaper, The South China Morning Post, quoted people in Mainland China who seemed supportive, with some even calling it cultural appreciation instead of appropriation. When asked if she regretted her decision, Daum said no. I would wear it again, Daum said, adding, "I never imagined a simple rite of passage such as a prom would cause a discussion reaching many parts of the world. Perhaps it is an important discussion we need to have. Celebrating Cecile Richards and Laverne Cox at the Planned Parenthood of New York City Spring Gala Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com Photo: Rommel Demano, Joe Schildhorn / BFA.com We cant wait to see what kind of trouble you get into next, said the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of New York City, Laura McQuade, just before she introduced Cecile Richards at the end of an evening that included cocktails and an interactive installation designed by artist Kehinde Wiley at New Yorks Spring Studios. The former president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America received the Woman of Valor award at the organizations annual spring gala last night. During her speech at the end of dinner, Richards talked about the importance of Planned Parenthood to turn patients into supporters and supporters into activists. She discussed what it was like to have recently opened a Planned Parenthood in her conservative hometown of Waco, Texas, and the experience of having just met a man at another centers opening who was there to support the organization but admitted to Richards that he was once an angry protester who stood outside and vehemently opposed the medical center. Richards, who was dressed in one of her signature hot pink cocktail dresses and gold statement earrings, also took time to thank the other honoree that evening, actress and LGBTQ activist Laverne Cox. Cox gave a powerful address as well, and a bit of a history lesson too. She talked about Griswold v. Connecticut, a 1965 Supreme Court ruling against a Connecticut law that banned contraception for married couples. The decision shutting down this law was ultimately the catalyst for Roe v. Wade and established a constitutional right to privacy concerning an individuals reproductive decisions. I feel like people dont talk enough about the right to privacy as a Supreme Court decision and its important, Cox said just before the event began. Ive been thinking a lot about the relationship between womens healthcare and trans healthcare too, and the fight for autonomy over our bodies. Its a fight weve been fighting since forever and we will continue to fight. Cox received a standing ovation from the crowd, which also included Sarah Jessica Parker, Chief Content Officer of Them and Teen Vogue Phillip Picardi, and artist Marilyn Minter, who customized a Audi R8 that was auctioned off by owner Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode. Works by photographer Collier Schorr and artist Jenny Holzer also went on the auction block and, all in, raised over $300,000 for Planned Parenthood. The evening concluded with an after-party performance from Questlove. Story continues It was a celebration of powerful women and a powerful organization but perhaps more importantly, a celebration of the progress that has already been made through Planned Parenthood, and the potential to do so much more in the future. A military C-130 aircraft crashed next to a road near Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport in Port Wentsworth, Georgia, on May 2, according to reports. Local media reported that all five people aboard the plane were killed. The plane was an Air National Guard aircraft from Puerto Rico. Credit: Roger Best via Storyful The FTC is about to get a major makeover. As of Wednesday, the Federal Trade Commission once again has five commissioners, ending a year of neglect that reduced the government agency most directly involved with protecting our privacy is down to just two commissioners and, since Friday, only one. Those four incoming leaders confirmed in a unanimous Senate vote last week, led by new chairman Joseph Simons will have an opportunity and a mandate to improve how the FTC holds companies accountable when their customers data goes missing, gets leaked online or is otherwise misused. Room at the top The personnel shortage at the FTC starts at the top, where the departures of Obama-administration nominees went almost a year without being offset by nominations of new commissioners by the Trump administration. By last February, the FTC was down to only two commissioners: acting chair Maureen K. Ohlhausen, a Republican nominee, and Terrell McSweeny, a Democratic nominee. And last month, McSweeny announced her own resignation, leaving just Ohlhausenwhom President Trump nominated in January to serve as a federal judge. (The Senate confirmed five FTC nominees last week, leaving one to be sworn in to take Ohlhausens spot once she is confirmed.) That is not exactly the level of attention you might expect for Americas foremost and oldest privacy cop. The FTC was created in 1914 by Congress to protect customers by halting unfair, deceptive or fraudulent conduct by companies from robocalls to data breaches and to promote competition by enforcing antitrust laws. Its downright strange, given all the collective angst over privacy issues weve had throughout the last few years. And its even stranger in light of the Federal Communications Commission decision to scrap its net-neutrality rules and let the FTC take action if internet providers abuse their control over broadband connections. More money, more people The FTC has also been hurting for resources at lower levels. Weve been level-funded for the last several years, which is essentially a cut, McSweeny said in an interview Thursday in an office strewn with moving boxes. Story continues For fiscal year 2018, the FTC is budgeted for $306 million, down from $313 million last year. Saying we do have fewer people working on enforcement generally, McSweeny suggested that having more experts on staff might speed up FTC enforcement actions that can take years to complete. For instance, the commissions settlement with Lenovo for abusing customers privacy by preloading Superfish ad-displaying software on its laptops came a good three and a half years after that conduct began. It needs more resources and staff to be able to move quickly, said Michelle De Mooy, director of the privacy and data project at the Center for Democracy & Technology. Its fair to ask what kind of resources the commission has today, said Berin Szoka, president of the libertarian policy group TechFreedom. He also suggested that the FTC focus its budget on bringing fewer but bigger cases. Better accountability The FTCs frequent remedy when it finds that a company has engaged in unfair or deceptive acts or practices has been to negotiate a settlement in which the company commits to meet a higher standard of privacy protection, as verified by frequent audits by third parties hired by the offending firms. Facebook finalized such a settlement in 2012 in which it pledged not to share user data beyond existing privacy settings without express permission and undergo regular third-party audits of its privacy protections. But that deal did not stop the heist in 2015 of tens of millions of Facebook users data through a personality-quiz app posted to the social network by a researcher who later sold that data to the marketing firm Cambridge Analytica. And Facebooks auditor PriceWaterhouseCoopers didnt flag that abuse afterwards. A recent white paper by Stanford Law School fellow and FTC lawyer Megan Gray suggested a variety of ways the FTC could better supervise these settlements. For instance, it could require that these assessments involve actually testing the privacy features involved and the commission could oversee these assessments itself. Consent decrees should be transparent, should be more responsive to actual business practices, and should be rigorously enforced by the FTC, said CDTs De Mooy. Congress has work too The preceding steps all have one advantage in that they dont require Congress which has been loath to take action on a variety of privacy issues. The easy and obvious first step for Congress would be to pass a law setting standards for disclosing data breaches. McSweeny and De Mooy both want to make it easier for the FTC to fine offenders right now, a company has to enter a settlement and then violate that before it risks owing money to the Feds. Theyd also like to see Congress grant the FTC rulemaking authority, so it can set some standards instead of waiting for an abuse to occur. The Facebook debacle has renewed debate in Washington about the desirability of passing all-around privacy law during Facebook founder Mark Zuckerbergs testimony last month, even some Republican members asked if the U.S. should have something like the European Unions sweeping General Data Protection Regulation. There should be comprehensive data security and privacy legislation, McSweeny said. But will the same Congress that rushed to cancel pending FCC broadband-privacy rules last year do any such thing now? Thats a lot to imagine even more so than the idea that the White House would leave the governments chief privacy regulator essentially adrift for a year. More from Rob: Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro. James S. Robbins Security, Middle East Iran's national flags are seen on a square in Tehran February 10, 2012, a day before the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl/File Photo There is no reason for the United States not to push for a better dealmainly one that addresses legitimate concerns without blowing up the agreement itself. America Needs a New Iran Deal On Monday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu dramatically unveiled records detailing Project Amad, Irans comprehensive program to design, build, and test nuclear weapons. The information was taken from 100,000 pages of documents Israel had secretly obtained in January from a warehouse in Tehran. The records do not deal with ongoing aspects of Irans nuclear programProject Amad was suspended in 2003but they do show that Tehran had been lying about the programs peaceful intent. They also reveal how far Iran has gotten in planning and development of nuclear weapons, and how quickly such a program could be reconstitutedassuming work is not already continuing under the weak verification regime of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The presentation was timed for the approaching May 12 deadline for President Donald Trump to renew Iran sanctions waivers. These periodic reviews are a consequence of Barack Obamas team jerry-rigging the politically unpopular deal by forcing the president continually to invoke national security loopholes to prevent sanctions from being reengaged. This cycle creates recurring political tensions that prompt politicians, diplomats and the media to ask, will he or wont he? Iran has threatened to abrogate the deal if President Trump declines to renew the sanctions waivers, so the fate of the agreement depends on it. Israels intelligence coup makes continuing the waivers that much more difficult to justify. A week ago, the White House responded favorably to a proposal by Frances president Emmanuel Macron to begin a multinational diplomatic effort to seek a new deal with Iran. Specifically, the emerging framework would confront aspects of the JCPOA that the Obama administration either insufficiently addressed (such as inspections and verification) or punted on (such as Irans missile program and Iranian support for terrorism and insurgency). The new process would also address the 2025 sunset provision of the original deal, after which Iran is presumably free to pursue an unrestricted nuclear program along the lines of Project Amad. Story continues The new deal proposal removes some of that tension by seeking to address the major shortfalls of the 2015 agreement while leaving the framework intact. It creates a multilateral forum to address the substantial shortfalls of the original deal. It puts Iran on notice for its illicit and malign behavior. It is a potentially flexible approach that could be pursued within a UN framework or, if Russia and China for example are not interested in the new deal, could be approached as a separate multilateral effort. Iran may or may not participate; if not, negotiators could use the forum to agree to a new international sanctions regime focused on aspects of Irans behavior not covered by the original deal. And the United States maintains its principal source of leverage, namely the ability to kill the original deal at any time. The Obama administration had optimisticallyor naivelybelieved that the JCPOA would help usher in detente with Iran. Instead, the Islamic Republic has increased its support for terrorist and insurgent groups, expanded its regional footprint by intervening directly in Syrias civil war, and doubled-down on its ballistic missile program. Iran has stated that it would not agree to any changes to the 2015 agreement, and in fact there are no means provided in the original deal to augment or alter it. The JCPOA is an all or nothing proposition. So, by addressing these additional issues outside the deal, Tehran cannot claim that the terms have been violated. And in any case, if Iran unilaterally pulls out of the agreement and restarts its nuclear program, President Trump has promised they would face big problems bigger than theyve ever had before. The new deal approach is all upsides for the United States. It addresses legitimate concerns about the JCPOAs shortcomings without blowing up the agreement itself. It engages the international communitys attention on other threatening aspects of Irans behavior beyond the nuclear program. It demonstrates the continued willingness of the Trump administration to seek multilateral diplomatic solutions to international issues. And it gives nothing away, since the White House will retain a full array of options vis-a-vis Iran while this process is underway. If Iran chooses not to cooperate, then so be it, Tehran will face the consequences. Ok Mullahs, your move. James S. Robbins is Senior Fellow for National Security Affairs at the American Foreign Policy Council in Washington, DC. Image: Iran's national flags are seen on a square in Tehran February 10, 2012, a day before the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. REUTERS/Morteza Nikoubazl/File Photo Read full article An American Airlines passenger has accused airline staff of calling police on her for "flying while fat and black" after an attendant called law enforcement at the request of another passenger. The incident occurred on a flight from Raleigh-Durham to Washington, D.C., on April 26. A spokesman for American Airlines said the airline has "an obligation" to contact law enforcement if any passenger requests it. Amber J. Phillips, who lives in Washington, D.C., and co-hosts news and politics podcast Black Joy Mixtape, said the American Airlines flight attendant called Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) officers when her flight landed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Phillips tweeted that she allegedly made a white female passenger seated beside her feel "uncomfortable" because their arms were touching. Trending: Omarosa Tweets He Said It' After Trump Seemingly Defends Shithole Countries Remark Alongside Nigeria President GettyImages-630428306 SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Noting that seating space felt limited on the flight, Phillips, 28, said the woman beside her "spent the entire 45-minute flight making an active scene" because their arms were touching, "loudly asking if I could 'move over' on a plane so small everyone's carry-on bags had to be valeted." "It was awful," she added. I'm tired but in the morning, I'll tell you all how a white woman @AmericanAir flight attendant called the cops on me bc I made the white woman siting next to me uncomfortable bc my arm was touching hers on flight AA5580. The cops were called on me for flying while fat & Black. pic.twitter.com/9vc0PoFbX4 amber j. phillips (@AmberJPhillips) April 27, 2018 Phillips said she "decided to take a picture and video to document the incident" before getting off the plane to board a shuttle transporting passengers to the airport. Story continues "While I'm on the shuttle this woman lied that I assaulted her and the American Airlines flight attendant called the cops to remove me from the shuttle bus," Phillips continued in the Twitter thread. Phillips said she felt the white woman on the plane "knew she was wrong." "She knew I was going to hold her accountable with my pictures and that's when she decided to pair up with the white American Airlines flight attendant to call the cops on me after I was already off the plane and on the shuttle to go home," Phillips said. She added that while she was waiting on the shuttle another passenger asked her if she was OK, to which she replied, "no." "I asked the woman, 'will you take my number? And if something happens to me, please record it and send it to me,'" Phillips wrote on Twitter, adding that her phone was dying and she "didn't want to die without proof." Don't miss: What Happened to Valkyrie in Avengers: Infinity War? Phillips said that when an officer, who she noted was a white man, arrived, she watched as he spent several minutes speaking with the woman who had been seated beside her and the flight attendant who initially called police. "He then walked over to me and asked me to step off the shuttle," Phillips wrote, adding that she complied. When the officer asked her for her I.D., Phillips said she questioned whether he had asked the other passenger involved in the incident for her I.D. "He aggressively responded to me by saying, 'I'm not dealing with your abuse! Give me your I.D.!' I handed him my passport and he yanked it out of my hand," she said, adding that the officer then asked if she had "another form of I.D." Phillips said when she asked if the officer wanted to know her version of events, he declined, saying in an "aggressive" tone "No! I'm investigating this as an assault." "I very calmly said, 'wow, ok.' I backed up and made sure my hands were visible, which upset the officer as well and he called in for an additional cop." Phillips said that a gate manager, who arrived with the second officer, was her "saving grace." She said the gate manager, who was black, was the first person to ask her "What happened?" The podcast co-host said she told the gate manager her account, but said the second officer involved said he wanted to speak with her about her "behavior" with the first officer. The second officer also allegedly told her police were required to speak with the other passenger first because she was the "victim" despite the fact no crimes were committed. Phillips said she was able to leave after asking police whether she was being "detained" or not, adding that she left "deeply terrified" and used the last 2 percent of her battery to call a friend "to tell her where I was and what to do if something happened to me." Most popular: Israel's Netanyahu Can Now Declare War on Iran With Single Vote A spokesperson from American Airlines told Newsweek in a statement that the airline called law enforcement upon landing at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at the request of a passenger, but did not state which passenger asked for police to be called. "American did not request law enforcement, we requested law enforcement on behalf of another passenger who requested it," the spokesperson said. They said the airline has reached out directly to both customers involved for more information since Thursday. The airline also tweeted in response to Phillips's Twitter posts, writing: "We want to make the world a smaller, more inclusive place" and asking her to message the company with more information, as well as her contact information. We want to make the world a smaller, more inclusive place. Please meet us in DM with more info and your contact info. American Airlines (@AmericanAir) April 27, 2018 A spokesperson from MWAA confirmed that police responded to a call from the American Airlines flight after a passenger "made a request for police assistance." "The request followed a reported in-flight incident involving two passengers, which continued on an American Airlines shuttle bus at Reagan National Airport," the spokesperson said. MWAA officers asked both passengers to get off the shuttle to speak with law enforcement, the spokesperson said. Read more: Family sues American Airlines over daughter's death However, police determined there was "no immediate threat to passenger safety," the spokesperson said, adding that no charges were filed and that "Both passengers continued on their way without further incident." Phillips's experience has sparked outrage online, with more than 17,000 people retweeting her account of Thursday's incident on Twitter. Bernice King, a civil rights activist and the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., said Phillips's story was "hard to read and digest." "I can't imagine what it was like to live it," she wrote on Twitter. "I'm sorry that you experienced this." Tweeting at American Airlines, King asked, "What steps are you taking to ensure that this doesn't continue to happen?" American Airlines did not appear to respond to the tweet. Phillips has yet to respond to a request for comment from Newsweek. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Makini Brice and Jeff Mason WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday it would welcome the release of three Americans imprisoned in North Korea as a goodwill gesture before a planned summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but that it could not confirm reports that they are about to be freed. Expectations have grown that North Korea would soon release the three ahead of the unprecedented summit in the coming weeks. Rudy Giuliani, Trump's new main lawyer, told Fox News Channel that Pyongyang would release them as early as Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether Giuliani had direct knowledge of negotiations around the issue. CNN, citing an unnamed source, said on Thursday the prisoners' release was imminent, adding the groundwork for the move was laid two months ago when North Korea's foreign minister traveled to Sweden and proposed the idea. "We can't confirm the validity of any of the reports currently out about their release, but we certainly would see this as a sign of goodwill if North Korea were to release the three Americans ahead of discussions between President Trump and Kim Jong Un," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. The three are Korean-American missionary Kim Dong Chul, arrested in 2015; Kim Sang-duk, also known as Tony Kim, who spent a month teaching at the foreign-funded Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) before he was arrested in 2017; and Kim Hak Song, who also taught at PUST and was detained in 2017. Trump did not mention Korea or the prisoners when he spoke at a prayer event at the White House on Thursday. "Our country is doing very well. You'll see some very good announcements very shortly," he said. On Wednesday, Trump said on Twitter, "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" But of the three, only Kim Dong Chul was arrested before Trump became president in January 2017. The U.S. government is looking into reports that the Americans had recently been relocated from a labor camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, a U.S. official said on Wednesday. The summit between Trump and Kim is expected to take place in late May or early June. DENUCLEARIZATION In preparing for the summit, Trump's administration has said it wants North Korea's "complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization" but has offered few details of the strategy it will employ at the talks. Kim told the Chinese government's top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, on Thursday that he is committed to denuclearization, China's foreign ministry said, as diplomatic efforts to bring lasting peace to the Korean peninsula gather pace. "Kim Jong Un said achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula is the firm position of the North Korean side," China's foreign ministry said after Wang met Kim in Pyongyang. North Korea announced on Sunday that it would close its main nuclear test site next month but some U.S. officials are skeptical that Pyongyang will give up its nuclear arsenal. Trump has promised to ensure that North Korea does not get the capability to build a nuclear bomb that can hit the mainland United States. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is postponing his plans to travel to Brazil this month in order to ensure foreign policy resources are focused on Trump's talks with Kim, Pence's spokeswoman said. The exact date and location has yet to be fixed for the meeting between Trump and Kim, who lobbed personal insults and lambasted each other last year over North Korea's nuclear arms ambitions. The change in tone has been helped by last week's meeting between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, at which the two pledged to work for "complete denuclearization" of the Korean peninsula. Trump said he would maintain pressure on Pyongyang through sanctions ahead of his own meeting with Kim. Even as Washington presses for the release of the three American prisoners, the parents of a U.S. college student who died last year soon after being release from captivity in North Korea have sued Pyongyang over their son's death, saying Otto Warmbier was "brutally tortured and murdered." Warmbier's parents told a meeting at the United Nations on Thursday that they would no longer be silent and believed they had to stand up for their son and other families whose loved ones had been abducted by North Korea. "The only thing we can do is rub their noses in this. It embarrasses them," said Cindy Warmbier, Otto's mother. "You can't negotiate. You just have to shame them." (Reporting by Makini Brice and Jeff Mason; additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing, Christine Kim and Jane Chung in Seoul and David Stanway in Shanghai; Writing by Alistair Bell and Mary Milliken; Editing by Frances Kerry and Grant McCool) A Southwest Airlines flight en route to Newark from Chicago was forced to make an emergency landing in Cleveland after a plane window broke. Southwest Flight 957 diverted to Cleveland on Wednesday morning, a little more than two weeks after Southwest Flight 1380 made an emergency landing in Philadelphia due to engine failure, leading to the death of one woman who was partially sucked out of the plane window after it was broken open by debris. Southwest said in a statement that flight 957, with 76 passengers onboard, landed uneventfully in Cleveland. Flight passengers reported that a window on the plane had cracked. @SouthwestAir has a serious problem with their fleet. My moms plane just had to divert and land in #Cleveland cuz of another window crack. pic.twitter.com/hm5edpgB1M Ryan Holley (@rholley28) May 2, 2018 The airline said the plane landed in Cleveland for a maintenance review of a layer in one of the planes window pane. Southwest said the flight maintained pressurization in the cabin because each window comes with multiple panes. Read the airlines full statement below. The Crew of Southwest Flight 957, with scheduled service from Chicago Midway International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport, made the decision to divert the plane to Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport for maintenance review of one of the multiple layers of a window pane. The flight landed uneventfully in Cleveland. The aircraft has been taken out of service for maintenance review, and our local Cleveland Employees are working diligently to accommodate the 76 Customers on a new aircraft to Newark. As a note, the aircraft maintained pressurization as there are multiple layers of panes in each window. No emergency landing was requested, and the flight landed uneventfully with no reported injuries. When it comes to telling the truth, President Trump has a problem. In the past week alone, Trump has contradicted his own claims that he did not know where his lawyer Michael Cohen received $130,000 in hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. His former personal physician, Harold Bornstein, disclosed that Trump himself had dictated the glowing assessment of the candidates health that was released during the campaign. The president falsely portrayed the status of three U.S. hostages in North Korea, tweeting, As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! In fact, two of the three hostages were taken captive during Trumps term, not Barack Obamas presidency. During Thursdays briefing, reporters peppered White House press secretary Sarah Sanders with questions about Trumps casual relationship with the truth. Could you explain why the president, when he answered questions by reporters a few weeks ago about the $130,000 payment from Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels, why the president was not truthful with the American people and with the people in this room? the Associated Presss Zeke Miller asked. As Mayor Giuliani stated, and Ill refer you back to his comments, this was information that the president didnt know at the time but eventually learned, Sanders replied. In a follow-up, ABC News Jonathan Karl piled on. When the president so often says things that turn out not to be true, when the president and the White House show what appears to be a blatant disregard for the truth, how are the American people to trust or believe what is said here or what is said by the president? Sanderss answer that she offers the very best information she has at the time was telling, and did little to dispel a growing skepticism that the information she provides can be taken at face value. Story continues White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the daily White House press briefing on Thursday. (Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images) By the Washington Posts tally, Trump has made 3,001 false or misleading claims since he was sworn into office an average of 6.5 untruths per day. A cottage industry of Trump fact checkers struggles to keep pace with the presidents pronouncements. So frequent are his erroneous statements, in fact, that the debate has shifted from whether he makes them to whether they matter. Former CIA and NSA director Michael Hayden took note of this shift in an excerpt from his upcoming book, The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies. It was no accident that the Oxford Dictionaries word of the year in 2016 was post-truth, a condition where facts are less influential in shaping opinion than emotion and personal belief, Hayden wrote in the New York Times. To adopt post-truth thinking is to depart from Enlightenment ideas, dominant in the West since the 17th century, that value experience and expertise, the centrality of fact, humility in the face of complexity, the need for study and a respect for ideas. Other conservatives have also been troubled by Trumps casual relationship with the truth. Fox News host Neil Cavuto leveled an extraordinary broadside at the president Thursday, calling Trumps misstatements the problem. Catch Neils latest Common Sense pic.twitter.com/JdGCX4WmjF Neil Cavuto (@TeamCavuto) May 3, 2018 What does public life look like without the constraining internal force of character without the firm ethical commitments often (though not exclusively) rooted in faith? Michael Gerson wrote in the Washington Post last year. It looks like a presidential campaign unable to determine right from wrong and loyalty from disloyalty. It looks like an administration engaged in a daily assault on truth and convinced that might makes right. It looks like the residual scum left from retreating political principle the worship of money, power, and self-promoted fame. The Trumpian trinity. While those philosophical concerns abound in the nations capital, there are signs that the presidents truthfulness may be having a wider effect. An NBC/SurveyMonkey poll released Wednesday found that 61 percent of Americans think Trump only tells the truth some of the time or less. On the bright side for Trump, 76 percent of Republicans still believe that he speaks the truth all or most of the time. In an op-ed published last week in the New York Times, Daniel Effron, an associate professor of organizational behavior at London Business School, posited an explanation of why the presidents supporters seem unbothered by Trumps lies. President Trump arrives for a National Day of Prayer event in the Rose Garden of the White House on Thursday. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP) Wittingly or not, Mr. Trumps representatives have used a subtle psychological strategy to defend his falsehoods: They encourage people to reflect on how the falsehoods could have been true, Effron wrote. Its through that lens that one might understand the statements made by Sanders, who like her predecessors is tasked with spinning the presidents tweeted and off-the-cuff remarks into the realm of reason. Last month, for example, she was asked by a reporter to justify Trumps resurfaced claim that millions of Americans had participated in voter fraud in the 2016 election. The president still strongly feels that there was a large amount of voter fraud, and attempted to do a thorough review of it, but a lot of states didnt want to cooperate or participate, Sanders said from her White House podium. We certainly know that there were a large number of instances reported, but we cant be sure how much because we werent able to conduct a full review that the president wanted. So could Trump have convinced himself he wasnt involved in Cohens payment to Stormy Daniels, or that he wasnt the author of the medical report issued under Bornsteins name, or that two of the three U.S. hostages in North Korea werent captured during his own term in office? Anything is possible, and no one can know for sure whats in his mind. But theres a simpler explanation, and it doesnt reflect well on him. Read more from Yahoo News: Republican candidates Paul Nehlen, Arthur Jones and Patrick Little. (Photo illustration: Yahoo News; photos: Scott Bauer/AP, Jones campaign website, @CensoredCandid8 /Twitter) . Three Republican candidates in this years midterms have been disavowed by the Republican National Committee for their racist and anti-Semitic views including one who, according to a local television news poll, is leading among Republicans in the primary for Californias Senate election. While they have no chance of winning, we nonetheless condemn these candidates and their hateful, racist views in the strongest possible terms, an RNC official said in a statement to Yahoo News Wednesday. Theres no place for them in the Republican Party. The statement followed reports that in one local poll the leading contender to challenge California Sen. Dianne Feinstein this November, polling at 18 percent in a 32-person race, is an obscure newcomer named Patrick Little, running on a platform of making America free of Jews. Little, who sees himself as a civil rights advocate for white Americans and seeks to liberate America from the Zionist occupational government, told Yahoo News that he chose to run as a Republican because third parties tend not to win. He said, however, he gave up on trying to work with local Republican executive committees a month or two ago when none of them returned my calls. In a primary that has attracted relatively little attention Feinstein is heavily favored to win reelection its not clear how many poll respondents knew who Little is or what he stands for. Patrick Little Photo: Courtesy of YouTube In a statement issued to members of the press, Matt Fleming, communications director for the California Republican Party, said: Mr. Little has never been an active member of our party. I do not know him and I am not familiar with his positions. But in the strongest terms possible, we condemn anti-Semitism and any other form of religious bigotry, just as we do with racism, sexism or anything else that can be construed as a hateful point of view. But Little is just the latest congressional candidate to tout racist and anti-Semitic views. Story continues Paul Nehlen, a prolific Twitter troll who, before he was banned from the site in February for a racist post about the actress and British royal fiancee Meghan Markle, had published a steady stream of diatribes against Jews. He is the self-described pro-white contender in a narrow field of Wisconsin Republicans vying for outgoing House Speaker Paul Ryans seat. Arthur Jones is an outspoken Holocaust denier who, despite being disavowed by the Illinois Republican Party, ran unopposed in the March primary in the heavily Democratic Third Congressional District, representing parts of Chicagos Cook County. He will be on the ballot as a Republican in November. Marilyn Mayo, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation League specializing in right-wing extremism, pointed out that extremists running for office is not necessarily a new trend. They often run on the Republican ticket, she said. Both Nehlen and Jones have run in the past. What is new, however, is that there seems to be a feeling among these candidates that their time has really come, that their views are more likely to be embraced by people, said Mayo. Theres that sense that in this political climate that were in right now, that more extreme views are somehow more acceptable. Paul Nehlen outside his campaign office in Kenosha, Wis., May 2016. (Photo: Carrie Antlfinger/AP) Mayo credits the rise of the alt-right, which has fed off the notion of widespread discontent among white Americans, as well as the popular rejection of political correctness with fueling what she sees as a normalization of bigoted views. I think this is something that has empowered and emboldened white supremacists to just be blatant, not even to hide their views at all, she said, noting that former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke began wearing a suit and moderating his rhetoric when he ran for president and various congressional seats in the 1980s and 90s. These guys are not interested in changing how they voice their views at all, she said, referring to Little and others like him who are running this year. Theyre just blatantly racist and anti-Semitic. Little credits Donald Trump with fueling his political involvement and controversial views. Donald Trump, during his run, engaged me in a way that I hadnt been engaged since the tea party, Little told Yahoo News, describing Trump as the great white hope, and crediting him with restoring white peoples faith in the electoral system for the first time since, I dont know, George Wallace. But Little, who says he was previously pro-Israel, now believes that Jewish control over U.S. government has prevented Trump from fulfilling most of the promises he made to white Americans during his campaign. Arthur Jones speaking at a National Socialist Movement rally. (Photo: via Jones campaign website) Donald Trump was dog whistling about Jewish supremacism during his campaign, Little said, referring to the then presidential candidates comments about globalists, a term with anti-Semitic connotations. Im doing more than dog whistling. Little and the others are considered long shots at best, without the support of their own party. But Little said he was heartened by the results of a poll, released by NPR and others in October 2017, which found that 55 percent of white Americans believe they face discrimination. When I realized the percentage was that high, and when I realized they would actually turn out, I decided to run, he said. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: By Stephen Nellis (Reuters) - Apple Inc reported resilient iPhone sales in the face of waning global demand and promised $100 billion in additional stock buybacks, reassuring investors that its decade-old smartphone invention had life in it yet. Apple's quarterly results topped Wall Street forecasts, which dropped ahead of the report on growing concern over the iPhone. The Cupertino company also was more optimistic about the current quarter than most financial analysts, driving shares up 3.6 percent to $175.25 after hours. Suppliers around the globe had warned of smartphone weakness, playing into fears that the company known for popularizing personal computers, tablets and smartphones had become too reliant on the iPhone. Sales of 52.2 million iPhones against a Wall Street target of 52.3 million was a comfort and up from 50.7 million last year, according to data from Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Apple bought $23.5 billion of stock in the March quarter, and said it plans to hike its dividend 16 percent, compared with a 10.5 percent increase last year. Analysts believe the heavy emphasis on buybacks will bolster share prices, but some investors wished Apple had found different uses for the cash. "Id hoped for more on the dividend side or maybe a strategic investment," said Hal Eddins, chief economist for Apple shareholder Capital Investment Counsel. "I assume Apple cant find a strategic investment at the current prices that will move the needle for them. The $100 billion buyback is good for right now but its not exactly looking to the future." The cash Apple earmarked for stock buybacks is about twice the $50 billion market capitalization of electric car maker Tesla Inc. Apple posted revenue for its March quarter of $61.1 billion, up from $52.9 billion last year. Wall Street expected $60.8 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Average selling prices for iPhones were $728, compared with Wall Street expectations of $742. The figure is up more than 10 percent from $655 a year ago, suggesting that Apple's iPhone X, which starts at $999, has helped boost prices. Story continues Analysts had feared the high price was muting demand for the iPhone X, but Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said it was the most popular iPhone model every week in the March quarter. "This is the first cycle that we've ever had where the top of the line iPhone model has also been the most popular," Cook said during the company's earnings call. "It's one of those things like when a team wins the Super Bowl, maybe you want them to win by a few more points. But it's a Super Bowl winner and that's how we feel about it." The iPhone X has shaped up to be "a good, not a great product. There was a time prior to its introduction that investors expected it to be a great product," said Thomas Forte, an analyst with D.A. Davidson Companies. "Now that we know it is a good product, as investors have lowered expectations, that is enough, in my view, for shares to go higher from current levels." Apple also predicted revenue of $51.5 billion to $53.5 billion in the June quarter, ahead of the $51.6 billion Wall Street expected as of Monday evening, and the share repurchases in the March quarter drove Apple's cash net of debt down slightly to $145 billion. "We are returning the cash to investors as we have promised, Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri told Reuters in an interview. Profits were $2.73 per share versus expectations of $2.68 per share, as of Monday, and up from $2.10 a year ago. Apple's services business, which includes Apple Music, the App Store and iCloud, posted $9.1 billion in revenue compared with expectations of $8.3 billion. Heading into earnings, investors were hopeful that growth in that segment could help offset the cooling global smartphone market. Julie Ask, an analyst with Forrester, said Apples services segment results were positive but warned that Apple needs to continue to boost subscriptions on its platforms, which reached 270 million users in the March quarter and includes people who subscribe to third-party apps on the iPhone as well as Apples own services like iCloud. Apps are carrying most (services revenue) right now, but Apple needs to get to a place where its mostly subscriptions and monthly fees and not just one-off downloads, Ask said. Apple traditionally updates its share buy-back and dividend program each spring, and the $100 billion it added this year compares with an increase of $50 billion last year. In February, Apple said it planned to draw down its excess cash, though Chief Executive Tim Cook had downplayed the possibility of a special dividend. But investors have had concerns around Apple because of a brewing trade tensions with China. While there has not yet been a tariff on devices such as Apple's iPhone, Cook last week traveled to Washington to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss trade matters. "We believe tariffs at the end of the day are a tax on the consumer," Maestri said. Apple has been emphasizing its contributions to the U.S. economy in recent months, outlining a $30 billion U.S. spending plan and highlighting the tens of billions of dollars it spends each year with U.S.-based suppliers. In recent months, Apple has been emphasizing the size of its overall user base, which includes used iPhones, rather than focusing strictly on new device sales, a sign of the increasing importance of making money off users without selling them new hardware. (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Peter Henderson and Lisa Shumaker) (Reuters) - Shares of Apple Inc (AAPL.O) rose 3 percent on Wednesday after the company's quarterly report and current-quarter iPhone sales forecast calmed investor nerves about a potential slowdown in sales of its flagship product. Shares in the Cupertino, California firm had fallen 5 percent, or more than $40 billion in market value, in the two weeks before the report, thanks largely to a soft outlook from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd which was read as pointing to weak demand for iPhones. Yet while investors were bracing for weak smartphone sales, Apple sold 52.2 million iPhones, just shy of analysts' estimate of 52.3 million. At least four brokerages raised their price targets for Apple stock. Of 43 analysts covering, 29 have a "buy" or higher rating and 14 on "hold". No one has a "sell" rating. "iPhone unit sales were better than feared with our recently lowered estimates, and management highlighted consistent results in every geography with the iPhone X the top selling iPhone each week of the quarter," Canaccord Genuity analyst T. Michael Walkley said. Two other analysts estimated Apple would sell about 40 million iPhones in the current quarter, based on Apple's June quarter revenue forecast of $51.5 billion to $53.5 billion and shares in Apple parts suppliers were also broadly higher. Shares of AMS (AMS.S), which provides the facial recognition technology used in Apple's iPhones, rose as much as 8 percent on Wednesday morning. Those in Cirrus Logic (CRUS.O), Skyworks Solutions (SWKS.O), Lumentum Holdings (LITE.O), Broadcom (AVGO.O) and Qualcomm (QCOM.O) were all gainers. "While forecasted iPhone shipments of 39 million units is lower than our 42 million estimate a month ago, it's far better than our 34 million estimate which reflected the weaker June quarter outlook from suppliers like TSMC and AMS," Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty said. The $999 iPhone X, which features an edge-to-edge display and facial recognition technology to unlock the phone, has been plagued by supply bottlenecks and concerns about weak sales since it went on sale in November in the United States. Story continues While Apple's iPhone sales were marginally lower than consensus forecasts, its quarterly results still beat Wall Street targets, helped by a $9.1 billion revenue contribution from Apple's services business. "Services sales growth of 31 percent Y/Y was robust this quarter, and well above expectations, reflecting broad strength across Apple's offerings, including App Store, Apple Music, iCloud and Apple Pay," Deutsche Bank analyst Sherri Scribner said. Apple also promised to hike its dividend by 16 percent and to buyback $100 billion worth of additional stock, which analysts said would create a floor for shares. After a solid quarter that quashed most concerns about a slowdown, eyes will now turn to the next generation of iPhones to be launched in September. "With our belief Apple will launch an iPhone X plus type combined with new improved features for the current sized iPhone X product, we believe Apple's iPhone franchise will extend strong sales of higher-priced iPhones through C2019," Walkley said. Apple shares were trading at $175.60 on Wednesday morning. (Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Bengaluru; editing by Patrick Graham) By David Schwartz PHOENIX (Reuters) - Arizona's governor signed a budget bill on Thursday that will boost teachers' wages by 20 percent over the next three years, after dozens of the state's school districts canceled classes as part of a strike to demand pay raises. Tens of thousands of Arizona teachers, whose pay is more than $10,000 below the national average of $59,000 per year, have held a week-long walkout. It was the largest teachers' strike in U.S. history and has kept most of state's 1.1 million public school students out of class. Lawmakers in the Republican-controlled state legislature worked through the night to pass the $10.4 billion budget, while outside, hundreds of red-clad teachers rallied overnight, local media reported. Although the teachers' raise is now enacted, districts in Phoenix, Tucson and Tempe, along with more than three dozen districts throughout the state, had notified parents that classes were canceled Thursday, according to the Arizona Republic newspaper. Teachers and supporters rallied at the state capitol again on Thursday to keep pressure on lawmakers who "aren't getting the job done," Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association, said in a joint statement with the National Education Association. Nevertheless, he said the teachers would return to school "knowing that we have achieved something truly historic." It was not immediately clear if they would return to classrooms on Friday. Protests in the state were part of a national teacher action that began in West Virginia and spread to other Republican-controlled states, including Kentucky and Oklahoma. $600 MILLION ALLOCATED The bill allocates more than $600 million for salary increases, meaning teachers would get raises of nearly 10 percent this year and about 5 percent in each of the following two years. "Arizona teachers have earned a raise, and this plan delivers," Republican Governor Doug Ducey said in a statement issued as he signed the bill. Story continues "This plan not only provides our teachers with a 20 percent increase in pay by school year 2020, it also provides millions in flexible dollars to improve our public education system," he added. The budget also includes about $371 million over five years to offset cuts imposed on education spending during the U.S. recession that ended in 2009, starting with $100 million this fiscal year, according to state officials. Teachers say $1.1 billion has been cut from their budgets since the recession. State Senate President Steve Yarbrough said education was the top priority for lawmakers. "Teachers can return knowing that the legislature heard their concerns and delivered the pay increase they deserve," Yarbrough said in a statement. Republican House Speaker J.D. Mesnard called the budget "fiscally sound" because it boosts education funding without raising taxes. (Reporting by David Schwartz and Andrew Hay; additional reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York and Keith Coffman in Denver; editing by Bill Tarrant and Richard Chang) YEREVAN, May 2 (Reuters) - Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday declared a one-day pause in nationwide protests to give him time to discuss with the ruling party if it is willing to back his bid to become prime minister. Earlier, the leader of the ruling Republican Party in parliament said that its lawmakers would back whoever was nominated for prime minister. It said it would not put forward its own nominee, and Pashinyan is so far the only candidate. Pashinyan, speaking to supporters at a rally in the capital, said that statement indicated the Republican Party, which has a majority in parliament, would back him. But he said he would be seeking more details and specific guarantees. (Reporting by Hasmik Mkrtchyan Writing by Christian Lowe; editing by John Stonestreet) While President Trump's hair remains a topic of fascination, his former barber is revealing what it was like to care for the commander in chief's coiffure. Adrian Wood told Inside Edition that Trump is "very specific" about his hair is trimmed. He'll say, 'Cut here, cut here, cut here, and you'd start trimming and he'd say, Oh, that's enough there. Then you'd go here and, Oh, that's enough there, and that's the way it is with him," Wood said. Gesturing to the top of the head, Wood added, "We never cut this part of his head. This part of his head, he takes care of himself." He said that the president's bald spot is of particular concern. "In order to cover that up, it takes a lot of work," Wood said. "You really have to know what you're doing." A photo of Trump sitting in the barbershop chair and posing with the cast of season 1 of "The Apprentice" still hangs on Wood's wall. Long-time customers actually get their own mug with their name on it at Woods shop, including Trump. Wood says Trump was so appreciative of his haircuts he once gave the barber some real estate advice. "Donald Trump said to me, 'You better get off the avenues because the rents are gonna put you out of business,'" he recalled, adding that the real estate mogul told him to move to the second floor. Wood took his advice and moved his business to the second floor of the building. "If it wasn't for Donald Trump, I would not be in business," he said. "I can tell you that." The news of Trumps hair comes as the glowing medical report his doctor gave during the campaign trail was actually dictated by the real estate mogul himself, according his former doctor. Dr. Harold Bornstein said in 2016 that Trump's lab test results were described as "astonishingly excellent, his physical strength and stamina extraordinary, and If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency!" Story continues Dr. Bornstein told NBC and also told a CNN reporter off camera that Trump dictated the whole letter and he didn't write it. Dr. Oz gave his take on the letter to Inside Edition. I've never been dictated a letter, he said. Doctors write letters that sound like doctor letters because we have shorthand to express certain things. There is a subtle difference. I dont know if there are legal implications, as long as the letter is truthful." Dr. Bornstein is speaking out because he says he's upset that the president sent three men to his offices to collect Trump's medical records. The "raid" came two days after the doctor revealed to The New York Times that the then-presidential candidate took the hair growth drug Propecia. I couldn't believe anybody was making a big deal about a drug to grow their hair, which is certainly not important, Dr. Bornstein told NBC News. It's certainly not a breach of medical ethics to say someone takes Propecia to grow their hair. Whats the matter with that? But according to Dr. Oz, that is wrong. Doctors arent supposed to talk to anybody about their patients, especially mentioning medication," he told Inside Edition. "It is a violation. It's unfortunate. Sometimes patients themselves will bring it up or they will authorize the doctor to talk about it but other than that, you're not allowed to bring it up. Dr. Bornstein says he was in the running to become the White House doctor but after he blabbed about the Propecia, he got an angry call from Trumps assistant saying he was no longer under consideration. RELATED STORIES Hair Force One: Doctor Reveals How President Trump Maintains His Signature 'Do Investigation Appears to Have Unraveled Hair-Raising Mystery of Donald Trump's Golden Locks Donald Trump's Kids Reveal What They Think of His Hair Related Articles: San Sebastian (Spain) (AFP) - Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Thursday there would be "no impunity" for ETA's crimes even though the Basque separatist group has committed to fully disbanding after more than four decades of violence. "No matter what ETA does, there is no room for impunity for its crimes. ETA can announce its disappearance but its crimes do not disappear nor do the efforts to pursue and punish them," he said in a televised speech in the northern city of Logrono. "We don't owe them anything and we have nothing to thank them for," Rajoy added. His comments come as ETA is expected to formally announce its dissolution Thursday with a filmed statement, marking the definitive end to western Europe's last armed insurgency after more than four decades of violence. Created in 1959 at the height of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, ETA waged a relentless campaign of killings and kidnappings in its fight for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France, leaving at least 829 dead. Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. In a leaked letter published Wednesday by Spanish online newspaper El Diario, the group went a step further, announcing it was fully disbanding. "ETA has completely dissolved all of its structures and declared an end to its political initiative," it said. - 'Dark chapter' - The regional leader of Spain's Basque Country, Inigo Urkullu, said he hoped ETA's end would be "unilateral, effective and definitive", in an interview published in newspaper El Pais on Thursday. The group "owed" this step to "Basque society and humanity as a whole", he added. "ETA never should have existed. It puts an end to a dark chapter of 60 years." Spanish press have also reported that veteran, high-level ETA member Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea, better known as Josu Ternera, will be in the video. Story continues The 67-year-old is a wanted fugitive who disappeared in 2002 and is said to be suffering from cancer. His potential presence in the video has infuriated some of ETA's victims, who say the separatist group should first and foremost condemn its history of violence and shed light on more than 350 unsolved crimes. "This is not the end of ETA we deserved," said Consuelo Ordonez, head of the Covite victims' association, on Wednesday. A partial apology by the separatist group last month, in which it acknowledged the harm done and apologised to some of its victims -- but not to those it considered legitimate targets such as police -- has done little to stem the criticism. - Desire for independence - While an overwhelming majority of Basques welcome the end of violence, many still want independence. The separatist coalition EH Bildu, the second largest grouping in the Basque parliament, won 21 percent of the vote in 2016's regional elections. Critics charge that pro-independence parties, which include people once part of or linked to ETA, are trying to impose their version of events. Separatists argue that Basques have been repressed for decades, even centuries, by Spain and France. This came to a head under Franco, who forbade the use of the Basque language in public. Victims and historians, though, insist ETA was a terrorist group that went on killing even after Spain transitioned to democracy in the late 1970s. It is recognised as such by the European Union. "ETA never wanted to bring about any democracy or any freedom, it wanted to end it," said Basque philosopher Fernando Savater. "And that's what we want to remind people." - 'Open wounds' - But apart from ETA victims, there were also separatists killed by far-right groups and death squads backed by members of Spain's security forces in what has become known as a "dirty war" campaign. According to a December report commissioned by the Basque regional government, more than 4,100 complaints of police torture were made between 1960 and 2014. Those victims are also demanding they be acknowledged. "If you don't recognise part of the suffering, it's very difficult to create conditions for... reconciliation," said Ane Muguruza, 28. "It's very difficult when there are open wounds. Her father Josu, a lawmaker for Herri Batasuna, ETA's political wing, was murdered in 1989 by far-right militants she believes were state-backed. Paris (AFP) - Anti-capitalist graffiti on the walls, broken furniture and piles of litter: protests by students in French universities have blocked teaching and led to hundreds of thousands of euros' worth of damage in recent weeks. AFP photographers have spent days and sometimes nights among the students during their protests against higher education reforms introduced by President Emmanuel Macron. Their images lay bare the anger against plans to introduce more selective admission criteria in a country where any student with a high school diploma can enrol in any public university of their choosing. "University is a right, not a luxury boutique," one sign on a barricade said. Other messages painted on walls have warned Macron that "the people will have your ass" while banners screamed "Selection is repression" -- a deliberate echo of the watershed May 1968 uprisings by students and workers. Anarchist messages also abound, reflecting the aggressively anti-capitalist tone of some youths urging "Armed struggle" against the government. "Tonight I saw the sparks of insurgency, the thrill of revolution", read one message scrawled on a lecture-hall table. Chairs and tables have been overturned to create makeshift barricades at entrances, while students inside held general assemblies on Macron's reforms and voted on whether or not to pursue their strike. Students have also joined marches by rail workers, civil servants and others protesting the president's multi-front reform drive. But the protests have also heavily damaged the occupied auditoriums and common rooms, many of which have been strewn with bottles and other rubbish. Riot police have been called in to evict the protesters at some sites but others remain occupied, including at the campus at Nanterre outside Paris, a cradle of the May '68 uprising. Three out of France's 70 universities are completely blocked. The government believes the student movements have been infiltrated by anarchist groups and accuses the hard-left political party France Unbowed of stirring up the resistance. Ministers have also stressed that the protests are supported by only a minority of students, with consultations in some blocked faculties showing a clear preference for teaching to resume. President Donald Trump has just 10 days left to decide whether to pull the U.S. out of a historic agreement on Irans nuclear program reached by his predecessor less than three years ago. As the deadline approaches, he was presented Monday night with a very public display of distrust for the deal, care of his closest ally in the Middle East, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iranian officials have long said their nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes, but on Monday night in Tel Aviv, as he unveiled 55,000 pages of documents and a wall of gleaming CDs, Netanyahu announced: Tonight Im here to tell you one thing. Iran lied, big time. His 20-minute presentation in Tel Aviv, complete with a PowerPoint, photographs and files, offeredin his wordsnew and conclusive proof of the secret nuclear weapons program that Iran has been hiding for years from the international community in its secret atomic archive. The files, which Netanyahu touted as having been obtained by Israeli intelligence in a dilapidated warehouse in southern Tehran, detailed Project Amad, a comprehensive program to design, build and test nuclear weapons that ran between 1999 and 2003. The presentation, billed by Netanyahus office as a significant development regarding the deal, came as little surprise to many diplomats and Iran watchers. The Israeli premier has vehemently opposed any deal with Iran, going so far as to make a controversial address to Congress in March 2015 against the wishes of then President Barack Obama, in an attempt to stop the deal. Trump, meanwhile, has called the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) an embarrassment and one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the United States has ever entered into, and has mused publicly that he might withdraw from the deal by May 12, the next deadline for the U.S. to waive sanctions imposed on Iran. Did Netanyahu succeed, then, in convincing his audience that Iran is not a reliable partner and that the 2015 agreement was reached in bad faith? Story continues That very much depends on whom he was speaking to. Those alarmed by Tehrans drive to become a nuclear power and its growing influence in the region, particularly in Syria, view Netanyahus presentation as all the evidence the West needs in deciding whether they can trust anything Iran says. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement after the speech that the documents showed Iran had a secret nuclear weapons program for years. Iran sought to develop nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems. Iran hid a vast atomic archive from the world and from the IAEAuntil today. But the international community long ago accepted that Iran had lied about its ambitions to build nuclear weapons. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) issued a statement Tuesday reiterating that while a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device were conducted in Iran prior to the end of 2003 as a coordinated effortit had no credible indications of activities in Iran relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device after 2009. The Israeli Prime Minister wasnt talking to them, though. His language and his snappy takeaways, including his Powerpoint slide emblazoned with two giant, black-on-white words, Iran lied made it clear to some analysts precisely who he was really addressing in his speech. Viewing the timing of this, you cant read it any other way, that Netanyahu wanted to influence that debate. He spoke in English rather than Hebrew because he has an audience of one, says David Makovsky, a Middle East scholar at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. And yet, I dont think its right to say its all old news, says Makovsky. I dont see how the IAEA can issue Iran a clean bill of health. This has certainly added to the debate because [Iran] has always denied that it ever had a weaponization program. Under the nuclear deal, he says, Iran was supposed to reveal all of its research into nuclear weapons. On this evidence it seems clear that they did not. In Europe, where leaders like French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to persuade Trump not to scrap the deal, the Israeli presentation failed to convince. EU Foreign Affairs High Representative Federica Mogherini said, I have not seen from Prime Minister Netanyahu arguments for the moment on noncompliance, meaning violation by Iran of its nuclear commitments under the [nuclear] deal. And the U.S. already knew about what Netanyahu claimed to have found, argues Gary Sick, an Iran scholar at Columbia University and an expert who also served on the National Security Council under Presidents Ford, Carter and Reagan. U.S. intelligence agencies in 2007 confirmed that Iran had done experimentation into building a bomb, he says, but they discontinued their work in 2003, and nothing thats been said contradicts that, Sick notes. Iran never actually implemented these sketches and simulations or tried to marry them with fissile material to build a bomb. I think its pretty clear that what we saw Monday has exactly the same value as Netanyahus appearance before the United Nations General Assembly a few years ago with a picture of a cartoon bomb: it was meant to be alarming and to show him as a world expert on this subject, Sick says. The only experts who matter are the IAEA, he adds.Theyve never suggested Iran is not in compliance. If Iran is cheating, say so, Sick pointed out. This is politics. It should not be mistaken for security policy. Netanyahus presentation against the deal may also have unwittingly reinforced the case for keeping it. What, after all, is the alternative? Tamara Cofman-Wittes, a senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. says one of the key flaws in Netanyahus presentation was his failure to offer a better option for containing Irans nuclear ambitions. That in fact, was the argument of President Obama, for whom she worked as a deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs 2009 to 2012. For all of us who care about preventing an Iranian nuclear bomb, whats the best way to keep preventing that? Its not perfect, but its something, she says. These conventions are never based on the premise that all the parties are telling the truth, its about enforcement mechanisms. No arms control agreement is based in trust. That may not matter to Trump. Meir Javedanfar, an Israeli Middle East analyst born and raised in Iran, says that while Netanyahus information trove may not have provided a smoking gun that effectively indicts Iran, his well-crafted exposition is going to be helpful ammunition in Trumps pocket. Trump can use this to extract more concessions from the Europeans in terms of new sanctions against Iran. And if Trump cancels the deal, he can use Netanyahus presentation to support his decision, says Javedanfar. Camille Cosby, the wife of Bill Cosby, compared her husband's sexual assault trial to that of famed lynching victim Emmett Till. Camille also suggested that one of Bill Cosbys accusers, Andrea Constand, had lied under oath. Last week, Bill Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault on Constand, who said that she was drugged and assaulted in the comedians home. The trial focused on crimes against Constand, although dozens of women have come out with allegations of sexual misconduct against Cosbyfive of whom testified during the trial. Camille Cosby released a statement Thursday on her husbands social media accounts responding to the trial. Trending: Republican With White Nationalist Ties Nabs Almost 40 Percent of the Vote, Despite Defeat in Local Tennessee Election GettyImages-950721506 (1) Jessica Griffin-Pool/GETTY Since when are all accusers truthful? History disproves that...for example, Emmett Tills accuser immediately comes to mind. In 1955, she testified before a jury of white men in a Mississippi courtroom that a 14-year-old African American boy had sexually assaulted her, only to later admit several decades later in 2008 that her testimony was false, Camille Cosby wrote in the statement. Camille Cosby also alleged that Constand had been dishonest during the trial. Don't miss: Jehovah's Witnesses in Russia Have Property Seized by the Government Amid Ongoing Crackdown The worst injustices, however, have been carried out in the Pennsylvania Montgomery County Courthouse. Three criminal charges, promised during an unethical campaign for the district attorneys office, were filed against my husband...all based on what I believe to be a falsified account by the newly elected district attorneys key witness, Camille Cosby wrote. I firmly believe her recent testimony during trial was perjured; as was shown at trial, it was unsupported by any evidence and riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions. Story continues Dolores Troiani, Constand's lawyer, responded to the comments Thursday. Twelve honorable people a jury of Cosbys peers have spoken. There is nothing else that needs to be said the lawyer's office said in a statement to Newsweek. Most popular: 'Were You Lying?' Sarah Sanders Confronted about Giuliani's Stormy Daniels Comments in Tense Press Briefing Bill Cosby faces up to 10 years in jail for each count, but the sentences can be served concurrently. Bill Cosbys lawyer said that they plan to appeal the conviction. Montgomery County, Pennsylvania District Attorney Kevin Steele's office, who tried the case, could not immediately be reached for comment. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek [caption id="attachment_17037" align="alignnone" width="620"] Philadelphia Councilman Kenyatta Johnson addresses a crowd April 16, 2018, outside of the Starbucks where two black men had been arrested several days before. Photo: Max Mitchell[/caption] Two black men who were arrested April 12 at a Starbucks coffee shop in Philadelphia while they were waiting to meet an acquaintance have reached a settlement with the city and will not pursue civil complaints against the police department. The two menDonte Robinson and Rashon Nelsonwill accept $1 each as a token settlement, along with an apology from the city, which also has agreed to set aside $200,000 to fund a program aimed at assisting young entrepreneurs, according to news reports. Neither the men's attorney, Stewart Cohen, of Cohen, Placitella & Roth in Philadelphia, nor city officials could immediately be reached for comment. Robinson and Nelson were arrested April 12 at a Starbucks coffee shop in the Rittenhouse Square area of downtown Philadelphia as they waited to meet an acquaintance for a business meeting. Starbucks workers called the police after the two sat down but did not immediately order anything. The arrests led to national attention and protests against the chain and the city police department. The men were detained by police for several hours, but the District Attorney's Office eventually declined to press charges. Videos of the arrest quickly went viral under the hashtag #WaitingWhileBlack, and, since that time, there has been a growing public outcry and call for action from city officials. The companys CEO issued an apology, met with the two men, and announced that all of the companys more than 8,000 stores will close briefly in May to conduct additional training. According to media reports, Robinson and Nelson were waiting for local businessman Andrew Yaffe when they were arrested. They were planning to discuss a possible real estate deal, according to media reports. The two men eventually retained Cohen regarding any possible civil actions. At the brief press conference after the men retained Cohen, the attorney read a joint statement from him and Starbucks in which he said the men have engaged in constructive discussions with Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson about the issue. We have a situationand the people at the center of it have come together with civility, common purpose and a willingness to listen and work towards a solution, Cohen said. Together we ask that the community respect this process. There will be more to follow. The city and the officers involved in the arrest could have faced claims of false arrest, battery and false imprisonment. The arrests brought condemnation from Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and others, including Reggie Shuford, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson. Starbucks failed these men and all of its customers by treating them in this unfair and demeaning way, Shuford said in a press statement. Based on all eyewitness accounts, there was no need for police intervention. These men were terribly disrespected by Starbucks employees. At a press conference held soon after the incident, Kenyatta Johnson said he and other city officials had met with Kevin Johnson, but the councilman said he was not impressed and more needs to be done to ensure that businesses cannot engage in any discrimination. The meeting was all lip service. Im not sold, he told the crowd. Hello and happy hump day, readersThis is Sy. On Tuesday, former Donald Trump doctor Harold Bornstein dropped a bit of a bombshell in a CNN interview, claiming that the glowing doctor note he wrote for then-candidate Trump in 2016 was actually dictated by Trump himself. He dictated that whole letter. I didnt write that letter, Bornstein said Tuesday. If thats true, and combined with Bornsteins public revelations to the New York Times about President Trumps hair growth medication, Bornstein may be in some pretty serious legal and ethical hot waterand absolutely should lose his medical license, one of the countrys leading medical ethicists tells Fortune. Bornstein claims that he faced a raid shortly after his February Times interview revealing the hair drug tidbit. That would suggest a major relationship change between Trump and Bornstein from 2016, when the physicians letter made what many considered to be hyperbolic assertions about the candidates health. Bornsteins note claimed Trump would be the healthiest individual ever elected and that his laboratory tests were astonishingly excellentwording that appeared to mimic the vernacular of one Donald Trump. Now that Bornstein is claiming the original letter was essentially dictated by Trump (a stark turnaround from his previous assertions the physician really wrote the letter himself), the gastroenterologist might face censure by the New York medical board, according to Dr. Arthur Caplan, the founding director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York and one of the nations most prominent bioethicists. It does risk Bornsteins license because its fraud, Caplan told Fortune in an interview Wednesday. He absolutely should lose his license. In the middle of a presidential campaign, he said hed written [that letter] a couple of times. Thats fraud and has bigger consequences. Fortune reached out to Dr. Bornstein through his office, but a representative declined to comment. Story continues Bornsteins actions could, theoretically, risk both state and federal blowback, Caplan saidalthough he doesnt think anything stronger than an official censure or warning is likely. He talked about Trumps medications publicly. Thats a big no-no with both ethical and legal implications under HIPAA, Caplan explained, referencing the federal medical data privacy law. But, he admitted, things arent likely to go that far since Trump would have to make a HIPAA violation claim. Short of rape, murder, or drug dealing, its hard to lose a license, said Caplan. Dr. Anirban Maitra, an oncologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, pointed out on Twitter that Bornsteins admission about the dictated doctor note could amount to misconduct under New York law. Permitting, aiding, or abetting an unlicensed person to perform activities requiring a license is indeed listed under the states Office of the Professions definitions of professional misconduct by doctors. Regardless of how the Bornstein saga plays out, Caplan asserts that the bigger problem is the way in which presidential candidates health is assessed. We have to have a better system. Presidential candidates should go through independent medical assessment, he says. That doesnt mean revealing irrelevant personal details (such as, say, hair growth medication). But an independent evaluation could go a long way toward informing the public while preventing situations like Trumps allegedly faked doctor note. Read on for the days news. DIGITAL HEALTH Nokia pulls the plug on its digital health unit. Nokia is calling it quits on its digital health hardware and services gambit. The company announced Wednesday that it will sell off the division to its original owner, Eric Carreel, the co-founder of Withings (which Nokia bought back in 2016 for about $200 million). (TechCrunch) INDICATIONS Novartis scores another approval for its landmark CAR-T drug. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Tuesday gave Swiss drug giant Novartis a second approval for its pioneering CAR-T cancer therapy, which uses patients own immune cells (re-engineered outside the body and then replicated) to destroy blood cancers. This time, the approval is for a type of blood cancer called large B-cell lymphoma. That also means Novartis will be taking on rival Gilead, which is the only other company to have an approved CAR-T therapy on the market (both received the regulatory green light in 2017). (FiercePharma) THE BIG PICTURE Vaping companies get a stern FDA warning. The FDA is cracking down on 13 companies the agency says is selling e-liquids that are used in popular e-cigarette products that may resemble candy or juice and accidentally be consumed by children. It is easy to see how a child could confuse these e-liquid products for something they believe theyve consumed beforelike a juice box. These are preventable accidents that have the potential to result in serious harm or even death, said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb in a statement. Companies selling these products have a responsibility to ensure they arent putting children in harms way or enticing youth use, and well continue to take action against those who sell tobacco products to youth and market products in this egregious fashion. (NPR) REQUIRED READING Facebook Just Lost Its Latest Battle In a Crucial Privacy Case, by David Meyer FTC Warns 6 Major Companies That Their Warranty Coverage Is Illegal, by Lisa Marie Segarra Apple Has Already Built Its Next Big Business, by Don Reisinger Hawaii Will Likely Become the First State to Ban Certain Sunscreens, by Aric Jenkins Produced by Sy Mukherjee @the_sy_guy sayak.mukherjee@fortune.com Find past coverage. Sign up for other Fortune newsletters. SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A joint session of Brazil's Congress on Wednesday passed a measure allowing the use of federal funds to pay off debts owed by Venezuela and Mozambique, according to a decision published on the Congress website. Venezuela owes the vast majority of the nearly 1 billion reais ($281.60 million) owed to Brazil's BNDES [BNDES.UL] state development bank and also to Credit Suisse , payment of which is due May 8. The Brazilian government, under former President Dilma Rousseff, had agreed to act as the guarantor of the loans. The funds were used by Venezuela and Mozambique to pay works carried out by Brazilian firms. Brazilian President Michel Temer had earlier warned that if Congress did not approve covering the payment, the government would have been considered as having defaulted on the loans. (Reporting by Brad Brooks; Editing by Sandra Maler) Brasilia (AFP) - Brazil's Supreme Court on Thursday voted to restrict a controversial law allowing politicians accused of crimes to have their cases heard in the Supreme Court, dramatically slowing the wheels of justice. The privilege -- extended to more than 55,000 federal and local politicians, members of the judiciary and officials in the armed forces -- has been part of the constitution since 1988. The intention was to prevent politicization of potentially sensitive cases in lower courts. But the result has been to clog up the top end of the system, especially the Supreme Court, which simply cannot handle the number of cases coming its way -- effectively letting many officials off the hook. In its 11-0 vote, which ended Thursday, the court ruled that members of Congress -- 594 deputies and senators -- will now have this right restricted. The rules for other categories of public officials were left unchanged. Before, any legislator accused of any crime at any time could bring the case before the top court, rather than have to go through lower courts first, like all other Brazilians. Currently, about half of the members of Brazil's Congress face charges, ranging from embezzlement of millions of dollars to cock fighting. In Thursday's ruling the majority of justices voted to change the rule so that the court will only hear cases involving alleged crimes committed by Congress members during the accused's term in office and connected to the post. That will severely restrict the flow. Justice Luis Roberto Barroso said in his vote that the Supreme Court is handling more than 500 cases, including more than 130 linked to the sprawling Car Wash corruption probe, which has uncovered systemic graft in Congress and a series of governments. A study by the Fundacao Getulio Vargas university found that only 5.44 percent of alleged crimes handled by the Supreme Court between 2007-2016 met the new standards of having been committed while in office and being linked to the job. Among prominent politicians in the crosshairs of Car Wash prosecutors is President Michel Temer, whose case can only be handled by the Supreme Court. But former president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was jailed in April to start a 12-year sentence for corruption, has had to go through the far quicker-acting lower courts, since he is no longer in office and lost the privilege. Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas - Anadolu Britain said on Thursday that recent remarks by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on the Holocaust were "deeply concerning" and unhelpful to peace in the region. Israel has accused Mr Abbas of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial after the Palestinian leader suggested in a speech that historic persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct. "Palestinian President Abbass comments at the Palestinian National Congress were deeply concerning. Any attempt to justify or explain away any element of the Holocaust is unacceptable," Britain's Middle-East minister Alistair Burt said in a statement. "President Abbas has shown a commitment to non-violence and a two-state solution. But his recent rhetoric does not serve the interests of the Palestinian people and is deeply unhelpful to the cause of peace." Mr Abbas said in his speech that Jews living in Europe had suffered massacres "every 10 to 15 years in some country since the 11th century and until the Holocaust". Citing books written by various authors, Mr Abbas argued: "They say hatred against Jews was not because of their religion, it was because of their social profession. So the Jewish issue that had spread against the Jews across Europe was not because of their religion, it was because of usury and banks." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas waves in Ramallah on Tuesday Credit: REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday accused Mr Abbas of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial. Jewish groups and diplomats also condemned Mr Abbas' comments, made in a speech on Monday to the Palestinian National Council, that Jews had suffered historically not because of their religion but because they had served as bankers and money lenders. "It would appear that, once a Holocaust denier, always a Holocaust denier," Mr Netanyahu said on Twitter. "I call upon the international community to condemn the grave anti-Semitism of Abu Mazen (Abbas), which should have long since passed from this world." Story continues On Thursday, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) parliament was preparing to hand its authority over to a smaller council in a move seen as a concentration of power in the hands of President Mahmoud Abbas's loyalists. The Palestinian National Council agreed Thursday to grant the 115-member Central Council authority to assume the political body's powers, such as appointing a successor to the 83-year-old Palestinian leader and resolving the decade-long rift with the rival Hamas party ruling Gaza. Abbas aide Ahmad Majdalani says the move will "make it easier for the PLO to handle political developments, and to fill any vacuum in PLO positions." The Palestinian National Council, which met this week for the first time in over two decades, was set to formally announce the measure Thursday evening. By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) - He thinks of himself as a teacher, and to many he is an icon. But to Wall Street, Warren Buffett is something quite different. A disappointment. Tens of thousands of Berkshire Hathaway Inc shareholders and fans may think otherwise as they flock to Omaha, Nebraska, this weekend to see Buffett, 87, and his longtime partner and fellow billionaire Charlie Munger, 94. The weekend will celebrate their long-term success running a conglomerate, now with 90-some businesses overseen on a daily basis by two potential Buffett successors, newly-installed Vice Chairmen Greg Abel and Ajit Jain. But recent results, relative to what analysts were counting on, were of a sort that might make chief executives at other companies hang their heads. Berkshire's operating profit, excluding investments and derivatives, has fallen short of Wall Street forecasts for eight consecutive quarters, while its cash stake swelled to $116 billion because Buffett could not find enough worth buying. In contrast, just 21 percent of Standard & Poor's 500 <.SPX> companies typically miss forecasts in any given quarter, while 64 percent beat forecasts. Berkshire has a chance to break its streak on Saturday morning when it is scheduled to report first-quarter results. "Obviously, the quarterly results matter, but I care year-to-year about what they're doing," said Paul Lountzis, founder of Lountzis Asset Management LLC in Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, who has been to more than 20 meetings and is attending this weekend. "Though you may be upset with all the cash they have, if there is a challenge across the world, or liquidity dries up, he's going to step in and take advantage," he added, referring to Buffett. CHALLENGING TO ANALYZE Predicting results can be hard because Berkshire's tentacles spread far. Its products and services include car insurance (Geico), mobile homes (Clayton), wind power (Berkshire Hathaway Energy), cowboy boots (Justin Brands), chocolate (See's), helium balloon inflators (Western Enterprises) and electronic sow feeding systems (perhaps unsurprisingly, PigTek). "Berkshire Hathaway is a challenging company to analyze," and "does not manage its results to meet Street expectations," Barclays analyst Jay Gelb wrote last week. Insurance underwriting has dragged on recent results, and Berkshire last year paid out billions of dollars for hurricane losses. But a tailwind from an improving U.S. economy boosted shipments on the BNSF railroad, and bolstered Berkshire's building materials and consumer businesses. Gelb expects operating profit to rise 45 percent in 2018. That could help Berkshire's stock price, which closed on Tuesday about 10 percent below its peak on Jan. 29. Questions about Berkshire will likely comprise a majority of the roughly 60 questions that Buffett and Munger will field over five hours at Saturday's annual shareholder meeting. "There's always something to learn," said Brandon Taylor, managing partner of Taylor Hoffman Wealth Management in Richmond, Virginia, attending his sixth meeting this year. "Knowledge compounds over time, and the more I expose myself to investors who are better than me, the better off I will be." BLING Berkshire sent out slightly more tickets to this year's extravaganza than in 2015, when an estimated 42,000 celebrated Buffett's 50th year at the helm. A couple of million may watch Buffett and Munger online this year via Yahoo Finance. As usual there will also be events across Omaha, including investing conferences and shareholder shopping at Berkshire-owned businesses. At the jeweler Borsheim's, for example, silver pens bearing Buffett's signature fetch $14, while a 1.93-carat argyle pink diamond can be yours for the bargain price of $1,046,750 (normally $1.57 million). But the meeting remains the highlight. It may give Buffett and Munger a chance to address progress on Berkshire's joint venture with Amazon.com Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co to lower employee healthcare costs, or the scandals hurting the stock price and reputation of Wells Fargo & Co , one of Berkshire's biggest investments. Buffett and Munger will likely also get questions about matters outside their comfort zones, such as bitcoin, or perhaps dysfunction in Washington. While Buffett is a Democrat and Munger a Republican, both are equal-opportunity critics of shortsightedness and stupidity. The meeting is "a rejuvenation of all the investment values and principles that Warren and Charlie impart," Lountzis said. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Nick Zieminski) After a devastating 2017 filled with natural disasters, questions have emerged about what climate change means for insurance and reinsurance. All in all, 16 storms broke the billion dollar mark according to NOAA, and the final tally broke $300 billion. But while the scientific community is in consensus about climate change, its effects on insurance arent so clear, despite the soaring cost damage. Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) CEO Warren Buffett has long been a master of the insurance business, having invested significantly with great success in the industry through Geico and others. In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Buffett decidedly put aside concerns about climate change to his business. Is there more damage or are the properties just pricier? Every business were in has certain things that can happen over time, he told Yahoo Finance Editor-in-chief Andy Serwer. I dont know how the internet will develop. Theres all kinds of things that can change. And climate change thats not really an insurance risk. Unlike a capricious and unpredictable internet, to use Buffetts example, there is scientific consensus on what is happening and what the effects could be. Its happening very gradually, he said. Buffett gave an example that losses for damage to houses have grown in Florida isnt just because hurricanes may be worse, but because you probably have five times the insured values or maybe ten times the insured values. The prices of homes are going up and there are more of them. But understanding the speed of the insurance industry is the key to understanding why the third-richest man in the world ($84.5 billion according to Bloomberg) isnt concerned. Insurance rates change every year, so a company or individual isnt locked into a long-term commitment. In Buffetts words, they can adapt to changing conditions as they go along. Thats not to say Buffett doesnt care about climate change, its just not a specific insurance problem. Story continues People like to think it is and we get things put on our balance that imply that it is, but it just isnt true, he said. Climate change is a societal problem. Watch Warren Buffett LIVE at the 2018 Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting exclusively on the Yahoo Finance app and desktop. Coverage begins May 5 at 9:45am ET. Set a reminder now! Berkshire Hathaways annual meeting will be held on May 5. Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann. Confidential tip line: FinanceTips[at]oath[.com]. By Abdoulaye Massalaki and Madjiasra Nako NIAMEY/N'DJAMENA (Reuters) - About 15 soldiers from Chad and Niger died in fighting to take control of two towns in northern Nigeria from Boko Haram, the first gains against the militants in a joint offensive launched at the weekend, military sources said on Monday. About 30 Nigerien and Chadian soldiers were wounded in the clashes over Malam Fatouri and Damasak, a day after thousands of troops crossed the border to seize areas held by the Sunni Islamist group, whose insurgency has forced Nigeria to delay an election and neighbors to mobilize their armies. A Chadian officer, who asked not to be named, said about 10 Chadian soldiers were killed and 20 wounded in fighting for the towns. Two sources with Niger's military told Reuters five of its soldiers were killed in the clashes. There was no official comment from the armies of either Chad or Niger. "We have kicked the enemy out of these areas and they are now under our control," a Niger military officer said. The advancing troops had seized large quantities of arms and ammunition as well as vehicles, he said, and were undertaking a clean-up operation in the area. "The troops have taken dozens of Boko Haram elements prisoner," he added. Damasak, the town furthest into Nigeria, is 10 km (6 miles) south of the Niger border, where Nigerien and Chadian troops had been massing in recent weeks before the offensive. A medical source in Diffa, the capital of the Niger region which borders Boko Haram's heartland in northeastern Nigeria, said 30 wounded soldiers had been admitted to the town's hospital. A second Niger military source said about 300 Boko Haram militants had been killed. There was no official confirmation of the toll and it was not possible to verify the figure. "We had permission from Nigeria for this action," the source said. There was no immediate comment from Nigeria, which has launched its own offensive against the militants. Their gains forced Nigeria to delay elections that were due in February. Boko Haram's six-year insurgency, which aims to carve out a caliphate in Nigeria's northeast, has killed thousands. The group has pledged allegiance to Islamic State, which rules a self-declared caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria, according to an audio clip posted online on Saturday. Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Benin have mobilized forces this year to help Nigeria defeat the group after it seized large amounts of territory and staged cross-border attacks. Nigeria and its neighbors have been working to pull together plans and rules of engagement for a regional force of 8,700 troops but cooperation between the region's armies has been strained at times. (Reporting by Abdoulaye Massalaki; Writing by David Lewis and Joe Bavier; Editing by Giles Elgood and David Stamp) N'Djamena (AFP) - Chad's prime minister and his government resigned on Thursday, according to a presidential statement, as controversial constitutional changes took effect in a move that bolsters President Idriss Deby's powers. Deby -- in power for more than two decades in the oil-rich landlocked African state -- has insisted the changes are necessary. The measures establish a full presidential regime without prime minister or vice president and were passed by lawmakers on Monday. The head of state is due to sign them into law on Friday. A statement read on national television on Thursday announced Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke and his government had stepped aside. The constitutional changes comes despite opposition warnings that it would undermine democracy. An appeal for the annulment of the bill, tabled Wednesday by 26 lawmakers of the Chadian opposition, was rejected Thursday after being heard by the constitutional court. The changes will increase presidential terms to six years with a limit of two terms. The current mandate is five years with no limits on re-election. The vote comes amid growing political tensions in Chad, ranked by Transparency International as one of the world's most corrupt nations, as opposition groups boycotted a forum last month discussing the proposed changes. By Muyu Xu and David Stanway BEIJING (Reuters) - China has ordered three northern cities to stop approving new projects that would add to air pollution after they failed to meet air quality targets this past winter. The mayors of Handan in Hebei province and Jincheng and Yangquan in Shanxi province were given the orders after being summoned to a meeting at the Ministry of Ecology and Environment in Beijing on Thursday to account for their actions during a recent campaign against smog. The meeting came after the cities failed to meet targets to cut levels of hazardous, breathable particles known as PM2.5 over the October 2017 to March 2018 period. Reuters was the first foreign media organization allowed to attend such a meeting, the ministry said. "We will continue to fight against air pollution in the name of dignity and as our mission," said Handan's mayor, Wang Litong, who sat with the other mayors facing a line of eight environmental officials in a crowded meeting hall at the ministry. China launched a campaign last October to reduce average concentrations of PM2.5 by between 10-25 percent in 28 northern cities in an effort hit 2013-2017 air quality targets. However, though Handan was ordered to reduce traffic, cut industrial output and curb coal use in a bid to cut PM2.5 by 20 percent over the period, it only achieved an average reduction of 15.7 percent. Handan, a major steel- and chemical-producing city, also saw average PM2.5 concentrations increase 4.9 percent to 86 micrograms per cubic meter in 2017, with one district experiencing a 19.7 percent rise. Wang, the Handan mayor, said in a prepared speech that the city would make big sacrifices to tackle pollution. "We will cut off our own hands to wage the last-ditch battle," he said. He said the city planned to close another 300,000 tonnes of steelmaking capacity, 1.1 million tonnes of coal-producing capacity and 268 megawatts of coal-fired power by August. He said three officials have been fired and 14 given warnings. The three cities have been ordered to come up with a detailed plan to "rectify" the situation, which they must submit to the environment ministry within 20 days, said Liu Changgen, a ministry official. The major of Jincheng, Liu Feng, said the major coal and gas city would "rather sacrifice GDP growth" in order to curb air pollution, noting that Jincheng's gross domestic product fell 9 percent as a result of production curbs in the first quarter, while fixed-asset investment slumped 41 percent. After struggling for years to force growth-obsessed local governments to toe the line, China's beefed-up environment ministry now has the authority to hold officials to account for failing to comply with pollution policies. The war on pollution is now a key performance indicator that could determine an official's promotion prospects, and local authorities said last year that senior officials could even face dismissal if they failed to meet the winter targets. China has already held more than 2,000 local government officials to account after they were found to have violated environmental rules during extensive nationwide inspections ordered by Beijing beginning in 2016. However, while hundreds of officials were given official reprimands, only a handful were actually fired or prosecuted. (Reporting by Muyu Xu and David Stanway; editing by Philip McClellan) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, U.S. news network CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources with direct knowledge of U.S. intelligence reports. The installations, if confirmed, would mark the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratly Islands, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims. China has made no mention of any missile deployments but says its military facilities in the Spratlys are purely defensive, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory. China's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest report. The foreign ministry said China has irrefutable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and that its necessary defensive deployments were for national security needs and not aimed at any country. "Those who do not intend to be aggressive have no need to be worried or scared," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing. China "hopes relevant parties can objectively and calmly view this", she added. CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to U.S. intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. The U.S. Defense Department, which opposes China's installation of military facilities on outposts it has built up in the South China Sea, declined comment. "We don't comment on matters of intelligence," a spokesman said. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank, said deploying missiles on the outposts would be important. "These would be the first missiles in the Spratlys, either surface to air, or anti-ship," he said. He added that such deployments were expected as China built missile shelters on the reefs last year and already deployed such missile systems on Woody Island further to the north. Story continues Poling said it would be a major step on China's road to dominating the South China Sea, a key global trade route. "Before this, if you were one of the other claimants ... you knew that China was monitoring your every move. Now you will know that you're operating inside Chinese missile range. That's a pretty strong, if implicit, threat," he said. CNBC said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles allowed China to strike vessels within 295 nautical miles. It said the HQ-9B long-range, surface-to-air missiles could target aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. Last month, U.S. Admiral Philip Davidson, nominated to head U.S. Pacific Command, said China's "forward operating bases" in the South China Sea appeared complete. "The only thing lacking are the deployed forces," he said. Once these were added, "China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania". Davidson said China could use the bases to challenge the U.S. regional presence, and "would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants. "China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States," he said. (Reporting by David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Darren Schuettler) Beijing (AFP) - The widow of late Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo said that after eight years of house arrest she was ready to "die at home" in protest at her continuing detention by Chinese authorities, a report said Wednesday. The poet Liu Xia, 57, has been under close police watch, despite facing no charges, since her husband was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, a recognition that deeply angered the Communist regime. "It is easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me," Liu recently told a friend in Germany, according to the US-based website China Change. Liao Yiwu, an exiled Chinese writer living in Berlin, said in a letter published by the human rights website that he was shocked to hear Liu's distress and urged her to "wait". With her permission, he also released an audio recording of an earlier phone call where Liu said that she was "ready to die" and that "if I'm dead, it'll all be done with". Liu Xiaobo was a veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and was detained in 2008 after co-writing Charter 08, a petition calling for democratic reforms. He died in Chinese custody last July after authorities rejected his request to receive treatment abroad, becoming the first Nobel Peace laureate to die in custody since German pacifist Carl von Ossietzky, who passed away in a hospital while held by the Nazis in 1938. Liu Xia's friends told AFP she was taking medication for depression and had suffered from heart problems and fainting. AFP reporters have tried to visit Liu's home multiple times in recent years, but were blocked each time by plainclothes men. The United States and European Union have called on President Xi Jinping's government to free the widow and let her travel abroad. Last week, German ambassador to China Michael Clauss told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that Liu would be welcomed in his country. Story continues "We hope that Liu Xia can finally enjoy freedom of movement and to travel wherever she desires. This has been a continuously stated concern of Germany for a long time already, just like the fact that she is welcomed to Germany if that remains her wish," Clauss said. On Monday, the French foreign ministry reiterated its appeal to Chinese authorities to "ensure the freedom of movement of Liu Xia as well as that of her family". Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing on Thursday that she did not have information on the situation. "But Liu Xia is a Chinese citizen. The relevant Chinese authorities will handle relevant issues in accordance with the law," Hua said. Amnesty International and other rights groups have also condemned authorities' treatment of the poet, who has always stayed out of politics. "She has never been accused or convicted of any crime, and the Chinese government has even said she is free to travel," Amnesty China researcher William Nee said Thursday. "The latest revelations about her depression show the urgency for the Chinese government to allow her to go abroad, and end the absurd pretence that she's free in China," Nee said. New York (AFP) - A cracked window forced a Southwest Airlines passenger jet bound from Chicago to Newark to divert Wednesday, two weeks after a midair engine explosion shattered a window on another of the company's Boeing 737s. The airline told AFP that the crew diverted the plane to Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport for "maintenance review of one of the multiple layers of a window pane" and that the flight landed "uneventfully." "The aircraft has been taken out of service for maintenance review, and our local Cleveland employees are working diligently to accommodate the 76 customers on a new aircraft to Newark," it said in a statement. Flight 957 "maintained pressurization" as there are multiple layers of panes in each window, the airline said. Pictures posted to social media appeared to show a lengthy crack in one of the passenger windows on the jet. The Boeing 737-700 took off from Chicago Midway International Airport at 8:53 am (1353 GMT) and landed in Cleveland at 10:46 am, according to the FlightAware website. On April 17, a mid-air engine explosion on Southwest Flight 1380, another Boeing 737-700 from New York to Dallas, saw flying shrapnel shatter a window, partially sucking a 43-year-old banking executive out of the plane. The woman later died. President Donald Trump met the crew and passengers at the White House on Tuesday, praising the "incredible job" Captain Tammie Jo Shults did in landing the plane safely in Philadelphia with 149 people on board. The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered emergency inspections of jet engines like the one that ruptured during the Southwest Airlines flight. By Michael Hirtzer MANHATTAN, Kan. (Reuters) - Drought sapped yield potential for the Kansas wheat crop and likely will result in the smallest harvest in the top wheat growing state since 1989, scouts said on the final day of a annual crop tour on Thursday. The crop shortfall could mean higher prices for wheat that would make U.S. supplies less competitive in global markets. Russia already has overtaken the United States as the top global wheat exporter. K.C. July wheat futures surged 2 percent after the crop tour results came out, ending up 12-1/2 cents at $5.67-3/4 per bushel, highest in 10 months. The Wheat Quality Council estimated average yields for hard red winter wheat at 37.0 bushels per acre (bpa), below the five-year crop tour average of 40.98 bpa and the U.S. Agriculture Department's 2017 actual Kansas yield of 48.0 bpa, reflecting stressful dry conditions in recent months. The scouts' average estimate of 2018 Kansas wheat production was 243.3 million bushels, down sharply from USDA's actual production last year of 333.6 million and the smallest since 213.6 million in 1989. "The story of this crop is that it's late and dry," said Dave Green, the leader of the crop tour and executive vice president of the Wheat Quality Council. "The crop has more of a chance for lower production than higher," Green said of the production estimate. He added that cold temperatures, which damaged some wheat plants as early as a few weeks ago, hampered crop development through the spring season when plants break winter dormancy. Many wheat fields will go through the critical grain-filling period under hot conditions during the next two months. The tour started on Monday in Manhattan, swinging west to the town of Colby on Tuesday and then south to Wichita on Wednesday, before ending back in Manhattan. Tour scouts made a total of 644 field stops. Rains moved through central Kansas on Wednesday, giving plants a needed dose of moisture. If more rains come and temperatures do not get too hot, yield prospects could improve significantly. A grain buyer at a flour mill who was a scout on the tour said the tour estimate was slightly low. "The rains in the central corridor, those are going to help more than a lot of people think," he said. (Reporting by Michael Hirter in Manhattan, Kansas; writing by Julie Ingwersen in Chicago; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Bill Trott) A gull lookalike with teeth: scientists refined their description Wednesday of a fascinating fowl at the evolutionary junction between dinosaur and modern bird -- with skull features of both. Newly-discovered fossils show the extinct Icthyornis dispar, or "fish bird", had a mouth filled with sharp, curved teeth like those of a dinosaur, a team wrote in the scientific journal Nature. But the tip had been transformed into a sharp, toothless, "pincer-like" instrument -- the original bird beak. This was likely used for preening and handling objects after reptile arms turned into wings. "Holding and perforation of prey probably fell to the sizeable, reptilian tooth row retained," in this dino-bird, the researchers added. Palaeontologists say the first birds evolved from small, feathered dinosaurs possibly more than 100 million years ago. Birds survived when the large lizards were wiped out some 65 million years ago at the end of the Cretaceous period during which I. dispar also lived. The fish bird, thought to have been a surface-skimming or shallow-plunging feeder, had a larger-than-lizard brain similar to that of today's birds, said the researchers. But some skull parts remained dinosaurian. The newly-modelled skull, reconstructed from the fossil remains of several fish birds, lifted the veil on "what the bird beak looked like as it first appeared in nature," said study co-author Bhart-Anjan Bhullar, a Yale University palaeontologist. "The first beak was a horn-covered pincer tip at the end of the jaw," he explained in a university press statement. "The remainder of the jaw was filled with teeth. At its origin, the beak was a precision grasping mechanism that served as a surrogate hand." - Bird brain - The results showed that bird beaks started evolving earlier than thought, the team concluded. The fish bird's so-called "transitional" beak was attached to a skull with an enlarged cavity for its evolving, more modern brain, the said. Story continues But bones in the cheek region more dinosaur-like, with large chambers for stronger jaw-snapping muscles. This indicated that in bird evolution, "the brain transformed first while the remainder of the skull remained more primitive and dinosaur-like," the researchers said. I. dispar would have resembled a modern-day seabird -- a gull or tern. With its mouth closed, the teeth would likely not have been visible. Scientists first discovered Ichthyornis in the 1870s, but the first fossilised specimens were crushed and incomplete. At the time, restoration and mounting of the fossils "were, shall we say, somewhat overenthusiastic," palaeontologist Kevin Padian of the University of California, Berkeley, wrote in a comment on the study. Now remounted, previously overlooked elements from the early specimens have emerged. These, together with details from four newly-discovered and well-preserved fossils -- three uncovered in museum collections -- permitted the new 3-D reconstruction. Based on early fossil finds, Ichthyornis was described with other "extinct toothed birds" in an 1880 publication by American palaeontologist Othniel Marsh. Later that year, Charles Darwin thanked him for work that uncovered "the best support to the theory of evolution." Elon Musk Lucy Nicholson/Reuters Elon Musk has indicated on Twitter that he will take a question crowdsourced from retail investors during Tesla's first-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. Companies often restrict questions on earnings calls to analysts at major financial institutions. That Musk could change the structure of Tesla's earnings call less than two days in advance because of tweet speaks to his unique approach to public relations. After Tesla reports its first-quarter earnings on Wednesday, it may try something different on its conference call with investors. CEO Elon Musk might take a question from retail investors. Companies often restrict questions on earnings calls to analysts at major financial institutions. But Musk has indicated on Twitter that he will also take a question crowdsourced from retail investors, who are not affiliated with such firms. On Monday, the financial analyst Galileo Russell asked Musk on Twitter whether he would ask a question crowdsourced from retail investors during Wednesday's earnings call. Russell tweeted at Musk on Monday, saying: "150 $TSLA shareholders, representing 63K+ shares ($18M+) have reached out to you in the past 4 days to encourage you to allow me on your upcoming Q1 earnings call & give retail investors a voice by asking a crowdsourced question. let's make this happen?" "Ok," Musk replied. Musk didn't offer any details about how he would integrate such a question into the call, and Tesla declined to comment on the matter. Musk's response to Russell was another example of his unconventional approach to public relations. In contrast to most CEOs of highly visible companies, Musk often has a candid tone on social media. He has used platforms like Twitter to address customers' concerns, spar with critics, make jokes, and hint at upcoming products and features. Where many executives are careful to avoid sparking controversy on social media and focus on promoting their businesses, Musk is less measured. That he could change the structure of Tesla's earnings call less than two days in advance because of a tweet speaks to a communications philosophy that has allowed him to develop an enthusiastic fan base while frustrating critics. Story continues Musk will have plenty of criticism to address on Wednesday's call. The past four months have seen missed Model 3 production targets, a downgrade of the company's credit rating, questions about workplace conditions at its California factory, and a high-profile Model X crash that led to a dispute with the National Transportation Safety Board. Tesla will stream the call on its website starting at 5:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday. NOW WATCH: Theres a major shift occurring that could signal the end of the historic bull market See Also: SEE ALSO: Tesla is burning through billions, and it's revealing an ugly reality about the company's financial situation President Donald Trump will replace lawyer Ty Cobb with a seasoned Washington attorneywho represented former President Bill Clinton during his impeachment process. White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee announced that Emmet Flood will represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt, referring to the special counsels investigation of suspicious interactions and alleged collusion between Trump's campaign and the Russian government, Reuters reported. It is precisely this language and other attacks against special counsel Robert Mueller by Trump that made Cobb uncomfortable in the lead-up to his departure, CNN has reported. Cobb had reportedly tried and failed to convince Trump to avoid a mud-slinging campaign against Mueller. Trending: Why Growing Up Outside Of Cities With Pets Might Make People Mentally Healthier Flood, Cobbs replacement, has worked in similar environments, advizing two presidents and then representing Vice President Dick Cheney in private practice, The New York Times reported. After representing the Clinton administration, Flood spent two years working for the White House Office of Legal Counsel under President George W. Bush. Read More: Moscow and Washington clash over who disrespected the Russian flag more Following his move to private practice, Flood was hired to defend Bushs vice president, Dick Cheney in a civil suit filed by Valerie Plame, a former CIA operative whose identity was revealed after being leaked to the press. Don't miss: Can Cubas Miguel Diaz-Canel Complete Raul Castros Economic Revolution? He believes in the institutional prerogative of the presidency, Glen Donath, who worked with Flood on the Clinton case told The Wall Street Journal. While Cobb favored a more cooperative approach with Mueller, Flood could adopt a more combative stance. 05_03_Emmet_Flood Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Story continues What Emmet brings to the table here that no one has whos represented the president in this capacity has brought is that he knows what a functional defense of a president looks likehow things look when they are functioning properly, Shannen Coffin, a former counsel to Cheney told Politico. What I would say is if Emmet Flood cant do this, it cant be done. Most popular: Roseanne Barr Says Kanye West is 'Telling the Truth' Besides specializing in presidential administration crisis management, Flood is also a former clerk for Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia and a graduate of the Yale School of Law, according to Axios. His firm, Williams and Connolly, represented Trumps election rival Hillary Clinton in matters including the email scandal that Trump and other Republicans touted as a prime reason for her to not win the presidency. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to hire a new personal attorney to deal with the special counsels Russia probe after it was announced Wednesday that White House lawyer Ty Cobb would be retiring at the end of the month. The president is looking to tap longtime Washington attorney Emmet Flood, who represented President Bill Clinton during his impeachment in the late 1990s, The New York Times reported Wednesday. It has been an honor to serve the country in this capacity at the White House, Cobb told the Times. I wish everybody well moving forward. Trending: Is ISIS Leader Alive or Dead? Top Official Says He Has Not Seen Baghdadi Since Last Summer According to the report, the president, who has a history of changing his mind, has not officially tapped Flood. The Times story was later confirmed by The Washington Post. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Cobbs exit and said he spoke with chief of staff John Kelly last week. Don't miss: Zachary Cruz to Sue over 'Dehumanizing Treatment' in Jail, Nonprofit Organization Says Floods potential addition to the presidents legal team is the latest in a series of moves as special counsel Robert Muellers investigation of Russias election meddling continues. Trump hired former New York City mayor and federal prosecutor Rudy Giuliani last month following the departure of attorney John Dowd. Dowd reportedly felt the president was no longer following his advice. Flood was in talks about joining Trumps team last summer, according to the Times. After helping Clinton during his impeachment proceedings, Flood served in the White House counsels office for two years during President George W. Bushs administration. A graduate of Yale Law School, Flood is a partner at Williams & Connolly and served as a clerk for the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia in 1994, according to his firms website. Story continues The shake-ups to Trumps legal team follow increased pressure by Muellers team on questioning the president. In March, the special counsel reportedly threatened to subpoena Trump to appear before a grand jury unless he agreed to an interview with investigators. GettyImages-75935697 Getty Images/Chip Somodevilla This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union's foreign service condemned remarks on the Holocaust by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas as "unacceptable", echoing criticism on Wednesday by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In strikingly blunt language from Brussels, the European External Action Service said in a statement: "The speech Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered on 30 April contained unacceptable remarks concerning the origins of the Holocaust and Israel's legitimacy. "Such rhetoric will only play into the hands of those who do not want a two-state solution, which President Abbas has repeatedly advocated." Netanyahu called for international condemnation of "anti-Semitism" by Abbas over remarks on Monday in which the Palestinian leader suggested historic persecution of Jews in Europe was caused by their conduct. The EEAS added: "Antisemitism is not only a threat for Jews but a fundamental menace to our open and liberal societies. "The European Union remains committed to combat any form of anti-Semitism and any attempt to condone, justify or grossly trivialize the Holocaust." (Reporting by Alastair Macdonald ; @macdonaldrtr; editing by Robert-Jan Bartunek) President Donald Trump shook up his legal team yet again on Wednesday, signaling a shift in the White Houses approach to the Special Counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe. But thats only the start. A lot of other news broke this week related to the investigation into potential collusion between then-candidate Trumps campaign and the Russian government. Heres everything you need to know: Muellers long list of questions: On Monday, the New York Times obtained a list of questions that Mueller wanted to ask President Trump. The questions, obtained from a source outside of Mr. Trumps legal team, were reportedly dictated to Trumps legal team by Muellers investigators during negotiations to get Trump to speak about the inquiry. In an interview on the Times podcast The Daily, reporter Michael Schmidt explains that about three-quarters of the 49 questions are intended to glean Trumps motivations behind decisions, statements and tweets about various topicsand indicate that investigators are looking at a potential obstruction of justice case. The other questions focused on potential coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia, the topic that got the inquiry off the ground. Trumps angry tweets: On Tuesday, President Trump tweeted that the leak of the questions was disgraceful and he again called the investigation a witch hunt. So disgraceful that the questions concerning the Russian Witch Hunt were leaked to the media. No questions on Collusion. Oh, I see...you have a made up, phony crime, Collusion, that never existed, and an investigation begun with illegally leaked classified information. Nice! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 1, 2018 Legal team shakeup: On Wednesday, Trump overhauled his legal team yet again. One of his attorneys, Ty Cobb, announced that he would retire from the White House at the end of May. He will be replaced by Emmet Flood, who was part of President Bill Clintons legal team during his impeachment. Previously, Flood worked under President George W. Bush as head of the White House Counsels Office, and represented Vice President Dick Cheney in a civil suit. Story continues Cobb favored cooperating with Mueller, according to the New York Times, and former mayor of New York Rudolph Giuliani, who recently joined Trumps legal team, agrees with that strategy, according to NPR. Others, including Trumps former attorney, John Dowd, who left the team in March, have advised Trump to fight more aggressively against the inquiry, and Flood may also be more adversarial, according to the Times. Each decision comes with risks. According to CNN, Mueller has considered subpoenaing President Trump, to compel him to testify before a grand jury. This is also where things get legally thorny. The Trump administration argues that the special counsel doesnt have the authority to bring a president before a grand jury. However, an analysis by the Associated Press suggests that a sitting president can be forced to testify. However, if Trump voluntarily meets with Mueller (which he has said he would do on multiple occasions), his lawyers worry about the president giving false statements or going off script. And Mueller has already successfully sought indictments against people in the investigation for lying to federal authorities. Also on Wednesday, Trump again lashed out at the Justice Department over the probe following its refusal to give Congress the original directive by Rosenstein that lays out the scope of Muellers investigation, citing the fact that it is an ongoing investigation. Trump threatened that at some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved! A Rigged System - They dont want to turn over Documents to Congress. What are they afraid of? Why so much redacting? Why such unequal justice? At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2018 Kiss Ukraines help goodbye: In another yet another development on Wednesday, the New York Times reported that members of the Ukrainian government had frozen a Ukrainian investigation into former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort to avoid angering Trump before finalizing a deal to buy U.S. anti-tank missiles. Ukrainian officials had previously said theyd cooperate with the Mueller investigation, but they are no longer willing to do so. Agurain (Spain) (AFP) - "ETA, Farewell and go with honour" reads graffiti in Spain's Basque Country as the separatist group disbands, a move many feel was long in coming in a region where nationalist feelings still run high. Not far off in the village of Agurain, several slogans and posters in favour of transferring ETA prisoners closer to home adorn walls and pillars under a grey, drizzly sky. For the 5,000-strong village led by the moderate nationalist PNV party, the end of decades of bombings, kidnappings and extortion waged by ETA for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France is welcome. But a fierce sense of Basque identity remains, with nationalist and pro-independence parties holding a majority in the regional parliament. "It's positive, but it isn't completely over," says Seve Garcia de Vicuna, a 69-year-old retiree who confesses he once approved of ETA, set up in 1959 at the height of Francisco Franco's dictatorship which severely repressed the region and forbade the use of the Basque language in public. De Vicuna gradually grew disillusioned and changed his mind after years of violence that left at least 829 people dead. But he cautions that "what were once very strong feelings of support for ETA still remain." - 'It hurt' - Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders and a gradual drop in support, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. On Thursday, the group went a step further, announcing it was fully disbanding, closing a dark chapter in Spanish history. "So many died, there was so much suffering," says Victoria Perez Conde, 69, originally from Burgos in the region of Castilla y Leon which neighbours the Basque Country. She moved to Agurain some 40 years ago to follow her husband for work, and remembers one moment particularly vividly -- the 1997 death of Miguel Angel Blanco which so shocked Spain that it sparked mass protests in a turning point in the fight against ETA. Story continues The 29-year-old conservative councillor was kidnapped by the group and shot twice in the back of the head after the expiry of a 48-hour ultimatum that had the country on edge. "I was in hospital and we were all riveted, including the nurses," she remembers. "And it ended badly. And it hurt." Perez Conde believes the dissolution was late in coming, as does Adolfo Olalde, 62, owner of a computer shop in the village. "Of all the organisations that were dissolving in Europe, it was the last one standing," he says. "It's good for the Basque Country and for the rest of the world." - Politics, not violence - But now that ETA has taken this step, Olalde believes the Spanish government should take a step too. Like many Basques, he believes those convicted for being part of or linked to ETA and still serving time should be transferred closer to the Basque Country rather than be kept in jails hundreds of kilometres (miles) away. On a pillar nearby hangs a small poster with a black map of the Basque Country surrounded by the slogan: "Basque prisoners and fugitives back home." "In France they're taking measures," he says, referring to the recent transfer of several ETA prisoners from northern to southern France nearer the Basque Country. "Let's see if Spain takes note. "And then I think that victims must be acknowledged, but on both sides." ETA last month recognised the harm done and apologised to some of its victims -- but not to those it considered legitimate targets such as police, thereby angering many of the survivors and their relatives. But there were also separatists killed by far-right groups and death squads backed by members of Spain's security forces in what has become known as a "dirty war" campaign. There are growing calls in the Basque Country that these too should be recognised in order to aid reconciliation and peace going forward. For Alberto, a 41-year-old teacher who refuses to give his surname, ETA's fight for what the group described in its dissolution statement as "a reunified and independent greater Basque Country" -- will continue. "But via politics, not via violence," he says. Over the course of eight installments, the Fast and the Furious franchise has grossed more than $5.1 billion globally. No surprise, then, that fans remain exceedingly interested in getting as close to the automotive action as possible which they can do today, courtesy of a new Universal Studios Orlando ride that was opened by many of the films stars with one notable exception. Dwayne the Rock Johnsons rift with Vin Diesel became highly publicized in the lead-up to last years The Fate of the Furious, and his full-steam-ahead plans to headline a series spinoff opposite Jason Statham (Hobbs and Shaw, directed by Deadpool 2s David Leitch) has likely not quelled their beef. Which helps explain why Johnson was MIA for todays grand opening of Fast and Furious: Supercharged, a new attraction at Universals Florida park that was inaugurated by Diesel, Chris Ludacris Bridges, Jordana Brewster, and Tyrese Gibson, and chronicled on their social media. Even without arguably its biggest personality and in the face of less than stellar early reviews the event proved a joyous one, as evidenced by the clip from Today in which an enthusiastic Diesel shows off some of the cars (from the actual films) that will be a part of the ride. Diesel also reveals he just got off the phone with Justin Lin, who is directing Fast 9 and Fast 10, and I cant tell you how excited he is. The franchise mastermind also teases that Africa could be the setting for one of the upcoming films. But with the release far down the road, fans will have to make do with the new ride to get their fix of automotive mayhem. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Ouagadougou (AFP) - On the edge of the forbidding Sahara in the dusty northern market town of Djibo, Burkina Faso's battle against jihadism is at its most acute. This impoverished corner of West Africa has always seemed distant from the central government in Ouagadougou. Today, though, that isolation feels more extreme than ever. Three years of murders, targeted killings of officials, blasts and kidnappings in northern Burkina Faso have worn down residents' faith in the state's ability to protect them. Thousands have fled the remote region, and bit by bit the presence of the state is fading away. According to an official toll, 80 attacks have taken place since March 2015, causing 133 deaths, in addition to a triple assault by jihadists in the capital Ouagadougou in March this year in which 60 people were killed. Two hundred schools in northern Burkina Faso have closed, leaving around 20,000 pupils and 800 teachers idle, authorities say. In April, a teacher was kidnapped "because he was speaking French to the pupils", according to the jihadist group the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, which claimed the abduction. The same month, students took to the streets, begging teachers to allow end-of-term exams to go ahead despite the threat of violence. In Djibo, even the courthouse has shut down as judicial staff are too afraid to go to work. "The schools have closed, the town halls as well, and now it's the turn of the courthouse. Have we lost the north of our country?" asked Kouliga Nikiema from the Union for Progress and Change, an opposition party. "It's clear that national sovereignty has been badly shaken by this closure," he added of the courthouse shutdown. "For the people of Djibo, this closure may be viewed as an abandonment by the central state." Last year, reinforcement of the military presence in the north and joint operations with Mali and France enabled the Burkinabe army to regain control and restore some trust. Story continues - Security forces 'powerless' - But attacks by the shadowy enemy resumed, and fears have grown. "Despite many efforts, the lack of personnel and effective military strength are creating a growing risk of losing the region or seeing it become a no-man's-land," said security expert Karamoko Traore. "The security forces seem powerless dealing with militants who are prepared to die," said Traore, referring to the killing last month of three people, including a traditional local leader. Burkinabe political analyst Souleymane Ouedraogo said that seven out of the nine administrative areas in the northern province of Soum had been hit by attacks since 2015. According to figures provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 800 families, or around 5,000 people, have fled their homes to live farther south -- a figure that Ouedraogo says is more likely "14,000 or 15,000". "The villages are emptying little by little and those who remain there are constantly threatened by Ansarul Islam," he says, referring to a group that has carried out many attacks in the region along the 1,000-km (600-mile) border with Mali. The government has vowed to fight back. In June 2017, it launched a three-year emergency programme worth 455 billion CFA francs (700 million euros) to improve security, education, health and drinking water in the country's Sahel region. Security has also been boosted by the internationally backed G5 Sahel, an anti-jihadist group which aims to train 5,000 troops and crack down on militants in Burkina Faso and neighbouring Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. "Burkina will not give up an inch of its territory," Defence Minister Jean-Claude Bouda said at the end of last year. "We will fight tooth and nail to save our country." By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - Four former Wilmington Trust Co executives were convicted on Thursday of U.S. charges that they concealed from regulators the amount of troubled loans still on the bank's books after the 2008 financial crisis, prosecutors said. The verdict by a federal jury in Wilmington, Delaware, came in one of the few criminal cases in which federal prosecutors sought to hold top executives at a well-known financial company accountable for conduct tied to the crisis. The former Wilmington Trust executives are President Robert Harra, Chief Financial Officer David Gibson, Controller Kevyn Rakowski and Chief Credit Officer William North. Jurors found them guilty on all counts they faced, including securities fraud, conspiracy and making false statements to federal regulators, prosecutors said. No date was set for U.S. District Judge Richard Andrews to consider what if any prison sentences to impose. Lawyers for all four of the former executives said they planned to appeal. "I am stunned," Michael Kelly, a lawyer for Harra, said in a statement. "My client is an innocent and honorable man who never in his life ever even thought about committing a crime." David Wilks, a lawyer for North, said his client "remains steadfast that he never engaged in any criminal wrongdoing or that he took part in a criminal conspiracy to defraud the government or the public." In October, Wilmington Trust, now owned by M&T Bank Corp, reached a $60 million deal resolving related charges, a sum that included $16 million it paid in a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission settlement in 2014. Founded by the du Pont family in 1903, Wilmington Trust received $330 million of federal bailout money in 2008 under the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP, which was meant to bolster U.S. lenders following the real estate market crash. Two years later, Wilmington Trust raised $273.9 million in a February 2010 sale with the intention of repaying the TARP funds. Story continues At the time, it reported to regulators just $10.8 million in commercial loans that were 90 days past due, but prosecutors said the real figure was $344 million, and continued to grow. Prosecutors accused the defendants of hiding the bank's deteriorating finances. Mounting losses from construction loans and commercial mortgages led to Wilmington's November 2010 agreement to be acquired by Buffalo, New York-based M&T Bank for $3.84 a share, a 46 percent discount to the previous closing price. The case is U.S. v. Wilmington Trust Corporation, et al, U.S. District Court, District of Delaware, No. 15-cr-00023. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Peter Cooney) Sydney (AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday laughed off the global sniggers he prompted after describing the wife of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as "delicious". The faux pas -- "delicieux" in French can also mean "delightful" -- caused widespread mirth, with one Sydney tabloid mocking up a nearly full-page photo of Macron with the cartoon head of Pepe le Pew, the lovelorn French skunk. "A newspaper had some fun and it made me laugh a lot, especially since in the original cartoon the character has a French accent," Macron told reporters shortly before leaving Sydney at the end of a two-day visit. Macron, who demonstrated his excellent grasp of English during numerous speeches and remarks in Sydney, added that "there is not a European leader who gives all his speeches in English". The incident occurred at the end of a joint press conference on Wednesday when Macron turned to Turnbull and said: "Thank you and your delicious wife for the warm welcome". At a private dinner later that night with Turnbull and wife Lucy, the hubbub over his remark "had them laughing a lot", he said. Turnbull also commented on the gaffe, saying his wife "was very flattered" by the youthful French president's comment. "She's asked me to say that she found the president's compliment as charming as it was memorable," he said. "President Macron charmed Australia. He certainly charmed all of us, all the Turnbulls. I think he is a great friend of Australia." Some in the Australian media and on Twitter were not so gracious, playing on the French reputation for romantic flair. "Ooh La La, it's a French miss," headlined the main story in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The newspaper's photo-shopped front page bore the headline "President Pepe le Pew", a reference to the Warner Brothers cartoon character who spends most of his time in luckless pursuit of a female cat. "You can take the man out of France but..." tweeted Buzzfeed Australia journalist Alice Workman, while another user took a light-hearted jab at "the Gaul of that man". George Conway, a high-profile attorney and the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, on Thursday appeared to once again question claims made by President Donald Trumps legal team. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who recently joined Trumps ever-evolving roster of attorneys, revealed Wednesday that Trump had reimbursed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for the $130,000 payment to Stephanie Clifford, the adult film star who goes by her stage name Stormy Daniels. Legal experts have argued that Cohens hefty payment to Daniels to silence her about her alleged affair with Trump may have violated campaign finance laws since it was meant to quash negative media coverage about Trump in the days leading up to the 2016 election. Giuliani said Wednesday such a violation never occurred because Trump used his own money to reimburse Cohen. But Conway seemed to suggest otherwise. Conways tweet links to a page on the Federal Election Commissions website that explains how and when personal gifts and loans to candidates violate campaign finance laws. According to the passage highlighted in Conways tweet: If any person, including a relative or friend of the candidate, gives or loans the candidate money for the purpose of influencing any election for federal office, the funds are not considered personal funds of the candidate even if they are given to the candidate directly. Instead, the gift or loan is considered a contribution from the donor to the campaign, subject to the per-election limit and reportable by the campaign. This is true even if the candidate uses the funds for personal living expenses while campaigning. Since Cohen loaned Trump the money when he paid Daniels even if Trump reimbursed him over time campaign finance laws may still have been violated. Story continues Conway also retweeted several posts mocking Giulianis admission about the alleged reimbursement, including tweets from Politicos Emily Stephenson and The Washington Posts Philip Rucker. Giuliani on Fox re Stormy Daniels, still makes it sound campaign-related: Imagine if that came out on Oct 15, 2016 in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton...Cohen didnt even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job. Emily Stephenson (@ewstephe) May 3, 2018 This is obvious, but still should be said: Giulianis reveal that Trump repaid Cohen $130,000 for hush money to Stormy Daniels renders the repeated denials to the American people from POTUS and his press secretary false and untrue. Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) May 3, 2018 Conway has repeatedly shared tweets critical of Trump to the bewilderment of many political and media pundits. Kellyanne Conway tore into CNNs Dana Bash last month after the TV host asked about her husbands Trump-trolling tweets. Its fascinating to me that CNN would go there, the White House counselor said. But its very good for the whole world to just witness that its now fair game how peoples spouses and significant others may differ with them. You just brought him into this, she continued. Were now going to talk about other peoples spouses and significant others just because they either work at the White House or CNN? ... CNN just went there. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado's 5th congressional district will appear on the June primary ballot after all, a federal judge ruled Tuesday. (Photo: Hyoung Chang via Getty Images) A federal judge ruled Tuesday that six-term Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn (R), who was thrown off the 2018 ballot last month over a signature-gathering violation, will be allowed to appear on the ballot after all. The judges decision reverses last months state Supreme Court ruling that Lamborn should be removed from the ballot after officials discovered one of his petition-gatherers wasnt a Colorado resident, which disqualified him from the June primary. Lamborn campaign spokesman Dan Bayens released a statement saying the lawmaker is ready to move on from the signature controversy and continue his campaign. Consistent with Court rulings here in Colorado and around the country, the federal court agreed that the part of Colorado election law that requires petition collectors to be state residents is unconstitutional and unduly infringes on the First Amendment rights of voters and petition circulators, Bayens said. Five Republican voters living in Lamborns district brought the case to light when they sued Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams over his certifying the Lamborn campaigns ballot petitions. They will appeal the decision, a spokesman for the group told Denver7. Also on HuffPost Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Rico residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan on Oct. 3. Trump reacts as he sits in a truck on March 23 while welcoming truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting at the White House regarding health care. Trump registers his surprise as he realizes other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 13. Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, put their hands on an illuminated globe during the inauguration ceremony of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 21. Trump looks up toward the solar eclipse while standing on the Truman Balcony at the White House on Aug. 21. Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May are pictured ahead of a photo opportunity of leaders as they arrive for a NATO summit meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25. Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing, China, on Nov. 10. Trump holds up a pen after signing the HBCU executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 28. Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wait for reporters to enter the room before their meeting in the Oval Office on March 17. Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7. Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio to the White House on Sept. 15. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the White House lawn, was invited to work for a day along the National Park Service staff. Trump and Putin shake hands as they take part in a family photo at the APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam, on Nov. 10. Trump jokes with French President Emmanuel Macron about their handshakes at the start of the NATO summit at their new headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25. Trump holds a mechanical tool as he attends a Made in America roundtable in the East Room of the White House on July 19. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson. (Photo: Joshua Roberts / Reuters) WASHINGTON A top Republican lawmaker undercut President Donald Trumps attacks against Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) over the bungled nomination of Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson to head the Veterans Affairs Department, saying some of the allegations targeting the White House physician appeared credible. Jackson was forced to withdraw from consideration for the post last week after Tester, the senior Democrat on the Veterans Affairs Committee, raised concerns about several allegations including that the doctor oversaw a toxic work environment, overprescribed medication, and drank while on the job. Trump stoutly defended Jackson over the weekend, dismissing the allegations as baseless and calling for Testers resignation. But Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), the Veterans Affairs Committee chairman, contradicted Trump and his top aides by saying a CNN story published earlier this week substantiated some of the misconduct accusations. According to the story, Vice President Mike Pences physician raised alarms in the White House earlier this year that Jackson may have violated federal privacy protections for Pences wife, Karen, by discussing her medical condition with others. CNN also reported that the Pence physician said in a memo he felt intimidated when an angry Jackson confronted him about the concerns he had aired. Jackson acted unprofessionally, the doctor said. Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) is defending his handling of the failed nomination of Jackson to serve as secretary of the Veterans Affairs Department. (Photo: Bill Clark via Getty Images) Part of the allegations made in one of the affidavits was verified, Isakson said on Tuesday, referring to the CNN report. It looks like theres been a story that corroborates the fact that there were some of those allegations that were correct. While Trump has focused his attacks on Tester, he and his top aides have also fumed in private at Isakson over the botched Jackson nomination, according to The Daily Beast. Trump and his aides questioned whether Isakson sufficiently warned the White House about problems surrounding Jacksons nomination. Isakson defended his handling of the matter in his Tuesday comments. Story continues I did my job, and every senator has the responsibility if theyre presented with allegations, to try to seek the truth, and that exonerates anybody who seeks the truth, he said. Tester is ranked by analysts as one of the most vulnerable Democrats up for re-election this November, given that Trump carried Montana overwhelmingly in the 2016 presidential election. As Tester seeks a third term, he has sought to portray himself as a bipartisan voice who isnt afraid to work with the GOP. In his first campaign ad, released earlier this year, he highlighted 13 pieces of legislation he helped author that Trump signed into law with many of the measures focused on veterans. His latest campaign ad featured a veteran praising Tester for his work to address mental health care for former service members. The White House and its allies have sought to directly challenge Testers bipartisanship narrative. America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC, on Tuesday released an ad blasting Tester for his opposition to Jackson, claiming the senator had spread false information about him. In Montana, we value integrity and support our president, a narrator says in the ad. But Jon Tester spread false information about a respected Navy admiral, helping D.C. Democrats derail President Trumps Veterans Affairs nominee. White House Legislative Affairs Director Marc Short also called into a Montana talk radio show on Tuesday to criticize Tester for opposing Jackson, as well as other Trump picks for high-level posts. The top White House aide said Testers response to the Jackson nomination was quite unseemly; he accused the lawmaker of wanting to besmirch the character of an admiral in order to score political points against the Trump administration. The state of affairs in Washington has become so corrosive that innocent people get damaged, Short lamented on the Montana Talks program. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Lesbos (Greece) (AFP) - Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Thursday defended a controversial EU-Turkey migration agreement whilst trying to assuage anger on the Greek island of Lesbos, home to nearly 9,000 refugees and migrants. "If we did not have this framework, things would be three times as bad," Tsipras said during a visit to the island, referring to a March 2016 deal that drastically limited arrivals from Turkey. "Three years ago we had 4,000-5,000 people arriving every day," he said, whilst admitting that conditions were "very difficult for migrants and residents". Lesbos has a population of around 86,000 and has seen hundreds of thousands of migrants and refugees pass through on their way to Europe. Tsipras' arrival to the island was greeted with a general business shutdown in protest at the migration crisis, in addition to sales tax increases from June which locals say will diminish tourism revenue. Thousands of islanders held a protest during his speech, many of them from the village of Moria, where the country's most overcrowded camp is located. "Moria cannot live under threat," read a protest banner. "Solve the issue now," said another. Businesses were also shuttered in protest on the neighbouring island of Chios, which harbours 1,800 migrants and refugees. Earlier on Thursday, Doctors Without Borders warned that Lesbos was "reaching breaking point". "With around 500 new people reaching Lesvos every week - the overcrowding, as well as increased demand for healthcare and other services, are pushing the camp to a breaking point," the NGO said. More than 16,000 migrants are still languishing in camps on Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos until their asylum claims can be processed. This has fuelled despair and sparked protests and outbreaks of violence. In April, several people where injured on Lesbos when far-right militants attacked migrants staging a sit-in protest on the island's main square. Story continues Tsipras said asylum services would receive additional staff to speed up procedures, and that Greece would not tolerate "murderous" attacks on refugees. "We will not allow the political heirs of Nazism to stain our flag," he said. Greece, a country of 11 million people, recorded 58,661 asylum applications last year, making it the member state with the highest number of asylum seekers per capita, according to official data. The government ordered asylum seekers to remain on the Aegean islands while their asylum applications are being processed, overturning a court decision that would have allowed them to move around. Mogadishu (AFP) - A security guard employed by the International Committee of the Red Cross was involved in the kidnapping of a German nurse working for the organisation in Mogadishu, the Somali government said Thursday. The nurse, identified as Sonja Nientiet, was abducted from the ICRC compound at around 8.00 pm local time (1700 GMT) on Wednesday evening when unidentified armed men entered its premises. Security ministry spokesman Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim said one of the Red Cross security guards was involved, after local staff reported the gunmen had easily managed to sneak Nientiet out through a back entrance into a waiting vehicle. "She was kidnapped by a member of ICRC's own security guards in Mogadishu, the kidnapper's name is Mohamud Mohamed Alas," he said. "We particularly request the family of the kidnapper to work with the security agencies and inform them of the whereabouts of their son." He said security forces had found an abandoned vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, and witnesses told AFP the car had been abandoned with a punctured tyre. It was unclear whether the kidnappers had managed to leave Mogadishu with their hostage. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague," said Daniel O'Malley, ICRC's deputy Somalia head. "She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people." Nientiet's LinkedIn profile says she has worked for the organisation since 2014, with postings in Jordan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria. A local ICRC employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two other foreign staff members had been evacuated along with senior Somali staff. The abduction is the second attack on ICRC employees in Somalia in just over a week. Abdulhafid Yusuf Ibrahim, a Somali national who had worked for the group for only five months, died on March 25 after an improvised bomb exploded beneath his car as he left the ICRC office. Story continues - Bombings, assassinations, abductions - Unlike many other international aid agencies working in Somalia, the ICRC does not base itself within the well-defended perimeter of Mogadishu's airport, which is protected by African Union soldiers. The airport acts as the city's "Green Zone" housing foreign embassies and the United Nations which coordinates the humanitarian and political responses to Somalia's crises. Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who is visiting Ethiopia and Tanzania this week, told journalists in Addis Ababa he would not comment "on any hostage cases". "I have deep respect for all people, especially people from Germany, working abroad in order to help others," Maas added. Somalia, which collapsed into civil war in 1991 and has been wracked by an Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency since 2006. It is one of the world's most dangerous countries for aid workers but abductions remain relatively unusual. In the past, foreigners, including journalists and aid workers, have been kidnapped by armed gangs or Shabaab militants and held for ransom, sometimes for years at a time. Terrorist bombings and assassinations are common and frequently claimed by the Shabaab, which is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu. International aid agencies, including the independent Switzerland-based ICRC, provide health care and other basic services in the war-torn country and are regarded as supporters of the government by the Shabaab and as a ready source of income by other militants and armed gangs. On Tuesday a local employee of the World Health Organization (WHO) was shot in Mogadishu. The WHO said in a statement Wednesday it was "shocked and saddened" by the killing of Mariam Abdullahi Mohamed, "a dedicated frontline worker". Between 2008-12 piracy off the coast of Somalia became a big business with crew members and their ships held for million-dollar ransoms, but in recent years attacks have become rare. Gradually improving stability in Somalia allowed the holding of limited elections in 2016 but insecurity remains widespread. In October, Somalia suffered its deadliest-ever bombing, with over 500 people killed in an attack blamed on the Shabaab. Rev. Patrick Conroy, chaplain of the House, attending the 2013 National Days of Remembrance ceremony to honor the victims of the Holocaust. (Photo: Tom Williams via Getty Images) House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday that he accepts House Chaplain Patrick Conroys decision to rescind his resignation. I have accepted Father Conroys letter and decided that he will remain in his position as Chaplain of the House, Ryan said in a statement. It is my job as speaker to do what is best for this body, and I know that this body is not well served by a protracted fight over such an important post. Conroy wrote a two-page letter to Ryan earlier on Thursday, accusing the speaker of ousting him from his role without cause last month, The Washington Post reported. I have never been disciplined, nor reprimanded, nor have I ever heard a complaint about my ministry during my time as House chaplain, Conroy wrote. NBC News tweeted a copy of the full letter: House Chaplain Patrick Conroy rescinded his resignation on Thursday, according to a letter obtained by @NBCNews. Read the two-page letter, which was sent to Speaker Paul Ryan, below: pic.twitter.com/ApvEH2qQ0U Kurt Chirbas (@kchirbas) May 3, 2018 Conroy initially announced his resignation on April 15, and made it clear that it wasnt his choice to go. As you have requested, I hereby offer my resignation as the 60th Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives, Conroy wrote in a letter to Ryan, first reported by The Hill. His last day would have been May 24. The priests ouster sparked furor and prompted lawmakers in both parties to work to try to save Conroys job. It was unclear why Ryan wanted Conroy to go. The speaker reportedly told the House Republican Conference on April 27 that some House members believed their pastoral needs were not being fulfilled. But Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told HuffPost that it may have stemmed from a prayer the priest made on the House floor last fall amid debate over the GOP tax bill. Story continues In the Nov. 6 prayer, Conroy entreated that under the new legislation there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans. As previously reported, the tax bill disproportionately benefits the rich over time. In his letter on Thursday, Conroy suggested his faith may have played a role. The Jesuit priest noted that it was Ryans chief of staff, Jonathan Burks, who informed him that the speaker was asking for his resignation. I inquired as to whether or not it was for cause, and Mr. Burks mentioned dismissively something like, Maybe its time that we had a chaplain that wasnt a Catholic, Conroy wrote. In a statement shared with HuffPost, Burks said he disagreed with the Conroys recollection of the conversation. I am disappointed by the misunderstanding, but wish him the best as he continues to serve the House, Burks said. But Connolly, a Catholic, said he shared the priests suspicion, which was reinforced when Rep. Mark Walker (R-N.C.), chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, suggested the next chaplain should have a wife and a family. Such a requirement would automatically exclude Catholic priests from the position. Walker later removed himself from a bipartisan committee to find a new House chaplain amid outcry from Catholics. Conroy has served since 2011 as the House chaplain, a position that is filled by election every two years. In his letter to Ryan on Thursday, the priest said he intended to serve out his current two-year term and possibly beyond, unless he is officially terminated or not re-elected. You may wish to outright fire me, if you have the authority to do so, Conroy wrote, but should you wish to terminate my services, it will be without my offer of resignation, as you requested. This article has been updated to reflect that Ryan accepted Conroy rescinding his resignation, and with additional comment from Burks. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Eighteen lawmakers write to Nobel committee to say president should receive 2019 prize in recognition of his work to end the Korean war Donald Trump should receive the Nobel peace prize, House Republicans say. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters Eighteen House Republicans have nominated Donald Trump for the 2019 Nobel peace prize. In a letter spearheaded by the Indiana Republican Luke Messer and sent to the Norwegian Nobel committee, the lawmakers claim that Trump should receive the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work to end the Korean War, denuclearize the Korean peninsula and bring peace to the region. The rules for a Nobel prize nomination are relatively loose. Nominations can only be made by people who belong to a handful of categories, including members of a national legislation body, university professors and former winners of the prize but there are no other restrictions. In 2018, there were 330 nominees to win the award, which will be announced in December. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons was the 2017 winner. The Nobel committee operates under aegis of the government of Norway, but a 2009 justice department memo says the prize and accompanying $1.4m award does not qualify as a emolument from a foreign power, as the committee is independent from the government. Trump has previously faced criticism over foreign government spending at his hotels, which scholars have argued is an emolument. The Trump Organization has said that it has given all profits from foreign governments to the US treasury. Although the letter copiously praises Trumps maximum pressure campaign and says there is no one more deserving of the Committees recognition in 2019 than President Trump for his tireless work to bring peace to our world, there may be political motivations at play as well. Messer, a three-term incumbent from south-eastern Indiana, is in a ferocious three-way primary next week for the Republican nomination for the US Senate. One of the main bones of contention between him and his two main opponents, the congressman Todd Rokita and the businessman Mike Braun, is over which candidate is most dedicated to supporting Trump. The winner faces the Democratic incumbent, Joe Donnelly, in a state that Trump won by 19 points in 2016. Story continues Four other Republican Senate hopefuls have signed the letter. Neither Kevin Cramer of North Dakota nor Marsha Blackburn faces competitive primaries in their fight to win competitive Senate seats in red states, but two others do. Evan Jenkins of West Virginia signed the letter, as did Jim Renacci of Ohio. Both face competitive primaries next week in state won by Trump with incumbent Democrats. Other signatories include Mark Meadows of North Carolina, who leads the hard-right Freedom Caucus, and Steve King of Iowa, who has long praised far-right anti-immigration figures in European politics, such as Geert Wilders. Chicago (AFP) - Lawmakers in the US state of Iowa, hoping for a decisive court battle over a flashpoint social issue, moved Wednesday to ban abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detected -- as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. The ban approved by the Midwestern state's Republican-controlled legislature is considered the most restrictive in the country. Critics say it would deny abortions to many women before they even know they are pregnant -- with an exception for victims of rape or incest. The state's Republican governor Kim Reynolds, an abortion opponent, has remained silent about whether she will sign the bill into law. But other abortion foes celebrated, hailing the legislation as the first step in potentially dismantling Roe v. Wade -- the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision that granted women the legal right to an abortion. That right remains tenuous as debate rages across the country over the issue, especially in areas where conservatives are in power and hope to push the issue for reconsideration by the high court. Abortion opponents hope Republican President Donald Trump soon will have an opportunity to appoint at least one more conservative justice -- thus tilting the high court's ideological balance in their favor. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, seen as a liberal, is 85 years old, while Justice Anthony Kennedy, a moderate, is 81. Congressman Steve King of Iowa, a conservative Republican who sits on the powerful Judiciary Committee in the US House of Representatives, praised Iowa's so-called "heartbeat" ban, describing it as "the most consequential legislation in Iowa history" that could "set the stage" to challenge abortion nationally. "We have a pro-life House of Representatives, a pro-life United States Senate, a pro-life president, and a United States Supreme Court that may well be receiving a new Constitutionalist Justice in the near future," he said in a statement. Story continues - 'Clearly unconstitutional' - Many Iowa legislators expected the "heartbeat" abortion ban to trigger a lawsuit, and they will have an uphill battle to defend it. The Supreme Court in 2016 rejected appeals by both North Dakota and Arkansas to preserve similar "heartbeat" laws, which had been struck down by lower courts. The American Civil Liberties Union quickly condemned the Iowa bill's passage and vowed to defend abortion rights in the state. "All we can say right now is that we fought this legislation every step of the way and regret that it has made it this far," ACLU of Iowa's spokeswoman Veronica Fowler told AFP. "It is clearly unconstitutional and it effectively blocks the right (to) an abortion for most women," she said. The battle in Iowa is the latest in a long list of recent efforts to curb abortion rights. The Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research group, has tallied 400 new abortion restrictions in states between 2011 and 2017. Consequently, there have been numerous legal challenges. Until Wednesday, the most restrictive abortion ban was in Mississippi. Enacted in March, the southern state outlawed the procedure after 15 weeks of pregnancy. A judge halted the law while a lawsuit moves forward. A similar fate befell Kentucky's new ban on second-trimester abortions. It was halted by a federal court in April. Tehran (AFP) - Iran warned on Thursday that it will quit a landmark nuclear deal with world powers if President Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the accord. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, calling it "insane". Iran has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the deal signed by Iran and six world powers in 2015 curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. "Even if countries allied with the United States, especially the Europeans, seek to revise the nuclear agreement... one of our options will be withdrawing from the accord," Velayati added. Britain, France and Germany -- the three European countries that signed the deal -- have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. The Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, released a video on May 3 saying Iran would not accept the renegotiation of the deal on its nuclear program reached in 2015 with the US, EU, and others. Zarif said Iran had agreed steps to assuage concerns of primarily the US, in return for a removal of sanctions. He said that while Iran has consistently been shown to uphold the agreement, the US has repeatedly violated it. Zarif referenced US President Donald Trumps unhappiness with the deal, and said, We will neither outsource our security, not will we renegotiate a deal we already have implemented in good faith. He continued: If the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing. Bluster or threats wont get the US a new deal, particularly as it is not honoring a deal it has already made. A tweet from Zarifs official account accompanying the video said: There is Only One Way Forward, and Its US Compliance; Not Appeasement. Credit: Javad Zarif via Storyful Tehran (AFP) - Iran warned Thursday it will quit a landmark nuclear deal if President Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the accord, while also criticising European states over "concessions" to the Americans. Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, demanding his country's European allies "fix the terrible flaws" or he will re-impose sanctions. The nuclear deal was struck in 2015 between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, then led by Barack Obama. Under the pact, sanctions were lifted in return for a commitment not to pursue a nuclear bomb, but Iran says it is not reaping the rewards despite complying with the deal. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. As Iran's all-powerful leader, Khamenei has the final word on all policy matters, foreign and domestic, including on the nuclear deal. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, also issued a warning to the United States on Thursday in an English-language video posted on YouTube. "If the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing," said Zarif. "The US has consistently violated the agreement, especially by bullying others from doing business with Iran," he said. - Iran criticises Europe - Zarif also criticised European nations. "In the last year or so, we've been told that President Trump is unhappy with the deal, and it now appears that the response from some Europeans has been to offer the United States more concessions, from our pocket," said Iran's top diplomat. "This appeasement entails promises of a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations, including Iran's defensive capabilities and regional influence." Story continues Zarif was responding to Britain, France and Germany who said on Sunday that the nuclear agreement left out some "important elements". These included what happens when the current deal expires in 2025, Iran's ballistic missile programme and its "destabilising regional activity", they said in a statement. The three European countries that signed the deal have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. The Islamic republic has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the 2015 deal. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. "Even if countries allied with the United States, especially the Europeans, seek to revise the nuclear agreement... one of our options will be withdrawing from the accord," Velayati added. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Israel's defense minister reminded Russia on Thursday of his government's decision not to join Western sanctions against it, and asked that Moscow reciprocate with a more pro-Israel approach to Syria and Iran. Avigdor Lieberman's appeal followed Russia's rare calling out of Israel over an April 9 air strike in Syria, and came as U.S. President Donald Trump mulls scrapping the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal by May 12, a review opposed by Moscow. "We value these relations with Russia," Lieberman said in an interview with the Russian newspaper Kommersant. "Even when our close partners pressured us, as in the case of sanctions against Russia, we did not join them," he said, alluding to Western powers that clashed with Moscow over the Crimea crisis and the poisoning of a Russian ex-spy in Britain. "A lot of countries have recently expelled Russian diplomats. Israel did not join in this action," he added. "We take Russia's interests into account and we hope that Russia will take into account our interests, here in the Middle East. We expect Russia's understanding and support when it comes to our vital interests." Since intervening in the Syrian civil war on behalf of President Bashar al-Assad in 2015, Russia has generally turned a blind eye to Israeli attacks on suspected arms transfers and deployments by his Iranian and Hezbollah allies. But Moscow's condemnation of the April 9 strike that killed seven Iranian personnel set off speculation in Israel that Russian patience might be wearing thin as Western powers clashed with Assad over his government's alleged use of poison gas. "We have no intention of meddling in Syria's internal affairs. What we will not tolerate is Iran turning Syria into a vanguard against Israel," Lieberman told Kommersant. Arguing that the nuclear deal had not permanently denied Iran bomb-making capabilities, Lieberman invoked World War Two. "This deal should be treated exactly like the Munich agreement," he said, referring to Britain's 1938 appeasement of Nazi Germany. "Just like what happened with what they tried to do with Hitler, we will end up paying a very heavy price." Referring to the Iranian leadership's calls for Israel's destruction, Lieberman hoped for "a clear and unequivocal response" from Russia, which, he said, was very "assiduous" in remembering the events of World War Two. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced plans to send 35 United States attorneys and 18 immigration judges to work full-time at the border, in a move he hopes will prevent caravan migrants from "stampeding" it. "We are not going to let this country be overwhelmed," Sessions told the press at a Wednesday news conference. "People are not going [to] caravan or otherwise stampede our border. We need legality and integrity in the system. People should wait their turn, ask to apply lawfully before they enter our country. So we're sending a message worldwide." Sessions said the prosecutors and judges will work on processing the asylum requests of the roughly 150 Central American migrants who reached the southern border last week, after a weeks-long journey through Mexico via caravan. Sessions's Department of Justice has already filed criminal charges against 11 asylum seekers at the border, who are believed to have been members of the caravan. They were hit with charges of "illegal entry," according to a Tuesday statement. Trending: Body Cam Footage Shows Police Enter Las Vegas Killer Stephen Paddocks Suite "The United States will not stand by as our immigration laws are ignored and our nation's safety is jeopardized," Sessions said, to which U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman, whose team filed the charges, added: "Those seeking entry into the United States must pledge fidelity to the law, not break them, or else face criminal prosecution." migrant-caravan GUILLERMO ARIAS/AFP/Getty Images Immigration lawyers and immigrant rights advocates argue that the U.S. could be flouting domestic and international law if they turn away or prosecute asylum seekers, to whom they have a legal obligation. Don't miss: Mandatory LGBT History Lessons for Schoolchildren Approved by Illinois Senate Story continues "These people have been there for almost two full days now, and a total of 14 people have gotten in so far," Jennifer Quigley, an advocacy strategist at Human Rights First, told Newsweek on Tuesday of the caravan migrants. "We're really concerned that taking them in in such a small trickle is an effort to encourage people to give up and not try to enter the country at all...and trying to find a gray area in the law so they can get away with what would otherwise be an illegal act." On Wednesday, Sessions argued that the migrantsmany of whom say they're fleeing gang violence, volatile governments, poverty and morehave instead made a "deliberate attempt to undermine our laws and overwhelm the system." Sessions has attempted to address what is indeed a large backlog of hundreds of thousands of asylum requests by rolling back a Board of Immigration Appeals policy that gave asylum seekers whose requests had been denied the right to a full hearing. The move could ultimately result in asylum requests being processed more quicklybut with a greater number of them receiving denials. Most popular: Video: Tourist Steals Dying Dolphin From Chinese Beach Sessions said Wednesday that he had no qualms about the way immigrants were being treated. "The question is if you don't want to have to go through this problem, don't come unlawfully," Sessions said Wednesday. "It's not my problem, it's not the U.S. border control's problem when people try to force their way into the country unlawfully." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The 72-year-old former Auburn police officer who authorities suspect is the East Area Rapist appeared briefly Wednesday in Sacramento County court his lawyer tried to limit additional evidence from being gathered. Public defender Diane Howard wants to bar prosecutors from collecting DeAngelo's DNA and fingerprints and taking photos of his body, according to a motion she filed in Sacramento County Superior Court. The district attorney's office is fighting back, saying a judge has already approved a warrant seeking the evidence. Prosecutors initially planned to gather the evidence Wednesday afternoon. But Superior Court Judge Michael Sweet delayed the hearing until Thursday after a brief court room appearance. DeAngelo, in an orange jumpsuit and handcuffed to a wheelchair, appeared alongside Howard. ++Who is suspected East Area Rapist, Joseph DeAngelo? Prosecutors arrested DeAngelo last week at his Citrus Heights home and said they used DNA to identify him as the killer responsible for at least a dozen murders and 50 rapes across California between 1976 and 1986. The case was cold for decades, and the killer was known by nicknames such as the Golden State Killer and the Original Night Stalker. They obtained the warrant April 24, and prosecutors notified Howard of the DNA collection plans Monday, according to court filings. The collection should be halted because the warrant was issued before DeAngelo's arrest and arraignment, and he now has new protections, Howard argued. ++Ex-prosecutor: East Area Rapist suspect's appearance in court was an act But Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said the original warrant should be honored. Taking photos and DNA samples is "not testimonial in nature" because it would not require DeAngelo to speak, she wrote. The Associated Press and other news organizations on Tuesday filed a motion to unseal the full search and arrest warrants for DeAngelo, which could provide additional details about the DNA techniques prosecutors used to identify him. Story continues -- MORE ON KCRA ++Genetic website subpoenaed in East Area Rapist case ++Genealogical site didn't know it was part of East Area Rapist case ++'Nobody had a clue': Suspected East Area Rapist's family stunned ++Suspect in serial killings lived suburban life in Citrus Heights ++Interactive Map: Golden State Killer/East Area Rapist's attack locations ++Suspected East Area Rapist went undetected working as a cop ++Paralyzed by fear: A look back at Sacramento during the East Area Rapist's reign The suspected East Area Rapist appeared in court briefly Wednesday morning, but the judge said he is going to take time to consider a new motion filed by Joseph DeAngelo's public defender. The motion is focused on a sealed search warrant related to the case, according to the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office. Another court hearing on this motion is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Thursday. DeAngelo, 72, was arraigned Friday on two murder charges in February 1978 killings of Brian and Katie Maggiore. He was originally not scheduled to be back in court until May 14. ++Who is suspected East Area Rapist, Joseph DeAngelo? The Associated Press filed a motion last week asking the court to unseal the search and arrest warrants in this case. No ruling has yet been made on that motion. The East Area Rapist, also known as the Golden State Killer and Original Night Stalker, has been connected to at least 12 homicides, 50 rapes and 150 burglaries in multiple Northern California counties, including Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties, before moving on to commit crimes elsewhere in the state, the FBI said. ++Ex-prosecutor: East Area Rapist suspect's appearance in court was an act During DeAngelo's initial court appearance Friday, he sat handcuffed to a wheelchair. He appeared very frail and seemed barely able to talk. DeAngelo was arrested April 24 at his home in Citrus Heights after investigators connected him to the crimes by way of DNA gathered from a genealogy website. -- MORE ON KCRA ++Genetic website subpoenaed in East Area Rapist case ++Genealogical site didn't know it was part of East Area Rapist case ++'Nobody had a clue': Suspected East Area Rapist's family stunned ++Suspect in serial killings lived suburban life in Citrus Heights ++Interactive Map: Golden State Killer/East Area Rapist's attack locations ++Suspected East Area Rapist went undetected working as a cop ++Paralyzed by fear: A look back at Sacramento during the East Area Rapist's reign DENVER (AP) A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Colorado Rep. Doug Lamborn should be on the Republican primary ballot, finding he would likely prevail in a lawsuit contending his dismissal from the ballot was unconstitutional. The Colorado Supreme Court booted Lamborn from the ballot last week, saying one of the people who circulated petitions on his behalf does not live in the state and the signatures he gathered must be stricken. The order dropped Lamborn below the threshold of 1,000 signatures needed to make the June 26 ballot. U.S. District Court Judge Philip Brimmer found Tuesday that Colorado's residency requirement apparently violates the U.S. Constitution's First Amendment protecting the freedom of political association and speech. He issued an injunction placing the six-term congressman on the ballot, noting he would likely win the argument at a full trial. "Consistent with court rulings here in Colorado and around the country, the federal court agreed that the part of Colorado election law that requires petition collectors to be state residents is unconstitutional and unduly infringes on the First Amendment rights of voters and petition circulators," Lamborn's campaign spokesman Dan Bayens said in a statement. Kyle Fisk, a spokesman for the plaintiffs whose initial lawsuit disqualified Lamborn, said they have appealed the latest ruling to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, even though they were not parties to the federal case. "We are disappointed that a federal (judge) chose to overrule the unanimous decision of the Colorado Supreme Court as well as the will of the people of Colorado as expressed by their elected representatives," Fisk said. Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams said in a statement that his office was considering an appeal but its primary concern was completing the ballot. Unless a last-minute appeal is successful, the ballot is scheduled to be finalized Wednesday. In the primary, Lamborn would face state Sen. Owen Hill, whose supporters filed the lawsuit that had knocked Lamborn off the ballot, and former El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn. . A former friend of Kevin Hart was charged Wednesday with trying to extort the actor using a surreptitiously recorded video of Hart with a woman in Las Vegas, prosecutors said. Jonathan Todd Jackson known as Action Jackson was charged with attempted extortion and extortion by threatening letter, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office announced Wednesday. Jackson, 41, has appeared in a small role in one of Harts movies. Greg Risling, a spokesman for the district attorneys office, told the Los Angeles Times that the two men were once friends. Jackson now faces up to four years in county jail if convicted. Jackson is accused of trying to extort an undisclosed amount of money from Hart between Aug. 25 and Aug. 30, 2017, the district attorneys office said in a statement on Wednesday. Jackson allegedly had a videotape of the actor with a woman in Las Vegas and then is accused of trying to sell the recording to numerous celebrity news websites. In a tweet that appeared to reference the charges, Hart who has been promoting his new comedy tour said he was hurt and at a lost for words and simply in complete disbelief at the moment. Mind blown...Hurt...at a lost for words and simply in complete disbelief at the moment. WOW Kevin Hart (@KevinHart4real) May 2, 2018 Last year, Hart admitted to cheating on his wife, Eniko Parrish. He apologized to her and his children in an Instagram video in September, alluding to the extortion attempt. I made a bad error in judgment and put myself in an environment where only bad things can happen, and they did, he said in the video. At the end of the day, man, I just simply got to do better. But Im not going to also allow a person to have financial gain off of my mistakes and in this particular situation, thats what was attempted. I said Id rather fess up to my mistakes. There are a million reasons to love summer but ticks and Lyme disease definitely arent among them. Once the weather warms up, and we start spending more time outside, the chances of getting bitten by one of the nasty bloodsuckers starts to skyrocket. Researchers estimate Lyme disease causes around 300,000 illnesses in the United States every year, with most occurring in the summer months in the Northeast and Midwest. Folks living in western New Jersey also have a new foreign tick species associated with Japanese spotted fever to worry about. What's more, a major new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows Lyme disease cases are rising rapidly across the U.S. Between 2004 and 2016, tick-borne disease cases more than doubled, with 82 percent of those cases being Lyme disease. Other tick-borne diseases include Rocky Mountain spotted fever, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis. Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that can strike if an infected tick bites you. These tiny critters which look like black or dark brown sesame seedshave vampire-like tendencies. They drink blood and then regurgitate it into the bite site, injecting Lyme bacteria, says John T. Raffalli, MD, an infectious disease specialist at CareMount Medical in Mount Kisco, New York. Once the bacteria get into your body, Lyme can start to wreak havoc. Early Lyme disease is usually characterized by flu-like symptoms. Over time, it can cause problems in your joints, heart, and nervous system. The good news is that its generally easy to treat. As long as you know what symptoms to look for, you can get help early on, and treatment is pretty straightforward. What are the symptoms of Lyme disease? Lyme disease can cause a range of symptoms. Within three to 30 days of getting bitten by an infected tick, you might have: Flu-like symptoms: You may experience fever, chills, headache, fatigue, achy muscles and joints and swollen lymph nodes. But unlike the flu, you wont have coughing or congestion, says Kalpana D. Shere-Wolfe, MD, an infectious disease specialist the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. A red rash: The rash can take on a bulls eye shape and might get larger over time. It might feel warm to the touch, but it wont be itchy or painful. Its common, affecting up to 80% of people with Lyme disease. But some people do get other symptoms without a rash. As the disease progresses, you might notice other symptoms too. According to the CDC, the following symptoms are more likely to strike in the months after getting bitten: Story continues Additional rashes Headaches or neck stiffness Severe pain in your joints and muscles Shooting pain, numbness, or tingling in your hands or feet Dizziness or shortness of breath Heart palpitations Short-term memory problems How can you prevent Lyme disease? The best way to avoid Lyme disease is simple: steer clear of ticks! Ticks tend to live in wooded areas with lots of bushes and long grass. That means you're not only at risk when you're out on a hike or a camping tripyou could also be bit if you have tall grass or trees in your own yard. Here's how to protect yourself from bites: Wear long sleeves and pants in wooded and grassy areas Spray yourself with repellent that contains 20% DEET Clear weeds and brush from your yard Check your body thoroughly after you've spent time in a tick-prone areaespecially hard-to-see parts of your body (use a hand mirror!) Read up on the mistakes that up your risk for Lyme. What should you do if you find a tick? If you spot a tick on yourself, there are a few things you should do. For starters, use a pair of tweezers to grab the bug as close to your skin as possible. Pull upward, taking care not to twist or tear the tick. Clean the affected area with soap and water and flush the tick down the toilet, the CDC recommends. (Read more about exactly what to do if you find a tick on you.) Once youve removed the tick, pay attention to any symptoms that might suggest Lyme disease, especially if you live in a Lyme disease-prone state like Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, New Jersey, Wisconsin or Minnesota, to name but a few. If any signs or symptoms arise, call your doctor. The best thing to do is visit an infectious disease specialist for an evaluation to see if you need testing, recommends Linda Yancey, MD, an infectious disease specialist with Memorial Hermann Katy Hospital in Katy, Texas. If youre experiencing Lyme symptoms and didnt find a tick, you should still call your doctor. The bug could have bitten you and fallen off before you were able to find it. What is it like to get tested for Lyme disease? A simple blood test looks for antibodies that show whether youve been exposed to the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. The only problem? It can take a few weeks for your immune system to build up antibodies. So you might get a false negative if youre in the very early stages of the disease. Since its easy to mistake other infections for Lyme disease, false positives can sometimes happen, too. Your test results will determine your next steps. If you get a positive reading: When caught early, the condition is easy to treat with oral antibiotics like doxycycline or amoxicillin. Antibiotics can still be effective later on, too. But the longer Lyme disease hangs around in your system, the more likely you are to develop complications like severe joint and muscle pain, heart problems, and neurological impairments, says Timothy J. Sellati, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer for the Global Lyme Alliance. If your test comes back clean: Its important to be vigilant if your symptoms stick around. If you have any combination of unexplained flu-like symptoms, headaches, a stiff neck, neurological problems, or joint and muscle pain you should ask your doctor about antibiotics for Lyme disease, Sellati explains. The sooner treatment is started, the more likely youll be to recover without lasting physical consequences of the infection. How's Lyme disease treated? The way Lyme disease is treated depends on the progression of the disease and the types of symptoms youre experiencing. If caught in the early stages, Lyme disease recovery isn't complicated. You will likely be prescribed oral antibiotics like doxycycline, amoxicillin or cefuroxime and instructed to take the medication for 10 to 21 days. Your medication should stop the disease from progressing and will help to decrease the duration and severity of your symptoms. About 10 to 15% of people with early Lyme disease experience a brief worsening of symptoms within a day of starting antibiotics. This is called a Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction, and it lasts for about 24 hour. Most patients are instructed to continue taking their medication when this happens. If your Lyme disease is first recognized after it has spread beyond the site of the bite, antibiotics may be administered intravenously. Any complications to know about? The key to avoiding Lyme disease complications is to get treated right away. If Lyme disease progresses, you may face these complications: Bodycam footage has been released showing the moment police blasted their way into the hotel room from which a gunman had just carried out the most murderous mass shooting in modern US history. Las Vegas officers found Stephen Paddock, who had killed 58 people and injured hundreds more, dead on the floor, surrounded by dozens of weapons, some of which had been modified to inflict as much pain and death as possible. Hours of footage shot by two officers body cameras showed what they discovered when they reached the room. However, analysis of the pictures yielded few clues as to the gunman's motivation, which remains largely mysterious. They show officers walking into the Mandalay Bay casino, which was still packed with people playing slot machines and drinking, unaware gunfire had been raining down on an outdoor concert from 32 floors above them. You need to get everybody out of here, an officer tells two security guards. Theres a shooter up there. Hes killed multiple people already. The video shows officers methodically checking rooms on floors 29, 30 and 31, before getting to Paddocks room on the 32nd floor. An officer says, Breach! Breach! Breach! before a loud bang and a fire alarm begins to sound. Inside, Paddocks body is seen on his back, clad in dark trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, with a glove on his left hand. A pool of blood stains the carpet near his head as a police SWAT officer walks past. Officers in the videos mentioned the number of firearms scattered around the room, with one saying there were at least 10 high-powered weapons. Did he have any scoped weapons over there? an officer asked. Oh yeah, another replied. Mourners attend a vigil to mark the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival (Getty) Others talked about Paddock blasting out the window and pointed to a whole suitcase full of loaded AK mags, referring to ammunition magazines for an AK-47 rifle. Officers are seen looking behind curtains, and one grabbed an assault-style rifle from the ledge of a broken window. An officer told others to watch where they were stepping. Story continues I dont know what that is, but theres a wire there, the officer said. He then turned towards the rooms door and said: He put cameras up on the peepholes and all that. Thats what these wires are. An officer said the attacker has an intricate camera system set up... so he knew when officers were coming down the hallway. The videos also record officers talking about whether there was evidence of a second shooter and finding Paddocks drivers licence. Police and the FBI later said they believe the 64-year-old former accountant and high-stakes video poker player acted alone. The footage does not show what the first officer through the door saw, because he didnt activate his bodycam. The disclosure raised questions about whether officers followed department policy. The department requires officers with body cameras to activate them during calls that lead to interaction with residents and searches. The newly released videos, containing around two hours of footage, are a sample of hundreds of hours of bodycam recordings and do not provide a complete view of everything police discovered when they entered Paddocks suite. Air Force One departs Las Vegas past the broken windows on the Mandalay Bay hotel, where shooter Stephen Paddock conducted his mass shooting (Reuters/Damir SagoljMike Blake) Several media outlets sued to obtain videos, 911 recordings, evidence logs and interview reports to shed light on the response by public agencies, emergency workers and hotel officials while Paddock fired for more than 10 minutes. The police investigation is not finished, the Clark County Sheriff, Joe Lombardo, told reporters, saying he believed releasing the footage would further traumatise a wounded community. For that, we apologise, said the elected head of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. What is seen on those videos in no way changes the facts that we were able to clarify for you shortly after the crime. Mr Lombardo referred to a preliminary police report released on 19 January which said Paddock meticulously planned the attack, researched police SWAT tactics, rented hotel rooms overlooking outdoor concerts and investigated potential targets in at least four US cities. Police department lawyers had told a judge it would be time-consuming and costly to comply with the media outlets public records requests and said the materials could disclose investigative techniques. But last week, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld a state judges ruling that the records must be made public. Mr Lombardo said the department would release more recordings in batches in coming weeks. Paris (AFP) - French President Emmanuel Macron has made clear his ambitions to be remembered as a global statesman who shaped world events. But after a busy first year in office, how much influence does he actually wield? Armed with bilingual tweets, endless selfies and his "France is back" catchphrase, savvy communications and endless travel have won Macron a reputation as Europe's most visible leader and a staunch defender of Western democratic values. The 40-year-old centrist has forged an unlikely relationship with Donald Trump, launched air strikes against the Syrian regime and campaigned passionately for reforms of the European Union. And despite his careful efforts to flatter Trump, the political upstart also used a trip to Washington last week to rail before Congress against the US president's "America First" agenda. Francois Heisbourg, chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, described Macron's pragmatic approach to world affairs as "neo-realist". "You deal with the world as it is, while at the same time making clear what you represent, including your values," he told AFP. "He is the sole European leader who is able to speak substantively at the same time with Trump, Putin, Sisi, Erdogan," he added. Despite back-slapping and jokes with Trump during his recent trip, however, critics say Macron came back from the White House with little to show for his efforts in terms of having swayed the president. Macron himself acknowledged he had probably not managed to change Trump's mind on abandoning the hard-fought 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, and he has so far failed to coax the US back to the landmark Paris climate change accord. Analysts are likewise sceptical that pleas from Macron and other European leaders will successfully stave off a trade war, despite a temporary EU reprieve from Trump's new steel and aluminium tariffs. Story continues "The things that Macron wants him to do are things that it would be pretty difficult for Trump to accept without losing credibility with his populist base," said John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform. - 'Liberal white knight'? - At home Macron is pushing through his pro-business domestic reform agenda, but opinion polls suggest more than 60 percent of voters are dissatisfied with their president after a year in office. Abroad, with the US withdrawing internationally under Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May both politically weakened, some have asked if Macron wants to take on the mantle of leader of the free world. "Many people, especially here in Washington DC, tend to see him as a white knight of the liberal world order who challenges Trump and populism," said Paul Zajac, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute on leave from the French diplomatic service. Fresh from beating far-right leader Marine Le Pen to the presidency, Macron gave an indication of his plans for the world stage as early as his victory speech on May 7, 2017. "Europe and the world are expecting us to defend everywhere the spirit of the enlightenment which is under threat in so many places," he said. Since then he has waded into crises from Syria to Lebanon, rallied support for anti-jihadist troops in West Africa and announced conferences in Paris on everything from climate change to the war in Yemen. Yet his influence abroad is hampered by his inability to find powerful leaders who share his agenda, analysts say. "He's a liberal who's come to power in an illiberal age," said Springford. - European 'Achilles heel' - In particular, little has budged on the international issue closest to Macron's heart: his plans to deepen Europe with far-reaching reforms, including a eurozone budget and finance minister. Heisbourg described the EU as Macron's "Achilles heel". "It hasn't really got very far," Springford said of the reform drive, blaming a lack of enthusiasm in an increasingly eurosceptic bloc and -- crucially -- cooling support from Merkel after months of political limbo in Germany. But while the stakes are high for Macron in Europe, Zajac played down the idea that what he is trying to do there is revolutionary. French governments have operated for years on the assumption that a stronger EU means a stronger France, he said. "He's not advocating for any sort of European federalism," he told AFP. "A lot of his goals are in tune with traditional French foreign policy." Stormy Daniels attorney, Michael Avenatti, visited The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and revealed a major piece of evidence in his clients claim against President Trump. Avenatti has been on television quite a bit lately, but this is his biggest reveal yet. The attorney brought a copy of the receipt for the nondisclosure agreement with Trumps attorney, Michael Cohen. This is the $130,000 receipt, coming from the entity, Essential Consultants, which is the entity that Michael Cohen created and fabricated for the purposes of this payment, Avenatti said. He also pointed out that the check was sent from a First Republic Bank branch in San Francisco. That matters, as the bank is under the oversight of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra who is not a Trump fan. This document may in fact give [Becerra] jurisdiction over certain criminal acts associated with this payment, Avenatti said. In fact, if the attorney general of the state of California were to bring charges, President Trump could not pardon Michael Cohen for those charges. And if it doesnt seem normal for a lawyer to reveal a key piece of evidence on a late night talk show, it isnt. This is not your normal case, and its not your normal defendant, Avenatti said. Youre dealing with a defendant thats very undisciplined, can be easily baited into making mistakes, and I think weve been very, very successful in doing just that. And were going to keep doing what were doing. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 on CBS. Watch as The Late Show calls out the hypocrisy of Michelle Wolf criticism: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - With just a week to go to a general election, Malaysia's main opposition bloc is making gains and will likely win the popular vote, but Prime Minister Najib Razak is expected to retain power, according to a survey by pollster Merdeka Center. Malaysians vote on May 9, with Najib going up against his former mentor turned critic Mahathir Mohamad, a former long-serving prime minister now leading the opposition. Najib is facing his toughest election yet as he grapples with public anger over rising costs and a financial scandal at a state fund. Mahathir's Pakatan Harapan coalition is likely to win 43.7 percent of the popular vote, as of May 1, up from a forecast of 42 percent, as of April 9, Merdeka Center director Ibrahim Suffian said on Wednesday. Najib's Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition is expected to win 40.3 percent of the popular vote, as of May 1, down slightly from an April 9 forecast of 40.8 percent, Ibrahim said. The Merdeka Center is one of Malaysia's few independent pollsters. The poll was conducted in west Malaysia, which accounts for nearly 75 percent of parliamentary seats. It did not include the Malaysian part of Borneo island. Support for Parti Islam se-Malaysia (PAS), another opposition party that is not part of Mahathir's coalition, dropped from 17.2 percent in April to 16 percent as of May 1. "If elections were held yesterday, BN would still prevail," Ibrahim said in a presentation streamed live on Facebook, referring to the ruling coalition which has held power since independence from Britain in 1957. Najib's coalition failed to win the popular vote in the last elections in 2013, getting 47.3 percent of the votes in what was seen as a setback for the ruling alliance even though it retained power. Under Malaysia's first-past-the-post, or simple majority, system the party that gets the most seats in parliament wins even if it does not win the popular vote. A worse performance for the BN coalition than in 2013, even if it retains power, would likely raise questions within the ruling bloc about Najib's leadership. Support for Mahathir's opposition alliance among majority ethnic Malays has increased, with the gains coming at the expense of the PAS, not the BN, Ibrahim said. "In the last two weeks, Malay numbers have started to shift," Ibrahim said. He also said he could not predict the number of seats each party would win as the "voting patterns have gotten complex". The opposition and other critics have said recently redrawn electoral boundaries favor the BN, which has been accused of gerrymandering. BN and the Election Commission have rejected that, saying the changes were made independently and without any political interference. (Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Robert Birsel) On Tuesday, President Trumps former doctor Harold Bornstein dropped a bit of a bombshell in a CNN interview, claiming that the glowing doctor note he wrote for then-candidate Trump in 2016 was actually dictated by Trump himself. He dictated that whole letter. I didnt write that letter, Bornstein said Tuesday. I just made it up as I went along. If thats true, and combined with Bornsteins public revelations to the New York Times about President Trumps hair growth medication, Bornstein may be in some pretty serious legal and ethical hot waterand absolutely should lose his medical license, one of the countrys leading medical ethicists tells Fortune. Bornstein claims that he faced a raid shortly after his February 2017 Times interview revealing the hair drug tidbit. That would suggest a major relationship change between Trump and Bornstein from 2016, when Bornsteins medical note made what many considered hyperbolic assertions about the candidates health. Bornsteins note claimed Trump would be the healthiest individual ever elected and that his laboratory tests were astonishingly excellentwording that appeared to mimic the vernacular of one Donald Trump. Subscribe to Brainstorm Health Daily, our newsletter about the most exciting health innovations. Now that Bornstein is claiming the original letter was essentially dictated by Trump (a stark turnaround from his previous assertions that the physician really wrote the letter himself), the gastroenterologist might face censure by the New York medical board, according to Dr. Arthur Caplan, the founding director of the Division of Medical Ethics at the NYU Langone Medical Center in New York and one of the nations most prominent bioethicists. It does risk Bornsteins license because its fraud, Caplan told Fortune in an interview Wednesday. He absolutely should lose his license. In the middle of a presidential campaign, he said hed written [that letter] a couple of times. Thats fraud and has bigger consequences. Fortune reached out to Dr. Bornstein through his office, but a representative declined to comment. Story continues Bornsteins actions could, theoretically, risk both state and federal blowback, Caplan saidalthough he doesnt think anything stronger than an official censure or warning is likely. He talked about Trumps medications publicly. Thats a big no-no with both ethical and legal implications under HIPAA, Caplan explained, referencing the federal medical data privacy law. But, he admitted, things arent likely to go that far since Trump would have to make a HIPAA violation claim. Short of rape, murder, or drug dealing, its hard to lose a license. Dr. Anirban Maitra, an oncologist at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, pointed out on Twitter that Bornsteins admission about the dictated doctor note could amount to misconduct under New York law. Permitting, aiding, or abetting an unlicensed person to perform activities requiring a license is indeed listed under the states Office of the Professions definitions of professional misconduct by doctors. Letting your unlicensed patient dictate an official physician letter may be a misconduct under NY state regulations. Just saying. https://t.co/0MUeo90ujx pic.twitter.com/kTw6aHwjV1 Anirban Maitra (@Aiims1742) May 2, 2018 Regardless of how the Bornstein saga plays out, Caplan asserts the bigger problem is the way in which presidential candidates health is assessed. We have to have a better system. Presidential candidates should go through independent medical assessment, he says. That doesnt mean revealing irrelevant personal details (such as, say, hair growth medication). But an independent evaluation could go a long way toward informing the public while preventing situations like Trumps allegedly faked doctor note. Michael Avenatti, attorney for porn star Stormy Daniels, said Rudy Giulianis stunning Wednesday night interview on Fox News will doom the presidency of Donald Trump. Giuliani told Sean Hannity that Trump repaid his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, for the $130,000 sent to Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement, something the president has previously denied. Daniels claims the agreement kept her from discussing her alleged affair with Trump. In response, Avenatti told CNN Tonight that Trump could face potential criminal liability related to money laundering, campaign finance and fraud violations. I said it weeks ago, Im going to say it again: Mr. Trump will not serve out his term, Avenatti said. No way. No how. He will be forced to ultimately resign. This is a bombshell. Earlier on Wednesday, Avenatti taped an appearance on Stephen Colberts Late Show where he implied there were more women with similar NDAs involving Trump. Avenatti also produced the receipt for Cohens payment to Daniels attorneys at the time: .@MichaelAvenatti has brought receipts! This is the image of the incoming wire payment from Michael Cohen to Stormy Daniels. #LSSC pic.twitter.com/JpAuLp59rr The Late Show (@colbertlateshow) May 3, 2018 The receipt showed involvement with a bank in California, which Avenatti said would be of interest to Xavier Becerra, the states attorney general. This document may, in fact, give him jurisdiction over certain criminal acts associated with this payment, Avenatti said. And, in fact, if the attorney general of the state of California were to bring charges, President Trump could not pardon Michael Cohen for those charges. Story continues He did not specify what the certain criminal acts could be. See more of his interview with Don Lemon below. "Mr. Trump will not serve out his term." Stormy Daniels' lawyer responds to Rudy Giuliani's statement, where he said President Trump repaid his personal attorney Michael Cohen the $130,000 given to his client as hush money. https://t.co/nUPNc92ePF https://t.co/lMDef2mpzV CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) May 3, 2018 Related... Trump Finally Acknowledges Stormy Daniels Stormy Daniels Cooperating With Federal Investigation Of Trump's Lawyer Stormy Daniels' Lawyer Photobombs Kellyanne Conway Stormy Daniels Sues Trump For Defamation Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry visited La Toya Jackson and claimed to communicate with her brother, Michael Jackson. Michael passed away in 2009, at the age of 50. While sitting with La Toya, Tyler channeled her deceased brother saying, "He's putting a lot of emphasis on the person who should've been there to monitor wasn't monitoring. And it's like, 'I trusted you to be there, I trusted the role that you were supposed to have to help me and you left. And it's like, of all times, you should be right here.'" An autopsy revealed that Michael died from an overdose of Propofol, which had been administered by his doctor, Conrad Murray. Tyler recounted the drugs effects on Michael, saying, "There's this feeling of, 'Oh, this medication kicks in.' I suddenly become affected by this medicine. It's kind of like, a feeling of like, 'Oh, my God, what do I do? I don't want to waste time. Like, clearly something's happening.' And this happens very fast." Dr. Murray was later convicted of involuntary manslaughter for his involvement in Michael's death. La Toya was thankful for the reading from Tyler. She said, "You've answered the question that all of us, all of us wanted to know, so I'm very grateful and thankful for that." Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. on E! Managua (AFP) - Nicaragua's bishops on Thursday called for dialogue to usher in "real democracy" as weeks of protests against veteran President Daniel Ortega continued, spearheaded by university students. The appeal by the National Episcopal Conference, read out by Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes in a news conference in the capital Managua, underlined a push to have talks that address deep-seated issues that have made Ortega's rule over the past 11 years unpalatable for many Nicaraguans. Protests demanding his ouster erupted April 18, initially triggered by moves to cut back on social security spending. They quickly spread to encompass a range of grievances against the 72-year-old president seen as increasingly autocratic and sullied by corruption allegations. The demonstrations were met with robust police action in which at least 45 people died according to a leading rights group, the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights. Officials stopped updating their toll three days into the protests, when they said 10 people had died. - Probe into deaths demanded - Although the protests have become less violent over the past week, they are continuing. Students have called for a nationwide demonstration for Wednesday next week. Ortega has said he is willing to hold dialogue to calm the situation, but he has not said what topics they would cover nor who would participate. Brenes, who is archbishop of Managua, has offered to mediate the talks, though there was frustration that no framework had yet been laid down. The dialogue "should begin as soon as possible," the bishops' statement said. In unusually pointed language it added that the talks "should review Nicaragua's political system from the roots up to arrive at a real democracy." The statement backed students' demands that the "painful deaths" recorded during the protests be fully investigated. University students have urged renewed street protests and a national strike, as well as demanding an independent commission be set up to probe the protest deaths. They have given a deadline of next Tuesday for the latter condition to be met. Story continues - Police raid of campus - A group of students at Managua's Polytechnic University, the nexus of the protest organization, said on Thursday that police had raided the campus overnight, hurting six students, one of them seriously. Officers and groups of civilians suspected to be youth sympathizers of Ortega's ruling party "attacked" the campus at 1 am (0700 GMT), student spokeswoman Scarleth Espinoza said at a news conference. "The police entered and attacked us along with groups of civilians, possible members of the Young Sandinistas," associated with Ortega's ruling party, said another student at the news conference who declined to be identified. The students said Thursday that "after this attack" they did not see sufficient "security to take part in dialogue." The protests are the worst Ortega has faced in the past 11 years, since the leftist former rebel returned to power after a lengthy stint in opposition. He was previously the country's leader between 1985 and 1990, after his Sandinista rebels swept to power, and has ruled over Nicaragua for 22 of the past 39 years. Ortega's wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, reiterated to state media that the president was open to talks "at a time and in a way that the bishops decide." "Our government is at the full and total disposal to meet the CEN's (National Episcopal Conference's) call," she said. Government employees, meanwhile, were seen stationed at key road intersections in the capital in a show of support for Ortega. Abuja (AFP) - Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has made a "technical stopover" in London after meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington, his spokesman said on Thursday. The 75-year-old former army general spent months in the British capital last year for treatment to an unspecified illness, raising questions about his fitness to govern. His government was criticised for failing to update the public on his condition and repeatedly insisted the president was "hale and hearty". But presidency spokesman Garba Shehu indicated health matters were not the reason for breaking the journey back from the United States. "The big jet is under repair. So, the president is using a small plane and there is a limit to the distance the small plane can cover," he told AFP. "The technical stopover I talked about is that the journey from US to Abuja is broken into two." Buhari met Trump in the White House on Monday and left Washington on Tuesday. The London pitstop was not formerly announced. Another presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said on Twitter Thursday that Buhari is expected back in Nigeria this evening. Buhari said on his return to Nigeria from London last year that he "had never been so sick" and had undergone blood transfusions. In seeking re-election in 2018, Buhari is defying calls from political heavyweights to step aside for a younger, more dynamic candidate. By Lesley Wroughton WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea must commit to dismantling its nuclear weapons program, new U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Wednesday during a swearing-in ceremony at the State Department where he was strongly endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump. It was Trump's first visit to the State Department, where he was greeted by loud applause from several hundred people gathered in the Benjamin Franklin state dining room. "That's more spirit than I've heard from the State Department in a long time," Trump joked, praising Pompeo's credentials and record as CIA director. Trump fired his first secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, in March after public disagreements over North Korea, Iran and Russia. The department had been sidelined on major foreign policy issues and shaken by the resignation of senior diplomats. "I have no doubt that you will make America proud as our nation's chief diplomat," Trump told Pompeo before Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath in a ceremonial swearing in. Pompeo, who secretly met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un over the Easter weekend, said North Korea must commit to immediately dismantling its weapons program, adding that efforts to denuclearize Pyongyang were still in the "beginning stages" and the outcomes "unknown." "We are committed to the permanent, verifiable, irreversible dismantling of North Korea's weapons of mass destruction program and to do so without delay," he said as Trump prepares for a historic meeting with Kim to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear missile program. In a statement later marking North Korea Freedom Week, the State Department said it was gravely concerned about human rights abuses by what it called one of the most repressive and abusive governments in the world. "We remain gravely concerned and deeply troubled by these abuses," the department said. "In tandem with the maximum pressure campaign, we will continue to press for accountability for those responsible." Listing major challenges ahead, Pompeo said the United States was deciding on next steps of a "flawed" nuclear deal with Iran and confronting Moscow's "acts of aggression". "My team and I will be unrelenting in confronting those threats," said Pompeo. "We will deploy tough diplomacy when necessary to put the interest of the American people first," he added. Pompeo sought to quickly put his mark on his new role as secretary of state by rushing off to meet allies in Europe and the Middle East moments after he was confirmed on Thursday. In his talks with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, Pompeo emphasized Russian aggression and pushed for higher defense spending. In the Middle East, he warned of Iran's "malign behavior" as he discussed changes to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. He stressed that the United States had not decided whether to withdraw from the deal struck with Iran and six major powers including France, Germany, Britain, Russia and China. (Additional reporting by Steve Holland, Lisa Lambert and Susan Heavey; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) The Hague (AFP) - Global chemical arms inspectors are to take the unprecedented step of exhuming some bodies of victims in the Syrian town of Douma as they work to verify last month's alleged chemical attack, a media report said Thursday. Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons chief Ahmet Uzumcu told the Financial Times that the organisation's fact-finding mission had already gathered over 100 "environmental samples" since getting access to the site northeast of Damascus on April 21. The OPCW's mission to Douma was launched after footage from an apparent April 7 onslaught horrified the world and prompted unparallelled strikes on Syrian military installations. But inspectors, in a bid to find further evidence of alleged chlorine and sarin use in the attack, which medics and rescuers say more than 40 people were killed, are now looking at "ways to exhume and take some biomedical samples," Uzumcu said. "It is a very sensitive process. That's why they are very cautious. Although our experts have been able to attend some autopsies in the past, this is going to be the first time we have exhumed bodies," he told the paper. The Hague-based OPCW confirmed to AFP that inspectors are indeed looking to conduct autopsies on the bodies, adding that the fact-finding mission "is continuing to explore all avenues for collecting evidence". Uzumcu told the Financial Times that it could be a month before the mission publishes its report on Douma. But an OPCW official told AFP that it "is premature to speculate as to when the report will be ready for sharing" with the watchdog's state parties. The OPCW mission gained access to Douma on April 21 after several delays, but experts have said chemical traces -- if they existed -- could still be found including in the bodies of the alleged victims. Damascus and Moscow have accused Syrian volunteer rescue workers known as the White Helmets of staging the video footage at the behest of the United States and its allies. By Philip Pullella ROME (Reuters) - Pope Francis told Chilean victims of clerical sexual abuse "I was part of the problem" and apologized for dismissing accusations of a cover-up by Catholic bishops, one of the victims said on Wednesday. At an emotional news conference after four days of private meetings with the pope, three men who were victims of Chile's most notorious paedophile urged Francis to take action against several Chilean bishops. "For almost 10 years we have been treated as enemies because we fight against sexual abuse and cover-up in the Church," Juan Carlos Cruz, James Hamilton and Jose Andres Murillo, said in a joint statement read out to reporters. The three men, who were guests of the pope at his residence, said that during their long conversations, Francis had been attentive, receptive and very empathetic. "I have never, never seen someone be so contrite ... I felt that he was hurting, which for me was very solemn. It's not often that the pope says sorry to you and apologizes to you for something," Cruz said in response to a question. "He (the pope) said "I was part of the problem, I caused this and I apologize to you,'" Cruz said. "I believe that he was sincere." In a dramatic U-turn last month, Pope Francis said in a letter to Chilean bishops that he had made "grave mistakes" in the handling of the sexual abuse crisis there, saying he felt shame for what had happened. The letter followed a Vatican investigation into Bishop Juan Barros, who was appointed by the pope in 2015 despite allegations that he had covered up sexual abuse of minors by his mentor, Father Fernando Karadima. Barros has said he was unaware of any wrongdoing. EYE-OPENING REPORT In his letter to Chilean bishops last month, Francis said there had been a "lack of truthful and balanced information" about the situation in Chile before he sent the Vatican's most experienced investigator of sexual abuse, Archbishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, to investigate. "Scicluna really opened his (the pope's) eyes," Cruz said. Scicluna produced a 2,300-page report, which prompted the pope to summon the bishops to Rome for a meeting this month. "We are waiting for action. We are not here to do public relations," said Murillo when asked what he wanted Francis to do. Hamilton said the pope had told him "there is no turning back now". All three agreed the pope should follow through by taking action against Barros and other bishops they say covered up the abuse by Karadima and discredited their claims. "I went to (Church officials in Chile) for help when I was dying inside and they killed a second time," Hamilton said of the bishops who ignored him even though there was overwhelming evidence against Karadima. Hamilton called the bishops who he said had covered up the abuse "criminals" who deserved to be jailed. Karadima was found guilty in a Vatican investigation in 2011 of abusing boys in Santiago in the 1970s and 1980s. But he never faced civilian justice because of the statute of limitations. Now 87 and living in a nursing home in Chile, Karadima has always denied the allegations and Barros said he was unaware of any wrongdoing. The joint statement said they told the pope he had to do something about the "pathological and unlimited exercise of power" in the Church that can foster abuse. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Gareth Jones) A Beverly Hills teen who calls herself a princess is furious at her mother for slashing her monthly $5K allowance. Fifteen-year-old Nicolette, who appeared on the Dr. Phil show Tuesday, has lived a lavish California childhood a closet full of Chanel, Gucci, and Celine, personal drivers, exercise trainers, and her own credit card with zero limit. Some months, her credit card bills would be $10K, her mother, Nina, told Dr. Phil. I just paid the bill. Nicolette says that in an ideal world, she would want her mom to give her $10,000 a month in allowance. #DrPhil https://t.co/onvnAjq2DR Dr. Phil (@DrPhil) May 1, 2018 She added, In the past year, Ive probably have given her $100,000, I dont even keep track anymore. Nina had initially given her daughter a $5,000 monthly allowance to cover her expenses but recently reduced it to $1,000, an amount Nicolette says makes her feel like a peasant. Nicolette brought her mom onto Dr. Phil to compromise at a monthly stipend of $2,500, and their appearance made people angry on Twitter. Really angry. Send this girl to a Third World country, hell even a second world country. And she made learn that life is really not that easy. Work for what you have and be grateful Beth Ann Sams (@AolSams) May 2, 2018 Let me get this straight, Ive worked my whole life and put myself through college three times to get what I have. But this kiddo feels like shes entitled to a car that makes me take the bus? So confused Dr. Phil so glad you can set the record straight Beth Ann Sams (@AolSams) May 2, 2018 Very immature. JenniDG (@JenniDG) May 2, 2018 I have very little faith that mom will apply the brakes. This was so painful to watch. I wanted to throw her in some kind of work camp. And thats the kindest thing I wanted to do. EJK (@Kemp_ejk) May 2, 2018 I'm sorry, but her mother created a monster! Just because she was a single mother that had to work, doesn't mean she had to spoil her to make up for that. She sacrificed everything for her, and should be enough! Time for that brat to get a job and a dose of reality Mals . (@MalaPersaud12) May 2, 2018 However, Nina admits she spoils her daughter due to guilt over being a single working mom who is rarely home. And Nicolette, who attends online high school, is angry at their lack of quality time. Other people would have their moms drive them places, buy them food, make them food, she says. But I have to do everything myself. And I need the funds for that. Story continues Are Nina and Nicolette ready to change their relationship? #DrPhil https://t.co/xnTviXAUvN Dr. Phil (@DrPhil) May 2, 2018 Nicolette added, You created me you raised me. You should have done better. I was never loved as a child. I feel like I never was. She just gave me money. I feel like she ruined my whole childhood. Its understandable to label Nicolette a brat and Nina a deadbeat, but according to Sharon Silver, creator of the Proactive Parenting website, the teen deserves empathy. She has been trained to value material things, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle, So its unsurprising that shes raging at losing what she learned meant love. What the mother needs to do, says Silver, is prioritize unbreakable quality time to establish an emotional connection and stop indulging her daughter. Id also advise removing any over-the-top possessions and have the girl earn them back with good behavior. Most importantly, Nina owes it to her daughter to be direct about her upbringing. This teen is old enough for that conversation, says Silver. Withholding love and connection is a form of emotional abuse and the mom needs to be honest with herself and her daughter about how she parents. Dr. Deborah Gilboa, a parenting and youth development expert, also has hope for the mother-daughter pair. This mom has decided to course correct her teen at age 16, when other parents may have given up and she should continue trusting her instincts, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle, adding, There will be pushback, but it is not too late. The most important parenting value right now is consistency, she says. If this mom can do that, her daughter will respect her so much more. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Philadelphia has reached a settlement with Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson the two black men arrested in a city Starbucks last month agreeing to pay them each a symbolic $1 and pledging $200,000 toward launching a program for young entrepreneurs. Wednesdays settlement was reportedly rooted in a mutual desire to create something positive out of the April 12 event, which set off national outrage and anti-racism protests across Philadelphia. I am pleased to have resolved the potential claims against the City in this productive manner, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney wrote in a statement to HuffPost. This was an incident that evoked a lot of pain in our City, pain that wouldve resurfaced over and over again in protracted litigation, which presents significant legal risks and high financial and emotional costs for everyone involved. Officers handcuffed and detained Nelson and Robinson, both 23, after a Starbucks manager in the citys upscale Rittenhouse Square neighborhood complained to police that they had refused to make a purchase or leave. The mens arrests were shared widely on social media, and they said they had been waiting for another man at the coffee shop for a business meeting about a real estate opportunity. Nelson and Robinson said they had only been in the Starbucks for two minutes when the manager called 911. Their lawyer was not immediately available for comment. The pair approached Kenneys office about creating the $200,000 grant and will now serve on a committee to help establish the grant and award it, NBC News reported. The citys finance department will create a budget to fund the grant and a curriculum that teaches public high school students about owning their own businesses. Starbucks is still planning to close more than 8,000 of its store locations on May 29 so employees can receive racial bias education. Also on HuffPost A black protester at Trump's rally today in Alabama was shoved, tackled, punched & kicked: https://t.co/Aq0wuaAtax pic.twitter.com/cTRDMtjuBl Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) November 21, 2015 Immigration activists disrupt Trump rally. He gamely continues, but crowd raged. One spit on protestors @wusa9 pic.twitter.com/82T2s845Eu Garrett Haake (@GarrettHaake) October 14, 2015 Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. (WASHINGTON) White House lawyer Ty Cobb will retire at the end of the month, the White House said Wednesday, further shaking up President Donald Trumps legal team as the president intensifies his attacks on the special counsels Russia investigation. Cobb, the White House point person on special counsel Robert Muellers investigation, informed White House chief of staff John Kelly last week that he would retire at the end of May. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Cobb had been discussing the decision for several weeks. Cobb did not personally represent the president, but he was a key adviser, coordinating the administrations dealings with Mueller. His retirement comes as the presidents personal legal team has been negotiating the terms of a possible sit-down between Trump and prosecutors. It also comes a day after one of Trumps former personal attorneys, John Dowd, confirmed to The Associated Press that Muellers team in March raised the prospect of issuing a grand jury subpoena for Trump, an extraordinary idea that would seek to force a sitting president to testify under oath. Dowd said Muellers team broached the subject during a meeting with Trumps legal team while they were negotiating the terms of the possible interview with the president. Dowd himself left Trumps legal team more than a month ago. It was not immediately clear in what context the possibility of a subpoena was raised or how serious Muellers prosecutors were about such a move. Mueller is probing not only Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates but possible obstruction of justice by Trump. Trump lashed out against the investigation in a familiar fashion Wednesday, saying on Twitter: There was no Collusion (it is a Hoax) and there is no Obstruction of Justice (that is a setup & trap). Even if Muellers team decided to subpoena Trump as part of the investigation, the president could still fight it in court or refuse to answer questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination. Story continues Dowds comments provide a new window into the nature of the Trump lawyers interactions with the special counsel, whom the president has increasingly tried to undermine through public attacks. On Tuesday, Trump said it was disgraceful that a list of proposed questions drafted in response to Muellers negotiations with the legal team was leaked to the news media. The about four dozen questions were compiled by Trumps lawyers during negotiations with Muellers investigators earlier this year over the prospect of a presidential interview. A person familiar with the matter, who insisted on anonymity to discuss ongoing negotiations, told the AP that the presidents lawyers extrapolated the list of expected questions based on conversations with Muellers team about the topics prosecutors wanted to cover with Trump. The questions reflected what the defense lawyers anticipated Trump would be asked, rather than verbatim queries that Muellers team provided, the person said. The Washington Post first reported that Muellers team raised the possibility of a subpoena for Trump. The New York Times first published the list of questions. According to the list, the questions range from Trumps motivations for firing FBI Director James Comey a year ago to contacts Trumps campaign had with Russians. Although Muellers team has indicated to Trumps lawyers that hes not considered a target, investigators remain interested in whether the presidents actions constitute obstruction of justice and want to interview him about several episodes in office. They have not yet made a decision about an interview. In his tweet, Trump said there were no questions on Collusion and, as he as many times before, called Muellers investigation a Russian witch hunt. He said collusion with the Russians never existed. In a second tweet, Trump said: It would seem very hard to obstruct justice for a crime that never happened. The questions do appear to indicate that Mueller is looking into possible collusion. Some touch on Russian meddling and whether the Trump campaign coordinated in any way with the Kremlin. In one question, Mueller asks what Trump knew about campaign staff, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, reaching out to Moscow. Mueller has brought several charges against Manafort already, including money laundering and bank fraud. None of the charges relates to allegations of Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates, and Manafort has denied having anything to do with such an effort. The questions also involve key moments from the early months of the Trump administration, including his reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusal from the Russia investigation and Trumps firing of his national security adviser, Michael Flynn. One question asks whether there were any efforts to reach out to Flynn about seeking immunity or possible pardon ahead of his guilty plea last year. Flynn is now cooperating with Mueller. In March, President Donald Trump angrily denied that he was unhappy with his lawyers handling the Russia investigation and refuted a report that he planned to hire another high-powered attorney. They are doing a great job, he tweeted. Less than two months later, Trump is making those very changes to his legal team. The White House announced Wednesday that lawyer Ty Cobb will retire at the end of the month, and Emmett Flood, an attorney who represented Bill Clinton during his impeachment, will join the White House legal team. The White House confirmed Floods hiring after it was originally reported by the New York Times. Emmet Flood will be joining the White House Staff to represent the President and the administration against the Russia witch hunt, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement on Wednesday. Ty Cobb, a friend of the President, who has done a terrific job, will be retiring at the end of the month. The White House said Cobb had been discussing his retirement for several weeks. On March 11, Trump responded to a New York Times report that he wanted to add Flood to the legal team. The Failing New York Times purposely wrote a false story stating that I am unhappy with my legal team on the Russia case and am going to add another lawyer to help out. Wrong. I am VERY happy with my lawyers, John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. They are doing a great job, Trump tweeted. One month later, he added: I have agreed with the historically cooperative, disciplined approach that we have engaged in with Robert Mueller (Unlike the Clintons!) I have full confidence in Ty Cobb, my Special Counsel, and have been fully advised throughout each phase of this process. The Failing New York Times purposely wrote a false story stating that I am unhappy with my legal team on the Russia case and am going to add another lawyer to help out. Wrong. I am VERY happy with my lawyers, John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. They are doing a great job and..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 11, 2018 I have agreed with the historically cooperative, disciplined approach that we have engaged in with Robert Mueller (Unlike the Clintons!). I have full confidence in Ty Cobb, my Special Counsel, and have been fully advised throughout each phase of this process. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 12, 2018 Since then, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has also joined Trumps legal team. Story continues The move comes as Trump intensifies his criticism of the Mueller probe, calling it a witch hunt and a setup and trap. On Monday, the New York Times published a list of more than four dozen questions that Mueller wants to ask Trump in an interview. Trumps attorneys have not yet agreed to an interview, but Trump condemned the publication of the list of questions as disgraceful. In a tweet on Wednesday, Trump also threatened to use his powers as President to get involved in the investigation. Over three decades in business, Donald Trump faced 4,095 lawsuits over everything from contract disputes to claims of defamation. So perhaps it shouldnt be surprising that he has also had some legal troubles as President. But the sheer number of legal fronts on which Trump is fighting is virtually unprecedented. To be clear, most modern Presidents have had to fight their way through courts, whether it was Barack Obama facing a historic lawsuit from House Republicans over the implementation of a health care law or Bill Clinton facing a sexual harassment suit or just the usual checks and balances of courts reviewing executive decisions. But the breadth of Trumps legal troubles is easy to overlook amid the daily news cycle. Since the campaign, Trump has settled lawsuits with a campaign aide over leaking to the press, over fraud at Trump University and over a restaurant deal in Washington; faced a special counsel investigation; seen his former campaign head indicted; watched as his former national security adviser, a high-level campaign aide and a foreign policy advisor pleaded guilty to federal charges; been sued for defamation by a porn star and a former Apprentice contestant; seen reports that his son-in-law may be under investigation over a bank loan; and had his longtime personal lawyers offices raided by federal agents, all while facing unprecedented turnover among his legal team. Trump has responded by repeatedly tweeting that he is the subject of a witch hunt; criticizing Department of Justice officials, reporters and federal prosecutors; minimizing the role of former associates who are in legal trouble; and avoiding questions on his legal woes. Heres an overview of Trumps tangled legal fights. Trump sued a campaign aide for allegedly leaking to the press Sam Nunberg exits federal court in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 9. (Getty Images) On the eve of the Republican national convention in July of 2016, Trump sued former campaign aide Sam Nunberg for $10 million, alleging that he violated a confidentiality agreement by leaking information to a New York Post reporter. Nunberg denied being a source for the stories. A month later, the two sides said they amicably settled the lawsuit, though Trump may have later called Nunberg a drunk/drugged up loser. Story continues The New York Times and a third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunkie who I dont speak to and have nothing to do with, are going out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will flip. They use.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2018 ....non-existent sources and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael, a fine person with a wonderful family. Michael is a businessman for his own account/lawyer who I have always liked & respected. Most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble, even if.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2018 Trump settled lawsuits over Trump University just before inauguration Donald Trump at a media conference announcing the establishment of Trump University, May 23, 2005 in New York City. (Getty Images) Just days before inauguration, Trump settled two long-running federal class-action fraud lawsuits and a state court action which claimed that Trump University deceived students for $25 million. As a candidate, Trump had said he would like to go to court to defend the controversial real estate seminar program, but he later said he would settle for the good of the country. I settled the Trump University lawsuit for a small fraction of the potential award because as President I have to focus on our country. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2016 Trump settled a lawsuit with Jose Andres over a restaurant at the Trump Hotel A few months into his presidency, Trumps personal business announced a settlement with celebrity chef Jose Andres, who had backed out of a deal to open a restaurant at the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Andres had said that he was forced to end the deal because of Trumps rhetoric, including a campaign kickoff during which he called Mexicans rapists and criminals. Trumps firing of FBI Director James Comey led to a special counsel In May of 2017, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as special counsel to look into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and any ties between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. The move came after intense criticism of Trumps firing of then-FBI Director James Comey. You are witnessing the single greatest WITCH HUNT in American political history - led by some very bad and conflicted people! #MAGA Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 15, 2017 Trumps former campaign head, Paul Manafort, was indicted Paul Manafort in April 2016, in New York (Getty Images) In October, Trumps former campaign head, Paul Manafort, and an associate, Rick Gates, were indicted on charges of money laundering and conspiracy for allegedly using offshore accounts to hide tens of millions of dollars in payments from the Ukraine. Gates later pleaded guilty to conspiracy and lying to the FBI. Sorry, but this is years ago, before Paul Manafort was part of the Trump campaign. But why aren't Crooked Hillary & the Dems the focus????? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 30, 2017 Former campaign adviser George Papadopoulos pleaded guilty George Papadopoulos in London (Getty Images) Shortly after the Manafort and Gates indictments, Muellers team announced that former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos had pleaded guilty to lying to federal agents about his contacts with Russians during the campaign. Court documents referred to unnamed campaign officials who were aware of the contacts. The Fake News is working overtime. As Paul Manaforts lawyer said, there was "no collusion" and events mentioned took place long before he... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017 ....came to the campaign. Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar. Check the DEMS! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 31, 2017 Trumps former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty Former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn leaves following his plea hearing at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse December 1, 2017 in Washington, DC. In December, Trumps former national security adviser and campaign official, Michael Flynn, pleaded guilty to making false statements to the FBI about conversations with then-Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the transition. In a statement he said he would cooperate with the special counsels investigation. I had to fire General Flynn because he lied to the Vice President and the FBI. He has pled guilty to those lies. It is a shame because his actions during the transition were lawful. There was nothing to hide! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 2, 2017 Federal prosecutors may be eyeing Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner Jared Kushner in the Oval Office on, March 20, 2018. (Getty Images) In December, The Wall Street Journal reported that federal prosecutors in New York are looking into a $285 million loan from Deutsche Bank AG to the real estate company run by Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner. A spokesman for the Brooklyn U.S. Attorneys office would neither confirm nor deny the report. Former Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos is suing Trump for defamation Attorney Gloria Allred, left, comforts Summer Zervos as the former In December of 2017, former Apprentice contestant Summer Zervos sued Trump in state court for defamation for calling her a liar after she said he groped her in a hotel room. The lawsuit raised a constitutional question: The Supreme Court has ruled that Presidents can be sued in federal court, but it has never decided if that also applies to state courts. The FBI raided the offices of Trumps longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen Michael Cohen, personal lawyer for President-elect Donald Trump, gets into an elevator at Trump Tower, Dec 12, 2016 in New York City. (Getty Images) In April, the FBI raided the offices and hotel room of Trumps longtime personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, seizing business records, emails and documents. The Justice Department said Cohen is under criminal investigation for his business dealings, and the Trump campaign has spent nearly $228,000 on Cohens legal defense, raising questions about campaign finance law. Trump called the raid a disgraceful situation. Attorneyclient privilege is dead! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 10, 2018 Adult film star Stormy Daniels is also suing Trump for defamation In May, adult film actress Stormy Daniels sued Trump in federal court for defamation. Trump had called a composite sketch of an unidentified man that she and her attorney said threatened her in 2011 after she gave an interview to a gossip magazine about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump a total con job. A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)! https://t.co/9Is7mHBFda Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Trump is being sued for allegedly violating the Emoluments Clause The exterior of the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington. (AP) Trump also faces a longshot lawsuit both as President and as an individual in federal court which alleges that he is violating the Constitutions Emoluments Clause which bars private payments from foreign governments for not divesting from his businesses, including the Trump International Hotel in Washington. Trumps legal team has been in turmoil throughout all of this Corporate attorney Ty Cobb in the offices of his law firm in 2004. (Getty Images) Top law firms have turned down requests to represent Trump, and his legal team has seen unusually high turnover: Attorneys Marc Kasowitz and John Dowd left; Joseph DiGenova and Victoria Tensing ended up not joining; and Ty Cobb retired. Meantime, White House lawyer Don McGahn reportedly threatened to quit when Trump ordered him to fire Mueller in 2017. Demonstrators blocked roads in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on May 2 after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan was prevented from becoming prime minister in parliament the previous day. Pashinyan called on his supporters on Tuesday to resume their campaign of civil disobedience, including labor strikes and the blocking of streets and the Yerevan subway, Aravot reported. The outlet said protesters blocked several roads in the capital, including a route to Zvartnots International Airport, forcing travelers to walk. This footage is described as showing protesters dancing on roads that were blocked in Yerevan. Credit: @Emin__O via Storyful This article originally appeared on The Daily Signal. Following a Russian nerve gas attack on British soil, many Western governments have stood in solidarity with the United Kingdom and have expelled Russian diplomats from their countries. And, in the aftermath of a Russian-aided Syrian chemical attack against the Syrian own people, the United States, U.K., and France launched airstrikes against the Assad regime. These are good first steps in deterring Russia, but on their own they will fail. To impede Russian President Vladimir Putins hegemonic activity and obstruct support for rogue regimes like that of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, the United States and our allies must raise the price he will pay for aggression. Trending: Family Accused of Killing, Dismembering and Hiding Bodies of Two Men in Craigslist Gun Deal Gone Wrong 04_20_Putin_Trump Mikhail Klimentyev/AFP/Getty Images One important option is to apply pressure on the Russian energy sector. Another is to present a credible military deterrent in Russias backyard. Oil and natural gas are the oxygen which fuel Russias economy. They account for 36 percent of the entire Russian economy, and Europe is Russias largest customer. In 2016, the Energy Information Administration estimated that over a third of the crude oil and over 70 percent of the natural gas supplied to European member states within the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development was imported from Russia. Russias natural gas supply to Europe is transported primarily by the Nord Stream pipeline. Since 2011, the pipeline has moved gas from Russia to Germany underneath the Baltic Sea, and has a yearly capacity of 55 billion cubic meters. Story continues So far, the highest yearly flow through Nord Stream has been 51 billion cubic meters, or 93 percent of potential production. Currently, Gazprom, a Russian state-owned enterprise, is planning on building another Nord Stream pipeline through its subsidiary, Nord Stream AG. A second pipeline would provide capacity to double natural gas exports from Russia to Europe. Don't miss: Scarborough Says Trump, White House Are 'Self-Destructing' Following Giuliani's Stormy Daniels Admission Since transport by pipeline from Russia has price advantages over liquefied natural gas imported by ship from the Unites States, we can expect Russia to rapidly increase the supply through these pipelines in the future. Halting construction of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline would cut off part of Putins economic lifeline and promote alternative options for Europe to reduce its dependency on Russian natural gas. Since Europes dependence on Russia for its energy undermines its ability to contest Russian aggression, stopping Nord Stream 2 aligns with United States strategic interests. Some nations are willing to confront this reality. The chairman of the Estonian Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee recently suggested that the European Union should stop or delay construction of the pipeline to confront and challenge Russias geopolitical aggression. As Denmark and Sweden presently weigh whether to approve construction permits for the pipeline, which would pass through their territorial waters, I hope they will consider the strategic ramifications of the second Nord Stream. This will require diplomatic strength. Incredibly, one day after announcing expulsion of Russian diplomats in response to the U.K. attack, Germany rolled over to expediency and approved construction of the controversial pipeline. Chancellor Angela Merkel defended the pipeline as strictly an economic project. Two weeks later, however, Merkel had to admit that there are political considerations involved with Russias pipeline. Time will tell if a policy change follows this shift in tone. Most popular: Did Thanos Kill Me? Site Decides Whether You Survived Avengers: Infinity War Regrettably, Germany has already approved Russias permits to build the pipeline in its territorial waters. Since Merkels predecessor, Gerhard Schroder, is the chairman of Nord Stream AG, the question exists of whether undue political influence has been exerted on these decisions. Our European allies should look to alternatives to Russian natural gas to end the Kremlins dominance over European energy. There is a plentiful supply of liquefied natural gas in the United States, Algeria, and Qatar. European access to these markets would weaken Russias political leverage over the continent. The natural gas pipeline which is proposed to run from Norway to Poland, scheduled to be operational in 2022, and a potential second pipeline from the South Caucasus to Turkey, offer competitive alternatives to increase Europes independence from Russia. The existing South Caucasus Pipeline is a viable alternative right now. To further raise the cost of Russian aggression, NATO allies might empower frontline nations like Poland and the Baltics and build out logistical infrastructure there. More operational control might shift from the detached enclave of Brussels to the area most susceptible to Russian aggression. Disruptive moves like this would be analogous to what President Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II accomplished together in Poland, which became the first step in the fall of Soviet communism. It would also mirror Reagans success in convincing Saudi Arabia to reduce the price of oil in order to cripple the Soviet economy. To deter Putin, the United States has already approved the sale of Javelin missiles to Ukraine and the sale of Patriot missiles to Poland. Aegis missiles are now operational in Romania, curing the unfortunate Obama administration error of removing the Polish and Czech missile shield deployed by the Bush administration. Moving important elements of NATO eastward would be a strong and disruptive move. Working safely within the hash marks will not threaten an overt hegemonist like Putin, but looking outside of the box and upending a few diplomatic routines and architectures might advance the ball. Francis Rooney is the U.S. representative for Florida's 19th congressional district. He serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Education and Workforce Committee. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The Queen, in a Land Rover, took a helicopter to visit Prince Louis on Tuesday - Flynet Pictures Tel : +44 (0)20 3551 5049 Email : info@flynetpictures.co.uk The Queen has met her latest great-grandchild, Prince Louis, for the first time on a visit to Kensington Palace. Her Majesty was flown into the grounds on Tuesday before being driven to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's home. The 92-year-old monarch arrived from Windsor Castle, where the Duke of Edinburgh is recuperating following a hip operation. She held a posy of flowers as she stepped out of her helicopter after the 40-minute flight. The Queen was then driven the short distance to Prince William and Kate's apartment in a green Range Rover. Prince Louis, who is now nine days old, is her sixth great-grandchild and the third child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It's a boy Celebrating the Royal baby - in pictures Last week, after much speculation, the Royal couple settled on naming their third child Louis. His birth has been formally registered by the Duke and Duchess - with William signing the certificate. The newest member of the royal family was born just over a week ago and Royal watchers were kept on tenterhooks before William and Kate announced his name on Friday. Another milestone was passed when the Duke sat down at Kensington Palace on Tuesday morning and signed the certificate registering his son's birth, witnessed by Westminster City Council registrar Patricia Gordon. The document gives the full name of the latest member of the royal family as His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge. Video: Moment Prince Louis was introduced to world William and Kate's third child weighed 8lb 7oz when he was born at the private maternity unit of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, in central London on April 23 at 11.01am. The birth certificate lists the date and place of Louis's birth, and also gives the family address as Kensington Palace. It gives the full name of Louis' father and mother, and under "occupation" they are listed as prince and princess of the United Kingdom respectively. Story continues The Duke, who is taking a period off following the birth of his son, simply signs the document William. The official birth register entry of Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge Credit: Dominic Lipinski/PA Ms Gordon said: "It has been a great honour to register, and formally welcome the latest addition to the royal family, Prince Louis Arthur Charles. "This follows a long history of Westminster City Council registering royal births, including Prince Louis' siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte." Pippa was baby's first visitor pictured at palace Pippa Matthews, the first visitor seen driving into the Palace, spent several hours with her sister, the Duchess, and infant nephew last Tuesday before being photographed driving away. Video: Auntie Pippa meets baby - Duchess's sister leaves palace Meanwhile... Charlotte celebrates third birthday Princess Charlotte is celebrating her third birthday on Wednesday, just nine days after the arrival of her baby brother. Charlotte, who is getting used to being a big sister to Prince Louis, turned three on Wednesday. Confident Charlotte delighted royal fans by waving and leading her father the Duke of Cambridge up the steps of the Lindo Wing when she was taken to meet her new sibling for the first time last week. Princess Charlotte waves as she is led into the Lindo Wing with her brother Prince George by their father, Prince William, to meet their new sibling Credit: DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS /AFP The princess, who is fourth in line to the throne, is now the Cambridges' middle child. The past year saw another big change for Charlotte when she started nursery school. She attends Willcocks Nursery School, close to her Kensington Palace home. Princess Charlotte at Kensington Palace on her first day of nursery in January Charlotte is expected to take a starring role as flower girl or bridesmaid when her uncle Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle in just over two weeks' time. She has already been a bridesmaid for aunt Pippa Middleton, who wed last May. The princess has a reputation for being feisty compared to her older brother Prince George. Prince George and Princess Charlotte at the wedding of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews in May last year Credit: Samir Hussein /WireImage Her great-grandmother the Queen remarked how Charlotte likes to look after George, and the Duchess of Cambridge has told how the princess is "the one in charge". Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge was born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, London, at 8.34am on Saturday May 2 2015, weighing 8lbs 3oz. Charlotte is a great-great-great-great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria. BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian rebels accepted a deal on Wednesday to quit their enclave near Homs city, a rebel official said, as the military crushes the last two besieged insurgent pockets in the country. The agreement, which Russia brokered, would restore state rule, with fighters handing over their heavy weapons, the official in Homs province said. Fighters and civilians who refuse to settle with the state will be taken to insurgent territory in the north near the Turkish border in an evacuation expected to start on Saturday, he added. There was no immediate comment from Damascus or Moscow. State news agency SANA had said late on Tuesday that a preliminary deal was reached with similar terms. The enclave, the most populous zone still under siege in Syria, had seen heavy fighting and bombing in recent days. It includes the towns of Houla, Rastan, and Talbiseh and villages around them, on a main highway between the cities of Homs and Hama. Rebels in the second pocket, south of the capital, have also effectively agreed to a surrender deal though they have yet to evacuate. Army offensives and such local agreements have helped Damascus regain control of swathes of the country, with support from Russia and Iran. Last week, a Syrian government minister said the enclave north of Homs city was the army's next target after retaking all insurgent territory around the capital. (Reporting by Ellen Francis in Beirut and Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Editing by William Maclean) By Pavel Polityuk KIEV (Reuters) - Unusually hot and dry weather across almost all Ukrainian regions has not yet damaged grain crops but there is no reason to expect a bumper harvest of early spring grains this year, a senior weather forecaster said on Thursday. Favorable weather this mild winter and early spring was replaced with excessive heat in April, raising fears in a small crop of spring crops - spring wheat and barley - as farmers had a very limited time frame to complete sowing in the best period. The agriculture ministry still sees this year's grain crop at the last year's level while analysts have already reduced the outlook for barley - Ukraine's key early spring grain. UkrAgroConsult agriculture consultancy has already twice lowered its forecast for the 2018 barley harvest to 7.75 million tonnes as of mid-April from 8.7 million in late March. "There is no reason to expect a good harvest of early spring crops - barley and spring wheat. Probably there will be a crop at the level of average annual values," Tetyana Adamenko, a senior official at the state weather forecaster, told Reuters. "We had one of the most arid Aprils in our history. We expect some weather fronts late this week and next week but they can only mitigate the situation," she said, adding that drought has already hit some areas in Ukraine's southern regions. Snow winter has created significant reserves of moisture in the soil and, Adamenko said, winter cereals and late spring crops were still safe. Ukraine is likely to harvest around 62 million tonnes of grain this year, UkrAgroConsult said, noting it may increase wheat and maize output, but harvest less barley than a year ago. The last year's grain harvest of 61.3 million tonnes included 26.1 million tonnes of wheat, 24.1 million tonnes of maize and 8.3 million tonnes of barley. Ukraine, the world's third-largest grain exporter, said the area covered by spring and winter grains would exceed 14 million hectares this year. Ukrainian farmers have sown 4.4 million hectares of spring grains or 60 percent of the total area as of May 2. The sowing area included 1.4 million hectares of spring barley, 398,000 hectares of peas, 174,000 hectares of oats, 152,000 hectares of spring wheat and 2.27 million hectares of maize. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; editing by David Evans) (WASHINGTON) Special counsel Robert Muellers team raised the prospect of issuing a grand jury subpoena to compel President Donald Trump to testify as part of the Russia probe, the presidents former attorney said Tuesday. Attorney John Dowd told The Associated Press that Muellers team broached the subject in March during a meeting with Trumps legal team while they were negotiating the terms of a possible interview with the president. The meeting marked the first time the special counsels office raised the possibility of compelling Trump to testify as part of the ongoing investigation. Mueller is probing not only Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates but possible obstruction of justice by Trump. Dowds comments come more than a month after he resigned from the legal team, and they provide a new window into the nature of the Trump legal teams interactions with the special counsel, who the president has increasingly tried to undermine through public attacks. On Tuesday, Trump said it was disgraceful that a list of proposed questions drafted in response to Muellers negotiations with the legal team was leaked to the news media. The New York Times late Monday published around four dozen questions compiled by Trumps lawyers during negotiations with Muellers investigators earlier this year over the prospect of a presidential interview. Mueller is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election, whether Trumps campaign was involved and if the president obstructed justice after the campaign. The Times report said Trumps lawyers compiled the questions into a list and that document was provided to The Times by a person outside Mr. Trumps legal team. The questions range from Trumps motivations for firing FBI Director James Comey a year ago to contacts Trumps campaign had with Russians. Although Muellers team has indicated to Trumps lawyers that hes not considered a target, investigators remain interested in whether the presidents actions constitute obstruction of justice and want to interview him about several episodes in office. They have not yet made a decision about an interview. Story continues Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow declined to comment to the AP, as did White House lawyer Ty Cobb. In his tweet, Trump said there were no questions on Collusion and, as he as many times before, called Muellers investigation a Russian witch hunt. He said collusion with the Russians never existed. In a second tweet, Trump said: It would seem very hard to obstruct justice for a crime that never happened. The questions do appear to indicate that Mueller is looking into possible collusion. Some touch on Russian meddling and whether the Trump campaign coordinated in any way with the Kremlin. In one question obtained by the Times, Mueller asks what Trump knew about campaign staff, including his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, reaching out to Moscow. Mueller has brought several charges against Manafort already, including money laundering and bank fraud. None of the charges relate to allegations of Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates, and Manafort has denied having anything to do with such an effort. One question asks what discussions Trump may have had regarding any meeting with Mr. Putin, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Another question asks what the president may have known about a possible attempt by his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to set up a back channel with Russia before Trumps inauguration. Many of the questions obtained by the Times center on the obstruction issue, including his reaction to Attorney General Jeff Sessions recusal from the Russia investigation, a decision Trump has angrily criticized. The queries also touch on Trumps businesses and his discussions with his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, about a possible Moscow real estate deal. Cohens business dealings are part of a separate FBI investigation. Additional questions center on Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser, who has pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his discussions on sanctions against Russia with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the presidential transition. Flynn is now cooperating with Muellers investigators. What did you know about phone calls that Mr. Flynn made with the Russian ambassador, Sergey I. Kislyak, in late December 2016? reads one question. Another asks if there were any efforts to reach out to Flynn about seeking immunity or possible pardon. Flynn was fired Feb. 13, 2017, after White House officials said he had misled them about his Russian contacts during the transition period by saying that he had not discussed sanctions. The following day, according to memos written by Comey, Trump cleared the Oval Office of other officials and encouraged Comey to drop the investigation into Flynn. ___ Associated Press writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is now part of President Donald Trumps legal team, confirmed one of the reasons James Comey was fired as director of the FBI last year. He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasnt a target of the investigation, Giuliani told Sean Hannity on Fox News on Wednesday night. Rudy Giuliani on potential Mueller, @POTUS interview: "Right now, a lot of things point in the direction of they've made up their mind that @Comey's telling the truth, and not the president." #Hannity pic.twitter.com/H7QscjXBYu Fox News (@FoxNews) May 3, 2018 Hes entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that and he couldnt get that, he said. So he fired him and he said, Im free of this guy. Trump has wavered in his explanations for Comeys firing. He told NBCs Lester Holt last year that it was at least in part due to the Russia investigation. I was going to fire Comey, knowing there was no good time to do it, he said in May 2017. And, in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story, its an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election. However, Trump last month claimed Comey was not fired because of the phony Russia investigation. Related Coverage Trump Attorney Michael Cohen: I Paid Porn Star Stormy Daniels Trump Responds To FBI Raid Of Lawyer Michael Cohen's Office Giuliani Says Trump Repaid Lawyer For $130,000 Payment To Stormy Daniels Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. MOSCOW (Reuters) - An advanced Russian multi-role fighter plane crashed in Syria on Thursday morning shortly after take-off, killing both members of its crew, the Russian military was cited as saying by Russian news agencies. The two-seater Sukhoi-30SM jet crashed after taking off from Russia's Hmeymim air base in Latakia Province. Agencies cited the Ministry of Defence in Moscow as saying its two crew members had tried in vain to save the plane until the last moment. "According to preliminary information, the reason for the aviation disaster could have been birds getting into the engine," the RIA news agency cited the ministry as saying. The plane was not struck by any projectile." The plane was among Russia's most advanced and performed its maiden flight in 2012. In Syria, it was used to launch air-to-ground missiles at rebel targets and to escort attack jets and strategic bombers. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Writing by Maria Tsvetkova; Editing by Andrew Osborn) A Russian fighter jet has crashed in sea off the Syrian coasts, killing both pilots state-run news agencies have reported. The Su-30SM aircraft faltered during or shortly after taking off on Thursday morning from Russias Hmeymim airfield Russias Ministry of Defense stated. State news agency RIA Novosti reported the jet lost altitude over Mediterranean Sea and the crew onboard failed to prevent it from plunging into the water, No enemy fire against the aircraft has been reported. The cause of the crash is not yet clear, but the ministry has suggested engine trouble, possibly due to a bird strike, said state news agency Itar-Tass. Trending: North Haven, Connecticut, Explosion: Body Found, Nine Officers Injured After SWAT Standoff Both airmen, who fought for the airplane until the final moment, have died, according to a report from the ground, RIA reported, citing a ministry statement. Read More: Most Russians do not back Putins war in Syria as death toll continues to mount The multi-role Su-30 fighter jet and its variants entered full production in the 1990s and they are still widely used by Russias air force. The Su-30SM jets form part of a deployment of 33 aircraft at the Russian-operated airfield according to satellite images released last summer. Don't miss: Virginia Newspaper Apologizes for KKK Recruitment Flyer Published on Front Page 05_03_Russia_Syria Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty Images Russia has already suffered over 80 official casualties in the Syrian conflict, despite saying its forces are only entering the civil war to engage with militants from the air in 2015. The last deadly incident for the Russian air force came in March, when a military An-26 jet, carrying around 30 people onboard crashed during a botched landing in Khmeimim. That crash was also apparently unrelated by enemy fire or hostile action. Story continues Most popular: Fortnite Fully Upgraded Carbide & Omega Guide - How to Level Up, Upgrade Fast The unofficial death toll of Russian combatants in Syria is much higher than official figures, however, as evidence mounts that Russian soldiers and mercenaries are operating on the groun in support of the regime. The U.S. has killed up to 200 of Russian combatants in strikes against Moscow ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said last month. The Kremlin has denied any official association with these fighters but does not deny that Russians could be fighting on the ground as mercenaries. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek On Full Frontal with Samantha Bee, Bee came to the defense of comedian Michelle Wolf, who has been catching flack for, among other things, calling White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders a liar at the White House Correspondents Dinner. Bee agrees with Wolf that Sanders is indeed a liar, but it almost seemed like Bee was impressed with Sanders lying prowess. She is smart. Shes savvy. And she has the eerie ability to make towering falsehoods unwatchably dull, Bee said. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is like a public relations Dementor, sucking the energy out of the White House press until they cant really fight back, turning them into tragic journalistic husks called Maggie Habermans. Maggie Haberman being a NY Times White House correspondent who has gone after Wolf for her performance. Bee took issue with the press for their negative reporting of Wolfs performance and their defense of Sanders, in this case because Sanders calls the press liars and/or fake news on a seemingly daily basis. And Bee had video of several examples proving her point that Sanders deserved the insult. Sandra Bullock (Photo: Getty Images) Celebrities in particular, females have long had to battle the unwanted attention of obtrusive, threatening stalkers. For actress Sandra Bullock, however, that battle has ended. Her long-standing stalker, Joshua Corbett, killed himself with a self-inflicted injury on Wednesday, ending a five-hour standoff with police outside his Los Angeles home. TMZ, which broke the news, said that police had shown up at Corbetts house with a warrant after he violated his mandatory probation, which included receiving regular mental health treatment. His probation was the result of a 2014 case in which Corbett was caught breaking into Bullocks home carrying a magazine with her picture on the cover and a two-page love letter in which he called himself her husband and referenced loving her and her son. Police were alerted to come to the scene by Bullock who, upon hearing someone break in, locked herself in a closet and called 911. Bullock has yet to release a statement on Corbetts death. Although her story is particularly harrowing, Bullock is not the only celebrity recently battling a stalker. One month ago, a man was arrested outside a Beverly Hills home owned by Taylor Swift, apparently wielding a knife and wearing a mask. This week, a man arrested for stalking Bella Hadid in February appeared in court, where his lawyer said he plans to fight the stalking claim. So what causes individuals to stalk complete strangers and in this case, celebrities? The American Psychological Association (APA) defines stalking as a pattern of following or observing a person in an obsessional, intrusive, or harassing manner. Stalking is illegal in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, but that hasnt stopped individuals from committing the crime. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18.3 million women have experienced stalking during their lifetimes (compared to 6.5 million men), 61 percent of whom were approached at work or at home. Most women stalked, or 88 percent, report a male perpetrator. Story continues Although most cases involve a person the victim knows, there is still a significant number of women (16 percent, according to the CDC) who report being stalked by strangers. Considering that Bullocks stalker is now deceased, its impossible to know what was wrong. But the APA does offer clues. One option is whats called erotic delusion, or erotomania, which is defined by the APA as the false perception or belief that one is loved by or has had a sexual affair with a public figure or other individual. The disorder is of a psychotic nature, meaning that the individual is detached from reality. The condition most commonly occurs in middle-age females, but it can be present in men. In those cases, erotomania is usually secondary to another mental illness, such as schizophrenia. According to a 2012 study on the condition, published in the journal Core Psychiatry, people with erotomania tend to bombard the object of their delusion with letters and telephone calls as well as follow them without respite. This aligns with Bullocks stalker, who sent her letters, entered her home, referred to the two of them as married, and mentioned her adoptive son. But just because Bullocks stalker shares characteristics with those described by that diagnosis doesnt mean he had the disease. The seminal text on this issue is a 1998 book The Psychology of Stalking. In it, 23 leading experts present many perspectives and studies that show stalking as a very complicated and varied disorder. There is no single profile of a stalker, Dr. Kristine K. Kienlen, a Minnesota psychologist, told New York Times at the books release. Stalkers exhibit a broad range of behaviors, motivations, and psychological traits. Dr. J. Reid Meloy, the books editor and clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego, took it one step further, telling the New York Times that most individuals who end up stalking are likely driven by multiple issues. Stalkers tend to have both a mental illness and a personality disorder, Meloy told the New York Times . And those who stalk strangers are more likely to be psychotic than those who stalk prior sexual intimates. The latter are more likely to be drug or alcohol abusers with a dependency personality disorder. Although its difficult to pin down what motivates a stalker, it is possible to put together a safety plan should you become a victim. The Stalking Resource Center offers tips, which include keeping evidence, taking threats seriously, and calling 911 when you feel physically in danger which, in Bullocks case, may have saved her life. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Bill Cosbys prevailing accuser is a lesbian heres why that matters What you need to know about the viral #MuteRKelly campaign Can Amanda Knoxs new show bring an end to slut-shaming? Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with advertisers on this site. With oil prices reaching multiyear highs due to reduced oil production in OPEC countries, Russia, and elsewhere, U.S. motorists could be facing significantly higher gas prices this summer, says Patrick DeHaan, senior petroleum analyst at GasBuddy, a website and smartphone app that helps drivers find the best deals. Motorists in some areas are already seeing gas prices of $3 or more, and that could rise further, at least in the short term, says DeHaan. AAA reported today that the average price for regular-grade gasoline is now $2.81 per gallon compared with $2.37 a year ago. Overall, DeHaan predicts that drivers could, on average, shell out an additional $100 to $200 for gasoline in 2018 compared with last year. The amount you'll pay depends, of course, on the gas station where you fill up. And the differences can be significant, says DeHaan. For instance, in Long Beach, Calif., he says theres a Mobil station charging $3.79 per gallon for regular gas. But nearby, theres a United Oil station charging $3.33 for the same thing. Thats a difference of 46 cents per gallon. Fill up that minivan at the wrong station and you'll end up paying about $9 more than necessary. And there are drivers who unnecessarily buy higher-cost premium gasoline for cars designed for regular fuel, according to a study by AAA. Based on current national average gasoline prices, mid-grade gasoline costs nearly 28 cents a gallon more than what you'd pay for regular. Premium gas costs 52 cents more, according to the AAA, but DeHaan says that in areas like Chicago you may find premium $1.20 per gallon more than regular. So if your car can operate on regular but you opt for mid-grade or premium gas, you could be paying $5 to $10 more to fill that same minivan's tank. Tips to Spend Less on Gas "If you're just looking at the price from the street, you're leaving money on the table," says DeHaan. There are things you can do to keep your gas expenses down. Among them: Story continues Use a gas station app or website. GasBuddy, AAA, Fuel Finder, and Gas Guru are among the resources that can help you find lower prices. You're also likely to get a better deal at stations that are not located on major highways, says Michael Calkins, a manager at AAA. Of course, making a big detour to pay less may not make sense. Calkins also says to make sure that when you compare prices you consider only top-tier detergent gasoline, which is better for your car. Check the prices in the different states you'll visit. Prices can vary significantly because state gasoline taxes are different. DeHaan says he found that for a driver crossing the border from Ohio to Pennsylvania on Interstate 80, for example, it could cost 36 cents per gallon more to fill up in Pennsylvania. That's more than $7 extra to fill up the minivan's gas tank. Think about how best to pay. Some stations offer a lower price if you pay with cash instead of a credit card. The difference between the cash and credit price usually ranges from around 10 to 15 cents a gallon, says DeHaan, though he says it can be as much as a dollar. Another option is to pay with a cash-back credit card. While the credit card price may be higher than the cash price, the reward you receive could make using the credit card a better deal. It's worth noting that a rewards credit card could even provide greater savings than a gas credit card from a big oil company (such as Texaco or Chevron), says DeHaan. For instance, the Bank of America Cash Rewards Visa card offers 3 percent cash back on gasoline purchases, among other things, up to $2,500. The Sunoco Rewards Credit Card, by contrast, offers only a flat 5 cents per gallon discount, though there is no limit on how much you can spend. And if you plan to pay by debit card, don't assume that you are getting the cash price. Some stations could actually charge you the credit card rate instead. Check the posted prices at the pump. Selecting the debit option and entering a pin when you pump your gas is often a good indication your transaction will be handled as cash, says Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president of the National Association of Convenience Stores, based in Alexandria, Va. More from Consumer Reports: Top pick tires for 2016 Best used cars for $25,000 and less 7 best mattresses for couples Consumer Reports is an independent, nonprofit organization that works side by side with consumers to create a fairer, safer, and healthier world. CR does not endorse products or services, and does not accept advertising. Copyright 2018, Consumer Reports, Inc. The scientific group Genome Project-write (GP-write) announced on Tuesday that they plan to launch a grand-scale community-wide project to develop cells that are resistant to viruses, as well as cells that are potentially resistant to radiation, freezing, aging and cancer. Its the first step, it says, toward producing ultra-safe cells at will. Ultra-safe cells could have a major impact on human health, said George Church, a geneticist at Harvard Medical School and one of four members of the GP-write Leadership Group, in a statement. GP-write is kicking off a working meeting Tuesday in Boston. There is very strong reason to believe that we can produce cells that would be completely resistant to all known viruses, Jef Boeke, director of the Institute for Systems Genetics at NYU Langone Medical Center and one of the GP-write leaders, told STAT. It should also be possible to engineer other traits, including resistance to prions and cancer. MORE: How Gene Editing Could Save Coral Reefs Recoding the human genome to make it virus-resistant is the first stage of the more ambitious goal of the project to make any genome, including the human genome, in a lab. The effort gained a boost with a new partner, biopharmaceutical company Cellectis, which will be providing Churchs lab with its virus-targeting technology that relies on the genome editing tool TALEN, which can make highly precise changes to DNA. The group plans to create virus-resistant genes through DNA recoding. Essentially, its a way to confuse viruses so they can no longer read the human genome and exploit human genes to help the virus reproduce. Human DNA is read in groups of three letters (made up of DNAs A, C, G and T) known as codons, and each codon represents an amino acid. Strings of amino acids make up proteins. There is redundancy in this system, so different three-letter codons can code for the same amino acid. Recoding the human genome to eliminate this redundancy, so that only one codon codes for a particular amino acid, stumps the virus and prevents it from reproducing. Already, Church showed this approach is feasible by testing genetic changes on the bacteria E. coli; after making 321 changes to the bacterias genome, the microbes were resistant to certain viruses. Creating such resistance in human cells, however, will be a much harder feat. Recoding every protein in the human genomewould require 400,000 changes, Church said in the statement. Several institutions are slated to participate in the project, which could have major implications for health. In the statement, the researchers cite the fact that viruses can often contaminate medicines while theyre being manufactured, resulting in major financial losses for drug companies. Ultra-safe cells could thus make pharmaceuticals safer, cheaper and more reliable, says Church. The GP-write leaders say they hope to complete their project within 10 years. President Trump wants to run the US government more like a business. So one has to ask: Why in the world does he still employ Scott Pruitt? Pruitt is the embattled head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and his tenure is turning into a daily reminder of Trumps worst hiring instincts. Pruitt is on the hot seat for an ever-growing list of infractions and overindulgences at the EPA, which so far include: Exorbitant first-class travel at taxpayer expense, for security reasons Elaborate expenditures on a soundproof phone booth in his office and other weird perks no other Cabinet officials have A sweetheart deal to rent a Washington condo from an energy lobbyist who has business before the EPA Deals with cronies that look like classic back-room tit-for-tats And much, much more Pruitt is a journalists dream, because every inquiry into past or present behavior seems to turn up some sort of self-dealing. There are fishy real-estate deals involving front companies when Pruitt was Oklahoma attorney general several years ago. A banker friend barred from the industry for life ended up on the EPA payroll. If a reporter tracked down Pruitts nanny or dog walker, theyd probably learn he paid them from some slush fund or demanded they work for free. Pruitt is a goner. He seems to be the only one who doesnt realize this. Trump is probably just dragging out his departure to create a little space between Pruitt and his last hiring flameout, Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee-withdrawer Ronny Jackson. But its too bad Trump isnt really running the government like a CEO, because if he were, Pruitt whos been in the job since February 2017 would have been gone long ago. Corporate America isnt exactly a bastion of propriety. The Harvey Weinstein and Steve Wynn scandals prove that powerful honchos can get away with abuses for years before getting caught. Some probably never get caught. Assessing the damage But theres also a red line in business that even the CEO cant cross: When CEO behavior damages a companys brand, the boss has to go. Theres typically a period of hesitation in the aftermath of a scandal, as the board of directors weighs shareholder discomfort and tries to assess the damage. Is the controversy a mere blip? Or something likely to persist? Every scandal is different, and the board has to first determine where the red line is. But once they know that, theres little choice but to act. Story continues Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick had to go when it became apparent his brash management style was hurting the company. Richard Smith left Equifax after presiding over a giant hack of consumers financial data, which infuriated the public. Ford fired Mark Fields simply because he wasnt transforming the company fast enough into something more futurey. Boards dont always pull the trigger. United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz was in the hot seat last year after the notorious forced removal of a paying passenger from a flight. That incident clearly hurt the companys image. But Munoz didnt personally order the removal, or even write the policy that supposedly allowed it. Meanwhile, he apologized for the incident and enacted changes to make sure it didnt happen again. Thats a good template for how to keep your job in a crisis. Is Scott Pruitt hurting the EPAs image? Unmistakably, yes. There are now more than a dozen official investigations into all things Pruitt, including some led by his fellow Republicans. This means the stream of bad publicity will continue and maybe intensify. Top aides are fleeing the EPA, adding to the air of crisis and impairing the agencys ability to function. Pruitt is also harming Trumps image, which is the real reason hell be gone before long. Trump critics have seized on Pruitt as the swampiest Trump appointee of all, worse even than disgraced former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, who resigned last fall after a spree of plush, taxpayer-funded trips on private jets. Trump may actually care about this, because grifters living large on taxpayer money puncture his persona as the populist outsider gone to Washington to champion the little guy. But firing Pruitt, whenever it comes, will be long overdue. President Trump could use a board of directors. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Click here to get Ricks stories by email. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn Fox News anchor Sean Hannity suggested Tuesday he should be the one to question President Donald Trumpinstead of Special Counsel Robert Muellers team of investigatorsin order ensure there is no bias and that we have a fair system of justice. Hannitys offer was framed in comparison to how the FBI conducted the investigation into Hillary Clintons private email server while she was secretary of state, saying he wanted to make sure Trump also received the Hillary treatment. He also suggested conservative radio hosts Rush Limbaugh or Mark Levin would be good choices to quiz Trump. Trending: E. Coli Outbreak: First Death Reported, over 100 Sick in Multi-state Spread Linked to Romaine Lettuce If we have a fair system of justice, President Trump should absolutely get the Hillary treatment for any interview with the FBI. And just like Hillary Clinton's interview, after the exoneration was written months later, Trumps interview should be conducted not under oath, not recorded, not be transcribed, and the exoneration written months in advance. And oh yeah, someone with a pro-Trump bias, lets say me, Hannity said. Ill conduct the questioning. How about Rush, or the great one Mark Levin, good idea. Hannity was referring to FBI's drafting of a letter that would end the Clinton investigation two months before the probes conclusion was officially announced. However, numerous reports have indicated the FBI had already wrapped up the vast majority of the investigation, even if Clinton had yet to be interviewed at the time. Don't miss: Will Merula Snyde Ever Be A Friend Option? 'Hogwarts Mystery' Devs Talk Pets, Romance and More Upcoming Features Hannity admitted he was speaking tongue-in-cheek, but repeated his attacks on Muellers investigation and claims that the justice system was unfair. He cited a lack of charges against Clinton, former FBI director James Comey and others as examples. We now know sadly in America we have a two-tier justice system, the Trump confidant and supporter said. We dont have equal justice under the law, equal application of our laws. While the president is targeted in a totally off-the-rails witch hunt, Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Andrew McCabe, all these other deep-state actors have never been charged with a crime. Story continues The comments follow the New York Times report of questions Muellers team intends to ask Trump should the president sit down with special counsel investigators. Many of the questions focus on whether Trump has obstructed justice. Hannity has frequently attack Mueller and defended Trump. But he faced criticism for blasting the investigation without disclosing his attorney-client relationship with Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. Hannity has dismissed any accusation of wrongdoing, stating Cohen is a friend and that he never was a client of the embattled attorney. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Daniel L. Davis Security, A history lesson. The Shocking Reason Nazi Germany Crushed France During World War II In May 1940, the German Wehrmacht launched a lightning attack into France and within weeks destroyed the combined French and British armies. The rapid defeat is typically ascribed to a combination of the French High Commands attempts to refight the methodical battle of World War I against Germanys adoption of new mobile, all-arms warfare. Those philosophical factors certainly played a major role in the outcome, but something much more elemental and human may have been the deciding factor: fearless, intelligent and sometimes ruthless leadership at the point of contact. In light of the dramatic collapse of the French armed forces in 1940, it is hard to imagine that up until that point they had been recognizedincluding by the Germansas the military masters of Europe. France had emerged victorious over the Germans in the Great War, and imposed the Treaty of Versailles on Berlin, a punitive, humiliating armistice. In the first decade following the war, Germany had been limited to no more than one hundred thousand soldiers, no armored vehicles, and only one hundred search and rescue aircraft. France, on the other hand, rebuilt its armed forces following World War I, and in the early 1930s embarked on a major modernization drive, motorizing many of its infantry divisions and beginning to form armored units. Recommended: North Koreas Most Lethal Weapon Isnt Nukes. Recommended: 5 Worst Guns Ever Made. Recommended: The Worlds Most Secretive Nuclear Weapons Program. Focused on preventing another German incursion into French territory, Paris had formed a military doctrine giving primacy to the defensive. The intent was to first blunt any invasion, and once the enemy had been sufficiently weakened, to transition to the offensive. In support of this philosophy, they built the now infamous Maginot Line of extensive defensive pillboxes and other heavily defended fortifications between France and her western neighbors. Senior officers of the High Command were confident their doctrine and defensive preparations would be successful against any German attack, most especially Commander of the Second French Army, Gen. Charles Huntziger. Story continues In March 1940, less than two months before the German surprise invasion, Parliamentary Army Committee member Pierre-Charles Taittinger led a parliamentary delegation to inspect the defenses in Sedan, a city for whose defense General Huntziger was responsible. Taittinger prophetically reported, In this region, we are entirely too much taken with the idea that the Ardennes woods and the Meuse River will shield Sedan and we assign entirely too much significance e to these natural obstacles. The defenses in this sector are rudimentary. He wrote that he trembled at the thought the Germans might attack there. General Huntziger dismissed Taittingers warning entirely. The chief comptroller of the Army asked General Huntziger if he put any stock in Taittingers report and the general replied, Certainly not, the Germans are dead afraid of attacking. On May 9, less than twenty-four hours before the invasion, Huntziger told his troops that the German preparations which you have observed are only an exercise. The Germans are not crazy enough to take the additional risk of facing twenty-seven Belgian divisionsthough, to be fair, the confidence of the French High Command was not entirely without justification. Prior to May 1940, the combined French and British forces had almost one thousand more tanks than the Germans, and French tanks had better armor and more powerful main guns. France was also the recognized global leader in artillery, and had a marked advantage over Germany in this regard. The French planned to rush large numbers of infantry divisions across the border of Belgium to take on the Wehrmacht as far forward as possible. They believed the forested and mountainous terrain in the Ardennes precluded the use of armor, and, along with the Maginot defenses, felt that light forces could protect that part of the front. The Germans, on the other hand, chose to do the opposite of what was expected. Sending in large numbers of infantry and mechanized divisions into Belgium and the Netherlands, the Germans sought to make the Franco-British alliance believe its intelligence had been correct and that the main attack was coming in the north. Meanwhile, the main German attack came further to the south, in the Ardennes, with the bulk of their Panzer divisions. One of the primary objectives of the German armor was the penetration of the Meuse River at Sedan, just inside France. Commanding the forces at the tip of this attack was a man who would later distinguish himself as among the most accomplished battle leaders of the war: Lt. Col. Hermann Balck. Balcklater to rise to command the Fourth Panzer Armywas tasked with leading the First Rifle Regiment (of First Panzer Division) across the Meuse near Sedan. The breakthrough he made across the river came as a result of thorough preparation, rigorous field training and, at the point of attack, ruthless, courageous leadership that inspired men to accomplish tasks they thought beyond their ability. The French had been preparing to defend the Meuse for years, but the effort had taken on an earnestness in September 1939, when the Wehrmacht had unveiled its blitzkrieg tactics for the first time against Poland. The Nazis had defeated the Polish armed forces in just over four weeks, using a combination of mobile troops, armored firepower and paralyzing air attacks featuring the terrifying Stuka dive bombers. The French leaders continued to believe their defensive system and plans would succeed where the Poles had failed and inexplicably took no additional measures nor changed their existing plans. Commanders like Balck would soon expose just how wrong they were. As part of the First Panzer Division, Balcks First Rifle Regiment was selected to be the advance guard leading the division into enemy territory on the morning of May 10, 1940. After light resistance, Balcks regiment reached the approaches to the Meuse outside of Sedan two days later, near 11:00 pm. Early the morning of May 13, however, a devastating French artillery barrage opened up. According to Balcks memoir, Order in Chaos, the French bombardment was fierce and had a substantial demoralizing effect on his troops. I requested a Stuka attack on the French artillery positions, he wrote, saying that the effect was overwhelming. The French artillery was silenced and the mood of our troops turned into one of jubilation. The positive feelings didnt last long, however, as Balck ordered his men to march into the teeth of highly defended, concrete-reinforced French bunkers. The attack began to lose energy, and the troops were starting to drop from fatigue. At that point, Balck had a choice: conduct a tactical withdrawal with the frontline troops and order fresh soldiers into the fight, or press the attack and risk losing the objective. What was easy today, could cost a lot of blood tomorrow, he said. I walked off a distance, thought about it, and made a decision. We had to advance another ten kilometers into the enemy. My adjutant, Braune-Krikau, a resolute and courageous man with a keen military mind, said sir, that would lead to the destruction of the regiment. No, I replied. It will lead to the destruction of the French. And so he was proven right. Two days later, after pressing the attack again beyond what his men thought they could endure, Balck recorded that there was no stopping them. With loud shouts echoing in the air, the thin, totally exhausted line of riflemen entered the village. Bouvellemont was ours. I had not miscalculated. The last of the French resistance had been broken and the Meuse crossings secured. Balck was promoted to command a panzer brigade the next day and the fight continued to the Channel coast. German leaders like Balck and the famous Erwin Rommel provided fearless, even brutal leadership from the front, inspiring their troops to overcome their fears and push their bodies well beyond what they thought they could endure. It is worth noting, however, that French soldiers did not enjoy the same caliber of leadership. Though many French troops fought with signal bravery, the same could not be said for the bulk of their officer leadership. No one pushed the French troops to endure the unendurable, and when the crisis moment arrived, the French leaders often froze into inaction. One event perhaps best captured the spirit of the French leaderships collapse, recorded by the Frenchman Marc Bloch (a French staff officer in 1940) in the book Strange Defeat. Bloch was sent to the headquarters at Attiches, about eight miles from the Belgium border, to coordinate action with the British. While there, he saw a sight that haunted him. Bloch observed a French general sitting in a chair frozen in tragic immobility, saying nothing, doing nothing, but just gazing at the map spread on the table between us, as though hoping to find on it the decision which he was incapable of taking. Though Germany eventually lost World War II and France again ended up on the victorious side, the leadership traits demonstrated before and during the battle in 1940 are textbook examples of what makes for great leadershipand what kind of leadership leads to defeat. Daniel L. Davis is a retired U.S. Army colonel who served multiple tours in Afghanistan. He is a senior fellow with Defense Priorities. Follow him on Twitter @DanielLDavis1. This first appeared last year. Read full article Managua (AFP) - At least six students were hurt Thursday when Nicaraguan police and civilian supporters raided a university searching for activists calling for the ouster of President Daniel Ortega, a protest movement spokeswoman said. Police "attacked" students at the Universidad Politecnica in the capital Managua at 1 am (0700 GMT), student spokeswoman Scarleth Espinoza said at a news conference. "The police entered and attacked us along with groups of civilians, possible members of the Young Sandinistas," associated with Ortega's ruling party, said another student at the news conference who declined to be identified. According to the students, the police raid resulted in "six wounded, one of them seriously" who was hospitalized. The protests against Ortega erupted on April 18 and claimed at least 45 lives, according to human rights groups. Officials stopped updating their toll after counting 10 deaths in the first three days. Initially triggered by reforms to cut spending on Nicaragua's deficit-laden social security system -- later abandoned by Ortega -- the protests swelled to include other grudges against the 72-year-old president, seen by many as autocratic and distant. The protests are the worst Ortega has faced in the past 11 years, since the leftist former Sandinista rebel returned to power after a lengthy stint in opposition. The demonstrations however have become more peaceful in recent days. Ortega has said he is willing to hold talks to calm the situation but made few moves to follow through. The students said Thursday that "after this attack" they did not see sufficient "security to take part in dialogue." They called for renewed street protests and a national strike. The students have also already demanded an independent commission be set up to investigate the protest deaths, and given a deadline of next Tuesday. Students and the political opposition have called for a nationwide demonstration for next Wednesday. A Southwest Airlines Co. jetliner made an unscheduled landing after a window cracked, two weeks after an accident on a separate plane in which a passenger was partially sucked out of a destroyed window and died. Flight 957 from Chicago-Midway to Newark, New Jersey, didnt lose cabin pressure as it diverted to Cleveland, Southwest said in a statement Wednesday. An emergency wasnt declared. The incident raised the pressure on Southwest, which had its first passenger fatality from an accident last month when a passenger was partially sucked out of a window after an engine exploded on a plane and hurled debris against the fuselage. The National Transportation Safety Board said it found signs of metal fatigue where an engine fan blade broke off. Following Wednesdays event, the Boeing Co. 737-700, which carried 76 passengers, was taken out of service. The flight departed Midway at 8:36 a.m. and landed in Cleveland at 9:53 a.m., Southwest said. The incident was far less severe and didnt seem to raise any of the same safety issues being examined in the fatal accident. Very Rare The passenger window was broken, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, without providing further details. Neither Southwest nor the FAA, which said it would investigate the incident, identified what caused cracks to form in multiple layers of the window. My sense is that its very rare for a cabin window to have that issue, said Richard Healing, a former National Transportation Safety Board member who now leads consulting firm Air Safety Engineering. Cockpit windows crack more often than those in the passenger cabin, he said. The window performed, the backup function worked as intended, he said, with the multiple layers preventing a blowout. My suspicion is it was the outside part, but the frame held and kept it in place. People took to Twitter to criticize Southwest. Public Unease We are not feeling safe and will consider using a different airline, one person posted. Lower fares and bags flying free are not sounding appealing. Another person urged the airline to put an even stronger emphasis on maintenance reviews and practices, especially on the older aircraft models. Southwest reassured customers that its maintenance program is approved by the FAA, and that our established programs and processes are designed to enable us to operate at the highest level of safety. The Dallas-based airline fell less than 1 percent to $52.72 at 3:13 p.m. in New York after dropping briefly following news of the cracked window. The stock has slumped 20 percent this year while a Standard & Poors index of the five biggest U.S. airlines has declined 12 percent. A cracked window caused a Southwest Airlines flight carrying 76 passengers from Chicago to Newark, New Jersey, to make an unscheduled landing in Cleveland on Wednesday, PEOPLE can confirm. The incident comes two weeks after a female passenger on a Southwest flight died when an engine explosion blew out her window and she was partially sucked out of the plane. The Federal Aviation Administration told PEOPLE through a spokesperson that they will investigate what caused the window to crack on Wednesdays flight. The Boeing 737 landed without incident around 11 a.m. ET, they said. Since there was no depressurization in the cabin, oxygen masks were not deployed and an emergency was not declared, Southwest Airlines wrote in a tweet explaining that there are multiple layers of panes in each aircraft window. They said the aircraft has been taken out of service for maintenance review and that employees at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport were accommodating the stranded passengers on new flights to Newark. The safety of our customers and employees is our number one focus each and every day, they added. Here is more information about a flight that made an unscheduled stop in Cleveland, where no emergency was declared: pic.twitter.com/QIzZiK187j Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) May 2, 2018 Want to keep up on the latest from PEOPLE? Sign up for our daily newsletter to get our best stories of the day delivered straight to your inbox. Passengers aboard shared photos of the broken window. Window broke mid flight to Newark from Chicago, one wrote, with the hashtag #WhatsGoingOn. @SouthwestAir has a serious problem with their fleet, tweeted Ryan Holley, sharing a photo his mom Linda sent him from the plane. My moms plane just had to divert and land in #Cleveland cuz of another window crack. Story continues @SouthwestAir has a serious problem with their fleet. My moms plane just had to divert and land in #Cleveland cuz of another window crack. pic.twitter.com/hm5edpgB1M Ryan Holley (@rholley28) May 2, 2018 RELATED VIDEO: Woman Nearly Sucked Out of Plane After Engine Explosion Blows Out Window on Southwest Flight On April 17, Southwest passenger Jennifer Riordan, a bank executive and mother of two from New Mexico, died after she was partially sucked through the window of a plane window that was blown out when an engine exploded about 20 minutes into the flight. The plane was en route from from LaGuardia Airport in New York to Dallas. The harrowing incident was witnessed by passengers on the plane including Max Kraidelman, 20, who told the New York Times, The top half of her torso was out the window. There was a lot of blood because she was hit by some of the shrapnel coming off the engine after it exploded. Witnesses reported that Riordan went into cardiac arrest and passenger Kristopher Johnson said passengers and crew members did everything they could to revive her. Flight 1380 eventually made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. Riordans family released a statement soon after that said, Jennifers vibrancy, passion and love infused our community and reached across our country. Her impact on everything and everyone she touched can never be fully measured.But foremost, she is the bedrock of our family. She and Mike wrote a love story unlike any other. Her beauty and love is evident through her children. In a video message, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly also shared his condolences. On behalf of the Southwest family, I want to extend my deepest sympathies for the family and the loved ones of our deceased customer, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said. They are our immediate and primary concern and we will do all that we can to support them during this difficult time. A Southwest Airlines flight made an unplanned landing Wednesday in Cleveland, after a window in the plane broke during the flight. Southwest Flight 957 was traveling from Chicago to Newark, New Jersey, and made a safe landing at Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport. There are no reports of injuries among the 76 passengers. Passengers have tweeted photos of the broken window, which may have been in the emergency exit door. In a statement from Southwest, the airline said the crew made the decision to land the plane in Cleveland for a review of "one of the multiple layers of a window pane." The statement said the aircraft maintained pressurization throughout the incident. Initial reports said the landing in Cleveland was an emergency, but there was no emergency landing was requested, the airline said. According to CNN, passenger Linda Holley texted her son Ryan with a picture of the damaged window. "Window on plane cracked during flight. Landing in Cleveland to be safe. Everything ok but scary ," one of her texts read. In another, she said: "Yes Southwest. Just heard loud noise. Very large crack with piece of window missing at bottom. Just landed. Everything ok. Don't know plan yet" The incident comes a little more than two weeks after a passenger was killed when an engine blew out on a Southwest flight and debris shattered a window. This is a developing story. Check back for details. Rashon Nelson, left, and Donte Robinson, right, were arrested at a Starbucks cafe in Philadelphia - AP Two black men who were arrested as they waited for a friend in a Philadelphia Starbucks last month have reached settlements with the coffee chain and the city. The arrest of Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson on 12 April was captured on video and widely shared online, sparking protests in Pennsylvania over accusations of racial profiling. Mr Robinson and Mr Nelson have now dropped their legal action against the city, agreeing to a symbolic $1 each in compensation and the commitment of $200,000 (150,000) from officials to fund an entrepreneurship program for public school students. The men, both 23, also reached a confidential financial settlement with Starbucks, who also offered them the opportunity to complete their undergraduate degrees at Arizona State University with full tuition coverage. We all recognise the importance of communication about differences and solutions, and that we will be measured by our action not words, they said in a joint statement. Mr Robinson added: It's not a right-now thing but I feel like we will see the true change over time. Starbucks issued an apology for the incident which saw a store manager call the police when the pair sat down before making an order as they waited for a friend to arrive. The company responded by closing more than 8,000 of its US stores for an afternoon of racial bias training, with Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson also apologising personally to the two men. Demonstrators protest over the arrests of Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson Credit: AP I want to thank Donte and Rashon for their willingness to reconcile, said Mr Johnson. I welcome the opportunity to begin a relationship with them to share learnings and experiences. Starbucks will continue to take actions that stem from this incident to repair and reaffirm our values and vision for the kind of company we want to be. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson appear on Good Morning America Credit: ABC / Getty Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said the incident had evoked a lot of pain and put the city under a national spotlight for unwanted reasons. I am pleased to have resolved the potential claims against the city in this productive manner, he added. Stormy Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti visited The Late Show With Stephen Colbert and revealed a major piece of evidence in his clients claim against President Trump. Avenatti has been on television quite a bit lately, but this is his biggest reveal yet. Avenatti brought with him a copy of the receipt for the non-disclosure agreement with Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen. Avenatti explained, "This is the $130,000 receipt, coming from the entity, Essential Consultants, which is the entity that Michael Cohen created, and fabricated for the purposes of this payment." Avenatti also pointed out that the check was sent from First Republic Bank's San Francisco branch. This is important because that bank is under the jurisdiction of California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who is not a fan of Trump. Avenatti explained, "This document may fact give him jurisdiction over certain criminal acts associated with this payment. In fact if the attorney general of the state of California were to bring charges, President Trump could not pardon Michael Cohen for those charges." And while it may not seem normal for an attorney to reveal a key piece of evidence on a late night talk show, that's because it isn't. Avenatti said, "This is not your normal case, and it's not your normal defendant. I mean you're dealing with a defendant that's very undisciplined, can be easily baited into making mistakes, and I think we've been very, very successful in doing just that. And we're going to keep doing what we're doing." The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 on CBS. Demonstrators blocked roads in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on May 2 after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyans bid to become Prime Minister was blocked in parliament the previous day, Radio Free Europe reported. Pashinyan called on his supporters on Tuesday to resume their campaign of civil disobedience, including labor strikes and the blocking of streets and the Yerevan subway, Aravot reported. The outlet said protesters blocked several roads in the capital, including a route to Zvartnots International Airport, forcing travelers to walk. This footage, shot in Yerevan, is described as showing students dancing on blocked streets. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful The nations teacher of the year let her buttons do the talking Wednesday after she was presented the distinguished honor by President Trump at a White House ceremony. Mandy Manning, a teacher at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash., wore several buttons that seemed to rebuke the presidents priorities as she accepted a crystal apple trophy. One was for the Peace Corps and one for the National Endowment for the Arts, one commemorated the Womens March, and one read Trans Equality Now. Trumps 2019 budget called for gutting NEA funding and drastically slashing money for the Peace Corps. In March, the president signed an executive order banning the vast majority of transgender troops from serving in the U.S. military. Her incredible devotion has earned her the adoration total adoration, actually and respect of students and colleagues throughout her school district, community and the entire state, Trump said of Manning during the ceremony. President Donald Trump speaks during the National Teacher of the Year reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) For the last six years, Manning has taught English and math to immigrant students from places like Sudan, Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. Of that list, only Syria remains targeted by Trumps latest travel ban. Theyre forced to leave wherever theyre from, whether theyre immigrants or refugees, Manning said in an April interview with CBS This Morning. And so they come to the United States with this hope that its going to be somehow different, and I continue to hear that from the students. Theyre like, Well, this is my chance. This is where I have an opportunity to have dreams and actually achieve those dreams.' Its unclear whether Trump read or was made aware of Mannings buttons, and the Washington teacher did not speak following the presentation of the award. She was, however, able to hand Trump a stack of letters written by her students, as well as by members of her community, the Associated Press reported. I just had a very, very brief moment so I made it clear that the students that I teach are dedicated and focused, Manning told the Associated Press. They make the United States the beautiful place that it is. Read more from Yahoo News: A Texas mom whose two toddlers died after she left them in a hot car to teach the older one a lesson was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Monday, prosecutors confirm to PEOPLE. On Monday, prior to her sentencing, Cynthia Randolph, 25, was convicted of two counts of reckless injury to a child causing serious bodily injury or death. On May 26, 2017, authorities arrested Randolph after discovering her children Juliet Ramirez, 2, and her 1-year-old brother Cavanaugh unresponsive. The temperature reached 96 degrees that day and the children died from heatstroke, officials said. Last year, police said Randolph had initially claimed the children took off and locked themselves inside a small vehicle, forcing her to break a window in an attempt to save them, according to earlier reports. But police said Randolph changed her story about what happened several times before admitting she found the children playing in the car and left them inside after her daughter refused to leave the vehicle. Randolph cried throughout her week-long trial, which began on April 23, Parker County Assistant District Attorney Jeff Swain tells PEOPLE. Jurors heard 13 hours of video-recorded interviews in which Randolph told different stories about how her children died. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Ultimately, she said that she watched her children get into the car, told them to get out, they refused, and she slammed the door to the car to teach the older child a lesson, stated Swain in a press release. Randolph told officials she went inside her home, smoked marijuana and watched Keeping Up with the Kardashians before falling asleep for two to four hours, according to the press release. She said she thought that her 2-year-old knew how to get out of the car, the press release states, and that she left the doors to the house standing open. After jurors deliberated for less than an hour, Randolph was found guilty. She was sentenced to 20 years for each crime, but will serve concurrently. The deaths of these children and the culpability of their mother in causing that dictated that she be sentenced to prison, said assistant district attorney Abby Placke in the press release. Their lives were taken from them before they even had a chance to start. Despite years of hostility between Washington and Pyongyang, hundreds of Americans visited the reclusive nuclear-armed state every year until the US State Department finally issued a travel ban on North Korea last September. The North has a history of detaining Americans and using them as bargaining chips, with many only released following a visit by senior US officials. Americans made the high-risk journey to North Korea for a range of reasons, from holidays and business trips to humanitarian work and missionary purposes. Six South Koreans have also been detained -- three Christian missionaries and three defectors originally from North Korea -- since 2013, with Seoul also pushing for their release. President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday of imminent news about three Korean-Americans detained in the North, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of a possible release. The development comes with Trump preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks amid a dramatic diplomatic thaw on the flashpoint peninsula. These are the US citizens now being held: Kim Hak-song Kim Hak-song had been working for the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) undertaking agricultural development work with the school's farm. He was arrested at Pyongyang railway station in May 2017 on suspicion of committing "hostile acts" against the government, as he was boarding a train headed for his home in Dandong, China. Kim, who is in his mid 50s, was born in Jilin, China, and educated at a university in California, CNN reported, citing a man who had studied with him. He said Kim returned to China after about 10 years of living in the US. PUST was founded by evangelical overseas Christians and opened in 2010, and is known to have a number of American faculty members. Pupils are generally children from the North's elite. Kim Sang-duk Kim Sang-duk, or Tony Kim, was arrested in April 2017 at the capital's main airport as he tried to leave the country after teaching for several weeks, also at PUST. Story continues Kim is a former professor at Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China, close to the Korean border. Its website lists his speciality as accounting. South Korea's Yonhap news agency has reported Kim is in his late 50s and said he had been involved in relief activities for children in rural parts of North Korea. It cited a source who described him as a "religiously devoted man". In a Facebook post, Kim's son said since his arrest his family has had no contact with him. His family said Kim will soon become a grandfather. Kim Dong-chul Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born American businessman and pastor aged in his 60s, was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour after being arrested on charges of subversion and espionage in April 2016. He was arrested in October 2015, after he reportedly received a USB stick containing nuclear-linked data and other military information from a former North Korean soldier. In a interview with CNN in January 2016, Kim said he was a naturalised American living in Fairfax, Virginia. He said he once ran a trading and hotel services company in Rason, a special economic zone near the North's border with China and Russia. A month before his trial, Kim had also appeared at a government-arranged news conference and apologised for attempting to steal military secrets in collusion with South Korea. The South Korean spy agency has denied involvement. The government wants to add a back door key for smartphone encryption, but doing so could be disastrous. The encryption that secures your phone doesnt come with a backup key. That may make you nervous if youre prone to forgetting your passcodes but it makes many law-enforcement and national-security types even more anxious when they contemplate permanently losing access to valuable evidence. They use the phrase going dark to describe the spread of hardware and software that can only be unlocked by their owners even if a court orders the companies behind those products to allow police access. Privacy advocates, however, see strong crypto without any extra keys or back doors as vital when both commercial and government attackers may want into your devices and the immense stores of data on them. Meanwhile, companies like Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG, GOOGL) increasingly treat strong encryption as a standard feature. As this debate escalates and as many observers think the Trump administration may try to move a bill mandating whats sometimes called exceptional access they continue to ship encrypted devices and apps that cant be whisked out of existence by any such bill. A new twist on the Apple-FBI fight The encryption argument got its most public airing two years ago, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation went to court to compel Apple to write special software to disable the lockout system on an iPhone 5c used by one of the San Bernardino shooters. But a final ruling never came, because the FBI dropped the case after saying it had successfully accessed that iPhones data. Subsequent reports pointed to the bureau hiring the services of an Israeli mobile-security firm, Cellebrite, that exploited a vulnerability in Apples iOS operating system. In March, however, the Justice Departments Office of the Inspector General issued a report suggesting the FBI hadnt tried too hard to get into that iPhone. That report found some FBI employees seemed more anxious to set a court precedent of requiring manufacturers to let in police than to get the San Bernardino shooters phone unlocked. It quotes the head of one FBI office voicing his disappointment that another had hired a contractor to hack the iPhone: Why did you do that for? Story continues What we saw was a breakdown of the FBIs argument, explained Robyn Greene, policy counsel and government affairs lead at New Americas Open Technology Institute. You can hack into every version of an iPhone; why do you need to back-door it? The biggest secret in phone unlocking in years: GrayKey Two weeks ago, Vices Motherboard tech-news site revealed that one iPhone-unlocking tool a device offered by Atlanta-based GrayShift called GrayKey was far more widely used than even the OIG report implied. Details had surfaced about this apparatus in earlier reports by Forbes and the security firm MalwareBytes, but reporter Joseph Cox found that numerous federal, state and local law-enforcement agencies regularly used GrayKey. GrayKey works, MalwareBytes reported, by trying different passcodes until one workssomehow without invoking the self-defense feature that causes an iPhone to wipe its storage irreversibly after 10 incorrect tries. GrayKeys effectiveness and wide use surprised people on both sides of this issue, who are still trying to figure out how it works and how many other such tools might exist. Its hard to know whether there are other undisclosed tools like it, said Jamil Jaffer, head of George Mason Universitys National Security Institute and an advocate of preserving law-enforcement access to encryption. Andrew Blaich, head of device intelligence at the mobile-security firm Lookout, suggested that market forces alone ensure that more GrayKey-like tools will be built. GrayShift has since provided its own unintentional warning of the risks of leaving back doors open: After a customer left some of its interface code exposed on the web, unknown hackers downloaded it and demanded a ransom of two Bitcoin. GrayShift doesnt seem to have paid up. Congress complicates this The Trump administration has been more vocal about encryption than Obamas. I think the administration is increasingly getting spun up and looking for ways to address this problem, Jaffer said. Last month, the New York Times reported that the White House was considering pushing for legislation mandating law-enforcement access to encrypted devices. But so far, the administration has offered little detail about what an exceptional-access system might look like. For instance, former FBI director James Comeys instant bestseller A Higher Loyalty reveals that the Obama administration had developed a proof-of-concept plan. But officials under President Trump have only offered vague appeals for responsible encryption. The most common concept offered outside government is to have backup keys locked in a secure area of the phone, to be unlocked only by a key or keys held by somebody besides the government. On Wednesday, Wired published a report by Steven Levy outlining Lotus Notes founder Ray Ozzies proposal for a system called Clear in which a phone manufacturer would keep an archive of emergency private keys that law-enforcement investigators could, after taking custody of a phone, get with a court order to unlock a backup passcode permanently encrypted on the phone. Cryptography experts pounced on issues with Ozzies already-patented plan. Matthew Green, a professor at Johns Hopkins University, wrote in a post that such a vault of private keys would be both massive Apple alone would need to safeguard more than a billionand a massive target for every government and criminal enterprise in the world. Absent customer demand, tech firms wont start building in exceptional-access mechanisms. But while Congress has done near zero for online privacy, it hasnt shown much interest in passing such a sweeping mandate. After the Inspector General report and GrayKey news, a bipartisan group of 10 House members asked FBI director Christopher Wray to explain why the FBI keeps complaining about locked phones if unlocking tools are so widespread. Its true that, as President Obama warned at the SXSW conference in March of 2016, some horrible crime might push lawmakers not just to act, but to mandate more access than could happen under concepts such as Ozzies. But even then, nothing short of totalitarian controls on software distribution would stop people from using strong encryption in add-on apps like the open-source messaging app Signal. And in that scenario, criminals could benefit more from strong crypto than citizens who play by the rules and stick with the default settings. More from Rob: Email Rob at rob@robpegoraro.com; follow him on Twitter at @robpegoraro. President Trump released a carefully-worded three-tweet statement confirming the bombshell disclosure by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani a new member of the presidents legal team that Trump reimbursed his personal attorney Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment to actress Stephanie Clifford, whose stage name is Stormy Daniels. The statement appeared to flatly contradict Trumps previous assertion that he was unaware of the payment. Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, Trump tweeted. These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The president added: The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll [sic] in this transaction. In an interview with Fox News Sean Hannity on Wednesday night, Giuliani said Trump repaid Cohen for his October 2016 payment to Daniels, who has said she had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006. Giuliani mentioned a figure of $135,000; until now, other reports have specified the amount was $130,000. Funneled through a law firm and then the president repaid it, Giuliani said. He didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this with my clients. I dont burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people. Story continues From left: Rudy Giuliani, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels and Michael Avenatti. (Photo illustration: Carolyn Kaster/AP, Seth Wenig/AP, Yahoo News; photos: Drew Angerer/Getty Images, Seth Wenig/AP, Joe Raedle/Getty Images, Hector Retamal/AFP/Getty Images) Appearing on MSNBC Wednesday night, Danielss attorney, Michael Avenatti, said Giulianis comments rendered him speechless. This is an outrage, what has gone on here, Avenatti said. The American people have been lied to about this agreement, about the $130,000, about the reimbursement and this is consistent with what we have been saying now for months. That ultimately it is going to be proven and ultimately was going to come out. We just didnt know that Rudy Giuliani was going to go on the Sean Hannity Show and admit it on national television. Asked aboard Air Force One last month whether he knew about the payment, Trump replied, No. When asked why Cohen made the payment, Trump told reporters that they would have to ask Cohen. Do you know where he got the money to make that payment? another reporter asked Trump. No, Trump replied. I dont know. But in a wide-ranging interview with Fox & Friends last week, Trump suggested he knew about Cohens involvement in arranging the nondisclosure agreement with the porn star. He represents me, like, with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, Trump said, marking the first time he had ever spoken the adult film actresss name publicly. In a statement to the New York Times in February, Cohen stated that he used his own personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford. Cohen added: Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly. Last month, the FBI raided Cohens office and hotel and reportedly seized information related to the hush-money payment. The raids were carried out on a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating the Trump campaigns contacts with Russia. And they enraged the president. Attorney-client privilege is dead! Trump declared in one tweet, echoing Cohens own pushback against the record seizures. Trump also returned to his oft-used phrase to describe Muellers probe. A TOTAL WITCH HUNT!!! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 10, 2018 On Wednesday night, Giuliani referred to the FBI agents who raided Cohens home and office as stormtroopers. Appearing on Fox & Friends on Thursday morning, Giuliani suggested that Trump didnt know the full details of the payments until his lawyers told him 10 days ago. Remember when this happened October 2016, said Giuliani, who served as an adviser to the Trump campaign. I was with him day in and day out then. I cant remember the details of what happened. I know $135,000 I dont want to demean anyone $135,000 seems like a lot of money. Its not when youre putting $100 million into your campaign. It isnt pocket change, but its pretty close to it. Imagine if that came out on Oct. 15, 2016, in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton, Giuliani added. Cohen made it go away. He did his job. Back in March, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Trump was unaware of Cohens payment. Ive had conversations with the president about this, Sanders told reporters during a March 7 press briefing at the White House. There was no knowledge of any payments from the president and hes denied all allegations. When asked about the latest revelations on Fox & Friends Thursday morning, Sanders declined to answer, pointing to Giulianis comments about the case. At a press briefing on Thursday afternoon, Sanders dismissed the notion that she was lying when she said in March that Trump was unaware of Cohens payment to the porn star. I gave you the best information that I had, she said. Read more from Yahoo News: (Cover photo credit: Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Washington (AFP) - Donald Trump's legal team fueled speculation Thursday about the "imminent" release of three Americans detained in North Korea, but the White House sounded a note of caution. Trump lawyers Jay Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani both touted the impending release of Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul, in media appearances. "We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today," Giuliani told a pro-Trump program on Fox News. Sekulow tweeted that the "reported release" of the hostages was "imminent," echoing a sentiment from Trump himself 24 hours earlier. But amid raised hopes about the fate of the men, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said "we can't confirm the validity of any of the reports currently out about their release." Sanders also indicated that their exit from North Korea could set the tone for a much vaunted summit between Kim Jong Un and Trump. "We certainly would see this as a sign of good will if North Korea were to release the three Americans ahead of discussions between President Trump and Kim Jong Un," she said. The release would be a major victory for Trump and help scotch suggestions that he is offering Kim a path in from the diplomatic wilderness without getting anything in return. For years the United States have been demanding North Korea move to scrap its nuclear weapons in return for talks on sanctions being lifted. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's lead lawyer for dealing with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe is stepping down at the end of the month, and is being replaced by Emmet Flood, a veteran of Bill Clinton's impeachment fight, the White House said Wednesday. "Emmet Flood will be joining the White House Staff to represent the President and the administration against the Russia witch hunt," Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Flood represented Bill Clinton during his 1998-99 impeachment proceedings. Ty Cobb's announced departure is the latest in a series from the president's legal team amid an internal debate over whether or not Trump should agree to be interviewed by Mueller. Cobb notified White House Chief of Staff John Kelly last week that he would retire at the end of this month, Sanders said, describing Cobb as "a friend of the president who has done a terrific job." Cobb took the lead of the White House team after the previous lead lawyer, John Dowd, quit in March, convinced that Trump was not following his advice. Dowd vehemently opposed Trump submitting to an interview, but the US president at the time was reportedly inclined to talk to the special prosecutor, believing it would lead to a quicker end to the probe. Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani joined the president's legal team last month, amid reports he intends to negotiate with Mueller on an interview with Trump. The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Mueller had warned Dowd in March that he could issue a subpoena for the president to appear before a grand jury if he declined to be interviewed. Questions submitted by Mueller's team show he is probing possible obstruction of justice by the president in the firing of former FBI director James Comey. Mueller also wants to ask Trump what he knew about attempts by campaign aides to seek Russian assistance during the 2016 US election campaign, according to the questions leaked to the New York Times. The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. President Donald Trump echoed the words of his former lawyer John Dowd to criticize Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into the U.S. leader's possible involvement with Russian collusion during the 2016 presidential election. "This isn't some game," Dowd had told Mueller during a meeting in March, according to a Washington Post report. "You are screwing with the work of the president of the United States," he had said. GettyImages-953798628 SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Trending: Giuliani and Trump Cant Get Stormy Daniels Payment Story Straight: Here's Everything They've Said Dowd, who left Trump's team weeks ago, reportedly made the comment in response to Mueller's claims that he would subpoena the president if he refused to speak with him. This isnt some game. You are screwing with the work of the president of the United States. John Dowd, March 2018. With North Korea, China, the Middle East and so much more, there is not much time to be thinking about this, especially since there was no Russian Collusion. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2018 The president quoted Dowd in a tweet on Wednesday, after his former lawyer's exchange with Mueller came to light, adding: "With North Korea, China, the Middle East and so much more, there is not much time to be thinking about this, especially since there was no Russian 'Collusion'." Don't miss: Why Growing Up Outside Of Cities With Pets Might Make People Mentally Healthier The standoff between Dowd and Mueller led to weeks of turmoil, according to the Post, as Trump's legal team determined how to respond to Mueller's request for an interview with Trump. Disputes over legal strategy reportedly led to Dowd's resignation. White House lawyer Ty Cobb is now expected to follow Dowd out the door, after he announced his resignation on Wednesday. Story continues Earlier this week, Trump condemned the leak of a list of questions Mueller had recently handed the U.S. leader's legal team, slamming the disclosure as "disgraceful." The list of four dozen questions, which covered a range of topics, including Russian meddling in the U.S. election and whether Trump tried to obstruct justice to protect his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, was published by the New York Times earlier this week. The list also included questions around former FBI Director James Comey's firing, as well as questions about Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Most popular: Can Cubas Miguel Diaz-Canel Complete Raul Castros Economic Revolution? "So disgraceful that the questions concerning the Russian Witch Hunt were 'leaked' to the media," Trump wrote on Twitter early on Tuesday morning. "No questions on Collusion. Oh, I see... You have made a made up, phony crime, Collusion, that never existed, and an investigation begun with illegally leaked classified information. Nice!" he added. Previously, Trump has said he would be "100 percent" open to testifying about his conversations with Comey and on questions about the former FBI chief's firing. In recent months, however, the president's tone turned increasingly more abrasive towards the probe and towards Mueller personally, and it is unclear if he is still willing to testify under oath. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Donald Trump has claimed that hush money paid by his personal lawyer to Stormy Daniels did not come out of his campaigns finances further confirming the payment to the adult actress on the eve of the 2016 election. In a series of tweets, written in a distinctly legalistic manner and unlike most of the postings on the presidents timeline, Mr Trump said the payment to Ms Daniels, had been made through his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, who was then reimbursed through a monthly retainer. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in this transaction, Mr Trump wrote. Mr Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. He said such agreements were commonplace among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in arbitration for damages against Ms Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. He added: Prior to its violation by Ms Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction. Mr Trumps comments came after former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a new member of the presidents legal team, appeared on Fox News and said Mr Trump reimbursed Mr Cohen for the $130,000 payment to Ms Daniels, an admission that appeared to contradict the presidents previous claim he did not know the source of the money and suggested he had no role in the matter. Mr Giulianis comments, in an interview with Sean Hannity, were immediately seized on. Last month, flying back from an event in West Virginia, the president told reporters on Air Force One that he knew nothing about Mr Cohens payment to Ms Daniels. Story continues Mr Giuliani told Mr Hannity, a favourite of conservatives and a broadcaster happy to toss softball questions to Mr Trump when he appears on his show, that the money to repay Mr Cohen had been funnelledthrough the law firm and the president repaid it. ...despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 Asked if Mr Trump knew about the arrangement, Mr Giuliani said: He didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this for my clients. I dont burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people. There was much speculation as to whether Mr Giulianis marked part of a new legal strategy by the White House in dealing with Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Moscow. Mr Trump has recently parted company with a series of lawyers who had counselled cooperating with the investigation and who had worked to try and find a process in which the president could answer Mr Muellers questions while minimising his legal exposure. On Wednesday, it emerged veteran lawyer Ty Cobb was quitting his position and was set to be replaced by Emmet Flood, an attorney who helped represent Bill Clinton during his impeachment hearings. It has been an honour to serve the country in this capacity at the White House, said Mr Cobb. I wish everybody well moving forward. Meanwhile, Mr Giuliani, who has a reputation as a legal brawler and rabble-rouser, has taken a key role in developing the presidents strategy, which may see an end to cooperation with Mr Mueller. After his appearance on Fox News, the former mayor was asked by the Washington Post, if he had spoken with president since the interview. He replied: I did. Hes very pleased. Yet, experts have said that Mr Trump, whose anxiety about the probe appears to have increased after FBI agents raided Mr Cohens office and took away a large number of documents, has limited options when it comes to avoiding Mr Mueller other than firing him. While it has been reported Mr Trump has on more than one occasion been on the brink of firing the Special Counsel, whom he has accused of leading a witch hunt, most observers believe it would be step too far for most members of his party to accept. Bradley Moss, a Washington-based national security lawyer, told The Independent Mr Mueller would have legal precedent on his side if he subpoenaed Mr Trump. He said the US Supreme Court had previously ruled that a president can be subpoenaed, either to appear for interview or to hand over evidence. He added: If Mr Mueller wants to have a sit down with the president, there is nothing to stop him. Only a couple of President Donald Trumps lawyers had the security clearance needed to talk about Trump possibly getting interviewed by Russia probe special counsel Robert Muellerand neither are in a position to represent him, according to reports. Related: Joe Scarborough Says Trump's 'Motley Crew' of Lawyers Doesn't Stand a Chance Against Mueller John Dowd, who served as Trumps lead attorney, had a security clearance, two sources familiar with the situation told Bloomberg in a report published Wednesday, but he abruptly resigned in March after not seeing eye-to-eye with the president on a legal strategy. Trending: Kim Kardashian West Asks Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner to Pardon Woman Profoundly Deserving of Her Freedom' White House lawyer Ty Cobb, who handles requests from the special counsel's office, has a security clearance but it was announced Wednesday that he will retire from his position at the end of the month. Cobb's role has been to represent the office of the president, rather than Trump in a personal capacity, thus he has not communicated directly with Mueller about an interview. Trump plans to replace Cobb with Emmet Flood, who represented former President Bill Clinton while he went through impeachment proceedings, The New York Times reported. It is unclear if Flood will be granted a security clearance. Trumps new lead lawyer, Jay Sekulow, awaits his security clearance. Sekulow recently brought on former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and white-collar defense attorneys Jane Raskin and Martin Raskin onto Trumps legal team. None of the three responded to a request for comment from Bloomberg or Newsweek as to whether they have a security clearance. Don't miss: Is ISIS Leader Alive or Dead? Top Official Says He Has Not Seen Baghdadi Since Last Summer 05_02_18_TrumpLawyers Win McNamee/Getty Images Story continues Without security clearances, Trumps lawyers may be limited in advising him on sensitive matters involved in Mueller's questioning. Dowd told Bloomberg that before he quit, prosecutors working for Mueller conveyed to Trumps legal team that if the president did not agree to be interviewed, the special counsel would consider issuing a subpoena for him to testify in front of a grand jury. The lack of security clearances has affected Trump outside of Muellers investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The presidents son-in-law Jared Kushner had his top-level security clearance, which was temporary, downgraded, and his daughter Ivanka Trump also reportedly lacks a complete security clearance. Both serve as senior White House advisers and are said to be possible targets of Mueller as his probe widens. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek LONDON (Reuters) - United Nations Secretary-Genera Antonio Guterres on Thursday said he was optimistic about the prospects for progress on the issue of North Korea's nuclear program after recent diplomatic moves by Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington. "I am optimistic ... I think now things are on track for a meaningful negotiation," he said during an interview on BBC Radio 4. "It's in the interest of the North Koreans that have been dramatically impacted by the sanctions, it's in the interest of South Korea that needs peace and security, it's in the interest of China that was always against a nuclear North Korea but also wants a good security framework in the region, it's in the interest of the United States because for the United States the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula has always been a main objective." (Reporting by Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Alistair Smout) London (AFP) - British peers are pushing for US President Donald Trump to address parliament during a July visit, despite apparent opposition from the speaker of the House of Commons, according to reports on Thursday. Conservative peer Patrick Cormack, one of Britain's longest-serving lawmakers, said that as the leader of "our most important ally", Trump should be allowed to deliver a speech to parliament. "My own personal views on him are completely irrelevant a- we should give him the opportunity to speak to both Houses," he told The Independent newspaper. The US president will defy planned mass protests to visit London during a July working trip to Britain announced last month. John Bercow, the speaker of the Commons, said last year he was "strongly opposed" to letting Trump address lawmakers, citing "opposition to racism and sexism" and adding people had to "earn" such a right. Reports suggested it may be possible for the American leader to address the Royal Gallery in parliament, used for important occasions, often with members of both Houses present. This would see Trump follow in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, who both addressed lawmakers in the portrait-lined gallery during their tenures in the White House. Norman Fowler, the Lord Speaker -- a presiding officer role in Britain's unelected House of Lords -- said since taking on the role in 2016 he had welcomed both the King of Spain and the President of Colombia to parliament. "No conversations have taken place between the House of Lords and the UK Government regarding President Trump coming to the Royal Gallery," he added in a statement following Thursday's reports. "Any request for him to speak in the Royal Gallery would be discussed if and when it were received. "The United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom," he added. Trump's visit, which will take place on July 13, had been repeatedly delayed amid a series of diplomatic spats and fears it could be marred by huge protests. British Prime Minister Theresa May controversially offered Trump a state visit when she was the first foreign leader to visit him shortly after entering the White House, provoking uproar at home following the president's travel ban from several Muslim-majority countries. British lawmakers called on May to withdraw the offer, while protesters have promised to turn out in record numbers. Tijuana (Mexico) (AFP) - Yolany Reyes is adamant about one thing: no one is going to separate her from her three-year-old son. "It would be like taking away part of me," said the 26-year-old Honduran. Reyes and her child have traveled across Mexico by train, bus and on foot with a migrant caravan, and now she's at the US border hoping to gain asylum. Along with 150 other Central Americans, they have been camped out since Sunday in a little plaza in Tijuana that abuts a border crossing into southern California. Across the frontier beckons the US city of San Diego. But to get there, they must navigate a nerve-wracking asylum process that can separate mother from child. It will begin with their arrest when Reyes presents herself to an immigration officer without a visa. She will then undergo a screening to determine whether she has a "credible fear" of political persecution or violence, says Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law at Cornell University. "They then proceed to a full asylum hearing on the merits before an immigration judge," he says. "An asylum applicant doesn't have to be detained at that point in the process, but often is, because the government wants to make sure they show up for their hearing." And in that process, children can be taken away from their parents. According to The New York Times, about 700 children have been separated from their parents at US border stations since October 2017, 100 of them under the age of four. The government also detains many asylum seekers to try to deter other potential asylum applicants from coming to the United States, says Yale-Loehr. Critics say separating families is a cruel policy pursued by a hostile administration to deter the arrival of undocumented people. Tyler Houston, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), denies that charge: "There is no policy of separating families on the border for deterrent purposes." Story continues "DHS has an obligation to protect the best interests of children crossing our borders and occasionally this results in separating them from the adult they are traveling with if a parental relationship cannot be confirmed or if we think the child is in danger," he said. - 'Horrific' practice - Reyes doesn't know what to do: She says she can't be separated from her child and she can't go back home to Colon, Honduras, where she says her father, a farmer, was killed for political reasons. "We have suffered many tragedies," said the young woman, who says she will only be safe in the United States, where her husband arrived a month ago. "I am in danger." The number of detentions at the border have soared -- 90,033 between January and March 2018 compared to 62,525 in the same period of 2017, according to government figures. US President Donald Trump, who campaigned in the 2016 US elections on a harsh anti-immigration platform, has pointed at the Reyes' caravan as justification for building a big border wall. Tom Homan, acting ICE director, told Fox News Tuesday the caravan is "an attack on the sovereignty of the nation." "They take advantage of the loopholes in the system," he said, adding: "Some have good cases (for asylum), but many do not." James Jones, an immigration attorney in Chula Vista, California, crossed the border to offer members of the caravan free consultations about the asylum process and its risks. "Many are more afraid of going back home," he explained. "While there is a possibility of being separated from their children, there is a greater chance that they will die there," he said, referring to their home countries. That's how it is for Johana Magaly. She has five children aged three to 14. She is prepared to be separated from them temporarily if it means they can enter the United States, and not go back to Guatemala, where she says, without going into details, that a man threatened to kill her. "As long as we're better off than in my country and I can have them with me later," she said. It's a Solomonic choice that has caused a lot of heartache. The American Civil Liberties Union has sued over the case of a Congolese mother who was fleeing violence and was kept in detention thousands of miles from her daughter, aged seven. In the end, the woman was released. But "there remain many other families who have been separated, and we will continue to attack this horrific family separation practice, said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project. Footage has emerged showing police in Tennessee using a stun gun on a nurse who refused to leave an emergency room. Roger Davis, 42, a registered nurse who works at the Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has been charged with two counts of assault, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct following an incident on April 26. In a clip recorded by an eyewitness, two Chattanooga officers are heard asking Davis to go outside. Police were called to the scene after Davis began yelling at hospital staff following a disagreement about how they were caring for his mother, reported Times Free Press. Trending: 'Star Wars X-Wing' Second Edition Board Game Launches Later This Year Davis was asked to leave by medical staff, as well as the vice president of Erlanger. nurse Storyful/Ethan Raymond Officer Sarah Rogers described how Davis then began swinging his arms in an attempt to keep them from making him leave, according to her account in an affidavit obtained by WTVC. Don't miss: Kanye West: I Had Liposuction So Yall Wouldnt Call Me 'Fat Like Rob Kardashian' Davis tells the officers I will walk out on my own towards the end of the tussle. Rogers then fires the stun gun after Davis continually refused to put his arms down so they could be tied behind his back. According to Rogers account, Davis said Go ahead after the officer warned him three times she would use the stun gun against him if he did not lower his hands. Mr. Davis made no effort to stop his fighting or comply with any commands given by either one of us, Rogers said. Most popular: When Will the Next Supervolcano Erupt? New Model Suggests It Depends on Local Plate Tectonics In a statement, the Erlanger Hospital thanked the officers for their assistance. "Erlanger would like to thank our associates, security and the Chattanooga Police Department for containing the situation that occurred on the evening of April 26 and ensuring the safety of our patients, visitors and staff, the hospital said. Story continues Because of their diligence, patient care in the emergency department was in no way impacted as a result of this isolated incident. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Its been another cataclysm of a news cycle in which President Donald Trump was caught in a series of lies too obvious to be explained away as misstatements or ignorance. Weeks after Trump insisted he didnt know about the hush money used to keep his alleged affair with Stormy Daniels quiet, he on Thursday admitted to the entire arrangement. Denying that the funds were campaign expenses, the president tweeted that his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen received a monthly retainer which he used to arrange a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels. His comments came hours after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who recently joined Trumps legal team, told Fox News that the payment was funneled through a law firm, and then the president repaid it. Trumps lies much like the mere notion that he had sex with a porn star in the first place are both jarring and also completely predictable. He offered another flagrant falsehood later on Thursday when he claimed that the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Two of the three hostages were detained after Trump took office. This weeks untruths got even weirder on Tuesday when Trumps longtime doctor, Harold Bornstein, said that he didnt actually write the glowing bill of health released during the campaign. Trump dictated that whole letter. I didnt write that letter, Bornstein told CNN this week. I just made it up as I went along. His physical strength and stamina are extraordinary, Bornsteins December 2015 letter read. If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency. Trumps speech on Friday at the National Rifle Associations Annual Meetings was also chock-full of fibs. Among them was the claim that 98 percent of mass shootings occur in gun-free zones a figure stemming from a highly misleading study from a gun rights advocate. Earlier on Friday he also erroneously stated that special counsel Robert Mueller served under President Barack Obama for eight years (it was four). Story continues These frequent contradictions make it hard to take any of Trumps claims seriously, including his outrage this week that a list of questions Mueller plans to ask him were leaked to the press. Multiple sources told The Washington Post that it was Trumps personal lawyer, Jay Sekulow, who compiled the questions after talking with Muellers team. So disgraceful that the questions concerning the Russian Witch Hunt were leaked to the media. No questions on Collusion. Oh, I see...you have a made up, phony crime, Collusion, that never existed, and an investigation begun with illegally leaked classified information. Nice! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 1, 2018 Muellers team is also not known for leaking. The same cant be said for the White House. This piece was updated with Trumps comments at the NRA Annual Meetings. Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. GOP Senate hopeful Don Blankenship, already notorious for his controversial Cocaine Mitch ad, defended his use of the word Chinaperson to describe the father Secretary of Transport Elaine Chaos father. Speaking during a West Virginia GOP senate primary debate hosted by Fox News, Blankenship continued his pointed criticism of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell along with staying unapologetic for using the word to describe Chao's father, who is McConnell's father-in-law. Related: GOP Senate candidate releases bizarre ad branding Mitch McConnell "Cocaine Mitch" Trending: The V.A.'s Problems Are Much Bigger Than Finding a New Secretary | Opinion When asked about his use of the word, Blankenship said: This idea that calling someone a Chinaperson - I mean, Im an Americanperson, I dont see this insuation by the press that theres something racist about saying a Chinaperson, adding some people are Koreanpersons and some of them are Africanpersons, theres not any slander there. Asked by the host how using the term to refer to Chaos father, would affect his ability to get along with a key decider in infrastructure projects that could affect the state, , Blankenship replied Im not going to D.C. to get along so that wont be a failure cause I dont intend to get along, I intend to make sure that we make a difference. According to a New York Times profile of Blankenship, he himself mulled gaining Chinese citizenship and is engaged to marry a woman who was born in China. Blankenship was previously the CEO of the Massey Energy Company. Don't miss: Pokemon Go Raid Boss Update: Fighting Types Added During Event He spent a year in federal prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to violate mine safety standards. 29 people died in an explosion at a mine run by Massey Energy. Blankenship made national headlines when he referred to McConnell as Cocaine Mitch in an ad. The hosts of Foxs primary debate mentioned that he had attempted to bring hats with the slogan Ditch Mitch onto the show. Story continues This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Donald Trump dictated a letter which stated he had "astonishingly excellent" health during the election campaign, his former doctor has claimed. Harold Bornstein, Mr Trump's longtime personal doctor, said he made up the glowing bill of health on the president's orders. "He dictated that whole letter. I didn't write that letter," Dr Bornstein told CNN. With his long flowing hair and large glasses, the medic became a colourful character in Mr Trumps 2016 campaign for the presidency. The December 2015 letter issued under his name declared that Mr Trump would "unequivocally" be "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency". "Mr Trump has had a recent complete medical examination that showed only positive results," said the letter. "Actually, his blood pressure, 110/65, and laboratory results were astonishingly excellent. His physical strength and stamina are extraordinary". It went on to state: "If elected, Mr Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency". Analysis | Donald Trumps physical health At the time Dr Bornstein was widely ridiculed for the assessment, with sceptics pointing out it was eerily similar to Mr Trump's manner of speaking, but he insisted he had written it himself. But in a series of media interview on Tuesday, Dr Bornstein claimed Mr Trump read out the language as he and his wife were driving across Central Park. "(Trump) dictated the letter and I would tell him what he couldn't put in there," he said. Dr Bornstein, who was Mr Trump's personal doctor for more than 30 years, also claimed the president's bodyguard took possession of his medical records in an episode that felt like a "raid." Story continues Keith Schiller, the presidents bodyguard and former director of Oval Office operations, showed up at his office along with two other men to collect the records, he said. In quotes | Donald Trump on his health and diet Dr Bornstein said that Mr Schiller and another "large man" were in his office for about 30 minutes and "created a lot of chaos". The February 2017 incident left him feeling "raped, frightened and sad", he told NBC News. Sarah Sanders, the White House Press Secretary, disputed the doctors characterisation of the episode, saying that was "not my understanding". "As is standard operating procedure for a new president, the White House Medical Unit took possession of the presidents medical records," she told reporters at a White House briefing. Dr Bornstein has been something of a thorn in Mr Trump's side with loose-lipped remarks to the media since he entered office. At a glance | Donald Trumps physical health compared with previous presidents Last year he told the New York Times that the president takes a small dose of a prostate-related drug to stimulate hair growth. He also told the newspaper that he prescribed Mr Trump drugs for rosacea and cholesterol. The seizing of Mr Trump's medical records came two days after the story was published. Dr Bornstein told NBC that Mr Trumps personal secretary called him after the story ran and said: "So you wanted to be the White House doctor? Forget it, youre out." Mr Trump opted instead to keep on Ronny Jackson, President Barack Obama's White House doctor. Dr Bornsteins return to the headlines comes just days after Dr Jackson withdrew his nomination to the head of the Department of Veterans Affairs after allegations of workplace misconduct. He faced a faced a string of claims of heavy drinking and inappropriate behaviour while on duty. Dr Jackson has denied the claims. By Karen Freifeld and Steve Holland NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawyer Emmet Flood, who advised President Bill Clinton in impeachment proceedings, will assist President Donald Trump with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, replacing Ty Cobb, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday. The latest lawyer shuffle comes as the question of whether Trump will agree to an interview with Mueller appears to be coming to a head. Washington lawyer John Dowd, who left Trump's outside legal team over a month ago, said on Tuesday that in March, Mueller had threatened to subpoena Trump's testimony if he did not talk to investigators. Flood will "represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt," Sanders said. "Ty Cobb, a friend of the president, who has done a terrific job, will be retiring at the end of the month." Neither Cobb nor Flood immediately responded to requests for comment. Mueller is investigating Russia's meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, an investigation that includes whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow and possible obstruction of justice by Trump, among other things.Russia has denied interfering in the election, despite the conclusions of U.S. intelligence agencies, and Trump has denied there was any collusion between his campaign and Moscow while repeatedly denouncing the investigation. Last year, Flood turned down a post on the White House team that ultimately went to Cobb, Reuters reported in July. He met with Trump in March about assisting the administration with the Russia probe, though the position was unclear, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters at the time. Flood advised Clinton in impeachment proceedings in the late 1990s brought by the U.S. House of Representatives and tried before the U.S. Senate, where Clinton was acquitted. Flood also spent two years in the White House counsel's office, where he handled executive privilege-related disputes for President George W. Bush's administration and congressional investigations and other inquiries. He was a clerk for Associate Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Cobb joined the administration in July after resigning from the Washington law firm of Hogan Lovells. In an interview with Reuters in August, he predicted a quick end to the Mueller probe. "I'd be embarrassed if this is still haunting the White House by Thanksgiving, and worse if it's still haunting him by year end," Cobb told Reuters at the time. He also took a cooperative approach to Mueller's requests. Trump has since appeared increasingly frustrated with the investigation. Last month, Trump brought former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani onto his outside legal team, and said the former federal prosecutor wanted to resolve the matter quickly. According to a Washington Post reporter's Twitter Post on Wednesday, Giuliani said any interview of the president by Mueller would be maximum two to three hours around a narrow set of questions." Separately, Giuliani told Bloomberg News that the legal team would be inclined to allow the interview, but said if Mueller already believed former FBI director James Comeys version of events, then it would be leading Trump into the lions den. Joshua Stueve, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment on the reports. Besides Giuliani, former federal prosecutors Martin Raskin and Jane Serene Raskin also just joined Trump's outside legal team, which has recently been led by lawyer Jay Sekulow. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Steve Holland; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Susan Thomas and Marguerita Choy) Liu Xia at her home in Beijing, China, in 2012 - AP Liu Xia, the wife of Nobel Peace laureate and dissident Liu Xiaobo, has made a desperate plea for help, telling friends she is willing to die at home in protest after being kept under house arrest for several years. The 57-year-old poet was put under house arrest in 2010 after her husband was awarded the peace prize for his rights campaigning in China, and calls for her release have grown louder since his death last year. Now, Ive got nothing to be afraid of. If I cant leave, Ill die in my home," Ms Liu said in a phone call to Liao Yiwu, a Chinese writer who posted the comments on the chinachange.org website. "Xiaobo is gone, and theres nothing in the world for me now. Its easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me, added Ms Liu, who has never been charged or convicted for an offence. Liu Xiaobo death in hospital last year after a battle with liver cancer sent shockwaves through Chinas activist community and among human rights campaigners across the world. The dissident and veteran of the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989 was jailed in 2009 for state subversion. Liu Xia, the wife of Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, holds a photo of her husband during an interview in Beijing in 2010 Credit: Reuters His death prompted calls for Liu Xia to be allowed to leave China from politicians across the world, including Rex Tillerson, the former United States Secretary of State, and Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Foreign Minister. Mr Liao, who lives in exile in Germany, said he and other friends of Mrs Liu had been making preparations for her to come to Germany and receive treatment. She is reportedly suffering from a series of health problems, including severe depression. This photo taken on 2002 shows Liu Xiaobo (L) and his wife Liu Xia (R) posing for a picture in Beijing Credit: AFP Last week, German ambassador to China Michael Clauss told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that Ms Liu would be welcomed in his country. Chinese state media have previously said that Ms Liu was a free person who just wished to be left alone, while Beijing has said that the issue is an internal affair. China has previously allowed dissidents to live abroad, but President Xi Jinping has overseen a wide-ranging crackdown on the country's rights movement since he assumed power five years ago. When I first started working on aviation cases 20 years ago, it was not uncommon for my time to be spent defending lawsuits related to commercial airline accidents. Much has changed since then, as the airline industry becomes ever safer. In 2017, there were zero passenger deaths on commercial jets worldwide. The last airline passenger death on U.S. soil was in 2013 when South Koreas Asiana Airlines Flight 214 struck the seawall while landing short of the runway in San Francisco. No other industry that involves the risks inherent in air travel can match the U.S. airlines record for accomplishing their ultimate purposeto safely deliver people from one point to the other. This success is no accident: in addition to commercial aviations pervasive safety culture, the detailed inspections, overhauls and testing of an aircrafts airframe, engine, and components are designed to spot and correct problems before they become catastrophic. Of equal importance, any commercial pilot has years of experience and training before setting foot on the airline flight deck. This training continues throughout all crew members careers. Despiteor perhaps because ofthe commercial airlines impressive safety record, most negative attention the airlines attract now relates to customer service. Last year, air carriers transported over 4 billion passengers worldwide. Along the way, flights were canceled, bags were lost, and passengers got into physical altercations with authorities (and each other). As accidents fade from the collective memory, and the airlines safety record becomes mundane, these are the incidents that fuel public dissatisfaction with the industry. They also generate lawsuits. One of the specific challenges that airlines face is to provide acceptable service to passengers with disabilities. The Air Carrier Access Act, 49 U.S.C. 41705, was enacted by Congress to prohibit commercial airlines from discriminating against such passengers, partly in response to the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in U.S. Department of Transportation v. Paralyzed Veterans of America, 477 U.S. 597 (1986), in which the court held that commercial air carriers are not liable for violations of a law that was the precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ACAA requires the Secretary of Transportation to review all complaints received by air carriers alleging discrimination based on a disability. Complaints can also be filed directly with the Department of Transportations Aviation Consumer Protection Division, which is required to investigate each one. The ACAA does not include an express private right of action for individuals to recover damages. Instead, the ACAA and its attendant regulations provide for comprehensive enforcement mechanisms. See 49 U.S.C. 41705; 49 U.S.C. 46301; 14 C.F.R. Part 382. The ACAA gives the DOT authority to issue orders to compel compliance with statutory provisions, revoke the air carriers certificate and impose significant monetary penalties. It also authorizes the Attorney General to bring civil actions. For a time, some Texas courts concluded that private litigants could also recover monetary damages under the ACAA. However, the framework for determining when there is a private right of action for violations of the laws without an express private right of action were refined in the U.S. Supreme Courts opinion in Alexander v. Sandoval, 532 U.S. 275 (2001), which held that private rights of action to enforce federal law must be created by Congress. The judicial task is to interpret the statute Congress has passed to determine whether it displays an intent not just to create a private right but also a private remedy. Prior to Sandoval, the Fifth Circuit held in Shinault v. American Airlines, Inc., 936 F.2d 796 (5th Cir. 1991) that the ACAA did provide a private right of action. However, other circuit courts, having the benefit of the Courts guidance in Sandoval, have since analyzed whether the ACAA permits a private right of action and have concluded that it does not. See Lopez v. Jet Blue Airways, 662 F.3d 593 (2d Cir. 2011); Boswell v. Skywest Airlines, Inc., 361 F.3d 1263 (10th Cir. 2004); Love v. Delta Air Lines, 310 F.3d 1347 (11th Cir. 2002). An appeal now pending before the Fifth Circuit should clarify whether that courts pre-Sandoval courts decision in Shinault should be explicitly overruled. Stokes v. SouthwestAirlines involves the claim of a minor child who was traveling with his family and alleged that he was prohibited from flying because he has autism. Southwest moved to dismiss a claim for violation of the ACAA, arguing that the act provided no private right of action. The United States District Court in the Northern District of Texas initially denied the motion, but then dismissed the claims on rehearing. In its unpublished order, the trial court relied on the Fifth Circuits decision in Conservation Force v. Delta Air Lines, Inc., 682 Fed. Appx. 310 (5th Cir. 2017) (per curiam). In Conservation Force, the court interpreted another aviation regulation related to cargo, 49 U.S.C. 41310, and held that the law provided no private right of action. Comparing the framework of the two statutes, the district court concluded that there was no way to meaningfully distinguish them and held that there was no private right of action for a violation of the ACAA. The plaintiff appealed the dismissal. Now, the Fifth Circuit can examine the ACAA with the benefit of Sandoval and Conservation Force and assess whether the act provides for a private right of action. If the court follows the reasoning of other circuits and correctly examines the structure and language of the ACAA, it should hold that there is no such right and overrule Shinault. Author Update: Just days after this printed article went to press, the Fifth Circuit issued its opinion in Stokes v. Southwest Airlines on April 5, 2018. The court overruled Shinault and held that the ACAA confers no private right of action. Pamela C. Hicks is a founding shareholder of Hicks Davis Wynn in Houston. As part of its general litigation practice, the firm represents airlines, helicopter operators, engine and component part manufacturers, aircraft owners and fixed-base operators. The brother of alleged Parkland mass shooter Nikolas Cruz is suing law enforcement for how they handled his case in March. A nonprofit group by the name of Nexus Derechos Hermanos made the announcement on Wednesday on behalf of Zachary Cruz, 18, The Miami Herald reported. The civil rights law firm said they would discuss the federal lawsuit during a press conference on Thursday in front of Broward County Circuit Court, according to a press release. The 18-year-old was arrested in March for trespassing at Marjory Stoneman High School in Parkland, Florida, a month after his 19-year-old brother allegedly shot and killed 17 people on February 14. The younger Cruz was skateboarding around the school when he told the officers he was there to reflect and soak it all in. Trending: Vanuatu: Volcanic Ash May Force 10,000 People From Pacific Island Screen Shot 2018-05-02 at 5 Palm County Sheriff's Department Zachary Cruz was held on $50,000 bond, which his defense lawyer argued was set too high for a second-degree misdemeanor charge, The Miami Herald previously reported. He pleaded guilty and was placed on probation for six months by a Broward County judge and was not allowed to be within a mile of any high school. Cruz was accused of violating his probation on Tuesday for driving an SUV without a license plate nearby Park Vista Community High School in Lake Worth, Florida. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday, the Palm Beach Post reported. Don't miss: Giuliani 'May Have Proven' Trump Broke Law With Stormy Daniels Payment, Former Obama Ethics Chief Says The Nexus Group accused the Broward County Sheriffs Office, courts and the prosecutors of torturing Cruz. The civil rights lawyers accused them of dehumanizing treatment during Cruzs sentence, which led him to accept a guilty plea. Story continues Given the impossibly high bail, coupled with dehumanizing treatment in jail, Cruz was ultimately and unjustly forced to accept a guilty plea, just to escape the horrors of custody in the Broward main jail facility," the press release stated. The nonprofit group said it focuses "on the U.S. Constitutions Eight(h) Amendment right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment." Newsweek has reached out to the law firm for comment but did not hear back in time for publication. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Israeli online shoppers recently spotted anti-Semitic products, including a costume of a rabbi counting money, that was being sold on the popular online commerce websites, Amazon and eBay. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Two Israelis told Ynet about several items that contained strong anti-Semitic elements displayed on the online giants' websites in April, including a yellow Star of David and a costume of a rabbi counting money. After the browsers registered their complaints, the two offensive items were removed. A rabbi costume was presented with the model counting money (Photo: Amazon Germany) The rabbi's costume which was available in several versions was put up for salewith the price ranging from five to 13 euroson Amazon's website in Germany. Amazon used a model wearing the costume which appeared to predict an avaricious Jew redolent of traditional anti-Semitic stereotypes. The Israeli citizen who reported the item, which was not available in Israel, found it through the Facebook group "Israelis in Berlin". On the same day that the item went on the site, one of Amazon's browsers commented on it saying: "Is this some sort of a joke that the rabbi is counting money? Amazon, I demand you remove this anti-Semitic picture. It's such a disgrace. " Possibly out of concern that his Amazon account would be blocked, or that matters could be taken further, the seller replaced the original photo of the costume with another one. Nevertheless, he continues selling items on Amazon in Germany. The costume remained up for sale, but the photo was replaced (Photo: Amazon Germany) For sale on eBay: Yellow Star of David Several weeks ago another Israeli citizen living in Berlin informed Ynet that a yellow Star of David was being offered for sale on eBay. According to the site, the seller resides in Thailand and goes by the user name virginshop_9. The seller has been advertising the yellow Star of David, which contains the word "Jude", for several weeks. The star was used in Nazi Germany to mark Jews in the country and in Europe as their persecution intensified. According to the seller, the star that came to symbolize Jewish persecution "looks perfect on jeans, jackets, clothes, vests, hats and bags." A yellow badge was put up for sale on eBay (Photo: eBay) After contacting the seller, the Israeli was told that she would be given a discount if she purchased a large quantity of the stars. When Ynet contacted him and asked for his e-mail address or phone number, the seller refused to identify himself and said he is willing to communicate only through the eBay website. A few days later, the item was removed from the site, but the seller's account remains active and he continues selling a variety of patches bearing other symbols. eBay told Ynet that the offensive item was removed after it had been brought to the attention of the US eBay team. eBay also noted that while the seller's account had not been disabled, he was warned for violating the website's terms and conditions which are available on the site and which prohibit advertising offensive materials. The badge was removed, but the seller continued selling similar items (Photo: eBay) When asked why the man's account was not shut down after he had been caught selling offensive items, eBay said that in such cases the items are removed from the website, but the seller's account is not automatically closed. Nevertheless, the site assured that such an incident would not recur in the future. After reviewing eBay's policy regarding selling Nazi-related items, Ynet discovered that such items are still being sold on the website. According to eBay's policy, the site says it "acknowledges the historic importance of WWII and the fact that many people across the world invest their time in collecting military-related paraphernalia. "We authorize the sale of some of the historical items, but ban those who include Nazi propaganda, or items that offend the victims," the policy explains. Among Nazi-related items approved for sale by eBay are stamps, letters and envelopes with Nazi postmarks, money issued by the Nazi government, kits containing Nazi symbols and other religious and historic items that were manufactured prior to 1933, including swastikas. A phone case sold on Amazon (Photo: Amazon.com) The items forbidden for sale include prison uniforms and personal belongings of concentration camps inmates, Nazi uniforms, symbols related to Jewish persecution such as the yellow Star of David, photos from the Holocaust showing dead bodies, executions and other violent and degrading scenes, books written by Nazi leaders and swastikas manufactured after 1933. A year ago, the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem staff found anti-Semitic and Holocaust-denying books put up for sale on Amazon. After contacting Amazon about the matter, the site immediately removed the items. Among the offensive content that was removed was the book "Did six million Jews really die?" The Holocaust denying book 'Did six million Jews really die?' is being sold on Amazon (Photo: Amazon) Another case was reported three years ago in which several different items with an imprint of the Israeli flag splattered with blood were offered for sale on the website. Israelis contacted Amazon to complain about the anti-Semitic items, which led to their removal. The websites urged users to flag offensive or anti-Semitic items, thereby helping Amazon to track down their sellers during computerized scans and manual searches. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech Monday failed to prove that Iran is violating the nuclear agreement that it signed with the world powers in 2015, it did prove that Iran had lied to begin with, both concerning the existence of its nuclear program and concerning its components and its activity to produce nuclear warheads to install them on missiles. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter In other words, Iran failed to meet the conditions which served as the foundation for the negotiations that led to the agreement. When Iran claimed it wasnt building a nuclear weapon and missile warheads, but only enriching uranium and producing plutonium (fissile material), it concealed a fundamental fact from the international community and from the world powers, which turned the agreement into a misrepresentation: At that time, it was already in advanced stages of producing nuclear warheads. Prime Minister Netanyahu's presentation (Photo: AP) The most important value of Netanyahu's presentation is in the publication of the amazing intelligence achievement of obtaining the huge archive and transferring it to Israel. Its hard to assess the magnitude of the operation carried out by the Israeli intelligence, and mainly by the Mossad, which managed to get its hands on this material. This achievement, which has been verified by the Americans, is a deterring strategic factor in the conflict with Iran. When another country, located more than 1,000 kilometers away, is capable of stealing its most secret archive, Iran has to feel vulnerable. This fact has a negative impact on the regimes prestige and the intimidating image of the Revolutionary Guards, which are in charge of the nuclear program, as well as of the archive. If the Revolutionary Guards are incapable of protecting the nuclear archive, which includes explosive diplomatic and legal material, they are apparently not as intimidating as they thought. Thats something Irans citizens learned on Monday, and it indirectly threatens the regimes survival. Iran nuclear program infographic (Ynet) Netanyahu delivered the speech in English as its main goal was to help US President Donald Trump make a decision to withdraw from the nuclear agreement, and primarily to embarrass the Europeans for letting the Iranians deceive them when they signed the agreement in 2015. Netanyahu knows the Europeans would like to stick to the agreement, but they understand that reality has changed following the revelations: They have to close the breaches concerning the supervision of the agreements implementation and Irans missile program. The revelation that the Iranians have already designed a nuclear warhead for a missile, and that they plan to produce five warheads, requires new and more serious supervision by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over the agreements implementation. While that doesnt mean the entire agreement should be cancelled, it does require the Europeans to at least address the concerns that Iran is still secretly developing these nuclear warheads. Video: Roee Idan (: ) X Irans missile program is not part of the nuclear agreement, but as it has become clear that Tehran is producing a nuclear weapon to install on missile, it has to be supervised. If Iran refuses, it will have to be put under sanctions. The conclusions from the prime ministers revelation on Monday are that the five permanent Security Council members and Germany must now demand that Iran sign another agreement limiting its missile program and allowing tighter supervision within the country. If the Iranians agree, the US wont have to withdraw from the agreement. If the Iranians refuse, the Europeans will have to join the sanctions that the US imposes on Iran and a demand for tighter immediate supervision within military camps in Iran. Netanyahu and the Iranian archive on Monday (Photo: Orel Cohen) The Iranians will likely refuse, and the US will have no other choice but to walk away from the agreement. This will be followed by secret negotiations on amendments. Considering the Iranians difficult economic situation and the fact that the sanctions could lead to the regimes collapse, after the loud and provocative declarations they will quietly look for a compromise, and the Europeans will serve as mediators as usual. Netanyahu's revelations do not raise the likelihood of war in the region, but rather reduce it. Iran has been embarrassed in the international arena and wont want to carry out additional activities that would lead to further international isolation. The bottom line is that Netanyahu proved the nuclear agreement between the world powers and Iran was based on false data and a false premise concerning the most important componentthe weapons program. The Iranians sold the world powers a lie, and the powers fell for it. The world lies regularly. This fact was revealed once again on Monday in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's impressive presentation . The thing is that those who lie are usually well aware of it, even if they sometimes believe their own lies. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Iranian nuclear project is a known fact. Its hard to believe that there is a single respectable intelligence organization in the Western world which wasnt aware of the Iranian intentions before Netanyahu's presentation. Its hard to believe that there is a single leader in the free world who didnt know what Iran was pursuing and wasnt aware of the meaning of the agreement the world powers signed with Tehran, which gave the Iranians a quiet decade and financial investments. Netanyahu's nuclear presentation. Everything he said in the past was correct, but the world powers didnt listen (Photo: Orel Cohen) Nevertheless, under former US President Barack Obamas leadership and in cooperation with other countries, they chose the lie. Everything Netanyahu said at the time was correct, but they didnt listen. The intelligence information revealed on Monday was already on the table back then. Obama was aware of it, certain Congress members were aware of it, but thats where they left it. They ignored it. Despite the risk in the agreement, Netanyahu chosewhen he went to Congressnot to expose it to the public. There is every reason in the world to hide intelligence information. Mondays press conference revealed the Mossads tactical ability to infiltrate the most sensitive places in an enemy state, and Irans preventive intelligence services are likely searching for the Israeli sources as we speak. Netanyahu may have made the wrong decision at the time. A presentation like the one we saw on Monday would have forced Obama to react. The thing is that time has passed, and the next date is solely for improvements. President Donald Trump inherited an impossible situation from Obama. Since signing the agreement, Iran has enjoyed investments worth billions from China, Russia, France, Britain and other countries. No one has a real interest in popping this balloon. No one, apart from Israel and the Middle Easts Sunni states. This is likely Netanyahu's last attempt to pressure Trump, to enlist the American public opinion, the presidents voters, to appeal to certain aspects in Trumps personalityand get him to cancel the agreement. Not to improve it, but to cancel it. Trump wants to leave something big behind (Photo: AFP) Trump, however, is on his way to a Nobel Peace Prize. Oddly enough, this eccentric person who became the US president, the populist with countless skeletons in his closet, is on his way to make the world a better place. Whats happening in Korea right now is his success; and the Saudis willingness to openly discuss what they think about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a response to his presence in the White House. So is his willingness to move the US embassy to Jerusalem and to make gestures to Israel after years of pretend neutralityits his and only his. But if he adds a cancellation of the agreement with Iran into the equation, the Nobel might slip away. Trump wants to leave something big behind. Cancelling the agreement with Iran would be very good for Israel, but wont leave anything big behind, except that nearly nuclear enemy state which we knew before the agreement and which was put to shame again on Monday. Netanyahu gave a great show on Monday, the kind of show Trump likes. Once the show was over and the stage was cleaned, we were left with the demand between the lines. Netanyahu is asking Trump to do the right thing in regards to Iran, even at the price of losing the Nobel Prize. Trump wont make a commitment. Its too much to ask for, even if he is promised the Jewish Nobel prize which was turned down by Natalie Portman. A warder at the Eshel Prison in Be'er Sheva was moderately wounded Wednesday afternoon after being attacked by a security prisoner affiliated with Hamas. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter It was reported that the prisoner, a 53-year-old former resident of east Jerusalem who had already spent four years in the prison out of 30 he was sentenced to for attempted murder, poured boiling water over the prison guard, wo suffered burns all over his body as a result. File photo of Eshel Prison (Photo: Chaim Horstein) The prsioner was immediately tackled and subdued by several other guards and transferred to solitary confinement. A spokesman for the prison said the incident occurred while its guards were carrying out an inspection. The wounded warder was treated at the site and taken for further treatment at the Soroka Medical Center in the city. The prison stated that the incident is being investigated and that necessary steps would be taken against the prisoner. President Reuven Rivlin questioned Wednesday how Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas could be considered a legitimate peace partner in light of recent anti-Semitic comments he made suggesting that Jewish behavior brought about Nazi persecution. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter How can a leader who expresses such dark anti-Semitic ideas present himself as a partner in peace? Rivlin asked during a state visit to Ethiopia. It wasnt us who said these things. He chose to say them in his own voice and the time has come for all countries of the world to listen, to listen to what was said, Rivlin said. I must take this opportunity to address Abbass shocking statements over the last few days. Anti-Semitism doesnt create a dialogue, there is no negotiating with anti-Semites. The State of Israel will always seek peace with its neighbors, but it will never accept those who do not recognize its rights to exist, the president declared. President Reuven Rivlin and Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome (Photo: Mark Nayman/GPO) In his speech Monday, the Palestinian leader repeated conspiracy theories about the Jews' origins and their ties to the land of Israel. "The Jewish question that was widespread throughout Europe was not against their religion, but against their social function, which relates to usury and banking and such," Abbas said on Monday. He claimed Nazi leader Adolf Hitler offered the Jews money incentives to emigrate out of Europe to Palestine, including the option of taking all of their assets with them and selling their real state in the continent. President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: Reuters) "He (Hitler) wanted the Jewish homeland (in Palestine) to be supportive of him," the Palestinian leader said. Abbas also spoke about the roots of European Jewry, quoting a historian called Arthur Koestler who wrote about a "13th tribe" of Israel in the "Khazar Kingdom"a theory that has been dismissed by other Jewish historians. The Khazar Kingdom, Abbas said, eventually collapsed and its subjects spread throughout Europe. Those subjects, Abbas asserted, are the Ashkenazi Jews. (Photo: Mark Nayman/GPO) "They have no relationship to Semitic culture, Abraham, Jacob and others," Abbas claimed. He also compared the treatment of European Jews to that of Jews who lived in Arab nations, saying the latter never suffered from persecution in the 1,400 years they lived there. The European Union's foreign service also condemned Abbass "unacceptable remarks, echoing criticism on Wednesday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US officials also condemned on Tuesday night Abbas's speech at the Palestinian National Council (PNC) conference in Ramallah. Itamar Eichner, Shahar Hay and Reuters contributed to this report. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed on Wednesday Iran's nuclear program and developing trade ties with Japan in a meeting with his Japanese counterpart who is visiting the Middle East. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Netanyahu said he briefed Shinzo Abe in Jerusalem about a trove of documents he presented this week on Iran's "nuclear archives" seized by Israeli intelligence. "He added that whoever does not want nuclear weapons does not prepare plans and certainly does not preserve them. The prime minister said that the JCPOA (The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) was a bad agreement based on Iran's lies and deceit," a press statement from Netanyahu's office said. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (Photo: AFP) The two leaders also discussed bilateral relations, with Prime Minister Abe inviting Netanyahu to visit Japan. "We see the tremendous growth in Japanese investments of Israel, Israeli investments in Japan, the technology opportunities. This is a great partnership and we'll make it even better," Netanyahu said in a statement. "This is your second visit to Israel. My most recent visit to Japan was spectacular. We see the tremendous growth in Japanese investments of Israel, Israeli investments in Japan, the technology opportunities. This is a great partnership and well make it even better." Prime Minister Abe also lauded the grwoing bilateral ties between the two countries. "I do hope that Mr. Prime Minister will come back to Japan in the near future. And also I am very happy to note that there has been the dramatic increase in the Japanese investment to Israel under my administration," Abe boasted. "And also this time around, I brought a business delegation from Japan to Israel, which includes so many of the CEOs from Japan, so I do hope that youll have a productive discussion with the business leaders in the summit meetings that we are planning to have. And also I do hope that well further investment development between the two sides." Netanyahu and Abe with Japanese businesspeople (Photo: AFP) Earlier, Abe met Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah in the West Bank city of Jericho and toured an agricultural park supported by Japan. He met with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas the day before after arriving from Jordan. During their discussions, Netanyahu also condemned Abbas's anti-Semitic remarks, telling him that they reveal the truth about why there is no peace. After the meeting, the two leaders met with senior Japanese businesspeople, with both prime ministers welcoming the increase in Japanese investments in Israel. "This is only the beginning," Netanyahu optimistically stated. In January 2015, the Israeli cabinet decided to strengthen economic ties with Japan, giving rise to increased economic cooperation in a variety of fields. In January 2017, an unprecedented bilateral investment protection agreement was signed following which the quantity and scope of Japanese investments in Israel have increased over a thousand-fold. Chairman of the Executive Committee and chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said Wednesday evening that Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas did not deny the massacres that were perpetrated against Jews, including the Holocaust. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Erekats statement is the first to be issued by a senior PA official since Abbas made a speech on Monday that drew criticism the world over, repeating conspiracy theories about the Jews' origins and their ties to the land of Israel. Abbas also blamed Jews for the persecution they suffered under Adolf Hitlers Nazi regime. Abu Mazen never denied the massacres that were perpetrated against Jews, including the Holocaust, said Erekat, using Abbass nickname. Saeb Erekat (: AP) According to Abbas, "The Jewish question that was widespread throughout Europe was not against their religion, but against their social function, which relates to usury and banking and such." Speaking at the Palestinian National Conference (PNC) in Ramallah, he claimed Nazi leader Adolf Hitler offered the Jews money incentives to emigrate out of Europe to Palestine, including the option of taking all of their assets with them and selling their real state in the continent. "He (Hitler) wanted the Jewish homeland (in Palestine) to be supportive of him," the Palestinian leader said. Abu Mazen believes in peace, in negotiations and in the establishment of two states that live in peace and security as good neighbors in accordance with his vision of peace which he set out before the Security Council, Erekat said, further defending his boss in Ramallah. Erekat went on to express his astonishment at the coordinated attack Israel had allegedly launched around the world against Abbas since his speech, which he said was an attempt to brand the PA leader as an anti-Semite, to avoid returning to the negotiating table and to label him as a supporter of terror. The international assault, he said, had been carried out by distorting Abbass words in his speech in which he quoted Jewish historians to prove that Jews had no link with Israel. PA President Mahmoud Abbas (Photo: Reuters) Abu Mazen has emphasized several times his respect for the Jewish religion and that his issue is with those who occupy our land, Erekat said. Speaking about the roots of European Jewry during his speech, Abbas quoted a historian called Arthur Koestler who wrote about a "13th tribe" of Israel in the "Khazar Kingdom"a theory that has been dismissed by other Jewish historians. President Reuven Rivlin questioned earlier how Abbas could be considered a legitimate peace partner in light of is comments. How can a leader who expresses such dark anti-Semitic ideas present himself as a partner in peace? Rivlin asked during a state visit to Ethiopia. The European Union's foreign service also condemned Abbass "unacceptable remarks, echoing criticism on Wednesday by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US officials also condemned on Tuesday night Abbas's anti-Semitic speech at the PNC. Thousands of people gathered in the Galilee town of Meron Wednesday night to celebrate the annual Lag B'Omer pilgrimage, as police estimated that hundreds of thousands would attend the Kabala-oriented event which grows larger every year. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Many religious Jews believe that making the Lag B'Omer pilgrimage to the gravesite of the second century Talmudic sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai (acronym: Rashbi) in Meron, just West of Safed, brings about good fortune and blessings. Crowds surround the giant bonfire (Photo: One Broadcasting) Lag B'Omer, or the 33rd of the Omer count is the 33rd day in a seven week count from Passover until the holiday of Shavuot when Jews received the Torah at Mount Sinai. Traditionally, the passing of the sage Rabbi Shimon is commemorated on that day and also marks the end of a plague that struck thousands of students of the famed Talmudic sage Rabbi Akiva. Over the years, the day has taken on a mystical significance, based on Kabala sources. The festivities commenced at 8:30pm Wednesday when the Rabbi of the Boyan dynasty ignited the grand bonfire adjacent to the gravesite. Although Boyan is only a relatively small Hassidic sect, a one-hundred year tradition calls for its leader to be the one to initiate the celebration. Boyan Rebbe at the bonfire (Photo: One Broadcasting) Over the next 24 hours, 18 different Hassidic Rebbes took turns leading the dancing around the bonfire surrounded by their followers and accompanied by Klezmer music. Public transportation only The Ministry for Religious Affairs budgeted NIS 15 million for the event and 5,000 police officers were deployed to keep order and maintain public safety. Public transportation was also reinforced and shuttle buses were provided from Tiberias and other locations, to Meron, as private vehicles were prevented from approaching Meron for the duration of the festival (except for local residents with ID). (Photo: One Broadcasting) A hospitality organization also arranged free food and drinks for the thousands of pilgrims. The police had been preparing for the annual event for months and began sending reinforcements to the area as early as Sunday. Thousands of police and other emergency service personnel were stationed on all routes leading to Meron. On Wednesday afternoon, a procession carrying a Torah scroll set out from the home of the Abu family in Safed to Meron, in a 185 year old tradition. A sixth generation descendent of Rabbi Shmuel Abu, the founder of the clan led the march together with Safed Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu. Mountains of trash Due to a disagreement between the local Regional Council and the Ministry for Religious Services, piles of trash and tree trimmings quickly began to mount as responsibility for their removal remained in dispute. Abundant piles of tree trimmings The local council insisted that it had provided additional sanitation services, but owing to the huge influx of visitors over Lag B'Omer, they lacked the capability to cope with so much trash. Therefore, they claim, a decision was reached whereby waste removal from the gravesite area and avenues leading up to it is the responsibility of the religious ministry, which has an appropriate budget. All major roads in the area, including highways 89, 866 and 8900 were closed to private vehicles through Wednesday night. (Photo: One Broadcasting) Wristbands for children Police, in conjunction with ZAKA (a volunteer emergency response team), set up a booth to assist people with special needs and to distribute wristbands for children, emblazoned with the phone number of their parents or guardian. Many ultra-Orthodox schools distributed some 6,000 of the wristbands ahead of time. ZAKA also set up a hotline, 1220, for missing children. For the first time, handicapped accessible lavatory structures were erected at the site for women to use, instead of chemical toilets that have been used in past years. They also included nursing and diaper changing stations. (Photo: One Broadcasting) Hospitality tents Giant air conditioner units were rented for the tents where food and drinks were provided around the clock as well as where multiple prayer quorums were expected to form throughout the day. In an effort not to burden the existing electrical infrastructure, generators were brought in to power the air conditioners of two giant tents, one for men and one for women. People prefer Parve food Organizers expected an increase in demand for cold drinks this year. We will be supplying 100,000 liters of cold water and juice, said one volunteer. For the women, we ordered tens of thousands of water bottles instead of disposable cups (which many men share). (Photo: Meron Hospitality) He said that most pilgrims prefer Parve (containing neither milk or meat products) food to meat products as religious law requires a six hour wait between meat and dairy products. Half of the 500 liters of the traditional chulent stew were meatless. Bread rolls were also mezonot (sweeter than regular bread) and not hamotzi, which require ritual hand washing. Magen David Adom prepared with hundreds of medics and paramedics to respond to emergencies. A control center and two clinics were also established for the events. At Ziv Hospital in nearby Safed, medical staff prepared themselves to deal with the expected arrival of dozens of people injured by the crush or who sustain cuts and burns or became dehydrated. Because of the plague that struck Rabbi Akivas students during this period, many Jews refrain from cutting their hair and listening to music between Passover and the festival of Lag B'Omer. It has become a tradition for many parents to bring their three year old sons to Meron for their first haircut on that day. MOGADISHU, Somalia The International Committee of the Red Cross says a female staffer has been abducted by armed men in Somalia's capital, and a Somali police officer says the nurse is German. It is the latest in a series of targeted attacks on aid workers in the long-chaotic Horn of Africa nation. A Red Cross statement says the staffer was seized Wednesday night when armed men entered the aid group's compound in Mogadishu. Police Capt. Mohamed Hussein says the German woman was abducted despite the presence of several security guards, who he said have been arrested. In late March, a local Red Cross staffer was killed in a car bombing in Mogadishu. US President Donald Trump has all but decided to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord by May 12 but exactly how he will do so remains unclear, two White House officials and a source familiar with the administration's internal debate said on Wednesday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter There is a chance Trump might choose to keep the United States in the international pact under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, in part because of "alliance maintenance" with France and to save face for French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trump last week and urged him to stay in, the source said. A decision by Trump to end US sanctions relief would all but sink the agreement and could trigger a backlash by Iran, which could resume its nuclear arms program or "punish" US allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, diplomats said. President Donald Trump (Photo: AFP) Technically, Trump must decide by May 12 whether to renew "waivers" suspending some of the US sanctions on Iran. One of the White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was possible Trump will end up with a decision that "is not a full pullout" but was unable to describe what that might look like. presentatio n by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday about what he said was documentary evidence of Tehran's past nuclear arms program could give Trump a fresh argument to withdraw, even though UN inspectors say Iran has complied with the terms of the deal. Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and accuses its arch-foe Israel of stirring up world suspicions against it. The pact between Iran and six major powersBritain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United Stateswas among former US President Barack Obama's signature foreign policies but has been described by Trump as "one of the worst deals I have ever witnessed." President Trump with Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel (Photo: AP) Top aides are not seeking aggressively to talk Trump out of withdrawal because he seems intent on it, a second White House official said. EUROPEANS LOSING HOPE Trump gave Britain, France and Germany a May 12 deadline to fix what he views as the deal's flaws - its failure to address Iran's ballistic missile program, the terms by which inspectors visit suspect Iranian sites, and "sunset" clauses under which some of its terms expireor he will reimpose US sanctions. While European officials continue to work toward such a "fix," they believe the odds are against reaching one. President Trump with French President Emmanuel Macron (Photo: EPA) One of the main sticking points has to do with the "sunsets," where the United States in effect wishes to find a way to extend some of the limits on Iran's nuclear program beyond their expiration dates under the agreement. The source familiar with the debate said US negotiators are hamstrung by the fact that they do not really know where Trump's "red line" is and so they cannot tell the Europeans what would secure Trump's blessing. Trump could refuse to renew the waivers but give new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo time to negotiate more with the Europeans, exploiting the deal's dispute resolution mechanism or the time before the most draconian sanctions take effect. PM Netanyahu (Photo: AP) Several sources familiar with the negotiations said that if Trump pulls out, a question for the Europeans will be whether this would be the start of a much harder US line toward Iran, including military confrontation. "The Europeans are not keen to be dragged into a regional conflict by the US," said one source familiar with the talks. Two US intelligence officials said they were particularly concerned about Iranian retaliation in harder-to-trace actions such as cyber attacks on the United States or its allies and attacks on soft targets by people without obvious ties to Tehran. Such attacks are considered more likely than actions that might trigger a US military response against Iranian nuclear and military targets. Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres implored Trump to not withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. In an interview with BBC, Guterres said that an American withdrawal from the deal poses a real risk of war breaking out. 72 words. Thats the amount of space it took the Compass Board of Trustees to sum up Tony Plakas 20 year tenure that came to an abrupt end on January 2. In January 2018, after much deliberation and consideration, and in recognition of Tony Plakas' over 20 years of service as celebrated in November 2017, the board of trustees and Tony decided to move in a new direction for the organization, the board wrote in a statement sent out to the community last week. We are grateful for Tony's contributions and vision. Under his leadership, Compass grew to be a nationally recognized LGBTQ community center. We will always be grateful for his dedication and hard work. It took the LGBT community center in Lake Worth almost five months to release those three sentences. The statement then spent the next 556 words talking about everything but Plakas. The 10 paragraph message included welcoming Julie Seaver into the position of interim Executive Director; announcing the launch of a search for a new leader; a recap of Cocktails for Compass, a fundraiser that happened in December; a recap of PrideFest that took place in March; a look forward at the annual Stonewall Ball in June; the SMART Ride in November; and finally a paragraph celebrating 30 years in the community. Before SFGN ran its first story detailing Plakas had left the organization in early April, they hadnt publicly released anything. It took weeks before his name was removed from the website and he wasnt mentioned at all from the stage at PrideFest this year. To learn more about Plakas departure SFGN requested an interview with a board member on April 6 and was told that the board would be too busy to respond in time to meet the newspapers deadline. I have a board full of CPA's and auditors that are in the middle of their busiest time of year and the board's process is on their timetable and not the public or SFGN'S timetable, said Julie Seaver, who has been with the organization 10 years. As I stated, our board meeting is Wednesday the 11th, so I'm afraid it's a strong possibility you won't hear from them by this Monday. SFGN fact checked that statement and found that one only one board member is a certified public accountant in the state of Florida. That board meeting Seaver referenced has come and gone, as has tax season, but the board still has yet to directly respond to SFGN. For the first time this week Plakas gave a brief statement to SFGN regarding its ongoing coverage. I decline to comment at this time in order to give the board, in cooperation with the leadership team, time to inform the public responsibly, as Compass has always done, Plakas said. Rumors and speculation have swirled around his departure since he left. And the Compass board has done little to quiet them or refute them. SFGN has chosen not to detail what those rumors are. SFGN did speak with some members of the community who complained about Plakas salary for a year before he left. They did not want their names used. According to the latest tax documents, which are now downloadable on Compass website, Plakas earned $126,135 in 2016 and $126,000 in 2015. In previous years, his salary was lower. In other years, it was higher. In 2009, it was $90,857. In 2012, it was $142,830. In 2013, it was $112,000. In 2014, it was $130,500. SFGN has previously compared those numbers to other nonprofits and LGBT organizations around the country. They dont appear to be out of the ordinary. This was a topic that was brought up, Seaver previously stated. She said Plakas salary was commensurate with directors of other LGBT organizations. She said that a lot of work and responsibility goes into the CEO position. Fiduciary oversight is an extreme responsibility and they take that responsibility very seriously. Another person, who is familiar with how Compass operates and did not want his name published, pushed back against the salary argument as well. His salary is a huge red herring, this person said. Julie Seaver was the one out in the bars making it a big deal well over a year ago. It wasn't the board. The board was always comfortable with his salary. This source also said members of the community were passing around the 990s at Roosters. A form 990 is a document that nonprofits are required to fill out and make public. It includes some financial information about the organization including the salaries of its top executives. SFGN gave Seaver another opportunity to respond. The board has issued a public statement on this matter. Its located on the front page of our website for your reference, Seaver said. Except the board did not actually address the recent news reports, or the rumors, or anything else regarding Plakas departure, including why it took almost 5 months to say anything. SFGN first spoke to Seaver on January 11 about Plakas and why nothing had been made public. Specifically, since she told SFGN the departure was mutual, why no joint press release? Seaver said she thought it was a great idea and she would love to release one, but that was up to the board, and she didnt know why they were staying mum. Another issue that was brought to SFGNs attention was the fact that Compass had an offsite location for the offices of their executive team despite their main building being 14,000 square feet. Some people have questioned the necessity of the additional space and were concerned with how Compass was spending its money. The centers main square footage is used for public meetings, direct services and community events, Chief Information Officer Claudia Harrison said of the other location just blocks away from Compass main building. As for who used it: Staff usage varied over the years based on needs of the organization. Harrison said the offsite office space was rented from 2007 until February 2018. Its unclear where those offices will go now. Rent was commensurate with other office space in the area, Harrison said. According to Compass financial audit that is downloadable on their website under the section lease commitments, it gives a detailed explanation of how much Compass pays to lease its main building. It doesnt appear to include information about the additional office space. SFGN asked several other follow up questions, such as how much was the rent, but was not given a clear answer. Im going to answer your last question with a question of my own. Id like to know why youre taking such an interest in the offsite location? Harrison asked. Later she responded: We ended the lease of the off-site office space because it is non-ADA compliant, and we are an equal opportunity employer. The most recent monthly rent for that space equaled .02% of Compasss 2017 annual operating budget. If Harrison is referring to the organizations total expenses, which were $1,892,678 for 2016, .02 percent would amount to $4,542 a year. Their 2017 financial forms are not online yet. Last year for Plakas 20 year celebration, SFGN conducted an extensive interview with the former CEO and wrote more than 2,500 words detailing his years with the organization. At that time the Compass board and Seaver had plenty to say about Plakas. In the profile SFGN also detailed two times Plakas pulled the organization from the brink of certain doom. Thats a testament to his leadership. He was able to get it back on track, said current chairman of the Compass board Michael Grattendick. Were in a better place then weve been in years. And its because of his leadership skills and vision. Plakas biggest strength, Grattendick said at the time, is his ability to relate. He has the ability to tailor the message to any component of the community whether its the youth, volunteers, major contributors, individuals, organizations, he said. He has an ability to meet with any of the constituents, and tailor a message they respond to. In the story, SFGN asked Plakas about his future with the organization. He declined to comment, instead saying I serve at the pleasure of a board of trusteesso I am not going to jinx myself on that one. Seven months later he was gone. In SFGNs profile, Seaver also extolled Plakas leadership. He saved us. He stood up for us. Without development and outreach, there would be no Pride, no World AIDS Day, no Trans Day of Remembrance, Seaver said. We would just have been government cheese. But Tony turned that cheese into cheesecake. He said I will not work at Compass without a team with a heart. Seaver added, But Tony is really the heart. UPDATE: This story differs from the print version to reflect additional answers from Compass. Also an earlier version of this story incorrectly calcuated the percentage of the organization's total expenses to come up with a figure for its yearly rent. Magen David Adom said that during the pilgrimage to Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai's tomb on Mount Meron, its teams provided medical attention to 187 people, 19 of whom were taken to the Ziv Hospital in Safed. In addition, during the Lag B'Omer festivities nationwide two people received treatmenta young woman was burned by a bonfire in Ashkelon and an 8 year old was hurt in Jerusalem. Fifty-seven people were treated following overconsumption of alcohol, 26 of whom were teens. Twenty-two people suffered shortness of breath. Seventeen teenagers and adults received treatment after being involved in violent incidents. A New York federal court issued a verdict against Iran obliging it to pay tens of billions of dollars in remuneration to families of one thousands of the victims of the 9/11 attacks. The judge issued the verdict in absentia, after Iran did not send a representative to the trial. The verdict said Iran must pay 12 million dollars to anyone who has lost a spouse in the attacks, 8 million dollars to each parent who lost a child and 4 million to anyone who has lost a sibling. The decision is largely symbolic, as Iran cannot be forced to pay the compensation. Attorneys for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's wife Sara reportedly had a difficult time Wednesday convincing Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit and State Attorney Shay Nitzan and their legal teams not to indict her on a corruption probe known as the "Residences affair." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Until the attorney general reaches a decision on whether to indict the premier's wife, both parties will attempt to bring the investigation into her alleged impropriety surrounding her conduct at the prime minister's official residence to an end, with an admission to most of the details in the draft indictment and a sizeable fine paid to the state's coffers. However, Mrs. Netanyahu will not accept responsibility for the offenses. Sara Netanyahu's legal team, headed by attorney Jacob Weinroth, arrived at the attorney general's offices Wednesday in a bid to convince the heads of Israel's prosecution that Mrs. Netanyahu should not be indicted at all. PM Netanyahu's wife Sara may agree to a 'conditional settlement' (Photo: MCT) It is for that reason, they argued, that she had committed no offenses and did not encourage anyone to commit them a crime. In addition, since Mrs. Netanyahu is not a public servant, she was not aware of the regulations limiting her in ordering meals from restaurants and chefs, they claimed. Lastly, Netanyahu's attorneys claimed that since she was not a public servant, Mrs. Netanyahu could not be charged with fraud and breach of trust. Attorney Jacob Weinroth met with AG Mandelblit and State Attorney Nitzan to discuss allegations against Mrs. Netanyahu (Photo: Yariv Katz) At the end of the two parties' discussion, it came to light that the prime minister's wife could still bring the affair to a close before going to court through a "conditional settlement," in which Mrs. Netanyahu will admit the details of the indictment, but not her culpability. She will also accept, according to the settlement, a punishment such as a fine, a suspended sentence or community service. A senior legal official clarified that, "The draft indictment against Sara Netanyahu was prepared with a heavy heart, but it was supported by evidence and it was detailed. There is also a state witness against her, (former Prime Minister's Residence caretaker) Meni Naftali , who can testify and corroborate evidence. "The affair cannot end without ramifications," the official added, "and it's inconceivable for Mrs. Netanyahu to wriggle out of the matter without accepting responsibility for her actions." AG Mandelblit announced he was considering indicting the prime minister's wife (Photo: EPA) Attorney General Mandelblit announced last September he was considering indicting Sara Netanyahu for fraudulently obtaining benefits under aggravated circumstances, fraud and breach of trust on the meal orders investigation. According to suspicion, from the beginning of September 2010 at the latest and until March 2013, Sara Netanyahu acted in conjunction with former deputy director-general of the Prime Minister's Office Ezra Saidoff , to create a false impression according to which no cook was employed at the prime minister's official residence in Jerusalem. Mrs. Netanyahu allegedly conspired with fmr. PMO deputy director-general Saidoff to bilk the state of hundreds of thousands of shekels (Photo: Amit Shabi) The pair allegedly colluded to circumvent regulations that stated that if no cook was employed at the official residence, "prepared cooked food could be ordered to the residence according to need." In so doing, the pair supposedly sought to obtain state financing both for employing the cooks working at the residence and for ordering ready made meals and chefs to cook at the residence. Funding for hundreds of meals from chefs and restaurants was thus allegedly obtained, costing the public NIS 359,000. A Gazan news agency affiliated with Hamas reported that the IDF has arrested two Palestinians near the border fence after they crossed a barbed wire fence positioned in front of the actual fence inside the strip. The incident took place just east of Gaza City. Some 30 Jews were wounded Wednesday night in the northeastern London neighborhood of Stamford Hill after an explosion occurred during a Lag B'Omer bonfire celebration. Ten people wounded in the blast were taken to a local hospital. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The bonfire was lit by the local congregation's rabbi in front of the local Beth Hamedrash Biala synagogue, and when a lit torch touched its base, a large fireball erupted and appeared to engulf those standing in close proximity. Footage of the explosion (courtesy @Hatzola) (: @ Hatzola ) X While it was initially reported the fire was created by a smart phone exploding, the Jewish news site Yeshiva World News reported that the explosion was caused by fuel combusting, even though "multiple smart phones (were) placed inside the pile to be burned." The fireball erupting in the north London Lag B'Omer celebration (Photo: Yeshiva World News) According to eyewitnesses who spoke with the Jewish site, the community's rabbi spoke about the dangerous and corrupting effects of smart phones on the relgigion, and said he would burn one, echoing his Lag B'Omer speech from last year. The condition of casualties was not immediately clear. Fuel being poured on the bonfire (Photo: Yeshiva World News) In Israel, many bonfires were lit for Lag B'Omer despite multiple warnings to refrain from doing so issued by the Israel Fire and Rescue Services, the Health Ministry and even Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Lag B'Omer, a Jewish holiday celebrated by most with bonfires and barbecues, marks the day in which the Book of (Zohar) Splendor, a landmark text of Jewish mysticism, was first published by Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. A firefighter putting out a blaze in Elad (Photo: Roi Rubinstein) The customary bonfires, though, come this year at a time of high temperatures, dry weather and strong easterly winds, prompting many Israeli officials to urge against them for fear that larger fires may be kindled. Fears were eventually proven to have been warranted, after several blazes erupted throughout the country, kicking Israel's fire services into action. BEIRUT Buses arrived in south Damascus on Thursday to transport Syrian rebels from an enclave they have surrendered there, but some fighters in another besieged area near Homs kept fighting despite an agreement to quit, a war monitor said. The opposition still holds two large areas in the northwest and southwest bordering Syria's international frontiers, neither of which are under siege by the Syrian army. But President Bashar al-Assad is pushing to retake two other rebel-held areas that are entirely surrounded by government-held territory. Syrian state television showed footage of the buses arriving at Beit Sahm, driving through narrow streets surrounded by soldiers and with concrete buildings above showing scars of war. Some 5,000 fighters and their family members are expected to leave for the opposition areas in northern Syria, it reported, following an earlier group who left the enclave on Monday. Islamic State fighters holding another part of the same enclave are still fighting after weeks of intense bombardment in the area of al-Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp. Security forces have arrested several Hamas operatives from the Ramallah region involved in receiving tens of thousands of euros hidden throughout the Gaza Strip and intended to finance Hamas's activities. Chairman of Birzeit University's student union, Umar Kaswani, was arrested in March, and his Shin Bet interrogation turned up that he had contacted Hamas operative Yassin Rabi'a, deported to Gaza as part of the Shalit deal, as well as Hamas officials in Turkey and asked them for funds to promote Hamas's activities in his university. He was later wired 150,000 euros, which were hidden in several hiding places around the strip. The Nazareth District Court convicted Palestinian poetess Dareen Tatour of incitement to terrorism and supporting a terror organization. Tatour had previously made calls for violence through Facebook and YouTube. She also published a post called, "I'm the next martyr." In another instance, she called for an intifada within the boundaries of the Green Line. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman lauded in an interview with a Russian newspaper published Thursday the "special relationship" Israel had forged with Russia, adding he expected Russia's "understanding and support of our vital interests in the Middle East." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "Our relations with Russia are normal and we take into account its interests. We hope it does the same," Lieberman iterated in the interview with the Kommersant daily, characterizing bilateral relations between the countries as "efficient and transparent." Offering proof of the relationship's strength, the defense minister noted that while "many countries have expelled Russian diplomats lately, Israel did not join the trend." Defense Minister Lieberman said Israel's 'special relationship' with Russia should lead to the superpower taking Israel's vital interests into account (Photo: TPS) position he made during a Ynet studio interview last week, stating that if the system was used against, it would retaliate. "If the systems are not turned against us, that's one thing. But if they open fire on Israeli planes, we'll certainly retaliate," he said, before stressing Israel did not actively seek confrontation with Russia, nor does harbor any intentions of meddling in Syria's internal affairs. The Russian S-300 defense system. If it was turned against Israeli planes, Lieberman said, it will be destroyed (Photo: EPA) "In the past few years," Lieberman added, "an open, clear and transparent dialogue with Russia was engendered, when our opinions lined up and even when they didn't. We always hold a transparent discourse, without hiding anything." Asked about Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's press conference last week in which he divulged details from secret Iranian nuclear archives , Lieberman said the revelations provided certain proof of the Islamic republic never forsaking its ambitions of attaining nuclear weapons. "It actively sought to not only enrich uranium but also to manufacture nuclear weapons," he said. "They simply temporarily halted their program in order to maximize their benefits from the deal. "Why does Iran even need enriched uranium when it has huge oil and gas deposits?" the defense minister demanded, questioning the veracity of Iran's claims that its nuclear program was for civilian purposes. "That was not its goal," he accused. Lieberman said Russia should denounce anti-Israeli rhetoric by Iranian leaders such as Ayatollah Khamenei (Photo: AFP) Lieberman concluded his Kommersant interview by speaking about Iranian leaders' frequent attacks, and their statements about "annihilating the Zionist entity." "Unfortunately, we have not seen an unequivocal response from Western Europe or Russia, which remembers all too well the events of World War Two," Lieberman lamented. "We expect a clear, unequivocal response on the part of Russia to Iran's statements and actions." GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip The health ministry in Gaza says a 19-year-old Palestinian has died of wounds sustained during confrontations between Palestinian protesters and Israeli troops along Gaza's border. Anas Abu Asr was wounded near Gaza City last Friday, the fifth of weekly protests led by the ruling terror group Hamas. The ministry said he died Thursday, without elaborating. After months of criticizing city officials about the citys water quality and a lack of response, commissioners officially addressed Boyd Corbin by placing the issue on the April 24 agenda. Before the item was discussed, Corbin again criticized city officials about the water quality, including the alleged presence of a dangerous amount of chemical compounds. Commissioner Tom Green also criticized Corbins previous statements. Sometimes, it really pushes my patience. According to a water test that Corbin paid a private lab to prepare, the citys water, which comes from the Fiveash Regional Water Treatment Plant in Fort Lauderdale, has five times more Chloroform than the EPA allows, double the maximum contaminant level for Dichloroacetic Acid, and other high levels of substances, including Dichloroacedic Acid and Trichloroacedic Acid. In an email from the Florida Department of Health, Corbin was informed that his water test was not acceptable because it did not have a valid chain of custody. At the April 24 meeting, Corbin again criticized city officials. You shake it real good, he said to Commissioner Scott Newton, referring to an earlier meeting where Newton held up a glass of water while stating no one on the commission was hiding anything. Newton responded: No one on this commission has ever heard that we have bad water. Ever. If I knew there was bad water in this city, Im telling you right now, everyone on this commission would be screaming and yelling. Also on April 24, David Archacki, director of Emergency Management and the Utilities departments, and City Manager Leigh Ann Henderson talked about the current testing and chlorination issues. According to Archacki, water from 19 different locations is tested. Henderson said it is tested by certified labs in four categories: Microbiological, disinfectants, lead and copper, and organics. Archacki said that the number of weeks needed to put chlorine into the water system was extended from two to five so that the chlorine could be given more time to filter into the system. Otherwise, said Archacki, a lot more water would have to be wasted because a shorter chlorination time means hydrants have to be flushed. The subsequent flooding of water has also resulted in some damage to residential lawns which had to be compensated for with tax dollars. We take it very seriously, said Mayor Gary Resnick about water quality. Officials did acknowledge the color of the water, which is green in some homes. The color is not wonderful. But its not harmful, said Green. The Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), has carried out a wave of arrests arrested of Hamas members in the Ramallah area who are suspected of having received tens of thousands of euros, which were hidden throughout the West Bank and were designated for Hamas activities, it was cleared for publication Thursday. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter On 7 March 2018, undercover Border Police officers, as part of a joint operation with the police and the IDF, staged a dramatic arrest of Hamas member Omar Kiswani at Bir Zeit University. Kiswani, a 24-year-old resident of Beit Iksa, who served as the chairman of the student council on behalf of a Hamas-affiliated student group, was questioned by the Shin Bet. Arrest at university by undercover police X The investigation revealed that Kiswani was in contact with Hamas member Yassin Rabia, who had been expelled to the Gaza Strip as part of the Gilad Shalit deal, which saw the release of the IDF soldier who was held in captivity by Hamas between 2006 and 2011 in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian terrorists. Kiswani was also in contact with Hamas members in Turkey, and had sought funds to advance Hamas activity at Bir Zeit University. According to a Shin Bet statement, Rabia subsequently transferred to Kiswani approximately 150,000 euros, which it said were concealed in several locations throughout the West Bank. Kiswani, it adds, collected the money along with his friend and fellow Hamas student association member, 20-year-old Yahya Alawi. The two used the funds to promote Hamas activities. The foregoing is yet another example of efforts by Hamas commanders in Turkey and the Gaza Strip to advance Hamas activities in Judea and Samaria by bringing in money and hiding it in various locales in order to fund its local infrastructures, the Shin Bet statement said. Undercover Border Police stage dramatic arrest The investigation points to the deep involvement of Hamas members in Turkey and the Gaza Strip in efforts to advance Hamas activities in Judea and Samaria, it continued. According to the Shin Bet, the exposure of Kiswani and Alawi further reflects the high degree of importance the Hamas command attaches to student activities in its affiliated groups in its efforts to recruit and train members in the West Bank. The case also underscores the great danger involved in such activity and its status as a significant additional arm of Hamas, the goal of which is to harm the State of Israel, despite its taking place at an institution of higher learning, the statement noted. In 2017 a Gaza Strip-based Hamas cell was uncovered which had recruited Bir Zeit University students to carry out suicide attacks. Additional Hamas student group members have recently been discovered as having sought to commit shooting attacks in the Ramallah area. Unknown parties fired at the Rahat municipality's building overnight. No one was harmed. Chairman of the municipality's workers' union Sami Alkirnawi said that workers were sent home at 1pm after consultation with the Histadrut Trade Federation. Police is investigating the shooting. ANKARA Iran will not renegotiate a 2015 nuclear deal with major powers, Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday, as a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Europeans to "fix" the deal loomed. "Iran will not renegotiate what was agreed years ago and has been implemented ... also we will reject any ratification of it," Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a message posted on YouTube. He said the United States had "consistently violated the nuclear deal, particularly by bullying others to preventing businesses to return to Iran". An Israeli researcher has managed to extract new details from one of the Dead Sea Scrolls, including a manuscript in ancient Hebrew discovered for the first time, a portion of the Psalms scroll and a segment dealing with Temple ritualswith the help of innovative photographing technology. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the most important archeological finds unearthed in Israel, were found some 70 years ago in the Judean Desert. The new findings were presented Tuesday evening at a conference marking 70 years since the scrolls' discovery held at Jerusalem's Israel Museum The scrolls before their examination through the special technology (L) and after (Photo: Shay Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority) In the seven decades that have passed since the discovery of the scrolls by Bedouin and archeologists near the remains of the ancient community of Qumran in the Judean Desert in the early 1950s, they have continued to astound researchers. The thousands of passages, written on parchment and papyrus paper more than 2,000 years agoduring the period of the Second Templeare still considered the oldest Hebrew manuscripts ever found. One of the newly discovered writings (Photo: Shay Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority) While researchers were able to piece together some of the more prominent writings, many of the scrolls had to be placed in boxes without being sorted or studied due to their minute size and poor condition. Recently, as part of a digitization project , select samples from the unsorted boxes were viewed using state-of-the-art photographic equipment, and turned up new markings understood to be handwriting on some parchments that seemed to the naked eye to be completely blank. The digitization project, carried out by an Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) unit designated to work on the scrolls, was put in motion to track the preservation process of one of the 20th century's preeminent discoveries, and to make it more accessible to the public at large in the best possible quality. IAA researcher Oren Iberman examining the Psalms scroll (Photo: Shay Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority) The previously unresearched portions of the scrolls were viewed using proprietary equipment developed based on technology from the American space agency NASA. The new manuscript was revealed after Oren Iberman, an IAA researcher and doctoral candidate at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, performed an initial examination of several dozen passages found in "Cave 11" near Qumran. Iberman's test turned up writings on a large portion of the passage, which were invisible to the naked eye. After painstaking research, Iberman was able to decipher the writing and recognize the manuscripts to which they apparently belonged. Even though only a scant number of letters survived in some of the writings, in others the text could be recreated and attributed to the appropriate manuscript. Due to the writings' size, however, texts can only be recognized at a high degree of certainty, rather than absolute certainty. Preservation work on the Dead Sea Scrolls at IAA's laboratories (Photo: Shay Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority) Among the recently uncovered texts is one that belongs to the Temple scroll, which deals with ritual protocol and ideal Temple worship. Academics still debate whether two or three copies of the larger text on the Temple existed in Cave 11. Recognizing the new writing strengthens the proposition that the third manuscript is also a copy of said scroll. Another text belongs to the Psalms scroll, which preserves the beginning of the first verse from chapter 147 in the Book of Psalms and has hitherto been missing. The ending of the same verse was found in a large manuscript that was purchased and originally published by Israeli politician and archeologist Yigael Yadin. The new writing sheds light on the fact that the version of chapter 147 read 2,000 years was most likely slightly shorter than the version read today. (Photo: Shay Halevi, Israel Antiquities Authority) Another piece of writing was found to have been written in ancient Hebrew and was not previously known to researchers, apparently making it part of a manuscript that has yet to be discovered. Director of the Dead Sea Scrolls division of the Antiquities Authority said, "These are manuscripts that are two thousand years old. They are our heritage. Each tidbit we find actually completes the larger puzzle, which is endless and immensely exciting." Iran will not renegotiate the 2015 nuclear deal it signed with major powers , Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday, as a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Europeans to "fix" the deal looms. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "Let me make it absolutely clear once and for all. We will neither outsource our security, nor we will renegotiate or add on to a deal we have already implemented in good faith," Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a message posted on YouTube. Mohammad Javad Zarif (: ) X Insisting that the UN nuclear watchdog had confirmed on eleven occasions that the Tehran had been in compliance with the terms of the deal, Zarif accused the United States of "consistently" violating it, "particularly by bullying others to preventing businesses to return to Iran." Zarif's video, which was also posted to Trump's favorite social media platform, Twitter, appeared to be taking his message to the masses after earlier speaking to news outlets across the United States to defend the deal. It comes as Trump has signaled he will withdraw from the agreement by May 12 if it is not renegotiated and changed. Those changes have included proposals to limit Iran's ballistic missile program, which Tehran says it has as a defensive deterrent. In the video entitled A message from Iran, Zarif suggested that the European response to President Trumps dissatisfaction with the agreement was akin to appeasement. Screenshot of Mohammad Javad Zarif in YouTube video This appeasement entails promises of a new deal, that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations, including Irans defensive capabilities and regional influence, said Zrif, who on Monday appeared in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus presentation on Irans secret atomic archive, which he said offered conclusive proof that Iran brazenly lied about its nuclear weapons program. The response from some Europeans has been to offer the United States more concessions, from our pocket, Zarif vented. We have not attacked anyone in centuries, he added, while blaming the US for backing former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in his attack on Iran. In an apparent attempt to convey the message directly to President Trump, the former real estate mogul, Zarif said: To put it in real estate terms: When you buy a house and move your family in, or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and try to renegotiate the price. Concluding his speech, Zarif issued a stern warning to the US that Iran would respond s it sees fit if Washington continued to violate the deal. Iran stands firm in the face of futile attempts at bullying. But if the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond, in a manner of our choosing, he warned, before vowing that bluster or threats wont get the US a new deal, particularly as it is not honoring the deal it has already made. Thus the US is well-advised to finally start honoring its commitments, or it and only it will have to accept responsibility for the consequences of not doing so, he threatened. ADEN Qatar has complained about the detention of one of its citizens in Yemen, in an incident that could further exacerbate Doha's diplomatic rift with its Gulf neighbors. Qatar's state-linked National Human Rights Committee condemned what it said was the April 21 detention of Mohsen Saleh Saadoun Al-Karbi by a Saudi-led coalition that is fighting in Yemen against the Houthi movement that controls the capital. It said the man was in Yemen visiting relatives there, and was being held without charge by the Saudi-led coalition. Yemeni security sources said Yemen's own forces arrested the Qatari man on the border with Oman late last month, on suspicion he was an intelligence officer working with the Houthis. France has joined the international condemnation of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, dubbing his speech on Tuesday "false." "France shares the emotion aroused by President Abbas's words," a French foreign affairs ministry spokesperson said on Thursday. "We deplore them and consider them to be false, unfortunate and inopportune." Israel has accused Abbas of anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial after the Palestinian leader suggested in his speech that historic persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct. The Nazareth Magistrate's Court convicted an Arab poet on Thursday of online incitement to terrorism after she used a poem as the soundtrack to images of Palestinians in violent confrontations with Israeli troops. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Dareen Tatour, 36, posted to Facebook and YouTube a video of herself reading out her poem "Resist, My People, Resist," accompanying footage of masked Palestinian youths throwing stones and firebombs at IDF soldiers. It was published in October 2015 during a wave of deadly Palestinian terror attacks on Israelis. The Israeli-Arab poet was arrested a few days later, and prosecutors said her post was a call for violence Dareen Tatour Tatour, who denied the charges, said her poem was misunderstood by the Israeli authorities. It read: "Resist, my people, resist them / Resist the settlers robbery / And follow the caravan of martyrs." She said there was no call for violence in the poem, rather for a struggle, which Israeli authorities had cast as violent. The judge delivered a 52-page verdict that went into a detailed literary analysis of the text and video, and of the Arabic word "shahid"which means "martyr" in English. Language experts called by the defense as witnesses included a famous Israeli poetry professor and an expert in Arabic-Hebrew translation. Tatour with her family in court The translator told the court that "shahid" meant different things to people on different sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. "The Israeli hears 'shahid' and sees an aggressor. The Palestinian sees a victim. That's a big difference. One sees an attacker blowing up a bus, the other sees a child shot by soldiers," the expert, Yonatan Mendel, told the court in March 2017. The judge, however, noted in her ruling that the poem was presented with a backdrop of violent rioting rather than "a backdrop typical to the reality of the occupation," as the defendant claimed. According to the judge "the aforementioned violent video does not include images of casualties and victims or legal protests. The video reflects only violent resistance/uprising throughout." Online surveillance Tatour's case became a cause celebre for freedom of speech advocates in Israel. It drew attention to the advanced technology used by Israeli security agencies to trawl through social media to identify and arrest users suspected of incitement to violence or of planning attacks. In her ruling, the judge came down against the defenses interpretation of Tatour's words, pointing to a separate post in which Tatour had used "shahid" to describe a Palestinian assailant who had stabbed a 15-year-old Israeli. "The combination leaves no interpretation of the word 'martyr' other than a violent interpretation that incites to terrorism, and to follow martyr-attackers," the verdict said. (Photo: Tomer Harpaz) "The freedom of expression is not absolute," the judge went on to write. "In a case such as thisin which it is clear there is a call for an act of terrorism posted among thousands of members of the defendants' Facebook group and among an unlimited audience on YouTube, along with a video that bolsters the call for violence that comes from the textthe poem cannot receive the protection of the court merely because the words of incitement were written as a poem." Tatour was also charged with supporting a terrorist group. Prosecutors said she had expressed support for the Palestinian terror group Islamic Jihad's call for an uprising. In addition, after a woman from Nazareth tried to stab a soldier and was shot at the Afula Central Bus Station in October 2015, Tatour posted the terrorist's photo on her Facebook and wrote "I'm the next shahid." Tatour, who belongs to Israel's Arab minority, comes from a village near Nazareth in northern Israel. She is expected to appeal the verdict, her lawyer said. "I am ready for everything and do not regret anything I have done. I have done nothing wrong," Tatour said at the Nazareth Magistrate's court. Indictments for online incitement have tripled in Israel since 2014. Prosecutions by the IDF have also increased in the West Bankmost of those charged are young Palestinians. The average sentence in incitement cases is nine months, though the maximum term that Tatour could face is five years. The court has not issued a date for her sentencing. Two weeks before Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales is supposed to officially move his countrys embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, the Guatemalan flag was flown for the first time on Wednesday in Israels capital. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Central American countrys embassy will become operational, at least in the first stage of the move, on the third floor of the Jerusalem Technology Park and will later start operating from its permanent location on the eleventh floor of an adjacent building. Guatemalan flag in Jerusalem (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) The Israeli Foreign Ministry footed part of the cost of transferring the embassy from Rishon LeZion to Jerusalem, contributing a total of $300,000. In addition to the inauguration of the US Embassy in Jerusalem on May 14, Israel is in talks with several other countries trying to persuade them to move their embassies to Jerusalem as well. The president of Paraguay has announced his intention to move his embassy, while the president of Honduras is also considering doing so. The Czech Republic and Romania are discussing similar initiatives. Chinese business magnate and chairman of Alibaba Group, Jack Ma, said during his visit to Israel that his company will continue to invest in the country. In a conversation with students at Tel Aviv University, Ma said he considers Israel to be one of the three countries eligible to house Alibaba's new offices "We invested in five companies here in recent years and I think we will continue to invest here," he said. Ismael Tanko, a 33-year-old entrepreneur, has created a fast-growing company whose tomato purees are already on sale in several West African countries. The next step is a more industrialised production line and an increased number of sales channels. In 2016, Ismael Tanko, founder and CEO of Tim Agro, launched his first batch of tomato puree on the market in Togo. Initially working alongside his wife and brother-in-law, Tanko now manages a company with eight permanent employees, all under 35, and more than 60 temporary staff during the harvest period. When I began to work on producing and selling tomato puree, my initial aim was to try and resolve a critical problem faced by farmers their post-harvest crop losses, Tanko explains. During the wet season, tomato growers are faced with a glut of unsold produce, whereas during the dry season tomatoes become a rare commodity and prices increase significantly. To address this problem, Tanko set about learning the best methods for preserving tomatoes via the internet. With financial assistance from friends and a bank loan, Tanko initially spent several years conducting research wherein he produced an annual sample of puree, in order to gradually refine the production method he had found online. From a first production run of 0.8 t in 2016, by 2017 Tim Agro had produced 30 t and has forecast a five-fold increase in production, to 150 t, in 2018. Having initially purchased his tomatoes from the market stalls in Lome, Tanko is now planning to contract directly with smallholders. Every farmer will receive a fixed price, with a variable commission, depending on the surface area of their land and the quantity of tomatoes they manage to produce, Tanko explains. The products selling point is to be found in its production without any additives or preservatives, which is in contradiction to negative preconceptions concerning packaged puree in the Togolese market. In Togo, we are on sale in over 40 supermarkets as well as other shops, Tanko says, with the puree also distributed in Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali. His ambition is to have his products on sale in 24 African nations by the end of 2019, having already initiated plans to receive funding for the infrastructure required for expansion. To other budding entrepreneurs, Tanko advises, Focus on two key areas: the quality of the product and its packaging, and from there, they can dream of reaching the heights. Vincent Defait Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday appealed to Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked to postpone the vote on the HCJ-circumventing legislation on asylum seekers taking place on Sunday. Sources close to Shaked told Ynet this evening that the vote would be held as planned, and that the chairman of Bayit Yehudi, Naftali Bennett, announced that the vote would not be postponed. "This coming Sunday we will bring the bill to vote and hopefully gain the prime minister's support," Bennett tweeted. Ministers and Shaked are sponsoring a redrafting of a migrant deportation bill, this time including a notwithstanding clause that will effectively bar the High Court of Justice from striking the law down. Renowned Israeli actor and director Moshe Ivgy was charged Thursday with several counts of indecent acts and sexual harassment against four women with whom he worked. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The indictment filed against the actor describes, inter alia, how in 2012 Ivgy molested a female co-worker, henceforth named A., on the set of a film by shoving his hand up her shirt and stroking her back without her consent. Moshe Ivgy (Photo: Motti Kimchi) "Wow, what are you doing?" A. asked Ivgy, to which he allegedly responded: "An open door may tempt a saint," a famous Jewish proverb referring to theft. According to the indictment, during a break from shooting on another day on the set, Ivgy clung to A., hugged her tight and refused to let go. He then whispered in her ear that wanted to "f*** her." Another plaintiff, henceforth named B., claims that while working together on a film in 2013, Ivgy reached into her shirt, under her bra, and cupped her breast. She slapped him and stormed out. According to the indictment, the following day, B. and her husband arrived to the set, where Ivgy hurled "derogatory and degrading" sexist remarks at B. concerning her purported overt sexuality. The indictment further charges that in 2013, while working on a movie with a woman henceforth referred to as C., Ivgy took her hand and asked where she lived and whether she lived alone. He told her several times that he would come to visit her. and C. said in response that he was married, while she was his daughter's age. But as C. stood in front of him, holding his hand, Ivgy pulled her toward him, thrusting his face into her chest. (Photo: Motti Livton) Finally, the indictment refers to the testimony of the fourth plaintiff, henceforth referred to as D., and charges Ivgy again with verbal harassment for an incident that also took place in 2013. D., who had no prior acquaintance with Ivgy, met him at a falafel shop, where he sat next to her as she sat at the table outside the shop. There, Ivgy asked her if "she f***s," and continued to ask her about her partner at time, and whether he "let her suck his d***," and if he "put his d*** in her p****." Seeking to end the conversation with him, D., distraught, left the shop. Ivgy's trial will be held behind closed doors, in order to preserve the confidentiality of the plaintiffs. Jack Ma, the founder and owner of the Chinese e-commerce website Alibaba, met on Thursday with Tel Aviv University students to share some tips for life. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Ma was awarded with an honorary doctorate from the university. He told the students that Alibaba is considering expanding its investments in Israel. We considered Israel among three countries in which to establish offices. We invested in five different companies here, and I am being accompanied by 40 senior managers. I believe we will continue to invest here, he said. Jack Ma in Tel Aviv X The 50-year-old Ma is the wealthiest man in China. He accumulated his wealth when he founded the Alibaba Group in 1999. At first, the company focused on the Chinese market before becoming one of the most successful e-commerce websites in the world with tens of millions of online customers. Alibaba founder at Tel Aviv University (Photo: Hen Galili) Mat spoke about how he learned English by working as a tour guide in his youth and about his failed attempts to get accepted into Harvard, which rejected his application ten times. He ultimately studied to be an English teacher at a local Chinese university, an unpleasant experience in his words. When asked by one student whether he looks at the diplomas of potential employees, he laughed and responded: No, because then I myself would not get accepted to work at our company. When he arrived in the United States in the mid-1990s, a friend introduced him to the internet, and he was surprised to learn he could not find any information on it about China. Ma decided to create a webpage about his country and thus began his love affair with the internet. Jack Ma receiving honorary doctorate (Photo: Reuters) Ma told the students that he would have liked to have met Albert Einstein and Karl Marx. All our founders come from not such good schools, but we all believed in the future, he told them. When we became millionaires, I asked my partners whether we were smarter than other people, and they said no. I asked them whether we worked harder than others, and they again said no. smart men left the company, but those who believed in the vision stayed. It does not matter where you are from but what you believe in; therefore, I tell people that what matters most is what you do. When asked what he wants for his children, he said he hoped they will not be like him. To be me, is to be alone and responsible for many people and not everybody wants that. I want my kids to be healthy and work in what they desire. The job of a parent is to give his children three things: health, happiness and education. The rest is up to them. (Photo: Hen Galili) Regarding Alibabas success, he said: I never thought I would turn into what I am today, that I would achieve so much. We have 17,000 employees, millions of users. We support women and small businesses and help them succeed. When you have more than $100 million, the money is not yours, you have a social responsibility to manage it well. We understood that we need to build a sufficiently large economy to allow the growth of small businesses, for every woman and youngster to succeed. We created 13 million new jobs in China. We are the fifth biggest economy in the world. In conclusion, he was asked what might we not know about him, and he responded: I sing well, but only in the shower. I draw, but not well. There are three Jack Mas, the first exists in peoples imagination, but it is not me, not when they criticize nor praise me. There is Jack Ma the founder of Alibaba, but it is not me, that is merely my position. And then there is the Jack Ma that is me, and that is why I want to retire early and become myself once again, one who wants to do something new every year. News Washington, DC - President Trump Welcoming the Crew and Passengers of Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 to the White House: THE PRESIDENT: Come on in, folks. Enjoy yourselves. Come on. Hello. Some incredible people behind me. I want to just say that Im honored to have the heroic crew and passengers of Southwest Flight 1380 at the White House today. I also want to thank Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao whos doing an incredible job, by the way for her leadership. Thank you very much, Elaine. Really fantastic job in so many ways. While Im in route from New York and while they were flying Ive taken that route many, many times. Ive landed at LaGuardia many, many times. They went from LaGuardia to Dallass Love Field last month an engine failed, crippling the aircraft piloted by Captain Tammie Jo Shults. Wheres Tammie? (Applause.) Good job. And her son who is come here going to the Air Force Academy. (Laughter.) Right? MR. SHULTS: Yes, sir. THE PRESIDENT: I tell you, good genes. You believe in genes? (Laughter.) Hes got good genes. But Tammie did an incredible job. And First Officer Darren Ellisor, who joins us today, also. Darren, great job. Is he pretty good? CAPTAIN SHULTS: Hes excellent. THE PRESIDENT: All right. Thats what I hear. Good. Thank you very much. Our hearts break for the family of the passenger who tragically lost her life, Jennifer Riordan. We send our prayers to Jennifers husband and their two beautiful young children. We ask God to hold this family close as they grieve the loss of a loving wife and mother. And Ive seen so much about Jennifer, and she looks she must have been a fantastic woman. Really, a fantastic woman. Were also joined by crewmembers Kathryn Sandoval, Seanique Mallory, and Rachel Fernheimer, who displayed exemplary leadership in making an emergency landing in Philadelphia. And I want to just thank you folks. Fantastic job. Thats really fantastic. You were a little bit nervous up there? MS. MALLORY: Not at all. We did what THE PRESIDENT: You knew who was piloting the plane, so you had no problem. Right? (Laughter.) Thats a fantastic job. Really, they said you were calm and strong and cool. Thank you very much. Captain Shults, I especially want to commend you for your lifesaving actions. Everybody is talking about it. Theyre still talking about. Theyll be talking about it for a long time. I understand you were one of the first women ever to fly tactical fighter aircraft in the United States Navy. You drew from years of training and safety, and you knew how to land that plane. We salute you and every member of this crew. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Finally, were indebted to the passengers aboard the flight, including Tim McGinty, Andrew Needum, and Peggy Phillips, who are also with us. Thank you, folks. Thank you very much. (Applause.) Tim and Andrew risked their safety to pull Jennifer back inside the aircraft. Peggy Phillips, a retired nurse, helped administer CPR until the plane landed in Philadelphia. While there was nothing more they could do, these Americans responded with tremendous bravery. And everybody is talking about it. So your bravery, your compassion, we really appreciate it. Thank you all. The actions of the crew and passengers of Southwest Flight 1380 show the great character of our nation. Were very, very proud of them. And God bless you all, and thank you very much for being at the White House. It is really an honor to meet you all. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. Q (Inaudible) Nobel Peace Prize? THE PRESIDENT: Nobel Peace Prize? Q Yes, sir. Nobel. THE PRESIDENT: I just think that President Moon was very nice when he suggested it. I want to get peace. Its the main thing. We want to get peace. That was a big problem, and I think its going to work out well. Well see. Were setting up meetings right now, and I think its probably going to be announced over the next couple of days location and date. But I thought it was very generous of President Moon of South Korea to make that statement, and I appreciate it. But the main thing is to get it done. I want to get it done. Thank you all. Thank you. Thank you very much. Q Are you going to Jerusalem? THE PRESIDENT: I may. I may. Im not sure. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. News Newark, New Jersey - Samuel Rahamin Topaz, 24, of Fort Lee, New Jersey, was sentenced today to eight years in prison, to be followed by a lifetime of supervised release, for conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization. The announcement was made by Assistant Attorney General for the National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito for the District of New Jersey and Special Agent in Charge Gregory W. Ehrie of the FBIs Newark, New Jersey Division. Saadeh previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Susan D. Wigenton to an information charging him with one count of conspiring with others to provide services and personnel to ISIS. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in federal court. According to documents filed in this and related cases, and statements made in court: Topaz admitted that prior to his arrest by the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force on June 17, 2015, he planned to travel overseas to join ISIS and saved money for that purpose. Topaz discussed plans to join ISIS with Nader Saadeh, Alaa Saadeh and Munther Omar Saleh, and he admitted that at various times each of them indicated they wanted to join ISIS. Topaz also admitted that he and the other defendants watched ISIS-related videos, some of which depicted the execution of non-Muslims and individuals regarded as apostates from Islam. On May 5, 2015, Nader Saadeh departed the United States with plans to travel overseas for the purpose of joining ISIS as part of the conspiracy. Topaz admitted that he and others planned to travel overseas separately, meet up with Nader Saadeh, and then travel together to join ISIS. After Nader Saadeh left the United States, Topaz met with Munther Omar Saleh and contacted Alaa Saadeh to discuss those plans. Topaz admitted knowing that ISIS was a designated foreign terrorist organization, which he knew to be taking over territory overseas, expelling non-Muslims from their homes, and executing individuals who did not obey ISIS commands. Nader and Alaa Saadeh both pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to ISIS. Alaa Saadeh was sentenced to 15 years in prison on May 10, 2016. Nader Saadeh was sentenced to 10 years in prison on April 30. Saleh and Mumuni both pleaded guilty to related charges brought by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York. Saleh was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Feb. 6. Mumuni was sentenced to 17 years in prison on April 26. Assistant Attorney General Demers and U.S. Attorney Carpenito credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Ehrie in Newark, and the Newark Joint Terrorism Task Force with the investigation. The JTTF is comprised of agents and officers from the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Homeland Security Investigations, Bergen County Prosecutors Office, Passaic County Prosecutors Office, New Jersey State Police, Paterson Police Department, and NYPD, among other federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Dennis C. Carletta and Francisco J. Navarro of the District of New Jersey, with assistance from Trial Attorneys Justin Sher and Robert Sander of the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section. Arizona News Phoenix, Arizona - Governor Ducey Letter To Arizona Parents, Teachers And School Leaders: Arizona teachers, parents and education leaders, We are very close to passing a very significant budget investment into K-12 education, and I want to update you on where things stand. On Friday, along with the Senate President and the Speaker of the House, I announced a joint budget agreement that included a major increase in funding for public education. This budget was very much influenced and shaped by our school leaders. On April 10, I met with a group of superintendents representing students from across the state specifically to talk about the impact a strike would have on their schools and communities. During that meeting, they described the challenges of recruiting and retaining staff, and at the same time, managing all of the remaining needs in their schools. During the discussion, they asked me to work with them on a plan we can all champion. The next day, on April 11, the Finance Advisory Committee, consisting of independent economists, recognized that revenues through March were $262 million above forecast and included significant increases in ongoing revenues available to the state over the next several years. This report confirmed news released on April 9 from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office announcing a 75%upward revision to growth forecasts for the national economy over the next two years. With that improved outlook, Arizona could realize over $1.5 billion in additional revenues over the next five years. I challenged my staff lets think big and put forward a plan that addresses these pressing issues. On April 12, we announced our plan for a 20 percent raise by school year 2020 at a press conference with members of the Legislature, school leaders and education advocates. Since then, I have met with teachers from around the state, and my team has been working closely with education organizations to fine-tune this plan. The meetings with teachers were incredibly valuable, as our conversations only reaffirmed my commitment to getting this plan across the finish line. Their feedback also has improved the final product that is now before the Legislature. THE PLAN The budget deal we announced last Friday funds a 20 percent increase in teacher salaries by school year 2020. This is the plan that I proposed on April 12, 2018. These resources are permanent, ongoing, and inflated and to ensure that this commitment is made, we are including these dollars in the base formula. The need for increased investment in our schools extends beyond our teachers though, and the importance of a well-funded public education system, cannot be overstated. The budget agreement also fully funds a restoration of Additional District/Charter Assistance as I originally proposed on January 9, 2018. This investment will be phased in over five years, including $100 million in Fiscal year 2019. By FY 2023, that number goes up to $371 million -- ongoing. While traditionally used for capital needs, school leaders will now have flexible dollars to update curriculum, improve school facilities and increase support staff pay. Many have been paying for capital needs with operational dollars, so this plan frees up those dollars for other uses. The budget also includes other important K-12 education investments, including $1.8 million to fund career and technical education, $10 million for behavioral health specialists, $53 million for building renewal to improve school infrastructure the highest funding level since 2007 and $88 million for construction of five new schools. SUSTAINABLE I also want to address the sustainability of this plan. As mentioned above, leading economists in Arizona and around the country agree that our state is showing momentum in key metrics like job growth (top 9 in the nation), population increases (top 6), and corresponding income gains (top 3). As a result, our states revenues are increasing. Economists at Moodys, the Seidman Research Institute, the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University and the Eller School of Management at the University of Arizona have validated these forecasts. Our plan directs this revenue to our biggest budget priority: public education, and it does it in a way that is responsible, sustainable and solidifies our commitment for years to come. Even after all of the investments included in this plan and the overall state budget, we maintain a structural balance in each of the next three fiscal years. Additionally, our rainy day fund is at its fullest $467 million along with historic levels of cash balances ($240 million in FY 2019). Thats unheard of. PROTECTING OTHER PRIORITIES Our budget agreement does NOT compromise essential state services to accommodate our teacher pay package. This was something that was very important to the teachers I met with. The plan maintains our commitment to fund developmental disabilities, skilled nurses, Medicaid, critical access hospitals, the arts, food banks, Alzheimers research and university funding. On Monday, the Legislature announced the first step to getting this budget deal done. At the first opportunity, the budget bills were introduced through an expedited process. The Legislature is constitutionally required to read a bill during open session over a three day period. Today, they did the first read and also announced that their Appropriations Committees would meet tomorrow. After which both the House and the Senate will process the bills simultaneously so that they may be expedited for my signature. As soon as they arrive on my desk, I am committed to signing them quickly. We are optimistic about this happening as early as Wednesday. Please continue to watch the progress on azleg.gov all of the public meetings are streamed and your communities can weigh in through the Request to Speak system. The 20 by 2020 plan is our latest effort in prioritizing K-12 education. In 2016, we passed Proposition 123, providing $3.5 billion over 10 years. This January, we announced in collaboration with school superintendents the Restoration of Additional District/Charter Assistance. And in March, we passed the 20-year bipartisan extension of Proposition 301 to provide stable school funding resources. I have attached a presentation that summarizes our revenue methodologies, the totality of the education package for K-12 and higher education and other investments in healthcare, social services, county funding and other key essential government services. Here is my guarantee to you: I will never check the box on public education. This is one of the states most important responsibilities, along with public safety and child safety. Our teachers do amazing work, and are truly difference-makers in the lives of our children. Ive been incredibly impressed by them, and I am grateful for their dedication to providing every child a quality educational experience. They have earned this raise. Now, its time for us to deliver. Sincerely, Douglas A. Ducey Governor State of Arizona Arizona News Tucson, Arizona - The University of Arizona College of Nursing is one of only 31 U.S. schools of nursing selected to receive a prestigious grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to increase the number of nurses holding PhDs. The selected schools comprise the fifth cohort of grantees of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholars program, which will provide financial support, mentoring and leadership development to nurses who commit to earn their PhDs in three years. The UA College of Nursing selected two ursing students to receive this scholarship. To support their studies, the program provides scholars with a $75,000 scholarship and the leadership, research and other skills they need to take their nursing careers to the highest levels. The 2018 UA College of Nursing honorees are Emily Moore, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, and Jamie Besel, MN, RN. Besel plans to study the role and application of technology as it relates to self-management and quality of life in underserved rural populations. Moore plans to examine surgical outcomes and how morbidity and mortality differ when looking at distance of residence from the primary surgical center in the pediatric population. In its landmark nursing report, the Institute of Medicine recommended that our nation double the number of nurses with doctorates. Although enrollment in doctorate of nursing practice programs has increased exponentially, PhD enrollment has seen less growth. The Future of Nursing Scholars program was designed to increase PhD-prepared nurses. Doing so will ensure more nurses are conducting vital research and also will help address the nurse faculty shortage. The Future of Nursing Scholars program is a multi-funder initiative. In addition to RWJF, Johnson & Johnson, Cincinnati Childrens Hospital Medical Center, Sharp HealthCare and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center are supporting the Future of Nursing Scholars grants to schools of nursing this year. The UA College of Nursing and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation are strongly committed to the success of our two current and two new RWJF nursing scholars, said Lois Loesher, PhD, RN, FAAN, director, UA College of Nursing PhD Program. These scholars must complete our rigorous PhD program in three years to accelerate their entry into the workforce, with the goal of hastening transformational change in nursing and health care. We thank the RWJF for providing numerous resources and consistent support for these new nursing leaders and their faculty mentors. When this program concludes, we will have graduated more than 200 PhD-prepared nurses. RWJF is thrilled to see the program succeed so well, and we are very thankful for the other funders who have joined us in support of this work, said Susan Hassmiller, PhD, RN, FAAN, co-director of the program and RWJFs senior adviser for nursing. About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation For more than 40 years, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve the health and health care of all Americans. We are striving to build a national Culture of Health that will enable all to live longer, healthier lives now and for generations to come. About the University of Arizona College of Nursing Established in 1957, the UA College of Nursing has been transforming nursing education, research and practice to help people build better futures for 60 years. Consistently ranked among the best programs in the nation, the college is strengthening health cares largest workforce and the publics most trusted profession through its undergraduate and graduate programs, offered online and on-campus in Tucson and Phoenix. Headquartered in Tucson, Ariz., where integrative health has been pioneered, the UA College of Nursing is home to the worlds only Integrative Nursing Faculty Fellowship. With key focal strengths in integrative health, cancer prevention and survivorship, and nursing informatics, the college has more than 7,000 alumni worldwide promoting health and wellness in their workplaces and communities. For more information: https://www.nursing.arizona.edu Health News Tucson, Arizona - The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson is launching a medical Spanish training program for residents and fellows to better serve the needs of the citys Spanish-speaking population. A large portion of our population is predominately Spanish-speaking, says Victoria Murrain, DO, interim deputy dean for diversity and inclusion, who is spearheading the new program. We need to improve patient care and experience by better preparing our physicians to be more culturally and linguistically competent. Twenty-seven percent of Tucsonans are native Spanish speakers, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau. Currently, when physicians cannot communicate with patients, an interpreter translates on-site or via video or telephone. Although helpful, this isnt always enough; much can be lost in the translation, says Dr. Murrain. When physicians cant communicate with their patients, it creates an impersonal and untrusting dialogue, she says. Studies have shown that health outcomes are better when a patient and doctor communicate in the same language. Not only does it build rapport and trust, but patients are more compliant with the management of their medical problems. The two-year Spanish language track will be offered to residents attending the Banner University Medical Center Tucson campus. The program is limited to residents who already are intermediate-to-proficient Spanish speakers. Participants will partake in facilitated monthly medical Spanish classes. They then will have the opportunity to practice speaking Spanish one-on-one with colleagues and medical students at monthly luncheons. Canopy, a self-paced online medical Spanish course, also will be available to participants. Current faculty and students also can access the course, if interested. The program also will include a focus on health care disparities - inequalities that occur in health care - particularly those affecting the Tucson patient population. Participants will select a topic of interest and host a dinner forum that features an expert speaker for students, residents, fellows, faculty and staff. During the two-year track, qualified participants will have the opportunity to become certified bilingual providers by taking the national Clinician Cultural and Linguistic Assessment (CCLA) exam. Certification allows physicians to communicate directly with target-language patients without the use of an interpreter. I am pleased that our college is striving to educate residents on cultural and linguistic competency, says Leigh Neumayer, MD, executive dean of the college. We strive to give our trainees all the skills they will need to provide the highest level of care to all of their patients. The Spanish Language/Health Care Disparities Distinction Track has been offered at the UA College of Medicine Tucson South Campus for the past two years. Due to its success at South Campus, Dr. Murrain is expanding the opportunity to the Tucson Campus. In its first year at BUMC, the program will accept 12 to 15 residents and fellows. Dr. Murrain hopes the track will expand to 20 to 25 residents in its second year. The track officially launches in July. Latest News Phoenix, Arizona - Remarks by Vice President Pence at Tax Cuts to Put America First Event: Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes 3:06 P.M. MST THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, hello, Arizona! (Applause.) Wow. It is great to be back in the Grand Canyon State with men and women who voted to elect a President and a Congress that have enacted historic tax cuts to put America first. Thank you so much. (Applause.) Thank you so much for being here today. And before I get started, I want to bring greetings from a man who loves the great state of Arizona, and a leader that you voted to make the 45th President of the United States of America, a man who is making America great again. I bring greetings from President Donald Trump. (Applause.) Now before I get started, let me say a few words, first and foremost, about an issue I know is on the hearts and minds of people all across Arizona: the Tinder Fire burning in Coconino County. Its already forced hundreds of Arizonans from their homes, and its threatening houses and businesses and churches and public utility facilities and more. Now, I want to thank Governor Ducey and local officials for acting swiftly to declare a state of emergency to respond to the Tinder Fire. Great job. (Applause.) And Im pleased to report that our administration has already approved federal funds to help fight this fire. (Applause.) You know, America already knows that Arizona is home to some of the best and bravest firefighters in the world. Its true. (Applause.) All of America remembers the 19 heroes from the Prescott Fire Department who lost their lives fighting the blaze at Yarnell the Granite Mountain Hotshots. (Applause.) Now I have to tell you, carrying on their tradition, the Hotshots proud legacy, today more than 550 personnel are working to fight and contain this fire. And I know all of you and all of the people of Arizona couldnt be more grateful for their courage and sacrifice. And in the days ahead, know that this our administration will continue to work closely with Governor Ducey and your courageous first responders to put this fire out. Lets hear it for all the heroic firefighters who are on the job in Arizona at this very hour. (Applause.) Now, Governor Ducey, I want to thank you for that kind introduction, and thank you for being here today. I came to Arizona today to talk about the progress that our administration has been making all across America. But first, let me talk about the positive changes your Governor has been making right here in Arizona. Its been remarkable. (Applause.) I mean, just like our President, your Governor is a man of his word and hes a man of action. Governor Ducey promised to unleash Arizonas job creators and slash red tape. And last year, Governor Doug Ducey eliminated 676 state regulations on businesses and job creators. Its amazing. (Applause.) I mean, Governor Ducey pledged to grow jobs and expand opportunity for all Arizonans. And last year, unemployment in Arizona fell to a 10-year low. And Governor Ducey promised to invest in your schools and support your teachers. And just a few weeks ago, I just heard that Governor Ducey released a plan to increase teacher salaries by 20 percent by 2020 because Governor Doug Ducey believes Arizonas teachers deserve a raise. (Applause.) And under this Governors leadership, Arizona has entered a new era of prosperity and progress. So would you all mind I hate to ask you to get back on your feet but would you mind getting on your feet and just showing how much you appreciate the 23rd Governor of the great state of Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey? (Applause.) And I know Governor Ducey would be the first one to say that all the progress hes made had been built on a strong foundation because his predecessor did an extraordinary job herself. Would you join me in showing your appreciation for the former Governor of Arizona, the great Governor Jan Brewer is with us today. Jan, great to see you. (Applause.) A few other people I want to mention before we get down to business. I want to recognize another Arizona leader whos here today whos been standing, literally, shoulder-to-shoulder with our President to advance the agenda thats putting Arizona first. Join me in thanking Congressman Andy Biggs, would you please? He is a great conservative in the Congress. (Applause.) And while were at it, I just want to extend my congratulations to Americas newest member of Congress, a leader who President Trump and I know is going to do a great job representing Arizonas 8th Congressional District, Congresswoman-Elect Debbie Lesko. Thank you so much for your strong stand. (Applause.) And I just found out when I was walking through the door that we were also going to be joined today by another favorite. (Laughter.) A great friend of this President, a tireless champion of strong borders and the rule of law. Hes spent a lifetime in law enforcement. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, Im honored to have you here. (Applause.) And finally, just let me just thank our host of todays event. I know this has been an invigorating day for you. Lots of great voices up here at the panel promoting policies that are making a real difference in the life of working families all across Arizona; talking about these tax cuts, talking about the Presidents agenda. Join me in thanking America First Policies for bringing us all together today. Its a great group. (Applause.) But Im here today, first and foremost, just to say thanks; thanks to all of you. Because of your support, because of the partnership of Arizonas conservative leaders in the Congress of the United States, and because of the relentless leadership of President Donald Trump, you can sum up this administration in one simple phrase: Its been 15 months of promises made and promises kept. (Applause.) I mean, think about it. Think about it. President Trump promised to rebuild our military and end the era of budget cuts of our armed forces. And true to his word, this President just signed the largest investment in our national defense since the days of Ronald Reagan. (Applause.) This President also promised to stand with those who served in the uniform of the United States in years past. And weve been working with these great conservative leaders in Congress. Im proud to report that weve given the VA the resources it needs to end the backlog for veterans once and for all. And we will not rest or relent until every hero has access to the world-class healthcare that you earned when you wore the uniform of the United States. (Applause.) Its a promise. And President Trump also promised to stand with the courageous men and women who serve on the Thin Blue Line of law enforcement. And under this administration, we are giving the men and women of law enforcement the resources and the respect that they deserve as they stand and protect our families every day. (Applause.) Lets give them a round of applause. (Applause.) And our President also promised to secure our borders and enforce our laws. (Applause.) And with the help of Governor Ducey, were doing just that. You know, yesterday, I was on our southern border in California, and I met with the men and women of Homeland Security who serve on the front lines of border security every day. Theyve got a tough job. Theyve got a dangerous job. And every American is grateful every day for the courageous men and women of our Border Patrol. (Applause.) And I told them that. AUDIENCE MEMBER: Build that wall! THE VICE PRESIDENT: Now, you all know AUDIENCE: Build that wall! Build that wall! Build that wall! THE VICE PRESIDENT: Oh, well build the wall. (Applause.) Dont worry about it. You know, the last few days, much of the nations attention has been focused on the so-called caravan that made its way up thousands of miles from Central America. AUDIENCE: Booo THE VICE PRESIDENT: You know, but the President said, rightly, this situation is a direct result of our weak immigration laws and our porous border. And make no mistake about it: This is a deliberate attempt to undermine the laws and weaken the sovereignty of the United States of America. But under this President, we will uphold our laws, defend our sovereignty, and we will protect the borders of the United States of America. (Applause.) We will. Lets be clear on one thing. These people, particularly vulnerable families with small children these people are victims. Theyre victims being exploited by open-border political activists and an agenda-driven media. And in far too many cases, theyre exploited by human smugglers, and criminal and drug cartels who seize on their hardship to undermine our laws and weaken the sovereignty of this country. And Im going to make you a promise: This President and I are going to continue to keep the pressure on the Congress to do their job, and take the steps necessary to secure our border and close the dangerous loopholes in our immigration laws. (Applause.) I mean, just yesterday, the President said Congress has got to close what he called the deadly immigration loopholes that are exploited by terrorists, traffickers, and criminals. And theyre loopholes that serve as a magnet to attract some of the most vulnerable to our borders at great risk to themselves and to their families. Secondly, just a few weeks ago, you all might have noticed, President Trump sent the National Guard to the southern border of the United States. (Applause.) As we speak, were providing our Border Patrol agents the vital assistance that they need, in the air and on the ground. And to date, nearly 1,000 Guardsmen have deployed across our border states with more on the way, including more than 330 Guardsmen right here in Arizona. And, Governor Ducey, I want to thank you for your strong stand for border security and the rule of law. (Applause.) With these decisive actions and the courage of our Border Patrols, Im pleased to report to you that illegal crossings at our southern border are down by more than 40 percent. (Applause.) And thanks to the leadership of President Donald Trump and the support of conservatives in Congress, just like I said before, we are building that wall (applause) starting with the first 100 miles of construction. And when it comes to the wall, were going to build it all. (Applause.) But, you know, protecting the homeland also includes upholding the rule of law. And President Trump has been busy keeping his promise in that category, too. Weve been appointing strong conservatives to our federal courts at every level, starting with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. And last year, we set a record for more court of appeal judges confirmed in a single year than any President in American history, and theyre all conservatives. (Applause.) So its been promises made, promises kept. And since day one of this administration, what brings us here today is this President has been working every day to keep our promise to get this economy moving again. I mean, President Trump promised to roll back the heavy hand of government. And working with Arizonas great conservatives in Congress, this President has signed more laws cutting federal red tape than any President in American history. (Applause.) Good. I mean, some of you might remember from the campaign, the President used to say that for every new federal rule on the books, wed repeal two federal rules. And I got to come clean with you: We havent done that. Weve actually eliminated 22 regulations for every new federal rule put on the books. (Applause.) A good example is were repealing the disastrous Waters of the United States Rule, and were empowering Arizonans to take control over land management decisions in your communities. (Applause.) Were reaffirming private property in Arizona. (Applause.) This President also promised to unleash American energy so vital to powering this economy. He approved the Keystone and Dakota Pipelines. (Applause.) He rolled back the Clean Power Plan. And President Trump put America first when he withdrew the United States from the disastrous Paris Climate Accord. (Applause.) Its promises made and promises kept. This President also promised to crack down on unfair trade practices that work against American workers and American jobs. Hes taken decisive action to protect our steel, aluminum, and lumber industries. And I can tell you, sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with him as world leaders come to the United States, its great to watch. (Applause.) This President has been fighting for trade deals that are free, fair, and reciprocal, and put American jobs and American workers first. (Applause.) And finally, what you all heard a lot about earlier today, what mostly brings me here today this President promised to cut taxes across the board for working families and businesses and ranchers and farmers. And just over four months ago, with the strong support of Congressman Biggs and all of Arizonas conservatives in Congress, President Donald Trump signed the largest tax cuts and tax reform in the history of this country. (Applause.) Thats promises made and promises kept, Arizona. You know, all these actions are really, already, making a remarkable difference. Since Election Day, businesses large and small have already created nearly 3 million new jobs, including more than 85,000 new jobs right here in Arizona. (Applause.) The unemployment rate hasnt been this low in 17 years. And in Arizona, its fallen by nearly 10 percent in the last year. The truth is, jobs are coming back, confidence is back. As I stand before you today, I say with confidence, under President Donald Trump, America is back and were just getting started. (Applause.) And, you know, the President and I know that the best days for American prosperity are yet to come, because these tax cuts are just starting to make a difference. I mean, the truth is, we cut taxes for Arizonas working families, so you can keep more of your paycheck every single month. We cut taxes for job creators and employees, so they can compete and win anywhere in the world. And when we cut taxes, we if you didnt notice it we also cut the heart out of Obamacare. (Applause.) The individual mandate is gone. Off the books, once and for all. (Applause.) You know, all told all told, these tax cuts the President signed into law are going to save a typical family of four here in Arizona about $2,100 a year on your taxes. But thats only half the story. Because youll also see more in your paychecks because we cut taxes for job creators as well. You know, its a proven formula that a tax cut for businesses ultimately is a raise for workers. In the years ahead, we believe that as businesses continue to respond to this unprecedented tax relief, that we expect the average Arizona worker is going to see a pay raise of about $4,000 a year. (Applause.) And, you know, its already happening. Its already happening because over the past four months, more than 500 companies across the country have announced bigger raises, better benefits, and tax-cut bonuses to more than 5.5 million Americans, including more than 45,000 workers that have gotten a pay raise or a bonus right here in Arizona. (Applause.) Thats real results. Now, not everyone thinks these tax-cut bonuses are a big deal. I mean, really, did you hear about it? I mean, last year you had companies all over the country passing out thousand-dollar bonuses to people at the end of the year. And the person who wants to be Speaker of the House again Nancy Pelosi AUDIENCE: Booo THE VICE PRESIDENT: she actually heard about those thousand-dollar bonuses, and she said $1,000 in the pockets of working families at the end of the year is nothing more than crumbs. Now, let me remind you that I come from the Joseph A. Bank wing of the West Wing of the White House. (Laughter.) You guys with me on that? I mean, Karen and I have always lived on a budget. Still do. I mean, when our kids were little, we had a term for another $1,000 in my paycheck at the end of the year: Christmas. (Applause.) I mean, let me say from my heart, very seriously anyone who says $1,000 in the pockets of working families is crumbs is out of touch with the American people and should never lead the peoples Congress again. (Applause.) I mean, I dont know if you all remember the last time liberals ran the Congress. I do. I was actually there. (Laughter.) I mean, they nearly ran the country into the ground, truth be told. I mean, they raised taxes, they cut military spending, they tried to pass cap-and-trade, and they gave us the nightmare of Obamacare. And heres the thing: These liberals today arent your parents liberals. Okay? I mean, the Democratic Party today has gone further to the left than ever before. I mean, you only have to look at Arizonas liberals in the Congress for proof. While Arizona has got some great conservative representatives, like Congressmen Andy Biggs, Congressman Paul Gosar, Congressman David Schweikert, and Congresswoman Martha McSally (applause) the same cant be said the same cant be said of two of Arizonas other representatives: Congressman Ruben Gallego and Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema. AUDIENCE: Booo THE VICE PRESIDENT: I mean, when the time came to cut your taxes, Kyrsten Sinema voted no. When the time came to let the people of Arizona keep more of your own hard-earned money, Kyrsten Sinema voted no. When the time came to repeal the disaster of Obamacare which has actually given Arizona some of the highest health insurance premium hikes in the country Kyrsten Sinema voted no. But its not just tax cuts. Time and again, Ruben Gallego and Kyrsten Sinema have voted no on policies that Arizona needs. And I dont know about the rest of you, but I think Arizona deserves better. (Applause.) You know, this is a pivotal year in the life of our nation. So I want to challenge each and every one of you. I mean, I hope you found the discussions today encouraging and enriching. I hope youre leaving here better informed and better encouraged than you were when you arrived. But I hope you also leave here with a little burden on your heart to go tell the story of what youve heard here today, about the progress that Arizona has been making under your great state leadership, and the progress America is making under President Donald Trump. I want to challenge you to make your voice heard. I want you to exercise all your rights in this year and this fall. But in the meantime, I want you to tell the story of whats happening to your friends, your loved ones, and your neighbors. I mean, the truth is, tell them what they dont hear from most of their cable television stations (laughter) about what weve accomplished in America, and the difference that weve made. I mean, I truly do believe that all the TV commercials in the world, all the cable television news shows with long panels of people expressing their opinions, all the advertisements and political discussion on the airways is not to be compared to when a friend of yours, someone who trusts you and respects you at work or at worship, hears from you about whats happening thats good in this country and this state. So I want to challenge you today. I want you to leave here today and reach out to your neighbors, your friends, over a backyard fence or outside the grocery store, at worship, at work. Tell them just tell them, I ran into Mike the other day (laughter) and he was like it like took him a half hour to get through everything President Donald Trump has accomplished in 15 months for the American people. (Applause.) I want you to go tell them. Tell them about the difference that its making. I mean, heres the thing: I mean, remind them that we cut their taxes, all right? Tell them to check their paycheck, all right, so they keep more of what they earned. Remind them that were restoring American strength at home and abroad, rebuilding our military and standing with the men and women in uniform here and around the world to protect our freedom and protect our families. I mean, bottom line tell them, under President Donald Trump, were putting the government back to work for you, not the other way around. (Applause.) And under President Donald Trump, the forgotten men and women are forgotten no more. Thats what I want you to go tell them. (Applause.) And tell them about the progress, and tell them this year. (Applause.) Because we got a great story to tell. We got a great story to tell. But how will they know if they do not hear? So I encourage you, avail yourself, Arizona, of that rugged individualism for which you are known so well, and go tell the story of the progress were making. You know, as I wrap up, I look forward to saying hello to as many of you as I have an opportunity, before they slip me away. (Laughter.) But let me just make mention of one issue before I close. You know, as I stand before you today, I know I do so at a time when a longtime Arizona leader, who has dedicated his life to this country, is on the hearts and minds of people all across this state Senator John McCain. (Applause.) As we gather here, Senator McCain, Im told, is back home recovering from his latest medical treatment. He spent an entire lifetime fighting for the country that he loves in the United States Navy, in the House of Representatives, and representing Arizona in the United States Senate. Now, I know hes fighting this illness with courage and with strength. Let me just say, I know I speak on behalf of everyone here and people all across the country when I say that Senator McCain, Cindy, and their entire family are on our hearts during this difficult time. And people all across America are praying for Senator John McCain. (Applause.) And, you know, in these challenging times, where there seems to be more division than I remember in my lifetime, prayer is something we ought to think about. (Applause.) And, you know, if youre of a mind to bow the head and bend the knee from time to time, I encourage you to do it to pray for America. (Applause.) Because Ill always believe Ill always believe that those words inscribed millennia ago, that Americans have clung to through our history, through much more challenging times than we face today, are still true today that if His people, who are called by His name, will humble themselves and pray, Hell do like Hes always done through the long and storied history of this great nation. Hell hear from heaven and Hell heal this land this one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. (Applause.) So I got to run, but I just want to say thank you. Thank you for the opportunity to be with you today. Thanks for taking time. I know AUDIENCE MEMBER: No, thank you! (Applause.) THE VICE PRESIDENT: I leave here I hope youre leaving here encouraged, because I sure am. (Applause.) And Im absolutely convinced, with the continued support of the good people of Arizona and your great conservative leaders in the Congress, with President Donald Trump in the White House, and with Gods help, I know we will make America safe again. We will make America prosperous again. And to borrow a phrase (laughter) we will make America great again. Thank you very much. (Applause.) God bless Arizona. And God bless the United States of America. (Applause.) Latest News New Orleans, Louisiana - A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Louisiana has returned a 12-count indictment charging Carlos Alberto Zelaya Rojas with money laundering violations, impairing the courts jurisdiction over property subject to forfeiture, impeding an official proceeding, and perjury. Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division and Deputy Director Thomas D. Homan of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made the announcement. According to the indictment, Carlos Zelaya, 47, a citizen of Honduras who was residing in the New Orleans area, conspired with his brother, the former Executive Director of the Honduran Institute of Social Security, and others, to launder over $1.3 million in bribe payments. These bribes were paid by two Honduran businessmen for the benefit of the Executive Director. The funds were then laundered into the New Orleans area through international wire transfers and used to purchase real estate. As part of the conspiracy, Carlos Zelaya also used his brothers high-ranking official position to profit from lucrative Honduran government contracts and then laundered the misappropriated funds into the New Orleans area. Zelaya was arrested earlier today and had his initial court appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daniel E. Knowles III, who ordered him to remain in custody pending his detention hearing on May 3. The indictment also charges Carlos Zelaya with spending rental income from properties purchased with the proceeds of foreign corruption while he was under a court order to preserve the funds pending resolution of a federal forfeiture action. Additionally, the indictment charges that Carlos Zelaya impeded an official proceeding when he lied to the U.S. government about the source of the funds used to purchase the New Orleans-area properties, and further, that he committed perjury when he lied to a federal judge in the Eastern District of Louisiana about the rental income. An indictment is merely an accusation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The investigation was conducted by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New Orleans and Miami. The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorneys Stephen A. Gibbons, Marybeth Grunstra, and Michael B. Redmann of the Criminal Divisions Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section with assistance from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana. This case was brought under the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative by a team of prosecutors in the Criminal Divisions Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section, working in partnership with federal law enforcement agencies, dedicated to prosecuting those who facilitate foreign official corruption which affects the U.S. financial system, forfeiting assets purchased with the proceeds of that corruption, and, where appropriate, repatriating the forfeited corruption proceeds for the benefit of the people of the country harmed by the abuse of public office. A new chapter in the rich Italian tradition of paying it forward via coffee has been born in Los Angeles, where LAs queer-centered coffeehouse Cuties Coffee recently launched a community tab program. The goal: to ensure that the joy and comfort of a cup of a coffee in a safe and welcoming environment is available to all who need it, regardless of whether they can afford it. Since queer community members (especially those who are also marginalized in other ways) face higher rates of unemployment, homelessness, and poverty than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts, the community tab advances Cuties mission to provide a true community hub for alleven those without the disposable income for their daily brewby ensuring that no one is turned away for lack of funds. The Suspended Coffee Tradition In launching the community tab program, Cuties founders Virginia Bauman and Iris Bainum-Houle arent creating something entirely novel, but rather refining an historic tradition to fit their local community. The concept of suspended coffeepurchasing a second coffee for an anonymous future customer in needis a tradition that comes from Italy (supposedly Naples) and dates back at least as far as the late 19th century. Originally called caffe sospeso, the tradition experienced a revival in Italy in 2011 when Italian authorities created an official Suspended Coffee Day to be celebrated each December. Two years later, Irish plumber John Sweeney became enamored with the idea and launched a Facebook page Suspended Coffees. Four years later the page has over 388,000 Likes; the official organization Suspended Coffees that came from it has inspired thousands of cafes across the worldincluding many in the USto adopt suspended coffee programs. Although some coffee shop owners found the concept of an official program to match customers looking to pay it forward with customers who could use a coffee break controversial, the idea resonated with many and continues to spread. The Community Tab Within the queer community, crowdfunding and passing the hat for friends and strangers alike is also a rich and longstanding tradition; both despite and because of the fiscal marginalization the queer community experiences, its members support each other when in need, and the community tab is just another expression of that tradition. Cuties, which was founded partially off of crowdfunding, has already tapped into that custom to give back to the community and create much-needed safe space. Our community faces frequent financial hardship, said Bauman, reflecting on the inspiration for the program. We want our space to be accessible, without the stigma of not having the funds to buy a drink or attend an event. The community tab allows people who have the means to support those who dont. Notably, the community tab allows its recipients to access the program without having to draw attention to their lack of fundsinstead of asking the barista if anyone has left an extra drink, Cuties bar has a bowl of tokens that function as dollars from which anyone, without conversation, can pay. Customers can also add money to the bowl by purchasing extra love for any dollar amount with their order. Ultimately, the system needs to be able to be taken advantage of without conversation and be visible at the time of purchase, says Bauman. There needs to be a way to use it without outing yourself to others in the shop. Bauman and Bainum-Houle funded the tab via an initial investment, but even after only a few weeks, the balance is already being maintained by the community, both in the cafe and through a Patreon account where fans can support long-distance. Bauman hopes the community tab will encourage queer and otherwise marginalized community members to come out and socialize even if they are facing financial hardship. Isolation is extremely prevalent in our communitythere are multiple challenges to leaving your house when you are a queer individual. If we can remove one of those challenges by providing the structure for those with means to help those without, then well be very happy. Beyond the Cup While Cuties has been open for under a year, the community tab is only the latest in their mission to serve their community beyond the cup. Bauman and Bainum-Houlewho met while attending queer, sex-positive, and storytelling events in Los Angeles and bonded over the inclusive community they wanted but didnt yet seethink of Cuties as much more than just a place to get a cup of coffee. We wanted a space that anchors the community, open during the daytime so that all ages could attend, Bauman tells me. We wanted a space for folx who dont find a home in the queer nightlife scene. We wanted a space that was casual. There was a gap that we saw that a coffee shop could fill. Their flagship event, Queers, Coffee & Donutsa casual queer coffee and donuts hangoutstarted before Cuties official launch. Since their storefront has been open, theyve created a host of other events, including the Friday Flirt!, in which attendees can cruise in a safer space without alcohol, screenings of queer films, and craft nights. My long-term goal is to have an event happening every day in the shop so there's always something for our community to do and look forward to. That can mean a lot when your right to exist is under attack, said Bainum-Houle. In addition to those events, they also provide a weekly newsletter featuring events happening in the broader LGBTQIA+ community as well as their own, including a section called Adventures From Your Couch, which features queer media that can be enjoyed from home including movies, music videos, books, articles, and podcasts. This is for folx who aren't going out that week, whether that's because of social anxiety, mental illness, disabilities, or chronic illness. We want those folx to know we're thinking about them even when they can't come to the shop. Pay It Forward For some, specialty coffee has earned itself a reputation for being elitist and inaccessible, and while those claims dont necessarily take into account the whole picture, they also arent without basis. A focus on paying higher prices to coffee producers and workers across the supply chain doesnt come for free, and as cafe prices have climbed, gentrification has put a pinch on many of the communities that house cafes. Communities that are marginalized have felt this pinch the hardest, and Cuties is working to make sure that their business actively circulates wealth back into the local queer community. To support the community tab and Cuties other community programs, donate to their patreon and pay it forwardafter all, its a coffee tradition. RJ Joseph (@RJ_Sproseph) is a Sprudge staff writer, publisher of Queer Cup, and coffee professional based in the Bay Area. Read more RJ Joseph on Sprudge Media Network. Photos courtesy of V.V. Latest News Norfolk, Virginia - A member of the Nine Trey Gangsters was sentenced today in the Eastern District of Virginia to life in prison for his role in four murders and several additional non-fatal shootings. According to plea documents, Anthony Foye, 26, of Suffolk, Virginia, is a member of the Nine Trey Gangsters, a street gang with members in states across the East Coast that is affiliated with the United Blood Nation. Foye and another gang member convicted of multiple murders, Nathaniel Mitchell, were trying to gain a reputation within the gang as shooters. In furtherance of his membership in the gang, Foye murdered Al-Tariq Tynes, Vandalet Mercer, Linda Lassiter, and Wayne Davis, shot into a residence in Portsmouth, Virginia and shot several other individuals across South Hampton Roads, Virginia. Foye pleaded guilty on Sept. 8, 2017, to four counts of murder in aid of racketeering activity, and faced a mandatory life sentence on each count. Acting Assistant Attorney General John P. Cronan of the Justice Departments Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy Doherty-McCormick for the Eastern District of Virginia; Attorney General of Virginia Mark R. Herring; Special Agent in Charge Martin Culbreth of the FBIs Norfolk Field Office; Chief of Norfolk Police Larry D. Boone; Chief of Portsmouth Police Tonya D. Chapman; Chief of Virginia Beach Police James A. Cervera; Col. K.L. Wright, Chief of Chesapeake Police; and Chief of Suffolk Police Thomas E. Bennett made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis. The case was investigated as part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) Operation Billy Club. The OCDETF program is a federal multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional task force that supplies supplemental federal funding to federal and state agencies involved in the identification, investigation, and prosecution of major drug trafficking organizations. The principal mission of the OCDETF program is to identify, disrupt and dismantle the most serious drug trafficking, weapons trafficking and money laundering organizations, and those primarily responsible for the nations illegal drug supply. Trial Attorney Teresa A. Wallbaum of the Criminal Divisions Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. DePadilla, Andrew C. Bosse and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney John F. Butler of the Eastern District of Virginia are prosecuting the case. Living Section Somerton, Arizona - On Wednesday, May 16th, the Somerton Library is hosting a Este es mi Mexico Drawing Contest! Children ages 6-14 are invited to the library at 1:30 p.m. to draw a picture of their favorite place in Mexico and be entered to win this nationwide drawing contest! There is no charge to participate. The Somerton Library is located at 240 Canal Street in Somerton, AZ. For more information, call (928) 627-2149. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - The station known for more than 45 years as KAWC-AM, at 1320AM in Yuma, is now Border Radio KOFA. Border Radio is a return to our roots: a college radio station that gives Arizona Western College students and other community members a chance to host music programs. The Bridge, our morning music program, can now be heard from 6 am-11 am. The Bridge brings together blues, folk, rock, oldies, and local artists, with community news and information about organizations important to you. Undercurrents with Gregg McVicar, is now available from 11 am to 3 pm with a great mix of music from our friends at Native Voice One. And we have added a new evening drive program, Crossing Borders, from 3 pm to 7 pm. Crossing Borders will be hosted by a wide variety of new voices, bringing a lot of energy and a refreshing perspective to your afternoon. This transition is part of a process that we hope to complete this summer. The ultimate goal is to add an FM translator that will put community music on the FM dial in downtown Yuma. For now, Border Radio broadcasts on 1320AM in Yuma, on the Arizona Community Radio Network in Northern Arizona, on the RadioFX app, on the Tune-In app and on KAWC.org. Watch for a new website for Border Radio soon. If you'd like more information about the new expanded music service, or if you're interested in volunteering, please email Dave Riek, General Manager, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Meanwhile, KAWC News at 88.9FM will continue to provide NPR and BBC News, and local coverage from the KAWC Newsroom. We hope you like it, and thanks for listening to and supporting Border Radio and KAWC. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Yesterday, at approximately 11:55 p.m., the Yuma Police Department received a call reference to a possible school shooting that may happen on Wednesday, May 02, 2018 at Crane Schools. A specific school was not mentioned. School Resource Officers informed Crane School District about the threat and the decision was made to place Crane Middle School in a shelter in place status. YPD officers and detectives used Law Enforcement resources to determine the source and validity of the threat. Crane School District cooperated fully with the investigation. A 14 year old Crane Middle School male student has been arrested in reference to this case and will be booked into the Yuma County Juvenile Justice Center for threats, Interference with or disruption of an educational institution, disorderly conduct and criminal nuisance. The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at 928-373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - The Yuma Police Department is asking for help in locating Jack (78) and Valerie (73) McEvoy, an elderly couple from Vancouver, British Columbia. UPDATE: The couple has been located, they are in Vancouver, British Columbia and with family. They were contacted by the Yuma Police Department at Motel 6, 1445 E 16th Street at 6:40 a.m. on May 1, 2018 during a welfare check. They advised officers that they planned on flying out of Yuma on May 2, 2018, and were going home to Vancouver, British Columbia. We have found no record of them flying out, renting a vehicle or leaving on a bus. They do not have cell phones and have no means of communicating. Their relatives are worried about them due to their age. The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700, Detective J. Iribe (928) 373-6066 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - The Arizona Western College Innovation Fund Committee granted money for the Matador Business Incubator. This new resource center will be available to AWC students that are admitted to the resource center this fall. Students will have access to resources, weekly seminars and hands on guidance from experienced professionals that could not otherwise afford consulting fees on their own. Deadline for applications is August 20th. The Matador Business Incubator will be located at the AWC Downtown Center (1351 S Redondo Center Dr, Yuma). Students accepted in the resource center will have the opportunity to attend weekly seminars on marketing, contracts, product development and finance. They will also have access to educational resources, professors and the work space. While seminars may be weekly, the business mentors will be available throughout the week to help the students with their business ideas. A student might have a concept for a business plan, or an invention. This is the platform for that. We encourage students with an invention or an app to apply to the resource center, commented Shahrooz Roohparvar, Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services. This concept is new to the area and the faculty and staff involved in the project are excited to learn see how creative our students can be. Interested students should visit https://AZWestern.edu/Incubator to apply. Deadline to apply is August 20th and the first sessions begins September 6th. Professional courses in Ghana trains learners in their specific field of study in order to get a deeper analysis and understanding of the course. It also develops skills as the learners get new concepts and techniques to be applied in their field of study. Many people view short training courses in Ghana as an avenue to enrich the performance and potential of the learners to kick start their career opportunities. Source: Wikipedia The high levels of competition in the job seekers witnessed has made it mandatory for them to seek professional courses in Ghana in order to have an edge over the rest of the competition. The basic degree or diploma qualification wont just cut it when it comes to searching for employment opportunities. The short professional courses in Ghana help you specialize in your career in order to increase your job prospects. It has become a norm for employers to ask for proof of attendance of professional certificate courses in Ghana during job offers. If you have not yet jumped on the bandwagon of certificates courses in Ghana, we have compiled a list of the most marketable professional certificate courses in Ghana that will equip you with the relevant skills and competencies to solidify and form the foundation of your career. List of professional courses in Ghana The list includes learning institutions in Ghana that have been accredited by the National Accreditation Board to offer exams in regards to the UK professional and vocational certification.We have also included the admission requirements for all programmes. All the certificates awarded to learners upon completion of course are internationally recognized in the UK qualifications from within Ghana. 1. IT Professional courses in Ghana The courses open career opportunities in fields of PC support, Programming, Computer, Computer Applications and Operation Systems. Learners with at least a two-year working experience in the related field can also enroll. It also complements holders of a Bachelors degree in Information Communication Technology or any related field. Certificate in ICT The certificate course in Ghana is intended to equip learners with skills and concepts to help cope with the changing landscape of the computing industry in Ghana. Learners are introduced to the basics of computer programming, user support, computer application and operating systems. At the end of the course the learners are expected to install and maintain computer hardware and software. They are also required to assemble and disassemble computers while troubleshooting a range of computers. The courses are offered at Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA). To be legible for admission learners require WASSCE passes with at least four core subjects including English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science. Source: Ghpage Certificate in IT management Learners are introduced information systems in an organization either in the private, public and non-governmental organization sector. They are equipped with skills and techniques on how to secure and ensure the effective operation of all computer systems, related applications, hardware and software in an organization. They are taught on the process of designing, development, monitoring, evaluation and implementation of new systems. The course is offered in the University of Ghana and the Ghana Technology University College. Applicants are required to have WASSCE passes in three relevant core subjects including English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Science. The course opens up career opportunities such as an IT manager, researchers and consultants. Certificate in telecommunications management Learners are introduced to the basics of telecommunications systems in organizations. They learn the procedures of installing and maintaining telecommunication systems. They are trained to gain experience in the processes of setting up servers, routers and modems. They are also trained on leadership skills in order to coordinate with all the departments in the organization to ensure the effective running of all system functions. The course is offered at the Accra Technical University and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Learners are required to have WASSCE passes in core subjects including English Language, Mathematics and Social Sciences. Mature applicants of 25 years and above can also be admitted after passing an entrance exam. The course complements holders of degrees and diploma in a related field of study. Advanced certificate in database programming with net framework Learners are introduced to web Application development on .Net Framework. They also learn how to use Windows Communication Foundation services unified model and other .NET tools to design and produce advanced level .Net software applications to Microsoft industry standards. They also learn different types of programming including object serialization, multi-threading, parallel programming, asynchronous programming techniques and dynamic programming. Learners are required to have at least a certificate in Database Programming. Workers with at least a two-year working experience in database programming can also enroll. Holders of a degree or diploma n the related field of study also are urged to enroll. The course is offered at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration and the University of Professional Studies Accra. Certificate in information systems requirements analysis Learners are equipped with skills and knowledge on the structure of organizations information systems and how to leverage information systems analysis. Learners get to know how to relate the information systems to meet the objectives of an organization. Learners learn how to specialize and prioritize requirements to meet the objectives by designing a support system for the information system. Learners pursuing a graduate in business degree and diploma are encourage to enroll to enrich their CV. Workers with at least more than two years working experience in the related field of study are encourage to enroll at the University of Professional Studies Accra and the Ghana Technology University College. Certificate in ICT for project management Learners are equipped with knowledge on evaluating and applying ICT project management tools and techniques to deliver projects from the phase of designing to completion. They also learn strategies to effectively manage areas including project schedule, cost and finance, procurement, quality and human resources. They are equipped with skills to manage, motivate and empower a team to successfully implement and monitor a project. Learners involved in the project planning process in organizations, researchers, consultants and students with WASSCE passes with two core subjects including English subject, Mathematics and Social Sciences are encouraged to apply. Upon completion of the course, learners are awarded with a certificate and can use the knowledge to evaluate and apply appropriate management styles and practices for effective management. 2.International Professional Courses in Ghana The course targets people in the middle management positions who are in search of a more strategic view of logistics and transport operations. International certificate in logistics and transport The course equips learners with knowledge and concepts in Logistics and Transport. Learners are introduced to the operations of transport and logistics in an organization. They also learn how to review and modify operational activities of organizations. They also learn modules including the theory of the business, the application part and the supply chain management. The skills attained are applied in their management roles and also are made aware of ethical issues, sustainability and global environmental issues. Applicants are urged to enroll at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Nebosh International certificate in health and safety Learners are equipped with health and safety measures management to be applied in the workplace. Learners are legible for applications for the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Tech IOSH) upon completion of the course. They can also progress for an International Diploma (Grad IOSH) and later for the chartered status. Workers in various work places with a management role in organization like top level human resource managers, policy makers, field workers with more than two years working experience are urged to enroll. The course basically takes through the learners through safety standards and measures put in place to prevent the occurrence of the hazards. Learners can enroll at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. 3. Human resource professional courses in Ghana The course opens up career opportunities as a HR Administrator who are involved in writing job descriptions, recruitment, interviewing and hiring new employees. Graduate certificate in human resource management Targets to equip people with the roles of managing workers into HR professionals as well as those involved in the process of designing, implementing and maintaining HR management practices in an organization. Learns are introduced to the current theories and trends in the HR management sector through assessments. The program is an entry point to the Master of Strategic Organizational Development for those without a Bachelor degree. People with interest in the career of Human Resource management are encouraged to enroll at the University of Professional Studies Accra. Learners with at WASSCE passes in at least six core subjects including Mathematics, English Language and Integrated Science are encouraged to apply. Source:wikipedia Administrative human resource management Learners are equipped with skills and tactics of how to administer the benefits of the organization, update corporate policies and ensure the compliance of the organization to the laws. They also learn how to assist managers to measure the employees performance and during recruitment and maintaining of personal files. Learners with a middle level management role in the organization are encouraged to apply at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Advanced human resource management Learners are introduced to comprehensive concepts of human resource management to understand the functioning of human resource management and its impact in the organization. Learners are also equipped with the main HR techniques and understand the evaluation process of the HR tools and concepts. The course applies a theory driven mode with backed up academic research. The course target workers in middle level management roles in the HR department. It also targets managers, executives, researchers and consultants involved in the process of hiring and interviewing workers. The course is offered at the University of Ghana and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Holders of a certificate in human resource management from a recognized learning institution are also encouraged to enroll. Office management The course targets individuals with interests in becoming office managers. The learners are equipped with skills and knowledge necessary for the effective management and administration of staff and resources. They are taught on how to control, plan, evaluate and monitor all the activities in the office to ensure smooth operations. The course targets workers with at least two years working experience in an organization and mature office staff who seek to advancements in their careers in office management qualifications. Learners with WASSCE passes with two passes in core subjects including Mathematics, English Language and Integrated Sciences. Applicants can apply at the University of Ghana and The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. 4. Hospitality profession courses in Ghana The hospitality industry provides various high-paying job opportunities & career options. You can start off at an executive level & progress to be a top manager in any one of the following areas of the hospitality industry: The advanced diploma in hospitality management The Advanced Diploma in Hospitality Management course prepares you for a successful career in the hospitality industry. On completing the course, you can choose to work in any department of a hotel or related organizations in Ghana & abroad.The hospitality industry provides various high-paying job opportunities & career options. You can start off at an executive level & progress to be a top manager in any areas of the hospitality industry source: wikipedia 5.The Institute of Professional and Executive Development (IPED) Courses in Ghana The Institute of Professional and Executive Development is renowned for offering UK accredited courses in Ghana having being accredited by the National Accreditation Board. IPED Ghana also administers UK professional and vocational certification where the qualification earned by learners are internationally recognized. Oil and Gas management It is the first professional UK institute to obtain accreditation by the National Accreditation Board to offer oil and gas management from level 4 Diploma to Level 6 Graduate Diploma in Ghana. The learners are equipped with skills and knowledge in the oil and gas sector from the manager and supervisor roles with the viewpoint of impacting the sector. Learners get the opportunity to study the business side of the sector from the perspective of the entire value chain, analyze oil and gas management strategies of organizations. They also learn the ethical issues relating to the sustainable development of the environment while carrying out the extraction. They learn how position themselves and their organization in the competitive industry that is increasingly getting attention by investors. The course targets supervisors, managers, researchers, consultants and executives in the oil and gas sector. Learners require at least five years working experience in the oil and gas sector or a related field. Holders of a bachelors degree in mining and a related field are also encouraged to enroll. Upon completion of the course, learners are expected to get an overview of the global oil and gas industry. Source: wikipedia 6.Project management professional courses in Ghana Learners gain knowledge on how to evaluate the range of models and theories to facilitate strategic planning and change management processes. They also learn how to apply the skills to manage development projects effectively. They get an overview insight on how to prepare a project plan and understand the characteristics of organizational approaches to project management. The students in the planning industry with interest in filling the spots for the rapidly increasing demand for trained personnel in project planning. It also complements holders of a Bachelors degree in Project Planning or a related field of study. They will also be involved in exploring public service policies and processes related to service delivery and role in sustainable development. Applicants must possess WASSCE passes with two core subjects including English Language, Mathematics and Integrated Sciences. Applicants also with an O level mean grade of division 111 or equivalent are encouraged to apply. An A level qualification with a minimum of two subsidiary passes or equivalent also make the cut. Health and safety management Learners are equipped with skills to help improve the health and safety standards in the work place and in an organization. They also learn the importance of reducing risks and healthier working conditions in achieving the objectives of an organization. They also learn on the compliance laws set by the government that are supposed to be meet. They also learn the consequences and legal implications of failing to manage the safety and healthy working conditions of the workplace. The course targets directors, senior managers, corporate lawyers, researchers and executives in an organization to be aware of their responsibilities in ensuring the risks in the work place are reduced to reduce instances of casualties during hazards. By the end of the course, learners are expected to have an overview understanding of the legal duties placed on individuals and organizations. Business administration and strategic management Learners are equipped with skills essential to corporate success in the private, public and non-governmental organization sectors. They analyze the implementation process of strategies while integrating key leadership skills necessary for harmonizing and coordinating other departments in the organization. The course targets individuals with desire in understanding the strategic expertise in managing processes while integrating the key leadership skills and corporate growth development. Learners also learn how to analyze, respond and strategically planning for factors such as the environment to cater for changing laws, accounting, financial and economic challenges. Human resource management Learners are equipped with knowledge and concepts on how to communicate successfully between all the departments in the organization. They also learn principles and practices used by HR professionals and managers in the areas of recruitment, selection, training and employee motivation. They also learn strategies of motivating the staff in the different departments of the organization to work together in order to realize the objectives of the organization. The course targets individuals in the middle level management role in organizations and senior managers and directors involved during the process of hiring and interviewing new employees. The course is complementary to holders of a Bachelors degree in Human Resource Management. Learners are taught how to cope with the changing landscape of the human resource department. READ ALSO: University of Ghana Courses and requirements 7. Finance and Accounting professional course in Ghana The course offers flexible study methods and training environments with scheduled examinations that favors workers involved in their careers. It targets all workers in the accounting and finance field with at least two years working experience. Certificate in finance and accounting Finance and accounting give students the combination of the technical and background knowledge and skills that they will need as the basis of careers either in professions such as accountant. These degrees cover both the technicalities and conventions governing how wealth is measured and also how accounting and finance influence and shape the way organisations behave. Provides learners with a sound base to build a solid foundation in the accounting and finance careers. Learners develop a range of skills and knowledge to enable them work in any aspect of finance across the world without restriction. Learners earn a wide range of opportunities and open chances for learners seeking advancements into a Bachelors degree or at the Masters level. Source:Ghpage The course is offered at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. READ ALSO: How to make money in Ghana in 2018 List of registered professional bodies in Ghana Below are the registered professional body that have partnered with British council Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Certified Financial Analyst Institute Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Professional Linguistic Assessments Board Source: Yen African wear styles have always been outstanding and appealing. The fabrics, in particular, are part of African heritage with profound cultural values. From time to time, designers have been meticulously playing around with such material in creating something exquisite. This year's styles for both men and women attest to their high level of skills and creativity. Image: pinterest.com, @Theresa Nartey, @Abigail Doyle (modified by author) Source: UGC What are you wearing right now? Your dress or attire probably has African prints, some of the easiest when it comes to styling. The use of kente, Kitenge, batakari, among other materials, is what brands African styles. There is always an ever-growing demand for new dresses, consequently keeping stylists on toes. Fortunately, they have not been disappointing as African outfits are pieces of art. African wear styles 2021 Latest African wear for men and ladies are nothing short of perfection. They are professionally designed and look simply fabulous. Whether it is collard or button-down dress, the choices are innumerable. Indeed, you can match your African wear with whatever you desire, either a jacket, a pair of leggings or an off-shoulder top. The versatility is just impressive. African attires come in different shades like orange, green, deep red and many more. Choose your preferred fabric and style and adorn the attire of your dreams. African wear for ladies If you have ever attended an African wedding, you know the colourful attire worn by women to express their traditional values. Many ladies outfits are usually long, classy and always sophisticated. However, in recent times, short dresses have taken back the limelight and always spotted at various events. They are usually meant for a casual look, even though some of them blend seamlessly in a traditional set-up. Brown Kente fabric clothing Image: pinterest.com, @chidera Source: UGC What would African wear for ladies be without the brown kente dress design? Brown colour in kente fabric is culturally linked to royalty and monetary wealth, and this dress depicts that. The unique design of short sleeves yet still comfortably fitting brings out the feminine curves impeccably. This African wear for ladies is well-tailored for a confident and daring woman. It's made to fitting size, and everything precisely cut to give the wearer ideal appeal. Ankara short flare gowns Image: pinterest.com, @Idah Gachuche Source: UGC Are you looking for a simple, decent gown for a date night? Well, look no further as this decent dress will solve your dilemma. With a flare on the bottom half, it can surely give you all the comfort you need. It can be paired with neutral coloured heels and attractive accessories. One good thing about this dress is that it blends well with any kind of body shape be it hourglass or plus size. It's one of the best African wear for ladies. Halter top maxi dress Image: pinterest.com, @Omaa Adaobi Source: UGC Are you looking for the best dress styles for women? Don't worry; designers have been creating incredible and artistic designs for ladies for a very long time. Without a doubt, you will find something fancy to adorn, and the halter Ankara dress is one ideal example. This is for ladies who are bold and confident in their bodies. It's a perfect outfit for flashy events. Since it is loose-fitting, it gives you all the comfort you need. You can settle on the colour you desire to match your hairstyle or headwrap that you have always wanted to adorn to an event. Laced dress African wear Image: pinterest.com, @tinta kashweka Source: UGC Even though it may appear simple, it perfectly complements classy and elegant women. It's a beautiful dress that gives a lot of freedom for body movement and relaxation. It also has off-shoulder straps which give enough room for conspicuous accessories around the neck. Body-con Ankara dress Image: pinterest.com, @Abigail Doyle Source: UGC When in need of an elegant and versatile dress, this is the right one for you. It is one of the most popular African wear for ladies because of its simplicity and multidimensional nature. The dress' tight-fitting nature gives an edgy and beautiful look yet decent and reserved. Its one of the most trending dress styles this year. It's usually ideal for lean and tall ladies who have an hourglass look, as it usually streams down the body contours enhancing the natural body image. Complementing it with a thin unique belt, a small purse, and simple jewellery will undoubtedly make you stand out in any boardroom. Aside from boardroom meetings, with its simple layout, this dress, is very much ideal for family get-together events, especially when visiting your in-laws. Pencil Ankara dress Image: pinterest.com, @Rosemary Wanja Source: UGC It doesn't get better than this as this is a fantastic outfit for slim bodies. It is one of the ideal African wear styles for church, but it would fit practically anywhere else. It blends well with the body curves making you look not only bold but beautiful as well. It's mostly preferable for evening dates, but you can as well wear it confidently into a formal meeting. Killing two birds with one stone is what this dress proposes. Dashiki short dress Image: pinterest.com, @Missy Pearson Source: UGC A fabric that was once left for loosely fitting shirts has been transformed to make magnificent and splendid short dresses, thanks to creative designers. This appealing African wear is now irresistible and makes ladies look attractive. Long dress kitenge design Image: pinterest.com, @Evana Vice Source: UGC Many African designers put more emphasis on long dresses because of how royal and elegant they tend to be. The prints also naturally add flavour and uniqueness in them, making them marvellous and appealing to the eyes. When we talk about class and perfection, these dresses know precisely how to portray such elements. This design is magnificent, well-fitting and vividly reveals the feminine figure. Regardless of the African fabric used, an experienced stylist would know precisely how and where to make the right cuts. Traditional Ankara dress Image: pinterest.com, @Ngfoslara Source: UGC How about going deep with African wear and making it extremely traditional? It is an excellent idea considering the outrageous fashion ideas emanating from Europe and America. Traditional dresses are part of our culture and hence will not vanish from the stores anytime soon. This dress is mainly worn during ceremonies. They are usually simple and incorporate many traditional accessories for a typical African theme. You can have the dress designed in orange, green, blue and purple colours to depict royalty, love, harmony, and femininity. All colours and patterns have a deeper meaning and therefore, are worn according to the nature of the ceremony. For instance, this was a wedding. There are also other patterns and colours for a similar wedding ceremony that are equally beautiful and stunning. Men African wear Fashion styles and trendy outfits are not only for ladies and the female gender. Men can also be as stylish as women, and it is quite easy with numerous men African wear from different designers. For a very long time men seemed dormant and conservative, but no more, they can now be as elegant as ladies. This notion has taken a different turn as African wear for men has been well explored by today's designers. There are varied designs, many of which are simple but fascinating. Simple dashiki suit Image: pinterest.com, @Asara Alah Source: UGC A while back, dashiki outfit was mainly worn by Muslim men. It then went on to become a loosely fitting shirt that acted as a trademark for African heritage. It was mainly worn by African diplomats in foreign countries, musicians of African descent and many African-American human rights' activists. That aspect drastically changed in this modern era, as stylists came up with dashiki outfits that are so marvellous and well-tailored for robust African men. This design is one of the most contemporary, giving a unique blend of a modern and traditional look. Give this African wear a try; you will love the fantastic appeal that it accords the wearer. Three-piece Dashiki shirt Image: pinterest.com, @Olusegun Jason Source: UGC There is nothing as great as wearing something so elegantly designed by the creme del a creme in the clothing industry. This three-piece Dashiki shirt is nothing short of amazing. It can be adorned with brown or black shoes to complement the traditional, yet classy look. This is for the men who want to keep classy yet casual. It's a modern man's attire. The choice of colour is also bold and edgy. Batakari wear for men Image: pinterest.com, @Theresa Nartey Source: UGC Aside from Dashiki, there are also other inspiring African wear styles for men. Batakari has been trending for some time now, and it is a nationally recognized attire in Ghana. From the below design, you will notice that Batakari has some close resemblance to Dashiki. However, it has stripped smocks that are specifically made of thick, hand-woven cloth with black and white stripes running a full course. The black and white stripes usually alternate in a manner that brings a varying shade of colour and overall intensity. The helm is also deliberately left with some short lengths hanging free as a way of uniqueness and dazzling work of art. Kente print Image: pinterest.com, @aniah Whittaker Source: UGC Kente is another amazingly popular African wear style for men all over the world. It is highly exploited by ladies when coming up with their traditional attire styles. But then again, ladies need to be complemented by a matching gentleman right by their side, and so men are equally considered. It's an exclusive print mainly worn for traditional ceremonies, but aside from that, it's also among the standard pieces of cloth known to generate latest fashion styles. The style may be as simple as adding a patch of print at a very conspicuous section of a shirt or sweater or sophisticated. You can wear this traditional attire to a royal party, for instance, or even a wedding. The fabric is simply wrapped around the body while crossing over the chest region. This considerably signifies cultural African wear styles for men. Some accessories such as a traditional necklace and wristband may be used to give the outfit an antique touch. African wear for kids Of course, African dresses styles could not have been that successful and stunning were it not for the creative touch of talented designers. They make beautiful designs for men, women and children as well. Imagine wearing matching outfits for the entire family is it not amazing? Dashiki top for girls Image: pinterest.com, @Africa Imports Source: UGC This attire is probably one of the best and fashionable African wear for kids. Dashiki is a renowned ethnic style adorned by native Africans, and they look amazing on these mini fashionistas. One can choose any style they desire, and it can be embroidered sleeveless or a v-neckline design. Kaftan design Image: pinterest.com, @Jennifer Reid Source: UGC One of the greatest things about kids is that you can dress them whatever style you desire because of their versatility. Even if you get it wrong the first time, you have probably not outstretched your budget to try another look and make your child look amazing. The Kaftan look is one of the most vibrant, and one can embellish with pearls or crystal stones to make them look beautiful. You can even do mixed colours to make it appear more picturesque. If you want to match it with your child's hairstyle, you can go for a matching shade options are endless. Ankara blazers for boys Image: pinterest.com, @Nozzie Source: UGC Boys do not have to be left out in the African wear craze, and with just a simple blazer, they can look great. The blazer blends well with a simple button-down shirt and any matching trouser. They can even adorn the fantastic African wear with boots to boost their look. Ankara shorts No parent can resist this incredible African wear for kids because of its versatility and comfort. Even better, Ankara shorts can be worn by both boy and girls. You can pair them up with comfortable plain t-shirts or anything else that matches the desired appearance. What African wear do you fancy? You can choose whatever style you find suitable for your desired appearance. Don't forget your kid when selecting African attire; they can look as good as you if you make the right choice. Yen.com.gh explored the numerous Agbada styles for men in 2021. The African wear style is one of the most popular in Africa and has been given different upheavals by designers all over the continent. It is ubiquitous in the western region of the continent but is fast being adopted by other parts of the continent. Whether you prefer the all-black agbada design or the brown, short-sleeved look, the style will look amazing when worn. African men wear the design to express their traditional African values wherever they go. Source: Yen Newspaper You have not treaded the Ghanaian music scene until you stumble upon Pappy Kojo. The Takoradi born star named Jason Gaisie but more popularly known by his stage name Pappy Kojo is a rising star and continues to outdo himself with each new hit. Pappy Kojo songs are always awaited by his Ghanaian fans and he is very well conquering hearts across Africa with his hip hop and hip life type of music. Starting his career early in life, Pappy Kojo latest songs are his ascend to fame. His music career was however not an easy climb to the top. Source: Oilcitytoday In recent years Pappy Kojo all songs have catapulted him to become one of Ghanas most listened to artist. In the past however, like many starting artists, Pappy Kojo utilized YouTube to showcase his work. He got the opportunity to travel to Italy to stay with his mother and during his stay there, be managed to do some work collaborating with Italian music producers as well as some Ghana based producers. His fame that was definitely inevitable considering his work ethic and passion for rap music came in the year 2014. He got his big break later that year when he collaborated on a track with the respected Ghanaian superstar Joey B. This was not only the push he needed for his career but also the budding of a wonderful working relationship with Joey B who appears in many other Pappy Kojo latest tracks. Pappy Kojo songs 2019 Some of his latest songs include: Balance - ft Joey B. and Nshorna Greetings From Abroad - Joey B ft Pappy Kojo Until now, Pappy Kojo has released several tracks each unique but true to his style. So the following is a list of Pappy Kojo latest songs. 1. Pappy Kojo - Realer no This song was release in the year 2014. Pappy Kojo realer no, was a big hit among the people of Ghana and in Africa as well. This song was a door opener for Pappy Kojo. In this new track that he collaborated with Joey B, he goes ahead to unleash his unique style of incorporating his local dialect in rap music. This track bagged him an array of awards. He was nominated for three different awards at the 2015 Ghana music awards. These nominations included; Hip hop song of the year 2015 Hip hop/ hip life artiste of the year 2015 Best new artiste of the year 2015 He was very proudly able to walk away with one of those awards, the hip hop song of the year 2015 for his hit song Realer me featuring Joey B. Speaking to a local Ghanaian news paper, Pappy Kojo said that he deserved his awards. 2. Pappy Kojo - No way This track also took Ghana by storm. Considering Pappy Kojo was a relatively ne w artiste, when he realease this song. The kids were already getting interested in him and the video also brought a buzz. The video to this song was shot in reverse motion and this concept led to an interesting story line. Pappy Kojo new song led was taken well by his growing number of fans. The video was recorded on Italy Pappy Kojo other home and it also features a seemingly Italian lady. It is a beautiful way to tell a love story. We must say we are with him on this one. 3. Pappy Kojo - Makoma This was another huge hit of Pappy Kojo. A unique factor with Pappy Kojo hip hop /hip life style of music is in the way he chooses to present his work. His video of Makoma is set in a vintage feel bar and the songs story line shows how he sees makoma a beautiful girl and wants to know her more. This release went on to increase his fan base and he continued to rise to fame. 4. Pappy Kojo - Nana Ama The newest face in town was not yet done dropping hits. Among the top trending pappy kojo song 2017 was this hit. It was like a reassurance to his fans that he had much more to give.This song was an up beat in a calm way kind of hit. It however had enough gist to get people of their seats and once again, Pappy Kojo hit the jackpot and reminded his fans that he was here to stay. 5. Pappy Kojo featuring Akiti Wrowro - Van Damme This hit came with a fire that said loud and clear. We are giving the people Ghanaian hip hop. It was all about the lines, rhymes and word play with this one. It will be fair to claim that a lot of Fante words rhyme with van Damme. Again the hit maker he was able to give his fans an entertaining piece. The video shows the artistic streak they were leaning on by using a minimal white stage in a deer scene. Each artistes stepped onto the platform at their time and I must say they gave their fans a hit track. 5. Pappy Kojo featuring Mr Eazi - Bisa kdei This collaboration between the three beloved Ghanaian artists was also highly anticipated. Pappy Kojo abena in conjunction with eazi and bisa tells a love story. It has soulful and relaxed vibe that highly appealed to their fans. It was well taken and showed a lot of promise for all the involved artists who by now had a lot of influence on the Ghanaian music scene. 6. Pappy Kojo - Ay3 late This was another huge one. He has featured the great star Sarkodie. This song tells the story of him trying to court this girl. Unfortunately this girl keeps giving him problems and makes it difficult to be together. He then goes ahead and meets someone new and this song is to tell the previous lady she is late. Pappy Kojo yet again uses his easily repeatable concept to come up with a piece that captured the hearts of his fans. 7. Pappy Kojo - Nyame Bra For Pappy Kojo all songs are a platform to assert his uniqueness and his difference in the music industry in Ghana. This piece was a unique one. Not only did Pappy Kojo new song apart his hip hop/ hip life style, he also showed what he could do with his rhyme. The video was very interesting with the whole video being black and white. The theme was maintained as the characters were all painted white paint. Once again he managed to keep his fans amused and equally satisfied and yearning for more. 8. Pappy Kojo - Fuoco Hip hop enthusiasts went absolutely nuts for this one among the Ghana youth. Featuring Cool Joe and Medikal, this song was all about the rap. The three artists merged together to create a song that anyone would pop off their chair to jive to. The video was as lit as the song itself. It involved fire eating and incredible dancing. We must say the rappers outdid themselves. 9.Pappy Kojo - Aoa This song soon followed. This was a different more of the studio setting. It was yet another track that definitely kept fans guessing and yearning. The video kept a simple minimal look in comparison to the usually over the top nature of Pappy Kojo new song. Once again he kept his fans enthralled and his name remembered. READ ALSO: Pappy Kojo dressing style, fashion, and looks 10. Pappy Kojo featuring Mr eazi - Akwaaba So the last year of 2018 has started strong for Pappy Kojo. Pappy Kojo Latest track has taken people by storm. Akwaaba featuring Mr Eazi, Guiltybeatz and Patapaa is the dance song 2018. The video is a high energy dance with everyone having a great time. You really need to see those dancers. If this is a projection of the work they are doing then we have a lot to expect this year. Pappy Kojo and Joey b Joey b is not just a good friend to Pappy Kojo, but also a partner in their art. These two have a great working chemistry and every track they have worked on together has been a hit. If their working relationship on the song Realer no is anything to go by, I say we support this partnership. The fans are waiting for more. These two have survived fake news and other hurdles of popularity. It truly they have endured. We are definitely awaiting a new collaboration this year. As a parting shot, it is safe to say that pappy Kojo is a raising legend. It takes a good mix of talent and hard work to succeed not just in the music industry but in any area. Needless to say, Pappy Kojo continues to show how having both can catapult a young boys dream into a reality. READ ALSO: Latest Hiplife Songs in Ghana 2017-2018 The Ghanaian music scene is full of many underground artistes. They need to borrow a leafy from Pappy Kojo in perseverance because it takes more than a cool track to truly make it to stardom. Respect for the previous generation of music and equally creativity and fearlessness is pursuit of your own original idea is always a good way to go. We have pappy Kojo to thank for this kind of insight. Source: Yen.com.gh Ghana as a country has over the years witnessed high profile corruption cases involving some political figures as well as civil servants. While some officials involved in alleged corruption cases have been tried and found guilty by competent court of jurisdiction, others have also been left off the hook due to lack of substantial evidence. Ex-president Mahama READ ALSO: Plus-size nurse MzzNaki and husband now parents of two kids However, there are some personalities who have been branded corrupt by public court of opinion due to media freedom and free speech. Although the corruption tags and allegations against some of these Ghanaian officials are widespread, there is no enough proves and evidence to prosecute these officials. Others have also suffered character assassination due to corruption tags against them through the media. Some of these corruption claims according to others are just mere allegations that have not been proven by any competent court. READ ALSO: Shatta Wales Gringo rises over Stonebwoys Tomorrow on YouTube This week, Yen.com.gh has identified some top Ghanaian officials who have suffered character damage due to some corruption perception and allegations against them 1. Alfred Woyome Alfred Woyome Alfred Agbesi Woyome is standing court trial over GHc 51 million judgement debt wrongly paid to him by the state. 2. John Mahama Ex-President Mahama Former President Mahama was widely criticized in 2016 for accepting Ford gift worth GHc100,000 from a Burkinabe contractor who was subsequently awarded some government contracts. READ ALSO: Randy Abbey 'exposes' his former boss Kwesi Nyantakyi 3. Kwesi Nyantakyi GFA boss, Kwesi Nyantakyi Kwesi Nyantakyi, President of Ghana FA has faced media bashing on a number of occasions for alleged corruption at GFA 4. Dr Stephen Opuni Former Cocobod boss, Dr Stephen Opuni Dr Stephen Opuni is standing trial on 27 counts of willfully causing 217million financial loss to the state in 3 years through fertilizer contracts. 5. William Tevie Former CEO of NCA, William Tevie William Tevie, and four others, have been put before a High Court over an alleged fraudulent $6 million contract between the NCA and Infraloks Development Limited (IDL). 6. Dzifa Aku Ativor Former Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor Former Transport Minister, Dzifa Attivor has in 2016 resigned her post over the controversial branding of 116 buses for the Metro Mass Bus Transit Company which cost Gh3.6million. Top 4 Scandal Quotes from Moesha Boduong CNN Interview: Yen.com.gh is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Message us on Facebook. Source: Yen.com.gh - Ebony's father, Nana Opoku Kwarteng, has denied he is a member of an occult group - He added that he never sacrificed his daughter for wealth Nana Opoku Kwarteng, father of the late musician, Ebony, has reacted to rumours making rounds that he is a member of an occult group. According to him, claims by Prophet Kumchacha and others about his membership in an occult group are false. He further noted that it was untrue he sacrificed his daughter, Ebony, for ritual purposes. Nana Opoku Kwarteng, father of the late Ebony READ ALSO: Details of Super OD's funeral poster revealed Opoku Kwarteng went on to say that his daughter was priceless, and he will therefore have never committed such an act. Nana Hemaa was my best friend, my girlfriend, my mum, I loved her in as much as she loved me too, I cant sell Ghanas princess to the occult...Why? Is it for wealth or fame?, he quizzed. He added that it is a shame people like Prophet Kumchacha and others claimed Ebony was spiritually assassinated, and he (her father) sold her to the demon. Reacting to claims that he buried the late Ebony Reign in a black coffin to prove his loyalty to the group (occult), Nana Opoku Kwarteng said he doesnt regret choosing the black coffin for the burial because Ebony was special and deserved a prominent coffin. Ghana was plunged into a state of mourning on the Thursday, February 8, 2018,following the death of Ebony Reigns and two others on the Kumasi-Sunyani road. She was buried on Saturday, March 24, 2018. READ ALSO: 14 year old animal doctor doing wonders in the Volta region Apostle Opoku Onyinah reacts to Theresa Mays comments on LGBT rights in Ghana | Archbishop Duncan Williams warns the government: Want to be featured on YEN.com.gh? Send us a message on our Facebook page or on Instagram with your stories, photos or videos Source: Yen - The Church Pentecost is warning the NPP government not to bow to pressures from world leaders - Apostle Opoku Onyinah has threatened the NPP with massive demonstration with his church members The Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah has warned that any attempt by ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), government to legalise homosexuality in the country will be fiercely resisted. According to the Apostle Opoku Onyinah, he will mobilize dozens of Church of Pentecost members nationwide to stage massive demonstration against NPP government if pressure from powerful nations in the West piles on the sitting President to legalise homosexuality. Apostle Pfof. Opoku Onyinah READ ALSO: You don't deserve to be on my show Delay rejects slay queen Addressing gathering at the churchs 43rd General Council Meeting on Wednesday, the Chairman insisted that the call to legalise homosexuality by some leaders of the Western world must be seen as neo-colonialism and must be condemned at the highest level. To him, Ghana as a sovereign nation cannot continue to accept homosexuality as an aspect of civilisation. Africans must see ourselves as people who are matured and know what is good for us and our people. The church in Ghana will continue to reject and oppose this and we are prepared to demonstrate against this if pressure continues to mount on our leaders, he added. The UK Prime Minister Theresa May addressing African leaders recently at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in London stressed that it is wrong for homosexuals to be persecuted for their sexual preference. READ ALSO: NPP bigwigs go on their knees to beg 'angry' Asantehene Theresa May in her conversation offered that, the UK government was willing to help other African countries reform their laws and embrace homosexuality. Top 4 Scandal Quotes from Moesha Boduong CNN Interview READ ALSO: 6 top Ghanaian officials who have earned bad names over corruption tags Yen.com.gh is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Message us on Facebook. Source: Yen - Akumaa Mama Zimbi has tagged homosexuality as a satanic act - The radio and TV personality went on to reveal some top citizens in the country were practicing homosexuality Popular Ghanaian radio and TV personality, Akumaa Mama Zimbi, has alleged that some Members of Parliament, Pastors and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the country are deeply rooted in the practice of homosexuality. Speaking in an interview on Starr Chat on Accra-based Starr FM, Wednesday, Mama Zimbi described homosexuality as a satanic act adding that it is a practice that must not be encouraged in the country. Mama Zimbi READ ALSO: Hydrocephalus child turned away at Korle-Bu Hospital due to lack of beds She told host of the show, Bola Ray, that homosexuality must not be legalized in the country because God frowns upon the act. Homosexuality is satanicGod didnt create man and man, but man and woman, Mama Zimbi said Wednesday, adding that there are men of God, CEOsand MPs who are into it. READ ALSO: 12 photos of fake pastors and prophets doing bad things The popular sexual health educationist also advised women to educate their children on intimacy issues with the opposite gender early so they dont fall into the act of homosexuality. The mother of six also stated that intimacy plays a very essential part in a successful marriage and urged women not to shy away from such discussions with their husbands. There has been a continuing discussion in the country in recent times over the legalization of homosexuality. Many Ghanaians from all walks of life have vehemently rejected the act and plan to attack any government that legalizes the act. The UK Prime Minister Theresa May told President Akufo-Addo and other African leaders attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in London recently about breaking the ice on Anti-gay rights in the region. Her comments have been interpreted by many Ghanaians as an attempt at legalizing homosexuality in the country. READ ALSO: Photos of Kumi Guitar in 'critical' condition at the hospital leaks on social media Watch the trending news on YEN.com.gh this week: YEN is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Send us a message via YENs official Facebook page. Source: Yen News Embattled hiplife musician, Wisa Greid, has met President Akufo Addo at the Jubilee House on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Wisa was in the company of his record label, Black Avenue Music, led by D-Black. The visit was to pay a courtesy call on the President, and to inform him of the official launch of their label office sometime this month. Wisa Greid READ ALSO: Nana Ama McBrowns husband frowns in a new video and fans believe he is being forced to love her YEN.com.gh has seen the particular in which Wisa shakes hands with the President. This photo could best be described as from court to grace photo, owing to the almost three years court trial that Wisa had to go through. READ ALSO: Fans wickedly jab Rosemond Brown for crying after allegedly being sacked from the Delay Show Comments seen by YEN.com.gh on social media shows that fans are excited to see that Wisa is making strides after his trial. Others are also advising him to be of good behaviour to avoid such court trial the next time. READ ALSO: I will have a child at the right time Nana Ama McBrown Read some of the comments here: those_called_celebs: Wisa meets Nana Addo i know his blessings has started already . .dey can't kill ur career oke! Some has done worst than u but dey are freely walking like no ones business . suzzy.2230: I hope he has learnt a lesson at least. READ ALSO: Medikal will marry me Sister Deborah On April 30, 2018, Wisa was convicted, and charged for gross indecency for showing his manhood on stage during a music show. He was consequently fined GHC8,400 or spend 24 months in jail in default. Check out this video of Opoku Onyinah VS Theresa May | Duncan Williams Warns the Government against homosexuality in Ghana READ ALSO: Ebony's response to her managers when they asked her about her 17 tattoos Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook now! Source: Yen.com.gh - Ashesi University College has been given the green-light by government to award degree certificates - Ashesi becomes the youngest private university in Ghanas history to receive the Charter President Nana Akufo-Addo has granted a Presidential Charter to Ashesi University College, making it an independent degree-granting institution. The Charter will be formally presented to Ashesi at the Universitys 2018 Graduation Ceremony. Aerial view of Ashesi University READ ALSO: 'Man divorces wife after she allowed robbers to rape her to spare his life' A letter signed by the Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Prof Kwesi Yankah, said the Charter was granted after a thorough assessment of the Universitys facilities and qualifications by the National Accreditation Board. The Board declared in its report to the Education Ministry that the Institution was ready for independence from the University of Cape Coast, with which it has been affiliated. After a rigorous review of the universitys teaching and learning infrastructure, curriculum, finances, staff qualifications and governance, the National Accreditation Board presented a report to the Ministry of Education endorsing Ashesis readiness, the letter read. The development will come as welcome news to the University, which submitted its application for Presidential Charter in January 2016 and was initially assured by then Deputy Education Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that it would be granted the Charter before the end of that year. Patrick Awuah Jr, Founder of Ashesi University Join YEN on Instagram to be always informed and entertained! A statement on the Universitys website said the Presidential Charter is recognition of the Universitys quality, strength, and impact on higher education in Ghana and beyond. Ashesi becomes the youngest private university in Ghanas history to receive the Charter. A Charter is also a sign of recognition that a university has consistently met quality check and requirements, and no longer needs to be directly supervised. Ashesi has been celebrated in Ghana and around the world for its impact on higher education. In 2007, the founder of Ashesi University, Patrick Awuah, was awarded The Order of the Volta, one of Ghanas highest national awards, for his exceptional contributions to Ghanaian higher education. In 2012, the University was ranked among Ghanas ten most respected organizations in a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of CEOs. In 2017, Ashesi also received the World Innovation Summit in Education Prize, one of the worlds biggest prizes in education, awarded by the Qatar Foundation. Top 4 Scandal Quotes from Moesha Boduong CNN Interview: READ ALSO: Hydrocephalus child turned away at Korle-Bu Hospital due to lack of beds Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now. Source: Yen.com.gh Trot Insider has learned that 2006 Confederation Cup winner Armbro Deuce p,3,1:50.2h ($811,357) has passed away at the age of 15. Susan Young who imported the son of Western Ideal to the United Kingdom in late 2014 told Trot Insider that Armbro Deuce passed away during the evening hours of Tuesday, May 1 of a suspected heart attack in his stable. Young was not far away when the career winner of $811,000 passed at the farm, which is located in Hereford, England. He was in the stable and he made a very loud noise, reared up and died, said Young, who purchased the bay for her small family farm less than four years ago. Young explained that Armbro Deuce, who was a former Canadian record holder, had not shown any indication that there was anything wrong with him prior to the incident. He didnt show anything at all, Young said. He had a great day bucking and enjoying life. He gave us no indication whatsoever that there was anything wrong, thats why were suspecting that it might have been a heart attack brought on by a blood clot. Armbro Deuce was a former Canadian track record holder, as his 1:50.2 clocking in the 2006 Confederation Cup was the national mark for a three-year-old pacing colt over a half-mile track for a time. The record would ultimately be bested by the late-great Somebeachsomewhere, who passed away earlier this year after a battle with cancer. Although Armbro Deuce won just five of his 37 career starts, he was a star that shined brightly when he was on his game. In addition to his scintillating sweep of the Confederation Cup, he finished a close third to both Western Cyclone in the 2006 North America Cup and Artistic Fella in the 2006 Meadowlands Pace. He was also a close second to Took Hanover in the 2006 Oliver Wendell Holmes. Armbro Deuce captured his Simcoe Stakes division at Mohawk Racetrack that year before putting forth a very strong showing of himself in the Little Brown Jug. He may have been a serious customer on the racetrack, but according to Young he was an absolute gentleman off the track. He was just an absolute joy to be around, Young told Trot Insider. He was a gentle giant and was just tremendous with kids and other visitors. Armbro Deuce sired 200 horses before heading over to the U.K. Of the horses he sired, 140 made it to the races. Eighteen of his progeny earned more than $100,000 on the track, while a duo (Pass The Deuce, $292,889; Deuces For Charity, $288,209) banked in excess of a quarter million. He was a family horse for us that also did some breeding, Young, who has five broodmares of her own, told Trot Insider. Its only live cover over here, and he had tremendous manners in the shed. In addition to Youngs five mares, Armbro Deuce did some other breeding in the U.K. He proved to be a popular sire, said Young, who stated that his first crop of U.K.-sired two-year-olds are scheduled to hit the track this year. We have all half-mile tracks here, so he worked out well, said Young. Young, whose horses go by the Stateside prefix, told Trot Insider that there is a limited amount of Armbro Deuces frozen semen, so hopefully he can still have some impact on the racing scene in the years to come. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Armbro Deuce. The current Cal Expo meet will conclude this Saturday evening (May 5) with Hi Hos Little Rev and Ragins Flight among the major players in the featured Connie Matlock Memorial Pace. The headliner will head postward as the third race on the nine-dash program presented by Watch and Wager LLC. First post will be at 6:40 p.m. With Saturday being closing night, there will be mandatory payouts in all wagers. Hi Hos Little Rev will be looking to close out the stand with a hat trick for owners Vanessa Gilliam and Audrey Clifton, trainer Bob Johnson and pilot Mooney Svendsen. The six-year-old son of Hi Ho Silverheels set a new lifetime mark of 1:52.2 when he got the job done two weeks ago in a game performance, then made every pole a winning one in his last tour as the 3-2 favourite. Ragins Flight should hit hard with this calibre after having tackled tougher company as of late. He was a 1:52.1 victor as the 2-5 choice back on March 30 and competes for Scott Ehrlich, George McCrystal and Kathie Plested, with Plested the conditioner and Steve Wiseman in the sulky. Completing the field will be Fire On The Water from the Steve Nichols barn; Fly Away, who gives the Plested shedrow two looks at the outcome; the Robin Clements-trained Lincoln; and He Grins Again, who takes his lessons from George Reider. The trotters and pacers are scheduled to return to Cal Expo in the fall and the CCHA and Watch and Wager have agreed to an eight per cent purse increase and an enhanced horse incentive program. RACE PAYS TRIBUTE TO CONNIE MATLOCK Saturday nights third race has been named in honour of Connie Matlock, a longtime fixture with the California Harness Horse Breeders Association and CHHA who passed away on April 16 at the age of 85. Matlock began working as secretary for the CHHBA in 1994 and was a staunch supporter of the breeders and sires stakes. She then went to work for the CHHA in the early 90s, again as secretary. In 2005, Matlock was awarded the Presidents Award by the CHHA for her meritorious service to the horsemen and the sires stakes program. She was loved by many horsemen, who considered here a second mother, said Robin Clements. She was warm, caring and a great lady. Said Vickie Desomer, Connie was always there for the horsemen, all of them. Her kindness was boundless. Connie was beautiful inside and out. She has been greatly missed since her illness took her from us. Connie and Donald Matlock had five children and she is survived by son Charlie and daughters Kim and Cindy and 10 grandchildren. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the family and friends of Connie Matlock. (Cal Expo) As Ontario wrestles over whether the long-term funding that the provincial government is offering is a good or bad deal, Standardbred Canada has been doing its best to stand on the sidelines in hopes that the provincial stakeholders involved will work it out. Standardbred Canada wants each and every province to do what is right for their jurisdiction and will always support the best interests of the sport. As a part of our mandate to members, the association has an obligation to promote and protect the Standardbred breed and the persons who breed, own or race Standardbred horses including the promotion of harness racing. The concern that the association has with the harness racing industry in Ontario is that the long-term funding does not just impact the province of Ontario, it impacts the industry as a whole, given that the province represents a very strong percentage of the overall economics of the Standardbred horse industry in Canada. While we would much prefer that each province negotiates and resolves its own issues and concerns it is very difficult to remain silently on the sidelines. There are a couple of key points that need to be articulated and underlined with regards to the long term funding agreement: The Slots at Racetrack Program ended in 2012 and we have not seen or heard any indication that it will or is ever coming back. That train has left the station. The long-term funding proposed is $105 million per year over 19 years. Our industry from coast to coast needs some form of financial stability, especially in this key market, to allow the provincial leaders to address industry issues and assist in moving our sport forward. No one has identified any other option to consider other than closing our eyes and rolling the dice on our future. If not the long-term funding being offered then what? What is the better plan? At present, a large majority of Ontario Standardbred racetracks want to move forward with the long-term funding agreement. Albeit the timelines are tight surely both sides can reach some kind of understanding that allows for continued work going forward. I hate to break into cliche at this point but isnt a bird in the hand better than two in the bush? Is two billion dollars over 19 years all that bad of an agreement? Do we honestly believe we are guaranteed of receiving a better offer after June 7th? I know our industry is in the pari-mutuel business but this is one high stakes game that we should not be playing. The Ontario horse racing industry should accept the agreement and work together with all stakeholders in the province to better the sport and focus on securing a sustainable future going forward. Dan Gall, President & CEO, Standardbred Canada Tioga Downs will kick off its 13th season of live harness racing on Derby Day Saturday (May 5), which will feature a special 5:00 p.m. first-race post time. The celebration will include a Derby Hat contest and t-shirt and magnet giveaways. The day will also include the Edward P. Maloney pipe band as well as a $1,000 Derby Dream Bet promotion. The two dream bet winners will receive $500 to wager on any horse in the Kentucky Derby. They will take home any winnings. The Kentucky Derby will be shown live on Tiogas large tote board screen as well as on television across the premises. A spectacular fireworks display will follow live racing. Highlights for the 2018 season include camel and ostrich races, as well as the debut of weiner dog races. The always-popular camel and ostrich races will make their return on Fathers Day (June 17). The weiner dog races will be held on Saturday, August 11. If you think you have the fastest dachshund in the southern tier, be sure to register him or her at tiogadowns.com starting May 14. Tioga Downs will once again be the home to some of the best harness horses in the country. On Sunday, June 10, Tioga will feature a leg of the Graduate Series ($75,000), for four-year-old pacers and trotters. On Sunday, August 12, the five-eighths-mile track in Nichols, NY will feature the Empire Breeders Classic eliminations, with races for both three-year-old fillies and colts. Also featured on the card will be the Joie De Vie Open Mare Trot ($175,000), as well as the Crawford Farms Open Trot ($175,000). In the 2017 version of the Joie De Vie, Emoticon Hanover set a world record for four-year-old trotting mares on a five-eighths-mile track with a time of 1:50.2. She owns the overall Tioga Downs track record for all trotters as well. On Sunday, August 19, Tioga will feature the Empire Breeders Classic finals with both three-year-old pacing fillies and colts, each racing for a purse of $250,000 (estimated). Also on that day will be the Roll With Joe Open Pace ($175,000), and the Artiscape Open Mare Pace ($175,000). The always-popular Million Dollar Ball Drop promotion will culminate on August 19. The Horseplay Car Giveaway will be on closing night (September 22). The featured race this Saturday (May 5) is the $12,000 Open Trot which will feature Tiogas top trotter for both 2016 and 2017, Prairie Fortune. He is trained by the tracks top trainer of 2017, Mike Deters. Deters won the training title with 29 wins. Patti Harmon was second with 24 victories, followed by Tony Dinges (23), Gary Messenger (23), and Joe Skowyra (20). Mike Simons was the driving champion in 2017 with 74 wins. Jim Taggart Jr. was second with 55 wins. Jim Meittinis and Mike Merton tied for third with 53 victories each. Aaron Byron rounded out the top five with 46 trips to the winners circle. The 11-race card will begin at 5:00 p.m. (Tioga Downs) Trainer Rene Allard has provided an update in regard to his appeal of a recent ruling on a Class I positive test. Representatives for Allard filed an appeal to Ontario's Horse Racing Appeal Panel last week in regard to the ruling. Today (Thursday, May 3), Allard announced via social media that he appeared before the Horse Racing Appeal Panel on Tuesday (May 1). He explained that his legal counsel, Jennifer Friedman, was seeking a stay of the Officials Rulings in regard to a Class I positive test from 2017. Allard said that the vice chair of HRAP ordered an immediate stay of all penalties. On March 31, 2017 the horse One Too Many, trained by Allard, was identified from a certificate of positive analysis as having obtained a Class I positive test for codeine and morphine from a race at Woodbine Racetrack on March 18, 2017. The AGCO made its official ruling regarding this positive test on April 19, 2018, fining Allard $5,000 and levying a one-year suspension effective May 5, 2018. Legal counsel for Allard had issued the following statement regarding the ruling on April 20. Empower Jacksonville Urges Jacksonville City Council to Vote No for Anti-2nd Amendment Developer's District Contact: Harry Lewis, 904-703-7839, EmpowerJax2018@gmail.com JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 3, 2018 / Standard Newswire / -- Empower Jacksonville urges the Jacksonville City Council to vote NO on the Southbank development The District. The developer, Peter Rummell, has been outspoken on his anti-2nd Amendment views that Empower Jacksonville cannot support.In a February 17, 2018 New York Times article, Rummell said he would only contribute to candidates supportive of banning assault weapons.In an April 3, 2018 interview with First Coast Connect, Rummell said "I'm a strong supporter of Mayor Curry and I'm sure he will see the light" in regards to backing an assault-weapons ban."Peter Rummell's anti-2nd amendment rhetoric is not in line with Empower Jacksonville's values," said Harry Lewis, Co-Chairman of Empower Jacksonville. "We cannot support hardworking Jacksonville citizens' tax dollars lining Mr. Rummell's pockets through the development of The District. We will engage our supporters to put their councilman or councilwoman on notice that a vote for The District is a vote against the 2nd Amendment."Empower Jacksonville's mission is to call local conservative citizens to unity and action, and to impact Jacksonville public policies and positions of leadership. Empower Jacksonville's values are religious liberty, fiscal conservatism, accountable & transparent leaders and pro-2nd amendment.For more information on Empower Jacksonville, please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/EmpowerJacksonville.org In Southern California, the largest protest is in Los Angeles, a gathering that has typically drawn thousands of people. But demonstrations are planned throughout the region, from Orange County to the Inland Empire, from Redondo Beach to the San Gabriel... Iskindar Mirzas Illusion of Colour Sheikh Arif Bulbon : Artist Iskindar Mirza has dedicated to create illusions of colours through his artworks. There is a kind of sorcerous enticement in artworks - he believes - when colours are present. Iskindars key paintings depict horses of the Old Dhaka, as well as buffaloes, blacksmith, women, flower, leaves, nature, and many traditional artifacts of Bangladesh. Through the blending of assorted hues, the artist tries to create a synergy that evokes what he feels and he wants to feel: distant past, lost culture, or tenderness of the nature around him. The people of Bangladesh, their livelihoods, their beasts of burden, the environment they live in, their lives somewhat harmonious placidity - all have multitude of colours in them that are both parti-coloured and illusive. Artist Iskindar Mirza has only tried to bring that congruity to light. The 2nd solo painting exhibition titled Illusion of Colour by artist Iskindar Mirza was held at La Galerie of the Alliance Francaise de Dhaka (AFD) in the citys Dhanmondi area recently. Eminent artist Mustafa Manwar graced the occasion as the chief guest while noted artist Prof Samarjit Roy Chowdhury and Prof Nasreen Begum, Professor of the Department of Oriental Art, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka attended the programme as special guests at the inauguration. Nirupoma Naher, Human Resources Associate, United Nations Development Programme also attended the opening ceremony as guest of honour on the occasion. Iskindar Mirza has completed her BFA and MFA from Department of Oriental Art, Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. He has already attended more than 30 group exhibitions. His first solo exhibition was held at Zainul Gallery in 2015. The two-week long exhibition was wrapped up on April 24. n Syrian rebels prepare to quit South Damascus A boy walks along a damaged street at the city of Douma in Damascus, Syria Reuters, Beirut : Buses arrived in south Damascus on Thursday to transport Syrian rebels from an enclave they have surrendered there, but some fighters in another besieged area near Homs kept fighting despite an agreement to quit, a war monitor said. The opposition still holds two large areas in the northwest and southwest bordering Syria's international frontiers, neither of which are under siege by the Syrian army. But President Bashar al-Assad is pushing to retake two other rebel-held areas that are entirely surrounded by government-held territory. Syrian state television showed footage of the buses arriving at Beit Sahm, driving through narrow streets surrounded by soldiers and with concrete buildings above showing scars of war. Some 5,000 fighters and their family members are expected to leave for the opposition areas in northern Syria, it reported, following an earlier group who left the enclave on Monday. Islamic State fighters holding another part of the same enclave are still fighting after weeks of intense bombardment in the area of al-Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp. On Wednesday, insurgents in the biggest of the remaining besieged areas, located between the cities of Hama and Homs around the towns of Rastan, Talbiseh and Houla, also agreed to surrender. However, some of them rejected the deal and shelled government areas late on Wednesday and early on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said. Meanwhile, air strikes killed at least 23 civilians including 10 children in a village held by the Islamic State group in northeastern Syria Tuesday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. "We don't know for the moment if the US-led international coalition or Iraqi forces carried out the strike" on the village of Al-Qasr in Hasakeh province, the Observatory said. The Britain-based monitor relies on a network of sources on the ground for its information. The US-led coalition, which is backing a Kurdish-Arab alliance fighting IS near Syria's eastern border with Iraq, denied it carried out the strikes. "There are no strikes in that area reflected in the... strike logs as of today," the coalition said in a written response to AFP. Iraq has also previously carried out strikes against IS jihadists in Syria, including a raid last month in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor. The jihadists have lost much of the territory they once controlled in Syria and Iraq since declaring a cross-border caliphate there in 2014. In Syria, they have faced two separate offensives-one by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces alliance and a second by Russia-backed regime fighters. Test for PM as England votes in local elections Britain\'s Prime Minister Theresa May walks out of 10 Downing Street in London, Britain on Wednesday. AFP, London : Voters in England went to the polls Thursday to choose local councillors in the first electoral test for Prime Minister Theresa May since she lost her parliamentary majority last year. May's Conservative party is braced for defeats in London, where all 32 local councils are up for grabs, and which is a traditional stronghold of the opposition Labour party.. But elections are taking place across England, including in cities such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle, with a total of more than 4,300 seats being contested. Turnout is usually low-only around one third of voters bothered in last year's local elections, compared to 69 percent in the national vote in June. Since then the government has been rocked by divisions over Brexit, as well as a recent scandal over its treatment of Caribbean citizens who emigrated in the 1960s and 1970s, and which led to the resignation of a senior minister on the weekend. National issues often factor in the local elections, which offer a chance to send a mid-term message to the government, and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is certainly hoping for a boost. EU citizens are able to vote, unlike in general elections, and some campaigners have been pressing Brexit as an issue. However, questions of local tax rates, bin collection and the state of the roads also dominate many campaigns, making analysts wary of drawing too many national lessons from the results. Polls opened at 7:00am (0600 GMT) and close at 10:00pm, and although some results will come in overnight, the full picture will not be clear until Friday. LONDON: With Prime Minister Theresa May on the ropes over her Brexit strategy and immigration policy, Britain's main opposition Labour Party hopes to deliver a further blow in local elections on Thursday. Labour is targeting traditional strongholds for May's Conservatives such as Wandsworth, south London, just days after the resignation of top ally Amber Rudd as interior minister. "We need a change," Beverley Shillingford, a 54-year-old social worker living in a tower block in Wandsworth, told AFP as Labour Party supporters went canvassing door-to-door one evening in April. Shillingford accused the borough's Conservative leaders of "letting this place fall down" and fellow residents in the 16-storey building complained about everything from a lack of services to a mouse problem. Defeat in the local council polls would pile further pressure on May, who is struggling to keep her party united on Brexit and whose leadership has been on borrowed time ever since she lost her party's parliamentary majority in a general election last year. Rudd's departure for misleading parliament over migrant deportation targets also deprives May of a key ally at a difficult time. "The big attention will be on London and the Tories are going to do badly," said Robert Hayward, a Conservative peer and polling expert. Locals worried about losing their homes, educational institutions UNB, Dhaka : The government is moving ahead with a plan to build a 218-km at-grade six-lane expressway alongside the existing Dhaka-Chattogram national highway despite local people's serious concern over the relocation of thousands of houses, educational institutions and other establishments. Officials at the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry said the Finance Ministry at a recent meeting decided to implement the nearly Tk 20,000-crore expressway project under Public Private Partnership (PPP) with the supervision of Roads and Highways Department (RHD). Talking to UNB, transport system expert Prof Shamsul Hoque of Buet's civil engineering department, urban expert and former chairman of University Grants Commission (UGC) Prof Nazrul Islam and Prof Sarwar Jahan of Buet's Urban and Regional Planning (URP) department said the at-grade (through land) expressway is not feasible for the country for many reasons, including land shortage and overpopulation. Besides, they said, huge money will have to be spent only on land acquisition and relocation of various establishments such as houses, educational institutions, markets and mosques to construct the at-grade expressway. They think the government should either build an elevated expressway with a multimodal transport corridor over the existing Dhaka-Chattogram highway or increase the lanes of the current highway or improve the railway route as an economic corridor shelving its plan for constructing the at-grade expressway. Talking to UNB, Ruhul Amin, RHD project director, said they are taking all-out preparations to build the expressway from Kanchpur, a key entry point to the capital, to near the City Gate of the port city of Chattogram by 2024. RHD project manager Shishir Kanti Routh said they will float a tender for the implementation of the project after having the Finance Ministry's approval. He said the lion share of the Tk 20,000 crore will be spent on acquiring 798 hectares of land and relocating houses, markets other establishments like schools and mosques. Shishir could not say the exact number of houses, educational and religious institutions like schools and mosques need to be relocated to implement the gigantic project. Prof Shamsul Hoque said ensuring smooth vehicular movement on an at-grade expressway in the densely populated Bangladesh is quite impossible as it usually passes through many markets and establishments. "Dhaka-Chattogram highway is our economic corridor. We should ensure multimodal transport corridor on this route for the better use of land," he said. Hoque thinks developing roads by damaging arable land is an outdated plain method while constructing elevated expressway and development of railway is part of strategic economic development. He also thinks the government should give priority to develop the rail network between the two cities instead of bulling express ones. Prof Nazrul Islam also thinks the at-grade expressway will not be feasible for the country for many reasons, including land shortage. He said government should not make any-at grade highway further. "Though expensive, the government can build elevated expressways over the existing highways. The lanes of the current highway also can be increased further." Prof Sarwar Jahan said this is not a wise decision to build another highway on Dhaka-Chattogram route. "It'll be the right decision if the government plans to develop the railway and introduce high-speed train." He also said the more the roads will be constructed the more will be vehicles. "Once we can make am efficient rail track, we'll be able to control the flow of other vehicles on roads by increasing the number of trains." Meanwhile, locals residing on both sides of the planned expressway voiced deep concern as they said they will have to suffer huge losses and hassles if the expressway is constructed. Wahid Ullah Bakul, a resident of Mirsarai upazila, said people living nearby the Dhaka-Chattogram highway will be badly affected if the government constructs the expressway. "We've heard some educational institutions, including Barodargarhat High School, Barodargarhat Madrasa and Terail High School, in our areas will have to be relocated as per the design of the expressway, hampering their academic activities," he said. World Press Freedom Day and some shocking facts EVERY year on May 3, the World Press Freedom Day is observed to remind people of the perils faced by journalists around the world. However, in recent years, populist politicians across the globe have cultivated this cynicism - attacking the credibility of the press to make their own tenuous relationship with truth appear no worse. Markedly, the day was observed in Bangladesh at a time when newspaper editors, journalist union leaders and human rights activists are raising serious concerns over the proposed Digital Security Act-2018. World Press Freedom Index-2018, published on April 25 by Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), said self censorship among journalists in Bangladesh was increasing as a result of violence against them and media outlets. With 335 incidents last year, violations of the right to freedom of expression in Bangladesh reached their highest peak in five years, according to new figures released by British Rights Organisation 'Article 19'. A journalist was killed, 28 suffered serious injuries, and a further 75 suffered serious assaults last year, it said in a statement. Moreover, the attacks were carried out with impunity, the report stated. Two specific points of the Article 19's report caught our attention, first, our women journalists were not adequately protected from gender-specific threats, particularly on online platforms. And second, local leaders and activists of the ruling party emerged as dominant groups acting against the safety and security of journalists. In a number of cases, the student wing of the ruling Awami League, were directly involved in violations. Sadly, significance of press freedom is being continually undermined by successive regimes in Bangladesh. We draw immediate attention of the authorities concerned to address the two issues. This spree of attacks on the rights of journalists and activists nationwide and continuing restrictive legal framework create fear and self-censorship, and prevents people in Bangladesh from speaking out, or exercising their human rights. The authorities must act promptly to ensure that laws are brought in line with international human rights standards and attacks on our free speech do not continue to go unaddressed. Although Bangladesh's position, according to World Press Freedom Index 2018 compiled by the RSF, remains 146th, the same as last year, yet self censorship among journalists was growing. These revelations must be taken seriously, otherwise the World Press Freedom Day would only be observed as a meaningless day like many other international occasions. Students class boycott continue Students of Jagannath University staged demonstration, blocking the main gate and boycotting classes, demanding cancellation of expulsion of English Department teacher Nasiruddin Ahmed and restoration to his post. JnU Correspondence : The Jagannath University (JnU) students again boycotted their classes and examinations yesterday as part of their continuous demonstrations protesting the dismissal of an English Department associate Professor Nasir Uddin Ahmed on charge of plagiarism. On Thrusday morning students locked the main gate of the varsity along with others faculty gates. They sat in front of the main gate with banners and placards and held a protest rally demanding withdrawal of the teacher's removal. They boycotted semester examination of Science and Arts faculties and other departments. Students marched towards Rafiq Bhaban to stop semester examination of Bangla department where only some students gathered. Protesters blamed the varsity authorities for forcing students to sit for the examination. JnU unit of BCL, the ruling party affiliated students body also joined the protest to make sure that no examination can be held. The authorities did it accordingly. Students said removal of the teacher is a conspiracy, which is illogical and motivated. They requested the varsity authorities to immediately convene the syndicate meeting to restore him in his post. Proctor Prof Nur Mohamamd asked the protester to remain peaceful but some students alleged that he has also threatened them not to continue the strike. Bring perpetrators to book: Bob Rae UNB, Dhaka : Canadian Prime Minister's special envoy to Myanmar Bob Rae said on Thursday that those who are liable for breach of international law, including crime against humanity, should be brought to justice. The international expert on Rohingya refugee crisis made the urge at a public lecture organized by Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) of BRAC University (BRACU) at the BRAC Centre auditorium. He said "Rohingya crisis will cause collapse inside capacity of Bangladesh which has at present been emerged as an alarming issue around the world. This refugee crisis is the biggest refugee crisis after the Second World War till now." He repeatedly said that, "Bangladesh is not alone. We all have collective responsibility to solve this issue. We have to see ourselves together". Presenting the concluding speech, Vice Chancellor of BRACU Professor Syed Saad Andaleeb said "If country like Myanmar gets away by practicing of such killing and looting, then powerful countries can adopt same approach to take down ethnic groups. He added that, this is the high time for the world to co-ordinate to address this issue. He thanked Canadian government for playing a decisive role in Rohingya crisis. Hosting the lecture, executive director of CPJ Manzoor Hasan said"This humanitarian crisis has created the largest refugee camp in the world. He also added that based on the latest data from UNHCR, the number of internally displaced person is the highest in the recorded history." The event ended with a question and answer session with media. Answering a question Bob Rae said that humanitarian assistance has to be provided to the refugee camp. "Canada is already spending its budget on this. It is not possible for Bangladesh to bear the burden by herself alone," he added. Former Election Commissioner of Bangladesh M Sakhawat Hossain, former foreign secretary Shamsher M. Chowdhury, country director of ActionAid Bangladesh Farah Kabir and other representatives of UNDP, UNHCR, and FAO were also present at the event. Bob Rae is likely to visit Rohingya camp in Cox's Bazar on Friday. DIG Mizan denies graft allegations Staff Reporter : Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of police Mizanur Rahman on Thursday claimed that he has no illegal property. "I have mentioned details of my wealth in tax file. I have no property out of it," he said this while talking with the reporters after emerging from Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) office. Deputy Director of the ACC Farid Ahmed Patowary started the interrogation in the Commission's Headquarters in the capital's Segunbagicha area at 9:30am, said ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhatacharjee. The police official, however, did not make any comment over the other corruption allegations brought against him. Replying to a query about the death threat on a female news presenter of a private television channel, Mizanur Rahman said, "I am sorry." Responding to another allegation that he married a 25-year-old girl forcibly on July 15 last year, the police officer said the Home Ministry is investigating it. "Now, I don't want to say anything in this regard." On April 25, Deputy Director of the commission served the notice to Mizan, who was an additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police before being withdrawn, to be present at the ACC head office on May 3. In February, the commission launched the inquiry following media reports and an individual's complaint, according to the ACC official. Mizan was withdrawn as the additional commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police and attached to the Police Headquarters on January 10. Mizan allegedly picked up 25-year-old Moriam Akter Eko from in front of her Panthapath house on July 15 last year and then forcibly married her, according to a statement of Moriam's mother Queen Talukdar. Besides, the same police official's name surfaced in the media for allegedly picking up a female news presenter of a private television channel at gunpoint in December last year. Polls sans solving problems won't be acceptable, says Fakhrul Staff Reporter : BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday reiterated the party's call to the government to start dialogue for resolving the remaining political crisis before the next general election. "We have asked the government to hold dialogue with the political parties for resolving the present political crisis. We are not saying what we are saying has to be accepted," said Mirza Fakhrul in a discussion meeting at the National Press Club. The pro BNP faction of the BFUJ and DUJ organised the discussion to mark World Press Freedom Day. Mirza Fakhrul questioned the government, "You are speaking about holding election according to the Constitution. Which Constitution do you speak of ? "The government frequently says that they are democratic. But their behaviour says that they are autocratic. We asked them, come to the table to discuss with the BNP and other political parties. Talk and resolve the existing problems facing the election. Go for polls after resolving those crises," he said. The BNP leader said, "Without resolving the problems, people would not accept the election as done on January 5, 2014." Mirza Fakhrul said that the government would fall if journalists united to realise their demands, including freedom of press. "If all the journalists be united and ask the government to grant freedom to publish the truth, the government cannot stay in power for long. They must go down," the BNP Secretary General said. BFUJ President Ruhul Amin Gazi presided over the programme. Bangla Daily Amardesh Acting Editor Mahmudur Rahman, BNP Vice-Chairman Shawkat Mahmud, BFUJ (Pro-BNP) Secretary General M Abdullah, DUJ (Pro-BNP) President Kader Gani Chowdhury, National Press Club Joint General Secretary Ilyas Khan, DUJ General Secretary Shahidul Islam and Vice-President Shaheen Hasnat among others, were present. UZ Chairman shot dead in Rangamati Staff Reporter : Shaktiman Chakma, Chairman of Naniachar Upazila, was shot dead by miscreants in Rangamati on Thursday. The Deceased was also a leader of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samity (PCJSS). The incident took place around 11:00am. Muhammad Abdul Latif, Officer-in-Charge of Naniarchar Police Station, confirmed the incident He was rushed to Rangamati General Hospital where the duty doctor declared him dead. The victim's driver Rupak Chakma was also injured during the incident, police said. He was later sent to Chittagong Medical College Hospital. Members of UPDF allegedly fired randomly at Shaktiman Chakma and Organizing Secretary Rupam Chakma on the way to upazila office. The motive behind the killing could not be known immediately, the OC added. Meanwhile, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader has asked the Rangamati Superintendent of Police to catch the assassins immediately for justice. Process underway to bring Tarique back home: FM Staff Reporter : Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali on Thursday said, to bring back convict Tarique Rahman home from London is under process. "The government is determined to bring back Tarique Rahman from London. It has sent several letters to the British government as part of that process," Mahmood Ali said. The Minister told this in a press briefing in the Secretariat on Thursday. The press meet was arranged on the occasion of the two-day 45th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers beginning on Saturday at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city. "We shall continue our efforts to bring back Tarique Rahman," he said. On Wednesday, replying to a query, the Prime Minister said that the government had been trying to bring back Tarique Rahman from the United Kingdom as he was a 'convicted fugitive.' She said, "We are in touch with the British government. The BNP has made a convicted person its chairperson, proving the party's political bankruptcy." Tarique left Bangladesh for London in September 2008 for treatment. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam on April 23 alleged that Tarique Rahman had surrendered his passport to the British government as a mark of giving up his Bangladeshi citizenship. Shahriar and other Awami League leaders argued that Tarique was no more a citizen of Bangladesh as he surrendered his passport to UK government. BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on April 24 disclosed that Tarique surrendered his Bangladesh passport to British home office to get 'political asylum.' Tarique Rahman, facing over a dozen of cases, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and fined Tk 20 crore by the High Court in a money laundering case in 2016. He was also convicted along with his mother Khaleda Zia in the Zia Orphanage Trust case where he was sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Tk 2.10 crore. US pressure for Rohingya repatriation assured BSS, Dhaka : US President Donald Trump has assured Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of continuing his country's pressure for the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya people to their homeland as he sent a letter to the premier in this regard. "The United States will continue to pressure Myanmar to create necessary conditions for the safe and voluntary return of the Rohingya people to their homeland," Trump said in the letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. US Ambassador in Dhaka Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat handed over the letter to the prime minister when she paid a courtesy call on her at her official Ganabhaban residence here yesterday afternoon. After the meeting, PM's Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim briefed reporters. In the letter, the US president said there is no question that those in Myanmar responsible for instigating this crisis must be held accountable. Trump highly appreciated the prime minister for her humanitarian leadership role in addressing the Rohingya crisis, the press secretary said. "The United States is deeply grateful to the government of Bangladesh for its generous humanitarian response to the Rohingya crisis," Trump said. The US president said hosting nearly more than one million Rohingyas is a tremendous burden, but the world knows Bangladesh's actions have saved thousands of lives. "Your response is testament to the character and resiliency of the Bangladeshi people, forged in the hardships they endured in 1971," Trump told the premier in the letter. As the largest humanitarian assistance donor in the world, he said, the United States remains committed to supporting Bangladesh alongside "our international partners." "I hope Bangladesh continues to demonstrate the leadership that has resulted in recognition from around the world, particularly ahead of the challenging monsoon season," Trump said. The press secretary said the prime minister thanked the US president for sending the letter to her. He said the premier reiterated her call to the international community including the USA to continue mounting strong pressure on the Myanmar government to take back its nationals from Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina said the government is developing an island named "Bhashanchar" to give temporary shelter to one lakh Rohingya people there. The prime minister said the local people are suffering and the environment is being affected due to the exodus of huge number of Rohingyas into Cox's Bazar. The US ambassador said the USAID has traditional programme for the assistance of the refugees across the globe and is working in Cox's Bazar under the UN system to mitigate the sufferings of the Rohingya people there. Bureaucrats making amusement trips abroad in name of training tours: Experts EMI to be established at home: Minister Staff Reporter : Experts at a seminar on Thursday alleged that the bureaucrats of the energy sector are making amusement trips abroad in the name of training tours. They said this at the seminar titled 'LNG import: Opportunities and Challenges' in the auditorium of Dhaka Club in the morning. State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid attended the seminar as the chief guest organized by Forum for Energy Reporters Bangladesh (FERB). The experts said inefficiency and corruption are the main factors of the energy sector crises. There is a huge gas stealing from the Titas gas company, they further alleged. "We do not find expected result from the training of the bureaucrats received from abroad. It seemed nothing but waste of money. In light of this, the government has decided to establish an energy management institute (EMI) at home with the curriculum from Australia and other countries," said State Minister Nasrul Hamid. He said, "When we asked the higher officials from Petrobangla or BAPEX about the gas reserves, they say there is no gas or oil under our soil. But whenever those officials got retired and joined other international companies, they say there are huge reserves of those mineral resources. It is misleading us to determine what to do." Nasrul Hamid said, "Whenever we asked those institutes to recruit more skilled manpower they did not consider that." Saleque Sufi, the Contributing Editor of the fortnightly Magazine Energy and Power, said, inefficiency and corruption are the main factors of the energy sector crises. He alleged that there is a huge gas stealing from the Titas gas company. "One thousand megawatt electricity could be generated from the gas stolen from Titas," he said. He warned that if such condition prevails, the Petrobangla might be destroyed soon. Consumer Association of Bangladesh (CAB) Adviser Professor Shamsul Alam said, the higher price of imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) will push the people into more vulnerable condition as the gas price has already been increased. He alleged that there is a huge corruption in the energy sector, which led the price hike of power. The CAB adviser accused the Titas chairman of involving in huge corruption but there no investigation against him as he is energy Secretary. He said if the gas stealing could be stopped there would no need of price hike. Energy expert Professor M. Tamim said LNG importing as an opportunity to supply uninterrupted electricity and gas to industries to continue the industrial production. Iran to quit nuke deal if Trump walks away AFP : Iran warned on Thursday that it will quit a landmark nuclear deal with world powers if President Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the accord. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, calling it "insane". Iran has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the deal signed by Iran and six world powers in 2015 curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. "Even if countries allied with the United States, especially the Europeans, seek to revise the nuclear agreement... one of our options will be withdrawing from the accord," Velayati added. Britain, France and Germany-the three European countries that signed the deal-have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. Yes, the decision belongs on the local level No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks Vote View Results Here is a summary of the cases by Yan Shenkman, published in Novaya Gazeta on 22 March and in English on the Russian Reader web site In October 2017, a group of young anti-fascists was detained by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Penza [a city the size of Coventry, south-east of Moscow]. They were accused of organizing a terrorist community code-named The Network. They were allegedly tortured. Nearly all of them confessed to the charges, telling the FSB what the FSB wanted them to say.Recently, for the first time in history, FSB officers admitted they used electric shockers when interrogating Petersburg anti-fascist Viktor Filinkov . In their telling, however, it was not torture, but a necessity: the detainee allegedly tried to escape.The arrestees are kindred souls of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova , murdered by neo-Nazis in downtown Moscow in January 2009. A march to honour their memory has been held on the Boulevard Ring [in central Moscow] every year since then.Less than ten years have passed since their deaths and we are confronted by a relapse, an attack on anti-fascists by the Russian state.The harsh language of the interrogation protocol is more expressive than any op-ed column. Dmitry Pchenlintsev was tortured day after day: he was hung upside down and different parts of his body were shocked with electrical current. Vasily Kuksov was badly beaten: his face was a bloody pulp, his clothes torn and blood stained. Doctors in Petersburg discovered a fracture to the lower wall of Igor Shiskins eye socket, as well as multiple abrasions and bruises. They noted numerous injuries, including burns from an electric shocker. FSB officers took Ilya Kapustin to the woods, tortured him with an electric shocker, and threatened to break his legs.We heard similar reports from Chechnya and Donbass [in eastern Ukraine], but this is the first time something like this has occurred in the middle of Russia and on such a scale.The young arrestees in Penza, none of whom is over 30 (the oldest is 29) played airsoft, listened to independent music, and read anarchist books, like thousands of other young people. Now, given the will, any of them can be arrested on terrorism charges. Alexei Polikhovich , who spent three years in prison as part of the Bolotnaya Square case , and produced a performance [about the arrests] at Teatr.doc, did not have to make up anything, no monologues or dialogues. [Teatr.doc is a Moscow theatre specialising in documentaries about current issues. On 18 March, when Vladimir Putin was re-elected as president, it staged a performance based on materials from the anti-fascists cases.]What has happened in reality is not something you would make up.I was panicking, leftist activist and former political prisoner Alexei Sutuga says, reading Viktor Filinkovs statement aloud. Polikhovich told me after the performance: I asked: But for several months there were no attempts to pressure the FSB. Why? Polikhovich replied: In this case, however, Polikhovich continued, the accused have been charged with very serious crimes. They are not liberals. They are not Moscow activists. We have to break through the prejudice towards them.While Moscow was silent, brushing the case aside by mentioning it in a few lines of column inches, the case, which originated in Penza, had spread to Petersburg, then to Chelyabinsk , and finally, in March, to the capital itself. Several people were detained after a protest action in support of the Penza anti-fascists. ( OVD Info reports that nine people were detained.)Moscow anarchist Svyatoslav Rechkalov , released on his own recognisance, told Novaya Gazeta: They put a bag over my head. Then they shocked me, constantly increasing the intensity and duration of the electric charge, and demanding I make a confession,The protests against the FSBs use of torture in this case have mainly followed ideological lines: anarchists and anti-fascists have been doing the protesting.Solidarity protests have been held in Copenhagen, Toronto, Berlin, and New York. Finnish anarchists and anti-fascists held a demo outside the Russian embassy in Helsinki. In Stockholm, the way from the subway to the Russian embassy was hung with Filinkovs diary and posters bearing the hashtag #stopFSBtorture A concert in support of the arrested anti-fascists was held at a small bar in Petersburg. The organizers were able to collect 42,500 rubles in donations. By way of comparison, a year ago, at a similar concert in support of Ildar Dadin , who was tortured in a Karelian penal colony, organizers collected 29,000 rubles in donations. But there no incidents at that event, while there was an incident at the Petersburg concert. Ultra-rightwing thugs burst into the bar and started a brawl.In Moscow, the riot police or the security services would have telephoned the clubs owner and insisted he cancel the event, as happened with the anti-war Deserter Fest. In Petersburg, however, the rightists showed up.The situation has come to resemble the mid-noughties, said Maxim Dinkevich, editor of the music website Sadwave , when every other punk rock show was attacked.Pickets in support of the anti-fascists have been held both in Moscow and Petersburg, and there will probably be more pickets to come. But this story has not yet made a big splash. The public is more interested in discussing the falling out between [opposition candidates for president Ksenia] Sobchak and [Alexei] Navalny, while anarchists draw a blank.This case is not about anarchism or anti-fascism, however. It is about the fact that tomorrow they could come for you for any reason. Electric shockers do not discriminate.The regime has been testing us, probing the limits of what is possible and what is not. If we keep silent now, if we do not stand up for each other, it will mean they can continue in the same vein. It is clear already that the case of the anti-fascists will expand. The arrests will stop being local, becoming large scale. We have no methods for pressuring law enforcement agencies that torture people, no authorities that could slap them on the wrists. The only methods we have are maximum publicity and public pressure. They are the only ways to deter the security service from making more arrests and keeping up the torture.International pressure makes a difference, too.The historian Yuri Dmitriev, who was tried on trumped-up charges of possessing pornography and possessing a firearm, this month walked free from court , despite the state prosecutor demanding a nine-year jail sentence. He was cleared of the pornography charge and required to report regularly to the police station on the second charge.Dmitrievs supporters believe that his real crime was his persistent investigation of the victims of Stalins terror, and his project to map victims graves in Karelia in north-western Russia.Dmitrievs case was the subject of a big international campaign . His supporters in Russia including Memorial, the NGO committed to preserving the memory of the victims of Stalinism, that Dmitriev represented in Karelia believe that that was decisive.The prosecution has now appealed Dmitrievs sentence, so the battle is not over there either. But protests can work. GL, 17 April 2018More information on the anti-fascists casesThe best source of information on the Penza-Petersburg terrorism case in English is the Russian Reader , which constantly updates its coverage. See these links:Some other related stuff Saudi Arabias non-oil private sector continued to lose growth impetus in April, said the latest Emirates NBD Saudi Arabia PMI survey, noting that a contraction in new orders combined with easing job creation and softer output growth contributed to the slowdown. Furthermore, on the price front, input costs increased at a solid pace, whilst output charges fell for the third month running. Nonetheless, respondents remained confident towards the year ahead, with many noting that they expect the current slowdown to be temporary. The survey, sponsored by Emirates NBD and produced by IHS Markit, contains original data collected from a monthly survey of business conditions in the Saudi private sector. Khatija Haque, head of Mena Research at Emirates NBD, said: The further softening of the non-oil activity data in April is surprising given the sharply higher oil prices so far this year, as well as the expansionary budget that was announced for 2018. Firms have cited subdued domestic demand as a reason for the decline in new orders last month, although export orders declined as well. Key findings Headline PMI slips to 51.4 in April, down from 52.8 New orders deteriorate for first time in survey history Business confidence remains strong At 51.4 in April, down from 52.8 in March, the headline seasonally adjusted Emirates NBD Saudi Arabia Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) a composite gauge designed to give a single-figure snapshot of operating conditions in the non-oil private sector economy slumped to a record low. That said, the figure remained above the crucial 50.0 mark that separates growth from contraction, and signalled a modest overall expansion in the sector since March. Output growth eased in the latest survey period, with the rate of expansion registering close to the low seen at the start of 2018. That said, the latest improvement remained marked overall. According to anecdotal evidence, some firms used excess capacity to clear existing backlogs of work. Demand for goods and services produced in Saudi Arabia deteriorated in April. In fact, the contraction was the first ever recorded since the surveys inception in August 2009. Companies blamed the fall in order books on competitive pressures alongside subdued market demand. Furthermore, foreign sales decreased for the third month running, albeit at only a marginal rate. Quantities of purchases grew at the slowest rate on record during April. According to anecdotal evidence, firms reined in input buying in response to falling demand. Reflecting a slowdown in purchasing activity growth and marked output expansion, firms utilised existing stockpiles of goods. The deterioration in input stocks was the first in the survey history. Continuing the sequence seen over the past four years, employment growth was registered in the non-oil private sector. Many firms noted that they hired additional local staff in response to the Saudization government policy. That said, the rate of job creation was only slight overall, and below its historical average. Output charges decreased for the third month running. Some firms noted that they offered discounts in attempts to stimulate client demand. Concurrently, average cost burdens faced by non-oil private sector firms increased at a solid rate, albeit one that was below its historical average. TradeArabia News Service Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA), a major industrial company in the UAE, has completed the construction work on the calcination process facility of the Al Taweelah alumina refinery after more than 2.4 million hours of work. Al Taweelah alumina refinery is the first to be built in the UAE, and will refine bauxite ore into alumina, the feedstock for aluminium smelters. Sections of Al Taweelah alumina refinery will be completed in sequence to enable the carefully-planned pre-commissioning and commissioning of the thousands of pieces of equipment that make up the huge plant. The calcination process facility alone contains more than 1,700 instruments, over 100 motors, and some 165 km of cabling. First alumina from Al Taweelah alumina refinery is expected during the first half of 2019. More than 11,000 people are currently working on the project, which has a total budgeted project cost of approximately $3.3 billion. Overall construction completion of the project currently stands at 82 per cent. Completion of the calcination process facility was marked at a ceremony attended by Riita Swan, the Finnish Ambassador to the UAE, EGAs managing director and chief executive officer Abdulla Kalban, and Kalle Harkki, executive vice president , Metals, Energy & Water of Outotec, the Finnish minerals and metals technology company that is the main contractor on the calcination process facility. Construction work on the calcination process facility was completed without a single Lost Time Injury. The project as a whole recently passed 20 million hours worked without a Lost Time Injury. The first completion of a major section of Al Taweelah alumina refinery is a significant milestone in the development of this huge project, which will secure for EGA the competitive supply of the feedstock for aluminium smelters. We continue to make good progress on the project as a whole. I congratulate everyone who has contributed to this achievement, Kalban said. EGA operates aluminium smelters in Abu Dhabi and Dubai and is developing two major projects to expand its business upstream and internationally. Once full ramp up is achieved, Al Taweelah alumina refinery is expected to produce some 2 million tonnes of alumina per year, meeting 40 per cent of EGAs alumina requirements. Some 490 people are working in the operations team, preparing to run Al Taweelah alumina refinery, including over 60 UAE Nationals. Over 400,000 hours of operational readiness work has been completed to date, including 13,600 days of training. EGA has signed an agreement with Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee for the supply of bauxite for Al Taweelah alumina refinery from the Republic of Guinea in West Africa. EGA is also developing a bauxite mine and associated export facilities in Guinea, in one of the largest greenfield investments in the country in the last 40 years. Calcination is the final stage in the process of refining bauxite ore into alumina, and is a roasting process to remove remaining water. The calcination process facility at Al Taweelah alumina refinery has two calciners, which are each 84 metres long, 46 metres high, and have stacks that reach 60 metres high. Each calciner has a production capacity of 3,500 tonnes per day. The facility uses Outotecs Circulating Fluid Bed technology. Outotec has installed more than 60 calciners using this technology worldwide. Al Taweelah alumina refinery is located next to EGAs Al Taweelah aluminium smelter in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi. TradeArabia News Service Saudi Aramco, a leading global integrated energy and chemicals company, today (May 3) hosted the 2018 Contractors Exchange Conference under the theme Deploying Technology for Effective Project Execution. It was attended by more than 400 project management professionals and executives from local and regional contracting companies. The event was aimed at strengthening the companys partnerships with construction contractors and create a platform to enhance communication between technology providers to meet the challenges faced by the industry. Key speakers from Saudi Aramco and the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) industry shared their views and experiences on the theme of technology and the positive impact on project execution. The event included presentations, panel discussions, and an exhibition by several technology providers. Speaking at the plenary session, Motaz A. Al Mashouk, the general manager for Project Management at Saudi Aramco, said: "In this years Contractor Exchange Forum we are focusing on emerging technologies in project and construction execution. It presents an opportunity for our local industry to rapidly advance its competitiveness and capabilities." "These advances will help transform the in-Kingdom construction industry, providing increased highly skilled career paths for Saudi citizens," he noted. The strategic contracting model that Saudi Aramco adopts represents a continuation of efforts to support the kingdoms development, said Al Mashouk. "Saudi Aramco's strategy to support the construction sector is not only intended to meet the needs of the company's business at present and in the future, but also reflects its keenness to embody the concept of citizenship in fulfillment of Vision 2030," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Baker McKenzie, a leading international law firm, has been voted "Regulatory & Investigations Team of the Year" at The Middle East Legal Awards 2018 hosted by Legal Week and the Association of Corporate Counsel, held recently in Dubai, UAE. The awards ceremony celebrated outstanding achievement within the legal profession and awards were judged by an independent panel comprising the most senior and innovative individuals in the sector, said a statement. Baker McKenzie was also shortlisted in seven other categories. This comes on the back of its recognition as "Litigation Team of the Year" in 2017 and "Regulatory & Investigations Team of the Year" in 2016 at the same awards, it said. Dr Habib Al Mulla, executive chairman of Baker McKenzie Habib Al Mulla in the UAE, said: It is an honour to have been recognised for the award. Our clients face increasing global regulatory and enforcement activity, and we are committed to easing their navigation of different national and international regulations, as well as helping them take control in times of crisis, he added. This is the fourth award won by Baker McKenzie's Middle East practice in the past 12 months. The firm was recognised at Mergermarket's Middle Eastern M&A Awards as "Middle East Financial Services M&A Legal Adviser of the Year" in 2018 and "Telecoms, Media & Technology M&A Legal Adviser of the Year" in 2017, and also voted "Litigation Team of the Year" at the 2017 Middle East Legal Awards hosted by Legal Week and the Association of Corporate Counsel, it said. The firms internationally recognised lawyers and long-standing presence in the highest-risk jurisdictions, Baker McKenzie's Global Compliance & Investigations Group is there to advise clients on how best to mitigate risk and conduct business ethically without sacrificing profitability. The firm conducts internal and regulator-driven investigations and provides risk management advice in a variety of areas: anti-bribery and corruption; trade compliance, sanctions and boycotts; customs; data privacy; financial crime; tax; regulatory conformance and enforcement, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Defining the future of aerospace, mass transportation and urban mobility will be the central focus of day one at the Global Aerospace Summit 2018, to be held tomorrow (April 30) in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The summit is an exclusive, invitation-only event for C-level executives, senior decision makers and government officials involved with the aerospace, aviation, defence and space industries. It will run until May 2, at the St. Regis hotel on Saadiyat Island. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai Airports, president of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and chairman and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group will be interviewed by CNNs John Defterios on day one of the event, said a statement. Tony Douglas, group chief executive officer, Etihad Aviation Group will also be interviewed by John Defterios in what will be one of his first major summit appearances since joining the airline earlier this year. The interviews will analyse the regional and global challenges within the aviation industry and provide unique insights into Dubai and Abu Dhabis future strategies for the sector, it said. Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Bowardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs will begin the summit proceedings with a Ministerial Address, which will be followed by a welcome address from Khaled Al Qubaisi, chief executive officer, aerospace, renewables and information communications technology (ICT), Mubadala. Lockheed Martins chairman, president, and chief executive officer Marillyn Hewson will follow Sheikh Ahmed and Tony Douglas with a session on how the aerospace and defence industry serves as a catalyst for global security, international cooperation, and economic growth. Hewson said: This event will bring together many of the worlds most respected aerospace leaders to discuss issues that will shape the future of our industry for decades to come. I look forward to engaging attendees in a dialogue on how we can better collaborate across all sectors to harness the power of the aerospace industry for stronger international security, scientific advancement, and economic growth, she added. Talel Kamel, managing director, Middle East, Turkey and North Africa, Rockwell Collins, said: We are glad to be back at the summit this year. Since its inception, we have supported this event in Abu Dhabi, in support of Mubadala and its journey to further grow the UAEs footprint in the aerospace and defence industry. In this edition, we take our Four C model cockpit, connectivity, cabin and communications to the next level. We will talk about the new insights and innovative ways to transform the future of passengers, airlines, pilots, crew and ground through an enhanced and seamless transition from ticket to destination, Kamel added. Oisin Commane, managing director of SMG Aerospace, which is organising the summit, said: It is a great honour for us to welcome Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al Maktoum to the event as well as other high-profile industry leaders and distinguished guests. The aerospace industry is going through rapid changes and it is important that collectively as a sector, knowledge is transferred, and experiences shared. We will answer some critical questions around how new technologies are transforming these key sectors and we look forward to welcoming the worlds industry leaders once again in the UAE capital, Commane added. TradeArabia News Service Strata Manufacturing (Strata), the advanced composite aero structures manufacturing company wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, has signed a deal with Boeing to manufacture composite empennage ribs for Boeings new 777X airplane. The agreement, announced at the Global Aerospace Summit, is Stratas first contracted statement of work for the 777X program, enabling the company to expand its role as a direct composite aero structures supplier to Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Strata will manufacture 777X empennage ribs at its state-of-the-art facility in the Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park in Abu Dhabi. This is the fourth work package that Boeing has awarded to Strata since 2013. Strata already manufactures empennage ribs for the 777 and vertical fin ribs for the 787 Dreamliner. In the future, Strata will be a supplier of the 787-vertical fin. These achievements build on the strategic partnership between Boeing and Mubadala, a business development and investment company of the Abu Dhabi government, established in 2009. Enabled by Tawazun Economic Council under the Tawazun Economic program, both Strata and Boeing are advancing the commercial aviation industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), in support of Abu Dhabis goals to become a global aerospace hub and diversify its economy. Strata is the first composite aero structures supplier to Boeing in the Arab world. Boeing is proud to advance our mutually beneficial strategic partnership with Mubadala in ways we strongly believe are delivering long-term benefits to the UAEs economy and Boeings business growth, said Bernard Dunn, president Boeing Middle East, North Africa and Turkey. Building on its production for the 777 and 787, Strata will produce composite aero structures for the 777X, the worlds most efficient twinjet and an airplane selected by UAE customers. The new 777X contract underscores Stratas strong reputation, and the confidence of our partners, which we have earned by delivering high quality components to a globally renowned aviation giant, said Ismail Ali Abdulla, Chief Executive Officer, Strata. Strata continues to be a leading example and proof that Made in the UAE isnt a goal for tomorrow, but a reality of today. Strata holds an important role in the evolution of Abu Dhabi towards becoming a global aerospace hub, and has become one of the leading employers for high value and fulfilling careers in the UAE. Since 1992, Tawazun Economic Council has worked actively with partners such as Boeing to diversify the UAEs economy by creating new ventures in sectors of national importance. Boeing's and Stratas growing relationship is generating knowledge-based jobs for UAE nationals and creating business opportunities in the Aerospace Sector, said Matar Ali Al Romaithi, chief industrial officer of Tawazun Economic Council. - TradeArabia News Service Strata Manufacturing, the advanced composite aerostructures manufacturing company wholly owned by Mubadala Investment Company, has signed a Cooperation Agreement (CA) with Dema SpA, an Italian aerospace company headquartered in Naples. The agreement, signed by CEO of Strata Ismail Ali Abdulla and CEO of Dema SpA Vincenzo Starace, will enable the two companies to create a roadmap that will enable them to transfer knowledge and exchange manufacturing services, which is in line with Stratas strategy towards expanding its supply chain footprint in the global aerospace industry, reported Emirates news agency Wam. Ali Abdulla said: "The aerospace sector is considered one of the most complex and globalised sectors in the world. Establishing partnerships and forming robust relationships with prominent companies in the industry plays an integral role in the solidification of our supply chain system and our next stage of growth." He continued, "We are eager to grow our business with Dema SpA and we will look to explore other opportunities that align with our strategy." Starace said: "Dema is very excited to formalise this Cooperation Agreement with Strata, who have grown to be an extremely important player in the aerospace supply sector. The collaboration agreement will allow both companies to grow together, and leverage each others strengths to provide the best possible service to our customers on new and future programmes." Dema is a Tier One partner and supplier for the aerospace industry with skills in Engineering, Industrialisation and Manufacturing. It has significant experience across a wide range of complex and highly engineered aerostructures on a number of the key global passenger and defence programmes for key industrial players such as Leonardo, Boeing, Bombardier and Pratt & Whitney Canada. These aerostructures include sections of the aircraft fuselage, passenger and pilot floor, canopy, tail cone, engine acoustic panel, ramp, cargo door, gearbox, horizontal and vertical stabiliser. Strata is a composite aerostructures manufacturing facility based in the heart of Nibras Al Ain Aerospace Park. Strata has partnerships with the worlds leading aircraft manufacturers such as Airbus, Boeing and Leonardo-Finmeccanica Aero-structures Division, and is also a Tier one supplier to FACC AG, SAAB and S.A.B.C.A. The company aims to play a significant role in Abu Dhabis Economic Vision 2030 through the development of an aerospace industry in Abu Dhabi. A10 Networks, a top provider of cybersecurity solutions, has unveiled its A10 One-DDoS Protection, featuring software enhancements to its high-performance appliances to enable defence against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. A10 Networks One-DDoS Protection utilizes machine learning to automate the challenges of protected service discovery, peacetime traffic learning, detection threshold setting and fast mitigation response. Now, service providers can have a cost-effective, reactive DDoS defence topology with flow-based detection at the edge of the network and enable high resolution packet-based detection closer to the targeted critical services and applications. This proximity allows context to be applied to thwart sophisticated network or application assaults against their critical applications and services. A10 One-DDoS Protection is available on A10 Thunder ADC (Application Delivery Controller), CGN (Carrier Grade Networking) and CFW (Converged Firewall) product lines with orchestrated attack scrubbing on Thunder TPS (Threat Protection System), providing a layered approach for full-spectrum volumetric, network and application DDoS protection. Tactics for DDoS attacks are moving beyond just using request floods designed to bombard and overwhelm infrastructure to include low-bandwidth attacks that target the network or application layer of service provider services and their subscribers. These low and slow tactics are generally not detected until well into the attack progression and often enable threat actors to successfully disrupt the targeted service. A recent Verisign report estimated that 82 per cent of DDoS attacks in Q4 2017 were multi-vector as opposed to using a single vector of attack. At the same time, volumetric attacks are becoming larger, exceeding peaks 1.7 terabits per second. Service providers must move beyond just flow detection to be able to detect and defend against all types of attacks The DDoS landscape has changed and continues to evolve in potency and sophistication, said Raj Jalan, CTO, A10 Networks. The A10 Networks One-DDoS Protection enables service providers to defend against a full range of attacks with an integrated fabric of protection to help deny attackers the ability to disrupt or penetrate networks. In addition to ensuring uptime and protecting customers, service providers are looking for ways to monetize DDoS defence investments by providing clean pipe services to their business customers. These services require granular controls for each individual business subscriber and must scale to tens of thousands, and in some cases millions, of businesses. To scale these legacy systems, service providers must purchase expensive and complex arrays of appliances. Unlike legacy approaches, the A10 Networks One-DDoS Protection solution scales to hundreds of thousands of monitored entities out-of-the-box from a single appliance. Legacy DDoS defences also require frontline operators to have extensive knowledge about downstream subscribers and the internally offered services that are exposed to DDoS threats. In an increasingly dynamic IT environment, this can be an expensive and unsustainable practice, and it is further exacerbated by a shortage of skilled personnel. In contrast, the A10 Networks One-DDoS Protection solution utilizes machine learning to automatically learn about and understand downstream infrastructure and their services, creating a highly scalable, cost-effective model for serving customers. The distributed detection also helps organizations achieve the common goal of protecting services while overcoming organizational silo ownership issues. For example, the application teams and CGN teams may continue to provision and manage their ADC and CGNAT systems as usual without needing any training on DDoS attacks and mitigation procedures. A10 One-DDoS Protection works transparently in the background enabling automatic signalling of identified DDoS attacks and intelligent invocation of DDoS defence when needed. The DDoS defence system and protection policies remain under the ownership of the security team where the required DDoS expertise and up-to-date knowledge already reside. A10 Networks One-DDoS Protection is available in the third quarter of 2018, a statement said. TradeArabia News Service Batelco, the regional telecommunications group with operations across 14 countries, today announced a promising start to the year with strong improvement in its overall performance compared to the first quarter of 2017. Announcing the first quarter financial results for 2018, Batelco said its net profit surged 60 per cent to hit BD13.1 million ($34.5 million). compared to BD8.2 million the year before. The kingdom's top telecom services operator also witnessed a 43 per cent jump in its operating profit which rose to BD20.3 million from BD14.2 million last year. The revenues too increased for the three-month period hitting BD99.5 million ($262.1 million), up 11 per cent over last year's BD89.7 million. Ebitda for the first three months was put at BD36.6 million, up 13 per cent from BD32.3 million in 2017, while the EPS hit 7.9 fils from 4.9 fils last year. Announcing the results, Batelco Chairman Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said: "It is an excellent start for 2018 with double digit improvements in the financial results over the first quarter of 2017. Across our group of operations, we are working diligently on our strategic plans to provide reliable and future proof networks that meet the needs of each location, with their specific requirements." "At home, we remain focussed on ensuring that Bahrain is among the best-connected countries in the region, in support of the Bahrain governments initiatives for the communications sector," stated Shaikh Mohamed. "Digitisation across all sectors of the community remains high on our agenda, with ongoing investment in fibre networks, Tier III Data Centres and the development of our digital solutions portfolio," he added. Batelco said the gross revenues were up 11 per cent from BD89.7 million reported last year to BD99.5 million supported by strong performance at Batelco Bahrain and Umniah Jordan. Umniah still tops Batelcos revenue from its overseas operations and this quarter it reported a 24 per cent growth in comparison to the same period last year. In Bahrain, revenues were boosted by improvements in mobile and broadband services and in Umniah revenues were up in all revenue streams with notable growth in adjacent services and fixed broadband. Ebitda for the first quarter of 2018 stood at BD36.6 million up 13 per cent over BD32.3 million in Q1 2017, representing revenue gains and the groups cost containment programmes. Operating profit also improved by 43 per cent from BD14.2 million this quarter to BD20.3 million, it added. Batelco Group CEO Ihab Hinnawi said that positive performances at home in Bahrain and at a number of the groups international operations led to the very promising start to the year reflected in gross revenues and net profits. "The solid execution of our strategic plans across all our OPCOS is starting to be reflected in the bottom line, and we are naturally delighted to get off to such a good start to 2018," noted Hinnawi. "Our plans, which include strengthening our digital capabilities, are having the positive impact that we hoped for. Our transformation agenda, to create a leaner and more agile organisation, continues to be rolled out across all operations and we are very optimistic for the future," he added. Hinnawi pointed out that on the mergers and acquisitions front, Batelco was still in the market of assessing new opportunities within the communications field and across adjacent industries to increase the Groups value. "Throughout the group, we are pleased to note that broadband subscriber numbers have increased. Notable increases include growing customer numbers for Broadband products in Bahrain with numbers up by 4 per cent over Q4, 2017 and 27 per cent year-on-year," he noted. "Umniah and Dhiraagu (Maldives) have also posted improved broadband numbers with both companies showing an increase of 13 per cent over Q4, 2017 and year-on-year increases of 84 and 65 per cent respectively," he added. Dhiraagu started the first quarter with a 9 per cent revenue growth in comparison to last year due to growing mobile data and FTTH revenue in Maldives. For the period, 61 per cent of revenues and 52 per cent of Ebitda was mainly due to operations outside of Bahrain. Besides Umniah and Dhiraagu, the Bahrain telco giant has its services in Kuwait under the brand name Quality Net and in Channel Islands, Isle of Man, South Atlantic & Diego Garcia under Sure Group. Qualitynet remains market leader in the Fixed Data Communication and Internet Services and ICT industry in Kuwait. During the quarter, the company established a local branch in Iraq to support its existing business and new opportunities in the country. Batelco Bahrain CEO Mohamed Bubashait said that the telco giant's successful fibre delivery and comprehensive portfolio of digital products and services has resulted in a growth in customer numbers in the kingdom. The number of fixed line customers grew 7 per cent, while the Broadband numbers were up 27 per cent year over year. Batelco continues to support directives that aim to strengthen the kingdoms position as a leading regional communications hub, attracting further commercial investments and tourists to Bahrain. In line with such commitments we continue to expand the scope of the Bahrain WiFi project to enable free WiFi at more public locations throughout the Kingdom, stated Bubashait. Additionally, in support of our strategic plans to develop a world class advanced infrastructure, in line with the Kingdoms vision and aspirations to maintain Bahrains position as a leader in the regions ICT industry we recently announced the launch of Batelco Gulf Network (BGN), said the top official. Furthermore, in line with our commitment to foster the development of Bahrains FinTech industry and drive the acceleration of the financial technology ecosystem, we were proud to announce our role as one of the founding partners of Bahrain FinTech Bay," remarked Bubashait. "Technology is already playing a major role in shaping the financial industry and Batelco as a leader in delivering digital solutions for Bahrain is well placed to support the initiatives of the new operation, he added. On the 2018 outlook, Shaikh Mohamed said: We are looking forward with enthusiasm as we enter the second quarter of the year. We believe that our strategic plans for all operations will continue to deliver the desired results." "Our teams throughout our organisation are committed to the implementation of our strategic plans which include continuing to invest in digital technology, improving the quality and speed of LTE networks and continuing with transformational exercises aimed at increasing profitability going forward, he added.-TradeArabia News Service The upcoming Beautyworld Middle East 2018, a beauty and wellness trade fair in Dubai, UAE will offer select visitors a chance to mix and match their own perfumes according to their mood and personality, The concept is created by Centdegres, a creative and strategy consulting agency, fragranced by Firmenich, one of the worlds largest fragrance houses; dispensed by Albea, the worlds largest producer of personal care packaging, and manufactured by MMB. At the beginning of the journey, visitors will choose between two main juices; floral for the Blooming mind, or woody for the Daring mind. Immersed in each perfume concept through visuals that help them to select their scents, visitors will then choose two add-on scents from a selection of four middle notes; aromatical (vibrant pulse), citrus (sparkling pulse), oriental (addictive pulse), and musc (velvet pulse). After gaining an intimate look at the fine art of perfume blending and packaging, visitors will then take home their own beautifully packaged collection of up to three scents, which they can mix and match according to their personal preferences. BlendIt transforms the perfuming ritual in a playful and bespoke way, while respecting the creative work of fragrance creators, said Gaelle Dore, general manager of Centdegres Dubai. The fragrance market is booming but its also getting to be saturated. Therefore the objective of BlendIt is to show that we can bring innovative ideas to break the usual codes and perfume rituals. Elie Papiernik, design director and managing partner of Centdegres, added that BlendIt is inspired by the evolution of how consumers play an increasingly important role in fragrance creation. Today, consumers are looking for a real experience with true but respectful customisation, said Papiernik. BlendIt is a concept of perfume customisation offering a full experience from perfume discovery, to the testing and lastly, packaging. At Beautyworld Middle East, well introduce BlendIt to an audience that is very educated and passionate about fragrance, and also about blending and combining juices, said Dore. Well learn a lot from the show, and then continue our project development. In the coming months, well launch several BlendIt type projects at the retail level, because we strongly believe in this concept of playful bespoke fragrance creation. BlendIt is a special feature within Beautyworld Middle Easts Fragrance Compound and Finished Fragrance section, where more than 210 exhibitors will showcase their latest creations and compounds from May 8-10 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. Its one of six product groups at the annual three-day event, and features 15 of the worlds top 18 global fragrance creation houses, including Givaudan, Firmenich, International Flavors & Fragrances, Mane, Robertet, CPL Aromas, Iberchem, Eurofragance, MG Gulcicek, Sensient, Cosmo International Fragrances, Expressions Parfumees, Technico Flor, Parfex, and Luzi. Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Beautyworld Middle Easts organiser Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said: BlendIt provides a full perfume experience, bringing alive the perfumery world for Beautyworld Middle East visitors, whore already known for their love and appreciation of fine fragrances. Its where fragrance gets creative, with unique scent combinations inspired by a broad spectrum of moods, all packaged beautifully for aesthetic impact, Pauwels added. Now in its 23rd edition, Beautyworld Middle East 2018 will feature 1,720 exhibitors from 61 countries, with the five other product groups covering Hair, Nails & Salon Supplies; Cosmetics & Skincare; Machinery, Packaging, Raw Materials & Contract Manufacturing; Personal Care & Hygiene; and for the first time in 2018, Natural and Organic. The annual three-day event is expected to attract more than 40,000 visitors, and returns with popular show highlights such as Quintessence the art of Perfume; Centre Stage by Nazih Group; Nail It! by Artistic Nail Design & OPI; and the Battle of the Barbers. Other new features this year is the Innovation Zone, and the Advanced Aesthetic Therapist Conference and Workshop. TradeArabia News Service Dubai-based Al Saeedi Group, a specialist in tyre distribution and tyre service solutions, has announced an exclusive partnership South Koreas Nexen Tire Corporation, one of the fastest growing tyre manufacturers in the world. Jang Hwan Lee, managing director of Nexen Tire Corporation, said: We are pleased to announce our exclusive partnership with Al Saeedi Group, aimed at strengthening our local market presence. We have been pioneers in bringing tyres of the highest quality to the UAE and the region. As a global tyre manufacturer, we needed a distributor with a strong presence in the UAE market and Al Saeedi provides us that platform. Nexen uses the latest technologies to manufacturer defect-free and high-quality tyres that meet the needs of customers across different segments, he added. Anish Malattiri, managing director of Al Saeedi Group, said: We are proud to associate with Nexen Tire, one of the global pioneers in the tyre industry for the past five years. This partnership has increased the presence of Nexen Tire products across the UAE in almost all the passenger car and SUV segments. This has enabled us to position ourselves as a leading tyre distributor in the UAE. This exclusive agreement will give us an edge to further capture the domestic market. We have great customer loyalty across the UAE. Al Saeedi brings the highest quality of products and services to the UAE market. We have always been on the lookout for reliable and strong manufacturers that complement our vision and approach, he added. In the UAE, Al Saeedi Group through its multiple sales and marketing channels has popularised Nexen in the dealer, fleet, and rent a car segments; as well as government and semi-government sectors and also through their nine retail outlets, Lee further said. We guide our customers in their purchase decisions and select what is best for their vehicles from our wide array of products. The growing demand from our loyal customers has led to further expansion plans. We will continue to look for new ways to enhance our products and services and ensure optimum customer satisfaction, Malattiri concluded. Nexen Tire manufacturers superior quality tyres that comply with international quality standards. Nexen Tire sells 40 million tires to more than 140 countries annually, with more than four million tires sold throughout the Middle East. Al Saeedi Group is at the forefront of bringing the best products and solutions in the UAEs tyre industry. The Group operates nine Saeedi Pro service centres across the UAE, in addition to seven unique mobile service units that cater to customer needs round the clock. TradeArabia News Service Radisson Red, the upscale, select-service brand from the Radisson Hotel Group, has opened its first hotel in the UK. Located in the West End at the heart of the citys stimulating music and art scene, Radisson Red Glasgow is a few minutes away from the liveliest music venues in Scotland, just a stones throw from The Hydro and the citys media hub, and within easy reach of the trendy city center. "Were genuinely excited to give people the opportunity to enjoy Red, and I feel confident that as well as having a fantastic product in a great location, we have the best team in place to deliver a memorable and Red experience for guests, said Richard Moore, area senior vice president, UK, Ireland & Western Europe, Radisson Hotel Group. Big, comfortable and connected, each of the 174 rooms features natural materials, colorful accents and eclectic design pieces. Bold wallpapers, designed by legendary Glasgow comic artist Frank Quitely, adds a sense of fun, while smart in-room technology makes the experience all the more enjoyable. The ground floor space with the OUIBar + KTCHN is the place to be. Fresh food, plenty of wine and chilled craft beers...this is the hangout for casual meetings, enjoying tasty cocktails or stepping up for a game of pool. The hotels stunning new Red Sky Bar Glasgows first rooftop bar is the perfect spot to watch the sunset over the River Clyde. Guests can enjoy a birds eye view of the action with a Red cocktail in hand, tapas to share, and background beats from some of the citys best DJs. The event and games studios are playfully designed, equipped with everything you need to throw an epic party or simply get your meetings off autopilot. Each of the three studios is kitted with high-tech equipment and super-fast wi-fi no internet lag here. From optional self-check-in/check-out, keyless entry, to requesting extra pillows, the Red App gives guests exactly what they want convenience and simplicity. They can also use the friendly chat feature to interact with other guests, from arranging an airport taxi-share to uncovering the best local gigs. Michael Weston, the Hotel Curator, said: Were all so excited to open and introduce Red to Glasgow and the wider UK. The Red experience is different we encourage laughter, playfulness and even a little mischief with guests, and we use our spaces as a showcase for some of the best local talent in art, design, music and fashion. We really hope people come to the hotel, love what they see, and come back again and again. - TradeArabia News Service By Siddhant Mohan, TwoCircles.net A day after violence erupted in the campus of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), a series of reactions from the various sections of the society have come forward mostly condemning the act of Hindutva goons, while some people also questioned the presence of Jinnahs photograph in the students union building of AMU. Read more: Police violence in AMU after Hindutva goons attack students Support TwoCircles The AMU Teachers Association (AMUTA) has condemned the deliberate criminal activity by the aggressors on Wednesday. The AMUTA has also condemned the police action on the students of the university and said, instead of taking action against the criminal aggressors, AMU students who were victims were re-victimized by lathi-charge. On Wednesday, several dozen people reportedly affiliated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Hindu Yuva Vahini a group formed by Yogi Adityanath entered the campus through the Universitys main gate and thrashed some students passing by. The major objection of the goons was the installation of a portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the students union building of AMU. The matter became more grave as Hamid Ansari, the former vice-president of India, was inside the campus to deliver his lecture. The AMUTA has pointed the same fact in its letter, This is a serious security lapse on the part of police administration as former vice president of India was present in the Guest House no. 3 when the incident occurred. Rihai Manch, a human rights organisation working in Uttar Pradesh, has accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of inciting hatred against Muslims. Shahnawaz Alam, the spokesperson at Rihai Manch said, By highlighting the AMU controversy, BJP is trying to strengthen its anti-Muslim narrative. That is why Satish Gautam, the BJP member of parliament from Aligarh, raised the issue just before Hamid Ansaris visit to the AMU. People also condemned the action of the police, who released the perpetrators even after the AMU students union panelists handed them over to the police.Police released those terrorists who were going to attack former VP Ansari, because they had Muslims as the target in their mind, said Alam. In 1938, Jinnah, the Muslim League leader, was given an honorary membership of AMUs Students Union, which is why his portrait was hung in the building of the same. In the press statement released on Thursday, Muslim Students Federation (MSF) said, Jinnahs portrait at AMU Students Union Hall is a historical preservation and it will remain there anyway. MSF has also protested the move to stereotype AMU as a regressive, radical and undemocratic institution. The government and police must not act as the instruments of BJP goons. We will extend our support and join the students and others who are protesting against the move, said MSF in the press statement. Asaduddin Owaisi, the member of Indian parliament and President All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen, said in the tweet, why did the local police allow the Hindutva goons to enter AMU campus shows that @CMOfficeUP wants to vitiate the University campus? Attack on students of AMU & AMU students union leaders is highly condemnable why did the local police allow the Hindutva goons to enter AMU campus shows that @CMOfficeUP wants to vitiate the University campus Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) May 2, 2018 However, there are many who are relating the Wednesday conflict with the upcoming Karnataka elections. Navaid Hamid, the president at All India Majlis-e-Mushawarat, told TwoCircles.net, BJP is certainly trying to gain ground from this controversy as the polling in Karnataka is going to held in next few days. They must state that why they have not expelled or raised the demand for expulsion of Lal Krishna Advani, who went to Pakistan and rather wrote a book on JInnah? Ameer Ahmad, member of AMU executive council and AMU court, has put out a statement calling for peace within the varsity campus as well as in the community. Ahmad said, These are all planned move to provoke us. If we fall prey into their trap, then they are successful. So, please think before you react. India is our country too. Also majority of the Hindus are not communal still. That worries these goons. They want a polarisation for which only hope left for them is to provoke us and make us to react so that they can use the media and the machineries with them to propagate and malign the community as well as try to get the majority secular, decent and non-communal Hindus to their side, Ahmad further said. They dont realise by this how much damage they are doing to this great nation. On the other hand, the students union at Aligarh Muslim University is mulling to file a petition at Allahabad High Court against the district administration for taking violent action against the union members as well as the students who were trying to catch the goons. Protest actions in Armenia have resumed. Supporters of the opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who wasn't elected prime minister yesterday, started blocking roads in Yerevan, as well as highways leading to airports. As a result, the South Caucasus Railways CJSC temporarily stopped the movement of trains as protesters blocked railway crossings, and the State Revenue Committee of Armenia expressed concern over obstacles created for vehicles with food entering Armenia due to a campaign to block the roads, which could pose a threat to the country's food security. The second round of the elections of the new Prime Minister of Armenia will be held on May 8, the candidates are still unknown. The RPA further actions are unclear, but the Armenian media, whose articles are becoming increasingly anti-Russian, have seen the shadow of the Kremlin in the actions of the RPA. Vestnik Kavkaza presents the assessment of the situation by 1in.am. "A general strike is declared on the territory of the whole republic," Nikol Pashinyan said at a rally on the Republic Square on May 30. "All roads are blocked on May 2 startung from 08:15 am, a total strike is announced, the airport and the railway are blocked. Our movement cannot fail, there is no such option," he said. It was the first reaction of the national movement to the decision of the RPA, which failed to elect Nikol Pashinyan to the post of prime minister. To say that by this step the parliamentary majority generated an unprecedented political crisis is an understatement. Yesterday the RPA closed the political way to resolve the conflict, while not offering any alternative or recipe to reorganize political power, restore the normal course of life. The counter revolution has resorted to a counterattack, the target of which is Armenia's statehood, democracy and politics in general. The Armenian parliament was legitimized for a short time yesterday, becoming the state institution that could resolve the political crisis in the country by institutionalizing the victory of society, the consequences of the revolution. It would not even be a capitulation to its own people, it would be rather perceived as the RPA's unforgettable contribution to the process of forming a state of new quality. But the counter-revolution - in the person of the RPA, resorted to a counterattack, the consequence of which is the total vacuum of political power and state institutions. In other words, the parliamentary majority provoked anarchy, which was essentially an act of surrender - not to its own people, but to Robert Kocharyan, Russia. This is a manifestation of total irresponsibility - failing to nominate its own candidate, but rejecting the candidate of the popular movement, the candidate of the entire consolidated political palette. This automatically implies recognition in one's own political bankruptcy, and paves the way for the return of Robert Kocharyan - perfectly aware that the latter has only one way of holding "dialogue" with society - March 1. Yesterday, the counter-revolution launched a counter-offensive with Russian flags, inviting the empire to fill the vacuum caused by powerlessness, targeting Saakashvili in the streets of Yerevan, whose ears are artificially searched by the RPA on the central squares and streets of Yerevan. Yesterday, the RPA ceased to be the power, the party, because it has become associated with the "11th Red Army", whose entrance to Armenia symbolizes the Russian occupation and vassalage. The format and agenda of the political dialogue with the republican majority have in fact exhausted themselves, because only this party's capitulation can save Armenia from Russia's total occupation, which will be manifested in a new bloody March 1. Velvet revolution henceforth became a symbol of freedom and sovereignty of Armenia. The UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, has urged Donald Trump not to scrap the Iran nuclear deal, saying that the Middle East would become an even more dangerous place if such an important diplomatic victory was thrown away with nothing better to replace it. As Guardian writes in the article UN chief urges Donald Trump not to scrap Iran nuclear deal, the US president is due to decide next week whether to withdraw from the agreement, by which Iran accepted nuclear inspections in return for a loosening of economic sanctions. There is intense political pressure from Tehran and the key European powers Britain, Germany and France to stick with the deal. If one day there is a better agreement to replace it its fine, but we should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative, Guterres said in an interview with BBC Radio 4. I believe the JCPOA [nuclear deal] was an important diplomatic victory and I think it will be important to preserve it, but I also believe there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaningful dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position, he said. Guterres, who is in London for a three-day visit, said the risks of a confrontation between Israel and Iran were there, adding: We need to do everything to avoid those risks. Referring to US concerns about Irans wider behaviour, he said: I understand the concerns of some countries in relation to the Iranian influence in other countries of the region. So I think we should separate things. The UK, France and Germany plan to keep campaigning next week, and may even make common cause with Tehran to preserve the deal if Trump pulls out and allows US sanctions on Iran to be reimposed. In a bid to satisfy Trumps concerns, the three countries have already agreed to seek a supplementary deal with Iran that would cover Irans general behaviour in the region, its use of ballistic missiles and the future of the deal once it expires, the so-called sunset clause. The former UK foreign secretary Jack Straw also intervened to urge Washington not to scrap the deal. The great irony of President Trumps position that it will do the opposite of what it intends. It will undermine President Hassan Rouhani and all those trying to reform Iran. It will also end all the restraints on a serious nuclear programme, he said. I hope the European nations will actively cooperate to support regulations as they did in 1996 to protect their economies and firms from the impact of any American sanctions if they are imposed. In 1996 the US Congress passed the Iran and Libya Sanctions Act, which imposed sanctions on all firms, including non-US firms, if they were doing business with either country. The EU passed a blocking statute later the same year to make it illegal for any European firm to abide by the US sanctions. It also took the US to World Trade Organisation, arguing it was in breach of free trade regulations by trying to impose restrictions on non-US firms. So far the EU has not discussed in public whether it has a plan B to try to preserve the deal with Iran in the event of Trump pulling out, preferring instead to focus on the last-ditch efforts to persuade the US president to rethink. Diplomats are divided over whether Trump will regard himself as on a roll after the shift towards peace in North Korea, and whether that will make him more or less willing to listen to his European partners. The fact that Uzbekistan has decided to join the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States represents a major breakthrough for Turkey in its bid to expand its regional influence in Central Asia, according to Daily Sabah and its article Uzbekistan joins Turkey's club of close global friends. Uzbekistan has shed past trust issues with Ankara and entered a new strong, strategic relationship with Turkey in the heart of Central Asia. That sums up the visit of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Uzbekistan which was marked by a very warm welcome by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Uzbek administration was disappointed with Turkey in the 1990s and former President Islam Karimov had deep suspicions about Turkey and was reluctant to forge close ties with Ankara. After his death in 2016 Mirziyoyev took over as caretaker president and started a very impressive reform movement called the "Quiet Revolution" and the "Revolution from Above." Mirziyoyev abolished cotton slavery, systematic use of child labor, exit visas, introduced tax reforms, created free economic zones and declared amnesty for political prisoners. He dramatically improved relations with neighboring Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan. The Uzbek economy is now in a transition phase switching to a market economy.Mirziyoyev set the course for improving relations with Turkey and hosted Erdogan in Samarkand where the two put the ties on a new course. This was crowned by Mirziyoyev's visit to Ankara last September when the two countries established a strategic relationship. During the current visit, Erdogan and Mirziyoyev strengthened the infrastructure of this relationship with a series of agreements on economic cooperation as well as defense. Twenty-five agreements were signed during this trip as the trade volume between the two countries expanded by 20 percent this year. Speaking in Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent, Erdogan said the meeting of the Turkey-Uzbekistan High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council will be held annually, with the first to be held in Turkey. He also said Turkey remains determined to boost bilateral ties "from economy to the defense industry, education to culture, environment to energy, agriculture to tourism, in all areas." The fact that Uzbekistan has decided to join the Cooperation Council of Turkic Speaking States is a major step for Erdogan. This represents a major breakthrough for Turkey in its bid to expand its regional influence in Central Asia. "We have long negotiated with President Erdogan. Uzbekistan's flag will also be among the flags in this council. Uzbekistan will also attend the meeting in Bishkek, this is an important decision," the Uzbek president said. Erdogan has followed a steady course of trust building in Central Asia over the years. His successful visit to Uzbekistan shows this policy is paying off. Peace in Central Asia means an improvement in the situation in Afghanistan as well as stability in countries like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Thus, while Turkey tries to bring some form of stability to the explosive situation in Afghanistan, it is enhancing its ties with the regional states. Armenia's new power in the person of Nikol Pashinyan - a young Yerevan politician, a member of the first president Levon Ter-Petrosyan's team and an indefatigable fighter with the rule of the Karabakh clan of Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sargsyan - apparently does not intend to change the foreign policy of his internal political opponents regarding the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This is evidenced by the statements of the comrades-in-arms of Nikol Pashinyan in the Yelk parliamentary faction and the Civil Contract party, with which correspondents of Vestnik Kavkaza spoke today. Ararat Mirzoyan, the MP from Yelk faction and member of the board of the Civil Contract party, said that the team of Nikol Pashinyan does not plan any radical changes in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict. "Everything will happen within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, we will continue to contact the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs and we will adhere to the framework of this negotiation process," he said. At the same time, the opposition MP, repeating the words of the authorities, which Yelk and Civil Treaty seek to expel from Armenia, accused Azerbaijan of unresolving the conflict, not the Karabakh clan of Kocharyan and Sargsyan. "I want to emphasize that negotiations and compromise require will and readiness for this compromise, but the rhetoric of the Azerbaijani authorities does not show it. We hear threats of attacking not only Nagorno-Karabakh, but also the borders of the Republic of Armenia, which is unacceptable," Ararat Mirzoyan reproduced the standards of Sargsyan propaganda. His colleague Lena Nazaryan promised to adhere to negotiations with Baku. "We believe that this issue should be resolved through peaceful means, we do not see any other way out, so we will continue the negotiations. Nikol Pashinyan will describe it in further detail when he will become prime minister," she promised. Meanwhile, Nikol Pashinyan already voiced his position on Karabakh on the eve of the May 1 elections and at the parliament session, repeating the words of his political enemies from the Karabakh clan. "Our task is to strengthen the army, raise the level of combat readiness. This is the way for Azerbaijan's return to the constructive channel," he shifted the blame for the unresolved Karabakh problem and the blockade of Armenian borders from Sargsyan to Baku. The future new government's plans to unblock the borders also show the intention to continue the policy of the "war party". Arthur Mirzoyan said bluntly that "this issue is not on the agenda," adding that "no specific steps are being discussed with regard to Armenia's return to the regional economy as a whole." Lena Nazaryan reproduced Yerevan's standard position on the borders of recent years. "We are ready to open borders with Turkey and restore diplomatic relations, but Turkey does not want to go to these talks now. Perhaps there will be a chance to return to this issue in the future, and I hope that Armenia will have good friendly relations with all its neighbors," the deputy of the Yelk faction said, noting that Pashinyan's team plans to use ties with Georgia and Iran to developm the economy. On May 1, Pashinyan said in the parliament that "what is happening in the neighboring country leaves no room for optimism, we cannot say that we can unlock the borders in the near future", once again removing the responsibility for the closed borders from the power, against which he took the majority of Armenian citizens to the streets these days. According to him, Armenia will have to reconcile with this, that is, with its own unwillingness to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and count only on the borders with Georgia and Iran. Thus, the change of power in Armenia can change nothing, even the change of the Karabakh clan and its aging leaders (Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan are 63 years old) who are vitally interested in the occupation of the Azerbaijani territories, in favour of the young generation of Yerevan politicians (Nikolay Pashinyan is 42 years old, Ararat Mirzoyanu - 38 years old). We can assume that these statements are made only to facilitate the "gentle" transition of power and in the future Yelk ("Way out") will become a symbol of the way out of the Karabakh stalemate - but with the same probability one can assume the irremovability of the dominant occupation ideology under formal change of power: names and persons will be replaced, but the plan for maintaining the status quo and the power confrontation will remain in force. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged US President Donald Trump not to walk away from an international deal designed to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking to the BBC, Guterres said there was a real risk of war if the 2015 agreement was not preserved. UN Secretary General said that the Iran agreement was an "important diplomatic victory" and should be maintained. "We should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative. We face dangerous times," he stressed. Trump has been a strong critic of the accord, in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. The US president has until 12 May to decide whether to stick with the deal. Two people have died in a high rise residential building in Taganrog (Russia's Rostov region) as a result of fire, the regional press service of the State Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia said. The fire was localized at 23:26 pm MSK and extinguished at 23:56 pm MSK, Interfax South reported. Taganrog police has opened the investigation, the cause of the fire has not been determined yet. Iran's ambassador to the UK Hamid Baeidinejad said that the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), will result in its termination. "When the United States is out of the deal, it means that there is no deal left," Baeidinejad said during an interview with CNN. "Because an important party of the treaty has abrogated and violated in clear terms the treaty," he added. He further noted that Tehran would "be ready to go back to the previous situation" if the Washington ditches the JCPOA as threatened by US President Donald Trump. "It could be enriching uranium, it could be redefining our cooperation with the agency and some other activities that are under consideration," he also said. Baeidinejad stressed that whatever Iran's counter move would be it would not concern the development of nuclear weapons. Ukraines National Security and Defense Council added more people and legal entities to its sanctions list imposed on Russia. Kiev synchronized sanctions with the ones imposed by the US Treasury on April 6 and extended recent years own restrictions. Besides, sanctions target individuals "involved in informational and cyber aggression" against Ukraine, "in illegal activities against Ukrainian citizens who are unlawfully held in Russia," as well as members of the Russian State Duma (lower house of parliament) and Federation Council (upper house). "The sanctions against individuals and legal entities are extended for a period of three years or an indefinite period, following a motion of Ukraines cabinet, Ukraines Security Service and Ukraines National Bank," a press release of the Ukrainian Council for National Security and Defense says. The list of individuals and legal entities subject to the restrictive measures has not yet been published, TASS reported. Russia expects that its benevolent relations with Armenia will remain constant whatever the current political situation in this republic leads to, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "We hope that allied, benevolent and constructive bilateral Russian - Armenian relations will remain constant in any event both for our countrys foreign policy and for the foreign policy of Yerevan," Peskov said. The spokesman noted that it is still unclear what the voting on the Armenian PM candidacy would end with - "who will get support, who will get less support - so I say in any case." Peskov hopes that the processes in Armenia will stay within the limits of law. "We sincerely wish our Armenian friends to approach the settlement of the current domestic political situation as soon as possible," TASS cited him as saying. On May 1, members of parliament rejected opposition leader Nikol Pashinyans candidacy to the post of prime minister. Forty-five lawmakers voted for him, against 53 votes needed for election as prime minister. Pashinyan then called on his supporters to embark on mass civil disobedience actions. The next voting on the PM candidacy is due on May 8. The main damage from European sanctions is the loss of confidence, which will be very difficult to restore, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Italys Panorama magazine. "There are various estimates of the damage, different numbers are given. This being said, the main loss is the loss of confidence, which will be very difficult to restore," Lavrov noted. According to him, any unilateral economic pressure measures "are not only illegitimate from the standpoint of international law, experience shows they are ineffective." "Initiated by the US administration and supported by Brussels as a tool to exert long-term pressure on Russia, they have not resulted in a change of our foreign policy," Russias top diplomat stressed. "However, unlike the leaders of some Western countries, we never claim monopoly on the truth. From Brussels - from NATO and the EU - we hear assurances that they are ready for a dialogue with Moscow, but only if Russia repents and admits it is guilty of everything it is accused of. We never do that, we always emphasize readiness for compromise, for recognizing legitimate interests of any partners who in return recognize Russias interests and want to come to an agreement from the position of pragmatism rather than in line with the logic of games with zero results," he added. The minister said that Russias economy had adapted to sanctions pressure. "Moreover, weve been able to turn its consequences to our advantage. At the same time, we used the situation that had emerged to look for new economic growth areas, increase manufacture of our own products and expand trade and economic ties with those countries, which are open to honest and mutually beneficial cooperation. And such [countries] make up the vast majority throughout the globe," TASS cited Lavarov as saying. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel has evidence Iranian officials were "brazenly lying" when they said Iran wasn't pursuing nuclear weapons and that the Islamic republic is keeping an "atomic archive" at a secret compound. He said thousands of pages of material obtained by Israel showed Iran had deceived the world by denying it had ever sought nuclear weapons. "Tonight I'm here to tell you one thing: Iran lied," Netanyahu said today at a news conference in Tel Aviv. Calling it one of the greatest achievements in the history of Israeli intelligence, Netanyahu displayed what he said were files that demonstrate Iran planned to continue pursuing a nuclear weapons program despite the 2015 deal it brokered with the international community. The prime minister said that the files were kept in massive vaults inside an "innocent-looking compound" in Shorabad District. Iran planned at the highest level to continue work related to nuclear weapons under different guises and using the same personnel, CNN cited the PM as saying. All disputable issues should be resolved in accordance with the legislation of Armenia, the head of the Yelk faction Nikol Pashinyan said in the parliament, answering the question about the fate of Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. "I am going to carry out only those actions that will correspond to the powers of the prime minister," Pashinyan said, answering the question of whether he will apply to the Prosecutor General's Office on interrogation of the second president Robert Kocharian on the murder of the demonstrators and the military on March 1, 2008, Sputnik Armenia reports. Previously, Nikol Pashinyan demanded that Serzh Sargsyan, who held the position of prime ministeri n those years, should be held responsible for what had happened. The Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan said that he intends to meet with the ambassadors of Russia, the EU, Iran and Georgia. "We are planning discussions with the ambassadors of Russia, the European Union, Iran, Georgia and diplomatis," he told a briefing in the National Assembly of Armenia. "We intend to discuss the political situation with them," RIA Novosti cited Pashinyan as saying. The opposition leader stressed that there is no need to seek any geopolitical conspiracies in Armenia's situation. According to Pashinyan, if he is elected prime minister, Armenia's foreign policy will retain its focus. On April 25, Russian diplomats met with with opposition lawmakers of the National Assembly Nikol Pashinyan and Ararat Mirzoyan, as well as with press secretary of the Civil Contract party Tigran Avinyan, to discuss the current political crisis in Armenia. The head of the Yelk parliamentary faction, the opposition leader and the only candidate to become prime minister of the republic, Nikol Pashinyan, speaking with the Russian media, said that he intended to act "gently" to change power in the country. According to the Kommersant nespaper, he used the word "gently" speaking about the way to break the power process in Armenia. At the same time, he stressed that he is in contact with "individuals" in the RPA, discussing "the recognition of a peaceful transfer." Pashinyan drew attention to the fact that the "velvet revolution" is underway in Armenia. "Now everything suits us. There is no real development scenario that would not suit us. In such a situation we will win in any case," he concluded, adding that the change of power in the country will last as long as necessary. Russian Minister of Communications and Mass Media Nikolai Nikiforov has not ruled out that another popular messenger Viber could be blocked if the Federal Security Service has problems with obtaining encryption keys. "This is a matter of the FSB as the powers regarding such specific issues of implementing an order on providing encryption keys are the powers of the FSB. If they have problems with providing encryption keys they may turn to the court and get a similar judicial decision," TASS cited Nikiforov as saying. Touching on the situation with Telegrams blocking in Russia, the minister said: "I believe there is a decision of the court and this decision does not need any comments." The minister noted that the decision on blocking the messenger is "implemented with varying success." On April 13, Moscows Tagansky Court satisfied the claim of Russias Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media to block access to the Telegram instant messaging service in Russia due to its failure to provide keys for decrypting users messages to FSB. On April 16, communication providers embarked on enacting the blocking procedures. On the same day, the watchdog also started blocking the IP-addresses of Amazons and Googles subnetworks that Telegram uses for operation, which resulted in reported operational failures along external web resources that were used by their hosting services. A Sukhoi-30SM jet of Russias Aerospace Force has crashed in Syriam killing both pilots, the Russian Defense Ministry said. "At 09:45 on May 3, a Russian Sukhoi-30SM fighter crashed in the Mediterranean during the climb shortly after taking off from the Khmeimim airdrome. As follows from an onsite report, both pilots tried to keep the plane under control till the last moment. Both died," the ministry said in a statement. According to preliminary estimates, a bird hit the planes engine. "There was no fire impact on the plane," TASS cited the Defense Ministry as saying. Public support for the Iran deal has reached its highest point previously recorded, according to a new poll, right as a deadline approaches for US President Donald Trump to re-certify the agreement in 10 days. 56% of people polled in the Morning ConsultPolitico survey backed the nuclear deal, while 265 opposed it. Republican voters are split, with 46% of voters in favor of the bill versus 42% against it. The level of net support is at its highest since the last time it reached 56%, in April 2017. The survey polled 1,991 registered voters and has a 2 percentage point margin of error, Hill reported. The agreement, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was agreed upon between Iran and the United States, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the European Union back in 2015. The Yelk faction is hastily collecting signatures of deputies to nominate Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister of Armenia, MP from Yelk faction Ararat Mirzoyan told the reporters. He didn't say how many signatures they have, but noted that the Tsarukyan, Yelk and ARF Dashnaktsutyun factions are collecting signatures separately. Answering the question of whether the Tsarukyan Alliance will change its mind and nominate someone else, for example, Gagik Tsarukyan himself, Mirzoyan said that such fears are unfounded. "The Tsarukyan Alliance has already expressed its position on the first vote on May 1," Mirzoyan recalled. "Mr. Tsarukyan also voted for Nikol Pashinyan," he added, expressing the hope that the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), as promised earlier, will support the candidate nominated by others. Speaking with the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, Ararat Mirzoyan expressed confidence that sooner or later the RPA will be forced to recognize Nikol Pashinyan as the new head of Armenia. "As for the other opposition parties, I am confident that they will vote for Nikol Pashinyan like they did on May 1. The Republicans promised to vote for Nikol Pashinyan on May 8, but we know that it does not matter anymore," he said. "Whether they vote at the next session or does not vote, little would change for us, because according to the law, the Constitution, Nikol Pashinyan will eventually become the prime minister under any scenario. I hope that the Republicans will finally understand it and will not resist the will of the people and the interests of Armenia, and will vote "for" Nikol Pashinyan on May 8," Ararat Mirzoyan said. Another MP from Yelk Lena Nazaryan also expects solidarity among the opposition parties. "The Tsarukyan Bloc already said that they are ready to vote again for Nikol Pashinyan. The RPA will not put forward their candidate, which means they will vote for Pashinyan as well," she believes. Member of the Tsarukyan's Bloc faction, Naira Zohrabyan, answering Vestnik Kavkaza, drew attention to the fact that, according to the rules for nominating prime minister candidates, Pashinyan already has votes of her party. "Our bloc is obliged to nominate Pashinyan, since according to our Constitution, not less than one-third of the MP nominate a prime minister. In ten minutes we collected 27 signatures of our deputies, the Yelk and Dashnaktsutyun parties also collected all their signatures, therefore, we have a total of 43 deputies who voted for Pashinyan. Thus, the Tsarukyan block is among the parties that nominated him for the post of head of government in accordance with the Constitution, and we will vote for him," she assured. "I hope that there will be no surprises in the parliament on May 8, the ruling party will keep its word and will not impede the election of Pashinyan if more than a third of the deputies vote for him, as it was announced yesterday," Naira Zohrabyan added. On May 2, Armenias parliament held a special session to elect a new prime minister. Pashinyan was the only candidate. However, only 45 parliament members voted in his favor, while he needed to receive at least 53 votes to become prime minister. The parliament will hold another session to elect a prime minister on May 8. Under Armenias legislation, in case parliament members fail to elect a prime minister, another round of voting should be held within seven days. If the second attempt also fails, the parliament must be dissolved. RPA parliamentary group head Vahram Bagdasaryan said that the RPA will not nominate its candidate for this post and will support the candidate supported by one third of the parliament members (at least 35 lawmakers). The Tsarukyan parliamentary bloc has 31 seats in the parliament, the Yelk faction has 9 seats and Dashnaktsutyun has 7 seats. HA NOI Viet Nam has become the favourite new destination for investors from the Republic of Korea (RoK)a shift that Viet Nam welcomes as evidence of its growing economic stature. Speaking at the Viet Nam-Korea Economic Forum in late April, Le Quang Manh, deputy minister of planning and investment, affirmed the increasing value of the Viet Nam-Korea strategic partnership. RoK is currently Viet Nam s largest foreign direct investment partner with total registered capital of $59 billion, as well as the countrys second-largest trading partner and second-largest export market after China . According to Kwak Young Kil, chairman of the Korea-Vietnam Culture Economic Association (KOVEKA), Viet Nam has become one of RoKs most important trading partners, and currently plays a significant role in President Moon Jae-Ins new policy to support stronger exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN members. Kwak noted that after 25 years of diplomatic relations, with strong growth trends in recent years, trade turnover between the two countries had reached $63 billion in 2017. Bilateral trade is expected to reach $100 billion by 2020, equivalent to an annual increase of 18 per cent over the next two years. Korea has overtaken Japan and Singapore as Viet Nam s biggest investor in new fields such as electronics and manufacturing. Prominent FDI firms include Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction, SK Energy and Hyundai Heavy Industries and the Korea Electric Power Corporation. Ban Won-ik, chairman of the Association of High Potential Enterprises of Korea (AHPEK), said that since 2016, the number of investment projects and amount of capital from RoK enterprises in China has dropped sharply, as Korean companies are turning to invest in Viet Nam . He attributed the strong investment trend to the Government of Viet Nams policies, including reform of administrative procedures and tariff preferences, coupled with the privatisation of State-owned enterprises and opportunities for further business expansion through mergers and acquisitions. . In early April, Lee Hyuk, South Korean ambassador to Viet Nam , spoke with Vu Tien Loc, president of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), on the strategic partnerships impressive development in all areas, especially in trade, FDI and official development aid (ODA). According to the Korea Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Kotra), South Korean enterprises investing in Viet Nam started mainly with low-capital outsourcing projects in light industries for export purposes. Now, however, up to 73 per cent have moved on to serving local demand in Viet Nam s key economic sectors such as electronics, energy, automobile, garment and construction. As of 2017, RoKs total investment in Viet Nam reached $7.62 billion, accounting for 27 per cent of the latters FDI capital. RoK is also its second largest ODA provider, after Japan . The countrys open export segment policy, multiple signed trade agreements, low-cost labour force and incentivising policies for FDI firms are chief factors spur South Korean enterprises to choose Viet Nam . In terms of tourism, the number of South Korean tourists to Viet Nam in 2017 has increased by 50 per cent, making Viet Nam their most visited destination in southeast Asia. HA NOI The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has decided to remove and simplify 54 administrative procedures in 10 sectors under its management including energy, import-export and food safety. Minister Tran Tuan Anh signed the declaration on April 27 to streamline administrative procedures, marking the third time that the ministry has cut its administrative procedures. In the import-export sector, the ministry will remove the need to obtain a licence for tobacco imports for duty free trading. The licence was applied since 1998. According to the revised Circular 03, dated January 13th 2014, the ministry will grant import licences to businesses within 10 days since receiving valid documents. In the third reduction of administrative procedures, the MoIT will also reduce the time for granting certificates of free sale (CFS) for imported and exported goods. The ministry reviewed and agreed to remove 9 administrative procedures relating registrating promotional campaigns that use a lucky draw. As a result, businesses no longer have to supply images of the products involved in the draw, and can receive the registration documents within three working days instead of seven. The ministry also simplified 8 administrative procedures in food safety. Relating to Decree 109 on rice exports, which has been a topic of debate in past years, the ministry reduced the time for obtaining the necessary documents to export rice from 15 working days to 10. Administrative procedures in other sectors including goods, measurement standards, competition management, alcohol trading, energy and electricity were also removed and simplified. The ministrys first administrative shakeup was implemented in December 2016, and reduced 123 administrative procedures out of the total 443. Last year, MoIT continued to cut and simplify up to 183 administrative procedures. The ministry said the number of administrative procedures under its management had increased from 443 in 2016 to 451 in 2017, as some sectors under other ministries management was transferred to MoIT. Experts said that the ministrys reforms since 2016 have created favourable conditions for businesses and people to develop. The MoIT has been the only ministry to meet the Governments requirements in administrative procedure reduction. Moreover, the ministry has been praised for cutting 402 categories out of 702 import-export products which were under special check-ups. VNS HA NOI Shareholders of Vietnam Airlines will gather at the annual general meeting in Ha Noi on May 10, the third one since the company completed equitisation in 2015, to discuss a series of important issues including the modification of the internal management regulations. The Board of Directors will deliver a report on business performance in 2017 and main targets for the coming year 2018, along with auditing financial statements in 2017 and plans for the distribution of profits and dividends. In 2017, Vietnam Airlines conducted 140,000 flights carrying 22 million passengers. Its total revenue reached more than VN84.9 trillion (US$3.7 billion). The corporation earned a record pre-tax profit of more than VN3.15 trillion, surpassing the yearly target by 92.6 per cent and posting a year-on-year increase of 21.3 per cent. The parent company raked in more than VN64.9 trillion in revenue and VN1.9 trillion in pre-tax profit, exceeding targets by 52 per cent and registering a year-on-year rise of 11.7 per cent. Vietnam Airlines maintained its four-star rating by Skytrax for two consecutive years. The on-time performance index (OTP) reached 90.2 per cent for departures and 83.2 per cent for arrivals, putting Vietnam Airlines among the top 10 airlines with the best OTP in the world. In 2017, Vietnam Airlines continued receiving national and international recognition with a number of prestigious awards, most notably being listed on the 10 strongest brands of Brand Finance. Vietnam Airlines market capitalisation was valued at more than VN60.6 trillion on March 30, 2018 (VN49,400 per share), up 38 percent compared to the time its share debuted on the Unlisted Public Company Market (Upcom) at VN39,200 per piece. Currently, Vietnam Airlines has a total chartered capital of VN12.27 trillion. The State is holding 86.16 per cent of the airlines chartered capital, Japans ANA Holdings Inc 8.77 percent, and the remaining belong to other shareholders. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnam Airlines Corporation earned a pre-tax profit of nearly VN1.46 trillion, marking an increase of 6.2 per cent over its target. Parent company Vietnam Airlines made a profit of VN785 billion, up 30 per cent year on year and 13 per cent over its plan. The carrier will continue to focus its resources to ensure safe operations and security in the second quarter of this year. It will also receive the 12th A350 wide-body aircraft and implement the plan to increase charter capital by offering shares to existing shareholders as well as sell the right to buy shares of State shareholders. VNS HA NOI Foreign investors will be allowed to contribute capital to establish commodity exchange in Viet Nam as per Decree No. 51/2018/N-CP, which will be effective from June 1, 2018. However, their ownership in the exchange should not exceed 49 per cent of its charter capital. Foreign investors are also permitted to trade goods on the commodity exchange as clients and can become members of the exchange (brokers or traders) without ownership restraint. A brokerage member must have a charter capital of VN5 billion (US$220,000) or more while a trading member must have at least VN75 billion. The decree stipulates that the commodity exchange must have a charter capital of at least VN150 billion ($6.6 million) and an IT system that meets technical requirements in processing purchase and selling orders as well as a software solution with a capacity of tracing transactions, payment and delivery for at least five years. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will be responsible for verifying and granting the establishment licence. The decree, which was issued on April 9, amends and supplements a number of articles of the governments Decree No. 158/2006/N-CP, dated December 28, 2006, on the conditions for the establishment of commodity exchange. VNS HCM CITY Ho Thi Ky Flower Market and Ben Thanh Night Market are ideal places to get a broader picture of Sai Gons nightlife. Ho Thi Ky, the citys largest wholesale flower market, has more than 100 households selling hundreds of kinds of flowers. It operates round the clock and is most vibrant between midnight and 2am, when retailers rush back and forth with fresh produce. Meanwhile, the outdoor night market next to the iconic Ben Thanh Market serves mostly hungry night owls and curious travelers, which partly explains the reason for the slightly higher prices of the dishes here. Expensive as it is, the market is still the go-to place for many owing to its convenient location. Open from 7pm, the market operates well into the evening and also has stalls selling clothing, jewellery and other items. VNS CA MAU National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended a ceremony in the southernmost province of Ca Mau yesterday to inaugurate the Ca Mau Gas Processing Plant (GPP Ca Mau) invested by the PetroVietnam Gas Corporation (PVGas). Built over the last two years at a cost of more than VN10 trillion (US$450 million), the plant has a daily capacity of 6.2 million cu.m of gas and is able to hold 8,000 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas and 3,000 cu.m of condensate. Once operational, it will supply around 600 tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas and 35 tonnes of condensate to the market per day, meeting 10 per cent of domestic demand. Speaking at the event, the top legislator noted that the Party and State support the oil and gas sector, including the gas industry, with a number of incentives. She lauded PetroVietnam and PVGas for making Viet Nam one of the countries that is able to turn gas into electricity and fertiliser. The leader said the inauguration of the plant is meant to realise the Viet Nam National Energy Development Strategy approved by the Government, contributing to economic development in the southwest and Ca Mau Province in particular. Chairman of the PetroVietnam Members Council Tran Sy Thanh said the plant is the final part of the gas electricity fertiliser project chain in Ca Mau, adding that the successful project will contribute to PetroVietnams sustainable development. VNS HA NOI The Vietnamese Government will create the best possible conditions for US enterprises, all in accordance with domestic and relevant international laws, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong inh Hue announced yesterday. He made the statement while hosting a reception for Michael Kelly, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), in Ha Noi. Viet Nam believes that all obstacles will be removed to promote co-operation, investment and trade between the two nations, Hue said. He hopes AmCham, the US-ASEAN Business Council, and US firms will serve as a bridge, boosting diplomatic and economic relations as well as the development of Viet Nam and the US in the future. The two countries have complementary economies, Hue added, given that Viet Nam does not set the guidelines to enjoy trade surplus with the US but focuses on exporting products of its strengths while purchasing high-tech and environmentally friendly goods from the America to meet the demands of businesses and people from both countries. Kelly, for his part, highly valued the development in the bilateral diplomatic and economic ties in the past, saying it has made significant contributions benefiting the two countries. He said as Viet Nam is predicted to post the strongest economic growth in Asia, US firms will have more opportunities to collaborate with their Vietnamese partners. Kelly also added that US firms are interested in co-operating with Vietnamese companies in the fields of healthcare, tax, digital economy, banking, defence-security and energy security, among others. He confirmed that the AmCham will work closely with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, localities and enterprises to lever cooperation and investment between the two countries as well as seeking measures to address emerging problems in trade and investment. VNS HCM CITY The HCM City Public Transport Management Centre has launched a pilot programme to use fingerprint scans on school buses to enable schools to better manage school ridership. The Nguyen Binh Khiem primary school in District 1 will initially implement the programme with 37 students on four 16-seat buses operated by the Youth Volunteers Public Services single-member limited liability company. Lam Hong Lam Thuy, the school principal, said, because of privacy concerns, she must receive parents approval before the centre collects students fingerprints. Tran Chi Trung, head of the centre, said fingerprint scans were widely used in businesses, mainly for employee attendance checks, but this was the first time the technology had been applied in transport in the city. The use of fingerprint scans makes it easier for the school to check attendance by bus than by the traditional way when students are counted when they hop off and on the bus. The city has around 2,000 schools with a total of 2 million students. Trung hopes that with this programme the number of students going to school by bus will increase. A principal of one primary school told Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper one of the biggest concerns is privacy because the students name, date of birth and fingerprints are collected and stored in the centres system. The principal, whose name was not revealed, said schools and parents would accept the programme only if the centre and technology company committed to data security and did not use the data for other purposes. Trung said after assessing the impact of the programme, the centre would expand it to all schools in the city. Software to help parents know the time their children are getting on and off the bus would be introduced soon, he added.VNS HCM CITY HCM City Peoples Committee Chairman Nguyen Thanh Phong has approved a plan to auction the right to use nine so-called golden land plots in Thu Thiem new urban area in District 2 with total starting price of VN27 trillion (US$1.18 billion). Speaking to the media at a meeting held yesterday in the city, Vo Van Hoan, chief of secretariat and spokesperson for the HCM City Peoples Committee, said due to the large scale and importance of the project, the city would also call for foreign investors for the auction. Investors who win the auction must comply with the approved plan and function, Hoan said, adding: The auction of land aims to improve the citys urban development for people to live better. To be eligible, investors must ensure the projects progress, prove management capacity and responsibility to develop the project with the surrounding area, accept deposits as collateral, and must mobilise capital well, Hoan told local media. For example, investors of the Central Square in the new urban area must complete it on or before April 30, 2020, Hoan said. Representatives of the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment said the auction process would follow the ministrys Circular 14, which ensures an accurate measurement area and hires independent consulting companies to determine the prices at auction. This would be submitted to the city Peoples Committee before starting the auction, while the Department of Justices Auction Centre will be the auctioning unit. The nine land plots for the auction are located in an area that is expected to be a highly dense multi-function commercial centre, according to city authorities. Under the plan, towers will be built along Arc Avenue and Central Square, with building height gradually reduced towards the Sai Gon River and the central lake. Major public buildings include an exhibition centre, a museum, a building for a symphony orchestra, and a planning information centre. Phong asked the management board of the new urban area to work with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and other agencies to approve the detailed plan (1/500 scale) and auction the land plots in accordance with current law. The city leader also asked agencies to relocate religious establishments in the urban area (Thu Thiem Church and Thu Thiem Lovers Church), as well as acquire land where the existing Thu Thiem Primary School is located. This will be used by the investor to build a riverside park and riverside roads. Covering a total area of 657 hectares, Thu Thiem new urban area is located on Thu Thiem peninsula in HCM Citys District 2, which faces downtown District 1 across Sai Gon River. Approved by the Government in 1996, the proposed financial district and mixed-use urban area of HCM City is set to become the largest inner-city development in Southeast Asia. Thu Thiem will relieve some of the pressure the city currently faces. The infrastructure within the citys existing central business district is starting to overload due to rapid growth during the last three decades, city authorities have said. According to a master plan, the new urban area has five main areas: the central core, the northern residential area, the residential area along Mai Chi Tho Avenue, the eastern residential area, and the delta area in the south. To develop such a project, it took more than 10 years for site clearance of most of Thu Thiem peninsula, with as many as 15,000 households being resettled. In a document sent to the Prime Minister in 2015, the city authorities said total costs in the new urban area for clearance compensation and resettlement, technical infrastructure, and loan interest had reached more than VN29 trillion ($1.27 billion). Of the figure, about VN12 trillion is from commercial credit institutions, resulting in an interest of around VN2.9 billion per day. VNS HA NOI A recent survey conducted by the Ministry of Health shows that more than three million Vietnamese people are infected with Hepatitis C virus (HCV). According to the survey, 40 per cent of the infected people may die due to HCV-related complications, including liver cancer. The ministry said the number of deaths caused by Hepatitis B and C was the same as the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Viet Nam. The prevalence of HCV in HCM City is alarmingly high, accounting for 3.2-4.2 per cent. The incidence of cirrhosis in the city is 3.3 per cent and liver cancer is up to 4 per cent. The HCV infection rate is as high as 96 per cent among drug addicts. Hepatitis C is like a silent killer because it has no obvious symptoms but can be extremely dangerous and, in some cases, life threatening, according to the Vietnam Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (VLBA). HCV can be transmitted by blood, tooth extraction and unprotected sex, and the number of infected people in the country is increasing. In the early stages of the disease, most hepatitis C patients have no symptoms and it does not affect the patients health, so most people do not realise when they are infected, according to health experts. A representative from VLBA said a patients health can be severely affected when HCV transitions to cirrhosis and liver cancer. Patients at this stage have anorexia, indigestion, swelling in legs, muscle aches, cramps, numbness, itching, dizziness, fatigue and trembling hands. In addition to this, severe complications such as gastrointestinal bleeding, fluid retention in the abdomen and drowsiness can occur, the doctor said, giving hope that the potential to eliminate HCV exists with appropriate disease awareness, screening, treatment and healthcare infrastructure. HCV continues to be one of the most prevalent blood-borne infections in the world, affecting more than 185 million people globally. HCV-related complications cause up to 500,000 deaths every year, with countries in East Asia recording some of the highest HCV infection levels worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation. In future, US-based Gilead Sciences biopharmaceutical company plans to expand an initiative to reduce morbidity and mortality of HCV in Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam. The Gileads Access initiative has achieved remarkable results in Arkhangai Province of Mongolia since 2016 by providing screening for nearly 17,600 people. Among the 1,774 people who tested positive for HCV, 1,748 have received treatment to date and 99.7 per cent of the infected population has fully recovered. In addition to this, 36 cases of early-stage liver cancer were identified during the screening process. VNS SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain Basque separatist group ETA has announced it is fully disbanding, marking the definitive end to its deadly independence campaign and to western Europes last armed insurgency. Created in 1959 at the height of Francisco Francos dictatorship, ETA waged more than four decades of killings and kidnappings in its fight for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France, leaving at least 829 dead. "ETA has decided to declare its historical cycle and functions terminated, putting an end to its journey," the group said in a letter published on Wednesday by Spanish online newspaper El Diario. "ETA has completely dissolved all of its structures and declared an end to its political initiative." Dated April 16, the letter was addressed to various groups and figures involved in recent peace efforts, including former UN secretary general Kofi Annan, said a Basque regional government representative. He expected ETA to make a further filmed declaration of its disbandment on Thursday, before a peace conference in southwest France on May 4. Weakened in recent years by the arrests of its leaders in France, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. Some of its killings were especially traumatic for Spaniards, like that of Miguel Angel Blanco, a 29-year-old conservative councillor who was kidnapped in 1997, which marked a turning point in the fight against ETA. After being held for 48-hours, he was shot twice in the back of the head. Shouting "murderers", hundreds of thousands took to the streets across Spain and the movement "Basta ya", or "Thats Enough," was born. On Wednesday, Basques welcomed news of ETAs dissolution. "Its great news," said Miguel, a 51-year-old butcher in San Sebastian, the seaside resort worst hit by ETA. "We suffered a lot from terrorism for many years, and without reason." As that page of history closes, though, the delicate balancing act of healing and remembering takes over. While an overwhelming majority of Basques welcome the end of violence, many still want independence, with separatist coalition EH Bildu the second largest grouping in the regional parliament. "Its the end of the armed struggle, but its about continuing the same fight through different means," says Josian, who works for a gas company, on the rainy streets of seaside resort San Sebastian, the city worst hit by ETA. With more and more ETA prisoners released from jail, nationalists say reintegration into society is a necessary step towards lasting peace and reconciliation. They argue that those still in jail should be transferred to prisons closer to home, rather than kept hundreds of kilometres away. Some 300 ETA members are imprisoned in Spain, France and Portugal and up to 100 are still on the run, according to Forum Social, a group close to prisoners families. But Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido said on Wednesday that "they will not obtain a thing for making a declaration they call a dissolution". Many ETA victims or relatives say the separatist group should first and foremost condemn their history of violence and shed light on more than 350 unsolved crimes. "This is not the end of ETA we wanted," Consuelo Ordonez, head of the Covite victims association, said on Wednesday at a gathering in San Sebastian. AFP PYONGYANG China hopes that the dialogue between the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States will be smooth and achieve substantial progress, said visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here on Wednesday. During the talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Wang said that China fully backs the DPRKs efforts to achieve the goal of denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula. He also said that China welcomes the successful summit meeting between the leaders of the DPRK and South Korea held on April 27 and its important outcomes. Wang recalled that DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un made a successful visit to China in March. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kim had a historic meeting during the visit. He said that China is ready to work with the DPRK to implement in substantial ways the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries, by strengthening communication and coordination between their political and diplomatic organs, pushing forward pragmatic economic and trade cooperation, cultivating people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and instilling new vigor into China-DPRK relations in the new era. While speaking highly of the positive changes that have been taking place on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said that China fully backs the DPRK in its efforts to find its own development approach suitable to its national conditions, and to concentrate all of its efforts on carrying out economic construction. China also backs the settlement of the DPRKs security concerns, and gives its full support for the improvement of inter-Korean relations, he said. Wang added that China is willing to strengthen communication with the DPRK and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue. Ri Yong Ho said that supreme leader Kim Jong Un cherishes traditional friendship between the DPRK and China, and it is a resolute stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to maintain and develop DPRK-China friendly relations from a new starting point. The foreign minister said that the successful Beijing meeting between DPRK and Chinese top leaders has resulted in important consensus on strengthening strategic communications and cooperation, which is a milestone in the history of DPRK-China relations. He said the DPRK is ready to make joint efforts with China to carefully implement these consensus, carry out close exchanges between their respective political and diplomatic organs, enhance pragmatic cooperation, push forward people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and make early preparations for commemorative activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and China next year. Ri said that the recent historic meeting between the leaders of the north and south sides of the Korean Peninsula is of great significance. The DPRK will maintain close communications with China on how to realise denuclearisation and establish peace mechanisms on the Korean Peninsula, while enhancing dialogue with all parties concerned, he added. XINHUA Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. 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Buffalo Field Moving Closer to Production Perth, May 3, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Carnarvon Petroleum Limited ("Carnarvon" or "the Company") ( ASX:CVN ) ( OTCMKTS:CVONF ) is pleased to announce that redevelopment of its Buffalo oil field in the Timor Sea is progressing as the Company advances plans to drill the first production well.Highlights- Preparations underway to drill the Buffalo-10 production well- Buffalo-10 will be positioned to confirm attic oil and will be completed as a production well- The oil field is expected to have three production wells connected to a leased FPSO- Strong Interest from industry supports Carnarvon's confidence in the projectThe signing of the Maritime Boundary Treaty ("Treaty") by the Australian and Timor-Leste governments (refer to ASX announcement of 7 March 2018) has enabled Carnarvon to progress its Buffalo oil field re-development plans, commencing with the drilling of the Buffalo-10 well.The Treaty means the Buffalo oil field will be completely within Timor-Leste jurisdiction, with Carnarvon already establishing an office in Dili, appointing a specialist Timor-Leste advisor and initiating a series of meetings with the Timor-Leste government agency Autoridade Nacional do Petroleo e Minerais (ANPM).The government meetings to date have demonstrated that the parties are aligned in wanting to achieve first oil as soon as practicable.Carnarvon is extensively engaging with suppliers for the drilling of the Buffalo-10 well and the subsequent re-development of the field. This includes preparing the basis of well design (refer Figure 1 in link below), starting the process to obtain environmental approvals, identification of drilling rigs and commencing discussions with Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) providers to determine availability of suitable facilities. In addition, the Company has commenced the process of resourcing staff and contractors needed to operate drilling and subsequent production.The Buffalo-10 well is intended to be the first production well in the oil field redevelopment, positioned to test the new oil in the attic accumulation as well as drill deeper into the oil pool in the previously developed portion of the field. The previously developed portion of the oil field was producing at around 4,000 barrels of oil per day when the field was shut in.With a depth to reservoir of around 3,250 metres, the Buffalo-10 well is expected to take around 30 days to drill and complete with an extensive formation evaluation program. This will complement the geological knowledge from the previous oil field well intersections. Being in shallow water of only 25 metres, a cost effective jack-up rig will be used to drill the well.As illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 (see link below), the field development consists of a well head platform connected to an FPSO vessel through a production pipeline and control umbilicals. The FPSO is expected to be leased in order to keep up front capital costs to a minimum. Three wells are expected to produce the estimated 31 million barrels of oil over a period of around five years.Carnarvon commissioned an independent cost analysis of the field re-development with the report showing capital expenditure below US$150m (inclusive of the three production wells).The annual operational costs were separately assessed in a range of US$80 to US$100m per annum, on the basis the field has a production life of around five years. This means the total operational expenditure of the project is expected to be between US$400m to US$500m.The project is therefore deemed a low cost operation with total expenditure representing some US$18 to $21 per barrel. At current Brent oil prices of around US$73 per barrel the field is expected to generate around US$2.2 billion in revenue based on the 2C contingent resource of 31 million barrels (Refer ASX announcement of 28 August 2017).Since 28 August 2017, further improvements in the seismic data quality over the Buffalo structure have been achieved. All interpretations on the further improved seismic data support the existence of the attic containing an undeveloped oil column of up to 60 metres, up-dip of the previously highest perforated interval in the field.Carnarvon Chief Executive Officer, Adrian Cook said "The low capital and operating costs mean this is a very high yielding, standout project at current oil prices. It is a project capable of supporting a mix of funding alternatives which could naturally include a portion of Carnarvon's current cash ($48 million reported at 31 March 2018), debt funding and partner and industry funding where interest is very strong. The nature of the project is also well suited to Carnarvon in terms of its scale, time to first production and overall risk profile. As such Carnarvon intends to take a leading role in redeveloping the oil field."About Buffalo Redevelopment ProjectCarnarvon was awarded the WA-523-P acreage in May 2016 for an initial six-year term which included the previously developed Buffalo field. The Field was discovered by BHP in 1996 and subsequently developed using four wells drilled from a small, unmanned wellhead platform installed in 25 metres water depth, tied back to an FPSO. Production commenced in December 1999 at production rates up to approximately 50,000stb/d and terminated in November 2004 after the production of 20.5MMstb of highly-undersaturated, light oil (53degAPI) from the Jurassic-age Elang Formation. All existing facilities and wells were decommissioned and removed prior to Carnarvon being awarded the block.Carnarvon initially focussed its technical work on reprocessing of the 3D seismic dataset using state-of-the-art full waveform inversion (FWI) technology. This work supports the interpretation of a significant attic oil accumulation remaining after the original development, based on sub-optimal positioning of early wells using poorly processed seismic data. Reservoir modelling has been conducted using latest structural interpretation and available well data, including an extensive history-matching effort to calibrate model/well performance to production rates and watercut development (governed by strong aquifer drive) observed during the original production period. Based on this work, independently audited volumetric estimates of contingent resources in the Buffalo oil field are 31.1 million barrels (2C) with high and low estimates of 15.3 million barrels (1C) and 47.8 million barrels (3C) - Refer to Carnarvon Petroleum's ASX announcement on 28 August 2017.About ANPMAutoridade Nacional do Petroleo e Minerais (ANPM) is Timor-Leste public institution responsible for managing and regulating petroleum and mining activities in Timor-Leste area, both offshore and onshore. The ANPM is to establish and supervise compliance with the enacted rules and regulations covering the exploration, development, production, transportation and distribution of petroleum, natural gas resources and mineral.To view tables and figures, please visit:About Carnarvon Petroleum Limited Carnarvon Petroleum Limited is an oil and gas exploration company, listed on the Australian stock exchange (ASX:CVN), Frankfurt (FRA:CJB) and US OTC (OTCMKTS:CVONF). Carnarvon has an extensive acreage position in the North West Shelf of Western Australia that is designed to offer investors high alpha leverage to the energy sector. The company's near term focus is on maturing oil, gas and condensate discovered in its Phoenix project, with partner Quadrant Energy, and on bringing into production oil from the Buffalo field. Management Changes Brisbane, May 3, 2018 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Sayona Mining Limited ( ASX:SYA ) ( OTCMKTS:DMNXF ) ("Sayona" or the "Company") announces that Mr Corey Nolan has tendered his resignation as Chief Executive Officer ("CEO"). Mr Nolan will continue in his role until the completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") which is expected in June 2018.Sayona intends to continue to strengthen its skill mix as it shifts its focus to construction and production at the Authier Lithium Project.The Board would like to thank Mr Nolan for his contribution to the Company during his tenure as CEO which included the acquisition of Sayona's flagship Authier Lithium Project in Canada. Following the current capital raising, the Company will be wellfunded and positioned to become one of Canada's next producers of lithium concentrates. We wish Mr Nolan all the very best in his future endeavours.Mr Dan O'Neill will continue as the Managing Director of the Company. With the Board's extensive experience in developing lithium projects, it will continue to advance the project while Corey transitions out of his role.No replacement has been announced as yet, but the company is reviewing the most appropriate management structure going forward as the company enters the construction phase of the project, post the release of the DFS. Further announcements will be made in due course.About Sayona Mining Ltd Sayona Mining Limited (ASX:SYA) (OTCMKTS:SYAXF) is an Australian, ASX-listed (SYA) company focused on sourcing and developing the raw materials required to construct lithium-ion batteries for use in the rapidly growing new and green technology sectors. The Company has lithium projects in Quebec, Canada and in Western Australia. Please visit us as at www.sayonamining.com.au For longtime veterans of the immigration debate, Wednesday may have felt like waking up back in 2014. When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on behalf of seven states challenging the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy in a Brownsville, Texas, federal court on Tuesday, in many ways it represented the issue coming full circle from a process Paxton himself began in the same courtroom four years ago. "I had serious d-j- vu last night," said Josh Blackman, an associate professor at South Texas College of Law Houston who has supported Paxton's 2014 suit. The filing of the new case in front of the same judge who placed a major and lasting roadblock in front of an attempt to expand DACA was a return to the legal strategy that has both proved successful in the effort to prevent that expansion and has been replicated to prevent DACA from being taken away. It also increases the already strong likelihood that the issue will ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. A bit of history: In 2012, President Barack Obama's Department of Homeland Security instituted DACA, granting protections from deportation and work authorization to young undocumented immigrants who had come to the US as children. In 2014, a similar program, Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents, known as DAPA, was signed, which would have granted similar protections to the parents of US citizens and expanded DACA to include potentially 5 million more people, according to estimates. Enter Paxton and the Brownsville District Court. The Texas attorney general quickly sued to stop the DAPA program from going into effect, and District Judge Andrew Hanen, a George W. Bush appointee, issued a nationwide ruling preventing it before it could be implemented. The ruling was upheld by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals and in 2016 made its way to the Supreme Court, where justices deadlocked 4-4 without a replacement yet for the late Justice Antonin Scalia, leaving Hanen's ruling in place. The case was always seen as having potential implications for DACA down the road if the challenge to DAPA were ultimately successful. During the 2016 presidential campaign, then-candidate Donald Trump repeatedly pledged to immediately tear up both DACA and DAPA, but upon taking office, he left DACA in place. Paxton then once again set in motion a series of events -- issuing Trump an ultimatum to either rescind DACA and wind it down, or he would file to add the program to the litigation before Hanen, who was widely expected to reject the program on the same reasoning he rejected DAPA. Trump did just that, with his administration announcing on Paxton's deadline last September that DACA permits would begin expiring in six months, ostensibly to give Congress time to act. But Paxton's move preventing DAPA from going into effect had laid a road map that blue states seized on under Trump, suing in other perceived friendly court circuits to prevent the President from ending the program. Those lawsuits succeeded in three separate courtrooms, with federal judges in California, New York and DC issuing nationwide rulings that the program must be continued, in the vein of Hanen. Two of those cases are now being heard on appeal. Though Paxton had allowed the DAPA lawsuit to be closed after Trump acted in September, he announced Tuesday that he would act now that the courts had prevented the rescission from taking place, suing once again in Brownsville. Though the case was initially assigned to the other judge sitting in that court, Judge Rolando Olvera, an Obama appointee, quickly signed an order transferring the case to Hanen. Olvera's office said it had no comment on his reasoning for doing so and it was not explained in the court document. Veterans of the long saga said they weren't surprised by the move, with Hanen widely expected to follow the same reasoning and potentially fast track for action on DACA, Paxton may have his original goal in sight. "Anyone who was paying attention knew what was going to come next: Texas was going to sue, and they chose to do so yesterday," Blackman said. "I basically have expected this all along, because my assumption right from the start was that when they fired the initial DAPA litigation that they made a strategic decision not to include DACA in their complaint because DACA was too popular a program," said Stephen Legomsky, a law professor at Washington University who worked for the Obama administration when DACA was instituted and again during the litigation over DAPA. "I suspected they wanted to get Hanen to declare DAPA was unconstitutional and then use that as precedent." But the situation is different in one major respect, Blackman pointed out, which is that Trump is now in office. That puts the Justice Department -- which is trying to end DACA -- in an awkward position of being the subject of Texas' lawsuit. It is likely that advocacy groups will end up defending the program in court. In the meantime, the echoes of Paxton's 2014 move will continue to be felt. "Texas is suing Trump to make him rescind a policy he actually wants to rescind, but there are judges saying he can't ... this is why I get these phone calls," Blackman said. Chico, Calif. There is an evolution taking place in Chico, California, which involves the past, meeting the present and both moving into the future. As a growing community, the realities of that transformation could dictate success or failure for residents as well as the business community. Action News Now Anchor Julia Yarbough examines this concept in the first of a series of articles entitled, Chico on the Verge? A young female student attending Chico State University, says he moved to Chico from Southern California. She says she loves the college town feel of the community and describes the downtown area as absolutely amazing. Another resident, who also moved to the region from Southern California describes his experience living in Chico as a positive one, saying Chico is A small town but with a big heart. That is often the case when asking different people their personal experiences of living, working and playing in Chico, that one finds just as many different answers. New resident Cyril Afeavl says he moved to Chico from Missoula, Montana just over a year ago. He says his experience in Chico has been a positive one and he especially enjoys the weather. He says Chico offers plenty to do, a choice of good restaurants and it is nice to be able to walk down the street and see familiar faces. Resident Karen Porter has lived in Chico since 1964. She says she has seen many changes over the years and does not believe most have been for the good. She believes the community has taken on too much of a liberal feel. To the question of who and what is the community of Chico; the answers can be complex. For many, Chico is the hub for a multi-million dollar agricultural industry. For others, it is an educational pit-stop through Chico State University. The school, was recently ranked by Forbes Magazine, as among the top 100 Best Value Colleges. For thousands of others in the area, Chico is simply home; described as a quaint and quiet community offering a family friendly vibe. Earl Hallet has lived in Chico for 49 years. He says one of the positives for him, is being able to walk down the street and run into someone that he has known for over 30 years. The region which Chico inhabits offers residents and visitors a host of outdoor pursuits and events which take place all year. The city is located close to major attraction, such as Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lake Tahoe ski resorts, the San Francisco Bay Area and the Northern California coastline. However, it is still far from the congestion and long freeway commutes residents in many other larger metropolitan regions experience. According to World Population Review, which keeps track of statistics, Chico has a population of just over 91-thousand. Over the past 17 years the city has experienced a modest but steady growth. It is that growth that resident Karen Porter believes is a slight drawback. She believes the community would be better with slightly fewer people. The city location is unique as well in that it is somewhat of an island. Access to Chico and travel options are limited to one major interstate; I-5. The city is also fed by Highways 70 and 99. Both roadways are known regionally as dangerous and oftentimes deadly routes to and from Chico. Efforts by the City of Chico to return commercial air service to the region are gaining momentum. If that were to become a reality, it could still be years away. It is a reality the Airport Manager believes is hurting the local economy. Airport Manager Sherry Miller explains the city has had business come to Chico and leave and business not come here, because of lack of air service. Despite that, many see Chico as an ideal place to call home. Realtor.com last summer ranked Chico number seven among U.S. cities in which outdoor lovers can afford to live. And in 2017, Forbes Magazine ranked Chico in the top 100 at number 70, for best small places for businesses and careers. Members of the Chico Chamber of Commerce are taking not of those observations and are striving to build on the positive trends, while addressing issues that could possibly hold the city back from an even more prosperous future. What are business, city and public safety leaders in Chico doing to continue a positive trend and what pitfalls might they and residents encounter as the community continues to grow? Those are questions that will be tackled in future segments of Chico on the Verge? In part two, Anchor Julia Yarbough looks at the realities of offering public safety at a time of restricted and limited budgets. Stay with Action News Now for all things local. SIGN UP: Get our daily newsletter The Pensions Regulator (TPR) issues fines to employers that fail to meet their automatic enrolment duties and can secure court orders if the debts are not paid. TPR is to now appoint High Court Enforcement Officers (HCEOs) to enforce court orders in England and Wales and the equivalent in Scotland and Northern Ireland on those employers that have refused or failed to comply. If an employer does not pay its debt, HCEOs could visit the business premises to remove items to sell, to the value of the amount owed. This could include the employers vehicles. Unlike bailiffs, HCEOs have the power to force entry to locked commercial premises to seize assets. Separately, TPR will consider whether it should prosecute employers that remain non-compliant with their automatic enrolment duties despite being given a court order demanding they pay the fines they have incurred. Darren Ryder, TPRs Director of Automatic Enrolment (AE), said: Automatic enrolment is not an option, its the law. Those who break the law by denying their staff the pensions they are entitled to should expect to be punished and must pay any fines they are given. AE has been a huge success thanks to the vast majority of employers who do exactly what they should, but a tiny minority not only ignore their automatic enrolment duties but fail to pay their fines, even after the courts have ordered them to. The use of HCEOs is a last resort for us. Unfortunately the behaviour of a tiny minority means it may be necessary. HCEOs will also be used to collect payment for other fines or levies issued by TPR that trustees or trust managers fail to pay, such as for chair statement and scheme return offences. Bob Scott, commented: Lets look at some recent stories and think how they could have been portrayed differently. In January, Carillion collapsed with a reported 900m pension deficit and more than 20,000 members of its pension schemes are set to fall into the PPF. Much is made of the fact that many members will receive lower benefits (or lower future increases) in the PPF than they had expected. But no-one seems to notice that, compared to what would have happened had Carillion collapsed before we had the PPF, members are materially better off. 900m better off in fact. Staying with the PPF who recently reported a 6bn surplus of assets over liabilities and who, incidentally, have indicated that they are geared up to take on the Carillion members and liabilities. One press report didnt focus on the PPFs readiness to take on the Carillion members but noted instead that another six similar-sized corporate failures would wipe out the lifeboats reserves. Separately, the politicians response was to haul the Pensions Regulator in front of the select committee and renew calls for swingeing fines for directors who recklessly underfund their pension schemes. Now, based on publicly available information (and theres a lot of it on Carillion), its difficult to see what steps the Pensions Regulator could realistically have taken to make any sort of dent in the 900m PPF deficit, other than, possibly, pulling the plug sooner. But then taking such decisive action would no doubt have been contrary to one of the Regulators conflicting statutory objectives. So, what was a business failure, but a pensions success story, generates a swathe of negative publicity around all concerned: including the PPF. Auto-enrolment has been another success story. Mass coverage. Low levels of opt-out. Relatively painless increases in contributions. And what are the headlines: Wages set to drop as workplace pension savings rise. I hope that such headlines dont encourage more opt-outs: the proof will be in the cessation rates post-April that I understand tPR will produce in due course. Returning to my theme, BHS Sir Philip Green pays 363m to fix the pensions issue. No credit to the Pensions Regulator for their part in securing such a settlement; Frank Field continues his personal crusade against Sir Philip; and subsequent reports focus on the possibility that SPGs contribution might only turn out to be 348m depending on how many people take lump sums instead of pensions. These are just some examples of ways in which pensions seem to get a bad press. Thats not to say that there arent things that could be done to improve pension provision I will come onto those but there is a perception problem with pensions all too often being seen as bad news. It wasnt always like this. When I started work the UK pensions system was said to be the envy of the world. A relatively high percentage of the workforce enjoyed DB pension provision. Failing DC schemes were being converted to DB. And we were about to enjoy an unprecedented bull run in equity markets. What could go wrong? Well, something has. The Mercer Melbourne Global Pensions Index research by Mercer Australia in conjunction with the Australian Centre for Financial Studies shows that, out of 30 countries, the UK system ranks C+ 15th out of 30 and in the third tier along with Germany and Colombia; and behind top tier countries (Denmark, Netherlands, Australia) and second tier countries (NZ, Canada, Chile). Looking in more detail, UK ranks 18/30 for adequacy; 16/30 for sustainability; and 5th out of 30 for integrity. So, whilst the report notes that the UK could improve adequacy and sustainability by: increasing coverage and levels of contribution; restoring a requirement for retirement savings to generate income; and increasing State Pension Age; we do well when it comes to regulation, governance and protection. In my view, this partly reflects the fact that the UK governments response to events, such as Maxwell, Equitable Life, BHS fuelled by the reporting of such events in the media, is to apply more and more regulation across the whole sector. This may mean that members of pension schemes are better protected but the decline of DB has shown that such protection comes at a price far fewer new and young employees covered by such benefits. Over-regulation also makes pensions more complex and harder for ordinary people to understand. Lets look at some ideas. First, the government should take actions to help ease pressure on sponsors of DB pension schemes. The ACAs Pension trends survey published last year showed that more than half of employers with DB schemes said that funding their scheme had a negative impact on pay rises for current staff. Other reports, including those by the Pensions Institute suggest that a significant minority of schemes will not pay their full benefits. Meanwhile, the RPI / CPI lottery continues, leading to a feeding frenzy for lawyers and other advisers as DB scheme sponsors, whose rules didnt permit them automatically to switch to CPI in 2011, seek to find a different way to achieve the same outcome. I was disappointed that the recent DB White Paper gave no indication that the government was minded to introduce measures to help ease such pressures. Instead, just the promise of more regulatory intervention. Although the PPF is currently in rude health it would be better if at least some of the currently stressed employers were not simply brought down by the weight of their pensions liabilities but that a way was found to restore both to health albeit at a lower level of benefits. In my view, having a sustainable level of benefits, securely funded, is preferable to having a higher level of headline benefits underpinned by risky investment strategies; long recovery plans and stressed employers. In the private sector, most employers have chosen to replace their DB schemes with DC schemes as the only viable alternative. However, I was heartened to see that Royal Mail is working with DWP on what is needed to introduce a collective defined contribution CDC scheme. Such an arrangement, whilst not matching the previous DB provision, has the potential to provide more attractive benefits than the pure DC alternative that had been first proposed. The ACA worked with Sir Steve Webb and the DWP during the 2010-15 period on the Defined Ambition project seeking scheme designs that provided more than basic DC but which stopped short of the bells and whistles of full DB. Although the Pension Schemes Act 2015 introduced a new category of schemes (shared risk) the necessary regulations have yet to be laid. CDC has wider application too for example as a decumulation product in DC schemes. Traditional drawdown means either running out of money or spending too slowly so that many pensioners leave large amounts behind when they die. Collective provision can bring undoubted benefits here the flexibility of CDC enables less stringent capital reserving than for deferred annuities; and exposure to growth assets can bring the possibility of higher benefits for the collective group. But, most of all, pooling of longevity experience means that people can plan their retirement spending without concern about spending too fast or too slow. Looking over the next 5 years my hope is that: politicians stop unhelpful tinkering with pensions; Where they do act, they make changes designed to make pensions more sustainable; and we have more good news stories about pensions. Then perhaps the UK could start to move up that international pensions league table again. kok By Kim Rossi How many of us defended Chelsea Clinton, the gawky, pre-teen, frizzy haired, adult teeth in the child's mouth First Child when Bill Clinton was first elected? Leave her alone! She's a child! Leave her mother alone! She's First Lady! Chelsea was thrust into the same category as poor Amy Carter. Not as attractive as a Kennedy child in world where the Internet (invented by her father's Vice President) was just starting to fire photos around the world faster than the clap spreads in a house of ill repute. Speaking of disease... Which brings us to Chelsea's recent Tweet gratuitous (not on your life, this is SCRIPTED and part of a larger agenda) attack on Dr. Andrew Wakefield who, some two decades ago postulated that science should look further into whether the MMR vaccine was possibly causing gut injury and related in some way to autism. I don't care if Chelsea has given double vaccines to her son and daughter. It's her RIGHT as their mother to choose their healthcare. Is her son circumcised? Not my business. Do her children eat sugary treats? That's between them and their dentist. Many years ago, her Mom, Hillary Clinton, then First Lady, told us that it takes a village to raise a child. That doesn't mean the village owns our kids. We do not live in Shirley Jackson's "village" of The Lottery. We are not collectively Tessie Hutchinson, here so that the villagers can stone us to death for our medical choices because, "That's what we've always done." Chelsea Clinton opines on Twitter that SHE - yes SHE!!! - will never forgive Andrew Wakefield - as she lays the blame of a measles outbreak at his feet. I am willing to venture that the logical, gentle Dr. Wakefield would be happy to sit down with her . This would shatter her cartoon image of him as a villain within the first ten minutes of a conversation. Chelsea blossomed into quite a pretty woman (thank you hair care products, from this I know.) I looked a lot like Chelsea as a kid. Big teeth. Frizzy hair. Gawkasaurus! I also blossomed into a pretty woman. We both have children. Except my daughters have severe autism. And their village is called special ed day programming. She WON the Lottery. She's rich beyond measure. Has two healthy kids. And can use her Twitter account to shame the village as she deems appropriate. Imagine getting into a dog fight with a community that you do not belong to - by the Grace of God. A community of families reeling under the intense heartache, challenges, worries and stress of autism. We fight back. Kim Rossi is Managing Editor of Age of Autism. Iron and War Northern Iraq, northeast Syria and southeastern Turkey, this was a region once known as Assyria. A nation that established its dominance by unleashing its Iron Army, Assyria commanded the Near East from the 10th century BCE to the 7th century BCE at the tip of the sword. At its apex, Assyria stretched from the borders of Iran to Upper Egypt; the largest and most powerful empire the world had yet seen. The Assyrians were the first to engulf the region (and then some) under one imperial power... but this empire, like all those before and after, was not to last... But let's begin with their rise, before recounting their fall. The Assyrians were originally Semites who migrated to the upper reaches of the Tigris in northern Mesopotamia. It was there, seemingly undiluted by heterogeneous ethnic elements that they carved out their "warrior nation." Though they didn't start that way. The earliest leaders are recorded as, 'kings who lived in tents', and may have been independent Akkadian semi-nomadic pastoralist rulers. However, at some point these kings became fully urbanized and founded the city state of Ashur. By the 21st century BCE, the role of the Assyrian king had changed. Through ritual purification by both divine and human attendants, the king was considered a mediator between the gods and his subjects. Unlike the pharaoh of Egypt, he was not exactly divine but despotic... and prone to battle. The only consequence of a war mongering king was...well, war. The Assyrians used military force to punish the enemies of Assur, the city's Patron God. Battle chariots, cavalry, infantry, archers, and siege engines fought together as an iron juggernaut, guided by the king and utilized as the divine tool of Assur's wrath. "States make war, but war also makes states," writes Bruce D. Porter, a political scientist at Brigham Young University. Assyria was no exception to this rule and, moreover, the Assyrians benefited greatly at other people's expense... once they burst forth from their borders. But, in reality, Assyria's rise to power was a gradual one. Assyria was not unlike its city-state counterparts that dotted Mesopotamia, with its capital Assur located on the Tigris River. Additionally, Assyria straddled important trade routes that connected them with the Egyptians, the Hittites, and the Mittani, where traders spread the use of writing in the form of the Mesopotamian cuneiform script. It was those trade routes, however, that the powers just listed sought to control. While Assyria benefited from these marketable channels, Assyria's economic base was still insufficient. The people depended on agriculture, which in turn relied on the fortunes of the Tigris River. But subduing the Tigris was anything but easy. The Tigris River, unlike the Nile, was not a gentle river; violent floods threatened Assyria's way of life, requiring the need for major irrigation projects. This was problematic, for Assyria lacked manpower to build or maintain such projects. Thus, war, conquest, and the enslavement of peoples, alleviated the problem. With fresh new slaves and resources being brought in to help maintain the Assyrian way of life, the Assyrians were able to focus on other needs... such as iron. Assyria possessed few easily available iron deposits for the manufacture of weapons. It also lacked stone for its building projects, as well as wood (with the one exception of the weakly thin palm wood). Assyria was, for the most part, economically stagnant. With Assyria lacking resources, the need to expand its borders was a necessity. But they had one problem; they were checked by their more powerful neighbor, Mitanni, to which they were vassals until 1360 BCE. Then Mitanni fell into civil war, dividing them and allowing neighboring powers, such as the Assyrians and the Hittites, to take advantage of the situation. The Mitanni Kingdom was dismantled in 1360 BCE. The remaining traces of the once intimidating Mitannis, the mini state of Hanigalbat, was then finally annihilated in 1345 BCE by Assyria. With the Mitanni power removed, Assyria focused on their troublesome eastern neighbors, barbarians living in the Zagros Mountains. King Tukulti-Ninurta I (1244-1208) BCE subdued them, taking thousands of prisoners, before turning his attentions to the Kassite king of Babylon, who was defeated in 1235 BCE. He then ruled over Babylon as king for seven years, taking on the old title "King of Sumer and Akkad", first used by Sargon of Akkad. With a large domain under their control, Assyria's economic power centered on the three major cities of Nimrud, Nineveh, and Ashur, located on the Tigris River in northwestern Iraq. However all good things must end; Tukulti-Ninurta was murdered by his son. With his death, Assyria's borders rapidly receded. With little goods and resources to utilize, the Assyrians remained mostly dormant during the "Late Bronze Age collapse," which caused a domino effect throughout the Near East. With the collapse or partial collapse of the major civilizations, the vital trade routes were also affected, causing further economic regression in Assyria. But from that low moment, Assyria began its slow three-hundred-year rise to power. It really only had one way to go! Under the direction of a line of capable successive kings, Assyria came onto the world stage, establishing an empire in the ninth century BCE. However, a lack of resources and manpower stubbornly persisted, causing economic stagnation... and Assyria sought to fill this void by engulfing its neighbors via violently political means. Assyria was already firmly familiar with the art of war, and as time progressed (even when the borders fluctuated) Assyria only grew smarter and stronger militarily due to centuries of constant hostilities. With each warrior generation, learning from the last, it was just a matter of time until Assyria felt comfortable enough to unleash its military machine onto the Near East. That time came in 745 BCE, when Tiglath-Pileser III seized the Assyrian throne during a civil war and murdered the royal family. While some Assyrian kings in the past had no issue with subjugating large tracts of land, they were never able to hold onto their newly found possessions for long... this was not the case with Tiglath-Pilser II. Once king, he reformed the military, and turned it into a weapon of mass destruction, one of which would not been seen again until the time of Rome. The Assyrian army was professional and efficient in conquering. They confiscated both slave power and resources like never before, bringing both fear and torture to keep the spirits of the subjugated low. Any nation not within the sphere of Assyria's influence had to think twice about confronting the amassing empire. However, like all empires, there is a time when it must end. What once was thought unstoppable in its unquenched quest to consume people and material fell in 605 BCE. This was partially due to over-expansion, and its consequence, the inability to safeguard its borders. Their permeable boundaries opened Assyria to external invasions, which were able to penetrate, raid, and then leave unnoticed and without punishment. While Assyria was struggling with external threats, internal troubles also boiled to a point. Those who pondered rebellion took action, politically shocking the empire to the core, and eventually causing its ultimate collapse. In the end, the Assyrian state existed for approximately nineteen centuries (c. 2500 BC to 605 BC), spanning the Early Bronze Age through to the late Iron Age. But its duration and power didn't manage to stop the tides of history... for no empire can last forever... At the same time, a two-component vaccine "Sputnik V" was approved in the UAE in January 2021. The drugs "Sputnik Lite" and "Sputnik V" are registered in the country under the accelerated procedure (emergency use authorization, EUA). Australian miner Admiralty Resources will invest around $70 million in developing the Mariposa iron ore project in Chiles northern Atacama region, now that approval has been granted by national environmental agency Servicio de Evaluacion Ambiental (SEA). Australian miner Admiralty Resources will invest around $70 million in developing the Mariposa iron ore project in Chiles northern Atacama region, now that approval has been granted by national environmental agency Servicio de Evaluacion Ambiental (SEA). The Mariposa project is scheduled to come on stream at the end of 2018. The company intends to produce 771,000 tonnes per year of iron ore, with an iron content of about 65%, for an 18-year period, a SEA report read. Output will be exported, mostly to the Asian market, through the Punta Totoralillo port, according to the Chilean agency. In 2017 global copper supply was disrupted by labor issues and government restrictions on exports. Will this year see the red metal face the same issues or will other concerns impact the markets? Last year was a turbulent time for the copper industry with both labor disputes and government restrictions on ore and mineral exports impacting upon the metals supply chain. The effect of those problems helped to push prices above $7,000 per tonne towards the end of the year. Throughout the first quarter of this year, the price has fluctuated between a high of $7,180 (Copper settlement LME daily official per tonne) on January 15 and a low of $6,500 on March 26. However, is the trend of supply disruptions and higher prices set to continue? Writing in INTL FCStones April issue of Monthly Market Overview, Edward Meir says: Copper has been hammered by trade concerns, but also by the fact that labor negotiations are being settled swiftly and ahead of schedule. Nevertheless, although the extent of the projected disruptions has eased, we still have important negotiations (Escondida and Grasberg) to get through. The International Copper Study Group (ICSG) reported just how much impact the disruptions in 2017 had had when it reported in March that World mine production is estimated to have declined by around 2% in 2017, with concentrate production declining by 1.6% and solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW) by 3%. The ICSG report then also noted that labor disputes at mines, particularly at the Escondida mine in Chile, caused a 1% decline in output from the country acknowledged as the worlds largest producer of mined copper. Further constraints on supply reported by ICSG included a 12.5% decrease in Indonesian concentrate production, which resulted from a temporary ban on concentrate exports put in place by the countrys government at the start of January 2017 and continued until the end of April that year. The ICSG report also outlined a global refined copper deficit of 163,000 tonnes. This figure was revised upwards from a previously published deficit of 150,000 tonnes. While some of this figure may be directly attributable to concentrate supply issues arising from last years labor disputes and export bans, there is also a background of major producers not investing in new production leading to a slowing down of mine production. Writing in the January 2018 Copper Spotlight from Fastmarkets, analyst William Adams notes that mine supply shortages are expected to develop over the next three years as a result of restrained capital expenditure between 2012 and 2015. Mine development The potential lack of development in copper mining has been echoed by analysts from BMO Capital Markets, who said in the BMO Global Commodities Research paper, published April 5, 2018: There is general agreement that the lack of copper supply growth will lead to a refined market deficit over the coming years. Explaining the reason for the lack of growth, the BMO Capital Markets report states: After delivery of [First Quantum Minerals Panama copper mine] Cobre Panama (with the main ramp early next year) we are left with a gap until we see the next batch of 200,000 tonnes per year-plus projects in 2022-23. The BMO report also explains that that is the time frame when projects such as Ivanhoe Mines Kamoa-Kakula copper project, Oyu Tolgoi Phase 2 (by Rio Tinto), and Tecks Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 will provide meaningful copper supply growth. On current mined ore availability, the BMO report says: The copper pipeline is the lowest, both in terms of number and capacity of projects, seen thus far this century. Daniel Briesemann, an analyst with Commerzbank, notes that while there is a potentially large deficit that may change over the coming year as miners react to higher prices and increase production. In late October, the ICSG estimated that mine production will rise by 2.5% in 2018. I think this is due to the high prices which give the miners an incentive to expand production, Briesemann says. He explains that expanded production will come from Chile (where production should recover from a six-year low following strike-related outages), Peru (where existing mines are to be expanded), and Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (where previously idled capacities are to go back into operation). Briesemann cautions, however, that there might be some risks to this forecast because many collective wage agreements need to be renegotiated in Chile. However, the outages in copper mining production that had been feared as a result of possible strikes in Chile have failed to materialize so far. The analysts at BMO take a similarly positive view of potential recovery of production in Chiles copper mines in the near future, stating in the BMO research paper that: At greater-than 300,000 tonnes Escondidas planned output recovery in 2018 will be the second largest year-on-year gain by a single operation in recent copper history, after Las Bambas in 2016. Chinese consumption Regardless of where primary material production increases come from, China is set to continue as the dominant consumer of copper ore this year. Looking back on 2017, the ICSG reported that China was the main contributor to growth in world refined copper production with an increase of 5%. It also noted that Chinese apparent usage (excluding changes in unreported stocks) increased by 0.9% as, although refined copper production increased by 5%, net imports of refined copper declined by 9.5%. Increased usage of copper was also reported in India and Japan, but there were declines in the United States, Germany and South Korea. In its Short-Term Forecast for Copper (released in November 2017) the International Wrought Copper Council (IWCC) predicted increased demand from China too. For 2018, the forecasts currently suggest reported demand in China might be 11.62 million tonnes, up 3.0% compared with 2017. The IWCC saw a similar increase taking place last November in Japan, too, stating: "The latest forecasts for Japan suggest that refined copper demand in 2017 might increase by 3.1% to 1.002 million tonnes, with a further increase of 1.0% expected for 2018 taking demand in that year to an expected 1.012 million tonnes. Addressing Chinas demand for refined copper, Briesemann says: According to the Chinese research institute Antaike, Chinese copper demand grew by 4.2% last year. This year, copper demand is set to rise by 3.34% to 11.1 million tons, the main driver being the power sector. The housing sector and new energy vehicles are also expected to contribute to the increased demand for copper. On India, Briesemann says: It is well-known that India has the potential catch-up with China. However, in China itself there is still the need to invest heavily in infrastructure. And just consider the mammoth Belt-and-Road initiative. Hundreds or even thousands of projects will be implemented and mainly financed by China. The initiative requires a lot of commodities in the long-term and copper is definitely part of it. The current political situation driven by US President Trump and the tariffs being applied to metals by the US government could impact upon Chinese demand. Meir wrote in INTL FCStone's April overview: For 2018, prices are off 7.4%, not exactly an auspicious start to the year. Several reasons are behind the decline, the most prominent being the Section 232 tariffs. Meir also noted that on March 22 and 23, markets were rocked by a new set of announcements whereby the Trump administration said it would impose $50 billion of tariffs on Chinese imports in retaliation for alleged intellectual property theft and other alleged misdeeds. He notes that both actions sent a chill through ferrous and non-ferrous complexes, as investors became rightly concerned that the worlds two most powerful economies could get embroiled in an escalating trade war. Chinas recently introduced ban on low-purity scrap imports is another important factor at play in the copper supply chain. Chinas Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP) issued new regulations in mid-December 2017 that set the threshold for impurities allowed in non-ferrous scrap imports, including copper scrap, at 1%. As a result of this change, Chinas copper scrap imports fell by 52.4% year-on-year during the first two months of 2018, according to Chinese customs data. Briesemann does not consider the ban to be having as great an impact as many had predicted: Chinas copper scrap imports as a whole have been on the decline for years anyway so I do not think that the ban will have a significant effect on the market. How copper prices react to market changes remains an issue of great speculation and, as Meir says: Although labor negotiations have progressed, we still are not free and clear, as the biggest contracts still lie ahead. Taking all the possible supply issues into account, Briesemann believes that the copper price will continue to correct and we see the price falling to below $6,500 where it should find a bottom. We see such a level as an attractive hedging opportunity for copper consumers because we expect higher copper prices in the long-term. The Argentinian government has agreed to quotas on steel products exported to the United States, thus avoiding tariffs associated with the US' Section 232 investigation, according to national steel association Acero Argentino. The country agreed to limit exports of steel products to the US to 180,000 tonnes per year, based on the average of steel exports during the past three years plus an additional 35%. Such exports will be exempt from a 25% tariff imposed on steel from several countries following the Section 232 investigation into US imports on national security grounds. "It is a very positive outcome, as it will allow the country to maintain exports and production levels," Acero Argentino executive director Carlos Alberto Vaccaro told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday May 2. "We are very satisfied with the negotiations." Although the quotas are not split by products, Argentina has been exporting mostly seamless tubes to the US, and this trend will continue, according to the association. "The additional 35% was defined because steel exports in 2015 and 2016 were too low, influenced by the poor performance of the oil and gas sector," Vaccaro said. Last year, Argentina exported around 200,000 tonnes of seamless tubes to the US. The US government announced that it reached agreements in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil with respect to steel and aluminium quotas, but it did not give further details. Raw Materials/Consumables Provider of the Year Finalists Carmeuse Lime and Stone, North America For the past 150 years, Carmeuse Lime and Stone, North America, has been a leading producer of high-calcium and dolomitic lime, chemical-grade limestone and crushed limestone aggregate products that are a vital part of the steel, energy, environmental services and construction industries. With North American headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Carmeuse Lime and Stone operates 28 production facilities staffed by up to 2,000 employees. The family-owned global business has headquarters in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, and its international presence spans Western, Central and Eastern Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, as well as its presence in North and South America. Carmeuse Lime and Stone has emphasized customer relationships through feedback and a customer experience process that is being implemented globally. The firms technical team helps customers apply best-available practices to increase operating efficiency, including optimizing fuel efficiency and kiln operations. The technical experts regularly visit customer locations to assist with process improvements, engineering support, logistical optimization and market studies to identify future opportunities. Further enhancement of customer support initiatives are ongoing, along with employee engagement and skills enhancement to ensure Carmeuse employees are ready to meet the customers current and emerging needs. Internal efforts include increasing and strengthening customer partnerships, optimizing internal processes to minimize costs and identifying additional growth opportunities. Carmeuse recently launched a new steel-centric website (www.carmeuse-steel.com) to better communicate its products and services to steelmakers throughout the world. Ecovery, LLC A North American leader of non-ferrous metal processing, Ecovery, LLC, Loxley, Alabama, specializes in shredding, granulation and separation of copper and aluminium-bearing scrap. Its primary raw material is copper and aluminium radiators found in commercial and residential HVAC units. Products supplied include aluminium shred, grade 1 aluminium briquettes, grade 1 aluminium cones, slag conditioners and 1350 EC chops. The firms three plants process more than nine million pounds of material each month. Products ship directly to customers, and warehouses in the Midwest United States store additional quantities that can ship on an as-needed basis. To guard against the cyclicality of the metals industry where supply of key inputs can become scarce, Ecovery embarked in 2014 on a multi-year diversification plan to broaden its product range. The company developed Deox 70, a slag conditioner, which helps mills reduce processing costs. In 2015, in response to weak demand for aluminium deox briquettes, Ecovery began building a melt plant, which came online in 2016, to create aluminium flakes from chopping copper-aluminium radiators to be melted into 11XX RSI that was sold to the consumer-goods industry; additional products followed. The melt plant consumes about 3.2 million pounds of aluminium scrap per month. Product diversification continued in 2017 when Ecovery added an additional line in its processing plant to chop in addition to copper-aluminium radiators all-aluminium radiators and copper wiring, which provides the firm with additional products to expand its customer base. During its expansion, Ecovery also purchased a metal fabrication company to bring in house most maintenance functions for its facilities and to further support research and development with trying new equipment designs to increase production. With all of its expansion, Ecovery realized a 90% revenue increase in 2017 versus 2016, and its sales of aluminium to steel mills increased from 13 million pounds in 2016 to 23 million pounds in 2017, while costs per pound decreased by 7% over the same period. GrafTech International Ltd Since its founding in 1886, GrafTech International Ltd, Brooklyn Heights, Ohio, has become one of the worlds leading producers of graphite electrodes essential to the production of electric furnace steel and other ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The large-scale graphite electrode producer is largely vertically integrated into petroleum needle coke, which is the primary raw material of graphite electrode manufacturing and currently in limited supply. That integration gives GrafTech a product quality and cost advantage relative to its competitors. The divestiture of non-core engineered solutions businesses in 2016 and 2017 has re-energized GrafTech and generated about $60 million in cash proceeds, while releasing working capital from the former businesses. The cost savings have allowed GrafTech to redeploy the savings into its graphite electrode business by investing in the capability to produce the super-premium petroleum needle coke essential for high-margin, ultra-high power (or UHP) graphite electrodes, along with optimizing production of pins used to connect and fasten graphite electrodes in the furnace. As a result, GrafTech has experienced a 10-year high in customer satisfaction at a time when the industry has been focused on production capacity rationalization rather than quality. Since shedding its non-core assets, GrafTech has also implemented a new commercial strategy at a time when about 20% of the worldwide graphite electrode production capacity (excluding China) has been temporarily or permanently idled. In view of the strong demand from the industry supplied by a smaller pool of producers, GrafTech has implemented a commercial strategy to sell a significant portion of its production capacity to strategic customers through three- to five-year take-or-pay contracts. Operational and commercial improvements have allowed GrafTech to gain significant market share among leading electric furnace producers. The firm also offers the ArchiTech system, which is now installed on 145 furnaces throughout the world. The system offers real-time and historical data analysis and diagnostics assistance. RHI Magnesita N.V. RHI Magnesita N.V. was created through the 2017 combination of RHI and Magnesita to form a leading global supplier of high-grade refractory products, systems and services used in a wide range of industries, including steel, cement, non-ferrous metals and others. With a vertically integrated value chain, from raw materials to refractory products and full performance-based solutions, RHI Magnesita and its 14,000 employees serves more than 10,000 customers in nearly all countries around the world from 35 production sites. The US headquarters are in York, Pennsylvania. During the past 12 to 18 months, RHI Magnesita has seen Asian competitors enter the steel industry at unrealistic prices. But RHI Magnesitas response was to become even more innovative and create efficiencies to further strengthen customer partnerships through programs such as CPP (cost per performance) and CPH (cost per heat). Through these business models, RHI Magnesita not only offers refractory products, but also leading technical consultants, engineers and commercial account managers. One of its US customers is Outokumpu Americas in Calvert, Alabama, where RHI Magnesita worked with the steelmaker to improve AOD vessel performance by 15% while reducing campaign costs by 9%. The RHI Magnesita team proposed different design changes during 2017 while still allowing Outokumpu to meet its key performance measures. Campaign life records were set month over month as material compositions and processing strategies were honed. RHI Magnesita also initiated a CPP contract, which has further strengthened the partnership with the Outokumpu melt shop that began in 2012. The Brazilian steel sector has agreed to the US government's offer to set quotas for steel shipments into that country, thus avoiding a 25% tariff resulting from the US Section 232 investigation. Producers have agreed to limit their exports to 70% of the 2015-17 average for finished steel products and 100% of the three-year average for semi-finished steel products, although the final details about the measure have yet to be defined, according to the Brazilian steel association, Aco Brasil. "We decided to accept the [United States'] offer," Aco Brasil executive president Marco Polo de Mello Lopes said on Wednesday May 2. On Monday April 30, the US government announced that it reached agreements in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil with respect to steel and aluminium quotas, but it did not give further details. The offer of a quota system had been anticipated last week. Under the agreement, Brazilian companies will be able to annually export to the US market 3.50 million tonnes of semi-finished steel goods and around 687,000 tonnes of finished steel. The deal is retroactive to January 1, with the US government being responsible for applying and overseeing the quota volumes, according to the association. For finished steel products, quotas will be split into four groups: flat steel, long steel, tubes and special steel goods. After the total annual quota is reached, additional volumes of each group cannot be sent to the US, according to the group. Aco Brasil expects to fully conclude the deal with the US government within the next 10 days. And Brazilian steelmakers will try to define how quotas will be divided between them only after an agreement with the US government is finished, Lopes said. "In a first moment, we would propose to split the quotas based on each company's performance during the referred period," he said. But in the original proposal presented by the US, quotas did not comprise a breakdown by mill, so the association believes "a gentlemen's agreement" will be necessary to make the separation viable, according to Lopes. "We have not started discussions with companies yet," he added. Take it or leave it Negotiations between Brazil and the US about introducing a quotas system followed from US President Donald Trump's imposition of a 25% tariff on steel from several countries in early March, as a result of the Section 232 investigation into national security issues related to steel imports. Brazil was among the countries temporarily exempted from the tariffs until Tuesday May 1, while those conversations were taking place. But the talks stalled last week, and the US authorities gave Brazil the option of accepting the quota offer or being subject to a 25% tariff on all steel exports to the country, according to Aco Brasil. "They said that the period for the exemption [of the 25% tariff] would not be extended, so it was a 'take it or leave it' situation," Lopes said. The Brazilian foreign trade ministry, MDIC, said on Wednesday that the measure taken by the US was "unilateral," and that the group will not help implementing any restrictive measures to the country's exports. "The Brazilian government regrets that the negotiations were interrupted, and it remains open to building reasonable solutions to both parties, MDIC said. [The ministry] is also convinced that restrictive measures are not necessary or justifiable by any means. Brazil will "take all actions to preserve its rights and interests," both in bilateral and multilateral instances, MDIC added. The Brazilian steel institute believes there is a possibility of adjusting the quota volumes during the year, at least for semi-finished steel products. The Associate editor of The Living Church, the Revd Dr Zachary Guiliano, considers Confirmation preparation at St Benets Church in Cambridge, where he serves as Deacon. In the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the ordaining bishop describes the office of a Deacon and its functions. After this, he asks those being ordained, Will you do this gladly and willingly? The answer, in good Anglican fashion, is I will so do, by the help of God. Since my ordination as a deacon last July, it has been my desire and joy to carry out by Gods grace my ministry in the body of the Church. Naturally, it has involved many different tasks: preaching, praying, visiting the sick, assisting the Priest in Divine Service, and aiding in the distribution of Holy Communion not to mention many other activities the prayer book does not specify. This being England, cups of tea come to mind. One of the traditional roles of a deacon, mentioned in the prayer book and elsewhere, is to prepare candidates for baptism and confirmation, and it was my delight to do so during Lent this year and now into Easter. There is no greater privilege or duty of the ministry than this: meeting with members of the Church, encouraging them, and patiently teaching, discussing, and proclaiming in season and out of season (2 Tim. 4:2) the faith of the Church, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As with any kind of preparation, it is tempting to wonder Was it enough? We met eight times and discussed everything from the sacraments to Scripture, from the meaning and methods of prayer to living in holiness and hope. We had constant recourse to the Bible and the C of Es catechism; we considered various hard topics in the spirit of faith seeking understanding (and, sometimes, reason challenging faith). All was in the context of shared hospitality: eating and drinking together as we searched the Scriptures. It was exhilarating, at times usefully frustrating or difficult, but always pursued with goodwill and a kind of seriousness, in the best sense, that is often lacking in todays Church. These were matters of life and death, not trivialities, matters of heart and mind, matters that strike to the core of our humanity. I believe and trust that whatever deficiencies there were in the instructor, can and will be made up by the Holy Spirit. For ultimately this is a preparation focused on him. The end of our classes was, after all, confirmation, admittedly not for everyone who came, but for most. Were I to believe that I could teach rightly and thoroughly in my own strength well, that would have been a betrayal of my ordination vows and a kind of hubris unfitting to the grace-filled character of the Christian ministry Who is sufficient to these things? (2 Cor 2:16). But, were I not to give it my best, taking up my task in fear and trembling, trusting that God would work in me to will and to work according to his good pleasure (Phil 2:12-13) that would have been another sort of betrayal. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant (2 Cor 3:6). In the work of ministry, in all our life together, we must put our whole confidence and trust in the mercy and power of God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead in the Spirit, who gives life to our mortal bodies also, and who activates and energises all the varied work of the Church (1 Cor 12:1-11). How else can we proceed but in faith? In only a few days time, our candidates will appear before the congregation and our bishop, and they will make their vows and receive gifts from that same Spirit, that same Lord and giver of life, as our bishop lays hands on them and prays. The Holy Spirit of God will rest upon them, strengthen them, and build them up for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body, for eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Posted on: May 3, 2018 12:28 PM The Diocese of Chile in the Anglican Church of South America could become its own autonomous province of the Anglican Communion by the end of the year. An extraordinary Synod of the diocese will be held later this month to confirm a resolution that was ratified by the Synod when it met in Temuco in 2015. Nearly 100 representatives from across Chile will gather in Santiago on 12 May to agree proposals for the creation of what will become new dioceses in the independent province, and elect the people who will become its first bishops and primate. This meeting is vital in our journey towards being an Anglican Province; and this fact is undoubtedly important for the missionary growth that we long to experience as a Church in future years, the Bishop of Chile, Hector Zavala, said. Being a Province means in part that we will have an independent and autonomous Church in direct relation with the Anglican Communion and its different instruments of communion. And this Synod will be important because in it the election of the four future diocesan bishops will be carried out that together with a Primate will lead the four dioceses that will constitute our national Church, he said. The Synod will also be asked to approve the new constitution and the canons of the new Province. The Synod is being asked to approve the creation of four new dioceses: Valparaiso, Santiago, Temuco, and Conception. The Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council, Archbishop Paul Kwong, will lead an international delegation to Chile later this year to assess whether the criteria for the creation of a new Anglican province has been met. He will be joined by the ACC's vice-chair, Maggie Swinson; the Archbishop of Cape Town, Thabo Makgoba, representing the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby; Bishop Jane Alexander from the Anglican Church of Canada; Mr Jeroham Melendez, from the Anglican Church of the Region of Central America; the Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, Dr Josiah Idowu-Fearon; and the chief executive of the Anglican Communion Office, David White. Posted on: May 3, 2018 8:05 AM A resolution co-filed by the Church of England Pensions Board challenging Rio Tintos continuing support for pro-coal lobby groups has failed at the companys AGM. But the resolution attracted the support of 18.3 per cent of Rio Tintos shareholders, including Aegon and Legal & General, in what the C of E described as the largest vote for a shareholder resolution related to climate change, without board support, in Australian corporate history. In addition to the C of E Pensions Board, the resolution was co-filed by the Australasian Centre for Corporate Responsibility, the Australian pension fund Local Government Super, and The Seventh Swedish National Pension Fund. Rio Tinto has moved out of coal mining, saying it did not provide a long-term fit for its portfolio. It sold its last coal operation, the Kestrel mine in Australias Queensland state, in March, for $2.25 billion USD (approximately 1.65 billion GBP). But it retained its membership of the coal mining lobbying firm the Minerals Council of Australia, and it was this that was the subject of the C of Es resolution, as the body continues to campaign in support of coal. This is the largest shareholder revolt against management on the issue of climate change in Australian corporate history, Adam Matthews, the head of engagement for the Church of England Pensions Board, said. Its a highly significant vote on an important issue of Rios support of trade associations and their negative lobbying to prevent action to address climate change. This was a very reasonable resolution that has gathered the support of many shareholders with trillions in assets under management. It justified a better response from Rios Board and I would encourage the Chairman to now take the opportunity to commit to undertake the called for review as well as to publish Rios funding of trade associations. It is clear a large element of Rio shareholders would welcome such a step. Going forward we will continue to engage with Rios board and will work together with the funds that have supported our resolution. I would also like to pay tribute to the partnership we have developed with the co-filers, as well as the support we have had from Client Earth and ShareAction. Anita Foerster, senior research fellow at the University of Melbourne and Jacqueline Peel, the universitys professor of environmental and climate law, said that the resolution signals a coming of age for investor engagement on climate change in Australia. Writing in The Conversation, they said: Shareholder resolutions have clearly become an important part of the toolbox for civil society in Australia seeking to influence corporate decision making on climate change. As mainstream investors come on board with these resolutions, their potential impact is heightened considerably. For their part, Australian institutional investors seem to be increasingly willing to stand behind calls for better disclosure and management of climate risks by the companies in which they invest, including by forming new alliances and supporting the use of these more activist tools. And Now, a Reading from the First Epistle of Paul to the Antiquities Smugglers The Hobby Lobby Bible-thumpers have dealt with some interesting characters in their side business. The Green family of Oklahoma City have made their pile in the buying and selling of various craft-related gewgaws. They have made the national news in two distinct ways, first as the respondent in the case of Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, the Supreme Court decision that allows companies to avoid having their insurers provide those icky lady medicines of which Jesus allegedly does not approve. Their second splash was made when they decided to put up a $500 million Museum of the Bible cheek-by-jowl with the Smithsonian museums in Washington. The rest we get from The Atlantic, courtesy of the First Epistle of Paul to the Smugglers. Hobby Lobby purchased thousands of ancient artifacts smuggled out of modern-day Iraq via the United Arab Emirates and Israel in 2010 and 2011, attorneys for the Eastern District of New York announced on Wednesday. As part of a settlement, the American craft-supply mega-chain will pay $3 million and the U.S. government will seize the illicit artifactsIt involves thousands of ancient artifacts that seem to have been stolen from Iraq, where the pillaging of antiquities has been rampant. The longstanding trade in antiquities of dubious provenance has become an especially sensitive topic in recent years, and a target of increased law-enforcement scrutiny: ISIS has made some untold millionsor billionsby selling ancient goods. While nothing in the case indicates that these objects were associated with any terrorist group, the very nature of smuggled goods means their provenance is muddy. (Kudos to The Atlantic's Emma Green for immortalizing the official legal designation for this case: The United States of America v. Approximately Four Hundred Fifty (450) Ancient Cuneiform Tablets; and Approximately Three Thousand (3,000) Ancient-Clay Bullae. Hey, if you can prove you're descended directly from Nebuchadnezzar, there might be a pile of money waiting for you.) A half-buried Cuneiform tablet at a heavily looted Sumerian site in Iraq, 2009. Getty Images Good wholesome Christians that they are, I'm sure the Greens innocently wandered into this Dan Brown novel out of the goodness of their hearts. Law-enforcement officials report that in 2010, Hobby Lobby's president, Steve Green, visited the United Arab Emirates with an antiquities consultant to inspect more than 5,548 artifacts. The objectswhich were precious and collectively worth millions of dollars"were displayed informally," the complaint stated, "spread on the floor, arranged in layers on a coffee table, and packed loosely in cardboard boxes, in many instances with little or no protective material between them." They included cuneiform tablets, which display writing used in ancient Mesopotamia, and clay bullae, or balls of clay printed with ancient seals. The Children's Experience section at the Museum of the Bible. Getty Images Advertisement - Continue Reading Below Two Israeli dealers and one dealer from the UAE were present; the objects allegedly belonged to the family of a third Israeli dealer. One of the Israeli dealers sent Hobby Lobby a statement of provenance, claiming that the objects were legally acquired through purchases made in the 1960s. It also named a custodian who purportedly, in the 1970s, took care of the objects while they were being stored in the United States. Is there some we-were-innocents-among-the-Byzantines meeping coming from the Greens? Why, heavens to Gilgamesh, of course, there is. For its part, the Green family has framed this as a lesson learned. In 2010, Hobby Lobby "was new to the world of acquiring these items, and did not fully appreciate the complexities of the acquisitions process," read a statement on the company's website. "This resulted in some regrettable mistakes. The company imprudently relied on dealers and shippers who, in hindsight, did not understand the correct way to document and ship these items." Green says he takes responsibility for what happened. "We should have exercised more oversight and carefully questioned how the acquisitions were handled," he said in a statement on Hobby Lobby's website. "Hobby Lobby has cooperated with the government throughout its investigation, and with the announcement of today's settlement agreement, is pleased the matter has been resolved." If, instead of priceless antiquities, these were birth control pills, I'm sure the Greens would have been far more vigilant in their oversight. Museum of the Bible. Yeesh. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. Breast Cancer Screening Why Should Jeremy Hunt Resign For Something Done Under Gordon Brown? The National Health Service has never been very good at dealing with all this complicated computer technology stuff. The attempt, nuder Blair, to rewrite the computing system for the whole shebang spent billions yes, really, billions of pounds and ended up delivering nothing that anyone has ever used to produce anything of value. That was actually the worlds largest cock up ever. We also know why it happened. They tried to design the system, rather than just designing the rules about how systems should talk to each other. That is, you dont try to build a computer system for 65 million people, you only design interfaces so that different systems can communicate. Now weve another dubber up in NHS computing. Something that should have been caught, this is just something that should not have happened: Up to 270 women may have died as a result of an IT failure that meant hundreds of thousands approaching their 70th birthday were not invited to a National Health Service breast screening appointment. It costs money to screen people for breast cancer. Therefore we only want to screen those either likely to have it or those we might be able to treat effectively if they do. Men do indeed get breast cancer sometimes but at a rate about 1% that of women. So, we dont screen men and we do screen women. Theres absolutely nothing at all wrong with the idea that we dont screen everyone for everything. With breast cancer screening we go on to make another choice. This is a little more arguable, but just an extension of the same principle. Women up to 70 are offered screening every three years. Those over 70 are not. The argument being that even if a cancer is found in those over 70 then the costs of treating it wont be worth it for the extra years of life gained. Yes, harsh, and arguable, but we dont have an unlimited amount of money for anything and everything and so some limits do need to be imposed. And then we get to the problem here: Mr Hunt told the Commons the problem was caused by a computer algorithm failure, which led to some women not receiving their final breast screening when they were between the ages of 68 and 71. The problems happened between 2009 and the start of 2018. The computer code which sent out the appointments for screening was wrong. It should have been sending letters, booking appointments, for women up to the age of 71 it only sent them for women up to the age of 68. This is simply a bollix in the construction of the code. The programmers, the system designers, the managers who signed off on it, all were in the wrong. And thats it really. Sure, mistakes happen in complex systems and this one did and shouldnt have. weve absolutely no information at all about who has died as a result of this. We think, perhaps, that some will have done. Using the same statistical models that we use to decide that screening should be done up to age 70 and not afterwards. But thats it, we cannot say that Mrs Smith died because she wasnt screened, we just dont know and never will at that level of detail. Then weve got the usual interjection of politics: The Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb, a former health minister, said it was essential the review investigated the use of algorithms in healthcare, saying they should be closely monitored to ensure that we can fully trust the technology to operate in the interests of patients. Sigh. This isnt an algorithm, this is a programming error. Lamb is just hitching this to all those fashionable concerns about what Facebook and Google are up to. There are also, inevitably, calls for Jeremy Hunt to resign. Which is pretty odd, for why should a Tory Minister resign in 2018 for something which was done under a Labour Government, when Gordon Brown was PM, back in 2008/09? Tim Worstall Posted: 3rd, May 2018 | In: News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Staffordshire pigs tell butcher to remove smutty signs Butcher Pete Lymer no longer sells big breasted birds, big cocks and horny sausages at J W Ash & Son, in Ball Haye Street, Leek. Weve put the signs out for years and its always been a bit of a laugh, he tells his local paper. Just after Christmas apparently somebody complained to the police, saying it was offensive. Horny sausages? Whats in them bone and rhino? But heres the thing: no shopper complained to the police about the smutty language on the butchers signs, the kind of puns former Great British Bake Off presenters Mel and Sue have built a BBC career on. Last month a lady from the police came in and asked if we could pull our sign in, adds Mr Lymer. And a bobby came in last Thursday. Theyre just doing their job so Im not annoyed with the individuals. What is the job of the police? When did Saudi Arabia open an office of the Committee for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice in England? Because Staffordshire Police have gone on the record to say it all them. Weve received no complaints about signage outside J W Ash and Son butchers in Leek, says a police spokesman. However, the local Chief Inspector for the Moorlands did advise the owner to give careful consideration to what was written on the boards in case anyone took offence. No other action has been taken. Pigs! No, not the unformed men and women going about the place preventing non-crimes and thought crimes before theyve happened. Not the polices top brass cleaning the streets of things that dont comply with their narrow world view. Actual pigs diced and slid onto skewers you know, meaty pork swords. Paul Sorene Posted: 3rd, May 2018 | In: Key Posts, News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Government championing free speech at Universities is beyond irony Sam Gyimah, the universities minister, presents himself as a champion of free speech. He says prudes, activists and censors attempting to silence voices not like their own are chilling in a democracy. Those safe spaces on British campuses are for fools. No platforming is for losers. (No platforming was adopted by the National Union of Students in 1974.) Banning things from campus, like the Sun newspaper, the Christian Union and Nietzsche, is for prigs. Mr Gyimah says: A society in which people feel they have a legitimate right to stop someone expressing their views on campus simply because they are unfashionable or unpopular is rather chilling. There is a risk that overzealous interpretation of a dizzying variety of rules is acting as a brake on legal free speech on campus. That is why I am bringing together leaders from across the higher education sector to clarify the rules and regulations around speakers and events to prevent bureaucrats or wreckers on campus from exploiting gaps for their own ends. Writing in the Times, he adds: The current landscape around free speech on campus is murky at best with a dizzying array of disjointed guidelines for universities, student unions and associations to follow. When there are so many different interpretations of the rules, there is the risk that legal free speech will be stifled, either by well-intentioned but jittery managers, or by ill-intentioned wreckers. The office for students, which came into force on 1st April, will play a key role in this area and can use its powers to name, shame or even fine institutions for not upholding the principle of free speech. But for them to be effective, we need all our institutions to work together to make sure free speech is upheld. But safe spaces and trammels on free speech do not grow in a vacuum. The Government has banned people from entering the UK and speaking at universities. In 2017, Julien Blanc, aka the pick-up artist was banned from entering Britain on the reasoning that he promotes sexual assault. Just as we are to suppose that sane and intelligent students adults hearing a different view will turn into gibbering wrecks or else jihadis, one word from Blanc and a bloke will ignore the law, the love and respect for his mother, values strong and vibrant women in his life have instilled in him, and commit a heinous crime. The troubling thing is that Government, politicians of all stripes and students are on the same page; they are all in favour of censorship. Both view their fellow humans as suggestible and vulnerable, mentally-negligible weaklings in need of protection from things (see the bans on advertising gambling, ciggies and sugar) and individuals holding dangerous ideas. A strident view can be cast out as hate speech. To the censors its morally brave to protect lesser minds from other ideas, which are, of course, wrong. Intolerance must be tolerated, say these saviours, lest correct and virtuous ideas be undermined. The result of all this banning and censorship on society both official and creeping self-censorship is malign. Its either free speech or it isnt. No buts. Paul Sorene Posted: 3rd, May 2018 | In: Key Posts, News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink Florida newspaper advertises guns under Parkland massacre story To Fort Lauderdale, where Floridas Sun Sentinel daily newspaper thought it ok to publish an advert for a gun show righty below a front-page story on he massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and a second story on a gunman who murdered five people at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood airport. The Sun Sentinel has apologised. The Miami New Times has more: Its a mess. Its horrible, says Julie Anderson, the Sun Sentinels editor in chief. Were taking every step possible to make sure our editorial staff always see ads before publication so something like this doesnt slip through. In her statement, publisher Nancy Meyer said, We deeply regret placement of a gun advertisement on our front page Wednesday morning. It has been against our policy to run gun and other types of controversial advertising on our front page. Looks like the Sun Sentinel editor on this page failed. A story on the victims of gun violence and they put a gun coupon on the page. WTF!!! pic.twitter.com/JTEfnTo3s7 Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) May 2, 2018 So who was checking? Does anyone read the paper at the paper? Can we blame outsourcing, at least partially? Anorak Posted: 3rd, May 2018 | In: News Comment | TrackBack | Permalink (ANSAmed) - BARI, MAY 3 - Despite the fact that international geopolitical instability has weakened it slightly, trade between Italy and the 22 countries of the Arab League was sizeable in 2017. Exports were at 27.775 billion euros, compared with 28 billion the previous year, and imports were at about 23 billion, against 19 billion in 2016. The top export sectors were mechanical engineering and machinery, refined petroleum products, civil engineering and construction, furniture, textiles and clothing, agro-food, cosmetics, and biomedical equipment. The figures were presented on Thursday in Bari as part of the first day of the Italian and Arab Enterprise Bourse, organized by the Puglia regional government and the Italo-Arab Chamber of Cooperation. The event was the brainchild of current regional councillor Michele Mazzarano from the Democratic Party (PD), in his role as economic development advisor. Opening the Bourse was the managing director of the Italo-Arab Chamber of Cooperation, Raimondo Schiavone, who stressed that the top trade partners of Italy is the UAE, to which Italy exports over five billion in goods, mostly jewelry. Following is Saudi Arabia, with about 4 billion euros in goods exported to the country and Egypt with 3 billion. In Egypt, Italy has long been working in the renewable energy sector, while about 17% of the total of machinery imported into Egypt comes from Italy. "In 2025," Schiavone said, "one third of the world population will be Muslim, which means that halal products will have to be put on the market. And Italy has substantial production in the agro-food, cosmetics and biomedical fields, which could offer significant opportunities." Schiavone then noted that Expo 2020 would be held in Dubai, underscoring that "Puglia is getting ready as best it can for this event, focusing special attention and able to look far away to an area that now seems to be in difficulty but which has large development potential." The Italian and Arab Enterprise Bourse will run through May 5 and will host a delegation of 30 from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar. Over 140 Italian enterprises active in sectors focused on by the initiative will be taking part: advanced mechanical engineering, Oil & Gas (technology and supply), Green and Blue economy, building materials and healthcare. Trade in 2017 between Puglia and the Arab countries taking part in the Bourse was 246.094 million euros, with a trade balance in Puglia's favor. Exports from the Puglia region to the six Arab countries was at 144.7 million euros and imports 101.4 million euros, a different of 43.3 million. Puglia exports mainly machinery, footwear, clothing, agricultural products, telecommunications devices and furniture to the countries in question. (ANSAmed). Italian and Arab Enterprise Bourse kicks off in Bari Attendees from Saudi Arabia, Egypt and UAE (ANSAmed) - BARI, MAY 3 - Despite the fact that international geopolitical instability has weakened it slightly, trade between Italy and the 22 countries of the Arab League was sizeable in 2017. Exports were at 27.775 billion euros, compared with 28 billion the previous year, and imports were at about 23 billion, against 19 billion in 2016. The top export sectors were mechanical engineering and machinery, refined petroleum products, civil engineering and construction, furniture, textiles and clothing, agro-food, cosmetics, and biomedical equipment. The figures were presented on Thursday in Bari as part of the first day of the Italian and Arab Enterprise Bourse, organized by the Puglia regional government and the Italo-Arab Chamber of Cooperation. The event was the brainchild of current regional councillor Mochele Mazzarano from the Democratic Party (PD), in his role as economic development advisor. Opening the Bourse was the managing director of the Italo-Arab Chamber of Cooperation, Raimondo Schiavone, who stressed that the top trade partners of Italy is the UAE, to which Italy exports over five billion in goods, mostly jewelry. Following is Saudi Arabia, with about 4 billion euros in goods exported to the country and Egypt with 3 billion. In Egypt, Italy has long been working in the renewable energy sector, while about 17% of the total of machinery imported into Egypt comes from Italy. ''In 2025,'' Schiavone said, ''one third of the world population will be Muslim, which means that halal products will have to be put on the market. And Italy has substantial production in the agro-food, cosmetics and biomedical fields, which could offer significant opportunities.'' Schiavone then noted that Expo 2020 would be held in Dubai, underscoring that ''Puglia is getting ready as best it can for this event, focusing special attention and able to look far away to an area that now seems to be in difficulty but which has large development potential.'' The Italian and Arab Enterprise Bourse will run through May 5 and will host a delegation of 30 from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, (ANSAmed). TEL AVIV - The Israeli government has resumed contact with UN Refugee Agency UNHCR for the gradual relocation to Western countries of thousands of African migrants currently in Israel, the majority of whom are Sudanese and Eritrean, said Channel Ten. The news was confirmed on Wednesday by Tourism Minister Yariv Levin of the Likud party, who said Israel will now try to see if it can make "improvements" to an agreement on the matter between Israel and UNHCR. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the agreement a month ago, and then immediately put it on hold due to right-wing political protests. In the accord, Israel had agreed to legalise the status of more than 16,000 migrants residing in the country, while UNHCR had ensured it would arrange for the migrants' relocation over a period of five years to Western countries to be defined. Levin said the main objection to that agreement was with regard to Israel being asked to legalise the status of thousands of people who had "illegally infiltrated" the country. Channel Ten said following Israel's failed talks with Uganda and Rwanda, the government is also trying to see if another African country would be willing to accept African migrants, with the aid of economic incentives. Levin said the probability of finding such a country was unlikely, given that the Israeli Supreme Court has conditioned such agreements to a series of specific guarantees in favor of migrants, which Uganda and Rwanda were unwilling to accept. He said the proposal would likely meet similar resistance in other African countries. Not at all. It just seems like a lot of back-and-forth talk. Yes. I'm growing very worried over what might happen. If it keeps up, I might be a little more concerned. I think there are much larger things to concern us as a country. It's hard to tell; I can't take the leader of either country seriously. Vote View Results Fallo all Romana! We share the quality and the jolly ambience. Eataly Rome launches a new initiative dedicated to the traditional Roman cuisine with a special daily event every 19:00 to 23:00. On the 12th of April Eataly launched its new formula of "Fallo alla Romana" (Do It The Roman Way). It is based on the old Roman way of sharing the food and the pleasure of being together by having the food served straight from the pots and pans to your table. Taking up a typical Roman motto, it's a fun way to celebrate the culinary tradition and the convivial aspect of good eating and good drinking. It makes eating more homey and fun doesn't it? This new concept of eating is available daily in the restaurants of Eataly Rome (Ostiense) from 19:00 to 23:00 with pots for 2 persons. While every Thursday there will be guest chefs from Roman restaurants cooking their traditional recipes. The recipes and guest restaurants constantly change but one thing that will remain constant is the traditionality of the dishes. Ristoro Degli Angeli presented their mezze maniche alla vignarola romana with fava beans, peas and artichokes. Osteria di San Cesareo made the Amatriciana while Eataly came up with the Carbonara according to the recipe of their Executive Chef Roberto Cotugno. At the presentation night, all the guest restaurants for the event were present with their recipes served in pots. Thepresented their mezze maniche alla vignarola romana with fava beans, peas and artichokes.made the Amatriciana whilecame up with the Carbonara according to the recipe of their Lo'Steria di Ponte Milvio presented a pot of lamb meatballs and Roman artichokes while Osteria 22Quattro made the lamb chops cooked with Roman broccoli and potatoes with rosemary. Flavio al Velavevodetto presented a pot of coda alla vaccinara while Antica Macelleria Annibale presented a pot of Roman tripe accompanied with a dish of mixed fresh salad with Pecorino cheese, mint and cooked anchovy dressing by Maria Luisa Zaia of the Oste della Bon'Ora. presented a pot of lamb meatballs and Roman artichokes whilemade the lamb chops cooked with Roman broccoli and potatoes with rosemary.presented a pot of coda alla vaccinara whilepresented a pot of Roman tripe accompanied with a dish of mixed fresh salad with Pecorino cheese, mint and cooked anchovy dressing by Maria Luisa Zaia of the Salted cod with chickpeas and crispy leeks was Mamma Angelina's proposal while Gaetano & Pasquale Torrente proposed a mixture of anchovies (fried anchovies, anchovies with Provola cheese, meatballs of anchovies, bread with butter and anchovies). proposed the vignarola. From Eataly's third floor restaurant, Paolo Trippini made a pot of chicken with peppers. Cacciani proposed the picchiapo meatballs while La Briciola of Cristiana Montellanico proposed the vignarola. From Eataly's third floor restaurant, Paolo Trippini made a pot of chicken with peppers. In addition to the salty entries, Dolci Desideri and Forattini pastry shops, as well as Eataly bakery provided the cakes while the wines were provided by a couple of local wine producers from Lazio, Trebotti and Castel de Paolis. To cheer the evening, Gli Stornellattori performed some Roman folk songs stopping in the various restaurants which is curated by Fabrizio Masci. In addition to the salty entries,pastry shops, as well as Eataly bakery provided the cakes while the wines were provided by a couple of local wine producers from Lazio,. To cheer the evening,performed some Roman folk songs stopping in the various restaurants which is curated by Piazzale 12 Ottobre 1492 00154 Rome, Italy (Metro B: Piramide) Tel: +39 06 90279201 Email: eatalyroma@eataly.it Emirates has launched the Emirates Vintage Collection a selection of fine wines from its cellar in Burgundy which have been stored for up to 15 years. The four wines to be included this year are the Chateau Cheval Blanc 2004, Chateau Haut Brion 2004, Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2001 and Chateau Margaux 1998. Due to limited availability, these exclusive wines will be served in First Class on select routes for a limited period. Since 2006, Emirates has been buying wines for long term storage, many of which were purchased en Primeur or when they were still in barrel. The Emirates Vintage Collection represents the most prestigious of these wines, a rare selection that is difficult to source. The airline has managed to procure large parcels, thanks to its unique approach to buying wines. It has built direct relationships with some of the worlds most prestigious vineyards to handpick and secure the most exclusive and rare wines for its customers. We went direct to the winemakers, handpicked these vintages and then cellared them for up to 15 years in Burgundy before we decided they were ready to be served. It has taken a great deal of patience, investment and long-term planning. Our aim has always been to surprise and delight our customers and they are in for a treat with this selection, said Joost Heymeijer, Senior Vice President, Inflight Catering, Emirates. He added: Every effort was taken to present the wines from the Emirates Vintage Collection in the best possible way. We spent time training our cabin crew, redesigning our glassware and creating a food pairing menu to ensure that when you savour these great wines on board, its no different than the best restaurant in the worlds top cities. The Emirates Vintage Collection was launched on board last week on a special flight to Paris with the Chateau Cheval Blanc 2004. Arnaud de Laforcade, Commercial Director of the Estate, gave customers a surprise wine masterclass at 40,000 feet in the iconic Emirates A380 Onboard Lounge. The special tasting gave customers the chance to savour the Chateau Cheval Blanc 2004 and 2006. Special dishes have also been created to be paired with each wine from the Emirates Vintage Collection. The airlines culinary team worked with its in-house sommeliers to develop dishes that would best complement the wines and offer a fine dining experience on board. In keeping with its regionally inspired menus, a unique dish was chosen for each route and wine. On flights to and from Dublin for example, the Chateau Cheval Blanc 2004 will be paired with Irish grass-fed beef fillet served with a potato dauphinoise, creamed leek and spinach, baby carrots and a shallot jus. The same wine will be paired with a seared venison served with a thyme jus, blanched kohlrabi, baby carrots and broccolini on flights to Geneva. The four wines will be staggered throughout the year on various routes in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia. The selection is a testament to Emirates continued investment in Bordeaux wines a staple on its wines lists. Last year alone, the airline purchased USD 56 million worth of wines and champagne in France. Since 2006, the airline has invested USD 780 million in wine from around the world to give its customers an unmatched culinary experience on board. Today, the airline has a world class offering of over 80 fine wines and champagnes served across its network daily. The burgeoning amount of operational data pumped out by the global commercial fleet looks set to become a windfall for MRO providers. However, as Chuck Grieve explains, first, operators have to learn to interpret the data. Studies suggest more than 38,000 new aircraft will be in operation worldwide by 2025, each of them producing some 50 times more data than current types. All this data is designed to make commercial operations more efficient by constantly monitoring the behaviour of aircraft systems and engines in flight. However, its not about the data your fleet is churning out its about what you do with it. Thats the opinion of Ken Sain, Boeings vice-president of digital aviation and data analytics, and he should know. Sain is in the thick of things at the Seattle airframer, whose new types produce thousands of data points per minute while flying. Our industry is still at the start of applying analytics on a wide scale basis, he said in an interview with MRO Network. Boeing has been using data analysis for decades to improve its aircraft. It launched AnalytX software last June and plans to expand into self-service analytics for its customers. Airbus is also making a pitch for global data management with its Skywise platform, launched last June, which it says aims to become the single platform of reference of all major aviation players. Skywise claims several major international airlines as early adopters. They have so far used the platform for fleet events tracking and resolution, turnaround-time analysis, operations analytics, predictive maintenance, reliability analysis and benchmarking, and maintenance decision support. A growing number of systems OEMs have strategies in place to collect the increasing amounts of data generated by their products. This has been made possible by the faster speeds of data transfer in next-generation aircraft such as the CSeries, Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. The Pratt & Whitney engines on Bombardiers CSeries jetliner are said to generate up to 10 gigabytes (GB) of data per second; this would add up to 432 terabytes (TB) per engine on one 12-hour sector. Rolls-Royce and General Electric (GE) collect similar amounts of data, especially from their most modern engines on the global fleet. Major avionics OEMs such as Rockwell Collins and Honeywell are also actively capturing and using data. An immediate benefit is the ability of maintenance teams on the ground to detect any abnormalities and prepare to deal with them at the earliest opportunity. As an MRO provider working across platforms, Lufthansa Technik (LHT) has taken an ecumenical approach to big data. It has created an open, modular and neutral platform called Aviatar that offers a variety of digital MRO products and services by combining multiple apps in one place, independent of OEMs, MRO service contracts or, indeed, itself. A spokesman said LHT expects Lufthansa Group airlines to adopt Aviatar for fleet management. Discussions continue with airlines in all regions. LHT takes a collective approach by welcoming developers who want to connect their apps to the platform. Users can select the products they need. While each app is valuable in a standalone version, it is the interlay of those apps that gives Aviatar its value. The platform started with seven apps that gave users an overview of their fleet and key performance indicators in real time. Through analysis of data from their fleets, users can predict maintenance needs ahead of time. Big data provides a predictive MRO tool to better plan shop visits, parts logistics and fleet management, all of which will result in savings in time and cost. Sami Ben-Kraiem, MTU Maintenances vice-president marketing and sales for Middle East and Southeast Asia, explained it is challenging to create a general cross-industry approach because, while there are common data parameters, the hardware and software to process and analyse data varies considerably. MTU Maintenance works with data directly from operations through its engine trend monitoring (ETM) programme. As MTU is an independent service provider, our ETM system is not based on a single engine system, said Ben-Kraiem. This means that we can, for instance, monitor a customers GE90 and V2500 fleet with the same tool, which is particularly helpful for engineers and technical managers and unusual in the industry. We are also exploring the possibilities this opens up for predictive maintenance. On 2 May, the Defense ministry of The Netherlands signed a contract with the Norwegian manufacturer Prox Dynamics to purchase dozens of tiny reconnaissance drones of the Black Hornet type. The mini-drones will be used by reconnaissance units of the army and the Marine Corps (Mariniers). The Black Hornet micro-drones will be used by reconnaissance units of the army and the Marine Corps (Mariniers).(Picture source: The Netherlands MoD) As the name suggests, the mini-drone is the size of a (very) big insect: 10 by 2.5 cm. It weighs 18 grams and its top speed is 18 km/hr. The Black Hornet is also very quiet, so that a target can be approached up to a few meters unnoticed. The so-called military micro-UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) has movable cameras that allow it to take photo and video recordings during day and night. The micro-helicopters can be controlled by sight (per video connection) but they can also fly independently with their autopilot and GPS system. The maximum range is 1 km. Since the charging time is about the same as the flight time, a set can be flown almost continuously. The system is being purcahsed 'off the shelf'. The teething problems have been developed and Defense is therefore not faced with unexpected (financial) surprises. In addition, the Black Hornet has already proven itself on the front: the British forces have used the system to their great satisfaction in Afghanistan. In addition to the British, Norway and Germany also have the Black Hornet. Prox Dynamics is training the first trainers of the forthcoming users. They will then train the other scouts. In addition to the Black Hornet, the Netherlands Defense operates two other drones: the RQ-11B Raven (medium duration, distance and height) and the ScanEagle (long duration, distance and height). Heres a phrase from the biography of Beth Bahia Cohen, a violinist who plays our kind of classical music, but who also plays just about every violin-like instrument found anywhere in the world. And specializes in music from Hungary and Greece. Shes on the faculty at Berklee. Where, she says, she teaches Global Strings Ensembles, Greek Music Ensemble, and private lessons in world violin traditions including European classical music. So how about that! European classical music, positioned simply as one of many world traditions. Is that what we do in our field? Nope. As cultural theorists might say, we privilege our music, giving it special status. Most likely we acknowledge other music, enjoy it, maybe think its important. But still we make our kind of classical music special, maybe even think that kids should learn about it in school. As if it were more important than other kinds of music. My Juilliard students often say its deeper, more expressive, more emotionally powerful than music of other kinds. Which of course is their truth, but maybe not a universal truth. Stepping carefully Ill grant that were in tricky territory here. Because European classical music our kind (because there are other kinds of classical music: Indian, Persian, and more) has a kind of world imprint that other musical traditions may not have. Beth plays traditional Greek and Hungarian music, but in Greece and Hungary Id think European classical music is more often or at least more prominently heard. Though, come to think of it, I dont know that. But certainly European classical music has a wide imprint and much prestige in those countries, and elsewhere in the world. And thats tricky, in two ways. First, popular music has a far wider imprint, far wider circulation, far more impact on people. Its another musical tradition or rather a huge complex of many traditions, happily blending, changing each other. (African music blends with western music and evolves into gospel music and blues. From which R&B emerges, from which disco evolves, and then electronic dance music, which elsewhere in the world blends with Arab music. While African music blends with the R&B that evolved from it. And onward from there.) And then, second trickiness, the universal imprint of western culture on one hand is, well, universal, but also has a colonialist history. And in the widest cultural world we agree now that all cultures contribute, all get respect. So we should think that about music, too! And let our music take its place in the wider world. And then maybe I should have put the next part much earlier How we benefit! Maybe this seems counterintuitive. If we dial back the prestige of classical music, if we step off our pedestal, if we admit that European classical music is less important than weve thought it is wait for it well do much better than we do now. Be happier, get a wider audience, even grow artistically. Thats a big admission for many people in our field, but its the truth. If we want a new, bigger, younger audience which we badly need! then, yes, our prestige stemming from a lingering sense of our superlative importance) does give us an advantage. So many people I meet say, in an apologetic way, that they know they should listen to classical music. But then they never do it! Which suggests the downside of our prestige. It can scare people away. Makes people think they dont know enough to enjoy classical music, that they need to be educated in it, that at concerts there are special rules. That theyll never understand classical music, that maybe theyre not even worthy of it. And so on! Weve all encountered these ideas. Lets not be scary And the more we treat our music which is only the classical music of Europe (India, Iran, and other countries have classical music of their own) as special, the more we scare people away. So if we give up on that, and just happily say, hey, European classical music is just one the many kinds of music you can enjoyif we show that we like other kinds of music, tooif we show that we live in the same multimusical world other people live inwell make ourselves much more approachable. And well build a bigger audience. And advance in our quest for diversity. And by opening ourselves to blend with other music, well grow artistically. i should note that, while I know Beth Bahia Cohen, these are my ideas, and not necessarily hers. Reimagining Pakistan makes a strong call on Pakistan to end its march to folly. In one of the most definitive books written on what ails Pakistan, the author and former diplomat Husain Haqqani surprises you with the searing clarity with which he lays out the challenges that confront his nation and how they may be resolved. In this impressively researched book, Reimagining Pakistan, Transforming a Dysfunctional Nuclear State, the former advisor to three Pakistan Prime Ministers, writes of how a warm and hospitable people have paid the price for its leaders magnificent mistakes, described across the world today as dangerous and unstable, a terrorist incubator, and the land of the intolerant. He talks of an all-pervasive military backed uber-patriotism, which is measured by how shrill the patriots defence of India-bashing and using terrorism to seeking Kashmirs accession, is. He charts its military-led national discourse and Pakistans obsession with enemies, both imagined and real, and how every Pakistani politician from Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to Nawaz Sharif and now Imran Khan, hewed their views close to the military as an easy route to power. Haqqani calls out Pakistan for its duplicity in aiding US troops in Afghanistan while allowing Taliban leaders to regroup covertly on its soil, 16 years after 9/11. Pakistan, he writes, will always be seen in the global imagination as having been chosen by terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden as his safe haven, and how Islamabad acting as arsonist and firefighter in Afghanistan has lost Americas trust. But it is his focus on the genesis of Pakistans praetorian tendencies within the Army and its intelligence and counter-intelligence wings that make for a compelling narrative. Quoting from Stephen Cohens 1984 study The Pakistan Army, he writes of Pakistan Armys rise to pre-eminence in the Pakistani state: There are many Armies that guard their nations borders, there are those that are concerned with protecting their own position in society, and then there are those that defend a cause or an idea. The Pakistan Army does all three. Seen as a country that is prone to military coups and now the non-coup coup where yet another elected civilian Prime Minister has been disqualified from office for the third time, the countrys most famous dissident emphasises, however, how his country is simply far too important in geo-strategic terms to be ignored. Reimagining Pakistan makes a strong call on Pakistan to end its march to folly, reassess its core beliefs about a religion-based polity. But it is his contention, that its time to re-examine the obsession, the notion of permanent conflict with neighbouring India, the one overarching theme through the book that will strike home in this country where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis well-intentioned but naive Pakistan outreach to his counterpart Nawaz Sharif was spectacularly scuppered by Pakistans deep state. Haqqanis central premise of a Pakistan, fuelled by political paranoia and dominated by a penchant for victimhood these last 70 years, is that it needs to shed its fears of domination by Hindu India which has already led to four full-fledged wars, one alleged genocide, loss of half the countrys land area in conflict, secession, several proxy or civil wars, four direct military coups, multiple constitutions, long periods without constitutional rulenumerous political assassinations, unremitting terrorism What is at the heart of Pakistans dysfunctional state? At the heart of Pakistans dysfunction lies its evolution as an ideological elitist state. This ideology fostered over the last 70 years has had two major consequences. First, it opened the door for endless debates and schisms around Islam that prevent discussion of more pressing and practical governance issues. Second, it conflated an Islamic Pakistani nationalism with anti-Indianism, putting Pakistan in a foreign and national security policy straitjacket. While most matter-of-fact considerations point to the need for normalising Pakistans relations with India, its state ideology and national narrative impede normalisation. Pakistan needs a new basis for its nationalism that is based on reality rather than engineered narratives of history and aspiration. Currently, ideological reasons dictate that Pakistan remain implacably hostile to India, maintain an expensive military, and support Jihadi terrorist organisations. But the cost of these policies has debilitating effects like failing to invest in education that develops critical thinking, being less globally connected, and losing the economic benefits of being a friendly destination for tourists or investors. Does the view that India dominated by a revanchist BJP wanting to divide Pakistan further or re-integrate Pakistan into a pre-Partition Hindustan, as propagated by power centres like the military and those holding extremist ideologies, continue to influence Pakistani public opinion? What role can India play in changing these perceptions? What will it take for the Pakistan Army to shed this false premise? And recalibrate one of the two pillars of its state the anti-Indianism that colours formulation of policy? The India-Pakistan relationship has become a victim of two parallel and contending nationalisms. Under the militarys influence, Pakistani nationalism has evolved as anti-Indianism. Indian nationalism, on the other hand, insists on describing Pakistani identity as inherently communal and constantly reiterates the need to dispute the two- nation theory. By definition this puts Pakistan down and on the defensive instead of making it feel respected and self-confident. When Pakistanis rally around their flag, they are forced to defend the two-nation theory if it is under attack from Indians even when they would rather embrace a functional, as opposed to ideological, nationalism. Indians might better succeed in weakening the anti-India aspect of Pakistani nationalism by repeating more often Vajpayees unequivocal acceptance of Pakistan, recorded at the Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore. The task of debating the irrelevance of the two-nation theory in the 21st century should be left to Pakistanis, who cannot ignore harsh facts forever. In recent years, the rise of Hindu nationalism in India is cited in Pakistan as evidence of implacable hostility between Muslim Pakistan and Hindu India. But it is important to note that the notions in Pakistan of HinduMuslim relations being eternally strained and Pakistan being under a permanent threat from India predate the political rise of Hindutva during the 1990s. Pakistans leaders were speaking of Pakistan and Islam being in danger even during the decades immediately after Partition when leaders of the Hindutva movement saw Indias government appeasing the countrys Muslim minority. Statements and assertions by post-Independence Indian leaders, such as Jawaharlal Nehru, that India had accepted Pakistan in good faith had little impact. In recent years, India and Pakistan are increasingly resembling each other in rage, resentment and public displays of religion. At the time of Partition, all sides committed acts of violence but at least Indias mainstream leaders stood up to declare that the people of the subcontinent are members of one family. Even as Pakistan got engulfed in debates about an Islamic Constitution and Islamisation of laws, Indias Constitution expressly declared the country as a secular state. That is less and less the case now. Things have gradually changed in India, to the detriment of the argument within Pakistan for a pluralist Pakistan India and Pakistan may have centuries of shared history but the contending nationalisms, passionately taught in schools and also cultivated through Jihadism and Hindutva extremism for 70 years have eroded the commonalities between the two people. Moreover, both countries have given priority to ideology over pragmatism in their relations. The majority of the subcontinents current population 94 per cent of Indians, 95.5 per cent of Pakistanis were born after Independence in 1947. Yet, the anger and rhetoric of Partition forms part of transmitted memories while reconciliatory statements do not. In Pakistans case, treating India just as a neighbouring state has proved difficult because of Indias centrality to Pakistans identity as a separate nation. At least part of the explanation for why this has not happened lies in the unwillingness of personally secular, civil and military leaders to change Pakistans collective view of its largest neighbour. An Army officer, for instance, might understand that the clerics demands for segregation of the sexes or an interest-free economy are incompatible with the needs of a modern society. But he cannot overcome the inculcated prejudice about Muslim Pakistan being threatened by Hindu India and by ethnic identities within the country. Pakistani officers consider the most regressive clerics patriotic because, after all, they would never make common cause with Pakistans external enemies the Indians and whoever else Pakistani intelligence might know or imagine as conspiring against the country at any given moment. Liberal and secular thinkers, on the other hand, are permanently suspect. If they speak up for any ethnic group, they must want Pakistans disintegration; if they ask for a secular state, they could be asking for eliminating Pakistans identity and a virtual reincorporation into India; and if they question the Armys political role or its budget, they must be in league with the enemy. Present-day Pakistan is caught between a political class that lives up to the militarys description as rank opportunists, and a judiciary that is now seen as playing the militarys game? How do you see this panning out? After four military coups, several constitutional changes, and military-sponsored reconfigurations of political parties, the Pakistani military insists on persisting with its efforts to re-engineer the countrys politics. The objective, as in the past, seems to be to change the countrys political landscape by removing undesirable politicians and advancing the careers of civilians considered more pliable by military generals and Intelligence colonels. The real question is: why do Pakistans senior military and Intelligence officers consider it their right to intervene in politics, publicly or privately, even though it violates their constitutional oath as military officers? Adhering to the Constitution and fulfilling the oath to stay out of politics is difficult for an Army trained to think of itself as Pakistans saviour. The generals and colonels who meddle in politics convince themselves that they are only protecting Pakistan from treasonous politicians by breaking their solemn oath. The military officers alone are judges of treason, a charge that is frequently made but has never been brought or proved in court against any Pakistani public figure since Independence. That they wont succeed in their political engineering just as their predecessors, is beyond the grasp of simple, patriotic soldiers. Until Pakistans soldiers understand that the flaws of politics and politicians can only be remedied by better politics and politicians, they will continue to make and break political parties and alliances. The new parties and alliances will go the way of similar engineered political entities of the past. The list is long and getting longer. Unfortunately, Pakistans politics are not getting any better. To what extent do you believe 2018 polls will be manipulated ? Just as the military has perfected the art of non-coup coup it has also learned that in the day of social media it is difficult to manipulate or openly rig elections. Hence the way to influence elections is to prevent certain politicians from running elections, bring out old cases of corruption against politicians you can manipulate, and convince politicians to leave political parties and join new ones. This has already started to happen, especially in Punjab. After 70 years as a nation, as Pakistan, why is there any worry at all about the nation continuing to survive as a united Pakistan. Since Independence, the state of Pakistan has persisted with maintaining the threat perception about Hindus, now represented by India, wanting to eliminate or subjugate the Muslims. Thus, ideology and grievance rather than the pragmatic interests of a territorial state and its citizens have often determined Pakistans direction over the years. Fear of a much larger and more resourceful neighbour is not exclusive to Pakistan, nor is the existence of specific disputes. What sets Pakistan apart is the belief that India has not accepted Pakistans existence as a nation or state and is constantly conspiring to invalidate its creation. This insecurity has been nourished throughout Pakistans history, beginning with the countrys founders, making it the cornerstone of Pakistani nationalism. Pakistans attitude towards the perceived Indian threat has changed little in 70 years. Pakistani officials avowed fear of a decidedly more Hindu sentiment espoused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 differs little from the vehement derision that Nehrus overtures in 1948 received. In 2016, Army chief General Raheel Sharif echoed the sentiment expressed by Bhutto in 1971. He declared, as many have done throughout Pakistans history, that Pakistanis understood the conspiracies against their country and would fight them for as long as it takes. The alternative view, that Pakistani leaders cultivated the fear of an existential threat as a means of bringing their diverse peoples together, has been suppressed within Pakistan. The concept of an existential threat helps in by-passing the complex issues of national identity and formulating a distinct culture. At Independence the new country did not have a history or identity as Pakistan, beyond what had been created amid the political struggle of the last few years of British Raj. It was home to several distinct ethnic groups, speaking different languages, some of whom (like Sindhis, Baloch and Pashtuns) had known self-rule before the advent of the British. Pakistan could have recognised its diversity and evolved as a multi-ethnic, multi-language federation with political and cultural autonomy for its constituting units. Instead, its leaders chose to base Pakistani identity on a national ideology. Pakistan has paid scant attention to ethnicity- and language- based nationalism in other countries to understand why suppression of language or culture and efforts at forced integration are doomed to fail. Pakistanis have constantly forgotten that offers of autonomy and recognition of language and cultural separateness is often a better option than imposing greater centralisation by force. The fear that foreign countries, especially neighbors like India and Afghanistan, are encircling Pakistan through the pincer movement and aim to use Pashtun and Baluch irredentism to break up Pakistan, led to Pakistans policy of interference in Afghanistan (support of mujahideen, Afghan Taliban and other groups). Instead of stabilising Pakistan, the policy has ended up weakening it further but there is an inability to move away from this self-defeating policy. A rising China plays a major role in propping up Pakistan on the world stage. You have written of the possibility of India and Pakistan opening up its borders for cross border trade that will benefit both peoples. Is this possible given that Pakistan is trading one mentor, US ,for another in Beijing? Economic considerations have always been deemed secondary in Pakistans policy priorities, important only to the extent of finding resources for greater goals such as securing Kashmir, facing the Indian threat or reviving Islams lost glory. The discord between India and Pakistan also holds back the entire South Asian region, home to around 1.7 billion people living in eight countries Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The combined GDP (at nominal rates) of these countries stands at $2.9 trillion and it is the least integrated region in the world. Intra-regional trade comprises only 5 per cent of total trade of South Asias eight countries. Instead of resenting India, Pakistan could stake a claim to its own share of prosperity. The two-way trade between India and China stands at $72 billion even though the two countries are often considered rivals. The volume of India-Pakistan trade is a measly $2 billion. Instead of tapping the potential of trade with India, Pakistan refuses to open it because of its ideological rivalry and the unsettled dispute over J&K. This deprives Pakistan of a large market and encourages smuggling of Indian products or their import through third countries, which only makes it more expensive. The government loses customs revenue in the process. Currently, Pakistans optimism about its future revolves around Chinas strategic interest in the country manifested in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a more than $44 billion package of projects aimed at modernising Pakistans infrastructure and improving connectivity with China as well as the rest of Asia through Chinas One Belt One Road (OBOR.) For China, CPEC is part of its global plan to deploy the excess capacity of its huge infrastructure companies as well as to absorb some of its surpluses, but for Pakistan it presents an opportunity for economic growth and infrastructure expansion. Ironically, CPEC is seen by Pakistanis not purely in economic terms but as a security guarantee of Chinas commitment to their country. Once again, the historic pattern of insecurity seem to be at work. The difference of perception over ultimate goals notwithstanding, CPEC does offer an economic way forward to Pakistan just as the flow of U.S. and other Western assistance did in the countrys early history. However, over the long term, CPEC would be advantageous only if the economic activity it generates helps service the debt generated by the projects and also pays for the profits of Chinese companies that would go out of the country. The meeting comes at a time when Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections achieved its record high. The 27th meeting of the GST Council on Friday will among other things consider introduction of simplified tax return. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The 27th meeting of the GST Council on Friday will among other things consider introduction of simplified tax return form and also decide on proposal for converting GST Network into a government company. The Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley-chaired council, comprising state finance ministers, will meet through video conferencing. The meeting comes at a time when Goods and Services Tax (GST) collections achieved its record high by exceeding Rs 1 lakh crore milestone in April. The government mopped up Rs 1.03 lakh crore in GST collections last month. The new indirect tax regime, which was rolled out on July 1 last year, had earned a revenue of Rs 7.41 lakh crore in entire 2017-18. A decision on return simplification is on the agenda with the Sushil Modi-led group of ministers (GoM) putting the three models of new return form for discussion before the council, an official said, adding GSTN proposal will also come up for consideration. Currently, five private financial institutions -- HDFC Ltd, HDFC Bank Ltd, ICICI Bank Ltd, NSE Strategic Investment Co and LIC Housing Finance Ltd -- hold 51 per cent stake in GSTN, which was incorporated on March 28, 2013, in the erstwhile UPA regime. The remaining 49 per cent stake is with the Centre and states. With Jaitley been advised by doctors to stay in isolation to avoid contracting infection, the meeting has been planned through video conferencing. The council, the official said, will deliberate on the new simplified form to be common for both small and large tax payers and providing some relief for NIL return filers by allowed them to file return quarterly. At present, NIL return filers have to file returns monthly. Besides, monthly return filing process for other and quarterly return filing for composition taxpayers will continue. The council had in March held discussions on the two models of GST returns and suggested that the GoM work on further simplification. The official said the amendment to the law would also be taken up once the council clears the new GST return format. One of the models presented before the council was that provisional credit should not be granted unless the taxpayers file returns and pay taxes. The second model stated that provisional credit can be granted to a taxpayer, but returns must be filed within three-four months. It added that taxes must be paid, else the credit amount would be reversed. After consulting the stakeholders, the GoM earlier this month worked out a third model for return filing according to which credit could be extended once the invoice uploaded by the supplier is verified by the purchaser on the GSTN portal. Jaitley had earlier this month asked Finance Secretary Hasmukh Adhia to examine the possibility of converting GSTN into a majority government company or a 100 per cent government company. GSTN provides the IT backbone for the new indirect tax regime. The promo of the soon-to-be aired show on a leading television channel now has a fringe group that is planning protests against the show. The visual of the promo where Salman Khan plants a kiss on a contestant of Dus Ka Dum has not gone down well with the moral brigade. The promo of the soon-to-be aired show on a leading television channel now has a fringe group that is planning protests against the show. It is being said that Salman will give kisses to people who win the show and the shot of him kissing a participant has not been well received. As such, Salman has been associated with a lot of things that are against the law and he has also been convicted recently in the black buck killing case. Hence, this fringe group will now be protesting against the show and also filing a case against the channel for promoting anti-Indian culture, informs a source. Sanskriti Media Fitness and medical tests of 18 female and 21 male recruits were being done in district headquarters in Bhind. The footage showed young male applicants stripped to their undergarments, lined up to get their height and chest measured in the same room where woman candidates were also being checked. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Bhopal: The police recruitment tests in Madhya Pradesh continue to be dogged by controversy. Days after turmoil over branding of SC/ST youths during a police recruitment drive in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, a fresh controversy erupted on Wednesday over medical examination of female cops by male doctors in another government hospital in Bhind district. A video clip showing female police constable recruits being subjected to fitness and medical examinations by male doctors in the government hospital went viral, prompting the local administration to act against the erring officials. The clip also showed the female recruits being lined up along with their male counterparts, who were stripped to their undergarments in one room for fitness and medical tests. Fitness and medical tests of 18 female and 21 male recruits were being done in district headquarters in Bhind on Tuesday. It is inappropriate to conduct medical and fitness tests of male and female police constable recruits in one room. It is also wrong to conduct tests of female cops by male doctors. The in-charge of medical board constituted for the purpose, Devendra Sharma, has been placed under suspension. I have sought a report from the civil surgeon on the incident. Actions would be taken against all the officials found guilty in the incident, Bhind district collector said. Civil surgeon of Bhind district Ajit Mishra said a probe has been ordered and show cause notices were issued to five doctors. A female doctor and a staff nurse have been deputed to conduct medical examinations of the women constables, he added. The fiasco comes barely a week after caste-branding on chests of male police constable aspirants belonging to SC, ST and OBC during their fitness and medical tests in district hospital in Dhar in the state. While a police inspector and a sub-inspector were suspended in connection with the incident, the civil surgeon in the district has been served show cause notice. Wildlife activists feared that such move would be disastrous for the states wildlife. The Central government has identified at least three historical monuments and the Kaziranga National Park of Assam for handing over to private sector for its maintenance under a Monument Mitra scheme in four phases. (Photo: Representational Image/PTI) Guwahati: The Centres decision to handover Kaziranga National Park and three historical monuments located in upper Assams Sivasagar district to a private firm for their maintenance has triggered a massive protest cross the state. Several civil society groups and wildlife activists on Wednesday staged demonstration outside these monuments and shouted slogan against the government. Accusing the government of auctioning their historical monuments, the Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity threatened that it would oppose any move by the government to hand over these sites to a private entity. Wildlife activists feared that such move would be disastrous for the states wildlife. The Central government has identified at least three historical monuments and the Kaziranga National Park of Assam for handing over to private sector for its maintenance under a Monument Mitra scheme in four phases. The scheme has been prepared by the Central government for handing over the important historic monuments and reserved forests, wildlife sanctuaries, etc., to private-public sector firms for their maintenance. The three historical monuments which are proposed to be handed over to a private firm are the 18th century Amphitheatre Rang Ghar, the Ahom royal palace Kareng Ghar and the Ahomera Shiva temple Shiva Doul. The JTI Group has been named as the Monument Mitra for the Kaziranga National Park and the Sivasagar monuments stated a Central government notification. We have expressed our interest to adopt these sites but it is yet to be awarded to us, managing director of JTI Group, Ashish Phukan, said. EPFO said there is nothing to be concerned about and all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that no data leakage takes place. The statement from the retirement fund body comes amid reports of a letter purportedly written by EPFO Central Provident Fund Commissioner VP Joy to CSC's CEO, Dinesh Tyagi on March 23 flagging the data theft issue. (Photo: File) New Delhi: Services pertaining to Aadhaar-seeding with PF accounts done by Common Service Centre (CSC) have been suspended "pending vulnerability checks", Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) said on Wednesday but maintained that there was no data leakage. The statement from the retirement fund body came amid reports of a letter purportedly written by EPFO Central Provident Fund Commissioner VP Joy to CSC's CEO, Dinesh Tyagi on March 23 flagging the data theft issue. While announcing the suspension of CSC services, the EPFO said, "Warnings regarding vulnerabilities in data or software is a routine administrative process based on which the services which were rendered through the CSC have been discontinued from March 22, 2018." The EPFO said there is nothing to be concerned about and that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure that no data leakage takes place. "No confirmed data leakage has been established or observed so far. As part of the data security and protection, the EPFO has taken advance action by closing the server and host service through the CSC pending vulnerability checks," it said in a statement. The retirement fund body's statement came after reports had suggested theft of data of subscribers by hackers from 'aadhaar.epfoservices.com', a website operated by the CSC that comes under the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The issue of data theft was purportedly raised by Joy in his letter dated March 23. "... it has been intimated that the data has been stolen by hackers by exploiting the vulnerabilities prevailing in the website (aadhaar.epfoservices.com) of EPFO...," the purported letter had said. The retirement fund body has been seeding Aadhaar with Universal Account (PF) numbers of its subscribers to improve delivery of services. It has planned to go paperless by August 2018 and then all its services would be provided online. Separately, Aadhaar-issuing body, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) clarified that there is no data compromise from its servers, and asserted that the Aadhaar database "remains safe and secure". Asked about EPFO's chief's letter to CSC CEO, a top IT ministry official said that since vulnerability has been flagged, the ministry would take action to plug the gaps in case they exist. "We will have it looked at. A vulnerability has been pointed out, and so we will (undertake) the exercise to plug the vulnerability, if it is there," said the official who did not wish to be named. When contacted by news agency PTI, CSC CEO Dinesh Tyagi emphasised that while the said application had been designed by the CSC, it is now hosted on EPFO data centres and servers. "It is now fully under EPFO's control... the (web) application has also been security audited by an empanelled auditor. But since the vulnerability has been pointed out, we are getting it audited by another auditor, and will send the report to the EPFO," Tyagi said. The report of the data leak and alleged data vulnerability comes at a time when a Constitutional bench of the Supreme Court is hearing a clutch of petitions challenging the Aadhaar Act and the use of biometric identifier in various government and non-government services. This is the first National Film Awards Mr Kovind, who became Indias 14th President on July 25 last year, will be conferring. New Delhi: The 65th National Film Awards ceremony, to be held at New Delhis Vigyan Bhavan on Thursday, came under a strange cloud of controversy at the eleventh hour as news spread on Wednesday evening that Rashtrapati Bhavan had told the information and broadcasting ministry that President Ram Nath Kovind wouldnt be able to attend the entire ceremony due to his busy schedule. Sources said Rashtrapati Bhavan has said that due to President Kovinds packed schedule, he wouldnt be able to attend the whole function and had selected 11 awards that he would personally present. The Presidents House has also directed that the rest of the awards can be conferred by the I&B minister or the MoS, a source said. They did not say which 11 awards the President was likely to hand over. Mostly awards are given out in ascending order of significance. However, a Rashtrapati Bhavan source told this newspaper, It has been a while since President Kovind had decided that apart from major constitutional ceremonies, he will spend a maximum of one hour at all other functions and events, and this was communicated to the organisers of events several weeks in advance, including the organisers of the National Film Award. How many awards the organisers want the President to give away in that one hour is up to them, the source said, adding that all this was communicated to the organisers at least three weeks ago. Nevertheless, the dress rehearsal of the awards ceremony on Wednesday saw agitated award recipients protesting as they suddenly heard the news that President Kovind may not be handing over their awards. They voiced their displeasure to I&B minister Smriti Irani, saying they wanted to receive their award only from the President. Sources said Ms Irani tried to placate them. The minister told the award recipients that while she could not direct a change of schedule for the President, their sentiments would be conveyed to Rashtrapati Bhavan, sources said. The commotion a day prior to the awards cerem-ony, in the midst of some of Indias best actors, actresses, directors and technicians, carried a whiff of deliberate mischief. This is the first National Film Awards Mr Kovind, who became Indias 14th President on July 25 last year, will be conferring. The 65th National Film Awards were announced on April 13, in which the contribution of Vinod Khanna and Sridevi to Indian cinema were recognised by honouring them posthumously with the Dadasaheb Phalke and best actress awards respectively. Sridevis husband and daughter participated in the dress rehearsal on Wednesday. The National Film Awards, established in 1954, are presented in two main categories Feature Films and Non-Feature Films. The juries, both regional and at the Central level, are appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals in India for selection of the films. The Dadasaheb Phalke award, the top national honour for the film industry, is presented at the end of the National Film Awards ceremony. The JD(S) chief questioned PM Modis silence on various issues, including the Mahadayi dispute. Bengaluru: JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda refused to be pinned down on Wednesday about a post-poll alliance with the BJP despite Prime Minister Narendra Modis recent comments in his favour. Mr Gowda, who had earlier said that he would throw his son H.D. Kumaraswamy out of the party if he allied with the BJP, said at an eagerly awaited press meet on Wednesday that he would not reply to hypothetical questions when asked if he would go with the BJP or the Congress in case of a fractured mandate. The JD(S) patriarch cautioned the media not to read too much into statements that PM Modi made while addressing an election rally in Udupi on Tuesday where he had praised him as a respected politician and slammed Congress leaders for their comments denigrating him and calling his party the B team of the BJP. Speaking at the Bengaluru press meet, Mr Gowda lavished praise and criticism in equal measure on the Prime Minister whom he described as a very intelligent person who always did his homework about what he should say where. He (Modi) understands what is happening in Karnataka. He knows exactly what to say in each state he visits. He said he used to come to receive me at my car and then drop me back when I went to visit him. There is nothing special in that and there is no need to take any meaning out of this, Mr Gowda said. The JD(S) chief questioned PM Modis silence on various issues, including the Mahadayi dispute. He spoke at a rally in Belagavi. Could he not have spoken at least one word about Mahadayi? Did he speak anything about farmers? No. From this we can understand his character, he said. Four years ago I had said I would resign from Parliament if Mr Modi became Prime Minister. When I met him after he became Prime Minister, I told him I would resign, but he asked me not to care so much about election statements and asked me to stay back as Parliament needed my guidance. However, when I went to him with a plea to intervene in the Mahadayi issue, he just listened and did not utter a word. After that I stopped meeting him, Mr Gowda added. By remaining non-committal about which way JD(S) may go, Mr Gowda, a wily politician and a veteran of many a battle of ballots, fuelled speculation that an arrangement after the announcement of results of May 12 Assembly polls was still on the cards. Taking umbrage at Mr Siddaramaiah calling the JD(S) the BJPs B-team, he claimed that it was the chief minister who wanted to join hands with the BJP in 2004 just to become CM. While he was in the JD(S), he even suggested to me that we should join hands with the BJP he charged. But for the last two months he is desperately trying to prove that we are backing the BJP, just to swing the minority votes towards the Congress. His anger against the chief minister seemed to be growing as he brought up an incident which still, clearly, rankles. After I relinquished the chief ministers office in Karnataka in 96, my successor J.H. Patel displayed my photograph in the chief ministers chamber. Several other chief ministers came and went, but did not touch that photo. Mr Siddaramaiah threw it out. Asked about the progress made on forming the Peoples Front, the JD(S) leader said there were two streams of thought one to keep both the Congress and BJP out of it and another to include the Congress, but keep the BJP away. Mr Sitharam Yechury wants to include the Congress in the front, while others have reservations. We will have to wait and watch what happens. I will only be playing an advisory role, he explained. So far 11 have been arrested, including the prime accused, who owns a godown in Narkeldanga area where meat of dead animals is stored. Last week, the government had seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat, suspected of dead animals and sourced from dumping grounds, meant to be supplied to eateries and departmental stores in the state as well as neighbouring Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. (Photo: Representational) Kolkata: The kingpin of the meat racket involved in procuring dead animals from dumping grounds and processing their flesh before supplying to markets was arrested from Garia in South 24 Parganas district by the SIT, the police said on Thursday. Biswanath Garai, 52, a resident of Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district, was arrested from near the Garia railway station by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday evening, SP, Diamond Harbour police district, Koteswara Rao said. So far 11 persons have been arrested, including a leader of a political outfit, in connection with the case. Biswanath alias Bishu is the prime accused and the owner of the godown in Narkeldanga area in the city where the meat of dead animals was stored, he said. "Bishu was involved in collecting the meat and then processing it. He was then supplying them to different restaurants and markets," Rao said. Read: Rotten meat: Restaurants cautious, customers sceptical It is also being examined whether any influential person was helping him in carrying out the "business". "We are also looking for how many years he was running this business and who all are helping him in getting orders," another SIT official, involved in the investigation, said. Last week, the government had seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat, suspected of dead animals and sourced from dumping grounds, meant to be supplied to eateries and departmental stores in the state as well as neighbouring Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. Also Read: Stale, rotten meat being sold in Kolkata: Centre forms SIT, 10 held The state consumer affairs department is also preparing a detailed report on the matter. The West Bengal government has directed all police stations in the metropolis and the districts to keep a watch on the sale of meat in their areas, officials said. In a break from tradition, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani presented most of the awards. President Ram Nath Kovind presented the National Award for best actor (female) to Sridevi (posthumously) for the movie 'MOM'. The award was received by her husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) New Delhi: The 65th National Film Awards 2018 were handed out on Thursday at a ceremony at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi amid protests by winners who were angry about not receiving the prestigious honour from the President. Nearly 80 winners had threatened to skip the ceremony after getting to know that only 11 awards will be presented by President Ram Nath Kovind. In a break from tradition, Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani presented most of the awards. Union minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore was also present at the event. Filmmaker Meghnath who did not accept the award, said, "President should present us the award. That is our right. It is a tradition of President giving the award. It takes years to make a film. And it takes a minute for the President to present the award." "We are not commercial filmmakers. They are breaking a tradition of 65 years. They could have told us in advance, we would not have come here," Meghnath added. The artistes wrote an impassioned letter addressed to the President and the government, where it was stated, ...at the end of the day we feel dejected rather than honoured for our work. The Presidents office expressed surprise over the 11th hour protest, saying it is known that the President attends all award functions for a maximum of an hour. This has been the protocol since he took office. It was conveyed to Information and Broadcasting Ministry several weeks ago and the ministry knew this all along," said Ashok Malik, press secretary to the president. The 11 chosen for the President's segment included Vinod Khanna and Sridevi, who have been honoured posthumously. President Ram Nath Kovind presented Dada Saheb Phalke Award to veteran actor Vinod Khanna (posthumously). The award was received by the actor's wife Kavita Khanna and son Akshaye Khanna. President Ram Nath Kovind also presented the National Award for best actor (female) to Sridevi (posthumously) for the movie 'MOM'. The award was received by her husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor Earlier, the award winners had suggested that speeches and other frills be edited from the ceremony so that the President can accommodate more of them. Other winners in various categories included, AR Rahman, (won the Best Background Music Award for Mom and Best Songs Award for Kaatru Veliyidai); Bengali actor Riddhi Sen (Best Actor Award for Nagar Kirtan. Assamese Film) and Village Rockstars (Best Feature Film Award). PM Narendra Modi told gathering that nation should celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's anniversary next year 'in action' and not through tokenism. President Ram Nath Kovind chaired the meeting of the National Implementation Committee for Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra on Wednesday skipped a meeting chaired by President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss ways to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and BJP veteran LK Advani were among those who attended the first meeting of the 'national committee', sources in the government said. A total of 23 chief ministers, including those from West Bengal, UP, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh attended the meet, where a blueprint to mark the occasion was discussed. The celebrations are to begin on October 2 this year and continue till October 2, 2020. Chairing the meeting, President Ram Nath Kovind said Gandhi's principle of 'Ahimsa' (non-violence) is very relevant today with the world facing terrorism and other forms of violence. "Mahatma Gandhi was India's conscience keeper. The Mahatma is our past, he is our present and he is also our future," the president said. According to sources, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the gathering that the nation should celebrate the anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi next year "in action" and not through tokenism. PM Modi said that it is not enough to just pay homage to the leader but the government should ensure that he lives amongst the people, sources said. The prime minister said Gandhi's works have to be imbibed in life so that generations to come remember him and the celebration should be in the form of a 'jan andolan' (mass movement). After the meeting, Modi tweeted, "Mahatma Gandhi gave his life for the nation. He led a movement due to which our generations can breathe the air of freedom and have the privilege of living in a vibrant democracy." "We should ensure more and more people across the world know about Bapu's greatness," he said in another tweet. Prime Minister Modi also said the meeting witnessed wide-scale participation, with eminent leaders, CMs, citizens from various walks of life and people from overseas taking an active part. Sources quoted Azad as having said in the meeting that schools should have a curriculum based on non-violence and proposed an award for fearless journalism. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said that her ministry was planning to hold celebrations in 193 countries across the world and there will be one common programme at different venues. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti proposed that the 150th year of Gandhi's birth should be celebrated as the year of peace and reconciliation. She said that should be use of internet and social media to engage with youth on non-violence. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was of the view that the celebrations should begin this year itself and should go on for two years. She said the state government has already formed a committee to plan events for the occasion. She suggested that a world peace convention be held in West Bengal, the sources said. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that he has already started 'Bapu aapke dwar' (Gandhi at your doorsteps) to take the message of Gandhi to every household of the state. "Happy to participate in the first meeting of National Implementation Committee for Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi at Rashtrapati Bhavan, today. Meeting was chaired by the Hon'ble President & had meaningful and valuable discussions," Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, who is part of the committee, tweeted after the meeting. The National Green Tribunal had ordered the demolition of illegal structures at Kasauli as well as the removal of encroachments. New Delhi: Within a day of the killing of an official at Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh who was monitoring the removal of encroachments, the Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the incident and called for a report from the state government. Expressing shock and describing it as an extremely serious issue, Chief Justice Dipak Misra, presiding over a three-judge bench, said: We might stop passing any order if you (authorities) are going to kill people like this. The officer had gone there to implement our orders. When the counsel for the state government informed the court that the killer had fled the scene after shooting the official dead, the CJI observed: What was the police doing? It is an extremely serious issue. The alleged killer, Vijay Singh, has committed contempt of court. A lot of people tried to violate our orders. The counsel said Vijay Singh had shot dead the officer, Shail Bala, and seriously injured another officer. The National Green Tribunal had ordered the demolition of illegal structures at Kasauli as well as the removal of encroachments. The Supreme Court had upheld this order on April 17. A hotel owner had killed the official who was supervising the clearing operations. The bench has posted the matter for further hearing on Thursday. The CJI made it clear to Karnataka be ready to release 4 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu by the end of May for drinking water purposes. The Supreme Court also warned Karnataka of consequences if it did not release Cauvery water to meet the needs of Tamil Nadu for April and May. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday took strong note of the delay in framing of the Cauvery management scheme even as the Centre blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Union Cabinet ministers pre-occupation with Karnataka Assembly polls for its inability to draft a formula by for river water sharing between four southern states. Counsel for Tamil Nadu accused the BJP-led Central government of playing politics, saying it is more worried about BJPs poll prospects in Karnataka than following the apex court order even as the apex court assured distressed Tamil Nadu that it will get water before May-end whether the Cauvery board is formed or not. Giving reasons for the delay in implementation of the apex courts February 16 judgment for release of water by Karnataka as per the Cauvery tribunal award, attorney-general K.K. Venugopal told a bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra, We are in a difficult position. We could not finalise the scheme within the time limit of May 3. The scheme has to be approved by the Union Cabinet and since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers are travelling the scheme could not be finalised. Mr Venugopal said, The Karnataka chief minister had written a letter on April 26 suggesting that the authority under the scheme should include irrigation ministers of the four states. Therefore, there is confusion in farming the scheme. Please give us 10 days and have the case listed on May 15 or 16 after the polls. The CJI said, Mr Venugopal the scheme has to be finalised by the Centre and it should have been finalised by now. The states have no role in it. The bench, including Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud, directed the Centre to file an affidavit by May 8 explaining the steps it has taken to frame the scheme and also asked the Karnataka governments counsel to take instructions on release of 4 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu before the end of May. On April 9, the apex court had granted time to the Centre till May 3 so as to ensure that a mechanism is put in place before June when the release of water as per tribunal directions will really come into effect. At that time the court had turned down the Centres request to grant three months time for implementing the scheme in view of Karnataka Assembly polls on May 12. Senior counsel Shekar Naphade and counsel G. Umapathy for Tamil Nadu took strong exception to the AGs submission and said that the Centre was playing politics to favour the BJPs fortune in Karnataka state and is taking a brazen partisan attitude in support of the poll-bound state. When Mr Naphade submitted that they are worried about electoral fate in Karnataka, the CJI quipped that the Centres stand is a reality. Mr Naphade said, The Centre does not want to frame the scheme before the elections on May 12. If you allow this to happen, there will be nothing left of the rule of law and co-operative federalism. The Supreme Court passed its Cauvery judgment in February and we have still not been able to get water. Summer temperatures are rising. There is no drinking water. It is time for you to call a spade a spade, he said. Mr Umapathy added that as per the tribunals award Tamil Nadu was to get 2.5 tmcft of water in April and 2.5 tmcft in May but so far it has received only one tmcft. This was countered by senior counsel Shyam Divan and Mohan Katarki, appearing for Karnataka, who said water has been released to Tamil Nadu as per the distress formula. The CJI made it clear to Karnataka be ready to release 4 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu by the end of May for drinking water purposes. We have given priority to drinking water and this order must be complied with. Otherwise you will have to face consequences and your Chief Secretary must be present in the court. The A-G told the court the judgment has led to more crimes being committed against dalits without registration of FIR and arrest being made. New Delhi: The Supreme Court today rejected the Centres demand for a stay on its verdict on the SC/ST Act, saying that the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have full protection and the March 20 judgment has not diluted it in any manner. A Bench of Justices A.K. Goel and Uday Lalit also strongly disagreed with the Centres contention that its March 20 verdict had led to loss of lives in the violence that had broken out later in several states. Attorney-general K.K. Venugopal said, This had completely shaken the confidence of SC/STs, who feel insecure and crimes have increased in the last one month. He said, rightly or wrongly people are agitated and there are nine deaths. Preliminary enquiry before registration of FIR is not a must in every case. The superintendent of police has to only satisfy that prime face evidence exists for registration of FIR. Such an enquiry can be done in one day. We are not suggesting that guilty under the Act should not be punished. We have to see whether he is falsely implicated or not. We have not said dont register FIR, we have only said please check the facts in the complaint, Justice Goel told the A-G. The A-G told the court the judgment has led to more crimes being committed against dalits without registration of FIR and arrest being made. He cited recent incidents of how Dalit bridegrooms were pulled down from their horses and beaten up by mobs, as upper caste people did not like dalits riding a horse. Justice Goel observed, Our judgment did not incite anyone to commit crimes. The SC/ST community has the full protection of this Court. Why cant authorities take action, wherever crimes take place? There should be system of immediate punishment. Commun-ities should learn to respect each other, Justice Lalit told the A-G, We have not diluted the Act in any manner. We have only taken note of the fact that right to life and liberty cannot be taken away on some absurd facts. This court has stepped in to protect the rights and to fill the gaps in the law. Here are some startups making inroads in this space New Delhi: The startup scenario in India has witnessed a tremendous change in the last few years. This has helped strengthen the country's position as the third-largest startup ecosystem across the world. While a majority of these utilise the power of technology to deliver varied solutions to the public, the health-tech startups show immense potential in drastically improving everyday life and treatment outcomes. Here are some startups making inroads in this space: Lybrate - This online doctor consultation platform helps doctors and patients communicate from anywhere and at any time, making healthcare more accessible. It allows users to discuss any health issue with doctors through text, video and voice chat while keeping their identity anonymous. More than 150,000 doctors and health experts from varied branches of medicine from across India are connected to millions of patients through Lybrate's technology-driven platform. Healthi- It has developed scientifically validated and patent-pending prediction models and personalization algorithms that empower users to easily understand their state of health and nudge them towards seeking appropriate help and making suitable lifestyle changes. BeatO - This mobile platform aims at motivating people with diabetes to increase compliance and reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. People living with diabetes require regular monitoring of blood glucose, proactive sugar control and education by experts, switching to diabetes-friendly products for a healthy lifestyle, and convenient and affordable care. Portea Medical - It focuses on general primary health care, post-hospitalization care, chronic disease management and allied services. The company offers home visits from doctors, nurses, nursing attendants and physiotherapists. What's more is that they also provide a collection of lab samples and offers medical equipment for sale / on hire, bringing the entire gamut of healthcare services to a patient's doorstep. Portea provides home healthcare services to the elderly and to those with chronic illnesses. AddressHealth - This platform is looking to build a sustainable model for school health programmes. Designed by a multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, public health physicians, nutritionists, experts in mental and behavioural health, and experts in health informatics, the Address Health School Health Program is a revolutionary initiative that takes healthcare to campuses. The algorithm accurately diagnosed the condition in images of infant eyes 91 per cent of the time. On the other hand, a team of eight physicians with ROP expertise who examined the same images had an average accuracy rate of 82 per cent (Photo: AFP) Washington: An algorithm that uses artificial intelligence (AI) can automatically and more accurately diagnose a potentially devastating cause of childhood blindness than most expert physicians, a study has found. The finding published in the journal JAMA Ophthalmology could help prevent blindness in more babies with the disease, called retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP. The algorithm accurately diagnosed the condition in images of infant eyes 91 per cent of the time, researchers said. On the other hand, a team of eight physicians with ROP expertise who examined the same images had an average accuracy rate of 82 per cent, they said. "There is a huge shortage of ophthalmologists who are trained and willing to diagnose ROP. This creates enormous gaps in care, even in the US, and sadly leads too many children around the world to go undiagnosed," said Michael Chiang, a professor at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in the US. "This algorithm distills the knowledge of ophthalmologists who are skilled at identifying ROP and puts it into a mathematical model so clinicians who may not have that same wealth of experience can still help babies receive a timely, accurate diagnosis," said Jayashree Kalpathy-Cramer from the Massachusetts General Hospital. Retinopathy of prematurity is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth near the retina, the light-sensitive portion in the back of an eye. The condition is common in premature babies and is the leading cause of childhood blindness globally. The new algorithm specifically uses deep learning, a form of AI that mimics how humans perceive the world through vision, including identifying objects. The researchers combined two existing AI models to create the algorithm, while developing extensive reference standards to train it. They first trained the algorithm to identify retinal vessels in more than 5,000 pictures taken during infant visits to an ophthalmologist. Next, they trained it to differentiate between healthy and diseased vessels. They compared the algorithm's accuracy with that of trained experts who viewed the same images and discovered it performed better than most of the expert physicians. A peaceful, dignified death is the entitlement of all who want it. And a person should not be forced to leave home to achieve it. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals (Photo: AFP) Australia's oldest scientist, who caused a stir when his university tried to vacate his office aged 102, will fly to Switzerland in early May to end his life, reigniting a national euthanasia debate. David Goodall, who is now 104, does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fast-track appointment with an assisted dying agency in Basel, euthanasia advocates said. "I greatly regret having reached that age," the ecologist told broadcaster ABC on his birthday earlier this month. "I'm not happy. I want to die. It's not sad particularly. What is sad is if one is prevented. "My feeling is that an old person like myself should have full citizenship rights including the right of assisted suicide," he added. Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legalise the practice last year. But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months. Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated, mostly recently in New South Wales state last year. Exit International, which is helping Goodall make the trip, said it was unjust that one of Australia's "oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the other side of the world to die with dignity". "A peaceful, dignified death is the entitlement of all who want it. And a person should not be forced to leave home to achieve it," it said on its website Monday. The group has launched a GoFundMe campaign to get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and has so far raised more than Aus$17,000 (US$13,000). Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals. According to reports, the 63-year-old, from Vienna, has allegedly confessed. The womans torso, head and other parts were discovered in mid-April in the Neusiedler See. An Austrian man has been accused of murdering and dismembering a woman before storing some of her body in a freezer to eat later. According to reports, the 63-year-old, from Vienna, has allegedly confessed. Prosecutor Verena Strnad told reporters on Wednesday that the suspect admitted to authorities he killed the unidentified woman in his flat at the end of March and cut her into pieces. The womans torso, head and other parts were discovered in mid-April in the Neusiedler See, a lake southeast of Vienna where the suspect had a cabin and boat. According to Austrias APA news agency, police dogs had found DNA traces near the cabin. The body parts in the freezer were found during the ensuing search of his apartment. According to a reports the victim was believed to have been aged between 20 and 30, slim, and between 155cm and 165cm tall. Austrias State Office of Criminal Investigation is conducting an international search to establish her identity, the paper reported. Harry Hindley and Megan Morley, who both teach performing arts to children in Nottingham, will tie the knot in London. Britains Prince Harry and U.S. actress Meghan Markle will be marrying at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor on May 19. London: Their namesakes may be getting all the media attention but Harry and Megan are looking forward to their wedding this month with every bit as much excitement. Harry Hindley, that is, and Megan Morley, who both teach performing arts to children in Nottingham and tie the knot in London after a hasty eight weeks of planning. The other Meghan is perfect for the other Harry and I am perfect for this Harry, said Megan. I think every wedding - royal or not - is a special day and everybody is sharing the day with the people they love around them so yeah amazing, Im really excited. Britains Prince Harry and U.S. actress Meghan Markle will be marrying at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor on May 19. Their namesakes will exchange vows this Friday a few miles to the east in London and lead the dancing at a reception in a plush hotel in Park Lane. The couple met at college and later started running their own musical theater courses in the central English city of Nottingham - the first place Prince Harry took his fiancee on an official engagement when they embarked on a pre-wedding tour of Britain. Any other similarities? Well, I have never been the army, I have never stripped off, but I have been in a show called The King and I if that is some sort of link, grinned Harry. Prince Harry, who served two tours with the army in Afghanistan, was famously snapped naked in a Las Vegas hotel in 2012. For the other Megan, her Harrys first attraction was his voice. I just really fell in love with his singing voice, she said. I am really into the royals, really love the royal family and I am very excited to see their wedding. Kensington Palace said the carriage would be pulled by Windsor Grey horses. Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception for the Commonwealth Youth Forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, Wednesday April 18, 2018. (Photo: AP) LONDON: Britains Prince Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle said on Wednesday they were looking forward to the procession through Windsor following their wedding this month, after choosing an open-top royal carriage for the journey. Harry and his U.S. fiancee will ride in an Ascot Landau carriage when they take a tour through the town after the wedding ceremony at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeths home to the west of London, on May 19. Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to this short journey which they hope will allow them to express their gratitude for everyone who has gathered together in Windsor to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day, Harrys office, Kensington Palace, said in a statement. The carriage procession will see the couple ride from the castle through Windsor before returning up the Long Walk, a famous, tree-flanked straight promenade that leads to the castle gates. There are more than 100 carriages in the Royal Mews collection with five Ascot Landaus. Harry travelled in one of them to the wedding of his elder brother William to Kate Middleton in 2011 when he acted as best man. Kensington Palace said the carriage would be pulled by Windsor Grey horses, which have drawn the carriages of monarchs and members of the royal family Queen Victoria in the 19th Century, and would be escorted by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. The scribe, associated with many well-known media outlets has been booked along with Prasun Roy, CSO of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd The CBI is carrying out searches at eight locations in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow and Mumbai in this regard. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The CBI has booked senior journalist Upender Rai along with an official of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd for allegedly giving false information to access "highly sensitive" areas of national importance and entering into dubious financial transactions, officials said today. The scribe, associated with many well-known media outlets has been booked along with Prasun Roy, CSO of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, they said. It is alleged that the duo gave false information for obtaining access to highly sensitive areas like airports and entering into dubious financial transactions, the officials said. The investigative agency is carrying out searches at eight locations in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow and Mumbai in this regard. Several persons related to the case are being examined by the agency, the officials added. 25 fire trucks, 10 ambulances are at Ahmedabad's Space Applications Centre after a short circuit led to a fire at the research building. Officials said it will take some hours to control the fire at Ahmedabad's Space Applications Centre. (Photo: ANI) Ahmedabad: A fire broke out due to a short circuit in the machinery department at Ahmedabad's Space Applications Centre on Thursday afternoon, the city's fire department said. A Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) guard was injured in the fire, news agency ANI reported. A senior fire department officer, however, said no one was injured in the incident. At least 25 fire trucks and 10 ambulances have arrived at the facility. Ahmedabad district collector Vikrant Pandey, who reached the facility immediately on hearing about the fire, said the research centre building which was vacant at the time was completely engulfed by flames. The Space Applications Centre (SAC) is a major research and development centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and is spread across two campuses having multi-disciplinary activities. "A major fire broke out at the research centre inside the sprawling SAC campus on the city's outskirts this afternoon," an Ahmedabad fire department officer said. After being alerted about the fire, additional chief fire officer Rajesh Bhatt and other senior officers rushed to the spot. Municipal Commissioner of Ahmedabad told news agency ANI that the flames have been doused and the entire premises is safe and secure. #WATCH: Fire broke out due to short circuit in the machinery department at Ahmedabad's Space Applications Centre. 20 fire tenders & 10 ambulances at the spot, 1 CISF personnel injured. pic.twitter.com/rROWwQl4vL ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018 (With inputs from agencies) Last year along, the cyber police received over 2.45 lakh complaints related debit/credit card fraud. Such a helpline can at least help get the amount reversed into the victims bank account by acting swiftly. (Representational image) MUMBAI: With fraud associated with manipulation of credit-debit cards on the rise, the Mumbai police is likely to start a dedicated helpline to tackle such complaints. Last year along, the cyber police received over 2.45 lakh complaints related debit/credit card fraud. With an increasing number of such cases registered with cyber police stations and cyber cells of Mumbai police, the idea of a dedicated helpline will come in handy for those who fall prey to such scams. Presently, victims either visit the nearest police station or tweet their complaint on Mumbai polices Twitter handle which then takes charge. By contrast, a helpline will provide immediate assistance once victims intimate about the fraud. A senior police official said on the condition of anonymity, The number of instances of debit/credit card frauds has increased after awareness created by the police and fair registration of First Information Reports (FIR). However, the FIR comes second, and regarding what should be done immediately is what matters the most in such cases. When asked, cyber expert Haren Das, said that a dedicated helpline will be an asset in cracking cases of fraud and will improve the otherwise dipping detection rate. Mr Das also said that it became difficult to catch hold of such criminals as they used bouncing IP (internet protocol) addresses, and host channels. Such a helpline can at least help get the amount reversed into the victims bank account by acting swiftly. Even from call data records, the prosecution had failed to connect Vora with the murder. Mumbai: A special court on Wednesday awarded life terms to incarcerated gangster Chhota Rajan and eight of his associates for the murder of senior crime journalist Jyoti Nipendrakumar Dey, better know by his byline, J. Dey. The court acquitted jou-rnalist Jigna Vora and alleged Rajan aide Paul-son Palitara alias Pauls-on Joseph of all charges. While acquitting Vora, special judge Sameer Adkar observed that even in various extra-judicial confessions, Rajan has nowhere stated that he got Dey murdered because of instigation by Vora or anybody else. Even from call data records, the prosecution had failed to connect Vora with the murder. Among the convicted are shooter Satish Kaliya, as well as Anil Waghmode, Arun Dake and Mangesh Agavane who had kept a watch on 56-year-old Dey before targeting him in Powai on June 11, 2011. On the request of special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat, the judge directed that out of the fines recovered from the convicts, `5 lakh should be paid to Deys sister Leena. Mr Gharat had argued before the court that Leena was facing mental health issues and after the death of Dey who was sole breadwinner of the family and their mother there was nobody to look after her and hence the court should issue direction for payment of some part of the fine to her. The judge also imposed a total fine of `26 lakh on each convict except Deepak Dalbirsingh Sisodia because he was acquitted of charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) so he would pay `16 lakh as fine. Apart from this the court has also imposed an additional fine of `35,000 on Kaliya under the Arms Act because he was found guilty of firing at Dey. Two more accused, Nain Singh Bhist and Ravi Ram Rattesar, are still wanted in the case. Though the Dubai police arrested Rattesar in August 2016, he is yet to be brought to India to face trial. According to the CBI, the reason behind Deys murder was that Sadashiv Nikalje alias Chhota Rajan was upset with the journalists news articles in which he had shown Rajan in poor light. Apart from that, Dey was writing two books that not only showed Rajan in poor light, but also put archrival Dawood Ibrahim on a higher pedestal. About 155 witnesses deposed in the case, of which seven were declared hostile. Key witnesses were journalists to whom Rajan spoke after the murder. Rajan, who attended the court proceedings via video conferencing from Tihar jail in Delhi where he is being kept for security reasons, was emotionless when the court convicted him. He was expressionless even when judge Adkar asked him if he wanted to add anything, apart from what his lawyer had already argued, for leniency in sentence. After the judge pronounced that he had convicted Rajan, his lawyers Anshuman Sinha and Hasnen Qazi requested the judge to show leniency, as Rajan was a victim of circumstances. He has three daughters and he is a victim of circumstances so he should be given minimum sentence, said Mr Sinha. However, when the judge asked Rajan, Would you like to say anything in addition to what your lawyer has already said on the point of sentencing? Rajan replied, Nahi, theek hai. (No, its ok). The judge then further said, I will pass quantum of punishment in the evening at 5 pm. To this Rajan again said, Theek hai. The Def Jam co-founder, in a social media post, said he hasn't felt "too angry" about the allegations. Washington D.C.: Despite multiple rape and sexual assault allegations, Russell Simmons has expressed his support for #MeToo movement. The Def Jam co-founder, in a social media post, said he hasn't felt "too angry" about the allegations because, in his words, "listening intently to the dialogue around the #metoo movement has inspired me to look beyond my personal scenario." "In the end I'll be fine," he added. "I've accepted responsibility for the life that I have lived and been very forcefully and vehemently denying accusations for things that I have not done." The 60-year-old went on to say that there is "collateral damage" from the situation, but expressed hope that his daughters, Ming, 18, and Aoki, 15 "will see a better world is worth it" because of his experience. "I want to be a forward thinker and supporter of the necessary change. Here is what I believe to be a fact if we continue to let the masculine energy govern our world without guidance from the feminine forces then men will destroy the planet, or at least make [it] uninhabitable for humans. So for so many reasons the goal should be to be inclusive, fair and promote equality on all levels. We have a long way to go I'm along for the ride," he continued. "I want to be a forward thinker and supporter of the necessary change. Here is what I believe to be a fact if we continue to let the masculine energy govern our world without guidance from the feminine forces then men will destroy the planet, or at least make in uninhabitable for humans." "So for so many reasons the goal should be to be inclusive, fair and promote equality on all levels. We have a long way to go I'm along for the ride," Simmons concluded. According to E! Online, the hip-hop mogul and the woman accusing him of rape, agreed to dismiss the $5 million lawsuit she filed against him. Simmons still faces a separate $10 million lawsuit, and has maintained his innocence amid multiple sexual misconduct claims. The likelihood of the trend continuing is possibly the first challenge for the Congress as it has to prevent the emergence of Mr Modi as the issue. The outcome of the last 10 days of campaigning for the Karnataka Assembly elections will cast considerable light on how the Lok Sabha polls may play out whenever they are held, in April-May 2019 or earlier. As in every relay race, where the anchor leg is reserved for the fastest or the most experienced team member, the BJP has once again handed the baton to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hereafter, his performance alone will decide if yet another state can be snatched from the Congress. Whether his adversaries like it or not, till campaigning ends next week, the Prime Ministers every utterance carries the possibility of triggering multiple strands of political narrative. In almost every election since 2014, issues which dominated the political discourse till he entered the arena paled into insignificance after Mr Modis blitzkrieg. The likelihood of the trend continuing is possibly the first challenge for the Congress as it has to prevent the emergence of Mr Modi as the issue. So far, the Congress in Karnataka has disallowed any nationalisation of the election, contesting it on local issues. Mr Modis decision to stick to the proven formula of delegitimising the Congress and its leaders is indication of anti-incumbency against the Siddaramaiah government not being high. The Prime Minister attacked Rahul Gandhi for his Italian heritage, indicating a lack of confidence in ousting the Congress on the basis of poll issues and thereby an old line of attack has been revived. The verdict in Karnataka will demonstrate if Indian voters are still handing out decisive mandates or if the outcome in Gujarat was not an aberration, instead marking the return of closer contests even in bipolar states. Since 2014, state after state provided landslide mandates except Gujarat, where the BJPs margin of victory was too close for comfort, and previously in Maharashtra, where the BJP contested polls on its own for the first time. The Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka has potential to play kingmaker and Mr Modis kind words for H.D. Deve Gowda and a similar response must be read against this backdrop. The moot question is whether voters continue viewing elections as a referendum of sorts on Mr Modi and his claims/promises or if they are willing to return to the era of non-national polls. Karnataka will determine if 2019 will be fought as a single poll as in 2014, or as an aggregation of state elections. Karnatakas voters are presented with two clear choices. On the one hand, the BJPs poll plank showcases a type of nationalist politics fought under a overtly centralising leader and managed by a party machinery not shy of prioritising wining elections over anything else. The BJP treats every election uniformly, merely adding regional variants to its nationalistic spiel. In Karnataka, this was attempted over two years on the legacy of Tipu Sultan, but sensing the state icons religious identity not having the capacity to whip up prejudice towards Muslims, the issue has been underplayed during elections. Consequently, Mr Modi is still groping for an issue that can decisively sway voters. The BJPs campaign has been two-pronged in the pre-Modi phase the emphasis was on local issues and the performance of the Siddaramaiah government, accusations of corruption, failure to generate jobs, control rising prices and the Lingayat conundrum. But the second phase, now unfolding, will see state issues being relegated to the background and there is no knowing if this will play out for the BJPs benefit or not. The Congress is not hamstrung by this duality as its campaign remains state-specific. When Rahul Gandhi campaigns and introduces national elements criticising the Centres policies, he is yet to lose sight of the need to allow local issue to retain primacy. He referred to Karnatakas voice as a metaphor for state-specific programmes on which the BJP is a shade short. State and national leaders of the Congress are aware of the necessity to retain Karnataka. A defeat here will not just stop the drift that envelops the BJP post-Gujarat, but push the Congress deeper into the crevice it fell into in 2014. The chief minister, after providing a reasonably efficient government over the past five years which gave Karnataka a much-needed sense of political stability, has so far shown himself smarter than most incumbents facing the BJP onslaught. Siddaramaiahs ploy of announcing minority status for Lingayats has also added an element of mystery for there is no knowing at this stage how this will go down with the community and with others. The JD(S) remains the elephant in the room, clinging to its relevance thanks to backing from the numerically significant Vokkaliga community. A decent performance, which may keep the Congress out of power, will paradoxically point towards the rising limitations of Mr Modis charisma. A virtual decimation of the JD(S) which will fashion a decisive mandate in favour of either of the two national parties will indicate continuance of a single-issue poll. In the present situation it may indicate if the people want to give Mr Modi another term or not. Already, its wooing of Mr Deve Gowda stands in sharp contrast to the BJPs deteriorating ties with its allies. Being nice to other parties is not among Mr Modis core strengths and he would rather continue to be in the Ekla Chalo Re mould. Karnatakas six regions have so far not reverberated in unison on a single issue so far. The state was not kind to Mr Modi in 2013 for when the state polls were held last, he had already been endorsed as the BJPs de facto supremo and campaigned extensively. Additionally, despite the Modi wave, the BJP won two seats less in 2014 than its tally in 2009. This showed Mr Modis relatively poorer popularity in the South. The five southern states and the Union territory of Puducherry account for 131 Lok Sabha seats. Karnataka has been the BJPs gateway to the South since 1991 and it cannot afford the door being shut on it. The stakes for the two parties are indeed very high. Voters will decide if the polls are transitional or decisive. In a press release, the firm went opened up to confirming that they will shut down with immediate effect. Cambridge Analytica spokesperson Clarence Mitchell looks at his watch near the end of taking questions during a press conference in London, Tuesday, April 24, 2018. The press conference was held Tuesday afternoon to follow Cambridge University academic Aleksandr Kogan speaking at a hearing held by Britain's Parliament media committee. Kogan's company, Global Science Research, developed a Facebook app that vacuumed up information from users as well as additional data from their Facebook friends. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) London: Trump-affiliated data firm Cambridge Analytica was at the center of Facebook's worst privacy scandal in history. And now they have declared bankruptcy and have shut down operations. The London firm blamed "unfairly negative media coverage'' and claimed it has been "vilified'' for actions it says are both legal and widely accepted as part of online advertising. In a press release, the firm went opened up to confirming that they will shut down with immediate effect. On May 2, 2018, SCL Elections Ltd., as well as certain of its and Cambridge Analytica LLCs UK affiliates filed applications to commence insolvency proceedings in the UK. The Company is immediately ceasing all operations and the boards have applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP to act as the independent administrator for Cambridge Analytica. Additionally, parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced on behalf of Cambridge Analytica LLC and certain of the Companys US affiliates in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the Companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas. In light of those accusations, noted Queens Counsel Julian Malins was retained to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations regarding the Companys political activities. Malins report, which the Company posted on its website, concluded that the allegations were not borne out by the facts. Regarding the conclusions set forth in his report, Malins stated: I had full access to all members of staff and documents in the preparation of my report. My findings entirely reflect the amazement of the staff, on watching the television programmes and reading the sensationalistic reporting, that any of these media outlets could have been talking about the company for which they worked. Nothing of what they heard or read resonated with what they actually did for a living. Despite Cambridge Analyticas unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, which view is now fully supported by Malins report, the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Companys customers and suppliers. As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the Company into administration. While this decision was extremely painful for Cambridge Analyticas leaders, they recognise that it is all the more difficult for the Companys dedicated employees who learned that they likely would be losing their jobs as a result of the damage caused to the business by the unfairly negative media coverage. Despite the Companys precarious financial condition, Cambridge Analytica intends to fully meet its obligations to its employees, including with respect to notice periods, severance terms, and redundancy entitlements. The development comes before Trump-Kim Jong Un meet following months of tense saber-rattling over the North's nuclear and missile programs. Two of the three hostages were detained in 2017, after Trump had assumed office. (Photo: AP) Washington: US President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday that there would be imminent news about three Americans detained in North Korea, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of their possible release. The development comes as Trump is preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, following months of tense saber-rattling over the North's nuclear and missile programs. "The past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump wrote on Twitter. Two of the three hostages were detained in 2017, after Trump had assumed office. The United States has been demanding the North free Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul and reports have said the two sides were close to reaching a deal on their release. "They are staying in a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang," Choi Sung-ryong, a South Korean activist with contacts in the North told AFP earlier, adding the three were being kept separately but "going on tours, receiving medical treatment and eating good food." Diplomatic sources in Pyongyang have said there were rumours that the three had been relocated, but there had been no confirmation of their exact whereabouts. A State Department official could not confirm the reports, but added: "We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible." The matter was discussed when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Pyongyang last month, according to The Wall Street Journal. And speaking to Fox News on Sunday, National Security Advisor John Bolton said releasing the hostages would be "an opportunity" for the North to "demonstrate their authenticity." Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born American pastor, has been detained in the North since 2015 when he was arrested for spying. He was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour in 2016. Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang-duk -- or Tony Kim -- were both working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, founded by evangelical Christians from overseas, when they were detained last year on suspicion of "hostile acts." CNN had said the prisoners' release was also discussed at three-day talks in Stockholm between the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom in March. Sweden represents Washington's interests in the North. Detente Tensions between North Korea and its neighbors as well as the US spiked last year over the Pyongyang's testing of atomic weapons and long-range missiles, including some capable of reaching the US mainland. But a spectacular detente in recent months, with a summit approaching between Trump and Kim, and the prospect of denuclearization, have fed hopes of a historic turning point in the region. Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950s but South Korean President Moon Jae-In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed at a landmark summit last week to work towards a permanent treaty to replace a 65-year-old armistice agreement. As remarkable as the imagery and symbolism have been recently, many analysts point out that it is early to speculate on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with a regime that has been led with an iron fist by the Kim dynasty for nearly 70 years. Asif requested the court to annul the notification of Election Commission of Pakistan. Islamabad: Former Pakistan foreign minister Khawaja Asif on Wednesday challenged the decision of Islamabad High Court (IHC) regarding his disqualification over iqama (work permit) in the Supreme Court. In a petition, Mr Asif said he unintentionally concealed the details of his bank accounts but provided them before the filing of current writ. He requested the court to annul the notification of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). On April 27, IHC disqualified Mr Asif from the parliament under Article 62 (1) (f). A three-member bench, headed by Justice Athar Minallah, had reserved verdict on Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dars plea on April-10. As per details garnered, the verdict was announced by Justice Athar Minallah. The bench disqualified Khawaja Asif in the following words: We declare that the Respondent was not qualified to contest the General Election of 2013 from NA 110 as he did not fulfill the conditions described under Article 62(1)(f) of the Constitution, read with section 99(1)(f) of the Act of 1976. UK PM said Home Secretary Sajid Javid 'will be commissioning full review of lessons learned, independent oversight and external challenge.' UK Prime Minister Theresa May has announced the country's Home Office review of its handling of the so-called Windrush immigration scandal. (Photo: File) London: UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has announced the country's Home Office review of its handling of the so-called Windrush immigration scandal, even as the opposition warned that Indian-origin Britons are likely to be among the immigrants affected by the issue. Prime Minister May told British MPs in the House of Commons that "speed is of the essence" and that Britain's new Home Secretary Sajid Javid "will be commissioning a full review of lessons learned, independent oversight and external challenge". "The review will have full access to all relevant information in the Home Office, including policy papers and casework decisions," she said, as the scandal continued to dominate parliamentary proceedings in the country. In an Opposition Day Debate in the Commons titled 'Windrush and the Prime Minister's Policy of creating a hostile environment', the Labour party warned that the scandal engulfs immigrants from many Commonwealth countries, including "those who came from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh". "This is an issue that has resonated around the Commonwealth. At a time when we are trying to build our relationship with the Commonwealth post-Brexit for trade and other reasons, it is extremely damaging what has been revealed about the way Commonwealth citizens have been treated," said Labour MP Diane Abbott, the UK's shadow home secretary. She made a specific reference to overseas doctors, many of whom are from India, being denied visas to come and work for the state-funded National Health Service or NHS and termed as "grotesque" the government "wrongly removing" students, many among them from India, over a controversial English language test dating back a few years. "The NHS is suffering, the education system is suffering, all because of a narrative that deems immigration as toxic," Abbot said, demanding "justice" for all migrants. Javid responded by vowing to do "whatever it takes" to put things right and helping everyone affected by the Windrush scandal. The issue has caused turmoil for the UK government and led to the forced resignation of Amber Rudd as home secretary earlier this week over "inadvertently" misleading Parliament on her department's illegal migration targets. The group referred to as the 'Windrush generation' relates to a ship named Windrush, which brought hundreds of Jamaican workers to UK shores in 1948. The scandal came to light as many among them faced forced deportations due to lack of documentary evidence that they had the right to live and work in Britain because they arrived before 1973 when stricter new visa norms came into force for all Commonwealth nationals migrating to the UK. "The same issues could have an impact on other Commonwealth citizens, perhaps people such as my parents and others from South Asia who settled in this country. I am aware that that could be the case and I intend to look at that carefully," Pakistani-origin Sajid Javid told the Commons soon after taking charge of his new ministerial portfolio on Monday. As part of its parliamentary motion on Tuesday, the opposition Labour asked for all papers, correspondence and advice on Windrush between ministers, senior officials and advisers from May, 2010 until now. The ruling Conservatives are opposed to such a move, made under a rarely-used procedure called "motion for a return", which involves asking the Queen to direct her ministers to provide the requested documents to the Commons Home Affairs Committee. The government has instead laid out a series of "greater transparency" measures over detentions, deportations and removals and committed to completing an internal review by the end of the ongoing summer session of parliament. Imran Dogar, the Investigation Officer, said that Sharif was the actual owner of the Avenfield properties since 1993. The Pakistan SC had, on July 28 last year, disqualified Sharif from holding the office of the prime minister and had asked the NAB to file references against the Sharif family in connection with corruption cases against them. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif owned Avenfield properties in London when he was holding public office, an Investigation Officer (IO) in the corruption reference case told the Islamabad accountability court on Wednesday. Imran Dogar, the Investigation Officer, said that Sharif was the actual owner of the Avenfield properties since 1993, adding that he purchased them through offshore companies - Nielsen and Nescoll Ltd, The Dawn reported. He underscored that the Sharif's family was unable to disclose their sources of income during the investigation. According to the report, Dogar said the trust deeds submitted by Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz were proven to be fake, alleging that in acting as "benamidars" (title deed of the property in the name of another person) for Sharif, his children Maryam, Hassan and Hussain helped their father in committing the crime. "Investigations reveal that the accused were found involved in corruption and corrupt practices," he said, adding that the accused had failed to appear before the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), despite being notified twice - on August 18 and December 28 last year. Dogar disclosed that the NAB had received two letters for the same, dated August 22 and December 30 last year, sent by Advocate Amjad Pervaiz, Khawaja Harris and Nazeer Ahmed Bhutta. Harris, however, had criticised the delay in the revealing of the letter during the corruption proceedings. The report noted further that most of the findings presented were also mentioned in the joint investigation team (JIT) report presented to the Pakistan Supreme Court in regards to the Panama Papers case last year. This led to the apex court of ordering the filing of references against Sharif, his children and former Pakistan Finance Minister Ishaq Dar respectively. The Pakistan SC had, on July 28 last year, disqualified Sharif from holding the office of the prime minister and had asked the NAB to file references against the Sharif family in connection with corruption cases against them. The references against the Sharif family pertain to the Al-Azizia Steel Mills, offshore companies including Flagship Investment Ltd, and Avenfield properties of London. Sharif, his sons Hussain and Hasan are accused in all three cases, while his daughter Maryam and son-in-law Captain (retd.) Mohammad Safdar are accused in the Avenfield case only. A Joint Investigation Team (JIT) was formed last year to probe the allegations on Sharif's family. In February, the Pakistan Supreme Court had disqualified Sharif from the post of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party chief, saying all the decisions made by him as head of the party stood "null and void." Last month, the country's top court disqualified Sharif from standing for elections for the rest of his life. On 30 April, twin attacks in Kabul killed dozens of people. In the second one, the terrorist disguised himself as a reporter to blow himself up among the journalists who had arrived at the scene. Kabul (AsiaNews/Agencies) "The signs of war have all but disappeared; yet, there is no more hope, wrote Shah Marai Faizi two years ago in a blog describing the violence in his country. Three days ago, he was one of nine journalists killed in an attack claimed by the Islamic State group, in what is to date the deadliest single day for reporters in the war-torn country since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. The slain journalists colleagues gathered today, World Press Freedom Day, to remember them and Afghanistans other fallen journalists and photo-reporters. Many of them were workmates and close friends and spoke about their pain, slamming the government for its failure to protect civilians and media workers. Scores of people were killed in the twin attacks in the capital. As in other terrorist act, reporters arrived at the site of the blast that had killed four people. Less than 40 minutes later, a second terrorist disguised as a reporter blew himself up among the journalists, killing 25 people. Increasingly, Afghanistan is sinking into violence, caught between the Taliban who on 25 April announced a new "spring offensive" against US forces and the Afghan government and the Islamic State group who target the countrys Shia minority. The latest attack is different from previous ones. Now the insurgents are focused on voter suppression and fear and intimidation," said Candace Rondeaux, a former Washington Post correspondent in Kabul, now a professor of practice in Arizona State Universitys School of Politics and Global Studies. In fact, Afghanistan is scheduled to go to the polls in October. On 22 April, a suicide bomber killed 57 people at a voter registration centre in Kabul where people waited in line to collect identity cards to vote. This is happening, according to Rondeaux, because "The Afghan government cannot get a hold on corruption. [Attackers] slip through barriers, around boundaries, nine times out of 10, with the willing assistance of security forces who can be bribed to look the other way," she said. by Liao Yiwu Liao Yiwu, a Chinese writer in exile, appeals for the wife of dissident Liu Xiaobo to emigrate to Germany. In one of her last phone calls, the woman cried continuously and said that "it is easier to die than to live". "Dona. Dona ", a Yiddish song, as a symbol of her personal holocaust. Berlin (AsiaNews / China Change) - Liu Xia, the wife of the late dissident Liu Xiaobo, is in an almost desperate situation, subjected to isolation for years without having committed any crime. Here we present an appeal by the writer Liao Yiwu, long-time friend of Liu Xia, in which he explains the circumstances of a phone call that he had with her. Here you can also find an audio-link with tracks of the phone call. Liao Yiwu, dissident in exile, is the author of the book "God is red: the secret story of how Christianity survived and flourished in Communist China" , HarperCollins, 2011. On April 30, 2018, at 4:00 p.m. in Germany, I spoke to Liu Xia at her home in Beijing. She said: Now, Ive got nothing to be afraid of. If I cant leave, Ill die in my home. Xiaobo is gone, and theres nothing in the world for me now. Its easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me. I felt like Id just been shocked with a jolt of electricity. I told her to wait. I know that the Chinese Ministry of State Security agents that have been holding her under house arrest, since Xiaobo passed away last July and Liu Xia was forcibly taken to Dali in Yunnan for a while, have been promising her, again and again, guaranteeing that shed be able to leave the country and seek treatment for her deep clinical depression. First they told her to wait until the 19th Party Congress was over; next they told her to wait until the conclusion of the Two Sessions in Beijing in March of this year. On April 1, before Liu Xias 57th birthday, the German Ambassador called her to convey Chancellor Merkels special respects, and invited her to play badminton in Berlin before long. According to my information, in early April the German Foreign Minister had already made specific arrangements, including as to how theyd not alert the news media, how theyd covertly collect Liu Xia at the airport, and how theyd arrange her treatment and recovery and more. In my own calls with Liu Xia, I sought Liu Xias opinions many times, and discussed the matter in meetings and correspondence with good friends Herta Muller, Harry Merkle, Carolin, Silvia, and the international representative of Liu Xias photographic art Peter Sillem. We went over every possible detail. Due to Herta Mullers support, the Literature House in Berlin was willing to provide her an apartment for an interim period, Carolin and Silvia were going to prepare an application for a DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) scholarship for artists, and Peter Sillem had already reached out to hospitals and experts on her behalf. Weve all been patiently and quietly waiting. Weve all quietly awaited this special patient. Liu Xia has no criminal record, and according to the Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, she has the freedom to travel wherever she wishes. Weve been low key about it because after Xiaobos death, Liu Xia has been devastated, and the clinical depression she had suffered for years came back worse than ever, driving her to the brink of mental collapse. As long as she is in China, we have no way of looking after her. When Liu Xia told Xiaobo that a special rescue squad in Germany (including the 82-year-old Wolf Biermann and wife) were working to help them, Xiaobo, dying, was moved to tears. In my April 30 conversation with Liu Xia, I said Id no long keep it quiet. I will take action, and I will selectively reveal some truth that I have been holding back. I said to her that I would publicize her cries, which was uncontrollable even with her taking large doses of antidepressants, in the evening of April 8, 2018. She said yes. The following statements were transcribed from audio recordings of our conversation that evening. In the first instance, I called and poured out my concern: I feared that Liu Xia would once again be disappeared. I worried that the Chinese government would do the same as they did last year when they announced that Xiaobo and Liu Xia didnt want to leave the country. Luckily I had her handwriting attesting to the opposite, and remarkably this became the strongest evidence that punctured the lies. I insisted on Liu Xia writing another application to leave the country, and at first Liu Xia demurred again and again. She then panicked, after that threw the phone down. I waited a little while and called her back, and she cried out in tears: The German Embassy knows all about my situation. The whole world knows. So whats the point of me writing those things again and again? But what youre facing is very special the German government has been in discussions about this all along I dont have anywhere to send it from. Nor do I have a cell phone nor a computer. OK. Thats OK. You know we dont have all that stuff, but you still want me to do this and do that Over here, we So Ill write it tomorrow and hand it in tomorrow. You can record it now: Im so fucking angry that Im ready to die here. If Im dead, itll all be done with. Its obvious that I dont have all the ways and means in hand. That foreign ministry spokesperson said that you fully enjoy all the provisions of Chinese law I know all that. You dont have to repeat it. Im not an idiot. OK. Let me tell you about the arrangements: after we get you over here, weve got a place called the Literature House where you stay for a while and then apply to join an arts program. At the moment, the responses everywhere are very positive, and everyone agrees that this should be done very quietly. I couldnt go on, because Liu Xia was crying non-stop. The audio recording went for 16 minutes and 30 seconds. I excerpted the first seven minutes, and at about the four minute mark played over it the piano solo Dona, Dona. I felt waves of emotion well up inside me. When I turned the music off, I yelled out Liu Xia! Her crying abated and she said: After the German Ambassador called, I started packing. I wasted no time what more do you want me to do? Dona, Dona is a Jewish melody from the WWII period popularized by the Jewish-American writer Aaron Zeitlin in the Yiddish play Esterke. The general meaning of the lyrics is: a calf is being brought to the butchers, a swallow is flitting around above its head. The calf thinks to itself: If only I could turn into a swallow with wings and fly away, how grand it would be. Unfortunately, the calf is not a swallow. Like her husband Liu Xiaobo, Liu Xia had a passion for works related to Holocaust. Liu Xia even said that she felt shed been a Jewish person in her previous life. Dona, Dona became a byword for genocide: the millions of Jewish people were the calf after calf, resigned to their fate, being led to the slaughter. Please, people, with Liu Xia, its Dona, Dona now, and please allow me to use Liu Xias sobbing as its new lyrics... Dona, Dona, give her freedom. Dona, Dona, please cry out loudly for her. Composed in the late Berlin night on April 30, 2018. by Melani Manel Perera The Christian Workers Fellowship organised a rally and a mass for 1 May. Christians of all denominations participated in the Eucharistic celebration, as did Buddhists and Hindus. Thousands of workers took to the streets to demand an eight-hour work day and decent wages. Colombo (AsiaNews) Under the banner To Stay United Let Us Devolve Power, Sri Lankan Christian workers held a rally on May Day, also known as International Workers Day, in defiance of a government order banning all demonstrations to avoid overlapping with the Vesak Buddhist festival (29- April 30). Rather than bow to the authorities, members of the Christian Workers Fellowship (CWF) joined Buddhists and Hindus in an interfaith ceremony to reiterate the importance of labour and national unity, which they believe can be achieved through a federal system. Since 1959, the Christian association has organised the same event each year. This year the authorities had decided that the day of celebration should be 7 May, but Christian groups chose to respect the official date. The event was held at St Michael's Church in Colombo 03, preceded by a procession of workers who paraded with the tools of their work: spades, rakes and plows. Let us share power if we want to live together, said Mgr Keerthisiri Fernando, Anglican bishop of Kurunegala during the Mass. For his part, the Buddhist representative, Venerable Vishwa Keerthi Sri Shasrapathi Mahagalkadawala Punyasara, added that there is nothing to fear about devolution of power. Federalism is not about giving away everything to Tamils. The venerable was referring to the fact that federalism was one of the rallying points of Tamil leaders during the civil war, as opposed to Tamil Tigers who wanted to create an independent state in the north of the island. At the same time, If the authorities cannot pay a reasonable salary for the toil of labour, there is no meaning in devolution of power, noted Bishop Fernando. R. Thriowbathiamma and Manikkam Jayakody, two tea pickers from Badulla (about 250 km from the capital), also took part in the liturgical service. "Although we are Hindus, we want to receive God's blessings, they told AsiaNews. We need to pray for our lives because we are still far from the right level of justice. We are struggling. Our children deserve a proper life." Whilst the Mass in Colombo was the only religious function celebrated on May Day, thousands of workers across the island took to the streets to protest against the government's decision to postpone the celebrations. Workers in the Free Trade Zones (FTZ), private companies and banks joined the rallies, demanding an eight-hour work day and decent wages. May Day means May Day. Its 1 May, not any other day, said fishermen leader Loyal Fernando. Photo credit: Melani Manel Perera by Paolo Fossati On 25 April, Pope Francis created the new diocese of Chiang Rai, which has more than 16,000 members, mostly from poor ethnic minorities that are socially and geographically marginalised. Economics and a shortage of priests are some of the challenges that await the new diocese. Vatican City (AsiaNews) Mgr Joseph Vuthilert Haelom (picture 1), the newly elected bishop and first prelate of Chiang Rai, in northern Thailand, wants to strengthen the faith and the hearts of people, so that they wont be attracted by the temptation of wealth but rely on Christ. AsiaNews spoke to the prelate, who was received today by Pope Francis along with other Thai bishops, during their ad limina visit to the Vatican. On 25 April, the pontiff created the new Diocese of Chiang Rai by splitting it from the Diocese of Chiang Mai, and made it suffragan of the Bangkok metropolitan see. Some 16,500 Catholics live in the new diocese, which is in northern Thailand and is home to 2.6 million people. Most Catholics belong to several tribal ethnic minorities (Akka, Lana, Lahu, Isan, Thaiyai and Kachin), who live in mountainous and rural areas, amid poverty and social and geographical marginalisation. The Church has therefore organised the division of the vast and impervious territory of the old Diocese of Chiang Mai so as to better serve the pastoral needs of these groups. "This decision will bring about an improvement in the life of the Church in the region, said Mgr Joseph Vuthilert Haelom. Dictated by convenience, it is also a sign of continuity. "In the past I was Vicar General of Chiang Mai and I know the reality of the diocese, which covers the whole of northern Thailand. The division will certainly favour greater closeness to the needs of the various parishes and missions." Despite widespread poverty, Chiang Rai is a border region and the future is expected to bring greater economic openness towards the countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). For the bishop, this represents a challenge for the future of evangelisation and Catholics. "One task that must be carried out at a pastoral level will be to strengthen their faith so that they wont lose themselves in the economic aspect of improving their life." "One of the areas in which the local Church has been engaged for some time is that of education, said the 67-year-old prelate. For example, we have several hostels that host children and young students. We try to help people, both in professional training and in finding a job. "The image that locals, Catholic or others, have of the Church is partly that of the missionaries of the past, who came and helped. Therefore, one of the expectations that they have is to receive help, not only at a spiritual level, but above all at a material level. For the prelate, These expectations must remind us of our commitment, not only in terms of charity, but also towards helping people to believe." However, the rapid and dangerous transition from a rural reality to the possibilities created by economic development are not the only difficulties in Chiang Rai. "The small number of priests is a problem, he noted. There are only two local diocesan priests. In this context, the work done by the catechists will be very important because, unlike priests and religious, they are many of them. Their contribution will be fundamental for the work of evangelisation." In addition to the contribution of the laity, the Diocese of Chiang Rai can count on the services of the various missionary and religious institutes operating in the area. "There are ten religious institutes, among which the PIME (Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions) is a major player, and ten female religious congregations. One major task that I will have to undertake will be to coordinate their work, said the prelate. The experience that he has accumulated over the years will help the new bishop. Between 2005 and 2012, he was as vicar general of Chiang Mai. Then he became vicar general of Bangkok. "The Thai Church is very small (picture 2), so it can be said that I know everybody, priests and nuns", said Mgr Joseph Vuthilert Haelom. "Becoming a priest, many years ago, was in itself a great grace. Now the Lord has chosen me to become a bishop. I am at a peace. I sleep at night. I know it is a great responsibility but I am also aware that the Lord will give me the grace to be a capable bishop. The prelate welcomed his appointment by Pope Francis and is conscious of "the weight of being the first bishop of Chiang Rai". "When I pray, I usually say, 'Sir, you have chosen me, so you will have to work harder because I am only an instrument'. Everything will depend on Him." Nikol Pashinian calls a halt to demonstrations after receiving assurances on his election as prime minister on May 8th. Yesterday the transport block was total. Yerevan (AsiaNews) - The head of the Armenian Apostolic Church, the Katolikos of all Armenia Karekin II, with an appeal released yesterday, has called on the authorities and opposition to act within the framework of legality, and seek ways to resolve the political crisis in the country through dialogue. Almost in response to the appeal, yesterday evening opposition leader Nikol Pashinian asked all Armenians to stop demonstrations that blocked the country yesterday, because he received assurances from parliament that he could be elected prime minister on May 8 . "At the moment - he said in front of tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Republic Square - all the parliamentary groups have declared that they will support my candidacy". Karekin IIs appeal was issued by the chancellery of the Echmjadzin (the monastery near Yerevan, the center of the spiritual life of the Armenian Church). The communique reads: "The situation in the country continues to be very tense and worrisome. We invite people to look for solutions in mutual understanding and agreement, excluding the possibility of further confrontations ". "We invite all the parliamentary factions to start negotiations, to continue efforts to overcome this situation. Our appeal is for solidarity, prudence, without giving in to provocations and without allowing the spread of hatred ", remarked the Katolikos. The day before, on May 1, the Armenian parliament failed to elect Pashinyan to the post of prime minister. His was the only candidacy, but it was voted down by the Republican Party, which holds the majority in parliament: 55 deputies voted against, and only 45 in favor. The other opposition parties, including members of Tsarukyan (35 deputies), supported the candidacy en masse. The opposition, led by the Elk party, announced a "total strike" starting on May 2, led which was addressed immediately by Pashinyan following his rejection in parliament. He stressed that it would be "a peaceful act of civil disobedience", calling for the "Zvartnots" airport to be blocked and the roads leading into the city. The block became immediately effective. The Transport Ministry admitted that it could not guarantee the safety of passengers: "All railways have stopped working," said the press officer of the Vardan Alojan Railways. In the city it was impossible to move by car, and even the subway was blocked. Law enforcement agencies chose not to intervene. Airport passengers waiting for their flights were advised to get on the first morning flights, and from 7.00 all access to the airport were completely blocked by the inhabitants of the nearby village of Parakar. The residents of the village broadcast loud music at the airport, offering presents of sweets and pancakes. In all areas of the capital, and on the streets of the city, the protest turned into a massive street party, but fears remain that it could turn into a tragic clash. By Elizabeth Watt, Research Fellow, Deakin University from www.shutterstock.com Technologies for amplifying, sequencing and matching DNA have created new opportunities in genomic science. In this series When DNA Talks we look at the ethical and social implications. Getting your DNA done is all the rage in the United States. The sensationalism started with celebrities such as Jessica Alba, and Snoop Dog and has now spread to hundreds of video bloggers disclosing their ancestry to drum rolls, exclamations, cheers and tears. These tests claim to reveal deep ancestral origins, and many public users of this technology are black Americans seeking information about their African roots. The uptake of direct-to-consumer genetic testing has been slower in Australia, and complicated by debates both beyond and within the Indigenous community with some leaders calling on greater scrutiny to prevent fakes or wannabes calling themselves Indigenous. One of the authors on this paper Shaun Lehmann was dropped into this debate inadvertently, after receiving the result of his own DNA test a few years ago. Read more: DNA Nation raises tough questions for Indigenous Australians Professional and personal Shaun had more professional reasons for doing the test than most: at the time he was lecturing in human genetic diversity at the Australian National University, and wanted to use his own genetic data as teaching tool. He also had personal questions about his maternal grandmother, who had died when he was a small child. She had grown up without her mother, and said little about her background. Because they are related through a direct maternal line, Shaun knew that it was his grandmother, and by extension mysterious great-grandmother, who gave him his mitochondrial genome. Mitochondria are the tiny organelles that make energy in our cells. While the genome in the nucleus of our cells our 23 pairs of chromosomes is made up of a mix of our biological mothers and fathers DNA, the relatively small mitochondrial genome is passed down through the egg and so reflects a single line of maternal ancestors. Read more: Explainer: what are mitochondria and how did we come to have them? What Shaun didnt know at the time, and what the test revealed, was that his particular mitochondrial genome fell into a haplogroup (a grouping of similar mitochondrial genomes) called S2, which has only been observed in Aboriginal Australians. Interpreting genetic results Being mitochondrial DNA, Shaun knew exactly where to look in his genealogy to find out more. Sure enough, he soon found records that his grandmothers maternal family were Aboriginal people originally from the Albany area of Western Australia. With this information in hand, Shaun was able to trace his family tree to living Noongar relatives. Wikimedia Commons, CC BY Shauns discovery was certainly aided by the fact that he is a geneticist and could interpret his DNA test results. Most important, though, was that his Aboriginal ancestry happened to be in the direct maternal line. Mitochondrial DNA is a reliable source of genetic information about Aboriginal ancestry, but it cant help at all if your Aboriginal ancestors sit anywhere else in your family tree. That is, its only useful to track direct from mother to grandmother to great grandmother, and so on. Read more: Friday essay: when did Australias human history begin? Different kinds of DNA tests Most of the ethnic breakdown DNA results being shared publicly by bloggers come from testing companies that compare their nuclear DNA with material from various ethnic groups. The tests focus on variations in specific regions of genes known as single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs. To our knowledge, DNA testing companies do not currently have reliable reference SNP data from Indigenous Australians. One company offering tests claiming to identify Indigenous Australians uses an approach that compares sequences in genes known as Short Tandem Repeats, or STRs. STR data from around the world is widely available in the forensic science literature because it is widely used in criminal investigations and paternity testing. Read more: Is your genome really your own? The public and forensic value of DNA Ethical and scientific concerns have been raised about the use of STR data for commercial ancestry testing. For example, it is difficult to know how companies get their reference samples. The case of American blogger Lisa Garrigues is illustrative. Garrigues did a test back in 2010 it reportedly gave her second Highest Resolution Global Population Match as European-Aboriginal. She was excited by this discovery, but also sceptical her family has no known connections to the Southern Hemisphere. Lisa and her father subsequently did more thorough DNA testing, and it didnt suggest Aboriginal ancestry. In our personal correspondence with one of the genetic genealogists that assisted Lisa, Doug McDonald suggests these kind of inconsistencies are extremely common STR markers are not designed for ancestry tests, but for matching individual people. After the test: now what? We need to be on the lookout for misinformation and unethical practices around genealogy testing. But even where the science is reliable, such as Shauns mitochondrial DNA test, the implications of identifying genetic Indigenous ancestry are far from clear. Shaun was proud to learn about his ancestry, and has since got in contact with his relatives. He is also looking into his grandmothers past to find out whether her separation from her mother was influenced by the policies that led to the Stolen Generations. Existing research suggests there are many possible endings for journeys like Shauns. Bindi Bennetts work highlights how young, light-skinned people who had no previous ties to the Aboriginal community can develop a strong Indigenous identity, even in the face of resistance from that community. Read more: Culture, not colour, is the heart of Aboriginal identity But Fiona Nobles 1996 research with Queenslanders who discovered their Aboriginal ancestry late in life suggests many of this demographic see their heritage as extremely important, but not all-defining. They are more comfortable describing themselves as being of Aboriginal descent than Aborginal. As Regina Ganter notes, the in-between status of these half-steps is not well-recognised contemporary policy and discourse which tends to frame Aboriginality as an either/or identity. Although Noble and Bennetts research participants discovered their heritage through documents or family stories, not genetics, their work offers a window onto a future where more Australians discover Aboriginal ancestry through DNA tests. Without a doubt, the inevitable collision of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia with direct-to-consumer genetic testing will continue to raise challenging questions about ancestry and identity in the 21st century. Read more: DNA facial prediction could make protecting your privacy more difficult Emma Kowal receives funding from the Australian Research Council and the National Health and Medical Research Council. Elizabeth Watt and Shaun Lehmann do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Originally published in The Conversation. By David Lambert, Professor of Evolutionary Biology, Griffith University from www.shutterstock.com This article is an extract from an essay Owning the science: the power of partnerships in First Things First, the 60th edition of Griffith Review. Were publishing it as part of our occasional series Zoom Out, where authors explore key ideas in science and technology in the broader context of society and humanity. Scientific and Indigenous knowledge systems have often been in conflict. In my view, too much is made of these conflicts; they have a lot in common. For example, Indigenous knowledge typically takes the form of a narrative, usually a spoken story about how the world came to be. In a similar way, evolutionary theories, which aim to explain why particular characters are adapted to certain functions, also take the form of narratives. Both narratives are mostly focused on origins. Read more: Friday essay: when did Australias human history begin? From a strictly genetic perspective, progress on origins research in Australia has been particularly slow. Early ancient DNA studies were focused on remains from permafrost conditions in Antarctica and cool temperate environments such as northern Europe, including Greenland. But Australia is very different. Here, human remains are very old, and many are recovered from very hot environments. While ancient DNA studies have played an important role in informing understanding of the evolution of our species worldwide, little is known about the levels of ancient genomic variation in Australias First Peoples although some progress has been made in recent years. This includes the landmark recovery of genomic sequences from both contemporary and ancient Aboriginal Australian remains. Found, or revealed? Mungo Man and Mungo Lady have been the subject of both Indigenous and scientific narratives. From a scientific perspective, in 1968 the burnt remains of a woman were recovered at Lake Mungo by Jim Bowler, a young geologist. Six years later, after heavy rain, Bowler was riding his motorbike around the lake and again found human remains, this time of a man. From an Indigenous perspective, it was not that Jim Bowler discovered these ancient people but that they found him. And of course, one is struck by the apparent coincidence that they both revealed themselves to the same person, albeit six years apart. Professor Jim Bowler is a distinguished scientist who has close ties with, and an understanding of, Australias First Peoples, so Mungo Lady and Mungo Man chose well. Since the Dreamtime Perhaps the most well-known conflict between scientific and Indigenous perspectives relates to the origins of Aboriginal Australians. From an Indigenous perspective, Aboriginal Australians have always been on this land since the Dreamtime. From a scientific perspective, there is strong evidence that they have been here for more than 65,000 years not quite always. From my perspective, though, 65,000 years seems pretty close to always, and, moreover, it is likely that people became Aboriginal Australians when they first set foot on this land. So, in this sense, they have indeed always been here. When a publication by Professor Alan Thorne, a prominent Australian anthropologist, and his colleagues from the Australian National University appeared in the journal PNAS in 2001, it drew worldwide attention. The authors reported the recovery of short mitochondrial DNA from Mungo Man, as well as the other ancient remains of a number of people from the Willandra Lakes region. Read more: Explainer: what are mitochondria and how did we come to have them? The results from their analysis, which included an evolutionary tree of recovered DNA sequences, suggested that Mungo Man was genetically different to the other ancient people they studied, who were closely related to the Aboriginal Australians of today. This implied that contemporary Aboriginal Australians replaced another population of humans that lived here first. This conclusion caused widespread offence among Aboriginal people, though it was difficult for them to reject the scientific claims. Some scientists argued that Thornes results were highly unlikely to be correct, given the age of the remains and the hot environment in which they had been interred. It was not, however, possible to refute these claims without a detailed understanding of the methods used and the opportunity to redo the experiment. Some politicians and commentators seized on the result to argue against constitutional recognition of Aboriginal Australians, suggesting there was considerable doubt about their First Peoples status. Read more: FactCheck: might there have been people in Australia prior to Aboriginal people? Big personalities Big personalities have dominated Australian archaeology and anthropology, and influenced its development Alan Thorne prominent among them. He first became involved in the Lake Mungo excavations under the archaeologist Jim Bowler in 1969, reconstructing the remains of the skeleton of Mungo Lady. Five years later he also reconstructed Mungo Man and led excavations at other important burial grounds in Victoria. Thorne was very well known for his work on the multiregional evolution hypothesis, a model of human evolution that disputed the more widely known recent African origin (or out of Africa) hypothesis. For more than a decade after Thornes research was published, his work on Mungo Man and other ancient people from Willandra went largely unchallenged, despite the distress it caused to Aboriginal Australians. Then, in 2010, with the permission of the Paakantji, Ngyiampaa and the Mutthi Mutthi peoples of the Willandra Lakes, my colleagues and I from the Australian Research Centre for Human Evolution were able to resample these important remains. With the advantages of technology that had developed in the preceding decade, we repeated much of the original work. The new technology meant that we were able to recover much smaller amounts of DNA (if it was still present in the remains) and sequence it. In 2016, we also published the results in PNAS journal. Our findings provided strong evidence to refute the claims made by Thorne and his colleagues, showing it was not possible to recover any DNA that unequivocally belonged to Mungo Man. Read more: New DNA study confirms ancient Aborigines were the First Australians We did, however, recover five distinct DNA sequences from his remains. But these sequences revealed no ancient DNA damage patterns, indicating that they were not ancient sequences and genetic analysis showed that they were European in origin. Clearly these were sequences from people who left their DNA on the bone material after handling Mungo Mans remains. New techniques, new light Our study set the record straight. We refuted the claim that Mungo Man was a member of an earlier group of people that previously inhabited Australia and not an Aboriginal Australian. Perhaps of equal importance, we were able to recover substantial coverage of the mitochondrial genome from another ancient Willandra Lakes man, who was buried only a few hundred metres from Mungo Man. The remains contained about 1% human DNA; from them, we were able to recover two complete mitochondrial genomes. One of these was a previously unidentified Aboriginal Australian mitochondrial genetic type, almost certainly from the remains themselves. The other was European in origin, and certainly a contaminant. It appeared that this man was from within the Holocene period (that is, the period since the last Ice Age that ended around 11,700 years ago); we know this because the skeletal remains were not heavily mineralised. His teeth exhibited a pattern of wear typical of Aboriginal hunter-gatherer populations and included no evidence of cavities or tooth decay. Read more: World's scientists turn to Asia and Australia to rewrite human history Combined with the lack of mineralisation in the bone and its position in the soil layers at Lake Mungo, various authors have suggested that the remains were a few thousand years old. This is important, because it means that he represents the best proxy currently available for Mungo Man. The fact that he was buried so close to the oldest-known Australian, albeit much later, suggests a common place and country. This is particularly significant given that the environmental conditions were very different at the times of the two burials, which were about 40,000 years apart. Hence, nuclear gene studies of this man, currently underway, will be especially relevant to our understanding of Mungo Man himself. And because the nuclear genome is much larger than the mitochondrial, it will reveal much more information. Such nuclear genome studies enable us to establish kinship relationships between people living now and ancient peoples. Such studies will take substantial time and effort, and will require the development of new innovative genomic tools. Ethical considerations demand Aboriginal involvement in both the design and operation of such new techniques, as well as new research relationships with Indigenous communities. Read more: Buried tools and pigments tell a new history of humans in Australia for 65,000 years David Lambert receives funding from the Australian Research Council. Originally published in The Conversation. Martin Winterkorn, former Volkswagen CEO Volkswagen's former chief executive Martin Winterkorn has been charged with conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with the company's scheme to cheat U.S. diesel vehicle emissions requirements. The charges against Winterkorn, 70, were announced Wednesday by the U.S. Attorney's Office of Eastern Michigan, after a grand jury reccomended the indictment. Winterkorn faces four counts, including that he conspired with other senior VW executives to defraud U.S. customers and violate the Clean Air Act. The remaining three counts relate to wire fraud in connection to the scheme. Winterkorn resigned from the company on Sept. 23, 2015 several days after the revelation that the Volkswagen used cheat software to evade testing standards for the company's "clean diesel" vehicles. Volkswagen has paid $4.3 billion in penalties relating to the case. Related: Volkswagen Storing 300,000 Diesels Around U.S. Photo: Mark Turnauckas/Flickr Avis filed a lawsuit against a Louisiana man, alleging negligence and breach of contract, according to Louisiana Record. While driving an Avis rental car in February 2016, the man allegedly rear ended the vehicle in front of him. The lawsuit claims the man has failed to pay Avis for the damages, which total over $10,000 plus interest. He is also accused of breaching his rental contract. Avis is seeking payment for the damages, attorney fees, and court costs. Related Content: Avis Sued for False Grand Theft Auto Charges If you would like Kern County to maintain an adequate emergency blood supply, you might consider thanking a high school student. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. Expect widespread areas of smoke and haze, reducing visibility at times. High 82F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low 61F. Winds light and variable. No charges will be filed in the case of a Kern County Sheriffs sergeant involved in a fatal collision with a motorcyclist last July. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. LOS ANGELES (AP) The case involving Roman Polanski, who fled the United States after he forced himself on a teenage girl during a photo shoot, has spanned more than 40 years, sparking court battles on both sides of the Atlantic. On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled him from its membership. Here are some key dates in the long-running case, which has kept Polanski living in exile in Europe: ___ March 10, 1977 Roman Polanski conducts a photo shoot with a 13-year-old girl at Jack Nicholson's house. As she later testifies, Polanski gives the girl champagne and part of a sedative during the shoot, then forced her to have sex. She says she repeatedly told Polanski no during intercourse, but says she did not fight him because she was afraid of him. The girl's mother calls police after finding out what happened. March 24, 1977 A grand jury indicts Polanski on six felony charges, including rape, furnishing a controlled substance to a minor and sodomy. He later pleads not guilty at arraignment. August 1977 Polanski pleads guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and a judge orders the director to undergo further proceedings. September 1977 A judge orders the director to undergo a 90-day diagnostic screening at a California state prison to help determine sentencing. January 1978 The diagnostic screening completed after 42 days recommends Polanski be placed on probation. Feb. 1, 1978 Polanski flees the United States on eve of sentencing after learning that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laurence Rittenband intended to send Polanski back to prison. An arrest warrant is issued, confining Polanski's movements to France, Poland and Switzerland. Polanski alleges Rittenband met with a prosecutor who was not assigned to the case without Polanski's lawyer present to discuss sentencing. September 1997 A new judge meets with prosecutors and Polanski's attorney to discuss the case in chambers. The meeting is not reported, and elements of the discussion remain in dispute. Polanski's attorney contends the judge wanted Polanski's sentencing hearing televised, which the judge denies. Prosecutors contend Polanski sought to be sentenced without reporters present, which the director denies. November 2002 Lawyers for Conde Nast Publications successfully unseal grand jury testimony presented in Polanski's case. March 2003 Polanski wins the best director Academy Award for "The Pianist," but is unable to collect his Oscar in person due to an outstanding warrant for his arrest. December 2008 Polanski's lawyers seek a dismissal of the charges against him. His motion is supported by his victim. February 2009 A Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejects Polanski's dismissal motion, stating that Polanski must appear in court to resolve his case. The order goes into effect in May 2009. July 2009 Polanski appeals the February ruling in his case. September 2009 Polanski is arrested in Switzerland pursuant to a warrant. Extradition proceedings begin. December 2009 A California court panel rejects Polanski's appeal, ruling that the director must appear in court to resolve his case. January 2010 Polanski's lawyers request the director be sentenced without being present in Los Angeles. February 2010 A Los Angeles court takes sealed testimony from Roger Gunson, the original prosecutor who handled Polanski's case, about his recollections of the judge's 1977 promises to the director. May 2010 A judge rejects a motion by Polanski's lawyers to unseal Gunson's testimony. July 2010 Switzerland rejects U.S. request to extradite Polanski, citing its inability to obtain the Gunson testimony. December 2014 Polanski's lawyers seek an evidentiary hearing to explore the director's allegations of judicial misconduct in Los Angeles. A judge rejects the motion without conducting a hearing. February 2015 Polanski appears in a Polish court for hours of questioning on whether a U.S. request to extradite the director is valid. October 2015 A Polish court rejects an effort to extradite Polanski. May 2016 Poland's new justice minister revives extradition proceedings against Polanski. December 2016 The Polish Supreme Court rules Polanski will not be extradited to the United States. February 2017 Polanski's attorney seeks an order in Los Angeles to unseal Gunson's testimony. Later motions by Polanski seek an order confirming the director should not serve any additional time behind bars if he returns to Los Angeles. Polanski's lawyer relies on information included in a lengthy Polish court decision. April 2017 A Los Angeles judge rejects Polanski's requests to be sentenced without returning to court or for a determination he has served his sentence. June 2017 Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, appears in a Los Angeles court to ask a judge to end the case, calling it a "40-year-sentence" imposed on both her and the director. August 2017 A Los Angeles judge rejects Geimer's request to end Polanski's case. May 3, 2018 The film academy announces it has expelled Polanski and Bill Cosby, who was convicted of a sex offense a week earlier, from its membership. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BEIJING (AP) Germany said Thursday it would welcome the widow of Chinese Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo after a recording was released of her crying in desperation and indicating she has given up hope of being able to leave China. "If I can't leave, I'll die in my home," Liu Xia said during a recent phone call with her close friend Liao Yiwu, a writer who documented their conversation in an essay published Wednesday. "Xiaobo is gone, and there's nothing in the world for me now," Liu said tearfully. "It's easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me." Liu has never been charged with a crime, but has been kept guarded and largely isolated since her husband, Liu Xiaobo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights activism in 2010. He was still serving a prison sentence for inciting subversion of state power when he died of liver cancer last summer. Germany's Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press on Thursday that the German government has been discussing Liu's case with China and "will continue to do so." "According to the information available to us, Liu Xia has not been accused of any crime," the ministry said in emailed comments. "She should be allowed to travel, also for humanitarian considerations. Should she choose to come to Germany, Liu Xia would be welcome here at any time." Writing from Germany where he is living in exile, Liao said that Chinese state security agents repeatedly promised Liu Xia that she would be able to leave the country and seek treatment for the clinical depression that has long ailed her. Germany was prepared to take her in, according to Liao: "In early April the German Foreign Minister had already made specific arrangements, including as to how they'd not alert the news media, how they'd covertly collect Liu Xia at the airport, and how they'd arrange her treatment and recovery and more." But hopes for a quiet departure have not borne fruit. Hu Jia, a dissident and longtime friend of the Lius, described Liao's essay as a "counterattack" against Chinese authorities prompted by an "awakening" after hearing for months that Liu would soon be released. Corroborating Liao's account, Hu said Liu had initially been told by security agents to wait until after the 19th Party Congress last fall, when President Xi Jinping secured a second term at the helm of the ruling Communist Party. Then, Hu said, they told her to wait until after the meeting of the ceremonial legislature in March. During this time, Liu's supporters kept a low profile because government agents told them that remaining silent about the case would lead to a solution, Hu told the AP. "Why did Mr. Liao call Liu Xia on April 30? Because at that point it was already clear that hope was shattered," Hu said. "We were duped." When asked at a regular press briefing whether Liu will be able to leave the country, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was "not aware of the situation." "But Liu Xia is a Chinese citizen. The competent Chinese authority will handle the relevant matter in accordance with laws," Hua said, repeating a statement often used by China to address Liu's case. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. -- A 17-year-old girl was arrested Wednesday in connection to what deputies say was a threat she made toward a classmate during a Facebook Live video. 17-year-old accused of making shooting threat on Facebook Live 17-year-old girl, classmate both go to Bayside High School Classmate said she was being bullied by 17-year-old at school Officials said a mother, Tasha Riley, 43, alerted the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to the video posted by the girl, who we are not identifying in accordance with our crime guidelines. Investigators learned that the girl who allegedly did the Facebook Live told the classmate to watch the video, during which she made "threatening statements" toward her while displaying what appeared to be an AR-15-style weapon. "When I saw it, I was upset, I was like, 'She holding an assault rifle talking about she going to shoot my child," Riley said. "Then there's other kids in the video talking about my baby, don't even know anything about my baby." According to deputies, the 17-year-old spoke directly to the classmate in the video posted Tuesday, stating, "Let me just let you f***g know, I stay strapped on go, 24-mother-f***g-seven!" The 17-year-old then picked up the rifle, displayed it to the camera and said, "A fat a** AR! I'll shoot your dumba**!" "If this girl's up here with an assault rifle talking about she's going to shoot my child, ok, what am I supposed to do, not do anything?" Riley said. "No, that's my only child. That's the only child I got." Deputies said the classmate commented on the video, and the 17-year-old replied, threatening to kill her by shooting her. The classmate told deputies that the 17-year-old had been bullying her at Bayside High School, where the two both go to school. According to the classmate, the bullying started because she was talking to the 17-year-old's boyfriend. The 17-year-old was arrested at about 3 a.m. Wednesday at her St. Petersburg home, according to officials. Her mother was cooperative with investigators, according to the agency, as deputies confirmed the girl did not, in fact, have access to firearms in her home. The 17-year-old is being held at the Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center. She was charged with making written threats to kill or do bodily injury via electronic communication. Deputies are still trying to determine where the 17-year-old shot the Facebook Live video. Lawyer John Voelpel, 81, will officially receive a new title from the University of South Florida on May 4: Doctor of Philosophy. Voelpel works in environmental law Went back to school to learn why his work was important Overcame loss of leg in car accident to finish degree Voelpel is officially the oldest graduate in the class graduating from USF this week, but he has a slightly different perspective on his age. "My father passed away reading his paper at 97 and a half," Voelpel said, laughing. "I'm only 81 -- I'm a youngster." Voelpel said he went back to school to learn why the career in environmental law he already had was important. "The answer is, there's a lot of work to be done," Voelpel said. "That's a lot of work to be done in terms of the environment and there's a lot of work to do with climate." Voelpel entered the Ph.D. program in 2003, but experienced a setback when he and his wife were hurt in a serious car accident. Doctors were forced to amputate his leg due to his injuries. While the accident may have slowed Voelpel down from earning his degree, in the end it did not stop him. "I feel good about it," Voelpel said, putting on his cap and gown. "But I feel responsible now. I have a responsibility that I didn't have before." Voelpel is one of more than 7,000 students graduating from USF this spring. He wants to use his Ph.D in philosophy and his environmental law background to do research and teach. A University of Tampa student is using her passion for art to honor the 17 lives taken in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting earlier this year. Symone Hall dedicating work in graduate art show to Parkland victims Portraits each took at least 9 hours to create Portraits showcased through May 5 University of Tampa Senior and Art major Symone Hall decided to dedicate her work for her graduate show to the victims of the Parkland shooting and their families. "I may not know them personally, but I understand the value of human life," Hall said. The Valentines Day shooting was a senseless act of violence that has shaken the state of Florida and the entire country. "I feel like all of these individuals probably had the same hopes and same dreams that I have, and this incident reminded my of how fortunate I am to live each day," Hall said. Hall told us she spent hours studying photos of the victims and carefully drawing each portrait. She said each one took at least nine hours to create. Hall used different types of charcoal to design every detail. The portraits of the victims have tape over their mouths that represent the voices they no longer have. "I wanted to capture the essence that they might be gone, but they're still here," Hall said. Hall hopes her work will serve as a reminder that the victims will never be forgotten. "It still resonates with a lot of people," Hall said. "I still think about them, and I'll always think about them and I just want them to know that people care." Hall has been in contact with the principal of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and said they are extremely grateful for the support. Halls portraits will be showcased through Saturday evening at the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery on the University of Tampas campus. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Utility executives told state regulators Wednesday that Florida's power companies are well positioned to avoid many of the pitfalls encountered in the wake of Hurricane Irma, when more than 100,000 customers remained without power a full week after the storm hit. But they warned that some prolonged post-storm power outages are inevitable, primarily because of geography. Execs spoke to state Public Service Commission Remarks came as part of hurricane preparedness workshop WATCH the Hurricane Preparedness workshop HERE The comments came during an annual hurricane preparedness workshop before the Florida Public Service Commission. The commission has received a slew of complaints about power restoration efforts after Irma, a storm that affected the entire Florida Peninsula. As crews worked to turn the lights - and air conditioners - back on, many customers who had gone without power for days grew frustrated after failed attempts to get more information about timetables. "Looking at the 700 customer comments, and they came in to all of our offices, and communication, ultimately, is an issue," said Commissioner Julie Brown. &amp;amp;nbsp; Florida Power and Light Distribution Operations Vice President Bryan Olnick acknowledged the communication problems, noting that many of the customer complaints fielded by FPL concerned its smartphone app. "During Irma, the way we engineered the mobile app had a lot of information that, during a storm, customers really didn't care about," Olnick said. "And so, that was a big lesson learned for us: how do we trim that down during a storm so that, all's they really want to know is 'give me my (information) if I'm going to be in or out'." As for the speed of power restoration after the hurricane, the executives said the significant statewide impacts - particularly all the trees that knocked down power lines - proved especially challenging to overcome. During their work, Duke Energy crews created a tally of more than 500 electrical poles that fell in critical locations. "The results from that review have helped shape our plan to, among other things, build more resilient transformers, increase the strength and capacity of hundreds of more line-miles, and use data anayltics to target undergrounding of the poorest performing overhead segments," Jason Cutliffe, the company's director of power quality and reliability, testified. The companies' expensive plans to bury large stretches of above-ground power lines, however, will be years in the making. If a major storm strikes the state during the 2018 hurricane season, power outages - some lengthy - could be unavoidable. "Our customers expect and deserve power that stays on, and if there is an outage, power that comes back faster than before," Cutliffe said. We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Google has been announced as the Creative Marketer of the Year 2018 by the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Google Creative Campus Bold, courageous and creative The award honours brands that distinguish themselves through consistently outstanding creative storytelling. This year, Google is recognised for embracing creativity across their brand marketing, the application of new technology to creating effective campaigns, and inclusive storytelling. It will be collected by Googles chief marketing officer, Lorraine Twohill, during the closing Award Ceremony on Friday 22 June.To celebrate the award and ensure the future of the marketing industry is one which is driven by a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, the company will launch the Google Creative Campus at the 2018 Cannes Lions.Google Creative Campus will focus on driving greater gender, ethnicity and socio-demographic diversity in the creative industries. Operating in partnership with the Roger Hatchuel Academy, the combined programme will educate 45 students in Cannes, at least 50% of which will come from groups that are historically underrepresented in advertising and marketing. Students will be selected by Cannes Lions representatives, from advertising, communications, and related marketing disciplines and additionally, ten of the chosen students will receive bursaries from Google.At Google, we build for everyone, and our marketing campaigns must speak to people all around the world with different backgrounds, languages, and points of view. We want to support more talented newcomers who bring different perspectives into the industry. This isnt about multicultural marketing; its marketing in a multicultural world. Without this diversity, there is no creativity, said Twohill.Following a week of training at Cannes Lions in June, the group will participate in a second week-long immersion trip at Googles Mountain View headquarters in California in the second half of the year.Alongside its obvious achievements as a technology company, Google as a brand has crafted a reputation for marketing campaigns that are bold, courageous and creative. Over the history of the Festival, Google has taken home an incredible 127 Lions. Ground-breaking campaigns like NYT VR, Google Deepmind Alphago, Google Cardboard, Google Voice Search and Hilltop Reimagined for Coca-Cola all of which won Grands Prix are clear examples of Googles drive to constantly challenge and strive for creative excellence. Were proud to be able to honour them with this prestigious award and also look forward to launching the Google Creative Campus at this years Festival another testament to their commitment to furthering creativity, said Jose Papa, managing director, Cannes Lions.Previous winners of the Creative Marketer of the Year Award include Burger King, Samsung and Coca-Cola. Susan Credle, FCB's global CCO, has been named chairwoman of the board of directors for The One Club for Creativity, as voted by club members and the current board. Susan Credle, FCBs global CCO, is now chairwoman of the board of directors for The One Club. Natural selection From the beautiful coverage of the creative industry to the workshops, to The One Show Book which many of us referred to as the 'Advertising bible, I learned to aim higher, to do better. Today, its exciting to see The One Club continuing to evolve while holding true to the same goal. To inspire us all to be better. Jose has done a tremendous job leading The One Club through some big years of change. I look forward to working with Kevin and his team and the board, as we continue to uphold the legacy of The One Club. New members Pat Baron, CCO, Australia and chairman, McCann APAC Creative Leadership Council, McCann Melbourne, Australia Eugene Cheong, CCO, Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific and Singapore, Singapore Sonal Dabral, group CCO, vice chairman, Ogilvy & Mather India, Mumbai (replacing Prasoon Joshi, executive chairman, CEO, McCann World Group India and president. South Asia, McCann Erickson Mumbai, India) Leong Wai Foong, chairman, CCO, BBDO Greater China, Shanghai, China (replacing Dean Sciole, director of marketing, Cadillac China, Shanghai) Monica Moro, CCO, McCann Spain, Madrid, Spain Masako Okamura, ECD, ASPAC, Dentsu Aegis Network, Manila, Philippines Juliana Paracencio, regional CD, Memac Ogilvy & Mather, Dubai, UAE Luiz Sanches, CCO, AlmapBBDO, Sao Paulo, Brazil (replacing Nizan Guanaes, chairman, Grupo ABC, Sao Paulo) Yasuharu Sasaki, ECD, Dentsu Tokyo, Japan (replacing Naoki Ito, CEO, creative director and founder, Party, Tokyo) Jose Mollas contribution This new group of renowned global creative leaders and the current board, led by Susan Credle, will play a key role in furthering our mission to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community, and solidifying the relevance of our mission in their regions and around the world. Criteria and responsibilities of board The One Club also announced 12 new appointees to its national and international boards, including representatives from four new countries: Philippines, Singapore, Spain and United Arab Emirates. The new group also now includes a dedicated board member for Australia, a role which was previously alternated each term with New Zealand.Credle, a current One Club board member, replaces Jose Molla, founder and CCO at The Community, Miami, whose term as chairman of the national board of directors has come to an end. He will officially hand over the reins of the organisation to Credle at The One Show on Friday evening, 11 May.For as long as Susans been a board member, she has always been highly engaged with club programming, particularly our education, inclusion and diversity and gender equality efforts, said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club for Creativity. Her business and creative leadership made her a natural selection by the board.I joined the advertising industry before portfolio schools existed. The One Club became my university, said Credle.Glenn Cole, founder and CCO, 72andSunny in Los Angeles has been re-elected to serve as vice chair of the board.Three industry leaders have been added to The One Club national board of directors: Keith Cartwright, ECD, 72andSunny, Los Angeles; Chloe Gottlieb, EVP, CCO US, R/GA, New York, and Fernando Machado, global chief marketing officer, Burger King, Miami.New members of The One Club international board of directors are:One reason The One Club is so prestigious is because of its exceptional board of directors, an impressive group of the most prominent professionals in our field, said Swanepoel.Swanepoel made special note of Jose Mollas term as board chairman, praising his strong dedication and strategic vision for successfully growing the clubs initiatives, reputation and influence on a global level.Jose has been a terrific leader and partner and played a significant role in the club becoming the creative industrys global leader in education, professional development, inclusion and diversity and gender equality programming, he said. We thank him for his many important contributions to making The One Club an organisation that nurtures a more vibrant and inspired global creative community.Board members, who serve three-year terms, are selected based on three criteria: they must be prominent international creatives, be respected leaders in their given fields, and exert influence in their respective regions.Responsibilities of board members include providing input and feedback on the clubs two dozen annual education, professional development, inclusion and diversity and gender equality programs, elevating The One Show and ADC Annual Awards in rankings in their regions, connecting the club with advertising and design universities and schools, and recommending outstanding candidates for awards judges.The new board members join a group of global creative leaders who serve as ambassadors for and advisors to the non-profit organisation. Click here for the complete list of current national board members; and here for the international board.Past board members include industry legends such as Bob Barrie, Lee Clow, Lee Garfinkel, Jeff Goodby, Sir John Hegarty, Ed McCabe, Dan Wieden and others.The announcement was made in lead up to The One Clubs Creative Week, 7-11 May 2018 in New York. The preeminent festival showcasing the intersection of advertising, innovation and creative thinking, Creative Week includes The One Show over two nights, ADC 97th Annual Awards, the dynamic Young Ones Education Festival, inspiring sessions with some of the biggest names in the industry at the Creative Summit and the exclusive Executive Creative Summit, open to a limited number of top-level leaders (founders, CCOs and managing partners). Everyone needs press freedom to be able to publish their news and views to an audience. Gone are the days when political and religious authorities kept this freedom only for themselves. The right to press freedom was a hard-won right historically - against kings, emperors, colonialists and apartheid's bullies. It unfolded unevenly over history, in different places. Onus on journalists and media owners Media freedom, media pluralism, media independence Increased curbs on press freedom Guarding journalism against capture In the beginning, it meant freedom to publish for the people who owned a printing press. Over time, press freedom extended, slowly, to encompass those who could buy the equipment needed for broadcasting. Today, its much wider. Anybody who tweets does Facebook, or sends a message to a WhatsApp group is a user of press freedom. Its permissionless publishing.But amongst everybody who benefits from press freedom in this sense, the people who do journalism are the ones most in need of this liberty. This is because the work they do publishing verified information in the public interest raises hostility amongst those who want to conduct their affairs outside the public spotlight. It is these groups who find journalism inconvenient, and who work hard to suppress journalism and curtail press freedom.In sum, while press freedom is not only for the press, it is especially important for those communicators who put into the public domain the news that others would prefer to keep hidden.This puts an onus on journalists and media owners to be sure that what they publish is accurate, fair and does indeed merit public exposure. They need to practise professional standards.The special place of people doing journalism was well recognised by the founders of World Press Freedom Day, a group of African journalists who attend a Unesco conference in newly independent Namibia in 1991. In their Windhoek Declaration, they saw press freedom as three things: media freedom, media pluralism and media independence.On freedom, they had no illusions that for journalism to play a watchdog role, the excessive power of governments over mass communication had to be countered. Cognisant that different journalists deal in different stories, and aware of different orientations of media owners, the founders also saw the need for a plurality of media as key to democracy. Where one media group fell short on stories unpalatable to its owner, the existence of another group could fill the gap. State or private monopoly make this impossible. Hence, the call for media pluralism.Finally, the Windhoek Declaration also insisted on independence meaning the need for journalists to uphold professional standards and to resist political and economic pressures that could corrupt the integrity of their practice.This package of the three factors for press freedom freedom, pluralism and independence is just relevant today as 1991. It frames Unescos 2018 report on World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development. This Unesco report shows there are increased curbs on press freedom, including Internet filtering, blocking and connectivity cut-offs. It notes that new laws against fake news threaten to gag genuine news. It points to violations of privacy by spy agencies who lack independent oversight and by internet giants who vacuum up data indiscriminately. It notes that both make us think twice about accessing information critical of the government or speaking out in the public sphere.With pluralism, the Unescos study highlights the explosion in access to online information, but also a decline in newspapers who have typically been the main supplier of original journalism. The report shows there is also still a disproportionate use of male news sources, which constrains content diversity. In addition, the report warns that algorithms are giving people more of the same, rather than exposing them to alternatives.As regards independence, the Unesco document also points to the negative impact of commercial pressures on the one hand and intimidation emanating from politicians on the other. But the report also highlights how important independent professional journalism is when society risks being drowned in disinformation.The Windhoek Declaration call for the establishment of the World Press Freedom Day was officially recognised by the United Nations in 1993. This makes 2018 the 25th anniversary of this opportunity to defend journalism under threat. This milestone coincides with 2018 also being the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UDHR establishes in international law the specific right that underpins press freedom namely, the right to seek, receive and impart information and opinion.South Africans know well the importance of guarding journalism against capture and fighting violations of the human right to freedom of expression. Experience teaches that the country can only make decent progress towards the internationally-agreed Sustainable Development Goals if there is free press and an independent judiciary playing their respective roles.This is why South Africans may feel invested in the 2018 theme for World Press Freedom Day: Keeping power in check: media, justice and the rule of law. So, the country can feel part of a global movement on 3 May 2018. Its a day to celebrate and consolidate press freedom for the future. Celebrating World Press Freedom Day, 3 May 2018, the Right2Know Campaign reflects on happenings and issues affecting the media in South Africa and in Africa as a whole, over the past year. Sergey Dogadin via 123RF.com Spying on journalists Love your community media Media freedom in the continent This years theme is, Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law. The theme highlights the importance of an enabling legal environment for press freedom and gives special attention to the role of an independent judiciary in ensuring legal guarantees and protections for press freedom and the prosecution of crimes against journalists.The past year has seen continued evidence that spying on journalists continues to be a major threat in South Africa. Most recently it emerged that ajournalist was spied on illegally after investigating corruption allegations at the Railway Safety Regulator.South Africas surveillance law, Rica, now faces a legal challenge brought by amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism after a previous case of surveillance against journalist Sam Sole. R2K is seeking to join that case as a friend of the court.The issue of surveillance concerns at the SABC is equally pressing. It is in this view that we have decided to picket against the vetting of staff members at the SABC offices in Durban and Johannesburg, an event that took place at 10:00 today (3 May). The SABC has requested many of their journalists to submit their ID copies for the vetting process in terms of section 2A (1)(b)(ii) of the National Strategic Intelligence Act. Following resistance and opposition from a number of organisations, the SABC has decided to put the process on hold whilst seeking legal advice.We believe this is extremely intrusive and a blatant abuse of the National Key Points Act, which continues to be applied to SABC buildings. Media workers play an important role in keeping those in power in check and should not be treated like potential criminals or spies. This form of surveillance is constitutionally questionable as it violates several rights connected to privacy, media freedom (of expression) and access to information. (The need to protect SABC workers against intrusive vetting is also a pressing concern in the debate around the Critical Infrastructure Protection Bill which is proposed to replace the National Key Points Act.)As R2K we reiterate that free and diverse media is critical to promoting transparency, accountability and the freedom of expression. Media is a public good a constitutional right that is the key to the realisation and defence of other rights.A strong and independent community media sector continues to be vital to the overall media freedom landscape. We, therefore, welcome the return to air of various community radio stations who have been switched off air by Sentech when they were not able to afford the high fees for signal distribution.However, more public support is needed to ensure that our community stations are better able to serve as the voices and sounding board for grassroots communities. Most people at community stations and newspapers are doing the best job they can under very difficult conditions but with our support they can be able to meet their objectives. Through this campaign we are encouraging community members to be actively involved in shaping programming and governance of their community media.In December 2017, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported that 66 journalists are detained across the continent. As R2K we continue to give solidarity to media workers across the African continent. Thus, we join the call for the release of DRC journalist Eliezer Ntambwe who was detained without charge last month.It is reported that Ntambwe was detained after the governor of DRC's central Kasai Oriental province, Ngoyi Kasanji, accused him of defamation and extortion relating to an interview the journalist conducted. In Angola, journalist and campaigner Rafael Marques de Morais is still facing charges for allegedly insulting a government official when he reported on the former attorney generals role in a questionable land deal.We are also concerned by a new law in the Tanzanian government that regulates online content. Through this law, bloggers, social media influencers and online platforms will have to apply for a licence and pay a fee of about R11,000 to keep their sites up. It is alarming how that country is so hellbent at tightening laws that govern press freedom.Though we have come a long way to obtain media freedom in this country, on this day we celebrate the continued success in getting news to citizens and the integral role the media plays in keeping citizens informed. We must continue to protect media freedom by taking stalk and holding those who are in power accountable. No one must stifle the freedom to engage, participate and produce media. Continuous opposition to this freedom poses a severe threat to our constitutional democracy which protects the independence of our media. "Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end." - Robin Sharma Kfms successes in the recent Liberty Radio Awards are among a number of green shoots, showing that a tough year of change for the station in 2017 is leading towards a gorgeous outcome.The Western Cape radio market is highly contested, with both regional and national stations vying for the attention and listenership of audiences. The medium of radio is fast moving and highly competitive and as broadcasters we are not only competing with other radio stations but also trying to convert audiences who are not consuming the medium.Given the ever-changing landscape; industry focus on the traditional measurement of the numbers; providing clients with value and showing ROI both to our audience and advertisers, Kfm 94.5 has been feeling huge pressure to perform on all fronts.The station has spent two years focusing on how we differentiate ourselves in a way that rings home to audiences who consume the station and those that dont, yet.One of the biggest changes to radio in the Western Cape in the past year was the refreshed line-up at Kfm 94.5. The reinvigoration of our talent mix, music strategy and marketing approach over the last six months has yielded increased interest from our core audience and the introduction of new listeners who have engaged with us on our social media platforms and the stations Whatsapp line.Our new look has disrupted the market and whilst it is still too soon to see significant changes in our listenership we are closing the audience gap in the Western Cape with our one-week Cume growing by 2% year on year. Kfms total share of listening minutes is up 3% year on year, where our closest competitor is down 9% over the same period.We have also been encouraged by Kfms nominations and wins in the Liberty Radio Awards that speak directly to the new line up: Kfm Mornings with Darren, Sherlin and Sibs was named Best commercial breakfast show at the Awards, and Carl Wastie was named a Bright Star in the radio industry. His Flash Drive show was also shortlisted for the Best Afternoon Drive category and co-host Zoe Brown was among the nominees for Best Traffic Presenter.Selected by industry experts, these nominations and awards reinforce our belief that 2017s shake up will be best for the station in the long run.Ongoing audience research by independent industry experts is also showing that Kfm 94.5 is tracking well in our target audiences - on air and on the many other platforms that Kfm engages on.As Robin Sharma says - change is messy in the middle but were already enjoying the rewards and starting to see some of the gorgeousness in the end. Exciting times lie ahead for the aural medium in the Western Cape and for Kfm 94.5 specifically, but we now know that changes made in line with our brand vision, enable success. So, were embracing change and the good things that follow. Last week's AfricArena media event highlighted the continent's 'funding starvation syndrome', the African startup pyramid, and why we need to boost both the African startup gazelles and unicorns alike. Christophe Viarnaud, founder of AfricArena and CEO of French-South African tech company, Methys. There are limited angel investors in Africa and we need to change the fact that less than 2% of the global seed investment is coming to Africa. Linking African innovation and entrepreneurship Strengthen the international traction of Africa's tech startups Showcase and promote globally the African tech ecosystem and its opportunities Attract corporates and investors to the Africa tech innovation sector Deliver a durable Pan-African impact conference with positive social consequences Funding starvation syndrome Africas gazelles and lack of unicorns We need unicorns in South Africa, we need unicorns in the rest of Africa. We have gazelles, which are agile, fast-growing startups, but if we want to remain independent in Africa, we need startups that can reach a continental critical mass and master their own destiny. By the end of our careers, the population of the continent will be 2.4 billion consumers, with 4 billion by the next century. Were the largest market on earth larger than China, and at the moment, largely undeveloped, making the African tech sphere the single biggest growth engine for any idea, business or market. The African startup pyramid Imagine over 450 delegates, 100 entrepreneurs, 80 startups, 22 exhibitors, 42 speakers, 67 investors, more than 40 live startup pitch battles, $2m in deals directly associated with the event and much more in commitments. Those are the figures for AfricArena 2017.Now take those figures and double them thats a conservative guesstimate of whats to come from AfricArena 2018 says Christophe Viarnaud, founder of AfricArena and CEO of French-South African tech company Methys on reviewing the successes of last years event.Thats a huge boon to business on the continent, as Viarnaud stated at last years conference:So while the first edition of AfricArena represented an opportunity to explore tomorrows trends while unleashing some of the continents best startups and innovators, their vision is to create the leading open African innovation platform, to unite international investors, corporates and local tech startups and communities.This will serve as a catalyst to realise the full potential of Africas entrepreneurs.Thats quite a mouthful, but oh-so-relevant to the African tech startup scene.Known as the international African tech conference, last week saw an announcement hosted at the InvestSA One-Stop Shop in Cape Town, hosted by Wesgro in partnership with Silicon Cape, that the second edition of AfricArena 2018 will exponentially amplify its African growth strategy with the first-ever AfricArena world tour, which kicks off this month.Tim Harris, CEO of Wesgro, mentioned that last years conference was an incredible idea that brought entrepreneurs from across the continent to Cape Town. Its main objectives are:And this year, it goes even further with the tour, set to build physical connections and connecting practically across the continent.The conference ensures were more connected as a continent as well as in the tech community, by harnessing the innovation coming from African entrepreneurs and taking it to the world.Highlighting the importance of AfricArena, Harris said, Being able to link the innovation and entrepreneurship happening in Cape Town with the innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent is an incredibly important way to build the connections we need to grow the African market and tech innovation in Africa.Conference founder Viarnaud added that the AfricArena vision for the first event was to bring investors and corporates interested in innovation in Africa together with startups from across the continent together.They found the major issues affecting African entrepreneurs is the funding starvation syndrome, with a very low amount of the global tech seed funding going to Africa.Therefore, a lot of work needs to be done to bring money from investors globally to Africa, and from corporates to invest in innovation in Africa. Thats why AfricArenas vision is to create the leading African platform to unite international investors and corporates with local startups and community.Its an open-model involving all the major startup incubation ecosystem leaders on the continent, like Meltwaters Mest and Startup Bootcamp, both based in Cape Town, which is the digital capital of Africa.Viarnaud says the $2m from the investor pitching format last year is just a drop in the ocean this year they want to go much bigger, with a focus on investors. There were 100 last year and they want much more this year.He added its interesting to note that from 2016 to 2017, the amount of VC funding in African startups jumped 53% year-on-year, representing $568m. Its great to see this progression, from 2015 to 2017 it is double-digit growth.In terms of countries leading the pack, SA is on top at $168m, about 30% of the total, followed by Kenya and Nigeria.Viarnaud said these three countries represent 75% of the overall amount, with the other 51 countries on the continent representing just 25%.So the numbers are increasing, but its mostly dominant where youd expect it: In Silicon Savannah, Silicon Cape and Lagos Nigeria. So theres lots of work to be done elsewhere on the continent, especially in Francophone Africa, which represents just 14% of the current deals but is growing faster than the rest.In addition, thats specifically focused in sectors of fintech, insuretech and afgritech, making up nearly half of the deals. We also have just one real unicorn on the continent a company valued at over $1bn thats Jumia in Nigeria.Understandably, lots of effort is put into doing big deals, with Takealots series D coming in at $67m, but we need more of these. AfricArena helps put the spotlight on those bigger startups looking to quality for unicorn status. Viarnaud says:One way to flip the script on this is to look at the broader ecosystem and realise that only 35% of that $568m dollars coming to Africa is going to startups headquartered in Africa.That means the other 65% of the funding is going to startups where Africa is their primary market, but theyre headquartered outside Africa.So we need to work to, as well as the funding. Viarnaud mentioned GetSmarter as an example of why only one-third of that startup investment is going to companies headquartered in Africa often a great African startup gets snatched by an overseas company, as happened with GetSmarter in May 2017, as a $123m dollar acquisition by two NY-based companies.And while that 53% growth may sound promising, remember that it represents less than 2% of the funding going to early-stage tech worldwide. Something clearly has to change, here.Harris mentioned the potential of the continent.So this is the next big opportunity, and investment needs to come in now to capitalise on that. But its not just about the big fish.Viarnaud explained theres a pyramid of startups on the continent, as its a very wide base with only a handful of companies at the pinnacle the multimillion-dollar evaluation bracket. One of the issues that come up when they talk to investors is that they want to make that million-dollar investment, but most African startups are gazelles, not unicorns, so not suitable.This is why we need to identify and promote the up-and-coming early stage or growth develop phase startups in Africa, which is a completely different approach to how its done in Europe and the US. As a result, AfricArena has been designed to explain to the investor that when they come to these events, they need to look at smaller ticket sizes.Watch this space for further coverage, and follow AfricArena on Twitter @AfricArena2018 and the #AfricArena hashtag for the latest updates. This company article has been removed. This job expired on 15 May 2018. This job expired on 4 May 2018. The Most Extensive and Reliable Source of Information Related to the Mexican Drugs Cartels. You will not find this level of coverage anywhere else, join us! Send information, pictures or videos, you remain 100% anonymous. Envia fotos, videos, notas, enlaces o informacion todo 100% Anonimo. Want to be a contributor or citizen reporter for Borderland Beat? We love to have you in our team, send Sol Prendido or HEARST an email! WARNING: Posts may contain strong violent material, discretion is advised. COMMENTS: We do not publish all comments, and we do not publish comments immediately. An internet imagery. NEW DELHI (PTI): India and China were among the five biggest military spenders which together accounted for 60 per cent of the total global defence expenditure of USD 1.739 trillion in 2017, a Swedish arms watchdog has said. In a report, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) on Wednesday said China's military expenditure rose again in 2017, continuing an upward trend that has lasted for more than two decades. According to the arms watchdog, the five top military spenders in 2017 were the US, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia and India. It said the total global military spending rose to USD 1.739 trillion which is an increase of 1.1 per cent compared to the expenditure in 2016. "Continuing high world military expenditure is a cause for serious concern," Jan Eliasson, chair of the SIPRI governing board, said. "It undermines the search for peaceful solutions to conflicts around the world," he said. The report said that China's military spending, at an estimated USD 228 billion, accounted for 48 per cent of the total defence spending in the Asia and Oceania region, and was 3.6 times that of the region's second largest spender, India. India spent USD 63.9 billion on its military in 2017, an increase of 5.5 per cent compared with 2016 and of 45 per cent since 2008. "The Indian government plans to expand, modernise and enhance the operational capability of its armed forces motivated, at least partially, by tensions with China and Pakistan," the report said. Siemon Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI, said, "Tensions between China and many of its neighbours continue to drive the growth in military spending in Asia." According to the report, China's spending as a share of world military expenditure has risen from 5.8 per cent in 2008 to 13 per cent in 2017. At USD 610 billion, the US military spending accounted for more than a third of the world total in 2017. The US' spending was 2.7 times greater than the next highest spender, China, it said. SIPRI said the US military spending was unchanged between 2016 and 2017. On the other hand, Russia's military spending fell for the first time since 1998, the report said, adding that the total global expenditure of 1.739 trillion was an increase of 1.1 per cent in real terms compared to the spending in 2016. At USD 66.3 billion, Russia's military spending in 2017 was 20 per cent lower than in 2016, the first annual decrease since 1998. "Military modernisation remains a priority in Russia, but the military budget has been restricted by economic problems that the country has experienced since 2014," said Wezeman. SIPRI said driven, in part, by the perception of a growing threat from Russia, military spending in both Central and Western Europe increased in 2017, by 12 and 1.7 per cent, respectively. Many European states are members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and, within that framework, have agreed to increase their military spending. The arms watchdog said total military spending by all 29 NATO members was USD 900 billion in 2017, accounting for 52 per cent of world spending. The total global military expenditure accounted for 2.2 per cent of global gross domestic product in 2017, the report said. NEW DELHI (PTI): India and the US have explored ways to further deepen operational cooperation in the resource-rich Indo-Pacific region where China has been trying to spread its influence. The issue was discussed extensively during the third round of the India-US Maritime Security Dialogue which took place in Goa from April 30 to May 1. "The two sides discussed developments in the maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific Region and exchanged views on ways to further strengthen bilateral maritime security cooperation," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement. The US has been pushing for a broader role by India in the strategically important Indo-Pacific region. India, the US and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military maneuvering in the region. In November last, India, the US, Australia and Japan had given shape to the long-pending Quadrilateral coalition to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of Chinese influence. The MEA said, during the two-day dialogue, both sides reviewed the implementation of the decisions taken during previous deliberations. It said the next round of the dialogue will be held in the US on mutually convenient dates. The Indian delegation was led jointly by Pankaj Sharma, Joint Secretary (Disarmament and International Security Affairs) and Munu Mahawar, Joint Secretary (Americas) in the MEA. The US delegation was led by David Helvey, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, and Daniel Rosenblum, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. US President Donald Trump, in his first prime-time televised address to the nation as commander-in-chief last year, had laid out his South Asia policy saying a "critical part" of it was to further develop the US's strategic partnership with India. In June 2016, the US had designated India a "Major Defence Partner" intending to elevate defence trade and technology sharing with India to a level commensurate with that of its closest allies and partners. The Human Rights Implementation Centre is now advertising the opportunity for a postgraduate student at the University of Bristol Law School, to teach at the Faculty of Law at the University of the Gambia. Applicants must have completed and passed Part 1 of their LLM and be willing to teach first, second or third-year law students core law subjects. Applicants are also required to i) have a particular interest/experience in Clinical legal education or library and books management and ii) prior experience either in working for the University of Bristol Law Clinic or the Human Rights Law Clinic. Feedback from the Dean of the University of the Gambia on this years placement has been extremely positive, noting that the exchange has been 'excellent and outstanding in terms of delivery and performance'. For further information on this opportunity and details of how to apply please see the Advert-Gambia Teaching Placement 2018 (Office document, 72kB) Please note the deadline for applications is Thursday 31 May 2018. LANGHORNE >> The U.S. Senate last week passed H.R. 2278, bipartisan legislation that authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to designate the September 11th National Memorial Trail, a trail route linking the National September 11th Memorial and Museum in New York City, the Pentagon Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, and the Flight 93 National Memorial in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Introduced by... Media Advisory: Downtown medical campus leaders will discuss the future of health care in Western New York Panel discussion and tour are free and open to the public This will be the first chance that many alumni of the Jacobs School and community members will have to see and tour the new medical school building. BUFFALO, N.Y. Members of the media and the general public are invited to a panel discussion among leaders of the major Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) institutions at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, in the M&T Bank Auditorium, Room 2120, in the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo, 955 Main Street, Buffalo. Michael E. Cain, MD, vice president for health sciences at UB and dean of the Jacobs School, is the keynote speaker on the panel titled Boldly Transforming Western New Yorks Health. Also speaking on the panel are Matthew Enstice, president and CEO of the BNMC; Kevin Gibbons, MD, executive director of UBMD Physicians Group and senior associate dean for clinical affairs at the Jacobs School; Candace Johnson, PhD, president and CEO of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Jody Lomeo, president and CEO of Kaleida Health. The discussion will center on the strengthening collaborations among BNMC organizations focused on medical education, research and top-notch clinical care now that the Jacobs School has moved downtown. The public is invited to tour the new Jacobs School at 11 a.m., following the panel discussion. This will be the first chance that many alumni of the Jacobs School and community members will have to see and tour the new medical school building. The event is part of the Jacobs Schools annual Reunion Weekend/Spring Clinical Day, which is held every year to inform alumni and friends, as well as faculty, staff and students, about whats new at the Jacobs School. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Essar Steels lenders met on Wednesday to decide on the eligibility of the first round bids by ArcelorMittal and Numetal but the talks remained inconclusive, sources said. The committee of creditors (CoC) is expected to meet again on Saturday. One of the possibilities could be to give both the bidders a week to cure their bids. On Wednesday, lenders debated on whether to go in for a fresh round of bids and invite other players, a source close to the development told Business Standard. A few bankers, who attended the meeting, suggested that lenders could wait till May 17 when ... org the philanthropic arm of tech giant today said it has made an additional grant of USD 3 million to two Indian non-profit organisations, taking its total commitment to USD 11.4 million in the country. These grants are part of Google's global commitment of USD 50 million, being used to help these organisations scale existing initiatives and fund content creation and teacher training through tech-based learning solutions. Last year, org had given a grant of USD 8.4 million to four Indian NGOs: Learning Equality, Million Sparks Foundation, Pratham Books - StoryWeaver and Pratham Education Foundation. Since receiving the funding last year, the grantees have reached more than eight lakh students and teachers with their tools and programmes across India. India is the largest recipient of these grants, ahead of countries like Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia. "We strongly believe that technology can play a powerful part in solving the learning gap in India, and we are expanding our investments in India to ensure that all teachers and students are able to benefit from it," Google.org Education Lead Nick Cain told reporters here. He added that these new funds will help towards building more locally relevant solutions and content for students and teachers. Cain explained that limited access to quality materials and under-resourced teachers are some of the challenges. As per government data, there are 11 lakh teachers currently teaching in schools that are not properly trained, while according to a World Bank report, there are about 1.3 lakh single teacher schools in India. Of the USD 3 million, USD 2 million will go to Central Square Foundation (CSF) and USD 1 million to The Teacher App. Apart from the grant, CSF will also receive technical assistance from the YouTube Learning team. This will support a minimum of 20 content creators to produce at least 200 hours of science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related content in Hindi and vernacular languages. With a grant of a USD 1 million, The Teacher App aims to empower teachers with the right training and resources on concepts of math, science, language, and pedagogy, for a more holistic learning experience. The funds will be used to scale the platform to reach five lakh teachers in two years. REI Agro, a firm that claims to have a 22 per cent share in the worlds basmati rice market, has gone in for liquidation after the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) ordered it to do so. Sources in the know of the matter said the makers of India Gate basmati rice, the KRBL group, have shown interest in REI Agro. REI Agro, which sells Raindrops basmati rice, has a reserved price of Rs 2 billion. The official liquidator will hold an e-auction for the company. While the company has many assets, only those not under litigation or that which have not been attached by the ... ArcelorMittal made a strong pitch for eligibility before the committee of creditors (CoC) on Wednesday, but if asked to pay dues on account of defaulting companies, it might consider as a goodwill gesture. We believe our position is strong on both (Uttam Galva and KSS Petron) and that is what we presented yesterday. And if we have to do anything, then that is as a gesture of goodwill, said a company source on the issue of repayment of dues. The CoC is expected to meet on Saturday, after which a formal notice for curing the ineligibility is likely to ... While the official reason given was Abrols intention to spend more time with family at Malaysia, sources suggest that the process of removal had started months back after Tata Sons expressed reservation over his way of functioning. Air Asia India is a joint venture of Tata Sons and Air Asia in which the Tatas hold a majority stake. Tatas are not happy, the airline is losing money despite being a low-cost carrier, though he had the support of Tony, it did not ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Surfing the internet while cruising at 35,000 feet above the ground might sound new and exciting to Indian fliers. But the facility might not be cheap, if international trends are anything to go by. Business Standard analysed internet charges of 37 of the 53 airlines that provide internet services aboard their flights. On an average, in-flight internet costs 40 cents for every Mega Byte (MB) of usage on board these flights almost Rs 27 for an MB of internet usage and translates into Rs 270 for 10 MB of data. That is significantly higher than what Indians pay on the ground. Without ... Even though these companies showed good revenue growth during that period, the non-linearity drive the industry had undertaken had been clearly paying dividends. Read more India Inc lines up to hedge forex exposures before it is too late The recent movement in the rupee is being taken in all seriousness by corporates in India, and they are queuing up to hedge their ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor What does one make of the Wuhan Summit? The usual partisans are out either panning it or praising it. The answer probably lies somewhere in between, a complex multi-causal matrix. What is surprising is that this summit actually holds the kernel of great promise, if and only if, India has the will and institutional memory to follow through. Alas as we know, lack of delivery and loss of direction are the bane of Indian policy making. From Xi's standpoint this summit was offered as a patch-up but in reality, as China's need to "face-save" goes it was a victory. Much ... Disclaimer: Views expressed are personal. They do not reflect the view/s of Business Standard. Attacking for letting the down in Karnataka, Congress President in a report card gave the Prime Minister an 'F' Grade for his performance in the agricultural sector in the state. Gandhi, in a Tweet, said the Prime Minister's crop insurance scheme has made the " suffer" while filling the coffers of the private insurance companies that have made "huge profits". The Congress chief said that the did not receive the additional 50 per cent of their Minimum Support Price (MSP) that they have been demanding. Gandhi, in points, said: "Contribution to Congress state governments 85 billion Farm Loan waiver 0 Rs. "PM's crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt (private) insurance companies make huge profits. "No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade F." Mr Modis Report Card State: Karnataka Sub: Agriculture 1. Contribution to Cong State Govts 8,500 Cr Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs 2. PMs crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt insurance companies make huge profits. 3. No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F pic.twitter.com/SLJBE4cXWC (@RahulGandhi) May 3, 2018 The attack came ahead of polling for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, to be held on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15. Both Modi and Gandhi were scheduled to address separate public rallies in the state on Thursday. While the Prime Minister will address rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru, Gandhi will join the Congress' Jana Ashirwada Yatre, which will continue till Friday. Walking around in Mangaluru, you would not know a cut-throat election campaign is on in the state. There are no cutouts, walls are not painted with graffiti or plastered with posters and there are absolutely no speeding vehicles blaring cacophonous music and messages on loudspeakers. The politics is in the subtext. At the BournBon Bakery (among other things, they serve a Bournvita mousse) youngsters looked at each other when asked about politics, shrugged, and a wit among them commented: ask around. You wont get Chateaubriand in these parts. In a city of ... As many as 29 militants affiliated to terror outfit the Taliban have been killed and 32 wounded in separate operations and clashes in Afghanistan's Badakhshan province. At least 14 militants were killed and 25 others sustained injuries during the operations in Mangal village in Tashkan district and 15 militants were killed and 7 others were wounded during a separate operation in Kohistan district, Khaama Press reported, citing, the Afghan Military, as saying. According to the report, key Taliban group leaders identified as Abdul Bari, Mawlavi Ataullah, and Mawlavi Hedayatullah were also among those killed. No comments have been received from the anti-government armed militant groups including Taliban militants in connection with this report by far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Thursday launched new electronic ID cards in a bid to tighten security. "One of the key reasons why we have started this process is because of Monday's terrorist attacks. It is possible that the attackers use fake IDs. The key decision for me is the security of the people and we must know who are Afghans," TOLO News quoted Ghani as saying at a ceremony at which he received the first card to be issued. "Governance, economic development and services in the 21 century is not possible without information and with the electronic ID system we cannot achieve this," he added. The move faced immediate opposition in his own government, according to the reports. The new system has been debated over as it designates a holder's nationality as 'Afghan,' a term used in the past to denote Pashtuns. Some members of other groups, notably Persian-speaking ethnic Tajiks, have objected to the usage of the term, saying that such a move would make the identity of the Pashtuns equivalent to that of the nation as a whole. They form the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan. Earlier on Monday, two suicide bombers killed almost 30 people in the double bombing in Shash Darak. Nine journalists were also killed in the incident. . (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has planned to fill the Karnataka Assembly with 'jailbirds'. Addressing a rally in Karnataka's Bhalki, the Congress President said, "The BJP has plans to fill Karnataka Assembly with jailbirds. Prime Minister Narendra Modi must explain to the people of Karnataka as to why has he chosen a corruption-tainted man as BJP's CM candidate." The Congress President also said that the Karnataka election is not about Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi rather it is about providing jobs, development, and security of women in the poll-bound state. "Modi ji should explain how the youth will get jobs. This election is about jobs, development, and security of women, not about Rahul Gandhi or Narendra Modi. He should accept that he lied about crediting Rs 15 lakhs into people's account and bringing back black money. That's the way to seek votes, not by telling lies," Rahul added. Rahul alleged that Prime Minister Modi is trying to fetch gains from the work done by the Congress party. "It is true that the Congress party works for the people but Narendra Modi ji is trying to fetch away the gains," he said. The Congress President also asked the people to read the election manifesto of the Congress from the last election. "And you will find we have done 90 percent of the work we promised," he said. Attacking Prime Minister Modi over corruption, Rahul took a potshot on him and said he has a complete gang of film Sholay. "Siddaramaiah ji waived off 8,000 crore farm loans but Government of India did not add even a penny to it. So he must tell us what is he preaching." Rahul said. He also said that Modi ji has a complete gang of film Sholay. "Gabbar, Kalia, Samba, they have the complete gang. Flanked by Reddy brothers and BS Yeddyurappa, Modi will speak about anti-corruption," Rahul said. Karnataka will go to polls on May 12 to elect its representatives for the 225-member assembly. The results will be out on May 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Karnataka Government to give four tmc of water to Tamil Nadu and has asked the Centre to file an affidavit on the same. Meanwhile, Attorney General K K Venugopal in the apex court submitted papers stating, "the Cauvery management board draft has to be tabled before the Union Cabinet and as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Karnataka for elections." He added that the draft, therefore, has not been approved yet. The court has not scheduled the matter for hearing on May 8. Reacting to the court's order Tamil Nadu Minister D. Jayakumar said that the ruling of the top court "cannot be accepted". Earlier on Wednesday, the central government sought an extension of two weeks from the court to draft the water sharing scheme for the formation of Cauvery Management Board (CMB). The apex court had criticised the Centre for neither framing the scheme in six weeks as directed by it nor approaching the court prior to the March 31 deadline to convey difficulties, if any, being faced by it. On April 9, the top court condemned the Centre and asked it to frame a draft scheme by May 3 for implementation of its February 16 judgment. On February 16, a three-judge SC bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices Amitava Roy and A.M. Khanwilkar pronounced the judgement on the Cauvery Water Dispute between the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and the UT of Puducherry. The bench directed Karnataka to release 177.25 TMC of water, instead of the 192 TMC to Tamil Nadu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested senior journalist Upendra Rai for using false information to get access to sensitive areas. The CBI had registered a case against Rai, former CEO and editor-in-chief of Tehalka and Sahara Media, on allegations of giving false information to get access to sensitive areas of importance such as airports. The premier investigating agency also registered case against Prasun Roy, CSO of Air One Aviation Private Limited, the company and unknown public servants for helping Rai in getting Aerodrome Entry Pass (AEP) for all airports across the country. The CBI is also investigating dubious financial transactions from Rai's bank accounts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China has exempted import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1, confirmed the Chinese envoy to India on Thursday. "China has exempted import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1st. Good news for India's pharmaceutical industry and medicine export to China. I believe this will help reduce trade imbalance between #China and #india in the future," tweeted Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui. Furthermore, welcoming Indian businesses, the Chinese Diplomat, in another tweet, wrote "China will further improve business environment by halving time required to open a business, State Council decided at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on May 2nd. #China's door to the outside will open wider. #Indian businesses are welcome!" The bid to reduce the trade imbalance between India and China comes barely a few days after a two-day informal summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping which was held in picturesque Wuhan city. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The delegation-level trade talks to be held between United States and China on Thursday will only be fruitful if the former is sincere in its determination to preserve the stability of economic ties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday. "We hope that the United States will be sincere in its determination to preserve the stability of the Chinese-US trade and economic relations and will stick to the principles of mutual respect and equality during the talks. Then the bilateral consultations would be effective," Chunying told press, reported Sputnik. Chunying added that trade issues between the two countries would not be solved with one meeting alone, owing to the size of their economies. The trade talks to be held from May 3 to May 4 in Beijing will have the US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, while Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will represent China. The talks come after the recent trade tariffs imposed by Washington. On March 23, Trump had imposed massive trade tariffs amounting to USD 60 billion on China, in an effort to stop the latter from stealing "intellectual property" from American companies. In retaliation, China threatened to impose a 25 percent tariff on USD 50 billion worth of US exports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress on Thursday filed a complaint with the Election Commission (EC) against the Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for an alleged violation of para model code of conduct and representation of people Act, 1951. The complaint letter by the Congress reads, "Your kind attention is drawn to specific incidents of publishing false and misleading advertisements in various newspapers on 03.05.2018 (hereinafter referred to as 'Advertisements') across the state with the object of securing votes by casting an undue influence on unsuspecting voters. The Karnataka BJP has made false, baseless, unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations using cutouts, shadow images and likeness of Shri Rahul Gandhi, President, INC &Chief Minister of Karnataka, Siddaramaiah being fully aware that the MCC was in force." It further stated that print advertisements were published across various newspapers in Karnataka with intent to malign the image of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and state Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah by levelling false and unverified allegations and distortions against them. On April 27, the Karnataka state unit of the Congress on Thursday filed a complaint with the EC demanding action against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP chief Amit Shah, and state party president BS Yeddyurappa for alleged violation of the Model Code of Conduct. A political slugfest has erupted as the Karnataka assembly elections are slated on May 12 to elect its representatives for the 225-member assembly. The results will be out on May 15. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tibetian spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Thursday met with the Russian scientists at the 2nd Dialogue series with Russian Scientists on 'Understanding the World' at Tsuglagkhang, Dharamshala to for a debate on the universe, evolution and spirituality. The two-day event in Dharamshala continues a 30-year tradition that brings together Tibetan monks and scientific minds from around the to discuss fundamental questions, reported Sputnik. Speaking in-depth on his long association with modern scientists, he averred that there are common scholastic grounds between modern science and Buddhist science, according to the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). The first dialogue between Russian Scientists and Buddhist scholars was held in August 2017 on the topic, 'The Nature of Consciousness'. "The dialogue between scientists and Buddhist philosophers led by His Holiness Dalai Lama was proposed by the spiritual leader of the Tibetan Buddhism," The Dalai Lama's spokesperson Telo Tulku Rinpoche, in Russia, said. The discussion will be revolved around his 2006 book called 'The Universe in a Single Atom: the Convergence of Science and Spirituality Each scientist will reportedly make a presentation for 20 minutes, followed by interaction with the Dalai Lama. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Google on Thursday paid tribute to Georges Melies, the French illusionist and film director who led many technical and narrative developments in the earliest days of cinema, with a doodle. The first-ever virtual reality doodle celebrated the artist on the 106th anniversary of his most noted work, 'A la conquete du pole', a 1912 French silent film loosely inspired by contemporary events and by Jules Verne's Voyages Extraordinaires. The clip revolves around the comic misadventures of an international group of explorers on an expedition to the North Pole, where they encounter a man-eating frost giant and a dangerous magnetic needle. The 360-degree doodle takes you on a ride through a story, titled 'Back to the Moon'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Shia Hazara community, who were on a hunger strike, demanding their protection against miscreants, have called off their strike after meeting with Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa here on Wednesday. General Bajwa, who arrived in the Balochistan capital late on Tuesday met with the elders of the community, who apprised him of their grievances, Express Tribune reported. After assuring them that strict action would be taken, General Bajwa said, "Those targeting Hazara community will suffer twice as much and the state and Pakistan Army will provide security to the community." He also met with a Pakistani advocate Jalila Haider, who was leading the hunger strike and other Hazara women. "We are Muslim first and then anything else. Every Pakistani irrespective of religion, sect, language or caste has to stay steadfast and united to defeat hostile forces trying to create division among our nation," General Bajwa was quoted by the Pakistan Army's media wing as saying. General Bajwa was accompanied by Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo and Balochistan Tribal and Home Affairs Minister Sarfraz Bugti. Jalila broke her fast by taking a sip of juice by the hand of Iqbal. Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Wednesday took suo motu notice of the rise in "targetted killings" on the Hazaras. He sought reports from the authorities concerned, including the interior ministry, the provincial government and the Balochistan Levies on measures taken by the respective agencies to ensure the security of the community within 10 days, the report said. "It has been pointed out by the Bar and media alike that during the last several years, the Hazara community in Quetta has been a target of repeated terrorist attacks driven by ethnic and sectarian hatred," said the CJP as he fixed the hearing of the case for May 11 at the top court's Quetta registry. The recent protest began after two men from the community were shot dead by unidentified assailants at an electronics shop on Jamaluddin Afghani Road in Quetta on Saturday. The Hazara community has been severely affected by sectarian terrorism in Balochistan for years. In March, a report released by the Pakistan National Commission for Human Rights showed that 509 people from the community were killed, while 627 of them were wounded in different incidents of terrorism in Quetta since 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Thursday said that illegal constructions in Kasauli and other hilly areas were carried out during erstwhile Congress-led state government. Commenting on the murder of Assistant Town and Country Planner Shail Bala in Kasauli during an anti-encroachment drive, the Supreme Court came down heavily on the state government on promoting illegal activities and asked it to apprise the court of the steps taken to check rampant illegal construction that is affecting the nature. Talking to ANI, Thakur said, "One thing needs to be cleared that the illegal construction didn't happen within two-three months. All the illegal construction went unabated during erstwhile (Congress) government's regime. I don't want to comment more on this because right now we are focused on taking action as per the directions of the Supreme Court and the Green Tribunal." He also said that the state government would obey all directions of the apex court of the country, "whatever has happened shouldn't have happened. It is unfortunate." "We have given instructions to Divisional Commissioner to investigate and he will submit report very soon. We have also submitted the status report on this matter in the Supreme Court. I have just come from Delhi and will hold a meeting with the officials on this issue," the Chief Minister said. He, however, advised the opposition parties not to politicise the incident. Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) Chief Sukhvinder Singh Sukkhu said that the law and order situation in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule had worsened. Commenting on the Supreme Court's observation that the 'state government is promoting illegal activities,' Sukkhu said, "In other words, the Supreme Court has said that law and order situation is worse in the state." The Congress leader added that the crime rate was rising in the state during past four months of BJP government. "This is for the first time in the history of Himachal Pradesh that an officer has been killed," said Sukkhu. Shailbala Sharma (51), along with four teams of the Town and Country Planning Department, were razing unauthorised construction in the area, on the order of the Supreme Court, when the incident took place on Tuesday. The officials were acting on the Supreme Court's directions when the woman officer was shot dead by Vijay Singh, owner of Narayani Guest House, which was on the demolition list. Singh, who had fled from the spot, was arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Mathura-Vrindavan area. The Supreme Court had on April 17 directed the Himachal government to demolish unauthorised structures in several hotels and guest houses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filmmaker Meghna Gulzar has revealed that recreating 1970's Pakistan in India for her much-anticipated film 'Raazi' was the most challenging aspect of shooting. Gulzar, in a recent conversation with MN+ for their upcoming property 'Talking Films,' talked about the challenges she faced while filming the spy-romantic flick. "Recreating an era of 1970 in 2017 was immensely difficult but what was more challenging was to create 1970's Pakistan in India," she said After much deliberation and planning, we zeroed on the locations like Kashmir, Mumbai, Delhi and a few other places. The cast had to deal with the change in weather - sudden rains or even extreme hot climate," added the 'Talvar' director. Produced by Karan Johar's Dharma Productions, the Alia Bhatt and Vicky Kaushal-starrer is based on 'Calling Sehmat,' a best-selling book by Harinder Sikka. The film is set to hit the theatres on May 11, 2018. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian School of Hospitality (ISH), the hospitality venture of former Managing Director of Starwood Hotels and Resorts, South Asia, Dilip Puri, on Thursday announced yet another milestone, which will help reimagine hospitality in India. The institute declared the signing of a MoU with the prestigious GEMS (United Arab Emirates), a pioneering education company. This MoU is a significant step in bolstering global learnings, exchanges and academic pursuits in the field of hospitality education provided by ISH. The memorandum calls for significant collaborations between ISH and GEMS Educations, which includes exclusive scholarships for GEMS Education students, faculty exchange programmes, synergising of industry networks and training opportunities for staff and faculty. "The signing of a MoU with GEMS Education, is a very significant step in the right direction. GEMS Education is a pioneering name in the field of global education and ISH is happy to partner with a collaborator in the realm of education who shares a vision similar to ours. GEMS Education provides a truly unparalleled standard of education to their students, and we at ISH aim to carry on the baton and take students to new heights of education, knowledge and professional opportunities," said Dilip Puri, founder and CEO, Indian School of Hospitality. "Together, we are steadfast in our endeavour to create a uniquely disruptive pool of talent for the hospitality sector, equipped with an international perspective and experience," Puri added. "GEMS Education is proud to offer opportunities to make quality education more accessible to all our students. Fostering a number of strategic partnerships with these renowned universities will give GEMS students exclusive scholarships to a range of world-class universities, with the flexibility to study in Dubai campuses or abroad," said Dino Varkey, CEO of GEMS Education. The MoU is a strategic progression for ISH, with its global curriculum designed to set benchmarks in hospitality education. The institute had previously entered into a strategic partnership with Lausanne Hospitality Consulting (LHC) for curriculum development and faculty training and in preparation for an academic certification by Ecolehoteliere de Lausanne (EHL), the world's oldest and top ranked hospitality management higher education institution worldwide. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The state of Jammu and Kashmir is clearly a victim of a deliberate proxy war engineered and promoted by a terrorist-supporting Pakistan, a well known writer on Kashmiri affairs has claimed Participating in a recent day-long conference organized jointly by the University of Leicester and the European Foundation for South Asian Studies (EFSAS), Junaid Qureshi said, "The soil of the state of Jammu and Kashmir has been blemished by years of terrorism, military power, proxy warfare, toxic propaganda and rise of extremism.." He categorically cautioned all stakeholders, be it in India or Pakistan, must realize and accept "that guns and bombs will not solve the Jammu and Kashmir issue. On the contrary, it will only lead to more deaths and destruction." Suggesting that acts of terror have been taking place on the Indian side of Jammu and Kashmir not since 1989, but since 1947 when the Indian subcontinent was partitioned by the then British colonial rulers, Qureshi, a Director of EFSAS, said that post 1989-90, "a great deal of militant energy was released, whereby the Pakistani military establishment and intelligence agencies provided arms and training to militants and relocated them to and inside Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir." These terrorists, he said, "engaged in communal violence among different religious groups and specifically targeted Kashmiri Pandits, a minority Kashmiri Hindu community." These terrorists, he claimed, had succeeded in intimidating local people and authorities through their Pakistan-backed covert armed militancy and tactics, and suggested that Islamabad is not keen for an all-out war with Delhi. "The violence in Jammu and Kashmir was a proxy war against India through which Pakistan attempted to impose a heavy political and economic burden on its nuclear neighbour.. the military establishment of Pakistan provided all kinds of support, including training, ammunition and shelter to the terrorists in a bid to bring down Indian authority," he said. Qureshi said in a sense he was relieved and happy to be invited by the University of Leicester to expose the real designs of globally-designated terrorists like Hafiz Saeed, that of trying to recruit youngsters from the South Asian Diaspora to fight in Jammu and Kashmir. This university, he said, had made the mistake of extending an invitation to Saeed in 1995 to address students while he was on a speaking tour across UK mosques, Islamic centers and universities. "Hafiz Saeed's lectures at this university in 1995 were acts of terrorism which had only brought death and destruction to Jammu and Kashmir and the region of South Asia," Qureshi pointed out. Qureshi and other keynote speakers at the conference also engaged participating students in intense debates over the region of Jammu and Kashmir, terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir, the building of the USD 60 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and India-Pakistan relations. The deliberations resulted in the drafting a comprehensive resolution that supported the creation of programs to address the growing radicalisation of youth in Jammu and Kashmir and encouragement for application of tougher counter-terrorism policies, including, but not limited to, the creation of bilateral agreements between India and Pakistan to share intelligence. In conclusion, Qureshi said the new narrative should be creation of an environment of tranquility to facilitating a peaceful political solution to the Jammu and Kashmir conflict, and this could only be achieved if the region is liberated from terrorism, violence and fear. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man, named Rovier Carrington, who claims to be the great-grandson of 'Three Stooges' actor Moe Howard, has accused the late Paramount Pictures chief Brad Grey of raping him and threatening to ruin his budding career in showbiz. He has demanded 100 million dollars in damages. In a lawsuit filed on Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court, lawyers of Carrington said he was 'blacklisted' from working with Paramount's parent company Viacom Inc after he refused to sign a nondisclosure agreement following the alleged assault by Grey, reports The Hollywood Reporter. Besides Grey, the 32-page suit also accused producer and former MTV Networks President of Programming Brian Graden of sexually assaulting Carrington. "We take allegations of this sort seriously, and are reviewing the complaint," Viacom said in a statement. Grey, a longtime Hollywood talent manager before taking the reins of Paramount in 2005, ran the studio until he was ousted in February 2017. He died three months later of cancer at the age of 59. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Economical feature phone brand, Detel, on Thursday announced the appointment of Pankaj Chopra as its chief sales officer. An industry veteran, Pankaj Chopra brings more than 24 years of experience and a proven track record of successful sales and marketing across the telecom and consumer durable industry. Chopra will be responsible for developing new opportunities and driving growth for the brand through innovative strategies to boost the sales across India. "We look forward to welcoming Pankaj Chopra to the Detel team at such an important and dynamic time in our company's history. He is a proven and accomplished leader, who will play an instrumental role in providing sales and marketing vision, strategy and leadership as we expand and strengthen our position in the market," said Yogesh Bhatia, MD, S.G. Corporate Mobility (Parent company of Detel). Chopra has been a key contributor in driving sales growth through his effective development, sales operations, key account and relationship management skills. His experience also includes various leadership roles for international brands like Whirlpool, and Electrolux in consumer durables domain. Chopra has been associated with brands like HCL (Nokia), Redington (Apple), Skullcandy, and Xiaomi in the mobile handset industry. After successfully penetrating into the feature-phone market with its distinct phones to bring connectivity to every household, the brand is now working harder to offer something that further strengthens the value proposition of its products. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday confirmed that no "deal" is being weaved between Islamabad and Washington DC to release physician Dr Shakeel Afridi who aided the United States (US) to track down former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in 2011. According to Dawn, Pakistan is not devising a plan to swap Afridi for Aafia Siddiqui - who is currently serving a sentence in a US jail for trying to kill US agents and military officers in Afghanistan - or former Pakistani ambassador Hussain Haqqani who resides in the US and is the prime suspect in the 2011 Memogate scandal that surfaced in 2011, said FO spokesman Dr Muhammad Faisal. The Memogate scandal erupted in 2011 when Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz claimed to have received an 'anti-army' memo from Haqqani for the then-US joint chiefs chairman Admiral Mike Mullen. Dr Faisal's remarks, which were made while addressing a weekly briefing, came days after the authorities in Pakistan moved Afridi from a prison in Peshawar to an undisclosed location, according to several media reports. Pakistan's FO spokesman also turned down queries about media reports purporting that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had tried to stage a jailbreak in Peshawar in a bid to rescue Afridi. Afridi, who was arrested eight years ago after it surfaced that he had passed on intelligence about Osama bin Laden to CIA. He has languished behind bars since 2012 when a court convicted him and sentenced him to 33 years in prison over ties with militants. However, maintaining his innocence, former surgeon has always denied ties with militants. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A journalist was allegedly assaulted by some Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) workers inside the Malappuram Press Club on World Press Freedom Day. According to police, "RSS workers were carrying out a protest march, during which protesters tried to stop vehicles on road, leading to an altercation after which the journalist was attacked." "A case has been registered against 10 RSS workers under various sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) including those related to unlawful assembly and rioting besides the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Procession Act," the police further said. This incident was condemned by the media fraternity in Kerala. Following the attack, journalists took out a march to the Secretariat in Malappuram protesting against the attack on media personnel. They raised slogans condemning the incident and lit candles to mark their protest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Overcrowding is above 100 percent in the women ward of Pune's Yerawada Central Prison, said the Commission for Women (NCW) on Thursday. The NCW stated this after a team led by its lone male member Alok Rawat inspected the prison. It added that overcrowding remains a major problem in Yerawada Central Prison where 282 women inmates are kept in a prison with a total capacity of 126 inmates. Giving details, Rawat elaborated, "Out of this 164 are convicted and 118 are undertrials. There is one foreign inmate and a total of 10 children are staying with their mothers in the prison. These numbers are lower than what had been indicated by Justice Anand in his Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report of 2003. Each and every action point contained in the report was checked and the needful has been carried out." The inspection was carried out for assessing and looking into various aspects including overcrowding, availability of legal help, rehabilitation plans including skill development and training, legal awareness for women inmates, proper facilities for the children of these inmates among others. The inspection conducted today is a part of the NCW's ongoing project to visit all jails in the country in order to formulate a manual for comprehensive prison reforms for women inmates in India. A number of jail inspections have been planned by the Commission for the coming months. The Yerawada Jail was established in the year 1871 and is located in what is now prime land in Pune. Several of the buildings carry the heritage tag. Renovation and modernization efforts towards provision of better amenities to the inmates have been carried out, effecting a marked improvement in washrooms, toilets, and other facilities. Use of solar power for providing warm water to inmates was also operational and health facilities provided seemed to be adequate. The jail authorities are striving to involve non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their efforts to improve the living conditions of inmates, as also to provide them skills aimed at their rehabilitation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistan Foreign Office announced on Wednesday that it will release an Indian prisoner, owing to his deteriorating health. A statement from the Foreign Office said that Pakistan will release Indian citizen Jatindra, who is suffering from a blood disease, on humanitarian grounds, Geo TV reported. The statement said that Jatindra was arrested in 2014 and his citizenship was confirmed by India in April earlier this year. It further stated that Pakistan released 147 Indian fishermen lodged in Karachi's Malir prison as a goodwill gesture, and indicated that the country expects India to reciprocate the gesture by releasing 48 Pakistani prisoners in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the condition of farmers in Karnataka and said that the Centre failed to tackle the apathy of the peasants. The Congress chief took to his Twitter handle to share a data, highlighting the initiative taken by the ruling Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government for the farmers and how they flunked to meet the expected outcome. The data showed that the Centre's contribution to waive off the loans in the Congress ruling state was none and the Prime Minister's crop insurance scheme only benefited the private insurance companies, rather than the farmers. "Mr Modi's Report Card State: Karnataka Sub: Agriculture 1. Contribution to Cong State Govts 8,500 Cr Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs 2. PM's crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt insurance companies make huge profits. 3. No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F," Gandhi tweeted. Rahul's tweet came a day after the Prime Minister held the Siddaramaiah Government responsible for the grim condition of the state farmers. Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday trained guns at the ruling Karnataka Government and accused them of not letting the benefits of 'Fasal Bima Yojna' reach the farmers. While addressing Kisan Morcha Karyakartas of Karnataka through Narendra Modi (NaMo) App, he further said that a change in the government is needed to bring changes in the farmer's condition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Nepal for a two-day visit on May 11, confirmed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Nepal from 11-12 May," said MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar while addressing a media briefing. This comes barely a month after Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's three-day visit to India in April. The Nepal Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Radhika Shakya and an entourage of ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), secretaries and other high-ranking officials of the Nepal Government. During his visit to India as the first Premier of Federal Nepal Prime Minister Oli interacted with many Indian politicos. He also highlighted India's commitment to link Nepal with the waterways along with the railway's links to increase the connectivity. During Oli's visit, both India and Nepal recognised the untapped potential of inland waterways, in order to contribute towards the overall economic development of the region. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that the affidavits filed by the Diamantaire Nirav Modi's uncle and business partner Mehul Choksi's firm Gitanjali Gems in the court were "false and misleading." In connection with the pleas filed on the Gitanjali Gems in the court, the ED said, "The company cleverly veils any reference to Mehul Choksi, who left India in the twilight of the scam coming to the notice of the law enforcement agencies." On April 6, the court issued a notice to the ED on a plea of Gitanjali Gems, seeking quashing of a money laundering case against the company. The Punjab Bank in February detected the scam, wherein Modi and Choksi had allegedly cheated the bank to the tune of Rs 114 billion, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank. The scam, which reportedly began in 2011, was detected in the third week of January this year, after which the PNB officials reported it to the concerned agencies. The ED registered the money laundering case against Nirav Modi and others on the basis of a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) FIR. Currently, the probe agencies are investigating the matter and have also seized many properties of Modi and Choksi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal's historical and ancient city of Janakpur has revamped the preparations to welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month. The leaders and the ministers of Nepal's Province no. 2 on Thursday came onto street sweeping and cleaning the streets ahead of Prime Minister Modi's two-day visit, scheduled from 11-12 May. Rastriya Janata Party- Nepal's leaders and the Chief Minister of Province No. 2 came down on street on Thursday to clean off the roads in Janakpurdham. Furthermore, Indian envoy to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri on Wednesday toured the area and surveyed about the preparations. Prime Minister Modi will fly to Janakpur from where he will start his two-day visit of Nepal. He is scheduled to fly to Janakpur from Patna through the helicopter and then head to Muktinath temple in Mustang district and perform puja there. More than 50,000 people from all eight districts of the province are expected to gather at the Barhabigha ground, where the Province No. 2 government is set to organise the felicitation ceremony to honour Prime Minister Modi. The state government also has revamped the tasks of clearing the demolished structures on the way to Janaki Temple from the Barhabigha ground. The government is planning to set up welcome gates, Kalash (a metal pot with a large base and small mouth, large enough to hold a coconut) and flowers to decorate the road and other places. In addition to this the Government is expecting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the people present in the ground during the felicitation ceremony. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The United Nation Security Council (UNSC) team has asked the Myanmar government to conduct a proper investigation into alleged human rights abuses in northern Rakhine State. On Tuesday, the UNSC members urged the Myanmar government immediate repatriation of thousands of refugees from Bangladesh with the help of UN agencies, Myanmar Times reported. The delegation, which was accompanied by representatives of Myanmar's neighbouring countries and ASEAN chair Singapore, went to Nay Pyi Taw on a two-day visit, and to northern Rakhine. They also visited the centre of humanitarian conflict in Rakhine called Maungdaw. Myanmar is facing international criticism for handling the humanitarian crisis inappropriately in Rakhine. It has been witnessing inter-communal violence since 2012. State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi assured that the government will conduct an investigation of alleged human rights abuses, if there is any evidence, Karen Pierce, the UK's permanent representative of the UNSC was quoted as saying by Myanmar Times. As requested by Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Security Council will also help the government to implement the recommendations of the Rakhine Advisory Commission led by former UN chief Kofi Annan. The UNSC delegation said they expect to see progress in Myanmar's repatriation of refugees displaced during the violence in Rakhine over the past two years. Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi, the permanent representative of Kuwait to the UNSC was quoted as saying by the Myanmar Times, "What we really want is 'just to speed up the process of the return of refugees - a safe, voluntary and dignified return for them." According to Dhaka Tribune, earlier Myanmar had said that its neighbour has only handed back 8,000 repatriation forms so far, many of them are incomplete, which is delaying the return process. Myanmar also denied the Rohingya citizenship and accompanying rights. Since 2012 it has driven out two-thirds of its roughly 1.5 million Rohingya population. In March last year, China and Russia, both members of the UNSC, blocked a statement by the council concerning alleged human rights abuses in Rakhine State. Earlier on April 30, Prime Minister Hasina sought help from China, Russia, India, and Japan to resolve the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Joshua Corbett, who was earlier convicted of stalking Hollywood actress Sandra Bullock, was found dead inside his La Crescenta, California, home from a self-inflicted wound. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) served a warrant at Corbett's home on Wednesday morning. He then barricaded himself in his home, resulting in police officers responding to the incident. He claimed he had a weapon and threatened to kill the officers. Crisis negotiators reportedly spent five hours attempting to convince Corbett to leave his home before they entered the house and found the suspect dead. While police did not confirm the nature of the warrant, Corbett had failed to show up for a hearing related to his probation on April 23. In 2014, Corbett was tried and sentenced for stalking Bullock and breaking into her home. Officials said at the time that Corbett had two dozen illegal firearms and ammunition in his residence. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The two Black men who were arrested at a Starbucks last month in the United States, have reached a settlement with Philadelphia. In return for not filing a lawsuit against Philadelphia or its employees, the two men Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson asked the city spend USD 200,000 to help young entrepreneurs, to which the latter agreed, The New York Times reported. As per the agreement, the men will each be given USD 1. "I am pleased to have resolved the potential claims against the City in this productive manner," Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia said in a statement. "This was an incident that evoked a lot of pain in our City, pain that would've resurfaced over and over again in protracted litigation," he added. In an official statement, Starbucks also said it had reached an agreement with the two men. "I want to thank Donte and Rashon for their willingness to reconcile. I welcome the opportunity to begin a relationship with them to share learnings and experiences. And Starbucks will continue to take actions that stem from this incident to repair and reaffirm our values and vision for the kind of company we want to be," CEO of Starbucks Kevin Johnson said in the statement. The coffeehouse chain said that details of the agreement would be provided in a "mutually agreed public statement." Starbucks and Philadelphia Police were widely criticised for 'racial profiling', after a video showing officers taking the men away in handcuffs at the Philadelphia store went viral on social media. The employees at the store had reportedly called the police after the men wanted to use the bathroom without buying anything. The incident took place on April 12, which was followed by a public apology by the Starbucks CEO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Software as a service (SaaS) - based solutions provider catering to the Food and Beverages (F&B) industry, Uplodefoodie, recently launched its offerings to provide a simplified and powerful restaurant management solution for restaurant owners and managers. The company is creating a category for white labelled solutions providers by offering a unique composite B2B2C service that facilitates order management, tracks customer satisfaction, automates HR operations such as attendance, monitoring, and payroll, and aids inventory and backend management. With the use of cutting-edge analytics, the platform helps with resource optimisation and provides insights that help customer-facing F&B outlets increase customer footfall and satisfaction, which in turn benefits revenue collection. "We are excited about our pilot project in Pune with our 20 partner restaurants. Throughout the city, the F&B industry is changing rapidly as customers have different tastes, expectations and requirements from their favorite eating joints. Preparation, take-away, delivery timing and efficiency are incredibly important factors in determining customer satisfaction," said Yogesh Ghorpade, founder and managing director, Uplodefoodie. A large floating population of students and skilled professionals employed by the IT industry in Pune have led to an explosive growth in businesses catering to the city's new tech-savvy demographic. However, this extremely competitive sector caters to easily distracted consumers, and large e-commerce players and online platforms creating an unequal playing field. For restaurants already looking to manage inventory, order curation and fulfilment, their workforce, and customer satisfaction, navigating this complex proposition successfully is very difficult without the aid of technology. With Pune's youthful target demographic choosing take-away and delivery options, timing and efficiency are even more important, and Uplodefoodie has developed a solution that helps restaurants in achieving greater efficiency and success. The company has launched operations in Pune with 20 of the city's leading restaurants and will look to reach 3000+ restaurants in Tier I and Tier II cities in Maharashtra within the next six months. Following its expansion into Maharashtra, Uplodefoodie intends to initiate pan-Indian operations to offer its comprehensive 360 degree solution to restaurants across the country. In a world where technology brings opportunity, the brand is providing their partner restaurants with the means to take control of their and make it successful. By simplifying the complex, reducing waste through optimisation, and improving customer satisfaction through analytics and incentivised customer loyalty, Uplodefoodie brings a much-needed technological solution to the F&B industry in India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The U.S. based pro-Khalistan Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has threatened an elected representative in Punjab state over his disagreement on a demand for a separate homeland for Sikhs. Recently, Punjab's Minister for Jails Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa strongly criticized the 'Referendum 2020', which has been launched by pro-Khalistani Sikhs based in Canada and the United States. Advising the separatists to create a state of Khalistan in the country where they were presently living, Randhawa said, "If someone talks about Khalistan while sitting in Canada. He is the citizen of that country. It is the problem of Trudeau (Canadian Prime Minister) and not mine". However, the Sikhs for Justice issued a video threatening the Punjab minister. In a tweet, the Sikh body said "Referendum 2020 - Responds to Punjab Jail Minister - Will you come to Canada or should we handle you in India". The people who were pitching for Khalistan from their cosy confines were playing with the sentiments of innocent Sikhs in India and they had no knowledge of the reality in Punjab, Randhawa told media when asked for his response to the Sikhs for Justice tweet. In a video message tweeted on April 2, the representative of Sikhs for Justice said, "We will make Khalistan in Punjab and we are giving this a guarantee". Using a foul language against the minister, he said, "Wearing a tag of 'Referendum 2020', we are roaming openly the over. If you have guts, spare yourself from bodyguards. You visit any gurudwara without security and our men will teach you a lesson". A group of Sikh separatists in Canada are working to raise anti-India propaganda and demand Khalistan. On several occasions, India has raised the issue related to pro-Khalistan activities activists with the Canadian government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The recent edition of Variety Magazine included Pune's Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in its list of The Best Film Schools in 2018. Without any particular order, FTII shared the list with Beijing Film Academy in China and Columbia College in Chicago. The magazine praised the wide variety of options available at the institute like acting, directing, screenwriting, editing, sound recording, art directing, animation, production design and cinematography. FTII is an institute under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of the Government of India and aided by the Central Government of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China, on Wednesday, said it intended to play a role in the Korean peninsula peace process. Hua Chunying, spokeswoman at the Chinese foreign ministry, said, "China will continue to play its due role for the establishment of a peace system on the peninsula," as quoted by Yonhap News Agency "China is guarding the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula all the time. The temporary truce system should be replaced with a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula," she added. On being asked as to what steps would China take to play a role in the process, Hua talked about China's previous proposal, a freeze-for-freeze policy that includes bringing to a halt, joint military exercises on the South Korea-U.S. side and the freezing of weapons tests on the North Korean side. She also said that the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of a peace regime should be pursued simultaneously. On Friday, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in ended their historic summit with a glimmer of hope and positivity. They reached an unprecedented set of agreements to end long-running hostilities and sign a peace agreement this year to replace the truce that followed the 1950-53 Korean War. Many countries such as China, Russia and Japan and the United Nations (UN) have praised the outcome of the successful summit and hoped for the reconciliation of the Korean Peninsula. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese smart phone giant, Xiaomi, has filed to list on Hong Kong stock market which is expected to help the company raise up to USD 10 billion. It will be world's biggest debut in 2018 and the largest after another Chinese tech giant Alibaba's 2014 listing which helped it raise USD 25 billion, the BBC reported. It is estimated that the IPO would bring Xiaomi's valuation slightly short of USD 100 billion. Xiaomi is one of the fastest growing tech companies and boasts India as one of its key markets. With China and India as its successful markets, Xiaomi is reportedly looking at expanding to other markets including the US, where Apple is the dominating brand. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Inability of the banks, reeling under the mammoth problem of non-performing assets (NPA) to lend, coupled with lack of appetite for fresh investment by highly indebted India Inc has resulted in most of the industry sectors reporting negative growth in deployment of gross bank credit, the ASSOCHAM has said. Dissecting the RBI data, the ASSOCHAM noted with concern how sectors after sectors , including sugar, petroleum, coal products, petro-chemicals, cement and cement products , basic metals and metal products ,have shown drop in deployment of gross bank credit between minus two per cent and 19 per cent in the financial year of 2017-18. . Even the fertiliser sector which holds better prospects due to expectations of normal Monsoon, has shown a huge degrowth in credit deployment to the extent of 19.3 per cent up to February 16, in the financial year 2017-18, on sequential basis. Likewise, petro-chemicals firms also showed a huge negative growth of over 19 per cent in credit deployment up to February 16. Besides the industry sectors, the key infrastructure like road, power and telecommunication, also showed a negative trend between 1.6 per cent and six per cent. "The problem of twin balance sheets is very much reflected in the RBI data of credit deployment. While the banks are struggling with their rising NPAs and huge requirements of provisioning that goes with the same, the corporate India is still reeling under high leverage in sectors like roads, power, telecommunication and others," said ASSOCHAM Secretary General Mr D S Rawat. However, things seem to be improving for some sectors like mining and quarrying, tea, manmade textiles, rubber, plastic and glassware etc. "But a large part of the industy is still not out of the woods, if the credit deployment is any indication," the chamber said, adding that it would still take a few more quarters before things look up brighter. Mr Rawat said, there needs to be a sense of urgency in repairing the balance sheets of the PSU banks. The Rs 2 lakh crore capial infusion, as announced by the government must be speeded up, even as the lenders wait impatiently from some cash accruing back as a result of successful resolution plans under the Insolvency process. Tough RBI guidelines on provisioning for the NPAs, are also adding to the pressure, he said. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has published the April edition of its credit digest on India's power sector. The report highlights the trends in the power sector, with a focus on capacity addition, generation, transmission, merchant power, deficit, regulatory changes and the recent rating actions. In March 2018, short-term prices on the exchange increased sharply to INR4.02/unit (February 2018: INR3.23/unit) due to increase in demand associated with seasonal variation, inadequate availability of coal with the thermal generators along with a y-o-y decline in nuclear and hydro power. In March 2018, all India energy requirements increased 6.6% y-o-y to 105.2 billion units (BUs), while available energy increased 6.1% y-o-y to 104.4BUs, leaving a power deficit of 0.8% in March 2018 (March 2017: 0.4%). The increase in demand was met through improved generation from coal-based thermal power (up 5.3% y-o-y) in March 2018. All India electricity generation (excluding renewable sources) grew 3.1% y-o-y to 105.8Bus in March 2018. During FY18, electricity generation grew 4.0% y-o-y. The increase in coal-based thermal power was accompanied by a y-o-y improvement in the thermal plant load factor (PLF) to 65.3% in March 2018 from 63.1% in March 2017. The rising power demand is also being met through increasing the generation from renewables. Total renewable generation improved substantially by 30.8% y-o-y to 7.5BUs in February 2018 on account of improved generation from wind and solar sectors, due to higher capacities and marginal improvement in PLFs. Renewable sector posted strong capacity additions during FY18, with solar capacity increasing 9.4 giga watt (GW) y-o-y to 21.7GW The growth in solar power capacity was due to the competitive bidding prevailing in the sector. Wind capacity addition also increased 1.8GW y-o-y to 34.0GW during FY18, of which 1.2GW came in 4QFY18. However, it has still been lower owing to the unwillingness of the state distribution companies to sign long-term power purchase agreements at a higher feed in tariffs. In March 2018, coal production by Coal India Limited rose 9.4% y-o-y to 72.3 million tonnes (mt). With the increasing coal production, coal stock at 113 power plants witnessed an upward movement at end-March 2018. Coal stock improved to 16.3mt (97.4% domestic, 2.6% imported), up 3.8% m-o-m as on 31 March 2018. Although the overall coal inventory level increased at end-March 2018, the number of plants with critical and supercritical levels further increased to 28 from 20 in February 2018, due to non-uniform distribution of coal across plants throughout the country. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Grant Thornton' India Tracker The report, which monitors Indian businesses operating in the UK with an annual revenue growth of 10% or more, shows that the 87 fastest growing companies achieved an average annual growth rate of 44%, with seven companies seeing turnover growth of more than 100%. This year's tracker sees an increase of nearly 60% in companies making the list (55 in 2017) and a 13pp increase in annual growth rate (31% 2017) showing the growing strength of Indian businesses operating in the UK. Of the 87 that made the list, 22 featured in last year's list with one-third of the total number recording a growth rate of over 50%. Top Sectors Companies in the technology and telecoms, and pharmaceutics and chemicals sectors have again featured strongly and this year make up 20% and 16% of the list respectively. For the first time, this year, companies from the engineering and manufacturing sector came joint second in the number of companies in the Tracker. Indian companies and the UK economy Uncertainty over the outcomes of Brexit negotiations does not appear to have negatively affected Indian companies' enthusiasm for the UK as an investment destination and around 800 Indian companies are now operating in the UK. Whilst combined turnover (46.4bn) and employment numbers (105,000) remained stable year-on-year, appetite for investment has risen. The UK attracted four of the top ten largest European deals, as Indian corporates were able to take advantage of up to a 20% fall in the value of the pound against the rupee since the UK's vote to leave the EU. Moreover, investment by Indian companies in the UK has increased, with capital expenditure (capex) rising from 4.25bn in 2017 to 4.69bn this year. This year's report also identifies operating profits of 2.25bn for Indian companies operating in the UK and a combined corporate tax contribution of 360 million. London At a time where, in the face of Brexit, there are concerns that companies will leave the city, London has strengthened its dominance as the leading destination for Indian investment in the UK. Of the fastest growing Indian companies, over half are now based in the capital, up from 44% in 2017 and 39% in 2016. Anuj Chande, Head of South Asia Group at Grant Thornton UK LLP, commented: Indian companies are going from strength to strength in the UK, with this year's tracker showing a nearly 60% increase in companies making the list. A key factor of their success is that they have established themselves in growing markets where they have the relevant expertise for example, in the technology and telecoms sector and this year, in particular, the engineering and manufacturing sector. The report clearly shows that the UK remains a highly attractive destination for Indian investors. Following the Brexit vote, the UK economy is in a period of flux as it looks at how to reinvigorate its role as a global trading nation and seeks to forge new trade deals. With India's growing wealth and increasingly important role on the world stage its position in the Commonwealth is growing, coinciding with the UK's aims to revitalise trade and investment with Commonwealth countries. The UK cannot overlook the significance of the Indian economy (set to be the third largest in the world by 2030) and must ensure that, beyond Brexit, it remains a leading investment destination. With trade deal negotiations only being one part of the puzzle, the UK must focus on what it can offer beyond its current role as a gateway to Europe. It must showcase its expertise in design, engineering, technology and financial services if it wants to safeguard continued investment into the economy. Pivotal to this is maintaining key areas such as the unique residency/domicile taxation principles for Indians here for limited periods and also creating a visa regime that enables students and professionals to bring their skills to the UK. The recent announcement of the new UK-India Tech partnership, created to identify and pair businesses, venture capital, universities and others to provide access routes to markets for British and Indian entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises is hopefully a nod to a future relationship that is stronger and more substantial than ever. H. E. YK Sinha, High Commissioner of India stated: The findings of the report demonstrate how well Indian companies are doing in the UK. Equally, UK companies are doing exceedingly well in India. The recent visit of Indian Prime Minister, Sh Narendra Modi gave a new focus to the UK India relationship. Shuchita Sonalika, Director and Head of CII UK, added: The report shows the continued importance and significance of the contribution that Indian companies make to the UK economy with 4.69 billion of new investment last year by the Indian companies, and further jobs being created as part of their continued investment programmes. At a time where the UK is forging a future outside of the EU it will be looking to strengthen its ties with long-standing partners like India. The Indian economy is forecast to grow substantially and what the UK must focus on is both creating new and maintaining existing investment opportunities as it competes for India's investment on a global platform. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least three people were killed and 13 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a bus carrying Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) employees in Pakistan's Punjab province on Thursday, the media reported. According to the reports, the suicide attacker targeted a bus carrying the PAEC employees oon Basal road near Dhok Gama area in Attock city. Police officials confirmed that, an employee of the PAEC and a passer-by were among the three killed in the attack whereas all the injured were employees of the PAEC. The bus driver and a passer-by tried to overpower the attacker who blew himself up after firing shots at the bus, killing both of them on the spot, said District Emergency Officer Ashfaq, adding that the bus was completely destroyed by the powerful blast. Security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals in the city. The area has been cordoned off and a search operation launched. No group or individual has claimed the responsibility for the attack yet. --IANS ahm/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 45 schoolgirls were poisoned following a suspected gas attack in Afghanistan's Takhar province on Thursday, police said. "Up to 45 students of Banan Middle School in Khwaja Bahauddin district were mysteriously poisoned in their classrooms and were taken to hospitals," a police official was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. The affected students said they smelled a strange gas when entering classrooms. Frequent gas attacks in girls' schools are blamed on militants opposed to their --IANS and/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least seven passengers were burnt to death after a bus overturned and caught fire on Thursday in Bihar's East Champaran district, officials said. Bihar Disaster Management Minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav told the media that they had received information about seven persons dying in the accident. Pratyay Amrit, Principal Secretary - Disaster Management Department, said that most of the charred bodies were still inside the bus. According to police, an air-conditioned bus from Muzaffarpur to Delhi met with the accident after the driver lost control over it. Soon after the bus overturned, it caught fire and the seven persons were either charred or died due to suffocation from smoke inside the vehicle. Police officials said the passengers who managed to come out of the bus had been admitted to a hospital. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has expressed grief over the loss of lives and announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the families of the deceased. --IANS ik/nir/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All nine people on board an aging US cargo plane have been killed when the aircraft making its final military flight nose-dived into a highway in the US state of Georgia, an official said. They were aboard the C-130 plane when it came down on Wednesday beside the highway intersection near the airport in the coastal city of Savannah. The plane belonged to Puerto Rico Air National Guard and was on a training flight, the National Guard said. All the airmen were from Puerto Rico, an official said. Images shared on social media showed wreckage engulfed in flames and black smoke spewing into the sky, the BBC reported. It was flying from Georgia to Tucson in Arizona, where it was to be decommissioned. The plane was at least 50 years old, according to an official familiar with the aircraft. "Nine crew members died in the accident, but until their families and relatives are notified, we cannot give their names," Brig. Gen. Isabelo Rivera said. "Our prayers, thoughts and condolences to the families and loved ones of our aviators." One witness said the plane made a "loud, strange noise" just before the crash. While another said the ground shook as if a bomb went off when it hit. Video from a business near the crash showed the horrifying final moments of the hulking plane, a version normally outfitted to do weather reconnaissance, the CNN report said. The jet, with four turboprop engines on its overhead wing, banked left as it came down. The plane then headed straight down behind trees. Seconds later a fireball and thick black smoke appeared. Puerto Rico's Governor sent his condolences. "While we are waiting for more information regarding this unfortunate accident, my thoughts and those of Beatriz are with the families of the crew..., " Governor Ricardo Rossello said. President Donald Trump tweeted: "Please join me in thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard." --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 93 people died in dust storm and lightning strikes that hit several parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan overnight, officials said on Thursday. While 62 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh -- with 43 of them in the Taj city Agra alone -- another 31 died in Rajasthan's Alwar, Dholpur and Bharatpur districts, officials said. Around 150 people were also injured in the two states. Officials told IANS that the death toll could go up as full information on the extent of the tragedy was still pouring in. Of the casualties, many were caused by lightning, which struck at many places after the dust storm settled down. Rains also lashed many places. In Uttar Pradesh, besides the 43 deaths from Agra, three people died each in Bijnore and Kanpur Dehat (rural) and one each in Bareilly, Pilibhit, Chitrakoot, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Mathura, Amroha, Kannauj, Banda, Kanpur city, Sitapur, Sambhal and Mirzapur. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is campaigning for the BJP in Karnataka, has told officials to ensure rescue and relief work in the worst hit Agra, Bijnore, Bareilly, Unnao, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar and Rae Bareli districts. In Rajasthan, a powerful dust storm hit Alwar, Dholpur and Bharatpur districts, killing 31 people and injuring another 100. The storm, with a wind speed of 100 km per hour, uprooted trees, severed telephone, power and water supply links and brought down houses, officials said. State Disaster Management Minister Gulabchand Kataria called an emergency meeting and confirmed that 16 persons were killed in Bharatpur, 10 in Dhaulpur and five in Alwar. For the first time in the state, a storm has been included under the category of natural disaster and funds to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore have been sanctioned for each district, Kataria said. The exact level of damage in Alwar, Jhunjhunu and Bikaner was yet to be confirmed, said officials. Bharatpur's Additional District Magistrate O.P. Jain told IANS: "We are making all efforts to ensure that the injured are given medical aid. "We have prioritized restoration work so that drinking water and electricity get restored." Dholpur Additional District Magistrate Harphool Yadav said 10 people in the district have lost their lives. "Quick response teams have been deployed since last night." A senior official in Alwar said rescuers were still trying to reach out to people to know the exact level of damage. As phone connections have been severed, it was difficult to contact the interiors. Yadav said that some 200 people were stuck in village Lebdapura Basedi after their houses were gutted in a fire. Several electrical poles came down, disrupting power supply. The falling trees and electric poles caused the maximum accidents, leaving almost 100 people injured, Yadav said. Both Bharatpur and Alwar were without power through the night. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje directed the officials on Thursday to help the injured. "Distressed after storm in Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur," she tweeted. The Met department said the storm condition would continue till Saturday in Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh's regional Met office also warned of a second spell of dust storm in many districts of Uttar Pradesh, following which an alert has been sounded by the government. According to a letter from regional Met Director J.P. Gupta to the Relief Commissioner, thunderstorms accompanied by gutsy winds were very likely in Gorakhpur, Ballia, Mau, Ghazipur, Ambedkarnagar, Sant Kabeernagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Sharawasti, Sitapur, Bahraich, Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Rampur, Bareilly, Budayun, Aligarh, Etah, Mahamaya Nagar, Mathura, Noida, Bulandshahr, Moradabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnore and Baghpat. Massive rains were also expected in some places. Gupta told IANS that there was no likelihood of the storm affecting the state capital, however. --IANS team/vv/vsc/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) There has been, in recent times, a great churning in what can be called India's "cultural space". Public institutions, hitherto custodians of all things "cultural", have been eclipsed by the rise of new-age festivals and events. Indeed, the involvement of the state in promoting culture is fast diminishing, with private event management companies stepping in to organise cultural events -- at home and abroad -- on a scale never known before. Notwithstanding these changing trends, the future looks bright and full of optimism for India's creative industry. This is evident from the increasing interest in cultural events like the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) or the Kochi Biennale. At the same time, the art and publishing sectors are also seeing an unprecedented rise in revenues. International auctions featuring contemporary Indian art have seen record-breaking sales in recent years and Indian writers have bagged international contracts, often at rates much higher than their Western counterparts. New art galleries have opened in cities, multinational publishers are thirsty for Indian stories, translations are gaining their rightful attention, literature festivals have mushroomed across states and, for those inclined, there is something interesting -- exhibitions, talks, culinary events -- happening almost every week. Compare this to a handful of institutions like the state-run Akademis or the NCPA in Mumbai that bore the entire burden of organising cultural events till about two decades ago, and a striking contrast emerges. There is another contrast too. While institutions like the National Gallery of Modern Art struggle to attract audiences (apart from school students) even with their minimal entry fee, almost every art or cultural event these days -- both paid and free -- run house-full. How is it that the private sector in the creative industry manages to attract crowds for events that usually go unattended at public institutions? The artists, writers, musicians and dancers are the real force behind this creative boom in the country but what degree of difference has really been added in the recent years? Industry insiders suggest that the most ground-breaking thing to happen in the recent past is the coming together of the "creative class" and their realisation of the need to speak in one voice. The boom in literature festivals was not only unprecedented in terms of the audiences that they attracted but also for the behind-the-scenes networking opportunities they threw up, bringing people with similar trains of thoughts together. Thus, it paved the way for new collaborations and partnerships and the emergence of even more events and platforms. Today, India hosts close to 200 literature festivals in a calendar year. While all of these are not as big or as successful as the JLF, they have in their own ways contributed to the awareness about literature and culture among the masses. The sudden upsurge in the interest in cultural events therefore is no surprise. But even as a culture revolution is sweeping through India's urban landscape, there are questions that need to be addressed. Unplanned growth may lead to the sudden end of this boom period and, therefore, voices from the fraternity need to address the elephant in the room -- the audience. Spreading propaganda by misleading the audience in the name of culture is a norm at many events today. As late diplomat Abid Hussain had pointed out in "India's National Culture" (National Book Trust/1978), the real problem in defining Indian culture is "that India is the home of one of the oldest peoples, and is at the same time one of the younger nations". As a civilisation, we have a set pattern of life "firmly anchored in time-honoured traditions" but where will this new age cultural revolution lead us to? On the one hand, the success of entrepreneurs from the creative industry is a positive sign but, at the same time, only a handful have come to rule the roost. Are a handful of people commanding a monopoly over India's creative industry today? Will they -- the cultural entrepreneurs of today -- emerge as an arm of the state in the future because events that attract lakhs of impressionable visitors are potential grounds for political slugfests too? At the same time, are the events and shows that find allegiance in democratic norms, truly democratic and open to all voices? Or are they, like the television studios of today, running with vested interests at play? (In our "Shifting Sands of Culture" series, five noted personalities will address diverse issues and trace the changing dynamics of India's culture in articles written exclusively for IANS. Saket Suman is a Principal Correspondent at IANS. He can be contacted at saket.s@ians.in ) --IANS ss/vm/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Himachal Pradesh will soon get another tranche of a multimillion-dollar loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to develop tourism infrastructure, it was announced on Thursday. An ADB team led by Country Director Kenichi Yokoyama called on Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur to allocate the second trench of Rs 750 crore loan under the Infrastructure Development Investment Programme for Tourism, an official statement said. The team appreciated the efforts of the state Tourism Department in implementing the phase one under the programme, which will be over by 2020. The statement quoting the Chief Minister said 19 projects were sanctioned under phase one out of which 16 were completed and the remaining three would be completed by June 2020. The main projects included beautification of the state capital and restoration of British-era Town Hall building in Shimla. Thakur said a new proposal of Rs 1,800 crore would be submitted to the ADB for funding to promote tourism with an objective of safe, sustainable, economic and eco-friendly tourism habitat supported by improved infrastructure and services. --IANS vg/and/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan journalists on Thursday boycotted an official ceremony to mark World Press Freedom day and accused the government of not doing enough to ensure the safety and security of workers in the country. They demonstrated with placards that read "Stop deceiving -- Journalists are not something to play with", Efe news reported. On Monday, three attacks in Afghanistan killed over 40 people, including 10 journalists, in one of the deadliest strikes on the country's since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Afghan journalists said there were not enough measures taken by the government to ensure their safety in a country that in 2017 was ranked as the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Amnesty International also released a statement to mark the day and remember the slain journalists. "Afghanistan's journalists are among the bravest in the world. Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs," said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International's Deputy Director for South Asia. Nine of the journalists were killed as they rushed to the site of the first blast in Kabul, when a second suicide bomber, posing as a cameraman, detonated his explosives. "The second attacker deliberately sought out journalists to kill after the first bomber had drawn them to the scene. Mere moments after killing one group of civilians they targeted another, committing multiple war crimes on the same spot," Waraich said. Another was killed in a separate incident. According to the Afghanistan Journalists Safety Committee, at least 80 workers lost their lives while working in the country since 2001. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Afghan government on Thursday officially launched the distribution process of electronic identity cards. But the first to criticize it was the country's CEO Abdullah Abdullah. "We mark another historic day, and I am pleased to announce the distribution of e-Tazkiras (identity cards) by becoming the first Afghan to receive it," President Ashraf Ghani was quoted as saying by the Radio and Television of Afghanistan (RTA). Ghani said the e-Tazkira would help Afghan government to further promote good governance, economic planning and provide best public services to all citizens as well. The rollout of the new system was in line with attempts to tighten security, he said, adding that the new ID cards would hopefully cut down on the number of fake IDs in the country, Tolo News reported. "One of the key reasons why we have started this process is because of Monday's terrorist attacks. It is very possible that the attackers used fake IDs. The key decision for me is the security of the people and we must know who are Afghans," Ghani said. However, Abdullah Abdullah said that the new biometric ID card process did not have the support of the Afghan people. "This process has not received the needed legitimacy and support from the Afghan people... At a time when half of the Afghan people cannot access registration centres for Electronic Tazkiras, we come with an idea of distributing it which leads to additional problems countrywide. It is not a national achievement." --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rights watchdog Amnesty on Thursday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure no impunity was given to those responsible for civilian killings, including the gunning down of three men by unknown gunmen earlier this week. "In the past one week, there have been several reports of civilians, including children, being targeted, allegedly by unknown gunmen and protesters," Amnesty International India's senior campaigner Zahoor Wani said in a statement. "Attacks on civilians, some of which have resulted in deaths, are condemnable. State authorities should immediately investigate these incidents and bring perpetrators to justice." On April 30, three civilians were killed by unknown gunmen in Baramulla town. On May 1, seven tourists were injured when a group of men allegedly threw stones at vehicles carrying local residents and tourists in Pahalgam. This was followed by a similar attack on May 2 at a school bus carrying 50 children in Shopian in south Kashmir. Two children were injured. "These incidents reveal the sorry state of law enforcement in Jammu and Kashmir. Attacks on children are particularly reprehensible and show an utter contempt for human life," Wani said. --IANS sq/sar/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With tens of thousands of tonnes of wheat grain being exposed to rain in the past 24 hours in grain markets across Punjab due to inadequate measures for proper storage and lifting of wheat, the Punjab government on Thursday assured farmers that they (farmers) will not have to suffer losses due to the damage. "Assuring the farmers unnerved by unexpected, untimely downpour reported in various parts of the state, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said that government is standing firmly by the side of farmers and none would be left to suffer at the hands of vagaries of nature," a state government spokesman said here on Thursday. A thunderstorm on Wednesday, followed by rain, had left the wheat grain soaked at most grain markets. Reiterating government's promise of hassle-free procurement, the minister said that government is committed to lift the last grain in the market. "All the stakeholders involved - be it the farmers, the labourers or the arthiyas, may rest assured that government will not leave them in the lurch. The Mandi Board has been directed to take concrete steps to upgrade the arrangements in mandis and ensure safety of food grains from the rain," Ashu said. 'Green Revolution' state Punjab has seen 118 lakh tonnes of wheat grain being procured so far. The procurement process started on April 1. In the same period last year, 112 lakh tonnes of wheat had been procured. The spokesman said that 83 lakh tonnes of wheat grains have already been lifted from grain markets. --IANS js/ahm/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh has asked the UK to extradite Tarique Rahman, the exiled son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) who has been convicted in two corruption cases. "The process is going on. Next step always depends on the response from the British government," Foreign Minister A.H. Mahmood Ali was quoted as saying by bdnews24.com on Thursday. In February, a Bangladeshi court sentenced Rahman, living in London since 2008, to 10 years imprisonment in a fraud case related to a foundation created to fund an orphanage trust, while his mother was handed a five year prison sentence for the same offence. After the verdict, the BNP named Rahman as the party's chairman to replace Zia, currently serving her prison term. The opposition leader's son had been sentenced to seven years in prison in 2016 on charges of laundering $2.5 million between 2003-07. Zia -- who headed the Bangladeshi government twice (between 1991-96 and 2001-06) -- was named in 13 cases of corruption, violence and sedition. According to the BNP, hundreds of its activists and leaders face similar charges. The BNP, which does not currently hold any seats in Parliament, boycotted the 2014 general elections after the government, led by Sheikh Hasina of the Awami League, scrapped the system of an interim government which for decades had supervised elections in the country. The BNP and the Awami League have taken turns in power in the country since 1991, except for a brief period of military rule between 2006-08. --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday charged the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with polarising Karnataka to win the May 12 Assembly elections. "This election is between two ideologies -- Congress with its ideology of unity, compassion and inclusive Karnataka, and BJP-RSS with its ideology of hatred and division," said Gandhi, addressing a party rally in Aurad town of Bidar district, about 690 km north of Bengaluru. "The BJP-RSS (Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh) duo doesn't care about Karnataka's aspirations, it only cares about polarising the state to win the elections." Gandhi is on a two-day "Jana Aashirwada Yatre" (a journey for people's blessings) poll campaign starting Thursday. Claiming to have fulfilled more than 90 per cent of the promises the Congress made during 2013 Assembly elections, Gandhi said it was the party's philosophy to deliver what it promised. "Karnataka is an example for the rest of the country. The philosophy of the state is in delivering on its promises and following what they say. This is also the philosophy of the Congress." Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaks against corruption but did not answer questions on several scams in the country, the Congress chief said. "I questioned him (Modi) on Nirav Modi (jeweller, accused in a Punjab National Bank fraud case) and why he was allowed to run away with people's money. I questioned him on making corrupt (B.S.) Yeddyurappa as BJP's Chief Ministerial candidate, he has no answers," said Gandhi. Yeddyurappa, who was BJP's first Chief Minister in the state in 2008, was forced to step down from the post in 2011 over his alleged involvement in a land scam. The 47-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family attacked the Prime Minister for his recent remarks challenging Gandhi to speak about his party-led government's achievements in Karnataka without looking at a paper. "The Prime Minister has nothing to say about Karnataka and has no plans for the people of the state. That is why he resorts to personal attacks against me. His jibes are unbecoming of a Prime Minister," he said. Gandhi added that he would continue questioning Modi but will not disrespect the Prime Minister despite his "personal attacks" on him. He will later address corner meetings and rallies in Bhalki, Humnabad and Bidar city in Bidar. --IANS bha/him/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Canadian Member of Parliament Gord Brown died suddenly after apparently suffering a fatal heart attack in his Parliament Hill office on Wednesday. Brown, 57, has been a Conservative MP since 2004. He represented the Ontario riding of Leeds-Grenville-Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes, Xinhua reported. He was found in his Ottawa office where it is believed he died of an apparent heart attack. Brown is survived by his wife Claudine and two sons, Chance and Tristan. He once served as the Conservative Party whip, and was a member of several parliamentary associations and inter-parliamentary groups. On Wednesday afternoon, Canadian MPs gathered in the House of Commons to pay tribute to Brown before observing a moment of silence and adjourning for the day. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday met North Korean leader Kim Jong-un here and congratulated him for the thaw in relations with South Korea, officials said. Wang met Kim at the Korean Workers' Party headquarters and praised the successful April 27 meeting between the North Korean leader and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The Chinese minister backed the joint statement -- the Panmunjom agreement -- signed by Moon and Kim pledging to work towards the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula, Efe news reported. Wang said the meeting had provided an opportunity to resolve issues on the inter-Korean issues politically rather than through the use of force. The minister added that China supported the deal to formally end the Korean War. Wang had also met his counterpart Ri Yong-ho and discussed the current situation on the peninsula following the inter-Korean summit. Wang and Ri had an "in-depth" discussion on the "friendly and cooperative" relations between North Korea and China. Wang arrived in North Korea on Wednesday that made him the first Chinese Foreign Minister to make an official trip to the country in 11 years. He was accorded a ceremonial reception on Thursday. This came after Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Beijing in March. After Kim's visit, North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-Ho also visited China. Beijing, which has supported the denuclearisation, has since shown its willingness to work with the two Koreas and the US towards a peace treaty that will replace the armistice. --IANS and/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lauding Sardar Patel for forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad to merge his princely state with an Independent India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday regretted that the Congress has no respect for the country's "Iron Man" or its soldiers who guard its borders. "As part of the Hyderabad-Karnataka region, Kalaburagi has a special place in Patel's life, as he forced its erstwhile ruler to merge his kingdom with a free India in September 1948," recalled Modi at a massive BJP election rally here ahead of the May 12 state polls. Comparing Nizam's atrocities with the British Col. Reginald Dyer's role on April 13, 1919, in Jallianwala Bagh massacre at Punjab's Amritsar, Modi applauded local people for erecting a memorial for the martyrs. "This (memorial) was something the Congress could have done but did not as they disliked anything to do with Patel," he claimed. Accusing the Congress of insulting soldiers who conducted surgical strikes across the western border in Pakistan in September 2016, the Prime Minister said its leaders asked for its proof rather than hailing them for their bravery. "The Congress has no respect for the sacrifices of our soldiers. When our soldiers did surgical strikes, its shameless leaders questioned it by asking for proof of their brave act. They prefer our soldiers going to war with cameras instead of guns," said Modi. Calling Karnataka a "land of valour", Modi regretted that the Congress had also ill-treated Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa and General K.S. Thimayya, who hailed from the state's Kodagu region. "The Congress had not only ill-treated Cariappa but its Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru also kept insulting Thimayya," lamented Modi. Cariappa (1899-1993) was the first Indian Commander-in-Chief of the Army and was conferred the Field Marshal rank on April 1986. He was also a recipient of the Order of the British Empire for his role in the Burma campaign against the Japanese during the Second World War (1939-1945). Cariappa also led the forces on the western front during the 1947 Indo-Pak war. He is the first of the two officers to hold the five-star rank of Field Marshal, the other being Sam Manekshaw (1914-2008). Thimayya (1906-65), a 1954 Padma Bhushan awardee, was Chief of Army Staff from 1957 to 1961. The Prime Minister said he was not surprised by the Congress disrespect to the soldiers and the country, as evident from its own leader sitting on the dais when the national song "Vande Mataram" was sung recently. Modi was alluding to a video footage showing Congress President Rahul Gandhi seated on the stage at a public rally on April 27 at Bantwal in the state's coastal region when the song was sung by a group of party cadres and reportedly gestured them to stop the rendering after the first line. --IANS bha/fb/nir/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The JMM got a shot in the arm on Thursday for the May 28 by-elections to Gomia and Silli Assembly segments in Jharkhand as the Congress also extended support to it. Except for the Congress, all other opposition parties had earlier agreed to support the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM). Congress state unit President Ajay Kumar on Thursday finally announced the party's support to the JMM at a press conference here. Leaders of opposition parties met at the residence of former Chief Minister and JMM Executive President Hemant Soren on Wednesday night on the issue. Both seats fell vacant after JMM legislators Yogendra Mahto (Gomia) and Amit Mahto (Silli) were disqualified after they were awarded two-year imprisonment in different cases. The JMM is likely to field the wives of both the ex-legislators. The last date for filing of nominations is May 10. Vote count will take place on May 31. On Sunday, the Bharatiya Janata Party decided to leave Silli for the AJSU and fight the Gomia seat. The next day, however, its alliance partner All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU) announced party President Sudesh Mahto's name from Silli and Lambodar Mahto from Gomia. BJP state unit President met Sudesh Mahto two days ago and tried to persuade him not to field an AJSU candidate from Gomia. Sudesh Mahto, however, did not relent. --IANS ns/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Think tank Cuts International on Thursday said that its founder Secretary General Pradeep Mehta has been honoured with a lifetime contribution award for consumer welfare. According to CUTS International, the honour was bestowed on Wednesday yesterday evening by the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry, and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu through a video message at a book release and panel discussion event organised by the think tank. "Prabhu, who was away to South Africa, said Pradeep Mehta's guidance on issues of economic policy to him and others have been extremely valuable in shaping public policy," the think tank said in a statement. "A book... titled - 'Putting Consumers first - Essays in Honour of Pradeep Mehta' and edited by the noted political economist Sanjaya Baru with Abhishek Kumar from CUTS International was released in his honour." --IANS rv/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as illegal constructions in hotels and resorts in Himachal Pradesh's Kasauli area continued to be razed on Thursday, a hotelier accused of fatally shooting a woman officer two days ago was arrested from Uttar Pradesh, officials said. On May 1, Assistant Town Planner Shaila Bala Sharma was shot dead by Narayani Guest House owner Vijay Singh during the Supreme Court-ordered demolition drive. In a joint operation, a state police team, which was coordinating with Delhi Police, arrested him from Mathura town, Superintendent of Police Mohit Chawla told reporters here. Police officials said the accused, who was not using his mobile phone since the murder, had shaved off his moustache and tonsured his head to conceal his identity. He is being brought to Kasauli. Expressing anguish over the delay in the arrest of the accused, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur earlier told reporters in New Delhi: "I am in regular touch with top police officials. As per my information, he's likely to be arrested today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday)." Police officials said Vijay Singh shot dead the official when she insisted on executing the apex court order to demolish illegal constructions at his guest house. After the crime, Vijay Singh, a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board employee who was on leave for three weeks, disappeared into a nearby forest. Admitting negligence in the matter, Deputy Commissioner Vinod Kumar said: "It was our responsibility to carry out the demolitions. It was a lapse on part of the district administration. We had asked the demolition teams to exercise restraint." But the demolitions would continue, he added. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ordered the Himachal government to file an affidavit by May 9, the next date of hearing, detailing the progress in the murder probe. A bench headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur said the affidavit should contain details of action taken to demolish illegal constructions and steps to prevent unauthorised constructions in future. Taking suo motu cognisance of the official's killing, the Supreme Court a day earlier pulled up the state authorities for failure to ensure the safety of officers implementing its orders. The apex court on April 17 ordered the demolition of illegal constructions, saying the life of people cannot be endangered for making money. The Congress blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party government for what it said was "deteriorating law and order" in the hill state. "Even two days after the crime, the state has failed to fix responsibility on officials responsible for the lapses that led to the death of a government employee," Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri told IANS. --IANS vg/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Even as demolition of illegal constructions in hotels and resorts in Kasauli area continued on Thursday amid tight security, a hotelier accused of fatally shooting a woman official two days ago remained on the run, officials said. On May 1, Assistant Town Planner Shail Bala Sharma was shot dead by Narayani Guest House owner Vijay Kumar during the Supreme Court-ordered demolition drive. "We are working aggressively to arrest the accused. A Special Investigating Team of eight police official has been constituted to arrest him," Superintendent of Police Mohit Chawla told reporters here. Expressing anguish over the delay in the arrest of the accused, Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur told reporters in New Delhi: "I am in regular touch with top police officials. As per my information, he's likely to be arrested today (Thursday) or tomorrow (Friday)." Police officials said Vijay shot dead the official when she insisted on executing the apex court order to demolish illegal constructions at his guest house. After the crime, Vijay, a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board employee who was on leave for three weeks, disappeared into the nearby forest. Admitting negligence in the matter, Deputy Commissioner Vinod Kumar said: "It was our responsibility to carry out the demolitions. It was lapse on part of the district administration. We had asked the demolition teams to exercise restraint." But the demolitions would continue, he added. On Thursday, the Supreme Court ordered the Himachal government to file an affidavit by May 9, the next date of hearing, detailing the progress in the murder probe. A Bench headed by Justice Madan B. Lokur said the affidavit should contain details of action taken to demolish illegal constructions and steps to prevent unauthorised constructions in future. Taking suo motu cognisance of the official's killing, the Supreme Court a day earlier pulled up the state authorities for failure to ensure the safety of officers implementing its orders. The apex court on April 17 ordered the demolition of illegal constructions, saying the life of people cannot be endangered for making money. The opposition Congress blamed the Bharatiya Janata Party government for what it said was "deteriorating law and order" in the hill state. "Even two days after the crime, the state has failed to fix responsibility on officials responsible for the lapses that led to the death of a government employee," Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri told IANS. --IANS vg/tsb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Demolition of 13 illegal constructions at hotels and resorts in the picturesque tourist resort of Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh, where a woman town planner was shot dead by a hotel owner, continued on Thursday amidst high security an official said. Even two days after Assistant Town Planner Shaila Bala Sharma was shot dead during the Supreme Court-ordered demolition drive, police have failed to arrest the accused. "Special teams have been constituted to arrest the accused. A cash reward has been announced for providing information that lead to his arrest," Superintendent of Police Mohit Chawla told reporters. He said there was possibility that accused Vijay Singh, who shot dead Sharma on Tuesday, might have fled to neighbouring Punjab after committing the crime. "We are sure to nab him soon," he added. After firing the shots, the accused, a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited employee, disappeared into the forest nearby. Police officials said Singh shot dead the town planner when she insisted on executing the court's order to demolish the illegal constructions in his Narayani Guest House. He allegedly fired three rounds, killing her on the spot. Labourer Gulab Singh received a gunshot injury in the abdomen. She was cremated at her native place in Mandi district on Wednesday. The main opposition Congress has blamed the four-month-old Jai Ram Thakur-led Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. "Even after two days of the crime, the state has failed to fix responsibility on officials responsible for the lapses that led to the death of a government employee," Congress leader Mukesh Agnihotri told IANS. He said the entire top government machinery on the day of the crime was busy in a Chief Minister's function in the district and deliberately ignored to provide sufficient security to prevent any untoward incident during the demolition drive. A member of the demolition team told the police that policemen, who were unarmed, fled from the crime scene after the town planner was shot dead. The Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of her killing when she had gone to supervise the demolition of unauthorised constructions. Chief Minister Thakur on Wednesday said a status report will be submitted in the apex court on Thursday. "It's a sad incident. We will submit a status report in the (Supreme Court) tomorrow," Thakur told reporters in New Delhi. The Divisional Commissioner of Shimla would investigate the killing of the town planner, he added. The apex court on April 17 ordered the demolition of illegal constructions, saying the life of people cannot be endangered for making money. The court observed that the illegal constructions had put the city in danger, causing landslides, and ordered their demolition. --IANS vg/in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sticking to the decision to change name of the Dyal Singh College, its governing body chairman Amitabh Sinha on Thursday said that the administration had done no wrong and accused the Akali Dal of politicising the issue in the name of minority rights. "We did what was in the interest of the college. The new name was necessary legally and morally... I am pained and anguished to be accused of hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community. "A lobby of the Dyal Singh College staff members had roped in the Shiromani Akali Dal to cry foul over the 'hurt Sikh sentiments' when they failed to think of no other way to halt the educational reforms," he told reporters here. Responding to the rap he received from the Human Resource Development Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday, Sinha said he wasn't sure if the minister said what he said "under pressure from someone" and that "he should have avoided such words". "The Delhi University is completely autonomous to take any decision... they can take any legal action they want. What we did was right. The name of the college will be Dyal Singh, we are only prefixing 'Vande Mataram' before it," he said. The controversy over the name of one of the two morning Dyal Singh Colleges had erupted on Wednesday when Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, of the Akali Dal, wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting that Sinha be sacked for changing the college's name to 'Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College'. Javadekar had, on Wednesday, said that he had come to know of news reports that the Dyal Singh College's name has been changed and wanted to "clarify that the college name will not be changed. There should not be any question about it". "The management can only call them Dyal Singh College 'one' and 'two', or Dyal Singh College 'A' and 'B'... and we will take strict action against the college management for daring to change the name," he had said. Sinha said that in his meeting with the HRD Minister last November, the latter was convinced of being "misled" by the Akali Dal on the issue and had allowed the matter to be decided between the college authority and the university. He said that the minister went back on his promise and that his current intervention was "misplaced" which "belies the trust" that was reposed in the office. As of now, the request for the name change technically lies pending with the university. The alleged change in name had come to light through some news reports which had claimed that the college had used the name 'Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College' on the banners put up during the annual event of the college on April 25. The college is named after Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, the founder of The Tribune Trust (1881) and the Punjab National Bank (1894). The philanthropist had set up Dyal Singh Trust, which in 1910 established the Dyal Singh College in Lahore. The educational institution was operating morning and evening shifts earlier but the evening shift too was changed to morning hours last year. At present, two colleges are functioning in the morning shift from the common campus. --IANS vn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) He's based in Maimi and over the past decade, has DJ'd everything from underground dance clubs and exclusive private events to mega-clubs and festival stages. Now, DJ A-Train, who is considering a relocation to Asia for much of 2019, is set to rock Mumbai on Saturday. "It's always a bit different but I usually play a mix of new and classic hits from many genres like pop, hip-hop, house, reggae, & Latin," A-Train told IANS in an email interview about the kind of music he plays. How did the DJ bug bite him? "I lived in Japan during high school and started going to nightclubs at a very young age. My older sister had turntables & records and eventually let me use them to learn DJing. I was instantly hooked," he said. "How did the A-Train moniker come about? "A good friend from Japan came up with the name and it just stuck. My DJ name before that was pretty silly so you'll have to ask me in person if you want to know," he replied with a smile. About his journey over the years, he said he started DJing in Gainesville, Florida, where he grew up and then moved to Miami and quickly got into the local club scene. "Eventually I began DJing the big cities around the US and over the last five years or so I started doing tours in Europe and now Asia where it all began," he added. Elaborating on the Cinco de Mayo experience at the tony Xico's in Kamala Mills on Saturday, he said: Many people think it's Mexican Independence Day, but it's actually commemorating the Mexican Army's victory over the French empire in 1862. America has turned it into a giant party celebrating Mexican culture including their food, drinks, dress, and music. It's always a good time." "And now, it's in India," he added. "This will be the last stop of my Spring 2018 Asia tour which also includes shows in Japan, China, and Thailand," he said. What of the future? "I'm considering relocating to Asia for part of the year in 2019 which will include many more visits to India," he said. --IANS vm/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has urged Donald Trump not to walk away from an international deal designed to prevent Iran acquiring nuclear weapons. Speaking to the BBC, Guterres said there was a real risk of war if the 2015 agreement was not preserved. Trump has been a strong critic of the accord, in which Iran agreed to limit its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions. The US president has until May 12, to decide whether to stick with the deal. Guterres told the BBC that the Iran agreement was an "important diplomatic victory" and should be maintained. "We should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative," he said, adding: "We face dangerous times." It comes just days after Israel revealed "secret nuclear files" accusing Iran of having covertly pursued nuclear weapons. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the files provided proof that the Obama-era nuclear deal was "built on lies", the BBc report said. European allies France, the UK and Germany meanwhile have agreed that pursuing the current nuclear deal with Iran is the best way to stop it developing nuclear weapons. In 2015, Tehran signed a deal with the US, China, Russia, Germany, France and Britain agreeing to limit its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of crippling economic sanctions. Under the deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran is committed to slashing the number of its centrifuges, which are machines used to enrich uranium. It is also meant to cut its stockpile of enriched uranium drastically and not enrich remaining uranium to the level needed to produce nuclear weapons. Trump has frequently voiced his opposition to the "insane" deal, which he has described as the "worst ever". Unless the European signatories to the deal and the US Congress addressed his concerns he plans to withdraw on the next deadline for waiving sanctions. Trump is unhappy that the deal only limited Iran's nuclear activities for a fixed period (till 2025) and had failed to stop the development of ballistic missiles. He also said it had handed Iran a $100bn windfall that it used "as a slush fund for weapons, terror, and oppression" across the Middle East. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has questioned the legitimacy of efforts by the US and France to change the nuclear deal with his country. He has said that Iran "will not accept any restrictions beyond its commitments" to comply with international rules in the years ahead. --IANS in/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Every Delhiite is proud of of the Delhi Metro and feels safe in it, former President Pranab Mukherjee said on Thursday. "Everyone who is a Delhite, lives in Delhi, feels proud of an organisation, that is, DMRC," Mukherjee said while addressing the 24th Foundation Day of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. "Individual excellence, we find many a times. But that excellence to be converted and combined into collective excellence is not easy. The secret of successful corporation management is to build up this team work. "I am happy that DMRC, from the very beginning, has built up this team work and this team spirit is the root of the success of the Delhi Metro," he said, according to a DMRC statement. Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, who was also present at the event, called the increasing network of the metro a "phenomenal growth" and said that another 100 kilometre will be added in next one year. "(F)rom Phase One which was about 65 kilometres to over 252 kilometres now. In the next one year, we will add another 100 kilometres. This is indeed remarkable and makes DMRC one of the largest Metro networks in the world," he said. --IANS vn/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A major fire broke out in the simulator of the Ahmedabad-based Space Applications Centre of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) on Thursday. Around 25 fire tenders fought the blaze. The complex is a major research and development centre of the ISRO. A security officer was rushed to a hospital for asphyxiation. "The fire was reported around 1.30 p.m by a CISF officer," Ahmedabad District Collector Vikrant Pandey told IANS. "The exact cause of the fire is not yet known." --IANS amc/nir/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Looking towards the conservation of Indus Dolphins -- one of the world's rarest mammals -- Punjab government along with WWF-India are conducting a first organised census, officials said on Thursday. Found only in India and Pakistan, the Indus Dolphins are confined to only 185 km stretch between Talwara and Harike Barrage in India's Beas river in Punjab. Officials from the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab and WWF-India are currently working in two teams and will estimate their population over the five-day exercise. "We are trying to establish their near accurate population as to plan their conservation accordingly. It is the first organised census, previously we had merely spotted them," Kuldeep Kumar, Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab told IANS. According to Suresh Babu, Director River Wetland and Water Policy, WWF-India, the most flourishing population of the Indus dolphin, platanista gangetica minor, is found across Pakistan where their numbers are estimated around 1,800 over a stretch of 1,500 km of the Indus river. In India, a tiny population survives in this small stretch of Beas river. Experts say they were also found in Sutlej decades back, however, river pollution is believed to be a major cause of their extinction from the habitat. "Dolphins are a key indicator of a river health if a river is healthy the dolphins will be there and if not, we have the example of Sutlej," Suresh Babu told IANS. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), construction of critical barrage is associated with the large-scale decline in the area of occupancy, "which have not ceased". IUCN suspects the population size of the Indus river dolphins has reduced by more than 50 per cent since 1944. A blind species that communicates through echo like a Bat does, Indus dolphins are one of the seven freshwater dolphins found across the world. --IANS kd/nks/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Time was when, if you aspired to study abroad, you wouldn't look beyond the US and the United Kingdom with their prestigious colleges and great institutions of higher learning, many of them with an Ivy League tag. They still exist, but a plethora of restrictions of late on internships, on-job training, work permits and the uncertainty around H-1B visas have led students and parents to cast the net wider. Countries like Canada, Australia, Singapore and, of late, Dubai have emerged as hot favourites due to the growing number of opportunities to study, find remunerative work and options to settle down. But before you jump to a country of choice, you need to answer questions like: What is it that really interests you? What would you like to achieve? What do you enjoy doing? These are not inane questions but important pointers to your future career. With the jobs as we know them to be today set to change vastly or disappear in the next 5-10 years due to tectonic technological changes, students looking for a satisfying and successful career will have to seriously ponder the road ahead. Here are a few parameters for you to consider when comparing Universities: * Compare the QS rankings of the short-listed colleges. The reputed British agency, QS, compares top universities globally on parameters like research, teaching, employability and internationalisation -- and the institute's stature. * Consider the academic excellence and research facilities, but also check out the innovation, entrepreneurship and employability focus of the University. Remember, employability means not just employment and getting a job, but equipping you with the skills, the knowledge and tools to be able to succeed in your career. Of all these parameters, check out specifically the focus the university places on employability of students, making sure to find out if they have a well-researched and thought through Professional Development Program (PDP) tailored for international students to enhance their career success. * It is normal and expected of students not to know what they want to do. Check out if the PDP for an international student like you will give systematic opportunities to experience, say, an Australian, Singaporean or a Canadian workplace culture, facilitate internships, the recruitment process and prepare you for a global career -- through interactive sessions. Also check out how the programme will equip you with inputs so that you as an international student "stand out". * Do enquire what options are available for international students for networking and sharpening the communication skills to boost your employability, besides helping you with effective resumes, interviewing tips and mock interviews. * What career advice can you expect to maximise employment outcomes? Does the University's placement division organise career fairs and seminars? If yes, how often are recruiters invited to the campus? Do the invitees to the career workshops include international alumni who have made a success of their careers? Where does the university rank on employer reputation on QS? * One of the important parameters to consider would be the state of the health of the economy. Many of you would be surprised to learn that Australia has been recession-free for the past 26 years while the strong economies of Singapore and Canada have experienced a blip or two during this period. Australia's economic success often goes unnoticed because it is not promoted as much as the UK and the US. * Compare starting salaries for graduates or post-graduates, especially from your area of study across Universities and the cost of living of shortlisted countries. Some countries prescribe minimum wages based on qualifications and industry and you would do well to compare them. * While most popular courses to pursue abroad among Indian students are Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Science and Architecture, you would do well to check how the programme of your choice ranks in the preferred University. * Look for institutions where scholarship awards are offered to only a few students based on merit-based scores that are usually above the minimum cut-off prescribed for admissions. Best to avoid institutions that offer scholarships as a bait to every foreign student more as a price-off than on merit. * Another point for Indian students to consider is how easy is to transfer to the system. How compatible and similar is it to Indian 10+2+3 structure? Since universities in the US insist on a 10+2+4, only those following an under-graduate engineering and architecture programme of four years or more can go in for higher * Your safety and congenial weather conditions are equally important considerations when going abroad to study. I would recommend a safe and student-friendly place like Sydney any time over an extreme weather location in America and Canada where the weather, for majority of the year, can be harsh and below freezing point. (Sanjiv Kataria, who served as brand custodian for NIIT for nearly two decades, is a communications counsel. The views expressed are personal. He can be reached at sanjiv.kataria@gmail.com ) --IANS sanjiv/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed a plea moved by Sikh students seeking permission to wear traditional 'kada' and 'kirpan' inside the exam hall in the upcoming NEET exam. "Ask those in traditional attire to come an hour early," a bench of Justice S. Ravindra Bhat and Justice A.K. Chawla told the Central Board of Secondary (CBSE) which conducts the pan-India examination. The court order came on a plea by the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee who argued that Sikh students cannot be barred from carrying traditional attire in the examination hall. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), conducted by CBSE, is the entrance examination for students who wish to study any graduate medical course or dental course. The examination is going to be held on May 6. --IANS akk/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A hotel employee here has been suspended after he misbehaved with a German national staying in a hotel for over a month, police said on Thursday. "We are sorry such an incident occurred in our hotel. We have suspended our staffer Pawan Joshi for his disgraceful act," said the General Manger of the hotel but he refused to reveal his name. The German man, in India to supervise a project in an IT company, told the police that the hotel employee touched him inappropriately and then scuffled with him when he objected to his behaviour, police officer Sachin Malik said. --IANS sps/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launching his latest book "Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduisms Greatest Thinker", former diplomat and author Pavan K. Varma refused "to be a mute witness to the reduction of such a great religion (Hinduism) to its lowest common denominator by ignorant and illiterate people who think they are self anointed protector of Hinduism". A well-researched account of the life, times and philosophy propounded by the child-seer who not only gave a form and structure to Hinduism but also travelled across India to set up monasteries or mathas to establish its influence, the book was launched by Murli Manohar Joshi and Karan Singh. Also in attendance were senior political leaders and MPs including P Chidambaram and Manish Tewari, among others. Referring to the "self anointed protectors of Hinduism," Varma called them "ignorant and illiterate people," even as he attacked them for reducing the faith to its lowest common denominator. "I want to proudly say that I am a Hindu, but I want to say that for right reasons. I want those traditions to be respected- of inclusion, not exclusion; of assimilation, not hatred; of dialogue, not violence. I believe we need to have the knowledge of Hinduism and its great philosophy and if we don't, it's like to be reduced to that level," he said. The book includes a select anthology of Shankaracharya's seminal writings; and most importantly, examines the startling endorsement that contemporary science is giving to his ideas today. It reminds readers about the remarkable philosophical underpinning of Hinduism, making it one of the most vibrant religions in the world. --IANS ss/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday met Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and discussed ways of expanding bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors. According to a tweet by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar, during delegation-level talks, the two leaders had a "good discussion" on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, food processing, pharmaceuticals, science and technology, information technology, defence, tourism, civil aviation, education and culture, and exchanged views on regional and global issues. India and Serbia, the successor state of erstwhile Yugoslavia, have traditionally enjoyed deep friendship. Serbia co-sponsored India's resolutions at the UN for declaring October 2 as International Day of Non-Violence and June 21 as International Day of Yoga. The two countries are also celebrating 70 years of establishment of diplomatic ties. --IANS ab/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian has hit the jackpot by winning 7 million dirhams in a Big Ticket raffle in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital. Anil Varghese Theveril, 50, won the amount in the Big Ticket millionaire draw held at Abu Dhabi International Airport on Thursday. "I believe that in order to hit the jackpot, you don't just pick random numbers. And for me, my son's birthday is my lucky number," Theveril told Gulf News. He is based in Kuwait and works as an executive assistant. "I noticed that most of the winners were Indians, so I thought maybe I should try and hope that one day I will get lucky. I bought the tickets online," he said. Theveril said he hadn't decided what he would do with the money, but said he will "definitely set aside some money for charity and for my son's education". Seven other winners were announced, each of whom took home 100,000 dirhams from Big Ticket. One of the winners was a Bangladeshi and another was a Moroccan. The rest were Indians, identified as George Kallarackal Mathew, Satish Thoghota, Baiju Pookottu Kuttappan, Irshad patel and Saidalavi Modeen Kutty Thottunkal. According to data from two of the biggest raffle draws in the UAE (Abu Dhabi's Big Ticket raffle to Dubai Duty Free's Millionaire Draw), Indian nationals prove to be the most lucky. In early April, a Dubai-based Indian driver hit a jackpot by winning 12 million Dirhams in Abu Dhabi. Another Indian had won a lottery worth 10 million dirhams also in Abu Dhabi in February 2018. --IANS and-soni/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) School authorities in Italy's Piedmont region have banned several children from attending kindergarten because their parents failed to comply with a government immunization deadline, media reports said. The children belong to four different families, Italian news agency ANSA has reported. Immunization against highly contagious diseases such as measles, polio, and rubella were made mandatory for kids aged up to 16 years. The number of vaccination went up from four to 10, Xinhua news agency reported. Completing these vaccinations are a pre-requisite for children to attend school. Italy has seen a drop-off in immunisations in the midst of highly organised "no-vax" campaigns claiming that vaccines cause autism. The populist Five Star Movement and the rightwing League, the two winners of Italy's March 4 general election, have endorsed "no-vax" positions in the past and oppose mandatory immunisations. A measles epidemic flared up in Italy beginning in January 2017. Almost 5,000 people were infected and four died, the Health Ministry said. Of the measles cases, 92 were children under five years old and 28 were infants under 12 months old, while 91 per cent of those affected had not been vaccinated, according to the Superior Institutes of Health (ISS). Measles, a leading causes of childhood mortality, has the potential for large outbreaks wherever immunization coverage has dropped below the necessary threshold of 95 per cent of the population, the World Health Organization said. --IANS in/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the people of Karnataka to vote for a change in the Assembly elections, saying their mandate would decide the future of farmers and youths. "This election is going to decide the future of Karnataka, its farmers and youth. It is about the safety of women. Do not assume that it is only about electing an MLA, it is much beyond that," Modi told an election rally at Navodaya Vidyalaya Grounds in Kalaburagi, about 630 km northwest of Bengaluru. Modi, who is campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a second day, addressed the rally for some 30 minutes in Hindi. Accusing the state's Congress government of being indifferent to farmers, Modi said the state failed to ensure that the benefits of central government's schemes reached the farmers. "Kalaburagi is known for dal (pulses) cultivation. Our farmers are working hard here but the Karnataka government is insensitive towards their condition," Modi said. He said the BJP's Chief Ministerial face, B.S. Yeddyurappa, was a farmer's son who understood the concerns of the farmers. "In Yeddyurappa, we have a leader who is devoted to the welfare of the farmers. For him, their (farmers') welfare is top priority." Modi will later address rallies in the mining district of Ballari and in Bengaluru. --IANS bha/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court said on Thursday that the murder of a woman officer in Kasauli, when she was supervising the demolition of unauthorised construction in hotels and resorts, was because of the non-implementation of the state law prohibiting unauthorised constructions. Directing Himachal Pradesh to file a status report on its investigation into the killing of Shail Bala Sharma - woman Assistant Town Planner - the bench of Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta said that the unfortunate incident took place not because of its orders to demolish unauthorised structures but non-implementation of the law prohibiting illegal construction. Telling the state counsel that the death of the woman officer was not because she was enforcing the top court's order but the failure of the government in not acting in time and enforcing the law prohibiting illegal construction, the court said: "You have to ensure rule of law and implementation of law related to unauthorised constructions." The top court also directed the Himachal Pradesh government to apprise it of the steps taken by it to stop illegal construction in the state and to prevent the "unfortunate incident". Postings the matter for further hearing on May 9, the court asked the state to file an affidavit giving the details sought by it. The top court had on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of the killing and described the incident as "extremely serious". Sharma who had gone to Kasauli to supervise the demolition of unauthorised constructions at 13 hotels and resorts as ordered by the top court was shot dead on May 1 by Vijay Singh -- owner of Narayani Guest House in Dharampur area. A labourer was also injured. The court had pulled up the Himachal Pradesh government for not providing adequate security to the officials carrying out the demolitions as it termed as "serious" that the accused killed the official in daylight and police could not catch him. On April 17, Justice Lokur and Justice Gupta directed the demolition of unauthorised constructions in Kasauli built in violation of sanctioned plans. It noted that some hotels and resorts were supposed to construct only two-storeyed buildings but built six-storeyed buildings. The court order of demolition had came on pleas filed by the owners challenging a National Green Tribunal May 30, 2017 order which had directed the demolition of unauthorised portions of the hotels affecting the environment, ecology and natural resources. The hotels included Hotel Pine View, Narayani Guest House, Bird's View Resort, Hotel Neelgiri, Hotel Divshikha and Guest House. --IANS pk/ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday demanded the resignation of Lt. Governor Anil Baijal, alleging that an official body had lied in a court on the allotment of two landfill sites in the capital. Last week, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) had given in-principal approval for allotment of land for two landfill sites in Sonia Vihar and Ghonda Gujran in the city. Addressing the media here, AAP leader Dilip Pandey said an advocate of DDA headed by the Lt. Governor had said in a court that they had permission of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) for the allotment. Pandey said that Delhi Environment Minister Imran Hussain, who also heads Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), had said in a letter that the sites for the landfills were in Yamuna flood plains. "LG, CPCB head, EDMC head should apologise to the citizens of Delhi for lying to them... and they should resign from their posts," Pandey said. "The Delhi government is against any construction including landfill in flood plains." Earlier this week, the AAP had filed a petition in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking cancellation of the allotment of landfills. --IANS nkh/ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lt. Governor Anil Baijal on Thursday directed the Delhi Police to upgrade the technical skills of beat officers to meet future challenges. Baijal gave the direction during a review meeting of law and order situation in the city, which was attended by other senior bureaucrats and police officers. He also encouraged the practice of beat officers visiting senior citizens as it gives them a sense of security, an official statement said. About 8,000 police personnel including 700 women personnel have been deployed as beat officers across 163 police stations of the city. Baijal also encouraged the recent initiative of briefing police personnel in a public area, instead of the police station premises, in east police district and directed it to be implemented in other parts of the city. "LG also advised to introduce a system for incentivising as well as disincentivising the performing and non-performing officials respectively so as to keep the staff motivated to discharge their duties effectively," the statement read. --IANS nkh/ahm/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra Police on Thursday appealed to people to help track down Maoists hiding in urban areas in return for a whopping total reward of Rs 1.66 crore. For the first time, advertisements were placed in the English media too. Besides looking for the top functionaries of the outlawed Communist Party of India-Maoist, police are also trying to flush out some 190 heavily armed Maoist cadres and sympathizers still lurking in the forests of Gadchiroli and surrounding districts, said a top official. Police in Gadchiroli have issued full-page advertisements in leading English media naming five most wanted Maoists who may be spotted in towns or cities, away from the dense jungles of the district. "This is the first time we have issued such an appeal in the English media to create larger awareness among the people," Gadchiroli Superintendent of Police Abhinav Deshmukh told IANS. He said the Maoists comprise the top rung leadership "who are active and at ease, both in the jungles and the concrete jungles (cities)". "They not only fight in the jungles but travel frequently to big cities for finances, food and medical stocks, clothes, uniforms and shoes, logistics support including procuring weapons. However, they could be in disguise and hence difficult for people in urban centres to recognize them as they go about their business," Deshmukh said. The ads with photographs of the most wanted Maoists include four men and a woman. They are: Malojula Venugopal alias Bhupati/Sonu/Vivek/Laxminarayan/Lachhana Abhay of Yedapalli village in Karimnagar, Andhra Pradesh. (Reward Rs 6 mn). Sahyadri Teltumbde alias Dipak/Miling/Pravin/Arun/Sudhir of Rajur village in Yavatmal, Maharashtra. (Reward Rs 5 mn). Chimala Narsayya alias Joganna/Ghisu of Ramgundam village in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. (Reward Rs 2 mn). Baburao Topha alias Kumarsai Katlami/Tipu Sultan/Ashok/Pahadsing of Fafamar village in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh. (Reward Rs 1.60 mn). The sole woman in the wanted list with a reward of Rs 2.50 mn is Alluri Usharani Kirankumar alias Narmadakka of Gurwada village in Guntur district, Andhra Pradesh. "Last year, based on various inputs and Maoist literature we recovered, there were an estimated 230 armed but underground rebels in Gadchiroli district alone. Of these, at least 40 were eliminated on April 22-23. So, we believe another around 190 cadres may be still active but in hiding in more than a dozen groups," Deshmukh said. However, they have many supporters among commoners overground whose numbers are difficult to estimate, he added. Deshmukh said that when there is a shortfall of cadres in the 'dalams' (groups/units) operating in any area, they 'transfer' the requisite numbers from neighbouring states to fill the gaps. The latest step was taken after the success of the biggest-ever twin anti-Maoist operations conducted in India in the past nearly four decades, which left 40 Maoists, a majority of them women, dead in the Gadchiroli forests. He said that similar media appeals issued through vernacular newspapers in the past elicited "very good response from the public" in view of the attractive rewards. --IANS qn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi took Karnataka election campaigning to a feverish pitch on Thursday and launched scathing attacks against each other ahead of the May 12 voting to elect a new government in the state. The two political heavyweights, pitted against each other for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, addressed a number of rallies in the state. While Modi played a nationalism card and accused the Congress of promoting only one family, Gandhi took a swipe at him for his "personal attacks" that "doesn't behove" of a person holding a high office. Modi alleged that the Congress had insulted the Indian Army by questioning the truth behind 2016 surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan. "After surgical strikes, our Army Chief was called a goon by the Congress. I want to ask you, in our country, has even an uneducated person committed the sin of calling our brave soldiers goons. "A newspaper said that Pakistan had to remove casualties on their side in trucks after the surgical strikes. This was the bravery our soldiers showed and the Congress said 'Modiji show us the evidence of this'. Do you need evidence?" He said the Congress was spreading "lies" by accusing the BJP of being anti-Dalit, anti-Muslim and anti-women. "We made a Dalit, the President of India, gave the country its first woman Defence Minister. They spread lies that we are from the Hindi belt and have nothing to do with the south. But our Vice President is a south Indian." He said the BJP gave India a Muslim President in A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and the Congress could not even deliver on making its senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, the Chief Minister-- as promised in the last Assembly election. "The Congress is seeking votes of Dalits. Khargeji is a big leader of the Congress. In the last election, the Congress promised they will make him the Chief Minister. But he was sidelined. See, how they misled the Dalits." Gandhi, who has been at the receiving end of Modi's salvos during BJP's poll campaign in Karnataka, said the Prime Minister's personal attacks implied he had no answers to the issues raised by him. He questioned his silence over the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi who defrauded the Punjab National Bank of thousands of crores of rupees. "There should be truth in the words that come out of the Prime Minister's mouth. There should be some weight in his words." He said Modi had promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh each in poor citizens' bank accounts but didn't do it. Gandhi said Modi also promised two crore jobs to the youth every year and higher minimum support price to farmers but he did none of this. "Then what does he actually do? He helps only 15 persons. He helps the Reddy brothers (Janardhana, Karunakara and Somashekara Reddy) and wants to field them in the elections." Gandhi said Modi had little to speak about Karnataka, its farmers and youths, and therefore he was resorting to personal attacks against him which "will not make any difference" to him. "Modiji has very little to speak in this elections. He cannot speak about farmers because he neither waived off their loans nor provided suitable MSP. "He cannot speak of education, healthcare or developemntal issues because the state's Congress government has performed excellently on all fronts. So he is resorting to personal attacks on me. But this does not behove of a Prime Minister of India." He added since Modi was the Prime Minister of India "I will not launch a personal attack against him". The 47-year-old Congress leader asked Modi why he remained silent when Nirav Modi fled the country with thousands of crores of rupees of public money and on BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's firm allegedly registering windfall profits after the BJP took power at the Centre in 2014. "Why is Modiji silent on this? He has made fun of me but has not answered my questions." --IANS team-sar/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in a park here was found vandalised on Thursday morning, police said. Local residents launched protests against the incident, demanding immediate actions against those guilty. "Some miscreants vandalised the bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, inside a park at Narkeldanga area (or north Kolkata). Local people and our party's local committee protested the incident," All India Forward Bloc's West Bengal General Secretary Naren Chattopadhyay told IANS. Police also said a complaint has already been lodged by the Forward Bloc and investigations are going on. The disfigured bust has now been covered, police said. "We want the police to arrest the culprits within 24 hours and otherwise, our local will start demonstrations outside the police station," Chattopadhyay said. In March, members of a left wing student organisation allegedly vandalised a bust of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee here and blackened its face. The incident had came after a statue of Dravidian icon and social reformer E.V.R. Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, was razed in Tamil Nadu's Vellore, while two statues of Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin were pulled down in Tripura allegedly by the BJP-RSS activists. --IANS bnd/bdc/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said its two-member team last week questioned female Islamic State recruiter Karen Aisha Hamidon in Manila for her involvement in radicalising several Indian men online. The NIA team questioned Karen Aisha Al Muslimah alias Karen Aisha Hamidon during its visit to Manila between April 24 and April 28. "The questioning of Karen has resulted in confirmation of several facts and also provided significant leads about her associates in India, who were active online, to propagate the ideology of the Islamic State and also about a few Indians residing abroad who have helped her financially," an NIA statement said. It said the leads obtained are being investigated and that the execution of the Letters Rogatory (LR) by the Philippines authority is expected soon. An NIA official said the execution of the LR would provide substantial evidence to strengthen the cases against chargesheeted accused in the Islamic State-related cases filed in 2015 and 2016 in which three persons -- Mohd Naser, Mohd Sirajuddin and Adnan Hasan -- were in contact with Karen on messaging applications Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. Naser, a resident of Tamil Nadu, along with Sirajuddin and Hasan, both from Karnataka, were chargesheeted and are now facing trial in their respective cases, the NIA said. In its investigation, the NIA found that Karen was also in online contact with many other Indians through different Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels for motivating, radicalising and instigating her online associates from different countries including India to fight on behalf of terror group Islamic State. NIA officials, privy to the case, said Karen was also in telephonic contacts with many other Indian nationals. To ascertain Karen's role in the crime, requests under LR, issued by the special NIA courts in Delhi and Jaipur, were forwarded through proper channels to the competent judicial authority in Philippines in 2017 seeking legal assistance in the investigation. Karen was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippines on October 11, 2017 and she has been charged for incitement to rebellion. --IANS rak/him/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Niue, an island country in the South Pacific Ocean, on Thursday sought India's support for its bid for membership of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). During a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ADB annual meet, Niue's Premier Sir Toke Talagi asked Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg, who is heading the Indian delegation, to support his country's bid for membership. The Indian delegation, currently on an official visit to Manila to attend the 51st annual meeting of ADB, also met the official delegations of Nordic countries, OPEC Fund for International Development, French, British, the US and European Investment Bank delegations. A wide range of bilateral issues were discussed at the meetings, an official statement said. The delegation will meeting the President of ADB on Friday. --IANS vv/him/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Thursday said there was no deal between Islamabad and Washington for the release or handing over of Shakil Afridi, who helped the US track down Al Qaeda chief Osama bin-Laden in 2011. The remarks by Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal came days after Pakistani authorities moved Afridi, a physician, from a prison in Peshawar to an undisclosed location, triggering speculation about his possible release. Faisal turned down questions about media reports claiming that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had tried to stage a jailbreak in Peshawar in order to rescue Afridi, saying he had no information about the matter since it concerned the Interior Ministry. Afridi, a former surgeon believed to be in his mid-50s, was arrested eight years ago after it emerged that he had passed on intelligence about bin Laden to the CIA. He was convicted by a court in 2012 and sentenced to 33 years in prison over ties with banned militant groups. He was never formally convicted of helping the CIA find the Al Qaeda chief, leading to his death. --IANS ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Palestinian man died on Thursday from gunshot wounds he sustained during last week's protests along the Gaza-Israeli border fence, the Gaza Health Ministry said. Anas Abu Asser, 19, who was shot during last Friday's "Great March of Return" in Gaza city, had been "seriously injured", Efe news reported citing the Ministry's spokesman. Asser's death raised the death toll of Palestinians to 48 killed by Israeli fire since weekly border protests started on March 30, according to statistics released by the Ministry. Three Palestinians were killed and 880 others wounded last Friday during clashes between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers along the borders. The protesters were calling for the right of Palestinian refugees and their descendants, who according to the UN make up around two-thirds of Gaza's population, to return to their homeland inside what is now Israel. The six-week rally is expected to peak on May 15 when Palestinians commemorate Nakba Day (Day of the Catastrophe), which this year marks 70 years since Israel's creation and subsequent displacement of some 700,000 Palestinian refugees. Israel rejects the protests and vows to respond to any border infiltration attempts threatening its sovereignty as well as its residents. --IANS and/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court was told on Thursday that the government could not take a decision on the scheme for implementing its direction on sharing Cauvery waters as the Prime Minister and other ministers were campaigning in Karnataka. Tamil Nadu retorted that the Centre was "politicizing" the issue ahead of the Karnataka polls. Seeking 10 days time to finalize a scheme, Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud: "A draft scheme has been placed before the cabinet. Because of Karnataka elections, the Prime Minister and all other Ministers are in Karnataka. Before that the Prime Minister was abroad (in China)." In a strong rebuttal, senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, said: "Sorry to say, the Central government is politicizing the issue. They are worried about their electoral fate in Karnataka. Election in Karnataka is on May 12 and somehow they don't want to do it till then. We have enough of it, it is brazen partisanship of the Union of India. It is the end of co-operative federalism." The court then directed the Karnataka government to respond on how much of the four TMC of water it can release by month end. It also sought response from the Centre on the steps taken by it since the pronouncing of the judgement for putting in place a scheme for implementing its order on the sharing of Cauvery water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. In the course of the hearing, at one stage, the court asked Karnataka to release 4 TMC of water by Monday. The court said that even if the Centre has not framed the scheme, Karnataka, under the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award, was obliged to make monthly releases to Tamil Nadu. The court directed the next hearing of the matter on Tuesday. --IANS pk/vm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of resorting to personal attacks, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday asked him to instead speak on his party's plan for Karnataka's growth. "Personal attacks won't win the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) any votes. The Prime Minister should instead tell the people of Karnataka about his plans for the state," Gandhi told a public meeting in Bhalki in Bidar district, about 700 km north of Bengaluru. Gandhi, addressing a "Jana Aashirwada Yatre" here, was referring to Modi's remarks of May 1 challenging the former to talk about the Congress government's achievements in Karnataka without a paper in hand. The Congress-led government has delivered all its promises made before the last Assembly election in 2013, Gandhi said. "The Congress has delivered its promises while the Prime Minister has been taking credit for it." The 47-year-old scion of the Nehru-Gandhi family asked Modi to also explain to the people of Karnataka why a "corruption-tainted" man like B.S. Yeddyurappa was chosen as the party's Chief Ministerial face. Yeddyurappa, who was the BJP's first Chief Minister in the state in 2008, was forced to step down from the post in 2011 over his alleged involvement in a land scam. Slamming the Prime Minister's silence when Dalits and women are attacked in the country, he said: "The assault unleashed upon the women under the BJP rule has been condemned internationally." Karnataka, the Congress chief said, has set an example for other states through its welfare schemes. The Congress, in its manifesto released on April 27, vowed to create 1 crore jobs in the southern state over the next five years. The BJP, on the other hand, is yet to release its manifesto. --IANS bha/him/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of letting down farmers in Karnataka and gave him 'F' Grade in a report card, saying there was no contribution from the Centre to the state's farm loan waiver. Gandhi said that the Prime Minister's crop insurance scheme had made the "farmers suffer" while filling the coffers of the private insurance companies which have made "huge profits". He tweeted that the Congress will, in the next five years, create a unique "Agricultural Corridor" for 10 agro climatic zones in the state to develop sustainable agri businesses. The Congress chief said the farmers did not receive price of crops at 50 per cent above the Minimum Support Price (MSP). "Contribution to Congress state governments 8,500 crore Farm Loan waiver 0 Rs. "PM's crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; (private) insurance companies make huge profits. "No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade F," He said the Congress government in the state had launched several schemes that has helped farmers. "Anna Bhagya, Ksheera Dhare, Krishi Yantra Dhare, Surya Raitha and Loan waivers improved the lives of Karnataka's farmers. In the next 5 years, INC will create a unique 'Agricultural Corridor' for 10 agro climatic zones to develop sustainable agri businesses," he said. The attack came ahead of polling for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, to be held on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15. --IANS ps/ahm/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two-wheeler majors on Thursday reported healthy sales figures for April 2018 on the back of robust domestic demand. On Thursday, Hero MotoCorp reported a rise of 16.5 per cent in its monthly sales for April 2018. According to the two-wheeler major, its sales for the period under review increased to 694,022 units from 595,706 units sold during April 2017. "With the forecast of a normal monsoon this year and a strong pipeline of new products coming up, Hero MotoCorp is confident of sustaining its growth momentum in the coming months," the company said in a statement. Another, two-wheeler major Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India's (HMSI) total sales including exports grew by 18 per cent to 681,888 units from 578,777 units sold in the corresponding month of last year. "Honda2Wheelers India domestic sales breached the 6 lakh mark for the first time ever in April'18. Domestic sales grew 15 per cent from 551,732 units in April 2017 to 635,811 units in April 2018," HMSI said in a statement. "Exports too grew by whopping 70 per cent to close at ever highest of 46,077 units." --IANS rv/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man convicted of stalking actress Sandra Bullock has killed himself after a police stand-off. While the Los Angeles Police Department has not released the man's name, a spokesperson confirmed to people.com that officers arrived at an address matching that of Joshua James Corbett on Wednesday morning. The suspect then barricaded himself inside the home, a spokesperson said, adding that "SWAT was on scene due to suspect's threat of violence towards police." Following a stand-off, he died of a self-inflicted injury. Police would not confirm the nature of the injury but noted it was not a gunshot wound, people.com said. Last May, Corbett, 42, was sentenced to five years of probation for stalking Bullock and breaking into her home in 2014, according to the Los Angeles Times. He pleaded no contest to one felony count each of stalking and first-degree residential burglary, the outlet reported. In addition to receiving probation, Corbett was issued a 10-year protective order and was required to seek continued treatment at a mental health facility. --IANS nv/rb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that its judgment diluting a stringent provision of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act has "seriously affected their (SCs/STs) morale and confidence". Attorney General K.K. Venugopal told a bench of Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel and Justice Uday Umesh Lalit that their March 20 judgment holding that arrest on a complaint under the law was not mandatory has shaken the confidence of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes "in the ability of the state to protect them". He added that it resulted in the death of eight people during protests as well as an increase in the instances of attack on the SCs and STs. The bench however questioned the submission saying its judgment did not lead to the deaths. "Our judgment did not incite any one to commit crime. Our judgment has been wrongly understood. The SC/ST community has full protection of this court," said Justice Goel refuting Venugopal's argument. Amicus curiae Amarendra Sharan opposed the plea by the Attorney General urging the court to stay the operation of its March 20 judgment by which it had issued several directions providing for preliminary inquiry before an FIR is lodged and action is taken on a complaint alleging atrocities under the Act. "Don't stay (it), it will send a wrong message" that by taking to the streets, the top court's judgment can be bent, he argued. Telling the court that its judgment amounted to an exercise in law making, the Attorney General urged the bench to refer to a larger bench the question whether the top court can issue directions, guidelines or mandamus contrary to the provision of existing laws. He said that directions issued in the March 20 judgment which the Central government is seeking to be reviewed were contrary to the provision of the Act and amounted to whittling down of the stringent provisions. Citing several instances from the court's past pronouncements including that of collegium system, appointment of judges, Justice Goel said: "The court has stepped in to fill the gaps in law. (Constitution's) Article 21 - guaranteeing protection of life and personal liberty - has been read in the SC/ST Act." Justice Lalit said what has been put by the court is a "filter" before a complaint is acted upon. "It is not that the judgment says no registration of crime. It is not that the perpetrators of crime should not be punished. Let there be a filter" before a complaint is acted upon and an accused is arrested, he said. As the Attorney General cited the instances of an 83-year-old Dalit woman burnt alive and Thakur community members not allowing a Dalit bridegroom to mount a horse as his wedding party goes to the bride's home, Justice Goel asked: "Why it is that action is not being taken. There has to be quick punishment." The judge also said the burning of the Dalit woman was murder. As Venugopal argued that only 13 to 15 per cent of the complaints were found to be false, the court observed that does not mean that remaining 85 per cent were true. The court fixed May 16 for further hearing of the matter when Sharan would respond to the Attorney General's submissions. The Central government moved the top court for the review of its March 20 judgment that generated a lot of protests including by lawmakers, who felt that the Supreme Court verdict had diluted the provisions of the Act. --IANS pk/vd/him/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) South Korea on Thursday said it wants Japan and China to sign a statement supporting a declaration issued after the inter-Korean summit last week. South Korea has been pushing for a special statement by the leaders supporting the Panmunjom Declaration signed by South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Efe news reported quoting a Presidential office spokesperson as saying. Seoul and Pyongyang have agreed to work towards the complete denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. South Korea wants Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, along with Moon, to sign the document at a trilateral summit set to start on May 9 in Tokyo backing the Panmunjom Declaration. In the declaration, Moon and Kim also pledged to sign a multilateral agreement to formally end the Korean War. Three years of hostilities ended in 1953 with an armistice, but no peace treaty was ever signed. Moon and Li's visits to Tokyo would be the first visits by Korean and Chinese leaders to Japan in more than seven years. The last occasion was when former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and former Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held a summit with then Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in April 2011, soon after an earthquake and tsunami killed over 18,000 people in Japan's northeastern coast and led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. The South Korean government on Thursday released a video of preparations for the inter-Korean summit, named "A new beginning: those who made it possible". The video showed people who worked behind the scenes to make the summit successful, including rehearsals and setting-up of the media centre which hosted almost 3,000 journalists during the declaration. --IANS and/soni/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has announced closure of 13 diplomatic missions and four consular missions abroad due to a financial crisis. Al-Bashir issued a decree on Wednesday to restructure Sudan's external representation and directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close select diplomatic and consular missions abroad, Xinhua news agency reported citing the official Sudan News Agency. The decree also directed to have a one-man ambassador in seven diplomatic missions. In April, then Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour had said that Sudan was unable to finance its diplomatic missions abroad and some diplomats have to return home. "For months, Sudanese diplomats have not received salaries and there is also a delay in paying rent for diplomatic missions," Ghandour said, prior to being fired by Al-Bashir on April 19. Sudan, hit by widening economic problems, has been suffering a foreign currency shortage since January 2018. --IANS and/soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In keeping with India's continuing engagements with Myanmar after it got a democratic government in 2016, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit the eastern neighbour on May 10-11, it was announced on Thursday. Briefing the media here, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that the visit "is part of the ongoing high-level interaction which we have with the government of Myanmar". Kumar said that, during the visit, Suham Swaraj will hold discussions with the Myanmar leadership on various bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest. "They are expected to also review the progress made on the decisions taken during the last visit of Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) to Myanmar in September 2017 to reinforce our bilateral relationship," he said. "Several key agreements covering diverse aspects of our bilateral relations are expected to be signed during this visit." India is a key development aid partner for Myanmar and is implementing a number of infrastructure projects in that country. These include the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project connecting Mizoram with Sittwe port in Myanmar, the Trilateral Highway Project connecting India with Myanmar and Thailand, and the Rhi-Tiddim road. The Rohingya refugee crisis is also expected to come up for discussion during Sushma Swaraj's visit. India has called for a long-term solution for socio-economic development in Myanmar's Rakhine State to solve the crisis. --IANS ab/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump repaid his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 settlement with porn actress Stormy Daniels to keep her from going public about her affair with Trump before the 2016 election, the President's legal aide Rudy Giuliani has said. Former New York Mayor Giuliani's statement on Fox News on Wednesday appeared to contradict Trump, who said he did not know about the payment made by Cohen to Daniels ahead of the presidential election, the New York Times reported. Trump has denied Daniels' claims of an affair in 2006. Giuliani said no campaign finance was used in the payment. Cohen's $130,000 payment to Daniels just before the election could count as an illegal contribution to President Trump's campaign. However, Giuliani said that when the initial payment was made, Cohen did it "on his own authority". Giuliani said: "That money was not campaign money. Sorry, I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know. It's not campaign money. No campaign finance violation." Giuliani's comments are also in direct contrast to what Cohen had been saying for months, that he used his own money to pay Daniels. Cohen is under investigation by the FBI, which raided his home and office in April and seized documents that included information about the payment made to Daniels. "They funnelled it through a law firm and the President repaid it." Giuliani said the repayment was made "over a period of several months". He added that Trump "didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know, but he did know about the general arrangement that Cohen would take care of things like this". Giuliani said that he had spoken with Trump before and after his interview on Fox News and that the President and other lawyers on the team were aware of what he would say. Giuliani said that Cohen had "settled several problems for" Trump, and that the payment related to them. Another person familiar with the payment confirmed that that was the mechanism used to repay Cohen. Michael Avenatti, Daniels' lawyer, said on Twitter that Giuliani's comments amounted to an admission that the President had lied to the American people about whether he was aware of the hush payment. "Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied," Avenatti wrote. "This followed the lies told by others close to him, including Cohen. This should never be acceptable in our America. We will not rest until justice is served." --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men were on Thursday arrested on charges of raping and murdering a Latvian tourist who went missing from Kovalam last month, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra said. Accused Umesh and Udayan were relatives and working as unregistered tourist guides, the officer told the media. Behra cautioned the media against reporting the woman's name since she was a rape victim. "This is an unfortunate brutal crime and should not happen to any person. An innocent woman, for no fault of hers, lost her life... The police investigation team will be rewarded for their good work," Behra said. Inspector General of Police Manoj Abraham, who led the probe, said the accused will be presented in a court here on Friday. "The woman was lured away by the accused and supplied with narcotics. She was later sexually assaulted and attacked when she resisted. The probe will continue as we want to find out if there are more people involved in the crime," said Abraham. A day earlier, the Latvian's sister IIzie told the media here that the funeral of the 33-year-old deceased will be performed at the public crematorium here on Thursday and ashes taken to her home country. She also met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The victim, her partner Andrew and Ilzie had arrived in Kerala for ayurvedic treatment at a facility on Thiruvananthapuram's outskirts when she went missing on March 14. The victim was last seen hiring an auto-rickshaw for Kovalam. She was not carrying her passport or mobile phone with her when she went missing. On April 20, her highly decomposed body was found in a marshy area near the famed Kovalam tourist destination. An autopsy pointed to strangulation. Once murder was confirmed, police questioned several residents and took four into custody. In the evening, the victim's body was cremated at the state-run crematorium even as the State Human Rights Commission directed authorities not to cremate it. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, the victim's sister and a few others were present. --IANS sg/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two men were on Thursday arrested on charges of raping and murdering a Latvian tourist who went missing from Kovalam last month, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra said. Accused Umesh and Udayan are relatives and were working as unregistered tourist guides, the DGP told the media. Behra cautioned the media against reporting the woman's name since she was a rape victim. "This is an unfortunately brutal crime and should not happen to any person. An innocent woman, for no fault of hers, lost her life... the police investigation team will be rewarded for their good work," Behra said. Inspector General of Police Manoj Abraham, who led the probe team, said that the accused will be presented in a court here on Friday for remand. "The woman was lured away by the accused and supplied with narcotics. She was later sexually assaulted and attacked when she resisted. The probe will continue as we want to find out if there are more people involved in the crime," said Abraham. A day earlier, the Latvian's sister IIzie told the media here that the funeral of the 33-year-old deceased will be performed at the public crematorium here on Thursday and ashes taken to her home country. She had also met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office. The victim, her partner Andrew and Ilzie had arrived in Kerala for ayurvedic treatment at a facility on Thiruvananthapuram's outskirts when she went missing on March 14. The victim was last seen hiring an auto-rickshaw to Kovalam. She was not carrying her passport or mobile phone with her when she went missing. On April 20, her highly decomposed body was found in a marshy area near the famed Kovalam tourist destination. An autopsy pointed to strangulation. Once murder was confirmed, police questioned several area residents and had taken four of them in custody. State Bharatiya Janata Party President Kummanem Rajasekheran demanded that the body be buried and not cremated just in case another post-mortem was required. --IANS sg/tsb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A US delegation arrived here on Thursday on a two-day visit to meet the Chinese Vice-Premier and other officials to defuse a potential trade war between the two countries over import tariffs. The delegation led by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin would meet Chinese Vice-Premier Liu He and other top officials to discuss mutual trade tariffs as well as China's unfair trade practices, the protection of intellectual property in China, and US' huge trade deficit with China, Efe news reported. Mnuchin was accompanied by US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, Foreign Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, White House Adviser for Trade and Industry Peter Navarro as well as Chief Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow. The delegation will meet US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad and then meet Liu, who is also Chinese President Xi Jinping's Chief Economic Adviser. "Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade," US President Donald Trump had tweeted on Wednesday, adding that he looked forward to meeting Xi "in the not too distant future". Tension between the two countries had escalated in recent times over trade protectionism policies of the US and had led to the imposition of high, mutual import tariffs. "It is not realistic to resolve all issues through one round of negotiations," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said. --IANS and/soni/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu will visit the Latin American countries of Guatemala, Panama and Peru from May 6 to 11 in what will be his first overseas official trip after assuming office, it was announced on Thursday. Stating that India attaches importance to its relations with the Latin American countries, the External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that Naidu's visit to the region takes place in that context. "Over the last few years, India's relations with the region, both in terms of political engagement, as well as trade and commercial engagement, has intensified significantly, beginning with the landmark visit of Prime Minister of India (Narendra Modi) to Brazil in July 2014, his meetings with South American leaders there, followed by his visit to Mexico in 2016," the statement said. "These meetings at the highest level have been sustained through frequent interactions," it said. Trade and investment are one of the main drivers of India's relationship with the region."Bilateral trade with the region has grown steadily. There is potential for further increase," the statement said. Naidu will hold meetings at the highest levels in all the three countries. He will also interact with parliamentarians, visit Universities and meet members of the Indian diaspora. "Official discussions will review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including strengthening institutional mechanisms for political interactions, multilateral matters, trade and commerce, investments, information technology, capacity building, traditional medicines, space, defence and culture, among other issues," the statement added. --IANS ab/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On April 6, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) asked banks to sever all ties with cryptocurrency exchanges. Once the three-month deadline gets over and banks close down the accounts of cryptocurrency exchanges, it will become difficult for Indian investors to buy cryptocurrencies. Many exchanges in India are now offering their clients the option to trade between one cryptocurrency and another, instead of doing so between the rupee and a cryptocurrency. Investors should understand the risks of such trading before venturing into it. Right now, the rupee is the base currency that ... Thirteen people were killed in prolonged clashes between cattle thieves and local civilian militia in northern Nigeria's Zamfara state, police said today. The militia and cattle thieves fought a gun battle Tuesday through Wednesday in the remote village of Fankashi in the Maru district of the state, police spokesman Mohammed Shehu told AFP. "Our men recovered 13 dead bodies from the criminal gang and the vigilantes from the village after the fight," he added. The village was attacked by the bandits, resulting in the fight with the militia, who were armed with locally made, single-shot muskets. Police reinforcements were later sent to the area, said Shehu. Rural communities in Zamfara have been under siege for several years from cattle rustlers and kidnapping gangs, who have raided herding communities, killing, looting and burning homes. Villages formed self-defence forces in response but they, too, are often accused of killing suspected cattle thieves, prompting reprisal attacks. It was not clear if the latest incident was a reprisal or a raid to steal cattle. Last month, 27 people were killed in raids by armed bandits on Kabaro and Danmami villages in the Maru district. The Nigerian Air Force sent special forces to Zamfara last month to help drive out the marauding gangs. The state governor ordered troops to shoot on sight anyone seen with a gun in the area. On Wednesday, national police chief Ibrahim Idris ordered the deployment of 200 combat policemen to Zamfara and neighbouring Kaduna state, which is suffering similar problems. Idris was reported to have given the order during a visit to Birnin Gwari district in Kaduna state, where armed bandits killed 10 gold miners last weekend. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Tuareg leader says extremists linked to the Islamic State group in Mali have killed at least 17 people in two communities in the West African nation's Menaka region. Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, secretary-general for the Tuareg self-defence group, says the attacks by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara occurred in Tindinbawen and Taylalene. Violence has been increasing in the region between the Fulani communities, some of whom are suspected of links with the extremist group, and Tuaregs allied with French soldiers fighting extremism in the Sahel. A Fulani association on Sunday said 44 Fulanis were killed by the Tuareg group on April 27 along the Mali-Niger border. The UN peacekeeping mission in Mali says extremists killed at least 47 Tuareg civilians in the Menaka region on April 26 and 27. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 20 people on board a Delhi-bound bus were feared dead when the vehicle skidded off a highway in Bihar's East Champaran district, fell into a deep pit and caught fire. The incident took place on NH-28 near Belwa village under Kotwa police station area, about 30 kilometres from Motihari, the district headquarters. The private air-conditioned bus had begun its journey at Muzaffarpur, about 85 km from Motihari. The fire incinerated the bus and nobody could be retrieved so far. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sadar), Murli Manohar Manjhi and Officer on Special Duty to District Magistrate Ajeet Kumar, "six to eight" persons had managed to come out of the bus, which was engulfed in flames, by smashing the window panes. They are being treated for injuries at a hospital, the officials, who were supervising rescue work at the spot, said. State minister for disaster management Dinesh Chandra Yadav had expressed apprehension that more than 20 people could have been killed in the incident. However, some of the surviving passengers told regional channels that "only 13 passengers, besides the driver and a helper", were inside the vehicle when the incident took place. They said a total of 32 passengers had booked their seats in the private bus, out of whom only 13 had boarded at Muzaffarpur and the remaining were likely to catch the vehicle at Gopalganj. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar mourned the tragedy while addressing a function organised by the state transport department in Patna by observing one-minute silence. "I am pained by the irony..... here we have gathered to launch schemes related to transport which includes road safety and we receive the of the tragic mishap. It is not known how many people have died," Kumar said afterwards. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three Naxalites carrying cash rewards on their heads were killed in two encounters with security forces in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district, the police said today. While two of the rebels were gunned down under the Kistaram police station area this afternoon, another was killed in the Kanhaiguda-Chintakonta jungles late last night, Sukma Superintendent of Police Abhishek Meena said. Joint teams of the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) and the Special Task Force (STF) were involved in the operations, Meena told PTI. As the security forces were cordoning off a forest close to Putpalli village near Kistaram, along the Telangana border and about 500km from Raipur, there was an exchange of fire between the ultras and the forces, he said. The Naxals soon fled into the forest, but during the search that followed, the bodies of the two rebels in uniform were found along with an AK-47 rifle, an SLR rifle and a grenade launcher, among other things, Meena said. At least 15 more outlaws were believed to have been injured in the shootout, but the SP said their colleagues had managed to drag them away from the spot. A search operation was on, he added. The identities of the slain Naxals were being ascertained but a preliminary investigation suggested that one of them was an assistant military platoon commander while the other was a platoon party member. According to their ranks, they carried rewards of Rs 8 lakh on their heads, he said. In the other incident which took place late last night, a patrolling team of security forces came under heavy fire while cordoning off the Kanhaiguda-Chintakonta jungles, Meena said. After the ensuing gun-battle stopped, the forces found the body of a Naxalite in uniform in the area. A pistol and some explosives were found on the spot, he said. The Naxal was identified as Soyam Kama, a member of the Konta Area Committee of the rebels, Meena said. Kama was involved in several incidents of violence in the area and was carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh on his head, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three security personnel were injured today in an IED blast in Pakistan's restive northwestern tribal region, officials said. The security personnel were on a patrol duty when their vehicle hit the improvised explosive device (IED) in Jani Khel area of Bannu district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, they said. According to the officials, the IED was being operated by the militants through a remote control device. The injured were hospitalised. Security forces have cordoned off the area and initiated operation to trace the attackers, the officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An aging C-130 Hercules that rescued and resupplied US citizens after last year's hurricanes crashed onto a highway in Georgia during what was supposed to be its final flight, killing all nine Puerto Ricans on board. After more than 60 years of government service, the huge plane was being flown into retirement in Arizona, reducing Puerto Rico's National Guard fleet to five similar planes, two of which need maintenance and aren't being used, Adjutant General Isabelo Rivera said. "The planes that we have in Puerto Rico -- it's not today that they are the oldest planes on inventory" among all National Guard planes nationwide, and they often face delays in getting spare parts shipped to the island, he said. It's too early to say what might have caused the plane to drop out of the sky onto Georgia's Highway 21 moments after taking off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Rivera said the plane last received maintenance at the military base in Savannah in April. All nine crew members had helped with hurricane recovery efforts as part of the 198th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Bucaneros, which flies out of Base Muniz in the northern coastal city of Carolina, Rivera said. The squadron used the plane to rescue Americans from the British Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma, and later supplied food and water to Puerto Ricans desperate for help after Hurricane Maria. "The National Guard is an extended family," Rivera said as doctors, psychologists and chaplains gathered to meet with the victims' relatives. The huge plane came down so hard that the only part still intact was its tail section, said Chris Hanks, a spokesman for the Savannah Professional Firefighters Association. The fuselage appeared to have struck the median, and pieces of its wings, which spanned 132 feet (40 meters), were scattered across lanes in both directions. The debris field stretched 600 feet (183 meters) in diameter, Effingham County Sheriff's spokeswoman Gena Bilbo said. "It miraculously did not hit any cars, any homes," she said. Eight hours after the crash, she confirmed that "To our knowledge there are no survivors." Motorist Mark Jones told the Savannah Morning that he saw the plane hit the road right in front of him, and explode in a huge fireball. "It didn't look like it nosedived, but it almost looked like it stalled and just went almost flat right there in the middle of the highway," Jones said. "I'm still shook up and shaking. My stomach is in knots because I know they're people just like me. I wasn't that far from it and I could have just kept going and it would have been me and we wouldn't be talking right now," Jones said. The US territory's Gov. Ricardo Rossello expressed his sadness, tweeting that "our prayers are with the families of the Puerto Rican crew." President Donald Trump tweeted that he had been briefed on the crash, and sent "thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Seventy-five capsules containing cocaine were found inside the abdomen of the Bolivian national who had died here sometime after he was detained by the customs officials on suspicion of drug smuggling, police said today. The accused, identified as Salomon Edgar Vaca Arambel, 49, was intercepted by the customs officials at the Delhi International Airport after his arrival from Addis Ababa on April 27. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Airport) Sanjay Bhatia said the Bolivian national was detained after receiving information that he was allegedly carrying drugs. His body was preserved in the mortuary at Safdarjung Hospital for autopsy, Bhatia said adding 75 capsules containing cocaine weighing 519 grams were recovered by the autopsy surgeon from his abdomen. The viscera of Arambel has been preserved and an autopsy report is awaited. Earlier, the customs officials had received inputs that Arambel would be arriving in an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, allegedly carrying drugs. On the basis of the information, he was intercepted. However, they did not find anything suspicious, and took him to a Delhi court after serving him a notice under the Customs Act. Later, the officials moved an application to conduct his medical examination at RML Hospital. While he was returning to the airport from the hospital, he complained of uneasiness and was rushed to Medanta hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The World Health Organization today asked India and other South East Asian countries to accelerate efforts to end rabies, a disease which claims 26,000 lives in eight out of the 11 nations in the region every year. The WHO said that rabies causes 59,000 agonising and painful deaths globally every year, translating to one person every nine minute, mostly children and the poor. "Eight of the 11 member countries of WHO South-East Asia Region account for nearly 26,000 rabies deaths, 45 per cent of the global rabies toll, as over 1.5 million people in the region remain at risk of rabies," it said in a statement. The WHO's South-East Asia Region comprises Bangladesh, Bhutan, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. Poonam Khetrapal Singh, Regional Director, WHO South-East Asia, said that human rabies is caused mostly by dogs and can be eliminated by increasing awareness about the disease, vaccinating dogs and by making the already available life-saving rabies vaccines, medicines, tools and technologies affordable and available to all. "We can, and must break the disease cycle and save lives," Singh told a global meeting 'Driving progress towards rabies elimination' in Kathmandu. At the meeting, the global rabies partners comprising the WHO, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and UNICEF and rabies endemic countries from Asia-Pacific and Africa, shared and deliberated on measures to fast-track elimination of dog transmitted rabies by 2030. Countries from Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Kenya, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, which have assessed access, delivery and distribution of rabies post-exposure prophylaxis, shared outcomes of their studies, the statement said. These studies were conducted with the WHO support to enable GAVI- the Vaccine Alliance take an informed decision to support rabies vaccines. The rabies endemic countries are seeking GAVI support to improve affordability and access to rabies vaccines for vulnerable populations, of which many are children, it said. The WHO has been advocating for a shift from intramuscular to intradermal rabies vaccination, which is not only 60 to 80 per cent cheaper, but is of shorter treatment regimen of just one week. Most countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region are now using intradermal route for anti-rabies vaccines. At the meeting, the member countries shared initiatives being rolled out as part of the new 'Zero by 30: The Strategic Plan', to be launched by the WHO and its partners to end dog-transmitted rabies. "The plan centres on 'One Health' approach and addresses the disease in a holistic and cross-sectoral manner. "It aims at preventing and responding to dog-transmitted rabies by improving awareness and education, reducing human rabies risk through expanded dog vaccinations, and improving access to healthcare, medicines and vaccines for populations at risk," the statement said. The plan calls for generating and measuring impact by implementing proven effective guidelines for rabies control, and encouraging the use of innovative surveillance technologies to monitor progress towards Zero by 30. It also aims at continued stakeholder engagement at all levels to sustain financing for achieving "Zero by 30", it added. Rabies is a viral disease that occurs in more than 150 countries and territories and is usually fatal once symptoms appear. Dog-transmitted rabies accounts for about 99 per cent of human rabies cases. Forty per cent of people bitten by suspect rabid animals are children under 15 years of age. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Officials say an unknown gunman has shot and killed a deputy counterterrorism official in western Farah province. Mohammad Naser Mehri, spokesman for the provincial governor, says the gunman opened fire today on Abdul Jalal's vehicle, killing him. Mehri added the attack took place in the provincial capital, also called Farah, when Jalal was on his way home. Mehri says police are investigating and no one has been arrested. There was no immediate claim of responsibility by insurgent groups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The American government has not yet released the agrement for Pakistan's ambassador-designate to the US as his new assignment has been challenged in various courts in the country, according to a media report today. In March, the federal government announced that it planned to appoint Ali Jahangir Siddiqui, a Karachi-based businessman as Pakistan's ambassador to the US. Pakistan had sent relevant papers to the US State Department almost two months ago and is now waiting for the agreement, Dawn reported. An agrement is the approval of a diplomatic representative by the state to which he or she is to be accredited. Diplomatic norms do not allow a host government to tell another government who to send as ambassador, but they also place no obligation on the host government to approve the appointment. Media reports claimed that the order for Siddiqui's appointment came directly from Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Siddiqui was special assistant to the prime minister on economic and business affairs before his new assignment was announced. He is also chairman of JS Bank Ltd, which is owned by his father Jahangir Siddiqui. Ali Jahangir has previously been a director in Airblue, which is also connected to the prime minister's family. His new assignment has been challenged in various courts in Pakistan while opposition parliamentarians in both the National Assembly and the Senate have also rejected it. Reports in the media claimed that the Army chief also opposed the appointment in a recent, informal conversation with senior journalists. Last month, the Islamabad High Court summoned a reply from Siddiqui over a case challenging his appointment as ambassador to the US. A combined investigation team of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Lahore also interrogated him for over an hour in an alleged embezzlement case. Diplomatic observers in Washington say that the US reluctance to approve Siddiqui's agrement is apparently linked to these developments in Pakistan. They point out that since the appointment was made by a government which completes its term in less than a month, the US feels no pressure to rush the process. By the end of May, Pakistan will have a new, interim government for three months and if the agrement is delayed till then, the current ambassador, Aizaz Ahmed Chaudhary, will continue to work until after the general elections. The next ambassador will be appointed by the government that wins the elections in June or July. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a jolt to the BJP ahead of the bypoll to the Palghar Lok Sabha seat, the two sons of its late tribal MP from the constituency Chintaman Wanga today bid farewell to their party and joined the Shiv Sena. The two sons of the late MP - Srinivas and Praful Wanga - along with their mother Jayashree joined the Sena in the presence of party president Uddhav Thackeray. They earlier called on the Sena president at his 'Matoshri' residence in suburban Bandra. Speaking to reporters, the two sons accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and state BJP president Raosaheb Danve of neglecting the family after the death of their father and refusing audience despite their repeated requests. Prior to meeting Thackeray, the two sons and their mother said Chintaman Wanga spent 35 years of his life in expanding the BJP's support base in the Palghar (ST) Lok Sabha constituency located adjoining Mumbai. Accusing the BJP leadership of neglecting the family, they said, "We have been left to fend for ourselves after our father passed away in New Delhi on January 30." Chintaman Wanga (67) was elected from Palghar on a BJP ticket in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Announcing their decision to quit the BJP, Srinivas and Praful Wanga said their family has had close family ties with Sena founder late Bal Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray. "Our late father worked for the BJP in days when the party could barely get two votes in an election. We have not quit the BJP under pressure from any quarter," they added. Meanwhile, sources said the BJP leadership was contemplating fielding its Maharashtra Minister for Tribal Welfare Vishnu Savara for the May 28 bypoll to Palghar and this development may have led the Wangas to quit the party. The Wanga family was hopeful that one of the two sons will get the BJP ticket for the Lok Sabha byelection, they added. Savara was elected to the Assembly in 2014 from Vikramgadh seat in Palghar district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China-led AIIB is not a "threat" to the Asian Development Bank and both the institutions can cooperate to meet the large investment needs across Asia, ADB President Takehiko Nakao said today. Speaking at a conference to kick-start the bank's annual meeting, Nakao said the ongoing trade dispute between countries is a matter of "concern" and "utmost efforts" should be made to keep economies open in terms of trade and investment. With the Manila-based multilateral lender developing a long-term strategy- 'Strategy 2030'- to deal with the changing dynamics in the way Asian countries need finances and assistance to come out of poverty, Nakao said the new strategy would focus on gender and climate change issues as well as involvement of private sector in funding needs. Asked if Strategy 2030 is being developed on account of growing Chinese dominance in the region as well as aggressive lending by Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Nakao said, "China is becoming a very important player in international community as a lender and as a borrower from us. But it is not the motivation for starting Strategy 2030. "We are forming the strategy because of so many new developments in Asia. We have COP-21, sustainable development goals, there is observation that we might have more severe kind of phenomenon due to climate change issues and must address those. So there are many reasons to review our strategy." Under the strategy, ADB will sustain its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty, given the region's unfinished poverty agenda, and expand its vision to achieve a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific. With regard to growing lending by AIIB, Nakao said ADB and AIIB have so far agreed to co-finance four projects. "AIIB is not a threat to us, we can cooperate with AIIB because we need larger investment in Asia. We have a large system, including staff and resources like equity and so on. We can collaborate with AIIB very effectively... ADB has 3,100 staff as compared to AIIB's 100 something," he said. Nakao said the bank is looking at ways on how to fund the 'one-belt-one road' initiative, which would connect China with the rest of Eurasia and is open to collaborate with AIIB. "On the belt and road initiative (BRI), we have an MoU with the Chinese authorities about things to do together. We have been promoting these ideas since 1990... ADB started this idea of regional cooperation and we are happy to cooperate with BRI when there are appropriate projects because good connectivity is important," he said. With regard to the apprehension of trade war between the United States and China, Nakao advocated for a more open trade and said the recent tension between the countries did not have a "major impact" on investor sentiment. "Of course we are concerned about the ongoing disputes among some countries and if trade is interrupted it could cause damage to Asian and other countries. At this point, trade has picked up very strongly since 2017 because of higher prices of resources and stimulated by stronger growth in countries, including the US. "Trade dispute and its negative impact if escalated, is a concern, but at this moment it does not have major impact on sentiment of investor and market player. But if it continues and is escalated it might have an impact," he said. ADB was founded in 1966 and was mandated to lift people out of poverty and fund projects which will benefit society at large. Since its inception, ADB has been led conventionally by a Japanese governor, with larger quantum of funding coming from Japan and the US. ADB has 67 member countries, including 48 from the Asian region. Set up in 2014, the China-led AIIB has around 80 member countries and plans to fund infrastructure needs across Asia by 2030. Asked how ADB plans to continue to fund China, Nakao said: "China has been a very important partner for us since it joined in 1986. I want to continue to lend to China in a meaningful way. About 12-15 per cent of ADB's lending finance goes to China, it's a small amount for China considering their large financing needs. "We would like to continue to lend to China, but at the same time China is more developed. So in terms of income per-capita increase, how to focus on needed areas for the country. We started discussion on differentiated approach which can mean pricing and other terms of lending can be different between countries," Nakao said. Asked if ADB would seek additional capital from its board, Nakao said the bank's equity-to-loan ratio stands at 50 per cent. "We can still increase our lending in a reasonable way until we meet in 2020. So we don't have an idea of general capital or special capital increase at the moment... We are watching how it (capital increase) happens in other agencies and if World Bank expands its operations dramatically in Asia and increase their capital substantially, we won't be shy of asking for an increase in capital in future. But at this moment, we are not seeking capital increase, he aid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The All India Radio (AIR) will broadcast a dawn chorus of birds from West Bengal's Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary to mark the International Dawn Chorus Day on May 6, an official statement said today. For the second consecutive year, the AIR, through its external services division, has joined hands with Ireland's RTE Radio 1, the European Broadcasting Union and the Bird Life International to bring live the vibrant dawn chorus of birds singing from West Bengal's sanctuary along with those from Europe and Australia, the AIR said in a release. AIR Director General F Sheheryar said the programme would go a long way in sensitising people specially the younger generation towards conservation of the ecosystem, particularly different species of birds. International Dawn Chorus Day is celebrated worldwide on first Sunday of May every year to appreciate the primordial symphony of nature. The dawn chorus is the collective sound of birds singing at the start of a new day. AIR Director (External Services Division) Amlanjyoti Mazumdar said that while presenter Derek Mooney of the RTE Radio 1, Ireland and his team of ornithologists would present the programme from Dublin, the Indian part of the programme would be coordinated by experts Sunit Tandon, Sumit Kumar Sen and Sudipto Roy. Listeners would be able to hear the birdsong from twenty different locations, spanning various time zones across countries as the broadcast would traverse from India to Ireland, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah will hold a meeting with the constituents of North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) on May 20 here to discuss preparations of the Lok Sabha elections next year. The NEDA is a BJP-led coalition of non-Congress regional parties of the north eastern region formed in 2016. "Amit Shah will come to Guwahati to discuss various issues, mainly to guide us on the preparation for the Lok Sabha polls. He will address a meeting of the NEDA, where all MLAs and MPs (of the coalition) will be present," BJP Assam unit president Ranjeet Kumar Dass said. Shah will also hold a meeting with chief ministers of the states ruled by non-Congress parties in the North East during his visit, he told a press conference. Parties such as the Naga People's Front, the Sikkim Democratic Front and the Asom Gana Parishad are constituents of the NEDA. Regarding alliance for the next year's parliamentary elections, Dass said the decision will be taken by the central leadership. The BJP does not have absolute majority in Assam and is ruling the state in alliance with the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland Peoples Front. During his visit here last month, Shah said the BJP led coalition should win at least 21 seats from the North East out of the total 25 seats in the 2019 general election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Another dust storm may hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours due to cyclonic circulation formation in the region, a MeT official said today. The warning came even as the two north Indian states were reeling under the impact of a severe overnight dust storm that killed nearly 100 people and left a trail of destruction. "There is a high probability that winds will intensify in the next 48 hours in Rajasthan, which may lead to another dust storm. It will affect areas of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan border, especially Karauli and Dholpur," Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist Himanshu Sharma told PTI here. Satellite images have shown wind pressure developing in parts of Rajasthan, which may lead to high intensity winds and dust storm. The meteorological department has warned that a dust storm, rainfall or thunderstorm may occur at some areas in Bikaner, Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Jhunjhunu, Swai Madhopur, Sikar, Sriganganagar and Jaisalmer districts. Sharma said the department had issued warnings in the last couple of days about a dust storm in Rajasthan. In Uttar Pradesh, the high-intensity dust storm left 64 people dead and 47 injured. In Rajasthan, 33 were killed, taking the combined death toll to 97. About 100 people were injured in the state, officials said. In UP, Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for 36 deaths and injuries to 35 others, officials said. Besides Agra, the other affected UP districts were Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. In Rajasthan, Dholpur district was the worst affected with 17 killed, according to officials. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 45 youths from the Kashmir Valley including an MBA and a PhD scholar have joined militancy this year till mid-April, according to officials, as the unusual surge in numbers take the security establishment by surprise. According to the top brass of the security establishment in the border state, Shopian and Kulgam in south Kashmir have emerged as a major hub by respectively accounting for 12 and 9 of the 45 youths. The other areas of south Kashmir which have witnessed youths taking to militancy are Anantnag (seven), Pulwama (four) and Awantipura (three). Moreover, unconfirmed reports, which were in the process of verification, suggest that three more from Pulwama had joined militant groups, officials said today. Similarly, in north Kashmir, one youth from Handwara, two from Kupwara, one each from Bandipora and Sopore and one from Srinagar have disappeared in the recent past and are suspected to have joined militant organisations, they said. This includes Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, 26, an MBA degree holder from Kashmir university, and son of Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai, who took over as chairman of Tehrek-e-Hurriyat from Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Teherik-e-Hurriyat is a pro-Pakistan amalgam of separatists groups. The list also includes a 26-year-old PhD scholar Mannan Bashir Wani hailing from Kupwara, officials said. Wani was studying in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). According to officials, every funeral of a local militant spawns at least two additions to the ranks of militant groups. The Valley has witnessed killing of of at least 55 militants including 27 locals this year. "It has become a bottom less pit. We engage, counter, eliminate or make them surrender and the very next day, social media gives us proof of birth of another militant. This vicious cycle needs to be broken," said a senior army official who is engaged in anti-militancy operations. Ruling party politicians from south Kashmir have reportedly abandoned their ancestral homes and housed themselves in well-fortified accomodations in Srinagar or Jammu. Efforts to seek their comments on the situation in their constituencies did not yield any result as they were reluctant to be drawn into any debate related to militancy. A senior politician, who did not wish to be named, said: "Never has this situation arisen when space for mainstream politicians has shrunk to this extent. It is a scary situation". Security agencies believe that in April there has seen a conspicuous rise in the number of locals joining various militant groups after 13 local terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces in Shopian and Anantnag. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been quite vocal about PDP-BJP government's alleged failure in checking the rising trend of youths joining militancy. "Mehbooba Mufti's biggest and least talked about failure has been the massive jump in the numbers of young Kashmiri men joining the ranks of militant organisations," he had tweeted earlier. On more and more locals joining militancy, he had said, "...Is no one in a position of power in Delhi alarmed by this because I certainly am!" Police has approached many parents requesting them to ask their children to surrender on the assurance of a normal life. The story remains unchanged, says a senior police official, who adds that many a times parents express their helplessness. Appeals have been made by Mehbooba Mufti as well as state police chief SP Vaid and senior army officers but in vain. "We cannot keep a finger on any particular reason for the spurt in number of youth joining militancy. However, It could be growing influence of pan-Islamisation and religious indoctrination in which unemployment emerges as a catalyst for a quick reaction to pick up a gun," says a senior security official. The first four months of 2018 has already witnessed 100 deaths, including 55 militants, 20 security personnel and 25 civilians. Of the 55 militants killed, 27 were locals whereas the rest were described as foreigners by security agencies in the press handouts issued post-encounters. In 2017, a total of 126 youths had picked up guns. It was the highest number since 2010, according to a recent data presented in the state assembly and Parliament. There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2010, 54 youths had joined militancy while in 2011, the number came down to 23 and further dipped to 21 in 2012 and 6 in 2013. In 2014, the number shot up to 53 and in 2015, it reached 66 before touching the highest mark of 88 in 2016, the data showed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Australia's prime minister said today his wife was "flattered and charmed" to be described by President Emmanuel Macron as "delicious," a compliment that has sparked lighthearted conjecture during the French leader's first official visit Down Under. Macron raised eyebrows yesterday with his description of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's wife of 38 years, Lucy, during a Sydney press conference. "I want to thank you for your welcome, thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome," Macron told the prime minister. Turnbull showed no hint of jealousy when questioned on Thursday about the compliment, which the beaming prime minister revealed he also found charming. "Lucy was very flattered," Turnbull told reporters. "She's asked me to say that she found the president's compliment as charming as it was memorable." "President Macron charmed Australia. He certainly charmed all of us, all the Turnbulls," the prime minister said. "Mrs. Turnbull is both flattered and charmed as we all are." The president's comment quickly sparked lighthearted reaction on social media and in the Australian press amid lively conjecture about the French leader's intent. Sydney's best-selling newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, reported the comment on its front page on today under the headline "President Pepe Le Pew," likening Macron to the Warner Bros. love-sick French skunk cartoon character. Despite Macron's deadpan delivery, some observers felt he may have been joking. The comment was made just before lunch and he and Turnbull had made previous comments about food. Others felt Macron may simply have slipped up in his use of English, since the French word for delicious delicieux also translates as "delightful." The more mischievous may have even considered Macron's comment to possibly be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Trump's visit to Paris last year, when he was caught telling Macron's wife, Brigitte, that she was "in such great shape," before looking to her husband and saying, "Beautiful."In any case, the moment made headlines in Australia as a somewhat comedic ending to a serious conference focusing on violent May Day protests in Paris, the Iran nuclear deal and China's growing influence. Macron ended his trip to Sydney on Thursday with a thumbs-up and a farewell wave to the prime minister. Macron's next stop is the South Pacific island nation of New Caledonia, where locals are preparing for a referendum in November on whether the French territory will become independent of France. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days after three children were mauled to death by packs of stray dogs in villages of Khairabad area, the district administration has called upon a dog catching team from Mathura to deal with the menace. The four member team from Mathura along with forest officials arrived here yesterday and started an operation with the help of the police and locals this morning, during which 16 dogs were tranquillised while two died, officials said. The tranquillised dogs will be set free in remote forest areas later, they said. Meanwhile, people in different villages under Khairabad are living in constant fear since the mauling incidents that took place two days ago and have sought help the administration. Authorities have advised them to carry sticks or blunt weapons when venturing out alone, officials said. While unconfirmed reports said villagers resorted to killing strays in some areas, no official agreed to comment on them. On Tuesday, packs of stray dogs attacked and killed three children in separate incidents in the Khairabad police station area here. Two girls, Shamli (11) and Komal (12), and a boy, Khalid (12), were attacked and killed by strays in Tikaria, Gurpulia and Khulia villages respectively. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangladesh has initiated a "vigorous process" with the UK government to extradite Tarique Rahman, the "fugitive" son of imprisoned former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who has sought political asylum in Britain. Rahman, 50, who had been jailed during the military-backed interim government, was allowed to visit London for medical treatment following a Supreme Court order in 2007. He has been living in London since then. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Zia, last month said that Rahman "temporarily" sought political asylum in the UK, triggering a political uproar in the country. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said that the government has initiated a "vigorous process" to bring back Rahman from London. "We have got responses from the UK Home Office as we have already written several letters" for Rahman's extradition, Ali told a media briefing, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the "fugitive convict" must face the justice. The minister said that further steps would be taken based on the responses from the British authorities and "we will write more (letters) if needed". Rahman appeared on the country's political centre stage since a court sentenced her mother Zia to a five-year prison term on a graft case in February. The foreign ministry's comments came as Hasina yesterday said efforts were underway for Rahman's extradition "the way we bring back convicted criminals from other countries. "It should not be forgotten that he is a convict he has been convicted in two cases while several other cases are pending in courts, we will surely bring back a convicted criminal for that we will exhaust the necessary process as per the law," Hasina said. She accused the BNP of "political bankruptcy" for installing a "criminal like Tarique Rahman" as its acting chairman, saying "don't they have any other capable leader for the particular post". Hasina was in London last month for the Commonwealth Summit when Rahman was believed to have mobilised a pro-BNP Bangladesh community for an anti-government demonstration. The premier at that time told a Bangladeshi community reception that the "fugitive convict" must face justice for the crimes he committed. Junior minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam later said that Rahman had abandoned his Bangladeshi citizenship by submitting his passport to British authorities, who in turn sent it to Bangladesh High Commission in London for retention. In response, the BNP said that Rahman actually sought asylum in London. Rahman was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and fined 20 crore taka (USD 2.3 million) by the High Court in a money laundering case in 2016. Several courts earlier issued arrest warrants against Rahman, declaring him a fugitive as he was wanted in a number of criminal and graft cases. According to one of the pending charges, he masterminded the 2004 grenade attack on a rally of the then main opposition and now ruling Awami League, killing 24 people while Hasina narrowly escaped the assault but with a permanent hearing impairment in one ear. British authorities have so far declined to make any public statement on the issue, calling it a "personal matter of an individual". Rahman was BNP's senior joint secretary general when he went to London, and during his overseas stay he became the party's senior vice president and after his mother's imprisonment the party in February installed him as its acting chairperson. Zia's imprisonment has led to uncertainities over BNP's participation in the elections in December this year as the party said it would not take part in the polls without her. The BNP-led four-party alliance, with fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami being a crucial partner, boycotted the last elections in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Ben Kingsley will essay the role of legendary painter Salvador Dali in the biographical drama "Dali Land". The film will be directed by Mary Harron, who recently helmed the critically-acclaimed Netflix series "Alias Grace", according to The Hollywood Reporter. The "American Psycho" director also co-wrote the new film's screenplay with John C Walsh. Actor Leslie Manville, who was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Phantom Thread", will portray Dali's domineering wife and muse, Gala, in the film. The cast also includes actors Tim Roth as Dali's right hand man, Captain Moore, and Frank Dillane, who will play a young art enthusiast. The film is set in New York and Spain in 1973, and is told through the eyes of James (Dillane), a young gallery assistant helping famed surrealist Salvador Dali (Kingsley) prepare for a big show. He's excited, and hoping to learn some of the secrets of great art from one of the most famous artists of all time, but is instead entangled in a world of parties, personal battles and an art world filled with money and intrigue. The film will start shooting in Canada and Spain later this year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister Uma Bharti skipped an event organised for having a meal with Dalits near here in Madhya Pradesh, saying she was not Lord Rama who would purify people by having food with them. Later, she apologised, claiming that she was not aware that she was supposed to have food with them. At the event held at Dadri village near here two days back, the senior BJP leader had said she does not take part in such community meals as she doesn't consider herself Lord Rama, who would purify people by having food with them. "I don't go to the houses of Dalits to have meals, though I support this trait (breaking bread with the people of scheduled caste category)," said the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister while addressing a function in the village. She said that instead, she invites Dalits to her home to have food. "I want to share a secret with you. I don't take part in 'samrasta bhoj' (community meals) because I do not consider myself Lord Rama, who went to Shabri's home and the Dalits became purified," she said. Since the last couple of months, the RSS and the BJP are promoting 'samrasta bhoj' (community meals) to spread across the message of social harmony and to eradicate casteism. "I am not Lord Rama that if I sit with them, they will be purified...instead if they come to our home and sit in our kitchen, we will be sanctified," Bharti said. She added that she believes that when she serves food to Dalits on her dining table, "her place ... utensils will attain purity." "Come to Delhi...my nephew's wife would prepare food for you, I will serve meal to you, my nephew will collect your plate after you finish eating and wash them," she said. "I invite you to my place but I can't have meal with you because I have already taken it...I love you all. I am with you, always," she had said. Subsequently, a statement issued on behalf of Bharti said she had clarified from the dais during the programme that she was not aware that she was supposed to take food in the programme, organised by her close associate Harshu Maharaj. "I had to go to Papoda in Tikamgarh district, which is 150 kms away from here, and meet Vidyasagar Maharaj. Therefore, I apologised for not taking meals with them," Bharti was quoted as saying. She added that the time has gone when one needed to have food with Dalits to bring about "samrasta" (harmony). "Instead, now you have to bring them on par politically, socially, in government and administration, among others, to ensure harmony.... Now, we need to bring harmony by overcoming discrimination that is being done with them (Dalits and backwards) in politics," she said. Economic empowerment, societal honour and equal participation in the government and administration are the only basic requirements of social harmony, the statement said quoting Bharti. The Union minister also expressed surprise when media persons asked her after the programme that she did not want to have food with Dalits. "Now people can even talk things like this," the statement said quoting her. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Farmers giving away land for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train will get an additional 25 per cent of the market value of the land over and above the compensation they were entitled to, the Railways said today, a day after Congress MP Ahmed Patel wrote to the Prime Minister expressing concern over the process of land acquisition for the ambitious project. In the statement, a spokesperson for the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHRCL), which is implementing the high speed train corridor project, said due care had been taken to cause the least inconvenience to farmers and farm labourers and simultaneously protect their rights. In the letter to the PM, Patel had alleged that farmers' representatives had complained that rules and procedures under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, were not being adhered to while land was being acquired for the project. He claimed meetings were being conducted barely at a day's notice, without appropriate publicity. Under the Gujarat government's regulations, the need for mandatory consent of farmers and a social impact assessment had been done away with, Patel said. NHRCL clarified that land was being acquired under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (Gujarat Amendment) Act, 2016, and maintained this was not a dilution of the 2013 Act. "The Amendment Act of Gujarat is not a diluted version of the 2013 Act. In fact, through the Amendment Act, a new section - 23A -- has been introduced to facilitate acquisition of land through consent. "In case of land acquisition through consent, the land loser would get an additional 25 per cent of the market value of the land over and above the compensation entitled under Land Act, 2013," the statement said. The compensation to the farmers to be paid under the Gujarat Amendment Act, 2016, was higher than the payment worked out under Land Act, 2013, it said. "The acquisition of land for the rail project of this scale has been kept (to the) bare minimum by constructing high speed lines on viaduct, thereby reducing the total land width being acquired for the project to only 17.5 metres," NHSRCL spokesperson Dhananjay Kumar said. He also said public consultation was being carried out in different stages and at various levels. "It is ensured that the farmers and other non-title holder such as farm labourers would be given a patient hearing and under no circumstances their rights would be trampled on," he said. The statement said a social impact assessment survey was also being carried out to ascertain loss of livelihoods and forests and the land losers would be suitably compensated to cover these losses under the provisions of Land Act, 2013. "Compensation will be given for loss of residential/commercial structures equivalent to replacement cost of the structure. Assistance will be given for shifting/ transportation also in addition to compensation for loss of trees or crops," the statement said. Additionally, for restoration of livelihood, one member of each affected family would be trained in relevant skills. Monthly subsistence allowances will also be given to the affected wage earner, workers and employees for one year, the statement said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Chengannur bypoll a few weeks away, the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala today made it clear that it would accept votes from anyone barring that of the RSS. "Anybody except RSS can vote for us," party state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said. "If NDA ally Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) wants to vote for LDF, they can do so," he said. Addressing a press meet here, Balakrishnan said they had not taken any decision to reject any other party's votes in the May 28 assembly bypoll. Balakrishnan's statement assumes significance in the wake of the recent statement of CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran that the ruling LDF did not want votes from Kerala Congress (M) led by former finance minister K M Mani. "Workers of KC(M) and even the ordinary activists of the Congress party can cast their votes for us as per their interest," Balakrishnan said. The leader said the CPI(M) had friendly relations towards caste outfits like Nair Service Society, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha and so on. "However, the approach is not the same towards the political parties formed on the basis of communities," he said. He said the BDJS's differences with BJP-led NDA would accelerate the disintegration of the right front in the state. Balakrishnan said he was confident that the LDF would increase its winning margin in the bypoll compared to the previous 2016 assembly polls. The bypoll was necessitated following the death of CPI-M legislator K K Ramachandran Nair in January. CPI-M Alappuzha district secretary Saji Cherian is the LDF candidate and Congress leader D Vijayakumar the UDF candidate. Former BJP state president P S Sreedharan Pillai is the NDA candidate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi Police has registered a case in connection with a hoax call received about a bomb on a Mumbai-bound flight, police said today. A staffer of the Indigo airlines had yesterday informed the security authorities that they had received a call at about 8:15 am from an unidentified man, who said there was a bomb on the flight, the officials said. A case was registered today in the matter against unidentified persons, the police said. The mandatory meeting of the Bomb Threat Assessment Committee (BTAC) was immediately convened at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA), which declared that it was a "hoax" call after about two hours, the officials said. The call had sent the security apparatus at airport into a tizzy for a few hours. It had delayed an Indigo flight to Mumbai. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The CBI has booked senior journalist Upender Rai along with an official of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd for allegedly giving false information to access "highly sensitive" areas of national importance and entering into dubious financial transactions, officials said today. The scribe associated with many well known media outlets has been booked along with Prasun Roy, CSO of Air One Aviation Pvt Ltd, they said. It is alleged that the duo gave false information for obtaining access to highly sensitive areas like airports and entering into dubious financial transactions, the officials said. The investigative agency is carrying out searches at eight locations in Delhi, Noida, Lucknow and Mumbai in this regard. Several persons related to the case are being examined by the agency, the officials added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A citizens' group which conducted an individual probe into the Kathua rape incident today claimed that the charge sheet filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the case had discrepancies and the investigation was botched-up. The group of intellectuals and academicians (GIA) will hand over a fact finding report in the case to Union Minister Jitendra Singh tomorrow. "We met more than 25 people including the victim's family, the accused family members, the influential people from the Bakarwal community and others," GIA's convener Monika Arora said. She said that there are "discrepancies in the charge sheet" filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police crime branch and the entire "investigation was botched-up." "We demand a free and fair investigation of this case from the CBI," Arora said. An eight-year-old girl from the Bakarwal community was allegedly abducted, drugged, gang-raped, tortured and killed in January. According to the charge sheets filed by the crime branch, the abduction, rape and killing of the girl was part of a carefully planned strategy to remove the nomadic community from the area. A separate charge sheet was filed for the juvenile, who is accused in this case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China today said it has removed import duties on as many as 28 medicines, including all cancer drugs, from May 1, a move which would help India to export these pharmaceuticals to the neighbouring country. "China has exempted import tariffs (duties) for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1st. Good for India's pharmaceutical industry and medicine export to China. I believe this will help reduce trade imbalance between China and India in the future," Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui said in a tweet. The development assumes significance as India has time and again asked for greater market access for its goods and services, including IT, pharmaceuticals and agriculture, in the Chinese market to reduce the widening trade deficit. In the meeting of India China Joint Group on Economic Relations, Trade, Science and Technology here, the issue of trade imbalance was discussed in detail. China on its part promised to address the trade gap issue. Trade deficit with China stood at USD 36.73 billion during April-October 2017-18. It was USD 51 billion in 2016-17. He also said that China would further improve business environment by halving time required to open a business. "China's door to the outside world will open wider. Indian businesses are welcome," he added. India too has sought investments from China. The neighbouring country has agreed to set up industry park in India to increase investments and bridge trade deficit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A remark in a lighter vein by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today prompted the Congress to take digs at him on Twitter. "I want to leave early, and this would give an opportunity, anyone can sit on the chair marked for 'Mananiya Mukhyamantri (the honourable chief minister)'," Chouhan said at a lecture organised by the state government's Anand Vibhag (Happiness Department) here. Chouhan, who reached the venue late, said he had to leave early as he was scheduled to attend some programs in the Jhabua and Alirajpur districts. As channels reported his remark, Congress leaders were swift to take potshots at him on social media. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh tweeted, "Either Shivraj Singh is going to be removed (from chief minister's post) or he has accepted the fact that abki bar-Congress sarkar (this time, it will be Congress government)." Former state Congress chief Arun Yadav tweeted, "Due to his work, the Chief Minister has now started realizing that someone else is going to become chief minister. Why did it take so much time to accept this fact, Mukhyamantri ji." Chouhan responded by tweeting: "Some friends got happy after joke about the chair reserved for me. At least, my visiting Anand Vyakhyan (happiness lectures) became fruitful."However, the BJP took the matter a bit more seriously, and sought to scotch the speculation on social media that Chouhan's remark meant he could be replaced before the Assembly elections which are due this year. BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya took to Twitter to issue a clarification. "The about the change of guard in state are baseless and rumours. Next election would be contested under the leadership of Shivraj Singh Chouhan," he said. The BJP government set up the Anand Vibhag in August 2016, inspired by a similar department in Bhutan. The department had organised a 'happiness lecture' by spiritual leader Swami Sukhbodhanand today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress and the BJP today organized separate rallies to protest against the carcass scandal that was unearthed by the police last week. The BJP took out the rally outside Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) in the evening. Party activists marched towards the Trinamool Congress run KMC and shouted slogans against the state government. Apart from placards and posters, activists also carried dressed chicken and soft toys. "The KMC has been completely indifferent towards this racket. The KMC and the state government have turned a blind eye to this for which the racket has flourished in the state," said a BJP activist. The Youth Congress workers, on the other hand, organized a protest rally at Moulali crossing of central Kolkata against illegal the trade of carcass meat sourced from dump yards. Congress activists carried placards and posters against the state government and demanded immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the racket. Last week, the government had seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat, suspected of dead animals and sourced from dumping grounds, meant to be supplied to eateries and departmental stores in the state as well as neighbouring Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. The West Bengal government has directed all police stations in the metropolis and the districts to keep a watch on the sale of meat in their areas, officials said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hitting the campaign trail in poll-bound Karnataka to mobilise support for the BJP, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today asked the people to reject what he called the "divisive" politics and "jihadi mindset" of the Congress. At a rally here, he accused his Karnataka counterpart Siddaramaiah of playing the "most corrupt innings" that divides the society. "I have come here to call upon you to outrightly reject the divisive politics of the Congress, the jihadi mindset of the Congress, its policies of supporting terrorism and corruption," Adityanath said. Targeting Siddaramaiah, he claimed that "jihadis" killing 23 BJP workers in the state in the last five years was a "proof" of the Congress party's alleged divisive politics. "Today the Congress government in Karnataka and its chief minister, who is playing the most corrupt innings, are making the worst effort to divide the society. Their divisive politics supports terrorism," he said. Adityanath said he had come to put a brake on the "divisive" policies of the Congress in the state. Seeking to draw a comparison between UP and Karnataka, Adityanath said no jihadi element can raise his ugly head in his state. "This government does not seem to be standing in favour of farmers, traders, citizens and BJP workers and does not seem to be doing justice to them. The government is encouraging anarchy," the UP chief minister said. He also took a dig at Siddaramaiah over farmers' suicides and said their interests of had been ignored due to the "indifferent" attitude of his government. "Today the Siddaramaiah government is using Karnataka as its automated teller machine. Thus, I have come here to tell you that Congress-free Karnataka is the need of the hour," Adityanath said Citing Ramayana, he said when Lord Rama was wandering in the woods, he found his most loyal devotee Hanuman in this southern state. "It was Hanuman who was instrumental in establishing Ramarajya," Adityanath, who is also the pontiff of the Gorakhnath Math in UP, said. "We belong to the tradition which does not believe in dividing society. It unites north with south, east with south. We always saw India as a united nation for we believe in "ek Bharat, sreshtha Bharat" (one India, best India)," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A delegation of Congress leaders today met the Election Commission officials and demanded immediate action against the BJP, alleging that the saffron party had issued advertisements in clear violation of the model code of conduct and criminal law. The delegation comprising senior party leaders Abhishek Singhvi, Rajiv Shukla and Pramod Tiwari apprised the officials about the advertisements issued by the BJP. They alleged the advertisements aimed to "vitiate and communalise" the atmosphere in Karnataka a week before the state assembly elections. "We apprised the Election Commission about the highly objectionable advertisements taken out by the BJP in Karnataka," Singhvi told reporters after the meeting. "They are not only a direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct, but it is a criminal act. They are a clear violation of the criminal law in India. We will also file a criminal complaint and lodge an FIR under the criminal law," he said. The Congress leader claimed that it was happening in a "brazen manner" and a ban must be imposed on them immediately. He said the EC officials heard them patiently and took the issue seriously. "The EC has assured us of looking into the issue and action," he said. "This is clearly a sign of defeat by the BJP and of their frustration," Singhvi claimed. Shukla alleged that the BJP was dubbing Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddharamaiah, who holds a constitutional post, as murderers which was a criminal offence. "They are trying to vitiate and communalise the atmosphere," he alleged, adding that the BJP feared "imminent defeat" in Karnataka and that was why they were resorting to such measures. The Congress delegation also handed over a memorandum to the EC along with details of the "objectionable" advertisements taken out by the BJP. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rajya Sabha member Narayan Rane today said he will announce whom his party will support in the Legislative Council election in Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg local bodies constituency in the next two days. Elections for six seats in Maharashtra's Upper House will be held on May 21. The Raigad-Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency will see a direct contest between the Shiv Sena and the NCP. Former state NCP chief Sunil Tatkare's son Aniket Tatkare is pitted against Rajiv Sabale of the Sena in this constituency. Speaking to PTI, Rane, who quit the Congress last year to form his own party, and who was recently elected to the Rajya Sabha on the BJP ticket, said he will decide his stand in the next two days. His newly-formed Maharashtra Swabhiman Party has 96 votes in the constituency. The total number of registered voters (members of local bodies) is 921, with the Shiv Sena having the highest number, followed by the NCP, Congress and BJP. Rane, a former Shiv Sena leader, has been a bitter critic of the party since he left it in 2005. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian government will continue with its enquiry into the Cambridge Analytica data leak issue, irrespective of the British firm announcing closure of business, senior IT Ministry officials said today. The UK-based data analytics and political consulting firm has been under fire in various countries for allegedly harvesting data from almost 87 million Facebook users and leveraging them for political campaigns. The Indian government too has shot-off notices to both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, confronting them with questions on data breach issue. The last date for the two companies to respond is May 10. Yesterday, however, Cambridge Analytica announced its closure in a statement on its website and claimed it had been "vilified" for activities that are legal and considered a standard component of online advertising. Indian officials familiar with the questioning and notices sent in the data leak matter said the ongoing probe will continue as the liability of the company existed prior to the closure announcement. They, however, declined to divulge further details in the matter, saying that both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica have time till May 10 to send written responses to official questioning. In fresh notice sent to Cambridge Analytica last month, the government asked what kind of data was collected in India and the research instruments used to capture such data. It also asked whether the company harvested any data through third party apps and whether or not mining of such data was done with user consent. Quizzing the British firm on the non-disclosure pacts signed by the company with its associates and clients for Indian assignments, the government also asked it to share the templates that were used in signing such agreements. The latest notice by the government had also flagged the "cryptic and evasive" reply given by Cambridge Analytica to the first notice. On the other hand, the notice to Facebook had taken note of the US social networking company's candid admission of unauthorised use of its user data by Cambridge Analytica. Facebook was asked to list out the security architecture proposed to be created "so that data concerning Indians are not pilfered or manipulated again for extraneous purposes including to influence the elections". While Facebook had previously admitted that nearly 5.62 lakh people in India were "potentially affected" by the data breach incident, Cambridge Analytica had claimed that it does not have any Facebook data on Indian citizens. The British firm yesterday said it is shutting down and cited a sharp drop in business behind its decision. In its statement, Cambridge Analytica said, "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the Company's efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Days before the deadly dust storm hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Met department had issued a "severe thunderstorm activity" warning for several places, but none were in these two states. Specific warnings were issued for May 2 and 3 for Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha along with other places in eastern and northeastern India as per the advisory issued on April 30. There was no mention of such activity over Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. M Rajeevan, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, however, said the India Meteorological Department had issued alerts for Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where dust storm, coupled with rain, has killed nearly 100 people. On April 30, the IMD issued a detailed advisory that a cyclonic circulation lay over east Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand and a "trough runs from this cyclonic circulation to Manipur across Meghalaya in lower levels". "An east-west trough also runs from Punjab to southeast Madhya Pradesh across Haryana and west Madhya Pradesh," it had said. "Under the influence of these systems, scattered to widespread rainfall/thunderstorm activity was very likely over east and northeast India during next 3-4 days," it said. For May 1, it said thunderstorms accompanied with squall, and hail was "very likely" at isolated places in Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and the seven northeastern states. For May 2, it had said thunderstorms accompanied with squall was likely at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha, while thunderstorms with gusty winds may hit isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Jharkhand. Under its severe weather warning for May 3, it had said, "Thunderstorm accompanied with squall (are) likely at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi BJP today claimed the national capital was facing a "water crisis" due to "criminal negligence" of the AAP government and said it would launch a protests against the issue tomorrow. BJP workers will take to streets on the issue from tomorrow, party's Delhi unit chief Manoj Tiwari said. "Drinking water is fundamental right of every citizen. People are facing crisis of drinking water due to criminal negligence of the Kejriwal government," Tiwari said in a press statement. The people in rural areas, slum clusters and rehabilitation colonies are dependent on the supply of water by Delhi Jal Board (DJB) tankers. At present they are craving for a few drops of safe drinking water, he said. Tiwari, who attended party-ruled municipal corporations programme 'MCD Aapke Dwar', claimed that in many areas he visited, people were getting "black- coloured, polluted water supply from the DJB". "This poses danger to the health of the Delhi people but the AAP government is insensitive to it although Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is chairman of the DJB," he charged. "Delhi BJP workers will take to the streets against the water crisis and meet the Lt Governor Anil Baijal seeking his intervention in the matter," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Finance Secretary Sanjeev Nandan Sahai has been transferred and appointed as additional secretary in the Ministry of Power, according to an official order issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT). Sahai, the senior-most IAS officer in the Delhi government, has taken up several assignments, including of acting chief secretary, home secretary and finance secretary, in the AAP government. Both Sahai and Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash are1986-batch IAS officers. Sahai is appointed additional secretary in the Ministry of Power, the order issued yesterday said. Since the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has come to power, he has been playing an active role in making the budget of the Delhi government. Sahai was considered to be close to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, but when Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash was allegedly assaulted at the CM's residence in February, he also opposed and participated in protest against the government. The AAP government and bureaucracy have been at loggerheads on a range of issues, including the alleged assault on the chief secretary, in the past. Since the alleged assault on Prakash, the Delhi government employees have been observing a two-minute silence in their respective offices and senior bureaucrats have also been boycotting meetings with the AAP ministers to lodge their protest. In December 2015, the Delhi government bureaucrats had gone on mass leave to protest against the suspension of two Delhi, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Civil Service (DANICS) cadre officers. BJP legislator and Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Vijender Gupta claimed that as many as 22 senior IAS officers have so far left the Delhi government before completing their tenure, and charged that the officials were not willing to work with the present dispensation. "There exists hardly any workable communication and interaction between political bosses and bureaucracy. Most of the IAS and DANICS officers are not willing to work with the Kejriwal government and are yearning to get out at the earliest opportunity," Gupta claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nine gold bars worth Rs 3 crore have been found lying abandoned in a toilet inside the Delhi airport, a CISF official said today. The gold bars, each weighing about 1 kg, were recovered by the CISF late last night from a bathroom in the terminal-3 of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The cache, worth about 3 crore, have been handed over to the customs authorities, a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) spokesperson said. He said the personnel on-duty at the airport were alerted by someone about the presence of a laptop bag kept in a toilet after which they opened the bag and recovered the nine gold bars from it. An unidentified passenger could have brought this gold, but sensing trouble at the hands of security and the customs authorities, the person would have abandoned it, a senior official at the airport said. He said the agencies are scanning the CCTV recordings of the area to find the person. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi High Court today sought the CBI's response on an appeal by director of Gondwana Ispat Ltd challenging his conviction and sentence of four years in a coal scam case relating to the allocation of a coal block in Maharashtra. Justice S P Garg issued notice to the CBI on the plea by Ashok Daga who has also sought suspension of his jail term till the pendency of his appeal. He listed the matter for further hearing on May 28. A trial court had on May 1 awarded four-year jail term to Daga and imposed a fine of Rs 1 crore on him and Rs 60 lakh on the firm. Daga has been in custody since April 27 after the court had held that he and the company were guilty of cheating and criminal conspiracy to get the Majra coal block in Maharashtra allocated to it. The director and the company were convicted under sections 120-B (criminal conspiracy) and 420 (cheating) of the IPC and also for the substantive offence under section 420 of the IPC. Gondwana Ispat Ltd (GIL) was allocated the Majra coal block in 2003 and an FIR was lodged against it in 2014. The CBI had alleged in the chargesheet that it had found during the probe that Daga had made "unsubstantiated claim even towards the financial preparedness and the tie-up regarding iron ore with Odisha government". According to the CBI, on April 22, 2000, Daga had applied to the MoC for allotment of the Ekarjuna Extension coal block in Maharashtra to set up a washery cum sponge iron plant of 60,000 tonne per year capacity in Warora area. This application was rejected. On September 25, 2001, Daga applied for allotment of Warora West coal block in Maharashtra to set up 1.2 lakh tonne per annum washery cum sponge iron plant. the CBI alleged that in continuation of its earlier application, GIL requested MoC to consider the allotment of Majra-Belgaon coal blocks, having extractable reserve of 8 to 10 million tonnes as an alternate to the Warora North coal block. MoC, in its 18th Screening Committee meeting held on May 5, 2003, considered the application of M/s GIL and Chandrapur Ispat Ltd for allocation of Majra-Belgaon coal block. The agency had said that based on the documents and representation submitted by the company, the ministry on October 29, 2003, reserved Majra coal block for M/s GIL subject to certain conditions. CBI had alleged that during the probe it was found that though after allocation of the coal block in 2003 Daga had filed an undertaking to MOC that he will install a plant or carry out its extension and develop the coal mine, he sold off the company to Nand Kishore Sarda while earning huge profit in October 2005. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The newly-constituted Defence Planning Committee today deliberated on the geo-strategic landscape of the region and decided to make an "action plan" to effectively deal with various security challenges facing the nation. The meeting, chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, also discussed ways to expedite modernisation of the armed forces and evolving a security strategy for the country, official sources said. "The members deliberated upon the geo-strategic landscape and agreed to chart a time-bound action plan in keeping with its broad mandate," the Defence Ministry said. Members of the Defence Planning Committee (DPC) include three service chiefs, Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, Expenditure Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha, Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale, and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Lt General Satish Dua. Officials said all members of the committee attended the meeting. The DPC was appointed last month to facilitate "comprehensive" planning for the defence forces besides focusing on military doctrines to deal with emerging security challenges. The committee was tasked to prepare drafts of national security strategy and doctrines, and international defence engagement strategy. It will also work on a strategy to boost defence exports, and prioritise capability development plans for the armed forces. The DPC would submit its draft reports to the Defence Minister following which further approvals will be obtained as required, officials said. They said the DPC would also analyse and evaluate all relevant inputs relating to the defence planning and foreign policy imperatives besides focusing on defence acquisition and infrastructure development plans including the 15-year-long integrated perspective plan. The committee will also focus its energy on development of Indian defence industry and technology advancements. To provide duly considered and refined inputs to the DPC, specific issues would be managed through a number of sub committees. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gold weighing 194 kilograms worth Rs 57.53 crore has been seized in the last financial year, a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) official said. A majority of the yellow metal confiscated was smuggled from the neighbouring Sri Lanka, the official added. Smuggling of gold was a recurrent issue in the southern region and Tamil Nadu with vast coastal area was "prone" to it, he said. "In the last financial year (2017-18) alone, DRI Chennai seized 194 kilograms of gold worth Rs 57.73 crore," the official said. The bulk of the gold was seized from the coastal regions, he said, adding that the "most vulnerable areas were the stretches between Tiruchendur and Rameswaram and Rameswaram and Vedaranyam". Gold smuggling was normally carried out using country and small fishing boats, he said. Referring to the latest recoveries made by the agency, he said the officers in three separate incidents had seized a total of 32.24 kg of gold of foreign-origin smuggled into the country by sea from Sri Lanka. The value of gold seized was Rs 10.21 crore and six persons were arrested under the provisions of the Customs Act. The individuals arrested have confessed that they had accepted to transport the gold that was smuggled from Sri Lanka to Chennai for a "monetary consideration", he said. In February, during the 28th Indo-Sri Lanka DG Level talks at New Delhi, the issue was discussed and the administrations firmly resolved to curb smuggling of gold. "Sri Lanka customs and Navy also increased efforts to curb smuggling of gold and other contraband," the official said. Last month, the island nation increased the rate of import duty of gold to 15 per cent from the earlier 10 per cent with an eye on curbing smuggling of the yellow metal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP today hit back at the Congress following its attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said it was due to its "anti-south" mindset the party was getting marginalised in the region, which was once its fortress. Earlier, the Congress took a dig at Prime Minister Modi and asked him to brush up his knowledge of history after he blamed the party for neglecting Army legend K S Thimayya. "It is a part of recorded history that the Congress insulted many stalwarts from the south, especially from Karnataka. It is anti-south. This is a reason why it has been getting increasingly marginalised and evicted from power from states in the south despite the region being a fortress for it earlier," BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao said. Rao also mentioned the manner in which the then Andhra Pradesh chief minister T Anjaiah was removed by Rajiv Gandhi, then a Congress general secretary, in 1982. "People from Andhra have still not forgotten it," he said. Old sins of the Congress are now haunting it and people will evict it from power in Karnataka, which is the lone state where it remains a force, Rao claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An eerie silence today descended over the AMU campus even as hundreds of student protesters gathered at the Baab-e-Syed gate, the scene of yesterday's violent incident in which around 20 students were injured in police action. Violence broke out at the Aligarh Muslim University yesterday after the right-wing protestors barged into the varsity demanding removal of the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah displayed on the campus. Following yesterday's incident, policemen in large numbers and a RAF contingent were deployed near the Baab-e-Syed gate to maintain law and order. While the rest of the injured students were discharged after first aid, three of those with serious injuries are admitted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital. According to a hospital official, all the three students are out of danger and recovering. The AMU students today sat on an indefinite dharna demanding action against the protestors. The AMU Students' Union (AMUSU) alleged that violence on the campus was a "deliberate and pre-planned attempt" to attack former vice president Hamid Ansari, who was at that time barely 100 metres away at the university guest house, from where the violence erupted. "Our protest will continue indefinitely till the police takes action against those who were actually targeting the former vice president who had come to the AMU where he was to be granted a life membership of the Students' Union," AMUSU said in a statement issued here. President, AMUSU, Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani, who was also injured in yesterday's lathicharge by the police, said the students would approach the National Human Right Commission "with the help of all secular organizations of the country" if all doors to justice are closed by the state government. A spokesman of the varsity strongly condemned yesterday's "trespassing" of the university boundary by Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) activists who were raising "highly objectionable and inflammatory slogans". "We hope that the state government will take strong action against the Hindu Yuva Vahini youths who deliberately tried to disturb peace on the university campus," he said. The AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) held an emergency meeting last night and passed a resolution stating that yesterday's action by the HYV was a "deliberate criminal conspiracy" in which the police instead of punishing the aggressors, indulged in "brutal action" against the students, who had later collected at the gate to protest the failure of the police to prevent the outsiders from entering the campus. It has demanded that an FIR should be lodged against those who "masterminded the entire operation". The AMUTA blamed the police for its "glaring security breach" for allowing "armed goons" to reach a spot which was just adjoining the university guest house where the former vice president was staying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Experts in Singapore have urged India to build a strong cyber security system for its shipping sector, saying the country is investing billions of dollars in maritime infrastructure but the enforcement of anti-cyber attack rules is not as per the need of the hour. Geoff Leeming, partner at Singapore-based cyber security consultancy Pragma, said cyber attack was a mega problem for every industry but the shipping sector has just "woken up in the last couple of years". Anti-cyber attack rules and regulations enforcement in countries like India, which is developing multi-billion dollar maritime infrastructure, is lower than the need of the hour, he said. "Don't just wait for a cyber attack on your ships and maritime infrastructure, for it may be worse than the 26/11 attack in Mumbai," Leeming said, referring to the November 2008 terror attack in Mumbai and the September 2001 attack in New York. "The shipping industry has to wake up to what they can do about these threats from cyber attack planners," he said. Indian shipping sector, just like the rest of the world, is low on the use of IT expertise despite a large pool of IT talent in the country, Leeming said. Indian maritime infrastructure development includes privately-owned ports which again are likely "identified" targets for cyber attack, said Peter Schellenberger, managing director of OSERV Private Limited, a global supply chain and services company here. "Indian shipping companies have started looking into cyber security but it has never been the focus as it should be. Some 95 per cent of Indian exports are shipped which needs a strong cyber security system fully backed by regulations and operating regimes," Schellenberger said at a recent presentation on cyber scurity here. Both experts appreciated India's massive infrastructure in planning and implementation phases. Schellenberger also warned that "don't wait for an attack to happen and then hustle around to re-write your legislative pieces for safety". Citing expensive learning from painful losses, Leeming highlighted the case of container shipping company AP Moller Maersk. Maersk had said that its revenue loss could be as high as USD 300 million following the NotPetya cyberattack. As India develops a large number of ports, it is time to have all the regulatory checks in place, the two executives said. "Cyber attack is a dangerously open game. Governments and shipping community should expeditiously work on strong security systems," Schellenberger added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A farmer today tried to commit suicide by consuming pesticide in front of Bargarh district collector's office here while taking part in a protest, officials said. The 55-year-old farmer had taken a loan of Rs 30,000 and his standing crop was damaged in a hailstorm on April 30, villagers said. Akrura Bishi of Kanbar village in Barpali block came here to take part in a dharna of farmers who were demanding compensation for crop loss due to the unseasonal rain and hailstorm, officials said. After Akrura drank pesticide, other farmers present there took him to the district headquarters hospital here. Akrura was later shifted to the Veer Sunrendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla in neighbouring Sambalpur district, officials said. District Collector Indramani Tripathy said, "The suicide attempt took place before I went to meet them. It is an unfortunate incident." Appealing to farmers to refrain from taking such steps, he said the state government was attentive to their needs and "we are taking measures so that they get genuine compensation for the crop loss". Agriculture Minister Pradeep Maharathy said, "I will order an inquiry into the farmer's attempt to commit suicide. The government is sympathetic towards affected farmers." Villagers said Akrura had grown paddy over 2 acres of land. While he owned half an acre, he had taken 1.5 acre on lease. He had also taken a loan of around Rs 30,000 for the cultivation from private lenders but the crop was damaged due to the hailstorm. "Akrura suddenly consumed pesticide there. We were not aware that he had come carrying poison," said Pahalu Bhoi, a farmer from Akrura's village. The district collector said, "The farmers had come here on May 1 and demanded compensation for crop loss." "The revenue and agriculture officials are visiting the fields and making assessment of the loss. Some farmers had come demanding compensation today also for the hailstorm," he said. Official sources said the hailstorm affected crop in 17,614 hectare of land in five blocks -- Barpali, Bargarh, Bheden, Bhatli and Bijepur -- in Bargarh district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Finance ministers of various states are expected to meet here on May 7 to discuss the concerns on the Terms of Reference (ToR) and recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission. Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu made an announcement in this regard today. He claimed that 12 states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Karnataka, would suffer heavily because of the 15th Finance Commission recommendations. "The Centre is trying to boss over the states in total disregard to the federal spirit. Rather than extending a helping hand to progressive states that have been maintaining financial discipline, the Centre is seeking to suppress them," the minister alleged. "In the name of the 15th Finance Commission recommendations, the Centre is trying to deprive progressive states of funds," Yanamala told a meeting of bureaucrats here. Later, a press release from the minister's office said the meeting of finance ministers on May 7 would be a follow up to the one held in Thiruvananthapuram last month to discuss the concerns over the ToR of the 15th Finance Commission for devolution of funds to states. Andhra Pradesh alone would stand to lose Rs 8,000 crore because of the commission's recommendation on financial devolution based on 2011 census, the minister claimed. "The Centre says it will extend incentives to states implementing the central schemes effectively. But this will dent the states' own schemes. The Centre seemingly wants the states to bend before it and thereby boss over them," Yanamala charged. "We have convened a meeting with finance ministers, secretaries and financial experts of these states here on the May 7 to discuss these issues." "We will adopt a resolution against the 15th Finance Commission recommendations and submit it to the President of India," Yanamala added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has been indicted in the United States over his alleged role in the German auto giant's 'dieselgate' scandal, court papers showed today. Winterkorn's indictment brings the US criminal case to the uppermost levels of Volkswagen, which pleaded guilty last year to lying to American environmental regulators about emission control systems. "The indictment unsealed today alleges that Volkswagen's scheme to cheat its legal requirements went all the way to the top of the company," US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. Prosecutors say Winterkorn knew of the company's emissions cheating as early as May 2014 but decided to continue with the fraud, the Justice Department said in a statement. In the summer of 2015, months before the scandal broke, Winterkorn chaired a "damage table meeting" at Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany where engine development staff delivered a presentation on how the company was deceiving US regulators and what consequences the company would face if it were caught, according to the Justice Department. Prosecutors say that following the meeting, Winterkorn authorized the company to continue lying to American authorities. Winterkorn resigned in September 2015 following revelations of the company's emissions cheating, in which the company configured as many as 11 million vehicles worldwide to emit up to 40 times the permissible levels of harmful nitrogen oxide but to hide this during testing. A Volkswagen spokesman told AFP the company "continues to cooperate with investigations by the Department of Justice into the conduct of individuals," but said, "It would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases." Eight other individuals have now been charged by US authorities in the scandal. But only two VW engineers have been jailed after pleading guilty to participating in the conspiracy. Similar to Winterkorn, each of them is believed to be a German citizen and to reside in Germany, the Justice Department said. One former manager of VW's subsidiary Audi AG, Giovanni Pamio, 61, an Italian citizen, has been charged by complaint and currently remains in Germany pending extradition. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A free press is an essential pillar of democracy, US' new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said today, asserting that the Trump administration was committed to promoting and protecting the freedom of the press. Pompeo, a former CIA director who was sworn-in as the 70th US Secretary of State yesterday replacing Rex Tillerson who was fired by President Donald Trump in March, was speaking on the 25th anniversary of the World Press Freedom Day. "On the 25th anniversary of World Press Freedom Day, we renew our commitment to promoting and protecting a free press, which is an essential pillar of democracy," Pompeo, 54, said. "The United States values freedom of the press as a key component of democratic governance. By fostering a free press, citizens are more informed, active and engaged in political decision-making, and can better hold their governments accountable," he said. Pompeo's remarks came days after ten journalists, including an AFP chief photographer, were killed in a double suicide blast in Kabul on Monday that claimed 25 lives. "Today, we honour the many journalists and media actors who have dedicated their lives, often at great risk, to promote transparency and accountability throughout the world," Pompeo said. The UN General Assembly has declared May 3 as the World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The gems and jewellery industry has urged bankers not to reduce their current credit limits as this would hamper and erode exports and employment creation, GJEPC said today in a white paper. The Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said it will release this paper in Mumbai on May 11 at a banking summit. The white paper, titled 'Diamond Financing 2018 New Challenges', has been compiled by GJEPC in consultation with the industry and banks. The paper assumes significance as the Reserve Bank of India in March banned the issuance of letters of undertaking (LoUs) and letters of comfort (LoCs), used extensively for trade finance, following the Nirav Modi fraud case. In light of the present scenario, it said, the white paper focuses on key challenges faced by the bankers in financing the gems and jewellery industry and how to address them. "The paper will aim to address critical banking issues like assessment of credit limit, collateral security, related party transactions, inventory valuation, subsidiary financing guidelines, and is aimed at mitigating the concerns of the key stakeholders of the industry that has been hit by the recent fraud," it said in a statement. GJEPC Chairman Pramod Agarwal said that the banking seminar would provide a forum to regain trust and ensure all bankers have a profitable experience in lending this trade. In the white paper, "the industry has requested bankers not to reduce their current credit limits as this would further hamper and erode exports of the country and hamper employment creation," it added. Downgrading of the trade will further lead to spiking up costs such as interest, processing fee, which is financially not viable as gems and jewellery is a labour and working capital intensive industry," it said. Besides, a credit risk investigation team should be set up to track and provide intelligent information from the trade members, which can then be used by the bankers to take informed credit decisions, it added. Further, the council said it has proposed collateral security based on a company's credit rating. On stock evaluation, the council has proposed for at least one valuation in a financial year by external independent valuers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a controversy over renaming of the Dyal Singh (Evening) College as Dyal Singh Vande Matram College, the institution's chairman Amitabh Sinha today said the Delhi University is an autonomous varsity and the government cannot interfere in its administrative matters. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had yesterday said the government would not allow the renaming and take action against the management committee of the college for going ahead with it without the ministry's consent. In a press conference here today, Sinha said, "The DU is an autonomous university and therefore, the government cannot have a say in its administrative matters. The HRD Minister should have spoken to me first to know the exact status before making such a statement." The college is affiliated to the Delhi University. A controversy had erupted last year with various sections vehemently opposing the move to rename the college as "Vanade Matram Mahavidyalaya". "When the first time I had a meeting with him (Javadekar), I had insisted that the issue be resolved by the vice chancellor and the governing body and he had shown interest then. We found a midway and named it Vandemataram Dyal Singh College. I don't know whether he is under some pressure or some arm-twisting tactics," he said. The chairman insisted that in renaming the college, its administration had done noting wrong or outside the law. "We have done whatever is necessary. Students had put up banners with the new name in an annual function. Though, the Delhi University is yet to take a final decision on it, the Governing Body (GB) is entirely capable of looking after the administrative duties and if the HRD minister believes a legal action can be taken for that then I welcome such a step," he added. Javadekar had yesterday said, "We had earlier also asked them (the university administration) to reconsider the move. We will not allow the college to be renamed. If there are two Dyal Singh colleges, they can call them A and B or 1 and 2 to differentiate but the original name cannot be changed". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Maharashtra government today decided to recommend the promulgation of an ordinance to rename the Jalgaon-based North Maharashtra University after poetess Bahinabai Chaudhari. The decision was taken by the state cabinet here at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "The cabinet has decided to make a recommendation to the governor to promulgate an ordinance to rename the North Maharashtra University as 'Kaviyatri Bahinabai Chaudhari North Maharashtra University'," an official in the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) said. Earlier, during the state Assembly's budget session held in March, the chief minister had said the educational institution would be named after Bahinabai Chaudhari, the noted 19th century poetess. The demand for renaming the university was then raised by Eknath Khadse, former minister and the BJP MLA from Muktainagar in Jalgaon. Chaudhari, an illiterate cotton farmer from Jalgaon district, used to compose her songs verbally in a mixture of two dialects - Khandesi and Varhadi. Meanwhile, in another decision, the cabinet approved a revised salary hike for the Bombay High Court desk officers, on par with the desk officers in the state secretariat. The cabinet also gave a go ahead to facilitate the disbursal of pending scholarships to students belonging to the backward classes, for the academic year of 2017-18, the official in the CMO informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gujarat Director General of Police Shivanand Jha today asked senior police officials to refer the cases of seasoned bootleggers to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to get their assets attached under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In a directive to district superintendents of police and other senior officials, Jha said all relevant evidence should be collected to build a strong case against hardened bootleggers, so that the ED can invoke the PMLA against them and attach their properties. A report should be sent to the ED whenever police confiscate large amounts of liquor (which is banned in Gujarat), he said. As the offences under the Gujarat Prohibition Act are not included in the list of 'scheduled offences' under the PMLA, police couldn't attach the properties of bootleggers, the DGP's directive noted. "But, it is also observed that bootleggers often forge various documents to acquire liquor from neighbouring states and sell it here. In such scenario, the PMLA can be invoked, as forgery and other such illegal means are included in the 'scheduled offences' under that Act," said the communique. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armed men abducted a German nurse working for the International Committee of the Red Cross from a compound in Somalia's capital Mogadishu in what the government said today was believed to be an inside job. The Red Cross said the attack happened around 8.00 PM local time (2230 IST) yesterday evening when unidentified armed men entered its compound, adding it was "in contact with various authorities to try and secure her release". "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague," said Daniel O'Malley, ICRC's deputy Somalia head. "She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people." Red Cross staff in Somalia told AFP the gunmen appeared to have evaded the compound's security guards and snuck the nurse out through a back entrance into a waiting vehicle. Security ministry spokesman Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim said initial investigations showed "one of the security guards of the compound was involved in the kidnapping." "The security forces have tracked the kidnappers and founded an abandoned vehicle that was used in the kidnapping mission." A witness, who lives near the ICRC compound, told AFP: "One of the security guards assisted the kidnappers to take the lady, a vehicle was waiting outside." Ibrahim said the vehicle was abandoned after breaking down, and witnesses told AFP the car had a punctured tyre. It was unclear whether the kidnappers had managed to leave Mogadishu with their hostage. A local ICRC employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two other foreign staff members had been evacuated along with senior Somali staff. The abduction is the second attack on ICRC employees in Somalia in just over a week. Abdulhafid Yusuf Ibrahim, a Somali national who had worked for the group for only five months, died on March 25 after an improvised bomb exploded beneath his car as he left the ICRC office. Unlike many other international aid agencies working in Somalia, the ICRC does not base itself within the well-defended perimeter of Mogadishu's airport, which is protected by African Union soldiers. The airport acts as the city's "Green Zone" housing foreign embassies and the United Nations which coordinates the humanitarian and political responses to Somalia's crises. Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who is visiting Ethiopia and Tanzania this week, told journalists in Addis Ababa he would not comment "on any hostage cases". "I have deep respect for all people, especially people from Germany, working abroad in order to help others," Maas added. Somalia, which collapsed into civil war in 1991 and has been the site of an Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency since 2006, is one of the most dangerous countries for aid workers, but abductions remain relatively unusual. In the past, foreigners, including journalists and aid workers, have been kidnapped by armed gangs or Shabaab militants and held for ransom, sometimes for years at a time. Terrorist bombings and assassinations are common and frequently claimed by the Shabaab which is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu. International aid agencies, including the independent Switzerland-based ICRC, provide health care and other basic services in the war-torn country and are regarded as supporters of the government by the Shabaab and as a ready source of income by other militants and armed gangs. On Tuesday a local employee of the World Health Organization (WHO) was shot in Mogadishu. The WHO said in a statement Wednesday it was "shocked and saddened" by the killing of Mariam Abdullahi Mohamed, "a dedicated frontline worker". Between 2008-12 piracy off the coast of Somalia became a big business with crew members and their ships held for million-dollar ransoms, but in recent years attacks have become rare. Gradually improving stability in Somalia allowed the holding of limited elections in 2016, but insecurity remains widespread. In October, Somalia suffered its deadliest-ever bombing, with over 500 people killed in an attack blamed on the Shabaab. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Armed men abducted a German nurse working for the International Committee of the Red Cross last evening from a compound in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, the aid group said today. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague," said Daniel O'Malley, ICRC's deputy Somalia head. "She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people." The Red Cross said the attack happened around 8 pm local time when unidentified armed men entered its compound in Mogadishu. The organisation said it is "in contact with various authorities to try and secure her release". Somalia, which collapsed into civil war in 1991 and has been the site of an al-Qaeda linked Islamist insurgency since 2005, is one of the most dangerous countries for aid workers, but abductions remain relatively rare. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today announced that the Floor Area Ratio (FAR) in HSIIDC industrial areas would be increased from 150 to 200 per cent with appropriate charges. FAR is the ratio of a building's total floor area (gross floor area) to the size of the piece of land upon which it is built. Apart from this, the state government has identified 50 acres of land for a pharma park in Karnal which would be developed by the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), he said. The chief minister was speaking at the 'Samadhan Divas' organised for districts Karnal and Kurukshetra here today. Khattar announced that change of industrial activity would be permitted with conversion charges. Speaking on the occasion, Industries and Commerce Minister Vipul Goel said that for setting up of tool room under the mini cluster scheme, the Karnal Agri Implements Manufacturing Association has been asked to provide the list of final equipment. He said that the services of 289 registered architects empanelled by HSIIDC can now be availed by the industrial units. The minister said the online system for filing of incentives would be made more robust. He also said for the upcoming industry in Mogul Majra in Karnal, the access roads are being developed. The state government has decided to lease out agro malls to the industry associations at subsidised price for usage as exhibitions centres, he said. For start-ups, as per Government of India rules, the introduction of self-certification under labour laws would be notified, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP MP Udit Raj has opposed his party's outreach programme 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan', saying it would not bring any electoral gains to the party, instead it makes Dalits feel "inferior". The programme was launched by the BJP after Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month asked all party MPs and ministers to spend time in villages having more than 50 per cent scheduled caste population. The North West Delhi MP in a series of tweets said that Rahul Gandhi, who visited the Dalits to have food with them, led to the Congress defeat in the last Lok Sabha elections, and the same would happen with those doing it now. "This is my social view. I can have personal view. Not only the party but the entire country, the 'Sawarn Samaj' (upper caste) should think about it. Now, just eating food will not help, it makes them feel inferior," Raj said. The MP, who himself belongs to the Dalit community, said that his views were not against the party. "Having night stay and food at houses of Dalits neither empowers the Dalit families nor benefits the politicians, Rahul Gandhi is a live example of it. Instead of pretending through night stay and eating food, it would be better if politicians come forward for food, clothes, houses, employment and treatment of needy dalits" Raj said in a tweet. He said that although he went by the party dictate but did not believe that such a move will benefit the BJP. "I personally believe it will not help the party. But, its a programme of the party so I extend my support to it," he told PTI. Raj also said that the Dalits and the tribals in the country are getting frustrated and questioned the silence of academicians and intellectuals on it. "Why Dalits/tribals are getting frustrated day by day in all over the country, need to be studied. Why academia/intelligentsia are not thinking/writing the reasons behind? In a short visit to Vishakhapatanam same is noticed what is in North India," he tweeted. Citing defeat of the Congress in elections despite Gandhi having food with Dalit families, and Bharat Bandh organised by Dalit outfits last month, Raj said that a "lesson needs to be learnt from the protest". "My opinion is not against the BJP, rather it is aimed at helping it. Rahul Gandhi had food at Dalit houses and lost the election. Dalits managed Bharat Bandh on April 2 without any organisation. Are not lessons need to be learnt from these," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) HBO Documentary Films has green lit a docuseries based on Michelle McNamara's bestselling true-crime book "I'll Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman's Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer". The book is based on a serial killer, who committed 50 home-invasion sexual assaults and ten murders during the 1970s and '80s. He was dubbed as 'The Golden State Killer'. The docuseries, which is currently in production, will be directed by Academy Award nominee and Emmy winner Liz Garbus, HBO said in a statement. McNamara, wife of comedian Patton Oswalt, had died in April 2016 and her book was completed posthumously by her researcher Paul Haynes and colleague Billy Jensen along with Oswalt. On April 24, the Sacramento Sheriff's Office identified former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo as the perpetrator and arrested him at his home in a nearby suburb. He was identified with the help of DNA evidence as the notorious serial killer and was charged with a number of crimes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bombay High Court today held that though it is an autonomous institution, it should abide by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and provide an adequate quota for the disabled persons while recruiting judicial staff. A bench of Justices Naresh Patil and G S Kulkarni directed the high court administration to keep 4 per cent of the posts vacant while recruiting over 8,000 administrative posts in the district courts. Once the ongoing recruitment drive was complete, the administration should conduct a special drive to fill up 4 per cent posts under the Disabilities Act (which provides for a quota for the disabled persons), the judges said. Last month, the bench had stayed the process for recruitment of stenographers, junior clerks and peons after it was pointed out that the high court administration had, while issuing advertisement, failed to reserve 4 per cent posts for the disabled. The issue was raised by the National Federation of Blind and some individuals who filed petitions challenging the advertisement issued on March 28. The advertisement sought applications for 1,013 posts of stenographers, 4,738 posts of junior clerks and 3,170 posts of peons in district courts. It mentioned only a 2 per cent quota for persons with disabilities -- one per cent for those with a hearing impairment and the rest for those having "one affected leg". Section 34 of the Disabilities Act mandates a 4 per cent quota, and the list of disabilities covered under the Act includes various locomotor disorders, visual handicap and intellectual disabilities. Advocate Uday Warunjikar, petitioners' lawyer, argued that by denying the rightful opportunity" to the persons with disabilities, the high court administration was defeating the purpose of the Central legislation. The administration argued that even if the state and the Centre provide funds for the court, the high court is "independent" of the government, and therefore the Section 34 of the Act would not be applicable to it. The high court disagreed with this contention. Though the high court is a "constitutional and an autonomous authority subordinate to none", its rules should be in "consonance with the philosophy of our Constitution", it said. The bench did not continue the stay to the recruitment drive since over 3.5 lakh applications have been received. "A balanced solution is to be found. Therefore, the high court shall keep 4 per cent seats/posts vacant... and these seats shall be filled in through a special drive after suitable posts are identified," the bench said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today withdrew the interim protection from coercive action, including arrest, granted to Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi in connection with an FIR lodged in 2016 by the owner of one of its retail franchisees. The order by Justice Mukta Gupta came after the police told the court that Choksi was not cooperating with the investigation as he was not available at any of the addresses given on his behalf earlier. Taking note of the submission made by Delhi Police, the court vacated its April 26, 2017 order by which the businessman was protected from any coercive action, including arrest. Choksi is the uncle of billionaire Nirav Modi and the investigative agencies have swung into action against both of them for the Rs 11,500 crore scam of Punjab National Bank. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a blow to Gitanjali Gems promoter Mehul Choksi, the Delhi High Court today withdrew the interim protection from arrest and other coercive action granted to him in a cheating case while the Enforcement Directorate justified the seizure of his company's jewellery stock in a money laundering case saying it was part of the proceeds of crime. In separate proceedings before two benches of the high court, both the Delhi Police and ED said that Choksi, the uncle of billionaire Nirav Modi, had not joined investigation in their respective cases against him. Taking note of the submission by Delhi Police, Justice Mukta Gupta withdrew the interim protection granted to Choksi on April 26 last year and listed the matter for further hearing on November 26. In the money laundering case heard by a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and I S Mehta, the ED filed an affidavit contending that the proceeds of crime generated through criminal activities arising out of offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) were "layered and integrated in the veil of huge bullion/jewellery business of Mehul Choksi in order to project the same as untainted property, which includes the business of Gitanjali Gems". The bench listed the money laundering matter for further hearing on July 31, by when the firm's counsel Vijay Aggarwal has to file a rejoinder to the ED affidavit. Both Choksi and Modi had left the country in January this year. The affidavit was filed by ED counsel Amit Mahajan and Nitesh Rana in a plea by Choksi's firm challenging the alleged illegal seizure of documents and articles in a money laundering case in connection with the over Rs 11,000 crore Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case. In its affidavit, the ED said, "The jewellery stock of the petitioner (Gitanjali Gems) has been seized with the reason to believe, recorded in writing on the basis of information/ documents in possession, that the petitioner company, being under the direct control of prime accused Mehul Choksi, is very much involved in the process of money laundering." Billionaire Nirav Modi, his uncle Choksi and others are being investigated by multiple probe agencies after the scam came to light in January following a complaint by the PNB that they had allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank. The ED has registered the money laundering case against Modi, his firms and others on the basis of a CBI FIR. In its affidavit, the ED has also said,"The present investigation into the offence of money laundering stems out of a huge fraud having been committed against a public sector bank, involving humongous amount of public money, almost to the tune of Rs 4831.53 crores by M/s Gitanjali Gems, M/s Gili India and M/s Nakashatra, which are owned and controlled by Mehul Chinubhai Choksi. "Prima facie the case involves a circuitous web of transactions and has international ramifications on the face of record." It said the investigation was in its infancy and efforts were being made to recover the proceeds of crime "obfuscated by the suspected persons" and to collect the evidence for prosecution against the offenders under the PMLA. The agency accused Gitanjali Gems of "very cleverly" concealing its profile and supressing facts pertaining to its constitution and registration. It said the firm has cleverly veiled any reference to Choksi, who left India in the twilight of the scam coming to the notice of the law enforcing agencies and has been evading the law. When ED summoned him to join the probe and explain the issues, he preferred to completely sidestep the legal system of the country and has decamped to foreign shores, refusing to join the investigation. The plea in which "Choksi has indirectly approached the court through M/s Gitanjali Gems Ltd needs to be dismissed." The agency said the investigating officer has reasons to believe that Gitanjali Gems, under the control and chairmanship of Choski, has committed acts which constitute the offence of money laundering and was in possession of proceeds of crime. It said moveable properties -- jewellery articles and bullions -- of the firm were seized from its Ghatkopar premises under the reasonable belief that non-seizure of those items may frustrate the proceedings under the Act. The cheating case against the diamond merchant was lodged on July 12, 2016 on a June 2, 2016 order of a metropolitan magistrate in Saket court here after a complaint was lodged by one Vaibhav Khuraniya alleging that his company RM Green Solutions had purchased a retail franchise of Gitanjali Jewellers from Choksi on an assurance of high returns. Choksi, in his plea seeking quashing of the FIR, had claimed in the high court that the franchisee work was not done properly by the complainant and alleged that instead of jewellery, liquor was being vended from the same premises leading to a loss to Khuraniya. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Following are the top at 1800 hours: DEL32 2ND LD DUST STORMNearly 100 killed in dust storm in UP, RajasthanLucknow/Jaipur: A severe dust storm followed by thunder showers hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan overnight, killing nearly 100 people and leaving a trail of destruction. DEL22 NAT AWARDS- 2ND LD PROTESTS Nat Film Awards: Winners to skip ceremony because Prez to present only 11 awards New Delhi: More than 70 winners of the National Film Awards today said they would skip the ceremony in the evening after a last minute announcement that President Ram Nath Kovind would be presenting only 11 awards, a departure from tradition. DEL34 RJ-DUST STORM-MET OFFICIAL Another dust storm may hit UP and Rajasthan: IMD official Jaipur: Another dust storm may hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours due to cyclonic circulation formation in the region, a MeT official said today. MDS10 KA-POLL-MODI Modi plays nationalism card, rakes up surgical strike in Karnataka Kalaburagi (Kar): Playing the nationalism card, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Congress of "insulting national heroes" and the Indian Army by "questioning" the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes. MDS14 KA-POLLS-RAHUL Rahul hits back at Modi for personal attacks on him Aurad (Karnataka): Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "personal attacks" on him, Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said it does not behove a person who holds the high office. DEL35 JK-MILITANTS At least 45 youths join militancy in 2018; security establishment taken by surprise Srinagar: At least 45 youths from the Kashmir Valley, including an MBA and a PhD scholar, have joined militancy this year till mid-April, according to officials, as the unusual surge in numbers take the security establishment by surprise. By Sumir Kaul DEL36 CBI-LD JOURNALIST CBI books Delhi scribe for accessing sensitive areas with false info New Delhi: The CBI has booked Delhi-based journalist Upendra Rai and chief security officer of a private aviation company for allegedly indulging in dubious financial transactions and getting access passes made by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) by furnishing false information, officials said today. DEL31 NAT AWARDS-TEWARI Unfortunate Prez won't present all awards, should reconsider: Tewari New Delhi: Congress leader and former I&B Minister Manish Tewari today said it was unfortunate that President Ram Nath Kovind will not be presenting all the National Film Awards today and requested him to not break with tradition. DEL29 UP-AMU Eerie silence descends on AMU campus, heavy police deployment Aligarh (UP): An eerie silence today descended over the AMU campus even as hundreds of student protesters gathered at the Baab-e-Syed gate, the scene of yesterday's violent incident in which around 20 students were injured in police action. DEL21 PM-PRESS FREEDOM Free press makes for a stronger democracy: PM New Delhi: Multiplicity of ideas and human expression make us more vibrant as a society and a free press makes for a stronger democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the World Press Freedom Day. DEL19 MHA-NAXAL Home Ministry asks 10 Naxal-hit states to expedite development projects New Delhi: The Home Ministry has asked 10 Naxal-hit states to expedite development projects in Left Wing Extremism affected areas after the Environment Ministry relaxed its guidelines, officials said today. DEL17 CONG-ADITYANATH Cong slams Yogi for campaigning in KTK after dust storm hits UP New Delhi: The Congress today took a dig at UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka even when people of his state were reeling under the impact of the severe dust storm that has left many dead. DEL16 PM-DUST STORM PM for speedy assistance to those hit by dust storms New Delhi: Expressing sorrow at the loss of lives due to dust storms in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today directed officials to coordinate with states to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation of those affected. LEGAL: LGD19 DL-HC-LD JAITLEY DDCA Statements against Jaitley based on info from Kejriwal: Kumar Vishwas to HC New Delhi: Dissident Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas today told the Delhi High Court that his statements against Union minister Arun Jaitley were based on the information received as a party worker from his leader Arvind Kejriwal. FOREIGN: FGN4 UK-CA-LD OPERATIONS Scandal-hit Cambridge Analytica to shut down London: Cambridge Analytica, the UK-based political consulting firm embroiled in a massive data-harvesting scandal that compromised the personal information of up to 87 million Facebook users, has announced that it would immediately cease operations as the controversy had driven away virtually all of its customers. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prosecuting officers have called for implementation of the Juvenile Justice Act in "letter and spirit" in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the mission of the act was to provide relief to the juveniles who are in conflict with law. "The mission of the Juvenile Justice Act is to provide relief to the juveniles in conflict with law as it is presumed that juveniles are immature," Senior Prosecuting Officer, Srinagar, Zia ur Rehman Khan said at a special training programme for police officers of the district. He said the police should implement the act in "letter and spirit" without procedural lacunae. Prosecuting Officer Danish Gul said the act has been drafted with a focus on adopting "reformative approach" in dealing with delinquent juveniles and to provide cover to the juveniles who are in conflict with law. The aim is also to uphold various United Nations conventions on juvenile justice and basic human rights, he said. "The juvenile in conflict with law shall be dealt in a child-friendly manner and home-like environment is to be provided by the designated juvenile police officers in civvies," Gul stressed. Chairperson of the Child Welfare Commission Munazah Gulzar, addressing the session, said juvenile justice rules have been made not only to provide protection to the juveniles, who are in conflict with law, but also for those in contact with law. She said it was the responsibility of a police officer to ensure protection of the juvenile in conflict or in contact with law. Gulzar said the Juvenile Justice Board has been constituted to look into legal issues related to juvenile delinquents. She stressed for cooperation among stakeholders like police, CWC and judiciary in dealing with the juveniles. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's economic relations have significantally improved over the years with Egypt, one of its most important trading partners in Africa, the outgoing Ambassador to Cairo, Sanjay Bhattacharya, has said. During a farewell meet with the media yesterday, he said some of the landmark events that took place during his tenure included the high-level contact between the governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. "I think the biggest change that has happened (in India-Egypt ties) has been in the economic field. Through the last few years, a large number of Indian companies have kept coming in to Egypt... also the volume of investments has grown tremendously," he said. He said that some big names in the Indian market are now present in Egypt across sectors such as automobiles, agriculture projects, electronics and information technology. He said another "big achievement" on the economic front has been Egypt agreeing to having the line of credit from India. "India has a USD 10 billion line of credit facility for countries in Africa. It is the cheapest kind of long term credit. It's a great opportunity that is going to bring much closer collaboration in the economic field," he added. India is Egypt's 11th largest trade partner. India's imports from Egypt were worth of USD 1.2 billion during 2016-17 financial year, while exports were recorded at USD 2 billion, according to information on Ministry of External Affairs website. The Ministry of External Affairs had recently announced Bhattacharya's appointment as the next Ambassador of lndia to Turkey after serving in Cairo for three years. Rahul Kulshreshth, who is presently the Ambassador of India to Turkey, will replace him. Bhattacharya also highlighted India's increased participation in different international cultural festivals held in the cities of Egypt. "India has also been organising its own cultural programmes like 'India by the Nile', 'Glimpses of India' and 'Tagore festival'," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Strengthening its position as a leading supplier of quality frozen shrimp and frozen fish in international markets, India's seafood exports registered over 13 per cent growth during the first 10 months of FY 2017-18. Data released by the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) here today said India exported 10,85,378 MT of seafood valued at Rs 35,916.60 crore from April, 2017 to January, 2018 as against 9,54,744 MT and Rs 32,620.03 crore, respectively a year earlier. The exports registered a growth of 13.68 per cent in terms of quantity and 10.11 per cent in value. In dollar terms, exports were pegged at USD 5.64 billion during April 2017-January 2018 as compared to 4.98 billion dollars during the same period in the previous fiscal, marking a 13.27 per cent growth. USA, South East Asia and the European Union (EU) continued to be the three major importers while the demand from Japan registered substantial increase during the period. Frozen shrimp continued as the top export item of marine products basket, with a share of 42.05 per cent in quantity and 69.95 per cent of the total earnings in dollar. The overall exports of shrimp, which was to the tune of 4,56,404 MT (as against 378355 MT in the previous fiscal) valued at USD 3,946.30 million, grew by 20.63 per cent in quantity and 21.61 per cent in dollar terms, MPEDA said in a release. The largest markets for India's frozen shrimp were USA (1,87,873 MT), South East Asia (1,27,525 MT), EU (62,164 MT), Japan (28,064 MT), Middle East (15,801 MT) and China (9533 MT). The export of Vannamei shrimp improved from 2,89,826 MT to 3,32,415 MT in Apr 2017-Jan 2018 with a growth of 14.69 per cent in quantity, the release said. Japan emerged as the major market for Black Tiger shrimp with a share of 49.38 per cent in dollar terms followed by USA (18.09 per cent) and South East Asia (15.06 per cent). "India's exports of seafood remained on the upward curve despite a fall in global shrimp prices triggered by oversupply from major shrimp-producing countries and more stringent test regimes imposed by the EU to detect antibiotic residues in frozen shrimp consignments," MPEDA, Chairman, A Jayathilak said. He said steps had been initiated for export-oriented organic shrimp production while new strategies had been launched to boost aquaculture and improve vigilance to stop faulty consignments. Export of frozen fish stood at 279,642 MT as against 250,465 MT a year earlier, showing a growth of 11.65 per cent in quantity and 3.93 per cent in terms of dollar but frozen squid declined by 12.83 per cent, 18.35 per cent and 14.98 per cent, respectively in terms of quantity, rupee value and dollar earnings. However,"exports of dried seafood items registered an uptick with figures of 80.63 per cent and 15.81 per cent in terms of quantity and rupee value, respectively, the release said. USA, which imported 2,03,837 MT of Indian seafood worth 1,917.38 million dollars in the current financial year, remained the major importer with a share of 33.99 per cent in dollar terms. Frozen shrimp continued to be the principal item exported to USA with a share of 95.32 per cent in dollar terms. South East Asia, the second largest market destination of Indian marine products, accounted for 32.30 per cent in dollar value while overall exports to the region increased by 23.84 per cent in quantity and 16.25 per cent in rupee value. It was followed by the EU (14.70 per cent), Japan (6.59 per cent), Middle East (3.78 per cent), and China (2.97 per cent), respectively. Indian ports handled a total marine cargo of 10,85,378 tonnes worth Rs 35,916.60 crore (5,641.28 million dollars) as compared to 9,54,744 tonnes worth Rs 32,620 crore (4,980 million dollars) in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal. Pipavav, which handled marine cargo of 2,47,873 tonnes worth Rs 4031.24 crore, was the leading port in terms of quantity, while Vizag port's handling of 1,69,602 tonnes earned Rs 9,755.42 crore, the maximum for a port in value terms. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian companies in South Africa are performing well in their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives such as job creation, but they should partner with the local ones for greater impact through shared resources, a PwC report said. Titled 'Indian industry's inclusive footprint in South Africa', the report compiled by global consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) was commissioned by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The report highlights a wide range of CSR investments by many of the 150 Indian companies with a presence in South Africa. The investments range from bursaries and sport to women empowerment and community development in the rural areas. "Indian companies operating in South Africa are not just investing money and creating employment but are actively contributing to the upliftment of the communities in which they operate. "They believe that business is an important instrument for development and are making significant investments in CSR programmes, (reflecting) their desire to make a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic development of South Africa and their long-term commitment to being in the country," the report said. But the report also made a range of recommendations to further such initiatives through partnerships with local companies. With India set to place greater emphasis on start-ups in its new economic development policy, the establishment of a CEO Forum for start-ups is suggested. This forum would consist of CEO's of start-ups from both the countries and serve as a platform for knowledge transfer and information sharing. The report also suggested that instead of only channelling money towards charitable projects, Indian companies should consider funding social enterprises in South Africa to generate income while addressing social needs. "While donating to charities is commendable and should be continued, Indian companies could take more action to build infrastructure or repair dilapidated infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, clinics and community centres in the communities in which they operate," the report said. "Municipal budgets are sometimes too tight to allow for repairing or building new infrastructure and CSR investments in this area would go a long way towards improving much-needed facilities, especially in the marginalised communities," it noted. Acknowledging that Indian IT companies have done "considerable work" in upskilling people in the sector, the report proposes that they partner with the state-established Skills Education Training Authorities to address the lack of human capital in alignment with the priorities set by these institutions. The report underscored the opportunity for Indian companies to establish manufacturing plants in South Africa to provide meaningful economic empowerment, rather than just promoting export of the country's raw materials to India for processing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian-origin drug dealer has been jailed for nearly eight years by a UK court for conspiring to supply 10 kg of cocaine in London. Gurdip Samra, 44, was arrested in November last year as part of a joint operation by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) and Scotland Yard's Organised Crime Partnerships (OCP). The officers first arrested Samra's accomplice, Mark Lammin, after accosting him as he carried 10 kg of cocaine in a large holdall in Surrey, south-east England. A short time later, officers stopped a black Range Rover, which was parked in the vicinity of his planned drugs handover and arrested Samra. The duo was sentenced at Kingston Crown Court earlier this week, with Samra jailed for seven years and eight months and Lammin sentenced to six years and six months behind bars. "The supply and trafficking of drugs is a business which relies on cash flow the loss of an expensive commodity will stall transactions on both sides, creating a lack of trust between crime groups, Matt McMillan from the Organised Crime Partnership said in a statement. During a search of 44-year-old Lammin's home address in London, officers found a stun gun and also charged him with possessing a prohibited weapon. He and Samra were both charged with conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. "Lammin was blatantly walking the streets of London with ten kilos of cocaine in a holdall that he pleaded guilty at the first opportunity shows that he knew exactly what he was doing. The fact he was also in possession of a prohibited weapon highlights the risk he posed, McMillan said. Disrupting the supply of Class A drugs is crucial in our efforts to tackle organised crime and the violence it causes in and around London, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Guwahati-bound IndiGo flight, carrying 177 people from here last evening, was delayed by about five hours due to bad weather conditions, triggering protests by a group of passengers, who deplaned on their own at the IGI Airport. The passengers allegedly indulged in the violation as they were agitated over the airline reportedly not informing them of the delay in the flight. The airline, however, regretted the "inconvenience caused to the passengers", and in a statement attributed the delay to the weather conditions and the change in crew, who had to wait for the departure slots. A few passengers of flight 6E 694 allegedly tried to block the taxiway but their attempt was thwarted by the CISF personnel, sources said. At no point of time, passengers can deplane the aircraft until and unless they are asked by the airline to do so, said the sources, including a senior commander of an airline, recollecting a few earlier similar instances. The incident happened even as flight operations were partially affected last evening as a dust storm hit the national capital, and some adjoining states, resulting in about 21 diversions from the IGI Airport, officials said. According to the airport sources, the flight was due to depart at 6.30 PM but it took off at 11.30 PM, almost five hours behind schedule. "IndiGo regrets the inconvenience caused to the passengers which was due to severe weather condition," the airline said in its statement. The sources in the CISF, which is in charge of security at the IGI Airport, said their personnel stopped the passengers, who had de-boarded, in the tarmac area from gathering and moving any further. The airline said the incoming aircraft, which was scheduled for Guwahati, arrived late because of severe weather conditions. "With respect to flight 6E 694 Delhi toGuwahati, IndiGo started boarding around 2015 hours. However, the thunderstorm intensified due to which the aircraft could not depart and had to wait for a respective departure slot," it said. Elaborating about the delay caused, the airline said, "After the boarding and the prolonged waiting due to weather conditions, the pilots went out of flight duty time. Therefore, a new crew was arranged who had to wait for the respective departure slots to be given, thus further delaying the IndiGo flight 6E 694 to Guwahati". "It is common practice that after boarding the passengers are kept on board to make use of any departure slot that Is coming available," the airline underlined. It said that accommodations and ground transportation was provided at Guwahati to all the passengers, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Internet poses a big challenge to the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR), as it allows people to copy and make money by hosting the contents on different sites, a US expert said. Christine Haight Farley, an American expert on IPR and Copyright Law, said efforts were underway to harmonise the difference in standards in intellectual property rights protection across various countries. "Internet poses a lot of challenges for IPR protection of creative contents. It allows people to copy freely and make money out of it," she said. Farley said that such free usage should be protected for which IPR plays an important role. The expert said that IPR laws differ in countries but those who are signatory to the TRIPS agreement, are needed to maintain minimum standards. "However, there are differences in standards in countries. There is a move to harmonise these differences in standards which will make IPR protection easier," she added. Referring to India, Farley said that there has been a lot of interest generated on IPR protection in the country. "In a short time, India has made rapid progress (on IPR protection). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's ambassador to Britain said Tehran will consider walking away from the nuclear deal if the United States withdraws from the agreement, in an interview aired today. Hamid Baeidinejad, the country's top envoy in London, said Iran would "be ready to go back to the previous situation" if America pulls out of the 2015 pact, as threatened by US President Donald Trump. "When the United States is out of the deal, it means that there is no deal left," he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "Because (an) important party of the treaty has abrogated and violated in clear terms the treaty." Trump is reportedly poised to scrap the agreement, negotiated in 2015 between Tehran and six world powers, ahead of a May 12 deadline for Washington to renew its support for the deal. The agreement imposes strict restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme in return for the loosening of economic sanctions. Baeidinejad said Tehran was exploring various responses to such a move from the US -- including restarting nuclear activities. "It could be enriching uranium, it could be redefining our cooperation with the agency and some other activities that are under consideration," he added. "That is something very real, in fact very realistic." The ambassador denied Iran would restart any nuclear weapons production. The country has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have been pressing Trump to strengthen rather than abandon the three-year-old deal that took more than a decade to reach. Macron, who met Trump in Washington last week to try to convince him to not walk away, admitted today he still did not know what decision the US leader would take. Trump has pilloried the agreement designed to curb Iran's nuclear programme as "insane" and "ridiculous" and called for fresh measures to counter Iran's ballistic missile programme and support for militant groups across the Middle East. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had new "proof" of an Iranian nuclear weapons plan that could be activated at any time. Baeidinejad said international observers' final assessment ahead of the 2015 agreement contradicted Israel's claims. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran warned today that it will quit a landmark nuclear deal with world powers if President Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the accord. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, calling it "insane". Iran has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the deal signed by Iran and six world powers in 2015 curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. "Even if countries allied with the United States, especially the Europeans, seek to revise the nuclear agreement... one of our options will be withdrawing from the accord," Velayati added. Britain, France and Germany -- the three European countries that signed the deal -- have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron had yesterday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Criminals have a desire to promote themselves," the special MCOCA court here observed while awarding life term to gangster Chhota Rajan and eight others for killing journalist J Dey in 2011. During the sentencing yesterday, there were murmurs in the court among the defence advocates on whether Rajan's extra judicial confession to some mediapersons over phone was adequate to prove that Dey's killing was a result of a conspiracy hatched by him along with the rest of the convicts. In his 599-page judgement, Judge Sameer Adkar explained what might have led Rajan to make the phone calls to some journalists that ultimately led to his conviction. Judge Adkar said Rajan was apparently irked with Dey's writings on his diminishing clout in the underworld. He, therefore, chose to announce to some mediapersons that he had got Dey killed, hoping that it would be perceived as a show of his strength, or a warning to others. "It may be appropriate to answer one question which should arise in the mind of every prudent person - 'Why criminals phone (call) to the media and claim responsibility for the crime committed by them'?" the judge said. "The answer to this question is not that difficult. Most often, such calls are made to gain attention. Most people like being seen as an authority and getting the attention that makes them feel important," he observed. Additionally, a criminal or an accused may want to give his side of a story if he feels that he is being misrepresented as he would not like it if he is put in a false light, judge Adkar said in his judgement. "It could also be because criminals have a desire to promote themselves. They may not be paid for the interview but they also do not have to pay to the journalist either. It is an easy way of generating publicity," he noted. The judge said a criminal would be fairly confident that he will never be caught afterwards as he feels he is untouchable. "Some may not see themselves as criminals but as misunderstood, hard workers being oppressed by the system." "J Dey was a reputed journalist. Admittedly, he had written several articles against Rajan and his gang. His murder and subsequent phone calls made by Rajan were with an intention of warning the media to desist from writing and posting/airing any negative against him in the media," he said in his order. Nearly seven years after senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was shot dead here, the court yesterday awarded life term to all the nine convicted, including Rajan, observing it was a "cold-blooded" murder. Judge Adkar, who presided over the special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court, however, acquitted former journalist Jigna Vora, charged with instigating Rajan to carry out the killing in June 2011, for lack of evidence. The judge also acquitted Paulson Joseph, accused of handling the financial operations concerned with the conspiracy. During the trial, the defence argued that at the time of the incident, the police had been under tremendous pressure to make arrests. However, ruling out any suspicion of false implication of the convicts, the judge said the Indian law enforcement agencies were well aware that Rajan was not in India (at that time) and not accessible to them. If the police or the crime branch wanted to win accolades and awards, then to show instant result, they could have easily implicated any notorious gangster who was operating from Mumbai at that time, he said. "Therefore, the possibility of false implication of Chhota Rajan is totally ruled out," he said. In his lengthy order, judge Adkar examined in detail every piece of evidence - the phone calls that Rajan made to four journalists alluding to his role in Dey's killing and even expressing remorse over it. He also examined the seizures made by the police from other convicts, their mobile locations, call detail records and their personal belongings seized from the spot of the crime, and concluded that Dey's killing was "indeed a well planned conspiracy". He cited a previous Supreme Court finding stating that even if some of the convicts were unaware of the final purpose of the conspiracy (as in the above case), the fact that they assisted each other in executing the same, made them liable to invite the same charge under Indian Penal Code section 120 (B) (for criminal conspiracy). "An important facet of the law of conspiracy is that apart from it being a distinct offence, all conspirators are liable for the acts of each other of the crime or crimes, which have been committed as a result of the conspiracy," the judge said in his order. Soon after the pronouncement of the order, he also informed the convicts that they had a right to appeal against the verdict before the high court. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Situation at the AMU campus, scene of violent incidents yesterday, remained "under control" today with no untoward incident being reported from anywhere, authorities said. No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere since last evening but heavy deployment of police and RAF personnel was being maintained at strategic points in and around the campus, District Magistrate, Aligarh, Chandra Bhushan Singh said. The administration is keeping a strong vigil to prevent trouble-mongers from creating law and order situation, he said. Singh said the district administration held a meeting with Aligarh Muslim University Vice Chancellor Prof Tariq Mansoor and some alumni and sought their cooperation in helping restore normalcy in the campus. After a day of protests and violence, an eerie silence descended over the campus the morning even as hundreds of student protesters gathered at the Baab-e-Syed gate, the scene of yesterday's violent incident in which around 20 students were injured in police action. Violence broke out at the university yesterday after the right-wing protestors barged into the varsity demanding removal of the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah displayed on the campus. Following yesterday's incident, policemen in large numbers and a RAF contingent were deployed near the Baab-e-Syed gate to maintain law and order. While the rest of the injured students were discharged after first aid, three of those with serious injuries are admitted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital. According to a hospital official, all the three students are out of danger and recovering. The AMU students today sat on an indefinite dharna demanding action against the protestors. The AMU Students' Union (AMUSU) alleged that violence on the campus was a "deliberate and pre-planned attempt" to attack former vice president Hamid Ansari, who was at that time barely 100 metres away at the university guest house, from where the violence erupted. "Our protest will continue indefinitely till the police takes action against those who were actually targeting the former vice president who had come to the AMU where he was to be granted a life membership of the Students' Union," the AMUSU said in a statement issued here. President, AMUSU, Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani, who was also injured in yesterday's lathicharge by the police, said the students would approach the National Human Right Commission "with the help of all secular organisations of the country" if all doors to justice are closed by the state government. A spokesman of the varsity strongly condemned yesterday's "trespassing" of the university boundary by Hindu Yuva Vahini (HYV) activists who were raising "highly objectionable and inflammatory slogans". "We hope that the state government will take strong action against the Hindu Yuva Vahini youths who deliberately tried to disturb peace on the university campus," he said. The AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) held an emergency meeting last night and passed a resolution stating that yesterday's action by the HYV was a "deliberate criminal conspiracy" in which the police instead of punishing the aggressors, indulged in "brutal action" against the students, who had later collected at the gate to protest the failure of the police to prevent the outsiders from entering the campus. It has demanded that an FIR should be lodged against those who "masterminded the entire operation". The AMUTA blamed the police for its "glaring security breach" for allowing "armed goons" to reach a spot which was just adjoining the university guest house where the former vice president was staying. Meanwhile, former Union HRD minister and senior RJD leader M A Fatmi called upon the protesting students "to not fall prey" to the designs of those forces which want to "destabilise" the AMU and cause "irreparable" damage to the university's academic schedule and the future of thousands of students. Addressing the students, sitting on the indefinite dharna, Fatmi, who is also a former secretary of the AMU Students' Union, made a fervent appeal to the students to act with "restraint and discretion". Later talking to reporters, Fatmi said, "It is strange that the police did not use force to prevent the goons belonging to different saffron organisations from barging into the campus right next to the building where the former vice president of India was staying". Instead, they used excessive force shortly later to control the AMU students who were protesting against the illegal trespassing by activists of some Hindutva groups who were raising highly provocative slogans, he said, adding that it is tragic that the Narendra Modi-led government is following "cynical but deadly policy of dividing the two communities for narrow political gains". It is for the AMU's governing bodies, the AMU Students' Union and ultimately the government of India to decide the fate of Jinnah's portrait at the Students' Union hall, Fatmi said. "I have nothing to say about Jinnah's portrait but I call upon the prime minister to take action against his own party leader, former deputy prime minister L K Advani, who paid tributes to Jinnah and offered a chadar on his grave as a mark of respect," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The man accused of killing a woman officer who was leading a demolition drive here was nabbed today from the Mathura-Vrindavan area, where he was hiding in disguise, police said. A team comprising Himachal Pradesh and Delhi Police personnel arrested Vijay Singh who shot dead Assistant Town Planner Shail Bala Sharma on Tuesday, they said. "The accused Vijay Singh was arrested from Mathura-Vrindavan area this evening. It was a joint effort of the Himachal Pradesh Police and a Delhi Police special team," Solan SP, Mohit Chawla told PTI. The accused was on the run and kept changing locations, he said. He even stayed near the Mathura refinery and the Banke Bihari temple, Chawla said adding the accused would be brought and produced before a court here. He had disguised himself to evade arrest, a police official said. Singh had fired at Sharma, who was leading a Supreme Court mandated demolition drive against illegal structures, and fled. Himachal Pradesh authorities received much flak and were even pulled up by the apex court following the incident. Singh's mother, Narayani, owner of the Narayani Guest House, while speaking before the arrest of her son, said he had lost mental balance as he couldn't see their guest house being demolished. "Vijay Singh kept a low-profile and helped his mother run the guest house. The guest house was in her name. We are in a state of disbelief that an educated person could do such a thing. His children study in a reputed school in Kasauli. This one action of his has ruined his entire family," said a local who resides near the guest house. Meanwhile, state authorities continued the drive against unauthorised constructions in the Kasauli town planning area. Yesterday, the Supreme Court had pulled up state authorities for their failure to ensure safety of government officials. "We might stop passing any orders if you are going to kill people," a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said when the matter related to Sharma's killing was mentioned before it. The Apex Court had on April 17 ordered the state government to demolish unauthorised structures in several hotels and guest houses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan. Four teams were constituted by the authorities to carry out the work. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The man accused of killing a woman officer leading a demolition drive against illegal construction was nabbed today in Mathura, police said. In a bid to change his appearance, Vijay Singh shaved his moustache and trimmed his hair but he was caught sitting near a temple, they said. Police had yesterday released Singh's photograph and offered a reward of Rs 1 lakh for clues. "The accused was arrested from Mathura in a joint operation by Himachal and Delhi Police. He would be brought to Himachal after obtaining transit remand. The police would interrogate him and recover the weapon used for shooting the officer," DGP Sita Ram Mardi said in Shimla. Singh kept changing locations to avoid being caught, Solan SP Mohit Chawla told PTI. He even stayed near the Mathura refinery and the Banke Bihari temple, Chawla added. Singh had on Tuesday allegedly fired and killed Assistant Town Planner Shail Bala Sharma, who while leading a Supreme Court mandated demolition drive against illegal constructions had reached his family's Narayani Guest House. Himachal Pradesh authorities received much flak and were even pulled up by the apex court over the incident. Singh's mother, Narayani, owner of the guest house, said he lost mental balance as he couldn't see their guest house being demolished. "Vijay Singh kept a low-profile and helped his mother run the guest house, which was in her name. We are in a state of disbelief that an educated person could do such a thing. His children study in a reputed school in Kasauli. This one action of his has ruined his entire family," said a local who resides near the guest house. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said he will take stock of the situation in a meeting with senior officers in the evening. The state government will fully comply with the orders of the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal, the chief minister said. Hitting out at opposition parties, he said they should refrain from politicising the incident. The unauthorised constructions in the area were old, he said taking a pot shot at rival Congress, which earlier ruled the state. Meanwhile, state authorities continued the drive against unauthorised constructions in the Kasauli town planning area today. Yesterday, the Supreme Court had pulled up state authorities for their failure to ensure safety of government officials. "We might stop passing any orders if you are going to kill people," a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said when the matter related to Sharma's killing was mentioned before it. The Apex Court had on April 17 ordered the state government to demolish unauthorised structures in several hotels and guest houses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan. Four teams were constituted by the authorities to carry out the work. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The man who killed his estranged wife by setting her ablaze at the venue of a meeting on women empowerment scheme in the district has been arrested, police said today. """ The accused Viraj was caught in Mumbai yesterday and is expected to be brought here tomorrow, they said. """ The 23-year-old woman Jithu, along with her father, had come to Changallur to attend a meeting of 'Kudumbashree,' a state-run poverty eradication and women empowerment programme on April 29, when Viraj poured petrol on her and set her ablaze, they had said. """ Jithu ran out of the venue screaming in pain but none of the panchayat members and Kudumbashree workers came to her rescue, and she succumbed to burns, her father had reportedly told the electronic media. "" Viraj and Jithu, married for six years, had no children and had filed for divorce, police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The magnificent 16th century Padmanabhapuram palace, an erstwhile seat of the Travancore royals, is now just a click away, thanks to a new website on the heritage structure launched by the Kerala government. "" The sprawling wooden palace complex is a rare repository of ornate murals, floral carvings, stone and copper plate inscriptions, armoury, coins and paintings of the period. Though it is situated at Thuckalay in Kanyakumari district of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, the six-acre palace complex was retained under the custodianship of the Kerala Department of Archaeology as per the state reorganisation settlement in 1956. """ The new English website, brought out by the Department, has all comprehensive details about the palace besides an array of rare photos and videos with detailed explanation. """ The department officials said the objective of the website was to help history buffs and students get a clear picture of the invaluable monument. """ Launching the website here in a function yesterday, State Minister for Museums, Archaeology and Archives, Ramachandran Kadannappally said creating awareness about the history and heritage among the tech-savvy young generation is vital inorder to inspire them. "At a time when man is gearing up to conquer space, he should also know about the roots of his hopes and dreams. It's high time we created awareness about the importance of historical heritage of our country," he said. "" Researchers from several countries visit our museums and palaces to enrich their knowledge, he said adding that the new website would be a great help to them. "We have around 179 protected monuments and 12 museums under the Archaeology Department," the minister added. """" Besides the website, a YouTube channel for the Kerala Department of Archaeology was also launched during the function. Located at the foothills of Veli hills, Western Ghats, the Padmanabhapuram Palace was the oldest seat of power of the erstwhile Travancore royal family of Kerala. The palace complex consists of a number of function specific independent structures constructed between AD 1590 to early AD 1800s. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid a raging controversy, the police today said it has arrested the kingpin of a racket involved in supply of rotten meat in the city and neighbouring areas after processing the flesh of carcasses collected from dumping grounds. The kingpin Biswanath Garai (52), a resident of Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas, was arrested from near Garia railway station by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) last evening, the superintendent of police of Diamond Harbour police district, Koteswara Rao told PTI. So far 11 persons have been arrested, including a leader of a political outfit, in connection with the case. Biswanath alias Bishu is the prime accused and the owner of a godown in Narkeldanga area in the city where the meat of dead animals were stored, he said. "Bishu was involved in collecting the meat and then processing it. He supplied the processed carcass meat to different restaurants and markets," Rao said adding that the accused is being questioning. It is also being examined whether any influential person was helping him in this. "We are also looking at for how many years he was running this business and who all have been helping him in getting the meat orders," said another SIT official who is involved in the investigation. Separately, Sudesh Poddar, the president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India (HRAEI), has issued an advisory to its members asking them to procure meat and poultry from registered vendors. "Members are hereby advised to procure meat and poultry from reputed vendors who have FSSAI licence and corporation trade licence. Preference should be given to suppliers having ISO 9001 and HACCP certification," the HRAEI circular said. The scare over rotten meat supply from dump yards has led to an increase in the demand for fish among people here. Meat traders across the city are experiencing a slump in their businesses over the past few days. On the other hand, the sale of fish has has increased by at least 30-40 per cent, Soumyajit Das, managing director of State Fisheries Development Corporation Limited, told PTI. "If our sale in mid-April was around 650-700 kg per day, now it has gone up to nearly 950 kg," he added. The Congress and the BJP today protested against the the rotten meat racket. The BJP organised a rally outside TMC-controlled Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) and shouted slogans against the state government. "The KMC is totally indifferent to this racket, which has flourished because the KMC and the state government have turned a blind eye," a BJP activist said. The Youth Congress too organised a rally in central Kolkata. Congress activists carried placards and posters against the state government and demanded immediate arrest of those involved in the racket. KMC mayor-in-council (health) Atin Ghosh said that instead of indulging in politics, the Congress and the BJP should make people aware of the problem. Last week, the government had seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat meant to be supplied to eateries and departmental stores in the state as well as neighbouring Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. The West Bengal government has directed all police stations in the city and the districts to keep a watch on the sale of meat in their areas, officials said. The state consumer affairs department is also preparing a detailed report on the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Startup accelerator Green House Ventures (GHV) today said the government needs to liberalise policies related to angel tax and capital gains for investors for further strengthening the ecosystem for budding entrepreneurs. GHV founder Vikram Upadhyaya said that although Indian startup ecosystem has come a long way, "the policies for startups need to be liberalised further". He said that angel tax needs to be reduced for increasing incentives for investors and encouraging angel investors. Capital gain tax incentives should be optimised for both domestic and overseas investors as the move would not only increase domestic investments in startups but would also enhance foreign inflows, Upadhyaya said. Start-up India was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 16, 2016, to nurture innovation, promote budding entrepreneurs and drive economic growth and employment opportunities. Under this, the government provides incentives to startups such as income tax benefits, easy exit options and inspector raj-free regime and capital gains tax exemption. Upadhyaya said the definition of angel funding should be looked at in better terms to involve more investors not only from India but from overseas. Recently, the government allowed startups to avail tax concession only if total investment including funding from angel investors does not exceed Rs 10 crore. Further he said India and Japan holds huge opportunities to enhance cooperation in this sector. "Consumer tech is what entrepreneurs should explore opportunities" in both the countries, he told PTI. Entrepreneur and angel investor Upadhyaya launched GHV in 2014. The company provides funding support and mentorship to startups. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US is looking to reschedule the first two-plus-two dialogue with India following the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as President Donald Trump's new Secretary of State, the Pentagon said today. Pompeo, 54, a former CIA director was sworn-in as the 70th US Secretary of State yesterday replacing Rex Tillerson who was fired by Trump in March. "It (two plus two) was postponed. And so we will work with State, now that Secretary Pompeo is in the seat, to look to reschedule that in the near future," Chief Pentagon Press Secretary Dana White told reporters at her weekly conference. The much-awaited dialogue between the two countries is likely to take place sometime this summer, most probably after the historic summit meeting between Trump and the North Korean leader Kim Jong un. The two-day dialogue, announced last summer when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a successful meeting with President Trump at the White House, was tentatively scheduled for April 18-19. The dialogue involves defense and foreign ministers from the two countries. Secretary White also said the Pentagon was looking to Pakistan and work with them to find opportunities to further regional security. She ssaid Pakistan could do more in its fight against terrorism. "We think Pakistan can do more, and we'll look to them and work with them to find opportunities to further regional security," White said, adding that there are opportunities with Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Police seized sharp edged weapons from a local committee office of the CPI(M) during a raid at Champaknagar in West Tripura district, about 22 km from here. Acting on a tip-off, police raided the CPI(M) office in Jirania sub-division and seized two machetes and a Khukri (Nepalese knife) among others, officiating Superintendent of Police of (Police Control) Harkumar Debbarma said. Nobody was arrested during the raid, the SP said. Reacting to the incident, BJP spokesperson Mrinal Kanti Deb alleged that the arms recovery once again proved that large number of arms was stored for post-election violence by the CPI(M). "They stored these weapons in CPI(M) party offices before the elections to terrorize our supporters. This is a commendable work by the state police and a welcome move for safety and security of common people," Deb told reporters. CPI(M) state secretary Bijan Dhar denied his party's role in storing weapons and claimed that most offices of the party were not in their possession. "Most of our party offices have been grabbed by BJP hoodlums and put under lock and key. They have planted these weapons," Dhar said. Meanwhile, in a separate raid, the police seized brown sugar, narcotics tablets and an air gun from a house at Math Chowmuhani area and arrested three persons in this connection, a police officer said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today ordered dispensing with the personal appearance of former Union minister P Chidambaram's wife Nalini, his son Karti and daughter-in-law Srinidhi before Income Tax authorities in connection with notices issued against them under the black money act. The interim order was passed on appeals filed by the three family members of the former finance minister challenging the April 12 order of Justice T S Sivagnanm refusing to restrain the Income Tax (IT) authorities from sanctioning any prosecution for alleged economic offences against them. The three alleged that the actions of the IT officials were politically motivated and vindictive. When the appeals came up before the summer vacation bench of Justices V Bharathidasan and N Seshasayee, it dispensed with their personal appearance before the IT authorities. The single judge bench had refused to allow their prayers for restraining sanctioning of prosecution by the IT department under the Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and Imposition of Tax 2015 Act. The Deputy Director of Income Tax (Investigation) had issued notices to the three seeking details of documents in respect of a property in Cambridge in the UK and with regard to certain investments in Nano Holdings LLC in the US. Justice Sivagnanm had directed the IT department to pass orders in accordance with the provisions of the Act within the time stipulated in it and also held that all the three are entitled to canvass all the factual and legal contentions before the authorities. In their writ appeals, the three submitted that the single judge bench had erred by not issuing a writ of mandamus. The proceedings were initiated against them under section 10(1) of the black money act for which replies supported by documents and evidence had been submitted and clarifications sought for were also provided, they said. They said IT returns had been filed already with details for the assessment years 2015-16 and 2016-17. Despite the explanation and submission of particulars sought by the authorities, no orders were passed on the notices. The "deliberate delay" on the part of the IT authorities in passing the order was clear evidence that the officials were not being honest or diligent in the discharge of their statutory duty, they alleged. Hence, a direction ought to have been issued by the single judge bench to the officials to perform their duty under law, they contended seeking to set aside the order of Justice Sivagnanm. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today reserved orders on the anticipatory bail petition filed by actor-politician S Ve Shekher in connection with a case registered against him for sharing a post containing alleged derogatory references to the media and women scribes. Reserving the orders, Justice S Ramathilagam sought to know why the police were biased in taking action, when they have initiated action against mediapersons and arrested them. "Why the different approach in the case of Shekher?" he asked. During the hearing, the counsel for interveners, objecting to the anticipatory bail, argued that the comments posted by Shekher not only degraded any individual woman but all women. In the recent past, both BJP leaders, H Raja and SV Shekher had been making alleged defamatory comments on social media against various political and national leaders and if any leniency was shown, it would create a bad precedent, the counsel said. The petitioner submitted that almost all offences except instigation of violence of particular section of people is non-bailable. Stating that his ailing 84-year-old mother has been undergoing mental agony ever since he landed in trouble, the petitioner submitted that he would abide by the orders of the court if anticipatory bail was granted. Additional Public Prosecutor Riaz submitted that an FIR has been registered against Shekher and the case is under investigation. Maintaining that he was not the author of the Facebook post and that it was forwarded by him after receiving it from one Thirumalai Sa, the petitioner said he was not aware of the contents of the post. "I am in no way connected to the said message, which was simply forwarded by me without reading the contents of the message only on the bona fide impression and over-confidence," he had said. He had said the Cyber Crime Cell of the police had registered a case against him under IPC sections, including those related to intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace, statements conducing to mischief, promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will and word, gesture act intended to insult the modesty of a woman. Besides, he had also been charged under the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act. The petitioner submitted that the case had been registered by making baseless allegations as if he had defamed the whole press fraternity, in particular outraging the modesty of women and there was no iota of truth in it. He had said there was no intention on his part to defame or hurt anyone. There was nothing to show that he had forwarded the alleged message with the intent to cause fear or alarm among public or induce to commit an offence against the State or against the public tranquility. Journalists have condemned Shekher for the post, which he deleted later, and staged protests against him. The post allegedly made insinuations against the media and women journalists following the 'patgate' row involving Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit. The 78-year-old governor had patted a woman journalist on the cheek, apparently seeking to avoid answering a question she had asked. Purohit later apologised to her. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 51-year-old visitor from Maharashtra died today at the Gulmarg tourist resort of Kashmir after complaining of stomach pain, police said. Anil Pandurang Shinde, who was staying at a hotel in Gulmarg, complained about stomach pain in the early hours hours and was shifted to a local Primary Health Centre, a police spokesman said. He said Shinde was declared brought dead by the doctors at the health centre. The body of the deceased has been shifted to sub-district hospital Tangmarg for further legal formalities, the spokesman said, adding inquest proceedings have been initiated to ascertain cause of death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A delegation of Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) today urged the Maharashtra government to make its stand clear within a fortnight on the community's various demands, including reservation in jobs and education. The delegation met state Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil here and discussed the issue with him. Addressing a press conference after the meeting, Vinod Patil, one of the representatives of the MKM, said the Maratha community's patience was being tested by the government and it cannot be guaranteed that the protests will remain silent henceforth. "We have not issued any threat or ultimatum to the government. But"we are making a final request to it. The government says decisions have been taken, but none of them have been implemented so far. If the decisions don't reach the beneficiaries, what is the use?" he asked. "We have asked the government to make its stand clear by May 18. Silent morchas may not remain silent for a long time," he said. According to him, the morcha representatives had submitted a list of 20 demands. "The prominent demands include 50 per cent reservation in jobs and education, implementation of the capital punishment given to accused in the Kopardi rape case, amending the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act to prevent its misuse," he said. The Maratha community had started holding silent marches in parts of the state after the alleged rape and murder of a Maratha girl by Dalits at Kopardi village in Ahmednagar district in July 2016. A silent morcha was held in Mumbai on August 9 last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 24-year-old man was arrested today for his alleged involvement in the killing of a criminal and his associate in Dwarka over a property dispute, police said. The accused, Arjun Dalal alias Monu, was nabbed this afternoon from Dwarka on the basis of a tip-off, they added. Yesterday, Sandeep alias Mental (36) and his associate, Pawan Maan alias Ponny (29) were shot in Bamnoli village while on their way to the Dwarka court for a hearing in one of the cases in which Sandeep was an accused. Some of the accused had come in a car and the others on a motorcycle. The police analysed CCTV recordings and interrogated several people. The police teams raided a number of places in Delhi, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to nab the accused who were identified from the CCTV footage, they added. It was learnt that Dalal would come to Dwarka to meet his associate and collect some money today. A trap was laid and the accused arrested, police said. As he did not have any reliable source of income, Dalal got involved with other criminals. He became part of a gang led by Rajeev and was arrested in an Excise Act case in 2016, they said. The deceased Sandeep was also a criminal of Najafgarh area and also worked as a property dealer, said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) Shibesh Singh. Sandeep had threatened to eliminate Rajeev following a dispute over a newly constructed property in Pochanpur Village of Dwarka. Rajeev discussed this with his associates and they planned to eliminate Sandeep. Arjun and Akshay decided to help him and collected information about movement of the deceased, he said. One of their other friends, Mani, also joined them. They learnt that Sandeep would go to the Dwarka court in his car on the morning of May 5. The accused followed him in a car and a motorcycle. They got a chance to attack him in Bamnoli village and fired indiscriminately. The car used by the accused was seized from Dalal while the motorcycle was seized yesterday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Chinese man drove his car into pedestrians several times, killing two people, including a policeman, in central Hubei province, state media reported today. The driver allegedly drove directly into the bystanders several times, the state-run Xinhua agency reported on the incident that took place on Monday. The policeman, Liu Guibin, in Jingshan County of the province had rushed along with a colleague to the spot after they were alerted about the speeding car. They tried to intervene but the driver could not be stopped. Meanwhile, they called for back-up and tried to get pedestrians out of harm's way, it said. The driver drove directly into the bystanders several times before Liu was run over as he was pushing others out of the way, the report said. Liu was sent to hospital, but he and another victim died while three others were injured, it said. The accused driver was later arrested, with the police saying that a probe was underway but his motive was still not clear. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In yet another horrific incident of crime against minor girls, a nine-year-old was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 55-year-old man in Guntur district, triggering outrage with locals vandalising his house and women's outfits staging protests today. The incident occurred last night at Dachepalli village, police said. The man, the girl's neighbour, committed the crime after luring her to his house by promising her chocolates, they said. Police said special teams have been formed to trace the accused Subbaiah who is absconding. The girl has been hospitalised and her condition is stable, district collector Kona Sasidhar told reporters after visiting her at the hospital and consoling her family. DGP M Malakondaiah said as many as 15 police teams were searching for the accused, a rickshaw puller. Subbaiah was married twice. He was estranged from his wives and staying with his son at Dachepalli, the DGP said. Condemning the incident, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister N Chinarajappa directed police to take stringent action against the accused. Naidu announced a reward to those who help the police in nabbing the culprit. Police said locals vandalised the man's house after coming to know about the incident. They blocked vehicular traffic on Addanki-Narketpalli highway through the night demanding action, they added. Women's organisations staged a protest in front of the hospital this morning, demanding strict action against the culprit, the police said. YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan condemned the incident. Kalyan expressed anguished over the incident. "...To create a fear among people from committing such crimes, we should have a system wherein the guilty are punished publicly. I wish that to happen..." he tweeted. Gurazala MLA Yerapatineni Srinivasa Rao announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the girl's family. The incident comes amid outrage over the Kathua incident in which an eight-year-old girl was allegedly held captive, tortured and raped before being killed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two days after lavishing praise on H D Deve Gowda, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today hit out at the JDS headed by him, accusing it of doing a "disservice" by forming alliance with forces of extremism and communalism. Modi said JDS would not win the assembly polls in the state under any circumstances and quoted political pundits, saying they had predicted that Gowda's party would be a "distant third", that too after "limping." "JDS will lose election. There is no one to ask them. But JDS has done a big disservice as they have invited from other states extremist (ativadi) and highly communalist (ati" sampradayvadi) forces and those who support extremism into Karnataka and have formed an alliance with them," he said. In remarks that caused ripples in state political circles, Modi had on Tuesday lashed out at Congress president Rahul Gandhi for "insulting" Gowda, saying it showed his "arrogance." Showering praise on the former prime minister at an election rally in Bantwal, Modi had also said Gowda was one of the most respected and tallest leaders for whom he had great respect. Gowda had however downplayed Modi's remarks, saying it did not mean that the two parties were cosying upto each other. Hitting out at JDS, Modi said "Under no circumstance will JDS be able to form the government. They cannot remove Congress and they cannot change Karnataka's fate. This is the opinion of everyone. Then by voting for JDS will the intelligent Karnataka voter waste his vote?" Modi asked the crowd. He said the people of Karnataka had decided to demolish the Congress' last fort. Modi said the Congress starts saying that no one will get majority and that no one will be able to form government when it is certain that it would be defeated whether it was 2014 polls or state elections. "When those singing (the) Congress song start spreading about hung assembly in the air, it is certain that BJP will form a government under the leadership of Yeddyurappa on May 15," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The White House has given a thumbs up to last week's meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying it was a "good thing" that the world leaders were getting along. After their informal summit meeting in China for two days, Modi and Xi agreed to improve communication over military and security matters. The two leaders directed their militaries to earnestly implement various confidence building measures agreed upon between the two sides, including the principle of mutual and equal security, and strengthen existing institutional arrangements and information sharing mechanisms to prevent incidents in border regions. Asked to comment on the summit, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders yesterday said the Trump administration had good relationship with both India and China, and wanted things to continue down the same road. "(I) certainly think it's always good when other world leaders are getting along," Sanders told reporters at her daily conference. "And, certainly, when we can cooperate, that's definitely a good thing. We have a great relationship with both countries and hope to continue to do so," Sanders said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Playing the nationalism card, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today accused the Congress of "insulting national heroes" and the Indian Army by "questioning" the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes. He also said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi "disrespected" the national song 'vande mataram'. "Forgetting the national heroes, patriots and history is the nature of a family in the Congress. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and V K Krishna Menon insulted General (KS) Thimayya, who had to resign. They neglected General (K M) Cariappa," Modi told an election rally in Kalaburagi in Karnataka, as he sought to connect with the voters of the home state of the two legends of the Army. Invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the prime minister said the independent India's first home minister, was instrumental in forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad, who controlled the region where Kalaburagi is located, to accede to the country. "But one family in the Congress loses its sleep whenever Sardar Patel's name crops up," he said. Seeking to appeal to patriotic sentiments of voters, the prime minister raked up the issue of cross-LoC surgical strikes, claiming the Congress questioned the genuineness of the assault by the Indian Army. "They (Congress) sought proof about the genuineness of the surgical strike. Bodies of Pakistani soldiers were carried on trucks, a newspaper said that...and they need proof. Should our soldiers go on such operations with a camera or a gun?" he said. The prime minister said a Congress leader even called the Army chief a "goonda" (gangster) after the surgical strike. The prime minister reached out to farmers of Karnataka, saying his government would take up farming of pulses in a big way. Rejecting the Congress claim that it was a champion of Dalit causes, Modi referred to "atrocity" on a Dalit girl in Karnataka's Bidar. "But the state's ruling party did not speak about it. they had no candlelight protests," he said. "This party (Congress) only knows how to prostrate before the members of one family. But we have decided to construct memorials to the tribals who fought against the British since 1857 to 1947 when India became independent," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were in battleground Karnataka today, crossing swords over a plethora of issues including corruption, days before the state goes to polls. Seeking to give an adrenaline boost to the BJP's campaign to wrest the state from the Congress and form its government for a second time, Modi addressed three election meetings and Gandhi four during their whirlwind trip. The Karnataka government is a "gold medalist" in corruption and Congress leaders are "drunk on power", Modi told a public meeting in state capital Bengaluru. Gandhi hit right back, accusing the BJP of corruption in Rafale fighter jet deal and protecting fugitive diamantiare Nirav Modi, while questioning the prime minister's "silence". Dubbing the Siddaramaiah government as "seedha rupaiah government" (corrupt), a punning allusion to the chief minister's name, Modi said an ordinary man cannot get done any work without bribing officials. "Because of this seedha rupaiah government Karnataka is immersed in debt," he told an election rally in Ballari. Addressing a rally in Bengaluru, he called the Siddaramaiah government a "gold medalist in corruption where there is competition between departments and ministers over who is more corrupt." "There is lawlessness in the city not because of nothing. A Congress MLA's son beats up innocent people and the government protects him...their leaders are drunk on power," he said, referring to lawmaker N A Haris' son Mohammad Nalapad, who beat up a man at a cafe in Bengaluru some time back. In the line of Congress fire over the BJP granting party tickets to Reddy brothers, accused of involvement in a humongous illegal iron ore mining scam, the prime minister hit back. "This Karnataka government frustrated all attempts by the Centre to stop illegal mining in Ballari....to allow auction of mining blocks. But the Siddaramaiah government failed to formulate a mining policy in five years," he told an election rally in Ballari. Seeking to turn the tables on the Congress for its criticism of the BJP over Reddy brothers, Modi said,"The honesty of Ballari is being insulted...as if only thieves and looters live in Ballari." The prime minister said it was the nature of the Congress to play vote bank "It is an anti-Dalit, anti-Adivasi, anti-OBC party. When we wanted to accord constitutional status to the OBC commission, it blocked our move," he said. Gandhi, who addressed election rallies in Aurad, Bhaki, Humnabad and Bidar, slammed Modi for personal attacks against him. "Whenever Modi is afraid....I would tell you about Modi's character....he launches a personal attack on a person. He will talk ill of a person, will talk wrong of a person. That is the difference between me and him," Gandhi said. Gandhi, however, said whether the attacks on him were right or wrong, he would not make any personal attack on Modi because he was the prime minister. "I will not attack him personally however much insolent his attacks are. But I will ask questions. I am a soldier of the Congress not an RSS man who spreads hatred. "He should answer my question how will he ensure that the farmers get minimum support price (MSP). How will he tackle unemployment which is highest in eight years? But he will not answer these questions. Since he has nothing to talk about farmers, unemployment, corruption and women's safety, he speaks about me and Mallikarjun Kharge," he said. "We will defeat BJP with love," he said. Gandhi also slammed Modi over the BJP giving tickets to controversial mining barons Reddy brothers. "In film Sholay, there was Gabbar Singh. You brought Gabbar Singh Tax (an allusion to GST) but this time you have gone even further. You have fielded the entire gang of Gabbar Singh. "There is Gabbar, Sambha, Kalia, and all of them.... the Reddy brothers gang, which was in jail....You are trying to get them inducted into Assembly, and you tell the country that you are fighting against corruption," he said. Gandhi said Modi can criticise him as much as he wants, but must answer his questions. "Are you not trying to induct the Reddy brothers into the Assembly? Yes or no. Nirav Modi ran off with Rs 30,000 crore. What have you done on that front? Why was your mouth shut? "In Rafale (deal), you snatched contract from (public sector) HAL. The Aircraft which was to cost Rs 700 crore, you bought for Rs 1500 crore. You snatched jobs from youths, and while doing this you gave the contract to your friend. You don't talk about this too," he said. He also referred to the rape and murder of an eight- year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir and another such incident in Uttar Pradesh. "Your words are hollow, you make false promises. Girls are being raped in Kashmir....what your MLA says in UP after a rape incident....Dalits and Muslims are being attacked.... Speak up Modi ji (kuchh to boliye)," Gandhi said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On his maiden foreign visit after assuming office, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will travel to Guatemala, Panama and Peru from May 6-12 and hold talks with the top leadership of those countries to boost ties in areas such as trade and information technology. Naidu will first travel to Guatemala on May 6 in what would be the highest-level visit from either side. The visit would focus on various areas of mutual cooperation such as protection of wildlife, human resource and training, and information technology among others, Preeti Saran, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters during a briefing here. During his visit, Naidu will meet Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, Vice President Jafeth Cabrera and Speaker of Parliament Alvaro Arzu Escobar. Naidu will then reach Panama on May 7 for the second leg of his visit. In Panama, Naidu will hold meetings with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo and discuss cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, education and economic cooperation. The vice president will also visit the Panama Canal, Saran said. On the third and final leg of his visit, Naidu will visit Peru. He will hold talks with Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra and Vice President Mercedes Araoz among other leaders. He will also attend an event to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Peru. The vice president's discussions with the leadership of that country will cover the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including trade, commerce investment, IT, medicine, space, defence and culture, Saran said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) NASA is poised to launch its first lander to Mars since 2012, an unmanned spacecraft called InSight that aims to listen for quakes and unravel the mystery of how rocky planets like Earth form. It is scheduled to launch on Saturday at 7:05 am Eastern time from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and if all goes as planned, it should land on the Red Planet November 26. Since the Earth and Mars likely formed by similar processes 4.5 billion years ago, the US space agency hopes the lander -- officially known as Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) -- will shed light on what made them so different. "How we get from a ball of featureless rock into a planet that may or may not support life is a key question in planetary science," said Bruce Banerdt, InSight principal investigator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "We'd like to be able to understand what happened." On Earth, these processes have been obscured over billions of years by earthquakes and the movement of molten rock in the mantle, he said. But Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun and Earth's smaller and less geologically active neighbour, may yield more clues. The lander will gather information using three instruments: a French-made seismometer, a device to help scientists on Earth keep precise track of the lander's location as Mars rotates, and a self-hammering probe that will monitor the flow of heat in the planet's subsurface. The lander aims to rest in an isolated spot and detect "marsquakes," which NASA described as "like a flashbulb that illuminates the structure of the planet's interior." Scientist expect to pick up as many as 100 quakes during the mission. Most are expected to be less than 6.0 on the Richter scale. Studying how seismic waves pass through the crust, mantle and core of Mars can help scientists learn more about what the layers are made of and how deep they are. The Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure was made by the French Space Agency. The heat probe, called the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package, was made by the German Space Agency, with the participation of the Polish Space Agency. NASA's pair of Viking landers in the late 1970s had seismometers but only one of them worked. It was much less sensitive because it was bolted on top of the spacecraft. In contrast, InSight's seismometer will be picked up with a robotic arm and placed directly on the ground. InSight aims to be the first NASA instrument to land on Mars since the Curiosity rover which arrived in 2012 and is still working. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Commission for Minorities has sought a report from the Aligarh district administration on police action on students demanding arrest of members of a right-wing outfit which protested displaying of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's portrait on the varsity campus, sources said today. The NCM has asked for a report from the local administration after former members of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students' union made a complaint to the panel. Their complaint does not talk about the portrait, but the police action on students. The NCM has asked the district administration to submit the report about it in three days, a source added. The row over Jinnah's portrait triggered a right-wing protest and violence on the AMU campus yesterday. At least six people were injured when the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students, demanding the arrest of protesters who had earlier barged into the campus shouting slogans. Hospital sources had said about 20 students were treated for injuries, though a university official gave the lower number. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It will be a public holiday in Nepal's Province No. 2 on May 11 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Janakpur to offer prayers at the famous Janaki Temple and attend a felicitation ceremony, the provincial government announced today. More than 50,000 people from all eight districts of the province are expected to gather at the Barhabigha ground, where the felicitation ceremony would be organised to honour Prime Minister Modi, officials said. There will be a public holiday in all eight districts of the province on the day, according to the provincial Cabinet. The province, bordering India, is Nepal's second most populous province. Security has been stepped up in Janakpur, 225 km south of Kathmandu, which is famous for Janaki Temple, the early 20th century shrine. Modi will fly directly to Janakpur, famous for Janaki Temple, from Bihar's capital Patna on May 11 during his two-day official visit to Nepal. From Janakpur, Modi will fly to Mustang. Later in the day, he will fly to Kathmandu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was found vandalised in a park in the city's Narkeldanga area today, triggering protest by local people and workers of the All India Forward Bloc which he founded. A complaint was lodged at the Narkeldanga police station against unknown persons by AIFB activists, a senior Kolkata Police officer said. "The bust of Netaji was damaged probably last evening or last night. Some of the residents in the area spotted it this morning and it was brought to our notice. We are looking into the matter," the officer said. The bust was erected at the park 10 years ago during the Left Front rule. "We have lodged a complaint at the police station. We want the police to take action against the culprits. Otherwise, we will start demonstrations outside the police station," general secretary of the Forward Bloc's youth wing Sudipto Banerjee said. The bust has now been covered with a piece of cloth and work to restore it would start soon, the officer said. Bose had formed the AIFB in 1939 after resigning as the president of the Indian National Congress. It re-established itself as an independent political party after Independence. Statues of several political leaders were damaged across the country in the recent past. The statue of communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin was razed with a bulldozer by a group of people in Belonia town, 90 km from Agartala, after the BJP-IPFT coalition came to power ending the 25-year-old CPI(M)-led Left Front rule. The statues of Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mukherjee and Dalit icon B R Ambedkar, among others, were vandalised drawing widespread condemnation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bust of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose was found vandalised inside a park in the city's Narkeldanga area this morning leading to protests by the local people, police said. A complaint was lodged at the local police station against unknown miscreants by activists of the Forward Bloc, a senior official of Kolkata Police told PTI. "The bust of Netaji was damaged probably last evening or last night. Some of the residents spotted it this morning and it was brought to our notice. We are looking into the matter," the IPS officer said. Netaji's bust has been erected inside a children's park after the leader. "We have lodged a complaint at the police station. We want the police to take action against the culprits within 24 hours. Otherwise we will start demonstrations outside the police station," General Secretary of Forward Bloc Youth wing, Sudipto Banerjee, said. The bust has now been covered with a piece of cloth and work to restore it to its old form will soon resume, the officer said. A number of statues of political leaders were vandalised across the country in March. The first such incident was reported in Tripura after the BJP-IPFT coalition came to power trouncing the 25-year-old CPI(M)-led Left Front government. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Green Tribunal today asked the Delhi, four northern states and Bihar to respond to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report on 20 most-polluted cities in the world. According to the WHO global air pollution database, 14 out of the 15 most- polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 concentrations are in India -- the worst being Kanpur with a Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 concentration of 173 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Faridabad, Varanasi and Gaya. A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Jawad Rahim allowed lawyer Sanjay Upadhyay, appearing for Vardhaman Kaushik who has filed a petition against worsening air quality in Delhi-NCR, to place on record the WHO report seeking response from the Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Bihar governments. The states have been asked to clarify their stand by May 21, the next date of hearing. Delhi and Varanasi are among the 14 Indian cities that figured in a WHO list of 20 most-polluted cities in the world in terms of PM2.5 levels. The WHO data also said that nine out of 10 people in the world breathe air containing high levels of pollutants. In terms of PM10 levels, 13 Indian cities figured in the 20 most-polluted cities of the world in 2016 -- Delhi being the worst. The Indian cities that registered very high levels of PM2.5 pollutants were: Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Lucknow, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur followed by Ali Subah Al-Salem in Kuwait and a few cities in China and Mongolia. During the hearing, Upadhyay told the bench that states should be directed to file action taken report in pursuance to the WHO report. He said various states have filed action plan to combat worsening air quality and claimed that everything was under control, but 14 cities still figured in the list of 20 most polluted. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has questioned a key woman ISIS operative in the Philippines who was ordering Indian cadres arrested by it to carry out terror and subversive activities in the country, the agency's spokesman said. Giving details of the overseas investigations, the spokesman said that during the NIA's probe of ISIS-related cases registered in 2015 and 2016, it was found that three accused persons -- Mohd Naser (Tamil Nadu), Mohd Sirajuddin and Adnan Hasan (Karnataka) -- were in online contact with the woman identified as Karen Aisha Al Muslimah alias Karen Aisha Hamidon on platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. It further came on record that Karen was also in online contact with many other Indians. The questioning of the three accused, who have been since named in a charge sheet, and data retrieved from the digital devices seized from them at the time of their arrest had revealed the her name. Karen is a resident of Barangay Ususan village of Taguig city in Manila using mobile numbers +639300183542 and +639165017304 and is one of the most active ISIS operatives based in Philippines between 2014 and December 2015, the agency said. She was running different Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels for motivating, radicalising and instigating her online associates from different countries including India to fight on behalf of ISIS in conflict zones, the spokesman said, adding she was also in telephonic contacts with many other Indian nationals. In order to collect the evidence against the accused persons and ascertaining her role in the crime, requests under Letters Rogatory (LR), issued by the special courts of NIA, in Delhi and Jaipur were forwarded through proper channel to the competent judicial authority, Philippines, seeking legal assistance in the investigation. She was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippines on October 11, 2017 and she has been charged for incitement to rebellion. In pursuance of the LR, a two-member team of the NIA was in Philippines from April 24 to 28 during which she was questioned at length. Her questioning has resulted in confirmation of several facts revealed during the investigation and also provided significant leads about her associates in India, who were active online, to propagate the ideology of the ISIS and also about a few Indians residing abroad who have helped her financially, the spokesman said. The leads obtained are being investigated, the spokesman added. The NIA was now waiting for handing over of evidence through legal channel by the Philippines so that the case against the arrested persons becomes stronger in the court, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amidst hectic negotiations to resolve the Naga insurgency problem, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said there was no deadline for finding a solution to the decades-old issue, but the focus of the talks was on reaching an agreement as early as possible. Rio also said the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), which empowers security forces to conduct operations, arrest anyone, anywhere, without prior notice, should be removed from everywhere, but the controversial law was still in force in Nagaland as the situation in the state was still not conducive. "There is no time-line or deadline for signing the Naga peace accord. But the aspiration is to reach in a solution as early as possible," he said here after meeting Home Minister Rajnath Singh here. Rio said peace negotiations have been going on between the Issak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the interlocutor of the government for the last two decades and hence it was time to resolve it as soon as possible. Asked about the possibilities of raising objections by some neighbouring states due to the demand of integration of Naga inhabited areas, the chief minister said, "We don't want to talk about conflict and focus is on to co-exist". Rio had a 45-minute meeting with the home minister during which he discussed various aspects of the Naga peace talks. A framework agreement was signed on August 3, 2015, by NSCN-IM general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah and the government's interlocutor R N Ravi in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The framework agreement came after over 80 rounds of negotiations spanning 18 years, with the first breakthrough made in 1997 when the ceasefire agreement was sealed after decades of insurgency in Nagaland which started soon after India's independence in 1947. Rio also said a meeting of various tribal bodies has been convened on May 11 in Kohima to discuss the ongoing peace talks. Asked about AFSPA, which is in force in Nagaland even though it was completely removed from Meghalaya and partly from Arunachal Pradesh, the chief minister said, "Our demand and desire is that it should be removed. The AFSPA still exists in Nagaland as the situation is still not conducive". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan today said there was "no deal" with the US for the release of an imprisoned doctor, who helped CIA track down Osama bin Laden in 2011. Dr Shakeel Afridi was arrested after Osama was killed in a covert US raid at a compound in Pakistan's Abbotabad city on May 2, 2011. The US has been asking Pakistan to release him. Initially, he was accused of organising a fake immunization campaign for the CIA to confirm presence of then al-Qaeda chief but later awarded 33 years sentence for alleged links with militants. His sentence was later reduced to 23 years. He was shifted from a Peshawar jail to a jail in Rawalpindi last week, giving air to various kinds of speculations, including one that American secret agencies were planning a jail break to take Afridi away. Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal today rejected all speculations about handing over Afridi to the US. Faisal said he was not "aware of any deal regarding Dr. Shakeel Afridi" and the "subject of the reported jail break is being dealt by the Ministry of Interior." He said Afridi will not be handed over to the US. "On behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, I can assure you that he is not being handed over to US," the spokesman said. Faisal also insisted that the authorities were not planning to swap Afridi for Aafia Siddiqui - who is currently serving a sentence in a US jail for trying to kill US agents and military officers in Afghanistan - or former Pakistani ambassador Hussain Haqqani who resides in the US and is the prime suspect in the Memogate scandal that surfaced in 2011. "I have no knowledge regarding the matter," he said. He said that Pakistan and the US were in discussions about the issue of restrictions on Pakistani diplomats and "we hope to resolve this issue amicably." Faisal also said that Pakistan believes that the Iran nuclear deal represents a very good example of negotiated settlement of complex issues. "We fully support the agreement and call upon all parties to continue to honour their commitments, pursuant to the agreement," he said. On Afghanistan, Faisal said that bringing the Taliban to the table is the shared responsibility of the international community and all those countries having contacts with the group should play a role in persuading them to come to the table. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Food and Civil Supplies Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu today assured farmers that they would not be left to suffer due to vagaries of nature. In the wake of untimely rains in several parts of the northern region, the minister said the state government stood firmly by the side of the farmers. "The government is committed to lift the last grain in the market and all the stakeholders involved, be it the farmers or the labourers, may rest assured that the government will not leave them in lurch," Ashu said. He said the Mandi Board has been directed to take concrete steps to upgrade the arrangements in mandis and ensure safety of food grains from the rain. The managing directors of procurement agencies have been asked to personally visit the markets in rain affected districts and hold detailed meetings with the administration and other stakeholders to resolve issues, if any, he said. Till May 2, 118 lakh metric tonne of wheat has been procured as against 112 lakh metric tonne last year on the same date. Besides, 83 lakh metric tonne of wheat grains have already been lifted as well, the minister said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) today said it has not received any fresh request from any probe agency for action against jeweller Nirav Modi, key accused in the PNB loan fraud case. "At this point of time, we have not received any specific request from our agencies regarding it," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters. He was asked about reports that Modi was in New York and whether the MEA was aware of it. "I cannot indulge in speculation. There are reports of him being in many countries. As far as the MEA is concerned, we come into the picture, once we receive a specific request from our agencies vis-a-vis from a particular country," Kumar said. On April 5, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh had told the Rajya Sabha that the MEA has submitted a request to Hong Kong authorities for provisional arrest of Modi. Modi had fled the country before the PNB fraud came to light. The MEA had revoked Modi's passport on February 23. Kumar said after revoking Modi's passport, the MEA had followed laid-down norms to inform all passport issuing authorities as well as its missions abroad about the action. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan today ridiculed the efforts of non-BJP parties to form a broad coalition to take on the ruling NDA, saying "there is no vacancy" for such an alliance for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. "No, there is nothing as such. There is no vacancy," he told reporters here when asked to comment on the ongoing efforts by some non-BJP parties to form an alliance for the next general elections. "Is anyone willing to accept Rahul Gandhi?" asked the LJP president, whose party is an ally of the ruling BJP at the Centre. "Mamata Banerjee is making her own front. Then there is K Chandrashekhar Rao and Chandrababu Naidu making their fronts. How many fronts will there be? By the time of the elections, these fronts will become defunct and people will vote for (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi," he said. On the BJP's outreach programme to woo scheduled caste voters with its leaders having dinner at Dalit houses, Paswan said, "If you are going to someone's place for dinner, where you are invited, where is the problem?" The problem happens, he said, when Congress president Rahul Gandhi eats food at a Dalit house and it is dubbed as 'krantikari' (revolutionary), whereas when BJP chief Amit Shah does so, he is criticised. "This should not happen."The LJP president also slammed BSP chief Mayawati referring to the recent Dalit protests in the country. As the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati was the first person to dilute the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act by issuing orders in 2007 that before registering an FIR in a case pertaining to Dalit atrocity, the SSP or a senior officer must conduct an inquiry, he said. Secondly, she also ordered that if any Dalit woman complained of rape, her medical test must be done, Paswan said. "And now when the Supreme Court is saying the same thing, she is trying to score brownie points. This is unfair and she should first say sorry to Dalits for the orders issued in 2007," he said. Asked to comment on reports that the Adityanath government might implement the quota within the quota system before the Lok Sabha polls, Paswan said, "In-principle no one can oppose it. We have formed the most backward classes commission and it will submit its report in three months. "We are of the opinion since the very beginning that if the government makes special provisions and gives it to the weakest sections of the Dalits who are illiterate and live in very poor conditions and we have to cut our share, then what is the problem? We are ready for this." He refused to be drawn into the controversy surrounding the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah at the AMU's student Union Hall. "Will the country ever endorse Jinnah. It will believe in (Mahatma) Gandhi, (Babasaheb) Ambedkar, (Ram Manohar) Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan (JP)," he said. The Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, who was on a day-long visit to the state capital, reviewed works of the FCI in the state and said 6,218 wheat purchase centres were being operated in UP. He said total wheat procurement in the Rabi marketing season 2018-19 was likely to cross 50 lakh tonnes. In April this year, the wheat procurement in UP has been 19.03 lakh tonnes, as compared to 9.04 lakh tonnes in the corresponding period last year, which is more than double, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Northeastern cultural and information centre, showcasing the vibrant culture of the region, will come up in Delhi soon, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said today. Singh disclosed this during a meeting on the 'Roadmap for Implementation of Cabinet Approval of Schemes for North East Council' here. The meeting reviewed the progress of various on-going projects in the Northeast region, an official statement said. Singh, Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), said the central government has been giving priority to the Northeastern region and the cultural and information centre will be a new gift to the people of the region. It is being built on 1.32 acre land in Dwarka and will act as a cultural convention and information hub of the region in Delhi, the minister said. Singh said it will have a library-cum-reading room with material on Northeastern region, an art gallery showcasing the region, an exhibition hall, a research centre, sale outlets as well guest houses. At present, the architecture, design and planning for the project are in process. The project is expected to be completed soon at an estimated cost of Rs 50-55 crore and it will be one of its kind in the country and will be a state-of-the-art project, he said. Keeping in view the large number of students of the Northeast studying in various educational institutes, various hostels are being set up for the students of the region, the statement said. These hostels are being set up in the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and a hostel exclusively for girl students from the Northeast is being set up in the Bengaluru University. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DUSU President Rocky Tuseed today said he has been sitting on an indefinite hunger strike for three days after he was denied entry to the Delhi University Foundation Day celebrations on May 1. The students body president said he is demanding a meeting with the Vice Chancellor Yogesh K Tyagi. "I would not give up until and unless the Vice Chancellor agrees to hear my issues... and gives us a concrete assurance that actions would be taken on all issues concerning students, which I have been raising with him for the past eight months," Tuseed said in a statement. On May 1, Tuseed alleged that security guards and Delhi Police personnel did not allow him in when he tried to enter the venue of 96th Foundation Day celebrations of the university. He appealed to students and teachers to join him in the protest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A storm whipped through a large swathe of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh last night, killing over 100 people in a trail of destruction that brought down mud houses, uprooted trees and flattened crops. At least 183 others were injured as a massive dust storm, followed by thunder showers, snapped power lines and sent tin roofs and street hoardings flying in parts of eastern Rajasthan and the adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh. The death toll this evening was 108. Seventy people were killed in UP and 83 injured. In Rajasthan, 38 died and another 100 were injured in the storm that hit the region around 7 pm. The worst period lasted about 45 minutes, according to reports from Dholpur in Rajasthan. But the extent of the damage was known only this morning. The Met department today predicted another dust storm in parts of Rajasthan and UP in the next 48 hours. A Met official told PTI in Jaipur that his department had been issuing dust storm warnings for the past couple of days. India Meteorological Department (IMD) Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said the trigger for the storm was a cyclonic circulation over Haryana. But also responsible were a western disturbance over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir, and easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal. In UP, Agra district was the worst hit, accounting for at least 43 deaths and injuries to 51 others, officials said. Besides Agra, the other storm-hit UP districts were Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. In Rajasthan, Bharatpur district was the worst affected with 19 killed. Nine people died in Alwar and nine in Dholpur, officials said. Two of those killed in Dholpur were from Agra in Uttar Pradesh. Power supply was cut off in many areas as the squall uprooted trees and snapped electricity cables. Officials said it was being gradually restored. In towns, the storm triggered traffic snarls. Some trains were delayed as overhead power cables broke. In rural areas, there were reports of crop being damaged due to hailstorm. Farmers lost cattle and poultry. UP Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said 160 heads of cattle were lost. Most of the injured in Rajasthan have been discharged from hospitals. Rajasthan's Disaster Management secretary Hemant Kumar Gera said some were undergoing primary treatment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed sorrow over the deaths and directed officials to coordinate with states to ensure speedy relief and rehabilitation. "Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted quoting Modi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath was in poll-bound Karnataka today, campaigning with Modi. He directed officials to personally monitor relief operations, warning against any laxity. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressed grief over the calamity and said district authorities have been directed to ensure all possible help to victims. Rajasthan government said contingency funds have been released to district administrations. Family members of those dead will get Rs 4 lakh as compensation, and those injured will get between Ts 60,000 and Rs 2 lakh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 4 kg gold ornaments were recovered from a man at Dumdum Metro Railway station during baggage scan by the RPF, a Metro official said here today. The man from Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh entered the station with the bag at 8.45 pm last night. A lady RPF constable detected the ornaments inside the bag during baggage scanning, the official said. Around 4.86 kg gold ornaments were recovered from the bag in presence of senior Metro and RPF officials, Metro spokesperson Indrani Banerjee said. He could not produce any valid document with regard to the ornaments he was carrying. The man, in his late 30's, was handed over to the Kolkata police. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan top civil-military leadership has directed authorities to "forcefully" pursue the alleged violations of Indus Waters Treaty with India and the World Bank, the guarantor of the agreement. The last round of talks between India and Pakistan over the issue was facilitated by the World Bank in Washington in September. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the 21st meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held at Prime Minister's House yesterday. According to an official statement, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission briefed the meeting on the water policy approved by the Council of Common Interests on April 24, 2018, along with a water charter, which was signed by the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of four provinces. The Committee observed that this was a very significant achievement and if properly implemented could prove instrumental in averting the water crisis that was seriously threatening Pakistan. Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, the waters of the eastern rivers -- the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- had been allocated to India and that of the western rivers --the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- to Pakistan except for certain non-consumptive uses. Pakistan had approached the World Bank in 2016, raising concerns over the designs of two hydroelectricity projects located in Jammu and Kashmir. It had demanded that the World Bank, which is the mediator between the two countries under the water distribution pact, set up a court of arbitration to look into its concerns. "The (NSC) Committee also directed the Water Resources Division to forcefully pursue the violations of the Indus Water Treaty by India with the World Bank," according to the statement. The Committee also reviewed the prevailing situation in the Indian Ocean Region and directed to keep a robust security posture for the maintenance of security and safeguarding national interests of Pakistan. The participants reviewed the proposed administrative reforms package for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. No details of the reforms have been so far shared officially, but according to various media reports the reforms may include steps to further integrate Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan. It is the region though which the multibillion dollars China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Director General ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Pakistani government today repatriated a young Indian national who was suffering from thalassemia, a blood disorder, officials said. Indian national Jitendra Arjunwar (21) was handed over to the BSF at Attari border where a formal medical was conducted before shifting him to civil hospital in Amritsar, the officials said. Arjunwar, a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Barghat town, was repatriated to India on humanitarian ground as he was suffering from thalassemia. He was released from Karachi's juvenile jail early morning and was flown to Lahore to hand over to Indian authorities at Attari border. He came back on the basis of an emergency travel certificate issued by the Pakistan based Indian High commission to facilitate him to reach back to India. At the time of his repatriation he was looking pale and week. Arjunwar had crossed into Pakistan unintentionally five years back from the Rajasthan border on August 12, 2013, following an heated argument with his family. He remained under treatment at the juvenile jail in Pakistan due to the disorder before being transferred to district jail Landhi where all the Indian prisoners are kept since January 2015. He was lodged in Hyderabad jail after being sentenced to one-year imprisonment by the court and shifted to Karachi on completing his jail term in 2014. Despite repeated correspondence with the Indian embassy, the Pakistani authorities could not ascertain Jitendra's status as an Indian citizen. However, his Indian citizenship was confirmed a few months back, after which the authorities decided to send him back. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's parliament today adopted a resolution to rename a university department in Islamabad currently named after the country's first Nobel laureate Abdus Salam, a renowned physicist who belonged to the minority Ahamdiyya community. The Physics department at the Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU) is renamed because Salam belonged to the Ahamdiyya community that was declared as non-Muslim in 1974 by the then parliament of Pakistan. Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in December 2016 had named the Physics centre as Professor Abdus Salam Centre for Physics to honour the only Pakistani scientist awarded Nobel Prize in any discipline of science. But his son-in-law Muhammad Safdar who is also a lawmaker of ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz today moved a resolution to rename the department after a Byzantine-origin astronomer Abu al-Fath Abd al-Rahman Mansur al-Khazini. Safdar last year in an anti-Ahmadi tirade in the National Assembly heavily criticised the move by Sharif to name QAU physics centre after an Ahmadiyya follower. Ahmadiyyas often face violence at the hands of extremists. It was not known if the resolution reflected policy of the party or it was a move to attract voters from hardline groups ahead of elections due any time after June. Salam shared the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics with Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg for helping to pave the way to the discovery of the "God particle", one of science's greatest achievements in the last 100 years. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A lawyer has approached the Delhi High Court for initiation of criminal contempt proceedings against the Congress party, its social media head Divya Spandana alias Ramya and two lawyers for their public remarks against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra. Besides contempt proceedings, the plea also seeks action against advocate Prashant Bhushan and senior advocate Indira Jaising for alleged offence of intentional insult with an intent to provoke breach of peace. According to the website of the Delhi High Court, the petition filed by lawyer Sanjjiiv Kkumaar is "under scrutiny" of the Registry and yet to be listed for hearing. The petitioner contends that Jaising should also face action for alleged offences of making statements which could cause public mischief and promoting enmity between different groups and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. The petition claims that Bhushan's comments questioning the basis of the Supreme Court verdict in judge B H Loya death case, Jaising's remarks about the apex court decision regarding the implementation of the SC/ST Act and Spandana's tweets on 'bench fixing' in the apex court, "scandalises or tends to scandalise or lowers or tends to lower the authority of the higher judiciary and various senior judges. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today condoled the loss of lives in a road accident in Bihar. At least 20 people on board a Delhi-bound bus were feared dead when the vehicle skidded off a highway in Bihar's East Champaran district, fell into a deep pit and caught fire. "My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to a bus accident in Motihari. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest," the Prime Minister was quoted as saying by the PMO. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Local polls for council and mayoral seats opened today across England, the first electoral test for Prime Minister Theresa May since the snap general election last year. May's Conservative Party in June last year suffered a major blow in the election after it failed spectacularly to maintain its majority in Parliament, creating new uncertainties ahead of the Brexit negotiations. The local elections, covering over 150 local authorities, spanning metropolitan and district councils, unitary authorities and London boroughs, will prove a crucial test for her Conservative party-led government as the first reflection of public opinion since the snap general election in June last year. May was among the first politicians to turn out to vote. The Conservatives, Labour and Lib Dems, as well as other smaller parties and resident groups will battle it out to either keep hold of or take control of around 4,371 seats in the country. Watford, Hackney, Newham, Lewisham and Tower Hamlets areas of London will elect mayors and the Sheffield City Region will choose its first-ever mayor. The majority of councils will declare votes overnight after polling closes at 10 PM (local time), but some will release results during the day tomorrow. There are no local elections taking place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a parliamentary by-election for the Westminster seat of West Tyrone in Northern Ireland the only poll outside England. Five councils will also be trialling a voter ID scheme to crackdown on electoral fraud. It could lead to a wider roll-out of the scheme in future elections if proved successful. May walked with her polling card alongside husband Philip May to vote at Westminster's Methodist Hall, near her 10 Downing Street office-cum-residence. Opposition Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn gave the cameras a thumbs-up as he posed outside his local station in Islington, north London. Both parties have suffered bad publicity in recent weeks, with the Tory government criticised over the ongoing Windrush immigration scandal and Labour struggling with anti-semitism allegations. A strong showing in the local elections will be seen as a sign of public opinion on issues such as immigration and Brexit, nearly a year after the Tories lost their majority in Parliament following the June 2017 general election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, the Ministry of External Affairs announced today. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Indian and Nepalese sides are working on various aspects of Modi's visit. "This visit of the Prime Minister to Nepal will be taking place on May 11 and 12. Apart from Kathmandu, the possibility of a visit to Janakpur and Muktinath is being explored," he told reporters. Last month, Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had visited India during which both sides had vowed to step up the overall engagement and take the relationship to newer heights on the basis of "equality, mutual trust and respect". In his talks with Modi, Oli had invited him to visit Nepal. Oli's visit was seen as an attempt to repair Nepal's ties with India. In 2016, Oli had publicly criticised India for interfering in Nepal's internal matters and accused it of toppling his government. After talks with Oli last month, Modi had said India would always stand by Nepal in its quest for all-round growth, asserting that deeper cooperation between the two neighbours would strengthen democracy in that country. Nepal's Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Tuesday said Modi will fly directly to Janakpur, famous for Janaki Temple, from Bihar's capital Patna on May 11. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Politicians rushing to Dalit households to break bread with them but ordering food, utensils and even waiters from outside is an "insult" to the people belonging to the weaker sections, BJP MP Sadhvi Savitri Bai Phoole said today. She said statues of B R Ambedkar were vandalised but the culprits not put behind bars and added that mere propaganda will not serve any political purpose. The sharp comments from the Bahraich MP come in the backdrop of a controversy over the recent visit to a Dalit home by a UP government minister belonging to her own party. Other saffron party leaders too have also visited Dalit households in recent past. "I disagree with the trend of politicians going to Dalits' homes. The father of our Constitution Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar was against caste system so those who follow him should not use caste for political purposes. Why only Dalit bhojs (meals) are hyped in the media and not similar events at places belonging to any other caste?" an angry Phoole asked while speaking to PTI. "The way media reports are showing that food, utensils and waiters are outsourced...It is an insult to Dalits. It is a mockery of Dalits," she said. Raising more questions, the saffron-robed parliamentarian asked why even after decades of independence she was referred to as a 'Dalit MP'. "The President is termed as Dalit President. Had Dr Ambedkar's Constitution been followed in letter and spirit, the situation would have been different," she asserted. She said if anyone wanted to enhance the honour of Dalits, they should have meals cooked by them and in their utensils. "Statues of Dr Ambedkar are damaged but arrests are not made. Dalits are murdered. Instead of ensuring justice to them, this propaganda will not help anyone", Phoole said. Phoole said more vacancies for SC community should be created and Dalits should be given jobs on priority. They should be given houses to live and quality education so that their living standards can rise, she added. In recent times, several leading politicans, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, had dinner at Dalit households. A recent such visit by a UP government minister Suresh Rana got mired in controversy as there were reports suggesting he may have brought his own food and water. The minister and his aides reached the home of a Dalit family in Aligarh to dine with them, but ordered food, mineral water and cutlery from outside as the family was not aware of the minister's visit, according to reports. Pictures of a well laid out dining table with an assortment of dishes and cutlery went viral on the social media. Minister Rana however rejected the allegations saying, "In fact, food was prepared in that village by the villagers themselves." Last month, BJP MP Phoole had taken part in a rally in Lucknow to protest against her own government alleging there was a "conspiracy to end reservations". She said "there was a conspiracy to end reservation and her government just playing the role of a mute spectator". Significantly, Phoole is not the only senior BJP leader who has raised questions about the trend of leaders rushing to Dalit homes for meals. At the event held at Dadri village near Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh two days back, the Union Minister Uma Bharti had said she does not take part in such community meals as she doesn't consider herself Lord Rama, who would purify people by having food with them. "I don't go to the houses of Dalits to have meals, though I support this (breaking bread with the people of scheduled caste category)," she said. Bharti said instead, she invites Dalits to her home to have food. "I want to share a secret with you. I don't take part in 'samrasta bhoj' (community meals) because I do not consider myself Lord Rama, who went to Shabri's home and the Dalits became purified," she said. "I am not Lord Rama that if I sit with them, they will be purified...instead if they come to our home and sit in our kitchen, we will be sanctified," she said. Bharti further said she believes that when she serves food to Dalits on her dining table, "her place...utensils will attain purity." Since the last couple of months, the RSS and the BJP are promoting samrasta bhoj (community meals) to spread across the message of social harmony and to eradicate casteism. Later, in a statement issued on May 1, Bharti said time has gone when for bringing "samrasta" one needed to have food with Dalits. "Instead, now you have to bring them on par politically, socially, in government and administration, among others, to ensure harmony," she said. The Union minister had expressed surprise when media persons asked her after the programme that she did not want to have food with Dalits. In her statement, Bharti, also said she had clarified from the dais during the programme that she was not aware she was supposed to take food in the programme, organised by her close associate Harshu Maharaj. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi greeted Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on his birthday today. The president greeted the chief minister over phone, an official release said. Born on 3 May 1955, Das was sworn in as the sixth chief minister of Jharkhand in 2014. In a tweet, Modi said, "Greetings to Jharkhand"s hardworking chief minister, @dasraghubar ji. His humility has always been endearing. He has been working round the clock to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Jharkhand. May Almighty bless him with a long and healthy life." In his reply, the chief minister, who turned 63, said he was highly obliged for the inspiring blessings of the prime minister on his birthday. Das said, "Pradhan mantri ji your good wishes provide strength and inspiration. You are yourself working untiringly without any break because of which the country is creating new records of development." "Under your leadership we are engaged in all round development in Jharkhand," the 63-year-old chief minister added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena's Chief of Staff was arrested today for soliciting a bribe from an Indian investor, Bribery Commission officials said. IK Mahanama, the chief of staff at presidential secretariat, along with P Dissanayake, who was heading the state-owned Timber Corporation, were arrested when they were accepting a bribe of 20 million Sri Lankan rupees, officials said. The Indian firm was to revive the eastern province's Kantalai state sugar factory owned by the state and was seeking state approval for the project, officials said. Mahanama was serving as the secretary to the ministry of lands when the Indian firm was applying for land clearance. He was recently promoted as Sirisena's Chief of Staff, the most influential position in the administration after Secretary to the President. Mahanama is the highest ranking official of the Sirisena administration to be arrested over graft charges. Sirisena was informed of the arrest as he chaired a meeting of other senior officials. Sirisena's predecessor Mahinda Rajapaksa's chief of staff Gamini Senarath was also arrested recently for financial wrong doing under Rajapaksa's 10-year rule. He is currently on bail. During his election campaign in 2015, Sirisena had vowed to crackdown on corrupt officials. Recently, Sirisena had claimed that the current government headed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was more corrupt than the previous regime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind today said the Indian film industry's "biggest strength" is that it unites people from across the country as he presented the National Film Awards for the year gone by. At the presentation ceremony of the 65th edition of the prestigious awards, he said cinema not only depicts the diversity but also plays an important role in "maintaining" it. His comments came amid a boycott by some winners who did not attend the ceremony after it was announced that the president will not be giving away all the awards due to time constraints. "The film industry unites us as few others do. We know our diversity is our unity - is our biggest strength. Our films not only depict this diversity but also play an important role in maintaining it. Our films' narratives are also attached to the culture. "Our films both entertain and educate. They also showcase the social challenges we still need to tackle. And most importantly, it is done through such a language that is understood by everyone," Kovind said. He also said that despite being a country rich in languages, cinema is a language in itself that speaks to so many people across vast landscapes at the same time. "Films are made in a variety of languages in India, from Bhojpuri to Tamil, Marathi to Malayalam to several others. And yet cinema is a language in itself. Hindi cinema has probably done more than any other institution to popularise Hindi as a language across the country. One doesn't have to be a Bengali to appreciate the humanism and the nuance of a Satyajit Ray or a Ritwik Ghatak film. "We need not know Telugu to be mesmerised by the epic of 'Baahubali'. And let us not forget that A R Rahman - who has won the National Award again - made an early impression even among those who did not understand the Tamil words of the songs, but were nevertheless enchanted by his music," he said. This year's Dadasaheb Phalke winner actor Vinod Khanna and best actress winner Sridevi received special mentions by the president and so did Ladakhi language film "Sinjar" and Assamese language "Village Rockstars", the best feature film. Kovind said from the country's first full-length feature film "Raja Harishchandra" by Phalke in 1913, Indian cinema has come a long way, having as progressed in terms of "technical excellence, sound effects, cinematography, experiments with forms, out-of-box scripts and what goes behind and in front of the camera" that have revolutionised the films. The creative scale, artistic expression and budgets have all expanded, he added. He asserted that films are "one of our foremost exports and an important device for connecting the global Indian community". "The Indian film industry is among the largest film industries in the world with about 1, 500 films a year. It is an expression of Indian soft power as a transcendental footprint. Our film are watched and appreciated in Japan, Egypt, China and the United States and Russia and so many far off countries... India is a part of an integrated ecosystem but it needs to climb up... It is gaining traction as a filmmaking destination." Kovind also said he is "optimistic" about the recently launched e-Cinepramaan, the online film certification system under the Central Board of Film Certification will be an enabler of transparency and efficiency. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Qatar is expecting 15 per cent growth in travellers from India this year especially as the Arab country has made visa free entry for Indian nationals. "India is our number one source market with 3,33,708 people from the sub-continent visiting Qatar in 2017. In the first quarter of this year we have already witnessed 15 per cent growth with 1,10,000 visitors from India. For the whole year we are expecting a similar growth of 15 per cent over last year," Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) chief marketing and promotion officer Rashed AlQurese told PTI here. Qatar waived entry visa requirements for Indian citizens last year. Indian nationals do not require any prior visa arrangements and can obtain a visa waiver upon arrival to Qatar upon presentation of a valid passport with a minimum validity of six months and a confirmed onward ticket, he said. The waiver will be valid for 30 days from the date of issuance and entitles its holder to spend up to 30 days in Qatar, during either a single trip or on multiple trips, he added. "We expect free visa will boost tourism in the country and encourage more people from India to visit the Arab country. Qatar is a perfect alignment of cosmopolitan sophistication and rich culture, which will interest Indian tourists," AlQurese said. He said, Qatar is positioned an affordable premium destination for Indian target audience, where one can get value for their money. He said, Qatar is also an easily accessible and short duration destination for Indians with 174 weekly direct flights Qatar Airways, Indigo Airlines, Jet Airways and Air India Express. In India, AlQurese said, QTA is focusing on the leisure segment for extended weekend, fully independent travellers and family segment. "We are also looking to tap the growing wedding and meetings, incentives, conferences, events (MICE) segment," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Research and development as well as integrating the service sector and MSMEs with agriculture is the key to doubling farm income, experts said at a conference here. The 15th Finance Commission today held an interactive session on agriculture here in which eminent scientists from state agricultural universities, agriculture economists along with other agencies like NABARD and Punjab State Farmers Commission participated, an official release said. Eminent farm scientist S S Johal emphasised on strengthening agriculture research. He also talked about the use of information and communication technology for developing knowledge centres in villages. Expert Abhijit Sen stressed on structural reforms in the farm sector and said that planning needs to be based on resources and agro-economic zones. Finance Commission Member Ashok Lahiri said as such the body was not mandated to consider any sectoral allotments but needs of the economy could not be understood holistically without understanding the needs of the agriculture sector, the statement said. He said equity, efficiency and sustainability are the key considerations for the Finance Commission. Lahiri also talked on a range of issues, including resource need evaluation in agriculture, challenge of climate change, impact of price support and market mechanism and role of land ownership and crop diversity. Participants also discussed issues pertaining to agricultural productivity, cropping patterns, crop diversity, climate resilience, small and marginal farmers, agriculture subsidies, private sector investment and strengthening the agricultural universities across the country, said the release. A total of 13 members of the 15th Finance Commission and 26 agriculture experts from different agriculture universities and research institutes from across the country were present at the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gangster Chhota Rajan had ordered the killing of senior journalist J Dey as he wanted to send out a message to the mediapersons, general public and his rivals that his organised crime syndicate was still "alive and kicking", observed a special court here. Special MCOCA judge Sameer Adkar, in his judgement in Dey's murder case delivered yesterday, also said that Rajan's "ego would have been hurt" by the articles written by the journalist. The court sentenced Rajan and eight others to life imprisonment for the murder committed here in June 2011 but acquitted two others, including a former journalist Jigna Vora, citing lack of evidence. In the 599-page judgement, Adkar observed that Rajan was angered by the articles written by Dey and felt that the journalist was showing him in a poor and weak position and was glorifying his rival Dawood Ibrahim. "When the statements made by J Dey in the articles are considered from the point of view of a criminal mind then certainly these would anger a criminal mind. On reading such news, a criminal mind will feel that he was undervalued, demeaned and was shown to be very weak in comparison to his arch rival. Ego would have been hurt," the judgement said. It added that the articles written by J Dey had the potential to affect the activities of the organised syndicate as the articles not only showed Rajan in a very weak position but also desperate to show that he had a very strong hold in the underworld. "Criminals and gangs thrive on the fear factor. In order to ensure their gang flourishes, they instill fear in the minds of others. The fear so created would further the cause of the syndicate. Therefore, if Rajan was shown to be in a weak position then people would not fear him," the order said. "By committing murder of J Dey, who was a reputed journalist, a clear message was sent to the media and through the media to the general public and the rivals that the organized crime syndicate of Rajan was very much alive and kicking and nobody should dare to say anything against him and if they did so then they would meet the same fate as J Dey," Judge Adkar said. He added that the prosecution has proved that Rajan was angry with J Dey as the journalist was giving credit to others for the work done by him (Rajan). "Prosecution has also proved that Rajan suspected that J Dey was working for Dawood Ibrahim. It cannot be forgotten that while in the courts of law it is said that suspicion howsoever strong does not take the place of proof but in the underworld slightest of suspicion about one's conduct can lead to his elimination," the judgement said. The court added that except for this advantage there was no pecuniary gain or economic advantage behind the murder. "Apart from these articles, J Dey was also in the process of writing and publishing one book related to Rajan and another book on Dawood Ibrahim. As per the prosecution, these books portrayed Rajan as a small time criminal and at the same time glorified Dawood Ibrahim which made Rajan angry," the court said in its order. The court also accepted the extra-judicial confessions made by Rajan in the phone calls he made to four crime reporters taking responsibility for the killing and said that he did so as J Dey was tarnishing his image. Judge Adkar said Rajan was apparently irked with Dey's writings on his diminishing clout in the underworld. He, therefore, chose to announce to some media persons that he had got Dey killed, hoping that it would be perceived as a show of his strength, or a warning to others. "It may be appropriate to answer one question which should arise in the mind of every prudent person - 'Why criminals phone (call) to the media and claim responsibility for the crime committed by them'?" the judge said. "The answer to this question is not that difficult. Most often, such calls are made to gain attention. Most people like being seen as an authority and getting the attention that makes them feel important," he observed. Additionally, a criminal or an accused may want to give his side of a story if he feels that he is being misrepresented as he would not like it if he is put in a false light, judge Adkar said in his judgement. "It could also be because criminals have a desire to promote themselves. They may not be paid for the interview but they also do not have to pay to the journalist either. It is an easy way of generating publicity," he noted. The judge said a criminal would be fairly confident that he will never be caught afterwards as he feels he is untouchable. "Some may not see themselves as criminals but as misunderstood, hard workers being oppressed by the system. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amidst uncertainty over Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph's elevation, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking his immediate appointment to the apex court. A retired District Judge has approached the apex court seeking urgent action on the recommendation of the Collegium which had suggested Justice Joseph's name for elevation and quashing of the "illegal and unconstitutional" move of the Centre by segregating his name. "The petitioner is aggrieved by the shocking manner in which the Centre has unilaterally and capriciously segregated and rejected the name of Justice K M Joseph recommended by the Collegium for appointment as a Judge of this Court, while at the same time accepting the recommendation for elevation of Indu Malhotra, Senior Advocate, as a Judge of this Court," the petition said. The PIL filed by G D Inamdar, a retired district judge from Solapur in Maharashtra, has also sought a direction to the Centre to issue warrants of appointment for Justice Joseph with consequential seniority. "It is not permissible for the central government to sit as an Appellate Authority over the wisdom of recommendations made by the Collegium. Since the recommendation discusses the seniority issue and endorses Justice K M Joseph in that regard, it is not open for the central government to take a contrary view and return the recommendation. "It is submitted that the basis for returning the recommendation can conceivably be, if there is any new material that was not considered or not available with the Collegium at the time of making the recommendations, but on the same material the central government cannot give its contrary view and return the file," the plea said. The petition said when the Collegium has sent a file recommending names of two judges in a particular order of seniority and if the Centre has any objection, then it should have sent the entire file back to the Collegium and sought due permission from it to process one name and reconsider the other name. "Only after the due approval of the Collegium was obtained, the Warrant of Appointment ought to have been issued for that one name," Inamdar said. The petitioner said this was an example of "direct infringement on the primacy and independence of the judiciary" as under the garb of "reconsideration" the government seeks to veto the decision of the Collegium and "de facto prevent the names of those whom it considers "inconvenient" or "punish". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The number of journalists killed all over the world has seen a sharp rise in five years, with 530 such deaths -- 18 of them in India -- being reported from 2012 to 2016-end, a UNESCO report released today said. The report on World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Global Report 2017/2018' said the number of killings was 67.72 per cent higher than the 316 recorded during the previous five-year periodfrom 2007 to 2011-end. Syria, with 86, recorded the highest number of killings, followed by Iraq (46) , Mexico (37) , Somalia (36), Pakistan ( 30), Brazil (29), the Philippines and Yemen (21 each), Afghanistan (20), Honduras (19), India (18), Libya (17) and Guatemala (14). Ten journalists were killed in Bangladesh, 10 in Ukraine, eight in France and six each in Paraguay and Turkey. The year 2012 proved to be the deadliest year on record, with 124 journalists killed," said the report, released on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, which is marked today. Although the number of journalists killed every year has seen a slight decline since 2012, the figures are still alarmingly high, the report said. With a number of Member States that have experienced periods of violent conflict, the Arab region remains the most dangerous for journalists, with 191 journalists killed between 2012 and 2016, including a significant peak of 50 deaths in 2012, it said. Despite registering a decline in the following years, the overall the region represents 36 per cent of all cases. Latin America and the Caribbean saw an increase in the number of journalists killed during the period, with 125 killings overall and a peak of 28 in 2016. This trend can be largely attributed to organised crime, drug trafficking and corruption, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization report said. After a steep decline prior to 2014, the killings sharply rose across Asia and the Pacific region, with a total of 107 killings, and a high of 27 in 2016. Comparatively, Africa, with 73 deaths, has seen a distinct decline in the killings of journalists over the last five years, down from 26 in 2012 to seven in 2016. Killings throughout Central and Eastern Europe have fluctuated over the past five years, presenting no clear trend but remaining relatively low, the report said. As many as 17 journalist were killed in the region. A generally low-risk region for lethal violence against journalists, Western Europe and North America (17 killings) have seen uncharacteristically high killings in the past three years largely due to violent extremism, it added. Of the total 530 killings in 2012-2016, as many as 166 were TV journalists, 142 print, 118 radio, 75 online and 29 cross-platform. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A photojournalist of a Malayalam daily was injured today when some RSS workers stormed the press club here and allegedly attacked him, police said. The RSS workers attacked him after he attempted to take a video of their alleged manhandling of a two-wheeler rider during a protest march taken out near the press club, they said. Police said case a has been registered against 10 RSS workers under various sections of IPC including those related to unlawful assembly and rioting besides the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Procession Act. "" The case was registered based on a complaint by photojournalist Faud Sanea, who suffered injuries in the legs and has been hospitalised. The incident, which occurred on the World Press Freedom Day, was condemned by the media fraternity in Kerala. """ Journalists took out a march to the Secretariat here protesting against the attack on media personnel. They raised slogans condemning the incident and lit candles to mark their protest. """" Police said the trouble broke out when around 150 RSS workers took out the procession protesting the attack on an RSS office in the district two days ago. """ The protesters blocked the road causing traffic snarls. The two-wheeler rider, on seeing the march, tried to leave the spot but the RSS workers intercepted him and took possession of the vehicle's key, they said. """ On seeing Sanea taking some video shots on his mobile phone at that time, a section of the RSS workers barged into the Press club and allegedly assaulted him and snatched away his phone. Police later recovered the mobile phone from the workers and returned it to the photo journalist. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fintech start-up firm Rubique targets a multi-fold growth in its business to clock a monthly revenue of Rs 100 crore by 2021 on account of expansion in new financial segments such as insurance, mutual funds and credit cards. "We clocked a revenue of Rs 47 crore in 2017-18, with a monthly revenue of Rs 3.5 crore. Now we are aiming to reach Rs 100 crore monthly revenue by 2021 and breakeven by March 2019," Rubique MD and CEO Manav Jeet said today. Established in the year 2014, Rubique claims to have registered four-fold growth year on year. "We are serving more than 2 lakh customers and have helped in disbursement of Rs 2,670 crores worth loans and over 82,000 credit card in just around 3.5 years time. On year-on-year basis, loan disbursement increased 6-fold, credit card set ups 8.9 times and revenue grew 7.8 times since fiscal year 2016," Jeet said. He said that loan market in India for retail and SME is estimated to be around USD 600 billion and growing at compound annual growth rate of 20 per cent. "Besides, online insurance business is less than 1 per cent in the country and sales of mutual fund is negligible. We are a market place and developing algorithms to push sales of these segments from our platform," Jeet said. He said that the company at present has workforce of 100 people and now plan to higher experts in the field of insurance, mutual fund and data scientists. "We will expand product distribution into 100 more cities in India this year and start its operations in the UAE market in next quarter," Jeet said. The company has raised fund of around Rs 65 crore from investment RSP India Fund, LLC of Japan's Recruit Co. Ltd, Russian venture capital management company, Emery Capital, Blacksoil and existing investor Kalaari Capital till date. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Russian fighter jet crashed after taking off from an airbase in Syria today, killing both pilots, Moscow's defence ministry said in a statement carried by agencies. "As it was climbing after taking off from the Hmeimim airbase, the Russian fighter Su-30SM crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. Two pilots, who fought until the last minute to save the plane, died, according to reports from the scene," the statement said. The ministry said the plane had not come under fire, adding that "according to preliminary information, the reason for the crash could have been a bird falling into the engine". The accident brings Russia's official military losses in Syria to 86. The most recent acknowledged military loss came when a transport plane crashed on landing at the Hmeimim airbase in March, killing all 39 people on board. But Russian nationals are regularly reported to be serving as paid mercenaries in Syria and taking on dangerous missions that often lead to casualties. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to apprise it on May 8 about steps taken for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board for implementation of its judgement on distribution of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. The Centre, which was asked by the top court to frame and file a draft Cauvery management scheme by May 3, today asked it to hear the matter a day after the Karnataka polls on the ground that the draft scheme has to be put before the Union Cabinet for approval. Attorney General K K Venugopal told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues are busy campaigning in Karnataka and hence the draft could not be placed before the Union Cabinet. Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, took strong exception at the submission saying, "This is the end of co-operative federalism and the rule of law in the country. This is the partisan attitude of the union of India to favour Karnataka." He referred to the ongoing summer and the water crisis being faced by citizens of Tamil Nadu. The bench also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud initially asked the Karnataka government to release four TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by May 8, but later directed the state to apprise it "as to how much water can be released". Earlier the apex court had asked the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments to ensure that peace prevails till it finalises the Cauvery management scheme for implementation of its judgment on water distribution. It said once the Centre places the draft scheme, which would also include Cauvery Water Management Board and Monitoring Authority, it would consider the grievances of all the stakeholder states. The apex court, in its verdict, had asked the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its 465-page judgement on the decades-old Cauvery dispute. It had modified the CWDT award of 2007 and made it clear that it will not be extending time for this on any ground. The top court had on February 16 raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's share, while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin, saying the issue of drinking water has to be placed on a "higher pedestal". With the apex court's verdict, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry would be annually entitled to 404.25 tmcft, 284.75 tmcft, 30 tmcft and 7 tmcft of Cauvery water respectively out of the total of 740 tmcft. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A peculiar situation triggered by who would bear the annual cost of Rs 2.1 crore to rehabilitate pony owners at the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, today prompted the Supreme Court to suggest to the shrine board to mull over levying a nominal charge of one rupee from each pilgrim. The apex court, which was told by the Jammu and Kashmir government that the shrine board has declined to bear the expense, observed that 50,000 devotees visited the shrine daily and if a charge of even Rs one is levied on them, the money could be used for rehabilitation of pony and mule owners. "Even if you (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board) charge Rs one for it, 1.80 crore people come there (annually). You take Rs one or Rs two from them and you will get so much amount. Pilgrims will be happy to give even Rs 100. You think over it," a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. "If you are having 50,000 people a day and suppose if each person gives Rs one only, you will make Rs 50,000 a day. Please think about it. You (board) cannot say 'I will make money and keep it in my pocket'," the bench said. The issue cropped up when Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Maninder Singh, who appeared for Jammu and Kashmir, said a cabinet meeting was held on April 24 and the policy of rehabilitation of pony and mule owners was discussed. He said their rehabilitation would cost around Rs 2.1 crore annually and the shrine board has declined to bear this expense. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, who appeared for the shrine board, informed the bench that a new walking track to the shrine was ready and would be operational this month. He said the issue was not about charging Rs one from the devotees and once the track open, mules might not be used there. "Mules are not my responsibility," he said while adding that the expenses of the shrine board was huge. However, the bench observed, "but they (pony owners) were serving the pilgrims for so many years to take them to your place." The bench asked an officer of the board, who was present in the court, to consider these aspects with a humanitarian approach. "Mata Vaishno Devi will not come up and say what is the law. You look at it with a human approach," the bench said, adding, "everybody has to be reasonable". Rohatgi said he would inform the incharge of the shrine board about it. "If you want a decision on law, we will hear you and pass order, but it would not help you. Some solution has to be found out for the benefit of the people, benefit of environment and benefit of mule owners. It can be done only by collaborative efforts and not by court orders," the bench said. "It is a good idea. You all can sit and talk about it. There are millions of people who would be willing to pay money to Vaishno Devi (board)," the bench said and posted the matter for further hearing in July. During the hearing, the counsel appearing for activist Gauri Maulekhi, who had earlier filed a plea in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) seeking removal of horses and mules from the path to the shrine, said there were two issues -- one about environment and pollution there and the other on opening of the new track for battery-operated vehicles. He said the shrine board has made the new path but around 7,000 unregulated animals were plying on the track to the shrine which causes huge environmental problems. The lawyer said these animals have to be phased out and pony and mule owners have to be rehabilitated and there should be a plan for this. The ASG told the bench that a plan was there but it would cost Rs 2.1 crore annually. "How many pilgrims goes there annually," the bench then asked and also made it clear that the state has the responsibility to rehabilitate these mule owners.. Rohatgi said the NGT had capped the number of visitors to the shrine at 50,000 per day. At the fag end of hearing, the counsel for Maulekhi, said the NGT order was for opening of the new track which would be a motorable road for plying of battery operated vehicles. "At the present, we are not going into the question as to whether it (new track) should me motorable or not as stated in the NGT order," the bench observed. The apex court had in November last year stayed the NGT's order directing the opening of a new pathway to the shrine for pedestrians and battery-operated cars from November 24, 2017. The order had come after the shrine board, which manages the day-to-day affairs as well as pilgrimage to the temple, had said the construction work of the new path was not yet complete. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today castigated the Himachal Pradesh government saying said it cannot "encourage" people who break the law, while observing that the "very unfortunate" killing of a woman officer allegedly by a Kasauli hotel owner was due to the the "non-implementation" of law. The apex court pulled up the Himachal Pradesh government and said it cannot "encourage" people who break the law and carry out illegal constructions while asking it to ensure implementation of the law on illegal constructions. Terming the Kasauli incident as a "huge problem" for the future, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked the state government to apprise it about the status of probe in the case and the steps taken to ensure that no unauthorised constructions were carried out in the entire state. "Unless you (state) take the matter seriously and believe in the rule of law, you cannot encourage people who break the law. The death is not a result of the court's order. It is a result of non-implemention of the law. The incident is very unfortunate. You have to ensure rule of law and implementation of law on unauthorised constructions," the bench observed. Assistant Town and Country Planner Shail Bala Sharma had on May 1 gone to supervise the demolition of unauthorised construction at Kasauli's Narayani Guest House where its owner Vijay Singh had allegedly shot at her. She later succumbed to injuries, while another government official accompanying her had sustained serious injuries. During the hearing, the bench also directed the counsel representing Himachal Pradesh to inform it about the status of implementation of the court's order on demolition of unauthorised constructions in 13 hotels at Kasauli. It also asked the advocate to apprise it about the steps that have been taken or are proposed to be taken regarding acting against those who have made illegal constructions in other parts of the state as well. The apex court asked the state to file an affidavit or a status report giving these details and posted the matter for further hearing on May 9. "What has been brought to our notice is that there were illegal constructions in Kasauli. We do not know if illegal constructions are going on in other places in the state. If people will start taking law in their own hands and say we will construct illegally and when the people will come to seal and close it on court's order, we will shoot them dead, then who will go to seal it," the bench said. "It is a huge problem for the future. What are you doing to ensure that there are no illegal constructions? You might have illegal constructions in places like Manali. What has happened in the past is unfortunate but you have to see the future also. You have to implement the law," the bench said. It also observed that "newspaper reports say he (accused) was working in the electricity department. From where did he get the money to have this property? There may be a Prevention of Corruption Act case also. Look at it and find it out". The state's counsel, while assuring the court that they would look into this aspect, said four teams were set up to carry out demolition drive as per the court's order and the team, of which the deceased was also a part, had 14 police officials. The bench was also informed that the accused had taken the property in his mother's name. The lawyer said the team had first gone to Shivalik hotel and when the police officials and other team members were having lunch, Sharma and two other officers went to the nearby Narayani Guest House. "When gun shots were heard, the police officials rushed to the spot and found that the officer was lying there in a pool of blood. She was rushed to the hospital," he said, adding the policemen had gone to catch the accused but he fled in the dense forest adjoining the road. "Are you planning to give compensation to the family (of the victim)," the bench asked. To this, the counsel said Rs five lakh compensation was announced for the family of the deceased while the injured officer would also be compensated. "How are you going to assure other persons of the department that this thing will not be repeated and there will be no violence," the bench then asked. The counsel said full security has been provided to the officials and they would beef it up and an enquiry commission has also been constituted after the incident. "Out of 13 hotels, how many have been demolished," the court asked the counsel who said the demolition work was going on as per court's order after the firing incident also. The bench asked the counsel as to whether Narayani Guest House and the spot where the incident took place has been cordoned off or not. "It is a scene of crime. You have to cordon off the area so that people cannot go there," the bench asked after which the lawyer said the guest house has been closed. The state also said that Rs one lakh reward has been announced on his arrest and a divisional commissioner has been appointed as an enquiry officer who would also suggest future course of action. The apex court, which had taken cognisance on its own on the firing incident, had on April 17 asked the state to demolish unauthorised structures in 13 hotels and guest houses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today said it would hear on July 3 the Centre's plea seeking modification of one of its directions, which were part of its historic 2006 verdict on police reforms, recommending steps like a fixed two-year tenure for DGPs. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said it would also hear other pleas, including those filed by former DGP Prakash Singh seeking contempt action against various states for alleged non-compliance of the 2006 verdict on police reforms. Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, had earlier said the direction that a state police chief (DGP) must have a fixed tenure of two years irrespective of their date of superannuation was needed to be modified as the IAS officers, who are appointed as the Chief Secretaries, may also seek similar relief. Venugopal had said the direction on fixed tenure of Directors General of Police (DGPs) was prone to misuse as the police officers, who are due to retire, may be appointed to such a post. The apex court had on September 8 last year agreed to hear a clutch of pleas claiming that its historic 2006 verdict on police reforms, recommending steps like fixed tenures for DGPs and SPs, has not yet been implemented by states and union territories. BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay had sought urgent hearing on his interim plea saying the directions passed by the 2006 verdict have not been implemented by authorities. He had also sought implementation of the Model Police Bill, 2006, which was drafted by a panel headed by former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee. The apex court, deciding the PIL filed by two former DGPs Prakash Singh and N K Singh in 2006, had given a slew of directions, including setting up of a state security commission to ensure that the government does not exercise unwarranted influence on the police. It had said the appointment of DGPs and police officers should be merit-based and transparent and officers like DGPs and Superintendent of Police (SP) should have a minimum fixed tenure of two years. The court had recommended separation of police functions of investigation and maintaining law and order. It had ordered setting up of a Police Establishment Board to decide and make recommendations on transfers, postings, promotions and other service-related matters of police officers of and below the rank of DSPs. It had also ordered setting up of a Police Complaints Authority in each state to look into complaints against officers of and above the rank of SP in cases of serious misconduct, including custodial death, grievous hurt or rape in police custody. A National Security Commission needed to be set up at the union level to prepare a panel for selection and placement of chiefs of the Central Police Organisations with a minimum tenure of two years, the apex court had ordered. Contempt pleas alleging non-implementation of these directions are still pending. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today termed as "irreversible" the situation prevailing in Delhi, saying the authorities would have to make all out efforts to deal with myriad problems like pollution, water crisis, traffic congestion in the national capital. The apex court, while hearing a matter relating to the sealing of unauthorised constructions in Delhi, observed that perhaps it was "too late" to improve the situation but the authorities, including the Delhi government, would have to take all steps in a positive manner. "Perhaps, the situation has become irreversible. Pollution, water, Yamuna water level and traffic congestion, we are having problems. Perhaps it is too late. May be it is irreversible. If efforts are made, things will improve. It cannot be done at the speed of light but at least you can start," a bench comprising Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said. "The Delhi government also has to take steps in a positive manner. Everybody has to move forward, otherwise where are we going," the bench observed. The apex court asked the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) to consider these aspects in a positive manner. "For whom is this all happening? It is for the people of Delhi and if things are going like this, nothing will happen. You see river Yamuna. There is no water. We would be wasting our time unless you will not do it," the bench said. The apex court also questioned the DDA as to whether they have made any 'plan B' in case the apex court strikes down the laws protecting unauthorised constructions from being sealed. It said the amendments in the Master Plan of Delhi-2021 could become meaningless if these are struck down by the apex court. The bench, which had earlier stayed any further progress in amending the Master Plan 2021, also said that the proposed amendments relating to the floor area ratio (FAR) for shop-cum-residential plots and complexes might lead to further constructions. FAR is the ratio of a building's total floor area (gross floor area) to the size of the piece of land on which it is built. "You (DDA) have to keep in mind the fact that the amendments that are under challenge from 2006, all that can be struck down. There is a possibility. You cannot say that you will deal with it when court will strike it down. You must have a plan B ready," the court said. The court also said if FAR was increased, huge constructions could come up in Delhi and the DDA cannot "wish it away". At the outset, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) A N S Nadkarni, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that the special task force (STF), which would oversee enforcement of laws to deal with unauthorised constructions and encroachments in Delhi, has been constituted and it has started taking action against encroachments on public land. The bench, however, observed that STF was taking action against the poor people like tea stall owners on the pavements but not against those who were rich. "There are huge rooms for security guards outside the big bunglows on the pavements. Why are you not taking action against them," the bench asked Nadkarni, who said "this is just the beginning". The bench also took exception to the DDA giving only three days for inviting objections from the public before the proposed amendments to the Master Plan. "You are saying that three days is reasonable. We accept it but you seek four to six weeks to file an affidavit. When it comes to the citizens, you say three days are enough but when it comes to the government, you say six weeks is not enough," the bench said and referred to the rules which stipulate 90 days time for inviting objections. The top court also questioned the proposed amendment regarding FAR and asked why there cannot be a status quo on it. Senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, assisting the court as an amicus curiae, raised the issue of lack of environment impact assessment before proposing to amend the master plan. The bench asked the DDA to file a tabular chart giving details as to what the rules were and what was the amendment proposed and posted the matter for hearing on May 8. The top court had earlier ordered restoration of its 2006 monitoring committee to identify and seal such offending structures. The monitoring committee, comprising K J Rao, former advisor to the Election Commissioner, Bhure Lal, chairman of Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, and Major General (Retd) Som Jhingan, was set up on March 24, 2006, by the court. The apex court is also hearing arguments on validity of the Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, 2006 and subsequent legislations which protect unauthorised construction from being sealed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sonalika International Tractors today reported a 10 per cent year on year jump in sales at 7,175 units in April. The company had sold 6,519 tractors in April last year, it said in a release. The Hoshiarpur (Punjab)-based automotive company had reported a 22 per cent growth in sales in financial year 2017-18, selling 1-lakh tractors for the first time in a year. ************** Kantar, GroupM combine analytics teams in India * WPP's data investment management division Kantar and its media buying agency GroupM have combined the analytics team in the country to launch Kantar Analytics Practice. "In India, WPP has combined the analytics teams from Kantar and GroupM to form one combined practice," Kantar said in a statement. It will encompass existing businesses such as MaPS, Analytics Quotient, GroupM's analytics team in India and connect them with specialist analysts from Kantar's operating brands in sales, retail and shopper,media, health and public affairs, the statement added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A vehicle of Pakistan's Atomic Energy Commission was today targeted by a motorcycle-borne attacker in a suicide blast in the northern Punjab province, killing at least two persons and wounding more than a dozen others. The lone attacker first opened fire at the bus and later detonated himself near the vehicle when it slowed at a speed breaker in Attock district, police said. "The driver and a passerby were killed while 13 people, mostly employees of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC), got injured in the attack," he said. TV footage showed the driver's side of the bus was badly damaged in the bombing. The security forces rushed to the scene and have cordoned off the area. They are ascertaining if the attacker had any accomplice, a police official said. No group has taken responsibility for the attack, but Taliban militant have been involved in such targeted attacks in the past. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has condemned the attack. The PAEC is an independent public sector organisation concerned with research, development and promotion of nuclear science and technology. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Moon Jae-in is enjoying record support from the South Korean public in the wake of a historic summit with his North Korean counterpart, pollsters said today. More than three in four voters approved of Moon, according to pollster Realmeter -- an all-time high for any South Korean president at the end of their first year in office. Realmeter said the result reflected "mounting public expectations for the North's denuclearisation and the establishment of peace on the Korean peninsula" following Moon's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday. The president's support rose more than eight points to 78.3 percent in the week following the summit, where the two leaders agreed to work towards a permanent peace treaty. Since his May 2017 election, Moon had projected a stable and down-to-earth style while communicating closely with voters, Jeong Han-wool of public opinion firm Hankook Research told AFP. "Moon's approval ratings, which were relatively low around the end of last year, surged back up following the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics," he said. North Korea sent athletes, supporters, an art troupe and high-level officials to the Olympics, initiating a flurry of diplomatic gestures that culminated in last week's summit. Jeong said Moon's popularity was likely to continue through next month's local elections, which Moon's ruling Democratic Party is widely tipped to dominate. The centre-left party enjoyed the support of nearly 55 percent of the electorate in the latest Realmeter poll, while the conservative Liberty Korea Party had less than 18 percent support, shedding more than three percent since last week. Support for the opposition has flatlined since former presidents Park Geun-hye and her predecessor Lee Myung-bak were embroiled in massive corruption cases. Both former leaders are now in jail. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a two-day visit to Myanmar from May 10 during which key bilateral and regional issues, including the situation in the Rakhine state from where thousands of Rohingya Muslims had fled following violence last year, are likely to be discussed. Swaraj would hold talks with the top leadership of Myanmar and both sides were expected to ink several key agreements covering diverse aspects of the bilateral relationship, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "The External Affairs Minister will hold discussion with Myanmerese leadership on various bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interests," he told reporters without elaborating. Kumar said both sides were also expected to review the progress made on decisions taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Myanmar in September 2017. Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and it shares a 1,640 km border with a number of northeastern states, including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur. On the Rohingya issue, the MEA spokesperson said India has been maintaining that normalcy would return to the Rakhine state with the return of displaced persons. He said India is also of the view that long term solution to the problem in the Rakhine state would be to ensure its socio-economic development. An estimated 6,00,000 Rohingya Muslims had fled Myanmar's Rakhine State since August last year after large-scale violence there. In December last, India had announced a development assistance of USD 25 million for the Rakhine state. India has been concerned over some militant groups from the Northeast region taking shelter in Myanmar. The country has been assuring India that it would not allow any insurgent groups to use its territory against India. The issue of cross border activities by certain insurgent groups may figure during talks between Swaraj and the Myanmerese leaders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India is organising a five-day cultural festival in Egypt to commemorate the 157th birth anniversary of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. An exhibition on the paintings of Tagore titled Rabindranath Tagore: Rhythm in Colours' will be held at the Museum of Ahmed Shawky at Giza as part of the Tagore festival which began today. The festival is being organised by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC), the cultural wing of the Indian Embassy in Cairo. Like the last two years, we shall continue the tradition of commemorating Tagore's birth anniversary in Egypt. We believe that there are certain iconic figures who have played a very important role in linking the hearts and minds of the people of India and the people of Egypt. Tagore and Gandhi are obviously two great instances, India's Ambassador to Egypt Sanjay Bhattacharyya told PTI. Spurred by a spirit of inventiveness, Tagore's paintings merged the familiar with the unknown. Landscapes are the smallest output to Tagore's art. After he developed his love for painting, Tagore described the visible world around him as a vast procession of forms. Most of the landscapes he painted showed nature bathed in the evening light, skies and forms coagulating into ominous silhouettes. His landscapes invoke mystery and a sense of disquiet and silence. Tagore did not name his paintings, but by leaving them untitled he freed them from the limits of literary imagination. He wished his viewers to read the paintings in their own light and admire them in individual ways. His painted faces speak of vast human experience and intrinsic human emotion. His faces speak of various moods: mysterious, brooding, dramatic, and romantic; of wonderment, fear, and melancholia. During the festival, a music concert and a lecture will be organised. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The national selection committee are set to announce multiple Indian squads on May 8 for the upcoming one-off Test match against Afghanistan next month along with the team for the limited overs leg of the tour of UK starting June 27 in Dublin. "There will be three squads that will be selected on May 8. The Afghanistan Test is from June 14-18, followed by UK tour that starts with two-match ODI series against Ireland in Dublin. The selectors will also name the India A squad that will tour England in June," a senior BCCI official told PTI on condition on anonymity. The decision to announce the squad in advance is to ascertain who all are available for the Afghanistan Test with likes of Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ishant Sharma set to miss the historic Test against Afghanistan due to their county commitments. Also, procuring UK visa is another issue for a few players, which has prompted the board to ask the selectors to quickly announce the squad. COA Vinod Rai has already said that in order to ensure a good performance in England, at least six to seven Test specialist will be in England in June with the India A side to acclimatise with the conditions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filmmaker Boney Kapoor, who is in the city to receive wife Sridevi's posthumous Best Actress honour at the National Film Awards today, said it was a special moment for the family and they missed her a lot. Sridevi, who died at the age of 54 in Dubai on February 24, won the award for her portrayal of a revenge-seeking mother in Hindi film "Mom". Daughters Janhvi and Khushi accompanied Kapoor to the ceremony. "I wish she was here. She truly deserved this award. It s so unfortunate that she is not here with us today to celebrate. I am grateful to the government of India, the I&B Ministry and the jury. It is a proud moment for all of us but sadly she is not here," Boney told reporters ahead of the ceremony. Janhvi said, "I want to thank the jury and the government of India for recognising the hardwork my mother has done. It is very special for us as a family." Sridevi and her "Chandni" co-star Vinod Khanna were recognised posthumously at the National Film Awards this year. Khanna was named this year's Dadasaheb Phalke award winner. The award was received by son Akshaye Khanna. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu opposition parties, including the DMK, today slammed the Centre for not filing a draft Cauvery management scheme in the Supreme Court. The parties said protests would be staged if the state did not get its due share of water. DMK working president M K Stalin said the Centre telling the apex court that the draft scheme could not be placed before the Union Cabinet was only a "lame excuse and a continuation of the betrayal," of Tamil Nadu by the central government. The Centre had told the top court that Cabinet approval for the scheme could not be obtained since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues were busy in the Karnataka poll campaign. "It appears that there is no other avenue but to go in for very massive protests if the Centre's brazen betrayal continues by seeking more time and avoiding setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB)," Stalin said. "Protests by harnessing people's power will continue till we establish the rights of Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery issue," he said. The DMK leader, who is also the Leader of Opposition, wanted to know if cabinet approval cannot be obtained through e-mail or by using other communication technology. He alleged that BJP was "betraying" Tamil people for "electoral mileage" in Karnataka and hit out at the state government for its handling of the issue. Defending the goverment, state Fisheries minister D Jayakumar said the Centre's stand seeking more time to set up the CMB was not acceptable and the top court has been informed about it. "It is the responsibility of the Centre to fulfil the Supreme Court order on Cauvery," he said. Tamil Nadu cannot accept Centre delaying the issue, he said and added that the state's stand has been effectively put forth in the Supreme Court. "It may be any government (Centre or States), the Supreme Court order is binding..how long can they delay (fulfilling court directive to set up the CMB or release of water)," he asked. The minister said he hoped it would be a "good outcome," for Tamil Nadu on the issue. Farmers leader P Ayyakannu said "only if water is released on June 12 (the traditional date for water release from Mettur dam for cultivation of Kuruvai crop), we will be able to take up Kuruvai crop." Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to ensure water for Tamil Nadu farmers, he said farmers had no other go but to go in for protests if they do not get justice. PMK chief S Ramadoss and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran also hit out at the Centre. "Are those who hold the reins of power at the Centre not aware that poll campaign is not important than resolving the Cauvery issue?," Ramadoss asked. Dhinakaran slammed the state government for adopting a "soft-approach," against the Centre's "delaying tactics." Protests would continue against both the state and Central governments, he said. The apex court today took strong note of the Centre for not yet framing the Cauvery management scheme to implement its verdict on river water sharing between four southern states, even as Tamil Nadu attacked the union government for its "partisan" attitude saying this was the "end of cooperative federalism. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) White House lawyer Ty Cobb, who is dealing with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Trump campaign's alleged collusion with Russia, is leaving his position and being replaced by Emmet Flood, the attorney who represented former president Bill Clinton during his impeachment proceedings. Cobb's exit would be the latest in a string of top White House departures, including from the president's legal team as Trump wants his lawyers to adopt an aggressive stance to counter the ongoing special counsel investigation. "Emmet Flood will be joining the White House staff to represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. Veteran Washington lawyer Flood represented Clinton during his 1998-99 impeachment proceedings. Referring to Ty Cobb as "a friend of the president" who has done a "terrific job", Sanders said the attorney will be retiring at the end of the month. "For several weeks Ty Cobb has been discussing his retirement and last week he let Chief of Staff Kelly know he would retire at the end of this month," she added. Cobb had been one of the Trump lawyers pushing the president to cooperate with Mueller, amid an internal debate over whether or not the US President should agree to be interviewed by the special counsel. The was first reported by The New York Times. Like many veterans of the meandering, years long Clinton investigation, Flood has told people he is wary of special counsel inquiries, the daily said. "He has expressed concerns about the scope of Mr. Mueller's investigation in particular, a view that resonates with the president. Mr. Cobb, by contrast, has expressed admiration for Mr. Mueller and has never adopted the president's witch hunt language," it said. The Wall Street Journal said that Trump decided to remove Cobb as the White House attorney because he was adopting a cooperative approach with the Special Counsel, Robert Muller, who is investigating into the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 US elections. "Mr. Cobb has been a calming force in the White House, routinely urging Mr. Trump not to fire Mr. Mueller or any top Justice Department officials, and making plain that he would consider resigning were that to happen, according to a person familiar with the matter," the daily said. Cobb often grew frustrated with Trump's tweets attacking Mueller and the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible ties to the Trump campaign, The Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter. Similar reports had surfaced earlier too, but Trump refuted them. "The Failing New York Times purposely wrote a false story stating that I am unhappy with my legal team on the Russia case and am going to add another lawyer to help out. Wrong. I am VERY happy with my lawyers, John Dowd, Ty Cobb and Jay Sekulow. They are doing a great job," the US President said in a tweet on March 11. Cobb took the lead of the White House team after the previous lead lawyer, John Dowd, quit in March convinced that Trump was not following his advice. Dowd vehemently opposed Trump submitting to an interview, but the US president at the time was reportedly inclined to talk to the special prosecutor, believing it would lead to a quicker end to the probe. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump confirmed today that he reimbursed his personal lawyer the USD 130,000 he had given to adult-film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence over an alleged affair with him, forcing his advisers to prepare for a new round of questions from the public. Trump's acknowledgement of the payment before the 2016 US presidential election came hours after his new legal aide and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani revealed that the president had personally repaid his personal attorney Michael Cohen the USD 130,000 that was used to buy Daniels's silence through a non-disclosure agreement. In an early morning tweet, Trump, 71, said that he reimbursed Cohen USD 130,000 for the payments the latter made to Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential elections in exchange of not going public with her alleged affair with him. Trump said Cohen, was paid via a "monthly retainer" and that the hush agreement into which Cohen entered with Daniels had "nothing to do with the campaign." The President had previously denied knowledge of the payment, which has prompted complaints to the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission over potential violations of campaign finance law. "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA," Trump wrote on Twitter. "These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth," Trump claimed. "In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair," Trump said. He added, "Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in this transaction." The president's new statements about the payment and a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels, is now forcing Trump's advisers to prepare for a new round of questions from the public, The New York Times reported. Speaking on Fox yesterday, Giuliani said the reimbursement to Cohen was "not campaign money" and that the payment was "perfectly legal." Cohen had admitted to paying Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, out of his own pocket through a private LLC. Daniels has sued Trump and Cohen, saying the nondisclosure agreement is void because Trump did not sign it. The White House has said Trump denies the affair. Giuliani recently joined Trump's legal team in an effort to bring special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's 2016 election meddling and any possible coordination with the Trump campaign to an end. "He (Trump) paid him back. No campaign finance violations, no crime of any kind. Michael had discretion to solve these," Giuliani told The Wall Street Journal in another interview. When the daily asked whether the fact that Trump had repaid his lawyer conflicted with the president's previous statements that he was unaware of the payment, Giuliani said it was "not [an] issue". "Cohen was his lawyer and had discretion to settle, as I have had for clients ultimately paying for it," he said. Trump was "probably not aware" of the payment at the time it was made, he said. Giuliani said that Trump repaid Cohen "over several months" by putting him on a "retainer of USD 35,000 when he was doing no work for the president." Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, told CNBC: "This is exactly what we predicted would ultimately be shown. Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged." Asked if Giuliani's admission is evidence of a campaign finance violation, Avenatti simply said, "Yes." The president has repeatedly denied that he had an affair Daniels, who has described having intimate contact with Trump in 2006, much before he became president. Giuliani's comments are also in direct contrast to what Cohen has been saying for months that he used his own money to pay the actress. Cohen is under investigation by the FBI, which raided his home and office last month and seized documents that included information about the payment to Daniels. The hush-money payment to Daniels is reportedly a focus of a federal investigation into Cohen's private finances and business interests. Investigators are likely to examine whether the payment was legal under election campaign finance laws and whether Cohen disclosed the true reason for borrowing the funds. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a breakthrough in the mysterious death of 33-year-old Lithuanian tourist, Kerala police today arrested two people for allegedly raping and brutally murdering her. "" The highly decomposed and headless body of the woman, who went missing on March 14, was recovered from a mangrove forest at Thiruvallam on April 21. Briefing reporters, Kerala DGP Loknath Behara said the entire investigation was conducted on the basis of circumstantial evidence and using scientific methods. "The case was homicide. It was unfortunately brutal. It should not have happened to any woman," behara said. Efforts are also on to ascertain if anymore people are directly or indirectly involved in the case, he said. He also lauded his officers who had cracked the case working 24x7 and said all those connected with the"probe would be given the DGP's special award. Investigating officer, Manoj Abhraham said the accused have been charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act. City Police Commisisoner, P Prakash, also part of the investigations, told PTI that the woman was raped and murdered by the two accused, Umesh and Udayan, who are drug peddlers, on March 14, the day she went missing. "The accused lured her to the spot saying it was a scenic and beautiful place, made her consume ganja, and then sexually assaulted and strangled her to death," he said. The motive of the murder was sexual assault, he said. "The accused then tried to make it look like a suicide. They hung her body in a natural creaper." As the decomposition set in, after about 30 days, the head fell off the body, he added. A Special Investigation Team was formed by the police and a massive search launched to trace the woman. They had also announced a reward of Rs two lakh for anyone providing information about the missing woman. The woman had come to Kerala along with her sister for ayurvedic treatment for depression. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two youth were arrested today in connection with the rape and murder of a Lithuanian tourist, whose highly decomposed body was found from a mangrove forest near Kovalam on April 21, police said. The two accused, Umesh and Udayan, are drug peddlers, they said. The entire investigation was conducted on circumstantial evidence using scientific methods, DGP Loknath Behara told reporters here. "The case was homicide. It was unfortunately brutal. It should not have happened to any woman," he said. Efforts are also on to ascertain if anymore people are directly or indirectly involved in the case, he said. Investigating officer, Manoj Abhraham said the accused have been charged under IPC sections 302 (murder), 376 (rape) and 20(b) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances NDPS Act. The cremation of the woman will be held here later this evening and her ashes will be flown to her native place by her sister, police said. A Special Investigation Team was formed by the police and a massive search launched to trace the woman. They had also announced a reward of Rs two lakh for anyone providing information about the missing woman. The 33-year-old woman, who had come to Kerala for ayurvedic treatment for depression, had gone missing from Kovalam on March 14. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man who brutally stabbed his boss to death and wrote "bully" on her forehead has been jailed for life and ordered to serve at least 28 years by a British court. David Browning, 52, was found guilty of murder at Hove Crown Court yesterday, the BBC reported today. He stabbed Jillian Howell in the chest, neck and abdomen, leaving her with 15 stab and slash wounds in October. Browning had formed an intense attachment to the 46-year-old Brighton university payroll boss, the court was told. The court was informed that he had gone to her house for dinner and reacted with anger when she rejected him. Sentencing Browning, Judge Christine Laing said the way in which Browning murdered her was "savage", adding: "This was a sustained attack and the terror and trauma for her in the final few minutes of her life is unimaginable." She said Browning "defiled" her body by writing the word "bully" on her forehead but added: "Nothing was further from the truth." "The reality of Jillian Howell is that she was a compassionate woman, a quality that cost her her life," she said. The judge said Browning had developed a crush that turned into an obsession. She told him: "I am quite satisfied that what led to you killing her was a very ordinary cocktail of human emotions, desire, jealously, frustration and anger." This was illustrated in his vitriol towards Howell's close friend Sean McDonald, who he tried and failed to frame for the killing, she added. "I have watched you closely during this trial and you have shown no emotion and little remorse other than for your own situation." Browning had claimed he and Howell clashed when they first started working together in 2015, but then became friends. In the months before the killing, Browning applied for a firearms licence, bought a shotgun and knife, hired a van, deleted messages and data on his phone and took a change of clothes to the crime scene. The court heard the pair shared a curry and then he stabbed her. After the killing, he posted a cartoon on Facebook with the slogan "stand up to bullies, then kill them". When he handed himself in to police, the father-of-two claimed it was manslaughter by diminished responsibility. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A UNESCO report on press freedom released today featured India+Kashmir' under the country chapters' category, provoking a question from the audience on whether the report considered Kashmir a separate entity. On the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, the UNESCO-International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) report Clampdowns and Courage-South Asia Press Freedom Report 2017-18' was released here at the UNESCO office. During the question-answer session after the report's release, a question was asked about why Kashmir was specially mentioned with India in the report and whether it considered Kashmir a separate entity. IFJ South Asia Coordinator Ujjwal Acharya, however, said the issue had nothing to do with any particular political interest and Kashmir was included as it was considered one the volatile zones in South Asia. He said last year the report included 5-6 conflict zones, which were volatile in the context of freedom of expression and press freedom, and this time Kashmir was special focus. Last year, we had covered Chhattisgarh, Kabul, some part of Sri Lanka, Pakistan and and Nepal. This is an ongoing process, he said. He said the objection had been noted and the concerned people would be intimated. In the last two decades, he said over 30 journalists were killed in India as a result of their work but the rate of conviction continued to remain near zero. He said a similar situation was in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Maldives among other nations where very few convictions were recorded and that also after a long battle. Acharya said eight journalists were killed in India during May 2017 and April 2018 and and added that some of those who lost their lives, including Gauri Lankesh, who was shot dead outside her home, and Shantanu Bhowmick, who was killed by a mob while covering a demonstration. He said there were 97 instances of Internet shutdown, ranging from a few hours to 45 days of continuous curb, in South Asia, with India recording the highest number of 82 such instances. Pakistan witnessed 12 instances and Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh witnessed one instance each. A UNESCO report World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development Global Report 2017/2018' was also released on the occasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With an aim to provide free legal assistance to farmers in the state, nearly a dozen advocates, under Ashish Kumar Tripathi, today joined the Rashtriya Kisan Manch -- an organisation working for the welfare of the farmers. Welcoming them, Rashtriya Kisan Manch president Shekhar Dixit said the move by the advocates to render free legal help to farmers was "praiseworthy". "This is certainly a welcome move, which will go a long way in enabling us help farmers in legal distress," he said in a statement issued here by the manch. He added that a large number of farmers were unable to pursue their cases in courts. "As a result, they do not get justice. Now, the advocates, under the banner of the Rashtriya Kisan Manch, will help these famers get justice," Dixit said. Speaking on the occasion, Tripathi said, "Rashtriya Kisan Manch has been raising various issues faced by farmers. Seeing this, nearly a dozen advocates decided to join the manch and provide free legal help. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 30-year-old woman and her five year-old son were seriously injured when they were thrown out of a train by miscreants who also robbed them off their valuables near Mughalsarai's Vyasnagar railway crossing, the police said today. The woman, identified as Mamata, was travelling from Asansol to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh with her son Ajay on Kolkata-Lucknow Summer Special train late last night, they said. She was sitting near the gate of the general compartment when the miscreants tried to rob her. But when she protested they beat her up, robbed her of cash and other valuables and pushed her, along with her son, out of the train, the police said. The duo was lying beside the tracks when they were spotted by a passerby who rushed them to a nearby hospital in the Dulhipur area with the help of some locals, they said. Upon information, the police reached the hospital, from where they took the critically injured mother-son duo to BHU's Trauma Centre for treatment. A case has been registered against unidentified persons and an investigation is on, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With an eye on the Lok Sabha polls scheduled for next year, the Uttar Pradesh government has set a deadline of December 31 this year to connect 62,000 hamlets, which still don't have electricity, with power. The government's spokesperson and power minister Shrikant Sharma told reporters here today that they had met the target of electrifying all revenue villages by February this year. They are now working in a "mission mode" to connect all hamlets, small habitations which are not part of any revenue village, he said. The deadline of December 31, a source said, has been set with an eye on the next Lok Sabha polls as the Model Code of Conduct for it is likely to kick in from early next year. The ruling BJP wants some key development projects to be completed by then so as to allow it time to highlight them before the masses, the source said. The Yogi Adityanath-led government, Sharma said, had given 36 lakh new electricity connections between March 19, 2017 -- the day it assumed the charge -- and March this year compared to an average of 6.5 lakh new connections given by previous dispensations annually for a period of 15 years. The previous Samajwadi Party government electrified 14,500 hamlets annually while the BJP dispensation took power to 60,000 such habitations, he said. There are a total of 1.78 lakh hamlets in the India's most populous state and the figure will swell by 28,000 more as the state government has brought under its ambit habitations with a minimum population of 25 people. Sharma also said 4,387 villages -- which have a strong presence of scheduled castes and tribes population -- will have saturation coverage of electricity, LPG and ration cards among other welfare initiatives of the Narendra Modi-led government by May 5, the last day of 'Gram Swaraj Abhiyan' project. The BJP leadership has been stressing on maximum coverage of the central government's welfare initiatives in the states ruled by the party and has asked its MPs, MLAs and office bearers to fan out across the country to make the rural-centric campaign a success. Uttar Pradesh is especially important in its scheme of things as it sends the most number of MPs to the Lok Sabha. The BJP had scored a landslide victory in the state in 2009 by winning 71 of its 80 seats while its ally Apna Dal won two. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Top US and Chinese officials prepared today to kick off crucial trade talks in Beijing but both sides sought to dampen expectations for a quick resolution to a heated dispute between the world's two largest economies. The gathering comes months after US President Donald Trump sparked a series of tit-for-tat exchanges by threatening to impose huge tariffs on billions of dollars worth of goods, sparking fears of a potentially damaging trade war. "It is not realistic to resolve all issues through only one round of negotiations, but we believe that, as long as the US is sincere to resolve the relevant issues, the negotiation will be a positive one," said Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, at a regular briefing yesterday. The US delegation includes seven senior officials: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, White House economic advisers Peter Navarro, Larry Kudlow, Everett Eissenstat and US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad. Each member of the team is known to harbour strong views with varying degrees of hawkishness on the dispute -- from Navarro, author of "Death by China", to Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive who has publicly expressed optimism on resolving the spat. "I'm always hoping but not always hopeful," Lighthizer said on Tuesday before departing for Beijing. "It's a big, big challenge." Trump will be watching and possibly tweeting from Washington. "Delegation heading to China to begin talks on the Massive Trade Deficit that has been created with our Country," he tweeted as the team prepared to leave. "Very much like North Korea, this should have been fixed years ago, not now...Great Potential for USA!" Leading the talks for China will be Liu He, President Xi's top economic advisor and a Vice Premier. Liu will "exchange views with the US delegation on economic and trade issues of common concern to the US and China", China's official agency Xinhua said Wednesday. The two sides are set to begin meetings at China's state guest house Thursday afternoon and continue on Friday, the US embassy said. Liu's visit to Washington earlier this year for trade talks produced few tangible results. The immediate threat of tariffs obscures an escalating contest between the two countries over technology. US officials are concerned about Beijing's 'Made in China 2025' industrial policy which they see as a Chinese plan to dominate key high tech industries. Before boarding a plane for Beijing, Ross called the policy "frightening". Last month, Washington banned Chinese telecom and smartphone giant ZTE from purchasing crucial US components for seven years -- threatening the company's survival -- as punishment for breaking US export controls. The US has also reportedly opened a similar probe into another Chinese telecom major, Huawei, after restricting its operations in the country on national security grounds. Washington's moves, perceived by Beijing as an attempt to contain China's strategic ambitions in hi-tech, have not gone unnoticed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US today contradicted a Pakistani official's claim that a prisoner exchange with America might be possible to force the return of the country's former ambassador to the US Husain Haqqani. The Trump administration argued that extradition process in the US is governed by relevant treaties and domestic statutes, and is not used to "trade" prisoners. Such a statement by the US assumes significance in view of a senior Pakistani official telling the country's Supreme Court that the US wants a person currently in Pakistan in exchange for Haqqani. Haqqani is accused of sending a memo seeking help from the US to stop a military coup in Pakistan following the raid that killed al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in May 2011. The Memogate controversy erupted in 2011 when Pakistani-American businessman Mansoor Ijaz claimed to have received an "anti-army" memo from Haqqani, the then-envoy to the US. "As a matter of longstanding policy, the Department of State does not comment on pending or potential extradition requests or confirm or deny that an extradition request has been made," a State Department spokesperson said. "The extradition process in the US is governed by relevant treaties and domestic statutes. It is not used to 'trade' prisoners," the spokesperson told PTI when asked about new reports coming from Pakistan about extradition of Haqqani in exchange of a prisoner. According to media reports, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency chief Bashir Memon informed the country's apex court this week that he has contacted US officials about extradition of Haqqani and Americans said "you too have our man". In a statement, Haqqani slammed the Pakistan's establishment for harassing him. "It seems that lies and fantasies have now become a staple in Pakistan, unfortunately, including in its Supreme Court," he said. Haqqani said it's time for Pakistan's establishment to stop harassing him and deal with real problems like why the country with the world's sixth largest nuclear arsenal now has the highest infant mortality rate in the world. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India today termed as "normal" the visit of a group of Indian experts to Pakistan to revive Track II diplomacy, but asserted that there was no dilution in its policy towards Islamabad that talks and terror cannot go hand-in-hand. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said functional exchanges between the two sides have continued and is part of the "normal process" between the two countries. "This is a meeting between two civil societies, this is a meeting which is part of people to people exchange...There is nothing new in it," he told reporters, responding to questions on the issue. The original Track II initiative -- the Neemrana Dialogue -- received a fresh start with the visit of the group of experts to Islamabad recently. The Indian side was led by former foreign ministry secretary Vivek Katju, while the Pakistani side included former minister Javed Jabbar among others. The interactions between the two sides took place between April 28 to 30 in the Pakistani capital, sources in Islamabad had said. Asked whether the dialogue had the backing of the ministry, Kumar did not give a direct reply, saying it was part of the normal process. He, however, said there was no change in India's "clear and consistent" policy towards Pakistan. "There is no dilution in our position that talks and terror cannot go together," he said. Sources in Islamabad said that the experts from two sides discussed a number of issues, including Kashmir, Siachen, Sir Creek, terrorism, tensions along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir and the regional situation. They said that the two sides will present their proposals to their government for consideration. The Neemrana Dialogue was launched in early 1990s and included influential former diplomats, military veterans and academics, who had the unofficial backing from the foreign ministries of the two countries. The ties between India and Pakistan nose-dived after Pakistan-based terror groups carried out a series of attacks in India in 2016. India responded to the attacks by carrying out a surgical strike inside Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in September 2016. The death sentence handed down to Indian national Kulbhushan Jadhav by a military court in Pakistan in April last year caused a further deterioration in ties. India has been maintaining that it will not engage in talks with Pakistan unless it stops cross-border terrorism. Asked about the Indus water dispute between the two countries, Kumar said discussions under a laid down framework were going on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) FMCG firm Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting today said it plans to invest Rs 220 crore to set up a new manufacturing facility for personal care products in Telangana. The company, which today reported revenues of over Rs 6,630 crore (USD 1 billion) for financial year 2017-18, also plans to set up a manufacturing facility in Guangzhou in China. "Wipro Consumer Care products division will invest Rs 220 crore to set up a manufacturing facility at Maheshwaram in Rangareddy district. Coming up on 40 acres, the facility will manufacture toilet soaps and other personal care products," a spokesperson of Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting told PTI. The company, however, did not elaborate on the new manufacturing facility coming up in China. Both the facilities are expected to be operational in fiscal 2020, the company added. Commenting on achieving the USD 1 billion revenue milestone, Wipro Consumer Care and Lighting CEO Vineet Agrawal said: "The key driver of growth this year was our ability to handle the GST transition in India...This gave us momentum in June-July 2017, leading to 18 per cent growth in the India business in 2017-18. Distribution also improved especially post GST implementation". The company had reported revenues of Rs 6,114 crore in fiscal 2016-17. Wipro Consumer Care's brand portfolio includes Santoor, Chandrika, Safewash Enchanteur and Yardley. The company has 15 manufacturing facilities in five countries (India, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hinduism is a great religion but "ignorant and illiterate" people, who think of themselves as its self-anointed protectors, are trying to devalue it, feels JD(U) leader Pavan Varma. "I want to proudly say that I am a Hindu, but I want to say that for right reasons," the diplomat-turned-politician said at the launch of his new book "Adi Shankaracharya: Hinduism's Greatest Thinker" at the Nehru Memorial Library here yesterday. "I refuse to be a mute witness to the reduction of such a great religion (Hinduism) to its lowest common denominator by ignorant and illiterate people who think they are self anointed protector of Hinduism," Varma said. The book was formally launched by BJP veteran Murli Manohar Joshi and senior Congress leader Karan Singh. Hinduism is a grand edifice of thought and is "inclusive" by its very philosophy and is based on shastras, debates, ability to listen, to acomodate and much more, he said. "I want those traditions to be respected- of inclusion, not exclusion; of assimilation, not hatred; of dialogue, not violence. "We need to have the knowledge of Hinduism and its great philosophy and if we don't, it's like to be reduced to that level," he added. Congratulating the author for his book, Singh jokingly remarked that Varma has covered quite some distance from writing about 'Kamasutra: The Art of Making Love to a Woman' in 2007 to the great theologian Adi Shankaracharya now. "Let me commend Pavan, because when I met him first 12 years ago he was an unusually intelligent foreign service person, but since then he has moved from Kamasutra to Adi Shankaracharya. "I think I must congratulate him for that... also I think that Mrs Varma too is partly responsible for that," he said sending the audience to peals of laughter. The book, published by Westland, is an account of the life, times and philosophy of Shankaracharya and examines the startling endorsement that contemporary science is giving to his ideas today. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By David Lawder and Ben BlanchardWASHINGTON/BEIJING (Reuters) - The most likely outcome for tense U.S.-China trade talks launching on Thursday is an agreement to keep talking, with U.S. President Donald Trump maintaining his threat to press ahead with punitive tariffs on Chinese goods, trade experts say. A breakthrough deal to fundamentally change China's economic policies is viewed as highly unlikely, though a package of short-term Chinese measures could delay a U.S. tariff decision. The discussions, led by U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, are ... Chinese smartphone and connected device maker Xiaomi is bringing its blockbuster initial public offering to Hong Kong, where it could raise about $10 billion in the largest listing globally in almost four years. The IPO plans, filed on Thursday, will be one of the first in Hong Kong under new rules designed to attract tech listings, a major win for the bourse as competition heats up between Hong Kong, New York and the Chinese mainland. The listing is expected to give Beijing-based, Cayman-domiciled Xiaomi a market value of between $80 billion and $100 billion, just eight years ... By Yawen Chen and Karl PlumeBEIJING/CHICAGO (Reuters) - China's major ports of entry have ramped up checks on fresh fruit imports from the United States, five Chinese industry sources said, which could delay shipments from U.S. growers already dealing with higher tariffs as Sino-U.S. trade ties worsen.Fruits were among 128 U.S. goods that China slapped with more expensive import tariffs in retaliation for U.S. levies on Chinese steel and aluminum as trade tensions between the world's two biggest economies flared this year.A U.S. trade delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is in ... Indian online marketplace Flipkart has bought back $350 million worth of shares from its investors as it seeks to convert its Singapore-incorporated company to a private limited firm, in a move that could ease the way in for a new strategic investor. U.S. retail giant Walmart Inc is in advanced talks with Flipkart to acquire a controlling stake of more than 51 percent in the Bengaluru-based e-commerce firm at a valuation of at least $18 billion, sources previously told Reuters. Flipkart Ltd purchased shares for $350.5 million from some of its investors including Tiger Global and ... (Reuters) - India's Lanco Infratech Ltd said on Thursday a panel of its creditors has not approved an insolvency resolution plan and that its administrator will file for potential liquidation of the company.Lanco, among 12 of the biggest debt defaulters in India that were pushed to bankruptcy court last year, said in a stock exchange filing (http://bit.ly/2jncWQC) that a debt resolution proposal from Thriveni Earthmovers Pvt Ltd had failed to get the minimum 75 percent creditors' vote required for it to get the go ahead before the deadline expires on Friday.The company did not give details of ... Picture this. A woman in her mid-40s walks into a diabetic clinic in a small town in India. Apart from the plethora of tests the physician runs on her, he also photographs her eyes. This picture is then uploaded onto a system that grades the condition of the patients retinas and spits out one of two verdicts visit an ophthalmologist immediately or follow up with another test in the next 12 months. What the doctor is looking for are signs of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a disease which accounts for 10 per cent of the cases where patients suffering from diabetes lose ... Inhabitants of Belo, Fundong and Njinikom subdivisions, Boyo division in the North West region of Cameroon are by the decision compelled to rush home before or at exactly 6 pm from April 30, 2018 for a period of one week. The decision taken Monday is signed by the SDO; Tegni Fidele stipulates that denizens of these subdivisions will have to be home from 6PM to 6AM for a period of one week renewable. The release also prohibits during this period, the circulation of Motor-Bikes from one subdivision to another is strictly forbidden. It also forbids movement of vehicles and forces all off licenses, bars and night clubs to remain close while night travel buses are expected to leave town before 6PM. However the measure is not applied to Administrative authorities, Forces of Law and Order, persons and vehicles in possession of special authorization to circulate. It further states that anyone who violates or attempts to violate the Order shall face the consequences as provided by the law. Tegni Fidele has ordered the Divisional Officers of these subdivisions to reinforce the Order with immediate effect. The decision comes at the time when another curfew instituted by the Governor of the North West region, Adolphe Lele LAfrique is still into force. It also comes at the time when the crisis has eaten deep into Boyo division, especially in Belo subdivision where many have lost their lives, others fled into bushes while houses are burnt reportedly by the military. Recently, Ambazonia fighters have made life unbearable for the men in uniform by attacking at multiple fronts. | BY Ricki Green | Rabbit has further bolstered the visual narrative side of its roster with the signing of director Astrid Salomon. Salomon, a Berlin native, has lived all over the world, but has now made Melbourne her permanent home. Salomon originally started out as a photographer, shooting fashion campaigns and editorials; her work has been published in Vogue, Elle, Glamour and Interview Magazine. Then in 2013 she was invited to shoot a TV commercial for Lindt and has never looked back. Since turning her hand to directing, she has carved out a strong visual style for herself. Salomon excels at telling emotive visual narratives with humanity and soul. Her beautiful cinematic eye is a common thread that runs through all of her work. Salomon has shot TV campaigns for Lindt, La Roche Posay, Nivea and Lidl as well as for European fashion brands such as Peek & Cloppenburg and Malaika Raiss. Her fashion films have been awarded at major international film festivals including VAEFF NYC, Berlin, Milan and Copenhagen Fashion Film Festival. Says Lucas Jenner, co-EP, Rabbit: We are absolutely delighted that Astrid has decided to join the Rabbit family. Aside from being an incredibly talented director, she is also a wonderful human being. Says Salomon: Moving countries can be challenging, but it is also very exciting. When I met Alex and Lucas there was an instant connection, so I am thrilled to be now amongst such talented directors in their family. To see Astrids work, click here. | BY Ricki Green | Sydney creative agency Disciple has created a campaign for the launch of new client Henry Blooms bio-fermented drinks range. The campaign promotes the benefits of Henry Blooms combination of raw probiotics and superfoods in multiple channels including large format outdoor, Citylights, print, point of sale and digital. Says Pete Buckley, creative partner, Disciple: This is our first project for Henry Blooms and the Phytologic team. The work is simple, direct and effective. Were excited about the opportunity to partner with such an innovative company in a category with explosive growth potential, and look forward to partnering with projects both here and China. | BY Kim Shaw | In the lead-up to Fridays AWARD Awards the annual Campaign Brief/LBB Legendary Lunch will be held in Sydney today. Theinvitation-only lunch will be attended by top creative directors and creative teams plus top production company executive producers. The annual lunch is generously sponsored by New York-based Barbara Levy, president of the London International Awards, who is visiting Sydney and Melbourne to catch up with top creative directors and to attend the AWARD Awards in Sydney. The Sydney After Lunch Party is sponsored by Louis & Co. iStock/Thinkstock(CLEVELAND) -- A Southwest Airlines plane was diverted Wednesday after a crack was reported in one of its windows, the airline confirmed to ABC News. Southwest Flight 957, scheduled to fly from Chicago to Newark, New Jersey, was diverted to Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport and landed "without incident," according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who said they're investigating the incident. There were no injuries reported among the 81 passengers, who will now be flown to Newark on a new aircraft, Southwest told ABC News. There were no reports of cabin depressurization and "initial indications" show the crack only appeared on the external pane of the window, the airline said, noting that the window has multiple panes. It was inspected last month. The Boeing 737-700 has been taken out of service for maintenance review, Southwest said in a statement. Social media images show cracks streaking across what's apparently the same window. Hirsch Chinn, a passenger on the flight, told ABC News that other passengers on board quickly changed seats upon discovering the cracked window. "Crew was fabulous," Chinn about the flight's staff. This incident comes a day after President Donald Trump honored the crew of another Southwest flight that made an emergency landing two weeks ago in Philadelphia. On that flight, Southwest 1380, passenger Jennifer Riordan died after an engine exploded mid-flight and a window was blown out. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. | BY Ricki Green | Ikon Sydney has launched its first campaign for Hort Innovations Australian Avocados brand since winning the business earlier this year, following a competitive pitch. The new Smash an Avo campaign is part of a complete brand refresh for Australian Avocados. Ikons integrated team delivered strategy, media, creative, brand identity, social and digital services to bring the work to market. Says Rob Martin Murphy, ECD, Ikon Sydney: The new Avos campaign reminds us how good avocados are and shows how they make absolutely everything Aussie better well, almost everything. Says Claire Tindale-Penning, marketing manager, Hort Innovation: Our new Smash an Avo campaign is fresh, friendly and slightly cheeky. We think it has a little something that everyone can relate to. Were confident itll help strengthen Australian Avocados place in Aussie culture, as well as its role as part of a happy and healthy lifestyle. Were really proud to represent this beautiful fruit grown right here in Australia and we think this new work highlights just what a versatile and delicious fruit it is. Says Martin Murphy: We really enjoyed bringing Smash an Avo to life. A tip of my avocado-patterned hat to Hort Innovation for backing it and, of course, to Gary John, the team at Photoplay, and Hogarth for making it happen. Also, a big thanks to Hugh the Jack Man for making himself available for the shoot at such short notice. CLIENT: HORT INNOVATION MARKETING MANAGER: Avocados: Claire Tindale-Penning HEAD OF MARKETING: Elisa King AGENCY: IKON CHIEF OF INTEGRATED SERVICES: Natalie Musico ECD: Rob Martin Murphy CREATIVE TEAM: Matt Smith, Dave Heytman, HEAD OF CREATIVE MANAGEMENT: Anna College SENIOR ACCOUNT DIRECTOR: Andy Morse MEDIA DIRECTOR: Emile Van Schalkwyk HEAD OF STRATEGY: Hugh McGilligan STRATEGY DIRECTOR: Abbie Love HEAD OF CONTENT: Maria Casas DESIGN: Jenie Johnston, Paris Giannakis (logo) PRODUCTION COMPANY: PHOTOPLAY DIRECTOR: Gary John SENIOR PRODUCER: Bonnie Fay EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Oliver Lawrence DOP: Rob Marsh FOOD STYLIST: Janet Mitchell PRODUCTION DESIGNER: Alex Holmes WARDROBE DESIGNER: Amelia Gebler DIRECTOR (Recipe Content): Nino Tamburri POST-PRODUCTION: HOGARTH EXECUTIVE PRODUCER: Samantha Daley POST PRODUCER: Erin McGookin EDITOR: Joe Morris COLOURIST: Trish Cahill ONLINE EDITOR: Hugh Seville SOUND: NYLON STUDIOS SOUND DESIGN & MIX: Stuart St.Vincent Welch | BY Ricki Green | Pat Baron, chief creative officer, Australia and chairman, McCann APAC Creative Leadership Council, McCann Melbourne has been appointed to the International Board of Directors at The One Club for Creativity. Baron is one of nine new appointees to the International Board, and the first creative leader dedicated exclusively to representing Australia on the Board. Previously, the Board position alternated each three-year term between creatives from Australia and New Zealand. Says Baron: I am incredibly honoured to be a part of the innovative and dynamic organisation that is the One Club for Creativity. Offering support for the next generation of industry professionals, celebrating world-changing ideas and stimulating the collaboration of art and commerce is of the utmost importance, and is a vision that I am very much excited about. I vividly recall pouring over One Show manuals when I was a student. To win my first One Show Pencil was a special day, because the One Club represents all that we aspire to as creatives. As part of a big global creative community, the One Club has the power to change our world for the better and show us the path forward. Its a journey I cant wait to begin. Says Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club for Creativity: One reason The One Club is so prestigious is because of its exceptional Board of Directors, an impressive group of the most prominent creative professionals from around the world. We are thrilled to have Pat Baron join the International Board, and look forward to him playing a key role in furthering our mission to support and celebrate the success of the global creative community, and solidifying the relevance of our mission in Australia. In other changes at the organization, FCB global CCO Susan Credle has been named chairwoman of the National Board of Directors. She replaces Jose Molla, founder and CCO, The Community, Miami, whose term as chairman has ended. He will officially hand over the reins to Credle at The One Show on Friday evening, May 11, during Creative Week in New York. Three industry leaders have been added to The One Club National Board of Directors: Keith Cartwright, ECD, 72andSunny, Los Angeles, Chloe Gottlieb, EVP, CCO US, R/GA, New York, and Fernando Machado, global chief marketing officer, Burger King, Miami. Other new members of The One Club International Board of Directors are: Eugene Cheong, CCO, Ogilvy & Mather Asia Pacific and Singapore, Singapore Sonal Dabral, group CCO, vice chairman, Ogilvy & Mather India, Mumbai (replacing Prasoon Joshi, executive chairman, CEO, McCann World Group India and president. South Asia, McCann Erickson Mumbai, India) Leong Wai Foong, chairman, CCO, BBDO Greater China, Shanghai, China (replacing Dean Sciole, director of marketing, Cadillac China, Shanghai) Monica Moro, CCO, McCann Spain, Madrid, Spain Masako Okamura, ECD, ASPAC, Dentsu Aegis Network, Manila, Philippines Juliana Paracencio, regional CD, Memac Ogilvy & Mather, Dubai, UAE Luiz Sanches, CCO, AlmapBBDO, Sao Paulo, Brazil (replacing Nizan Guanaes, chairman, Grupo ABC, Sao Paulo) Yasuharu Sasaki, ECD, Dentsu Tokyo, Japan (replacing Naoki Ito, CEO, creative director and founder, Party, Tokyo) Board members, who serve three-year terms, are selected based on three criteria: they must be prominent international creatives, be respected leaders in their given fields, and exert influence in their respective regions. Responsibilities of Board members include providing input and feedback on the clubs two dozen annual education, professional development, inclusion & diversity and gender equality programs, elevating The One Show and ADC Annual Awards in rankings in their regions, connecting the club with advertising and design universities and schools, and recommending outstanding candidates for awards judges. The new Board members join a group of global creative leaders who serve as ambassadors for and advisors to the non-profit organization. The complete list of current National Board members is at http://www.oneclub.org/directors/, International Board is at http://www.oneclub.org/intldirectors/. Swanepoel made special note of Jose Mollas term as Board chairman, praising his strong dedication and strategic vision for successfully growing the clubs initiatives, reputation and influence on a global level. Says Swanepoel: Jose has been a terrific leader and partner, and played a significant role in the club becoming the creative industrys global leader in education, professional development, inclusion & diversity and gender equality programming. We thank him for his many important contributions to making The One Club an organization that nurtures a more vibrant and inspired global creative community. Past One Club Board members include industry legends such as Bob Barrie, Lee Clow, Lee Garfinkel, Jeff Goodby, Sir John Hegarty, Ed McCabe, Dan Wieden and others. The announcement was made in lead up to The One Clubs Creative Week, May 7-11, 2018 in New York (http://www.oneclub.org/creativeweek/). The preeminent festival showcasing the intersection of advertising, innovation and creative thinking, Creative Week includes The One Show over two nights, ADC 97th Annual Awards, the dynamic Young Ones Education Festival, inspiring sessions with some of the biggest names in the industry at the Creative Summit and the exclusive Executive Creative Summit, open to a limited number of top-level leaders (founders, CCOs and managing partners). Notice for the Postmedia Network This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Lee County activists recently migrated north to Washington, D.C., to convince lawmakers to support funding for Everglades restoration. There is a 2018 Water Resources Development Act poised for review this year, and those who support Everglades restoration are hoping to get federal money to help build the new Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee. Representatives from a variety of conservation organizations, tourism industries, and fishing and boating company owners joined forces to lobby leaders April 24-25 in the nations capital. Among them were Rae Ann Wessel, policy director for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and Capt. Daniel Andrews, of Captains for Clean Water. It was Andrews first time ever in D.C., and after two days of Everglades-centric focus, he said he did get to see some of the nations historical buildings. The Everglades Foundation helped to host the Americas Everglades Summit, bringing in panelists across industries and guest speakers from both Congress and activist tables to speak about the importance of the Everglades National Park to the nation. Andrews, Wessel and others spent one day in meetings with members of Congress to explain the need for the funding. Wessel said about 200 people from South Florida joined the effort. It was a really fantastic opportunity to share some information and take the temperature of Congress, she said. The reason for the lobbying now is convoluted into how the Everglades will get federal funding. The Central Everglades Plan was approved for funding by the federal government two years ago in the 2016 Water Resources Development Act. But at that time, Florida did not have the land for the reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee. That changed last year with the passing of Senate Bill 10 in the Florida legislature, which allowed the state to seek out land from willing sellers and begin design of what is called the Everglades Agricultural Area into the future reservoir. Currently, the EAA is leased to sugar companies, but the lease ends in 2019. So now, the state has 10,100 acres of state-owned land to use for a 24-foot deep reservoir to hold run off from Lake Okeechobee when the lake gets too high. In addition, it has enough land for a 6,500 filter marsh to clean stormwater and an additional 500 acres it is purchasing from a willing seller, Wessel said. Its better than the goose egg we have now, she said. The reservoir could lead to a 40 percent to 60 percent reduction in the harmful freshwater releases into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers, and a significant increase to freshwater releases that are needed for the deteriorating health of Florida Bay, Wessel said. The federal government is in a 50-50 cost-share with the state with the Central Everglades Plan, so lobbyists want to get the plan amended to include the new EAA land in the scope. The plan has to be amended for the EAA project to be included in funding, which comes through the Water Resources Development Act bill. So, the two asks of the lobbyists last week were the need to amend the Central Everglades Plan and additional federal funding for the plan. The state of Florida has proffered $200 million, Wessel said, and she hopes the federal government will match. There is no exact date when the Water Resources Development Act bill will go for a vote; right now, it is queued up to go to appropriations committees in Congress for vetting. Midterm elections could throw a wrench in the timeline, Wessel said. The federal government also needs what is called a chiefs report from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the funding can be approved. If approved, Florida could see the EAA reservoir in the next eight years. It seems like a long time, but on a government schedule, that is fast. In the past, it has taken 10 years just to get the chiefs report, Wessel said. But in this case, the Corps is getting the report done in an year. The Corps has until the end of September to finish the report and get it to Congress a timeline that could conflict with the bills forward momentum. But in a move that Wessel said jaws were dropping, U.S. Representative for Louisiana, Garrett Graves, said he would put a placeholder in the bill if the report is not ready. Graves is also the chairman of the House subcomittee on water resources and the environment and serves on the transportation and infrastructure committee. A placeholder is a unique, and uncommon, proposition. Thats an adaptation theyre making because they recognize the importance of this. It was astounding, Wessel said. These folks who are running these committees get it, and theyre from other states. Wessel said she was impressed with the understanding many Congress members had for the plight of the Everglades, even if they were from other states. District 19 Rep. Francis Rooney has spent the last two years inviting members of Congress to tour the Everglades in person and show them on a first-hand basis why the park matters on a national scale. Sen. Bill Nelson has made similar efforts. Those visits made a difference, Wessel said. Mike Quigley of Illinois, one representative who took up Rooneys invitation, spoke during the summit about his visit to Florida. He mentioned that while in the Everglades, he saw some of the same birds he also gets to see on the shores of Lake Michigan, and made the connection that Illinois cannot protect the birds up north if their Florida homes are not safe, too. Andrews said the Florida delegation and the representatives who toured Florida with Rooney were well-informed, but as he and members of Captains for Clean Water spoke to Congress members from other states, he found that many were not fully aware of the issue. Although his organization has been to lobby lawmakers in Tallahassee multiple times, it was Andrews first time lobbying on a national scale. It was interesting, working with members of Congress from across the country, he said. In Tallahassee, everyone knows about the Everglades (issue), but up there, it wasnt well known. Andrews tackled the lack of knowledge from an angle that most lawmakers could relate to: tourism. As a fishing charter captain, Andrews said he has given fishing tours to visitors from the rest of the 49 states and many countries around the world, too. I think every other state has a significant number of visitors that come to Florida. That point resonated for them, not every state can say their tourism industry attracts people form the rest of the world, he said. Thats an issue of national importance. With the tourism and fishing industries bringing in billions annually for Florida, talking economics was important. Andrews was joined by the chief executive officer of Hells Bay Boatworks, Chris Peterson, and a representative from boat deck builder SeaDek to expand on the impact the Everglades has on their industries, as well. Andrews felt the meetings he had with about 16 Congress members went well, overall, and in general they seemed supportive of the Everglades projects. He and Wessel plan to continue to monitor the progress of the Water Resources Development Act bill as it approaches a vote and maintain a relationship with the lawmakers they met in D.C. We wont know what theyll do next, but the initial conversations went as good as they could have, he said. The ability of an American to book a flight to Florida and be out of the beach, out fishing, that idea really resonated with them: a resources that everybody should be allowed to enjoy. Photo: Alanna Kelly/file photo Crews from Gorman Bros. Lumber will begin salvage harvesting in the Philpott wildfire area east of Kelowna, starting this weekend. Logging supervisor Shawn Clerke says the work will take about six weeks. The public is advised the High Rim Trail through the fire area will be closed due to extreme risk of heavy equipment working in the area. Approximately 10,000 cubic metres or 200 truck loads of burned timber is expected to be salvaged. Crews should be able to harvest about 12 truck loads a day. Clerke says the work could be delayed if heavy rains are experienced. Useable timber must be salvaged before the summer heat, as the partially burned trees will begin to crack and degrade in quality, Clerke says. Photo: RCAF CF-188 Hornet Kelowna aviation giant KF Aerospace is joining forces with a Montreal-based company to provide military pilot and aircrew training in Canada. KF Aerospace and Canadian Aviation Electronics announced Wednesday they have come together to form SkyAlyne Canada Inc., a 50/50 joint venture. In a news release, the companies say they will be able to provide "unmatched experience capabilities in the delivery of pilot and aircrew training." CAE and KF Aerospace deliver all phases of pilot training to the Royal Canadian Air Force through the NATO Flying Training in Canada program managed by CAE, and the Contracted Flying Training and Support program managed by KF Aerospace. They will continue to manage these programs as currently contracted, while SkyAlyne focuses on building synergies between the two programs and ensuring the RCAF has access to world-class training to meet current and future needs. The SkyAlyne Canada joint venture between two long-established Canadian aerospace leaders is a significant milestone, said Barry Lapointe, KF Aerospace CEO. SkyAlyne will build on Canadas proud heritage started during World War II as an international leader in military aircrew training, and we look forward to working with CAE through the SkyAlyne joint venture to develop next-generation pilot and aircrew training solutions in Canada. Photo: Contributed Hans and Linda Kohler of Osoyoos are donating almost $78,000 to the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation to help acquire medical equipment for the Penticton Regional Hospital expansion. A couple in the desert are making a splash to the Penticton Regional Hospital's fundraising campaign. Hans and Linda Kohler, an Osoyoos couple who have lived their whole lives in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, have donated just under $78,000 to help pay for medical equipment in the hospital's new patient tower. The pair both have farming backgrounds in the region, and they met in the 1960s when Hans was loading hay into a truck. I was trying to flag her down, but she wouldnt stop for me just drove right by, Hans quipped. Later on she worked at the packing house and I asked her out. The couple have lived on a two-acre property in Osoyoos since selling their Similkameen farm in 1980. Hans and Linda are also avid travellers and have visited more than 60 countries. Weve travelled in a lot of countries and people always ask: Where do you like it the best? Linda said. We just say: At home. We like the small town atmosphere and friendly people. The Kohlers have been donating to PRH since the early 1990s, and they said they recognize the regional scope the hospital covers. Linda said some of their family members have received treatment at the hospital over the years. Their donation will contribute to the $20-million fundraising campaign at PRH, which has raised more than $16.7 million of that goal. The new $312-million patient tower is less than a year away from opening. Photo: Chilliwack RCMP Police in Chilliwack confiscated cash, two cars and a "significant amount of drugs" while executing search warrants on two properties. Investigators carried out the search warrants April 17 on the 46000 block of Hudson Road and 8700 block of Willow Drive. The drug seized is believed to be crystal meth. Apart from money and automobiles, officers also seized "articles associated to drug trafficking" during the searches. A male and female were arrested after the searches and later released. A third person was arrested for unrelated matters and is still in custody. Upper Fraser Valley RCMP spokesman Cpl. Mike Rail says the seizure saved a substantial amount of drugs from being sold on the streets. The annual McHappy day event was back Wednesday, during which McDonald's Canada restaurants donate $1 to Ronald McDonald House charities for each coffee, Big Mac or Happy Meal sold. Penticton's McDonald's was bustling during the afternoon. "Last year our total dollar amount was $9,300 from three restaurants, and we've set a goal to beat $10,000," said Caitlyn Knowles, McHappy Day coordinator for the South Okanagan. "Hopefully we can get there with support from the community." Partial proceeds from the Penticton location will go to the Okanagan Boys and Girls Club, and volunteers from the organization were selling pairs of McDonald's-branded socks in the drive-thru lane. Ninety-one families from Peachland to Princeton were helped by Ronald McDonald House charities last year, and some of those families participated in this year's event. "The support of the families that have actually used the house has been amazing," Knowles said, "We've had two families volunteering with us today and we have three families coming in for dinner tonight. So it's great that they get to give back." The cutoff for donations is 10 p.m. Wednesday. Madison Erhardt Don't be alarmed if you see a massive bike rolling through downtown Kelowna over the next few days. The Heart and Stroke Foundations 25th annual Big Bike Ride got underway today and runs until May 5. The four-day event supports heart disease and stroke research. Riders will gear up on Cawston Avenue and take in the two-kilometre ride. The Big Bike is hard to miss and of course, follows the rules of the road, but drivers are reminded to watch out for increased cyclist traffic. ''We are hoping to raise $171,000," said Wendy Wright, community development co-ordinator. "So far with six rides in West Kelowna we have raised $16,000." "I firmly beleive that all Canadians have a connection to heart disease and stroke. We all know a lot of people that are affected by it. Currently there are 1.6 million Canadians that are living with the effects of heart disease and stroke." For more information, click here. Photo: Contributed I'm increasingly hearing about is high gasoline and diesel prices at local gas stations. This is understandable concern given that in Vancouver, gas prices are now the highest in North America. Recently, it has been reported that B.C. NDP Premier John Horgan pleaded with the federal Liberal government to do something about soaring Metro Vancouver gas prices." In my view, this was an incredulous comment when one considers that on April 1, the B.C. NDP provincial government raised the carbon tax on gasoline and diesel, making it more expensive. So, will the federal government intervene? The short answer is no. In Ottawa, the Trudeau Liberal government is implementing a national carbon tax in Canada that will force all provinces to continue to raise carbon taxes across the board. The only choice the provinces have is to either institute their own carbon tax/cap and trade system, or else the federal government will do so for them. Ultimately, the entire point of carbon taxes is to increase the costs to the point where consumers can no longer afford to burn carbon and will use less of it. Supporters of carbon taxes believe this is the most effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Critics point out that carbon taxes unfairly penalize rural residents, who may not have alternatives such as public transit or availability of renewable energy in their area. More recently, some believe that carbon taxes may disproportionately affect women and those who are on a fixed income. So, the question to be asked is how much will a national carbon tax cost Canadians? This is a question that we, as the Official Opposition, asked via a freedom of information request. Unfortunately, the documents returned from the Department of Finance, on what the projected annual costs per household of the carbon tax would be, revealed nothing. Why? The actual amounts were all redacted by the Department of Finance and therefore hidden from Canadians. Due to this highly questionable redaction, the Office of the Information Commissioner has now launched an official investigation to determine why the data about the financial costs of a carbon tax per household is not being released to Canadians. As a result of this redaction, the Official Opposition tabled a motion in the House of Commons that read in part: given the Liberal government made a specific campaign promise to Canadians that "government data and information should be open by default, the House hereby order that all documents be produced in their original and uncensored form indicating how much the federal carbon tax proposed in Budget 2018 will cost Canadian families. The motion, unfortunately, was defeated by the Trudeau government, with assistance from the NDP. If a government is going to impose a tax on the citizens, there should be an obligation to be open and transparent on what the actual costs of the tax will be to Canadians. This particular debate is not about should there be a carbon tax or not. This debate is entirely about what the Department of Finance projects the cost to Canadians of a carbon tax to be. My question this week is in two parts: Do you believe Canadians are entitled to know what the Department of Finance projects the costs of this carbon tax will be? Part two: Photo: CTV A man has died after being engulfed in flames in a Victoria parking lot. The incident happened at the corner of Gorge and Douglas streets about 11:30 a.m., near the Sandman Hotel. The owners of a sandwich shop ran out with a fire extinguisher to help the man and were able to put the flames out, but police say he died of his injuries after being rushed to hospital. Police aren't saying if their investigation is criminal in nature. The Victoria Fire Department and BC Coroners Service are also investigating. with files from CTV Vancouver Island Photo: BC Real Estate Association Penticton realtor James Palanio has been elected as head of the BCREA for 2018-19. Penticton realtor James Palanio has been elected as president of the B.C. Real Estate Association for 2018-19, the association announced on Wednesday. Palanio is an associate broker with Royal Lepage Locations West realty, and has been a licensed realtor since 2002. For six years, he's been a director for the BCREA and a member of the South Okanagan Real Estate Board. On being named BCREA president, Palanio said he's very pleased to be in the role. "This has been a period of significant change in our profession. We will be employing a collaborative and cohesive approach to enhance realtors' ability to continue to serve the best interests of their clients," he said. The BCREA also elected three officers of the association, six directors and two public directors. Among the new board of directors is Anthony Bastiaanssen, a realtor with REMAX Kelowna - Westside. The association consists of about 23,000 licensed realtors in B.C. Photo: Contributed UPDATE 7:45 p.m. The Penticton RCMP says the bike has been recovered. A Castanet reader recognized the three-wheeled bike attached to the back of a car at the Tim Hortons on Westminster Ave. around 6:30 p.m. "We verified the identity of the bike by its unique qualities and a Project 529 sticker that it was registered under," said Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth. "The matter is still under investigation." ORIGINAL 5:30 p.m. A unique yellow bike dear to its owner has been stolen in Penticton. The bike, which has two wheels in the back, was taken while it was parked outside 304 Main Street, Access Centre Penticton. According to Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth, the owner was "very upset" at the theft. Anyone with information is asked to contact Cst. Ian Wolchok at the Penticton RCMP, 250-492-4300. Alanna Kelly UPDATE: 5:20 p.m. City of Kelowna staff said they conduct numerous tests on Okanagan Lake and post them online for the public to observe. Water tests conducted by Castanet show the water is currently very clean. Ed Hope, water quality and customer care supervisor with the City of Kelowna, said overall Okanagan Lake is full of highly potable water. We continue to use that as our primary drinking water source for our residents, he said. A number of tests are conducted on a daily basis, as well as a weekly, monthly, quarterly and annually. Intakes are fairly deep in the lake, said Hope. With the amount of flow that does come in, the water quality is impacted by some form of turbidity. Water is screened as much as possible to make sure there are no health concerns. ORIGINAL: 5 a.m. As beaches across the Okanagan Valley are quickly filling and residents sail out on the water, results from our water test on Okanagan Lake have come in. Castanet independently tested the water through CARO Analytical Services on April 23. Red coloured rocks that were deemed safe by the City of Kelowna turned up on numerous beachfronts. The mysterious rocks left many residents puzzled and prompted us to do our own testing to find out what was really in the water. The essential drinking water test kit was performed which examines levels of total coliforms, E. Coli, alkalinity, Aluminum, antimony, Arsenic, Barium, Boron, Cadmium, Calcium, Chloride, Chromium, Copper, conductivity, Cyanide, Fluoride, hardness (total), Iron, Lead, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Nitrate, Nitrite, pH, Potassium, Selenium, Sodium, Sulfate, total dissolved solids, turbidity, Uranium and Zinc in the water. Jeff Curtis, associate professor of earth and environmental sciences at UBC Okanagan, said the data collected from the samples show the water is potable. Anions are only problematic when they are in huge abundance and they are not, he said. Alkalinity hardness is not outside of guidelines, for some people maybe it is harder than they want it, but it is not an issue." As for the metals in Okanagan Lake, Curtis said they are very low. Very, very, very low, he said. Way below the maximum allowable concentration for drinking water. Curtis described the lake as huge in comparison to the water that flows through it. In order for things to change, it would take a long time or a large amount of material to change it, he said. Changes do occur, over long periods of time." This is what Curtis said is one of the great assets in the region, to have a water supply like that that retains itself in relatively good condition. When asked if there was something that could be troublesome that was not done in this test Curtis said no. The easy answer is it would be hard to think of a problem parameter in our lakes, said Curtis. While the water is potable, we dont recommend taking large gulps. Would I drink Okanagan Lake water? I wouldnt, he said. I have access to Okanagan Lake water that has also gone through a treatment system. Photo: VicPD Victoria police say an unnamed youth has potentially life-altering injuries after being robbed and attacked at a playground in the city. Police have issued a news release saying the youth and a friend were in the park about 9 p.m. Tuesday when two other youths, aged about 15 or 16, took their longboards. The victim says he approached the suspects, who assaulted him with a weapon and then fled. Investigators describe the youth's injuries as non-life-threatening, but say he remains in hospital and the unprovoked attack has left him with wounds which have the potential to change his life. The suspects are both described as Aboriginal, about five feet three inches tall, and one was wearing a red hat, while a photo of one of the longboards shows it is brand new, full sized and distinctive with a dark blue, white, grey and aquamarine pattern. Because of the location of the assault and injuries suffered by the victim, police say they want to ensure residents of the area around the Mayfair shopping centre are aware of it, and they urge anyone with information to come forward. Photo: Contributed A proposal that would give cities in B.C. the power to zone land for rental housing could moderate the price of affected properties, experts say. Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore, who led a committee on housing strategy for the Union of B.C. Municipalities, said the legislation tabled last month by the provincial government would give cities the authority to protect existing rental properties and calm speculation. Currently, older properties in areas that are slated for higher density are attractive to buyers who want to make a significant profit because they can be turned into high-earning condominiums or houses for sale, he said. "They're trying to sell the potential in the increased value. And that increased value doesn't allow for rental to make financial sense," Moore said, adding the return on rental housing in the short term isn't as great as units that are sold to individual buyers. Cameron Muir, chief economist with the B.C. Real Estate Association, said rental housing gets "crowded out" for other uses, which is often ownership-type properties that offer revenue for developers even as land prices rise. "If you're going to build any kind of development, you start off with what the end product is going to be and what the market can bear and then you work yourself back from all the costs and the residual value is in the land," he said. "If it's zoned rental only, of course the value will increase but it will only be limited to the sphere of the rental market." Brian McCauley, president and CEO of Concert Properties, agreed the legislation would impact property prices, but added it isn't necessarily an incentive for developers to build more rental. Concert has just under 5,000 rental units across B.C. and Ontario, and plans to develop more. Examples of better incentives include support from the province or federal government to finance new developments, McCauley said. "You can't get as high of a financing rate so you are investing more capital in building a rental apartment building," he said. Despite record housing starts in many communities, Moore said a continuing shortage of rental housing illustrates why cities need more financial and regulatory authority. Photo: The Canadian Press A sign where buried pipelines are located is seen in Burnaby B.C., just outside the Kinder Morgan location Thursday, April 26, 2018. The chief executive of Alberta-based Parkland Fuel Corp. says any measure that restricts the supply of oil to British Columbia would be detrimental to the economy of the province, as well as Alberta. Bob Espey says the fuel distributor and marketer has been in contact with both provincial governments about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project and remains hopeful that the issues can be resolved in a way that is beneficial to Canada, and both provinces. Espey adds during a call to discuss its latest quarterly results that he is confident Parkland, which owns a refinery in Burnaby, B.C., can continue to serve its customers. Pipeline builder Kinder Morgan curtailed spending on the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain expansion, which would triple the capacity of an existing pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby, B.C., blaming opposition and delays in B.C. Kinder Morgan set May 31 as the deadline for governments to find a solution to the impasse as the dispute between the Alberta and B.C. provincial governments continues to escalate. B.C. premier John Horgan has said the federal government should invest in refineries, not pipelines, so that bitumen can be turned into fuel and used at home rather than shipping the raw form overseas. Photo: Contributed More people were working, homes cost significantly more, and far fewer new homes were built in the first part of 2018. The Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission says the region's economy was mostly strong in the first quarter of the year. Its latest economic indicators report shows approximately 100,000 people in the region were working, marking a 1.7 per cent increase in the labour force. That slight bump meant the regions unemployment rate dropped as well, to 6.1 per cent, compared to 7.1 in the first quarter of 2017. The report also shows a 58.1 per cent jump in job postings. The 5,871 jobs advertised during the period support the growth in the regions labour force, the commission says, with the highest demand continuing to be in the sales and service category. For more on the region's economic indicators, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge. Photo: Rob Gibson UPDATE: 10:05 a.m. Fire crews have accessed the roof of the Legacy Towers, formerly the Kiwanis Towers at Gordon Drive and Lawrence Avenue. Some flames had been seen coming from the rooftop earlier Thursday morning. A few residents outside the tower told Castanet News there was no need for an evacuation of the building. Firefighters apparently had trouble accessing the roof initially. The building was not evacuated. ORIGINAL: 9:50 a.m. The Kelowna firefighters are at the scene of what used to be known as Kiwanis Tower at Gordon Drive and Lawrence Avenue. Flames have been seen coming from the roof of the building. Crews at the scene are trying to determine the source of the flames. Castanet has a reporter heading to the scene. We'll have more details as they become available. Send your news tips, photos and video to [email protected] Photo: Chelsea Powrie A new exhibit that explores themes of healing through art is opening Saturday at Mondo Creation in Penticton. Janette Damsma, of Blue Dragon Medicine, has been putting on exhibits of her art for 20 years, in Vancouver and on the Sunshine Coast at first, and in Penticton for a decade. "All of the paintings are about a metaphysical or a spiritual experience that Ive had in my life, so theyre all stories about healing in my life," Damsma said. The exhibit is called Alchemize, which Damsma said evokes the transformational possibilities of art. "I hope people will feel moved and inspired by the art, a lot of times because the art is about a process, people who have been through a similar thing will recognize something in the paintings that reminds them of something theyve been through," she said. The exhibit runs throughout the month of May, and on May 17, Damsma will be adding an additional event, performing a deeply personal musical monologue. "I wrote it while I was going through a traumatic period in my life," she said. "All these songs came through me, and I realized it was the story of all that I'd been through and how I came out in a positive way at the end of it." Tickets for the performance are $25, and are available on the Blue Dragon Medicine website and at Mondo Creation. The exhibit, which also features art by Damaya Hoffman, is free to visit at Mondo Creation, and Damsma's work is available for purchase. Photo: RCMP An infamous prisoner at the Okanagan Correctional Centre in Oliver is now accused of assaulting a female corrections officer. Afshin Ighani, 45, is accused of assaulting a female peace officer on March 14, according to court documents. The BC Government Employees Union declined to comment on the incident. Ighani was already facing charges for allegedly stabbing two protective custody inmates on Sept. 9, 2017 a matter going to trial later this year. He was originally arrested on April 22, 2017 after a region-wide manhunt that ended with Ighani allegedly taking a woman captive while he was being pursued by police. A five-day trial for those charges starts June 4. RCMP was hunting him in connection to a shooting that occurred in Oliver days prior. Charges related to the shooting were dropped by the Crown after the victim died of unrelated causes many months later. Ighani has a lengthy criminal record and was ordered deported from the country in both 2002 and 2007. Photo: Google Maps UPDATE: 3 p.m. In-flows in the Nicola Lake watershed are expected to be 159 per cent of normal this spring through July. The province says the local snow pillow has melted 30 per cent during the past week. In anticipation of high inflows, the lake has been drawn down to historical levels. While gates on the Nicola Lake Dam have been open to maximize the outflow for more than a month, the channel immediately upstream from the dam has been restricting flow, limiting ability to maintain the low level recorded in April. Fresh data from the B.C. River Forecast Centre is expected on Monday. If current conditions continue, the lake is expected to reach full supply, and possibly higher, within 10 days. Full pool is a lake elevation of 625.83 metres. Last year's elevation reached 627 metres. ORIGINAL: noon An early flood advisory has been issued for residents of the Thompson-Nicola Regional District who may be impacted by water levels upstream or downstream of Nicola Lake Dam. In-flow into Nicola Lake has increased during the past week as a result of last weeks low-elevation snowmelt. Water levels have increased by half a metre over the past week and are currently rising at a rate of 15 centimetres a day. Conditions are beginning to look much like those of last year, the TNRD says. Maximum lake levels are dependent on weather conditions, but in light of current conditions and high potential in-flow volumes, residents are advised to be aware of rising water levels. Residents are also encouraged to protect docks, septic systems and other infrastructure that may be at risk. The regional district declared a state of emergency, Tuesday, in Area M, Nicola Valley North. Flooding prompted the move, which enables local authorities to exercise emergency powers as needed, prohibit travel, or enter private property if events threaten lives, property or the environment. No evacuations are required at this time, however. If Canada Revenue Agency says you owe money, don't go to your local hemp shop to pay the taxman. Hemp City has saved several people from being scammed out of thousands of dollars. The downtown Kelowna business is one of just four in the city with a bitcoin machine. And, perpetrators of what is known as the CRA scam have been sending unwitting victims to the store to pay up. "We've probably had four or five people in, in the last two days," says owner Lee Schurian. "In the last few days, only one person was missed in the morning. But, we've saved about four people." By now, you've probably either received the phone call, or know somebody who has. An automated message aggressively says you owe the CRA money and will go to jail if you don't call a number given. Those who return the call are told to withdraw money and deposit it in the bitcoin machine. Similar ploys have also demanded iTunes gift cards and other forms of payment. Schurian says one woman came in three times over a few days last summer and was scammed out of $20,000. The bitcoin scam appears to have started up again in just the past couple of days. The store has put a sign on the machine and is warning people. "We had a sign at the bottom where you enter your cash, and there is a disclaimer on the machine you have to agree to that also mentions that but people are scared and they don't even realize. "Now, we have a big piece of paper that you have to lift up before you even use the machine." He said one lady started crying when she realized she was about to be scammed. "I hate to see people get scammed like that, that's the worst," said Schurian. The owner of Dakoda's Bar and Grill, which also has a bitcoin machine, says staff have also saved several people over the last few days from the scam. A warning sign is also up there. Both the CRA and RCMP warn people against responding to fraudulent communications. Alanna Kelly Kelowna resident Nora Slater was taking a morning walk along Mill Creek, Thursday, and was astonished to see how much the water rose overnight. We just cant believe the difference. Its amazing how much more water, she said. Slater, like many others, has been anxiously keeping an eye on the rising creek while officials work quickly to get ahead of flooding. Parliamentary secretary for emergency preparedness Jennifer Rice and representatives from Emergency Management BC and the Regional District of Central Okanagan met alongside the creek, Thursday, to update media on preparations. As much as things could be really bad in a couple of weeks ... with this snowpack, the good news is we are a lot more prepared, said Brian Beach, with RDCO. Its mandate is to protect infrastructure and not homes. That's up to homeowners, he said, and sandbags are available at numerous locations. Slater lives just a few feet from the creek. I cant believe the force of the water, its not a dribble its a real current, she said. Meanwhile, Ellison/Duck Lake is being closely watched, as it is at a very high level. Debris collecting along creeks last year has also prompted tree removal work. They become a hazard if one of those trees comes down in the middle of a flood and blocks the channel. It doesnt matter what kind of protection works we have in place weve got a major flood and major damage, said Beach. As of today, there are 18 states of local emergency declared in the province, said Rice 12 communities are evacuated and 11 are on alert. The emergency assistance cost is up to $2 million so far for this year at the RDCO's Emergency Operations Centre. Officials are hopeful temperatures will continue in the low to mid-20s, with little rain. We are crossing our fingers and hoping we just continue on with this trend, but (are) prepared for worse incidents moving forward, said Beach. Photo: Contributed The Community Foundation of the South Okanagan is taking the pulse of the region with its 2018 Vital Signs Survey. The survey gathers statistical data and community input in an attempt to provide residents with a sense of where their community is going. The report covers the entire South Okanagan and Similkameen Valley. We encourage people to take the survey so we are able to gather a true sense of how the citizens feel about the state of their community. The more input we gather, the more feedback we are able to publish in the report, said Aaron McRann, executive director of the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen. He added the data collected also gives the organization direction for its granting. The survey asks questions on 11 areas that impact quality of life. The Foundation is also giving away a $100 gift card for every 1,000 citizens who complete the survey. Our goal is to get 10% of the population of the RDOS to take the survey so there are up to 8 X $100 gift certificates to be given away, said McRann. Take the survey here. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the Northwest region posted a record-setting March as most critical job measures trended in the right direction. Mr. Butler noted employed residents increased in March. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell. Its good to see such a strong report in March, Mr. Butler said. So many of our local communities are trending in the right direction in terms of job creation and hiring. And, we are even seeing records in many places. In March, the number of employed residents in the Northwest region area climbed to 407,249 a record. That total ranked second among the 12 regional commissions in Georgia. Northwest Georgia added 1,681 employed residents for the month and 12,593 over the past year. Only four regions added more than 1,000 employed residents for the month. The Northwest labor force ended March at 424,643. That number is down 39 over the month and up 9,748 over the past 12 months. The regional workforce is the states second largest. At the same time, the jobless rate fell to 4.1 percent, a drop of .4 percent over the past 30 days. A year ago, the jobless rate was 4.9 percent. There are 12 regional commissions in Georgia. The rates in the 12 areas vary from a low of 3.5 percent in the Georgia Mountains to 5.2 percent in the River Valley region. In the Northwest region, initial claims for unemployment were up about 15 percent for the month and down about 11 percent for the year. The Northwest Georgia region includes Bartow, Chattooga, Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield. Employ Georgia, the GDOLs online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 2,889 new active job postings in metro Northwest region for March. Visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers and to connect with us on social media. A permit to participate in the 2018 Tennessee elk hunt will be available for the first time through a raffle to be held by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation (TWRF). Individuals will be able to purchase a ticket for $10 each and there is no limit to the number of tickets that can be purchased. Since the elk hunt was implemented in 2009, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has donated a permit to a Non-Governmental Organization to join other participants who will be chosen from a computer drawing. The raffle for the permit replaces an online auction previously held to determine the additional participant. The raffle drawing will be held Aug. 15 and the winner announced at the Aug. 24 meeting of the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission in Nashville. The raffle winner will join the computer drawing winners in the 2018 hunt in October at one of the elk hunting zones on North Cumberland Wildlife Management Area. The hunting season dates will be set by the TFWC at its May 17-18 meeting. The winner will be responsible for the appropriate license to participate. In addition to the permit, the raffle winner will receive a new Tikka T3X Lite Stainless bolt-action rifle in 7mm Remington Mag. It is topped with an Oculus Pro Team HD 3x9x40 mm rifle scope. To purchase tickets for the raffle, visit the TWRF website at http://www.twrf.net/store/2018-elk-tag-raffle. All proceeds from the raffle will go exclusively to the elk restoration program. TWRF is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting habitat conservation, responsible land stewardship, and Tennessee's hunting and fishing heritage for the benefit of TWRA and Tennessee's outdoor enthusiasts. Chesterfield now offering Pfizer booster shots The Chesterfield Health District is now offering booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those 65 and older and those 18-64 with underlying medical conditions. The booster shot, administered... Vaccine policy stirs tension between county, commissioner of the revenue In early June, Chesterfields commissioner of the revenue, Jenefer Hughes, found herself swimming against the current. With COVID-19 cases plummeting and vaccination events inoculating thousands in Chesterfield and across the... Hopkins has requested that the Chicago Park District conduct a study to estimate the cost of the ambitious project, including buying the land. "I asked them to expedite it," Hopkins said. "We should know (the cost) soon. We have to get an idea of the price tag before we go in search of funding for it." Chicago-based Sterling Bay is behind the largest project in the 760-acre corridor rezoned by the city last year to accommodate apartment towers, office buildings, hotels and retail in the formerly industrial area. As proposed, Lincoln Yards would span more than 70 acres and cost as much as $10 billion to develop. It is among five Chicago sites Amazon visited in March as it evaluates potential locations for a second headquarters with up to 50,000 new jobs. A: Being first generation in my family to complete a college education, I can relate to a lot of that. But also I experienced very early on a connection to what my personal mission is. I grew up in East Chicago, Ind. And I have a brother 10 years older than I am who became a civil engineer and convinced my father to have me move out to Gilbert, Ariz., far away, to a public high school that was there at the time, because of the academic rigor. So I learned a lot from that experience in terms of being able to connect to other communities unlike my own but also about the education gap that a lot of our Latino and black students are facing in their communities. Roots has said it is building up its bricks-and-mortar footprint in the U.S., aiming to open 10 to 14 stores by the end of 2019. Earlier this year, it announced plans to add two Boston-area stores in June and two Washington, D.C.-area stores in August. Roots had 116 Canadian stores as of Feb. 3. Some pets traveling on United didn't fare well in March, including a French bulldog puppy that died on a flight from Houston to New York after a flight attendant directed that it should be stowed in an overhead bin. United also had several pet cargo mishaps, sending a Kansas City, Mo.-bound German shepherd to Japan and diverting a St. Louis-bound flight to Akron, Ohio, after mistakenly loading a dog that was headed to the Ohio city. In response, the condo board sued the Trump Organization. The board wants New York Justice Eileen Bransten to determine: Does that licensing agreement require it to put up signs with Trump's name? Or does it merely allow it to have the signs, if the members want? "On 11 occasions since, the U.N. nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran has implemented all of its obligations," Zarif, who studied in the U.S., says in American-accented English. "In contrast, the U.S. has consistently violated the agreement, especially by bullying others from doing business with Iran." "Let's be honest," he said. "It'd be foolish of me not to take advantage of the summer, being on the river, especially. It's a beautiful space already; I'm going to enhance it, of course, but if anything, I'm going to punch (it) up. I like their use of brass, so you'll probably see more brass; I like the white marble, so you'll probably see more of that." Classic scenes revisited: "The scene where they all try on the pants and they all realize that they look good in them. To see boys be excited about a pair of pants fitting them all, despite the fact that they have drastically different bodies, would be such an exuberant, exciting scene. And complimenting each other on how they look - for them to be so unconcerned with worrying about whether it made them feel gay or something - would be a nice thing to see from young boys." The problem is, "It would be infuriating how good those boys can all look in a pair of Levis." At the center of the Breeders' biggest hit, 1993's "Cannonball," Kim Deal sings a line that suggests an inside joke, or possibly a musicological riddle or zen koan: "I'll be your whatever you want / The bong in this reggae song." But the line is a mystery, because the syncopated alt-rock smash has nothing to do with reggae. "When Kim started playing that riff on the guitar, it had a kind of island feel to it. In its earliest incarnations, the kind of rhythm emphasis reminded her of a reggae song," says Josephine Wiggs, the band's longtime bassist. "It isn't like that now because it got smashed into something else. By the time it turned into 'Cannonball,' with everybody's parts, it doesn't bear much resemblance." It's a bit of a departure in one way for APTP. For the first time, the company, which specializes in devised work drawn from a wide array of stories generated within the ensemble and collected in the community, collaborated with an outside playwright. But it's to the credit of writer Isaac Gomez, co-directors Stephanie Paul and Maggie Popadiak, and especially the vibrant cast that the show feels very much like we're hearing these stories for the first time. The voices we meet in this narrative collage feel distinct, not filtered through a sole authorial voice. (Gomez's profile is rising here and around the country. His play "The Displaced," about gentrification in Pilsen, opens at the end of the month with Haven Theatre at the Den Theatre.) The reason for the sincere self-questioning which is an especially funny part of Sweeney's fabulous new solo show, "Older and Wider" is Pat, Sweeney's most famous character during her years of "Saturday Night Live" and the center of a series of sketches revolving around the same joke, which was that no one could tell if Pat was male or female. As progressives at the time well knew, Sweeney was poking fun not at Pat but at society's insistence on stereotypical gender cues. But as the show's title declares, Sweeney is "Older and Wider" now (although in the latter case, hardly), and, given how fast times change, you never know how you, or your Pat, are going to be judged. Late one July night last year, after a "Charlie Rose" staff gathering, Harris said, Rose asked her to leave alone with him. She said he took her for drinks at the upscale restaurant Harry Cipriani and demanded she come up to his apartment. She said Rose was drunk and insisted they sit together at his desk to watch footage of his "60 Minutes" interviews with former U.S. presidents. A: You have to realize this 76,000-acre ranch they had was in a very remote area. It was rocky, inhospitable land. The Rajneeshees were defensive at that point. They had security guards along this 15-mile road that led to Rajneeshpuram. It was pretty impressive. They built a dam. They built a lake. They had all kinds of modern farming schemes. They were trying to raise all their crops and were fairly successful at it. Everywhere you looked, people were hugging and kissing. The free love thing was definitely going on. That was fine with Bhagwan. He believed in free love and supported homosexuality. Every hotel room (which the Rajneeshees built and Worthington and other visitors stayed in) had a little box with rubber gloves, condoms and sanitary lubricant because he was quite fearful about AIDS. "Awesomeness," Alford said. "You are looking at awesomeness. All of these paintings come from ambiguous origins. Who are the people in these pictures, and who painted them? I don't know. I don't even know what I love about these paintings. That '70s guy? We call him Ron Burgundy (as in Will Ferrell's character from "Anchorman"). We don't know who he is. But it was the first piece we hung on the wall. We put him at the top of the stairs because we wanted to draw people to the second floor, encourage them to stand next to Ron and take pictures with him. I think we bought him at, I want to say, oh, maybe Edgewater Antiques? He was standing in the window, and it was very much 'How much is that doggy in the window?'" Backman, who lives in Stockholm with his family, dropped out of college, according to The New York Times, and at one point supported his writing by driving a forklift. His breakthrough novel featured the unlikeliest of heroes: Laid off from his job and mourning his recently deceased wife, 59-year-old Ove (OO-vuh) is methodically planning his own death. But Ove's motives are surprisingly complex, and his terse wit and twisted charm won the hearts of readers, both in his native Sweden and abroad. A month or so before Facebook's dating announcement came a surprise move on the other end of the online hookup spectrum: Craigslist shut down its personal ads. Over nearly two decades on that site, my life was deeply enriched by meeting people I wasn't supposed to meet, people I couldn't have met any other way: an underwear model with whom I had a long-term casually intimate relationship; an Emmy-nominated actor with whom I enjoyed a four-way with two college lacrosse students among other wild nights; a Pulitzer Prize winner looking for somebody "grounded"; a Lakota man who walked me through the ceremonial scars on his chest; a trans man with giveaway eyelashes; closet cases; a nationally respected doctor; a Serbian stripper; a police officer; white-shoe lawyers; Broadway dancers; a Sundance director; a guy who had a paternity test the next morning; old men; young men; porn stars; virgins; a guy flattering enough to call me a "sex god"; and a Russian man so new to this country he was still smoking the last pack of cigarettes he bought in Moscow. "We're not even at the point yet where this is being treated as a real priority. Nurses' safety is a priority," she said. "It is a big problem, and it's going to take a lot to reduce workplace violence. There's going to be more work that needs to be done." "If the family has remained respectful, their family member may begin to question the choice on their own," Ross said. "If they break it off to please the family, not only will there be resentment, but they will likely choose another partner with similar characteristics." "A lot of people on college campuses have the sense that, 'I have to work and be busy all the time,'" she said. "'I can never do enough work, and everyone else is doing so much work, and if I don't work all the time and if I don't keep up, I'm not going to be smart, I'm not going to have a good life, I'm not going to be successful.'" Lake Macquarie's biggest attraction is not the azure saltwater lagoon that gives the Australian city its name. Nor is it the mountains of Watagans National Park, where you can hike past waterfalls and take in staggering views of the New South Wales coast. Instead, the most popular tourist draw there in this post-Instagram era seems to be Morisset Hospital, a former insane asylum whose grounds - declared a wildlife refuge in 1972 - are now home to a mob of wild kangaroos. Despite the fact that Morisset remains an active psychiatric hospital, thousands of visitors flock to the fields around the clinic each year, hoping for an encounter with one of Australia's most iconic animals. And a kangaroo encounter is almost guaranteed to happen, given how conditioned the animals have become to visiting humans, said Australian MP Greg Piper, who represents Lake Macquarie. Because of the site's popularity, boosted by pictures on social media, it's unlikely local officials can stop tourists from continuing to go there, he noted. "That joey has left the pouch, so to speak," Piper said in an address to parliament Tuesday, according to the Newcastle Herald. However, a rash of reported kangaroo attacks on tourists has prompted several officials, including Piper, to call for more visible warnings to be put up at the unofficial attraction. They're also urging visitors to remember that, even though a kangaroo might seem docile enough to pose for a selfie, it's still a wild animal that can suddenly turn on you and slice a three-inch hole in your abdomen. In a four-minute video published Monday, Piper first described how to get to Morisset Hospital, about 60 miles north of Sydney, and cautioned that there were no public restrooms or water fountains there. Images of humans interacting with the bouncing marsupials in a forest clearing flashed across another corner of the screen, depicting something akin to Nara Park or the Island of La Grande Jatte -- but with kangaroos. "Upfront, please realize these kangaroos are being visited on what is a mental health facility and a residential facility for people with developmental disability," Piper said of the public hospital. Here, the video morphed from travelogue to governmental service announcement. The camera panned across several signs in the area that specifically instruct people not to feed the kangaroos - though Piper acknowledged people were feeding them anyway. (Like a defeated Jamie Oliver, he urged them to at the very least avoid giving the 'roos processed food.) But the biggest problem, he said, is that the human-provided food can sometimes trigger unpredictable aggression in the animals, especially with the male kangaroos. "Be aware that due to the feeding that has occurred, these kangaroos are not just desensitized, they will literally come to you looking for food," Piper said. "What many tourists seem to overlook is that these are wild animals and they are equipped with long, sharp claws and they do actually injure people from time to time. We're not wanting to overstate the risk here but people have been attacked." The video began alternating images of past kangaroo encounters gone awry: Most people sported bloody scratches and slash marks on their faces, backs or chests. One man held a blood-soaked shirt beneath a gaping hole in his abdomen. In another picture, a shorts-clad tourist found himself on the receiving end of a marsupial's powerful kick, as two other kangaroos looked on. Shane Lewis, who runs a local shuttle service that regularly drops people off at the site, said in the video that he had seen many visitors get injured through feeding the kangaroos. "They've been kicked, scratched. One person even got 17 stitches in their face," Lewis said. "There have been scratches on shoulders, body limbs. One guy even left here in an ambulance where his whole stomach got cut from side-to-side." That has not stopped people from recommending on various travel sites, such as TripAdvisor, that tourists bring along carrots or other items to feed the kangaroos if they visit Morisset Hospital. Instagram abounds with people taking selfies with the kangaroos, petting them, feeding them (even sharing food with them, Lady and the Tramp-style), mimicking them and even lying down on the ground with them - despite plentiful warnings about the kangaroo poop. At least one local seemed fed up with it all. "It's not an attraction, it's a hospital," the TripAdvisor user wrote. "Don't feed the roos, don't approach the roos. Don't do idiotic things like try to take selfies or pictures or your baby next to roos. They are wild animals. . . . Just don't." Kanye West certainly isn't the first to broach the issue of slavery. In recent years, many have sought to perpetuate the myth that slavery wasn't as bad as it might have seemed. But his recent suggestion that being enslaved for 400 years was a choice blacks made is particularly troubling coming from someone whose own ancestors likely were among them. "I always knew what was going on in my schools, and I always took action. If he didn't see the video, he should have. And I believe he should have disclosed the video before the election. Period," Vallas said. Federal officials say Tamras-Martin, who lives in Naperville, tried to cover up the payments by issuing checks to Hernandez's daughter. Those checks were listed as "professional fees" in the company's records. Hernandez would forge his daughter's signature on the back of the checks to deposit them in a bank account he controlled, according to the documents. Even on her first day canvassing for signatures, Aubrey Child, like most of her classmates, was a quick study on who to approach, winding up with 20 signatures after two train rides. "If they're on their phone and they weren't listening to the issue, then they probably actually wouldn't care," Child, a 9-year-old with long braided hair, explained with clipboard in hand. "But if they were being attentive and looking at us, then I think they would want to sign our petition." It was one of 25 weapons that Smalley purchased at area gun stores over a two-year period and either delivered in person or sent through the mail to friends and relatives on Chicago's violence-torn South Side, where Smalley was born and spent his early childhood. Many of the guns quickly turned up at crime scenes including in the hands of known gang members, in stolen vehicles and in five shootings in addition to Stuckey's killing, court records show. "Preliminarily, it appears that the only cases he was being held on were dismissed and the sheriff's office was never notified of any additional charges that were brought,'' Smith said. "We were never notified. Our phones are on 24 hours a day. We complied with the only court order we received." "The real problem is that we cannot predict violence," said Linda Teplin, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern University who has spent years researching youth, mental illness and violence. "It is tempting to examine the background of a shooter and say, 'We should have known,'" she said. "In reality, predicting violence is neither simple nor straightforward. Why? Thousands of people exhibit risk factors but never become mass shooters. In short, mass shootings, though dramatic and memorable, are too rare to predict. It is like trying to pinpoint where lightning might strike. We need to develop creative ways to address this public health crisis." Michael Hari, Michael McWhorter, Joe Morris and Ellis Mack already faced weapons charges. The indictment Wednesday from the grand jury in Springfield now also charges the four with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by threats and violence. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani arrives at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., on Nov. 20, 2016. President Trump's new lawyer said on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, that the president repaid attorney Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Giuliani made the revelation during an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity." (Carolyn Kaster / AP) President Donald Trump arrives for the National Teacher of the Year reception in the East Room of the White House on May 2, 2018. Trump has escalated Republicans' animus toward the Justice Department in recent days. (Saul Loeb / AFP/Getty Images) "Jim was a renowned art critic. He wrote for one of the most prestigious journals in the field, Artforum," said Lisa Wainwright, dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs for the school. "He was best known for his very witty prose, his insightful descriptions and interpretations of the artwork he described in hundreds and hundreds of reviews of Chicago art." Then-President-elect Donald Trump meets with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at the clubhouse of the Trump National Golf Club November 20, 2016, in Bedminster, N.J. (Don Emmert / AFP/Getty Images) Now here's why this is important. At the time, everyone understood that was exactly what happened. The letter was not something any trained physician would write, and it was written in Trump's distinctive sixth-grade braggadocio. It said "Mr. Trump has had a recent complete medical examination that showed only positive results," that Trump's blood work was "astonishingly excellent," that "His physical strength and stamina are extraordinary," and finally, that "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." It could not have been more obvious that Trump was the actual author of the letter if it had been signed "Donald J. Trump, I mean Harold Bornstein." So naturally there is competition among organizers. And yes, aldermen have some control over events in their ward. Without the alderman's support, an organizer probably won't get the necessary permits to close a street or to take over a city park for the weekend. An alderman can put a brick on the paperwork for an event, or grease it. If a permit gets hung up, the alderman can pull some strings, or not. The library branch, though, is a step in the right direction. Obama wants the presidential center to inspire and enlighten. That's what libraries do. We like the way Australian writer Germaine Greer put it: "Libraries are reservoirs of strength, grace and wit lakes of mental energy, neither warm nor cold, light nor dark In any library in the world, I am at home, unselfconscious, still and absorbed." "We thought long and hard about it, and we feel like this is the best way to see that change that we want to see," Robinson said. "It's not a right-now thing that's good for right now, but I feel like we will see the true change over time." Giuliani attacked another former FBI director, James Comey, in an even more vicious and dishonest manner. He said that Comey is a pathological liar and a very perverted man. It is ironic that he would describe Comey as a pathological liar when he represents a man who best fits that description. In the interview, Giuliani said that Trump has reimbursed Michael Cohen for the $130,000 in hush money that Cohen had paid Stormy Daniels just days prior to the 2016 election. Trump has said that he did not know of the payment made to Daniels, thus providing another example of his dishonesty. Next, posting more signs to help deter the desperate or depressed. Metra will soon begin posting signs along the lines it controls. The signs will say, "If you need to talk, we're here to listen. Let us help." The signs will include phone and text numbers for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255). "I found it in my parents' night stand. I have no idea what it is and don't wanna know what they do with it." "Had this been taken care of before," Emanuel had said, speaking of the city's massive pension shortfall and other fiscal problems, "it would have been taken care of at a much cheaper price. People chose their politics over the progress of the city. They kicked the can down the road. ... I did not create it. But I was determined to do something different, which is to fix it (and stop) playing politics." A severe thunderstorm watch was issued covering the entire Chicago area between 4 and 11 p.m. Two-inch-diameter hailstones the size of eggs fell in the Rockford area, roofs were damaged and telephone poles downed, along with reports of 75 mph winds at Fulton Elementary School near Midway Airport, where a 67 mph gust occurred. Two scientists won the Nobel Prize for chemistry Wednesday for finding an ingenious new way to build molecules that can be used to make everything from medicines to food flavorings. Police didn't notify the community until two weeks later, when they released a crime alert about the incident May 2, because of the ongoing investigation, as well as the families' concerns about their children, who recently had to visit the police station to provide details of the suspect for a police sketch, Buczynski said. "Back then, we did a country by country exhibit with each on display for a short amount of time, and because they were so popular, we wanted to bring them all back as well as expand on the exhibit," Ormond said. "We've reached out to the Indian community which began coming to Aurora in the 1990s and asked them to supply pictures of their culture which will be included as well." "I am pleased to recognize three leaders during our commencement ceremonies who embody Aurora University's core values of citizenship and continuous learning," said Rebecca L. Sherrick, Aurora University president. "These individuals have dedicated their lives to advancing the well-being of our society through efforts that promote the transformative power of learning. They are shining examples for our graduates and students as they begin to build lives of meaning and service." There is a list of criteria the department has used since it began tracking gang activity back in 1991 that determines membership or affiliation with a gang, he said. Those include self-admission, the use of symbolic clothing, hand signs, gestures, slogans or jewelry associated with particular gangs, and associating or "hanging out" with known gang members in certain locations. Only information on active gang members is shared with the Illinois State Police and goes into the LEADS database, added Robertson. "My husband and I are local teachers, and one of my finest moments with the movement thus far was being able to speak at the Vernon Hills March For Our Lives to many parents and students in the crowd. Being able to show this community how I care for my students and their families is something that makes me very passionate about serving as a lead for MDA," Pinta said. "Our first meeting in Buffalo Grove had more than 150 participants! It feels incredible to be able to have an impact in the community by being able to give people specific actions that they can take to help keep their children safer at school and their communities under better watch. This is the most empowering part of being a member of this organization. "I really felt bad for the people," Kate said. "We had a car to travel in while we were there, and these people walked a long way for water, which they had to carry." On Jan. 8, 2018, I received a letter from OneExchange/Willis Towers Watson that I lost my HRA funding. I telephoned them that day. I requested an appeal of their action and was told it would take six weeks for a decision to be made. After seven weeks, I called again and was informed it would take another two to three weeks. Nearly four weeks later, I telephoned again and spoke to a special situations team rep who told me my appeal had been denied the same day it was made. She told me off the record there was no intention to consider it. She also told me that a notice was sent in August 2017 informing me I must always apply for coverage through One Exchange. No such notice was received. It stands to reason that had I received such a notice, I would simply have followed their rule. I believe this is how Allstate removes retirees from getting further benefits. The extended contract continues the compensation formula that has been in the superintendent's contract which includes an annual salary increase equal to the Consumer Price Index plus 1 percent, with a minimum of 3.25 and a ceiling of 4.75 percent, with the increase for the 2018-19 school year being 3.25 percent. Combat Challenge competition is expected to begin at 4 p.m. Friday and at noon Sunday, and will take place in the north parking lot of the Metra station, 80th Avenue and 179th Street. Parking is recommended in the south lot of the station, off Timber Drive and 76th Ave./Veterans Parkway. It is unclear if LimeBike will pull out of the program once the new regulations kick in or adapt by adding fixed locks to its bikes. For now, anyone that spots an improperly parked LimeBike, can report the misplaced bike via the app or by calling 1-888-546-3345. All vendors participating in the pilot are required to have 24-hour phone numbers visible on their bikes and must remedy any improper parking issues within two hours of a call being placed. Stagg High School and several of its students were recognized recently by Sandy Hook Promise, a gun violence prevention organization, for their efforts last fall during Say Something Call-to Action Week. Stagg was awarded the Student Spirit, Creativity and Sustainability Award after an effort involving its students as well as outreach to students in neighboring districts. Students formed a SAVE Promise Club, marched in the homecoming parade, decorated the campus and bathroom mirrors with uplifting messages, created a social media campaign, and produced a slideshow and video that be viewed on YouTube at www.YouTube.com/AmosAlonzoStaggHS/SWH. Students also created a sustainability plan to make Say Something a part of the school culture and have plans for at least six more related activities An Orland Park evidence technician processed the scene and recovered fingerprints from the safe that, when run through a law enforcement database, identified Lofton, police said. Farrell said the prints were recovered from a section of the safe that nobody other than the person who tried to remove it would normally touch. Norovirus spreads quickly and is found in the vomit or feces of those infected with the virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is transmitted by consuming contaminated food or drink, or touching contaminated surfaces or objects then putting your hand in your mouth, according to the CDC. "The root of sex trafficking (is that) one out of three little girls (is) sexually abused today, and one out of five little boys," she said. "The gangs are getting ahead of it. By 8 years old, everyone is deceived that this is the only pathway." "It's like a treasure hunt," Pyndus said. "You don't what you're going to find, and your first artifact just makes you keep on excavating. It's fun and exciting. And then there's the camaraderie of doing it with other people who are just as excited as you are." "We ask you to remind students to be aware of their surroundings," he wrote. "Never allow anyone entry to the building and if someone does enter a door without authorization, please report it as soon as you can." "The reality is that we can do more for our students and will continue to focus our work to meet the needs of each individual that walks though our doors," said Dignam, in a letter to students, staff, parents and the community. "In any organization, change is received in different ways." Last year, village staff and officials debated how big a parking deck the village needed and, based on feedback from residents and the business community, ultimately opted for the larger of two options, a deck with 189 spaces on the lower level for village use. Over the months, the estimated cost of the deck rose from $4.53 million to $7.6 million, which the village will finance by issuing bonds. "Help me understand why I needed that kind of prescription," he said. "As we talk to doctors, what I'm being told is they don't they get the education in med school, they're not getting the education in their residency and so we just need to make sure we're providing the information as we learn more about addiction." "With the transition that's occurred here with me taking over at the cultural arts, we had the opportunity to step back and look at everything," Rohrer said. "We have some new approaches, and within that, we are very mindful of looking for new ways to reach more people. As of Wednesday morning, West had 21 confirmed riders and 20 more who were interested. She was awaiting word from the League of Women Voters of Naperville as to how many from that group want to line up seats. Avram and Brown's new proposal is a shift from the original May 2017 plans they submitted that called for the facade and vestibule of the old library to be incorporated into a new four-story building. Those plans came to a halt when a group of residents petitioned the city to make the building landmark, thereby providing protection for its exterior, which was approved in September 2017. "If you followed his academic career, the level of achievement he has reached is no surprise," Borsch said. "I have had some really great students, but he's probably among the two or three best writers I ever taught. As far as his intellect, you have to keep in mind he was just an 18-year-old kid at that point, but he was an incredible student. None of his academic success and his subsequent success in law has surprised me whatsoever." "I don't believe the police department is going to spend all their time and attention on parking," Chalabian said. "They have more pressing issues in this community than parking. I will not vote yes on the silliness of a two-hour limit. Realistically, you'd have to go in there five to six times over the course of a day to see if people are parking legally or not. Do we want to be this environmentally sound municipality but we want to have our police officers running around all over the place? I'll vote no based on that principle." "The word sequenza is something that's used in music to mean an idea that gets developed and expounded upon," she said. "The connotation of it is it's something that's evolving and changing and improving, and it has a very dynamic quality to it. The law lists some of the possible complications, including infection, hemorrhaging, blood clots and cardiac arrest. Some of those listed "are not complications of abortion at all," the lawsuit states. If they are, it's "both extremely rare for abortions and are most likely to occur after other medical procedures," court records state. The two said in the letter that a public records request to the DNR in the fall for "any records that indicate the DNR gave approval to Pavilion Partners to construct an elevator shaft in the pavilion" generated a response from the DNR that officials there were reportedly unable to find the documents to fulfill the request. He said the Police Department will be targeting stretches of 5th Avenue, which he said have many such violators. "There's a huge block of people living there," he said, adding there are several apartment complexes in Gary that also have large numbers of residents using Illinois vehicle registration. Before the graduates had filed into the arena, they were given the card on which Schoon had made his phonetic notes. The graduates are instructed to hand the card to Liaskos as they approach the stage, ensuring that the correct name is read, the correct way, when each graduate is announced to collect their diplomas. As the procession begins, Liaskos collects the card, rights it, and hands it to Schoon, ensuring no hiccup in the procession. The coroner's office didn't have any money, Ampeliotis said, and he didn't need it, adding he goes out on two or four calls a month, often with Coroner Chuck Harris, and just wants to be able to help the community. With 400 champion horses to be cared for, at a cost of $200,000 a month, the federal marshals moved quickly to host the public auction, attended by readers as described above, as the most expedient way to sell the horses, Crundwell's three homes and furnishings, jewelry, clothes and furs everything from "fake horse tails for showing," (fetching $300 each) to $98,000 worth of "frozen horse semen for breeding." The October 2012 auction netted nearly $9 million. The City of Dixon was able to recoup an additional $40 million due to lawsuits and settlements with the bank responsible for the city's accounts and the local accounting office responsible for annual audits. "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are ... very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, ... despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll (sic) in this transaction." One thing the Democrats have been successful at doing this year is driving down the stock market and officially ending the Trump rally! They spare no expense to derail the man that beat Hillary, no matter what it does to the US economy. Those of us that worked our lives for retirement, thank you Democrats for giving us a little less to live on. Police say they apprehended him in Highland Park at another business he worked at. Bond was set at $100,000 and he is next scheduled to appear in court May 29, police said. Five American Rescue Plan projects under review by Pueblo City Council A new grocery store on the East Side long considered a Pueblo food desert is among the local projects that could be funded by COVID relief funds. By Alexander Chipman Koty China recently released a series of measures to ease foreign investment restrictions in the securities, fund management, insurance, and banking industries. Most notably, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) released CSRC Order No. 140, which raises the foreign ownership limit of securities firms, effective immediately. Under the new regulations, foreign investors will be able to own up to a 51 percent stake in securities firms, thereby allowing them to take a controlling stake in joint ventures (JVs). Previously, foreign ownership was limited to 49 percent. The rules also remove the 20 percent limit on a single foreign investors share in a listed securities firm. Draft rules released in March for public comment planned to raise the limit to 30 percent, but the stipulation was ultimately removed entirely in the final rules. This means that a single foreign investor can now hold a controlling stake in a securities firm in China. RELATED: Chinas Auto Industry: Foreign Ownership Limits Scrapped Additionally, the rules state that the CSRC will gradually expand the permissible business scope for foreign-invested securities firms. With the changes, the CSRC has set up a process for foreign investors to apply for approval for setting up a new securities firm where they hold a controlling stake or for taking a controlling stake of an existing China-based securities firm. To be approved, the foreign investor must satisfy various criteria, including being lawfully established and operating continuously for more than five years, being without any major regulatory violations in the past three years, demonstrating sound financial performance, and holding a strong international reputation. The CSRC also increased the foreign ownership limit on fund management groups to 51 percent, up from the previous 49 percent cap. Separately, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC) recently released three measures to accelerate the opening of the banking and insurance sectors. The CBIRCs Notice on Further Relaxation of Market Access for Foreign Banks states that foreign banks are now permitted to underwrite government bonds, and that Chinese branches can offer services in RMB and conduct derivatives business. Meanwhile, the CBIRCs Notice on Expanding the Business Scope of Foreign-funded Insurance Brokerage Companies says that foreign insurance brokerage companies can now engage in the same business activities as Chinese firms. Lastly, the CBIRC is seeking opinions on the Decision to Abolish and Amend Some Regulations, which will ease foreign ownership restrictions on Chinese banks and revise or abolish various administrative regulations. Pre-Investment, Market Entry Strategy Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates In response to the changes, the Swiss investment bank UBS has already become the first foreign firm to apply to the CBIRC for a majority stake in its China JV. Other banks are expected to follow suit, though first they must come to an agreement with their existing partners. The moves to liberalize Chinas financial market follow the governments pledge last November to grant greater access to the securities, insurance, and fund-management industries. More recently, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to expedite opening up the financial sector in his remarks at the Boao Forum in Hainan. The traumatic memory of one of modern China's bloodiest events may have finally stopped haunting Zhang Cuiying, a survivor of the Nanjing Massacre. Zhang died on April 30 at the age of 88, marking the 11th death in the past four months of a registered survivor of the slaughter in Nanjing. According to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, there are no more than 100 survivors still living today as eyewitnesses to the wartime atrocities. "Hope you won't have to undergo another apocalyptic devastation in your next life," read one of the comments posted by users on the Chinese social media platform Weibo in the wake of Zhang's death. Darkness engulfed the Memorial Hall as the lights were switched off in homage to Zhang on the day of her passing. She died peacefully compared to her contemporaries, who lost their lives to bombs, rifles, bayonets and fires 80 years ago when Nanjing, the then-capital, fell into the hands of Japanese soldiers. Zhang was only 7 years old at the time of the massacre. Her mother shaved off all of Zhang's hair to conceal the girl's female identity, and smeared her own face with ashes from kitchen stove. Having fled from the onslaught, Zhang and her family stayed for about one month in a reed field, living off of grass and tree roots. "Many people chose the reed field as a safe haven while fleeing to the north of the Yangtze River. As the reeds blurred the sight of the Japanese invaders, they hit the reeds with their bayonets," said Cao Yu, Zhang's daughter, who recalled her mother's narrow escape during a recent interview with the Beijing Youth Daily. "At that time, her leg was cut by a bayonet, but she dared not cry out," Cao said. As a young girl, Zhang witnessed the scenes of dead bodies left in piles on the ground or dumped in the Yangtze River, where the blood turned the water red. When Zhang and her family returned home after the massacre, they found that their house had been destroyed by fire, and the gold nuggets and silver coins they had buried underground were all missing. Cao Hongtai, Zhang's husband and also a massacre survivor, died in 2004. According to their children, Zhang and Cao always fell into silence when visiting the bank of the Yangtze River. It was not until the 1980s, when the Memorial Hall was built, that Zhang and her husband started to tell the details of the massacre to their children. "When I heard it, I thought it was incredible," Cao recalled. "How could human beings be so cruel?" Zhang and Cao had joined an oral history program initiated by the Memorial Hall in order to create historical records of the war and war crimes of the past. Now, that baton has been passed to their children. "Through the oral programs, we'll make the truth of history heard widely and extensively," Cao said. Over 8.9 million people visited Italy's state museums in the first quarter this year, the Culture Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. That figure represents a 23.33 percent increase compared to the same period in 2017, according to the statement. Tuscany saw the biggest increase in museum admissions in January-March (43 percent), followed by the Lazio region where Rome is located (31 percent), and the southern Puglia region in the heel of Italy's boot, at 23.15 percent. Last year saw 50 million visitors flocking to the national state museum system, which includes monuments, galleries, and archaeological sites -- an absolute record since World War II, the ministry said. State museums and sites include the Uffizi Galleries in Florence, the Paestum Archeological Park near the southern city of Salerno, the Ducal Palace in the northern city of Mantova, Rome's Colosseum, and Pompeii, the ancient Graeco-Roman city at the base of Mt. Vesuvius that was preserved in lava after the volcano erupted in 79 AD. A photo exhibition in the Mount Qomolangma region of Nepal, the first of its kind near the world's tallest peak, has been kicked off from this week, exhibitor confirmed. The solo exhibition of Nepali photojournalist Purnima Shrestha, who is to scale 8,848 meters high Qomolangma later this month, is being held from base camp to the top of the peak under three different phases. "In the first phase, I exhibited my photos in Camp I, II and III this week. The exhibition will start in the base camp today while I plan to exhibit the photos in Camp IV and the top during my summit after few days," Shrestha told Xinhua on Wednesday over phone from the base camp. The series of 30 photographs are in exhibition under the theme "Smiling Nepali Women" featuring portraits of women from all walks of life. The photos reflect ethnicity, culture, festivals and diversity of the Himalayan country. "The major objective of the exhibition is to promote Nepali culture and tourism of the country. It will enable the world climbers and trekkers gathering in the region to know other aspects of Nepal," 27-year-old photojournalist shared with Xinhua. According to Shrestha, those photos were clicked during her five-year photojournalism career covering Himalaya, Hill and Terai region of the country. Currently, Shrestha is affiliated with Karobar National Daily. The exhibition has been supported by Nepal Tourism Board, government's body to promote tourism, and Photojournalists' Club of Nepal (PJ Club). Bikash Karki, Chairman of the PJ Club, said, "This is the first time that the photo exhibition is ever being held from the base camp to the top of the world. It's quiet challenging but a matter of pride for all." With the onset of spring season, around 350 Nepali and foreign mountaineers will attempt to climb Qomolangma, depending upon favorable weather window later this month. According to Department of Tourism, over 2,000 trekkers, porters, guides and mountain enthusiasts have already gathered in the base camp for acclimatization. The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia has donated a modern Mongolian Cyrillic version of a Tibetan Buddhist classic to a library in the country's north. The sutras of 410 volumes of the classic "Kangyur and Tengyur" were handed over to the director of Central Library in the northern province of Darkhan-Uul, at a ceremony in the capital Ulan Bator attended by a number of officials from both countries. "China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers," Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Xing Haiming said during the handover ceremony. "In recent years, cultural relations between the two countries have grown. Today's event is part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in the cultural sector," he added. "This is a great gift to us from the people of China. We are grateful that our young people are able to read the wonderful scriptures in their mother language," said the library director Mr. D.Tserendavaa. Last year, the Chinese Embassy to Mongolia donated the same books to the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the National University of Mongolia. Consultation between China and the United States on economic and trade issues will be constructive as long as the U.S. delegation comes with sincerity, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wednesday. Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to a question regarding the upcoming China visit by a U.S. delegation comprising of high-ranking trade and economic officials. At the regular daily news briefing Wednesday, Hua confirmed the visit, saying that China welcomes the visit by the U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Mnuchin, who is also U.S. president's special envoy, will lead the U.S. delegation to visit China from Thursday to Friday. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will exchange views on China-U.S. economic and trade issues of common concern with the U.S. delegation. China and the United States are the world's top two economies. Properly settling issues in economic and trade relations through equal consultations and maintaining the overall stability of trade relations are undoubtedly in line with the common interests of both sides and will help world economic stability and growth, said the spokesperson. Given the volume of the two economies and the complexity of their relations, it is unrealistic to expect to solve all the problems through one single consultation, Hua said. As long as the U.S. delegation is sincere about maintaining the overall stability of China-U.S. economic and trade relations and an attitude of mutual respect, equal consultation and mutual benefits, the consultation will be constructive, Hua said. You are here: Business China's top securities watchdog is reviewing UBS's application for a majority shareholding in a joint-venture securities brokerage firm, the first for foreign investors. UBS is applying for raising its shareholding proportion in the UBS Securities from 24.99 percent to 51 percent for absolute control, according to information released Wednesday on the website of China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC). UBS has been the second largest shareholder after Beijing Guoxiang Property Management Co. of the Chinese investment bank and brokerage firm. The move came after CSRC issued a regulation on foreign investment in securities firms in China on April 28, allowing a shareholding ratio of up to 51 percent. Qualified foreign investors can submit applications for the change of actual controller or establishing joint-venture securities firms, according to the regulation. The European Commission on Wednesday proposed a budget for the 2021-2027 period, which ties European Union (EU) funding to the rule of law. A major innovation in the proposed budget is the strengthened link between EU funding and the rule of law, the Commission said in a statement. "We will ensure sound financial management through the first ever rule of law mechanism. This is what it means to act responsibly with our taxpayers' money," said European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. The new proposed tools would allow the Union to suspend, reduce or restrict access to EU funding in a manner proportionate to the nature, gravity and scope of the rule of law deficiencies. The proposed budget represents 1.11 percent of the total gross national income (GNI) of the bloc, which will have 27 nations after Brexit. According to the proposal, the expenditure for external border management, migration and asylum has almost tripled to reach around 33 billion euros, up from the current 13 billion euros. The investment in research and innovation has been increased by 50 percent. The investments in digital transformation and networks got an almost 9 fold increase to reach 12 billion euros. It will also increase investment in research and innovation by 50 percent, with 100 billion euros set aside for the flagship programs Horizon Europe and Euratom, according to the statement. However, for both the Common Agricultural Policy and Cohesion Policy programs, as these have the largest share of the EU budget, the Commission proposed to cut roughly 5 percent to meet the hole left by the Brexit, it said. The long-term EU budget proposal will then fall to the Council of the European Union, acting by unanimity, with the consent of the European Parliament. Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday called for building world-class universities with Chinese characteristics to nurture people well-prepared to join the socialist cause. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the statement during an inspection tour of Peking University (PKU), ahead of China's Youth Day and the 120th anniversary of PKU, both falling on May 4. On behalf of the CPC Central Committee, he extended festive greetings to PKU staff and students, alumni at home and abroad, as well as young people of all ethnic groups and youth workers in China. Briefed about the latest development of the university, Xi, accompanied by Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, acknowledged that PKU had notably enhanced its academic capacity and influence under a clear development blueprint since the 18th CPC National Congress. Noting that the development of universities and the nation complement each other, Xi stressed that more efforts should be spent on nurturing world-class universities, but foremost with Chinese characteristics. Learning about the university's latest research achievements in science and engineering, Xi noted that innovation was the most powerful engine of development and most essential element of a country's national strength and core competitiveness. He said that universities and their academic faculty, as a key part of the country's innovation system and task-force, should enhance integration among different disciplines, offer more support for interdisciplinary researches and scientists in cutting-edge areas and cultivate more leading scientists and world-class research teams. PKU is the cradle where Marxism started to spread in China. It has set up the first school of Marxism in the country in recent years and also in January established the research institute on Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism With Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. At the school of Marxism, Xi watched an exhibition and learned about the research and teaching of Marxism and the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era. He said a university's school of Marxism should follow a clear-cut political orientation and teaching principles -- summarized as "taking Marxism as its surname and talking about Marxism." Xi said Marxism should be consolidated as the guiding ideology and promoted in campuses, classrooms, and among students. He later joined a group of Chinese and foreign students discussing topics related to interpreting the "new era." "You are a firm Marxist. Are there some good methods you use to study Marxism?" the students asked. Xi shared his experience. He also told the foreign students that to understand China, they must understand Chinese history, culture, thought and development stages. In particular, they must understand Marxism in contemporary China. Xi said PKU was the first in China to disseminate Marxism and do its research, playing a key role in the spread of Marxism in China and the CPC's founding. He said the year 2018 marked the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx's birth and the 170th anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto. "Our best commemoration is to do a good job in studying, promoting and implementing the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and the thought on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era which embodies Marxism in contemporary China," Xi said. He encouraged serious studies on socialism with Chinese characteristics in connection with changes in the Party, the country and the world to produce more influential and convincing research results. At the end of his inspection, Xi outlined work in fundamental areas as priority to build world-class universities with Chinese characteristics. The right political direction should be upheld, Xi said, urging persistent efforts to foster and promote core socialist values, and encourage university staff and students to have faith in, actively promote and practise these values. The confidence in the path, theory, system, and culture of socialism with Chinese characteristics should help us build the confidence in developing world-class universities with Chinese characteristics, Xi said. Xi also stressed efforts to train competent teachers and establish a system for cultivating talent. The Party leadership should be upheld. A number of world leading science and technology professionals, young scientists and engineers, and innovating teams should be trained. Major breakthroughs in pioneering basic research and original innovations are aimed for, Xi said. Xi encouraged young people to be loyal to the country and the people, learn the history of the nation, inherit Chinese culture, have national pride and cultural confidence, and closely link their ideals to the future of the motherland. The government is working to eradicate inappropriate content on the internet to ensure that the web remains free from obscenity and violent imagery, and to promote a healthy culture online. Last month, the Cyberspace Administration of China, the national cyberspace regulator, ordered online news aggregator Toutiao and Kuaishou, a site that shares videos lasting about 60 seconds, to remove obscene and violent content and to close all accounts that uploaded such content. The administration also closed about 5,000 livestreaming accounts hosted by minorspeople younger than 18and deleted about 300,000 video clips aired by livestreaming youngsters. The move was aimed at closing loopholes in the operation of some online services, which have been criticized for attracting viewers without regard for rules or morality. Recently, Kuaishou and Huoshan, a short-video application affiliated to Toutiao, have been widely criticized for allowing minors to spread "harmful" content. Videos of pregnant teenagers or teenage mothersusually unmarried and ages 13 to 18appeared on the sites, describing their pregnancies or their lives as young mothers, and were forwarded to other sites in an effort to gain traffic and followers. That's despite the fact that sexual activity with people ages 14 or younger is defined as rape in China, while the legal age for female marriage is 20. Moreover, being a single mother does not accord with traditional values. Senior executives at both companies pledged to close all livestreaming accounts hosted by minors within five days, intensify regulation of content and alter the values used to set the algorithms that decide which content should be promoted to users. Growing audience By the end of last year, there were 579 million online video viewers and 422 million livestreaming viewers in the country, according to the China Internet Network Information Center. Meanwhile, according to a recent report from iiMedia Research Group, a mobile internet consultancy, short videos are becoming increasingly popular, with 242 million viewers by the end of last year, a year-on-year rise of more than 58 percent. Viewers' reasons for watching the videos vary: more than 70 percent use them to kill time and relax, while approximately 42 percent said they also used them to obtain information, and about 21 percent were looking to make friends, according to the report. "Cyberspace is not a lawless place because an online exchange is also a social relationship that must abide by the law and regulations," said Sun Jin, head of the Cyberspace Governance Research Institute at Wuhan University. "We appeal to people to adopt higher ethical standards, but they must adhere to the law. Those disseminating videos of adolescent mothers are suspected of abetting illegal conduct and promoting bad influences on society," he said. Moreover, users who upload "harmful" videos must assume joint responsibility with the sites that provide platforms that help to spread them, he added. Yuan Gang, deputy CEO of livestreaming site Douyu, said there are rules governing the registration of minors on the site. "We use facial identification methods for account registration and users must provide their ID cards. If they are under 18, they are not allowed to open an account. However, they are allowed to do so if they have written permission from their guardian. If the minors want to livestream, their guardian should aware of it," he said. Self-censorship In response to the authorities' moves to straighten out irregularities in content, livestreaming and video sites have vowed to remove harmful content and increase manpower in content review. Zhang Yiming, CEO of Toutiao, posted an apology the same night as one of its apps was ordered to close permanently after airing illegal content. He said he had "spent a sleepless night, feeling guilty and blaming himself" for failing to live up to the trust and support of the site's users. "We have focused on scale, but have not improved quality of content in a timely manner, and we have neglected our social responsibility to guide users toward positive information," he said. "We put a lot of energy and resources into growing our enterprise, but we did not take enough measures to regulate the platform, including effective governance of vulgar, violent, harmful content and false advertising." Zhang said the company overemphasized the role of technology without realizing that it must be guided by the correct values. Shortly before Zhang's apology, Su Hua, CEO of Kuaishou, expressed regret and apologized for the presence of illegal contentsuch as pornography and footage of violent actson his site. He conceded that "the algorithm used by the platform contains certain values because humans are responsible for programming them. "The defect in the algorithm is a defect in our values. We neglected the problem for a long time, but we will not shirk responsibility or evade supervision." Last month, Toutiao removed about 10,000 video clips and closed about 5,000 accounts, while Kuaishou removed about 310,000 video clips and closed 65,000 accounts. The sites' CEOs promised to improve editorial responsibility, with Toutiao saying it will increase the number of staff members in its review team from 6,000 to 10,000, while Kuaishou will raise numbers from 2,000 to 5,000. The sites also promised to amend their algorithms to add "correct values", avoid illegal and obscene content, and focus more on protecting minors. "Wrong" values "Technology itself is neutral, but the loophole stems from the wrong values behind the algorithms programmed by humans," said Zhang Xiaoqiang, a professor of journalism at Chongqing University. Technically, the term "algorithm" refers to a set of instructions followed in a fixed pattern. They are mainly used for solving math problems and making computer programs. "The apps have their own algorithms, which decide the content they push to users based on data and their own methods of calculation," Zhang Xiaoqiang said. "Different video sites have different algorithms, and some are based on users' personal habits. For example, on Douyin, a video site attached to Toutiao, viewers will be offered videos similar to those they have already viewed. "Some have algorithms that create 'hot' items. For example, when a video reaches a certain number of views, the platform will push it to all users, send it to the front page or label it as hot," he said. "As a result, more people will view it, making it an extremely popular product. However, that popularity is man-made. That way we often encounter items that are seen as popular online, but we feel unaffected after watching them." He added that in an information-overloaded world, algorithms are essential tools. "They are like dippers that extract what we need from the sea of information and put it in front of us. It is easy for vulgar things to become popular because poorly educated netizens find them easy to understand," he said. "IT engineers at companies that pursue commercial profit often focus on technology and do not have any training in media ethics, meaning they may be led astray by video traffic that generates profits." Supervision Chen Rui, an associate professor at the Institute of Communication Psychology at Communication University of China, said, "The severe authority order last month was a blow to the industry. It signaled that service providers should be self-disciplined and improve their initiative in content review. "These sites should improve their editorial processes and raise the qualifications for editors. The algorithm engineers need extra training as well, especially in terms of communication ethics." Zhang Xiaoqiang said sites must ensure that the people posting on them are aware of the regulations that govern online content. "The sites should ensure that livestreamers and video providers understand what they are and are not allowed to do before they register," he said. "Service providers should not impose restrictions on registration because it is a good way for people, especially those from the grassroots, to gain recognition. Instead, the sites should adopt a credit system to regulate users' behavior. The sites can take action against those with bad credit records. Service providers should pay more attention to posters whose videos attract a large volume of traffic or those selling goods or services while streaming, because they have greater influence." He added that in addition to guiding the industry with timely policies, the regulators should encourage the public to report harmful content, because the number of users is rising so quickly that the regulators are unable to keep track. "A tip-off system could be led by social organizations, and the public could engage with it. The system could be more effective if people were rewarded for reporting harmful content," he said. Pi Yong, deputy head of the Cyberspace Governance Research Institute at Wuhan University, said the system has produced a three-layer relationship: government; internet service providers; and netizens. "Without the middle layer, the government would be unable to manage cyberspace effectively. At the same time, service providers and netizens rely on each other, with the former gaining huge profits from the latter, so they must find a balance between commercial profit and social responsibility," he said. "Breaking the ecology of cyberspace will not be good for its operation in the long run." The city government of Wenchang, home of China's first tropical and coastal space launch center, announced recently that it plans to build an aerospace supercomputing center and a big data industry cluster project in the near future. A key part of Wenchang's program for developing a space science and technology city, the supercomputing center will help promote coordinated industrial growth of local information technology, aerospace equipment research and design, as well as life science research through the application of high-performance computing, cloud computing, big data and artificial intelligence, a document from the city government said. When completed, the supercomputing center will play an important role in promoting the country's satellite application research and development, the application of high-resolution data and development of a big data industry around spatial information. The city will also help build an industrial platform for spatial big data and a spatial remote-sensing cloud big data platform to serve countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative, city officials said. Wenchang is on the eastern coast of Hainan Island about 80 kilometers from Haikou, the provincial capital. Also included in Wenchang's program for developing a space science and technology city are an international space launch center, research and development bases and platforms for international exchanges and cooperation. They will promote the construction of commercial launch stations and development of high-end aerospace products. Wenchang has also included an "aerospace plus" industry demonstration park in its space city program. It is expected to promote the development of a space theme park; applications for space science; research in space breeding; biological, pharmaceutical and aerospace medical research; and innovation development. Construction of the projects will be open to social and private funds, the city said. With operations beginning in 2016, the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center - located about 19 degrees north of the equator - is suitable for launching geosynchronous satellites, heavyweight satellites, large space station components and lunar and interplanetary missions. Flash Sri Lankan Tourism Minister John Amaratunga said on Tuesday that the Sri Lankan government had signed an agreement with a leading Chinese tour operator in a bid to attract more Chinese tourists to visit the island country. Amaratunga said local tour operator Green Leaves Leisure, backed by the tourism ministry, had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China's Yingke Travel, which is based in Beijing, to provide better facilities for Chinese tourists and promote Sri Lanka as a world class tourist destination. Amaratunga said China is an important destination for Sri Lankan tourism and the government hopes to attract over 300,000 Chinese tourists at the end of this year. He said the ministry hopes to make China the leading origin for Sri Lanka's tourist arrivals and the island nation's tourism sector. Flash China hopes that the dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States will be smooth and achieve substantial progress, said visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday. During the talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Wang said that China fully backs the DPRK's efforts to achieve the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. He also said that China welcomes the successful summit meeting between the leaders of the DPRK and South Korea held on April 27 and its important outcomes. Wang recalled that DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un made a successful visit to China in March. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kim had a historic meeting during the visit. They achieved significant consensus on continuing and developing China-DPRK traditional friendly relations, as well as enhancing strategic communication and cooperation between the two countries, thus starting a new chapter of bilateral relations, Wang said. This will guide the two countries to consolidate and further develop bilateral relations in the new era, he said. Wang said that the traditional China-DPRK friendship is the shared and precious treasure of the two countries, adding that to continuously develop and pass on this friendship to future generations is a strategic choice of both countries. He said that China is ready to work with the DPRK to implement in substantial ways the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries, by strengthening communication and coordination between their political and diplomatic organs, pushing forward pragmatic economic and trade cooperation, cultivating people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and instilling new vigor into China-DPRK relations in the new era. While speaking highly of the positive changes that have been taking place on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said that China fully backs the DPRK in its efforts to find its own development approach suitable to its national conditions, and to concentrate all of its efforts on carrying out economic construction. China also backs the settlement of the DPRK's security concerns, and gives its full support for the improvement of inter-Korean relations, he said. Wang added that China is willing to strengthen communication with the DPRK and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue. He also expressed gratitude to Kim, the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the DPRK government for the great attention paid to the Chinese citizens involved in a recent major traffic accident in the country, and for providing the victims with intensive treatment and relief. Ri Yong Ho said that supreme leader Kim Jong Un cherishes traditional friendship between the DPRK and China, and it is a resolute stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to maintain and develop DPRK-China friendly relations from a new starting point. The foreign minister said that the successful Beijing meeting between DPRK and Chinese top leaders has resulted in important consensus on strengthening strategic communications and cooperation, which is a milestone in the history of DPRK-China relations. He said the DPRK is ready to make joint efforts with China to carefully implement these consensus, carry out close exchanges between their respective political and diplomatic organs, enhance pragmatic cooperation, push forward people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and make early preparations for commemorative activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and China next year. Ri said that the recent historic meeting between the leaders of the north and south sides of the Korean Peninsula is of great significance. The DPRK will maintain close communications with China on how to realize denuclearization and establish peace mechanisms on the Korean Peninsula, while enhancing dialogue with all parties concerned, he added. Flash Ty Cobb, the lawyer who has been representing the White House in the ongoing Russian probe, will retire at the end of May, a White House statement said Wednesday. "For several weeks Ty Cobb has been discussing his retirement and last week he let Chief of Staff Kelly know he would retire at the end of this month," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. The departure came as the Russian probe, led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, is inching closer to the inner circles of the White House with the recent investigation against Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen. Cohen, who began representing Trump before the campaign, saw his office raided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has reportedly yielded documents that shed light on the information that was shared between Cohen and Trump. As the investigation started to pry open Trump's inner circles, prospect of a direct interview with Trump came into clearer focus. Mueller's office on Monday released dozens of questions that it would like Trump to answer, and U.S. media also reported Tuesday that Mueller has brought up the idea of subpoenaing Trump for an interview. The interview has been supported by Cobb, and for a while the White House signaled that it had not crossed out the possibility. But after the raid on Cohen's office, Trump's enthusiasm in directly talking to Mueller waned. According to Sanders, veteran lawyer Emmet Flood, who has represented former U.S. President Bill Clinton during Congress' impeachment proceedings', will replace Cobb. Flash A U.S. military plane on Wednesday crashed in southern state Georgia, killing all five people on board, according to the Georgia National Guards. The incident, which involved a WC-130 Hercules airplane from the Air National Guard, took place just before noon local time near the city of Savannah, local firefighters said. The County deputy coroner previously said two people had died in the crash. Local media quoted the Federal Aviation Administration as saying that the plane, carrying five, was bound for an air base in Arizona. It crashed shortly after taking off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport. Witnesses said as the plane crashed near a road, cars may have been crushed by the plane. According to footages shot at the scene, plumes of heavy black smoke and flame can be seen coming out of the wreckage. It is not immediately clear what caused the incident. The National Guard tweeted that it will look into the incident. The C-130 Hercules is a military transport plane that first went into service in the 1950s. The WC-130 is a modification of the model that specializes in weather reconnaissance. Flash Forty-four people on Wednesday remained missing one day after a fire destroyed an abandoned 26-story office building in downtown Sao Paulo in southeastern Brazil, local authorities said. The Wilton Paes de Almeida building, formerly police headquarters, caught fire in the early hours of Tuesday and suddenly crashed down completely about one and a half hours afterwards. It was then being occupied by more than 140 homeless families, an estimated total of 372 people, officials said. More than 100 firefighters are continuing to search for survivors with drones installed featuring thermal imaging cameras trying to locate people buried under the debris. So far, 44 squatters are still unaccounted for, said Sao Paulo's fire department. It is believed that they may have been inside the building when it collapsed. One man who was rescued is the only one confirmed to have then been inside the building. The fire had spread to two neighboring buildings and a church, which was partially destroyed. There have been no reports of victims from other buildings. The cause of the Sao Paulo building fire remains unknown. There were reportedly no basic fire prevention measures in the abandoned building which was built in the 1960s. Media reports said the fire started in the fifth floor of the building and spread quickly due to the many wooden walls. The presidential office issued a statement saying President Michel Temer ordered National Integration Minister Antonio de Padua de Deus to "direct all efforts to minimize the damages" caused by the tragedy. You are here: World Flash The Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in's approval rating surged following last week's summit with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a local survey showed Thursday. Support for Moon jumped 8.3 percentage points over the week to 78.3 percent this week, according to the poll by local pollster Realmeter. The result was based on a poll of 1,002 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had 3.1 percentage points in the margin of error. The pollster said the Panmunjom declaration raised expectations for the denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, which led to a fast rise in Moon's support scores. Moon and Kim met on the ROK side of the border village of Panmunjom on April 27, agreeing to complete denuclearization and the change of the current armistice agreement into a peace treaty by the end of this year. The peninsula remains technically in a state of war as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with armistice. Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party gained 2.7 percentage points to 54.9 percent, staying in the top post. China Aviation Daily | Apr. 30, 2018 The Cathay Pacific Group's network continues to grow from strength to strength with regional airline Cathay Dragon introducing two new services, to Davao City and Medan, from 28 and 29 October respectively. The cities are the eighth and ninth new destinations the group has announced during an unprecedented year of expansion and will boost Hong Kong's connections with two of ASEAN's founding member states. Davao City, the main trade, business and tourism centre of the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, will be served four times a week; while Medan, the thriving capital of North Sumatra in Indonesia, will be served three times a week. The new routes, the only non-stop flights between Hong Kong and Davao City and Hong Kong and Medan, will both be operated by Airbus A320 aircraft. Cathay Pacific Chief Customer and Commercial Officer Paul Loo said the new services reflect the group's commitment to growing its reach to destinations not otherwise served directly from Hong Kong, providing customers with more choice and strengthening Hong Kong's status as Asia's largest international aviation hub. "Davao City and Medan are key trade and tourism centres in their respective regions and each looks set play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative. As such, both present exciting opportunities for business and leisure travellers alike," he said. "Our convenient new services will capture the demand from Hong Kong and beyond, while at the same time providing customers in the Philippines and Indonesia with more options when connecting to the Cathay Pacific Group's extensive Mainland China and international networks." Already this year, the Cathay Pacific Group has launched services to Nanning, Jinan and Brussels. Other new routes to take-off in 2018 include Dublin (June) and Washington (September), as well as seasonal services to Copenhagen (May) and Cape Town (November). Destination Davao Home to the largest Chinatown in the Philippine archipelago, Davao City is Mindanao's economic capital and the gateway to its flourishing agricultural heartland. With a cosmopolitan population of over 1.5 million, Davao City is also increasingly becoming known as a focal point for ecotourism, thanks to its natural environment, unspoiled beaches and islands and proximity to world-class diving sites around the Davao Gulf. The new route will complement the Cathay Pacific Group's existing three services to Manila, Cebu and Clark in the Philippines. The flight schedule for the Hong Kong - Davao City (DVO) service from 28 October 2018 is as follows: Multicultural Medan The largest city in Indonesia outside of Java, Medan is known for its diversity which is reflected in its rich cultural heritage, historic architecture and, most famously, its wide variety of cuisine. Indeed, Medan is considered Indonesia's culinary capital, boasting a vast array of restaurants serving Batak, Chinese, Indian, Malay and Tamil-inspired dishes. The city, Sumatra's key transport hub, is located within easy reach of some of the region's best-known natural wonders, including Lake Toba, Samosir Island and Mount Sinabung. Medan will be the fourth Indonesian destination served by the Cathay Pacific Group, following Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali) and Surabaya. The flight schedule for the Hong Kong - Medan (KNO) service from 29 October 2018 is as follows: Contributed by Cathay Pacific Old-timers recall evolution from coal-fired boilers to electricity A train loaded with 41 steel shipping containers departed from Tangshan, Hebei province, in late April, marking the inauguration of an additional line of freight between China and Europe. The train was scheduled to travel 11,000 kilometers in 16 days to the Belgian city of Antwerp through Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Poland and Germany. SAR to 'take a hit' in US-China trade crossfire Updated: 2018-05-04 06:50 By Oswald Chan in Hong Kong(HK Edition) Full-blown trade war may slash as much as 0.8 of a percentage point off city's growth next year, commentator warns With China and the United States seen hurtling toward a potential major trade war after the US threatened to slap import tariffs on $150 billion worth of Chinese goods, notably tech software and machinery, for alleged theft of trade secrets, a technology war has started in earnest, with Hong Kong likely to be embroiled in the "crossfire". Economists and Hong Kong businessmen are deeply worried that the brewing trade and technology conflict would curtail the SAR's economic growth this year. The US has fired the opening shot targeting one of China's multinational telecommunication giants, Shenzhen-based ZTE Corporation. The US Department of Commerce last month banned ZTE from buying any category of US technology for seven years for allegedly violating the terms of a sanctions settlement. Another leading mainland phone-maker Huawei is facing criminal investigation in the US for alleged illegal sales of technology to Iran, delivering a further blow to the top mainland original equipment manufacturer that is now being challenged in entering the US market. Responding to the US move, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce hit back by enforcing provisional anti-dumping measures on US grain sorghum. The mainland authorities, in turn, accused US companies of dumping grain sorghum on the mainland market, causing substantial damage to the domestic industry. The US says its proposed trade and investment sanctions against China are aimed at tackling the glaring US trade deficit with China estimated at $375 billion in 2017, coupled with allegations of intellectual property theft and forced technology transfers by Chinese enterprises. Louis Kuijs, head of Asian Economics at think-tank Oxford Economics, expressed concern that a full blown trade war between the country and the US would dent Hong Kong's economic growth by nearly 0.6 percentage point this year and up to 0.8 percentage point next year. "Within Asia, North Asia, including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, would be harder hit than Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand or India because North Asia relies more on trade as growth drivers," he warned. Ng Wang-pun, president of the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, said: "Hong Kong would feel the pinch as the city is a major trade intermediary between the Chinese mainland and the US, and the major bulk of bilateral trade between the two economies is through Hong Kong's re-exports." "Moreover, many Hong Kong manufacturers are part of the supply chains of mainland exports to the US. A trade war between the two countries must have an impact on the local trade sector that may diminish the city's good economic growth prospects," Ng warned, adding that the future of Hong Kong's small and medium-sized enterprises may be in jeopardy. The US Trade Representative is expected to make a final decision by the end of this month, to be followed by a 60-day consultation period, suggesting that tariffs could come as early as late July or early August. It's estimated that Hong Kong last year re-exported about HK$60 billion worth of products that may come under the new tariffs, amounting to some 20 percent of the total value of products the mainland exports to the US via Hong Kong, according to Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Edward Yau Tang-wah. "Hong Kong's trade sector and economy will likely take a big hit should the trade row escalate," warned Carie Li, an economist at OCBC Wing Wang - the local banking arm of the Singaporean lender OCBC Bank. "Trade activities' contribution to Hong Kong's economy reached 18 percent in 2016. The city's exports to the mainland and the US accounted for 62.2 percent of its total exports, while imports from these regions took up 51.8 percent of total imports last year," she added. In Hong Kong, the value of total goods exports surged 9.7 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared to the period a year ago, while the value of goods imports rose 10.6 percent in the same period, according to the Census and Statistics Department. From January to March, Hong Kong's exports to the Chinese mainland hiked 12.6 percent from a year ago while the city's exports to the US posted a yearly 7.4 percent increase in the same period, CSD data added. The US has threatened to target annual Chinese imports worth $150 billion, with a 25-percent punitive tariff to be levied on mainland imports, particularly in robotics, aerospace, information and communication technology, and machinery, as the mainland seeks to achieve industrial upgrade in these sectors. The mainland has retaliated by slapping prohibitive tariffs on US imports worth $50 billion, including aircraft, soybeans and autos. It was the mainland's second round of retaliatory measures on US imports following an earlier round on $3 billion worth of US imports after the US said in March it would impose tariffs on imports of steel (25 percent) and aluminum (10 percent) from various countries, including China. "There's still a lot of uncertainty over the outlook of global trade policies, and this could weigh on business confidence. More importantly, Asian corporations are well integrated in the network of global supply chains and depend largely on global trade," said James Cheo, senior investment strategist at Bank of Singapore - the private banking arm of the Singaporean lender OCBC Bank. "Asia is exposed to unfavorable shifts in US trade policy because of its volume of direct exports to the US, and also because of intermediate trade activity through supply chains in the region," said Marie Diron, sovereign risk group managing director at Moody's Investors Service. oswald@chinadailyhk.com Hong Kong, with its free economy which is heavily dependent on merchandise trade, will not be immune from the tari s row which has broken out between the worlds two largest economies, which will in turn deal a blow to the global economy. Billy H.c. Kwok/bloomberg (HK Edition 05/04/2018 page8) Leading Calvinist Makes Historic Concession to Open Theism: God is Not Outside of Time DENVER, May 3, 2018 / What brought about this startling reversal? The president of CARM spent the previous weeks preparing to debate Will Duffy, founder of OpenTheism.org. Prior to that preparation, Slick's earlier contrary statement was, "Open theism is a heresy... it reduces God because what it essentially is doing is stating that God is limited to time, has certain aspects and attributes that must work in concert with time..." In previous debates sponsored by So, why did the famed Calvinist theologian Matt Slick adopt something that for decades he had previously described as heresy? To date, Slick has not yet become an open theist. Yet he no longer claims that God exists in what is widely referred to as an eternal now, nor similarly, that God exists outside of time. "Matt changed his position," said Pastor Bob Enyart of Denver Bible Church, "for no reason other than that he was confronted with the force of the Incarnation as proof that God's life includes moments, that God has a past, and that He experiences succession, all of which requires time." Many Christians ascribe to divine timelessness and a hierarchy of doctrines built upon timelessness. Since timelessness itself is based on utter immutability, the doctrine of immutability is also now being called into question. For more information, contact: Denver Bible Church Pastor Bob Enyart Bob@kgov.com 303-463-1707 Share Tweet Contact: Bob Enyart, Denver Bible Church, 303-463-1707, Bob@kgov.com DENVER, May 3, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- "I don't say that God is outside of time, nor that God exists in an eternal now." In a moderated and streamed debate before a live audience at Denver Bible Church, Matt Slick made this astounding concession. However, just two weeks earlier in his regular teaching on YouTube, as the founder of Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry, a leading reformed outreach, Slick claimed that such a statement would be "heresy." See kgov.com/carm for all documentation.What brought about this startling reversal? The president of CARM spent the previous weeks preparing to debate Will Duffy, founder of OpenTheism.org. Prior to that preparation, Slick's earlier contrary statement was, "Open theism is a heresy... it reduces God because what it essentially is doing is stating that God is limited to time, has certain aspects and attributes that must work in concert with time..."In previous debates sponsored by OpenTheism.org , Will Duffy and other open theists based their arguments not on man's freedom but on God's freedom and presented the Incarnation, whereby God the Son took on a human nature, as a biblical proof that God experiences succession, has a past, and exists in time. See kgov.com/time So, why did the famed Calvinist theologian Matt Slick adopt something that for decades he had previously described as heresy? To date, Slick has not yet become an open theist. Yet he no longer claims that God exists in what is widely referred to as an eternal now, nor similarly, that God exists outside of time. "Matt changed his position," said Pastor Bob Enyart of Denver Bible Church, "for no reason other than that he was confronted with the force of the Incarnation as proof that God's life includes moments, that God has a past, and that He experiences succession, all of which requires time."Many Christians ascribe to divine timelessness and a hierarchy of doctrines built upon timelessness. Since timelessness itself is based on utter immutability, the doctrine of immutability is also now being called into question.For more information, contact:Denver Bible ChurchPastor Bob Enyart303-463-1707 We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form AKRON, Ohio - Summit County voters will head to the polls on Tuesday, May 8, to decide on several tax issues. Look up poll locations here. Two Summit County schools are asking for property tax increases, while two others want taxes renewed. Three municipalities want tax increases for issues that include police, roads and bridges, and waste collection. Here's how the different taxes are calculated: Income tax is levied as a percentage of workers' wages. The more workers in a city, the greater income is generated. Property taxes are calculated based on home and land values. As these values rise, tax revenue also increases. Both Macedonia and Hudson will ask voters to decide on income-tax issues, with Macedonia's tax a .25 percent increase. The city of Stow is asking residents to approve a charter amendment that would place proposed income tax increases before voters. Summit County polls will be open Tuesday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Here's how issues on the ballot would affect residents in Summit County communities. Municipal tax issues Twinsburg Township: Property tax Twinsburg voters are deciding whether to approve a 2.8 mill property tax increase that would pay for police protection. The increase would cost the owner of a $100,000 home $98 annually. The tax would go into effect in 2019. Reminderville Village: Property tax Village officials are asking voters to replace a 3 mill property tax for five years to pay for streets, roads and bridges. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay about $9 per year. The tax would begin in 2019. Richfield Township: Two property tax issues Voters in Richfield Township are considering whether to approve a 1.1 mill tax for five years to pay for garbage and yard waste collection and disposal. The owner of a $100,000 home would pay $38.50 per year. The tax would begin in 2019. Richfield voters are also being asked to renew, with a decrease, for three years a 2.3 mill tax to pay for firefighting equipment, facilities and supplies, and emergency medical service, equipment and personnel. The decrease would reduce taxes for owners of homes valued at $100,000 by about $24 per year. The rate would begin in 2019. Income tax issues Hudson: Income tax Issue 3 asks Hudson resident to vote to reallocate .24 percent of a 1 percent increase approved in 2004. The 2004 income tax increase, from 1 percent to 2 percent, funded the fire department at 15 percent and emergency medical services at 9 percent. The city wants to use the full 24 percent to pay for the fire department and emergency medical services combined. The change would begin July 1, 2018. Macedonia: Income tax Residents in Macedonia are being asked to raise the city's income tax .25 percent to pay for fire department operations at 40 percent; police operations at 30 percent and service department operations at 30 percent. If the increase is approved, workers earning $50,000 per year would pay about $125 per year. Charter amendment Stow: Charter amendment With voter approval of this charter amendment, any income tax increase in Stow would go before voters for approval. It would prohibit the city from increasing the income-tax rate or decreasing its credit for income tax paid to other cities. To get the issue on the ballot would require five or more Stow City Council members to approve the measure. Schools Norton City schools: Property tax The Norton school district is asking voters to approve a continuing tax of 3.5 mills for five years for current expenses. That would raise taxes $123 per year for owners of homes valued at $100,000. The increase would begin in 2019. Woodridge Local schools: Property tax Voters in the Woodridge school district will decide on raising property taxes 8.19 mills for five years for emergency requirements of the district. The levy would amount to an increase of $287 a year in annual property tax bills per $100,000 of home value beginning in 2019. Tax renewals Twinsburg City schools: Property tax renewal Voters in Twinsburg will decide whether to renew a 6.9-mill tax for the Twinsburg school district for five years. Boston Heights Village: Property tax renewal Voters in the village of Boston Heights will decide whether to renew an existing .75-mill property tax for firefighters and emergency services for three years. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. BROOKLYN, Ohio -- The city is currently seeking request for proposals regarding a 7.5-acre area located around the southwest corner of the Memphis Avenue and Tiedeman Road intersection. "The administration and City Council's choice to actively purchase and consolidate these parcels leaves the city with 7.5 acres of land on a prime corner that has been vacant for decades," Mayor Katie Gallagher said. "I'm excited about this opportunity and look forward to adding a new business to our community." Brooklyn is asking $990,000 for the former Winter's Market site, which is currently zoned two-thirds general business, with the eastern one-third portion zoned for retail business. "We're looking for redevelopment that would bring back more jobs, particularly for an office-type tenant, an owner-operator or significant retail that would be a positive value for the community," said Economic Development Director Andi Udris. "It's very significant for the city, because we hardly have any development-free sites. "It's got great visibility, right across from the Cleveland Metroparks. It has quick access to I-71 and I-480. It's a good position. Right now, we're just trying to get the word out to the brokerage community that it's available and the kind of development we'd like to see on it, so they can screen their businesses they promote and market the property," Udris said. Last year, Brooklyn spent $844,000 to purchase seven properties, the majority of which had been vacant for years. There are currently two homes on the Winter's Market site. Both are slated for demolition. Having already completed an environmental review of the land, Brooklyn is hoping its application for Cuyahoga County Demolition Program funds will be approved. "We're looking for a total of $40,000 for the total demolition," Udris said. "It's a small amount, compared to other cities asking for hundreds of thousands of dollars." Udris expects the city to find out if its application was granted later this month. Overseeing the actual demolition will be the Cleveland Land Bank. "We're also going to take a small portion on the corner," Udris said. "Some of the larger trucks have a hard time making that sharp turn, so we're going to round out the intersection." CLEVELAND, Ohio -- FirstEnergy Stadium will soon be a 20-year-old facility. Does that mean a new stadium for the Browns could be in the future? Cleveland Browns owner Dee Haslam told ESPN on Thursday that the franchise is exploring a development project with the city that may include substantially renovating FirstEnergy Stadium or building a new facility somewhere downtown. Such endeavors have typically taken about 10 years, and the Browns' lease at First Energy Stadium runs through 2029. It could be one of the NFL's oldest stadiums by then. "The main thing is to start the conversation, at some point," Haslam told ESPN. "I don't know that we're ready to start the conversation, but we are ready to get all the information we can about what's possible." As a reference, U.S. Bank Stadium opened two years ago in Minneapolis. Construction costs of the fixed-roof stadium, which played host to the Super Bowl in February, exceeded $1 billion. Dan Williams, communications director for Cleveland mayor Frank Jackson, told cleveland.com Thursday that he knew nothing about any talks toward a new stadium. Because of that, he couldn't comment further. The Browns issued a statement today through a team spokesman: - Cleveland.com reporter Bob Higgs contributed to this post. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A federal judge on Thursday rejected a plea from Amish bishop Sam Mullet that his sentence be vacated for charges stemming from a series of beard and hair-cutting attacks on his enemies. Mullet argued that his former attorney, a public defender, made errors that amounted to ineffective counsel during his 2012 trial and through two appeals. Those errors, Mullet argued, warranted vacating his sentence. U.S. District Judge Dan Polster, the man who sent Mullet to prison, disagreed. In a claim-by-claim analysis, he rejected all of Mullet's arguments that his right to a fair trial was compromised by his attorney's performance. "Because the court determines that none of his counsel's 'errors' were prejudicial, the court does not find that Mullet was denied a fair trial," Polster wrote in his opinion. "To the contrary, Mullet was represented by a seasoned and effective trial and appellate counsel." You can read Polster's opinion below. Mobile users click here. Mullet led a breakaway sect of an Amish community made up of 18 families in the village of Bergholz, about 100 miles southeast of Cleveland. They were convicted of several crimes in September 2012 for carrying out five nighttime raids in 2011. Members of the community rousted five victims out of bed and chopped off their beards and hair with horse mane shears and battery-powered clippers. The attackers documented the attacks with a disposable camera. Men's beards and women's hair have spiritual significance to the Amish. Prosecutors said the attacks were carried out at the behest of Mullet against the bishop's enemies and brought hate-crime and obstruction charges against 16 members of the Amish community. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals later overturned the hate-crime convictions, citing faulty jury instructions. Polster re-sentenced all of them to shorter sentences in March 2015 -- with Mullet's sentence being reduced from 15 years to 10 years, nine months in federal prison. The judge noted that it was clear the attacks were religiously motivated. The 6th Circuit rejected Mullet's appeal in May 2016 and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to take up his case in February. Mullet is the only defendant who remains in prison. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Thursday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County is seeking more foster parents because the number of children in county custody is increasing. Nearly 2,300 children are in foster care, kinship care, or some other form of custody, the county said. That is the highest number since 2011. The opioid epidemic has been a factor in the increase, officials have said. Last December the Ohio Attorney General's Office provided money to Cuyahoga, Summit and Stark counties to fund a full-time staff member dedicated to foster family recruitment efforts because of the crisis. The attorney general's office estimated that half of the children in foster care are there because of substance abuse from one or both parents. And nearly 3,000 more kids are in the system now than they were seven years ago, when the opioid crisis emerged, the office said. Cuyahoga County's Division of Children and Family Services said it is looking for loving, committed adults to serve as foster parents for children who need a safe and supportive home. "We need relatives, friends, neighbors, community members, and foster parents to be part of our team," Cynthia Weiskittlel, the division's director, said in a news release. "Our children often come from difficult circumstances or traumatic events. They need us to work together to help them heal, feel safe, and feel loved." Foster parents play a vital role in a child's life. They also partner with birth parents who want to be reunited with their child. The greatest need for foster parents is for: Infants through preschoolers Teenagers Sibling groups Youth who identify as LGBTQ Those interested in foster parenting have to go through training, background checks, and a home study before being approved. A new round of training classes for prospective foster parents will begin May 15. Anyone interested in becoming a foster parent can call (216) 881-5775 or visit cfs.cuyahogacounty.us/en-US/Potential-Foster-Adoptive-Parents.aspx for more information. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Construction on a third segment of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail in Cleveland is scheduled to begin in June, and work on the fourth and final stage of the 85-mile trail is to begin in 2019. Cuyahoga County Council is expected on May 15 to approve a $3.56 million contract with Great Lakes Construction Co. to build the long-awaited 0.7-mile multi-purpose trail from the Harvard Avenue trail head north to Steelyard Commons. That section will connect to the completed Stage 2, a 0.9-mile trail built in 2007 along the border of the Steelyard Commons shopping center and privately funded by developer First Interstate Properties. Stage 3, which runs 1.9 miles from the northern entrance of Steelyard Commons to Literary Avenue in the Tremont neighborhood, will be completed this fall, Nicole English, of the county's Public Works Department, told a council committee on Wednesday. The bid to construct Stage 4, 0.7 miles from Literary Avenue to the future Canal Basin Park, is expected to be awarded in spring 2019, English said. That section should be complete in 2020. The Towpath Trail extends north through Tuscarawas, Stark, Summit and Cuyahoga counties and currently ends at Harvard Avenue. The nonprofit Canalway Partners and collaborating agencies raised $56.5 million to complete the four stages of the five-mile Cleveland portion of the Towpath. The partners include the county, the City of Cleveland and Cleveland Metroparks. The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency was also instrumental in directing federal funds to the project. Construction of the third segment, Stage 1, is scheduled to begin June 4 and be completed by Dec. 7, 2019, David Marquard, design and construction administrator for the Public Works Department, told council committee members. The county is administering the project, which is 80 percent funded from the federal Congestion Mitigation Air Quality Fund and 20 percent from a $500,000 Clean Ohio Grant and City of Cleveland Tax Increment Financing. Cost estimates fwere initially as high as $10 million because the project would have required building an elevated section passing underneath the Harvard Denison Bridge. The agencies leading the project later determined it was possible to build the trail along Harvard Avenue and Jennings Road, skirting the former Harshaw Chemical site to reach Steelyard Commons. According to a 2009 contract, the county agreed to build the Towpath in Cleveland. Metroparks will maintain those miles and the city will own them and perform capital repairs, councll members were told. CLEVELAND, Ohio - While Democrats and Republicans are gearing up for their separate primaries on Tuesday, there is one decision all Ohio voters will be asked to make that will affect elections for decades to come. Approval of Issue 1 - an amendment to the Ohio Constitution - would establish rules for how congressional districts are drawn, starting in 2021. There are no such state rules now, essentially leaving control of the process to the party in power following each census. That's why many Ohio congressional districts make no geographic sense, and why the races often are so uncompetitive that voters can do little to hold their representatives accountable. Reform to eliminate political gerrymandering in Ohio was the focus of a several-month cleveland.com series - Out of Line: Impact 2017 and Beyond. To bring you up to speed as Election Day approaches, here's a primer: Which political party is backing Issue 1? Both. Issue 1 has the endorsement of the Ohio Republican and Democratic parties. It was placed on the ballot by a bipartisan vote in the Ohio legislature, 31-0 in the Ohio Senate and 83-10 in the Ohio House. What's the goal? According to the official ballot language, goals include promoting bipartisan work on drawing congressional districts, keeping local communities together and having districts that are more compact. How would the proposal force the majority party in listen to the minority party? In the past, a simple majority vote in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, plus the governor's signature was needed to approve a new congressional map, a process last completed in 2011 and 2001 when the Republicans were in charge of all three steps. The ballot proposal requires 50 percent support for a new map from members of each of the two major political parties, plus the governor's signature. If that fails, the work would be turned over to a separate, seven-member commission of statewide elected officials and representatives from the legislature. But the commission could not approve a new map without at least two votes from each party. If that fails, the legislature eventually could approve a new map without any minority support, but that new map would be good for only four years - instead of 10 - and added requirements would be imposed in an attempt to protect local communities and the party in the minority. What would the proposal do to create local districts? Bad examples of the way things are now can be found in Cuyahoga and Summit counties, each split into four separate congressional districts. That would not be allowed under the proposal. In the worst-case scenario under the new rules: Five counties would be split three ways. 18 counties would be split two ways. 65 counties would not be split. Also, all of Cleveland and Cincinnati would be in a single district each (plus some surrounding areas to fill population requirements). Most of Columbus would be in a single district, because it is too large for one district. Ohio's current 9th congressional district from Cleveland to Toledo is known as the "snake on the lake." Which current district makes the least sense? Consider these four: 4 9 11 16 Isn't the Cleveland-to-Akron 11th the result of the 1965 Voting Rights Act? The 11th was drawn to create a district where black residents would be in the majority, but this goes beyond the requirements of the Voting Rights Act. Justin Levitt, who worked on voting rights issues as a deputy assistant attorney general during the Obama Administration, said that districts are to be drawn to give minorities a meaningful opportunity for representation. "Meaningful" does not mean a minority group must make up the majority in a district, Levitt said. Dan Tokaji, a professor of election law at Ohio State University, concurred during an earlier interview with cleveland.com. "Let's be very clear about why they drew that district that way. It was a tool for partisan gerrymandering," Tokaji said. A Cleveland-area district with a very heavy black population, though a little short 50 percent, could have been created without going south to Akron. Ohio's 11th congressional district. What's wrong with uncompetitive races? Ohio's congressional map, skillfully drawn in 2011 to create 12 predictably Republican seats and four predictably Democratic seats - provides very little opportunity for general election voters in any one district to hold their representative accountable. This goes for Republicans, Democrats and independents. The outcome of elections were all but guaranteed at map-drawing time rather than at the ballot box in the years that followed. None of Ohio's congressional races were close in 2016. What else has this meant? Over the last two map-drawing cycles, Ohio's congressional delegation has become less reflective of the political leanings of Ohio's electorate. Republicans won 51 percent of the head-to-head vote against Democrats in the congressional elections statewide from 2002 through 2010, but won 62 percent of the seats. Since 2012, when the current map was first used, Republicans have won 56 percent of the vote and 75 percent of the seats - the same 12 seats in each of the three elections. Without a change in the rules, the same could be done by Democrats if they gain power at the right time. But haven't we always had gerrymandering? The term gerrymandering dates back to 1812, and the act of drawing districts for political gain is even older. But the abuse of gerrymandering has grown worse over the last several years, enabled in part by a series of law changes, court decisions and one-sided elections - plus the introduction of sophisticated computer mapping programs that make it easier than ever to manipulate the process. By the time the next map is drawn in 2021, the people drawing the map will know more about each person who is placed into one district or another - from their social media behaviors and buying habits to their club memberships and voting histories. Why not just elect congressional members at-large, statewide? At-large seats are not an option under current law. Congress in 1967 banned at-large districts. One theory is that this was done to head off potential court orders to establish at-large districts to solve redistricting problems. Ohio's last at-large seat was held by Robert Taft Jr., a Republican, from 1963-65, and Robert E. Sweeney, a Democrat, from 1965-67. Didn't we vote for redistricting reform in 2015? The vote in 2015 changed the way Ohio's Statehouse districts - for both the state House and state Senate - will be drawn in 2021. But it did not address congressional redistricting. The Statehouse redistricting reform passed easily, 71 percent to 29 percent. Isn't there also a petition drive to reform the process? Yes. The Ohio League of Women Voters, Common Cause Ohio, the Ohio Environmental Council and others have collected thousands of signatures to place their own - more extensive - proposal on the November ballot. But those groups are supporting State Issue 1. If Issue 1 fails, their proposal could still end up on the November ballot, but it might not have bipartisan support. Will Issue 1 do what is promised? Advocates - both Democrats and Republicans - say Issue 1 isn't exactly what either side wanted, but it is a fair compromise that offers a real opportunity for reform after decades of inaction. Testing the proposal, cleveland.com created good and bad maps under best- and worst-case scenarios, and found that even the bad map is far better than what exists now in providing local representation and more competitive districts. "Think of it this way," a cleveland.com analysis concluded, "should it pass, the politicians will still have their hands in the cookie jar, but Grandma will be lurking around the corner trying to make sure no one gets more than their fair share." Rich Exner, data analysis editor for cleveland.com, writes about numbers on a variety of topics. Follow on Twitter @RichExner. LAKEWOOD, Ohio - It didn't take long for Northeast Ohio to embrace Cleveland Vegan after it opened in 2014. The husband-and-wife operation had already established a following for their catering business, launched in 2012, when they planted their brick-and-mortar in Lakewood at 17112 Detroit Ave. The eatery was bustling from the beginning, especially drawing in the brunch crowd to their scratch kitchen. Fans of the restaurant will soon have more space to enjoy the vegan fare. Owners Laura Ross and Justin Gorski recently took over the Retro Rosie boutique storefront next door and hope to break ground on the expansion this summer with a quick turnaround. The space was once a part of the former hobby shop that Cleveland Vegan now occupies. Ross says the couple has known they needed to expand for about a year. The popularity of the restaurant, coupled with a growing demand for vegan fare, has already led them to make tweaks. A little more than a year ago, they began opening early for coffee service. "There are so many people that are continuously coming in who have never been here before," Ross says. "They've just become vegan or vegetarian, or they're just experimenting with eating less meat. We're a natural place for them to check out." Cleveland Vegan 11 Gallery: Cleveland Vegan All the bakery production will be moved to the back half of the new space, which adds about another 1,000-square-feet. Bakery has been a big seller for Cleveland Vegan. When the restaurant opened, there was one part-time baker. Now they have an entire department with a full-time baker and two-to-three more part-timers. Their baked goods are also sold to businesses around town, such as Constantino's, Souper Market and Erie Island Coffee. Expect that to be reflected in the new space. You'll find a more robust bakery case and more grab-and-go items. In addition to Cleveland Vegan's current 12 tables that seat about 55 guests, the additional space will have more variety in seating. Ross says bar-top or high-top tables are a possibility, offering a more laid-back atmosphere for anyone looking to lounge around a while. "We get quite a number of people throughout the week who want to stay and work," Ross says. "This will give them more room for that." As for what keeps diners coming back, Ross credits a rotating, seasonal menu. Much of the organic ingredients are sourced from the Oberlin Food Hub or grown just blocks away. Their cafe menu lets you pick from different options to build a three-course meal, or choose any dish a la carte. "For people who might not be used to eating this way, or are vegan and still figuring it out, the fact that we're continuously giving peoples options that change makes them want to continue to come in," Ross says. Their specials, like a monthly vegan pizza night, have been a huge draw. Last March, they had their most successful day to date when they had a special St. Patrick's Day menu featuring seitan-based Reubens, cabbage and noodles, dairy-free "shamrock shakes" and Irish soda bread. "It's just a testament to how many people do get into the spirit of those types of holidays, but don't want to necessarily eat animal products anymore," Ross notes. They also recently retooled their personal chef service and nearly tripled their sales. All catering still operates out of the restaurant's kitchen. Their evolving restaurant shows just what can be done with a vegan menu, a growing fan base and a staff with a knack for ingenuity. "I think because we're an exclusive vegan kitchen, we never have the opportunity to rely on using traditional ingredients," Ross says. "It really pushes our team to continue to be creative." COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The project would have been a boon to Ohio and the Southwest corner of the state: Disney wanted to build a new film studio outside Cincinnati, bringing high-paying jobs and generating a multi-million-dollar economic boost to the region. Former House Speaker Cliff Rosenberger, a Clinton County Republican, heard the pitch from Eliot Winks of a firm called D6 Capital Partners on Aug. 15, 2017. Excited about the possibility, Rosenberger didn't bother calling Disney to confirm the plans but instead immediately booked a meeting at the company's offices in Burbank, California, for a few days later. But after speaking to Disney officials in person, Rosenberger learned the new studio plan wasn't true. And whoever Eliot Winks was, he wasn't working with Disney. Rosenberger resigned last month amid an FBI inquiry about an August 2017 trip he took to London with lobbyists and elected officials from other states. Rosenberger traveled often on the dime of others -- usually GOP donors and national legislative organizations -- during nearly three and one-half years as the leader of Ohio's lower chamber. The last-minute California trip was revealed in e-mails obtained by cleveland.com through a public records request. Rosenberger met with Winks on Aug. 15, alone, in his Columbus office, House GOP spokesman Brad Miller said. Winks said D6 Capital Partners was seeking to enter into a 10- to 20-year agreement with a major motion picture studio to film movies at a facility in Evendale, bordering I-75. Disney/LucasFilm was the "targeted studio" for the development, House GOP Policy Director Shawn Kasych wrote in a later e-mail to a Disney executive. Winks wanted a guaranteed 30 percent tax credit for the project and other incentives outlined in a letter he wanted the speaker to sign. "As the Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives I am willing to offer my best efforts to work with D6CP and its agents to create and promote the necessary legislation to establish a special economic development incentive for the facility that you are intending to build," the letter, sent to Rosenberger's staff after the meeting, stated. Miller said Rosenberger never signed the letter. Three days later, Rosenberger, Kasych, Clinton County businessman Bret Dixon and Cleveland Film Commission President Ivan Schwarz met with Disney officials. After the California meeting, Mary Ann Hughes of Disney apologized in an e-mail to Kasych for "the misrepresentation of any Disney intention to relocate Lucas productions from the UK to Ohio." Hughes asked Kasych, now House GOP chief of staff, to put together a time line and other records documenting Rosenberger's interaction with Winks. Hughes also offered a tour of a Disney set in London while Rosenberger was there a few weeks later, on a trip funded by the conservative GOPAC Education Fund. Disney did not respond to a request for comment. D6 Capital Partners is not a registered business in Ohio or California and has no online presence. Winks communicated with Rosenberger's staff through a Gmail account, according to records. A man named Eliot Winks is a pastor at a Cincinnati church; he did not respond to a request for comment. Miller said Rosenberger was skeptical of Winks' proposal, but he decided to visit in person because he had relationships with Disney. Miller said the group also met with Warner Brothers and Mandeville Films while in California. Richard Finan, former Ohio Senate president and current mayor of Evendale, arranged the meeting between Winks and Rosenberger, according to Miller and e-mails provided by the House. Finan did not respond to phone calls seeking comment. The House Republicans' political campaign committee footed the bill for the trip, Miller said. The committee paid for rooms at the W Hollywood in Los Angeles and nearly $1,300 in meals at L.A.-area restaurants in transactions dated in October 2017, according to campaign finance reports. Rosenberger was considered a strong supporter of Ohio's budding film industry and traveled to California several times during his tenure to meet with motion picture companies. Rep. Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican and current interim Speaker, introduced a bill earlier this year to raise Ohio's motion picture tax credit from $40 million to $100 million a year. Rosenberger was scheduled to visit the set of Aladdin while in London along with state Rep. Nathan Manning, a North Ridgeville Republican, Wisconsin House Speaker Robin Vos and Vos' wife. The visit was later canceled due to a "scheduling snag." WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci on Wednesday joined a group of Republican Congress members - several of whom are running for U.S. Senate - in signing a letter to nominate President Donald Trump for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Renacci and 17 colleagues signed a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee that said Trump's work to "end the Korean War, denuclearize the Korean peninsula, and bring peace to the region" warrants the award. "Although North Korea has evaded demands from the international community to cease its aggression for decades, President Trump's peace through strength policies are working and bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula," the letter says. "We can think of no one more deserving of the committee's recognition in 2019 than President Trump for his tireless work to bring peace to our world." Several of the Republicans who signed the letter - including Renacci - are engaged in GOP primary battles for U.S. Senate seats. All are striving to align themselves with Trump to win his backers' support. The Wadsworth congressman was the only Ohioan to sign the letter. Trump recently endorsed Renacci in Ohio's GOP primary for a chance to take on Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, and Renacci plans to attend an event with Trump in Cleveland on Saturday. The letter was spearheaded by Rep. Luke Messer who is in a three-way primary battle for his party's Senate nomination in Indiana. Other GOP Senate candidates who signed the letter were Evan Jenkins of West Virginia, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, and Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. Scientists from NASA Glenn have helped successfully demonstrate a nuclear power system that experts say could someday power outposts on the Moon, Mars and beyond. During a press conference this morning, May 2, 2018, at NASA Glenn Research Center in Brook Park, four scientists from around the country praised the Kilopower project and a prototype's recent test in Nevada: an experiment formally called Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology, or KRUSTY for short. Janet Kavandi, Glenn's director, said, "This technology can be leveraged to explore our solar system like never before." The experiment took place from November through March at the Nevada National Security Site with scientists from Glenn and elsewhere. A panel of leader today said the test showed that the Kilopower system can make electricity from uranium fission safely and reliably, even when purposefully challenged by power reductions, engine failures and heat pipe failures. The Kilopower's core is about six inches across. But it can work for at least 10 years, making at least 10 years' worth of 10 kilowatts of power, enough to run several average households. Scientists say that four Kilopower units would power an outpost in space. The prototype has a core of uranium 235. Stirling engines developed at Glenn convert the reactor core's heat to electricity. Experts said nuclear power would be far better than solar power on the moon, where nights last for about 14 Earth days, or on distant Mars, where sunlight is fainter and dust storms can last for months. David Poston, chief reactor designer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, said the Kilopower reactor is the first truly new fission reactor concept in the U.S. in more than 40 years. Today's experts said that the nuclear equipment was safe, especially in flight. The core would not become fully radioactive until put to use at outposts. Glenn has long been a top NASA center for developing power, partly with Stirling engines, which convert heat to electricity. The site broke a decades-old record Sunday by surpassing a cumulative 12.5 years of operation of a heat engine. Engineer Marc Gibson leads fewer than 10 full-time Kilopower scientists here, working n partnership with NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala., and the federal Energy Department's National Nuclear Security Administration. That administration's properties include the testing site and Los Alamos. The project has cost $20 million so far. The team is continuing to try to reduce the system's risks and developing it for missions. In fiscal year 2020, members hope to move the project from a development program to a demonstration program, or one step closer to space. Poston said the technology showed little promise as a broad source of power on earth but might help in military vehicles, remote mines and other special settings. For more information, see . WEST PALM BEACH, Florida -- A Columbus man was arrested by deputies after he flew to Florida hoping to meet President Donald Trump and smoke marijuana with him, according to reports. Tyler Jon Marrone, 27, told deputies with the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office he found a credit card and considered it a "gift from God." He used the card to buy a plane ticket to Florida and hoped to drive to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort, WCMH Channel 4 reports. According to CBS 12, Marrone's mother tells investigators he suffers from depression and paranoia, and quit taking his psychiatric medication. She said he's attempted suicide twice. The arrest report shows Marrone wanted to talk to Trump about "the static and frequency feedback" he constantly hears "emanating from my basement and from fans" in his head. Local 10 reports Marrone was arrested for drug possession at Palm Beach International Airport and was hospitalized for a psychiatric assessment. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For the 14th time, senior materials research engineer Kim de Groh of NASA Glenn Research Center has put an experiment into orbit. As usual, she had help from high schoolers from Hathaway Brown. Cleveland creds: Came in 1986 for Glenn internship, moved back full-time in 1987 Currently lives: Hinckley Township Age: 55 Schooling: Bachelor's and master's in materials science from Michigan State Family: Husband, Glenn materials researcher Henry de Groh, two sons Favorite locally owned restaurants: Merchant Street, Spice Kitchen, Luchita's, Wild Mango, L'Albatros What do you do at Glenn? Kim: I send materials into space. I study how quickly different polymers erode in low earth orbit. There are many threats in space that can harm the spacecraft. For example, atomic oxygen can break the bonds of materials, such as polymers used in insulation blankets and solar arrays, and erode them away. There's also micrometeoroids, temperature extremes and different kinds of radiation that can harm materials. A lot of our materials are completely eroded after four years. We stack layers so we have some material left to analyze afterwards. We compute the erosion and write handbooks and papers for spacecraft designers. Our flight data has been used for materials on a number of spacecrafts and satellites. Which spacecrafts fly your experiments? Kim: The original materials program was on the shuttle. Our son Dan and I went to the launch April 2 at Kennedy of the SpaceX Dragon, which took a permanent materials testing platform to the space station. I have 138 samples on the platform for a year. We'll get photos of the materials once a month. What else are you working on meanwhile? Kim: I'm currently writing some papers and working on samples for the next mission. I've proposed recently an experiment for a later mission. Exactly when and where do you work? Kim: My job is typically 9 to 5:30. I have labs in two different buildings at Glenn. I'll drive between them. What's Hathaway Brown's role? Kim: I like to try to encourage girls and boys to go into science. For 20 years, we've been collaborating with Hathaway Brown students. They work with us their whole high school careers. They fabricate samples. They do pre-flight weighing. They measure optical properties. They do mechanical properties. They come for a couple hours once a week during the school year. In the summer they're seven weeks full-time. NASA has published their papers. Like working at Glenn? Kim: I love being able to work with really interesting people on interesting projects. We collaborate with people in other divisions and centers and industry and universities. We're one of NASA's three research centers. We're the center of excellence in atomic oxygen. Where are you from? Kim: I was raised in Detroit, then Bloomfield Hills When did you join Glenn? Kim: I was a summer intern here in '86. I came back in '88 as a contractor and became a civil servant in '89. Family? Kim: My husband, Henry de Groh, is a materials researcher here. We met here when I was an intern. We've both had experiments launch together. One of my samples on this flight is from him. Commute together? Kim: On Tuesdays and Thursdays, we come here together. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday, we drive separately, and Henry goes to a YMCA in Cleveland after work for Olympic weightlifting. How do you spend your spare time? Kim: At Hinckley Reservation, where the buzzards roost, there's a path 3-plus miles around the lake I run whenever I can. You can rent paddleboats and canoes. The ledges are cool, too. I'm a member of the Cleveland Museum of Art. I love the Renoirs and Van Goghs. My favorite is Van Gogh's "Poplars." Last year, I went to their solstice party. It was fabulous. We also love Parade the Circle. I love to attend musicals and shows at Playhouse Square. My favorite concert venue is Jacobs Pavilion, where you can enjoy the Cleveland skyline and hear great music on a warm summer evening. We also enjoy Blossom. We bike the Towpath. And we're members of Our Saviour Lutheran Church in Hinckley. Henry plays in the contemporary church band. Favorite places to shop? Kim: I love Malley's Chocolates. I also shop at local art fairs Wish you could orbit with your samples? Kim: Of course, I would go into space if I had the opportunity. It would be amazing. But I've been very content to fly material experiments in space. Do you miss That State Up North? Kim: I still have family in Michigan. We have a family cottage on Lake Michigan. But I love living in Cleveland. People are surprised at how nice it is and how many interesting things there are to do. NORTH HAVEN, Connecticut -- Reports say at least eight police officers were injured by an explosion late Wednesday night during a standoff with a man who had taken his wife hostage. None of the injuries to the officers were considered life-threatening, the Associated Press reports. Police and SWAT were called to a home on a call that a man had barricaded himself inside, ABC News reports. The wife had managed to get out of the house after being held there three days and went to police, WFSB Channel 3 reports. Police were attempting to negotiate with the man when a barn behind the home exploded, according to the AP. It's unknown what caused the explosion. However, the man had not been taken into custody as of early Thursday morning, reports say. "This is still an active, ongoing scene," North Haven Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern tells the AP. "This is not a stable scene at this point." ABC News says authorities believe there is no current threat to the public. To comment on this story, please visit our crime and courts comments page. COLUMBUS, Ohio--It's Ohio's only $1 million legislative primary, and it's in a race that hasn't been considered to be that close. But the Republican primary for Ohio House District 72, in rural Ohio east of Columbus, does feature Rep. Larry Householder, a powerful political veteran who's in a behind-the-scenes fight with Rep. Ryan Smith to become Ohio House speaker next year. To win the speaker's gavel, Householder, a Perry County Republican, first has to win next week's primary against Kevin Black, a financial analyst and military veteran from Licking County. Black, a first-time candidate, hasn't been expected by political observers to put up a serious fight against Householder. Yet, something is leading both friends and foes of Householder to pour a shocking amount of money into the race. "It probably indicates that Householder's worried," said Paul Beck, a political scientist at Ohio State University. "I wouldn't think he'd want to spend the money if he didn't have to." As of Thursday, a staggering $784,000-plus has been spent on TV and radio ads alone by Householder's campaign and two allied super PACs - the Growth and Opportunity PAC and Hardworking Americans Committee, according to political ad tracker Medium Buying. Meanwhile, the pro-Ryan Smith Honor and Principles PAC has bought more than $173,500 worth of TV and radio ads attacking Householder, according to Medium Buying. Householder has sued the group for defamation over the ads, which reference an FBI investigation into Householder's activities when he previously served as House speaker in the 2000s. Add in other campaign expenses, and total spending on the HD-72 primary race is north of $1 million -- making it by far the most expensive legislative primary in Ohio this year. A Householder spokesman didn't immediately respond to a request for comment about why so much money is being dumped in the race. But Beck said Householder may be looking to lock down a win against Black or attempting to score a big victory to help propel him into the speakership. "I think he wants to demonstrate how strong a candidate he is to be speaker of the House," Beck said. Black, meanwhile, is playing almost no part in this money hurricane: his low-budget campaign's media spending has been limited to buying $50 worth of Facebook ads, according to state campaign-finance records. "I don't have that kind of money to do that stuff," Black said of the big TV ad campaigns. "I'm just doing it the old-fashioned way - door-to-door, busting my butt covering three counties every night, every weekend day." Black told Capitol Letter, cleveland.com's daily Statehouse newsletter, that he's confident of victory and thinks Householder is scared. "And he should be, because voters don't care about that stuff," Black said of the ads. "Voters care about what are you going to do for them, and how are you going to help them." TV/radio spending in House District 72 GOP primary Total spending TV spending Radio spending Larry Householder campaign $385,597 $347,730 $37,867 Hardworking Americans Committee (pro-Householder) $346,400 $314,103 $32,297 Honor and Principles PAC (anti-Householder) $170,543 $115,729 $54,814 Growth and Opportunity PAC (pro-Householder) $52,489 $0 $52,489 TOTAL $955,029 $777,562 $177,467 Source:Medium Buying CLEVELAND, Ohio - A new poll from Baldwin Wallace University's Community Research Institute shows the Republican and Democratic frontrunners in the governor's race are up big heading into Tuesday's primary. Democrat Richard Cordray and Republican Mike DeWine both led their respective party's primaries, though more than 40 percent of respondents in the Democratic race were unsure of who they'd vote for. The poll results track with other publicly available polling and, if accurate, match predictions from political observers around the state about the outcome of Tuesday's election. The poll was conducted by Qualtrics and included a random online sample of 811 from April 24 to May 2. The margin of error is 3.5 percent, though it is larger for the subgroups. Tom Sutton, political science professor at Baldwin Wallace and director of the Community Research Institute, said the results are raw data and not weighted, even though there were a higher number of women respondents than usual. Democrats On the Democratic side, Cordray, the former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, led the pack of four with 31 percent while former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich sat at 15 percent. State Sen. Joe Schiavoni showed 7 percent support, while former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill had 6 percent. The numbers are good news for Cordray, who at one point in another poll was neck-and-neck with Kucinich. The former congressman has stumbled in recent weeks, especially after Kucinich initially failed to disclose a $20,000 payment for a speaking fee from a group sympathetic to Syrian President Bashar Assad. The Cordray campaign seized on the payment, as well as Kucinich's late disclosure of his 2015 and 2016 tax returns. However, 41 percent of respondents were undecided with just days left. Republican DeWine, Ohio's attorney general, fared even better than Cordray in his respective primary with 52 percent favoring him over Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who was at 25 percent. A quarter of respondents remained undecided. Taylor had made gains in other polls on DeWine, especially after a negative ad blitz in Southwest Ohio. The DeWine campaign responded in kind by blanketing the state in television and radio ads - both positive and negative. In the Senate race, U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci of Wadsworth leads the GOP field in the contest to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown. Renacci, at 25 percent, was still well below a full majority while his primary challenger, Cleveland businessman Mike Gibbons had 11 percent support. Three other challengers - Melissa Ackison, Don Elijah Eckhart and Dan Kiley - all registered in the single digits. Fifty-five percent of respondents said they were still undecided. State Rep. Robert Sprague also led former Ashtabula County Auditor Sandy O'Brien in the treasurer's race 29 percent to 17 percent with 54 percent undecided. Respondents were split over whether they would vote for Republican President Donald Trump in 2020 or if they would vote for a generic Democrat. Trump carried the state by 8 percentage points in 2016. About 41 percent said they would support Trump while about 44 percent said they would support the generic Democrat. Ohio GOP Gov. John Kasich performed better on the question against a generic Democrat, with 37 percent saying they would vote for Kasich and 31 percent saying they would vote for a generic Democrat. Guns, education and marijuana The poll also asked respondents about a number of issues. Three-quarters of respondents said they favored an increase in K-12 funding while 44 percent opposed increasing support for charter schools. Almost two-thirds approved of limiting the sale of assault weapons. Respondents were split on allowing teachers to carry firearms in schools, with 45 percent supporting and 43 percent opposing. More than half of respondents also approved of legalizing recreational marijuana. More than 71 percent of those polled said they supported maintaining current state Medicaid funding for increased access to insurance. Read the poll: BWU Ohio Primary Poll by srichardson on Scribd CLEVELAND, Ohio - Tired of sound bites in the Ohio governor's race? The Ohio Matters podcast has you covered. For the first time since 2006, the governor's race is hotly contested in both parties. Attorney General Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor have been duking it out on the Republican side. Richard Cordray, former director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and former U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich have been at the forefront of the Democratic primary, with state Sen. Joe Schiavoni and former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Bill O'Neill also vying for the seat. It's not always easy keeping up with the midterm elections. They often take a back seat to the more widely observed presidential contests. However, Ohio Matters, the cleveland.com politics podcast, sat down with most of the gubernatorial candidates before the election for indepth interviews with the candidates. The interviews consisted of both intimate biographical details and discussions about the current election. Cordray was the only candidate who declined to do an hour-long interview. The interviews with the governor candidates can be found below. Ohio Matters is the weekly cleveland.com podcast recorded at the Cleveland Public Library that includes indepth interviews with political figures from around the state. Past guests include Jerry Springer, former Attorney General Marc Dann and former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges. Previous episodes of Ohio Matters can be found here. Subscribe via iTunes Subscribe via Google Play Subscribe via TuneIn Subscribe to the RSS feed here Democrats: Dennis Kucinich The former Cleveland mayor talks about his past, including the numerous hits put out on him when he refused to sell Muny Light. Joe Schiavoni The youngest candidate for governor in the race talks about the stereotype of political corruption in the Mahoning Valley, his youth as a Golden Gloves boxer and how his Columbus experience has prepared him for the governor's race. Bill O'Neill Bill O'Neill might be most known in this race for his controversial remarks, including his infamous Facebook post about his sexual history. But the former Supreme Court justice has had a colorful life from the Vietnam War to his time as a journalist to becoming a jurist. Republicans: Mary Taylor Mary Taylor has reinvented herself as a conservative firebrand this election. But in the hour-long interview with Ohio Matters, she opened up about topics closer to home for her. Mike DeWine The Republican attorney general has a long political history. He went into some of the more interesting parts of it in this interview, including the time his boss bugged his phone and his part in the Iran Contra hearings. COLUMBUS, Ohio - A new Ohio House bill named after the man killed in an Ohio State Fair accident seeks to toughen amusement ride inspections. House Bill 631, known as Tyler's Law, would create new education requirements for ride inspectors, require more ride inspectors and allow the Ohio Department of Agriculture - which oversees ride inspections - to demand before-and-after pictures and detailed descriptions of rides that have been repaired. Excessive corrosion is blamed for the July 27 death of Columbus 18-year-old Tyler Jarrell. Jarrell was thrown from the Fire Ball ride at the state fair in Columbus, landing 50 feet away. Bill sponsor Rep. Jim Hughes, a Columbus-area Republican, said the Jarrell family attorney asked him to sponsor the bill.The bill is co-sponsored by Rep. John Patteron, a Jefferson Democrat. "I'm hopeful that it will prevent another accident by doing these thing," Hughes said. Jarrell's family has reached a proposed $1.3 million settlement with ride owner Amusements of America and two private inspection companies, according to reports. A woman injured on the ride, Jennifer Lambert, reached a settlement with the same companies for $1.8 million in legal fees and medical expenses. State law shielded the state from liability, reports said. H.B. 631 would require the agriculture department director to hire inspectors who are professional engineers. Engineers are required to study corrosion when getting their degrees. If a professional engineer doesn't apply, then the department is allowed to hire someone who has a Level 1 certification or higher from the National Association of Amusement Ride Safety Officials, which also requires the study of corrosion. Hughes said that the tougher requirements were based on North Carolina law, considered the leader in ride safety. "We don't want any family to go through what Tyler's family had to go through," he said. Virginia-based amusement ride safety consultant Ken Martin said the standards are an improvement but there's no teeth in the bill. "There needs to be criminal penalties as well as civil penalties," he said. "And having a drug and alcohol testing program is a necessity." CLEVELAND, Ohio -- President Donald Trump's Saturday trip to Cleveland will take place at Public Hall, according to sources familiar with the event. Trump is expected to arrive in Cleveland Saturday morning, landing at the nearby Burke Lakefront Airport before heading to Public Hall. Trump ostensibly will be in Cleveland to discuss the Republican tax reform legislation passed in December, but given Trump's proclivity to go off-script -- and the proximity to Tuesday's primary election in a state he memorably won in the November 2016 election -- it seems likely his remarks will be more wide-ranging. Trump also is expected to appear at a nearby fundraiser affiliated with the Republican National Committee. Wadsworth U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci, whom Trump has endorsed in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, and U.S. Rep. Bob Gibbs, of Holmes County, are expected to be among those on hand for the event. Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, the frontrunner in Tuesday's primary for governor, will not be there. A campaign spokesman said Thursday that DeWine is unable to attend due to a family scheduling conflict, and will be in Columbus Saturday morning for his son's graduation from Ohio State University's business school. However, DeWIne's running-mate, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted, will be on hand to represent the ticket. Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor, who also is running for governor, has not yet announced that she will attend, but a campaign spokesman said Thursday that she plans to be there. The appearance is an official White House event. Such events are generally invitation only. Public Hall, which opened in 1922, has seen its share of prominent politicians over the years. In November 2016, Hillary Clinton, then the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, visited two days before that year's election. Reporter Seth A. Richardson contributed to this story. CLEVELAND -- Ohio's Democrats haven't been mere victims of Murphy's Law. For nearly 30 years, they've acted like they wrote it. Losing six out of seven elections for governor isn't good for a party's reputation. It's worse when a lot of the damage has been self-inflicted. This year was supposed to be different. President Donald Trump's historically low approval ratings will be a drag on the GOP ticket. And state Democratic leaders had reason to expect the process of picking a nominee would be normal and relatively civil. But there's never anything normal about a Dennis Kucinich run for office. And his candidacy has renewed fears that, with the primary just days off, Murphy's Law again lurks in the shadows. In the shadows is where it's likely to remain. But most Democratic strategists still worry a Kucinich win over likely winner Richard Cordray and two others on May 8 would almost certainly lead to a Democratic disaster Nov. 6. No one disrupts Democratic plans as effectively as Kucinich. He began proving that 49 years ago, winning election to City Council from the Tremont neighborhood by besting a veteran incumbent and party favorite. Two years later, Kucinich led a "Democrats for Perk" movement in the 1971 mayoral race. It was the first mayoral campaign I covered, and Kucinich played a major role in Republican Ralph Perk's election. In 1977, Kucinich beat Ed Feighan, the Democratic-endorsed candidate for mayor. Less than a year later, voters narrowly rejected the party's recommendation that he be recalled. As a longtime member of Congress, Kucinich often bucked House Democratic leaders, at times evoking the anger of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Kucinich's signature issue in this year's campaign -- the one that differentiates him from Cordray in a positive way -- is his support for an assault weapons ban. But of all the issues in Kucinich's past that cast doubt on his judgment, none seems more significant than the years he has spent seemingly apologizing for the conduct of Syrian President Bashar Assad, who incontrovertibly has used poison gas to slaughter hundreds and probably thousands of his fellow countrymen, women and children. Only in the waning days of this primary campaign did Kucinich begin a carefully worded retreat. On April 26, Kucinich wrote the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer, saying he was returning a $20,000 speaking fee paid him by a group sympathetic to Assad's government. But Kucinich picked the wrong time to draw attention to an issue that can only hurt him - during the period when undecided voters begin making up their minds. Kucinich's coddling of Assad, while indefensible, should not be interpreted as his condoning the use of poison gas to massacre civilians. Know this about Dennis Kucinich: For all his worrisome idiosyncrasies, Kucinich has a good heart. Last year, while a longtime mutual friend was dying of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), none of the woman's many friends proved more devoted and compassionate in her final days than Kucinich. But Kucinich's voice and talents are best suited for the legislature, not running a state and having to recruit first-rate talent. And call me old-fashioned, but it probably wouldn't be a good idea for Democrats to nominate a gubernatorial candidate who more than once went on a radio show hosted by right-wing conspiracy crackpot Alex Jones, waxing euphorically about the "honor" of being on his program and describing Jones as "someone who needs to be appreciated." Jones has regularly claimed the 2012 slaughter of 20 children at Sandy Hook Elementary School did not happen, that it was a "giant hoax" concocted by supporters of gun control laws. And he's suggested Jews and the CIA were involved in last year's white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Alex Jones is the personification of evil. And he represents more evidence that some of Kucinich's bizarre alliances and actions can't be explained away. As always, Kucinich brought ideas and energy to a campaign that might be his last. But this campaign, like so many of his others, has been held back by an inability to remain even remotely competitive with Cordray. The most important thing rank-and-file Democrats need to now about Tuesday's election is this: Republicans desperately want Kucinich to win. He won't. Brent Larkin was The Plain Dealer's editorial director from 1991 until his retirement in 2009. To reach Brent Larkin: blarkin@cleveland.com Have something to say about this topic? Use the comments to share your thoughts. Then, stay informed when readers reply to your comments by using the "Follow" option at the top of the comments, and look for updates via the small blue bell in the lower right as you look at more stories on cleveland.com. Iridescent glass created a glow in 1894 when American Louis Comfort Tiffany patented his glass "Favrile." About a year earlier, Loetz Co. of Austria had presented similar wares at the Chicago World's Fair. This antique leaded slag glass lamp is an example of iridescent glass work, popularized by American companies such as Tiffany and Fenton. (Photo Courtesy of Brenda Yenke) Techniques varied as to how to achieve this end result of shimmering glass. Expensive art glass, such as Tiffany, was made by adding salts into the glass formula. Less expensive glass was sprayed while hot with a mixture of metallic salt solutions. Fenton introduced its iridescent glass, "Iridill," in 1907. The latter method was used, with their production peaking from 1910 to 1913. It was referred to as carnival glass in the 1950s, as collectors were enthralled with the rainbows of color. Sad to say that Fenton Art Glass, located in Williamstown, W.Va., has closed, along with its museum. However, Blenko Glass Co. in Milton, W.Va., is still operational. They are sponsors for the Western Reserve American Glass Club's Retro American Glass Show and Sale to be held this weekend at St. Mary's Crystal Chalet, 3600 Biddulph Ave. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 5, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday May 6. Admission is $6 and is good for both days; visitors 30 and younger will be admitted free! Meet knowledgeable glass collectors and dealers while attending seminars. Free glass ID, Blenko displays and sales, food and a Glass Betty Bingo with prizes. Dear Brenda, I have a beautifully colored glass lamp that I inherited from my parents. It is close to a hundred years old and has been stored for as long as I can remember. We have never used it. Would you offer an opinion on this? R.S. Avon Lake Dear Richard, Your antique leaded slag glass lamp appears to have a bronze base, with characteristic double sockets and twin acorn pulls. Many top makers were signed on the base, or within the dome of the glass shade. These are most enhanced through illumination. Yours needs to be rewired for safety. The base resembles a simple style of the Duffner & Kimberly Co. However, an in-person evaluation is most advised. Check with Gray's Auction House in Lakewood or Cowan's Rocky River. It is a lovely fixture and could be worth $1,000. If you have an item for evaluation, send a clear picture with history to Yenke Peddler, Brenda Yenke, P.O. Box 361633, Strongsville, Ohio, 44136. You may also email photos and informa- tion requests for Brenda to evaluate at kenyenke@aol.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio - A Southwest Airlines flight, en route from Chicago to Newark, diverted to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport this morning after a window pane cracked. No one was injured. A passenger aboard the flight reported that "passengers in the row ran away from the window and some people on the flight were crying hysterically during the incident," according to Daniel Eleff, who operates the Cleveland-based travel website, Dansdeals.com. The cracked window aboard Southwest Airlines flight 957, which made an unexpected landing at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport on Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy of Dansdeals.com) A reader of his website shared photos and details of the incident with Eleff, who passed them along to The Plain Dealer. The traveler declined a request to be interviewed. More from the airport: Cleveland Hopkins International Airport wants new sound-monitoring equipment that will keep better tabs on noise from air traffic A spokesman for Southwest, Brian Parrish, confirmed that the plane diverted to Cleveland for maintenance issues: "The crew of Southwest Flight 957, with scheduled service from Chicago Midway International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport, made the decision to divert the plane to Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport for maintenance review of one of the multiple layers of a window pane. The flight landed uneventfully in Cleveland. The aircraft has been taken out of service for maintenance review, and our local Cleveland Employees are working diligently to accommodate the 76 customers on a new aircraft to Newark." Parrish declined to speculate on what might have caused the incident. The plane landed in Cleveland at 10:46 a.m. The incident comes two weeks after a passenger was killed aboard a Southwest plane, after an engine exploded mid-air, shattering a window. One passenger was partially sucked out of the window, and died later at a hospital. That plane was en route from New York to Dallas, and made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. In response, the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered the inspection of fan blades on engines currently in use on thousands of U.S. airplanes. May 3, 2018 In its 60 year history, NASA has launched more than 50 spacecraft to study the solar system beyond Earth and its moon. Despite the long record, the agency's next mission will do something no other U.S. interplanetary probe has done before. Go west. Assuming all goes as planned, NASA's InSight lander will be the first mission to study the deep interior of Mars. But eight months before it touches down and begins probing the Red Planet, it will make history becoming NASA's first interplanetary mission to launch from the west coast of the United States. InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport) is scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex-3 at Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) in southern California on Saturday (May 5) at 4:05 a.m. PDT (7:05 a.m. EDT; 1105 GMT). Riding on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket, InSight will begin its journey toward a November 26 landing on Mars by initially entering a polar orbit around Earth. East v. West Since its first attempt in 1962, NASA has launched all of its missions bound for the planets, asteroids and comets from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Kennedy Space Center in Florida. At Space Launch Complex 3 (SLC-3) at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, a crane hoists NASA's InSight lander inside its fairing for mating atop a ULA Atlas V rocket. (USAF 30th Space Wing) The use of the east coast launch site was a necessity (at least in most cases) to take advantage of the direction that Earth rotates. By heading eastward, especially from a site near the planet's equator, the spacecraft gain velocity from Earth's gravity enough of an "free" extra boost to make it possible for their rockets and propulsion systems to push them out into the solar system. In that sense, InSight is no different. "Earth is going 30 km/s [19 mps]. An Atlas can add a few km/s to that, in a direction we choose. We have to choose carefully or we won't get to Mars," wrote Mark Wallace on Twitter. Wallace designed InSight's trajectory as a mission analyst at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. InSight will launch south-southeast from Vandenberg. That trajectory can lead to Mars as a result of two factors: mass and orbital mechanics. As interplanetary probes go, InSight is both small and light. The current mission uses the same spacecraft and lander design as the 2008 Phoenix Mars mission, which launched on the less powerful Delta II rocket. United Launch Alliance graphic showing the trajectory that InSight will follow from launch through departure to Mars. (ULA) ULA is in the process of retiring the Delta II, so it put forth and NASA selected the next best option, the Atlas V (401) which for InSight meant power to spare. "Launching the InSight mass to the ... Mars targets for its landing site had enough excess performance margin on the Atlas V that both coasts could be utilized," wrote Caley Burke, a trajectory analyst with NASA's Launch Services Program, on Twitter. The more than capable Atlas rocket will launch InSight into a polar orbit, such that when its Centaur upper stage fires its engine to send InSight toward Mars, the spacecraft will be aimed in the right direction. Westward Ho! NASA could have chosen to launch InSight from the Cape, but went with Vandenberg because it had more availability during the mission's launch period. "InSight is a light vehicle and the Atlas has performance to spare, so the decision was made to go out of [Vandenberg] to relieve congestion [in Florida]," explained Wallace. 30th Space Wing (Vandenberg Air Force Base) embroidered patch identifying InSight as the "1st West Coast Interplanetary Mission." Though this is the first time that NASA has proceeded with an interplanetary launch from California, the space agency has considered the option before. NASA originally intended to launch its 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter from Vandenberg, but ultimately moved it to Cape Canaveral because of the loss of two other missions to the Red Planet, Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander, in 1999. The agency said that the move came as part of an effort to reduce risks to the Odyssey mission. Specifically, NASA cited schedule flexibility and spacecraft battery margins as the reasons for the switch. And while every U.S. interplanetary probe up until InSight has left Earth from the east coast, one west coast launch did send a NASA mission out beyond low Earth orbit. Clementine, a joint mission between the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization and NASA, lifted off for the moon on a Titan IIG rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base on Jan. 25, 1994. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Overview: IP telephony is a form of technology involving the internet to transfer IP packets over networks. These packets can be of the form of voice, fax, or any other information. The IP telephony is often run on IP packet switched connections. The working of IP telephone is similar as to a public switched telephone network. The transfer of information over the internet becomes easier as it being an open standard wherein the data transfer is highly secure, reliable and it can maintain consistency. One of the major challenge that enterprises and users face in IP telephony Market services is the delivery of voice, fax, and even video in a reliable manner. As the number of internet users increase, it gets difficult for the internet service providers to manage, the growing traffic, and thereby results in latency. The increased use of voice over IP has also resulted in decline of traditional vendors. At present, the IP telephony services are not regulated by the Government and are expected to not to be regulated for connections between a phone user and an IP telephony service provider. Get Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5695 Major Key Players: Ascom Holding AG (Switzerland), Avaya Inc. (U.S.), Cisco Systems Inc. (U.S.), Gigaset Communications (Germany), LG Electronics Inc. (South Korea), Mitel Networks Corporation (Canada), Panasonic Corporation (Japan), Polycom Inc. (U.S.), Yealink Inc. (China), NEC Corporation (Japan), Grandstream Networks, Inc. (U.S.) among others, are profiled in Market Research Future analysis and are at the forefront of competition in the global IP Telephony market. Industry News: April 18, Evolve IP Acquires Leading UK Cloud Communications Provider the voicefactory Ltd. Evolve IP has acquired the voice factory Ltd. which is a leading cloud communication provider in UK. This acquisition will add distribution channels in UK and Europe. Also, this will lead in generating larger client base in verticals like hospitality, automotive, finance and legal. April 18, BT pushes ahead with plans to switch off telephone network. BT is planning to shift all of its customers to IP telephony services by 2025. This switch of technology will result in closure of public switched telephone network (PSTN). The broadband division will make enhancements in its network by replacing analog network to digital, fibre-led networks. March 18, Polycom acquisition expands Plantronics endpoint portfolio. Plantronics Inc. has acquired Polycom Inc. that has helped Plantronics to expand and rise in competition against Cisco and Logitech. The acquisition is expected to provide enhancement to Plantronics in the line of headsets unveiled by Cisco, giving rise to the competition. March 18, Tasmania picks suppliers for IP telephony services. The Government of Tasmania has chosen My Net Fone, a subsidiary of Australias MNF enterprise and three other carriers as the preferred suppliers for IP telephony services for the state Government. This will provide the Government with an alternative to traditional PSTN network. Access Full Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/ip-telephony-market-5695 Segmentation: Segmentation by component: hardware (IP desktop phones, audio conference phones and DECT phones), softphones and services (professional and managed). hardware (IP desktop phones, audio conference phones and DECT phones), softphones and services (professional and managed). Segmentation by organization size: wired and wireless. wired and wireless. Segmentation by vertical: BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, IT & telecommunication, retail, Government and others. BFSI, healthcare, manufacturing, IT & telecommunication, retail, Government and others. Segmentation by region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and rest of the world. Regional Analysis: The regional analysis of IP Telephony market is studied for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. North America and Europe are contributing a large share in market growth. Followed by Asia Pacific, Japan, China and India which are moving towards digitization. Due to increase in customer support services, the usage of IP telephony services has grown in developing in Asia Pacific region. The dominance of countries like U.S. and Canada is prominently seen due to fast adoption of IP telephony services. In addition to this, adoption of IP telephony solutions in industry verticals such as BFSI, healthcare and IT & telecommunications is an important factor which is driving the growth of IP telephony market in the same region. About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members. Contact Us: Market Research Future Office No. 528, Amanora Chambers Pune 411028 Maharashtra, India Phone: +91 841 198 5042 Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Wireless portable medical devices are the medical devices that are not restricted to hospitals and can be used in schools, offices, homes and aircrafts to ensure earlier diagnosis and better healthcare monitoring. Rising urbanization and increasing demand of the devices from healthcare industry are the key factors for the growth of wireless portable medical devices. Wireless portable medical devices are widely used in healthcare monitoring application, home diagnosis, medical therapeutics, and for fitness monitoring. Get a free sample of this research report: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wireless-portable-medical-devices-market/report-sample Increasing cellular connectivity, coupled with wireless communication advancement is supporting the growth of wireless portable medical devices market. Due to rising income levels and increasing chronic disorders, such as respiratory, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, the market for wireless portable medical device is expected to gain momentum during the forecast period. Increasing geriatric population is another important driver for wireless portable medical devices market, as the elderly people are more prone to illness and often seek hospitalization. With increasing government support to medical establishments in rural areas, the adoption of advanced medical devices has surged. Explore report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/wireless-portable-medical-devices-market North America is the largest market of wireless portable medical devices market, owing to large number of patients suffering from various chronic diseases in the region. Europe is also one of the major wireless portable medical devices market. The large populations of baby boomers coupled with the patients convenience, such as home based health monitoring in the region, are some of the most dominant drivers of the market. The wireless portable medical devices market is expected to grow at a fast pace in developing countries, such as India and China, of Asia-Pacific. The healthcare sector in these countries has grown multifold in the past few years and the government investment is further expected to boost the growth of sector. This in turn, is also expected to create opportunities for the wireless portable medical devices market during the forecast period. Make enquiry before buying the report: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/send-enquiry?enquiry-url=wireless-portable-medical-devices-market Some of the major players in global wireless portable medical device market include, Renesas Electronics Corporation Texas Instruments, Omron Healthcare, Renesas Electronics Corporation, GE Healthcare, STMicroelectronics N.V., Maxim Integrated, ON Semiconductor Corporation, Medtronic, Inc., Freescale Semiconductor Inc., and Analog Devices Inc. As an official assessor for the NHS breast cancer screening programme for three years in the late 2000s, I was hugely impressed with the great work it was doing. Now my confidence and that of hundreds of thousands of British women has been undermined by yesterdays revelations. How is it possible that staff at breast screening clinics failed to notice that far fewer women over the age of 68 had been attending for the past nine years? Surely, those in the 68 to 71 age group receiving an invitation to attend for a mammogram were not ignoring it en masse? The problems with breast cancer screening date back to 2009 and will raise questions for both the Tories and Labour on why it was not uncovered sooner What about those women who, according to records, had attended every previous three-yearly screening? Why would they stop now? Alarm bells should have rung sooner based on a simple observation of the patients who were coming and going. The fact that they didnt is, I think, indicative of a problem a blind spot that exists across the health service. We have become too reliant on technology, on computerisation and so-called artificial intelligence. And to make matters worse, the NHS has the worst computer system of any health provider in Europe, including most of Eastern Europe. Ten years ago, we wasted 12billion of taxpayers money on a national IT system that just didnt work. Trixie Gough, pictured in the days before her death in 2015, is among 450,00 women who never got a final cancer scan that may have saved her life after a 'colossal' NHS IT failure And we havent had anything that works properly put in its place since. So from 2009 onwards when a computer algorithm failure meant that women approaching their 68th birthdays were not invited for what would have been their final mammogram under the national programme, there was no in-built safety net to alert the systems human operators to the problem. And because NHS staff assume the technology is infallible, they are no longer as tuned into what they are seeing or what their instinct and experience might be telling them that this age group was now absent from their lists. Q&A: WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISSED OUT ON A BREAST CANCER SCREENING Q: I missed out on a final breast cancer screening, what can I do? A: Jeremy Hunt today said surviving women who are still in their early 70s will be offered a catch-up screening. A helpline has also been set-up. All women affected who wish to be screened will be invited to one in the next six months he said most would be screened sooner than that. The NHS Choices website provides further information and the option to contact your local unit to book an appointment. All affected women registered with a GP will receive a letter by the end of May with further information. Anyone concerned can contact the helpline on 0800 169 2692. Q: How do I know if I did not receive my screening invitation? A: All women affected who are registered with a GP will be informed by letter from Public Health England (PHE) by the end of May 2018. Women affected aged up to their 72nd birthday will receive a letter inviting them for a catch-up screen. Women aged 72 to 79 will receive a letter providing clear information on what to do next if they want to have a screen. These women, aged 72 to 79, will be asked to contact the helpline. Women, aged 70 to 79, currently registered with a GP, who do not receive a letter from PHE can be assured they are not affected and do not need a catch-up screen. Q: How many women have been affected by the scandal? A: Between 2009 and the start of 2018, up to 450,000 women aged between 68 and 71 were not invited to their final breast screening. Women in England between the ages of 50 and 70 are currently automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years. Q: Who is eligible for compensation? A: Mr Hunt made clear in his comments in Parliament that any case where the missed scan is established as a 'likely cause of death' would be eligible for compensation. Previous negligence cases over cancer diagnosis have led to payouts of between 65,000 and close to 1million. For more information call the helpline on 0800 169 2692. Q: What will prevent something like this from happening again? A: The Health Secretary has ordered an independent inquiry to find out exactly what went wrong, how many people died and who is entitled to compensation. He has promised the Government will be 'transparent' about what went wrong. The review, to be led by the chair of the Macmillan Cancer Trust and chair of the Royal Marsden Hospital, will take around six months. Advertisement I am also concerned that women werent complaining about not receiving an appointment for that final screening. How many of the 450,000 who missed out had demanded: Where is my appointment? That is not to blame the women in any way. But it is a cultural problem in Britain. Women can get the best breast cancer care in the world on the NHS, but often they have to ask for it, or even fight for it. Many of us are from the free milk at school generation and if we arent being looked after, we assume its because someone in authority knows better. We are simply not conditioned to push for decent healthcare, to ask questions and demand our rights, and that must change. Public confidence will be further knocked by the revelation that this problem was first discovered back in January, but it has taken until now to admit it. The Department of Health says it needed time to put a plan in place, but there was really only one option: to invite all those women whod missed out for screening as soon as possible. It is actually all we can do for them: tell them not to panic, but to get a mammogram if they want to. It will put their minds at rest or identify problems that can be dealt with promptly. I cant see any other way in which to reassure them. One mercy here is that breast cancer in older women tends to be significantly less aggressive and occurs more rarely than in young women. Tragically, as the Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said yesterday, there will be some women whose lives may have been shortened as a result of this computer failure, and we need to know how many. Compensation lawyers are, no doubt, jumping up with glee, but class actions against the NHS will be complicated because of the difficulty in establishing if, on the balance of probability, a womans cancer was exacerbated by a missed screening session. Longer term, the sad consequence of this fiasco will lead to women losing faith in the screening system. Even before this, as a nation we didnt take screening as seriously as we should. Only about 75 per cent of women invited to breast screening turn up for appointments, and compliance rates are particularly poor in the lower socio-economic groups. And yet early diagnosis is crucial if treatment of the disease is to be successful. Health screening should be all about reassurance, rather than making people more anxious than ever. We need to ensure that all the three NHS screening programmes for cervical cancer, bowel cancer and breast cancer are fully audited to ensure that there are no other similar IT problems lurking unseen. The public deserves no less. We also need to sort out our NHS computer systems as a matter of urgency. If budget airlines can run systems that get millions of people and their luggage around the world, why cant our health service enjoy an equally efficient and effective nationwide system, too? Allowing the EU to dictate our trade policy while giving up any say over it would make us worse off than now. It would render Brexit not just pointless, but harmful, Daniel Hannan MEP writes Brexit remains on track just. The United Kingdom, ministers have decided, probably won't stay in a version of the EU's customs union after all. Some Eurosceptics had been complaining that keeping the customs union would mean 'staying in the EU in all but name', but the reality is far grimmer. Allowing the EU to dictate our trade policy while giving up any say over it would make us worse off than now. It would render Brexit not just pointless, but harmful. Yesterday, members of the key Cabinet Brexit committee wisely refused to endorse any form of customs union. Good for them. This was something of a signal moment, proof there is a resolve at the very top of the party to stand up for Britain's interests. Although it might seem like a compromise, the customs union is nothing of the kind. Many of the MPs and peers pushing the idea know perfectly well how damaging and unworkable it would be. Their objective is not to find a better outcome, but to weaken our negotiating position in the hope of derailing Brexit. The first part of that aim, at any rate, has so far been working a treat. Brussels has hardened its position in response to what it sees as British feebleness. Theresa May and her ministers keep saying that they want Britain to be the EU's 'best friend' and 'closest ally'. Far from reciprocating, Eurocrats respond by sneering, scolding and hectoring. They want a punishment clause in the exit agreement, giving them a right to sanction the UK. They want a customs border between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. They want to control our standards and regulations after we leave. They don't want us discussing trade with anyone else. Their harsh tone horrifies some politicians in the 27 remaining states. They can't understand why Britain puts up with it, and fret that we might simply walk away. In fact, Eurocrats are behaving quite logically. They calculate that, by hanging tough, they can stop Brexit at least in substance. After all, they read British newspapers. They know that many of our MPs and peers aim to hobble Brexit. Why offer any concessions as long as our Remainers are doing their work for them? Those Remainers are doing it in two ways. First, they have passed an amendment in the House of Lords that would formally delay our departure. Second, they are manoeuvring to keep us in some form of customs union after we leave even worse than not leaving, since we would effectively remain in with no veto. The Brussels fonctionnaires can't believe their luck. Few Remainers admit that these tactics are designed to keep us in the EU. Yet that is their only possible motive. Let's consider the two proposals in turn. The House of Lords amendment says, in effect, that if Parliament doesn't like the final deal, it should have the power to require us to stay in the EU until it gets an outcome it is happy with. David Davis and Boris Johnson (pictured left and right in Downing Street today) are hoping to join forces with Michael Gove Liam Fox to kill off the customs partnership proposal Most of the Lords pushing this idea were on their best behaviour during the debate. They didn't admit that they were seeking to capsize Brexit, talking instead of the importance of parliamentary sovereignty rather a novel concept to many of them, who had spent their careers until now jeering at sovereignty as a Victorian hang-up. One or two, though, let the cat out of the bag, talking openly of trying to block Britain's departure. Think, for a moment, of what will happen if their amendment stands. Why would Brussels offer acceptable departure terms? Why would it even hold serious discussions when it could rely on Britain's Europhile politicians to halt Brexit? We'd be the pitiable country that had tried, and failed, to leave, trapped indefinitely in a grim departure lounge. The Prime Minister (pictured in Downing Street today) met with her Brexit 'war cabinet' today after sixty Eurosceptic Tory MPs backed a 30-page report savaging the plan The situation could be prolonged until some future pro-EU government withdrew our notice to quit, marking our final and total humiliation. Even if Tory whips succeed in overturning that amendment, the customs union threat still hangs over us, and it is the deadlier of the two. It is important to understand quite how serious the danger is. Staying in the customs union is not a middle way. It is not like having a medium burger because 52 per cent of voters wanted it well done and 48 per cent wanted it rare. Quitting the EU while keeping the customs union is like binning the burger and eating the napkin. I'm all for compromises that reflect the narrowness of the vote in the referendum: staying in some EU programmes, replicating chunks of the Single Market through domestic legislation, perhaps rejoining the European Free Trade Association alongside old allies Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. But the customs union is not such a compromise. Staying in would give Brussels 100 per cent control of our trade policy. In fact, it's even worse than that: a customs union would oblige us to match the EU's concessions vis-a-vis third countries, but those countries would have to reciprocate only with the remaining EU 27, not with Britain. As Barry Gardiner, Labour's trade spokesman, put it before his party's cynical U-turn: 'The EU could do a deal with another country let's say America which we would be bound by in the UK. We would have to accept the liberalisation of our markets. Why would America give us that access when it's got all the liberalisation of our markets it wants?' Quite. Why would any country accept such terms? Norway is as close to the EU as a non-member can be, and exports more than twice as much per head to the EU as we do. Y Yet almost no one in Norway wants to join the customs union. How odd to see British parliamentarians demanding worse terms than Norway. Amber Rudd was thought to have been backing Mrs May ahead of a crunch showdown on the customs union in the Brexit 'war Cabinet' sub-committee (pictured together in February). But it is unclear where Mr Javid will fall on the issue In theory, the 'customs partnership' would have allowed Britain to negotiate its own trade deals. The UK would apply EU tariffs to goods entering its territory, and then offer rebates if they were not destined for EU territory. In practice, it wouldn't work. It may be illegal under World Trade Organisation rules, and it will be years before it is technologically feasible. Even if it were possible to track every consignment entering the UK to see whether there was onward shipment to an EU state, why would any country want to sign a trade deal with us? Having to pay full EU tariffs at our border and then claim a rebate back is hardly an appealing prospect. We'd face all the costs of running this complex system, with little chance of global trade deals. If our civil servants are able to find a way around these problems if they genuinely could find a scheme that would give us regulatory and commercial autonomy while avoiding customs checks with the EU I'd be delighted. WHO'S IN BREXIT WAR CABINET AND WHERE DO THEY STAND? Prime Minister Theresa May Backed Remain, has since insisted she will push through Brexit, leaving the single market and customs union. Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington A strong Remainer during the referendum campaign, recently made clear he has not changed his mind about it being better if the country had chosen to stay in the bloc. Chancellor Philip Hammond Seen as one of the main advocates of 'soft' Brexit in the Cabinet. Has been accused of trying to keep the UK tied to key parts of the customs union for years after the transition ends. Home Secretary Sajid Javid Brought in to replace Amber Rudd after she resigned amid the Windrush scandal, Mr Javid was seen as a reluctant Remainer in the referendum. Many thought the former high-flying banker would plump for the Leave campaign, but he eventually claimed to have been won over by the economic case. He is likely to focus be guided by evidence about trade calculations in discussions over how closely aligned the UK should be with the EU. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson The Brexit champion in the Cabinet, has been agitating for a more robust approach and previously played down the problems of leaving with no deal. He is unhappy with plans for a tight customs arrangement with Brussels - warning that it could effectively mean being lashed to the EU indefinitely. Environment Secretary Michael Gove Has buried the hatchet with Mr Johnson after brutally ending his Tory leadership campaign in the wake of David Cameron's resignation. Thought to be less concerned with short term concessions that Mr Johnson, but focused on ensuring the UK is free from Brussels rules in the longer term. Brexit Secretary David Davis A long-time Eurosceptic and veteran of the 1990s Maastricht battles, brought back by Mrs May in 2016 to oversee the day-to-day negotiations. He has said the government will be seeking a 'Canada plus plus plus' deal from the EU. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox Another Brexiteer, his red lines are about the UK's ability to strike trade deals with the rest of the world, and escaping Brussels red tape. Business Secretary Greg Clark On the softer Brexit side of the Cabinet, Mr Clark has supported Mr Hammond's efforts to maintain close links with the customs union. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson A close ally of the Prime Minister and viewed by some as her anointed successor. He is believed to be siding with the Brexiteers on customs arrangements and the need for Britain to be able to diverge from EU rules. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley Supported Remain but a relatively unknown quantity on the shape of a deal. Replaced James Brokenshire, another May loyalist, after he resigned on health grounds last month. Advertisement But the scheme that the Brexit War Cabinet refused to adopt yesterday was a non-starter and, if it had been accepted, by the end of the transition period in 2020 we'd end up simply staying in the current arrangements. How extraordinary that Britain, the world's sixth largest economy, should be nervous about running its own trade policy. You can see why the EU wants to keep us in permanent economic subjugation. We'd be unable to outperform or undercut our neighbours, unable to strike the trade deals that suited our services-based economy, and we'd still be handing our customs revenue to Brussels. You can't blame Eurocrats for sitting back in incredulous delight as they watch our Remain politicians pushing away all the advantages that ought to come with independence. But we can, and should, blame those British politicians who, if they can't stop Brexit altogether, seem utterly determined to stop it being a success. It was a journey of persistence, tenacity and focus but in just ten years Ashley Allen has been able to grow her eyelash business into an empire - starting from her bedroom to now turning over millions across her own salons. From the outset of her career the doting mother-of-three was determined to make something of herself, and after remarkable efforts, is proudly successful off the back of humble beginnings. Her journey within the industry began while working in a pharmacy almost nine-and-a-half years ago when Ashley's boss built beauty rooms into the store. Ashley Allen (pictured) was able to build her business with focus, persistence and tenacity The mother-of-three discovered a passion for the craft just under ten years ago Starting with a makeshift stall in her bedroom before moving to a salon at an Auckland netball centre (pictured) Ashley slowly grew the venture The employer told his staff that he was interested in using the extra space for servicing of the girls' choice, so his team attended a beauty exhibition, deciding eyelash extensions and organic spray tanning would be an enticing addition to the business. In the end he decided not to go ahead with training the team, but as luck would have it, a Thin Lizzy sales representative came on-site around the same time and asked what the empty rooms were built for. Ashley explained they had intended to be used for beauty services and in a moment the stars appeared to align. The woman replied that outside of her role she also trained others in spray tanning and eyelashes. Her journey within the beauty industry began while working in a pharmacy almost nine-and-a-half years ago Without thinking twice, Ashley handed over the $500 fee that very same day, before attending the workshop that weekend. 'The training was very basic, so there was about nine people around one desk and I only got about fifteen minutes on the tools but I took all the good things from that training and within a year I was self-taught. 'I was doing lashes on my friends and family, stabbing many people in the face, gluing peoples eyes shut - but I got there in the end,' Ashley told Daily Mail Australia. 'I remember doing my sister's lashes and she would tell me how awful I was and that I wasn't going anywhere so yeah - she works for me now,' she laughed. After three of her own salons she has now opened her first franchise inside a Westfield mall (pictured) at St Luke's shopping centre The business bombshell now has her very own line of eyelash extensions in varying beautiful collections 'She's managing my salon in Parnell, which is really awesome, and she is one of my biggest fans now.' Feeling like she had a talent for the craft as well as seeing a gap in the market, Ashley embarked on a mission to widen her skills. 'I started doing it from my bedroom before enrolling in hairdressing college because I didn't think the eyelash thing would be a full-time career. 'But it wasn't before long people started knocking on my house door saying ''I heard you do eyelashes from here''. As the mother of three gorgeous girls, Ashley says they are the reason she works so hard She has been supported by her husband Tane (pictured) from the beginning who has been a huge aid to her success 'I would be totally overwhelmed, like ''ahh, who are you?'' but this word of mouth thing just started, so I ended up making a Facebook page and it just went crazy. 'While I was at hairdressing college - that would have been going into my second year of doing lashes - it started to just grow and grow, so I would come home from studying and be doing clients from 5 - 9pm at night and then in the weekends. 'Not long after I fell pregnant with my first daughter and I said to my husband ''if I am earning $500 - $600 a week from doing this a few hours a night, just imagine what we could do if I went into this full time''. Ashley's mother (left) is a part owner of the latest expansion and owns a 50 per cent share in the company while taking care of responsibilities which her daughter has grown to dislike 'He was so supportive, at first he was a little bit like ''ha - eyelashes, what? This is crazy'' and then obviously when he started seeing the money coming in he was like ''go on girl, do your thing'' and so it grew from there.' Her daughter was about six months old when Ashley got her first salon at a netball centre which allowed her to be flexible with her hours while she was still reluctant to jump into huge overheads. As her client list began to grow, opening her own independent salon became a goal that sat at the front of her mind. Ashley went on to open another salon in Auckland on Universal Drive in Henderson before closing down the two ventures to focus on an independent salon in Parnell which she has had for three-and-a-half years now. Ashley feels like some of her success is in part because she holds her work quality to a high level and she entered the industry at the right time The biggest challenge Ashley says was that they were just so busy that she couldn't service as many customers as she would have liked The business-beauty revealed giving up alcohol paid a huge part in her ability to be focus and committed to the succession of her company She was mindful to move closer to the city's centre as she had women travelling from all around New Zealand for their bridal lashes. 'I think I have been able to do really well because there wasn't a lot of people at the time doing it, and I am an absolute perfectionist in my work as well,' she explained. 'I have had such an amazing journey, I have really listened to the heartbeat of my business, as it required growth. 'I had a plan and I nailed it. I executed it, that was my thing. I would lay out a two year plan and each time I exceeded those goals. Ashley believes by setting clear goals and sticking to a business plan, she was able to form the pillars to her good work She says one of her secret weapons was a sound business mentor who was able to offer guidance around decision making as her business expanded. The business-beauty also revealed giving up alcohol paid a huge part in her ability to be focus and committed to the succession of her company. As the opportunities presented themselves to grow, the time came to include an investor to help kick start her launch into Westfield shopping centres at St Luke's and Sylvia Park. Naturally Ashley choose from within her own family for that support, citing: 'My mum is now a 50 per cent of my business,' she explained. With a steady progression of good and hard work amounting to varying achievements across her career, the stunning New Zealander advises others to follow their dreams while making smart decisions along the way. 'I didn't jump from my bedroom to Westfield, I went into three salons before I got here. 'You have to believe in yourself, but take your brain with you, and have the most confidence in yourself.' First Dates sparked a huge debate among viewers last night as it posed the age old question - who should pay on a first date? Headstrong Cecila, 23, a parliamentary researcher, insisted on paying for the meal she shared with Viv, 26, a business developer. But Viv refused to let his date foot the bill, prompting an awkward stand-off at the table as waitress Laura Tott waited to be told who would cover the meal. After some heated back and forth, Cecilia finally relented and let Viv settle the bill, but said she'd been 'frustrated' by his reaction to the prospect of her paying. The argument divided fans of the show, with some praising Cecilia for standing her ground, while others questioned why they didn't simply split it. Headstrong parliamentary researcher Cecilia wanted to pay the bill for her meal with Viv on First Dates But the business developer had other ideas and refused to allow her to pay for the entire meal The pair bickered with each other over who should pick up the tab with Viv saying she should let him 'be a gentleman' The split row sparked a debate on Twitter as viewers shared their own thoughts on who should pay for the bill on a first date, with one suggesting they should play rock, paper, scissors Cecila had already said she wanted to find someone who didn't make assumptions about her looks, and thought she'd met her match in cocky Viv. But the date turned sour when it came to paying, as they both insisted on covering the cost of their evening, sparking a flurry of reaction on Twitter. One viewer said of Cecilia's behaviour: 'Can't believe this girl on first dates had a go at the guy for saying he'd pay for the bill... apparently chivalry is dead.' 'Man offers to pay bill, lady gets offended. Man suggests split it, lady gets offended. Man lets lady pay, lady gets offended. Man cannot win when it comes to bill etiquette!,' said another. Others praised her stance, including one who posted: 'Well done for standing that split the bill ground Cecilia. No compromise on respect!' But a fourth wasn't so kind: 'I consider myself to be feminist as, but Cecilia is quite insufferable. Paying the bill doesn't have to be a gender equality debate. Calm down. Half it. All done.' Waitress Laura Tott had to stand and wait with the card machine while the pair argued over who was paying Viewers wondered why the pair didn't just split the bill, whereas others said Cecilia was being 'insufferable' Cecilia wasn't happy with Viv and at one point she tried to snatch his credit card out of his hand so he couldn't pay When Viv told her to 'shut up' she eventually conceded and let him take care of it, but it was clear she wasn't happy The pair bickered in the middle of the restaurant, and Cecila even tried to snatch Viv's debit card out of his hand to stop him from paying. She said: 'Give me one rational reason why you should. There's no rational reason why a woman shouldn't pay.' Viv asked her to let him 'be a gentleman' and foot the bill, but she continued to insist. When he told her to 'shut up' she eventually conceded and let him take care of it. However, it was clear she wasn't happy at how he'd spoken to her when she spoke to producers after their date ended. Cecila said: 'It actually frustrated me a lot that he did that. I thought it was completely irrational. It was really unnecessary and quite uncalled for.' Cecila had already said she wanted to find someone who didn't make assumptions about her looks, and thought she'd met her match in cocky Viv But Viv seemed to think she was just playing hard to get, and predicted they would see each other again. He said: 'I think shes realised I'm just as stubborn as she is, and she's frankly going to have to get used to that if this going to carry on.' Cecila explained her reasons for being so independent, saying that a lot of men don't take her seriously because of her looks and blonde hair. She said: 'I think guys underestimate me when they meet me. Most guys think the summation of me is the way I look. Im in parliament pretty much twice a week and theyll just be like "Parliament, you?"' The pair bonded on their shared assertiveness and their shared experience of difficult family lives. Viv's father walked out on him as a child, while Cecilia's mother had schizophrenia and struggled to look after her. They did arrange to go on a second date, but decided they'd be better off as friends. First Dates returns next Wednesday on Channel 4 at 10pm Cherry blossoms draw people from all over the world to visit Japan in the springtime. But now, thanks to LegoLand Japan, visitors will be able to see them all year around - albeit in the form of a record-breaking giant tree of Lego blocks. The new installation at the Nagoya-based theme park was installed at the end of March and has already set a Guinness World Record as the largest Lego sculpture of its kind. Scroll down for video Springtime in plastic: Legoland Japan has introduced a cherry blossom tree made from more than 800,000 LEGO bricks All in all: The structure, which is made up of more than 800,000 bricks, stands at 4.37 feet tall, 17.78 feet long and 16.17 feet wide The structure took more than 6,700 hours of work, built by a team of toiling Lego workers in the Czech Republic before being shipped to Japan for assembly. In all, the tree contains more than 800,000 Lego bricks and stands at 14.37 feet tall, 17.78 feet long and 16.17 feet wide. The 7,348-pound sakura was installed in honor of the one-year anniversary of the them park's one year anniversary. Getting it together: The massive structure was created by staff at the Lego factory in the Czech Republic before being shipped to Japan Long labor: Putting all the bricks together took the staff more than 6,700 hours of work It's new home: The parts were shipped to the Nagoya-based theme park to be assembled In addition to the pink and white blocks made to resemble the famous flowers, the structure is also fitted with Lego lanterns which light up at night. A video of the construction shows how the workers built up the trunk of the tree around a huge white pipe while the 'blossoms' were created separately. The parts were then shipped to the park, where construction began with the help of cranes to lift the sections of blossoms onto the branches. Legoland Japan opened last year on April 1st, becoming the first of its kind in the country and the second in Asia after Legoland Malaysia. Getting it together: With the help of some heavy machinery, workers at the park were able to lower the 'blossoms' onto the tree trunk and branches Hitting the mark: The tree has been awarded the Guinness World Record for largest Lego cherry tree A touch extra: The sculpture also has Lego block lanterns that light up at night Torben Jensen, president of Legoland Japan Ltd said of the record: 'Im excited to showcase this worlds largest Lego brick cherry blossom tree. I hope that visitors enjoy a piece of Japanese culture in Legoland Japan-style.' While the total number of 881,470 Lego bricks is impressive, the tree is far from being the largest ever Lego sculpture. The record for that feat belongs to Land Rover after they created a model of London's Tower Bridge over the course of a year, using an astounding 5,805,846 bricks. They topped off the big reveal by successfully driving a car over the structure. An Australian woman has exposed the shocking details of living with a sex addiction that she developed after her divorce. Nadia Bokody, global editor of She Said, used to have six different men on rotation because she was 'addicted' to them. Now speaking to Kyle and Jackie O she has revealed the most amount of sex she had in one day. 'I don't think it's anything astronomical but I would have sex maybe six or seven times in a day,' she said. Nadia Bokody, global editor of She Said, has come clean on living with a sex addiction 'I would have the odd day where it might have been more than one person in a day but it would have been no more than two.' Nadia explained that she never thought she was a sex addict until she got together with her current boyfriend, Kynan. She realised that she was wanting sex every day, but he would only be up for it once every couple of days. Nadia said that the first few times she was knocked back by Kynan in the bedroom, it really affected her. Nadia explained that she never thought she was a sex addict until she got together with her current boyfriend, Kynan Nadia said that the first few times she was knocked back by Kynan in the bedroom, it really affected her 'As women we've been fed this narrative that men always want sex, men are sexually ravenous and are always up for it,' she said. 'The first time I had a guy say "no we've been having a lot of sex, I'm tired I just worked a 16 hour day", I just immediately thought "oh there must be something wrong with me".' When this happened, thoughts like 'am I unattractive', 'am I too boring', 'are you too used to me' and 'are you interested in someone else' would pollute her thoughts. 'I don't think you need to be a sex addict as a woman to relate to that. Guys are taught to get used to lots of rejection, they go out to the clubs and try it on but women are told "you're a woman, you have a vajayjay"'. 'It can be quite toxic for a relationship because it is like a bottomless pit and I think for me [it reached a point where] it was impacting my life to the point I wasn't able to function,' she said Nadia also revealed that her favourite sex position has always been missionary as she finds it more intimate. 'I'm going to disappoint you Kyle, I'm an old-fashioned romantic and I like vanilla missionary,' she said. 'They did a survey recently and most men prefer girls on top but most women prefer a man on top.' She told the radio hosts that there were multiple encounters where she would actually leave work to meet up with a man. 'Often we would go back to my place, which wasn't a very safe thing but I was reckless, and addiction is a reckless in itself,' she added. Nadia revealed that her favourite sex position is missionary, because she's an 'old romantic' Nadia was diagnosed while in mental health treatment as having Borderline Personality Disorder, which she is still continuing weekly treatment for at an out-patient facility. 'I checked in with a therapist and he suggested I consider the possibility I had addiction issues around sex and that I was severely codependent,' she told FEMAIL. 'From there, I discovered and joined a group called Co-Dependents Anonymous, a support group who work on the same concept as Al-Anon, and eventually spent some time in a psychiatric facility, where I was formally diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. 'One of the common traits of people with BPD is hypersexuality and lots of reckless sexual behaviour, as well as an extreme fear of abandonment and acute emotional reactivity which can often result in suicidal ideation and self-harm.' Although some people may think that having lots of sex sounds like a dream, for Nadia it was having a negative impact on her life. Speaking to Kyle and Jackie O she has revealed how often she would be sleeping with her sexual partners 'It came to a point where it was really affecting my ability to go about my day... I was finding it very difficult to focus at work and at one point I left on my lunch break to have a casual encounter with someone I had just met online,' she previously told The Morning Show. 'Having that encounter was very lonely and very empty and I realised it wasn't filling me at all.' 'We are quite comfortable with thinking of addiction as something that's tied to something quite tangible, like an illicit substance or alcohol, but we have a very hard time as a society accepting that people can be addicted to something less tangible, like love or sex,' she explained. 'But addiction is a cerebral process, it's got very little to do with the substance of choice and so much more to do with chasing that high, that dopamine hit that we all get when we engage in something pleasurable.' Nadia Bokody, global editor of She Said, had six different men on rotation and was 'addicted to men' Nadia told the program that for many people addiction is about masking a personal issue, which it was for her. 'One point I left on my lunch break to have a casual encounter with someone I had just met online,' she told Sunrise 'Growing up I never had a stable male role model in my life, so when I became a young adult I was looking to romantic relationships for that,' she said. Although we all have our own indulgences and vices, her vice was an addiction that wasn't healthy. 'It can be quite toxic for a relationship because it is like a bottomless pit and it was impacting my life to the point I wasn't able to function,' she said. 'When it comes to the point where it's impacting your ability to go about your life is when it's really an issue.' Now Nadia is in a happy and healthy monogamous relationship, but it wasn't always that way. At the beginning she found herself overly dependent on her boyfriend Kynan. 'Only a few weeks into us dating he would leave to go to work trips for the weekend and sometimes even leave for the night and the emotional reaction I would have was so incredibly disproportionate,' she said. 'We were both starting to sense then that there was an over-dependence on his attention.' Although Nadia doesn't think sex addiction is necessarily something you want to be bringing up on the first date, you need to find yourself a partner who you feel comfortable being open with. 'It's a mental health issue, it's not something to be ashamed of, and you should be able to be very honest with a partner about that,' she said. 'Once Ky and I became quite committed and close a couple of months into the relationship I felt comfortable to open up to him about it.' Premature ejaculation is one of the main issues Australian men face in the bedroom, with one in three men being affected by it. Now there is a new device on the market that will help with this problem - but it will set you back $300. The Prolong device was created by an American doctor and is an alternative to other expensive procedures. 'For lifelong sufferers of premature ejaculation, finding a permanent solution has previously been hugely costly and time consuming,' Dr Andy Zamar, creator of the Prolong Device said. Prolong is a new device on the market that will help men with premature ejaculation - but it will set you back $300 'Through this program, were able to offer Australian men a cost effective, permanent solution - with no side effects - which they can use in the privacy of their own home,' he added. The device is a small plastic vibrating 'cup' designed for men to use during masturbation as part of a six-week program that helps men gain more control in the bedroom. Clinical trials by the FDA in the US have demonstrated that it has made men last on average eight minutes longer in between the sheets. The trials also showed an overall improvement in sexual satisfaction for both partners. Premature ejaculation is one of the main issues Australian men face in the bedroom, with one in three men being affected by it So how does the device work? To start off you want to place some lube under the head of your penis and then place the device, studded side up, on the underside. Gently massaging your penis but employ the 'start-stop' technique, which reduces oversensitivity during sex. Avoid ejaculation during this process, so stop using the device when you feel like you're close to completion. Men need to repeat this technique three times in total and then ejaculate on the last turn if they desire. They're encouraged to do this three times a week for six weeks. Men want to do this process three times a week for six weeks as it will help reduce oversensitivity during sex The device is a small plastic vibrating 'cup' designed for men to use during masturbation as part of a six-week program According to their data, three in four (75 per cent) Australian men believe duration is the most important thing during sex. Even more men wish they had more control over how long they last, with 77 per cent saying so. One in two said that they have felt embarrassed or a sense of shame over their perceived lack of stamina (54 per cent). 'Whether you identify as experiencing premature ejaculation or not, its clear that almost all Australian men want more control in the bedroom,' Haris Chaudhry, Chief Executive Officer of Prolong and InnovaDerma, said. 'Designed by global experts in psychiatry, Prolong is the first and only medically-cleared climax control program in the world, and has been proven to help men last on average eight minutes longer. 'Through bringing this product to our shores, we hope to provide Australian men with more control and confidence, so they can improve not just their sex lives, but their relationships and mental wellbeing as well.' Blame Meghan Markle. But wearing your hair loose but tied up has never been more fashionable. Pinterest's 2018 trend report found that the most-searched hairstyle for weddings was the 'messy up do', with searches up a huge 1247 per cent year over year. It's not just Meghan who is in on the messy up do act, either. Celebrities across the red carpet including Gwyneth Paltrow, Gigi Hadid, Nicole Kidman and more are adopting the look - which gives off just the right amount of insouciance and elegance. Here, with the help of celebrity hairdresser, Anthony Nader, FEMAIL takes a look at just why the messy up do is the hairstyle du jour. Anthony also explains how you can recreate Meghan's favourite style at home. The messy up do is the trend that all brides want to emulate right now, after the look was pioneered by Meghan Markle (pictured) Pinterest's 2018 trend report found that the most-searched hairstyle for weddings was the 'messy up do', with searches up a huge 1247 per cent year over year (pictured: Meghan Markle) Celebrity hairdresser Anthony Nader (left) revealed why the look is popular both with celebrities (right, Gigi Hadid) and other women right now - it's easy and chic and can go from the office to the gym to dinner According to the hairdresser, the reason why this style is enjoying such a moment in the spotlight right now is simple. 'It can go from gym to work, to cocktail drinks at night with minimal effort,' he said. 'In all of these places, it still looks naturally chic.' The hairdresser explained that it's the perfect hair style to wear with high neck collars or scarves, as it doesn't interfere with your style for the day. 'Meghan Markle is really working the messy up do recently,' he said. 'And giving it a new Royal life, which I love.' Others including Nicole Kidman are fans of the look, which prides itself on being chic - but not over the top To get the look, Anthony recommends you have day-old hair, as this will be easier to sweep up and style - clean hair will fall out too easily (pictured: Jennifer Lawrence and Dakota Johnson) He recommends spritzing your locks with a dry texture spray in order to maximise the longevity of the style (pictured: Meghan Markle in Cardiff in 2018) So if you want to get the look at home, what should you be doing? For best results, Anthony said in fact your hair shouldn't be freshly washed. If this was the case then it would slip out and wouldn't last a full day. 'This also ensures that it shows the texture of the hair, which gives that cool-girl, effortless vibe,' he added. Next, before you even start trying to tie it up, he recommends spritzing it with a spray: 'To maximise the longevity of the style, I'd recommend a dry texture spray spritzed onto the roots and mid-lengths while your hair is still down,' he said. 'Massage this in, flip it up into your top knot and you're good to go.' If you want to give the look a polished edge, you can curl or style the loose parts which come down from your face (pictured: Meghan Markle) When it comes to creating your up do, experts advocate pulling it back loosely, removing strands around the crown or nape of the neck, before securing with a hair tie. 'If you have a petite face it can be a good idea to have your up do placed high on the top of your head, as this elongates the shape of your face,' Anthony said. Finally, the hairdresser said you can curl strands for a more polished, professional look. Desk to dinner - or a wedding - in no time. Plus, it's not a problem if it rains, as this will only add to the whimsy of the look. Advertisement Splashed over the pages of teen magazines and appearing on runways across the country, clothing by international fashion giant Esprit was once a must-have for thousands of sartorially savvy Australians. So when it was announced on Thursday that the American company is preparing to close all 67 stores across Australia and New Zealand due to a fall in profits, it was for many, the end of an era. To celebrate the past 30 years of the store's operation in Australia, FEMAIL has looked back at the giant's most memorable runway moments. Epsrit stores across Australia are closing after 30 years in business (stock image) The label has been a favourite for years, with the likes of Jennifer Hawkins (left) walking the runway in Esprit clothing (left, in 2009 in Perth, right at Melbourne Fashion Festival in 2008) Once a must-have for sartorially-savvy Australians, many will mourn the departure of Esprit clothing and their bright, bold looks (L-R: a model wearing Esprit in 2008, a young Bambi Northwood-Blyth in 2008, and a model in 2005) Retro magazine campaigns from the 1980s show off some of the eye-catching fashions of the day (pictured) - in looks that are clearly of their time Brightly-coloured T-shirts and sweaters were the retro order of the day in the 1980s, as seen by this advertising campaign Over the years, Esprit has tapped into many trends, including the sleeveless top (left) and the denim cut-off pants (right) - which one model paired with a bra and jacket While the company, which was founded in California in 1968 and has been operating in Australia since the 1980s, said on Thursday it had been unprofitable in the local market for some time - once upon a time it was a different story Epsrit's collapse follows other collapses in stores in Australia, including Gap, Topshop, Oroton, Marcs, David Lawrence, Herringbone, Rhodes & Beckett, Payless Shoes and Pumpkin Patch Meanwhile, Esprit has outlets all over the world (pictured: a shop interior in New Delhi, India) When a new 'Collections' label launched from Esprit in 2004 in Sydney at Catalina, the fashion designer, Lauren Code (left with models), attended - alongside TV host Erika Heynatz (right) Models rugged up at the 2009 Collection Launch at Myer in Perth (pictured), where they wore leather glove, hats and scarves Splashed over the pages of teen magazines and appearing on runways across the country, Esprit was at the height of its success in the 80s, 90s and early Noughties (pictured: models on the catwalk in 2008) A man who was talked out of jumping off a bridge by a complete stranger 10 years ago has revealed they are now best friends. Jonny Benjamin, now 31, who lives in south London, was 20 years old when he sat on Waterloo Bridge in 2008 preparing to jump - until passerby Neil Laybourn persuaded him not to. Six years after the incident Jonny launched a social media search to help him find the stranger on the bridge and the pair were eventually reunited live on ITV's morning show - then called Daybreak. Since then Jonny has rebuilt his life and teamed up with Neil, 35, from Surrey, to raise awareness of mental health problems - efforts that have attracted the support of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. During an appearance on ITV's Lorraine, the pair opened up about the unlikely story behind their friendship, and described how 'lucky' they feel to be able to work as a team to help others. Jonny Benjamin credits Neil Laybourn for helping him, then a stranger Neil persuaded him down from Waterloo Bridge where he was considering taking his life Benjamin (far right) details his struggle with mental health in his book The Stranger on the Bridge and has the support of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge (pictured in 2016) Jonny Benjamin attempted suicide a decade ago but has since rebuilt his life and written his own memoir Jonny has penned his own memoir, The Stranger on the Bridge, detailing his struggle with mental health, and how he overcame his brush with suicide. Jonny had spent a month in hospital after being diagnosed with schizo-affective disorder, which is a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. On that fateful night in January 2008, Neil walked by and asked Jonny why he was on the bridge, and offered to buy him a coffee. The intervention saved his life. He explained to Lorraine Kelly on the daytime show that ten years on he is in a better place and makes sure his mental health is always a priority. 'I have my relapses. It's a constant thing I have to manage, medication, therapy. And the most important thing is talking. 'I can talk openly and say if I'm struggling, that makes all the difference to be honest.' Neil, who swapped his career as a personal trainer to become a full-time mental health campaigner setting up charity Beyond Stigma, Beyond Shame with Jonny, said he had been inspired greatly by the work his friend had done. 'We're so lucky to be able to work together as a team,' he said. Four years ago Jonny had launched a social media campaign to find the stranger who had helped him six years previously On ITV's morning TV show, then called Daybreak, the pair were reunited and since then they have become firm friends Neil, who swapped his career as a personal trainer to become a full-time mental health campaigner setting up charity Beyond Stigma, Beyond Shame with Jonny The pair have grown incredibly close and Neil, who admitted he was initially a bit of a reluctant hero, added: 'It's been an amazing journey. 'To think we are best friends and where it all came from now and where it's going to continue...' Jonny and Neil's work has also received the support of Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. The duo met the royals ahead of the launch of Jonny's book, of which William has penned a touching foreword. Jonny said of meeting the royal couple and their dedication to campaigning for better mental health care: 'They were both so warm and passionate. 'This is not just a one off this is their lifetime work. It's changing how mental health is seen around the world.' Mr Benjamin's upcoming memoir will be published on May 3, and his official website will 'chart Jonny's account of living with mental illness, from childhood to the present day.' The memoir will contain diary entries, letters, poems, and a contribution from Neil at the end. Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV at 8.30am For confidential help or advice call the Samaritans on 08457 909090 Crown Princess Mette-Marit very nearly got a soaking today as she joined her husband on an engagement in rainy Norway. The Scandinavian royal was forced to shelter when the heavens opened as she and husband Haakon opened the Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site in Telemark. Huddled under a large umbrella Mette-Marit, 44, nevertheless managed to stay chic in a dark roll-neck sweater worn under her double-breasted Valentino pea coat. She teamed her chic ensemble with leather gloves and a pair of Prada boots, while her husband stayed dry in a rain mac. The mother-of-two, whose husband is heir apparent to the Norwegian throne, unveiled a plaque commemorating the couple's visit before chatting to a group of youngsters who had come to greet them. Crown Princess Mette-Marit and her husband, Crown Prince Haakon, were forced to shelter when the heavens opened as they opened the Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site in Telemark on Thursday Mette-Marit teamed her chic ensemble with leather gloves and a pair of croc-effect boots, while her husband stayed dry in a rain mac The pair, who got married in 2001, appeared to be in good spirits despite the wet weather in the eastern Norwegian town. Former waitress Mette-Marit and Haakon are parents to Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 14 and Prince Sverre Magnus, 12, while Mette-Marit has son Marius Borg Hiby from a previous relationship. The Norwegian monarchy is headed up by King Harald V and Queen Sonja, with the couple reported to have a relatively modest personal fortune of 100 million Norwegian Kroner (reported at 8m 2015 and 20m in 2017). They are regarded as one of the 'poorer' monarchies in Europe. Little fans: The mother-of-two, whose husband is heir apparent to the Norwegian throne, unveiled a plaque commemorating the couple's visit before chatting to a group of youngsters who had come to greet them All smiles: The pair, who got married in 2001, appeared to be in good spirits despite the wet weather in the eastern Norwegian town Mette-Marit unveils a plaque to commemorate their visit. The couple are parents to Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 14 and Prince Sverre Magnus, 12 Keeping dry: Huddled under a large umbrella Mette-Marit, 44, managed to stay chic in a dark roll-neck sweater worn under her double-breasted navy pea coat They receive an annual grant from the Norwegian government which is thought to be in the region of 25.8m and is also used to cover Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Mette-Marit's activities. The family also own a yacht called K/S Norge, a royal train, two private homes in Oslo and further properties in Fredrikstad and Rio de Janeiro. Family residences: The Royal Palace in Oslo, residences Gamlehaugen, Stiftsgarden, Ledaal, Bygdy Royal Estate, Skaugum Manor and estates in Oslo, Fredrikstad and Rio de Janeiro and further private residences. With just over two weeks to go before the big day, Meghan is no doubt experiencing some pre-wedding nerves. And now, her secret to combating stress has been revealed: a 26.50 health supplement that's been described as 'nature's anti-depressant'. Prince Harry's fiancee, 36, is understood to be a fan of the Ashwagandha elixir from London-based wellness brand Glow Bar. Meghan has previously described how she takes the ancient herb, which has been proven to calm the mind and boost your immune system, as well as hydrating the skin. Meghan is known to be an advocate of the superherb ashwagandha, which can calm the mind and boost your immune system Glow Bar's Ashwagandha elixir is taken by stirring a teaspoon of the blend into your tea or coffee once a day. Meghan has previously said she is a fan of the superherb, revealing in an interview in 2015 that it was among her regular supplements. Sasha Sabapathy, the founder of wellness brand Glow Bar says the superherb can naturally lower levels of stress hormone cortisol. '[W]e call ashwagandha "nature's antidepressant" because it naturally lowers cortisol, the stress hormone, while simultaneously boosting serotonin,' she explained. Prince Harry's fiancee, 36, is understood to be a fan of Glow Bar's 26.50 supplement, which is stirred into tea or coffee The supplement, which has been described as 'nature's anti-depressant', comes from the root of the ashwagandha plant 'Ashwagandha calms your body, mind and soul, especially when you're feeling low, and strengthens your qi to keep you balanced, animated and, ultimately, happy'. The supplement comes from the root of the ashwagandha plant, which is found in India, the Mediterranean, and western Asia. Describing the benefits of the herb, expert Rachel Landon previously explained: 'Ashwagandha helps to energise the body, but rather than also jangling and stimulating the mind it has a soothing, calming effect,' Meghan revealed in a past interview that she takes daily supplements to stay healthy. Speaking to The Chalkboard magazine, she revealed that these include 'Magnesium, B-12 drops, multivitamin and Cortisol Manager before bed, before adding 'Sometimes ashwagandha makes it into the mix too!' A male model has conducted a social experiment to find out what really makes women swipe right on dating apps. The experiment was compiled by male model Ben Southerst, 29, who went on the dating app Tinder with five different looks to find out which got the most matches from potential female partners. Ben, of Earls Court, London, first posted one profile with a picture of how he really looks with a full head of hair and goatee beard - and gauged the reaction over a week. Model Ben Southerst created five Tinder profiles to see what 'look' would attract the most women on a dating app He then made digital alterations to the picture and posted four profiles in successive weeks with slightly different looks - heavy beard, clean shaven, thinning hair and almost completely bald on top. He got 120 matches for the clean shaven look, 85 for the goatee beard and just three for the bald look likened to that of Prince William. Ben found that the receding hairline of the 35-year old future King is 'too middle aged' and is likely to attract 95 per cent less responses than profiles of clean shaven men with full heads of hair. His study found women were more forward with men who had a goatee or a heavy beard - but merely because they were more interested in a casual fling than finding true love. He found that a receding hairline (left) like Prince William's got him just three matches while a full beard (right) attracted women who were after a casual fling Ben was taken more seriously when he was clean shaven (pictured) seen more as boyfriend material Being clean shaven was seen as a 'good catch' and viewed more seriously as long term boyfriend material. Ben who carried out the experiment for Crown Clinic in Manchester said: 'If you are looking for love online, have a shave. 'Stubble can definitely lead to trouble - because women tend to view men with facial hair as more casual matches.' Ben added: 'It was incredible to see how quite subtle changes in your appearance can make a phenomenal difference to your dating success. 'What is clear from this experiment is that if you are looking for a long-term partner on dating apps like Tinder it is best to be clean shaven in your profile and have a full head of hair. His thinning hair saw women lose interest attracting just 12 matches in total 'That had by far the most positive reaction - not just in the number of swipes but in the way that women interacted with me after we had matched up. It was obvious they were looking for something more serious from all the questions I was asked. 'Women were much more direct when I had facial hair. In most cases they were just looking for a hook-up. 'It was striking just how important is to have hair to get matches on the site. 'When I went on with thinning hair or almost completely bald women lost interest. The experiment showed that you are at least ten times more attractive to women when you have hair.' Referring to the clean shaven and full head of hair look Ben said: 'I got a phenomenal response and I was very flattered that so many women wanted to date me. 'I think that being clean shaven does make me look a bit younger and I think that might help you to get matches on a site like Tinder. I was seen as a good catch and definite boyfriend material.' Dr Shahmalak says the study shows how men's attractiveness 'declines' with hair loss The Goatee beard attracted 85 matches and Ben added: 'This is how I look naturally - so it was reassuring to see that it was a pretty popular look, too. 'It is a close-run thing over whether to go clean shaven or let the stubble grow for a few days. Women are all different and lots clearly do prefer a bit of growth. 'My one observation from the responses was that the women who swiped were a little more forward than the clean shaven fans. It was obvious in most cases that they were looking for a quick hook-up rather than a boyfriend.' The heavy beard got 30 matches and Ben said: 'You hear that the hipster look is still very fashionable so I wanted to see how I would get on dating with a heavy beard. It might look good on fashion pages but it does nothing for your appeal on dating apps. 'A few of the women who contacted me suggested that I shave it off. I looked several years older than when I was clean shaven. The women who did match were much interested in a hook-up than romance.' Ben said thinning hair got 12 matches and he said: 'I wanted to see how ageing my appearance by thinning my hair slightly would affect my popularity. 'The response was pretty emphatic - I only got 12 matches and I had to work pretty hard to get those. I got ten times more responses with a full head of hair. 'The ages of the women who approached me were significantly higher, too. I was getting swiped by women in their mid-30s who mistakenly thought I was the same age as them. It was quite depressing to realise even marginal hair loss can hammer your chances of finding love.' Bald Ben got just three matches. Ben said: 'I thought it would be useful to see what would happen if I almost completely lost my hair like Prince William. 'The results were pretty depressing - just three matches. The only bright spot was that you would like to think that those three women must really like you.' Surgeon Asim Shahmalak said: 'This survey shows just how much men's attractiveness declines when they lose their hair. 'When he was younger Prince William was hailed as one of the handsome royals in the world. 'Now that he is almost completely bald, William is seen as almost middle-aged and no one views him as a sex symbol. 'The impact of hair loss on a dating app like Tinder is very clear. People are ruthless in their selections and a full head of hair can have a significant impact on your chances of finding love.' Dr Shahmalak treats lots of celebrity patients and his clients include model Calum Best, TV doctor Christian Jessen, Chris Butland-Steed from Gogglebox and Homes Under The Hammer star Martin Roberts. A recent YouGov survey showed the popularity of beards has only increased since 2011, with over 40 per cent of British men now sporting some kind of facial hair - with a full beard remaining the most popular option. The same YouGov survey showed that only a third of young women prefer men without some form of facial hair. She's known for being a sharp dresser and today was no exception for Queen Letizia of Spain as she stunned in a crisp white trouser suit. The royal put a fashionable spin on business-like chic as she joined her husband King Felipe at theRoyal Palace of El Pardo in Madrid. Her ensemble was teamed with a white satin vest underneath and she teamed the outfit with pointed brown heels and a tan and cream handbag. The mother-of-two allowed her brunette tresses to fall naturally around her shoulders and accessorised with floral dangling earrings. Queen Letizia of Spain, 45, stunned in a crisp white trouser suit during presentation of i Diccionario Biografico Electronico at El Pardo Palace in Madrid The mother-of-two aded a touch of interest to her outfit with dangling floral earrings Meanwhile, her husband Felipe was typically handsome in a black pinstriped suit and a red tie. The couple were attending a presentation of the Diccionario Biografico Electronico, an online version of the Royal Academy of History's biographical dictionary. It features 45,000 different biographies, spanning 2,500 years of Spanish history and the Hispanic world. More than 4,000 historians and 500 public and private institutions from different countries assisted in its creation. The royal couple attended a presentation of a new online biography resource The Queen looked smart in a white trouser suit, which she teamed with tan heels with a criss cross strap The Queen is known for being a sharp dresser and today was no exception Former journalist Letizia was joined be her husband King Felipe who looked smart in a pinstripe suit Before meeting the heir to the Spanish throne, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano whose father Jesus Jose Ortiz Alvarez and stepmother Ana Togores are both journalists, enjoyed a lengthy career in TV and newspapers. She met the then Prince Felipe of Spain while working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, and the couple became engaged in 2003. The couple married a year later and share two daughter Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 11. The Queen and King looked to be in great spirits as they attended the presentation Chelsea Clinton was spotted out in New York City this week, dressed for the city's soaring temperatures. The 38-year-old former first daughter, who usually keeps a low profile, was photographed walking down a sidewalk in Manhattan by herself on Wednesday afternoon. She dressed up for a meeting in the Rockefeller Center, donning an outfit that was perfect for the warm weather, and was seen walking around the city in the sunshine with her iPhone in hand. Enjoying the weather: Chelsea Clinton was photographed out in New York City on Wednesday Busy bee: The 38-year-old went to a meeting at One Rockefeller Plaza and was seen walking down the sidewalk Fit-and-flare! The former first daughter wore a knee-length red dress with no sleeves Favorites: She was wearing her go-to nude pumps, which she appears to have had re-heeled, with a new lower inch having been swapped onto both heels She has also them re-soled recently, and the new half sole just visible in this frame on the bottom of the front of the far left shoe Improvement: In June 2017, Chelsea was seen wearing the same shoes, but on this occasion they looked more beat up and scratched, with chunks of patent material missing from the heel Chelsea wore a sleeveless red fit-and-flare dress, which fell just above her knees, accessorizing with a black leather carry-all that was slung over her shoulder. She also had a Burberry trench hanging from one arm, apparently having taken it off, no doubt in light of the balmy weather, which saw temperatures in New York reach the high 80s on Wednesday. The mother-of-two was also wearing her trusty nude heels, which she is frequently photographed wearing, and has been modeling regularly for the past year - almost every time she steps out to an event. But while the shoes have looked a little worse for wear on the previous occasions that she has worn them, Chelsea appears to have either taken them to a cobbler to get them re-soled and re-heeled recently, or perhaps even bought a new pair of the exact same shoes. While stepping out to her meeting on Wednesday, Chelsea showed off a pair of the same trusty pumps, but this time, the soles and heels of the shoes were clearly in much better shape; although there were a few scratches on the main part of the design, the once-visible scratches and dents in the heels were gone, and the scuffed soles appeared to have been replaced altogether. There was even a stitching line around the mid-heel of the shoe, suggesting that they had been re-covered with new patent material. Rising temps: She carried her things in a black leather tote and slung her Burberry trench over her arm when the weather got too hot On the go: She was seen holding her cell phone and walking by a construction site Faves: Chelsea frequently models the nude heels when she attends events; she is pictured wearing the shoes in May 2017 Go with everything! She also wore them to the Gordon Parks Foundation Awards Gala in June 2017 (left) and an event on November 13, 2017 (right) The classic nude, round-toe style is clearly a favorite of the former first daughter, perhaps because a nude pump goes with nearly anything. Fashion experts also typically suggest finding a shade that closely resembles the wearer's skin tone, which has the effect of making the legs appear longer. Chelsea seemed unaware of the cameras and looked serious as she walked past a construction site on her way home from a meeting at One Rockefeller Plaza. And she was not the only member of her family out and about that day; her parents Bill and Hillary Clinton, were seen arriving at her home that evening for a short visit, presumably to spend time with their grandchildren, however it is not known whether Chelsea had made it home at that point. The couple were escorted by Secret Service, who drove up to Chelsea's building and let them out. They, too, were dressed up: the former President, flanked by guards, looked polished in a blue suit as he jumped over a puddle and waved at admirers on the sidewalk. Visit: Later that day, Chelsea's parents paid a visit to her home Here comes grandpa! Former President Bill Clinton, meanwhile, appeared to coordinate with his wife by wearing all blue, too Hillary, meanwhile, was dressed in blue, too. She wore a pair of blue slacks, a long-sleeve blue coat, low blue heels, and a matching blue scarf. The former first couple stayed inside for about 45 minutes visiting with Chelsea, her husband Marc, and their two children: three-year-old Charlotte, and one-year-old Aiden (who turns two in June). Chelsea is also celebrating a recent career success. Last year, she published a children's book called She Persisted: 13 American Women Who Changed The World. This March, she published a companion book called She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History. And now the Bay Area Childrens Theatre is turning her books into a show, called She Persisted, the Musical. According to the Mercury News, the stage adaption will open at BACTs Berkeley Theatre Center Feb. 2, 2019, after which it will move on to San Francisco and Sunnyvale. Sandra Bullock has shut down rumors that she had cheek fillers ahead of this year's Oscars, explaining that her face was simply swollen from being sick and suffering from allergies. The 53-year-old actress stunned in a custom-made sequined Louis Vuitton gown when she walked the red carpet at the 90th Academy Awards in March, but her fuller cheeks led to accusations that she had cosmetic surgery before the event. 'This past Oscars I was sick and had allergies, but I was like, "I'm just going to go. Its part of my job, and Im happy to be there,"' she told InStyle. 'Then the next day they were saying, "Oh, she has cheek fillers and implants."' Shutting it down: Sandra Bullock, 53, has hit back at rumors that she had gotten cheek fillers or implants ahead of the 2018 Oscars (pictured) Reason: The actress insisted her swollen face at the awards show was from being sick and having allergies. She's pictured on set of Ocean's 8 in 2017 (L) and at the Oscars in March (R) Sandra, who covers the June issue of the magazine, admitted that her face did look different, so she could understand why people jumped to conclusions. However, she couldn't help but point out that if the change in her appearance was due to fillers, the end result was less than desirable. 'When I saw the photos and how swollen I was, I got it,' she said. 'But I was like, "Well, if I got injections, I only got them on the top, which was not very good."' Although the Ocean's 8 star is one of the most famous actresses in the world, the mother-of-two said public scrutiny over her appearance still gets to her. Slide me Swollen: Sandra is pictured in 2015 (slide right) and at the 90th Academy Awards (slide left) Back to normal: The Oscar winner's cheeks didn't look as full when she attended Cinemacon in Las Vegas last month (left) 'I am affected by it because I dont feel confident when I dress up and go on the red carpet. Im not that person who knows how to work it,' she explained. 'I try to channel Beyonce. I do the same pose every time. 'I try not to dread that kind of stuff, but I do get incensed and think, "How can they write this?"' she added. 'But now Ive distilled it into "If you eff with my kids and you do something illegal, I will go after you." Its that simple. When Sandra took the stage to present the Cinematography category at the Oscars, she jokingly requested the lights to be lowered so she would look younger. 'The lighting is really well lit, but can we just dim it just a little bit so I can go back to my 40s?' she asked, telling the lighting team: 'A little lower. Thirty-nine, keep going, 38. Thirty-five, now thats a sweet spot!' 'I got it': Sandra, who is pictured in 2016 (L), admitted that her face was noticeably swollen at the awards show (R) Laughing it off: 'I was like, "Well, if I got injections, I only got them on the top, which was not very good,"' she said. Sandra is pictured in 2015 and at this year's Oscars Honest: Sandra, who is pictured on location for Ocean's 8 in December 2016 (L), said she is 'affected' by the scrutiny because she doesn't feel confident when she is on the red carpet (R) 'Thank goodness Im not presenting with Gal Gadot tonight, itd be like looking in the mirror for her,' she joked of her resemblance to the 33-year-old actress. Despite the jokes, Sandra told InStyle that she is excited about 'getting older' and watching her children Louis, eight, and Laila, five, 'grow up to be hopeful, grateful, healthy, kind, and safe.' The Oscar winner is known for her incredibly youthful appearance, and while she may not be using cheek fillers, she isn't one to shy away from trying out new beauty treatments with her friends. 'I have great girlfriends. We call each other and ask, "How do you detox? Wheres the best facial? What do you do for baggy eyes?" Its a community,' Sandra said. Jokes: When Sandra took the stage to present the Cinematography category at the Oscars, she joking asked for the lights to be lowered so she would look younger Beauty buds: Sandra's Ocean's 8 co-star Cate Blanchett (pictured with the actress in April) recently revealed that they had gotten 'penis facials' together In March, Sandra's Ocean's 8 co-star Cate Blanchett was promoting their film when she told Vogue Australia that they had gotten 'penis facial' together. 'Sandy [Bullock] and I saw this facialist in New York, Georgia Louise, and she gives what we call the penis facial,' she said. ''It's something I don't know what it is, or whether it's just cause it smells a bit like sperm there's some enzyme in it so Sandy refers to it as the penis facial.' Georgia Louise told Daily Mail Online that 'penis facial' has become the 'street name' in Hollywood for the procedure because it uses stem cells from the foreskin of Korean baby boys. The stem cell is then harvested and infused into the skin using a special microneedling technique to stimulate collagen production. The vast majority of high street restaurants fail to provide calorie information in their menus, new research reveals. The Good Housekeeping Institute (GHI) investigated 16 of Britain's most popular chains, including Pizza Express, Nando's and Zizzi, to determine how easy it is for customers to find out the calorie content of a given dish. Twelve of the chains list the information on their website. However just one of the outlets investigated, JD Wetherspoon, provides the information in its menu. Four of the eateries, Prezzo, Bella Italia, Frankie & Bennys and Cafe Rouge, failed to provide detailed calorie content either online or in-branch. No information: Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia were among the four restaurant chains that did not list calorie information in menu or online, according to Good Housekeeping research Research by GHI, published in full in this month's issue of Good Housekeeping magazine, also shows the majority of dishes contained more than 600 calories, and many were closer to 1,000. Guidelines from Public Health England, introduced in March 2018, say people should be aiming to consume 400 calories for breakfast, and 600 for lunch and dinner. Just half of the restaurants investigated had specific sections offering meals under 600 calories, such as the Pizza Express Leggera range and Prezzo's Pizza/Pasta Light. Bella Italia also has 'lighter' options indicated on the menu. The GHI argues that customers should be given the same information in restaurants as they are given on the labelling of pre-packaged supermarket food. Frankie & Benny's was also found to not provide calorie content information to diners Good Housekeeping Institute also looked into Gourmet Burger Kitchen and Nando's This is especially pertinent as the average Briton dines out an average of nine times a month, increasing the risk of over-eating. Despite the shortcomings, the results mark an improvement from the last time the GHI conducted an investigation in 2011. At the time almost half of the 13 restaurants surveyed gave no calorie or nutritional information about their food neither online or on their in-store menus. Slug & Lettuce was also among the 16 popular restaurant chains investigated for the report Restaurants are not legally required to display calorie content information in their menus. Caroline Bloor, Consumer Affairs Director at Good Housekeeping, says: 'Here at Good Housekeeping, we've been monitoring the availability of calories on menus for almost 10 years, encouraging restaurants to be more transparent with consumers. 'We should all be able to enjoy a meal out, but it shouldn't be difficult to get easy access to nutritional data (just as we have nutritional data on food in the shops) to help us make empowered decisions about the food we eat.' Just half of the restaurants investigated had specific sections offering meals under 600 calories, such as the Pizza Express Leggera range. Pictured, a pizza from the range A spokesperson for Prezzo told Good Housekeeping magazine: 'Our menu has a wide variety of options for all, including vegetarians, vegans and kids. We also have several dishes that are all below 600 calories, which are highlighted on the menu.' MailOnline has contacted Prezzo for comment. A spokesperson for Bella Italia said: 'Our menu offers a wide choice of food options to suit a broad range of tastes and dining occasions, promoting balance and variety. The full article is available in the June issue of Good Housekeeping, on sale now 'Whilst offering some indulgent dishes, we also offer a range of lower calorie dishes at 300 and 600 calories, which are clearly labelled on our instore menus, as well as online.' A spokesperson for Cafe Rouge said: 'Traditional French cooking, in its very essence, is about a special treat, enjoying high quality food with friends and family in a relaxed environment an ethos we wholeheartedly champion. 'Providing customers with a balanced menu and choice is important to us, which is why we offer a range of lighter menu options, such as our beef bourguignon and salad nicoise. 'We also work closely with Public Health England to ensure our dishes meet their guidelines and have committed to providing nutritional information for every dish on our menu online.' A spokesperson for Frankie & Benny's said: 'Easy access to calorie information is becoming increasingly important to our customers and we are in the process of evaluating the potential of making calorie information available on our website and app. 'We are also finalising a range of exciting, fresher and lighter dishes, including lower calorie options, which we expect to launch this summer.' The 16 restaurants investigated Calorie information in menu and online: Wetherspoon Calorie information online but not in menu: ASK Beefeater Bill's Gourmet Burger Kitchen Harvester Nando's Pizza Express Pizza Hut Slug & Lettuce Wagamama Zizzi No calorie information in menu or online: Bella Italia Cafe Rouge Frankie & Benny's Prezzo Advertisement The full article is available in the June issue of Good Housekeeping, on sale now The queen of cakes Mary Berry has shared her unconventional advice for slimming down the nation. For the 83-year-old baker when it comes to managing a waistline, she adopts the 'old fashioned' advice of everything in moderation. A little bit of everything' she says 'It's overeating most of the time and we've got to try and get people not to have a second slice of cake. Mary is speaking ahead of her new BBC home cooking show which she says is totally different to The Great British Bake Off. Scroll down for video Mary Berry has given her unconventional advice on tackling the nation's obesity crisis, claiming we need to avoid a 'second slice of cake' The TV cook said the baking programme, which she fronted for seven series, had become quite complicated as contestants require equipment for icing, flavouring and colouring. However, she claimed her upcoming programme Britains Best Home Cook - is about proper people that cook for families Asked if she thought the show would encourage more families to sit down and eat together and potentially help with the obesity crisis, Mary said: I couldn't agree with you more. The more families sit down and don't have food on the hoof, sit down on Sundays or even one night a week, it's the time I get with my family, particularly my own children and grandchildren... they get talking once... also it teaches them new foods, and it's the social side of it. It's an important part of life that we mustn't lose. The TV cook stars alongside Claudia Winkleman, Chris Bavin and Dan Doherty in Britain's Best Home Cook Mary, who appears in the first episode of the show this evening, said it was refreshing to swap her former hosting partner Paul Hollywood for Chris Bavin, 38, and Dan Doherty on the show. Speaking about how the programme compares to The Great British Bake Off, she said: I think were totally different from Bake Off. 'Bake Off is all about cakes and baking and it has got quite complicated and having all sorts of different equipment in order to ice and to flavour and to colour and to become very intricate. She added that the dishes cooked in the show are achievable and not so highly decorated so people at home may feel more confident following recipes from the show. Mary said it was refreshing to swap former hosting partner Paul Hollywood (pictured together on the set of GBBO in 2014) for a new set of presenters Home cooking is totally, totally different and I think it will appeal to different people but maybe the same people who are watching Bake Off I think it will stand out well on its own, she said. And Mary, who unlike Hollywood did not follow The Great British Bake Off to Channel 4, now has two fellow judges - who she refers to as the boys. When asked about how Bavin and Doherty compared to her former judging partner, she said: It was quite different. I spent seven programmes on The Great British Bake Off and so it was very refreshing to have two (other judges). I had a very happy time on The Great British Bake Off but I was always dying to get back to proper, real family cooking and thats where I am now. Miss Berry is returning to BBC One for the show's first episode on Thursday night at 8pm. The eight-week series, presented by Claudia Winkleman, will see 10 family chefs pit their skills against each other in a bid to win the accolade of Britain's Best Home Cook. And in an Apprentice-style twist, the amateur foodies all lived together in a shared house for the duration of filming. Britain's Best Home Cook starts tonight at 8pm on BBC One. Residents of Mongolia are drinking oxygen cocktails and lung tea to help protect themselves from air pollution. Sold for as little as $1, adverts in Mongolia claim drinking just one oxygen cocktail is equal to a three-hour-walk in a lush forest. Yet, the World Health Organization (WHO) states there is no scientific evidence supporting such drinks benefits. Slum dwellers who are forced to use coal stoves to cook and heat their homes in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, where temperatures can plummet to as low as -40C, are thought to be driving the problem. According to UNICEF, Ulaanbaatar is the most polluted capital city in the world, with an air pollution level 133 times higher than the safe limit set by the WHO. Respiratory infections in the capital have nearly tripled, with pneumonia being the leading cause of death in under five-year-olds, data from UNICEF shows. Residents of Mongolia are drinking oxygen cocktails and lung tea to help protect themselves from air pollution (pictured: Ulaanbaatar, the most polluted capital city in the world) No scientific evidence supporting oxygen cocktails For $2, shopping centres are selling cans of oxygen called Life is Air with the promise of turning an ordinary glass of juice into an oxygen cocktail. Many pharmacies also are stocking machines that turn juice frothy for as little as $1 and are recommended by doctors for pregnant women. Some Mongolian residents are also turning to special teas in an effort to clean their lungs, with sales rising up to 30 per cent when pollution peaks during winter. Baatar Chantsaldulam, CEO of lung-tea company Dr. Baatar, told AFP: First it takes all the toxins out of the blood, then it turns the toxins in the lung into mucus, and all the plants in tea helps boost the human immune system. Yet, Maria Neira, head of the WHO's public health department, said the only way to minimise the effects of pollution is to avoid exposure, adding there is no scientific evidence oxygen cocktails or lung teas have any benefit. DOES EXPOSURE TO AIR POLLUTION DURING PREGNANCY CAUSE BIRTH DEFECTS? Women exposed to air pollution before getting pregnant are nearly 20 percent more likely to have babies with birth defects, research suggested in January 2018. Living within 5km of a highly-polluted area one month before conceiving makes women more likely to give birth to babies with defects such as cleft palates or lips, a study by University of Cincinnati found. For every 0.01mg/m3 increase in fine air particles, birth defects rise by 19 percent, the research adds. Fine air particles, which weigh less than 0.0025mg, are given out in vehicle exhaust fumes and, when breathed in, become deposited in the lungs where they enter the circulation. Previous research suggests this causes birth defects as a result of women suffering inflammation and 'internal stress'. Physicians Committee figures reveal birth defects affect three percent of all babies born in the US. Around six percent of infants suffer in the UK, according to a report from the British Isles Network of Congenital Anomaly Registers The researchers analyzed 290,000 babies living in Ohio between 2006 and 2010. Monthly fine air particle levels were matched to the home addresses of pregnant women before and after they conceived. Advertisement Angry residents believe not enough is being done Angry residents claim the Mongolian government is not doing enough to combat air pollution, arguing the public should not have to pay $300 for at-home air purifiers. Tumur Mandakhjargal, from the non-profit organisation Parents Against Smog, said: For the past 10 years, people have known that air pollution has reached dangerous levels. However, policymakers only address the issue by talking about passing out clean stoves and clean coal. Parents Against Smog campaigners believe the government should give slum dwellers loans to install proper home insulation and replace their stoves with cleaner alternatives. The Mongolian government spent $120 million between 2008 and 2016 trying to combat air pollution, with half of the funds coming from foreign aid. So far, tax exemptions have been passed for companies selling air purifiers, which are also being given out to schools and hospitals. Yet, Tumendalai Davaadalai, from the campaign group Smog and Kids, said air purifiers do not give out oxygen and therefore fail to solve the problem of air pollution. Products claim drinking just one oxygen cocktail is equal to a three-hour-walk in a lush forest Air pollution increases childrens risk of asthma This comes after research released last December suggested young children who grow up exposed to air pollution are more likely to develop asthma. A mix of dust, sand and non-exhaust tailpipe emissions, known as coarse particulate matter, increases youngsters under 11's risk of the lung condition by 1.3 per cent, a study by The Johns Hopkins University found. Air pollution also raises their risk of visiting the emergency room due to their asthma by 3.3 per cent and being hospitalised with the condition by 4.5 per cent, the research adds. Young children are thought to be more at risk due to them typically spending a lot of time outdoors and being vulnerable to air pollution due to their immature lungs, according to the researchers. Schools could be made to weigh and measure their pupils as part of the drive to tackle obesity. Children found to be overweight would then receive taxpayer-funded gym classes and home visits. The success of the strategy would then count towards the school's overall Ofsted report. Schools could be made to weigh and measure their pupils as part of the drive to tackle obesity The proposals are inspired by a scheme in Amsterdam, where schools played a crucial part in drastically slashing childhood obesity rates. The Amsterdam model is being promoted by senior Tories, including Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, who was chairman of the Centre for Social Justice's obesity working group. 'It is really important for schools to get involved and be part of the success of the strategy,' she told The Times. Children found to be overweight would then receive taxpayer-funded gym classes and home visits 'Not least we need to know what we're up against and the only way to do that is by regular weighing and measuring. 'Nobody, and no child, wants to be fat and we should be doing everything to help children lose weight as long as it is done in a way that doesn't stigmatise them. 'This is a problem that is killing our children.' A mother dying from cancer has released harrowing photographs of the damage the disease has caused to her face and body as she revealed she has refused to bond with her young children to spare them grieving for her. Kim Debling, 34, from Basingstoke, who may have just months to left to live, is glad Rose, one, and Harvey, six months, won't be able to remember her. The former RAF air traffic controller is currently battling stage four Cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma, which has left her virtually unrecognisable. Her face has been ravaged with red lumps from the form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which doctors diagnosed her with during her first pregnancy. However, it returned when Mrs Debling, of Basingstoke, Hampshire, was expecting Harvey and spread across her body. Doctors branded it incurable. Mrs Debling, who said the cancer makes her feel like a monster, has been told she has months left to live - unless she can undergo a pioneering stem cell transplant. However doctors warn she is currently too unwell to go through with the procedure, which could give her another five years - even though a donor has been found. Mrs Debling has a six-month-old son and a daughter who is a year old, she said: 'I know Rose and Harvey wont remember me, and thats a good thing. 'No Disney character ever became a hero without losing a parent, but in a way, I dont want the kids to get to know me, so I can save them the terrible loss.' Kim Debling, 34, from Basingstoke, Hampshire, is virtually unrecognisable after red lumps ravaged her face - caused by her stage four Cutaneous T-Cell lymphoma Speaking about her decision of choosing not to bond with her children, Mrs Debling added: 'I wonder what my children will think of me, and what conclusions they will draw about me when I am gone.' Mrs Debling added: 'But I still want to be the best mum I can ever be, no matter how long I have left.' Mrs Debling and her RAF pilot husband Steve, 32, who she met on an air base and married in December 2012, began trying for a baby soon after their wedding day. Desperate to become parents, the pair, who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, were referred for IVF on the NHS after a year and a half with no success. Mrs Debling became pregnant after just one round in November 2015. With her mind focused on her baby, she thought nothing of it when she noticed a red rash around her waist, only casually mentioning it to her GP during a routine appointment about her pregnancy a few weeks later. The former RAF air traffic controller has even bravely admitted she is glad her young children will not remember her to spare them the pain of grieving for her (pictured in Afghanistan) Mrs Debling battled the cancer while pregnant with Rose, now one, when she had a red rash appear on her waist. However, it returned when she was expecting her second child, Harvey, now six months (pictured with both children and husband Steve, 32, in hospital) WHAT IS CUTANEOUS T-CELL LYMPHOMA? Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin. Macmillan Cancer Support state it is caused by white blood cells, called T-cell lymphocytes, growing in an uncontrolled way. Experts estimate that CTCL accounts for around four per cent of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses. Figures show there are 13,000 people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the UK each year - and around 75,000 in the US. Symptoms of the cancer, which can be mistaken for psoriasis or eczema in its early stages, include red rash-like patches, lumps on the skin and swollen lymph nodes. Treatment revolves around creams, radiotherapy and a form of light therapy called PUVA, or photochemo. Advertisement She explained: 'We could not have been happier to be expecting our first baby. 'We had waited for so long for it to happen that the red patches were the last thing on my mind. 'But when I finally saw the GP I did mention it, as it had spread to the tops of my thighs. 'I was given some cream for it, thinking it was just a nasty rash, as well as being referred to a dermatologist.' Mrs Debling met with a skin specialist at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and had a biopsy of her skin taken in March 2016. Convinced she was just suffering with dermatitis, a type of eczema, she tried not to worry. But in May 2016, when she was 24 weeks pregnant, doctors broke the news that she actually had cancer. Mrs Debling said: 'When I heard the word "lymphoma" I was completely devastated. 'They told me I had a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the skin, where the symptoms are a raised, rash or itchy patches of skin, lumps on the skin and swollen lymph nodes. Mrs Debling has now been told she has months left to live, unless she can have a pioneering stem cell transplant, which could give her five extra years Although, doctors warn that she is too unwell to go through with the procedure, currently - even though a donor has been found (pictured during face radiotherapy) Mrs Debling became pregnant in November 2015. Focused on her baby, she thought nothing of it when she noticed a red rash around her waist (pictured during face radiotherapy) 'My only saving grace was that it was stage one, meaning it wasnt aggressive, so they could treat the skin directly with light treatments.' After that, Mrs Debling had ultraviolet B treatment, which involves standing in a sunbed-style booth, at Basingstoke's hospital. Having a session two times a week, she kept going until two weeks before Rose arrived at the end of August at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey. Following the birth, the new mother then had 40 sessions of PUVA treatment another form of UV light therapy, which she was confident had been successful. Mrs Debling said: 'When Rose was born it was the most incredible moment. She was a gorgeous girl and I felt so positive about the future. 'I knew the cancer could spread and come back, but I really felt I had got away with it.' In a bid to ensure she was treated as thoroughly as possible, Mrs Debling began a course of radiotherapy in February 2017. But soon after her last session, she became pregnant again - this time naturally. Mrs Debling met with a skin specialist at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital and had a biopsy of her skin taken in March 2016. Convinced she was just suffering with dermatitis, a type of eczema, she tried not to worry (pictured in hospital undergoing treatment) But in May 2016, when she was 24 weeks pregnant, doctors broke the news that she actually had cancer. Mrs Debling said: 'When I heard the word "lymphoma" I was completely devastated' (pictured during treatment) Mrs Debling had ultraviolet B treatment, which involves standing in a sunbed-style booth, at Basingstoke's hospital (pictured during throat radiotherapy) She said: 'Wed always wanted a big family and children close together in age, so I could not have been happier when I found out I was expecting Harvey.' Though, Mrs Deblings elation was short-lived, as the day after she had taken the positive pregnancy test, she felt an alarming lump in her groin. Sent for an ultrasound and biopsy straight away, in July 2017, she was told, at 16 weeks pregnant, that the cancer had returned, had spread to her lymph nodes and was not curable. Mrs Debling added: 'Me and Steve were new parents. We had another one on the way. Our new life together should have been just beginning. 'The idea of leaving him as a single dad crushed me. He deserves someone to love and he deserves to be loved. 'Its not what any of us had planned for our lives. I wanted to be a proud parent with Steve, see our kids grow up - not leave him to do it all alone. 'I never considered terminating the pregnancy as I was desperate to meet my second child. Having a session two times a week, she kept going until two weeks before Rose arrived at the end of August at Frimley Park Hospital in Surrey (pictured during radiotherapy) Following the birth, the new mother then had 40 sessions of PUVA treatment another form of UV light therapy, which she was confident had been successful (Rose in the background) Though, Mrs Deblings elation was short-lived, as the day after she had taken another positive pregnancy test, she felt an alarming lump in her groin (pictured with Rose) 'I was never told my pregnancy hormones would definitely accelerate the cancer, though in hindsight it may have been the case.' In the wake of her diagnosis, Mrs Debling was warned she only has months left to live if a stem cell transplant, where her damaged blood cells are replaced with healthy ones, does not work and more than five years if it does. Her radiotherapy was put on hold and she started an 18-week course of CHOP chemotherapy, which is used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is suitable for pregnant patients. She only stopped for the birth of Harvey in October last year, again at Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital. Mrs Debling said: 'It was gruelling. Not only was I pregnant but I had the toxic chemo drugs going through my body, leaving me weaker and weaker. 'But when I had Harvey, I actually forgot all about the disease. In that moment I was a mum again, not a woman with cancer. I felt on top of the world.' Sent for an ultrasound and biopsy straight away, in July 2017, she was told, at 16 weeks pregnant, that the cancer had returned, had spread to her lymph nodes and was not curable (pictured on her way to chemotherapy) In the wake of her diagnosis, Mrs Debling was warned she only has months left to live if a stem cell transplant, where her damaged blood cells are replaced with healthy ones, does not work and more than five years if it does (pictured during treatment) Her radiotherapy was put on hold and she started an 18-week course of CHOP chemotherapy, which is used to treat non-Hodgkin lymphoma (pictured with Rose) Mrs Debling said: 'My children are my life, my husband is the best man in the world. My life itself is wonderful' (pictured: Rose) Soon after the birth, Mrs Deblings treatment regime resumed, meaning she was unable to breastfeed her baby boy. Currently undergoing radiotherapy, she will begin chemotherapy next week in the hope that will make her well enough for a stem cell transplant, for which a match has already been found. A few weeks ago, scores of angry red lumps began to spring up all over her face and body, but thankfully, they have since shrunk following targeted radiotherapy to her face. Mrs Debling, who has set up a business called Kestrel Design, which covers branding and graphics, as well as documenting her cancer journey online, said: 'Without a stem cell transplant I could have just months left to live, and with it up to five years, but I am trying to remain positive. 'My life is actually one of real joy and happiness despite my cancer diagnosis in fact I believe it has been a trigger to focus me in a really positive way. I am glad I was diagnosed with cancer. 'My children are my life, my husband is the best man in the world. My life itself is wonderful.' It's a disease that kills millions of people across the world each year. But scientists have now developed a new online tool that can calculate your risk of developing lung cancer. The handy calculator, which tests have shown is nearly 90 per cent accurate, has been branded a 'great idea' by charities. It has been hailed as the first test that can predict the risk of lung cancer in those not deemed at high-risk, including light smokers and the young. Users are quizzed about how long they have smoked for - and how many cigarettes they puff a day, on average. They are two major causes of lung cancer. However, a team of Norwegian & Greek researchers have now added two new risk factors that can lead to lung cancer to their test. They include: having a nasty cough during certain times of the year and spending a long-time inside smoke-filled rooms. For those who have quit smoking, they are asked about how long they given up the notoriously bad habit. The risk drops sharply over time. The other two questions revolve around age, as older people are known to be at a higher risk of lung cancer, and BMI, as the lower this is, the higher the risk. Deborah Arnott, chief executive of health charity Action on Smoking and Health, told MailOnline: 'The lung cancer calculator is a great idea. It's a disease that kills millions of people across the world each year. But scientists have now developed a new online tool that can calculate your risk of developing lung cancer 'Any heavy smoker with a persistent cough, whatever age they are, needs to know its an early warning sign. 'Stopping smoking is the single most important step you can take to improve both the quality and the quantity of your life. Dont wait to be tested to quit.' Researchers agreed on the seven risk factors after assessing a 16-year-long study, with data from around 65,000 adults aged between 20 and 100. WHAT ARE THE 7 RISK FACTORS INCLUDED IN THIS NEW TOOL? Pack-years (Based on how many years youve smoked 20 cigarettes daily.) How many cigarettes youve smoked daily (A few cigarettes a day for many years is more harmful than many cigarettes for a few years.) How long its been since you quit smoking (The risk drops over time.) Body mass index (BMI; the lower your BMI the higher the risk.) Two new factors have been added: Periodical daily cough (Increases risk.) How many hours a day youre exposed to smoke indoors (Increases risk.) Advertisement They then used the same factors to try and predict the risk of lung cancer in 45,000 different people. The findings about the test, called the HUNT Lung Cancer Risk Model, have been published in the EBioMedicine journal. Dr Oluf Dimitri Re, a senior oncologist at Levanger Hospital in Trndelag, who led the study, found the test was nearly 88 per cent accurate. Researchers hope the findings will allow for doctors to cut down on doling out CT scans to smokers they think are at risk of lung cancer. Dr Re and colleagues, from the University of Crete, have warned the scans, which use small radiation doses, are expensive and can be harmful. He said: 'The method can reduce the number of people exposed to radiation from unnecessary CT scans, and maximise identification of persons with true risk. 'It is also the first model that can accurately predict lung cancer in light smokers, younger people, and people who quit smoking many years before.' The researchers are now working on other methods of spotting lung cancer early, including a simple blood test that could be used alongside the tool. This could then provide even clearer results and further slash the number of people who need to undergo repeated CT scans. Every year, 1.6 million people die of lung cancer, according to figures. This includes 35,000 in the UK and around 150,000 in the US. The new study suggested that six per cent of these have never smoked, while 21 per cent were younger than 55. Professor Samuel Janes, medical adviser to the British Lung Foundation, said: 'Anybody can get lung cancer though it is more common in smokers than people that have never smoked.' Jaelah Jerger's parents thought they had found a solution to their two-year-old daughter's seizures in an unlikely form: cannabis oil. Research has suggested the CBD, the active ingredient in the oil, may help to alleviate epileptic seizures, but the practice is still very new and many doctors and policymakers remain skeptical. The oil - which is free of the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, THC - was approved in the Jerger family's home state of Indiana but not, they soon found out, for treating Jaelah's condition. After initially encouraging them to use the oil if it worked, her parents, Lelah and Jade, say that the same physicians eventually called Child Protective Services on them. At two, Jaelah (center) has been in and out of two hospitals and another wellness center as her parents Jade (left) and Lelah (right) try to find the best treatment for her epileptic seizures Lelah, a mother-of-five, noticed that a change would suddenly come over her daughter beginning when Jaelah was only six months old. The cheery toddler would have what looked like a 'startled reflex,' Lelah says. 'She would be walking around and then just have these jerk, and all of a sudden her arms would go up,' she adds. Nine months later, in May 2017, Jaelah had an episode so intense that she fell. Lelah rushed her little girl to a hospital - the first of countless trips the family would make. An EEG at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health revealed that Jaelah was indeed having epileptic seizures. That night, someone from the hospital called the Jerger family home and started rattling off medications they recommended to treat Jaelah. They all seemed to Lelah to have more side effects than benefits. The first drug suggested to her could keep Jaelah from sweating. Jaelah, two, is an 'outside baby,' her mother says, and this was one of the reasons that she did not want her daughter on a seizure medication that might cause her to overheat 'She's an outside baby, if she could be outside 24/7, she would. If she isn't going to be able to sweat, she's going to overheat, so I don't think that's is an option for her,' Lelah says. The second option was Keppra, a common anti-seizure drug, which could cause her already slight underweight daughter to lose her appetite. Frustrated, Lelah told the hospital she and her husband wanted a little time to do their research and discuss what was best for Jaelah. 'She didn't really seem upset, she just said, "okay, fine, let me know,"' Lelah remembers. Lelah and Jade decided to try a 'functional wellness center' her sister had recommended. There, a chiropractic neurologist with a PhD suggested Jaelah try cannabidiol, or CBD oil. CBD oil consists of only the non-psychoactive ingredient of marijuana and has shown promise for treating epilepxy Earlier this month, an FDA advisory committee unanimously voted that the regulatory body approve a CBD oil for treating two rare, severe forms of epilepsy. In one study, CBD oil halved the number of seizures had by patients aged between two and 26, according the Epilepsy Foundation. For Jaelah, the results were practically instantaneous. 'We started seeing the results right away with Jaelah. Within a couple of days we saw a reduction,' says Lelah. Jaelah hated the taste of the CBD, but before starting on it, 'she had up to 30 noticeable seizures a day. Then she was down to one or two a day,' her mother claims. Currently, marijuana is legal for medical use in 29 states in the US. It is not broadly legal in Indiana, but in April 2017, the state signed a bill into law allowing seizure patients to get low-THC cannabidiol if their neurologists signed off on it. Jaelah's case was complicated. When Lelah told Riley's that she wanted to keep her daughter on CBD oil for a while before trying Keppra, she claims the reaction was ambivalent. But that tune quickly changed during a series of follow-up calls and appointments. Months later, 'in a matter of hours,' Lelah says, three phone calls with Riley's devolved from conversations about logistics to the hospital informing Lelah that they had called Child Protective Services (CPS), she claims. In response to their ordeal with CPS, the Jergers have started #Justice for Jaelah and are suing the agency for wrongfully taking a blood sample from their daughter Lelah says the hospital hadn't asked about Jaelah's medications, but, in fact, she had started her daughter on a low dose of Keppra on the basis of a second opinion, even though the toddler wasn't tolerating the medicine well. Still CPS showed up, and told Lelah and Jade they had to keep their daughter on Keppra, plus prove every week through lab tests that she was taking the drug, or face medical neglect charges and lose their daughter. They started Jaelah on Keppra, and quit the CBD oil. 'She was just walking around the house, crying for no reason...she threw up and lost her appetite for the first time in her life,' Lelah says. Now that her daughter is taking CBD oil alone again, Lelah (left) says that Jaelah (right) has been seizure-free for four days CPS claimed that Lelah and Jade were not keeping to the regimented lab tests, but in reality, Lelah says, the agency was asking for the lab work back before it would be ready. The Jerger's were able to prove that they were keeping their appointments, and, under the supervision of a new neurologist, CPS has backed off. Now, Lelah and Jade are suing CPS for taking a blood sample from their daughter without the proper legal permission to do so. The new neurologist has taken the little girl off Keppra and put her on only CBD, or 'Charlotte's Web,' as Lelah calls it. 'Now we're on day-four seizure free, and we're just so excited,' says Lelah. Scientists will test if cannabis eases the symptoms of autism. The University of California, San Diego, has announced plans to launch such a study next year, with others due to begin at New York University, the Montefiore Medical Center and the Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem. Dr Orrin Devinsky, who is involved in the two upcoming US studies, said: 'There's an enormous amount of [cannabis] usage because 29 states and [the] District of Columbia have approved medical marijuana. 'In many of those states, parents of children with autism are able to obtain medical marijuana from a physician and use it to treat a variety of different problems, from anxiety, to aggressive behavior, to sleep problems.' He adds, however, studies need to be conducted to determine if cannabis use in children with autism is safe. Experts are interested to see cannabis' effects in autism patients after past trials have suggested a nutritional supplement in marijuana, known as cannabidiol (CBD), eases epilepsy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around one in 59 children in the US are affected by autism to some extent. Scientists will test if cannabis eases autism in a study launching next year (stock) DOES CANNABIS HELP ALCOHOL OR COCAINE ADDICTS? A supplement derived from cannabis may help alcohol and cocaine addicts overcome their cravings, research suggested in March 2018. Recovering rats given cannabidiol (CBD) are less likely to relapse when exposed to drugs, a study, by the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, found. This is thought to be due to the supplement easing anxiety and stress, as well as reducing impulsive behaviour, according to the researchers. After just three days of receiving CBD, recovering rats are still less likely to relapse five months later, the study found. The researchers hope the findings will assist in the development of treatments to prevent human drug relapses. CBD is a cannabis-derived nutritional supplement that is thought to possess a range of medicinal benefits and has been reported to help people suffering from migraines, psoriasis, acne and depression. Legal in the UK, it does not contain any THC, which is the psychoactive component of marijuana that makes users 'high'. Speaking of the findings, lead author Dr Friedbert Weiss said: 'The efficacy of the CBD to reduce reinstatement in rats with both alcohol and cocaine - and, as previously reported, heroin - histories predicts therapeutic potential for addiction treatment across several classes of abused drugs. 'The results provide proof of principle supporting the potential of CBD in relapse prevention along two dimensions: beneficial actions across several vulnerability states and long-lasting effects with only brief treatment. 'Drug addicts enter relapse vulnerability states for multiple reasons. 'Therefore, effects such as these observed with CBD that concurrently ameliorate several of these are likely to be more effective in preventing relapse than treatments targeting only a single state.' Advertisement What the study will involve? Researchers from the University of California will assess whether CBD relieves autism symptoms in severe sufferers. CBD does not contain THC, which is what makes users 'high' and is legal in the UK. As well as determining CBD's safety, the researchers plan to investigate whether the substance alters patients' chemical messengers, improves brain connectivity or lowers inflammation. The study will include 30 children aged between eight and 12 years old. Dr Devinsky said: 'Hopefully, it will be found to be effective, and hopefully, it will be found to be very safe for these individuals. But right now, we just don't have that knowledge.' Another New York-based study will assess cannabis' non-psychotic substance cannabidivarin in 100 children with autism. The Israeli trial will include 150 people aged five-to-21 to determine the effects of both CBD and THC over 12 weeks. The Ray and Tye Noorda Foundation, a non-profit company in Utah, donated $4.7 million to the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research at the University of California in the largest ever private funding into medical cannabis research in the UK. Cannabis drug halves the risk of an epileptic seizure in more than 40% of patients A supplement derived from cannabis halves the risk of suffering a seizure in 44 percent of epilepsy patients, new research suggests. Taking CBD alongside the commonly-prescribed medication clobazam also makes 10 percent of epilepsy patients drug-free, a study found. The dual treatment also enables up to 26 percent of people with epilepsy to reduce their medications' doses, the research adds. Introducing CBD into epilepsy patients' drug regimens also makes 14 percent feel more alert and better able to communicate, the study found. The researchers, from Vanderbilt University, analysed the medical records of 108 paediatric epilepsy patients, which were collected between January 2006 and December 2016. The study's participants were separated according to whether they took CBD, clobazam or both. Their seizure frequency was assessed. THE HUSBAND HUNTERS by Anne de Courcy (W&N 9.99) THE HUSBAND HUNTERS by Anne de Courcy (W&N 9.99) Between 1870 and 1914, an invasion of wealthy, attractive young American women arrived in Europe, bent on marrying into the aristocracy. From the unhappy Consuelo Vanderbilt, who spent her wedding morning in tears, before making a miserable marriage to the Duke of Marlborough, to the racy Jennie Jerome, who married Lord Randolph Churchill and became the mother of Winston Churchill, the American heiresses outspoken, educated and exquisitely dressed outshone their shy and dowdy British counterparts. Still, having bagged their Earls, the newly ennobled Americans didnt always settle down to a life of wedded bliss and, as Anne de Courcy explains in her meticulously researched and sparklingly witty history, the lack of plumbing in stately homes appalled some . . . SOUND THE HUSBAND HUNTERS by Anne de Courcy (W&N 9.99) by Bella Bathurst (Profile 8.99) In the summer of 1998, when she was 27, writer Bella Bathurst became deaf. Her hearing had been deteriorating and an audiologist confirmed that she needed hearing aids. If her friends were hardly sympathetic most of them just laughed, and one said, Youre not going deaf! You just dont listen Bellas response was furious denial. She wrote six books in a decade, researched the experience of others who had lost their hearing, from Beethoven to General Sir Peter de la Billiere. I fought the deafness and myself for as long as I could. Then I just got sad. A decade later, pioneering surgery offered her the chance to regain her lost sense. This is a brave and elegant memoir of the infinite nuances of hearing and listening. GASTROPHYSICS GASTROPHYSICS by Professor Charles Spence (Viking 9.99) by Professor Charles Spence (Viking 9.99) Charles Spences grandfather had a grocers shop in Bradford. He used to crush coffee beans underfoot behind the counter when customers came in, to release an enticing smell. He had discovered olfactory sensory marketing though he wouldnt have called it that so perhaps its no surprise that his grandson became an Oxford University academic specialising in gastrophysics. Professor Spence has worked with chef Heston Blumenthal, who provides the foreword, declaring that: We eat with our eyes, ears, nose, memory, imagination and our gut. He explains how our perception of food is affected by all our senses. Among other bizarre foodie facts is the revelation that food in motion is perceived to be fresher hence all those M&S ads of oozing chocolate pudding. WEST by Carys Davies (Granta 12.99) WEST by Carys Davies (Granta 12.99) Set in 1815 in Frontier America, this economical first novel by acclaimed short story writer Davies can be read in a sitting, but has the scope and resonance of an epic. Not a word is wasted as we follow widowed settler Cy Bellman on his journey west across the continent in search of the monsters whose existence appears to him to be confirmed by recent skeletal discoveries in Kentucky. However, back at home in Pennsylvania, his young daughter Bess has attracted the attention of predatory ranch-hand Elmer Jackson, and without her father to defend her, her situation looks increasingly dire. The result is a page-turner that can stop you in your tracks to linger over a sentence. (A lesser novel might, in fact, be capsized by their impact.) Its a bravura performance seasons come and go in a handful of words and there are masterful shifts of perspective and tense but Daviess artistry is matched by her storytelling powers, and her denouement is cheer-raisingly satisfying. LET ME BE LIKE WATER LET ME BE LIKE WATER by S.K. Perry (Melville House 14.99) by S.K. Perry (Melville House 14.99) Perrys plot sounds familiar: grief-stricken heroine finds comfort in friendship and food. Yet partly thanks to the nervy authenticity of its narrators voice, this novel never feels formulaic. The setting is Brighton, where twentysomething songwriter Holly has moved in the wake of her boyfriend Sams tragic death. Following a chance encounter with retired magician, part-time baker and book-club host Frank who, fortunately, doesnt loom as large as you might fear she is soon adopted by a new circle of friends, attractive Danny among them. Theres little in the way of action, but the brevity of the numbered fragments of narrative, together with regular flashbacks to Holly and Sams developing romance, keep things moving along. Raw, visceral and confident enough to resist the neat ending that beckons, this is an affecting debut. THE VALLEY AT THE CENTRE OF THE WORLD by Malachy Tallack (Canongate 14.99) THE VALLEY AT THE CENTRE OF THE WORLD by Malachy Tallack (Canongate 14.99) The focal point of this thoughtful first novel is not a lush equatorial vale, but a secluded spot on the west coast of Shetland, a place of refuge to some and of last resort to others. For widowed novelist Alice, the valley provides both sanctuary and a sense of purpose: having devoted herself to exhaustively chronicling its history, she is now nearing the end of her task. Retired crofter David is also contemplating the end of an era following his daughters departure for the mainland and the death of the valleys eldest inhabitant, while newcomer Sandy finds himself on precarious ground as he struggles with his feelings for a married stranger. Tallacks concern here is with the push and pull of larger forces love, grief, guilt, need, the idea of home itself. Theyre potent themes that could, but rarely do, overshadow characters about which he writes with palpable tenderness. A native of Shetland himself, hes a sharp-eyed and evocative painter of place, and my only quibble was with the phonetically spelled dialogue which, while intended to give an authentic tang, is sadly something of a distraction. Hotshot City law firm Linklaters has asked its lawyers to declare any office romances to ensure 'any actual or potential conflict of interest' is properly managed. It has also launched an external whistleblowing hotline, so staff can report any untoward behaviour. The legal industry is a hotbed of incongruous activity. Industry watchdog the Solicitors Regulation Authority says sexual harassment complaints by lawyers tallied at one a month last year in the sector. There's been an outbreak of mumps on Goldman Sachs's New York trading floor. Several of the bank's employees have been sent home after contracting the virus, which results in a chubby, distinctive 'hamster face' appearance. Is bristly-faced Goldman boss Lloyd Blankfein, 62, among the invalids? 'No, Lloyd's just always looks like that,' I am advised. Too unkind, surely? Marks & Spencer's latest ruse to bolster its flagging food division is to have staff list their favourite products on their identification badges. Will the M&S top brass be joining in? A waggish source reckons gnomish chairman Archie Norman's a fan of flame-seared artichokes, explaining: 'They're prickly on the outside, not to everyone's taste and quite hard to digest.' Sir Richard Branson's new private equity partner, Metric Capital bigwig John Sinik, is an old friend. Like Beardie, handsome Sinik, 49, boasts both a social conscience and a daring taste for adventure. He once took his young son to volunteer (what a treat!) for a charity close to the war-torn Syrian border which helped youngsters overcome post-traumatic stress disorder. The refined readers of Elite Traveler magazine have named Chicago eaterie Alinea as the world's best restaurant. Diverse dishes at the 300-a-head joint include 'Lily bulb and rambutan fruit with distillation of caviar lime' and 'Scallop with citrus aroma and fourteen textures.' Elite Traveler bills itself as 'the private jet lifestyle magazine', so it's safe to say the hearty fare at Nando's was never likely to get a look-in. A boom in airplane broadband sales sent shares in one of Britain's biggest technology companies flying. Satellite communication firm Inmarsat reported a 4.8 per cent increase in revenue to 254million in the first three months of the year, boosted by a 39 per cent increase in the division that supplies wifi to planes. The success of its aviation division pushed pre-tax profits up to 41.2million in the first quarter, up from 960,000 in the same period of 2017. The announcement is a major boost to Britain's technology sector following a cooling of investor sentiment that wiped billions off share prices. Sky net: Satellite communication firm Inmarsat reported a 4.8 per cent increase in revenue to 254m in the first three months of the year Rupert Pearce, chief executive, said: 'Given our track record, unique capabilities, differentiated market position and strong channels to market, we are increasingly well placed to deliver further annual revenue growth across all of our target markets.' Shares flew 8.1 per cent, or 29.4p, higher to 391.2p. The FTSE 100 ended the day up 0.3 per cent, or 22.84 points, at 7543.2, while the FTSE 250 rose 0.8 per cent, or 157.95 points, to 20,506.27. Sage, Britain's largest software firm, has fired 30 senior executives following a sharp fall in profits. The accountancy software giant reported a 7.1 per cent increase in revenues but a 5 per cent fall in profits in the six months to March 31. In recent years the firm has had to contend with increasing competition from the likes of Salesforce and Netsuite. Stock Watch - VR Education Shares in VR Education rocketed after one of its virtual reality apps was chosen to be bundled with a much-hyped new headset. The Apollo 11 VR app uses archive footage of the Apollo 11 space mission to let users witness the first moon landing through virtual reality. The app will be included as part of the launch collection for Oculus Go, a new type of headset that doesnt require a phone or PC to work. Shares soared 43.5 per cent, or 4.7p, to 15.5p. Shares actually rose 0.2 per cent, or 1p, to 637.4p reflecting investor relief that the company is trying to address its problems, says Russ Mould of broker AJ Bell. 'The company has run into problems as it attempts to convert its small business customers to subscription-based services to improve revenue visibility,' said Mould. 'This is a laudable aim, but the disappointing outcome shows the risk of a company shifting its sales strategy.' IWG, the serviced office provider, was the FTSE 250's biggest faller after weak revenue growth and a slump in cash generation. Currency headwinds meant it grew revenues by just 0.6 per cent in the three months ending March 31, while it generated 9.5million in cash, down from 23.7million a year earlier. Shares fell 4.1 per cent, or 10p, to 234p. Indivior, the FTSE 250-listed anti-addiction drug maker, reported a 6pc slump in revenue and 11 per cent hit to operating profits in the first three months of the year. It was knocked by a loss of market share in the US for an opioid addiction treatment which has come under pressure from generic copycats. Shares dipped 1.3 per cent, or 6p, to 455p. In the small caps, broker RBC Capital Partners downgraded Nostrum Oil & Gas from 'outperform' to 'perform' after a disappointing update in which the firm said water had disrupted production in two wells. It also cut the oil company's target price from 415p to 395p. Shares fell 4.9 per cent, or 14.5p, to 282p. On Aim, shares in Photon Star crashed as it raised 450,000 from investors for a next-generation wireless lighting system. Shares tanked 20.8 per cent, or 0.1p, to 0.4p. A revenue warning hit shares in Hydrodec, a clean-technology oil refining company. It expects to make 2.6million in the year to March 31, down from 3.3million the previous year, due to lower sales. Shares slid 15.9 per cent, or 0.28p, to 1.45p. Personal care product maker Innova Derma popped after it launched a premature ejaculation device in the US and Australia. It is also seeking regulatory approval to launch in the UK and Europe later this year. Shares shot up 10.7 per cent, or 16p, to 165p. Shares in Springfield Properties, the Scottish builder, leapt 8 per cent, or 10p, to 134p after a 20.1million deal to buy rival Dawn Homes. Whitbread chief exec Alison Brittain was awarded 2.1m worth of shares under two of the company's share-based incentive plans Top directors at Whitbread have been handed more than 12million of shares as it prepares to spin off Costa Coffee. Chief executive Alison Brittain, 53, was awarded 2.1million worth of shares under two of the company's share-based incentive plans, while Costa's managing director Dominic Paul, 46, got 2.5million. The group's general counsel Chris Vaughan, 53, and operations and transformation director Nigel Jones, 51, will get payouts of 1.3million and 2.1million each. Simon Jones, 41, managing director of Whitbread's Premier Inn and restaurants division, and Mark Anderson, 47, the head of Premier Inn in Germany, both got 1.4million. Whitbread's finance director Nicholas Cadbury, 52, was awarded 1million in shares, while HR director Louise Smalley, 50, landed 643,000. The awards are based on past and future performance, some of which will be paid out in three years' time. The payouts come shortly after the 8billion hospitality firm confirmed it will list its coffee business separately. Whitbread caved in to investor pressure after two hedge funds, Sachem Head and Elliott Advisors, took a stake in the firm to push for a break-up. Rumours of a split had been brewing since last autumn when bankers Credit Suisse said that Whitbread could spin off Costa, and in doing so provide better returns for shareholders. Costa is planning to open more drive-thru cafes and put its express machines into more shops and motorway service stations. It is also ramping up expansion in China while Premier Inn wants to push further into Germany. Whitbread announced it would split the business little more than a week after vulture hedge fund Elliott took a stake. Whitbread's share price has surged almost 9 per cent since Elliott invested in the firm. SOARING SALES Low-cost airline Ryanair reported a 9 per cent rise in the number of passengers carried in April, to 12.3m. LISTING DEALS Estate agent-backed property website On The Market has struck listing agreements with more than 7,500 branches, adding 2,000 since its February stock market debut. Visits to the site reached 13.7m in April up from 5.5m a year earlier. REVENUE UP Kitchen and joinery products supplier Howden Joinery increased revenues by 13 per cent in the 16 weeks to April 21. PAIR LEAVE Chief customer officer Lysa Hardy was made redundant by fashion firm Joules, and chief commercial officer Kara Groves is leaving to join womenswear brand Mint Velvet. PROFITS RISE Profits at Standard Chartered bank jumped to 920million in the first quarter of 2018, up 20 per cent on a year earlier. But shares fell 1 per cent, or 7.9p, to 761.4p. FLOAT PLAN Housebuilding lender Urban Exposure is to float in London for 165million. The firm, which doles out cash to developers, will join the Aim junior stock market. JOB SWITCH London-based lawyer and partner Richard Trobman is in the running to take over at the US titan Latham & Watkins after its boss Bill Voge quit in March over a sex scandal. REGULATION PLEA Online currency group Crypto UK is calling on MPs to regulate the Wild West market. It says the Financial Conduct Authority should be given new powers to oversee the industry. CHAIR QUITS The chairman of insurer Phoenix is stepping down as it does a 3.2billion deal to buy business from rival Standard Life Aberdeen. Henry Staunton, 70, will quit once a replacement has been found. HEAD NAMED Former Barclays banker Lord Cromwell has been appointed to dole out a 775million fund intended to boost business banking competition. Cromwell will be executive chairman of Banking Competition Remedies. The cash has been provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland to reduce its dominant market position, as a condition of its bailout by taxpayers. HOSPITALITY GROWTH International hospitality firm PPHE Hotel Group grew revenue by 1.5 per cent to 58.4million in the three months to the end of March. Advertisement Slain burglar Henry Vincent's fraudster father is living as the 'Lord of the Manor' on a sprawling 1.7million farm which his wife bought from a pensioner for 'a fraction of its true worth', MailOnline can reveal. Henry Vincent senior's wife Rosemary, 59, has taken ownership of the Grade II listed detached farmhouse where their son was living before he died and 40 acres of land from retired Dudley Wright, 72. Land registry documents show that Mrs Vincent bought the palatial home called Snagbrook in Hollingbourne, Kent, on April 12, for a cut price 325,000 six times less than its true market value. The five-bedroom house and land were sold in five separate titles with each valued at 65,000 for a total of 325,000 in Mrs Vincent's name, the documents show. Slain Hither Green burglar Henry Vincent's father is living as the 'Lord of the Manor' in a 1.7million Grade II listed building in Kent (pictured) after his wife Rosemary bought the property for a knock down price from a reclusive pensioner aged 72 Land registry documents show that Mrs Vincent bought the palatial farmhouse called Snagbrook in Hollingbourne, Kent, and 40 acres of land on April 12, for just 325,000 six times less than its true market value. Estate agents says it's worth 1.7m Henry Vincent Snr, 59, (left), a career criminal who has been jailed for a building scam where his gang preyed on pensioners and doing unnecessary building work moved his caravan onto the estate with his wife Rosemary, 59, (right) two years ago The Vincents' son Henry Jnr, 37 (right) was stabbed to death with his own screwdriver by pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78 (left) as he burgled the pensioner's home in Hither Green on April 4. No charges were brought against Mr Osborn-Brooks As the Vincents prepare for the controversial funeral of their burglar son tomorrow, local estate agents have valued the sprawling site in the region of 1.7million. Vincent Jnr, 37, died as he robbed the home of Richard Osborn-Brooks in Hither Green on April 4. He ended up being stabbed with his own screwdriver during a scuffle with the former RAC office manager. He collapsed and died after staggering onto the pavement. Back at the farm imposing signs have been put up around the property reminding visitors they are not welcome with warnings that CCTV has been installed. There are also signs proclaiming 'Beware...German Shepherd on Patrol' and MailOnline saw two German Shepherds running freely in the grounds. Soon after the Vincents moved in around two years ago, Mr Wright's cattle were sold and a long-serving farm worker, who had lived in a house in the grounds, was duly removed and lost his job. It is unclear how the 59-year-old career criminal Vincent Snr who was jailed for being part of a gang who preyed on pensioners to carry out unnecessary building work and opera loving Mr Wright met and came to be living on the property together. A former neighbour said that three years ago Vincent Snr began work on the property and parked his caravan on the land where he slept while he was there. Mr Wright is now believed to sleeping in a static mobile home on a long drive away from the main house while the Vincents are thought to be staying in the caravan parked beside the house. A short time after Vincent Snr and his flame-haired wife began living there divorced father-of-one Mr Wright wrote to his ex-wife Winifred Wright saying that their daughter Davina, 41, was being written out of his will. The Vincents began living on the farm (pictured) two years ago. It is unclear how career criminal Vincent Snr and Mr Wright, a divorced father-of-one came to know each other. Mr Wright's ex-wife Winifred Wright said that shortly after the Vincents moved in Mr Wright wrote to tell her that their daughter Davina, 41, was being written out of his will Mr Wright, 72, is reportedly living in this static caravan on the 40-acre site. Locals in Hollingbourne have also raised concern over the well-being of Mr Wright, who was once a vocal member of their community, but is not now often seen in the village A former neighbour said that three years ago Vincent Snr began work on the property and parked his caravan on the land where he slept while he was there. Soon after the Vincents moved in around two years ago, Mr Wright's cattle were sold and a long-serving farm worker, who had lived in a house in the grounds, was duly removed and lost his job Mrs Wright, 72, whom he married in 1972 and broke up four years later, said was so concerned about his health and safety that she contacted the police. 'They told me that as we were divorced they could not tell me anything about him so as not to interfere in his privacy,' she said. 'But two years ago I received a letter from Dudley saying that our daughter was being disinherited from his estate. That was a big shock.' Locals in Hollingbourne have also raised concern over the well-being of Mr Wright, who was once a vocal member of their community. The wife of Mr Wright (pictured on his wedding day in 1972) was so concerned about his welfare she contacted the police Their fears were even raised at a local parish council meeting in October 2016 when members spoke about how the pensioner had disappeared and had not been seen around the area. A council member told the meeting he was 'very concerned that Mr Wright had not been seen for months in the village shop or around the village which was unusual'. He contacted the local police community support officer Dave Rowley 'to check on his welfare' but Mr Rowley did not register any concerns for Mr Wright. Mike Bedwell, leader of the Parish Council, said: 'There are a lot of questions about Mr Wright. He appears not to have a vehicle now and hasn't been seen for months. 'He used to be seen regularly out and about doing his shopping in the local convenience store and the owner was his friend. 'But he hasn't been in there for a couple of years and his friends and local residents have a lot of questions about what has happened to him. We are worried. 'He is an elderly gentleman who used to write a lot of complaining letters to the parish council, but they stopped suddenly. 'We have heard he is still living on the property but there have also been rumours that he was in a mobile home, in care or living above a shop in Ashford. We have checked and there is no sign of him.' The council member added: 'There was a farm manager and cowman called Walter who lived in a house on Dudley Wright's farm. 'He had been there forever looking after the animals and so on and suddenly he was given notice to leave. 'His family appealed to the parish council to try and do something. But the parish council couldn't, except express concern. 'We did feel uncomfortable about the situation regarding Mr Wright. When MailOnline rang the house and asked to speak to Mr Wright, a woman slammed the phone down after saying: 'He's not available.' Meanwhile disquiet among the villagers of Hollingbourne intensified when Vincent junior was killed and his family's criminal history was revealed. The Vincents have been known to fleece the old in a variety of mainly cowboy building scams. Their vile tricks of the trade include showing rotten pieces of wood they have brought with them to convince octogenarians they need repairs done. They also like to squirt water onto the interior walls of pensioners' homes to pretend there is a damp problem. Vincent Snr, one of at least nine members of the Vincent family to spend time in jail, is a master of these dirty tricks. His last known prison sentence for such an offence ended only recently. In 2003 he, his son and five of his brothers were jailed for a total of more than 28 years between them for a 450,000 building scam. They would knock on the doors of elderly people telling them they had structural problems with their homes and quoting large fees to fix them. The victims were then pressured into paying, with some even being marched to the banks to withdraw funds. The Vincents are preparing for the controversial funeral of their son Vincent Jnr, which will be held tomorrow. The family will hold a two-day vigil around his body telling stories about him before planning a procession around the streets of south-est London. A source close to the family say it will be a 'big send off' costing in the region of 100,000. Pictured: Friends and family of Vincent Jnr leave flowers and balloons at a memorial near the house in Hither Green where he died Vincent Jnr's friends and family (pictured) clashed with locals as they set up a shrine to the slain burglar in Hither Green, south London, only for residents living there to tear it down again One woman in her 80s ended up signing over her 150,000 home to cover the cost of guttering and other building work. Just five years later, in 2008, he joined his son once again to swindle an 81-year-old man out of 72,000 for roof repairs. This time, however, he went on the run, leaving his son to take the rap (for which he was jailed). Vincent Snr was caught in September 2010 and jailed for six years the following August. Now residents in the sleepy village of Hollingbourne say they are losing sleep at night knowing that a conman like Henry Vincent has become their neighbour. 'After his son, who had been here a lot, died there was a steady procession of Vincents here. We wish they would just move on but now they look like they are going to be around for a long time and it is very unpalatable' said a neighbour who asked not to be identified. Mr Wright and the Vincents declined to comment when approached by MailOnline. Donald Trump could still be given the honour of a speech at Parliament when he visits Britain. Peers are urging the Lord Speaker to defy a ban imposed by his Commons counterpart John Bercow on the US President addressing politicians, MailOnline can reveal. Mr Bercow launched a tirade against Mr Trump from the Speaker's chair last year - vowing to deny him permission to give a speech in Westminster Hall. But while he was cheered to the rafters by Labour MPs as he condemned the president's immigration curbs on mainly-Muslim countries, the intervention drew fury from Tories who accused Mr Bercow of wading into international diplomacy and putting the Special Relationship at risk. Peers are now pushing for the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, to step in and offer the use of the lavish Royal Gallery for Mr Trump to deliver a speech - either during his working trip in July or on a future State Visit. Following months of wrangling, the White House finally confirmed last week that Mr Trump will visit the UK on July 13. A red-carpet State Visit is still being planned after that John Bercow launched a tirade against Mr Trump from the Speaker's chair last year (pictured) - vowing to deny him permission to give a speech in Westminster Hall Lords sources believe the Lord Speaker (pictured) could offer the use of the Royal Gallery without getting approval from Mr Bercow They believe Lord Fowler is 'receptive' to the idea after he sharply criticised Mr Bercow for declaring a unilateral ban and said he was 'open minded' on whether the honour should be granted. Lords sources believe the Lord Speaker could offer the use of the Royal Gallery without getting approval from Mr Bercow. Support for bypassing the Commons Speaker could be fuelled by growing anger at his handling of allegations about bullying of staff. The Royal Gallery has been used as the venue for numerous speeches by visiting foreign leaders in the past. Ronald Reagan addressed MPs and peers there in 1982, and last year it hosted President Xi Jinping of China. Who decides whether foreign leaders can speak at Parliament? The rules on speeches by foreign dignitaries at Parliament are dictated by conventions and traditions that have developed over hundreds of years. The use of Westminster Hall is closely guarded by three powerful keyholders. The ancient hall - the oldest part of the Parliamentary estate that dates back around 1,000 years - has played a pivotal role in UK history. It is protected by the Speakers of the Commons and Lords and the Great Lord Chamberlain, on behalf of the Queen. Currently they are John Bercow for the Commons, Lord Fowler for the Lords and David Cholmondeley, 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. Speeches in the hall are rare. US President Barack Obama, South African President Nelson Mandela and Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi are among the select few. Events cannot take place without the agreement of the key holders. However, the Lord Speaker does appear to have scope to authorise use of the Royal Gallery without Mr Bercow's agreement. That opulent venue is under the control of the Upper House, and has been used to host numerous speeches - including by Ronald Reagan in 1982 and Xi Jinping of China last year. Mr Bercow previously referred to a 'convention' that invitations are issued jointly by the Speakers - but conceded that he does not have the final word when it comes to the Lords estate. Advertisement Lord Fowler pointed out that since becoming Lord Speaker the king of Spain and president of Colombia had spoken in the Royal Gallery - the use of which had been approved by him and Lords official Black Rod, rather than Mr Bercow. He added: 'No conversations have taken place between the House of Lords and the UK Government regarding President Trump coming to the Royal Gallery. 'Any request for him to speak in the Royal Gallery would be discussed if and when it were received. 'The United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom.' Following months of wrangling, the White House finally confirmed last week that Mr Trump will visit the UK on July 13. He is expected to hold talks with Theresa May and potentially meet the Queen - although the details are still being hammered out. Critics who accuse him of fuelling sexism and racist rhetoric have promised to stage mass demonstrations on the streets of London. But ministers have insisted it is right that the leader of Britain's closest ally visits and is treated with respect. Boris Johnson praised the announcement of the trip as 'fantastic news'. Mrs May was among the first foreign leaders to Mr Trump in the White House in January last year, when she extended an invite for a red-carpet State Visit. However, planning stalled amid fears over mass protests, and the president pulled out of a working visit in February to open the new US embassy in London. He also earned a public rebuke from the Prime Minister after sharing anti-Muslim tweets from far-Right group Britain First. US ambassador Woody Johnson insisted last week that the State Visit will happen. Former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit told MailOnline he would like to see the Lord Speaker offer to host the US president for a speech. 'I think it would be appropriate for him to be invited. I think there would probably be support from a lot of peers for doing so not least because it would get up the nose of the Corbynites,' he said. 'John Bercow took a unilateral decision. I am not sure he has the power to. 'We can normally rely on him doing anything that is against the Conservative Party.' The Royal Gallery was used as the venue for a speech by President Xi Jinping of China last year President Ronald Reagan delivered a speech to MPs and peers in the Royal Gallery in 1982 Former Labour trade minister Lord Digby Jones said: 'I think it would be an excellent idea. 'Trump is the democratically elected leader of our largest trading partner, our biggest inward investor and the guarantor, when all's said and done, of our security. 'The bosses of China and Saudi Arabia are happily invited.' Commons Speaker is meant to stay out of party politics For hundreds of years the Speaker has presided over the House of Commons. The holder of the post traditionally maintains political neutrality, not least to avoid suggestions of bias when he or she chairs parliamentary debates. By convention, the parties do not field candidates in the Speaker's constituency at general elections. But John Bercow, who has held the post since 2009, has come under fire for what some see as a lack of impartiality. His insistence that Donald Trump be barred from addressing Parliament caused anger. He has also revealed he voted Remain in the EU referendum, and a sticker saying 'B*****s to Brexit' has been spotted on his car. In 2013, Mr Bercow was condemned as 'a disgrace to the office of Speaker' after he suggested that Eastern European immigrants have more 'aptitude and commitment' to work than British people. Advertisement Conservative peer Lord Cormack, a respected constitutional expert, said: 'He is the President of the United States, our most important ally. My own personal views on him are completely irrelevant - we should give him the opportunity to speak to both Houses.' He added: 'He should be received with proper good manners, and as far as a speech is concerned...he would speak where most other presidents have spoken - in the Royal Gallery. 'It would be an address to both Houses of Parliament, and that would be entirely appropriate.' Another Conservative peer, who did not wish to be named, said Mr Bercow's decision to block the use of Westminster Hall had 'interfered with the diplomatic interests of the country'. The peer added: 'You have to accept that in the democratic world you do business with whoever is elected, and in this instance, in relations with the US, Britain has let France steal a march on it. 'Given the way the world is evolving we need to be friendly with the US. 'I think that the adverse reaction to Trump on a personal level is understandable, but on the diplomatic level it is extremely foolish.' Downing Street refused to comment on the idea, but sources said arrangements for the visit in July are ongoing. In his extraordinary statement on the prospect of a Trump visit in February last year, Mr Bercow said: 'An address by a foreign leader to both House of Parliament is not an automatic right. It is an earned honour.' Theresa May invited Donald Trump to visit Britain when she met him at the White House in January last year (pictured) He said the three 'keyholders' for Westminster Hall - the Commons and Lords Speakers and the Queen's Lord Great Chamberlain - usually worked 'by consensus' to authorise the use of the venue. The Lord Speaker is a Tory grandee who served in the Thatcher and Major Cabinets Lord Fowler was elected Lord Speaker by fellow peers in 2016, replacing Baroness D'Souza. He entered the House in 2001 after stepping down as an MP following more than three decades in the Commons. Lord Fowler played a prominent role in Margaret Thatcher's Cabinet, serving as Transport Secretary, Health Secretary and lastly as Employment Secretary. He also had the job of Tory chairman in Sir John Major's government in the 1990s. Advertisement But he added: 'After the imposition of the migrant ban by President Trump, I am even more strongly opposed to an address by President Trump in Westminster Hall.' Mr Bercow admitted he did 'not perhaps have as strong a say' in whether the Royal Gallery was used as a venue, but insisted that 'customarily an invitation to a visiting leader to deliver an address there would be issued in the names of the two Speakers'. 'I would not wish to issue an invitation to President Trump to speak in the Royal Gallery,' he added. A clearly angry Lord Fowler confirmed afterwards that he had not been consulted before Mr Bercow's outburst, and suggested it might be 'better' if neither of them had the power to veto such prestigious addresses. Currently the Royal Gallery is being used to house paintings that are being restored. But there is not thought to be any obstacle to its use for a speech. A family has escaped unharmed after a runaway garbage truck slammed into their home. A boy, 10, and a girl, 15, were saved after the truck trapped them inside their house in Lilyfield in Sydney's inner west just before 6pm on Wednesday. The truck started rolling forward after the driver got out to assist with emptying the bins on Gladstone Street. Scroll down for video A family has escaped unharmed after a runaway garbage truck slammed into their home A boy, 10, and a girl, 15, were saved after the truck trapped them inside their house in Lilyfield in Sydney's inner west just before 6pm on Wednesday The truck started rolling forward after the driver got out to assist with emptying the bins on Gladstone Street The driver, 35, was able to get back inside the truck which rolled down the street, crashing into a boat, a caravan and a car. The truck then smashed into the home on Brennan Street, ending up with the caravan stuck under its front tyres. Debris was left scattered in the truck's path, and the incident may have been caused by a brakes failure. 'Car, campervan, boat and car have all been taken out by this 12-tonne garbage truck,' said a witness on Wednesday night. 'Car, campervan, boat and car have all been taken out by this 12-tonne garbage truck,' said a witness (pictured, right) on Wednesday night The driver, 35, was able to get back inside the truck which rolled down the street, crashing into a boat, a caravan and a car The truck then smashed into the home on Brennan Street, ending up with the caravan stuck under its front tyres 'It's lost control and driven into the lounge room, and kid in the lounge room is okay but very very shaken.' 'It's basically lost its brakes,' another witness said at the scene. Police are investigating the crash, and the driver - who was uninjured - was taken to hospital for blood and urine testing. A police spokesperson said the truck will be examined mechanically. Australians are dobbing in Centrelink cheats as the government chases more than $100million worth of fraudulent welfare claims. In the last five years 500,000 people have come forward to notify authorities about someone they believe is cheating the system. A Tasmanian resident was sentenced to a jail term for making false welfare claims after they falsely claimed $150,000 in single parent benefits when they were actually married. Australians are dobbing in Centrelink cheats as the government chases more than $100million worth of fraudulent welfare claims (stock image) Others have been convicted of fraud or ordered to pay back thousands of dollars. Since July last year the government has received 80,000 tips, leading to the identification of more than $18million in debts. The government has said they are investigating every claim of welfare fraud. About 2000 Australians are dobbing in welfare frauds each week. So far, 70 of those claims of cheating the system have been referred to the director of public prosecutions. The figures come during a debate on the need to raise unemployment benefits ahead of next week's Budget announcement. In the last five years 500,000 people have come forward to notify authorities about someone they believe is cheating the system (stock image) Leading economist Chris Richardson said dole payments were 'unnecessarily cruel' and 'our standout failure as a nation'. Labor leader Bill Shorten said Centrelink payments requiring recipients to live on $40 a day were unfair. It is unclear if dole payments will be increased in the next Budget, but the government has said their plan is to help people get off welfare. The ABC is refusing to apologise for a comedy show repeatedly calling an Australian Conservatives candidate a 'c***'. In March, the Tonightly show hosted by Tom Ballard mocked up a poster of Batman by-election candidate Kevin Bailey. In the segment, comedian Greg Larsen used the vile word to describe the former SAS soldier, who was running in the inner-Melbourne seat which Labor's Ged Kearney easily won. Scroll down for video The ABC is refusing to apologise for a comedy show repeatedly calling an Australian Conservatives candidate a 'c***' in a mocked up poster of Kevin Bailey In the segment, comedian Greg Larsen used the vile word to describe the former SAS soldier, who was running in the inner-Melbourne seat held by Labor 'There is no Batman anywhere on that poster so I've had to improvise and I put, "Kevin Bailey is a c***",' Larsen said to Ballard. Communications Minister Mitch Fifield complained that segment had 'crossed a line' but the ABC's managing director Michelle Guthrie has dismissed his concern. Internal correspondence between the ABC boss and the Turnbull Government, obtained by News Corp Australia, said an evaluation of complains found 'no breaches' adding the program had not set out to 'cause anyone personal offence through an absurd comedy sketch'. That skit aired in the same month an ABC Indigenous comedy sketch, mocking commercial breakfast television programs like Sunrise, repeatedly referred to white people as 'c***s'. That skit aired in the same month an ABC Indigenous comedy sketch, mocking commercial breakfast television programs like Sunrise, repeatedly referred to white people as 'c***s' ABC political editor Andrew Probyn breached broadcasting standards of impartiality when he described former PM Tony Abbott as the 'most destructive politician of his generation' Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi expressed frustration one of his candidates could be described as a 'c***' as an ABC Canberra correspondent was reprimanded for bias In the skit, indigenous actress Nakkiah Lui asked her studio guests on 'Wake Up To Yourself' if an Aboriginal elder deserved to be sanctioned for using rude words to describe white people. This week, the Australian Communications and Media Authority found the ABC's political editor Andrew Probyn had breached broadcasting standards of impartiality when he described former prime minister Tony Abbott as the 'most destructive politician of his generation' in an October 2017 story on the flagship 7.30 program. Australian Conservatives leader Cory Bernardi expressed frustration that one of his candidates could be described in crude terms as an ABC Canberra correspondent was reprimanded for bias by the broadcasting regulator. 'Calling Tony Abbott a "destructive politician" breaches the code but calling a Conservative candidate a c**t on national TV is OK,' he tweeted. 'Their ABC is out of control.' The ABC, which is often accused of left-wing bias by conservative politicians, hired former Greens candidate Osman Faruqi as the deputy editor of a new lifestyle website It was also revealed this week that the taxpayer-funded ABC, which is often accused of left-wing bias by conservative politicians, has hired former Greens candidate Osman Faruqi as the deputy editor of a new lifestyle website. An ABC spokesman confirmed the former journalist with pop culture website Junkee, who is also the son of New South Wales Greens MP Mehreen Faruqi, would be involved in a'a new digital storytelling project created to reach new audiences in an innovative and engaging way'. Faruqi last year took legal action against former Labor leader Mark Latham, who used his online Outsiders program to accuse him of 'anti-white' racism over a series of tweets referencing white people to controversial Muslim activist Yassmin Abdel-Magied. This is the ex-boyfriend of a female Brazilian mining executive police are looking to speak to over her suspected murder. Police want to interview Marcelo Santoro in relation to the death of Cecilia Haddad, 38, whose body was found floating in the Lane Cove River, in north Sydney, on Sunday. Mr Santoro, 40, is believed to have flown home to Rio de Janeiro over the weekend, after moving his journey home forward by several days. Police said he was not a suspect, but one of a number of persons of interest, and want to check his alibi. Mr Santoro's sister told Daily Mail Australia she was expecting him to arrive home this week, but had not heard from him in recent days. It comes as Ms Haddad's mother begged police to 'catch the monster who killed her daughter' and told of her heartbreak at being stuck on the other side of the world. Police wish to speak to Marcelo Santoro (centre) over the suspected murder of his ex-girlfriend and business partner Cecilia Haddad. Mr Santoro is believed to have flown home to Brazil at the weekend, several days earlier than initially planned Ms Haddad (pictured), a Brazilian mining executive, was found floating in a Sydney river on Sunday Ms Haddad's mother (left) begged NSW Police to 'catch the monster who killed her daughter' (right) and told of her heartbreak at being stuck on the other side of the world 'I do not know if I will survive this tragedy... maybe if they arrest the murderer, I may have some relief,' Milu Muller told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'I would love to be there with my beloved and adored daughter, but I had cardiac surgery and I still do not have [my] doctor's permission for long flights.' Mr Santoro's sister told Daily Mail Australia she had no idea her brother had flown to Brazil earlier than expected. A TIMELINE OF CECILIA HADDAD'S DISAPPEARANCE: Friday, May 27 Ms Haddad attends a BBQ with friends before returning to her home at Ryde, north Sydney Saturday, May 28 8am-9.30am: The 38-year-old calls and messages several friends Ms Haddad has several plans with her friends on Saturday, but never turns up Neighbours recall seeing her unique Fiat 500 outside her St Annes St unit Sunday, May 29 10.15am: Ms Haddad's body is found floating in the Lane Cove River Friends report Ms Haddad missing to police. Her car is found at West Ryde railway station The weekend - unknown time Ms Haddad's ex-lover Marcelo Santoro flies to Rio de Janeiro from Sydney Advertisement 'I really don't know what is happening... he was due to come home this week,' she said. 'They had been dating for one or two years. Now, many people from Australia are writing me to ask about him and her.' Daily Mail Australia has confirmed that Mr Santaro and Ms Haddad began a business partnership in mid-2017, launching the disability service provider D.Care. The company and its website were registered in the friends' names. The company's principal place of business was Ms Haddad's home in Ryde which was under police guard on Wednesday. Friends of Ms Haddad, who was also known as 'CC' and 'Cissa', said she'd opened up to them about her recent professional and personal relationship issues. 'CC openly communicated with all her closest friends about the things that were happening in her life,' one friend said. Mr Santaro, a qualified engineer, had moved across the world from Brazil, where he worked in health services, to Sydney to be the start-up's managing director. 'D.CARE was established in 2017 as a partnership between two support workers from Sydney that saw a gap in the market,' the company website said. Ms Haddad (left, pictured with a friend) was reported missing just hours after police pulled a woman's body from the Lane Cove River Ms Haddad's ex-husband (left) flew from Perth to Sydney to help police with their investigation and identify the 38-year-old's body A body, suspected to be that of Cecilia Haddad, was discovered in the Lane Cove River on Sunday morning, the same day the Brazilian national was reported missing Police said Cecilia Haddad's red Fiat 500 was found at Ryde train station on Sunday afternoon Mr Santaro described his role as 'living and breathing the company's core values'. Ms Haddad started her own consulting business, CHC Consulting, last August, and was volunteering as a disability support worker with a separate company, HireUp. Moving to Australia in 2007, she worked in a number of senior roles with BHP Biliton before moving to Pacific National as head of operational planning. Ms Haddad's ex-husband, who lives in Western Australia, flew to Sydney on Monday to help police piece together the dead woman's final days. Friends of the businesswoman remembered someone who had the 'right blend of Latino fire, compassion and a wicked sense of humour'. 'Cecilia was a truly inspiring, funny and intelligent woman who didn't deserve to end her life this way. No one deserves this, however in Cecilia's case, a truly bright spark of humanity has been snuffed out causelessly,' one friend said. NSW Police Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim said Ms Haddad's car was found just hours after her body was discovered in a river Friends grew worried for Ms Haddad's welfare when she failed to turn up to various appointments on Saturday (pictured is the scene) Kayakers found her body floating in the Lane Cove River at Woolwich, about 10.15am on Sunday. Distressed residents first thought a young child's body had been found, until police arrived and confirmed it was an adult. Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim said Ms Haddad's car was found at West Ryde Railway Station hours after her body was discovered. Ms Haddad, who enjoyed an active social life and had a large circle of friends based in Sydney, had spent Friday night at a backyard barbecue. Britain's biggest funeral business is to offer a 1,000 no-frills cremation service with no mourners. David Bowie chose to be cremated secretly with no loved-ones present in a growing trend among people who want to 'go without any fuss'. Co-op Funeralcare will now launch a 'direct cremation' service costing between 1,000 and 1,500 - half the price of an average standard funeral. No mourners will be there and the ashes will be scattered at the crematorium by staff. Britain's biggest funeral business is to offer a 1,000 no-frills cremation service with no mourners like here at Mortonhall Crematorium in Edinburgh Co-op Funeralcare boss David Collingwood said today that many customers never ask for direct cremations because they are not aware it is available. He spoke out as a campaign was launched to encourage people to talk about death in a bid to break the taboo of preparing for bereavement. He said: 'We know that talking about death is one of the hardest conversations people have to have and many choose to avoid it. 'But having to make lots of decisions under pressure can add to the stress and pain of bereavement. We would really encourage people to discuss or write down their wishes.' The Co-op said it is holding the biggest ever survey into dying with the aim of engaging at least 20,000 adults over the next few weeks. Research by the Co-op showed that half of people believe more open conversations about death would have helped them cope with the loss of a loved one. The Co-op launched a campaign to tackle the taboo on death and encouraging people to think about their choices Most people believe talking about death should become more normal, said the Co-op, which is working with a number of charities on the new campaign. Robert MacLachlan, managing director of Co-op Funeralcare, said: 'We know that talking about death is one of the hardest conversations people have to have. 'It's a huge national issue and that's why we're encouraging the nation to get talking about this important subject, as a huge number of us believe the way we approach it needs to change. 'If we had more open conversations about this topic, just think of the positive outcomes that could be achieved. 'Making arrangements for a loved one's funeral is a huge responsibility, with everyone having their own personal wishes. 'No-one likes to think about their own mortality, but having a discussion and planning ahead can have huge benefits in terms of being able to do the right thing for loved ones when the time comes.' Heidi Travis, chief executive of the Sue Ryder charity, commented: 'Death is an inevitable part of all our lives, and yet in modern society we have become far more distanced from the first-hand reality of it. 'It has become a taboo subject that many of us find difficult to broach. 'This new survey will help give us a provocative insight into how we deal with grief as a nation.' A rape victim has stunned a packed courtroom with a powerful statement she delivered while eyeing the man she says tore a hole in her soul. For 10 minutes the victim of the heinous crime looked at Nathan Teece, the man who raped her, and courageously spoke of the suffering he had inflicted. Teece did not react when he was sentenced to seven years behind bars at the Southport District Court, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. Two years ago Nathan Teece (pictured) raped a woman while she was at a friends party He didn't flinch as the woman stared straight at him while she read out her victim impact statement. The woman was at a friend's party when Teece attacked her while her husband was just downstairs. During the three-day trial the court heard he only stopped the attack when the woman screamed for help. Her husband found Teece hiding in a closet, not expecting to be caught. In her statement she described how Teece had been so calm during the ordeal, how he had shushed her to keep her quiet and how he held his hand tight around her neck. 'The person you see now is just a tiny fraction of who I once was. I am a sad, anxious broken piece of a once whole person,' she said. Teece (pictured left) was given a seven-year sentence and avoided eye contact as his victim gave her powerful statement Members of the jury, her friends and family cried silently as they listened to her speak. But the woman's gaze was solely fixed on Teece. He stared straight ahead, avoiding eye contact with her as she recounted the ordeal. Two years after the rape she was still trying to come to terms with what happened, she said. 'I hate my arms for not being able to fight for me. I hate my legs for not being able to kick you off. I hate my mind for not figuring out a way to get you off of me.' Pictured is a younger Teece surfboarding on the Gold Coast She told him that she would forever be affected by what he had done and she would always have a hole in her soul because of it. But she said she wanted to confront him, to look at him so they both knew that no matter what he said about that night they both knew what was true. She told him that despite all of this she had rebuilt her life, had gotten a job and had managed to find peace. The woman said that she would fight this battle each day and make sure the future was different for women. Teece did not react when he was sentenced to seven years behind bars at the Southport District Court (pictured) To finish, she told Teece that she was no longer sinking under the memories of what he had done to her. 'I am a wild fire, and you will never put me out again,' she said. As the woman stepped away from the witness stand the gallery broke into applause. Jurors, friends and family all stood to shake her hand. Judge Katherine McGinness told Teece that the woman would always be affected by what he had done. He continued to stare straight ahead as he was sentenced to seven years behind bars. He has not been given a parole or eligibility date. As he walked towards the prison cells he barely spoke to his family. Student zealots will be banned from censoring controversial speakers on campuses following the first ministerial intervention on free speech in 30 years. Sam Gyimah, the universities minister, has announced tough new guidance which will see institutions disciplined if they allow valid debates to be shut down. He vowed to stamp out the 'chilling' trend of speakers being blocked from campuses simply because there is institutional hostility to unfashionable views. Student zealots will be banned from censoring controversial speakers on campuses, such as when Jacob Rees-Mogg scuffled with protesters in Bristol Protesters stormed a university hall where he was due to give a speech - before calling him a 'nazi', 'fascist' and 'racist' It will be the first government intervention on the issue since the free speech duty was imposed on universities as part of the Education Act in 1986. The new guidance will state that all speech must be welcome at universities, as long as it does not violate existing laws for example, on encouraging terrorism. Sam Gyimah, the universities minister, has announced tough new guidance which will see institutions disciplined if they allow valid debates to be shut down Any institution in breach of the rules may be named, shamed or even fined by the new Office for Students (OfS) regulator, which also has the power to deregister universities. It follows a number of high profile cases of attempts by student unions to censor feminists, Tory politicians, gay rights activists and even race campaigners over concerns they had 'offensive views'. Union officials claim they must 'no-platform' anyone who might say something controversial because they have a duty to protect the feelings of students and provide 'safe spaces'. But Mr Gyimah said a free exchange of ideas must be integral to universities and warned some people were shutting down views to suit 'their own ends'. Today he is chairing a private summit with university bosses, regulators, union officials, experts and civil servants to consult on what form the guidance will take. He said: 'A society in which people feel they have a legitimate right to stop someone expressing their views on campus simply because they are unfashionable or unpopular is rather chilling. There is a risk that overzealous interpretation of a dizzying variety of rules is acting as a brake on legal free speech on campus. 'That is why I am bringing together leaders from across the higher education sector to clarify the rules and regulations around speakers and events to prevent bureaucrats or wreckers on campus from exploiting gaps for their own ends.' Masked thugs invaded a talk organised by a King's College London free speech society last night before setting off smoke bombs and attacking security guards The self-proclaimed 'antifascist' protesters forced their way into the lecture hall and grabbed the speakers' microphones, smashing windows, and leaving notes threatening the moderator Student union officials trying to stifle free speech often claim that guidance from the Charity Commission requires speakers to go through rigorous vetting. But Mr Gyimah said his new rulebook will override any existing guidance from other bodies, which he branded 'murky'. Victims of campus zealots Nov 2015: Students tried to stop Germaine Greer from speaking at Cardiff University, claiming she was transphobic. Feb 2016: NUS officer Fran Cowling wanted Peter Tatchell banned from speaking at a Canterbury Christ Church University debate after he spoke in favour of free speech. Oct 2017: Linda Bellos had an invitation to address a Cambridge University feminist society revoked because she admitted that she would be publicly questioning trans politics. Feb 2018: Students shouting No platform for Tory scum tried to stop Jacob Rees-Mogg from speaking at an event at the University of the West of England, Bristol. Mar 2018: Students stopped a talk by a Right-wing author and an anti-feminist YouTube star at Kings College London. Advertisement He said it would signal a new chapter for free speech on campus, ensuring future generations of students get exposure to stimulating debates and a diversity of viewpoints. Sir Michael Barber, chairman of the OfS, which will take part in the summit, said: 'Our universities are places where free speech should always be promoted and fostered. 'That includes the ability for everyone to share views which may be challenging or unpopular, even if that makes some people feel uncomfortable. 'The Office for Students will always encourage freedom of speech within the law. We will never intervene to restrict it.' Alistair Jarvis, chief executive of Universities UK, which represents vice chancellors, said: 'Universities are committed to promoting and protecting free speech within the law.' Other organisations involved in today's summit include the Home Office, the Charity Commission, the National Union of Students, and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The guidance will be formulated in consultation with these stakeholders and published in due course. In most cases, student unions and societies rather than the universities themselves have been 'no-platforming' speakers. While these organisations are to some extent independent of universities, vice chancellors will still have a duty to force them to keep to the guidance while operating on campus. Theresa May is bracing herself for a difficult night, with fears of a near wipe-out in London after todays local elections. The Tories believe they could be left with just two councils in the capital. However, experts predict that although the party will probably lose seats overall, their vote could hold up much better outside London. Elections are being held in English councils last fought over in 2014; 4,371 seats and 150 councils are at stake Mrs May has been campaigning around the country this week, including in Manchester on Monday (pictured) The primary battleground is London - where Labour has been hoping to ride a wave of Remainer anger to seize Tory strongholds like Wandsworth, Westminster and Barnet Mrs May told voters yesterday that if they wanted good local services and low council tax, they had no option but to vote Conservative. The partys chairman Brandon Lewis warned families they faced the threat of waking up to a town hall led by Labours hard-left Momentum activists unless they support the Tories today. Millions of voters will go to the polls in more than 4,000 seats across England today. Analysts expect the Conservatives to shed around 75, with Labour gaining around 200. The Liberal Democrats are expected to add around 30 seats. For Ukip, the night is set to be little less than a disaster, with a real possibility they could lose all 125 seats they won in 2014. Much of the nights attention will be in London, where Labour has talked up the prospect of taking strongholds such as Westminster and Wandsworth, both of which have been Conservative for decades. Lord Hayward, a former Tory MP turned elections analyst, said: If the Tories retain either Wandsworth or Westminster they will be pleased. Although the gap with the Tories has narrowed slightly over the past month, Jeremy Corbyn's party is still 22 points ahead in London Mr Corbyn (pictured in Kennington on Monday) is hoping to seize long-term Tory strongholds in London Recent national opinion polls have seen Conservatives and Labour running virtually neck-and-neck - but the local elections could be a different story He said turnout will definitely be lower this time than in 2014 the last comparable poll because that round coincided with European elections. Controversial voting ID scheme set to be tested in local elections Controversial plans forcing voters to prove their identity before casting their ballot will be trialled on Thursday. Pilot schemes will be in place at five councils, Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking, during the local elections in England. The Government said the scheme will help combat electoral fraud but it has been strongly criticised by some over fears of potential discrimination and voter suppression. Shadow voter engagement minister Cat Smith questioned if the measures will affect the Windrush generation and said it is 'difficult for some communities to provide official papers'. The Electoral Reform Society said the plans are a 'calculated effort by the Government to make voting harder for some citizens'. It said personification fraud - where someone votes while pretending to be someone else - is 'incredibly rare'. Advertisement Writing in the Local Government Chronicle, Professors Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher of Plymouth University said recent by-elections and opinion polls show Labour and the Tories were neck and neck. They said Labour should take Barnet Council in north London, but added that following the partys anti-Semitism scandals it could underperform in the borough, which is home to one of the largest Jewish communities in the country. The pair also said it would be harder for Labour to make gains outside London, where the Tories could seize Ukip seats. The Prime Minister said yesterday: If those who are taking part in council elections look up and down the country, they will see that it is Conservative councils that support local communities, provide good local services and keep council tax low. The message is very clear if that is what you want, vote Conservative tomorrow. She added that Tory councils, on average, cost a typical family 100 less in council tax than those run by other parties. The Conservatives chairman Mr Lewis said: Make no mistake about what you could wake up with on Friday. Jeremy Corbyns Momentum group have been bussing in hard-left activists to try to seize control of councils. Their agenda could not be clearer. They have called for huge hikes in council tax, supported bin strikes which have left rubbish piling up in the street, and want to impose new local income taxes on hardworking families. Lawyers have warned the blunder at the heart of the breast cancer screening scandal could cost the NHS 100million in compensation. They are expecting those families affected to launch a 'huge legal challenge' against the health service. After Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt promised compensation to families who lost a loved one as a direct result of the error, payouts are expected to range from 65,000 to 1million. Some lawyers claiming families whose loved-ones died could get 5million in the worst cases. Robert Rose, Head of the Clinical Negligence team at Lime Solicitors told MailOnline: 'In terms of compensation we are looking at claims worth in excess of 5million-plus in relation to fatal cases. 'But if we factor in other damage caused to women who have survived, and the costs of legal action, we are looking at figures of anywhere between 50million to 100million [in total]'. Between 130 and 270 women are feared to have died as a direct result of missing screening invitations due to the 'devastating' IT glitch. Trixie Gough (pictured) died of breast cancer just before her 76th birthday. After news of the screening scandal broke today, her husband Brian said he was 'gobsmacked' and knew 'straight away' his wife, pictured, had not been given the scan But many others may have had to endure unpleasant treatment and surgery because tumours were diagnosed late. Maria Panteli, partner in the clinical negligence team at the solicitors Leigh Day said: 'It is no surprise to learn that a failure to invite these women to their final scan meant that hundreds of lives were affected with many tragically shortened. 'The Government now faces a potentially huge legal challenge on behalf of thousands of women, and their families, which could cost millions of pounds in compensation for those whose lives have been ruined by these failures. 'The announcement of an independent inquiry is to be welcomed, but it must be soon and it must be rigorous. HOW WAS THE IT GLITCH DISCOVERED? The breast cancer scandal was only discovered thanks to an Oxford University trial into extra breast cancer screening for women. The AgeX trial was set up in 2009 to find out whether cancers could be diagnosed with extra screenings without undue harm in those aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73. Around 65 breast cancer units across the country then recruited women from these age groups with the computer programme supposed to select half at random to be given the extra screening. But a computer glitch that was in the system from the start of the trial meant a large number of the older group had scans cancelled without ever knowing they were going to be arranged. Once the Oxford researchers discovered the error, it soon emerged that the same mistake had affected women in the entire screening programme. Advertisement 'It needs to looks at all the reasons of how such a tragedy could have happened and be absolutely sure in its findings that, with so many lives at stake, it couldn't happen again.' Olivia Mitchison, senior solicitor at the negligence solicitors Bolt Burdon Kemp said: 'This is an example of an unacceptable administrative error which may have had fatal consequences. 'If shown to be the case, this could lead to many medical negligence claims and cost the NHS thousands in compensation. Patient safety must be the top priority for the NHS. Mauveen Stone (pictured with husband John) , who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, claims doctors said she had 'slipped through the net'. She too may be eligible for compensation OXFORD TRIAL AT THE ROOT OF BREAST CANCER DISASTER A trial designed to see if extending the age range of breast screening reduces deaths from breast cancer may unwittingly have led to women dying unnecessarily from the disease. The Oxford-led study, called AgeX, was set up to test whether it would be beneficial for women aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73 to routinely be offered screenings. Backed by Public Health England and the NHS Breast Screening Programme, it has been taking place in 65 breast screening services across England. It is thought that the computer glitch which caused the error was programmed into the system at the start of the trial in 2009 and ran through to 2018. The algorithm randomly selected half of women in the additional age groups to be screened for cancer and half not to be. But the program appears to have cancelled the last routine scan women in the older group should have had before their 70th. As a result, it is thought that many women aged between aged 68 and 71 during that period did not have their last mammogram. While those assigned extra screening will have been checked, those in the control group are the 450,000 women who missed out. Women are currently invited for routine screening every three years between 50 and 70, although people over this age can request to continue screenings. Advertisement 'These women have been let down and put at risk because of this administrative error. This has the potential to lead to a class action.' GPs yesterday warned that they would be inundated with worried patients trying to find out what to do next. Health officials are in the process to writing to the 309,000 women affected by the scandal who are still alive and living in the UK. Those who are aged 70 or 71 will be encouraged to have 'catch up' screening. But if they are 72 or older, however, they will face an agonising choice as to whether to have the mammograms. At this age there is a risk they will do more harm than good by picking up slow-growing tumours, which then have to be surgically removed. Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'We are shocked to learn that hundreds of thousands of women in England have missed out on their opportunity for breast screening and the implications for GPs and our teams will potentially be significant, as patients seek reassurance and to find out where they go from here.' Patricia Minchin (pictured) was diagnosed with breast cancer two years after she failed to get a letter for her final routine breast scan. She could potentially get a hefty payout WHAT HAPPENS NOW? Up to 450,000 women, now aged 70 to 79, may have missed out on their final routine breast screening. This is what will happen next. All women affected who are registered with a GP will be informed by letter from Public Health England by the end of May 2018. Women affected aged up to their 72nd birthday will receive a letter inviting them for a catch-up screen. Those aged 72 and older will be able to contact a dedicated helpline to discuss whether a screen could benefit them. Women, aged 70 to 79, currently registered with a GP, who do not receive a letter from PHE can be assured they are not affected and do not need a catch-up screen If you are not registered with a GP and believe you did not receive an invitation for a screen sometime between your 68th and 71st birthday call the below helpline. Women are advised to be aware of any changes to their breasts and see their GP if they have any concerns. Anyone concerned can call the helpline on 0800 169 2692. Advertisement My wife might have lived is she hadn't missed out on her final scan By Inderdeep Bains Trixie Gough died of breast cancer just days after her 76th birthday. Her husband of 55 years Brian said the disease could have been spotted earlier had a computer error not meant she missed out on her final scan. Mr Gough said when he saw Jeremy Hunt's speech about the blunder yesterday he realised his wife had been affected. 'I was completely gobsmacked and knew straight away Trix was one of the people never given a scan,' he said. 'I'm devastated, I have her ashes next to me. I'm amazed that it has taken them the best part of a decade to spot the problem. It's extraordinary.' Trixie Gough, pictured in the days before her death in 2015, is among 450,00 women who never got a final cancer scan that may have saved her life after a 'colossal' NHS IT failure The 77-year-old from Norfolk added: 'There are thousands of real people involved in this, people like Trixie, who didn't deserve to lose their lives. 'I'm not saying she wouldn't have got cancer but it could have been found earlier if she was given the scan. You have to wonder if the result would have been different.' Mrs Gough failed to receive the notification to make an appointment for screening by the time she was 71, her husband said. In October 2010 she found a lump in her breast and immediately saw her GP who sent her for a scan and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery followed by radio therapy and chemotherapy but after two years the cancer returned and she again went through a period of chemotherapy and blood transfusions. Brian Gough's wife Trixie, from Norfolk, pictured together before she fell ill, says he only found out about the scandal today while watching TV The disease spread to her other organs and she lost her life on December 28 2015. 'We worked all our lives and this was the time we wanted to enjoy together. That's not possible now. She's gone and I live alone,' Mr Gough said. 'It's been very painful going over this again but she was a wonderful, brave, uncomplaining wife for almost 56 years and she is still missed enormously by all of the family. Doctors said I slipped through the net' Mauveen Stone, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, claims doctors said she had 'slipped through the net'. The 84-year-old from Yeovil in Somerset had her last screening in 1995 when she was 62 and was given the all-clear. However, she was never again invited to another screening or her final routine scan when she turned 70. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt (pictured today in the Commons) said anyone who had lost a loved one as a result of a missed scan would be eligible for compensation It was only last year when she discovered a lump in her breast that she sought a check-up and doctors discovered a slow-growing cancer. The former pub landlady and great-grandmother had to undergo surgery to remove four lymph nodes. 'The doctors were surprised that my last screening had been in 1995. They said I must have slipped under the net,' the mother of five said. 'If I was invited for a screening I most definitely would have gone like I did in 1995. I do not know why I did not get any more letters. I have been at the same address since. 'It was not something I thought about until I felt the lump. As my cancer was slow growing I don't know how long it has been present or if it would have made a difference if I went earlier. 'But it may well have been spotted earlier if I had been sent the invitation. I was very lucky it was slow growing. Other women might not have been so lucky.' The problems with breast cancer screening date back to 2009 and will raise questions for both the Tories and Labour on why it was not uncovered sooner Mrs Stone who has been given the all clear now has to undergo annual screenings. 'I want to know why this happened' Patricia Minchin was diagnosed with breast cancer two years after she failed to get a letter for her final routine breast scan. The 75-year-old believes she was a victim of the error because she was due the check-up in 2013 at the age of 70 but was never sent the notification and was not screened. Two years later she was diagnosed with breast cancer and feels she could have avoided the 'trauma' of the disease with earlier screening. 'I look back now and think, you know, everything that happened since could possibly have been avoided or lessened,' she said. 'The whole journey I went on, the traumatic journey, all the treatment may never have had to happen.' Mrs Minchin said she received her last letter from the breast screening programme in 2010 and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. She told Sky News yesterday: 'I would like somebody to tell me how it could possibly happen that I haven't been invited for a mammogram since 2010.' A man who leased his property out through sites such as Airbnb faces the threat of a hefty fine, after guests hosted a series of debauched parties that escalated out of control. Retiree Tom Sendro's house in the prestigious eastern Sydney suburb of Bellevue Hill is 'the perfect entertainer': a nine-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion that can sleep up to 17 people. But a stoush with the neighbours has put Mr Sendro's slice of paradise on high alert, with the council threatening to hit the home-owner with a fine if he continues to rent the property out through micro-lease arrangements. Scroll down for video Tom Sendro (pictured) has been threatened with a $5 million fine after renters threw a series of debauched parties in his east Sydney home Mr Sendro's house in the prestigious suburb of Bellevue Hill is 'the perfect entertainer': a nine-bedroom, six-bathroom mansion that can sleep up to 17 people 'I'm under the microscope - not unlike what my parents were under in Hungary in the 1949 when they escaped and came here,' he said, in conversation with A Current Affair. Mr Sendro's woes arose when he innocently leased his property out to group of seemingly respectable house guests. 'It was a corporate booking, eight people - business people - and I said 'fabulous'.' More specifically, the renters in question were in the business of tattoos - and, as it turned out, they were in town to let their hair down. 'A party developed in the swimming pool,' said Mr Sendro. 'Rumours were that it was a bit of a ruckus party, quite out of my control.' But neighbours took issue with Mr Sendro's micro-lease arrangements when guests threw a 'ruckus party' in the swimming pool, and the police and local council received complaints The impromptu pool party ruffled the feathers of Mr Sendro's neighbours, who called both police and the local council. A month later, Mr Sendro gave the short-term letting another go - and once again, things spiraled out of control. 'I returned home and spoke to the neighbours numerous times and told them I was now returning to the home,' he said. But things had already gotten too far out of hand in the eyes of the local community and in turn Woollahra council, who were forced to step forward and intervene. Woollahra council has now instructed Mr Sendro to cease using the home for short-term 'tourist and visitor accommodation' - giving him 28 days to comply, lest he face hefty fines Mr Sendro was strictly instructed to either cease using the home for short-term 'tourist and visitor accommodation' or register it as a bed and breakfast. In its order, Council added that Mr Sendro had 28 days to comply or face financial penalties - putting the home owner and his entertainer's mansion on thin ice. But Mr Sendro argues that the threats are wholly unwarranted. 'It's like smacking a dog when he hasn't done anything wrong,' he said. And Satyageet Marar, from the Australian Taxpayers Alliance, agrees. 'If I rented out my property to a tenant and that tenant was doing the wrong thing, you wouldn't fine me and then ban me from being able to rent out my apartment,' Mr Marar said. Mr Sendro insists he won't be renting his house out anytime soon - 'If there's any noise, please call me or contact me,' he said. 'I'm at home, it's my noise and it's my friends' In any case, the prospect of a costly slap on the wrist has certainly achieved the intended result, as Mr Sendro insists he won't be renting his house out anytime soon. 'If there's any noise, please call me or contact me,' he said. 'I'm at home, it's my noise and it's my friends.' The deputy principal of a Western Australian high school was taken to hospital after allegedly being attacked by a student on Wednesday. Police say the student, 14, was told to leave Busselton Senior High School grounds at about 1.40pm Wednesday when he allegedly punched the 50-year-old deputy principal. Another student allegedly targeted a second staff member on the same day but the attack was prevented from taking place. Scroll down for video The deputy principal of Busselton Senior High School in Western Australian (pictured) was taken to hospital after allegedly being attacked by a student on Wednesday The incidents occurred at the same school where just over a month ago video was captured of a student punching another student before stomping on his head (pictured) A spokesman for the Education Department told The West Australian that staff stepped in to help the deputy principal, and moved the alleged attacker along with other students away while police were called at about 2pm. 'A short time later, there was a second incident involving a different student who tried to physically hurt another staff member,' she said. 'The staff member who was assaulted has had medical treatment ... and is being offered the school's full support.' The deputy principal was later released from hospital. The 14-year-old boy from Geographe Bay has been charged with assault public officer and trespass. He was due to appear in Bunbury Children's Court Thursday on Thursday. The incidents occurred at Busselton Senior High School, about an hour south of Bunbury, the same school where just over a month ago video was captured of a student punching another student before stomping on his head. That incident was described as shocking by the Education Minister and police later charged that teenager with assault occasioning bodily harm. The Minister Sue Ellery has now ordered an urgent review of school violence policies following the string of incidents. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt who has been urged to 'take a real a grip' on aid spending amid questions about taxpayers' cash going to China China, which received nearly 47million in UK aid in 2016, does not believe it should be getting handouts. The confession came from International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt yesterday. It follows Tory MP Pauline Latham telling the international development committee the cash going to Beijing was like change down the back of the sofa for China. Miss Mordaunt said: Not even China thinks it should be an aid recipient. 'What we are currently doing with China is not where we should be. She added she would discuss the issue with ministers. Last week it was reported that the Department for International Development stopped its aid programme to China in 2011 but figures show that other Whitehall departments sent 46.9million in aid to China in 2016 a rise of 2.6million on the previous year. UK-funded schemes included improving dementia care in the port city of Qingdao and a schools programme to encourage children to consume less salt. Ministers have issued repeated assurances that aid to China has stopped, saying in 2010 that it was 'not justifiable' to send millions to an economic superpower. Britain is now the only major economy to hit the controversial foreign aid spending target, figures revealed earlier this month. We provided nearly 1 in every 8 of the money doled out by the G7 last year as the UK aid budget soared to 13.9billion. None of the other G7 nations Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and America met the international target of 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid. The Today Show has U-turned on its controversial decision to refuse a 65-year-old fisherman a $40,000 cash prize because he appeared to say 'hello' before 'I wake up with Today'. When called by the show live on air this morning, Steve Donohue, from Mollymook, New South Wales, answered within three rings but said 'hell' in shock before he said 'I wake up with Today.' Confetti and streamers fell from the studio ceiling as confused hosts looked at each other, unsure if he had won the prize - before bosses told them to let him down. Mr Donohue told Daily Mail Australia he was devastated but accepted he made a mistake so did not complain. The Today Show refused to give away a $40,000 cash prize this morning because a caller said hello before he said 'I wake up with Today' But an hour later, he got a call from Nine bosses saying they had decided to give him the money after a review. The retired fisherman was watching the show in the kitchen while drinking his morning coffee when he heard his name come up. I was extremely disappointed when they refused me but I accepted the result. I blew it - it was my fault He looked down at his phone and was shocked to see a private number calling. As he pressed answer he said 'hell' in shock before he put the phone to his mouth - but his outburst was still picked up by the microphone before he said 'I wake up with Today.' Mr Donohue said: 'I was extremely disappointed when they refused me but I accepted the result. I blew it - it was my fault.' After receiving the call saying the show had decided to give him the money, the married father of three said he would have a few beers with mates tonight and then spend some of the money on doing up his fishing boat before investing the rest. He described his morning as an 'emotional roller-coaster'. A spokesman for Channel Nine confirmed to Daily Mail Australia the show had changed its decision after a review. Sylvia Jeffreys smiles as she believes the viewer has won before being told he failed Viewers vented their fury at the show for being so 'harsh'. One Twitter user called for a boycott After Mr Donohue answered the phone on the show, the hosts asked each other if he had won. They were then told via earpieces by their bosses upstairs that the caller had said 'hello,' meaning he was unable to claim the prize. Host Ben Fordham cited legal reasons for not being able to give away the money, saying other viewers who lost out would be able to complain. Viewers vented their fury at the show for being so 'harsh'. One called for a boycott with a scathing Twitter post that read: 'Boycott Today Show 9 and stop wasting your money and time to get on list to be called. Shame on You Today.' The hosts were then told via earpieces by their bosses upstairs that the caller had said 'hello,' meaning he was unable to claim the prize The Today Show holds the call-in competition every morning. To win the money, viewers text a code word to the show. Then the hosts ring one of the numbers selected at random The Today Show holds the call-in competition every morning. To win the money, viewers text a code word to the show. Then the hosts ring one of the numbers selected at random. The viewer must then answer within three rings and say 'I wake up with Today.' If no-one answers or the caller says the wrong words, the prize is increased by $10,000 and rolled over to the next day. This is not the first time the show's call-in competition has caused controversy. Hosts Tim Gilbert and Richard Wilkins look disappointed after the called failed to win the money In November fans were outraged after a viewer won $160,000 by appearing to answer the phone with the non-eligible greeting 'g'day'. One person suggesting the money should be split with everyone else who failed to win the competition by not uttering the correct phrase. 'You guys stuffed up big time. Time to split that money for everyone else that didn't say 'I wake up with Today,' one outraged fan tweeted. Another viewer added: '@TheTodayShow quite quick to get rid of the 160K the lady didn't say 'I wake up with Today'. Channel Nine clarified the supposed blip, insisting that the viewer, a woman named Pauline from Williamstown, Victoria, did in fact successfully answer the phone with the correct phrase, and it was all down to an ill-timed audio cut-out. 'An independent auditor was in the control room during the call and verified that Pauline successfully answered the phone with the words 'I wake up with TODAY,' Channel Nine said in a statement to Daily Mail Australia. 'The audio link between the control room and the outside broadcast in Melbourne briefly cut out on-air.' Sydney commuters were left shocked after they witnessed a couple engage in a what appears to be a sexual act on a train. One Facebook user claimed she saw the pair become overwhelmingly frisky on the western Sydney train. The man allegedly had his pants down while sitting on the seat on Wednesday night. A Sydney couple were caught out engaging in a sexual act on a train on Wednesday night The woman posted the image of the amorous couple engaging in the act to Facebook. She detailed her confrontation with the lust-filled couple and asked them to 'get some respect' on the Facebook post. The disgusted commuter said she got on to the train and sat facing the couple while travelling to a friend's house. 'Looked across and the guy had his pants pulled down and the chick has her hand on his d***,' she added in the public post. The couple noticed she was on the train, pulled back the seat for 'privacy' and continued. The woman posted the image of their public display of affection on a Sydney based buy and sell group. The disgusted commuter posted their images to a Sydney based Buy and Sell group asking them 'where is the dignity and respect for yourselves' The woman posted the image of the amorous couple engaging in the act to Facebook 'Where is the dignity and respect for yourselves and others,' she said. In December last year, a man and a woman were caught engaging in a sexual act on a Wollongong train. Chantell Gordon, 34, and Shane Brennan, 38, were convicted of public exposure offences after they engaged in oral sex on the south coast line train. Thomas Ravenel (pictured) has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman in December 2015 Former politician and 'Southern Charm' star, Thomas Ravenel, has been accused of sexually assaulting a South Carolina woman he allegedly met on a Tinder date. Debbie Holloway Perkins matched with Ravenel on the popular dating app back in October 2015. The two texted and direct messaged one another until they met in person on Christmas Day, Holloway Perkins' model-turned-realtor daughter, Ashley Perkins, told DailyMail.com Wednesday in a phone interview. 'We did not watch the show at the time... but we were living in Charleston. My mom showed me his picture and I immediately recognized his face.' Perkins initially believed someone had created a fake profile using Ravenel's pictures until the Bravo star sent her mother a Facebook friend request. 'They communicated through Facebook and Tinder and kind of played phone tag. He asked her out a couple of times, but it was always kind of last minute.' Ravenel picked Holloway Perkins up at her Charleston home on Christmas Day. The model said her family didn't celebrate the holiday that year after her grandmother passed away in 2014. She said the previous year was too 'depressing' so they 'boycotted Christmas' in 2015. 'He asked her out last minute, so obviously he didn't have plans on Christmas. He called her, texted her, asked her out, and the agreement was that he was going to pick her up and they were going to go to downtown Charleston and try to find a bar that was open and have some drinks together,' Perkins said. Debbie Holloway Perkins (right) was allegedly assaulted by the Bravo star on Christmas Day in 2015. Her model-turned-realtor daughter, Ashley Perkins, (left) shared details about the alleged incident to DailyMail.com Debbie Holloway Perkins and her daughter Ashley Perkins are seen above in this Facebook photo Perkins claims Ravenel quickly changed plans when her mother got in the car and told her he wanted to show her his new home that he recently renovated. 'My mom was in real estate and she agreed and said OK and that they were going to get drinks after,' Perkins added. Her daughter, who has appeared in TV series 'Army Wives' and 'Reckless', shared further details about her mother's date. 'They get to his house and he is very clinical. He isn't flirty or sexual or anything like that. 'He did pour them at the beginning a small glass of red wine. Afterward, he does his home tour, and at that point, my mom said it took forever and she was getting bored.' Her daughter, who has appeared in TV series 'Army Wives' and 'Reckless', shared alleged details about her mother's date gone wrong Photographs provided to DailyMail.com show Holloway Perkins' marks on her wrist after the date 'She is wearing a bracelet and he holds her arms up with one hand above her head. He starts trying to pull her pants off and attempting to touch her breasts,' Perkins said The two of them walked over to his guest house, where his children and nanny stay. 'My mom didn't know he had a little girl... she definitely did not know he had a newborn son. My mom wouldn't date men with little kids, so she was just completely turned off at this point. 'She already thinks it's weird that the kids are living in the guest house while he's in this big, huge mansion. He showed her the guest room where the kids stay, and my mom said the room had no toys. It was like a mattress on top of a box spring. It didn't look lived in.' Ravenel, the former treasurer of South Carolina, apparently told Holloway Perkins his plans to put this newborn baby in the laundry room bathroom. 'I assume he was going to renovate it or something,' Holloway Perkins' daughter told DailyMail.com. 'My mom at that point was thinking, "who am I out with?"'. Perkins (pictured on Facebook) and her mother have since moved to Panama City Beach, Florida When the pair entered the nanny's room, Perkins alleged Ravenel began acting strange and peering out of the blinds. The 'Southern Charm' star told her mother to come over and look at something out the window. 'He has her come peek out of the blinds and he says, "do you see that?" and he points to the bathroom of the main house that you could see from the nanny's room. And he said that's where he saw Kathryn Dennis making out with a guy.' Dennis is mother to the actor's two young children. He afterward went into a trance-like state, the model alleged, and turned on her mom. 'He pushes her onto the nanny's bed. She is wearing a bracelet and he holds her arms up with one hand above her head. He starts trying to pull her pants off and attempting to touch her breasts. Thomas Ravenel is pictured on Southern Charm, Season 4, in the above photograph Season 4 - Pictured: (L-R) Craig Conover, Thomas Ravenel, Landon Clements, Cameran Eubanks, Shepard Rose, Kathryn Calhoun Dennis, Austen Kroll 'He then sticks his fingers in her vagina and then after, her anus. Then, he pulls his penis out, while she is saying "no" and "to stop". So he pulls his penis out and shoves it in her face. 'She finally said to him, "you're a rapist!", and he just stopped. She said it was like he came out of his trance and he just stopped,' Perkins alleged. Photographs provided to DailyMail.com show marks on Holloway Perkins' wrist. Afterward, Holloway Perkins went back to the main house to grab her purse. She wanted Ravenel to take her home, when he allegedly told her to call an Uber, but she didn't know what that was. 'I was kinda mad at her about that,' Perkins said. While on the drive back home, her mother asked her to come downstairs and meet her outside. 'I went out into the parking lot and I met them, he was driving a black SUV and he pulls up, rolls his window down and says to me, "hey, I'm going to this party, why don't you see if you can roundup some young, hot female friends of yours." This was after he insulted my mom the whole car ride about her class level and her age,' Perkins alleged. 'I'm the one who introduced her to Tinder, and to this day, I regret that.' Perkins encouraged her mom to get in touch with attorney Gloria Allred, who said she would represent her. Perkins told DailyMail.com Ravenel agreed on a settlement of $200,000 in 2016. Perkins said she finally spoke out about the alleged incident recently as she was not bound to the non-disclosure agreement her mother signed in summer 2016. The model added that she and her mother have since moved to Panama City Beach, Florida. Phone request for comment by DailyMail.com to Ravenel's company was not returned Wednesday night. Ravenel has denied the allegations, saying 'Ive never assaulted a woman in my life.' Advertisement Photographer Joseph Szabo documents Jones Beach in New York from 1990 to 2015 - capturing a transient community with the lifeguards as the only permanent fixture. Lifeguard, which will be released in Spring 2018, is one of Joseph Szabo's bodies of work that examines the social atmosphere of public spaces and crowds. In the late 1960s, photographer and photography teacher Szabo first discovered Jones Beach state park in Nassau County, New York. Szabo struck up friendships with the lifeguards on duty at one of the busiest beaches in the world. Joseph Szabo struck up friendships with lifeguards like this one, photographing the commitment to fitness that is needed for the demanding job Watchful eye: Lifeguards on Jones Beach scour the beach to check no one is in need of saving among the masses of people Crowded: A scene from Szabo's Jones Beach shows just how many people flock to the popular Long Island destination Saviors: Lifeguards are responsible for assisting anyone in need. This team sprang into action to help this man Attentive: Lifeguards have a meeting about the day's work, possibly involving currents and tides and other hazards swimmers may face Post action: A wet lifeguard with a flotation device is seen walking with a determined stride Sprung into action: Beach goers watch as someone is in need of help as a lifeguard jumps in for a rescue Go time: Rough Long Island surfs and massive crowds make lifeguards the heartbeat of Jones Beach Not distracted: A lifeguard keeps his eyes on the water despite a female standing nearby Restful and alert, solitary and part of a team, aloof and involved, the lifeguard is a unique character and a local celebrity on the beach. Joseph Szabo: Lifeguard documents the photographer's encounters and friendships with the Jones Beach lifeguards in photographs taken between 1990 and 2015. Portraits in the most expansive sense of the word, the images in this volume illustrate the day-to-day preparation, teamwork, relaxation, camaraderie, duty and responsibility in the lives of these figures that Szabo has come to know and respect. Szabo, born in 1944, has been called the 'quintessential photographer of the teenager.' He is best known for his photographs of adolescents taken in and around the halls of Malverne High School in Long Island, where he taught photography from 1972 to 1999, which were published in the photobook classic Teenage (Greybull, 2003). Turning his camera on his students to get their attention, Szabo captured the anxiety and bravado of the American teenager in classic documentary style black-and-white photographs that quickly attained cult status in the fashion world. The images were published by Damiani and the book can be purchased here. Aras Amiri, who lives in London, was held while on a private trip to visit family Two people with links to the UK have been detained in Iran, officials have said. The Foreign Office said it was 'urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities' over the detention of Iranian-British national Mahan Abedin. Separately, Iranian national Aras Amiri, who lives in London, was held while on a private trip to visit family. Her employer, the British Council, which works to improve international cultural relations, said assertions one of its staffers had been working in the country were false. A spokeswoman said: 'We are aware that one of our staff has been detained in Iran while making a private family visit. 'The colleague is an Iranian national. Despite an assertion that this individual has travelled to Iran for work this is not the case. 'The British Council does not have offices or representatives in Iran.' Her cousin, Mohsen Omrani, wrote on Facebook to explain that Aras has been 'jailed by forces belonging to Iran's ministry of intelligence'. The Foreign Office said it was 'urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities' over the detention of Iranian-British national Mahan Abedin. Pictured: The Iranian Friends Society of London tweeted about Abedin's detention He added: 'They arrested her before the Eid and it's now nearly 50 days that she is being kept in Evin prison's ward 209.' Omrani also said she had been accused of acting against the national security of Iran. He said she is 32 and has lived in London for 10 years. She is studying philosophy of art at Kingston University, he said, explaining that she has a residence permit. She had gone to the city of Amol to visit her grandmother in hospital, he said. Her cousin, Mohsen Omrani, wrote on Facebook to explain that Aras (pictured) has been 'jailed by forces belonging to Iran's ministry of intelligence' They are the latest people with ties to the West to have been held in the Islamic Republic. Abbas Edalat, a British-Iranian professor at Imperial College London, was detained on unspecified security charges last month. British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe has been jailed in the Republic for just over two years - despite an Iranian diplomat insisting the government was doing its best to secure her release. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed for five years in 2016, accused of seeking to overthrow the Iranian regime. But she denies the charges, insisting that the trip to Iran was a holiday, designed to introduce her daughter to her Iranian family. Hamid Baeidinejad, Iranian ambassador to the UK, said the judicial process in her case was 'complicated' but insisted 'we are trying our best'. Iran does not recognise dual citizenship, making it complicated for the British Embassy to make contact. The British Council suspended its work in Iran in 2009 on the orders of then-Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Analysts and family members of dual nationals and others detained in Iran say hard-liners in the Islamic Republic's security agencies use the prisoners as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. Iran and Britain have been discussing the possible release of some 400 million pounds held by London since the 1979 Islamic Revolution for a tank purchase that never happened. Mrs Zaghari-Ratcliffe was jailed for five years in 2016, accused of seeking to overthrow the Iranian regime A prisoner exchange in January 2016 that freed Washington Post journalist Jason Rezaian and three other Iranian-Americans also saw the US make a $400 million cash delivery to Iran the same day. Others with ties to the West detained in Iran include Chinese-American graduate student Xiyue Wang, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allegedly 'infiltrating' the country while doing doctoral research on Iran's Qajar dynasty. Iranian-Canadian national Abdolrasoul Dorri Esfahani, a member of Iran's 2015 nuclear negotiating team, is believed to be serving a five-year sentence on espionage charges. The daughter of a man who died while working out at the gym is now campaigning for stricter safety measures used in the fitness industry. Kevin Wyles, 66, was using the rowing machine at the Gladstone Snap Fitness when he suffered a fatal heart attack. The dedicated family man, who leaves a wife and five grandchildren behind, was a regular at the Goondoon St gym, the Gladstone Observer reports. Kevin Wyles, 66, died while using a rowing machine at Gladstone Snap Fitness His daughter, Asha Ford, 31, (pictured) is calling for stricter safety measures in the industry His only daughter, Asha Ford, 31, believes his death could have been easily avoided if tighter safety measures were in place. Mr Wyles had been at the gym for an hour when he was found dead by a young employee. 'She pressed the panic button but he'd been left for too long after having a heart attack,' Mrs Ford said. Snap Fitness refused to speak to Daily Mail Australia about the incident, saying they were under new management and therefore not responsible for the operations of the gym at the time of Mr Wyles death. Mrs Ford is now dedicated to making the fitness industry safer. She has spent hours researching potential regulation changes. The fitness industry falls under The Work Health and Safety Act of 2011, meaning there are no specific laws for operators. The dedicated family man, who leaves a wife and five grandchildren behind, was a regular at the gym Mrs Ford wants it to be mandatory for gyms to have defibrillators and to end 24-hour opening times. She said when she used to work out regularly she would notice that from 5am to 10pm the gym would be supervised. She said if gyms weren't going to be supervised another measure could be that attendees wear an emergency safety lanyard. They are already used by a few gyms across the nation to alert employees in the case of an emergency. Mrs Ford said she was not sure if her father would have survived had some of the changes been implemented before his death but that it would have made it more likely. Mrs Ford said the changes could have saved her father before his death 'It's possible. People do survive heart attacks.' She has also written to the Central Coroner requesting an inquest into her father's death. The member for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher, has written to the Minister for Industrial Relations, Grace Grace, about safety laws being implemented. Mr Butcher said it was important to consider changes to the law that wouldn't impact on the liability of the industry. 'There are things we can look at though to tighten up the rules around safety, including more warnings or only using certain equipment at certain times.' In Queensland, there have been eight gym-related fatalities since 2012. A spokesperson for Workplace Health and Safety said the fitness industry had a duty of care, like all businesses, to ensure the health and safety of all workers and people at the workplace. Australia does not exist. That's the position being adopted by a number of flat-earth conspiracy theorists, it seems, after a viral Facebook rant declared the nation is in fact an elaborately-constructed ruse. The hypothesis resurfaced at a recent Flat Earthers conference in Birmingham, in the UK - where more than 200 people congregated to discuss their steadfast belief that planet earth is flat. A viral Facebook rant has alleged that Australia is not real, but in fact an elaborately-constructed lie used as a cover-up for 'one of the greatest mass murders in history' The hypothesis, which has since been deleted from social media, resurfaced at a recent Flat Earthers conference in Birmingham, UK - where more than 200 people congregated to discuss their steadfast belief that planet earth is flat The 'fake Australia' tack is not a particularly new angle on flat earth theory: the original post, penned by Shelley Floryd, first picked up steam on Reddit in early 2017. But its assertions have, for better or worse, remained a talking point among the online community for the past twelve months. 'Australia is not real,' the rant begins. 'It's a hoax, made for us to believe that Britain moved over their criminals to someplace. In reality, all these criminals were loaded off the ships into the waters, drowning before they could see land ever again. 'It's a coverup [sic] for one of the greatest mass murders in history.' Floryd declares that 'All things you call 'proof' are actually well fabricated lies... made by the leading governments of the world'; that 'Your Australian friends [are] all actors and computer generated personas' She also states that 'If you think you've ever been to Australia, you're terribly wrong' - claiming that pilots have in fact been flying to other islands or 'parts of South America, where they have cleared space and hired actors to act out as real Australians' The post goes on to summarise the Australian way of life as 'swear words and actions based on alcoholism, MDMA and bad decisions' Floryd goes on to declare that 'All things you call 'proof' are actually well fabricated lies... made by the leading governments of the world'; that 'Your Australian friends [are] all actors and computer generated personas.' And, perhaps most audaciously, that 'If you think you've ever been to Australia, you're terribly wrong.' Floryd alleges the plane pilots are all in on the hoax, and that travelers to Australia have in fact only been flown to other islands or 'parts of South America, where they have cleared space and hired actors to act out as real Australians.' 'Australia... is a codeword for the cold blooded murder of more than a hundred thousand people, and it is not okay,' she concluded, alongside the hashtag 'AustraliaisNOTreal' The Australian way of life - which Floryd summarises as 'swear words and actions based on MDMA, alcoholism and bad decisions' - is little more than a distraction. 'Make sure to spread the world [sic],' she concludes. 'Australia is not real.' 'It's a codeword for the cold-blooded murder of more than a hundred thousand people, and it is not okay. 'We will not, accept this.' It's not entirely clear whether Floryd actually believes in any of the points she makes, or if the post itself is a carefully-constructed hoax. In any case, the theory of the great Australian lie continues to be picked up and propagated by flat earth theorists across social media. An Australian Federal Police officer and his brother have faced court accused of leaving their terminally ill mother in a pool of her own faeces and urine for weeks before her tragic death. Brothers Phillip and David Thompson - who were allegedly set to inherit $1.5million from their mother's estate - are accused of leaving Shirley, 73, for so long she developed bedsores down to the bone. Phillip, a 42-year-old civilian employee with the AFP and a former New South Wales Police officer, and David, 39, were meant to be their mother's caregivers, Fairfield Local Court was told. Instead they are facing manslaughter charges following her tragic death. A court has heard this is the small red brick western Sydney home where Shirley Thompson was found naked, lying in her own faeces and urine last year Brothers Phillip and David Thompson (pictured in court on Thursday) - who were allegedly set to inherit $1.5million from their mother's estate - have been charged with manslaughter Police claim the elderly woman was found naked and lying in her own faeces and urine in her bed by paramedics after Phillip phoned for an ambulance in August last year. She was taken from her small, red-brick home in Greystanes, western Sydney, to Blacktown Hospital, the Nine Network reported. Ambulance workers that she did not know when she last had a shower, the court was told. She also claimed that she had only been given a rag to clean herself with, police alleged. Shirley later died in hospital after getting blood poisoning from her 19 bedsores, the court heard. Doctors believed she had allegedly been denied on-going care and medical assistance and called the police. The home had a broken window when news crews visited on Thursday morning One of the men had his application for bail rejected, while another did not apply for bail One of Ms Thompson's nieghbours told the Nine Network: 'I'm very upset - she was truly a nice person, a beautiful person.' People along the street knew she was ill and said her sons tended to keep to themselves. Shirley's 'loving husband', Gordon, died on February 2, 2012, a death notice seen by Daily Mail Australia said. The notice described her life partner as the 'cherished father' of Phillip and David, and added: 'Always in our hearts'. The 39-year-old and the 42-year-old were charged with manslaughter and refused bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court (pictured) on Thursda In a statement, the AFP confirmed an officer had been stood down from his duties pending the court process. Philip had his application for bail rejected. Meantime, David did not apply for bail. The pair next face court on June 28. The alleged vandal who travelled almost 10,000 miles to slash a 2.16million ($3 million) piece of art at a US gallery has been revealed as the son of the painting's owner. Officials in Colorado have charged Nicholas Morley, 40, with 'felony criminal mischief' after the untitled Christopher Wool painting belonging to father Harold, 74, was cut twice. A man was caught on camera entering the Opera Gallery in Aspen, Colorado, wearing sunglasses and a cap on May 1, 2017, and was seen damaging the piece with a razor before fleeing the scene. A warrant for Morley's arrest has now been issued by a district court judge in the area following an 11-month investigation. According to US legal documents, Harold initially told police the painting, named Untitled 2004, was co-owned owned by his son via investment company Fallowfield Ltd, although he later claimed his son only helped with contracts at the firm and did not own the artwork. Aspen Police claim Morley carried out the vandalism as part of a marathon journey from the UK, flying from London to Denver via Minneapolis under a false name, hiring a car to drive to Aspen, and then returning to Britain within just three days. Scroll down for video Nicholas Morley, right, allegedly damaged a 2.16million ($3million) painting belonging to his father Harold, left, at a US art gallery Morley, left with his father, allegedly travelled 10,000 miles on a three-day round trip from London to Aspen, Colorado, to cut the Christopher Wool painting with a razor Morley was charged with felony criminal mischief by US authorities just two days after running the London Marathon, pictured The work belonged to Harold , 74, (left) of Barbados, through a trust called Fallowfield Ltd, who told authorities he wanted the situation 'calmed down' before his son was charged Harold, a former dentist turned property developer, now lives in Barbados and is known as the country's 'oldest rally driver' This map shows the alleged route Morley took, covering 10,000 miles in three days Morley, who ran the London Marathon just two days before being charged, was previously convicted over the deaths of an elderly couple in Macedonia in 2007 after a crash in his Porsche 911 during the Gumball 3000 Rally race. He received a two-year suspended sentence for 'endangering traffic leading to death' and was detained for 40 days before being released back to Britain. His father Harold, a dentist turned property developer, is also a rally car fan and is known as one of the oldest drivers in the sport in Barbados where he lives. Harold, known as Doc, moved to the Caribbean 17 years ago and married a former beauty queen. The Aspen Times reports Harold sent a letter to the gallery saying the painting could be 'easily restored' and he would not be pursuing an insurance claim. 'It was only a minor incident,' he said, according to the affidavit. 'In the same vein the police investigation should be calmed down and they be quickly informed that Fallowfield are very relaxed about the whole affair since Wool is an appreciating asset and the repairs will be all but invisible,' he added. In a letter to Opera Gallery, he requested that staff 'play the whole affair down as over enthusiastic reporting,' the affidavit states. 'We could even put it up for sale now for $3.5m on the basis it is 'famous,'' Harold Morley wrote, according to the affidavit. 'Since we are not making an insurance claim there is no reason why the recollection of the incident should not be eliminated as quickly as possible from staff and public.' The documents also state he told the gallery there was 'no reason' why the incident could not be 'eliminated as quickly as possible from staff and public recollection'. The vandalism was caught on CCTV, pictured, and the suspect wore gloves, dark glasses and 'a false beard' Surveillance footage show the man entering the Aspen gallery in black jeans and a black jacket before making his way to the painting Within a few seconds, he rushed over to the Christopher Wool painting and cut it twice with a razor. A gallery employee appears but the slasher rushed for the door A similar piece of work by celebrated American artist Christopher Wool Surveillance footage from the gallery shows a man in black jeans, a black jacket, a hat, sunglasses and a full beard, entering the building and propping the door open. Within a few seconds, he rushed over to the Christopher Wool painting and cut it twice. A gallery employee appears but the slasher rushed for the door, grabbing the prop on the way out. Untitled 2004 was the sole item being sold on consignment at the time, listed for sale at $2.95 million. Nicholas Morley was charged, in his absence, with felony criminal mischief on Wednesday, for damage worth between $1,000 and $5,000 because it cost less than $2,500 to repair the multi million dollar painting. 'He is the person charged with directly damaging this painting,' Aspen prosecutor Don Nottingham said Wednesday night. Aspen Police claim Morley flew to Minneapolis under the name 'Nikola Marley' but used his real passport while going through immigration. He then took an internal flight to Denver where he rented a car from Alamo and drover off. On May 4, 2017, he returned the vehicle and had driven it 246 miles according to the firm's records. However, a one way trip to Aspen from Denver is around 223 miles, with police not commenting on the discrepancy and whether any alternative transport was used. Police say Morley arrived in Denver and paid for the car and a night at a hotel using his Bulgarian wife Aleksandra Penkovas credit card. Harold, pictured, moved to Barbados 17 years ago and married a former beauty queen According to US legal documents, Harold told the gallery the work could be 'easily restored' and he would not be pursuing an insurance claim Authorities also say Morley told them he did not recognise the vandal in the footage and claimed he was not in the US at the time and had last been there three months earlier. His brother Oliver Morley, 47, who runs a property company in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, told the Times he had not spoken to his sibling or father in years. He said: I do not interact with them. Just family issues, I am not happy with their conduct. Ms Penkova, who is an interior designer under the name Aleksandra Love, told the paper she was not aware of the allegations. According to the Times, Mr Morley said in a statement through his lawyer: I did not cause the damage. I was the beneficial owner of the painting at the time. Any suggestion that I damaged my own property is based on speculation and circumstantial evidence. At no time have I sought to claim any financial benefit from the damage to the painting and simply wanted to privately deal with the matter. Authorities are deciding whether to pursue extradition for Morley, who denies slashing the picture. Travellers from across the world have revealed Bali merchants are not the only ones reportedly categorising shoppers on their haggling skills by handing out different coloured plastic bags. Kristian Troy said on Wednesday he uncovered the secret system on one of his first trips to Indonesia nearly 30 years ago. Dozens of people have chimed in online, revealing they have also witnessed the colour coding system being used in Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico. Many prided themselves on being regularly handed a black bag, which signifies an aggressive bargain hunter. Scroll down for video Shoppers are secretly being categorised by colour coded plastic bags which reflect their haggling skills across Thailand, Vietnam and Mexico (stock image) Plastic bags with black and white stripes were handed to people who enjoyed bargaining (stock image) Shoppers with black bags signifies an aggressive bargain hunter in the country (stock image) Dozens of people have since chimed in online, revealing they have also witnessed the colour coding system (pictured) being used in multiple countries Mr Troy said shoppers who are considered easy targets have their items placed in red plastic bags. WHAT DOES YOUR BAG SAY ABOUT YOU? Red: Weak haggler/easy target Black: Strong haggler Black and white stripe: Enjoys haggling Advertisement 'When you buy something, the colour of the plastic bag you put your goods in will indicate to other merchants your haggling skills,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'Back [30 years ago] red meant easy target and a black bag suggested you are a tough shopper who drives a hard bargain.' He added that plastic bags with black and white stripes were handed to people who enjoyed bargaining. Mr Troy said he was initially skeptical about the system, and decided to put it to the test when he visited local stores. Kristian Troy said on Wednesday he uncovered the secret system on one of his first trips to Indonesia nearly 30 years ago (stock image) Mr Troy said shoppers who are considered easy targets have their items placed in red plastic bags (stock image) 'When I gave in easy at one shop I was given a red bag, much to my disgust,' he said. 'I then bought the same item at another shop and really haggled and got a black bag. 'Our driver told us about this system and warned us to dump any red bags.' Mr Troy said he has since engaged in numerous debates with Bali travellers who don't believe the system still exists. Donald Trump claimed Thursday morning that a $130,000 hush-money payment to a porn star who claims to have been his mistress was an ordinary legal expense part of the costs covered by a monthly retainer agreement between him and his longtime lawyer Michael Cohen. 'Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA,' Trump wrote in a series of tweets. 'These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair.' 'Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll [sic] in this transaction,' the president concluded. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is now serving as a Trump legal adviser, revealed Wednesday night that Trump repaid Cohen but didn't address the president's April 5 statement aboard Air Force One that he knew nothing about it. He said Thursday on 'Fox & Friends' that Cohen's payment to Clifford 'wasn't for the campaign. It was to save their marriage,' referring to Donald and Melania Trump. 'I think he was trying to help the family. And for that, the man is being treated like some kind of villain.' But in the same interview, he suggested that a bombshell claim from Daniels would have disastrous consequences for the president's political prospects. 'Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton,' he said. 'Cohen didn't even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job.' SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS President Donald Trump has laid out the details of a new rationale for the infamous hugh-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels during the last days of the 2016 campaign Trump articulated a new line of defense on Thursday morning, saying his attorney Michael Cohen was repaid for his $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels through an ordinary legal retainer Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti scoffed at the latest legal tactic from the White House: 'They're not thinking this through. We've been playing three-dimensional chess, they've been playing tic-tac-toe' Rudy Giuliani said Thursday morning on 'Fox & Friends' that Cohen's payment wasn't a campaign contribution because his purpose was personal an unsolicited favor to Donald and Melania Trump: 'It wasn't for the campaign. It was to save their marriage' Trump's morning tweets drew mocking criticism from Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti, who told the 'Morning Joe' hosts on MSNBC that 'they're not thinking this through. We've been playing three-dimensional chess, they've been playing tic-tac-toe.' 'Mr. President, you and your advisers and your lawyers need to bring it. Bring it. Because you continue to lie to the American people. We are not going to tolerate it,' he said. On CNN's 'New Day' program, Avenatti was even more dismissive. 'Whoever the attorney is that wrote those two tweets is an absolute moron,' he jabbed. Giuliani, who has joined Trump's legal team in recent weeks, created an overnight tempest with his initial statement during an interview with Sean Hannity on the Fox News Chanel 'Having something to do with paying some Stormy Daniels woman $130,000? Which, I mean, is going to turn out to be perfectly legal,' Giuliani said. 'That money was not campaign money. Sorry, I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know. It's not campaign money. No campaign finance violation. 'They funneled through the law firm and the president repaid it. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Fox News just minutes after Giuliani's appearance Thursday that she wouldn't expand on his explanation: 'It's something that we at the White House can't comment on' Giuliani called Avenatti and Daniels 'stick-up artists' who are looking for a seven-figure payday, and reacted to news that Avenatti had approached MSNBC with an idea for a legal program starring himself: 'The TV show he could get is well, "Ambulance Chaser"' Cohen has said that he took out the $130,000 from his home equity line of credit to make the payment. And Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on April 5 that 'no,' he had no knowledge of the financial arrangement with Daniels. He has claimed that Cohen made the payment on his own. Cohen faces a criminal probe into his business affairs by federal prosecutors in Manhattan, including over the $130,000 payment, which he has called legal. Daniels has since sued Trump and Cohen claiming that the non-disclosure agreement she signed was invalid. Appearing Thursday morning on 'Fox & Friends,' Giuliani called Avenatti and Daniels 'stick-up artists' who are looking for a seven-figure payday. He reacted to news that Avenatti had approached MSNBC with an idea for a legal program starring himself: 'The TV show he could get is well, "Ambulance Chaser".' And Giuliani reiterated that Trump 'didn't know the details of this until we knew the details of it, which was a couple weeks ago. Maybe not even a couple, maybe 10 days ago.' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said on Fox News just minutes after Giuliani's appearance Thursday that she wouldn't expand on his explanation. 'Mayor Giuliani is part of the president's legal team. He's got visibility and insight into this issue. He's spoken about this at length, both last night and this morning. I would refer you back to his comments,' she said. 'Particularly given the fact that this is ongoing legislation, it's something that we at the White House can't comment on.' Rudy Giuliani (above) has said that Donald Trump re-paid Michael Cohen $130,000 after the personal attorney made the initial hush money payment to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had an affair with the president over a decade ago Giuliani's facial expressions suggest he realizes he made a mistake in revealing the reimbursement Avenatti said Wednesday night that Giuliani's comments on the 'Hannity' program were a 'stunning revelation' and that Trump 'evidently participated in a felony.' Avenatti told MSNBC immediately after the Giuliani revelations that Trump may be guilty of money laundering, campaign finance violations, and fraud by paying Cohen back in small increments over the course of several months. 'That's a serious, serious problem,' Avenatti said. 'It's a violation of federal law. It's a criminal act to do that.' After the interview with Hannity, Giuliani was asked by The Wall Street Journal if his comments on Fox put the president in legal jeopardy. '[Trump] paid [Cohen] back,' Giuliani told the Journal. 'No campaign finance violations, no crime of any kind. Michael had discretion to solve these.' Giuliani told Hannity that the $130,000 payment was 'a very regular thing for lawyers to do.' The statement by Giuliani contradicts Trump's denial last month that he had any knowledge of Cohen's initial payment to Daniels. Daniels is seen above in downtown Pittsburgh late Wednesday being escorted to a club by a bodyguard Trump has denied allegations that he had an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford Giuliani told Hannity that the $130,000 payment was 'a very regular thing for lawyers to do.' Daniels is seen left and Cohen is seen right Giuliani continued: 'Everybody was nervous about this from the very beginning. I wasn't... 'When I heard Cohen's retainer of $35,000, when he was doing no work for the president, I said, 'That's how he's repaying it, with a little profit and a little margin for paying taxes, for Michael'.' Giuliani said that the president 'didn't know about the specifics of it (the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels), as far as I know. 'But he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this.' Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti (seen above on CNN on Wednesday), said Giuliani's comments were a 'stunning revelation' and that Trump 'evidently participated in a felony' EXCLUSIVE: @MichaelAvenatti responds to Rudy Giuliani claiming Trump repaid Stormy Daniels hush money. pic.twitter.com/d56nAQVKoS The Last Word (@TheLastWord) May 3, 2018 Daniels claims she had sex with Trump in 2006, months after his third wife gave birth to his youngest child. She was paid $130,000 by Cohen before the 2016 election to keep quiet about the allegations. Trump has denied having sex with Daniels. Daniels' lawyer, Avenatti, called the comment 'a stunning revelation.' 'Mr. Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people,' he said. 'I am absolutely speechless at this revelation... This is an outrage what has gone on here. The American people have been lied to about this agreement.' During the interview on Hannity, Giuliani also dubbed Hillary Clinton a 'criminal' and called fired FBI Director James Comey 'a disgraceful liar' and a 'pervert'. Appearing on CNN later in the evening on Wednesday, Avenatti said: 'I said it weeks ago. I'm going to say it again. Mr. Trump will not serve his term. No way, no how. He will be forced to ultimately resign.' Avenatti tweeted late Wednesday: 'We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it. DID TRUMP BREAK THE LAW BY RE-PAYING COHEN IN INCREMENTS? Rudy Giuliani's claim that President Trump reimbursed Michael Cohen for the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels 'over the course of months' could land the president in hot legal water. Title 31 of US Code 5313 requires that any cash transactions exceeding $10,000 be reported to the federal government by way of a Currency Transaction Report. This is done in order to combat money laundering and other financial crimes. The act of breaking up large transactions into smaller ones just to avoid filing a CTR - which is known as 'structuring' - is illegal. CTRs are given to the IRS so that the identities of the individuals making the transactions are known. The maximum penalty for 'structuring' is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican House speaker in history, pleaded guilty in 2015 to structuring, which is a form of money laundering that involves withdrawing a large sum of money in small increments to avoid detection. The lawmaker was taking the money out of his bank accounts to pay a promised $3.5million in compensation for pain and suffering to one of his five sexual abuse victims of wrestlers he coached, he admitted in his plea agreement and at his sentencing hearing. The payment to Daniels has raised numerous legal questions, including whether it was an illegal campaign contribution and, now, loan. 'If this is true then it looks like Cohen may have made an unreported loan to the campaign rather than a contribution,' said Richard L. Hasen, an expert in election law at the University of California, Irvine. He said that might be better for Cohen, but not for Trump, because it undermines the argument that Cohen was acting independently. 'The greatest significance is that it implicates the president directly,' he said. Law firms advance expenses for clients as a matter of course, and so there's nothing inherently improper about a lawyer covering a particular payment and then being reimbursed for it. In this case, though, the client who apparently reimbursed the expense was running for president and the money was paid just days before the election, raising questions about whether Cohen's law practice was functioning as a vendor for the campaign and whether the expense was therefore an unreported campaign expenditure. If so, that could be legally problematic. Andrew Herman, an attorney specializing in campaign finance law at Miller & Chevalier, said Giuliani's argument that this was a private payment unrelated to the campaign appears to be 'pretty far-fetched' given the timing - weeks before the election while Trump was under fire for his behavior with women and for an Access Hollywood tape in which he spoke of groping women without their consent. But if Cohen or Trump could establish that discussions with Daniels over the payment long predated his run for office, that could help them with the argument that the money was a personal rather than political expense. 'It obviously increases the president's exposure to potential campaign finance violations, but it also makes him look terrible,' said Sol Wisenberg, a defense attorney who was a deputy independent counsel during the Starr special counsel investigation into President Bill Clinton. 'I don't understand the Giuliani strategy,' he added. 'Maybe it's been too long since he's been in the criminal justice field.' Source: US Government Publishing Office Advertisement 'Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged by what we have now learned. 'Mr. Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied. 'This followed the lies told by others close to him, including Mr. Cohen. 'This should never be acceptable in our America. We will not rest until justice is served.' Cohen's payment to the president's accuser in the weeks leading up to the presidential election could be cast as an illegal contribution but not if he were acting on the president's behest and with his money. Last month on Air Force One, Trump said he didn't know about the $130,000 payment his personal attorney made to Daniels, issuing a firm denial in his first public comments about the adult-film actress who alleges she had an affair with him After Giuliani's interview with Hannity, Laura Ingraham, who hosts the 10pm show, said: 'They better have an explanation for that. That's a problem.' Trump did not tweet about Giuliani's revelations on Wednesday night. Instead the president tweeted about a book written by a 'Fox & Friends' co-host, and about trade talks with China. Giuliani later told The Washington Post that he spoke with Trump late Wednesday and that the president approved of his interview. Giuliani said Trump was 'very pleased' and that he knew he was going to raise the matter of the reimbursement. WHY DID GIULIANI GO THERE? Rudy Giuliani's revelation that President Donald Trump reimbursed his personal attorney for a $130,000 payment to a porn star to keep her quiet about an alleged affair is raising new legal questions, including whether the president and his campaign violated campaign finance laws. The former New York City mayor insisted on Fox News Channel Wednesday night that the payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels was 'going to turn out to be perfectly legal.' 'That money was not campaign money. Sorry, I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know. It's not campaign money, no campaign finance violation,' he said. Some legal experts disagree. A look at some of the issues at play: TIMING Giuliani's insistence the money had nothing to do with the campaign is complicated by the fact that Daniels' silence was secured just days before the 2016 presidential election, and as Trump was dealing with the fallout from the 'Access Hollywood' tape in which he bragged about sexually assaulting women. If the payment were wholly personal, said Richard L. Hasen, an expert in election law at the University of California, Irvine, there would be no campaign finance violations. But Giuliani's argument that the payment was unrelated to the campaign appears to be 'pretty far-fetched' given the timing, said Andrew Herman, an attorney specializing in campaign finance law at Miller & Chevalier. Tight: Donald Trump meets with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at the clubhouse of the Trump National Golf Club November 20, 2016 in Bedminster, New Jersey 'Certainly, the argument that the government will make is that the $130,000 payment from Michael Cohen to Daniels was a loan to the Trump campaign to keep these allegations secret obviously and then Trump paying Cohen back would be a campaign expenditure' a loan and expenditure that should have been disclosed to the Federal Election Commission, he said. DISCLOSURE: All campaign expenses, including payments and loans, are supposed to be disclosed to the FEC. Hasen said the question before Wednesday had been whether Cohen had made an unreported contribution to the Trump campaign exceeding legal limits. 'If this is true, then it looks like Cohen may have made an unreported loan to the campaign rather than a contribution,' he said. That could be good news for Cohen, because it would have been up to the president or his campaign to report the loan, not up to Cohen. 'The greatest significance is that it implicates the president, directly,' he said. 'If it's done with Trump's knowledge ... then now we're talking about something that is related to the campaign and is more serious.' Norm Eisen, who served as an ethics lawyer in the Obama White House and now chairs the left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, which has repeatedly challenged Trump, also said Trump should have disclosed the loan on his federal financial disclosure. 'There's probably a sufficient basis for DOJ to open another investigation about whether the president was candid on his personal financial disclosure,' he said. WHY GO THERE? It wasn't immediately clear what Giuliani sought to gain with the admission. Eisen suggested it might have something to do with the fact that Cohen is under criminal investigation in New York. FBI agents also raided his home and office several weeks ago seeking records about the nondisclosure agreement. 'I think the other intention here apparently was to tear the Band-Aid off and to get out in public whatever Cohen might offer should he choose to cooperate,' speculated Eisen. Sol Wisenberg, a defense attorney who was a deputy independent counsel during the Starr special counsel investigation into President Bill Clinton, said the comment 'obviously increases the president's exposure to potential campaign finance violations, but it also makes him look terrible.' 'I don't understand the Giuliani strategy,' he added. 'Maybe it's been too long since he's been in the criminal justice field.' Advertisement 'Oh, yeah, yeah. Sure, sure,' Giuliani told the Post. 'He was well-aware that at some point when I saw the opportunity, I was going to get this over with.' When Giuliani was asked by the Post if he thought Trump would fire him, he laughed. 'No! no! no! I'm not going to get fired,' said Giuliani. 'But if I do, I do. It wouldn't be the first time it ever happened. But I don't think so, no.' Last month on Air Force One, Trump said he didn't know about the $130,000 payment his personal attorney made to Daniels, issuing a firm denial in his first public comments about the adult-film actress who alleges she had an affair with him. Trump also said he didn't know why his longtime lawyer had made the payment. Strangely enough, Trump did not tweet about the revelations by Giuliani. Instead, the president tweeted about a book written by a co-host of Fox & Friends He also tweeted about trade talks with China Asked why Cohen wrote the six-figure check, Trump said: 'You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney.' But the president ignored a question about whether he had set up a fund for Cohen to draw on for such purposes. Cohen has said that he took out a home equity line of credit to withdraw the money, and that he never told then-candidate Trump about it. Daniels on Monday sued Trump for defamation, saying he lied by tweeting that her claim of being threatened if she discussed an alleged sexual encounter with him was a 'total con job.' Giuliani also told Hannity on Wednesday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should end Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. Giuliani also lashed out at James Comey, calling the former FBI chief 'a disgraceful liar' Giuliani said the Mueller probe should be shut down 'in the interest of justice.' 'There's been too much government misconduct,' the former New York mayor said. 'The crimes now have all been committed by the government and their agents.' Giuliani also lashed out at Comey, calling the former FBI chief 'a disgraceful liar.' Echoing Trump, Giuliani said Comey should be prosecuted for leaking classified information. Comey gave memos of his conversations with Trump to members of his legal team as well as other associates, who then revealed their contents to the press. Comey has said the materials were not classified and that he broke no laws. 'I have never, ever... leaked a damn thing [when I was a federal prosecutor],' said Giuliani. 'I would have considered resigning if I ever did that.' Giuliani said that Trump fired Comey last year because the then-FBI director refused to say that the president was not being investigated. 'Comey would not, among other things, say that [Trump] wasn't a target of the [Russia] investigation,' Giuliani said. 'He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that [during the email investigation.] And he couldn't get that.' Giuliani was apparently referring to Comey's decision not to recommend charges in the investigation into Clinton's use of a private email server when she was secretary of state. Giuliani also warned that if Mueller goes after Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, 'the whole country will turn on [the special counsel and his team]'. He also said Jared Kushner, Ivanka's husband, was 'disposable' Hannity and Giuliani call for prosecutions of Comey, Clinton, McCabe, Strzok, and Page. Very authoritarian stuff. pic.twitter.com/FjFtInG4MF Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) May 3, 2018 'You can't blame the president for feeling, 'I am not being treated the same way [Clinton was]',' Giuliani said. He also warned that if Mueller goes after Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, 'the whole country will turn on [the special counsel and his team].' Giuliani said he would 'get on my charger and go ride into [Mueller and his team's] offices with a lance if they go after Ivanka. 'Now, if they do do Ivanka, which I doubt they will, the whole country will turn on them. They're going after his daughter?' In a comment that raised eyebrows, Giuliani said Ivanka's husband, Jared Kushner, was 'disposable' because he is a man. [Kushner is a] fine man, you know that, but men are disposable. But a fine woman like Ivanka? Come on.' Federal Labor will end the live sheep trade if it wins government, with a plan to transition the industry to meat processing. Live exports are under immense pressure after shocking footage emerged of 2,400 sheep dying in heat and filth on an Emanuel Exports ship bound for the Middle East in 2017, prompting the government to announce a series of reviews into the trade. 'We don't see a future for live sheep exports,' Labor's agriculture spokesman Joel Fitzgibbon told Sky News on Thursday. Animal welfare groups have offered $1 million for sheep farmers if the Turnbull government agrees to phase out live exports. Scroll down for video Federal Labor will end the live sheep trade if it wins government, with a plan to transition the industry to meat processing The industry is under pressure after shocking footage emerged of 2,400 sheep dying in heat and filth on an Emanuel Exports ship bound for the Middle East in August (pictured) Last week, tens of thousands of animals were loaded onto a live export ship in South Australia (pictured) as protesters gathered, demanding the animals be let off 'Farmers have already been changing their business model. A well-structured adjustment package can provide a painless solution for farmers while giving the trade the dignified death it failed to give to countless animals,' Animals Australia's Lyn White said in a statement on Thursday. Last week, tens of thousands of animals were loaded onto a live export ship in South Australia as protesters gathered, demanding the animals be let off. The RSPCA recently released results from a poll into live exports which showed that three in four Australians were against the practice. The poll also found that seven out of 10 rural Australians were against the practice. RSPCA Australia Chief Scientist and Strategy Officer Dr Bidda Jones said the consistency of opposition to live exports was interesting. 'This data absolutely flies in the face of industry excuses, that opposition to live exports is centered in city areas and among people with no direct experience of farming,' she said. 'That's simply not true.' Labor had previously called for a suspension of northern summer exports pending the outcome of a review led by veterinarian Michael McCarthy, which is due to deliver its findings in two weeks. The live animal export industry is worth more than $800 million annually The RSPCA recently released results from a poll into live exports which showed that three in four Australians were against the practice (pictured are protests in South Australia) Former Liberal minister Sussan Ley (pictured) will soon introduce a private members' bill to phase out live sheep exports to the Middle East But on Thursday the opposition hardened its position, calling for the trade to be phased out amid animal welfare concerns. 'If we can focus more on premium markets, chilled lamb for example, to those burgeoning middle class markets in Asia, we can lift the profitability of our farmers,' Mr Fitzgibbon said. 'This can be a win-win.' Agriculture Minister David Littleproud slammed Labor for not waiting for the findings of the McCarthy review. 'With the science just two weeks away, Labor rushes to a knee-jerk ban, punishing farmers who have done no wrong,' Mr Littleproud said in a statement. 'Labor does not have the temperament to lead this country as it refuses to wait for the evidence.' A shopper has come across what appears to be a very rude sign in a record store. Australian outlet JB Hi-Fi has been known to throw caution to the wind with its risque handwritten signage and its latest is no exception. The shopper was in the new releases DVD section when they came across the banner which read 'Fresh New Flicks'. JB Hi-Fi has been known to throw caution to the wind with its risque handwritten signage and its latest is no exception Thinking some internet users might get a kick out of the sign they posted a photo of it to Reddit. The shopper thought the sign actually read 'Fresh New F****'. In the image it appears the 'I' and 'L' join together to form the letter 'U'. One person responded by saying: 'My god the signage in that store'. It's not the first time a customer has spotted a hilarious JB Hi-Fi sign Another said: 'All JB Hi-Fi stores have signage like this, some of their handwritten video game reviews that they stick on the shelves are pretty funny too.' It's not the first time a customer has spotted a hilarious JB Hi-Fi sign. A picture of the sign at a JB Hi-Fi store was shared on social media in 2016, prompting hundreds of people to chime in with their thoughts on the awkward spacing. The in-store advertisement read, 'Flicks for Valentine's Day,' however some customers thought the 'L' and 'I' were too close together, making the word appear to be something entirely different. A chain of text messages between Tony Petrovski (pictured) and his boss have accused the man of faking a rare form of cancer and fleecing half-a-million from the company A chain of text messages has exposed a man who allegedly faked a rare form of cancer and fleeced $500,000 from the travel company he worked for. Tony Petrovski has been charged by New South Wales Police with five counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception, Daily Telegraph reported. The father-of-two, who has worked in the travel industry for 24 years, allegedly lied about having cancer and being treated in an Intensive Care Unit for which he requested to use 25 days of sick leave in December 2016. Police allege Mr Petrovski swindled hundreds of thousands of dollars from his then employer Imperial China Tours in Sydney's CBD where he was reportedly employed for nine years. An internal audit revealed $429,318 was used from the company's safety deposit box in more than 82 unauthorised transactions. One staff member claims Mr Petrovski's Christmas bonus was doubled to $1,000, a source told the publication. In the series of text messages, Mr Petrovski claimed to be in 'too much pain' after having surgery at a Wollongong Hospital during the Christmas and New Year period, according to reports. In a series of text messages, the father-of-two, who has worked in the travel industry for 24 years, allegedly lied about having cancer and being treated in an Intensive Care Unit Mr Petrovski (pictured) has been charged by New South Wales Police with five counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception The employer claims the travel worker was enjoying a camping trip at a retreat with his family at Shoalhaven River, NSW, and when they called the hospital they discovered it was closed for refurbishment. After the boss asked to see a medical certificate, Mr Petrovski quit because it was 'for the best' and has since found a new job at another travel agency. Mr Petrovski is expected to face court on May 23. An affluent Liberal Party backbencher has been lambasted for claiming she could sustain herself on a $40-a-day government welfare allowance. Julia Banks, who holds the marginal Melbourne seat of Chisholm, angered welfare recipients when she told her ABC Local Radio station existing Newstart and Youth Allowance payments were adequate for the the unemployed. 'I could live on 40 bucks a day knowing that the Government is supporting me with Newstart looking for employment,' she said. Liberal Party MP Julia Banks has faced a storm of criticism over comments she made regarding welfare payments in Australia Her statement contradicted economist Chris Richardson's assertion the $539 a fortnight unemployment benefit was 'unnecessarily cruel', and should be raised by $50 a week, ABC News reports. Ms Banks said such a suggestion amounted to 'socialism', and it was possible to live on $40 a day - prompting talkback listeners to accuse her of being 'insulting' and 'out of touch'. 'I am certainly not,' she responded. 'I speak to constituents every day and all I can say is the dignity of having a job and finding work is what our policy is about.' Ms Banks (pictured: left) declared that she would be able to live on welfare payments $40 a day. The political backbencher currently makes $199,040 a year One welfare recipient who's been living on a $400 a fortnight Youth Allowance for six years is challenging Ms Banks to put her money where her mouth is take up the same daily budget Coming from a Liberal MP whose base salary is $199,040, Julia Banks' opinions offered little solace for those who have to struggle with the-day-to-day realities of life on the dole. Sherri Prendergast, 22, has been living on a $400 a fortnight Youth Allowance for six years, and is challenging Ms Banks to put her money where her mouth is take up the same daily budget. 'It kind of makes me wonder when was the last time that she was living off $400 a fortnight,' she said. 'If you make more money than what people on Newstart are getting, I'd challenge people to do it, see what it feels like. 'If you've never had to worry about whether or not you can get something as simple as toilet paper, then you're not going to know what it's like.' Ms Banks (pictured: right) disputes accusations that she is 'ignorant' and 'out of touch', saying that 'I speak to constituents every day and all I can say is the dignity of having a job and finding work is what our policy is about' Ms Banks, who was born and raised in Melbourne to Greek migrant parents, has previously held prestigious roles as a lawyer and senior executive director at Kraft Foods and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. She has been a federal member of parliament since 2016 when she won the marginal seat of Chisholm off Labor, following the retirement of former speaker Anna Burke. She was the only Liberal candidate to win a seat off Labor, giving Malcolm Turnbull's government its one-seat majority at the last federal election. Up to thirty people including many children were injured last night as an explosion sent a fireball into the crowd during a Jewish festival bonfire in north London. Many of those injured at the Lag BaOmer event in Stamford Hill suffered facial burns, emergency service workers said. Ten people are believed to have been hospitalised. Their conditions are not known. The explosion sent a fireball into the crowd during a Lag BaOmer bonfire in north London A religious leader lit the bonfire (right of the picture) moments before the blast occurred Hundreds of people attended the Lag BaOmer bonfire, part of an annual Jewish celebration Witnesses said the explosion occurred at around 10pm as a religious leader lit the bonfire, in which at least one mobile phone had been placed as a warning against the dangers of smart phones to society,The Yeshiva World reported. As the fire ignited, a fireball blasted out of the flames. It was unclear whether the handsets sparked the explosion or fuel that was being used to start the fire. Several people were trampled as people fled the blast, witnesses said. London Ambulance attended the scene alongside the Hatzola Jewish volunteer medical service, who said they had treated 'multiple patients' for burns. More follows... Police have seized more than $10 million worth of a drug known as 'Grievous Bodily Harm' in Victoria. Dubbed as Operation Turret by Victorian Police, officers executed 30 search warrants which resulted in the significant seizure of drugs, firearms and stolen goods. The operation took place from the north-west of Melbourne to the far north-east town of Shepparton. Victorian Police have seized over $10million worth of killer drug GHB a part of a state wide search Illicit material such as drugs, firearms, stolen property and cash were taken by police and eleven people were arrested in the state-wide search. An industrial property in north Melbourne was raided and resulted in the seizure of prescription medication, cannabis, firearms as well as stolen goods. A large quantity of the party drug GHB was found at the Craigieburn property as well as ten litres of an unidentified liquid. Six men were arrested at the northern-city suburb and the men aged 19 to 26 will appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday. Five more properties were raided in the regional town of Shepparton and one property in Lemnos. Four men and one woman were arrested at their homes and a large amount of cannabis was seized from these properties. 'We are committed to making our streets a safer and drug-free environment for everyone in the community to enjoy,' North West Region Crime Inspector Jamie Templeton said. Operation Turret has resulted in the the seizure of 2100 litres of liquid substances and 12 firearms. A chef accused of killing a burglar he disturbed in his home has had a nervous breakdown and suffers post traumatic stress disorder, a court has heard. Ben Batterham is yet to face a committal hearing more than two years after he was charged with murdering Ricky Slater at Newcastle, north of Sydney, and the cause of Slater's death is still unknown. Batterham was so distressed by Slater's death and being charged with murder he repeatedly breached a bail condition that he not drink alcohol and was returned to jail two months ago. Ben Batterham has been charged with murdering burglar Ricky Slater back in March 2016 Ricky Slater had ice in his system when he was confronted by Ben Batterham in March 2016 Ben Batterham suffered injuries to his face during a scuffle in which burglar Ricky Slater died Ben Batterham, 33, chased Ricky Slater, 37, from this Newcastle home on the night Slater died Barrister Winston Terracini, SC, told the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday his 35-year-old client had been driven to drink by the events on the night Slater died. 'Since the death of the deceased his life has been in turmoil,' Mr Terracini said. 'He's practically had a nervous breakdown. He's got post traumatic stress disorder. He's had death threats.' Batterham will be pleading not guilty to murder. At issue will be self-defence, provocation and the exact cause of Slater's death. 'Nobody seems to know with precision, sadly, how the deceased died,' Mr Terracini said. Mr Terracini said it was unclear whether Slater died due to the quantity of ice in his system, cardiac arrest or some action of his client. Father-of-one Ben Batterham had his bail on a murder charge revoked for drinking alcohol Accused killer Ben Batterham pictured after being granted bail in 2016 on a murder charge Ice user Ricky Slater was 37 when he died after being chased and tackled by Ben Batterham Batterham had been celebrating his 33rd birthday at home in Hamilton with a friend on March 26, 2016 - Easter Saturday - when he was confronted by Slater. His fiancee Monique Cameron and their seven-month-old daughter were at his parents' nearby home. Police allege that while Batterham and his friend were drinking and listening to music in the lounge room, 37-year-old burglar Ricky Slater entered the house about 3am. Slater, who had convictions for offences including drug possession and break and enter, had been released from prison about three months earlier. He was allegedly carrying three knives, ecstasy tablets and three new iPhones. Police say once inside the house, Slater made his way to Batterham's daughter's nursery and stole Ms Cameron's handbag. Batterham confronted him and Slater fled out the side door. Newcastle man Ben Batterham being driven from Cessnock jail by barrister Winston Terracini Alleged murder victim Ricky Slater pictured in hospital before his life support was switched off Police photographed the injuries to Ben Batterham's face after he confronted Ricky Slater Batterham then chased Slater from his home and for 365m along several streets. Police allege Batterham tackled Slater to the ground, held him down and punched him repeatedly in the head. Slater was taken to hospital and his life support was switched off the next day. Batterham, who suffered a bite wound as well as cuts and bruises during the melee, was charged with murder and spent six weeks in Cessnock jail. He was eventually granted bail which included a $200,000 surety on his parents' home. At the time, magistrate Robert Stone disagreed the Crown had a strong murder case. Mr Stone said Batterham finding a stranger in his child's nursery holding his fiancee's handbag at 3am were factors that could explain him reacting with 'aggression and anger'. 'It appears to be an immediate reaction to a stranger in his home,' Mr Stone said. The major issue at Ben Batterham's committal hearing will be exactly how Ricky Slater died Ricky Slater's mother Beryl Dickson is pictured outside Newcastle Local Court in 2016 Among Batterham's bail conditions were that he not consume alcohol but he was arrested on January 13 this year and charged with high-range drinking driving. It emerged Batterham had for some months been visiting a local hotel after work, generally on Sunday afternoons, and drinking five or six schooners each time. As a result of his arrest Batterham lost his job at the exclusive Newcastle Club and his bail was revoked. Newcastle Local Court later heard Batterham had been suffering nightmares and flashbacks since Slater's death. On Thursday, Batterham appeared in the Supreme Court via audio visual link from Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre. Under questioning by Mr Terracini, Batterham vowed that if released on bail he would not drink alcohol or go to any licensed premises. Ben Batterham has been on remand or bail over Ricky Slater's murder for more than two years Accused killer Ben Batterham has been granted bail but must not drink alcohol or take drugs 'Hand on heart, I'm not going to go anywhere near anything that's going to get myself into trouble,' he told the court. 'I can see how much it's hurt my family. It was selfish... I've got a lot to lose. 'I can see how hurt my daughter is and my family. I can hear it when I'm speaking to them on the phone.' In granting bail, Justice David Davies considered the nature of Slater's death. 'It would be fair to say that although in the first instance what occurred was not at the applicant's instigation his behaviour towards the deceased was violent and prolonged,' Justice Davies said. Accused murderer Ben Batterham (pictured) has been released on bail for the second time 'Despite being engaged in that it is clear that the applicant has suffered very considerably emotionally as a result of all that has occurred including the death of the deceased and his being charged with murder. 'He has lost his job as a result and been found to be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.' Justice Davies ordered Batterham stay at one of two suppressed addresses, which he could not leave unless in the company of his fiancee or a parent between 8pm and 6am. He further ordered Batterham not drink alcohol or be on licensed premises, report to police daily, report to a psychologist within 48 hours of his release and not take prohibited drugs. 'Mr Batterham, you'd have to regard this as your very last chance,' Justice Davies said. Batterham is due to appear in Newcastle Local Court on Mary 28. The happy life and future plans of the woman whose body was found face down in a Sydney river have been revealed by her friends, as police dig deeper into her recent relationships in the hope of finding her alleged killer. Brazilian mining executive Cecilia Haddad, 38, had celebrated becoming an aunt for the first time just days before her fully-clothed body was discovered floating in the Lane Cove River on Sunday morning. Police believe she was murdered. But in the days before kayakers made the gruesome discovery, friends have recalled how Ms Haddad was 'on a high' after news her brother in Rio de Janeiro had welcomed a child with his wife. Ms Haddad had also recently purchased a new apartment near her current home in Ryde where she was hoping to move on following a break-up with her ex-boyfriend Marcelo Santoro, who is a person of interest in the case. Scroll down for video Cecilia Haddad (pictured) had become an aunty for the first time just days before her body was found in a Sydney river. NSW Police suspect the Brazilian mining executive was murdered In the week prior to her death, Ms Haddad's brother and sister-in-law (both pictured at back) had welcomed a child. Ms Haddad's ex-husband Felipe Torres (front left) is also pictured Friends of Ms Haddad said she had 'been on a high' after news her brother (left) and sister-in-law (right) had welcomed a child Friends of the businesswoman said that after a tough few months, things were finally looking up . 'She had a lot to look forward to and there was light at the end of the tunnel,' a close friend told Daily Mail Australia. 'She had just become an aunty and was also looking forward to moving into her new apartment which was nearing completion. 'She was so excited, about many things... it was great to see her on a high.' Police are hoping to check the alibi of Ms Haddad's ex-lover and business partner Mr Santoro, who is also from Brazil. The 40-year-old is believed to have flown back to Rio de Janeiro at the weekend after moving his journey home forward by several days. Mr Santoro's sister told Daily Mail Australia she was expecting him to arrive home this week, but had no idea that he was already believed to be in the country. 'I really don't know what is happening... he was due to come home this week,' she said. 'They had been dating for one or two years. Now, many people from Australia are writing me to ask about him and her.' Police wish to speak to Marcelo Santoro (centre) over the suspected murder of Ms Haddad, his ex-girlfriend and business partner. Mr Santoro is believed to have flown home to Brazil at the weekend, several days earlier than initially planned Ms Haddad (pictured), a Brazilian mining executive, was found floating in the Lane Cove River on Sunday A police source said Mr Santoro's sudden departure was 'obviously suspicious', but stressed he was far from the only person of interest in the case. 'We definitely would like to speak to him but there's definitely other people in Sydney we would like to talk to,' the source told Daily Mail Australia. The Federal police will have to contact authorities in Brazil to ask for assistance in an overseas investigation. It comes as Ms Haddad's mother begged police to 'catch the monster who killed her daughter' and told of her heartbreak at being stuck on the other side of the world. 'I do not know if I will survive this tragedy... maybe if they arrest the murderer, I may have some relief,' Milu Muller told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'I would love to be there with my beloved and adored daughter, but I had cardiac surgery and I still do not have [my] doctor's permission for long flights.' Homicide detectives today visited Ms Haddad's close friends in Western Australia, where she lived for several years after moving to Australia in 2007. Ms Haddad's mother (left) begged NSW Police to 'catch the monster who killed her daughter' (right) and told of her heartbreak at being stuck on the other side of the world Ms Haddad (left, pictured with a friend) was reported missing just hours after police pulled a woman's body from the Lane Cove River Meantime, Ms Haddad's ex-husband Felipe has flown in to help investigators and is 'quite shaken up' by the ordeal. Daily Mail Australia has confirmed that Mr Santaro and Ms Haddad began a business partnership in mid-2017, launching the disability service provider D.Care. The company and its website were registered in the friends' names. The company's principal place of business was Ms Haddad's home in Ryde which was under police guard on Wednesday. Friends of Ms Haddad, who was also known as 'CC' and 'Cissa', said she'd opened up to them about her recent professional and personal relationship issues. 'CC openly communicated with all her closest friends about the things that were happening in her life,' one friend said. Ms Haddad's ex-husband (left) flew from Perth to Sydney to help police with their investigation and identify the 38-year-old's body A body, suspected to be that of Cecilia Haddad, was discovered in the Lane Cove River on Sunday morning, the same day the Brazilian national was reported missing Police said Cecilia Haddad's red Fiat 500 was found at Ryde train station on Sunday afternoon Mr Santaro, a qualified engineer, had moved across the world from Brazil, where he worked in health services, to Sydney to be the start-up's managing director. 'D.CARE was established in 2017 as a partnership between two support workers from Sydney that saw a gap in the market,' the company website said. Mr Santaro described his role as 'living and breathing the company's core values'. Ms Haddad started her own consulting business, CHC Consulting, last August, and was volunteering as a disability support worker with a separate company, HireUp. After moving to Australia worked in a number of senior roles with BHP Biliton before moving to Pacific National as head of operational planning. Friends of the businesswoman remembered someone who had the 'right blend of Latino fire, compassion and a wicked sense of humour'. 'Cecilia was a truly inspiring, funny and intelligent woman who didn't deserve to end her life this way. No one deserves this, however in Cecilia's case, a truly bright spark of humanity has been snuffed out causelessly,' one friend said. NSW Police Detective Inspector Ritchie Sim said Ms Haddad's car was found just hours after her body was discovered in a river Friends grew worried for Ms Haddad's welfare when she failed to turn up to various appointments on Saturday (pictured is the scene) Distressed residents first thought a young child's body had been found, until police arrived and confirmed it was an adult. Ms Haddad's car was found at West Ryde Railway Station hours after her body was discovered. She had been reported missing by friends after failing to turn up to appointments that day. Ms Haddad, who enjoyed an active social life and had a large circle of friends based in Sydney, had spent Friday night at a backyard barbecue. On Saturday morning between 8am and 9.30am she called and sent text messages to a number of friends. That was the last time Ms Haddad was heard from. Her distinctive red Fiat 500 was seen outside her unit on Saturday afternoon, before it was driven to the train station. Ms Haddad's body was found on Sunday at 10.15am. Storms and tides have unearthed the bones of New Yorkers who have been unceremoniously buried on a tiny island for the past 150 years. Hart Island is a massive graveyard, home to an estimated one million bodies, of the city's forgotten and unclaimed dead. However 174 human bones have become exposed from their resting place due to severe weather conditions and erosion on the island, that sees skulls, femurs and collarbones peek out from the ground. New York officials have found 174 human bones exposed on Hart Island, where the city's unnamed, unclaimed, and sick have been buried for the past 150 years, white specks in the earth pictured above mark exposed bones A closer look reveals femurs jutting out from layers beneath the earth. The island suffers erosion due to severe weather and storms that have hit the island Small pipes sticking up from the ground mark mass graves of 150 people on Hart Island Views of high-rise buildings in the Bronx can be seen in the distance from the island. On the left what is believed to be a Civil War era cistern is revealed, after it was unearthed during Hurricane Sandy Around one million people are estimated to be buried on the island. But there are no headstones or markers for them, save for a wooden and stone cross pictured above 'Skeletal remains are literally just coming out of the earth,' Melinda Hunt of the Hart Island Project told WCBS. 'Entire skeletons are sort of falling out of the hill onto the beach, and then they're washed away with the tide,' Hunt, who has been working on the project since 1991 added. Although the 101-acre island has suffered erosion for years, the city is finally responding to calls for repairs. On Monday April 23 hundreds of human bones were found exposed on the island including six skulls, six jawbones, 31 leg bones and 16 pelvises. Although millions are buried there, Hart Island is not like other cemeteries. The island was first purchased by the city of New York in 1868 as a workhouse for wayward boys and a potter's field. Over the decades the island has housed a Civil War prison, an asylum, a tuberculosis hospital, a jail and a missile base, as it continually worked as burial ground. There are no head stones or manicured lawns on the island. Instead bodies are placed into pine boxes - babies into shoe boxes - and are laid to rest in stacks on top of each other in massive trenches dug out by prisoners. Most of the dead are people with no family or money. Many are the unclaimed dead left in New York City morgues. 'These are New Yorkers,' City Council member Mark Levine said of the remains. 'These are human beings who were largely marginalized and forgotten in life, they were people who died homeless or destitute, victims of contagious disease, the AIDS crisis. And we're victimizing them again in their final resting place,' he added. A team of forensic anthropologists are now cataloging the remains and placing red flags to mark exposed spots on the island. Hart Island has served as a public grave for 150 years and is located off the Long Island Sound Heavy erosion can be seen along the coast of Hart Island in New York where on April 23 city officials found 174 human bones on the island's surface Melinda Hart, president of the Hart Island Project, left, leads research on the island to locate and catalog the exposed remains Her team refers to a map of the island, pictured above, using drones to map out their findings I Alarm was raised in March 1985 after the city's sanitation department found bones strewn on the island - including a skull on the beach. Then in the wake of 2012's Hurricane Sandy, human bones were found exposed on the Long Island Sound. One of the island's embankments was also stripped of earth in the storm, revealing a Civil war-era cistern. 'It was explained to us that this was a rather common thing since the city has been burying bodies there for almost 80 years and the water has caused some erosion at older burial spots,' according to the report obtained by Hunt. A $13million federal project to repair the erosion was scheduled to begin in 2020, but has been bumped up to 2019. In the meantime, city officials say an archaeologist will visit at least once a month to remove and bury any exposed remains. On a recent photography trip around the island on a chartered boat, Hunt pointed out the places along the northern shore where the bones were, and where she has seen them before. 'They came to clean this up, but it isn't the first time and it won't be the last,' she said. In memory: A flag and an obelisk mark the Civil War memorial on Hart Island in New York Abandoned boats are seen on the coast of Hart Island in New York where bodies are laid to rest in mass graves A dilapidated building displays a warning sign on the island where prisoners dig massive trenches to bury bodies on pine boxes and children in shoe boxes The gloomy island uses small pipes to mark the areas where mass graves are buried, pictured above 'We are doing everything we can to limit future exposures and expedite the firming up of the shoreline,' Jason Kersten a correction spokesman said. News of the exposures has given hope for DNA testing for family members searching for their loved ones' remains. 'When I hear about the erosion, I always think, "Are the bones his? Could any of them be his?"' Carol DiMedio, whose grandfather Luigi Roma was buried on the island after dying from tuberculosis in 1933, said. DiMedio, 61, said she wishes the uncovered bones would be tested for DNA evidence to help desperate family members like her. She had done research since she was a young girl to try to find out where her grandfather was buried. And when she finally found the answer, she didn't want to tell her ailing, elderly mother where her father had been laid to rest. 'When I found him ... I lied and I said he was buried in a beautiful place, with blue water and blue skies and lots of trees and green grass and seagulls above,' she said. 'I didn't have the heart to tell her there's this grim place called Hart Island,' she added. Visitors can visit the island but only once per month and such trips must be reserved in advance. Only people with loved ones buried on the island are allowed to visit the graves. Others are restricted to a visitors' gazebo near the ferry dock. A farmer's daughter has vowed to fight her local council with a protest outside Parliament House after her family was forced to sell their land to make way for an industrial park. Tamrie Carter's ancestors have owned their 313 hectare property at Marong, near Bendigo in western Victoria, for 100 years. However, her hopes of taking over the family farm were shattered after the City of Greater Bendigo council last month voted to force the sale of their sheep-grazing property. Scroll down for video A farmer's daughter has vowed to fight her local council with a protest outside Parliament House after her family was forced to sell their land to make way for an industrial park By a vote of six to two, the council decided to put a public acquisition overlay over their property. Bendigo Mayor Margaret O'Rourke, a former Telstra manager, said the Carters would be properly compensated through the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act so an estimated 3,500 jobs could be created with a new industrial park on their land. 'A business park is a strategic priority for council and is intended to provide much-needed industrial land for new and expanding businesses,' she told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. Tamrie Carter has vowed to fight the forced sale of their lamb-grazing property, which has been in her family's hands for two generations. 'This is probably only important to us and they don't really care,' she told conservative activist Avi Yemini, who belongs to the right-wing Australian Liberty Alliance. 'They figure we can just probably go and pack up and go somewhere else but it's not like that.' Her father Max Carter (right) likened their situation to the South African government seizing white-owned farms without paying compensation The Carter family's ancestors have owned their 313 hectare property at Marong, near Bendigo in western Victoria, for 100 years Her father Max Carter, who was at that council meeting, likened their situation to South Africa's black-majority government seizing white-owned farms without paying compensation. In Australia, landowners are compensated at market prices when any government acquires land. 'This is not South Africa where we don't just kick farmers off their land and take their land,' Max Carter said. The farmer, whose father took over the land as a soldier settler after World War I, said the council had been trying for 15 years to buy his land from him. 'Everytime they've come, we've said, "No, we don't want to sell the land." The farmer, whose father took over the land as a soldier settler after World War I, said the council had been trying for 15 years to buy his land from him He said the property had been developed into a 'fairly large farm' and being made to sell that much of his land, so it could be subdivided, would mean his business would be financially unviable. The Carters are planning to protest outside the Victorian Parliament House on Wednesday next week at 11am in the hope the state government would intervene. Mayor O'Rourke said the Carter family's land on the Calder Highway was 'more suitable than all others ' due to its 'size, location, lack of constraints and cost to connect to services'. 'A business park on this particular site would provide industrial land close to population growth and key transport links for the next 30 years,' she said. She added the site was accessible for B-double trucks, and had proximity to highway links to Melbourne and Adelaide, adding its location was also close to freight rail links in western Victoria, which are being upgraded as part of the Murray Basin Rail Project. Queensland police are on the hunt for a man believed to be responsible for a stabbing at a Brisbane home after he was spotted nearby. Officers hovering over the suburb of Taringa in a helicopter on Thursday afternoon warned residents to stay indoors after people told police they had seen the offender. The man allegedly entered a home on Todd St on Tuesday morning and confronted a man and woman, who were sleeping, before he stabbed the man in the neck, hands and upper body, police said. Queensland police have ordered residents of Taringa to stay indoors as they search the suburb with a helicopter following a violent home invasion. Officers said they are hoping to speak with Marcus Richardson (pictured) about the incident The victim, 20, who was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital for treatment, and the alleged offender are reportedly known to each other. A 20-year-old woman and two children, aged one and three, who were also at the home were not injured, police said. Officers said they are hoping to speak with Marcus Richardson about the incident. He's described as caucasian and 180cms tall with a slender build. Police said he has blue eyes and brown hair, but is balding. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers. The mother of a British backpacker who was murdered in Australia has revealed she plans to meet the killer and his mother. Mia Ayliffe-Chung, 20, was dragged from her hostel bed and stabbed to death by Smail Ayad in the remote town of Home Hill, north Queensland in August 2016. The 30-year-old Frenchman had criminal proceedings against him dropped after psychiatrists ruled he was suffering paranoid schizophrenia at the time. This month, Mia's mother flew from home in Derbyshire, England to attend Ayad's mental health court proceedings in Brisbane. Mia Ayliffe-Chung (pictured with a friend) was repeatedly stabbed by a man who reportedly developed an obsessive crush on her. She died in the bathroom of her dormitory Mia's mother Rosie Ayliffe (pictured), 54, has revealed she plans to meet the killer and his mother Mia Ayliffe-Chung (pictured), 20, was dragged from her hostel bed and stabbed to death by Smail Ayad in the remote town of Home Hill, north Queensland in August 2016 When she finally locked eyes on the man who killed her only child, she was shocked by how old, broken and defeated he looked. Rosie Ayliffe, 54, insisted she will never truly be able to forgive Ayad, who will now spend his days in a secure mental health unit. She revealed she has spoken to Ayad's mother and believes her grief at his actions is equivalent to the pain she has felt since Mia's death. Former teacher Ms Ayliffe said: 'I wasn't looking forward to the court hearing because I knew it was going to bring back the pain of what happened. 'I had seen images of Mia's killer in the press. To me, he looked like a very arrogant, testosterone driven, fighting man. 'He killed my daughter, he killed the man who was trying to help her, and he killed a dog. 'So, you can imagine the animalistic creature I had created in my mind. 'But then I saw this figure in court who looked nothing like I imagined. He looked so old, he was shuffling, he was balding. 'His body language suggested defeat. He just sat there quietly listening. 'I was looking for the murderer and I thought 'Who is this? What is going on?' I was completely thrown. He just looked broken. 'I don't think it is my place to forgive him. I did offer him peace, but I stumble at forgiveness. 'But I would be open to meeting him in the future. This month, Mia's mother (pictured together) flew from home in Derbyshire, England, to attend Ayad's mental health court proceedings in Brisbane Ms Ayliffe, 54, insisted she will never truly be able to forgive Ayad, who will now spend his days in a secure mental health unit. Pictured: Mia Ayliffe-Chung 'I have spoken to his mum and I want her to know I understand it, and her loss is on a par with mine. 'I don't know if she would agree to meet with me, but I would definitely agree to meet her. 'She had a son, who for all intents and purposes, was a loving, normal, young man who had everything to live for and was living the dream in Australia. 'And then he was taken away from her. She is also suffering a loss, but she has to live with the shame of it as well. 'It's just so hard, because she hasn't done anything wrong.' Mia had been travelling the world for nearly a year before coming to Australia in early 2016 and after a stint working at a bar in Surfers Paradise, decided to extend her 417 visa by completing her 88 days farm work. Just a week later, she was repeatedly stabbed by Ayad after he reportedly developed an obsessive crush on her, before passing away in the bathroom of her dormitory. Ayad then jumped headfirst from a balcony breaking his neck and back before killing a pet dog and then fatally wounding British man Tom Jackson, 30, who had rushed to Mia's aid. Mia (pictured) had been travelling the world for nearly a year before coming to Australia in early 2016 and after a stint working at a bar in Surfers Paradise, decided to extend her 417 visa by completing her 88 days farm work Earlier this month a judge ruled he would never face jail time, as a court heard he was was of unsound mind during the killings. In an emotional statement, Ms Ayliffe told the court that her daughter Mia was 'full of light, laughter and fun' and said she did not want Ayad to 'rot in hell'. She later revealed she felt angry at first about the mental health court's judgement, but has now accepted Ayad is 'insane'. Ms Ayliffe said: 'It was difficult to believe there wasn't a degree of expediency in avoiding a criminal trial. 'But I think you have to put faith in the professionals who are making the decision. 'It can sometimes feel like justice is on a scale, and his punishment must weigh the same as our loss. 'But there is no way it can work like that when you add mental illness to the equation. 'I've accepted that he was not in control of his mind and was having a psychotic episode when he killed my daughter. There is no doubt that he is insane. Since Mia's death, Ms Ayliffe has channeled her pain into campaigning for tighter regulations on the compulsory farm work Brits must complete to obtain second-year visas to live in Australia. Pictured: Mia Ayliffe-Chung 'I don't want to become some raving, angry, vengeful person because that was never who I am, and that was never who Mia was. 'It is weak to just react with hatred. Some people say things like 'bring back the electric chair'. 'But it's just not part of my makeup, and I don't want to become that person. 'I've already lost Mia, and I don't want to lose my own integrity because of this.' Since Mia's death, Ms Ayliffe has channeled her pain into campaigning for tighter regulations on the compulsory farm work Brits must complete to obtain second-year visas to live in Australia. She says reforming the way young travellers are treated within the 88-day system would be an adequate legacy for Mia and Tom and is calling on the Australian government to take better measures to regulate the health and safety of backpacker farm work. Ms Ayliffe said: 'It makes me stronger to know I am helping other young people and they may be being kept safer because of what I am doing. 'I have this sense that Mia is with me, not as a physical presence, but spiritually. I am guided by her and she is my moral compass. 'I am proud to have been her mother, and I will hold her in my heart until I die.' For more information on Ms Ayliffe's campaign go to www.88daysandcounting.com Advertisement Kate McCann at the ceremony for her missing daughter in her home village of Rothley, Leicestershire Madeleine McCann's devastated mother Kate marked the 11th anniversary of her daughter's disappearance with a heartbreaking poem. Kate and Gerry McCann were joined by a 70-strong crowd in their home village, on Thursday, where they spoke publicly about Madeline, who hasn't been seen since 2007. Kate read a poem called The Contradiction, with haunting words: 'I trace your steps, I map your face. You're all I know and so unknown. I cannot hold you, yet I do.' Brave Kate and Gerry McCann cling onto a glimmer of hope that 'their little girl' who they describe as 'a real little person' could still be alive as they said 'hope and perseverance remain'. And in a message to mark another painful milestone they vowed: 'We will do whatever it takes to find her.' Crowds gathered at a war memorial in Rothley, Leicestershire, to pray for Maddie's safe return. The memorial is home to a 'beacon of hope' lantern which shines around the clock, for Maddie. Eminent heart doctor Gerry, 49, who has just returned from a hectic work trip to Scotland, thanked the 70-strong crowd for turning out. He said: 'It means an awful lot for so many people to come out on such an unhappy day - another anniversary. But it gives us strength and your support for us is tremendous.' During the 25-minute gathering a sombre-looking Kate handed out Maddie bookmarks, with a prayer which the crowd chanted together. The former GP, 5O, dressed in jeans and purple hooded jacket, later hugged supporters. The McCann's also revealed Scotland Yard received another 154,000 to continue the investigation into her disappearance in Portugal in 2007, for another six months. In a posting on the official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page the pair revealed that 'work goes on' to find her. Kate and Gerry McCann attend an outdoor gathering in their home village to pray for their daughter who vanished on holiday in Portugal on May 3, 2007 Villagers in Leicestershire gathered at a memorial where a 'beacon of hope' lantern shines for missing Maddie McCann 11 years after her disappearance in Portugal A computerised image of what police believe Madeline McCann will look like now is displayed at an event in her honour in Leicestershire Kate and Gerry McCann revealed the hunt for their daughter is still going after police were granted further funds to investigate the mysterious disappearance of Maddie in Praia da Luz Kate and Gerry McCann continue to hunt for their missing daughter Maddie who will now be fourteen-years-old Kate and Gerry cling onto a glimmer of hope that 'their little girl' who they describe as 'a real little person' could still be alive Three-year-old Maddie vanished during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007. She was snatched from a bedroom at a complex apartment after being left sleeping alone with her younger twin siblings while her parents were dining in a nearby tapas restaurant with friends. In a joint message they write: 'Thank you to everyone who continues to support us and wish us, especially Madeleine, well. After 11 years such warmth and persisting solidarity is truly remarkable. 'We couldn't bear for Madeleine to be forgotten or become just a 'story.' 'Thank you so much for staying with us on this mission.' Maddie would now be aged 14, nearly 15. Former GP Kate, 50, and heart doctor Gerry, 49, said continued supported from family, friends and the public was 'a real tonic and a boost to our spirits.' In a posting on the official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page the pair from Rothley, Leicestershire, reveal that 'work goes on' to find her Crowds remember missing Maddie as police are given a fresh cash boost of more than 150,000 to continue their investigation A `beacon of hope' lantern still shines around the clock for Madeleine McCann in the village where her family lives in Rothley, Leicestershire The event took place at the Rothley war memorial on Thursday as crowds gathered to support Kate and Gerry McCann The village came to a standstill as the procession paused at the war memorial to think about Madeline, 11 years after she went missing in Portugal Her parents admit: 'It gets hard to know what to say or write as each anniversary of Madeleine's abduction approaches then passes. 'Life is full and busy which helps but Madeleine is still missing and is dearly missed.' The couple said: 'We couldn't bear for Madeleine to be forgotten or become just a 'story'. Thank you so much for staying with us on this mission.' The McCann's remains extreme grateful to Scotland Yard who have actively been searching for their daughter for the past seven years. Scotland Yard has been handed another 154,000 by the Home Office to continue the investigation into Maddie's disappearance for another six months. Local police ended their investigation in 2009. Operation Grange, which was launched in 2011, is still pursuing several lines of inquiry with detectives regularly travelling to the Algarve to chase down leads. The task force was scaled back three years ago but funding has continued every six months to keep the inquiry going. Maddie's parents said: 'Information continues to come in incredible as it may seem after so long although we are grateful for that.' Kate and Gerry are expected to join well wishers to remember Maddie tomorrow night during a poignant prayer service to mark the anniversary. They are due to take part in the simple outdoor gathering in their home village to pray for Maddie. Crowds of supporters, family, friends and locals will assemble at the war memorial where a lantern - a beacon of hope - still shines brightly around the clock for the world's most famous missing child. A woman who died after being exposed to asbestos through hugging her father has been denied compensation. Deanna Trevarthen, 45, was one of the youngest New Zealand citizens to die from the aggressive pleural mesothelioma cancer, which is caused by exposure to asbestos. When she was diagnosed she applied for ACC cover, which provides financial compensation to people who have suffered personal injuries, but was been denied as she was not employed in an asbestos risk industry, Stuff reported. Deanna Trevarthen, 45, died from pleural mesothelioma (asbestos) cancer in 2016 (pictured) She applied for ACC cover but was been denied as she was not employed in an asbestos risk industry Her family lawyer, Beatrix Woodhouse, told the Wellington District Court that Deanna had been exposed to the toxic asbestos dust as a young girl. It would have been on her father's work uniform when she hugged him and on piles of particle board that she would play with, the court heard. Ms Woodhouse originally perused the claim as an accident relating to the inhalation of a foreign object, rather than a work-related accident. Now, with Deanna's family members, she is gearing up for an appeal. She says that this case sets an unfortunate precedent unless they succeed. A total of 269 mesothelioma cases were lodged between 2013 and 2016 and success with Deanna's case would give hundreds of other mesothelioma sufferers potential to lodge claims. Here she is pictured with her partner Greg Robertson who supported her with her claim Her lawyer and family argue that she got it from hugging her father as a girl or playing with boards Deanna's sister-in-law, Angela Calver, has taken up the fight for compensation in the wake of her death. She says the court's rejection of the accidental inhalation claim made no sense as it suggested she had exposed herself to asbestos on purpose. 'Take this to a commonsense level - if you employ a builder to come into your house and fix something, and he knocks a piece of ceiling that has asbestos in it, and we both inhale it, then 30 years later we both get sick, he's covered and I'm not.' Calver argued there was still asbestos in many of the countries buildings and in the future second-hand exposure cases will become more common. 'I can't tell you the turmoil this has put our family through. Not only losing a key member of the family, but because we had to do so much fundraising and cover Deanna's living expenses.' Before her death Deanna's life partner Greg Robertson raised $23,510.80 to help the couple with the medical expenses. 'So we are forced to beg, borrow and if it comes to it in the future, steal, to give her the treatment she needs to live,' he said in the post. Calver is now intending to take the case to the high court. The Chinese Communist Party has ordered Qantas to align to its views on Taiwan or face its website being banned in the world's most populated country. The Civil Aviation Administration of China sent a letter to the Australian airline that instructed them to remove any reference to Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau being anything other than part of mainland China. Qantas has said that it would respond 'in due course' to the letter. Scroll down for video The Chinese Communist Party has ordered Qantas to align to its views on Taiwan or face its website being banned in the world's most populated country China sent a letter to the Australian airline that instructed them to remove any reference to Taiwan, Hong Kong (pictured), or Macau being anything other than part of mainland China In January this year Chinese authorities suspended hotel chain Marriot's website for a week after it referred to Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet as separate countries in a survey. Taiwan's capital city Taipei is still listed as part of Taiwan, and Hong Kong and Macau are still listed as Special Administrative Regions on Qantas and Jetstar's websites this week. University of Melbourne's Sow Keat Tok told The Age that, 'It is no surprise that companies are actually bowing to the Chinese pressures, because of access to the Chinese market.' 'It's really a soft stick it's trying to use, and on the other hand there's a big carrot that companies would really like to chew on,' he said. Taiwan's capital city Taipei is still listed as part of Taiwan, and Hong Kong (picture) and Macau are still listed as Special Administrative Regions on Qantas and Jetstar's websites this week In January Chinese authorities suspended hotel chain Marriot's website for a week after it referred to Taiwan (pictured) , Hong Kong, Macau, and Tibet as separate countries in a survey The paper apologized and said they are placing a moratorium on gun ads Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed in the Parkland shooting angrily took to Twitter to point out the horrific front page layout The ad is for the Fort Lauderdale Gun Show- the paper has covered that the location will be moved from its home of 30 years in light of the shootings Under the memorial tribute is a bright yellow and red ad featuring a black pistol Also on the page was a story about the other recent mass shooting in the county, when five were killed at Fort Lauderdale airport South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Wednesday's front page showed a tribute to a Parkland shooting victim Alyssa Alhadeff, who would have turned 15 Tuesday A newspaper in Florida has been slammed for running a front page advertisement for firearms under a story about one of the victims of the Parkland mass shooting. The shocking oversight on the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's Wednesday front page caught the attention of Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime was killed when a shooter massacred 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. The story was a large center photo of mourning teens titled 'Remembering Alyssa'. It was about Parkland victim Alyssa Alhadeff, who would have turned 15 on Tuesday. Remembering Alyssa Alhadeff: A tribute to the teen who was killed in the Parkland shooting is laid out above a bold gun show ad in bright yellow and red with a black pistol Alyssa Alhadeff would have turned 15-years-old on Tuesday, the touching tribute marred by its placement above the gun show ad Father of Parkland shooting victim Jaime (right), Fred Guttenberg (left) slammed the editor who placed the front page layout together To make matters worse, it wasn't the only oversight on the page. There was also a story about a man pleading guilty in the 2017 mass shooting at Fort Lauderdale's airport that left five people dead. The ad for the Fort Lauderdale Gun Show was in shocking contrast to the rest of the page, with a dark semiautomatic pistol and red letters on a yellow background, including a coupon for entry to the gun show. Guttenberg angrily tweeted a picture of the page, captioning it: 'Looks like the Sun Sentinel editor on this page failed. A story on the victims of gun violence and they put a gun coupon on the page. WTF!!!' According to Politico Florida the Sun-Sentinel publisher Nancy Meyer published an apology and pledged a moratorium on gun advertising. 'We deeply regret placement of a gun advertisement on our front page Wednesday morning. It is against our policy to run gun and other types of controversial advertising on our front page,' she wrote. 'We understand how the juxtaposition of certain ads and news stories can appear extremely insensitive, and we failed to prevent such a juxtaposition today. We are taking steps to ensure this does not happen again, and the Sun Sentinel now has a moratorium on gun advertising.' 'I'm really pleased, actually,' Guttenberg told the Miami Times of Meyer's apology. 'Someone made a really stupid error, or at least I'm assuming it was an error.' It was a bizarre oversight, as much of the reporting about the two mass shootings in Broward County has been covered extensively by the paper. The Parkland school massacre took the lives of 17 people on February 14 during the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School WTF!!! Guttenberg angrily took to Twitter to lash out about the gun ad, however he later said he was satisfied with the paper's apology Additionally the controversy over the gun show's location has been covered by the paper. After the Parkland and airport shootings, the city of Fort Lauderdale said it would discontinue leasing the city-owned War Memorial Auditorium for the event. Briarna Peters, 12, has raised $15,000 in the hope she can fly to Los Angeles and meet Ellen DeGeneres A terminally-ill girl has raised $15,000 in the hope she can fly to Los Angeles and meet Ellen DeGeneres. Briarna Peters has had more than 30 rounds of chemotherapy and 46 rounds of radiation. The 12-year-old has Ewing's Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, and has caused a Tasmanian pre-teen to be in excruciating pain since 2014. After years of treatment and long-stints in hospital, Briarna's cancer has come back aggressively. Her family have made the decision to stop treatment and let her live out her last moments happily. As days are numbered for the pre-teen, her parents have vowed to make every moment count. 'We just have to make the best of each day and every situation and we have to do what makes us happy,' Briarna's mother, Danielle told Nine News. As days are numbered for the pre-teen, her parents have vowed to make every moment count 'We have days where that isn't the case and that's hard - but those days are far outnumbered by the good days,' Ms Peters said. The family have now packed their bags are on travelling to California so Briarna can meet American television host, Ellen DeGeneres. She said DeGeneres helped her through her battle with cancer. 'She is bubbly and she is always kind and I just love to watch her,' Briarna said. The family don't know how long their daughter had to live but shes making every effort to make sure every day counts. International scammers have devised a cunning way of getting their victims to pick up the phone - by hijacking other people's numbers. It's called phone spoofing, and it's catching everyday Australians completely unawares. By changing their caller ID to a seemingly legitimate phone number, telemarketers and con artists increase their chances of getting through to potential victims without their calls being screened, ABC News reports. But for those whose numbers are unwittingly being imitated, it's also causing waves of confused backlash. International scammers have devised a cunning way of getting their victims to pick up the phone - by hijacking other people's numbers in a technique known as 'phone spoofing' This can cause problems for those whose numbers are being imitated. Ethan Fitzgerald (pictured) received hundreds of calls back to his business phone number in one day, with some getting aggressive One day in April, Ethan Fitzgerald's business phone number received hundreds of calls back from disgruntled Australians. 'My phone would just jam up it was unreal,' he said. 'I had one bloke, he rang me up and he threatened to go to the coppers. 'My phone number had called him about 25 times in a day. I tried to explain to him that my phone had been hacked.' Mr Fitzgerald says he went to Telstra and explained his issue, but was met with further bafflement. 'When I spoke to Telstra... at the Telstra shop, he actually just stood there and said 'I can't see a problem, I don't think there is one'.' Daily Mail Australia contacted Telstra for comment but the company did not immediately reply. When Mr Fitzgerald went to Telstra with his problem, the staff member told him 'I can't see a problem, I don't think there is one' Dave Lacey, professor of cybersecurity at University of the Sunshine Coast, stresses that phone spoofing is a growing problem in Australia, and telephone communications companies need to start educating their staff on how best to deal with it Dave Lacey, professor of cybersecurity at University of the Sunshine Coast, explains that phone spoofing allows scammers to pass the backlash on to unsuspecting strangers - especially if it's someone in the local community. 'In a way what they're trying to do is distance themselves from the crime,' he said. 'By choosing any particular number in the community whether it be just a community member or a small business they're already separating themselves from the criminal activity that's going on when they're making those telephone scam calls.' The exploitation, then, is twofold: with deception at play not only when someone answers the call in the first place, but also when they miss the call and dial the number back. The scammer, meanwhile, passes the buck and slips off the hook. 'In a way what [the scammers are] trying to do is distance themselves from the crime,' Professor Lacey said. 'They're already separating themselves from the criminal activity that's going on when they're making those telephone scam calls' Professor Lacey stresses that phone spoofing is a real problem in Australia, with transnational crime syndicates using it to glean valuable information from common people. He also said Australia's major telephone companies differed in how effectively they helped customers who reported phone spoofing and phone scam problems. According to Professor Lacey, phone companies such as Telstra should be educating their staff to at least inform their customers when it appears they have been targeted by phone spoofing. A teenage mother who vowed to clean up her act after a drunken car crash is in trouble with the law again. Isabelle Marlor escaped a jail sentence on Wednesday after she stole and crashed a tradesman's car while possessing ice - just a week after giving birth. In 2016 she was given two-and-a-half years probation after she crashed onto a footpath while driving drunk, pregnant and without a licence on the Gold Coast. Marlor was sentenced at Southport Magistrates Court this week to 18 months in prison for breaching her probation order. She was also sentenced for unlawful use of a motor vehicle, possessing dangerous drugs and breaching bail conditions, the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. Scroll down for video Isabelle Marlor escaped a jail sentence after she stole and crashed a tradesman's car while possessing ice - just a week after giving birth Magistrate Dermott Kehoe warned Marlor that if she committed any further crimes while on parole she would end up in prison She was granted immediate release on parole. The court heard Marlor was walking the streets in Hope Island on August 7 seemingly under the influence of drugs. Police searched her and found she was carrying a bag of ice. On October 11, she stole a car from a construction site in Arundel. A tradesman left his keys in the tray and watched as she drove off with his car - although he though another worker was moving it. Marlor was then photographed running from the ute after crashing it in Bundall. Defence lawyer Brianna Bullock said Marlor wanted to stop using drugs, and that she had lost custody of her three children. She was given two-and-a-half years probation in 2016 after she crashed onto a footpath while driving drunk, pregnant and without a licence on the Gold Coast in 2016 After the incident in 2016, Marlor told reporters to 'get f**ked' when they asked her if she had anything to say 'She is devoted and determined as she will ever be to get her children back. A few months in custody will not deter her any further,' she said. Magistrate Dermott Kehoe warned Marlor that if she committed any further crimes while on parole she would end up in prison. After the incident in 2016, Marlor told reporters to 'get f**ked' when they asked her if she had anything to say. She flashed her middle fingers at reporters and replied 'nah, probably not' when asked if she was sorry. An Australian man is set to break a world record with his enormous 2kg oyster he named Jack. Bernie Connell, an oyster farmer from River on the NSW Far South Coast, is hoping to set a Guinness World Record at the Narooma Oyster Festival. Mr Connell has been proudly growing the mollusc, which he's dubbed the 'Usain Bolt of oysters,' for the past four years. Bernie Connell, an oyster farmer from River on the NSW Far South Coast, is set to break a world record with his 2kg oyster named Jack (pictured) The Pacific oyster is the size of a human forearm, and unofficially weights more than 2 kilograms, ABC News reported. Mr Connell said oysters can grow at different rates, causing varying sizes. 'Every batch of oysters you get, there's always a certain few that grow a lot faster than the other ones, so he [Jack] stood out for the last four years,' Mr Connell told the ABC. The Pacific oyster (pictured) is the size of a human forearm, and unofficially weights more than 2 kilograms, ABC News reported A British tourist who was touring the Americas by motorbike has died after a horrific road smash in Brazil, it was reported today. Christopher Peck, 34, was just two weeks into the four-month holiday which would take him through South, Central and North America, when he was mowed down by a car which had pulled out to overtake a truck near the Bolivian border. Half his left leg was ripped off in the accident on April 20, which also left him with a broken femur and fractured pelvis. Christopher Peck, 34, from Cumbria, has died after he broke all of his ribs, lost his left leg below the knee and was placed into a coma after being hit head-on by a drunk driver in Brazil He spent 13 days in a critical condition in a local hospital in Corumba, midwestern Brazil, before losing his fight for life this morning. But Christopher's family, from Workington, Cumbria, today slammed the British insurance firm he had taken a policy out with after it refused to pay for treatment which could have saved his life. Brother Sean claimed they desperately tried to get World Nomads to pay to move him to a specialist hospital in Sao Paulo, but it used a get out clause claiming he was riding the wrong type of bike. Instead fisheries officer Christopher, who was on leave from working in the Falklands Islands, was treated at a local public hospital with limited facilities. Sean said: 'The insurance let him down very badly. It is a sin that Christopher thought he had covered everything, to be told "no" when it was needed.' Chris was at the start of his biking adventure around Brazil and North America, and was not planning on coming home until August 8 Shocked local doctor Dr Manoel Joao, who was treating him, claimed the company had 'dropped the young man in the s***'. He added: 'Im absolutely certain that if Christopher had been moved to a bigger hospital with better facilities, his chances of surviving would have been much, much bigger.' Because of the remote location of the accident, paramedics took an hour-and-a-half to get to the scene of the crash, where they found Christopher still conscious despite his injuries and heavy loss of blood. He managed to tell the crew who he was and the name of the hostel where was staying before he lost consciousness, according to reports. The driver of the VW Gol which hit him, Wagner Souza Filho, 32, failed a breathalyser test at the scene but was found to have too small an amount of alcohol in his blood to have affected his driving. He was fined around 600 and lost his licence for a year under Brazils strict zero tolerance drink driving rules, but could face charges of dangerous driving if Christophers family choose to pursue them. The farmhand, who was not injured in the crash, told police it was raining at the time of the accident and, as he overtook a truck on a straight stretch of road, water thrown onto his windscreen obscured his view. Local reports stating that he been released for a similar offence hours before the collision turned out to be false. The owner of the Road Riders Hostel where Christopher was staying, Diego Alle, alerted his family back in the UK and his brother Sean, 47, and their mother Sylvia, rushed to Brazil to be at his bedside at the Santa Casa hospital in Corumba, arriving two days after the accident. His elderly father was not well enough to travel. On Sunday Christopher, who broke all his ribs in the collision, appeared to be getting better after opening his eyes and responding to stimuli, and the family was preparing to fly him back to the UK to be treated on the NHS. But on Monday he suddenly took a turn for the worse and started to struggle to breathe, and doctors feared he had picked up an infection. He quickly deteriorated and died this morning. Mr Peck's family tried to raise 200,000 for 'lifesaving operations' via JustGiving, after they said his health insurance company had refused to pay for treatment Dr Manoel Joao, intensive care director at the Santa Casa hospital, said: 'Christopher was already in a critical condition, he had waited a long time to be rescued, hed picked up a lot of dirt, and hed lost at least eight litres of blood. 'Hed suffered an "open book" fracture of the pelvis, which is the worst kind. He was improving but we were constantly fighting an infection which didnt go away, and which unfortunately turned into a general infection. 'This morning he suffered a cardiac arrest and I managed to resuscitate him, but then he suffered a second which he didnt recover from. I had to call his mother and brother and tell them he hadnt made it.' Hours after his death, Christophers brother Sean, whose own son also died in a motorcycle accident, blamed the insurance company which had sold him an adventure policy for denying him the chance to survive. He said his brother had taken out cover with World Nomads, which advertises insurance for 'independent' travellers and boasts 'one of the longest lists of covered activities'. But he claimed the small print which said he was only covered for motorcycles up to 125cc was 'almost impossible to see' and designed for people taking out insurance to not notice. Other insurance policies he took out, from his bank Halifax, and another covering his motorbike from Alianz, also refused to cover the cost of his medical care. He said: 'We cant help feel that Christopher was let down by the insurance companies. 'Im not angry, just sad. Christopher thought he was completely covered. But when his life depended on the insurance, they said he wasnt insured for the type of bike he was riding. 'It just a get out of jail clause for the insurance companies. We want other people who are using these insurance companies to be aware that they probably wont be covered.' Sean said the family will be considering legal action against World Nomads insurance, and have even filmed another family member taking out the same insurance to prove his claims that the company hides the fact motorbikes bigger than 125cc are not covered by its policies. Dr Manoel also criticised the insurance company, which he claimed called him to find out about Christophers condition. He said: 'A lady called me from England. I explained how serious things were for Christopher and how he needed specialised care. Even after knowing that they kept giving the family the runaround and then just dropped the young man in the s***. 'I didnt agree with what the British insurance company did. 'Before Christophers condition worsened I told the family that if they took him to a bigger, more advanced hospital, or even took him on a plane to the UK, he would have a better chance. But the insurance company kept delaying things and the opportunity was lost. 'I cant say that he would definitely have survived if that had happened. But Im absolutely certain that if Christopher had been moved to a bigger hospital with better facilities, his chances of surviving would have been much, much bigger.' Brother Sean also criticised the British embassy in Brazil which he claimed did not help them in their attempts to save Christophers life and 'only turned up today'. But he heaped praise on the Brazilians who have helped the family, including doctors and nurses from Brazils national health service, saying: 'The hospital in Corumba and especially Manuel Jose and his team have been very caring and did everything they could. They gave us so much love and hope, we have been truly warmed. 'Also Diego Alle from Road Riders Hostel who in this awful time has been so very kind and generous. With the support and help of these people and their teams, we have been blessed.' Christopher, who was just at the start of his biking adventure around Brazil and North America, was not planning to return home until August 8, after being on leave from working in the Falklands. Brexiteers fear Theresa May could try to ignore the objections of her 'War Cabinet' to plans for a customs 'partnership' with the EU. The Prime Minister's favoured blueprint for future trade with Brussels was humiliatingly rejected by senior ministers at a tense three-hour meeting yesterday. New Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson joined Boris Johnson, David Davis, Michael Gove and Liam Fox in opposing the proposal for the UK to collect duties on behalf of the EU. The knockback has left Mrs May scrambling for another option - amid warnings that any blueprint acceptable to Tory Eurosceptics will be voted down by the Remain majority in Parliament. However, Brexiteers believe the PM could make cosmetic changes to the proposal in a bid to 'peel off' Mr Javid and Mr Williamson, before bringing it to the sub-committee again. They are also braced for the possibility that she ignores the sub-committee's verdict altogether and put the plan to full Cabinet. One senior government source said: 'The plan got a kicking, but they don't seem to have any other ideas. We think she could try to peel off Sajid or Gavin. 'Alternatively she could bypass the sub-committee altogether, and take it to full Cabinet where she has more allies and would likely win.' Cabinet Brexiteers regard the choice between the customs partnership and the so-called 'Maximum Facilitation' solution as 'binary' - making it even harder for Mrs May to come up with a compromise. The Prime Minister (pictured voting in Westminster today with husband Philip) met her Brexit 'war cabinet' last night to discuss future trade with the EU New Home Secretary Sajid Javid voiced 'grave concerns' about the proposal for the UK to collect duties on behalf of the EU Answering questions in the Commons today, Brexit Secretary David Davis played down fears that ministers are at loggerheads The government is effectively going back to the drawing board with time running out ahead of a crucial EU summit in June. Mrs May is also under massive pressure from Remainers who are demanding that she U-turns altogether and agrees to stay in the customs union. Chief whip Julian Smith is said to have warned Cabinet yesterday that the government would currently lose a vote on the key issue - which could potentially come to a crunch in the Commons next month. Mrs May had hoped the EU summit next month would be an opportunity to present firm proposals for future trade to the bloc's leaders. Brussels has been warning that failure to make progress at the summit - particularly on a way to avoid a hard Irish border - could stall negotiations altogether. Answering questions in the Commons today, Brexit Secretary David Davis played down fears that ministers are at loggerheads. 'It is no surprise that it takes some time to nail down this policy,' he said. We're taking time to get this right.' At yesterday's meeting, Mr Davis, Boris Johnson, Michael Gove and Liam Fox launched a drive against the customs partnership, in which Britain would collect tariffs to hand over to the EU. They warned the plan would damage Britain's ability to strike trade deals and leave the UK subject to EU rules. But critically, they were backed in their opposition by Mr Williamson and Mr Javid. Both had supported Remain and were seen as swing voters ahead of the meeting, but by joining forces with Brexiteers they effectively killed off the plan. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (pictured yesterday) was crucial in overruling the PM on the customs partnership plan Environment Secretary Michael Gove, who formed a united front with Brexiteers against the PM's favoured customs plan One source said Business Secretary Greg Clark had been 'close to tears' as he warned ditching the customs plan would threaten jobs No vote was held, but sources said the 11-strong committee was divided by six to five against the partnership. Supporters of the partnership idea claimed the group was actually evenly split as Mr Smith backed Mrs May. But that was mocked by Brexiteers who pointed out that the chief whip is not a formal member. One source said: 'The customs partnership has been killed off. It doesn't have the support of the Brexit war cabinet and it is very hard to see how it could be resurrected.' The Prime Minister had hoped to present a preferred option to the full Cabinet on Tuesday, but instead had to order ministers and officials to conduct urgent work on both options. WHEN WILL BRITAIN BE OUT OF THE EU? Britain triggered Article 50 on March 29, 2017, starting a two year process for leaving the EU: March 2018: Outline transition deal agreed, running for about two years June 2018: EU summit that Brussels says should consider broad principles of a future trade deal. October 2018: Political agreement on the future partnership due to be reached Early 2019: Major votes in Westminster and Brussels to ratify the deal March 29, 2019: Article 50 expires, Britain leaves the EU. Transition is expected to keep everything the same for about two years December 31, 2020: Transition expected to come to an end and the new relationship - if it has been agreed - should kick in Advertisement Downing Street sources stressed the urgency of finding a compromise to kick start trade talks with the EU. Asked how long officials had to craft a solution, a senior government figure told the Times: 'Days, not weeks.' According to the Spectator, Mr Smith warned the Cabinet that the government would lose a vote in the Commons on the policy of shunning any form of customs union with the EU - one of the fundamental red lines Mrs May has set as it would mean Britain could not do trade deals elsewhere. Such a defeat could throw the whole Brexit process into more turmoil and even force Mrs May out of office. The Lords has already passed an amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill urging the continuation of a customs union which will come before MPs at some stage - although ministers say the wording is loose enough that it could be accepted without significant harm. But Tory rebels are vowing to join Labour in backing an amendment to the Trade Bill that could force a showdown. The crunch point could come as early as next month, dependent on government business timings and whether the amendment is accepted. Around a dozen Conservatives have indicated they could vote in favour, enough to overturn Mrs May's slender majority. The Cabinet meeting last night followed the departure of passionate Remainer Amber Rudd, who had been expected to back the customs partnership, and her replacement with Mr Javid on Monday. Mr Javid switching sides effectively changed the balance of the committee. The decision was a blow to Chancellor Philip Hammond and Business Secretary Greg Clark, who argued in favour of the customs partnership. One source said Mr Clark had been 'close to tears' as he warned ditching the plan would threaten jobs. Friends of Mr Hammond said he was 'frustrated' and did not see how the alternative plan could resolve the need for a hard Irish border. The absence of Amber Rudd (pictured in the Commons yesterday) appears to have been crucial in the rejection of the customs partnership plan David Davis and Boris Johnson (pictured left and right in Downing Street yesterday) joined forces with Michael Gove Liam Fox in a bid to kill off the customs partnership proposal The move follows a concerted push by Eurosceptics to strangle the customs partnership plan, which they had warned would wreck Brexit. The 60-strong European Research Group submitted a 30-page paper to Downing Street demolishing the plan. They warned the 'undeliverable' plan would end up being 'substantially the same as a full customs union with the EU'. Jacob Rees-Mogg said there was 'no question of an ultimatum' from Tory MPs over the issue. But he said there was a widespread view that the plan was 'deeply unsatisfactory'. WHO'S IN BREXIT WAR CABINET AND WHERE DO THEY STAND? Prime Minister Theresa May Backed Remain, has since insisted she will push through Brexit, leaving the single market and customs union. Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington A strong Remainer during the referendum campaign, recently made clear he has not changed his mind about it being better if the country had chosen to stay in the bloc. Chancellor Philip Hammond Seen as one of the main advocates of 'soft' Brexit in the Cabinet. Has been accused of trying to keep the UK tied to key parts of the customs union for years after the transition ends. Home Secretary Sajid Javid Brought in to replace Amber Rudd after she resigned amid the Windrush scandal, Mr Javid was seen as a reluctant Remainer in the referendum. Many thought the former high-flying banker would plump for the Leave campaign, but he eventually claimed to have been won over by the economic case. He is likely to focus be guided by evidence about trade calculations in discussions over how closely aligned the UK should be with the EU. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson The Brexit champion in the Cabinet, has been agitating for a more robust approach and previously played down the problems of leaving with no deal. He is unhappy with plans for a tight customs arrangement with Brussels - warning that it could effectively mean being lashed to the EU indefinitely. Environment Secretary Michael Gove Has buried the hatchet with Mr Johnson after brutally ending his Tory leadership campaign in the wake of David Cameron's resignation. Thought to be less concerned with short term concessions that Mr Johnson, but focused on ensuring the UK is free from Brussels rules in the longer term. Brexit Secretary David Davis A long-time Eurosceptic and veteran of the 1990s Maastricht battles, brought back by Mrs May in 2016 to oversee the day-to-day negotiations. He has said the government will be seeking a 'Canada plus plus plus' deal from the EU. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox Another Brexiteer, his red lines are about the UK's ability to strike trade deals with the rest of the world, and escaping Brussels red tape. Business Secretary Greg Clark On the softer Brexit side of the Cabinet, Mr Clark has supported Mr Hammond's efforts to maintain close links with the customs union. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson A close ally of the Prime Minister and viewed by some as her anointed successor. He is believed to be siding with the Brexiteers on customs arrangements and the need for Britain to be able to diverge from EU rules. Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley Supported Remain but a relatively unknown quantity on the shape of a deal. Replaced James Brokenshire, another May loyalist, after he resigned on health grounds last month. Advertisement Amber Rudd was thought to have been backing Mrs May ahead of a crunch showdown on the customs union in the Brexit 'war Cabinet' sub-committee (pictured together in February). But it Mr Javid spoke against the customs partnership option Some MPs warned whips they could withdraw support for the PM if the plan went ahead. And senior ministers, including Mr Davis, Mr Johnson and Dr Fox made it clear to No 10 that they could not accept the proposal, which Mr Gove described as 'bonkers'. The backlash led to crisis talks in Downing Street on Tuesday night to discuss the way ahead. The customs partnership had been No 10's preferred option, with one insider describing it as 'intellectually perfect'. Supporters claimed it would resolve the Irish border issue and stood a chance of gaining approval in Parliament, where ministers fear pro-Remain MPs could vote to stay in a full customs union. But aides were forced to prepare the ground for a tactical retreat. At Prime Minister's Questions yesterday, Mrs May referred to there being 'a number of ways' to resolve the issue, rather than just the two formally on the table. Ahead of yesterday's meeting, No 10 acknowledged the position was 'evolving'. Officials also warned ministers at yesterday's meeting that neither plan was ready to be implemented by January 2021 when the Brexit transition finishes raising the prospect of extending Britain's customs union membership temporarily. The Prime Minister is expected to warn ministers the proposal is the only one that can resolve the Northern Ireland border problem and get through Parliament A toddler is critical after falling from a tractor and being run over in a horror farm accident. The 15-month-old girl was with her grandfather at a property at Bass, near Phillip Island in Victoria when she fell on Thursday. Victoria police said the girl was in a home-made safety device when she fell. A toddler is critical after falling from a tractor (pictured) and being run over in a horror farm accident 'It was a pretty crude device that didn't do the job... she's slipped from the tractor down under the wheel,' Sergeant Barry McCoy told Nine News. The toddler was flown by helicopter to the Royal Children's Hospital where she remains in a critical condition. More to come. A man dressed in an oversized hat who rides a miniature scooter is wanted by police after dumping a suspicious package at Melbourne train station. CCTV images of the man have been released in a bid to locate him as authorities believe he may be able to assist with their enquiries. He is described as approximately 30-years-old with short dark hair, facial hair and an olive complexion. Scroll down for video The man (pictured) dressed in an oversized hat who rides a miniature scooter is wanted by police CCTV images of the man have been released in a bid to locate him as authorities believe he may be able to assist with their enquiries He is described as approximately 30-years-old with short dark hair, facial hair and an olive complexion He was wearing a dark coloured broad brim hat, black coat, tan pants and black boots. The man was on a green motorised scooter and was carrying a red and black backpack and green helmet. Travelers were stranded when all trains approaching North Melbourne Station on the Craigieburn, Sunbury, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown lines were stopped. The morning mayhem left commuters stranded on trains and station platforms Craigieburn, Sunbury, Upfield, Werribee and Williamstown lines were all affected The station was evacuated as police investigated a suspicious package, and the operation caused major delays on all affected lines. Detectives believe the man was commuting on the Craigieburn line before getting off at North Melbourne Station about 6am on Thursday. The device was left on platform one near the staircase and had the appearance of an explosive device. Victoria Police said the station was evacuated as a precaution and trains are not stopping at the station A peak hour police operation has caused chaos and left commuters stranded (pictured) after train lines were shut down As the incident unfolded Metro Trains issued a warning outlining the processes to be undertaken by authorities. 'Victoria Police are currently conducting safety checks at the North Melbourne railway station after a suspicious item was located,' a spokesperson said. 'Trains along the lines have been stopped and the station has been evacuated as a precaution while the investigation is ongoing.' The mayhem left commuters waiting on platforms and put heavy loading on the city's bus network which is also reporting delays. The station was evacuated while police investigated a suspicious package, and the operation caused major delays on all affected lines (pictured) Commuters reported trains returning back the way they came, and an ambulance was called to South Kensington Station It was reported trains were returning back the way they came, and an ambulance was called to South Kensington Station, a caller told 3AW. Victoria Police said the station was evacuated as a precaution and trains are not stopping at the station. The investigation is ongoing. A Republican candidate for Congress has released an ad showing a photograph of his opponent manipulated to show him shaking hands with Hillary Clinton. Rep. Evan Jenkins is running in a six-candidate primary for the Republican nomination to fight the U.S Senate seat in West Virginia. A recent ad from Jenkins's campaign showed one of his Republican opponents, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, smiling as he shook hands with Clinton. In the advert put out by the Jenkins campaign, Patrick Morrisey is pictured shaking hands with Hillary Clinton But the image is a manipulated version of a photograph showing Morrisey shaking hands with Donald Trump The advert also claims Morrisey refused to back Donald Trump against Hillary Clinton But according to Factcheck.org, the picture is a manipulated version of a photograph that showed Morrisey in fact shaking hands with President Donald Trump. The ad's narrator starts by saying: 'Pat Morrisey betrayed Donald Trump, scheming against Trump's campaign in West Virginia. Denying our choice for president. 'Morrisey refused to support Trump over Hillary. Shameful sabotage we will never forget.' A graphic shown on the screen claims about Morrisey: 'Said he would not support the Republican candidate who gets the most votes.' The quote, which comes from an article in West Virginia's MetroNews, is also not entirely accurate. Evan Jenkins is fighting for the Republican nomination to fight the Senate seat in West Virginia The original read: 'If elected, Morrisey said he - as a delegate - would not necessarily support the Republican presidential candidate who gets the most votes in West Virginia automatically.' Jenkins spokesman Andy Sere told FactCheck.org admitted he 'couldn't confirm the original sources' of the image showing Morrisey and Clinton shaking hands. 'We sometimes take creative license while arranging images in order to help make a substantive point,' he said. Morrisey is on the record saying he would back whoever was nominated to fight Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Presidential election. 'I intend to support the nominee, because electing Hillary Clinton would be devastating for West Virginia,' he told West Virginia's Journal newspaper. 'I look forward to supporting the team to defeat Hillary Clinton in November.' The winner of the primary will take on Democratic incumbent Joe Manchin in the fall. Nicola Robinson, 27, was clocked doing 72mph in a 40mph zone An estate agent caught doing 72mph in a 40mph zone has escaped a road ban after she blamed her driving on being late for work. Nicola Robinson, 27, was clocked at nearly twice the legal limit as she sped through Manchester city centre in her red BMW 116i Sport. The senior sales negotiator for estate agents Jordan Fishwick was travelling from her parents' luxury barn conversion in Bolton. She had faced a possible disqualification of up to 56 days under rules targeting drivers who travel at 45 per cent above the limit. But at Manchester magistrates court Miss Robinson, who has a clean driving record in ten years of motoring, escaped with six penalty points after telling JPs a ban could mean her losing her job and not being able to pay rent to her parents. She admitted speeding but urged the court not to ban her adding: 'I will never do it again - all of my life I have been an estate agent and I don't know what else I would do.' She also said she had installed a 'speed limiter' in her BMW allowing her to set a maximum speed she can travel at. The incident occurred on July 13 last year when Miss Robinson was flashed by a camera on the A6 Broad Street in Salford as she was driving into work for an afternoon shift. The court heard she was brought before JPs due to the speed she was travelling at. Miss Robinson, of Bolton, was speeding at nearly twice the legal limit as she sped through Manchester city centre in her red BMW 116i Sport Giving evidence Miss Robinson told the court: 'It is out of character. There is no explanation for what I did. It was on the A6 going into Manchester. 'I have not sped since then. I have a limiter on my car that stops me going over the speed limit, I have been using that. 'I have been an estate agent for five and a half years. I need my car to drive for work. I will lose my job. I drive to viewings and take clients to various properties. This is a significant part of my job. I go to seven or eight viewings on a given day. 'If I lost the job, I could not pay rent to my parents. I live at home and they need the money. I know my actions are inexcusable. The BMW is my car and I drive a separate company car. It was lunch time. I was driving into work and I was late. I was starting on a half-day - I know that it's not an excuse.' Miss Robinson, seen her leaving Manchester Magistrates Court, escaped with six penalty points after telling JPs a ban could mean her losing her job and not being able to pay her rent Giving evidence in court Miss Robinson said the speeding was 'out of character' and vowed never to do it again, saying she had installed a speed limiter in her car Earlier defence lawyer James Street said the plea was not one of 'exceptional hardship but mitigation' and added: 'She is well is aware this is a clear excess of speed. She had a clean diving license and has been driving for ten years. 'That stretch of road has a number of varying speed limits. I've put her in the witness box so she can help explain the circumstances.' Miss Robinson was fined 400 and ordered to pay 125 in costs. Magistrate Wallen Matthie told her: 'You need to be careful when you drive, and certainly by not doing 70mph in a 40mph zone. We are not going to disqualify you - but you could, however, have been easily been disqualified.' According to her LinkedIn page Miss Robinson attended the independent Bolton School where fees are 11,976 a year before being awarded business and marketing degree at Durham Business School. She joined Jordan Fishwick in February 2014. Road safety campaign group Think say in 2013, 3,064 people were killed or seriously injured in crashes where speed was a factor. The risk of death is approximately four times higher when a pedestrian is hit at 40mph than at 30mph. Health bosses were warned about a potential breast cancer screening crisis last year and Government ministers knew about the recent scandal as far back as January, it has been revealed. Public Health England today admitted they found out about the grave errors in screening invitation letters for 68 to 71-year-old women in January but did not go public. Senior officials were warned about a potential crisis last year, while Ministers were informed it had been going on since 2009 in March but also kept silent. Three NHS hospital trusts flagged up the 'computer algorithm failure' that has resulted in hundreds of deaths in 2017, the Mirror reports. Government sources also told the newspaper the error was spotted in 2016 after an upgrade to computer systems. More than 300,000 victims of the NHS breast cancer scandal face an anxious wait of up to six months to discover if they have the deadly disease but experts fear their ordeal could last even longer. A dedicated helpline for those who may be affected had received around 8,000 calls by Thursday evening, according to Public Health England, which oversees the screening programme. Charity Breast Cancer Care said it had also seen a surge in calls to its own helpline, with many women feeling confused and angry. Patricia Minchin, 75, said she was not offered a screening in 2013 when she turned 70, and is battling breast cancer - one of 450,000 women Jeremy Hunt admitted the NHS forgot because of an IT glitch Fiona Hazell, head of policy at Breast Cancer Now, right today with Patricia on the Victoria Derbyshire show fears the NHS will 'struggle' to see the 309,000 women waiting for scans by October without 250 new staff Jeremy Hunt has promised all the women who failed to get a final scan between the age of 68 and 71 over the past nine years will be screened for cancer by the end of October. But experts believe that the NHS will 'struggle' to keep their promise because they need at least 250 new staff as well as overtime from existing workers and help from the private sector. The Royal College of Radiologists said today they are 'stretched to the limit' as it is. Fiona Hazell, head of policy at Breast Cancer Now said: 'We already knew there was a shortage in staff for the screening programme over the next few years. 'We think there is a bout 200 mammographers and 50 radiologists needed just to sustain the current programme. 'We are now talking about screening up to 309,000 women in the next six months in order to catch up. We are really worried about the ability to deliver this'. More than 300,000 women face an anxious wait of up to six months to discover if they have the disease but 150,000 have already died - 270 of them prematurely. A nurse who worked for the NHS all her life but was never asked for a final breast screening fears she could die after developing cancer as it was revealed health bosses first knew about the scandal in January. Q&A: WHAT TO DO IF YOU MISSED OUT ON A BREAST CANCER SCREENING Q: I missed out on a final breast cancer screening, what can I do? A: Jeremy Hunt today said surviving women who are still in their early 70s will be offered a catch-up screening. A helpline has also been set-up. All women affected who wish to be screened will be invited to one in the next six months he said most would be screened sooner than that. The NHS Choices website provides further information and the option to contact your local unit to book an appointment. All affected women registered with a GP will receive a letter by the end of May with further information. Anyone concerned can contact the helpline on 0800 169 2692. Q: How do I know if I did not receive my screening invitation? A: All women affected who are registered with a GP will be informed by letter from Public Health England (PHE) by the end of May 2018. Women affected aged up to their 72nd birthday will receive a letter inviting them for a catch-up screen. Women aged 72 to 79 will receive a letter providing clear information on what to do next if they want to have a screen. These women, aged 72 to 79, will be asked to contact the helpline. Women, aged 70 to 79, currently registered with a GP, who do not receive a letter from PHE can be assured they are not affected and do not need a catch-up screen. Q: How many women have been affected by the scandal? A: Between 2009 and the start of 2018, up to 450,000 women aged between 68 and 71 were not invited to their final breast screening. Women in England between the ages of 50 and 70 are currently automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years. Q: Who is eligible for compensation? A: Mr Hunt made clear in his comments in Parliament that any case where the missed scan is established as a 'likely cause of death' would be eligible for compensation. Previous negligence cases over cancer diagnosis have led to payouts of between 65,000 and close to 1million. For more information call the helpline on 0800 169 2692. Q: What will prevent something like this from happening again? A: The Health Secretary has ordered an independent inquiry to find out exactly what went wrong, how many people died and who is entitled to compensation. He has promised the Government will be 'transparent' about what went wrong. The review, to be led by the chair of the Macmillan Cancer Trust and chair of the Royal Marsden Hospital, will take around six months. Advertisement Patricia Minchin, 75, who was not offered a 68 to 71 screening by 2013 and found a lump herself in 2015, is sure she would avoided this 'trauma' if she and 450,000 others hadn't been forgotten. Mrs Minchin, who has had a mastectomy, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, said today: 'I feel absolutely let down. I worked for the National Health Service all my life, I was a nurse. I don't know if I'm going to survive'. Lee Towsey, whose mother died of breast cancer in 2012 aged 70 having not had a screening, said: 'Its outrageous. Its disgusting. Someone needs to resign'. Around 309,000 women forgotten by the NHS face a long and terrifying wait for a scan but experts fear staff could struggle to see them all in the next six months as promised by Jeremy Hunt last night. Health bosses also face a giant compensation bill with lawyers suggesting it could reach 100million, with 5million payouts in the worst cases where someone died because of the nine-year blunder. Families have demanded to know why officials took almost a decade to spot the disastrous IT error. It was finally detected in January but made public only yesterday four months on. Dr Jenny Harries, deputy medical director of Public Health England, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'There are a number of organisations involved in this and I think we are all - Public Health England, the NHS, NHS Digital, the Department of Health - devastated by this. 'We have a screening programme that is world-class. It affects all of us. Breast cancer affects one in eight women and many of our organisation members, of course, use the service just like other members of the public. 'We wouldn't want any lives to be shortened. We have gone back and fixed all these glitches and audited that, so women can be assured going forward that that is sorted.' But Dr Harries' boss Duncan Selbie, who was last seen in public three days ago, is yet to speak out. Lawyers last night warned the blunder at the heart of the breast screening scandal will cost the millions of pounds in compensation. Robert Rose, Head of the Clinical Negligence team at Lime Solicitors told MailOnline: 'In terms of compensation we are looking at claims worth in excess of 5million-plus in relation to fatal cases. 'But if we factor in other damage caused to women who have survived, and the costs of legal action, we are looking at figures of anywhere between 50million to 100million [in total]'. Families who have lost loved ones or women currently fighting cancer have been left heartbroken by the IT blunder. Appearing on BBC 2's Victoria Derbyshire show today Patricia Minchin said tearfully: 'The missed scan may have made a difference. Uncertainty is a big problem when you have breast cancer. You don't need an IT programme failing you'. Mrs Minchin said she wasn't angry because she didn't know whether to be angry with the NHS, Jeremy Hunt or the IT developers. She added: 'Why didn't they pick up that I hadn't had a mammogram? They obviously knew about it for some time and they shouldn't have covered it up for so long. 'The whole journey I went on, the traumatic journey, all the treatment may never have had to happen'. NHS chiefs are in the dock today over a breast cancer screening blunder that may have cost 270 lives. The NHS has pledged that NHS will get paid overtime and will bring in staff from the private sector to get the 309,000 people waiting for a scan checked by October. But there are concerns about how feasible this is. In a dramatic statement to the Commons, Jeremy Hunt said the failures meant 450,000 women were not invited for routine mammograms between 2009 and early 2018. The Health Secretary said up to 270 women could have died because their breast cancer was detected too late or not at all. He apologised to affected families and launched an independent inquiry. 300,000-plus women will now be invited to an urgent scan and face an anxious wait to find out if they have cancer. Unfortunately some have already had the bad news that they are seriously ill after discovering lumps themselves. NHS bosses facing calls to resign over cancer crisis amid claims they 'knew for months' keep low profile Families have demanded to know why officials took almost a decade to spot the disastrous IT error - but many of the NHS' bosses are still to reveal what they knew and when. Public Health England, the NHS, NHS Digital and the Department of Health are all taking responsibility for the blunder. Officials at PHE may have been warned of issues as far back as 2017. But Duncan Selbie, head of Public Health England, was last seen on May 1. And today day one of his deputies, Dr Jenny Harries, the PHE's deputy medical director, appeared on the BBC's Today programme instead to discuss the crisis. Duncan Selbie, head of Public Health England, was last seen on May 1 and faces questions about when he knew about the scandal Critics have said the scandal involving 450,000 women is so devastating it should lead to resignations at the top of the NHS. Lee Towsey, whose mother died of breast cancer in 2012 aged 70 having not had a screening, said today: 'Its outrageous. Its disgusting. Someone needs to resign'. Advertisement Mauveen Stone (pictured with husband John) , who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, claims doctors said she had 'slipped through the net'. She too may be eligible for compensation Mauveen Stone, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in August, claims doctors said she had 'slipped through the net'. HOW WAS THE IT GLITCH DISCOVERED? The breast cancer scandal was only discovered thanks to an Oxford University trial into extra breast cancer screening for women. The AgeX trial was set up in 2009 to find out whether cancers could be diagnosed with extra screenings 'without undue harm' in those aged 47 to 49 and 71 to 73. Around 65 breast cancer units across the country then recruited women from these age groups with the computer programme supposed to select half at random to be given the extra screening. But a computer glitch that was in the system from the start of the trial meant a large number of the older group had scans cancelled without ever knowing they were going to be arranged. Once the Oxford researchers discovered the error, it soon emerged that the same mistake had affected women in the entire screening programme. Advertisement The 84-year-old from Yeovil in Somerset had her last screening in 1995 when she was 62 and was given the all-clear.However, she was never again invited to another screening or her final routine scan when she turned 70. It was only last year when she discovered a lump in her breast that she sought a check-up and doctors discovered a slow-growing cancer. The former pub landlady and great-grandmother had to undergo surgery to remove four lymph nodes. 'The doctors were surprised that my last screening had been in 1995. They said I must have slipped under the net,' the mother of five said. 'If I was invited for a screening I most definitely would have gone like I did in 1995. I do not know why I did not get any more letters. I have been at the same address since. 'It was not something I thought about until I felt the lump. As my cancer was slow growing I don't know how long it has been present or if it would have made a difference if I went earlier. 'But it may well have been spotted earlier if I had been sent the invitation. I was very lucky it was slow growing. Other women might not have been so lucky.' Brian Gough, whose wife Trixie died of breast cancer after missing out on a scan, said the situation was devastating. 'I'm amazed that it has taken them the best part of a decade to spot the problem,' he added. 'It's extraordinary.' The problems with breast cancer screening date back to 2009 and will raise questions for both the Tories and Labour on why it was not uncovered sooner Mrs Gough failed to receive the notification to make an appointment for screening by the time she was 71, her husband said. In October 2010 she found a lump in her breast and immediately saw her GP who sent her for a scan and she was diagnosed with breast cancer. NHS' colossal breast cancer failure in numbers 450,000 - number of women aged between 68 and 71 who the NHS forgot to call for a final breast scan 309,000 - number of women anxiously waiting for a scan over the next six months 150,000 - women of these women have now died 270 - the number of women who may have died early after developing breast cancer 6 - the number of months people may have to wait for their emergency scan Advertisement She had surgery followed by radio therapy and chemotherapy but after two years the cancer returned and she again went through a period of chemotherapy and blood transfusions. The disease spread to her other organs and she lost her life on December 28 2015. 'We worked all our lives and this was the time we wanted to enjoy together. That's not possible now. She's gone and I live alone,' Mr Gough said. 'It's been very painful going over this again but she was a wonderful, brave, uncomplaining wife for almost 56 years and she is still missed enormously by all of the family'. The 'computer algorithm failure' was traced back to the start of an Oxford-led trial aimed at extending breast screening to older women. The error meant an estimated 450,000 women aged between 68 and 71 were not invited to their final screening appointment. Trixie Gough, pictured in the days before her death in 2015, is among 450,00 women who never got a final cancer scan that may have saved her life after a 'colossal' NHS IT failure Brian Gough's wife Trixie, from Norfolk, pictured together before she fell ill, says he only found out about the scandal today while watching TV Launched in 1988, the NHS's breast cancer screening programme has been credited with saving thousands of lives through early detection. All women aged 50 to 70 are meant to be invited for mammograms, which are X-rays of their chest, every three years. But due to the fault in the IT system, up to 450,000 women aged 68 to 71 did not receive their letters between 2009 and early 2018. Officials at Public Health England said this was due to an 'algorithm' problem, a 'rule' built into the computer program, which accidentally cancelled the invitations. It is likely to have been triggered by the Oxford-led trail launched in 2009 and aimed at extending screening to women aged 71 to 73. To make matters worse, some local health trusts were not aware that they should have been inviting women aged 68 to 71 for screening. A doctor who bludgeoned his wife to death on a mountainside using rocks stopped to take a final picture with her minutes before the sickening act. Robin Michael, 63, posed for the photo with his wife Kerry, 44, while climbing Mt Roland, in northwest Tasmania, on holiday in February 2015. The findings of a coronial inquest, released on Thursday, found he then launched a 'brutal, vicious and sustained' attack on his wife which shattered the base of her skull, News.com.au reported. He then came down from the mountain and posted a confession to Facebook, saying he couldn't understand his own actions as anything other than 'pure evil'. Robin Michael (left) bludgeoned his wife Kerry (right) to death on a Tasmanian mountainside minutes after he posed for a selfie with her, a coronial inquest has found The findings of the inquest, released on Thursday, found Michael (pictured with his wife) launched a 'brutal, vicious and sustained' attack on his wife which shattered the base of her skull Michael then came down from the mountain and posted a confession to Facebook, saying he couldn't understand his own actions as anything other than 'pure evil' 'I have committed an act which should attract no pity, no sympathy, not even any understanding. I cant understand it,' he wrote hours after murdering his wife. 'That it was an effect, rather than a cause, bears no consequence. It was not appropriate, necessary, nor anything really other than pure evil.' The former general manager of Royal Darwin Hospital also accused his wife of having an affair with one of his closest friends - a claim dismissed by coroner Simon Cooper in his findings. He said that there was 'absolutely no evidence' of an affair - which Tasmanian police investigated - and that he was satisfied that Michael's claims had no foundation. He added that Michael once previously accused a former partner of having an affair with the same man. Michael said in his Facebook post that he flew into a fit of range while descending the mountain, claiming Mrs Michael admitted to the affair. 'The English language cannot describe my anger and rage. I cannot contemplate it ... In the heat of the anger with Kerrys admission I had no control or influence over myself,' he wrote. Michael accused his wife (pictured) of having an affair with one of his closest friends - a claim dismissed by coroner Simon Cooper in his findings The couple were on a walking track at Mt Roland (pictured), west of Launceston, when Michael struck Kerry in the head up to eight times with a rock He added that his actions were 'insanity at its greatest' and that he can't take back his actions, but hoped his wife 'is OK'. A post mortem revealed Mrs Michael struggled with her husband as she attempted to defend herself. She sustained 'defensive type injuries' to her arms, wrists and legs, as well as bruising and cuts that showed she tried to run away. Mrs Michael was found to have been tackled to the ground before she was delivered a blow to the back of her head while face down on the ground. Mr Cooper found her husband to be a jealous and controlling person who had a tendency to be violent towards his partners. Notes written by Mrs Michael, and found by her son, explained how she felt 'trapped' in a possessive relationship with a jealous man, Mr Cooper wrote in his findings. Michael was found dead in his jail cell at Risdon Prison in Hobart after taking his own life in June 2015 He also wrote that he was satisfied Mrs Michael died as a result of being struck between three and eight times with a rock by her husband. The South Australian couple's day began with a hike and a trip to a Tasmanian brewery, before a drive to Mt Roland. It ended with Mrs Michael's body being left on a mountainside, while her murderer attempted to take his own life. Michael was found with self-inflicted injuries at a caravan park. In June 2015, he was found dead after taking his own life in his Hobart jail cell. He had pleaded not guilty to murder, despite telling police what had occurred on the day of the attack, News.com.au reported. Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. One man is dead after a fiery explosion rocked a Connecticut town while officers were negotiating with a man whose wife had called police to report domestic violence. Nine officers were being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening after the blast at a barn behind the couple's home in Quinnipiac Avenue in North Haven on Wednesday night. The remains of one unidentified person was found in a building at the home in North Haven on Thursday morning, State Police Trooper Kelly Grant said. The woman who reportedly filed for divorce from her husband last month - called police at around 2.30pm on Wednesday. It led to police officers and a SWAT team descending on the property and working for several hours to coax the suspect, who had barricaded himelf in the home, to come outside. During the stand-off, the barn - which may have been rigged to blow with booby traps - exploded at around 8.30pm, sparking a massive fire that spread to the house and injuring the officers at the scene. One man is dead after a fiery explosion rocked a Connecticut town while officers were negotiating with a man wife had called police to report domestic violence. Pictured, an aerial shot shows the aftermath of the explosion A Connecticut woman's call to police to report domestic violence led to a standoff and explosion in a barn behind her home that sparked a massive fire On Thursday, North Haven Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said a woman called police to report domestic violence before the explosion. He said the woman was not at the scene when first responders arrived, and there was no hostage situation. Officials said police tried for hours to coax the man outside, including talking to him with a bullhorn. First Selectman Michael Freda told WTIC-TV Wednesday night that police were trying to coax the man out of the house and 'calm the situation down.' Nine officers were being treated for injuries that are not life-threatening after the blast at a barn. Pictured, charred vehicles are seen after the explosion Debris scatters the lawn after an explosion in North Haven, Connecticut, on Wednesday night Officials said police tried for hours to coax the man outside, including talking to him with a bullhorn 'Then things took a turn for the worse with an explosion,' he said. All nine officers remained hospitalized Thursday. They were members of the regional tactical team, and included five from East Haven, three from North Haven, and one from Branford. 'They all did suffer injuries that were consistent with the blast,' Mulhern said. 'This impacted not only the North Haven Police Department, not only our community, but this is a far reaching incident to the other communities that serve the south central region.' Emergency personnel work at the scene of an explosion in North Haven, on Thursday On Thursday, North Haven Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said a woman called police to report domestic violence before the explosion A fiery explosion rocked a Connecticut town while police were negotiating with a man who had taken his wife hostage, leaving up to eight officers injured The officers suffered injuries that are not life-threatening in the blast at a barn behind the couple's home in Quinnipiac Avenue in North Haven on Wednesday night The woman who reportedly filed for divorce from her husband last month - called police at around 2.30pm after being held hostage for several days During the stand-off, the barn exploded at around 8.30pm, sparking a massive fire that spread to the house and injuring the officers at the scene Firefighters on Thursday continued to battle the barn fire that also damaged other structures and vehicles. Freda previously said the wife escaped before the explosion and that the barn may have been rigged to explode with a number of booby traps. 'It sounds like it was a booby-trap type of explosion,' Freda told the Hartford Courant. 'Based on the way the explosions took place, from what police told me, there was a series of explosions, which may indicate some sort of rigged booby traps.' 'This started late this afternoon with what was apparently a very violent domestic call,' Freda told WTIC-TV, adding that it led to a barricade situation and a SWAT team being called in. A first responder secures traffic as emergency personnel work the scene of the explosion in North Haven The woman, who had been savagely beaten, was able to escape before the explosion occurred - but her estranged husband's fate remains unclear A barn behind a house in Connecticut exploded Wednesday night while police and a SWAT team were negotiating with a man who had taken his wife hostage He said the police 'were trying to coax him ... out of the house and really try to calm the situation down. Then things took a turn for the worse with an explosion.' Police were heard continuing to try to coax the man out of the house even after the explosion. 'It's quite surprising,' Freda said. 'This is a quiet residential neighborhood. It's been a very emotional scene. Residents near the home said on the police department's Facebook page that they heard the explosion and felt their own homes shake. Additional police rushed to the scene as the fire raged, and sounds of smaller explosions also were heard. Police have yet to elaborate on what detonated or if the suspect had explosives inside the home Emergency personnel walk near the scene of explosion and reported stand-off on Wednesday North Haven resident Joan Mazurek, 76, a retired accountant, heard what she thought was a train at her home about a mile away from the scene. It was the explosion. 'Then we heard all the, oh my God, all the ambulances and fire engines. The noise from all the emergency vehicles was unbelievable,' she said. 'It's a shock. Nothing ever happens like this in North Haven.' State police said they were assisting North Haven police with the investigation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the scene. North Haven is located just outside of New Haven, home to Yale University. Advertisement Trouble has flared at the funeral of slain burglar Henry Vincent, who was killed by a pensioner during a botched break-in in Hither Green. Police were forced to flood the streets around the picturesque St Mary's Church in Orpington, Kent, with up to 50 officers as a cordon put in place and a force helicopter called in to monitor the event. The day had started relatively quietly, as the funeral procession left the family home and black limousines, adorned with floral tributes shaped like a BMW convertible, a caravan and a boxing ring, snaked through the streets of south-east London. But the event soon turned nasty when members of the burglar's family - who have reportedly splashed 100,000 on the funeral - swore out of their car windows and rocks were thrown at photographers outside the church. A group of mourners later decided to walk behind the hearse - and then charge at journalists, throwing bottles, stones and eggs. Meanwhile, neighbours of pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks, who killed Mr Vincent during the burglary, blocked his road to prevent the procession coming anywhere near their homes. Black limousines with floral tributes on the top are making their way through south-east London ahead of the funeral of Henry Vincent, the burglar who died after struggling with a pensioner during a botched break-in last month A woman swore from the window of a limousine with a floral tribute in the shape of a Ford Transit van on top this morning A woman raises two fingers at photographers as she travelled in a car with a Transit van flower arrangement Violence erupted after a large group of mourners decided to walk behind the hearse, then charged at journalists Troubled flared as some of those attending the funeral ran at photographers, with one man being taken to the ground An officer took a man to the ground next to a police van as a gang of men charged at photographers after the service Mr Vincent, 37 (left) was stabbed to death with his own screwdriver by pensioner Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78 (right) as he burgled the pensioner's home in Hither Green on April 4. No charges were brought against Mr Osborn-Brooks There was tight security around the entire procession route, as well as the site of Mr Vincent's death and the church where the funeral is taking place amid tensions between the burglar's family and the local community following the incident. Mourners arriving at the church before the service shielded their faces by pulling down their hoods and one man with a scarf wrapped around his face told reporters: 'You need shooting in the head with a cannon ball.' A police helicopter whirled overhead before officers were called into action to deal with a group of youths who hurled rocks at members of the press. The 30-minute service was attended by around 100 family and friends. It included Mr Vincent's favourite songs; 'If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time' by R Kelly, The Corrs song 'Dreams' and Celine Dion's classic 'I'm Your Angel'. Vincent's father, Henry Snr, later sat in the front of the hearse and shouted 'The King is Dead' as the vehicle left the church for the cemetery. A group of mourners, mostly men and teenage boys, walked behind the hearse after the service, but a gang broke away and confronted photographers, throwing eggs and hurling abuse before police intervened and at least one man was taken to the ground. Mike Hughes, a reporter for LBC radio, said: 'In my 10 years as a journalist, I have never felt so under threat. 'I've had bottles thrown in my face. I am covered in egg, which was pelted at me. It all came from members of the funeral cortege.' A member of the public walking opposite the church said he was hit by an egg as the procession passed. He said: 'I'm lucky I'm on the way back from a job interview, not to it... I'm not having that.' Another member of the public said: 'Everybody hates the family in Orpington... they're horrible.' A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'A male believed to be in his teens was arrested on suspicion of assault following an incident on High Street, Orpington, at the junction of Elizabeth Way at around 1.15pm. He has been released under investigation to report to a police station at a later date.' Vincent was buried at a nearby graveyard, before a planned wake in a marquee set up outside the family home. One man walking behind the procession was seen holding a catapult. Journalists were later attacked with stones and bottles A gang of youths, some with hoods over their faces threw missiles at photographers ahead of the service this morning Police were called into action when the group appeared next to the church and hurled missiles at waiting journalists Police, who had been drafted in to keep the peace, were called into action following the incident near the churchyard Police stepped in as a gang of men ran alongside the hearse and shouted at reporters in streets near the church A large team of police is guarding the funeral service amid fears tempers may boil over following Mr Vincent's death A large group of men in caps, hood and sunglasses assembled outside the church ahead of the service at 11.30am today Vincent was buried at a nearby graveyard, before a planned wake in a marquee set up outside the family home. One of the mourners, who refused to give her name, said of Mr Vincent: 'His body has been kept in an open casket for three days outside his mum's house so people can see him. 'His mum is devastated, she has not left the house at all for days. After the funeral we're coming back to the mum's house for the wake and there will be a massive bonfire. 'People will the sit around and say nice things about him. I know he's done a bad thing, but he's dead and it's only right for the family to pay their respects.' Flowers arranged to look like a purple sports car sat on top of the hearse, which was followed by eight black Mercedes limousines carrying family and friends to the funeral service. One limousine had a red van made out of flowers on the roof, another a white boxing ring. One tribute spelled out 'I Love You Cuz' while another arrangement spelled out 'Henry'. Aerial photos show the funeral procession moving through the council estate, a flat-bed truck carrying floral tributes Mourners raised their middle fingers at photographers and the police as the procession left Swanley this morning A floral tribute in the shape of a maroon BMW convertible with the registration '1 Henry' on the front was placed on the hearse A woman dressed in black leaned out of the window of one of the limousines as the convoy arrived at the church Another of the floral tributes was shaped like a white van with a caravan behind it. The registration is 'Henry Boy' One of the floral tributes on top of the convoy of black vehicles was in the shape of a boxing ring as Vincent was known to box A man sitting in the front of the hearse carrying Mr Vincent's body swore at photographers and police along the way. He later held the order of service, with Vincent's picture on the front, out of the car window Some mourners covered their heads with towels as they arrived at the church. Around 200 people are expected at the service Mourners arrive at the church, where songs by R Kelly, The Corrs and Celine Dion will be played to the congregation Locals this morning parked their cars across the entrance to the road where Mr Vincent died in Hither Green, amid fears the burglar's family might try to bring a funeral procession along the residential street. A man who parked his Ford Mondeo across the entrance to the road, who gave his name only as 'Dave', said the police should be blocking the road to protect residents. He said: 'I think it's a disgrace that they want to bring the funeral past after all the flower debacle. It's just not on.' The 57-year-old said he had decided to park up despite police guidance that the funeral procession is not due to enter Lewisham. He said: 'There is the possibility that they might bring the body down in a hearse first and do a pass-by and then go back and have the actual funeral (elsewhere).' Floral arrangements shaped like vodka and lemonade bottles were brought to the service on the back of a lorry A number of large floral tributes were brought on the back of a flatbed lorry, which drove behind the funeral procession Two undertakers in top hats and carrying canes led the procession down the road of the council estate as locals looked on Many lavish flower arrangements were put on the cars transporting Mr Vincent's family to the church this morning A large convoy of black cars have pulled up to transport Mr Vincent's family from their home in Swanley to the funeral Police have been drafted in to the area amid fears over security following Mr Vincent's death at the start of last month A fleet of cars, mostly Mercedes, arrived at the family home on a council estate in Swanley to take the family to the service The silver hearse was followed by 10 black saloons, all adorned with floral tributes as the procession moved through London Police have stepped up patrols, circling the area, but Dave said he will remain parked at the end of the road unless a police vehicle replaces him. Iain Gordon, who said he previously removed flowers laid in tribute to Vincent at the scene of the crime, returned to Hither Green in protest at the possibility the funeral procession may pass the house. Mr Gordon, who did not wish to say where he was from, brought a portrait he had drawn of Vincent. Holding it up, he said: 'This is a man that could've been a professional boxer. He could've had a good living from being a professional boxer. But he was taken on the road to crime.' Mr Gordon said he had been told by police he is on a 'hit list' since he removed flowers from outside the house in the aftermath of Vincent's death. He said he wanted to warn the public that there are 'dangerous people' around, adding: 'Society seems to let them wander around and do what they like.' Of the outrage which followed Vincent's death, he said: 'It's good that there's enough humanity within the general population that they're willing to stand up and say 'we've had enough of this crime. We're not going to tolerate it. People climbing into other people's houses'.' Locals parked their cars across the entrance to Richard Osborn-Brooks's street today to prevent the procession of Henry Vincent, the burglar who was killed by the pensioner during a break-in, from passing through Police were also at the scene today, although officers have said they do not believe the funeral route will include the road Police also remained outside the house from which Mr Osborn-Brooks was forced to move amid fears of recriminations Father of three Mr Vincent was laid to rest at St Mary's Church close to his family home in Orpington, Kent, at 11.30am this morning. An order of service included a photograph of Mr Vincent on the front cover and a spread of family album photographs inside. After the service, the hearse took the coffin to a private burial ceremony nearby. Ten black Mercedes limousines transported the family home of Mr Vincent on a housing estate in Swanley to the church and then on to the cemetery. A green marquee has been set up outside the family home, where his wake will be held. Scotland Yard did not expect the funeral procession to pass the empty, boarded-up property in Hither Green, South London, but said 'high visibility patrols' are in the area for 'community reassurance'. Father of three Mr Vincent was laid to rest at St Mary's Church, where flowers were tied to lampposts by mourners A police van arrived at the church this morning to provide extra extra security ahead of the procession and funeral The grave site had been dug ahead of the church funeral for the 37-year-old father-of-three following his death last month A police cordon around the church was extended after the service after youths threw rocks at photographers Members of Vincent's family angered neighbours of Mr Osborn-Brooks on South Park Crescent by setting up a large shrine to his memory, complete with balloons, cards and flowers. Furious locals ripped down the tributes several times only for his relatives to put them back again until council chiefs stepped in and removed them. A Scotland Yard spokesman said this morning: 'The Metropolitan Police have been informed by the organisers of plans for the funeral of Henry Vincent due to take place on Thursday, 3 May. 'We have been told that a large number of people may attend, and an appropriate policing plan has been put in place in consultation with Kent Police and the relevant local authorities. 'It is not for the Metropolitan Police to disclose funeral arrangements when and where the funeral is being held, and the route of the funeral procession.' 'It is not unusual for large funeral processions to cause traffic disruption. Any impact will be managed by traffic officers, and borough officers will also be deployed at key locations. No road closures have been requested. 'We are aware of reports that the procession will pass by South Park Crescent. At this time, our understanding is that the procession is not due to enter Lewisham.' The procession is expected to go from Mr Vincent's family home in Swanley to the church, not passing Hither Green A temporary structure has been built in front of the family home, where a wake will be held this afternoon Relatives of Mr Vincent have erected a marquee at an address in Swanley as they prepare for his funeral, which is rumoured to be costing 100,000 Extra police were being drafted in to the area amid tensions between the local community and the burglar's family The police spokesman added: 'To provide community reassurance, there will be high-visibility patrols in the Hither Green and South Park Crescent area on the day of the funeral. 'The Metropolitan Police will also be running a London wide policing operation as part of the 2018 Local Government elections that are taking place on the same day.' The possibility of the funeral party visiting South Park Crescent had posed the biggest potential flashpoint because of previous ill-feeling between Mr Vincent's family and locals. During the trouble with the floral tributes the so-called 'Battle of the Bouquets' mounted police patrols were brought in to keep the peace. A source close to the Vincent family boasted last month that they were planning to hold a two-day vigil around his body telling stories about him before a 100,000 'big send-off' past Mr Osborn-Brooks' home. Mr Vincent was stabbed to death with his own screwdriver after confronting former military man Mr Osborn-Brooks during a late-night raid. The pensioner has not returned to the detached home since the break-in on April 4. He is thought to be considering selling the property and never moving back. Mr Vincent's father Henry, 59, (left), and his wife Rosemary, 59, (right) are both expected to attend the funeral today along with 200 mourners The street where a road rage row left a 68-year-old pensioner fighting for his life has been plagued by parking problems for years, locals have said. Neighbours today told of 'constant arguments' as the victim remained in a critical condition in hospital. Police say the victim, who was driving a black Volkswagen, was attacked by a white Mercedes driver aged in his 20s in a dispute over parking on the evening of Friday April 20. The OAP was not taken to hospital immediately but the Mercedes driver was arrested on suspicion of GBH after his condition 'deteriorated'. His alleged attacker is being questioned over the attack in a residential street in Enfield, north London. A man is in hospital after he was attacked in this street in Enfield after a row over parking Plain clothed detectives investigating the assault have asked nearby businesses of CCTV footage of cars leaving the road. Uniformed officers have also conducted door-to-door inquiries at the terraced homes lining both sides of the road. A resident, who has lived in the street for three years, said: 'Parking is a nightmare. There are constant arguments. We literally pull the curtains and we can hear them. 'Because it's such a narrow road people refuse sometimes to reverse and there has been arguments. So it's not the first time but we haven't actually heard about a fight. 'Residents in this road have tried to get it one way, which would be a life saver.' Another resident, Marlene Vyse, 69, said she and her husband John were moving away from the area because of the parking. Mrs Vyse, who has lived in the street for 18 years, said: 'There's a lot of problems really because a lot of people park, a lot of people park to get on to a train to go to London. 'My husband was born in this house. We are moving because we've had enough of all this upheaval with the cars down here because you can't park. 'You get a lot of abusive stuff down here when people won't back up and you can see there's cars parked on both sides. 'My husband was a building surveyor for Enfield Council and he's brought it up a couple of times - doing this to the road so it could be one way. 'He's tried to contact a couple of councillors in the area. They've ignored him. You get a lot of people one down here being abusive to other people.' This laid-back baby gorilla clearly had a tough day after being snapped mid-yawn at a Spanish zoo. Photographer Dusica Paripovic managed to take a perfect picture of the cute primate with its mouth ag-ape while leaning back against a wall in Bioparc Valencia. The 32-year-old recently visited the 10ha attraction a new generation zoo with few obvious barriers when she spotted the "expressive" youngster dozing in his enclosure, and realised it was a photo opportunity she could not miss. The 'expressive' primate can't hold back a big yawn Feeling sleepy, this cute baby gorilla in Valencia, Spain, is clearly struggling to keep its eyes open, let alone stay upright Gorillas have been living at the zoo since 2007, with its first gorilla birth occurring in April 2012. Dusica, of Bosnia and Herzegovina, said: 'The baby gorillas are so adorable and expressive. They play with twigs or whatever they can find, they stumble and fall, they playfully wrestle with other gorillas. 'They are one of the most active animals in the zoo, and probably the most expressive. And who can resist photographing a cute baby animal?' She added: 'When you photograph animals, you never know if you are going to get any good photos. They will not stand in the best light for you or give you the best angle. As photographer Dusica Paripovic says, 'who can resist photographing a cute baby animal?' 'But when I saw this baby gorilla yawning, I knew there had to be at least one good photo there. I was excited.' Her photos were helped, she said, by the fact that Bioparc Valencia has, 'no cages. You are separated from the animals by glass, ponds and rocks, and their surrounding is designed to match their natural habitats. 'All the animals enjoy big spaces filled with trees, waterfalls and streams. I love it.' To pursue her love of nature and wildlife photography, Dusica plans to travel to Iceland, the Philippines, Mauritius, South Africa and Gabon in the future. She said: 'Animals are my favourite subject to photograph - it's challenging and fun. They are unpredictable, fast, can't be posed and there's no need for retouching. 'I enjoy being around animals and I don't need to spend hours in Photoshop like I do with people photography. 'Animals are never in a hurry, there's nothing that they have to do and they don't worry about anything. It reminds me that I should just relax and enjoy the moment.' Advertisement Voters are being turned away from the polls in a series of controversial anti-election fraud trials taking place across the country as millions of people cast their ballots in the local elections today. Problems have arisen with ID trials piloted in Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking's elections where people have been told they do not have the correct documents to submit their votes. The trial, introduced by the Cabinet Office, means residents must bring photo ID or two documents showing proof of address from an approved list of sources. But it has been branded 'nonsense' by some angry locals whose attempts to vote were rejected including 76-year-old Peter White who could not vote in Bromley for the first time since 1957 despite knowing the volunteers at the station. The plan, similar to a system in the US, has divided opinion with some supporting it as a way to stop election fraud and others claiming it will disenfranchise vulnerable people including older voters. Millions are voting in more than 4,000 seats across England today but London is expected to be a key battleground with Westminster, Barnet, Wandsworth and Richmond-upon-Thames all targets. It could be a difficult day for Theresa May as the Conservatives face losing ground to Labour in London in what could be a political wipeout, although Jeremy Corbyn's party has also drifted in national polls following the anti-Semitism scandal. Experts believe the Tories could be left with just two councils in the capital, although pollsters say the party will present much stiffer competition elsewhere across the UK. Peter White, 76, pictured, said he was 'shocked' to be turned away from the polling booth at Bromley because he did not have the correct ID with the local council one of five across England to trial a new scheme trying to curb voter fraud But controversial ID trials being piloted around the country have been slammed with some claiming voters have been turned away for not having the right documents One man in Swindon said an 80-year-old woman was 'fuming' after being turned away for not having ID with her But some said voter ID worked well in Gosport (left) and others questioned why anyone would object to the trials Mr White, 76, of Bromley, said he was 'shocked' to be turned away at the polls because he did not have his bank card or passport on him. WHY ARE ID TRIALS TAKING PLACE AND WHAT DO VOTERS NEED TO BRING? Currently polling stations do not require you to present formal ID when voting - or even a polling card - with volunteers confirming your address on a form. The ID trials causing controversy today were brought in by the Cabinet Office after reports of alleged electoral fraud through voter impersonation more than doubled between 2014 and 2016, according to the Electoral Commission. Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Watford and Swindon volunteered to take part in a trial, which require voters to produce ID before being issued with a ballot paper. The exact form of ID varies from council to council, with some requiring a picture ID and others proof of address. For example, Watford and Swindon required voters to bring their polling cards with them to cast their ballots, whereas it is not compulsory in general. The toughest restrictions appear to be in Bromley in south east London were voters must bring either photo ID such as a passport or driving licence OR two documents including marriage or birth certificates, bank statements or utility bills, with at least one containing proof of address. For more information click here. Advertisement He told the Independent: 'I can't vote even though the people know me here and I have been a candidate for the Liberals before. Even after all that they still won't let me vote. 'Considering they know me, the chances of other people coming down to vote are going to be even less. This is a nonsense scheme.' The ID trials causing controversy today were brought in by the Cabinet Office after reports of alleged electoral fraud through voter impersonation more than doubled between 2014 and 2016, according to the Electoral Commission. The exact form of ID varies from council to council, with some requiring a picture ID and others proof of address. For example, Watford and Swindon required voters to bring their polling cards with them to cast their ballots, whereas it is not compulsory in general. Elsewhere Woking polling booths are accepting bus passes as photo ID, but Swindon Borough Council are not treating them as acceptable documentation. The toughest restrictions appear to be in Bromley in south east London were voters must bring either photo ID such as a passport or driving licence OR two documents including marriage or birth certificates, bank statements or utility bills, with at least one containing proof of address. It sees the UK follow in the footsteps of the US, where 33 states have introduced some from of ID requirement with Indiana the first to enforce a strict photo ID law in 2006. But critics in the UK say there is no evidence to bring such laws to Britain. Darren Hughes, Chief Executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: 'The government has no evidence to support its mandatory voter ID plans. That is more clear than ever when they push highly misleading statistics ones which have now been denounced by the official statistics body. It is right that ministers are being held to account over these trials' dodgy foundations. 'Ministers are grasping at straws, and their draconian push to make ordinary voters show their papers before using their right to vote now looks desperate. The government must stop trying to trick voters and come clean. Millions of voters are heading to the polls today for local elections and Prime Minister Theresa May could face a political wipeout in London. She has already cast her vote, attending the polling station at Central Methodist Hall, Westminster, with husband Philip, pictured, earlier today Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was also out early to make sure he voted in good time at a polling station in Islington and appeared to be praying for a good result with Labour expected to gain ground on their rivals in London London Mayor Sadiq Khan, left, looked in a serious mood as he voted in Wandsworth compared to Mr Corbyn, right, who appeared to be relaxed Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, pictured at the polling station, has also cast his vote this morning in Westminster Meanwhile Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable, pictured, cast his vote at a polling station in Twickenham The primary battleground is London - where Labour has been hoping to ride a wave of Remainer anger to seize Tory strongholds like Wandsworth, Westminster and Barnet Elections are being held in English councils last fought over in 2014; 4,371 seats and 150 councils are at stake 'Last year there were just 28 allegations of 'personation' in polling stations the type of fraud voter ID seeks to address out of nearly 45 million votes cast. That makes this policy a sledgehammer to crack a nut particularly when our respected legal system is more than equipped to deal with the issue. 'This is the latest sign that these trials are ill thought-out, and raise serious concerns for our democracy. These poorly researched trials must not be a 'fait accompli' to justify a national roll-out of voter ID.' Angela Wilkins, leader of the Labour group in Bromley, said five people have been unable to vote at polling stations as a result of the pilot and that the scheme is also causing long delays. She tweeted: 'Just been round the C Palace polling stations. 5 people not able to vote due to voterID pilot and several walked away because of queues @CatSmithMP @labour4bromley. So why are we doing this .@LBBromley ?' The presiding officer at the polling station in Sydenham Tennis Club, in the Borough of Bromley, said 'Only a very small percentage' of voters had forgotten or were unable to provide ID. The man, who did not wish to be named, said residents had received five pieces of information explaining the change in the rules, including leaflets, a note with their polling cards and a note on the information about recycling and bin collection. He added: 'Voters always have the choice to go home and get some ID.' Kirsteen Ross, 67, who lives nearby, said she had received at least two leaflets about the change, although no polling cards had been delivered down her street. 'Polling cards are important because they're a reminder,' she said. When asked if she thought the scheme was a good idea, she replied: 'No, it's another restriction on civil liberties - it's just another way to marginalise people who are already marginalised. They might not have any photo ID.' Labour councillor Tahir Aziz said a man was turned away from voting at a polling station on Walton Road in Woking because his form of ID, a Surrey County Council document with his picture on it, was not accepted. Mr Aziz said: 'This gentleman turned up, showed his ID which included a picture that was clearly him, it was an exact resemblance, but they wouldn't accept it as it was not on the list of acceptable forms of ID. 'He was fuming. He was furious. He is a British national and he couldn't vote. 'It is having an impact on certain people being disenfranchised by this trial.' Polling stations have sprung up in all manner of places, including traditional locations such as schools to the more unusual such as this pub, pictured, in Kensington and Chelsea The polka-dot decorated Bank View Cafe in Sheffield has also been welcoming voters as well as customers today The rather imposing Victoria and Jubilee Hall in Hartley Wintney, pictured, is another of the grander polling stations Ellie Reeves, Labour MP for Lewisham West, said that two people had been turned away from voting this morning because they did not have ID on them. She tweeted: 'Just been to vote. Was informed that two people had already turned up without ID this morning so had been unable to vote. Very worrying and backs up all the evidence that the voter ID pilot in Bromley is plain wrong.' Hazel Walters, a resident of Bromley since 1983, told the newspaper: 'It's absurd. I think it will discriminate against people. Not everyone's got a passport, a driving licence and all of that. I think people will be disenfranchised,' she said. 'We're trying to get homeless people to exercise their right to vote, and then at the same time we're putting all these barriers in place. The council didn't consult on this or anything. 'It's so arbitrary and unnecessary when there are real problems we've got to deal with.' Cat Smith MP, shadow minister for voter engagement, said: 'The Government was warned by the Equality and Human Rights Commission and over 40 leading charities and academics the voter ID will have a disproportionate impact on older people, young people, BME communities, trans people and disabled people. 'This was always going to be a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The Electoral Commission found that out of nearly 45 million votes cast in the local and General Election in 2017, there were only 28 cases of alleged voter fraud. 'That's less than 0.00007 per cent or one case for every 1.6 million votes cast. And out of those 28 cases, there was only one conviction. Some voters made the most of the day by taking their dogs for a walk. Pictured is a voter at a polling station in north London Dogs on leads outside polling stations are a familiar sight every year as their owner's exercise their rights and their pets Voters have been out in their droves today to make their voices heard in the local elections. Pictured are electorate in north London Some stopped to vote while out exercising or cycling, left, while others were a lot more casual about their approach, right 'But instead of listening to the experts and the vast evidence base, the Government decided to implement a mistaken policy with the full knowledge that voters could be disenfranchised. 'The fact that voters were denied their right to vote is proof that voter ID has no place in our democracy.' Meanwhile Bradford Council has apologised after a presiding officer turned away voters for not bringing photo identification to a polling station, despite none being necessary because it was not part of the trial. Finnegan Pope-Carter, a company director from Shipley, near Bradford, said he arrived at a polling station at 8am and was asked for identification papers. LONDON'S KEY BATTLEGROUNDS: Westminster: The Conservatives have a strong majority of 30 councillors in the affluent borough, but Labour are hoping anti-Brexit feeling can tempt voters their way. Labour have embarked on an intensive door-stepping campaign while Jeremy Corbyn has spoken at local events. But local councillors have described themselves as 'hopeful but not expectant' about their chances. Barnet: The Tories control the council but have a majority of just one, making it one of Labour's biggest targets. Labour supporters have been campaigning against Conservative taxes while the Tories claim Labour is exploiting the poor for 'political football'. There are also concerns the anti-Semitism scandal could harm the party's chances due to a large Jewish population. Wandsworth: Again, the Conservatives should be safe in 'Margaret Thatcher's favourite borough' with a majority of 18 and the council has been blue for 40 years. But Labour made gains in the area at the General Election and ousted junior health minister Jane Ellison from Battersea. Both parties are pledging hundreds of new homes in the area while council tax is another key issue, with Wandsworth currently offering the second cheapest in the country at 716 per year. Richmond-upon-Thames: The Liberal Democrats are looking to win back Richmond after losing it to the Conservatives four years ago. The Tories currently have a majority of six but the Lib Dems have been out in force in the area, aiming to get votes from EU nationals who oppose Brexit. Advertisement He was eventually allowed to vote after fetching his driving licence from his car but Dr Chrys Harris, an archaeological geophysicist and wife to Mr Pope-Carter, was refused multiple times. 'I didn't have my polling card or a photo ID on me. I told them repeatedly that I did not need them either. They refused and said I did,' she said. Dr Harris said she almost gave up on casting her vote as the polling station clerks assisted other voters. 'I stood my ground and finally they rang a superior who said I was allowed a ballot,' she said. A spokesman for Bradford Council said: 'We apologise to the very small number of voters concerned who were asked to provide ID to vote in one Shipley polling station today. 'We were alerted to the matter early this morning and it was dealt with immediately. 'To confirm, there is no requirement for voters to provide ID to cast a vote and a further message has been issued to all polling staff.' Elsewhere a man has been arrested on suspicion of possessing a firearm at a polling station in Northern Ireland. Police investigating the incident in Greencastle in Co Tyrone detained the 59-year-old on suspicion of possession with 'intent to cause fear or alarm'. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement said: 'He has been taken into custody for questioning. Further searches as part of the investigation are ongoing.' Voters in West Tyrone have gone to the polls for a Westminster by-election caused by the resignation of former MP Barry McElduff. Police in Omagh received a report of a man acting suspiciously at a polling station on the Crockanboy Road, Greencastle, just before 1pm on Thursday. Chief electoral officer Virginia McVea said: 'Earlier today a man approached the poll staff in Greencastle polling station and produced what appeared to be a handgun from his pocket. 'He engaged with staff then left the polling station without any weapon being discharged. 'The way that the staff dealt with it, I understand that other members of the public may have been unaware of the incident.' Mrs May was among several politicians to cast her ballot early, voting at Central Methodist Hall in Westminster with her husband Philip this morning, while Jeremy Corbyn, Boris Johnson and Sadiq Khan have also been to the polling stations. Meanwhile the election in Southwark's newly formed London Bridge and West Bermondsey ward has been halted following the death of Conservative candidate Toby Eckersley aged 76. Mr Eckersley previously served as a councillor for 37 years in Dulwich and received an MBE for political and public service in 1989. His death means the poll must be rescheduled for a new date within 35 days. London is the major battleground after recent polls pointed towards a substantial swing to Labour. Jeremy Corbyn's party will be hoping to win control of Tower Hamlets and Barnet and possibly even the flagship Conservative councils of Wandsworth and Westminster. But upsets are also possible around the country, with Labour also hopeful of taking power in town halls from Kirklees and Calderdale in Yorkshire and Trafford in Greater Manchester to Plymouth and Swindon in the south. Polls close at 10pm and the first results could begin to arrive at around midnight and are expected to be in full flow by 2am. Mr Corbyn had a smile on his face as he went to the polling booth in Islington this morning amid predictions his party is set for a major boost. But Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson did not look too worried as he cast his vote at a polling station in Westminster today. Speaking outside his polling station, Mr Corbyn accused the Conservatives of killing children with 'heartless' austerity policies today as he ramped up the rhetoric for the local elections. The Labour leader said the government's policies had 'almost certainly' increased the death rate and infant mortality. The intervention comes amid signs the anti-Semitism crisis that has been wracking the party could limit its gains in the English council polls. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell also risked a backlash today by suggesting Labour authorities could increase council tax - saying he believes voters are ready to pay more. Senior Labour figures have been trying to play down expectations, having previously boasted they were on track to seize Tory strongholds in London like Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet. Polling station signs come in all shapes and sizes, with volunteers in Oughtibridge Parish Centre in Sheffield going out of their way to make it clear where voters should head with extra arrows Volunteers are out in force to make sure the day runs smoothly, including these women who have been putting up signs at a station in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire A woman has died in a fatal crash after she lost control of a buggy in thick bushland and drove off a cliff with a male friend. The 47-year-old woman and 53-year-old man were driving around at 11pm on Wednesday night when they crashed into Browns Creek, in the Northern Territory. NT Police Detective Senior Sergeant Michael Ordelman said the pair were traveling through heavy bushland when the buggy tipped off a steep embankment and crashed. A woman has died in a fatal crash after she lost control of a buggy in thick bushland and drove off a cliff (stock image) The 47-year-old woman and 53-year-old man were driving around at 11pm on Wednesday night when they crashed into Browns Creek, in the Northern Territory The woman's body was trapped overnight and was recovered after 6am on Thursday. The man was able to crawl out of the buggy crash and shot two rounds from the rifle to draw attention to the area. He was then taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for his neck and spinal injuries. Daly River Police were notified of the incident just after 11pm. It is believed the pair are close friends and were out hunting together. Police investigation are continuing and anyone with any information is urged to contact police. Christophe Chamley, 70, a professor at Boston University, will likely be fined thousands of dollars for a search operation An economics professor who sparked a massive manhunt when he failed to return from a mountain hike is now facing a bill of thousands of dollars for wasting rescuers' time. Christophe Chamley, 70, who works at Boston University, planned a solo hike over two mountains in New Hampshire last month but changed his pre-agreed plans last-minute. Instead of returning home after conquering both peaks Mr Chamley stayed overnight at a luxury hotel, but a 1am WhatsApp message to his wife telling her he was fined failed to send. When he failed to return home she called mountain rescue to report him missing, sparking a huge search operation. In total the search involved 25 people, snow cat automobiles, a National Guard helicopter, and dozens of pieces of specialist cold weather equipment. Adding urgency to the search, Mr Chamley's wife also informed rescue crews that he had a medical condition. It is not yet clear why Chamley went to the hotel instead of heading back home. Mr Chamley had set off across Mount Adams and Mount Jefferson, in the White Mountain National Forest, around 7.45am on Sunday April 22. 25 rescuers using snow cat automobiles and a National Guard helicopter searched for Mr Chamley after he went to a hotel instead of going home, but failed to inform his wife He managed to summit both mountains, Fish and Game Lt. Wayne Saunders told the Concord Monitor, but then 'decided to bail off' and headed for the Omni Mount Washington Resort hotel instead. He checked in around 1am which is when he sent the message to his wife, but failed to check if she received it, Saunders said. Around 3.45am she called the emergency services to report him missing, and a rescue mission was launched. Several hours into the rescue operation staff at the hotel informed search crews that he had checked in during the early hours of the morning. Chamley did not wake up until 11am, and was completely unaware of the operation until it was over. Mr Chamley has now been informed he will likely be billed for the operation, according to the New Hampshire Union Leader. Col. Kevin Jordan, chief of the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, said the final amount is still to be approved, but will likely run into the thousands of dollars. A 2008 law allows the state to bill anyone whose negligent actions led to a search being launched. For $25 people can purchase insurance cards exempting them from charges, but Mr Chamely did not have one. After several hours of looking, Mr Chamley was eventually traced to the Omni Mount Washington Resort where he had stayed the night Speaking to the Union Leader, he said: 'Everybody at Fish and Game had a superb, extraordinary, and professional care. 'They were, of course, a little upset, but after that they were very caring.' The largest fine ever issued under the law was a $25,000 bill handed to teenager Scott Mason in 2009 for a three-day mountain search. Mason, an Eagle Scout, had planned to spent one day hiking a trail but sprained his ankle and became lost when he tried to take a shortcut. He was praised for using his survival skills to identify suitable sleeping spots and build fires, but state officials argued he was under-prepared for the conditions. Mason and his family eventually settled for a lesser amount that was not disclosed. Jeremy Corbyn accused the Conservatives of killing chidren with 'heartless' austerity policies today as he ramped up the rhetoric for local elections. The Labour leader said the government's policies had 'almost certainly' increased the death rate and infant mortality. The intervention comes amid signs the anti-Semitism crisis that has been wracking the party could limit its gains in the English council polls. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell also risked a backlash today by suggesting Labour authorities could increase council tax - saying he believes voters are ready to pay more. Senior Labour figures have been trying to play down expectations, having previously boasted they were on track to seize Tory strongholds in London like Westminster, Wandsworth and Barnet. Mr Corbyn (pictured voting in Islington today) is hoping to seize long-term Conservative strongholds in London Elections are being held in English councils last fought over in 2014. Some 4,371 seats and 150 councils are at stake Shadow chancellor John McDonnell risked a backlash today by suggesting Labour authorities could increase council tax - saying he believes voters are ready to pay more (file picture) At one stage experts suggested the party could secure an extra 200 seats and the Conservatives would lose 75. But Professor Stephen Fisher suggested yesterday that Labour could end up with 135 more, while the Tories could make a net gain of eight. Across England, more than 4,000 seats are being contested in around 150 councils - including all 32 London boroughs, as well as every ward in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Mayoral elections are taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Watford and the Sheffield City region, but there are no polls in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. Recent national opinion polls have seen Conservatives and Labour running virtually neck-and-neck. However, London has been an extremely difficult battleground for the Tories since the Brexit vote. A survey last week for Queen Mary University gave Mr Corbyn's party an overwhelming 51 per cent to 29 per cent lead over the Tories in the capital - enough to deliver the best result in the capital for any party in more than 40 years. In an article for the Daily Mirror, Mr Corbyn said the elections today gave voters the chance to send an 'unmistakable message' to the Government. 'Tory austerity has almostcertainly increased the death rate. Tomorrow, we can strike a blow against these deadly policies,' he wrote. Mr Corbyn said figures showed there had been an extra 10,000 deaths in the first seven weeks of the year compared to the same period in the previous five years as well as an increase in the infant death rate for the second year in a row. Theresa May cast her vote in Westminster this morning along with husband Philip Although the gap with the Tories has narrowed slightly recently, a poll last week showed Jeremy Corbyn's party is still 22 points ahead in London 'These figures should shock us in to action,' he added. 'They are the result of Tory choices which have damaged the health and life chances of the many to swell the bank balances of the few. 'Tomorrow's local elections are a chance to send an unmistakable message to this heartless and incompetent Tory Government. 'We can strike a blow against these deadly and failed policies and say enough of eight years of Tory austerity.' 'Voters will go to the polls across England, where more than 4,000 seats are being contested in around 150 councils - including all 32 London boroughs, as well as every ward in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.' Meanwhile, Mr McDonnell said in an interview with the Guardian that people were willing to 'pay a bit more' council tax. 'The council tax issue is interesting,' he said. 'We're getting on the doorstep "I'd rather pay a bit more to get a decent service".' Emmanuel Macron has bid adieu to Sydney but the French president's Gallic charm seems set to linger for quite a while in Malcolm Turnbull's household. Mr Macron, 40, raised eyebrows on Wednesday when he thanked the prime minister and his 'delicious wife' for their hospitality and warm welcome on his first official trip to Australia, almost a year after he assumed presidency. The word for delicious in French - delicieux - translates as 'delightful'. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (far left) said wife Lucy (second from the left) was 'very flattered' over the French President's (second from the right) comment 'Lucy was very flattered,' Mr Turnbull revealed to reporters on Thursday. 'She found the president's compliment as charming as it was memorable.' The quip about Mr Turnbull's 60-year-old spouse has garnered international media attention, in part because of the long-running interest in Mr Macron's relationship with his wife and former school teacher, Brigitte, who is 20 years his senior. Wrapping up a joint news conference between the two leaders on the lawn of Kirribilli House in Sydney, Macron thanked Turnbull for his hospitality. 'I want to thank you for your welcome, thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome,' he said on Wednesday. President of France Emmanuel Macron (centre) meets with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (left) and his wife Lucy Turnbull Mr Turnbull kept a straight face and replied: 'Thank you' before the conference continued. But Macron's slip sparked some quick and humorous reactions on social media, amid some confusion over his intent - with some wondering what Macron's wife Brigitte felt about the compliment. Some observers felt he may have been making a joke, after Turnbull had just mentioned Macron's imminent lunch with members of Sydney's French community. However, others felt he may have slipped up in his use of English, since the French word for delicious - delicieux - also translates as 'delightful' or 'lovely.' But Emmanuel Macron's slip sparked some quick and humorous reactions on social media 'The French President @EmmanuelMacron just referred to @TurnbullMalcolm's 'delicious wife', in a slightly awkward mistranslation I imagine,' noted Nadia Daly. Alice Workman added: 'Macron just said he wanted to thank Malcolm Turnbull and his 'delicious wife.' You can take the man out of France but...' The world leaders revealed they had discussed co-operation regarding terrorism and cyber security among other areas. Mr Macron arrived in Australia Tuesday on a rare visit by a French president. Fresh from meeting President Donald Trump in Washington, Macron touched down for the first foray Down Under by a French leader since Francois Hollande came to Brisbane for a G20 summit four years ago. His advisers said he wanted to discuss a 'common response' to security and climate tensions in the South Pacific, which includes the French territories of New Caledonia and French Polynesia. The French Prime Minister was thanking Mr Turnbull (pictured together) for welcoming him to Australia Macron told reporters he intends to 'anchor' the Franco-Australian relationship 'strategically, economically, but also scientifically, culturally and linguistically'. He described ties between the two countries as historic, recalling how Australian soldiers helped defend France in World War I and II. France envisages a 'strengthened strategic relationship' through a new axis grouping Paris, New Delhi and Canberra, he told reporters. French ambassador Christophe Penot said earlier that Paris sees Canberra as a 'pivot' for broader involvement in the Indo-Pacific. 'What the president will tell your prime minister is that we are ready and willing to do much more with Australia in the South Pacific,' he told the Australian Financial Review Tuesday. 'We must support the South Pacific islands in their development and give them options when they want to develop infrastructure. 'That doesn't mean we want to oppose China on that. It is just that we want to be complementary and make sure they have all the options on the table.' Australia has become increasingly alarmed at China's push into the Pacific, which could potentially upset the delicate strategic balance in the region. Twitter users found the 40-year-old's translation gaffe very amusing, with some wondering how his 65-year-old wife Brigitte (pictured together) feels about the compliment A senior Australian minister recently called Chinese infrastructure projects in the Pacific 'white elephants' while reports last month, that were denied, said Beijing wanted to establish a permanent military base in Vanuatu. Australia's Lowy Institute estimates China provided US$1.78 billion in aid, including concessional loans, to Pacific nations between 2006-16. The French president was due to sign several cooperation agreements covering health, space, research, universities as well as defence technology, and discuss the common fight against terrorism. France wants to strengthen its economic partnership 'when Brexit destabilises a historic partner of Australia', he explained in reference to Britain. Mr Macron, who is only the second French president to visit Australia, spent his third and final day of his official trip to Sydney alongside Mr Turnbull at an indigenous art exhibition at Carriageworks in the inner city suburb of Eveleigh. Emmanuel Macron described Malcolm Turnbull's 60-year-old wife Lucy as 'delicious' in an amusing gaffe on Wednesday After spending much of yesterday locked in bilateral talks, the leaders viewed colourful displays curated for the 21st Biennale of Sydney before happily posing for cameras in front of orange and white acrylic linen paintings by Northern Territory artist George Tjungurrayi. They were also treated to a seven-minute performance by Broome-based group Marrugeku whose song and dance, called Cut The Sky, touched on one of Mr Macron's favourite causes - the fight against climate change. The French president listened intently as Mr Turnbull spoke to performer Dalisa Pigram after the show. 'The prime minister asked about a language word that we use back home, which is 'liyan' ... used by the Yawuru people,' Ms Pigram said. 'Liyan is like your inner strength, your spirit, and we in our culture believe to nurture that first and foremost. The press conference continued with the pair revealing they had discussed co-operation regarding terrorism and cyber security among other areas 'It might be visits to your own country to be in that place again, sit still or fish or do things so that you're continually connected to that spirit, but it's also your wellbeing and your inner emotions, your intuitions.' Mr Turnbull said: 'It's like, they say the definition of poetry is that which can't be translated, so it's beautiful.' 'Yeah, yeah, you have to accept it,' Mr Macron replied, before checking with the West Australian dancer that liyan meant harmony between a person and the land. 'And he could say it! That was good,' Ms Pigram said. After one last group photo, thumbs-up and a farewell wave, Mr Macron's trip was over. The French leader and his entourage are en route to New Caledonia, where locals are preparing for a referendum on independence from France in November. This is the horrifying moment a woman in Iran is dragged off the street by the country's fierce 'morality police'. In the clip, the woman can be seen grappling with an officer on the street in one of Tehran's student areas. As the pair struggle, other police officers rush to assist their colleague, who is wearing a traditional hijab, before hauling the student off the street. They shove her into the back of their unmarked car as she screams out for help from passers-by. The person who shot the harrowing footage late said: 'I'm a student on Amir Kabir University. This street is close to our university. The area itself is popular hangout place between girls and boys to socialise and to smoke. 'On my way back from university, I realised that the morality police was dealing heavy-handedly with boys and girls. 'When ordinary passers-by were drawing closer to the car of these policemen and policewomen, they faced threats of arrest and were told to mind their own business.' The woman, who is dressed in black, can be seen grappling with a female officer in a hijab Other police officers show up to offer backup to their colleague as they try to detain the student (right) Eventually she can be seen being manhandled into the back of an unmarked car as she screams out for help This is by no means the only case of brutal treatment by Iran's so-called 'morality police officers' however. A young woman was recently assaulted by a gang of female police officers who deemed her headscarf 'insufficient' because it only loosely covered her hair. Terrifying video showing her being savagely beaten was broadcast widely on social media - provoking an outpouring of public sympathy. In response to the violent attack, a brave woman posed next to a police car without her hijab while a whole family removed their headscarves in solidarity. A growing number of Iranian woman have taken to the streets without the mandatory hijab in recent days after the video surfaced. The video has reignited a public debate on the decades-long requirement for women in the Islamic Republic to wear hijabs. Officials of all ranks up to President Hassan Rouhani have weighed in on the incident as women question being forced to wear the hijab in public. The video appeared online last week, with activists suggesting it was taken in Tehran, though nothing in it offers hints at its location It shows a young woman with a long red scarf loosely covering her head, her hair clearly showing, being surrounded by three morality policewomen wearing chadors, who grab her On Tuesday, advocacy group My Stealthy Freedom shared a picture of a young woman leaning against a police car without her hair covered. 'Welcome to the 46th week of #WhiteWednesdays!' the caption said. My Stealthy Freedom, an online group campaigning against the forced hijab, highlights instances of abuse of women who choose not to wear it. The group's founder Masih Alinejad launched the social media hashtag White Wednesdays, encouraging women to flout regulations posting pictures and videos of themselves without the hijabs online. She also shared a clip sent to her from a family who posed with their backs to the camera, but with their hair uncovered. A brave woman posed next to a police car without her hijab in Iran in solidarity with a woman who was viciously beaten by 'morality police officers' A group of women uncovered their hair in a video shared on Twitter, during which a a man's voice is heard saying: 'I join my family to say NO to forced hijab' Another woman filmed herself as she walked through the streets of Karaj with her hair uncovered 'I join my family to say no to forced hijab in the hope of freedom for Iran,' a man's voice is heard saying during the clip. Another woman filmed herself as she walked through the streets of Karaj with her hair uncovered. 'Today I walked the whole way without the compulsory hijab,' she said in the clip. 'I wanted to say that like many, I'm against compulsory veil too. I want to say no to compulsory veil and I hope there comes a day when all Iranian women can take a walk with no fear or stress and without having to put on a compulsory veil. My Stealthy Freedom was also the first to upload the video of the young woman who was assaulted. Videos have been posted showing women bravely defying the country's law by walking through the streets of cities like Tehran and Shiraz without the hijab Several of them face verbal and physical abuse in the street, with bystanders urging them to cover their hair Alongside the video, the group wrote: 'This woman is savagely beaten up by morality police as punishment for her insufficient hijab. And they tell us hijab is a 'small issue'.' They added: 'We expose them and we resist compulsory hijab.' Since then, videos have been posted showing women bravely defying the country's law by walking through the streets of cities like Tehran and Shiraz without the hijab. Several of them face verbal and physical abuse in the street, with bystanders urging them to cover their hair. Their protest has been named #WalkingUnveiled and is quickly spreading on social media. The video appeared online last week, with activists suggesting it was taken in Tehran, though nothing in it offers hints at its location. It shows a young woman with a long red scarf loosely covering her head, her hair clearly showing, being surrounded by three morality policewomen wearing chadors, who grab her. One grabs her by the throat. She screams, they pick her up off her feet. She then ends up on the ground, weeping as another woman comforts her before the officers grab her again. 'Why are you hitting me? You have been destroying us for 30 years,' she is heard shouting at one point. Iran's interior minister, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli, ordered authorities on Thursday to investigate the incident soon after Masoumeh Ebtekar, a female vice president for women's affairs, condemned the police's 'violent' approach to the situation. Reformist lawmaker Tayebeh Siavoshi said on Saturday that the policewoman seen in the video grabbing the young woman's throat has been suspended pending the investigation. None of the women in the video have been identified. 'Imposing (force on women) will lead nowhere,' she said. One of the many brave Iranian women who has taken to the streets in the wake of the horrific abuse by morality police seen in a video last week gets asked why she is not veiled President Rouhani, a cleric who is considered a moderate within Iran's political system, also criticised the morality police in a speech on Saturday. The police force's stated mandate is 'promoting virtue and preventing vice.' 'Grabbing people's collars to promote virtue will not work,' Rouhani warned. 'You cannot do it by being aggressive.' On Monday, judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadegh Amoli Larijani said he supported the morality police, adding that 'law enforcement should not withdraw a single inch.' But on the streets of Tehran, women are openly discussing the video and their own encounters with morality police. 'I think that it was very unnecessary the way that the police, or the morality police, handled the situation,' said Hamraz, 27, an Austrian national born to Iranian parents who is on vacation in Tehran. 'It was very unfortunate that it was caught on camera, but in a way it was good that everyone got to see how people are being treated: very unjust and very unfair.' Sahar, a 25-year-old university student, agreed. 'I think everyone must be free to choose what they believe in and we can deal with each other more peacefully instead of trying to induce people to do what you think is right,' she said. 'This method surely will not work.' The hijab and chador have long been parts of Persian culture. They became political symbols in 1936, when Iran's pro-Western ruler Reza Shah Pahlavi banned the garments amid his efforts to rapidly modernise Iran. Videos show women bravely defying the country's Islamic law, which requires them to cover their hair in public, as part of the #WalkingUnveiled protest A cleric in Iran was seen demanding a woman covers her hair in another video posted online The ban became a source of humiliation for some pious Muslim women in the country. Even before the 1979 Islamic Revolution, the long, flowing black robes for women known as chadors and the headscarves, or hijabs, were both a political and religious symbol in the Shiite-dominated nation. 'I used to be a person who would always say her prayers and deeply believed in God,' said Afrouz, 28, who like other women who spoke to the Associated Press in Tehran would only give their first name for fear of retribution. 'I would always say grace before having a meal. Right now, I believe in none of those things.' As the 1979 Islamic Revolution took hold, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini ordered female civil servants to wear the chador. At first, thousands of women protested the decision in Tehran and Khomeini later said officials should not insult women who chose not to wear it - though he also called the chador 'the flag of the revolution.' The hijab and loose-fitting clothing later became mandatory for all women in Iran. The Islamic code also forbids women touching, dancing or singing with men outside their families. And though some freedoms for women were curtailed in the years that followed, Iranian women were still allowed to drive, unlike in Saudi Arabia, and hold public office. A man is seen standing over a woman who is walking in public with her hair uncovered in Iran In Tehran today, some fashionable young women wear tighter clothes with a scarf loosely covering their head, technically meeting the requirements of the law while drawing the ire of conservatives. Women arrested for showing their hair in public in Iran can receive jail terms of two months or less and face fines equivalent to $25. In December, Tehran's police said they would no longer arrest women for not observing the Islamic dress code as video clips of women choosing not to wear hijabs and walking the streets with their heads uncovered spread across social media. One image - of a young woman, head uncovered and waving her hijab like a flag in Tehran's Enghelab Street - became famous during economic protests that swept Iran later that month. Tehran's prosecutor, Abbas Jafari Dolatabadi, said in March that the woman had been sentenced to 24 months in prison. The telecommunication junction box she stood on in the photograph has since been re-welded to stop women from standing on it, though protests continue. A journalist who gained worldwide fame after hurling his shoes at George W. Bush is standing for parliament in Iraq. Muntadhar al-Zaidi launched the extraordinary attack on the former US president during a press conference in Baghdad in December 2008, in response to the US invasion of Iraq. Al-Zaidi, 39, was sentenced to three years in jail for his actions - but spent nine months behind bars and was hailed as a hero by anti-US campaigners after his release. Bush managed to avoid being struck by the f lying shoe and al-Zaidi was bundled to the floor amid chaotic scenes that were seen around the world. Nearly ten years on al-Zaidi is contesting Iraqi parliamentary elections, due to take place on May 12, CNN reports. Iraqi journalist Al-Zaidi, who gained worldwide fame after hurling his shoes at George W. Bush (pictured) is standing for parliamentary elections - and wants to lead the country Television journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi launched the extraordinary attack (pictured) on the former US president during a press conference in December 2008 in response to the US invasion of Iraq Bush managed to avoid being struck by the flying shoe and al-Zaidi was bundled to the floor amid chaotic scenes that were seen around the world Nearly ten years on al-Zaidi (pictured) is contesting Iraqi parliamentary elections, due to take place on May 12 Hurling a shoe at someone is considered an insult in Arab culture. Footage of the incident shows al-Zaidi screaming 'This is your farewell kiss, you dog!' as he threw the footwear. 'This is from the widows, the orphans and those who were killed in Iraq,' he added, his anger stemming from the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Bush was unhurt but was forced to duck twice to avoid being hit and his undignified actions got wall-to-wall coverage for days. Al-Zaidi is now using the infamous 2008 protest to boost his campaign. Al-Zaidi was sentenced to three years in jail for his actions - but spent nine months behind bars and was hailed as a hero by anti-US campaigners after his release Iraqi officials in the northern city of Tikrit share a laugh as they unveil a bronze shoe monument representing the one thrown by Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi He told CNN: 'I don't have any issue with America or Americans. My only issue is with the former president George W. Bush. He occupied my country and he killed my people. 'If I become the prime minister of Iraq or the president then the first thing I will do is to ask the United States of America to officially apologise to all Iraqis, to compensate the victims and hold former president George W. Bush accountable.' Al-Zaidi reportedly returned to Iraq in March having been living in Beirut, Lebanon. He has vowed to support 'oppressed people' and promised to 'be against oppressors'. A man has died after becoming trapped behind a wall in the women's bathroom of a shopping mall. The gruesome discovery was made after a worker was called to fix the toilet at the Core mall in downtown Calgary. According to police, when the worker removed a panel attached to a wall behind the toilet, he discovered the body at around 9.30am on Saturday. The body of the man in his 20s was wheeled out of the mall on a gurney after being discovered behind a wall in the women's bathroom The womens bathroom remained closed until after 3 p.m., when the body, contained in a body bag, was wheeled out on a gurney. Calgary police spokesperson Emma Poole explained: 'If you were to look at the toilet, there's a panel behind it so that when people move, it would automatically flush. 'When they removed that panel, they found a deceased person behind that wall.' In a statement, the force said the officers were called at about 9.30am to the mall after reports that a body had been discovered. 'The body of a male in his 20s was removed with the assistance of The Calgary Fire Department and an autopsy was conducted by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Emergency services were called to extract the body after it was found by a maintenance worker called to fix a broken toilet The women's bathroom at the Core mall in Calgary remained closed until mid-afternoon 'The investigation has determined that the victim entered the women's washroom on the evening of Friday, April 27, 2018. The victim was alone when he entered the washroom. 'Once inside the washroom, it is believed that he climbed on top of a pony wall which was directly behind the toilets and removed a vent cover, which was located on top of the wall. 'The pony wall, used to hide utilities, is approximately ]seven feet tall and is not connected to the ceiling and has no other access points.' Officers believe the victim then climbed inside the pony wall then through the vent opening where he became stuck and later died. 'The victim's motivation for crawling inside the wall is unknown at this time.' A spokesperson for the mall said the worker is a Core employee and he has been offered counselling and time off 'to deal with whatever he may be going through'. 'Obviously, the Core is trying to do anything it can to help,' spokesman Ricky Zayshley said. The father of a missing British toddler who vanished 36 years ago in Germany has said he'll 'fight for my daughter until the end' as he returned to the spot where she was last seen. Police are excavating a riverbank as they hunt for any trace of Katrice Lee, who went missing on her second birthday in 1981. A hundred soldiers will spend five weeks on a forensic excavation of the banks of the river Alme in Paderborn, 70 miles south-west of Hanover. Katrice disappeared from the NAAFI shopping centre in Schloss Neuhaus, close to the military base where her father was stationed for the Army. Richard Lee described his visit to an excavation site on the banks of the River Alme as 'a return to his nightmare'. He also blasted the Royal Military Police for their blunders in the initial investigation. Katrice Lee vanished in 1981 on her second birthday at the base in Paderborn where her soldier father was stationed Royal Military Police are digging up a riverbank as they look for any trace of Katrice Lee, who went missing on her second birthday The search effort is focused on the banks of the River Alme in northern, rural Germany Katrice disappeared from a supermarket aisle in the city where her family were stationed through her soldier father Richard's role with the British Army He said, during the initial investigation, border guards were not informed when Katrice disappeared, statements from shop workers were not taken until six weeks later and information about an eye condition Katrice had was not made known. Mr Lee, now 68, travelled from Hartlepool with the town's MP Mike Hill, who lobbied the Ministry of Defence to carry out the fresh search. The 68-year-old welcomed the search but said it should have been done years ago. He said: 'We've just got to do this. I don't want them to find anything, but honestly, I am struggling. 'It's a killer, absolutely a killer. It's a return to my nightmare.' He added: 'I feel bitterly angry and will never forgive the RMP for what they've put my family through. I will fight for my daughter until the end.' He said his now ex-wife Sharon and other daughter Natasha, 43, were unable to make the trip to Germany. Heavy equipment arrived on Monday to begin the excavation of a 328ft (100m) stretch of the riverbank in Paderborn. Investigators believe Katrice, who had been shopping with her mother when she disappeared, may still be alive having been abducted but have little memory of her early years Katrice had been shopping with her mother Sharon on what was her second birthday when she disappeared. Despite a vast search effort undertaken at the time by the Royal Military Police (RMP), German police, British troops and volunteers, the trail went cold. The case, which has chilling similarities to season two of BBC drama The Missing, remains unsolved. German Police help British Royal Military police in their search for missing Katrice Lee The Royal Military Police is carrying out a five-week excavation of the banks of the River Alme in Paderborn Katrice's mother Sharon, now 64, said the toddler was 'gone in a matter of seconds'. She added: 'It's living a nightmare that you never wake up from. 'Nearly 37 years ago we became members of an exclusive club we didn't ask for membership of we became parents of a missing daughter. 'I would dearly love to be able to revoke that membership.' She said: 'The next five weeks is a double-edged sword for us as a family. We desperately want Katrice to be found but we also know that if anything is discovered during this search then my daughter's life would have been ended in very unsavoury circumstances. 'That's another emotion we have to learn to live with.' The case was reopened in 2000 and led to the arrest of a former soldier. But he was released without charge and the case closed again after three years. There were further inquiries in 2012 when Royal Military Police chiefs admitted mistakes were made during the initial investigation. Katrice went missing on 28 November 1981 - her second birthday - while out shopping with her mother Sharon Katrice Lee was snatched from a supermarket while out shopping with her mother (pictured) Sharon and Richard Lee, the parents of Katrice, who are desperately hoping the search will find what happened to their daughter Katrice's mother Sharon, now 64, said the toddler was 'gone in a matter of seconds' The RMP announced on Monday that it would be carrying out a dig on the River Alme's banksat Paderborner Str, Paderborn. It followed a reanalysis of evidence gathered during the original investigation, which pinpointed the river as an area of interest, the force said. The 'detailed excavation' of the site is expected to last around five weeks. Senior investigating officer Richard O'Leary, of the RMP, said: 'The aim of the search is to find evidence that could finally shed light on what happened to Katrice.' A man was seen climbing into a green saloon with a child matching Katrice's description (pictured: the photo-fit of the man) He renewed an appeal for information about a man seen at the shopping centre placing a child matching the toddler's description into a green saloon car. 'A green saloon car was also seen on the River Alme Bridge near the NAAFI the day after Katrice disappeared. It may or may not be the same car, but we are very keen to identify this car,' he added. A photo-fit of the man has been reissued as part of the fresh appeal. Anyone from the Paderborn area who owned such a car at the time is asked to approach police so they can be ruled out of the inquiry. But the possibility remains that Katrice is still alive now aged 38 having been abducted and raised with little memory of her early years, investigators believe. This is what police believe Katrice would look like today - she went missing in November 1981 She was born with a distinctive eye condition in her left eye which would have required two medical operations to correct. Mr O'Leary said: 'An age progression image of what Katrice may look like now, aged 38, has been produced. 'If anyone feels they know someone who looks like this, or believes they could be Katrice, then we would encourage them to come forward.' Katrice's father Richard, now 68, who has split from Sharon, had criticised the RMP handling of the case, but felt his voice had 'finally been heard' at a summit with Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson this year. A hundred British soldiers will spend five weeks on a forensic excavation of the banks of the river Alme in Germany Police are investigating the site near to where two-year-old Katrice was last seen The latest investigation is considering the theory that the toddler was abducted and possibly taken to the River Alme Katrice Lee vanished on 28 November 1981, her second birthday, as her mother was buying treats for a birthday tea Mr Williamson said Katrice's case was heart-wrenching, adding: 'The disappearance of a child is every parent's worst nightmare and I have been struck by the courage and dignity of the Lee family who have never given up on their search for Katrice. 'As this major dig gets under way, the efforts and expertise of the Royal Military Police are behind the family.' Anyone with information for the Operation Bute team, should call the UK helpline on 0800 616888 or the Germany helpline on 0800 184 2222. Alex Elsmore, 23, was studying electrical and engineering at the University of Bristol A 23-year-old university student is thought to have taken his own life, becoming the tenth undergraduate in a city to do so in less than two years. Alex Elsmore, a fourth-year electrical and engineering student at the University of Bristol, is believed to have fallen from Clifton Suspension Bridge in the city. Mr Elsmore, whose death on April 21 is not being treated as suspicious, is the eighth University of Bristol student believed to have taken their own life since October 2016. A further two students from the city's other university, University of West England, are also believed to have died in the same way over the same period. Mr Elsmore's father Canon Guy Elsmore, 52, is the Archdeacon of Buckingham in the Diocese of Oxford, while his stepmother Petra Elsmore, 48, is also an Anglican priest and chaplain. The undergraduate, whose father has previously been praised for his 'outstanding facilitating and creative gifts', is originally from Liverpool and had four siblings. Mr Elsmore is believed to have fallen from Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol (file picture) The University of Bristol said: 'We have been informed of the sudden death of one of our students, Alex Elsmore, a fourth year electrical and engineering student. 'We have spoken to Alex's family, who have requested privacy at this very difficult time. Our thoughts are with them. We are not aware of any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death and the coroner will hold an inquest in due course. 'It is immensely distressing for members of our university community to learn that one of our students has died, and we know it will be especially difficult for those who knew and studied with Alex. 'We would encourage any students or staff who are affected by this tragic news to contact university support services as well as seek support from friends or family.' Avon and Somerset Police previously confirmed the 'sudden death of a man in his 20s' on April 21, adding that the death was not being treated as suspicious. Previous inquests into the deaths of the students found none of them were linked. But the University of Bristol has been undergoing a review of its student health services, putting some 1million into its mental health and wellbeing provision. For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for details. A run down housing commission residence rented out for the Commonwealth Games on Airbnb doubled as a creepy religious shack where exorcisms and loud yelling took place, according to neighbours. Residents are outraged with the grandmother who has lived in the home for 20 years with a grandson and have filed a complaint with the electorate office of Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates. According to complaints 'strange religious rituals' had been conducted in the home in the past 'including exorcisms with very loud yelling,' the Gold Coast Bulletin reported. According to complaints 'strange religious rituals' were conducted in the home (pictured) The public housing tenant also went camping so she could rent out her taxpayer-funded home to make a quick buck out of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Queensland Parliament was told. The grandmother rented out the Gold Coast hinterland house at Mudgeeraba on AirBnB for about $100 a night but had been rented for $500 for three nights before a less than impressed guest left a scathing review. The property, which is tucked away in the Gold Coast's hinterland at Mudgeeraba, was rented by at least one guest who left a scathing review (pictured) 'This is a dilapidated cockroach and grease laden ramshackle home that fair enough someone may want to live in, but in truth how it can be placed out for let is unfathomable,' the reviewer's post said. The guest said they had to buy their own sheets because the ones supplied were 'marked with god only knows what' and the key they were given didn't work. 'The smell from the fridge alone nearly killed us,' the guest wrote. 'This place needs fumigating and then demolition. It is not fit for letting out.' Meanwhile the tenant pitched a tent for the nights in New South Wales during the Commonwealth Games (pictured) The Liberal National Party member for Mudgeeraba, Ros Bates, raised the matter in the Queensland Parliament on Wednesday, directing her question to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. 'Premier, why did the government allow a Housing Commission tenant in Mudgeeraba to use Airbnb to rent out a government-funded property for $100 per night during the Commonwealth Games?,' she said. The LNP Opposition frontbencher revealed the woman in her electorate had lived in the Mudgeeraba property for 20 years. 'The system is there to ensure our most disadvantaged Queenslanders have a roof over their heads, not to make cash on the side,' Ms Bates said. The tenant, described as a battler, pitched a tent for the nights in New South Wales while her home accommodated others. The listing was reportedly advertised on home-sharing site Airbnb for $500 for three nights Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said an investigation would take place into how the public housing property was able to be sub-let because it was 'a breach of the tenancy rules'. An Airbnb spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia it was up to the guests and hosts to make sure they follow local regulations. 'Hosts should think carefully about their responsibilities and ensure they are in compliance with all local rules and regulations,' they said. The hero in a tuxedo who chased down a phone thief has revealed he is an ex-sprinter who warned the mugger: 'I'm a former track star, you'll never outrun me'. Speaking to MailOnline, Lewychino Martey-Thomas, 35, said he heard a commotion while having a cigarette on his lunch break and realised a mugger was trying to flee. The debonair hero, who stepped out in a double breasted two piece with cufflinks and a bow tie, bolted after the robber who had snatched a woman's phone. Scroll down for video The hero in a tuxedo who chased down a phone thief in Holborn, London has revealed he is a former sprinter who warned the mugger: 'I'm a former track-star, you'll never outrun me'. Lewychino Martey-Thomas, 35, came to the rescue after a mugger snatched a woman's phone The debonair hero, who stepped out in a double breasted two piece with cufflinks and a bow tie, bolted after the robber who had snatched a woman's phone. Once he captured the thief he told him 'don't ever try and outrun me, I was a track star' Mr Martey-Thomas said: 'I was on my lunch break smoking a cigarette in High Holborn where I work for a suiting company when I heard an older woman screaming 'my phone, my phone' and sounding as if someone was hurting her.' Once he jogged over he saw other Good Samaritans' stopping the thief from getting away and took control of the situation and began questioning the thief. 'The guy denied having a phone so I took over and and calmed the situation down. I said to him 'I'm placing you under citizens arrest, where's the phone?' 'Then I put a little bit of pressure on him and squeezed him up until he pulled it from his trousers.' Eventually, the would-be phone snatcher realised he had been snared and asked Mr Martey-Thomas for a cigarette to settle his nerves. 'He asked for a cigarette and I didn't mind - I'd want one if I was about to be arrested. But I warned him 'don't run I was a track star at school, I will catch you.' Mobile footage captures the moment the mugger put Mr Martey-Thomas' words to the test and made a break for it, forcing the former 200m high school specialist to chase him down through Holborn Mobile footage captures the moment the mugger put Mr Martey-Thomas' words to the test and made a break for it, forcing the former 200m high school specialist to chase him down through Holborn. 'Once I caught him, I told him again 'I was a 200m sprinter, don't ever try and outrun me again, it's not going to happen.' Unknown to the have-a-go hero, onlookers had begun sharing the event online, with some praising his actions on Twitter. Unknown to the have-a-go hero, onlookers had begun sharing the event online, with some praising his actions on Twitter While he admitted that the woman, who was in her early fifties and taken to hospital as a precaution, praised his actions, telling him: 'There should be more people like you in this world.' Mr Martey-Thomas added: 'I'm not a hero, I'm just a positive community man.' Tweeting the event as it happened, Eli Mengem, wrote: 'Another madness in LDN: a thread. So this scumbag biker (in helmet) snatches handbag off a woman, pushes her to ground and rides off but dude in suit bolts after him, knocking him off and placing him under citizens arrest.' Eli continued: 'Dude even lets the guy have a cigarette while we wait for cops,' One said: 'He secured the bag. And our hearts.' Another said: 'Urban hero. No argument. THAT is the sort of attitude which would clean up the streets.' A Metropolitan police statement said: 'Officers were called at 2.19pm on May 2 to reports of a robbery suspect being detained by members of the public in High Holborn,' a spokesperson said. 'The victim was waiting for a bus when a male on a pedal cycle pushed her, causing her to fall, and grabbed her mobile phone. The victim shouted that her mobile phone had been taken. The suspect, a 19-year-old man, was chased and detained by members of the public. 'He managed to break-free but was detained shortly after by officers in Chancery Lane. He was arrested on suspicion of theft. He was taken to a north London police station where he was further arrested on suspicion of robbery. He remains in custody.' The 'messy' assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal and his daughter on a rainy day in Salisbury may have led to Novichok getting on their shoes and being spread further than thought across the city with every footstep, it was claimed today. The desperate clear-up is continuing today two months after the first ever nerve agent attack on British soil took place ins Wiltshire. The so called 'Novichok trail' that crosses Salisbury may have got worse because the nerve agent may have been on Sergei and Yulia Skripal's hands and feet. Experts believe that the weapon was smeared on the handle of Sergei's front door but the 'messy' attack and heavy rain saw it diluted and spread on the step and drive. The Novichok came in gel form but with traces of it all over the place for two miles it has not been possible to locate when exactly it was administered - and the zone could be larger than thought. The 'messy' assassination attempt on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia may have led to Novichok getting on their shoes and being spread further than thought across Salisbury Experts believe that the weapon was smeared on the handle of Sergei's front door (pictured) but poor execution and heavy rain probably saw it diluted and spread on the step and drive There is also no CCTV focussed on Mr Skripal's modest home despite him being one of Russia's most prominent defectors, according to The Times. Hero officer Nick Bailey ended up in hospital after helping the Skripals The spread of the weapon also injured Detective Sergeant Nick Bailey because it got through his police issue gloves. An Army nurse first on the scene was vomited on by Mr Skripal after he fell ill but has also recovered. Eyewitnesses said the Russian was shouting and swearing as he drank white wine during a 45-minute meal at the rear of a branch of Zizzi, away from other customers. The pair, who ate seafood risotto and garlic bread, left quickly after demanding a discount on their food, claiming it was prepared too slowly. Experts are trawling through hundreds of hours of CCTV to identify what happened, and when. They were found almost unconscious and staring into space on a bench overlooking the River Avon in Salisbury. Three children are understood to have been taken to hospital after taking bread from Sergei Skripal to feed ducks in the Salisbury park where the double agent was found poisoned. The youngsters were rushed to hospital for blood tests amid fears they had come in contact with the deadly nerve agent Novichok. Mr Skripal, 66, is thought to have given the children - all boys - the bread to throw into the river in Avon Playground, but one of the boys ate the slice handed to him. Despite consuming it he is believed to be fine. At least 21 people needed hospital treatment and dozens more were under observation. Army officers remove the bench, where Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found in Salisbury, one of hundreds of sites sealed off Russia has repeatedly denied any responsibility for the nerve agent attack, in which the Skripals were found critically ill on a bench in Salisbury city centre on March 4. It was initially feared that the father and daughter had little chance of surviving the deadly poisoning, which left them in a coma for several weeks. Their exceptional recovery has been attributed to the early detection of the nerve agent and rapid administering of treatment by the emergency services. Sergei, pictured in a Moscow court in 2006, and Yulia have both made an 'exceptional recovery Announcing a mass clean-up operation last month, the Government warned that diluted amounts of the nerve agent could still be present in parts of Salisbury visited by the Skripals on the day they fell ill. Cordons around affected areas will be expanded over the coming weeks and a multi-million pound decontamination operation will take months to complete, the officials said. Neighbours of Mr Skripal in Salisbury, where the highest concentration of the poison was found, have been warned they may even need to be relocated during the mass clean-up. Even blades of grass and paving stones around the shopping centre where the Skripals collapsed will have to be dug up and incinerated before the area can be reopened. That is because the highly-durable poison does not evaporate and can only be broken down with specialist cleaning chemicals, according to Government scientists. Some 190 Ministry of Defence personnel will spend the coming months painstakingly searching for traces of Novichok, which can only be broken down with specialist equipment. Affected sites will need to be thoroughly cleaned and tested before they are considered safe to the public. Most of them will be blocked off with wooden screens during the clean-up. In total, there are nine areas known, or thought, to be contaminated. They include Mr Skripals home, the Maltings shopping centre where the former spy and his daughter collapsed on March 4, and the Zizzi restaurant and Mill pub where they spent time earlier that day. Experts will also decontaminate two ambulance depots, a police station, the car compound where the Skripals BMW was recovered, and the home of the contaminated police officer. A fitness model who was knocked out in a club toilet after a row with three women on a night out with Geordie Shore star Scotty T has shared her gruesome injuries. Nikki Mauger, 22, was partying at The Bedroom in the Gold Coast on Sunday 22 April, when she was savagely attacked. The three women king hit Ms Mauger from behind before they viciously stomped on her head, arms and back, and even a stiletto heel to the eye. Ms Mauger is the latest in a long line of young clubbers who have been attacked by other females while out partying on the Gold Coast's glitter strip. Scroll down for video Nikki Mauger, 22, was partying at The Bedroom in the Gold Coast when she was savagely attacked The three women king hit Ms Mauger from behind before they viciously stomped on her head, arms and back, and even a stiletto heel to the eye Ms Mauger was stomped on viciously by the three girls leaving her face and body bruised In 2016, beauty pageant finalist Elise Chambellant was left with a black eye and swollen lip after she was savagely attacked in a Brisbane nightclub bathroom. The then-20-year-old model was pushed to the ground by four women and punched repeatedly in the face during the horrific insult. Speaking on A Current Affair, a number of young women said they no longer felt safe leaving nightclubs alone due to the spike in violent girl-on-girl attacks. 'I've literally seen so many girls punching on with each other and it's just really bad,' one girl said. 'I've seen girls fighting and they're seriously savage,' another said. Ms Mauger was saved by security guards who pulled the women off her. She was rushed to hospital where she spent the night with concussion and is now recovering at home. The Instagram model and qualified nurse said the women attacked after she asked them to leave a private area of the club where she was partying with Scott Timlin of MTV's hit reality series set in Newcastle in the UK. She posted a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed to Instagram with a message for other women to take care on nights out. She wrote: 'I wasn't going to go to social media about what happened to me but I decided to make awareness of this as it is happening far too often. 'Last night I was followed into the bathroom of a nightclub by 3 girls, they cowardly punched me from behind and when I dropped to the ground, the girls continued to stomp on me with their heels. Miss Mauger posted a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed to Instagram with a message for other women to take care on nights out 'I want girls to be careful when they are going places by themselves. Always have someone come with you. 'I am lucky enough that the girls were caught on camera so justice will be served. Thankyou to everyone for the kind messages, I appreciate them all.' Miss Mauger said the women got angry when she asked around 20 people to leave the area surrounding her private booth. She told the Gold Coast Bulletin: 'Three of the girls who were asked to leave weren't happy, because we were with Scotty T from Geordie Shore, and then they started threatening me.' 'About an hour later they followed me to the bathroom and I got punched to the back of my head and when I was on the ground they stomped on me. I have a gash to the side of my head... it was pretty horrible.' Miss Mauger says the women attacked after she asked them to leave a private area of the club where she was partying with reality TV star Scotty T (pictured) Three women coward punched Miss Mauger and stomped on her head with their heels after she fell to the floor. Pictured: The Bedroom club A Queensland Police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: 'A 22-year-old Gold Coast woman made a complaint of assault to police. 'The woman advises she was assaulted by three women in the bathroom of a Surfers Paradise nightclub around 3AM on Monday. 'She further advised that a verbal disagreement occurred between herself and the women some time prior to the alleged assault. 'The woman was treated at the scene and transported to the Gold Coast University Hospital. It is understood she has bruising to her face, chest and arms and suffered a concussion. 'Police were called to the scene at the time of the incident and investigations are on-going into a complaint of 'Assault Occasioning Bodily Harm.' Dane Swan has denied he was involved in a 'sex tape' after footage of him in bed with a naked woman was circulated on social media. The 34-year-old confirmed he was the former AFL star seen in the video, but said it was shot 'a long time ago' and was 'not a sex tape'. He issued a statement - which was read out by Eddie McGuire on The Footy Show on Thursday night - saying he has reported the 'gross breach' of privacy to police. Scroll down for video Dane Swan (pictured with girlfriend Taylor Wilson) on Thursday denied he was involved in a 'sex tape' The 34-year-old confirmed he's in the footage with a naked woman, but said it was shot 'a long time ago' and was 'not a sex tape' Swan issued a statement - which was read out by Eddie McGuire (pictured) on The Footy Show on Thursday night - saying he has reported the 'gross breach' of privacy to police 'I have recently become aware of a video of me being published and circulated on the internet. Contrary to some media reports, the video is not a 'sex tape',' he said in the statement. 'Although the video was taken a long time ago, it has been posted and distributed only recently. It was taken and distributed without my consent. The distribution is a gross breach of my privacy. 'As it is illegal to distribute such material online without consent I have reported the matter to the police who are investigating the distribution.' Controversial Geelong Cats legend Sam Newman leaped to Swan's defence on Thursday, telling radio station 3AW the video's distribution was the act of someone seeking fame 'in their p***y little lives'. 'Contrary to some media reports, the video is not a 'sex tape',' Collingwood premiership player Swan (pictured with his girlfriend Taylor Wilson) said Swan added that the matter is under investigation and asked for his privacy to be respected Controversial Geelong Cats legend Sam Newman (pictured) leaped to Swan's defence on Thursday He then appeared to suggest the video's release was linked to the #MeToo campaign, which he said had 'got out of hand in the majority'. Speaking on radio to Tom Elliott, he said: 'You, and your peers, and people like me should stop being politically correct and start saying ... this Me Too business in the majority has got out of hand and it has been taken up by every person seeking 15 seconds of relevance in their p***y little lives.' He added that 'it's pathetic', before hanging up on the radio presenter. The video of Swan and the woman, seen by Daily Mail Australia, has already been viewed thousands of times. Newman (pictured) appeared to suggest the video's release is linked to the #MeToo campaign, which he said has 'got out of hand in the majority' In the video, Swan can be seen trying to hide his face when he notices the woman filming him while they are kissing. It is not clear when or where the video was taken, or who the woman is. Swan's manager Liam Pickering also issued a statement on Thursday, saying his client is a victim and deserved to have his identity protected. He wrote: 'There is a double standard where the media feels free to name him and engage in a feeding frenzy of commentary and speculation about the circumstances, rather than allow him the privacy that any victim in such circumstances is entitled to have. 'The media do not know the circumstances and we will take action against anyone who speculates unfairly about them.' A Victoria Police spokesman said the video was posted without consent and an investigation was under way. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Swan for comment. In the video, Swan can be seen trying to hide his face when he notices the woman filming him while they are kissing A convicted murderer who was one of Britain's longest serving prisoners has been released after spending nearly 43 years behind bars. John Massey, who escaped from custody three times, was set free yesterday after he was jailed in 1976 for the murder of a pub doorman. The 69-year-old was greeted by his sister Jane and his niece Michelle as he walked out of the Category C HMP Warren Hill in Suffolk. Massey, from Kentish Town, north London, pleaded guilty to killing Charlie Higgins outside a bar in Hackney and was handed a 20 year life sentence at the Old Bailey for murder. John Massey, after he escaped from prison in 2012 (left) and before he was jailed (right) in 1976 for murdering a bouncer Decades later, he left Warren Hill yesterday telling the Camden New Journal he 'deeply regretted the crime' saying it 'happened in a moment of madness.' He told the paper: 'I have served my sentence with remorse and am thankful the Parole Board have come to the decision that I should now be released.' The publication reported that as he walked to the gates of the prison he was met with applause by other inmates. Six years ago he made a daring escape from Pentonville prison in north London using a makeshift rope to scale the walls on the Victorian-built jail. Six years ago Mr Massey escaped from Pentonville Prison (pictured) by using a makeshift rope and scaling the walls He wanted to see his mother May, who had Alzheimers disease on her deathbed after he learned she was calling out his name. Masseys first escape was in 1994 during a home visit when he calmly walked out of a social club while his guards played pool and drank. He fled to the Costa Del Sol and spent three years on the run before being caught and returned to Britain. In 2007 he was released on parole but was told he must live in South London and could not stay with his family. But he broke the conditions by travelling to stay with his father, Jack, 82, who was dying at the Royal Free Hospital, in North London. The Cricketers pub in Hackney, east London where John Massey, now 64, shot dead a bouncer Charlie Higgins, 36, in 1975 The scene in 1975, following the shotgun murder of Charlie Higgins, 36, which happened after he was thrown out of the pub for fighting Massey said at time time: My dad had travelled the length and breadth of this country a thousand times in 30 years in order to visit me in various god-forsaken and dingy prisons. I could not fail him or my mother. To do so would have buckled my shoulders with guilt of unspeakable things to come. In 2010 he absconded from Ford open prison in West Sussex after being refused permission to visit his terminally ill sister Carol, who was in the same hospital where his father died. She died two weeks later but rather than hand himself in Massey went to live with his mother and was not caught for ten months. Massey was sentenced to life in 1976 for shooting bouncer Higgins, 36, with a sawn-off shotgun after being thrown out of an East London pub for fighting. He was also convicted of attempting to shoot a policeman dead after being chased in his Aston Martin getaway car. His daring escape six years ago he was suspected of hiding in the roof of the gym as other inmates returned to their cells. He then used a makeshift rope believed to have been strung together out of sheets and a pair of heavy duty gloves to scale the high prison wall. Guards monitoring CCTV cameras saw the rope and raced to the perimeter wall but were too late. They suspect he was assisted by someone outside. John Turner, Mr Massey's solicitor told the Camden New Journal that his release is 'long overdue'. He said his release from prison was delayed by the parole board because of 'loyalty towards a family who stood by him' and said they were decisions 'any loving son or brother would have made.' He insisted his client was not a danger to the public, saying he was 'thrilled that he has been allowed to return home.' Who are Britain's longest-serving inmates? The death of Moors Murderer Ian Brady in May last year brought to a close his distinction of being the longest-serving detained criminal. The evil child killer, who died from cancer in a Liverpool hospital, was locked up for 51 years following his conviction in 1966. He became Britain longest serving detainee after the death of John Straffen in 2007, at the age of 77, with the serial killer spending more than 50 years in jail. There are still more than 60 others locked up who will never enjoy freedom again. Now John Massey has been released at nearly 43 years, we look here at some of Britain's other longest-serving criminals... Robert Maudsley Detained since 1973 Robert Maudsley garroted a man who had hired him as a rent boy and is considered one of the most dangerous inmates in Britain today. He has been detained since 1973. Infamously known as 'Hannibal the Cannibal', the 63-year-old from Liverpool murdered his first victim John Farrell in 1973 while working as a rent boy. It was determined that Maudsley was not fit to stand trial and he was sent to Broadmoor psychiatric hospital. Robert Maudsley has been detained since 1973 after he garrotted a man who had hired him as a rent boy. He is considered one of the most dangerous inmates in Britain today Maudsley claimed the reason he killed Farrell was that the labourer had shown him images of children he had previously abused. However, in 1977, while in Broadmoor, Maudsley and a second inmate took a paedophile hostage and killed him over the course of nine hours. When prison officers managed to get into the cell, they found the victim with a spoon stuck in his skull. It led to Maudsley being nicknamed 'The Cannibal Killer' as it was rumoured he ate his victim's brain. He is considered so dangerous that he spends his time in solitary confinement and exercises one hour a day in the company of six prison guards. Advertisement Charles Bronson First jailed in 1974 Born Michael Gordon Peterson, he was first jailed in 1974, aged 22, for an armed robbery on a post office and his jail time has been repeatedly extended for various crimes including taking prisoners hostage. The notorious prisoner and former bare-knuckle boxer changed his name to Charles Bronson in 1989. He has convictions for wounding, criminal damage, GBH, false imprisonment, blackmail and threatening to kill - and has taken hostages in 10 prison sieges, attacked at least 20 prison officers and caused 500,000 in damage in rooftop protests. Over the years, his outbursts have seen him moved 150 times. During a siege at Belmarsh in 1997, he was jailed for a further seven years after taking three prisoners hostage. Charles Bronson has convictions for wounding, criminal damage, GBH, false imprisonment, blackmail and threatening to kill On that occasion, Bronson demanded a helicopter so he could fly to Cuba and compare his beard with Fidel Castro's. He also asked for some ice cream and a cheese sandwich in case he got hungry on the flight - as well as an axe and sub-machineguns. He was given a life sentence in 1999 for holding a prison art teacher hostage for 44 hours for criticising some of his sketches. He once boasted: 'I've had more hostages than Saddam Hussein' and reportedly ate a budgie after he became annoyed by its singing. In 2014, he had two years added to his sentence after attacking a prison governor at HMP Woodhill. Bronson has spent much of his time in jail in solitary confinement due to his history of violence. Advertisement John Childs Hitman John Childs was convicted of six contract killings during the mid-1970s Jailed in 1979 Ruthless hitman John Childs was convicted of six contract killings during the mid-1970s after he had been dismissed from the Army for burglary. Among those he killed was 10-year-old Terry Brett, who was murdered to prevent him from telling police that he had witnessed him killing his father George. Childs also murdered Terence Eve, Robert Brown, Frederick Sherwood and Ronald Andrews. The men were shot or strangled with Sherwood killed over a 7,000 debt. Their remains have never been found as Childs dismembered their bodies and burnt them. After being convicted in 1979 of the six murders, Childs turned Queen's evidence to name those who had hired him to carry out the contract killings. Advertisement Peter Sutcliffe Jailed in 1981 Ex-lorry driver Sutcliffe, better known as 'The Yorkshire Ripper', was responsible for the murder of 13 women during a terrifying five-year killing spree Better known as 'The Yorkshire Ripper', the former lorry driver was responsible for the murder of 13 women during a terrifying five-year killing spree. He is currently serving 20 concurrent life sentences having been jailed in 1981. Now aged 70, and in failing health, he has been told he will never leave prison. During the late 1970s, Yorkshire was gripped by a wave of terror with women being randomly attacked and killed. The killings led to what was then the biggest police investigation in British history as mutilated bodies of women, mostly prostitutes, began to mount up. Sutcliffe had attacked three women with a knife and hammer before claiming his first victim Wilma McCann in October 1975. The mother-of-four was struck twice in the head with a hammer and stabbed 15 times with a knife. Such was the savagery of the attack and later murders that the man being hunted by West Yorkshire police became known as 'The Yorkshire Ripper' because of similarities to the Victorian era serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. Sutcliffe's killing spree saw two women die in 1976 and the following year a further three. The lorry driver, who would later claim at his trial that he heard voices telling him to kill, was questioned by police during their mammoth investigation but released. Others to die included 19-year-old building society clerk Josephine Whittaker and 20-year-old student Barbara Leach. Those woman who survived his hammer and knife attacks were left traumatised for the rest of their lives. Some were able to give police description of their attacker but not enough information for detectives to stop his murders. It wasn't until 1981 when he was pulled over by police and found to be with a prostitute in a car with false number plates that he was considered a suspect. After two days of questioning, he confessed to being the Ripper. Following a two-week trial at the Old Bailey, Sutcliffe was convicted of 13 murders and seven attempted murders. He was jailed for life in May 1981. Two years into his sentence, he was attacked by another prisoner and in a 1997 attack lost an eye. Sutcliffe spent time in Broadmoor Hospital for the criminally insane but has since been returned to a normal prison. An appeal against his 'life means life' sentence was rejected in 2010 and he was told he will die behind bars. Advertisement The parents of a four-month-old boy who tragically died in his sleep, have shared their anguish over the sudden death. Baby Lucas died unexpectedly in his sleep on Monday, leaving his parents Jess and Josh devastated. Taking to social media this week, the young Gold Coast parents wrote a heart-wrenching tribute to their youngest son. Young parents have shared their anguish over the sudden death of their four-month-old son Lucas (pictured) Lucas died unexpectedly in his sleep on Monday, leaving his parents Jess and Josh devastated (Jess with Lucas and his older brother Ollie) 'This pain will never go away and I do not wish it upon anyone. Lucas is the absolute most amazing thing to ever happen to me and Jess and this numbness of emotions is deafening,' Josh said. 'Lucas our sweet darling, I believe you will always be with us in spirit. And we will never ever ever forget you,' Jess added. 'The feeling of losing a child is absolutely unbearable and you never think it will happen to you, nothing can compare. 'We are positive you will be here with us forever and we feel so lucky we got to be your mummy and daddy. Our hearts are truly broken.' 'This pain will never go away and I do not wish it upon anyone. Lucas is the absolute most amazing thing to ever happen to me and Jess and this numbness of emotions is deafening,' Josh said (pictured with his two sons Ollie and Lucas) 'Lucas our sweet darling, I believe you will always be with us in spirit. And we will never ever ever forget you,' Jess said (Jess, Josh and Lucas pictured in happier times) Baby Lucas is hugged by his big brother, Ollie, who is five-years-old Close friend of the couple, Tameka Anderson, started a GoFundMe page in the hope to help the young parents through the difficult period. Ms Anderson said she hoped to raise $5,000 for the couple, who share five-year-old son, Ollie. 'Everyone has been absolutely devastated and in disbelief about what has happened but no one more than his amazing parents Jess and Josh,' she said. 'Being young parents, nothing prepares you for this and there is no handbook on how to cope with the grief of losing your baby.' Jess is pictured with Lucas as a newborn - four months before his sudden passing With the money raised, Ms Anderson said she hoped to support Jess and Josh with funeral costs, time off work to grieve and support their five-year-old son. Within one day of being created, the page received $10,000 in donations. By Thursday, the community chipped in to raise more than $15,000. Ms Anderson said the support for her grieving friends was 'overwhelming, in the most amazing way'. 'Usually you hear about all the bad things people are doing, but when something tragic like this happens it shows how the community can come together and make a real difference,' she said. The young parents created a beautiful shrine to their youngest son, who tragically died on Monday The young Gold Coast family is preparing to farewell little Lucas at a funeral service on Friday She said the young family was extremely grateful to the Gold Coast community and everyone who pitched in. Despite their heartbreak, Ms Anderson said her friends were savouring their memories with little Lucas and celebrating his short life. 'Lucas was taken far too early, but never, ever forgotten,' she said. Lucas will be farewelled in an intimate funeral service on the Gold Coast on Friday. John Bercow faced the threat of a Commons revolt last night after fresh allegations emerged about his intolerable rudeness and legendary rages. The Speaker was told he would provoke civil unrest in the House unless he quit within 49 days having previously insisted he would only serve a maximum of nine years. A senior backbencher said all hell would break loose if Mr Bercow did not honour the pledge, which he made upon his election. The deadline comes up on June 22. The ultimatum came as one of Parliaments most senior officials accused the Speaker of legendary, objectionable behaviour that made him unworthy of public office. The Commons Speaker signalled defiance today as he was challenged by MPs over Angus Sinclair's claim that he was the victim of angry outbursts, foul-mouthed tirades and mimicry Former Black Rod David Leakey (pictured left with Mr Bercow last year) said the Speaker's tendency to fly into a rage was 'legendary' and he 'terrified' staff David Leakey, who retired in 2017 after seven years as Black Rod, said in an interview that people were terrified of the Speaker. His comments increase the pressure on Mr Bercow, who is already facing bullying allegations from two former members of his office staff, which he strenuously denies. Mr Bercow stood for election as Speaker on June 22, 2009 after predecessor Michael Martin was forced to resign in the wake of the expenses scandal. In his manifesto, he wrote: As a matter of principle, I believe strongly that the post of Speaker should not be a job for life. If you do me the honour of electing me, I will serve for no longer than two full Parliaments and, in any event, for no more than nine years in total. Any Speaker should be able to make a mark in that time and his or her successor should then be elected by experienced MPs in the existing Parliament before a general election. Angus Sinclair, who said he was repeatedly undermined by Mr Bercow, finding himself the victim of angry outbursts, foul-mouthed tirades and mimicry Last night one senior backbencher, a former minister, told the Mail: He clearly needs to stand down before June 22. He needs to make his announcement now, and if he doesnt all hells going to break loose. There will be civil unrest in the chamber. Members of Parliament are counting down the days. John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, with his wife Sally in London Former Tory MP Rob Wilson said time is almost up for Mr Bercow. He would be wise to leave now, as the allegations and evidence are expanding, he said. Soon, leaving may no longer be his decision. In his interview with the website PoliticsHome, Mr Leakey said: His explosive and intemperate behaviour is legendary, objectionable and unworthy of someone in such public office. There were lots of people who were, frankly, terrified of the Speaker. The former Black Rod accused Mr Bercow of making intolerable personal insults and said the bullying claims risk bringing Parliament into disrepute. For Parliament not to investigate rigorously sets a poor example, he said. This can no longer be simply swept under the carpet. He has spoken out strongly against the culture of bullying in Parliament, and this just seems to reek of hypocrisy. A spokesman for Mr Bercow said: Mr Speaker refutes all the allegations levelled by Mr Leakey. John Bercow and David Leakey had fundamental disagreements in 2011 and 2012, but interacted adequately after that. Theresa May's official spokesman outlined a series of ways Mr Bercow's conduct can be probed. The PM is pictured in Westminster with husband Philip voting in local elections today Mr Bercow signalled defiance yesterday after the allegations against him were raised in the House of Commons Mr Bercow is already facing calls to quit following bullying allegations from former private secretaries Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms. Mr Sinclair left his post in 2010 after receiving a payment of 86,250 and signing a gagging order an order he broke on Tuesday night by speaking to Newsnight. He claimed he was the victim of angry outbursts, foul- mouthed tirades and mimicry from Mr Bercow. Dame Laura Cox QC is already conducting an inquiry into claims of bullying by MPs. But its remit does not extend to looking at historical cases, including allegations against Mr Bercow. A spokesman for the Speakers office said last night: The Speaker was elected in 2017 for the course of the Parliament. In the event he has anything to say on his future plans, he will make an announcement to the House first. n The Lords could defy John Bercow and give Donald Trump the honour of a speech at Parliament when the president visits Britain. The Speaker has vowed to deny Mr Trump permission to give a speech in Westminster Hall but peers are urging the Lord Speaker, Lord Fowler, to offer the use of the Royal Gallery in the Lords either during Mr Trumps working trip in July or on a future State visit. A 16-year-old gang-rape victim has killed herself after being attacked by eight men in India on Sunday. She was one of two teenagers who were gang-raped in separate incidents in the country over the past four days, highlighting a rape epidemic in India that has shown no sign of abating despite tougher penalties being introduced last month. The girl was raped by eight men in the Nuh district of the northern state of Haryana, senior police official Nazneen Bhasin said. On Tuesday, a 19-year-old woman was raped by five men, including the driver of an autorickshaw she hailed in another district of the same state. The driver duped the woman into believing that she had missed her bus and offered to drop her off at another bus depot, said a police spokesman, Ravindra Kumar. People participate in a candlelight vigil as they protest against the rape of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua near Jammu, and a teenager in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh state, in Bengaluru, India, in April She was then taken to a deserted area near Gurugram town and raped by the driver and four accomplices who were waiting there. The police have made no arrests in relation to either attack. 'A case of gang-rape has been registered after the medical examination of the victim confirmed the same. The matter is under investigation,' Kumar said. Gurugram, on the southwest outskirts of New Delhi, is a rapidly expanding satellite town, where scores of international companies have set up offices due to its role as an industrial, financial and technology hub. Media reports said the first of the two victims was abducted from her home when she was alone, and raped by men from her village. The victim hung herself on Monday and the police have registered a case of rape, kidnapping and abetment of suicide. The gang-rapes come less than a month after India approved the death penalty for the rape of girls younger than 12, and increased the prison term for the rape of older girls and women following nationwide disgust over a particularly gruesome rape and murder of a Muslim girl in Jammu and Kashmir state. Registered cases of sexual violence have been steadily rising despite the national outrage that followed the fatal gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012. Amid the wave of anger at that time, the government promised to speed up rape trials, introduce harsher penalties, including the death sentence in extreme cases, and introduced a law against stalking. But statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60 per cent to about 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40 per cent of them. Vanessa Trump's family came into millions last year thanks to her late father's investment in Rao's marinara. On Thursday, the New York Post reported that Vanessa's late father Charles Haydon, invested $1million when a company was formed in 1992 to sell the famous red sauce from legendary New York City Italian restaurant Rao's. Rao's Specialty Foods later expanded to sell multiple sauces and olive oils around the world. Page Six reports that Vanessa Trump's (left) family came into millions last year thanks to an investment in Rao's marinara sauce (right) It was sold last year to a corporate firm for $415million, providing Vanessa's family with nearly $125million. The windfall was so great that Vanessa's mother Bonnie bought Roger Ailes' old Fifth Avenue penthouse last year for $6.4million in cash. It's unclear how much Vanessa herself received in the deal, or whether she will get that inheritance on the death of her mother, 71, but sources previously claimed the newfound financial security prompted her to finally file for divorce from Don Jr, who has been accused of having an affair with former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day. Her family has never struggled. Vanessa's father was a prominent attorney who had clients including Marilyn Monroe, and she grew up in an Upper East Side townhouse and attended private school. Vanessa's late father invested $1million in Rao's Specialty Foods which was founded in 1992 to sell the marinara from NYC's famed Rao's eatery (above) Vanessa's father, Charles Haydon was a Manhattan lawyer whose clients included Marilyn Monroe. Haydon died in February 2005 and left an estate valued at $2.5million to his wife Bonnie Haydon (far left and right), Vanessa's mother Vanessa is currently in the process of divorcing her husband of 12 years, Donald Trump Jr. The couple are pictured with their five children above Don Jr, who has been accused of having an affair with former Danity Kane singer Aubrey O'Day (pictured), who met on the set of the Celebrity Apprentice in 2011 But the inheritance could impact child support payments for her soon-to-be ex-husband Donald Trump Jr. While the divorce is uncontested, last week Trump's lawyers filed court papers asking to know Vanessa's personal wealth. Lawyers from both sides are currently in negotiations over the custody of the couple's five young children, Donald Trump III, Chloe, Kai, Tristan and Spencer. Video has shown the chaotic scenes that unfolded when two gangs opened fire on each other in a shootout, during which an aide to Andrew Cuomo was killed by a stray bullet. The trial of four men accused of killing Carey Gabay during the Caribbean J'Ouvert Festival in Brooklyn, was shown the footage by NYPD detective Raymond Wayne, the New York Post reported. The footage, taken from a camera in doorway, shows large number of panic stricken revelers fleeing down the street as the shots rang out, with some trying to get through the door to safety. The footage shows the J'Ouvert Festival revellers fleeing the gunfire Many of the panic stricken by-standers tried to make it into a building to escape the gun battle Carey Gabay, an aide to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, was caught up in the shooting and was hit by a stray bullet Gabay was walking down the road with his wife and brother when he was killed The footage was shown at the beginning of the trial of men accused of killing Gabay Four men are facing charges including murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the case of Carey Gabay Gabay was a Harvard-educated lawyer who was raised in public housing in the Bronx by Jamaican immigrant parents. The 43-year-old was named first deputy counsel for New York's economic development agency in January 2015, prior to which held the position of assistant counsel and worked for the governor since 2011. Last year, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson indicted Tyshawn Crawford, Keith Luncheon, Micah Alleyne, Stanley Elianor and Kenny Bazile on a number of charges including murder and criminal possession of a weapon in the case of Carey Gabay. Crawford agreed to a plea deal and is expected to testify against the other four, ABC7 recently reported. Governor Cuomo called Gabay 'an outstanding public servant' after the shooting. Carey Gabay was 43 when he was killed. He was described as an 'outstanding public servant' as well as a 'beautiful' and 'sweet' man by Gov. Cuomo Gabay's widow Trenelle, pictured with him, is eight months pregnant with his child three years after his death 'This was a beautiful man, a sweet man, a man who was giving back to his community, a gentleman, who was involved in nothing, just walking down the street with his brother, wife,' Cuomo said. 'He was the lawyer who rewrote the rent laws that protected so many tenants. It's a reminder that the violence has to stop.' Earlier this year it emerged his widow Trenelle is eight months pregnant with his child, three years after his death. Doctors were able to take sperm from Carey before he died, and she was artificially inseminated last year. She is planning to name her baby Carey, after his father. Trenelle has started the Carey Gabay Foundation in his name which she hopes will create awareness about gun violence. Advertisement Preparations have begun in earnest for the second Royal event of the summer as former army captain Prince Harry prepares to tie the knot with American actress Meghan Markle. Royal excitement hit fever pitch in April with the announcement of the Kate Middleton's third child - His Royal Highness Prince Louis Arthur Charles of Cambridge - born on the 23rd at St Mary's Hospital, in London. And now anticipation is expected to ramp up again as Harry and Ms Markle's May 19 wedding at Windsor Castle draws near - with family, friends, dignitaries and a host of celebrities expected to be in attendance. Heartwarming pictures show residents in the historical market town of Windsor getting into the full spirit of the event with pubs decorating their windows with royal memorabilia, bunting and Union Jacks adorning the walls. Preparations have begun in earnest for the second Royal event of the summer as Prince Harry prepares to tie the knot with actress Meghan Markle. Heartwarming pictures show residents in the historical market town of Windsor getting into the full spirit of the event with pubs decorating their windows with royal memorabilia, bunting and Union Jacks adorning the walls A gift shop selling trinkets dedicated to all things royal has a life size cutout of the happy couple peeking out from the front door welcoming customers in A gift shop selling trinkets dedicated to all things royal has a life size cut-out of the happy couple peeking out from behind the front door welcoming customers inside. Bunting has been hung from turret to turret with Union Jacks waving in the breeze ahead of an expected heatwave throughout May, delivering what royal fans hope will be a perfect spring wedding for the 33-year-old prince. While locals have been spotted soaking up the sun outside pubs adorned with royal memorabilia, including one with a cut-out of Harry and Meghan peering out through a top window looking down on the happy revellers. Bunting has been hung from turret to turret with Union Jacks waving in the breeze ahead of an expected heatwave throughout May, delivering what royal fans hope will be a perfect spring wedding for the 33-year-old prince While locals have been spotted soaking up the sun outside pubs adorned with royal memorabilia, including one with a cutout of Harry and Meghan peering out through a top window looking down on their eager subjects The stunning 11th century castle has been occupied by royals since the time of Henry I is the setting for the much anticipated wedding The stunning 11th century castle has been occupied by royals since the time of Henry I and houses St. George's Chapel where the ceremony will take place. Windsor Castle remains the oldest occupied castle in Europe and withstood the English Civil War from 1642, a siege in the First Barons' War of 1215 and was rebuilt in 1660 by Charles II following its damage and decay. Cups, plates and cutlery commemorating the royal event have gone on sale around Windsor, with one shop just feet from the historical castle even offering a book dedicated to the future husband and wife's romance. Windsor Castle remains the oldest occupied castle in Europe and withstood the English Civil War from 1642, a siege in the First Barons' War of 1215 and was rebuilt in 1660 by Charles II following its damage and decay Cups, plates and cutlery commemorating the royal event have gone on sale around Windsor, with one shop just feet from the historical castle even offering a book dedicated to the future husband and wife's romance Right royal bargain! Photographs, key rings and pens also make for perfect gifts for royal fans on-the-go who wants to remember the special day days, months and even years after Prince Harry and Meghan's nuptials While photographs, key rings and pens also make for perfect gifts for royal fans on-the-go who wants to remember the special day days, months and even years after Prince Harry and Meghans nuptials. In one rib tickling picture, an unsuspecting nun passes a minature cutout of the couple staring out at her from a gift shop window. Perfectly mowed grass and well trimmed trees as been given the royal treatment ahead of an expected influx of tourists in their thousands descending on the town to join in the jubilation. In one rib tickling picture, an unsuspecting nun passes a minature cutout of the couple staring out at her from a gift shop window Perfectly mowed grass and well trimmed trees as been given the royal treatment ahead of an expected influx of tourists in their thousands descending on the town to join in jubilation Cardboard-bride: Life size cutouts of Prince Harry and his fiance, US actress Meghan Markle are displayed in a gift shop in Windsor, England Meanwhile signs have also been put up advising Great Western Railway passengers of queuing at stations on the day, while car parks are being laid in fields and repairs to roads on the procession route have been made. Royal wedding revellers will face airport-style security checks while metal barriers to deter vehicle attacks will be in place around Windsor for the big day on May 19 as tens of thousands of spectators flock to the town. Other security measures include a huge network of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology and CCTV alongside hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers to prevent the use of cars or vans in an attack. Meanwhile signs have also been put up advising Great Western Railway passengers of queuing at stations on the day, while car parks are being laid in fields and repairs to roads on the procession route have been made Royal wedding revellers will face airport-style security checks while metal barriers to deter vehicle attacks will be in place around Windsor for the big day on May 19 as tens of thousands of spectators flock to the town Other security measures include a huge network of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology and CCTV alongside hostile vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers to prevent the use of cars or vans in an attack An increased police presence is being built up in Windsor, with police officers, both armed and unarmed, search dogs, the mounted section, the roads policing unit and the National Police Air Service joining forces. The couple are inviting more than 2,000 lucky members of the public into the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch their arrival on their wedding day. Those allowed into the castle's grounds will include 1,200 people 'who have served their communities', to be picked by the Queen's representatives around the UK. An increased police presence is being built up in Windsor, with police officers, both armed and unarmed, search dogs, the mounted section, the roads policing unit and the National Police Air Service joining forces The couple are inviting more than 2,000 lucky members of the public into the grounds of Windsor Castle to watch their arrival on their wedding day. Those allowed into the castle's grounds will include 1,200 people 'who have served their communities', to be picked by the Queen's representatives around the UK The guests will also include 200 people from charities and organisations supported by Harry and Meghan, it was announced today. Workers at some of those charities today became the first people to discover they would be attending the eagerly-anticipated event. The guests will also include 200 people from charities and organisations supported by Harry and Meghan, it was announced today. Workers at some of those charities today became the first people to discover they would be attending the eagerly-anticipated event. Around 100 pupils from two local schools, 610 Windsor Castle community members and 530 members of the Royal Household will also be present in the grounds of the Castle. Following the couple's ceremony on May 19, the husband and wife will then embark on a carriage procession around the Berkshire town, cheered by residents and visitors, beforea reception at St George's Hall Palace aides have previously said that the prince and Ms Markle's wedding will 'reflect their characters and personalities' and be a moment of 'fun and joy' Prince George and Princess Charlotte are likely to take on the roles of pageboy and bridesmaid. The royal family are paying for the wedding, including the church service, the music, the flowers and the reception. But the security costs for the high-profile event are being covered by the state Following the couple's ceremony on May 19, the husband and wife will then embark on a carriage procession around the Berkshire town, cheered by residents and visitors, beforea reception at St George's Hall. Palace aides have previously said that the prince and Ms Markle's wedding will 'reflect their characters and personalities' and be a moment of 'fun and joy'. The Queen will attend, as will the rest of the royal family, along with Ms Markle's parents Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland. Prince George and Princess Charlotte are likely to take on the roles of pageboy and bridesmaid. The royal family are paying for the wedding, including the church service, the music, the flowers and the reception. But the security costs for the high-profile event are being covered by the state An affluent Liberal Party backbencher who claimed she could live on the minimum $40-a-day government welfare allowance owns six properties. Julie Banks's parliamentary register of interests shows she owns six properties across Victoria, one of which is a $3.4 million mansion in Melbourne's east. A breakdown of her multimillion-dollar property portfolio reveals she owns four homes with her husband, while two are investments she shares with her brother. Ms Banks, who holds the marginal Melbourne seat of Chisholm, angered welfare recipients when she said existing Newstart and Youth Allowance payments were adequate for the the unemployed. Liberal Party MP Julia Banks has faced a storm of criticism over comments she made regarding welfare payments in Australia 'I could live on 40 bucks a day knowing that the Government is supporting me with Newstart looking for employment,' she said. Her statement contradicted economist Chris Richardson's assertion the $539 a fortnight unemployment benefit was 'unnecessarily cruel', and should be raised by $50 a week, ABC News reports. Ms Banks said such a suggestion amounted to 'socialism', and it was possible to live on $40 a day - prompting talkback listeners to accuse her of being 'insulting' and 'out of touch'. 'I am certainly not,' she responded. 'I speak to constituents every day and all I can say is the dignity of having a job and finding work is what our policy is about.' Ms Banks (pictured: left) declared that she would be able to live on welfare payments $40 a day. The political backbencher currently makes $199,040 a year One welfare recipient who's been living on a $400 a fortnight Youth Allowance for six years is challenging Ms Banks to put her money where her mouth is take up the same daily budget Coming from a Liberal MP whose base salary is $199,040, Julia Banks' opinions offered little solace for those who have to struggle with the-day-to-day realities of life on the dole. Sherri Prendergast, 22, has been living on a $400 a fortnight Youth Allowance for six years, and is challenging Ms Banks to put her money where her mouth is take up the same daily budget. 'It kind of makes me wonder when was the last time that she was living off $400 a fortnight,' she said. 'If you make more money than what people on Newstart are getting, I'd challenge people to do it, see what it feels like. 'If you've never had to worry about whether or not you can get something as simple as toilet paper, then you're not going to know what it's like.' Ms Banks (pictured: right) disputes accusations that she is 'ignorant' and 'out of touch', saying that 'I speak to constituents every day and all I can say is the dignity of having a job and finding work is what our policy is about' Ms Banks, who was born and raised in Melbourne to Greek migrant parents, has previously held prestigious roles as a lawyer and senior executive director at Kraft Foods and pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. She has been a federal member of parliament since 2016 when she won the marginal seat of Chisholm off Labor, following the retirement of former speaker Anna Burke. She was the only Liberal candidate to win a seat off Labor, giving Malcolm Turnbull's government its one-seat majority at the last federal election. Surgeons have stitched fish scales to the face of a pony horrifically scarred in a suspected acid attack in a 'world first' operation. Cameras caught the moment eight-month old Cinders underwent the three hour skin graft procedure. A dressing made from the skin of a Tilapia fish was used to treat the burns and regenerate fresh skin as it was applied during the pioneering operation. The foal had been dumped in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, before being taken to the Rainbow Equine Hospital in North Yorkshire. Scroll down for video Cameras caught the moment eight-month old Cinders underwent the three hour skin graft procedure A dressing made from the skin of a Tilapia fish was used to treat the burns and regenerate fresh skin A US vet had to travel from California to Britain to perform the surgery after the RSPCA had discovered the foal on April 25. Jamie Peyton, who flew over from the University of California in Davis, had developed the process of using fish-skin grafts to treat animals burnt in wildfires. A team of vets worked on Cinders wounds and cleaned them before applying the fish skin dressing to her face. Vet David Rendle worked with Ms Peyton, and Ryckie Wade, a plastic surgeon at the burns unit at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. A team of vets worked on Cinders wounds and cleaned them before applying the fish skin dressing to her face The foal was left unable to open an eye after being attacked with acid and dumped in a yard Mr Rendle from the equine hospital said fish skin was used because it is a good source of collagen and retains moisture well. He said: 'Animals that have been treated with fish skin dressings before seem to be far more comfortable after these dressings have been applied. 'We want to change Cinders' dressings as infrequently as possible to spare her the pain of doing so and these dressings are likely to last longer than anything else. 'Extraordinary injuries called for extraordinary treatments.' Vet David Rendle (left) speaking on ITV's This Morning about the pioneering procedure The horse, affectionately named 'Cinders' by her rescuers after her nightmare ordeal, sustained injuries that left her skin blistered She was discovered in a terrible condition in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, by a member of the public Speaking on ITV's This Morning today Mr Rendle said: 'None of us can come up with an explanation as to how those [injuries] could have occurred without something being thrown in her face. Why is the skin of the Tilapia fish used to treat burns? The skin of the freshwater fish contains collagen proteins that are essential for scarring. It can also withstand more tension than human skin and still maintains it structure through moisture. The skin, which has been used in the US to treat animal burn victims, has also been used on humans in Brazil. Before it is used, scientists remove its scales, muscle tissue, toxins and get rid of its distinct smell. It is then stretched and laminated before being stored in refrigerated banks in strips for up to two years. The result is something similar to human skin, which remains flexible and easy to mould around a wound. After the wound begins to heal the scaly skin is then removed using petroleum jelly to lift, slide and ease the dressing away. Advertisement He added: 'There wasnt much evidence on how to treat these injuries, so we started talking to colleagues over seas and all of a sudden this team appeared and we were performing this pretty pioneering surgery.' Cinders has been receiving round the clock care since being found with severe burns running from her eyes to the tip of her nose Her cause has been helped after more than 14,000 was raised on a Justgiving page for the pony - smashing the original target of 3,000. Mr Rendle said he was confident the pony would not be left with any long-term ill effects. Adding: 'She has a long road ahead but she seems untroubled by her ordeal.' On the Justgiving site the team posted: 'The team at Rainbow Equine Hospital treated her with pain relief and antibiotics last night and this morning her face was cleaned and the areas of dead skin carefully removed to reduce the risk of infection. 'She was anaemic due to the ongoing blood loss and a heavy burden of skin of intestinal parasites. 'A blood transfusion was given to increase levels of blood cells and proteins that are vital for healing. 'Once the treatment had started, she started to eat and become much brighter stronger.' A restaurant manager lost his consciousness after seeing a customer brought along a pet python to have dinner in east China. A female customer came in the pizza restaurant with a python in her arms and sat down at the sofa seats. Other diners and staff members had to call for emergency services to send the manager to a hospital. A woman brought her pet python to a pizza restaurant for dinner in Yangzhou, China (left). She played with her snake while waiting to make an order (right) The freak incident happened at Brier Pizza in Yangzhou of Jiangsu Province at night on May 1. Mobile phone footage uploaded on Pear Video captures a python sitting on a dining table and facing towards its owner. The unnamed woman can be seen playing with her pet as she calmly puts her hands out to let the python glides towards her. 'I have to record this to show that this is not fake. The snake is real, you see?' said the woman who filmed the video. It's said the male shop manager passed out when he tried to get the order from the woman. Other restaurant staff tried to wake him up but he failed to respond. It's reported that the restaurant manager passed out when he saw a python lying free on the dining table (left). Restaurant staff called for emergency services to take him to hospital (right) He was put on a stretcher and taken on to an ambulance when the paramedics arrived. 'All his vitals are normal, it seems that he might have suffered some shock,' said a doctor. The manager gained his consciousness when his family members came to visit. Advertisement A military plane that plummeted onto a Georgia highway on Wednesday was on its final flight after more than 60 years of service, it has been revealed along with the identities of the nine crew who died. The ageing C-130 Hercules, part of Puerto Rico's National Guard fleet that assisted with relief efforts after Hurricane Irma, was being flown for retirement in Arizona when it nosedived next to Port Wentworth at 11.30am. The pilot of the plane - which had received 'days' of maintenance before the crash - was identified as Major Jose Rafael Roman, 43, who hails from the coastal town of Manati along Puerto Rico's north coast. The mayor of that town, Jose Sanchez, said Roman had two young boys and his wife is five months pregnant with a girl. 'The town is in mourning,' Sanchez said. 'My condolences to all Puerto Rican families.' Roman's childhood friend said he had raised concerns about the age of the planes the National Guard were using. 'He told me, 'We're using the oldest planes of the entire United States of America,'' Narvaez recalled. The serviceman worked at a company that manufactured aluminum windows before joining the National Guard in the mid-2000s after graduating as a pilot in Memphis, Tennessee. He stayed for 18 years. Jeremy Roman, his pilot's youngest son, said in a statement that he was extremely proud of his father: 'You're a hero, and you're my hero, and I want everyone to know I'm very proud of you.' The other eight victims, who were all from Puerto Rico, have now been officially named as David Albandoz, Carlos Perez Serra, Jan Paravisini, Jean Audriffred, Victor Colon, Mario Brana, Eric Circuns and Roberto Espada. Scroll down for videos The pilot of the plane, Major Jose Rafael Roman, 43, who hails from the coastal town of Manati along Puerto Rico's north coast, is pictured along with unidentified crewmembers on another flight Roberto Espada and Victor Colon were also named as crewmembers of the C-130 Hercules that crashed on Wednesday The co-pilot was identified as David Albandoz (left) and the loadmaster as Eric Circuns. All the victims' families have been informed Mechanic Jan Paravisini (left, with an unidentified woman) and flight engineer Mario Brana were also named as victims by the National Guard Pilot of the doomed plane Jose Roman sits in the cockpit of a stunt plane at an airfield in this undated photo taken from social media Puerto Rico National Guard members Victor Colon and and flight engineer Mario Brana are pictured in undated photos sourced online Crewmember Roberto Espada is pictured left cutting an unknown National Guard recruit's hair on Puerto Rico First Lt. David Albandoz, the co-pilot, had served for 16 years and was survived by his wife and daughter. Navigator Maj. Carlos Perez Serra, from Canovanas, had been with the military for 23 years and had a wife, two sons and daughter. The mechanic, Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini, was from the same town and had two daughters and a son. He had served for 21 years. Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred, from Carolina, had a wife and two sons and had been in the military for 16 years, while Master Sgt. Victor Colon, from Santa Isabel had served for 22 years and had a wife and two daughters. The flight engineer, Master Sgt. Mario Brana, was from Bayamon and had been with the National Guard for 17 years. He is survived by his mother and daughter. Meanwhile, the loadmaster Master Sergeant Eric Circuns, from Rio Grande, had been with the military for 31 years and was survived by his wife, two step-daughters and son. Senior Airman Roberto Espada had been with the National Guard for three years. He was from Salinas and is survived by his grandmother. The fiery crash took place moments after the plane took off from Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, where it had received maintenance for 'a number of days'. A military officer said on Thursday that investigators were on the scene, but he offered no preliminary findings 'It's extremely important for us to understand what has happened,' said Col. Pete Boone, vice commander of the 165th Airlift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard. He said investigators would use 'every resource at our disposal to properly identify a cause.' Surveillance footage filmed from a business near the site shows the aircraft nose-diving and disappearing from view behind some buildings before a huge cloud of fire and smoke erupts. Witnesses said the plane's sudden descent suggested its engine had stalled after take-off, although this has not been confirmed by experts. The aircraft was flying to the Aerospace Regeneration and Maintenance Group in Arizona, nicknamed 'the Boneyard', which holds thousands of old military planes and spacecraft. All nine crew members were Puerto Ricans who had helped with hurricane recovery efforts as part of the 198th Fighter Squadron, known as the Bucaneros, which flies out of Base Muniz in the northern coastal city of Carolina. The squadron used the plane to rescue Americans from the British Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma, and later supplied food and water to Puerto Ricans desperate for help after Hurricane Maria. 'Nine crew members died in the accident, but until their families and relatives are notified, we cannot give their names,' said Brigadier General Isabelo Rivera, the assistant general of Puerto Rico. Rivera said it was 'not news' Puerto Rico had the oldest planes on inventory nationwide and said his force often faced delays receiving deliveries of spare parts from the mainland. He claimed the aircraft was more than 60 years old, although his counterpart in Georgia denied this. Terrifying surveillance footage from a local business filmed the National Guard C-130 as it nose-dived on Wednesday not long after taking off from Savannah Hilton Head Airport. Video courtesy of WTOC The ageing C-130 Hercules was on its final flight to a demonissioning centre in Tuscon, Arizona. After it vanished, a plume of fire and smoke wafted up from behind the buildings This was the aftermath on the highway after the plane went down. It was entirely destroyed and debris was scattered across the four lanes and beyond A firetruck sprays foam over the remains of an Air National Guard C-130 cargo plane from Puerto Rico on Wednesday morning The plane took off from Puerto Rico before having repairs at Savannah International Airport. It then crashed 15 miles away after taking off the a decommissioning centre in Tuscon, Arizona President Trump tweeted that he had been briefed on the crash, and sent 'thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard' An investigation into the crash is being carried out by the National Guard Bureau and the Air Force. The National Transportation Safety Board will not take part. 'The explosion, it was indescribable. It covered all 4 lanes and more. There was just a huge fireball of God knows what The huge plane came down so hard that the only part still intact was its tail section, with debris scattered around a 600 feet area. Officials called it 'miraculous' that the plane did not hit any cars. The fuselage appeared to have struck the median, and pieces of its wings, which spanned 132 feet, were littered across lanes in both directions. Motorists who were driving at the time got out of their vehicles to frantically look for survivors afterwards and filmed themselves going through the woods to try to find anyone who had made it out alive. One witness described the 'fireball' explosion which occurred seconds after the plane hit the ground. 'The explosion, it was indescribable. It covered all 4 lanes and more. There was just a huge fireball of God knows what,' the man, who was not named, told Fox 5. Drivers who were heading southbound on the highway watched as the plane crashed in their path then, once it had hit the ground, abandoned their vehicles to look for survivors The plane (pictured on Wednesday) was flying to the Aerospace Regeneration and Maintenance Group in Arizona, nicknamed 'the Boneyard', which holds thousands of old military planes and spacecraft Emergency services are pictured working at Highway 21 in Savannah after the crash on Wednesday. There are not thought to have been any survivors The tail of the C-130 was the only visible part of the plane that was intact following the collision on the busy highway, which amazingly did not harm any motorists C-130 Hercules: Vintage military cargo plane with a 132ft-wingspan built to ferry troops in the Korean War The C-130 Hercules was designed by Lockheed Martin after the United States Air Force asked manufacturers to produce a new plane for transporting troops in the Korean War. The first model entered service on August 23 1954 with a capacity of 92 passengers, 72 combat troops or 64 paratroopers in a 41 feet-long and 9-feet wide interior. The C-130 is a four engine turboprop military transport plane with a payload of 45,000lbs. It is considerable in size at 92ft long and with a wingspan of 132ft. Designed for use on unprepared runways, the C-130 quickly became used for disaster relief and search and rescue by the US and its allies including Britain and Australia. The C-130 plane that crashed on Wednesday had been operating with the Puerto Rican National Guard for more than 60 years. Brigadier General Isabelo Rivera said the island had the oldest inventory of planes in the whole National Guard. The plane was a Lockheed C-130 Hercules which is a four-engine turboprop military plane with a wingspan of 132ft. It is 92ft long and has a payload of 45,000lbs. A file image of a C-130 is shown above Advertisement Chelsea Sinclair, who works at a nearby Parker's, told local newspaper The News Observer: 'It went nose-first down. We were seeing a bunch of black smoke.' Motorist Mark Jones told the Savannah Morning News that he saw the plane hit the road right in front of him, and explode in a huge fireball. 'It didn't look like it nosedived, but it almost looked like it stalled and just went almost flat right there in the middle of the highway,' Jones said. 'I'm still shook up and shaking. My stomach is in knots because I know they're people just like me. I wasn't that far from it and I could have just kept going and it would have been me and we wouldn't be talking right now,' Jones said. 'The explosion, it was indescribable. It covered all 4 lanes and more. There was just a huge fireball of God knows what Huge plumes of black smoke billowed from the crash site on Wednesday morning. The incident happened around 15 miles from Savannah's airport This was the view of the road for motorists as they drove towards the crash. One, whose pictures are shown above, started filming after it had hit the ground Drivers who got out of their cars after watching in horror as the plane crash searched for survivors on the train tracks next to the road. One bystander filmed her partner (right) as the group yelled: 'Is there anybody out there' towards the bushes and woodland The C-130 is a four engine turboprop military transport plane with a payload of 45,000lbs. It is considerable in size at 92ft long and with a wingspan of 132ft. Discussing the crash at a press conference on Wednesday, National Guard Master Sgt. Roger Parsons said: 'Anytime we lose any of our brother and sisters in arms it's devastating. 'It's something we never like to have happen, but were still here to do a job and to continue on with the missions we have to do.' The US military has been rocked by a string of aviation accidents in recent weeks, including an F-16 crash near Las Vegas last month that killed the pilot. Just a day earlier, four crew members died when a Marine Corps helicopter crashed while on a routine training mission in Southern California. And in Djibouti, two incidents triggered the grounding of US military flights. According to the Military Times, accidents involving the military's manned aircraft rose nearly 40 percent from fiscal years 2013 to 2017. The publication found the rise coincided with budget cuts from 2013, which impacted training and readiness, as well as heavy wear and tear on aircraft from back-to-back deployments. The crash happened next to a train track and over a wooded area which caught fire as a result of the burning debris Bok Soon Song, 72, tried to take advantage of dying John Williams when she turned up to his hospital with a registrar and attempted to marry the 66-year-old, a London court heard A dead millionaire's daughter is locked in a bitter legal battle over her father's fortune with a 'domestic servant' who is accused of trying to marry the elderly man on his deathbed. Former waitress Bok Soon Song, 72, tried to take advantage of dying John Williams when she turned up to his hospital with a registrar and attempted to marry the 66-year-old, a London court heard. Miss Song then staked her claim at his 1million Kensal Rise home by changing the locks, and tried to collect 500,000 from his fortune after the engineer died in 2016, it was said. The South Korean immigrant, who came to the UK in the 1980s and speaks little English, said she wasn't just Mr Williams' housekeeper, but also his lover, and wasn't added to his will before he died. But Mr Williams' daughter Deborah John-Woodruffe, 47, has blasted Miss Song's claims, saying she is nothing more than a 'live-in housekeeper' who took advantage of her dying father. Miss Song is suing Mr Williams' estate as well as his three children, claiming she should be granted 'reasonable provision' from his fortune as his co-habiting partner of many years. Mrs John-Woodruffe said the former waitress tried to tie the knot with her father while he was in hospital, only for the ill pensioner to send her and the registrar packing. Miss Song claims to have effectively been Mr Williams' wife, but Mrs John-Woodruffe disputes her claim and is trying to have her thrown out of her father's four-bedroom home. Representing the daughter, barrister Barry Coulter said Miss Song had 'sought to marry' Mr Williams as he lay gravely ill in hospital, going as far as calling in a registrar to perform the ceremony. 'Mrs John-Woodruffe's case is that no part in this was played by the deceased and, when the wedding party arrived, he sent them on their way,' he told Judge Marc Dight. He questioned how, speaking very little English, Miss Song could have ever understood something so complex as a proposal of marriage. Mr Williams' daughter Deborah John-Woodruffe said Miss Song is nothing more than a 'live-in housekeeper' who took advantage of her dying father. Pictured: The father and daughter Miss Song then staked her claim at his 1million Kensal Rise (pictured) home by changing the locks and tried to collect 500,000 from his fortune after the engineer died in 2016, it was said Through an interpreter, Miss Song told the court Mr Williams proposed to her using simple words and gestures, and by pointing at words in a Korean-English phrase book. But when the marriage was due to take place in the hospital, he decided to postpone it and sent the registrar away, she said. The court heard Miss Song moved to the UK from South Korea in 1983 and worked as a waitress and later as a restaurant manager. She met Mr Williams, a Korean food lover and engineer, in the early 1990s through mutual friends and began a long-term relationship with him, she claims. Miss Song's barrister, Paul Infield, told Central London County Court that the pair lived together at Miss Song's flat and then at the disputed house on Chamberlayne Road. However, the 66-year-old died without making a valid will and so his fortune would normally be split between his three children, Mrs John-Woodruffe and her brothers, David and Andrew Williams. As the wedding never went ahead, Miss Song would get nothing and 'be left homeless and destitute' unless granted a share by the court, Mr Infield said. 'They slept in the same bed until he became ill, had sexual relations and were effectively a couple,' Mr Infield said. Mr Williams went as far as calling his bank to get them to change her name on documents to 'Mrs Song Bok Williams', Miss Song's lawyer claimed. Through an interpreter, Miss Song told the court Mr Williams proposed to her using simple words and gestures, and by pointing at words in a Korean-English phrase book. Pictured: Mr Williams and his daughter The elderly man had referred to her as his wife, said the barrister, pointing to a birthday card addressed to 'my wonderful wife from the man who loves you more than words can say'. 'Those are not cards sent by an employer to his housekeeper,' he told Judge Dight. Giving evidence through a Korean interpreter, Miss Song insisted that she and Mr Williams had been a loving couple. 'Whether he was sick or not, we shared our bedroom,' she told the judge. 'Even when he was so sick I couldn't lie next to him, I made sure I was with him in the same room, making my bed on the floor next to his bed because he didn't like to be alone.' She admitted that she can't speak much English, but said she and Mr Williams could understand each other because they had been together so long. Mrs John-Woodruffe's attorney said Miss Song should get nothing from the state and be evicted from the house. There was no evidence she was anything other than a housekeeper, who cooked and cleaned and dealt with lodgers at the Chamberlayne Road house, said the attorney. In the days before he died, Mr Williams had instructed a solicitor to grant his daughter control of his finances 'in order to frustrate Miss Song and her friends from obtaining the deceased's money,' the barrister claimed. Pictured: Deborah John-Woodruffe 'She did not attend the funeral and, whilst the funeral service at a local church was well-attended by a large number of his relatives, friends, work colleagues and neighbours, no one remarked on the absence of his supposed partner of over 20 years,' he said. In the days before he died, Mr Williams had instructed a solicitor to grant his daughter control of his finances 'in order to frustrate Miss Song and her friends from obtaining the deceased's money,' the barrister claimed. 'The evidence, coming as it does from the deceased himself - albeit as a hearsay record - is a telling blow to Miss Song's suggestion that, up until his death, the deceased was in a loving relationship, akin to that of man and wife, with her,' he said. 'Rather, she was a long time housekeeper, seeking to take advantage of a dying man.' Miss Song's attorney argued said the only reason she had not been at the funeral was because she was not told the date and place where it was to take place, 'much to her distress'. Although Miss Song is suing all three siblings, only Mrs John-Woodruffe is represented by lawyers and she is the one party seeking Miss Song's removal from the property. The hearing continues. Rose Chambers, 18, pictured, was found dead today in Kingsland, Shropshire, by police looking for her after she went missing on Monday An 18-year-old woman who went missing from a 'hippy commune' has been found dead by police in a suspected suicide. Rose Chambers was reported missing after she was last seen at 8pm on Monday at Berrington Hall, near Shrewsbury, Shropshire. The Georgian rectory, built in 1805, and its 20 acres of countryside and is home to around 16 members of the 'Crabapple Community'. The group describe themselves as a 'housing co-operative' living 'as sustainably as we can to be self sufficient in produce'. Rose, from Shrewsbury, had been staying at the commune and was last seen in the grounds at 8pm on Monday. Police and volunteers from West Mercia Search and Rescue team searched for the teenager. They discovered her body around five miles from the commune in woodland near Kingsland, Shropshire, on Wednesday and said there were no suspicious circumstances. A spokesperson from West Mercia Search and Rescue said: 'The team was tasked by West Mercia Police to search for Rose Chambers, a young lady from Shrewsbury. 'Unfortunately we discovered her body during these searches. 'We were able to help police with a dignified and respectful recovery, and waited with her until she could be passed on to the undertakers. 'We would like to send our deepest condolences to Rose's family and friends upon this tragic news. 'Our thoughts are with those affected, and our thanks are with the team and Police officers involved for their professional and considerate work.' West Mercia Police are not treating her death as suspicious. A woman who said she was a member of the Crabapple Community said: 'Rose was staying here. I don't want to say too much more at this time. 'It would appear that she took her own life.' The community has been active in the area for more than 40 years. Residents living in the nearby village of Berrington expressed their shock at the teenager's death. One villager said: 'The people who live in the hall are all very pleasant. It's a bit of a hippy commune. They grow their own food and never cause any hassle. 'It's really very sad to hear about the young girl who died. I didn't know her but I can imagine the group are hard hit. They are very close knit. 'They are a bit like a large family just doing their own thing.' For confidential support in the UK, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch. See samaritans.org for details. Holiday-makers who wanted to enjoy sun and surf were in for a shock when their four-wheel drive rolled and was swallowed by the sea. Four tourists on Fraser Island were uninjured after their Range Rover rolled on Tuesday. However their car couldn't be towed out of the water until Thursday. Four tourists on Fraser Island were uninjured after their four-wheel drive rolled on Tuesday but the car couldn't be moved from the sand until Thursday Dramatic Images from the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) show the overturned car upside down in the ocean. The car is logged in the soft, wet sand and unable to be moved. In a social media post QAS wrote: 'Island life can be just as dangerous as city life when it comes to road safety. 'Our paramedics on Fraser Island came across this vehicle rollover on the beach earlier this week. 'Fortunately none of the occupants were injured but it's a timely reminder to drive to the conditions, know your vehicle's limitations and be aware of tide times.' It took three hours for an excavator and a tow truck to get the stuck car out. Images from the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) show the overturned car in tyre-deep water Earlier this year Queensland Police warned tourists in Fraser Island not to put lives at risk by driving through deep creek crossings The car was dug out, rolled and then towed away. Carolyn Elder, owner of Fraser Island and Rainbow Beach Towing, told 9NEWS: 'Our driver went out at 3am, but by the time he got there the tide had covered it with sand and he couldn't recover it by himself.' Ms Elder said it was 'definitely preventable'. It took three hours for an excavator and a tow truck to get the stuck car out - as the tides were continuously changing 'They were driving at high tide, they were inexperienced.' Earlier this year Queensland Police warned tourists in Fraser Island not to put lives at risk by driving through deep creek crossings. At the time Senior Constable Melanie Ryan said: 'It concerns police that people are still choosing to put not only their life in danger but others in their vehicle and quite possibly those who may need to come to the rescue when things go wrong.' A Santa Clarita couple have become stranded in Tahiti after a daredevil dive left the groom nearly paralysed. John and Alana Knight wed just weeks ago, and were on the last day of their honeymoon in Bora Bora when John dived off a hut into water that was deceivingly shallow, KTLA reported. He was rushed to hospital in Tahiti, with both John and Alana fearing the worst. 'We went from the most amazing dream honeymoon to the biggest nightmare we could imagine,' Alana wrote on Facebook. Scroll down for video John and Alana Knight married early last month (pictured) but their dream honeymoon turned to tragedy when the groom fractured his neck just one day before they were due to head home John (pictured) has spent two weeks in ICU in Tahiti, which houses the closest hospital to Bora Bora. He has feeling in his legs but cannot move them, and is struggling to breathe 'John sustained a complicated compression fracture at his C-7 vertebrae and spinal cord trauma. He initially couldnt feel his legs and we were both petrified that he had just been paralyzed.' Since being admitted to hospital, John has regained the feeling in his legs, but has been unable to move much of his body, and is struggling to breathe. 'The neurosurgeon said there is no guarantee that it will ever resolve and only time and tons of therapy will tell, but John is hungry to fight to walk again,' she wrote. 'For now, he is bedridden and cannot move too much.' The couple met on match.com and became engaged during a trip to New York John's neurosurgeon said there was 'no guarantee' the groom would be able to walk again, but Alana is trying to stay positive The couple have been in the intensive care unit of the hospital for more than two weeks now, and they have no idea when they will be able to leave. The accident is a bitter twist in what had been a beautiful love story. John and Alana met on match.com, and he proposed during a trip to New York, Signal reported. John's friends have set up a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of getting the couple back to the US and his medical treatment. In just eight days, the campaign has raised more than $75,000 of its $200,000 goal. Friends are fundraising to help get the couple home, as John will likely need special medical transportation The pair still don't know when they will be able to leave Tahiti and return to California Alana told friends on social media every day has been: 'difficult, emotional, and beyond stressful' - but the generosity of her friends, family and strangers has been a great comfort. 'I cant help but use the term nightmare over and over but its really felt like one,' she wrote. 'But through this nightmare, there have been many blessings we are forever grateful for, that have not gone unnoticed. 'First and foremost, John is alive. John can feel his legs.' Priscilla Zapata, 26, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and four years of felony probation on Monday after she was found guilty of felony injury to a child An Idaho mom is going to jail after she beat her children with a wet belt and shaved her daughters' heads because they ate her tub of ice cream. Priscilla Zapata, 26, was sentenced to 30 days in jail and four years of felony probation on Monday after she was found guilty of felony injury to a child. Zapata, of Nampa, beat all four of her children - aged three to nine years old - with a belt after they ate her ice cream in July 2017. She was arrested in October. One of Zapata's two daughters said her mother grabbed her by the throat and pushed her up against the wall so that she was standing up on her toes. The girl told police that she could barely breathe and that she 'felt like she was going to die' and that 'she was already dead', according to KTVB. She also said she thought her mother was trying to kill her. Zapata's other daughter said her mother hit her 'everywhere', bit her, shoved her face into the ice cream, and pushed her into a wall before throwing her outside. One of the daughters also revealed that she didn't say anything when Zapata shaved her head because she feared her mother would cut her. Zapata also hit her youngest child with a toy, authorities said. A medical exam revealed 'serious bruising' that showed all four children had been repeatedly beaten with an object, according to East Idaho News. The children are now under the supervision of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and are being cared for by family members. Zapata told relatives that she 'lost it' after her children ate her ice cream. Canyon County Prosecutor Bryan Taylor said she has since been getting counseling and taking parenting classes. 'It's fairly obvious that Ms Zapata has some severe anger issues that she needs to address,' Taylor said. 'I'm hopeful that she can take advantage of the resources available to her while on probation and make the appropriate changes in her life to become a better parent.' Judge George Southworth initially sentenced Zapata to five years in prison before suspending her sentence. 'You have engaged yourself in appropriate treatment...and are involved in counseling, so it appears you are engaging in a process on how to better handle your children,' he said. 'You've caused a lot of damage to your children and it's going to take you a long time, if ever, before you can rebuild that trust.' Advertisement In 1957, most of the land surrounding Tempe, Arizona, was farmland. Fast forward to 2013 and the city has expanded, all the once-open fields have been filled with neighborhoods. This dramatic change among others can be seen and compared on interactive mapping project, Historic Aerials. Run by Nationwide Environmental Title Research (NETR), Historic Aerials has amassed millions of aerial maps from as far back as the 1920s. The project, based in Tempe, is putting all the maps into an interactive viewer where visitors can see what a city or neighborhood looked like in the past and even compare to other decades, using the viewer's scroll and spotlight tools. They can also overlay roads, county lines and city lines over the aerial images. Every day, the small team that works on Historic Aerials adds thousands of images to their platform after adjusting them so the images from different decades can be matched and laid over each other a process that is difficult and time consuming and seemingly endless, NETR President Brett Perry says. 'Taking on this project is like eating an elephant,' he tells DailyMail.com. 'It's just so huge because the process of doing this is no easy task.' Slide me 1957 AND 1970, TEMPE ARIZONA: Historic Aerials is a mapping project based in Tempe, Arizona, that allows viewers to compare aerial maps from different years and decades. Tempe and the surrounding area are pictured above left in 1957, showing extensive farmland around where the city lies today but the city was already growing considerably. Between 1950 and 1960, the population increased by more than 17,000 to 24,897. Within 13 years, (1970, right) the city had grown considerably. By this time the population was 63,550 and construction was beginning on housing developments outside the city limits Slide me 1993 AND 2013, TEMPE ARIZONA: The Historic Aerials project has already amassed more than a million aerial maps from as far back as the 1920s in some areas, and when compared, the images show the drastic changes in some cities and neighborhoods. By 2013, the aerial map of Tempe has changed beyond recognition. Gone is the farmland, replaced with more densely populated land. By 2016, the city's population stood at 182,498 NETROnline, as Perry puts it, is a 'niche title company' that does investigative title work, mostly for environmental purposes, such as finding property ownership history, determining property boundaries and finding who may have contributed to contamination. In the late '90s, Perry says, the company 'kind of ventured into the internet, just really by accident'. They had abstracters around the country who were doing research for them and county assessors and recorders were beginning to put information online, so Perry decided it would be a good idea to organize everything onto a website. 'By just weird luck, it was picked up by USA Today as being the best free public record site,' he says. 'I was like, oh my gosh, what did I do here by accident? ... We found something that was useful for our office that other people found and found useful as well.' That got Perry thinking about what other digital products NETR could use and sell. Around the same time, the company had a client, a big oil company, in a dispute in Phoenix over which of two gas stations was responsible for contamination, one owned by NETR's client and the other owned by another company. As Perry was looking through some of the aerial images from different years, he struggled to compare because the aerial images weren't spatially correct and images from different years didn't match. It was then that it occurred to him how useful it would be if they did match. 'It always kind of stuck in my mind and then [I was] talking to a big, local aerial company here and he was telling me about some sources of aerial imagery and I started thinking about that and I just thought, maybe I will create a website where we would orthorectify this stuff and basically be able to create this virtual time machine.' Slide me 1954 AND 2013, LOWER MANHATTAN: The Lower West side of Manhattan as seen before an urban regeneration project, led by David Rockefeller, that saw the building of the Twin Towers. The clearing of an area known as Radio Row around Greenwich and Cortland streets spawned much protest but the development went ahead and the area - blocks of electronics stores - was cleared by 1966. To the left of the map, piers can be seen jutting out into the Hudson River. Soon they would be consumed under landfill from the rubble excavated when foundations were dug for the World Trade Center beginning in August 1966. By 2013, the north and south pools of the National September 11 Memorial can be seen clearly 1980, LOWER MANHATTAN: Urban regeneration in action on the Lower Westside of Manhattan where the Twin Towers can be seen by 1980. Construction work began on the North Tower in 1968 and on the South Tower in 1969. Just over two years later in December 1970, the first tenants moved into the North Tower and the South Tower was first occupied in 1972. Also to the left is the bald footprint of Battery City Park, which expanded the island's width using materials excavated during the construction of the World Trade Center 2004, LOWER MANHATTAN: Three years after the September 11 atrocity on the World Trade Center, the scale of the Ground Zero clean-up can be seen in this map. To the left, the development of Battery City Park is well underway Since its start around 2005, Historic Aerials has collected more than a million aerial maps from various sources including a private aerial company they bought out, which had about three or four hundred thousand images on the low side for the total collection, Perry says. Other image sources include the Army Corps of Engineers and the Farm Bureau. Only seven people in the NETR offices work on Historic Aerials, where they take the aerial images, scan them, orthorectify, or correct, them which entails finding the altitude of the plane that took the images, the type of lens used for the images, the ground elevation and control points on the ground using a specific software that stretches the image to be spatially correct and mosaic a series of images to be seamless for the website viewer. In the early days of Historic Aerials, the process was slow and tedious, but Perry says he's glad for the learning curve because of the technological advancements that have since come along. 'If we would have spent tons and tons of resources early on, I think the quality, what we show today, wouldn't be as good, 'cause nowadays we're scanning things five times better than what we did 10 years ago and it just would have been impossible storage-wise The fact that we were sort of slow-growing this thing has actually worked out to our advantage.' Today the team publishes at least a thousand images every day, Perry says, but even though that sounds like a lot, there's still so much to do, even to just cover the whole US. He says they could probably go faster if they focused only on urban areas, but they've decided to cover all the deserts and mountains just as thoroughly. 'It can get frustrating sometimes, the images don't come together as easily as we'd like,' Perry says. 'Sometimes they come together like butter, but a lot of times, there's various things that we have to spend a little extra time and effort to actually get it to come together. And it's a slow process, but each year by magnitude, we increase our output. When we first started doing this, it was minuscule compared to what we can do today. 'I think if you would have told me when we first started that we would be producing what we do on a weekly basis, I would have told you you're crazy, because the output is- let's say a company as large as Google would struggle to keep up with us at this point.' Slide me 1950 AND 2013, LAS VEGAS: When Las Vegas was founded in 1905, the city limits were north of this aerial image, which shows only desert. In 1950 the population of Las Vegas was 24,624, according to the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority. In 2012, the city's population had risen to 594,294. The open desert that had been in this area in 1950 is long gone and filled with skyscrapers, casinos and hotels 1973, LAS VEGAS: By the '70s, the city limits expanded as more and more casinos opened. What had been desert only 13 years before was quickly turning into a metropolis. The population of Las Vegas was 125,787 by 1970. In 1973, the then-world's largest hotel, the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino opened in this area 1994, LAS VEGAS: The city continued to develop with new casinos and huge hotels opening and drawing more and more residents. From the mid-'80s, the population grew at an extraordinary rate, almost doubling between 1985 to 1995 from 186,380 to 368,360, a 97.6per cent increase according to LasVegasNevada.gov After some working with their business model, Historic Aerials allows customers to make personalized requests to fit their specific needs, though that specificity makes things more complicated for the team. Customers have the option to choose what year, what scale they want their image at, what resolution, what file format Historic Aerials offers geo-tiffs so people can put the image into their own GIS software and if customers want their image in print, the company has an agreement with a third party that prints the aerials. Perry says over the years they've had several interesting requests from a wide variety of customers. Once, detective in Dallas, Texas, were reopening a cold case and called Perry to ask about aerial images of a specific location in the late '70s or early '80s, to see how certain buildings had changed over time. At another point, an FBI agent paid a visit to the Historic Aerials office by surprise to ask some follow up questions about the website, which he had been using to investigate a case. 'That was kind of weird,' Perry chuckles. 'Normally it's usually a phone call I thought it was interesting he felt the need to actually stop in.' Slide me 1953 AND 2014, SAN DIEGO: San Diego became an American city in 1848 with the end of the Mexican American War, so by 1950, the city was already built up on the San Diego Bay with 333,865 residents. However, the city's structure still changed significantly with the addition of Interstate 5, the Embarcadero and several stadiums, especially with a further-back view of San Diego 1966, SAN DIEGO: However, the city has made significant changes over the years, including the addition of Interstate 5, which took the place of US 101, which was decommissioned in 1964 1989, SAN DIEGO: In 1969, the San Diego-Coronado Bay Bridge was opened to replace ferry service across the bay. The bridge can be seen in this 1989 aerial on the bottom right side. By this time, San Diego's marina and Embarcadero had also been built (pictured right). The city's population had also risen to 1,110,549 by 1990 Another time, an attorney for a development company in San Diego had mentioned to Perry that he would be using the site's comparison tools during a trial. The details are a bit fuzzy as to what the trial was about and who the development company was, but what most sticks out to Perry was the phone call he received later, from the attorney on the other side. 'He calls me up and he goes, "Hey, the opposing counsel used your website and I want to know I can get on it, 'cause I got my butt kicked",' Perry laughs. 'It was kind of funny. He was sort of telling me he made a very compelling case I got a tickle out of that.' Perry also gets calls from hobbyists who use the aerial images to help them look for things that might be buried where old houses used to be or other 'treasures'. 'It's always entertaining for me to get the calls from the metal detector guys. They're trying to find old coins, so they're able to look at the old imagery and say, oh, there's a house there that no longer exists today. And so they can go out there and figure out a good place to prospect.' Slide me 1948 AND 2012, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES: By the mid-1920s, the population of Los Angeles had already surpassed 1million and by 1950 the city was the fourth-largest in the US with 1,970,358 residents. This area of downtown Los Angeles would be broken up by the Harbor Freeway, which opened in 1952. By 2012, downtown Los Angeles changed significantly from 1948 with skyscrapers and the now-interstate running through this area 1972, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES: With the creation of the Freeway, this area of downtown Los Angeles continued to develop. The first skyscrapers to be built in Los Angeles started popping up in the '50s. The open lots pictured here in 1972 would go on to be the foundation for skyscrapers 1989, DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES: By 1989 this area of downtown Los Angeles saw the rise of several skyscrapers in what had been only open lots in 1972 When he first started working on Historic Aerials, Perry says he couldn't have expected what it is today, though he is finally realizing the wider implications and importance of the project. 'I think it was something that I have an interest [in]. To me, it is a project of love, but it is important because when I bought that aerial collection, you realize what a mess it was So the utility of it just isn't there until you do what we do There's all kind of maps that various engineering offices and assessment offices have throughout the country that are just sitting in the archives. Even in the Library of Congress or the National Archives, that is just not that accessible. Even if they digitize it, which is a great step, still to locate it and put it in a manner that is useful for most people to actually find, is just not there. 'So that's why I think this is one of these little projects that lives beyond my lifetime, if I can get as much as I possibly can. It becomes incredibly useful.' But Perry doesn't want to just leave it how it is. He wants to add other features to the project, including who used to own buildings and what they used to be for. 'There's almost an endless list of things that we can add to the website,' he says. 'I think we're constantly going to be adding aerials, but we have other maps in mind as well.' He adds: 'People who are growing up now and are used to Google Maps, where you can go and you can get an aerial view and get a front view of a thing and you get a map and all that kind of stuff, we want to be able to do that historically and I feel like we have gotten to a point where we have such a lead that it would be almost impossible now for anybody to catch us. 'I feel pretty confident- which I'm hesitant to say that, but right now, I just know that the fact that the acquisition time and the specialized knowledge that we've gained in doing this is beyond what anybody else could probably figure out.' Slide me 1938 AND 2013, BOSTON: The first skyscraper to be built in Boston was the Custom House Tower in the Financial District in 1915. It remained the tallest building in Boston at 496feet until 1964. From 1938 to 2013, Boston expanded their roads and built taller buildings, but some things stayed the same, particularly Boston Common (left), the oldest public park in the US. It dates back to 1634 and is made up of 50 acres in the city 1955, BOSTON: Though Boston didn't get any taller than the Custom House Tower until the '60s, the city built the 'Central Artery' or the John F Fitzgerald Expressway (pictured) in the '50s. It was partly above ground and partly tunneled, but was incredibly congested. The expressway was eventually rerouted in the late '90s 1971, BOSTON: Boston City Hall was built in 1963 and can be seen in this 1971 aerial. It is the square building on the southeast side of the plaza in the center of the image Scotland will view the conviction of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi to decide if his family can launch another appeal Scotland will view the conviction of Lockerbie bomber Abdel Basset al-Megrahi to decide if his family can launch another appeal. Pam Am flight 103 was blown up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988 en route from London to New York, an attack that killed 270 people. Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001, the only person ever convicted over Britain's worst terrorist attack, and died in Libya in 2012. He was released three years earlier by Scotland's devolved government on compassionate grounds after being diagnosed with terminal cancer. The 60-year-old always maintained his innocence after losing an appeal in 2002 and was granted leave in 2007 to launch a second appeal. He dropped a that appeal soon before his release was secured but continued to protest his innocence until his death. Pam Am flight 103 was blown up over the Scottish town of Lockerbie in December 1988 en route from London to New York, an attack that killed 270 people Megrahi was jailed for life in 2001, the only person ever convicted over Britain's worst terrorist attack, and died in Libya in 2012 He was released (pictured) three years earlier by Scotland's devolved government on compassionate grounds after being diagnosed with terminal cancer The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission believed only did that so he would be allowed home, and was reviewing the case on that basis. SCCRC chief executive Gerard Sinclair said it always looked carefully at why an applicant had previously abandoned an appeal. It would then 'consider whether it is in the interests of justice to allow a further review of the conviction'. 'Mr Megrahi, in abandoning his appeal, did so as he held a genuine and reasonable belief that such a course of action would result in him being able to return home to Libya, at a time when he was suffering from terminal cancer,' he said. 'On that basis, the Commission has decided that it is in the interests of justice to accept the current application for a full review of his conviction.' The 60-year-old always maintained his innocence after losing an appeal in 2002 (pictured hearing verdict) and was granted leave in 2007 to launch a second appeal Aircraft debris and destroyed houses in the village of Lockerbie are seen from the air following the midair explosion of Pan Ams flight 103 Megrahi originally appealed due to doubts over a witness who identified him as the bomber, and a fragment of the bomb timer recovered from the ground Mr Sinclair said the SCCRC spoke with people involved in the process in 2009 and recovered many of the defence papers. The SCCRC will now pour over the evidence of the case, including the original six grounds of appeal, to decide if another appeal is warranted. Megrahi originally appealed due to doubts over a witness who identified him as the bomber, and a fragment of the bomb timer recovered from the ground. His lawyers at the time claimed evidence against Syrian-backed Palestinian terror groups being the culprits was deliberately suppressed. Megrahi poses with then-Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam Gadhafi on his arrival at an airport in Tripoli, having been released in 2009 Megrahi kisses Gaddafi's hand in Tripoli on August 21, 2009. Gaddafi hugged the convicted Lockerbie bomber and promised more cooperation with Britain in gratitude for his release Megrahi's widow Aisha and son Ali applied last year to start another appeal hoping it would clear his name and end speculation about his conviction. Their lawyer Aamer Anwar welcomed the SCCRC's decision, saying the reputation of the Scottish law has suffered both at home and internationally because of widespread doubts about his client's conviction. 'It is in the interests of justice and restoring confidence in our criminal justice system that these doubts can be addressed,' he said. 'However, the only place to determine whether a miscarriage of justice did occur is in the appeal court, where the evidence can be subjected to rigorous scrutiny.' Megrahi's widow Aisha and son Ali (pictured with other family along with Gaddafi in 2009) and applied last year to start another appeal hoping it would clear his name Most of the victims of the explosion over the town of Lockerbie were Americans on their way home from Europe for Christmas Most of the victims of the explosion over the town of Lockerbie were Americans on their way home from Europe for Christmas. Eleven people died on the ground as the jet plunged from the sky after a bomb exploded in its hold some 40 minutes after leaving London's Heathrow airport. In 2003, former Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi accepted Libya's responsibility for the bombing and paid compensation to the victims' families but did not admit personally ordering the attack. After his overthrow and killing in 2011, two Libyan prosecutors were appointed to work with Scottish and U.S. investigators trying to identify the other perpetrators. A taxi driver has been mauled to death by a bear after he stopped to take a selfie with the animal in India. Prabhu Bhatara was driving guests home from a wedding in the eastern province of Odisha on Wednesday when he spotted the bear by the roadside. With his passengers waiting in the back of the car, Bhatara went to try and take a picture with the animal, which was wounded. Prabhu Bhatara, a taxi driver from Odisha province, in eastern India, was trying to take a selfie with an injured bear when he slipped and was dragged to the floor by the animal Shocked onlookers attempted to scare the bear away by hitting it and throwing objects at it, but that only seemed to enrage it Mr Bhatara had been taking two guests home from a wedding when he stopped for the picture But the bear managed to grab him and pull him to the ground, where he was mauled to death, the Odisha Sun-Times reports. The newspaper said the bear was attempting to drink from a pond when Mr Bhatara approached it, despite warnings from those around him. While taking the picture he slipped, the Sun-Times says, before being grabbed. Video taken by shocked onlookers shows one person trying to save Mr Bhatara from the animal, but to no avail. They can be seen inching down a slope to where the animal is sitting with Mr Bhatara at its feet and trying to hit it with a stick. At another point someone seems to throw something at the bear. That only enrages the bear further, and as Mr Bhatara tries to climb to his feet the predator takes several powerful swipes at his head and neck. Forestry officials were called but by the time they arrived he was already dead. The bear had to be tranquilised in order for Mr Bhatara's body to be retrieved. It was unclear what happened to the animal after that. It is not clear exactly what species the bear belongs to from the footage, though of India's three indigenous bears - the Himalayan Black Bear, the brown bear and the sloth bear - only sloth bears are known to inhabit the area. Mr Bhatara can be seen trying to escape from the bear, believed to be a sloth bear, but it delivers several powerful blows to his head and neck Stephen Houk, 46, is on the run after escaping from police as they closed in on his RV Wednesday following a four-hour chase The hunt continues for an armed sex offender who managed to escape in a cloud of dust on foot as police in California closed in on his RV on Wednesday following a dramatic four-hour long chase. Stephen Houk, 46, ran away after driving the RV into an almond orchard in Bakersfield with his three-year-old son and 11-month-old daughter in the back. He was able to run away as police 'hung back for safety' and is still at large. The two children were given back to their mother after they were rescued from the RV. It remains unclear if Houk's wife will face charges for not turning him in in Oregon, where he was wanted. Houk, who was convicted of sodomizing a child in 2002, is wanted by police in Oregon though it is not known what for. He has been on the run from the law with his wife and their two young children for the last two years. Police started looking for him on Wednesday after receiving a call that he had been seen threatening his wife outside a Starbucks in Santa Clarita. The wife then told them to say he had pointed a gun at her face then fled with their children. Scroll down for video At one stage, there was dozens of police cars following him (above) but they could not bring him to a halt because, they said, they wanted to ensure the children's safety On Wednesday, Houk turned his RV into an almond orchard in Bakersfield and created a large cloud of dust by doing so. It gave the officers following him pause and as the dust settled, he was able to slip out one of the doors and run away on foot. By the time police went into the RV with their weapons drawn, he was gone and his two children were left alone Police rescued Houk's 11-month-old daughter and three-year-old son from the RV. After having them checked over by a doctor, they reunited them with their mother The chase sprawled 100 miles as Houk drove on and off the freeway repeatedly between Santa Clarita and Bakersfield, a distance of around 82 miles When they tried to confront him, he led them on a wild, multi-highway chase in his RV with the two children in the back. Despite multiple vehicles from several police departments and sheriff's offices joining the chase, they were unable to bring the vehicle to a stop. They said they were reluctant to do anything which might agitate him and cause him to harm the two children inside. As his gas tank ran close to empty, Houk turned into the orchard north of Bakersfield, 100 miles from where the chase began. The chase on Wednesday lasted almost four hours and saw Houk lead police down several highways which he turned off and on of with the children in the vehicle The RV is shown above being followed by police. Houk sped away when police tried to question him about threatening his wife outside a Starbucks in Santa Clarita earlier in the day He was able to create a large cloud of dust with the vehicle which gave the officers pause. The father-of-two is wanted in Oregon where he was on parole for child sodomy They waited until the dust settled and then approached the vehicle with their guns drawn but when they opened the door, only the baby girl and toddler were inside. 'He got lucky. All the forces came together and temporarily, they were on his side,' Officer Robert Rodriguez, a spokesman with the California Highway Patrol, told KGW on Wednesday. Police are determined to find him and remained optimistic that they would. 'Weve got to find him. I have no doubt well catch up with him but we just want to do that before anyone else gets hurt,' sheriffs Capt. Darren Harris added. Authorities have defended their approach to the chase and said they were treating it gently because there were children in the vehicle. 'We were treating this with kid gloves because we didnt want to agitate the driver,' Rodriguez told Bakersfield.com on Wednesday. The son of a Minnesota woman suspected of fatally shooting her husband then killing a Florida woman and stealing her identity says she is a 'good lady'. Braden Riess, 30, said his mother, Lois Riess, 56, also 'had her own demons' including a gambling addiction, in an upcoming interview with Inside Edition. Authorities say Riess killed her husband, David Riess, 54, at their Blooming Prairie home in March. She then allegedly headed to Fort Myers Beach in Florida where authorities say she last month shot and killed 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson so she could assume her identity. Scroll down for video The son of 'Losing Streak' Lois Riess (pictured) says his mother is 'a good lady' who was battling addiction Lois Riess (left) is accused of fatally shooting her husband, David Riess (right), in their home in Blooming Prairie last month Braden Riess (pictured) said his mother was battling 'demons', including a gambling addiction Braden Riess said he and his siblings were all devastated to learn of the allegations that she killed their father and Hutchinson. 'It's unbelievable, like, I don't know. I can't wrap my head around it. My mom was a good lady,' he said. Riess had been on the run since her husband's death. Mr Riess's business partner called Dodge County authorities on March 23 to ask them to check on him, because no one at work had seen the man in more than two weeks. Riess is also accused of murdering Pamela Hutchinson (pictured) in Florida, with the intent of assuming her identity Authorities found David Riess's body inside his home with multiple gunshots. They couldn't determine how long he had been dead, and investigators could not find his wife. Less than a month later, police were called to an area of Fort Myers Beach in Florida, where they found Pamela Hutchinson dead, with gunshot wounds. Authorities were not aware of any connection between the two women, but believed Riess shot and killed Hutchinson to assume her identity. 'Ms. Hutchinson's purse was found to be in disarray and all cash, credit cards and identification appeared to be removed,' Lee County Undersheriff Carmine Marceno said after Ms Hutchinson's body was found on April 9. 'Further investigation revealed that Ms. Hutchinson was targeted by the suspect due to the similarities in their appearance.' Riess was arrested at a restaurant bar in the Texas resort town of South Padre Island on April 19, at the end of a long manhunt. She'll stand trial in Florida first. On Monday, Riess signed a waiver of extradition in Texas, allowing authorities to transport her to Florida and Minnesota to face multiple charges. Riess was finally arrested at a restaurant in Texas on April 19, and has signed a waiver of extradition to face charges in Florida and Minnesota In Florida, where she allegedly killed Hutchinson, she faces charges of murder with a firearm, criminal use of identification, larceny and grand theft auto. In Minnesota, Riess has been charged with one count of larceny and second-degree murder charges are pending. Lois Riess has a history of stealing money and gambling. Authorities dubbed her 'Losing Streak Lois' for her habit of frequenting casinos. Braden Riess told Inside Edition she must have suffered a mental breakdown. 'She had her own demons, you know, lately, I guess, the past few years, you know, to gambling addiction, [she] was dealing with that,' he said. 'And something happened in her brain, like, made her snap.' Ruth Davidson returned to action in the Scottish parliament today - a week after revealing she is pregnant with her first child. The Tory leader in Scotland faced off against Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister's Questions - and showed no sign of the morning sickness she has been enduring. The 39-year-old - often tipped as a possible successor to Theresa May - announced last Thursday that she partner Jen Wilson would be welcoming their baby in the autumn after undergoing IVF. She posted a photo on Twitter of the couple beaming alongside their cocker spaniel, Wilson, with the message: 'Our little family of three is becoming four...' Ruth Davidson faced off against Nicola Sturgeon at First Minister's Questions - and showed no sign of the morning sickness she has been enduring Ms Davidson was back in action at FMQs for the first time since announcing she is pregnant with her first child The Scottish Tory leader laughed and joked with colleagues before the session began at Holyrood today There was no sign of Ms Davidson taking it easy today, as she berated Ms Sturgeon over criminals not being prosecuted because 'overworked' police officers had failed to submit key reports in time. 'When action is dropped against hundreds of suspects in cases as serious as these, and it is all down to officers being overworked, under pressure and flooded with paperwork, then it is clear something is very wrong,' she said. Ms Sturgeon said it was 'regrettable' that there were cases where there had been delays in getting the necessary paperwork to the Crown Office - but stressed this had happened in just 0.3 per cent of all cases. Speaking on Scottish TV last week, Ms Davidson told of the 'ups and downs' of having IVF and her joy that her dream of starting a family is coming true. She said: 'Jen and I are delighted to say we are going to be starting a family. I'm pregnant, I'm due in the late autumn. 'We weren't sure it was every going to happen for us but we are really really happy that it has.' On having IVF, she added: 'I think for lots of couples in Scotland that do opt for that route - there are ups and downs but we are just delighted it has been successful.' Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson (pictured with her partner Jen) revealed last week that she is pregnant with her first child - and 'delighted' to be starting a family There was no sign of Ms Davidson taking it easy today, as she berated Ms Sturgeon over criminals not being prosecuted because 'overworked' police officers had failed to submit key reports in time Ms Sturgeon said it was 'regrettable' that there were cases where there had been delays in getting the necessary paperwork to the Crown Office And Ms Davidson revealed that like the Duchess of Cambridge, she has had morning sickness. She told STV: 'I have to say I have been affected a little but by that too - so I have a bit of the fatigue and the nausea and the dizzy spells and all the rest of it. 'I think that doing trying to do everything i was doing before and keep up he pace so that people couldn't tell just until we knew everything was going to be OK has been a bit of a struggle - but I don't think anybody has noticed. 'Hopefully it means I have been doing everything fine.' Ms Davidson revealed that she will be taking a few months off work for maternity leave - but vowed to lead the Scottish Tories into the 2021 Hollyrood election. In a statement posted on Twitter she said: 'Jen and I are delighted to announce that I am expecting our first child in the late autumn. 'Like all new parents-to-be, we are delighted - and daunted - about the months to come. 'Mostly we are just over-joyed at the prospect of starting a family together.' Ms Davidson said the news may come as shock to Scottish voters - but vowed to lead the party into the next set of elections in three years time. As she said that by juggling a family with politics she is doing what women across the UK do every day - balancing their work with their home life. She said: 'While this news may be unexpected for many people, let me reassure my constituents and voters across Scotland that there is no change to my political commitment or plans to lead the Scottish Conservatives into the 2021 Holyrood elections - I'm simply doing what thousands of working women do every year: having a child, taking some time off, and then returning to work soon after.' She said her deputy Jackson Carlaw will be stepping in to act as leader while she is off work. And she vowed that until she goes off on maternity leave it will be 'business as usual'. She said: 'We have a very busy few months ahead, and I look forward to throwing myself into events the customary gusto. 'While it often goes unacknowledged, politicians have personal lives too and I hope people will understand that I want to be able to combine my public role with a family life. The Prime Minister led the congratulations online after the news was posted on Twitter 'Jen and I are incredibly luck in the support we have received from our family and friends over the past few months - and we know we can rely from them in the months and years to come. 'I'd like to thank them again today. 'We have always dreamed of starting a family and are so pleased to be able to share our happy news.' Politicians from across the political divide, including Ms Sturgeon and Theresa May, have congratulated her on the happy news. Ms Davidson and her partner got engaged in 2016 and were planning to get married last year. However, they postponed the wedding after their beloved dog was hit by a car as he chased after some birds. Rudy Giuliani has said Ivanka Trump should be 'untouchable' in Robert Mueller's investigation but the President's son-in-law Jared Kushner is 'disposable'. The former mayor of New York City, who is Donald Trump's new attorney, was speaking to Fox News' Sean Hannity, 'Ivanka Trump? I think I would get on my charger and go right into - run into their offices with a lance if they go after Ivanka,' he said. The former mayor of New York, who is Donald Trump's new attorney, was speaking to Fox News host Sean Hannity Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner arrive home on foot after an evening out Hannity asked what might happen if her husband, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, becomes a target. Giuliani praised Kushner as 'a fine man' but added 'you know that, but men are disposable. But a fine woman like Ivanka? Come on.' He also said Trump fired former FBI director Comey last year 'because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target' of the special counsel's Russia investigation. Earlier this week, a list of questions which Trump said had been sent to his lawyers by Special Counsel Robert Mueller emerged. They include questions on Trump's ties to Russia and others to determine whether the president may have unlawfully tried to obstruct the investigation. A black motivational speaker says he and his wife were thrown out of a Texas restaurant because they refused to give up their table for a white customer. Johnny Wimbrey and his wife had been ready to order dinner at Sambuca360 in Plano on Saturday night when the manager asked if they would give up their table, WFAA reports. Wimbrey said the manager wanted the couple to give their table to a white man who is a regular customer and became angry when they refused. 'I said, 'No, I think we want to sit here. We have a great view. It's only a table for two.' So we just declined the offer respectfully,' he told WFAA. Scroll down for video A black motivational speaker says he and his wife were thrown out of a Texas restaurant because they refused to give up their table for a white customer A heated exchanged between Wimbrey and the manager was captured on a cell phone by the couple A heated exchanged between Wimbrey and the manager was captured on a cell phone by the couple. 'You can pay the tab you are leaving,' the manager told the couple outside the restaurant. 'Why am I leaving?' Wimbrey asked him. 'Because I am asking you to leave,' he replied. 'Why?' Wimbrey responded. 'Because I don't like you,' the manager said. When Wimbrey repeatedly asked the manager what he did wrong, the manager accuses him of trespassing. 'What you're doing wrong is you're trespassing. Time to go,' the manager told the Wimbreys. Johnny Wimbrey (pictured), who has hosted work parties at the restaurant with more than 200 attendees, said race was definitely a factor in the incident After this, Wimbrey said the manager called Plano police and they decided to leave the scene. Wimbrey, who has hosted work parties at the restaurant with more than 200 attendees, said race was definitely a factor in the incident. 'I do believe it's because of who I am and how I look that they asked me to move tables,' he said. Sambuca360 apologized for the incident, blaming it on a 'mix-up' at the host stand. 'Sambuca has no tolerance for discrimination and always wants to make every guest feel welcome and respected,' it said in a statement to WFAA. After Wimbrey's story appeared on a local news network, the story sparked a furious backlash as it spread across social media. People took to Twitter to slam the restaurant after the story spread across social media It comes after two black men who were arrested while waiting at a Starbucks store in Philadelphia reached a confidential financial settlement with the coffee chain. They also dropped legal claims against the city after it agreed to pay each man $1 and committed $200,000 to fund an entrepreneurship program for public school students. Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson were arrested on April 12, after a Starbucks manager called police to complain that they had not made a purchase and refused to leave. Police released the men hours later without charges. However, a video of their arrests was widely shared online, sparking protests and calls for a boycott of the popular chain. Starbucks Corp, which plans to close 8,000 stores for a half day of anti-bias training on May 29, said Robinson and Nelson will have an opportunity to provide input for the company's 'long-term diversity and equity efforts. Lady Angela Stucley, pictured with husband Sir Hugh, is the owner of Hartland Abbey An aristocrat has sparked a tourism war by hitting out over a Channel Island cashing in on a new blockbuster movie filmed on her land in Devon. Lady Angela Stucley, the owner of Hartland Abbey, has spoken out after the release of new film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. The movie, starring Lily James, Michiel Huisman and Matthew Goode is set on Guernsey which is said to be benefiting from a tourism boost as a result. The movie hit the cinemas on April 20 with a huge promotional push to attract visitors to Guernsey on the back of its success. But Lady Stucley says the movie was in fact filmed 200 miles away in North Devon - as she feels the area is unfairly missing out on the flood of positive publicity. She said: 'It was filmed on the Hartland Abbey estate and at Clovelly and some other locations in North Devon at this time last year in glorious weather. 'What us Hartlandites and Clovellyites would love to do is to get it into the wider world that rather than - as widely advertised by Guernsey tourism - it being actually Guernsey. It is in fact the beautiful North Devon coast. New film The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was filmed at Hartland Abbey Lady Stucley, whose husband Sir Hugh is pictured, feels her local area is unfairly missing out on the flood of positive publicity following the release of the film on April 20 'It is a wonderful opportunity to shout about it - but now is the time because the film is on at present and soon it will have left the cinemas.' Lady Angela added: 'We don't want to do the dirty on Guernsey, but we just want to stick up for our patch and tell the world how stunning North Devon is. Actually, it's quite ingenious of Guernsey (to cash in) as not one second was filmed there. 'The producers told me that there wasn't enough unspoilt country and no tax incentive. But it is all beautifully filmed. It even features an aeroplane landing at Saunton Sands.' Historic Hartland Abbey and the country estate that surrounds it is a former monastery, which dates back to the 12th century. Lady Stucley, who staged Prince William's stag do on her land in 2011 due to her son George's close friendship with the royal, said they were in need of a tourist boost with visitor numbers down in recent days due to bad weather. She added: 'I see a great opportunity to try and persuade them to visit the Hartland Peninsula and North Devon thanks to the film. Speke's Mill Valley, near Hartland Abbey, is one of the settings for the film released last month Historic Hartland Abbey and the country estate that surrounds it is a former monastery, 'The Guernsey tourism website does not go all the way in identifying the island as being the actual location for the film. 'But not surprisingly it does make quite a song and dance about the The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - to the extent that it even features a short internet movie which portrays the storyline's 'real Guernsey locations'. VisitGuernsey has capitalised on the release of the film with a 130,000 TV advert and a campaign that featured the slogan 'Visit the island that inspired the story' to try and encourage more tourists. Alongside VisitGuernsey, the film's producers, StudioCanal have made a ten-second advert which was shown for the three weeks leading up to the film's UK release on April 20. The tourist body has also aired a second 30-second advert which will be shown to almost 700,000 cinema goers. Mike Hopkins, director of marketing and tourism for VisitGuernsey, said: 'Cinema goers will see our advert on the big screen and then watch the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society film straight afterwards. Lily James (left) plays Juliet Ashton in The Guernsey Literary And Potato Peel Pie Society James is pictured playing Ms Ashton in the new film, which was released in Britain on April 20 '(It is) a fantastic opportunity to showcase Guernsey to an already engaged audience and inspire them to visit our beautiful island.' The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was written by Mary Ann Shaffer who, like the novel's main character, fell in love with Guernsey and its history. On a whim she decided to fly to the island, but became stranded due to adverse weather - which is when she became fascinated by the German occupation and the effects it had on island life. Shaffer died before completing the book but later her niece, Annie Barrows, finished the novel. In the movie, the lead character Juliet, played by James, receives a letter from a member of a literary club which had been inaugurated in Nazi-occupied Guernsey. She decides to visit the island where she meets the eccentric members of the group - including the rugged farmer who wrote her the letter. Australians suffering from chronic eating disorders are finding themselves tens of thousands of dollars out of pocket in order to pay for life-saving treatment. Fiona Wright is one of more than a million Australians living with an eating disorder and has spent more than $75,000 to get well. The 34-year-old first turned to the public health system but found it 'woefully inadequate' and was faced with a 52-week-long wait to receive hospital care. Fiona Wright, 34, (pictured) is one of more than a million Australians living with an eating disorder and has spent more than $75,000 in order to pay for life-saving treatment 'Before I got sick I always had this idea that people who get sick are taken care of,' she told the ABC's 7.30 Report. 'And it was such a sharp and steep learning curve to discover that really isn't the case.' Treatment for eating disorders falls under the Government's mental health care plan which provides Medicare rebates for 10 sessions with a specialist, but after that patients are left to pay for themselves. 'Eating disorder patients need about nine times this,' Ms Wright told The Guardian and many health professionals agree that 10 sessions are just not enough. Eating disorders are notoriously difficult illnesses to treat, and their chronic and enduring nature often means sufferers spend many years and see many specialists to receive treatment. Ms Wright (pictured after she received treatment) first turned to the public health system but found it 'woefully inadequate' and was faced with a 52-week-long wait to receive hospital care Ms Wright said she found public services to be underfunded and under resourced, forcing her to see a series of private specialists over the course of seven or eight years. 'I've calculated taking into account all of these rebates, but not including my health insurance premiums or the cost of my medications - that I've spent more than $75,000,' she told The Guardian. The Butterfly Foundation, a non-profit support group which advocates for people with eating disorders, has called on the government to improve public health services to this underfunded area. 'I've calculated taking into account all of these rebates, but not including my health insurance premiums or the cost of my medications - that I've spent more than $75,000,' Ms Wright told The Guardian A national survey recently released by the foundation found one in three people affected by eating disorders put themselves in debt to fund treatment, one in four delay or stop treatment due to high costs, and 68 per cent are forced to borrow money from family. 'Left unaddressed, the medical, psychological and social consequences can be serious and long term,' the Butterfly Foundation said. Braiden Fitzsimmons, a 23-year-old student from Geelong, suffered from bulimia since he was 16. It was only with the financial help from his parents that he started receiving treatment just 18 months ago. Mr Fitzsimmons said his family has spent roughly $3,500 on psychological therapy over the past year. 'I know how fortunate I am that mum and dad had stable jobs and could budget for it,' he told the Sydney Morning Herald. 'I couldn't imagine what I would have done if we couldn't afford it.' Braiden Fitzsimmons, (left) a 23-year-old student from Geelong, suffered from bulimia since he was 16 and it was only with the financial help from his parents that he started receiving treatment just 18 months ago Every Australian should have the same access to mental healthcare, at the same standard that is available for people with physical health issues, Butterfly Foundation CEO, Christine Morgan said in a statement. Ms Morgan is calling on the government to improve eating disorder services and private health insurers to change their policies in relation to eating disorders. 'Time and time again Butterfly hears of families and individuals who are unable to navigate the Australian health system or access viable treatment, resulting in a sense of hopelessness and in some cases loss of life,' she said. 'Treatment should not be delivered or received in crisis or at acute levels of illness only.' Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt asked the Medicare review committee to review whether treatment options for eating disorders could be made available under Medicare. The report is due later this year. 'Before I got sick I always had this idea that people who get sick are taken care of ... it was such a sharp and steep learning curve to discover that really isn't the case,' she told the ABC A retired British businessman who fell 18 floors to his death after his ex-wife divorced him was consumed by 50,000 debt after financing her lifestyle in Thailand, it has been revealed. John Toms, 68, a father-of-one from Wales, was found sprawled on the pavement in a pool of blood outside an apartment building in the city of Pattaya at about 1am on Wednesday. Just hours earlier, he had signed divorce papers with former Thai partner Thanyaporn Donsakul, 55, who had found a younger partner. John Toms, 68, with former wife Thanyaporn, 55. He fell 18 floors to his death on Wednesday hours after divorcing her in Pattaya, Thailand Court papers show that in June 2012, while Mr Toms was holidaying in Pattaya, he paid 1,000 baht (23) a night for sex with Thanyaporn, according to a report in The Sun. After they became engaged the following month, he sold his belongings to financially support Thanyaporn and he moved to the country to be with her. However, within five years he was 50,000 in debt, after his savings had apparently been whittled away, allegedly as a result of shelling out over 100,000 on his new bride and her family. Prior to his death in Pattaya on Wednesday, Mr Toms had returned home with Naritha Daosri, 49, his new girlfriend, before telling her that he was going to sit out on the balcony. John Toms, 68, a retired businessman from Wales, was found dead outside an apartment block in the Thai city of Pattaya on Wednesday, hours after divorcing wife Thanyaporn, 55 (right) Naritha said she went to check on him around 1am but was horrified to find him sprawled on the ground next to a communal swimming pool. She called emergency services, but Mr Toms was pronounced dead at the scene. Police are now investigating, but believe John killed himself 'due to personal issues'. Grief-stricken Naritha said: 'Today [Wednesday] we went out to rent a car. John went to the court to file papers to divorce his ex-wife. 'The last two or three days, John liked to sit on the balcony a lot. Intuitively I felt something wasn't right and I was watching him closely.' Naritha said she went out in the early hours of the morning to the balcony and saw John's body below. He had landed on the fifth floor mezzanine. She added: 'I can't believe he has done this. I thought we were going to spend so much more time together.' Mr Toms with his former wife Thanyaporn. The couple sold imported goods from their shop in Thailand. They divorced after she found a younger partner John had a business registered in the UK with his former wife. They had one teenage daughter together. Their shop, named Sawasdee Thai Fashion Jewellery, sold imported goods. The British Embassy has been informed. Major Kamon Apararat at Pattaya City Police Station, said: 'Initially, the police recorded images of the scene as evidence. The body was also sent to the forensic hospital for examination. 'The cause is presumed to be suicide due personal problems. We believe that this is why he jumped from the building.' For confidential support call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details. Ozan Melin, 42, was found guilty of inflicting grievous bodily harm on two women after injecting them with fake Botox A bogus cosmetic surgeon who inflicted grievous bodily harm on female clients by injecting them with fake Botox is now facing jail after being found guilty today. Ozan Melin, 42, left the three middle-aged women in severe pain and with long-lasting damage after using an unknown 'extremely dangerous' substance on them. Their faces puffed up so much they couldn't see, with one victim comparing herself to a hamster and another saying she looked like she had been in a fight - and lost. A court heard Melin lied to the women about being medically trained in America and Turkey and therefore acted recklessly by giving the women injections. He denied the charges on the basis that the women had consented to the treatment. But a jury found him guilty of causing two women grievous bodily harm. Melin's victims have now slammed him, labelling him a 'clever conman' and voicing their relief that he wouldn't be able to harm any other patients. Carol Kingscott, 58, still has a dropped brow from her dodgy injections. Speaking after the verdict, Ms Kingscott said: 'It's a relief he has been found guilty, I will feel better when he gets a long time to serve in prison, I hope. 'He's a very clever conman. He completely fooled me and I like to think of myself as quite savvy.' Melin left Marcelle King (left) and Carol Kingscott (right) in severe pain and with long-lasting damage after using an unknown 'extremely dangerous' substance on them Carol Kingscott, 58, still has a dropped brow from her dodgy injections. Speaking after the verdict, she said: 'He's a very clever conman. He completely fooled me' Marcelle King, who had to be taken to A&E after going into anaphylactic shock following her treatment, said: 'It was just a horrible experience. My whole body was affected by it' She continued: 'I only had the treatment because I was going through a divorce and wanted to boost my confidence but it ended up doing the complete opposite. 'I'm annoyed I allowed myself to fall for it but by the time alarm bells were ringing there was nothing I could do about it, he had a needle in my face. 'I feel such a fool but I've learnt to live with how my face looks now.' Marcelle King, who had to be taken to A&E after going into anaphylactic shock following her treatment, said: 'It was just a horrible experience. My whole body was affected by it.' The 62-year-old dog behaviourist said she was left looking 50 years older after her botched treatment. She said: 'My hair moved right on top of my head and my eyebrows were three inches higher. 'The pain wasn't searing, it was more of a chemical-type burning. 'I felt sick at the thought he might get off and be able to hurt more people.' Melin was cleared of grievous bodily harm in relation to Jozette Sheppard, 46, (left and right) who was left with a permanent dent in her face Melin was cleared of grievous bodily harm in relation to Jozette Sheppard, 46, who was left with a permanent dent in her face because she could not be sure whether he told her he was medically trained before she had the treatment. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that Mrs Sheppard, a beautician, and her friend Ms Kingscott, had received treatment for their jowls and brows in November 2011. The first treatment did not work and Melin agreed to give them a free top-up days later. But after this second appointment both women's faces became hot and started to swell. Ms Kingscott said she looked like she had been 'in a fight and lost' after her face became so bruised and swollen she barely recognised herself in the mirror. She said part of her face remained frozen for a year afterwards and her brow dropped. She said she grew her fringe long to hide her droopy forehead. Mrs Sheppard said she could not eat, speak or smile properly for about six months afterwards and has been left with a permanent dent on her face. Melin was previously on trial for fraud charges with his then wife, Lisa Bolster (left), who was accused of being involved in the business. Their trial collapsed in November 2016. Mrs Sheppard (right) said she could not eat properly for about six months afterwards Mrs King arranged an appointment at a beautician's home in Poole, Dorset, in 2013. Her first treatment also didn't work and she went back for a free top-up. But that appointment saw her hospitalised, put on a drip and given steroids. When Mrs King complained to Melin he told her 'no pain, no gain'. She reported him to the police after receiving her 400 treatment in 2013 and an investigation led to Ms Kingscott and Mrs Sheppard coming forward with similar allegations. Melin was previously on trial for fraud charges with his then wife, Lisa Bolster, who was accused of being involved in the business and contributing to the lie that her husband was medically trained. Their trial collapsed in November 2016 but Melin faced retrial while Ms Bolster didn't. A forensic plastic surgeon who examined the women said the substance they were injected with had 'no Botox effect' and Melin had not got it from Allergan, the company that manufactures Botox. Judge Brian Forster released Melin on unconditional bail until a sentencing hearing in June but told him he was in a 'very serious position' and he could not give any indication what the sentence would be. Melin will be sentenced next month. Lawyers for President Trump's former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski have hit New York Magazine with a demand letter claiming it is liable for the criminal acts of one of its reporters, DailyMail.com has learned. The reporter, Olivia Nuzzi, has admitted that she entered Lewandowski's unlocked DC home without his permission and even took a photo of the interior, which she posted on Twitter, describing 'the ornate wall hanging found just inside.' Lewandowski's lawyers warn the magazine that the Republican operative is considering his legal recourse for the 'embarrassment and anxiety' he suffered over the incident. DailyMail.com. Nuzzi was working on a story about former White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, ultimately depicting Lewandowski on the magazine's cover as being 'out for blood.' Following the episode, Lewandowski, 44, tweeted: 'I havent seen my photo album that was in the foyer prior to this incident. Wonder where it could be. Lawyers for President Trump's former Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski (left) have fired off a demand letter to New York Magazine for the alleged 'criminal acts' of its reporter Olivia Nuzzi (right) who admits she entered his townhouse without permission In her story for New York Magazine, Olivia Nuzzi describes the ornate wall hanging found just inside the townhome where Corey Lewandowski lives. In an interview with Columbia Journalism Review, Nuzzi cops to taking a picture of it upon entering the building by herself Nuzzi did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Lewandowski's accusations at the time. But Lauren Starke, the spokeswoman for New York Magazine, told Fox News, referencing Lewandowski's stolen photo album claim: 'Of course his tweet is completely ridiculous and false. 'We stand by Olivia's reporting methods and don't believe she did anything wrong,' Starke added. Indeed that response led Lewandowski's lawyers to claim that Nuzzi's alleged criminal acts were sanctioned by the magazine. In his tweet, Lewandowski included a link to a Fox News story that slams Nuzzi for admitting that she briefly walked into the ex-Trump aide's D.C. digs and took a look around. Nuzzi was forthright about what happened in an interview with Columbia Journalism Review. 'I tried to knock on the basement door, but the gate wasn't open. Then I walked up the steps to the main door and knocked for, like, 10 minutes. And Im knocking, knocking, nobodys answering,' Nuzzi told CJR. 'But after a while, I just touched the door knob, and the door was open. I walked in and Im in the house, by myself.' In the story she describes the ornate wall hanging in the entryway of the townhouse, which serves as Lewandowski's residence, but also the office of Turnberry Solutions, a lobbying firm that Lewandowski says he has no involvement with, but employs members of his former lobbying firm. On Thursday, Corey Lewandowski tweeted a Fox News story about Olivia Nuzzi admitting that she entered his residence adding, 'I havent seen my photo album that was in the foyer prior to this incident. Wonder where it could be?' 'Lions, light-pink roses, and a phrase from Isaiah 35, repeated three times, decorate the corridor leading past the entrance: THE WILDERNESS SHALL BLOSSOM AS THE ROSE,' Nuzzi described. Olivia Nuzzi penned a cover story about outgoing White House Communications Director Hope Hicks, with the cover reading that Corey Lewandowski was 'out for blood!' To CJR she said, 'So I took this photo of the quote on a wall. I peered around but I didn't walk fully into the house.' Nuzzi said she also texted her boyfriend and asked him about the legality of what she had just done. 'And he said it probably wasn't legal and that I should leave,' she said. 'I was like, F***.' Nuzzi said eventually Jason Osbourne, who works at Turnberry Solutions, opened the door and reluctantly gave her a tour. 'He offered me a Coke,' she said. 'I did not tell him that I had already been inside.' On Monday, Lewandowski told Fox News that Nuzzi didn't have permission to go inside the building. 'I can confirm I did not grant her permission to enter my office,' Lewandowski said. Lewandowski was one of the central characters in Nuzzi's opus on Hope Hicks. Corey Lewandowski tweeted about Olivia Nuzzi again Thursday night, criticizing another story she wrote and saying it could have been improved by her engaging in some 'light breaking-and-entering' The story suggested that Lewandowski who Nuzzi reported had encouraged rumors that he had had an affair with Hicks was upset when he heard that she had decided to date Rob Porter, the president's former staff secretary who resigned after spousal abuse allegations were reported on DailyMail.com. 'He got wind that she was dating Porter, and he could not handle that,' one of Nuzzi's sources said. 'There were still raw feelings.' Six days after the Columbia Journalism Review piece ran, Lewandowski wasn't over Nuzzi's revelation that she entered his premises. In a second Thursday tweet, referring to another story Nuzzi penned about who might be Hicks' replacement, Lewandowski suggests the writer 'could have engaged in some light breaking-and-entering into our offices' to paint a more accurate picture. Government workers will enjoy a three-day junket on the taxpayers dime. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal has invited 304 members to the Novotel Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast, according to the Herald Sun. Between flights, food and beverages and accommodation over May 28, 29 and 30 the expected cost of the weekend is $500,000. Administrative Appeals Tribunal has invited 304 members, with 224 staff and 63 senior and specialist support having accepted the invitation An AAT spokeswoman told the publication: 'following a tender process to meet mandatory requirements and to ensure that the booking represented the best value for money due to the ability to offer a competitive rate compared with metropolitan venues.' The hotel describes itself as a 'four star beachfront resort property'. It can fit 1,400 people in its 361 suites and sits amongst 36 hectares of bushland. The AAT has made headlines recently after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton admitted to being 'incredibly frustrated' with the government body. Speaking to Ben Fordham on 2GB earlier this weeky, Mr Dutton said regular Australians were being 'taken for a ride'. 'I think taxpayers, the Australian public, and most importantly the victims and their families, are being taken for a ride,' he said. 'We're working as hard as we can to kick people out of our country who've done the wrong thing.' Between flights, food and beverages and accommodation over May 28, 29 and 30 the expected cost of the weekend is $500,000 The junket will be held between May 28 and May 30 at Novotel Twin Waters Resort on the Sunshine Coast According to The Australian since 2010 the ATT overturned the decision of 164 cases of foreign-born criminals that were made by Peter Dutton's delegates. This includes 17 rapists, eight murderers and 33 drug dealers. The AAT defended their decision on their website. AAT wrote that recent coverage 'incorrectly reported' that the independent body 'set aside more decisions than it affirmed'. 'In 2016-17, the AAT finalised 19,077 reviews of visa decisions made by the Department of Home Affairs,' the tribunal wrote. 'Of these, 31 per cent set aside, varied or remitted the decision made by the original decision maker, 44 per cent affirmed the decision made by the original decision maker, and the remaining 25 per cent of cases were withdrawn, dismissed or not reviewable.' A male giant panda has been mistaken as female for nearly four years at a zoo in north-east China. Experts claimed they saw the four-year-old 'female' panda, called Pu Pu, lifting its legs and walking backwards, which are distinctive behaviour for male pandas. So they became suspicious of Pu Pu's gender and ran a checkup on the animals' genitals, which confirmed the animal is actually male. Giant panda Pu Pu has been mistaken as a female bear for nearly four years until last month Giant panda experts noticed Pu Pu behaving in 'a masculine way', like lifting up his legs Experts also claim that the signs of gender are not obvious among giant pandas before they reach four years old. According to Liaoshen Evening Post, Pu Pu lives in the enclosure of Shenyang Forest Zoo. It was one of the four young giant pandas that were sent to stay in the zoo in Liaoning Province eight months ago. Ms Rong, a carer at the zoo, told Beijing News that it was difficult to identify a giant panda's gender when it's young. She reviewed the previous pictures and footage of Pu Pu and could not find any obvious signs indicating the giant panda as male. In April, experts from the giant panda research and breeding centre in Sichuan Province noticed some masculine characteristics on Pu Pu and contacted the carers at the zoo. Experts and carers identified the four-year-old Pu Pu as a female giant panda since it's born It's said giant pandas do not show clear genital characteristics until reaching the age of four Experts said a male giant panda's foreskin could look similar to a female giant panda's vagina They reviewed the pictures and found that Pu Pu started to have what they believed were testicles around the inner thigh in February. They also noticed Pu Pu moving backwards and lifting up legs, which are behaviour commonly associated with male giant pandas. Upon a checkup with the four-year-old bear, Shenyang Forest Zoo released a statement to confirm that Pu Pu is a male giant panda. Carers could easily confuse the shape of a male giant panda's foreskin with the shape of a female giant panda's vagina, explained the statement. The features can only be distinguished when the giant pandas turn three to four years old. Carers said the nutrition and living habit would not change after clearing Pu Pu's gender Ms Rong said the clarification of Pu Pu's gender would not change his eating habit or living environment. Pu Pu was born in August 10, 2014, and moved to Shenyang Forest Zoo last September. It relocated along with three other giant pandas: his twin brother Fang Fang and two female giant pandas, Bing Qing and Bing Hua. Doctors have issued a warning for parents using baby slings, after the tragic death of three infants and near-deaths of many more. Doctors issued the warning after three infants died from suffocation in South Australia since 2010. SA Health's Deputy Chief Medical Officer Doctor, Nicola Spurrier, said each tragedy was the result of holding the baby incorrectly, and each was entirely preventable. Scroll down for video Doctors have issued a warning for parents using baby slings, after the tragic death of three infants and near-deaths of many more She said each baby died due to having its face pressed against the person wearing the sling, or having its breathing restricted due to being curled up in a c-shape. 'That position, whilst it might be comfortable in the womb, it's certainly not a comfortable of safe position for babies once they're born,' she told Nine News. The warning comes after an Adelaide baby was found cold and lifeless after being placed in a sling underneath his mother's shirt. In a letter to the Medical Journal of Australia, published in 2011, experts said tests concluded there was no other explanation for the two-day-old baby's death. 'That position, whilst it might be comfortable in the womb, it's certainly not a comfortable of safe position for babies once they're born,' Dr Nicola Spurrier said Kidsafe CEO Holly Fitzgerald said parents should always be able to see their baby's face while in a sling. 'It's really important parents always observe baby's nose and mouth, ensuring the airway is clear,' she said. 'Just looking for signs like baby squirming or being disrupted int here, a blue colour or tinge to their skin.' Doctors also warned parents against following the advice of online hackers, when it came to slings. Kidsafe CEO Holly Fitzgerald said parents should always be able to see their baby's face while in a sling They urged people to follow the manurfacturers guide, to ensure they followed the safest possible procedure. Doctors also urged parents to steer clear of buying slings online, or second-hand. Following the deaths of three infants in South Australia, there is now drive to bring in safety standards for slings. After 16 deaths were attributed to slings in the US and Canada, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission was also called to introduce mandatory standards. Advertisement A previously-unseen photograph of Albert Einstein aged five is going up for auction A fascinating collection of letters by Albert Einstein and previously unseen pictures of the mathematician as a child are going on sale for 250,000. The archive includes a never-before-seen photo of Einstein aged five and the only surviving letter he sent his father. The image is of Einstein in Munich in 1884 and shows him as a young boy with neatly combed and flattened hair. A second black and white photograph depicts him 11 years later when his dark curly hair had grown to the wild and straggly lengths he became known for. The items belonged to his younger sister Maja Winteler-Einstein and her husband Paul Winteler - and have been passed down the family since her death in 1951. Maja fled Europe in 1939 to join her brother in Princeton in the US, and lived out her last years with him after a stroke meant she was too ill to return to Germany after the Second World War. Many of the letters in the sale are unpublished and shed new light on Einstein's deepest thoughts as he escaped Adolf Hitler's tyrannical Nazi regime. A sombre letter from Einstein to Maja penned in September 1933, just months after Hitler seized power in Germany, spoke of his fears for the future. In the letter, which is valued at 6,000, Einstein speculates whether he could ever return to Germany again and observes 'the only unshakeable things are the stars and mathematics'. He writes: 'What will happen, if we come back from Princeton next year? Will we actually be able to do that? What will it be like there? The only unshakeable things are the stars and mathematics.' Einstein is pictured aged 16 in 1895 (left) and aged 67 in 1946 (right) in the photo collection Einstein is pictured in the middle of reporters in a photo taken in New York in December 1930 Another heart-breaking letter, sent by Einstein to Maja on January 5, 1937, with an estimate of 3,500, captures his sorrow in the immediate aftermath of his wife Elsa's agonising death after a long illness on December 20 the previous year. He writes: 'So two lung infections added themselves to the series, and the second killed her. She struggled hard and looked death in the face with clarity, even at the end wished for it. 'The nightmare of her suffering still hangs with continuing strength over Margot (his step daughter) and me and at night we still painfully listen out for her moaning and whimpering. 'This life is no fun, even without the terrible things that people themselves do to each other.' Einsteen is pictured in a previously unseen photo aged five with his younger sister Maja, three, in 1884 (left), and in his late 20s (right) Three generations of Einsteins - with Albert (right), his son Hans and grandson Berhhard A postcard from 18-year-old Einstein to his father keeping him abreast of his summer trip to Lake Constance in the Rhine, Germany, the only surviving correspondence between the pair, is valued at 3,500. In it, he mentions his successful rendezvous with his friend the previous evening and the 'wonderful weather'. The collection of 77 lots, which consists of letters, photos and postcards, has been consigned for sale with Christie's auction house in London. Thomas Venning, head of Christie's Books and Manuscript Department in London, said: 'I particularly love the undiscovered photo of him as a five-year-old. Einstein is pictured aged 25 in 1904 (left), and (right) at the back with his son Hans and grandson Berhhard at his summer house in Caputh in 1932 The fascinating collection of letters penned by Einstein and previously unseen photos of the genius mathematician have emerged for sale for 250,000 A 16-year-old Einstein, pictured in 1895, is one of a collection of photos that are up for auction 'It is very exciting to see an image of him at that young age and to look at him and think what he would become. 'He achieved extraordinary things but reading his letters he is very level headed, although he was very concerned about what was going on in Germany under Hitler. 'The letters convey the great uncertainty of the time and he asks whether he will be able to return to Germany. 'Einstein and Maja were very close and she spent her final years with him in Princeton. A postcard from 18-year-old Einstein to his father keeping him abreast of his summer trip to Lake Constance in Germany. In it, he mentions his successful rendezvous with his friend A letter penned by Einstein to his younger sister Maja in 1933. The collection of 77 lots has been consigned for sale with Christie's auction house in London 'Following her death the archive was looked after by her husband and it has passed down the family.' Other photos in the collection include one of Einstein stood at a lectern taken when he was working as a clerk in the Swiss Federal Patent Office in Berne in 1904. It has an estimate of 3,000. And a photo of Einsteen and Maja posing together in their youth as well as Einstein with his elder son, Hans Albert, and grandson Berhhard on the steps of his summer house in Caputh, Germany, in 1932. The online sale is open for bidding and finishes on May 9. A leading euthanasia advocate dubbed 'Dr Death' has slammed Australia's assisted dying laws after scientist David Goodall departed overseas to end his life. Australia's s oldest scientist left the country to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. Philip Nitschke, the founder of voluntary euthanasia advocacy group Exit International agreed that it was disappointing Professor Goodall was denied the right to a peaceful death. Scroll down for video He got on a plane in Perth late Wednesday surrounded by friends and family saying their final goodbyes (grandson pictured) Dr Goodall celebrated his 104th birthday in early April and has since decided it is time to access voluntarily euthanasia in Switzerland 'That's the reality in Australia He's a well 104-year-old and there is no way he can get any assistance or access to any of the drugs legally to be able to end his life,' he said, 9 News reported. British-born David Goodall does not have a terminal illness but on the grounds that his quality of life has deteriorated he secured a fast-track appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel, Switzerland. He got on a plane in Perth late Wednesday surrounded by friends and family saying their final goodbyes, including a heartfelt farewell from his grandson, euthanasia advocates told AFP. 'I should be glad when I get on the plane - so far, so good,' he said. 'I have some of my family here - there are three grandsons here, I believe and my daughter Karen... It's very good that they shall be here to see me off'. Renowned academic David Goodall is travelling to Switzerland to end his life Australia's oldest working scientist David Goodall talking to media as he departs Perth Airport for Switzerland He will spend several days with other family in Bordeaux, France, before heading to Switzerland where he is due to end his life on May 10. 'I don't want to go to Switzerland, though it's a nice country,' he told broadcaster ABC before leaving. 'But I have to do that in order to get the opportunity of suicide which the Australian system does not permit. I feel very resentful.' Mr Nitschke explained that in Switzerland the renowned scholar will be able to lawfully access drugs to end his life in a reliable and calm environment. 'The fact that the AMA have been prepared to make statements about people that are well and expect us to somehow respect their opinion when they've done nothing but undermine euthanasia rights for people - whether they're sick or well - beggars belief,' he said. The botanist and ecologist has said that he 'greatly regrets' living for so long Dr Goodall was born in London on April 4, 1914, but moved to Australia in 1948 Exit International, which helped Goodall make the trip, believes it was unjust that one of Australia's 'oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the other side of the world to die with dignity'. It launched a GoFundMe campaign to get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and quickly raised more than Aus$20,000 (US$15,000). Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legalise it last year. He came to Australia to in 1948 taking up a lecturing position at the University of Melbourne Goodall (left), an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus The Northern Territory briefly legalised euthanasia for the terminally ill in 1996 but it was overturned a year later due to Federal Government But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months. Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated, most recently in New South Wales state last year. Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. Dr Goodall is expected to leave Perth in early May with long-time friend Carol O'Neil (left) After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals. Goodall told ABC he appreciated the public's interest in his plight and hoped it would spark more discussion about voluntary euthanasia. 'I would like them to understand it,' he said. 'I am 104 years old so I haven't got much time left anyway. I might as well not have (my health) getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes.' Who is Australia's oldest scientist David Goodall? Dr Goodall was born in London in 1914, and is an eminent botanist and ecologist. He came to Australia to in 1948, taking up a lecturing position at the University of Melbourne. Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. Dr Goodall celebrated his 104th birthday in early April and has since decided it is time to access voluntarily euthanasia in Switzerland. Advertisement Cassie Sainsbury's lawyer is threatening to drop her as his client over a $25,000 legal bill he claims the Australian government hasn't paid him for. Orlando Herran claims the government has racked up the hefty bill since September last year for his defence of Sainsbury, including during her trial when she was sentenced to six years' jail in Colombia for trying to smuggle 5.8kgs of cocaine. Mr Herran said he received an undisclosed amount from the government for services he provided from Sainsbury's arrest on April 12 until August 30 last year, but not a cent since, Adelaide Now reported. He now believes he isn't being treated fairly by the government 'for being a foreigner'. Cassie Sainsbury's (pictured) lawyer is threatening to drop her as his client over a $25,000 legal bill he says the Australian government hasn't paid him for Orlando Herran (pictured) claims the government has racked up the hefty bill since September last year for his defence of Sainsbury She was sentenced to six years' jail in Colombia for trying to smuggle 5.8kgs of cocaine 'I would have worked over six months for free. If I don't get paid, I'll have to abandon the case,' he told the publication. 'The only other person that would be eligible to cover legal costs is Cassandra, but her economic conditions are miserable.' He added that the 23-year-old's family were paid a 'substantial TV deal', although he doesn't believe they are authorised to use the funds to pay legal costs. While convicted criminals cannot materially benefit from paid media deals under proceeds of crime legislation, family members often receive payments to circumvent the rules, the publication reported. But Mr Herran said he doesn't have his hopes up that Sainsbury's family will pay him, as he has not seen the money 'reflected at all' in her living conditions. He added that he doesn't want to abandon the case but admitted 'things might come to that'. Mr Herran said he received an undisclosed amount from the government for services he provided from Sainsbury's (pictured) arrest on April 12 until August 30 last year, but not a cent since Mr Herran said that the 23-year-old's (pictured) family were paid a 'substantial TV deal', although he doesn't believe they are authorised to use the funds to pay legal costs Sainsbury (pictured) faces being assigned a public defender as she prepares for upcoming court hearings that will determine whether her sentence will be reduced for good behaviour Mr Herran had previously applied to be paid under the taxpayer-funded Serious Overseas Criminal Matters Scheme a year ago. The scheme is for defendants facing more than 20 years' jail, meaning another private lawyer can no longer apply to represent Sainsbury under the scheme due to the length of her sentence. Now Sainsbury faces being assigned a public defender as she prepares for upcoming court hearings that will determine whether her sentence will be reduced for good behaviour. She also has the potential to serve out her sentence in home detention in Bogota. Mr Herran also told the publication he is planning to bill the government for his work this year. He added: 'I think the Australian government will continue to deny that payment. They have been very slow and the bureaucracy has been maddening. I also believe they won't treat me fairly for being a foreigner. They need to assume their responsibility and pay me.' Rudy Giuliani's revelation that Donald Trump reimbursed his personal attorney for a $130,000 payment to pornographic actress Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair is raising the possibility that the president and his campaign violated campaign finance laws. And one of the more uncomfortable legal questions is coming from a man close to the Trump inner circle. George Conway, an attorney whose wife is Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, tweeted a link Thursday morning to the Federal Election Commission's rules covering whether 'personal gifts and loans' to candidates are counted as campaign contributions. Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani caused a political shock wave Wednesday night by saying the hush money, which originally came out of lawyer Michael Cohen's pocket, was reimbursed through a legal retainer over a period of months. That would make it the equivalent of a loan to Trump. The regulations state that a loan given 'for the purpose of influencing any election for federal office' is considered 'a contribution from the donor to the campaign, subject to the per-election limit and reportable by the campaign.' Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani caused a political shock wave Wednesday night by saying the president reimbursed lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush-money payment to a porn star, through 'expenses' related to a legal retainer George Conway (right), whose wife is Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway, on Thursday tweeted a link to the Federal Election Commission's rules about whether loans to a candidate for the purpose of helping him win an election are counted as campaign cash FEC regulations state that a loan given 'for the purpose of influencing any election for federal office' is considered 'a contribution from the donor to the campaign,' but if Cohen only made the loan to save Trump's marriage not his candidacy there's a loophole waiting for him Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, insisted Wednesday night in a Fox News Channel interview that the $130,000 'was not campaign money. Sorry, I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know. It's not campaign money, no campaign finance violation.' Thursday morning on the same network he said Cohen made the payment on his own, without Trump's knowledge, in an attempt to save the future president's marriage not to increase his chances of winning the White House. 'I think he was trying to help the family,' he said of Cohen, adding that 'it wasn't for the campaign. It was to save their marriage.' But in the same interview, he suggested that a bombshell claim from Daniels would have disastrous consequences for the president's political prospects. 'Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton,' he said. Conway's wife, Kellyanne Conway, is one of the closest advisers to the president Former government ethics czar Walter Shaub pointed out Thursday that even if Trump considered his reimbursement to Cohen a personal expense instead of campaign-related, he was still obligated to declare it as a 'liability' on his federal financial disclosure statements Daniels agreed to accept the money just weeks before the 2016 election, inking a nondisclosure agreement that she has since ignored, claiming it's invalid because Trump never signed it personally. Giuliani's insistence the money had nothing to do with the campaign is complicated by the fact that Daniels' silence was secured just days before the 2016 presidential election, and as Trump was dealing with the fallout from the 'Access Hollywood' tape in which he bragged about how famous men can get away with sexually assaulting women. If the payment were wholly personal, University of California, Irvine professor Richard L. Hasen told the Associated Press, there would be no campaign finance violations. But Giuliani's argument that the payment was unrelated to the campaign appears to be 'pretty far-fetched' given the timing, said Andrew Herman, an attorney specializing in campaign finance law at Miller & Chevalier. Giuliani said the entire value of Trump's retainer with Cohen was $460,000 and the $130,000 'expense' the payment to the porn star was just part of the related legal services 'Certainly, the argument that the government will make is that the $130,000 payment from Michael Cohen to Daniels was a loan to the Trump campaign to keep these allegations secret obviously and then Trump paying Cohen back would be a campaign expenditure,' he said. Larry Noble, general counsel of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, added that 'if the money was funneled through the law firm as legal fees, as Giuliani suggested, it shows an intent to cover up the source of the funds.' The upshot could be good news for Cohen, because it would have been up to the president or his campaign to report the loan, not up to Cohen. Norm Eisen, who served as an ethics lawyer in the Obama White House and now chairs the left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, said that is probably reason enough for the Justice Department 'to open another investigation about whether the president was candid on his personal financial disclosure.' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders dodged questions on Thursday as reporters peppered her with demands for information about Giuliani's revelations; she said they needed to ask Trump's personal lawyers Norm Eisen of the left-leaning 'CREW' organization (left) and former Office of Government Ethics chief Walter Shaub (right) are both weighing in on the possibility that Trump may have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. That issue could have equal legal staying power. Walter Shaub, who led the Office of Government Ethics during both the Obama and Trump administrations, said Thursday that Trump may have jumped out of the frying pan and into the fire. 'AMAZING! In trying to talk his way out of a campaign finance violation, Trump has admitted to filing a false financial disclosure in 2017,' Shaub tweeted. 'He personally certified that his disclosure was "complete and correct".' Giuliani's statements about the overall value of Trump's retainer agreement with Cohen, he said, make it clear 'that he had a $460,000 liability that he omitted from his financial disclosure report.' 'Why isnt anyone in [C]ongress demanding answers?' he demanded. Trump has not yet filed a disclosure form covering his finances from 2017. His filing last year covered 2016. It's unclear exactly when Trump entered into his retainer agreement with Cohen, but the payments to Daniels were made in October 2016. ISIS fanatics have renewed their warning of random attacks in Western cities in a new poster showing a gunman next to a blood-soaked victim. The chilling image shows a masked jihadist with an AK47 standing next to a busy road and wearing full combat clothing. The poster, released online by a group linked to the terror group, comes with the caption: 'You brought death to yourselves'. Lying on a damp pavement at the feet of the militant is the body of a man with blood coming from his head. ISIS fanatics have warned of random attacks in Western cities in a poster showing a gunman next to a blood-soaked victim According to the respected SITE Intelligence group, which monitors terror activity, another poster shows a bomb blast in a street in the Canadian city of Vancouver, British Colombia. The poster is the latest ISIS threat aimed at striking fear into the West. Last week, a poster emerged showing a body lying in a Manchester street - nearly a year after a deadly concert attack in the city. The propaganda image showed a darkened street corner in Manchester with the words 'Islamic State' scrawled in blood above a corpse on the pavement. A message accompanying the picture, showing the Little Ancoats Street alleyway in the city's Northern Quarter, warns: 'We will fulfill our promises to you'. It comes a week after extremists warned of killings in a poster showing a body lying in a Manchester street (pictured) - nearly a year after a deadly concert attack in the city It came just under a year after British-born Salman Abedi killed 22 including children as young as eight by detonating a suicide bomb at the exit of Manchester Arena. The terror group once claimed half of Iraq and Syria at the height of their self-proclaimed caliphate in 2014. After officially branding itself ISIS in 2013, the group took advantage of the 2011 uprising against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to spread. As the war in Syria turned seven years old last month, ISIS was all but defeated at the hands of separate campaigns by the Russia-backed Syrian military and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic forces. And in neighbouring Iraq, only small pockets of ISIS resistance remain This is the heart-stopping moment a fireman tosses a cat from the top of a poplar tree sending it plunging more than 50 feet to the ground. The cat refused to come to the fireman, who used a hydraulic ladder to reach the top of the tree and appeared to be carrying a net. Instead, the fireman shook the top of the tree - dislodging the cat which plunged, feet first, towards the ground to screams from unlookers The firefighter clambers to the top of a ladder to reach a cat stuck on this poplar tree After the cat refuses to move, the firefighter shakes the tree - forcing the cat to fall The cat, pictured in mid-air, plunges towards the ground where two firefighters are waiting The incident happened in the town of Zaporozhye, which is about 80 miles east of Kiev. Luckily for the cat, two firefighters had positioned themselves with a blanket at the foot of the tree and provided the animal with a soft landing. The cat decided against any display of gratitude for the emergency services team and scrambled off seemingly unhurt. The Defence Secretary today insisted Afghan interpreters who served alongside British troops should be allowed to stay in the UK. Gavin Williamson intervened in the row after it emerged many of those who helped with the fight against the Taliban face being ejected from the UK unless they pay the government over 2,000. More than 150 interpreters have written to the Home Secretary complaining that they are being asked for thousands of pounds to secure an indefinite right to remain in the UK. Gavin Williamson, pictured visiting a military exercise in Salisbury, has intervened in the row over Afghan interpreters' right to remain in the UK Mr Williamson chatted with troops after he watched them on exercises in Salisbury today Handed a five-year visa to seek sanctuary in Britain in 2014 - which is set to expire next year - the interpreters said the Home Office has yet to confirm if they can stay, leaving them 'in limbo'. But Mr Williamson told the BBC: 'These are people who have served alongside our armed forces and they have done so much ... so we have made it absolutely clear they should be staying in this country.' It is understood an agreement is close between the Ministry of Defence and the Home Office to waive the charges and allow them to remain in the UK. Mr Williamson said: 'We want to do everything we can do to make sure they are able to do that, and we have been in touch with the Home Office making that position clear, and I am quite confident the Home Office will be supporting us and making sure that happens as quickly as possible.' The interpreters were allowed into the UK under a five-year relocation scheme and once it expires they will need to apply for indefinite leave which would incur the fee. It applies to those who served in 2012. Mr Williamson said the 'key' issue is that the interpreters have been asked to pay the fees which he said is 'not right', adding: 'We are making sure that is going to be resolved because they have every right to be here.' The letter from the interpreters reads: 'We took great risk because we believed in the integrity of the British Army, only to be let down by politicians who see us as (a) number and not as people who have sacrificed more for this country than many of its citizens.' Many of the Afghan interpreters served alongside British troops fighting the Taliban in Helmand (pictured are members of 42 Royal Marines in the province in 2007) Mr Williamson was watching Joint Warrior, one of the largest exercises of its kind in Europe, involving nearly 12,000 military personnel from 17 nations Those who have signed the letter state that they have been told to pay 2,389 per person - a sum they say is 'so great it is unaffordable for many', with many of their wives and children also told they cannot join them in Britain. The letter also highlights how those translators whose children have been born in the UK are struggling to obtain documentation for them - and may have to pay 1,200 to apply for a British visa and Afghan passport. Mr Williamson said British troops have worked 'hand in glove' with the brave translators and said he knows 'everyone across government will be working with us to get this matter resolved as swiftly as possible'. He said he would be 'amazed' if they were kicked out of Britain, stating they 'have every right to be here'. 'We have a personal duty to do the right thing by them and I know that is something that is felt right across government,' he added. A very drunk and possibly drugged Kansas man was caught by police trying to have sex with a car, and had to be tasered before he would stop. Police were called to central Kansas on Tuesday to reports of a 'naked male underneath a car in an apartment complex parking lot,' Lieutenant Scott Powell told DailyMail.com. 'When we got there he was actively attempting to stick his penis into the tailpipe.' The man had taken a liking to a newer model, grey Dodge Dart, Powell said. Local police say they made multiple requests for the man to stop trying to put his penis into the grey, newer model Dodge Dart (similar pictured) Despite multiple commands to stop from officers, it took being shocked with a taser before he would comply. Powell said the man, 24, was taken to the emergency room when he was finally separated from the vehicle. 'He was high on some sort of drug,' Powell told The Kansan. 'Officers were there, and he continued to try and have sex with the tailpipe of the car. He would not listen to commands or anything. ... They ended up tasing him.' The man had a life threatening .35 blood alcohol level and is suspected of having used drugs in the lead up to his seduction of the car. The man had a blood alcohol level of 0.35 and was 'oblivious to what was going on' when officers arrived He also had a possible head injury, sustained before police arrived. Powell said the man was 'oblivious to what was going on' when officers arrived, and was known to police: 'but not for anything like this'. The man is expected to be released from hospital on Thursday, and is expected to be charged. Police submitted a report to city prosecutors recommending a misdemeanor charge of lewd and lascivious behavior. Nothing had been filed as of Thursday. The driver who fatally ran over two children in a crosswalk in Brooklyn, including the four-year-old daughter of a Broadway actress, has been charged. Dorothy Bruns, 44, was arrested on Thursday at her Staten Island home and charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and reckless driving, according to officials. Bruns told police she had a history of seizures and suffered one while behind the wheel in March, causing the accident that killed Joshua Lew, one, and Abigail Blumenstein, four. The accident prompted outrage from city officials, including Mayor Bill de Blasio, who said she never should have been behind the wheel if she had a serious medical condition. Dorothy Bruns, 44, is pictured being arrested on Thursday for killing two children in March when she ran a red light in Brooklyn Bruns, of Staten Island, has been charged with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and reckless driving Broadway actress Ruthie Ann Miles poses with her four-year-old daughter Abigail who was killed in March The Staten Island woman ran a red light in Brooklyn, New York, hitting, dragging and killing Lauren Lew's son, Joshua Actress Ruthie Ann Blumenstein and her four-year-old daughter, Abigail, and Lauren Lew and her one-year-old son, Joshua, were struck as they crossed the street in Park Slope, Brooklyn, a neighborhood full of families. Both children were killed. Moments before the crash, the two kids and their mothers had just gotten off the bus and were crossing the street when Bruns who was driving a white Volvo sped through the intersection at 9th Street and Fifth Avenue in Park Slope, striking the families. Horrifying video captured at the scene shows the white car rolling into the crosswalk as the unsuspecting pedestrians are struck. Blumenstein, who is pregnant, was hospitalized in intensive care but later said in a statement that she was healing. 'By all accounts it is a miracle our second child is unharmed,' the statement read. 'Please continue to pray for the Lew and Blumenstein families as we process the unthinkable.' Blumenstein, who goes by the stage name Ruthie Ann Miles, won a featured actress Tony in 2015 for her role as Lady Thiang in a revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'The King and I.' Bruns' Volvo is pictured after the crash with Joshua's stroller underneath the back tire At first, the driver tried to get away, but she eventually came to a stop when she crossed into oncoming traffic and cars parked cars The actress, who is pregnant, was taken to the hospital for her injuries The crash prompted de Blasio, a traffic safety advocate who lives in Park Slope, to propose changes to state laws that would extend and expand speed enforcement cameras around school zones, escalate fines for repeat offenders up to $350, and strip vehicle registration for dangerous drivers. A FDNY source told the Daily News that another medical emergency call was placed to Brun's home December 22, and yet another on November 19- both were regarding a cardiac condition. The woman's medical records have been subpoenaed allowing officials to review ailment history and figure out if she should have been on the road Her health issues had become such that this past January she went on medical leave from her job at ClearCaptions. She returned in February when she was given medical clearance, according to a source familiar with the situation. Last September, Burns allegedly struck a pedestrian in Long Island City, Queens. However the NYPD highway safety cop failed to document the crash properly, which would have flagged her driving record, according to the Daily News in a report last month. Additionally in the past two years she accrued four speed violations and four red light violations. Bruns told local authorities that she has no recollection of the incident and was unaware of what she had done until she was notified, sources told the New York Post. Toxicology results came in during the crash. Burns came up negative for possible drug or alcohol traces. A Florida resident is being hailed a hero for his quick-thinking actions to put out a fire after a boat erupted in flames. Bret Townsend was out enjoying the nice weather in Tequesta on Sunday when he noticed a small boat in the middle of the water was engulfed in flames. While onlookers stood and watched, Townsend hopped on a jet ski and raced towards the burning boat. The certified EMT and soon-to-be paramedic made sure no one was aboard before he jumped into action. Bret Townsend, of Florida, is being hailed a hero after he used a jet ski to put out a boat fire Townsend said he sped toward the boat and then turned away sharply sending a wave of water onto the boat Townsend told CBS12 that he drove towards the boat as fast as possible and then turned his jet ski at the last second to spray it with a wave of water. He did that for about 10 minutes before the black smoke turned white and the flames eventually disappeared. The Florida native said he acted quickly because he was worried the boat would explode causing even more damage or potential injuries. My concern was the boat was going to blow off to the side, maybe catch something else on fire or get down into the fuel tank, maybe explode or leak oil into the water, he said. Townsend, who graduates from paramedic school in July, said he hopes to join the Palm Beach Fire Rescue. 'I look for reasons to help people,' he told CBS12. 'I get a lot of pride out of that.' U.S. military involvement in Yemen's civil war appears to be larger than originally thought. A team of about a dozen Army Green Berets was sent to the country's border with Saudi Arabia in December, to aid the Saudi-led forces in their fight against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, according to the New York Times. Yemen has been in political disarray since 2015, when the Iranian-backed Houthis overthrew the president and took control of most of the western part of the country, including the capital, Sana'a. About a dozen Army Green Berets have been sent to Saudi Arabia to help secure the border with Yemen, according to the New York Times. Above, Saudi border guards keep watch along the Yemen border in October A Saudi-led coalition has been locked in a battle with the Houthi fighters since 2015 (fighters in September 2014), when the rebel group overthrew the president and took control of the capital and much of western Yemen Since then, a Saudi-led coalition has been locked in conflict with the rebels, as they work to reinstate President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi. According to U.S. officials and European diplomats interviewed by the Times, Army Green Berets have been aiding the Saudis in locating and destroying caches of ballistic missiles and launch sites that the Houthis have been using to attack Riyadh and other Saudi cities. This appears to contradict the Pentagon's statement on the matter, saying that the U.S. military is only helping the coalition with aircraft refueling, logistics and general intelligence sharing. Houthi rebels cheer as they launch a missile towards Saudi Arabia on march 28 The Saudi coalition has responded with attacks of their own, including this air strike on a Houthi arms depot in May 2015 The issue with American intervention in the conflict is the fact that the Houthis are not considered a direct threat to the U.S. They have not been deemed a terror group, and do no operate outside of Yemen. America's activity in Yemen appears to be another conflict the U.S. military is engaging in that most of the country is unaware of. The U.S. military has also come under fire for its presence in Niger, where four soldiers were killed in a surprise attack by Islamic State militants back in October. The deaths came as a shock to the soldiers' families back home, since they weren't operating in a war zone. In March, senators pressed Pentagon officials in a meeting on Capitol Hill to discuss the military's role in the conflict. The area in brown shows the area that the Houthis have taken control of. the Area in yellow is still controlled by the country's president, who is backed by the Saudis. Al Qaeda also operates in a few areas of the country's hinterlands, seen in black They demanded to know whether American troops were entering into hostilities with the Houthis, but the Pentagon denied this. They repeated their previous statement, saying the troops that are in Saudi Arabia are there mostly to advise and help with border defense. 'We are authorized to help the Saudis defend their border,' Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the head of United States Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 13. 'We are doing that through intelligence sharing, through logistics support and through military advice that we provide to them.' On April 17, Robert S. Karem, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told the Senate foreign relations committee that the U.S. had about 50 military personnel in Saudi Arabia 'largely helping on the ballistic missile threat'. The conflict in Yemen is further complicated by the fact that the Houthis are supported by Iran. 'Iran destabilizes this entire region,' Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said during a visit to Riyadh on Sunday. 'It supports proxy militias and terrorist groups. It is an arms dealer to the Houthi rebels in Yemen.' Since President Trump took office, relations between the U.S. and Iran have withered as the president has threatened to pull out of the nuclear deal and reinstate sanctions. The current deal to aid the Saudis was actually created under President Obama, but the Trump's administration appears to have broadened the scope as the president has developed a close relationship with Saudi Arabia's crown prince. Residents of a New Jersey neighbourhood have found out that the sound of helicopters and explosions that kept them awake was a secret Air Force exercise. Video taken from the backyard of a Totowa resident's house shows a Blackhawk helicopter hovering overhead while at the same time the community was rocked by piercing explosions at around 10pm. In the clip caught on Michael Melograno's cellphone he says: 'I have never seen anything like this. There was a Blackhawk helicopter flying right over here.' The Blackhawk helicopter in the sky above Totowa, New Jersey. Explosions terrified local people Michael Melograno, who took the video, said his parents thought the neighbourhood was coming under attack The explosions caused many of the residents in the block to come running out of their houses. 'My parents thought we were under attack,' Melograno later told NorthJersey.com. The helicopters made two trips at 10 p.m. and a second around midnight during the April 16 exercise. 'First it was explosions and then the chopper was so low that our house was vibrating,' resident Larry Pizzichetta told CBS New York. Another resident, Mauricio Gallardo said: 'We were scared about that, you know? It happened at night time.' John Emmolo said his daughter called 911 to find out what was happening, but got no information. 'They said, "Well, you have to talk to state police about it",' he said. Eventually, they learned members of the U.S. Armed Forces were training in secret for three nights. They were using the North Jersey Developmental Center, which is due to be redeveloped, for their training. As her ex-husband battles an incoming slew of additional lawsuits and allegations, Georgina Chapman has been focusing on her children. The Marchesa designer was seen enjoying a spring day in Manhattan with her seven-year-old daughter India on Wednesday. Chapman, 41, held India's hand throughout their walk together as she hid behind large black sunglasses. Georgina Chapman was seen enjoying a spring day in Manhattan with her daughter India in Manhattan on Wednesday The designer kept her look understated for mother-daughter time with a belted long denim skirt paired with a flowy navy top and sandals. India was carrying a bright pink backpack, which Champman later swung around her own arm. Chapman has been keeping a low profile after more than 80 women accused Weinstein of sexual harassment, rape, and assault. She went into hiding for nearly six months while the controversy continued to build as major stars like Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Salma Hayek also shared their own horrific Weinstein stories. The designer has not been seen with Weinstein since the pair divorced last October. They were just one month away from ringing in 10 years in December 2017. Chapman, 41, held India's hand throughout their walk together as she hid behind large black sunglasses and carried her daughter's bright pink backpack In a statement to People, Chapman said on her divorce: 'My heart breaks for all the women who have suffered tremendous pain because of these unforgivable actions. I have chosen to leave my husband.' It wasn't until March 15 that Chapman, who lives in the West Village with India and her four-year-old son Dashiell, felt ready to return to work on her label. Gowns from the brand, once a red carpet mainstay among the top Hollywood stars, have only appeared about a dozen times on lesser-known actresses this award season. And Marchesa scrapped its runway show for New York Fashion Week, instead quietly releasing the spring collection online. 'This has all been extremely difficult, challenging and heartbreaking,' one source close to Chapman told The Hollywood Reporter. 'The fact that it has affected Marchesa is extremely upsetting. The team is a second family to her.' Chapman has been keeping a low profile after more than 80 women accused her ex-husband Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment, rape, and assault (pictured together in February 2017) It wasn't until March 15 that Chapman, who lives in the West Village with India and her four-year-old son Dashiell, felt ready to return to work at Marchesa (pictured) But Marchesa continues to be stocked in major department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, and Chapman has found support in the fashion industry. She was greeted with a round of applause after attending a board meeting for the Council of Fashion Designers of America recently. 'We were all happy to see her,' Diane Von Furstenberg told the magazine. 'Georgina is a great designer, engaged board member, devoted mother, and good friend.' Meanwhile, Weinstein has been hit with a slew of new lawsuits and allegations just within the last week. Actress Ashley Judd sued Weinstein this week, claiming he derailed her career after she rejected his sexual advances Alexandra Canosa, a producer on Netflix's Marco Polo, is suing Weinstein (pictured together in 2012) and claims he sexually assaulted her nine times over the course of seven years Actress Ashley Judd is suing the disgraced producer, claiming he derailed her career after she rejected his sexual advances. Judd's lawsuit, filed on Monday in Los Angeles Superior Court, relates to her failing to get a role in The Lord Of The Rings movies. Director Peter Jackson previously came forward to say that he had wanted to cast Judd in a prominent role for the films, but removed her from the cast list 'as a direct result' of of 'false information' from Weinstein. Alexandra Canosa, a producer on Netflix's Marco Polo, is also suing Weinstein and claims he sexually assaulted her nine times over the course of seven years. Cate Blanchett (left, on March 13) told Variety on Wednesday that she had been sexually harassed by Harvey Weinstein (right, in October) Canosa said Weinstein threatened her job and future in the industry if she reported anything, according to court papers. This week Cate Blanchett added herself to the list of women Weinstein has allegedly harassed. In an interview with Variety, the actress was asked if she had ever been sexually harassed by the movie producer and she said 'Yes', although she didn't elaborate. 'I think he really primarily preyed, like most predators, on the vulnerable,' she said. 'I mean I got a bad feeling from himHe would often say to me, "Were not friends."' When asked what he meant by that, Blanchett said only: 'Well, I wouldnt do what he was asking me to do.' A speed camera along a popular highway fines motorists more than $4600 an hour. The Bruce Highway, near Gympie in Queensland, issued 156 infringement notices in 5.5 hours, according to the Courier Mail. Based on the publications estimations, that equates to roughly $25,000 a day and close to one driver being pinged every minute or two. There are more than 3,700 mobile speed cameras in operation around Queensland (stock image) The top five mobile cameras for issuing the most fines per hour included Gympie, Glanmire, Stuart and Morayfield. All five spots were along the Bruce Highway. According to the publication, the most costly camera is a fixed one at Burpengary which issued 4235 fines over more than 8500 hours of operation. There are more than 3,700 mobile speed cameras in operation around Queensland. Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) states motorists were slapped with around $90million in fines, two thirds of which were for people speeding less than 13km/h over the limit (stock image) In a 2014 study, the Queensland Government website revealed that the state's speed and red light cameras were believed to 'be associated with savings of nearly 6,000 police reported crashes annually between 2009 and 2012.' It claimed that this led to annual savings of around $650million. In April, a media release from the Royal Automobile Club of Queensland (RACQ) claimed that motorists were slapped with around $90million in fines. RACQ states that more than two thirds of the speeding fines between November 1 2016 and October 31 the following year were for drivers who were over the limit by less than 13km/h. RACQ spokesperson Renee Smith said in the release: 'Most of those speedsters were caught by mobile speed cameras, proving police are out in force, and will catch anyone flouting the law. 'You risk not just a $168 fine and one demerit point, you could cause a serious crash.' A group of schoolboys who dressed up as girls for a GCSE leavers' event at their school were told to get changed or face detention for the rest of the day. Ysgol Penweddig in Aberystwyth said it took the action after parents, pupils and staff complained at the boys' choice of attire. The Year 11 fancy dress day is a tradition at the 591-pupil school which has pupils aged 11 to 18. Boys who dressed up as girls for a GCSE leavers' event at their school were put in detention for the rest of the day. Ysgol Penweddig in Aberystwyth took the action after pupils and staff complained. School authorities said those concerned had 'undermined the school and its core values'. They were given detention and the chance to change their clothes. Those who did so returned to lessons. The school, deemed 'adequate' by Estyn - the education and training inspectorate for Wales - last year, said in a statement via Ceredigion County Council: 'Parents, pupils and staff had raised concerns about the possible effect on the wider school community given the school's core values of inclusion and respect for all members of the school community irrespective of their background, race or sexuality. 'Year 11 pupils asked that they be allowed to have a fancy dress day and this has been a tradition at this and other schools. 'We have no wish to deny pupils this privilege or other privileges such as a leavers' party at the end of their compulsory school career. However, pupils are always asked to ensure that what they wear is appropriate and is not likely to offend and that their behaviour reflects the values and respect that the school stands for. 'All pupils were told prior to the fancy dress day by their registration teacher that they should dress appropriately and that they should specifically avoid offending other pupils or be seen to offend the wider community. 'The pastoral Head of Year 11 specifically reinforced this message and spoke with all the pupils in year 11 before the day to reinforce this message. 'The pupils in question chose not to respect this and undermined the trust placed in them by the school. As such they undermined the school and its core values of respect for authority and for the wider school community. 'The pupils in question were given detention and an opportunity to change their clothing which many did. The pupils who changed returned to lessons. All the pupils in detention were provided with work and given ample opportunity to use the time constructively to prepare for their forthcoming examinations. The school deems this to have been a proportionate response and the matter is now closed.' Iowa man Daniel Lee Stone, 48, admitted to sending more than 170 text messages to the teenage girl over a four-day period in November 2016. He is pictured above in 2014 mugshot An Iowa man has pleaded guilty to cyberstalking after he texted a 16-year-old girl more than 170 times and offered her cash if she became his 'sugar baby'. Daniel Lee Stone, 48, admitted to sending the text messages to the teenage girl over a four-day period in November 2016. In the texts, Stone, of Solon, pretended to be someone else and offered the girl cash and other 'goodies' if she would have a relationship with him and become his 'sugar baby'. Many of the text messages indicted that Stone was watching the girl and was familiar with her home. He often said he was outside her home and would describe certain items or places inside the property. Some of the messages read: 'I know where you live' and 'I like the glass block in the shower in this bathroom'. The girl repeatedly asked Stone to leave her alone. At one point, the girl and her mother stayed at a hotel because they feared for their safety. Stone pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal on Monday in the US District Court. He admitted to sending the messages to scare and intimidate the girl. Stone faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He will be sentenced on September 12. Liga Skromane, 33, who is Latvian but was living in Dublin, Ireland, for the past five years with her partner, arrived in Kerala with her sister in February A woman who travelled to India to treat her depression was drugged, raped and beheaded before her body was found hung upside down in a forest. Liga Skromane, 33, who is Latvian but was living in Dublin, Ireland, for the past five years with her partner, arrived in Kerala with her sister in February. She was hoping to be treated at one of the ayurvedic centres the area is famous for, according to NDTV. But she went missing a few weeks after arriving in the country after leaving the centre to visit a beach. Her decomposing body was found near a mangrove forest in Thiruvallam on April 21. Police revealed on Thursday the same day her funeral was held in Thiruvananthapuram - that she was lured by two men, who drugged and raped her before killing her. Two suspects are in custody. They are drug peddlers and one is a repeat offender with a history of sexually abusing men and women in the area where Ms Skromanes body was found, sources told NDTV. Police said the victims post-mortem examination didnt reveal much because of how decomposed her body was. However, they were able to determine that she was given drugs and assaulted before being strangled to death. Her decomposing body was found near a mangrove forest in Thiruvallam on April 21 The victim was lured into this area, given drugs and sexually assaulted. She was murdered when she resisted, officer Manoj Abraham told NDTV. It comes as two teenagers were gang raped in separate incidents in India in the past four days. The cases highlight a rape epidemic that shows no sign of abating despite tougher penalties introduced last month. Police said they had not made any arrests in either case. One victim was a 16-year-old girl who committed suicide after being raped by eight men on Sunday in the Nuh district of the northern state of Haryana, senior police official Nazneen Bhasin told Reuters. The victim's sister Ilze and Andrew handed out fliers before her body was found last month On Tuesday, a 19-year-old woman was raped by five men, including the driver of an autorickshaw she hailed in another district of the same state. The incidents come less than a month after India approved the death penalty for the rape of girls younger than 12. They country also increased the prison term for the rape of older girls and women following nationwide disgust over a particularly gruesome rape and murder of a Muslim girl in Jammu & Kashmir state. Registered cases of sexual violence have been steadily rising despite the national outrage that followed the fatal gang rape of a student on a bus in New Delhi in 2012. Atual Mustafa, 36, murdered his partner at their house on Pear Tree Crescent in Normanton, Derby, last May A man who tortured and murdered his partner at their home was today jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years. Atual Mustafa, 36, murdered Sohbia Khan, 37, at their house on Pear Tree Crescent in Normanton, Derby, last May. On Tuesday, a jury at Derby Crown Court needed just 45 minutes to convict Mustafa. The court heard that after Mustafa met 'confident, intelligent, bubbly' Miss Khan, he 'lured' her to live with him in Derby. But he became controlling and then subjected her to 'domestic violence on a savage scale', inflicting horrific injuries which eventually killed her between May 25 and May 28 last year Miss Khan, originally from Bradford, West Yorkshire, suffered 36 separate injuries, some carried out with an iron, the court was told. Mustafa had previously brutally attacked a different woman - who was present at Derby Crown Court for today's sentencing - and changed his name. On that occasion he was found by a court to be mentally ill and sent to a secure hospital. Today he was sentenced by High Court judge Justice Sue Carr to life in prison and must serve minimum of 32 years. Prosecutor Michael Auty QC, referring to Mustafa's previous conviction, described how the defendant threw the woman on the floor and took hold of her. Mustafa insisted she had been unfaithful and punched her repeatedly. Mr Auty said: 'He started to pull her hair out and shave it off. He then shaved her hair and eye brows off. 'He took hold of a cushion and said he was going to kill her. He told work colleagues she had died and flowers started to arrive at the home'. 'Mustafa repeatedly struck her with a brush and so hard it snapped. 'The woman managed to escape by running away to a nearby clinic.' Sohbia Khan, 37, was described by her loved ones as 'outspoken and strong woman and very kind-hearted, always full of joy' A number of people cried in court as Javed Khan, Miss Khan's brother, read out a victim personal statement in the witness box. Mr Khan described his sister as an 'outspoken and strong woman and very kind-hearted, always full of joy'. After Mustafa lured Miss Khan to Derby, Mr Khan said his sister changed. Mr Khan said: 'My sister was not allowed to live, just to exist.' Mr Khan described Mustafa as a 'monster'. When talking about what happened to the first victim, Mr Khan said: 'It is an outrage that such a despicable human being could get away with this.' On Tuesday, a jury at Derby Crown Court (pictured) needed just 45 minutes to convict Mustafa David Nathan, defending for Mustafa, said: 'This is a horrific case'. 'Something went seriously wrong [in his life].... and nobody seems to know what it is.' In her speech, Justice Susan Carr said Miss Khan was 'savagely beaten' and Mustafa 'showered her with false promises' of a 'luxury lifestyle'. She added that Miss Khan became a 'shadow of herself' because of Mustafa. Justice Carr said: 'You are someone who is sadistic. The judge added that Mustafa enjoyed inflicting pain on Miss Khan and noted that the ordeal with his first victim was 'chillingly and strikingly similar'. Miss Khan was said to have become a 'shadow of herself' because of Mustafa Justice Carr described Mustafa as 'very dangerous' when woman are concerned and said his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia was 'very probably incorrect.' The judge thanked the victim's family for their dignity during the case and praised the work of DCI Emlyn Richards from Derbyshire Police and his team. Justice Carr said: 'I am satisfied this was a murder involving sadistic conduct with sexual overtones and it will be for the parole board to decide when he can be released.' Senior investigating officer DCI Emlyn Richards said today: 'Mustafa never accepted any responsibility or provided an account of what happened to Sohbia. 'On the evening of the murder, he booked a plane ticket from Manchester to Islamabad so he clearly believed fleeing the country was an option for him to avoid taking responsibility for his actions. 'His narcissistic and sadistic grooming of Sohbia led her to Derby and within weeks of arriving, she had been tortured over several days and brutally murdered. 'This included being branded with an iron on three separate sites of her body, being punched, kicked and hit with weapons. 'Mustafa wanted to exert control and power over women. He was previously given a hospital order for assaulting his former partner, who thankfully managed to escape. 'The similarities between her injuries and those suffered by Sohbia were striking. 'He chose not to give evidence during his trial, providing no answers or comfort to Sohbia's family in terms of finding out what happened during her final hours.' Police have arrested two suspected migrants who were stowed away in the back of a Polish lorry. The men were detained at Oxford Services on the M40 motorway today in Oxfordshire. Officers escorted the truck off the motorway where they then discovered the two males hiding among goods. Thames Valley Police offered the men water and brought them off the truck to the roadside where they cuffed their hands. Police discovered two men stowed away in the back of a Polish lorry on the motorway in Oxfordshire today Police officers arrest two men, believed to be migrants, who were stowed away in the back of a Polish lorry The truck was escorted off the M40 motorway by police where they then discovered the two males hiding among goods Officers arrest two men who were stowed away in the back of a Polish lorry at Oxford Services MailOnline has contacted Thames Valley Police for a comment. It comes after 16 suspected migrants were found by police inside the back of a lorry at Toddington services on the M1 in Bedforshire at the end of March. The 15 adults and one child were discovered on March 29. The migrants were in the back of an Irish-registered lorry carrying shoes. Bedfordshire Police confirmed the 15 adults and one child were found in the back of the truck, which had recently arrived from Belgium. The migrants were assessed by the East of England Ambulance Service before being taken to police stations across the country. Bedfordshire Police said the group was being investigated by the UK Border Agency. Officers were pictured given the suspected illegal immigrants water after finding them in the back of the lorry Six pupils at a Cambridgeshire secondary school have been taken to hospital after they were seen vomiting and fainting while allegedly high on the zombie drug Spice. The children at Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech are believed to have used the powerful synthetic marijuana substitute - which was so strong it reportedly left one of them having a seizure - while on school grounds. A spokesman for the 1,200-pupil secondary school confirmed that a 'small group' of students had taken 'illegal substances.' He added that there would be 'severe sanctions' for those involved. The children at Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech (pictured) are believed to have used the powerful synthetic marijuana substitute - which was so strong it reportedly left one of them having a seizure - while on school grounds Horrified parents flooded social media to express their concern, with one parent claiming their child had seen pupils collapsing and 'vomiting blood' Spice (shown in a stock image) has become an epidemic in some UK towns and is also a major problem in prisons One mum said: 'My daughter saw one boy having a seizure today he was sitting just behind her! I'd like to know what the school are doing about this!! Spice has been described as similar to cannabis but its effects have also been spoken of as hallucinogenic. Horrified parents flooded social media to express their concern, with one parent claiming their child had seen pupils collapsing and 'vomiting blood.' The initial post by the shocked mother gained hundreds of comments within hours. She said: 'Anyone else's child come home from TCA today worried after seeing a number of students faint and vomiting after taking spice drug?!' In a statement issued by Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech, the school said that the matter had been dealt with 'effectively'. Pictured: A mum posting after the incident Another added: 'My son was saying two children collapsed from smoking it! How scary!' Other parents responded, confirming the incident and claiming that children had 'collapsed' from it. Another said that paramedics had been seen at the school. She said: 'My daughter saw one boy having a seizure today he was sitting just behind her! I'd like to know what the school are doing about this!!' Another added: 'My son was saying two children collapsed from smoking it! How scary!' One also said that her son had confided in her after seeing pupils who had collapsed and 'vomited blood.' And a mum said that her son witnessed a boy on the floor having a seizure. In a statement issued by Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech, the school said that the matter had been dealt with 'effectively'. A school spokesman said: 'There was an incident at Thomas Clarkson Academy yesterday involving a small group of students taking illegal substances. 'The matter was dealt with very effectively by staff in accordance with our safeguarding procedures and all the children are safe. 'As a school we do not tolerate such behaviour and we will be taking all necessary steps to keep our children safe in future. Spice has been described as similar to cannabis but its effects have also been spoken of as hallucinogenic 'This will include a combination of severe sanctions for those involved in the incident along with additional training and support for all students.' Last year, OFSTED inspectors said that the school 'requires improvement' after previously deeming it as 'inadequate.' In the report, the education watchdog said that 'safeguarding lies at the heart of the school'. Spice has become an epidemic in some UK towns and is also a major problem in prisons. Users are often left unable to stand or speak and more than two dozen deaths have resulted, reports show. It was a day to remember for one Florida couple. Daniel Patrick Gillen, 61, and GeGee Riposta, 49, tied the knot on Sunday in a romantic waterfront wedding at Clearwater Beach. However a few drinks and hours later, the newlywed couple broke out into a fight where the bride allegedly scratched her groom in the chest, and he knocked her to the ground, causing the two to be arrested. Daniel Patrick Gillen, 61, and GeGee Riposta, 49, married on Sunday at Clearwater Beach but the pair were arrested hours later after a drunken fight The Polk County residents were arrested in their motel around 10:30pm Sunday night on domestic battery charges after police were called to the 400 block of South Gulfview Boulevard. They were then taken to Pinellas County Jail. Officers reported that 'both parties became intoxicated today and have been arguing throughout the day'. Riposta said Gillen at one point 'grabbed her by the neck and pushed her to the ground', leaving her with scratches on her leg, according to the Tampa Bay Times. Gillen said he was left with 'scratch marks and injury to his torso area' which police said was consistent with his injuries. Love birds: The couple shared this photo of their romantic wedding on the beach front 'Panty raider': University of Alabama student John Threadgill, 19, is accused of accosting a jogger and pulling down her shorts, then stealing underwear from a house A University of Alabama student has been arrested after police say he pulled down a woman's shorts while she out for a run near the campus and later broke into a nearby home and stole women's underwear. Tuscaloosa police Capt. Brad Mason tells news outlets the jogger struggled with the man Monday and was able to escape unharmed. Mason says another woman chased the man from her home Tuesday after he took her underwear and alcoholic beverages. A short time later, police tracked down and apprehended 19-year-old John Everett Threadgill. Threadgill allegedly admitted to both crimes during an interview with officers, saying he has a panty fetish and is unable to control his urges. According to a statement from the Tuscaloosa Police Department, shortly before 11am on Monday officers responded to the 1300 block of 13th Street concerning a report of an attempted sexual assault. The victim said that a man had approached her from behind while she was running, grabbed her and yanked down her shorts before fleeing. At around 12.30am on Tuesday, police got a call about from the 700 block of 12th Street about an intruder whose description matched that of the suspect in the jogger attack. The attack on the jogger took place near the University of Alabama campus (pictured) The caller said the man had broken into her home and swiped several items, including underwear and liquor. The victim was able to chase off the perpetrator and provide a description of his vehicle. Two hours later, University of Alabama Police Department officers pulled over a 2008 Nissan Pathfinder occupied by Threadgill, who was dressed in the same clothing as described by the burglary victim, according to police. When officers searched his vehicle, they discovered multiple pairs of womens underwear and alcoholic beverages. During questioning, Threadgill 'admitted to having a fetish and was attempting to forcibly remove women's panties for sexual gratification.' According to the Tuscaloosa County District Attorneys Office, Threadgill told investigators he didnt know if he could stop 'because he "cannot control" his urges,' reported Tuscaloosa News. Fetish: When officers searched the suspect's vehicle, they discovered multiple pairs of womens underwear (stock image) He was charged with second-degree burglary and first-degree sexual abuse, and jailed with bond set at $45,000. Police say Threadgill is being investigated in several other cases where women were attacked and could face additional charges. A judge later released Threadgill under house arrest with an ankle monitoring device and ordered that he undergo a mental health evaluation. The university's associate vice president for communications, Monica Watts, says Threadgill has been banned from the school's campus. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who has emerged as Donald Trump's newest legal spokesman, says the president fired James Comey last year because he refused to say publicly that he wasn't under federal investigation. Giuliani said Wednesday night that the then-FBI director lost his job 'because Comey would not, among other things, say that he [Trump] wasn't a target' of what was then an FBI probe of allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russian agents during the 2016 election season. The White House's initial explanation for sacking Comey was that he had mishandled the 2016 probe into Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton's mishandling of classified material on a private, unsecured email server while she was secretary of state. But Trump later added to that, saying during an NBC News interview that he had been thinking of 'this Russia thing' when he decided to send Comey packing. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEOS Another bombshell: Rudy Giuliani said that Trump fired Comey because the FBI director would not make a public statement that the president was not a target for the agency's then Russia probe New development: Giuliani's revelation is the first time James Comey's firing has been put down to a refusal to give the president a public pass on Russia In a Fox News Channel interview, Giuliani suggested Trump was in the right for pink-slipping Comey over his unwillingness to publicly clear his name, and said he gave that NBC interview specifically 'to explain to the American people the president was not the target of the investigation.' 'Comey had no answer for why he didn't say this, even though he had done the same thing for Hillary,' Giuliani said. 'So, you can't blame the president for feeling, "I am not being treated the same way they were." Comey acknowledges that he told Trump personally on several occasions, that the FBI wasn't targeting him personally. The lawman famously announced in early July 2016 that the FBI's investigation of Clinton had ended, and that 'no reasonable prosecutor' would have charged her with a crime angering Republicans who saw the result as proof of a rigged system. Giuliani's public interviews this week have included one anti-Comey broadside after another. Target: Giuliani claims that the president wanted a public statement which he says Comey gave Hillary Clinton, that she was not a target of the FBI, and when he didn't, he fired Comey 'He lied three or four times,' Giuliani said Thursday morning on the 'Fox & Friends' program, 'and also refused to clear to say that the president wasnt a target when, in fact, he had done that for Hillary Clinton.' 'His handling of that was disgraceful,' he added. 'Now how he can be put up as a model of credibility? I mean, they're dreaming if they think he'd ever get in court. We'd rip him apart.' The president has been critical of Comey for 'lying' during a 2017 Senate hearing, when he denied ever being the source or press leaks about the investigations into Clinton or Trump. Comey later confirmed that he had provided copies of his own later classified memos to a friend with instructions to get them to reporters, putting his closed-door interactions with the president on full display for the purpose of forcing the Justice Department into appointing Special Counsel Bob Mueller to probe the White House. Giuliani also said Wednesday night on Fox News that Comey had lied about his knowledge that his then-deputy Andrew McCabe was leaking law enforcement information to The Wall Street Journal. 'I have an open mind about Bob,' he said, referring to Mueller. 'I don't about Comey. I closed my mind about Comey. I know Comey much better. I have the indignity of unfortunately of having hired him for his first big job. I'm embarrassed that I hired him.' On the Clinton investigation, which many conservatives see as a purposefully botched operation, Giuliani was merciless. 'I'm sorry, Hillary, I know you're very disappointed you didn't win. But you're a criminal,' he said, claiming that 'James Comey fixed the whole case.' Interviewer Sean Hannity highlighted Comey's comments praising Clinton on Monday night during a C-SPAN broadcast of an on-stage interview in Washington. 'Secretary Clinton is someone deeply enmeshed in the rule of law, respect for institutions, a lawyer,' Comey said then. 'So given that background, I am reasonably confident that even though she was unhappy with the decisions that the FBI made, she would not fire the FBI director as a result.' Giuliani was dumbfounded. 'Wow. This is a very perverted man. I feel so sorry,' he said. Two American pilots suffered eye injuries after Chinese nationals allegedly pointed lasers at their planes near Djibouti. The United States has formally complained to China after a number of incidents in recent weeks, the Pentagon said on Thursday. The U.S. military has been grappling with lasers being pointed at aircraft for decades. However, the incidents highlight the concern the United States has about a Chinese military base just miles from a critical U.S. base, Camp Lemonnier, in Djibouti. The U.S. has filed a complaint with China for pointing lasers at aircraft near Djibouti in Africa, the Pentagon said Thursday. Above, China's naval base in Djibouti pictured above in August 2017 The U.S. air base is located just south of the capital city, while the Chinese naval base is to the west of the city. They are located about six miles apart 'They are very serious incidents ... We have formally demarched the Chinese government and we've requested the Chinese investigate these incidents,' Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White told reporters. White said the Pentagon was confident that the lasers had been pointed by Chinese nationals and in the past few weeks fewer than 10 incidents had taken place. The intent was unclear. The Pentagon says reports from pilots indicate that on three occasions the lasers were military grade and came from the Chinese base nearby. Planes sit on the runway at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti in December 2016 A U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that in one incident last month two pilots in a C-130 suffered minor eye injuries The US also issued a notice to airmen 'to exercise caution when flying in certain areas in Djibouti," which "was issued due to lasers being directed at US aircraft on a small number of separate occasions over the last few weeks,' according to the notice obtained by CNN. 'During one incident, there were two minor eye injuries of aircrew flying in a C-130 that resulted from exposure to military-grade laser beams, which were reported to have originated from the nearby Chinese base,' the notice continued. Djibouti is strategically located at the southern entrance to the Red Sea on the route to the Suez Canal. Djibouti hosts a U.S. military base that is home to about 4,000 personnel, including special operations forces, and is a launch pad for operations in Yemen and Somalia. This year, the U.S. military put countering China, along with Russia, at the center of a new national defense strategy. An argument over a break room light between a group of workers at Philadelphia International Airport ended with one stabbing another to death on Thursday morning. The stabbing involving three Frontier Airlines contractors occurred around 11.30am in a break room on the tarmac near Gate E6 in what city police say was a 'secure area.' Investigators say one worker turned off a break room light, angering a colleague. The third worker soon pulled out a knife, cutting one of the men across the abdomen. The injured worker, aged 28, was taken to Presbyterian Hospital in critical condition suffering from a wound to his stomach likely inflicted by a box cutter. The victim later succumbed to his injuries. Scroll down for video A fight broke out between workers on the tarmac near Gate E6 at Philadelphia International Airport (pictured), leaving one person dead from stab wounds The 35-year-old suspect in the stabbing initially fled the scene, but airport police were able to capture him and take him into custody. The workers' names were not released, and it wasnt known what charges the alleged attacker may be facing. CBS Philadelphia reported, citing police sources, that both the suspect and victim were Worldwide Flight Services employees, who are contracted by Frontier Airlines to clean planes. No passengers were involved in the incident and no flights were impacted. 'The Frontier Airlines family is saddened to learn about this event and our hearts go out to those touched by the tragedy. We have reached out to WFS to assist them in any way possible as they deal with this incident,' the airline said in a statement. The Television Academys Hall of Fame is distancing itself from disgraced comedian Bill Cosby, one week after a jury found him guilty of sexual assault. Cosbys name was erased Wednesday from the academys online honorees list, according to the Hollywood Reporter. The actors statue, which was previously taken down for renovations, will not return to the Hall of Fame Plaza. Cosby was inducted into the Television Academy in 1992, the same year his sitcom The Cosby Show ended. As of Thursday afternoon, his bio remains active on the site. The Academys removal follows a number of institutions who revoked honorary degrees previously given to Cosby. The Television Academy Hall of Fame removed Bill Cosby's name from its website after he was found guilty of sexual assault. His statue, which was previously removed for renovations, won't be returned to the Hall of Fame Plaza On April 26, Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his home in 2004 Constand (center) reacts to Cosby being found guilty of drugging and molesting her at his Philadelphia-area home in 2004 Cosby accusers Victoria Valentino (right), Caroline Heldman (center) and Lili Bernard (left) react after the guilty verdict More than 20 colleges and universities across the country - including Carnegie Mellon, Notre Dame, Fordham, Marquette, Brown and the University of Pennsylvania - rescinded degrees awarded to the 80-year-old comedian. Most of them pulled the degrees before he was convicted. Last week, Cosby's alma mater Temple University joined that growing list saying in a statement that the school's board of trustees - which Cosby served on for 32 years before resigning in 2014 - had accepted a recommendation to rescind an honorary doctorate degree he was awarded in 1991. Cosby received a bachelor's degree from the school and had long served as a public face and fundraiser for the university. Yale also revoked a degree Cosby received in 2003, saying that it was the first time in the school's history that it had rescinded an honorary degree. The decision is based on a court record providing clear and convicting evidence of conduct that violates fundamental standards of decency shared by all members of the Yale community, conduct that was unknown to the board at the time the degree was awarded, the Philadelphia school said in a statement. The board took this decision following Mr. Cosbys criminal conviction after he was afforded due process. Yale is committed to both the elimination of sexual misconduct and the adherence to due process. We reaffirm that commitment with our action today. On April 26, a jury found Cosby guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and molesting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia-area home in 2004. Cosby faces up to 10 years in prison for each count but will most likely serve the sentences concurrently. A sentencing date has not yet been set and Cosby is currently out on bail. On Thursday, Cosby's wife of 54 years released a scathing statement asking for a criminal investigation into the prosecutor and calling Constand a liar. Cosby's alma mater Temple University revoked an honorary doctorate degree it awarded him in 1991. Cosby is pictured above at the school's commencement in 2011 Yale also rescinded an honorary degree it had given to Cosby. The school said it was the first time in its history that it had to revoke an honorary degree. Cosby is seen above at a May 2003 commencement ceremony Bill Cosby's wife Camille - seen here with him on April 24 - is standing by her man and calling for a criminal investigation into the prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case was 'mob justice, not real justice' and a 'tragedy' that must be undone 'An innocent person has been found guilty based on an unthinking, unquestioning, unconstitutional frenzy propagated by the media and allowed to play out in a supposed court of law,' Camille Cosby said. 'This is mob justice, not real justice. This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country.' Camille went on to compare the dozens of other women who've accused her husband to 'lynch mobs' spurred on by the media's 'frenzied, relentless demonization' of him. She compared his treatment to that of Emmett Till, the black teenager who was kidnapped and murdered after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955. Constand is white. A brave cow who made a break for freedom and was then saved from the slaughterhouse is settling into her new home. Heart-warming pictures show Hermien frolicking in fields in Zandhuizen, the Netherlands, just months after her great escape. Hermien was being herded in to the rear of a cattle truck in December in her home country to go to the butchers. But she broke free and hid in a forest in Overijssel. Hermien could not be captured, despite many attempts to bring her back to serve her fate. Cow Hermien enjoys the pasture at the retirement home for cows in Zandhuizen, the Netherlands Cow Hermien (L) enjoys the first day of spring outside in the pasture of the retirement home for cows in Zandhuizen Eventually, she won the hearts of the Dutch and animal welfare campaigners took on her case. A crowdfunding campaign was started to save her from death and pay for a happy retirement. Party for the Animals (PvdD) raised more than 42,000 to secure her fate as a free cow. They wrote: 'The money will be used to ensure that for the rest of her life, Hermien will be well cared for in cow shelter 'De Leemweg'. 'The shelter is entirely dependent on donations, and adopts and looks after cows from the Netherlands that have escaped from slaughterhouses, cows that have been neglected, or, for whatever reason, have nowhere else to go. 'In the shelter, cows are allowed to live a quiet and peaceful life until their natural death.' Hermien the cow escaped a few months earlier from a cattle truck on its way to the butcher The cow named Hermien (L) was saved by a crowdfunding campaign that funded her retirement. Beside her is her buddy cow Zus, who escaped together with Hermien, but got caught almost immediately The cow named Hermien jumps as she enjoys her first day of spring outside in the pasture of the retirement home for cows in Zandhuizen, The Netherlands Weeks later the Limousin breed cow was tranquilised by vets and captured. This week, she was brought to live at her new home. She will live out her days in Herman Jansen's land in the Frisian village of Zandhuizen. The campaign also saved another cow named Zus, who escaped with her but was captured. The suspects belonged to a loose affiliation of six racist gangs that allegedly trafficked the drug across Texas from October 2015 through April 2018. Joshua Lane, 34, of Denton, Texas, was the first man named in the indictment and is seen in a sheriff's mug shot Fifty-seven white supremacist gang members have been charged with taking part in a huge meth smuggling ring which imploded when a row over money ended with one man having his finger chopped off. The suspects belonged to a loose affiliation of six racist gangs that allegedly trafficked the drug across Texas from October 2015 through April 2018 by using stash houses to store the product and acting as brokers for each other. Cops arrested 42 of the gang members last week across North Texas while the other nine were already in custody on unrelated state charges. Officers seized 420lbs of meth with an estimated street value of $4.2million, 31 guns and $376,587 in cash. The suspects belonged to far-right prison gangs named as the Aryan Circle, the Aryan Brotherhood, the Aryan Brotherhood of Texas, the Soldiers of Aryan Culture, the Peckerwoods and the Dirty White Boys. Cops investigated the smuggling ring after four of its members - Justin Mark Nelson, Amanda Marie Gallippo, Ralph Jay Adams and Jerry Wayne Lunsford - kidnapped a man they accused of stealing drug money. The defendants pointed a pistol at the victims head, threatened to kill the victim, hit the victim with a large wooden object on the back of the head and used a hatchet to chop off a portion of the victim's left index finger. Cops arrested 42 of the gang members last week across North Texas while the other nine were already in custody on unrelated state charges. Their names and the gangs they belonged to are listed here A pistol was held to the scapegoat's head before Nelson used a hatchet to chop off part of the scapegoat's left index finger, despite the fact he was actually responsible for stealing the money, according to an indictment, published by the Star Telegram. The four men were all charged with conspiracy to kidnap. As a group, the 57 gangster face a raft of charges including drug trafficking and illegal firearms possession. The last of the 51 defendants in custody appeared in court on Monday. The indictment noted: 'Drug trafficking is a dangerous and violent businessthat is a reality. It is clear that these hate-fueled gangs will do whatever they must do in order to carry on their drug trafficking business. 'Firearms, body armor, illegal drugs, drug proceeds and unspeakable physical violence are the tools of their trade. 'The collaborative law enforcement and prosecutorial effort that led to the Indictment and arrest of these defendants is the first step in closing down their drug dealing organizations for good.' 'Not only do white supremacist gangs subscribe to a repugnant, hateful ideology, they also engage in significant, organized and violent criminal activity,' U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said. 'The quantities of drugs, guns and money seized in this case are staggering.' All six gangs believe in the complete separation of the races and collectively have tens of thousands of members. The raft of charges were announced by US Attorney Erin Nealy Cox at a press conference on Monday People identifying as Peckerwoods are not members of a specific gang, but identify themselves with the white supremacist ideology these groups promote. The Dirty White Boys, meanwhile, originated in 1985 as a prison softball team before morphing into a broader narcotics smuggling organisation. Some defendants with Tango Blast a Texas prison gang that is mainly made up of Hispanics and involves itself in drug smuggling. The white supremacists also cooperated with Mexican drugs smugglers despite their differences. The gangsters were often heavily armed with guns and body armor and inflicted 'unspeakable violence' on victims, cops said. The first man named in the indictment, Joshua David Lane, 34, had already been booked into Tarrant County Jail after 111 grams of meth was found in his hotel room. When cops surrounded Lane's car on November 27, 2017, he slammed the vehicle into reverse, hitting a cop, and was then shot by officers after reaching for something they thought was a gun. One parent and three children have been found dead in a North Dakota home, police have revealed. The bodies were discovered by a Grand Forks police officer who was making a welfare check on Thursday morning. A maintenance worker on the property claim the victims are a mother in her forties and her three young children. Officials from Lewis and Clark Elementary School had asked the police to conduct the check. Scroll down for video One parent and three children were found dead inside this home in Grand Forks, North Dakota An officer who arrived at the home spotted a body inside and forced entry to get inside. That's when the four bodies were discovered. No information was immediately released about how the four died. Police are also withholding the names of the dead until relatives have been notified Officials from Lewis and Clark Elementary School had asked the police to conduct the check on the home (pictured) Lewis and Clark Elementary has confirmed that the three children were students in the district, according to Valley News Live. 'Families have been notified, and the district is working with the schools involved to provide support and counseling to students and staff,' district spokesman Tracy Jentz said in a statement. 'The Grand Forks Police Department has asked that we share no additional information as this is an ongoing investigation.' An officer who arrived at the home spotted a body inside and forced entry to get inside. That's when the four bodies were discovered Authorities said there was 'no indication of a specific and ongoing threat'. 'However, due to the nature of this incident, we also cannot say with certainty there is no threat,' police added in the statement. 'This aspect is being vigorously investigated, and should an ongoing threat to public safety be established, public notification will occur without delay.' The mother of two Native American teenagers who campus police pulled from a college tour in Colorado after a parent reported feeling nervous about them said she believes her sons were victims of racial profiling and she feared for their safety after learning about the encounter. In an interview Thursday with The Associated Press, Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray described receiving a frantic phone call from her son, 19-year-old Thomas Kanewakeron Gray, about the incident at Colorado State University. He and his 17-year-old brother, Lloyd Skanahwati Gray, had saved enough money to drive roughly seven hours from the family's home in Santa Cruz, New Mexico, to Fort Collins to tour the campus, she told the AP. 'I felt they had been the victim of racism and that they weren't safe there,' she said in a post this week on Facebook. Mom Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray received a frantic phone call from her son Thomas Kanewakeron Gray Thomas and his younger brother Lloyd Skanahwati Gray were touring Colorado State University when an officer approached them Younger brother Lloyd is pictured above. During the tour, a campus police officer approached the brothers unexpectedly She later told the AP, 'I don't think they even grasped the magnitude of what happened to them until we talked.' The brothers had joined the tour on Monday after it started, and their mother - who had stayed home in New Mexico - said she learned after the incident that the two had been quieter than others in the group during the walk through campus, which apparently prompted one woman to call police. 'When they told me that on the phone ... I couldn't wrap my head around that,' their mother said. 'What do you mean, it's because they were quiet?' Colorado State University officials said in an email to students that it is reviewing what happened to try to avoid similar incidents or handle them more appropriately. Two teenage boys were pulled from a campus tour for apparently being too quiet during the tour 'The incident is sad and frustrating from nearly every angle, particularly the experience of two students who were here to see if this was a good fit for them as an institution,' the email said. 'As a university community, we deeply regret the experience of these students while they were guests on our campus.' During the tour, a campus police officer approached the brothers and confirmed they were part of the admissions tour, according to the school. By then, however, their tour group had moved on without them and the brothers left the campus and returned home to New Mexico. Their mother said: 'I felt they had been the victim of racism and that they weren't safe there' The officials said a parent called police about the brothers. According the email, the tour guide did not know that campus police had been called or responded. Gray describes her sons as teenagers who express themselves through contemporary music and traditional songs. The family is Mohawk, and lived in upstate New York before moving to New Mexico, the mother said. The older brother is currently a student at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola, and the younger brother is a high school senior at Santa Fe Indian School. The university is located in Fort Collins, about 65 miles (105 kilometers) north of Denver. A homeless man accused of murdering a mother-of-three from Iowa during a random home invasion last week had been released from jail two days before the deadly incident. Timothy Evans, 38, had been jailed on a $5,000 cash-only bond until a judge ordered the unemployed felon facing car burglary and drug charges released on his own recognizance last Friday. A prosecutor with the Linn County attorney's office signed off on the release under an arrangement with Evans' defense lawyer. Less than 48 hours after he regained his freedom, investigators say Evans broke into a detached garage early Sunday at the Cedar Rapids home of 38-year-old Gina Frederiksen. They say he intended to commit a burglary, then brutally beat the woman and set the garage on fire to cover up the crime and destroy the evidence. Scroll down for video Timothy Evans (left), 38, had been freed from jail two days before he allegedly killed 38-year-old mother-of-three Gina Frederiksen (right) in Iowa Coverup: Investigators say Evans broke into Frederiksen's detached garage and set it on fire after killing her Police responded to the home in the 1800 block of I Street Southwest before 8am Sunday after neighbors called 911 to report an explosion. An officer found Frederiksen suffering from traumatic injuries to her head and other body parts in the flame-engulfed doorway of the garage. She was taken to a hospital but could not be saved, and a medical examiner ruled the death a homicide. Fredericksen, an administrative assistant at a financial company, was engaged to be married and had three young children. Investigators arrested Evans on Tuesday after witnesses told police that he had confessed to the homicide and arson in detail, and that he was seen on surveillance video attempting to break into at least one other home three hours earlier. He has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $2million bond. Nicholas Maybanks, the first assistant Linn County attorney, said Thursday that Evans' release from jail last week was 'very unfortunate' but that no one in his office did anything wrong in agreeing to it. Evans was caught on surveillance video allegedly trying to break into another home three hours before the killing and arson Glum: Evans is pictured during his first court appearance on Wednesday He noted that Evans was facing only aggravated misdemeanor burglary and theft charges in that case. 'It's obviously very unfortunate but I can't say that there's anything that we did that was improper or out of practice. You can't predict these things,' he said. 'Nobody has a crystal ball.' Evans ended up behind bars on April 16, a day after he allegedly broke into an unoccupied car in Cedar Rapids and stole items valued at less than $200. At the time, Evans had a warrant out for his arrest in neighboring Jones County after skipping his arraignment in a felony drug possession case stemming from a March 2 traffic stop in which Evans allegedly had a bag of methamphetamine and needles. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance as a repeat offender, since he had at least three prior felony drug convictions. A judge ordered him released on pretrial supervision by the Department of Corrections, which typically involves routine check-ins with an officer. Fredericksen (left and right) worked as an administrative assistant at a financial company. She was engaged to be married and had three young children Evans was also suspected in a November 2017 arson at a Cedar Rapids houseboat that had been burglarized. Investigators say that a crime lab database had a hit suggesting that DNA taken from a cigarette butt at the crime scene was a potential match for Evans. They obtained a DNA sample from him in February in hopes of confirming the match, but he hasn't been charged and the case remains under investigation. The order that released Evans from jail was signed by Judge Russell Keast and said only, 'By agreement of the parties, the defendant is released on his own recognizance pending further proceedings.' That means Evans didn't have to post bond or face any other conditions of supervision. The Jones County warrant was lifted the same day after his public defender filed a written arraignment on his behalf. President Donald Trump does not believe that he is above the law, his spokeswoman said Thursday. But the president does believe that he 'can hire and fire whoever he wants' and 'doesn't have to have a justification' to do so. Sanders defended the president's firing of James Comey in her daily briefing after an assertion from Donald Trump's lawyer that the dismissal was tied to the former FBI director's refusal to rule the Oval Office occupant out as a target of the Russia probe. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Donald Trump does not believe that he is above the law, his spokeswoman said Thursday The explanation for Comey's firing a year ago this week was at odds with the White House's previous claims that he was let go because he was incompetent. In a memo that the White House has hinged the firing on, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein recommended Comey's because he bungled Hillary Clinton's email case. Trump also claimed in an interview with NBC that he had Russia on his mind when he abruptly ended Comey's 10-year appointment. Giuliani offered an extended explanation on Fox News Channel's 'Hannity' program. 'He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation. He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that. Actually, he couldn't get that. So, he fired him and he said, I'm free of the guy, and he went on Lester Holt,' Giuliani said. 'Lester Holt asked them, why did you do it? He said, I did it because I felt that I had to explain to the American people the president was not the target of the investigation,' Giuliani said. Sanders declined to comment on Giuliani's version of events during her briefing on Thursday. 'I cant speak for Mayor Giuliani,' she said. 'I haven't talked to the president about this.' The White House spokeswoman said that the president continues to believe he made the right call in firing Comey based on the point that the 'lied during congressional testimony' and had made 'a number of contradictions since then.' 'He has learned every day since firing Comey that it was the right thing to do and certainly has been justified in doing so,' she said. Then Sanders claimed that Trump has the right to fire government employees at will without justification. 'The president frankly doesn't have to have a justification. He can hire and fire whoever he wants. And he made the decision to fire James Comey, and that's certainly a decision he stands by and one that he feels very justified since,' she said. Sanders said the president 'can hire and fire whoever he wants' and 'doesn't have to have a justification' to do so as Trump came under renewed scrutiny for dismissing former FBI Director James Comey Trump's reasons for firing Comey are key to allegations that the president may have obstructed justice. A list of questions the special counsel wants to ask Trump that leaked this week suggest Robert Mueller is pursuing that line of inquiry. Giuliani told Fox he would consider allowing the president to sit down with Mueller. The interview would be capped at two hours, though, and three tops. He also said he wants Attorney General Jeff Sessions or Rosenstein to shut the Mueller probe down 'in the interest of justice' because there's 'been too much government misconduct.' 'The crimes now have all been committed by the government and their agents,' he said. Advertisement These are the incredible moments that stunned tourists came face to face with 50ft California gray whales off the coast of Mexico. The tourists can't hold back their delight each time the gentle giants arrive at their boat, happily allowing their new friends to pet and stroke them. Pictures and footage of these beautiful meetings are taken by award-winning marine life photographer Jeff Pantukhoff in San Ignacio Lagoon, located in the Mulege municipality of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. Pantukhoff, 59, revealed that San Ignacio Lagoon is one of the only places in the world where tourists can experience this kind of up close and personal interaction with California gray whales. Scroll down for video Stunned and delighted tourists couldn't believe their eyes when they spotted 50ft California gray whales off the coast of Mexico and had the chance to pet them The small fishing boat gently approached the two gentle giants, who happily allowed the fascinated sightseers on board to pet and stroke them Pictures and footage of the incredible moment were taken by award-winning marine life photographer Jeff Pantukhoff in San Ignacio Lagoon, located in the Mulege municipality of the Mexican state of Baja California Sur 'There are no other species of baleen whales that actively seek out human interaction like this where they approach boats so closely that you can reach out and touch them,' he said. California gray whales are found mainly in the shallow waters of the North Pacific Ocean. They are frequently observed traveling alone or in small, unstable groups, although large aggregations may be seen on feeding and breeding grounds. Gray whales are bottom feeders, sucking sediment and amphipods that are their prey from the sea floor. Both the average and maximum lifespan of these marine mammals is unknown, although researchers have estimated that they can live up to 80 years of age. Pantukhoff, who has led trips out to the lagoon for 25 seasons, approximates there could be anywhere been 200 to 400 hundred gray whales in the area. Pantukhoff, 59, revealed that San Ignacio Lagoon is one of the only places in the world where tourists can experience this kind of up close and personal interaction with California gray whales Pantukhoff revealed that there is no other species of baleen whales that 'actively seek out human interaction' like the California gray whales, which often approach boats Pantukhoff, who has led trips to out to the lagoon for 25 seasons, approximates there could be anywhere been 200 to 400 hundred gray whales in the area Pantukhoff said that his trips to see the whales have been 'life-changing' for many of his guests as well as himself 'For a lot of my guests these trips are life changing, just as they were for me,' he said. Some even followed in Pantukhoff's footsteps and have joined him on the trips for the last 10 years. Pantukhoff wanted to do something to help protect marine life and the environment when he began leading the trips. So he founded The Whaleman Foundation, a non-profit research, education, conservation, and wildlife film production organization dedicated to protecting our oceans. Pantukhoff founded The Whaleman Foundation, a non-profit research, education, conservation, and wildlife film production organisation dedicated to protecting our oceans He wanted to raise public awareness while educating key decision makers on issues that affect dolphins, whales, porpoises and their critical habitats Pantukhoff said Whaleman has since written, directed, and produced seven films as well as a number of public service announcements on these issues 'I founded Whaleman in 1995 with the primary mission of raising public awareness while educating key decision makers on issues that affect dolphins, whales, porpoises and their critical habitats,' Pantukhoff said. Pantukhoff (pictured) counts stars like Pierce Brosnan and Hayden Panettiere among Whalwman's supporters 'What most people do not realize is that our oceans are under severe threat from warming sea temperatures, rising sea levels, ocean acidification, eroding habitats, the loss of over 50 percent of the world's coral reefs, over-fishing causing a reduction of over 90 percent of commercial fish stocks and the list goes on and on.' 'But there is hope,' he added. 'Given the chance, our oceans and the life they contain can rebound.' 'But it is going to take all of us to consciously make the choice to make a difference in our daily lives from choosing what kind of cleaners and shampoos to use, to pesticides, single use plastics, and the type of car you drive.' Pantukhoff said Whaleman has since written, directed, and produced seven films as well as a number of public service announcements on these issues. They have been presented to the likes of both the US Congress and the United Nations. Whaleman now has a number of high-profile supporters, including major stars like Piers Brosnan and Hayden Panettiere. And thanks to conservation efforts by the likes of Pantukhoff and The Whaleman Foundation, gray whales have been removed from the US Endangered Species list after a successful period of population recovery. Their numbers now total an estimated 26,000. A federal judge in Boston has allowed two illegal immigrants to get married in her courtroom so that the groom can piggyback on to his new wife's asylum application. Chief Judge Patti Saris made the order on Wednesday which allowed Jaime Antonio Alvarez Figueroa, 29, and Tatiana Chavez Vanegas, 23, to get married. The pair are from El Salvador, have been together for several years and have a two-year-old daughter. Chief Judge Patti Saris made the order Wednesday allowing Jaime Antonio Alvarez Figueroa, 29, and Tatiana Chavez Vanegas, 23 (pictured with their two-year-old daughter), to get married They were living in Boston when Figueroa, a chef who has been in the US since 2005, was arrested for a DUI and driving without a license in April 2017. Upon his arrest, ICE put him in federal jail and he has remained there ever since. It has left him unable to marry Vanegas, the mother of his two-year-old daughter. On Wednesday, his lawyer Kerry Doyle asked the judge to allow him and the woman to get married, citing their hurry to become legally bound before ICE has a chance to deport him. They had a marriage license at the ready and her paralegal performed the ceremony. Judge Patti Saris allowed two illegal immigrants to get married on Wednesday so that the groom, who is facing deportation, can piggyback his wife's asylum application If Vanegas, who has an asylum hearing in August, wins her case, the family has a better chance of staying together. Judge Saris granted their motion and allowed a quick, minutes-long ceremony on Wednesday as the couple's daughter watched. Because he is a federal inmate, he was not allowed to kiss or even touch his new bride. The judge's clerks, overcome by the happy moment, clapped after the ceremony was complete. Speaking to DailyMail.com on Thursday, Kerry Doyle, the man's lawyer, said it was an 'unusual' situation but that she was pleased with the outcome. 'It was quick and they were not allowed to touch. Because he is in ICE detention, they had to stand on other sides of the table. 'So it was an unusual situation but we were pleased,' she said. The wedding took place inside Saris's courtroom in Boston's US District Court on Wednesday. Afterwards, the judge's clerks clapped and the groom was taken back to jail She is not Figueroa's lawyer for all of his cases and the young father's legal woes are complex. When he was arrested in 2017, he was unaware of an ongoing ICE case regarding his status in the US. 'It was quick and they were not allowed to touch. Because he is in ICE detention, they had to stand on other sides of the table Lawyer Kerry Doyle After his arrest, ICE assumed responsibility of him and took him into federal custody. In order for him to face the driving charges he was arrested for in state court, ICE officials had to agree to release him but they did not. It is becoming more common for the agency to refuse to do so because, it is claimed by experts, they fear anyone let out of their control could slip through the cracks of the state system if they are temporarily released on bail. On Wednesday, Figueroa was in court asking Saris not only to let him to get married but to compel ICE to let him go to state court and answer the charges against him. She agreed to both. After the ceremony, he was taken back into ICE custody and his family went home. Now, he is left to continue fighting his deportation case and the criminal charges in state court and his wife is soldiering on with her own asylum case. Advertisement British troops have taken part in one of Europe's largest military exercises with nearly 12,000 personnel from across 17 nations attending Salisbury Plain. Exercise Joint Warrior sees forces from around the world gather together to share strategies and take part in different training scenarios. As part of the programme, UK soldiers were involved in a live demonstration held at Salisbury Plain Training Area, in Wiltshire, today with the Joint Expeditionary Force. They conducted urban combat operations with air support provided by Chinooks, Wildcat helicopters and Tornado jets. Forces involved in the live demonstration, attended by the Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, included troops from the UK Parachute Regiment, the Danish Jutland Dragoon Regiment, the Lithuanian 'Iron Wolf' Brigade and the Latvian Mechanised Infantry Brigade. All three British armed forces were incorporated in the exercises and 16 other countries were involved including Norway, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, and the US. The bi-annual exercise provides NATO allies and partner nations with the opportunity to train together across air, land, and sea. Exercise Joint Warrior also hosted non-NATO partners such as Australia, Finland and Sweden and runs from April 21 to May 4. British troops pose for a photograph as they take part in a live demonstration held at Salisbury Plain Training Area, in Wiltshire, today The soldiers conducted urban combat operations as part of various training scenarios demonstrated within the exercise Forces involved in the live demonstration included troops from the UK Parachute Regiment, the Danish Jutland Dragoon Regiment, the Lithuanian 'Iron Wolf' Brigade and the Latvian Mechanised Infantry Brigade Two Chinook helicopters (pictured) accompanied the troops involved in the various operations displayed in the live demonstration The demonstration was attended by the UK's Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson (right) who spoke with British forces The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson talked with members of the Parachute Regiment while at the live demonstration The bi-annual exercise provided NATO allies and partner nations the opportunity to train together across air, land, and sea. Pictured: A Chinook helicopter Troops who conducted urban combat operations (pictured left) had air support provided by RAF Tornado jets (pictured right) Exercise Joint Warrior is one of the largest exercises of its kind in Europe, involving nearly 12,000 military personnel from 17 nations. Pictured: Soldiers gather before their demonstration The Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson poses for a group photograph with British troops at Salisbury Plain Training Area The bi-annual exercise incorporates all three British armed forces. Pictured: Soldiers participate in the training scenarios Exercise Joint Warrior also hosted non-NATO partners such as Australia, Finland and Sweden and runs from April 21 to May 4 Sixteen other countries were involved including Norway, Denmark, Estonia, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the US Troops (pictured) tested their ability to fight alongside mechanised infantry from key European and NATO allies A Wildcat helicopter (pictured right) gives air support during a live demonstration as soldiers display different training scenarios (pictured left) Roseanne Barr has thrown her support behind Kanye West saying people 'do not want to hear the truth' regarding Chicago after the rapper accused Barack Obama of not doing anything to help the city. The 65-year-old comedian took to Twitter on Thursday to defend Kanye's stance on Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's city, which has become known for its violence. '@kanyewest is telling the truth about Rahm's Chicago. Ppl do not want to hear the truth-that Chicago could be a better city for its citizens, but the establishment is corrupted,' she tweeted. Roseanne Barr, pictured in New York on Thursday, has come out in support of Kanye West saying people 'do not want to hear the truth' about Chicago and its violence Kanye came out in one of his Twitter rants last week saying: 'Obama was in office for eight years and nothing in Chicago changed.' The Chicago mayor, who Barr spoke of in her tweet, previously worked as Obama's chief of staff. 'Will @kanyewest save Chicago? what do you think?' Barr later tweeted. 'Let's do something about #Chicago - all of us... instead of hurling insults and division. Let's try efficient government and unity JUST THIS ONCE!' Barr, like Kanye, is a President Trump supporter. She defended her support of Trump on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show on Monday, saying she doesn't 'give a f**k' what outraged people think. After congratulating Barr on the high ratings her 'Roseanne' show reboot has received, Fallon acknowledged that some may not be happy with her success given her support for Trump. 'Oh yeah, people are mad about that. But you know, I don't give a f**k,' Barr said. Kanye, pictured above on Tuesday, came out in one of his Twitter rants last week accusing Barack Obama of not doing anything to help the city when he was in office 'I mean, everybody had to choose for themselves, according to their own conscience, who they felt was the lesser of two evils. 'You know, everybody chose that, so I'm not going to put anybody down who didn't vote like me. This is America, it's a free country, and when you weigh it all together, I just felt like we needed a whole new thing. All the way. Bottom to top.' The TV star has faced criticism given her support from Trump in the lead up to the 2016 election and the fact her character on 'Roseanne' is a supporter of the President. Barr had earlier revealed that Trump called to personally congratulate her on the stellar ratings 'Roseanne' had received since its reboot in March following a 20-year hiatus. 'He's just happy for me,' Barr said on Good Morning America when she revealed details of the call. 'I've known him for many years and he's done a lot of nice things for me over the years, and so it was just a friendly conversation about working and television and ratings.' Roseanne Barr defended her support of President Donald Trump on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show on Monday, saying she doesn't 'give a f**k' about what outraged people think After congratulating Barr on the high ratings her 'Roseanne' show reboot has received, Fallon acknowledged that some may not be happy with her success given her support for Trump She also spoke of Trump's phone call during an interview at the Jerusalem Post Annual Conference in New York on Sunday. 'He said 'Congratulations on the ratings.' He's really into ratings like I am,' Barr said. The comedian, who is Jewish, said she went on to thank Trump for moving the US Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. 'I said, 'Mr President, on behalf of my mother, I want to thank you... for moving the embassy to Jerusalem. Thank you so much',' she said. 'And he said, 'Well, you know a lot of presidents have promised it, but I wanted to get it done'.' During the interview, Barr also addressed the fact that her character on her eponymous show is a Trump fan, which she says has nothing to do with her own political leanings. 'I didn't have Roseanne the character become a Trump supporter because I am,' she said. 'I had her become a Trump supporter because she's a working class person and it is the working class that elected Donald Trump. So, in being true to that little demographic, I had to do it. 'Besides, I just wanted someone to do it and none of the other actors they were like, 'No way'.' An Indiana man called 911 to say he had shot a man the week before and dumped the body in his bathtub and 'didn't know what to do' because 'it stinks'. Dwight Shotts, 42, from Indianapolis, told the dispatcher on Monday 'there's a dead guy in my house' before admitting to killing Anthony Cline, a 35-year-old missing man whose truck was found dumped a block away. Officers arrived to arrest Shotts and found Cline's body in the tub, prompting the suspect to then change his story and claim another man had killed the victim before handing him the gun on his way out. Dwight Shotts, 42, from Indianapolis, (left) told the dispatcher on Monday 'there's a dead guy in my house' before admitting to killing Anthony Cline, a 35-year-old missing man (right) Despite his earlier confession, he claimed a gunman had come into his house (pictured) to collect the money before shooting the victim and walking out 'What's going on today?' the 911 dispatcher asked Shotts in a transcription of the call contained in court documents obtained by Fox 59. 'Well, this is a rough one,' he replied. 'I don't know how I'm gonna explain it. There's a guy dead in my house.' Schott then said there had been an 'altercation' in his house a week ago. 'I panicked, put him in the tub and now he's been in the tub, and now he stinks. I don't know what to do,' he said. 'OK, and what happened?' the dispatcher said. 'Did you shoot him?' 'Yes,' Shotts responded, before adding that he felt suicidal. 'I panicked, put him in the tub and now he's been in the tub, and now he stinks. I don't know what to do,' Schotts (pictured in a police mug shot, left, and a Facebook photo, right, said Shotts later told officers he had arranged to buy $500 of an opioid called oxycodone from Cline. Despite his earlier confession, he claimed a gunman had come into his house to collect the money before shooting the victim and walking out. Shotts has been charged with murder and is being held at the Marion County Jail. A Florida teen's prom night would not have been complete without one special person - her grandfather. Sianni Tirado's 78-year-old grandfather, David, had been hospitalized with pacemaker complications due to his heart only operating at 15 per cent. The 18-year-old was rushing to get ready for her high school prom on April 14 with a special plan to see her grandfather in the hospital. A video shows the heartwarming moment David was moved to tears when he sees his granddaughter in her prom dress from his hospital bed. Sianni Tirado, 18, visited her grandfather's hospital room on her prom night so he could see her before the dance In a heartwarming video, 78-year-old David is moved to tears when his granddaughter walks into the room Tirado, her boyfriend and David's wife of 57 years made the pit-stop at the hospital. The Saint Cloud high School student told Good Morning America: 'My boyfriend Darien walked in first and ... they were just talking. And my grandfather asked, ''Where is Sianni? Is she still getting ready?''' The video starts just seconds later when she walked in. She says: 'Hi papa,' and David bursts into tears. 'I had no idea that he was going to react that way...he just started bursting into tears and then I started crying. It was like pure happiness,' the teen said. Tirado shared the video to Twitter with the caption: 'My grandpa was in the hospital on prom night and was upset he couldn't see me all dressed up. So I went to him. [he said,] ''Oh mama.''' He was hospitalized in Florida due to complications with his pacemaker as his heart only operates at 15 per cent Florida police arrested a couple in connection with the savage beating of their co-worker with whom they were believed to be in a love triangle. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office arrested Christina Araujo, 38, and Zachary Abell, 30, who are both accused of brutally attacking 30-year-old Aileen Seiden. Seiden, who is daughter of well-known Miami businessman, Frank Seiden, died after she succumbed to injuries she suffered inside the Sportsman Lodge. Her body was found at 5pm on April 23 by fishermen. 'It's the most savage beating I've see in my 40 years in law enforcement,' Franklin County Sheriff A.J. 'Tony' Smith told The Miami Herald on Monday. Scroll down for video Florida police arrested couple Christina Araujo (left), 38, and Zachary Abell (right), 30, in connection with the savage beating of Aileen Seiden Seiden (pictured right), who is daughter of well-known Miami businessman, Frank Seiden, died after she succumbed to injuries she suffered inside the Sportsman Lodge. Her body was found at 5pm on April 23 by fishermen. Police believe all three were involved in a love triangle. Christina Araujo, 38, and Zachary Abell, 30, are pictured left 'She had broken ribs, broken limbs, a busted skull. Just horrific.' Authorities said the suspects later dumped Aileen Seiden's body on the side of a road while driving back to their home in North Miami. Police said Seiden could have still been alive. 'For all we know, she may have been alive when they dumped her,' Smith told the Herald. Araujo is the daughter of Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Colonel Tony Araujo. She and Abell have histories of drug arrests. Colonel Araujo is a 36-year veteran of the force and the agency's fourth-highest ranking official. Video taken by the sheriff's office shows the moment Abell was transported to the Broward County Jail He was seen with handcuffs around his wrists and ankles and wearing a white shirt with black shorts. Abell is being held without bond He oversees law enforcement operations in the county's 17 districts. According to the sheriff's office, the did colonel report his daughter's arrest to his superiors. He remains on active duty. Police believe Araujo, Abell and Seiden whatever happened at the motel could have been sex related. 'It's some kind of a love triangle,' Smith told the Herald. Araujo is the daughter of Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office Colonel Tony Araujo (pictured). Colonel Araujo is the agency's fourth-highest ranking official 'We believe the male suspect may have been involved with both women. We know he's abused both women in the past. He's a real low-life, a thug.' Video taken by the sheriff's office shows the moment Abell was transported to the Broward County Jail. He was seen with handcuffs around his wrists and ankles and wearing a white shirt with black shorts. Abell is being held without bond. Araujo is currently getting treatment for an infection in a local hospital. Both are charged with second-degree murder and with tampering with evidence. Araujo, Abell and Seiden knew one another and all lived in the same apartment building. They also worked for Abell's used-car company and car insurance business. The trio had just returned from Texas when they stopped at the motel where Seiden was murdered. After allegedly beating Seiden to death and dumping her body, they fled to a friend's house in South Florida. Aileen Seiden (pictured) was the youngest daughter of Frank M. Seiden, a Miami businessman who sold furniture to high-profile beach hotels, cruise ships and Disney resorts According to the Herald, Abell and Araujo told their friend, who also knew Seiden, that she was murdered. The unidentified friend called the police and the suspects were arrested the next day. Aileen Seiden was the youngest daughter of Frank M. Seiden, a Miami businessman who sold furniture to high-profile beach hotels, cruise ships and Disney resorts. Her older sister, Deborah Seiden, who worked as an investigator for the Miami-Dade County state attorney's office, told the Herald that her 'heart is broken'. 'I'm devastated,' Deborah said. 'Especially with the way she died. My sister didn't deserve this. Aileen's other sister, Franceasca Seiden, who is the founder of a production company said a vigil will be held for Seiden on Thursday at 7pm. Friends of the Seiden family set up a GoFundMe account on behalf of Aileen's sister Franceasca. 'In the tragic aftermath of her death, wed like to ask for help in getting Franceasca what she needs to care for herself and the difficult tasks that lie ahead as she navigates these uncharted waters,' the account reads. Meghan Markle has come to expect a great deal from her forthcoming role as a royal duchess in recent months. Already she's developed a taste of the rarefied life ahead the tiaras, the curtseys, the palaces and the unlimited funds. What, then, will she make of being forced to live in a country house described as 'a glum little villa', an 'ugly suburban cottage' and 'a place of no merit at all'? The Harrys as we must call them until the Prince is given his dukedom later this month already have their London pad, Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. Harry and Meghan have looked at York Cottage (pictured) as their country residence, a step away from Sandringham's 'big house', where the Queen resides in Norfolk But the matter of where they'll live in the country is still up in the air. As with Prince William, 'royal' Gloucestershire is ruled out their father's house Highgrove carries too many unhappy childhood memories. Given the brothers' closeness, acquiring a country place near William's Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate makes the most sense. But where? Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (pictured at Kensington Palace on the day they announced their engagement), or the Harrys as we must call them until the prince is given his dukedom later this month already have their London pad, Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace As the Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle reported yesterday, Harry and Meghan have looked at York Cottage, a step away from Sandringham's 'big house', where the Queen resides. But before they commit themselves, maybe they should spread their net a little wider. To one visitor, York Cottage was 'a glum little villa surrounded by thickets of laurel and rhododendron [with] a pond, at the edge of which a leaden pelican gazes in dejection on the water beneath. 'The rooms inside, with their fumed oak surrounds . . . are indistinguishable from those of any Surbiton home.' Queen Victoria labelled the redbrick horror 'unlucky and sad' and with a rabbit-warren of small rooms, winding corridors, and the propensity for cooking-smells to linger, it's the very opposite of palatial. Meghan, raised in a sunlit American state where the temperature rarely drops below 70 degrees, will find the harsh climate of East Anglia, with winds sweeping down from the North Pole, difficult enough to swallow. Why make things worse by accepting such a Norfolk turkey as a wedding present? Yet the Queen is said to have offered it as a wedding gift to the couple and it would be churlish to refuse. York Cottage currently serves as the staff office for the Sandringham estate, and part of it has been converted into flats, so a huge overhaul would be needed to bring it up to a standard befitting the sixth in line to the throne. But why take it on at all? It was, for 33 years, the cherished country retreat of the Queen's grandfather George V, who enjoyed its pokey rooms because they reminded the former sailor of his ship's quarters. King Edward VII is pictured with Queen Alexandra at York Cottage in 1899 Prince Henry of Wales, the Duke of Gloucester is pictured at York Cottage in September 1902 George, like Harry, was the second son, not expecting to inherit the throne. But then his older brother Prince Eddy, Duke of Clarence, died suddenly aged 28. It was on his marriage that George was given what was then called the Bachelors' Cottage built as an overspill for Sandringham's unmarried shooting guests. A man of simple tastes, he wanted nothing grander. The house had been designed by a Colonel Edis, an old friend of Edward VII, but according to biographer James Pope-Hennessy: 'The main drawback was that he was not an architect at all.' From Edis's sketch-pad came a maze of twisting passages, narrow stairs and bedrooms the size of a housemaid's cupboard. The nursery could barely contain a small rocking-horse. Pictured: The rear view of York Cottage at Sandringham in Norfolk complete with conservatory There were not enough bathrooms and nobody had an en-suite. Even when he was king after his father died, George remained there while his widowed mother Queen Alexandra stayed in the big house at Sandringham. To accommodate George V and his growing family, York Cottage was extended twice making it 'even odder' according to Pope-Hennessy. Prince Albert is pictured in 1864 Queen Mary thought it was ugly, and hated it for every one of the 33 years she was forced to live there. So too did the royal children among them our present Queen's father, George VI, and another Prince Harry the future Duke of Gloucester. They couldn't wait to get away, but none the less were forced to spend six months of every year at York Cottage during their growing up years. There was no privacy the place was overrun. George and Mary and their six children came first, but then there were equerries, ladies-in-waiting, private secretaries, four pages, a chef, valet, footmen, wine butlers, nurses, nursemaids, housemaids and cooks. There was nowhere for staff to sleep 'the King said he supposed they roosted in the trees,' wrote biographer Kenneth Rose. And his majesty's private secretary effectively the CEO of House of Windsor had to use his tiny bedroom as his office, with his visitors perching on a chair in the corridor until he could greet them. No wonder, then, that with such lack of space each Christmas turned into 'a feast of acrimony'. 'An atmosphere of restriction, killjoy pompousness, mystery, artificiality, and the most complete and utter boredom,' wrote David, later Edward VIII. Inside the drawing room at York Cottage at Sandringham pictured in October 1897 'And that doesn't even begin to describe how ghastly it is.' There was worse. York Cottage was pervaded by the ghost of King George's elder brother Prince Eddy, who'd borne the title Duke of Clarence and was expected to inherit the throne until his early death. Even today's most ardent royalists agree Prince Eddy was the worst king we never had. Recklessly promiscuous in his sex life, he suffered constantly from gonorrhea and was utterly brainless. In the army, he could not be guaranteed to turn the right way on the parade ground and forgot the orders he was supposed to issue to his men. He was embroiled in the Cleveland Street scandal, where telegraph clerks from the General Post Office were used as rent-boys in London by the titled and rich and was urgently dispatched on a tour of India when the ringleaders were put on trial at the Old Bailey. York Cottage at Sandringham in Norfolk is pictured from behind with its private lake But he liked women too, with his fellow officers encouraging him to try new experiences in order to ingratiate themselves. He was even suspected, then finally cleared, of being Jack The Ripper. Eddy was said to have secretly married at the age of 20 to an artist's model called Annie Crook, and later he was ensnared for his sexual high-jinks by a notorious blackmailer, Maude Richardson. He was named as the lover of a chorus girl, Lydia Miller, who committed suicide by swallowing carbolic acid. He was nothing short of a walking disaster for the Royal Family. There was a concerted effort to get Eddy married off, in the hope it would put an end to his wild ways, but finding a suitable bride proved impossible his reputation as a brainless philanderer went before him. Harry and Meghan are pictured attending a reception for the Commonwealth Youth Forum in London In the end Princess May of Teck, a distant cousin, agreed to the job but just at that moment Eddy, weakened by gonorrhea, died of influenza. Weirdly, within weeks, May accepted the proposal of marriage from Eddy's younger brother George, and so became Queen Mary. Both she, and her husband, lived intimately with Eddy's ghost at Sandringham.'All is left just as it was,' wrote Empress Frederick of Prussia, their cousin. 'His dressing-table with his watch, his brushes and combs and everything. His bed covered with a Union Jack in silk, and his photos and clothes in a glass cupboard.' George's children grew up with this ghost, and couldn't wait to get away. Bertie the present Queen's father was on the lookout for a bride from his teens on, the only means of escape being marriage and a home of his own. His sister Princess Mary, equally desperate, accepted the hand of the Earl of Harewood, who at 40 was 16 years her senior (Harewood's reputedly proposed to her for a wager). The future Edward VIII, according to his biographer Philip Ziegler, hated York Cottage 'as he grew older it came more and more to symbolise all that he disliked about family life'. So nobody enjoyed the redbrick, suburban, glum and gloomy house apart from King George. 'Very nice to be in this dear wee house again,' he wrote unknowingly in his diary. But no royal ever lived in it again. In 1925 he and Queen Mary moved up to the big house after the death of his mother Queen Alexandra, and the place was eventually turned into what it is today staff offices, with a few flats tacked on. York Cottage's convenience for Meghan and Harry is that it's near to William and Kate at Anmer Hall, and should babies come along, their cousins will provide handy playmates. But a joyful place for their future family home? As Meghan has yet to learn, there are a few heavy prices you have to pay when you become a princess. A black woman who filmed the moment she was denied service and locked out of an Alabama Waffle House that continued to serve white customers has refused its offer of $15 compensation. Jacinda Mitchell visited the Pinson Waffle House location on Sunday April 22, around 3am and recorded her failed efforts to open the restaurant's locked door as she was threatened by a customer. In a video Mitchell shared on Facebook, she pointed out the waitress tending to customers at the 24-hour restaurant, a chef at the grill, and white customers eating at tables. Jacinda Mitchell wrote online after the incident: 'I don't need a lawsuit...just needs to be brought to the public attention' Mitchell received a letter from Waffle House Vice President Lindsay Westcott on April 25 'Waffle house in Pinson looked the doors and didn't want to serve us and allowed their customer to threaten me. Then called the police..... what do you call this (sic),' she wrote. 'I initially record just to show corporate about the doors being locked. I don't need a lawsuit.... just needs to be brought to the public attention. This happened all before the shooting and incident in mobile all went viral,' she added. Mitchell received a letter from Waffle House Vice President Lindsay Westcott on April 25, AL.com reported. 'Please accept our apologies for disappointing you on a recent visit to Waffle House 1843,' the letter started. 'We take any report of customer dissatisfaction very seriously and apologize if you were unable to enjoy your Waffle House experience as you anticipated.' The letter finished: "Please accept this coupon for 15 worth of Waffle House food. I appreciate you giving us a second chance to give you a quality Waffle House experience." Included was a coupon for a free meal valued up to $15. Mitchell declined to comment about the incident when contacted by AL, but confirmed she had sent the coupon back. Alabama woman Jacinda Mitchell filmed the moment she claims she was locked out of a Pinson Waffle House on Sunday around 3am and posted it on Facebook on Wednesday The video reveals her outrage as she pulled on the locked door then filmed the white customers being served inside as one customer makes a crude sign at her from the corner She said that the employees allowed customers such as the man in the corner to threaten her The video reveals her efforts to enter. She fled the scene after this man threatened her In the clip Jacinda is seen pulling on the locked door and saying: 'They have the door locked and they have customers in here, and they're saying that they're closed. The customers are eating and they happen to be white customers only, and I am an African-American.' 'But he's in there cooking but they're closed. And the young lady that's walking down there would not open the door. They have people that they're serving but they're telling me that they're closed,' she said. A white man then approaches the door and points and her and mouths something that appears to be 'I'm going to shoot you'. Afterwards she yells at a man with her to get in the car saying 'Hey, we're peacing'. In the post she also included photos of the white man who threatened her flicking her off from his seat in the corner of the restaurant. Mitchell claims the incident took place prior to the fatal shooting in Tennessee and to the arrest of a black woman at Waffle House on the Alabama coast. Fox reported that the incident took place Sunday, April 22, around 3am. Shelby, the employee who locked the door, shed tears as she recounted her side of the story to Fox6. The employee told Mitchell that they were closed but the Waffle House chain is famous for being open 24 hours She said that the restaurant was short staffed, leading her to lock the doors to clear a few tables. She admitted that locking the doors was wrong, but she said she felt 'overwhelmed' and said the decision was not about race. Shelby apologized for locking the doors and says she would have been happy to serve Mitchell. Waffle House spokesman Pam Warner said: 'We are aware of the incident at our restaurant in Pinson, Alabama on April 22, 2018. 'We have launched an investigation to gather all of the facts. Waffle House is a welcoming place for everyone, and we are fortunate to enjoy a very diverse and loyal customer base who we do our best to serve every day. 'The employee involved should not have locked the front door at all and should have certainly opened the door for the customer when she arrived. We will get the facts and take appropriate action quickly,' she added. On the same day in Nashville, Tennessee 29-year-old Travis Reinking opened fire at a Waffle House killing four and injuring another four people inside. That same Sunday three white Saraland, Alabama police officers arrested a black 25-year-old woman named Chikesia Clemons at a Waffle house restaurant. Speaker Paul Ryan dramatically abandoned an attempt to force out the House Chaplain Thursday, shortly after the Catholic priest rescinded his resignation in a scathing letter. Rev Patrick Conroy wrote seeking to withdraw his resignation in a letter to that accuses a top Ryan staff aide of telling him 'something like "maybe it's time that we had a Chaplain that wasn't a Catholic."' Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican and a Catholic himself, forced Conroy to tender his resignation last month, sparking a firestorm. Ryan had said he was dissatisfied with Conroy's pastoral care to lawmakers. Conroy said in a two-page letter delivered Thursday that he has never 'heard a complaint about my ministry' as House chaplain. SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL UN-RESIGNATION LETTER Clash: Rev Patrick Conroy told The New York Times that Ryan warned Conroy to 'stay out of politics' before getting an aide to tell him to resign. The chaplain is elected by the full House and Democrats say Ryan does not have the power to fire him. Instead, Conroy says top Ryan aide Jonathan Burks told him the speaker wanted his resignation, and cited a prayer last year that was potentially critical of the GOP tax bill. 'I inquired as to whether or not it was 'for cause,' and Mr. Burks mentioned something dismissively like 'maybe it's time that we had a Chaplain that wasn't a Catholic,'' Conroy wrote to Ryan in a letter that was also sent to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. That letter set the stage for a sudden volte face by Ryan who announced: 'I have accepted Father Conroy's letter and decided that he will remain in his position as Chaplain of the House. 'I know that this body is not well served by a protracted fight over such an important post.' He added: 'I intend to sit down with Father Conroy early next week so that we can move forward for the good of the whole House.' Rev Conroy's letter was aimed squarely at Ryan, who was already facing questions from Democrats over the attempt at a forced resignation. Conroy wrote that Ryan aide Burks mentioned a November prayer regarding the GOP tax bill that upset many Republicans. Then, Conroy prayed for lawmakers to make sure that 'there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans.' Conroy told The New York Times that shortly after the prayer, Ryan warned Conroy to 'stay out of politics.' The chaplain is elected by the full House and Democrats say Ryan does not have the power to fire him. In an appearance in Milwaukee last week, Ryan said: 'This was not about politics or prayers, it was about pastoral services. And a number of our members felt like the pastoral services were not being adequately served, or offered.' But Conroy fired back, saying, 'this is not the reason that Mr. Burks gave when asking for my 'resignation.'' Conroy's resignation letter said he was offering to step down at Ryan's request, calling his seven years of House service 'one of the great privileges of my life.' The chaplain is responsible for opening the House each day with a prayer and offering counseling to lawmakers and aides on the House side of the Capitol. Conroy is a Roman Catholic priest from the Jesuit order. A Missouri IHOP server was fired after she printed an 'inexcusable' racial slur on a black customer's receipt. On April 13, 19-year-old Maya Thomas ordered a to-go meal at the breakfast chain and was shocked to find the n-word printed on her receipt in place of her name. Her server at the Kansas City, Missouri restaurant was also black. The distressed teenager showed the receipt to her mother who posted the receipt on social media, where it was shared more than 400 times. An IHOP server in Kansas City, Missouri was fired after she printed a racial slur on a black customer's receipt on April 13, receipt pictured above The mother said her 'very timid and very shy' daughter was 'too upset to talk about the incident', according to the Kansas City Star. 'She seemed distraught and upset when she showed it to me. And of course it got me pissed,' the mother said. Thomas' mother then phoned the IHOP to complain and was given a $10 IHOP gift certificate via mail a few days later. 'I think that's really what made her mad. Of all the things you could call someone, you call them that,' Thomas' mother said. 'And then the way you deal with it is by giving them 10 dollars?' she added. After her mother alerted the company, an investigation was launched the same day and that server was fired, but Thomas was not notified of the server's termination. 'The incident which occurred on April 13 involved a black server and black guest. The franchisee was made aware of the incident on the 13th; an investigation was launched that same day and the server was terminated,' IHOP spokesperson Stephanie Peterson said to Dailymail.com. The incident took place at the above IHOP in Grandview. At first the mother of the 19-year-old victim phoned the company to complain, and was sent a $10 voucher for the restaurant 'A senior level member of the franchisees team reached out to the guest on the 13th with an apology and to state that the servers actions were not acceptable and in direct violation of their policy. This type of behavior is absolutely not tolerated, and couldnt be further from what we stand for as a brand,' she added. After she learned of the termination, Thomas' mother said: 'That's great. I think they're handling this well.' IHOP President Darren Rebelez released a statement in wake of the incident. 'The action taken by the server at this restaurant is inexcusable. IHOP and its franchisees do not and will not tolerate racism, bigotry or harassment of any kind. The franchisee, who owns and operates this restaurant, once made aware of the incident, terminated the employee in question and immediately contacted the guest to apologize,' he said. 'For 60 years, IHOP and our franchisees have strived to create a warm and hospitable dining experience for all guests, and we are currently working with the franchisee to ensure all possible steps are taken to deliver on that promise,' he added. The news follows a string of racist incidents in restaurants across the nation. Last month a black woman named Jacinda Mitchell was denied entry into a Waffle House that was serving white customers. Also last month three white Saraland, Alabama police officers arrested a black 25-year-old woman named Chikesia Clemons at a Waffle house restaurant. Two black men were also arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks in April because they did not buy anything and refused to leave, inciting the company to launch racial sensitivity training. Health officials were warned of errors in the breast cancer screening programme more than a year ago but failed to act, it emerged last night. Public Health England conceded that it had been made aware of problems with the scheme as far back as March 2017. The body was alerted by two health trusts which reported that letters were not going out to some women aged 68-71. PHE instructed the private firm running the programmes IT system to look into the matter but the company said it was only a local issue. As a result, PHE decided not to pursue it. The admission came a day after the body insisted it had become aware of the errors in January this year. Widower George Baczkowski, whose wife Ann (pictured together) died from breast cancer after not being invited to checks, said: I dont blame anyone for her death but I do want answers and accountability The NHSs breast cancer screening is meant to be offered to all women aged 50-70, every three years. But on Wednesday, Jeremy Hunt revealed up to 450,000 women had not been invited to the checks between 2009 and 2018 Helen Jarvis, 72, who had a mastectomy after missed scans meant her cancer was picked up late, said: I feel so angry on behalf of so many women. In particular those women who went on to have aggressive breast cancer and died Somebody needs to fall on their sword Ministers were not told until March and the public was informed only this week. Some 450,000 women have not been invited to crucial mammograms as a result of the IT glitches and as many as 270 women are feared to have died. The fact PHE was warned of problems 14 months ago will raise further questions over the competency of the body and its chief executive Duncan Selbie. Lee Towsey believes his mother, who died from breast cancer aged 70, was a victim of the scandal. He said: Its outrageous and its disgusting. Someone has to be held responsible for this error. As more details unfolded: It emerged that a Texan firm with an annual turnover of 400million, based in Dallas, held the contract to run the schemes software; A helpline for women and families affected had 8,000 calls in its first day; Lawyers warned the NHS faced a multimillion-pound compensation bill; Doctors warned breast cancer screening units would have to work evenings and weekends to clear the backlog; Health officials blamed each other and refused to accept responsibility. The NHSs breast cancer screening is meant to be offered to all women aged 50-70, every three years. But on Wednesday, Jeremy Hunt revealed up to 450,000 women had not been invited to the checks between 2009 and 2018. This is thought to have been caused by an IT fault which meant letters did not go out to those in the 68-71 age group. Bereaved relatives and women who have had mastectomies are calling for the officials responsible to be held to account. Widower George Baczkowski, whose wife Ann died from breast cancer after not being invited to checks, said: I dont blame anyone for her death but I do want answers and accountability. The 73-year-old of Swordeston, near Norwich, said he was asking: Could she still be with us? Lee Towsey believes his mother Rita (pictured with husband Keith), who died from breast cancer aged 70, was a victim of the scandal. He said: Its outrageous and its disgusting. Someone has to be held responsible for this error Helen Jarvis, 72, who had a mastectomy after missed scans meant her cancer was picked up late, said: I feel so angry on behalf of so many women. In particular those women who went on to have aggressive breast cancer and died Somebody needs to fall on their sword. Brian Gough, whose wife Trixie died in 2015 after not receiving a scan invitation, said: These things dont just happen Somebody somewhere along the line has made a massive error. Baroness Delyth Morgan, of Breast Cancer Now, said: If there were cases coming to light much earlier than January this year, we have to ask the question why wasnt there action taken sooner. Health and Social Care Secretary Jeremy Hunt launched an inquiry to establish what went wrong and who is accountable, due to report back in six months. A PHE spokesman yesterday confirmed it was warned of issues with the scheme 14 months ago. Two trusts in London and the Midlands expressed concerns that women aged 68-71 were not receiving letters. When asked to investigate, computer firm Hitachi Consulting reported back that it was only a local issue. Concerns were raised again in December 2017 by academics carrying out research into extending the scheme. PHE realised it was a national problem in January and by March became aware it had affected hundreds of thousands. 'Mum is dead and someone must pay': Grieving son hits out at 'disgusting' breast scan blunders as other families tell of their heartache Lee Towsey believes his mother (pictured together) is a victim of the outrageous and disgusting screening scandal Lee Towsey believes his mother is a victim of the outrageous and disgusting screening scandal. Rita Towsey, who died at the age of 70, was diagnosed with stage three cancer after finding a lump in her breast and going to her doctor. Her son said Mrs Towsey had not been called for a screening for several years before her diagnosis which could potentially have detected the cancer earlier. He said: My mum is dead, I cant bring her back now, but what I do want is for someone to take responsibility for this. Its outrageous and its disgusting. Someone has to be held responsible for this error. I know my mother and I know she would have gone along if she had been invited for a scan. But she just did not receive one. Mr Towsey, 52, added: The doctors told her at the time that if she had come in sooner they would have been able to handle it better. She would have had a better chance. Mr Towsey, an events manager from Brighton, said that when he saw news of the scandal this week, he quickly realised his mother was a victim. He added: It was only when she found the lump that she finally had the scan. The last time we knew of her having a scan was many years ago. How did no one notice that women of a certain age across the country were not being screened? Mr Towsey says his mother should have been contacted, particularly because her records would have shown that she had a hysterectomy after suffering from cervical cancer in her 30s. Rowena Herniman says she never received a letter for routine screening, and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 Helen Jarvis (left) was diagnosed with breast cancer this year after her GP noticed she had not been screened for four years. Ann Baczkowski died in 2014, two years after being diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. She had not had a mammogram for several years (right) He said: She had cancer before so she was at risk. She had scans for her breast at the time and I remember her telling me about it. But she was not called for her routine checks in her later life. Mr Towsey has tried contacting the new NHS helpline set up to assist those affected, but said he found it was not fit for purpose. Retired domestic assistant Mrs Towsey, who lived in Deal, Kent, found a lump in her breast in 2010. She passed away two years later, leaving behind her husband of 50 years Keith, two children and five grandchildren. The 100m compensation bill The compensation bill for the NHSs catastrophic blunder could top 100million. More than 5million is expected to go to the families of women who died early. But the NHS will also face legal bills from the tens of thousands who have survived. In terms of compensation we are looking at claims worth in excess of 5million-plus in total in relation to fatal cases, said Robert Rose, head of clinical negligence at Lime Solicitors. This is based on the estimates made by Jeremy Hunt. But if we factor in other damage caused to women who have survived, and the costs of legal action, we are looking at figures of anywhere between 50million to 100million. Up to 270 women are estimated to have died as a direct result of missed screenings. Many others are likely to have endured unpleasant treatment after tumours being diagnosed late. Negligence specialist Adam Copeland from Tees Law said initial offers may be too small and urged those affected to seek legal advice before accepting. Advertisement Mr Towsey, a retired caretaker, died shortly after from what his son described as a broken heart. Her instinct said something was wrong Ann Baczkowski died in 2014, just two years after being diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. She had not had a mammogram for several years and her family suspect she may have been overlooked because of the glitch. As soon as her husband George, 73, heard the news that hundreds of women had been affected by the NHS error, he realised his wife was probably one of them. She fitted the right age and the right profile to be among those they now say died needlessly, the retired airline pilot said. She was a clever woman and her instinct told her something was not right. She asked her doctor for a scan but he insisted that she did not need one. But two years later, when her condition worsened, she went back and this time was sent straight to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for a scan. She had a mastectomy but by then the cancer had spread to her shoulder and lymph gland. Polish-born Mr Baczkowski, speaking at his home in Swardeston, near Norwich, said: I dont blame anyone for her death but I do want answers and accountability... it was at a time of austerity when cuts were being made to things like the health service. Daughter Helen, a conservationist, told the BBC: My mum was 70 in 2010. She was diagnosed in 2012 and then died in 2014. At the time she was diagnosed, both my father and I remember having conversations with her where she said, Do you know what, I havent been called for screening for some time. She added: I think we will have to accept that well never know. I guess at the end of the day, the important thing now is to help those women who are still alive who need screening. Im so angry on behalf of so many women Silence of the health bosses When Duncan Selbie took charge of Public Health England, he admitted his credentials could fit on a postage stamp. Now five years into his 220k-a-year post, he is at the centre of one of the biggest scandals ever to hit the NHS. The chief executive has not spoken publicly since the revelations that the breast screening programme blunder could have cut short the lives of 270 women on his watch. Between 2003 and 2007 he was the director general of programmes and performance for the Department of Health and subsequently its first director general of commissioning. Public Health England was established on April 1, 2013, to bring together public health specialists from more than 70 organisations. But Mr Selbie admitted in an editorial for the Lancet medical journal his own surprise at being chosen to run the new watchdog. Advertisement Helen Jarvis was diagnosed with breast cancer this year after her GP noticed she had not been screened for four years. The 72-year-old has had to undergo two three-hour operations in successive days because the delay had allowed her tumour to grow out of control. Mrs Jarvis, of Newton Pagnell, Milton Keynes, should have been screened last year, as she was entitled to a check-up in the year leading up to her 71st birthday. When she contacted the dedicated NHS helpline yesterday, she was told she was among the women affected by the fiasco. The pensioner went to see her doctor in February after discovering a lump on her left breast. At first her GP seemed unconcerned and took action only after checking Mrs Jarviss records, which showed she was overdue a check-up. She was fast-tracked to Milton Keynes University Hospital and a month later scans indicated she required a mastectomy. But the tumour had become invasive, which it might not have been had she been diagnosed a year earlier. I feel so angry on behalf of so many women, she told the Mail. In particular those women who went on to have aggressive breast cancer and died. That is appalling. The former occupational therapist described her experience as a difficult time after two gruelling operations in successive days in April. She is now making a slow but steady recovery. I havent had any communication at all Rowena Herniman says she never received a letter for routine screening, and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. The 70-year-old, from Surbiton, told the BBC: I havent had any communication at all to ask me to go for a mammogram. When I went to my GP, he said, have you had any requests? I said, no, I havent, and he said, Hmm, you should have done. That might well have saved my surgery, saved the NHS money whos to say? How vital computer programme is run by an IT firm in TEXAS A Texan firm with an annual turnover of 400million was last night at the centre of the IT disaster. Hitachi Consulting, based in Dallas, has had a contract to run the software for the NHSs breast cancer screening programme since 2015. The software the National Breast Screening System is meant to ensure women are invited for mammograms every three years and record their results. But in March 2017, two major health trusts in London and Birmingham warned Public Health England (PHE) of problems with the invitations. Hitachi Consulting, based in Dallas, has had a contract to run the software for the NHSs breast cancer screening programme since 2015 Some women aged 68-71 were not apparently receiving invitations to what should have been their last mammogram. Officials at PHE told Hitachi to investigate, who then reported back that the problems were local issues only. The health body did not pursue the matter any further on the assumption that it was not a large-scale, national problem. But in December 2017 concerns were raised again by academics who were overseeing an Oxford-led trial to extend the breast cancer screening programme. They had discovered that letters were not going out to women aged 71-73 inviting them for mammograms as part of the trial. Further investigations by PHE in January this year uncovered that women aged 68 to 71 were not receiving the letters either. Between January and March, health chiefs at PHE realised that the problem had been going on for nearly a decade, and that 450,000 women had not been invited to mammograms. It chief executive is 44-year-old Hicham Abdessamad, who was born in Casablanca, Morocco A Hitachi Consulting spokesman insisted the company was not to blame for the error because it had been going on since 2009 six years before it was awarded the contract. The spokesman refused to comment as to why the firm had dismissed the initial concerns from health trusts as local problems however. On its website, Hitachi Consulting describes itself as a market leader in computer software and electronics. It employs 6,500 staff in 50 countries including the UK, Japan, the US, Brazil, China and India. It chief executive is 44-year-old Hicham Abdessamad, who was born in Casablanca, Morocco. He lived there until he was 18, when he moved to the US to study computer engineering at the private Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr Abdessamad then attended Dartmouth College, an Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, before completing an executive leadership program at the International Institute of Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2015, he took over as chief executive of Hitachi Consulting Corporation a subsidiary of the Japanese Hitachi Corporation having previously been a vice president. He was credited with doubling annual revenues to $1.3billion after taking over. Mr Abdessamad is also listed as the chief executive of the European and UK arms of Hitachi Consulting. Prior to 2015 the National Breast Screening System was run by Swiss-based firm Temenos. A spokesman was not available for comment. Advertisement Yesterday Theresa Mays spokesman said the delay in telling the public was necessary to ensure correct systems were in place, including a helpline and ensuring clinics can cope with all the women coming in for checks. He refused to say whether the Prime Minister had full confidence in PHE. PHE has said it cannot be held fully accountable as it was set up in 2013. Before then the screening was overseen by the Department of Health and local health trusts. In his first newspaper article as Home Secretary, Sajid Javid (pictured) has announced he will guarantee Afghan interpreters who served in Helmand Province will be able to stay in the UK The commitment and bravery shown by our local interpreters while our Armed Forces were in Afghanistan was extraordinary. As the Mail has highlighted, they worked in dangerous and challenging situations, regularly putting their lives at risk. Put simply, we would not have been able to carry out our work there without them. It was in recognition of this unique and exceptional service to the UK that we made the offer of relocating these individuals and their families. Around 400 people have already taken up the offer and have relocated with their families, meaning in total around 1,100 people are now living in the UK. For almost five years they have been building their lives here, contributing to local communities, and we cannot allow those who have been through so much to have their lives disrupted again. I know some have felt uncertainty about their future an issue I've been following for some time. As I said when I stood at the despatch box on my first day in this job, I want to ensure that we have an immigration system that is fair and humane. That's why today as one of my first acts as Home Secretary I am announcing that I will be bringing forward new immigration rules which will ensure that the Afghan interpreters who have been making this country their home will have a route to permanent settlement. And I am also waiving the fees so they won't have to pay a penny for it. Many of the Afghan interpreters currently in the UK served alongside British troops fighting the Taliban in Helmand Province (pictured are members of 42 Royal Marines there in 2007) They will not have to pay the usual 2,389 fee and nor will their family members. Most of these individuals worked on the frontline alongside our Armed Forces, but there are others who carried out equally vital work with the Foreign Office and Department for International Development. It is only right that we honour their service and ensure they are able to continue with the lives that they have built here. Everyone was given the opportunity to bring family members over with them when they came to the UK. But I know that some people still have family members in Afghanistan. We said they could resettle here with their families and I am determined that we respect the commitment we made. So I will be looking again at whether we can make that process easier. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson, pictured visiting a military exercise in Salisbury, has also been vocal in the row over Afghan interpreters' right to remain in the UK We will bring these changes forward to Parliament as soon as possible so that the fee waiver can take effect as quickly as possible. This isn't the only scheme that we have in place to support Afghan nationals who assisted the UK Armed Forces. My colleagues at the Ministry of Defence continue to make sure that anyone whose safety is threatened in Afghanistan, due to their work with the UK, is offered help and protection. This ranges from security advice, financial assistance or relocation to a safer part of the country. These individuals served the UK in some of the hardest conditions. I am personally dedicated to ensuring that we repay that courageous service. Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday called for British Eurocrats to be handed Belgian citizenship Jean-Claude Juncker yesterday called for British Eurocrats to be handed Belgian citizenship to ensure they do not lose their jobs after Brexit. The European Commission president said Belgium should show generosity to the EUs UK employees. The plea comes amid ongoing uncertainty about the future of the 917 British officials working for the European Commission as well as those working for other EU institutions who are set to lose their jobs when Britain leaves next year. Speaking to the European Parliament, Mr Juncker said: Brussels is a warm, welcoming environment and were very happy to be here. Id also like the Belgian authorities to apply the same generosity when it comes to extending Belgian citizenship to the British officials here in Brussels they deserve it. I know that the [Belgian] prime minister is often overflowing with generosity and will hear our wishes. The plea for the British Eurocrats to be given Belgian citizenship is likely to prove controversial given that most of them are not obliged to pay Belgian taxes, instead paying lower rates offered to those working for the EU. EU nationals are allowed to apply for Belgian citizenship if they have lived in the country for five years, can prove that they contributed to the social security system during that time, and are socially integrated. However, British EU officials who have already applied have experienced difficulty due to their diplomatic tax status. A mass movement of UK officials becoming Belgian after Brexit could also provoke controversy because it would mean that they would effectively take up a significant part of Belgiums share of EU institutional positions. The move emerged after former Ukip leader Nigel Farage yesterday dismissed Belgium as a non-nation and claimed the EU could only rely on support from those who are on the EU payroll. He said: Nobody ever dares tell the truth about Belgium: Belgium is not a nation. There are two parts of Belgium, they speak different languages, they dislike each other intensely, theres no national TV station, theres no national newspaper. Responding to the offer of Belgian citizenship, he said: Mr Juncker will do anything to corrupt our citizens. Belgians prime minister, Charles Michel, responded angrily to Mr Farages intervention, saying: I should thank Nigel Farage for his good advice on the future of Belgium... He sorted out the future of the UK with Brexit and we see where thats ended up in the UK. Jean-Claude Juncker greets Theresa May at the EU Parliament in Brussels Mr Michel appeared to tentatively throw his weight behind Mr Junckers plan. Im happy that Belgian citizenship is so attractive, that British citizens are asking to stay to our country, he said. But he noted that Belgian courts are currently faced with contradictory rulings on how such citizenship applications should be handled. Both Mr Juncker and the EUs human resources commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, have promised UK staff they will not be sacked after Brexit. EU staff rules state that an official may be required to resign if he or she loses their EU citizenship and so is no longer a national of an EU member state. But an EU Commission document that emerged last month said the rules would not automatically lead to British staff losing their EU jobs, apart from in cases involving conflicts of interest or international obligations. A significant number of British EU staff are understood to have applied for passports in Belgium or other EU countries. White House chief of staff John Kelly and President Donald Trump's relationship has deteriorated to the point of indifference, a new report on the retired military general's alleged fall from grace says. The president has reportedly remarked to friends that he believes Kelly is keeping information from him. Kelly is said to have vented to colleagues after dressings-down, 'I dont need this.' Neither man is eager to move on, though, according to the New York Times, leaving Kelly right where he is. Trump is said to have discussed the job with his Corey Lewandowski, the campaign manager he fired but still spends time with, reports Fox News. Lewandowski, for his part, has said he'd take the job if it was offered to him. White House chief of staff John Kelly and President Donald Trump's relationship has deteriorated to the point of indifference, a new report on the retired military general's alleged fall from grace says Lewandowski's name has been tossed about for several positions in the White House over the last year as vacancies have piled up. None so far have manifested, though, for the co-author of the campaign manifesto, 'Let Trump be Trump.' Kelly is said to have been irking Trump for months, especially since the White House's disastrous response to allegations of spousal abuse against former staff secretary Rob Porter. An NBC report earlier this week claimed that the retired general called President Trump an 'idiot' on more than one occasion, although he denies it, and the New York Times said his boss believes him. Kelly said in statement distributed by the White House press office: 'I spend more time with the President than anyone else and we have an incredibly candid and strong relationship.' 'He always knows where I stand and he and I both know this story is total BS. I am committed to the President, his agenda, and our country,' Kelly said. 'This is another pathetic attempt to smear people close to President Trump and distract from the administrations many successes.' Neither man is eager to move on, though, the report said, leaving Kelly right where he is Trump and Chief of Staff John Kelly are seen together in October. Kelly was also said this week to have called Trump an 'idiot' - he says the charge is 'total BS' NBC reported on Monday that Kelly has criticized Trump's knowledge on issues like immigration, and cast himself as a protecting the country from Trump's impulses. The news outlet claimed that Kelly 'has referred to Trump as "an idiot" multiple times to underscore his point,' citing the unnamed sources. Privately, Kelly 'portrays himself to Trump administration aides as the lone bulwark against catastrophe,' the outlet claimed. The report added that Trump was growing tired of Kelly's attitude. Trump has reportedly chafed at Kelly's controlling management style and has occasionally talked with friends about replacing him. Just minutes after NBC Nightly News led its evening broadcast with the claims about Kelly, Trump lashed out in a pair of tweets blasting 'Fake News'. 'The Fake News is going crazy making up false stories and using only unnamed sources (who dont exist),' Trump tweeted. 'They are totally unhinged, and the great success of this Administration is making them do and say things that even they cant believe they are saying. Truly bad people!' 'The White House is running very smoothly despite phony Witch Hunts etc,' Trump continued. 'There is great Energy and unending Stamina, both necessary to get things done. We are accomplishing the unthinkable and setting positive records while doing so! Fake News is going bonkers!' Separately, a CNN report on Monday cited a senior administration official who claimed that Kelly referred to Trump as 'unhinged' during a meeting with the Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Joseph Dunford and senior National Security Council officials. For months, Kelly has been the target of near constant reports of a shakeup at the top of the White House staff. The drumbeat increased dramatically in February, when Kelly praised Porter in a statement and then claimed retroactively that he'd fired him. Most recently, Kelly was rumored to be under consideration for the spot of Veterans Affairs secretary after the president's last pick withdrew his nomination. White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said Tuesday that Kelly was being considered for VA, and the administration has consistently denied that Kelly's job is at risk. Lee Towsey believes his mother (pictured together) is a victim of the outrageous and disgusting screening scandal Lee Towsey believes his mother is a victim of the outrageous and disgusting screening scandal. Rita Towsey, who died at the age of 70, was diagnosed with stage three cancer after finding a lump in her breast and going to her doctor. Her son said Mrs Towsey had not been called for a screening for several years before her diagnosis which could potentially have detected the cancer earlier. He said: My mum is dead, I cant bring her back now, but what I do want is for someone to take responsibility for this. Its outrageous and its disgusting. Someone has to be held responsible for this error. I know my mother and I know she would have gone along if she had been invited for a scan. But she just did not receive one. Mr Towsey, 52, added: The doctors told her at the time that if she had come in sooner they would have been able to handle it better. She would have had a better chance. Mr Towsey, an events manager from Brighton, said that when he saw news of the scandal this week, he quickly realised his mother was a victim. He added: It was only when she found the lump that she finally had the scan. The last time we knew of her having a scan was many years ago. How did no one notice that women of a certain age across the country were not being screened? Mr Towsey says his mother should have been contacted, particularly because her records would have shown that she had a hysterectomy after suffering from cervical cancer in her 30s. Rowena Herniman says she never received a letter for routine screening, and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016 Helen Jarvis (left) was diagnosed with breast cancer this year after her GP noticed she had not been screened for four years. Ann Baczkowski died in 2014, two years after being diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. She had not had a mammogram for several years (right) He said: She had cancer before so she was at risk. She had scans for her breast at the time and I remember her telling me about it. But she was not called for her routine checks in her later life. Mr Towsey has tried contacting the new NHS helpline set up to assist those affected, but said he found it was not fit for purpose. Retired domestic assistant Mrs Towsey, who lived in Deal, Kent, found a lump in her breast in 2010. She passed away two years later, leaving behind her husband of 50 years Keith, two children and five grandchildren. The 100m compensation bill The compensation bill for the NHSs catastrophic blunder could top 100million. More than 5million is expected to go to the families of women who died early. But the NHS will also face legal bills from the tens of thousands who have survived. In terms of compensation we are looking at claims worth in excess of 5million-plus in total in relation to fatal cases, said Robert Rose, head of clinical negligence at Lime Solicitors. This is based on the estimates made by Jeremy Hunt. But if we factor in other damage caused to women who have survived, and the costs of legal action, we are looking at figures of anywhere between 50million to 100million. Up to 270 women are estimated to have died as a direct result of missed screenings. Many others are likely to have endured unpleasant treatment after tumours being diagnosed late. Negligence specialist Adam Copeland from Tees Law said initial offers may be too small and urged those affected to seek legal advice before accepting. Advertisement Mr Towsey, a retired caretaker, died shortly after from what his son described as a broken heart. Her instinct said something was wrong Ann Baczkowski died in 2014, just two years after being diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. She had not had a mammogram for several years and her family suspect she may have been overlooked because of the glitch. As soon as her husband George, 73, heard the news that hundreds of women had been affected by the NHS error, he realised his wife was probably one of them. She fitted the right age and the right profile to be among those they now say died needlessly, the retired airline pilot said. She was a clever woman and her instinct told her something was not right. She asked her doctor for a scan but he insisted that she did not need one. But two years later, when her condition worsened, she went back and this time was sent straight to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital for a scan. She had a mastectomy but by then the cancer had spread to her shoulder and lymph gland. Polish-born Mr Baczkowski, speaking at his home in Swardeston, near Norwich, said: I dont blame anyone for her death but I do want answers and accountability... it was at a time of austerity when cuts were being made to things like the health service. Daughter Helen, a conservationist, told the BBC: My mum was 70 in 2010. She was diagnosed in 2012 and then died in 2014. At the time she was diagnosed, both my father and I remember having conversations with her where she said, Do you know what, I havent been called for screening for some time. She added: I think we will have to accept that well never know. I guess at the end of the day, the important thing now is to help those women who are still alive who need screening. Im so angry on behalf of so many women Silence of the health bosses When Duncan Selbie took charge of Public Health England, he admitted his credentials could fit on a postage stamp. Now five years into his 220k-a-year post, he is at the centre of one of the biggest scandals ever to hit the NHS. The chief executive has not spoken publicly since the revelations that the breast screening programme blunder could have cut short the lives of 270 women on his watch. Between 2003 and 2007 he was the director general of programmes and performance for the Department of Health and subsequently its first director general of commissioning. Public Health England was established on April 1, 2013, to bring together public health specialists from more than 70 organisations. But Mr Selbie admitted in an editorial for the Lancet medical journal his own surprise at being chosen to run the new watchdog. Advertisement Helen Jarvis was diagnosed with breast cancer this year after her GP noticed she had not been screened for four years. The 72-year-old has had to undergo two three-hour operations in successive days because the delay had allowed her tumour to grow out of control. Mrs Jarvis, of Newton Pagnell, Milton Keynes, should have been screened last year, as she was entitled to a check-up in the year leading up to her 71st birthday. When she contacted the dedicated NHS helpline yesterday, she was told she was among the women affected by the fiasco. The pensioner went to see her doctor in February after discovering a lump on her left breast. At first her GP seemed unconcerned and took action only after checking Mrs Jarviss records, which showed she was overdue a check-up. She was fast-tracked to Milton Keynes University Hospital and a month later scans indicated she required a mastectomy. But the tumour had become invasive, which it might not have been had she been diagnosed a year earlier. I feel so angry on behalf of so many women, she told the Mail. In particular those women who went on to have aggressive breast cancer and died. That is appalling. The former occupational therapist described her experience as a difficult time after two gruelling operations in successive days in April. She is now making a slow but steady recovery. I havent had any communication at all Rowena Herniman says she never received a letter for routine screening, and was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2016. The 70-year-old, from Surbiton, told the BBC: I havent had any communication at all to ask me to go for a mammogram. When I went to my GP, he said, have you had any requests? I said, no, I havent, and he said, Hmm, you should have done. That might well have saved my surgery, saved the NHS money whos to say? Hitachi chief executive is 44-year-old Hicham Abdessamad A Texan firm with an annual turnover of 400million was last night at the centre of the IT disaster. Hitachi Consulting, based in Dallas, has had a contract to run the software for the NHSs breast cancer screening programme since 2015. The software the National Breast Screening System is meant to ensure women are invited for mammograms every three years and record their results. But in March 2017, two major health trusts in London and Birmingham warned Public Health England (PHE) of problems with the invitations. Some women aged 68-71 were not apparently receiving invitations to what should have been their last mammogram. Officials at PHE told Hitachi to investigate, who then reported back that the problems were local issues only. The health body did not pursue the matter any further on the assumption that it was not a large-scale, national problem. But in December 2017 concerns were raised again by academics who were overseeing an Oxford-led trial to extend the breast cancer screening programme. They had discovered that letters were not going out to women aged 71-73 inviting them for mammograms as part of the trial. Further investigations by PHE in January this year uncovered that women aged 68 to 71 were not receiving the letters either. Between January and March, health chiefs at PHE realised that the problem had been going on for nearly a decade, and that 450,000 women had not been invited to mammograms. A Hitachi Consulting spokesman insisted the company was not to blame for the error because it had been going on since 2009 six years before it was awarded the contract. The spokesman refused to comment as to why the firm had dismissed the initial concerns from health trusts as local problems however. On its website, Hitachi Consulting describes itself as a market leader in computer software and electronics. It employs 6,500 staff in 50 countries including the UK, Japan, the US, Brazil, China and India. It chief executive is 44-year-old Hicham Abdessamad, who was born in Casablanca, Morocco. Hitachi Consulting, based in Dallas, has had a contract to run the software for the NHSs breast cancer screening programme since 2015 He lived there until he was 18, when he moved to the US to study computer engineering at the private Suffolk University in Boston, Massachusetts. Mr Abdessamad then attended Dartmouth College, an Ivy League research university in Hanover, New Hampshire, before completing an executive leadership program at the International Institute of Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. In 2015, he took over as chief executive of Hitachi Consulting Corporation a subsidiary of the Japanese Hitachi Corporation having previously been a vice president. He was credited with doubling annual revenues to $1.3billion after taking over. Mr Abdessamad is also listed as the chief executive of the European and UK arms of Hitachi Consulting. Prior to 2015 the National Breast Screening System was run by Swiss-based firm Temenos. A spokesman was not available for comment. This is the upsetting moment an enraged white male commuter in New York shouts racist remarks at two black women. The incident took place on the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) 9.53pm train from Penn Station to Long Beach on April 19. The middle-aged man became infuriated when one woman was apparently speaking louder than he was comfortable with on the phone behind him. He began mumbling angrily in his seat before turning around and calling her a 'loud mouth b***h'. Another young black woman on the train began defending the woman, but then the man turned the abuse toward her. 'You're a f***king loud mouth monkey mother-f***ker. You're a loud mouth. You're a f***king loud mouth,' he repeats to the woman standing up for the other. This is the upsetting moment an enraged white male commuter shouts racist remarks toward two black women The man is seen shouting at the woman defending the other in the shocking footage 'I can't listen to your f***king black a** no more,' he continues, as the woman is heard on video speaking in a quieter tone than his. Some of her responses are not clearly heard. 'First it's this f***king idiot, now it's this f***king idiot,' he then says, with a smirk on his face. Do you know the man in the video? If so, please email Jessa Schroeder at Jessa.Schroeder@mailonline.com Advertisement The woman helping can be heard telling him to 'shut up' and another person says: 'That's enough'. The woman then tells the man: 'Your mother should have swallowed you. Don't act like an ignorant white n****r'. He continues to call the woman a 'loud mouth b***h' and she replies, 'like your mother'. The man then says 'just like your mother.' 'Yeah? At least I got a f***king mother. Do you know who your mother is? You don't know who your mother or your father is!' he shouts and points. Commuters walk through the Long Island Railroad Co. (LIRR) concourse inside Pennsylvania Station in New York, U.S., on Friday, May 26, 2017 She replies: 'of course', to the question. The man rambles on: 'You're a f***king monkey. How the f**k do you know who they are? How the hell do you know who they are? How could you know?' he repeats. The video was initially posted on Facebook by witness Aneesa Janat Rafeek (above) The woman then responds: 'Are you mad?' While talking about her father, he adds: 'He didn't raise you right.' The shocking video was initially posted on Facebook by witness Aneesa Janat Rafeek. Rafeek said in part, while tagging the MTA LIRR on social media, 'this man terrorizes your minority train riders. I spoke with a friend who had a similar experience with the same man. This went on for more than ten minutes until he finally went to another train car.' Refeek concluded: 'What this video does not show - him getting up to get in the young women's face to scream at her more. It was honestly so disgusting to witness. 'Say what you want in regards to "both" sides being ignorant and needing to be quiet. Have someone start yelling profanities at you for being "loud" and see how you react.' It should be a simple, refreshing and regular ritual of the working day. But researchers have revealed how the tea round can divide a workplace, with half of bosses accused of failing to get drinks for their staff and half of workers believing their colleagues do not make enough cuppas. It leaves about a third of employees resenting having to make hot drinks for those higher up the chain, a poll of more than 2,000 office workers found. Half of bosses are accused of failing to get drinks for their staff and half of workers believe their colleagues do not make enough cuppas. Many bosses are said to make a brew only for themselves, with one of the main excuses being there were too many people to make drinks for. Even those managers who did take part in tea rounds were more likely to resent having to make drinks than their colleagues lower down the pecking order. According to the poll by HR firm Citation, workers in London were most likely to make excuses for not making tea for others, claiming they were too busy or it took too long. Workers in Edinburgh were most likely to shun tea rounds by going to a coffee shop instead, while those in Brighton were the least likely to bother making drinks for others and to resent it if they had to. Jenny Ware, of Citation, said: Unless its specifically within a job description, shared responsibility of such tasks is the most positive and productive way to ensure a happy workforce. Gambling chiefs were accused of scaremongering last night after they tried to scupper a crackdown on addictive betting machines by warning it could devastate the industry. Culture Secretary Matt Hancock is poised to cut the 100 maximum stake on fixed odds betting terminals (FOBTs) to 2 in a bid to stop a tide of addiction, debt, violence, and family breakdown. It is a major victory for the Mails campaign against the crack cocaine machines which are blamed for debt, violence, and family breakdown. Research suggests FOBTs target the most vulnerable because they are designed to appeal to addicts brains But reducing the stake will blow a 400million hole in the public finances. In a last ditch bid to protect the lucrative machines which generate an average of 50,000 a year each and are known as the crack cocaine of gambling bookmakers bosses have written to Theresa May and every Cabinet minister. Their letter warns of unintended and potentially harmful consequences from a cut to 2 and says the stake should be set at 30. They claim a cut to 2 is disproportionate and would cause 21,000 job losses, result in the closure of half of betting shops, and lose the Treasury 1.1billion over three years. The letter will raise concerns that bookmakers could launch a legal challenge against the decision. But last night critics attacked the claims. A spokesman for campaigners Fairer Gambling accused the bookmakers of scaremongering. The menace of FOBTs The number of FOBTs is now at an all-time high of nearly 35,000 and punters lose 1.7billion on the machines every year. They have been linked to one in four calls to gambling helplines. Research suggests FOBTs target the most vulnerable because they are designed to appeal to addicts brains. Councils say the addiction is causing people to lose their homes and turn to crime to fund their habit. FOBTs have been linked to growing levels of crime including violence in and around bookmakers shops. More than 230,000 FOBT gambling sessions in one year resulted in losses of more than 1,000. Advertisement He argued that the losses predicted would not be anything like as bad because many punters would switch to safer forms of gambling instead of playing roulette and other casino-style games on FOBTs. If the money lost on the bookies machines was spent elsewhere, it would create more jobs and generate more tax revenue, he said. Not only do these machines have a parasitic effect on local economies, theyre also the crack cocaine of gambling. If we had a gambling product classification, similar to that of drugs, FOBTs would be class A. 'The only effective modification that will reduce harm associated with FOBTs and curtail problem gambling is cutting the maximum stake to 2 a spin, which would eliminate the addictive roulette content. The number of FOBTs is now at an all-time high of nearly 35,000 The letter is signed by the bosses of William Hill, Betfred, JenningsBet, Scotbet, GVC owners of Ladbrokes and Coral and the Association of British Bookmakers. It is a response to the Daily Mails report last week that ministers were set on cutting stakes to 2, after Chancellor Philip Hammond agreed to tough action. The Treasury was concerned cutting the stake would hit tax revenues. The letter says: For the avoidance of doubt, we believe that a 2 stake is a disproportionate response and will be catastrophic for retail betting in the UK with widespread consequences for peoples livelihoods and the wider economy. We urge you not to sacrifice betting shops. Church groups, town halls and MPs from across the spectrum have warned of the damaging social consequences of FOBT gambling on some of the poorest communities. A decision on the results of the Governments gambling review is expected in weeks. A Chinese tourist has been caught on camera carrying a dolphin-like marine animal on a beach in Hailing Island, China. Initial investigation carried out by the local fisheries bureau indicated that the animal, likely to be a dolphin, had been washed ashore and believed to be dead. It's not clear why the man took away the protected marine animal, but officials have been looking for the man. A man is filmed carrying a marine animal at a beach in Hailing Island, China, on May 1 (left). Locals said the alleged dolphin was washed up to the beach and appeared to be dead (right) Mobile phone footage emerged showing a swimmer carrying a marine animal similar to a dolphin over his shoulder and walking on a beach. A person can be heard saying 'it's a dolphin'. The incident took place in Hailing Island at Guangdong Province on May 1, reported btime.com. Guangdong Provincial Fisheries Bureau launched an investigation upon receiving reports from local residents. A security guard working near the beach told the investigation team that the 'dolphin' was dead and covered in wounds when it was being found on the beach. The man took the 'dolphin' to his car and drove away shortly (left). Local fisheries bureau officials said the man had violated the laws of wildlife protection (right) 'There were villagers and tourists looking at the dolphin but a man came and took it away,' he told the staff from the fisheries bureau. The unnamed man then placed the mammal in his car and drove away, stated in the official investigation report. According to China's Law of Wildlife Protection, dolphins are one of the listed species. Citizens are not allowed to hunt, kill, sell or keep the protected species, even if the mammals are found dead. Keith Guo, press officer at PETA Asia told MailOnline that dolphins share strong family bonds and have social networks. 'If one their own is captured, other dolphins will suffer from depression,' he said. North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong-un today met China's foreign minister in Pyongyang, according to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry confirmed the meeting through a social media post on their official account on Weibo, the Chinese equivalent to Twitter. China's foreign minister, Wang Yi, arrived in North Korea's capital on Wednesday. It's thought that Wang is trying to ensure a larger role for Beijing in the new round of nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang that had been driven by Seoul and Washington. In this image taken from video footage by China's CCTV via AP Video, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) meets North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (right) in Pyongyang, North Korea, today China's foreign minister Wang Yi (right) congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (left) on Thursday on his moves to reduce tensions with South Korea, China said Kim Jong-un, North Korea's supreme leader, has met Wang Yi, China's foreign minister in Pyongyang. Beijing is seeking a role in new round of nuclear diplomacy More substantial discussions on the North Korea's denuclearisation are expected to happen between Kim and President Donald Trump who could meet in May or June The meeting took place about a month after Kim Jong-un had paid a visit to Beijing and met China's president Xi Jinping. Kim's meeting with Xi was his first foreign visit since he took power in 2011. Today's meeting between Kim and Wang was held at the headquarters of Workers' Party of Korea, according to China's state newspaper People's Daily. China's president Xi extended greetings to Kim through Wang, said People's Daily. China's president Xi (right) met Kim (left) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in March China's foreign minister, Wang Yi (left), arrived in North Korea's capital on Wednesday. He met the North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho (right) in Pyongyang on May 2 China's foreign minister Wang Yi (centre left) attends a meeting with North Korea's foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho (centre right) at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang on May 2 According to People's Daily, which is run by the Communist Party of China, Wang's purpose of visiting North Korea is to deal with the matters which have been agreed upon between Kim and Xi during their previous meeting. Wang said during the meeting that Kim and Xi's meeting in Beijing had opened a new chapter for the China-North Korea relation and would guide the two countries into a new stage of mutual development. The Chinese foreign minister congratulated the success of the historic summit between Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in last week. Kim and Moon signed a declaration that 'there will be no more war on the Korean Peninsula' on Friday after meeting at the heavily fortified demilitarised zone between their countries. Wang praised that North Korea had been considering the situation carefully and making decisive tactics in order to give a positive spin on the Korean Peninsula. On the other hand, Kim requested Wang to extend his greetings to Xi, said People's Daily. The North Korean leader reportedly called the relation between Pyongyang and Beijing 'extremely precious' and vowed to reinforce and develop the 'friendly cooperation' between the two nations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (center) is welcomed by North Korean Vice Foreign Minister Ri Kil Song (right) on his arrival at Pyongyang Airport, North Korea, on Wednesday Beijing is trying to ensure a larger role in the new round of nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang Wang Yi's visit came days after Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed to work toward the 'complete denuclearisation' of the Korean Peninsula, though they did not mention specific plans or timetables. They also agreed to work toward formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War and push for three-way talks with Washington or four-way talks that also include Beijing to do so. The Koreas can't officially end the war themselves because South Korea wasn't a direct signatory to the armistice that stopped the fighting but left the peninsula technically in a state of war. More substantial discussions on the North Korea's denuclearisation - including what, when and how it would occur - are expected between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, who could meet in May or June. The North's state-media have not yet commented on Wang's arrival in Pyongyang. Wang is likely to use his visit to further ensure that Beijing would not be sidelined in the high-stakes discussions surrounding the North. Some South Korean analysts believe Wang would specifically seek Kim's commitment that the process on formally ending the war would include China. Kim Jong-un (left) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in raise their hands after signing a joint statement at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone on April 27 Kim and Moon shake hands across the military demarcation line prior to Kim's crossing into the South for talks at the Peace House of the truce village of Panmunjom on April 27 The meeting between Kim and Moon at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Friday came a month after Kim made a surprise visit to Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kim's Beijing visit was widely seen as a move to strengthen his leverage ahead of his talks with Trump by re-introducing China as a major player in the global diplomatic push to resolve the nuclear standoff. Analysts say Kim would have asked China, North Korea's only major ally and main economic lifeline, to soften its enforcement of sanctions aimed at the North. Kim also may have sought Chinese commitments to strongly oppose any military measure the United States might take should his talks with Trump fall apart and the North starts testing missiles again. While the Kim-Trump talks is shaping up to be crucial, there's still widespread doubt whether Kim will ever agree to entirely abandon his nuclear weapons when he apparently sees them as providing his only guarantee of survival in a region surrounded by enemies. Seoul has said Kim expressed genuine interest in dealing away his nuclear weapons. But North Korea for decades has been pushing a concept of 'denuclearization' that bears no resemblance to the American definition, vowing to pursue nuclear development unless Washington removes its troops and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan. Kim's move to re-insert China as a major player in the process has been seen as a sign that the North's traditional stance essentially remains. Beijing has been calling for a 'dual suspension' - of the North's nuclear and missile activities and of the large-scale military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. A dog in south-west China has touched the hearts of net users after he was shown waiting faithfully outside a train station every day for his owner to come home. A video of Xiongxiong, which means Bear in Chinese, shows the dog lingering near Liziba metro station in Chongqing's Yuzhong district for his owner to return from work. Locals, who are familiar with Xiongxiong and his owner, said the 15-year-old dog is 'very well-behaved' despite without a collar and a leash. Mr Chen and his dog Xiongxiong at Liziba metro station in Chongqing's Yuzhong district. The 15-year-old pooch waits for his owner to return at the train station every day 'Xiongxiong will appear at the train station at about 7am or 8am every day, when his owner leaves for work,' a local resident was quoted as saying in the Chongqing Evening News. 'Then he will linger at the station - specifically at Exit B - for about 12 hours, sometimes until 8pm,' he said. 'He just waits. The moment he sees his owner, he gets so happy and excited,' the resident said. Local residents, who are familiar with Xiongxiong and his owner, said the 15-year-old dog is 'very well-behaved' despite without a collar and a leash The video shows Xiongxiong waiting patiently by the train station and does not respond to strangers when they pet and call him. 'He never eats anything given to him by strangers,' the neighbour said. However, the pooch's response to his owner is a stark contrast. Xiongxiong will appear at the train station at about 7am or 8am every day The elderly dog does not respond to strangers when they pet and call him An elated Xiongxiong is seen barking and wagging his tail and hopping around his owner the moment he sees his owner walking out of the station. 'I've had Xiongxiong for about seven or eight years,' said the owner, who was identified as Mr Chen. 'Ever since I have had him, he has waited for me every day.' 'He is always happy when he sees me, which makes me very happy too,' Chen said. 'Xiongxiong always manages to make me less tired from work.' An elated Xiongxiong is seen barking and wagging his tail and hopping around his owner the moment he sees his owner walking out of the station in Chongqing, south-west China 15-year-old Xiongxiong greets his owner, barking excitedly as he returns from work 'I hope this relationship will last - I honestly don't know how long he can carry on,' Chen added, noting Xiongxiong's old age - equivalent to almost 80 in human years. The video has been viewed more than 10 million times, making Xiongxiong an overnight star among Chinese net users. Many were moved by his devotion. A trending topic page, named 'Celebrity Dog Waits For Owner Every Day', gathered 1.5 million views. Some users have even gone and paid the dog a visit, sharing their own pictures and videos of him. The dog has been dubbed the 'modern-day Hachiko', the famous Akita dog who waited for his owner at Tokyo's Shibuya Station every day in the 1920s. The dog has been dubbed the 'modern-day Hachiko', the famous Akita dog that waited for his owner at Tokyo's Shibuya Station every day in the 1920s. After the owner died in 1925, the dog continued to come to the station every day until his own death almost 10 years later. The story became legend and a statue of Hachiko was erected in the dog's memory in front of Shibuya Station, where every day hundreds of people have their photograph taken with it. ALEX ESMORE (University of Bristol) - April 21, 2018 The 23-year-old electrical and engineering student from Liverpool is feared to have taken his own life after falling from Clifton Suspension Bridge. The undergraduate, whose father is Guy, 52, the Archdeacon of Buckingham in the Diocese of Oxford, is originally from Liverpool and had four siblings. JUSTIN CHENG (University of Bristol) - January 12, 2018 The law student from Canada, who was in the third year of his degree, is believed by police to have taken his own life. The university said the news was 'immensely distressing', adding that their 'thoughts and sympathies are with his family and friends'. SAM SYMONDS (University of West England) - May 1, 2017 The 19-year-old student, who was described as 'so lovely', was found dead after his friends raised the alarm when he had not been seen. His girlfriend and flatmate came home from work to find police at the flat, who told her that he had killed himself. A post mortem found he died from hanging. RAVEN HUNT (University of West England) - April 13, 2017 The 21-year-old sociology student, who had a history of anxiety, was found dead in woods - and her family later spoke of their devastation. Her mother Emmy Hunt, who has three other children, said she is now on anti-depressants and gets panic attacks following the death. Sam Symonds (left), 19, and Raven Hunt (right), 21, were both students in Bristol ELSA SCABURRI (University of Bristol) - March 20, 2017 Miss Scaburri, a 21-year-old student, had been suffering with depression when she was found hanged in a barn after leaving a note on her bed. The modern languages student was said to have gone 'downhill' quickly during a year abroad in Italy and came back to Britain to be with her mother. LARA NOSIRU (University of Bristol) - January 30, 2017 The 23-year-old student from Essex took a large number of sleeping tablets and some LSD before jumping off Clifton Suspension Bridge in the city. Elsa Scaburri (left), 21, and Lara Nosiru (right), 23, are also Bristol students who died KIM LONG (University of Bristol) - November 10, 2016 The 18-year-old law student was just starting his first term at the university but was found dead in his halls of residence after leaving a note for his parents. Mr Long was described as a 'highly intelligent' young man with 'a sense of humour' by his parents, and had not shown any signs of depression. JAMES THOMSON (University of Bristol) - October 25, 2016 The 20-year-old maths student had been battling depression for about 18 months before his body was found by a friend in his bedroom. During an inquest, his parents questioned why the university did not do more to get in touch with them when they found he was suffering from depression. Law student Kim Long (left), 18, and James Thomson (right), 20, were both found dead DANIEL GREEN (University of Bristol) - October 21, 2016 The 18-year-old history fresher, who lost his mother aged two to cancer, was found hanging in his room at university. An inquest was told he had started talking about starting counselling services, but had been in 'good spirits' just two days before his death. MIRANDA WILLIAMS (University of Bristol) - October 13, 2016 The 19-year-old philosophy student from Chichester had struggled with anxiety and depression, and took her own life with a drug overdose. She was only in her first term at the university, and was praised by her mother as 'an amazing young woman' with a 'wonderful circle of friends'. Currently polling stations do not require you to present formal ID when voting - or even a polling card - with volunteers confirming your address on a form. The ID trials causing controversy today were brought in by the Cabinet Office after reports of alleged electoral fraud through voter impersonation more than doubled between 2014 and 2016, according to the Electoral Commission. Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Watford and Swindon volunteered to take part in a trial, which require voters to produce ID before being issued with a ballot paper. The exact form of ID varies from council to council, with some requiring a picture ID and others proof of address. For example, Watford and Swindon required voters to bring their polling cards with them to cast their ballots, whereas it is not compulsory in general. The toughest restrictions appear to be in Bromley in south east London were voters must bring either photo ID such as a passport or driving licence OR two documents including marriage or birth certificates, bank statements or utility bills, with at least one containing proof of address. For more information click here. A beer trapped at the bottom of the sea for nearly two centuries is being recreated by Australian brewers. Described as a port-house ale with 'hints of blackcurrant and spices', the ale plummeted to the sea floor during a shipwreck in 1797. Scientists are now working to revive the 220-year old drink, described as the world's oldest surviving beer, using yeast found in the ageing bottles. The ale has been named 'The Wreck - Preservation Ale', and will go on sale later this month. Scroll down for video A beer trapped at the bottom of the sea for nearly two centuries has been recreated by Australian brewers. Divers exploring the ship wreck in the 90s (pictured) took the bottles of beer back to the mainland where they were stored at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery The yeast was found on a merchant ship called Sydney Cove, which was travelling from Calcutta to Port Jackson carrying tea, rice and tobacco, as well as 40,000 litres of alcohol. It became shipwrecked at Preservation Island near Tasmania during a storm in 1797. Although the vast majority of the crew and the cargo were saved, some was lost in the wreckage. Divers exploring the wreck in the 90s took the bottles of beer back to the mainland and they have been stored at the Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery in the Tasmanian city of Launceston ever since. Three years ago, David Thurrowgood, a conservator at the museum and a former chemist, began the process of extracting the yeast from the beer. Fortunately, the icy cold conditions it resided in for 200 years preserved the yeast perfectly. 'These bottles had ended up on a very cold, sandy ocean bottom and sat there undisturbed,' Mr Thurrowgood told The Australian. The icy cold conditions the beer (pictured) resided in for 200 years preserved the yeast perfectly which allowed the scientists and brewers to recreate the beer. It is said to be a port-house ale with 'hints of blackcurrant and spices' HOW CAN YOU RECREATE A SHIPWRECK ALE? Australian brewers are attempting to revive a 220-year old beer, made from the yeast found in a shipwreck discovered more than two decades ago. The first step was to identify whether any yeast was living and could be extracted. Using DNA technology, the team confirmed that original samples of beer removed from bottles found on the seafloor off Tasmania contained a live - albeit unusual - hybrid yeast. Three strains of yeast were identified: Brettanomyces, a strain that is unpredictable and was used in older brewing styles, Saccharomyces, or brewer's or baker's yeast, and a wine yeast. To convert this hybrid yeast into an initial sample of beer, the team used an eighteenth-century English ale recipe. The Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery, which holds the original beer, said this first batch had a 'distinctly light and fresh flavour, giving a taste of beer that has not been sipped for 220 years'. But it was potable. The next step was to develop a commercial batch. Brewers from James Squire's Malt Shovel Brewery in Sydney tried multiple recipes with the yeast. They eventually concluded that it was best suited to a porter-style ale. 'This particular yeast was very temperamental and had a thirst for life, so it took a lot of trial and error to find the right balance,' Haydon Morgan, the brewery's head brewer told The Australian. 'After a lot of different recipes, we decided it was perfect for a porter style.' Advertisement 'I thought "wow, what an amazing opportunity to do some research".' An international team of scientists were recruited to help understand the contents of the bottle. Once the scientists had a grasp of what was in it, Mr Thurrowgood turned to brewers at James Squire - an Australian been brand - to recreate the original. Haydon Morgan, the head brewer at James Squire's brewery, said the yeast was 'very temperamental'. Tasters of the alcoholic beverage described it as being rich and smooth, with 'hints of blackcurrant and spices'. The beer (pictured) was on board the Sydney Cove, a British vessel which carried cargo from Calcutta to colonial Sydney. Often laden with rice, tea, port, wine and beer, the ship sailed Australian waters until it was destroyed by a storm in early 1797 The beer was salvaged from the protected Historic Shipwreck Sydney Cove, grounded in 1797 at Preservation Island, Tasmania Mr Thurrowgood said the yeast is 'the oldest surviving yeast micro-organism from a brewery or pre-industrial revolution food source in the world'. As well as providing a nostalgic trip down memory lane of colonial Sydney, the beer is expected to provide a boost for the museum that hosted it for two decades. Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten said a percentage of profits will come back to fund further Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery research into the Sydney Cove collection. 'This exciting commercial opportunity wouldn't have been possible without our staff's meticulous conservation of the Sydney Cove collection, which we hope to now build upon. 'Congratulations to QVMAG, the AWRI and James Squire on bringing a 220 year-old ale back to life for beer-lovers across the country to enjoy. 'This collaborative effort is sure to add a new, intriguing chapter to the nation's history of beer.' Billionaire friends Elon Musk and Larry Page are reported to have a 'funny' relationship. Musk apparently crashes at Page's house where they play video games together to pass they time. But the pair also argue about some major issues, including AI. A new book by renowned MIT professor Max Tegmark recounts a heated debate between the two tycoons at a glamorous party in Napa Valley. During the debate, Page accused Musk of being 'speciesist' for his apparently outlandish claims that killer robots could wipe out humanity. Scroll down for video Elon Musk (left) and Larry Page (right) clashed over Musk's claims that AI will destroy humanity, causing the Google founder to label the Tesla founder as a 'speciesist' The Google founder said Musk - who has spoken out about the dangers of artificial intelligence - was treating certain life forms as inferior because they were made from silicon and not carbon. Professor Tegmark makes the claim in his book, titled 'Life 3.0: Being Human In The Age of Artificial Intelligence', Metro writes. In it, he gives details of a clash between the two technology titans in the early hours of the morning at a party in Napa Valley in California. A post-cocktail chat about a children's book between Professor Tegmark and Page soon escalated into an argument between Musk and the Google founder. Described as a 'long and spirited debate', the two engaged in a war of words focusing around Musk's outspoken views on AI. It appears Page did not appreciate Musk implying robot overlords would bring about a dystopian future in which humans are destroyed. Professor Tegmark writes: '[Page's] main concerns were that AI paranoia would delay the digital utopia and/or cause a military takeover of AI that would fall foul of Google's 'don't be evil' slogan. 'Elon kept pushing back and asked Larry to clarify details of his arguments, such as why he was so confident that digital life wouldn't destroy everything we care about. 'At times, Larry accused Elon of being 'speciesist': treating certain life forms as inferior just because they were silicon-based rather than carbon-based.' While Musk believes that robots are inevitable agents of death, Page is a passionate advocate of a utopian future where humans and robots co-exist in harmony. In his book Life 3.0: Being Human In The Age of Artificial Intelligence, MIT professor Max Tegmark (pictured) describes a clash between Musk and Page from 2015 Elon Musk is one of the most prominent names and faces in developing technologies and incredibly outspoken when it comes to the powers of AI. In 2014 he likened working on artificial intelligence to 'summoning the demon'. Just last month he warned that humans could create an 'immortal dictator' from which we could never escape. Professor Tegmark writes: 'Larry [said] that digital life is the natural and desirable next step in the cosmic evolution and that if we let digital minds be free rather than try to stop or enslave them the outcome is almost certain to be good. 'He argued that if life is ever going to spread throughout our galaxy, which he thought it should, then it would need to do so in digital form.' The world's richest person Jeff Bezos already liquidates $1 billion (0.7 billion) of his fortune in space travel every year. That figure is only set to increase as he now says he thinks the best use of his astonishing $131 billion (96 billion) wealth is getting man into space. He says our solar system could support a trillion humans meaning we would have 'a thousand Einsteins and a thousand Mozarts' giving humanity incredible powers. Bezos has previously called his Blue Origin space company his 'most important project' and says he one day aims to have human settlements beyond Earth. Scroll down for video Jeff Bezos (right) made the comments during an interview with CEO of Axel Springer Mathias Dopfner (left) and Business Insider's US editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell in Berlin Bezos made the comments during an interview with CEO of Axel Springer Mathias Dopfner and Business Insider's US editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell in Berlin. 'The only way that I can see to deploy this much financial resource is by converting my Amazon winnings into space travel,' Bezos said, writes Business Insider. 'I am going to use my financial lottery winnings from Amazon to fund that', he said. The Amazon CEO says he has been interested in space since he was five years old and believes humanity needs to explore it in order to cultivate a more advanced civilisation. 'I am very lucky that I feel like I have a mission-driven purpose with Blue Origin that is, I think, incredibly important for civilization long term', he said. He claimed that humanity risks reaching a state of stasis and getting to new frontiers would mean our species stays productive and dynamic. Bezos has previously called his Blue Origin space company his 'most important project' and says he one day aims to have human settlements beyond Earth WHO IS JEFF BEZOS? Jeff Bezos is best known as the founder and CEO of online giant Amazon. Born in New Mexico and raised in Houston, Texas, he went on to attend the prestigious Princeton University and graduated in 1986. After a decade or so of work on Wall Street, Mr Bezos founded his own company in 1994. Jeff Bezos was born in 1964 and is founder and CEO of Amazon. He is also the richest person in the world He initially called his company Cadabra, and then reportedly changed the name to Amazon when a colleague misheard it as 'cadaver'. Initially, it was launched as an online book store working out of Bezo's garage in Seattle but rapidly grew to include a variety of goods and services. Now, Amazon is one of the biggest companies in the world and the most successful website in the world. In 2018, the company is worth around $900 (691 billion). Mr Bezos himself has an estimated net worth of $150 billion (115 billion). He has bought and accumulated a variety of different companies and outlets including: Whole Foods, The Washington Post, Twitch and IMDB. He has a controlling share of 17 per cent in his first company, Amazon. In 2017, Jeff Bezos surpassed Bill Gates to become the richest person in the world, and the richest person of the modern world. He has been married since 1994 and has four children. Advertisement 'The solar system can easily support a trillion humans', he said. 'And if we had a trillion humans, we would have a thousand Einsteins and a thousand Mozarts and unlimited, for all practical purposes, resources and solar power unlimited for all practical purposes', he said. After the interview the Amazon CEO shared an image from late-night TV host Conan O'Brien on his Instagram. O'Brien had made a joke about how Bezos planned to spend his fortune during the Tuesday night episode of 'Conan'. 'Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says he is planning to spend the majority of his fortune getting himself into space', O'Brien said. 'He said, "I've seen what you people buy, and I don't want to be near you"', O'Brien joked. After the interview the Amazon CEO shared an image from late-night TV host Conan O'Brien on his Instagram. O'Brien had made a joke about how Bezos planned to spend his fortune during the Tuesday night episode of 'Conan' Jeff Bezos' space tourism project with Blue Origin is competing with a similar programme in development by Space X, the rocket firm founded and run by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and Virgin Galactic, backed by Richard Branson. Bezos is pursuing Blue Origin with vigour as he tries to launch his 'New Glenn' rocket into low-Earth orbit by 2020. As part of this mission he successfully launched his eighth rocket test flight from West Texas on Sunday. Bezos is pursuing Blue Origin (pictured) with vigour as he tries to launch his 'New Glenn' rocket into low-Earth orbit by 2020 While the New Shepherd capsule is designed to carry up to six 'space tourists,' (pictured) it was unmanned for this flight. The event marked the seventh successful booster flight in a row for Blue Origin, and eighth New Shepherd flight, in total The system consists of a pressurised crew capsule atop a reusable 'New Shepard' booster rocket. While the New Shepherd capsule is designed to carry up to six 'space tourists,' it was unmanned for this flight. The event marked the seventh successful booster flight in a row for Blue Origin. Blue Origin will presumably start test flights to move toward that goal later this year, but no target dates have been made publicly known at this time. A spinning arrow that always points right has been created as part of an incredible optical illusion taking the internet by storm. The trick of the eye - which is the latest in a long line designed by a Japanese mathematician - appears at first glance to be a simple white arrow Looks can be deceiving, however, as the object - mounted on a wooden stand - has been carefully crafted to achieve its mind-bending effect. This duplicity can only be seen when viewing the device from above, revealing its secret. Scroll down for video The illusion is the brainchild of Professor Kokichi Sugihara, doctor of engineering at Meiji University in Tokyo. Professor Sugihara is famous for building 3D optical illusions that cause viewers to question the laws of physics and even after the hoax is revealed they can still see the same visual trick taking place. The illusion is featured in video footage posted to the Instagram page Physicsfun, where it had been viewed 368,452 times at the time of publication. In the description, its author writes: 'Spin this arrow 180 degrees and it still points to the right - only in a mirror will it point left, and only to the left. 'A clever combination of reflection, perspective, and viewing angle produce this striking illusion.' This mirror image provides a clue to the design of the spinning arrow, which is responsible for it's seemingly magical properties. A spinning arrow that always points right has been created as part of an incredible optical illusion taking the internet by storm. The trick of the eye appears at first glance to be a simple white arrow, mounted on a wooden stand In the latter part of the clip, the arrow is tilted up to reveal its true shape - an oblong with two pointed ends, with multiple upward and downward gradients. It is this strange symmetrical layout, a characteristic feature of Professor Sugihara's work, that achieves the illusion. When viewed from above, the arrow object is perfectly symmetrical, but from the perspective it is first viewed from in the video, the alternating undulations visible from above make it appear as if it points in one direction. Your brain then tries to match this shape to something familiar, filling in the gaps in your perception with the most obvious candidate - an arrow. The illusion is the brainchild of Professor Kokichi Sugihara, doctor of engineering at Meiji University in Tokyo. Looks can be deceiving, as the object has been carefully crafted to achieve its mind-bending effect This duplicity can only be discerned when viewing the device from above. The object's true shape is an oblong with two pointed ends, with multiple upward and downward gradients. It is this strange symmetrical layout that achieves the illusion HOW DOES THE RIGHT SPINNING ARROW ILLUSION WORK? A spinning arrow that always points right has been created as part of an incredible optical illusion taking the internet by storm. The trick of the eye, which is the latest in a long line designed by a Japanese mathematician, appears at first glance to be a simple white arrow, mounted on a wooden stand. Looks can be deceiving, however, as the object has been carefully crafted to achieve its mind-bending effect, and this duplicity can only be discerned when viewing the device from above. When viewed from above, the arrow object is perfectly symmetrical, but from the perspective it is first seen, the alternating undulations visible from above make it appear as if it points in one direction. Your brain then tries to match this shape to something familiar, filling in the gaps in your perception with the most obvious candidate - an arrow. Advertisement The illusion was particularly well received on Reddit, where it perplexed participants of a forum dedicated to quirky and interesting finds from the online world. Asperi said: 'Damn it. This one is really messing with my head.' One anonymous user said: 'You can put one right in my hand and I still wouldn't figure out how.' ketchy_shuby added: 'When the mirror image appeared I could feel portions of my brain forming new folds.' This is not the first time that the perception-altering illusions of Professor Sugihara have hit the headlines. An illusion created using 'ambiguous cylinders' has been blowing the internet's collective mind since it was posted online in 2016. Professor Sugihara received second place at that year's annual Illusion of the Year contest for his offering. In it, a set of plastic squares appear to be circular when placed in front of a mirror. A video of the illusion was posted on Reddit and quickly got the attention of readers who were left bemused by its mind-bending optics. The minute long clip shows six plastic squares fused together that, when placed in front of a mirror, appear to be shaped like circles. Then, the squares are rotated and appear to be shaped like circles, while the reflection flips and becomes square. An illusion created using 'ambiguous cylinders' has been blowing the internet's collective mind since it was posted online in 2016. In it, a set of plastic squares appear to be circular when placed in front of a mirror A minute long clip posted about the illusion shows six plastic squares fused together that, when placed in front of a mirror, appear to be shaped like circles. Then, the squares are rotated and appear to be shaped like circles, while the reflection flips and becomes square Another set is then introduced, this time with four squares, which appear in the mirror to be interlocked circles. Gradually, more and more 3D shapes are brought in, which all illustrate the same mind-bending illusion. Staff at 3D printing company Make Anything were the first to reveal the magic behind the mystery, 'reverse engineering' the illusion to created a model using a printer. They revealed that the 'true shape' of the pieces was an exact blend between a circle and a square, with one side curved upwards, while the other side is sloped downwards. The different heights of the sides 'corrects' the fact that the sides are different shapes, which means that it blends back into a square or back into a circle when the true shape is right in between. Another of Professor Sugihara's illusions involves a tiny paper house with a roof that's more than meets the eye. When three balls are placed on it and do not roll down its sides, you might think its creator has found a way to defy both geometry and gravity. Another of Professor Sugihara's illusions involves a tiny paper house with a roof that's more than meets the eye. Professor Sugihara creates these kind of works using computer software that uses two-dimensional line drawings to design three-dimensional objects When three balls are placed on its roof and do not roll down its sides, one might think its creator has found a way to defy both geometry and gravity What's actually happening is your brain assumes the structure is constructed with an upward sloping roof, when in fact it is sloping downward But what's actually happening is your brain assumes the structure is constructed with an upward sloping roof, when in fact it is sloping downward. This is revealed once the house's true form is shown, which can only be seen from a particular angle. Professor Sugihara creates these kind of works using computer software that uses two-dimensional line drawings to design three-dimensional objects. In another trick involving apparently defying gravity, Professor Sugihara's optical illusion shows a four-way ramp structure and some wooden balls that appear to travel straight up its slopes and not down. The mathematician said the brain is easily fooled into thinking the ramps are facing the opposite way to how they actually are. In another trick involving apparently defying gravity, Professor Sugihara's optical illusion shows a four-way ramp structure and some wooden balls that appear to travel straight up its slopes and not down The mathematician said the brain is easily fooled into thinking the ramps are facing the opposite way to how they actually are. 'Because the images do not contain information about depth, the brain must guess by entering additional information such as squareness or symmetry,' Professor Sugihara said 'Because the images do not contain information about depth, the brain must guess by entering additional information such as squareness or symmetry,' Professor Sugihara said. 'On the other hand, there are infinite ways to interpret an image without this process would have no way to understand them.' Another, c alled Folding Ladder, shows a chopstick passing through different windows of a ladder-like structure. The configurations seem impossible - unless the stick could bend - because each row of windows appear flat. But when the structure is shown from behind, it isn't flat at all. According to Nautillus, Professor Sugihara sketched the ladder and then put the drawing through his program. He chose the three-dimensional interpretation that was most different from the natural human interpretation, which is why the trick works so well. Another, called Folding Ladder, shows a chopstick passing through different windows of a ladder-like structure. The configurations seem impossible - unless the stick could bend Because each row of windows appear flat, the illusion appears impossible, but when the structure is shown from behind, it isn't flat at all. Scientists are 'growing' diamonds that are so pure they are almost indistinguishable from natural stones. One-carat diamonds are cultured in a matter of days at a laboratory in Cardiff using just methane and hydrogen gas. Researchers behind the project say the lab-grown stones are purer, 20% cheaper and more environmentally friendly than real gems. Scientists are 'growing' diamonds that are so pure they are almost indistinguishable from natural stones. Researchers used a small 'seed' crystal as a scaffold and then heat methane and hydrogen gas to release carbon atoms that naturally bind to make an artificial diamond Professor Oliver Williams, a physicist at Cardiff University, told Sky News: 'The diamonds are purer than anything you would see in nature. 'With the best growers, less than one atom in a trillion is an impurity.' Professor Williams leads a team making diamond sheets for research into semi-conductors - but the same process can be used to grow decorative gems. Scientists start the process by putting a small 'seed' diamond into a vacuum chamber to remove impurities from the air. They then pump in methane and hydrogen gas heated to 3,000C (5,400F) to form a highly charged plasma. The gases rapidly break apart, releasing carbon atoms from the methane that collect on the diamond 'seed'. British scientists are 'growing' diamonds that are so pure they are almost indistinguishable from natural stones. The team makes diamond sheets (pictured) for research into semi-conductors - but the same process can be used to grow decorative gems These atoms naturally copy the crystal structure of organic diamond, which is also made of carbon atoms. Each artificial stone grows at a rate of around 0.0002 inches (0.006mm) an hour. Natural diamonds form over millions of years under high pressures and temperatures deep within the Earth's crust. Lab-made gems are threatening to upset the diamond industry, with several companies worldwide now growing the stones for jewellery. HOW DO SCIENTISTS 'GROW' DIAMONDS IN A LABORATORY? Diamonds fetch their lofty price tags because they form over millions of years under high pressures and temperatures deep within the Earth's crust. But a number of companies are now growing the gems in laboratories across the world, threatening to shake up the diamond industry. A small 'seed' diamond acts as a scaffolding for the process. Scientists first place this seed into a vacuum chamber to remove impurities from the air. Lab-made gems are threatening to upset the diamond industry, with several companies worldwide now growing the stones for jewellery. In this image Pure Grown Diamonds CEO Lisa Bissell unveils a lab-cultivated diamond in New York in 2015 They then funnel hydrogen and methane gas heat to 3,000C (5,400F) into the chamber to create a highly charged gas known as plasma. The gases rapidly break apart, releasing carbon atoms from the methane that collected on the diamond 'seed'. These atoms naturally copy the crystal structure of organic diamond, which is also made up of carbon atoms. Each artificial stone grows at a rate of around 0.0002 inches (0.006mm) an hour. Advertisement An artificial diamond is typically 15-20 per cent cheaper than a natural stone of the same size. Professor Williams said: 'It's man actually beating nature. 'We're perfecting it and it's an enormous accomplishment to grow a material that traditionally has been very difficult to grow.' But although man-made diamonds are now being sold at some high-end jewellers - industry bosses say most customers prefer the real deal. Scientists start the process by putting a small 'seed' diamond in a vacuum chamber to remove impurities from the air. They then pump in methane and hydrogen gas heated to 3,000C (5,400F) to form an highly charged gas known as plasma (pictured) Jean-Marc Lieberherr, chief executive of the Diamond Producers Association, said the value of a gem is partly due to its sentimental quality. 'The fact they cannot be distinguished with naked eye does not make them identical, or equal,' he said. 'Think of very good replica of a Picasso painting. We might not be able to tell it apart, but with the right equipment an expert will be able to. 'One has enormous monetary and emotional value, one is a replica with no inherent or resale value. It's the same thing with diamonds.' Google Assistant is gaining ground in the smart home. The search giant said on Thursday that its artificial intelligence-infused voice assistant now works with more than 5,000 smart home devices. That's up from just 1,500 devices in January, according to Google. Scroll down for video Google Assistant is gaining ground in the smart home. The search giant said on Thursday that its artificial intelligence-infused voice assistant works with more than 5,000 smart devices Tripling the number of devices that Google Assistant is compatible with should give the firm a strong foothold in the ongoing smart home wars. Big tech firms ranging from Amazon, Apple, Microsoft and Samsung have all launched their respective smart speakers and digital assistants, but making sure they're compatible with a plethora of internet of things products around the home is no easy feat. To this end, Google says its digital assistant works with a variety of smart cameras, dishwashers, doorbells, dryers, lights, plugs, thermostats, security systems, vacuums and locks, among many other technologies. 'Over the past year, we've made great progress ensuring that the Google Assistant can work with all types of connected devices, and now every major device brand works with the Assistant in the US,' the firm explained in a blog post. Google says it has worked to incorporate the Assistant into more security cameras and smart doorbells to 'let you keep tabs on activity around your home'. Google says it has tripled the number of smart home devices that its Google Assistant is compatible with, reaching 5,000 devices, up from 1,500 devices in January. Google Assistant is currently available on the firm's voice-activated smart speaker, Google Home (pictured), as well as other devices like Android Auto, smart TVs and smartphones It's also trying to integrate Google Assistant into more smart home products like light bulbs, thermostats, window treatments and more. 'We've been working with device brands around the world to ensure the Assistant works with all the most popular smart home devices', Google explained. Soon, users may be able to use Google Assistant to change the TV channel. Nick Fox, Google's vice president of Assistant and Search, told Engadget that the firm is working to integrate Dish's Hopper receivers with its digital assistant, so that users can say things like, 'Hey Google, switch to ESPN'. Other partnerships that are in progress include home security company ADT, smart home lights made by Xiaomi, as well as Hisense A/C and humidifiers. Google Assistant is light-years ahead of Apple when it comes to the smart home, as the iPhone maker's HomeKit system only counts 195 compatible products. Google's digital assistant now works with a variety of smart cameras, dishwashers, doorbells, dryers, lights, plugs, thermostats, security systems, vacuums and locks, among other things BATTLE OF THE HOME AI Google's $130 (105) Home speaker is triggered by the phrase 'Hey Google' while Amazon's Echo uses 'Alexa'. Amazon's smart speaker is available in two versions - the full sized $180 (145) Echo shown here, and a smaller, $50 (40) version called the Echo Dot. Amazon Echo relies on Microsoft's Bing search engine and Wikipedia, while Google Home uses the company's own Google Search. Both Home and Echo are continually listening for commands, though Google and Amazon say nothing gets passed back to them until the speakers hear a keyword 'OK, Google' for Home and 'Alexa' for Echo. Google's Assistant software is also able to answer follow-up questions on the same topic, in a near-conversation style, but Echo as yet cannot. However, Amazon's Alexa software has a wider range of skills on offer that enable it to link up with and control more third-party devices around the home. A light comes on to remind you that it's listening. You can turn off the microphone temporarily, too. Advertisement It's unclear if Google has surged ahead of Amazon, however. Amazon announced in January that it had 4,000 smart home devices integrations for its Alexa voice assistant, but it's unclear if that number has grown in the months since. Many expect Google to release more updates on the progress of its Assistant at the firm's annual I/O developers conference, which kicks off next week in Mountain View, California. At last year's conference, Google announced a new Assistant app for iOS devices, as well as a new software called Google Lens. The Lens app is a part of Google Assistant and uses the firm's AI to process images, allowing users to instantly translate a sign or menus, for instance. Intel is deploying hi-tech drones to help spot parts of the Great Wall of China that have fallen into disrepair. The chipmaker is sending some Falcon 8+ drones to shoot aerial photos of the famous Jiankou section of the wall, a 20km (12.4m) stretch that's known for its steep climbs and scenic views. Due to its thick vegetation and centuries old materials, the areas has 'naturally weathered' and requires repair -- a process that can be made easier by using drones, Intel said. Scroll down for video Intel is sending Falcon 8+ drones to shoot aerial photos of the famous Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China, which is known for its steep climbs, thick vegetation and scenic views Intel, which is partnering with the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation for the project, will send its Falcon drones to take aerial photos that will then be converted into high-definition images. Artificial intelligence will create a visual representation of the Great Wall to identify areas that are in need of repair and plan the safest way to restore them. The project will take place over the next few months. Intel unveiled its Falcon 8+ drone in 2016, billing it as a professional unmanned aerial vehicle with the ability to handle challenging environments and weather conditions, as well as to produce extremely precise data. 'Using drones, we are able to inspect multiple aspects of the structure including areas that are quite inaccessible,' said Anil Nanduri, vice president and general manager of Intel's drone team, in a statement. 'We continue to be excited about the future of inspections being automated all the way from drone data capture to data processing, analysis and insights'. Intel unveiled its Falcon 8+ drone (pictured) in 2016, billing it as a professional unmanned aerial vehicle with the ability to handle challenging environments and weather conditions, as well as to produce extremely precise data The drones will be sent to the Jiankou section of the Great Wall of China to take aerial photos that will then be converted into high-definition images At more than 700 years old, the Jiankou section is particularly in need of maintenance. It runs for more than 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) at 1,141 meters about sea level, according to the South China Morning Post. Most of the Jiankou section hangs on steep clips and, in many areas, steps have eroded over time. 'As one of the Seven Wonders of the Great World, the Great Wall has been exposed to weather erosion for thousands of years,' said Li Xiaojie, chairman of the China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation. 'Some parts are on steep inclines, which pose a great challenge for daily maintenance' 'Our partnership with Intel has opened new avenues for preservation', he added. HOW DID INTEL SET A NEW RECORD FOR A SYNCHRONIZED DRONE LIGHT SHOW? Following its 500-strong world record display in which it spelled out its logo in lights, Intel has launched its own display drone. Called the Shooting Star, the small quadcopters are lightweight and have encased propellers. They weight just 280 grams, can stay in the air for up to 20 minutes and can even fly in the rain. Intel also claim four billion colour combinations from the red, green, blue and white LED lights. It could enable companies to program their designs using the software and launch an army of advertising drones to spell out their name in lights. The small quadcopters are lightweight and have encased propellers, to protect stray fingers from coming to any harm. Advertisement Intel has doubled down on drone technology in recent years. Earlier this year, the firm used drones to map oil and gas ranges in Australia. It's also caught the eye of drone enthusiasts and average consumers alike. In 2016, the tech giant sent 500 flashing drones dancing into the night sky, breaking its earlier record of a synchronised light show with 100 drones. Beyond a one off spectacle, using fleets of drones to create light shows could pave the way for a new form of advertising with brand names spelled out in hovering flashing lights. The oldest of the four bridges that arch over Venices Grand Canal, Rialto Bridge sits proudly in the busiest part of the Floating City. For eons it was the only way to cross the canal on foot, and to this day remains an essential crossing for Venetians. Visitors can enjoy its striking architecture, visit the souvenir stalls, and soak in Rialtos vibrant atmosphere. The ultimate guide to the iconic Rialto Bridge in Venice How to visit Rialto Bridge or Ponte di Rialto in Italian is hard to miss during a trip to Venice, sitting as it does close to the heart of the Floating City. When wandering the citys spellbinding streets, you may find yourself upon the bridge by accident. Youll know it by the striking architecture and the three walkways. There are two along the outer balustrades as well as a wider central walkway featuring two rows of small shops that sell jewellery and souvenirs. If youre actively looking for it, its easy to find thanks to the numerous signposts that point in its direction. From the train station, Piazza San Marco, or the Piazzale Roma, you can just follow the signs to Rialto. You can also reach the bridge by water bus. The No 1 stops at Rialto on its Grand Canal Route, as do a number of other boat services. The bridge has a number of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible. When to visit The best time to visit Rialto Bridge depends on whether youd rather avoid the crowds or want to visit the surrounding markets. If youre only seeking the Rialto Bridge, its best to avoid the crowds. The area is always busy, but early in the morning less so or go late at night when the markets are shut. Sunset is a beautiful time to visit, with the southern side of the bridge offering a glorious view of the gondolas pulling up to the grand buildings lining the canal. The busiest time on the bridge is from mid-morning, when the day trippers arrive, to the late afternoon. The stalls are crawling with customers and it can get a little uncomfortable in the heat. The Rialto markets are undeniably historic, with locals gathering here to shop since the 11th century. If you want to tie the markets in with your trip to the bridge, try to visit early in the morning, when youll be able to experience the local fish and vegetable market. The barges start arriving at dawn, and the markets are in full swing by 0800. This is your best bet for an authentic market experience, as its when the locals do their shopping and colourful, seasonal produce is plentiful. If youre lucky, you may be offered free samples by vendors. The markets are shut on Sunday and Monday, and during the rest of the week they begin to wind down after lunch. Its never exactly quiet in the Rialto area but the earlier you arrive, the more likely you are to enjoy a bit of peace at the bridge. If youre there in winter, youll have a much quieter experience than in the summer. This is when the bridge is decked with twinkling lights and is a particularly pretty experience. Don't miss a chance to visit the Floating City's landmark Why visit The Ponte di Rialto is Venices oldest bridge. The current structure was built in the 16th century by Antonio de Ponte, but theres been a bridge here since the 11th century. The first bridge built here provided the first dry crossing of Venices Grand Canal and, until the 1850s, it was the only way to cross the Grand Canal on foot. Located in the oldest and most central quarter of Venice, its always been an important spot for traders and locals. The bridges architecture is striking, but it wasnt designed just to look good. Its 25ft (7.5m) arch was constructed to allow galleys to pass underneath and, because Venice was built on a swamp, was erected on top of thousands of wooden pilings that support the bridge to this day. In its day, the building of the bridge was momentous, with many big names, including Michelangelo and Palladio, competing for the contract. It was won by Antonio da Ponte, whose nephew, Antonio Contino, went on to build Venices famous Bridge of Sighs. Aside from its history and architecture, the bridge is worth visiting for stunning views of the Grand Canal and the spectacular buildings that line its shore. Advertisement A hotel and property company has unveiled designs for expanding Heathrow in a way it claims is much cheaper than the airport's own plan. Arora Group says its third runway scheme would cost 'under half' the amount of Heathrow Airport Limited's (HAL) scheme. The firm, founded by tycoon Surinder Arora, wants to concentrate new terminal capacity between Terminal 5 and the M25 to avoid having to redevelop Terminals 2 and 3, which would be 'far more expensive and disruptive'. A infographic showing how Arora's plans would feature an elevated bridge, wide body taxiways and flexible aircraft parking Another graphic shows how the alternative plans would affect passengers. Arora Group claims it would minimise the number of level changes they would need to make HALs plan has the support of the Government, and it will receive outline planning consent if it passes a vote in Parliament due in the coming weeks. Amid concern from airlines that they will be hit with increased fees as a result of the project, Arora Group says it offers a cheaper alternative. It estimates that building a new runway and accommodating 130 million passengers per year would cost 14.4 billion under its method. Although HAL has indicated its plan will cost 14 billion, Arora Group claim that this is 'misleading' as it will need to invest further to accommodate the full capacity of passengers. It added: 'The Arora plans are therefore ultra-efficient and at a cost of under half HAL's.' It stated that the Government's Airports Commission estimated the HAL plan would cost 31 billion. Arora's plans include 'two wide body taxiways to reduce congestion points, triple taxiways to maximise connectivity to the future north runway, flexible aircraft parking for wide and narrow body aircraft, dual access from the M25 and A3044 and an elevated bridge concourse that enables easy navigation for aircraft underneath, with flow-through taxiways between north and south runways to enable operational flexibility'. Heathrow has unveiled a number of infrastructure proposals such as tunnelling the M25, the location of expanding terminal facilities and three options for the length of the new runway varying between 3,200 metres and 3,500 metres. An artist's impression showing plans by Arora Group for an alternative proposal to the expansion plans for Heathrow Airport Mr Arora explained: 'Heathrow has been in monopoly control for too long and our proposals show what can be achieved through an alternative approach and Heathrow fully welcoming competition.' A spokesman for British Airways' parent company IAG urged the Government to allow third parties to run terminals at the west London hub. He said: 'The Arora proposal looks very interesting and deserves to be properly evaluated so that customers can get the best facilities at the most affordable price.' Virgin Atlantic chief executive Craig Kreeger described the Heathrow expansion as a 'once-in-a-generation opportunity' to challenge the status quo. Heathrow has unveiled a number of infrastructure proposals, with this graphic showing how a new terminal would be built right next to the new runway Heathrow has proposed three options for the length of the new runway varying between 3,200 metres and 3,500 metres An artist's impression showing Heathrow's current preferred plans, which already have the support of the government Heathrow Airport Limited hopes to begin construction in early 2021, with the third runway completed by the end of 2025 He added: 'Arora have developed a plan that will bring down the cost of construction and inject competition at the UK's hub airport. 'At first look, this plan appears to be a credible alternative. 'Virgin Atlantic believes passionately in the benefits of competition to consumers, so we urge all involved in Heathrow expansion to give the Arora plan serious consideration.' Another rendering showing Heathrow's proposal. The airport says Arora's plans show a complete lack of understanding of airport operations HAL hopes to begin construction in early 2021, with the third runway completed by the end of 2025. John Holland-Kaye, HAL chief executive, said Arora Group's proposals 'show a complete lack of understanding of airport operations and disregard for those living closest to the airport'. He continued: 'I have met with Mr Arora several times to see how we can work together to deliver the integrated hub airport capacity that Britain needs. Each time he has refused to engage with us.' Holidaymakers have been staging a revolt after being faced with doubled tourist tax bills of as much as 50 a couple on their arrival at Majorca hotels. One group is said to have refused point-blank to pay the money, saying they had not been told of the increased charge, which came into effect on May 1st. A couple staying in a five-star hotel for seven nights would be presented with a bill for 56 euros instead of the previous 28 euros. It is usually payable on their arrival at reception. Holidaymakers have been staging a revolt after being faced with doubled tourist tax bills of as much as 50 pounds a couple on their arrival at Majorca hotels. Pictured is Port de Soller on Majorca The Majorca hotel group is also blaming 'lack of sufficient information' from the Balearic Government, which wants to bring in more than 120 million euros this year from the levy. It says tourists arriving at its hotels in Majorca and Ibiza have been 'shocked' by the increase, which equates to four euros per night in five-star of four star superior accommodation; three euros for establishments with four stars and three stars superior; and two euros for those with one, two and three stars. Javier Vich, president of the Palma and Cala Major Hoteliers Association, said the 100 per cent increase in the tourist tax took holidaymakers by surprise. 'The tourists had no kind of information about the increase in the rates, which was why they were surprised,' he told the Mallorca Daily Bulletin. 'Receptionists and hotel directors had to explain the new charges to guests and many repeat clients couldn't understand the reason for the increase.' Mr. Vich said the surprise turned to indignation in one instance, with a group of guests refusing to pay the tax. The hotel, it would seem, assumed the cost. The Majorca hotel group says tourists arriving at its hotels in Majorca and Ibiza have been 'shocked' by the increase, which equates to four euros per night in five-star of four star superior accommodation; three euros for establishments with four stars and three stars superior; and two euros for those with one, two and three stars. Pictured is Port de Soller Although other tourists paid, some indicated that they would weigh up the cost of a family holiday and consider going somewhere else. 'It is a very significant increase, more so when one takes account of prices in competitor destinations,' he said. However, the Balearic Government says the tourist tax is being well-received and is being paid 'without fuss'. The doubled tax now applies until October 31st for all those over the age of 16. In the 'low' season, it reduces to half. In the high season, the tax decreases by 50 per cent on the ninth night of a holidaymaker's stay. This summer will also be the first time cruise ship passengers will be subject to the charge. Fans are used to seeing the MasterChef judges - Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris - looking sharp and impeccably presented. And on Thursday, a hair and makeup artist for the show has revealed a few surprising on-set beauty secrets. Speaking to Who, Maureen Moriarty claimed that Gary sometimes shaves his face twice a day while filming for 'continuity' purposes. Scroll down for video MasterChef's beauty secrets revealed! The surprising makeup routines of TV's favourite foodies - including the judge who has to shave TWICE per day A typical day of filming lasts between 10 and 12 hours, and Maureen says she often has to fix the judges' makeup because they 'always touch their faces'. The three leading men also have to get a haircut every two weeks so that their appearance is consistent throughout the series. MasterChef is returning to Network Ten later this month, with celebrity guests including Prince Charles. A typical day of filming lasts between 10 and 12 hours, and makeup artist Maureen Moriarty says she often has to fix the judges' makeup because they 'always touch their faces' Dapper chaps! Fans are used to seeing the MasterChef judges - Gary Mehigan, Matt Preston and George Calombaris - looking sharp and impeccably presented Viewers can also expect to see Australian favourites Maggie Beer, Curtis Stone and Adriano Zumbo make cameos. It was revealed last month that MasterChef contestants served up ants and kangaroo for Prince Charles during his appearance on the show. The amateur chefs were tasked with cooking hors d'oeuvres for the Prince and 150 guests as they attended a function at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Centre. A royal engagement! MasterChef is returning to Network Ten later this month, with celebrity guests including Prince Charles The judges told the contestants that, in light of Prince Charles' interest in the environment, he was keen to try dishes featuring native ingredients. This resulted in eclectic dishes being served up, such as wallaby tartare with quandong chutney, cucumber, zuccini and green ants, as well as kangaroo with Davidson Plum jam. Speaking after the reception, George Calombaris told The Daily Telegraph: 'To celebrate local ingredients and to see the contestants cook for him - it is a wonderful and surreal experience. 'Charles was really engaged. We (judges) talked to him about things that mean something to all of us - sustainability and reducing food waste.' Rose McGowan was snapped leaving a hotel in New York City on Wednesday in a no-nonsense ensemble, accompanied by a friend. The Brave author, 44, wore a black tank top with torn blue jeans and black boots, with dark sunglasses with fuchsia frames. The Certaldo, Italy-born actress sported short dark locks on top with a fade around her head. Scroll below for video Out and about: Rose McGowan, 44, was snapped leaving a hotel in New York City on Wednesday accompanied by a friend McGowan was wearing said ensemble when she took to Instagram Stories in a brief clip with cloud and sun filters, saying, 'Hey everyone, hope you're having a great day!' Her friend wore a black leather jacket over a striped navy blue shirt, Aegean blue shorts and sandals. The Paranormal: White Noise actress has been in the headlines over the past seven months as one of the hallmark voices in the #MeToo movement, as she was one of the first of more than 80 women to accuse Oscar-winning producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and misconduct, claiming he had raped her in his Park City, Utah hotel room during the 1997 Sundance Film Festival. Weinstein used ex-Mossad agents and tabloid reporters in his efforts to compile damaging information about the Scream actress, according to a Ronan Farrow piece published last November in The New Yorker. Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex against him. Sunny weather: The Brave author wore a black tank top with torn blue jeans and black boots, with dark sunglasses with fuchsia frames A series titled Citizen Rose, documenting McGowan's experiences in the wake of the revelation, will return to E! this month, according to the network. The three episodes slated to air this month will chronicle Rose's 'emotional toll of having to constantly revisit her painful past, all the while launching a book that is one of her proudest achievements,' her memoir, Brave. The show will document Rose's travels to Berlin, Paris and Rome, as she bonded with Italian actress Asia Argento, another linchpin in the #MeToo movement who claims Weinstein sexually assaulted her in the late 90s while she worked with him on the film B. Monkey. The show will also detail the February incident at a book signing earlier this year at a Barnes and Noble in New York City, leading her to cease all of her promotional appearances for the memoir. Citizen Rose returns to E! at 10/9c Thursday, May 17. The tenth season of MasterChef is due to hit screens on Monday. And it's certainly going to be a tasty series, because a host of big names are making cameos - including Prince Charles. Teasing the 69-year-old royal's upcoming appearance on the Channel 10 program, judge Matt Preston revealed what it was really like meeting the British heir. 'He was amazing,' Matt told OK! magazine. The pair met after the Prince of Wales invited MasterChef contestants to cater a reception for 150 guests at the Royal Flying Doctor Service base in Darwin. 'It was wonderful to watch him work the room,' the 54-year-old culinary critic continued. 'He was far removed from that cold and aloof image some have of him.' MasterChef host George Calombaris previously told the Daily Telegraph that Prince Charles' debut was a 'wonderful and surreal' experience. His Royal Highness: MasterChef's new series promises a number of celebrity cameos, including one from Prince Charles himself Due to his interest in the environment, the Queen's eldest son was reportedly most keen on trying dishes featuring indigenous ingredients. This resulted in an array of eclectic dishes being served up, such as wallaby tartare with quandong chutney, cucumber, zuccini and green ants as well as kangaroo with Davidson plum jam. Meanwhile fellow judge Gary Mehigan, 51, also dished on domestic goddess Nigella Lawson - who flew all the way from London to taste the Australian amateur's offerings. Gourmet guests: Nigella Lawson (left) ended up calling the MasterChef judges her 'naughty brothers' while Gordon Ramsay (right) admitted that one of the contestants served up something he'd 'never seen before' He said that 58-year-old Nigella was a 'delight' who ended up calling the judges her 'naughty brothers'. Fellow Brit and Michelin star-winning chef Gordon Ramsay also made the trip Down Under to critique the contestants' dishes for the latest series, which producers have promised will be 'full of surprises'. 'Amazing': Matt gushed about Prince Charles' appearance on MasterChef during a new interview with OK! magazine And it seems that Gordon was impressed with what the Aussie's served up. 'You've done something today that I've never seen before,' the expletive-loving restaurateur said in a promo video. Kitchen contenders: The MasterChef hopefuls will be judged by George Calombaris, Matt Preston and Gary Mehigan Viewers can also expect to see local favourites Maggie Beer, Curtis Stone and Adriano Zumbo make cameos. MasterChef Australia will premiere next Monday - with subsequent episodes airing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that week. Delectable: The 10th season of MasterChef Australia is promising to deliver plenty of surprises In a promo released by the Ten earlier this month, Matt took a less-than-subtle dig at rival cooking show My Kitchen Rules. 'Being a great home cook is one thing but being a MasterChef, that's something entirely different,' he said. MasterChef Australia premieres on Monday 7th May at 7.30pm on Network Ten A man who stalked Hollywood star Sandra Bullock has died during a stand-off with police in Los Angeles, TMZ reported Wednesday. The website said that Joshua James Corbett killed himself in his home after refusing to surrender to law enforcement who arrived Wednesday morning to arrest him for violating probation. The LAPD confirmed Corbett, 42, was found deceased inside the residence from a self-inflicted injury but but did not say how he died. Joshua James Corbett was arrested in 2014 after breaking into Sandra Bullock's West LA home while she and her children were there. He was sentenced to five years probation and treatment at a mental health facility. He was confirmed dead Wednesday after a stand-off with police The Hollywood star, pictured last year, hid in a closet while she guided police to her home when Corbett broke in. She was granted a permanent restraining order against him last June According to TMZ, Corbett threatened officers and then barricaded himself inside the house in the neighborhood of La Crescenta. A S.W.A.T. team was called to the scene. Local TV news station NBC4 reported that crisis negotiators tried for 5 hours to coax Corbett out of the house but he didn't respond. When they finally entered the residence, they found him dead. They told the news station it was not from a gunshot. Local TV news station NBC4 reported that crisis negotiators tried for 5 hours to coax Corbett out of the house but he didn't respond The LAPD confirmed Corbett, 42, was found deceased inside the residence from a self-inflicted injury but but did not say how he died. Law enforcement had been trying to serve an arrest warrant for probation violation when the standoff began early Wednesday morning in the quiet residential neighborhood Corbett was released from a mental health facility last June but was ordered to continue outpatient treatment as part of the terms of his probation. He had been charged with felony stalking and burglary over the 2014 incident in which he broke into Bullock's house. He agreed a plea deal in which he was given five years probation and was monitored to make sure he took his medication. Bullock was granted a permanent restraining order against her stalker who was ordered to stay away from herfor 10 years. She told the court at a hearing last June that said police had discovered a notebook at the time of Corbett's arrest in which he had allegedly written he wanted to sexually assault her, according to The Wrap. The terrified Oscar winner, who lives with her adopted children Louis and Laila, bumped into the intruder when she was awakened by a loud noise in her home in 2014. She was forced to hide in a closet while she guided police to her home. Corbett was clutching a black notebook with a two-page letter to Bullock and magazine photos of the actress when he was arrested. He was unarmed, but police later found several automatic weapons and illegal tracer ammunition in his home. The illegal weapons were found while officers were trying to find eight legal firearms Corbett owned, but needed to surrender due to temporary restraining order issued against him. However an appeals court later ruled Los Angeles police detectives illegally searched his home, and prosecutors were not be able to submit the as evidence at his trial. Corbett previously expressed remorse for going to the star's home, saying during a court hearing: 'I'd already hurt somebody that I didn't intend to. I did not want to affect my family with my actions.' Sam Cochrane's unique hairstyle continues to set tongues wagging, months after his reality TV debut on The Bachelorette. And his fiancee Tara Pavlovic, 28, has hinted she will ask the 34-year-old to undergo a makeover ahead of their wedding. Speaking to Who magazine on Thursday, the self-described 'bogan' said she would prefer if Sam chops off his long blond locks. Scroll down for video Wedding makeover? Tara Pavlovic, 27, has hinted she will ask her fiance Sam Cochrane to undergo a makeover ahead of their wedding 'I would prefer it cut... We are working on that. I think Australia will be so happy if he cuts his hair,' she said. Sam claimed he would agree to the hair transformation on one condition. 'If someone puts some money to a charity, I'll do a mullet,' he told OK! this week. Big chop? 'I would prefer it cut... We are working on that. I think Australia will be so happy if he cuts his hair,' Tara said Unique: Sam's unique hairstyle continues to set tongues wagging, months after his reality TV debut on The Bachelorette Tara added: 'Nah, shave it off. You'll look hot!' On Tuesday, Sam was asked by a fan on The Kyle and Jackie O Show if he had a 'comb over'. He replied: 'I've got a widow's peak, mate. It's just hair.' Raising eyebrows: On Tuesday, Sam was quizzed by a fan who asked: 'Is [your hair] a combover?' He replied: 'I've got a widow's peak, mate. It's just hair' Messy locks: Sam said he would agree to the hair transformation on one condition. 'If someone puts some money to a charity, I'll do a mullet,' he told OK! magazine this week Did you get that when it was in fashion?' Following his debut on The Bachelorette last year, Sam's hair confused many viewers - as well as leading lady Sophie Monk (right) A widow's peak is a term used to describe a V-shaped growth of hair that's located at the centre of one's forehead. Following his debut on The Bachelorette last year, Sam's hair confused many viewers - as well as leading lady Sophie Monk. 'Is that a man bun? Did you get that when it was in fashion?' she bluntly asked. Sam proposed to Tara on Monday's Bachelor In Paradise finale. Wedding bells! Sam proposed to Tara on Monday's Bachelor In Paradise finale The latest issue of OK magazine is currently on newsstands She is one of Britain's most successful supermodels. And Jourdan Dunn proved her flair for fashion as she attended the British Fashion Council Vogue Designer Fashion Fund Party at London's Mandrake Hotel on Wednesday. The catwalk queen, 27, flashed her endless legs in a perilously short black satin dress - which worked wonders to accentuate her impeccable figure. Glam: Jourdan Dunn, 27, proved her flair for fashion as she attended the British Fashion Council Vogue Designer Fashion Fund Party at London's Mandrake Hotel on Wednesday The sensational number boasted a gauzy overlay and semi-sheer sleeves which added to her style credentials. The clinging gown flashed a hint of the Vogue coverstar's cleavage while hugging her slender waist She added further height to her look with black satin stilettos and accessorised with a pair of Maria Black earrings. Work it: The catwalk queen flashed her endless legs in a perilously short black satin dress - which worked wonders to accentuate her impeccable figure Stylish: The sensational number boasted a gauzy overlay and semi-sheer sleeves which added to her style credentials Fashionable: The clinging gown flashed a hint of the Vogue coverstar's cleavage while hugging her slender waist However the star appeared to be having some trouble with her balance as she posed on the grey carpet. However, ever the pro, she managed to style it out for a series of quirky red carpet snaps. Jourdan's raven tresses were teased into tight curls held back with a ribbon. Standing tall: She added further height to her look with black satin stilettos and accessorised with a pair Maria Black earrings Careful! However the star appeared to be having some trouble with her balance as she posed on the grey carpet Ever the pro! She managed to style it out for a series of quirky red carpet snaps The photogenic star's stunning features were enhanced with metallic silver eyeshadow, fluttery lashes, liner and a slick of taupe lipgloss. The beauty looked in her element at the star-studded event which also brought out the likes of Formula One supremo Lewis Hamilton and rising teen model Anais Gallagher. Jourdan went on to join forces with British Vogue editor Edward Enninful for an array of glamorous snaps. Beauty: The photogenic star's stunning features were enhanced with metallic silver eyeshadow, fluttery lashes, liner and a slick of taupe lipgloss Mane attraction: Jourdan's raven tresses were teased into tight curls held back with a ribbon She judged The Great British Bake Off for seven seasons at the BBC, before it was swiped away by Channel 4. And having decided not to go with it to a new channel, unlike co-judge Paul Hollywood, Mary Berry has taken on a new role fronting Britain's Best Home Cook. And in a chat with The Mirror, the 83-year-old cookery star has taken a thinly-veiled dig at her old show - which saw Prue Leith replace her when it returned last year. Sour grapes? Mary Berry has made a thinly-veiled dig at Bake Off by claiming her new show Britain's Best Home Cook is 'refreshing' because it 'avoids tears' 'The judging really is different,' she said of Britain's Best Home Cook. 'We wanted to avoid tears! 'We don't want people to be upset, but ready for their next challenge. I've spent seven series on Bake Off and so it was quite refreshing.' Comparing it to her former show, she went on to explain how she thinks it's become too complex, and taken things away from the basics of baking. Pastures new: She judged The Great British Bake Off for seven seasons at the BBC, before it was swiped away by Channel 4 [pictured with Claudia Winkleman of Britian's Best Home Cook] Brand new series: Mary is co-judging the new series with Chris Bavin and Dan Doherty [pictured] The old crowd: When Mary left the Bake Off in 2016 - after Love Productions inked a multi-million pound deal to transfer the show to Channel 4 - hosts of the series Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins followed suit, all pledging allegiance to the BBC and devastating fans She elaborated: 'We are totally different from Bake Off because it is all about cakes and baking and it has got quite complicated, with all sorts of equipment to ice, flavour and colour, and very intricate. Home cooking is totally different.' Mary is co-judging the new series with Chris Bavin and Dan Doherty. Of the pair, she said: 'All three of us encouraged people and told them where they went wrong. 'I want to get the best out of people and encourage them if theyve made a bit of a cock-up. We dont want people to be upset but ready for their next challenge.' Eyes on the prize: Comparing it to her former show, she went on to explain how she thinks it's become too complex, and taken things away from the basics of baking When Mary left the Bake Off in 2016 - after Love Productions inked a multi-million pound deal to transfer the show to Channel 4 - hosts of the series Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins followed suit, all pledging allegiance to the BBC and devastating fans. But despite initial panic and uproar from fans, the series has proven a hit on the rival network, with replacement judge Prue and hosts Sandi Toksvig and Noel Fielding sitting more-that-comfortably with fans. Meanwhile, Britains Best Home Cook will air its first episode on BBC One on Thursday evening at 8PM, hosted by Claudia Winkleman. Zoey Deutch says that growing up in a Hollywood household gave her a 'unique perspective' on how to make it in show business. The 23-year-old Los Angeles native, whose mother is Back To The Future's Lea Thompson and father is veteran director Howard Deutch, spoke to Capitol File magazine on a number of topics, including how her background helped prepare her for the lights, camera and action of Hollywood. 'Look, all artists pull from their personal experiences, and anyone who tells you that isnt the case is out of their mind, but growing up in this business definitely gave me a unique perspective on the job,' the 5ft4 actress told the publication. 'I learned early on to value preparation. I take that seriously.' Scroll below for video Lessons learned: Zoey Deutch, 23, seen here with her mother Lea Thompson, 56, last November in LA, said that having an actress mother and director father helped emphasize preparation to her The Dirty Grandpa star said that another method to her craft is to diversify her resume with an array of roles that reflect her versatility. 'I want to have the opportunity to play different people and keep mixing it up,' she said. 'Thats important to me.' She continued: 'You know that famous line about how there are no small parts, only small actors? I think thats bulls***. 'As an actor, you really are at the mercy of the words youre given to say. I will try to follow the well-written word. But I wont try to manipulate a path for my career.' Revealing: Zoey shared her insights on a number of topics for Capitol File magazine Zoey, whose film Flower was released in March, said that the movie, penned by Alex McAulay and Matt Spicer, 'was written as a way to capture that feeling of powerlessness' women in show business have to deal with, evidenced in particular by the revelations of the past seven months. 'We made this movie before the Harvey [Weinstein] story broke,' Deutch said in reference to the Oscar-winning producer, who has been accused by more than 80 women of sexual harassment and misconduct. (Weinstein has denied all allegations of non-consensual sex against him.) 'Its not a secret that this business has a very unequal power struggle,' she said, 'and that women have been taken advantage of and preyed upon for as long as its inception.' In the film, Zoey portrayed a 17-year-old named Erica who extorted powerful men using sex appeal as her weapon. She said that 'even though the movie doesnt provide answers, it reflects how women want to get some kind of control over their lives.' Zoey's upcoming project is Richard Says Goodbye, a dramatic comedy in which she stars alongside Johnny Depp. In it, Depp plays Richard, a college professor whose lifestyle drastically changes after he learns he's stricken with a terminal illness. The film, which also features Rosemarie DeWitt and Danny Huston, is slated to hit theaters later this year. She had a breast augmentation at the age of 24, after years of being branded 'sultana t**s' at school. And Roxy Jacenko proudly showed off her enhanced cleavage on Wednesday, as she attended the launch of the $1billion development, Eastlakes Live, at The Star in Sydney. The 37-year-old socialite and PR guru ensured she took centre stage in a perilously plunging gown by Nicky Velani as she posed with her former stockbroker husband Oliver Curtis. Taking the plunge! Roxy Jacenko flaunted her cleavage in a very low-cut gown while attending the launch of the $1billion development, Eastlakes Live, at The Star in Sydney on Wednesday The mother-of-two ensured she turned heads in the lace dress, which featured a daringly low neckline and princess-style full skirt. Letting the statement garment do all the talking, Jacenko accessorised simply with silver bracelets and a quilted leather box clutch. She swept her golden tresses back into a voluminous ponytail and framed her features with smoky eye shadow and nude lipstick. Meanwhile, Oliver cut a dapper figure in a sharp navy tuxedo as the couple posed up a storm on the red carpet. Cute couple: The 37-year-old socialite and PR guru ensured she took centre stage in a perilously plunging gown as she posed with her former stockbroker husband Oliver Curtis Looking good, Roxy! The mother-of-two ensured she turned heads in the lace dress, which featured a daringly low neckline and princess-style full skirt Roxy underwent a breast enlargement aged 24, telling Daily Mail Australia in 2015: 'I was known as sultana t**s at school.' She explained: 'It actually makes such a difference to your tops. Gone are the days where I had to take every top in under the arms. Now I'm like, 'Everything fits very nicely'.' In 2016, Roxy underwent a six-week radiation program and a partial removal surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Chic: Letting her statement garment do all the talking, Jacenko accessorised simply with silver bracelets and a quilted leather box clutch Turning heads: She swept her golden tresses back into a voluminous ponytail and framed her features with smoky eye shadow and nude lipstick She then decided to have breast reconstruction after contracting capsular contracture, which can cause uneven breasts. 'It was Pixie (Roxy's daughter) who said to me, 'Mum, what an earth is wrong with your top?' when I was off out to Stakes Day,' Roxy said at the time. 'When it comes from a kid you always know they are telling it to you straight!' Capsular contracture is a condition that causes the breast implant to harden and ripple and is a complication from cancer radiation treatment. Suave: Meanwhile, her former stockbroker husband cut a dapper figure in a sharp navy tuxedo The PR maven added: 'I had noticed that there was a problem but in my normal Roxy style I didn't really bother about sorting it out.' Roxy added her husband also weighed in with his thoughts. 'Oli chimed in, but was more like, 'You do know there is a bit of a problem!'' she said. 'He has no issue with me fixing it, that's life. He is very supportive and we are all just so thankful that the cancer has not returned and that my surgery to remove it and subsequent treatment went so well.' An increasing amount of Today viewers are promising they'll only 'wake up with Today' if Karl Stefanovic isn't on it. And on Wednesday evening, after word spread of the program's boosted ratings under fill-in host Ben Fordham, fans insisted the 'two million dollar man' shouldn't rush back. Rather than rallying behind the embattled journalist, many rejoiced, with one writing: 'I hope Karl has a long holiday!' 'Hope he has a long holiday!' Today viewers turn on workshy Karl Stefanovic as support grows for Ben Fordham taking over the show permanently The Facebook commentary was in response to news that viewers had been correct in predicting Today would spike in viewership with Karl away. 'I watched the show today for the first time in a long time. Only watched because Karl was not presenting! Yippee!' one fan proudly announced. 'Team ben n georgie... I wake up with both of them on the Today show,' wrote another. Meanwhile, others began to join the chorus calling for Ben to replace Karl permanently. Rejoice! The Facebook commentary was in response to news that viewers had been correct in predicting Today would spike in viewership with Karl away 'Awesome idea, Ben would be so much better and I would start watching the Today show again,' said one. 'Might watch the show if that over-inflated ego male gets sacked,' read another comment. One disgruntled breakfast TV viewer wasn't convinced Channel Nine would listen to their pleas. No rush! After word spread of the program's boosted ratings under fill-in host Ben Fordham, fans insisted the 'two million dollar man' shouldn't rush back 'Today has been so good without Karl but will go back to Sunrise when the boof head comes back. You have a good show now.' But opinion on Today's regular host is far from one-sided, as many of his loyalists continue to support the undeniably charismatic personality. 'Karl needs to come back. It's not the same with Ben. Even David Campbell would be a better option than Ben' one supporter contested on Wednesday. Celebrate? Rather than rallying behind the embattled journalist, some rejoiced, one writing: 'I hope Karl has a long holiday!' 'Live your life, he's living his!!' another implored, while one devotee added: 'I still think he's a boss.' Out of the 16 weeks the Today show has aired in 2018, Karl has been absent for six of them. A spokesperson told News.com.au that two of Karl's six weeks off Today were due to filming 60 Minutes and This Time Next Year. Still love him! But opinion on Today's regular host is far from one-sided, as many of his loyalists continue to support the undeniably charismatic personality He had another week off in mid-March following the Ubergate scandal, which also happened to coincide with his commitment ceremony to Jasmine Yarbrough. Additionally, the show returned to its regular lineup on January 22, in the weeks prior to that, none of the main cast were expected to be present. On Sunday night, Ben shared an Instagram photo of himself and Today co-host Georgie Gardner. Karl come back! 'Karl needs to come back. It's not the same with Ben. Even David Campbell would be a better option than Ben' one supporter contested on Wednesday 'I'm hosting the Today show this week with this awesome human. Tune in,' he wrote. And tune in they did. By Tuesday, Today had attracted 399,000 national viewers that day - far surpassing any national figures Today earned last week when Karl was hosting. All told, Karl has been absent from the show at least 11 weeks since November last year. Sun's out, Karl's out? All told, Karl has been absent from the show at least 11 weeks since November last year The highly-talked about Netflix series Dear White People is back for season two. And the satirical comedy's ensemble cast was in fine form during the Wednesday night premiere of the show at the ArcLight Hollywood theater in Los Angeles. On the red carpet star Logan Browning commanded attention in a chic chartreuse frock with a slit so high it passed her hips. Making 'em green with envy! Dear White People star Logan Browning commanded attention in a chic chartreuse frock with hip-high slit at the season two premiere of the show Wednesday While a daring slit crept all the way up her leg, she tossed a cape-like accent over her shoulder for maximum drama. The Atlanta native accessorized with gleaming earrings and stacked rings which matched her pointy metallic heels and delicate septum piercing. She piled her braids on top of her head elegantly, showing off several strands of blonde throughout. For makeup, the Hit the Floor actress played up her gorgeous green eyes with smokey copper eye shadow, balanced out with pink-nude lips. Smoke and mirrors: For makeup, the Hit the Floor actress played up her green eyes with smokey copper eye shadow, balanced out with pink-nude lips Heroic: While a daring slit crept all the way up her leg, she tossed a cape-like accent over her shoulder for maximum drama A bit of glitz: The Atlanta native accessorized with gleaming earrings and stacked rings which matched her pointy metallic heels and delicate septum piercing Lena Waithe looked sharp in a heather grey sweater with white collar and red pants on bottom. The Emmy winner topped off her locks with a wide-brimmed grey hat and fresh white sneakers. Antoinette Robertson turned heads in a tight black dress with sexy cut-outs cinched with gold safety pins. Going for haute couture, Ashley Blaine Featherson donned a shiny red blouse and slick paper bag skirt. Grey lady: Lena Waithe looked sharp in a heather grey sweater with white collar and red pants on bottom On pins and needles! Antoinette Robertson turned heads in a tight black dress with sexy cut-outs cinched with gold safety pins Boogie: Lena Waithe, Ashley Blaine Featherson and Logan Browning did a little dancing on the red carpet On fire! Going for haute couture, Ashley Blaine Featherson donned a shiny red blouse and slick paper bag skirt She added a vinyl clutch, tassel earrings and lace-up heels for extra sizzle. Elle Lorraine looked cute in a white polka dot set which made a show of her slim center with a billowy crop top. Ronni Hawk also wowed in white, donning an off-the-shoulder dress with a tassel-adorned hem which she belted at the center. Sydelle Noel was effortlessly stylish in a black leather maxi skirt and cute tee shirt with a cherry on front. Bright idea! Elle Lorraine looked cute in a polka dot set while Ronni Hawk also wowed in white Fruity: Sydelle Noel was effortlessly stylish in a black leather maxi skirt and cute tee shirt with a cherry on front Jemar Michael donned pinstripe pants and a red cap with a shirt bearing a lengthy passage of text. Nia Jervier dazzled in a shimmering silver gown with cap-sleeves and an offset skirt. Yaya DaCosta flaunted her long legs in a royal blue bodycon dress with a matching azure head-wrap. Gentlemen Marque Richardson, DeRon Horton, Brandon P. Bell gathered for a group photo. Shining star! Nia Jervier dazzled in a shimmering silver gown with cap-sleeves and an offset skirt She's got the blues! Yaya DaCosta flaunted her long legs in a royal blue bodycon dress with a matching azure head-wrap While all the guys looked fetching, Maurice was particularly dapper in an emerald green suit worn with dragon embroidered slippers. Called 'one of the best new shows of 2017' by Vanity Fair, Dear White People focuses on a different character in each of the 10 half-an-hour episodes. The Netflix series, which is based off of the 2014 film of the same name, drops new episodes on May 4 2018. Read it or weep: Jemar Michael donned pinstripe pants and a red cap with a shirt bearing a lengthy passage of text Guy style: Gentlemen Marque Richardson, DeRon Horton, Brandon P. Bell gathered for a group photo He's the only son of the late great Steve Irwin, who was tragically killed after a stingray barb pierced him in the heart back in 2006. And 14-year-old Robert Irwin proved he's definitely following in his Crocodile Hunter father's footsteps, bringing a large reptile along with him during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon on Wednesday night. The budding conservationist introduced the 43-year-old TV host to Curly the American alligator and gushed about the amazing species of animal. Crikey, that's brave! Robert Irwin and Jimmy Fallon both KISS an American alligator as they are joined by Bindi and Terri on The Tonight Show Enlisting the help of his wildlife warrior sister Bindi, 19, and 53-year-old mother Terri, the Irwin family cradled the gator as Robert explained fascinating facts about the predator. 'My dad called them frogs with sharp teeth. He's so cute, I love him,' he said. 'Hes an American alligator - look at the size of him. Theyre really nice, very cool. And you can see, they do sort of look like a frog.' Robert continued: 'Theyre really cute. But in those jaws... theyve got really high jaw pressure. 'Theyll clamp down, they wont let go. Its amazing. Theyre really sweet though. 'You can feel hes got those soft little hands, beautiful little eyes, hes got that little smile.' Watch out for those teeth! Jimmy followed Robert's lead and got up close and personal with a gator 'Khaki is not just a colour, its an attitude': Bindi, 19, shared a sweet behind-the-scenes snaps with her mother, brother and boyfriend Chandler Powell The animal lover then bent down to give Curly a kiss on the head. 'Do you want to give him a kiss?' he asked Jimmy. 'Oh my goodness, oh my, no! My gosh, I love it so much,' the American media personality said, before changing his mind. 'Alright, I'll give one.' King of the jungle! Robert brought a host of critters along with him, including six African pygmy goats, a Kookaburra and a capybara Jimmy gave the alligator a small peck on the head, but still looked a little nervous to be in such close proximity as the creature. Curly wasn't the only critter to appear on-camera during Wednesday's episode. Robert's also introduced Jimmy and the audience to six African pygmy goats - each named after a cast member from Friends - and a Kookaburra that sounded 'like rapper Cardi B'. After that he taught the comedian about capybaras - the largest rodents in the world. Feeding time! Robert taught Jimmy all about capybaras during the animal-packed interview Weighing a whopping 100lbs, Robert brought Javier on stage and the duo fed him corn. 'Hes got huge teeth, massive teeth,' Robert explained. 'They never stop growing. They eat grass, they can go through 8lbs of grass a day. Isnt that wild?' Malin Akerman looked to be in a great mood as she was snapped shopping in Beverly Hills, California on Wednesday. The Stockholm, Sweden native, 39, wore a fuzzy textured off-white coat over a white top with dark blue jeans and brown booties. The actress, who plays Lara Axelrod on the TV series Billions, wore a patterned blue scarf with necklaces and rings, with her blonde locks pulled back and her bangs cascading in front of her face. Scroll below for video Gorgeous: Malin Akerman, 39, looked to be in a great mood as she was snapped shopping in Beverly Hills, California on Wednesday Malin, who turns 40 on May 12, looked to be in a great mood as she smiled and hugged two friends that were with her on the trip. Malin, who got engaged to fiance Jack Donnelly last fall, has a four-year-old son named Sebastian from her marriage to musician Roberto Zincone. Speaking to People Tuesday, Malin revealed a humorous anecdote about a discussion she had with the tot. 'The last time I laughed so hard I cried, was when my son brought home a family portrait and there was a circle - a ring - between my legs and I go, "What is that?" [And he goes,] "Mommy, that's your hole" - it's like, "Oh, OK" - and I died; don't know where the kids get these things,' she said. Radiant: The star's happiness was palpable as she hugged one of her friends Stocking up: The Swedish stunner carried two bags from the establishment Unique Vintage Chit-chat: The attractive entertainer talked with a friend as they walked in the 90210 The busy actress, who appeared alongside Dwayne Johnson in last month's Rampage, praised the former WWE star for his larger-than-life personality while speaking with People last month. 'That guy has more charisma in his little finger than anyone,' Akerman said. 'I mean, he just is like a big teddy bear! His smile just warms the room and hes lovely. Hes everything that you wish that he was. 'I cant say anything bad about the guy, unfortunately.' Proud mom: The Rampage star has a four-year-old son named Sebastian from her marriage to musician Roberto Zincone She rarely puts a foot wrong in the style stakes, regularly flaunting her enviable glamorous ensembles at events. And on Wednesday night, Lara Worthington (nee Bingle) enjoyed a decadent dinner for one in New York, draped in $118,000 worth of Tiffany & Co jewels. The model and beauty entrepreneur, 30, showed off a stunning diamond necklace as she took a selfie while enjoying room service in her hotel room. 'Dinner and diamonds': Makeup-free Lara Bingle dines alone in her New York hotel room while wearing $118,000 worth of Tiffany & Co jewels Lara appeared settled in for the evening, wearing a cosy white hotel robe. Her signature short locks were naturally unkept as she paraded her natural beauty without any makeup. Lara was wearing a necklace from Tiffany & Co's new collection, Paper Flowers, which is due to launch in the US on May 4. The Paper Flowers Diamond cluster necklace retails at $118,500 AUD and has a total carat weight of 8.56. A gift? It's believed the jewels, as well as others, were gifted or on loan to her for an upcoming event Living lavish! Lara enjoyed a room service meal while wearing The Paper Flowers Diamond cluster necklace, which retails at $118,500 AUD and has a total carat weight of 8.56 Husband and wife: Lara married Avatar star Sam Worthington in 2014 The Cronulla-born star was announced as the Australian face of the high-end jewellery brand, last year. It's believed the jewels, as well as others, were gifted or on loan to her for an upcoming event. She told her 488k followers she would be staying within New York for two days, before jetting off again. Is it quieter? Lara was travelling solo in New York. She shares two young sons, Rocket Zot, two and Racer, one, with her actor beau Sam Lara has transformed herself into a style icon since her days as the 'Where the bloody hell are ya?' girl in 2006's Tourism Australia campaign. Not only has she landed deals with Tiffany & Co and high-end fashion house Dior, the wife of actor Sam Worthington continues to run her successful skincare and tanning brand, The Base. Lara currently resides in Los Angeles, after moving there earlier this year to accommodate Sam's new filming schedule for Avatar 2 The Hollywood couple share two young sons, Rocket Zot, two and Racer, one. Home: Lara currently resides in Los Angeles, after moving there earlier this year to accommodate Sam's new filming schedule for Avatar 2 Vogue Italia have been accused of using 'black face' on a cover image of US model Gigi Hadid. Confused fans asked why the May 2018 cover image looked 'nothing like her', suggesting that her appearance had been digitally altered and even darkened, when the blonde fashion model shared a sneak peek on Instagram on Thursday morning. Shot by acclaimed American photographer Steven Klein, the photo shows a heavily-bronzed Gigi, 23, sharing the cover with male model Justin Martin. New cover: Gigi Hadid confused fans when she posted the new May 2018 issue of Vogue Italia, on which her appearance is dramatically different to usual Now featured on 27 Vogue covers, and with brother Anwar and sister Bella both also in the industry, catwalk star Gigi has one of the most recognisable faces in fashion. Even US Vogue's sister publicationTeen Vogue published a damming article questioning Gigi's skin tone on the cover, following a sneak peek on Wednesday. MailOnline has reached out to Vogue Italia for comment. Fashion model Gigi's mother Yolanda Foster is Dutch, while her father Mohamed is of Palestinian descent, though commenters on Gigi's proud Instagram post were vocal about the model's very different appearance. 'Looks like a completely different person,' said one fan in the comments section, while another agreed: 'This is not you...' Who's that girl? The cover (left) appears dramatically different, both in look and skin tone to Gigi's usual appearance (right, in April 2018) Catwalk queen: Gigi has worked for some of the biggest fashion brands in the business (here on the runway for Moschino in September 2017 'I didn't even recognize you,' said another fan, and: ''Why doesn't this look like you lol.' 'What the f**k is this?' said another and one other added: 'Completely different person.' Some called out the overuse of Photoshop, suggesting that Gigi's appearance had been digitally altered. One said: 'She looks kinda weird, the Photoshop guys should be fired,' and another said: 'Too much Photoshop. Doesn't even look like u.' Who is she? Commenters on Gigi's Instagram post were confused by her very different look What the heck: The magazine was also accused of using 'black face' Edits: Gigi's fans appeared disgruntled that she no longer looked like herself 'So much photoshop, doesn't even like you,' came another confused fan. However, others were concerned that the colour of Gigi's skin was darker than her natural, porcellain tone. 'Gigi you are beautiful but the amount of spray tan and Photoshop is ugly,' said one fan. 'Another black face attempt failing miserably,' said another fan, and: ''Kind of, actually really looks like black face. What the heck.' One other fan added: 'Why are you photoshopped to appear as a different race.' Editing storm: Memes followed on Twitter, reminding the internet that it's not the first time this has happened to Gigi One other fan added: 'Why are you photoshopped to appear as a different race.' There was the suggestion that Vogue Italia should have used a different model. One comment read: 'Why would they photoshop you into a black model when there are a lot of pretty real black models?' 'If you want a model that tan, choose a different model,' said one fan, while another said she looked more like Beyonce's sister: 'Oh you look like Solanda Knowles here.' Gigi had shared the cover on Thursday morning, saying she was :'Excited, honored, and grateful to cover @VogueItalias May Issue.' 'Thank you so so much for an amazing shoot,' she wrote. 'I am forever inspired by you all !!! & cant wait to share the full story !! x' Catwalk queen: Gigi (left), whose sister Bella (right) is also in the industry, covers Vogue for the 27th time with this issue Family: Bella (left) and Gigi's (second right) mother Yolanda Foster (second left) is Dutch, while her father Mohamed (right) is of Palestinian descent My girls: Gigi's mother was also a model before welcoming her three children A spokesperson at Conde Nast International said in a statement to MailOnline: 'Throughout its history, Vogue Italia has respected and encouraged the creative viewpoints of commissioned photographers. 'In our latest cover shoot by Steven Klein, the vision was to create a beachwear-themed story with a stylized bronzing effect. 'We understand that the result has caused some debate with our readers, and we sincerely apologize if we have caused any offence.' It's not the first time Vogue Italia has courted controversy with a cover featuring Gigi. For the December 2015 issue, Gigi was styled in afro-style wigs. While Gigi herself has fallen victim to wide-spread criticism for styling that is beyond her control. Courting controversy: It's not the first time the magazine has been accused of changing Gigi's appearance - on this December 2015 cover she wore an afro-style wig When she landed Vogue Arabia's first-ever issue in 2017, critics blasted Gigi for wearing a Hijab, worn by millions of Muslim women around the world, as a 'trend' rather than for religious purposes. Gigi was accused of 'cultural appropriation' by furious commentators who were unhappy about her sporting a veil in the magazine shoot. In pictures featured inside, she can be seen posing in a colourful headscarf in what has been described as 'uniquely Arabian' styling. Later, Editor-in-Chief, Manuel Arnaut defended the decision to feature Gigi's sister Bella on the cover of a subsequent issue. 'Bella Hadid is one of the most celebrated models of the time, plus she has a link with the region, being half-Palestinian but also a Muslim.' PR queen Roxy Jacenko is known for throwing lavish birthday parties for her loved ones. And the 37-year-old is going all out for her son, Hunter, with his fourth birthday taking place this weekend. The doting mother took to Instagram Story to share a short clip showing the goodie bags she was preparing for his friends coming to his celebration. Going all out! PR queen Roxy Jacenko prepares designer backpacks filled with an array of cute toys for Hunter's lavish fourth birthday bash She showed off the cute backpacks, by Penny Scanlan Designs and valued at $59.95 each, and the different styles for the boys and girls attending Hunter's shindig. 'The gift bags contain lollybags, squishies sourced from Japan, Pez lollies, Paw Patrol movies, Stuck On You personalised lunch boxes all in a Penny Scanlan backpack to take with them,' Roxy told Daily Mail Australia. Roxy also took to her Instagram to share a snap of an array of Squishes on the floor, beside her designer flats. Squishes are soft malleable toys that can be squashed and will slowly return to its original shape. Roxy also told Daily Mail Australia that Hunter will be celebrating his special day at NUBO play centre, which will be turned into a construction vehicle theme. The venue has been booked out for two hours and 32 kids plus adults are expected to be in attendance. Roxy added: 'His actual birthday is on Sunday and we will be hosting a lunch for family that day to celebrate.' Squishy! The toys shown in the PR queen's snaps included baby deer with a cosmic pattern, pandas, seals, as well as cakes, ice-cream cones, and 'galaxy peaches', which range in price from $6.95 to $19.95 Adorable: She showed off the cute backpacks, by Penny Scanlan designs and valued at $59.95 each, and the different styles for the boys and girls attending Hunter's shindig The toys shown in the PR queen's snaps included baby deer with a cosmic pattern, pandas, seals, as well as cakes, ice-cream cones, and 'galaxy peaches', which range in price from $6.95 to $19.95. 'Party Bag bag packing for our little Hunter who turns 4 this weekend ,' she wrote in the caption. Fans of the blonde bombshell's extravagant party planning commented their excitement at her youngest one's birthday, including one who wrote: 'Looking forward to seeing his party theme.' Excited: Fans of the blonde bombshell's extravagant party planning commented their excitement at her youngest one's birthday, including one who wrote: 'Looking forward to seeing his party theme' Special day: For Hunter's third birthday, Roxy pulled out all the stops by gifting him with a mountain of balloons and presents For Hunter's third birthday, Roxy pulled out all the stops by gifting him with a mountain of balloons and presents. Roxy shared a snap of the many gifts and colourful balloons she had beautifully arranged for his big day. Maria Fowler has revealed that she miscarried her second child with fiance Kelvin Batey last month. The former TOWIE star made the admission in a heartbreaking blog post, confessing it felt like a 'cruel twist of fate' to lose her baby without any explanation. Writing in the hope that her story would help other women who are coping with loss, the 31-year-old model - who is mother to daughter Evie, 20 months - explained that she hopes her 'time will come' to have another baby. Tragic news: Former TOWIE star Maria Fowler, 31, has revealed that she miscarried her second child with fiance Kelvin Batey last month in an emotional blog post She began the emotional post by admitting her 'stomach was churning' as she relived the experience but 'decided I need to be honest, not only about the highs in life but also the lows.' Recalling the moment she and Kelvin found out they were expecting another child, she said: 'I cant tell you how excited we were. It came at the perfect time and we couldnt have felt happier. Unfortunately, soon after we found out, sadly I had bleed and we lost the baby.' She added: 'I feel silly even referring to it as a baby as we were really early in the pregnancy and had not yet had a scan but I did grieve and I did feel like I had lost something very special. 'I feel it is such a cruel twist of fate to get such happy news and then have it taken away. Just like that. No explanation.' Doting mother: Writing in the hope that her story would help other women, the model - who is mother to Evie, 20 months - explained that she hopes her 'time will come' to have another baby Maria explained that she had initially not been concerned by the bleeding as she had experienced the same issue during her pregnancy with Evie, but sought help after she continued to bleed for 'a few days'. During a visit to an out-of-hours clinic, she was hold the heartbreaking news that she had lost her baby, but clung to the hope that the doctor was wrong. She explained: 'He flatly told me It sounds like youve had a miscarriage I was confused and upset... At this stage the bleed was similar to what I experienced with Evie so I headed home angry & upset. 'I really wanted him to be wrong. I felt he showed no compassion with his words. To hear those words is not easy for anybody and he could have referred me or at least given me a website or leaflet to take home and digest!' Joyous: Recalling the moment she and Kelvin found out they were expecting another child, she said ' I cant tell you how excited we were. It came at the perfect time' Whilst still coming to terms with losing her baby, the reality star was delivered another blow as her body continued to exhibit pregnancy symptoms and she began to suffer with morning sickness. 'Every time I felt that wave of sickness it took me right back to how I felt when I was pregnant with Evie,' she admitted. 'Waves of nostalgia and also sadness that this time it wasnt meant to be.' Maria, who got engaged to Kelvin in December 2017, added that 'one of the most frustrating things of all' was the timing of the miscarriage, as she was hoping to welcome a second baby before they began planning the wedding. Yet the former Page 3 girl revealed that she hasn't given up hope on having another child, yet plans to postpone having another baby until after she ties the knot. 'We hoped to have our children close together but sadly things dont always go to plan,' she reasoned. 'Im a firm believer in things happening for a reason. 'It wasnt the right time and clearly my body knew that something wasnt quite right. Right now we are moving forward and looking forward to the exciting things we have planned.' Time: Praising her fiance, she continued 'Kelvin has been brilliant, he too was so looking forward to having another baby, but like he says it just wasnt the right time for us this time' Praising her fiance, she continued: 'Kelvin has been brilliant, he too was so looking forward to having another baby, but like he says it just wasnt the right time for us this time. 'We are so lucky and grateful to have our beautiful healthy little Evie and she gives us so much joy and love every day. I'm sure our time will come to have another baby in the future.' She shared a link to her post on Twitter, posting: 'Ive written a new blog post, It was difficult to write. 'Im not an oversharer of the finer details of my life but with this subject, I feel that I cant just share a filtered view of my life. Especially when its something so many women can relate to.' Kelvin also mentioned the post on his Twitter account, posting: 'Just got home from work to read a really honest and heartfelt post from a brave, amazing woman that I love dearly on our upsetting news last month. 'you are amazing and despite what happened we have so much to look forward to short and long term. Proud of you x' Adorable: Maria and Kelvin welcomed their first child, daughter Evie Paris in September 2016, confessing she had 'lost half her body's blood' during the traumatic birth Maria and Kelvin welcomed their first child, daughter Evie Paris in September 2016, confessing she had 'lost half her body's blood' during the traumatic birth. Taking to Twitter after she returned home with their new addition, Maria posted: 'Want to thank @GiveBloodNHS for all that you do. 'After losing half my body's blood without your services I would b v poorly now. Donate ppl x (sic)'. As well as a traumatic birth, Maria suffered with a terrible pregnancy, with pains were so intense they had left her on crutches. She lost her mobility due to SPD - symphysis pubis dysfunction - which causes pelvic pain but is not harmful to the baby. Maria and Kelvin have been dating for three years, with BMX World Champion Kelvin popping the question in December during a romantic trip to Paris. The Miscarriage Association runs a staffed pregnancy loss helpline which is available Monday to Friday from 9AM to 4PM to provide support and information on pregnancy loss. Your calls are completely confidential. Call 01924 200799. They have been firm friends ever since tearing up explosive scenes of The Only Way Is Essex together. And Ferne McCann, 27, paid tribute to Danielle Armstrong's 30th birthday on Thursday with a ravishing bikini snap and a clip of her pal dancing with Sunday. Ferne accompanied the message on Thursday with a bikini snap from their recent Spanish getaway where she exhibited her outstanding post-baby body. 'Love you very much': Ferne McCann wished Danielle Armstrong happy birthday as her bikini-clad pal danced with baby Sunday in cute Instagram post shared on Thursday Mother-of-one Ferne displayed her perky cleavage in her black bralette which was adorned with glimmering golden patterns compared to her pal's white bikini. The First Time Mum star drew eyes to her toned stomach by styling her waist-length locks in beachy waves, with every confidence just five months after giving birth. Also scanty-clad Danielle could be seen dancing with baby Sunday in her arms during her Spanish getaway with Ferne in an adorable clip shared on Instagram. The blonde bombshell's eye-popping cleavage threatened to spill out of skimpy white bralette as she danced up a storm with the newborn rested on her hip. Looking lovely! Also scanty-clad Danielle could be seen dancing with baby Sunday in her arms during her Spanish getaway with Ferne in an adorable clip shared on Instagram Ferne addressed her pal in the lengthy caption: 'Todays a big one & I cannot wait to celebrate with you this weekend. Happy Birthday Patsy, me & Sunday love you very much & so lucky to have you in our lives.' (sic) The television sensation expressed her fondness for Danielle and her excitement to be reunited with her friend for birthday celebrations over the weekend. Former TOWIE star Ferne is fresh from her much-needed girls' break away with the birthday girl as well as her young daughter Sunday. During the first episode of First Time Mum, Ferne's reality series about being a single mum, Danielle made sure she made time to see the new mum. Great fun! The blonde bombshell's eye-popping cleavage threatened to spill out of skimpy white bralette as she danced up a storm with the newborn rested on her hip Over a glass of wine with her former co-star, Ferne appeared to make a jibe at Sam Faiers as she seemingly alluded to her falling out with the mum-of-two. She told Danielle: 'After this year you really find out who your friends are.' Ferne divulged to MailOnline she was feuding with her ex BFF Sam because of her decision to film First Time Mum which brought an end to their 15-year friendship. Reports at the time suggested the pair had fallen out over Sam warning Ferne about her ex jailbird beau Arthur Collins. Friends for life: Ferne addressed her pal in the lengthy caption: 'Todays a big one & I cannot wait to celebrate with you this weekend But Ferne was keen to set the story straight when she insisted there was no truth in those claims. She explained: 'I was hearing that she warned me off Arthur. That is completely untrue and you're hearing it from the horse's mouth. Sam Faiers never met Arthur. After the incident, she was at my birthday and I don't know. There's absolutely no truth in that. 'The reason as far as I'm concerned is that she fell out with me is because I decided to take this show. We had like 15 years of friendship, my first baby is one week apart from her baby and it can still be lovely and all I'll say is it's a terrible shame.' Ferne also discussed the trials and tribulations of taking on mummy duties and she explained why breastfeeding isn't viable as a single mum. She added: 'If Tamara Ecclestone wants to breastfeed Sophia till she's three, that's fine. But breastfeeding is a full time job but when you're a single mum and a working mum you don't have time to do it. But whatever you want to do.' Sam Cochrane and Tara Pavlovic are madly in love and it appears their friends and former co-stars wholeheartedly support their whirlwind romance. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, their fellow Bachelor in Paradise star Lisa Hyde shared a snap of the pair to her Instagram and included a gushing message. She wrote: 'You don't find love, it finds you. It's got a little bit to do with destiny, fate and what's written in the stars...' @tarapavlovic & @samual.cochrane you give this quote life!' Scroll down for video Friends in need: Sam Cochrane and Tara Pavlovic are madly in love and it appears their friends and former co-stars wholeheartedly support their whirlwind romance Support: Taking to Instagram on Thursday, their fellow Bachelor in Paradise star Lisa Hyde shared a snap of the pair to her Instagram and included a gushing message 'Blessed to have been apart of your journey and witnessed a genuine love story #reunion #couplegoals #arenttheyjustthecutest' she added. In the image, Sam and Tara wear matching white shirts while Lisa dons a bright red blouse, her brown hair down around her shoulders. Sam is wearing his trademark cap and the trio look relaxed sitting at an outdoor table as the afternoon sun sets. The golden couple's romance has gone from strength to strength since Sam proposed on the finale episode of Bachelor in Paradise. She wrote: 'You don't find love, it finds you. It's got a little bit to do with destiny, fate and what's written in the stars...' @tarapavlovic & @samual.cochrane you give this quote life!' Speaking to Woman's Day this week, Tara said that Sam wanted a wedding at Disneyland, and that they're already talking kids. 'No, I'm not pregnant. But when we get to that stage, I would love to have kids with Sam,' Tara told the magazine. So in love: Speaking to Woman's Day this week, Tara said that Sam wanted a wedding at Disneyland, and that they're already talking kids Loved up: On Tuesday, Sam took to Instagram to post a black and white image in which he's cuddling a beaming Tara from behind On Tuesday, Sam took to Instagram to post a black and white image in which he's cuddling a beaming Tara from behind. The 34-year-old cheekily captioned the image, 'My baby girl'. Sam told The Daily Telegraph's Confidential on Tuesday that he and his betrothed are already planning their big day: 'We've started planning the wedding.' She recently confirmed she was expecting her second child. And pregnant Claire Danes showed off her growing bump as she tried to hail a taxi in New York City on Wednesday after announcing she was well into her second trimester. The Homeland star, 39, wore a flowing baby blue dress, which was tied around the waist to accentuate her changing shape. Glowing: Claire Danes showed off her growing bump as she tried to hail a taxi in New York City on Wednesday after announcing she was well into her second trimester The actress, who shares son Cyrus, five, with husband Hugh Dancy, teamed her dress with a pair of comfortable white buckled sandals. Claire shielded her eyes from the sun in a pair of wayfarer-style sunglasses as she stood in the road waiting for a ride. The star wore her strawberry blonde locks in a relaxed style with her hair swept back off her face. Claire appeared to mask her baby bump as she stepped out on a stroll with her husband earlier this week. Expecting: The Homeland star, 39, wore a flowing baby blue dress, which was tied around the waist to accentuate her changing shape It looked like a chilly day in the city as the star covered up in a thick, wool coat that tied at the waist, completely obscuring her tummy. Claire revealed her happy news in an interview on Howard Stern's SiriusXM radio show last month. The actress also said she and actor Hugh would not reveal the gender of their baby until the birth. The couple met on the set of Evening in 2006, and announced their engagement in February 2009. They married in a secret ceremony in France later that year. Happy couple: The actor appeared to mask her baby bump as she stepped out on a stroll with her husband Hugh Dancy earlier this week Claire has previously admitted she would be a 'lousy stay at home mom', and is glad she waited until later in life to have her children. 'Ive always wanted to have kids, but Im glad I didnt until now,' she told ELLE magazine in 2013. 'When I was thinking about [working and being a mother] originally, I was really nervous about it. 'I think I would make a lousy stay-at-home mom. It just wouldnt suit me. I feel so fortunate, in that Ive had this arrow-straight focus that I wanted to act.' She's never been one to follow style rules and last week, Cate Blanchett proved she was fashion forward once again, taking to the red carpet in a gold pantsuit. The 48-year-old donned the two-piece show-stopper to the Warner Bros at CinemaCon 2018 event in Las Vegas. Her pale gold suit was adorned with floral brocade and bold, black edging along the hems. Scroll down for video Forward thinker: She's never been one to follow style rules and last week, Cate Blanchett proved she was fashion forward once again, taking to the red carpet in a gold pantsuit The trousers were flared in a retro, disco style, with the actress wearing black pointed heels to accentuate her height. A white blouse and a gold statement necklace completed the glowing look, which was complemented by the Oscar winner's understated, equally glowing makeup. She wore her blonde hair down, sleek and straight, with her nude pink lipstick accentuating her pale skin. The Blue Jasmine actress was flanked by her Ocean's 8 co-stars, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Sandra Bullock and Anne Hathaway. Gorgeous: The 48-year-old donned the two-piece show-stopper to the Warner Bros at CinemaCon 2018 event in Las Vegas The upcoming Ocean's trilogy spin-off follows a crew of woman attempting to pull off the heist of the century. The Ocean's trilogy - running from 2001 to 2007 - starred George Clooney, Brad Pitt and Julia Roberts. Matt Damon is also set to reprise as his character Linus from the previous movies. Pals: The Blue Jasmine actress was flanked by her Ocean's 8 co-stars, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Sandra Bullock and Anne Hathaway The films grossed an impressive $1.1 billion worldwide and the female-focused Ocean's 8 arrives in US theaters on June 8th. Cate is married to Andrew Upton and the couple have four children, Edith, Dashiell, Roman and Ignatius. She has only just returned from Marbella, where she appeared in Virginia Macari's swimwear catwalk. But Millie Mackintosh jetted off for even more sunshine on Thursday, as she arrived in the Maldives with a group of gal pals. The former Made In Chelsea star, 28, showed off her enviable figure in a skimpy thong bikini, as she shared her first sizzling bikini snap from the break to Instagram. Beach babe: Millie Mackintosh showed off her peachy derriere in her first sizzling bikini snap from the Maldives on Thursday Millie proved to be the ultimate beach babe in the snap, as she posed in front of the bright blue sea with a fresh coconut in hand. Standing with her back to the camera, the heiress let her peachy derriere take centre stage in her skimpy lilac and blue bikini, which cut into a saucy thong cut at the rear. Adding a straw hat and mirrored sunglasses, and dressing the snap with a playful palm tree emoji, Millie could not contain her excitement for the girly getaway as she documented her first day on the island for followers. Say cheese: She also shared a beaming selfie from the comfort of a beach bar - with a flash of cleavage and her sun-kissed skin on display as she posed in a multi-coloured kaftan Bottoms up! Clearly making the most of every second of the getaway, she rounded off her social media display with a snap of the island's gin bar, with a cheeky caption She also shared a beaming selfie from the comfort of a beach bar - with a flash of cleavage and her sun-kissed skin clear for all to see, as she posed in a multi-coloured kaftan. Clearly making the most of every second of the getaway, she rounded off her social media display with a snap of the island's gin bar, cheekily captioned: 'You know where to find me'. Millie is perhaps taking the time to relax on her numerous holidays, following the devastating collapse of her eponymous fashion brand. The style maven's fashion brand went bust, and left her owing 550,000 earlier this year, due to the 'challenging financial climate'. Easing her woes: Millie has only just returned from Marbella - perhaps keen to relax abroad, following the devastating collapse of her eponymous fashion brand She launched her label Cammac four years ago exclusively on the fashion website ASOS, and it instantly became a hit thanks to her large social media following. However, she is no doubt now looking forward to her upcoming nuptials with Hugo Taylor. The pair are believed to have set a date for their big day, with bridesmaids Caggie Dunlop, Rosie Fortescue and Zara Martin reportedly in place. The couple got engaged during a romantic trip to Greece in August last year, after one year of romance. However, the pair have been friends since they were 16 and enjoyed a fiery six-month relationship in 2011, before of her marriage to Professor Green. She was so obsessed with TV presenter Phillip Schofield that she ordered a lifesize cutout from the internet. So when the silver fox, 56, asked her on a real a date, live on Thursday's This Morning, TV viewer Siobhan warned she might need her incontinence pads. Holly and Phil were utterly gobsmacked when his admirer said she'd wearing her 'TENA lady' at This Morning Live in Birmingham in three weeks, after Phil agreed to meet her for a selfie. Hilarious: Holly and Phil were left in a fit of giggles on Thursday's This Morning, after a viewer made a joke about incontinence pads Phil told her: Siobhan, we have to meet for real, for sure! If we get you to Birmingham, would you come and can we have a proper selfie? Yes! she exclaimed. I'll wear a TENA Lady, just in case.' As the shocked duo descended into a fit of giggles, Phil added: You're my kind of girl. It's a date! The Scottish viewer went viral online last month when she complained to the manufacturers of a Phillip Schofield cardboard replica that didn't arrive in time for her birthday night out. Hilarious: Being an admirer of Phil's, the TV viewer said she would need 'TENA lady' to go on a real date with the silver fox Jokers: Holly and Phil found the response extremely funny, with Phil exclaiming 'You're my kind of girl!' As good as the real thing: Siobhan went viral online when he cardboard 'Phil' cutout didn't arrive in time for a 'date' During their exchange, Siobhan explained what happened when her cardboard 'Phil' eventually arrived at her home for a 'first date'. 'We had a little pre-date to get to know one another - we went to see The Avengers film - a few people were a bit shocked by that. Then on Saturday, we had a few gins and cocktails. Classic Schofield ending,' his co-presenter Holly chirped, with Phil adding: Like one of our lunches. Siobhan: He was legless at the end,' with Phil adding : As usual utterly legless. Sam Cochrane proposed to Tara Pavlovic on the grand finale episode of Bachelor In Paradise. And their co-star Luke McLeod, praised the newly-engaged couple, telling Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that 'it's such a beautiful love story.' The 33-year-old also revealed that he's been 'keeping busy' since his stint on the spin-off show. Scroll down for video 'It's such a beautiful love story!' Luke McLeod, 33, praised newly engaged couple Sam Cochrane and Tara Pavlovic, in an interview with Daily Mail Australia on Thursday 'I was really happy to see Sammy and Tara [engaged],' Luke told Daily Mail Australia at Bachelor star Laura Byrne's ToniMay store launch in Sydney. 'It's such a beautiful love story and to be a part of that [on Bachelor In Paradise] was pretty special,' the founder of Soul Society continued. Luke added that he will most likely catch up with Sam and Tara 'Friday or Saturday,' and has been 'keeping busy' with work and meditation. Nothing but praise: 'It's such a beautiful love story and to be a part of that [on Bachelor In Paradise] was pretty special,' the founder of Soul Society gushed On Monday night's grand finale episode of Bachelor In Paradise, Sam, 34, got down on one knee and asked Tara for her hand in marriage. 'I want to spend the rest of my life with you,' a tearful Sam stated before pulling out a ring and asking: 'Will you marry me?' Before the proposal, Tara, 27, told Sam she was in love with him as they came face-to-face on the shore of a Fijian beach. Keeping up appearances: Luke spoke to Daily Mail Australia while attending Bachelor star Laura Byrne's ToniMay store launch, in Sydney's Paddington She emotionally stated: 'Everyone knows the loud and funny and often inappropriate side to Sam.' 'But I was lucky enough to find the deep and caring and affectionate side. And then I was lucky enough to fall in love with that,' Tara added. Since the proposal, Sam and Tara's co-stars haven't been shy in voicing their praise for the couple online. She confirmed her split from Love Island beau Marcel Somerville on Instagram, after he admitted to cheating on her. And Gabby Allen made sure to not let her heartbreak get her down as she stepped out on Wednesday evening in style around Soho with a male pal. The 26-year-old reality star was sure to command attention in a vibrant pink suit as the pair were pictured leaving Soho House before heading to The Box nightclub to continue their night out together. Hanging out: Gabby Allen made sure to not let her heartbreak get her down as she stepped out on Wednesday evening in style around Soho with a male pal The blonde bombshell turned heads in her neon two-piece which was formed of a classic blazer and high-waisted tailored trousers. Cinching in her waist with a black belt, Gabby added further colour into her look with a bold floral shirt. Continuing to up the ante, she accessorised her colourful ensemble with clashing grungy lace-up boots and draped a cream leather bag over her shoulder. The ITV2 darling continued her stylish display as she slicked her hair away from her face and added a slick of red lipstick. Pink to make 'em wink: The 26-year-old reality star was sure to command attention in a vibrant pink suit Night out on the tiles: The pair were pictured leaving Soho House before heading to The Box nightclub to continue their night out together Offsetting her vibrant display, Gabby's pal looked stylish in a pair of black jeans, jumper and long duster jacket while he held a bag leather clutch. Her appearance comes after her ex Marcel Somerville, 32, confirmed that he did cheat on her and admitted it was a decision he will 'regret forever'. Speaking to MailOnline a spokesperson for Marcel explained that the Blazin' Squad star understood his wrongdoings and hoped that one day Gabby, who he met on ITV2's Love Island last year, would forgive him. His rep said: 'Sadly the rumours are true, Gabby and Marcel have split up. Marcel can't really defend his actions as he knows he did wrong and will regret it forever. Walk this way: The blonde bombshell turned heads in her neon two-piece which was formed of a classic blazer and high-waisted tailored trousers All in the details: Cinching in her waist with a black belt, Gabby added further colour into her look with a bold floral shirt 'Marcel is upset that he broke the heart of someone he loves and someone that he shared so many special moments with, but with all the good times there are difficult times, and sadly Marcel and Gabby had been in a bad place at this stage. Adding: 'Gabby was a special part of my Marcel's life, and he hopes one day she can find it in herself to forgive him. He knows what he did was wrong and is extremely sad about how he has hurt Gabby.' His comments come a day after Gabby confirmed their 'tough' split and revealed she is 'in shock' from the relationship break-up. In an Instagram post the blonde beauty thanked her friends, family and fans for their support during the difficult time as she deals with the end of her romance with hunk Marcel. Style savvy: Continuing to up the ante, she accessorised her colourful ensemble with clashing grungy lace-up boots and draped a cream leather bag over her shoulder Mane attraction: The ITV2 darling continued her stylish display as she slicked her hair away from her face and added a slick of red lipstick She wrote: 'Thank you to everyone for your kind messages, love and support. It's been tough couple of days, I think I might still be in a bit of shock! But I'm sure in time I will be OK. I have the best family and friends around me. I'm a lucky girl.' Gabby and Marcel met on the 2017 series of summer smash Love Island and quickly forged a romance. But their seemingly rock-solid relationship was rocked by claims of infidelity during their Mexican getaway last month. New allegations by The Sun state that Marcel cheated on Gabby multiple times with different women over the course of a few months. Vibrant: Offsetting her vibrant display, Gabby's pal looked stylish in a pair of black jeans, jumper and long duster jacket while he held a bag leather clutch 'Regret': Her appearance comes after her ex Marcel Somerville, 32, has confirmed that he did cheat on her and admitted it was a decision he will 'regret forever' 'Forgive': Speaking to MailOnline a spokesperson for Marcel explained that the Blazin' Squad star understands his wrongdoings and hopes that one day Gabby, who he met on ITV2's Love Island last year, would forgive him It is also revealed that the rapper kissed another girl during a night out - but when Gabby's suspicions arose, he managed to convince her that nothing occurred. The publication claims that Gabby had her doubts when it came to Marcel remaining faithful in their relationship. Back in November, Marcel reportedly locked lips with a woman during a night out with former co-star Jonny Mitchell - and went on to enjoy a meal with her at London eatery STK before partying the night away. 'Marcel then invited her to join him at The Box before realising that Gabby has close pals that work there so he quickly told her not to come. Regret: His rep said: 'Sadly the rumours are true, Gabby and Marcel have split up. Marcel can't really defend his actions as he knows he did wrong and will regret it forever' Difficult: She added: 'Marcel is upset that he broke the heart of someone he loves and someone that he shared so many special moments with, but with all the good times there are difficult times, and sadly Marcel and Gabby had been in a bad place at this stage' 'At that point the girl was irritated by him backtracking and threatened to tell Gabby what had gone on between them. However, it was continued: 'Gabby knew something had gone on that night but Marcel managed to convince her that she had nothing to worry about.' The shock new claims comes after blonde beauty Gabby, who is the new lead trainer on fitness app Fiit, defiantly vowed that she trusted Marcel '100%', hours before their split to MailOnline. Acknowledging the previous claims, Gabby told MailOnline that she was 'baffled' by the reports and insisted that they were better than ever, despite hours later splitting after it was revealed he had indeed cheated. Hope: They shared: 'Gabby was a special part of my Marcel's life, and he hopes one day she can find it in herself to forgive him. He knows what he did was wrong and is extremely sad about how he has hurt Gabby' 'Tough': His comments come a day after Gabby confirmed their 'tough' split and revealed she is 'in shock' from the relationship break-up She said: 'I was baffled at where it had come from, Marcel obviously had texted me and said: "Who have you been talking to mate?" and I said: "What are you talking about?" 'Obviously people want a story and everyone wants us to fail but we're absolutely fine. We're quite good, we try to ignore all the input from the outside world. We're in a relationship together, not with anyone else. You have to take it with a pinch of salt. 'We trust each other, I trust him and I hope he trusts me too. We've never had any problems in that respect, I've never not trusted him in any way.' She shocked fans when she rocked a glamorous blonde wig during Wednesday's Loose Women. And now Christine Lampard has admitted that her other half Frank wasn't impressed by her golden 'do and she won't be rushing to the hairdresser anytime soon to make a permanent change on Thursday's installment. The 39-year-old Northern Irish host had left viewers in awe over her transformation and also her hilarious comments about the rest of her body hair. Not impressed: Christine Lampard has admitted that her other half Frank wasn't impressed by her golden 'do on Thursday's Loose Women Christine opened up about her other half's thoughts on the possibility of going blonde full-time and admitted he wasn't a fan. 'Oh my god, it does completely changes you because you feel like a completely different person,' she began. 'How can I word it nicely that I won't get in trouble on the telly? 'Frank thought it was interesting but he wouldn't want it all the time. I think this is the natural look.' She added: 'Frank had his version of the conversation then my mum phoned and said that I was the spitting imagine of my sister, she's blonde so I could see a bit of the similarity. But Frank would like it just every so often, not all the time.' Transformation: The 39-year-old Northern Irish host had left viewers in awe over her transformation and also her hilarious comments about the rest of her body hair Mane attraction: Christine opened up about her other half's thoughts on the possibility of going blonde full-time and admitted he wasn't a fan. 'Oh my god, it does completely changes you because you feel like a completely different person,' she began. 'How can I word it nicely that I won't get in trouble on the telly?' Her hilarious comments come after she left viewers in awe of her hair when the entire panel switching up their looks to test if hair colour can impact personality. And it wasn't just Christine's looks that caused a stir, as she shocked with raunchy comments about the rest of her body hair. Revealing why she'd never felt the urge to dye her hair, she made a crude comment as she gestured towards her crotch, confessing: 'I love blonde hair but I'm naturally really dark... everywhere. So it doesnt look right.' As the panel fell about laughing, Linda Nolan chipped in: 'I'm grey, every part of me is grey!' Transformed: She's known for her brunette tresses. So Christine left viewers astounded when she rocked a glamorous blonde wig for Wednesday's Loose Women Cheeky Christine! And it wasn't just Christine's looks that caused a stir, as she shocked with raunchy comments about the rest of her body hair Janet Street-Porter didn't hold back in her assessment of Christine's locks, remarking 'you look like a ditz!' before later claiming she looked a bit like Carol Vorderman. The veteran broadcaster, 71, also take a swipe at Stacey Solomon, joking the star has a large nose. Blonde bombshell Stacey - who was sporting a brunette wig - revealed: I feel pretty and sexier with longer hair, but the darker hair, no. It accentuates my nose.' To which Janet responded: 'I did see your nose came around the corner first then you did! I love your nose, but the colour does make it [bigger].' The star did poke fun at her own appearance, noting 'I look like a serial killer'. Ditsy? Janet Street-Porter didn't hold back in her assessment of Christine's locks, remarking 'you look like a ditz!' before later claiming she looked a bit like Carol Vorderman Loving it: Christine's new look went down a treat on Twitter, whilst other viewers were left reeling by her crude comment about the other hair on her body Christine's new look went down a treat on Twitter, with viewers remarking: 'Jesus Christ! Just when I thought Christine Lampard couldn't get any better, she roles up on #LooseWomen today with a blonde wig on. Fascinating. I'm jealous of Frank! 'Christine looks so much better with long blonde hair #beautiful #LooseWomen '; 'Stacey Solomon looks good with long dark hair and Christine looks amazing but the other two look terrible #LooseWomen' 'Wow @clbleakley looks amazing as a blonde! #LooseWomen'; 'TEXT From: Frank To: Christine BRING WIG HOME X'; 'Looking fabulous with that blonde wig, suits you.'; 'I like your new looks particularly Christine's. #LooseWomen 'I actually quite like all of them! If they were made to look less 'wig-like' I think they'd all sort these colours! #loosewomen'. He's the reality TV veteran who had his heart infamously stomped on by Georgia Love in the 2016 season of The Bachelorette. And on Thursday, Matty J Johnson has revealed that he is a big fan of spin-off Bachelor In Paradise as there was 'no heartbreak in the finale.' Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia at the opening of girlfriend Laura Byrne's jewellery store, ToniMay in Sydney, Matty admitted that the couple were glued to the television throughout the series. Scroll down for video Positive vibes! Matty J Johnson told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that he is a big fan of spin-off Bachelor In Paradise as there was 'no heartbreak in the finale' 'We really enjoyed watching it,' he revealed. Drawing comparisons to his own stint on The Bachelorette, Matty added that the last episode of spin-off was a lot less emotionally wrought. 'The best part of Bachelor in Paradise is there is no heartbreak in the finale. The finale is just happiness and love,' he said. The Bachelor In Paradise finale saw Jarrod Woodgate and Keira Maguire pair up, while Sam Cochrane and Tara Pavlovic became engaged on the show. The finale also saw a proposal between Ali Oetjen and Grant Kemp however that pairing fizzled after the cameras stopped rolling. Fans: Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia at the opening of girlfriend Laura Byrne's jewellery store, ToniMay in Sydney, Matty admitted that the couple were glued to the television throughout the series Matty, who eventually found love with Laura on the 2017 season of The Bachelor, also thanked former on-screen love Georgia for her honesty when she rejected him in favour of Lee Elliott. The genetically blessed marketing manager said it allowed him to move on and have his own opportunity to find Ms Right while the cameras were rolling. 'For me, I'll always owe so much to the Bachelor series and franchise,' he said. 'I'll always be forever grateful because I wouldn't have a girlfriend if it wasn't for her.' Sweet: 'The best part of Bachelor in Paradise is there is no heartbreak in the finale. The finale is just happiness and love' Gutted: Matty was left heartbroken on the 2016 Bachelorette after being brutally dumped by Georgia Love during the show's finale, filmed in Singapore Admitting that he was a 'huge advocate' for the Bachelor franchise, Matty also revealed he and Laura 'couldn't wait' to see how Nick 'Honey Badger' Cummins and Ali Oetjen performed on their respective upcoming Bachelor and Bachelorette seasons. Matty was left heartbroken on the 2016 Bachelorette after being brutally dumped by Georgia Love during the show's finale, filmed in Singapore. 'I'm so sorry because you are so amazing,' Georgia told a crestfallen Matty. 'And I've really genuinely loved every single moment that we've had. 'You deserve someone who's gonna give you back everything that you give and more.' A visibly upset Matty struggled to breathe as Georgia explained that she had instead chosen rival contestant Lee Elliott, bending forwards as he came to terms with his emotions. Laura Byrne has revealed that her two biggest motivators when it comes to fitness are her boyfriend Matty 'J' Johnson and her three-legged dog Buster. Speaking at the launch of her ToniMay jewellery store in Sydney's Paddington, the 31-year-old told Daily Mail Australia: 'I dont have any one thing that I stick to. I have a massive dog and I love being active.' She added: 'Matt is a really fitness-oriented person and that keeps me going to the gym and being active'. Her two great loves: Laura Byrne has revealed that her two biggest motivators when it comes to fitness are her boyfriend Matty 'J' Johnson and her three-legged dog Buster The brunette also says that staying active is good for her mind as well as her body. 'I feel I need to do something every day, but thats more so for my mental health than for my physical health,' she says. She added: 'To be able to feel mentally sound and happy and motivated- fitness is such an integral part of that'. Summing up her regime, the accessories designer said: 'Running, gym, walking the dog, just something to get out of your own head'. Laura reached two milestones this month, in that she's not only reached her one-year anniversary with Matty, but opened her first jewellery store. Puppy power: The 31-year-old told Daily Mail Australia: 'I dont have any one thing that I stick to. I have a massive dog and I love being active' She added: 'Matt is a really fitness-oriented person and that keeps me going to the gym and being active' Now her flagship jewellery store is officially open in Sydney's Oxford Street, with a showcase of the designer's engagement rings shown to a selection of VIPs on Thursday night. 'It's been on the plan for a couple of years but I had a few road blocks,' she told the Herald Sun. She also credits her boyfriend of one year, who she met on The Bachelor, with not only supporting her fitness but her dream of opening her own store. Summing up her regime, the accessories designer said: 'Running, gym, walking the dog, just something to get out of your own head' Open for business: Her flagship jewellery store is now open in Sydney's Paddington 'I have an incredibly supportive boyfriend who has given me the confidence to push myself,' the brunette told the paper. Laura launched her jewellery brand, ToniMay eight years ago in 2010. Mila Kunis is a working mom-of-two. The 34-year-old actress stepped out on Wednesday looking casually clad for errands in Los Angeles. Mila, who was sporting a chic bob, was spotted wearing a white-striped sweater and navy slacks on the outing. Actress off duty: Mila Kunis stepped out on Wednesday looking casually clad for errands in LA Cute and comfy: Mila, who is sporting a new chic bob, was spotted wearing a white-striped sweater and navy slacks on the outing Kunis is currently promoting her new film The Spy Who Dumped Meout August 3. The action-comedy, featuring Kate McKinnon and Justin Theroux, follows two best friends who get caught up in an international conspiracy when one of the women discovers that her ex-boyfriend was a spy. The movie was shot in Budapest, Vienna, Berlin, and Amsterdam. 'It was literally one of the best adventures I've had,' Mila told ET Canada in an interview. Coming soon: Kunis is currently promoting her new film The Spy Who Dumped Meout August 3. The action-comedy, featuring Kate McKinnon and Justin Theroux, follows two best friends who get caught up in an international conspiracy when one of the women discovers that her ex-boyfriend was a spy When talking with E! News, the Ukraine native gushed about her supportive husband Ashton Kutcher. 'I have the world's greatest husband,' she said. 'I swear, I got very lucky. I got a man that has got a lot of patience and is incredibly supportive of our family.' And that's certainly true considering Ashton takes a hiatus from work when Mila is shooting a film. 'I go to wherever she is, move the whole family, set up the kids, get them on a schedule, and I'm at home,' he told Dax Shepard on his podcast Armchair Expert. 'That's a workaholics dream because you can service your kids all day long if you want to.' When talking with E! News , the Ukraine native gushed about her supportive husband Ashton Kutcher. 'I have the world's greatest husband,' she said. 'I swear, I got very lucky. I got a man that has got a lot of patience and is incredibly supportive of our family' Ashton and Kunis have been married for nearly three years after tying the knot in July 2015 in Oak Glen, California. The couple first met when they both starred in That '70s Show from 1998 to 2006. And they now share two childrenWyatt, age three, and Dimitri, age one. She a legend in the modeling industry. And on Wednesday, Cindy Crawford looked effortlessly chic as she ran errands in Los Angeles. The 52-year-old cover girl teamed a grey blazer and jeans with white loafers as she braved the gloomy Southern California weather. Out and about: Cindy Crawford teamed a grey blazer and jeans with white loafers as she braved the gloomy Southern California weather on Wednesday In a hurry: Crawford carried a large black tote while running errands Cindy, whose kids, Kaia and Presley Gerber, are up and coming models, recently opened up about her career hardships in an interview with Town&Country. 'I'm really lucky, because I don't have a #MeToo story,' Crawford said. 'Look, I've done nude photos, lots. The only ones I regretted were the ones that I kind of got talked into.' 'I don't want my children to ever look back and think, 'Gosh, I wish I hadn't done that.' I want to empower them to just say, 'I'm outta here.' Natural beauty: The supermodel was seemingly makeup free Cindy, whose kids, Kaia and Presley Gerber, are up and coming models, recently opened up about her career hardships in an interview with Town&Country . 'I'm really lucky, because I don't have a #MeToo story,' Crawford said. 'Look, I've done nude photos, lots. The only ones I regretted were the ones that I kind of got talked into' Kaia, 16, and Presley, 18, still rely on their mom's industry expertise. 'They have agents, but I would say for the first year, for sure, everything was 100 percent through me,' Crawford said. 'Eventually I want to empower them to be in charge of their own careers, but they're not ready for that yet. Cindy went on to add: 'Right now they're mostly, 'Mom, just tell me what to do.' And mom, as you might imagine, is fine with that.' Kaia, 16, and Presley, 18, still rely on their mom's industry expertise. 'Right now they're mostly, 'Mom, just tell me what to do.' And mom, as you might imagine, is fine with that' Crawford and husband Rande Gerber have been happily married since May of 1998. The Illinois native talked briefly with the luxury lifestyle magazine about their parenting style. 'Kids don't always listen, but they are always watching what you do,' she said. 'If you're polite to people, they learn to be polite. If you make family time a priority, they don't even question spending time together. 'If I'm constantly berating myself in front of themI look old, I have more wrinkles every year, I can't have that dessert because I'll get fatthen they learn to do the same thing. You lead by example.' Kevin Hart's alleged extortionist, Jonathan Todd Jackson, has been caught. Jonathan, who goes by the names J.T. and Action Jackson, is facing two felony charges. The first is for attempted extortion, the second is for extortion by threatening letter. Kevin, 38, took to Twitter to express his disappointment after the news went public. Kevin Hart's friend and fellow actor, Jonathan Todd Jackson, has been accused of attempting to extort him in 2017 'Mind blown...Hurt...at a lost [SIC] for words and simply in complete disbelief at the moment. WOW,' he wrote on Twitter. The Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle actor is said to have been close friends with Jonathan. They also co-starred in Think Like A Man Too. So who is Jonathan Todd Jackson? Here's what you need to know about Kevin Hart's accused extortionist. Who is Jonathan Todd Jackson? Jonathan Todd Jackson is an up-and-coming actor. He's appeared in S.W.A.T., Future Man, Naked, Truth be Told and more. In fact, he appeared in Think Like a Man Too alongside Kevin Hart. While Kevin had a central role in the film, Jonathan's IMDb reveals that his character is identified only as 'promoter'. He's also appeared in a number of commercials, which he has a full reel of on his YouTube page. In addition to a career as an actor, Jonathan is though to be a professional bowler. He's been a member of the Professional Bowlers Associaton for 12 years. Per their website, in more than a decade he's made only $3,255 (2,394) as a professional bowler. It appears he competed from 2010 to 2016. His profile on their page says he's 41 years old, though it's unclear if that was his age in 2016 or it's been updated. It appears Jonathan sometimes makes YouTube videos. His most recent was uploaded seven months ago. His videos include his attempts at viral challenges, his acting reels, bowling videos and comedy. TBT...2010 Hawaii. #me #andmysexyasswife A post shared by Jt Jackson (@jtactionjackson) on Jan 4, 2018 at 12:31pm PST He also uploaded an amateur rap song about bowling. Jonathan Todd Jackson Instagram Jonathan's Instagram page is full of memes, selfies and photos of his wife, Shela Gerome. Her Instagram is private, but her bio suggests she's also an actress. Her IMDb says she's appeared in a few shorts, an episode of Cold Case and has a few other small roles coming up. Joanthan has also used his Instagram account as a sounding board for his opinions. He shared a screen grab of a story about adult actor Ron Jeremy having been accused of sexual assault, calling the onslaught of accusations against famous men 'ridiculous'. 'Ok...this is getting ridiculous. Porn star accused of sexual assault by another porn star....GTFOH! #really,' he wrote. He's posted at least two photos of himself with Kevin. In one, he called the actor 'one cool ass dude'. Another appears to show him and several other friends spending time together. It's unclear what the photo is from, but Jonathan is said to have been invited to Kevin's bachelor party. Jonathan Todd Jackson movies Jonathan Todd Jackson is an actor. He is said to have a role in an upcoming project called Get Lucky. He also recently appeared in Beast Mode and Future Man. Jonathan's other credits include a role in S.W.A.T, the Netflix original Naked, Truth be Told, Think Like a Man Too, Note to Self and more. Most of Jonathan's roles are ancillary, though he's had some slightly larger roles. Jonathan Todd Jackson Kevin Hart Kevin Hart broke the news that he was at the center of an extortion plot in the summer of 2017. He shared a post on Instagram in which he admitted he had 'made a bad error in judgement and put myself in an environment where only bad things can happen, and they did'. He added that someone was trying to get 'financial gain' from his slip up, but did not name any suspects. 'In this particular situation, that's what was attempted, and I'd rather fess up to my mistakes,' he said. Kevin's rep later confirmed to People that 'someone tried to set Kevin up in a failed extortion attempt'. At the time, TMZ alleged that the unknown extortionist was seeking millions of dollars from Kevin in exchange for the promise that they would keep a sex tape showing the actor cheating on current wife, Eniko Parrish, with another woman. The outlet obtained a portion of the video, which contained a message from the person who possessed it that read: 'Kevin Hart was privy to me wanting to expose him as I have made countless attempts to expose this information to various blogs, in an attempt to also get paid. 'The real reason Kevin Hart orchestrated the Texas Hurricane Relief Fund, this so-called good deed was done to get ahead as he knew this damaging footage was one click away from being exposed as the liar and cheater he is.' The short video then reportedly shows two people who appear to be Kevin and a woman called Montia Sabbag engaging in sexual activity. Montia sought the legal representation of attorney Lisa Bloom. She maintained that she had no knowledge that the video existed and had nothing to do with extortion attempts against Kevin. Kevin is said to have turned to the FBI to track down the extortionist. She's in incredible shape after giving birth in February. And 20-year-old Kylie Jenner put her figure on show once again on Thursday, posing for a beachside snap from her Turks and Caicos getaway with boyfriend Travis Scott. The couple have managed to indulge in some quality time together as they brought a nanny with them to look after their baby daughter Stormi. Sunset snap: Kylie Jenner is seen in a new image she shared from Turks and Caicos on Thursday In Kylie's latest Instagram offering she shows off her post-baby figure in a black bikini with fishnet shorts over the top. She wears her raven locks in two braids and accessorizes with large diamond earrings. Earlier in the week Kylie treated her followers to a photo of herself cradling her three-month-old girl. She wore a cream L*Space bikini and a fishnet cover up as she cradled her three-month-old little girl, who was dressed in a sweet white dress. Loved up: The 20-year-old also shared a romantic photo of her with beau Travis Scott embracing on the beach on Wednesday Mommy duty: Kylie enjoyed adults only time with Travis Scott while a nanny took care of Stormi on Tuesday, but made time for Instagram-worthy cuddles with her daughter on Wednesday Kylie and Travis took along an entourage that included a photographer and nanny for their family trip. They are staying at the exclusive and luxurious Amanyara resort in Turks and Caicos. The pair stole some time away from Stormi to enjoy a cruise aboard a lavish yacht earlier this week. The holiday is in celebration of Travis, who turned 26 on April 30. 'Morning in paradise': Kylie shared this sunny snap on Wednesday as she continued to enjoy her getaway at the luxurious Amanyara resort in Turks and Caicos Bathing beauty: The 20-year-old mom showed off her flat tummy and incredible curves in a white and animal print cut-out one piece Meanwhile, the star opened about how Stormi has 'changed her life' in an interview conducted by her sister Kim Kardashian for the Evening Standard. She told Kim: 'I feel like it's just been so amazing, and so much fun, I'm learning so much more about myself and life, and it's been such a great experience. 'Of course there's hard times and stuff even in the beginning, just not sleeping, the nights, like, baby blues and all the ups and downs and also even when I'm here it was so hard to leave this morning. Romantic trip: Kylie and Travis, 26, were pictured aboard a luxury yacht, enjoying a quiet moment while a nanny took care of three-month-old Post baby bod: Kylie wore a stylish patterned swimsuit with mesh shorts over the top Taking a break: The busy star is in Turks and Caicos celebrating Travis' 26th birthday Hired help: Kylie's daughter was in good hands as a nanny took care of the tot on Tuesday Sun-seekers: The TV star shared this image on Tuesday as the couple posed on the sleek boat. The family are travelling with a personal photographer She continued: 'I think about her all the time, anywhere I am.' The television personality said she was looking forward to the future when Stormi was 'old enough to bring her everywhere'. Kylie also said she feels like there were 'better' names for her daughter than Stormi. Lunch time: They also enjoyed a quiet moment together Phone check: Travis kept an eye on his cell during the romantic cruise She confessed that she is not sure how she and her partner Travis Scott arrived at the unique moniker for their first child, though Kylie thinks baby 'picked her own name' and it was just meant to be. Kylie admitted: 'I really don't know how we thought of Storm. Her dad insisted it was him, but I feel like it was me. 'And that kind of just stuck with us. Baby's first trip! Kylie shared this snap of Stormi on Tuesday celebrating her three-month birthday 'And then I didn't really like just Storm - I didn't feel like that was her name. 'So then it became Stormi. And it just stuck. I feel like there were a lot of other names that I might have even liked better to be honest, but I feel like Stormi picked her own name, like it was just her name.' The beauty businesswoman hopes that her daughter will grow into a 'strong' and 'independent' female. She said: 'She's going to have her own challenges. I just hope that she's strong and independent and confident.' Kylie also admitted that she doesn't know whether she wants Stormi to be filmed for the family's show, 'Keeping Up with the Kardashians'. She said: 'I have thought about it but I haven't come to a conclusion yet.' Postcards from paradise: The couple are seen in another snap Kylie shared on Tuesday He is the famous outlaw who was last played on the big screen by Russell Crowe in 2010. And Robin Hood has once again been stealing from the rich and giving to the poor in a first look at the 2018 reboot, with Kingsman star Taron Egerton donning his bow and arrow in an action-packed teaser trailer. The first look at the film - set to be released in November - sees Taron's version of the hooded outlaw once again at odds with the authorities, joined by close friend Little John (played by Jamie Foxx) and brother Will Scarlet (Jamie Dornan). Scroll down for video Hero: Kingsman star Taron Egerton has become the legendary outlaw Robin Hood in a teaser for the 2018 reboot of the classic tale, starring alongside Jamie Foxx and Jamie Dornan In the preview, Robin Hood is a far cry from his usually sprightly heroic self, with this version of a character being a war-hardened criminal as he goes to war with the authorities. Donning an edgy leather version of his famous green tunic and hat, Taron is every inch the masked hero, chatting with the authorities of Nottingham who have no idea the criminal they are so desperate to catch is right under their nose. In a dramatic change-up for the iconic character Little John, Jamie Foxx plays the mentor-type figure transforming Robin into the arrow-wielding vigilante. Merry men: Oscar winner Jamie (left) plays close friend and mentor Little John, while Fifty Shades star Jamie (right) play's Hood's brother Will Scarlet Witch hunt: Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn plays the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham Explosive: The action-packed trailer gives fans a glimpse of some of the epic battle sequences that will appear in the big-budget blockbuster Meanwhile Fifty Shades Of Grey star Jamie Dornan plays Hood's brother Will Scarlet, and the trailer appears to tease a love triangle of sorts as they go to battle over Maid Marian (played by Bono's daughter Eve Hewson). An official synopsis for the film reads: 'A war-hardened Crusader and his Moorish commander mount an audacious revolt against the corrupt English crown in a thrilling action-adventure packed with gritty battlefield exploits, mind-blowing fight choreography, and a timeless romance.' The trailer is nothing short of dramatic set pieces and epic battles, as the villainous Sheriff of Nottingham (played by Ben Mendelsohn) is on the witch hunt to catch the masked man stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. Right under your nose: Hood is seen rubbing shoulders with the authorities in the trailer, who are completely oblivious that he is the outlaw they are trying to target Transformed: Donning a edgy leather version of the famous green tunic and tights, Hood rocks a mask to conceal his true identity At war: A more modern incarnation of the Merry Men go to battle against the knights in a hardened adaptation of the 12th Century tale Forbidden fruit: The film will also depict the famous romance between Hood and Maid Marian (Eve Hewson), although she is married to his brother forming a nasty love triangle The trailer sparked an enormous reaction on social media, with many comparing this incarnation of Robin Hood to DC comic book star Oliver Queen/Green Arrow. One wrote on Twitter: 'I absolutely love the new Robin Hood trailer. The bow work on it at times is very unrealistic coming from an archer like myself but I don't mind it. Hell I'm an Arrow fan so I can't complain about that now can I?' Another added: 'Robin Hood has to be the most remade and retold story ever... but why not?' Commenting on the Youtube trailer another fan wrote: 'Looking forward to it! Looks much darker and more sinister then I imagined.' Loving it! Fans rushed to comment on social media how much they loved to first look at the film, which will be released in November for the Thanksgiving weekend Classic: One of the most famous reincarnations of Robin Hood came in 1991, with Kevin Costner playing the titular hero Gritty: Russell Crowe also took on the role in the most recent big screen adaptation, released in 2010 This is the latest in a long line of incarnations of the legendary character, with some of the most famous being the Walt Disney animated version (1973), the big-budget Kevin Costner version (1991) and a much darker adaptation starring Russell Crowe (2010). The film is directed by BAFTA winner Otto Bathurst, who rose to fame following his work on the BBC period series Peaky Blinders. Following the release date being pushed back several times, Robin Hood will finally open on November 21 ahead of the Thanksgiving weekend, but will face stiff competition from the Disney animated sequel Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck It Ralph 2. At the helm: The film will be directed by BAFTA winner Otto Bathurst, who rose to fame following his work on the BBC period series Peaky Blinders Fans accused Vogue Italia of using 'black face' on a cover image of her. And supermodel Gigi Hadid has apologised for the controversial cover in a lengthy statement on Instagram on Thursday. Sharing a throwback photo of herself shortly after her Vogue shoot the 23-year-old wrote: 'This is a photo of me returning home from my Vogue shooting on April 3... you can see the level I have been bronzed to on set that day. Candid: Gigi Hadid has apologised for her controversial Vogue Italia cover in a lengthy statement posted to Instagram on Thursday Backlash: Fans accused Vogue Italia of using 'black face' on a cover image of the 23-year-old model 'Please understand that my control of a shoot 1. is non existent in terms of creative direction. 2. ends completely when I leave set, and anything done to a photo in post is out of my control fully. 'The bronzing and photoshop is a style that S.Klein has done for many years and I believe was what was expected from the shoot (to show me in a different way creatively). 'BUT, although I understand what Vogue Italia's intentions were, it was not executed correctly, and the concerns that have been brought up are valid. 'I want to address this for those who were offended by the editing/retouching/coloring of the cover. Please know things would have been different if my control of the situation was different. Stepping out: Gigi kept a low profile as she headed out in Paris amid the social media furore 'Regardless, I want to apologise because my intention is never to diminish those concerns or take opportunities away from someone else, and I hope this can be an example to other magazines and teams in the future. 'There are real issues regarding representation in fashion - it's our responsibility to acknowledge those issues and communicate through them to work towards a more diverse industry.' A spokesman for Conde Nast International told MailOnline: 'Throughout its history, Vogue Italia has respected and encouraged the creative viewpoints of commissioned photographers. In our latest cover shoot by Steven Klein, the vision was to create a beachwear-themed story with a stylized bronzing effect. 'We understand that the result has caused some debate with our readers, and we sincerely apologize if we have caused any offence.' Gigi kept a low profile as she was seen for the first time since the controversial cover emerged, stepping out in Paris with her sister, and fellow model Bella on Thursday. The star kept a straight face as she walked out of her luxury hotel, clad in a baggy cropped denim jacket, ivory tee and jeans which flaunted her slender legs. Leggy:Gigi kept a low profile as she was seen for the first time since the controversial cover emerged, stepping out in Paris with her sister, and fellow model Bella on Thursday Hell for leather: Gigi's younger sister Bella, 21, also flaunted her incredible figure in a high-necked leather ensemble dress, which cut high on the leg, revealing her incredible legs The beauty slipped on leather ankle boots and carried a patent leather handbag. Her caramel flecked tresses were styled sleek and straight, parted in the middle while she showcased her naturally radiant complexion by going make-up free. She shielded her eyes with amber shades. Gigi's younger sister Bella, 21, also flaunted her incredible figure in a high-necked leather ensemble dress, which cut high on the leg, revealing her incredible legs. The brunette beauty slipped on sheer tights and edgy biker boots. Her chestnut tresses were worn loose and flowing over her shoulders and she sported a pair of futuristic sunglasses for the outing. Her make-up was kept simple, with only a slick of berry lipstick standing out against her alabaster skintone. Vogue Italia have been accused of using 'black face' on a cover image of US model Gigi Hadid. Windswept: The beauty slipped on leather ankle boots and carried a patent leather handbag Toned: Her chestnut tresses were worn loose and flowing over her shoulders and she sported a pair of futuristic sunglasses for the outing Edgy: Her make-up was kept simple, with only a slick of berry lipstick standing out against her alabaster skintone Wow factor: The brunette beauty looked sensational in her all-black ensemble Confused fans asked why the May 2018 cover image looked 'nothing like her', suggesting that her appearance had been digitally altered and even darkened, when the blonde fashion model shared a sneak peek on Instagram on Thursday morning. Shot by acclaimed American photographer Steven Klein, the photo shows a heavily-bronzed Gigi, 23, sharing the cover with male model Justin Martin. Now featured on 27 Vogue covers, and with brother Anwar and sister Bella both also in the industry, catwalk star Gigi has become one of the most recognisable faces in fashion. Even US Vogue's sister publication Teen Vogue published a damning article questioning Gigi's skin tone on the cover, following a sneak peek on Wednesday. Lithe: Bella showcased her toned legs in the skimpy leather dress Strut: Bella wore her signature low-resting sunglasses as she made a sartorial impact Refreshed: Despite her flight from America, the star looked ready to hit the catwalk MailOnline has reached out to Vogue Italia for comment. Fashion model Gigi's mother Yolanda Foster is Dutch, while her father Mohamed is of Palestinian descent, though commenters on Gigi's proud Instagram post were vocal about the model's very different appearance. 'Looks like a completely different person,' said one fan in the comments section, while another agreed: 'This is not you...' 'I didn't even recognize you,' said another fan, and: ''Why doesn't this look like you lol.' 'What the f**k is this?' said another and one other added: 'Completely different person.' Radiant: Bella looked sensational as she headed out into the French capital Hulking: Bella was flanked by two bodyguards as she headed into her hotel Chic; The star was the epitome of Parisian glamour as she walked along Some called out the overuse of Photoshop, suggesting that Gigi's appearance had been digitally altered. One said: 'She looks kinda weird, the Photoshop guys should be fired,' and another said: 'Too much Photoshop. Doesn't even look like u.' 'So much photoshop, doesn't even like you,' came another confused fan. However, others were concerned that the colour of Gigi's skin was darker than her natural, porcellain tone. 'Gigi you are beautiful but the amount of spray tan and Photoshop is ugly,' said one fan. Who's that girl? A social media storm erupted as Gigi's cover (left) appeared dramatically different, both in look and skin tone to Gigi's usual appearance (right, in April 2018) Who is she? Commenters on Gigi's Instagram post were confused by her very different look Edits: Gigi's fans appeared disgruntled that she no longer looked like herself 'Another black face attempt failing miserably,' said another fan, and: ''Kind of, actually really looks like black face. What the heck.' Gigi had shared the cover on Thursday morning, saying she was :'Excited, honored, and grateful to cover @VogueItalias May Issue.' 'Thank you so so much for an amazing shoot,' she wrote. 'I am forever inspired by you all !!! & cant wait to share the full story !! x' It's not the first time Vogue Italia has courted controversy with a cover featuring Gigi. For the December 2015 issue, Gigi was styled in afro-style wigs. What the heck: The magazine was also accused of using 'black face' Courting controversy: It's not the first time the magazine has been accused of changing Gigi's appearance - on this December 2015 cover she wore an afro-style wig While Gigi herself has fallen victim to wide-spread criticism for styling that is beyond her control. When she landed Vogue Arabia's first-ever issue in 2017, critics blasted Gigi for wearing a Hijab, worn by millions of Muslim women around the world, as a 'trend' rather than for religious purposes. Gigi was accused of 'cultural appropriation' by furious commentators who were unhappy about her sporting a veil in the magazine shoot. In pictures featured inside, she can be seen posing in a colourful headscarf in what has been described as 'uniquely Arabian' styling. Later, Editor-in-Chief, Manuel Arnaut defended the decision to feature Gigi's sister Bella on the cover of a subsequent issue. 'Bella Hadid is one of the most celebrated models of the time, plus she has a link with the region, being half-Palestinian but also a Muslim.' She's known to commit to any look. So it comes as no surprise that Kim Kardashian is giving it her all to wow the crowds at the upcoming Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit in New York. The 37-year-old social media siren admitted on her blog that she's been focused on her fitness and clean eating leading up to the most fashionable night of the year. Scroll down for video Flower power: Kim Kardashian is giving it her all at the upcoming Metropolitan Museum of Art Costume Institute benefit in New York; seen in 2013 wearing Givenchy 'The Met Gala never disappoints,' she shared. I've been prepping for this year's with a cleanse and by working out really hard.' Without giving any details about her interpretation of this year's theme - Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination - Kim's 'excited to go' to the star-studded soiree. 'Its always an over-the-top night, so last year, I just decided to keep it simple and sleek in Vivienne Westwood,' Kim said. 'Mario did my makeup and Michael Silva did my hair. We went for a relaxed, minimal vibe.' Her famous family was in attendance at last year's event, which featured the theme Rei Kawakubo / Commes des Garcons. The 37-year-old social media siren admitted on her blog that she's been focused on her fitness and clean eating leading up to the most fashionable night of the year; wearing a white Vivienne Westwood ensemble in 2017 'As I was getting ready, I was texting Kendall and Kylie so we could all meet up,' she wrote to her fans. 'There were so many people thereit took forever to find them!' Forever indebted to fashion, the reality television starlet admitted one unique way she preserved her ensemble. 'When we were driving to the event, I didn't want to wrinkle my dress, so I laid down in the car, lol. Anything for fashion!' Stunner: Likely Kim's most dramatic look was completed in 2016 when she strolled the red carpet alongside her husband Kanye West in head-to-toe Balmain for the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology gala Sassy: She opted for a more subdued look the following year at the Charles James: Beyond Fashion-themed show, wearing a blue satin Lanvin number in 2014 Kim's first appearance at the famed event was in 2013 when she was nearly seven months pregnant with daughter North. The brunette beauty was draped in head-to-toe Givenchy, with a pink rose print gown designed by Riccardo Tisci. She opted for a more subdued look the following year at the Charles James: Beyond Fashion-themed show, wearing a blue satin Lanvin number. Likely Kim's most dramatic look was completed in 2016 when she strolled the red carpet alongside her husband Kanye West in head-to-toe Balmain for the Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology gala. It was recently confirmed that she is not pregnant. And Blac Chyna definitely proved it during her latest photoshoot. The 29-year-old mother-of-two - real name Angela Renee White - put on quite the eye-popping display atop of her white Ferrari in Calabasas on Thursday. Stunning: Blac Chyna put on quite the eye-popping display atop of her white Ferrari in Calabasas on Thursday She proudly flaunted her bountiful cleavage in a red velvet crop top featuring a large cutout at the center to show off her chest. Chyna matched the racy top with a pair of hip-hugging matching trousers which showed off her bodacious behind. She kept the same color scheme going with a pair of open-toed red velvet heels. Red-dy for her close-up: The 29-year-old mother-of-two - real name Angela Renee White - put on quite the eye-popping display Showy: She proudly flaunted her bountiful cleavage in a red velvet crop top featuring a large cutout at the center to show off her chest Racy: Her raven-colored tresses were put in two very long pigtails as she posed on the hood of her car Bodacious: She put her ample assets on display Her raven-colored tresses were put in two very long pigtails as she posed on the hood of her car. Chyna had complimentary make-up on his face including dark eye-shadow and shiny pink lip. She accessorized with plenty of bling including multiple bracelets and rings. Flaunting it: Chyna matched the racy top with a pair of hip-hugging matching trousers which showed off her bodacious behind Dip it low: She playfully posed while squatting down next to her red rims Chyna certainly put on a show as she posed for some seductive shots while sitting atop the hood and trunk of the car. She also squatted down for a few sultry snaps by the red rims of her luxury ride. The former girlfriend of Rob Kardashian made good use of her rear view mirror as she looked into it while applying more lip gloss before more sexy snaps. The sexy shoot comes after it was confirmed that she is not expecting with her 18-year-old boyfriend YBN Almighty Jay, according to TMZ. Keeping it hot: She kept the same color scheme going with a pair of open-toed red velvet heels Showing off: She also applied lip gloss on the back of the luxury car Sources told the site that the make-up mogul, who already has two children, is not preparing for a new arrival - but is thinking about expanding her brood soon. A friend of the couple told TMZ they are not expecting a baby together, despite swirling reports over the last few weeks. However, the insider did add that Chyna is 'in love' with the young rapper, and is not ruling out the idea of starting a family with him in the future. Curvaceous: Chyna certainly seems proud of her figure Touch up: The former girlfriend of Rob Kardashian made good use of her rear view mirror as she looked into it while applying more lip gloss before more sexy snaps Rumours of a pregnancy first surfaced on Friday, when Media Take Out News claimed she was showing off a 'two-and-a-half month baby bump' during an outing with YBN. The video vixen is already mother to two children - five-year-old son King Cairo, who she shares with rapper Tyga, and baby daughter Dream, welcomed with Rob Kardashian. Complicating matters in the family, her ex Tyga is also the ex of Kylie Jenner, Rob's half-sister. Just the two of us: Chyna is not expecting a baby with her toyboy boyfriend YBN Almighty Jay, 18 - it was confirmed to TMZ despite recent reports Meanwhile Chyna and the rapper were first romantically linked in February, and have been spotted on a number of date nights since. YBN was even seen asking her to marry him on Instagram last month, but she failed to respond and has since stopped wearing a ring on her fourth finger - suggesting the proposal to be playful. The Texas native recently established himself as an emerging talent with his single called Chopsticks, which racked up more than 10 million views on YouTube. Third time lucky? The video vixen is already mother to two children - baby daughter Dream, who she shares with Rob Kardashian They have been happier than ever since going public with their romance in February. And Charlotte Crosby and Joshua Ritchie were putting on an ever-cosy display on Thursday as they attended the Dental Excellence launch party in Liverpool. The 27-year-old reality TV star arrived hand-in-hand with her 23-year-old beau, flashing her incredible curves in tight black leather trousers and a tie crop top. United: Charlotte Crosby, 27, put on a loved-up display with boyfriend Joshua Ritchie on Thursday as they attended the Dental Excellence launch in Liverpool Charlotte flashed a hint of her toned abs in the revealing ensemble as she happily posed with her boyfriend of almost three months, rocking a cute cream bandeau top with a tie front. The ex-Geordie Shore star teamed the look with high-waisted leather leggings and matching black strapped heels, keeping her long brunette locks in loose natural waves. Charlotte and Joshua made for a picture perfect pair as they arrived for the event, with the Ex On The Beach star going for a casual khaki t-shirt and striped black jeans. Gorgeous: The 27-year-old ex-Geordie Shore star flashed a hint of her toned abs in a cream tie crop top and tight black leather trousers Loved-up: Charlotte beamed with delight as she posed alongside her boyfriend of almost three months, with 23-year-old Joshua going for a casual t-shirt and jeans combo Happy: The couple arrived for the launch hand-in-hand after recently returning from a lavish Maldives getaway Charlotte and Josh recently returned from a lavish Maldives getaway, with the brunette beauty gushing on social media how much she enjoyed the break away from her hectic celebrity lifestyle. 'After a long hard three months of what felt like working every hour of the day, I'm on my way to absolute paradise,' she penned on her Instagram stories ahead of her trip. The Charlotte and Josh love story goes back to when they locked lips at reality star pal Aaron Chalmers' MMA win in December last year. Reality star worlds collided when they made their romance official in February as they shared a cosy Instagram together with the date '9.2.2018.' (sic) Thrilled: The couple first went public with their relationship in February, after they were spotted kissing at the Aaron Chalmers MMA win in December last year Cosy: Charlotte has been happier than ever dating Josh following a nasty end to her relationship with Stephen Bear Joining Charlotte and Joshua at the dental launch event was Ex On The Beach star Charlotte Dawson, 25, who flashed her bra in a revealing ensemble upon arriving with boyfriend Matt Sarsfield, 26. The reality TV beauty left little to the imagination as she donned a racy lace bra under a white caped blazer, teamed with flared black trousers and platform heels. Cosying up Matt who went for a classic chinos and jumper combo, Charlotte looked happier than ever as she showed off her typically stunning looks, with her long chestnut locks styled into effortless curls. Glamorous: Ex On The Beach beauty Charlotte Dawson flashed her bra in a revealing white caped blazer and flared black trousers Dynamic duo: Charlotte, 25, arrived at the event with boyfriend Matt Sarsfield, 26, with her brown hair styled into effortless curls Pink lady: Actress Denise Welch, 59, made a bold statement teaming a fuchsia pink blouse with matching heels and checked trousers Advertisement She recently divulged that her famous mother Vanessa Paradis worked with Chanel since she was a teenager. And Lily-Rose Depp, 18, held her own as she attended the high fashion brand's photocall for their Cruise 2018/2019 fashion collection in Paris on Thursday alongside Kristen Stewart. The rising actress and model - who is a Chanel brand ambassador - showcased her slender frame and lean legs in a sparkling nude-coloured mini-dress as she posed up a storm. Glamorous: Lily-Rose Depp, 18, held her own as she attended Chanel's photocall for their Cruise 2018/2019 fashion collection in Paris on Thursday alongside Kristen Stewart Lily-Rose looked every inch the pro in front of the photographers as she worked her angles in the eye-catching thigh-skimming number. The star teamed the strapless number with a pair of silver strappy heels which showed off her red pedicure. Living up to her emerging beauty icon status, Lily opted for a glamorous slick of make-up, which focused on heavy blusher on her cheeks and smokey eye-shadow. Lily recently opened up to Vogue about her affiliation with the luxury band: 'My mom has worked with them since she was 18 and Ive gone to the store with her since I was little. Stylish: The Chanel show saw a whole host of other glamorous attendees, including Kristen, 28, who stayed true to her signature edgy style in a sexy blazer-style dress which fell at a short length Fashion darling: The rising actress and model looked every inch the pro in front of the photographers as she worked her angles in the eye-catching thigh-skimming number Stunning: Living up to her emerging beauty icon status, Lily opted for a glamorous slick of make-up, which focused on heavy blusher on her cheeks and smokey eye-shadow 'There are pictures of me literally in diapers wearing her Chanel pumps. I met Karl [Lagerfeld] when I was eight and I had horrible side bangs like a Donald Trump comb-over.' Her parents Johnny Depp and Vanessa first met while the Hollywood star was filming mystery thriller The Ninth Gate in France in 1998. The couple, who also share son Jack, 15, were going strong for 14 years together before they went their separate ways for good in 2012. The actress made her film debut with a cameo role in Tusk in 2014 alongside her friend Harley Quinn Smith, her father Johnny, and the film's director Kevin Smith. It is no surprise Lily-Rose used her bilingual skills for her latest movie role in French film Les Fauves. The film follows the story of a campsite where young people start to vanish without a trace. 'My mom has worked with them since she was 18': Lily recently opened up to Vogue about her affiliation with the luxury band Strikingly beautiful: The Twilight star added to the vampy feel with heavy red smokey eye shadow, which complemented her bronzed base Meanwhile, the Chanel show saw a whole host of other glamorous attendees, including Kristen who stayed true to her signature edgy style in a sexy blazer-style dress which fell at a short length. The number proved to be heavily sequinned with a slick satin collar and she sported gelled shoulder length locks to match the overall look. The Twilight star, 28, added to the vampy feel with heavy red smokey eye shadow, which complemented her bronzed base. Looking good: The number proved to be heavily sequinned with a slick satin collar and she sported gelled shoulder length locks to match the overall look Leggy: The screen star added to her statuesque frame with a pair of fashion-forward heels, embellished with chic lace details Gorgeous: Australian mega-star Margot Robbie looked perfect as per usual in a multi-coloured sequinned mini-dress and silver heels which showed off her toned legs Incredible: The actress lit up Le Grand Palais in her beautiful purple and blue garment, looking gorgeous in the flirty frock Colourful: The multi-coloured frock featured sparkling, sequin embellished panels and contrasting stripe detailing Wow: The I, Tonya star added a further stylish touch with a bow-tie black satin choker and wore her shoulder length blonde tresses in subtle waves Beauty: Margot ensured to turn heads as she rocked up to the style spectacle Australian mega-star Margot Robbie looked perfect as per usual in a multi-coloured sequinned mini-dress and silver heels which showed off her toned legs. The I, Tonya star added a further stylish touch with a bow-tie black satin choker and wore her shoulder length blonde tresses in subtle waves. Models Caroline De Maigret and Dolores Doll put their best style foot forward as they attended the glamorous fashion bash. Chic: Models Caroline De Maigret and Dolores Doll put their best style foot forward as they attended the glamorous fashion bash Supermodel sisters: Gigi Hadid put the Vogue Italia backlash behind her as she stormed the runway with sister Bella (R)at the Chanel Cruise 2018/2019 fashion collection in Paris on Thursday Sister sister: Both Gigi, 23, and Bella, 21, looked every inch the superstars as they made dazzling turns down the runway Sensation: Supermodel Gigi looked sensational in the luxury label's signature silver tweed coat, paired with a matching miniskirt which flashed her enviable legs as she strutted down the catwalk Dazzle: She was closely followed by her younger sister and fellow emerging 'super' Bella, 21, who dazzled in a glittering blue tweed co-ord set Style statement: The cropped jacket, which featured dazzling silver thread and patent leather panels, flashed the star's toned abs and slender waist with a pearl studded belt Flawless: Her striking features were enhanced with dramatic feline flicks of liner, finished with a swipe of coral lipstick Nautical chic; The models made their way down the runway alongside a gigantic cruise ship replica Here he is: Chanel icon Karl Lagerfeld was seen joining his retinue of models at the top of the ship's stairs Strut: The Chanel models all struck moody poses as they owned the catwalk Spectacular: The replica of the cruise ship was docked in the spectacular Grand Palais Sea view: The models wowed in pastels and tweed for the prestigious fashion show They will mark their one-year anniversary this month. And on Thursday, The Bachelor's Matty 'J' Johnson revealed he will taking his relationship with lady love Laura Byrne to the next level in June. At the Paddington store launch of Laura's jewellery label ToniMay, Matty J gleamed with joy when he told Daily Mail Australia: 'Shes moving into my house!' EXCLUSIVE: 'Its all looking really exciting!' Bachelor Matty 'J' Johnson reveals girlfriend Laura Byrne is moving into his Bondi abode Laura and Matty J fell in love on his season of The Bachelor in 2017, after he was given a second chance of finding love after his heartbreaking runner-up status on Bacheloette Georgia Love's season. The Sydney-based marketing manager previously hinted the couple would consider living together when their separate leases were due to end next month. He revealed they'd come to a decision, cheekily adding: 'I kind of got my way.' 'I kind of got my way': Matty J revealed the couple had decided to live together in his Bondi abode, after weighing up whether they should move into Laura's Rushcutters Bay apartment Paw-fect new housemate! Coming with Laura will be her adorable three-legged rescue dog Buster, with Matty J hopeful to help the pup combat his fear of the ocean 'Its a nice little bit to look forward to, we were always umming and ahhing if I would move to Rushcutters Bay or she would move to Bondi and the way its worked out, we decided Bondi,' Matty J said. Coming with Laura will be her adorable three-legged rescue dog Buster, with Matty J hopeful to help the pup combat his fear of the ocean. 'Weve taken him to North Bondi a few times, hes afraid of the water and hes not a great swimmer with only having the three legs, but I will definitely bring him down to Ben Buckler?' he said. 'We haven't got down to the nitty-gritty yet': The hunky reality TV star joked he may need to move his wardrobe to the garage to cater for Laura's belongings, as his the closet space is already filled Speaking of the couple's move ahead, he said: 'At the moment its all looking really exciting, but we havent got down to the nitty-gritty yet.' 'Its always tricky when you move in together and youve kind of got double the furniture. Were like "will I lose my couch in favour of her couch?" Thats what we havent figured out yet,' Matty J said. The hunky reality TV star joked he may need to move his wardrobe to the garage to cater for Laura's belongings, as his the closet space is already filled. Matty J and Laura are due to head to Bali for a holiday later this month ahead of their moving date. The overseas holiday coincides with their one-year anniversary, which Matty J claims was completely coincidental. They're still reeling in the success of their latest film. But Emily Blunt, 35, and John Krasinski, 38, are likely relieved to unload their Brooklyn townhouse for $6.56million after placing the mansion on the market in September for a cool $8million, according to the New York Post. The A Quiet Place co-stars bought the gorgeous Park Slope home in 2015 for around $6million before Emily and John put in an estimated $500,000 in renovations. Scroll down for video Gorgeous: Emily Blunt, 35, and John Krasinski, 38, are likely relieved to unload their Brooklyn townhouse for $6.56million after placing the mansion on the market in September for a cool $8million, according to the New York Post In the short time they've owned the home the duo did some renovations but kept most of the architectural details including crown moldings, stained glass windows and millwork. Built in the French Renaissance Revival style, the four-story property has a detailed limestone facade across 5,200-square-foot. 'The house is from the early 1900s, and Im a history nerd so it was really exciting to me,' Krasinski, 37, said. Each of the rooms in the seven bedroom home features a neutral decor with grey or white walls and there are several fireplaces throughout the home. Sold: The A Quiet Place co-stars bought the gorgeous Park Slope home in 2015 for around $6million before Emily and John put in an estimated $500,000 in renovations; seen in April Beauty: In the short time they've owned the home the duo did some renovations but kept most of the architectural details including crown moldings, stained glass windows and millwork Those who like plenty of light when they are cooking up some delicacies might be particularly taken with the kitchen, which has a skylight that runs the length of the room, and there are floor-to-ceiling windows. The home also has a small paved yard trimmed with a cedar fence. 'Weve been nomads for a while now, but thats the nature of the business,' Krasinski told the Wall Street Journal. 'The house is so specialsomeone who can spend every night there should have it.' The Office star said that the family travels too much to enjoy the property. Nice: Built in the French Renaissance Revival style, the four-story property has a detailed limestone facade across 5,200-square-foot Warm and inviting: The new kitchen is flooded with light and also features heated flooring At the moment the couple's two daughters Hazel and Violet, ages three and one, are still young enough to travel with them, Krasinski said. Karen Talbott and Kyle Talbott of the Corcoran Group have the listing. Images of the home taken when it was sold to the Hollywood stars in 2015 show an interior with dark wood paneling that the actors have done a wonderful job of updating. Pictures of the bedrooms and bathroom show walls painted with a buttercream hue ripe for an overhaul. Gold touches: The master bathroom features a stained glass skylight and Waterworks fixtures Cozy: The four-story property boasts several fireplaces and heated floors The multi-national couple - Blunt's English and Krasinski is American - have been on a selling spree over the past year, also selling their Hollywood Hills home for $3.5 million in October 2016. They sold their contemporary triple-story home above the Sunset Strip - bought in 2009 for $1.9 million - to reality star Kendall Jenner $6.5 million in June 2016. The couple have been working on a project together, titled A Quiet Place, directed by Krasinski. The supernatural thriller will star both actors and filming will be taking place in upstate New York. Blunt is slated to appear alongside Meryl Streep in next years Mary Poppins Returns, which filmed in London earlier this year. Her relationship with Gorka Marquez is going from strength-to-strength. And Gemma Atkinson looked like the cat who'd got the cream when she stepped out in Manchester on Thursday, rocking a casual ensemble as she headed out for lunch. The Strictly Come Dancing star was joined by her co-hosts for the newly launched Hits Radio team, Gethin Jones and Dave Vitty. Stepping out: Gemma Atkinson stepped out in Manchester on Thursday, rocking a casual ensemble as she headed out for lunch Gemma was rocking a casual and comfortable look, donning a grey, V-necked T-shirt and a pair of sporty, stripe-embellished jeans. The blonde beauty embraced a casual vibe, topping off her look with a pair of Converse trainers and some oversized shades. The trio are the breakfast team for the nations brand new Hits Radio station which launches in Manchester next month. Low-key look: Gemma was rocking a casual and comfortable look, donning a grey, V-necked T-shirt and a pair of sporty, stripe-embellished jeans The Strictly Come Dancing star was joined by her co-hosts for the newly launched Hits Radio team, Dave Vitty (left) and Gethin Jones (right) Terrific trio: The presenters are the new hosts of brand new Hits Radio in Manchester Launching 4th June, Hits Radio is the only national commercial radio station to be broadcast out of Manchester and is being launched by Bauer Media, the group behind Magic, KISS and Absolute Radio . Gorka recently opened up about his relationship with Gemma, revealing he is in love with the talented actress and hopes for marriage and kids in the future. Speaking to New! Magazine, the Spanish professional dancer, 27, spoke candidly about his blossoming romance with blonde beauty Gemma, 33, with the couple currently on a sunshine cruise together. Strictly Romance: Gorka Marquez recently opened up about his romance with Gemma, revealing he is in love with the talented actress and hopes for marriage and kids in the future He said: 'I would love to have my own family. I love kids. Hopefully one day I'll become a husband and a dad.' Gushing about his partner, the twinkle-toed hunk said he had never expected to fall for Gemma as he had been focused on being the best dance partner to Alexandra Burke during the competition. He said: 'I never went into the show thinking I was going to find my partner. It happened after. You can't help who you fall in love with.' Gorka said one of the things he loves most about Gemma was her love for fitness, which he shares, saying: 'It's not something I look for but obviously it's more fun as I can train with Gemma.' The star also revealed he and Gemma had gone double-dating with fellow Strictly pro Giovanni Pernice, 27, and his new girlfriend, former TOWIE star Jess Wright, 32. She's blossomed into a fully-fledged style icon in recent years. And Margot Robbie was naturally in attendance at Chanel's Cruise Collection 2018/19 show in Paris on Thursday night, showing off her flair for fashion in a striking minidress. The Australian actress, 27, lit up Le Grand Palais in her beautiful purple and blue garment, looking gorgeous in the flirty frock. Stunning: Margot Robbie was naturally in attendance at Chanel's Cruise Collection 2018/19 show in Paris on Thursday night, showing off her flair for fashion in a striking minidress The multi-coloured frock featured sparkling, sequin embellished panels and contrasting stripe detailing. Margot put her tanned legs on display in a pair of silver strappy heels. The pretty little number was embellished with a black velvet bow necklace, which perfectly set off the star's choppy blonde bob. Recently, Margot has weighed in on the #MeToo movement in Hollywood during a candid discussion on Australian broadcaster 7.30. Gorgeous: The pretty little number was embellished with a black velvet bow necklace, which perfectly set off the star's choppy blonde bob Lovely look: The multi-coloured frock featured sparkling, sequin embellished panels and contrasting stripe detailing What a beauty: Margot flashed a coy smile as she posed up a storm at the show The I, Tonya star insisted men and women need to 'stand together' in order to achieve equality in the great and the good of the movie industry. #MeToo has gone global as victims of sexual assault and harassment used the hashtag to share their harrowing experiences online, which then was shortly followed by the #TimesUp campaign. The Oscar nominated actress explained she didn't want to divide women and men fighting for the cause. She said: 'There are a lot of men who fight for this cause as much as the women who fight for this cause. So I definitely dont ever want to make an us versus them thing. All aboard! The A-list actress struck a pose in front of the nautical Chanel backdrop Dazzling: Margot's look was completed with a pair of sparkling silver earrings 'I think we will be so much stronger if we stand together. I mean, our company were half men half women. I would say were 100% feminist. Guys can be feminists too. I guess my message in all of this is that we need to stand together.' Margot secured her footing on the acting ladder when she got her first role in Neighbours from 2008 to 2011. The soap star became known as the schoolgirl Donna Freedman at the tender age of 17 after moving to Melbourne from the Gold Coast. Although she secured a supporting role in About Time in 2013, it wasn't until later that year Margot got her breakthrough part in the Wolf of Wall Street. Legs for days: The beauty ensured her long, tanned legs took centre stage in her ensemble She is a proud and doting mom to daughter Everly. And Jenna Dewan enjoyed a mother-daughter lunch outing with her four-year-old at Chipotle in Los Angeles on Thursday. The 37-year-old beauty looked every inch the movie star as she rocked a white body suit and ripped denim. Doting mom! Jenna Dewan lavished her little one with cuddles as the mother-daughter duo enjoyed lunch at Chipotle in Los Angeles on Thursday Daring to impress, the World Of Dance host put her delicate decolletage on full display as the white bodysuit held a low cut neckline. She swathed her petite shoulders in a classic tailored white jacket while her gorgeous gams were slipped in to the fashion forward pants. Her casual cool style was complimented with a pair of floral print high heels, a chic handbag, and retro shades. The star returned to social media recently for the first time since her shock split from Channing Tatum earlier in April. That's her girl! Everly wore a pink dress and sneakers for lunch with her mom Solo stunner: Dewan, 37, was spotted out in Beverly Hills on Thursday Jenna and her Hollywood movie star husband had used social media to announce in a joint statement on April 2 that they had decided to end their marriage after nine years. In her first Instagram post since the break-up announcement, Jenna had shared a photo of herself posing on a beach and included a message for her fans. 'Thank you guys for all your love. Love you right back,' she wrote. In their April 2 announcement, Dewan and Tatum stressed that there was no hidden scandal behind their decision to call it quits. Dance dive: Daring to impress, the World Of Dance host put her delicate decolletage on full display as the white bodysuit held a low cut neckline 'Love you right back' The star returned to social media recently for the first time since her shock split from Channing Tatum earlier in April 'There are no secrets nor salacious events at the root of our decision - just two best-friends realizing its time to take some space and help each other live the most joyous, fulfilled lives as possible,' they said in a joint statement. 'We have lovingly chosen to separate as a couple,' their joint statement said. Channing and Jenna became a couple after starring together in the 2006 dance film Step Up, then ultimately married in 2009. The pair will continue to co-parent their four-year-old daughter Everly. Half of all Australian voters support a 90-day limit on holding asylum seekers in offshore detention on Manus Island and Nauru. Just 30 per cent of people were against the idea when surveyed for the Sky News ReachTel poll, while one-in-five voters were undecided. Labor is preparing to debate the proposal at its national conference in July. "We should be advocating for detention for processing purposes to be limited," opposition frontbencher Penny Wong told Sky News on Thursday. "We don't have a specific limit in our policy currently, and these will be matters that the national conference discuss." Senator Wong, a key figure in the party's Left faction, said offshore processing was never intended to serve as a vehicle for indefinite detention. Liberal frontbencher Zed Seselja said the coalition had crafted a suite of policies that made it "very, very clear" that those who arrived in Australia unlawfully would not be accepted into the country. "What we don't want is the Labor policies which effectively become a back door (where) if you wait for 90 days you will end up in Australia and you will end up being resettled here," Senator Seselja said. "Then we would see the people-smuggling trade restart." Support and disapproval levels for the 90-day limit were the same across coalition and Labor voters. Two Sydney men have been charged over the alleged killing of their elderly mother, who died while in palliative care last year. The pair were arrested on Wednesday morning following an eight-month police investigation into the 73-year-old's death at Blacktown Hospital in September 2017. Investigators were contacted by staff who believed the woman was admitted after she was allegedly denied ongoing care and medical assistance by her carers. Her 39- and 42-year-old sons have been charged with manslaughter. They were refused bail to appear at Fairfield Local Court on Thursday. French President Emmanuel Macron has ended his whirlwind trip to Sydney with a tour of an indigenous art exhibition, capped off by a dance performance. With a thumbs-up and a farewell wave to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, with whom he has been near inseparable since arriving on Tuesday night, the event signalled the end of Mr Macron's first official visit Down Under. The two leaders viewed colourful displays in Carriageworks on Thursday before posing for cameras in front of acrylic linen paintings by Northern Territory artist George Tjungurrayi. They were then treated to a seven-minute performance by Broome-based group Marrugeku whose song and dance touched on one of Mr Macron's favourite causes, the fight against climate change. Mr Macron is due to fly out to New Caledonia, where locals are preparing for a referendum in November about whether to split from France. The Queensland government has been accused of ignoring calls from one of its own MPs for action against the Labor-affiliated Ipswich City Council. Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller, whose electorate takes in large parts of Ipswich, had since 2004 pushed governments on both sides of politics to investigate the scandal-plagued council. The maverick Labor MP says she assisted ratepayers going to the corruption watchdog and also highlighting local concerns to the state government. On Thursday, Andrew Antoniolli stepped down as Ipswich mayor, a day after the Crime and Corruption Commission charged him with fraud. He is the 12th person engulfed by the council's corruption crisis, a scandal Ms Miller saw coming. The backbencher says her repeated warnings about Ipswich have been brushed aside: "I've been ignored for a very long period of time." Ms Miller watched from the sidelines as Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe briefed the press on actions he was considering against the council hours after Mr Antoniolli's arrest. She then took aim at her own party. "(Councillors) stand as independents but they also have on their placards that they are members at the Labor party," she told reporters. "I think the Labor Party has a lot to answer for in relation to previous councils and this council." The state opposition questioned why Ms Miller was ignored by her own party. "The premier said in response to concerns about Ipswich last year that 'That's just Jo-Ann being Jo-Ann' ... and as it turns out, that warning appears accurate," LNP leader Deb Frecklington told state parliament. "Will the premier accept responsibility for the situation in Ipswich?" Ms Palaszczuk did not directly address Ms Miller in her response, but said she stood by the CCC. The NSW government needs to monitor more closely how private and independent schools are spending taxpayers' money, a new report has found. Non-government schools will receive more than $1.2 billion from the state in 2017/18 on top of $3.4 billion from the commonwealth. While the NSW auditor-general found the state's education department "effectively and efficiently" allocated the money, Margaret Crawford said it could improve its management of distributed funds. "Clarifying funding conditions and strengthening processes to provide greater assurance that information reported by schools is accurate will increase confidence that funds are being used as intended," she said in a statement on Thursday. The report found the education department does not directly verify the information it receives from schools to determine the level of funding per student. It also does not monitor schools' progress towards meeting objectives in a way that gives it clear oversight of the use of funds. "Strengthening oversight of the use of funds ... would increase accountability for public funding," the report states. The auditor-general has made four recommendations including that schools be required to allow the department to investigate and verify enrolment numbers and the spending of money. About 418,000 children attend non-government schools in NSW representing about 35 per cent of all students in the state. A teenager has been charged with sexually assaulting four children - all known to him - over several years in the NSW Illawarra region. The 18-year-old sexually and indecently assaulted the children, aged between four and 12 years, between 2011 and 2018, NSW Police said on Thursday. He was arrested at Wagga Wagga police station on Wednesday after an investigation by the sex crimes squad. He was charged with multiple child sex crimes and refused bail. He is expected before a children's court on Thursday. The NSW government is facing a potential cost blowout on construction of Sydney's new M5, with the opposition claiming a contractor is demanding an extra half a billion dollars to finish the project. Internal government documents, obtained by NSW Labor, show a contractor for stage two of the controversial WestConnex project is asking for $600 million due to "unforeseen planning approval requirements". Opposition leader Luke Foley told reporters Premier Gladys Berejiklian must take ownership of the current infrastructure "mess" the government finds itself in. The leaked documents come as the government battles Spanish subcontractor Acciona in court over a $1.2 billion claim from the delayed CBD light rail project. Businesses convicted of foreign bribery will be blacklisted from Australian government projects if Labor wins the next federal election. Small bribes paid in overseas countries will also no longer be tax deductible as Labor pushes to ban "facilitation payments". Opposition justice spokeswoman Clare O'Neil says Labor will change "contradictory, unworkable and ineffective" foreign bribery laws to crack down on the practice. "Good firms deserve a level playing field, where companies which break the law are properly penalised," she told a Transparency International event in Melbourne on Thursday. If it wins the next election, Labor will allow authorities to block individuals and organisations convicted of foreign bribery or breaching a Deferred Prosecution Agreement from getting government work. The coalition is introducing a DPA scheme - which allows corporations to pay a fine and meet some conditions and put their case on indefinite hold - but Labor says it is weak and doesn't protect victims or scrutinise companies enough. Labor will also ban facilitation payments, which are small sums paid to foreign public officials to speed up minor routine government actions. "They are literally small bribes. Not only are they perfectly legal under Australian law, but today, they are tax deductible," Ms O'Neil said. "There is simply no good policy justification for allowing facilitation payments to continue." Labor will also establish a national anti-bribery framework for Australia, adding private sector bribery to the Criminal Code. "Placing our bribery laws in one place will ensure we have a national framework to crack down on these crimes," Ms O'Neil said. But Ms O'Neil did endorse the government's proposed introduction of a new "failure to prevent foreign bribery" offence, which makes companies liable for employees who bribe unless they can show they have prevention programs. Businessman David Gonski will outline his vision for the future of Australia's education system in a meeting with federal, state and territory ministers. The COAG Education Council is holding a special meeting in Adelaide on Friday following the release of Mr Gonski's much anticipated second report on Monday. In findings highlighting a decade of declining education outcomes, Mr Gonski said Australia's aspiration for excellence was in jeopardy. Almost two dozen recommendations, designed as a reform package, have received in principle support from the federal government Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham hopes to get the same from the states on Friday. "I hope that they will endorse clearly the recommendations from the panel that say we should put real emphasis around professional development in the teaching profession," he said . Other recommendations include a five-year revamp of the schools curriculum to introduce an individual student achievement focus and a review within 12 months of Year 11 and 12 structures, objectives and assessments. Queensland Speaker Curtis Pitt has been drawn into the state Labor government's private email scandal that engulfed former energy minister Mark Bailey and threatened his cabinet position. The Australian newspaper reports that documents released under a Right To Information request show Mr Pitt was also contacted on his private email account when treasurer by Electrical Trades Union boss Peter Simpson. Mr Simpson emailed Mr Pitt and Mr Bailey over an industrial dispute in February 2016, in which Mr Bailey intervened. Mr Bailey later deleted his email account - mango-cube6@yahoo.co.uk - following an RTI request by the newspaper last year which triggered an investigation by the state's Crime and Corruption Commission. It was found Mark Algie was appointed to the Energy Queensland board after his CV was forwarded to Mr Bailey by Mr Simpson in September 2016. The Australian reports Mr Pitt, who became speaker in the new parliament this year, excused himself from an ethics committee ruling about the matter in March. Deputy Speaker Scott Stewart said Mr Pitt had delegated the decision to him "out of an abundance of caution" while stressing he was not involved in the scandal. Mr Bailey had been cleared by CCC of corrupt practices but was criticised for his actions, which also saw the Palaszczuk government draft new ministerial guidelines. The guidelines came into force in March prohibiting ministers from using private emails as well as private messaging services such as WhatsApp or Snapchat. A man has been arrested and is under police guard in hospital after another man's body was found in a unit in Sydney's west. Police were called to a Villawood unit about 5.30pm on Thursday after reports of an assault when they found the 41-year-old man's body inside. Another man, aged 31, was arrested in a nearby street and was taken to hospital where he remains sedated under police guard, NSW Police said in a statement. It's believed the two men are known to each other, but not related. Today's Birthday, May 4: Former Australian politician Malcolm Roberts (1955 - ). Former One Nations senator Malcolm Roberts may have been booted out of parliament as part of the dual-citizenship fiasco, but he won't have to repay his salary and expenses to taxpayers. A government review in March found Roberts, and five other MPs, had acted "in good faith" and recommended their debts be waived. In 1955, Malcolm was the first of three children born to Welsh coalminer Ieuan Roberts and rural Queensland woman Ethel Jago after returning to Dishergarh, India. After spending the first seven years of his life in India, the Roberts family packed up and moved to Australia in 1962 when his father was recruited to manage a mine in NSW's Hunter Valley. His parents moved from job to job while all three children attended boarding school before eventually settling in the western suburbs of Brisbane. Roberts completed a University of Queensland mining engineer's degree and in 1977 he followed in his father's footsteps to work as an underground coal face miner. He spent 16 years in the industry and ascended to Gordonstone mine general manager in 1990 before resigning in 1993, reportedly due to cost blowouts. He rebounded to start a management consultancy firm in 1994 with his US-born wife Christine, whom he met while studying an MBA at the University of Chicago. After watching Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth in 2006, Roberts turned political activist and wrote detailed emails and letters to MPs and the media arguing climate change was a hoax. Labelled a conspiracy theorist for speaking out against the CSIRO, NASA and United Nations, Roberts aligned himself with One Nation and won a Queensland Senate seat in 2016 - although he only attracted 77 first-preference votes. His controversial 16-month Senate stint ended in October 2017 as the High Court ruled he was a British dual citizen at the time of his nomination. Roberts unsuccessfully ran for a seat at last November's Queensland election, and will again make a tilt to rejoin federal ranks as the party's leading Queensland Senate ticket candidate at the next election. Two Sydney women have been arrested by the AFP over an alleged $5.7 million daycare rort after claiming the enrolment of more than 1600 kids during a one-month period last year. Raids were carried out overnight at five properties in Kellyville and Lakemba, in the city's west, with the women aged 28 and 31 accused of money laundering. The 31-year-old has been charged with dealing with more than $1 million in proceeds of crime, while the 28-year-old is accused of handling more than $100,000 of the same. The pair from Kellyville is due to face Central Local Court on Friday. "We will allege in court that this group methodically went about enrolling more than 1600 children for the maximum amount of family day care available, and then claiming full benefits for each of these children," said Acting Commander Kate Ferry, AFP Manager Criminal Assets, Fraud and Anti-Corruption. The women face 20 and 25 years in prison if found guilty. Unions and big business have teamed up to oppose any cut to Australia's permanent migration, arguing the program's numbers must be maintained. In a rare alliance, the Australian Council of Trade Unions and the Australian Industry Group have co-signed a national compact on permanent migration. The compact, outlined in a full-page newspaper advertisement, says permanent migration has been central to Australia's development and will be critical to the nation's future. "We support the current planning levels for the permanent migration program and encourage future programs to maintain a level proportional to the population," the statement reads. Migrant groups, the Australian Council of Social Services and the United Voice union have also signed the compact. Permanent migration numbers have been the subject of heated debate within the federal government. Former prime minister Tony Abbott has been leading the charge, arguing reducing migration levels would help drive down housing prices. But his comments have been shot down by senior frontbenchers who insist the government has no plans to reduce the current permanent migration limit of 190,000. A 2014 photo of a cell at Guantanamo Bay A Guantanamo Bay inmate who pleaded guilty to helping plan a 2002 attack on a French oil tanker has been transferred to Saudi Arabia, the Pentagon said Wednesday. The move marks the first time under President Donald Trump that a detainee has left the military prison. "The Department of Defense announced today the transfer of Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al-Darbi from the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the Pentagon said in a statement. Darbi entered a plea deal in February 2014 that saw him admit to planning, aiding and supporting an attack on the MV Limburg, which killed a Bulgarian sailor, injured a dozen and caused a large oil spill in the Gulf of Aden. As part of his plea, Darbi provided evidence against another Saudi Guantanamo detainee -- Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, who faces the death penalty on charges he masterminded the MV Limburg attack and the 2000 attack against the USS Cole in Yemen that left 17 dead. Darbi was sentenced to 13 years in prison, starting from the date of the plea. But the deal included a provision that after four more years at Guantanamo, he could serve the remainder of his term at a luxurious rehab center in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where former extremists are given counseling and ideological detoxification. The remaining population at Guantanamo is now 40, but Trump has vowed to send more detainees to the prison, which is located on a US naval base on the southeastern tip of Cuba. International aid agencies provide health care and other basic services in Somalia Armed men abducted a German nurse working for the International Committee of the Red Cross on Wednesday evening from a compound in Somalia's capital Mogadishu, the aid group said Thursday. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague," said Daniel O'Malley, ICRC's deputy Somalia head. "She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people." The Red Cross said the attack happened around 8.00 pm local time (1700 GMT) when unidentified armed men entered its compound in Mogadishu, adding it is "in contact with various authorities to try and secure her release". People working for the Red Cross in Somalia told AFP the gunmen appeared to have evaded the compound's security guards and snuck the nurse out through a back entrance and into a waiting vehicle. A government security officer said investigations were underway. "We have received information indicating a female western staff member was kidnapped from the ICRC office in Mogadishu," said Abdirahman Mohamed. Somalia, which collapsed into civil war in 1991 and has been the site of an al-Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency since 2006, is one of the most dangerous countries for aid workers, but abductions remain relatively unusual. In the past, foreigners, including journalists and aid workers, have been kidnapped by armed gangs or Shabaab militants and held for ransom, sometimes for years at a time. Terrorist bombings and assassinations are commonplace and frequently claimed by the Shabaab which is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu. International aid agencies, including the independent Switzerland-based ICRC, provide health care and other basic services in the war-torn country and are regarded as supporters of the government by the Shabaab and as a ready source of income by other militants and armed gangs. On Tuesday a local employee of the World Health Organization (WHO) was shot in Mogadishu. The WHO said in a statement Wednesday it was "shocked and saddened" by the killing of Mariam Abdullahi Mohamed, "a dedicated frontline worker". Between 2008-12 piracy off the coast of Somalia became a big business with crew-members and their ships held for million-dollar ransoms, but in recent years attacks have become rare. Gradually improving stability in Somalia allowed the holding of limited elections in 2016, but insecurity remains widespread. In October, Somalia suffered its deadliest-ever bombing, with over 500 people killed in an attack blamed on the Shabaab. Kim Dong-Chul, a Korean-American pastor detained in North Korea in 2015, was sentenced in 2016 to 10 yeas hard labour for 'attempting to steal military secrets' US President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday that there would be imminent news about three Americans detained in North Korea, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of their possible release. The development comes as Trump is preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, following months of tense saber-rattling over the North's nuclear and missile programs. "The past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump wrote on Twitter. Two of the three hostages were detained in 2017, after Trump had assumed office. The United States has been demanding the North free Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul and reports have said the two sides were close to reaching a deal on their release. "They are staying in a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang," Choi Sung-ryong, a South Korean activist with contacts in the North told AFP earlier, adding the three were being kept separately but "going on tours, receiving medical treatment and eating good food." "The past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter Diplomatic sources in Pyongyang have said there were rumors that the three had been relocated, but there had been no confirmation of their exact whereabouts. A State Department official could not confirm the reports, but added: "We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible." The matter was discussed when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Pyongyang last month, according to the Wall Street Journal. And speaking to Fox News on Sunday, National Security Advisor Michael Bolton said releasing the hostages would be "an opportunity" for the the North to "demonstrate their authenticity." Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born American pastor, has been detained in the North since 2015 when he was arrested for spying. He was sentenced to 10 years' hard labor in 2016. Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang-duk -- or Tony Kim -- were both working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, founded by evangelical Christians from overseas, when they were detained last year on suspicion of "hostile acts." CNN had said the prisoners' release was also discussed at three-day talks in Stockholm between the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom in March. Sweden represents Washington's interests in the North. - Detente - Tensions between North Korea and its neigbors as well as the US spiked last year over the Pyongyang's testing of atomic weapons and long-range missiles, including some capable of reaching the US mainland. But a spectacular detente in recent months, with a summit approaching between Trump and Kim, and the prospect of denuclearization, have fed hopes of a historic turning point in the region. Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950s but South Koream President Moon Jae-In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed at a landmark summit last week to work towards a permanent treaty to replace a 65-year-old armistice agreement. As remarkable as the imagery and symbolism have been recently, many analysts point out that it is early to speculate on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with a regime that has been led with an iron fist by the Kim dynasty for nearly 70 years. Central Americans in a migrant caravan camp out at US-Mexico border, awaiting their chance to seek asylum in America Yolany Reyes is adamant about one thing: no one is going to separate her from her three-year-old son. "It would be like taking away part of me," said the 26-year-old Honduran. Reyes and her child have traveled across Mexico by train, bus and on foot with a migrant caravan, and now she's at the US border hoping to gain asylum. Along with 150 other Central Americans, they have been camped out since Sunday in a little plaza in Tijuana that abuts a border crossing into southern California. Across the frontier beckons the US city of San Diego. But to get there, they must navigate a nerve-wracking asylum process that can separate mother from child. It will begin with their arrest when Reyes presents herself to an immigration officer without a visa. She will then undergo a screening to determine whether she has a "credible fear" of political persecution or violence, says Stephen Yale-Loehr, a professor of immigration law at Cornell University. "They then proceed to a full asylum hearing on the merits before an immigration judge," he says. "An asylum applicant doesn't have to be detained at that point in the process, but often is, because the government wants to make sure they show up for their hearing." And in that process, children can be taken away from their parents. According to The New York Times, about 700 children have been separated from their parents at US border stations since October 2017, 100 of them under the age of four. The government also detains many asylum seekers to try to deter other potential asylum applicants from coming to the United States, says Yale-Loehr. Critics say separating families is a cruel policy pursued by a hostile administration to deter the arrival of undocumented people. Tyler Houston, a spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), denies that charge: "There is no policy of separating families on the border for deterrent purposes." "DHS has an obligation to protect the best interests of children crossing our borders and occasionally this results in separating them from the adult they are traveling with if a parental relationship cannot be confirmed or if we think the child is in danger," he said. - 'Horrific' practice - Migrant caravan demonstrators climb the US-Mexico border fence during a rally, on April 29, 2018, in San Ysidro, California Reyes doesn't know what to do: She says she can't be separated from her child and she can't go back home to Colon, Honduras, where she says her father, a farmer, was killed for political reasons. "We have suffered many tragedies," said the young woman, who says she will only be safe in the United States, where her husband arrived a month ago. "I am in danger." The number of detentions at the border have soared -- 90,033 between January and March 2018 compared to 62,525 in the same period of 2017, according to government figures. US President Donald Trump, who campaigned in the 2016 US elections on a harsh anti-immigration platform, has pointed at the Reyes' caravan as justification for building a big border wall. Tom Homan, acting ICE director, told Fox News Tuesday the caravan is "an attack on the sovereignty of the nation." "They take advantage of the loopholes in the system," he said, adding: "Some have good cases (for asylum), but many do not." James Jones, an immigration attorney in Chula Vista, California, crossed the border to offer members of the caravan free consultations about the asylum process and its risks. "Many are more afraid of going back home," he explained. "While there is a possibility of being separated from their children, there is a greater chance that they will die there," he said, referring to their home countries. That's how it is for Johana Magaly. She has five children aged three to 14. She is prepared to be separated from them temporarily if it means they can enter the United States, and not go back to Guatemala, where she says, without going into details, that a man threatened to kill her. "As long as we're better off than in my country and I can have them with me later," she said. It's a Solomonic choice that has caused a lot of heartache. The American Civil Liberties Union has sued over the case of a Congolese mother who was fleeing violence and was kept in detention thousands of miles from her daughter, aged seven. In the end, the woman was released. But "there remain many other families who have been separated, and we will continue to attack this horrific family separation practice," said Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the ACLUs Immigrants Rights Project. Joseph James DeAngelo, the suspected "Golden State Killer", appears in court The arrest of a suspected serial killer and notorious rapist in California using DNA and a public genealogy website has been hailed as a triumph of ingenuity by law enforcement. But the method used to hunt down the "Golden State Killer" has also raised privacy issues and some ethical concerns. "What if you become uninsurable because of a genetic test?" said Joseph Turow, a professor at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. And, he asked, what about your relatives? Could they also be denied health insurance because of a genetic predisposition to some malady? "DNA is part of a larger issue of 'How do we profile people in the 21st century?'" Turow said. "Face and voice and genes -- they are all part of this idea about parts of the human body as identifiers." Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, a former policeman, was arrested outside his California home last week after investigators tracked him down by plugging crime scene DNA into an open-source genealogy database. FBI investigators and sheriff's deputies are seen at DeAngelo's Citrus Heights, California, home They found a DNA match with distant ancestors, traced the family tree to DeAngelo and arrested him after collecting his DNA from a "discarded item." It was the culmination of a 40-year manhunt for the man blamed for 12 murders and more than 50 rapes between 1976 and 1986 in central, northern and southern California. The FBI maintains a database containing the DNA of millions of convicted criminals, but DeAngelo did not have a felony conviction and his DNA was not on file -- forcing the police to turn to public genealogy sites to find a match. - Finding a balance - The collection of intimate personal data is by no means restricted to genealogy services such as Ancestry.com, 23andMe or GEDmatch, the one used to track down DeAngelo. Judge Michael W. Sweet addresses accused 'Golden State Killer" DeAngelo in court Amazon, Facebook, Google and other companies also collect vast amounts of private information about their millions of users. Michael Copps, who served as a commissioner on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from 2001-2011, said a "privacy framework that gives consumers control over their own data" is needed. "For years, companies have failed to adequately protect our personal data, and our weak privacy laws have paved the way for this to happen," Copps said in an article in USA Today. "It's high time to put consumer privacy ahead of corporate greed," Copps said. "Companies across the board must be required to get express consent from their users prior to sharing their data." Many companies require a court order before handing over information about their users to the authorities. GEDmatch, following the arrest of DeAngelo, said it had not been aware that investigators were using the site to try to track him down. It also noted that its policy statement says it is "unable to guarantee that users will not find other uses" for the DNA uploaded to the site. Ken Birman, a professor in the computer science department at Cornell University, said the answer is finding a balance between privacy and the needs of law enforcement. "On the one hand, we absolutely must defend against criminals and terrorists," Birman said. "And this means that law enforcement should have legal ways to take full advantage of the technical tools that exist, including DNA databases of all kinds. "But at the same time, we also need to protect ourselves against abuse by individuals or companies that might seek to misuse personal data in ways that could harm us as individuals, or even through things that can be learned about our relatives," he said. - 'Probable cause' - Like Turow, Birman said consequences could include "unfair health insurance pricing, discrimination in the workplace, or other kinds of intrusive behaviors." "At the end of the day, what I think we can all see is that there needs to be a balance between the right to privacy," he said, "versus the societal need to protect the social fabric." Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones announces the arrest of DeAngelo, who investigators traced using a public genealogy website "Where threats to safety arise, that has to include a way to give law enforcement the tools to track down violent killers and rapists like the Golden State Killer," he added. Birman said the way surveillance of telephone calls is handled by law enforcement could provide a model. "We solved this by appointing judges to keep an eye on the police," he said. "Those judges don't allow law enforcement to violate privacy without a good reason. "But with 'probable cause,' the police actually can carry out wiretaps, plant bugs, monitor our emails, track us as we move around, or even compare our DNA with DNA from crime victims," he said. "This is a good model, and one that has worked for decades, and we need to extend it to cover all the new technologies too," Birman said. Veteran ex-leader Mahathir, 92, is seeking to oust his former protege, Prime Minister Najib Razak, in the general election next Wednesday at the head of an opposition alliance Malaysian opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad is under investigation for allegedly spreading "fake news" after claiming his plane was sabotaged, police said Thursday, just days before a closely-fought election. Veteran ex-premier Mahathir, 92, is seeking to oust his former protege, Prime Minister Najib Razak, in the general election next Wednesday at the head of an opposition alliance. As campaigning got underway at the weekend, Mahathir claimed that there had been an attempt to sabotage a plane he had chartered to prevent him heading to the island of Langkawi to formally register his candidacy for the election. He still made it to the island by taking another plane. Malaysia's civil aviation authority and the charter company said there was a technical issue with the plane but rejected the allegations of sabotage. Kuala Lumpur police said a report had been lodged accusing Mahathir of spreading "fake news" under a controversial new law, which critics say is aimed at cracking down on dissent before the poll. "We have opened an investigation (into Mahathir) under the anti-fake news law," the capital's police chief Mazlan Lazim told AFP. "We will conduct the normal process of investigation." Local media reported that the police complaint was lodged by a group that supports Najib's party, the United Malays National Organisation, which said Mahathir's claims of sabotage had caused anxiety among Malaysians. Mahathir dismissed the claims and challenged authorities to take him to court. "They can charge me in court. I have no fake news. Only truth," he was cited as saying by The Star newspaper. The law aimed at combating fake news was pushed through parliament last month despite an outcry by the opposition and media watchdogs. It punishes dissemination of any news deemed "wholly or partly fake" with up to six years in jail or a hefty fine. Critics say it is aimed at silencing criticism of Najib, and in particular the scandal surrounding sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. Najib is battling allegations that billions of dollars were looted from the fund -- which he set up -- in a campaign of fraud and money-laundering. The leader and 1MDB deny any wrongdoing. A Danish man was handed a one-week jail term this week for spreading fake news, the first person to be punished under the legislation, after accusing police in a YouTube video of responding slowly when a Palestinian Hamas member was shot dead last month. Mahathir led Malaysia for 22 years and was spurred out of retirement to take on Najib due to 1MDB, and is the opposition's prime ministerial candidate. Najib's Barisan Nasional coalition has led Malaysia for 61 years, since independence from Britain, and is expected to win at the poll. President Moon Jae-in is enjoying record support from the South Korean public in the wake of a historic summit with his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un, pollsters said President Moon Jae-in is enjoying record support from the South Korean public in the wake of a historic summit with his North Korean counterpart, pollsters said Thursday. More than three in four voters approved of Moon, according to pollster Realmeter -- an all-time high for any South Korean president at the end of their first year in office. Realmeter said the result reflected "mounting public expectations for the North's denuclearisation and the establishment of peace on the Korean peninsula" following Moon's meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday. The president's support rose more than eight points to 78.3 percent in the week following the summit, where the two leaders agreed to work towards a permanent peace treaty. Since his May 2017 election, Moon had projected a stable and down-to-earth style while communicating closely with voters, Jeong Han-wool of public opinion firm Hankook Research told AFP. "Moon's approval ratings, which were relatively low around the end of last year, surged back up following the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics," he said. North Korea sent athletes, supporters, an art troupe and high-level officials to the Olympics, initiating a flurry of diplomatic gestures that culminated in last week's summit. Jeong said Moon's popularity was likely to continue through next month's local elections, which Moon's ruling Democratic Party is widely tipped to dominate. The centre-left party enjoyed the support of nearly 55 percent of the electorate in the latest Realmeter poll, while the conservative Liberty Korea Party had less than 18 percent support, shedding more than three percent since last week. Support for the opposition has flatlined since former presidents Park Geun-hye and her predecessor Lee Myung-bak were embroiled in massive corruption cases. Both former leaders are now in jail. An Indian photojournalist in Kolkata holds a candle during a vigil for the 10 Afghan journalists killed in Monday's suicide bombing Afghanistan's slain journalists were remembered on World Press Freedom Day Thursday, days after the deadliest attack on the country's media since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Ten journalists, including Agence France-Presse chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in assaults on Monday, underscoring the dangers faced by the media as the war-torn country slips deeper into violence. "Afghanistan's journalists are among the bravest in the world," said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International's deputy director for South Asia. "Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs." A double suicide blast in Kabul on Monday, claimed by the Islamic State group, left 25 people dead including Marai and eight other journalists, while a BBC reporter was killed in a separate attack in eastern Khost province. Media workers from Tolo News, 1TV, Radio Free Europe and Mashal TV were also among the dead in Kabul. Journalists killed in 2018 The deadly assaults have shaken Afghanistan's tight-knit journalist community. Many of them are close friends as well as colleagues who look out for one another as they work in an increasingly hostile environment. But many remain defiant, determined to continue their work despite the risks. Hours after the Kabul explosion, dozens of Afghan news editors and executives returned to the site in a public display of defiance to militants. "World Press Freedom Day reminds me and my colleagues of the importance of reporting -- reporting for a vibrant democracy and serving people with the information they need and they want," Parwiz Kawa, editor-in-chief of the Hasht-e-Subh Daily newspaper, told AFP. "This day is to renew our commitments and to remember our sacrifices." 1TV editor-in-chief Abdullah Khenjani said Thursday was a "mourning day" for the broadcaster, which lost a reporter and cameraman in Monday's blast. "This day reminds us how tough the past year was," Khenjani told AFP, adding his colleagues were heartbroken, "especially when we see the empty chairs... in our newsroom". "We will hold a prayer ceremony... and ask God to be with us in such a tragic moment." - 'End journalists' slaughter' - Afghanistan was last year ranked the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The media watchdog said since 2016, it has recorded the killings of 34 journalists in Afghanistan. Journalists around the world have mourned the killing of AFP's Shah Marai, pictured here with Sardar Ahmad -- an AFP reporter who was killed in a 2014 attack alongside his wife and children Afghan media outlets have condemned the government's failure to protect them, particularly at the scene of suicide attacks where secondary blasts are a constant concern. The British embassy in Kabul also released a statement Thursday vowing to stand behind Afghan journalists, with the UK's minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field saying their bravery "has been noted the world over". "Despite the risks, they stand firm together, determined never to be cowed by terrorists," he said in the statement. The attack on the Afghan journalists comes amid increasing concerns over press freedom across Asia, including in the Philippines and Myanmar. On the same day as the Afghan journalists were killed, Philippine radio broadcaster Edmund Sestoso was shot by assailants in the southern city of Dumaguete, said Human Rights Watch. Sestoso died Tuesday. In this photo by slain AFP photographer Shah Marai, Afghan journalists take cover behind an ambulance near the Intercontinental Hotel during a fight between gunmen and security forces in Kabul on January 21, 2018 "That Sestoso's murder occurred on the same day 10 journalists were killed in Afghanistan made it particularly tragic," said Carlos Conde, researcher in the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. "That he died on the eve of World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder that much needs to be done for press freedom around the world and end the slaughter of journalists." In Myanmar, hopes have been dashed of more press freedom under the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which took power in 2016. A recent survey of journalists released concluded that there is less press freedom now than under the former military-backed government, citing an increase in threats, physical attacks and arrests of reporters. The country has fallen six places to 137th on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Two Reuters journalists, who were investigating the extrajudicial killing of Rohingya Muslims, face charges under the Official Secrets Act that could result in a 14-year jail sentence if convicted in a high-profile case that has sparked outrage around the world. RSF figures show 50 professional journalists were killed worldwide in 2017, the lowest toll in 14 years. burs-st/mtp David Goodall says he feels "very resentful" that he was unable to voluntarily end his life in Australia Australia's oldest scientist, wearing a top labelled "ageing disgracefully", has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. David Goodall does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fast-track appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel. He got on a plane in Perth late Wednesday surrounded by friends and family saying their final goodbyes, euthanasia advocates told AFP. He will spend several days with other family in Bordeaux, France, before heading to Switzerland where he is due to end his life on May 10. "I don't want to go to Switzerland, though it's a nice country," he told broadcaster ABC before leaving. "But I have to do that in order to get the opportunity of suicide which the Australian system does not permit. I feel very resentful." Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legalise it last year. But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months. Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated, most recently in New South Wales state last year. Exit International, which helped Goodall make the trip, said it was unjust that one of Australia's "oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the other side of the world to die with dignity". It launched a GoFundMe campaign to get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and quickly raised more than Aus$20,000 (US$15,000). Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals. Goodall told ABC he appreciated the public's interest in his plight and hoped it would spark more discussion about voluntary euthanasia. "I would like them to understand it," he said. "I am 104 years old so I haven't got much time left anyway. I might as well not have (my health) getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes." Both Macron and Turnbull have laughed off the faux pas, in which the French president referred to the Australian prime minister's wife as "delicious" French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday laughed off the global sniggers he prompted after describing the wife of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as "delicious". The faux pas -- "delicieux" in French can also mean "delightful" -- caused widespread mirth, with one Sydney tabloid mocking up a nearly full-page photo of Macron with the cartoon head of Pepe le Pew, the lovelorn French skunk. "A newspaper had some fun and it made me laugh a lot, especially since in the original cartoon the character has a French accent," Macron told reporters shortly before leaving Sydney at the end of a two-day visit. Macron, who demonstrated his excellent grasp of English during numerous speeches and remarks in Sydney, added that "there is not a European leader who gives all his speeches in English". The incident occurred at the end of a joint press conference on Wednesday when Macron turned to Turnbull and said: "Thank you and your delicious wife for the warm welcome". At a private dinner later that night with Turnbull and wife Lucy, the hubbub over his remark "had them laughing a lot", he said. Turnbull also commented on the gaffe, saying his wife "was very flattered" by the youthful French president's comment. "She's asked me to say that she found the president's compliment as charming as it was memorable," he said. "President Macron charmed Australia. He certainly charmed all of us, all the Turnbulls. I think he is a great friend of Australia." Some in the Australian media and on Twitter were not so gracious, playing on the French reputation for romantic flair. "Ooh La La, it's a French miss," headlined the main story in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. French President Emmanuel Macron with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and his wife Lucy The newspaper's photo-shopped front page bore the headline "President Pepe le Pew", a reference to the Warner Brothers cartoon character who spends most of his time in luckless pursuit of a female cat. "You can take the man out of France but..." tweeted Buzzfeed Australia journalist Alice Workman, while another user took a light-hearted jab at "the Gaul of that man". Kim Dong-Chul, a Korean-American pastor detained in North Korea in 2015, was sentenced in 2016 to 10 yeas hard labour for 'attempting to steal military secrets' Despite years of hostility between Washington and Pyongyang, hundreds of Americans visited the reclusive nuclear-armed state every year until the US State Department finally issued a travel ban on North Korea last September. The North has a history of detaining Americans and using them as bargaining chips, with many only released following a visit by senior US officials. Americans made the high-risk journey to North Korea for a range of reasons, from holidays and business trips to humanitarian work and missionary purposes. Six South Koreans have also been detained -- three Christian missionaries and three defectors originally from North Korea -- since 2013, with Seoul also pushing for their release. Kim Dong-chul is one of three US citizens detained in North Korea President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday of imminent news about three Korean-Americans detained in the North, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of a possible release. The development comes with Trump preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks amid a dramatic diplomatic thaw on the flashpoint peninsula. These are the US citizens now being held: Kim Hak-song Kim Hak-song had been working for the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) undertaking agricultural development work with the school's farm. He was arrested at Pyongyang railway station in May 2017 on suspicion of committing "hostile acts" against the government, as he was boarding a train headed for his home in Dandong, China. Kim, who is in his mid 50s, was born in Jilin, China, and educated at a university in California, CNN reported, citing a man who had studied with him. He said Kim returned to China after about 10 years of living in the US. PUST was founded by evangelical overseas Christians and opened in 2010, and is known to have a number of American faculty members. Pupils are generally children from the North's elite. Kim Sang-duk Kim Sang-duk, or Tony Kim, was arrested in April 2017 at the capital's main airport as he tried to leave the country after teaching for several weeks, also at PUST. Kim is a former professor at Yanbian University of Science and Technology in China, close to the Korean border. Its website lists his speciality as accounting. South Korea's Yonhap news agency has reported Kim is in his late 50s and said he had been involved in relief activities for children in rural parts of North Korea. It cited a source who described him as a "religiously devoted man". In a Facebook post, Kim's son said since his arrest his family has had no contact with him. His family said Kim will soon become a grandfather. Kim Dong-chul Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born American businessman and pastor aged in his 60s, was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour after being arrested on charges of subversion and espionage in April 2016. He was arrested in October 2015, after he reportedly received a USB stick containing nuclear-linked data and other military information from a former North Korean soldier. In a interview with CNN in January 2016, Kim said he was a naturalised American living in Fairfax, Virginia. He said he once ran a trading and hotel services company in Rason, a special economic zone near the North's border with China and Russia. A month before his trial, Kim had also appeared at a government-arranged news conference and apologised for attempting to steal military secrets in collusion with South Korea. The South Korean spy agency has denied involvement. Liu Xia, the wife of late Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo, has been kept under house arrest in China for years The widow of late Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo said that after eight years of house arrest she was ready to "die at home" in protest at her continuing detention by Chinese authorities, a report said Wednesday. The poet Liu Xia, 57, has been under close police watch, despite facing no charges, since her husband was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010, a recognition that deeply angered the Communist regime. "It is easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me," Liu recently told a friend in Germany, according to the US-based website China Change. Liao Yiwu, an exiled Chinese writer living in Berlin, said in a letter published by the human rights website that he was shocked to hear Liu's distress and urged her to "wait". With her permission, he also released an audio recording of an earlier phone call where Liu said that she was "ready to die" and that "if I'm dead, it'll all be done with". Liu Xiaobo was a veteran of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and was detained in 2008 after co-writing Charter 08, a petition calling for democratic reforms. He died in Chinese custody last July after authorities rejected his request to receive treatment abroad, becoming the first Nobel Peace laureate to die in custody since German pacifist Carl von Ossietzky, who passed away in a hospital while held by the Nazis in 1938. Liu Xia's friends told AFP she was taking medication for depression and had suffered from heart problems and fainting. AFP reporters have tried to visit Liu's home multiple times in recent years, but were blocked each time by plainclothes men. The United States and European Union have called on President Xi Jinping's government to free the widow and let her travel abroad. Last week, German ambassador to China Michael Clauss told the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post that Liu would be welcomed in his country. "We hope that Liu Xia can finally enjoy freedom of movement and to travel wherever she desires. This has been a continuously stated concern of Germany for a long time already, just like the fact that she is welcomed to Germany if that remains her wish," Clauss said. On Monday, the French foreign ministry reiterated its appeal to Chinese authorities to "ensure the freedom of movement of Liu Xia as well as that of her family". Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing on Thursday that she did not have information on the situation. "But Liu Xia is a Chinese citizen. The relevant Chinese authorities will handle relevant issues in accordance with the law," Hua said. Amnesty International and other rights groups have also condemned authorities' treatment of the poet, who has always stayed out of politics. "She has never been accused or convicted of any crime, and the Chinese government has even said she is free to travel," Amnesty China researcher William Nee said Thursday. "The latest revelations about her depression show the urgency for the Chinese government to allow her to go abroad, and end the absurd pretence that she's free in China," Nee said. The Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people, mostly from China, on board Two shipwrecks found during the hunt for missing flight MH370 in the remote Southern Ocean were identified Thursday as 19th century merchant vessels carrying coal, each crewed by up to 30 people. The Malaysia Airlines plane disappeared in March 2014 with 239 people, mostly from China, on board while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. No sign of the jet was found in the area during the largest search in aviation history, which was suspended in January last year -- but the Australian-led hunt did come across two wrecks, the deepest at 3,900 metres (13,000 feet). The MH370 search was restarted in January in an area north of the original zone, with a private research vessel scouring the seabed commissioned by Malaysia on a "no find, no fee" basis. So far it has found nothing. The Western Australian Museum analysed sonar and video data from the first search to determine what had been found. "Both wrecks were in fact 19th century merchant sailing ships -- one wooden and one iron -- both carrying coal," said Ross Anderson, the museum's curator of maritime archaeology. Cargo ships of that era likely carried crews of between 15 and 30 men, although sometimes captains travelled with their wives and children. Both vessels may also have carried additional passengers. It was difficult to determine exactly which ships they were, but the possibilities have been narrowed based on information from predominantly British shipping sources, Anderson said. The wooden ship could be the W. Gordon, which vanished while travelling from Glasgow in Scotland to Adelaide in 1876, or the Magdala, voyaging from Penarth in Wales to Ternate in Indonesia. "For the iron ship the barques Kooringa (1894), Lake Ontario (1897) and West Ridge (1883) are possible, with the West Ridge best fitting the evidence," he added. The hull structure of the wooden ship and other timbers appeared to have totally degraded, leaving only the remains of its coal cargo and metal objects such as fastenings, anchors and fittings. "The evidence points to the ship sinking as a result of a catastrophic event such as explosion, which was common in the transport of coal cargoes," Anderson said. One of the most interesting finds was a large rectangular metal object, six metres in length, which initially generated excitement as a possible treasure chest. But it was found to be the ship's iron water tank. The second wreck was more intact, lying upright on the seabed, with at least two decks and visible portholes at the stern. A member of the teamLab collective walks through a digital installation room in Tokyo featuring hanging lamps that light up as the visitor nears The waterfall appears to run down the wall of a room and across the floor, but the flow is an illusion -- a digital exhibit at a new interactive museum in Tokyo. The flower-filled waterfall is the work of Japanese collective teamLab, known internationally for their innovative "digital art" that combines projections, sound and carefully designed spaces to create otherworldly, immersive experiences. After exhibitions around the world, they are opening this summer a museum dedicated entirely to their unique brand of artwork. The space is being billed as a first, a digital museum with artwork that envelops and interacts with visitors. The exhibits are designed to flow into one another and interact with the viewer One space features a bucolic rice field, another is filled with seemingly endless hanging lamps that illuminate as the visitor nears, the light moving from one lamp to another around the room. Elsewhere, a waterfall filled with flowers appears to flow over a hill or waves crash along the walls, throwing spray towards the ceiling. The exhibits are designed to flow into one another and interact with each other and the viewer. Some follow visitors or react in different ways when they are touched. "We have created a borderless world made up of pieces of artwork that move by themselves, communicate with each other and mix perfectly with others," teamLab co-founder Toshiyuki Inoko, 41, told AFP. "I would like this space to become a place where we can remember that borders do not exist in our world," he said. The teamLab collective bring together expertise in speciality fields, including engineering, robotics and architecture, with hands-on manual labour to produce art Some exhibits also encourage visitor participation -- in one, viewers are "propelled into space" by bouncing on a trampoline in the midst of an intergalactic projection, in another they can dance in unison with performers who appear as translucent silhouettes. Inoko, who has a background in physics, founded teamLab in 2001 with four fellow Tokyo University students, but the collective didn't make its artistic debut until 2011, with a show at a gallery in Taipei. Three years later, New York's Pace Gallery began promoting their work, and in 2015, they organised their first exhibition in Japan, drawing nearly 500,000 visitors over 130 days. Since then, they have shown across the world, with exhibitions in London, Silicon Valley, China and elsewhere and the collective has grown to some 500 members. - 'Liberating art' - They describe themselves as "ultratechnologists", who combine expertise in speciality fields, including engineering, robotics and architecture, with hands-on manual labour to produce art. While teamLab works are now in several permanent collections, the new museum will be the first permanent space completely devoted to the collective's pieces. Maintaining the artwork requires a bank of 520 computers and 470 projectors, but the real key is the set of sophisticated algorithms that generates images in real time The cost of the project has not been disclosed, but a team member told AFP that each piece of artwork can cost around $1-2 million. The collective will have some 50 exhibits in the space covering 10,000 square metres (more than 100,000 square feet) in the bayside Odaiba area of Tokyo. They have partnered with property management company Mori Building, and secured support from Japanese companies ranging from Panasonic to Epson. Dubbed the Mori Building Digital Art Museum: teamLab Borderless, the facility will open its doors on June 21, charging 3,200 yen ($29) a ticket. Maintaining the artwork requires a bank of 520 computers and 470 projectors, but the real key is the set of sophisticated algorithms that generates images in real time. The artworks are "neither pre-recorded animations nor images on loop," says teamLab. The collective say they want to use digital technology to "expand the beautiful". "Unlike a physical painting on a canvas, the non-material digital technology can liberate art," they say in an explanation of their work. "Because of its ability to transform itself freely, it can transcend boundaries." "The fact that the universe transforms with the presence of the other is very important for us," Inoko told AFP. "I am as much a part of the artwork as the other visitors," he said. Euna Lee and Laura Ling were released from custody in 2009 after former US President Bill Clinton met with officials in Pyongyang North Korea has a history of detaining Americans and using them as bargaining chips against the United States. From journalists to missionaries, most Americans detained by the North have been released after high-profile interventions. President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday to "stay tuned" for news on the three Americans detained in North Korea, raising hopes for their release before a summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in the coming weeks. It is unclear how the three detainees will be released this time, but here are some past examples: - Former presidents - Former US president Bill Clinton made a trip to Pyongyang in 2009 to secure the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, who were sentenced to 12 years' hard labour for illegally crossing the border. Former US President Jimmy Carter helped secure the 2010 release of American missionary Aijalon Mahli Gomes And in 2010, Jimmy Carter personally obtained the release of Aijalon Mahli Gomes, who had been handed eight years' hard labour for illegal entry. Clinton met with then-leader Kim Jong Il, while Carter also held talks with top officials -- and in both cases Pyongyang came away with major propaganda opportunities but little to show for the process in diplomatic terms. The North's official KCNA news agency reported that Clinton had an "exhaustive conversation" over dinner with Kim and passed on a verbal message from then-president Barack Obama. US officials said Clinton -- who travelled in an unmarked jet -- went to North Korea as a private citizen with the authority to negotiate only for the release of the Americans. - Spy chief - US citizens Kenneth Bae and Matthew Miller were released after a secret mission to North Korea by James Clapper, then the Director of National Intelligence. Missionary Kenneth Bae was released from prison in North Korea after the intervention of James Clapper, at the time the US Director of National Intelligence Clapper spent less than a day in Pyongyang, conducting talks with senior officials, but did not meet Kim Jong Un before flying out with the two freed men. Clapper told CBS that he carried a short letter from Obama identifying him as the presidential envoy but made it clear that his mission was recovering the two US citizens. He noted that the North Koreans were disappointed that he did not come bearing a "breakthrough" from the US government, but did not detail what offers the hosts were hoping for. - Congressman - In 1996, US Congressman Bill Richardson brought home American Evan Hunziker, who had swum naked and drunk across the Yalu River from China to North Korea, where he was arrested and charged with spying. Bill Richardson with former North Korean captive Evan Carl Hunziker in 1996 Richardson went to North Korea as a private citizen, but was accompanied by US officials. The North Koreans initially demanded $100,000 for Hunziker's illegal entry into the country but later agreed to free him after his $5,000 hotel bill was paid. Less than a month after his return, however, Hunziker committed suicide. - Diplomat - The release of American student Otto Warmbier last year was secured after Joseph Yun, the State Department's then-special representative for North Korea policy, made a secret trip to Pyongyang. Former North Korean captive Otto Warmbier arrived back in the US in a coma and died a week later It came after a flurry of covert diplomatic contacts between Washington and Pyongyang amid an escalating war of words between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and President Donald Trump. But after nearly 18 months in captivity, the 22-year-old arrived home in a state of coma and died a week later. US officials were infuriated by Warmbier's death and Trump has accused North Korea of brutally abusing the American student. Rather than providing a diplomatic opening, Warmbier's release prompted Washington to issue a travel ban to the isolated country and put Pyongyang back on its list of state sponsors of terrorism. Fighters from Al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate and relatives arrive in Aleppo province after they were evacuated from southern Damascus on May 1, 2018 Hundreds of rebels and civilians prepared to leave Thursday from three districts south of Syria's capital, state media said, under a negotiated withdrawal to secure the last opposition holdouts of Damascus. The departures come two days after a similar deal was reached to evacuate fighters once linked to Al-Qaeda from Yarmuk, a Palestinian camp in southern Damascus. Syrian state news agency SANA reported on Thursday that empty buses were entering the towns of Babila, Yalda and Beit Saham, to be filled up with rebels and civilians who would head to opposition-held parts of northern Syria. "Around 5,000 terrorists and their families are expected to leave, fulfilling an agreement reached on Sunday between the Syrian government and terrorist groups," the agency said. It did not specify which rebel factions were among the evacuees, but Syria's government refers to all armed opponents as "terrorists." The deal was reached after "negotiations between figures from the three towns on one side, and Russia and the regime on the other," according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor. Those rebels who wanted to leave for the north could do so, and those who wanted to stay would abandon their weapons and have their status with the Syrian state regularised. Beit Saham, Yalda, and Babila had for several years fallen under a "reconciliation" agreement with the Syrian state, meaning they remained in rebel hands but a local ceasefire was enforced. But after capturing the Eastern Ghouta rebel stronghold outside Damascus last month, regime forces have sought to secure the entirety of the capital and its surroundings with a blend of military operations and negotiated withdrawals. They first seized control of other "reconciled" towns east of Damascus, then began a military operation against Yarmuk. The camp was mostly held by the Islamic State group but also had a small presence of fighters from Al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Under military pressure, HTS fighters agreed to quit Yarmuk with their families earlier this week. HTS said late Wednesday the deal saw 141 of its fighters reach northern Syria. In exchange, it said, 18 wounded people and their relatives were allowed to leave a pair of regime-controlled villages besieged by hardline rebels in northwest Syria. That deal is still expected to see some 5,000 people leave the two villages, Fuaa and Kafraya, according to SANA. Dandong bet its future on China-North Korea trade, but hopes were dashed when a massive new bridge never opened and UN sanctions started to bite The dramatic diplomatic thaw on the Korean peninsula is sparking an unexpected economic windfall on the Chinese border, where property prices are skyrocketing. The northeastern border city of Dandong -- the main artery for China's trade with North Korea -- has been in the doldrums since the United Nations punished Pyongyang for its nuclear and long-range missile tests last year. The sanctions put a squeeze on trade in seafood, textiles and other commodities, and forced hundreds of North Korean workers to leave Chinese factories there. But property prices in the city surged in the weeks leading up to the historic summit between the two Koreas, with speculators snapping up homes expecting prices to rise further. It's an unexpected bonanza for a region that was bracing itself for an influx of North Korean refugees and even possible radiation just months ago amid worries about war on the peninsula. On April 26 -- a day before the inter-Korean summit -- the Dandong Property Registration Office posted a notice on its door, saying "the number of applications to register property transactions in recent days has exceeded our daily capacity of 260 cases per day". The influx of homebuyers to the city of nearly 2.4 million residents began in March, when Kim passed through in his armoured train on his way to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping -- the North Korean leader's first overseas trip in office. "Over the last two weeks, the number of people that have called to inquire about properties or come to buy homes has jumped," Li Xinyu, CEO of Aijia Real Estate Co. in Dandong, told AFP. "Now I receive... (as many as) 20 calls a day, and there are about 10 people who visit with the intention of purchasing an apartment." - 'Ghost town' Dandong lies on the northern bank of the Yalu River, which marks the border. North Korean guard posts and soldiers can be seen on the other side, with patrol boats regularly traversing the river. Two bridges connect the neighbours, allowing road and rail traffic. Dandong's hopes of future trade with the North have seen factories, apartment blocks and even North Korean restaurants spring up in the city As the main land crossing, the city bet its future on trade with the North, and factories, apartment blocks and even North Korean restaurants sprang up. Ambitious city planners also started work on the Dandong New Zone, in anticipation of the opening of the New Yalu River Bridge, which would connect Dandong with the North Korean city of Sinuiju on the other side. Authorities expected billions of dollars in investment to flood into jointly-run free trade zones on both sides of the border. But the massive four-lane, $350-million bridge never opened, and the concrete runs into fields of snow on the North Korean side. The Dandong New Zone looked like a ghost town when AFP visited in January, with empty apartments, shopfronts and restaurant spaces. There was a housing glut too. And as sanctions started to bite, prices of new homes in Dandong declined 3.7 percent in March from a year earlier, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed. But now there are "early signs" the tide is turning, according to half a dozen real estate agents interviewed by AFP. "Prices in the Dandong New Zone have risen by an average of 20 to 30 percent (over the past two weeks), because people are expecting North Korea to open up for business," Li said. "Most of the recent home purchases were not for people to live in, but... investments. Many are expecting that North Korea will open up for trade." Dong Tianqi, a real estate agent for Anjia Property Co., said most of his clients were speculators from affluent cities, including Beijing and Dalian where authorities have enforced purchasing curbs to prevent property bubbles. The upswing comes as China again warms up to its Cold War era ally after a frosty phase, during which Beijing backed UN sanctions against Pyongyang. It is the North's top economic partner, but bilateral trade in the first three months of 2018 fell by 60.6 percent from a year earlier, customs data showed. Trading centres like Dandong have borne the brunt of this decline: In October last year, the city's port missed a bond payment. - Too early to celebrate? - Investors are now looking at not only the remarkable rapprochement between the two Koreas and improving Beijing-Pyongyang ties, but also the highly-anticipated meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump in the coming weeks. But as long as UN sanctions remain in place, Chinese businesses have little hope of recovering large investments in factories or mining operations there, according to Lu Chao, director of the Border Study Institute at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences. "It's still too early for any signs of large-scale recovery and development," Lu said. "The international community has welcomed North Korea's recent moves, and it's natural to (expect that) the necessary adjustments to sanctions will follow... But the UN Security Council needs to reduce or remove them." President Emmanuel Macron arrived Thursday in Noumea, the capital of New Caledonia, which has called an independence referendum for November President Emmanuel Macron made his first visit to the French archipelago of New Caledonia Thursday, where tensions are running high ahead of an independence vote long sought by ethnic separatist groups. Macron said on his arrival he was happy to visit during "an important year" for the South Pacific islands, known for their pristine beaches as well as extensive nickel reserves. The territory is a strategic foothold for Paris in the Asia Pacific region, with Macron saying in Sydney this week that the archipelago was "a geopolitical opportunity" while also noting its economic potential. But economic inequality has persisted despite decades of efforts to improve living standards for the indigenous Kanak ethnic group who make up around 40 percent of New Caledonia's roughly 270,000 residents. The majority of them support a full break with France. Macron's visit also coincides with the 30th anniversary of a bloody attack and hostage taking by Kanak separatists against police officers at Wadrilla, on the island of Ouvea, where six officers and 19 militants were killed. The president is expected to attend a memorial ceremony for the officers, while also observing a moment on silence at the site where two nationalist leaders were murdered by one of their own at Wadrilla in May 1989. "This will above all be a chance... to consecrate the important moments in our shared history, moments that have at times been painful, such as those which we will commemorate," Macron said as he arrived. But while he plans to make the symbolic gesture of presenting the Caledonian government with the original charter from 1853 claiming the islands as a French territory, Macron said he would not take a position on the independence vote set for November. "It's not up to us to influence this choice," he said this week in Sydney, which he visited before leaving for the islands, adding that he was hoping to avoid any "unnecessary tensions." "I respect this vote... It's an example, and the world is watching us," Macron said. During his presidential campaign, however, Macron had expressed his wish for "the Rock", as the territory is known, to remain part of France. A survey published Wednesday by the local polling group I-Scope showed that unionists were expected to handily win the referendum. - Simmering tensions - France has been grappling with unrest in other overseas territories which dot the globe, which are the legacy of the country's colonial history. Recent strikes on the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte underscored simmering resentment over perceived neglect by the state. Macron is also planning a major speech for Saturday to mark the 20th anniversary of the so-called Noumea Accord for New Caledonia, which ended years of violence and pledged a gradual increase in autonomy, culminating in the independence vote set for November 4. But he will be walking a fine line during his visit, with some Kanak lawmakers urging the president to recognise colonial violence on the islands as a crime against humanity. Many unionists, however, have accused Macron of giving too much weight to the Kanak community during his visit, and have scheduled a pro-republic "red, white and blue march" in the capital of Noumea for Friday. The territory, which holds a unique position among French outposts allowing it to set its own tax, labour and trade policies, relies heavily on exports of nickel, used to make stainless steel, rechargeable batteries and coins. Syrian children displaced by the Syrian civil war A coalition of Franco-Syrian NGOs on Thursday warned that their aid operations for the war-scarred country were being stymied by stepped up moves by governments and banks to curb the financing of terror groups. The Syrian Development and Relief Collective, known by its French abbreviation CODSSY, said in an open letter that its ability to provide humanitarian aid was being put at risk. Many western banks have become reluctant to work with any of the numerous groups offering aid to the country, wary of running afoul of strict rules aimed at choking off funds to jihadist fighters. "Refusals to open bank accounts, the unexplained closing of accounts, closings of online donation sites, long delays or cancellations of money transfers: The obstacles are numerous," the group said. "We're asking that controls be tightened, because it protects the banks as well as us," said Ammar Chaker of the Union of Medical Aid and Treatment Organisations, a CODSSY member. "But we need clear procedures and responses to our questions. When a transfer is blocked or refused, we need to understand why so we can provide the necessary information for it," he said. The letter's signatories noted a pledge in March by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian to triple France's budget for humanitarian aid, so that it could be "one of the pillars of our foreign policy". "But for this policy to be effective, it's essential that security imperatives do not render all humanitarian actions impossible," they said, urging talks by authorities and banking officials aimed at finding a solution. The seven-year civil war in Syria has taken a heavy toll on civilians, killed or driven from their homes during the conflict between the regime of President Bashar Al-Assad and opposition rebel groups as well as Islamic State fighters. An estimated 6.1 million people are now internally displaced in Syria, more than five million have fled the country and 13 million including six million children are in need of aid, according to the UN. More than 700,000 people have been displaced since the start of this year alone as Assad has stepped up his offensive against rebel forces, intensifying the humanitarian crisis. The Indian railway is the world's fourth largest network and carries about 23 million people every day An Indian tea vendor caught on video taking water from a train toilet before selling his drinks to passengers has been fined amid heightened concern in India over food safety. The vendor on the Chennai-Hyderabad Express was caught after footage of him and two others coming out of a toilet with large cans used to serve tea and coffee on Indian trains was widely shared. Indian Railways said in a statement that the "incident has been inquired into in detail" and that the tea seller had been fined the equivalent of $1,500. The video was made on a train at Secunderabad in Telangana state. Out of the three vendors seen only one was licensed. The vendor claimed the group were transferring milk from one can to another and did not want to do it in the open. "The very fact that tea/coffee cans were seen being brought out of the toilet, is in itself a wrong practice," the railway company said. A series of recent incidents have put the spotlight on food safety in India. In the eastern city of Kolkata, famed for its Bengal delicacies, police this week unearthed a racket in which tonnes of rotten meat from dumps was being sold to restaurants. Sales of meat and poultry in the city have plummeted since authorities seized about 20 tonnes of rotten meat. Police suspect a lot more had been sent out to city restaurants. "The meat was sourced from dump yards where vultures, dogs fight over carcasses in the fringes of the city," Koteshwar Rao, a senior West Bengal police officer told AFP. Eight people have been arrested so far. But Kolkata restaurants and cafes have been left reeling from the scandal. "The rumours have resulted in a 50 percent fall in demand (for meat) across restaurants and eateries," Taher Ali, a member of the Meat Merchants Association told AFP. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Eastern India has told its members to only purchase meat from registered suppliers. According to government figures, food poisoning is one of the most common disease outbreaks in India, accounting for 242 of 1,469 reported serious outbreaks last year. Ali Akbar Velayati, chief foreign policy advisor to Iran's supreme leader, is seen during a visit to Aleppo in northern Syria on November 7, 2017 Iran warned on Thursday that it will quit a landmark nuclear deal with world powers if President Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the accord. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, calling it "insane". Iran has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the deal signed by Iran and six world powers in 2015 curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. "Even if countries allied with the United States, especially the Europeans, seek to revise the nuclear agreement... one of our options will be withdrawing from the accord," Velayati added. Britain, France and Germany -- the three European countries that signed the deal -- have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. US President Donald Trump confirms reimbursing his personal lawyer for a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels (R) US President Donald Trump on Thursday confirmed a "reimbursement" as part of a hush agreement with porn star Stormy Daniels over allegations of a decade-old affair, but he said campaign money wasn't involved. Trump's comments in a series of tweets, which contradicted his earlier denials of knowledge of a payment to Daniels, came after former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a member of the president's legal team, said Trump reimbursed his long-time lawyer Michael Cohen for the $130,000 payment to Daniels. Cohen "received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement," the non-disclosure agreement involving Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Clifford, who alleges an intimate relationship with Trump from 2006 to 2007, has filed suit in Los Angeles to declare that agreement invalid. "The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair," Trump said. "Prior to its violation by Ms Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction," he wrote, misspelling "role." Clifford signed the hush agreement days before the November 2016 presidential election, which Trump won. Such contracts, while legal, have frequently been used by powerful men to hush up affairs, workplace harassment or even alleged sexual abuse. "These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms Clifford (Daniels)," Trump said in his Thursday tweets. On April 5, Trump offered a flat "no" when asked if he knew about the payment that was made by his lawyer. Trump said he did not know why Cohen made the payment. "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael." Asked if he knew where the money came from, Trump told reporters on Air Force One, "No, I don't know." The watchdog group Common Cause filed a federal complaint in January arguing that the payout may have violated campaign finance rules. On Wednesday, Giuliani told Fox News host Sean Hannity the money "was paid by his lawyer, the way I would do, out of his law firm funds or whatever funds, it doesn't matter. The president reimbursed that over a period of several months." Cohen, whose office the FBI raided last month, is under investigation for possible bank fraud, wire fraud and campaign finance violations, The Washington Post reported last month. A jury convicted Bill Cosby, pictured during his trial, on three counts of sexual assault The wife of Bill Cosby on Thursday slammed as "mob justice" her husband's conviction by a US jury of sexual assault, attacking the media, prosecutors and his accuser in a tirade-laden statement. "This is mob justice, not real justice," said Camille Cosby, who has been married to the disgraced megastar for more than half a century. "This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country," she added in a three-page statement, insisting her husband was innocent. A 12-member Pennsylvania jury found 80-year-old Cosby guilty on three counts of sexual assault on April 26 for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion in January 2004. The sequestered panel reached a unanimous verdict after 14 hours of deliberations. Cosby's first trial ended last June with a hung jury. Camille Cosby called for a "criminal investigation" into the district attorney, accusing his office of an "unethical campaign." Without naming her, she accused Constand of lying, and branded her testimony "unsupported by any evidence and riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions." She also claimed "relentless demonization" by the media against her husband had "eliminated the possibility of a fair trial." Couching her husband's treatment as a product of race discrimination, she cited "many tragic instances of our justice system utterly and routinely failing to protect African Americans falsely accused." Cosby's wife appeared at his retrial only once, to hear closing statements from the defense. Her husband remains at home on a $1 million bail, pending sentencing. Each count carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in jail. His lawyers have vowed to appeal. Donald Trump -- shown here with new attorney Rudy Giuliani -- had previously denied all knowledge of the payment to Stormy Daniels, before admitting last week that his personal lawyer Michael Cohen struck a "deal" with the porn star on his behalf US President Donald Trump on Thursday admitted he reimbursed his lawyer for a $130,000 payment to a porn star, ending months of White House denial. Trump tweeted that his personal lawyer Michael Cohen used a retainer to pay off Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had sexual relations with the now president. But Trump slammed claims of an affair with Daniels -- whose real name is Stephanie Clifford -- as "false and extortionist." The sexual encounter allegedly took place in 2006, four months after Trump's wife Melania gave birth to their son Barron. Cohen's payment was made days before the November 2016 US presidential election, potentially violating campaign financing laws. In a burst of tweets, Trump denied the hush money was connected to his campaign, calling it a "private agreement." Trump also said non-disclosure agreements were "very common among celebrities and people of wealth." The admission came at an awkward time for Trump, hours before he hosted religious leaders at the White House for a National Prayer Day event, which the first lady did not attend. Trump ignored questions about the issue from the press, and guests, many of whom were political supporters of the president, shouted "shame on you" at reporters. Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who recently joined the president's legal team, was first to disclose on Wednesday that Trump had reimbursed Cohen for the payment over a period of several months. That news shocked many including White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders, who has for months claimed Trump had no prior knowledge of the payment. "The first awareness I had was during the interview last night," Sanders admitted. "I'm giving the best information I have. Some information I am aware of and some I'm not. When I can answer, I will." In early April the FBI raided Cohen's home, office and hotel room. NBC News on Thursday reported that the FBI has for months been monitoring the list of Cohen's calls, although not necessarily listening in, as the network first reported. - Money's source - Giuliani told Fox News host and Trump supporter Sean Hannity that the money was funneled through a law firm "and the president repaid it." He added that the payment did not represent a campaign financing violation because it was "not campaign money." Stormy Daniels, shown with her attorney Michael Avenatti, has filed a lawsuit against the US president after he trashed her claim that she had been threatened by a man representing Trump in 2011 Giuliani told The New York Times he had documentation proving Trump had reimbursed the sum, which he said "removes the campaign finance violation" prospect. "Some time after the campaign is over, they set up a reimbursement, $35,000 a month, out of his personal family account," Giuliani told the Times, adding that Trump gave Cohen between $460,000 and $470,000 via this method to repay the sum to the porn star as well as "incidental expenses." Trump had previously denied all knowledge of the payment to Daniels, before admitting last week that Cohen struck a "deal" with the porn star on his behalf. Asked by reporters on Air Force One earlier this month about the transaction, Trump said: "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael," he said. Pressed on whether he knew where Cohen got the money to make the payment, he said: "No, I don't know. No." - 'Blatantly lied' - Giuliani also told The Wall Street Journal Trump was "probably not aware" of the payment at the time it was made, having given Cohen broad "discretion to solve" a variety of issues. Michael Cohen, Trump's lawyer, has legal troubles of his own: his home and office were recently raided by the FBI in connection with a criminal investigation Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti reacted swiftly to the revelation, accusing the US president of lying. "We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it," he wrote on Twitter. "Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged by what we have now learned. Mr. Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied." Daniels filed a lawsuit against the president on Monday for defamation after he trashed her claim that she had been threatened by a man representing Trump in 2011. US exports of crude and agricultural goods jumped in March, pushing total exports to a new record, and trimming the trade deficit The US trade deficit narrowed in March for the first time in seven months as exports reached the highest level on record, the Commerce Department reported Thursday. The drop in the trade gap could point to higher growth in the first quarter than previously expected and comes as President Donald Trump pursues a fraught two-front trade confrontation with the European Union and China. Rising exports of petroleum, which has seen prices increase recently, and of agricultural staples, combined with a steep drop in imports sent the monthly US trade deficit plunging to $49 billion, a 15.2 percent drop from February, the biggest decrease in more than two years. However, the deficit was still up 18.5 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period last year, at $25.5 billion. "These data confirm ... that exports rebounded at the end of Q1 and imports fell sharply, starting to reverse the surge which followed the hurricanes last summer, when wholesalers and retailers had to rebuild inventory very quickly," Ian Shepherdson of Pantheon Macroeconomics said in a client note. US exports of goods and services hit $208.5 billion, a new record, driven upwards by mounting exports of crude oil and other fuels as well as civilian aircraft and crops like soybeans, on which China has threatened to impose tariffs in response to punitive US duties on Chinese goods. On the import said, Americans paid less to foreign companies for the licensing of intellectual property, and bought fewer foreign-made televisions, semiconductors and computers, helping drive US imports down 1.8 percent for the month to $257.5 billion. Imports of foreign autos, however, hit a record $31.3 billion. The goods deficit with China fell 11.5 percent from February to $25.8 billion, not seasonally adjusted. Imports from Mexico, which is locked in tense trade negotiations with the Trump administration, also hit a record at $30 billion, sending the US deficit with Mexico in goods alone to a record $8.1 billion, up from $6 billion in the prior month. Exports to Canada, also a partner in the North American Free Trade Agreement, were the highest since October 2014 at $28.4 billion, for a trade surplus of $306 million for goods only, compared to a $404 million deficit in February. One of the six black rhinos waiting to be transported to Chad's Zakouma National Park, pictured at the Addo Elephants National Park in South Africa on May 1, 2018 Six critically endangered black rhinos were en route from South Africa to Chad on Thursday in a pioneering project to re-introduce the animals to a country where they were wiped out by poaching nearly 50 years ago. The wild black rhinos were loaded onto a plane at Port Elizabeth airport on the South African coast in a 3,000-mile (4,800-kilometre) journey to Chad's Zakouma National Park. After the translocation, which took two years of planning, the rhinos will be released into small enclosures before being allowed to roam freely through the vast park. Security has been strengthened at Zakouma, in the south of Chad, with officials saying that poaching has been "practically eliminated" thanks to African Parks, an international conservation group. "All too often, headlines on rhinos are about their demise as they teeter on the brink of extinction," said African Parks chief Peter Fearnhead. "However, today we are participating in an historic event and peering into a brighter future for this species which has persisted on this planet for millions of years." Fewer than 25,000 rhinos, of which just 5,000 are black rhinos, remain in the wild in Africa due to poaching The four females and two males were taken by road from the Addo park in South Africa to the airport in special ventilated crates that were loaded into the plane by a crane. Teams of vets monitored the animals' stress levels. - 'Truly hopeful story' - Fernhead said the project was a "truly hopeful story for rhinos across Africa", and that it would encourage population growth and boost biodiversity in Chad. Fewer than 25,000 rhinos, of which just 5,000 are black rhinos, remain in the wild in Africa due to a surge in poaching. Black rhinos are rated as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rhinos are targeted to feed a booming demand for rhino horn in China, Vietnam and other Asian countries, where it is believed to have medicinal qualities. Northern white rhinos disappeared from Chad several decades ago and the last western black rhino was recorded there in 1972, after decades of poaching pushed both subspecies to local extinction. African Parks assumed management of Zakouma in 2010 and secured the park from poaching, allowing wild animals to thrive. The park has a dedicated rhino ranger unit to ensure the animals will be protected, as well as a well-equipped law enforcement team and aerial surveillance. "It is a mark of the strength of our partnership with African Parks and the transformation of Zakouma in to a secure sanctuary that we are now able to bring rhinos back," said Chad's ambassador to South Africa Youssouf Mahamat Itno. African Parks reintroduced rhinos to Rwanda in 2017. UN soldiers outside the headquarters in Bangui of the UN peacekeeping mission UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for calm in Central African Republic, where at least 24 people were killed in attacks in the capital Bangui targeting a church and a mosque. Guterres condemned Tuesday's attacks, which also left about 170 people wounded, and "urges all actors to cease violence and work together to bring peace and stability to the country," his deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said in a statement. "The Secretary-General calls for calm and urges the Central African Republic authorities to investigate these repeated attacks and quickly bring those responsible to justice." The violence erupted when men in a well-known local militia group rammed through a roadblock. Armed men then stormed a church in the middle of a service, killing worshippers and a priest. In response, a mob burned a mosque and lynched two people believed to be Muslim. The violence has raised fears that the country, one of the most unstable in the world, could again plunge into a bloody sectarian conflict. Guterres expressed concern about what he called "inflammatory rhetoric," adding: "There is no justification for incitement to violence or hate speech." CAR President Faustin-Archange Touadera governs with the support of a large UN peacekeeping operation, yet can only claim to control a fraction of the country. Ali Akbar Velayati, chief foreign policy advisor to Iran's supreme leader, is seen during a visit to Aleppo in northern Syria on November 7, 2017 Iran warned Thursday it will quit a landmark nuclear deal if President Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the accord, while also criticising European states over "concessions" to the Americans. Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, demanding his country's European allies "fix the terrible flaws" or he will re-impose sanctions. The nuclear deal was struck in 2015 between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, then led by Barack Obama. Under the pact, sanctions were lifted in return for a commitment not to pursue a nuclear bomb, but Iran says it is not reaping the rewards despite complying with the deal. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. As Iran's all-powerful leader, Khamenei has the final word on all policy matters, foreign and domestic, including on the nuclear deal. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, also issued a warning to the United States on Thursday in an English-language video posted on YouTube. "If the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing," said Zarif. "The US has consistently violated the agreement, especially by bullying others from doing business with Iran," he said. - Iran criticises Europe - A file picture of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif during a meeting with his Russian counterpart in Moscow on April 28, 2018 Zarif also criticised European nations. "In the last year or so, we've been told that President Trump is unhappy with the deal, and it now appears that the response from some Europeans has been to offer the United States more concessions, from our pocket," said Iran's top diplomat. "This appeasement entails promises of a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations, including Iran's defensive capabilities and regional influence." Zarif was responding to Britain, France and Germany who said on Sunday that the nuclear agreement left out some "important elements". These included what happens when the current deal expires in 2025, Iran's ballistic missile programme and its "destabilising regional activity", they said in a statement. The three European countries that signed the deal have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. The Islamic republic has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the 2015 deal. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. "Even if countries allied with the United States, especially the Europeans, seek to revise the nuclear agreement... one of our options will be withdrawing from the accord," Velayati added. International aid agencies provide health care and other basic services in Somalia A security guard employed by the International Committee of the Red Cross was involved in the kidnapping of a German nurse working for the organisation in Mogadishu, the Somali government said Thursday. The nurse, identified as Sonja Nientiet, was abducted from the ICRC compound at around 8.00 pm local time (1700 GMT) on Wednesday evening when unidentified armed men entered its premises. Security ministry spokesman Abdiaziz Ali Ibrahim said one of the Red Cross security guards was involved, after local staff reported the gunmen had easily managed to sneak Nientiet out through a back entrance into a waiting vehicle. "She was kidnapped by a member of ICRC's own security guards in Mogadishu, the kidnapper's name is Mohamud Mohamed Alas," he said. "We particularly request the family of the kidnapper to work with the security agencies and inform them of the whereabouts of their son." He said security forces had found an abandoned vehicle belonging to the kidnappers, and witnesses told AFP the car had been abandoned with a punctured tyre. It was unclear whether the kidnappers had managed to leave Mogadishu with their hostage. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague," said Daniel O'Malley, ICRC's deputy Somalia head. "She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people." Nientiet's LinkedIn profile says she has worked for the organisation since 2014, with postings in Jordan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Syria. The ICRC compound is outside the well-defended perimeter of Mogadishu's airport A local ICRC employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said two other foreign staff members had been evacuated along with senior Somali staff. The abduction is the second attack on ICRC employees in Somalia in just over a week. Abdulhafid Yusuf Ibrahim, a Somali national who had worked for the group for only five months, died on March 25 after an improvised bomb exploded beneath his car as he left the ICRC office. - Bombings, assassinations, abductions - Unlike many other international aid agencies working in Somalia, the ICRC does not base itself within the well-defended perimeter of Mogadishu's airport, which is protected by African Union soldiers. The airport acts as the city's "Green Zone" housing foreign embassies and the United Nations which coordinates the humanitarian and political responses to Somalia's crises. Germany's Foreign Minister Heiko Maas, who is visiting Ethiopia and Tanzania this week, told journalists in Addis Ababa he would not comment "on any hostage cases". "I have deep respect for all people, especially people from Germany, working abroad in order to help others," Maas added. Somalia, which collapsed into civil war in 1991 and has been wracked by an Al-Qaeda-linked Islamist insurgency since 2006. It is one of the world's most dangerous countries for aid workers but abductions remain relatively unusual. In the past, foreigners, including journalists and aid workers, have been kidnapped by armed gangs or Shabaab militants and held for ransom, sometimes for years at a time. Terrorist bombings and assassinations are common in the war-torn country Terrorist bombings and assassinations are common and frequently claimed by the Shabaab, which is fighting to overthrow the internationally backed government in Mogadishu. International aid agencies, including the independent Switzerland-based ICRC, provide health care and other basic services in the war-torn country and are regarded as supporters of the government by the Shabaab and as a ready source of income by other militants and armed gangs. On Tuesday a local employee of the World Health Organization (WHO) was shot in Mogadishu. The WHO said in a statement Wednesday it was "shocked and saddened" by the killing of Mariam Abdullahi Mohamed, "a dedicated frontline worker". Between 2008-12 piracy off the coast of Somalia became a big business with crew members and their ships held for million-dollar ransoms, but in recent years attacks have become rare. Gradually improving stability in Somalia allowed the holding of limited elections in 2016 but insecurity remains widespread. In October, Somalia suffered its deadliest-ever bombing, with over 500 people killed in an attack blamed on the Shabaab. Buhari met Trump in the White House on Monday and left Washington on Tuesday. The London pitstop was not formerly announced Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has made a "technical stopover" in London after meeting US President Donald Trump in Washington, his spokesman said on Thursday. The 75-year-old former army general spent months in the British capital last year for treatment to an unspecified illness, raising questions about his fitness to govern. His government was criticised for failing to update the public on his condition and repeatedly insisted the president was "hale and hearty". But presidency spokesman Garba Shehu indicated health matters were not the reason for breaking the journey back from the United States. "The big jet is under repair. So, the president is using a small plane and there is a limit to the distance the small plane can cover," he told AFP. "The technical stopover I talked about is that the journey from US to Abuja is broken into two." Buhari met Trump in the White House on Monday and left Washington on Tuesday. The London pitstop was not formerly announced. Another presidential spokesman, Femi Adesina, said on Twitter Thursday that Buhari is expected back in Nigeria this evening. Buhari said on his return to Nigeria from London last year that he "had never been so sick" and had undergone blood transfusions. In seeking re-election in 2018, Buhari is defying calls from political heavyweights to step aside for a younger, more dynamic candidate. An image grab taken from a video handed out by Yemen's Huthi rebels shows what appears to be Huthi military forces launching a ballistic missile A team of elite US Green Beret commandos deployed to the Saudi border of Yemen last year to help find and destroy Huthi rebel missile caches, the New York Times reported Thursday. Since Yemen's brutal conflict erupted three years ago, Huthi rebels have fired multiple ballistic missiles toward Riyadh and other Saudi cities. According to the Times, which cited US officials and European diplomats, the Army special operations soldiers arrived in December to help Saudi counterparts locate launch sites and destroy the Huthis' missile supplies. The unannounced move shows a deepening US involvement in Yemen's war that has seen the country spiral toward famine and claimed almost 10,000 lives. Citing operational security, the Pentagon said it could not comment on the makeup of forward-deployed forces. The Pentagon's "limited non-combat support, such as intelligence sharing, focuses on assisting our partners in securing their borders from cross-border attacks from the Huthis," military spokesman Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway said. The Times said there was no indication the commandos had crossed into Yemen. Saudi Arabia has since March 2015 led a US-backed coalition of Arab states fighting to roll back the Huthis in Yemen and restore its neighbor's internationally recognized government to power. Officials told the Times the US troops are training Saudi forces to secure the border. The Saudi troops are also working closely with US intelligence experts in the southern Saudi city of Najran, the Times said. The Huthis, who hail from northern Yemen, control Sanaa and much of the country's north -- which borders Saudi Arabia -- and the key Hodeida port on the Red Sea coast. US lawmakers have sounded growing alarm about America's support for the Saudis in Yemen, while President Donald Trump has bolstered ties with Riyadh and fostered a close relationship with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Separately from Yemen's civil war, the Pentagon is bombing Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and has sent in ground troops to conduct raids against the jihadists. The campaign against AQAP, which has taken advantage of the war to expand its presence in several areas to the south and east, has intensified under Trump. American director Ryan Coogler (L) and American actor Chadwick Boseman pose on arrival for the European Premiere of "Black Panther" in central London on February 8, 2018 "Black Panther," the breakthrough superhero film that has become one of the highest-grossing motion pictures of all time, on Thursday led nominations for the MTV Movie and TV Awards. The action movie about the fictional African kingdom of Wakanda led with seven nominations including Best Movie for the June 18 awards, which will be decided by public voting. Placing second with six nominations is "Stranger Things," the Netflix series about supernatural occurrences in a small town in Indiana. The MTV Movie and TV Awards, like the channel's signature MTV Video Music Awards, celebrate pop culture moments and pride themselves on being less stuffy than the industry's benchmark Oscars and Emmys. Categories include "Best Kiss" and "Most Frightened Performance." In another contrast with the industry-led awards, the MTV prizes for the second year will be gender neutral with no separate competitions for men and women. "Black Panther," a rare action film to celebrate black culture, has already become the third highest-grossing movie ever in North America since its release in January. Comedian Tiffany Haddish will serve as the host of the MTV Movie and TV Awards, which hands out statuettes shaped like popcorn boxes. Haddish stars in the comedy "Girls Trip" which is also up for Best Picture, along with the action flicks "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Wonder Woman" and horror adaptation "It." Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed reviews the honour guard following his arrival in Khartoum for an official visit to Sudan on May 2, 2018 Ethiopia's newly appointed prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, said on Thursday that the controversial dam his country is building on the Nile will not harm Egypt's share of water supplies. Egypt relies almost totally on the Nile for irrigation and drinking water, and says it has "historic rights" to the river, guaranteed by treaties from 1929 and 1959. It insists the Grand Renaissance Dam will reduce its water supplies from the Nile, and talks on the issue involving Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan have been deadlocked for months. "We don't have any intention to harm Sudan or Egypt," Ahmed told reporters in Khartoum after meeting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. "In our opinion, utilisation of Nile would benefit the three countries with insignificant harm," Ahmed said in English with Bashir standing next to him. "The most important thing is to reduce, to minimise the downside of the project and we are doing that in a very responsible manner." Ethiopia began building the $4-billion dam in 2012, but the mega project has triggered tensions primarily with Egypt as Cairo fears that once commissioned the dam will reduce its water supplies. Cairo argues the treaties grant it 87 percent of the Nile's flow, as well as the power to veto upstream projects. It fears any reduction of water supplies to the biggest Arab country will affect its agriculture. Egypt is primarily concerned at the speed at which the dam's reservoir would be filled. To ease Cairo's concerns a tripartite meeting between the foreign ministers and intelligence chiefs of Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan was held last month in Khartoum but it failed to reach a breakthrough. Bashir reiterated Khartoum's support for the project. "We have fully supported the dam since it was at its planning stage," said the Sudanese president. "We are assured that the share of Sudan and Egypt in Nile water is completely guaranteed." The Blue and the White Nile tributaries converge in Sudan's capital Khartoum and from there run north through Egypt to the Mediterranean. The project aims to produce 6,000 megawatts of hydro-electric power -- the equivalent of six nuclear-powered plants. The dam was initially expected to be commissioned in 2017, but Ethiopian media reports say only about 60 percent has so far been built. Two pilots on a C-130 cargo plane suffered minor eye injuries during the laser-pointing incidents Chinese nationals have on multiple occasions shone military-grade laser pointers at US pilots operating out of the American base in Djibouti, the Pentagon said Thursday. Officials have issued a formal diplomatic complaint and demanded Beijing investigate a series of incidents dating back several weeks, spokeswoman Dana White said. "They are very serious incidents," White said. "This activity poses a true threat to our airmen." In one case, two pilots on a C-130 cargo plane suffered minor eye injuries as they came in to land at the base in the Horn of Africa nation, another spokeswoman, Major Sheryll Klinkel, told AFP. Located at Djibouti international airport, the US military's Camp Lemonnier base is its only permanent facility in Africa. It is used largely for counter-terrorism operations in East Africa and Yemen. China last year opened a naval base in Djibouti, only a few miles (kilometers) from the US facility, marking the first overseas base for Beijing's rapidly growing military. White said she was "confident" that whoever had shone the high-powered lasers was Chinese. Officials told The Wall Street Journal the laser likely came from the Chinese base. The Federal Aviation Administration last month published a warning to pilots to use extreme caution in the area. "There have been multiple lazing events involving a high-power laser in the vicinity," the warning reads. The Academy's board of governors met voted to strip Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski of membership in line with the organization's "Standards of Conduct" The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said on Thursday that it has expelled actor Bill Cosby and film director Roman Polanski from its membership in light of the sexual assault cases against both men. The Academy's board of governors met on Tuesday night and voted to strip both men of membership "in accordance with the organization's Standards of Conduct," said a statement from the body which hands out the Oscars. "The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity," it added. Cosby, once the darling of American television, has been accused of sexual assault by dozens of women. A 12-member Pennsylvania jury found the 80-year-old comedian guilty on three counts of sexual assault on April 26 for drugging and molesting Andrea Constand at his Philadelphia mansion in January 2004. He faces up to 30 years in prison at his sentencing later this year. Polanski, who lives in France, for his part is wanted in the United States for the statutory rape of a 13-year-old girl in 1977. The veteran 84-year-old director of "Rosemary's Baby" for years has been seeking to negotiate a deal in the case with US authorities. - 'All just PR' - Polanski's victim Samantha Geimer, who has sought to end the 41-year-old case against the fugitive director, on Thursday dismissed the Academy's decision to expel him as "an ugly and cruel action which serves only appearance." "It does nothing to change the sexist culture in Hollywood today and simply proves that they will eat their own to survive," she said in a statement. "I say to Roman, good riddance to bad rubbish, the Academy has no true honor, it's all just PR." The Academy last October also voted to expel disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein in response to allegations of sexual assault and harassment. The body's 54-member board of governors includes some of the biggest names in the industry, among them Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks and Whoopi Goldberg. The Academy in December adopted a code of conduct for its 6,000-plus members after dozens of women came forward to accuse Weinstein of sexual assault. Its own president was investigated earlier this year and cleared of any wrongdoing after a sexual harassment complaint was filed against him. Apart from Weinstein, Cosby and Polanski, only one other Academy member has been booted from the group in its 91-year history. "Godfather" actor Carmine Caridi was thrown out in 2004 after he shared screeners that were later pirated. The latest expulsions come as the movie industry reels from the assault allegations against Weinstein which prompted an international uproar and encouraged legions of women to share their own experience of sexual harassment or rape under the hashtag #MeToo. A telephoto vista of Mars' Gale Crater taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover on October 25, 2017 NASA is poised to launch its first lander to Mars since 2012, an unmanned spacecraft called InSight that aims to listen for quakes and unravel the mystery of how rocky planets like Earth form. It is scheduled to launch on Saturday at 7:05 am Eastern time (1105 GMT) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, and if all goes as planned, it should land on the Red Planet November 26. Since the Earth and Mars likely formed by similar processes 4.5 billion years ago, the US space agency hopes the lander -- officially known as Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport (InSight) -- will shed light on what made them so different. "How we get from a ball of featureless rock into a planet that may or may not support life is a key question in planetary science," said Bruce Banerdt, InSight principal investigator at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. "We'd like to be able to understand what happened." NASA's InSight lander aims to be the first to reach Mars since the Curiosity rover, pictured here on Mars' Vera Rubin Ridge, which landed in 2012 and remains on the planet On Earth, these processes have been obscured over billions of years by earthquakes and the movement of molten rock in the mantle, he said. But Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun and Earth's smaller and less geologically active neighbor, may yield more clues. - Quake sensor - InSight aims to rest in an isolated spot and detect "marsquakes," which NASA described as "like a flashbulb that illuminates the structure of the planet's interior." The lander will gather information using three instruments, including a seismometer, called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure, made by the French Space Agency. Banerdt called the seismometer "the heart of the mission." After landing, the spacecraft's robotic arm will gently pull it out and set it on the ground, according to video images released by NASA. Scientist expect to pick up as many as 100 quakes during the mission, which should last at least 26 Earth months, or one Martian year. Most of the quakes are expected to be less than 6.0 on the Richter scale. Studying how seismic waves pass through the crust, mantle and core of Mars can help scientists learn more about what the layers are made of and how deep they are. The second key instrument is a first-of-its-kind on Mars self-hammering probe that will monitor the flow of heat in the planet's subsurface. Called the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package, it was made by the German Space Agency with the participation of the Polish Space Agency. The probe should go 15 times deeper than any previous Mars mission, to a depth of 10 to 16 feet (three to five meters), said NASA. A third instrument will help scientists on Earth keep precise track of the lander's location as Mars rotates. The US spent $813.8 million on the spacecraft and rocket launch, while investments on the instruments from France and Germany amount to $180 million, according to NASA. A pair of mini-spacecraft that are also launching on the rocket cost NASA $18.5 million. Known as Mars Cube One, or MarCO, the briefcase-sized satellites "will fly on their own path to Mars behind InSight," and test tiny new deep space communications equipment, NASA said. - Delay due to glitch - InSight was initially supposed to launch in 2016 but a problem with the seismometer was discovered in late 2015. One component cracked slightly during tests to replicate the large temperature extremes on Mars, which dipped to -120 Celsius (-194 Fahrenheit.) Engineers decided it could not be patched, and NASA granted more time for them to properly fix the problem by shifting the launch window to 2018. Launch weather officer Kristina Williams told reporters the weather forecast for Saturday morning is expected to be foggy, but that there were no other constraints to liftoff. If Saturday's launch is delayed for any reason, another opportunity opens Sunday. NASA's pair of Viking landers in the late 1970s had seismometers but only one of them worked. It was much less sensitive because it was bolted on top of the spacecraft. In contrast, InSight's seismometer will be picked up with a robotic arm and placed directly on the ground. InSight aims to be the first NASA instrument to land on Mars since the Curiosity rover which arrived in 2012 and is still working. Jewish pilgrims take part a the procession outside the Tunisia's Ghriba synagogue on May 2, 2018 Thousands of people participated in an annual Jewish pilgrimage to Tunisia's famed Ghriba synagogue, which ended Thursday night without incident under heavy security. For two days, pilgrims prayed and sang in Hebrew as they lit candles and placed votive eggs in a cave below Ghriba, Africa's oldest synagogue, on the island of Djerba in southern Tunisia. About 3,000 people took part in the first day of the festivities, a police official told AFP. Cheering and dancing, worshippers completed the pilgrimage by leaving the "Menara", an object of worship mounted on a cart for the ritual procession, at Ghriba's closely monitored outer gate. The joyful march usually makes a tour of other synagogues and Jewish neighbourhoods on the island before returning to Ghriba, but in recent years, celebrations have been confined to Ghriba for security reasons. According to Rene Trabelsi, co-organiser of the annual pilgrimage, nearly 400 Israelis took part in this year's festivities. Organised every year on the 33rd day of Passover, the Ghriba pilgrimage has long been a central tradition for Jewish Tunisians. The number of Jews in Tunisia has fallen significantly, from around 100,000 before independence from France in 1956 to an estimated 1,500 today. The community is still recovering from a 2002 Al-Qaeda suicide bombing on the synagogue that killed 21 people, mostly Germans. Before the attack, some 8,000 pilgrims used to travel to Djerba for the annual celebration. Although the security situation in Tunisia has improved over the past two years, authorities remain wary. A state of emergency imposed after a series of attacks on tourists and security forces in 2015 remains in place, having been extended in March for a another seven months. Authorities are particularly concerned over threats to tourist hotspots and voting installations for Sunday's municipal elections. hite House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said the administration could not confirm reports suggesting three US captives in North Korea would soon be released Donald Trump's legal team fueled speculation Thursday about the "imminent" release of three Americans detained in North Korea, but the White House sounded a note of caution. Trump lawyers Jay Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani both touted the impending release of Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul, in media appearances. "We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today," Giuliani told a pro-Trump program on Fox News. Sekulow tweeted that the "reported release" of the hostages was "imminent," echoing a sentiment from Trump himself 24 hours earlier. But amid raised hopes about the fate of the men, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said "we can't confirm the validity of any of the reports currently out about their release." Sanders also indicated that their exit from North Korea could set the tone for a much vaunted summit between Kim Jong Un and Trump. "We certainly would see this as a sign of good will if North Korea were to release the three Americans ahead of discussions between President Trump and Kim Jong Un," she said. The release would be a major victory for Trump and help scotch suggestions that he is offering Kim a path in from the diplomatic wilderness without getting anything in return. For years the United States have been demanding North Korea move to scrap its nuclear weapons in return for talks on sanctions being lifted. President Alpha Conde of Guinea, seen voting in February local elections, says he "shall bring a complaint in Paris for false accusation" Guinean President Alpha Conde said Thursday he would file a complaint in the French courts over allegations raised in a corruption case embroiling French billionaire Vincent Bollore. "I shall bring a complaint in Paris for false accusation," Conde told reporters in Conakry, without giving further details, during an address to mark World Press Freedom Day. Conde -- who is said to be close to industrialist Bollore -- also took aim at the Guinean press for, in his view, failing "to defend the nation". "You never protested when they tell stories about your country because you continue to misinform the population," said Conde, 80, stating that local journalists had "not sought to find out the truth here". Bollore -- charged last month over contracts to operate two African ports -- is by far the most prominent business leader to be investigated in France for suspicious activities in Africa. The 66-year-old head of the Bollore Group, was charged after authorities launched an investigation into how its African logistics subsidiary secured contracts to run Lome port in Togo and Conakry port in Guinea. Vincent Bollore has been charged over alleged corruption in the allocation to his group of port concessions in West Africa, something he denies Prosecutors are looking at whether Bollore Group's communications arm, Havas, undercharged Guinean President Alpha Conde and Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe for work on their campaigns as a sweetener for the contracts. The Bollore group has denied the accusations. In a newspaper opinion article on Sunday, Bollore said the continent was wrongfully portrayed in France as a "land of misrule, even corruption". "People imagine heads of state deciding by themselves to award huge contracts to unscrupulous investors," he wrote. Bollore, one of France's most powerful businessmen, sits at the head of a sprawling business empire with revenues of 18.3 billion euros ($22.4 billion) in 2017 and interests in everything from construction and logistics to media, advertising and agriculture. Africa accounts for about 20 percent of its turnover, excluding the Vivendi media group which is controlled by the family-run Bollore Group. Chadian President Idriss Deby insists the constitutional changes are necessary despite the opposition warning they could undermine democracy Chad's prime minister and his government resigned on Thursday, according to a presidential statement, as controversial constitutional changes took effect in a move that bolsters President Idriss Deby's powers. Deby -- in power for more than two decades in the oil-rich landlocked African state -- has insisted the changes are necessary. The measures establish a full presidential regime without prime minister or vice president and were passed by lawmakers on Monday. The head of state is due to sign them into law on Friday. A statement read on national television on Thursday announced Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke and his government had stepped aside. The constitutional changes comes despite opposition warnings that it would undermine democracy. An appeal for the annulment of the bill, tabled Wednesday by 26 lawmakers of the Chadian opposition, was rejected Thursday after being heard by the constitutional court. The changes will increase presidential terms to six years with a limit of two terms. The current mandate is five years with no limits on re-election. The vote comes amid growing political tensions in Chad, ranked by Transparency International as one of the world's most corrupt nations, as opposition groups boycotted a forum last month discussing the proposed changes. Volkswagen's former CEO was charged in US court in connection with the worldwide "dieselgate" emissions cheating scandal, making him the ninth and most senior person indicted in the case Former Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn has been indicted in the United States over his alleged role in the German auto giant's 'dieselgate' scandal, court papers showed Thursday. Winterkorn's indictment brings the US criminal case to the uppermost levels of Volkswagen, which pleaded guilty last year to lying to American environmental regulators about emission control systems. "If you try to deceive the United States, then you will pay a heavy price," US Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. "The indictment unsealed today alleges that Volkswagen's scheme to cheat its legal requirements went all the way to the top of the company." Winterkorn faces four counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and wire fraud. Prosecutors say Winterkorn knew of the company's emissions cheating as early as May 2014 but decided to continue with the fraud, the Justice Department said in a statement. In the summer of 2015, months before the scandal broke, Winterkorn chaired a "damage table meeting" at Volkswagen's headquarters in Wolfsburg, Germany where engine development staff delivered a presentation on how the company was deceiving US regulators and what consequences the company would face if it were caught, according to the Justice Department. And following the meeting, Winterkorn authorized the company to continue lying to American authorities. Winterkorn resigned in September of 2015 following revelations of the company's emissions cheating, in which the company configured as many as 11 million diesel-powered vehicles worldwide, including 600,000 in the United States, to emit up to 40 times the permissible levels of harmful nitrogen oxide but to hide this during testing. - Nine charged, two jailed - A Volkswagen spokesman told AFP the company "continues to cooperate with investigations by the Department of Justice into the conduct of individuals," but said, "It would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases." Eight other individuals have now been charged by US authorities in the scandal. Two VW engineers have been jailed after pleading guilty to participating in the conspiracy. Winterkorn is charged along with five other Volkswagen executives and employees who were indicted last year, according to court papers. They include senior former engine development and quality managers. Like Winterkorn, they have not been apprehended and reside in Germany. One former manager of VW's subsidiary Audi AG, Giovanni Pamio, 61, an Italian citizen, has been charged by complaint and currently remains in Germany pending extradition. The scandal has so far reportedly cost the auto giant as much as $30 billion in criminal fines, class-action settlements and environmental remediation. A study published in May of last year found that excess nitrogen oxide from improperly configured diesel vehicles had contributed to about 38,000 premature deaths worldwide in 2015. The port of Santos in Brazil Brazil said Thursday it has been forced to accept either tariffs or quotas by the US, despite what Washington described as a preliminary deal to resolve a dispute over US tariffs on steel and aluminum. Brazil was one of several countries, along with the European Union, threatened with tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports to the United States and 10 percent on aluminum. However, on May 1 the Trump administration held off on imposing the measures against Canada, Mexico and the EU, giving them a 30 day reprieve. It also said that it had "agreements in principle" with Argentina, Australia and Brazil that would be finalized "shortly." But Brazilian officials say that agreement was one-sided. A Brazilian government source told AFP on Thursday that the move was an "ultimatum." "US authorities announced the decision to interrupt the negotiating process and to apply immediately to Brazil the additional tariffs that were temporarily suspended or, alternatively and without any possibility of further negotiation, unilateral restrictive quotas," the ministry of industry said in a statement on Wednesday. A spokesman for the industry ministry said Thursday in an email that "the Brazilian government understands that negotiations ended," adding that Brasilia "remains open for dialogue." The government says that the aluminum sector has now decided to accept the 10 percent tariffs, while the steel sector is opting for quotas, which are seen as less damaging than the 25 percent tariff. Brazil accounts for about 14 percent of US steel imports, while the US market accounted for 32.9 percent of all Brazil's steel exports last year, the Brazilian government says. US House Chaplain Patrick Conroy, seen here with lawmakers in 2014, has retracted his resignation after being pressured to leave by House Speaker Paul Ryan A Catholic reverend whose ouster as US House chaplain sparked a political uproar said Thursday he was retracting his resignation, in a new twist to a case that has triggered a rare show of unity among divided Washington lawmakers. Father Patrick Conroy's sudden departure last month sparked angry accusations that Speaker Paul Ryan had pressured him to leave in part because of a prayer urging economic fairness ahead of a vote on tax cuts. In a two-page letter to the speaker, the Jesuit priest said he wished to serve out his term, arguing he had succumbed to pressure from Ryan's staff, believing the speaker had the power to fire him, but later came to believe he was forced out without due cause. "I have never been disciplined, nor reprimanded, nor have I ever heard a complaint about my ministry during my time as House Chaplain," he wrote. Ryan had strongly denied the chaplain was forced to resign for his politics, saying lawmakers had complained about his lack of interaction, but in a surprise move the speaker announced Thursday that he accepted Conroy's letter and was reversing his decision. "It is my job as speaker to do what is best for this body, and I know that this body is not well served by a protracted fight over such an important post," Ryan said. Conroy's retraction letter coincidentally came on what is recognized as the National Day of Prayer, when clergy from several faiths gathered with President Donald Trump at the White House. In his letter, Conroy appeared to dare Ryan to oust him. "You may wish to outright 'fire' me, if you have the authority to do so, but should you wish to terminate my services, it will be without my offer of resignation, as you requested," he wrote. Some 150 lawmakers, including Democrats and Republican, had written Ryan demanding an explanation for the ouster, with some warning that the decision reflected poorly on the House of Representatives. "There was no good reason to force him out," House Democrat Carol Shea-Porter wrote on Twitter after learning of Conroy's retraction. "Ryan should let him stay." The House chaplain, a position dating back to 1789, is elected by the chamber's lawmakers. There have been only two Catholics in the post: Conroy and his immediate predecessor Daniel Coughlin. Police believe the thieves snuck onto an assembly plant storage lot around 4 a.m. and broke into the expensive Dodge Ram trucks, examples of which are seen here, which retail for anywhere from $27,000 to $53,000 A group of thieves staged a brazen theft Thursday at an automotive assembly plant in the US state of Michigan, crashing through a security gate and driving off with a convoy of newly-minted pickup trucks. The early morning heist targeted Fiat Chrysler's popular Dodge Ram pickup trucks made at a plant in Warren, a suburb near Detroit. Police believe the thieves snuck onto an assembly plant storage lot around 4 a.m. and broke into the expensive trucks -- which retail for anywhere from $27,000 to $53,000. "They cut a hole in the fence, entered the property, and then took the 10 to 11 Dodge trucks," police chief William Dwyer told Detroit television station WXYZ. The thieves used one truck to crash through a security gate and drove away in a convoy, according to police, who did not immediately know exactly how many pickups were taken. Rams are the third best-selling pickups in the US, with more than 103,000 units sold as of March this year, according to figures compiled by industry analytics firm Kelley Blue Book. Fiat Chrysler's North American division did not return a request for comment. WASHINGTON (AP) - The lobbyist whose wife rented a condo to Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt at $50 a night sought EPA committee posts for a lobbying client, according to a newly released EPA memo. J. Steven Hart's seeking those appointments from his wife's former tenant, Pruitt, shows "the extent to which the special interests providing him with gifts have sought specific favors from EPA in return," said Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey, the senior Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The memo makes for the latest in a monthslong barrage of news reports and federal investigations questioning spending and other actions at Pruitt's EPA. Pruitt's former security chief, whose time with Pruitt saw the EPA administrator provided with round-the-clock security and first-class flights in the name of security, appeared for an hourslong closed-door interview Wednesday with staff on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. In this April 26, 2018 photo, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt removes his glasses as he testifies at a hearing of the House Appropriations subcommittee for the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, on Capitol Hil in Washington. The lobbyist whose wife rented a condo to Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt at $50 a night sought EPA committee posts for a lobbying client about the time Pruitt moved out, according to a newly released EPA memo. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Pruitt has repeatedly blamed his security staff and other subordinates for questioned spending by his office. Last week, the EPA head told congressional lawmakers that he had no idea staffers had spent $43,000 on a soundproof booth after he asked for a private, secure communications set-up. His former deputy chief of staff, Kevin Chmielewski, denied that, telling ABC News in a segment aired Wednesday that Pruitt knew the booth would be "on the tune of over $40,000." The New York Times first reported the new memo from Hart, the lobbyist. Hart wrote the email Aug. 10 to Ryan Jackson, Pruitt's chief of staff. "I want to highlight three candidates...who were nominated by our client, Dennis Treacy, the president of the Smithfield Foundation," Hart wrote, suggesting appointments for the three to an EPA science advisory board. The foundation is an arm of Smithfield Foods Inc. of Virginia, known for its hams. Smithfield Foods paid at least $280,000 in lobbying fees in 2017 to Hart's firm, and Hart was listed by name as representing Smithfield as its lobbyist when he wrote the email, according to federal lobbying records. Asked if the request represented a conflict of interest for Pruitt, the EPA provided a statement from Jackson that did not address that question directly. The suggestions were among hundreds the EPA received for the board, and the three people suggested by Hart were not appointed to the advisory board, Jackson said in the statement. Pruitt told Fox News in April that "Mr. Hart has no clients that had business before this agency," but a spokesman for Hart subsequently acknowledged that Hart actually met with Pruitt in his office in July 2017, about one month before Hart's proposed nominations to discuss efforts to preserve the Chesapeake Bay. Pruitt's assertion had been in response to questions about the propriety of his leasing the condo, at a bargain rate, from Hart's wife. Pallone, the lawmaker, called the August email "further proof that Administrator Pruitt has consistently misled Congress and the public." Separately Wednesday, an environmental group released EPA emails it had obtained from a freedom-of-information lawsuit showing a former lobbyist for foreign governments persistently pitching Pruitt aides on a proposed official trip to Australia last summer. Matthew Freedman, a promoter of U.S.-Australian business ties, framed much of his correspondence touting the trip to EPA staffers like a travelogue: On Sydney's Bondi Beach, he wrote Pruitt aide Millan Hupp, "you can walk as long as you want on a long and winding paved walking trail along the sea..and watch the surfers. I can send some photos if it is useful to visualize. Definitely a memorable experience." Freedman's emails showed him keeping U.S. diplomats in Australia, typically involved in government trips, at arms' length at the start of his pitching. The charge d'affaire at the U.S. Embassy in Australia would likely have good ideas for the trip, "but I want to wait a bit before I contact him," Freedman wrote. The emails "expose the fact that corporate lobbyists are orchestrating Pruitt's taxpayer-funded trips," said Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club, which obtained the documents. Pruitt has drawn fire for costly foreign and domestic travel with staffers, including a multiday journey to Morocco and France in December, for reasons Democratic lawmakers say don't justify the expense. EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox said the Australia trip was organized by the agency, not Freedman, and noted that Hurricane Harvey ultimately forced cancellation of the trip. Freedman, last registered as a representative in the U.S. for foreign governments in the 1990s, was not a registered lobbyist, Wilcox said. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the award ceremony for the National Teacher of the Year (all times local): 7:10 p.m. The recipient of the National Teacher of the Year award has told The Associated Press that she presented President Donald Trump with letters from some of the teenage refugees she teaches that talk about what coming to the U.S. has meant to them. President Donald Trump presents Mandy Manning, a teacher at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash., with the National Teacher of the Year award during the the National Teacher of the Year reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) A White House ceremony was held Wednesday at the White House to honor Mandy Manning of Washington state. She teaches English to new refugee and immigrant students at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane. Manning told the AP that that she used a private moment to give Trump stacks of letters written by her students and members of the Spokane community. She says some letter writers asked that the U.S. understand it is a role model and that people in power speak respectfully about immigrants. ___ 5:05 p.m. President Donald Trump has presented the National Teacher of the Year award to a Washington state educator who leads a classroom for teenage refugees. Trump on Wednesday honored Mandy Manning, who teaches at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane. The school specializes in English language development for new refugees and immigrant students. The president commended her passion and "incredible devotion" to teaching during brief remarks at a White House ceremony. He says teachers like Manning play a vital role in the well-being of the nation's children, the strength of its communities and national success. Manning was accompanied by state teacher of the year winners. Trump has taken a hard-line approach to both legal and illegal immigration and for a period suspended the U.S. refugee program. ___ 2:15 p.m. President Donald Trump will welcome to the White House a teacher honored for her work with refugees. Trump will be speaking at the National Teacher of the Year reception at the White House later Wednesday. 2018 National Teacher Mandy Manning teaches at Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Washington, where she leads a classroom for teenage refugees. The center specializes in English language development for newly arrived refugee and immigrant students and serves as their entry into American high school culture. Trump has taken a hard-line approach to both legal and illegal immigration and for a period suspended the U.S. refugee program. During his campaign he compared refugees fleeing war-torn Syria to a Trojan Horse carrying would-be terrorists and proposed banning Muslims from entering the country. President Donald Trump presents the National Teacher of the Year award to Mandy Manning, a teacher at Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash., in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Teacher of the year Mandy Manning poses for a photograph at the Washington Court Hotel, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Washington. The national award winner embarks on a yearlong advocacy role to represent the best of the profession. Manning says she will use her new platform to encourage educators across the country to get out of their comfort zones in order to best serve the diversity of their students. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) ATLANTA (AP) - The Latest on an execution scheduled for Thursday in Georgia (all times local): 8:30 p.m. The Georgia parole board has issued a stay for a condemned inmate who was scheduled to be executed Thursday. Robert Earl Butts Jr. was scheduled to die Thursday evening at the state prison in Jackson. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles on Wednesday evening issued a stay of up to 90 days to further consider the case. Board spokesman Steve Hayes said the board decided to issue a stay because of "the considerable amount of additional information" it had received in the case. He said the board will issue a decision during the stay or at the end of the 90 days. The parole board is the only authority in Georgia with the power to commute a death sentence. Butts and 41-year-old Marion Wilson Jr. were convicted and sentenced to death in the March 1996 slaying of Donovan Corey Parks in central Georgia. The two men asked Parks for a ride outside a Walmart store and then ordered him out of the car and fatally shot him a short distance away. 10:45 a.m. Georgia's parole board is considering whether to grant clemency for a condemned inmate set to be executed this week. Robert Earl Butts Jr. is scheduled to die Thursday evening at the state prison in Jackson. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles is holding a closed-door clemency hearing Wednesday to hear arguments about commuting the 40-year-old inmate's sentence. The parole board is the only authority in Georgia with the power to commute a death sentence. Butts and 41-year-old Marion Wilson Jr. were convicted and sentenced to death in the March 1996 slaying of Donovan Corey Parks in central Georgia. The two men asked Parks for a ride outside a Walmart store and then ordered him out of the car and fatally shot him a short distance away. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - A doctor hired by the family of an unarmed black man shot by California police defended his autopsy on Wednesday, a day after the coroner's office reported different findings. Dr. Bennet Omalu said in a statement that he stands "firmly in defense" of his examination of 22-year-old Stephon Clark. The official autopsy released Tuesday by Sacramento police said Clark was shot seven times, not the eight that Omalu said he found. A pathologist retained by the Sacramento County coroner said Omalu mistook an exit wound for an entry wound, leaving the impression that police first shot Clark from the back. The county's reviewer says Clark was most likely shot as he approached police, consistent with the officers' story. Lawyers for Clark's family on Wednesday accused Sacramento County officials of a "shameless attempt to undercut the clear conclusion of his findings - that Stephon Clark was shot in the back, multiple times, while armed with nothing more than a cellphone, posing no real threat to police." The officers shot Clark on March 18 after chasing him into his grandparents' backyard. They were responding to a report of someone breaking car windows, and said they shot Clark because they thought he was approaching them while pointing a handgun. Investigators found only a cellphone. The slaying set off weeks of protests. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump is hinting there soon may be an update on the three Americans being held captive in North Korea. Trump tweeted Wednesday: "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" The president is preparing for a potential summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, tentatively scheduled for May or early June. President Donald Trump arrives to present Mandy Manning, a teacher at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane, Wash., with the National Teacher of the Year award during a reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim discussed the Americans last month when Pompeo visited North Korea. Trump has said the U.S. is working hard to win the Americans' freedom. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said the release of the Americans would be a "demonstration of their sincerity" in the lead-up to the summit. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysian former strongman Mahathir Mohamad, who heads an opposition alliance in next week's national elections, has brushed off concerns that he is under investigation for spreading false news. Kuala Lumpur police have said they are investigating Mahathir under a new law banning fake news after complaints over Mahathir's claim that his chartered plane was sabotaged last week to prevent him from filing his candidacy in the northern resort island of Langkawi. Mahathir, who was premier for 22 years until his retirement in 2003, said late Wednesday he isn't worried about the police probe. "They can use whatever (law). I'm not afraid of any investigations. I have been investigated many number of times," he told reporters after a late-night rally in the central state of Pahang. The law, which was rushed through parliament last month just days before election was called, carries a stiff penalty of up to six years in jail and a fine of 500,000 ringgit ($128,000). Critics say it is aimed at silencing dissent ahead of the May 9 general election. On Monday, a Danish citizen became the first person to be convicted under the law for making false claims over the killing of a Hamas militant on a video he posted on YouTube. Mahathir, 92, has said he believed there was a "deliberate attempt" to stop him from going to Langkawi last Friday after the pilot found some damage to the jet just before departure. He said he tried to source for other planes but was rejected by three people, including one who claimed he was under pressure. Mahathir eventually found a plane and made it to the island to register Saturday for the polls. "We are dealing with a government party which is known to use all kinds of tricks in order to win the election. And one of the tricks, of course, is to stop me from being nominated, and especially me, because I happened to be the leader of the opposition," he wrote on his blog. "So I maintain my belief that the plane was deliberately tampered with to stop me from going to Langkawi." The Civil Aviation Authority said its investigation found no evidence of sabotage and the private plane company said it was a technical issue related to the front wheel. Prime Minister Najib Razak slammed Mahathir for making irresponsible allegations and urged him to stop his "politics of lying." Mahathir made a political comeback amid anger over a massive corruption scandal involving the 1MDB state fund that was set up by Najib but accumulated billions in debts and is being investigated for money laundering in the U.S. and other countries. Mahathir has galvanized a fractured opposition and become their prime minister candidate, in the strongest bid to oust Najib and his long-ruling coalition. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) - Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir Mohamad has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. Mahathir, one of Asia's longest-serving leaders, ruling for 22 years until stepping down in 2003, is leading an unprecedented challenge to his scandal-tainted protege, Prime Minister Najib Razak, in May 9 elections. A maverick leader credited with transforming the Southeast Asian backwater into a modern economy, Mahathir, though, dominated the country in stifling ways. FILE - In this April 23, 1982, file photo, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad raises his hands in triumph as his deputy Musa Hitam, left, places a sash on him in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mohamad led the ruling National Front to a landslide victory in general elections. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo, File) The 92-year-old Mahathir said he has come back to oust Najib and to atone for his past mistakes. FILE - In this 1981, file photo, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Tun Hussein Onn, left, greets his successor Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Mahathir, a maverick in the early days of his political career who survived expulsion from the dominant United Malays National Organization party, was the first commoner to become prime minister of Malaysia. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo, File) FILE - In this June 21, 1999, file photo, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad gets off his car as he arrives to the grand new administrative capital for his first working day in Putrajaya, south of Kuala Lumpur. Mahathir, a maverick in the early days of his political career who survived expulsion from the dominant United Malays National Organization party, was the first commoner to become prime minister of Malaysia.Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File) FILE - In this March 28, 2009, file photo, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, center, raises hands with then Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, right, and then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak at the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) general assembly in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin, File) FILE - In this June 20, 1998, file photo, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, right, stands with then his deputy Anwar Ibrahim during an annual meeting of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File) FILE - In this Feb. 13, 1996, file photo, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad tours the site of the Petronas Twin Towers, background, shortly after officiating a topping-out ceremony for the 88-story structures in Kuala Lumpur, Malasia. (AP Photo/Mike Fiala, File) FILE - In this Oct. 31, 2003, file photo, Mahathir Mohamad, second from left, waves as he leaves the prime minister's office in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File) FILE - In this March 8, 2011, file photo, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad listens to a question during the official launch of his memoir entitled "A Doctor In The House" at a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin, File) FILE - In this July 1, 1999, file photo, then Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, center, arrives at Bukit Mertajam, the home state of Anwar Ibrahim, making his first stop on a nationwide election campaign tour in Penang Island, Malaysia. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File) FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2016, file photo, Malaysia's former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, left, arrives for a rally by the Coalition for Clean and Fair Elections (Bersih), in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Malaysia's former strongman Mahathir has returned to the political ring, coming out of retirement after 15 years to unite an opposition that's seeking to end his former party's 60-year hold on power. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian, File) SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - The Latest on a plan to build two massive tunnels to remake California's water system (all times local): 10:30 p.m. After hours of public comment, a Northern California water agency is delaying a vote on whether to support Gov. Jerry Brown's controversial plan to build two massive tunnels to remake the state's water system. FILE - In this July 25, 2012, file photo, California Gov. Jerry Brown waits for the start of a news conference in Sacramento, Calif., to announce plans to build a giant twin tunnel system to move water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to farmland and cities. The Santa Clara Valley Water District board may reverse an earlier decision and grant its full support to Gov. Jerry Brown's controversial plan to build two massive tunnels to remake the state's water system.(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) The Santa Clara Valley Water District board will vote at a special meeting May 8. Wednesday's meeting came just weeks after a state commission recommended funding for a reservoir expansion the district is seeking. If approved, it could renew momentum behind one of the Democratic governor's top priorities eight months before he leaves office. The Santa Clara water district in October approved only a limited role in the project under the condition that Brown scale it back to include just one tunnel. The district's employees are now recommending that the board commit to the full project at $650 million. ___ 12:15 p.m. A Northern California water agency may reverse an earlier decision and grant its full support to Gov. Jerry Brown's controversial plan to build two massive tunnels to remake the state's water system. A decision scheduled for Wednesday night by the Santa Clara Valley Water District board comes just weeks after a state commission recommended funding for a reservoir expansion the district is seeking. If approved, it could renew momentum behind one of the Democratic governor's top priorities eight months before he leaves office. The Santa Clara water district in October approved only a limited role in the project under the condition that Brown scale it back to include just one tunnel. The district's employees are now recommending that the board commit to the full project at $650 million. WASHINGTON (AP) - Rudy Giuliani may have added to the legal headaches of his new law client and old friend, President Donald Trump, when he drew a link Thursday between a hush money payment to a porn actress and the potential fallout if her allegations of a tryst with Trump had gone public before the 2016 election. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and U.S. attorney, said in a series of interviews that Trump reimbursed his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a secret $130,000 payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels in October 2016. Trump himself acknowledged the reimbursement in tweets Thursday morning after previously denying he knew about the payment. Both Trump and Giuliani insisted that the reimbursement was made from Trump's personal funds and that the initial payment had nothing to do with the campaign. But then Giuliani made the link himself, telling "Fox & Friends": "Imagine if that came out on Oct. 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton." FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2016, file photo, then-President-elect Donald Trump calls out to media as he and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani pose for photographs as Giuliani arrives at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J.. Giuliani may have added to the legal headaches of his new client and old friend, President Donald Trump, when he drew a link on May 3,, 2018, between the $130,000 payment to a porn star to keep her quiet about an alleged affair and the potential fallout if her story had gone public shortly before the 2016 election. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) Several experts in campaign finance law, who already had raised questions about the payment, said the case that the payment violated federal law had only grown stronger. "I can say that Giuliani has done Trump no favors, especially this morning when he suggested Trump's motive was campaign-related. That's a huge deal," Richard Hasen, an election law expert at the University of California at Irvine, wrote in an email. Trevor Potter, president of the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, said Giuliani's statement that the payment kept Daniels' allegation from the public "is an admission that the confidentiality agreement and the timing of the payment influenced the 2016 elections." The payment was not reported by the Trump campaign, and if it were to be counted as a contribution, it would vastly exceed the $2,700-per-election limit. If the money could be construed as a loan from Trump, it would still have to be reported but would not be subject to any limits, Hasen said. Watchdog groups had previously filed complaints about the payment with the Federal Election Commission, the Office of Government Ethics and the Justice Department. There can be both civil and criminal penalties if investigators determine that the campaign or Cohen intended to keep the payment secret. But this is not an easy standard to prove in court, said Jan Baran, a longtime elections and ethics lawyer. Prosecutors failed to get a conviction against Democratic Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina on charges that he received illegal contributions and falsified documents to pay for the silence of his pregnant mistress as he campaigned for president in 2008. "If anything, the facts surrounding Mr. Edwards were arguably more campaign-related than what is happening today," Baran said. Questions swirled Thursday about why Giuliani and Trump decided to acknowledge that the president had reimbursed Cohen. Norm Eisen, who served as an ethics lawyer in the Obama White House and now chairs the left-leaning Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, which has repeatedly challenged Trump, said it might have to do with the fact that Cohen is under criminal investigation in New York. FBI agents raided his home and office several weeks ago seeking records about the nondisclosure agreement. "I think the other intention here apparently was to tear the Band-Aid off and to get out in public whatever Cohen might offer should he choose to cooperate," Eisen speculated. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, embraced a similar possible explanation. "You know, there's an old saying in the law: 'Hang a lantern on your problems.' So he comes in, he knows that there's been different stories being told about this payment and how it was made," Christie, a friend of Trump's, told ABC News. "So the fact is that Rudy has to go out there now and clean it up. That's what lawyers get hired to do. So he goes out there and he puts it out rather than having some reporter give breaking news that the president reimbursed it." Baran, however, offered caution about drawing too many conclusions. "We are dependent on what facts we know today and, as we know with President Trump, facts can change on a daily, if not hourly, basis," he said. ___ Associated Press writers Jill Colvin, Chad Day and Zeke Miller contributed to this report. BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections - including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that have forced some to withdraw. Many see the vote as a chance to push women's issues to the fore in this traditionally male-dominated society, where women still find it hard to win a powerful place in politics. There are concerns that women's rights are being eroded, 15 years after the U.S.-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein with hopes of bringing democracy to a nation long staggering under wars, oppression and countless economic and social problems. In this Sunday, April 22, 2018 photo, a poster of a woman candidate for parliamentary elections at a bus stop in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) Nearly 2,600 female candidates are vying for a quarter - a quota allotted to women under the constitution - of parliament's 329 seats in these elections, the fourth since Saddam's 2003 ouster. Fatin Rasheed Hameed, a candidate with the Baghdad Alliance party dominated by the country's minority Sunnis, says there would be fewer women in parliament if it were not for the 25 percent quota. "One of the most important women's issues in Iraq that needs to be urgently addressed is marginalization," said the mother of two and a university professor with a doctorate in biology. "Our society still allows men to dominate in all areas and fields." "Even this quota is unfair," she added. "Half of any society's success depends on women; therefore the representation should be ... at least half of the seats." Iraqi women account for 57 percent of Iraq's population of over 37 million, according to the U.N. Development Program, and despite government efforts to address gender inequality, the situation for Iraqi women has declined steadily since 2003. According to the UNDP, one in every 10 Iraqi households is headed by a widow. In recent years, Iraqi women suffered further economic, social and political marginalization due to decades of wars, conflict, violence and sanctions. In the 1950s, Iraq had a liberal society, becoming the first Arab country to name a female minister and adopt progressive laws for women and the family. But, the situation started to decline during Saddam's era and became further complicated after 2003, mainly due to the rise of the country's religious institutions but also militancy and extremism. In 2014, Islamic State militants seized human rights lawyer Samira Salih al-Nuaimi when she was at home with her husband and three children in the northern city of Mosul. The extremists tortured and then publicly killed her after their self-proclaimed religious court ruled that she had abandoned Islam. Those harrowing images may still haunt Iraqi women ahead of the elections - the first since U.S.-backed Iraqi forces defeated IS, declaring last December that the war against the Islamic State group had been won. In the streets of Baghdad and elsewhere, posters of women candidates have been plastered on electricity poles and buildings, alongside those of men. Some depict veil-framed faces while others show candidates with make-up and without the traditional Islamic headscarf, or hijab. Both provoked a harsh response - many posters were splattered with mud, defaced with beards drawn on or completely torn up. For the first time, harassment and smear campaigns against women running for a seat in parliament moved online. Sex videos have been widely circulated on social media purporting to show female candidates in bed with men, as well as photos allegedly showing candidates posing in underwear or revealing outfits. One such video - which she dismissed as a "fabrication aimed at pushing her out" - forced Intidhar Ahmed Jassim, allied with Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's Victory Alliance party, to withdraw from the race. In Iraq's southern Najaf province, tribal arbitration was held over a video showing a young man kissing the poster of a female candidate from another tribe. The outcome: he apologized, the apology was accepted and the female candidate's tribe even declined compensation for the insult. Alarmed by the unseen level of harassment, the U.N. chief's special representative for Iraq, Jan Kubis met last month with several women candidates over the "alarming situation" and "vulgar acts" targeting women, which he said only undermines the democratic process. "Those behind defamation, cyber bullying and harassment are trying to scare you off," Kubis told them, adding that the perpetrators are "afraid of educated, dynamic, qualified, courageous and open-minded women candidates that rightfully claim their space and meaningful role in political life of Iraq." Baydaa Salim al-Najar, who was at the meeting, said the attacks "systemically target candidates without the hijab, to knock you down." She is one of 45 candidates from Iraq's minority Yazidis - an ethnic group particularly targeted by IS in horrific attacks. Al-Najar accused Iraq's dominant parties of being behind the harassment of women - mainly as a campaign against new faces. The Baghdad-based lawyer is making her priority to raise the voice of Yazidis, especially Yazidi women, many of whom were enslaved by IS militants in their self-proclaimed caliphate. Sunni extremists consider non-Muslims infidels who deserve to be killed. For Iman al-Safi, who runs on the Wisdom party list, the smear campaign will spur women on to stand up for their rights and fulfil their dreams. "The woman is half of the society and raises the other half," she said. "We will achieve what we are striving for." ___ Follow Sinan Salaheddin on Twitter at https://twitter.com/sinansm . In this Monday, April 23, 2018 photo, a torn poster of a woman candidate for parliamentary elections is seen in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) In this Friday, April 20, 2018 photo, Faten Rashid, center, a candidate for parliament, walks around in the market with her campaign members in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race.(AP Photo/Karim Kadim) In this Friday, April 20, 2018 photo, Sahira Falih, a candidate for parliamentary elections, directs her children as they prepare campaign posters in her home in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) In this Saturday, April 21, 2018 photo, Ahmed Rashid places a campaign posters for his sister, Faten Rashid, a candidate for parliament, in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race.(AP Photo/Karim Kadim) In this Friday, April 20, 2018 photo, a candidate for parliamentary elections Sahira Falih, speaks with a baker as she campaigns in a market in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race.(AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) In this Friday, April 20, 2018 photo, a candidate for parliamentary elections Sahira Falih, speaks with a vegetable seller as she campaigns at a market in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban) In this Friday, April 20, 2018 photo, Faten Rashid, left, helps her children with the homework in their home in Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi women running for parliament this month are undaunted, despite many challenges they face ahead of the May 12 elections _ including unprecedented smear campaigns complete with sex videos that forced some to withdraw from the race.(AP Photo/Karim Kadim) LAS VEGAS (AP) - Police and hotel employees' actions as gunfire rained from a Las Vegas resort onto an outdoor concert drew mixed reactions Thursday after newly released video showed authorities making their way through a casino and carefully checking rooms before bursting into the shooter's suite. Security experts and a survivor of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history said the footage from officers' body-worn cameras offered only a glimpse of what unfolded as police responded to the rampage and didn't provide clues about why the gunman killed 58 people and injured hundreds last fall. "There's no real context that gives any kind of glue to put this puzzle together," said Brian Claypool, an attorney from Pasadena, California, who survived the Oct. 1 shooting and now represents dozens of victims and families considering suing for damages. This photo from police officer video body camera footage on Oct. 1, 2017, provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, shows officers going up a stairway during the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history by Stephen Paddock, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, released Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP) "What the survivors and people across this country want to see are answers," Claypool said. "How did this happen? Why did it happen? And could this have been prevented?" The Associated Press and other news organizations sued to obtain videos, 911 recordings, evidence logs and interview reports to shed light on the response by public agencies, emergency workers and hotel officials. Videos spanning 2 hours were released Wednesday, and more recordings will come in batches in coming weeks. A preliminary report released in January said Stephen Paddock meticulously planned the attack, researched police SWAT tactics, rented hotel rooms overlooking outdoor concerts and investigated potential targets in at least four U.S. cities. Police said the 64-year-old high-stakes video poker player killed himself as authorities closed in. An expert in police tactics dismissed questions about whether officers should have evacuated the packed Mandalay Bay casino, where gamblers played slots seemingly unaware of the shooting 32 floors above them. "There's no textbook. Every incident is unique," said Thor Eells, executive director of the National Tactical Officers Association. "The last thing they want to do is create more chaos and put people ... into potential fields of fire." Mehmet Erdem, a hotel operations professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said employees are trained to avoid inciting panic in guests. "Looking at the video objectively, there's no flags, nothing that shows any indication of negligence from the hotel management perspective," Erdem said. "You want them to get out, but you want them to do so in an orderly manner." Members of the initial police team who got to Mandalay Bay didn't know if there were multiple assailants or where they might be, Eells said. Video showed the officers with armored shields methodically checking rooms on the 29th, 30th and 31st floors before igniting an explosive charge at the door of the shooter's room on the 32nd. "Every door they pass or come in contact with is a potential adversary," said Bernard Zapor, a former agent in charge with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Milwaukee and Phoenix. "For the amount of people who were in there, you are basically having an active-shooter scene in a small city," Zapor said. "The complexity of this is unimaginable. I think they did everything they were supposed to do." Tim Bedwell, a retired North Las Vegas police lieutenant, SWAT officer and Marine, said he believed police acted too slowly. Bedwell is running against Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo to head the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. "They should have gone directly to that room, breached that room and engaged the threat," Bedwell said. "In this case, it has been said that Metro slowed because the shooting stopped. The problem is they didn't know it stopped. There was still a need to treat it as an active-shooter and go direct to the threat." Unlike previous video released by police, the footage made public Wednesday was not stamped with time and date information. Lombardo said this week that no one in the department would comment on the videos, and a police spokesman reiterated that Thursday. Jim Ferrence, Lombardo's campaign manager, said Bedwell should be ashamed of trying to score political points on a horrific act of violence. Claypool, who escaped injury at the concert, questioned why police have not released audio of a hotel security guard alerting staff that he had been shot on the 32nd floor and why police who arrived didn't seem to know which floor they were going to. "Every second mattered in that shooting," he said. "That's where I'm upset in looking at this footage." ___ Associated Press journalists Michael Balsamo in Los Angeles, Brian Skoloff in Phoenix and Michelle Price and Regina Garcia Cano in Las Vegas contributed to this report. This photo from police officer video body camera footage on Oct. 1, 2017, provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, shows officers as they breach the shooter's room during the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history by Stephen Paddock, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, released Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP) This photo from police officer video body camera footage on Oct. 1, 2017, provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, shows officers deploying a shield and weapons during the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history by Stephen Paddock, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, released Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP) This photo from police officer video body camera footage on Oct. 1, 2017, provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, shows officers searching hallways during the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history by Stephen Paddock, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas, released Wednesday, May 2, 2018. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP) This photo from an Oct. 1, 2017, police officer body camera video provided Wednesday, May 2, 2018, by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows an officer carrying an assault rifle past a broken-open window after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history by Stephen Paddock, at the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP) A Colorado inmate's lawsuit is among a string of court cases in the U.S. involving the treatment of transgender inmates in state and federal prisons. Advocates count a number of landmark policy changes and rulings in recent years. Here's a look at some of them: 1994: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that a transgender woman who was assaulted while in federal prison could seek damages against prison officials. 2003: The Prison Rape Elimination Act is signed into law. The sweeping law requires that prisons make decisions about where to house transgender people on a case-by-case basis, rather than going by genital characteristics or gender at birth. This undated photo provided by the Colorado Department of Corrections shows inmate Lindsay Saunders-Velez at the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility in Canon City, Colo. Saunders-Velez is a transgender inmate who is suing Colorado's corrections agency, saying she was raped at a men's prison hours after a federal judge denied her request to block the prison from keeping her in a disciplinary unit. (Colorado Department of Corrections via AP) 2011: A settlement with a transgender woman seeking treatment for gender identity disorder prompts the Federal Bureau of Prisons to end its "freeze-frame" policy of only providing treatment that the inmate was receiving when entering prison. 2011: A federal appeals court strikes down a Wisconsin law barring hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery while an inmate is in state custody. 2015: San Francisco officials announce the city's jail will house transgender inmates based on their gender identity. 2017: A transgender woman serving a life sentence for murder in California becomes the first U.S. inmate to receive state-funded sex-reassignment surgery. 2017: A transgender woman named Passion Star reaches a settlement with Texas that requires changes to the prisons' intake process and makes it easier for LGBT inmates to get into "safekeeping" areas in prisons. Star reported multiple assaults and rapes while she was incarcerated. 2018: New York City jails announce transgender inmates will be housed with fellow inmates of the gender with which they identify. 2018: A Missouri District Court judge rules that the state corrections agency cannot bar an inmate's access to hormone therapy because he or she was not receiving treatment before being jailed. ___ Sources: American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal, additional reporting by the AP. CARLSBAD, N.M. (AP) - New Mexico teenagers joined with students from across the U.S. in a school walkout to support gun ownership. Students from schools in Carlsbad, Albuquerque and Santa Fe participated in the movement Wednesday called "Stand for the Second," which aims to raise awareness of Second Amendment rights. Carlsbad High School student Will Riley had launched the effort that spread to many schools across the country. Riley and hundreds of his classmates walked out about 20 minutes before the end of the school day Wednesday. August Railey (left) and Andreas Sandoval (right), both juniors, speak to a group of students gathered for the local Stand for the 2nd Walkout rally at the Academy for Technology and the Classics on Wednesday May 2, 2018. Both Railey and Sandoval initially stood on opposite sides of the gun control issue but have come to an understanding in a shared desire to curb gun violence. (Gabriela Campos /Santa Fe New Mexican via AP) The 18-year-old senior said he wanted to show that not all members of his generation are advocating for gun control. "I was just really proud to give a platform for people who felt like they were being ignored, and I thought I was able to break the silence," Riley said. As students marched from the main building at Carlsbad High to the student parking lot, community members stood across the street holding American flags and cheering for the teenagers. "I support the Second Amendment. I think there is a good reason for the Second Amendment. It's not a gun issue. It's a people issue," Valerie Murrill of Carlsbad said. Riley was named an honorary sheriff's deputy last week by Eddy County Sheriff Mark Cage for his efforts in organizing the walkouts. In Albuquerque, students of La Cueva High School left a morning class and held a rally. About 100 students participated, according to co-organizers Casey Bruno, 16, and Devon Van Leeuwen, 15. "Our school safety is very important to our government and myself. I'm not here to argue about that, but I am here to make sure our Second Amendment is kept safe and upheld," Van Leeuwen said. The demonstration showed students and government officials that there's another perspective in the ongoing debate, Bruno said. In Santa Fe, dozens of students at the Academy for Technology and the Classics participated in a walkout and rally. Andreas Sandoval, an organizer of that event, told the gathered students that the focus of gun control efforts should be on preventing bad people from owning guns, not banning gun ownership. The 17-year-old junior said people have a right to own AR-15 semi-automatic rifles and he backs plans to place armed officers on school campuses. About 45 students from the same school marked the April 20 anniversary of the Columbine school massacre by organizing a discussion of school safety issues in the state Capitol with state legislators, school district officials and police. Andreas Sandoval, a junior from the Academy for Technology and the Classics, speaks to a group of students gathered for the local Stand for the 2nd Walkout on Wednesday May 2, 2018. (Gabriela Campos /Santa Fe New Mexican via AP) August Railey, left, and Andreas Sandoval, right, both juniors, speak to a group of students gathered for the local Stand for the 2nd Walkout rally at the Academy for Technology and the Classics on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Both Railey and Sandoval initially stood on opposite sides of the gun control issue but have come to an understanding in a shared desire to curb gun violence. (Gabriela Campos /Santa Fe New Mexican via AP) BEIJING (AP) - Germany said Thursday it would welcome the widow of Chinese Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo after a recording was released of her crying in desperation and indicating that she has given up hope of being able to leave China. "If I can't leave, I'll die in my home," Liu Xia, the widow, said during a recent phone call with her close friend Liao Yiwu, a writer who documented their conversation in an essay published Wednesday. "Xiaobo is gone, and there's nothing in the world for me now," Liu said tearfully. "It's easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me." In this July 15, 2017, file photo provided by the Shenyang Municipal Information Office, Liu Xia, center, wife of jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner and Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo, holds a portrait of him during his funeral at a funeral parlor in Shenyang in northeastern China's Liaoning Province. A close friend of the late Chinese Nobel Peace laureate Liu Xiaobo has released a recording of an emotional phone call with his widow. Liu Xia has never been charged with a crime, but has been kept guarded and largely isolated since her late husband was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights activism in 2010. He was still serving a prison sentence for "subversion" when he died last summer. (Shenyang Municipal Information Office via AP, File) Liu has never been charged with a crime, but has been kept guarded and largely isolated since her husband, Liu Xiaobo, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his human rights activism in 2010. He was still serving a prison sentence for inciting subversion of state power when he died of liver cancer last summer. Germany's Foreign Ministry told The Associated Press on Thursday that the German government has been discussing Liu's case with China and "will continue to do so." "According to the information available to us, Liu Xia has not been accused of any crime," the ministry said in emailed comments. "She should be allowed to travel, also for humanitarian considerations. Should she choose to come to Germany, Liu Xia would be welcome here at any time." Writing from Germany where he is living in exile, Liao said that Chinese state security agents repeatedly promised Liu Xia that she would be able to leave the country and seek treatment for the clinical depression that has long ailed her. Germany was prepared to take her in, according to Liao: "In early April the German Foreign Minister had already made specific arrangements, including as to how they'd not alert the news media, how they'd covertly collect Liu Xia at the airport, and how they'd arrange her treatment and recovery and more." But hopes for a quiet departure have not borne fruit. Hu Jia, a dissident and longtime friend of the Lius, described Liao's essay as a "counterattack" against Chinese authorities prompted by an "awakening" after hearing for months that Liu would soon be released. Corroborating Liao's account, Hu said Liu had initially been told by security agents to wait until after the 19th Party Congress last fall, when President Xi Jinping secured a second term at the helm of the ruling Communist Party. Then, Hu said, they told her to wait until after the meeting of the ceremonial legislature in March. During this time, Liu's supporters kept a low profile because government agents told them that remaining silent about the case would lead to a solution, Hu told the AP. "Why did Mr. Liao call Liu Xia on April 30? Because at that point it was already clear that hope was shattered," Hu said. "We were duped." When asked at a regular press briefing whether Liu will be able to leave the country, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said she was "not aware of the situation." "But Liu Xia is a Chinese citizen. The competent Chinese authority will handle the relevant matter in accordance with laws," Hua said, repeating a statement often used by China to address Liu's case. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) - Afghanistan is rolling out long-delayed electronic ID cards as a measure President Ashraf Ghani insists is "important to help fight terrorist attacks." Ghani and some senior officials were the first to receive their cards in Kabul on Thursday. Last December, the Afghan parliament approved Ghani's decree on the ID card, which unlike its simple predecessors made of paper has a chip that will be tied to the country's electronic database. Militants have often used fake ID cards to pass through security checkpoints and enter big urban centers to stage attacks there. But some in the government of Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah have voiced opposition to the cards because they denote a person's ethnicity and religion - and as such could be used to discriminate against ethnic Hazaras and other minorities. BERLIN (AP) - German authorities say they have arrested a 25-year-old Syrian man on suspicion of being a member of the Islamic State extremist group. Federal prosecutors say Faisal A.H., whose full name was withheld on privacy grounds, was detained Wednesday in the southwestern city of Tuebingen. Prosecutors said Thursday the man is suspected of joining a militia in 2013 that fought against the Syrian government. Later that year the militia merged with the Islamic State group. Prosecutors said A.H. was initially considered to be a government collaborator by IS, but after undergoing religious "re-education" and swearing allegiance to the group he was made to spy on people in the town of Tabqa and help clear homes seized by IS. He allegedly left Syria for Germany at the end of 2014. LUSAGYUGH, Armenia (AP) - The local tax inspector would visit Alik Stepanyan's small fishery in an Armenian mountain village every month to collect a bribe. Each time, Stepanyan would hand over 15 to 20 fish as a payoff to try to keep his business afloat. Last year, the 56-year-old farmer gave up. "I just got angry and shut it down. I got tired of having to pay bribes," Stepanyan said. "I hope the new government will tackle corruption and poverty which are hurting us and making our lives difficult." Corruption and poverty is what fed mass opposition protests in this landlocked Caucasus Mountains nation, ultimately forcing Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan to resign. In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, children draw on the asphalt in the yard in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh. Work in this picturesque village of 900 people which nestles at the foot of Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain, is scarce. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) He had ruled Armenia for a decade as president. But when term limits made it impossible for him to run again, Sargsyan pushed through an amendment to the constitution making the prime minister the most powerful position in Armenia. Parliament voted for Sargsyan as prime minister last month, which was largely viewed as his attempt to stay in power indefinitely. Tens of thousands of indignant Armenians, led by former journalist and lawmaker Nikol Pashinian, took to the streets. Sargsyan resigned on April 23 after two weeks of protest rallies in the capital, Yerevan. Pashinian, whom the opposition has nominated to become prime minister, hasn't put forward any concrete political demands or agenda other than to topple the ruling elite, viewed by ordinary Armenians as encouraging nepotism and corruption. But the protest leader's slogans resonated with Armenia's impoverished rural areas which are struggling for survival. Armenia is one of the poorest former Soviet nations. Nearly 12 percent of its population lives below the poverty line, eking out a living on as little as 1,530 drams ($3.20) a day or less. Armenia, sandwiched between Georgia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, has relied on Russia for energy supplies and loans since the fall of the Soviet Union. Strained ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan have crippled the country's development, making energy imports, among other things, costly. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village of Lusagyugh, about 60 kilometers (35 miles) north of the capital, where farmer Stepanyan lives. Work Is scarce in this picturesque village of 900 people which is nestled at the foot of Mount Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain. Local residents grow vegetables and raise cattle for food. Stepanyan's family of six gets by thanks to two cows, a vegetable patch and Stepanyan's mother's monthly pension of 60,000 drams ($125). Stepanyan, whose eldest daughter regularly goes to Russia for odd jobs such as cleaning or babysitting, used to travel to Russia too for upholstery work. But several years ago he got homesick and returned to the village and tried to start a business. He was immediately approached by tax inspectors who demanded that he pay amounts that were higher than anything he could hope to make from the small fish pond that he dug out on his plot of land. Stepanyan had agreed to give the local tax inspector fish instead of cash bribes, but after several months when fish were scarce and he still had to pay the tax inspector, he decided to shut down his business. Armenians working abroad often support several family members back home, by sending them their paychecks: remittances account for about 14 percent of Armenia's gross domestic product. About a quarter of houses in Lusagyugh stand abandoned because villagers have left for Russia in search of work. Samvel Zakaryan, a 20-year-old culinary student at a school in Yerevan, was in Lusagyugh recently on a break to help his family with some chores. He said five of his friends and his elder brother had gone to work in Russia because there are no job prospects in Armenia. Zakaryan has taken part in the opposition protests in Yerevan, and supports Pashinian's nomination. "Several generations of Armenians have been going abroad for a better life," Zakaryan said as he poured out fodder to the rabbits and two cows, which feed the whole family. "Now we have finally begun to find confidence that we can build a better life in our country, a new Armenia that people aren't going to flee." About 900,000 people who were born in Armenia, a country of 3 million, currently live abroad, according to the U.N. Population Fund. More than 10 percent of the population left the country during the decade that Sargsyan was in power. "Emigration has served as a relief valve of sorts, providing an outlet for people's discontent while widespread poverty has allowed Sargsyan's clan to consolidate power," said Ruben Megrabyan, of the Armenian Center for International Studies. Pashinian and his supporters have focused on toppling Sargsyan and proclaimed the fight against corruption as one of their main goals, but so far haven't offered any specific agenda to fix rampant corruption or widespread poverty. Back in Lusagyugh, Stepanyan pins his hopes on the opposition to deliver change. "We will feel different when corruption is eradicated," he said, sitting by a campfire. "This is what the opposition wants, and these are fair demands." ___ Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report. In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, Alik Stepanyan, 56-year-old farmer, right, and Meruzhan Arutyunyan, sit near the farm in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Back in Lusagyugh, former fish farmer Stepanyan pins his hopes on the political opposition to deliver change. "We will feel different when corruption is eradicated," he said, sitting by a campfire. "This is what the opposition wants, and these are fair demands." (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, a flock of sheep cross a highway outside Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh, far from the capital city, where the people struggle to survive. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, Alik Stepanyan, 56-year-old farmer, center, sits with his neighbour Meruzhan Arutyunyan, right, as his 4-year old son Samvel Arutyunyan, speaks to the Associated Press in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Stepanyan's family of six survives thanks to his two cows, a vegetable patch and Stepanyan's mother's monthly pension of 60,000 drams (dollars 125 US). (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, Lala Torgomyan, 62, gestures as she speaks to the Associated Press, in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh, where farmer Stepanyan lives. Work in this picturesque village of 900 people which nestles at the foot of Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain, is scarce. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, Samvel Zakaryan, 20, speaks on the phone in a cowshed in his family's house in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Zakaryan, who studies in a culinary school in Yerevan and was in Lusagyugh earlier this week on a break to help his family with some chores, said five of his friends and his elder brother had gone off to work in Russia because there are no job prospects in Armenia. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, clothes hang in the courtyard in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh, where employment is scarce and the people struggle to survive. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, Lena Zakaryanin, grandmother of Samvel Zakaryan, stands in a cowshed in her family's house in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Samvel Zakaryan, who studies in a culinary school in Yerevan and was in Lusagyugh earlier this week on a break to help his family with some chores, said five of his friends and his elder brother had gone off to work in Russia because there are no job prospects in Armenia. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh. Work in this picturesque village of 900 people which nestles at the foot of Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain, is scarce. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, high-voltage transmission lines are seen outside Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Armenia, a landlocked country sandwiched between Georgia, Iran, Turkey and Azerbaijan, has relied on Russia for energy supplies and loans. Strained ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan have crippled the country's development, making energy imports, among other things, costly. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, a girl walks past dilapidated sheds in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Armenia is one of the poorest former Soviet nations, with nearly 12 percent of its population living below the poverty line, eking out a living on as little as 1,530 drams ($3.20) a day or less. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, Samvel Arutyunyan, 4-year old boy, sits looking into a camera in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh, where farmer Stepanyan lives. Work in this picturesque village of 900 people which nestles at the foot of Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain, is scarce. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, a local woman and her child walk down a street in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia, Friday, April 27, 2018. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh, where farmer Stepanyan lives. Work in this picturesque village of 900 people which nestles at the foot of Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain, is scarce. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) In this photo taken on Friday, April 27, 2018, local men load old lighting poles onto a truck in Lusagyugh village, about 60 kilometers (38 miles) north of Yerevan, Armenia. Poverty and unemployment in Armenia are particularly visible in rural areas like the village Lusagyugh. Work in this picturesque village of 900 people which nestles at the foot of Aragats, Armenia's highest mountain, is scarce. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits) Rose McGowan could face trial for felony drug possession after a judge in Virginia found probable cause to send the case to a grand jury. McGowan, 44, has been fighting the charge which was brought after cocaine was found in a wallet she accidentally left behind on a flight to Dulles International Airport in January 2017. But a judge at a preliminary hearing in Leesburg Thursday refused to dismiss the case and ruled there was probably cause to proceed. Legal woes: Rose McGowan could face trial for felony drug possession after a judge in Virginia found probable cause Thursday to send the case to a grand jury A grand jury will hear the case June 11 and if they decide to indict the actress, she will likely face an arraignment in circuit court on June 12. McGowan was one of the first to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and has been vociferous in her allegations against the now disgraced Hollywood mogul. Weinstein has denied the rape allegations. The former Charmed star has argued that the cocaine was 'planted' in order to discredit her and her role in the downfall of Weinstein. Had support: The actress, 44, held hands with her attorneys as she arrived for the preliminary hearing at the Loudon Country courthouse in Leesburg Drug case: McGowan has been fighting the charge which was brought after cocaine was found in a wallet she left behind on a flight to Dulles International Airport in January 2017 At Thursday's hearing, McGowan's lawyers argued that at least several hours elapsed between the time McGowan left the plane and when it was found by a cleaning crew in the first-class section of a United Airlines cabin. They said it was impossible to account for who may have handled the wallet during that time. 'There is no evidence Ms. McGowan was aware of the presence of cocaine' in her wallet, defense lawyer Jessica Carmichael argued. Carmichael also suggested McGowan was facing increased legal scrutiny because she's famous. 'She may be a public figure but she's a person just like the rest of us,' Carmichael said. Victim: The former Charmed star, one of the first to accuse Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault, has argued the cocaine was 'planted' in order to discredit her and her claims about the mogul General District Judge Dean Worcester said the legal standard for establishing probable cause to send the case to a grand jury is low and that arguments about planted evidence are better suited for trial. He noted that the drugs weren't just found on the floor of the cabin but in a wallet with McGowan's driver's license. Detective Jarrod Hughes testified at the hearing that he called McGowan to inform her that her wallet had been found. He said McGowan asked if she could pick it up at the airport's baggage claim. He said when he informed McGowan she would have to pick it up at the police station, she said she would come by to get it but never did. 'When she was told it was at the police station, all of the sudden she did not want to pick it up,' prosecutor Rebecca Thacher said. Statement: Outside the court following the judge's ruling, lawyer Jennifer Robinson said: 'Rose is a brave whistleblower who has been the subject of a vicious vilification campaign' Her side: 'The sooner this case is resolved, the sooner she can focus her efforts on seeking accountability for Mr. Weinstein,' Robinson told the media McGowan held hands with her lawyers as she entered the courthouse but she did not testify during the hearing. Outside the court following the judge's ruling, another of the actress's lawyers Jennifer Robinson said: 'Rose is a brave whistleblower who has been the subject of a vicious vilification campaign by one of the most powerful men, in the most powerful industries in this country.' 'The sooner this case is resolved, the sooner she can focus her efforts on seeking accountability for Mr. Weinstein,' Robinson added. MADRID (AP) - The disbanding of ETA, the Basque militant group that stained Spain's return to democracy with blood, arrived as bittersweet news for Inaki Garcia, whose father died at its hands 38 years ago. Like many in his native Basque Country, Garcia had long expected the move. But when it finally arrived on Wednesday in the form of a leaked letter, Garcia was unimpressed. "This closure comes unbearably late and in the worst form possible," said Garcia, whose father was the regional representative of the state-owned telecommunications company when he was kidnapped and shot dead near San Sebastian. The gunmen were never identified. A woman shelters from the rain while walking past a wall reading,'' There is no barrier that will deny our country's freedom'', in the small village of Hernani, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. The disbanding of Basque militant group ETA announced for this week has laid bare the scars of one of Europe's last violent conflicts. (Alvaro Barrientos) After killing Juan Manuel Garcia and 852 other people in its thwarted six-decade campaign for a Basque-ruled state, ETA began its long path to dissolution in 2011. That year, it declared it would no longer kill; getting rid of its arsenal of weapons would take six more years. Finally, in a letter to the Basque regional government and others dated mid-April and made public this week, the group said it had "completely dissolved all its structures." In the letter, ETA also acknowledged that it failed to solve the Basque "political conflict." But for Garcia, the group has so far failed to recognize explicitly that resorting to violence was a mistake. "ETA has lost a historical opportunity," he said. The staggered disappearance of the militants' threat has laid bare some of the scars in the Basque region, which straddles the Pyrenees in northern Spain and southwestern France, where ETA caused deaths but also received much support. Its end also shifts the focus to the challenges ahead, from reparations and justice for unresolved crimes demanded by survivors and victims' relatives on all sides, to the future of nearly 300 imprisoned militants. An online call for "an end of ETA without impunity" has already enlisted more than 50,000 signatures. The accompanying manifesto of victims' relatives, survivors and intellectuals warns that "ETA wants to reset the counter to zero," and calls for a full investigation of the 358 unsolved assassinations. Consuelo Ordonez, one of the initiative's leaders and sister of a conservative leading politician killed in 1995, also warned the Spanish government to refrain from granting any privileges to imprisoned members of ETA. The issue of the militant convicts remains a point of tension in Basque and Spanish politics. Many relatives still take weekly painful trips to distant locations elsewhere in Spain where their imprisoned relatives have been kept as part of a so-called "dispersal policy" in place since the early '90s. The policy aimed to weaken the network of support for the organization. But with ETA's disappearance, a majority of Basques are asking that they be treated the same as other criminals. That view faces legal and political opposition, as well as opposition from many ETA survivors and victims' relatives. Garcia is among those who want for the prisoners "no more and no less" than for other inmates. He doesn't seek revenge, he says, but adds that ceremonies that separatists hold in Basque towns to welcome released militants as heroes should end. Like many other victims' relatives, he considers an "insult" any calls for a general amnesty or similar arrangements to those that allowed early releases for IRA members in Northern Ireland. The 56-year-old professor is also concerned about the message that will remain for future generations when all traces of ETA are erased. "It's no time to talk about winners or losers, but one thing is for sure: we defeated the idea that people can be treated as military targets for political purposes," he says. "It's time to overcome pain without hate, but it will take a long time to heal the individual and social wounds." Sara Buesa said it was comforting to wake up knowing that the organization that killed her father, socialist politician Fernando Buesa, no longer exists. But she said that the personal pain and the consequences of ETA's violence in society will remain: "We are a wounded people," she said. The bloody campaign reached its height in the early 1980s, as Spain transitioned from dictatorship to democracy. ETA killed, injured, kidnapped and threatened not only members of the military and police forces but also politicians, entrepreneurs, civilians and some of its own militants who wanted to leave the organization. At least 60 people were also killed by death squads set up by members of Spain's security forces and clandestine far-right groups. Among their victims was Xabier Galdeano, founder and journalist of the pro-independence newspaper Egin. A gunman hired by the Groups of Anti-Terrorism Liberation, or GAL, shot him dead in southern France in 1985, at the height of what has become known as Spain's "dirty war" on terrorism. His daughter, Karmen Galdeano, says an acknowledgement of state-inflicted violence is also necessary for reconciliation. "Right now, we, the victims of GAL, don't even exist for many," she says, adding that "a good starting point would be for the state to take a similar step as ETA's, acknowledging the harm that it caused." "Every assassination should be at the same level, but the consequences of what ETA and GAL did can't be equated," said Gaizka Fernandez, warning against painting the Basque conflict as one with two warring sides. A historian with the Vitoria-based Memorial Center for Terrorism Victims, Fernandez also says that Basque society has a long way to go in acknowledging its complicity in decades of violence. "We have a consoling image of ourselves as a society standing against terrorism, but that's not what polls and studies tell us," he said. "There was a pacifist minority, but most of us stayed at home when ETA was killing." When construction work finishes in its headquarters, the government-run center will hold archives including ETA's internal documents. Fernandez said it wants to be a source for research and education on "all kinds" of terrorism as an antidote against future conflicts. "The broth of hate is the most dangerous because it could re-ignite violence," he said. Initiatives over the past decade to bring together victims from all sides are also helping to bridge confrontation and indifference among survivors on all sides. Secretive and limited to a small group at first, the meetings have widened to include some former ETA members and are now being tested in more open forums in Basque towns. Sharing her personal experience helped Galdeano understand how "human suffering takes no sides, nations or flags." Through the meetings, the 52-year-old also acknowledged what she considers to be her share of responsibility. "We all stopped greeting each other in the streets," she said. "But we are now slowly turning things around." Both Garcia and Buesa have also taken part in meetings and shared the testimony of their respective fathers' assassinations in schoolrooms. In Buesa's words, victims and relatives "have a responsibility to pass on our experience of turning pain into life lessons." Garcia even visited repentant ETA members in prison, a challenging experience that helped him to understand how militants trained themselves not to see the human beings that their victims were. "Reconciliation is something that needs to be built from bottom to top," said the marketing professor, who warns against turning ETA's page in the history books too quickly. "Now," he said, "comes the hardest part." Consuelo Ordonez, sister of Gregorio Ordonez, a Basque politician who was killed in 1995 by the armed separatist armed group ETA, stands for a photo during a tribute for all people killed by ETA in the Basque city of San Sebastian, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. The disbanding of Basque militant group ETA announced for this week has laid bare the scars of one of Europe's last violent conflicts and Ordonez warned the Spanish government to refrain from granting any privileges to imprisoned members of ETA. (AP Photo/Alvaro Barrientos) A man carries some Basque flags in the small village of Hernani, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. The disbanding of Basque militant group ETA announced for this week has laid bare the scars of one of Europe's last violent conflicts. (Alvaro Barrientos) A man walks next to a butchers with paint on the wall reading ''Long Live for Basque Soldiers'' in the small village of Hernani, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. The disbanding of Basque militant group ETA announced for this week has laid bare the scars of one of Europe's last violent conflicts. (Alvaro Barrientos) A woman shelters from the rain under an umbrella, while walking past a wall painted with portraits of prisoners of the Basque separatist armed group ETA, in the small village of Hernani, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. The disbanding of Basque militant group ETA announced for this week has laid bare the scars of one of Europe's last violent conflicts. (Alvaro Barrientos) A man rests inside in a typical bar of the Basque Country, in San Sebastian, northern Spain, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. The disbanding of Basque militant group ETA announced for this week has laid bare the scars of one of Europe's last violent conflicts. (Alvaro Barrientos) ISLAMABAD (AP) - Pakistan's foreign ministry says that no "deal" is in the works between Islamabad and Washington for the release of a physician who helped the United States track down Osama bin Laden in 2011. Thursday's comment by the ministry's spokesman, Mohammad Faisal, came days after Pakistani authorities moved Dr. Shakil Afridi from a prison in the northwestern city of Peshawar to an undisclosed location, triggering speculation about his possible release. Afridi has languished behind bars since 2012, when a court convicted him and sentenced him to 33 years in prison over ties with militants. He was never formally convicted of helping CIA find bin Laden, which led to the May 2011 Navy SEALs operation that killed the al-Qaida mastermind. Washington seeks Afridi's release but Islamabad insists he violated the country's laws. TIRANA, Albania (AP) - Albania's former interior minister has resigned as lawmaker to allow investigators to probe his alleged involvement in a drug trafficking ring. Saimir Tahiri on Thursday said he gave up his position in part so the investigation wouldn't stand in the way of Albania's integration path toward the European Union. Tahiri, who served as interior minister under the leftist Socialist government from 2013 to 2017, is accused of alleged links to a criminal group suspected of trafficking large amounts of cannabis. Some of its leaders have been arrested in Italy and Albania. Tahiri has strongly denied any links to the group. Last year parliament lifted Tahiri's immunity so prosecutors could question him and search his residence. Albania expects the European Council to approve launching EU membership talks in June. ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - A Turkish court has acquitted a former beauty queen of charges of "insulting" the victims of the country's failed 2016 coup in a Twitter post. Itir Esen was stripped of her Miss Turkey 2017 title and charged with insulting a section of the public for the tweet she posted as the country held memorials marking the failed coup. The tweet, which was later erased, read: "I got my period on the morning of the July 15 martyrs' day. I'm marking the day by bleeding as a representation of the martyrs' blood." FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017 file photo, Itir Esen, 18, smiles after being crowned Miss Turkey 2017 in Istanbul. A court has acquitted on Thursday, May 3, 2018 the former beauty queen of charges of "insulting" the victims of a failed 2016 coup over a Twitter posting that had caused uproar. Esen was stripped of her Miss Turkey 2017 title and was later charged with insulting a section of the public for the tweet she posted as the country held memorials marking the failed coup. (AP Photo, File) Esen had denied intention to insult the victims. The court acquitted her on Thursday citing "insufficient elements" for a crime. Her title was given to the runner-up who went on to represent Turkey in China. WASHINGTON (AP) - Record exports trimmed the U.S. trade deficit in March, the first drop in seven months in a massive gap that President Donald Trump is determined to shrink with an aggressive America first policy. The Commerce Department says the trade deficit - the difference between what America sells and what it buys in foreign markets - slid to $49 billion, down from $57.7 billion in February and lowest since September. Trump has vowed to bring down America's massive deficits, which he blames on bad trade agreements and abusive practices by U.S. trading partners. FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2017 file photo, a container ship is unloaded at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, Calif. Record exports trimmed the U.S. trade deficit in March 2018, the first drop in seven months in a massive gap that President Donald Trump is determined to shrink with an aggressive America First policy. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Exports rose in March to a record $208.5 billion, led by shipments of civilian aircraft and soybeans. Imports slipped 1.8 percent to $257.5 billion. The United States ran a $20.5 billion surplus in the trade of services such as education and banking. But that was offset by a $69.5 billion deficit in the trade of goods. Top administration officials are visiting Beijing this week for talks aimed at reducing America's huge trade deficit in goods with China, which fell 11.6 percent in March to $25.9 billion. Trump is threatening to slap tariffs on up to $150 billion in Chinese products, and the Chinese have targeted $50 billion in U.S. products, including soybeans and small aircraft. The administration is also seeking to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada, and has slapped tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. Despite the reduction in March, the trade gap is up 18.5 percent to $163.4 billion so far this year. The president views trade deficits as a sign of economic weakness that can be brought down by more aggressive trade policies. Most economists say they are caused by bigger economic forces, mainly the fact that the United States consistently spends more than it produces. The trade gap has continued to rise since Trump entered the White House partly because the U.S. economy is strong and American consumers have an appetite for imported products and the confidence and financial wherewithal to buy them. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump's explanation for why he fired FBI Director James Comey has shifted again. Rudy Giuliani, Trump's new attorney, said in an interview on Fox News that Trump fired Comey last year because Comey would not state "that he wasn't a target" of the special counsel's Russia investigation. He said Trump felt that he was treated worse than Hillary Clinton, who was publicly cleared of criminal wrongdoing at an unusual FBI headquarters news conference in July 2016. "He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation," Giuliani said. "He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that. Actually, he couldn't get that." FILE - In this June 8, 2017 file photo, former FBI director James Comey speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. Rudy Giuliani, Trump's new attorney, says Trump fired Comey last year "because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target" of the special counsel's Russia investigation. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Comey told The Associated Press in an interview this week that he saw telling Trump privately - at a January 2017 Trump Tower meeting - that he wasn't under investigation as a way to lower the "temperature" of an otherwise tense encounter before the president took office. Giuliani's explanation foreshadows a likely defense to the May 2017 dismissal, but it was just the latest in a series of rationales offered by Trump and his advisers. It also comes as the president's legal team is debating whether to allow Trump to be interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team, which in addition to investigating potential coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign, is examining whether the president's firing of Comey and other actions constitute obstruction of justice. "The president, frankly, doesn't have to have a justification," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Thursday. "He can hire and fire whoever he wants and he made the decision to fire James Comey and that's certainly a decision he stands by and one that he feels very justified in since." In announcing the firing, the White House initially cited the FBI director's handling of the investigation into Clinton's emails. Trump later told NBC's Lester Holt that he was thinking of "this Russia thing" when he made the move. On Fox News Wednesday night, Giuliani said Trump did the Lester Holt interview "to explain to the American people the president was not the target of the investigation." Comey has acknowledged that he told Trump on multiple occasions that he was not personally under investigation. Yet when asked that same question by Congress at a public hearing last year, he declined to provide that same reassurance. "I'm not gonna answer that," Comey said a at March 2017 House intelligence committee hearing in response to the question of whether Trump himself was being investigated. "We have briefed him in great detail on the subjects of the investigation and what we're doing, but I'm not gonna answer about anybody in this forum." After that hearing, Comey has said, Trump called him at the FBI and declared the Russia investigation a "cloud" that needed to be lifted. During that conversation, Comey told Trump again that he was not personally under investigation and said he had already shared that fact with congressional leaders. But Trump was not satisfied, Comey has said, and repeatedly told him, "We need to get that fact out" more widely. In the AP interview Tuesday, Comey acknowledged that it was possible he could have handled the January 2017 Trump Tower meeting differently. His general counsel had expressed concern about providing that reassurance to Trump, but Comey said he thought it was probably necessary as a way to preserve their relationship. During that same meeting, Comey alerted Trump to the existence of salacious allegations concerning Russia prostitutes contained in a dossier compiled by a former British spy that had been circulating around Washington. Comey said Trump strongly denied the allegations, but appeared to calm down after being told he wasn't under investigation. "If I was still going to be in the position of having to brief him privately, had I not said that, what would have happened thereafter?" Comey said in the interview. "That is, what would have happened to the temperature of that meeting if I didn't have some way to take it down in the moment at Trump Tower?" He added, "I can imagine some things that I would do differently but then I'd have to figure out, so what would I do then with the alternative lives that would spin out from that and would they be better or worse?" ___ Associated Press writer Chad Day contributed to this report. CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson is expressing outrage that a 15-year-old boy was shot in the head as he rode a city bus home from high school on the city's Southwest Side. Police say the bullet smashed through the rear window of a Chicago Transit Authority bus in the Marquette Park neighborhood Wednesday and grazed the boy's head. The teen, whose name hasn't been released, is reported in good condition. Johnson describes the shooting as "infuriating." He says the teenager was doing "what we all expect him to do," yet he was stuck by a bullet fired from at least a block away by two people shooting at each other. He didn't appear to be the intended target. There have been no arrests in the case. HERSHEY, Neb. (AP) - Authorities locked down a western Nebraska school after a student produced what looked like a deadly firearm from his backpack. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office said in a release that the boy pulled out the weapon outside the Hershey Public Schools building in Hershey on Wednesday, after most of the students had left for the day. The school was placed in lockdown. The gun turned out to be an airsoft pellet gun that the sheriff's office described as "a realistic replica of a pistol." Deputies soon found and apprehended the boy and several students with him. Authorities have not released their names and ages. District Superintendent Jane Davis would say only that the boy is an elementary student. It's not yet clear whether any of the students will face charges. RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - The PLO parliament is preparing to hand its authority over to a smaller council in a move seen as a concentration of power in the hands of President Mahmoud Abbas's loyalists. The Palestinian National Council agreed Thursday to grant the 115-member Central Council authority to assume the political body's powers, such as appointing a successor to the 83-year-old Palestinian leader and resolving the decade-long rift with the rival Hamas party ruling Gaza. Abbas aide Ahmad Majdalani says the move will "make it easier for the PLO to handle political developments, and to fill any vacuum in PLO positions." Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a meeting of the Palestinian National Council at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Monday, April 30, 2018. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed) The Palestinian National Council, which met this week for the first time in over two decades, was set to formally announce the measure Thursday evening. SWARTHMORE, Pa. (AP) - Students at a Pennsylvania college protested this week over the handling of sexual assault cases. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Swarthmore College students gathered Tuesday for a sit-in led by the advocacy group Organizing for Survivors. Students say their sexual assault claims have been ignored by authorities. The group is calling for Dean of Students H. Elizabeth Braun to resign and a review of the college's investigation procedures. They also say on-campus fraternity houses should be banned. Students say they brought their concerns to Braun and other administrators in March but overlooked. Swarthmore College President Valerie Smith said in a statement the school is committed to improving its Title IX policies and helping students. ___ Information from: The Philadelphia Inquirer, http://www.inquirer.com MEXICO CITY (AP) - Prosecutors and soldiers raided the headquarters of a local police force in central Mexico and found a strange thing: 113 of the 185 officers weren't police at all. The Public Safety Department in Puebla state said late Wednesday the 113 are facing charges equivalent to impersonating an officer and that the state government would take over policing duties in the town of San Martin Texmelucan. Puebla's interior secretary Diodoro Carrasco said the town government had lost control and could no longer guarantee the safety of residents. He cited multiple instances in which bound or dismembered bodies had been left on the town's streets. Some of the fake officers presumably paid to avoid vetting and registration procedures. Others weren't registered as police in any way, but video provided by the state government showed them wearing uniforms. A few other officers were arrested for charging potential policemen between $155 and $260 to allow them to avoid vetting and background checks. San Martin Texmelucan has become a center for contraband sales of fuel stolen from government pipelines. Puebla is the state with the largest number of illegal pipeline taps drilled by criminal gangs looking to steal diesel or gasoline. The government-owned oil company Pemex said 3,691 illegal taps were found nationwide in the first three months of 2018, with about 517 in Puebla. If the thefts continue at that level, they would surpass the 10,363 taps found nationwide in 2017, itself a big increase from the 6,873 found in 2016. Corrupt municipal police forces have been detected and disbanded in several states in Mexico. NEW YORK (AP) - An investigative team looking into who betrayed Anne Frank and her family has a book deal. "Anne Frank: A Cold Case Diary" will be published in the summer of 2020, HarperCollins Publishers told The Associated Press on Thursday. The book was among the most talked about at last month's London Book Fair. Former FBI agent Vincent Pankoke has been leading an international effort to solve the decades-long mystery over how the Jewish family's attic hideout in Amsterdam was discovered in 1944. Anne Frank was sent to a concentration camp and died the following year. Her father later found her diary, which has sold millions of copies. The publisher acquired world rights to the book. In a story May 3 about lending practices at HomeServices of America, The Associated Press presented the bylines on the story incorrectly. The story was by Aaron Glantz and Emmanuel Martinez. A corrected version of the story is below: Buffett's mortgage companies found to cater to white clients Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting found that the three companies under HomeServices of America direct their lending toward white borrowers and white neighborhoods By AARON GLANTZ and EMMANUEL MARTINEZ of REVEAL REVEAL Trident Mortgage Co. helps more families buy homes in Philadelphia and neighboring Camden, New Jersey, than any other company, but it primarily serves one demographic: white people. That is no coincidence. All of Trident's offices are in white neighborhoods, where it makes the overwhelming majority of its loans to white homebuyers. And Trident employs a nearly all-white team of mortgage consultants.. It's a division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the giant holding company led by Warren Buffett, which has dramatically expanded its mortgage brokerage portfolio in recent years, reporting nearly 28,000 loans worth $7.3 billion last year. The potential for more growth clearly caught the eye of the octogenarian investor. "HomeServices is on track to do only about 3% of the country's home-brokerage business in 2018," Buffett wrote in his most recent shareholders report, referring to HomeServices of America Inc., which controls Trident and two other mortgage companies. "That leaves 97% to go." But as they've become major players in cities across America, Berkshire Hathaway's affiliated mortgage companies have followed a consistent pattern. Government lending data reviewed by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting shows the companies direct their lending toward white borrowers and white neighborhoods, even in metros like Philadelphia where a majority of residents are people of color. The analysis is part of Reveal's ongoing coverage of modern-day redlining in America, which found 61 metro areas, from Jacksonville, Florida to Tacoma, Washington, where people of color were significantly more likely to be denied a conventional home loan than their white counterparts. This was true even when people of color earned the same amount of money as white loan applicants, wanted to take on the same size loan or buy in the same neighborhood. Reveal's analysis also found people of color were far more likely to be denied a loan in many of Berkshire Hathaway's largest markets, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. It makes loans through three firms, Trident Mortgage, HomeServices Lending LLC and Prosperity Home Mortgage LLC. Here's a breakdown: - In Philadelphia, Trident Mortgage made 1,721 conventional home purchase loans in 2015 and 2016, 47 of them to African Americans and 42 to Latinos. - In Atlanta, HomeServices Lending made 1,358 conventional home purchase loans, 63 to African Americans and 46 to Latinos. - In Washington, D.C., Prosperity Home Mortgage made 2,650 conventional home purchase loans, including 167 to African Americans and 144 to Latinos. Legal experts said Berkshire Hathaway's mortgage companies were carrying out the very practices outlawed by the Fair Housing Act, a 50-year-old law that banned racial discrimination in lending, by locating their branches in white neighborhoods, employing mortgage consultants who - from their websites - appear to be overwhelmingly white and lending mostly to white borrowers. "It sounds to me like they are intentionally avoiding doing business with people of color," said Allison Bethel, director of the fair housing clinic at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Representatives of Berkshire Hathaway and its affiliated mortgage companies declined to give interviews for this story. In a statement, HomeServices of America said it was "categorically false" to imply its "lenders are trying to ensure that they don't get applications from people of color." Berkshire Hathaway's "lenders have constantly focused on improving access to mortgage loans in minority communities," the statement said, adding that the companies "actively recruit diverse candidates and are committed to cultivating a diverse workforce." "Respectfully, a mortgage officer is not the only relevant employee to consider," the company said in a follow-up email. Trident's entire staff is 82 percent white, it said, as is HomeServices Lending's. Prosperity Home Mortgage's staff is 70 percent white. Reveal conducted a market share analysis covering millions of loan records, made available under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, employing techniques the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice use to spotlight lending disparities. The analysis compared the racial breakdown of mortgage lending for every lender in every city in America. It showed Berkshire Hathaway's mortgage companies took in a far greater proportion of their conventional loan applications from white homebuyers than their competitors in its largest markets in 2015 and 2016. The figures were especially stark for Trident, which placed all of its 55 loan centers across Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in majority-white neighborhoods, Reveal's analysis found. The analysis also showed 92 percent of the company's conventional home loan applications came from borrowers in majority-white neighborhoods. When it did lend in neighborhoods where the majority of residents were people of color, most of the loans still went to whites. Berkshire Hathaway's mortgage business has the hallmarks of one that could be prosecuted for "failure to serve" under the Fair Housing Act, according to Eric Halperin, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw fair lending cases during President Barack Obama's first term. That's when "you take a series of actions that ensure you don't get applications from people of color," he said. The lack of diversity in Trident's staffing and lending disturbed Beth Warshaw, 38, a white manager at a local arts nonprofit, who last year bought a two-bedroom brick row house in a primarily African American neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Warshaw worked with a white loan real estate agent and white loan officer from Trident. "It struck me how white everything was," she said. "Somebody is not asking themselves the right questions, including me." The government lending data analyzed by Reveal also showed Trident served a much smaller and whiter section of the Philadelphia area than the region's No. 2 lender, Wells Fargo, which overall took in a slightly smaller number of conventional home purchase applications. Trident made 26 times as many conventional loans to white homebuyers as blacks in Philadelphia in 2015 and 2016, the government data show. For Wells Fargo, that ratio was seven to one. In its statement, HomeServices of America said Trident plans this June to launch "a campaign in many Philadelphia majority-minority areas as well as in Camden, New Jersey and Allentown, Pennsylvania to attract minority applicants." Leaders in Philadelphia's African American community - including those who work to promote homeownership - said they had never heard of Trident. In Nicetown, a section of North Philadelphia where vacant, boarded-up row homes dot the landscape, the chief operating officer of the local community development corporation said she would love it if Trident's loan officers would attend one of her homebuyers clubs. "It would help us a lot," said Majeedah Rashid. "This community needs help. It needs investment." ___ This article was provided to The Associated Press by the nonprofit news outlet Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. To read - or publish - the original investigation go to: revealnews.org/redlining ____ Aaron Glantz can be reached at aglantz@revealnews.org, and Emmanuel Martinez can be reached at emartinez@revealnews.org. Follow them on Twitter: @Aaron_Glantz and @eman_thedataman. A Florida school went into lockdown mode when a mama bear and her three cubs wandered onto campus. County Sheriff's deputies and officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission swarmed River Springs Middle School in Orange City on Thursday morning as students were kept inside classrooms, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reports. School officials reported seeing the black bears around 8am near some portable classrooms. Roaming around: A Florida middle school went on lockdown when a mama bear and her three cubs were spotted on campus The bear family wandered away after foraging for food for almost two hours without causing any injuries or or serious issues. They moved away from the school because of their 'healthy fear of humans,' according to sheriff's spokeswoman Laura William. Williams says teachers were informed to keep students inside classrooms to avoid alarming them. Wildlife officials say this is the time of year that black bears are active as they move locations following the winter. The bear family wandered away after foraging for food for almost two hours without causing any injuries or or serious issues Earlier this week, officials were trying to trap a bear that killed a dog and injured another in Seminole County. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is advising residents of the area to take steps to avoid a confrontation with bears, such as making sure there's no food left out on the street. 'Don't give a bear a reason to hang around in your neighborhood. Remove anything that might attract a bear. If they can't find food, they'll move on,' said the commission's Bear Management Program directo. The commission also advises for people to keep their dogs close to them when they walk them as bears, specially females, can become aggressive when encountering them. CLEVELAND (AP) - Toronto third baseman Josh Donaldson has been activated after nearly one month on the disabled list because of a shoulder injury. The 2015 AL MVP had been out with a sore right shoulder since April 13. He's in the lineup and batting second in Game 1 as the Jays make up a previous postponement with back-to-back games of a doubleheader with the Indians on Thursday. Donaldson went to the team's facility in Dunedin, Florida, for rehab that included a throwing program. He completed a minor league rehab assignment this week. He's was batting .239 with three home runs and nine RBIs in 12 games before going on the DL. The Blue Jays made several moves before the doubleheader. First baseman Justin Smoak was placed on the paternity list while outfielder Dwight Smith Jr. and left-hander Tim Mayza were recalled from Triple-A Buffalo. Infielder Gift Ngoepe was optioned to Buffalo. ___ BERLIN (AP) - The Latest on migration issues in Europe (all times local): 7:40 p.m. Greek riot police have fired tear gas to disperse angry protesters on the island of Lesbos who tried to topple a police bus during a demonstration against a European Union migration policy. A police van used to transport prisoners stands in front of a migrant shelter in Ellwangen, southern Germany, Thursday, May 3, 2018. Hundreds of police officers have raided a migrant shelter after authorities were prevented from deporting a 23-year-old man from Togo days ago. (Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP) The protesters were among 2,500 demonstrators who gathered in Lesbos' main port as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived to speak at a conference. A large contingent of riot police formed a cordon to block the protesters from advancing further, and scores of them then tried to push over a police bus. Officers fired tear gas and earlier had discharged a flash grenade. No one has been injured or arrested. A general strike has virtually shut down the island to protest a 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey. Under the deal, migrants arriving on Greek islands from Turkey are held on the islands and face deportation to Turkey unless they successfully apply for asylum in Greece. The deal has created a massive backlog, angering people on Lesbos and other Greek islands. ___ 6:10 p.m. About 500 people on the Greek island of Lesbos are protesting against a European Union migration policy, many of them holding black flags. Police have set up a cordon at the island's main port and are using riot police buses to prevent protesters from coming close to government officials visiting the island. One group of marchers filed past coast guard cutters from Greece, Italy and Britain, chanting "solidarity with refugees." Protester Nikos Bourboulis said: "We are all suffering here - the refugees and the islanders. Unless we push back, nothing will change." A general strike has virtually shut down the island to protest a 2016 EU-Turkey agreement. Under the deal, migrants arriving on Greek islands from Turkey are held on the islands facing deportation to Turkey unless they successfully apply for asylum in Greece. The deal has created a massive backlog, angering people on Lesbos and other Greek islands. ___ 4:25 p.m. A general strike virtually shut down the Greek island of Lesbos on Thursday as residents protested a European Union migration policy that has left thousands of asylum-seekers stranded here. Most businesses, shops, cafes and local government offices were shuttered in the main town of Mytilene. The only sign of normality was that police officers were still on duty, and the local tax office was open. Two protest rallies were planned later in the day when Tsipras was due to speak at a conference. Stores were also closed in protest on the nearby island of Chios. ___ 2:10 p.m. Greek authorities say they have picked up 53 people, all believed to be from Iraq and Syria, after the boat smuggling them into the country ran aground on a remote beach off the mainland of northeastern Greece. Authorities said Thursday the boat, a 12-meter (40-foot) Turkish-flagged yacht, ran aground on Molyvoti beach in the northeastern Rodopi region, far from any of the usual smuggling routes used to ferry migrants and refugees from Turkey to Greece. The group comprised 19 men, 11 women and 23 children aged between 2 and 8. Hundreds of migrants continue to pass from Turkey into Greece. Nearly all cross either from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands or forge across a river along the Greek-Turkish land border. ___ 9:20 a.m. Hundreds of police officers have raided a migrant shelter in southern Germany after authorities were prevented from deporting a 23-year-old man from Togo days ago. Police confirmed that the operation had taken place in the early hours of Thursday, but declined to provide further details immediately. German news agency dpa reported that several people, including three police officers, were injured in the raid in Ellwangen, about 85 kilometers (53 miles) southwest of Nuremberg. Some 150 residents of the migrant shelter had reportedly swarmed the police vehicles sent to pick up the Togolese man Monday, forcing officers to abort his deportation. A masked police officer leads handcuffed migrants in a migrant shelter in Ellwangen, southern Germany, Thursday, May 3, 2018. Hundreds of police officers have raided a migrant shelter after authorities were prevented from deporting a 23-year-old man from Togo days ago. (Stefan Puchner/dpa via AP) A woman walks on an empty street in the town of Mytilene on the northeastern Aegean island of Lesbos, Thursday, May 3, 2018. Stores and services have been closed on the island of Lesbos Thursday ahead of a visit by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in protest at the government and European Union migration policy which has left thousands of migrants and refugees stranded on the island. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris) MEXICO CITY (AP) - Mexico's ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party has changed its leadership at a time when the party is lagging badly in polls on the July 1 presidential race. The new acting president, Rene Juarez, is a seasoned party operator and former governor. He told the Radio Formula station Thursday that "this is a critical, difficult, complex moment" for the PRI, as the party known in Spanish. Juarez's appointment Wednesday may be a bid to ease discontent within the party's hard core over the designation of Jose Antonio Meade as presidential candidate. Meade is not a member of the party. FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2018 file photo, confetti falls at the end of a Institutional Revolutionary Party, PRI, event in Mexico City. The PRI, Mexico's ruling party, changed its leadership, Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at a time the party is lagging badly in polls on the July 1 presidential race. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte, File) Juarez said Wednesday he will focus on talking with the party's base. "There is no doubt that I come from the PRI's very womb, something I am profoundly proud of," Juarez said. Meade was third in a poll published Wednesday by the newspaper Reforma, 31 points behind front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The face-to-face poll had a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points. That poll also found that 61 percent of the 1,200 people surveyed thought President Enrique Pena Nieto was intervening in the election, something Mexican presidents are not supposed to do, though many have. Pena Nieto has made recent speeches urging people not to vote out of anger, and has condemned "populist and irresponsible policies," something many took as a jab at the left-leaning Lopez Obrador. Lopez Obrador has promised to review or reverse some government reforms instituted by Pena Nieto, including the opening of the oil industry and education reforms. Pena Nieto said Wednesday he was staying out of electoral politics. "I see that I don't see anything," the president said when asked how he saw things. In last month's chapter of the Reforma polling series, 59 percent of those interviewed said their most important goal in the election is to get the PRI out of office. GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) - A mother and her three children were found dead Thursday inside a northeastern North Dakota home, and police said their deaths were apparent homicides and a suicide. Police said 35-year-old Astra Volk and her children, 14-year-old Tyler Talmage, 10-year-old Aidan Talmage and 6-year-old Arianna Talmage all had gunshot wounds. A handgun was found at the scene in Grand Forks and no suspects were being sought. Police went to the home Thursday morning after administrators at Lewis and Clark Elementary School asked police to check on the family. The responding officer saw what appeared to be a body inside the home on Grand Forks' south side and went in. Authorities work the scene after they found bodies of children and a parent at a house in Grand Forks, N.D., Thursday, May 3, 2018. A few schoolchildren and a parent were found dead in a home in northeastern North Dakota on Thursday, school officials and police said, though details on how they died were not immediately released. (AP Photo/Dave Kolpack) Grand Forks Public Schools said in a statement that families were notified and it was working with the schools the children attended to provide support and counseling to students and staff. Paula Stevens, 58, who lives two doors down from the house where the four were found, said the family had moved into the house just a couple months ago. "Three little kids and their mom - oh my goodness," she said. Stevens said the house "sat empty forever" until it was recently renovated and the woman was living there as a renter. Stevens said she rarely saw the family because the woman worked odd hours and the long winter kept the kids indoors. "This is scary," Stevens said. "Now I want to watch out for my neighbors and make sure they're OK." Stevens and others described the neighborhood as a safe, quiet residential area. The house where the family was found was surrounded by crime tape on Thursday. The garage door was opened more than halfway, and a pink child's bicycle was overturned in the yard. "It's a little frightening because Grand Forks is supposed to be like a safe town, a place where you can keep your doors unlocked," said Caralyne Ronai, a senior at the University of North Dakota who was walking through the neighborhood. "Four dead is upsetting to hear." ___ This story has been corrected to show that district officials have described three of the dead as students, but not necessarily as students at the elementary school, and to show that the University of North Dakota student's last name is Ronai instead of Ronay. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - County officials in northern Minnesota are worried about large-scale protests if Enbridge Energy gets approval to replace its Line 3 crude oil pipeline and have asked regulators to find a way to force the company to cover the costs to local governments. Susan Morris, president of the Association of Minnesota Counties, made the request in a letter filed with the state Public Utilities Commission, which is expected to decide next month whether to approve the project and, if it's approved, what route it should take across Minnesota. The letter, sent late last month, was posted on the PUC's electronic docket Wednesday. "Potential county expenses related to this project cannot be anticipated or budgeted because they are out of the ordinary for counties," Morris wrote. "These may include law enforcement costs related to site security and crowd control in the event of protests, solid waste management issues, and costs related to county emergency management." Construction of the Dakota Access pipeline in neighboring North Dakota drew thousands of self-described "water protector" protesters to the Standing Rock Reservation area in 2016 and 2017, resulting in sometimes violent skirmishes with law enforcement and 761 arrests over a six-month span. Some activists have threatened a repeat in Minnesota if the Line 3 project moves forward. Protests at a construction site in Superior, Wisconsin, have already led to several arrests. In Minnesota, protesters have gathered at pipe storage yards and founded encampments on or near Ojibwe reservations in northern Minnesota. North Dakota's protest-related costs hit nearly $38 million. The developer of the Dakota Access pipeline, Texas-based Energy Transfer Partners, gave North Dakota $15 million to help cover those bills, and the state got a $10 million grant from the U.S. Justice Department. But North Dakota still hopes to recoup more of the costs from the federal government. Morris, an Isanti County commissioner, wrote that the costs would strain limited local resources, and that counties elsewhere across Minnesota may be called upon to provide mutual support. She didn't make a specific proposal for how local governments should be compensated. Calgary, Alberta-based Enbridge says Line 3, which was built in the 1960s, needs to be replaced because it's increasingly subject to corrosion and cracking, and can operate at only about half its original capacity. The proposed new line would start near Hardisty, Alberta, clips the northeast corner of North Dakota and run across northern Minnesota to Enbridge's terminal in Superior, Wisconsin. The proposal has drawn strong opposition because Enbridge's preferred route would cross environmentally sensitive areas in the Mississippi River headwaters region where American Indians harvest wild rice and hold treaty rights. Last month an administrative law judge issued a nonbinding recommendation that the PUC approve the project, but require it to use Line 3's existing trench rather than the company's preferred route, which bypasses two reservations on the existing route where tribal governments have made it clear they won't consent and want the pipeline removed altogether. Gov. Mark Dayton said last week that he didn't see "any viable way" to use the existing route given the tribes' positions. Enbridge has said it will keep operating Line 3 as it exists if the replacement isn't approved. BOSTON (AP) - The Latest on the resignation of former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg, whose husband was charged with sexual misconduct (all times local): 4:35 p.m. The Massachusetts Senate has formally accepted the resignation of its former president, Stan Rosenberg, and is apologizing to anyone who was affected by the events that led to his departure. FILE - In this March 14, 2016, file photo, Massachusetts Senate President Stanley Rosenberg speaks during a signing ceremony at the Statehouse in Boston. Rosenberg, who previously had stepped down as Senate president, resigned his Senate seat on Thursday, May 3, 2018, the day after a scathing ethics report said he failed to protect the Senate from his estranged husband Bryon Hefner, who is charged with sexual misconduct, including allowing Hefner to access Rosenberg's Senate email account. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) In a rare statement issued by the entire chamber, Democrats and Republicans, senators thanked witnesses who came forward during an ethics investigation of Rosenberg. The report concluded that Rosenberg failed to protect the Senate from his husband, Bryon Hefner, who is charged with sexual misconduct. "You deserved better. We must do better," the statement read. Rosenberg, who will formally leave the Senate at 5 p.m. on Friday, also apologized to anyone affected by the events described in the report. ___ 2:25 p.m. Former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg says he's resigning from the Senate because he would no longer be able to fully represent the interests of his constituents. Rosenberg delivered his brief letter of resignation to the Senate on Thursday, the day after a scathing ethics report said he demonstrated poor judgment and failed to protect the Senate from his husband, Bryon Hefner, who faces sexual assault and other charges. The Amherst Democrat will officially leave the Senate at 5 p.m. Friday. Rosenberg said he deeply regrets the difficulties he has caused the Senate and apologized to anyone affected by the actions that were described by investigators. But Rosenberg also noted that the report found no evidence that he violated any Senate rules, or that his now estranged husband influenced his actions as Senate leader. ___ 1 p.m. Former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg is resigning after a scathing ethics report said he failed to protect the Senate from his husband, who is charged with sexual misconduct. In a letter sent Thursday, Rosenberg said he would resign from his seat at 5 p.m. Friday. The letter was delivered as senators were holding a closed-door caucus to discuss the ethics report, which cited lapses of judgment and leadership, including allowing Bryan Hefner to access Rosenberg's Senate email account. Several Democratic senators, along with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey, had called on Rosenberg to resign his seat. He had stepped down as Senate president in December. Hefner has pleaded not guilty to charges including sexual assault. ___ 10:43 a.m. Members of the Massachusetts Senate plan a closed-door caucus to discuss a highly critical ethics report about former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, whose husband has been charged with sexual misconduct. The meeting on Thursday will come prior to a formal session of the Senate and amid calls from top state officials and several lawmakers for the Democrat to resign. The report prepared by investigators hired by the Senate Ethics Committee cited lapses of judgment and leadership, but did not accuse Rosenberg of violating Senate rules or being aware of any alleged criminal behavior by Hefner, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey are among those calling for Rosenberg's resignation. Rosenberg has not yet commented on the report. BOSTON (AP) - Former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg announced Thursday he would end his long political career after a scathing ethics report concluded he failed to protect the Senate from his husband, who has been charged with sexual misconduct. The decision to resign came amid mounting calls, including several from his Democratic colleagues, for the Amherst Democrat to resign. He stepped down from the presidency in December when allegations first surfaced against his husband, Bryon Hefner. The couple has since separated. In a statement, Rosenberg said he was leaving the Senate because he no longer had the authority to fully represent the interests of his constituents. FILE - In this March 14, 2016, file photo, Massachusetts Senate President Stanley Rosenberg speaks during a signing ceremony at the Statehouse in Boston. Rosenberg, who previously had stepped down as Senate president, resigned his Senate seat on Thursday, May 3, 2018, the day after a scathing ethics report said he failed to protect the Senate from his estranged husband Bryon Hefner, who is charged with sexual misconduct, including allowing Hefner to access Rosenberg's Senate email account. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File) He noted the report, released Wednesday, found no evidence that he violated any Senate rules, no evidence he was aware of any alleged sexual assaults by Hefner, nor that Hefner asserted any influence over his actions while Senate leader. But Rosenberg acknowledged findings in the report, prepared by investigators hired by the Senate Ethics Committee, faulting him for not doing more to control Hefner's access to information and access to people who worked for or had business with the Senate. "Although, as the report states, I was unaware of many of the events attributed to Bryon, and took steps to address those incidents that came to my attention, that does not diminish my sorrow at what reportedly transpired or my sense of responsibility for what the ethics committee concludes was a failure on my part in not doing more to protect the Senate," Rosenberg wrote. He also conveyed his "sincere apology" to anyone who'd been affected by events detailed in the report. Investigators concluded that Rosenberg showed "significant failure of judgment and leadership," knew or should have known that Hefner was "disruptive, volatile and abusive," and had racially or sexually harassed Senate employees. Rosenberg also violated Senate policy by allowing Hefner access to his Senate email and to his cellphone, which Hefner on at least two occasions used to send messages to Senate staffers while pretending to be Rosenberg, the report found. In a rare statement issued by the entire chamber, Republicans and Democrats, senators accepted Rosenberg's resignation and thanked victims and witnesses who came forward during the investigation. "We are sorry for what you have been through," the senators said. "You deserved better. We must do better." Senators promised to "fortify" internal systems to prevent harassment in the future. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey and at least six Democratic senators had publicly called for Rosenberg to quit after release of the report. "I think the report made very clear that there was damage done ... to the Senate and I think it was appropriate for him to step down and I'm glad he did," Baker told reporters Thursday. The governor said he was especially troubled that Rosenberg appeared not to keep a promise he made to Senate colleagues in 2014 to build a "firewall" between his personal and professional life. Baker added that he had appreciated his long working relationship with Rosenberg, dating back to the 1990s when Baker was state Secretary of Administration and Finance and Rosenberg chaired the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The first openly gay person to lead a legislative chamber in Massachusetts, Rosenberg, 68, has served in the Senate for more than a quarter century and helped craft numerous state laws. He also played a key role in convincing the Legislature not to overturn a 2003 ruling by the state's highest court that made Massachusetts the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage. Hefner, 30, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last month on charges of sexual assault, criminal lewdness and distributing nude photos without consent. The allegations involve four men. Rosenberg's resignation is effective 5 p.m. on Friday. SKOWHEGAN, Maine (AP) - The girlfriend of a Maine man charged with killing a sheriff's deputy is facing drug charges. The Morning Sentinel reports that a grand jury indicted Kristina Pomerleau on charges of possession of cocaine base and unlawful furnishing of cocaine. Court documents say her boyfriend, John Williams, smoked from a "crack pipe" after killing Cpl. Eugene Cole on April 25 in Norridgewock. A police report says the 61-year-old Cole was involved in the arrest of Pomerleau on April 21, when she was cited for driving without a valid license. Pomerleau has declined to comment and records at the Somerset County Jail don't say whether she has a lawyer. Williams is being held on a murder charge at the Maine State Prison. His attorney said he isn't ready to discuss specifics. PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Latest on the Bill Cosby trial (all times local): 6 p.m. A lawyer for The Associated Press and other media organizations seeking names of jurors who convicted Bill Cosby at his suburban Philadelphia sexual-assault trial says prosecutors are wrong to suggest a "cooling off" period before the names are made public. FILE - This Oct. 26, 2009, file photo, comedian Bill Cosby, left, and his wife Camille appear at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts before he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in Washington. Bill Cosby's wife called Thursday, May 3, 2018, for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case that could put the 80-year-old comedian in prison for the rest of his life was "mob justice, not real justice" and a "tragedy." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) Paul Safier said in court papers on Thursday the Pennsylvania precedent that the names of jurors should be made public under the First Amendment requires they be disclosed immediately. Prosecutors lobbying for a delay have cited a 90-day wait for juror names in the Casey Anthony case in Florida. Safier says that was different because jurors were threatened after acquitting Anthony in 2011 of charges she killed her young daughter. The judge in Cosby's case hasn't ruled. At a hearing this week, he said the 2005 state Supreme Court ruling favoring disclosure would almost certainly force his hand. ___ 4:55 p.m. Leaders of New York's public university system have revoked Bill Cosby's honorary degree, saying his conduct offends "human decency." Cosby received the doctorate of humane letters in 2000 from the Fashion Institute of Technology. The trustees also voted Thursday to revoke an honorary degree awarded in 1996 to former Metropolitan Opera conductor James Levine. The board cited the Met's finding of credible evidence of sexual misconduct. Levine received the degree from the State University College at Potsdam and the SUNY College of Optometry. SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson says Cosby's suburban Philadelphia sexual-assault conviction last week and evidence against Levine oppose SUNY's values and mission. Cosby insists he's innocent. Levine has denied wrongdoing. ___ 2:15 p.m. Bill Cosby has been removed from the Advertising Hall of Fame following his sexual assault conviction. Cosby is famous for commercials for Jell-O, Kodak, New Coke and Texas Instrument and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2011. The American Advertising Federation said on Thursday it has also rescinded the President's Award he received at that time. Federation officials say it's the first time someone has been kicked out of the hall of fame in its 69-year history. Cosby was convicted last week of three counts of aggravated indecent assault during a retrial on allegations he drugged and molested a Temple University employee in 2004. Cosby has maintained his innocence and is awaiting sentencing. He has said through a spokesman he plans to appeal. ___ 11:40 a.m. Prosecutors are suggesting a "cooling off" period before the jurors who convicted Bill Cosby of sexual assault last week are publicly identified. The Montgomery County District Attorney's office cited a 90-day wait for juror names in the Casey Anthony case as it raised the prospect of a delay in court papers on Thursday. The office is citing privacy concerns as it continues to oppose a request for the names made by The Associated Press and other media organizations. Judge Steven O'Neill criticized the media at a hearing on Tuesday for hounding jurors but conceded that a longstanding state Supreme Court ruling would almost certainly force him to disclose the names. He hasn't said when he would decide. Prosecutor Adrienne Jappe says in Thursday's filing that the ruling doesn't require immediate disclosure. ___ 8:30 a.m. Bill Cosby's wife is calling for a criminal investigation into the prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case was "mob justice, not real justice" and a "tragedy" that must be undone. Camille Cosby commented on the case for the first time on Thursday in a statement issued through a spokesman a week after her husband of 54 years was convicted of aggravated indecent assault. Camille Cosby called her husband's chief accuser Andrea Constand a liar. She compared the dozens of other women who've accused her husband to "lynch mobs." Prosecutors and Constand's lawyers did not immediately respond to messages. The 80-year-old Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing that could put him in prison for the rest of his life. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, as Constand has done. FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2014, file photo, Bill Cosby and his wife, Camille, laugh as they tell a story about collecting a piece in the exhibit "Conversations: African and African-American Artworks in Dialogue," at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of African Art in Washington. Camille called Thursday, May 3, 2018, for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case that could put the 80-year-old comedian in prison for the rest of his life was "mob justice, not real justice" and a "tragedy." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) HOUSTON (AP) - Former President George H.W. Bush is complimenting the medical workers helping him recover from an infection at a Houston hospital. But he says that once doctors give him the OK to leave, "I'm outta here." The 93-year-old Bush was admitted to Houston Methodist Hospital on April 22, the day after attending the funeral for his wife, Barbara. The pair were married for 73 years. Bush tweeted on Thursday that everyone at the hospital has been "so nice," and that he was especially moved when a three-story atrium at the hospital was named to honor him and his late wife. FILE - In this April 21, 2018, file photo, former President George H.W. Bush, in wheelchair, his son former President George W. Bush, and other family members watch as the casket of former first lady Barbara Bush is loaded into a hearse at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston. Former President George H.W. Bush, hospitalized the day after his wife's funeral, will remain hospitalized at least another day a family spokesman said, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. He's being treated for an infection that spread to his blood. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) But he jokes that he doesn't want people to think he's "taken up residence" at the hospital. A family spokesman has said the nation's 41st president has been regaining his strength. GRANDVIEW, Mo. (AP) - A pancake restaurant chain has fired a black server at a suburban Kansas City restaurant after she printed a racial slur on a black customer's receipt. The Kansas City Star reports that IHOP (EYE'-hop) President Darren Rebelez said in an email that the server's action last month at a restaurant in Grandview, Missouri, was "inexcusable." The 19-year-old customer's mother posted a photo of the receipt to social media. IHOP is run by International House of Pancakes LLC. The company is among several U.S. food chains to come under scrutiny because of the way black people were treated. In March, the company apologized after a waitress in Auburn, Maine, asked black teenagers to pay upfront for a meal. IHOP has more than 1,750 locations worldwide. JUBA, South Sudan (AP) - South Sudan's troubled ruling party is trying to pull itself together ahead of a new round of peace talks on the country's civil war, with high-profile assistance from Egypt and Uganda. The attendance on Thursday of Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at a special party conference came amid reported friction inside the administration of South Sudan President Salva Kiir. Kiir has faced recent calls for his resignation as international frustration rises with the five-year civil war in the East African nation that has left tens of thousands dead and created Africa's largest refugee crisis in years. Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, left, and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir shake hands outside the presidential palace in Juba, South Sudan Thursday, May 3, 2018. South Sudan's troubled ruling party is trying to pull itself together ahead of a new round of peace talks but the visit on Thursday of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni came amid reported friction inside the administration of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) Kiir's administration has been marked by the departures of several high-profile officials who accused their former colleagues of blocking the path to peace and profiting from the conflict. The ruling party said even the opposition had been invited to its conference this week, but the opposition refused. The warring sides are expected to attend the next round of peace talks mediated by a regional bloc in neighboring Ethiopia starting May 17. "There comes a point where leaders must rise above challenges and turn crisis into opportunity," Kiir told the gathering. Uganda's president warned people not to make the mistake of pushing South Sudan into a vacuum by asking Kiir to step down. He urged South Sudan's leaders to embrace dialogue "whatever the political differences." Museveni, whose country has taken in well over 1 million refugees fleeing South Sudan's fighting, also called on members of Kiir's administration to show restraint among themselves, saying that "force is reserved for the enemy." Conflict experts said they viewed the party's attempt at unification with skepticism. "It's a smoke screen and a public relations recovery exercise. It's futile because when they come together they loot and when they disagree they kill," Jacob Chol, professor of comparative politics at the University of Juba, told The Associated Press. ___ Follow Africa news at https://twitter.com/AP_Africa South Sudan's President Salva Kiir speaks at a special party conference in Juba, South Sudan Thursday, May 3, 2018. South Sudan's troubled ruling party is trying to pull itself together ahead of a new round of peace talks but the visit on Thursday of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni came amid reported friction inside the administration of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni, left, and South Sudan's President Salva Kiir, right, stand together outside the presidential palace in Juba, South Sudan Thursday, May 3, 2018. South Sudan's troubled ruling party is trying to pull itself together ahead of a new round of peace talks but the visit on Thursday of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni came amid reported friction inside the administration of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni speaks at a special party conference of South Sudan's ruling party, during a visit to Juba, South Sudan Thursday, May 3, 2018. South Sudan's troubled ruling party is trying to pull itself together ahead of a new round of peace talks but the visit on Thursday of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni came amid reported friction inside the administration of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) Party members attend a special party conference of South Sudan's ruling party in Juba, South Sudan Thursday, May 3, 2018. South Sudan's troubled ruling party is trying to pull itself together ahead of a new round of peace talks but the visit on Thursday of Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni came amid reported friction inside the administration of South Sudan's President Salva Kiir. (AP Photo/Bullen Chol) LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) - Arkansas has some of the roughest elections for judges in the nation even though they are nominally non-partisan. A conservative group spent more than $600,000 two years ago targeting a member of the Arkansas Supreme Court during her unsuccessful bid to be chief justice. That group is back, spending more than $160,000 to air a new ad criticizing Justice Courtney Goodson as she seeks re-election to the state's highest court on May 22. The Judicial Crisis Network 30-second ad airing around Arkansas returns to past criticisms of gifts she accepted from donors and adds new accusations. Goodson lost her bid for chief justice in 2016 against Dan Kemp in a race that was overshadowed by outside group spending. A look at some of the claims in the new ad: In this Feb. 12, 2018, photo, Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Courtney Goodson sits inside the House chamber while waiting on Gov. Asa Hutchinson to deliver his State of the State address in Little Rock. Goodson is running for re-election and has been targeted in advertising by the Judicial Crisis Network. The same group targeted her during her unsuccessful 2016 bid to become Arkansas chief justice. (AP Photo/Kelly P. Kissel) JUDICIAL CRISIS NETWORK ad: "Goodson asked for an $18,000 raise, making her salary bigger than the governor's." THE FACTS: It is true that Arkansas Supreme Court justices asked for an $18,000 raise and it is also true that their salaries are higher than the governor. But the ad puts together the two facts in a misleading way. Goodson's former rival, the chief justice, asked for the raise on behalf of all members of the court, including Goodson and himself. She didn't make the request herself. The Judicial Crisis Network said that since Kemp asked for the raise on behalf of the justices, Goodson had joined the request. It's inaccurate to say the requested increase would have made her salary higher than the governor's because salaries for the justices were already higher. Last year chief justice Kemp asked an independent panel that sets elected officials' salaries to raise pay for the justices by 11 percent, saying that would put them in line with what their colleagues in other states earn and reflect a heavier workload from handling a flurry of appeals last year over the state's effort to restart executions. Their salary would have gone from $166,500 a year to $184,815, with the chief justice seeing his pay go from $180,000 to $199,800. Kemp said the Supreme Court was requesting the increase. The panel rejected the request, settling on a 2 percent raise. The pay for Goodson and the other associate justices increased by $3,330. Goodson said this week she was grateful to get that. Salaries for Arkansas' Supreme Court associate justices rank 27th among high courts nationally, according to a survey from the National Center for State Courts. The pay for state Supreme Court justices was higher than the governor's even before last year's request and before voters formed the independent panel in 2014 to set officials' salaries. Arkansas' governor receives an annual salary of $143,820, while Goodson and the other five associate justices' salary is $169,830. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Mick Ruis packed his suitcases for his first trip to the Kentucky Derby as an owner and trainer. The 57-year-old high school dropout stuffed more than clothing and toiletries in his bags. He feels so strongly about Bolt d'Oro's chances - the colt is the co-fourth choice at 8-1 - Ruis packed plenty of cash. "When he dropped from first to fifth or sixth now after he lost the Santa Anita Derby, every week I just put more money in a suitcase to come here to bet on him Saturday," Ruis said. "That's how confident we are." Trainer Mick Ruis talks to the media after a morning workout for Kentucky Derby entrant Bolt d'Oro at Churchill Downs Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Louisville, Ky. The 144th running of the Kentucky Derby is scheduled for Saturday, May 5. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel) Ruis said he also wagered $1,200 on Bolt d'Oro in Las Vegas when he was 40-1 last year. "But you can't put a money value on winning the race," he said. Ruis is an anomaly in the sport because he owns, trains and handles much of the work around the barn, all with his horses. He first came to love racing on a 1979 visit to Agua Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. Leaving high school, he worked his way up from entry level positions in construction and shoring. He started his first company with $3,000 and sold it six years later for $2.5 million. Ruis used the stake to go into training and racing thoroughbreds, but crashed out in the middle of the last decade. He earned $467,981 in purses over three years before finding himself $1 million in debt. "Never worked so hard to lose so much money in my life," he said. He turned full-time attention to his San Diego-based company American Scaffolding, which has contracts on ships in five states and with the Navy. Driven to find a path back into racing, he built up the company and sold it for a reported $78 million two years ago while keeping a 20 percent stake. Ruis is faring much better his second time back in the sport. He spent about $2 million on horses to get Ruis Racing underway. One of his purchases - for $635,000 - in 2016 was Bolt d'Oro, named for retired Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt and the colt's sire Medaglia d'Oro. Some of his family is along for the ride, including wife Wendy. The couple married 23 years ago after knowing each other for three weeks. He was divorced with three kids and she was widowed with two. Together, they had two more. His 25-year-old daughter, Shelbe, is his assistant. Most owners with a horse in the Derby for the first time revel in seeing their silks during the post parade as the 100,000-strong crowd sings "My Old Kentucky Home." Once again, Ruis is going his own way. Jockey Victor Espinoza will wear the colors of Spendthrift Farm aboard Bolt d'Oro on Saturday. Ruis sold 50 percent of the colt's future breeding rights to 84-year-old Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Hughes, while keeping the rest for himself. The change in Derby silks was a gift to Hughes, the billionaire owner of Public Storage. "I'm not in here to be the center of attention," Ruis said. He admits the hubbub of his first Derby week has been stressful. "You're thinking about the high, what could be," he said. To escape, Ruis went back to his roots. He headed across the Ohio River to visit a wrestling club in New Albany, Indiana, on Wednesday. A gold medalist in the Junior Pan Am Games as a high school wrestler, Ruis likes to quote Olympic champion Dan Gable and credits the sport for teaching him a work ethic and respect. He spoke to the group of boys ranging from age seven to 18 and then donated $10,000 to their club. "They're building character," he said. "These guys will make it out in the world." Ruis wasn't done, either. If Bolt d'Oro wins the Derby, he promised to hand over $50,000. The winning owner receives $1.43 million. "I got a bunch of guys rooting for Bolt to win," Ruis said, smiling. After the colt's morning workout, Ruis headed out of town to decompress Thursday, this time down Interstate 64 to Lexington, where he bought a farm near Keeneland. A Derby win can generate more clients with good horses for a trainer. But Ruis isn't interested. "Right now, we're really happy where we're at," he said, anticipating the 20 yearlings he has coming into his stable. However, he would like to see other owners expand their choice of trainers beyond the sport's big names of Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen and Chad Brown. "There's so many good horsemen on the backside, give some of these guys a chance back here," Ruis said. "I don't understand why these mega-owners just go with the big name. I don't think it's the best thing for racing." While careful not to criticize the high-profile trainers, Ruis sees himself as the person to stand up for the little guys. "I would hope if we do good, that's the message Bolt d'Oro can give," he said. Ruis isn't planning much of an upgrade to his trademark white T-shirt and jeans for Derby day. He took advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free deal at a men's store and will wear a $220 sport coat over the shirt. Explaining his attire to his wife, he said, "I made my money with a white T-shirt." She replied, "The rest of us are going to look good." They all will if their colt is in the winner's circle wearing the garland of red roses. LOS ANGELES (AP) - If history is any guide, this weekend's California Republican convention will be another prelude to Election Day disappointment. With the June 5 primary closing in, hundreds of party delegates will spend the weekend in San Diego debating endorsements for candidates seeking statewide offices that are all held by Democrats. For the GOP, the outlook is challenging. FILE - In this Nov. 2, 2010 file photo, Republican Steve Stivers speaks to supporters after winning the 15th Congressional District during the Ohio Republican Party's election night celebration in Columbus, Ohio. Republicans are fighting to hold their ground in strongly Democratic California. Party delegates are meeting in San Diego this weekend to consider endorsements for candidates seeking statewide offices that are all held by Democrats. Stivers, who heads the party's campaign arm in the House, said GOP candidates will benefit from the economic upswing the party's emphasis on safety and security. "Sometimes you kind of have to go down before you come back up," Stivers said. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File) Republican registration numbers continue to slide in the state - currently, an anemic 25 percent of the total - and the party could soon suffer the indignity of being eclipsed by independents in voter enrollments. Democrats hold a 3.6-million-voter edge statewide, putting Republicans at a disadvantage from the start. The GOP has no viable candidate for U.S. Senate, essentially ceding the race to Democrats. In the race for governor, it's possible the GOP's leading candidates, John Cox and Travis Allen, could split the Republican vote and allow two Democrats to advance to the November runoff. "The ability of the Republican Party to put on a statewide campaign is severely limited," conservative activist and blogger Steve Frank said. And there's more. A string of Republican-held congressional districts that were carried by Hillary Clinton in 2016 are under threat. President Donald Trump isn't on the ballot, but he is unpopular in the state and could energize Democrats and keep moderate Republicans at home. Another troubling sign: Republicans don't even have candidates for six of 20 state Senate seats being contested. Meanwhile, there are so few Republicans in the Legislature that the party is largely irrelevant. At this point, the party is fighting to hold its ground. Republicans have opened a headquarters in the one-time Republican fortress of Orange County to help defend four endangered congressional seats there. Party leaders believe a buoyant economy will win over voters. And they hope backlash against illegal immigration and a proposed gas-tax repeal in November will draw supporters to the polls. Party leaders have been pumping money into the effort to get the tax repeal on the November ballot. Meanwhile, Republican elected officials in a string of cities and Orange and San Diego counties have passed ordinances or taken other actions in opposition to the state's so-called sanctuary law for immigrants, enacted by the Democratic-run Legislature in response to Trump's calls for more deportations and a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. Rep. Steve Stivers, an Ohio Republican who heads the party's campaign arm in the House, said GOP candidates will benefit from the economic upswing and the party's emphasis on safety and security. "Sometimes you kind of have to go down before you come back up," Stivers said, when asked about the party's struggles in California. U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Bakersfield Republican, said the new tax federal law and Trump's upcoming meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un were reasons for optimism as Republicans fight to retain House control. Speaking in Beverly Hills on Wednesday, House Speaker Paul Ryan acknowledged that a president's party typically loses seats in midterm elections, but he emphasized that party data show the GOP would hold the House if the election were now. But, Ryan added, "There's a great amount of enthusiasm on the other side of the aisle." California was once known as a launching pad for national Republican candidates such as Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. But a surge in immigrants transformed the state and its voting patterns. The number of Hispanics, blacks and Asians combined has outnumbered whites since 1998. And the state's new voters, largely Latinos and Asians, lean Democratic. The last Republican presidential candidate to carry the state was George H.W. Bush, in 1988. California Republicans have bickered for years over what direction to turn - toward the political center or to the right. In March, former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a centrist, urged the party to adopt a more inclusive tone and work with Democrats on health care, immigration and climate change. The remarks came at an event organized by New Way California, a political committee eager to reshape the California GOP. New Way California was formed by Republican state lawmaker Chad Mayes, who was ousted as the party's Assembly leader after he worked with Democrats on climate change legislation. Mayes, a conservative, said the group hoped to "shed the stereotype of an intolerant Republican Party that serves only the rich and big businesses." Stivers is optimistic the party can finally regain its footing in California. "I feel really good about what we are doing to rebuild our brand," he said. FILE - In this Monday, April 30, 2018 file photo, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., speaks at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, Calif. Republicans are fighting to hold their ground in strongly Democratic California. Party delegates are meeting in San Diego this weekend to consider endorsements for candidates seeking statewide offices that are all held by Democrats. The outlook is challenging. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) FILE - In this March 8, 2018 file photo, California gubernatorial candidate, businessman John Cox, a Republican, discusses the state's housing problems at a conference in Sacramento, Calif. Republicans are fighting to hold their ground in strongly Democratic California. Party delegates are meeting in San Diego this weekend to consider endorsements for candidates seeking statewide offices that are all held by Democrats. The outlook is challenging. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) FILE - In this March 8, 2018 file photo, California gubernatorial candidate, Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen, discusses the state's housing problems at a conference in Sacramento, Calif. Republicans are fighting to hold their ground in strongly Democratic California. Party delegates are meeting in San Diego this weekend to consider endorsements for candidates seeking statewide offices that are all held by Democrats. The outlook is challenging. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File) PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Just one week after a court ordered his immediate release from prison, Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill joined Pennsylvania's governor on Thursday in calling on state lawmakers to enact criminal justice reforms. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said Mill's case had thrust issues in the state's system into the national spotlight. They appeared at the Constitution Center alongside a half-dozen state lawmakers and 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin. Mill, who turns 31 this weekend, said his lawyers had advised him not to speak publicly. But after serving five months of a two- to four-year sentence on a probation violation related to a decade-old gun and drug conviction, he felt compelled to discuss his case and issues he encountered in the system. Rapper Meek Mill speaks during a news conference promoting Gov. Tom Wolf's proposals to reform the criminal justice system at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Wolf, Mill and several state legislators spoke in favor of reforms. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) "I actually know the errors of the criminal justice system personally because I've been tangled in the system since 18 years old," he said. "I actually made a commitment to speaking for the voiceless. I spent time with these men and women, and watched families being broken apart because of drug addiction, mental illness, technical violations." The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered Mill's immediate release on bail from prison after prosecutors said they agreed with his lawyers that he should get a new trial because of questions raised about the arresting officer. The now-retired officer was among a list of police officers the prosecutor's office has sought to keep off the witness stand in cases across the city because of credibility questions. Since his release, Mill has spoken out about the need for reform. He noted Thursday that in Philadelphia even coming in contact with the police can trigger a technical violation for probation. Wolf added his voice Thursday by reciting his wish list of initiatives to reform the system, including measures to increase parole supervision and provide fair sentencing. He is also seeking funding for indigent defense, clearer pathways to expunging criminal records and a way to achieve uniformity in the state's probation and parole revocation process. A recent study by the Columbia University Justice Lab found Pennsylvania had about 296,000 people on probation and parole, the third highest rate in the country. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association issued a statement Thursday cautioning state lawmakers and the governor not to use one person's experience to "indict an entire system." "We caution against the wholesale elimination of appropriate consequences and accountability in the criminal justice system cloaked in the concept of reform," association President John Adams wrote in an emailed statement. Rapper Meek Mill speaks to media after a news conference promoting Gov. Tom Wolf's proposals to reform the criminal justice system at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Wolf, Mill and several state legislators spoke in favor of reforms. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) LOS ANGELES (AP) - The case involving Roman Polanski, who fled the United States after he forced himself on a teenage girl during a photo shoot, has spanned more than 40 years, sparking court battles on both sides of the Atlantic. On Thursday, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences expelled him from its membership. Here are some key dates in the long-running case, which has kept Polanski living in exile in Europe: ___ This combination photo shows director Roman Polanski at the photo call for the film, "Based On A True Story," at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, southern France, on May 27, 2017, left, and Polanski at a Santa Monica, Calif., courthouse on Aug. 8, 1977. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors has voted to expel Polanski and Bill Cosby from its membership. The film academy said Thursday, May 3, 2018, that its board of governors met and voted on their status in accordance with their Standards of Conduct. (AP Photo/Files) March 10, 1977 - Roman Polanski conducts a photo shoot with a 13-year-old girl at Jack Nicholson's house. As she later testifies, Polanski gives the girl champagne and part of a sedative during the shoot, then forced her to have sex. She says she repeatedly told Polanski no during intercourse, but says she did not fight him because she was afraid of him. The girl's mother calls police after finding out what happened. March 24, 1977 - A grand jury indicts Polanski on six felony charges, including rape, furnishing a controlled substance to a minor and sodomy. He later pleads not guilty at arraignment. August 1977 - Polanski pleads guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and a judge orders the director to undergo further proceedings. September 1977 - A judge orders the director to undergo a 90-day diagnostic screening at a California state prison to help determine sentencing. January 1978 - The diagnostic screening - completed after 42 days - recommends Polanski be placed on probation. Feb. 1, 1978 - Polanski flees the United States on eve of sentencing after learning that Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Laurence Rittenband intended to send Polanski back to prison. An arrest warrant is issued, confining Polanski's movements to France, Poland and Switzerland. Polanski alleges Rittenband met with a prosecutor who was not assigned to the case - without Polanski's lawyer present - to discuss sentencing. September 1997 - A new judge meets with prosecutors and Polanski's attorney to discuss the case in chambers. The meeting is not reported, and elements of the discussion remain in dispute. Polanski's attorney contends the judge wanted Polanski's sentencing hearing televised, which the judge denies. Prosecutors contend Polanski sought to be sentenced without reporters present, which the director denies. November 2002 - Lawyers for Conde Nast Publications successfully unseal grand jury testimony presented in Polanski's case. March 2003 - Polanski wins the best director Academy Award for "The Pianist," but is unable to collect his Oscar in person due to an outstanding warrant for his arrest. December 2008 - Polanski's lawyers seek a dismissal of the charges against him. His motion is supported by his victim. February 2009 - A Los Angeles Superior Court judge rejects Polanski's dismissal motion, stating that Polanski must appear in court to resolve his case. The order goes into effect in May 2009. July 2009 - Polanski appeals the February ruling in his case. September 2009 - Polanski is arrested in Switzerland pursuant to a warrant. Extradition proceedings begin. December 2009 - A California court panel rejects Polanski's appeal, ruling that the director must appear in court to resolve his case. January 2010 - Polanski's lawyers request the director be sentenced without being present in Los Angeles. February 2010 - A Los Angeles court takes sealed testimony from Roger Gunson, the original prosecutor who handled Polanski's case, about his recollections of the judge's 1977 promises to the director. May 2010 - A judge rejects a motion by Polanski's lawyers to unseal Gunson's testimony. July 2010 - Switzerland rejects U.S. request to extradite Polanski, citing its inability to obtain the Gunson testimony. December 2014 - Polanski's lawyers seek an evidentiary hearing to explore the director's allegations of judicial misconduct in Los Angeles. A judge rejects the motion without conducting a hearing. February 2015 - Polanski appears in a Polish court for hours of questioning on whether a U.S. request to extradite the director is valid. October 2015 - A Polish court rejects an effort to extradite Polanski. May 2016 - Poland's new justice minister revives extradition proceedings against Polanski. December 2016 - The Polish Supreme Court rules Polanski will not be extradited to the United States. February 2017 - Polanski's attorney seeks an order in Los Angeles to unseal Gunson's testimony. Later motions by Polanski seek an order confirming the director should not serve any additional time behind bars if he returns to Los Angeles. Polanski's lawyer relies on information included in a lengthy Polish court decision. April 2017 - A Los Angeles judge rejects Polanski's requests to be sentenced without returning to court or for a determination he has served his sentence. June 2017 - Polanski's victim, Samantha Geimer, appears in a Los Angeles court to ask a judge to end the case, calling it a "40-year-sentence" imposed on both her and the director. August 2017 - A Los Angeles judge rejects Geimer's request to end Polanski's case. May 3, 2018 - The film academy announces it has expelled Polanski and Bill Cosby, who was convicted of a sex offense a week earlier, from its membership. SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - The Georgia parole board on Thursday declined to spare the life of a condemned inmate after considering his clemency request, and set a new date for his execution. Robert Early Butts Jr., 40, is scheduled to die by lethal injection at 7 p.m. Friday. The state Department of Corrections announced the new date Thursday soon after the Georgia Board of Pardons and Paroles denied Butt's request for clemency. Butts was initially set to die Thursday night, but the execution was temporarily halted when the parole board issued a stay Wednesday to give itself more time to consider Butts' case. The board announced Thursday afternoon it had voted to deny Butts' clemency petition. "Knowing the gravity of its decisions, the Board extended deliberations in order to consider supplemental information submitted during the meeting that members had not previously reviewed," parole board spokesman Steve Hayes said in a statement. "Completing that process, the Board voted to deny clemency." Butts and Marion Wilson Jr., 41, were convicted of murder and armed robbery in the March 1996 slaying of 24-year-old Donovan Corey Parks in central Georgia. The two men asked Parks for a ride outside a Walmart store in Milledgeville and then ordered him out of the car and fatally shot him a short distance away. Prosecutors have said Butts fired the fatal shot. Authorities said Butts and Wilson were gang members who had gone looking for a victim when they drove Butts' car to the Walmart store. Juries in separate trials found sufficient evidence to sentence both men to death because Parks was killed during the commission of an aggravating felony, armed robbery. Wilson's case is still pending in the courts. Butts' attorneys had asked the parole board in a clemency application filed last week to commute his death sentence to life in prison. "I think about Mr. Parks and that night every single day, going over it again and again in my mind," Butts said in a statement included with his petition. "There's no excuse for what I did, and I'm tremendously sorry for what happened to Mr. Parks." His attorneys insisted in the clemency application that Butts wasn't the shooter. A jailhouse witness, Horace May, who testified at trial that Butts confessed to being the shooter has now signed a sworn statement saying he made the story up out of sympathy for Wilson, whom he also met in jail. Butts' attorneys also argued in his clemency petition that the single aggravating factor wouldn't warrant a death sentence in Georgia today. They also ask the board to consider commuting Butts' sentence to life in prison after weighing abuse and neglect during Butts' childhood, the fact that he was just 18 when the crime occurred and that he has expressed remorse. Butts' lawyers submitted a supplement to the clemency application to the board at the clemency hearing Wednesday. In that supplement, they argued that evidence in the case indicates that Wilson consistently had possession of the gun used to kill Parks. They also said there's no evidence that Butts was a member of a gang or that Parks' killing was gang-related. They wrote that the fact that the two tried to sell the car at a chop shop shows the crime was financially motivated. GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) - Defeated Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore is opening the door to a possible return to politics. Moore told reporters at a news conference Monday that he doesn't plan to run for anything, including governor at this time. But Moore issued a statement Thursday saying plans change. It quotes Moore as saying he won't be reluctant to seek office again "if the opportunity arises." And he says that includes the governorship. The Republican Moore lost the Senate race to Democrat Doug Jones after women came forward claiming Moore made sexual advances on them years ago when he was in his 30s and they were teenagers. Moore denies wrongdoing, and he's filed suit claiming to be the victim of a conspiracy. One of Moore's accusers is suing him for defamation. CONWAY, Ark. (AP) - A central Arkansas town that got about a third of its revenue from fines has agreed to closer scrutiny if it can resume patrolling highways where authorities say it set up an illegal speed trap. Damascus' revenues from fines had exceeded 30 percent of expenditures for each of the two previous years. The sanctions prohibit the city from patrolling traffic along a stretch of U.S. 65 that connects Conway to Branson and a state highway, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported. They are set to continue to the end of the year. Circuit Judge Chris Carnahan in February rejected the city's allegations that the speed-trap law was unconstitutionally vague and arbitrary. Carnahan hasn't yet ruled if the financial data used by the state police were properly interpreted and used. Prosecutor Luke Ferguson said he'll review the written request from Damascus City Attorney Beau Wilcox. The request said Damascus would agree to additional auditing and accounting measures "for a finite period" because of concerns about its Police Department's alleged abuse of power in generating city revenue. Wilcox also proposed that the city provide the prosecutor's office with financial data "as a means of verifying its genuine mission to maintain traffic safety rather than generate revenue." Wilcox said Damascus "has taken steps to ensure that employees do not abuse their authority and discretion." ___ Information from: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, http://www.arkansasonline.com JOHANNESBURG (AP) - Afonso Dhlakama, the Mozambican opposition leader who led a rebel group during the devastating civil war that ended in 1992, died on Thursday at the age of 65. Mozambican radio reported that Dhlakama died in the Gorongosa area of central Sofala province, where he was based amid sporadic violence involving the Renamo opposition group and security forces backed by the ruling Frelimo party in recent years. However, tensions eased in the southern African country in 2017 as Dhlakama met President Filipe Nyusi in Gorongosa to discuss differences between the two sides. Dhlakama was ill prior to his death, the Portuguese news agency Lusa reported. The agency cited an unnamed official in Renamo, whose Portuguese acronym means Mozambican National Resistance. Even though Renamo and Frelimo (Mozambique Liberation Front) declared peace after the civil war that killed up to 1 million people, Dhlakama's group did not fully disarm. Intermittent instability between 2013 and 2016 hurt tourism and other economic activity at a time when Mozambique, which has big reserves of coal and other energy sources, was struggling with heavy debt, a weak currency and a global fall in commodity prices. Under Dhlakama, Renamo, which was repeatedly defeated in elections and alleged fraud, demanded a bigger role in the government and economy, as well as more autonomy in areas it dominates. Government hardliners, meanwhile, dismissed the group's militia as armed bandits and Dhlakama, recalling his guerrilla tactics, retreated to a mountainous area in Gorongosa where he believed he was safer from possible assassination attempts. During the civil war, Renamo was backed by white minority rulers in then-Rhodesia and apartheid South Africa. Its wartime foe, Frelimo, had been a Marxist guerrilla movement that took power after independence from Portugal in 1975. President Nyusi said Thursday on Mozambican television that he had hoped to help transfer Dhlakama out of Mozambique for medical treatment after learning that the opposition leader was ill, but it was too late. He appealed to Mozambicans to continue with reconciliation efforts. TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Seven men have been indicted on federal charges including six slayings as part of a drug trafficking conspiracy in one Florida county. United States Attorney Maria Chapa Lopez on Thursday announced the unsealing of a 12-count indictment, charging the seven with racketeering conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, arson, robbery, drug trafficking, and other charges. Officials say the deaths occurred between Jan. 1, 2016 and Jan. 13, 2017. The men operated in Manatee County, located on Florida's Gulf coast about an hour south of Tampa. Authorities say the group sold an array of drugs, including heroin, marijuana, Ecstasy, cocaine, crack cocaine, fentanyl and meth. A federal indictment also says they robbed people, set fire to a car, facilitated prostitution and threatened rival gangs. NEW YORK (AP) - Rudy Giuliani, once known as "America's Mayor" and hailed for helping unite a wounded city after Sept. 11, has become the aggressive face of President Donald Trump's forceful new legal team. Giuliani, who is bonded with the president by a particular brand of New York bravado, has escalated Trump's attacks on the Department of Justice, pushed for strict limits on special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe and upended White House legal strategy. Giuliani and Trump cut out senior West Wing aides this week as they hashed out plans to combat what they see as an existential threat to the presidency. Giuliani's bold offensive - on display in a series of cable news appearances in which he unleashed broadsides on the very law enforcement officers with whom he once worked - underscored the thoroughness of his transformation from moderate Republican mayor of a liberal city to fiery conservative hero. FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2017, file photo, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York. Once known as "America's Mayor" and hailed for helping unite a wounded city, Giuliani has become the face of President Donald Trump's aggressive new legal team. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) "Russian collusion is total fake news," Giuliani, a former U.S. attorney, told Fox News. "Unfortunately, it has become the basis of the investigation. And Mueller owes us a report saying that Russia collusion means nothing, it didn't happen. That means the whole investigation was totally unnecessary." Giuliani has quickly become the dominant figure on the president's reshuffled legal team as Trump stocks his political inner circle with familiar, TV-ready faces. The two have had several private conversations in recent days in which Giuliani fanned Trump's anger with Mueller's probe, according to two people familiar with their conversations who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to publicly discuss them. Giuliani has warned Trump against sitting down for an interview with Mueller and has suggested that, at a minimum, the president place limits on his level of cooperation. Giuliani has warned Trump that he fears that the president's longtime personal attorney, Michael Cohen, may flip on him. He has urged Trump to cut off communications with Cohen, according to a person close to Giuliani but not authorized to discuss the talks publicly. After an FBI raid on Cohen's office and home, Giuliani also indicated that he wanted to change the discussion surrounding the $130,000 payment that Cohen made to porn actress Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about a sexual tryst with Trump. Giuliani did so with a jaw-dropping interview with Sean Hannity on Wednesday. Giuliani's remarks - that Trump knew about the payment and had repaid Cohen for it - seemed to contradict Trump's past statements. But he argued that it removed legal peril over a possible campaign finance violation, a claim some legal experts have questioned. Trump was pleased with Giuliani's performance, according to a person familiar with his views but not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations. Over a pair of Fox News interviews, Giuliani also unleashed a series of provocative broadsides. He said Trump had fired James Comey last year because the FBI director wouldn't publicly clear the president of wrongdoing in the Russia probe, a different explanation than the White House offered. He said he would defend the president's daughter Ivanka Trump but suggested that her husband, Jared Kushner, was "disposable." And he derided the agents who raided Cohen's office as "stormtroopers," a charge that attracted particular attention because it appeared to evoke Nazi soldiers in the context of the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office, which had approved the raids and which Giuliani had once led. "It's a different Rudy. He's always been tough, but he changed when he started to have national ambitions," said George Arzt, former press secretary to Democrat Ed Koch, one of Giuliani's predecessors as New York City mayor. "And after he wedded himself to Trump, his popularity in his hometown disappeared completely." Giuliani was elected mayor in 1993 on a pledge to slash the city's sky-high crime rate. That year, 1,946 people were killed in the city. By 2001, Giuliani's final year in office, the number had shrunk to 649. Giuliani was largely praised for the drop in crime but remained a polarizing figure. His no-holds-barred defense of the New York Police Department, often at the expense of minority communities, drew sharp criticism. A possible Senate run was abandoned after a cancer diagnosis. And after years of public battles and a very messy public separation from his second wife - which resulted in him moving out of Gracie Mansion, the mayor's official residence - his poll numbers sank and many New Yorkers were eager for a change at City Hall. But then, one clear September day just a few months before he was to leave office, two planes flew into the World Trade Center. In the hours after the attacks, Giuliani became the face of the nation's grief. His leadership - both inspiring and compassionate - over the following weeks earned him the nickname of "America's Mayor." But his relationship with the city would soon change again. Giuliani played a key role in the 2004 Republican National Convention that re-nominated President George W. Bush, a deeply unpopular figure in New York. And Giuliani shifted right on a number of issues - including gun control and public funding of abortions - during his failed presidential run four years later. Although his future electoral prospects vanished, Giuliani remained a conservative darling, a frequent guest on Fox News and a sought-after member of the political speaking circuit. He has known Trump for decades - his bomb-throwing rhetorical style can at times mirror that of the president - and he became an aggressive surrogate for the celebrity businessman from the early days of his insurgent presidential campaign. Giuliani had been widely expected to join Trump's administration but was passed over for secretary of state, the position he badly wanted, and eventually was left without a Cabinet post. But the president kept in touch with Giuliani, sometimes calling to ask for advice, and frequently asked for the ex-mayor's take on developments in the special counsel's probe, according to three people familiar with the conversations but not authorized to publicly discuss private talks. In the weeks before he hired Giuliani last month, Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with the cable news chatter that he couldn't hire a big-name attorney for his legal team. But, according to one person familiar with his conversations, he later boasted to a confidant that he had struck a deal that he believed would silence those critics: He was hiring "America's F---ing Mayor." ___ Follow Lemire at http://twitter.com/@JonLemire SPANISH FORK, Utah (AP) - Security camera footage from a Utah courthouse shows a defendant in handcuffs running out of a courtroom, flipping over a second-floor railing and falling to the ground below. In the short video released Thursday to media outlets, including The Associated Press, Christopher Clay Rudd appears to be dazed or unconscious after he lands on Monday. His face is bloody as two bailiffs attend to him. State courts spokesman Geoffrey Fattah says the 35-year-old Rudd broke his leg and pelvis and fractured his skull. Authorities say he had been arrested on drug allegations and was in the Spanish Fork court for failing to follow through on court-ordered treatment. Police spokesman Matt Johnson says it's unclear whether Rudd was trying to injure himself. He could face additional charges for trying to escape. Court filings did not list a lawyer for Rudd. Britains EU withdrawal agreement risks becoming unenforceable unless an adequate UK-EU dispute resolution is established, a parliamentary committee has warned. In a report released on Thursday, the House of Lords EU Justice Sub-Committee has called on both the Government and the EU to bring forward pragmatic proposals to resolve the current deadlock on what will replace the European Court of Justice throughout the Brexit process. Theresa May has made clear that withdrawal from the ECJ jurisdiction is one of her red lines for Brexit. A House of Lords Committee has called for "pragmatic proposals" on what will replace the European Court of Justice post-Brexit. The Committee said a new, effective system must be proposed quickly to address the enforcement of the Withdrawal Agreement, arrangements during the transition period and criminal justice cooperation between Britain and the EU going forward. The rights of individuals and businesses would also be left unprotected if any insoluble disagreements between Britain and the EU were to arise, they warned. Chair of the EU Justice Sub-Committee, Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws, said: We are really worried now about the lack of time. This is difficult stuff, and unless both sides show real flexibility in the coming months, not only could the rights of businesses and individuals be threatened, but the whole Brexit withdrawal agreement could end up being potentially unenforceable. Whats absolutely vital is that after Brexit we continue to give ordinary citizens access to justice. For example, if youre a parent living in the UK, and you want to enforce the payment of maintenance by an ex-partner living in the EU, you want access to quick, effective justice. The Committee also suggested that Brexit could result in several quasi-courts between Britain and the EU, rather than just one. It is increasingly clear that operating without cross-border courts is impossible if we want to trade, have secure borders, co-operate on crime and enforce agreements with the EU as a future partner, Baroness Kennedy said. The Committee added that the Government has already conceded on the need for give and take upon Britains departure from the ECJ, also known as the the CJEU. If the UK wants to stay in key EU agencies, such as on medicines or aviation, it will have to respect the remit of the CJEU, she added. A Department for Exiting the European Union spokesman said: We have made substantial progress on our withdrawal agreement including finalising the chapter on citizens rights. This includes announcing a Withdrawal Agreement and Implementation Bill which gives clarity on how citizens will enjoy their rights. We are making progress on the issues left to resolve but there should be no doubt that we are ending the jurisdiction of the ECJ in the UK. Liverpool have reached their first Champions League final since 2007 where they will play Real Madrid following a 7-6 aggregate win in their semi-final against Roma on Wednesday. Here, Press Association Sport looks at the key numbers in their run to Kiev. 1 The amount of games Liverpool have lost en route to the final the 4-2 semi-final second-leg defeat to Roma. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates reaching the Champions League final. (Steven Paston/PA) 40 Goals scored, at an average of 3.33 a game. 189 Total attempts on goal for Jurgen Klopps side. 6 The number of times Liverpool have hit the woodwork in the Champions League this year. 1362.2 The amount of kilometres the players have covered in Europe this term. 21 Yellow cards collected. 139 Fouls committed by the Reds in the Champions League this season. 11 Roberto Firmino and Mo Salah have both scored 11 times in Europe during Liverpools run to the final. 16 Goals conceded by Loris Karius (13) and Simon Mignolet (three). 5 Headers scored by Liverpool, with 19 right-footed goals and 15 left-footed strikes. Bob Geldofs Band Aid archive has arrived in Ireland. An archivist will spend up to two years cataloguing memorabilia from the famous 1984 campaign for those affected by famine in Ethiopia, the National Library of Ireland (NLI) said. The Boomtown Rats frontman is giving the Irish state hundreds of letters, artwork, poetry and musical recordings after it was accumulated in a warehouse in London. Much of it will be digitalised and put on display for the world to see at the NLI in Dublin. Midge Ure and Bob Geldof at the Ivor Novello Awards for 1984 where they won a joint award for Band Aids Do They Know Its Christmas? (PA) A statement from the library said: In April 2018 the archive was brought from London to Dublin. A contract archivist will spend 18-24 months cataloguing the collection, at which point it will be available to all researchers through the National Librarys Special Collections reading room. Selective digitisation will be carried out thereafter, and the digitised materials launched online with free access anywhere in the world, subject to copyright and data protection restrictions. Geldof and co-writer Midge Ures first version of Do They Know Its Christmas? raised 8 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. They gathered a group of musicians together in 1984 for the charity single. It featured Geldofs fellow Irishman Bono, George Michael, Duran Duran, Phil Collins and Bananarama, among many others. Bob Geldof sings at Live Aid at Wembley on July 13 1985 (PA) It helped inspire the Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia on July 13 1985, and the Sport Aid campaign in 1986, all of which raised millions more. The library statement added: The NLI will develop a major exhibition in the National Photographic Archive to engage visitors of all ages and from across the world and explore opportunities for an international travelling exhibition. The archive reveals the enormous level of organisation behind Band Aid. A trove of documents, many on fading fax paper, captures the work of those who looked after fleets of ships and trucks which distributed relief. It was the era of strikes in Britain but many workers suspended their industrial action to help, Sir Bob has said. Revealing letters from public figures will be among those disclosed as well as reports on projects helped in Africa since 1985. An obsessed university worker has been jailed for a minimum of 28 years after stabbing his boss to death and scrawling bully across her forehead. David Browning left Jillian Howell lying covered in blood on the floor of her lounge after attacking her with a knife in the chest, neck and abdomen, before writing the word across her head in one-inch letters with a black marker pen. The Samaritans volunteer was found by police at her Brighton home on October 26 last year with 15 stab and slash wounds. A jury convicted Browning on Wednesday of murder after deliberating for just two hours and 20 minutes. Murder victim Jillian Howell suffered 15 stab and slash wounds (Sussex Police/PA) Handing the 52-year-old a life sentence at Hove Crown Court on Thursday, Judge Christine Laing QC said the way in which he murdered her was savage, adding: This was a sustained attack and the terror and trauma for her in the final few minutes of her life is unimaginable. Not content with inflicting those injuries, you then defiled her body by writing the word bully on her forehead. She said that was a grotesque act and could not have been further from the truth with her compassion costing the 46-year-old her life. She said the highly successful woman may have been frustrated with a team resistant to change but it was Browning who perpetuated this myth of bullying in an attempt to evade full responsibility for your actions. Browning, of Seaford, East Sussex, sat with a pile of papers and took notes while listening intently to the proceedings but stared at the floor when he was handed his sentence. The murder weapon used by David Browning who must serve at least 28 years in prison (Sussex Police/PA) The deputy to Ms Howell in the University of Brighton payroll department was a spurned admirer who was deeply self-centred and selfish, with a vindictive streak, the trial heard. Judge Laing said his utterly callous actions caused no end of trauma to Ms Howells family and his own. Nicknamed Spock by his wife Deborah after the Star Trek character because of his methodical manner, Browning was described as the epitome of urban normality, leading a stable life until it was jolted by the loss of his father who died after falling off a ladder in October 2016. Browning claimed he and Ms Howell clashed when they first started working together in 2015 but then became friends, and he decided he had to kill her after battling depression following the bereavement. Ms Howell, who had lost both her parents, told friends she wanted to help him. A note to police from David Browning who murdered his boss Jillian Howell (Sussex Police/PA) Judge Laing said: I am also quite satisfied from the evidence that you were exaggerating how low you were feeling to maintain Jillians attention. He bought her gifts and sent her texts in which he called her stunning, said he adored her and Every Jill needs a Dave. Ms Howell told friends she felt manipulated when Browning demanded she must never leave the university or get a boyfriend and should be concentrating on him. Judge Laing said there was no doubt at all he developed a crush that turned into an obsession and she was quite satisfied that an ordinary cocktail of human emotions desire, jealousy, frustration and anger led to the murder. She said this was illustrated in his vitriol towards her close friend Sean McDonald, who he tried and failed to frame for the killing. In the months before her death, Browning applied for a firearms licence, bought a shotgun and knife, hired a van, deleted swathes of messages and data on his phone and took a change of clothes to the crime scene. Members of the jury were in tears as Browning described the moment a whoosh came over him after he shared a curry with Ms Howell, and then stabbed her in the back. He said she screamed You bastard before he responded with: Im sorry Jill, this is what mental health does to you. He stayed in the house for hours, posting a cartoon on Facebook with the slogan Stand up to bullies, then kill them and then phoning the very charity she volunteered for seeking advice. When he handed himself into police he was calm and coherent but the father of a 21-year-old son and 17-year-old daughter denied murder, claiming it was manslaughter by diminished responsibility. Graham Trembath QC, defending, said Browning showed no mercy in the inexcusable killing but asked for there to be some light at the end of the tunnel. Judge Laing accepted his diagnosed condition may have played some part in his behaviour but that he had been rational at the time of the killing, showing no emotion and little remorse other than for his own situation. His sentence means he will not be eligible to be considered for parole until he is in his 70s. The Champions League final on May 26 will be the sixth meeting between Liverpool and Real Madrid. Liverpool currently hold a 3-2 advantage but lost both their two most recent clashes four seasons ago. Here, Press Association Sport looks back at the previous encounters. May 27, 1981 European Cup final, Liverpool 1 Real Madrid 0 Liverpool goalscorer Alan Kennedy celebrates with the European Cup (Peter Robinson/EMPICS) Liverpool were appearing in their third European Cup final in five years having won in 1977 and 78 and looking to make it five successes in a row for English sides following Nottingham Forests back-to-back triumphs. Reals European dominance was an increasingly distant memory and they were unable to reclaim the title. Liverpool were the better side and finally made the breakthrough in the 82nd minute through Alan Kennedy, making Bob Paisley the first manager to win the cup three times. February 25, 2009 Champions League last 16, Real Madrid 0 Liverpool 1 Yossi Benayoun (right) celebrates scoring the opening goal (Adam Davy/EMPICS) Rafael Benitez enjoyed one of his better nights as Liverpool boss when he masterminded victory at the Bernabeu despite the absence from the starting XI of Steven Gerrard through injury. Yossi Benayoun was the man to benefit and it was he who scored the late winner, heading in Fabio Aurelios cross. March 10, 2009 Champions League last 16, Liverpool 4 Real Madrid 0 Steven Gerrard celebrates scoring Liverpools third goal (Peter Byrne/PA) If the Bernabeu was good, the return leg at Anfield was a dream for Liverpool, who romped through to the quarter-finals. Fit-again Gerrard scored twice, while former Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres was instrumental in a dominant attacking performance and netted the opener, with Andrea Dossena adding a late fourth. But Liverpools run ended in the last eight at the hands of Chelsea. October 22, 2014 Champions League group stage, Liverpool 0 Real Madrid 3 Cristiano Ronaldo scored one of Real Madrids three goals at Anfield (David Davies/PA) The tables were turned when Real visited Anfield five years later as European champions. Liverpool were back in the Champions League after an absence of four seasons and the gulf was clear. Real were three up by half-time through Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Karim Benzema and a Liverpool comeback never looked on the cards. November 4, 2014 Champions League group stage, Real Madrid 1 Liverpool 0 Steven Gerrard was left on the bench at the Bernabeu (Adam Davy/PA) Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers rested key players like Gerrard and Raheem Sterling, prioritising a league clash with Chelsea, but his makeshift side acquitted themselves well, conceding only one goal, scored by Benzema. The campaign ended in disappointment, though, as Liverpool failed to make it beyond the group stage. A former senior official at the Houses of Parliament has branded the behaviour of Commons Speaker John Bercow unworthy of someone in such public office. David Leakey, who retired in 2017 after seven years as Black Rod told the PoliticsHome website that he had personally experienced intolerable rudeness from the Speaker. His comments increase the pressure on Mr Bercow, who is already facing bullying allegations from two former members of his office staff, all of which he strenuously denies. Downing Street has said that Prime Minister Theresa May regards the allegations as concerning and thinks they should be properly investigated. A spokesman for Mr Bercows office acknowledged the Speaker had fundamental disagreements in the past with Mr Leakey, who was responsible as Black Rod for maintaining order in the House of Lords, but denied the allegations made by him. Mr Speaker refutes all the allegations levelled by Mr Leakey, said the spokesman. John Bercow and David Leakey are two very different people with very different backgrounds, perspectives and ideas. They had fundamental disagreements in 2011 and 2012, but interacted adequately after that. In his former role as Black Rod, David Leakey (left) accompanied Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow during the State Opening of Parliament (Niklas Hallen/PA) Mr Leakey said that the issue risked bringing Parliament into disrepute unless it was rigorously investigated. He told PoliticsHome: His explosive and intemperate behaviour is legendary, objectionable and unworthy of someone in such public office conduct which may not stand up to the standards expected in public life. There were lots of people who were, frankly, terrified of the Speaker. Mr Leakey said that on one occasion when the red mist suddenly descended, Mr Bercow had erupted into a rage, banging the table and making extremely rude remarks to him. It was quite disproportionate and unreasonable by any standards, he said. Mr Bercow is already facing calls to quit following bullying allegations from former private secretaries Angus Sinclair and Kate Emms. An inquiry is already under way under Dame Laura Cox QC into claims of bullying by MPs. But its remit does not extend to looking at historical cases, including allegations against Mr Bercow. Leader of the Commons Andrea Leadsom said on Wednesday it was for Dame Laura to consider whether the terms of her probe should be expanded to allow for individual investigations to take place. And Downing Street suggested that allegations against Mr Bercow could be considered by the judge-led inquiry, by the House authorities or by the parliamentary Standards Commissioner. But the Speakers Chaplain Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin defended Mr Bercow. She told BBCs Daily Politics: It feels like a frenzy at the moment and that concerns me. Not only in relation to Mr Bercow, but in terms of other MPs, there are times when a frenzy is whipped up around individuals and that is quite concerning in terms of their well-being. She said: The John Bercow that I know, and have been in pastoral care for as I do with many others is someone who is very kind, caring and compassionate. And I know that if he felt that he had done something to someone, that he would be mortified. Bill Cosbys wife has called for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case was mob justice, not real justice. Camille Cosby also said the case that could put the 80-year-old comedian in prison for the rest of his life was a tragedy that must be undone. She made her first comments on the verdict in a three-page statement sent to the media through a family spokesman a week after a jury found her husband of 54 years guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Andrea Constand embraces prosecutor Kristen Feden, right. (Matt Slocum/AP) She said chief accuser Andrea Constand was a liar whose testimony about being drugged and molested at Cosbys home in January 2004 was riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions. She echoed Cosbys lawyers, who argued Ms Constand framed him to score a big payday. Ms Constands lawyer bristled at the statement and asked: Why would any reputable outlet publish that? Twelve honourable jurors peers of Cosby have spoken, lawyer Dolores Troiani said. There is nothing else that needs to be said. Ms Constand said in a tweet last week that truth prevails. Mrs Cosby compared the dozens of other women who have accused her husband to a lynch mob spurred on by the medias frenzied, relentless demonisation of him. She compared his treatment to that of Emmett Till, the black teenager who was kidnapped and murdered after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955. Mrs Cosby said her husbands prosecution was politically motivated, repeating his teams contention that he had been a pawn in a heated race for district attorney. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele attacked opponent Bruce Castor in campaign ads over his decision not to charge Cosby in 2005 and announced Cosbys arrest a month after winning the November 2015 election. Bill Cosby leaves court after he was found guilty (Matt Slocum/AP) She said Mr Steele and his team were exploitative and corrupt and their primary purpose is to advance themselves professionally and economically at the expense of Mr Cosbys life. If they can do this to Mr Cosby, they can do so to anyone, she said. Mrs Cosby, 74, stayed away from both of her husbands trials, except for the defences closing arguments. Before the jury came in last week, she went to the defence table and put her arm around Mr Cosby, who is legally blind. When it was the prosecutions turn to argue, she left the courtroom, and Ms Constand entered. Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing that could put him in prison for the rest of his life. Mrs Cosbys statement comes as colleges around the country continue rescinding honorary degrees awarded to the comedian and as the TV academy said it is reviewing his inclusion in its Hall of Fame. Colby College in Maine said on Wednesday it was rescinding an honorary degree, while Yale University did the same on Tuesday. British investigators are excavating a riverbank in Germany more than three decades after a soldiers two-year-old daughter vanished in a new push to find out what happened. Royal Military Police are being assisted by German authorities with police dogs in their forensic search of the banks of the Alme river, in Paderborn, senior investigating officer Warrant Officer Class 1 Richard OLeary said. Katrice Lee vanished on her second birthday on November 28 1981, while out shopping with her mother on the outskirts of Paderborn, near the British military base where her father was stationed. Katrice Lee went missing on her second birthday (MoD/PA) They were buying treats for a birthday party from a British military supermarket when her mother, Sharon Lee, realised in the checkout line she had forgotten crisps. The mother asked her sister to watch Katrice and when she returned in what she has estimated was less than a minute, the girl was gone. The sister told her Katrice had run after her and she thought they were together. Royal Military Police carry out a forensic investigation in Paderborn, Germany (Martin Meissner/AP) WO1 OLeary said after a new review of the evidence, he was focusing on three main areas. Firstly, identifying a man, through a police composite, seen near the supermarket at the time of the crime with a child who looked like Katrice getting into a green car. Second, the possibility Katrice was abducted and grew up not knowing who she was and identifying her through an age progression photo. And third, the investigation of the Alme river area where a green car was seen on a bridge the day after the crime. Were pursuing all reasonable lines of inquiry, he said. Digging on the banks of the Alme began on April 30 and is expected to last for some five weeks, WO1 OLeary said. He said they were looking for any evidence of Katrices disappearance, whether thats clothing or, unfortunately, Katrice herself. WO1 OLeary said he had deemed the riverbank area to be significant and of interest but declined to give further details. As you can appreciate this is an ongoing investigation and I dont want to release details now that might become critical later. Richard Lee, left, father of Katrice Lee, listens to Warrant Officer Richard OLeary (Martin Meissner/AP) He said they were also trying to trace the owners of about 500 green cars who lived in the area at the time. Thats really, really difficult as you can appreciate, it was 36 years ago, he said, asking anyone who might have information to come forward. Following the disappearance, broad searches of the area were conducted by British forces, German police and volunteers but no traces were ever found. How police believe Katrice would look today (British Army/PA) The case was featured on Crimewatch and Germanys Aktenzeichen XY in 2017 and 2018 in an effort to ensure a wide audience saw the composite of the man with the green car and the age progression photo of Katrice. WO1 OLeary said the investigation has no suspects. Authorities have been criticised over the initial investigation and the girls father, Richard Lee, said he was still bitter, but glad WO1 OLearys team was looking into the evidence again. They are doing this to try and close the gap, to try and re-instil the trust that my family has lost, he said. Do I forgive them? The answer is categorically, no. I do not and I never will. Thousands of calls have been made to a helpline after it was revealed that women may have had their lives cut short due to failures in breast cancer screening. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt revealed on Wednesday that 450,000 women aged 68 to 71 had not been invited to their final routine screening. An independent review has been launched into the computer error, which was discovered in January but dates back to 2009. Between 135 and 270 women could have had their lives shortened as a result of the mistake, Mr Hunt said. A dedicated helpline for those who may be affected had received around 8,000 calls by Thursday evening, according to Public Health England (PHE), which oversees the screening programme. Some women aged between 70 and 79 are being offered the opportunity for a breast screen. This is because some women did not receive an invitation for a final screen, as part of the routine NHS Breast Screening Programme. Find out more here: https://t.co/Ka0ZWZDv3f pic.twitter.com/5QPf5EJa3p NHS (@NHSuk) May 2, 2018 Charity Breast Cancer Care said it had also seen a surge in calls to its own helpline, with many women feeling confused and angry. Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive at Breast Cancer Now, described the mistake as a colossal systemic failure. Women in England between the ages of 50 and 70 are currently automatically invited for breast cancer screening every three years. Of those who missed invitations, 309,000 are estimated to still be alive and all those living in the UK who are registered with a GP will be contacted before the end of May. All women who were not sent an invitation for their final screening will be given the opportunity to have a new appointment. However Mr Hunt said administrative incompetence meant some families may have lost, or may be about to lose, a loved one to cancer. Women and the families of those who may have been affected by the failures have demanded answers over the failures. Widower Brian Gough said his wife Trixie did not receive a letter inviting her to go for a screening in 2009. A scan in October 2010 revealed she had stage-three breast cancer. The 77-year-old, from Norfolk, told the Press Association he was shell-shocked by the news. There has always got to be some blame, these things dont just happen it is never the computer that goes wrong, it is the person that put the information in or took it out, he said. Somebody somewhere along the line has made a massive error we are talking 450,000 letters that should have gone out. Mr Goughs wife missed the wedding of her grandson as she was too ill to attend, and died just before her granddaughters nuptials. All of that she missed because she didnt get diagnosed and she didnt know anything about it until a year too late, he said. Former NHS nurse Patricia Minchin said she was not offered a screening in 2013 when she turned 70, and is now battling breast cancer. The cancer has also spread to other parts of her body. In light of today's breast screening announcement, visit our information pages to help decide if screening is right for you. Or you can call our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000, open at 9am tomorrow.https://t.co/fdoYfNDclV Breast Cancer Now (@BreastCancerNow) May 2, 2018 The 75-year-old from Bushey, Hertfordshire, told The Telegraph: I feel so disappointed. I dont know if Im going to survive. I would like an explanation from somebody why this happened, why I didnt get a recall. Why didnt they pick up that I hadnt had a mammogram? They obviously knew about it for some time and they shouldnt have covered it up for so long. Dr Emma Pennery, clinical director at Breast Cancer Care, said: After this appalling blunder, Breast Cancer Cares helpline is set to receive four times its usual number of calls by the end of the day. This surge highlights the gravity of the situation and the sheer number of people it has impacted. The women contacting us are feeling angry, confused and want answers. Many are anxiously playing a waiting game until the letters arrive, not knowing if theyve been affected. Others are extremely worried about when their letters will arrive and how long it will take to get screened. The official helpline for those who think they may be affected is 0800 169 2692. A fashion student has told a court it was just a coincidence that she purchased acid on the day her former partner told her to leave him alone. Berlinah Wallace, 48, is accused of throwing the acid over Mark Van Dongens face and body while he lay in bed at her flat in Westbury Park, Bristol, in September 2015. She is charged with murdering Mr Van Dongen by leaving him with such catastrophic injuries that he was granted euthanasia and died in Belgium in January 2017. Berlinah Wallace is on trial at Bristol Crown Court (Elizabeth Cook/PA) Before his death, Mr Van Dongen told police that he awoke at 3am to hear Wallace laugh and tell him: If I cant have you, no-one else can, then throw the acid on him. In cross-examination, Wallace said she phoned Mr Van Dongen on September 2 and he complained that she was stalking him and told her he would phone the police. I was shocked, she said. One of the things I did mention was perhaps I will tell the police that he has been downloading child porn. I made a threat. I dont trust him he might have downloaded child porn on my computer. When asked if Mr Van Dongen had downloaded indecent images of children, Wallace replied: No. I have never seen child porn before. I dont trust him. He had been lying to me all along. He was capable of anything. The court heard that, by then, Wallace had made 14 silent phone calls to Mr Van Dongens new girlfriend, Violet Farquharson. Wallace denied that she felt anger towards Miss Farquharson and claimed she made the phone calls to annoy Mark. She said she had decided to stop making the calls by the time she spoke to Mr Van Dongen on September 2. The fashion student admits buying acid on Amazon on September 2 but claims it was to deal with smelly drains. Adam Vaitilingam QC, prosecuting, pointed out to Wallace that she had purchased the acid on the same day as Mr Van Dongen told he would call the police on her. Was that just a coincidence? he asked Wallace. Yes it is, she replied. I was really, really disappointed in Mark. I had nothing against Violet whatsoever. Actually I felt sorry for her. At some point I wanted to tell her about things but my tongue was stopped. I panicked, I put the phone down. Eventually I just did it to annoy Mark. The court previously heard a statement from Wallaces landlord, who said she complained of smelly drains in December 2014 and they were dealt with with no further complaints made. However, Wallace said the work carried out on the drains then did not solve the problem. Are you saying that for nine months you and Mark lived in a flat smelling of sewage but did nothing about it until September 2 2015? Mr Vaitilingam asked. Wallace replied: Yes we did. It wasnt all the time. I didnt want to be a pest. She said she didnt think about mentioning it when she phoned her landlord in September 2015 about water coming from radiators. Wallace told the jury she bought the acid after searching for drain cleaner on Amazon, and picking one of the results. But Mr Vaitilingam said internet records deleted from Wallaces laptop showed she had actually searched for sulphuric acid. It was a long time ago, Wallace replied. There was no motive other than what it was bought for. She said she deleted any search history involving her bank account or Mr Van Dongens bank account. Police found websites relating to acid attack victims, including post-mortem images, had been deleted from her browsing history. Why did you delete every single one of the websites that you visited that dealt with sulphuric acid attacks? Mr Vaitilingam asked. Wallace replied: Maybe because it was not desirable it was nothing I intended to go back to. During her evidence-in-chief, Wallace claimed Mr Van Dongen had poured a glass of what she believed to be water and left it by the bed. She said she threw it over him when he pulled her underwear during an argument. I was trying to run away then he said ooh you threw acid at me, she told the jury. I just turned around and I think I saw smoke or something. The only way I can describe it is black. She claimed that earlier that night, Mr Van Dongen had brought her the acid in a plastic container and told her to drink it. Wallace said she did not phone the emergency services to assist Mr Van Dongen, a Dutch-born engineer, as she was in shock. The defendant, of Ladysmith Road, Bristol, denies charges of murder and throwing a corrosive substance with intent. Her trial continues. Donald Trump could address Parliament despite Commons Speaker John Bercows opposition, according to peers. Some peers want the US president to address MPs and members of the House of Lords in Parliaments Royal Gallery. Conservative Lord Cormack said Mr Trump should be given the opportunity to speak to both Houses and be received with proper good manners. Lord Speaker Lord Fowler said there had been no conversations with the Government about a possible address by the president but any request for him to be speak in the Royal Gallery would be discussed if and when it were received. He noted that the United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom. Conservative peer Lord Cormack who has suggested Donald Trump should address Parliament (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/(Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)/PA) The Independent reported that peers were pushing for the president to speak in the Royal Gallery, a lavishly decorated room at the House of Lords end of the Palace of Westminster where Mr Bercows opposition would carry less weight. Both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton addressed peers and MPs in the Royal Gallery during visits to the UK. Former MP Lord Cormack told the website: He is the president of the United States, our most important ally. My own personal views on him are completely irrelevant we should give him the opportunity to speak to both Houses. He added: He should be received with proper good manners, and as far as a speech is concerned he would speak where most other presidents have spoken in the Royal Gallery. Mr Trump will make a working visit to the UK on July 13 and details of his trip have yet to be confirmed. The US ambassador to Britain, Woody Johnson, said Mr Trump really wants to meet the Queen, adding the president would definitely be coming to London, despite the warnings of likely demonstrations. Former trade minister Lord Jones of Birmingham said it would be an excellent idea for Mr Trump to speak in Parliament. Trump is the democratically elected leader of our largest trading partner, our biggest inward investor and the guarantor, when alls said and done, of our security, he said. The bosses of China and Saudi Arabia are happily invited. In February 2017 Mr Bercow said he was strongly opposed to Mr Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, as Barack Obama had done. But Lord Fowler was not consulted and told peers at the time he would keep an open mind and consider any request for Mr Trump to address Parliament, if and when it is made. Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit told MailOnline there would be support from a lot of peers if Lord Fowler offered to host a speech by the US president. John Bercow took a unilateral decision, Lord Tebbit said. I am not sure he has the power to. Lord Fowler pointed out that since becoming Lord Speaker the king of Spain and president of Colombia had spoken in the Royal Gallery the use of which had been approved by him and Lords official Black Rod, rather than Mr Bercow. He added: No conversations have taken place between the House of Lords and the UK Government regarding President Trump coming to the Royal Gallery. Any request for him to speak in the Royal Gallery would be discussed if and when it were received. The United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom. Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren believes 12-time winners and title holders Real Madrid should fear the Reds in the Champions League final later this month. A 7-6 aggregate win over Roma set up a replay of the 1981 final in Paris, where Liverpool won the third of their five European Cups. Jurgen Klopps side are the competitions top scorers with 40 goals and Lovren thinks Real, who were pictured with T-shirts speculating about a potential 13th success after knocking out Bayern Munich, will be wary of their firepower. Dejan Lovren, left, thinks Real Madrid should fear Liverpool in the final (Alessandra Tarantino/AP) They are quite confident but we dont care for that, we are focused on our job, said the Croatia international. Why should we fear them? They should fear us. Team-mate Sadio Mane echoed those thoughts by stressing they are capable of taking on anyone and winning, as evidenced by their two victories over Pep Guardiolas all-conquering Manchester City side in the quarter-final. We do have a lot of respect for Madrid, they are one of the best teams in the world, but we are Liverpool we are strong, we can beat any team in the world, he said. We believe that so we believe we can go there and beat them. We know we are going to go there to fight for the fans, for the club. Fight without fear and win the final. We have the players. We can score goals, we have shown that, and there is nothing to be afraid of for us. Lovren also paid tribute to the huge impact manager Jurgen Klopp has had since arriving at the club in October 2015. The German led the club to two finals in his first season but lost both to take his personal tally of unsuccessful showpiece events to five. He changed many things in the club, not just the players but things around the club, people, he has changed the mentality, how we think, added Lovren. Everything is more positive now. Even when we sometimes dont play good he always finds something good and there is not negativity. He deserves this. It is not accidental that he already reached the final of the Champions League in 2013 with Borussia Dortmund. He has given the club pride back. Everyone feels that, everyone lives that. Everyone should be proud that we have a manager like him. The Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) today said it would launch a countrywide work stoppage next week without prior notice in protest of several issues including the proposed Kotelawala National Defence University (KNDU) Bill and recently signed Free Trade Agreement (FTA) inked with Singapore. GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge told a news conference that its Central Committee (CC) which met this morning had unanimously arrived to this decision and added that the CC had authorised its Executive Committee (Ex-Co) to take final decision on the work stoppage. He said they had reached to this decision with the absence of a justifiable response from the related authorities for several burning issues in the country including proposed KNDU Bill, FTA inked with Singapore, Economic and Technology Cooperative Agreement (ETCA) with India and the new Inland Revenue Act with would discourage professionals to serve in the country. Another issue is Health Minister Rajitha Senaratnes arbitrary behaviour relating the cancellation of Sri Lanka Medical Councils (SLMC) election. There are several problems with regard to the transport facilities of medical officers and transfer schemes which have not yet been addressed by the authorities, he said. He said the GMOA would take actions to make people aware of the KNDU Bill and to defeat it. He also said legal actions would be taken against the FTA inked with Singapore and ETCA with India. We are forced to launch a countrywide work stoppage over these issues with the absence of a positive response from the authorities. Accordingly, we will go for a work stoppage without prior notice at any moment. The final decision will be decided by the Ex-Co in coming days, he said. (Kalathma Jayawardhane) Video by Sanjeewa Indian Law Enforcement Authorities today seized 32.249 kg of gold valued at Sri Lankan Rs. 240 million smuggled to Chennai from Sri Lanka through coastal Tamil Nadu. It was smuggled into India by sea and being transported to Chennai for sale. Six people were apprehended in connection with the case and all of them in their statements admitted that they purposely transported the smuggled gold to Chennai. On Tuesday evening, DRI officials kept a strict vigil in the bylanes of Mannady and observed a person on a two-wheeler receiving a heavy suspicious looking package. The receiver of the contraband was apprehended by the officials. After detailed examination the gold was found to weigh 12.149 kg. The accused were staying in a budget lodge at Mannady. DRI officials found a lady passenger carrying the smuggled gold and handing it over to another intermediary who had been staying at the lodge. In an similar incident, DRI conducted a thorough search of a private bus moving from Keelakarai to Chennai, where a person was suspected of carrying smuggled gold. The officials quickly identified him and his baggage and recovered 8.1 kg of gold from him. In all the operations, a total 32.249 kg of gold was seized and six persons were arrested by DRI under the provisions of the Customs Act. DRI warned that gold smuggling has been a recurrent issue in South India, and the coastal areas of Tamil Nadu are particularly prone to this illicit activity, due to its geographical proximity to Sri Lanka. The previous year itself saw DRI Chennai Zonal Unit seizing more than 105 kg of gold smuggled via Sri Lanka through the Tamil Nadu coast. The areas most vulnerable to smuggling are Tiruchendur, Rameswaram and Vedaranyam. Apart from the enforcement measures, the DRI has also taken up the issues of smuggling and other customs related matters at the policy level during the 28th Indo-Sri Lanka DG Level talks at New Delhi in February this year. As a result, both administrations had firmly resolved to combat smuggling. The Sri Lanka Customs and the Sri Lankan Navy have also stepped up efforts to curb smuggling of gold, narcotics, and other contraband. In April, Sri Lanka increased the rate of import duty of gold to 15 per cent (from the earlier rate of 10 per cent), in an attempted move to curb smuggling. (India Today) The CID today, once again released a photograph of Hettiarachchi Mudiyanselage Chandana Prasad Hettiarachchi alias Navy Sampath seeking public assistance to trace the suspect wanted in connection with the abduction and disappearance of 11 youths in 2008 and 2009. Police said the Fort Magistrate had issued an open warrant for the arrest of Navy Sampath who was also a Lieutenant Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy. They urged the public to forward any clues to the CID Operations Room on 011-2422176, the CID on 011-2320141-145 or the Organised Crimes Investigation Unit on 011-2393621. The 41-year-old suspect bearing NIC number 770402930V was known to be a resident of 54/1, Wennawatte, Wellampitiya. Earlier, the CID arrested several Navy officers including former Navy Spokesman Commodore D.K.P. Dassanayake in connection with the case.(Darshana Sanjeewa) Discussion on achievements and challenges in implementing the Governments ambitious three-year strategy Cost, labour and input for biological farming are lower compared to chemical farming Yield from biological farming was higher in 76 plots amounting to 50% in comparative studies Risk of yield reduction from biological farming only 31% equivalent to risk of chemical farming Real challenge faced by the plantation sector is not Glyphosate but negligence No opportunity granted to discuss way forward on Glyphosate ban Hailing the completion of four cultivating seasons, the Government recently held a felicitation ceremony to acknowledge and celebrate the success of its toxin-free agriculture programme at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall. Dubbed the Vasa Visa Nethi Ratak or a Toxin Free Nation, the three year programme was launched in 2016 in accordance with President Maithripala Sirisenas manifesto. Two years on, officials spearheading the programme have never been more confident of their victories. Several officials representing a host of Government authorities including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Department of Irrigation and religious leaders were present at the occasion. Three factors were highlighted as the foundation on which the programme was built on. The requirement to create an environment for all living creatures to exist by banning the use of selected universal herbicides and weedicides being the first of these factors. Their priorities also included providing farmers with a farmer subsidy instead of the fertiliser subsidy which was exclusively provided to companies which supplied agrochemicals. The research and development of biological farming with the vision of empowering a toxin-free nation was also among the priorities. Explaining the value of biological farming in his speech Asoka Ranwala, an activist at the forefront of the campaign against the use of chemical agriculture in Sri Lanka, questioned if biological farming was merely an oral tradition limited to folklore. He said at the inception of the toxin free agriculture programme, scientific minds were forced to question the practices of traditional farmers. There is evidence to establish that Sri Lanka has a history spanning over 3000 years where biological farming was in practice, Ranwala said. Optimising the yield Biological farming is a method that improves the live top soil layer that contains the microbial-sphere or rhizosphere in order to optimise yield. With this method the conditions are created to enable all life forms both visible and invisible that live within the rhizosphere to help crops flourish. It is a natural process which had been in practice in traditional agriculture, long before agrochemicals were introduced to our farmers. It was the reason why our farmers preferred cow dung and the waste soil of Mattakuliya over chemicals to fertilise their plots of land,Ranwala said. Biological farming regenerates and rejuvenates soil which has been destroyed through years of agrochemical use. According to experts this takes place within the span of just one planting season. The root cap and microbial action surrounding the plant is of utmost importance in this type of farming. Microbes in the rhizosphere prepare nutrients for absorption by the plant, while the root hairs do the needful. Biological farming strengthens and support this process. While chemical fertiliser provides the plant with saline, biological farming provides the plant with food. According to Ranwala biological farming is most suited to tropical areas with high biodiversity. Unfortunately, despite Sri Lanka being a country rich in biodiversity, little or no research had been conducted on this method of farming during the past two decades. Neither agricultural experts nor extension officers possess the knowledge of biological farming techniques, leading to the promotion of outdated agricultural practices, he lamented. Ranwala noted that practices adopted under the toxin-free programme is a mix of traditional conservation farming and biological farming, developed through biotechnology research adopted in Japan. Biological farming in the lead Strategic Enterprise Management Agency Chairman Asoka Abeygunawardena believes that biological farming has successfully responded to questions posed by those engaged in commercial chemical agriculture. Even though there was no substantial evidence it was common belief that organic agriculture was expensive,Abeygunawardena said. However according to him research has proven that biological farming is now in the lead. He made this statement citing a comparative study conducted by the Department of Agriculture on biological farming and chemical farming. The study ensured that no unfair advantage was leveraged by biological farming efforts. In 151 plots established on farmer plots in 9 districts- established by the Department of Agriculture- the yield from biological farming was higher in 76 plots amounting to 50%. The risk of yield reduction from biological farming meanwhile was noted at only 31% which is equal to the risk of chemical farming. The cost, labour and input for biological farming are lower than chemical farming and it has been proven in our research, Abeygunawardena said dispelling many arguments against biological farming efforts. Speaking on the ban of the weedicide Glyphosate and its effects on the plantation sector, Abeygunawardena said the myth that the herbicide was essential for plantations had been busted. The real challenge faced by the plantation sector is not the ban of the chemical, but the utter negligence which result in the plantations being gradually destroyed, he alleged. Only glyphosate and the likes of it were banned, as they completely destroy the rhizosphere. Large plantation companies charge that tea yield fell by 11% in 2016 due to the ban, but this is a fallacy. In 2017 while the ban was in place, the yield increased by 5%. Therefore there is no co-relation between the ban and the yield, he said attributing the losses faced in plantations and agriculture in 2016 to the extended drought Sri Lanka suffered at the time. Glyphosate Ban Echoing his sentiments, Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who was a key instigator in banning Glyphosate, said that achieving safe and secure food consumption is the key to solving a number of burdensome issues in Sri Lanka. We are a debt ridden, developing nation. We brought forth a change of Government to change this situation, Ven. Rathana Thera said. The cost, labour and input for biological farming are lower than chemical farming and it has been proven in our research No opportunity was granted for us to discuss the way forward with regard to the Glyphosate ban, the monk alleged. We understand that the reversal to biological farming takes time and planning. It is the very reason we requested for a systematic provision of fertiliser in order to avoid direct provisions of chemical fertiliser. But let us have an opportunity to discuss the issues and find out remedies together, he said. Hunger and malnutrition are maladies which we need to get rid of. Our health and well-being depend on the food we consume and it is simply commonsense to rid ourselves of toxic foods. Over $300 are spent on food related costs each year, according to Central Bank reports. If we as a country are able to spend less on importing food and cultivate our own, it is my belief that many of the problems we are suffering from would be solved, the thera opined. Until the next election takes place, Sri Lanka needs a movement by the farmers to change attitudes towards biological farming,Rathana thera said while challenging any one of the 2020 presidential candidates to attempt lifting the ban on glyphosate. Through our efforts we are attempting to not only save the millions of forex usually spent on the import of agrochemicals, but also make toxin-free foods abundantly available,he said. With the experience of four cultivating seasons, these experts are now in the belief that higher yields can be achieved during the next cultivating seasons, with lesser cost, input and labour. Accordingly the sole need at present is to facilitate the Rs. 20 billion investment needed to launch this programme island-wide. Their ambitious belief is that the capital costs can be recovered within two months. Biological farming regenerates and rejuvenates soil which has been destroyed through years of agrochemical use. According to experts this takes place within the span of just one planting season The discussion was followed by a felicitation ceremony to honour those who tirelessly campaigned to make toxin-free agriculture in Sri Lanka a reality. Ven. Athuraliye Rathana Thera, Prof. Channa Jayasumana and Dr. Damayanthi Perera were accorded in recognition of their services in laying the foundations for a toxin-free nation. Several media organisations and journalists including Indika Hewawitharana of the Ada newspaper were honoured for their valuable contributions. Representatives of farming organisations across the country who contributed to the development of toxin-free agriculture by cultivating their own plots of land under the guidance of the Agriculture Ministry were also felicitated at the event. The recent Cabinet reshuffle has further empowered the United National Party (UNP) and weakened the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP), said Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) leader G.L. Peiris. He told a news conference that several prominent ministries like Social Welfare, Social Empowerment, Labour and Trade Union Relations, which were under the SLFP, had now been grabbed by the UNP to centralize the powers of the government. It is evident that the government is run by UNP policies. What is pathetic is that even the SLFPers follow these policies without considering the fact that they are harmful to the country. At a time when Sri Lanka is battered by political and economic catastrophes because of UNP governance, the SLFP should announce its stance to continue with the government," Prof. Peiris said. "The government is not concerned about extraditing Arjuna Mahendran, the mastermind behind the Central Bank Bond scam, to Sri Lanka. Mr. Mahendran is not hiding himself but being hidden by the government. If the government is unable to arrest a single person, then we cannot expect any good from the government, Prof. Peiris added. (Sheain Fernandopulle) Video by Sanjeewa MP Athureliye Rathana Thera said that when he made inquiries from President Maithripala Sirisena on the ban on Glyphosate being lifted, he had been informed that he was not aware of such a move. The Thera charged that only Minister Navin Dissanayake had confirmed the news on the ban and added the public does not know who to believe in this regard and that an important decision such as this cannot be taken without the concurrence of the President and his secretary and therefore it appears that the ban had not been lifted. He further said a Presidential election or a general election should be called or in the alternative, an announcement should be made on permanent policy decisions covering the next two years instead of putting the people into difficulty". The Thera made these remarks at the International Buddhist Forum organized by the Environmentally focused Sustainable Development Unity, held yesterday at "Sadaham Sevana". He added this is a government and individual needs do not matter here. There may be gains, but decisions should not be taken for personal gain. Law and Order Minister Ranjith Maddumabandara said today that he had instructed to conduct formal and rapid investigation into the incident involving the loss of Ranamayura Golden Peacock Award of the late filmmaker Dr Lester James Peries that was stolen from his residence. The award was stolen Wednesday morning while his funeral service was in progress. The minister said he had instructed the police to conduct an investigation under a Deputy Inspector General (DIG). If the award was stolen by someone intentionally it was an insult to humanity more than a theft, the minister said. He said the persons involved in the incident would be identified within a short period because investigations are being carried out on a number of areas. Earlier, National Film Corporation Chairman Sithendra Senaratne said he had informed the Law and Order Minister Ranjith Madduma Bandara and the Colombo South Police DIG about this theft. The Ranamayura Award was given to Mr Peries in 1965 at the India International Film Festival held in New Delhi for the film Gamperaliya, he said.(Darshana Sanjeewa) Israels hardline Prime Minister, known for his theatrical stunts that have now become a kind of cliche, was at it again on Monday. Showing slide after slide and removing black cloths covering a cabinet of files and a panel of CDs, Netanyahu walked the stage, like a wannabe David Copperfield, to accuse Iran of misleading the international community and secretly developing nuclear weapons. With many experts not convinced about the media stunts at the Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, the Israeli Prime Minister stands exposed as a nuke-liar. Apart from United States President Donald Trump, there was little international support for his claim made through a giant slideshow titled Atomic Archive: Irans Secret Nuclear Files. To give his exercise some special effects, on one slide, Netanyahu had just two words -- Iran lied in huge lettering. It reminded one of Netnayahus 2012 United Nations address during which he, in yet another attention-grabbing exercise, displayed a diagram claiming to be Irans nuclear bomb. Some 15 years ago, US President George W. Bush also misled the international community and the American people into believing that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction a lie which the Bush administration kept saying to justify its invasion of Iraq. Experts say that Netanyahus so-called revelation was a load of old bollocks. They say the Israeli Prime Minister had provided no evidence that Iran contravened the terms of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) the agreement Iran signed in 2015 with the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany. Nonproliferation expert Mark Fitzpatrick, executive director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNN, Theres nothing new in the material that Netanyahu revealed. All of it was information that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) already had and has already commented on. Another nonproliferation expert Jeffrey Lewis from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies said everything Netanyahu presented from the name of Irans secret programme Project Amad -- down to the fine details was found in the IAEAs final report. Rob Malley, senior foreign policy advisor to President Barack Obama, said that for those who followed the Iran nuclear file, there was nothing new in Netanyahus presentation. Also not convinced was the IAEA which has released eight statements since Iran signed the JCPOA in 2015, confirming that Tehran has been meeting its nuclear commitments fully. In terms of the agreement, Iran has restricted the enrichment of uranium to less than 20 percent, transferred the uranium that had been enriched beyond 20 percent to Russia, reduced the number of centrifuges in its reactors, slashed its uranium stockpiles and allows regular visits by IAEA inspectors. Iran described Netanyahus presentation as a childish and ridiculous show and warned of dire consequences if the JCPOA was allowed to collapse. Everything Netanyahu presented from the name of Irans secret programme Project Amad -- down to the fine details was found in the IAEAs final report While Irans compliance with the JCPOA has been endorsed by the IAEA and other signatories to the agreement, the Trump administration has been critical of the deal. Trump has threatened to pull out of the JCPOA which he has called the worst deal ever. When Obama okayed the deal in 2015, the Congress gave its approval, subject to a yearly endorsement by the President. Last year Trump reluctantly gave his approval. Indications are that on May 12, when the agreement comes up for his signature, he will not sign it. This will signal the United States formal withdrawal from the JCPOA. Yet, the agreement will survive. Both Russia and China Irans two biggest trading partners are standing by Iran and would not let the agreement collapse. Germany and the European Union have said that the deal stands. France, though President Emmanuel Macron during his US visit appeared to share some of Trumps concerns over Iran, will also not withdraw from the agreement. Neither will Britain. With the rest of the big powers backing the deal, the US has been isolated. The underlying message that world affairs can move on without US involvement is, indeed, a slap in the face for the Trump administration. Netanyahus stage show and Trumps anti-Iran outbursts have not taken place in a vacuum. They are inter-related and were well timed to set in motion an agenda authored by the anti-Iran axis that brings together the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia and a couple of Arab nations. They want Iran brought to its knees. The 2015 nuclear deal has provided sanctions-crippled Iran a way out of its economic crisis. Iran is on a major drive to rebuild the economy. It has signed multibillion dollar deals with China to build new railroads, highways and oil and gas fields. With Russia, Iran has signed an oil-for-goods deal a move that enables both Russia and Iran to bypass the petrodollar. Of course, Iran also signed a US$ 16.6 billion deal with US aircraft maker Boeing for the supply of new aircraft. If the US withdrawal from the JPOC takes place on May 12, Trump, in a bid to cripple Irans economic revival and appease Saudi Arabia and Israel, may impose fresh sanctions on Teheran. That will be the end of the Boeing deal. But this is no major loss for the US, because Irans US$ 16.6 billion is just a fraction of the mega deals Trump signed with Saudi Arabia during his May 2017 visit to the kingdom, his first overseas visit as President. Of the Saudi deals worth US$ 450 billion, US$ 110 billion are for arms purchases. But these deals come with a Saudi request to crush Iran. Judging by the statements and the actions of the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia after President Trumps Middle East visit, it appears that Saudi Arabias request has been met by a US request for the kingdom to normalise relations with Israel and give approval for Israels annexation of Jerusalem. This week al-Jazeera published remarks said to be made by Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman during his US visit in March. He is reported to have told heads of US-based Jewish groups that the Palestinian leadership must accept conditions for peace put forward by the Trump administration, agree to come to the negotiation table or shut up and stop complaining. Of course, Trumps peace plan does not recognise the Palestinians aspirations of making East Jerusalem the capital of their future state. Saudi Arabia is yet to deny the report, which is yet another indication that Saudi Arabia is working in tandem with Israel and the Trump administration to destabilise Iran even if it means abandoning the Palestinian cause the kingdom was, in the past, known to have championed. Iran and Saudi Arabia are at loggerheads in Syria where Israel, acting like the air force of ISIS, regularly attacks military bases from where Syrian and Iranian soldiers operate. The Saudis are seething with anger and jealousy that the Syrian regime, with help from Russia and Iran, is nearing victory. In the Yemen conflict, too, Saudi Arabia and Iran are on opposing sides. The American people need to be aware of moves by Israel and Saudi Arabia to drag their country into a war with Iran. Given the domestic political exigencies linked to the Russian probe and other issues, Trump, who is now being advised by neocons such as John Bolton, may go along with the war party. Gel Saviya in Anuradhapura around 20 years ago Gautama Buddha enunciated Parathittha Patiwajjatha which means that one must look into the welfare of others. What he practised as an aspirant of Buddhahood (Bodhisatwa) was self sacrifice. He was also concerned about the welfare of others. The main object of attaining Buddhahood is to show others the path so that they can relieve themselves from suffering. The didactic poem Loweda Sangarawa, which we often read as schoolchildren, laid down the axiom in brief that one must consider his own interests and those of others equally well. (Athweda Paraweda Samawa sithanne). The Pragna Pradeepa Movement, founded 31 years ago by Member of the Western Provincial Council Jayantha De Silva, is based on this noble concept enunciated by Gautama Buddha. It is a benevolent and peoples friendly movement dedicated to find solutions to misery and ignorance. It soon turned into a gigantic welfare progamme spread all over the Western Province and beyond. Pragna Pradeepa spread its branches like a huge tree and with its light glorified the life of tens of thousands of young men and women. The founder of the movement Jayantha De Silva was just a Municipal Councilor when he launched it with his meager salary. The Pragna Pradeepa movement has continued to grow and has guided the people along the path to a happier, fuller and a pleasanter life. Since its inception it has launched many a social welfare programme to help the carters. Helping the Dhamma schools with cash and kind, implementing projects to uplift artistes, helping temples, providing monetary assistance to women belonging to low income families and make them depend on self employment, housing aid for low income families, implementing infrastructure projects in urban areas, and donating books and school requisites to children are among them. Pragna Pradeepa is today a household word and a towering figure in the field of social service that supersedes any other social welfare organization in the country. It is really distinct in that it never resorted to propaganda and seeking cheap popularity at a colossal expenditure. Organizations launched for the sake of popularity were short-lived. However the Pragna Pradeepa movement, is deep rooted in the hearts of the people. The Pragna Pradeepa movement has continued to grow and has guided the people along the path to a happier, fuller and a pleasanter life Welfare of the people The Pragna Pradeepa concept was the brainchild of Provincial Council Member Jayantha De Silva. However, several of his friends extended their wholehearted cooperation as the movement progressed. Yet the success of the Pragna Pradeepa movement depended entirely on the unstinted courage and determination of its founder who was motivated by one thing. That one thing is the welfare of the people. His dedication and self sacrifice contributed to the success of the Pragna Pradeepa movement. Jayantha De Silvas Pragna Pradeepa has been functioning for 31 years as a beacon light guiding thousands of people to better their lives regardless of communal, religious, or political differences. He is an unparalleled social worker. He continues to fulfill his responsibilities for the welfare of others. The flames of Pragna Pradeep would brighten the society as an unparalleled social welfare movement, not only in Sri Lanka, but also in the whole of Asia. The wholehearted cooperation of a group of individuals, who have joined hands with the founder, has strengthened the Pragna Pradeepa concept. The Pragna Pradeepa movement, engaging in well organised and transparent social welfare activities, celebrates its 31st anniversary on May 13, 2018 in Kataragama. The programme includes a series of religious activities, donation of books and school requisites to children of low income families in the area. All members of the Pragna Pradeepa movement and others who take an interest in this worthy cause are cordially invited to attend the occasion. The Presidents Chief of Staff I. H. K. Mahanama and State Timber Corporation (STC) Chairman P. Dissanayaka were arrested by the Bribery Commission this evening in the act of accepting a bribe of Rs.20 million from an Indian businessman. A Bribery Commission official said the businessman, who had purchased a land at the Kantale Sugar Factory, had wanted to purchase machinery and building space to start operating the factory. The suspects had solicited a bribe of Rs.540 million from the businessman promising that they would provide him with the approval needed to obtain machinery and building space for this purpose. However, after negotiations were held between the two parties, it was decided to reduce the asking price to Rs.100 million. The raid took place while the two suspects were accepting Rs. 20 million as an advance payment in the car park of a leading luxury hotel in Colombo yesterday. The officials said the suspects were in the process of counting the money at the time of the arrest. The main suspect, Dr Mahanama, was earlier the Secretary to the Ministry of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms. He was appointed as the Presidents Chief of Staff two months ago but had told the businessman he still had the power to obtain the approval that was needed. Officials of the Bribery Commission said the suspects would be produced before the Colombo Chief Magistrate after their statements were recorded. The second suspect, P. Dissanayake, was formerly the Secretary to former President Chandrika Kumaratunga. (Darshana Sanjeewa) By John Wagner, President Trump lashed out Tuesday at the publication of questions that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III was said to be interested in asking him as part of the Russia probe and possible attempts to obstruct the inquiry. In a morning tweet, Trump said it was disgraceful that the 49 questions were provided to the New York Times, which published them Monday night. It appears that the leak did not come from Muellers office. The Times reported that the questions were relayed to Trumps attorneys as part of negotiations over the terms of a potential interview with the president. The list was then provided to the Times by a person outside Trumps legal team, the paper said. In his tweet, Trump also falsely asserts that there are no questions about Collusion. While the questions published by the Times are wide-ranging and include more related to possible obstruction of justice the list includes 13 related to possible co-operation between the Trump campaign and Russia. Among those is a query about Trumps knowledge of any outreach by his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort to Russia about potential assistance to the campaign. A court filing this month revealed that Mueller had sought authorization to expand his probe into allegations that Manafort committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials. Another question asks about Trumps knowledge of a June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower between his aides and a Russian lawyer who offered politically damaging information on Trumps Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Washington post 1 May 2018 - The Carmel Valley Community Planning Board unanimously approved the new Costa Azul development, which includes an Element by Westin hotel, an office building and restaurant on the corner of El Camino Real at the end of Valley Centre Drive. As an added benefit, the project will bring amenities such as a public trail and small park. The Costa Azul site is on an El Camino Real corner that houses several hotels, including Hampton Inn, Residence Inn, San Diego Marriott Del Mar and the future 127-room, five story Hyatt Place Hotel next door that will replace the existing Tio Leos. A trail through the project will connect El Camino Real with Carmel Valley Road. (Courtesy ) Costa Azul will include a six-story, 123-room hotel and a four-story office building with a 5,400-square-foot restaurant. A subterranean parking garage for the project will be accessed through Old El Camino Real, near the existing Shell station. The planning board has been working with father-son developers Fred and Hunter Oliver on the project since 2016, pressing them to blend the project with the new neighboring hotel, to provide a community benefit and to improve on its boxy architecture. In response to the planning boards input, the boxy buildings were re-imagined by Gensler Architecture, bringing in variations with terracing and adding articulations such as glass. The office building includes an amenity deck with views of the terrain. To address connectivity, they added an eight-foot-wide walkway path to and around the project from Valley Centre Road as well as a pocket park. A pedestrian promenade will connect with the new hotel across the street and the park space.The trail will continue down to connect with the Old El Camino Real and Carmel Valley Road as it heads toward Torrey Pines State Beach. At their April 26 meeting, board members complimented the developers for their willingness to work with them to ensure that the project complimented the community. Its a better project at the end of the day, we appreciate your help, said Hunter Oliver, noting that it is a better-looking building that the potential tenants are more excited about. A rendering of the park area of Costa Azul. (Courtesy Gensler ) The project will still be requesting a height variance as the maximum height allowed in the zone is 60 feet and 15 percent of the project is at 75 feet. As the project has evolved, the developers have brought the height down from an originally proposed 95 feet to preserve the views of the bluffs. Marco Gonzalez, a San Diego environmental lawyer, said he was concerned about the height and the justifications and findings made for allowing the increase. He said he agreed with everyone that it is a better design but he disagreed with the presumption that its a commercial zone so the height limit no longer matters and that a precedent was set when the neighboring Marriott was granted a 12-story hotel and eight-story office building. Gonzalez said the renderings do not accurately show the stark impact the 15-foot allowance would have on adjacent commercial uses and neighbors. I would just say just build to the height limit, advised Gonzalez. Carmel Valley Planning Board Chair Frisco White noted that as they are an advisory board, the planning board typically doesnt make findings on variances. He said the San Diego Planning Commission and City Council will have to make those findings when they review the project in the coming months. The Carmel Valley Community Planning Boards Pacific Highlands Ranch traffic subcommittee met on April 25 on possible short-term and long-term solutions for the communitys concerns about congestion and safety. Those in attendance included residents from the Watermark, Artesana, Santa Rosa, Canterra and Portico neighborhoods. In order to curb some frustrations, members asked the board to set a goal of getting some shorter term solutions like stop signs in by the end of the summer. The subcommittee has met several times to gauge the issues facing the community including roads congested by school traffic, an under-built SR-56, a lack of stop signs and residential streets not designed for cut-through traffic being heavily used as people try to avoid a jammed Carmel Valley Road. If Carmel Valley Road didnt back up, no one would be cutting through here. The long-term solution is to make Carmel Valley Road work, planning board member Ken Farinsky said of solutions such as reconfigured lanes, adaptive signals and the expansion of SR-56. As the community waits for those long-term solutions, some proposed short-term solutions have been met with mixed reviews. One solution to keep people from cutting through residential neighborhoods is proposed no right turn signs on Carmel Valley Road at Rancho Santa Fe Farms Road, Golden Cypress Place, Lopelia Meadows and Zinnia Hills between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. on weekdays. The board has approved the signs but there has been some pushback to the idea from people who may be returning their homes at that time. Neighbors say Blue Dawn Trails has become a speedway connecting Zinnia Hills Place and Pacific Highlands Parkway. The cut-through traffic is heaviest during school commute and has permeated into the Portico community as cars frequently speed through their alleyways to beat the line and cut back in front of cars on Blue Dawn. Portico residents became so fed up with cars speeding through their alleyways that this month the Homeowners Association placed temporary blockades on their streets from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. After the barriers were placed, many residents reported having positive experiences. Resident Crissy Simon said the barriers initially caused quite a commotion on Zinnia Hills when drivers found they could not cut through. Significantly fewer cars tried to race through the neighborhoodthe barricades helped to alter traffic behavior, Simon said. It was a pleasure to see kids ride their bikes to school or walk without the mass of cars driving through the neighborhood. Resident Brad Slavin said the lack of excess cars on his street resulted in a shortened commute. It usually takes me 20 minutes and at times up to 40 minutes in the morning to go from my house to drop off my kids at daycare on Del Mar Heights Road but this week has been less than five minutes to get out of the area, Slavin said. There has been no overflow traffic on PHR Parkway which means that the right-hand turn lane is not filled with two lines of cars rushing to make the right. Kids walking across the street dont have to dodge cars, the walkways are safer. Not all of the reviews have been positive. Some have complained that the action should not be legal and that a Homeowners Association shouldnt supersede the planning board or the city. You cant just unilaterally block streets, thats ridiculous, said one neighbor, adding that when there are events like road races in which streets are closed there is at least some public notice. One resident reported that on April 24 at around 7:45 a.m. someone took the barrier down on their own, allowing cars to again pass through. According to Trevor Philips, community relations officer for the Northwestern Division of the San Diego Police Department, the streets fall within HOA control. The streets of Portico are privately owned and Blue Dawn Trails is a private streetand according to HOA board member Cheryl Hsu, the HOA recently approved a contract for nearly $20,000 to seal and maintain the streets because they have become so run down from all the excess traffic. We do not want to block our street, but we currently have no other option to protect our community, Hsu said. We do not want to be bad neighbors, but I am glad that our actions are creating a dialogue about the need for a larger traffic solution within Pacific Highlands Ranch. It is the subcommittees goal to conduct a traffic study to ensure that any long-term capital investment in traffic mitigation measures are fact-based. Many solutions centered on safety in the form of stop signs at Lopelia Meadows Place intersections like Golden Lily Way, Sagebrush Bend Way and Silverbush Creek Street. Residents are particularly passionate about the stop sign on Silverbush Creekit will be on the Carmel Valley Community Planning Boards agenda for review on Thursday, May 24. Carmel Valley Planning Board Chair Frisco White said he believes one of the biggest impacts will be the much-needed completion of Village Center Loop Road. It is a very critical traffic mitigation for the community, said White of the road that accesses The Village shopping center, Canyon Crest Academy, Pacific Trails Middle School, the new community park and recreation center, the future library and several residential developments. The road currently dead-ends just past the Airoso community and new Laterra townhomeswhen connected, it would link back to Carmel Valley Road. The remaining 700-foot segment of road falls within the 21 acres of private property owned by the Lin family and the owners currently have no plans to develop the property. San Diego Councilmember Barbara Bry has met with the Lin Family Trust and according to Steven Hadley, a representative for Brys office, Pardee Homes has agreed to build the road if the city asks. At Brys request, the mayor has sent a letter to the Lin family asking for them to grant the city permission to build the road. Hadley said the entire process would likely take two to four years until the road is complete. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A former industrial property at 4550 Union Bay Place N.E. has sold for $3.5 million, according to King County records. The seller was the Marier family, which had owned the property for decades. It's just east of University Village. The buyer was PCC Industrial Park LLC, which is associated with Jonathan Skip Slavin and two partners, who intend to develop the site with apartments. . . . At the core of any business is solving a problem. And the bigger the problem, the bigger the business opportunity. Having worked as a GP in the aged care sector for the past 12 years, Im no stranger to the problems our industry faces. My business partner Dr Sebastian Rees and I built GenWise Health an online medical platform for health professionals in response to a feeling of frustration with the status quo in aged care. Working as GPs in residential aged care, we found existing back-end admin systems to be inefficient and time consuming. A backlog of paperwork was making it difficult for fellow GPs to work efficiently and find time to visit elderly patients, or worse pushing them out of the sector altogether. Having experienced these frustrations first-hand, Seb and I realised we could be the ones to provide a solution for it. We found we could resolve GPs efficiency problems while simultaneously solving residential aged care facilities issue of not having enough GPs to regularly treat their residents. The first step was identifying that common problem. Once we knew what we were solving for, we were able to build the business around this. The GenWise platform empowers more GPs to work in aged care by offering greater flexibility, autonomy and purpose. Find the gap Ideas come in various forms, many of which have the potential to be turned into good businesses. Focusing on finding a gap in the market is missing the wood for the trees. Opportunities are all around us and all it takes is for us to make the time and space to see them. When contemplating an idea, first ask yourself whose problem you are solving. Then decide if the solution to that problem is valuable enough for someone to purchase or use. This is crucial and can be your edge over competitors. The next step is to act! Ideas and visions are nothing without action. The next big tech innovation could be written on a napkin in an engineers drawer as she continues to work on repairing widgets. Bridge the gap with tech We found technology was the ideal way to streamline our industry. The GenWise platform connects doctors to each other and to their patients. The tools we use are not unique or especially advanced; mobile broadband, video conferencing, instant messaging apps and cloud-based storage are tools that all businesses can use to streamline their services. The power comes in what these technologies allow us to do. Technology can solve problems that were previously too expensive or time consuming to consider. Our doctors are able to communicate in real time, to ask for advice and collaborate on difficult clinical situations. This leads to better patient care, as multiple medical brains can consider health problems. Were able to bring our clinic, including health data, to patients, wherever they are. This mobilises the medical workforce like we have not seen since the 1950s, when doctors did home visits. I find it amusing and delightful that technology is bringing back the good ol days. Distil your purpose Finding a gap in the market, launching the next big idea and building a business is so much easier when your purpose is clear and ethical. In his book Start With Why, motivational speaker and marketing consultant Simon Sinek talks about the value of a clear sense of company purpose to both staff and consumers. While the fundamentals of business should never be overlooked, neither should the purpose the two are critical for success. And thats something weve certainly experienced at GenWise. Ours is a purpose-driven, ethics-based business. This makes the long nights and early mornings easier, but it also makes for great business. Our staff feel the joy, our customers reap the benefits, patients are better treated and were a stronger, more stable company for it. In 2017, we were awarded Telstra Australian Business of the Year for our innovation, purpose, and passion for meeting a need in a growing sector which just proves that finding a gap in the market and using tech to solve it can really pay off. About the author Dr Troye Wallett is co-founder of GenWise Health, a Telstra Business Awards winner. In 2013, along with fellow GP Dr Sebastian Rees, Troye established GenWise to provide a more structured and efficient model of care for General Practitioners (GPs) caring for patients in residential aged care. Obtaining finance can be challenging for any business but it is an acute difficulty for micro and small businesses in their start-up phase. Having the Best Business Idea in the World wont necessarily be enough to convince sceptical, risk-averse banks to approve a loan, especially if the business owner doesnt have a proven track record to back their entrepreneurial ambition. The same logic applies where a business owner lacks the business assets with which to secure finance from a financial institution. Although borrowing on the security of a private home is an option, this is a step too far for many small business owners. Unfortunately, more than 60% of small businesses cease operating within the first three years if starting (source: Australian Bureau of Statistics), with lack of working capital cited as the cause of two in every five failures. Considering small businesses are widely considered the engine room of the economy, accounting for around 97% of Australias businesses and employing nearly half the national workforce, difficulties accessing finance can have profound, far-reaching impacts. When a person starts a local business they also establish a virtuous cycle, with the money they invest in their business recycled many times over through their community, including other businesses. However, if they are unable to secure the funding they require to get their business off the ground and employ local staff, this virtuous cycle wont occur. Through their new Grants for Growth initiative, tax leader H&R Block is giving 20 small businesses, including sole traders, the break they deserve. There are twenty $10,000 grants available to Australian businesses with fewer than 20 employees and less than $3m in turnover*. The grants encompass $4,000 in cash, $5,000 in H&R Block business or bookkeeping services and $1000 in Officeworks gift cards*. For a chance to win a grant, entrants must explain in 100 words or less why their business is deserving and identify 3 ways H&R Block support small business. Applications will be judged on their creative merit, how well they address the entry criteria, the potential benefit to the community and their alignment with the H&R Block brand. According to H&R Block, an injection of cash and know-how worth $10,000 can make all the difference to a budding business owner. For example, it can be used to finance a robust business plan or a feasibility study to establish if there is a market for a proposed business. Alternatively, it can contribute to the purchase of much-needed equipment (e.g. machinery, tools, office furniture or IT equipment), enabling the business to open its doors, or the kind of research and developmentthat can turn a prototype into a market-ready product. In turn, these investments can help create jobs and increase spending capacity in the local economy, thus boosting other local businesses. H&R Block offered the following examples for how different grant recipients could make an impactful change in their business: A small business has come up with a great new idea for a child safety product. The prototype is attracting lots of attention but in order to fulfil bulk orders, the business needs to invest in machinery which can produce the product in large numbers. The small business applies for, and receives, a Grant for Growth and uses it to purchase the necessary plant. A small business selling educational products wants to improve its profitability. The business has a sales force of ten people who spend much of their time on the road demonstrating the products to potential customers and taking orders. The small business wants to provide each member of the sales force with an iPad to enable them to deal with work-related emails whilst travelling and present videos and other promotional material to clients. The small business applies for, and receives, a Grant for Growth and uses part of it to fund the purchase of the iPads. H&R Block Director of Tax Communications Mark Chapman told Dynamic Business: Given the difficulty in getting financing for great new business ideas, the role initiatives like Grants for Growth play in seeding new businesses across Australia cannot be underestimated. For 20 lucky businesses, Grants for Growth will mean the first step to success, the creation of new jobs, and the creation of an innovative, entrepreneurial culture so often stifled through lack of opportunity. To enter the Grants for Growth competition, visit www.hrblock.com.au/grants-for-growth. Entries are open from now until 30 September 2018, with H&R Block set to announce the winners on 14 October 2018. Runners up will receive three months of free bookkeeping services. *For terms and conditions visit www.hrblock.com.au/grants-for-growth Attracting the right talent to your small business can be an uphill battle and as challenging to a business owner as any other macro force. Not only are you competing with players in your own sector, youve also got the big guys to contend with. You know the ones, big staffing budget, big, shiny training programs, BIG brand name. So how do the little guys compete for the small pool of top talent to build a high-performing team especially if your industry is experiencing a national talent shortage? By using your size and USP to attract like-minded people who want to be part of building a winning team. At King Kong weve attracted a team of absolute winners over the past four years 42 winners in fact. We were a start-up that I bootstrapped from a rented bedroom, in a new and evolving industry plagued by cowboys, and a national skills shortage. Challenge much? Heres how we do it: Embrace your business size Small can be oh so good. Remember, youre trying to attract the entrepreneurial types who will be drawn to what makes your business unique and the leader thats built it this way. This is the type of team member who will recognise the benefits of joining a team at ground zero and growing with them. Training and development Please dont opt out of offering staff excellent training and development because you are not a big business. We constantly hear from job applicants that their desire for continued learning is a reason for changing jobs, and many would even take a pay cut if they know that theyll have the opportunity to develop their skills. Shift your mindset from the notion that employees are there to get things done, to recognising them as a talented team with enviable skills that can be fostered and further strengthened. Not only will your business benefit from their improved skills, but your team will be of even greater benefit to your clients. Enter awards Your work and your great culture cant speak for itself if people dont know about it. Entering awards will highlight your strong points, and promoting your wins will help to position you as a more attractive option for top talent. We were just named Australias Best IT Small Business in the 2018 Small Business Champions Awards, and were recently crowned Australias fastest growing digital marketing business in the AFR Fast Starters list. Without a doubt this helps us attract the real players. Offer flexibility, because you can You could just snag yourself a top talent whos a working parent by offering flexibility to work from home when needed or an early finish. There are many ways to offer flexibility, and when done well it can even increase productivity and retention. Be cut-throat about culture A strong and defined culture is palpable and will attract the right talent. When you consider the percentage of their day that your team gives to you, your business culture is so important to setting the tone for how enjoyable, purposeful, dynamic, supportive and challenging it is to be part of your team. It also can bring out the best in people. Dont forget to sell the close proximity of working with you and how the team is like a family. People respond to this over more bureaucratic segregated working. If you are a small or medium sized business, own it! Dont be afraid to be polarising. Our job ads do a great job at repelling the candidates we dont want to attract and this makes us even more magnetic to the ones we do want. Hire for attitude I am a big believer in hiring people with the right mentality who are prepared to develop their skills, rather than hoping that their attitude and approach will change once hired. You must get this right if you want to maintain the right culture and quality of your team. Dont narrow down your talent pool based on skills that can be developed with further training or experience. Some of our most effective senior staff started out in more junior positions and received support and training to work their way up, because we recognised that while their skills werent at a senior level yet, their work ethic and attitude were too good to pass over. Reward referrals from existing employees If your business is a great place to work, incentivise your existing employees to spread the word by rewarding them for referring your business to potential hires. Your staff are your best advocates and can be your best recruiters. Be proactive Dont wait for job applicants to come to you, especially if your industry is experiencing a talent shortage like ours is. Look for the best talent who youd love to join the team and approach them. For example, we go directly to top talent and sell them on our USP, training and development, and enigmatic leadership. And have a great hire rate from this approach. Networking Attend local meetups run by pioneers in the community learning new things. For example, we attend local SEO meetups and build relationships and share our expertise. As a result, we are top of mind as a preferred place to work because of those relationships and because potential hires know that we do things differently. Building a winning team is essential for business growth, and in my experience, small businesses can do this better than the big guys. About the author: Beauty and wellness booking platform Bookwell has completed a $1.25 million funding round led by Gabby and Hezi Leibovich, founders of homegrown ecommerce pioneer Catch Group, with a contribution from Jeremy Same and Adam Schwab, founders of Luxury Escapes. [Related: EatNow founders have raised $2.6m to launch Menulog for beauty and wellness Bookwell] The brainchild of Matt Dyer and Nathan Airy, Bookwell officially launched in September, last year, with $2.6 million in seed funding. The platform connects consumers with more than 1,000 beauty salons and wellness professionals in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Gold Coast. Over the past year, the company has enjoyed a 450% increase in revenue due to the addition of new salons to the platform. The latest capital injection, comes hot on the heels of Bookwells acquisition of German-based competitor Vaniday Australia. Dyer previously founded food ordering platform, EatNow in 2010. After merging with rival Menulog in 2015, the combined business sold for $855M to JustEat. According to Dyer, the funding validates the need for Bookwell in Australias $10 billion beauty and wellness market, and he and Airy will use it to cement their platform as the go-to destination for online beauty and wellness bookings. Specifically, the co-founders plan to grow their product development and sales teams, develop new product features for business partners and increase consumer choices on the site. Asked what attracted Catch Groups founders to Bookwell, Dyer told Dynamic Business that Hezi Leibovich, an investor in EatNow, had liked the concept from the beginning and saw a real need for the service. Wed been in conversations with Hezi since the beginning, he explained. Given our previous work with him, Nathan and I were known quantities. Hezi was ready to invest in Bookwell, and Gabby was also keen, hence why our latest capital raise followed so soon from our seed round. Its a big vote of confidence for the team and vision. The main qualities we have looked for in investors is long-term thinking, an understanding of how to build a marketplace business and the complexities of doing so, and alignment with our vision. All of our investors have a lot of experience with sales-focussed businesses and it is great to utilise this experience as well as their experience building a variety of businesses. Wooing them involved establishing strong relationships and continuing the conversation with them as Bookwell has grown. At this stage, Dyer said he and Airy are not thinking about a Series A just yet; instead, they are more focussed on building the business. The health, beauty and wellness industry has been slow to adapt to technology and we want to give consumers choice and convenience on one platform, he said. Just like it would be strange to book a flight by phoning an airline it will be the same in this industry over time. This market is growing in Australia and we see Bookwell[dot]com[dot]au being a key part of the industry. The acquisition of Vaniday, earlier this year, was opportunistic we definitely want to own this market. We are trying to leverage as much of the experience from building EatNow as we can but it is a completely new industry and things change fast so we are keeping an open mind. Brazil pork exports fall 16% in 1st quarter The Russian ban continues to bug Brazilian pork exports as figures showed a 16% decline during the first quarter. The overall decline was tempered by the strong growth in shipments to China and Hong Kong, which registered an 80% year-on-year growth, at 70,400 tonnes. Pork exports to these destinations accounted for over half of the overall traded volume during the quarter. This is twice the market share of the previous year. Brazil previously accounted for over 40% of Brazil's pork export volumes. Export growth to China and Hong Kong is likely to continue, especially given the ongoing trade dispute between China and the US. "If the 25% import tariff on US pork remains in place, there is scope for other suppliers to increase their market share. However, competing on the Chinese market may still prove difficult, as Chinese domestic pork prices are currently very low, and EU pork will also be aiming to maintain or grow market share", says AHDB Pork. Overall, though, export growth to alternative destinations is expected to be unable to fully compensate for the loss of the Russian market throughout 2018, the pork division of the UK levy body Agriculture & Horticulture Development Board adds. It notes that even the latest USDA forecasts anticipate Brazilian pork exports this year to be down 20% on 2017 levels. Meanwhile, Brazilian pig prices dropped by over 20% in the first three months compared with year-earlier levels, and this is attributed to the loss of exports to Russia, which has resulted in higher supplies on the domestic market. "While improved economic conditions may boost consumer demand, and absorb some of the additional domestic supplies, prices are likely to remain at a lower level. This, coupled to higher feed costs, means Brazilian producers are seeming to face a challenging year ahead", AHDB Pork said. Guiyang-1 satellite flies into space ( chinadaily.com.cn) Updated: 2018-05-03 China used a Long March 11 rocket to carry four satellites into space at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan city, Northwest China's Gansu province, on April 26. One of the four satellites, Guiyang-1, is the first satellite named after Guiyang city. Its successful launch gives Guiyang a new platform to advertise and promote its image. Guiyang-1 is able to meld traditional image information and spectral information into one. The massive data it acquires will provide a strong support for the construction of big data industrial bases for satellite production, the expansion of big data exchange and satellite big data research. The Guiyang government signed an agreement with Zhuhai-based Orbita Universe Technology Co Ltd in November 2017. The agreement, with an expected investment of 700 million yuan ($110.54 million), anticipates building of a satellite big data industrial base in Guiyang in two years. The base will include a ground receiving station, a data center, an exchange and trading platform and a cloud service platform for satellite data. Satellite data from ground receiving stations across China will be gathered in Guiyang's Global Big Data Exchange and be applied to broad fields such as people's livelihoods after desensitization and decryption. It is reported that a big data trading board developed by Orbita and GBDE will be launched during the 2018 China International Big Data Industry Expo. A Long March 11 rocket carries Guiyang-1 and three other satellites into space at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan city, Northwest China's Gansu province, on April 26. [Photo/www.gywb.cn] Zhao Yandi contributed to the story. chinadaily.com.cn Updated: 2018-05-02 141 South Koreans taking the 7C8601 flight to Hainan become the province's first visa-free tourists after the adoption of new policies. [Photo by Yuan Chen/Hainan Daily APP] Hainan province adopted new visa-free entry policies for overseas visitors from 59 countries and regions on May 1. According to the Exit-entry Administration Bureau of the Public Security Department of Hainan Province, 767 foreign tourists traveled by six flights landing at the Sanya Phoenix International Airport benefitted from new visa-free entry policies up to 6:10 pm on the first day. Their countries included South Korea, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Singapore, and Russia. Later that day, visa-free tourist groups from Astana, Novosibirsk and Indonesia arrived at the Sanya Phoenix International Airport and Haikou Meilan International Airport. One hundred and forty-one South Koreans taking the 7C8601 flight to Hainan became the first visa-free tourists after the adoption of the new policies. They will spend six days and four nights in Sanya and other cities and counties in Hainan. Foreign tourists receive a warm welcome with bouquets. [Photo/Hainan Daily APP] Since May 1, the number of countries allowed to enjoy visa-free policy has grown from 26 to 59, encompassing major tourist source countries such as Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan and Singapore. Individuals can stay in Hainan for a period of 30 days without a tour group. On May 1 last year, 661 visa-free group members from 26 countries visited Hainan, while the number increased to 767 visitors from 59 countries on the same day this year, generating a tourist number growth of 16 percent year on year. The Exit-entry Administration Bureau also revised related regulations issued in 2010 to guarantee smooth implementation of new policies. On April 29, the pre-declaration system for foreign tourist visa-free groups about to visit Hainan became available. China Immigration Inspection staffer checks the identity of a foreign tourist. [Photo/Hainan Daily APP] To attract more tourists, Gaoli Holiday Travel Agency has advertised Hainan tourism on several famous online travel platforms in South Korea with the support of the Hainan Tourism Development Commission. Data showed that Sanya treated 58.7 percent more South Korean tourists last year compared to the year before, making the country the largest tourist generating place in Asia, second only to Russia. According to Min Caixing, vice-general manager of the travel agency, South Koreans are mainly attracted by Hainan's beautiful natural scenery, characteristic cultural atmosphere, colorful national customs and Buddhist culture. He hoped that more flights will be arranged to enable an increasing number of South Koreans to visit Hainan which requires a flight of just four hours. By Businessinsider , May 02 , 2018 North Korea has released three US citizens detained there, the Financial Times reported Wednesday, citing a South Korean activist who campaigns for the release of detainees. The releases would meet some of the US's demands for North Korea to demonstrate sincerity before a historic meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un something that John Bolton, Trump's hawkish national security adviser, reiterated during an interview on Fox News on Sunday. Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook Johnson County Schools on Wednesday received about $125,000 in cash incentives from Kentucky Power after completing energy-saving projects, including lighting, heating and ventilation, and other improvements at seven schools. The upgrades were installed in 2017 at Johnson Central High School, Johnson County Middle School, Central Elementary, Flat Gap Elementary, Highland Elementary, Porter Elementary and W.R. Castle Elementary as part of a $5 million project. The school system earned a total of $125,620 last year. Nearly $602 was awarded in February and $125,018 was awarded Wednesday. Johnson County Schools Energy Manager Terry Salyer worked with Kentucky Power's Commercial Incentive Prescriptive Custom Program to earn cash back for energy efficiency upgrades that were part of the project. The rebate program has since been discontinued by the Kentucky Public Service Commission to reduce monthly surcharges paid by Kentucky Power customers to support the program. "These improvements will save Johnson County Schools in the neighborhood of $300,000 a year," Salyer said. "We will see a return on our investment in only eight years." E.J. Clayton, who led Kentucky Power's energy efficiency and consumer programs manager until they were recently discontinues, said improvement projects like the ones in Johnson County help customer save money and energy. "When government agencies or schools like Johnson County schools reduce energy consumption, the money saved can be invested elsewhere," Clayton said. Johnson County's improvements included the installation of energy efficiency lights, new heating, ventilation and air conditioning units, energy efficient kitchen appliances and other upgrades. Kentucky Power, with headquarters in Ashland, Ky., provides service to about 168,000 customers in all or part of 20 eastern Kentucky counties, including Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Rowan. Kentucky Power is an operating company in the AEP system, one of the largest electric utilities in the U.S. The researchers ofETH Zurich and Empa produced aluminium button cells in the laboratory. The battery case is made of stainless steel coated with titanium nitride on the inside to make it corrosion resistant. The energy turnaround depends on technologies that allow the inexpensive temporary storage of electricity from renewable sources. With titanium nitride and polypyrene scientists from ETH Zurich and Empa have found two new materials that can lead to low-cost aluminum batteries. Although existing lithium-ion batteries are ideal for electromobility due to their low weight, they are also quite expensive and therefore unsuitable for economical large-scale, stationary power storage. Furthermore, lithium is a relatively rare metal and is hard to extract unlike aluminum, magnesium or sodium. Batteries based on one of the latter three elements are thus seen as a promising option for stationary power storage in the future. However, such batteries are still at the research stage and have not yet entered industrial use. A promising new candidate is aluminum batteries, which are made from cheap and abundant raw materials. But as the electrolyte fluid in aluminum batteries is extremely aggressive and corrodes stainless steel, and even gold and platinum, scientists are searching for corrosion-resistant materials for the conductive parts of these batteries. M. Walter et al., Advanced Materials 2018 Functional scheme of the aluminium batteries, made by Empa and the ETH Zurich. Scientists from ETH Zurich and Empa led by Maksym Kovalenko, Professor of Functional Inorganic Materials have found what they are looking for in titanium nitride, a ceramic material that exhibits sufficiently high conductivity. This compound is made up of the highly abundant elements titanium and nitrogen, and its easy to manufacture, explains Kovalenko. The scientists have successfully made aluminum batteries with conductive parts made of titanium nitride in the laboratory. The material can easily be produced in the form of thin films, also as a coating over other materials such as polymer foils. Kovalenko believes it would also be possible to manufacture the conductors from a conventional metal and coat them with titanium nitride, or even to print conductive titanium nitride tracks on to plastic. The potential applications of titanium nitride are not limited to aluminum batteries. The material could also be used in other types of batteries; for example, in those based on magnesium or sodium, or in high-voltage lithium-ion batteries, says Kovalenko. Polypyrene instead of graphite The second new material can be used for the positive electrode (pole) of alumnium batteries. Whereas the negative electrode in these batteries is made of alumnium, the positive electrode is usually made of graphite. Now, Kovalenko and his team have found a new material that rivals graphite in terms of the amount of energy a battery is able to store. The material in question is polypyrene, a hydrocarbon with a chain-like (polymeric) molecular structure. In experiments, samples of the material particularly those in which the molecular chains congregate in a disorderly manner proved to be ideal. A lot of space remains between the molecular chains. This allows the relatively large ions of the electrolyte fluid to penetrate and charge the electrode material easily, Kovalenko explains. M. Walter et al., Advanced Materials 2018 Molecular structure of polypyrene. One of the advantages of electrodes containing polypyrene is that scientists are able to influence their properties, such as the porosity. The material can therefore be adapted perfectly to the specific application. In contrast, the graphite used at present is a mineral. From a chemical engineering perspective, it cannot be modified, says Kovalenko. As both titanium nitride and polypyrene are flexible materials, the researchers believe they are suitable for use in pouch cells (batteries enclosed in a flexible film). References Walter M, Kravchyk KV, Bofer C, Widmer R, Kovalenko MV: Polypyrenes as High-Performance Cathode Materials for Aluminum Batteries. Advanced Materials 2018, 1705644, doi: 10.1002/adma.201705644 Wang S, Kravchyk KV, Filippin AN, Muller U, Tiwari AN, Buecheler S, Bodnarchuk MI, Kovalenko MV: Aluminum ChlorideGraphite Batteries with Flexible Current Collectors Prepared from EarthAbundant Elements. Advanced Science 2018, 1700712, doi: 10.1002/advs.201700712 Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Das konnte Sie auch interessieren Verwandte Artikel ETH Zurich , EMPA St. Gallen A new joint venture located in Shenzhen will take over arm's previous licensing business in China. arm will cede control of its Chinese operations to a new joint venture involving itself and Chinese investors. The joint venture began operations in April and plans for an IPO which might help reduce arms owner Softbank's 147 billion dollar debt. The new joint venture, located in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, is called Arm mini China and 51% owned by Chinese investors with arm controlling the remaining 49%. It will be responsible for handling all the licensing and royalties business with chinese companies. According to sources close to the company the so called Hou An Innovation Fund will be a key stakeholder in the venture, other investors include Chinese sovereign wealth fund China Investment Corporation, the Beijing-owned Silk Road Fund, Singaporean sovereign wealth fund Temasek Holdings, Shenzhen government-owned conglomerate Shum Yip Group and Hopu Investment Management, which is led by Fang Fenglei, one of Chinas most prominent bankers. There is no information available if the pricing structure of the JV will be different from arm itself and how many employees will be transferred to it. Analysts estimate that arms revenue with chinese customers like Huawei and MediaTek exceeded 400 Mio. Dollar in fiscal year 2017. According to arm the Chinese market could become the company's largest one within five years from now. The creation of Arm mini China reduces Chinas reliance on western chip suppliers like Intel or Qualcomm and gain control of sensitive chip technologies that may impact national security issues. A number of semiconductor deals involving Chinese funds have been blocked by the U.S. government due to security reasons. Recently the Chinese smartphone supplier ZTE was banned from using US chips delivered by Qualcomm and other semiconductor suppliers. Not only these developments have convinced the chinese government to localize China's chip supply chain as quickly as possible. In 2017 the chinese chip maker Zhaoxin disclosed a self made x86 CPU based on a license aquired by taiwanese semiconductor supplier VIA technologies, which owns a cross license agreement with x86 inventor Intel since 1998. Japan's SoftBank bought arm in a 32 billion dollar deal in 2016, nevertheless the company is loaded with a heavy 147 billion dollar debt. A speedy IPO of arm mini China could reduce the debt significally. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Verwandte Artikel ARM Germany GmbH Search All categories Advertising General Aerospace General Agriculture General Airlines General America - Post 9/11 General Apparel General Apple Products General Architectural General Architecture Architecture Art & Entertainments Books Celebrities Country Music Dance Magazines Movies Museums Music Music Downloads News & Talk Shows Performing Arts Photography Television Web Sites Arts/Culture General Auction General Automotive Aftermarket Classic Autos Consumer Publications General Motorcycle & Bike Racing Recreational Vehicle Repair & Service Trade Publications Blogging & Social Media Blogging & Social Media Business Advertising / Marketing Books Consumer Research Direct Marketing e-Commerce Entrepreneurs Finance Franchise Human Resources Insurance Investment Management Markets Network Marketing Online Marketing / SEO Payday Loans Public Relations Publications Real Estate Retail Stocks Supermarkets Women in Business Careers/HR General Chemical 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different projects developed by Prodigy Network According to Prodigy Network, The Assemblage / Park will feature 38,400 sq of coworking space and social spaces. Operations will take place under Prodigy Network's coworking and coliving brand, The Assemblage which operates a project in Manhattan, The Assemblage / NoMad and expects to open a second location before the end of the first quarter of 2018. It takes three to five years for the brand to come up with the projects. The first stage to raise funds lasts three months, and the remodeling of the chosen building comes next. After one year, investors start receiving the building's operational flow returns split into two parts throughout the year. Then, the property is sold in the fourth year. Plus, investors' capital and returns are released back to them due to the increase in prices. Since its opening, the company has raised more than US$630 million from investors in 37 countries, of which US$410 million has been allocated to 6 projects in Manhattan. (END) NDP/RES/RMB Peru leads the investment table in The Assemblage / Park a real estate project based in New York City, U.S. with US$20 million, followed by Argentina, the United States, Colombia, and Mexico.Published: 5/3/2018 Europe is on full alert over refugee influx Arrivals of refugees from Turkey to Greece's Aegean islands have increased by 17 percent in the past four to five weeks alone. European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) had founded to block refugee entries into European countries. Europe countries fails on refugee crisis management, has took a firm action over the issue. According to the comments made to Germanys Bild by Forentex executive director, Fabrice Leggeri, the influx of refugees from Turkey to Greece has increased significantly. Leggeri said arrivals of migrants from Turkey to Greece's Aegean islands have increased by 17 percent in the past four to five weeks alone. The Frontex chief said that they are taking strict measures in the borders as illegal passes increase. Prince Louis has some big shoes to fill, as shown in his newly released birth certificate, which lists his parent's occupations quite frankly. The Duke And Duchess Make It Official From afar, the little prince could almost pass for any other adorable newborn. One look at his birth certificate shows he's not quite any typical baby. The birth certificate listed his parents' occupations as "Prince of the United Kingdom" and "Princess of the United Kingdom," which People reports is the same occupation listed in the official certificates of the newborn's siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte. The document was signed by Prince William and witnessed by Westminster City Council registrar Patricia Gordon. "It has been a great honor to register and formally welcome the latest addition to the royal family, Prince Louis Arthur Charles," Gordon explains in a statement in Us Weekly. "This follows a long history of Westminster City Council registering royal bites including Prince Louis' siblings Prince George and Princess Charlotte." It's only the beginning of the royal family's life as a party of five. Ingrid Seward, royal biographer, tells People that Prince Louis' birth "completes them." "[Parenthood] suits them really well," a friend adds. "They are enjoying it and are very happy." The Queen Checks In One of the happy visitors to the newborn is none other than the Queen, who stopped by Kensington Palace to meet her great-grandson for the very first time. Queen Elizabeth flew in 40 minutes from Windsor Castle to London, according to a report from Royal Central. Happy Birthday Princess Charlotte It's not just the birth of Prince Louis that the royal family is celebrating but also the birthday of Princess Charlotte, who turns three on Wednesday, May 2. The princess, born Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana of Cambridge on 2015, celebrates her third birthday just nine days after the birth of her baby brother. According to BT, the princess will be part of the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's royal wedding as a member of the bridal party. Charlotte was also a bridesmaid at the wedding of her aunt Pippa Middleton. It's unclear, though, if the newborn prince will be joining the festivities of the royal wedding. While some believe that he won't be in attendance due to being less than a month old, there are other who think Prince Louis will show up with the rest of the family. "I would expect nanny Maria Borrallo or Carole Middleton to be on hand to look after Prince Louis while they are in St George's Chapel," Emily Nash, royal correspondent, says in Hello Magazine. "But as he will be less than a month old, I'm sure Kate will want him nearby, even if we don't see him at the service." Prince Harry and Markle will wed on May 19 in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian West are sharing the challenges of motherhood. The two joined forces for a brand new tell-all interview. The Kardashian Name Game Jenner and Kardashian West sat down with the Evening Standard to talk all things baby, having had their daughters just a couple of weeks apart. Makeup mogul Jenner gave birth to her first child, Stormi, on Feb. 1. Her big sister, meanwhile, had her third child, Chicago, via surrogate on January 15. The two super-famous ladies opened up about the difficulty of parenting newborns, as well as the inspiration behind their children's names. Strange names are a Kardashian staple, but how did Jenner straddle the line between weird and downright outrageous? "I really don't know how we thought of Storm. Her dad [Travis Scott] insisted it was him, but I feel like it was me. ... I didn't really like just Storm -- I didn't feel like that was her name. So then it became Stormi. And it just stuck. I feel like there were a lot of other names that I might have even liked better, to be honest, but I feel like Stormi picked her own name, like it was just her name," the young mother explained. Loving Every Aspect Of Motherhood The early stages of being a mother are often the hardest, but for the Kylie Cosmetics founder, they've been great -- although she did admit to suffering sleepless nights, as well as the typical baby blues, particularly in the beginning. Stormi and Chicago have become fast friends too, with Jenner noting the older girl, who was born just two weeks earlier, already seems more advanced. Although she kept her pregnancy completely secret and off social media, Jenner acknowledged how much fun it was being pregnant at the same time as older sister Khloe, who gave birth to True Thompson just 10 weeks after Stormi. "It was so much fun [being pregnant at the same time as Khloe]. We would just experience everything together. I was a little bit ahead of her, so we were both doing it for the first time and I would just like warn her of things that happened," Kylie gushed. The reality star has grown closer to all her sisters since becoming a mother herself, especially as they can now bond over their kids and parenting. Finding That Balance The busy working mother found it difficult to return to her normal duties after the birth of her daughter, however, admitting that it was hard to even leave to go to the interview that morning. "I think about her all the time, anywhere I am. I would rather be with her or wish she can come everywhere. I can't wait till she can come everywhere with me, because right when she's old enough I'll bring her everywhere," she explained. The cosmetics mogul is working as hard as she can for the future of her child, noting that everything she does is for Stormi. Aside from her bond with her daughter, Jenner has found her relationship with rapper boyfriend Travis Scott is doing better, too. The young couple has only been together for a few months when Jenner got pregnant. An insider revealed earlier this week that the couple is more in love than ever, and that Scott is a fantastic father. Yale University has revoked an honorary degree given to Bill Cosby. The comedian has been stripped of the honor following his sexual assault conviction. Justice Was Served The embattled comedian, famous for being "America's Dad" on The Cosby Show, was finally convicted on three counts of aggravated assault earlier this week. The charge, which dates back to 2004, related to former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. Cosby was found guilty of drugging and molesting Constand at his Pennsylvania home. The comedian claimed the encounter was consensual. During the highly publicized trial, five other women gave testimony about having been drugged and assaulted by Cosby. Rescinding The Honor Now, the Yale University Board of Trustees has voted to rescind Cosby's honorary degree awarded to him in 2003. The Board released a statement confirming same Tuesday night, May 2. "Today the Yale University board of trustees voted to rescind the honorary degree awarded to William H. Cosby, Jr. in 2003. The decision is based on a court record providing clear and convincing evidence of conduct that violates fundamental standards of decency shared by all members of the Yale community, conduct that was unknown to the board at the time the degree was awarded. The board took this decision following Mr. Cosby's criminal conviction after he was afforded due process," it read. The university takes a zero-tolerance stand against sexual assault, reconfirming its position in the statement. "Yale is committed to both the elimination of sexual misconduct and the adherence to due process. We reaffirm that commitment with our action today," continued the statement. Wesleyan University President Michael Roth also took the opportunity to confirm he intends to request the Board of Trustees to revoke the honorary degree the school awarded to Cosby in 1987. He's due to make his pledge in May. These moves follow that of the University of Connecticut, which in 2016 revoked an honorary degree awarded to Cosby back in 1996, the first time the school had ever done so. A Major Turning Point The lengthy court case, which initially resulted in a mistrial when he was first charged back in 2015, has destroyed the legacy of the once beloved comedian. Cosby faces 10 years in prison on each count, with his attorneys reportedly set to appeal. His conviction comes almost a year after charges were first heard in court. One of the jurors told ABC News last week that it was Cosby's own words that led to him ultimately being convicted. "It was his deposition, really. Mr. Cosby admitted to giving these Quaaludes to women, young women, in order to have sex with them. If you were there, you would say the same thing. You would say that he's guilty," he explained. Cosby's conviction was seen as a major victory of the #MeToo movement, with scenes caught on camera following the announcement of the verdict showing ecstatic women crying and hugging each other in triumph. Kanye West's struggles with mental health have been well documented. It now appears the rap superstar had an even bigger battle to fight: opioid addiction. He Was Really Messed Up The fashion designer and self-proclaimed artistic genius revealed his struggle during an episode of TMZ Live. West discussed going to meet then President-elect Donald Trump in December 2016 and explains what kind of head space he was in at the time. "I was drugged the f**k out, bro!" he exclaims. The father of three went on to explain how he became addicted to opioids that were prescribed to him by a doctor following a liposuction surgery. West took more pills during his infamous Saint Pablo Tour, which was cut short in November 2016 following the rapper's hospitalization. He went on to rail about how America as a country is too drugged up, and complained about the amount of meds he was prescribed. The rapper underwent lipo because he was afraid to look fat in the eyes of the media, as his brother-in-law Rob Kardashian did. He underwent the procedure even knowing his late mother died of heart disease following a plastic surgery procedure back in 2007. He's Through The Worst Of It Now West may have been struggling back then, but he feels like he's come through the other side now, as he told iHeartRadio in an interview Tuesday, May 2. "I think I'm in a stronger place than I ever was after the breakdown, or I like to say the breakthrough," he explained. Echoing some of his recent, slightly nutty Tweets, the rapper blamed fear, stress, manipulation, and being controlled for putting him on the wrong path. "[I felt like] a pawn in a chess piece of life. [I was] stressing things that create validation that I didn't need to worry about as much. The concept of competition, and being in competition with so many elements at one time," he said. He went on to blame lack of radio play for the 2016 album The Life of Pablo on the incident with Taylor Swift, which derailed his career starting from the 2009 VMAs. West also pointed to the Paris robbery of wife Kim Kardashian as a source of major undue stress. He's Isolating Himself From Others The rapper described his 2016 hospitalization as traumatizing, particularly when he woke up alone and completely out of it. He's currently on prescribed medication but claims it's the better of two evils. West described the world as his therapist, which might go some way towards explaining his recent Twitter rants. He wants to change the stigma of the word "crazy," also, even in spite of his social media personality. Multiple sources have expressed concern for West's recent erratic behavior, which saw him alienating fans over his vocal support of President Trump. The rapper has reportedly cut off contact with most of his inner circle, including longtime managers, lawyer, and close friends. Meghan Markle's half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. is imploring Prince Harry to reconsider getting married to the American actress in a handwritten letter. Thomas Pens Scathing Letter To Harry The bad blood between the siblings is apparent as Meghan's estranged brother reached out to the prince in an attempt to stop the royal wedding before it takes place on May 19. "It's not too late, Meghan Markle is obviously not the right woman for you," Thomas begins in the letter shared to In Touch Weekly. "As more time passes to your royal wedding, it becomes very clear that this is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history." Thomas, 51, doesn't hold back with the insults, describing his sister as "a below C average Hollywood actress" who is trying to act like a princess. Meghan, he says, had their father pay her debts and then left him broke in Mexico without ever paying him back. He also slams the actress' decision not to invite the family, including their father who he calls the reason that Meghan isn't waitressing or babysitting to pay off her debts. "It's very apparent that her tiny bit of Hollywood fame has gone to her head, changing her into a jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and your royal family heritage," Thomas continues, telling Harry that it's not too late to call off their nuptials. Markle Family Issues The letter is not the first time the Markle family problems have made its way to the news cycle. In April, Thomas told In Touch Weekly that his lawyers have been in contact with the representatives of Meghan in an attempt to ask for help with the media and international scrutiny. "My lawyer had a phone meeting with her lawyer, and he emailed me some of [Meghan's] direct words. She said, 'That's distant family and I don't know those people,'" he says, adding that it's ridiculous to hear this since the two of them spent plenty of time together growing up. The bride's half-sister Samantha, 53, has also been very vocal on Twitter about Meghan, even imploring to Harry to encourage his bride to resume contact with the family. Regarding Thomas's letter though, Samantha is willing to consider giving their sister the benefit of the doubt. "Give her a chance!" she tweeted. "I've always been vocal about the things I admire about her and the public has taking this too far. My brother needs to stop the alcoholism and lies." Sandra Bullock's stalker died of self-inflicted causes after getting into an altercation with the police in his Los Angeles home. Corbett vs Police The 42-year-old man, identified as James Corbett, was found dead inside his residence following an hours-long standoff with the Los Angeles Police Department and SWAT. According to a report from ABC7, the LAPD fugitive warrant team arrived at the convicted stalker's residence in the 2400 block of Harmony Place at 6:45 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2. They showed up to serve a warrant to Corbett. In response, the suspect reportedly barricaded himself inside the house and threatened violence against the officers, prompting the arrival of the SWAT team. "The SWAT team was sent due to the suspect's threat of violence to police," LAPD officer Drake Madison says in a statement on CBS Los Angeles. It was while he was barricaded inside the house that he died of self-inflicted wound. Law enforcement officials did not specify the exact cause of death, although ABC 7 says they were told there were no gunshots fired during the standoff. TMZ reports that Corbett died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The details of the warrant being served to Corbett have not been disclosed, but Corbett was reportedly a no-show at a progress report hearing in his criminal case. Due to his absence, his probation was revoked and a warrant issued for his arrest. Corbett's History With Bullock Corbett was convicted for stalking the actress and breaking into her West Los Angeles residence back in June 2014. He was sentenced to five years of probation and treatment at a mental health facility. At the time, officers said that Corbett allegedly intended to sexually assault the actress, He was also reportedly in possession of two dozen illegal weapons and ammunition at home. In June of 2017, TMZ reported that Bullock's stalker has been released from the mental health facility. In response to the actress' appeal to turn her temporary restraining order into a permanent one, the judge signed off and ensured Corbett has to keep 200 yards away from Bullock until June 2022. NBC 4 reached out to the Ocean's 8 star's lawyer for comment on Corbett's death and was told he was unaware of the events. Bullock Moves On Her stalker whether his release or his death changes nothing for Bullock's continuously blossoming career. The Oscar-winning actress is the lead in Ocean's 8, an all-female reboot of the storied franchise starring some of Tinseltown's most famous females. Much of the film is shrouded in secrecy, but Bullock lets a few behind-the-scenes secrets slip in an interview for the next issue of InStyle. When asked about anecdotes about the star-studded cast, she talks about a costar's strange feline qualities. "For some reason what's coming to mind is that Helena Bonham Carter was like a cat," Bullock says. "I could take the laser pointer, and just at random moments I would point the laser pointer on the floor and she would jump out of the chair and follow it like a human cat." Meanwhile, another costar is trying to mimic another's vocal chops. "Sarah Paulson trying to sing like Rihanna," she adds. "Never sounded like Rihanna. But she tried!" Ocean's 8 airs in theaters on June 8. Queen Elizabeth II dotes on her great-grandchildren like any other grandmother, including the latest addition to the royal family, Prince Louis. The queen, 92, was finally able to meet her new grandson after his birth on April 23. Her Majesty Flies In To Visit Reuters reports that Britain's queen flew from Windsor Castle where Prince Philip is recuperating from a hip operation to Kensington Palace, where Prince William and Kate Middleton live with their three young children. According to Vanity Fair, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge originally planned to make the trip to Windsor to visit Prince Louis's great-grandparents, but postponed the journey as Philip is still not ready to receive visitors. Instead, Queen Elizabeth decided to make the trip herself. Her Majesty didn't show up empty-handed either, bringing a small bouquet of handpicked spring flowers for the new mother-of-three the Duchess of Cambridge who had just given birth over a week ago. "The idea of toy trains and three children was a bit ambitious. The Queen was very keen to meet her new great grandson and to see George and Charlotte, so when the Cambridges couldn't make it to Windsor, the Queen went to them," a royal source tells Vanity Fair. Prince Charles Meets Grandson It's not just the queen who made the trip to see the newest family member, but also Prince Charles. The prince flew into London to meet the newborn for the first time one day after the queen dropped by, Hello Magazine reports. Charles reportedly chose the date to make sure he will also be with the family for Princess Charlotte's third birthday on May 3. Charles' wife Camilla visited the baby on Tuesday, May 1, as well. Prince Philip's Recovery Meanwhile, the new great grandfather Philip is working hard to recover in time for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. While the queen's husband, 96, is not quite well enough to meet Prince Louis, there's a good chance they will see each other at the highly anticipated royal event. Prince Philip, sources say, is doing his best to be there. "Philip is taking his daily hip physio sessions very seriously," an insider adds, saying he's determined to accompany his wife at the wedding. "He wants to be walking with a stick, and says he doesn't want the clattering of crutches on the chapel floor to distract people." The prince underwent a hip replacement operation in early April. Supermodel Paulina Porizkova has split from her husband of almost 30 years. She made the shock announcement on social media on Wednesday. The Car Has Broken Down Porizkova took to Instagram to let fans know that she and The Cars ex-frontman, Ric Ocasek, have parted ways after 28 years of marriage. In fact, the iconic supermodel revealed that the two have been peacefully separated for the past year. The two tied the knot back in 1989. The sad-but-sweet Instagram announcement compared their family, which includes two sons, to a well-built car that can drive anywhere. However, the couple can no longer work as one. "Our family has always been -- and still is -- a well-built car. When the four of us are together, we can go wherever the road takes us. But as a bicycle, my husband and I no longer pedal in unison. So, we're ditching the bicycle," wrote Porizkova on her official page. Still A Strong Family Unit The 53-year-old fashion icon, who was born in what was then known as Czechoslovakia, confirmed that their family unit remains strong. "The photos of our happy family are, in fact, happy family photos; we are just no longer a couple. The love we have for one another is so wide and deep it's practically intangible, and that sort of love can never disappear. Expect to keep seeing happy family photos," explained Porizkova. She revealed that she and her family will not be making any further comments about the breakup. "As I'm sure you can understand, out of respect for our children and each other, we'll not be commenting further (here or elsewhere) at this time," she ended the post firmly. Porizkova first met Ocasek, 74, while filming the music video for The Cars hit song "Drive" back in 1984. The couple's last public appearance together was at Ocasek's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction in Cleveland, OH, where the two coordinated in sparkly outfits and embraced each other happily, posing for pictures together. They have two adult sons, Jonathan and Oliver, which the model referred to in the initial Instagram post. The supermodel was a judge on the hit reality show America's Next Top Model, appearing on cycles 10 to 12 and for memorably tussling with host Tyra Banks. Porizkova spoke about her unfair dismissal, only for Banks to fight back, claiming her fellow supermodel had too much ego to appear on the show. Most Swiss citizens support their governments plan to come up with a new treaty with the European Union that would have arbitration panels to help settle disputes. The survey is significant because under Switzerlands system of direct democracy Swiss voters get the final say on a treaty that officials hope to agree with. Bilateral ties between the EU and Switzerland are governed by multiple accords. 54% of Swiss respondents in the survey conducted by the polling institute GfS Bern supported the plan to have arbitration courts comprising of representatives from Switzerland, the EU, and a neutral party to resolve disputes. Even supporters of the far-right Swiss Peoples Party, which opposes any new treaty, was in favor of this approach. 35% of the respondents backed the current system in which a major joint Swiss-EU Commission is supposed to come up with compromises when it comes to addressing disputes. Only 4% wanted the EUs European Court of Justice to be the final arbiter of disputes, although the ECJ is envisioned to rule on matters that have something to do with EU legislation. Bern has recently revived its plans to contribute an extra 1.3 billion Swiss francs for newer EU members as relations with the EU started improving after some deterioration last year. Officials say the mood has brightened since Bern laid out its negotiating position on the new treaty Brussels hopes to use to formalize ties. The treaty would see Switzerland adopt EU laws governing the single market, with the ECJ judging on disputes on how to interpret single-market rules. The treaty with the EU is opposed by the anti-immigrant Peoples Party, the largest in the Swiss Parliament. The opponents are generally against the giving of the judicial power to foreign judges so the idea of arbitration panels, which were first suggested by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker late last year, could help break the impasse. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. In this sense, the Head of State reiterated his gratitude to Parliament for the confidence granted to the cabinet and underlined "it is part of a good democratic practice in Peru." "A new cabinet needs Congress support, through an approving confidence vote . We always had faith and were optimistic this would happen, as we rely on initiatives to improve all Peruvians' life quality ," the top official remarked. 2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you for your continued support, wed like to offer all our subscribers -- new or returning -- 4 WEEKS FREE DIGITAL AND PRINT ACCESS. We understand the importance of working to keep our community strong and connected. As we move forward together into 2021, it will take commitment, communication, creativity, and a strong connection with those who are most affected by the stories we cover. We are dedicated to providing the reliable, local journalism you have come to expect. We are committed to serving you with renewed energy and growing resources. Let the Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come. An airline passenger has been fined thousands of pounds after he opened the emergency exit on a plane. A man was detained at the airport The man - known only by the surname Chen - felt the cabin was ''too stuffy and hot'' when he decided to take matters into his own hands. According to the South China Morning Post, the 25-year-old man was detained by authorities for 15 days after the incident, which took place at Nanjiao Airport, in Mianyang City, southwest China. The report added that the Lucky Air flight - which took off from Sanya on Hainan Island - had landed when he opened the door. Authorities told the newspaper had ''waited in the aisle for 10 minutes as passengers left the plane''. He then lifted the latch on the emergency exit in an attempt to get some fresh air, which caused the door to fall off as well as activating the evacuation slide. It's said he told investigators: ''I just pushed down on the window handle beside me. When the door fell out, I panicked.'' At the top of the list is always Marie Curie. She discovered radium and polonium. She is the only woman thus far to be awarded two Nobel Prizes. Another on the list is Rosalind Franklin who collected the data to deduce the structure of DNA. Occasionally, Grace Hopper comes up, the computer scientist and admiral who invented programming languages. Yet I find that for most people the list stops there, the list of known female scientists. Weike Wang by Saavedra Photography Below are three more. Ada Lovelace: She was the only legitimate daughter of Lord Bryon. (He had another daughter but illegitimate). Because her mother believed Bryon to be insane, she taught Lovelace math to cure her of the inherited trait. Lovelace took to math and worked with others on the concept of the first computer. This is during the mid-19th century, decades before the invention of the light bulb. Lovelace wrote the first computer program by hand. She envisioned a time when computers would do more than calculate. She didnt know what exactly but she envisioned more. She would have taken to the iPhone. Chien Shiung Wu: She is considered the first lady of physics. She worked on the Manhattan Project and separated uranium isotopes using gas diffusion. Yet in addition to her accolades (a Nobel prize), she is the quintessential strong woman. Born in 1912, she left China at the age of 24 and never saw her parents again. Travel abroad was politically difficult, as a result she also could not attend their funerals. In America, she was selective about where she went to school, choosing one over another that still did not let women walk through the front doors. At an MIT lecture, she once asked the audience: I wonder whether the tiny atoms and nuclei, or the mathematical symbols, or the DNA molecules have any preference for either masculine or feminine treatment (the answer is no). When Wu died, her ashes were buried at the school her father had founded (an all girls school), where she had gone as a girl. Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin: She advanced the field of x-ray crystallography. Most notably she determined the structures of steroids, penicillin, vitamin B 12, and insulin. She was one of the first to see and confirm the double helix structure created by Watson Crick, based on the data by Franklin. A Noble Prize yes, but also a long and productive career, despite at 24 being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which crippled her over time. For simplicity sake, she is referred to as Dorothy Hodgkin but she never published without her maiden name Crowfoot, despite many requests to drop it. One of her most famous students is Margaret Thatcher, who before going into politics, graduated Oxford with a degree in chemistry for her crystal structure of gramicidin, a potent antibiotic. Weike Wang earned her undergraduate degree in chemistry and her doctorate in public health at Harvard University. Her highly acclaimed debut novel Chemistry comes out on 31 May from Text Publishing. When the subject of this article was suggested I thought Id appear quite a boring person. Perhaps I should delve into fiction and come up with some impressive facts about my dream working day and how cleaning up after the dog has been sick, or helping my husband carry in sacks of cement for the greenhouse base doesnt exist in my perfect working life? But then that word dream popped up and I pinched myself Arent I living the life I dreamed of so many years ago? I am a writer Wartime at Woolworths I decided Id write about the kind of day I have when I have a book is about to be published as it does differ from being home writing all day and cleaning up after the dog. First off it is the most exciting time imaginable as it means those 100,000 plus words, which were handed over to my publisher the year before have now been edited, poured over and polished until they are as sparkling as possible and ready to be unleashed on the readers of the world. It is a time for chewing my nails as reviewers, magazine and newspaper editors, and bloggers start to read and review. It never ceases to amaze me how generous these people are with their time, and their interest in my characters and what they get up to. Im currently not writing thousands of words every day as I have not long handed over my next book to my publisher and edits are in progress. I know which book Im writing next as it is fully outlined, and planned, and is calling to me all the time perhaps I could find time to write a few words today I have a blog tour to watch over for two weeks, which is a joy as I get to find out what these lovely people think of my story. I can share the blog posts on social media and chat with friends and readers. So many people want to know what happens next with my girls at Woolworths and how they are faring during WW2. The day whizzes by as I work through my list of things to write for my lovely PR lady, Bethan, or we discuss how to fit in a radio or newspaper interview. For this book Im keen to get out and meet more readers and talks have been arranged in libraries what should I talk about? I cant simply expect the book to appear on supermarket shelves and sit back and wait for it to be a bestseller (insert your own smiley face here). No, I need to keep chatting about the book to anyone who will listen be that face-to-face, on Facebook and Twitter or on the radio. Noticing the cupboard is bare I head off to my local supermarket and fill the trolley hoping not to have to return for a few days. On top of the pile are copies of magazines that already contain mentions of Wartime at Woolworths and of course there is My Weekly who are running a four part serial set in WW2. Adding a few extra for luck I head to the checkout and unload my shopping, making sure to hide the full fat milk and cakes incase my slimming leader is lurking. Its then that my phone starts barking at me I must change the tune it seems Waterstones wish to host an author event and another message from my publisher to say all supermarkets are onboard with lovely large orders. Grinning like an idiot I feel all eyes on me as the checkout lady coughs politely to remind me Im holding up the queue. I come back to earth with a crash Wartime at Woolworths by Elaine Everest is published on 3rd May by Pan Mac (available in paperback and ebook, price 6.99) Twitter: @ElaineEverest There are few things as satisfying as when a character finally starts kicking ass in horror films, and when those moments are owned by women getting revenge on those who have done them wrong, or have simply had enough of being tormented, it is all the sweeter for it. Christina Hendricks and Bailee Madison star in The Strangers: Prey At Night In The Strangers Prey At Night (the sequel to the cult classic home invasion movie The Strangers from 2008), an everyday nuclear family are pushed to the brink when the masked murderers return with no other motive than the fact this family were home. Christina Hendricks and Bailee Madison play Cindy and Kinsey respectively; a mother and daughter duo with a rocky relationship. Their wills are tested when they, alongside father and son Mike and Luke respectively, are threatened by the masked murderers. Will they fight back and save themselves, or will they wind up as the next victims? Find out in cinemas across the UK from Friday May 4, and check out which iconic badass female horror movie moments we cant get enough of below! 5) Erin Harson Youre Next (2011) In this intense home-invasion slasher, Erin (Sharni Vinson) finds herself in the middle of a bloodbath when three masked killers make their way around her rich boyfriends family home on the night of a dinner party. However, it turns out Erin is a force to be reckoned with. A trained survivalist, she skilfully fights back to protect herself and her in-laws from further mortality; she takes it upon herself to barricade the house and set up traps as she goes. When the true nature of the attacks is revealed, our heroine has some incredibly difficult decisions to make but that doesnt stop her. Vinsons awesome portrayal of this true bad-ass lady has received rave reviews and therefore puts her very comfortably in our list of badass female moments. 4) Selena 28 Days Later (2002) Naomi Harris depiction of hardcore survivor Selena in this classic dystopian horror is full of inspired badass moments! The one that often sticks with audiences is towards the beginning when Selena and Mark (Noah Huntley), having rescued Jim (a young Cillian Murphy) and taking him back to his parents house, get in a fight with some of the Infected. Realising Mark is bleeding after the altercation (making him an infection risk) Selena hacks him to pieces with a machete stating she would do the same to Jim in a heartbeat if it came to that situation as she wasnt going to risk her own life by being sentimental in such a dire situation. Decisions like these are what make female characters in horror films so striking; they muster up strength in the face of adversity and prove to the audience that they arent to be messed with, often doing what no-one else is willing to do 3) Sidney Prescott The Scream Series (1996-2011) Sidney is not only a true proponent of badass moments throughout the Scream franchise, but she is the Scream franchise. While the most iconic symbol of the film is Ghostface, without Sidney and her fightback moments it simply wouldnt be the success that it is. Throughout the first three films, she shows killers again and again that they are no match for her; she is a true fighter who will do whatever she needs to do both to survive and live as normal a life as possible in the aftermath. A fully-rounded character with a story arc to rival any strong personality, we see Sidney by the fourth film taking out the masked assailant via defibrillator, finally at the end of her tether from the previous experiences, and with an entire decade to stew over the past! Scream 4 sees her not only battling yet another masked killer whilst trying to protect her Woodsboro family, but also offers a new, matural personal storyline, fighting stereotypes along the way. 2) Mia Allen Evil Dead (2013) Despite being the first victim and main antagonist of this film, Mia Allen (Jane Levy) of Evil Dead absolutely deserves a place in this list. Towards the end of the film, having been possessed through most of the story, Mia is finally brought back to her senses and her normal self. Of course, the trouble doesnt end there as she is forced to fend for herself against The Abomination after her brother sacrifices himself to save her. During the fight she ends up trapped beneath her brothers Jeep, and she has no choice but to rip off her own hand in order to finish the fight you read that right! She then manages to grab a chainsaw despite her injury and shoves it into the face of the demon. Grief-stricken, wounded and suffering, her quick-thinking in the wake of a horrendous trauma is truly badass. 1) Laurie Strode Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) Although she features in two Halloween movies before this one, the performance given here is the most badass we see from Jamie Lee Curtis in her depiction of Laurie Strode. After Michael Myers returns, Strode is once again faced with fighting off the killer, but this time also has a teenage son to protect in the process. She is, on the surface, a shell of the woman she was 20 years previously, having been traumatised from being forced to run, hide from, and kill a serial killer who was focused on defeating her. And while she may be an anxiety-riddled helicopter parent, she is also still as switched on and ready to fight as she was in the original saga. Her bounce back from (and against) the anguish of the past is about as badass as it gets, and proudly deserves a place in this list. With a new Halloween film on the horizon, will Strode provide us with more awesome heroic actions? - So what do you make of our list? What are some of your favourite female moments in horror? Let us know, and check out The Strangers: Prey At Night in cinemas across the UK from this Friday, May 4, 2018. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and Kazakhstans President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed the preparation for the upcoming Supreme Eurasian Economic Council sitting on May 2 in Astana. May 3, 2018, 12:25 EECs Sargsyan and Kazakh President discuss preparation of upcoming Council sitting STEPANAKERT, MAY 3, ARTSAKHPRESS:At the directive of the Council I would like to discuss several details with you on how to hold the Supreme Council sitting more productively, which issues require special attention, and discuss issues relating to deepening of integration, Sargsyan said. The sides discussed issues relating to further deepening of Eurasian integration, EEC said. The President of Kazakhstan noted the high results of the Eurasian Economic Unions activities, as well as the growing interest of other countries for the union. 2017 was successful. Trade turnover between our countries grew 27%. We see great interest towards our union, today more than 40 countries are cooperating with us. We are meeting with you on the eve of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council sitting, with all points of its agenda being agreed upon. We will discuss uneasy issues, which will relate, among others, to sanctions, the President said. Tigran Sargsyan congratulated President Nazarbayev on the Day of Unity of People of Kazakhstan and wished prosperity to the country. Sargsyan also briefed the Kazakh President on the ongoing activities of the EEU. South Korea and Japan are also among the top 15 spenders. Russia drops one place, following cuts due to financial woes and sanctions. Tensions between China and its neighbours are one of the reasons for the rise. Saudi Arabia is the biggest spender in the Middle East. Together, seven NATO members represent 48 per cent (US$ 827 billion) of all global military spending. Stockholm (AsiaNews) The balance of military spending is "clearly shifting" towards Asia and the Middle East, this according to the latest report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). One of the main reasons for this eastward shit is the increased military budgets of China, India and Saudi Arabia. World military expenditure is estimated to have reached ,739 billion in 2017, the highest level since the end of the Cold War. The five leading spenders are the United States (US$ 610 billion), China (est US$ 228 billion), Saudi Arabia (est US$ 69.4), Russia (US$ 66.3) and India (US$ 63.9). Three of the next ten are in Asia: Japan in eighth place (US$ 45.5), South Korea in tenth (US$ 39.2) and Turkey in fifteenth (US$ 18.2). Tensions between China and many of its neighbours continue to drive the growth in military spending in Asia, said Siemon Wezeman, a senior researcher for SIPRI. Military spending in Asia and Oceania reached 7 billion in 2017, or 27 per cent of global military expenditure. China, which increased its military spending by 5.6 per cent, accounted for 48 per cent of the regional total. In 2017, India overtook France for the first time, increasing its budget by 5.5 per cent and is in fifth place. "The Indian Government plans to expand, modernize and enhance the operational capability of its armed forces motivated, at least partially, by tensions with China and Pakistan, the report says. However, the rise in Indian defence spending mostly goes toward salaries and pensions for roughly 1.4 million serving personnel and more than 2 million veterans. By contrast, Russia saw its military spending decline for the first time in 20 years, dropping the country from third to fourth position. The reason for this is its economic crisis, in particular the sanctions imposed by the West in 2014 over Ukraine. For the sixth time in a row, Japanese military spending is up due to Perceived threats from China and North Korea. The latter remain the most important factors in Japans security strategy. In August last year, Tokyo announced plans to further increase military spending in 2018. SIPRI could not estimate total military spending in the Middle East in 2017 because of a lack of accurate data for Qatar, Syria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen. After two years of decline after a peak in 2015, military expenditure for countries in the Middle East for which data is available also grew in 2017, by 6.2 per cent, with Saudi Arabia as the largest spender in the region and the third in the world. Finally, the report notes that seven of the 15 largest spenders are NATO members: United States, France, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Canada and Turkey. Together, these seven accounted for 48 per cent (US$ 827 billion) of global military expenditure. . 6 . . , 2022 . ... ROB PARER BRISBANE - Sir Reginald Barnewall, a descendant of Anglo-Norman knights and the founder of Polynesian Airlines, has died at the age of 93. Sir Reginald, pictured here with his wife Maureen in 2008, served in Papua New Guinea during World War II as a lieutenant with the Royal Australian Engineers and Z Special Unit AIF. He lived at Mt Tamborine in Queensland. He was in Aitape with the Army engineers in 1944 and after the war flew around many parts of PNG with Mandated Airlines. He had first met the Parer family, pioneering PNG aviators, in the 1930s. Sir Reginald had been well and attended recent Anzac ceremonies in Brisbane. Son of a wealthy Victorian grazier, he founded Goulburn Valley Air Services (later Southern Airlines Ltd) in 1954.The airline serviced Victoria and Tasmania including King and Flinders islands. Sony has finally launched its new X9000F series of 4K HDR TVs in India, months after it was introduced at the CES 2018. These have X1 Extreme processor that promises striking highlights, deeper darks and vibrant colours. It incorporates technologies like Object-based HDR remaster, Super Bit Mapping 4K HDR and Dual database processing. It runs on Android TV version 7.0 with Sonys exclusive user interface and also has Chromecast built-in. It has TRILUMINOS Display the reproduces reds, greens and blues accurately. The X-tended Dynamic Range PRO enhances HDR and non-HDR content by boosting and dimming the backlight levels precisely for each zone of the screen with a unique backlighting technology delivering times the XDR contrast of conventional LED TV. X-Motion Clarity shows fast action images clear and smooth by utilizing Sonys proprietary direct LED local dimming and backlight boosting algorithm to control the luminance and optimize its duration. Therefore, pictures are clear and smooth with virtually no loss in brightness. The TV uses 4K X-Reality PRO to produce stunning detail with Sonys unique algorithm of reality creation database for any content, such as TV broadcasting, DVD, Blu-ray Disc, Internet video and digital photos. The BRAVIA stand features a simple structure of square, metallic bars that come into contact with the underlying surface at individual pointsa design that creates the kind of unique sense of balance and tension that user find in art gallery displays. It has sturdy construction, which uses an inverted V-shape to ensure stability, the stand creates the ideal space for a soundbar, whilst harmonising gracefully with the aesthetics of living spaces. Sony Bravia X9000F specifications 55/65/85-inch (3840 x 2160 pixels) 4K HDR (HDR10, Hybrid Log-Gamma and Dolby Vision) TRILUMINOS Display with X-Motion Clarity 4K HDR Processor X1 Extreme Dynamic Contrast Enhancer, Object-based HDR remaster, X-tended Dynamic Range PRO, 4K X-Reality PRO 16GB on-board storage Android TV 7.0 (Upgradable to Android Oreo) with Built-in Chromecast and Google Assistant Voice search WiFi 802.11a ac, Bluetooth 4.1, 4 x HDMI, 3 x USB ports (2 x side, 1 x bottom), 1 x Ethernet 10 W+10 W speaker with Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Pulse, DTS Digital Surround, DSEE, Cinematic S-Force Front Surround, Clear Phase, ClearAudio+ The 55-inch Sony Bravia X9000F (KD-55X9000F) is priced at Rs. 2,39,900 and is already available across India. The 65-inch (KD-65X9000F) and 85-inch (KD-85X9000F) models will go on sale soon, and their pricing is yet to be revealed. Reliance Jio has launched JioInteract worlds first Artificial Intelligence (AI) based brand engagement platform. It will start with Live Video Call that features Indias favourite celebrities. Amitabh Bachchan will be the first one will come on live video call to promote his upcoming comedy-drama film 102 Not Out in the most innovative way. Reliance Jio expects that the JioInteract to become largest platform for movie-promotion and brand engagement. Over the next few weeks, Jio will introduce services such as video call centres, video catalogue, and virtual showrooms. Such use of artificial intelligence is a first across the world and will reposition the way brands and customers think of engagement, says Jio. JioInteracts first service Live Video Call will allow all Jio and other smartphone subscribers to make a video call with Amitabh Bachchan anytime during the day, starting on 4th May 2018. Users can ask questions related to his upcoming movie, 102 Not Out and even book their movie tickets in real-time through the ticketing-partner BookMyShow. How to use JioInteract Download MyJio app Click on JioInteract icon inside the MyJio app (Will go live on May 4th) Start your video call and chat with Amitabh Bachchan Additionally, subscribers can also share their video call experience with their family and friends using the Share option Regarding the latest JioInteract service, Reliance Jio said: This unique and innovative service uses a powerful artificial intelligence based platform to listen to user questions and respond to them in the most appropriate way. In addition, the platform has a unique auto-learning feature that helps improve the answering accuracy. Leveraging the strength of Jios strong mobile video network and its 186Mn+ strong subscriber base along with new technologies like artificial intelligence & machine learning, JioInteract has created a compelling brand engagement solution for businesses. Positioned as VCBaaS (Video Call Bot as a Service), JioInteract with its full scale multimedia capabilities attempts to democratise Artificial Intelligence & Video Call technologies in a simplified way for effective brand engagement. This technology has wide scale applications across B2C space. Using it, Jio is also tapping developer ecosystem to create innovative applications like virtual showrooms, product demonstrations, ordering cart for e-commerce, etc. Balter, who launched her campaign for Congress in September, took exception to Perez Williams' comments. "For seven months, I've been out talking to voters across the 24th district about the issues that matter to them and building a strong network of support so that we can fight back against Donald Trump's toxic agenda," she said. Her campaign also included a comment from an unnamed staffer who said Perez Williams "was nowhere to be found after her landslide defeat in Syracuse's mayoral race." After losing that election, Perez Williams considered running for Congress. But in January, she announced she would not be a candidate for the 24th district seat. Three months later, Perez Williams reversed her position. With less than two weeks remaining in the petitioning period, she began collecting signatures to force a primary in the 24th district. Her effort was backed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the House Democrats' campaign arm. Perez Williams' decision and the DCCC's backing upset local Democrats who endorsed Balter. Balter held a press event Sunday to tout her support from central New York Democrats. The attendees include Cayuga County Legislator Keith Batman, who is running for state Assembly. Todays International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste, underscores not only the growing problem of discarded food and supply chain challenges, but also... Read More Leah Finnegan/Twitter(NEW YORK) -- The driver in a New York City crash that killed two children -- including the 4-year-old daughter of Tony award-winning Broadway actress Ruthie Ann Miles -- has been indicted on several charges relating to the deaths. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced today that 44-year-old Staten Island resident Dorothy Bruns was indicted on 10 charges, including second-degree manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment and third-degree assault. On March 5, Miles and her friend, Lauren Lew, were walking in a crosswalk with their children in Brooklyn's Park Slope neighborhood when a 2016 Volvo S60 accelerated through a red light, careened out of control and struck them, authorities said. Miles and Lew were injured, while their children, 4-year-old Abigail Blumenstein and 1-year-old Joshua Lew, were killed, according to police. Another pedestrian was also injured in the crash. The decision to indict Bruns came after a "thorough investigation," Gonzalez said, describing the children's deaths as "horrific" and "avoidable." Doctors had allegedly instructed Bruns to not drive following multiple incidents earlier in the year, prosecutors said. "Her alleged insistence on driving despite doctors orders and serious medical conditions that prevented her from safely doing so was not only irresponsible, it was unlawful," Gonzalez said in a statement. "I intend to now hold her accountable and urge all drivers to heed instructions of medical professionals and never drive a car when told not to." After striking the pedestrians, Bruns allegedly crossed into oncoming traffic before slamming into a parked vehicle, a New York City Police Department source told ABC News. Joshua's stroller was dragged down the street before the Volvo came to a stop, according to the district attorney's office. Witnesses told investigators that Bruns had her head hanging back when she drove into the intersection, and first responders observed her to be foaming at the mouth, confused and unsteady on her feet, according to the district attorney's office. Bruns later suffered a seizure in the ambulance and again at the hospital, the district attorney's office said, citing the investigation. The investigation also revealed that on Jan. 8, Bruns allegedly had a medical episode while driving her car on Staten Island and was subsequently hospitalized for two days, according to the district attorney's office. Bruns had suffered a seizure during that hospitalization and was instructed by doctors upon her discharge to not drive for one year due to her medical condition, prosecutors said, citing medical charts. Doctors repeated those instructions during follow-up appointments on Jan. 16 and Feb. 13, prosecutors said. Bruns' car was also allegedly involved in a fender bending on Staten Island on Jan. 20, in which the driver at the time allegedly left the scene, according to the district attorney's office. ABC News could not immediately reach an attorney for Bruns. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. One of Cayuga County's state senators has thrown their support behind Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro for governor. State Sen. Jim Seward announced Wednesday that he has endorsed Molinaro for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. Molinaro is one of three candidates vying for the GOP nod. The others are state Sen. John DeFrancisco, one of Seward's colleagues, and attorney Joe Holland. Seward, R-Milford, highlighted Molinaro's work to attract businesses to Dutchess County and his focus on boosting the local economy. "New York state has been losing population and the only way to reverse that trend is to make our state more affordable and provide new opportunities," Seward said in a statement. "Marc Molinaro understands that and is ready to lead our state with inclusive policies that will make a positive difference in the lives of everyday New Yorkers." Molinaro is the clear front-runner for the Republican nomination. He has been endorsed by 49 GOP county chairs representing more than 83 percent of the weighted vote at the convention. That is enough to secure the designation and prevent other candidates from landing an automatic spot on the primary ballot. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. There's a plan underway to build a new batch of Chevrolet Yenko Camaros. While the originals were built in the late l960s, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Brand New Muscle Car (BNMC) plans to build new versions of the 1968 Yenko Camaro to celebrate the car's 50th anniversary. BNMC is a specialist at building new versions of old cars and has permission from General Marketing Capital, the license holder of the Yenko name, to use it on the cars. According to GM Authority, BNMC's Yenko Camaros will even be listed in the Official Yenko Worldwide Registry for authenticity. The original Yenko Camaro was born because of a need to install a bigger engine into the early Camaros. When Chevy's rival to the Mustang debuted in 1967, it was an impressive car but limited to engines no bigger than a 396 cubic inch V-8. But Chevy dealer Don Yenko of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania used the Central Office Production Order (COPO) program, a program General Motors used for fleet vehicles like police cars, taxi cabs, etc., to special order Camaros with a 427 V-8. Today, original Yenkos are some of the rarest, valuable, and most collectible Chevrolet models in the world. When one of these unique cars occasionally appears at auction for sale, prices typically start at $250,000. For early Camaros, you're looking at much higher figures. BNMC hasn't mentioned pricing for its 50th anniversary 1968 Yenko Camaro, but the company has various Yenko Camaros it's built priced from $149,995. Note, there's also a company building modern Yenko Camaros based on the current sixth-generation car. Specialty Vehicle Engineering of Toms River, New Jersey last year unveiled a 2017 Yenko Camaro powered by supercharged and stroked V-8 with 800 horsepower on tap. Meghan Markles estranged half-brother, Thomas Markle Jr., is hoping there is still time for Britains Prince Harry to cancel his May 19 wedding to the Suits star. The elder sibling shared a handwritten letter to In Touch Wednesday warning the 33-year-old royal that its not too late to stop the wedding. As more time passes to your royal wedding, it became very clear that this is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history, the 51-year-old wrote. Meghan Markle is obviously not the right woman for you. Thomas insisted the 36-year-old American actress is a jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage. Im confused why you dont see the real Meghan that the whole world now sees, he claimed. Meghans attempt to act the part of a princess like a below C average Hollywood actress is getting old. "What kind of person starts out by using her own father until hes bankrupt, then forgets about him in Mexico leaving him broke, over mostly all her debts. And when its time to pay him back she forgets her own father like she never knew him. Thomas went on to claim that their father is still struggling financially after he allegedly went into debt to support Markles dreams of becoming a sought-after actress. He also claimed the patriarch wasnt invited to the wedding. Its very apparent that her tiny bit of Hollywood fame has gone to her head, he wrote. Not to mention, to top it all off, she doesnt invite her own family and instead invites complete strangers to the wedding. Who does that? You and the royal family should put an end to this fake fairytale wedding before its too late. Thomas concluded, Meghan is still my sister. She is family. So whatever happens is up to her, whether she wants to forget knowing me or the rest of her family, family comes first. Also, you would think that a royal wedding would bring a torn family closer together, but I guess were all distant family to Meg. This isnt the first time Thomas has spoken out against his half-sister. In April, he told UKs Mirror the family is deeply hurt by the alleged royal wedding snub. Shes clearly forgotten her roots, he said. Its torn my entire family apart. Meg likes to portray herself as a humanitarian, a peoples person and a charitable person, but she is none of those things to her family. She is giving the greatest performance of her life. She is acting phony. Once she got into Hollywood she turned into a different person. Shes clearly forgotten her roots and her family. Thomas added, Maybe the normal American family she has is embarrassing to her because were not producers and executive producers. Theres a whole different side of her that has started to surface and its ugly to see. Thomas insisted he is hurt over not receiving an invitation to the royal wedding. Im not bitter, just baffled, he said. Its hurtful given how close we once were. Im confused and a little distraught because here is a person knowing the position shes in and knowing the scrutiny shes under and yet she has forgotten her flesh and blood. "We were so close back then, but when our grandmother died, she moved to Toronto to start filming Suits and I didnt see her. I havent seen her since late 2011. Thomas believed a recent domestic incident with fiancee Darlene Blount, 37, might be to blame for Markle not reaching out. The Mirror revealed he was detained after a drunken altercation led police to be called, but the matter was dropped without charges. No family is perfect, he said. All families have their disputes and troubles Harry has not exactly been perfect in the past. Former Playboy centerfold and "Baywatch" star Pamela Anderson has claimed that Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is "misunderstood" and even "hated" because of what she has termed "the Clinton monopoly on the media." Anderson has made several visits to Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where the Australian has remained in legal limbo since 2012. "We talk about everything," she told The Hollywood Reporter about her friendship with Assange. "We talk about the Bible, we talk about what's happening with my kids, what's happening with his family. It's not just about politics, even though I do take a lot of notes and it's so overwhelming, the information he gives me." U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Wikileaks coordinated with Russian intelligence to release hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee during the 2016 election campaign. In April 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions told reporters that arresting Assange was "a priority" for the Justice Department. Anderson, for her part, believes the claims against Assange are "a way of keeping him down and keeping him ineffective." "He's just ruffling the feathers of people that are powerful," she told THR. "I always try to humanize him because people think he's a robot or he's a computer screen or he's not this human being. "He's so misunderstood, especially in Hollywood, and really hated, because of the Clinton monopoly on the media," she added, without elaborating. Anderson has repeatedly declined to reveal the nature of her unusual friendship with Assange, which has led to speculation that the two are more than friends. In March, after Ecuador announced it had revoked Assange's visitor privileges and Internet access, Anderson told the New York Post that she was "deeply concerned about his health and well-being" and said he was undergoing "a slow, painful death [at] the hands of the U.S. [and] U.K." Click for more from The Hollywood Reporter. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' Board of Governors voted to expel actor Bill Cosby and director Roman Polanski, the organization announced Thursday. Both Cosby and Polanski have been convicted of sex crimes. In a statement to multiple outlets, the Academy says that both men violated the organization's standards of conduct. "The board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity," the statement said. The news comes less than a week after a jury in Philadelphia reached a verdict in Cosby's retrial case for sexual assault. Cosby was found guilty of drugging and sexually assaulting Andrea Constand during a 2004 incident at his suburban home. The guilty verdict, handed down for felony aggravated indecent assault, could see the 80-year-old comedian live out the rest of his days behind bars. Polanski, meanwhile, is losing his Academy status several years after fleeing to France while facing jail time over a plea deal that saw him plead guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse with a 13-year-old in 1978. The news comes 15 years after Polanski was given the award for Best Director in 2003 by the Academy for his movie "The Pianist." As for Cosby, this isn't the only prestigious organization to consider giving him the boot this week. The TV Academy said it is reviewing Bill Cosby's inclusion in the Academy's Hall of Fame following his sexual assault conviction. Although the Academy hasn't decided whether he'll remain in the Hall of Fame, Cosby's name had previously been removed a list of Hall of Fame honorees on the Academy's website. A bust of Cosby no longer will be part of a rotating Walk of Fame exhibit honoring TV heavyweights at the Academy's Los Angeles headquarters, an Academy spokesman said. Adopted in December, the Academy's code of conduct stipulates that the academy is no place for "people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates standards of decency." The academy's board may now suspend or expel those who violate the code of conduct or who "compromise the integrity" of the academy. Before Weinstein, only one person is thought to have been previously expelled from the academy: Carmine Caridi, a character actor who had his membership revoked in 2004 for lending DVD screeners of films in contention for Oscars that ended up online. The film academy came under intense scrutiny following Weinstein's expulsion and the rise of the #MeToo movement for some of its active members, like Cosby, Polanski and Mel Gibson. And since then, many others have faced new allegations like Kevin Spacey, Brett Ratner, John Lasseter and Paul Haggis. It even became late-night fodder for people like John Oliver. Because its members are not made public, occasionally incorrect assumptions are made about who are part of the organization. Woody Allen, for one, is not. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Camille Cosby has broken her silence a week after her husband Bill Cosby was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman in a verdict that could send him to jail for the rest of his life. In a lengthy statement, Camille Cosby, who has stood by the comedian's side as more than 60 women accused him of sexual misconduct, called for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his conviction. She called the case mob justice, not real justice and tragedy that must be undone. She also called Andrea Constand, her husbands accuser, a liar. She accused the Pennsylvania Montgomery County Courthouse of carrying out the worst injustices. She claimed the district attorneys office key witness they put forward gave a falsified account. She did not mention Constand by name but said she believed the woman's recent testimony during trial was perjured; as was shown at trial, it was unsupported by any evidence and riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions. Cosby then called for a criminal investigation into the district attorney and his cohorts. This is a homogeneous group of exploitive and corrupt people, whose primary purpose is to advance themselves professionally and economically at the expense of Mr. Cosbys life. If they can do this to Mr. Cosby, they can do so to anyone, she said. In her statement, Camille Cosby also blamed the media for their frenzied, relentless demonization of Bill Cosby. She said her husband was labeled as guilty because the media said so period. She asked are the media now the peoples judges and juries? BILL COSBY FOUND GUILTY OF SEXUAL ASSAULT: A LOOK AT THE CASE She continued her statement by asking: Since when are all accusers truthful? She used Emmett Till and Darryl Hunt as examples of tragic instances of our justice system utterly and routinely failing to protect African Americans falsely. Till, a black 14-year-old was lynched in Mississippi in 1955 after a white woman said he flirted with her. His killers were acquitted. Hunt was wrongly convicted of raping and murdering a white woman in the 1980s. Camille Cosby said unproven accusations evolved into lynch mobs, which ruined her husbands career and reputation. The comedians honorary degrees were revoked and reruns of his hit show The Cosby Show were pulled from the air as a result of the sexual assault allegations. COSBY GUILTY: JURY RULES COMEDIAN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED ANDREA CONSTAND The 80-year-old Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing. Cosby was charged with three counts that each carry a standard sentence range of five to 10 years in prison. Fox News Leora Arnowitz, Sasha Savitsky, Kaitlyn Schallhorn and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Twenty-seven additional women have accused Charlie Rose of sexual misconduct, in a report that claims managers at CBS and PBS were told about his alleged inappropriate behavior through the years. In a new expose published Wednesday by The Washington Post, 14 women who worked with Rose at CBS and 13 who worked with him at other companies claimed the disgraced TV star sexually harassed them. CBS News denies that any human resources complaints were ever filed against Rose. Acoording to The Washington Post, a woman named Annmarie Parr reported an inappropriate interaction with Rose to management way back in 1986. Then 22, Parr said she was cornered by Rose and he asked her, Annmarie, do you like sex? Do you enjoy it? How often do you like to have sex? The creepy questions prompted her to speak out to a senior producer, she said, who told her she would no longer have to be alone with Rose. Decades later in 2011, Rose allegedly forcibly kissed an employee at a party. The woman told the Post she went to CBS This Morning executive producer Chris Licht about the incident but requested he not speak to human resources about it. Licht said he spoke to Rose about the alleged kiss and abided by the employees request not to go to HR. Several years later in early 2017, the Post reports a CBS News manager was once again alerted about Roses behavior when Rose began having out of the office interactions with then-24-year-old Brooks Harris. Chelsea Wei, an executive assistant to CBS This Morning executive producer Ryan Kadro spoke to Kadro about the interactions she observed between Harris and Rose. Wei said she told Kadro the pair were spending a lot of time together. She recalled telling her boss, Im telling you in case you have a lawsuit on your hands. Kadro told the Post, Ms. Wei did not tell me about inappropriate behavior by Charlie Rose toward Ms. Harris at any time. . . . Regarding your question about a lawsuit I dont believe she used that word. Harris quit CBS News shortly after that when Rose hired her at his PBS show. She told the Washington Post he began making inappropriate comments to her after that, such as suggesting she have sex with another female employee. He was soon fired from both networks when details of his alleged misconduct emerged. Another woman told the Post she told a PBS executive producer that he grabbed her breasts in a car in 2003. She said the producer responded to her complaint by claiming the star was harmless. Rose denied the allegations in the latest article about his behavior, telling the Washington Post, Your story is unfair and inaccurate. Other instances of his alleged misconduct are detailed in the article, which The Washington Post said was compiled following five months of research and interviews with more than 100 people. A former research assistant at NBC News, who is now 63, told The Post Rose exposed his penis to her and groped her breasts in 1976. This other personality would come through, and the groping would happen, Joana Matthias said. A woman who worked with Rose at 60 Minutes said many women at CBS feared being harassed by the star. I had been there long enough to know that it was just the way things went, Sophie Gayter told the Washington Post. People said what they wanted to you, people did what they wanted to you. She said she worked at 60 Minutes in 2013 and claims Rose grabbed her butt in the office. Disgraced TV host Rose was first accused of grabbing womens genitals, walking around naked in front of them and making lewd phone calls in a new bombshell report the Post published in November, in which eight women detailed their alleged experiences with Rose. Rose was fired by PBS and CBS at the end of 2017. CBS News told the Post it has changed its policies since Roses firing. Since we terminated Charlie Rose, weve worked to strengthen existing systems to ensure a safe environment where everyone can do their best work, a statement from CBS said. Some of the actions we have taken have been reported publicly, some have not. We offer employees discretion and fairness, and we take swift action when we learn of unacceptable behavior." Elinor Donahue believed her days as a child star were long gone before the hit series Father Knows Best came along. The 50s sitcom, which was based on a beloved radio show, told the story of a wise family man, his wife and their children. Donahue, then 17, starred as Betty Anderson from 1954 until 1960. VINTAGE HOLLYWOOD FLASHBACK: THE GOLDEN GLOBES FROM THE '50S, '60S & '70S Donahue began her acting career when she was 6 in 1943. Id had a very nice career as a child actress, the now 81-year-old recently told Closer Weekly. I had been on a contract to MGM and done a couple of nice movies there when I was 9, 10, 11 years old. But things didnt seem to be going terribly well. "I was still acting, but primarily I was dancing in a chorus, like a Rockette sort of thing. At about the time that I got Father Knows Best, I was due to go to Reno to be at Harrahs Club to dance in their chorus. I loved dancing, and that was going to be my career as far as I was concerned. Still, Donahues agent Lily Messenger was determined she score an audition for the series. And while Donahue did make it through the front door, the shows producer felt she was too plain. Donahue opted for a makeover, but was then told by the same producer she looked too much like a Hollywood starlet. After plenty of pestering, Donahue was offered a screen test, which proved to be a disaster. I forgot my lines, she said. I got nervous and started to cry. I was doing a scene with Robert Young being off stage. He was very nice. They wanted to just say, Thank you very much and goodbye, but he said, You know, shes very nervous. Elinor, why dont you come and sit over here? Would you like a Coca-Cola? I said, Yes, thank you; that would be nice. "And he said, You just sit here and let yourself calm down a little bit and theyll fix your makeup and well do someone else and then come back and try you again. Donahue was certain she wouldnt get a callback. That all changed six weeks later when Messenger called Donahue and informed her she got the role. I had completely forgotten about it, said Donahue. I thought Id blown the whole thing and literally put it out of my mind. Father Knows Best became a TV sensation, one that still connects with audiences today. I think the appeal of the show is the sweetness and the kindness that people had toward one another, said Donahue. It has a warmth and loving energy to it that was very special. There was no mean spiritedness to it. However, Father Knows Best would be abruptly canceled. The magazine added part of the reason was due to a strike of the Writers Guild of America lasted from January to June 1960. Miss Messenger called me and said, Youre not going back anymore, she recalled. Robert Young (Jim Anderson) and Jane Wyatt (Margaret Anderson) have retired and they dont want to do it anymore, so they just stopped. We had enough episodes in the can to make an entire season without having to shoot any more; back then we were shooting 39 episodes a year. "I admit, I was sad and disappointed that Mr. Young and Jane Wyatt never said anything. It was years before we actually saw each other again, and during that time Id thought it was only Mr. Young [who] wanted to stop. Jane Wyatt and I became very dear friends in the later parts of her life, and she told me they made the decision together. However, Donahue didnt stay unemployed for long. She quickly joined the cast of The Andy Griffith Show. She played pharmacist Ellie Walker from 1960 until 1961. It proved to be a difficult transition. I went pretty much immediately from Father Knows Best into The Andy Griffith Show where I was really playing a grownup with a profession and moxie and stuff, she explained. But the truth is, I felt like a bird out of a nest. I didnt feel like I had all my feathers yet and I didnt feel capable. It was the strangest feeling. "I had a three-year contract for that show, but at the end of the first year, I asked to be let out of it because I didnt feel that I was playing the role properly. I just didnt feel right about it. In retrospect, from things that people have said to me very lovely things I was doing OK. I was just not a happy camper and there was no point in my trying to continue with it. Years later, its star Andy Griffith would set the record straight. He was as gracious to as you could imagine, she said. He said they just didnt know how to write for me. That could have been part of it. I didnt think there was any real chemistry there. They tried a lot of other women periodically, but then Aneta Corsaut (Helen Crump) came in. I have since read they had a hot and heavy thing going, and in that case, he was able to relate. Donahue would go on to stay busy as an actress, appearing in hit shows, such as Star Trek and The Odd Couple, just to name a few. In 1977, she reunited with her former Father Knows Best cast for a TV movie. There was great trepidation when we first had our reading for the reunion movie, said Donahue. You could just sense it But we sat down and read through it once and it was as though the years had flown by. Nothing was any different and it was wonderful. It just felt so comfortable and it didnt feel like we were going backward, we were coming forward. "We brought everything that we were, everything we had been through to our characters. We all looked at each other and it was like a huge sigh of relief. In the end, we really, really loved it. But Donahues life is different these days. Her last role was that of Judge Marie Anderson in The Young and the Restless from 2010 until 2011. Shes perfectly content with not living in front of cameras anymore. As far as I know, and nobody knows whats around the corner, its no more, she said. Im done, finished But all told, it was all just so magical. Honestly, Ive had a lot of fun. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} "I'm not going to say he's a perfect inmate," Van Buskirk said. "I'm not going to say he's a perfect person. ... But has he had any sexual misconduct outside of the 1980s? You'll hear absolutely none." Following opening statements, the state called the 1983 victim to the stand. Guido, who appeared without shackles wearing tan pants and a white button-down shirt, jotted down notes while she testified. The woman spoke for roughly 90 minutes Wednesday, pausing occasionally to catch her breath. And she described her three-hour assault from 1983. An acquaintance at the time, she said, Guido had asked to spend the night at her home and the young, single mother reluctantly let him stay. Then, after rejecting his sexual advances later that night, she said he became enraged. She recalled how Guido pinned her down and removed most of her clothes before dragging her upstairs to a bedroom where he bound her hands behind her back using her bra. And she remembered the dirty socks he used to gag her and stop her from screaming, and the cigarette he smoked after the rape. Her son, who was a year old at the time, lay crying in the other room, she said; Guido later shoved and hit him too, threatening both her and her son with a knife. But his anger ebbed and flowed. Former royal butler, William French, is coming forward in a new documentary about Britains Prince Harry before his high-profile wedding to American actress Meghan Markle, Fox News learned Thursday. French, who previously worked on the Royal Yacht Britannia and Kensington Palace for Prince Charles and then-wife Princess Diana, along with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, participated in a new documentary for the UKs ITV premiering Thursday night titled Prince Harrys Story: Four Royal Weddings The show explores Harrys journey from a childhood touched by grief, through active service as a solider in Afghanistan, his later work as a humanitarian and a chance encounter with the Suits actress that led to a royal engagement. It features rare footage, as well as insight from historians and sources close to the family, among others. French insisted the 33-year-old has changed since meeting his bride-to-be Meghan Markle. Hell take one look up, I can guarantee, French predicted about the upcoming wedding at Windsor Castle in the documentary. Hell look up and say, Ive done it mum, and shell be so proud of him. Thats what so special. French added, His whole demeanor has changed since hes been with Meghan. You can see that excitedness in him. Itll be lovely to see him on the wedding day, seeing that little face bright. According to royal insiders featured on the show, Harry and his older brother, Prince William, grew up with a very playful relationship with their parents. Former bodyguard Ken Wharfe vividly recalled the time when a young Harry dyed his bath bright red. I remember one particular day running a bath, I went back to my office room and came back and theres this bath now bright red, he described. I thought, Christ, what is this? And of course, Harry had seen me running a bath, gone down to the kitchen and asked the chef, Have you got something I can put in the bath? The chefs are very much into this game as well, so they give Harry a bottle of red cochineal and he empties all the contents into the bath. It was then his mother comes down and finds all this. Thats how it was. It was great fun. And throughout his engagement, Harry has kept Diana on his mind. During his first joint interview with Markle following their big announcement in late 2017, the royal reflected on how his mothers relationship would have been with the actress if she were alive today. [They] would be thick as thieves. Without question, Harry told BBC News. I think she would be over the moon, jumping up and down, so excited for me. So, it is days like today when I really miss having her around. I miss being able to share the happy news. But the ring and with everything else going on, Im sure shes with us, jumping up and down somewhere." Diana passed away in 1997 at age 36 in a car crash in Paris. Harry was 12 at the time of her death. Harry also revealed his engagement ring for Markle features two diamonds from Dianas jewelry collection. The little diamonds on either side are from my mothers jewelry collection to make sure shes with us on this crazy journey together, he explained. Markle happily acknowledged the gesture. I think everything about Harrys thoughtfulness and the inclusion of that, and obviously not being able to meet his mom, its so important for me to know that shes a part of this with us, she said. Markle also insisted she took the time to meet with those who were close to Diana. I think that being able to meet his aunts and also [her close friend] Julia, and just different people who were so important to his mom, Im able to in some way know a part of her through them, and of course through him, she explained. And its incredibly special to be able to have this [engagement ring] that sort of links where you come from Its perfect. Harry and William have worked with several charities that were close to Dianas heart since she died. Diana was known for championing several causes including HIV/AIDS awareness, homelessness and mental health. She was linked to more than 100 organizations many of which her sons also worked with to continue her legacy. While the press has insisted Markle is attempting to emulate the late royal with her humanitarian efforts, Dianas biographer Andrew Morton told Fox News in April its far from an act. What surprised me the most was how she, very early on, became an activist, he explained. At the age of 10, she was organizing protests against the Gulf War, for example. How she wrote to Procter & Gamble to complain about their sexist advertising and in doing so, they changed their advertising. "She felt like she could make a change She was far more than an activist. This was somebody who was involved in demonstrations [at school] and writing messages of complaint to companies Meghan helped pursue petitions. I think all that unites the two women is the fact that both have a moral compass. Harry and Markle will tie the knot on Saturday, May 19 in an hour-long ceremony. The man accused of killing Morgan Freemans step-granddaughter in 2015 had an intent to kill, prosecutors argued in court on Wednesday. Lamar Davenport, 33, is accused of stabbing EDena Hines, his girlfriend at the time, outside of their Washington Heights apartment in New York City. Prosecutors said Hines was stabbed 25 times. Defense lawyers said Davenport was in the throes of a drug-induced psychosis, and thus is not criminally responsible for her death. Assistant District Attorney Christopher Prevost of Manhattan said Davenport had a motive to kill Hines while he was allegedly high on PCP or phencyclidine, the Daily News reported. MORGAN FREEMANS STEP-GRANDDAUGHTER SPOKE ABOUT GRANDPA FEELINGS BEFORE HER MURDER, TEXT MESSAGES REVEAL "Drunk and high, the defendant robbed himself of self-control and the ability to stop his impulses," Prevost said in Manhattan Supreme Court Wednesday. Prevost said Davenport had the intent and control of the weapon he used despite experiencing delusion from the drug. Witnesses said Davenport yelled release the demons and I love you, I always loved you, God would want this during the incident, The New York Times reported. Davenports defense team argued he was too emotionally disturbed to be convicted of murder. He had no insight into the fact that he was experiencing a delusion," Annie Costanzo, Davenports lawyer said. AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR VIEWER DIES WHILE WATCHING FILM IN THEATER Davenport could face 25 years to life in prison if found guilty of second-degree murder. Last month, Davenports lawyer Beth Unger claimed in court that Hines disclosed to Davenport and others that her grandfather [Freeman] engaged in a sexually inappropriate relationship with her. Hines' grandmother is Freemans first wife. The slain womans mother is Freemans stepdaughter, whom he adopted, People reported. A Nepalese restaurant in the UK has left a bad taste in one familys mouth after handing out a card informing parents to keep their children quiet while dining. The restaurant, Nepalese Chef, in Gloucester has issued the laminated "polite notice" several times to families with small children, and claims no one else has been upset. FLORIDA PIZZA RESTAURANT BANNED CHILDREN, AND MANY ARE NOT HAPPY We decided to hand it to anyone that turns up with young children to remind them that they have to be seated and children should not run in the restaurant due to hot food, the restaurant owner Kashi Sharma said to SWNS, adding that most people were absolutely fine with it. The notice was created after the restaurant experienced some issues with small children running around. It reads: We request any customers dining-in with young children to keep noise at a reasonable level and to not let children run around the restaurant. It is dangerous as our staff are often walking around with hot food. Additionally, it is inconsiderate to the other diners. However, Sandeep Amin, who was visiting the restaurant to celebrate his birthday with his wife and seven-year-old daughter, was shocked and horrified by the notice. Once we got seated within two minutes our waiter turned up with this white laminated sheet on which it was written people with children should ask their children to be quiet and not disturb other guests, he said to SWNS. I was shocked as my daughter is seven years old... She has no habit of creating chaos anywhere in public places. Amin added that he was greatly offended by the notice. I felt so embarrassed so I decided that it was going to be a bad birthday celebration and suggested to my wife that we would be better off leaving such a rude place, Amin told SWNS. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Amin said he and his family left the restaurant because of the rude note, but Sharma insists the notice is not meant to be taken that way. When Sandeep and his family were given the notice with the menu they said it was rude and walked out. We said sorry and this a polite rule we give to everyone, he explained to SWNS. Children are always welcome in the restaurant and we even give them lollipops. Everyone start screaming Haagen-Dazs has announced free cone day for ice cream fans across the nation, and its for a good cause. For four hours on May 8, participating scoop shops will hook up ice cream lovers with a free scoop in a sugar cone, cake cone or cup. And you can indulge guilt-free, because the name brand is dedicating free scoop day to helping bees as it marks the 10th anniversary of Haagen-Dazs honey bee support. NEW JERSEY'S PORK ROLL-FLAVORED ICE CREAM CREATION DRAWS MIXED REVIEWS Each participating location will have information about the bees needs and ask customers to help support the cause while they enjoy their cone. "Free Cone Day is an opportunity to say thank you to our loyal fans, and we want to continue to recognize the pollinators that make our ice cream possible," said Adam Hanson, The Haagen-Dazs Shoppe Company, Inc. President and General Manager. "Last year, we shared information about why the bees need our help and how everyone can play a role, which received great feedback from our customers. With this year marking the 10th anniversary of the brand's honey bee support, we wanted to build on that information and encourage everyone to band together for this important cause." Bees are an important part of the major ice cream company, but are disappearing at alarming rates, the brand says. One-third of its ice cream flavors rely on the pollinators such as strawberry and almond, according to a press release. The company has donated more than $1 million over the past decade to honey bee research, education and to create bee-friendly environments. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Haagen-Dazs will be rolling out free cones on May 8, 2018 between 4 and 8 pm at participating locations. Those that attend can also check out the award-winning immersive VR experience created by the ice cream giant that shows the world through a bees perspective. An IHOP server in Missouri has been fired for printing a racial slur on a black teens receipt. The customer, 19-year-old Maya Thompson, noticed the offensive word at the top of her receipt after getting take-out food from the Grandview restaurant on April 13, the Kansas City Star reports. Thompson called IHOP to complain and later showed the receipt to her mother, who told the Star her daughter was distraught and upset. VIRAL VIDEO OF 'ZOMBIE FISH' APPEARS TO SHOW SEAFOOD JUMP OFF PLATE AT CHINESE RESTAURANT An investigation was launched the same day the restaurant was made aware of the incident and the server, who is also black, was terminated, IHOP spokesperson Stephanie Peterson told Fox News. A senior-level employee called Thompson to apologize the same day, stating that the servers actions were not acceptable and in direct violation of their policy, Peterson said. This type of behavior is absolutely not tolerated, and couldnt be farther from what we stand for as a brand. Thompsons mom told the Star they were not immediately made aware the server had been fired, and instead says the restaurant mailed her a $10 IHOP gift card. After discovering the employee had been fired, Thompsons mom said she thinks the restaurant is handling the situation well, the Star reports. IHOP President Darren Rebelez released the following statement on the matter: The action taken by the server at this restaurant is inexcusable. IHOP and its franchisees do not and will not tolerate racism, bigotry or harassment of any kind. The franchisee, who owns and operates this restaurant, once made aware of the incident, terminated the employee in question and immediately contacted the guest to apologize. For 60 years, IHOP and our franchisees have strived to create a warm and hospitable dining experience for all guests, and we are currently working with the franchisee to ensure all possible steps are taken to deliver on that promise. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS This is unfortunately not the first time a situation like this has occurred. A Taco Bell employee in Philadelphia was fired in February after printing a racial slur on a college students receipt. A Philadelphia family is thrilled to have their infant twin boys home after their 4-year-old brother helped to save their lives. Santino and Giovanni Demasi, who were born prematurely to mom Robin Pownall, were diagnosed with chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) shortly after birth. The boys' oldest brother, 9-year-old Dominick, also had CGD as an infant, but he received an umbilical cord transplant from an anonymous donor around his first birthday and is considered cured. CGD is a rare immunodeficiency disease that increases the bodys susceptibility to infections. Its estimated to occur in 1 in 200,000 to 250,000 people worldwide. We knew it was a chance but for it to happen again to both babies, we were in shock at first, Pownall, 32, told Fox 29. WOMAN WHO WAS EGG DONOR IN COLLEGE MEETS 'EGG' 18 YEARS LATER The familys 4-year-old son, Michael, doesnt have the disorder, and was found to be a donor match for both of his little brothers. His parents and doctors at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia explained to Michael what that meant, and asked if he would be willing to help out his brothers. Hes just like, Im a real-life superhero, Pownall told the news outlet. He says, Im going to save my baby brothers. The procedure was scheduled for March, and required the twins to go through 10 days of chemothreapy. Michael went in for his procedure first, and then went to watch his bone marrow be transplanted into his brothers. He could have said No Mommy, Im too scared, and I dont want to, but hes ready to go and hes our real life superhero, Pownall said. The twins, who are just shy of 7-months-old, spent the following weeks recovering at CHOP. On May 1, Pownall shared a touching video of Michael and his brothers gearing up to go home. OK, I saved you guys. Its time to go home, Michael said in the video. A GoFundMe page was started to help the family cover living expenses and medical bills, as Pownall and her fiancee quit their jobs to care for the twins and older two boys. A 38-year-old woman is home recovering after surgeons in Connecticut removed a 132-pound ovarian cyst that was sitting on her digestive tract. The patient, who was not named, is expected to make a full recovery and has since returned to a healthy weight, Fox 61 reported. I might expect to see a 25-pound ovarian tumor, but a 132-pound tumor is very rare, Dr. Vaagn Andikyan, of Danbury Hospital, told the news outlet. When I met the patient, she was extremely malnourished because the tumor was sitting on her digestive tract, and she used a wheelchair because of the tumors weight." INFANT TWIN BOYS GET LIFE-SAVING BONE MARROW DONATION FROM 4-YEAR-OLD BIG BROTHER While ovarian cysts are typically small and may not cause symptoms, patients can experience pressure, bloating, swelling or pain in the lower abdomen. According to Medicine Plus, patients may require surgery if the cyst is causing pain, is a patient is past menopause, or if it does not go away. The patient had been gaining about 10 pounds per week for two months. The surgery lasted about five hours and required two dozen medical personnel, who were able to save her other ovary and reconstruct her abdomen, Fox 61 reported. I wanted to help her, and I knew that we could at Danbury Hospital, Andikyan said. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! In a startling revelation earlier this week, The New York Times published what it claims are 40 questions that special counsel Robert Mueller sent to lawyers for President Donald Trump. The questions are apparently a road map of inquiry that Mueller and his prosecutors and FBI agents plan to put to the president if the president agrees to sit down for an interview with them. I have been arguing for months that the president should not agree to an interview with Mueller. My reasons are fairly boilerplate: It is nearly impossible to talk prosecutors who are determined to seek an indictment into changing their minds. As well, the person being interviewed cannot possibly know as much about the case as the team doing the interview, and he will be prone to error. In the interview environment, one small lie can result in one big headache of an indictment, even if the lie is about an extraneous matter. When federal prosecutors question a potential defendant, who appears voluntarily and is not under oath, the questioners can lie to the person being interviewed, but he cannot lie to them without risk of indictment. Just ask Martha Stewart. This is exquisitely unfair, but it has been federal law for generations. The Supreme Court has ruled that federal prosecutors and FBI agents can use trickery, deceptions and outright falsehoods -- even disguises, verbal traps and fraud -- to help them extract information from a witness or person they are investigating. Given the president's well-known propensity to talk at length on many disjointed matters and to think both aloud and unfiltered -- witness his 30-minute unannounced telephone interview on live cable television with my colleagues on "Fox & Friends" last week -- there is a very serious danger that he would contradict himself and even contradict facts for which the special counsel has hard evidence. Donald Trump is the subject of a criminal investigation. When prosecutors interview a person they are investigating, it is to help the investigation, not the subject of it. As if all of this were not enough to dissuade a self-confident Trump from sitting down with an all-knowing Mueller and his crew, now come the 40 questions Mueller has told Trump's lawyers he wants to ask the president. Though many of these at first blush appear not to challenge the president's memory or command of facts, consider a deeper analysis. There are two species of questions here. One set of questions is intended to get the president off on a disjointed monologue to see whether he -- as he did on "Fox & Friends" -- will admit to something without actually being accused or even asked about it. The others are questions to which Mueller already knows the answers and for which he has irrefutable hard evidence -- and the quest is to see whether the president will be truthful. As well, both types of questions are mere starting points -- intended to lull Trump into a comfortable but false sense of security -- which would then be followed with curveballs he would have great difficulty trying to hit. One of Mueller's questions is profound, and I have not seen anything like it in all the literature and legal arguments preceding the Times' revelation this week: "What knowledge did you have of any outreach by your campaign, including by Paul Manafort, to Russia about potential assistance to the campaign?" Prosecutors need a factual or good-faith basis to trigger their questions. This question goes to the heart of the so-called collusion issue. I say "so-called" because "collusion" is a media and a political word; it does not describe anything in the law. What Mueller is looking for is a conspiracy, which is the easiest crime for prosecutors to prove because the crime need not have been successful. The late Justice Robert Jackson, himself a former U.S. attorney general, famously called conspiracy prosecutors' favorite crime. The essence of conspiracy is an agreement -- here, an agreement to accept campaign assistance from a foreign person, entity or government, which is illegal, even if the assistance never arrived. The essence of the crime is the agreement, not the receipt of something of value. The conspirators need not have met together or even be known to each other, providing at least one of them took at least one material step -- such as a phone call or a meeting with Russians offering help -- in furtherance of the agreement. If there is truth underlying this question -- if Mueller has hard evidence that the true answer is "yes" -- it could only have come to Mueller from Rick Gates, Manafort's former business partner and co-defendant and now Mueller's star witness. Gates could have told Mueller in return for Mueller's dropping charges against him that Manafort reached out to the Russians, in which case Mueller would want to test Trump's knowledge, understanding and truthfulness on this white-hot issue. If Trump were to answer "no" and Gates told the grand jury that Trump did know of this, Mueller could claim Trump lied and ask the same grand jury to indict Trump for that. If Trump were to answer "yes," that would be the end of his presidency. If he were to give a rambling non-answer, Mueller would make the most of it. Are prosecutors fair? Many are, but their common view is that they need not always be fair because they are after bad guys who don't play by the rules. To the prosecutorial mind, it is for judges and juries to be fair. What should Trump do? He should go about the business of being president. He should do what is most difficult for him: stay silent. Don't trust a man who owns a grand jury. Don't help him undo your presidency. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The ever-rising federal debt just surpassed $21 trillion last month at least $65,000 for every person in the U.S. Just how much federal waste, duplication, and weird or unnecessary spending are your tax dollars funding? Its hard to know where to begin, but here are some starters. Delving into the trillions of dollars in annual spending, our government transparency organization, OpenTheBooks.com, recently examined Washingtons discretionary grants system beyond such big-ticket items as health, welfare and defense. We found that the feds doled out 560,771 grants totaling $583 billion during fiscal year 2016, the most recent year on record. This means, on average, each grant exceeded $1 million. Not every federal grant is wasteful, but there are plenty that are highly questionable. Consider these outlandish examples from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in the final year of the Obama Administration. (Weve included the names of the congressional representatives for the zip codes where the grant was received.) ? Sex-Ed for Prostitutes: Barbara Lee, D-Calif. The California Prostitutes Education Project received nearly $1.5 million from HHS to teach sex-ed to prostitutes. The project seeks to teach prostitutes about safer sex and needle use in a way thats respectful to its clients lifestyle and choices even though prostitution is illegal in California and 48 other states. ? Designing Condoms: Joseph Kennedy III, D-Mass. More than $200,000 funded a new condom design to address a lack of adequate lubrication, currently a universal drawback in other condom designs. The grant recipient a company called Hydroglyde Coatings with the sole mission to design the perfect condom lubricant should fund its own research and development. ? Video Game for Your Future Self: Robert Wittman, R-Va. More than $650,000 funded video games designed to make the future feel close, allowing adolescents to explore their future selves. These games are titled My World of Dreams, The Valley of Others, Disappointment Bridge, and The Sea of Hope. ? Pedestrian Training in China: Terri Sewell, D-Ala. The University of Alabama received $183,750 to develop a virtual reality platform to teach children how to cross the street about as far from Alabama as possible. ? E-Diary for Micro-Aggressions: Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. Northern Illinois University received $173,089 from HHS for a four-week study in which radically diverse bisexual women documented their experience with micro-aggressions using a daily e-diary. Health & Human Services was the biggest porker by far doling out roughly $4 of every $5 in federal grants. The total grant tab at HHS was $421 billion. But the waste didnt just flow from there. Ten other federal agencies doled out more than $1 billion in grants in fiscal year 2016 and many of these agencies went off-mission in doing so. ? Galactic Animated Cartoons: Mo Brooks, R-Ala. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) awarded $2.5 million in grant funding to the Alabama Space Science Exhibit Commission to produce two seasons of Space Racers, an animated childrens cartoon in which the main characters embark on several galactic adventures. ? Zoombinis Computer Game: Katherine Clark, D-Mass. The National Science Foundation (NSF) granted more than $658,000 to redevelop a 1990s computer game called The Logical Journey of the Zoombinis where children create their own small blue creature the Zoombini to help them through adventure challenges. ? Hobo Day: Kristi Noem, R-S.D., zip code 57007 A grant for nearly $12,000 from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) funded South Dakota States Historic Hobo Day where students dress up as hobos and parade through the streets. There is more, much more. And now you can see it all for yourself, zip code by zip code, with an interactive map weve built at OpentheBooks.com. When you open the tool, you will be swallowed in a sea of red we mapped every grant to a zip code pin. It may look intimidating but simply zoom in or enter your zip code in the search bar above the map, click on a pin, then scroll down to see the results. You can go, for example, to ZIP code 02539. Thats Marthas Vineyard, a very upscale, affluent Massachusetts island off Cape Cod. The little airport there received $9.2 million in federal grants during fiscal year 2016 your subsidy to the very rich crowd. (Marthas Vineyard is a favorite destination of President Barack Obama, old East coast monied families, and the Hollywood elite.) The point is that the checks are written in Washington, D.C., but they are usually cashed in your very own backyard. Click here to access the map below and search all $583 billion in federal grants. Recently, we launched this search tool alongside 50 highlighted examples of waste in our 36 page oversight report, Wheres The Pork? We discovered that politicians in both parties cant wait to spend your money: pork barrel spending is absolutely bipartisan. In the top 10 grant-receiving congressional districts, five were represented by Democrats while five were represented by Republicans. Of the top 50 grant-receiving districts, 27 were represented by Democrats while 23 were represented by Republicans. As you search, youll even find billions of taxpayer dollars subsidized for-profit companies. Thirty-three companies in the Fortune 100 received $3.2 billion in federal grants between fiscal year 2014 and 2016. Boeing Corp. received the most: $774 million during this period. But Boeing surely cant argue that they needed the subsidy with $95 billion in 2016 sales revenues. Government waste isnt new, but things seem more out of control than ever. So, how do we stop this insanity? Our aim is to give you the tools to hold them accountable for tax-and-spend decisions. Its time for citizens to bring the heat, so the politicians will see the light of fiscal restraint. Watch a group of hikers rescue a dog trapped in an Indiana cave, one of the most active volcanos on Earth is erupting on Hawaii's Big Island, NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Rebecca Fyffe just expanded her Chicago-area pest control business, moving to a new warehouse that enables her to buy supplies in bulk and price her services more competitively. And as demand rises for science-based pest control practices that better protect both the environment and public health, shes already planning her next phase of growth expanding beyond Illinois. We really couldnt be where we are today without SBA assistance, she said. Theyve helped us in every phase of our growth process. The U.S. Small Business Administration is proud to be part of Fyffes success helping her develop a business plan, access capital needed to finance her growth, and counseling her on diversifying her customer base. The SBA helped Fyffe access federal contracts to service government buildings, and even connected her to an engineer who mentored her on reading the buildings blueprints and hiring employees with the right skill set. As part of National Small Business Week, the SBA recognized her as the 2018 National Small Business Person of the Year. Its an opportunity to thank the SBA for the incredible support they provided my business, Fyffe said. Through cutting taxes, rolling back overly burdensome regulations, supporting workforce development and enhancing opportunities in rural America, this administration is showing that a thriving economy creates an even stronger America. National Small Business Week celebrates entrepreneurs like Fyffe and all of our nations 30 million small businesses, which employ nearly 59 million Americans. Nearly half of our private workforce works for a small business, and small businesses create two out of every three net new jobs in the private sector each year. Entrepreneurs are not just job creators; they are innovators and problem-solvers, creating products and services that are better, smarter or more efficient than what came before. Fyffe was motivated by a tragedy that affected her family. Her cousin was permanently disabled after contracting encephalitis from pigeon droppings he encountered while playing in a Chicago alley. Fyffe sought a solution that would help protect other families from facing what hers did and identified a business opportunity. Children living in buildings with cockroaches have a greater likelihood for asthma, even fatal asthma attacks, she said. I approached pest control from a social justice perspective and focused on scientific methodology, so Im doing something very different and unique. The SBA is working to help even more entrepreneurs create solutions to meet consumer demand. It is the nations only go-to resource for small business, backed by the strength and support of the federal government, and providing entrepreneurs with the tools they need to succeed. The SBA through its headquarters in Washington; its 68 district offices nationwide; and resource partners like Small Business Development Centers, Womens Business Centers, Veterans Business Opportunity Centers and SCORE chapters serves small businesses at every stage of their lifecycle. The SBA guarantees loans for entrepreneurs who cannot access capital from other sources, mitigating a lenders risk. It offers counseling on starting and scaling a business, from how to draft a business plan to how to export products overseas. In addition, the SBA trains small business owners to compete for government contracts. And it helps those recovering from a declared disaster get back on their feet. As head of the SBA, I am honored to work with President Trump as an ally and advocate ensuring small businesses can compete and thrive in a local, national and global marketplace. Through cutting taxes, rolling back overly burdensome regulations, supporting workforce development and enhancing opportunities in rural America, this administration is showing that a thriving economy creates an even stronger America. This is a terrific time for entrepreneurship, and the SBA is working to power the American Dream by removing barriers to small businesses. My message for other entrepreneurs is you dont have to go it alone, Fyffe said. The SBAs services are already here for you. Its much better to ride on the shoulders of giants than try to reinvent it for yourself. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Tariffs arent the only issue on the table when it comes to U.S.-China relations. That fact was a major takeaway from our recent trip to China, where we met with some of the countrys top business and political leaders. The United States has been a consistently dominant economic force in the world for over a century, but China is catching up. It isnt the country it was as recently as five years ago. With a middle class of over 400 million, China is certainly past its days as a developing nation, although it prefers the world doesnt see it for what it is the worlds second-largest economic and military power. Americas outdated view of China could result in lost opportunities, or even worse, dangerous miscalculations or complacency. That needs to change. Americas leaders need to wake up. We must have a long-term plan to compete and deal with Chinas rising economic and geopolitical influence. One of Chinas greatest strengths is its ability to plan decades into the future. This is especially apparent in the development of its innovation economy, which is beginning to rival and in some cases surpass that of the United States. China is home to four of the worlds 10 biggest Internet companies measured by market capitalization. Its consumer marketplace is becoming both cash- and card-free, replaced by mobile phones. When it comes to Internet connectivity, China is beating the U.S. in the race to 5G. With 30 to 40 percent of its students studying engineering compared to Americas 6 to 7 percent China is training its next generation with the skills necessary to beat the competition in the 21st century global economy. China is attempting to leapfrog America in the innovation economy. The threat of it surpassing us as the worlds largest economy is not if, but when. Economists estimate that it could happen in the next 10 years. Chinas economy is not the only thing that is growing. It is militarizing artificial islands in the South China Sea and constructing military bases at foreign ports. It is building modern warships, satellites, missiles and other weaponry. In addition, China is actively jamming U.S. military aircraft from these outposts. Despite not being involved in any large-scale military conflicts, Chinas military budget has soared and is now only surpassed by that of the United States. China has no plans to slow its growth or restrain its quest for power and regional dominance. If America wants to maintain its influence in the world and protect its workers, consumers, businesses and values, the U.S. must act now to remain competitive. This means America must take a page from Chinas strategic playbook and start thinking in terms of decades, not the next quarter. The top priority of our trade relationship, both short- and long-term, should be holding China accountable for its blatant theft of American companies intellectual property, unfair trade practices, and lack of accountability within the country for bad actors. Reciprocity is key. If we cannot demand Chinese companies operating in America hand over their technology, neither should China be able to make such a demand. Fairness is also critical. America cannot accept a 25 percent tariff on our automobile exports to China while China sends its automobile parts over with just a 2.5 percent tariff. Finally and most importantly, U.S.-China relations must not be a zero-sum game. Long-term stability between our two nations depends on the ability of each to pursue its full potential peacefully. We should seek agreements that produce win-win solutions for both countries. The United States fosters an environment for limitless innovation and encourages creativity, problem-solving and technological developments to flourish. This has been a trademark of American life from its beginning. When America was founded, China possessed the worlds largest economy. However, our countrys ingenuity, commitment to freedom and the rule of law, and sheer grit have propelled the U.S. to the top of the worlds economic and military ladder. We must not be complacent. The United States must act now by developing a long-term strategy to deal with China. This is a top priority. Otherwise, America may have to settle for second place. Senators Daines of Montana, Grassley of Iowa, Perdue of Georgia and Johnson of Wisconsin are all Republicans. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! President Trump again tweeted his support for congressional term limits earlier this week, writing: I recently had a terrific meeting with a bipartisan group of freshman lawmakers who feel very strongly in favor of Congressional term limits. I gave them my full support and endorsement for their efforts. The president may not realize it, but his support of term limits for members of Congress could give him his best chance of keeping GOP majorities in the House and Senate in the November elections and could play an important role in helping him to win re-election in 2020. Its no secret that President Trump is struggling in the polls. While his approval numbers vary from 42 percent to 47 percent the simple truth is that a majority of Americans do not support him. And although its true that his base of Republicans fervently believes in the president, the nations independents do not. And forget about the Democrats. In fact, angry progressives are stacking up impressive special election victories across the country in not just left-leaning districts but those that President Trump won. Conservative seats in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Kentucky, New Hampshire and beyond are falling to Democrats. The presidents challenge is how turn the tide on the Democratic victories. Common sense would dictate that he double-down on the issues that got him elected. Fundamentally, that means finding ways to blow up and reorder the nations dysfunctional political system. Term limits would do just that. And Americans would love President Trump for getting the limits enacted. Polling from the Gallup organization shows that voters of all stripes are dissatisfied with Americas poor leadership and the health of our government, labeling these issues as the most important to be addressed. And that was true even before President Trumps election. Not surprisingly, a wide array of Republicans, Democrats and independents agree that term limits would help fix these problems, with over 80 percent demanding such limits be imposed. And yet, despite the ideas overwhelming popularity, the odds of adoption are low without President Trumps leadership. Why? First, term limits would require adoption of a constitutional amendment, a process that our Founding Fathers intended to be very difficult. Amending the Constitution is even more challenging because one of the two paths forward requires approval by the Senate and the House. That means that long-serving members of Congress like Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would effectively need to vote themselves out of office. Predictably, officials like McConnell and many others, on both sides of the aisle are firmly opposed. The other path to amending the Constitution is a convention called by two-thirds of state legislatures an option never taken during passage of the 27 existing amendments. Its an approach that two groups are currently organizing one for a balanced budget, another for assorted demands that include term limits. Either way, President Trump would have to get behind the multiyear amendment process with considerable time and money, and with the presidential bully pulpit. Draining the swamp would have to be his greatest domestic priority. In normal times, its doubtful that a president would give more than lip service to the popular idea of term limits. And, in fact, thats what most politicians have done. In the 1990s, when then-House Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., held a vote for term limits, virtually all Democrats and many Republicans shot it down. But these are not normal times for our troubled nation and our unconventional president. President Trump is mired in unproven allegations of collusion with Russia in the 2016 presidential race, with no end in sight to Special Counsel Robert Muellers widening investigation. Meanwhile, the presidents signature policies on immigration a travel ban affecting people from some majority-Muslim countries, a border wall with Mexico, and ending the DACA program that allows some illegal immigrants brought to the U.S. as children to remain here are all stuck in the courts, dead in Congress, or lack funding. Finally, the president has proven to be deeply controversial as a person and leader, known for his unpredictable Twitter feuds and brash New Yorker style. For these reasons (and a few others), President Trumps poll numbers are under the 50 percent mark. And yet, if the president was serious in his call for term limits, this deeply popular idea might just be a springboard to resetting his relationship with the American people. This might not be great news for my fellow Democrats, its true. But if thats what it takes to get term limits, count me in as a reluctant cheerleader. In a wide-ranging interview on Fox News' "Hannity" on Wednesday night, Rudy Giuliani told host Sean Hannity that President Donald Trump reimbursed his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, $130,000 that Cohen paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. "That money was not campaign money," said Giuliani, a recent addition to Trump's legal team who is also a former mayor of New York City and Republican presidential candidate. "It's not campaign money. No campaign finance violation." "They funneled the payment through [Cohen's] law firm," Hannity said. "Funneled it through the law firm and the president repaid it," Giuliani said. But Giuliani later clarified for Fox News that the money Trump paid to Cohen was for unspecified "expenses," and that the president was unaware that money would be going to Daniels. A spokesman said the White House had no comment on the matter, citing an ongoing investigation. 'Over several months' On "Hannity," Giuliani said Trump repaid Cohen "over several months" by putting him on a "retainer of $35,000 when he was doing no work for the president." "I said, 'That's how he's repaying it, with a little profit and a little margin for paying taxes,'" said Giuliani, who added that Trump "didnt know about the specifics of [the payment], as far as I know, but he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this. Like I take care of things like this for my clients. I dont burden them with every single thing that comes along." Last month, Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he had no knowledge about the payment Cohen made to Daniels. When asked why Cohen sent Daniels the money, the president answered: "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen - Michael's my attorney." Days later, federal agents raided Cohen's home, office and hotel room in New York City. After Giuliani's appearance on "Hannity," sources familiar with the matter told Fox News that Trump did in fact repay Cohen the $130,000 Cohen paid to Daniels, over several months. While the source did not know why Trump said he had no knowledge of the payments in the Air Force One gaggle, the source confirmed that the president knowingly paid Cohen back. The net effect of the disclosure, the source said, is that it takes any potential Federal Election Commission violation off the table as Trump paid the money from his personal funds. The argument here is that if Trump paid the money himself, there was no illegal campaign contribution. The source said that while the matter was embarrassing for the president, it strikes a blow to the heart of the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New Yorks case. The source did not know the exact timing of when the payments to Cohen began and ended. The source believes the repayments started after the transaction with Daniels was completed. Later Wednesday, Giuliani clarified to Fox News that the president reimbursed Cohen for "expenses," not for a payment to Daniels. Giuliani said Cohen told the president that he had incurred the expenses on Trumps behalf and they required repayment. The former mayor said Trump was not aware that the expenses included a $130,000 payment to Daniels. Trump became aware of it, Giuliani said, only after the case became public. Giuliani said the payments continued into 2017, but were completed before the Daniels non-disclosure-agreement story broke. He said he spoke with Trump before his appearance on "Hannity" and that Trump was aware of what Giuliani was going to say on the show. Porn star's lawyer responds Meanwhile, Michael Avenatti, attorney for Daniels, tweeted his reaction to Giuliani's "Hannity" comments. "We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it," Avenatti wrote. "Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged... "...by what we have now learned. Mr. Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied. This followed the lies told by others close to him, including Mr. Cohen. This should never be acceptable in our America. We will not rest until justice is served. #basta" "Basta," in Spanish and Italian, means "Enough!" Later, in an appearance on "Fox News @ Night" with Shannon Bream, White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said White House officials were unaware of what topics would be discussed on the "Hannity" show, and declined to comment on the $130,000 payment, citing an ongoing investigation. "I have to refer anything on this matter to the president's outside counsel," Gidley told Bream. Comey a 'liar' Also in Giuliani's "Hannity" interview, Giuliani told Hannity that Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein should end Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials "in the interest of justice." "There's been too much government misconduct," Giuliani said. "The crimes now have all been committed by the government and their agents." The former mayor also called for former FBI Director James Comey to be prosecuted for leaking classified information, at one point calling him "a disgraceful liar." "I have never, ever... leaked a damn thing," said Giuliani, referring to his time as a U.S. Attorney. "I would have considered resigning if I ever did that." Comey, who was fired by Trump as FBI director in May 2017, has admitted giving memos about his conversations with President Trump to at least three people -- including members of his legal team. He has claimed that the memos were personal documents, not government property. Giuliani said that Trump had dismissed Comey because "Comey would not, among other things, say that [Trump] wasn't a target of the [Russia] investigation. He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that [during the email investigation.] And he couldn't get that. "You can't blame the president for feeling, 'I am not being treated the same way [Clinton was]," Giuliani said. At one point, Giuliani addressed Comey directly, saying that "every FBI agent in America has his head down because of you. It would be good ... if God had kept you out of being the head of the FBI." Fox News' John Roberts contributed to this story. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes is blasting the FBI and Department of Justice for excessive and sloppy redactions amid efforts to unseal a redacted section having to do with the FBIs interview of former national security adviser Michael Flynn. The excessive and sloppy redactions applied to the House Intelligence Committees Russia report deny the American people the opportunity to know and understand the reports full findings and conclusions, Nunes told Fox News. A key section of the report concludes FBI agents did not detect any deception during Flynns interview despite his eventual guilty plea in the special counsels Russia probe for making false statements. A source familiar with the House Intelligence report told Fox News that heavily redacted sections on pages 53 and 54 back up the reports conclusion about Flynn, and the source challenged former FBI Director James Comeys public statements on the issue. In his interview last week on Fox News Special Report, Comey denied that he ever told lawmakers his FBI agents didnt believe Flynn intentionally lied. No, I saw that in the media, Comey said. Someone misunderstood something I said. I didnt believe that and didnt say that. The House Intelligence Committee report, which was disputed by Democrats and released over their objections, provides virtually no public information to back up its conclusion about Flynns interactions with the agents as most of the section explaining that finding is redacted. The deliberate withholding of this vital information from the public is inexplicable and intolerable, Nunes said. Protecting executive branch officials and agencies from embarrassment is not a valid reason to hide information and will not be accepted by Congress. Speaking to Fox News Tucker Carlson after the reports release, Nunes said it was impossible for Comey to know what investigators found because so many sections were blacked out. Mr. Comey probably never read our report, likely because the Department of Justice and FBI redacted so much of it, that if you go online and try to read our report, youll see that much of it you cant even read, Nunes said. So he doesnt know what we have. Among the 44 findings in the House Intelligence Committee report was a line stating that Federal Bureau of Investigation agents did not detect any deception during Flynn's interview. Flynn lost his job over the Russia contacts controversy -- and as recently as December, even President Trump claimed Flynn had "lied" to agents. But last week, Trump defended Flynn as he castigated Comey, saying Flynns life has been totally destroyed while shadey James Comey can Leak and Lie and make lots of money from his newly released memoir. Meanwhile, Muellers team this week delayed Flynns sentencing for a second time, citing the status of the special counsels investigation. The delay was one of several developments in the proceedings. Days after accepting his guilty plea, the judge assigned to the case, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Judge Rudolph Contreras, recused himself from the case, and was replaced by Judge Emmet Sullivan. Earlier Wednesday, President Trump lashed out at his own Justice Department, tearing into officials for not cooperating with document requests from congressional Republicans while warning he could use the powers of the presidency to intervene in the dispute. The president didnt specify the documents he says the DOJ won't release. He also didn't say which presidential powers he is referring to, though it could be anything from declassifying files to extracting documents sought by Congress to perhaps intervening in the Russia probe. The FBI and DOJ referred Fox News questions about the redactions as well as the timing to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Fox News will update the reporting when comment becomes available. Fox News Judson Berger contributed to this report. The Supreme Court says Justice Sonia Sotomayor has been released from the hospital following shoulder replacement surgery. The court says Sotomayor is recuperating at home after the operation on her left shoulder Tuesday morning in New York. The court said in a statement after the surgery that it had gone well and that the 63-year-old justice was expected to remain in the hospital for a night or two. Sotomayor injured herself in a fall at home on April 16 and decided on the surgery after consulting with specialists. The court says Sotomayor will wear a sling and curtail activities for the next few weeks while she recuperates. She is expected to need several months of physical therapy. Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey are calling on former Senate President Stan Rosenberg to immediately resign his seat after an ethics investigation found he showed lack of judgment and leadership in dealing with his husband, whos facing sexual misconduct charges. The report released Wednesday concluded the Amherst Democrat failed to protect the Senate from his husband, Bryon Hefner. The Senate Ethics Committee said independent investigators found that while Rosenberg did not formally violate any Senate rules, he did violate the chambers information technology policies by giving Hefner unfettered access to Rosenbergs Senate email account even before he became Senate president in 2015. That access only ended in March, 2017 after Rosenberg staff members detected two instances of Hefner surreptitiously emailing two public officials as if he was Rosenberg, investigators said. The report said Rosenberg knew or should have known Hefner had racially and sexually harassed Senate employees and failed to address the issue adequately. Baker said Rosenberg should resign his seat in the 40-member chamber, saying the report reveals a deeply disturbing pattern of behavior and that Rosenberg compromised the business of the Senate and the trust of his constituents. For the good of the institution and those who elected him to serve, I believe the Senator needs to resign immediately, Baker said. Healey, one of the top Democrats in the state, also said its time for Rosenberg to go. Its clear to me that Stan Rosenberg cannot continue to serve in the Senate, Healey said. I think its best if he steps down immediately. The committee recommended that Rosenberg not serve in a position of leadership or as chair of any committee for the remainder of his current term or during the 2019-2020 legislative session. The investigation began in December after allegations surfaced that Hefner sexually abused or harassed several men, including some with business before the Senate. Rosenberg stepped down as Senate leader shortly after the probe began, though he remains in the Senate and has said he intends to run for re-election in November. Senate President Harriette Chandler, who replaced Rosenberg as president, called the report thorough and troubling. Like my colleagues, I am taking time tonight to further review the report and the strong recommendations of the Ethics Committee, the Worcester Democrat said. The investigation was conducted by attorneys from the Boston law firm of Hogan Lovells, including Anthony Fuller, a former federal prosecutor. The special investigators conclusions which do not establish a violation of any formal Senate rule nonetheless demonstrate a significant failure of judgment and leadership by Senator Rosenberg in his role as Senate President, the report says. That failure undermined the integrity of the Senate and had destructive consequences for the Senate and the people with business before it. Essentially, Senator Rosenberg failed to protect the Senate from his husband, whom he knew was disruptive, volatile and abusive, the investigation found. In 2014, before his election to the top post in the Senate, Rosenberg assured colleagues he would build a firewall between his professional and personal life, following reports that Hefner had boasted on social media about his influence with Rosenberg. But that firewall was ineffective, the report says. Hefner, 30, pleaded not guilty in Suffolk Superior Court last month to charges of sexual assault, criminal lewdness and distributing nude photos without consent. He was released on personal recognizance and his attorney has said he would defend himself in court. Messages left with a spokeswoman for Rosenberg on Wednesday were not immediately returned. Rosenberg announced earlier this year that he and Hefner had separated. According to investigators, Rosenberg was aware Hefner routinely expressed in graphic terms sexual interest in members of the Senate and Senate staff, and was also aware that his husband had downloaded and texted images of nude men. Rosenberg also was aware Hefner had once used racial epithets against a Senate staffer, the report says, and told the staffer to report the incident to the Senate counsel. Rosenberg, 68, was the first openly gay lawmaker to lead a legislative chamber in Massachusetts. The Pentagon has ordered all stores on U.S. military bases worldwide to ban mobile phones and other telecommunications equipment made by the Chinese companies Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. and ZTE Corp. after senior U.S. intelligence officials warned the phones could be used to spy on Americans and U.S. service members. The products were removed from exchange service stores and exchange concessionaires worldwide following warnings from top U.S. intelligence officials and lawmakers that Chinese mobile phones could track movements of the military. In a statement, the Pentagon said, Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the Departments personnel, information and mission. In light of this information, it was not prudent for the Departments stores to continue selling them. Officials told Fox News the Pentagon also recently terminated its use of BlackBerry smartphones, and now issues Apple iPhones, which also are assembled in China. Maj. Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, told Fox News: For security reasons, I cant get into the technical aspects of potential threats. He added that, The department is evaluating the situation and will determine the necessity of issuing additional guidance. Fox News previously reported in February that the Senate Intelligence Committee held a hearing on global terror threats attended by the directors of the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency. Tom Cotton, the junior senator from Arkansas, asked some of the most pointed questions to the panel of U.S. intelligence officials during the hearing. Cotton prefaced his questions by stating that there is a threat posed by China and specifically Chinese telecomm companies. The senator added he had introduced legislation, along with other senators, which says that the U.S. government cant use Huawei or ZTE and the U.S. government cant use companies that use them. Huawei is the worlds third largest smartphone maker, and ZTE is the fourth largest seller in the United States. A Washington state educator who leads a classroom for teenage refugees was awarded the National Teacher of the Year by President Donald Trump at The White House Wednesday. Mandy Manning teaches English to new refugee and immigrant students at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School in Spokane. Manning previously worked as a teacher in the Peace Corps in Armenia, and she also taught in Japan and in other parts of the U.S., according to The Hill. At the Newcomer Center where Manning teaches, students spend five hours a day working to set up a base of academic knowledge so that the teens ultimately can join their peers in general education classes. Manning also helps them adjust to American culture from navigating the cafeteria and reading body language to understanding classroom etiquette, like taking turns when speaking. Mannings students come from all over the world, many escaping chaotic, conflict-torn homelands across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. Teachers like Mandy play a vital role in the well-being of our children, the strength of our communities and the success of our nation, Trump said during a White House ceremony held to honor her and other winners. The job of a teacher is not only to instruct the next generation of workers but the next generations of citizens to teach our children to care for others, to think for themselves, to love their country, to be proud of our history and to be true pillars of their families and their communities. Mannings selection was announced Friday by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Mandy is a strong educator who believes in a great public education for every student and has a unique perspective on meeting the needs of some of our nations most vulnerable children, the state superintendents group said in a statement, Q13 Fox reported. The National Teacher of the Year Program began in 1952 and describes itself as the oldest, most prestigious national honors program that focuses public attention on excellence in teaching. Every president since Harry Truman has honored its winners in a White House ceremony. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The increasingly nasty and protracted confirmation process in Washington is creating new headaches for the Trump administration as it tries to fill vacancies for critical government jobs. The most recent flare-up surrounded Dr. Ronny Jackson, the White House doctor who had received glowing praise from the Obama administration -- but after being nominated for VA secretary, saw his reputation and career damaged as allegations emerged that he drank on the job and over-prescribed drugs. He denied the claims, but withdrew from consideration last week. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, meanwhile, narrowly got through the process after Democrats who once backed him lined up to oppose him. White House officials have indicated that they are gearing up next for a tough fight to confirm his replacement at the CIA, current Deputy Director Gina Haspel. On top of Democrats baying for blood in an election year, add to that the specter of the wide-ranging Russia probe and a mercurial president known for hiring and firing -- and it creates an atmosphere some say is hurting recruitment. Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, told Fox News that a partisan atmosphere, mixed with a lengthy process, can dissuade the best from considering a role in government. The harm that is caused here is that you have many fewer of the best qualified candidates who are going to be willing to go through this process. There will always people who want these jobs but they'll be fewer and fewer of the true superstars, and who we need to handle some of the most difficult leadership jobs of the planet. Jacksons case has been the most notable, particularly as the accusations were anonymous and disputed by the White House and President Trump, who accused opponents of trying to destroy Jackson. "He would have done a great job, he has a tremendous heart," Trump said in an interview on "Fox & Friends" last week. "These are false accusations, they are trying to destroy a man." After Jackson withdrew, the White House confirmed that he would not be returning to his job as White House doctor. Before Jackson stepped aside, Trump openly suggested his VA pick shouldn't put himself through the political pain -- a factor that is sure to weigh on other would-be prospects, whether for the VA, the vacancy at the helm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement or elsewhere. Stier suggested there's blame to go around. He noted there were signs that some candidates, including Jackson, had not been properly pre-vetted by the White House. He added that the difficulties Cabinet and other nominees are facing are part of a broader problem many appointees face. He said that a more streamlined process, fewer political appointees and fewer requiring Senate confirmation would all help. Id rather see a job interview than political theater, he said. The White House, in a press release Wednesday, appeared to be heading off opposition to Haspel -- particularly over her involvement in Bush-era interrogation programs. It cited support for Haspels confirmation from former Obama and Bush-era officials such as former CIA Directors Leon Panetta, John Brennan and Michael Hayden. Im glad its Gina because frankly she is someone who really knows the CIA inside out, Panetta said, according to the White House release. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders on Thursday also urged Senate Democrats to confirm Haspel. But opposition to Haspel was on full display from Democrats, such as Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., who said her involvement disqualified her from leading the agency. We know Ms. Haspel was a willing participant in one of the darkest episodes in the CIAs historyan episode that degraded our standing in the world, put U.S. captives at great risk of similar torture and failed at obtaining significant intelligence gains, he said in a statement. White House Director of Legislative Affairs Marc Short told reporters Wednesday that the vote to get her through could be close, amid a broader pattern of obstruction from Senate Democrats. The environment for a lot of our nominations has been extremely partisan, Short said. He said that Haspel has been preparing aggressively for what could be a tough hearing. Short said that a number of Democrats told Pompeo in private that they thought he would make a great secretary of state but could not vote for his confirmation. I think in this environment there is a resistance movement to many of our nominees even when they are qualified and serving in a national security position, he said. He added that he expects that to be the case for many future nominees. I think unfortunately in this environment we expect every [Senate] vote is close, he said. Its just the dynamic we face. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell also was confirmed just last week -- a nomination made by Trump in September. Trump had repeatedly cited Grenell, a former U.S. spokesman to the United Nations, as an example of a candidate for a key post being left unfilled due to obstruction from Democrats. Trump now faces the challenge of having to pick a candidate for ICE director. Current acting director Thomas Homan had been in limbo since he was nominated by Trump in November, with his nomination never reaching the Senate floor. Homan likely would have faced a grueling confirmation from Democrats, particularly due to his hardline views on immigration enforcement. He plans to retire in June, apparently a decision he made earlier this year. The administrations ability to get nominees through could be hindered further depending on the results of the midterms in November. Stier said that regardless of what happens in November, the longer the administration goes, the less appealing it may be for potential nominees to accept a post. It becomes a question of: How much pain are you willing to inflict yourself going through the confirmation process versus how much you think you can actually do considering the shortness of time and the potential difficulties that may arise, he said. Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this report. Please log in to keep reading. Enjoy unlimited articles at one of our lowest prices ever. The Columbia law professor James Comey used as an intermediary to help leak details of sensitive memos worked as an FBI "special government employee" for at least 19 months during which time he repeatedly defended the FBI director in media interviews amid the Hillary Clinton email probe. Fox News first reported last week that Daniel Richman was hired as a "special government employee," or SGE. Records reviewed by Fox News now show he signed the agreement as early as June 30, 2015. The former director previously told Fox News that Richman left the FBI in February 2017, meaning he served there for well over a year. Sources familiar with Richmans FBI status said he was assigned to "special projects" by Comey, and had a security clearance as well as badge access to the building. Richman told Fox News in an email last week that he was working as an SGE on an unpaid basis. FBI records show that as a special government employee, Richman would "serve at the pleasure of the Director [Comey]," with an initial term of one year. Richman's stated responsibilities included the use of encryption by terror suspects -- known as "Going Dark." In August 2015, his projects were expanded to include "an examination of the implications of federal investigations being brought to state and local prosecutors." During this time, a review of media reports between July 2015 and February 2017 shows Richman gave multiple interviews defending Comey's handling of the Clinton email case, including the controversial decision to reopen the probe shortly before the presidential election. He was typically identified as a law professor, and sometimes as a policy adviser to Comey. Government transcripts indicate Richman was sent talking points about the FBI's handling of the Clinton investigation. Those talking points attempted to compare and contrast Clinton's use of an unsecured personal server exclusively for government business with the case of retired Gen. David Petraeus, who shared classified information with his biographer and mistress Paula Broadwell, as well as the case brought against the late Sandy Berger. The former national security adviser under President Clinton pleaded guilty to the unauthorized removal and retention of classified material from the National Archives. Since Richmans time at the bureau, Republican lawmakers have taken interest in his role specifically in helping Comey leak the contents of at least one memo documenting his private discussions with President Trump to the media, after Richman left the bureau. Richman first emerged last year during Senate testimony as the former FBI directors contact for getting that information out to the media, to kick-start the Russia special counsel investigation. The Comey memos are now the subject of an inspector general review over the presence of classified material. Incidentally, another special government employee who has come under scrutiny was Clinton aide Huma Abedin. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, among others, previously questioned Abedin's special status that allowed her to work at the Clinton State Department and private-sector entities at the same time. In an email, Fox News asked Richman a series of questions about his work for Comey as an SGE, including if he worked unpaid between June 2015 and February 2017, and if he engaged with the media about the Clinton email case or other bureau matters at the request of FBI personnel including Comey. Fox News also asked whether Richman volunteered to media outlets that he was working for Comey as a special government employee when he gave interviews about the Clinton probe. Richman did not respond Wednesday to the email questions. The FBI also has not responded to questions submitted Wednesday by Fox News. During his Senate Intelligence Committee testimony in June 2017, after his firing, Comey did not volunteer that Richman was also an FBI employee. During a recent interview on Fox News, Comey said "it wasn't relevant" because Richman left the FBI in February 2017. Comey said he had no other special government employees, and Richman's job dealt with terrorist communications as well as law enforcement data. The leaders of the House judiciary and oversight committees, meanwhile, are asking the Justice Department to turn over documents about Richmans FBI status and his handling of the memos. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., made the request in a letter on Tuesday to Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Comeys lawyers -- former U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and David Kelly -- also got some of the memos, but Comey maintains they were returned once classified information was identified. Cyd Upson contributed to this report. Former FBI Director James Comey hushed any rumors about a possible run in politics Wednesday night, telling an auditorium full of supporters that hed make a "crappy candidate." Comey, whom President Donald Trump fired May 9, 2017, was speaking in Miami to discuss his tell-all book A Higher Loyalty. He told the roughly 2,000 audience members that he couldnt ask for money, or employ the tactics necessary for being a viable candidate, the Miami Herald reported. "I hate the idea of asking people for money," he said. Comey also condemned the National Rifle Association (NRA) as an organization that "sells fear, while expressing his support for reasonable restrictions against the Second Amendment and criticizing those who call changing the law a slippery slope. "I hate the idea of asking people for money." James Comey, former FBI director "It's not a slippery slope, it's a concrete set of stairs" built by America's founders, he said, according to the paper. "Lets have these conversations standing there, holding the rails." Comey spoke with Fox News last week, discussing his decision to reopen the Hillary Clinton email probe, and refuting Trump's assertion that Comey was a leaker and a liar. "He's just wrong," Comey told Fox News Bret Baier on Special Report, referring to Trumps claim that he committed an illegal act by passing information to Columbia University professor Daniel Richman. "Facts really do matter. It's in my book. The FBI cleared that book." Despite Trump using words such as weak and an untruthful slime ball to describe Comey, the former FBI director said he doesnt harbor any ill will toward the president. "I am very worried that we hate so quickly," Comey said, according to the Herald. "I dont hate Donald Trump. I don't hate people that voted for Donald Trump." Political opponents of President Donald Trump have "weaponized" the security-clearance process against him in an undemocratic "power grab," stalling his nominations and systematically impeding White House operations, the lawyer for a top Defense Department official wrote Wednesday in the Wall Street Journal. The charge comes less than a month after U.S. Sen. Rand Paul revealed that two romantically involved FBI officials who were removed from special counsel Robert Mueller's team over a series of anti-Trump text messages still have Top Secret security clearances. National security attorney Sean Bigley wrote that his client, Adam Lovinger, is just one example of the ongoing war against Trump appointees. Lovinger served for more than a decade as a Pentagon strategist before being tapped to become an analyst for the National Security Council. "Unelected partisans are quietly usurping presidential prerogatives ..." National security attorney Sean Bigley But shortly after Lovinger turned whistleblower -- by raising concerns about the possible misuse of contractors to perform government functions -- his security clearance was suspended and he lost the NSC post, Bigley wrote. JARED KUSHNER'S SECURITY CLEARANCE DOWNGRADED According to Bigley, the Pentagon cited only "[s]pecious, and constantly evolving, claims of misconduct" against his client to justify the punishment. Government officials failed to provide any specific evidence for their claims, and Lovinger remains on administrative leave, the attorney wrote. "One of Mr. Lovingers alleged transgressions was that Pentagon officials had improperly marked an academic report he took aboard an airplane for reading," Bigley wrote. The root of the problem, according to Bigley, is systemic partisan bias among career government bureaucrats who have openly expressed their contempt for President Trump. "In Mr. Lovingers case, those weaponizing the security-clearance process include a senior official who remains on the job despite publicly disparaging President Trump as 'unfit' to lead, a Pentagon attorney who instructed colleagues on the importance of concealing retaliatory motives behind their actions, and the Defense Departments security adjudications chief, who persists in advancing false allegations," Bigley wrote. "They and other unelected partisans are quietly usurping presidential prerogatives through a litany of seemingly small but slowly compounding abuses of bureaucratic power," he said. TRUMP-HATING FBI BIGWIGS STILL HAVE TOP-SECRET SECURITY CLEARANCE The White House's handling of security clearances came under fire earlier this year, in the wake of revelations that former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter had worked for more than a year with only interim clearance. Porter, whose job gave him constant access to the most sensitive of documents, had been accused of domestic abuse by his two ex-wives. The White House repeatedly adjusted its timeline about who knew what and when about the allegations. Fox News has learned that federal investigators kept a register of phone calls made by President Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, but those calls were not recorded, contrary to an earlier report by NBC News. Sources with knowledge of the proceedings told Fox News that investigators used a pen register, or dialed number recorder (DNR), on at least one of Cohen's phones. A pen register records all numbers dialed from a given phone number, as well as the length of each call. The National Security Agency (NSA) gathers similar information, which is sometimes referred to as metadata. Further, in an April 13 court filing, prosecutors revealed they had, "already obtained search warrants ... covert until this point ... on multiple different email accounts maintained by Cohen." "We already have considerable amounts of information about Mr. Cohens activities," Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas McKay said during the hearing in reference to warrants obtained in the course of the investigation. Earlier Thursday, NBC reported that Cohen's conversations had been recorded in the weeks leading up to FBI raids on his home, office and hotel room last month. The report also claimed that investigators recorded at least one call made to the White House from a number associated with Cohen. NBC later added an editor's note to the online version of its report saying that "three senior U.S. officials" had disputed the original wiretap report. At Thursdays briefing, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders referred questions about the report to Trumps outside counsel. I cant verify the validity of that report, she said. The FBI and U.S. attorneys office had no comment when reached by Fox News. A spokesperson for the Trump Organization, where Cohen used to work, said in a statement: Mr. Cohen has not worked for the company for more than a year. In any event, we have no knowledge of any nonpublic investigative actions with respect to Mr. Cohen. The erroneous NBC report added to widespread speculation about what exactly the feds were able to seize in their April raid. Cohens lawyers and Trumps team have been battling in court over access to those materials. NBC also reported that New York city's onetime mayor, Rudy Giuliani, who recently joined Trumps legal team, learned that Trump had made a post-raid call to Cohen. Giuliani reportedly told Trump not to call again out of concern that the conversation could be recorded. Cohen is being investigated in a grand jury probe of his personal and business dealings, which include a $130,000 payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York says that Cohen has been under investigation for months, and that it was behind the raid. Giuliani, meanwhile, revealed on Fox News' "Hannity" on Wednesday night that Trump reimbursed Cohen for that payment despite Trumps past comments denying knowledge of it but said the president thought it was just for unspecified "expenses" at the time. Giuliani also has blasted the separate probe of alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 elections by a special counsel, calling Thursday for it to be shut down. Fox News Brooke Singman and Adam Shaw contributed to this report. President Trumps new attorney Rudy Giuliani said Thursday that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should close Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe a call that comes amid GOP pressure on Capitol Hill to find out whether the investigation has gone beyond its original mandate. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, criticized Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein in several interviews this week. The basis of the case is dead, Giuliani said on Fox & Friends Thursday, claiming the push to uncover collusion with the Russians has turned up no evidence. Sessions should step in and close it. Such a move would seem unlikely. Sessions recused himself from overseeing the Russia investigation due to campaign involvement. Rosenstein stepped in, and appointed Mueller to lead his own probe. But Giuliani stressed, in a separate interview with Fox News' "Hannity" on Wednesday, that Sessions and Rosenstein should end Muellers investigation in the interest of justice. Theres been too much government misconduct, Giuliani said on Hannity. The crimes now have all been committed by the government and their agents. Giulianis comments come amid pressure from Republicans on Capitol Hill urging the Justice Department to release the full scope memo, which outlines the original scope of the investigation when Mueller was named. The Justice Department made public through a court filing a redacted version of the memo, while explaining to Reps. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Mark Meadows, R-N.C., that the full, unredacted version could not be shared because it pertains to an ongoing criminal investigation. Still, members are pushing to find out whether his team is probing matters outside that original scope laid out by Rosenstein. On May 17, 2017, I issued an order entitled Appointment of Special Counsel to Investigate Russian Interference with the 2016 Presidential Election and Related Matters, appointing you to serve as Special Counsel for the United States Department of Justice, Rosenstein wrote to Mueller in the scope memo. The order states that Mueller is authorized to conduct an investigation confirmed by then-FBI Director James B. Comey in testimony before the House Intelligence Committee on March 20, 2017, including any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump and any matters that arose or may arise directly from that investigation. Rosenstein then includes a more extensive list with a more specific description of Muellers authority, but that portion has been heavily redacted. The unredacted details only outline allegations against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, for allegedly committing a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials or arising out of payments he received from the Ukrainian government. The rest of the scope memo is blacked out. Rosenstein, meanwhile, warned earlier this week that the Justice Department is "not going to be extorted" after members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus drafted articles of impeachment against him. The articles apparently were drafted as a "last resort" in lawmakers' fight for documents. "I can tell you there are people who have been making threats privately and publicly against me for quite some time and I think they should understand by now: The Department of Justice is not going to be extorted," Rosenstein said. "Were going to do what is required by the rule of law and any kind of threats that anybody makes are not going to affect the way we do our job." Giuliani made his latest comments as he discussed in depth the $130,000 payment Trump attorney Michael Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016 to stay silent about accusations of an affair with Trump. Giuliani now says Trump reimbursed that money, but did not know at the time what it was for. Trump disputes the Daniels allegations. Last month, following the FBIs raid of Cohens personal properties, and the revelation that it was referred by Muellers office, a spokesman for the special counsel referred Fox News to the U.S. Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) Title 28, Section 600.4 regarding additional jurisdiction. That section indicates Mueller could expand the scope with DOJ consent. If in the course of his or her investigation the Special Counsel concludes that additional jurisdiction beyond that specific in his or her original jurisdiction is necessary in order to fully investigate and resolve the matters assigned, or to investigate new matters that come to light in the court of his or her investigation, he or she shall consult with the Attorney General, who will determine whether to include the additional matters within the Special Counsels jurisdiction, or assign them elsewhere, the code reads. Fox News' Jake Gibson contributed to this report. President Trump has been warned Special Counsel Robert Muellers team could issue him a subpoena in an effort to force his hand to testify, his former attorney said. John Dowd, who resigned as Trump's lead lawyer on the Russia investigation in March, reportedly raised the possibility of a subpoena during a meeting with the presidents legal team before he left. Mueller, 73, took over the federal governments probe into alleged collusion between Trumps campaign and Russian officials in May 2017. Since then, Trump has repeatedly derided the investigation as a witch hunt and denied any collusion. Read on for a look at the subpoenas other presidents have faced and what that could mean for Trump. Have presidents been subpoenaed before? Yes -- and twice in modern history. Most recently, former President Bill Clinton was subpoenaed by prosecutor Ken Starr in 1998. He was ordered to testify about his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. However, Clinton agreed to voluntarily testify, possibly staving off a legal challenge to the subpoena on constitutional grounds -- although it did lead to his impeachment. It was the first time a sitting president testified under oath in a criminal investigation in which he was a potential target. Former President Richard Nixon was also issued a subpoena by the Senate Watergate Committee, which requested tapes and other documents related to the Watergate scandal in 1973. Nixon refused, sparking a 1974 Supreme Court case that ruled against the president, ordering him to hand over the requested materials. Nixon turned over the documents, and then resigned. In 1807, Thomas Jefferson was issued a subpoena that ordered him to testify in the treason trial of his former vice president, Aaron Burr. Burr had already killed Alexander Hamilton by this point and was on trial following his plot to invade parts of Mexico and establish a territory for him to rule over was revealed, according to History.com. Jefferson reportedly did not show up to the Richmond, Virginia, court to testify, but he did turn over a few documents and made himself available to investigators in Washington. His refusal to fully comply with the subpoena was not legally challenged. In the end, Burr was exonerated by a Supreme Court justice who ruled there was not enough evidence to convict him. Does that mean Trump could be forced to testify? Even though the Supreme Court has never issued a specific ruling to clarify this question, it appears the president could be forced to testify. Nixon, for example, was required by the nations highest court to comply with the subpoena and turn over White House tapes. Trump could invoke his constitutional right not to testify against himself and decline to answer questions, but that act could also pose a significant political risk. As a practical matter, the president would have the ability to refuse to answer practically any question, Bill Jeffress, a veteran Washington defense lawyer who was involved in Nixons defense, told The Associated Press. He has to give his name, his occupation and that sort of thing. But any questions about his official activities or campaign activities, he can just refuse to answer. The president could seek a court order to quash the subpoena, though it's not clear that he would have any success. What else is going on with the Russia investigation? Trumps legal team has made some new additions of late with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and Washington lawyer Emmet Flood, who counseled Clinton during his impeachment trial. In an interview with Fox News, Giuliani called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who recused himself from the Russia investigation, to close Muellers probe, arguing the basis of the case is dead. Trump has denied speculation about plans to fire Mueller, despite criticizing the investigation. His only tweets pertaining to subpoenas, specifically, are about former Secretary of State Hillary Clintons email scandal. So far, Mueller's investigation has led to charges for four men who were part of the Trump campaign -- George Papadopoulos, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Rick Gates, though none of the charges are directly related to any misconduct by the president's 2016 campaign. Alex van der Zwaan, an attorney, is the only person to have been sentenced. He received 30 days in prison after pleading guilty to lying to investigators about his contacts with senior Trump campaign official Gates as part of the Russia probe. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Illinois Senate passed a bill Wednesday that would require public schools in the state to teach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) history, as well as use inclusive and non-discriminatory textbooks. The bill, which passed with a 34-18 vote, would require all elementary and high schools to teach a unit studying the role and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the history of this country and this State, The Associated Press reported. Supporters of the legislation, such as Democratic Sen. Heather Steans, who sponsored the measure, told Fox News that teaching LGBT history in schools is important to increase compassion and understanding as well as to provide historical role models for LGBT students." This measure is consistent with how Illinois public schools teach children about other marginalized communities and ethnicities, and it is one more step toward offering students a complete and accurate historical perspective, she added. The measure is not unlike the state's school code, which already ensures inclusion in history curriculum of the contributions and experiences of other historically marginalized communities, including of people of color, women, immigrant communities and people with disabilities, LGBT advocacy group Equality Illinois said in a statement. However, how much time is spent on the subject would be left up to school districts to decide. Opponents argue that the bill contradicts Judeo-Christian beliefs and have raised concerns regarding religious freedom. "Schools should teach that we should be respectful of each student and each person. This is what we all agree on. However, schools should not be used to advocate for lifestyles that are against the religious values of the students and parents, Illinois Family Institute lobbyist Ralph Rivera told legislators in a memo, according to The State Journal Register. But Steans said she has worked with opponents and have addressed their concerns about whether it is appropriate for children to learn about LGBT history and the implications for religious freedom. This bill is about historical facts, she added. The measure will now head to the House, where Steans said she is hopeful it will pass. If enacted, Illinois would become the second state to approve an LGBT inclusive curriculum. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Lawmakers in Arizona and Tennessee have passed legislation to protect free speech on public college campuses, partly in response to efforts to shut down conservative speakers. In Arizona, for the second time in two years, legislators signed a bill protecting the First Amendment at public universities. The bill says that schools may suspend or expel students who repeatedly have interfered with others ability to express themselves, according to The Daily Signal. "A college campus is intended to be a place where ideas are freely shared, not gagged. HB 2563 protects this cornerstone of higher education the ability of students to freely participate in the marketplace of ideas on campus," said Center for Arizona Policy President Cathi Herrod. GOP Gov. Doug Ducey signed the legislation last week. We have all seen the headlines. On college campuses across the country, from Berkeley to Harvard, from Missouri to Middlebury protests and violence have attempted to silence speech that some people just dont want to hear, Ducey said in his bill-signing letter. He was referring to protests against and efforts to shut down several campus speakers, likely including Charles Murray at Middlebury College last year, as well as clashes at Berkeley. In addition to Arizona, Tennessee passed the Campus Free Speech Protection Act, which went into effect on Jan. 1. It is the further intent of the general assembly that public institutions of higher education not stifle freedom of speech and expression by implementing vague or overbroad speech codes, establishing free speech zones, imposing unconstitutional prior restraints on speech or disinviting speakers based on the anticipated reaction of opposition to others to the content of speech the Tennessee bill said. While states push free-speech policies, a large number of college campuses currently have free speech zones that act as places for students and faculty to speak freely. These have become a topic of controversy, though, for not fully allowing university students and faculty to act on their First Amendment right. Rutgers University in New Jersey, for instance, has various public forum spaces that are open for student use if the proper paperwork is approved by the university. Even after students are approved to use the spaces, there are regulations that prohibit amplified sounds. Student organizations that do not comply with Rutgers Public Forum Policy are subject to potential cost-associated penalties and may be referred to Student Conduct, the policy states. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- FAW Group, Chery Auto, Hyundai Motor, Panasonic and other Baidu Apollo's partners have showed off Apollo-powered products at Auto China 2018. In the meantime, the world's first human-vehicle interactive AI system has been officially presented to the public. FAW Besturn unveils SENIA R9 equipped with DuerOS for Apollo At Auto China 2018, FAW Besturn unveiled the SENIA R9 that is expected to go on sale in May this year. The SENIA R9 is embedded with the Baidu Apollo in-car system dubbed DuerOS for Apollo, which possesses powerful functions of speech recognition and semantic analysis. Besides, the DuerOS for Apollo holds the powerful map with a huge bulk of location information and a wide coverage of road network and has massive music and audio resources that let drivers listen to their ideal programmes whenever they want. Baidu Apollo extends cooperation with FAW Group in diverse areas, such as autonomous driving, IoV (Internet of Vehicles) and cybersecurity, etc. The automaker and Baidu had previously co-built the Apollo Vehicle Cybersecurity Lab to research on the subject related to intelligent driving cybersecurity. Additionally, more ICV (intelligent-connected vehicle) and autonomous driving models co-developed by both parties will be promoted in the future. Chery Auto showcases LION cockpit, monitoring house through video-calling Chinese state-owned automaker Chery Auto showcased the EXEED concept model and the LION intelligent cockpit, which are co-developed with Baidu. Same as FAW Besturn's SENIA R9 mentioned above, the LION intelligent cockpit is equipped with the DuerOS for Apollo as well, which endows the cockpit with industry-leading capabilities of speech recognition and analysis. Meanwhile, car owners are able to know the condition of their houses at any time by virtue of the video-calling, a trailblazing function that is applied in the "DuerOS for Apollo". Moreover, the LION cockpit is able to provide tailored services according to users' routine habits, such as adjusting the seat based on drivers riding behaviors and selecting desirable music for users. The LION will purportedly be installed in the EXEED production models. Hyundai Motor, Baidu Apollo co-build user-friendly in-vehicle terminal Baidu Apollo and the Korean automaker Hyundai Motor jointly exhibited some ICV solutions at the event, such as facial log-in, voice-controlled vehicle and fatigue driving monitoring, etc. Besides, both exhibitors demonstrated that human can control some smart-home devices like desk lamp, curtain and air cleaner from vehicle via the DuerOS for Apollo. Reportedly, the DuerOS for Apollo is available for the manipulation of over 20 types of smart-home facilities, such as lamp, socket, air cleaner, heater, and so on. Meanwhile, vehicle owners are able to control car doors, windows, and air conditioning and receive vehicle data from home. Based on DuerOS, the world's first human-vehicle dedicated AI system, Apollo takes the lead in providing the solution of AR (augmented reality) navigation, which is greater than conventional navigation system in visual effect, accuracy and responding speed. BAIC BJEV launches Darwin System based on Baidu AI tech BAIC BJEV launched the vehicle artificial intelligent (AI) system, Darwin System, at Auto China 2018. Besides, the EU5 equipped with the Darwin System started presale with price range between RMB 129,900 and RMB 161,900, after eliminating the NEV subsidies. Through cooperating with foreign and domestic partners, especially Baidu Apollo, the Darwin System has realized an array of intelligent diving functions, including ADAS, L3 autonomous driving, intelligent cabin monitoring and valet parking. By virtue of Baidu's AI core technologies, BAIC Motor and Baidu Apollo will accelerate the mass production of L3 and L4 self-driving vehicles in the future base on the Apollo platform and the automaker's vehicle platform. Baidu Apollo to build splendid autonomous driving ecosystem Aside from the cases mentioned above, Baidu Apollo also joined hands with other domestic and oversea companies to showcase cooperative achievements at Auto China 2018. For instance, Apollo and the world-leading electronics provider Panasonic jointly exhibited industrial ICV solutions, which are based on the "DuerOS for Apollo" and BAIC BJEV's vehicle platform. In addition, Pandauto, the car-sharing platform of Lifan Group, demonstrated the autonomous pick-up and drop-off function at the event since it formed strategic cooperation with Baidu in November last year. Meanwhile, JAC Motors and WM Motor also brought products based on the Apollo platform to the splendid auto show in Beijing. What's more, the Chinese EV startup BYTON, whose first model the BYTON Concept attracted a lot of attention again after the CES 2018, had announced that the company had teamed up with Baidu Apollo to cooperate in AI in-vehicle system. Both parties will co-develop multifarious functions, such as voice assistant and picture recognition, which are applicable to BYTON's interactive interface. Trial rides of Baidu's self-driving bus Apolong was open to the public during the Digital China Summit from April 22 to 24 in Fuzhou, the capital of Fujian province. This was the first-time L4 self-driving vehicle trial rides open to publics in China. According to relevant introduction, the Apolong is the China's first self-driving microcirculation bus co-developed by Baidu and the Chinese commercial vehicle maker King Long. On April 19, Baidu unveiled the Apollo 2.5, the latest version of the open autonomous driving platform that currently supports vision-based high-speed autonomous driving in limited areas. At the ceremony for Apollo's one-year anniversary, Baidu announced that BYD has officially joined the Apollo platform and became its 100th partners. Meanwhile, the Internet giant also announced the establishment of the Apollo Automotive Cybersecurity Lab to further promote the safety implementation of autonomous driving. The senate race in Indiana is soon going to get some personal attention from the White House. President Trump will stump for the Republican Senate nominee in South Bend just two days after the primary. Being his home state, Vice President Pence will join him to throw the weight of the executive branch behind the candidate. The political wing of the White House, I think, is looking at this as the most important race in the country, said Mike Braun, one of the candidates. The incumbent, Democrat Joe Donnelly, has been targeted by the White House as one of several red-state obstructionists. Trump carried Indiana by 19 points in 2016. So, a Democrat in solid Trump country is seen as vulnerable and a potential pick-up in the Senate for the Grand Old Party. SEE THE LATEST FOX NEWS RATING FOR SENATE CONTESTS IN THE 2018 MIDTERM ELECTIONS ON THIS INTERACTIVE MAP The Republican primary has been particularly nasty. The airwaves are filled and the ads containing language like liberal, fraud, swamp brothers and Democrat. One candidate, Rep. Todd Rokita, even published a childrens book about his opponent jabbing that his opponent Rep. Luke Messer spends all his time in Washington and has forgotten about Hoosiers. Democrats and Republicans suggest the candidates have done so much damage to each other they have taken a right-leaning state and given the Democrat a fighting chance. Rokita defends that he needs to get out the negatives before Republicans go to the polls. I am not waiting till October so that Donnelly can stick a fork in one of my two opponents, he said. We got to get his information out now. Thats what a primary is about. Braun has been self-funding to the tune of around $6 million. Among other things his ads suggest is that he is an outsider, even though he served in the Indiana State legislature. He also claims Messer and Rokita are career politicians, indistinguishable from each other. In the heart of Trump country, each candidate claims he is most in-line with the president and most capable of supporting Trump in Washington. Messer suggests, after the ballots are cast and Hoosier Republicans have a common opponent, wounds will heal and the party will unify. Were gonna win the primary and when we do, well bring together all the Republicans to make sure we take the case to Joe Donnelly in the fall, he said. Two days after the primary, one of them will share a podium in South Bend with President Trump. A senior Trump administration official told Fox News Thursday that "there is still some work to do" to gain the release of three Americans held as prisoners in North Korea, despite a claim by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that the men would be freed that day. Giuliani told "Fox & Friends" Thursday morning that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was "impressed enough" with President Donald Trump that he would "be releasing three prisoners today." Giuliani's statement echoed reports by South Korea's Yonhap News, the Financial Times and CNN that the men -- Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song, and Tony Kim -- would be freed soon. However, the administration official told Fox News that Giuliani had gotten ahead of events on the ground in North Korea. That was confirmed Thursday afternoon by White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders and State Department spokesman Heather Nauert. "We cant confirm the validity of any of the reports currently out about their release," Sanders said, "but we certainly would see this as a sign of good will if North Korea were to release the three Americans ahead of discussions between President Trump and Kim Jong Un." Said Nauert: "We've certainly been following their cases for quite some time [but] we can't confirm the validity of those reports at this point. We want to see our American citizens brought home. We want them to come home as soon as possible." Yonhap reported Wednesday that the three men had been moved to a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang. The report, which cited South Korean activist Choi Sung Yong, said that the U.S. and North Korea "are known to be in talks over their possible repatriation." That same day, the Financial Times reported that the men had been released from the labor camps where they had been held since their arrests. That report quoted Choi as saying that "Trump can take them back on the day of the U.S.-North Korea summit, or he can send an envoy to take them back to the U.S. before the summit." The CNN report, which cited "an official with knowledge of the ongoing negotiations," said that the prisoner release was "imminent." Late Wednesday, Trump raised hopes even more when he tweeted, "Stay tuned!" at the end of a message about the detainees. Kim Dong Chul, a South Korea-born U.S. citizen and former Virginia resident, was sentenced in April 2016 to 10 years in prison with hard labor after being convicted of espionage. He reportedly ran a trade and hotel service company in Rason, a special economic zone on North Korea's border with Russia. Tony Kim was detained at Pyongyang's airport in April 2017 and accused of unspecified "hostile acts" against the North Korean state. He taught accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. Kim Hak Song, an ethnic Korean who was born in China, was detained in May 2017 and also accused of "hostile acts." He worked in agricultural development at an experimental farm run by the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, which was founded in 2010 with donations from Christian groups. A fourth American detainee, Otto Warmbier, died in June 2017 -- just days after he was repatriated to the U.S. with severe brain damage. He had been arrested in January 2016 and accused of stealing a propaganda poster and was sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labor. Last week, Warmbier's parents filed a wrongful death lawsuit against North Korea in U.S. federal court, alleging that the Kim regime had tortured and killed their son. Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report. There are growing whispers that if John Kelly is eased out or bails out as White House chief of staff, the job could go to Corey Lewandowski. I can report, based on my sources, that the president and his first campaign manager have discussed that possibility. Lewandowski has said he would accept a White House post if Trump calls him off the bench. But in the end it's unlikely to happen. Still, the mere fact that Lewandowski is on the radar for the top job, after the campaign fired him in the spring of 2016, underscores his rising stock and the changing climate. The president is increasingly focused on the midterms and, my sources say, believes the combative Lewandowski can be a valuable asset as Democratic chances of winning the House seem to be improving. The signs are unmistakable that Lewandowski, now a consultant, TV surrogate and chief strategist for America First Policies, is back in the inner circle. He and Trump speak regularly on the phone. He joined the president on Air Force One on the way to a Michigan rally over the weekend. Trump told the crowd: "Speaking of not being a patsy or a pushover, you ever watch Corey Lewandowski on the shows? Where's Corey? Corey!" In calling Corey up to the stage, Trump said: "He only ran one campaign and he won. So hes one for one." Lewandowski declared to the crowd that "this is Trump country!" (The president also gave a shout-out to Citizens United chief Dave Bossie, a Fox News contributor and former deputy campaign manager.) Trump wants Lewandowski to accompany him on other political trips as well. It's well known that the president likes being surrounded by people he is comfortable with, and the New Hampshire resident joined his orbit even before the campaign launched. But Lewandowski is reluctant to take a top White House job, as Trump well knows. It would mean a huge pay cut for an operative who has spent two years building a business and has four children to support. In an MSNBC interview Tuesday, Lewandowski ducked Chuck Todds question about "people speculating that you should be his chief of staff," and called Kelly "an American hero" who has "instilled discipline" in the building. He did not respond to several requests for comment. Lewandowski is controversial and has his share of enemies inside the mansion. White House insiders say that while he is a trusted adviser to Trump, at least half the staff would resign if he were tapped as chief of staff. They don't believe Lewandowski, with no government experience, knows how to run an operation as complex as the West Wing, and say Trump knows he would be blowing things up by hiring him. And Lewandowski, for his part, would certainly want to bring in key aides to support him. Another potential downside is that if Republicans get clobbered in November, Lewandowski would get much of the blame. And if the past is any indication, his tenure would be limited. And yet chatter about the idea is growing in conservative circles. American Conservative ran a piece headlined "Corey Lewandowski: The Chief of Staff Trump Wants." When Kelly took over last year, he tried to impose military-style discipline on the White House and limit Trump's contact with outsider advisers such as Lewandowski. Those restrictions have loosened as Kelly's authority has ebbed and his relationship with the president has grown increasingly tense. Knowledgeable sources say that Trump's relations with Kelly are indeed strained, that they sometimes fight like brothers, but that neither one is ready to dissolve the partnership and no change is imminent. Kelly called "total BS" on an NBC report that he has repeatedly called Trump an "idiot," saying they have an "incredibly candid and strong relationship." But the fact that the account was leaked to the network by four unnamed sources clearly shows that some in Trump's orbit are out to get Kelly. Lewandowski is not part of that effort and has managed to forge a working relationship with the chief of staff. Trump and Lewandowski discussed a possible senior White House post a year ago, shortly before Kelly replaced Reince Priebus as chief of staff. But the president concluded that the timing wasn't right. Of course, Kelly may get past the "idiot" flap, repair his relations with Trump and stay on. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has denied that he is being considered for the vacancy at VA, which would provide a soft landing. If Kelly goes and Lewandowski doesn't get the nod, it's certainly possible that Trump won't hire a chief of staff, or give someone the title in name only. He still has no communications director, two months after Hope Hicks announced her resignation. The consensus in the White House is that Budget Director Mick Mulvaney or House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy would be a more likely replacement, although perhaps as more of an ambassador to the outside world than someone running the gears of government. Trump's recent moves in hiring John Bolton and Larry Kudlow, who have broad independence, suggest the president is more at ease with a loose structure of trusted confidantes that mirrors the way he ran his real estate business. What's clear is that Lewandowski, whatever his title or lack thereof, is going to be one of those voices. President Trump, in his first statements since lawyer Rudy Giuliani revealed overnight that the president reimbursed attorney Michael Cohen for a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, said the money was meant to stop false allegations and stressed campaign funds played no role. The president put out a three-part tweet about the $130,000 Cohen paid to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, to stay quiet in the weeks before the 2016 election about accusations of an affair. Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, Trump tweeted early Thursday. These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, Trump added. Trump continued: despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll[sic] in this transaction. The president was referring to a letter written and signed by Daniels in January, stating with complete clarity that allegations of an affair with Trump were absolutely false. Daniels also wrote, at the time, that rumors that she received hush money from Trump were completely false. Trump, however, also said last month that he didnt know about the $130,000 payment. But Giuliani revealed Wednesday night on Fox News' "Hannity" that Trump indeed made the reimbursement. Giuliani, though, clarified Thursday on Fox & Friends that Trump didnt know the details of this until we knew the details of this a couple weeks ago. He has said Trump thought it was to cover unspecified "expenses." Giuliani stressed that this was a personal payment and disputed any suggestion that it was an unreported campaign contribution. [Cohen] was trying to help the family. I think he was just being a good lawyer, he said. That money was not campaign money, Giuliani also said on "Hannity." Its not campaign money. No campaign finance violation. Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's legal team, added that the money was funneled through a law firm and the president repaid it. Whether that argument holds up remains to be seen. A candidate is allowed to contribute an unlimited amount to his or her campaign. However, contributions are supposed to be officially reported. If the payments were wholly personal, said Richard L. Hasen, an expert in election law at the University of California, Irvine, there would be no campaign finance violations. But Giuliani's argument that the payment was unrelated to the campaign could well be challenged. If it's considered a campaign-related expense, the onus may have been on the president or his campaign to report it as a loan. "The greatest significance is that it implicates the president, directly," Hasen told the Associated Press. Daniels attorney, Michael Avenatti, said on MSNBCs Morning Joe Thursday morning that if its true that Trump reimbursed Cohen, its a crime with serious consequences. Cohen previously has said the money he paid to Daniels came out of his own pocket. Both Trump's and Giuliani's statements now seem to contradict Cohen's account. Cohen is currently under criminal investigation as part of a grand jury probe looking into his personal business dealings. Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain and Paulina Dedaj and The Associated Press contributed to this report. NASA is about to launch a spacecraft that will investigate Mars' deepest, darkest secrets. The agency's InSight lander is scheduled to lift off atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket early Saturday (May 5) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. If all goes according to plan, the solar-powered spacecraft will touch down on a smooth, flat plain just north of the Martian equator on Nov. 26, then spend at least two years studying the Red Planet's interior structure and composition. [Where to Watch InSight's Mars Launch from the California's Coast] "In essence, it will take the vital signs of Mars its pulse, temperature and much more," Thomas Zurbuchen, head of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said during a news conference in late March. "We like to say it's the first thorough checkup since the planet formed 4.5 billion years ago." InSight which is short for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport will use two science instruments to do this work. One, a seismometer called the Seismic Experiment for Interior Structure (SEIS), will detect and characterize ground-shaking events such as "marsquakes" and meteorite impacts. SEIS' data will help scientists better understand the Red Planet's crust, mission team members have said. SEIS is exquisitely sensitive and, as a result, must be situated inside a vacuum chamber to tamp down noise. In late 2015, the mission team noticed a leak in this vacuum chamber. The issue couldn't be fixed in time to meet the original launch window of March 2016, delaying the liftoff more than two years. (Mars and Earth align favorably for interplanetary missions just once every 26 months.) The other instrument, the Heat Flow and Physical Properties Package (HP3), will hammer itself up to 16.5 feet (5 meters) beneath the red dirt and measure how much heat is flowing down there. This information will reveal a great deal about the planet's interior and how it has evolved over time, according to InSight scientists. InSight will also conduct another investigation, called the Rotation and Interior Structure Experiment, using its communications gear. The lander's handlers will monitor InSight's location precisely to within just 4 inches (10 centimeters) or so in an attempt to spot slight wobbles in Mars' axis of rotation. Analysis of such wobbles will provide information about the planet's core, including its size, mission team members have said. [Mars InSight: NASA's Next Martian Lander in Pictures] Taken together, InSight's observations should shed considerable light on the formation of rocky planets such as Earth, whose early history is tough to interpret thanks to extremely active geology. "The goal of InSight is nothing less than to better understand the birth of the Earth the birth of the planet that we live on," mission principal investigator Bruce Banerdt, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, said during the late March news conference. "And we're going to do that by going to Mars." The body of the 790-lb. (358 kilograms) InSight is based heavily on NASA's Phoenix Mars lander, which detected water ice in the Red Planet's far north in 2008. American investment in the InSight mission is $814 million, with about $163 million of that going to launch services, NASA officials said. On top of that outlay, France and Germany have contributed a total of $180 million, primarily to develop the SEIS and HP3 instruments. (The French space agency CNES provided SEIS, and the German Aerospace Center built HP3.) NASA and JPL (which leads the InSight mission) have also chipped in an additional $18.5 million for a historic technology demonstration called Mars Cube One, or MarCO. MarCO consists of two briefcase-size spacecraft, dubbed Wall-E and Eva, that will launch with InSight but fly separately to Mars. Wall-E and Eva will aim to become the first "cubesats" ever to travel to another planet, potentially blazing a trail through deep space that other small, relatively cheap spacecraft could follow. Wall-E and Eva may beam data about InSight's Mars entry, descent and landing back to Earth as it's happening, but this potential contribution isn't critical to the lander's mission. NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been circling the Red Planet since 2006, will perform this relay work regardless of what Wall-E and Eva manage to do, agency officials said. Originally published on Space.com. A jawbone from one of the victims of the 1945 bombing of Hiroshima, Japan, shows the high amount of radiation a person who was in the area may have absorbed. Brazilian physicist Sergio Mascarenhas went to Hiroshima 27 years after the bombing to see if he could obtain remains from victims and test their radiation level, The Washington Post reported. Exposure to radiation makes human bone magnetic, and that magnetic memory existed in the bones of atomic bombing victims years after the explosion, Mascarenhas said. To prove his point, in 1972 the physicist obtained samples of bones from a few victims, including a jawbone from a person who was less than a mile away from where the bomb, code-named "Little Boy," dropped. WOOD FROGS WINTER SURVIVAL MAY DEPEND ON HOLDING IN URINE: STUDY About 90,000 to 160,000 people died after the 1945 bombing in Hiroshima. Mascarenhas was able to test the bones and estimate how much radiation they absorbed, but technology at the time could not help him decipher specifically how much radiation was present. The physicist took the remains to his native country, where they remained in storage for decades until two other Brazilian scientists recently decided to test them again with better technology. Oswaldo Baffa, one of the scientists, said the jawbone showed 9.46 grays of radiation. Grays is the unit of measure for the amount of radiation absorbed by an object or person, the Post reported. The finding means the amount of radiation found in the jawbone was more than enough to kill a person. About 5 grays of whole body radiation can kill a person. When a person undergoes radiation treatment for cancer, about 2 to 3 grays of radiation are centered on a specific part of the body. The scientists believed their data is timely and significant due to the number of threats countries, including the U.S., receive regarding atomic bombs. Imagine someone in New York planting an ordinary bomb with a small amount of radioactive material stuck to the explosive, Baffa told Brazilian media. Techniques like this can help identify who has been exposed to radioactive fallout and needs treatment. A NUCLEAR REACTOR FOR SPACE MISSIONS PASSES FINAL MAJOR GROUND TESTS The scientist said he tested the bone by crushing a part of it with a mortar and pestle and exposing portions of the sample to various levels of radiation. The sample was then tested using a spectrometer and other techniques to determine the amount of radiation. Mascarenhas, now in his 90s and retired, has not given up on his research. The measurement we obtained in this latest study is more reliable and up-to-date than the preliminary finding, but Im currently evaluating a methodology thats about a thousand times more sensitive than [electronic] spin resonance, he told Brazilian media. Well have news in a few months. Archaeologists in Israel have uncovered an ancient site that may offer fresh insight into the ancient biblical kingdom of David and Solomon. Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have been excavating the remains of a large house dubbed the Governors Residence that was destroyed by a fire in an 8th century B.C. Assyrian military campaign. The impressive four-room home, located at Tel Eton in the Judean foothills, had at least two stories and its ground floor extended over 2,420 square feet. Occupying high ground at the top of a mound, the house was carefully built with deep foundations. Large masonry stones were placed in the corners and entrances of the building and high-quality building materials were used, according to experts. DEAD SEA SCROLLS DISCOVERY: TECH REVEALS HIDDEN SCRIPT The discovery could shed new light on the joint kingdom ruled by David and his son Solomon, which is described in the Hebrew Bible, but has long divided historians. Also known as the united monarchy, the territory is said to have included the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. While some experts believe that the kingdom existed in the 10th-century B.C., others have questioned its existence, citing a lack of evidence of royal construction at the center of the region where the kingdom is said to have existed. However, part of the building at Tel Eton has been dated to a period in history that coincided with the supposed joint kingdom, according to Prof. Avraham Faust and Dr. Yair Sapir. The archaeologists recently published their findings in the journal Radiocarbon. EXPERTS HUNT FOR BIBLICAL TABERNACLE THAT HOUSED THE ARK OF THE COVENANT "Surprisingly, radiocarbon dates from within the floor make-up and from within a foundation deposit that was placed below the floor indicate that the building had already been erected in the 10th century BCE, between the late 11th century and the third quarter of the 10th century BCE. This date is in line with other finds related to the construction, like the foundation deposit itself," said Prof. Faust, in a statement. The construction of such a major residence at the top of a mound, with commanding views over the local area, marks an important event in the sites history, according to Faust and Sapir, particularly when viewed in the context of the ancient citys growth. However, the archaeologists note that "the association with David is not based on direct archaeological evidence, but solely on circumstantial grounds." Nonetheless, the erection of the residence and the growing size of Tel Eton could make a link to the David plausible, the researchers say, noting that the King is said to have existed in the nearby Judean highlands. LOST ROMAN CITY THAT WAS HOME TO JESUS' APOSTLES FOUND, SAY ARCHAEOLOGISTS Another site at Khirbet Qeiyafa in the Judean highlands, about 12.5 miles north of Tel Eton, has also been linked to David, Haaretz reports. Jerusalem and other biblical cities such as Hebron, are also located in the Judean hills. There have been a number of fascinating finds in the region in recent years. A trove of bronze coins, the last remnants of an ancient Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire, were recently discovered near the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In February, archaeologists announced the discovery of a clay seal mark that may bear the signature of the biblical Prophet Isaiah. MYSTERIOUS POOL AND FOUNTAIN DISCOVERED AT ANCIENT CHRISTIAN SITE IN ISRAEL Last November, new evidence dated Christs tomb in Jerusalems Church of the Holy Sepulchre to the Roman era, matching historical records. Other finds include the skeleton of a pregnant woman, dating back 3,200 years, in Israels Timna Valley, at a place once called King Solomons Mines. At the site of an ancient city on the West Bank, archaeologists are also hunting for evidence of the tabernacle that once housed the Ark of the Covenant. Some experts also believe they have found the lost Roman city of Julias, formerly the village of Bethsaida, which was the home of Jesus' apostles Peter, Andrew and Philip. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers Stephen Hawking's final paper, which aims to test a theory that proposes parallel universes, appeared today (May 2) in the Journal of High Energy Physics. As Live Science reported at length in March, before the paper was peer-reviewed and officially published, it shares Hawking's final look at one of his earliest theories, the so-called "no-boundary proposal." This idea describes the conditions in the very early universe. Hawking and his co-author, Thomas Hertog, a physicist at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, attempted to resolve thorny questions regarding the multiverse, or the idea that many universes exist side by side. Hertog called their conclusions a "departure" from the "no-boundary proposal" as Hawking originally presented it. According to Hawking's "no-boundary proposal," before the Big Bang, when the entire universe was compressed into a single, infinitely small point, there was no directional time as we experience it. Time was a closed, boundary-free thing, like a sphere without edges. [Stephen Hawking: A Physics Icon Remembered in Photos] Scientists later determined that this proposal implied something strange: that the multiverse is infinite, with endless, uncountable parallel universes existing alongside our own, Live Science previously reported. That wild situation presented a number of problems for science, most significantly that it rendered most basic scientific ideas about the multiverse impossible to test. (If there are infinitely many universes, then an experiment could make predictions about what the universe should look like and there will be some universes out there that will match those predictions.) "Hawking was not satisfied with this state of affairs," Hertog told Live Science in March. "'Let's try to tame the multiverse,' he told me a year ago. So, we set out to develop a method to transform the idea of a multiverse into a coherent, testable scientific framework." Hawking's final paper suggests a framework for understanding the universe that would render the multiverse finite, countable and subject to meaningfully engagement via the tools of science. There were some minor tweaks to the text of the paper as it appeared on the preprint server arXiv at the time of Hawking's death and its final published form, but they're minor and don't represent any fundamental differences in meaning. "There are no significant changes between versions 2 and 3," Hertog wrote in an email. "The paper represents indeed a departure from the no-boundary theory (as we write at the end)." Physicists that Live Science interviewed previously said that while the idea is interesting, it isn't earth-shattering in part because there's still no good way to prove it's true. In addition, as North Carolina State University cosmologist Katie Mack told Live Science at the time, the idea is not yet fully fleshed out. "What they've done in this paper is to use what they call a toy model it's not fully rigorous and complete," Mack said. "They admit that there's a lot more work to be done." To get to that point, Mack said, physics will need to overcome some significant hurdles. Most importantly, they have to develop a thorough unification of the theories of gravity and quantum mechanics. A PDF of the final, peer-reviewed version Hawking's final paper is available without a paywall on the preprint server arXiv. A digital version appeared on the journal's website on April 27. Originally published on Live Science. The US government's crackdown on Chinese smartphone makers Huawei and ZTE is intensifying. The Pentagon has banned the sale of Huawei and ZTE phones in retail stores on US military bases, citing security concerns, The Wall Street Journal reports. "Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the department's personnel, information and mission," Army Maj. Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, told the Journal. "In light of this information, it was not prudent for the department's exchanges to continue selling them." Members of the military can still buy Huawei and ZTE phones elsewhere, if they so choose, but Eastburn warned them to "be mindful of the security risks," the report notes. Unnamed sources told the newspaper that the Pentagon is worried the devices will allow the Chinese government to track soldiers' locations. The move comes after the US Commerce Department last month banned US companies from selling components to ZTE for seven years. Meanwhile, that same month, the Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved a measure that would eliminate a government subsidy for any US telecom carrier that buys from Huawei or ZTE; a second vote will make it official. Best Buy in March reportedly cut ties with Huawei, following the lead of US carriers like AT&T and Verizon, which decided not to sell the company's Mate 10 Pro due to pressure from the US government. The campaign against Huawei and ZTE dates back to 2012 when the House Intelligence Committee issued a report warning that the firms might be using their entrance into the U.S. market as a way to spy for the Chinese government allegations Huawei and ZTE have both rejected. This article originally appeared on PCMag.com. Cambridge Analytica's decision to shutter its operations has prompted speculation that the controversial firm may re-emerge as a mysterious new company called Emerdata. The data mining company announced Wednesday that it plans to file for bankruptcy in Britain and the U.S., saying negative publicity surrounding allegations that it improperly harvested data from millions of Facebook users drove potential clients away. The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Cambridge Analyticas parent company, SCL Group, is also shutting down. CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SHUTTING DOWN, COMPANY SAYS At this stage, it is not clear what will happen to Cambridge Analyticas intellectual property, although some of the firms leadership have already been linked with a new company. Earlier this year, Business Insider reported that a number of figures associated with Cambridge Analytica had set up a company, known as Emerdata. Companies House, the register of U.K. companies, lists Julian Wheatland, the chairman of SCL Group, as an Emerdata director. Wheatland was slated to be the next full-time CEO of Cambridge Analytica and led the conference call with employees to discuss Wednesdays news. Cambridge Analyticas Chief Data Officer and former acting CEO Alexander Tayler is also listed as an Emerdata director. Cambridge Analytica backer Rebekah Mercer and her sister Jennifer Mercer are also listed as directors of Emerdata. Rebekah and her father, billionaire Robert Mercer, donated to Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. FACEBOOK EXPLORING FORENSIC AUDITS TO INVESTIGATE CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA CLAIMS Presently, very little is known about what Emerdata will do. The firms business is described as data processing, hosting and related activities in the Companies House filing. Cambridge Analyticas former CEO Alexander Nix was also a director of Emerdata, although Companies House records show that he resigned from the latter role on March 28, 2018, eight days after he was suspended by Cambridge Analytica. Reports emerged earlier this year that Cambridge Analytica improperly used information from as many as 87 million accounts on the social network, prompting Facebook to suspend the U.K.-based company. Cambridge Analytica, which has ties to Donald Trumps 2016 presidential election campaign, denies any wrongdoing. FACEBOOK OUTLINES STEPS TO COMPLY WITH NEW PRIVACY LAWS FOLLOWING CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SCANDAL In its statement released Wednesday, Cambridge Analytica reiterated its unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, but said that a siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Companys customers and suppliers. Cambridge Analytica has not yet responded to a request for comment on this story. The Associated Press and Fox News Chris Ciaccia contributed to this article. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Nissan announced at Auto China 2018 that it will introduce 20 electric models into the Chinese vehicle market over the next five years. Besides, the Japanese automaker's first locally-produced electric model will be the Sylphy Zero Emission, which will be powered by CATL's battery. A spokesman of Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) also confirmed the information on May 2. By far, CATL has provided batteries for a variety of automakers, such as BMW, BAIC BJEV, Geely, Changan and Dongfeng. Moreover, CATL also has established JV with SAIC. At the beginning of March, CATL gained the battery order of Volkswagen's MEB project. During the period of Auto China 2018, CATL and Jaguar Land Rover signed a letter of intent on strategic cooperation to deepen cooperation in battery technology area of future vehicles as well as to jointly research and develop vehicle power battery technologies. On May 2, CATL has also signed a contract with German automaker Daimler for supplying electric car battery cells. CATL posted revenue of RMB 19.997 billion in 2017, jumping more than 34% on an annual basis. Besides, the class-leading battery provider reported YoY sales growth of 31.4% to RMB 3.972 billion. Contemporarily, CATL is mulling over entering capital market. Whats more, CATL topped BYD in installed capacity of power battery, the largest battery maker in 2016, with installed capacity of power battery reaching 10.4GWh, taking up 30% of Chinas total installed capacity of power battery in 2017. This is a rush transcript from "Hannity," May 2, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. SEAN HANNITY, FOX NEWS HOST: All right. Tucker, as always, thank you. Great show tonight. We have an amazing show, a ton of ground to cover. The president's attorney, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is right here in studio for an exclusive interview. Now, the deep state is an overdrive. They all working as we've been pointing out to malign and destroy the presidency of Donald Trump, the person duly elected by you the American people. Now, tonight, we're going to break down exactly why our two-tier justice system is targeting this administration. We'll show you the extreme measures that Robert Mueller is taking and others are taking to delegitimize this president and everyone who supports him. And breaking tonight, President Trump is now beefing up his legal team in order to navigate the special counsel's well off the rails investigation. In my opinion, make no mistakes. These are very scary political times in America. There are real consequences for everyday Americans. And coming up, we'll explain why one for Trump political aide was forced to sell his home to pay his legal bills associated with this witch hunt. So, it's time to dismantle the deep state, hold people accountable for acts they've committed and hold the corrupt media accountable as they are happily cheering for President Trump's political demise and completely ignoring an amazing list of accomplishments. We'll have all the latest media madness coming up and developments on the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's efforts to obstruct Republican members of Congress from doing their job and getting to the bottom of the FISA abuse scandal. The FBI's mishandling of the Clinton investigation and so much more. It's time for tonight's very important breaking news opening monologue. (MUSIC) HANNITY: So, this deep state that we have been warning you about now for a long time is going all out. This week, two separate major leaks from Robert Mueller's off the rails political witch-hunt are now revealing the special counsel's obsessive determination to set a perjury trap for President Trump. "The New York Times" released a list of questions that Robert Mueller allegedly wants Donald from to answer. These questions are all open-ended. They're patently frankly ridiculous and they are designed to trap the president into committing perjury. Some of the questions even targeted the president's own thoughts. What does the president think about James Comey? What does the president think about the Sessions recusal? What does the president think about the special counsel? So, let me get this straight: is Robert Mueller now the thought police? Is it now illegal in the United States of America for a sitting president of the United States to have private thoughts? According to "The Washington Post", Robert Mueller has now even threatened the president with a subpoena if he refuses to sit down for an interview now forget that Robert Mueller was tasked with investigating Russian collusion and forget it after weeks when they have found zero evidence of any wrongdoing by the president. This is now a political takedown of the person that you chose to lead this country now should we be surprised well this investigation is being conducted by some of the same people who were totally complicit in using Hillary Clinton's bought and paid for Russian lies, you know, the unverified steel dossier as actual evidence to obtain a FISA warrant to spy on an American, a Trump campaign associate in the lead-up to an election. In other words, the FBI used Democratic campaign material during an election, lied and passed it off as legitimate evidence in order to get a FISA warrant from a FISA judge to spy on the Trump campaign. That dossier was never verified, never corroborated, has now been debunked and they now -- literally, they never told the judge that Hillary Clinton and the DNC whose finances she was controlling paid for it. It is outrageous and this is the United States of America. Remember, here's the who's who, if you will, of Robert Mueller who he hired to lead the special counsel investigation. What do we see? A bunch of big-time Democratic donors including who "The New York Times" referred to as his pit bull, Andrew Weissmann. He's given thousands of dollars to Democrats and remember, we've disclosed Weissmann's very aggressive tactics. They have caused multiple overturns and wrongful convictions, ruining countless lives at Andersen accounting, Merrill Lynch, elsewhere, and let's not forget, that Trump aiding FBI lovebird Peter Strzok, he helped author Hillary Clinton's exoneration before overseeing the interview months later and, of course struck was so blatantly biased he was removed from the investigation of Robert Mueller. But then you have Robert Mueller's other top deep state Democrats they remain today. In just a few minutes, Trump attorney, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani will be here to give us an exclusive interview to discuss whether or not the president should ever agree to an interview with this band of many Trump-hating sycophants of Hillary Clinton. Giuliani will also help break down the brand-new charges and changes on Trump's legal team, including tonight's breaking news. Now, just hours ago, the White House announced that Ty Cobb will be retiring at the end of May and powerful longtime Washington attorney Emmet Flood will join his legal team. We'll have more on that in a minute. But, first, we have a shocking story to bring you revealing the toll that this ongoing witch-hunt is taking on real people who have realized and frankly anyone who has ever worked with President Trump or on his campaign. Former Trump campaign communication adviser Michael Caputo, he recently told the Senate Intel Committee, their investigation has had a devastating financial impact on him and his family, forced him to sell his home because he had incurred over $100,000 in legal bills. And during the closed-door session, Caputo told the Senate committee, quote, 'what America needs is an investigation of the investigators. I want to know who's paying for the spies work and coordinating this attack on President Donald Trump. I want to know who cost us so much money, who crushed our children, who forced us out of our home, all because you lost an election? I want to know because GD you to hell.' Despite real-life consequences from Caputo and others associated with the Trump campaign and the Trump presidency, with literally no evidence of collusion, after months and months and months of multiple investigations, you still have your mainstream media there pushing forward almost in unison their effort to aid and abet the deep state with this non-stop 24/7 obsessive, negative Russia, Russia, Russia, Stormy, Stormy, Stormy coverage, and in the meantime, ignoring every major Trump accomplishment. Take a look at some of this week's coverage that is an example. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) RACHEL MADDOW, MSNBC: So, "The New York Time" is out tonight with a list of nine questions that special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly wants to ask President Trump in the Russia investigation, which means as of tonight, we've now got a list of 49 things that Robert Mueller wants to know from the president about the Russia investigation. ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: You're saying the president United States goes into the Situation Room to get away from the chiefs of staff and call his friends? UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, I am told by one friend of the presidents and on more than one occasion, he has been called by the president from the Situation Room, yes. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What this tells us is that the subject of collusion, despite what you hear from the White House, despite the fact that the president times a day tweets out that says, there was no collusion, it tells us that Robert Mueller is not done with the collusion question. DON LEMON, CNN: Sources tell CNN, President Trump's lawyers are preparing for a showdown with Robert Mueller that's over the special counsel's warning that he issued a subpoena forcing the president to appear before a grand jury. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The best argument is the Justice Department cannot charge a sitting president. He will not be a sitting president all his life. One day, he will walk outside, one glorious day, he will walk outside of those 16 acres of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and he will could be then charged with a crime. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There is so much evidence in the public domain of collusion we don't know if whether any of it rises to a criminal level, but there is simply no question that the Trump administration welcomed Russia's help in sabotaging Hillary Clinton's campaign. There's none. RICHARD HAAS: That's why you need a deep state, that's why you need - - that's why you need people whose commitment is not to the person, but it's to the process and a lot. (END VIDEO CLIP) HANNITY: Yes, well, forget about all of President Trump's historic accomplishments for example on the Korean peninsula. We're actually talking about denuclearization. Forget about all these developments, look at what the prime minister of Israel did yesterday, there is a nuclear program in Iran or the booming economy, record low unemployment in states in the United States now, record low unemployment for women in the workplace, Hispanics and African Americans record lows. And the media wants you to believe the White House is in shambles? Not so. But you know better and that's why according to a brand new Rasmussen poll, President Trump has a higher approval rating in his second year than former President Obama. And by the way, you're not going to hear that in the mainstream media, instead chances are, you'll probably see this guy, Michael Avenatti, a lawyer for Stormy Daniels. According to NewsBusters, Avenatti was on fake news CNN a whopping 59 times in less than two months. And finally tonight we turn to the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. As we speak, he continues to stonewall congressional efforts to do their job and get to the bottom of multiple serious issues, including FISA abuse, spying on American citizens, not telling the truth to a FISA court, presenting political information not telling the court, presenting unverified, uncorroborated information paid for by Hillary Clinton and the DNC, by a foreign national, lies from Russia. Oh I thought Russian collusion and foreign nationals influencing our elections were bad. Earlier today, President Trump tweeted, quote: 'A rigged system. They don't want to turn over documents to Congress, what are they afraid of? Why so much redacting? Why such unequal justice? At some point, I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the presidency and get involved.' And breaking today, Fox News has learned that some lawmakers still have not been given adequate access to the documents they have subpoenaed and they're requesting to the House Judiciary Committee and the House Oversight Committees. Rod Rosenstein, if you have nothing to hide regarding the department's FISA practices, why not release them? Why not release all the documents, let the American people see it? If you have nothing to hide on the handling of the Clinton investigation, hand over the documents. Nothing to hide on Russia collusion investigation, Hillary paying Christopher Steele funneling money through a law firm, Russian lies to manipulate the American people, to get a warrant to spy on a Trump campaign associate, hand it over. Tonight, every single American needs to be asking just what is Rod Rosenstein hiding? All right. Joining us now for the exclusive interview, he's the former mayor in New York City. He is the current president of -- attorney for the president, President Trump, Rudy Giuliani is with us. All right. RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NYC MAYOR: Nice to be back, Sean. HANNITY: Good to see you, Mr. Mayor. GIULIANI: It's been a while. HANNITY: We've been through a lot together. I was here when you're mayor, of course. GIULIANI: Yes. HANNITY: And the city is still benefiting from your -- GIULIANI: Thank you so much. That's so kind. HANNITY: Just -- why don't we start as simple -- give us the status of the special counsel and what's going on with the president? GIULIANI: Well, the special counsel would like to interview the president. There's no secret about that. Every lawyer in America thinks he shouldn't be. We, meaning myself and Jay Sekulow, and the Raskins, and all the people involved in the investigation, and now, our new colleague, Emmett, we're going to have to decide, probably -- it falls more on us because he's on the government side, whether the president should grant an interview. Here's what it's all about. It's really simple. The American people can follow this along with me. Are the objective? HANNITY: Are they? GIULIANI: Well, right now, a lot of things point in the direction of, they made up their mind that Comey is telling the truth and not the president. When you look at those questions about what does the president think, what does the president feel, what does the president really desire, those are all questions intended to trap him in some weight and contradicting what is in fact a very, very solid explanation of what happened. He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation. He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that. Actually, he couldn't get that. So, he fired him and he said, I'm free of the guy, and he went on Lester Holt. Lester Holt's interview was as good as anybody could do, better than I think any of the people around Mueller could have done, and Lester Holt asked them, why did you do it? He said, I did it because I felt that I had to explain to the American people the president was not the target of the investigation. And even Jake Tapper pushed him really hard, talking about Comey. Comey had no answer for why he didn't say this, even though he had done the same thing for Hillary. So, you can't blame the president for feeling, I am not being treated the same way they were. I mean, I don't expect that we are going to have an interview with exonerating -- HANNITY: Exoneration? GIULIANI: Already written. (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: I have a lot of questions for you. GIULIANI: I can -- I would like to get one, not under oath. I want a videotape, not videotaped, but audiotapes, I want to make sure they don't misrepresent his answers. But this is an outrageous miscarriage of justice. Please consider whether you are Republican or a Democrat, whether you hate President Trump or you love him like we do, or like I do -- HANNITY: I think people know I am pretty supportive. I think the secret is out of the bag. GIULIANI: OK, I want to let you off the hook, Sean -- HANNITY: Full disclosure now, everything. Rudy Giuliani and I once had a meal together. OK, go ahead. (LAUGHTER) GIULIANI: I don't remember who paid. So, you can't possibly -- you can't possibly not feel as a citizen of the world, that his negotiations with North Korea are much more significant than this totally garbage investigation. HANNITY: You know, let me -- let me ask you first about the legal team. GIULIANI: Good. HANNITY: Ty Cobb, John Dowd, they are out. My understanding is Ty Cobb had been saying for some time he was going to retire. What happened there? GIULIANI: Ty has been enormously helpful. He certainly helped me with my orientation. We wouldn't be where we are today, in a very strong position, if it wasn't for him and John. John has been my friend and colleague for 35 years. I have nothing but the utmost respect for John Dowd. He had the right instincts about this, which is, you are going to get him to testify over my dead body because you are trying to trap him. He had those instincts way back when it was harder to see those. So, all that work didn't go for nothing. We got it all. Jay has been the rock. He's been -- Jay Sekulow. HANNITY: Jay Sekulow. GIULIANI: He's been through this -- I couldn't do it without Jay. And I think I offer -- what I offer to this is something unique. I'm a lawyer who knows the criminal justice system as well as anybody in America. I'm also a very good friend of Donald Trump. And I think I have the respect of Mueller, the FBI, the Justice Department. HANNITY: You should. GIULIANI: Jeff Sessions was my colleague, not just in the campaign but back in 1981, when he was U.S. attorney in Alabama. I don't think I'm going to -- they know the decision I make is going to be the best interest, not just in my client, but the United States. If their objective, we can work something out. If they're not, then we have to shake hands and basically go into a litigation over, do they have the power to subpoena? And I think they lost that power. This is a completely tainted investigation. HANNITY: Explain. GIULIANI: Well, you have an investigation in which Mueller is selected the day after he was turned down for FBI director by Rosenstein who was there when Mueller was turned down. There are thousands of people that could have been selected for that job. Also a friend of James Comey, and James Comey seems to be their core of their investigation. He's telling the truth, the president isn't. I know James Comey. I know the president. Sorry, Jim, you're a liar. A disgraceful liar. Every FBI agent in America has his head down because of you. It would have been good for god if god had kept you out of being head of the FBI. HANNITY: Explain where he lied. GIULIANI: Well, he lied about his conversation with McCabe. He knew all of McCabe's conflicts. McCabe should testify against him. He lied about his conversations with the president. He only told the truth when the president, I made -- we know Donald -- I'm sorry, Mr. President, he was Donald before. He lied about the fact that they talked about whether the president was a subject or target, then he immediately changed it. It's one lie after another. HANNITY: Rod Rosenstein -- everyone forgets when he wrote that recommendation to fire Comey. He said the FBI cannot be reestablished if he stayed at the helm. GIULIANI: Yes, why? Because he's a liar. His conduct of the Hillary Clinton investigation was a total disgrace. If Hillary Clinton had been elected president, he wouldn't have lasted past day one. We know she would have fired him. I don't think she would deny that today. She was right. We should have fired him. When I say we, I mean the collective we here, day one. HANNITY: Let's talk about -- GIULIANI: Let me say one more thing. HANNITY: Yes, sir. GIULIANI: This is the best president in my memory. In two year -- even my hero, Ronald Reagan, he straighten the economy out the way President Trump did. But he didn't get this far ahead on foreign policy as fast as President Trump has. Look at what's going on with North Korea. I told the president, you're going to get the Nobel Peace Prize. My proudest moment is when you tell him to shove it. Sorry. HANNITY: By the way, no, no, no, this is cable. You're -- we're good here. You said about -- let's talk about the leak questions. You know, I mean, I have them here in front of me. What are your thoughts? What did you think about Comey? What did you think about Sessions? GIULIANI: Comey should be prosecuted for leaking confidential FBI information when he leaked his report intended to develop a special prosecutor for the president of the United States. I have never, ever turned over a document -- you know me, Sean, you know me when I was U.S. attorney, a lot of allegations -- HANNITY: Took down the mob. GIULIANI: -- never leaked a thing. I would have considered resigning if I ever did that, or if one of my assistant stated. Did the FBI leak? Did the SEC leak? I'm sorry, guys, you did. HANNITY: Let me ask you this. There are so many lawyers that I respect, that you know and respect -- Alan Dershowitz, Joe diGenova, these are heavy hitters. Our own Gregg Jarrett -- GIULIANI: All my friends. HANNITY: The president should never spend a minute -- you said it would be narrow and focused today, and you said no more than two or three hours. Do you believe Robert Mueller is setting a perjury trap for Donald Trump? GIULIANI: Well, I have to remain, and Jay and our team has to remain open- minded about this because even though you and I see a clear avenue to quickly resolving this for the American people, we may, and we know that our president -- we know that our president will seek a resolution that gives him a clear path to getting it resolved. So, I would -- I would say right now, the odds are, he wouldn't be interviewed. I don't close my mind to it. HANNITY: I -- when we are talking about -- I mean, this is really important, because we are talking about a subpoena. And the subpoena, that means that the president of the United States -- I always said they should have the Hillary standard, at the Hillary standard is really simple. Not under oath, not -- (LAUGHTER) HANNITY: Well, wait a minute. And you have a guy who hates Hillary and loves Donald Trump during the interview. That would be the Hillary standard. That's not going to happen with Robert Mueller. GIULIANI: We're not going to get that. Could we accept something less than that? Yes. Could we accept a situation in which they are telling us basically we believe Comey, who is now a pathological liar, as opposed to Donald Trump? The answer to that is no. HANNITY: All right. I have been probably the most outspoken, loudest critic in the country besides the president, about Robert Mueller, and a team of Democratic donors, no Republicans. People say, well, he's a Republican and he's a veteran -- OK, I applaud him for serving his country. I mean that. Andrew Weissmann, tens of thousands of people lost their job at Enron, tens of thousands, a 9-0 decision against Andrew Weissmann. Who gets 9-0? Four Merrill executives in jail for a year, overturned by Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and he was excoriated twice for withholding exculpatory evidence. That appointment alone, sir, tells me that this is a biased team. GIULIANI: Let me give you two different views of Bob. What do I know of Bob that I could testify to under oath? A patriot, an extraordinarily good man. HANNITY: He served his country. GIULIANI: He served his country. Did a good job with the FBI. I don't think he would be affected by malice or prejudice. However, I don't have an explanation for the people that he hired, not all of them. I've dealt with him very briefly. I think they are processional. HANNITY: Weissmann? GIULIANI: I did not deal with Weissmann much, Quarles, very good man. HANNITY: Are you disturbed by his record? GIULIANI: Yes, but, you know, he'd probably be disturbed by mine, too. I have an open mind about Bob. I don't about Comey. I closed my mind about Comey. I know Comey much better. I have the indignity of unfortunately of having hired him for his first big job. I'm embarrassed that I hired him. HANNITY: Let me go to a tweet by the president. This is -- he tweeted about John Dowd. This isn't some game. You're screwing with the work of the president of the United States of America. John Dowd, 2018. North Korea, China, the Middle East, so much. Mr. Mayor, it's been going on, how many congressional investigations? This has been going on now almost a full year. There's no evidence of Trump- Russia collusion. How did we end up from there to Stormy Daniels? GIULIANI: Because this is -- I think this is being done behind Mueller's back in a sense because they come to him with all kinds -- HANNITY: He doesn't read a newspaper? GIULIANI: Yes, self-serving statements. This has become a witch hunt like the president said. And if you look at the questions that are being asked, they are trap questions. A first year prosecutor would do better than that. So, he's in very good hands now. I don't just mean me. I mean Jay and the whole team. And Ty gets a great deal of credit for all this, because he orchestrated it. I'm looking forward to working with Emmet, who handled the Clinton situation -- HANNITY: Very well respected attorney. GIULIANI: And then Bush, and then Bush. So, this is not a political guy. HANNITY: He said, if their objective meaning Mueller and his team, more likely will be willing to cooperate, less objective than we would be foolish to do that, you said. You also said there would be a decision in just a couple of weeks. GIULIANI: Well, I can't imagine it would take much longer. It's coming to a head right now, and there's not much more to think about. If they can -- if they can -- if they can get us in to a position where we can recommend to the president -- you know President Trump. HANNITY: Of course. GIULIANI: You know he wants to be interviewed, right? HANNITY: Yes, I do. GIULIANI: If he doesn't, it's going to be because Jay and I and -- HANNITY: Others say no. GIULIANI: And the Raskins and we would stand up there and say, you -- look, we are lawyers, you got to listen to us, Mr. President. I think, I think I'm there because I'm his friend. HANNITY: Well, I think your background as an attorney, all the years and mayor -- the president -- I agree with the president's statement. And I have been very open in this and saying this, that this is a setup, that this is a subpoena, this is a perjury trap. And let's walk through what if they issue a subpoena? What if they tell -- if he's decided not to talk, they sent him before a grand jury because it becomes tricky, as Alan Dershowitz has described on this show. If the president pleads the Fifth, which he doesn't want to do, he said he doesn't want to do, then they give him immunity, then what? GIULIANI: OK. So, let's look at that. I think Alan pointed this out last night on your show coming out in detail. If they issue a subpoena, that will be -- that will be unprecedented in the sense that it's pretty clear that a president can't be subpoenaed to a criminal proceeding about him. Now, why is that? And fortunately -- or maybe unfortunately -- we have the real life circumstance going on that the Founding Fathers thought about, which is a president cannot be distracted by a criminal investigation. You can always prosecute him after. They can get him when he leaves the White House. You can always prosecute him after. But we -- I could not -- if Mueller said to me tomorrow, bring him in, two hours, like you want, no questions that you don't want, we are pretty much ready to clear him. I could not go to the president and say, take two days off to get ready for that and screw the whole thing with North Korea. I -- how can any American do that? He's our president. He is going to negotiate, I believe, a nonnuclear situation on the Korean peninsula. HANNITY: Nobody thought about it. GIULIANI: All right. And you're going to interfere with that? That's why the Founding Fathers created this immunity from prosecution and subpoena. Now, if it's a civil case, Clinton submitted because it was a civil case. HANNITY: Why not written answers to or proffer? GIULIANI: Which Ronald Reagan did. HANNITY: Why not that? GIULIANI: Because they said no to that. Because they said no to that. HANNITY: So they want to then -- so the president says he'll do an interview and then they're going to what? GIULIANI: At this point, I'm not sure I'd give them written answers because they're going to try to contradict them. I believe I believe that attorney general sessions, my good friend, and Rosenstein, who I don't know, I believe they should come in the interest of justice, end this investigation. There's been too much government misconduct. The crimes now have all been committed by the government, and their agents, the lies by Comey. HANNITY: I'm going to go through this in a minute. Let me ask you -- GIULIANI: Oh, come on. It's terrible. HANNITY: What are the parameters that you would insist on for any interview with Mueller beyond two to three hours narrowing the scope? GIULIANI: Never beyond two or three hours. Not going to happen. I'm not going to have my client, my president, my friend, and a president that's achieved more in a year and a half against all odds that anyone had a right to expect -- I'm not going to let him be treated worse than Bill Clinton, who definitely was a liar under oath. Not going to let him be -- I mean, he's being treated much worse than Hillary Clinton, who had no right to any of that stuff. So, I'm not going to let him be treated worse than Hillary Clinton. I think Jay and I will insist that they will have to treat him the same way as Clinton. Two and half hours, we end, we walk out, give us your questions in advance. He's ready to -- (LAUGHTER) HANNITY: I know him. I've interviewed him. GIULIANI: He's ready to go. HANNITY: I've interviewed him before he ran. GIULIANI: And I -- you know, if we weren't careful lawyers, we would just let him go. I mean, he's about -- I remember the debates that I prepared him for in part with Chris Christie, Kellyanne Conway -- HANNITY: There's a real story behind that, I bet. GIULIANI: Oh wow. But did he execute? HANNITY: He did. GIULIANI: I saw you after every debate. HANNITY: You did. GIULIANI: And he got better and better. HANNITY: You know, I -- I've got to now talk about something that I never thought I'd talk about -- this is going to be a long-winded lead up to a question. I've been pointing out in this program, 18 USC 793, mishandling classified information, the Espionage Act, destroying it. By the way, it would apply to a lot of people. I've talked about if I was subpoenaed, from all my emails, and I deleted 33,000, and then I acid washed my hard drive, nobody heard of Bleach Bit until Hillary Clinton, and Bleach Bit, and then had an aide bust up all my devices, like she had happened -- I never heard of an exoneration being written in May before you interview 17 key witnesses in the main person, Hillary Clinton, in July, the person that does the interview hates the opponent of Hillary Clinton. Then they exonerate her for I believe obvious felonies. GIULIANI: Right. HANNITY: Then they talk about Russia collusion, Hillary Clinton and the DNC funneled money through a law firm, Perkins Coie, and unbelievable to me, a foreign national who heard wasn't supposed to be involved in our elections, Christopher Steele, gets Russian sources. The FBI never verifies it, they presented to a FISA court to spy on American citizens, a Trump campaign associate weeks before an election. They never verified, they never corroborated, and they never told those judge in the original application, three subsequent applications that Hillary paid for it and they never verified it. Mr. Mayor, were lost broken? Let's start with Hillary. Did she-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: Yes. I've been on, look, we go back three years with this, Sean, when I produce my chart. HANNITY: I remember. GIULIANI: Thirteen crimes she committed. HANNITY: Yes. GIULIANI: Then we got up to about 18. I'm sorry, Hillary, I know you're very disappointed you didn't win. But you're a criminal. Equal justice would mean you should go to jail. I do not know why the Justice Department is not investigating here. HANNITY: The James Comey? (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: James Comey fixed the whole case. HANNITY: It was rigged. GIULIANI: Well, you can't read that stupid report that he wrote which is the beginning of his destruction in which he said we're not going to prosecute -- no reasonable prosecutor would indict her. No honest reasonable prosecutor would indict her. HANNITY: He said today or yesterday, Comey, he said, Hillary deeply respects the rule of law, Comey said that. GIULIANI: Wow. This is a very perverted man. I feel so sorry. HANNITY: Do we have a two tier justice system in America? GIULIANI: Yes, we have one for Hillary and all of those Democrats, Bill Clinton. HANNITY: Is equal justice under the law at risk? GIULIANI: You and I have talked about this, I am very afraid, not just for our president, but for our country, there's going to be a witch hunt against Republicans. You had a man on who's lost all his money, for what reason, he didn't do anything wrong. The president of the United States didn't do anything wrong. We are lucky that we have a president who can focus, in a way it almost hurts him because they feel they can do anything to him and he's going to remain focused on North Korea, Iran, what do we with China, how do we help Israel, what do we do about taxes? HANNITY: The economy has an incredible story the media never focuses on. I actually had to write this down. If we have the Hillary standard, the interview would never be under oath, it would never be recorded, never be transcribed, and by the way-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: And all the witnesses that are favor with whom would be in the room, immunized. Jared would be immunized, Cohen would be immunized-- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: We write the exoneration before the interview then we would agree to destroying incriminating evidence, like they did in the case of Cheryl Mills and Hillary, and either you or Rush Limbaugh would do the interview. GIULIANI: Rush and I would not object. HANNITY: Or Mark Levin. GIULIANI: Mark Levin. HANNITY: Yes. There is a political report today basically suggesting Mueller would now consider Ivanka Trump a target. Look at Hope Hicks as one example. GIULIANI: Come on. HANNITY: She paid more in lawyers than she was ever paid. GIULIANI: Hope is, I wish the American people could get to know her. Hope is one of the nicest human beings you're ever going to meet. Yes, she is very loyal to Donald Trump. But I think the president would say this, she could stand up to him when she had to. What they did to her is outrageous. Absolutely outrageous. Ivanka Trump? I would -- I think I would get on my charger and go right into the writer's room with a lance if go after Ivanka. HANNITY: At this point, sir, I honestly agree with you I fear for the country. Let me go to-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: Now if they do to Ivanka, which I doubt they will, the whole country will turn on them. They are going after his daughter? HANNITY: What about his son-in-law, they talked about him. GIULIANI: I guess Jared is a fine man, you know that. But men are, you know, disposable. But a fine woman like Ivanka? Come on. HANNITY: Andrew -- let's go through the different issues that we have brought up and spoke about almost exclusively on this show. For example, you mentioned Hillary Clinton, she obviously committed felonies, we know what they are, you've identified them. I believe as you do, James Comey rigged that. Comey, look at Peter Strzok and Page. They hate the president, they hated the candidate, they talk about an insurance policy. All -- Andrew McCabe lying under oath, James Comey leaking for the purpose of getting a special counsel. GIULIANI: Also Comey and McCabe contradicting each other. One of them has to be lying. I mean, I actually think Comey is lying. I think Comey is a big liar than McCabe. McCabe isn't a situational liar. He's a much big liar. So, if this were equal system of justice, they would all be prosecuted. HANNITY: Let me ask you because-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: It's my biggest regret, I'm sorry I have to say this-- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: You were offered the job. GIULIANI: Yes. It's my biggest regret in not having taken that job. I wanted to be secretary-- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: My biggest regret and I like Jeff Sessions, but he never should have recused himself. GIULIANI: Well, he never should have appointed Rosenstein. HANNITY: I've never heard of somebody being appointed or confirmed and recuse the next day. GIULIANI: Do you know that Rosenstein was with Mueller the night or the day he was interviewed by President Trump to be FBI director? Worked out, knew that he was turned down and then appointed in the next day? There are- - (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Did you know Rod Rosenstein, apparently, according to reports that we have on this program, signed off on one of the FISA extensions? The one with the unverified dossier, the bulk of information as the Grassley- Graham memo said? That he personally signed off, does that not conflict him out of all of this? GIULIANI: How about he's also a witness to critical information. For a Justice Department that pontificates -- I told you. The only crimes committed here are by the government. HANNITY: Let me ask about them. Andrew McCabe said without the dossier, there would've been a FISA application. I would ask you, doesn't the FBI according to FISA a lawyer very familiar with, an FBI protocol mandate that they verify, corroborate what they present to a FISA judge, isn't that mandatory? Wouldn't it be mandatory to identify that the dossier was created by an opposition party candidate and not as a political asterisk? GIULIANI: Absolutely. HANNITY: Is that a crime? GIULIANI: Yes. Yes, obstruction of justice. Invasion of people's privacy on no basis at all. It's a civil rights violation. HANNITY: Unreasonable search and seizure. GIULIANI: Yes, civil rights violation. If they searched you or me based on that we would sue them for civil right violation. This is a Justice Department completely unhinged and out of control. It breaks my heart, Sean. I devoted most of my life at the Justice Department. I work for great attorney -- attorneys general. My friend Michael Mukasey was one of the greatest. And I watch it with great admiration-- HANNITY: Your partner. GIULIANI: My partner. Great admiration for Michael. To watch this happen under a man that I love, Jeff Sessions, I just feel bad. I know the president is heartbroken over this, it isn't that he's angry, he's heartbroken. He never expected this from Jeff. The two of them can redeem themselves, Sessions and Rosenstein. They should order the investigation over. HANNITY: I don't think that's going to happen. GIULIANI: Well, I don't think it's going to happen either but if they understood Justice Jackson's admonition to prosecute this that I always live by, which we're not supposed to get convictions, we're supposed to do justice. HANNITY: Let me stay focused on this FISA issue for just a second. Because Rod Rosenstein after they had subpoenaed the documents went into Paul Ryan's office begging him not to release it. We never would've had the Nunes memo or the Grassley-Graham memo that said the bulk of the application was that the dossier Hillary paid for. So my question is this. Not only that, there were three subsequent renewals with the same false information, the same lying by omission, if you will, by not telling the FISA judges that it was -- that Hillary paid for it. HANNITY: If I stand up in court at some point in the next three or four months where I really like to be and I recite these facts, I think the judges are going to look at me and say I don't believe that's true. How could the Justice Department have gone so far away from the fair and honest administration of justice under decent people? But I think the pressure on them was so great, they just caved in. And I -- once again I say, there is one way to redeem themselves, get control of this -- remember Senator Stevens case? HANNITY: Sure. Yes. He lost an election, and then the judge overturned at all because they withheld exculpatory evidence. GIULIANI: Because of government misconduct. HANNITY: That's correct. GIULIANI: Well, there's been more government misconduct in this case than there has been conduct. HANNITY: Are you concerned, this was supposed to be about the Trump campaign Russia collusion. GIULIANI: Gone. HANNITY: It's gone. OK. It never happened. GIULIANI: He's been cleared of that. HANNITY: So my question is, are you concerned in the process of this we did discover that a foreign national, Christopher Steele was paid through Fusion GPS, used Russian sources that not only weren't verified, were debunked -- are you concerned that was paid for, to manipulate the American people in the lead up to an election? GIULIANI: Isn't that closer to the mandate than Michael Cohen? (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Why isn't that -- where is Mueller on that, sir? GIULIANI: Having something to do with paying some Stormy Daniels woman $130,000, I mean, which is going to turn out to be perfectly legal. That money was not campaign money, sorry, I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know. It's not campaign money. No campaign finance violation. So-- HANNITY: They funneled it through a law firm. GIULIANI: Funneled it through a law firm and the president repaid it. HANNITY: I didn't know he did? GIULIANI: Yes. GIULIANI: Zero. HANNITY: So the president-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: Just like every, Sean-- HANNITY: So this decision was made by-- GIULIANI: Sean, everybody everybody was nervous about this from the very beginning. I wasn't. I knew how much money Donald Trump put in to that campaign. I said $130,000. You're going to do a couple of checks for 130,000. When I heard Cohen's retainer of $35,000 when he was doing no work for the president, I said that's how he's repaying -- that's how he's repaying it with a little profit and a little margin for paying taxes for Michael. HANNITY: But do you know the president didn't know about this? I believe that's what Michael said. GIULIANI: He didn't know about the specifics of it as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this. Like, I take care of things like this for my clients. I don't burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people. HANNITY: What did you think of the raid on his office? GIULIANI: One of the reasons we would hesitate to cooperate any further, and I think this is the breakdown with Dowd during -- during back in January that took them by surprise, that's beyond anything -- that is an outrageous violation of attorney-client privilege beyond Donald Trump's attorney-client privilege. A lot of innocent people. HANNITY: I gave him 10 bucks or 20 bucks. GIULIANI: How about innocent people like-- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: All right. We got to continue. GIULIANI: We called you that night? HANNITY: I'll talk to you about that. We'll get back more with the mayor of the president's attorney next, straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) HANNITY: All right. As we continue our exclusive interview with President Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani. I want to report to the American people the truth. And when I talk about a rigged investigation on Hillary, and I talk about the crimes that she committed and I interviewed you and other great attorneys. And I talked about FISA abuses and the FISA judge and a two-tiered justice system, equal justice under the law, have I been wrong at all? Tell me, I would love to tell the American people. GIULIANI: You are right way back in, I don't know, was it 2015 when we first started focusing on that big chart that I made, I still have it on my cell phone. HANNITY: I'll bring it up tomorrow. GIULIANI: And they are still not investigated. No, you're not wrong. HANNITY: But Russia collusion what was wrong with Donald Trump. GIULIANI: Russian collusion is a total fake news. Unfortunately, it has become the basis of the investigation. Mueller owes us a report saying that Russia collusion means nothing, it didn't happen. That means the whole investigation was totally unnecessary. All the rest of it that came out of it, whether it's the personal or the political things. None of it is relevant. Meanwhile, the man is trying to deal with North Korea, come on. HANNITY: Denuclearization of the Korean-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: Right. And they want me to go to him and say let's take two weeks off to get you ready for a deposition that never should takes place in the first place? HANNITY: I think this has gotten personal for those that are after the president. GIULIANI: Of course it has, yes. Of course, it's totally personal. Look at that -- look at the whole press corps. Look at the correspondent's dinner on Saturday night. HANNITY: All right. This was a short segment, we got to take a break -- it was horrible. Going after Sarah Huckabee-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: Abortion applauding -- applauding-- HANNITY: -- Kellyanne. GIULIANI: -- slaughtering embryos" HANNITY: More with Rudy Giuliani. A longer segment, I promise that, straight ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) HANNITY: As we continue with President Trump's attorney former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, I want to clarify something because I was asking you about Perkins Coie and you said the money was not campaign money -- I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know, it's not campaign money, no campaign violation and I said because they funneled through a law firm. I think we were talking about two different things there. I want to make sure-- GIULIANI: Sure. I was talking about the $130,000 payment. HANNITY: Right. GIULIANI: A settlement payment which is a very regular thing for lawyers to do. The question there was, the only possible violation there would be wasn't a campaign finance violation, which usually results in a fine by the way, not this big storm troopers coming in and breaking down his apartment and breaking down his office. That was money that was paid by his lawyer, the way I would do out of his law firm funds or whatever funds, it doesn't matter. The president reimbursed that over a period of several months. HANNITY: But he had said he didn't, I distinctly remember that he did it on his own-- GIULIANI: He did. HANNITY: -- without asking. GIULIANI: Look, I don't know, I haven't investigated that, no reason to dispute that, no reason to dispute my recollection. I like Michael a lot, you like Michael a lot. HANNITY: A long time. GIULIANI: I feel very bad he's been victimized like this. The president feels even worse. The fact is, just trust me, they're going to come up with no violations there. HANNITY: All right. You mean, the payment-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: Yes, payments are perfectly legal. HANNITY: Let me go back to the main crux-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: All documented. HANNITY: Let me go back to the main crux, and the crux is that we have a two-tiered justice system. The president is right when he says witch hunt? GIULIANI: Yes. Sure. You can't explain this any other way. First of all, there never should have been an investigation. There was no Russian collusion. We're now a year and a half, two years into this, no Russian collusion, case over. And falling all over themselves to investigate him, they have committed numerous violations including lies which are criminal, deception, outrageous search warrants like the one on Cohen. How about we go back to Manafort, breaking into his house? HANNITY: In 2005-- (CROSSTALK) GIULIANI: What is he, what is he, a drug dealer? I remember there was a phrase he wasn't a -- he wasn't violent criminal-- (CROSSTALK) HANNITY: Where does this end, sir? I-- GIULIANI: What they did to Manafort, I used to do to the mafia not-- HANNITY: Drug dealers, mafia members. HANNITY: And killers. HANNITY: How was this -- how do you see this ending? And you talk to Mueller. GIULIANI: You know, they're going to write a report, they can't indict him, I don't believe they can subpoena him. They are going to have to write a report, if we don't be interviewed or if we do get interviewed, they'll write the report based on the interview. They won't write it before by Hillary guy, because he's not a special person, he's been entrusted with the safety of the world. HANNITY: Is this election in 2018 going to be a referendum on Donald Trump? GIULIANI: Yes. We're going to go to the American people and say the following. HANNITY: Real quick. GIULIANI: You want to vote for impeachment? You want to impeach the president? They're not going to -- you want to have Nancy Pelosi running the House of Representatives? Forget it. HANNITY: Mr. Mayor, thank you for being with us. GIULIANI: Sean-- HANNITY: Always good to see you. GIULIANI: -- you're a patriot. HANNITY: Thank you, sir. When we come back, more Hannity after the break. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) HANNITY: All right. That's all the time we have left this evening. Now tomorrow night we'll have full complete analysis, reaction to our copes of interview tonight. We hope you tune in, the great one, Mark Levin among out many guests. Remember, this show will always be fair and balanced. We are not the destroyed Trump media. We hope you'll set your DVR and don't forget us on Instagram, and on Twitter at Sean Hannity and we have a lot to talk about tomorrow. Let not your heart be troubled. The news continues here on Fox. Copy: Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 ASC Services II Media, LLC. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of ASC Services II Media, LLC. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. President Trump is fond of calling out the media on fake news. But is he the one giving them very real ammunition? Maybe not intentionally. I'll even give you the benefit of the doubt, Mr. President, and say, maybe not deliberately. But consistently. Way too consistently. Let me be real clear, Mr. President. How can you drain the swamp if you're the one who keeps muddying the waters? You didn't know about that 130,000-dollar payment to a porn star, until you did. Said you knew nothing about how your former lawyer Michael Cohen handled this, until acknowledging today you were the guy behind the retainer payment that took care of this. You insist that money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in this transaction. Of that you're sure. Thing is, not even 24 hours ago, you couldn't recall any of this, and you seemed very sure. I'm not saying you're a liar, I'm just having a devil of a time figuring out which news is fake. Let's just say your own words on lots of stuff give me, shall I say, lots of pause. Like the time you said the Russians didn't interfere in the 2016 election, until a lot of Republicans had to remind you, they did. Came back months later and said you never said Russia didn't meddle in the election, when in fact, you had, a lot. None of this makes me a never-Trumper, just always confused. Like when you claimed your tax plan was the biggest in U.S. history, when it wasn't. Or that the bill you signed to make it happen would cost you a fortune, when it turns out it's going to help make you a bigger fortune. Or that your job approval numbers aren't really that bad relative to other presidents at this stage, when they're actually worse than most presidents at this stage. That can change. But what's weird is this pattern does not. Like the time you said rumors of Rex Tillerson's departure at the State Department were false, until they weren't. Or that your former chief of staff Reince Preibus wasn't going anywhere, until he was. Or your economic adviser Gary Cohn was doing a great job, until he wasn't. When you absolutely loved Steve Bannon, until you didn't. Swore by Jeff Sessions until you started swearing at Jeff Sessions. Had your legal team locked in place, until it wasn't. Denied reports you were ever thinking about firing Robert Mueller, Even as you threaten getting involved at the Department of Justice. None of this makes you evil. But I'm sure you can understand why even your friends say these inconsistencies don't make you look good. Or do anything to help advance your policies, many of which are very good. Or the prospects for peace with North Korea, remarkably good. All this stuff you blurt out? Remarkably bad, and remarkably bad timing. It's not that these exaggerations and omissions and misstatements are now-and-then, more like now-and-then something else. Always something else. Like the time you claimed you signed more bills than any president ever, neglecting to mention the four other presidents: FDR, Truman, Carter and Clinton, who all signed more. Or bragged about the national debt going down by 12 billion dollars after your first month in office, even though it's soared by nearly a trillion bucks, now that you're 15 months in office. But it's not what you're omitting, Mr. President, it's what you keep stating. And never correcting. Like when you said there was serious voter fraud in New Hampshire, and there wasn't. Said the same about repeated claims of voter fraud in Virginia, and there weren't. Or that millions of illegals voted in the last election, but they didn't. Or the time you talked up your massive landslide in the Electoral College, even though three out of four presidents before you had bigger electoral vote landslides in their elections. Again, none of this makes what you say fake. Just calling out the press for being so, is a bit of a stretch. You're right to say some of them are out to get you. But oftentimes they're using your own words to bash you. Your base might not care, but you should. I guess you've been too busy draining the swamp to ever stop and smell the stink you're creating. That's your doing. That's your stink. Mister President, that's your swamp. An American Airlines passenger from New Hampshire says she received a nasty text message from someone in the customer service department after inquiring about a baggage issue but American has since said they cannot substantiate any of her claims. Marla Margolis, a practicing attorney, and her family had flown with American Airlines from Boston to Miami, where she planned to celebrate her sons bar mitzvah with a cruise. But upon arriving in Miami, the group realized they had left a garment bag on the plane containing her son's suit and her daughter's dress. She said she called the American Airlines customer service hotline to see if the plane was still at the airport, only to be told to file a complaint online. UNITED AIRLINES BANNING 25 BREEDS OF DOGS AND CATS FROM CARGO HOLD All I needed to do was to talk to a human being at the airport. I didnt need to file something and find out 48 hours later if it was found, Margolis told WCVB. Margolis reportedly found Americans customer service representative less than helpful, and admitted to saying a not nice thing to him right before she hung up. Thats when she claims she got an unsettling text from someone she believed to be the rep or his buddy sitting next to him in the customer service area, she said to Fox News. I will put my foot up your a-- you f------ wh---, read the message Margolis said she received. Margolis tried calling the number that sent her the text, but it went to an automated voicemail, so she informed American Airlines of the incident. The company reportedly launched an investigation. Days later, however, Margolis received a follow-up text from the same number, in which the sender asked, Are you enjoying my foot up your a--? This was simply beyond the pale, Margolis told Fox News. I was beyond livid. It's one thing to have a lousy customer service experience and have it end with the disconnection of the call. It's quite another for a call center rep to have taken the following steps to send me this message. PARKLAND VICTIM'S MOM GETS BREAK ON SHOCKING BILL FOR CHARTER FLIGHT American Airlines has confirmed to Fox News that the company launched an investigation into the text, but claims the number is not associated with American Airlines or the representative Ms. Margolis spoke with. We take these allegations seriously and immediately launched an investigation. Our team conducted an investigation, which included speaking to a representative in Phoenix, Ariz., and a senior agent based in our Raleigh/Durham, N.C. office, said an American Airlines representative in a statement. Our team also traced the phone number where the text message originated, which comes back to a phone number not associated with American Airlines or the representative Ms. Margolis spoke with in North Carolina. Our research also shows that these representatives were immediately on other calls after Ms. Margolis disconnected her call with American. American researched these allegations, and we are unable to substantiate any of the claims made by Ms. Margolis. We recommend she file a police report in order for law enforcement to potentially continue their investigation into the phone number which was used to send her those text messages. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Margolis, meanwhile, says she isnt happy with how the incident was handled, and commented that American is taking no accountability. "Note that I never asked for any compensation of any kind or threatened any type of legal action," she said to Fox News. "No accountability, that is the bottom line of this story." "All I know is 'I'm sorry' is not hard to say," she added. Margolis has followed up with New Hampshire police to try to get to the bottom of the text. Its a bird, its a plane, its JetBlue flying over California with a pizza? In what could be the most delicious marketing stunt of all time dubbed Pie in the Sky the airline is traveling cross-country to deliver Los Angeles-dwellers authentic New York-style slices courtesy of the ever-iconic Patsys Pizzeria. From May 9 through May 11, JetBlue will fly 350 cheese ($12) and pepperoni ($15) pies from JFK to LAX each day. People on the ground will deliver to select areas in LA, right to your door. Ordering opens at 12 a.m. PDT daily on www.jetblue.pizza. Award-winning director and producer Spike Lee is involved in the promotion. When he was just a child, the Atlanta native and his family moved to Brooklyn, where he grew up eating pizza in the boroughs Cobble Hill neighborhood. My mother would give me a quarter for lunch every day, the 61-year-old told Metro. It was 15 cents for a slice and a dime for a Coke. Every day, I would have a slice of pizza and a cup of Coke, in a paper cup, for a quarter. In a release, Lee called pizza an institution and culture that has become one of the symbols of the citys identity. And Patsys which opened in East Harlem in 1933 is one of the citys oldest coal-oven pizzerias, and maybe even the first place to sell pie by the slice, according to Boston.com. Frank Sinatra is even rumored to have frequented the place. Original owner and pizza maker Pasquale Patsy Lancieri died in the 1970s, and his widow sold the place to veteran employees. Her nephew, Patsy Grimaldi, had just opened another Patsys location in Brooklyn one year prior. Following a name dispute between the Grimaldi and East Harlem Patsys business partners (who opened more Patsys pizzerias in Manhattan years later), he changed his restaurants name to Grimaldis, The New York Times reports. A barn on a Connecticut property where a man had allegedly held his wife hostage for several days exploded Wednesday night, sparking a fire that spread to the couple's house and left at least eight police officers injured, according to reports. The woman, whom authorities say was severely beaten, managed to escape the Wallingford, Conn., house and notify police around 2:30 p.m. -- about six hours before the explosion happened, the Hartford Courant reported. Her medical condition was not immediately known, nor was the fate of her husband, who may have been inside the barn when it exploded, the newspaper reported early Thursday. "This started late this afternoon with what was apparently a very violent domestic call, North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda told FOX61. The police were trying to coax him out of the house and really try to calm the situation down. Then things took a turn for the worse with an explosion. He said the officers, who suffered non-life-threatening injuries, were taken to Yale New Haven Hospital, but their exact conditions werent immediately known, the station reported. It was not immediately known if any children were in the home or barn, Freda said. After police arrived at the scene, neighbors heard them trying to coax the man out, reports said. After the explosion, firefighters were still working more than an hour later to get the flames under control. State police said they were assisting in the investigation. Other, smaller explosions followed the first blast, FOX61 reported. I felt my house shake. It felt like a bomb went off in my attic, David DiMartino, who lives nearby, told the New Haven Register. I felt my house shake. It felt like a bomb went off in my attic. David DiMartino, who lives near the explosion site The blaze was still burning early Thursday, fire officials said, adding that power was out in the neighborhood and a local firehouse had been set up as a refuge for affected residents. Freda said authorities suspect the property's barn was "rigged to explode," the Hartford Courant reported. It sounds almost like it was a booby trap type of explosion, Freda said. Based on the way the explosions took place, from what police told me, there was a series of explosions, which may indicate some sort of rigged booby traps. North Haven resident Joan Mazurek, 76, a retired accountant, heard what she thought was a train at her home about a mile away from the scene -- only, it was the explosion. Then we heard all the, oh my God, all the ambulances and fire engines. The noise from all the emergency vehicles was unbelievable, she said. Its a shock. Nothing ever happens like this in North Haven. North Haven is located just outside New Haven, home to Yale University, around 27 miles south of Hartford. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Is she ready for her career in Michigan paw enforcement? A female cat which joined the Troy police department in April has officially been named Pawfficer Badges, authorities said Tuesday on Facebook and Twitter. Earlier this week, police tweeted a poll where users could vote on a name for the feline. The kitty will be used for therapeutic purposes and make public appearances. Another job, according to cops? Keeping an eye on the K9 unit. VIRAL FACEBOOK POST SHOWS TEXAS POLICE OFFICER POSING WITH DOG AFTER RESPONDING TO CALL OF 'VICIOUS' ANIMAL A Troy officer who has two cats at home will be getting the new four-legged partner. The cat will start her job on May 11, Sgt. Meghan Lehman told the Detroit Free Press via Twitter message. "She will be officially appointed to her position by Judge Hartig and Judge McGinnis of 52-4 District Court (our local court)," Lehman said. "We thank everyone that has supported this initiative, and look forward to getting the cat involved in many community outreach projects in the future." The department added the cat to its ranks in April after auditioning five felines from the Michigan Humane Society, the newspaper reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The neighbor of a slain Pennsylvania couple who was considered a person of interest in their murders has been found dead of a possible drug overdose, police announced late Wednesday. Daniel Kenneth Mooney, 26, was sought by police for questioning in the double murder of his neighbors Tyler and Christine Roy, 27 and 28, respectively. The Roys' bodies were discovered by a painter while he was doing work on their Northampton Township home early Tuesday, police said. BODYCAM FOOTAGE FROM VEGAS MASSACRE RELEASED Authorities in Bucks County said Mooney allegedly stole the couples SUV, which was recovered in Northeast Philadelphia. Police said it didn't appear he had any prior relationship with the Roys. Police said during a news conference late Wednesday that the Roys were both stabbed multiple times and also shot. They said they believed Mooney commited the crime but have continued to investigate the crime scene. Northampton Police Chief Michael Clark told Fox 29 there was no sign of forced entry. They seemed to be a nice young couple that just happened to be unfortunate victims in this case, Clark said. The husband and wife moved into the home in 2016, the same year they married. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The DNA sleuthing from a genealogy website that helped authorities catch the infamous Golden State Killer last month may now be used to track down another elusive California criminal: the Zodiac Killer. Joseph James DeAngelo, who authorities suspect is responsible for at least a dozen murders and 50 rapes in the 1970s and 80s, was arrested more than three decades after the last killing with the help of information from an online genealogical site. Investigators haven't disclosed many key elements in the steps they took to find the 72-year-old suspect, but the same type work could find the Zodiac Killer, who terrorized Northern California from December 1968 to October 1969, experts say. "It is possible," Pam Hofsass, a former San Francisco homicide detective who worked on the Zodiac case and now runs the forensic lab for the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office, told the Sacramento Bee. "It's totally worth looking at, and I hope with all of the news and revelations about the Golden State Killer that it will kind of be the impetus for the Zodiac." GOLDEN STATE KILLER EYED IN 1978 MURDERS OF WOMAN AND HER 4-YEAR-OLD SON: POLICE During the Zodiac's violent killing spree, seven people were attacked, five of whom died, in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa and San Francisco. The Zodiac claimed many more killings through letters sent to media and law enforcement during that time. Forensics experts have previously tried running a partial DNA sample from the surface of a stamp of a Zodiac letter with the DNA profiles of three men who were rumored suspects, but they were unable to find a match, according to the Bee. Retired Vallejo Police Lt. Jim Jaksch, who investigated the Zodiac murders, told FOX40 that evidence collected at the time of the Zodiac killings may not be as conclusive as what led authorities to the suspected serial killer last week. "The problem with the Zodiac case is there's not a clean genetic sample. I found that much of it was not packaged correctly," he said. "It was packaged correctly for the time, but not for current standards. A lot of evidence we have is deteriorated." DNA LINK TO GOLDEN STATE KILLER RAISES QUESTIONS OF PRIVACY VERSUS SAFETY But for Tom Voigt, who runs the website zodiackiller.com, a DNA sample taken from saliva that might be on one of those envelopes may be able to provide authorities with what they need to find the killer. "I think Zodiac was definitely licking his own stamps and envelopes," he told the Sac Bee. "You just need to get the evidence, get it to the lab. Just copy what was done with the Golden State Killer." The salacious nickname thrust on Amanda Knox by tabloids covering her notorious 2007 murder trial haunts her still -- more than a decade after she began "living a double life" as accused sex-game killer "Foxy Knoxy." Knox, 30, whose conviction in the death of her roomate, Meredith Kercher, was overturned on appeal in October 2011, slammed the media for villainizing and objectifying her during her highly publicized trial in Italy. I could have been the kinkiest person in the world it, and it shouldnt mattered because it has nothing to do with the evidence of the case, Knox told Newsweek. The fact that I was accused of orchestrating a rape game it was so absurd. Knox said shes speaking out to prevent other women from enduring the same scrutiny she faced while accused of Kerchers death and during her four years in Italian prison. She returned to the United States after the 2011 ruling that freed her, but she was sentenced in absentia to prison again in 2014 until Italys highest court overturned that decision in 2015, ending the possibility of future trials. But years later, Knoxs nickname continues to follow her. "It's almost like living a double life where I'm in a limbo space where Amanda Knox, a real person exists, 'Foxy Knoxy,' an idea of a person exists, and I'm constantly having to juggle how someone is interacting with me based upon that two-dimensional person of me that has been in the public's imagination for so long. And I'm not alone in that," Knox told ABCs Good Morning America. She added: "As soon as you've been labeled something, as soon as you've been given that catchy, salacious nickname, the real you is gone and you are absorbed into this template character." The exoneree-turned-activist will be appearing in The Scarlet Letter Reports, a Facebook video series where she interviews stars such as Amber Rose and Mischa Barton about being demonized by the media. In a move described as an effort to reflect the citys predominantly black community, the Baltimore Museum of Art is selling works by white men, including Andy Warhol, to make room for paintings and other pieces by black and female artists. The effort veers significantly from the more typical practice by museums of selling artwork to finance buying pieces that are more valuable, conceded the museums director, Christopher Bedford. The chief goal by the museum is clearly to diversify its collection, Bedford said in a statement released last month after the Board of Trustees approved the plan. The BMA, like any civic museum, must undergo a continuous process of reviewing its collection and identifying areas for growth and refinement with the goal of building a collection that is more relevant to the community it serves, said Bedford. The sale of these works, identified by our curators after a very thorough process, will allow us to do just that, and strengthen our collection of contemporary art. Later, he told ArtNet that the museum was making a concerted effort to be multicultural, and wanted to state it explicitly and act on it with disciplinethere is no question that is an unusual and radical act to take. It is the latest in a recent trend among museums in response to criticism that they are too Euro-centric, both in their collections and the people they employ. Last year New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio rolled out a plan to tie funding for museums and non-profit arts organizations to the number of diverse employes and board members. This will be a factor in funding decisions by the city going forward, de Blasio said. We do this because we believe in fairness. The Speed Art Museum in Kentucky actually started using a spreadsheet to see in which areas the institution was too white or too male. The so-called board matrix breaks down departments and boards into race, age, gender and specialty, according to published reports. Patrick Potter, a member of the museums board, balked at the notion that a quota was being applied to the initiative, preferring to call it a function-tracking mechanism, not a quota, according to The New York Times. Museum officials note that the institution still will have plenty of other, even better, works by Warhol and Franz Kline. But critics of moves such as those of the Baltimore Museum of Art see the whole plan as tokenism, and a politicization of art. Im very concerned about the precedent theyre setting, said James Panero, executive editor of The New Criterion, a conservative art journal based in New York. Theyre trying to racialize a topic (art) that is meant to be and should be universal and doesnt deserve this kind of treatment. Those works speak to everybody, Panero told Fox News, adding that he holds such views even while not being a fan of Warhols, and being an admirer of Mark Bradford, an African American contemporary artist whose work the museum intends to acquire. A Bradford painting, Helter Skelter, recently sold in Los Angeles for $12 million. Panero said that the museums move to add works by minorities and women in an outreach effort is to a degree condescending to the very people it aims to impress. Its insulting to the people of Baltimore to say You cant relate to this artwork because the artist is white, Panero said, that they would not be able to relate to it the way that I can because of their race or gender. Panero stressed that setting out to interest a wider audience in going to museums is a noble objective, but that there are other, less politically-charged ways to do it. He is skeptical that simply expanding the number of works by minority and female artists will bring more minorities and women through the museums doors. The Baltimore museum trustees approved the acquisition of works by Bradford, Zanele Muholi, Trevor Paglen, John T. Scott, Sara VanDerBeek, and Jack Whitten. Paglen and VanDerBeek are white. A man who was caught on camera slashing artwork at a Colorado gallery last year was identified as the son of the painting's owner, police said last week. Nicholas Morley, 40, of Britain, was charged with criminal mischief after he was caught on surveillance footage at the Opera Gallery in Aspen twice slashing a Christopher Wool painting in May 2017, the Aspen Times reported. A motive in the case wasn't immediately clear. Morley flew from London to Denver under an assumed name the day before he was seen slashing the painting, the Aspen Times reported, citing police records. He flew back to London two days later. Morley allegedly walked into the gallery wearing black shades, a black hat, black jeans and a full beard, according to the newspaper. Aspen police said Morley used a knife or some sort of cutting object to slash the piece twice. A warrant for Morleys arrest was issued last week. He is the person charged with directly damaging this painting, Aspen prosecutor Don Nottingham said. Harold Morley told police that only a few people knew about his connection to the Wool painting named Untitled 2004 and that he and his son owned a company that bought and sold artwork out of Barbados, according to the Aspen Times. Morley reportedly changed his story later, telling detectives that his son wasnt a co-owner of the company. Harold Morley went as far as to tell authorities that neither he nor his son recognized the suspect that was pictured on surveillance footage, according to the newspaper. Morley also reportedly wrote a letter to the gallery asking it to refute the Aspen Times story about the slashing. "In the same vein the police investigation should be calmed down and they be quickly informed that Fallowfield [his company] are very relaxed about the whole affair since Wool is an appreciating asset and the repairs will be all but invisible," Harold Morley wrote in the letter. Nicholas Morley also sent a letter to the gallery, saying his fathers company wasnt going to hold them responsible over the slashing, according to the Aspen Times. "It would appear possible based on the video footage [and is our judgment] that this was an accident rather than malicious damage," he wrote, according to the affidavit. "[We] kindly suggest that Opera either A: issue a press release that the incident was in fact an accident, or B: issue no further press comments." Nicholas Morley denied being in the U.S. during the time of the painting slashing, Aspen Detective Ritchie Zah said. Authorities, however, say they tracked Morleys alleged whereabouts that week from his flight out of London, catching a connecting flight in Minneapolis to Denver and to the business card he allegedly used to rent a car and book a room at a hotel. Morley was ordered to be held on $50,000 cash-only bond when hes arrested, according to the Aspen Times. Three May Day protesters were arrested this week for allegedly setting fire to an American flag in a city park, police said. The three suspects reportedly branched off from a group of 15 protesters before dousing the flag with ignitable liquid, around 6:20 p.m., Charlotte Mecklenburg Police said. Authorities apprehended Landon Rice, 23; VanaMary Isaac, 26; and Dhruv Pathak, 24, the Charlotte Observer reported. While burning the American flag is considered protected free speech under the First Amendment, setting objects on fire in a city park is not legal, hence the protesters were arrested. Rice, Isaac, and Pathak face charges of carelessness with fire and injury to real property, police said. Court records cited by the Observer reveal that Rice and Pathak have been previously charged with minor offenses. Rice was reportedly charged with resisting arrest and impeding traffic. Pathak has been charged with impeding traffic, resisting arrest, second degree trespass, disorderly conduct and assault on a government official. May Day is internationally recognized as a day when activists protest the most pressing labor issues of their country. Many activists used the opportunity Tuesday to protest the Trump administrations policies on immigration. A Florida man, angry about the alleged theft of a pair of socks, attacked two other people with a ninja sword, police said. Pasco County sheriff deputies were called to a house in Hudson on Tuesday due to reports of an argument turning violent. Officials said 47-year-old Brandon McCray got into a fight with two people inside the home after he accused them of swiping his socks. At one point during the argument, McCray reportedly threatened the people in the home, saying he would be back and they would be sorry, WFLA reported. McCray left the home only to return with a ninja sword, which he swung at his roommate, 53-year-old Frank Smith. Authorities said Smith nearly lost several fingers trying to defend himself, FOX13 News reported. One woman in the house, identified as McCrays 43-year-old ex-girlfriend, suffered a large and significant cut on her leg, the arrest warrant stated. McCray left the home after the attack and was taken into custody when located at a neighbors home. He was charged with domestic aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and attempted murder. Both victims were taken to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point with non-life threatening injuries. The WC-130 plane that killed nine airmen when it slammed into the ground Wednesday in Georgia was manufactured in the late 1970s and reportedly being flown to retirement -- raising questions if the age of the aircraft was a factor in the crash. The nine airmen, all from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, were officially pronounced dead Thursday, hours after authorities combed through the wreckage. The airmen were identified Thursday as Maj. Jose R. Roman Rosado, Maj. Carlos Perez Serra, 1st Lt. David Albandoz, Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini, Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred, Master Sgt. Mario Brana, Master Sgt. Victor Colon, Master Sgt. Eric Circuns and Senior Airman Roberto Espada. Rosado was the pilot of the WC-130 and had served in the National Guard for 18 years before his death. Albandoz was his co-pilot and also had 16 years of service. Col. Pete Boone, the Vice Commander 165th Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard, said in a Thursday morning news conference that officials had begun notifying victims families. An investigation is currently in progress to determine the cause of this tragic event and ways to prevent such a [crash] from happening in the future, Boone said. Boone said the plane, which was manufactured in the late 1970s, was at the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport for routine maintenance and was headed to Arizona as part of a routine mission. Boone wouldnt say what would have happened to the plane after it arrived in Arizona, but Adjutant General Isabelo Rivera told The Associated Press the aircraft was being flown into retirement. "The planes that we have in Puerto Rico -- it's not news today that they are the oldest planes on inventory" among all National Guard planes nationwide, and they often face delays in getting spare parts shipped to the island, Rivera said. Surveillance video captured the moment the plane nosedived into the ground, bursting into flames upon impacting a roadway around 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The plane hit the ground so hard that the only intact part of the aircraft was the tail section. No cars or trains, however, were involved in the crash. Boone said its unclear if the bodies of all nine airmen have been recovered as of Thursday morning. All nine crew members had helped with hurricane recovery efforts as part of the 198th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Bucaneros, which flies out of Base Muniz in the northern coastal city of Carolina, Rivera said. The squadron used the plane to rescue Americans from the British Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma, and later supplied food and water to Puerto Ricans desperate for help after Hurricane Maria. "The National Guard is an extended family," Rivera said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Idaho mom has been sentenced to serve 30 days in jail and four years on felony probation for beating her children and shaving their heads after they ate a tub of ice cream. Canyon County authorities say Priscilla Zapata, 26, whacked her four children ages 3 to 9 with a belt and a toy last July. Zapata also shaved the heads her two daughters ages 4 and 9 to send a message, the Idaho Statesman reported. Authorities charged Zapata with physical and emotional abuse as well as felony injury to a child. One of her daughters said Zapata pushed her against a wall while grabbing her around throat, police said. According to police, Zapata told relatives she lost it when her children ate the ice cream. Bryan Taylor, a Canyon County prosecutor, told the East Idaho News that Zapata has been working on some sever anger issues that she needs to address through counseling and parenting classes. Im hopeful that she can take advantage of the resources available to her while on probation and make the appropriate changes in her life to become a better parent, Taylor said. Judge George A. Southworth said he decided to suspend Zapatas five-year prison sentence because she was pursuing counseling. You have engaged yourself in appropriate treatment, Southworth told Zapata, and are involved in counseling, so it appears you are engaged in a process on how to better handle your children. Youve caused a lot of damage to your children and its going to take you a long time, if ever, before you can rebuild that trust. Zapatas children are now staying with relatives under the watch of Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. An Indiana man was arrested this week after telling a 911 operator that he was having a rough day because the dead body in his bathtub now stinks. Dwight Shotts, 42, was arrested on Monday after he allegedly called the police to admit to the murder of 35-year-old Anthony Cline, WTXF reported. According to court documents cited in the report, Shotts called 911 and told the operator that he was having a rough one. The reason he gave? Theres a guy dead in my house. He proceeded to tell dispatch that there was an altercation that resulted in him shooting the man. I didnt know what to do. I panicked, put him in the tub, and now hes been in the tub, and now he stinks. I dont know what to do, Shotts is quoted as saying during the call. He added that the body had been there for a week. Police were sent to the home of Shotts, where Clines body was found in the tub. He died from a gunshot wound to the head, officials said. Once in custody, Shotts told investigators that he'd met with Cline to buy $500 worth of oxycodone, but changed his story to say that a shooter killed Cline because of monies owed. Fearing for his own life, he said, he hadn't called police on the day of the murder, WTXF reported. He has since been charged with Clines murder. God, please let this child be alive, Maryland Cpl. Darryl Wormuth whispered to himself when he spotted a toddler strapped in a car seat and locked inside a hot car on Tuesday. The little girl wasn't moving. "Her head was forward. She was either sleeping or had passed," an emotional Wormuth recalled during a news conference on Wednesday. "I could see her chest begin to rise. In this situation ... I had a minute to take a deep breath and figure out how I was going to handle the situation." As he got closer, Wormuth noticed that the one-and-a-half year old was moving. He breathed a sigh of relief that he was able to get to her in time. The temperature inside the vehicle had reached 81 degrees Fahrenheit. Something just kept nagging at my mind." Cpl. Darryl Wormuth According to state law, it's illegal to leave a child under the age of 8 unattended in a vehicle. And heat exposure is especially dangerous for kids. "Because of their unique physiology, children are more susceptible to temperature extremes and their health effects. Children are less able to regulate their body temperature compared with adults," the American Academy of Pediatrics states on its website. Hours earlier, the police officer discovered a man suspected of being under the influence lying face down in a grassy area of a parking lot outside of an apartment complex in Suitland. He called for backup and requested an emergency response team to aid the unresponsive man. He spotted a lanyard around the man's neck that contained house keys and a car key fob. In an attempt to find documents that would identify the man, Wormuth pressed the panic button and listened for a horn but nothing happened. When help arrived, Wormuth helped pick up the man and escorted him to the hospital. But for some reason, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. Something just kept nagging at my mind, Wormuth recalled, according to a Prince George's County Police Department news release. So, he went back to the scene and retraced his steps. It was there he found a car with one window rolled down and a toddler in the backseat. He unbuckled her, placed her in the shade and contacted the apartment's property manager who then fed her chicken nuggets, fries and water. "When I got there he was in, like, hero mode, taking care of this baby, making sure she was okay," building manager Latrice Leake said during a news conference. "He calmed her down. He kind of became her dad in that moment. She needed a dad and he became that to her." Wormuth added, "I started rubbing the child's arm slowly, gradually wake her up and of course she began to start crying," Wormuth said. "She slowly started breaking that cry down and I got a smile out of her." The officer eventually found the man's cell phone inside the vehicle and saw there were dozens of missed calls and text messages from the child's grandmother. He was able to get in touch with her and the girl's mother and arranged for them to take the girl home. The unresponsive man was later identified as the child's father, Wormuth said. He's since been charged with reckless endangerment and a related unattended child charge, the police department said in a statement online. Additional charges are pending, Wormuth added. A major gang crackdown aimed at so-called Mexican Mafia operations in Orange County, Calif., has led to 85 arrests of middle management gang leaders, officials said Wednesday. The three-month investigation, dubbed Operation Scarecrow, was one of the largest operations in county history, Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes told the Orange County Register. Authorities confiscated 36 firearms, 14 pounds of methamphetamine and three pounds of heroin, the report said. The investigation was also the largest crackdown on gang activity in California this year, the OC Breeze reported. The name Operation Scarecrow came from its connection to a Mexican Mafia shot-caller with the street moniker Crow, the Register reported. The investigation targeted the Surenos street gang and its criminal activities directed by the Mexican Mafia, the report said. We will continue to hold accountable those who terrorize our communities and jeopardize our public safety, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said, according to the Register. All families in California deserve to know that their loved ones, especially their children, are safe. We will continue to hold accountable those who terrorize our communities and jeopardize our public safety. Xavier Becerra, California Attorney General The operation was a joint effort involving the California Department of Justice, the Orange County Sheriffs Department and the California Highway Patrol, Becerra said. The success of this operation highlights the importance of collaborative partnerships amongst law enforcement agencies, Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said in a statement. The shared communication amongst our respective agencies have resulted in the removal of significant threats from our community. My hope is that these actions will send a message to criminal gangs that you are not welcome in Orange County. Prosecutors have filed charges in 31 cases in Orange County and two in Los Angeles, including weapon and drug violations, conspiracy, fraud and criminal street gang enhancements, the report said. However, Barnes said the arrests were a drop in the bucket compared to the organizations mass control over street gangs statewide, the Register reported. We share this information not to scare the public but to remind the residents of Orange County that this is a reality we face, he said. Criminal gang enterprises still continue to prey upon our community and we have to do everything we can to fight back. Police said a 22-year-old person wounded in a shooting at a mall in Nashville, Tennessee has died. Authorities previously said that one person was in critical condition and a suspect was in custody following reports of a shooting at the Opry Mills Mall. Metro Nashville Police said the incident seemed to arise from "an ongoing dispute between 2 males," one of whom "was critically wounded." A suspect left the building after the encounter "and immediately surrendered," police said. Authorities said Demarco Churchwell, 22, was fatally wounded in the shooting. Justin Golson, 22, was identified as the suspect. Police spokesman Don Aaron told reporters that the suspect surrendered a gun at a ticket booth outside the mall following the incident. "This is the pistol surrendered by the 22-year-old suspected shooter in the Opry Mills case," police tweeted alongside a picture of the weapon. "He has been taken to an MNPD facility to be interviewed. The 22-year-old shooting victim has died. The shooting was preceded by a physical altercation between the two." In an earlier tweet, police said a suspect was in custody and there was "no additional imminent threat known." Officers were sweeping the mall "as a precaution," they added. The citys fire department said they arrived at the mall and an adult male was in critical condition and transported to the hospital. Initial reports claimed the injured person was female. No other gun shot victims reported, the Nashville Fire Department said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also tweeted that they were responding to the scene. Authorities said the mall was evacuated and the adjacent Grand Ole Opry House and convention center were put on lockdown, according to The Associated Press. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Could you pull off this feat? A North Carolina teenager recently announced she had been accepted into 113 colleges, WFMY reports. "When I got the first couple in the mail, I was like, 'Oh wow, this is really happening, Jasmine Harrison, 17, told the news station. I didnt really think Id be able to do that by myself. The teenager -- a student with The Academy at Smith -- was also awarded more than $4.5 million in merit-based scholarships, WFMY added. The cost to apply to the dozens of schools reportedly totaled $135, thanks to assistance from the teen's mom and school staff. GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL CHEERLEADING COACH, ENGLISH TEACHER BUSTED FOR HEROIN AT HIGH SCHOOL: POLICE To avoid paying costly application fees, Harrison took advantage of the College Foundation of North Carolina (CFNC) College Application Week, where she was apple to apply to a number of North Carolina schools for free," the station explained. She also applied to more than 50 historically black colleges and universities via the Common Black College Application. On those late nights when I was filling out those applications with my mom and we just felt like we cannot do this, we just ended up singing gospel songs together to get through the night, Harrison confided. The school she picked: Bennett College in Greensboro. It's one of three that reportedly offered a full ride. Harrison didnt get into every school she applied to, however. The New York Times reports that the high school senior was rejected by Seton Hall University and the University of South Carolina. A chaotic scene took place in Indiana on Wednesday morning when bags of cash flew out the back of a Brinks truck on Interstate 70. People in the area rushed to the scene to stuff their pockets with cash, Fox 59 reported, citing police. Indiana State Police Cpl. Brock McCooe likened the scene to a movie, where you have bills, loose bills, flying all over the interstate, vehicles stopping, people getting out of their cars. Police said they were looking for a school bus driver who allegedly grabbed a handful of cash before taking off, as well as four individuals in a white pickup truck who allegedly took an entire bag of money. Indiana State Police estimated that up to $600,000 had fallen out of the truck. The Brinks drivers said they do not know if the back door had opened from a malfunction or human error. Police said some people have called in, willing to return money they grabbed, but the amount has not matched the amount that is missing. McCooe said police are asking that anyone who took the money from the scene to return it. For anyone who does so, McCooe said, theres amnesty, theres no real questions asked. Others, he warned, will be charged with theft if caught. Indiana State Police can be reached at 317-899-8577. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The son of a Minnesota woman suspected of fatally shooting her husband then killing a Florida woman and stealing her identity says she is a "good lady" but "had her own demons" including a gambling addiction, according to an interview to be aired Thursday. Braden Riess, 30, discussed his mother, Lois Riess, 56, in an interview with the syndicated news program "Inside Edition." Authorities say Lois Riess killed her husband, David Riess, 54, at their Blooming Prairie home in March. She then headed to Fort Myers Beach in Florida where authorities say she shot and killed 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson last month so she could assume her identity. Authorities arrested Riess at a restaurant bar in the Texas resort town of South Padre Island late last month at the end of a long manhunt. She'll stand trial in Florida first. On Thursday, a Lee County, Florida judge ruled that Riess should remain in jail without bond. She waived her right to appear at the hearing. Braden Riess told "Inside Edition" that he and his siblings were devastated to learn of the allegations that his mother killed their father and Hutchinson. "It's unbelievable, like, I don't know. I can't wrap my head around it. My mom was a good lady," he said. He said he never thought his mother would do anything to harm his father. He described the couple as close and loving, and said she always put her kids first. "It's a bad movie," he said. "I feel like I'm going to wake up and it's going to be, you know, back to normal. But it's not." Lois Riess has a history of stealing money and gambling. Authorities dubbed her "Losing Streak Lois" for her habit of frequenting casinos. Braden Riess said she must have suffered a mental breakdown. "She had her own demons, you know, lately, I guess, the last few years, you know, to gambling addiction, was dealing with that," he said. "And something happened in her brain, like, made her snap." University of Michigan Police say students should be vigilant" and "lock their doors at night while cops hunt multiple suspects in a string of recent sexual assaults that occurred on or around the Ann Arbor campus. In the latest case, reported to have happened early Wednesday, a student said she was awoken around 3 a.m. in her residence right next to campus to find an unknown male sexually assaulting her, police said. It was not clear how the man got inside the home, but he fled in an unknown direction after the woman woke up, according to a crime alert posted by the schools Division of Public Safety & Security. We just ask that [students] are always aware of their surroundings, be vigilant, and to lock their doors at night, the universitys Deputy Chief of Police, Melissa Overton, told Fox News on Thursday. Three weeks prior, a male student told police he was drugged and raped at a house party after accepting an invite to attend from two college-aged men who approached him and his friends on campus. In that case, the student consumed a soft drink he was told was mixed with an alcoholic beverage and then woke up the next day with little memory of the night, police said. "He sustained injuries associated with being sexually assaulted and tested positive for Benzodiazepine, which he had unknowingly ingested, they added. The National Institutes of Health describe Benzodiazepines as a type of prescription sedative commonly prescribed for anxiety or to help with insomnia. And in early April, a woman told police she was pulled into a custodial closet inside a dorm building in late March and sexually assaulted by an unknown male. Overton said the most recent case is out of the department's jurisdiction, but none of the cases are believed to be connected and no one has been taken into custody. A foundation has awarded $2.3 million to projects including documentaries on Muslim veterans, Arabic theater productions and a look at Michigan's "Halal Metropolis." The New York-based Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art on Thursday announced that 15 groups were selected from about 200 applicants across the United States for its Building Bridges Program . They received grants ranging from $50,000 to $300,000 for projects that aim to boost relationships among Muslims and their non-Muslim neighbors. Recipients include Kartemquin Films for making short-format documentaries about post-9/11 U.S. Muslim veterans and the Cleveland Public Theatre, which is creating a permanent ensemble dedicated to Arabic-language productions. Another goes to University of Michigan-Dearborn's Center for Arab American Studies to expand "Halal Metropolis." It's a three-year project exploring how Muslim culture has enriched southeastern Michigan. Three Americans who have been detained in North Korea reportedly have been relocated ahead of the upcoming planned summit between President Trump and North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Trump on Wednesday night tweeted that "the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Korean-Americans Kim Hak Song, Kim Dong Chul and Tony Kim were moved in early April from a labor camp to a hotel near Pyongyang, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported, citing an activist. The move reportedly came following direction from top authorities. MILES FROM WINTER OLYMPICS, THREE AMERICANS REMAIN DETAINED IN NORTH KOREA Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang Duk, 59, was a teacher at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology when detained by North Korean authorities at Pyongyang International Airport on April 22, 2017. A month later, he was allegedly accused of "committing criminal acts of hostility aimed to overturn [North Korea.]" Kim Hak Song, 55, also worked at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology before his detention on May 6, 2017. He was detained on suspicion of committing hostile acts against the countrys government. Kim Dong Chul, 64, was arrested in October 2015 and has been serving a 10-year term with hard labor for alleged espionage. Its been reported that Chul was a pastor, and in his public "confession," Kim said he was a spy for the South Korea intelligence service and was trying to spread Christianity among North Koreans. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and North Korean leader Kim reportedly discussed the Americans recently when Pompeo visited the North in his role as CIA director. Trump and Kim are expected to meet by the end of May or early June. Trump earlier this week said he may favor meeting on the Demilitarized Zone, but said meeting in Singapore was also being considered. Fox News' Caleb Parke and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Russian fighter jet crashed Thursday off the coast of Syria, killing both pilots, according to Russia's Defense Ministry, which said the plane did not come under fire and that the crash may have been caused by a bird getting sucked into one of the engines. State news agency Tass cited the ministry as saying the Su-30 crashed shortly after takeoff from the Russian air base at Hemeimeem in Syria. Russia has been waging an air campaign in support of President Bashar Assad's forces since 2015. In March, a Russian military cargo plane crashed as it was descending to land at Hemeimeem, killing all 39 people onboard. The military blamed the crash on a technical error and insisted the plane was not shot down. Russia leases the Hemeimeem military base in Syria, near the Mediterranean coast. Elsewhere in Syria, a worker with the International Rescue Committee and another individual were killed in a car bomb attack outside an IRC center used to help displaced Syrians in the northwestern town of Dana, in rebel-held Idlib, the international organization said. In Damascus, Syrian troops captured more areas from the Islamic State group on the southern edge of the capital on Thursday, cutting the region held by the extremists into two parts. The government-controlled Syrian Central Military Media said troops cut off IS fighters based in the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmouk from those in the Hajar al-Aswad neighborhood to the south. Yarmouk, a built-up residential area, and Hajar al-Aswad are the last two areas outside government control in Damascus. Syrian troops began a major offensive two weeks ago to retake the area under the cover of airstrikes. The fighting led to the displacement of thousands of Palestinian refugees and others to neighboring areas. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that since the government offensive began on April 19, 112 soldiers and pro-government gunmen as well as 91 IS fighters have been killed. Dozens of civilians have been killed as well in the fighting, according to the war monitor. Near Hajar al-Aswad, preparations were underway to evacuate thousands of opposition fighters and civilians from three southern suburbs following a deal reached last week to hand over the area to government forces. State TV said buses started entering the southern suburbs of Babila, Beit Sahem and Yalda to evacuate some 5,000 fighters and their families, while those who decide to stay are eligible for amnesty. The Observatory said some of the fighters and civilians will be heading to the northwestern rebel-held province of Idlib and the town of Afrin, which is controlled by Turkey-backed opposition fighters. Others will head to rebel-held areas in the southern province of Daraa, which borders Jordan. A 24-year-old exchange student from Bangladesh accused of stabbing an Australian man in the name of the Islamic State carried out a dry run of the attack just days before, prosecutors allege. Momena Shoma, who arrived to Melbourne to study at La Trobe University in January, had only been in Australia a handful of weeks when she entered the bedroom of Roger Singaravelu, 56, on February 9 wearing a burqa and stabbing him in his sleep. Prosecutors said Shoma reportedly yelled Allahu Akbar (God is Great) before stabbing Singaravelu in the neck while his 5-year-old daughter watched, news.com.au reported. Singaravelu survived the attack, telling the Herald Sun last month that he felt a sharp pain in my neck and work up to see [Shoma] leaning over me with a kitchen knife in her hand. I reactively grabbed on the knife and fought her off, he said. My daughter was screaming nearby, and I told her to run and hide. He added: There was blood everywhere. Paramedics who arrived at the scene said they found Singaravelu sitting on a plastic chair bleeding heavily from the neck. Shoma was said to have been calm and cooperative when police arrived. Shoma had been staying in the victims house for two days before carrying out an attack that prosecutor Charlie Rozencwajg said was a response to a call by [ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi] to attack Australians on their own soil. Before moving to Singaravelu's home, Shoma had been boarding with another family that claimed she carried out a dry run of the attack by stabbing a mattress. She did the practice run on the mattress with the first family that hosted her and they felt intimidated enough to go to whoever organized it, saying Were scared, we dont want her to continue to living with us, Rozencwajg said during a court hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The Australian Homestay Network, who organized housing for Shoma when she arrived in Melbourne, told news.com.au that it was assisting police in the matter, and would not comment on whether her previous hosts raised concerns about her behavior before she was moved. Aki Munir, who is representing Singaravelu, told the Herald Sun that the other familys concerns should have been a red flag and that the homestay network should have investigated before placing Shoma with another family. Shoma remains in police custody and is scheduled to appear in court again on August 1. Her attorney argued Wednesday that he needed time to sift through 1,600 pages of evidence that include text messages, Google search results and 400 encrypted WhatsApp chats. Hundreds of police officers have raided a migrant shelter in southern Germany after authorities were prevented from deporting a 23-year-old man from Togo days ago. Police confirmed that the operation had taken place in the early hours of Thursday, but declined to provide further details immediately. German news agency dpa reported that several people, including three police officers, were injured in the raid in Ellwangen, about 85 kilometers (53 miles) southwest of Nuremberg. Some 150 residents of the migrant shelter had reportedly swarmed the police vehicles sent to pick up the Togolese man Monday, forcing officers to abort his deportation. A Dutch judge has upheld a ban on a noisy demonstration that an activist had planned during the country's annual two minutes of silence to commemorate its war dead, ruling that it amounted to a disruption of public order. A judge in Amsterdam ruled Thursday that the city was justified in outlawing the demonstration planned for Friday evening's commemoration service on the central Dam Square. Activist Rogier Meijerink posted an appeal on Facebook for supporters to make noise during the silent commemoration, saying the event ignores the thousands of people who died during the Indonesian war for independence from Dutch colonial rule. The judge also banned Meijerink from Amsterdam's city center on Friday night. Meijerink told Dutch media he would ignore the order. The PLO parliament is preparing to hand its authority over to a smaller council in a move seen as a concentration of power in the hands of President Mahmoud Abbas's loyalists. The Palestinian National Council agreed Thursday to grant the 115-member Central Council authority to assume the political body's powers, such as appointing a successor to the 83-year-old Palestinian leader and resolving the decade-long rift with the rival Hamas party ruling Gaza. Abbas aide Ahmad Majdalani says the move will "make it easier for the PLO to handle political developments, and to fill any vacuum in PLO positions." The Palestinian National Council, which met this week for the first time in over two decades, was set to formally announce the measure Thursday evening. Every school day, Abdirizack Hussein Bashir rises at dawn for an eight-kilometer (five-mile) trek through a dangerous forest where he sometimes faces harassment by Kenyan army patrols hunting down extremists. Now the 12-year-old's dream to become a doctor is threatened. Attacks by the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab against non-Muslims have forced the transfer of hundreds of teachers from the border area with Somalia, where the extremist group is based. Schools have closed and thousands of children are affected. At least 224 primary schools and 42 secondary schools in Wajir County can no longer function after non-local teachers fled. The exodus was caused by the Feb. 16 al-Shabab attack on a primary school in which two non-Muslim teachers were killed. Kenya's Teachers Service Commission transferred 329 teachers elsewhere for their safety. Many others left on their own. In all, 917 non-Muslim primary school teachers have left the region. It is the largest-ever mass exodus of teachers from the region, observers say. Analysts say the extremist group threatens gains in education in a region that until recently was the most marginalized in Kenya and has been described as a hotbed for recruitment for extremist groups, which oppose Western education. Children out of school become easy targets. For al-Shabab the closure of schools will be seen as "a success," said Abdullahi Boru Halakhe, an expert in countering violent extremism. "Schools and education is one of the antidotes against the narratives of the (extremist) group. Thus, if you close the school, how else can you build a counter-narrative?" he asked. Al-Shabab has carried out a wave of attacks in Kenya since 2011, calling it retribution for Kenya sending troops to Somalia to fight the extremists. Attacks include the April 2015 raid on Garissa University that left 147 people dead. Teachers near the Somali border have been targeted, including in a November 2014 attack on a bus in neighboring Mandera County. Some 120 non-Muslim teachers have left their posts in Mandera County due to the latest insecurity. The teachers have been sleeping in the Kenya National Union of Teachers boardroom for nearly two months and spend their days camped out at the offices of their employer, the Teachers Service Commission. Police routinely use tear gas on them as they protest and demand better protection from the extremist threat. "We have asked the government to transfer teachers where they feel safe," said the union's secretary-general, Wilson Sossion. The threat of attack is not the only problem non-Muslim teachers face in the predominantly ethnic Somali region, said Peter Amunga, an education activist. Discrimination by the local community and radicalized students are other challenges. Non-Muslims make up 90 percent of the teachers in the border areas as marginalization and nomadic culture have limited the number of local ones, he said. Wangechi Nderitu, one of the teachers camping out at the Teachers Service Commission offices, said one student at a neighboring school who was punished by teachers went to train with al-Shabab in Somalia for two years then returned in late 2015, took his father's gun and went after the teachers. Luckily they had been transferred, he said. Despite teachers' concerns the government has forced them to stay in the region without providing additional security, Nderitu said. He said his bank accounts had been frozen and that the Teachers Service Commission says they won't be released until he and his colleague go back to work. "This is blackmail," Nderitu said. "That's why we are stranded here. The Teacher Service Commission did not respond to a request for comment. The government's response has been sub-optimal, said Halakhe, the expert in countering extremism. "While there is an acknowledgement that there are no easy answers to what is obviously a complex and complicated problem, the government has failed even to do even the basic like, for instance, stationing security officers at some of the schools," he said. Al-Shabab has exploited the region's history of marginalization for recruiting and propaganda, he added. The region's attempt to secede and join Somalia in the 1960s was quashed with military force and successive governments neglected the area until Kenya's new constitution in 2010 ensured that all regions received resources for development. "In this latest situation, al-Shabab could say to the potential recruits: 'Look, your government cannot even provide you with a modicum of security, come and join us,'" Halakhe said. Kenya's Parliament has approved a government plan to hire 88,000 teachers to address a nationwide shortfall of more than 104,000. For Wajir County, Education Secretary Amina Mohamed has said 1,200 teaching assistants will be recruited to step in until replacements are found. If those replacements are not from the region, however, they soon will seek transfers as well, said Sossion with the teachers' union. A "permanent solution" would be to train more locals who are ethnic Somali and Muslim, he said. For Bashir, the 12-year-old student, the politics surrounding the school closures doesn't matter. "Now that there is no more class, what will I do with all this time?" he asked The Associated Press. Tunisia's prime minister has opened a conference on dialogue between religions on the island of Djerba during an annual Jewish pilgrimage that is taking place amid high security. Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said his North African nation "will remain a land of peace and tolerance," according to Mosaique radio. He said Tunisians from all religions are "full citizens of this country." Soldiers and other security forces were deployed near the 2,500-year-old Ghriba synagogue, which was targeted in a 2002 extremist attack. The pilgrimage this year gathered about 3,000 pilgrims Wednesday and Thursday, some coming from Israel, France and Italy. Djerba is home to Tunisia's main Jewish community. Last January, two Molotov cocktails were thrown at two synagogues on the island during protests over price hikes. Authorities say the incident wasn't terror-related. Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Scientists called for the urgent development of alternative pest control methods after the EU widened its partial ban on three key neonicotinoids to cover all outdoor crops. The European Commission proposal to ban three key neonicotinoids used by farmers was endorsed by member states on Friday (27 April). Active substances imidacloprid, clothianidin and thiamethoxam will now only be allowed in greenhouses where bees will not be exposed to them. See also: How a neonic ban will affect beet and cereal growers The ban was backed by Defra, which said it was committed to enhancing the environment and welcomed the vote in support of further restrictions on neonicotinoids. But growers who rely on the chemicals as seed treatments were dismayed at the decision. Time to adjust Existing restrictions, which cover flowering crops such as oilseed rape, will stay in place until the new measures comes into force following a phaseout period of about eight months. Defra said this would give farmers time to adjust but in reality much longer will be needed. Sugar beet growers, who use neonicotinoid-treated seed to help establish crops, described the decision to extend the ban as a black day. It was a bad for the environment, bad for bees and bad for growers, said the International Confederation of European Beet Growers. Ian Toth, a senior scientist at the James Hutton Institute, said: The use of pesticides has been such an important part of crop production for decades that loss or reduction in the use of such chemicals, including neonicotinoids, will almost certainly affect crop yields. Serious issue This would ultimately affect food prices for consumers, said Professor Toth. He added: Now more than ever it is so important that we find alternative methods of control through more resistant crops, biocontrol and other integrated pests management approaches. Bill Parker, research director at the AHDB, said the ban was a serious issue for the agricultural industry because it further restricted the crop protection toolbox available to farmers and growers. Rather than reduce pesticide use, Dr Parker said the ban could increase spray applications. Although alternatives do exist, the consequence of this decision is likely to be a greater use of insecticides applied as foliar sprays, particularly on crops such as wheat and sugar beet. The AHDB remains actively involved in developing integrated pest management programmes for all UK crops with the aim of reducing dependence on plant protection products, said Dr Parker. [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Japan Independent Games Aggregate (JIGA) is excited to unveil a stellar lineup of game industry icons, veterans and influential developers who will grace the stage at BitSummit Vol. 6. A full layout of the venue and the locations of over 100 exhibitors, vendors and sponsors are also available. The sixth anniversary of the indie game summit will be held in Miyako Messe the weekend of May 12th & 13th, 2018 in Kyoto, Japan. Tickets are 2000 yen per day for general admission, with a 1000 yen discount for all students and free entry for elementary school students and younger. Among this year's guests are some of Japan's most lauded and successful developers, as well as indie developers from around the world. Some notables include: Tetsuya Mizuguchi (Rez, Lumines) Takuya Aizu (Mega Man Zero series, Azure Striker GUNVOLT series) Koji Igarashi (Castlevania series, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night) Atsushi Inaba & Hideki Kamiya (Okami, GOD HAND, Devil May Cry, Bayonetta) Shinichi Kameoka (Mana series, SaGa series, Mother 3, Professor Layton)Shuhei Yoshida (President, Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios SWERY (D4: Dark Dreams Dont Die, Red Seeds Profile) Dylan Cuthbert & Baiyon (PixelJunk series, The Tomorrow Children) Kenichi Nishi (Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG) Yukio Futasugi (Panzer Dragoon series, Phantom Dust) Robin Hunicke (Journey, Boom Blox, Luna) Joshua Boggs (Framed) Jason Roberts (Gorogoa)Mat Kap (Castle In The Darkness, The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth) Ari Gibson (Hollow Knight)Matthew Trobbiani (Hacknet) Speaker Profiles and Timetable : http://bitsummit.jp/pages/stage.php Venue Map : http://bitsummit.jp/pages/venue.php BitSummit Vol.6 is produced by Japan Independent Games Association (JIGA), along with the CrossKyoto Media Partnership (KCROP), 802 Media Works, The City of Kyoto, and Kyoto CMEX (Cross Media Experience) and Indie MEGABOOTH. For more information please visit the BitSummit website: http://bitsummit.jp/ Contact Info: Press registration: https://t.co/rYbDF9AgjF Email: [email protected] Website: http://bitsummit.jp/ Twitter: @bitsummit Instagram: @bitsummit Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bitsummit Japan Independent Games Aggregate (JIGA) Members: Digital Development Management, Pygmy Studio Co. Ltd., Q-Games Ltd., and Skeleton Crew Studio. ABOUT BitSummit BitSummit is an annual festival based in Kyoto, celebrating independent game developers and development in Japan. Founded in late-2012 to support, unify, and evangelize the vibrant and innovative Japanese independent game development scene to the world at large, BitSummit has established itself Japans premier independent gaming event, attracting thousands of visitors annually, as well as a notable, International media presence. BitSummit has been covered by every leading gaming website around the world and featured in print publications such as Weekly Famitsu, Dengeki PlayStation, Games, EDGE and more. BitSummit has also been the focus of panel discussions at Game Developers Conference, IndieCade, IndieCade East, and CEDEC. Coming into its sixth year running, BitSummit continues to grow alongside the burgeoning Japanese independent development scene. [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] Skovde, Sweden - May 3, 2018 - In search for a MOBA-like Battle Royale game? Well, look no further, as Stunlock Studios today revealed the first details of Battlerite Royale, a combination of an Action MOBA/Arena Brawler and the Battle Royale survival gameplay. Featuring spectacular fantasy landscapes on a map 30 times larger than the standard arena mode map, Battlerite Royale throws 20 players into a cutthroat island deathmatch, played Free For All or as a duo. With a top-down Battle Royale mode weve set out to bring the ultimate survival experience to Action RPG and MOBA players. said Johan Ilves, Marketing Director at Stunlock Studios. We want to give players the excitement of a Diablo-esque exploration experience combined with the character variation of a MOBA and the thrill of a survival game. That said, I think anyone whos looking for a fresh and different take on the Battle Royale genre will have a blast. Battlerite Royale is played in a top-down perspective using WASD controls and victory depends on factors such as players skill, map awareness, situational builds, and a sliver of luck. During fast-paced 10-minute matches players explore the map in order to find a variety of items, fight other players to grab their loot, and, ultimately, be the last one standing on the island. There are 27 unique Champions to choose from that offer a robust mix of roles: ranged, melee, and support. Every champion plays differently and mastering their abilities is the key to survive on the island, which makes Battlerite Royale stand out from similar titles. Since the launch of Battlerite, more than 4 million unique players have tried their luck in the arena, shooting Battlerite up to the top of the top selling free-to-play games on Steam on several occasions. Each week players get access to six unique champions on free rotation, and every character can be permanently unlocked with in-game currency or in-app purchases. As of today, the All Champions Pack is available to unlock all 27 current and all future champions for $29.99/ 27.99/23.79. About Stunlock Studios Founded in 2010, Stunlock Studios is one of the leading Swedish independent game developers located in Skovde. With a passion for competitive gaming, the studio crafts groundbreaking and community driven games, always with their players in mind. Previously released titles include Bloodline Champions and Dead Island: Epidemic. For more information, visit: https://www.stunlockstudios.com [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] (May 3, 2018) Season 2 of BlackShots revolutionary new Competitive Mode BETA is live. Featuring several changes guided by community feedback collected in the first phase of the BETA, the highlights of Season 2 include: Team Flag Match (TFM) is now available in Competitive matchmaking (replacing Domination). Competitive Ranking Tiers have been subdivided into Divisions to better group opponents by relative skill levels. The ELO.P Algorithm has been adjusted to provide rewards for players at lower Ranking Tiers, while still maintaining high-level skill difficulty. The matchmaking Squad functionality now includes additional Invite and Ready options. The top Ranking Tier, The Black, has been reduced from 100 to 10 members. These system changes are accompanied by several community events, offering various boosts and prizes for playing Competitive Mode and achieving certain milestones. The full details of the Competitive Mode BETA Season 2 update can be found through the following links: BETA Season 2 Update Events: https://blackshot.papayaplay.com/blackshot.do?tp=update180425 BETA Season 2 System Changes: https://blackshot.papayaplay.com/blackshot.do?tp=competitive BlackShot is a free-to-play FPS game for Windows operating systems. It is accessed through a regional game client (either Global or Southeast-Asia, depending on location) and requires an Internet connection to play. About Vertigo Games: Founded in 2006, Vertigo Games is a game development company specializing in deep and competitive online first-person shooter games. Vertigo Games first FPS title, BlackShot, is a military-concept, fast-paced, competitive FPS set in a dystopian capitalist future. Initially launched Korea in 2008, BlackShot is now enjoyed by players in Singapore, Malaysia and 42 European regions across two dedicated game clients. http://www.vertigogames.com/ About Papaya Play: Founded in 2016, Papaya Play is the unified web launch portal of Vertigo Games America, Inc. Through Papaya Play, Vertigo Games provides quality service for users of its currently supported titles, BlackShot, Dekaron, La Tale, War Rock, and Uncharted Waters Online. The Papaya Play team is comprised of experienced publishers and talented individuals who strive daily to maintain a standard of excellence. https://www.papayaplay.com/ ### Contact Information: Primary Contact: Nicholas Jennings Company: Vertigo Games America Email: [email protected] Phone: +1-604-428-6151 On Monday morning, dozens of workers in hazmat suits could be seen picking up globs of oil from the shoreline at Huntington State Beach. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Health authorities recommend immunization : Several cases of measles in Bonn Bonn/Region For the first time in a year, there are again several cases of measles in Bonn. The report comes from the city health department and authorities there advise people to have their vaccinations refreshed. In Cologne, there are also an unusual amount of cases. Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken In Bonn, several people have already contracted measles this year. The city health department released the information in a press release on Wednesday. While no cases were registered last year, three people are currently affected. In light of that, the health department urges people to check on whether or not their measles vaccine is up to date, and if not, to have it refreshed. People who have not been vaccinated could easily become infected with measles by coming into contact with droplets (via cough or sneeze) from an infected person nearby. The nasty thing about it is that measles are contagious for five days before the rash occurs, and for four days after that. Measles usually start with a sudden, high fever, a cough and runny nose. Within a few days, a rash forms on the face and behind the ears and then spreads to the entire body. Bonn health authorities emphasize that measles is not a harmless childhood disease and that it can lead to serious complications. Especially for adults who have not had measles, have been vaccinated only once or not at all, they are strongly advised to have two vaccinations at intervals of four weeks. These vaccinations are necessary to be fully protected. "God Will Judge All Past Nigeria Leaders" - President Buhari Curses Past Leaders (Page 2) crocatum at 2-05-2018 10:37 PM (3 years ago) (m) they are reaping what they sowed, go to school no, I will spend my papa's money, I will show that I have arrived, now look at them, they want to blame others who have been working hard, hehe he, it is so amazing. Posted: at 2-05-2018 10:37 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac Reply crocatum at 2-05-2018 10:41 PM (3 years ago) (m) he should remind his people that the punishment is coming for them and their leaders Posted: at 2-05-2018 10:41 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac he should remind his people that the punishment is coming for them and their leaders Reply osarobo62 at 3-05-2018 12:24 AM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: braveman on 2-05-2018 06:36 PM Whenever I watched people calling you fools here I used to passby, I swear they were on the right track, Haba! Are you treking with your brain? Who will not become past? He who live in a glass house doesn't throw stone, but I can see what people says you are...FOOL indeed what did she say that is wrong . you need some therapy. Posted: at 3-05-2018 12:24 AM (3 years ago) | Hero what did she say that is wrong. you need some therapy. Reply Upbendel at 3-05-2018 03:46 AM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: fineboy77 on 2-05-2018 10:05 PM This man has spent almost four years in office complaining He is only confused he thought Nigeria is still the same when he overthrown a democratic elected government, and as a state Governor at 30 years old. he must be confused coupled with his level of education. Posted: at 3-05-2018 03:46 AM (3 years ago) | Upcoming He is only confused he thought Nigeria is still the same when he overthrown a democratic elected government, and as a state Governor at 30 years old. he must be confused coupled with his level of education. Reply james987 at 3-05-2018 04:52 AM (3 years ago) (m) Buhari issa a big fool and a idiotic puppet to the owners of chatam house where he went to sell nigeria. Anybody who has forgotten that buhari stole 2.8 billion when naira was equivalent to British pounds is a big fool too. Buhari started stealing in the 80's yet he dare to talk about 1999 to 2014.. obsanjo brought computers and gsm to Nigeria. What has buhari done or brought.. in the 80's he also brought recession. Posted: at 3-05-2018 04:52 AM (3 years ago) | Hero Buhari issa a big fool and a idiotic puppet to the owners of chatam house where he went to sell nigeria. Anybody who has forgotten that buhari stole 2.8 billion when naira was equivalent to British pounds is a big fool too. Buhari started stealing in the 80's yet he dare to talk about 1999 to 2014.. obsanjo brought computers and gsm to Nigeria. What has buhari done or brought.. in the 80's he also brought recession. Reply james987 at 3-05-2018 05:01 AM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: ruthie on 2-05-2018 05:59 PM i agree with him...politicians and leaders have failed this country..hell is certain for all of them....thats the consolation Buhari issa a big fool and a idiotic puppet to the owners of chatam house where he went to sell nigeria. Anybody who has forgotten that buhari stole 2.8 billion when naira was equivalent to British pounds is a big fool too. Buhari started stealing in the 80's yet he dare to talk about 1999 to 2014.. obsanjo brought computers and gsm to Nigeria. What has buhari done or brought?.. in the 80's he also brought recession. Jonathan built how many religious schools in the north? APC came on board only to steal nigeria dry so that for the rest of their lives they remain wealthy,I mean phyuking wealthy. Whoever doesn't realize this,issa a big fool.. what has been done with 17 trillions so far??? Yearly budget what has been with it? People think through their asses that's all. Posted: at 3-05-2018 05:01 AM (3 years ago) | Hero Buhari issa a big fool and a idiotic puppet to the owners of chatam house where he went to sell nigeria. Anybody who has forgotten that buhari stole 2.8 billion when naira was equivalent to British pounds is a big fool too. Buhari started stealing in the 80's yet he dare to talk about 1999 to 2014.. obsanjo brought computers and gsm to Nigeria. What has buhari done or brought?.. in the 80's he also brought recession. Jonathan built how many religious schools in the north? APC came on board only to steal nigeria dry so that for the rest of their lives they remain wealthy,I mean phyuking wealthy. Whoever doesn't realize this,issa a big fool.. what has been done with 17 trillions so far??? Yearly budget what has been with it? People think through their asses that's all. Reply dleg at 3-05-2018 06:04 AM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: braveman on 2-05-2018 06:36 PM Whenever I watched people calling you fools here I used to passby, I swear they were on the right track, Haba! Are you treking with your brain? Who will not become past? He who live in a glass house doesn't throw stone, but I can see what people says you are...FOOL indeed IF THE STATISTIC GIVEN ABOVE IS RIGHT, YOU ARE THE BIGGEST FOOL HERE. HOW CAN NIGERIA BE MAKING $4.8 BILLION PER MONTH AND ONLY 5000 MEGAWAT IS GENERATED FOR 16 YEARS. NO FUNCTIONAL REFINERY FOR 16 YEARS UNDER WHICH A MINISTER SAID NIGERIA CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW TRAIN ALSO LAGOS-ORE EXPRESS WAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR MORE THAT 10 YEARS WITH NO PROGRESS. CONTRACT AWARDED MANY TIMES SOMETIMES, WE NEED TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE. IF NOT, NIGERIA LEADER WILL CONTINUE TO USE POLITICS TO DECEIVE US. Posted: at 3-05-2018 06:04 AM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac IF THE STATISTIC GIVEN ABOVE IS RIGHT, YOU ARE THE BIGGEST FOOL HERE.HOW CAN NIGERIA BE MAKING $4.8 BILLION PER MONTH AND ONLY 5000 MEGAWAT IS GENERATED FOR 16 YEARS.NO FUNCTIONAL REFINERY FOR 16 YEARSUNDER WHICH A MINISTER SAID NIGERIA CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW TRAINALSO LAGOS-ORE EXPRESS WAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR MORE THAT 10 YEARS WITH NO PROGRESS. CONTRACT AWARDED MANY TIMESSOMETIMES, WE NEED TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE. IF NOT, NIGERIA LEADER WILL CONTINUE TO USE POLITICS TO DECEIVE US. Reply Erekosima at 3-05-2018 07:18 AM (3 years ago) (m) God will judge Nigerian past leaders including those past leaders that stole 2.5 billion Posted: at 3-05-2018 07:18 AM (3 years ago) | Upcoming God will judge Nigerian past leaders including those past leaders that stole 2.5 billion Reply Zaki68 at 3-05-2018 08:56 AM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: kenshin2 on 2-05-2018 08:41 PM This is the most insanely and idiotic comment I have ever heard? Judging from your comment, one would easily know that you use your watery brain to eat bread... Hopeless Hausa animal... Must you bring religion into everything? Can't you distinguish between humanity and religion? Who told you that those who crucified Jesus are Christians? An average Hausa is ready to kill his blood relatives for the sake of that God forsaken religion and you think Christians are worse? Everyday innocent citizens, especially the Christians, of this country are murdered in cold blood but the president turn a blind eye? Yet u still open your filthy mouth to speak against the Christian, accusing them wrongly? Believe me you are something far worse, a catastrophe, a disaster, a bigot, a nincompoop, a bumbling idiot, a narcissist, an accident, a barbaric babarian, above all a FOOL! LOOK AT YOU IGBO MAN OKORO TOO WANTS TO FEEL FUNKY. Posted: at 3-05-2018 08:56 AM (3 years ago) | Upcoming LOOK AT YOU IGBO MAN OKORO TOO WANTS TO FEEL FUNKY. Reply okihcolly at 3-05-2018 01:03 PM (3 years ago) (m) BUHARI, THE CURSE WILL START FROM YOU FIRST COS U ARE DOING THE SAME MISTAKE PAST LEADERS DID. YOU ARE JUST BEING HYPOCRITICAL, NIGERIANS SHOULD JUDGE YOU THAT U PERFORMED WOEFULLY. YOUR GOVT IS THE WORST I HAVE EVR WITNESSED IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA. SHAMELESS MAN. Posted: at 3-05-2018 01:03 PM (3 years ago) | Newbie BUHARI, THE CURSE WILL START FROM YOU FIRST COS U ARE DOING THE SAME MISTAKE PAST LEADERS DID. YOU ARE JUST BEING HYPOCRITICAL, NIGERIANS SHOULD JUDGE YOU THAT U PERFORMED WOEFULLY. YOUR GOVT IS THE WORST I HAVE EVR WITNESSED IN THE HISTORY OF NIGERIA. SHAMELESS MAN. Reply fineboy77 at 3-05-2018 01:48 PM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: braveman on 2-05-2018 06:36 PM Whenever I watched people calling you fool here I used to passby, I swear they were on the right track, Haba! Are you treking with your brain? Who will not become past? He who live in a glass house doesn't throw stone, but I can see what people says you are...FOOL indeed What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 3-05-2018 01:48 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Reply Wazubia at 3-05-2018 01:49 PM (3 years ago) (m) BLAMING MASTER IS ON IT AGAIN. HOW DID WE OFFENDED YOU SIA BABA..... WE ELECTED YOU WITH HOPE YOUR CHANGE PROMISE IS FOR REAL, BUT WHAT DID WE GET IN RETURNS. FAILURE... ... . .. Posted: at 3-05-2018 01:49 PM (3 years ago) | Gistmaniac BLAMING MASTER IS ON IT AGAIN.HOW DID WE OFFENDED YOU SIA BABA.....WE ELECTED YOU WITH HOPE YOUR CHANGE PROMISE IS FOR REAL, BUT WHAT DID WE GET IN RETURNS.FAILURE... ... . .. Reply fineboy77 at 3-05-2018 01:50 PM (3 years ago) (m) Quote from: Zaki68 on 3-05-2018 08:56 AM LOOK AT YOU IGBO MAN OKORO TOO WANTS TO FEEL FUNKY. You always confirm yourself a small man with a befitting name What is the color beneath your skin? Posted: at 3-05-2018 01:50 PM (3 years ago) | Hero You always confirm yourself a small man with a befitting name Reply ruthie at 3-05-2018 02:00 PM (3 years ago) (f) YOU ARE THE FOOL HERE MR....DONT YOU REALIZE WHAT THESE FOOLS HAVE DONE TO THIS COUNTRY...IF YOU DONT KNOW, THEN YOU JUST ANOTHER DUMB LAZY NIGERIA YOUTH Quote from: braveman on 2-05-2018 06:36 PM Whenever I watched people calling you fools here I used to passby, I swear they were on the right track, Haba! Are you treking with your brain? Who will not become past? He who live in a glass house doesn't throw stone, but I can see what people says you are...FOOL indeed Posted: at 3-05-2018 02:00 PM (3 years ago) | Hero YOU ARE THE FOOL HERE MR....DONT YOU REALIZE WHAT THESE FOOLS HAVE DONE TO THIS COUNTRY...IF YOU DONT KNOW, THEN YOU JUST ANOTHER DUMB LAZY NIGERIA YOUTH Reply ruthie at 3-05-2018 02:02 PM (3 years ago) (f) DONT MIND THE FOOL....HE OBVIOUSLY HAS A DEAD BRAIN....USELESS BIGOT Quote from: osarobo62 on 3-05-2018 12:24 AM . you need some therapy. what did she say that is wrong. you need some therapy. Posted: at 3-05-2018 02:02 PM (3 years ago) | Hero DONT MIND THE FOOL....HE OBVIOUSLY HAS A DEAD BRAIN....USELESS BIGOT Reply ruthie at 3-05-2018 02:05 PM (3 years ago) (f) THANKS FOR THIS..U SEE THE PROBLEM WITH MOST YOUTHS IS THAT THEY ARE BLINDED BY SENTIMENTS OF ALL SORTS. THIS GUY ABOVE ME IS JUST DELUSIONAL...ITS A SHAME THAT WE HAVE FEW RIGHT THINKING INDIVIDUALS...THIS IS THE REASON, THESE POLITICIANS TAKE US FOR A RIDE. Quote from: dleg on 3-05-2018 06:04 AM IF THE STATISTIC GIVEN ABOVE IS RIGHT, YOU ARE THE BIGGEST FOOL HERE. HOW CAN NIGERIA BE MAKING $4.8 BILLION PER MONTH AND ONLY 5000 MEGAWAT IS GENERATED FOR 16 YEARS. NO FUNCTIONAL REFINERY FOR 16 YEARS UNDER WHICH A MINISTER SAID NIGERIA CAN NOT AFFORD A NEW TRAIN ALSO LAGOS-ORE EXPRESS WAY UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR MORE THAT 10 YEARS WITH NO PROGRESS. CONTRACT AWARDED MANY TIMES SOMETIMES, WE NEED TO PUT POLITICS ASIDE. IF NOT, NIGERIA LEADER WILL CONTINUE TO USE POLITICS TO DECEIVE US. Posted: at 3-05-2018 02:05 PM (3 years ago) | Hero THANKS FOR THIS..U SEE THE PROBLEM WITH MOST YOUTHS IS THAT THEY ARE BLINDED BY SENTIMENTS OF ALL SORTS. THIS GUY ABOVE ME IS JUST DELUSIONAL...ITS A SHAME THAT WE HAVE FEW RIGHT THINKING INDIVIDUALS...THIS IS THE REASON, THESE POLITICIANS TAKE US FOR A RIDE. Reply kacylee at 3-05-2018 08:02 AM (3 years ago) (f) Presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar has hit out at the APC for the mismanagement of the country claiming that things are so bad, we may very well not have a Nigeria in the near future. Presidential aspirant, Atiku Abubakar has hit out at the APC for the mismanagement of the country claiming that things are so bad, we may very well not have a Nigeria in the near future. The former Vice President said this during a visit to the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom. He said while speaking; The country is in its worse state today. I have never seen it since the civil war. Ethnic division, north against south, this is very very dangerous for our survival as a country. We must do all what we can to address this situation. We have to unite together to arrest this, otherwise you would one day wake up and find out that we dont have a country, God forbid. He also added that it was highly unfortunate but that those who put Nigeria in this situation arent even part of the struggle. We may end up with 25-27 PDP states in Nigeria, because every part of this country is fed up with this government. And this is the most intolerant government I have ever seen in this country. And unfortunately for us, he was not even part of this struggle. The situation in APC states is horrible. You cannot even meet like this. They are intolerable because they were not part of the struggle for actualization of democracy. If PDP was like this, there would not have been any opposition party in this country. Let us therefore unite and make sure that we free this country and our people from this situation. The political restructuring of this country is inevitable, whether we like it or not. We must deploy resources and powers to the federated units of this country. If states and local government areas are given more resources and powers, the people would hold them accountable. He concluded by saying that he is ready to do the job required but only with the help of the people around him. The former Vice President said this during a visit to the Peoples Democratic Party secretariat in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.He said while speaking;He also added that it was highly unfortunate but that those who put Nigeria in this situation arent even part of the struggle.He concluded by saying that he is ready to do the job required but only with the help of the people around him. Post Reply I have been reporting for several years now and I am very interested in visual news reportage with strong inclusion of photos and video multimedia. Posted: at 3-05-2018 08:02 AM (3 years ago) | Addicted Hero felicilin at 3-05-2018 02:47 PM (3 years ago) (f) DOCTORS IN KENYA HAVE FOUND SEVEN SEWING NEEDLES INSIDE THE BODY OF A THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD. DOCTORS IN KENYA HAVE FOUND SEVEN SEWING NEEDLES INSIDE THE BODY OF A THREE-YEAR-OLD CHILD. The baby was abandoned by her mother because she had been sickly over the past one year. The mother eloped with another man and since then, the baby has been under the care of her grandparents. An X-ray examination conducted on Wednesday revealed seven needles lodged in the babys body. Five needles are in the stomach and two on her back. Doctors suspect the needles were inserted in the childs body. They have ruled out possible ingestion. Nairobi News reports that according to her grandparents, the child has been complaining of stomach aches and has been coughing endlessly for the past one year. They had taken her to the local dispensary but her condition never improved. The grandparents said they could not comprehend how the needles got into their granddaughters body Her tearful grandmother Mrs Emily Lingaa said she was shocked to see the X-ray images. The baby was abandoned by her mother because she had been sickly over the past one year. The mother eloped with another man and since then, the baby has been under the care of her grandparents.An X-ray examination conducted on Wednesday revealed seven needles lodged in the babys body. Five needles are in the stomach and two on her back.Doctors suspect the needles were inserted in the childs body. They have ruled out possible ingestion.Nairobi News reports that according to her grandparents, the child has been complaining of stomach aches and has been coughing endlessly for the past one year. They had taken her to the local dispensary but her condition never improved.The grandparents said they could not comprehend how the needles got into their granddaughters bodyHer tearful grandmother Mrs Emily Lingaa said she was shocked to see the X-ray images. Quote Chepchumba was born well in a hospital. She has been with her mother but when she started being sickly the mother ran away. I was left to take care of her. I felt some things in her stomach but I thought it was a normal disease or some problem with digestion. I was shocked to learn of the needles in her body after the x ray and wondered how they got inside the childs body, she added. The poor family now says that it has no money for the treatment of the child. Her grand father, Mr John Chepkokei Lingaa, said they had been giving the child some painkillers to help her fight the pain. The mother escaped because the child was sickly. She is now married to someone else. We used to give her pain killers and we took her to Center Kwanza Dispensary .We are stranded and we dont know where to start from. Post Reply Posted: at 3-05-2018 02:47 PM (3 years ago) | Hero felicilin at 3-05-2018 05:09 PM (3 years ago) (f) An unnamed Nigerian gay man is set to get married to his long term Kenyan boyfriend, Kenneth Binyavanga Wainaina, who was the 2002 Caine Prize winner for African Writing. The authour announced on twitter. An unnamed Nigerian gay man is set to get married to his long term Kenyan boyfriend, Kenneth Binyavanga Wainaina, who was the 2002 Caine Prize winner for African Writing. The authour announced on twitter. Wainaina, an acclaimed African literary giant and founder of the Nairobi-based journal, Kwani, is set to wed early next year after he proposed to his lover whom he has dated for over six years.He is, however, silent on the identity of the said Nigerian. He shared the news of his proposal on his Twitter handle on Wednesday: I knelt down and asked my love for his hand in marriage two weeks ago. He said YES. We will be married in South Africa early next year. I am beside myself with excitement that he has agreed to spend the rest of his life with me. Standard Media Kenya added that the author and his partner will be living in South Africa where his partner will be studying. The acclaimed author heaped praise on his lover, saying he was a gentle person with the most gorgeous heart; and promised a grand reception in Nairobi. In response to the outpouring of messages on his Twitter feeds, Wainaina hinted that there may be a Nigerian party sometime next year to celebrate his marriage. WEDDING RECEPTION Although the wedding will be held in South Africa, Binyavanga has promised his Kenyan fans of a grand wedding reception in Nairobi. "We will have a reception for Kenyans in Nairobi sometime next year too. Nothing has surprised me more than coming to love this person, who is gentle and has the most gorgeous heart. I consider myself hugely lucky that he loves me and I have only recently fallen in love with him, but we have known each other and have been dating on and off since 2012," wrote Binyavanga. Just last week, his home country, Kenya banned the filming of the Lesbianism movie 'Rafiki' which was set to premier across the country in May Wainaina, an acclaimed African literary giant and founder of the Nairobi-based journal, Kwani, is set to wed early next year after he proposed to his lover whom he has dated for over six years.He is, however, silent on the identity of the said Nigerian.He shared the news of his proposal on his Twitter handle on Wednesday:I knelt down and asked my love for his hand in marriage two weeks ago. He said YES. We will be married in South Africa early next year. I am beside myself with excitement that he has agreed to spend the rest of his life with me.Standard Media Kenya added that the author and his partner will be living in South Africa where his partner will be studying.The acclaimed author heaped praise on his lover, saying he was a gentle person with the most gorgeous heart; and promised a grand reception in Nairobi.In response to the outpouring of messages on his Twitter feeds, Wainaina hinted that there may be a Nigerian party sometime next year to celebrate his marriage.Although the wedding will be held in South Africa, Binyavanga has promised his Kenyan fans of a grand wedding reception in Nairobi.wrote Binyavanga.Just last week, his home country, Kenya banned the filming of the Lesbianism movie 'Rafiki' which was set to premier across the country in May Post Reply Posted: at 3-05-2018 05:09 PM (3 years ago) | Hero VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:AVU) (OTC:AVPMF) (FRANKFURT:8AM) is pleased to present an update on the Alvito Project in South Portugal. Exploration work is funded by OZ Minerals, who are spending A$ 1 million on exploration to earn-in to 51% of the 300-square kilometer Project. To date Avrupa has completed ground magnetics and gravity geophysical surveys, geological mapping, rock chip sampling, and drill targeting. Avrupa and OZ geologists consider the targets to potentially fit into the exploration model for iron oxide (magnetite) copper gold (IOCG) deposits. Originally, a 1500-meter drilling program was slated to be completed during Q3/4 2017, but ongoing ground exploration yielded positive results from additional areas, and that work continued right up until the end of 2017. The proposed drill project has now been increased to 15 holes and approximately 2,100 meters at seven separate target areas. Targeting has been based on positive results from ground magnetics and gravity surveys along with coincident copper and gold geochemical anomalism. Target Name Target Characteristics Magnetite IOCG Drill holes planned Planned hole lengths Entre Matinhas Magnetite breccia, boundary fault 5 100-150 m Manisela Fault (gossan) 1 200 m Entre As Matas Fault, fracture zone 2 150-175 m Mata Contact and fault intersection; magnetite breccia and quartz vein 1 100 m Monte do Outeiro Dikes and fault, gossan 2 150-175 m Cova Das Minas Quartz vein and fault zone 3 100-150 m Ribeira Dikes and faults 1 150 m Table 1. List of target areas for the Alvito Magnetite IOCG Project, initial phase drilling program. Drilling will start in the Entre Matinhas target area, and continue in the Manisela, Mata, Outeiro, Entre as Matas, Cova das Minas, Ribeira, and Vale Nogueira areas (see news release of January 22, 2018). Holes will range in depth from 100 to 200 meters. The program is expected to continue for 1 to 2 months, with results anticipated by the end of Q2 2018. To view Figure 1. (Map of the Alvito license with drilling target areas noted in red), please click on the following link: http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/5ffaf411-0e13-4a47-82f0-8da78b999e68 Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa, commented We are certainly ready and excited for the start-up of the drilling program after a year of exploration around the license. Our partner OZ Minerals has continued to provide funding and technical support for the program, and we are looking forward to seeing the results of this first truly systematic exploration program in the Alvito Project area. Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company focused on discovery, using a prospect generator model, of valuable mineral deposits in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, including Portugal, Kosovo, and Germany. The Company currently holds eight exploration licenses in three European countries, including five in Portugal covering 2,911 km2, two in Kosovo covering 47 km2, and one in Germany covering 307 km2. Avrupa now has six active option and joint ventures, five in Portugal and one in Kosovo, including: The Alvalade, Marateca and Mertola properties with an international mining company on the Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Portugal. The Alvito Option Agreement with OZ Minerals Limited covering one license in the Ossa Morena Zone in southern Portugal, for IOCG deposits; The Covas JV, with Blackheath Resources, covering one license in northern Portugal, for intrusion-related W deposits; and Avrupas partner at the Slivovo Gold Project in Kosovo is fully funding the program, allowing Avrupa to dilute its ownership in the JV operating company Peshter Mining JSC. If AVU ownership goes below 10%, the interest in the project converts to a 2% NSR. For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com. On behalf of the Board, Paul W. Kuhn Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The three referendum proposals made by Taiwan, "Happiness for the Next Generation Alliance" (referred to as the "Happiness Alliance") were passed by the Republic of China (Taiwan) Central Election Commission on April 17th. The three referendum proposals are "marriage definition referendum", "age appropriate same sex education referendum" and "protecting the rights of same-sex couples outside of marriage referendum". On April 17th, the Happiness Alliance published a press release on facebook stating that the Central Election Commission determined that the three referendums met the regulations and were approved. The article points out that the purpose of the "marriage definition referendum" is to assure both parties in a marriage to remain one man and one woman, one husband and one wife. "Protecting the rights of same-sex couples outside of marriage referendum" is made according to Interpretation No. 748 issued by the Constitutional Court of Taiwan, so that lawmakers can use civil law to assure the permanent tie between same-sex couples outside the marriage regulations. After those two referendums passed, the existing heterosexual marriage legal system can be maintained, and new laws made according to the needs of same-sex couples can be designed. The impact on the existing laws is small, yet efficient. Regarding "age appropriate same-sex education referendum", it is the best protection for the children's physical and psychological health. The article states that the body and mind of secondary and elementary students are still in the stage of development, so they are not yet mature in gender identity and sexual orientation, therefore it is not suitable to implement homosexual education, instill diversified sex education, such as gender spectrum and multiple genders. In 2003, the divorce rate in Taiwan was the highest in Asia and second in the world. The monogamous marriage is the foundation of social development, therefore the definition of marriage between a man and a woman should not be changed arbitrarily. Otherwise, it will have a great impact on social culture and education. However, in 2005 and 2013, legislators proposed to alter the definition of monogamous marriage and proposed to allow same-sex marriage into the civil law. Taiwan's marriages and families face even greater pressure because of that. According to the article, the Happiness Alliance will continue to strengthen the promotion of mainstream family policy and hopes that through the referendums on marriage, family and children's education, Taiwan people will pay more attention to Taiwan's marriage and family issues. (Translated from Chinese.GospelHerald.com) Maoists took responsibility for the gruesome slaying of a pastor in eastern India last night (May 1), but area Christians said they suspected Hindu extremists put them up to it. Abraham Topno, pastor of Pentecostal Church of God, was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Ranchi District, Jharkhand state, who slit his throat and beheaded him, his driver told family members. He was 46. The body of the pastor, who ministered in the area for more than 20 years, was found with his head severed from his body, and his vehicle was set on fire. Though Maoists appeared to claim responsibility for the killing by leaving a note at the scene saying "Death to police spy," relatives of the pastor expressed their doubts, saying Hindu extremists likely mobilized Maoists to carry out the execution. Pastor Topno was ambushed and kidnapped about a half mile from his village of Kubasal while on his way back in a public carrier, a Mahindra truck. About 20-25 unidentified gunmen ambushed the vehicle, dragged the pastor and the driver out and covered their "faces completely with a cloth bag," reported the driver after returning. The assailants spared the driver. The pastor's nephew, Aman Christochit Herenz, told Morning Star News that when his uncle did not return late last night, he left home in search of him on his motorbike. "They started to talk to my uncle while the driver was made to stand at a distance," he said, citing the driver, Ranga Singh Munda. "His ears were covered along with his face, so he could not make out their conversation. The Maoists then slit the neck of my uncle and chopped off his head from his body and set the vehicle on fire while not interacting with the driver at all." The driver was later told to go, and he reported the crime to Topno's family. "From a distance I saw a vehicle on fire, and I could sense something was wrong," Herenz said. "I know it is a Maoist area and, sensing trouble, I returned home, not knowing that it was the same vehicle that my uncle was riding that was in flames, and my uncle lying dead beside it." Pastor Topno and the driver were kidnapped around 5 p.m., and Topno was killed around 9 at night, he said. "The Maoists have claimed responsibility of killing my uncle stating that he was a 'police informer,'" said Herenz, who roundly denied the allegations against the pastor. Pastor Nuas Mundu, senior pastor of the Pentecostal Church of God in Murhu village, Khoti District, about 75 kilometers from Topno's village, said he too suspected that Hindu extremists were behind the slaying. "We know that he was a vibrant evangelist, a pioneer missionary, and we suspect that Hindu extremists are behind his killing," Pastor Mundu said. "Maoists will kill anybody for money, and if someone pays them, they will do the job for them." But Shibu Thomas, founder of Persecution Relief, told Morning Star News that Maoists are increasingly targeting Christians. "In the past Christian missionaries did not have much trouble from the Maoists, but lately it's seen that they are trying to harass local Christians across Jharkhand and East Godavari jungles," Thomas said. "We don't know the reason for the same, but definitely they have also deviated from their ideologies and have political affiliations." Topno's wife of 15 years, Huldah Hareing, was devastated and sought prayer. The pastor's body was taken for autopsy this morning, and results are awaited. On July 29, 2016, Communist Party of India (Maoist) guerrillas known as Naxalites killed pasgtor Yohan Marayya in East Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, leaving a note near his body stating that he was killed for being "very friendly" with police (an informant), accumulating wealth and "exploiting the poor." The note also warned that 10 more people would be killed, including six pastors. Area church leaders, however, said the accusations were untrue, telling Morning Star News that Pastor Marayya was killed for the thriving ministries he and his brothers were carrying out, which threatened the communists' influence in the area. Kubasal village is situated in the Tamar Block of Ranchi District, where Pastor Topno's congregation meets in homes. The headquarter of the Pentecostal Church of God is in Itarsi, Madhya Pradesh. The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say. India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors' 2018 World Watch List of countries where Christians experience the most persecution. The only way to achieve the goal of affordable health care for all Americans is to cut the cost of care. Unfortunately, neither the Democrats' Affordable Care Act nor the GOP's failed American Health Care Act made great strides towards that goal.But states can address the problem on their own. A good place to start is by working to cut the approximate $1 trillion in annual wasteful health care spending . Recently, our organization, the Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute in Houston, solicited ideas about ways to reduce health care costs from a panel of top health care experts. A common theme emerged: States can be part of the solution. Here are five ways:Many in health care don't speak to consumers about health care in their own language. We recently found that the terms of some short-term health insurance plans are written at the level of a college graduate, for example. Patients who don't understand written materials are at higher risk for seeking emergency care, having more frequent hospital admissions and having poor compliance with treatment recommendations -- all costing money.Medicaid information is already mandated to be provided at a sixth-grade reading level. States could start by applying that standard to the health insurance they provide their own employees, helping those 4 million workers better understand what they are buying. Eventually, the same requirement could be applied by state insurance commissioners to the insurance plans under their purview that are offered to the private sector.Every physician specialty association sets its own national treatment guidelines. Nevertheless, between one-third and three-quarters of physicians, depending upon specialty, do not use them.States should identify the 20 most expensive Medicaid services and assemble a panel of physicians from each specialty practicing in their state to review the guidelines. They could compile a list of guidelines and share this with managed care organizations to use as they see fit. Eventually, they could consider not paying for services that don't conform to guidelines.More than 70 percent of physicians in a recent survey acknowledged they perform more procedures when they profit from them. The fee-for-service model incentivizes overtreatment, amounting to $200 billion in wasteful spending annually.Converting physicians to salaries plus a quality bonus, without reducing their total compensation, could create savings of between 8 and 33 percent due to a decrease in unnecessary tests and procedures. Medicaid agencies could create a bonus for physician groups that compensate a large percentage of their doctors primarily by salary. The good news is that 69 percent of doctors say they'd support this shift.Paraprofessionals such as community health workers and "Grand-Aides" -- trained "nurse extenders" who follow up with patients after discharge -- can help keep people healthier and out of the hospital. (One of the authors of this column, Arthur Garson, is the founder of the Grand-Aides program). Newly published data show that Grand-Aides reduced the 30-day readmission rate for patients from 15.8 percent down to 2.8 percent. These types of programs can be particularly helpful with "dual-eligible" patients, those who qualify for both Medicare and Medicaid.To implement such a program, or others that prove savings, a managed care organization would need the state to designate such a program as an allowable medical expense.Too many new drugs have exorbitant prices. Around the world, nations use the cost-effectiveness of drugs as a measure of value. If drugs aren't cost-effective, they aren't approved.However, the Affordable Care Act prohibits the use of cost-effectiveness in decision-making. In other words, Medicaid can't refuse to cover a medication simply because it costs too much relative to the benefit it provides. A state, however, couldthe cost-effectiveness of drugs and use that data as part of its decision-making.What's next? This country has a long history of states developing innovative policy solutions that inspire Washington to act. More than a decade ago, Congress considered the Health Partnership Act , which would have provided grants to states trying new strategies.That legislation died when national health care reform was proposed, but the idea was a good one and should be back on the table. At the very least, federal lawmakers should consider reviving the measure as one way of helping states fulfill their role as laboratories of innovation. Now, perhaps more than ever, it's incumbent upon states to embrace their role in tackling health care costs, given the lack of movement in Washington on the issue. After all, there's a trillion dollars at stake -- and that number is growing each year. A federal judge forcefully slapped down North Dakotas efforts to fight his ruling that loosened the states voter identification law Monday.U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland denied the states request to delay part of that ruling amid an appeal. The request focused on the April 3 order preventing the state from requiring that IDs include a current residential street address, which Native American communities often lack.Attorneys for the state warned Hovlands order could allow residents of other states to vote here, but the judge said they have raised a litany of embellished concerns and havent shown any evidence of voter fraud in the past or present. He suggested both sides sit down for one day and create workable and reasonable solutions, possibly with the help of a mediator. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti likes to joke that "no sane person would actually ever run for president."He might just be crazy enough to do it.Garcetti has made little secret of his presidential ambitions. In a new interview with, Garcetti says he may well make the jump in 2020. "In an ideal world, I'd see this term out," he says. "I am, at the same time, really concerned about the country and the direction of the country."Without naming President Trump, Garcetti said that a president needs to be "practical, results-oriented, inclusive and decent.""We have a lot of indecency," Garcetti toldPresident Cathilea Robinett in an interview for the new podcast "In the Arena," which is launching next month. "We have a lot of division, we have a lot of impracticality, we have a lack of experience in government."Garcetti visited Iowa last month, making him the first prospective Democratic candidate to visit all four early voting states, following trips to New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.Garcetti, who is 47, will have a lot of work to do introducing himself to voters outside California. He won election to a second term last March with 81 percent of the vote, but it's unlikely many voters have heard of him outside Southern California.Garcetti is fond of pointing out that more people live in Los Angeles than 23 states. Still, Garcetti concedes that the presidency "seems like a big jump for mayors to consider."Historically, there's no question Garcetti is correct. No mayor has ever been elected president directly, and only three former mayors -- Andrew Johnson, Grover Cleveland and Calvin Coolidge -- have ever made it to the White House. The presidential runs of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani in 2008 and his predecessor John V. Lindsay in 1972 both fizzled quickly.Garcetti says he hopes, even if he bows out, that other mayors will run. "We're exactly what the country wants and needs right now," he says.Mayors Bill de Blasio of New York, Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., and Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, who will leave office on Monday, have all either hinted at runs or been the subject of speculation.In February, conservative columnist George Will noted that Garcetti's combined Russian Jewish and Mexican heritage, to say nothing of his leadership of polyglot Los Angeles, can speak to the shifting demographics of the country. Garcetti is also a generation younger than some of the best-known aspirants in what is likely to be a crowded field -- an "impatient generation," as Garcetti has said."Los Angeles mayors are not powerful -- the schools are run by others -- and he must get along with the mayors of 87 other cities in Los Angeles County," Will wrote . "This is, however, training for the presidency, which is less powerful than those who seek it think it is, until, in office, they must deal with Washingtons rival power centers."Los Angeles is contending with a serious homeless problem, as well as a housing crunch in general. But Garcetti, who spoke with Robinett before addressing's Summit at Performance and Innovation in Los Angeles, has convinced voters to devote billions of dollars to housing and infrastructure.The city's economy is booming, posting record numbers of tourists last year. Garcetti can brag about landing both the 2028 Summer Olympics and a museum being built by Star Wars creator George Lucas, a billion-dollar project that ran into snags in both Chicago and San Francisco.Given all that, Garcetti doesn't sound as if he'd be too disappointed if he ultimately fails to catch fire among out-of-state primary voters. "I'm not looking too far in the future because I have a lot of work undone in L.A.," he told Robinett. "I think this will be the best job I ever have in my life." When Richard Cordray announced his run for Ohio governor back in December, he was considered such a formidable candidate that two Democrats promptly dropped out of the race, while a third joined Cordray's campaign as his running mate. "One of Cordray's biggest strengths was his ability to clear the field," says David Niven, a political scientist at the University of Cincinnati.But Cordray's path to next Tuesday's primary has not been a cakewalk. The former state attorney general is trying to beat back a spirited challenge from Dennis Kucinich, a former member of Congress and presidential candidate who is running to Cordray's left and who has repeatedly claimed that his rival should be running as a Republican instead.The race has drawn attention from national media outlets because, as with other contests this primary season, it pits so-called establishment candidates against more progressive populists. "In many cases, establishment candidates and incumbents are being pulled to the left by an energized party base and surprisingly strong liberal challengers," David Weigel recently wrote inIn New York, for instance, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is facing a highly publicized challenge from actress Cynthia Nixon. And in Georgia, Stacey Abrams -- the more liberal of the "two Staceys" running in the May 22 gubernatorial primary -- is polling ahead of rival Stacey Evans.The recent media narrative that plays up the battle between moderates and liberals has been overblown, argues Jared Leopold, communications director for the Democratic Governors Association. He recalls that similar stories were spun last year in New Jersey and Virginia. In both cases, the establishment candidate won, uniting the party behind him and winning handily in November."People are spending a lot of time trying to make the current Democratic Party into the 2016 Democratic Party, and that's just not the case," he says, alluding to the drawn-out primary battle between the more progressive candidate, Bernie Sanders, and the establishment's eventual nominee, Hillary Clinton. "It's very rare to see that level of animosity play out in 2018."There's nothing new about candidates attacking each other in primaries, where the electorate tends to be skewed toward a party's most loyal and ardent voters. On the Republican side in Ohio, the race between state Attorney General Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor has become increasingly competitive and contentious, with Taylor assailing DeWine for not being sufficiently loyal to President Trump.For their part, Democrats are engaged in a debate amongst themselves over whether stalwartly "resisting" Trump -- or even calling for his impeachment -- is a better strategy than presenting candidates who can appeal to general election voters and, by winning, actually provide some balance against the president.Four years ago, Cuomo beat back a challenge from Zephyr Teachout, an underfunded law professor who nonetheless took just over a third of the primary vote. The final result may not have been close, but Teachout performed better than any challenger had against a sitting governor since New York first instituted gubernatorial primaries.Although she can't match his fundraising, Nixon has the potential to put a bigger scare into Cuomo than Teachout did, says Doug Muzzio, a pollster at Baruch College. Last month, Nixon won the endorsement of the progressive third party Working Families, meaning she'll not only challenge Cuomo in the September primary, but likely remain on the ballot in November.Cuomo, who was an early supporter of same-sex marriage rights, has also tightened gun restrictions, raised the minimum wage to $15 per hour and created the nation's first program to offer free tuition for four years of college. Nonetheless, progressives distrust him , viewing him as a reluctant convert to many of their causes and decrying his alliance with a rump group of Democrats who for years kept the GOP in control of the state Senate."Objectively, the man has governed as a left-of-center governor," Muzzio says. "Ask someone from a deep-red state and they'll say he's a radical, liberal bomb-throwing Bolshevik. He hasn't done everything progressives want because he has responsibilities, financial and political, that they don't have."It's a different story in Georgia, where the more liberal candidate seems likely to win the nomination. The advantage enjoyed by former state House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams may have more to do with race than ideological differences, suggests University of Georgia political scientist Charles Bullock. Evans, also a former state representative, is white and Abrams is black.Black voters cast a majority of the ballots in the 2014 Democratic primary, with black women making up a disproportionate share. "It's going to be very hard, with a black female running, to get black women to vote for a white candidate," says Bullock.Evans has been arguing she would be more electable in the fall because she would have greater appeal to blue-collar Democrats and the potential to make inroads with Republicans unhappy with Trump's performance. Other recent Georgia Democratic nominees have made a similar pitch and lost in the general election.For her part, Abrams has maintained all year that for Democrats to take back the governorship, they need to register and turn out more minority voters. It looks like she'll have the chance to test that theory.A similar argument is playing out in Ohio, where Cordray supporters say he'd fare much better than Kucinich in the fall. Cordray left his post as head of the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to run for governor. He's been focused largely on economic issues, and has the backing of the AFL-CIO and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who initially conceived the CFPB."Here's the irony: Cordray literally spent years fighting big banks and being the embodiment of what the Sanders voters would want to see happen," says Niven, the Cincinnati professor. "But Cordray brings all the energy of a tax accountant to the message, and it does represent a vulnerability for him. He doesn't breathe the fire and brimstone, so a lot of those voters are drawn to Kucinich."But Kucinich has his flaws as well. He's drawn progressive support because he was ahead of the pack on issues such as universal health care, free tuition and skepticism about trade. He also proudly wears a lapel pin displaying his "F" rating from the National Rifle Association, while Cordray has refused to call for an assault weapons ban. But Kucinich, a former Fox News contributor, has said kind things about Trump, met with Syrian dictator Bashir al-Assad last year and accepted a $20,000 speaking fee from a group associated with the regime. "Could Democrat who defends Trump, sees UFOs, meets with dictators win in Ohio?" wondered a headline in March."To Cordray's benefit, the Sanders stand-in in this race is Dennis Kucinich, a deeply flawed candidate with all kinds of upside-down alliances," Niven says.If Cordray were scared, he would be running ads attacking Kucinich, argues Kyle Kondik, author of, a 2016 book about Ohio politics. That hasn't happened. His advantages in fundraising and organization could help him win over the large number of voters across the sprawling state who declared themselves undecided in polls.Candidates like Cordray who focus on economic messages are sometimes tarred as "establishment," but they have a pretty good record in intraparty fighting, says David de la Fuente, a political analyst for Third Way, a centrist Democratic think tank. "We've seen time and again, in primary, general and special elections since the presidential election, that they are the ones that can actually win in tough places." Gov. Eric Greitens ran an off-the-books political campaign as early as 2014, took a charity donor list to raise campaign funds and ultimately lied about that list in a signed statement to the state's ethics commission, according to documents and testimony from six of his former employees.The findings are outlined in a 23-page report released Wednesday by a Missouri House committee investigating Greitens, a Republican. The report contains evidence that Greitens and associates lied in campaign filings, a class A misdemeanor, and violated campaign finance law _ a civil offense _ when he operated a shadow campaign a year before filing required paperwork with election authorities.The report and its reams of exhibits plot Greitens' methodical rise from nonprofit founder to "conservative outsider" governor of Missouri _ by relying on money he raised from members of the charity's donor list he had pledged to keep private.Among the findings:_ Greitens signed an agreement dated Nov. 27, 2012, with the charity he founded, The Mission Continues, vowing to hold in strict confidence "lists, databases ... trade or business secrets" of the charity. Greitens' assistant, Krystal Taylor (whose last name is now Proctor), signed the same agreement earlier that month._ Greitens had considered running for state political office at least as early as Oct. 16, 2013, according to an email the committee obtained. Before forming his campaign committee in February 2015, he paid advisers personally and through The Greitens Group. Candidates for statewide office are required to register a campaign committee with the Missouri Ethics Commission once they spend more than $500._ Greitens himself received the donor list in question on May 8, 2014, through an email from The Mission Continues employee Lori Stevens. Greitens was sent the list so that he could call donors to prepare them for a leadership transition as he prepared his campaign. However, he used the donor list for political purposes, something that Spencer Kympton, the president of the charity, testified was not an authorized use._ Danny Laub, a former Greitens adviser, said he was "affirmatively misled" by campaign manager Austin Chambers. Laub said that in April 2017, days before the campaign settled an ethics complaint, Chambers convinced Laub to "put (his) name down" on the settlement _ but Laub didn't know that his name would be affixed to a report that was "false in every particular" and blamed him for providing the charity donor list, he said.The report does not contain a recommendation on whether the governor should be impeached. The Republican leadership of the Missouri House is collecting signatures of representatives on a petition to call a special session that may result in an impeachment vote.Greitens, a former Navy SEAL, founded The Mission Continues in 2007. His alleged use of a fundraising list from the charity is under investigation.Before the new report's release, Greitens already faced a tidal wave of legal troubles. In St. Louis, he will be tried May 14 on a felony invasion of privacy charge alleging he took and transmitted a photo of his partially undressed lover without her consent. A second felony case charges him with felony computer tampering for taking the donor list in question. He also faces a lawsuit in Cole County Circuit Court over alleged destruction of public records.Hours before the latest report was issued, Democrats in the House expressed frustration that House Speaker Todd Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff, wasn't moving fast enough to impeach Greitens based on the committee's first report on Greitens' affair.In a letter Wednesday, Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis, said the people of Missouri are waiting on lawmakers to act."The President Pro Tem of the Senate has called for immediate impeachment, and the Attorney General has confirmed that we have sufficient cause for impeachment, but the responsibility to impeach begins in the House," Merideth wrote."Democrats are demanding action. Enough is enough. The people of Missouri are waiting for us to act," added Rep. Michael Butler, D-St. Louis.According to an email the committee obtained, Greitens had mulled a run for statewide office "at least as early as Oct. 16, 2013" _ at which point a political consultant named Steven Michael sent a donor list from then-Auditor Tom Schweich, who was planning a run for governor before he died by suicide on Feb. 26, 2015.As he prepared his run, Greitens sought advice from Laub and consultant Michael Hafner in early 2014, the report says. Greitens took sabbatical from the organization between late 2013 and spring 2014, according to the report.Greitens also transitioned from chief executive of the charity to one of its board members that spring.Greitens hired Laub in December 2014 and Hafner in January 2015, the report says. Neither was initially paid out of a campaign fund because one had not been established, and payments to them were never reported in campaign filings, according to the report."Although Hafner's work was strictly political, his initial pay was from either The Greitens Group or Eric Greitens personally," the report says.It wasn't until February 2015 that Greitens formally registered a campaign committee with the ethics commission.Although the report doesn't mention it, state law requires candidates to form campaign committees after they spend more than $500.The Missouri Attorney General's Office deposed Laub on April 18. Laub declined to testify before the House committee, but the attorney general's office forwarded Laub's deposition to the panel, according to the report.Mason Fink, a national political fundraiser, sent an email on May 26, 2014 stating that Greitens should open a campaign committee that spring. But Laub responded that "this is silly," the report says."The later the better," Laub thought at the time, he told the attorney general's office. "Eric's key to victory was timing and this would have disrupted that."The amount of how much Laub and Hafner were paid before the campaign fund was created is not clear. But, once they began complying with state campaign laws, records show Laub was being paid $5,000 every two weeks. Hafner was receiving $4,000 every two weeks.Based on that rate, Laub and Hafner received well over the $500 threshold set forth in state ethics law.As Greitens was transitioning from CEO to a board member of the organization, an employee at The Mission Continues emailed the donor list in question to Greitens, Proctor, Kympton and Lyndsey Reichardt (formerly Hodges) on May 8, 2014.The goal, Proctor told the House committee, was to prepare donors for the change in leadership by having Greitens contact them. Proctor said it was Greitens who directed employees to send him the list."He asked the development team to send him a list of donors of The Mission Continues, and then also a list of calls that he would be making to The Mission Continues sort of top donors to let them know that he would be transitioning and stepping down as CEO," Proctor testified.She also pulled donor data in November 2012 to compile "a holiday card list for Greitens," according to the report. She sent the list to The Greitens Group, and warned "please DO keep this private. Do NOT print this spreadsheet or distribute it."In a non-disclosure agreement Greitens and Proctor signed, dated November 2012, they agreed not to use or share the donor list for outside purposes.As Greitens ratcheted up his campaign, however, use of the list came up again and again behind closed doors, according to the report.Tracy Hardgrove, vice president of operations and administration for the Better Business Bureau serving the St. Louis region, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Wednesday that The Mission Continues remains accredited with the organization, but that its status is under review."Because of the situation, we feel that we need to take caution," she said.She said that according to BBB standards, a charity must "be transparent about how they're going to use and/or protect a donor's information if they provide it."The report shows that officials at The Mission Continues were concerned about Greitens using the charity to help him win the Republican primary.The report notes that Mission Continues President Spencer Kympton became aware of Greitens' political use of charity resources in August 2016, but did not know Greitens was using the donor list.Hoping to head off future problems, Kympton contacted Greitens campaign manager Austin Chambers to express concern that a campaign fundraising website aligned Greitens with The Mission Continues and could jeopardize the charity's tax-exempt status.Greitens attorney Michael Adams, who is now a Republican candidate for secretary of state in Kentucky, agreed to cease using a photo the campaign took at the charity's offices. But, Kympton was not told the campaign was using the donor list for fundraising."News reports from the fall of 2016 indicate that cross-referencing the names on the TMC list with Greitens campaign donors reveals that the campaign raised nearly $2 million from persons or organizations on the TMC list," the report says.After the Associated Press report in October 2016, Democrats filed a complaint with the Missouri Ethics Commission alleging that the Greitens campaign obtained a charity donor list but did not report it as an in-kind contribution _ a campaign violation.The Greitens campaign, in an April 2017 settlement with the ethics commission, said that it did receive the donor list on March 1, 2015 from Laub. The campaign valued the list at $600."In fact, however, the list was not an in-kind contribution from Danny Laub," the report states. "Laub was never an employee of TMC, and thus, was not able to authorize disclosure or use of the list; and the list was sent to Laub and Hafner by Proctor at Greitens' direction."Chambers called Laub on April 24, 2017, days before Greitens and Adams signed the settlement with the ethics commission.According to Laub's testimony: "Austin says to me, 'I don't know if you know this, but there's a bull---- ethics complaint filed against us by the Democrat party about this Mission Continues donor list.' And he said, 'I need someone who was on the campaign at the time, because I wasn't, to put their name down so we can get this bull---- complaint dismissed."Laub thought he would agree to his name being used because he was the campaign manager at the time the list was obtained. But, he said, he was "affirmatively misled" by Chambers and said any assertion he donated the list himself is "untrue."The Post-Dispatch reported in February that Taylor (now Proctor) emailed the donor list to Hafner and Laub on Jan. 6, 2015 _ two months before the March 1 date on which the campaign said it obtained the list. A copy of that email is listed as evidence in the House report.It was initially unclear Wednesday whether Cole County prosecutor Mark Richardson, who has jurisdiction, would announce charges against Greitens or any associates for allegedly orchestrating the false campaign report.(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)As the Capitol braced for the new report, lawmakers received an anonymous handout this week raising questions about the credibility of Rep. Jay Barnes, a Jefferson City Republican who is leading the House investigation into Greitens.Rep. Nick Marshall, R-Parkville, said he didn't think the document would have the desired effect for whoever was behind it. It will solidify the body in wanting to get to the bottom of the governor's situation, he said.It's "stupid," Marshall said of the list. "It won't work."Rep. Steve Cookson, R-Poplar Bluff, who has called on Greitens to resign, said it was bad form to anonymously criticize Barnes, whom he said has lots of integrity and character."I think anyone who would put something like that out without signing it and make accusations like that is chicken crap," Cookson said.On the Democratic side, Minority Floor Leader Gail McCann Beatty, who has also called on Greitens to resign, said she found the list waiting for her in her office."I threw it in the trash," she said. "I don't see the point. It's disruptive in what we're trying to do. To me it has no merit."Barnes did not return a request for comment left at his office. Description GIS 03 May 2018: In the context of the Egyptian week, which is being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade and the Embassy of Egypt to Mauritius in collaboration with the Ministry of Arts and Culture to mark the 50th Anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius, three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on Cultural and Media Cooperation were signed yesterday in Port Louis. The signatories were the Minister of Arts and Culture , Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, the Ambassador of Egypt to Mauritius, Mrs Aya Saad Mohamad Abdelkarim and the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Usha Chandnee Dwarka-Canabady. In his keynote address, Minister Roopun highlighted that the signature of the MoUs will further deepen mutual understanding and collaboration at the bilateral, regional, economic and cultural level between the two countries. Minister Roopun expressed gratitude to the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt for its commitment, dedication and continuous support to the Government of Mauritius and highlighted that the bilateral relationship has indeed been instrumental in the economic development of Mauritius. He further pointed out that it is imperative for Mauritius to enhance bilateral and economic cooperation in line with Governments African Strategy on possible technical cooperation so as to tap into the economic opportunities of the Suez Canal Special Economic Zone. On the occasion the Minister and the Ambassador of Egypt to Mauritius proceeded with the launching of the Egyptian Film Festival which will kick off on Friday 04 May 2018 at MCine Flacq. The projection of Egyptian films reflecting the cultures; contemporary and social problems; role of women of Egypt will enable Mauritians to get an insight of the Egyptian traditions and culture, Mr Roopun added. In her address, Mrs Dwarka-Canabady highlighted that Mauritius and Egypt share friendly and warm ties. The signing of this MoU is evidence of the strong cooperation which will in turn give a new momentum to the strong relationship between the two countries, she underscored. The Arab Republic of Egypt was among the first partners of Mauritius and the first MoU on scientific technical cultural cooperation with Egypt was in 1972, she added. For her part, the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Mauritius, Mrs Aya Saad Mohamad Abdelkarim, recalled that the diplomatic relations between the two countries date to 1972 and that the diplomatic ties have strengthen over time. She dwelled on the Egyptian Week which comprises events in the diplomatic, cultural, gastronomic, and cinematographic field. The aim of the Egyptian Week is to further consolidate the cultural ties between the two countries, she underpinned. On that occasion, a Prize Giving Ceremony was also held to reward children who have taken part in In the Eyes of the World Competition organised by the Government of Egypt. Description GIS 03 May 2018: A case study on Embankment Failure along Motorway M3- Terre Rouge Verdun was the focus of a workshop which was held this morning at the Sir Burrenchobay Hall, University of Mauritius (UOM) in Reduit. The Minister of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport, Mr. Nandcoomar Bodha, Mr Jean-Pierre Magnan, Professor at French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Deployment and Networks, and other eminent personalities were present on the occasion. The workshop is an initiative of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Land Transport and the Road Development Authority in collaboration with the UOM. Representatives of the Ministry, the private sector as well as foreign experts attended the workshop. In his address Minister Nandcoomar Bodha underlined that the failed Motorway M3- Terre Rouge Verdun project has entailed consequent repair works which Government is determined on completing. He expressed gratitude to the experts of the Korean Geotechnical Society, ARQ (Pty) South Africa and in particular French expert, Mr. Magnan, in backing up the Government to come up with a safe, reliable and affordable solution. It is essential that the population be apprised of the causes behind the failed project and the numerous challenges encountered to undertake repair works, he said. The Minister further pointed out that the study provides a valuable insight not only on the causes behind the construction failure but also an in-depth understanding of the complex topography of the country. He underpinned the importance of mastering the complex geomorphological, geographical and climatic, meteorological system to be able to undertake major building infrastructure ventures in the future. Mr. Bodha reiterated the determination of the Government to address the issue of connectivity in order to create a better and modern country, adding that a budget of Rs50 Billion has been earmarked to undertake massive construction projects. In this respect, he recalled that his Ministry has set up a Geotechnical Unit that ensures the efficient and effective implementation of key projects such as the Metro Express and construction of tunnels under the Signal Mountain and Moneron Hill. In his presentation of an analysis of the Terre Rouge Verdun link road failure, Mr. Jean-Pierre Magnan pointed out that cracks indicated a movement of the ground below inclined at 45 degrees from the road axis. He further added that in the wake of an in-depth investigation of the evolution of the cracks, both the ARQ (Pty) South Africa and the Korea Expressway Corporation concluded that the origin of movements and road cracks was the poor properties of the ground underlying the embankment as well as weathering and circulation of water. He further said that there was an unsuccessful drainage of the site along with a poor quality of fill material and upper soil layer. Experts have come up with a strategy defining the optimum repair works needed, which comprises an analysis of soils and rocks of the surface, a deformation and stability analysis and the design of repair works. The reconstruction of the fill will include the reinforcing of the slope by rigid vertical elements (piles) to block any further movement of the embankment and underlying ground. Inclinometer tubes will also be installed inside some of the piles. Description GIS 03 May 2018: The 11th World Hindi Conference (WHC), organised jointly by the Government of Mauritius and the Government of India, will be held in Mauritius at Swami Vivekanand International Convention Centre in Pailles from 18 to 20 August 2018. The Minister of External Affairs, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj, accompanied by two other ministers will lead the Indian delegation comprising some 100 members. This was announced yesterday during a joint press conference by the Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs. Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, and the High Commissioner of India to Mauritius, Mr. Abhay Thakur, at the headquarters of the World Hindi Secretariat in Phoenix. Minister Dookun-Luchoomun recalled that the setting up of the World Hindi Secretariat is a milestone towards enhancing the status of Hindi language in the country and that hosting the WHC for a third time in Mauritius bears testimony to the great importance that Government gives to the language and culture. The main objectives of WHC which are to regroup stakeholders including Hindi scholars, writers, researchers, journalists and publishers on a global platform so as to accelerate the promotion of Hindi as an international language. She pointed out that the conference will offer networking opportunities as well as encourage the widespread usage of Hindi language in the fields of science, education and technology, amongst others. Mrs. Dookun-Luchoomun was in India for the launching by the Minister of External Affairs of India, Mrs. Sushma Swaraj on 10 April 2018 at Jawaharlal Nehru Bhawan in New Delhi, of the official website and the logo for the 11th WHC. For his part the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Abhay Thakur, underscored that the forthcoming Conference will help further reinforce intercultural networking and exchanges as well as strengthen the existing linkage between both countries. He pointed out that the main theme of the 11th WHC is Hindi Vishwa Aur Bharatiy Sanskriti which means Global Hindi and Indian Culture. He added that during the conference, the launch of several books and exhibitions will be held and Hindi scholars will also be honoured for their distinguished services in the field of Hindi. Online registration can be made on the official website www.vishwahindisammelan.gov.in . The deadline for registration is 15 July 2018. Some 35 countries have already shown their interest of participation. World Hindi Secretariat The setting up the WHS in Mauritius was raised at the first World Hindi Conference in Nagpur 1975. On 11 February 2008, the WHS formally started functioning. The foundation stone of the building was laid in 2015 during the visit of the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, to Mauritius. The WHS was inaugurated by the President of the Republic of India, Mr. Ram Nath Kovind, on 13 March 2018 during his visit to Mauritius for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Independence of the country. Regulators explain GDPR's impact on government GDPR defined Holding EU citizen data not an option When the May 25 enforcement deadline for Europes General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rolls around, U.S. companies, organizations and institutions that target their products and services to people living in Europe will be on the hook to comply or potentially face steep fines.GDPR is a set of strict rules that give European Union (EU) citizens control over their personally identifiable information (PII).The rules have instilled fear in a number of these entities, which may face fines of up to 4 percent of their annual global revenue or 20 million euros, whichever is greater, should they fail GDPR compliance. But what about state and local governments?If a third country processor like a U.S. government agency is not targeting the European market with goods and services, then they would not have to abide by GDPR, said Dirk Hensel, a spokesman for Germanys federal commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information. I dont think well see too many of these cases are relevant.For example, a resident in Germany may own property in Los Angeles County and pay the fee to access their records online through the countys website. In this particular case, Los Angeles County is not targeting Germanys residents or other European citizens to use the service. It just happens to have a website that can be accessed by German citizens and others throughout the globe, he noted.However, if the state of Floridas tourism department, for example, launches a promotional campaign to target residents living in Europe to come visit the Sunshine State, then any PII data collected on those German citizens by the state of Florida would likely fall under GDPR requirements, he explained.One point Hensel noted, however, is if the Florida tourism department relied on an advertising agency to run its promotional campaign and interact with Germanys citizens, then it is the advertising agency that needs to abide by GDPR.Anya Burgess, a spokeswoman with the United Kingdoms Information Commissioners Office, toldthat GDPR only applies if individuals who receive the product or service reside in Europe.As a result, GDPR does not apply if a U.S. government agency collects PII data on a citizen of Europe who is visiting or living in the U.S. and uses that government agencys services or products while in the U.S.If the processing is not going on in the EU to citizens in the EU, then it doesnt apply, Burgess said, noting, U.S. government agencies provide their services in the U.S. and not the EU and would not be regulated by the GDPR.State and local government agencies are encouraged to contact EU data authorities if they have GDPR questions, Hensel advised.Under GDPR, all companies, institutions, organizations and government agencies that process PII on individuals residing in the European Union must abide by these privacy regulations, regardless of where the entity is located.Overall, the goal of GDPR is to provide European residents with transparency of how their PII data is used, improve the level of control over their own data and increase the safeguards used to protect that data.GDPR requires entities to request PII data in clear, simple language and attach the consent form to the information on why the data is needed. And before a government agency or other entities can use the PII data, users would need to opt in with their consent and be able to withdraw that consent just as easily, according to the GDPR.Although the impact on state and local governments is expected to be minimal, government agencies are still taking stock of where they potentially stand when it comes to complying with GDPR and safeguarding PII data of EU citizens.The Washington state Office of Privacy and Data Protection (OPDP) held a staff meeting in March to discuss GDPR issues, according to Will Saunders, senior program manager for open data at Washingtons OPDP.Alex Alben, Washington state chief privacy officer, led the discussion on how much risk Washington state faces under GDPR and one of the issues considered, for example, is the number of Europeans who receive services from the state and what potential risks that could mean to Washington state, Saunders recalled.The number of Europeans receiving state services is pretty minimal and the state is already taking efforts to keep its PII to a minimum, said Saunders.GDPR consultant Sheila FitzPatrick, founder of FitzPatrick & Associates, said state and local governments will not likely have a lot of PII data on European residents, compared to federal agencies.Governments tend to hold onto data, but under GDPR, in most circumstances, they wont be able to do that, she warned. Federal, state and local governments are not exempt under GDPR. (TNS) - As Bay District, Fla., Schools officials ramp up secure entrance and campus hardening projects, both the security and facilities departments are faced with a dilemma where to draw the line between public and private when it comes to school campuses."All our schools were built with a neighborhood atmosphere in mind," said Lee Walters, the district's director of facilities. "How do we not totally lose that?"For Walters and District Safety and Security Chief Mike Jones, the massive $4 million project to outfit every school with a secure entrance and shore up gates, perimeters and cameras is a "balancing act" between making parents feel comfortable enough to come to the school for events, but also having everyone feel safe. At a meeting Wednesday morning the two, along with several others, discussed the district's priorities moving forward, as well as some of the challenges.Many Bay District schools are built in ways that make securing the campus especially tricky. Arnold High School, for example, was built to be open and inviting to the public, with access to the gymnasium and fine arts centers separate from the main office. Walters said he is working with architects to try to preserve that inviting nature while also funneling visitors, or potential threats, toward the main office where they can be dealt with.Jinks Middle School also has a wide open courtyard that faces 11th Street. For Walters, the question isn't whether to put fencing around the perimeter, but where the fencing should start."We have got to get fencing all around the front of that school," he said. "We can't have folks cutting across the front of our campus anymore."Currently there are 16 schools without a secure front entrance, where visitors enter into a vestibule and are stopped from entering further by doors with electronic locks and front desk employees behind shatterproof glass. With the School Board wanting to have those projects completed within a year, or as fast as possible, Walters said he has three architects working on designing the entrances. The designs for Jinks and Everitt middle schools, Tyndall Elementary School and Rutherford High School are just about ready.But as solutions are found and security concerns addressed, Walters and Jones found new ones cropping up. For example, some of the secure entrances the district built a few years ago need to be shored up against new threats, and Walters brought up the possibility of needing future secure entrances at other access points, such as the gymnasium or the cafeteria.With some elementary school playgrounds being opened up for public parks comes the need for cameras that can monitor the playgrounds, Jones said. And with new Bay District Police officers stationed at every elementary school comes the need for them to have an office near the front of the school. And with upgraded camera systems comes a need for a new building for the security office, and a portal for agencies like SWAT to possibly be able to access the camera feeds in an emergency."It keeps going," Walters said. "It's not just one and done. It's continue, continue, continue."Jones, Walters and the facilities team will meet next week to start mapping out where to place new Stanley Best locks with key codes on exterior doors, with the idea that only law enforcement and a few others would have the key code and be able to get into the school in an emergency situation. The secure entrances will move forward as designs are completed and likely extend through the summer and into the school year, with front offices relocating to another building as needed.2018 The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.)Visit The News Herald (Panama City, Fla.) at www.newsherald.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.Reports reveal fire department failures On April 25, California law enforcement announced the possible capture of a long-sought serial killer. Shortly after, it was reported that police had used public DNA databases to determine his identity This extraordinary event highlights that when you send off a cheek swab to one of the private genome companies, you may sacrifice not just your own privacy but that of your family and your ancestors.In a time of widespread anxiety over the misuse of social media, Americans should also be concerned over who has access to their genetic information.For-profit genome testing companies like 23andMe make money, in part, by selling anonymized genomic data . Many people may not realize that re-identifying genomes that is, identifying an individual from their genetic profile is a relatively straightforward process . In one study, researchers could re-identify five of 10 people, as well as their families.Humans share about 99 percent of their DNA bases with one another. The few differences that exist are often sufficient to figure out whos related to whom.The genome has been something of a disappointment medically. Physicians generally cant do much with the information that a given patient has, say, a 3 percent greater risk of dementia. But those data are potentially very useful to insurance companies and employers trying lower their risk.The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act , a federal law passed in 2008, prevents insurance companies and employers from forcing people to undergo genetic testing. But it doesnt necessarily prevent bad actors from using dark-web databases and advanced analytics to give themselves a commercial edge.There have been no reports yet of companies doing this. But we live in an age in which it seems the possible becomes probable on an almost daily basis.Members of Congress have already tried to remove some of the little genetic privacy protection that already exists. And companies have begun to offer genome sequencing as an employee benefit The financial services industry offers a cautionary tale for the customers of the genome industry. Banks are highly regulated and supposed to provide state-of-the-art protection, yet they have been hacked Compared to financial institutions, genome companies are lightly regulated. Eventually one or more of them will be hacked or even caught selling risk profiling services to third parties.With respect to police and prosecutors, the situation is somewhat different. In the end, they must submit their work to the courts. Its possible that setting up a fake account on an ancestor DNA website , as the California police reportedly did, constitutes unreasonable search and seizure.Given the large financial rewards and the behavior of other industries, millions of American families should likely consider their genomic privacy as already compromised. If the genome of one of your relatives is in one of these databases, then essentially so is yours.In the uncommon circumstance that a whole family has not one member who has yet to send off a cheek swab, that family might want to consider opting out of this whole thing until society sorts out risks, benefits and privacy protections.Most people, however, will have to wait and hope they will not be harmed by a genomic revolution that has provided them with little benefit Traffic, parking and even garbage collecting in San Mateo County, Calif., could get more efficient and smarter as the county begins an earnest exploration into smart city projects that can be unfolded across the region."We believe that the complex issues like housing, traffic congestion, public safety dont stop at the city borders, said Ulysses Vinson, chief smart communities officer of San Mateo County."We have some population centers that are very connected, and then we have areas where theres very limited connectivity. So as we approach IoT, we want to approach it from a regional basis, he added.To explore smart city projects the county will launch a test lab in downtown Redwood City, where different approaches can be studied in a little sandbox that allows residents and city workers to see IoT in action.San Mateo County covers some 448 square miles and is home to 22 cities and 665,000 people.Some of San Mateo Countys challenges are bridging the digital divide between tech hubs like Menlo Park home to Facebook and small hamlets like Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, or even Pescadero where many residents have little access to Wi-Fi.It is this dichotomy that gave birth to the idea of a test lab where different technologies could be tried out, with the idea of eventually deploying them countywide.Were right in the heart of Silicon Valley. But what Ive found is that not everyone is connected, said Vinson.In Pescadero, for example, residents will sit in their cars on the citys main thoroughfare to take advantage of the citys free Wi-Fi signal because they dont have connections at home.Thats why theres a big digital inclusion piece to this, where we want to make sure that innovation makes its way through the entire county. And that everyones able to benefit from these new technologies that were talking about today, said Vinson.The idea to develop the IoT test lab began about a year ago.The mandate that I had was to come up with innovation, said Vinson.From that point, the county hired the smart cities consultant Strategy of Things Theres a lot of small and mid-size cities that also need to get smarter, said Renil Paramel, senior partner at the consultancy. And the reality is that they may not have the right resources, whether financial, or skill-wise, or vision-wise to get there. And I think what San Mateo County is doing is really interesting.The county already has a network of 72 free public Wi-Fi hot spots, which it will leaverage toward deploying connected devices like air-quaity sensors and smart waste management technologies. But the IoT lab will also allow the county to study other newer wireless communication technologies like narrowband IoT, which uses low signal power to connect a wide range of devices.In the Internet of Things and smart city type of use-cases, its important to have not just wide coverage, but also the opportunity to be able to transfer small bits of data without spending a whole lot of money, Paramel explained.However, at its core the new IoT lab will aim to build collaborations among the various cities in San Mateo County as well as place every community on a more equitable digital landscape.I think in certain cases, some cities are definitely further along in the discussion of IoT, and we welcome that, said Vinson. What we want to promote here is collaboration, and let's make sure that the technology does not stop at the borders of each city."And were saying a lot of these cities have some of the same issues, he added. Traffic is a regional issue pollution. Whatever the case may be. These are regional issues and its something that, maybe collectively, we can tackle together.The IoT lab project will be presented at the Internet of Things World conference May 14-17, 2018 in Santa Clara, Calif. (TNS) The U.S. Army envisions a day when battles are fought and won with artificial intelligence, robotics, directed-energy laser and particle beams, and hypersonic weapons systems that travel at five times the speed of sound.And Texas political leaders want the so-called Futures Command that'll develop the combat vehicles, weapons, and air and missile defenses of tomorrow's wars to be headquartered in the Lone Star State.Dallas, Austin and Houston are among the 15 cities being considered for what's described as the military's biggest reorganization since 1973. The new hub would drive modernization efforts across the Army's three existing command-level operations at Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Eustis, Virginia, and Redstone Arsenal in Alabama."Texas is uniquely positioned to help the Army accomplish this mission," U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn wrote Wednesday in a letter to Under Secretary of the U.S. Army, Ryan McCarthy. "It is clear to us that the Army's Futures Command and the six primary modernization priorities represent an opportunity to shape the force of the future to confront these challenges head-on."The Republican senators were joined in the letter by Gov. Greg Abbott. The trio touted the state's technology and innovation ecosystem, citing the success of the Defense Innovation Unit Experimental in Austin. That unit provides pilot contracts to companies for work that solves Defense Department problems.They also praised the state's three top tier research universities, its robust corporate headquarters presence and its 15 military installations with more than 200,000 associated personnel.Congressional delegations in other cities and states, such as North Carolina and Colorado , also are positioning for the tech center's 500 jobs. Besides the three Texas cities, other contenders are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Philadelphia, San Diego, San Francisco and Seattle.In announcing the finalists last month , the Army said it wants to put the center in a city close to universities and tech companies with expertise in biomedicine, chemistry, computer hardware and software, electronics, materials and mechanical systems.The Army expects to select a location this summer.In an address earlier this week in Washington, D.C., Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper described the Army's modernization plan in detail."So what's our vision for the Army, 10 years from today?" he said. "The Army of 2028 will be ready to deploy, fight and win decisively, against any adversary, any time and anywhere, in a joint, multidomain high-intensity conflict while simultaneously deterring others." Chase Carey says he would commit F1 to the Barcelona circuit "almost forever". But that doesn't mean a new contract will be agreed between the organisers of the current Spanish grand prix and F1 owner Liberty Media. "It's not the only circuit in Spain," F1 chief executive Carey told Spanish reporters in Barcelona. "Very soon we will begin to see if we can find a path that benefits us both. "Our goal is to reach a new agreement with Barcelona," the American added, referring to the existing deal that expires in 2019. "We want to be in Barcelona in the long term. "Forever? You could almost say that." (GMM) Kimi Raikkonen's trainer has confirmed that the Ferrari driver dropped weight over the winter. The Finn recently dismissed a reporter who noticed that the 38-year-old was looking slimmer and fitter in 2018. But Raikkonen's long time physio Mark Arnall admitted: "The winter season this year was about getting Kimi's weight down. "This winter I managed to get 3.2 kilograms off Kimi. He now weighs just 70kg," he told Iltalehti newspaper. Arnall said F1 engineers ask for drivers to be as light as possible. "If they want the front of the car to turn better, they want more weight at the front. If they want more grip to the rear tyres, they shift the weight back. And if the driver weighs too much, it doesn't work," he said. (GMM) The European ZEFER (Zero Emission Fleet vehicles for European Roll-out) project will deploy large fleets of 60 hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in each of three European capitals (Paris, London and Brussels). (One hundred seventy FCEVs will be operated as taxi or private-hire vehicles, and the remaining 10 will be used by the police.) These vehicles will be used in the applications where hydrogen-fueled vehicles are the most valuablefleets which drive long distances every day, which need rapid refueling, and which operate in polluted city centers where zero-emission hydrogen vehicles can have the greatest impact on avoiding pollution. The 26-million (US$32-million) pan-European initiative will introduce the 180 FCEVs into a combination of taxi, private-hire and police fleets. These vehicles will be in regular use each day, creating hydrogen demand from each vehicle roughly four times that from a normal privately-owned car. This will help to ensure high utilization of the early networks of hydrogen fueling stations which are already operating in each city. This improves the economics of operating the stations and hence helps accelerate the commercialization of hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for Europes cities. The project will gather data and disseminate results to demonstrate the business case for future FCEV adoption and test the performance of cars and infrastructure under high-mileage conditions. ZEFER will be delivered by a consortium led by Element Energy, including hydrogen suppliers (Air Liquide and ITM Power Trading Ltd), vehicle end users (Green Tomato Cars, HYPE and the London Mayors Office for Policing and Crime), observer partners (BMW and Linde AG) and partners supporting the analysis and policy conclusions (Cenex and the Mairie de Paris). ZEFER is co-funded with 5 million ($6.1 million) from the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU), a public-private partnership supporting fuel cell and hydrogen energy technologies in Europe. The 180 FCEVs will be procured from the vehicle manufacturers able to offer hydrogen fuel cell cars in Europe; the first 25 vehicles are being deployed this week in London by Green Tomato Cars. The Sweetwater County Assessor will no longer have a chief deputy. After an hour-long discussion, the Sweetwater County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a motion denying a request to replace the chief deputy assessors position. Previously, the Commissioners asked the county assessor and the countys human resources director to review the position and come up with a solution to eliminate the chief deputy position and make it a county position similar to the other positions. During the discussion, County Assessor Dave Divis argued in favor of maintaining the current chief deputy position with a salary of $85,000. He also wanted the chief deputy to continue to perform the same duties. Human Resource Director Garry McLean presented the Commission with information on how to change the position into a county position. Prior to making his recommendation, McLean explained his process on how he determined where the position would fit on the countys pay scale, which would start out as step one and pay grade 15 at $45,844.20, and after certifications are obtained, the position would be moved to step one and pay grade 19 at $55,723.68. This new position would be called chief appraiser. Its difficult when youre not looking at all of the positions, McLean said. McLean said he was trying to determine what the elected official does versus the chief deputy. McLean and Divis disagreed on what the requirements for the position should be. Currently, a high school diploma is needed, but Divis wanted someone to have a bachelors degree in a related field to be a requirement. They also disagreed on what level of supervision this position should have. McLean determined this position would act as the backup to Divis when he is gone, which would increase the positions pay range. Im the only one in the room thats actually done the job, Divis said. Divis said he looked at what other Wyoming counties were doing to see what they were paying people in this type of a position and it was anywhere from $80,000 to $120,000. He said the duties the chief deputy does is almost the same as his. Those duties almost overlap daily, he said. Commissioner John Kolb said they have to be responsible for taxpayers money and what the duties add up to are reflected in the pay steps and grades. All of this compensation had to be justified, Kolb said. As for the step and grade position, Divis said he would have to think about it before asking the Commissioners for permission to move forward. As for the other chief deputy positions, the Commissioners would eventually like to replace all of them that fall under this situation, including the county clerk, treasurer and clerk of district court offices. Commissioner Wally Johnson said they could grandfather those other departments chief deputy positions and deal with them as people leave those positions. County attorney Dan Erramouspe said the Commissioners will still need to address a resolution that states each of those departments can have a chief deputy position, however he said this can be done at a later date. Dale Majhanovich seeks another term as Sweetwater County Coroner, offering residents more than three decades of experience in the position A Rock Springs native, Majhanovich graduated from the Rock Springs High School and went to Western Wyoming Community College and the San Francisco College of Mortuary Science, earning two associates degrees. He has been registered with the Conference of Funeral Services Embalming Board since earning his Wyoming State Embalmers License in 1979. Majhanovich was first appointed a deputy county coroner in 1982 and has served as coroner since 1993. He was nominated in 1997 for membership in the American College of Forensic Examiners and that same year received recognition by the college as a diplomate. His status was elevated to that of a fellow in 2009, a designation limited to a select group of professionals recognized for their demonstrated expertise and knowledge in the forensics field. In 2013, he was recognized along with his chief deputy, Travis R. Sanders, for their outstanding service on behalf of the victims of crime in Sweetwater County. A member of the Wyoming Coroners Association and the Wyoming Peace Officers Associations, Majhanovich has served four terms on the Wyoming Coroners Board of Standards. He is a board member of Hospice of Sweetwater County and a member of the Sweetwater County Child Fatality Review Team, the Volunteer Intermountain Organ and Tissue Recovery System, and the Utah Lions Eye Bank. He also serves with the National Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team/National Disaster Medical System, the Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Substance Abuse Coalition In announcing his re-election bid, Majhanovich affirmed his ongoing commitment to providing caring, dignified, professional service to the people of Sweetwater County. Ive demonstrated that commitment throughout my 36 years of service with the Sweetwater County Coroners Office, he said, and it would be a privilege for me to continue that service. Brenda Jean Lake, 75, passed away on Monday, April 30, 2018, at her home surrounded by her family following a lengthy illness. Lake was a longtime resident of Rock Springs. She was born Nov. 19, 1942, in Russellville, Ark., the daughter of A.D. Williamson and Emma Carinton Williamson. Lake attended schools in Wyoming. She married Jack D. Lake in Lovell on Oct. 26, 1959. He preceded her in death on March 31, 1998. Lake was employed by Sweetwater County School District No. 1 as the driver of food service for 22 years, she retired in 1998. Her interests included gambling, bingo, reading, watching Judge Judy and spending time with family and Sir Maxamillion. Survivors include her three sons, David Lake of Rock Springs, Tim Lake and wife Diana Lake, also of Rock Springs and Bobby Lake of Green River; three daughters, Debbie Forton and husband Bill of Lander, Tammy Hellickson and husband Delbert of Rock Springs and Becky McIntosh and husband Doug of Rock Springs; two brothers, Bob Williamson and wife Carol of Sedona, Ariz., and Norman Williamson of Green River; one sister, Barbara May and husband Jack of Las Vegas; 18 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren, several cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; one brother, James Daniel Williamson; one sister, Pat Williamson and three great-grandchildren. Cremation will take place and a memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m., May 4, at Vase Funeral Chapel, 154 Elk Street in Rock Springs. Inurnment will be in the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery. Friends may call the chapel one hour prior to services. Condolences may be left at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com. This years Wyoming Writers Conference will take place in Dubois June 1-3 and a lot of talented guest authors are scheduled to attend. New York Times best selling author William Kent Krueger will give the keynote address at the 44th Annual Wyoming Writers, Inc. Krueger is one of four workshop instructors who will inspire both professional and rookie writers. The conference also provides contact with publishing agents, which has resulted in several contracts for books in past years. All the events will be at the Headwaters Arts and Conference Center in Dubois, a town voted by Expedia as the best place to escape in Wyoming. This will be the first time since conferences began in Sheridan in 1974 that Wyoming Writers has visited Dubois, which is just 100 miles from Yellowstone National Park. Presenters * Krueger writes the Cork OConnor mystery series set in the great North Woods of Minnesota. His 2013, novel Ordinary Grace, was honored with almost every award possible in the mystery genre, including the Mystery Writers of Americas Edgar Award,the MWA Anthony Award, the Deadly Pleasures Mystery Magazine Barry Award and the Mystery Readers International Macavity Award. During his instructional sessions, Kruegar will provide insight on finding the soul of the story, creating suspense and elevating setting and place. * Middle grade and young adult fiction writer Nancy Turner Steveson, who was the HarperCollins author and nominee for the 2017-18 Wyoming Indian Paintbrush award, is well known within Wyomings schools as well as nationally for Swing Sideways and Georgia Rules. She was two more coming out in 2018-19. * Poet laureate, musician and inspirational writing instructor David Romtvedt, who was the Wyomings Poet Laureate from 2003-2010, is a multi-talented musician, writer and recently retired professor in the MFA program at the University of Wyoming. Romtvedts sessions will discuss sound and sense in word use and rhythm to use poetry and lyrics. * Self-publishing expert and world traveler Polly Letofsky grew from necessity when her first book 3 MPH: The Adventures of One Womans Walk Around the World, did not find a traditional publishing home. Now shes an expert on content, editing, cover art and marketing. *Becky LeJeune, associate agent with Denvers Bond Literacy Agency, will take pitches on adult, young adult and middle-grade fiction in the following genres: horror, mystery, suspense, fantasy, general fiction, historical fiction and sci fi. She is actively building her client list and excited to participate in WW I in the first time. *Jackson-based editor and publisher Aaron Linsdau of Sastrugi Press, will return this year. His suggestions and guidelines for pitching new material have been added to the wyowriters.org website. Linsdau is an internationally recognized explorer, writer and speaker. *Carrie Howland, Empire Literary Agency of New York, N.Y., is actively acquiring new authors and content and will be taking pitches for adult literary and upmarket fiction, narrative nonfiction. Howlands background is poetry, so beautiful language is one of the first things she looks for in a project. The conference will also host a special session on adventure and adventure writing Friday evening to explore how extraordinary passions can give birth to a writing career. Polly Letrofsky and Arron Linsdau have both completed world adventures and thrived to write about them. The conference is funded in part by the Wyoming Arts Council, through the National Endowment for the arts and the Wyoming State Legislature. It is also supported by the Wind River Visitors Council. Registration is now open with special rates prior to May 15. The keynote Saturday night and the Adventure Panel Friday night are open to the public. Visit wyowriters.org for more details. For more information, contact publicity chair Marjane Ambler at 307-332-3732 or marjane.ambler@gmail.com. Six Sweetwater County students were honored when they learned they had placed at the Wyoming Young Authors Competition. The county students receiving the awards were told by their schools after both school districts young authors coordinators were notified. Thirty eight entries were sent to state this year from Sweetwater County and of those, six students received awards. One student at Lincoln Middle School received two. The students were ecstatic, Fredrick Schwartz, Sweetwater County School District No. 2 young authors coordinator, said. While we did do well in the state compe... Wine expert urges UK to avoid comparing German Pinot Noir with counterparts By Barnaby Eales A German wine expert has urged the UK wine industry not to compare Pinot Noir from Germany with rival counterpart production of the grape variety in regions such as Burgundy. Lets not compare German Pinot Noir with Pinot Noir made in Burgundy or Oregon, said Jurgen Hammer, German wine expert and sommelier based in Berlin. I want to make it clear that climate differences and soils play a huge role - its not possible to make a German Pinot Noir wine taste like a Burgundy one, he told Harpers after delivering a masterclass earlier this week at the annual Wines of Germany tasting held in Londons Soho. A debate was now raging in Germany over the use of oak in the production of Pinot Noir, Hammer told Harpers after delivering a masterclass earlier this week at the annual Wines of Germany tasting held in Londons Soho. Numerous young winemakers from Germany seeking representation at the tasting showcased a variety of production techniques, including the use of stainless steel and barrel ageing for Pinot Noir. Producer Christopher Kohr from the Pfalz region said he ages his Pinot Noir in barrels for two and a half years to soften tannins as well as using batonnage to extract aromas, providing a creaminess to the wine. But Hammer, who appeared to favour simpler production of Pinot Noir, said the use of batonnage in German Pinot Noir wines was making them fat as opposed to light and fresh. Although many wines showed subtle use of oak in wine production, there were several Pinot Noirs which showed an excessive prominence of oak; a view supported by Damon Quinlan, owner of distributor Swig, who distributes elegant Pinot Noirs made by Johannes Schneider. Hammers comments come amid a surge in popularity of German Pinot Noir, which has developed into a competitive alternative to increasingly expensive Pinot Noir from Burgundy. Highlighting the growth in demand for German wine in Britain, distributor Howard Ripley told Harpers at its portfolio tasting in London on Monday, that it had added about 40 wines this year from nine producers in Germany the worlds third biggest producer of Pinot Noir with about 12,000 ha of plantings of the variety. Hammer, who wished to stress elegance of German Pinot Noir wines, said the quality of Pinot Noir production had evolved since the 1990s thanks to winemaking techniques and global warming. German wines are expected to account for a 1.5% market share of the off-trade by mid-2019, Nicky Forrest, director of Wines of Germany, told Harpers. The figure would be representative of the weight of German wine production overall, she said, adding lower end wines from Germany were now dwindling away. "We are now left with top quality wines from Germany. Forrest laid emphasis on the prospect for German wines in the independent wine merchants. Many in the independent sector, dont have the right line-up and they are now looking for new German wines, she said. Meanwhile, Kate Dowdeswell, senior national account manager at Awin Barratt Siegel, said that in the on-trade, top sommeliers were now pushing the German wine category to provide greater visibility to first class German wines now available in Britain. 2018s Best & Worst States for Nurses WalletHub, May 2, 2018 Like most segments of the economy, the nursing industry changes based on the countrys socioeconomics. Key issues include the aging U.S. population, the student-loan crisis and concerns about the future of key entitlement programs. But such concerns are shared by recent graduates in all industries. More specific to nursing professionals are the various day-to-day demands placed on them, such as mandatory overtime, overstaffing, unionization and disrespectful behavior by patients . Despite those challenges, however, aspiring nurses have much to look forward to upon certification. Nursing occupations are some of the most lucrative careers with the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. In fact, the industry is expected to grow at more than double the rate of the average occupation through 2026. With such bright projections, WalletHub took stock of the nursing industry to help registered nurses, particularly new graduates, pick a place to live that will bring success. They did so by comparing the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 21 key metrics that collectively speak to the nursing-job opportunities in each market. read Full Report Hawaii 50 -- Overall Rank (1=Best) 38.49 -- Total Score 50 -- Opportunity & Competition Rank 34 -- Work Environment Rank 51 Annual Nursing Salary (Adj for Cost of Living) HNN: Hawaii falls near dead-last in yet another nationally-ranked list Secretive Commissions Determine Who Violated Anti-Discrimination Laws. Now Republicans in 1 State Are Fighting for Reform. by Jenna Ellis, Heritage Foundation, Daily Signal, May 02, 2018 The nation has been transfixed with the story of Jack Phillips, the owner of Masterpiece Cakeshop in Colorado, and how the Supreme Court will hold in his landmark First Amendment case. But his story didnt begin at the Supreme Court. It never does. As the highest appellate court, the Supreme Court reviews the facts and issues of law at the trial level. Usually, this means that a judge previously made some ruling, perhaps in the context of a jury trial or preliminary issues that come before the court. But Phillips case didnt start out that way. He never saw a judge who was duly appointed in Colorado through the judicial merit system on the trial level, and he never had the opportunity to demand a jury. Instead, Colorados current system for claims of discrimination in public accommodations on the basis of sexual orientation go through the Colorado Civil Rights Commissionan agency of the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies. (EDITOR's NOTE: Hawaii Has One of These, Too -- LINK.) The seven members on its panel are not required to be attorneys or have any legal education. At least four of them (the majority) must be members of groups that have been or might be discriminated against, and per the commissions own website , the proceedings are confidentialmeaning that there is very little transparency or oversight regarding how the commission actually makes its findings of fact and conclusions of law. In Phillips case, a complaint was filed before the commission, which conducted its secretive investigation and hearings, and determined that Phillips was in violation of Colorados anti-discrimination law. This was followed by a closed proceeding before a panel, which very likely may have been biased toward claims being made on the basis of sexual orientation. In fact, during oral arguments at the Supreme Court on Dec. 5, 2017, Justices Anthony Kennedy, Stephen Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor questioned the commissions hostility and the comments from one of its commissioners. This raises the question: What else goes on in this Civil Rights Commission and other similar commissions across the country? According to the ACLU , Colorado is one of 21 states as of 2017 that has anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation, and seven more states limit anti-discrimination claims to public employment only. All states have similar commissions to Colorado, or another similar government agency that is responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, including a states anti-discrimination laws. (A state-by-state list compiled by FindLaw can be found here .) What is particularly alarming about states like Colorado is that the Civil Rights Commission has virtually no accountability or transparency, with no ability for people who are defending against claims of discrimination to obtain meaningful due process through a judge or jury. Public perception of the commission on both sides of the political aisle is that the commission is biased toward LGBT community members, which is to say that the commission lacks legitimate public trust for being an independent arbiter. This type of required submission to an agency that is wholly administrative in nature (not judicial) deprives both parties of due process. Just last week, Justice Neil Gorsuchs concurrence in the Supreme Court case Sessions v. Dimaya underscored the constitutional principle that administrative law often invites unpredictability and arbitrariness, which cuts directly against fundamental notions of fairness to litigants. So too, administrative agencies invite unpredictability and arbitrariness. After all, what the composition of a Civil Rights Commission may be today might vary widely from what the Colorado commission was in 2012 for Phillips hearing. There is no consistency in what is required for appointees and no form of oversight other than a court appeal on the merits. So what can be done? The Colorado Legislature is currently evaluating this exact question in the context of a legislative sunset review of the Colorado commission. This review process should act as a job performance evaluation of sorts, and seek to answer the question: Is the commission fulfilling the job for which it was created? Can it be more effective? Can it be enhanced? Can it be more transparent? Can it build more public trust through more legitimacy? Obviously, none of those questions should have a partisan response, and both sides of the aisle should be concerned with legitimacy in the process of arbitrating claims of discrimination. And this is about much more than just Masterpiece Cakeshop. The seven members of this commission are assigned to Colorados population of 5.2 million people. Thats one commissioner for every 800,000 people, who collectively represent a wide variety of viewpoints and trust that their government will not itself discriminate. Initally, Republicans in the Colorado Senate have proposed several amendments to the bill . Those amendments would reauthorize the commission in the area of public accommodation, including in making substantive changes to the appointments process, its transparency, reporting, oversight, and due process in the form of allowing both parties to opt out of the commissions jurisdiction. These enhancements to the commission absolutely make sense. Not all claims are appropriate for the commission to hear (similarly to a judge recusal), and both parties should be able to go to a traditional judicial forum rather than an administrative agency if they wish, even if they later agree to mediate their dispute with the courts oversight. For claims that parties agree to bring to the commission, it is always good to make the commission as prepared as possible to perform its job. Predictably, the LGBT lobby in Colorado is opposed to any changes to their biased commission, and testimony earlier this month before the Senate Judiciary Committee revealed this bias. Testimony from community members stated that the commission has our back, and other similar statements suggested the commission is not an impartial arbiter. As of this week, Republicans in the Senate dropped the opt-out amendment in favor of a bipartisan agreement with Democrats to provide two main enhancements: First, the commission would increase in size to nine members and appointments would have to maintain a 5-4 split between Republicans and Democrats; and second, the commission would be subject to legislative audit for purposes of transparency and accountability. This new amendment passed Monday morning by a vote of 35-0. Both parties in the Senate appear hopeful that House Democrats will support this bipartisan effort to enhance the commissions legitimacy. Otherwise, the commission should not be reauthorized, period. States need to take a good, hard look at their administrative enforcement process, particularly for claims of discrimination. Impartiality, legitimacy, and due process matter, and they are constitutionally required. Hopefully, Colorado will pave the way for other states to use the legislative review process meaningfully and prove that equal protection under the law is something everyone should enjoy, not just some. ---30--- Jenna Ellis is a constitutional law and criminal defense attorney, with experience in state and federal cases on both the trial and appellate levels. She is a professor of law at Colorado Christian University and director of the Legal Studies Program. Ellis is also a Fellow at the Centennial Institute and author of the book, "The Legal Basis for a Moral Constitution." The charges are related to the suspects alleged failure to address the widely publicised issues in the use and registration of police informants at the Helsinki Police Department. Prosecutor General Raija Toiviainen on Wednesday announced she has brought charges of violation of official duty against ex-National Police Commissioner Mikko Paatero, ex-Chief of Helsinki Police Jukka Riikonen and ex-Deputy Chief of Helsinki Police Lasse Aapio. Paatero and Riikonen are believed to have violated their official duties in 20092013 and Aapio, who is currently the Chief of Helsinki Police, in 20122013. All three suspects have denied the accusations that they failed to monitor the operations of the drug enforcement unit at Helsinki Police Department.The unit was led by Jari Aarnio, who is currently on trial for violation of official duty and has already been sentenced to 13 years in prison for a slew of aggravated drug offences. The Aarnio case with all its offshoots is the most serious challenge in the history of the Police of Finland, comments National Police Commissioner Seppo Kolehmainen. He assures that the practices pertaining to the use and registration of police informants have been re-examined during the course of the pre-trial investigation. The new guidelines do not leave room for any interpretation, states Kolehmainen. The pre-trial was opened at the request of the then-Minister of the Interior Paivi Rasanen (Christian Democrats) in November, 2013. She commented yesterday that she at the time looked into the use and registration of informants at other police departments and was left with the impression that narcotics officers had their own rules in Helsinki. Rasanen said she felt she had no other choice but to file a formal request for inquiry to ensure the practices are subjected to external scrutiny. The decision was very heavy and unusual, but as the minister I thought it was the only way to get to the bottom of things, she explained. There can be no unmonitored policing in a country founded on the rule of law, stated Rasanen. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Markku Ulander Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi Antti Rinne, the chairperson of the Social Democratic Party, on Tuesday kindled a nationwide debate by promising to introduce a net increase of 100 euros to all pensions not exceeding 1,400 euros a month over a several-year period. The Social Democratic Party is in over its head with its promises, says Sanni Grahn-Laasonen (NCP), the Minister of Education. Depending on the occasion and audience, Rinne has recently promised more money to pensioners, the unemployed, families and students to essentially everyone for pensions, benefits and services, highlights Grahn-Laasonen. More money, more money. The SDP is distributing hundreds of millions in borrowed money only because the elections are drawing closer and they must find support somewhere. Rinne told Uusi Suomi the net increase would raise pension costs by 700 million euros a year. The Finnish Centre for Pensions, however, estimated that the proposal would have raised annual pension costs by twice as much 1.4 billion euros if it had been introduced at the beginning of this year. Grahn-Laasonen stresses that looking after the economy is particularly important as the working-age population continues to shrink in Finland. Instead of shouldering responsibility for future generations and the debt burden they will face, Rinne has started a perilous auction. Hard-working Finns, who will ultimately pay for the promises out of their own pockets, are entirely unprotected against the money dispenser of the SDP, she phrased. The Finnish government has focused on taking action and produced results, according to Grahn-Laasonen. Finland has been pulled out of a recession into a growth path during this electoral term after almost ten underwhelming years. Finns confidence in the economy is strong, companies are making investments and unemployment is on the decline. The ranks of the employed have grown by almost 100,000. We have to foster, not gum up, this positive development, she says. Aleksi Teivainen HT Photo: Antti Aimo-Koivisto Lehtikuva Source: Uusi Suomi The battle at the Edge of the Earth. In a single decade of fighting, Alexander the Great conquered an enormous empire, as large as the one the Romans later painstakingly accumulated over hundreds of years. While the young Macedonian king was fortunate in at least one of his opponentsDarius, king of Persia, a faint-hearted commander who twice fled the field to avoid confronting himAlexander personally deserved much of the credit for his victories. A courageous, inspirational leader, he repeatedly exposed himself to great danger in the field, and as a master of strategy and tactics he had no superiors and few equals in all of ancient history. One of Alexanders most interesting and romantic campaigns came near the end of his career during his march through India. There, at the edge of the earth (as the Macedonians believed), he faced King Porus of the Punjab. Porus, almost seven feet tall, was both literally and figuratively a giant of a man. For the first time in a major battle, Alexanders Macedonian troops also encountered a large number of elephants, and the huge beasts, driven by their mahouts, terrified the ranks. In 326 B.C., at the Battle of the Hydaspes, a tributary of the Indus, the elephants were awesome. Alexander and the Macedonians treated the beasts with wary respect, seeing them as fearsome instruments of war. The battle on the Hydaspes (today called the Jhelum River) turned into a hard-fought, near-run cavalry battle. Although many of the tactical details of the fighting are reasonably clear, there is still some confusion over the role of the squadrons on the Macedonian left and the Indian right, and in this confusion elephants figure prominently. By carefully reviewing the war against Porus and taking a critical look at the Battle of the Hydaspes, it may be possible to resolve some of the uncertainties. Early in 326 B.C., as Alexander prepared to invade India, he sent the bulk of the Macedonian army under his close friend and companion Hephaestion over the Khyber Pass and down toward the Indus. As the main army moved south into the Punjab, the king took some crack infantry, skirmisher, and cavalry units by another route farther north in order to secure its flank. In extremely difficult fighting against fierce Indian hill peoples, the mobile force under Alexander seized walled villages and strategic strongholds, notably the city of Massaga in the valley of the Swat and the mountain fortress of Aornos on the upper Indus, a site that, according to Greek mythology, not even Heracles could storm. When Alexander was ready to rejoin the main army, Hephaestion had already succeeded in building a brudge across the Indus. The Macedonian king and his men, 75,000 strong, knew little of what lay ahead. They believed, for example, that the valley of the Indus flowed through a large desert to the Upper Nile because there were crocodiles in the Induss tributaries, and the only other river in the world known by them to have crocodiles was the Nile. At that time, India was a land of mystery. The ancient Middle Eastern empire of Mesopotamia had traded with India, and Persia had exercised a nominal control over the Indus valley, but to Greeks and Macedonians India extended to the end of the earth and was inhabited by giants and elephants. Although Alexander went there mainly to round out his conquest of the Persian Empire, he also had a romantic desire to go to the edge of the world. One of the most remarkable features of Alexanders campaigns in India is that supply was almost never a problem. The Indus valley was extremely fertile and crossed by many navigable rivers. As a result, the collection of supplies proved relatively easy. While in India, Alexanders army received a shipment of equipment that had been sent all the way from Macedonia. The streamlined logistical system created by Alexanders father, Philip II, served the Macedonian army well, even though by one calculation Alexanders troops had marched 17,000 miles from Pella, the Macedonian capital. On a day in May, Alexander crossed the Indus and pushed into the Punjab. He anticipated little opposition for the initial part of the advance because the first major city to the east was Taxila, and its ruler, whom the Greeks called Taxiles, had already joined Alexanders cause. Using Taxila as headquarters, the Macedonian king received emissaries from Kashmir and elsewhere before moving on against the great Porus, whose domain stretched Alexander in India 35 far to the east beyond the Hydaspes River. Because of spring rains the river was flooded. The Indian potentate had prepared a strong position on the east bank to defend his kingdom against the foreign invader. His army numbered approximately 35,000, including 30,000 infantry, 4,000 cavalry, 300 war chariots, and 200 elephants. Alexander knew that his horses would panic if he tried to send them on rafts directly across the river into the mass of elephants grouped on the opposite shore, so he decided against a head-on attack. Instead, he moved his army upstream under the cover of darkness and came down swiftly on Poruss flank. Porus might have had time to wheel his entire line, including elephants, to face the Macedonians, so Alexander left part of his army behind under General Craterus with instructions to cross the river and attack Poruss rear if this happened. If, on the other hand, Porus had left elephants on the riverbank to defend against a crossing, Craterus was ordered not to challenge them. As it turned out, the Indian king had left some elephants along the river, and Craterus did not figure in the fighting until the very end. Since the surprise element was crucial, Alexander tried to deceive and lull Porus in several ways. To persuade the Indian leader that the Macedonians intended to wait for the river to recede, Alexander began openly to stockpile large quantities of supplies. He also made a great show of building rafts, presumably for use in a frontal attack on Poruss position. Then he massed his cavalry every night, and with much noise and fanfare they pretended to prepare for crossing at different points along the riverbank. Porus responded at first by shifting his forces up and down the river night after night; when his men tired out, he simply stopped reacting to Alexanders feints. Finally, after personally inspecting the site, Alexander decided to execute a surprise crossing at a point almost seventeen miles upstream. A chief reason for selecting this spotat Jalalpurwas that in midstream there was a large wooded island big enough to conceal the Macedonian force. Leaving Craterus behind in the main camp with a large part of the army, and leaving behind someone dressed to resemble himself, the king moved out in the night with a crack force of about 5,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry, including many of his best skirmishers. The operation ranks with Issus (in southern Turkey) and Guagamela (in northern Iraq) as one of Alexanders most brilliant battles, and it has been compared with General James Wolfes Quebec campaign of 1759. Because of the distance Alexander and his men had to travel before coming into contact with the enemy, the extraordinarily diffcult nighttime river crossing, and the conflict with the expeditionary force sent by Porus to block the Macedonian advance, Alexanders Battle of the Hydaspes is considered one of the most daring engagements in history. When the Macedonians stole away from the main camp, they moved back some distance from the riverbank in order to approach the crossing undetected. With Porus having been lulled into thinking that Alexanders night maneuvers were false alarms, this part of the ruse worked well, and a heavy rainfall helped cover the noise made by the troops. When Alexander and his men reached their destination upriver from Jalalpur, they assembled boats and rafts that had been taken there in sections earlier and prepared to launch them at the first light of dawn. The ability of Alexanders engineers to construct, in sections, a fleet large enough to transport a force of 15,000 men and 5,000 horses has amazed modern military historians, but in fact similar troop movements had been mastered centuries earlier in the ancient Middle East by the Assyrians and Persians. Just as the storm ended, the boats and rafts were ready, and Alexander personally led the flotilla in a 30-oared boat towing a raft bearing the royal foot soldiers. The entire force floated down the river in a narrow channel between the west bank and the island. When the vanguard reached the end of the island, it was spotted by Indian scouts who rushed off on horseback to warn Porus of the coming attack. Pushing on toward the opposite bank at the end of the island, Alexander and his men disembarked, thinking that they had reached the east bank. In fact they had landed on another island in the river. Realizing their mistake, they began to look for a place to ford, but the river was high. Finally they found a spot where they could barely wade across. The horses were submerged except for their heads. Once ashore, Alexander moved out quickly with his cavalry, ordering the archers to follow as rapidly as they could and the infantry to advance at normal marching pace. He believed he had cavalry superiority over the Indians; events were to prove him right. When Porus received the news of the impending crossing, he did not know whether it was the main attack or a ruse, since there seemed to be a large Macedonian force opposite him at the base camp. What he chose to do was a mistake. He sent his son with 2,000 cavalry and 120 charioty to intercept the attackers, but he lost so much time to indecision that Alexander had completed the crossing before his troops arrived. Also, the Indian force was much too large for reconnaissance, yet too small to deal with Alexanders cavalry. Moreover, the ground was excessively muddy for their chariots. When Alexander realized that the Indians had actually deployed a reasonably large force rather than a simple scouting party, he charged with his cavalry in waves of attacks that totally demoralized the foe. The Indians lost 400 cavalry and all their chariots; probably much more important, Poruss son was killed. This quick, decisive victory helped boost Macedonian morale, and Alexander continued to advance against Poruss main force. As Alexanders infantry marched downstream on the Indian side, other Macedonians began to cross the river from concealed positions along the west bank, rapidly swelling the numbers of his army. When Porus learned of his sons death, he decided to turn his main force against Alexander except for some elephants left behind to guard the river against a possible crossing by Craterus. Wheeling his army upstream, Porus advanced over muddy ground until he reached some dry, sandy terrain, where he assembled the men in battle formation. In so doing he surrendered the offensive to Alexander. The Indian battle order was the traditional oneinfantry in the center and cavalry on the wingsabout 30,000 infantry altogether and 2,000 cavalry on each wing. But the situation was unusually threatening because Porus had stationed his elephants some 50 feet apart in front of his infantry in a line stretching for almost two miles. Ahead of the cavalry he had placed squadrons of chariots, 150 on each wing. Although the chariots were of doubtful utility against more mobile cavalry, the elephant screen made the center of Poruss line nearly impregnable. Macedonian horses would react to the great beasts in terror, and foot soldiers would not advance through an elephant screen to attack the Indian infantry since the animals might turn and trample them from behind. Alexander had outpaced his own infantry, so he delayed his advance long enough for it to catch up and rest a bit. But because the center of the Indian line seemed much too strong to penetrate with infantry, he decided to win the battle with his cavalry. He massed most of his horses on his own right wing, facing the Indian left wing, where the cavalry was under the personal command of Porus. Coenus, one of Alexanders generals, was given two mounted units, totaling about 1,000 horses, and ordered to move across the field to the Macedonian left, facing the Indian right cavalry. That, at least, is the way most historians read a particular passage written in the second century A.D. by Arrian, the Greek historian whose account of Alexanders campaign is the most reliable. What Arrian actually wrote was that Coenus was to move to [or against] the right. There we have a bewildering quandary that occasionally faces every military historian. Did Arrian mean that Coenus was to go to Alexanders right or the Indian right? Since in the previous sentence Arrian referred to Poruss left, he must have been referring here to Poruss right. That is the view of most, but not all, historians. Having massed the bulk of his horsemen on his own right wing, Alexander expected Porus to move the Indian right cavalry to its left. Following the assumption above, Coenuss orders were to pursue the Indian right cavalry if it tried to move to the left and to hit it in the rear. Macedonian infantry was not to charge until the cavalry had started a rout. At this point the stage was set for one of antiquitys greatest cavalry battles. Porus had yielded the initiative to Alexander by making a defensive stand; therefore it was up to the Macedonian king to make the first move. After his infantry had rested, Alexander launched the battle by sending his mounted archers forward to attack the chariots in front of Poruss left cavalry. One thousand horse archers swept down on the Indian chariots and drove them off the field. Porus then reacted just as Alexander had expected he would. He ordered his right cavalry to move over to support the left, whereupon Coenus, primed for such a move, swung around behind the Indian right cavalry and came in on their rear just as they joined with the Indian left. This forced Porus to split his cavalry in two and to wheel one part about to face Coenus. At that point Alexander threw in his own main cavalry and drove the Indians into panic and confusion. As Indian horsemen fell back onto the elephants, Alexander ordered his infantry forward, and what had started as a battle quickly turned into a rout. Their mahouts killed, the elephants panicked in a storm of missiles hurled by Macedonian infantrymen. All the while wave after wave of Macedonian cavalry attacked the Indian left and left In Arrians words: By this time the elephants were boxed up, with no room to maneuver, by troops all round them, and as they blundered about, wheeling and shoving this way and that, they trampled to death as many of their friends as of their enemies. . . . Many of the animals had themselves been wounded, while others, riderless and bewildered, ceased altogether to play their expected part, and, maddened by pain and fear, set indiscriminately upon friend and foe, spreading death before them. The Macedonians could deal with these maddened creatures comfortably enough; having room to maneuver, they were able to use their judgement, giving ground when they charged, and going for them with their javelins when they turned and lumbered back, whereas the unfortunate Indians, jammed up close among them . . . found them a more dangerous enemy even than the Macedonians. When the elephants finally tired, Arrian continued, Their charges grew feebler; they began to back away, slowly, like ships going astern, with nothing worse than trumpetings. Alexander then surrounded them and the Indian cavalry and ordered his phalanx to lock shields and push forward. Many Indians fell before this awesome formation; the rest fled. Craterus followed the battle from the west side of the river and brought his fresh troops across just in time to set out in pursuit of the tired, frightened, and defeated foe. Twenty thousand Indian infantry and 3,000 cavalry fell in the Battle of the Hydaspesfar more fatalities than were suffered by the U .S. Marines in more than a month of fighting on Iwo Jima during World War II. All the Indian chariots were lost, and Porus sacrificed two more sons to the conquerors. Alexanders losses were negligible, perhaps as low as 300 men. Porus himself had fought bravely on the back of an elephant and continued fighting even after his troops had been routed, at least until he was wounded by a missile in the right shoulder. Alexander, impressed by the kings bravery, sent his Indian ally Taxiles to bring Porus in, but Porus hated Taxiles and refused to accompany him. Alexander then sent one of Poruss friends in the Macedonian entourage, who was successful in bringing the Indian king to him. When Alexander asked Porus how he wished to be treated, he replied, as a king. Arrian wrote that Alexander then restored the Indian leader to the throne and let him rule as a vassal over the Punjab, along with Taxiles (the two presumably were reconciled). So ended the Battle of the Hydaspes. There is one controversy about the battle, however, that has never been resolved. It concerns the movement of the cavalry forces from the Macedonian left and the Indian right over to the other side of the field. When the Indian right cavalry was ordered to support its left wing, did it ride around behind the Indian line or in front of it? Assuming that the Indian right galloped behind the line, did Coenus follow behind the line too, or did he cross the field in front of it? Almost every battle plan in print shows a different version of what happened. Some plans show the Indian right going behind the line with Coenus following in the same path. Others show the Indian cavalry behind the line and Coenus in front. A few show both the Indian cavalry and the Macedonian cavalry wheeling around in front of the Indian line. Finally, a very few authors actually show Coenus attacking from the Macedonian right; these are the historians who prefer to read the controversial passage in Arrian to [or against] the right as indicating a move in that direction. The only major discussion by a scholar since World War II is one by the historian J.R. Hamilton, who argued in a paper published in 1956 that the Indian cavalry moved behind its own line. That has become the standard view. But there are reasons to believe that the Indian cavalry must have moved in front of its own line. One of them is that, as Porus needed help on his left fast, it would have been shorter and quicker. Further, there would have been fewer impedimenta before the line than behind it, so it would actually have been easier to move that way. More important, Arrian seems to support the idea of a forward movement, since it clearly states that the Indian left cavalry had moved ahead of the elephants when it was joined by the right cavalry and then was attacked by the Macedonian left. for the right cavalry to have moved behind the line to join a unit that had taken a forward position makes no sense. In September 1986, the author gave a lecture on this controversy to cadets and officers at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. At the end of the lecture, several officers added another reason the Indian cavalry must have moved forward in front of the line: It would have been extremely demoralizing to the troops stationed nearby to see the cavalry withdrawing. No commander worth his salt would have appeared to be retreating at the outset of the battle. The consensus was that modern reconstructions of this famous battle are wrong on this matter. The Indian right cavalry must have moved in front of its own line, and Coenus and the Macedonians must have followed it on the field between the two opposing infantry formations. The Battle of the Hydaspes was Alexanders last great pitched battle. India proved to be much bigger than the Macedonians had supposed. The mouth of the Indus lay some 800 miles to the south, and they had not even seen the valley of the Ganges. Alexander moved his army on to the east, still hoping to find the end of the earth. When the troops reached the Hyphasis, the modern Beas River, they refused to go any farther. After a three-day standoff, the mortified king agreed to take his soldiers home. He nearly lost his life along the way in the siege of an Indian stronghold, and there were many minor confrontations, but never again was any army willing to risk conventional battle against Alexander. Tragically, much of this fine army was lost from hardships suffered while marching through the Cedrosian desert of southern Persia (now southeast Pakistan and Iran). That Alexander survived with any part of his army is one of the great miracles of world history. He had been lucky, yes, but he was also one of the best generals ever to lead troops. Alexanders conquests changed the course of cultural history by producing a fusion of Greek and ancient Middle Eastern civilization that we call the Hellenistic Age; but his romantic foray into India was not, in the long run, politically important. He garrisoned India and brought it administratively into the network of his vast empire, but his successors were unable to hold it for long. Several hundred years later India was almost as mysterious to the Romans as it had been to the Greeks. This fact in no way diminishes the greatness of Alexanders military achievement. He stands above even Napoleon in the success of his strategy and tactics. The war for the Punjab is a superb illustration of his unparalleled prowess. MHQ ARTHER FERRILL teaches history at the University of Washington. He is the author of The Origins of War and The Fall of the Roman Empire. This article originally appeared in the Autumn 1988 issue (Vol. 1, No. 1) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Alexander in India Want to have the lavishly illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings! In late April 1916 British Maj. Gen. Charles Townshend rode into captivity aboard an Ottoman boat up the Tigris River, while the 13,000 surviving men of his division undertook a brutal march, most later perishing in Turkish prison camps. The debacle followed what historian Jan Morris dubbed the most abject capitulation in Britains military historythe surrender of the 6th Division of the Indian army at Kut, Mesopotamia (present-day Iraq). After declaring war on Turkey in November 1914, Britain landed a small force along the Tigris below Basra that was able to secure both the town and British-controlled oil facilities against disorganized, poorly led Turkish resistance. However, the British had sacrificed logistical support for speed, thus the garrison lacked an adequate supply and transportation infrastructure. In April 1915 the British command, ignoring both the perilous logistical situation and growing Turkish strength, ordered Townshends 6th Division to continue toward Baghdad. Overcoming supply problems and illness among his Anglo-Indian troops, Townshend conducted a brilliant campaign against stubborn Turkish resistance to capture the village of Kut, north of Basra. Townshend was ordered that fall to advance 100 miles farther upriver and take Baghdad. He came close but was defeated by superior Turkish troops. Forced to withdraw, Townshends 16,000 weary troops fought a continuous rearguard action. On December 3 they stumbled back into Kut, where Townshend holed up and waited for relief. The village sat within an oxbow of the Tigris, proving both a strong defensive position and a dangerous cul-de-sac. The pursuing Ottoman Sixth Army made three unsuccessful attacks against Kut before its commander elected to besiege the city with a minimal force and commit the bulk of his 30,000 troops to block British relief efforts. Townshend, hoping to spark urgency among relief forces, erroneously reported having only a 30-day food supply (he had about five times that amount). The false alarm prompted a series of disjointed relief attempts by undermanned and poorly supplied columns from Basra. Through early April 1916 the British launched more than six such expeditions, most of which ended in uncoordinated frontal attacks against prepared Turkish positionswith predictable results. One night movement brought a British column within striking distance of a weak Turkish defensive position just 6 miles from Kut. But British commanders had been ordered to fire an artillery barrage before each assault. By the time the guns were brought up, the Turks had strengthened the position, and they easily defeated the subsequent British assault. By late April the besieged force was out of food and options. Townshend surrendered his 13,000 men on the 29th. Overall casualty figures among the relief forces exceeded by double the number of men they had sought to rescue. British forces, under new leadership and with proper equipment and support, eventually captured Baghdad. But the British army in Mesopotamia never recovered the resources, men and prestige it had lost at Kut. MH The Tanaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. has today (02.05.18) launched a nationwide programme of events to mark Africa Day 2018, supported by Irish Aid. These will include a flagship family day in the grounds of Farmleigh Estate in Dublins Phoenix Park on Sunday, 27th May and regional events in Cork, Galway, Meath, Kilkenny, Limerick, Waterford and Wexford. This years Africa Day Dublin event will feature three stages of live music, with performances by well-known African and Irish musicians, traditional African drumming and dance workshops and cultural performances. The flagship event will also feature an African bazaar showcasing food, hair-braiding and traditional fashion designs from various African countries, and a dedicated childrens area, Mount Kiddimanjaro. A special emphasis will be placed on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the simple ways attendees can contribute to their achievement. Across the country, a diverse programme of events will take place. Highlights include: In his recent controversial Hot Press Interview, D Pete Boylan debunked the vast majority of lies being peddled by the No side. And now Fine Gael members campaigning for a Yes vote in the Referendum on 25th May today moved to debunk a number of myths in relation to the Eighth Amendment. Josepha Madigan, Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht was joined by her Fine Gael colleagues and Prof. Fiona De Londras, Irish academic and Professor of Global Legal Studies at the University of Birmingham UK, to call out mistruths and misinformation and state the facts. Speaking after canvassing commuters in Dublin City Centre this morning, Minister Madigan said: Many people are rightly considering very carefully before voting to make a change to our Constitution. I understand and respect that this referendum involves issues that are very sensitive and personal. Advertisement As a person who had an abortion - sorry for banging on about it - I am really grateful to people like @u2 and @amyhuberman and @hozier and @LeanneWoodfull and @DervalORourke and @mariankeyes and so many more who use their platform to share their views. Thank you. Roisin Ingle (@roisiningle) 2 de mayo de 2018 People deserve to have the full factual information in order to help them make their decision. It is wrong that some people are deliberately propagating mistruths and misinformation and today we are calling out these myths and instead giving people the facts, plain and simple. The reality is abortion is already a reality in this country. It is already a reality for the 170,000 women who have travelled abroad, under a cloud of shame, afraid and alone, since 1980. Today 9 women will travel abroad for a termination and 3 more will take illegal abortion pills with no medical supervision, alone and scared. Voting Yes on May 25th is the only way to change this appalling situation and to put in place a doctor-led, regulated, and a legal framework for the termination of pregnancy in certain circumstances while remaining unlawful in all others. Our goal is a system that is caring and compassionate and understands and supports women in crisis. Prof. de Londras said: The 8th Amendment was a constitutoinal experiment that has proved to be bad law for women who are forced into illegality and secrecy if they decide to end pregnancy and for their doctors who can only intervene where a womans life is at real and substantial risk and are impeded in their ability to care properly for their patients. Advertisement Repeal of the 8th Amendment would empower the Oireachtas to strike a better balance between protecting unborn life and protecting both the life and the health of pregnant women. It would put the regulation of healthcare back where it belongs: in the democratically accountable Houses of the Oireachtas. Prof. de Londras went on to debunk a number of myths which are designed to scaremonger and mislead people including: 1. Repealing the Eighth Amendment will lead to unrestricted abortion up to 6 months Not true. The proposed legislation will be clearly restricted; - By placing strict time limits on access to termination on request i.e. 12 weeks LMP - By narrowly restricting the grounds on which termination is lawful after 12 weeks - By always requiring one doctors certificate to access termination up to 12 weeks - By requiring a waiting period of 3 days between certification and termination in the 12 week protected period Advertisement - By narrowly restricting the grounds on which termination is lawful after 12 weeks - By making abortion illegal once a foetus has reached viability - By making it a crime to provide an abortion outside of the law 2. The proposed legislation and in particular the 12 weeks, will be the most liberal in Europe Not true. The proposed legislation will be on a par with other European countries; - International evidence supports the provision of regulated termination services up to 12 weeks without indication - 36 countries in Europe allow terminations without indication with a time limit usually of 10, 12 or 14 weeks; 12 weeks is the average across European comparators - The 12 week limit was recommended to care for women who have experienced rape or incest. There is no medical test to prove incest or rape has occurred and forcing a legal process before accessing a termination service would re-traumatise rape victims, place doctors in the position of assesing truthfulness of a claim of rape, and jeopardise criminal justice proceedings Advertisement - Prohibiting abortion does not stop abortion; instead it forces women who need abortion care to access it illegally and clandestinely - Women are purchasing abortion pills illegally online and taking them with no medical supervision and in an unregulated environment - The requirement for Irish women to travel abroad for terminations results in some women having later terminations, and often having unnecessary/preventable surgical procedures whereby allowing 12 weeks without indication will put an end to these unsafe and distressing situations for women and will lead to earlier, safer terminations - Where countries introduce lawful abortion, including an early period of abortion on broad grounds or without specific indication, abortion rates often fall. We see this in Spain, Portugal and Switzerland whch have seen a reduction in termination rates due to the comprehensive provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare including crisis pregnancy prevention measures in conjunction with the legalisation of abortion. This is proposed also in Ireland. 3. We are bringing in UK abortion Not True. The proposed legislation in Ireland will be much more restrictive than in England. The proposed Irish law is more restrictive in terms of time limits, grounds, and procedure: Health ground: In Ireland terminations after 12 weeks would be in exceptional, strictly controlled circumstances, i.e. where there is a risk to the life, or of serious harm to the health of the pregnant woman, and in circumstances of fatal foetal conditions. The maximum cut off is viability, and two doctors must certify that abortion is appropriate, one of whom must be an obstetrician. If a foetus is viable, live delivery will take place; an abortion would be a crime in Ireland after viability. In England (i) if there is a risk of injury to the health (physical or mental) of a pregnant woman or her children that is greater than the health risks of continuing a pregnancy abortion is allowed up to 24 weeks; Advertisement (ii) if there is a risk of serious injury the womans health (physical or mental) abortion is allowed without any time limits. This is significantly more liberal than what is proposed in Ireland. B. Non-fatal foetal anomaly: abortion is lawful without time restriction in England where a foetal anomaly is diagnosed whether that is fatal or not. In Ireland abortion will only be allowed after 12 weeks if there is a diagnosis of fatal foetal anomaly. Again, this is much more restricted than in the UK. 4. The new law will lead to abortion of children with disabilities Not true. The new law does not allow for abortion on the basis of disability. There is no disability ground under the proposed Irish law. All the expert advice tells us that it will not be possible to diagnose disabilities before 12 weeks. Private screening tests are available from 9 weeks but they do not provide diagnoses, they only provide indicates of the likelihood of a chromosomal disorder. Furthermore, we already know from evidence of Fergal Malone and Rhona Mahony that a far lower proportion of parents who receive such a diagnosis in Ireland choose to terminate their pregnancies than is the case in England and Wales: there is nothing to indicate that a dramatically high increase would follow repeal, especially as abortion for disability; will not be allowed by the law. Advertisement 5. There will be no protection for unborn babies if we repeal the Eighth Not true. The Supreme Court said in February 2018 that protecting foetal life is part of the common good and the state is allowed to do it through law. Repeal of the 8th Amendment would mean that the foetus is protected in a different way, but not that it is unprotected. The proposed new law does this in four main ways: Waiting period in the first 12 weeks (3 days) Very limited abortion after 12 weeks (life, serious risk to health, FFA) Cut-off point of viability (usually 23-24 weeks; only FFA after thatotherwise live birth) It will be a crime for someone to give an abortion except in line with the new law (NB: it will never be a crime for a woman to have an abortion) In addition, a comprehensive package of consent classes, sexual education, free contraception, and increased support for parenting are being rolled out to make sure anyone who becomes pregnant and wants to be able to parent will be supported in doing so. Advertisement Members of the Fine Gael Party pressing for a yes vote in the upcoming referendum on the Eighth Amendment will, this Friday morning, be joined by Fine Gael TDs of 1983 to discuss the need for repeal. Current day Fine Gael Oireachtas members will be joined by Monica Barnes, Nora Owen, Gemma Hussey and Madeleine Taylor-Quinn for this event to discuss the Eighth Amendment and what it has meant for women since 1983. They will also examine issues pertaining to the campaign, comparing 1983 to 2018. It will discuss Fine Gael women of 83 and today talk about the Eighth Amendment and its effect on Irish women for the last 35 years. It will take place on 11.30am, Friday 4th May 2018, at Georgian Suite, Buswells Hotel, Dublin 2.. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Pittsfield Councilors Petition To Have BMC Pay More In Taxes PITTSFIELD, Mass. Councilors John Krol and Helen Moon are asking Berkshire Medical Center for $1 million more annually. The pair has filed a petition with the City Council asking for the sum through the execution of a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement. Krol says the total is a quarter of what the hospital would have paid for all of its tax-exempt properties should those real estate holdings be taxes at the commercial rate. "Berkshire Health Systems is an entity that is quite profitable. At the same time, we're, as a city, struggling to pay for an adequate number of teachers, to make sure the roads are maintained, and paying for health insurance," Krol said. According to Assessor Paula King, Berkshire Medical Center owns a total of $120 million in assessed value for real estate. Of that, approximately $15 million is taxed, leaving $104.7 million in tax-exempt value -- which would translate to approximately $4 million in commercial tax bills. Not all of Berkshire Medical Center properties are tax exempt; that depends on the particular use. She added, the hospital is "one of the top five real estate taxpayers in Pittsfield" with payments around $600,000 per year for real estate. The petition calls on that to increase by $1 million more. BMC Spokesman Michael Leary says the hospital is not only the "fourth largest taxpayer" in the city but that the organization makes numerous other charitable donations. He cited funding a laptop project for the schools and contributing to the purchase of the ShotSpotter system. He estimates on average $10 million per year is given back to the community through "substantial community benefit expenditures." "Five years ago, the city formed a PILOT Study Group, organized in part at the urging of Councilor Krol, explored whether, notwithstanding state law, Pittsfield should establish a voluntary program to ask local charities for financial contribution The Pittsfield PILOT Study Group concluded that such a program would be unwise for the city, in part because of the manner in which local charities already contribute to the city's financial well-being," Leary wrote. Leary continued to say that BHS leases a "substantial amount of commercial real estate from private owners and contributes to the Pittsfield tax receipts through rental payments." He estimates that there 1,500 city residents working at the hospital and $91 million in wages alone have been given to those employees. Moon said implementing pilot agreements had been on her radar since the campaign. As budget season approaches and the City Council just approved a large increase to residential sewer bills, she feels it is time to ask the city "most profitable business" to pay its "fair share." "We constantly talk about our levy ceiling and how the taxpayers are being pushed to the limits," Moon said. "It just seems like their not paying their fair share." Moon claims that between 2012 and 2016, the hospital made some $200 million in profit. The petition, also signed by residents Marietta Rapetti Cawse and Frank Farkas, claims BMS had a surplus of $47 million at the end of 2016 while the city pays some $24.5 million in health insurance costs. "Its parent company, Berkshire Health Systems, owns a growing number of physicians practices and other medical services. Because of this, Berkshire Health Systems is the ultimate recipient of a significant portion of what the city of Pittsfield pays for health insurance," the petition reads. That main correlation Krol is attempting to make in the petition. He said 16 cents on every dollar in the budget goes toward health care costs while at the same time, Berkshire Medical Center has a number of tax-exempt properties. "I think that correlation is not insignificant," Krol said. Moon added that not only is the hospital receiving money from health insurance but also from co-pays, deductibles, and other out of pocket costs. She said the hospital has a monopoly on the county's health care. "The Pittsfield employees and the residents of Pittsfield are kind of getting it from all angles," Moon said. Krol continued to say that the city provides a number of services to the hospital, whether that be police and fire or simply maintaining the roads surrounding one of the city's largest employer's properties. "At a time when it is challenging financially for the city, it makes sense. They should be paying more based on the fact that a lot is exempt," Krol said. Moon said other communities have agreements with hospitals and the petition was crafted around those similar agreements. The conversation isn't new to the city. In the past, the city had debated a policy on PILOT agreements with all non-profits. That hadn't taken hold and Krol feels that taking a more targeted approach toward certain non-profits could help get such agreements approved. "It was important to focus the conversation," he said. "This is an attempt to derive more revenue that will help out the taxpayer." Moon said she doesn't intend to go after all non-profits, especially the smaller ones, and believes in building a strong health care system. But she questions whether or not the hospital is giving back $4 million worth to the community. "I'm not doing this to go after non-profits. I just think BMC is highly profitable," Moon said. "This is not an attack... we just need to look at things more critically." The petition, if approved, would call on the administration to reach a PILOT agreement. Josh Garcia is one of eight candidates up for the position. Lanesborough Continues Interviews For Town Administrator This is the second of four articles on candidates for town administrator in Lanesborough; the Board of Selectmen is interviewing eight candidates. The first article can be read here. Kelli Robbins is the executive secretary for the town of Holland, which is a comparable position to the town administrator job description in Lanesborough. LANESBOROUGH, Mass. Kelli Robbins, the executive secretary in Holland, used a vacation day on Wednesday to prepare for her interview that evening for the Lanesborough town administrator post. But by 10 a.m., she was back at Holland Town Hall to work. She describes herself as someone who will likely die at her work desk. "When something needs to be done, it needs to be done regardless of the time it takes," Robbins said. Her position in Holland, in Hampden County, is comparable to a town administrator when the job descriptions are combined. She got to that point after years in municipal government. "I got hooked on municipal work back in the early '90s when I became dog officer for my town and it blossomed from there," Robbins said. She took on more and more roles in government. She became a full-time assessor. She worked as a zoning clerk, in the Parks Department. When she got frustrated with the way the state was managing Chapter 97 land, she went to law school to find a way to change it. She then worked in the attorney general's office in the municipal government division. Then, back in her town, the prior secretary left abruptly and she offered to fill in. "When you get into municipal work you either get addicted to it or run screaming into the night," Robbins said, and she's been there since. Robbins said, "my job as town administrator is to protect the town. I work for the residents under the supervision of the Selectmen." When she took office the Holland, she said there were pending lawsuits, the state Department of Environmental Protection was pressuring the town over a degrading landfill, and the finances were so bleak phones were being turned off in departments. But, she said that is all resolved and Holland is in a solid position overall. "There was a lot of cleaning up that needed to be done," she said. She said a key component is a communication with the Board of Selectmen and the townspeople. She said she provides as much information as possible to the Board of Selectmen ahead of every meeting, including an "FYI" sheet reporting the history and legality around any issue. "They are fully prepared for each meeting based on the research I will do," she said. She said she is a firm believer in rewarding staff for jobs well done, but also isn't afraid to tell them where there are errors -- and even once fired her best friend from a job. She said she treats all employees as equals and holds regular department head meetings to make sure everybody knows what each other are doing, and holds non-mandatory luncheons where no "shop talk" is done, but instead the town's staff gets to know each other on a more personal level. When it comes to budgets, she said she meets with department heads to determine priorities. In a town with little for a commercial tax base, she said she seeks long-term stability by cutting costs and looking for new ways to finance items. She added that she keeps a long-term history of capital expenses and makes long-term plans for future needs. "In order to save revenues and generate long-term revenue, I am trying to cut costs," Robbins said. She has experience in working in with a regional school district and said she's grown a strong relationship with the elementary school in which a high level of school choice revenue is offsetting some of the costs which would otherwise have come from the town's taxpayers. She said she'd be available to start on July 1 because she still has some matters to tie up in Holland. Plus, she has new selectmen coming in and she wants to make sure they are up to date with the goings-on in town and ready to keep things moving if she leaves. When Worthington pulled out of the Gateway Regional School District, it threw the remaining six towns for a loop trying to figure out how to manage finances. Josh Garcia is a municipal services manager with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and immediately got called into to help sort it out. Garcia researched the data. He understood the declining population. And he knew that what they had was not sustainable. He brought all of the towns together and started to look at cost-sharing agreements, and ways the towns can improve efficiency with the school district. The towns have crafted a more stable agreement to mitigate year-to-year changes, rather than be dependent on whims. And, since then, a five-year sustainability plan was developed. "They figured out a way to come up with a plan and a dollar amount to spread out over the course of five years. They share the burden," he said. Garcia has been in and out of many small towns in the Pioneer Valley and says that while each town is unique, many towns are facing similar challenges. "A lot of what I do is to work with our local governments looking for ways to achieve efficiency," Garcia said. "Most of my work is with smaller towns who don't necessarily have the resources to keep up with their basic services." Since taking the job with PVPC, his close relationship with town administrations has led him to pursue a career in the field. He says he looks up to a lot of the Pioneer Valley town administrators as mentors in tackling the issues small towns face. One of those is finding ways to share services with others. He said his most recent project is to develop a regional accounting program. He said many small towns have volunteer or part-time employees and that isn't easy to do with the highly regulated municipal finance. And managing those challenges isn't always easy. Garcia said his toughest decision was recommending that the city of Holyoke eliminate an engine in the Fire Department. The apparatuses are aging and the cost of purchasing new equipment is daunting. But data showed the Fire Department's responses were down compared to years past. "Any fire chief or any person will tell you the more resources the better. But because of the budget capacity in the city, we had to get creative in how to provide services," Garcia said. "I knew how rocky that road would be politically, but it was a decision we had to make, our responsibility on behalf of the taxpayers." That decision led to an outcry from parts of the community but he says between that and implementing preventive fire measures, it was the right decision. He developed not only a long-term capital plan for the city but also a long-term vehicle maintenance schedule to get the most out of the apparatuses the city does have. "There is a lot more preventative solutions being put in place. Old buildings had been knocked down over the years. We were comfortable with the decision of removing the engine without jeopardizing safety," he said. That decision wasn't his and his alone. Garcia said he works on projects by taking a team approach. And that's how he'd manage in the town of Lanesborough if selected. "My view at it is, no matter what we're working on, I look at it as a project. We have our resources around us to work and determine the greatest outcome in the final product," Garcia said. He said he'd use social media and email newsletters to make sure the public is knowing what's going on and be in regular communication with the Board of Selectmen. While the Fire Department story centers on municipal budgets, Garcia lacks experience developing a budget on his own. However, he is now under contract with Blandford and learning firsthand how budget development in small towns involves working with multiple town boards, from the Board of Selectmen to the Finance Committee to the treasurer. He also served on a school board. In Lanesborough, he'd like to help develop a master plan and find creative ways to reuse the Berkshire Mall. And, he's committed to staying long-term. "I give 150 percent in everything I do. I try to be the expert in that area. This is a position I want to grow in. I hope to commit five years at a minimum if I am selected," Garcia said. The Board of Selectmen interview both Garcia and Robbins for the open town administrator position. Paul Sieloff, the town's full-time town administrator who had his position title changed to town manager during the last contract renewal, is retiring after town meeting. He hasn't set a final date, but that June meeting is when he is looking to wrap up his term. On Monday the Selectmen interviewed Tanya Stepasiuk and Kevin Towle for the job. Robbins and Garcia were followed by Stacy Parsons and Mark Shea, whose interviews will be recapped in another story. On Thursday, the Selectmen are interviewing Christine Dobbert of Florida and George Sutherland of Plainfield. The Selectmen are expected to make a decision in the coming weeks. North Adams Committee Advises No Rate Changes at Transfer Station A pie chart expenses for the transfer station. The budget for fiscal 2019 is $455,184.27. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The Public Services Committee will be recommending no changes to the rates at the transfer station with the exception of adding a one-time disposal fee of $10. Administrative Officer Michael had brought forward several proposals on changing to a single-rate sticker fee and adding a $6 one-time charge. But committee members felt that the transfer station was a convenience for many in the area and fees shouldn't be reduced at this point. "I would keep everything the same and then next year, if we find our nonresidents has dropped more than the $15,000, then if we were looking to be competitive, that's the point we say OK," said Chairman Joshua Moran, referring to the amount of revenue that would be reduced with the proposed flat fee. Member Jason LaForest had concerns about North Adams taxpayers "subsidizing the facility for residents of other communities." Canales said the goal has been to right-size and streamline operations at the transfer station, a project that has taken some time. For years, he said, the actual costs to operate the station had not been reviewed and the charges had not changed, which had lead to taxpayers taking on more of the cost burden than nonresidents. "When we first started focusing on this pay-to-throw, it cost residents essentially more money to get rid of the trash than nonresidents, because when there was a shortage or when we had to pay extra money for the transfer station for upgrades, that taxpayers were charged the remaining balance," Moran explained. Canales said that has changed as revenues have been adjusted to match costs. All of the large haulers have moved to TAM in Pownal, Vt., but the city still sees a number of small haulers. With the reduced volume, it's been able to classify as a small-scale operation, saving on testing and forms required by the state. The administration proposal had been for a flat sticker price of $60 a year for everyone; eliminate temporary and half-year stickers in favor of a single user-fee; and adjust the hours of operation. The flat rate would translate to a reduction of $12,725 in revenue for next year. The total cost to operate the transfer station is proposed at $455,184. Non-residents make up 488 of sticker-holders, bringing in $39,000; commercial haulers hold 202 stickers for $17,170 in revenue. Nearly 1,200 resident stickers are sold annually for $71,000 in revenue. The cost for disposing of trash has gone up by 16 cents a ton, from $113.64 a ton. Waste disposal takes up 73 percent of transfer station costs. With an annual sticker price of $60, it would cost the average family of four about 50 cents more to dispose of a ton of trash. However, the administration was not advising any price change. The bag prices of $1 for a small and $2.25 for a large would remain the same. Member Marie T. Harpin asked if the reasoning for flat rates was to stay competitive with other communities. Canales said yes, to an extent. Operations have stabilized, he said, and "we have a significant clientele from Adams but a lot of those are small haulers." Adams has opened its own transfer station, at $75 a year for residents, but he believed everything had to be bagged. North Adams, in contrast, has a scale that will allow truckloads of debris. "We have the scale that allows us to take construction debris for small haulers and the rest," Canales said. "That's very convenient." The current rates are $60 for residents, $80 for nonresidents and $85 for commercial. Moran thought it was worth the extra $5 a year for Adams haulers to be able to drive over the scale. The committee preferred to keep the rates as they are for now and re-evaluate them next year. Members did, however, think the $6 fee for one-time use in addition to bag and scale fees might be too low. (Scale fee is $6.) Canales said the $6 option was a placeholder to begin conversations; the administration had also considered $8 and $10. "You don't necessarily make it affordable for someone who's coming up that only is going to using it once or twice anyway," Moran said. "I would be leaning toward that $10." The one-time fee would be useful for people who are not full-time residents, for residents who hadn't had a chance to get their stickers, and to encourage people to buy the one-year stickers. It would also catch people who didn't have stickers; the city plans to crack down on people showing up without one. Trying to fill out forms at the transfer station for temporary stickers was cumbersome and backed up the operation, Canales said. "We're trying to get them to City Hall to buy their stickers." The transfer station is also trying a new traffic pattern with everyone entering on the right side, toward the scale, making the loop and exiting on the left on Tuesday through Saturday. The traffic on Saturday is much greater so those going over the scale would enter to the right; those dropping bags and recyclable would enter on the left, turn at the end and exit through the lane on the side of the containers. This formation would allow for a foreman and scale house worker during the week; the transfer station would operate from 7 to 2, closing an hour earlier than currently so all the containers can be cleaned out for the start of the next day. On Saturday, there would be a foreman, scale house worker and a third Department of Public Works employee to help with emptying the containers. The hours would remain 7 to 2. The committee voted to maintain current rates, eliminate temporary and half-year stickers, institute the $10 one-time fee, and change the hours of operation during the week. Some of these did not require City Council approval but all three committee members thought it should be brought to the full council's attention. "These are ways in which we've been incrementally making it more efficient, cleaner, and better run operation," Moran said. "Will it be different? Yes. But it doesn't mean the way it was done before is the right way." The Williamstown Zoning Board of Appeals votes on Verizon's application to build a cell tower at the junction of Routes 7 and 2. An illustration of how the tower will look is on the wall behind the board. Williamstown Zoning Board Green Lights Verizon Cell Tower Verizon radio frequency engineer Jay Latorre answers a question from the board. WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. After more a hearing that lasted more than a year, the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday unanimously approved Verizon Wireless' application to erect a monopole cellular tower at the junction of Routes 7 and 2 behind the former Taconic Restaurant. ZBA Chairman Andrew Hoar at the outset of Wednesday's continuation of the hearing stated his intention to have a motion before the board by the end of the night. An hour and a half later, Keith Davis obliged him, reading for the record a lengthy draft motion composed by the town's community development director granting Verizon the two special permits it needed to erect a 95-foot tower on the site. Among the board's findings: that Verizon had "implemented reasonable measures to attenuate and mitigate the impact of the installation" and that the proposed installation, "will not have an undue adverse impact on historic resources, scenic views, residential property values, natural or man-made resources." The latter finding drew an interjection from resident Richard Sutter from the floor of the meeting. Sutter, who has opposed the Verizon application at several points in the public hearing called out, "yes it does," as Davis read the motion. Later, after the entire 750-word motion was on the table, ZBA member David Levine returned to the assertion about "property values," asking whether the board had enough evidence to make the finding. "We do," Hoar said. "That was a concern in South Williamstown [site of another tower farther down Route 7], and it hasn't affected values." "The local assessor found no impact on values whatsoever," Community Development Director Andrew Groff confirmed for the board. At Hoar's suggestion, Davis accepted one amendment to the proposed motion. Originally, Davis moved that future co-locators on the tower would have to come back to the ZBA to request permission to extend the height of the structure. "Can't we just say that the co-locator has to go below [Verizon's antenna]?" Hoar asked. "Do you want to open this can of worms again?" Davis agreed, changing his language to read, "The tower shall not be extended beyond this height, period." After a brief discussion among board members, Hoar asked for a roll call vote, and all five members who have sat for the hearing voted to accept Davis' motion. At the end of the yearlong process, the Verizon tower will look a bit different from the one it originally pitched to the ZBA. After taking feedback from the board and residents, the telecommunications company changed its application to specify a design that is slightly shorter, that incorporates a lower profile for the antennae at the top and which is painted a dark green color with a matte finish instead of the light gray originally depicted on drawings. At the base of the tower, instead of the original chain link fence and barbed wire in Verizon's original plan, the tower's emergency generator and other support equipment will be enclosed by a wood plank fence surrounded by "Green Giant" arborvitae. The vegetative screening "shall be replaced if it plantings fail or fail to provide adequate screening," per Davis' motion. Wednesday's hearing began with testimony from Virginia-based telecommunications consultant Walter Cooper, who was hired by the town and paid by the applicant to advise the ZBA throughout the process. Cooper reconfirmed his previously offered written testimony that Verizon was accurately testifying to the coverage gap along the Route 7 corridor that the new tower is designed to fill. The board asked Cooper about his thoughts on the feasibility of replacing the proposed tower with a series of small cell antennae mounted on utility poles along the stretch of U.S. highway, known in that area as Cold Spring Road. Cooper, again following on his written testimony, told the board that he disagreed with Verizon about the number of small cells that it would take to fill the gap. However, his full answer supported the telecom company's case. Walter Cooper, who was hired to advise the town, confirmed Verizon's findings to the ZBA. "In my opinion, small cells are technically feasible, but from a practical standpoint, I don't think they're necessarily the best solution in this case," Cooper said. "I think there's a reliability issue. You have trees coming down when there are storms, and trees take down the lines. Typically, [the small cells] are in a series. Whether it's six or 26. If one of the series is disrupted, everything beyond that is also disrupted." On the other hand, Cooper did suggest that the company could solve its coverage issue with a perhaps more aesthetically pleasing alternative, a "flagless flagpole" tower in which the antennae are encased within the tower instead of mounted on the outside. Verizon radio frequency engineer Jay Latorre told the board, as he has in the past, that the internal antenna design is not an acceptable solution in the company's opinion. "Verizon's opinion is that the flagless flagpole solution is a solution that diminishes Verizon's ability to meet the coverage gap because it forces Verizon to put radios on the ground and reduces signal coverage," Latorre said. "We feel our solution allows us to take advantage of current technology and future technological upgrades." Latorre and Verizon's attorney told the ZBA that the company had not done an engineering study to assess the feasibility of the "flagpole" style tower, at which point Sutter jumped in to tell the board it should force the company to go back to drawing board one more time. Hoar responded by citing a passage from federal law that says state and local authorities "must act on applications within a reasonable period of time." "I think since we have literally had this on the table for over a year, that's a reasonable period of time," Hoar said. "If we continue to drag it out, that gives Verizon the ability [to file an appeal with a court]." College Scholarships Available for Drury High Graduates NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The North Adams Public Schools offers three postgraduate scholarship funds for any college student who graduated from Drury High School and is attending a four-year college when making the application. This is the first year the applications for these scholarships are available online. The school district disperses some $17,000 in scholarships each year. All postgraduate scholarship applications are due by June 1. The Charles & Olivina Perron Memorial Scholarship is open to any college student attending a four-year college. To apply for the Charles & Olivina Perron Memorial Scholarship fund click here The Dr. H.H. Gadsby Memorial Scholarship is open to any college student attending a four-year college. To apply for the Dr. H.H. Gadsby Memorial Scholarship fund click here. The Mortimer P. Howard Memorial Scholarship is open to college students about to enter their junior or senior year at college. To apply for the Mortimer P. Howard Memorial Scholarship fund click here. by Francis Sam KUWAIT, MAY 3, 2018: The Association of Salesian Cooperators of Kuwait, organised a 'Thanksgiving Day' for the students of standard X and XII who had completed their board exams on April 26, at St Therese parish . The celebration began at 6.30 pm with holy Mass concelebrated by the Salesian priests, Father Blany Pinto, Father Derrick Misquitta and Father Franco Pereira who was the main celebrant. The Holy Mass was attended by over 100 students and parishioners. In the introduction, students expressed that they had experienced God's special presence and touch during the days they were writing their exams and had gathered at the holy Eucharist to thank God. The main celebrant Father Pereira in his homily gave a simple yet beautiful message to the students. He said the students had rightly come to the Lord Jesus to thank Him because He is the Master, the source of all Wisdom, the all-knowing God. In the Sacrament of Confirmation, they have been also filled with the gifts of Wisdom and Knowledge. He further reminded them that they must also use their wisdom and knowledge in the humble service of God and humanity in every way they can. The Master Lord Jesus was also a servant. He encouraged the youngsters to pray for their parents too, who work hard for their education and have also prayed for them. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by an evening of fellowship for the students with the theme 'Fun, Fun and more Fun'. Over 50 students attended the fellowship. The youth enjoyed the thrilling games conducted by the Cooperators team. There was also music and dancing to liven up the evening. Anchors Christopher Pereira and Raymond Rego kept the youth entertained. Every student was given a rosary and a bookmark as a souvenir with the message of St. Don Bosco, "Trust all things to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and to Mary Help of Christians and you will see what miracles are"; and St. Don Bosco's formula for sanctity, " First, Be Happy, second, Study and Pray, and third, Do Good to everyone." The evening closed with the Cooperators wishing the students all the best as they pursue further studies and urged them to always remember the message of St. Don Bosco on the bookmark. Unusual Activity at Iran Nuke Site The Fellowship | May 3, 2018 Unusual Activity at Iran Nuke Site This week has certainly been enlightening when it comes to uncovered truths behind Irans deceitful nuclear program, with another truth uncovered today by an Israeli satellite firm. The Times of Israels Judah Ari Gross reports that satellite images reveal unusual movement at a uranium enrichment site in Iran: An Israeli satellite imaging company on Thursday released images showing what it described as unusual movement around the Iranian Fordo nuclear facility, a one-time uranium enrichment plant buried deep underground that was converted to a research center as part of the 2015 nuclear deal. The photographs, which show large numbers of vehicles at the entrance to the facility and other signs of increased activity there, do not in themselves indicate any violation of the nuclear accord, known formally as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA. The fate of the highly contentious nuclear agreement lies in the balance, with US President Donald Trump set to decide whether or not America will remain party to it ahead of a May 12 deadline. The underground site, which has been protected by the powerful S-300 air defense system since 2016, was not shuttered as part of the accord, but the types of activities allowed there were heavily curtailed The pictures of the Fordo plant, which were taken on April 29, were released by ImageSat International, a satellite imagery analysis firm based out of Or Yehuda in central Israel. The company is largely run by former members of the Israeli Air Force. One satellite photograph showed cars and buses filling the Fordo facilitys parking lot. ImageSat said it has not detected any large presence of private vehicles nor buses in recent months. The firm provided a second image from July 8, 2016, in which no vehicles are visible. However, an aerial photograph from April 2, 2016, shows at least 10 cars and two buses in the facilitys parking lot. Another image shows that a gate leading to what ImageSat refers to as uranium enrichment tunnels was open on April 29. Before that, the gate was last seen open on November 23, 2015. However, publicly available satellite images of the site are few and far between by Donovan Ferrao KUWAIT, MAY 3, 2018: The Salmiya Parish Youth (SPY), came together to organise the third edition of Gospel Rock on of April 27, at Indian English Academy School. This Gospel Rock, taking inspiration from its previous editions held in 2014 and 2016 respectively, lived up to every moment of bringing forth an ensemble of Gospel bands, choirs and individual performers who sang an even wider array of Gospel songs. The sole objective of Gospel Rock has always been to gather members of all ages from each of the four parishes within Kuwait to praise the Lord through music and song in English as well as in Hindi. This edition featured 24 participating acts having an almost equal ratio of solo, choirs and bands who strutted their vocal and musical prowess as they enraptured the crowd who joined in the singing. The Chief Guest for the event was Father Michael Fernandes who was visiting Kuwait from Goa. A music enthusiast himself, he spoke about how worshiping God can be accomplished in so many ways but song and music was one of the most alluring ways to have a whole community come together to praise and sing aloud. The Parish Priest, Father Blany Pinto and Father Derrick Misquitta graced the concert with their presence. The show was spearheaded and knit together by the hosts, MC Christopher Pereira and MC Lloyd D'Souza, as they interacted with the participants before and after every act, disclosing what inspired them to sing and lend their talent for the Lord. They also kept the audience on their feet by giving away spot prizes and performing action songs. The evening came to an end with the certificate presentation to every participant and group by SPY's Spiritual Director, Father Lionel Braganza who also presented the vote of thanks. SPY core team and volunteers ended the concert on a high by taking centre stage to perform the action song We're all in this together! Ramona Crasto who sang Yeshu, a Hindi worship song said, "This isn't the first time I have had the opportunity to perform with SPY but somehow, this time around, I felt that there was so much joy and radiance at this concert. Thank you once again SPY for the opportunity!" A 13-year-old student says she is being bullied in school but her peers are not the perpetrators. Jasmine Perry, a student at Northview Middle School, says classroom instructional assistants compared her appearance to an animal and announced her failing grade to the classroom. On April 25, Perrys classroom was taking a break from ISTEP+ testing when her classmates started engaging in banter with instructional assistants whom Perry knows as Mr. Cameron and Mr. Steele. According to Perry, a student mentioned an Instagram page featuring side-by-side comparisons of children from local schools and creatures that each child resembles. Thats when they overheard us, and Mr. Steele pulled up a picture of this animal with a big head, Perry said. They (the instructional assistants) started bursting out laughing. We were like Whats funny, whats funny and Mr. Cameron was like If you were on the Instagram page, this is what you would be. The alleged picture featured a whale with an oddly shaped head. Rick Doss, the director of secondary education at Washington Township, said they are unable to comment on the incident due to the confidentiality laws. I got mad, and everyone started laughing, Perry said. There were a whole lot of kids in there laughing and I said, Thats not even funny because he is fat, and he said Yes, I am fat, and you are dumb. Thats when I really got mad, Perry argued with the educator and was asked to leave the classroom. Perry left and called her mother, LaToya Grady, to tell her about the incident. Grady left work and rushed to the school. I came up here because I felt it was totally inappropriate. Kids come to school to learn, and its a bonus to have someone to look up to, not someone to put them down, Grady said, She has previously dealt with bullying issues from classmates saying things about her facial features or her acne and things like that. To hear that this is coming from a teacher, and two male teachers at that, is disheartening. Perry says this was not the first time she was targeted by the adults mentioned. Another day, I was talking, and Mr. Steele was like Jasmine, I dont know what you are doing because you have an F in here. Perry said. Why would you say that out loud? A peer told Perry that Cameron had referred to Perry as that girl Jasmine with the big forehead. When Grady approached the administration with her concerns, she felt they brushed her off. The first thing (the principal) asked me was What are her grades like? Grady said. I was like, What does that have to do with anything? Grady said the principal told her students were roasting back and fourth with the adults. While Principal Matt Kaiser did not respond to requests for an interview, he did send an email. We have been in continuous communication with the family you mentioned in your message and based on this communication we feel we have brought the matter to an appropriate conclusion. But Grady disagrees, stating that she still does not know if any repercussions will come against Cameron or Steele. I feel like they do this because they think some parents dont care, or they will not make it a big issue, but I feel it needs to be known and parents need to be aware, Grady said. I came this way because I heard great things (about Washington Township), and how the schools were great. Its much more expensive than where I lived before, but I was willing to do that so my kids can attend good schools. Its really disheartening to know you are doing all of this to make sure your kids get a good education, but this is how they are being treated. Contact reporter Keshia McEntire at 317-762-7853. Follow her on Twitter @Keshiamc12. Jasmine Perry says she does not know if repercussions will come against the educators involved. (Photo/Keshia McEntire) MCK Grand Chief Norton states our identity [has] no business in outside courts On Tuesday, May 1, the Canadian House of Commons passed a historic vote asking Pope Francis for a formal apology. The apology would address to Indigenous peoples of Canada the physical, sexual and emotional abuse suffered by the thousands of children forced to attend residential schools. The motion was presented by NDP MP Charlie Angus, a federal Member of Parliament for the riding of Timmins - James Bay. A total of 269 Liberal, Conservative, NDP, Green and other MPs voted in favor of the motion. Ten Conservative MPs opposed it but the motion has passed. A papal apology was one of more than 94 calls to action and recommendations issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which spent years looking into the tragic experiences of the Indigenous students of the church-run schools that operated for more than a century in Canada. Thousands of children died and many more were physically and sexually abused. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had personally asked the Pope to issue an apology during his visit to the Vatican in 2017. In March 2018, the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a letter saying they had raised the matter with Pope Francis but said he felt he could not personally respond. That refusal to apologize sparked fierce condemnation. All three other Christian denominations that ran residential schools have issued formal apologies. The United Church did so in 1998, the Presbyterian Church in 1994 and the Anglican Church in 1993. However, the Catholic Church ran two-thirds of the schools and has refused to apologize or pay the monies it has been ordered to give as compensation to survivors. Angus and other MPs, including Romeo Saganash, a Member of Parliament for the Quebec riding of Abitibi-Baie-James-Nunavik-Eeyou and residential school survivor. Saganash has repeatedly criticized the refusal as an attempt by the Canadian bishops to shield themselves and the Church from further legal liability over the schools. They say they want what the current and previous popes have given to survivors of abuse by the Church in other jurisdictions. While the former pope made an expression of sorrow to Indigenous leaders for the schools in 2009, survivors say that did not go far enough. In 2010, a papal apology was issued to Irish victims of sexual abuse. In 2015, he apologized in Bolivia to the Indigenous peoples of the Americas for the grave sins of colonialism. And recently the Pope begged forgiveness for the grave errors in judgment he made in defending a Chilean bishop who covered up the abuses of a pedophile priest. His apology to the Chilean survivors came on the heels of outcry after he accused them of slandering the priest at the center of the allegations. File photo of New Yorkers celebrating the Indian Holi festival May 3, 2014 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. Is this an example of cultural appropriation? (Eric Thayer/Getty Images) This Saturday is the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, the most destructively influential writer on economics in world history. Here are five facts should know about the German philosopher and co-author of The Communist Manifesto: 1. As a student at the University of Bonn, Marx was introduced to the philosophy of the late Berlin professor G.W.F. Hegel and joined the Young Hegelians, a group that held radical views on religion and society. At the time Marx was still rough and wild (while at school he was imprisoned for drunkenness and fought a duel with another student) but his association with the group helped to radicalize him and affected the trajectory of his life. Because of his extreme views on religion and politics and his association with the Young Hegelian, the government denied him an academic career and he had to settle for working as a journalist. 2. Throughout the 1840s, Marx found himself to a man without a country. He was run out of Prussia in 1842, expelled from France in 1845, rejected from Belgium in 1848, and was forced to leave Prussiaonce againin 1848. He then moved to England in 1849, but Britain denied him citizenship and Prussia refused to re-naturalize him. Marx even considered moving to the Republic of Texas in 1843, and applied to the mayor of Trier, his birthplace, for an immigration permit. 3. From the time he moved to England in early 1849 until the time of his death, Marx and his family lived in abject poverty. Within a year of arriving in London, he was kicked of his two-room apartment for failing to pay rent. For decades after he was forced to use a fake name to hide from creditors. On some days, Marx could not even leave his house because his wife Jenny had to pawn his pants to buy food. His friend and collaborator, Friedrich Engels, frequently sent Marx money (between 1865 and 1869 alone Engels gave Marx the equivalent of $36,000). In a letter written on his fiftieth birthday to Engels, Marx recalled his mothers words: if only Karl made capital instead of just writing about it. 4. Soon after moving to London, Marx organized a British branch of the Communist League, the first Marxist political party. One especially vocal and radical member of the group was August Willich, a former Prussian military commander who had been court-martialed for being a Communist. Willich believed Marx was insufficiently revolutionary and reportedly plotted to kill him. At a League meeting Willich challenged Marx to a duel. Marx refused, but it led to the end of the League in England. (Willich later moved to the U.S. and became a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War.) 5. In 1862, Marx wrote a letter to Engels saying, A lousy life like this is not worth living. He would, however, go on to live for another two decades. When he died he was broke and his influence was waningonly 11 people attended his funeral on March 17, 1883 (telegrams were also received from the French Workers Party (Paris Branch) and the Spanish Workers Party (Madrid Branch)). Marxs work might have faded into obscurity had it not influenced a young Russian revolutionary named Vladimir Lenin. After reading Das Kapital, Lenin declared himself a Marxist seven years after Marxs death. Lenin would go on to become founder of the Russian Communist Party, leader of the Bolshevik Revolution, and architect and first head of the Soviet state. An appeals court has upheld a one-year jail sentence for tech entrepreneur Gurbaksh Chahal, who pleaded guilty to a single domestic violence charge for battering his girlfriend at least 115 times, and was later found guilty of violating his probation by repeatedly hitting another woman. Seen here in Sept. 8, 2008, he has not yet been remanded into custody to serve his sentence. (Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Fox) Five members of the Theta Tau fraternity at Syracuse University in New York, who were suspended after a video of them performing a skit that is both racist and homophobic, have sued their school. One of the plaintiffs, who have been named John Does in the lawsuit, is Indian American. In the video, he is shown simulating a sex act with a boy shouting, Im an untouchable. (screen grab of YouTube video) Indian American physician Rita Luthra was convicted of illegally sharing patient information with a pharmaceutical sales representative. Luthra's attorney argued that his client did nothing wrong and blamed her office manager and the sales rep. (representational image) Ifu Ennada hails Cee-C, calls her the true definition of a strong mighty woman. She took to her Instagram page to write: My #WCW is @ceec_official for a number of reasons. We were not the closest of friends in the #Bbnaija house, but something about you stood out. I remember the times you wanted to tell me your story and how we could make a movie out of it. You said you had always gotten everything you wanted thanks to your awesome dad, but had some struggles that shaped you in certain ways. You never told me these things, but I could relate to you in some ways because of my past I like how youre out and doing big things. I like how youre very warm and receptive. I like how you left all that happened in the house back there and youre becoming the true definition of a Mighty Strong Woman. So many things could break a woman, but you stand strong and show no weakness. The other day you asked me if I still do my shutouts Well, heres one Shout outs to your father, hes your biggest cheerleader! He reminds me of my dad. Everyone should have a dad like yours. Youre a Beautiful CeeC and I wish you nothing but the best! Cheers, Ifu. Leave a Comment comments President Muhammadu Buhari has once again declared that more people were killed in Zamfara than Taraba and Benue states. When asked by the Voice of Nigeria what other agreement he sealed with President Donald Trump during their bilateral talks, Buhari responded thus: Not agreements, just discussions. The first one is the information being given to them that Christians are being killed in Nigeria, but what happened in the Church also happened in the South-east and the North and they just say it is herdsmen that are killing them. Those making these allegations against the herdsmen know that herdsmen, as we know them only carry sticks, going about with guns is a new thing and those making the allegations know that conflict between farmers and herders has a long history even before we were born. Therefore, it is wrong to say the conflict is between Fulani and Tiv or other tribes, like in Taraba. What of Zamfara, where more people were killed than in Taraba and Benue put together? Source: Nigeriannews Nigerias technological space is about to witness a game-changing event called TechFest. Then, you dont want to miss this event. Techfest will be a catalyst for Nigerias growth engine and connect entrepreneurs to investors and venture capitalists. The event is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 15 and Wednesday, 16 May 2018 at the Landmark event Centre, Oniru, Lagos and it is brought in partnership with Diamond Bank, MTN, Visa, Microsoft, NIBSS, Deloitte, Interswitch and Beat Fm. The Reveal Video can be seen here: Tech Fest promises to feature the best talent in the Nigerian technology (a growing sector in the country). The event will showcase technological solutions for businesses, connect technology providers with new markets, provide access-to-market opportunities for tech start-ups amongst others. Battle of the Hubs is a must see for the ecosystem and definitely a key component of the event. A major highlight of the event will be the set up lounge called Investors Zone which allows techpreneurs to network with angel investors, partners and other collaborators. That is not all, you also get to see co-creation hubs get to compete for the prize money and technological services from our partners at the battle of the hubs. Did we get you there? What are you waiting for? Attendance is free. All you need to do is register for the event here: https://techfest.ng/registration/ Venue: LandMark Event Centre, Oniru, Lekki Date: May 15th and 16th, 2018 Embattled senator, Dino Melaye was on Wednesday re-arrested by the police in court after the magistrate court granted him bail. The senator was arraigned before a Magistrates Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja amid heavy presence of police officers. He was arraigned on charges bordering on his alleged escape from a police vehicle in Abuja on April 24, 2018. The presiding magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello, granted him bail in the sum of N90m. Punch quoted Melayes lawyer, Mr. Nkem Okoro, as saying that his client met the bail conditions granted by the court but the senator was re-arrested by the police on the court premises. He met his bail conditions but the police decided to re-arrest him on the excuse that they were taking him to Lokoja tomorrow morning, Okoro said. Melaye laid on a stretcher when he was produced in court in a police ambulance with registration number NPF2214D on Wednesday. Over 200 policemen were deployed to the court on Wednesday. They left the court premises in a convoy which comprised the ambulance conveying Melaye at about 4.20pm. Leave a Comment comments The team from Charity Navigator, the nation's largest independent charity evaluator and leading donor advocate, shares their thoughts on emerging nonprofit-sector issues and offers tips to better inform your intelligent giving decisions. Return to Main Site | Find a Charity | Receive Email Updates | Support Charity Navigator Melaye, appeared before a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi state on a stretcher to face criminal charges on Thursday, May 3, 2018. The arraignment happened just a day after he also appeared before an Abuja Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2 on a stretcher to answer charges brought against him by the police. Police drag Melaye to court as he appears on stretcherplay The Senior Magistrate Court 2 in Lokoja ruled on Thursday that the Kogi West representative should be remanded in prison till June 11 as he faces charges of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms,, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, political thuggery and other violent crimes in the state. During plenary on Thursday, lawmakers expressed their worries about Melaye being unduly persecuted by the police and urged the National Assembly to probe the matter. While responding to the motion to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on the matter, Dogara cautioned the police against putting Melayes health in jeopardy. He warned that the institution will be held responsible if anything happens to Melaye in the course of prosecution which he argued the lawmaker is unfit to be undergoing. He said, All I can say is that nothing must happen to the senator. If anybody in this country has committed an offence, the law is there for the person to he prosecuted or arraigned within the ambit of the law. So my admonition to the security agencies is to do everything possible to ensure that his life is secure first before prosecution. Prosecution cannot come at the expense of death. And that is very important, because if anything happens to him, squarely the responsibility will lie on the security agents. And that is without mincing words. He further expressed his frustration with the prosecution of the lawmaker who is not even in the right frame of mind to even take a plea. So of what use is it taking someone to court when he cannot plead guilty or not guilty? What is more important is health first, before he is even tried, he said. Melaye facing three criminal cases in three courts After Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama, and Nuhu Salisu, aka Small, were arrested at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi on January 19, 2018, they confessed to the police that Senator Melaye hired them to cause unrest in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections. The criminal suspects disclosed that the lawmaker handed them a bag containing one AK-47 rifle, two pump action guns and the sum of N430,000 to unleash mayhem in Kogi. The police first requested Melayes presence in a letter addressed to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, dated March 2, 2018, urging him to report to the Police on March 7 to answer to the criminal offences levelled against him, but he refused the invitation, alleging that the police was colluding with the Kogi state government to cause him harm. He was officially declared wanted by the police on March 28, the same day he was due to be arraigned in court in Lokoja alongside Osama and Small who both escaped from their prison cell but were rearrested before April 1. While attempting to travel to Morocco for an official engagement on Monday, April 23, Melaye was stopped by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The operatives seized his international passport to prevent him from leaving the country. According to the police, the lawmaker snatched his seized passport from NIS operatives and retreated to his house in Maitama, Abuja, where police officers later laid siege into the early hours of Tuesday, April 24. Early on Tuesday, he announced that he would pay a visit to police authorities after his police escorts were withdrawn. On Tuesday afternoon, with help from hoodlums, Melaye briefly escaped from police officers while he was being transported from Abuja to his home state. Hours later, the Senator resurfaced at the Zankli Medical Center, Abuja, in an ambulance, apparently unconscious, before he was rearrested and moved to the National Hospital. He was arraigned before an Abuja Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2 on a stretcher to answer charges brought against him by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Wednesday, May 2. During his arraignment on Wednesday, Melaye was charged for criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody. Even though the presiding magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello, granted the lawmaker bail in the sum of N90 million, he was re-arrested by police officers after his arraignment and was driven to Lokoja early on Thursday. Earlier this year, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a lawsuit against Melaye for allegedly providing false information to the police about an assassination attempt on his life. In the suit (CR/106/18) filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on January 31, 2018, Melaye is accused of falsely incriminating Kogis Governor Yahaya Bellos Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja David, as well as making false statement in regards to the attempted assassination. On March 1, Melaye was granted a N100,000 bail after he was asked to provide a surety who is not less than a level 14 in the Federal Civil Service. The presiding judge, Olasumbo Goodluck, adjourned till May 16 and May 17 for the commencement of trial. The founder of DAAR Communications, Raymond Dokpesi, has said the United States has revoked his visa after he was accused of looting Nigerias treasury. The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, had listed Dokpesi, among other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as those who looted public funds. The media mogul is currently standing trial for allegedly receiving N2.1 billion from the office of the national security adviser (ONSA). On Monday, Dokpesi dragged Mohammed to the FCT High Court over the publication, seeking payment of N5billion damages for defamation of character. He had earlier written the minister, threatening the lawsuit if his name is not retracted from the list. In the suit filed by Mike Ozekhome, Dokpesis counsel, the PDP chieftain said the US Embassy in Nigeria notified him of the withdrawal of his visa on March 16. He said the embassy told him it was withdrawn because the federal government included his name on a looters list it (the government) purportedly submitted to it. TheCable is yet to confirm if the federal government forwarded the list to the embassy as Mohammed was yet to respond to enquiries when this report was filed. The defendants defamatory publications are malicious and calculated to overreach and prejudice my fair trial and for purposes of stampeding and cowing the court to convict me at all cost by agreeing with the defendants skewed position, Dokpesi said in the suit. The PDP chieftain asked the court to compel Mohammed to publish a retraction and an apology to him in various media platforms. He also prayed for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants including Abubakar Malami, attorney-general of the federation or their agents from further making any defamatory publication against him, requesting N50million as penalty for such. No date has been fixed for hearing on the suit. Source: www.thisdaylive.com Prominent politicians from the opposition party have been listed as beneficiaries of the alleged diversion of $2.1 billion arms funds in the trial of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd). The list includes National Chairman of PDP, Uche Secondus; former Chairman, Board of Trustees of PDP, Chief Tony Anenih; former PDP spokesperson, Chief Olisa Metuh; Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena; Senator Iyorchia Ayu, Chairman, Africa Independent Television (AIT), Dr. Raymond Dokpesi; Mouftah Baba-Ahmed, Bello Abba Mohammed, Dr. Bello Mohammed, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) M.N. Umar, Otunba Jonah Ogunniyi, among others. Corporate organisations were also named as beneficiaries in the new charges. The development came as the Federal Government filed fresh 32-count amended charge against Dasuki and three others. Apart from filing new charges with fresh names, a new twist was also introduced into the trial by government as a key defendant in the matter, Salisu Shuaib, who was a former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA under Dasuki was dropped from the new charge. The amended charge, dated April 30, 2018, was signed by Director of Legal Services with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Chile Okoroma. However, no reason could be immediately obtained why the former Director of Finance in the office of the National Security Adviser who served along with Dasuki was dropped from the trial having been arraigned together since 2015. But lead counsel to Dasuki, Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), who was sighted at the FCT High Court along with Dasuki, told judiciary correspondents that he did not know the deal between Shuaib, the Federal Government and the EFCC on the new twist. Raji, however, said subsequent events in the trial would reveal to the defendants and their counsel all the circumstances leading to the dropping of the core accused, adding that till then, we will keep our fingers crossed. Meanwhile, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court is expected to take the fresh plea of the four defendants on May 17, 2018. Source: www.guardian.ng The Governor of Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, has warned the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to shelve any plan of going after him for any reason. Wike said any attempt to touch him will finish Nigeria. The governor further stated that the Federal Government must apologise to the State and seek Gods forgiveness, or it will have no peace. The Governor spoke yesterday while addressing workers during the Workers Day celebration, at the General Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Elekahia, Port, Harcourt. Wike noted that the country was hunted and bedevilled by killings because the Federal Government politicised security crisis in Rivers because it is not an All Progressives Congress APC state. He said, Dont just see me as governor of Rivers state; see me as a soldier of God. For those, who are planning against me in Abuja, I say, you will fail. The day you touch Rivers, you finish Nigeria. When they tried to compromise security, I told them if Rivers state has a problem and they dont want to look into it, one day Nigeria will burn. And I told them until they (FG) come and seek forgiveness and tell God we are sorry for what we did to Rivers state, they will never see peace. I asked them to come to our aid and they said it is Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) state. He added, Anything you want me to do in the interest of the state, I will do. But, when you introduce politics, I will come out as a politician. One thing you must not do to a politician who does not see, hear or talk; dont bring politics, when you are demanding something. Nobody will deny workers their legitimate rights. I will never be in support of that. But, you are doing something wrong by threatening me with the strike; that is not a democracy. The essence of labour is not only to demand rights, you should, also, demand a free and fair election. How many times has Labour talked about what is happening in the state? How many times have you condemned the federal government for changing police commissioners from left to centre? How many times have you cautioned those insulting Independent National Electoral Commission officials? Labour is not only for increment in wages; it is not only about building secretariat for you, buy buses or generator. Labour is part of talking of survival of democracy in the country. During the previous administration, when former president Goodluck Jonathan wanted to remove subsidy from fuel, Labour went on strike. Today, they have removed subsidy Labour failed. We all witness what is happening in the country today. Look at the killings. If you talk about the increment of wages and you dont have children, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers, then, what is the increment of wages and people are dying everyday? Nobody says anything. Talk about how Nigeria will move forward and not only increment. It will come and nobody will stop it. Source: Nigeriannews Amnesty says govt suppresses rights to freedom of expression A pro-democracy and non-governmental organisation, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to take concrete measures to ensure the respect for the fundamental human rights of the citizenry to justify his recent affirmations during his meeting with President Donald Trump of the United States. This is coming as Amnesty International Nigeria, yesterday, said intimidation and harassment of journalists and bloggers as well as violent crackdowns on peaceful protests showed the determination of government to suppress the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly in Nigeria. The National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director of HURIWA, Miss Zainab Yusuf, in Abuja yesterday, faulted the statement by President Buhari that the military respects human rights but tasked the administration to go beyond mere rhetorics and implement concrete remedial processes to right the many wrongs that are going on now. HURIWA said that from all indications, human rights violations by members of the armed security forces have worsened including arbitrary arrest of citizens, illegal detention, extortions and extralegal executions just as the Rights group challenged the president to reconstitute the governing council of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). Amnesty International Nigeria, citing a number of cases where journalists and citizens were arrested and intimidated, called on Nigerian authorities to desist from disturbing patterns of using security agencies to silence dissenting voices. The Director, Amnesty International, Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, stated, This trend of harassment and intimidation has created a climate of fear, whereby journalists are perpetually afraid of being arrested for doing their job. Journalists have a responsibility to the public, not the government and must be allowed to do their job. He further said that increasingly across Nigeria, there are reports of people being threatened and often arrested for merely sharing their opinion via social media. He mentioned the arbitrary arrest of a blogger, Daniel Elombah on January 1, a journalist, Tony Ezimakor on February 28; another journalist, Musa Kirishi on March 13 while Muhammed Kime was arrested in July 2017 in Damaturu, Yobe State for a Facebook post. Amnesty urged the government to launch a thorough, impartial, independent and transparent investigation into the allegations of violent crackdown on protests and arrests of journalists, bringing those suspected to be responsible to justice. Nigerias Constitution 1999 (as amended) guarantees the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, the government must therefore do more to protect these rights. Freedom to hold opinion without interference and peaceful protest are legitimate rights that no person should be denied. Protests should be seen as a positive sign of the willingness of Nigerians to express themselves, said Ojigho. Source: www.guardian.ng Lafarge Africa Plc has stated that it remains committed to health and safety standards in its factories and that of its value-chain partners. Indeed, the building solutions provider to this end, recently conducted two Safety Awareness training programs for over 70 employees of Brains & Hammers Limited and TEC Engineering Company (Nigeria) Limited, both in Kano. According to the firm, the health and safety training programmes are part of a broader commitment Lafarge Africa makes with its partners and customers to enable them to improve the safety standards and practices on their sites. Speaking about the sessions, Graeme Bride, Director for Health & Safety at Lafarge Africa Plc in a statement made available to The Guardian, said: Lafarge is committed to positively impacting the construction industry in Nigeria and we are always willing to share our rich and global experience in Health and Safety with our customers and partners. Our goal is ultimately to conduct our business with zero harm to people and create a healthy and safe environment for our clients and employees. Brains & Hammers Limited is involved in the construction sector in Kano state and is currently building over fifteen thousand units of shops and offices across a land mass of about 1,370 meters by 1063 meters. On the other hand, TEC Engineering Company (Nigeria) Limited TEC- is currently building a fly over project in Kano (5km) and culverts, roads and bridges in Adamawa (2km). In acknowledging the impact of the training, participants from both Brains & Hammers Limited and TEC Engineering Company (Nigeria) Limited expressed appreciation for the programs and noted it to be a welcome development and an added value they have received from partnering with Lafarge. Source: guardian.ng Liverpool defender Alberto Moreno has joked that he would erase Cristiano Ronaldo if he could ahead of the Champions League final. The English side will take on Real Madrid in the showpiece later this month with the Portuguese forward looking to win the fifth European crown of his career. Ahead of the final, if I could, I would erase Cristiano, Moreno joked on Cadena Cope. I have no words (for Liverpool reaching the final), it is an incredible achievement for us and now we have a trophy in our sights. (Liverpool manager Jurgen) Klopp is a very sentimental guy and he definitely has a special connection with this competition. Salah is an amazing player and has been so important for us this season, we hope he can produce one more special match. Source: www.football-espana.net Punch Former Prnesident Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday declared that even morons would not describe the mediocre performance of President Buhari as superlative. He made the declaration even as he distanced himself from a purported report trending on the social media that he had made a U-turn on his verdict of non-performance Vanguard A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned till May 22, for hearing of a suit by former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan against the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, challenging the freezing orders on her account. Thisday Former President Goodluck Jonathan wednesday asked the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, to call the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, to order for peddling falsehood against his person. The Sun To start this course in Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello University has sent a team of engineers to China for engagement with partner institutions. Nigerian students who want to study Railway Engineering may not have to travel abroad for the course again as Ahmadu Bello University is about to start the program. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Garba announced the commencement of the new course on Monday, April 30, 2018, during the matriculation of post-graduate students for the 2017/2018 academic year. Presently, no university is offering Railway Engineering as a course, and ABU is said to have raised and sent a team to China for engagement with partner institutions. Recall that in December 2017, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) reportedly inaugurated a N6bn World-Class Postgraduate Business School at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at ABU main campus, Samaru, Zaria, the CBN Deputy Governor, Alhaji Suleiman Barau, said the gesture was part of the banks corporate social responsibilities. Barau said part of the banks developmental functions was to support the educational sub-sector in Nigeria through the provision of physical structures. Source: pulse.ng Ex-President Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday denied supporting President Muhammadu Buharis expressed interest to run for the 2019 Presidential election in the country as allegedly and erroneously reported in the social media Obasanjo in a statement by his media aide, Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, noted that Buhari is a failure and wont endorse failure. He blamed the dishing out of the false report on Buharis camp and Support group, who he accused of desperately labouring to secure a second term for him through guile and lies. It has come to the attention of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that some elements in the Muhammadu Buhari camp and or support group are desperate to secure a second term, fair or foul. In this desperation, everything is fair, including telling libelous lies against persons and institutions, instead of addressing the fundamental issues of statecraft and economic management. In the last 24 hours the internet has been bombarded with deliberate falsehoods aimed at hoodwinking the unsuspecting Nigerians to believe that Obasanjo has now supported Buhari for his second term because of some perceived Buharis superlative performance in his encounter with Trump during his visit to the White House in Washington D. C. In another breath, these blackmailers insinuated that Chief Obasanjo met with some Nigeria Labour Congress leaders in his house in Abuja on Workers Day. What a pathetic fallacy! Chief Obasanjo never met any Labour man or woman on May 1, 2018 to make any supposed volte face to support Buhari. Furthermore, neither was Chief Obasanjo in Abuja on that date nor does he own a house in Abuja. Any time he visits Abuja, he usually stays in a Guest House or hotel. For the record, Obasanjo has not and cannot endorse failure. His position remains as stated in his January 23rd, 2018 statement on the state of the nation. Chief Obasanjo sympathises with the plight of those campaigners and supporters of Buhari. He doesnt believe dishing out fake news that can only be believed by imbeciles will turn black into white. Nigerians know that Chief Obasanjo has only spoken the truth about widening poverty, alienation and social disunity and near disintegration of the country through Buharis incompetence. Obasanjo will continue to exercise his right to free speech and no amount of hate speech will assuage Nigerians who are in need of a brand new leadership. The mediocre performance of Buhari cannot be described by anybody as superlative even by morons not the least President Obasanjo. From the Buhari/Trump meeting, Chief Obasanjo only saw through three points: One, the US will continue to reduce purchase of crude oil from Nigeria and there is nothing Nigeria under Buhari can do about; two, the US will export agricultural products to Nigeria and Buharis government will encourage that; and three all the killings taking place in Nigeria by herdsmen are being done by expatriates trained by Gadaffi and no Nigerian is to blame and Buhari cannot do anything to stop it. For whatever the meeting was worth, President Buhari again bungled another opportunity to self-redeem. No wonder President Trump ordered him in a rather condescending manner to go back home and stop the killings going on in Nigeria! We hope now Buhari will heed Trumps advice which hopefully will be considered non-abusive. Therefore, Chief Obasanjo is more convinced in his statement of January 23rd and will not change his position. No lies, fake news dished out by these desperate and unintelligent supporters is worth believing and these misinformation cartel and social media tigers will do more damage to the flint reputation of their principal. Chief Obasanjo understands that the internet has good and bad uses. Those abusing the media should desist from this barbaric act as it will only expose them to greater ridicule at the end of the day. Obasanjo will continue to speak out. He will continue to issue patriotic statements under his signature or cause them to be issued on his behalf under the signature of his media representative, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, the statement reads. Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Dino Melaye will be remanded in custody of the Nigerian Police Force till June 11, 2018, after losing his appeal for bail. The senator, who was brought into the court premises in a police ambulance, as arraigned for alleged gunrunning at the Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi State, on May 3. Melaye, was on Wednesday, arraigned before the Chief Magistrates Court, Wuse, Abuja, for criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody. The senator s N90 million bail grant didnt last as he was rearrested immediately to face other criminal charges against him. Foremost Nigerian human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has fired shots at the Nigeria Police for arraigning Senator Dino Melaye in court on a stretcher. However, he stated that the Kogi-West lawmaker, Melayes ordeal was a reflection of the suffering ordinary Nigerians faced in the hands of security agents on a daily basis. In a statement on Thursday, here are 2 key things Falana had to say 1.Uncivil The arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye on a stretcher in Abuja on Wednesday and Lokoja on Thursday morning is unacceptable in a civilised society. 2.Degrading It is particularly degrading and humiliating as it violates the fundamental right to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the constitution and Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Although the number of marchers was only about half what it had been last December, anti-state flag groups Mississippi Rising Coalition, along with a handful of marchers from the Jackson County NAACP and Ocean Springs United marched on Ocean Springs City Hall Tuesday night. Chanting "take it down" or "Mr. Mayor, take it down," the marchers moved from Marshall Park to City Hall, arriving on the front lawn of City Hall about 15 minutes before the start of Tuesday's regular board of aldermen meeting. Mississippi Rising President Lea Campbell address marchers, as did a retired military man who said he had moved to Ocean Springs after retirement and was surprised to find "oppression" in Ocean Springs. Unlike the first march in December, this time there were no counter protesters waiting for the marchers at City Hall -- although there were a few supporters of Initiative 62 inside the board room for the meeting. Initiative 62 seeks to have the legislature designate by Constitutional amendment the current flag as the one official state flag and require the flag be flown at the principal installations of all state-supported institutions, state agencies and political subdivisions. Supporters of the measure are working to gather the necessary signatures to force a statewide referendum on the issue. Mississippi Rising, meanwhile, continues to focus its efforts on Ocean Springs and having the state flag removed from municipal properties. In addition to Campbell, Jackson County NAACP president Curley Clark participated in the march, as did Mississippi Rising board member and frequent spokesperson TNathan Fairley. In recent days, information provided to local media outlets indicated Fairley is a convicted felon who spent two years in a Florida state penitentiary. The Mississippi Press confirmed through the Florida Department of Corrections that Fairley, whose given name is Troy Nathan Fairley, was convicted in 2014 of 20 counts relating to forgery and three others relating to identity theft. He was sentenced to three years in state prison and released in August 2016 after serving 26 months of his sentence. Fairley, 50, was asked during Tuesday's rally at City Hall whether he thought it was appropriate to be in a position of passing moral judgment on others given his own past activities. "Y'all take (those jail records) and put them in there, it will still not change anything for what I stand for," Fairley told reporters who questioned him about the issue. "If you want to talk about that, that's fine. If you want to talk about my past, that's fine, too. But do what you want to. I'm here to talk about the flag. "If you want to talk about the flag, I'm perfectly happy. If you want to talk about any of my activities over the past three years, I'm happy. But if you want to talk about something else, make an appointment at my office." According to his Facebook profile, Fairley works as a media consultant for Ellis Law Firm, LLC, and as a program director for WQFX 1130 AM. Also on Tuesday, attorneys for the City of Ocean Springs filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Mississippi Rising, Curley Clark and Ocean Springs resident Ronald Vincent which claims the City's decision to fly the state flag on municipal properties violates the federal Fair Housing Act by displaying a "preference for white residents and a corresponding discouragement, and suppression, of African-American residents." The City's motion to dismiss, filed by City Attorneys Robert Wilkinson and Kevin Melchi, calls the lawsuit frivolous and notes the plaintiffs do have meet the requirements to sue under the Fair Housing Act. "The causes of action are completely frivolous and not brought in good faith, but only to harass, intimidate, and waste precious resources of the City," the motion to dismiss reads. "The Complaint should be dismissed and appropriate sanctions awarded." San Diego, CA - May 3, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher"), a technology company which specializes in the creation of Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled mobile technologies, announced that testing of its Guardian Pet Tracker prototype has been completed. The Guardian Pet Tracker performed as expected and required minimal fine tuning. Gopher expects that it will commence the process of certifying the product with the Federal Communications Commission and the European Union, which will be required to commence sales. The Guardian Pet Tracker performed as expected and required only minimal fine tuning. Gopher received pre-orders to date for the Guardian Pet Tracker exceeding $54,000 (https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/guardian-orb-the-most-advanced-pet-tracker-pets#/) and its contract manufacturer has the required tooling to manufacturer approximately 40,000 devices. Gopher management believes that the Guardian Pet Tracker will add an additional revenue stream and also serve to validate the Gopher technology. Additionally, Gopher continues to work on the design of its next generation tracking technology which is an unstructured decentralized MESH based system. It is the goal to develop the Avant! Artificial Intelligence (AI) engine to control the unstructured decentralized MESH based system. Avant! Is being proprietary software under development by Gopher that is expected to provide efficient control MESH nodes that will be working as independent units integrated within the planned global decentralized MESH network. "We are developing our next generation tracking to include an unstructured decentralized MESH based network. In order to efficiently control the MESH network, we are designing our Avant! AI engine stated Dr. Danny Rittman, Gophers CTO. As our MESH network develops, we expect to face a major challenge of controlling a vast unstructured decentralized private MESH network. We believe that this can be done with our Avant! AI technology. Avant!, when developed, will enable direct communication between nodes and will learn patterns of the nodes communications. In essence, Avant! is a cognitive computing system, enabling it to study scenarios and adapt to changes Continued Dr. Rittman. About Gopher Protocol Inc. Gopher Protocol Inc. (OTCQB: GOPH) ("Gopher" and the "Company") (http://gopherprotocol.com/) is a development-stage company which consider itself Native IoT creator, developing Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence enabled mobile technology. The Company has a portfolio of Intellectual Property that when commercialized will include smart microchips, mobile application software and supporting cloud software. The system contemplates the creation of a global network. The core of the system will be its advanced microchip technology that can be installed in any mobile device worldwide. Gopher envisions this system as an internal, private network between all enabled mobile devices providing shared processing, advanced mobile database management/sharing and enhanced mobile features. Corporate Site: http://gopherprotocol.com Press page/ press kit - http://gopherprotocol.com/?page_id=228 Consumer and product website for Guardian Patch: http://www.guardianpatch.com/. About Guardian Pet Tracker http://www.guardianpettracker.com/ The Guardian Pet Tracker (Sphere Internal name - the "Sphere") system is a derivative technology of Gopher's Guardian Patch technology. The Sphere is designed to provide its users with local tracking capability using a re-chargeable/replaceable battery source. Gopher intends to release pre-production units in limited test in the near future. GOPH disclosure: More info: SEC link /technology abstract: Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website (http://www.sec.gov). In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release. Contact: Dr. Danny Rittman, CTO Gopher Protocol Inc. VM Only 888-685-7336 Media: press@gopherprotocol.com SOURCE: Gopher Protocol Inc. Disclaimer/Disclosure: Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure: GOPH is a PR, social media and publishing client and compensates Investorideas.com: three months effective April 4, 2016 - three thousand five hundred per month Amended February 2018 five thousand per month. More disclaimer info: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. ST. ALBERT, Alberta - May 3, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) When the Canadian resource decline made the sector analogous to the St. Valentines Day Massacre, Enterprise Groups (TSX:E) eps dropped from $0.24 a share FY2013 to ($0.40) FY2015. Revenues peaked at $80 million FY2014 and were cut in half the following year. The shares hit $3.50 mid 2014. The Company posted eps of $0.01 and $0.02 for Q3 and Q4 2017 respectively. FY2017 revenues of $38 million versus FY2016 of $29 million The shares are trading at $0.55. Book value is $1.01. And Enterprise is net debt free. Enterprise Group is a consolidator of services to the energy sector; focused primarily on specialized resource and infrastructure equipment rental. See Where This is Going? Not sure why investors aren't all over Enterprise. A costly opportunity loss at least, as the shares have a 2018 YTD high/low of $0.62/$0.28. And a book value of $1.00. A stand up double so far. I'll put some metrics at the end of the piece, but the drivers that will bring E into the investors' headlights are the recently announced proprietary asset management software STARCHAIN. Second is the cash position earmarked for potential acquisitions. The Company has a solid track record of acquiring companies, racking up major revenues and then sell them for more than they paid. STARCHAIN The purpose of StarChain is to monitor location, usage and address repair issues in real time to maximize revenues and lessen equipment downtime from extensive pool of rental assets. If a piece of equipment fails or experiences a mechanical deficiency on a remote project site, StarChain independently alerts Enterprise and the fleet manager acts immediately so that a replacement can be deployed, asset brought back online; minimizing downtime, which in turn increases revenues, efficiency and asset life. The Company sees this technology accomplishment as the baseline for future developments within 'Industry 4.0': The current industrial transformation caused by automation, data exchanges, Big Data, A.I. and IoT," stated Des O'Kell SVP of Enterprise. "Enterprise has no plans to sell or license what it sees as an incredible competitive advantage. The technology will be extended to the operations of future acquisitions; this will allow for the significant growth, in size and geographical reach." STARCHAIN software is the evolution of several technologies. The hardware is similar to the Raspberry Pi. Evan at this stage, the custom module not only does exactly the tasks it was designed for, but negates the need for GPS, which represents a substantial monthly savings. Financial results of the software are measurable and impressive: Proprietary platform for future development and refinement Task and monitoring capabilities saves two significant salaries Allows management to plan to deploy company-wide through 3 subs Plans to generate a significant annual cost savings Also, to produce margin improvement Represents (one of) the Company's fundamental value propositions No plans to license; remains a corporate asset. Not aware of any competitive software Take a Break Before we discuss acquisitions, let's look at the stock charts: Left is the 2013-2018 historical and the long period of consolidation that ensued. These data points would all be pretty meaningless if E management hadn't taken the decision early not to be cowed into inaction. That decision was the right one as the 2018 YTD chart right shows not only that the malaise has lifted, but that E's initiatives are bearing fruit. Management is informing investors of their aggressive plans for the future, which will include some impressive and accretive acquisitions. Acquisitions Trail As a result of the recent $20.6 million sale of subsidiary Calgary Tunnelling & Horizontal Augering (CTHA), Enterprise has no debt, a clean $25 million line of credit and a further $15 million for acquisitions. No reason to think that the future ones won't mirror E's two past endeavours: 1. CTHA was purchased in 2013 for $12 million. It generated $60 million in revenue under E's stewardship and was then sold for $20.6 million as noted. 2. TC Backhoe was purchased in 2007 for $12 million. Revenues generated until sale; $154 million. TCB was sold in June 2016 for $20 million Management owns 21 percent of the outstanding shares and acquired stock all through the previous downturn. The Company is also in the midst of a roughly 5% share buyback announced in June 2017. From 2016 Q3 discussion: ... The Company is committed to certain service standards for its existing clients, which management believes to be critical for fostering the Company's longer-term growth. As the Company better understands the economic outlook for 2017 and the likely level of demand for its services, it will adjust its internal infrastructure accordingly. And it did. And it has, and it will. As management owns over one fifth of the shares, you can be sure shareholders are in extremely motivated and competent hands. Disclaimer/disclosure- This third party news/article is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - News that Inspires big ideas Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Disclosure this news article is a paid for news release on the Investorideas.com newswire by Enterprise Group, Inc. (TSX: E) and was not created or originated by Investorideas. Learn more about costs and our newswire service http://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ Enterprise Group, Inc. (TSX: E) is a previous featured monthly company on Investorideas expiring on May 1 2018 .More info http://www.investorideas.com/About/News/Clientspecifics.asp OilandGasStockNews.com- investing ideas in oil and gas stocks Like Oil and Gas Stocks? View our Oil and Gas Stocks Directory Get News Alerts on Energy Stocks May 3, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Haywood Securities analyst Kerry Smith provided a construction update on one of this firm's projects. In an April 25 research note, analyst Kerry Smith with Haywood Securities reported that Equinox Gold Corp. (EQX:TSX.V) is on track to begin ore mining in Q3/18 and to pour first gold at its Aurizona gold mine in Brazil by year-end. Full-scale construction at this Brazil asset is in progress. Most recently, in April, efforts to remove waste from two areas in the Piaba pit began, as did building of access roads. As of March 31, Equinox spent $43 million ($43M) of the $146M budgeted for the project. "Construction was 44% complete, and engineering, procurement, construction and management activities were 61% complete," Smith indicated. Plant construction was about one-fourth done. Refurbishment of pumps, motors, agitators and screens and upgrades to two substations were more than halfway finished. Work that was already accomplished at that time included awarding of all contracts, refurbishing the carbon-in-pulp circuit and detox tanks, manufacturing the semi-autogenous grinding and balls mill and constructing the foundations for it. Haywood has a Buy rating and a CA$2.80 per share target price on Equinox, whose stock is currently trading at around CA$1.10 per share. Disclosure: 1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Equinox Gold Corp., a company mentioned in this article. Disclosures from Haywood Securities, Equinox Gold Corp., Radar Flash, Apr. 25, 2018 Haywood Securities, or certain of its affiliated companies, may from time to time receive a portion of commissions or other fees derived from the trading or financings conducted by other affiliated companies in the covered security. Haywood analysts are salaried employees who may receive a performance bonus that may be derived, in part, from corporate finance income. Haywood Securities, Inc., and Haywood Securities (USA) Inc. do have officers in common however, none of those common officers affect or control the ratings given a specific issuer or which issuer will be the subject of Research coverage. In addition, the firm does maintain and enforce written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent influence on the activities of affiliated analysts. Analyst Certification: I, Kerry Smith, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report (which includes the rating assigned to the issuers shares as well as the analytical substance and tone of the report) accurately reflect my/our personal views about the subject securities and the issuer. No part of my/our compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations. Important Disclosures Of the companies included in the report the following Important Disclosures apply: The Analysts(s) preparing this report (or a member of the Analysts' households) have a financial interest in this company. At the end of the month immediately preceding this publication either Haywood Securities, Inc., one if its subsidiaries, its officers or directors beneficially owned 1% or more of this company. Haywood Securities Inc. has reviewed lead projects of this company and a portion of the expenses for this travel have been reimbursed by the issuer. Other material conflict of interest of the research analyst of which the research analyst or Haywood Securities Inc. knows or has reason to know at the time of publication or at the time of public appearance: n/a More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Reno, Nevada - May 3, 2018 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX: SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Eck Industries Inc. ("Eck"), based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA. Eck is a privately held manufacturer of precision sand cast parts, and engineering services, using both aluminum and metal matrix composite alloys, servicing a significant global customer base. The LOI calls for the Company to contribute aluminium-scandium master alloy 2% ("MA"), for mixing and trial-testing of proprietary alloys by Eck, in their commercially available product lines. The test work will be undertaken at Eck's production facilities in Manitowoc, at small production scale. Eck intends to report the results of the testing program utilizing their scandium-containing alloys, as does SCY, upon completion of the testing period, which extends a minimum of 6 months. LOI AGREEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: LOI defines MA contributions and sourcing support to Eck programs, Eck commits to mix scandium-containing alloys and cast currently available parts, Casting results are to be shared, understood, possibly publicly disclosed, recognizing any intellectual property discovery, Eck is a recognized leader in various casting technologies, servicing customers in commercial aircraft, automotive/transport, and defense applications, and Successful test work program forms basis for future use of scandium alloy by Eck. DISCUSSION: Eck Industries Inc. was founded in 1948 (as Eck Foundries), formed by William Eck, Walter Davidson, Robert Davidson and Andrew Bell. The business was built on orders from Harley-Davidson, Wisconsin Motors, West Bend Outboard and Johnson Motors. By 2007, the die casting operations were phased out and replaced with a complete dry sand molding loop, additional melt capacity, thermal sand reclamation and a knockout area. Today Eck Industries operates a 210,000 sq. ft. facility with over 250 employees, 110 customers, and produces about 4,000 tonnes of precision aluminum alloy parts per year. Customer segments include commercial aircraft parts, automotive and trucking cast parts, military drivetrain casings, marine propulsion system castings, and military aerospace components. Eck is known in the casting industry as an innovator. They employ over seven different molding techniques, including gravity feed, precision low pressure systems, permanent mold casting, and direct squeeze casting. Eck also works with multiple aluminum alloy types: A355/A356 represent about 50% of current production, but the more exotic A201 and A206 are also employed, along with Alcoa's latest alloys, the A351 SupraCast for cylinder heads and engine blocks, and the A354 VersaCast for structural applications. ECK is now also working with aluminum-cerium alloys for high heat applications. Scandium additions could potentially play a valuable role in any of these alloys. Scandium-containing aluminum casting alloys should be specifically suited to high-heat applications, aligning well with Eck's specialized focus on high performance castings. George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented: "We are pleased to add Eck Industries to our growing list of innovative casting partners, excited to test scandium additions in their production foundries, and on their current products. Eck has a recognized passion for quality, they sell into applications that rely on that quality, and they have experience developing alloys and using scandium. They represent a perfect group to investigate the advantages of scandium in their business." Dave Weiss, VP Engineering/R&D for Eck Industries commented: "Our customers want us to give them stronger, more versatile alloys that operate at high temperatures. The use of scandium gives us additional options to meet those needs. We continue to grow our marketplace advantage of premium castings supported by industrial scale research and development. We have the background to utilize scandium in a cost effective way to support our customers." QUALIFIED PERSONS AND NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT Nigel J. Ricketts, BAppSc (Metallurgy), PhD (Chemical Engineering), MAusIMM CP (Metallurgy), holds the position of VP Projects and Market Development, Australia in the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company. ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. The Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project, located in NSW, Australia, into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The project has received all key approvals, including a mining lease, necessary to proceed with project construction. The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study - Nyngan Scandium Project". That feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project, supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand. For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact: Edward Dickinson (CFO) Tel: (775) 233-7328 George Putnam (CEO) Tel: (925) 208-1775 Email: info@scandiummining.com This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: risks related to uncertainty in the demand for scandium, the possibility that results of test work will not fulfill expectations, or not realize the perceived market utilization and potential of scandium sources that may be developed for sale by the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp May 3, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Bob Moriarty of 321 Gold profiles a company that has taken over a high-grade gold exploration project from Novo Resources. In 2014 my favorite gold junior, Novo Resources Corp. (NVO:TSX.V; NSRPF:OTCQX), did a deal on a small project in Nevada named Tuscarora with some barn burning historic results. Naturally since the main focus was on Western Australia in 2016 when Novo announced high-grade bonanza results such as 143.5 g/t over 1.52 meters, the market only yawned. Novo didn't pay much for the project and since it took attention and resources away from their primary focus, when the opportunity came up to vend it into a new junior and recover 100% of their costs, Quinton took it. In November of 2017 announced a deal with American Pacific Mining Corp. (USGD:CSE). The terms call for American Pacific to pay Novo $375,000 and to issue $200,000 worth of shares spread over three years and to expend $100,000 each year in exploration. There was an existing 2-4% NSR on the 24 unpatented mining claims in Elko County. Novo added an additional 0.5% payable to themselves. It's always nice to drill a home run hole with 143.5 g/t gold grade but even better when you can pick up such a project essentially for peanuts after someone else already found the vein system for you. In 1995 Quinton Hennigh was working for Newcrest when they drilled the Navajo vein at Tuscarora. They reported 30 g/t gold for 1.5 meters, 182 g/t gold at 1.5 meters and 51 g/t gold at 1.5 meters. In the East Pediment vein Newcrest reported 28.2 g/t Au for three meters and 4.6 g/t Ai for 1.5 meters. When Novo drilled in 2016 they hit the bonanza hit of 143.5 g/t over 1.5 meters and 21.5 g/t Au over 1.5 meters. American Pacific got their drill permit for Tuscarora on the 17th of April and began phase 1 of a planned 19 hole program as the drills began turning. Their plan is to complete 10-12 holes, check the results when the assays come in and then complete the program. We know from past results from both Newcrest and Novo that there are multiple bonanza grade veins at Tuscarora. Novo didn't have the bandwidth to focus on the project. American Pacific has three million dollars in the bank and can focus. When results come in, I expect a revaluation of the shares. As of now the company has a market cap of about $10 million CAD. There are warrants outstanding at $0.35 that can be accelerated at $0.50 that will bring in enough money for a follow up drill program. If you think gold mining companies have value and will go up as gold goes up, American Pacific is a really easy to understand story. It's a Quinton Hennigh project with 23 years of his thinking about it. Novo didn't have the bandwidth to do Tuscarora right so they vended it to a new company run by people Quinton is comfortable with. They know where the veins are, they need to define a minable resource and either vend it out to a major or mid-tier or put it into production themselves. With another 5,000 meters of drilling planned I would expect American Pacific to start planning on a 43-101 resource. They need 1-2 million of a high-grade resource to be taken seriously and frankly I wouldn't even guess what they might have. But when you are dealing with 1.5 meters width of ounce-plus material you can figure out the strike length and depth and do a back of the envelope calculation. Look for results to start coming out in six weeks or so. The stock could be explosive especially if the summer rally has started. American Pacific is an advertiser and I have participated in two private placements. I know the management well and like them a lot. They did a good deal on the project and are in a perfect position to move this significantly forward. I am biased so do your own due diligence. American Pacific Mining USGD-C $0.355 (May 03, 2018) USGDF-OTCBB 32.6 million shares American Pacific website. Bob and Barb Moriarty brought 321gold.com to the Internet almost 16 years ago. They later added 321energy.com to cover oil, natural gas, gasoline, coal, solar, wind and nuclear energy. Both sites feature articles, editorial opinions, pricing figures and updates on current events affecting both sectors. Previously, Moriarty was a Marine F-4B and O-1 pilot with more than 832 missions in Vietnam. He holds 14 international aviation records. Disclosure: 1) Bob Moriarty: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: American Pacific and Novo Resources. American Pacific and Novo Resources advertisers on 321 Gold. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector. 2) The following companies mentioned are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports requires contributing authors to disclose any shareholdings in, or economic relationships with, companies that they write about. Streetwise Reports relies upon the authors to accurately provide this information and Streetwise Reports has no means of verifying its accuracy. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of American Pacific, a company mentioned in this article. Photos courtesy of the author. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp New York, NY - May 3, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) CleanCapital announced its largest solar acquisition to date from X-Elio, a Spanish developer with U.S. operations based out of Reno, Nevada. The 14.23 MW portfolio leverages capital from CleanCapitals new partnership with CarVal Investors. These solar projects are located in California and Vermont and consist of high-quality customers including schools, a vineyard and two utilities. CleanCapitals proprietary platform streamlines and expedites due diligence and analysis, allowing complex deals like this one to close in less than 60 days. CleanCapital and CarVal Investors, a leading global alternative investment fund manager, announced a new $250 million equity partnership last month that, including debt financing, enables the acquisition of up to $1 billion of clean energy assets. This was the partnerships first acquisition. "CleanCapital remains committed to unlocking the billions of dollars of untapped capital sources that have been absent from this sector. We continue to look for partnerships with developers like X-Elio to provide liquidity and capital to small-scale, distributed energy markets," said Jon Powers, President, CleanCapital. "The CleanCapital team knows how to professionally manage the acquisition of operating solar assets. These deals can have a complex diligence process, but their team executed efficiently and seamlessly making our job as the seller much easier. I am looking forward to working closely with them in the future," said Steve Sceery, Head of Corporate M&A, X-Elio. CleanCapital is a financial technology company that makes it easy to invest in clean energy. They deliver technology solutions to all aspects of the transaction process-from lending to capital raising, origination to diligence. The proprietary technology platform identifies, screens, and manages clean energy projects enabling project owners an opportunity to exit their portfolios while providing accredited investors, including institutional investors, family offices, and investment funds, unique access to the clean energy investment market. About CleanCapital: Founded in 2015, CleanCapital is a financial technology company that makes it easy to invest in clean energy. CleanCapital has built a proprietary technology platform that identifies, screens, and manages clean energy projects enabling project owners an opportunity to exit their portfolios while providing accredited investors, including institutional investors, family offices, and investment funds, unique access to the clean energy investment market. Stay up to date on the evolving market of clean energy finance by following the company on Twitter or Facebook or connecting via LinkedIn. Learn more at http://www.cleancapital.com. Contact: Lauren Glickman, press@cleancapital.com, (504) 258-7955 Jon Powers, jpowers@cleancapital.com, (716) 866-7588 More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- The City of Ocean Springs collected $487,583 in sales tax during February -- marking at least a 10-year high for sales tax receipts, according to figures from the City Clerk's office. The February numbers are part of an overall pattern of sales tax growth in Ocean Springs, which has seen higher sales tax receipts in five of the past seven months since the new municipal fiscal year began Oct. 1. "I'm excited to hear that," said Cynthia Sutton, Executive Director of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce when told of February's 10-year high. "Ocean Springs has maintained steady growth and we're glad to see that. I would attribute it in part to the festivals and growth in the business community." Mayor Shea Dobson said residents and business owners play a large role in maintaining growth. "The growth we're experiencing here is primarily because of the business owners and residents here," Dobson said. "This is a beautiful city and we have a lot of people who work hard and care about the community. "Ultimately, the growth we're enjoying is because of the residents and people who want to be a part of this town." With total sales tax receipts sitting at over $2.9 million and with the traditionally strong summer months still ahead, the city appears on pace to eclipse last fiscal year's total of $4.9 million. Likewise, revenues from the City's 2 percent food & beverage tax are climbing, with year-to-date growth in five of the last seven months. Total 2 percent tax revenues currently sit at $751,446 for the fiscal year and, as with sales tax, the summer months are traditionally strong for 2 percent tax revenues, meaning the city could easily eclipse last year's total 2 percent revenues of $1.3 million. "Ocean Springs is a vibrant town, with a consistent nightlife, walkable streets and many unique attributes," Sutton said. "It's just a full package that helps lead to a steady increase in growth." Dobson said his administration has endeavored to create a business-friendly environment free of unnecessary regulation. "From the City standpoint, we just try to ensure we're not creating a lot of red tape for people to jump though," he said. "We don't have a bunch of excessive regulation on business. I think my administration has done a pretty good job with that and we're only getting better. "We're a business-friendly community and I think the sales and two-percent tax growth indicates that." The latest data from Kantar for the period ending March 2018 shows the impressive run of the iPhone X, and how it has helped the Cupertino company in regaining some of its lost market share in China. Apples smartphone sales in the United Sales were largely flat at 59.1 percent, up by 0.1 percent from the previous quarter. In China, however, Apple saw its sales increase by a staggering 22.1 percent thanks to the popularity of the iPhone X. The handset was the best-selling iPhone in the country for the period. This shows that despite its high price tag, the iPhone X has not failed to attract new customers even in a price sensitive market like China. Combined, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus outsold the iPhone X, though individually, the latter still reigned supreme. This should not be surprising since the smaller 4.7-inch variant from iPhone has largely remained very popular among customers due to its slightly lower price tag. As per Kantar, the iPhone 8 outsold the iPhone X in the United States and the top 5 European markets. Our Take The success of the iPhone X comes at a time when the worldwide smartphone industry is experiencing a decline. With almost every other smartphone OEM seeing a decline in their smartphone shipments, it is impressive that Apple has managed to hold its own with the $999 iPhone X still doing exceedingly well despite its price tag. Apart from the iPhone, Apple has also found a revenue maker in the iOS App Store and Apple Watch/wearables, both of which have started generated significant revenues for the company over the last year or two. UPDATE: Earlier today, the RHOC ladies were spotted at the airport, getting ready to head home from their tropical getaway. (Photo Credit: Twitter via Housewives Fanatic) Prior to boarding the plan at LAX, Kelly Dodd shared a video via her Instagram where she played a prank on Gunvalson. Radar Online. Meanwhile, rumored newbie Gina Kirschenheiter has gone silent on her social media prior to the Jamaica cast trip. A source reveals that the ladies will be in Jamaica all week and that they are staying in Montego Bay, according to Photo Credit: Instagram are currently filming their thirteenth season. Over the past few days, some of the ladies took to social media and revealed they were on vacation together, which obviously means they're filming cast trip for the upcoming new season.Kelly Dodd, Shannon Beador, Tamra Judge and Vicki Gunvalson (and newbies) headed to Jamaica. Check it out below!Vicki teased fans when she shared a photo of herself along Tamra with Kelly and Shannon in the background on a plane with the caption, "Who wants to guess where we are going now? #airplane #rhoc #trip #seeyounextweek @shannonbeador"Tamra shared the same selfie Vicki shared via her Instagram with the caption, " off we go to a land far far away #rhoc"Meanwhile, Shannon shared a selfie with co-star and new besite Kelly on her Instagram account with the caption, "Were here! #rhoc"Then, a few hours later Dodd shared the same duo selfie Beador shared on Instagram with the caption, "Just landed!! We are going to have a great time!!" Classical legends have an enduring quality that means they have been adapted, translated, read and performed almost continuously from antiquity up to the present day. Such stories certainly captured the medieval imagination, judging by the number of massive, gloriously illuminated copies that were made for those who could afford them mostly royalty and the nobility in the 14th and 15th centuries. Medieval aristocrats loved history, particularly when mingled with romance, and the legend of Troy held an extraordinary fascination for them, especially after the crusaders brought back accounts of the exotic lands of the Middle East. Two British Library manuscripts containing the Troy legend in French have recently been fully digitised and are now available to view on Digitised Manuscripts. Stowe MS 54 This is a copy of the Histoire ancienne jusqu'a Cesar or Histoire Universelle, a universal history from the time of Thebes to the reign of Pompey in ancient Rome 60 BC, and combining legend and historical fact. The artist is thought to have been from the Netherlands, but was working in Paris in the mid-to-late 15th century. Following on from the legends of Oedipus, Thebes and Hercules, this dreamlike view of the legendary city of Troy introduces the famous story, and is followed by a series of smaller images depicting the major characters and events, as well as a double-page spread showing the Greek navy attacking from the sea. The city of Troy with a ship, from the Histoire Universelle, Paris, 1st quarter of the 15th century: Stowe MS 54, f. 30v The celebrations in Troy on the return of Paris with Helen: Stowe MS 54, f. 64r Ulysses and Diomedes under the golden pine, arranging a truce with Priam: Stowe MS 54, f. 76r The Greeks attack Troy from the sea: Stowe MS 54, ff. 82v83r The Death of Achilles and Antilogus: Stowe MS 54, f. 178r The Trojan Horse: Stowe MS 54, f. 201v The destruction of Troy: Stowe MS 54, f. 206v Harley MS 4376 The history of Greece and Troy is given special emphasis in the Chronique de la Bouquechardiere, a chronicle that covers the period from Creation to the reign of Caesar. It was compiled by the Norman knight, De Courcy, soon after the Battle of Agincourt (1415), and is named after his estate or fief, Bourg-Achard. His aim was to entertain and instruct his audience, while emphasising the moral lessons to be gained from history, at a time when Normandy was being conquered by the English under Henry V. This image illustrates events leading to the Trojan War, as related in Book II. Here, Paris has abducted Helen from Sparta and they meet his father, Priam, at the gates of Troy. Helen and Paris are dressed in elaborate 15th-century court dress and Priam wears a sumptuous jewelled cloak. Paris and Helena meeting Priam outside Troy, at the beginning of book II, Rouen, 3rd quarter of the 15th century: Harley MS 4376, f. 90r Included in both works is the legend of Alexander the Great, based on the exploits of the great military leader who reigned from 356 to 323 BC, but greatly embroidered with miraculous events from his life and campaigns in the East. This chronicle is divided into 6 books, and this illustration occurs at the beginning of Book 5, relating the history of Macedonia and Alexander's conquests. Here he is seen with Lady Fortune and her wheel, a device often used by medieval artists to show the rise and fall of famous heroes. Alexander and the Wheel of Fortune, and the murder of Alexander II of Macedonia before the throne of Eurydice, at the beginning of book V: Harley MS 4376, f. 271r On the right is shown the murder of Alexander II, short-lived king of Macedon from 371 to 369 BC. Alexander was murdered during a festival, probably in a plot involving his own mother, Eurydice, wife of Amyntas III. Chantry Westwell Follow us on Twitter @BLMedieval UPDATED The top deputy in Floridas Orange County school system is heading to Las Vegas to run the school system there. Jesus Jara was selected Wednesday by a 4-2 vote to lead the Clark County school system. The district, with about 320,000 students, is the countrys fifth-largest. Jara has been the deputy superintendent in Orange County for the last six years. Before that, he served a stint as superintendent of the Monroe County school system in Florida, after Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to the position. In Clark County, Jara will enter a school system thats undergoing a massive governance change after years of rapid-fire student growth. The district started a reorganization last August, which will give more decisionmaking and authority to school sites and principals and scale back the role of the central office. Jara will replace Pat Skorkowsky, who served as superintendent for nearly five years and spent close to 30 years with the school district. Skorkowsky is retiring when his contract expires next month. Jara beat out the districts current chief academic officer, Mike Barton, for the job, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The other finalists were Don Haddad , superintendent of the St. Vrain Valley school district in Colorado; Shonda Huery Hardman, a former chief school support officer in the Houston school district and former assistant chief academic officer in Bostons public schools; Jesse Welsh, the assistant superintendent of curriculum and professional development in Clark County; and Eva White, a former chief financial officer for the district. John Deasy, the former superintendent of the Los Angeles school district, was also among the original list of external finalists, but he withdrew his name from consideration before candidates were interviewed. (UPDATE: Deasy has since been named the finalist to lead Californias Stockton Unified school district, about 50 miles from Sacramento.) The board later added three candidates who are current or former Clark County district employees. Jara is expected to start next month. His salary has not yet been finalized. Education changed my life; it gave me opportunity, Jara said in a statement from the district. Ensuring that every single student gets that same opportunity is why I first became a teacher and what drives my work every day. I could not be more eager to get to work alongside CCSDs incredible teachers, principals, and staff to build on and accelerate the districts progress, and I look forward to starting by listening to the entire Clark County community about what has been working and where we can continue to improve. Jara is the most recent member of Chiefs for Changes Future Chiefs program to land the top job. Part of the Washington, D.C.-based organizations mission is to create a pipeline of school leaders to run local systems; its Future Chiefs program provides mentors, guidance, and support, by among other things, matching those in the program with sitting superintendents to help prepare them for the superintendency. Jesus is a skilled, visionary leader with the experience and the determination to close long-standing achievement gaps for kids, said Mike Magee, the groups CEO, in a statement. As a Future Chief, he has had the opportunity to learn from the countrys boldest, most innovative education leaders, and he will continue to collaborate with them as he transitions into his new role as Superintendent. Photo caption: Jesus Jara, the deputy superintendent in Orange County, Fla., was selected to lead the Clark County school system, which includes Las Vegas, Nev. Photo courtesy the Orange County School District. Editors intro: Todays post is by Roland Naijuka who as a high school student, created Future Uganda, an organization to help high school students with the college application process. This blog is part of our ongoing series by young adults who participated in Global Citizens Initiatives Summer Youth Summit . We hope these posts will inspire your students to take action! The population of Uganda grows at an alarming rate of 3.2% per year. By 2025, the country will have a population of 54 million people. As of now, youth account for 78% of the population, thereby making them the majority in the country. By 2025, the youth population will be four times the rest of the countrys population. This means that we need a strong economy to sustain this population. Free education is provided by the government until high school. Every year hundreds of thousand graduate from high school, however, only the few than can afford it, join higher institutions of learning. On the other hand, those that cannot afford higher education start looking for scholarships abroad. For many high school seniors in Uganda, applying to colleges/universities abroad is quite daunting. As other schools around the globe have college counselors, most public schools in Uganda do not have them. Students are left to consult with educational consultants who charge ridiculous amounts of money. Therefore, only the rich can benefit from these services. Those with resilience start going through the internet with hopes of bumping into something. However, there are so many colleges to look through, so many tests and requirements, yet so few reliable resources to guide students through their journey. In 2015, I received a life-changing educational opportunity to study at Africas prestigious institution which grooms the next generation of future African leaders. While there, I received over 15 applications from my friends asking me to help them apply abroad. This was within one year. As I discussed this with a friend, Trevor Lwere , we realized we had the same resourcea friends trust. But our friends reflect a tiny fraction of the number of competent and talented high school graduates in Uganda who try to apply abroad. I am committed to creating access to similar opportunities for my fellow Ugandans. As such, Trevor and I have founded Future Uganda, a nonprofit organization that seeks to guide high school seniors through the college application process. Founded in a small dorm room in Johannesburg, South Africa, Future Uganda has grown into a national program that provides quality SAT tutoring, college application guidance, and also connects students to scholarship opportunities around the world. Future Uganda also connects ambitious high school graduates to gap-year programs where they can grow and be transformed into global citizens. At Future Uganda, we are guided by a principle of agency. We strongly believe that while basic education can empower individuals, quality education can transform communities. By guiding scholars with immense potential to access high-quality education, we hope to create a multiplier effect of change makers who will transform our country as leaders in scientific research, politics, and governance. We see our work as a small but significant contribution to the larger effort of transforming Uganda by investing in and empowering its young generation. Our inaugural class of 10 promising high school seniorswho went through a rigorous online applicationconvened in early autumn 2017 to explore the offerings of our organization. In addition to the physical lessons that we offer our scholars every other Saturday, students are introduced to the student-tutor online system provided by Khan Academy thereby making tutoring for the SAT both thorough and personalized. Future Ugandas team of dedicated guidance counselors takes students step by step through the entire application process, providing services that include: Identifying schools that fit the students career prospects. Preparation for interviews. Identifying and securing scholarships and financial aid. Assisting students without credit cards to pay for the SAT, sending scores, and the College Boards College Scholarship Service profile. Future Uganda also boasts an extensive network of SAT experts, who at one time also took the SAT and mastered tips and tricks to navigate the test, successfully applied to college, and are currently studying in top universities around the world. These experts proof-read essays and provide peer support and personal guidance to each student through our trademark Buddy System. As part of our growth strategy, in the next two years, my team and I plan to establish our own physical educational center that will allow us to improve scholar accessibility and service delivery through a more ambient learning environment that will have a library and internet resources as well as better classroom structures. This will also allow us to increase our student intake from the current 10 to at least 30. We are excited about the prospects of the future, especially helping people to make change in other peoples lives. We would also like to introduced two more services: A Reach Program which will seek to connect civic-minded high school graduates with opportunities to serve within their communities and impoverished regions in the country during their vacations from school. We realized a loophole in the program. Our end goal is to develop the country and quality education is the first milestone, however, people with quality education should be able to come and apply it at home. We are now answering the question of how can we inspire our scholars to come back to Uganda? Entrepreneurial leadership and management skills training which will equip students between the ages of 16-25 with 21st century skills such as complex problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, and communication so that they can start businesses to solve the problems in their communities with a 21stcentury approach. There are a lot of such programs, however, the approach that they use is not solving problems with standard and up-to-date skills. This is why most scholars that have gone through such programs cannot compete with other countries. The question that we would like to answer now is how can we create competent and talented 21stcentury youth who can compete on the global market without necessarily sending them abroad for tertiary education. For us at Future Uganda this is the beginning of the journey. We still have years ahead of us of delivering better and new services. After one year of existence, we know that the future is going to be tougher than the past, or the present. I remember the first day of our camp, no scholar showed up and this was a shock to the team. We learned, that day, that to successfully operate in Uganda, you need to take phone numbers rather emails. These and more hurdles are why we continue to thrive. We at Future Uganda believe that problems are like foundations on a housefor it to be strong, the approach to the foundation must be extraordinary. Follow Global Citizens Initiative and the Center for Global Education at Asia Society on Twitter. Quote image created on Pablo . Many states have significantly raised their mandatory-attendance age in the last five years, new federal data show. In a 2012 State of the Union address, then-President Obama called for states to prevent students from dropping out before age 18. At the time, 18 states still allowed students to leave school at the traditional age of 16, but as of 2017, none doand only Alabama allows students to leave before age 18. Yet the data show there is still a massive hodge-podge of state laws governing how many years students must attend school , as well as the ages at which states will pay for free schooling. For example, students in Virginia must attend school for 13 years, four more than students just over the border in North Carolina, and parents in Massachusetts can enroll their children in public school three years earlier than parents in New Mexico can. Texas offers the longest access to public K-12 education, from ages 5 to 26. But Massachusetts begins earliest, at age 3and the Bay State allows individual school districts to enroll even younger students if they choose. By contrast, parents in Connecticut and Missouri can opt their 5- and 6-year-olds out of school. In spite of the increase in the average mandatory school age nationwide, the evidence remains unclear on whether and how much attendance laws have contributed to changes in states overall graduation rates . Related: Want more research news? Get the latest studies and join the conversation. FROM THEIR HOME TO YOURS Although one of the newest businesses in Jamestown will not open for a couple more weeks, the owners already are seeing curious passersby at their soon-to-be former location in North... Rental rules still in limbo A subcommittee has been formed to incorporate suggestions from the town councilors into a proposed ordinance to govern short-term rentals. The council formed the panel at its Sept. 20 meeting.... Agreement pending for Simpatico There is an apparent deal in place for the sale of Simpatico Jamestown, but the principals are being tight-lipped until its finalized. If it does happen, it will reunite a... As U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos considers whether to revoke Obama-era civil rights guidance that aims to drive down racially disparate rates of school discipline , a polarizing debate has raged around her. On one side, supporters of the guidance say it has inspired schools and districts around the country to make transformational changes to their policies and practices, ensuring more fair treatment for students of color. On the other side, critics of the guidance argue it has had a chilling effect on school discipline by discouraging the use of suspensions and sacrificing school climate in the process. But neither side is entirely correct, according to the AASA, the School Superintendents Association. The organization released a survey of 950 district leaders in 47 states on the impact of the 2014 Dear Colleague Letter. Just 16 percent of respondents said their districts had modified discipline policies and practices as a result of the guidance. Of those whod made changes because of the directive, 4.5 percent of those respondentsor less than 1 percent of all respondentsindicated the 2014 discipline guidance has had a negative or very negative impact on school personnels ability to address disciplinary issues of students or remove students who are disruptive, aggressive or abusive to students or staff. And 44 percent of respondents whod made changes because of the guidance7 percent of the total number of respondents, indicated that it has been a positive experience and/or has led to positive outcomes for the district, the survey found. Discipline policies and practices have long been a contentious issue for school district leaders and changing these practices and policies requires collaboration and judiciousness, a summary of the results said. The 2014 discipline guidance has not been transformative in changing school discipline policies, practices and outcomes related to discipline. Given that only 16 percent of district leaders surveyed in 2018 indicated their district has modified their school discipline policies and practices because of the 2014 discipline guidance, we cannot say that it is having the positive or negative effects some advocates in Washington are claiming. Thats not to say that schools havent changed their discipline policies, but most havent cited the guidance as the cause for doing so. Some instead pointed to more aggressive use of systemic investigations by the Education Departments office for civil rights that started in 2009. A 2013 survey that AASA administered in partnership with the Council of State Governments before the federal guidance was issued, found that 56 percent of district leaders had recently revised their student codes of conduct. Common changes included graduated systems for responding to misbehavior and changes in policies related to exclusionary discipline, like suspensions and expulsions. I would also note that many states changed their laws on school discipline in the years before and after the guidance was issued, taking steps like limiting schools ability to suspend students for broad infractions like defiance. Clearly, district leaders were already taking steps to align their district policies and practices with the recommendations presented in the 2014 discipline guidance and the goal of reducing out-ofschool time and punitive responses to school discipline was happening absent a federal directive, the survey results say. It is less clear, however, if the enhancement of the investigatory arm at OCR was playing a meaningful role in encouraging districts to change their discipline policies and practices. If so, fear of an investigation by OCR or the experience of being investigated by OCR could also be attributed to changes that many districts made between 2011 and 2013 to discipline practices and policies. Twenty percent of respondents said that pressure from the civil rights arm has led them to keep students in school who school staff would have preferred to remove, the AASA said. The organization also interviewed districts that had been subject to investigations by the office for civil rights. They complained that investigations into individual complaints quickly morphed into districtwide investigations that required school personnel to compile information on discipline infractions and policies in every grade and school and that gathering data for those investigations was unprecedented, intimidating, and costly, the report says. Under DeVoss leadership, the Education Department has limited civil rights investigations , reversing an Obama-era policy that required investigators to examine several years of data to consider whether individual complaints of discrimination are part of a larger pattern that affects other students. DeVoss move led to criticism from civil rights groups and from Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the top Democrat on the Senate education committee. President Trump and his Administration can claim to oppose discrimination all they want, but actions speak louder than wordsand everything they are doing is making it clear that they want to defang and weaken the federal governments tools to protect the civil rights and safety of people across the country, Murray said in a June statement. But AASA recommended the department should continue to ensure that the scope of data and process for investigation is reasonable. DeVos has not provided a timeline for her decision about the discipline guidance. You can read the survey results here. Further reading on school discipline and civil rights: Follow @evieblad on Twitter or subscribe to Rules for Engagement to get blog posts delivered directly to your inbox. The weeklong Arizona teacher strike was set to end with Gov. Doug Duceys signature on a teacher pay raise plan Thursdaybut teachers arent declaring this a victory. Ducey signed the K-12 portion of the state budget plan early Thursday morning, after state legislators pulled an all-nighter to pass the plan. Teachers camped outside at the capitol, holding a candlelight vigil and singing America the Beautiful as the night went on. The plan provides a 20 percent boost in teacher pay over the next three years, including an average 9 percent bump for the coming fall. It also provides schools with a partial restoration of $371 million in recession-era budget cuts. Still, teachers are not satisifed with the budget deal. They had called for $1 billion in education funding, and were frustrated with the lack of assurance on raises for support personnel, among other issues. But organizers of Arizona Educators Uniteda grassroots, teacher-led groupsaid there was nothing else they could do . Legislators had already made up their minds, they said, and it was time to return to the classroom. The strike was expected to end on Thursday, but legislators werent able to get the plan on the governors desk on Wednesday. Some school districts that had planned to reopen Thursday had to cancel classes after teachers called out of work. Now, some school districts are announcing they will reopen Friday, including the Scottsdale district outside of Phoenix. Other districts are expected to follow suit later in the day, according to local reports. Arizona marks the latest state where teachers have forced at least a partial victory through walkouts and activism. Teachers in West Virginia and Oklahoma both walked out of their classrooms in a push for higher pay earlier this spring. They both were out for nine days and received a pay increase from the legislature. Teachers in Kentucky and Colorado also walked out on several occasions to protest changes in their pension bills. This wave of teacher activism is unprecedented , experts say. Image: Teachers camp outside the capitol building during the night as the Arizona legislature debates a budget negotiated by majority Republicans and GOP Gov. Doug Ducey on May 3 in Phoenix. Matt York/AP Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 4:00 am The American Legion Auxiliary will host breakfast from 7 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 6, at the Legion hall, 1424 W. Broadway St., Bolivar. Cost is $6. All proceeds benefit the American Legion community projects, including the scholarship fund that provides college scholarships to relatives of veterans, and many other local charities. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 6:25 pm The Bolivar Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly networking meeting at noon Thursday, May 17, in the Citizens Memorial Hospital Community Rooms. Southwest Baptist University President Dr. C. Pat Taylor will provide the presentation. Taylor will retire Aug. 31 after nearly 22 years of serving as president of SBU. There will be time during the meeting to thank Taylor for his years of service to SBU and the Bolivar community. The meeting is open to the public. An optional lunch is available for $6. For more information, call 326-4118 or email info@bolivarchamber.com. The Department of Defense on Wednesday announced the transfer [text] of Guantanamo detainee Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Haza al Darb to Saudi Arabia. Al Darb pleaded guilty in 2014. Part of the deal included his eventual transfer from Guantanamo. There are reports that Sandi Arabia confirmed his arrival around midnight on Wednesday. He will serve the rest of his 13-year sentence there. This is the first inmate transfer since January 19, 2017. There are 40 inmates left at Guantanamo. Could not establish database connection. DB: bostonimc and SQL: --> The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP. Images & Content EXCEPT WHERE OTHERWISE NOTED, ALL IMAGES AND CONTENT ARE 2021 JENNIFER BUXTON. MODEL HORSE PERFORMANCE SHOWERS ARE WELCOME TO USE PHOTOS FOR LIVE SHOW REFERENCE PURPOSES. ALL OTHER USES REQUIRE WRITTEN PERMISSION. Posted 5/3/18 While at the beauty shop, my beautician and I discussed hair texture. I was born with a whole head full of dark hair, and being born fairly close to Christmas, the nurse put it up in dog ears, with Posted 5/3/18 The James River Natural Arch, aka the Hootentown Arch, aka the Inman Arch, had become a popular sightseeing attraction by the latter part of the 1800s. After the photographed visit by Hurley Posted 5/2/18 Buffalo residents injuredTwo Buffalo residents were injured Saturday, April 28, in a two-vehicle crash north of Buffalo, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.Jeffery D. Pickel, 28, of Not all who wander are lost If youre a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (like I am), then youre probably familiar with one... Remember When How America was settled is a passion of mine, since part of my family got here in the 1600s from... Implications of population decline The recent U.S. 2020 Census Count revealed that Flint and Genesee County experienced a decline in population over the past... UPDATE (AP): - Motorhome-driving sex offender in custody 2 days after escaping capture following hours-long chase on California freeway. (This is a developing story and will be updated as more information emerges) By AMANDA LEE MYERS , Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) A paroled sex offender driving a motor home gave police the slip after a 3 -hour chase through California by turning into an almond orchard and disappearing into a cloud of dust kicked up by his vehicle. The parolee, 46-year-old Stephen Houk, was still missing on Wednesday following Tuesday's chase and is considered armed and dangerous, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. Houk, who was on parole for felony sodomy in Oregon, began leading police on a chase Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles after deputies tried to talk to him about a report that he had threatened his wife, said sheriff's Capt. Darren Harris. Houk fled with his young children inside the motor home. Police followed Houk from narrow surface streets in Hollywood more than 100 miles (161 kilometers) north to the agricultural heartland of California. In Bakersfield, Houk repeatedly exited and re-entered the freeway and at times drove through the city and a busy Walmart parking lot, all with his 3-year-old son and 11-month old daughter in the vehicle. Eventually Houk turned on a dirt road to the orchard, where both the motor home and police vehicles kicked up blinding dust, said Officer Robert Rodriguez, a spokesman with the California Highway Patrol. When the motor home stopped with its front end under a thick canopy of trees, officers pulled back for safety, Rodriguez said. "Officers had zero visibility," he said. Police eventually surrounded the motor home with armored vehicles and patrol cars, guns drawn, waiting for Houk to emerge. Instead, his 3-year-old son walked out about 45 minutes later. Police then found the baby inside and Houk nowhere in sight. "He got lucky," Rodriguez said. "All the forces came together and temporarily, they were on his side." Houk is now wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, making terrorist threats, kidnapping, child endangerment and evading police. The sheriff's department initially tried to talk to Houk after a customer at a Starbucks in Santa Clarita called police Tuesday morning to report that a woman outside said she had been threatened by her husband, that he had a gun, and she needed help, Harris said. Later, Houk's wife told deputies that her husband had assaulted her earlier that morning and had loaded a gun and pointed it at her. Preliminary information indicates that the family had recently traveled to California from Oregon but it's unclear whether they were living in the motor home, which has an Arizona license plate, Harris said. Most police chases end with immediate arrests, often after officers force cars to stop by puncturing tires or hitting vehicles in precision maneuvers. Officers didn't do that with Houk because of the children, who were unharmed and reunited with their mother, Rodriguez said. "We were treating this with kid gloves because we didn't want to agitate the driver," Rodriguez said. In a 2002 case in Oregon, Houk pleaded guilty to sodomy involving a child and served eight years in state prison. "We've got to find him," Harris said. "I have no doubt we'll catch up with him but we just want to do that before anyone else gets hurt." ___ Associated Press writer Steven DuBois in Portland, Oregon contributed to this report. (Note: According to Oregon court records, Houk plead guilty to Sodomy 1 in Lincoln County in 2002. Two charges of Sexual Abuse in the First Degree were dismissed) By RUSS BYNUM , Associated Press PORT WENTWORTH, Ga. (AP) A crew of nine Puerto Ricans were flying an Air National Guard C-130 into retirement in Arizona when it crashed onto a highway in Georgia on Wednesday, and authorities said there are no survivors. The plane crashed onto state highway 21 moments after taking off from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, narrowly missing people on the ground and sending an orange and black fireball into the sky. "It miraculously did not hit any cars, any homes," Effingham County Sheriff's spokeswoman Gena Bilbo said. "This is a very busy roadway." Eight hours after the crash, she added: "To our knowledge there are no survivors." The huge plane's fuselage appeared to have struck the median, and pieces of its wings, which spanned 132 feet (40 meters), were scattered across lanes in both directions. The debris field stretched 600 feet (183 meters) in diameter, Bilbo said. The only part still intact was the tail section, said Chris Hanks, a spokesman for the Savannah Professional Firefighters Association. The plane was more than 60 years old, said Isabelo Rivera, Adjutant General of Puerto Rico's National Guard. Belonging to the 156th Air Wing, it was used to rescue U.S. citizens stranded in the British Virgin Islands following Hurricane Irma and ferry supplies to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria last year. "The planes that we have in Puerto Rico -- it's not news today that they are the oldest planes on inventory" of all National Guard planes nationwide, Rivera said. Puerto Rico's National Guard has five other similar planes, two of which need maintenance and aren't being used, he said. It's too early to say what might have caused the accident, he said. The plane last received maintenance at the base in Savannah in April. All nine crew members had helped with hurricane recovery efforts as part of the 198th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Bucaneros, which flies out of Base Muniz in the northern coastal city of Carolina, Rivera said. "This pains us," Rivera said of the deaths. They aren't releasing names until all the families have been contacted, but "most of them already know and have come to the base." Motorist Mark Jones told the Savannah Morning News that he saw the plane hit the road right in front of him, about a mile (less than two kilometers) from the airport. "It didn't look like it nosedived, but it almost looked like it stalled and just went almost flat right there in the middle of the highway," Jones said, describing how people stopped and got out of their cars following the explosion. "I'm still shook up and shaking. My stomach is in knots because I know they're people just like me. I wasn't that far from it and I could have just kept going and it would have been me and we wouldn't be talking right now," Jones said. The U.S. territory's Gov. Ricardo Rossello expressed his sadness, tweeting that "our prayers are with the families of the Puerto Rican crew." President Donald Trump tweeted that he had been briefed on the crash, and sent "thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard." ___ Associated Press writers Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Jeff Martin in Atlanta have contributed to this report. - T. S. Eliot Thoughts After Lambeth "The World is trying the experiment of attempting to form a civilized but non-Christian mentality. The experiment will fail; but we must be very patient in awaiting its collapse; meanwhile redeeming the time: so that the Faith may be preserved alive through the dark ages before us; to renew and rebuild civilization, and save the World from suicide." FILE - In this Dec. 11, 2017 file photo, Kevin Hart arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle" in Los Angeles. A man has been charged with trying to extort money from Kevin Hart by threatening to release video he had secretly shot of the actor and comedian with a woman in Las Vegas. Los Angeles County prosecutors charged 41-year-old Jonathan Jackson on Wednesday May 2, 2018, with attempted extortion and extortion by threatening letter. Jackson is jailed on $100,000 bail. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) Rapper Meek Mill speaks during a news conference promoting Gov. Tom Wolf's proposals to reform the criminal justice system at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Wolf, Mill and several state legislators spoke in favor of reforms. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) BERKELEY Scouting UCLA Now that No. 24 California (34-13, 7-10 Pac-12) has finished its non-conference slate, it gets ready for a truly gritty end to the regular season as the Golden Bears play their penultimate Pac-12 series against top-ranked UCLA this weekend at Levine-Fricke Field.The Friday-Sunday series will pit the Bears, who are on an eight-game win streak, against its second, number-one team this season after facing then-No. 1 Washington on April 15 in Seattle.Friday's opener is scheduled for a 3 p.m. (PT) start, while Saturday's contest begins at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday's closer at 2 p.m. Cal alum Kate Scott leads the play-by-play for the weekend on the Pac-12 Network. Live stats will be available on CalBears.com.The weekend also welcomes former Bears for Cal softball's annual alumni celebration, with special events and acknowledgements planned throughout Saturday's contest. Blue and Gold standouts, including(2013-16), Danielle Henderson (2012-15), Candace Harper-Balbuena (1999-02), Cheyenne Cordes (2012-15) and 2018 Cal Athletics Hall of Fame inductee Kristina Thorson (2003-06), are expected to attend along with other alumni.Spectators will see a Cal team that has bounced back after a difficult start to its conference schedule. Cal recently swept Utah and Stanford in back-to-back series and the Bears have outscored their opponents 29-6 in the last six league contests, including a pair of shutouts against the Cardinal to contribute to an eight-game win streak.Last time out,propelled the Bears to an 8-1 victory with her first collegiate grand slam at Stanford, as she paces the team with a .358 batting average, 57 hits and 31 RBI, also adding 33 runs.Jackson and juniorhave been the one-two punch that tilt the opposing defenses with Rood sitting just behind Jackson in the lineup and on the ledger with a .340 clip at the plate. Rood however, knows her way around the bases leading the Pac-12 with 26 steals, and heading the Bears with 42 runs and 14 doubles.Cal continues alternating between starting pitchers(2.01, 18-3) and(2.03, 15-10) who have gone undefeated over the past two weeks, with Conley's seven saves to head the conference. The duo tag-teamed their Bay Area rivals last weekend giving up just one run in the series to Stanford.Cal will need to be firing on all cylinders as they face a three-loss UCLA and hope to keep the series win streak alive.The Bruins (45-3, 15-3 Pac-12) are riding an 11-game win streak and have dropped just one league series to open conference at Oregon (1-2) in March. The in-state opponents have been propelled by powerful hitting and balanced by great pitching. Bruins batters hold four of the five top spots in conference with redshirt freshman Aaliyah Jordan's .472 batting average pacing the entire Pac-12. She is supported by Kylee Perez (.416), Bubba Nickels (.404) and Rachel Garcia (.385) who rank second, fourth and fifth, respectively. Collectively, the foursome accounts for 151 runs, which significantly surpasses the 98 runs allowed this season.In the circle, dual-threat Garcia holds the cards with a 17-1 record and 1.10 ERA, fourth-best in the Pac-12, while undefeated Holly Azevedo (14-0, 1.93) covers her share of the load forcefully. The Bears could potentially see Selina Ta'amilo (10-2, 2.38) as well who can start or come in as clean up.Cal was swept in 2017 after giving up a near-win in the series opener at Easton Stadium in Los Angeles. The Bears look for their first win over the Bruins since 2013, when Cal posted a 5-1 decision in LA.For more information on Cal softball, follow the team @CalSB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. In this picture released by official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a meeting with a group of labors in Tehran, Iran, Monday, April 30, 2018. According to his website, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Monday that the "Americans are trying to put Saudis and some other regional countries before Iran. If they are wise, they should not be deceived by the U.S." (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP) FILE - In this Jan. 12, 2017, file photo, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani talks with reporters in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York. Giuliani's revelation that U.S. President Donald Trump reimbursed his personal attorney for a $130,000 payment to a porn star to keep her quiet about an alleged affair is raising new legal questions, including whether the president and his campaign violated campaign finance laws. Giuliani insisted on Fox News Channel Wednesday night, May 2, 2018, that the payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels was "going to turn out to be perfectly legal." (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File) This undated booking photo provided by the Marion County Sheriff's Department in Oregon where Stephen Houk is wanted. Houk who Authorities are searching for Houk, a paroled sex offender, who lead them on an hours-long chase Tuesday, Mat 2, 2018 through California in a motor home with his two young children inside. The youngsters, a 3-year-old boy and an 11-month-old girl, were found safe after the RV stopped in an orchard north of Bakersfield, Calif. after a 100-mile northern freeway drive. But Houk was nowhere to be found. (Marion County Sheriff's Department via AP) In this combination photo, Bill Cosby speaks to an audience on the campus of University of the District of Columbia in Washington on May 16, 2006 , left, and director Roman Polanski appears at the photo call for the film, "Based On A True Story," at the 70th international film festival, Cannes, southern France on May 27, 2017. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors has voted to expel Cosby and Polanski from its membership. The film academy said Thursday that its board of governors met Tuesday night and voted on their status in accordance with their Standards of Conduct. (AP Photo) This photo provided by WFSB-TV shows a fire behind a house, Wednesday, May 2, 2018, in North Haven, Conn. A Connecticut woman's call to police to report domestic violence led to a standoff and explosion in a barn behind her home that left at least one person dead and other officers injured, officials said Thursday. (Kevin Galliford/WFSB-TV via AP) Teachers at Webster Elementary School stand out in front of the school as they hand out free food bags they donated for their students and families as the statewide teachers strike enters a fourth day, Tuesday, May 1, 2018, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) LOS ANGELES, Cal. - Stephen Houk is a wanted sex offender in Marion County, Oregon. Tuesday, law enforcement officers said he was in the Los Angeles area leading them on a dangerous chase. The chase ended in an almond orchard. When the dust cloud settled, the authorities moved in. When they arrived however, Houk was nowhere to be found. They did find two young children inside, unharmed, who were identified as Houk's children. Law enforcement reported Houk is wanted for child abduction and weapons violations. According to court documents in Oregon, Houk was convicted of sodomy in 2002. He's currently listed as a wanted offender on Marion County Oregon's website. Video from the RV chase was provided from KEZI 9 News' sister station 23ABC News in Bakersfield, California. WEB EXTRA: You can view Stephen Houk's sodomy case timeline below. SALEM, Ore. (AP) - An audit of backlogged rape kits held by the Oregon State Police shows the agency is processing them faster than any time in the last two years, and is making progress toward clearing the backlog by the end of the year. The results were released by the Oregon Secretary of State's office Wednesday. Some of the kits, which contain biological evidence in sexual assault cases, had been warehoused since 1983, and in 2015 the State Police quoted a statewide backlog of more than 5,600. In 2016, legislators passed a measure to speed up processing, but by 2017 state labs said their backlog had actually increased. Several Lee anthropology majors presented their research at the Southern Anthropological Society conference in Chattanooga. The research these anthropology majors are engaged in is cutting edge and far beyond what undergraduates normally do, said Dr. Murl Dirksen, professor of anthropology at Lee. I would never have imagined performing this level of anthropological investigation as an undergraduate. Amber Beard presented Symbolism and Representation of Animals in the Cherokee Culture, which examined how Native Americans stories, primarily Cherokee, symbolically incorporate animals and use them in their daily lives, mythologies, and history. Jed Foster completed his research with an Appalachian College Association research grant in summer 2017 in China conducting interviews on changes in the one-child policy. This research was explained in his presentation Cross-Generational Perspectives on Family in Post-One-Child Policy China. Torah Harding-Laman is funded as a McNair Scholar. Her presentation, Ha-yin! (Stand Up!): Tsimshian and Language Revitalization in Southeast Alaska, was conducted to document current Tsimshian language revitalization efforts in order to further empower the Alaskan Tsimshian community. What is noticeably unique about the anthropology community is that there is rarely competition, but rather genuine curiosity and encouragement about one anothers research, said Ms. Harding-Laman. The SAS conference reflected this quality well, and I left the conference with more ideas and determination for my research. Gina Merson will participate in archaeology field school at Eagle Rock Shelter in Delta, Co., this summer. She exhibited her research in Baskets, Beads and Burial: Saga of 14,000 Years of Continual Occupation is in the Stratigraphy of Eagle Rock Shelter. Kelly Wnuk received an ACA research grant to interview historical preservationists in order to learn the symbolic meaning of tradition, racism, and southern pride attached to Confederate monuments. She presented Leave History Alone: Redefining Collective Memory Among Confederate Cultural Preservationists in Southeast Tennessee. Lee alumna Erin Williamson (12) completed her masters degree in cultural anthropology at University College London in London, UK. Her presentation, Rattlesnakes and Reflexivity: Ethnographic Considerations of Pentecostal Christianity in Modern Appalachia, was based on a paper and introduced an ethnographic study of Pentecostal Christians in Appalachia who practice a century-old tradition of handling venomous snakes in the context of worship. These students are not only involved in research in China and among the First Nation people of Alaska, but also locally with groups working on cultural preservation, said Dr. Dirksen. It is a pleasure to be associated with such a premier group of anthropology undergraduate researchers. The anthropology program at Lee includes cultural studies, archaeological excavation and curation, and linguistics. For more information about Lees anthropology program, contact Dr. Dirksen at mdirksen@leeuniversity.edu. GARNER, Iowa Its consecutive sentences for a man who kidnapped and assaulted a woman in Hancock County. Christopher James Moore, 27 of Crystal Lake, has been given two ten years sentences for 3rd degree kidnapping and willful injury causing serious injury. Moore was arrested in August 2017 and witnesses said the victim was hearing screaming and Moore was seen hitting her and saying he would killing her. Authorities say the woman suffered injuries so severe she had to be flown by helicopter to Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa. Because the sentences are to be served one after the other, Moore could be behind bars for up to 20 years. GARNER, Iowa A third person has been sentenced for the gunpoint robbery of a party near Klemme. Kyren-Ray Valentine, 20 of Jewell, pleaded guilty to 2nd degree robbery, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, and 2nd degree burglary. Valentine was given 10 years for each charge, to be served consecutively for a total of up to 30 years in prison. Samuel Swanson Samuel Swanson Isaiah Lewis Isaiah Lewis Law enforcement says Valentine, Samuel Swanson, and Isaiah Zion Lewis robbed several people on July 21, 2017. An AR-15 rifle and a handgun were used in the crime but while shots were fired, no one was injured. Swanson pleaded guilty to 2nd and 3rd burglary and accessory after the fact. He received probation. Lewis was sentenced to up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to 1st degree robbery. Several students from Lee Universitys School of Music received awards for performances submitted to DownBeats 41st annual Student Music Awards. The DownBeat Student Music Awards is considered one of the most prestigious collegiate competitions for jazz and audio engineering education. Students from higher education music programs from across the nation compete for these awards annually. Two of Lees extracurricular ensembles, Jose Valentino and Shawn Perkinsons jazz artist ensemble and Jose Valentinos funk artist ensemble, placed second in the nation at the undergraduate level for outstanding performance in Small Jazz Combo and Blues/Pop/ Rock Group, respectively. As a soon-to-be graduate with a degree in music business, this award and experience gives me an advantage in the field right away, said Nickolas Tomasello. Award-winning students include Cameron Ball, Julian Daniels, Daniel Dennis, Timothy Ferguson, Josh Gardner, Caleb Hall, Robert Acevedo Jr., Hannah Price, Carlos Rising, Kirsten Tatum, Mr. Tomasello, Japheth Varlack, David Walrop, and Matt Zalusky. I have learned so much from this experience and grown tremendously in my abilities as an improviser and musician, said Ms. Tatum. Recording these accomplishments has been a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I am honored to have been a part of. Dr. Jose (Valentino) Ruiz is an assistant professor of music business and Shawn Perkinson is a commercial guitar professor at Lee. Individually, Robert Acevedo Jr. placed first in Engineered Studio Recording and second in Engineered Live Recording at the undergraduate level. Its an honor to have been able to participate in this competition, said Mr. Acevedo. Its a huge honor for me to have received those awards. I am humbled and very privileged to be considered one of the best musicians, part of one of the best bands, and audio engineer in the nation. God has truly blessed me. These prestigious awards are a testament to what can be achieved when we (faculty and students) work together to create something that is not only impressive, but impactful and inspiring to the ears of music listeners, said Dr. Ruiz. Before every recording session, we prayed for God's inspiration to overflow our mind and hearts. In the end, we were all completely satisfied with the final product and did not worry if it would be recognized. The fact that DownBeat honored our work is an added bonus! For more information about Lees School of Music, call 614-8240. For more information on Downbeat, visit http://www.downbeat.com/sma/. CERRO GORDO COUNTY, Iowa Its a charge rarely seen, according to law enforcement. A Mason City man is facing a charge after being found walking on the shoulder of Interstate-35 and refusing to walk on the proper side of the interstate. Larry Garcia, of Mason City, was in the Cerro Gordo County Jail on Thursday morning after authorities said they tried numerous times to offer a solution. Authorities say Garcia was advised it is illegal to walk south on the southbound side of the interstate. Troopers say they offered Garcia a ride and he declined. Troopers then told him they would take him back to the east shoulder so he could legally walk against the flow of traffic. He told me he would simply walk back to the southbound side and continue walking, the criminal complaint states. The final option troopers gave him was to be arrested, and they say that is the decision Garcia chose. MASON CITY, Iowa Two accused drug dealers have made a deal with the Cerro Gordo County Attorneys Office. Wesley William Bostwick, 23 of Mason City, and Riley Joe Morris Brekke, 18 of Clear Lake, were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Authorities say they had the drug, scales, baggies, and other drug-related items in the possession in November 2017 in the 700 block of South Georgia Avenue in Mason City. Bostwick and Brekke have now pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana-first offense, a serious misdemeanor. Bostwick was given two days in jail and one year of supervised probation. Brekke was sentenced to a year of probation and if he fulfills all the conditions, this conviction will be wiped from his record. CHARLES CITY, Iowa A trial date has been set for a Floyd County man charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine. Nathaniel Elihu Klemesrud, 47 of Charles City, was arrested in April on an outstanding warrant by the combined forces of the Charles City Police Department and the Floyd County Sheriffs Office. The North Central Iowa Narcotics Task Force says Klemesrud delivered .34 grams of meth to one of their operatives on June 30, 2016. Klemesrud entered a not guilty plea on Monday. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 30. ROCHESTER, Minn. After 50 years of not having a name, address or even photo, a daughter can say she knows who her father is. After Wednesday, she can say shes met him. With help from her coworker, Lan Do turned to Ancestry.com for answers. The only thing she knew about her father was that he served in Vietnam, where she was born. After taking a DNA test, she found his name and they started communicating. My dad called me, Do said. He called me, first time he told me, 'Hi, child. How are you doing today?' Finally on Wednesday, an emotional embrace 50 years in the making. As a father travels from California to connect with a daughter he didnt know he had, and even meet his grandchildren for the first time. I knew that I had had a relationship with a person in Vietnam, Wayne Brown, Dos father, said. And I had spent the last, oh, 50 years trying to forget about Vietnam. And this comes up and it just it brings it back but it brings it back in a different kind of way, kind of in a good way. A father and daughter finally getting to know one another at a reunion that was long overdue. The family has the rest of the week to spend together, as Brown said hell return back to California on Mon., May 7. ROCHESTER, Minn.- Governor Mark Dayton is asking lawmakers for $138 million in emergency funding for Minnesota Schools districts as many struggle with budgets. Dayton said Tuesday to increase the states per-pupil funding formula by 2 percent. Many schools across the state are considering staff and teacher layoffs to help manage the budget. We spoke to Rochester Public School Superintendent Michael Munoz. Were hoping that this pass, said Munoz But were preparing as if its not coming. Some Republican lawmakers said budget issues should be handled by each individual district that's encountering financial issues. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) Two Republican lawmakers from Minneapolis suburbs are proposing bills aimed at gun possession and ownership. One would give private sellers an incentive to verify a buyer has a legal right to own a gun before making a sale. The other involves several changes to the process by which guns can be taken from people after a court order, including requirements for sheriff's offices to follow up with the court. Rep. Sarah Anderson of Plymouth and Rep. Jenifer Loon of Eden Prairie are co-sponsoring the bills. Anderson says they aren't gun control measures. She says they aim to strengthen current laws. Supporters of stronger gun laws have demonstrated several times at the Capitol this session, but other measures have so far failed to get support in the Republican-controlled Legislature. ROCHESTER, Minn. -- St. Cloud resident Renae Wilkerson credits her children for helping her pull through her addiction. After a surgery leading to a variety of complications and additional surgeries, Wilkerson was prescribed powerful painkillers to deal with the pain. Not long after, she was also diagnosed with breast cancer. Wilkerson explains she soon realized her body was addicted to the opioids, but she terrified of withdrawal. With the support of her family, Wilkerson went through treatment for her addiction, but it wasn't easy. Her withdrawal symptoms were so bad, she suffered a stroke and a seizure. Governor Dayton released a plan to combat opioid abuse and addiction. Wilkerson says the plan is a step in the right direction, but there is still work to be done to address the opioid epidemic in Minnesota. "I wish they would just stop making them, but that's not going to happen," she says. Wilkerson now gives back by working with adults and adolescents fighting addiction and dealing with psychiatric issues. ROCHESTER, Minn. State Senator Carla Nelson is calling for major changes to the states Corridors of Commerce program. The Rochester Republican says there needs to be more geographic balance after it was announced Tuesday that $417 million would be going to four projects all located within 40 miles of downtown Minneapolis. No money was given to proposed expansion work on Highway 14 between Owatonna and Rochester. Carla Nelson (R-Rochester). Carla Nelson (R-Rochester). A picture is worth a thousand words, and this is clearly not balanced, said Senator Nelson, referencing the geographic map of projects selected. Obviously, we need to overhaul the selection process to make it more equitable across all of Minnesota, not just the metro. Nelson is proposing several changes to address the issue. One would require equitable funding for all eight transportation districts throughout the state. Another would have the Minnesota Legislature designate each project that should receive Corridors of Commerce funding. A third idea would use legislative support as a criteria in the selection process. In the meantime, I am advocating for trunk highway bonds to fund Highway 14 in our 2018 bonding bill, says Senator Nelson. This is a project that is essential for the safety, commerce, and transportation of our entire state, not just Greater Minnesota. We cannot wait for the Corridors of Commerce selection process to be overhauled. The time to fund Highway 14 is now. The Corridors of Commerce program was created in 2013 and the Minnesota Department of Transportation says it has handed out hundreds of millions of dollars to dozens of projects around the state. It is important to note that we followed direction set by the Minnesota Legislature regarding the solicitation, scoring criteria and geographic distribution of funding, saysMnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. We brought the scoring criteria to the public to get input prior to the solicitation. And, MnDOT did not put any projects in that solicitation. Rochester Area Chamber of Commerce interim president Kathleen Harrigon also issued the following statement: "MnDOT's decision to exclude Highway 14 from its latest round of project funding is deeply disappointing. The affected communities and all its partners have played by the rules - organizing significant support for this critical project only to once again witness Greater Minnesota lose out to metro area projects. "We need a system that is both fair on paper and fair in reality. The Chamber urges the legislature to review the Corridors of Commerce program carefully before more funds are dedicated to this program. "In addition, the Chamber will work with our legislative delegation to support funding for Highway 14 in the bonding bill or other means to fund this important project." CLEAR LAKE, Iowa - When it comes to learning how smooth a school is running the Iowa Department of Education is looking to ask students for the first time. Students at Clear Lake Schools are about to be asked if they like the rules their school has in place, if they feel its easy to build relationships with teachers and fellow classmates. It's all part of the conditions for learning survey. Another question they'll be asked if they feel their school is safe. At school, I feel like Im safe, I feel like there is a lot of teachers know if anything did happen they know exactly what to do, in any situation they know how to get out of it, Anthony Aragon, a sophomore at the school, said. All public schools will be asked to take the survey. The overall goal is to find out what needs to be improved on in hopes that could bring up test scores and classroom behavior. ROCHESTER, Minn. - Narcan is a life-saving measure that law enforcement gives to those who have overdosed on opioids. Jason Bothun, who Olmsted County Deputies tell KIMT ran from them in Eyota Tuesday, needed two rounds of the life-saving treatment after he was found unresponsive. Authorities said he was given a third dose when he arrived at St. Mary's Hospital. Due to the increased number of overdose calls Captain Brian Petersen, with Rochester Fire, told KIMT they now carry two doses of Narcan on all their trucks, engines and rescue squads. They gave out 18 doses in 2017 to those in need and 9 to date in 2018. The cost of each dose is $45. "The way we do it when we administer these it is kind of like giving them a heavy dose right up front. A lot of times it brings them right out and they are angry because we've ruined their high and they want us to pay for it," said Captain Petersen. Rochester Police and Gold Cross also carry Narcan. Priority Ambulance announced on Wednesday that Angel EMS is joining the companys national family of companies. Angel EMS based in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., is the 911 ambulance provider in Catoosa County, and provides non-emergency service to Walker, Dade and Whitfield counties. I am proud of the excellent ambulance service that our exceptional employees have helped us build, said W. DeWayne Wilson, president and CEO of Angel EMS. We are excited and humbled for the opportunity to join a national family of companies with a hometown focus on the families, citizens, visitors and facilities we serve locally in our community. Priority Ambulance will provide financial backing, operational support and expertise to ensure we continue to serve our patients and customers with excellence and will offer our employees new opportunities as part of a national family. Angel EMS provides emergency and nonemergency medical service to four counties in Northwest Georgia and Southeast Tennessee with 14 ambulances and more than 60 full- and part-time employees. Angel EMS is a great fit for the Priority Ambulance family of companies because they share a commitment to patients and employees, said Priority Ambulance CEO Bryan Gibson. With the addition of Angel EMS, Priority Ambulance further shores up its significant presence in Southeast Tennessee and throughout the region. We appreciate DeWayne and his team for their investment in this community, and we look forward to welcoming them to our family. Angel EMS will continue to operate under the same name, and President and CEO DeWayne Wilson will continue to lead the ambulance services operations. Priority Ambulance operates under six brands in the Southeast, including Puckett EMS and Central EMS in Georgia. Angel EMS joins the Priority Ambulances Southeast family of companies, which serves 265,000 patients annually and 20 communities with 9-1-1 service in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and South Carolina. A Northwest Georgia native, DeWayne Wilson began working on an ambulance when he was 15 years old as a driver at his parents business, Wilson Funeral Home in Lafayette, which they have owned since 1976. Wilson has been a licensed paramedic since 1989. In 1994, Wilson was ambulance service director at that company while also working for Metro Ambulance Service in Atlanta. He transferred to Catoosa County where he purchased the ambulance operation named Gold Cross EMS in 1997. A year later, he changed the name to Angel EMS. Angel EMS has provided 911 response to the city of Fort Oglethorpe since 2000 and received the contract to provide 911 response to Catoosa County in 2009. Angel EMS also provides backup 911 service to Walker and Whitfield counties. Mr. Wilson has been the Walker County coroner since 2000 and was previously the deputy coroner for Catoosa County from 1988 to 1990. Angel EMS has been deeply involved in the community for 20 years, said Mr. Wilson. Priority Ambulance believes in decisions being made at a local level and investing in local talent and relationships. The people of Catoosa County have trusted us to protect their health and safety for many years. I am proud to personally be able to continue to provide that personal service with the added support of the Priority family of companies. Angel EMS is an active member of the Catoosa County and Walker County Chambers of Commerce and the Catoosa County 911 Board. Angel EMS is active in the Southeast EMS Directors Association (SEEMSDA) and in the Region One EMS Council being named EMS Service of the Year in 2012 after excellent management of the response to provide relief after the tornado in Ringgold, Georgia, in 2011. Angel EMS has emerged as a regional leader in disaster response. Angel EMS has three disaster response buses with capabilities to transport up to 10 patients, as well as a 40-foot mobile command center bus equipped with radios, televisions and satellites. The Angel EMS team has also taken a leadership role in emergency preparedness, including serving on the Catoosa County Local Emergency Planning Committee and the Region One Disaster Assistance Regional Response Team (DART). Additionally, Angel EMS has provided support through the Georgia Emergency Medical Management Agency (GEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to hurricanes every national hurricane response since Hurricane Katrina and have provided response to four tornados in Georgia. Using its RV response units and ambulances for special event standbys, Angel EMS has served numerous movie sets in Georgia. Movies supported include the Marvel movie franchise, The Walking Dead and several Tyler Perry films. Angel EMS has signed a letter of intent with Priority Ambulance. The transaction is expected to be completed in the next 60 days. SHEFFIELD, Iowa - The West Fork school district's 'STEAM' program is getting some assistance thanks to three grants from the state of Iowa. Curriculum coordinator Wendy Fullerton applied for three grants and was awarded two of them. The 'STEM' program, or 'STEAM' in West Fork, stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics, and has students solve problems with hands-on learning. When Fullerton and her assistant started the program this school year, they didn't anticipate how many students would join it. "When we started this, we said we were only going to keep it to 20 kids, and this was just K-1, so we'll keep it to 20 kids and keep it manageable and see where it goes from there, and then we'll build on it and reflect and all that. So we did, but it just kept growing and growing, and we couldn't turn kids down. So we're up to 46 students," Fullerton says. Fullerton adds that the students who participate in STEAM are excited to come to the class that's held once a month. "They come, they get to explore. We try to keep it more student focused, so they kind of direct their own learning. We give them a problem to solve, and then let them go and solving it," Fullerton says. Fullerton notes that the program is focused on student collaboration in groups rather than individuals. Nationally, the STEM program has been around for over 100 years, but has gained more attention in recent years due to in-demand jobs in STEM-related fields. (Kitco News) -This year's gold price action has been a two-steps-forward, one-step-back kind of scene, according to one commodity strategist, who sees the $1,300 level holding firm following the Federal Reserves dovish rate announcement on Wednesday. [The yellow metal] saw a knee-jerk reaction to the Fed announcement on what appeared to be a more dovish stance. But, it quickly subsided when investors realized that it is pretty much the status quo, ANZs senior commodity strategist Daniel Hynes told Kitco News in a telephone interview on Thursday. June Comex gold futures jumped from $1,305 to $1,314 immediately after the Feds decision to keep its benchmark overnight lending rate in a target range of between 1.50%-1.75%. But, those gains were quickly erased, with gold back to trading flat on the day. June futures were last seen at $1,309.30, up 0.28% on the day. The announcement did not change anything on the fundamental level, Hynes said, which could encourage investors to turn their attention back to the direction of the U.S. dollar and geopolitical risks. ANZ does not see gold falling below the key $1,300 support level, especially if the yellow metal didnt do so immediately after the Fed announcement. The $1,300 level is pretty strong and will likely hold. Something will need to fundamentally change to really push it through that level. And certainly, if the FOMC meeting didnt present that, the likelihood of a breakthrough there is pretty low, Hynes noted. Any weakness around $1,300 will be bought into, the strategist added, pointing towards an increase in investor demand. ANZs three-month price target for gold is $1,345 an ounce. And even though 2018 has been somewhat disappointing for Hynes in terms of golds movement, the short-term outlook is more positive. Gold has probably underperformed against my expectations. Certainly, in the early part of the year we didnt see any sustained reaction to global events, Hynes said. But, there is a spectrum of high volatility and well certainly see that linger a little bit longer. Geopolitical risks Hynes is watching are the Iran nuclear deal and U.S.-China trade spat. Volatility is starting to pick up. These issues will become a much more important driver of gold price, which is what well be focusing on in the short term, Hynes explained. Rising global tensions would be quite supportive for safe-haven buying." For example, if the U.S. chooses to pull out the Iran deal, the pressure of additional sanctions could lead Iran towards building or reinvigorating its nuclear weapons program, Hynes said. Steve Holland, Arshad Mohammed WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump has all but decided to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord by May 12 but exactly how he will do so remains unclear, two White House officials and a source familiar with the administrations internal debate said on Wednesday. There is a chance Trump might choose to keep the United States in the international pact under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief, in part because of alliance maintenance with France and to save face for French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trump last week and urged him to stay in, the source said. A decision by Trump to end U.S. sanctions relief would all but sink the agreement and could trigger a backlash by Iran, which could resume its nuclear arms program or punish U.S. allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, diplomats said. Technically, Trump must decide by May 12 whether to renew waivers suspending some of the U.S. sanctions on Iran. One of the White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was possible Trump will end up with a decision that is not a full pullout but was unable to describe what that might look like. A presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday about what he said was documentary evidence of Tehrans past nuclear arms program could give Trump a fresh argument to withdraw, even though U.N. inspectors say Iran has complied with the terms of the deal. Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and accuses its arch-foe Israel of stirring up world suspicions against it. The pact between Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - was among former U.S. President Barack Obamas signature foreign policies but has been described by Trump as one of the worst deals I have ever witnessed. The White House official said Trump was most of the way there toward pulling out of the deal but he hasnt made the decision and that he seems poised to do it but until a decision is made by this president it is not final. Top aides are not seeking aggressively to talk Trump out of withdrawal because he seems intent on it, a second White House official said. EUROPEANS LOSING HOPE Trump gave Britain, France and Germany a May 12 deadline to fix what he views as the deals flaws - its failure to address Irans ballistic missile program, the terms by which inspectors visit suspect Iranian sites, and sunset clauses under which some of its terms expire - or he will reimpose U.S. sanctions. While European officials continue to work toward such a fix, they believe the odds are against reaching one. One of the main sticking points has to do with the sunsets, where the United States in effect wishes to find a way to extend some of the limits on Irans nuclear program beyond their expiration dates under the agreement. The source familiar with the debate said U.S. negotiators are hamstrung by the fact that they do not really know where Trumps red line is and so they cannot tell the Europeans what would secure Trumps blessing. Trump could refuse to renew the waivers but give new U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo time to negotiate more with the Europeans, exploiting the deals dispute resolution mechanism or the time before the most draconian sanctions take effect. Several sources familiar with the negotiations said that if Trump pulls out, a question for the Europeans will be whether this would be the start of a much harder U.S. line toward Iran, including military confrontation. The Europeans are not keen to be dragged into a regional conflict by the U.S., said one source familiar with the talks. Two U.S. intelligence officials said they were particularly concerned about Iranian retaliation in harder-to-trace actions such as cyber attacks on the United States or its allies and attacks on soft targets by people without obvious ties to Tehran. Such attacks are considered more likely than actions that might trigger a U.S. military response against Iranian nuclear and military targets. Reporting by Steve Holland and Arshad Mohammed; additional reporting by John Walcott, Jonathan Landay and Lesley Wroughton; editing by Yara Bayoumy and Grant McCool RIYADH (Reuters) - The Saudi government has finalized terms to transfer ownership of the kingdoms glitzy $10 billion financial district in Riyadh to the finance ministry and Public Investment Fund (PIF), five sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The move paves the way for reviving work on King Abdullah Financial District (KAFD), which has been planned since 2006 to house banks and the financial regulators headquarters across an area roughly four times the size of Londons Canary Wharf. The project, owned by the kingdoms Public Pension Agency, has been plagued by construction delays, cost overruns and uncertainty about the future of its ownership. Cranes at the site have been still for three years. It is a transfer (of ownership), not a transaction. The Ministry of Finance will take the legal ownership and PIF will have the operating rights, said one of the sources, who like others asked not to be identified. Another source said the government was planning to commit 2.3 billion Saudi riyals ($613.3 million) to fund the completion of the project, including payment of existing claims. Officials at the Ministry of Finance and PIF were not immediately available for comment. The completion of KAFD would be a milestone for the kingdoms economic and social reform drive, launched in 2016 by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Talks to transfer the project to PIF began in 2016, around the same time the government said it would rescue the district as part of its Vision 2030 efforts to diversify its oil-reliant economy. The plan envisages transforming KAFD into a special business zone with distinct regulations and visa exemptions. However, the PIF talks fell apart the following year and details for the special regulations were never clarified. Two of the sources said the projects main contractor, the Saudi Binladin Group, on Wednesday contacted hundreds of workers who have been on leave since the project stalled, and told them to return to work within 10 days. The government wants the district, whose glassy skyscrapers and Zaha Hadid-designed metro station contrast with drab architecture in much of Riyadh, to be ready in time for Saudi Arabia to host the G20 Summit in 2020. KAFD will also host a revived film industry in Saudi Arabia, another pillar of the reform program. After almost a 40-year ban, an AMC movie theater opened its doors in late April at a converted part of the districts conference center. BEIJING (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told a visiting Chinese diplomat on Thursday that he is committed to denuclearisation, Chinas foreign ministry said, as diplomatic efforts to bring lasting peace to the Korean peninsula gather pace. China is North Koreas most important economic and diplomatic backer, despite its anger at North Korea repeated nuclear and missile tests, and its support for strong U.N. sanctions against the North. However, China has also welcomed moves by North Korea to improve ties with South Korea and the United States. The Chinese governments top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, is visiting North Korea following last weeks historic meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the Norths Kim Jong Un, when both pledged to improve ties. The North surprised the world several days before the summit by declaring it would dismantle its nuclear test site to transparently guarantee its dramatic commitment to stop all nuclear and missile tests. Meeting in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, Kim told Wang that recent positive changes on the peninsula were beneficial to a peaceful resolution, Chinas foreign ministry said in a statement. Kim Jong Un said achieving the denuclearisation of the peninsula is the firm position of the North Korean side, the ministry said. Wang told Kim that North Korea had seized the day and made a decisive decision, bringing positive changes. Last weeks summit talks between the leaders of the two Koreans had brought about an opportunity for a political resolution, Wang added. China supported an end to the state of war on the peninsula, North Koreas shift to economic development and the resolution of North Koreas legitimate security concerns during the denuclearisation process, he said. China is willing to maintain communication with North Korea on this and increase coordination. The 1950-53 Korean War, which technically is still going on because a peace treaty has yet to be signed. Wang also met North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. POSITIVE ROLE In an earlier statement, he said China hoped dialogue between North Korea and the United States would be successful and that substantial progress would be made, referring to an upcoming meeting between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump. China is willing to strengthen communication with North Korea and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean peninsula issue, Wang said. South Koreas presidential official said high-level inter-Korean talks would be held in mid-May to work on implementing the agreement reached by Kim and Moon. North Koreas Kim said at last weeks summit that he would discuss details of denuclearisation at the North Korea-U.S. summit, South Koreas Yonhap news agency said, citing South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon. China had largely sat on the sidelines while the two Koreas improved ties, until Kim made a secretive trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in late March. Beijing has been keen to show that it has an indispensable role to play in seeking a lasting solution, concerned that its interests may be ignored, especially as Pyongyang and Washington edge closer together. The widely read Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times said in an editorial any suggestion China was being marginalized is a shallow attempt to manipulate public opinion. China preferred quieter diplomacy, it said, pointing to the secrecy surrounding Kims meeting with Xi. But Seoul, for its own political purposes, created much hype about the inter-Korean summit. U.S. President Donald Trump has started claiming credit for the Kim-Trump summit before it even starts, it said. (This story corrects title of Chinese diplomat in paragraph 4 to Chinese governments, not Chinas.) DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said on Thursday it is building a closed-course test facility in Michigan for its self-driving vehicle technology that will replicate edge case driving scenarios that are too dangerous to conduct on public roads. The facility at Ottawa Lake, which is being built by the Toyota Research Institute, will go into operation in October. This new site will give us the flexibility to customize driving scenarios that will push the limits of our technology and move us closer to conceiving a human-driven vehicle that is incapable of causing a crash, Ryan Eustice, the Toyota Research Institutes senior vice president of automated driving, said in a statement. Automakers such as General Motors Co and companies such as Alphabet Inc unit Waymo have been racing to develop self-driving cars and be the first to market with a viable product. But questions about the safety of self-driving technology and oversight of developers were raised after a fatal collision between an Uber Technologies Inc self-driving vehicle and a pedestrian in Arizona in March. Following that accident, Toyota suspended all its self-driving tests on U.S. public roads in California and Michigan. Toyota has continued tests on closed courses. A Toyota Research Institute spokesman said halting tests on public roads has allowed the automaker to refine and upgrade its fleet of test vehicles. We will resume testing on public roads in a few weeks, once these three systems have been more closely aligned, the spokesman said. "All I want is some peace and quiet!" Have you ever said that? In turbulent times, peace seems as rare as hope, about which I wrote recently. Ironically, these days even peace officers are hard-pressed to find peace. And quiet? What's that? The barrage of noise surrounding us is relentless, powered by technology at every turn. We can't escape noise. As if we're afraid to be without it, we take it with us everywhere - on our smartphones, tablets and headphones.Even if we succeed in finding quiet, maybe by leaving high-tech gadgets behind and fleeing to a remote setting civilization has barely penetrated, peace eludes our grasp. In this world, conflict and strife reign, not peace.Troubled thoughts, financial pressures, persistent aches and pains, relationship conflicts, even random worries, turn our minds into churning seas.And yet, as He prepared to endure the most horrendous moments anyone in the flesh could experience, Jesus Christ promised, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (John 14:27).That sounds great, but how can we find peace, much less sustain it, when circumstances conspire to keep us from it?It helps to understand that when Jesus spoke about peace, He wasn't referring to momentary, idyllic states of mind. He used the Hebrew word, shalom, which captures much more than just calmness or tranquility. The "Prince of Peace," as Isaiah 9:6 describes Him, was offering something of much greater breadth and depth - well-being, wholeness, prosperity - that's available to an individual, a group of people, or even a place.Recently I was visiting with a friend dealing with stage 4 lung cancer along with the aftermath of another chemotherapy treatment. He talked about "the peace that passes all understanding," as it's expressed in Philippians 4:6. Even though he couldn't explain why, my friend stated he truly felt peace in the midst of pain, fatigue, and his uncertain future on this side of eternity.It occurs to me that this peace is the missing piece, the prescription for many people barely managing to survive, but unable to thrive. They're angry, frustrated, mentally and emotionally exhausted, fearing the next straw that might be laid across the proverbial camel's back.Contrast such a mindset with the assurance of Isaiah 26:3, "[God] will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." Search as hard as we can, wherever we can, as long as we want, but nowhere else can we find this "perfect peace" that's offered through the transforming, never-ending relationship with the God of all creation.Even when we're enjoying a moment of calm, it's like a ship taking refuge in a safe harbor as a major storm approaches. Sooner or later, we have to venture back into the unpredictable seas, never knowing what lies ahead of us - but certain there will be more storms, perhaps even more intense than before.That's the bad news. But the good news is in the midst of the storm, the Lord hasn't forgotten how to walk on the water.In 1873, attorney Horatio Spafford must have felt a kinship with Job. Two years earlier he had suffered major real estate losses in the great Chicago fire, and his four-year-old son had succumbed to scarlet fever. Hoping to enjoy a much-needed respite from his travails, Spafford planned to take his wife and four daughters to Europe. When an urgent business matter detained him, he ushered his wife, Anna, and daughters to their ship, the Ville du Havre, got them settled in a cabin, then sent them on ahead.During the early morning hours of Nov. 23, 1873, the Ville du Havre collided with an iron sailing vessel. Within two hours, the ship had sunk. His four daughters were among the 226 fatalities, with only Anna among the 47 people rescued as she clung unconscious to a piece of wreckage. A cable sent to her husband read, "Saved Alone."Spafford immediately booked passage to join his wife. One evening during the voyage the ship's captain informed him they were passing over the area where the ship had gone down. Returning to his cabin, Horatio scribbled down the thought that filled his heart: "It is well; the will of God be done." Later he wrote a hymn, "It Is Well with My Soul," based on those words.Only with "the peace of God that passes all understanding" could Horatio Spafford find comfort and write that "peace like a river attendeth my way" while standing on a ship sailing over the spot where his children had perished. Truly, as Jesus said, it's peace "not as the world gives."This reality prompted the apostle Paul, no stranger to turmoil and suffering himself, to encourage his brothers and sisters in Christ, "Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way" (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Whatever each of us might face today or in the future, may this be true for us as well.- - - - Recently, the Relief Society presidency of the Hidden Lakes branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was reorganized. The Hidden Lakes branch is a congregation of young single adults, and Relief Society is one of the largest womens organizations in the world.Relief Society is part of all congregations of The Church throughout the world and is for women ages 18 and over. It is an official organization of The Church the Lords organization for women. The purpose of Relief Society, according to mormonnewsroom.org, is to provide support for the temporal and spiritual needs of all women in the Church, as well as others who are in need. Relief Society also helps to strengthen individuals, families, and homes and increase personal faith in Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.Terra Mitchell serves as the Relief Society president for the Hidden Lakes branch, with Zuggeyly Mendoza as the first counselor and Adrianna Plemons as the second counselor.As for serving in the Relief Society in this area, Ms. Mitchell said, "Its a treat! Our meetings are real and meaningful. I enjoy the sisterhood that we have and how diverse we are. We are in different phases of life, from different cultures with different experiences, but Relief Society brings us together, united in the cause of Christ. I'm grateful to be associated with these women. And, Im especially grateful for their desire to do good and follow the Savior.With so much that goes on in our busy lives, Ms. Mendoza said, What comfort it is to know that we have each other, and that we are committed to strengthen each other and those around us in the Saviors way.Ms. Plemons said, There is so much to love about Relief Society. I think it is wonderful that The Lord is so aware of us that He would establish an organization for women so that we could talk about, teach about, and share our thoughts about Jesus Christ. Relief Society is about doing as Jesus would do, serving as He would have us serve. To me, Relief Society is so much more than just a Sunday thing its a forever thing.The Young Single Adults Hidden Lakes Branch ward (congregation) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints meets every Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the LDS chapel located at 3069 Ooltewah Road in Ooltewah, TN. Over 100 single adults attend, and visitors are welcome. Retaliatory tariffs could cost billions in reduced U.S. soybean exports By Tina M. Johnson, tjohnson@utk.edu Researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture estimate billions would be lost in export dollars should China impose a tariff on U.S. soybeans. Photo by T. Johnson, courtesy UTIA. KNOXVILLE In an ongoing tug-of-war over threatened tariffs between the United States and the Chinese government, researchers at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture have examined potential impacts to U.S. soybean exports at three hypothetical tariff rates. The research indicates that exports are projected to drop by $4.5 billion to $7.7 billion if a 25 percent tariff is imposed, with even greater losses should a higher tariff be levied. China plays a vital role in U.S. agricultural exports. In 2017, China accounted for 57.3 percent of U.S. exports including nearly $22 billion in U.S. soybeans. From 2000-2016, Chinese soybean imports increased from $2.3 billion to a high of $40 billionan increase of more than 1,600 percent. This marked growth is largely attributed to Chinas growing demand for livestock and feed products, as soybean imports are primarily used to produce soybean meal, a high-protein ingredient in animal feed. However, U.S. soybeans face significant competition, particularly from Brazil. The U.S. was the leading supplier of soybeans to China for many years until being surpassed by Brazil in 2013. Brazils increased production and long-term growth potential coupled with infrastructure investment in partnership with numerous Chinese companies have facilitated gradual transition from the U.S. to Brazil as the largest source of Chinas soybean imports. Tariff projections indicate that for every 1 percent increase in the price of U.S. soybeans, Chinese imports of U.S. soybeans decrease by 1.3 percent, while imports of Brazilian soybeans increase by 1 percent. Soybean acreage has increased in the U.S. from 76.8 million acres in 2013 to 90.1 million acres in 2017. Likewise, U.S. soybean exports have also increased, with the exception of the 2017/2018 marketing year, and consistently account for about half of total U.S. production. In the past five years, farm-level production has been estimated at $40 billion annually. The tariff situation is vastly important to Tennessee, which has 1.66 million planted soybean acres, making it the largest crop in the state. With a production value of $796 million, soybeans are also the states highest-valued agricultural commodity. Tennessee is ranked 16th in the nation for soybean production, and the crop accounted for an estimated 29.5 percent of all Tennessee agricultural exports in 2016. U.S. soybean producers are reliant on foreign markets as a source of demand for their production. China is responsible for nearly two-thirds of global soybean imports, says UTIA professor and Blasingame Chair of Excellence Andrew Muhammad. As such, if China places retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybeans, there could be profound implications for U.S. soybean exports and farm-level losses for U.S. soybean producers. The UTIA study, which was authored by Muhammad and his colleague Aaron Smith and available as UT Extension publication W 532, considered trade projections based on three hypothetical tariff rates on soybeans, as follows: a 10 percent tariff is projected to reduce U.S. exports by $1.8 billion but could fall as much as $3.1 billion; at 25 percent, projected reductions are $4.5 billion to $7.7 billion; and at 50 percent, projected reductions are $9 billion to $15.3 billion. If a 25 percent tariff is applied to U.S. soybean exports to China, UTIA researchers estimate potential farm-level losses could reach $0.33 to $1.76 per bushel. With higher tariffs, the losses would be even greater. Tennessee soybean producers already face tight margins, and a reduction in farm-gate prices would add to their current financial strain, says Muhammad. Overall, Chinese retaliatory tariffs on U.S. soybeans would have a considerable negative impact on U.S. and Tennessee soybean farmers. However, Muhammad added that projected losses for U.S. producers due to lower soybean exports to China could be partly offset by an increase in exports to other countries. The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture celebrates 50 years of excellence in providing Real. Life. Solutions. through teaching, discovery and service. ag.tennessee.edu. Published May 2, 2018 For those interested in working outside this summer, there are Conservation Trail Crew job opportunities currently open with a local Chattanooga-based non-profit. Members have the chance to work in the beautiful outdoor spaces of the city and surrounding mountains while also giving back to the community and natural landscape. The Southeast Conservation Corps (SECC), operates conservation service programs throughout the Southeast that focus on meeting the needs of the natural landscapes while empowering people to cultivate compassion, responsibility, and grit through community service, hard work, and environmental stewardship. Building upon the legacy of the Civilian Conservation Corps, SECC is an AmeriCorps affiliated program whose members complete terms of national service through conservation work. This summer, there are two Conservation Trail crew opportunities for those aged 18-26 to serve on with SECC. There will be a Chattanooga based crew that will complete conservation projects on Chickamauga & Chattanooga NMP lands. This crew will work on projects like hiking/mountain bike trail construction, bridge construction, habitat restoration, and much more. The other crew will operate out of the Chattanooga office but will be serving on the Benton MacKaye Trail Work on the Benton MacKaye Trail will include hiking and backpacking while clearing the trail of downed trees and repairing damaged sections of the trail. The backcountry crew will live, work, and camp for nine consecutive days on the trail at a time. Alumni of the Southeast Conservation Corps have used their experience to move into careers with the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, and many other land management agencies. A trail crew member from a camping crew last spring said, I'm excited for myself in terms of skills and future job opportunities. I'm excited to be working with inspiring folks and to make lifelong bonds with this new group of people. I'm excited to work harder than I have ever worked before, doing something bigger than me, serving others, and being out in nature! More information can be found by contacting Sarah at sarah@conservationlegacy.org or 423 322-4976. Those interested in applying can go to www.southeastconservationcorps .org/open-positions . South Korea's economy is expected to grow 2.8 percent this year, a private research institute said Thursday, as exports are likely to lose steam amid weaker private consumption. The forecast by LG Economic Research Institute (LGERI) is lower than the 3 percent projection set in January by the Bank of Korea. Helped by the government's stimulus spending, the nation's economy expanded 1.1 percent on a quarterly basis in the first quarter of this year. It marked a rebound from a 0.2 percent contraction a quarter earlier. LGERI said the economy is unlikely to grow more than 1 percent from the second quarter of this year, as the semiconductor boom, which has driven up South Korea's exports, is coming to an end. Also, the global demand for South Korean manufactured goods could decline in the face of escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, the research institute said. Data showed the nation's exports fell in April, marking the first decline in 18 months. Outbound shipments reached US$50.06 billion last month, down from $50.84 billion a year ago, according to the data compiled by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. Imports surged 14.5 percent on-year to $43.45 billion. LG expects the Korean currency to average 1,060 won against the U.S. dollar compared with last year's 1,131 won. A strong won will make locally made goods more expensive abroad, which can hurt overall outbound shipments. (Yonhap) By Kim Yoo-chul A senior Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) official said it was unlikely that Samsung BioLogics will be delisted from the KOSPI as it was debatable whether the Samsung affiliate violated regulatory practices when it went public in 2016. "Lots of factors and considerations should be reviewed, thoroughly, before taking any action on Samsung BioLogics. The Samsung affiliate has said an internal assessment concluded that it did not break accounting rules. But it's unlikely Samsung BioLogics will be delisted from the stock market," said the official asking not to be identified because he wasn't authorized to officially speak to the media. The response came a day after the drug manufacturing firm said it was planning to sue the FSS after it announced the Samsung affiliate had violated accounting rules to "deliberately inflate" its net profit before going public. Samsung BioLogics said its decision to categorize Samsung Bioepis as a unit of Samsung BioLogics before 2016, was a part of its intent to get managerial rights after partner Biogen announced it was planning to exercise a call option to increase its stake to 49 percent. Samsung BioLogics joined hands with Biogen of the United States to create Samsung Bioepis. Panmunjeom, in the Joint Security Area and Demilitarized Zone on the border between South and North Korea, was where the armistice agreement was signed to end the Korean War in 1953. / Yonhap By Kang Seung-woo Tour programs to the world's most dangerous border are once again drawing attention following last week's historic inter-Korean summit advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula. Over the past few years mainly due to a fiery war of words between North Korea and the United States, the Korean Peninsula seemed to be on the brink of a second Korean War, making people reluctant to travel to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and decreasing the number of visitors. However, the sudden peace momentum has seen a return of visitors to the heavily fortified border splitting the two Koreas -- the closest South Korean tourists can get to the North -- and local governments and tour agencies are wasting no time coming up with various DMZ tour programs. The DMZ, a 250-kilometer strip of rugged no-man's land stretching from coast to coast, is the best place for those who want to peek into the reality of the divided Korean Peninsula and view the pristine landscape. Here are a few options for a visit to the DMZ. Panmunjeom Panmunjeom, also known as the Joint Security Area (JSA), has regained global attention after serving as the venue for the April 27 meeting between President Moon Jae-in and his northern counterpart Kim Jong-un. The border truce village is the only place in the world where soldiers from the two countries stand face-to-face. In addition, it has a historical significance as the armistice agreement was signed here on July 27, 1953. Plus, U.S. President Donald Trump has hinted at holding a summit there with the North Korean leader, in which case the place may draw the greatest attention ever. When Trump paid a state visit to Korea last year, he attempted to make a "surprise" visit to the DMZ, which was scrapped due to bad weather. At the time, he was described as "pretty frustrated" that his visit did not go ahead. Visiting Panmunjeom is only available through tour groups comprised of 30 to 45 visitors. It is open to those aged 10 and above. For South Koreans, they are required to apply and register for the Panmunjeom tour program through the National Intelligence Service 60 days ahead of their tour dates. However, foreigners can reserve a minimum of three days in advance -- through United Nations Command-designated travel agencies -- in order to receive security clearance. Panmunjeom tours are available from Tuesday through Saturday with three sessions per day. They are also closed on national holidays or due to major events such as the summits. Visitors are prevented from wearing torn denim pants, uniforms, T-shirts, shorts, miniskirts and clothing exposing a lot of skin or similar clothes. They are not allowed to bring drinks or alcohol. Tourists have to keep their ID cards with them at all times. A derailed steam train from the Korean War is on display at the Imjingak Pavillion. / Yonhap Imjingak Resort Imjingak, located 7 kilometers from the Military Demarcation Line, is a leading place for Korean War-related tourism. The three-story pavilion was built in 1972 in a move to console families divided by the three-year war and has many statues and monuments regarding the war. The resort also features Mangbaedan Alter, where the separated families perform ancestral rites on traditional holidays, and the Bridge of Freedom, used by repatriated prisoners of war and soldiers returning from North Korea after the armistice agreement. Unlike Panmunjeom, visitors can enjoy the resort without passing any security checkpoints and it is open all year round. Plus, those who want to tour Dora Observatory and the Third Tunnel have to make a reservation in advance at the ticket box in the Imjingak parking lot. Dorasan Station, Dora Observatory, Third Tunnel Dorasan Station is the northernmost point of South Korea's rail network, located within the civilian-restricted area. It opened in April 2002 on the back of then-President Kim Dae-jung's "Sunshine Policy" of engagement with Pyongyang. Dorasan Station can be reached through the Gyeongui Line from Seoul Station and it is within the Civilian Control Line, so visitors have to go through security procedures at Imjingang Station to take the train there. A railway sign stands at Dorasan Station in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. / Korea Times file Near the station are the Dora Observatory and the Third Tunnel. Visitors without a valid identification card cannot enter the civilian-restricted area and foreign tourists must bring a passport. They can tour the attractions by shuttle bus, guided by soldiers. Individual tours are unavailable and private vehicles are not allowed. The observatory allows visitors to catch a glimpse of their northern neighbor and various locations including Gaeseong, a massive statue of Kim Il-sung and the North Korean village of Kijong-dong, the North's propaganda village. The observatory offers 500 seats, VIP rooms and abundant parking. Its operating hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the observatory is closed on Mondays and national holidays as well as the Lunar New Year and Chuseok. The tunnel, discovered in 1978, spans over 1.6 kilometers in length, 2 meters in width and 2 meters in height. It is estimated 30,000 soldiers per hour could move through the tunnel in the event of an invasion. Visitors can see inside the tunnel by either walking or riding a monorail. The first tour to the tunnel begins at 9:20 a.m. and the last shuttle departs at 3:30 p.m. A tram takes tourists underground on a tour of the Third Tunnel' infiltration route under the border between South and North Korea. / Courtesy of Paju City By Kang Aa-young, Jung Min-ho More people want to tour the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), the border area between the two Koreas, after the successful inter-Korean summit last week, a tour agency said. According to a survey by Cosmojin Tour, a local online travel agency, the number of inquiries about DMZ tours has more than doubled following the meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on April 27. "More Koreans and foreigners alike say they want to learn more about the relationship and history of the two Koreas, which has boosted the demand for touring areas such as the DMZ and the Joint Security Area," the agency said. As tensions between two Koreas subsided, the number of people who signed up for a DMZ tour has jumped. In comparison with the same period last year, it is about 10 percent higher. The agency said it expects more tourists in the coming months. People can only visit the DMZ through guided tours. They also can get a chance to look around Panmunjeom, the summit's location. China's state councillor Wang Yi attends a meeting with North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in Pyongyang in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang, Thursday. / Reuters Beijing hopes that talks between the United States and North Korea will be "smooth and achieve substantial progress", China's foreign minister said on Wednesday (May 2) during a rare visit to Pyongyang as the Asian superpower tries to mend ties with its nuclear-armed neighbour. The two-day visit by Wang Yi - the highest-ranking Chinese official to travel to North Korea in years follows a landmark inter-Korean summit and precedes a meeting between the North's leader Kim Jong-un and U.S. President Donald Trump in coming weeks. Beijing "fully backs ... (North Korea's) efforts to achieve the goal of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula," Wang said during talks with his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho, China's official Xinhua news agency reported. He also said that China was "willing to strengthen communication ... (with North Korea) and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean peninsula issue", Xinhua reported. The two top diplomats met in Beijing last month, days after Kim travelled to China for talks with President Xi Jinping. It was Kim's first overseas trip since he took power in 2011 and came amid signs of a diplomatic thaw. Ri said the talks between Xi and Kim had paved the way for the two countries to develop "friendly relations from a new starting point", Xinhua reported. He said the regime would "maintain close communications with China on how to realise denuclearisation and establish peace mechanisms on the Korean peninsula, while enhancing dialogue with all parties concerned", according to Xinhua. Pyongyang hosted a reception to welcome Wang on Wednesday evening, with Ri in attendance, the North's state-run KCNA news agency reported. Wang, who arrived in Pyongyang on Wednesday, is the first Chinese foreign minister to visit the North since 2007, a lapse that highlights the rough patch in relations between the allies in recent years. China North Korea's sole diplomatic ally and economic benefactor has supported a series of United Nations sanctions against the North over its nuclear and missile programmes. Last year the North staged its most powerful nuclear test to date and launched missiles capable of reaching the U.S. mainland as Kim and Trump traded threats of war and personal insults, sparking global security fears. Experts say China is now likely eager to avoid being marginalised in the wave of diplomacy that led to last Friday's historic summit between Kim and the South's President Moon Jae-in. Kim is expected to meet Trump in the coming weeks at a time and place yet to be announced. The North Korean leader has also invited Xi to visit Pyongyang but no date has been set. (AFP) Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon speaks during the Korea Forum 2018 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. / Korea Times photo by Hong In-ki By Jung Min-ho Unless North Korea completely abandons its nuclear weapons program, South Korea will not seek economic cooperation, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Thursday. "There are more than 30 economic projects the two Koreas can do, including the one that would connect and modernize the Donghae and Gyeongui train lines and roads. We can start some of them immediately," Cho said during Korea Forum 2018 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. "Some people say the government may be looking at the current situation too positively. But we aren't completely optimistic. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un also said there will be many challenges ahead. It's important to keep looking forward and overcome the challenges step by step." One of the biggest obstacles to bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula is that all the nations involved in the issue have different interests and agendas. Thus, he said, it is important for the two Koreas to work closely together to take the lead in resolving the pending issues and determining their own fate. "To do that, the two Koreas must trust each other, which has to be restored through interactions," Cho said. He noted the South Korean government will tread carefully and steadily and try not to repeat the mistakes of the past. He also urged the international community and people of Korea to support the effort for peace. "President Moon Jae-in said we won't go back to where we were. I will try my best to ensure that," Cho said. U.S. President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday that there would be imminent news about three Americans detained in North Korea, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of their possible release. The development comes as Trump is preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, following months of tense saber-rattling over the North's nuclear and missile programs. "The past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump wrote on Twitter. Two of the three hostages were detained in 2017, after Trump had assumed office. The United States has been demanding the North free Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul and reports have said the two sides were close to reaching a deal on their release. "They are staying in a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang," Choi Sung-ryong, a South Korean activist with contacts in the North told AFP earlier, adding the three were being kept separately but "going on tours, receiving medical treatment and eating good food." Diplomatic sources in Pyongyang have said there were rumors that the three had been relocated, but there had been no confirmation of their exact whereabouts. A State Department official could not confirm the reports, but added: "We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible." The matter was discussed when U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Pyongyang last month, according to The Wall Street Journal. The Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho delivers a welcome speech at 2018 Korea Forum at Shilla Hotel Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, May 3. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul By Ko Dong-hwan The Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho said at the Korea Forum 2018 on Thursday that the April 27 inter-Korean summit was "a precious opportunity that we must not miss" to secure a better future for the Korean Peninsula. Jointly held by The Korea Times and Hankook Ilbo at The Shilla Hotel Seoul in downtown Seoul, the forum introduced Seung as he delivered a welcome speech to the hundreds of audience members including lawmakers, diplomatic envoys in Seoul, press and others interested in the geopolitical hotbed. This year's forum took place under the title, "Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a New Order in Northeast Asia." Korea Forum 2018 [PHOTOS] Gallucci: 'Lots of questions' over North Korea's denuclearization 'Nuclear-free Korean Peninsula' is prerequisite for inter-Korean economic cooperation "We must not let this opportunity go by without a fruitful outcome," Seung said. "We must check various risk factors and prepare for dangers we may face." Seung referred to the inter-Korean summit held on the south side of the border village Panmunjeom in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, as a "truly dramatic turn of events amid the hostile atmosphere of war threats engulfing the Korean Peninsula earlier this year." "The U.S.-North Korea summit as well as other summits involving countries around the Korean Peninsula will unfold fast," Seung said. "The major change of history is happening right now, in that the Korean Peninsula, referred to as a 'time bomb' only until recently, has changed the region's high flammability to a sign of peace through leaders of the two countries' unprecedented meeting at Panmunjeom." Seung, however, warned the prospects for the Korean Peninsula are not all positive, as evidenced in its history. "If the two Koreas fail to reach a peaceful agreement, the consequence will be devastating not only for the two nations but also for nearby countries, with the level of seriousness beyond their control." Preparation for the forum had been topsy-turvy, as the co-hosts, who had selected sustainability of income-driven economic growth as a thematic topic, apparently could not ignore the summit's dramatic effects reverberating worldwide and decided to change course. By Park Si-soo Robert Gallucci, former chief U.S. negotiator on the North Korean nuclear crisis, on Thursday "welcomed" North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's commitment to denuclearization shown during his historic April 27 summit with President Moon Jae-in. But he remained cautious about Kim's definition of denuclearization, saying there are "still lots of questions" left unanswered. "I welcome North Korea's change ... right now we are in the right first step," said Gallucci, who is chairman of the U.S.-Korea Institute at John Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). "I don't want to downplay the deal struck between the two Koreas. But I'm not sure about denuclearization... what does denuclearization mean, what should we expect... still there are lots of questions." He made the remarks during a panel discussion at The Korea Forum 2018, co-hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo, at The Shilla Hotel Seoul in central Seoul. Other speakers in the session were Yonsei University political science and international studies professor Kim Ki-jung; Council of China Reform Forum (CRF) senior adviser Pan Zhen-qiang; former South Korean Foreign Minister Yoon Young-kwan; and Sejong Institute Chairman Baek Jong-chun. Gallucci called for a "clear and specified" approach to the North's denuclearization. "There are lots of explanations in the U.S. of what went wrong," he said when asked why past negotiations failed. "The task we face is very different (from the past). In the past there was no uranium enrichment technology in North Korea. But now it has it. There are a lot of factors putting negotiations in a very different situation (compared to the past). Lessons from the past are clarity, specificity and don't raise the flag until things are done." Regarding the North's radical switch to rapprochement, Gallucci said U.S. President Donald Trump's "threatening rhetoric" and "collusion between Beijing and Washington" over sanctions on Pyongyang might have played a role. But he did not rule out the possibility that North Korea found itself in the best position to negotiate with the U.S. after completing the development of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland. He noted it would not be easy work to achieve complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization (CVID), unless North Korea makes a candid declaration of its nuclear stockpile. Gallucci said the core of the nuclear bomb that devastated Japan's Nagasaki in 1945 was small enough to be hidden in a small "speaker box," explaining the difficulty of reaching complete denuclearization. He said if it was unrealistic for inspectors to find and check all the containers small and big, and declared and undeclared existing in North Korea, the pursuit of complete denuclearization would be also "nonsense." Kim Dong-chul is one of three U.S. citizens detained in North Korea. / AFP Despite years of hostility between Washington and Pyongyang, hundreds of Americans visited the reclusive nuclear-armed state every year until the U.S. State Department finally issued a travel ban on North Korea last September. The North has a history of detaining Americans and using them as bargaining chips, with many only released following a visit by senior U.S. officials. Americans made the high-risk journey to North Korea for a range of reasons, from holidays and business trips to humanitarian work and missionary purposes. Six South Koreans have also been detained three Christian missionaries and three defectors originally from North Korea since 2013, with Seoul also pushing for their release. President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday of imminent news about three Korean-Americans detained in the North, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of a possible release. The development comes with Trump preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in the coming weeks amid a dramatic diplomatic thaw on the flashpoint peninsula. These are the U.S. citizens now being held: Kim Hak-song Kim Hak-song had been working for the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) undertaking agricultural development work with the school's farm. He was arrested at Pyongyang railway station in May 2017 on suspicion of committing "hostile acts" against the government, as he was boarding a train headed for his home in Dandong, China. GraceWorks Church is celebrating its 12th Anniversary this Sunday. To honor the occasion, on April 25 they began a 12 Days of Celebration, with each day having special activities to "honor the Lord and highlight different aspects of the Churchs ministry." The Celebration culminates on Sunday with an expanded church service starting at 10:30 a.m.The 12 Days started with a prayer meeting at the 110 cross on the church landscape. Other activities that have taken place include: widowers breakfast; family picnic at Heritage Park; trustees dinner; Sunday installation of new Family & Youth Pastor Tony Leonard; community service day; and days honoring heritage & ministry to seniors.The celebration continues Thursday with a night of worship and evening concert featuring Michael Prettyman, special guest pianist, Chuck Newman, George Byrd, Liz Griffith and Curtis Ottinger. The outdoor concert starts at 6 p.m.at the foot of the cross. On Friday, the church is sponsoring a ladies luncheon, plus a youth activity with Family Pastor Tony Leonard.On Saturday there will be a dedication of the new childrens playground and a play time as the churchs children join in the celebration.The Church was founded in 2006 by Dr. Dennis Newman and three benefactors, Dr. Don Brock, Gregg Underwood and Bill Worley. Dr. Newman accepted the call of pastor to the inter-denominational church. At the first worship service, Dr. Newman emphasized that he wanted the new church to be Christ-centered. He then requested that the church be called GraceWorks."Early in the life of the church it was decided that a cross was a powerful Christian symbol and could be effective in reaching the 'unchurched.' A 110 cross now stands on the hill at the end of Grace Way Road and serves as a prominent landmark in Chattanooga," officials said.Dr. Bill Owens is the current pastor of GraceWorks Church. I love mountain hiking. When I hike, I usually have to take an access trail to get to the main trail. Then, the journey begins. That image comes to mind when I think of GraceWorks. At only 12 years old, we have just begun. Now, we're in it for the long haul. The excitement, friendliness and fellowship are so inviting that most people who visit return and eventually join. We are truly blessed and anticipate great things.The public is invited to attend all the remaining scheduled celebration events. GraceWorks Church, 6445 Lee Hwy., is an interdenominational church with 12 years of ministry to the Chattanooga area. A succinct statement of the Churchs beliefs and ministry is, Love God, Love People and Make Disciples. Participants celebrate the opening of the Korea Forum 2018 at The Shilla Hotel Seoul, Thursday. From left at the head table are Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon; Bareunmirae Party co-leader Yoo Seung-min; Democratic Party of Korea Chairwoman Rep. Choo Mi-ae; The Korea Times Chairman Seung Myung-ho; National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun; Hankook Ilbo President-Publisher Lee Jun-hee; Liberty Korea Party Chairman Hong Joon-pyo; and the Party for Democracy and Peace Chairwoman Cho Bae-sook. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul 'Denuclearization may take long time' By Lee Min-hyung The leaders of the two Koreas need to meet regularly so rapprochement can lead to complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon said Thursday. "I would say the most noteworthy outcome from last week's inter-Korean summit was the agreement to hold regular meetings between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un," Cho said in a keynote speech at The Korea Forum 2018 co-hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo in Seoul. "This is essential for the stable and sustainable development of inter-Korean relations as well as for nuclear disarmament on the peninsula." The forum, held under the theme, "From Crisis to Peace: Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and a New Order in Northeast Asia," featured in-depth discussions on the new order prevailing on the peninsula following last Friday's historical summit. Renowned overseas panelists invited to the forum include Robert Gallucci, the former U.S. nuclear negotiator with North Korea, and Evans Revere, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies. Former Unification Minister Chung Dong-young also participated in the forum, sharing his views on ways to achieve denuclearization and peace on the peninsula. In particular, Cho elaborated on the outcome of the summit and future steps Seoul and Pyongyang should take to enhance the inter-Korean agreement. The Philippines Ambassador Raul Hernandez, left, with The Korea Times President and Publisher Lee Byeong-eon at The Korea Forum 2018 at Shilla Hotel Seoul in downtown, Seoul, May 3. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk By Ko Dong-hwan Foreign envoys based in Seoul said they were moved by the inter-Korean summit at the border village Panmunjeom on April 27. But most were uncertain whether Pyongyang would dismantle its nuclear program and declined to make definite predictions. For South African Ambassador Nozuko Gloria Bam, one of the 20 national envoys invited to The Korea Forum 2018 at Shilla Hotel Seoul in downtown Seoul on May 3, the inter-Korean summit was reminiscent of the glee from a historical event in her home country. The date of the summit, April 27, was the same as South Africa's Freedom Day, which marked the first post-apartheid elections held in 1994. "So you can imagine what it is like for me as I look at the history of Nelson Mandela," Bam said. "It was for me very important to watch. Everyone at the embassy was watching. They were almost in tears to see the meeting of the two Koreas." As to North Korea's possible denuclearization, she remained upbeat, binding Pyongyang's hopeful future course to that of her own country that abandoned its nuclear weapons program in the 1990s. "It is not going to be easy," Bam said. "With the fact that they committed themselves to doing it, they need to be encouraged to carry on. We have done it voluntarily. I think everyone can learn from that experience. Denuclearization helps a country prosper so it can look at other ways for stabilization." Philippines Ambassador Raul Hernandez said he was "excited that something positive and lasting happened between North and South Korea." "We hope for a peaceful, stable Korean Peninsula that will benefit the people of the Koreas and the world," Hernandez said. Canadian Ambassador Eric Walsh was another who had "so many feelings" from the inter-Korean summit. He said the meeting had "encouraging signs" for the North's denuclearization and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, but said the world would have to see concrete steps follow. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson welcomed the summit, saying he believes the two Koreas "will work towards the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea, improve bilateral ties and reduce border tensions." "Kim Jong-un's commitment to halt all nuclear, intercontinental and intermediate range ballistic missiles tests is a positive step," Johnson said. "We hope this indicates an intention to negotiate in good faith and that Kim has heeded the clear message to North Korea that only a change of course can bring the security and prosperity it claims to seek." (From left) Ambassador Eero Suominen from the Embassy of Finland and Ambassador Milton Magana from the Embassy of El Salvador during a presentation from The Korea Forum 2018 at Shilla Hotel Seoul in downtown, Seoul, May 3. / Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk South Korea said Thursday it will send a government delegation to the inauguration of Carlos Alvarado as Costa Rica's president next week. Rep. Cho Jung-sik of the ruling Democratic Party will lead the delegation to the ceremony to be held in San Jose on Tuesday, the foreign ministry announced. Cho is the chairman of the National Assembly's land, infrastructure and transport committee. The other envoy is Rep. Kim Sung-soo of the same party. They plan to hold a separate meeting with the new leader of Costa Rica and deliver President Moon Jae-in's congratulatory message and Seoul's hope for complementary cooperation between the two nations, according to the ministry. Alvarado, a center-left presidential candidate, won the nation's presidential elections last month. "Costa Rica is a core friendly country of South Korea in the Central American region, sharing such universal values as democracy, human rights and peace," the ministry said. "Since forging diplomatic relations in 1962, (the two sides) have maintained close friendly ties in various sectors." Especially, it added, they are expected to strengthen substantive partnerships in the government procurement, ICT, biodiversity and clean energy fields. (Yonhap) By Kim Rahn China seems uncomfortable and dissatisfied with the agreements reached at last week's inter-Korean summit about establishing peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, because they may sideline China or at least reduce the country's role in North Korea's denuclearization. Such discomfort is shown by the fact that Chinese President Xi Jinping is the only one among leaders of countries involved in the Korean Peninsula issue who has not had a phone conversation with President Moon Jae-in since the summit. After Friday's summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Moon discussed the outcome over the phone with U.S. President Donald Trump Saturday night, with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Sunday morning and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday evening. But Moon and Xi have not had a phone conversation yet. Cheong Wa Dae officials said it was because of Xi's domestic events, saying the two leaders would talk soon. An official said National Security Office head Chung Eui-yong already briefed Chinese Ambassador to Seoul Qiu Guhong on the summit results Sunday. Students will be allowed to vote for Seoul National University president for the first time Thursday. Courtesy of SNU By Kim Hyun-bin The presidential candidates for Seoul National University (SNU) have been focusing on gaining student approval. This comes as the institution has allowed them to take part in the voting process. This marks the first time the university has let its students vote for the institution's president. SNU said Thursday a mobile student vote will take place on May 10. The five candidates are medical school professor Kang Dae-hee, business administration professor Nam Ik-hyun, sociology professor Jung Keun-sik and engineering professors Lee Gun-woo and Lee Woo-il. Some 16,000 undergraduate and 12,000 graduate students are eligible to take part in the mobile election. However, the process is different from conventional voting procedures. Students will rate each candidate with a score of one to three. "Whoever becomes president, no candidate wants to be evaluated as unpopular," a university official said. "It's mobile voting so we expect student turnout to be high." Previous presidential candidates were selected through a policy evaluation group, which consisted of university professors and teaching staff. However, this year's election will include students and teaching staff at affiliate institutions. This year, the policy evaluation group consists of the entire student body, 336 professors and 47 teaching staff members from the university and four teaching staff members from affiliate institutions including SNU elementary, middle and high schools. The student portion is expected to take over 9.5 percent of the final results. Even though the portion is not large, it is meaningful that the students are taking part in the voting process for the first time, said an official from the SNU presidential selection recommendation committee. Pledges for students The five candidates are well aware of the importance of student support. Therefore, a variety of pledges have been focused on student welfare. All the candidates vowed to enhance communication with the student body. Most of the candidates have pledged to set up new shuttle bus routes to major subway stations near the university. Other pledges include expanding dormitories, increasing double major opportunities, implementing campus electric buses and increasing scholarship funds. The top three candidates will be handed over to the university's board of directors, where one will be scheduled to be appointed the next president of the university. By Lee Suh-yoon Robert Gallucci, chief negotiator during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis A renowned expert on North Korea has praised the recent inter-Korean summit, calling the historic meeting between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un the "right first step" toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Robert Gallucci, chief negotiator during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis, said the recent inter-Korean summit was a positive step towards denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula. "Although other questions such as missiles, chemical weapons and human rights still remain, I think we made the right first step," Robert Gallucci, chief negotiator during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis, said during the Korea Forum 2018 co-hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo, Thursday. He pointed out that the two Koreas' peace resolution and initiative were the key factors behind the recent thaw in inter-Korean relations. "What was most amazing was seeing Koreans being on the center stage and leading in defining the direction this is going," he said. "I would nominate President Moon Jae-in for the Nobel Peace Prize. When he met with President Trump in Seoul and prepared for the Olympics, he really showed some exquisite diplomatic maneuvering." Hong Joon-pyo talks at an LKP campaign rally for the June 13 local elections in Busan, Tuesday. / Yonhap By Lee Suh-yoon While the whole world is welcoming last week's inter-Korean summit, some conservative politicians here who rely on unstable security for voter support are trying their best to downplay the peace overtures. Political analysts say such a stance mostly comes from concerns of a crushing defeat forecast for the upcoming local elections in June, amid growing support for the liberal ruling bloc following the summit. "I do not believe in Kim Jong-un's peace show," main conservative Liberal Korea Party (LKP) Chairman Hong Joon-pyo said in an interview with Japanese broadcaster TV Asahi last Thursday, a day before the summit. "Only the leftists in our country support this summit." Hong also called the summit a "fake peace show" on Facebook on the summit day. Political analysts say Hong's behavior and remarks reflect his uneasiness over the upcoming local elections. "The sudden turnaround in North-South relations makes it harder for conservatives to frame North Korea as a fearsome enemy," political commentator Choi Young-il said. "This creates a difficult situation for conservative politicians who have long relied on anti-communist sentiment to win votes." President Moon Jae-in regained a 70 percent approval rating for the first time in four months in a recent poll released after the summit. Choi predicts the LKP's complete rejection of the summit, which only appeals to its far-right supporters, will not guarantee success in the upcoming elections. "The LKP is trying to differentiate itself from the Moon administration as much as possible to hold on to its far-right voters rather than expanding its voter base, a very passive election strategy," Choi said. "If they lose in the local elections, this could be Hong's last stand." Liberal politicians lashed out at the LKP's attempts to downplay the summit. "Pyongyang and Seoul's time zones are finally synchronized and flowing together as one," Rep. Hong Ik-pyo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) said at the National Assembly, Tuesday. "But the LKP's time seems to be going backward on its own." Hong also rejected the LKP chairman's claim that the Panmunjeom Declaration is a covert agreement between Kim and North Korea sympathizers in the Moon administration. The chairman criticized the declaration for including phrases like "the two Koreas decide their fate on their own," which he claims is Pyongyang's stance to exclude the U.S. from the peninsula. "How can he criticize the inclusion of the phrase in the declaration when the same concept was also included in previous agreements with the North under former conservative presidents Park Chung-hee and Roh Tae-woo?" Rep. Hong said. "Does he think Park and Roh are also North Korea sympathizers?" Hong Joon-pyo's comments have come under criticism by members of his own party, especially those who think the chairman's stance will not help them win the elections. Kim Tae-ho, an LKP member running for South Gyeongsang Province governor, said he believed Hong "went too far" in his criticisms. "The peace issue is something beyond an ideological conflict. Hong should be open for nonpartisan cooperation on the issue," he said in a radio interview. Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, an LKP member who is seeking a second term, also said, "LKP leaders make irrational and irresponsible remarks, casting a chill over public expectation." By Park Ji-won North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged his commitment to denuclearization during a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, China's foreign ministry said Thursday. Kim met Wang in Pyongyang to discuss issues regarding the Korean peninsula, according to a statement from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Wang was in Pyongyang for a two-day visit from May 2. Kim said North Korea seeks a peaceful resolution, while Wang said Beijing supports the Panmunjeom Declaration following the recent inter-Korean summit. China is also apparently backing North Korea's move to focus on economic growth, along with its steps to denuclearize and declare an end to the Korean War. Kim called Pyongyang's relations with Beijing "precious." China's move to reaffirm its ties with North Korea will play a key role in resolving the latter's nuclear issue. The North Korean leader met Chinese President Xi Jinping before holding the inter-Korean summit; while leaders of South Korea, China and Tokyo will meet to discuss denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, May 9. Kim and President Donald Trump are expected to hold a summit later this month or in early June. A hive of activity: Drones surround the queen bee, with the long red body, at one of 37 farms across Seoul and Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces managed by Urban Bees Seoul. / Courtesy of Urban Bees Seoul Urban Bees Seoul is campaigning to raise awareness of the benefits the insects can bring to the environment By Ko Dong-hwan Park Jin, CEO of Urban Bees Seoul, is one of the urban beekeeping pioneers in South Korea. / Courtesy of Urban Bees Seoul Urban Bees Seoul CEO Park Jin was the only person in South Korea who took action after bees were decimated in 2010 when the central government forced beekeepers to destroy hives after a nationwide sacbrood virus outbreak. Almost 90 percent of the country's bee population was wiped out. After three years, Park did not see any sign of recovery in bee numbers. That's when the then office worker quit his job and started urban beekeeping from scratch in Seoul. The practice was almost unheard of then. Urban Bees Seoul has now become the industry's most influential player. "When the bees were killed in 2010, it posed a threat of extinction to not just the species but also other wildlife species they pollinate, like acacia, chestnut, sunflower and other related flowers we don't know of," Park told The Korea Times. He said the country had neglected to discover the consequences of the mass killing because it considered the beekeeping industry not economically beneficial. "If it was a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome?outbreak or other grievous disease fiasco that had struck the nation, the government would have launched a prompt investigation in a coordinated fashion," Park said. "But the bee farming industry wasn't worth the cost of such efforts, as seen in the 2010 incident. I wanted to ventilate such an idea that disregards the insects' ecological importance. So I started beekeeping in the city, where I could inform people faster that the bees are disappearing. It was more like campaigning than running a business." For the restless pioneer, 35, the most difficult challenge is changing people's perception that bees are dangerous. While many question the necessity of urban bee farming, his job is to keep persuading people the mission is driven by an ecological challenge that will benefit cities with fruitful outcomes by stimulating more pollination, enabling better fertilization and production of seeds, resulting in more crops. Another hurdle in urban beekeeping is finding the right location for hives. For a colony to settle, the site should not have people, humidity or places that produce artificial sweet smells. Bees can be attracted to sugar or chocolate factories, which does not help with pollination. Despite the difficulty, Park has managed to set up 37 "farms" across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province, with 20 in the city. Each location has up to five wooden hives, each colony breeding from 20,000 to 60,000 bees. The latest is on the roof of coffee brewer-retailer Terra Rosa Cafe in Gangneung, Gangwon Province. It was set up in late April. All colony locations were offered by companies that had hoped for better use of unoccupied space, mostly roofs. In return, Park gives 10 percent of the honey produced to the companies. He sells the rest on the Urban Bees Seoul website (urbanbeesseoul.com) and at Ape Seoul, a coffee shop he jointly opened with a coffee shop entrepreneur-urban bee farmer in Hyehwa-dong in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Park speaks about honey farming at the International Mongolia School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, in August 2017. / Courtesy of Urban Bees Seoul Park breeds bees on a city rooftop. The urban setting usually has good living conditions for the bees, such as less humidity and fewer people. / Courtesy of Urban Bees Seoul Chattanooga-based BrickHunter announced a seed round of capital injection, strategically led by Butler Snow Advisory out of Ridgeland, Ms. The funds are earmarked for technology to create a proprietary eCommerce and enterprise resource planning SaaS platform to serve the niche of the construction industrys brick and heavy building material supply chain. BrickHunter CEO, Carson Combs, has 15 years experience in the $100 billion plus construction material industry and says that the industry lacks modern technology solutions for eCommerce, inventory management and customer relationship management. He said, When we launched BrickHunter 3 years ago, we had a hunch that our industry was underserved. 36 months later, we have a proof of concept and we are ready to scale our offering and create the de facto destination for not just architects, builders, and end user consumers but also manufacturers and distributors to source brick and other hard materials. Think of BrickHunter as the Amazon of bricks. BrickHunter is the latest tech win for Chattanooga whose burgeoning tech scene has caught the attention of several prominent venture capitalists and angel investors. Nick Coughlin, director at Butler Snow Advisory, said that BrickHunters strategic location, as well as the positive overall trendline in construction, contributed to his firms decision to lead the strategic growth effort with the company. By Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu Armenia became the scene of a peaceful revolution on April 23. Serzh Sargsyan, the prime minister of the country, was forced to resign by the people. Armenia, a close ally of Russia, was ruled by Sargsyan for ten years. His political choices included a balanced format between Western countries and Moscow. As a person from the Nagorno-Karabakh region, disputed between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Sargsyan has been an important figure in Armenian politics. From the early 1990s, he participated in the invasion process of Nagorno-Karabakh, an Azerbaijani territory, and became a high-ranking military officer. His political activities were reinforced after becoming defense minister of Armenia. The country has been isolated in the region due to its occupation in the Nagorno-Karabakh territory. There is no open border with the two neighbors in the eastern and western sides, Azerbaijan and Turkey respectively. This landlocked country has no choice but to follow an alternative policy to surpass this threshold. Thus, the country has tried to formulate a policy direction towards regional organizations and advantageous partnerships. In 2008, Sargsyan became the third president of the country during a turbulent series of protests. He followed a new type of foreign policy principle as a balance between the West and Russia. Close negotiations were held with the European Union as well as strong communication with NATO. At the same period, he despairingly accepted to become a member of the Russian-oriented Eurasian Economic Union. He tried to shape the foreign policy direction with smart initiatives such as the normalization process with Turkey in 2008 and 2009. On account of the regional political balances and pressures of domestic institutions, he couldn't manage the process. And he failed. Before the end of his two terms as president, the country voted for the establishment of the parliamentary system in a 2015 referendum. According to opposition parties, he aimed to remain as the most powerful man in the country with this system change. Even he refused this criticism, later his party won the parliamentary election and he tried to become prime minister right after the end of his presidential term. Tension rose in the country and opposition parties were begun to rally mass protests in the center of Yerevan, the capital city. Some expected Yerevan might turn into a scene of a bloody clash but more than 150,000 people peacefully protested Sargsyan. Nikol Pashinyan, one of the leading and eminent opposition figures, played an important role during the 10-days-length civil protests. After intensive demands, Sargsyan accepted to meet Pashinyan in front of the media. But Pashinyan was arrested three minutes into the meeting. This only escalated the situation and negatively affected Sargsyan's position. As a response, people took to all the streets of the capital. Many groups of soldiers also appeared at the protests along with clergymen. After a compelling period of time and severity of protests, finally, Sargsyan declared his resignation with a statement. He said: "Nikol Pashinyan was right, I was wrong. The current situation has several solutions. But I won't resort to any of those. That's not for me. I am leaving the position of the head of state. The street movement is against my rule. I am fulfilling your demand." Some analysts expected another version of the Color Revolutions which dramatically shaped the country profiles of Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan in the 2000s, but Armenia realized a "soft revolution" without any tragic incident. Here a question arises on whether Armenia will have an axis shift or not. The country's foreign policy rhetoric had been balanced by Sargsyan and his predecessor Robert Kocharian. The presidents have expressed their sympathies to the EU many times by saying Armenia is a part of European civilization. But in reality, the country became an adherent element of Russia, especially in the context of economic and military relations. Previously, the Armenian opposition owned a useful tool of anti-Moscow rhetoric while blaming the leadership. But now the same opposition understood the importance of real politics. Even though Russian officials didn't criticize the situation and obviously supported the public reaction, it doesn't mean that Moscow will allow Armenia to have an axis shift toward the Western alliance. But at least Armenia showed the importance of the people's will and exercised a proper way of protest culture. Mehmet Fatih Oztarsu (oztarsu@gmail.com) is a Turkish analyst in Seoul. By Doug Bandow The meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was picture perfect. The symbolism of the summit could not have been better. But what the two leaders decided matters little until they act on their promises. And that won't happen unless President Donald Trump and Kim reach not only symbolic but also practical agreement. While possible, it won't be easy. The good of the Korean tete-a-tete is obvious. Two previous South Korean presidents ventured north. This is the first time a North Korean leader traveled south, even if but a short distance, into the Republic of Korea. Moreover, Kim looked and acted like a modern figure. Kim even brought both his wife and sister _ previously, the North's rulers kept women, even family members, largely invisible, especially overseas. The two leaders engaged in talks at which all the right words were expressed. Kim was quoted as saying: "I came here to put an end to the history of confrontation." Moon and Kim set as objectives negotiating and cooperating on various issues, ceasing "hostile acts," formally ending to the Korean War, which remains only in abeyance through an armistice, establishing a liaison office, and undertaking phased disarmament. They also "confirmed the common goal of realizing, through complete denuclearization, a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula." That outcome creates a positive atmosphere for the Trump-Kim meeting, expected in May or June. However, despite the obvious value of the inter-Korean summit, it is important to remember that all of this occurred before. The Kim dynasty's founder, Kim Il-sung, was set to meet South Korean President Kim Young-sam, only to die shortly before that planned summit. Kim Jong-il, father of the current ruler, hosted two South Korean presidents. Kim pere also met Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and almost scored a summit with President Bill Clinton. These meetings led participants to hold hands, sing patriotic tunes, exchange heartfelt compliments, and even dance a bit. Out of the summits emerged the "Sunshine Policy," which transferred some $10 billion in money and aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Within just a few years, however, the Sunshine Policy was kaput, North Korea was conducting both nuclear and missiles tests, the North and South were exchanging artillery fire, the DPRK was testing ICBMs along with nuclear weapons, and the U.S. president was threatening to unleash "fire and fury" in return. Moreover, the only summit that really matters is between Trump and Kim. Unless Moon is willing to send American troops home, he will always be the junior partner in the alliance with the U.S. Although Moon has done his best to create a positive environment for the planned Trump-Kim meeting, several important questions remain: (1) Is Kim willing to yield up weapons that cost so much to develop, are so tied to his dynasty's legitimacy and give the regime international status? And what security assurances will he demand, given Washington's dangerous proclivity for regime change, willingness to take out Moammar Gadhafi after he surrendered his, and readiness to tear up past agreements, such as the JCPOA with Iran? (2) Is Trump willing to offer more than verbal assurances and paper guarantees to Kim in exchange for full and irreversible denuclearization? Would Trump put the U.S. troop presence in South Korea on the table, since the ROK is capable of providing for its own defense? (3) Is it possible to create an inspection regime that can certify the elimination of unknown nuclear weapons and unknown missiles from unknown locations? Would such an intrusive system be acceptable to Pyongyang? (4) If the Big Nuclear Deal proves beyond reach, are the two leaders willing to settle on a more modest agenda? Would they consider beginning small, with a shared commitment to common goals accompanied by small steps forward to expand cooperation and build confidence? (5) If the Trump-Kim summit fails to occur or ends in failure, can Kim and Moon develop a relationship and implement policy to keep the peace if Trump returns to threatening war? Could Moon find a path to peace if it turns out there is none to denuclearization? The principal objective for all should be keeping the peace. Denuclearization is but a means to that end. If denuclearization fails, there still will be a peace to keep. Doug Bandow (chessset@aol.com) is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and a former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan. He is author of "Tripwire: Korea and U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changed World" and co-author of "The Korean Conundrum: America's Troubled Relations with North and South Korea." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu prowled the Tel Aviv stage like a game show host on Monday, microphone in hand, slides flashing behind him in a dramatic televised speech aimed directly at Washington. The prime minister paced in front of shelves holding binders containing thousands of documents that he said proved Iran had lied about its nuclear weapons program. This revelation, if verified, wouldn't shock anyone who tracked the snarly negotiations in 2015 about what Iran had to reveal to earn an International Atomic Energy Agency sign-off on the deal. Back then, recall, Secretary of State John Kerry was adamant that Iran had to come clean about its nuclear weapons program. Then, oddly, he said disclosure was unlikely and not necessary: "U.S. confidence on this front is based in large part on what we believe we already know about Iran's past activities." On Monday, an exercised Netanyahu talked about those past activities. The Israeli prime minister, speaking in English, revealed that his nation's intelligence operatives somehow slipped inside a secret facility in Iran and lifted thousands of documents from a nuclear archive. He said the documents prove that Iran lied about the scope and sophistication of its program to build a nuclear weapon a violation of the deal. His implication: If Iran is released from the accord starting in 2025, as the agreement requires, then expect a nuclear Tehran shortly thereafter. Think of Netanyahu's dramatic address as the opening act for the main event. That's President Donald Trump's decision, due by May 12, about whether the U.S. will remain in the multiparty pact. Our guess: May 12 will be a big moment, but it probably won't be a surprising one. That's because Trump has long proclaimed the Iran accord as "the worst ever." Earlier this year, he chafed against top advisers, including former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who counseled against ripping up the accord and reimposing sanctions. But Tillerson's gone with a tweet. Two outspoken Iran deal critics, national security adviser John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, are now at the president's elbow. That said, no one knows how much of the administration's posturing is bluster, bluff or some other bargaining tactic. If Trump does withdraw the U.S. from the pact, he'll need a plan to deal with the fallout if Iran restarts its nuclear program. How would the U.S. and its allies react? We do appreciate the president's efforts to rein in Iran's ballistic missile program, eliminate sunset clauses in the pact and expand inspections of Iranian military sites. But we're skeptical that other countries will go along with breaking the deal in order to improve it. In recent months, European leaders have floated proposals to do just that. A few days ago, Trump appeared receptive to French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to renegotiate and expand the deal rather than tear it up. Macron suggested adding planks to the deal that would rein in Iran's uranium enrichment, its missile programs and its support of militants throughout the region. Netanyahu's theatrical presentation was designed to persuade Trump to exit the Iran deal. It also highlighted a central truth: Iran is a dangerous foe, never to be allowed to build a nuclear weapon. The question is whether achieving that goal is easier with Tehran inside the deal, or outside. The above editorial appeared in the Chicago Tribune. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Effectiveness of massive funding uncertain The state-run Korea Development Bank (KDB) has decided to provide funds for GM Korea, but the decision is hard to understand in many ways. According to media reports, GM's U.S. headquarters will put in new funds of $3.6 billion (3.9 trillion won), and the KDB will supply $750 million (800 billion won). We can hardly understand why the KDB, not the largest shareholder of the troubled carmaker, is injecting such a significant amount of money. Above all, it is far from certain if the infusion of such massive additional cash will even keep the company afloat for an extended period. GM Korea has already lost the confidence of local consumers with a recent decision to shut down its Gunsan plant. Nor are the company's export prospects bright, given the two new vehicles GM has allocated to its Korean unit are SUVs, whose future sales are less than assured. That explains why the KDB had asked GM to manufacture up-to-date electric or autonomous vehicles in Korea. However, the U.S. automaker turned down the request, revealing its skepticism about the Korean plants' competitiveness and marketability. GM has reportedly promised to maintain its Korean manufacturing base over the next decade or so, but industry watchers say they won't be able to stay afloat for more than five years as things stand now. No less incomprehensible is the ways of providing new funds. GM will put in the entire amount of $3.6 billion in the form of a loan while the KDB will inject $750 million as a new investment. Who can understand why GM, which has an equity stake of 83 percent in GM Korea, will receive interest from the additional funding while the KDB will get nothing from its fresh investment if things go awry? By all appearances, GM is dragging around the state-run bank because of political considerations, including the June 13 local elections. The KDB's bargaining leverage was weakened sharply by the possibility of losing 150,000 jobs, including those at its suppliers, if GM withdrew from the country. The government must ask itself whether the injection of taxpayers' money into the failed company would benefit the Korean economy and its people in the long run. Seoul, Beijing need closer cooperation on peace process Following the April 27 inter-Korean summit, the term "China passing" has been appearing often in the local media to describe the superpower seemingly being sidelined in the negotiations of the Korean peace process. After the Panmunjeom Declaration called for officially ending the 1950-53 Korean War this year and starting North Korea's denuclearization, Seoul has eagerly exchanged the outcome of the third inter-Korean summit with Washington and Tokyo. The day after the summit, Moon talked with U.S. President Donald Trump over the phone for 75 minutes. During the lengthy conversation, the two leaders agreed to cooperate closely on the situation on the Korean Peninsula and reaffirmed their commitment to denuclearization. President Moon also talked on the phone with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 29 to relay the outcome of meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which the international community hailed as an important step toward peace on the peninsula. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon and Kim also discussed issues regarding Japan-North Korea relations during their meeting, including the normalization of relations between Japan and North Korea. Moon and Abe also agreed the Panmunjeom meeting had laid the foundation for successful talks between the U.S. and North Korea for denuclearization. The Trump-Kim meeting, the first-ever summit between the U.S. and North Korea, is being arranged to take place in the coming weeks. On the same day, National Intelligence Service chief Suh Hoon went to Tokyo to explain summit results to Abe. Moon also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon after the summit. This kind of active high-level communication between Seoul and Beijing seems to be lacking at such a critical juncture. President Moon and Chinese President Xi Jinping have not spoken since the Panmunjeom meeting. It is regrettable that the leaders of the two countries have yet to personally share the details of the historic summit. The lack of communication with China contrasts to Beijing's rush to Pyongyang right after the summit. Amid concerns over China's isolation in the Korean peace process, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Pyongyang Wednesday. "We are pleased to see that the situation on the peninsula is moving forward in the right direction," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said during a regular briefing Wednesday. Seoul should coordinate more closely with Beijing regarding the development of the peace process on the peninsula. The May 9 meeting among the leaders of Korea, Japan and China should be an occasion for the three countries to keep up the rare momentum for peace. By Donald Kirk John Bolton, U.S. President Donald Trump's national security adviser, may be hawkish and conservative, but at least you had to credit him with sophistication and having insights on the issues and the people whom he was confronting. In the course of many visits to Korea, he often displayed understanding on the realities of dealing with the North and the need for strong countermeasures against rising threats from the Kim dynasty. You wonder, though, how much Bolton, after his years at the State Department and U.N., knows or understands when he holds up the Libyan "model" as an example for North Korea. If there's any model that turns off the North Koreans, as anyone who's been following the rhetoric is well aware, it's that of Libya. The country's seemingly omnipotent dictator, Moammar Gadhafi, the North Koreans often note, made the fatal error of having agreed in secret negotiations to abandon his nascent nuclear program and get along with the Western nations that he'd been confronting for decades. Actually, Gadhafi's nuclear aspirations were not nearly so advanced as those of the North Koreans. His physicists and engineers never came close to exploding a warhead. In fact, they were nowhere near building one. He had much to gain by way of trade and aid by appearing as the bad guy who had seen the error of his ways and reformed. After all that, he paid with his life. That is, in the revolt that overwhelmed his country seven years later, his one-time American and European friends, siding with the rebels, conducted airstrikes against his forces, driving him from the capital city of Tripoli. Forced into hiding and dragged out from under a culvert, he was killed most cruelly by an angry mob. There could, as far as the North Koreans were concerned, be no worse punishment, no more stunning example of the fate that awaits any ruler so foolish and cowardly as to yield to foreign pressure and give up his nuclear establishment for the sake of appeasing an angry coalition of enemies who would betray him no matter how hard he sought to win their favor. The Libyan example is so different from that of North Korea as to confuse any argument for or against Kim Jong-un knuckling under pressure to mend his ways and promise to be good. Kim may have driven the majority of his subjects into poverty, depriving them of food, medicine and basic amenities that most of us take for granted. He may have watched the country's infrastructure, its roads, his railroads, its electrical network, deteriorate, he may have neglected agricultural reform, hospitals and schools, but for sure he's got nuclear warheads and the missiles needed to carry them to targets near and far. As Andrei Lankov, noted Russian scholar-author on North Korea and a professor at Kookmin University in Seoul, pointed out at a forum set up in the summit media center by the Inter-Korean Summit Preparation Committee on April 26, the day before the summit: "North Korea is a nuclear state. It's just a fact of life." Now Trump is going to try to get Kim to resign from the nuclear club, to which the Americans say he has no right of membership. All of which means that Bolton had better come up with a new formula for getting Kim to come to his senses and stop wasting his scant financial resources. Up to now, despite Friday's summit between President Moon Jae-in and Kim, and then Kim's announcement that he was shutting down the nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, "complete denuclearization" of North Korea remains an abstraction. Yes, the North Koreans have promised denuclearization before. There could be no better instance than the deal the North and South struck in 1992 for achieving a "nuclear-free" peninsula not worth the vast quantities of paper on which it was printed and disseminated. Trump likes to talk blithely of walking out of a summit with Kim as if it would be simple to do just that. Kim, however, is going to charm Trump as he did Moon with blandishments and visions of a new era. He'll come up with a formulation that convinces Trump he's honestly "honorable," as Trump has called him, and maybe Moon will say that both of them, not just Trump, deserve a Nobel Peace Prize. As for Bolton, if he's still talking about the Libyan example or some other cockamamie formulation, fine. As long as he's not promoting a pre-emptive strike or regime change, as he's done in the not-so-distant past, we should be pretty safe from any harm he or his boss might inflict. Donald Kirk (kirkdon4343@gmail.com) has been covering war and peace in the region for years. Seen is an ultra light-emitting diode (UV LED) forum which LG Innotek will host on May 29 in Shenzhen, China. / Courtesy of LG Innotek By Baek Byung-yeul LG Innotek, Korea's leading electronics component provider, is tapping the U.S and China markets with its ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV LED). The company said Thursday it is taking part in the RadTech conference in Chicago from May 7 to 9. The three-day event is the world's largest event dedicated to the technical, educational and market advancement of UV and electron beam technology. There, LG Innotek will display 30 kinds of UV LED products including UV-A, B and C. UV-A is used in various fields such as industrial UV hardening, printing ink hardening, exposure machine, counterfeit detection and special illumination. UV-B is for medical purposes while UV-C is for air purification, water purification and sterilization. The UV LED is an advanced semiconductor light source that emits UV rays with short wavelengths of 200 nanometers to 400 nanometers. As it has the characteristics of eliminating germs and viruses depending on its wavelength and chemical reactions with particular substances, it is used for surface, water and air disinfection, giving it applications in healthcare, medical care, biotechnology, and curing and exposure equipment. It is also eco-friendly because it uses UV rays instead of chemicals or heavy metals for sterilization. LG Innotek will host a UV LED forum in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, on May 29. The company said the latest information regarding the UV LED technology and related application products will be shared with Chinese scholars and entrepreneurs. It will install a booth promoting its UV LED products as well. Ahead of the Shenzhen forum, LG Innotek held a Seoul forum in March and attracted more than 1,000 related individuals from companies, academic circles and associations in Korea. The UV LED market has seen rapid growth in recent years. According to data from LEDinside, a division of the market researcher TrendForce, the UV LED market was $223 million last year and is projected to reach to $1.22 billion in 2022. LG Innotek is the world's second-biggest UV LED player, following Japan's Nichia. "UV LED is an innovative product that keeps our everyday life clean and safe. We will clearly promote our products in the U.S. and China as they are the center of global business," an LG Innotek official said. By Jun Ji-hye A frequency auction for fifth-generation (5G) networks will take place June 15, the Ministry of Science and ICT announced Thursday. The nation's three mobile carriers _ SK Telecom, KT and LG Uplus _ will compete for the frequencies to achieve the goal of beginning the world's first commercial 5G services in March 2019. During a news conference held at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province, the ministry said the high-end 5G network frequency bands of 3.5 gigahertz and 28 gigahertz will be for sale at the auction. The ministry will provide 280 megahertz of bandwidth at the 3.5 gigahertz band, and 2,400 megahertz of bandwidth at the 28 gigahertz band. The minimum bid for the 3.5 gigahertz blocks is 2.65 trillion won ($2.5 billion) with a period of use for 10 years, and for the 28 gigahertz blocks is 621.6 billion won with a period of use for 5 years. The ministry has set the limit on the maximum amount of frequencies that can be assigned to one mobile carrier, adding this is to offer all players opportunities to attempt 5G innovation under similar conditions. Under this rule, a mobile carrier can secure a maximum of 100 megahertz bandwidth of the 3.5 gigahertz frequency band, and 1,000 megahertz bandwidth of the 28 gigahertz frequency band. "I ask all competitors to strive to take the leadership in the global market of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, beginning with the provision of 5G frequencies," said ICT Minister Yoo Young-min. Differing reactions from mobile carriers The three telecommunication companies expressed different reactions to the ministry's announcement _ SK Telecom expressed regret, while the other two welcomed it. The top mobile carrier said customer convenience has not been sufficiently considered when the ministry decided to put a cap on the maximum amount of the frequency band of 3.5 gigahertz that can go to one company to 100 megahertz bandwidth. The firm originally wanted to secure 120 megahertz of bandwidth. The frequency band of 3.5 gigahertz is considered important as it would be used to build a nationwide network. "It is regrettable that the ministry set the limit on the effective use of limited resources," an SK Telecom official said. "Measures to provide additional frequencies should be urgently drawn up to prevent a shortage." Meanwhile, KT said the ministry's measure was proper and will help ensure fair competition between the three companies at a time when all of them are at the start line to launch commercial 5G network services. A KT official noted, "The measure will also correct SK Telecom's previous monopoly." LG Uplus said it will make full efforts to lead the global telecommunication market by offering the best 5G services. The ministry was originally planning to put 300 megahertz of bandwidth of the 3.5 gigahertz frequency band up for auction, but later decided to reduce it to 280 megahertz of bandwidth due to concerns over interference with the LTE frequency in the 2 gigahertz range. The ministry said it will carry out more studies with experts and officials from mobile carriers to decide on the method and timing for the provision of the remaining 20 megahertz of bandwidth of the 3.5 gigahertz frequency band. "We will fairly operate the auction process so that frequencies can be effectively distributed and cut-throat competition can be prevented," a ministry official said. Hyundai Motor's Lingdong / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Ailing China market shows twofold growth By Nam Hyun-woo Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday its two car making units, Hyundai Motor and Kia Motors, showed 10 percent growth in global sales for April, logging double digit growth for the first time in 40 months. Amid the increase, their sales in the Chinese market doubled last month, heralding a rebound for the companies' sales and profitability. According to a regulatory filing, Hyundai and Kia combined sold 631,225 vehicles globally last month, up 10.4 percent from a year earlier. This was the first time that their year-on-year growth surpassed 10 percent since December 2014, when it stood at 18 percent. Leading the surge was China, which had been the companies' core market but had showed a slump in recent years amid diplomatic friction between Korea and China over the former's decision to deploy a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-missile system here. In China, Hyundai and Kia combined sold 103,109 vehicles in April, up 101.9 percent from 12 months earlier. Hyundai sold 70,007 vehicles, up 100 percent, and Kia sold 33,102 cars, up 106.2 percent. "We cannot ignore the base effect of last year's sales slump due to THAAD friction," a group official said. "But it seems clear that sales (in China) have regained momentum given they have grown for two straight months, following 35.4 percent growth in March." "As there are a number of new models ready to roll out, we believe the green light is on for meeting our sales goal," he said. The group has set 1.35 million vehicles -- 900,000 Hyundai vehicles and 450,000 Kia cars -- as this year's sales goal. In a breakdown, the Lingdong, the Chinese version of the Avante compact, has led Hyundai's China rebound, with 19,300 being sold. Also booming was new small SUV Encino, the Chinese version of the Kona, posting 4,385 sales in the month. Among Kia vehicles, the K2 subcompact car was the best selling at 9,818, followed by the K3 with 7,983. Zhipao, the Chinese version of the Sportage, also contributed to the surge at 4,836, even though it was released in April. The group said the Chinese demand for SUVs rose from 12 percent of the entire demand in 2010 to 42 percent last year and it plans to enhance its small SUV lineups. In China, there were five small SUV models in 2013, with 211,000 being sold. The number quickly rose to 676,000 last year, with the number of models increasing to 16. Along with Encino and Zhipao, the group said it has high expectations for the Hyundai's ix35 compact SUV, which was launched at the end of last year, and Kia's Yipao small SUV, which will debut in China in the second half of this year. Also, Hyundai Motor Group plans to unveil a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) version of the Hyundai Sonata and Kia K5, and KX3 electric vehicle in the second half of this year to comply with the Chinese government's push for eco-friendly vehicle policy. "New SUV models are garnering keen attention from Chinese dealers and customers," said the official. "As the THAAD friction seems to be phasing out, the new models sales boom will likely help the group to meet its goal in the Chinese market." Kia Motors' K2 / Courtesy of Kia Motors Haitai Confectionary & Foods Chairman Yoon Young-dal By Jhoo Dong-chan Two of the nation's top confectionary firms' popular potato chip products have been found to contain an unauthorized plant growth inhibitor, the government said. According to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Thursday, Orion and Haitai Confectionary & Foods were found to have used 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthalene in their imported potatoes. The germination inhibitor, which is used to prevent sprouting of stored potatoes, has yet to be approved in Korea. Authorities said they managed to detect the substance before their products were distributed to the Korean market. It decided to fine Orion 25.69 million won while suspending its business for seven days. Haitai also received a seven-day business suspension starting April 3. Of 1,300 tons of frozen potatoes Orion imported from the U.S., the ministry detected a maximum of 0.119 milligrams of 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthanlene per kilogram on Jan. 23. Haitai also imported 300 tons of frozen potatoes. Of them, a maximum 0.2486 milligrams of 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthanlene was found to be contained in the imported potatoes. "The 2,6-Diisopropylnaphthanlene isn't a toxic substance and does not contain cancer-causing agents, but the ministry has yet to approve its use in producing confectionaries here considering the substance's possible side effects," a ministry official said. Orion and Haitai immediately terminated contracts with their U.S. partner firms that exported the frozen potatoes containing the chemical. "The frozen potatoes containing unauthorized germination inhibitor were weeded out at the customs clearance, never distributed to our local chain," an Orion official said. "We immediately canceled our contract with our U.S. supplier. We will do our best to provide quality products for our customers." Haitai also blamed its U.S. supplier. "It was the supplier's mistake. We immediately terminated the contract with the firm," a Haitai official said. "We have filed a lawsuit against the company for the damages." The country's confectionary firms have raised their product prices due to surging prices of ingredients. Haitai raised the price of its most popular products by an average 12.7 percent, while Lotte Confectionery also jacked up its prices. Other food manufacturers and bakeries are expected to follow since global wheat prices have risen steeply due to a drought that hit the U.S and Australia last year. The two countries provide 93 percent of the wheat imports to Korea. ARGUS International, Inc. has announced that Skytec, LLC is the worlds first Drone as a Service (DaaS) provider to complete an ARGUS Unmanned Aviation Audit. The Platinum Rating is the highest ARGUS rating an organization operating unmanned aircraft can achieve. Only companies who have demonstrated successful implementation of industry best practices relative to their operations and maintenance with the utmost regard for safety through the evaluation of an on-site audit may achieve an ARGUS Platinum Rating. ARGUS collaborated with various internal and external subject matter experts with a vast amount of UAS experience to develop a comprehensive standard for the unmanned industry, said officials. Creating a safety culture is paramount to the commercial UAS industry," said Joe Moeggenberg, president and CEO of ARGUS International, Inc. "Companies like Skytec who focus on providing DaaS operations must be methodically examined and reviewed if the industry is to develop an effective safety ecosystem. We are extremely pleased to announce Skytec as our first unmanned operator to successfully complete the ARGUS Unmanned Audit and earn the ARGUS Platinum Rating. As the first operator in the world to achieve this rating, Skytec has demonstrated a new level of safety for the UAS industry. We are proud to become the first Platinum Rated Drone as a Service provider under the ARGUS Unmanned Standard, said Bill Rogers, Skytec CEO. UAS is a young, rapidly developing industry. Adhering to the highest possible safety protocols and standards and undergoing a third-party audit to certify those practices is a core tenet of Skytecs mission. We believe that our industry will grow and scale even more successfully as more and more providers also commit to achieving higher safety ratings for their operations via third party certification. The ARGUS Unmanned Audit Standard was designed for commercial unmanned aircraft operations to evaluate their operational safety based upon a universal set of standards and industry best safety practices. To achieve the Platinum Rating, Drone as a Service providers must undergo an on-site audit including evaluation of all safety practices, documentation and daily operations. To attain an ARGUS Platinum Rating UAS operators must be a legal entity with applicable insurance, have UAS operational policies, have procedures and processes validated, have a functioning safety management system and an emergency response plan in place, undergo pilot background checks, have at least one UAS in operation, undergo an in-depth historical safety analysis, and complete an ARGUS on-site audit with no safety of flight findings. All significant finding from the on-site audit must be rectified to achieve an ARGUS Platinum Rating. To view the ARGUS Unmanned UAS Registry with all the rated operators visit, http://argus.aero/argus-unmanned-uas-registry/. A customer using a mobile application checks the delivery fee for ordering chicken from Kyochon, Thursday. Since May 1, the fried chicken franchise company has been charging a 2,000 won ($1.85) fee for customers using delivery service, causing a backlash. / Korea Times photo by Kang Aa-young Cleveland State Community College celebrated the grand opening of the CSCC Early Childhood Little Free Library thanks in part to a grant from Rotary Club of Cleveland. The LFL was a gift from Angi Hawn from the Class of 2017 dedicated to Suzanne Wood, director of the Early Childhood Education Program and was built by Robert Brewer, associate professor of Biology. The LFL has books for both adults and children of all ages. The motto is Take one and leave one and can be found on the world map along with all of the others registered. In recognition of May being proclaimed National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month, the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office is partnering with Indian of Chattanooga and Erlanger Medical Centers Trauma Services Division to promote the importance of sharing the road and Looking Twice for motorcyclists.The HCSO and its partners will host a press conference and event on Saturday at 10:45 a.m. at the Indian of Chattanooga Dealership at 4113 South Access Road. Several activities will follow throughout the day sponsored by the dealership and informational booths will be available with vendors for members of the community to learn more about motorcycle safety and safety related programs and insurance.During the press conference, Sheriff Jim Hammond, John Crocket, Proprietor of Indian of Chattanooga, and Regena Young, Trauma and Outreach Coordinator for Erlanger Hospitals Trauma Services, will discuss the importance of motorcycle safety.Several local motorcycle groups will be participating and free food will be available to those who attend the event. Visitors will be able to see motors from the HCSO Traffic Division as well as various safety visual aids.As warmer weather approaches, we will start to see more motorcyclists frequenting our roads, said Sheriff Jim Hammond. This makes May the perfect time of year to remind our community to Look Twice for motorcycle riders.In 2017, the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office worked a total of 35 motorcycle crashes, including one fatality. According to the Tennessee Highway Safety Office, preliminary data reveals that statewide, Tennessee law enforcement agencies responded to 2,988 crashes involving a motorcycle in 2017. Of these crashes, Tennessee experienced 134 fatalities. As part of their capstone project, students in Cleveland States Alpha Delta Nu Nursing Honor Society made up 100 dental care kits for pediatric oncology patients at Erlanger Childrens Hospital. These kits are to be used by the children with cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. The CSCC students coordinated the capstone project in all aspects from researching the need for the kits, to coordinating fundraising, and acquisition of the supplies for the bags. The nurse managers at Children's Hospital worked with CSCC to help the students understand how chemo affects what products are needed and should be used to alleviate side effects of the chemo drugs. Holston Army Ammunition Plant is providing the opportunity for the general public to fish the restricted section of the Holston River within the installations boundaries once again in 2018. HSAAP is currently accepting applications for four one-day fishing events scheduled for this summer which will be held on June 23, 24, 30 and July 1. Individuals interested in fishing on HSAAP must apply for the opportunity and will be selected by a random drawing. HSAAPs public fishing program was approved by the HSAAP commander under a strict set of guidelines designed to insure that installation safety and security standards are maintained while each fishing event is being held. Rome, May 3 - League leader Matteo Salvini is said to be ready to ask President Sergio Mattarella to hand him a 'pre-mandate' to try to form a government and end Italy's two-month post-election political deadlock. Attempts to form a government after the inconclusive March 4 election have so far been unsuccessful, with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) refusing to open talks with the League due to its refusal to dump its centre-right coalition partners, including Silvio Berlusconi's Forza Italia. Salvini has ruled out negotiating with the centre-left Democratic Party (PD), which is in crisis after registering its worst-ever showing in the election. The M5S, meanwhile, said it was ready to hold talks with the PD, but this path of dialogue was quickly halted by ex-premier and former PD leader Matteo Renzi saying he was against backing a M5S-led executive. Salvini said Wednesday that he was "ready to sit down at a table" with M5S Luigi Di Maio for talks despite bitter verbal exchanges between the pair in recent days. Di Maio, however, said that it is not possible to form a "government of change" with Berlusconi and the centre right as a whole and has called for new elections. Mattarella is expected to make a decision on Friday on how to proceed. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency will hold a public meeting Thursday, May 24, in Paris, Tn. to discuss concerns about Asian carp that have become unwelcome inhabitants in the Tennessee River and Cumberland River systems. The meeting is set to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Enoch Building located within the Henry County Fairgrounds at 517 Royal Oaks Drive in Paris. We will present an update on Asian carp and the agencys involvement in control strategies, but we will also be talking about local sport fisheries in general, said Frank Fiss, the chief of TWRAs Fisheries Division. Tim Broadbent, a long-time TWRA biologist and manager, has spent much of his career surveying fish populations in Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley. He will accompany Fiss as the agencys spokesmen. There are four species of non-native Asian carp that have populated Tennessees waterways, said Mr. Fiss. We will present updates of our current research efforts and control measures. Rome, May 3 - The European Commission said in its spring economic forecasts on Thursday that it expects Italian growth to be stable at 1.5% this year. "Following the acceleration in output growth in 2017, the Italian economy is expected to continue to grow at the same pace of 1.5% this year, largely supported by domestic demand," the Commission said. "As support from tailwinds is expected to wane and the output gap closes, GDP growth is set to moderate to 1.2% in 2019". Rome, May 3 - President Sergio Mattarella will hold a fresh round of political consultations lasting just one day on Monday to see if the parties can offer a way to break Italy's post-election political deadlock, sources said. The head of State held two-day consultations before handing out two exploratory mandates, the first to see if it was possible to form a government made up of the 5-Star Movement (M5S) and the centre-right alliance, the second on a possible M5S-Democratic Party (PD) executive. Both attempts came to nothing. "Two months (after the election), the parties' starting positions have not changed," sources at the president's department said. "No prospect of a government majority has emerged. "In recent days the possibility of an agreement between the 5-Star Movement and the PD ended too. "President Mattarella will hold new consultations, in a single day, Monday, to verify if the parties have other government-majority prospects". Macerata, May 3 - An 18-year-old Roman woman who was killed and dismembered allegedly by a Nigerian drug pusher was allegedly raped by the pusher while she was under the influence of heroin, prosecutors said Thursday. Pamela Mastropietro was allegedly raped while in a weakened and vulnerable condition by Innocent Oseghale, one of three Nigerians arrested in connection with the case, the prosecutors said. The preliminary investigations judge however disagreed with the prosecutors' arguments, saying that the pair were friends. Mastropietro's body was found January 31 in two suitcases near the Marche city of Macerata. Four days later, on February 4, a neo-Nazi who once stood for the anti-migrant League party, Luca Trani, shot and wounded four North African migrants in a drive-by shooting in Macerata. Macerata, May 3 - An alleged Nigerian drug pusher who allegedly killed and dismembered an 18-year-old Roman woman near Macerata at the end of January has been charged with murder, prosecutors said Thursday. Innocent Oseghale was previously only charged with abusing and hiding a corpse. The alleged pusher, 29, allegedly also raped Pamela Mastropietro before stabbing her to death and cutting up her body, prosecutors said. Rome, May 3 - A bid to form a government between the centre-left Democratic party (PD) and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S) is "over" and there is now the risk of another general election, PD caretaker leader Maurizo Martina told the party executive Thursday. Saying the M5S bid was a "closed chapter", Martina added "we spoke a lot about them but the real issue was us, our role and function even when we are in a minority. "For me it was not to condemn ourselves to irrelevance and to pick up the challenge. "It was a riskier hypothesis but I imagined it as far as I could with that ambition. Now the fact is the risk of a snap vote". It is "impossible" for the PD to accept a government led by the centre right, Martina said. He said a government led by the anti-migrant Euroskeptic League was "even more impossible" to accept. Martina told the crunch meeting that the centre-left party "can't get by with tactics and trials of strength" after its general election debacle. "We can't get by just with some tactical moves", he told a PD riven by splits between loyalists and critics of former leader Matteo Renzi. "It's not a question of going back not going beyond, but to reprogramme to restart," said Martina, who has clashed with Renzi after the latter scotched government-formation talks with the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S). "We need a clear rethink of being together, and you have to take decisions after listening to one another and having talks with the desire to build a response together, not only with trials of strength." Martina said "on our side there cannot be proscription lists", referring to pro and anti-Renzi lists. He said "let's stop being more ferocious among ourselves than with our opponents". Martina told the PD directorate that he was asking the PD for "confidence and not a facade of support". He said "we need an immediate change of pace and more collegiality, otherwise we risk irrelevance". The PD must go to President Sergio Mattarella's fresh consultations Monday with a "constructive spirit", Martina said. L'Aquila, May 3 - Two Moroccans, a 51-year-old and his 27-year-old son, were deported from Italy Thursday on suspicion of supporting jihad, at the orders of the prefect of L'Aquila in Abruzzo. The father and son did not have direct contact with ISIS, police said. However, they were suspected of being "close to the deepest radicalisation", they said. They had been expelled from L'Aquila Islamic cultural centres for their radical conduct which "even expressed itself in physical attacks". Naples, May 3 - Two guards at the Reggio di Caserta were cited for bunking off work Thursday. The pair allegedly went about their own business or went to eat pizza during working hours at the 18th-century palace, the Bourbon kings' answer to Versailles. The clock-in cheating was discovered during a probe into a robbery at the Reggia's cafeteria. Turin, May 3 - Italian police on Thursday arrested 25 people on suspicion of belonging to the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta mafia in Piedmont. A so-called 'locale' or 'Ndrangheta branch was smashed between Asti and Cuneo. The gang dealt in drugs, weapons and extortion, police said. Separately an 'Ndrangheta drug trafficker on the run for 22 years, 73-year-old Angelo Filippini, was arrested in Morocco with the help of Interpol. LAHAINA After a combined 100 years as public school educators, it is time for Mr. Endsley and me to retire, announced Pat Endsley at the recent Lahaina Complex Tutoring Projects 17th awards and dinner celebration. The projects board of directors is entrusting the operational duties to a team of competent and dedicated volunteers who are committed to further improving the projects offerings. Founder Endsley will serve in emeritus with Administrative Assistants Althea Viernes, Linda Quinn and Nancy Eckman. Terry Warwick will serve as director at Princess Nahienaena Elementary School, assisted by Carol Inaba and Coordinators Christine Nishimoto (grade three language arts) and Diane DeLos Reyes (grade five language arts). The directors at Lahainaluna High School will be Jeanne Smythe and Harriet Ota (grade four math), assisted by Coordinators Jane Huff (grade five math), Linda Quinn and Gordon Bradley (grade nine algebra), and Communication Coordinators Inaba (grade 4-5) and Warwick (grade nine algebra). Eckman will serve as director of enrichment services for grades 3-5 and nine, and Rimma Murta, founder and president of Maui Science Center, will be a coordinator. The tutoring program will continue to provide after school math and language arts instruction. However, the goal of the project is to add innovative and exciting hands-on activities during the school year and during summer. Beginning this June, 2018, two STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Discovery Camps will be launched. Camp Discovery is designed to inspire the inner scientist and engineer in youngsters. Summer camps are the perfect opportunity to explore, experiment and discover. The exciting and enriching summer camps are for students entering grades 4-8 and offer hands-on science experiments, fun and challenging projects and unique and innovative learning experiences. As part of the projects Student Achievement Awards, outstanding students will receive $250 (tuition free) to attend one of the two STEM camps to be held at Lahaina Intermediate School. Students bring their own lunch. Parents provide transportation or permission to walk to school and back home. Session I, Zombie Survival, will be held June 18-22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lahaina Intermediate School. What would you make or break to help you survive a zombie invasion? Will you be able to throw the zombies off course with illumination of common objects? Take apart common household electronics and explore how they are made. Create duct tape accessories, a flashlight that uses pennies instead of batteries, and connect your artistic, engineering and maker skills to problem solve and create. Session 2, Rocket Science, will be held June 25-29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lahaina Intermediate School. Get ready for some high-flying summer fun at Rocketry Camp 2018! Enjoy an action-packed week of amazing hands-on activities teaching the science of flight and propulsion. Learn the exciting science behind rocketry while building different types of rockets and participate in rocket launches. Family and friends will be amazed as each participant gets a chance to build and launch an Estes rocket and watch it soar into the sky. On Tuesday, May 1, selected students will take home registration forms for parents to sign and return. In order to reserve a space in one of the sessions, parents should deliver their signed forms to the Lahaina Intermediate School office no later than Friday, May 11. Messages can be left for Eckman, director of enrichment services, at LIS. IMPORTANT NOTE: other Lahaina students in grades 4-8 who are interested in participating in the Summer 2018 Camp Discovery-Lahaina should contact Murta at info@MauiScience Center.com or 281-4691. Camp fees are $265 per child per five-day week. During the school year, Eckman will reach out to the community to seek professional groups who would like to participate by offering hands-on enrichment activities that will further enhance the projects current instructional programs in math and language arts. Tutoring after school will continue at the sites below. Parents may contact the site director if they have questions regarding next years programs. At Princess Nahienaena Elementary School, under Directors Smythe and Ota and Coordinator Huff, grades four and five math tutoring will be held Tuesdays from 2 to 3:15 p.m. in the Lahainaluna High School cafeteria from September 2018 to March 2019. A bus will provide rides to and from the LHS cafeteria. Also at Princess Nahienaena School, grades three and five language arts tutoring will be offered Wednesdays from 1:20 to 3 p.m. from September to March. Warwick will direct these programs assisted by Inaba and Nancy Eckman. At Lahainaluna, ninth grade algebra tutoring will be held Tuesdays from 2 to 3:15 p.m. starting in August. The coordinators are Quinn, Bradley and LHS math teachers. Endsley noted, Educating our youngsters is a serious responsibility. This project has continued because of the strong support of so many community individuals and groups that worked together to provide opportunities that may help youngsters achieve their potential as members of society. We believe the addition of exciting summer discovery camps and mini hands-on activities will open more windows toward literacy for our keiki, she continued. The board members of the tutor project extend their appreciation and gratitude for the 17 years of support. Equity in education is a wise investment for our Lahaina students, their parents and schools. Please support this selfless leadership team of dedicated and loyal community volunteers. LAHAINA Tenth District Rep. Angus McKelvey last week announced the release of $425,971 for air conditioning for Lahainaluna High School. Sixth District Sen. Roz Baker also applauded the project, noting that the air conditioning for portables at LHS is so needed. McKelvey previously secured the funding for the project in the state budget and is happy to see the funds being released by the DOE to move forward on the much-needed cooling of the Lahainaluna classrooms. My hope is now that the contract has been awarded, the work can be done in time to have the buildings cooled at the hottest part of the year, he said. This contract for air conditioning is an integral part of the overall Lahainaluna High School Classroom Building Project award, which will include seven general classrooms, a self-contained Special Education room, restrooms, a conference room, a faculty center and an electrical room. McKelvey is also pleased that the contract was awarded to Betsill Brothers LLC, a local company from Kihei that ranks in the top 9 percent of Hawaii licensed contractors. Having a local company do this project is an important step in making sure its done right, and Im happy to see this important project for our kids going to a Maui business, he said. According to the Department of Education, construction on this project will begin soon. Work involves installation of air conditioning in six portable classroom buildings. Work includes hazardous material removal and controls, selective demolition, roofing, painting, air conditioning installation, control and testing, duct work, electrical and other related work. The Dalton Police Department will host a ceremony Tuesday, May 15 to observe Peace Officers Memorial Day. The ceremony will be held near the Chief William Hannah Police Memorial on the grounds of the Police Services Center at 3 p.m. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held inside the Police Services Center. Afterwards, the department will serve a light meal of grilled hot dogs and chips. The public is invited to attend. The May 15 ceremony will continue the departments tradition of observing National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day. The ceremony will include a presentation by the department's honor guard and a recognition of all Georgia law enforcement officers lost in the line of duty in the past year. The Chief Hannah Memorial was dedicated at the department's Peace Officers Memorial Day observance in 2014 and stands in honor of Chief William Bill Hannah, a former chief of the Dalton Police who was killed in the line of duty in 1899. The marker also bears the name of Officer Maurice William Phillips, Sr. who was killed by an accidental gunshot during training in 1956. The memorial marker stands near the intersection of Jones Street and Waugh Street. May 15 was declared to be National Peace Officers Memorial Day by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. President Kennedy further declared that the week in which Peace Officers Memorial Day falls to be National Police Week. This year, Police Week runs from Sunday, May 13 through Saturday, May 19. 2018 marks the 100-year anniversary of the end of World War I, but for a group of local middle school students, the European battles and battlefields of the war to end all wars are much more than a quickly-fading history lesson. Using the symbolic playing field and pieces of a chess game, the students created Chess Peace, a 15-minute movie describing the initial animosity between French and German soldiers, and their ideal evolution to a more peaceful outcome. The project was the result of collaboration between the San Diego French-American School (SDFAS) in La Jolla and the German Pacific School of San Diego (GPSSD) in North Clairemont . According to Benedicte Brouder, middle school director for SDFAS, the impetus for the project was the annual history contest sponsored by EUSTORY, a network of non-governmental organizations founded in 2001 to encourage young people to understand history. Recent competitions have focused on World War I and Franco-German relationships. This years theme is Peace in War Time. I thought the project was purposeful, profound, inspiring and necessary to convey key messages to the young generations we schools have in our care, explained Brouder. The EUSTORY contest has clear goals: 1) Keep memories of events alive, 2) Promote cross-cultural understanding, 3) Promote peace, and 4) Give French and German students an opportunity to work together to build bridges and friendships. SDFAS has a recent partnership with the German Pacific School, so I reached out to Wiebke Elbe, the director, and she immediately said yes, added Brouder. Once the decision to enter the contest was made, the project took on a life of its own, with a series of fortunate coincidences, with the stars aligning, as Brouder described it. It was a dream team. About 40 students (half from each school) signed up for the project, as well as parents and teachers. The first step was selecting a medium. The contest allows research papers, exhibitions, blogs, websites and audio or visual projects. The students decided to make a movie, but first they needed lessons in movie-making. Help from the pros Brouder turned to her next-door neighbor in La Jolla, Diane Alpaio. A screenwriter, Alpaio was happy to jump in and teach the students a basic Screenwriting 101" class. She also helped them focus on the message they wanted to convey and a way to depict it. A movie is a message in a story, Alpaio explained. Exploring the SDFAS campus, Alpaio was struck by a large chessboard with plastic pieces on the blacktop and suggested the idea of somehow using a game of chess. From there, the storyline evolved, as the students suggested more ideas, such as using human actors as chess pieces and laying out a chessboard on the playing field. Alpaio stayed on as director. The students met on Saturdays as well as once a week as part of a class. They were encouraged to contribute based on their interests and abilities, said Brouder, and this included writing, researching, directing, acting, selecting music and art, and designing sets and costumes. In addition to conveying a meaningful message, the group worked to make sure all aspects of the film were authentic from music and art to costumes, flags and chess moves. The whole process took approximately six months. It was a lot of hard work, with the students sometimes standing for hours, explained Brouder. Also contributing their talents were cinematographer/editor Alexandra Borbolla, and a drone camera operator for overhead shots, Julien Moncelet. Unscripted episodes Although the students worked carefully, some scenes were serendipitously unscripted. One scene shot in the San Diego Museum of Art has the students reacting to a 1914 painting by a WWI soldier, Otto Dix. In another, they read the diary of one of their great-grandparents, a soldier who survived the war. Alpaio, who is used to working alone, said she enjoyed collaborating with the students. Its a happy school, with a respectful and happy environment, she said. The students are open, but on track. Its refreshing to see their creativity. The movie, she said, contains a powerful message " that if you have the courage to separate from the group, others take notice and join. For Brouder, Chess Peace is part of her overall vision for her students. Born in Paris, she speaks French, German and English, has three grown sons, and has been a bilingual educator for 20 years, including working for the United Nations. We are trying to raise good people, she said. People and peace are the most important. We have to be brave and stand for our beliefs. In addition to teaching students to work creatively and collaboratively, Brouder said the project was about the importance of history. Teaching history is key, she said. Memories of the past are key to understanding human history, societies and civilizations stories, to understand the present and build a more peaceful future. Here in San Diego, our young students are far from Europe, even if we follow both history curriculum (French and American), and events from 100 years ago seem very foreign to them, though WWI radically changed our world and the impact is still very present in todays geopolitics. On March 21, Chess Peace made its debut in front of the SDFAS student body. Two days later, Brouder entered it into the EUSTORY contest. It is competing against 133 other entries. Results will be announced on May 20. TO WATCH THE MOVIE: Select the Vimeo link at the top of the SDFAS website, sdfrenchschool.org or watch the movie directly at vimeo.com/264109438 Pottery Canyon homeowner Bill Allen recently contacted the Light to report motorists speeding down the hill at Torrey Pines Road at upward of 70 mph. The speed limit is 45 mph, although 40 is posted for the curves that constitute much of the stretch. I dont even know how the people in those condos get out of the driveway without getting killed, Allen said. For more than a decade, committees have been rallying for project plans to slow traffic and improve pedestrian and bicycle access along Torrey Pines. The streets more residential area to the west grabs most of the current attention and improvements including a pedestrian-activated crosswalk signal currently under construction between Amalfi Street and Hillside Drive. However, the 1.3-mile downhill stretch from Glenbrook Way to Pottery Park Driveway has a history of speeding complaints. Once the traffic light at Glenbrook turns green, it seems that many motorists vent their frustration with the snarled traffic on La Jolla Village Drive by gunning their accelerators down what some residents refer to as the Torrey Pines Freeway. Speed along this portion of road has always been high, said San Diego police traffic officer Mark McCullough, explaining that drivers accelerate down the hill and lose their sense of speed until they come back in housing and businesses. A 2009 traffic survey conducted by the City found this road had 1.12 accidents per million vehicle miles, 3.73 times the rate for streets with the same classification. Our own speed trap The Light attempted to gauge the current severity of the problem. Lacking our own radar gun, we piggy-backed on the one inside the speed-indicator sign about 750 feet uphill from Pottery Park Driveway. From 10 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 26, the speeds of 190 vehicles were recorded. The fastest was 59 mph. However, this was not accurate because faster speeds were not flashed by the sign. In fact, three cars whooshed by so fast, they resembled the Starship Enterprise in the opening credits to the original Star Trek. (An estimate of 80 mph for each of the three cars which was conservative was factored into our average. An employee of the Citys Transportation Engineering Operations Division, who asked not to be identified, guessed that the sign was calibrated to only display speeds up to 20 mph over the limit.) Another issue we had: When the traffic light at Pottery Park Driveway turned red, for about two minutes every 12 minutes, motorists could see this about 100 feet uphill from the sign. Thus, many cars seemed to slow considerably before their previous downhill speeds could be measured. To compensate for this effect, we increased the total average speed by 5 mph. The average traffic speed we came up with during our study was 52 mph, 7 miles over the speed limit and 17 miles over the 35 mph speed limit the cars were approaching. Its not a scientific study, but we think its a decent approximation of reality. I drive that stretch myself and I observe its quite speedy, agreed La Jolla Traffic & Transportation board chair Dave Abrams, adding that his board has received complaints mostly about the noise from speeding motorcycles but that the problem is more of an enforcement issue. However, police officers dont tend to use radar and/or pull speeders over on that stretch, McCullough said, because the road is narrow and does not offer a lot of safe locations for officers to set their cars or motorcycles. Officers would need to pace speeders and then pull them over at the bottom of the hill, which is rare. When we are able to get some enforcement in the area, it slows, McCullough said. But then, when we leave, the speed just goes back up. There is not a lot more than can be done at this time as the primary unit that goes out to do traffic and speed enforcement has gone from 55 officers to under 30 officers. They have added so much to their plate now as well has taken away the time they use to spend on traffic enforcement as well. Until we see an increase to our traffic unit, things will not get much better. Do speed indicators work? The VCalm speed monitors were installed as a traffic-calming measure. However, no drivers observed seem to slow down after having their speed flashed at them at least while the traffic light at Pottery Canyon Driveway was green. This calls the signs effectiveness into question. We have had some history with those on Soledad Mountain Road, Abrams said. There are a couple of signs there that, for several months, werent operational. The residents complained bitterly about that, seeming to think they were helpful. However, what typically happens is that, initially, when people see their speed flashing as 10 miles over the limit, theyll slow down. But after a time, the regular users of that road seem to realize that there is no enforcement. A 2012 study by Baltimores Morgan State University seems to confirm both points. It concluded that speed indicators are an effective traffic-calming measure, yet should be used as a temporary solution because their effectiveness reduces with time and that when a (speed indicator) is combined with another speed-control device, such as a speed camera, its effectiveness increases. Speed cameras are currently not legal in California, although legislative bills occasionally get introduced to try to change this. Other solutions Colin Parent, executive director of Circulate San Diego, a nonprofit group that advocates for traffic safety, is familiar with this downhill stretch. Gravity is going to encourage more speed, so thats all the more reasons to take measures to try and counteract that, he said. Parent offered several ideas, none of which was lowering the speed limit. Regardless of what a streets posted speed limit is, drivers tend to drive as fast as the streets are designed to accommodate, he said. Enforcing or posting lower speed limits is often not sufficient to see actually reduced speeds, so the solution to a street like this is to design it better. Parent suggested an additional stoplight, or stop sign, midway down the mile-long stretch, where no other streets intersect with Torrey Pines Road. Another possibility, he said, is narrower lanes. Its sort of counter-intuitive, Parent said, because people tend to think that wide lanes are safer, but when you have them, people tend to drive faster. If you go from a 12-foot lane to a 10-foot lane, it makes drivers feel more anxious and they tend to drive slower. Any proposed change would warrant a separate traffic survey to see what impact it might have, said City public information officer Anthony Santacroce. He added that a perpetual speed study is underway for the pedestrian crosswalk. Although 52 mph doesnt seem like an unreasonable speed in a 40-45 mph zone, Parent cautioned: If one is hit by a car going 52 mph, theres a strong likelihood that the person will die, and that 10 mph can matter a lot. A town hall meeting held April 30 at La Jolla Library may have been intended to introduce the community to new San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit, but nearly half the meeting was dedicated to the concerns surrounding the end of Playa Del Norte in WindanSea. At issue is the foot of Playa Del Norte, which has a striped, no-parking zone. In response to resident concerns that people were parking and congregating there at night reportedly engaging in illegal activities including drug use and vandalism stanchions outlining the no-parking area were installed in summer 2017 to block access. However, surfers who use the area to view the ocean and wave sets sought to have the stanchions removed and an alternative implemented. A petition was circulated asking for the view to be restored and it garnered hundreds of signatures. Hoping for a meet-in-the-middle solution, City Council member Barbara Bry launched a six-month pilot program April 18 to allow for two, 15-minute parking spaces, where parking is permitted 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The stanchions came down and the striped area was reduced that day. Bry elaborated at the Town Hall: My goal with this pilot program is two-pronged: education and enforcement. Im working with community members who will be placing information cards on automobiles that park in the spaces (illegally). The cards will explain if drivers violate the rules, they understand the privilege could be revoked. Im also using RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Patrol) to serve as another set of eyes and ears. My office has asked for parking enforcement officers to cite motorists who violate the rules, and increased patrolling by police at night. A request, she said, Chief Nisleit has approved. A packed house at La Jolla Library listens to new San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit and City Council member Barbara Bry discuss, among other things, the parking configuration at the foot of Playa Del Norte. (Ashley Mackin-Solomon ) But residents say in the span of less than two weeks, there have been hundreds of traffic violations and observations of illegal or disruptive activity at Playa Del Norte. Neighborhood Watch Captain for the area, Elizabeth Green, joined by about a dozen neighbors, said when the stanchions were placed: public safety was restored. However, Brys decision to launch the pilot program: made the situation worse than it was before and Green asked: Why have you taken my lifelong dream of owning a home on the beach and turned it into a nightmare? The stories of other homeowners echoed her concerns. Resident Tony Luna said: Over the past 10 days, we have witnessed (and our home video surveillance has shown), several groups engaging in illegal and disrespectful behavior, damaging property, ignoring the law and destroying the peaceful enjoyment of our neighborhood. We have documented more than 250 traffic and safety violations, including 162 incidences of wrong-way drivers; 13 incidences of the area becoming a makeshift skateboard park, using private property as rails; 50 cars that double- or triple-parked, creating a blockage on that street; 78 cars exceeding the 15-minute parking limit; 19 cars parking in the striped no-parking area; and parking beyond the no-parking night time and conducting suspicious activities. Many said once the stanchions were put in place, many of the problems ended and did not require police enforcement from an already understaffed department. Others opined that the parking alternative provides a view, but doesnt solve a problem; whereas the stanchions solved an existing problem. Representing the surfers and hoping to keep the stanchions away, Friends of WindanSea member Jim Neri, said: Ive lived at this beach for 50 years and we have used that same space, not for drinking or using drugs, but for checking out the surf. This public vantage point is for the public to view the ocean. He advocated for letting the six months of the pilot program lapse before anything else is changed and offered to have Friends of WindanSea post a new sign that reads: Quiet Zone: Please Respect Neighbors. After listening to the comments, Bry responded: Its clear you all care about the community, and I know WindanSea is a treasure. Illegal parking should be ticketed, but does not threaten public safety. Wrong-way driving would be addressed by proper signage. Illegal use of drugs and alcohol is a criminal act and we need to apprehend the people doing that. But, she said: its a very popular area and we have to do as good a job as we can of making sure the area is accessible to everyone. I wanted this pilot to happen, but before we did, we asked the Police Department for documentation of issues that happened in this area and there were very few. Bry recommended convening as a community surfers and residents to figure out a way to work together going forward, and she promised to orchestrate a meeting by the end of May. In the meantime, Bill Harris, spokesperson for the San Diego Transportation & Stormwater Department, said the City would be watching the area carefully and taking resident feedback. There are tweaks we can do, but its your feedback thats going to make the difference, he said, and he suggested use of the Citys Get It Done app. Chief Nisleit said this issue was brought to his attention in the days prior, but that police would be stepping up our game and residents would see more parking enforcement and officers on motorcycles. I ask that you be patient, but we will find a way for everyone to coexist and work with the City Council office to find the best solution. On Serving the People Audio Article LISTEN Hau Midakuepi (Greetings My Relatives), Growing up in Indian Country, I never heard much about such things as the... LETTER TO THE EDITOR Audio Article LISTEN Dear Editor: Ive been thinking about our Oglala Sioux Tribe for some time and wondered why development progress was... Ambassador A.L.A. Azeez, Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in Geneva met with the Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi at UNCTAD headquarters, on 30th April 2018. UNCTAD Secretary General appreciated Sri Lanka for the active role played and the productive contribution made towards the effective operationalization of the organization in its establishment phase as well as for the continued support and cooperation extended in the implementation of UNCTADs agenda and programmes. Ambassador Azeez took the opportunity to reaffirm Sri Lanka's commitment to the work undertaken by UNCTAD, in particular towards facilitating and strengthening developing countries integration into the globalized economy and their implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. He assured the UNCTAD Secretary General that Sri Lanka would further enhance its partnership and would proactively contribute to the ongoing activities of UNCTAD. Having highlighted Sri Lankas continuing cooperation with UNCTAD on a number of prioroty areas such as Investment, Electronic Commerce, Science and Technology and Commodity Development, among others, Sri Lankas Permanent Representative projected Sri Lanka as an important venue for hosting multilateral and regional activities of UNCTAD in the future. UNCTAD is a permanent intergovernmental body established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1964. Its primary mandate is to provide a forum to deal with issues relating to trade, investment, and development affecting progress and prospects for development of developing countries. UNCTAD, pursuant to this mandate, extends assistance to developing countries in their efforts to effectively integrate into the world economy on an equitable basis. Sri Lanka Permanent Mission Geneva 1st May 2018 Beginning on Monday, and lasting through July 20, TDOT crews will be removing and replacing 16 deteriorating cross drains on SR-30 in Polk County between log mile 2.65 and log mile 8. This section of SR-30 is slightly over five miles in length and extends from U.S. 411 to near Webbs Store at the intersection of SR-315 in Reliance. This work will take place between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and will require intermittent lane closures as the work progresses. This work is being performed ahead of a resurfacing project on SR-30 that is scheduled to begin in late summer/early fall of this year. After the cross drains have been replaced, the riding surface will be rougher than before. Crews will monitor and mitigate these areas until the resurfacing project begins later this year. Drivers are encouraged to use caution as they travel though this area. Even in the most amicable of arrangements, when all the ostensible needs are met, and everyone is healthy and clear-headed, its nearly impossible to harness the sedulous nuances of adoption. The cryptic despair and magnanimous ideology surrounding this one singular transaction, which then congeal together to form an entirely different kind of molecular activity other than DNA, is damningly mercurial. But these are, of course, stories that need to be told, nonfiction and fiction alike the coarse gratification of catharsis and the freedom to imagine what could be, respectively. I suspect theres a little of both in That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam, the son of Bangladeshi immigrants, who together with his white husband is raising two adopted black sons in rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn, New York. That Kind of Mother, Alams novel following his 2016 bestselling fiction debut Rich and Pretty, centers around Rebecca Stone, an attractive white woman in her 30s who lives in a big house in Washington, D.C., with her husband, Christopher, a British diplomat, during the Reagan administration. Rebecca is a well-educated poet who cooks delicious meals in her spacious, well-ordered kitchen, is generally unbothered or casually imperious and has an affinity for Princess Diana. She is, essentially, the very embodiment of white privilege, which would be less grating if she had any real sense of this throughout the novel. Like many new mothers, after giving birth to her first child, a son named Jacob, Rebecca has trouble getting the hang of breastfeeding, which prompts the services of the hospital liaison from La Leche League, a black woman named Priscilla. The two women dont form a bond so much as Rebecca decides, when she gets home with the baby and fully realizes the stresses and demands of being a stay-at-home mother, that she needs help, and her desired help is Priscilla. No mind that Priscilla already has a job at the hospital, where her grown daughter Cheryl works as a nurse and had pulled the administrative strings to arrange a job for her mother. But Rebecca is accustomed to having things be a certain way, accustomed to having things period, and as her husband tells her, The right amount of money makes anything possible. Rebeccas sense of entitlement is not because she is wealthy, although that is part of it, but almost certainly because she is white and can afford the luxury of thinking about race only in terms of prosaic inner musings. Its not strange to have a nanny or some kind of help if you are a working mother and can afford it, and while poetry is certainly a viable and respectable vocation, its fairly clear that Rebecca is not looking for Priscilla to free up writing hours, but rather, to allow her the time to think about herself. Even that wouldnt be so bad if Rebecca had even a smidge more depth of character, and/or the ability to see Priscilla as something beyond a one-dimensional stereotype: Because she was full of a certain kind of wisdom, Priscilla seemed much older, but Rebecca sensed this wasnt the case. Still, she didnt trust her estimates, because Priscillas blackness was a complication. Hair and skin are giveaways, but Rebecca didnt understand black hair or black skin. Advertisement Surely, Alam did not set out to create an unlikeable character, and there are moments of real vulnerability in Rebecca, when shes navigating the frantic haze of new motherhood, held emotionally hostage, as we are, by the love for our children however they come to us. Becoming Andrews mother was neither the least nor the most she could do; it was, simply, what she had done. And yet, whatever maternal instinct she has stops at exploring or considering race. Granted, this is pre-Google, but books from the library work too when someone is curious about someone different from themselves. Later, Rebecca ponders whether Priscilla might like the work of poet Nikki Giovanni: Was she recommending Giovanni because Giovanni was, like Priscilla, a black woman? This seemed so idiotic but maybe true. And yet we never find out, because Rebecca never asks Priscilla directly, or follows through on her offer to share some of Giovannis poetry. That Kind of Mother by Rumaan Alam (Ecco ) Rebecca is genuinely fond of Priscilla, and Priscilla, though she clearly considers Rebecca her boss, may well feel a similar fondness in return. But Priscillas feelings dont matter here because Rebeccas affection toward her as, well, a mammy figure, is paramount to everything else: Priscillas body that familiar soft hardness, that compact power, that unfussy grace. Priscillas femininity was more like a utility. Then naturally (or unnaturally, if were going down that road), Priscilla dies in childbirth, something that is never actually explained; Priscilla is in her early 40s and in seemingly good health. Coincidentally, Priscillas daughter Cheryl, who had recently married and was herself pregnant when her mother died, gives birth a few weeks later and was, not surprisingly, overwhelmed by the whole series of events. No worries. Rebecca has a plan. One that will serve her and, perhaps also, whatever, maybe Cheryl too. It starts as a temporary arrangement Rebecca would bring the new baby, Andrew, home with her until Cheryl got her bearings. But really, Rebecca has made the unilateral decision that she will adopt the baby despite there being no indication whatsoever that Priscilla would want Rebecca to adopt her child if something happened to her. In the months that follow, during which Rebeccas husband, Christopher, struggles to reconcile the situation, offering an alternative of financial help for Cheryl and her husband to raise Andrew along with their new daughter, Ivy. An appalling suggestion to Rebecca, who squeezed the baby closer upon hearing it, because [h]e was too young to protest this her assumption being that this small black life would prefer to live with this rich white family rather than with his own black family, who may or may not need or want financial help. Christopher argues for the latter, but Rebecca was going to have this black child no matter what her own rationale falls somewhere between this being a way to repay Priscilla for helping her become the mother she wanted to be, and her own pure, unadulterated selfishness: This is what I want, Rebecca said, and as she said it, knew that she always got what she wanted. Advertisement His is an exceedingly accurate portrait of the many white women who have adopted black children in America. Rebecca Carroll on That Kind of Mother We traverse several years with Jacob and Andrew growing together as brothers, shared holidays with Cheryl, her husband and daughter at Rebecca and Christophers enormous house, sometimes including extended family. Rebeccas British mother-in-law drops the inevitable racial microaggressions; a white mother at the park asks Rebecca if Andrew is hers, to which she responds, of course, Hes mine. Rebecca dreams of armed policemen entering the house and taking Andrew from her arms but not, say, as a black mother of a black son might dream anxiously, that armed policemen profile him on the street and shoot Andrew dead. Gradually, we see what it looks like for Rebecca to become the white mother of a black child through the eyes of a Bangladeshi American gay man raising black adopted children with his white husband in an upper-middle class neighborhood. And the truth is, whether intentional or not, Alam has hit the nail squarely on the head. His is an exceedingly accurate portrait of the many white women who have adopted black children in America, including the legion of white celebrity women, and also my own white adoptive mother, who didnt understand how to care for my skin, my hair; how to accept and prepare for the unavoidable racism I would encounter and didnt ask or research or pursue how to raise a black child in black culture. Rebecca thinks about blackness and race peripherally she entertains abstract thoughts, and applauds herself for doing so, while remaining wildly ignorant: She placed a hand on top of his hair, so thick and curly that sometimes, after his bath, shed discover that his scalp was still dry, untouched by the water shed poured over the top of him. Even as Cheryl, who goes along with the arrangement until she cant, tries to explain to Rebecca what it means to be the parent of a black son in America eh, Rebeccas got it covered: The life Andrews going to have, its not going to be the way your life was. Not the way Priscillas life was. And, you know, really this is just obtuse on Rebeccas part. Studies show (provided, two decades later) that no matter or wherever black boys are raised or educated, they still get screwed especially when it comes to wealth. Advertisement That Kind of Mother is ultimately about Rebecca the kind of white mother who loves the idea of being a poet, of being compassionate, of saving a black child from what she presumes to be the less fortunate circumstance of growing up around other black people. The story is never once about Andrew, whose life is simultaneously the most fragile and resilient, and from which we could have learned a great deal about interracial adoption and the complications of black identity in white spaces had it been fully realized. This, though, is why Alams novel is so important. That Kind of Mother offers a blueprint for how not to be a white mother of a black child, while also, to a careful reader, prompting questions for prospective white adoptive parents of black children. And more broadly speaking, what does it tell us that a gay brown adoptive father of two black children chose to tell the story of interracial adoption by centering it on the experience of a white woman? We all make and define family in different ways, but those of us who are parenting black children cannot forget that we are preparing them to go out into a world founded upon ripping black families apart. Carroll is a producer of special projects on race at WNYC, the author of five nonfiction books and one of the Times Critics at Large. Advertisement :: That Kind of Mother Rumaan Alam Ecco: 304 pp., $26.99 HBO is developing a documentary series based on Michelle McNamaras Ill Be Gone in the Dark: One Womans Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer, Deadline reports. The news comes just weeks after the network announced it had acquired the rights to the book, and eight days after police arrested a suspect, former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., in connection with the string of rapes and killings that terrified Californians in the 1970s and 1980s. McNamara, a true crime writer, had been working on her book about the Golden State Killer before she died in 2016 at age 46. The book was finished by writers Billy Jensen and Paul Haynes, along with McNamaras widower, actor and comedian Patton Oswalt. A copy of the book, Ill Be Gone in the Dark: One Womans Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer by Michelle McNamara. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press ) Advertisement The Golden State Killer, also known as the East Area Rapist and the Original Night Stalker, is understood to have killed a dozen people and raped more than 50 women starting in 1976 and ending in 1986. DeAngelo was arrested and charged with eight of the killings after authorities said they linked him to the slayings through a genealogy DNA website. He is being held without bail. After DeAngelos arrest, Oswalt credited his late wifes investigation for the breakthrough in the cold case, tweeting: I think you got him, Michelle. Writer Michelle McNamara became obsessed with the case and spent years researching it. She wrote an article for Los Angeles magazine and was turning it into a book when she died in 2016. Her widower, comedian and actor Patton Oswalt, helped complete Oswalt had discussed the Golden State Killer case two days before DeAngelos arrest at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books with Times book editor Carolyn Kellogg, saying: Part of me hopes that even if hes never caught, that Michelle did something towards robbing him of some peace of mind. The HBO series based on McNamaras book will be directed by Liz Garbus, who has previously directed the documentaries Ghosts of Abu Ghraib and Love, Marilyn. Oswalt will serve as executive producer of the series. Anheuser-Busch, which ordered 40 electric semi trucks from Tesla last December, on Thursday upped its bet on a green fleet by placing a substantially larger order with a competitor. The beer company said it plans to buy as many as 800 trucks from Nikola Motor Co. Where Tesla uses batteries in its powertrain technology, Phoenix-based Nikola uses hydrogen fuel cells. In both cases, the vehicles generate no tailpipe pollutants. Tesla and Nikola are vying for share in a market dominated by diesel-fueled trucks. Ingrid De Ryck, Anheuser-Buschs vice president of procurement and sustainability, said the company plans to convert its entire 800-vehicle company-owned fleet to vehicles that emit no pollution or greenhouse gases by 2025. Advertisement The company plans to reduce carbon emissions by 25% over our entire value chain by 2025, De Ryck said. This will help us reach our sustainability goals. The market for heavy duty semi trucks is small and slow-growing. In 2016, 249,952 big trucks were sold in the U.S., the majority using conventional diesel fuel, according to IHS Markit. That represents growth of only 0.6% over the previous year. Alternative-powertrain companies such as Nikola and Tesla have to displace traditional truck makers to gain traction. This [order] is a very big deal, and it should be a big kick in the pants for Nikola on its path moving forward, said Antii Lindstrom, who covers trucks for IHS Markit. Beyond appealing to environmental concerns, electric truck makers must prove that total cost of ownership will be lower than for diesel-powered trucks, even if electric versions are more expensive upfront. Trevor Milton, Nikolas founder and chief executive, said sales to companies such as Anheuser-Busch help make the case. Manufacturing capacity, not market acceptance, is the constraint that concerns him. The company plans to build a factory in Buckeye, Ariz., 36 miles west of Phoenix on Interstate 10. It wont be ready for at least three years; Milton said a contractor will manufacture the trucks in the meantime. Last year, Tesla announced plans to begin producing battery-powered semi trucks in 2019, with a range of 500 miles. Pepsi, Walmart, City Furniture and several other companies in addition to Anheuser-Busch have put down deposits. Nikolas hydrogen system creates electricity by splitting hydrogen electrons from the protons. Those particles are then combined with ambient air to create water as the waste product. Advertisement Milton contends that fuel cells are better for trucking than the battery cells used in most electric vehicles because the system is much lighter. Weight is a key concern in long-range hauling; for one thing, federal law says a fully loaded truck cant weigh more than 80,000 pounds.. But hardly any hydrogen refueling stations exist. Working with Anheuser-Busch, and using its own capital, Nikola plans to build 28 fueling stations along the beer companys heaviest routes. The stations will be usable by fuel-cell vehicles made by other companies. Nikola plans to process its own hydrogen fuel at each station with on-site solar power, wind power or by buying electricity created through renewable sources such as hydropower. Milton faces some of the same challenges as Elon Musk at Tesla. Where Tesla is putting solar panels on houses to fill storage batteries with energy that are then used to recharge cars, Milton is building a truck-based energy ecosystem. Milton will have to prove his company can build trucks on time with high quality while managing an entirely new business model involving untested technologies and start producing free cash flow before investment capital runs out. Advertisement At the same time, like Tesla, Nikola faces giant competitors: Kenworth, Toyota and other truck makers are planning to enter the fuel cell truck market. (Another connection: Nikola is named after Nikola Tesla, who among many other things is responsible for making alternating current dominant on the electric grid.) Nikola, meanwhile, is suing Tesla, claiming Musks company stole its aerodynamic truck design and other intellectual property. russ.mitchell@latimes.com Twitter: @russ1mitchell Fired CBS News anchor Charlie Roses sexual misconduct was widespread and occurred over decades, according to an investigation published Thursday in the Washington Post. The report alleges that three CBS News executives were made aware of Roses conduct. But CBS News said its human resources department never received a harassment complaint about Rose until after his termination in November. Rose, 76, was fired from CBS This Morning and 60 Minutes, after eight women who worked at his PBS talk show told the Post he had groped them, exposed himself or spoke to them inappropriately. PBS also canceled the nightly talk show, Charlie Rose. Advertisement The new Post report has 27 women, including 14 who worked at CBS News, alleging they were harassed by Rose. Rose is accused in one incident of exposing his penis and touching the breasts of a co-worker at the Washington bureau of NBC News where they worked in 1976. Roses email response to the new allegations raised by the Post said: Your story is unfair and inaccurate. CBS News said in a statement that it could not corroborate or confirm the accounts in the Post story, one of which dates back to 1986. The news division said in a statement that since Roses departure it has stepped up efforts to deal with inappropriate workplace behavior and has hired employment lawyers from the firm Proskauer Rose LLP to advise the company. Since we terminated Charlie Rose, weve worked to strengthen existing systems to ensure a safe environment where everyone can do their best work, the statement read. Some of the actions we have taken have been reported publicly, some have not. We offer employees discretion and fairness, and we take swift action when we learn of unacceptable behavior. That said, we cannot corroborate or confirm many of the situations described. We continue to look for ways to improve our workplace and this period of reflection and action has been important to all of us. We are not done with this process. The incidents alleged to have happened at CBS range from 1986, when Rose was an anchor on the overnight program Nightwatch, to 2017 at 60 Minutes. Most of the accounts are from unnamed sources who said they feared retribution for speaking out. The Post said it corroborated specific accounts with witnesses or people in whom they confided. The story quotes Sophie Gayter, a former 60 Minutes employee, who said Rose grabbed her buttocks as she walked down the hallway of the newsmagazines office in 2013. Some women told the newspaper they feared going to executives about the incidents. The Post quoted Gayter as saying that people did what they wanted to you. Advertisement 60 Minutes Executive Producer Jeff Fager said he was never aware of Rose acting inappropriately. Fager brought Rose to 60 Minutes as a correspondent in 1998 and was chairman of CBS News when the anchor joined CBS This Morning. The story describes incidents that were brought to the attention of two executive producers who supervised Rose. A CBS This Morning employee who said she was forcibly kissed by Rose at a party in late 2011 told Chris Licht, then the executive producer of the program, about the incident shortly after it occurred, the Post reported. But Licht was asked by the woman not to bring the issue up to human resources. Licht told the Post he respected the womans wishes but that he did address the matter with Rose. CBS News said Lichts response was appropriate at the time, although the company has since changed its policy and requires all harassment complaints to be reported to human resources. Advertisement stephen.battaglio@latimes.com Twitter: @SteveBattaglio Some 30 people, including children, were injured Wednesday night in an explosion during a Jewish festival bonfire in north London. Videos recorded at the event showed a bonfire being lit, followed by a large explosion and a fireball engulfing the crowd standing near the fire. Some witnesses said the explosion was sparked by mobile phones being thrown into the bonfire, a tradition for Lag BaOmer, an annual Jewish festive day. However, Jewish website Yeshiva reported that "it appears that the explosion was caused by fuel and not the smartphone, although there definitely were multiple smartphones placed inside the pile to be burned". Ten people are believed to have been hospitalized. Their conditions were not known immediately. Left for dead and vastly underestimated by a trio of male attackers, a young woman stands tall against the expanse of an unforgiving desert, spattered in blood. Steely determination is set in her eyes, a rifle slung over her shoulder. She is the first horror movie heroine of the Times Up era, the center of the French film Revenge and shes ready for a fight. Revenge is the stylish, gutsy and gory feature debut of director Coralie Fargeat, whose films premise is itself a trigger warning: Aspiring actress Jen, played by Matilda Lutz, and her wealthy married boyfriend Richard (Kevin Janssens) find their remote weekend getaway interrupted by the early arrival of his hunting buddies (Vincent Colombe and Guillaume Bouchede), who bring with them a charge of leering unease. They party, and then things get out of hand. When Jens sensuality is misread as availability, she is sexually assaulted. And when Richard finds out, he opts to dispose of his mistress rather than risk her exposing his indiscretions. The first idea [for Revenge] really came from the idea of this character, Fargeat says on a recent afternoon at a Studio City cafe, joined by Lutz in the middle of a lunchtime rush. I am very fascinated by the Lolita type of girl, who I think brings very polarizing thoughts. Advertisement A weekend getaway turns into a fight for survival in Coralie Fargeats timely feminist thriller Revenge. (Shudder / NEON ) Its crazy how its changed so many things in my life... shooting a movie like [Revenge] gave me a lot of confidence. Revenge star Matilda Lutz She turned to the multilingual Lutz, who was born and raised in Milan, Italy, to parents involved in fashion and moved to California years ago to give acting a shot. The director and her star share a warm rapport, and neither is too squeamish to detail the brutal thrills and tough subjects that power Revenge. Its how do you say it in English? A person who brings a lot of attraction and plays with her power of seduction, Fargeat continues. At the same time, because of that, shes also going to be seen as an empty character that men think they can really sweep away when they dont need her anymore. Revenge director Coralie Fargeat, left, and star Matilda Lutz at the L.A. Times headquarters at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times ) I wanted her to be very cool, to be a badass not to be the poor little girl that was going to be chased. Revenge director Coralie Fargeat Male entitlement and presumptions of privilege are what Fargeats film aims to obliterate, along with viewer assumptions about blaming women for the trespasses that are committed against their own bodies. But Revenge is also about a woman seizing her own agency, empowering herself, and relying on strengths she never knew she had. Seeing her as attractive and thinking you can get rid of her as you want really says something about the male gaze and the way women are considered, says the director. And having the story of a character who would free herself from these representations and boxes where men want to put her because she looks that way and she dresses that way and because she allows herself to do whatever she wants that was the very first idea. Advertisement Acclaimed by critics since its Toronto International Film Festival premiere in September, Revenge, which opens in theaters May 11, boasted a 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating until this week (it was at 92% at press time). Fargeat has been praised for reclaiming the ogling male lens of 1970s exploitation pictures that tread similar ground but were made by men precursors in the so-called rape and revenge genre like 1978s controversial I Spit on Your Grave. Fargeat, however, sees Revenge less as a rape-and-revenge story and more a visceral tale of survival. I knew early on that I didnt want the movie to be so realistic and to be about the rape that was not at all my idea, she says. It was really to build an iconic heroine. Hers is a heightened phantasmagorical allegory influenced by the transformative horrors of John Carpenter and David Cronenberg movies, the transcendent violence of Korean films like I Saw the Devil and Oldboy, and the operatic vengeance of Quentin Tarantinos Kill Bill the kind of movies where fights are massive and go over the top into a kind of craziness that brings something else, Fargeat explains, that bring a kind of poetry in the blood. Symbolism dots her visual landscape in bold strokes, saturated palettes and economical choices, speaking to bigger-picture targets: Societal conditioning, media constructs of femininity, toxic expressions of masculinity and ingrained systems of misogyny that tell women like Jen that they are meant to be adornments, and are disposable. Advertisement At the center of it all Lutz, 26, enlivens both sides of Jen with nuance: The babe with L.A. dreams eager to play arm candy to her alpha male boyfriend, juxtaposed with the survivor she becomes, forged in fire, whose odyssey is underscored by a tongue-in-cheek bit of self-surgery involving a Mexican beer can that leaves a phoenix-like mark as it cauterizes her wounds. Revenge director Coralie Fargeat at L.A. Times headquarters at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times ) I dont care if its possible! Fargeat says with a laugh, her clear gaze twinkling with mischief. I also wanted her to be very cool, to be a badass not to be the poor little girl that was going to be chased. The image of a phoenix coming from a beer can, the mix of those two symbols, the heroic and the very basic, is fun and makes her original in the way she acts. She and Lutz began exploring the character a little more than a year ago in their first meeting at L.A.s Chateau Marmont, in the heart of a glitzy Hollywood that a wannabe starlet like Jen might dream of. Lutz had acted in Italian films and television shows and was opening her first major studio film stateside, the horror sequel Rings, when Fargeat rang to offer her the role in February last year. Advertisement Two days later Lutz boarded a plane to start the grueling Revenge shoot in Morocco, much of which she spends barefoot and covered in grime, toting a gun and locked in an emotionally and physically demanding campaign of retribution. The films memorable set pieces are breathtakingly R-rated, not for the faint of heart, and far from easy to accomplish. We were covered in blood, the blood was very slippery, and the hallway was very narrow, Lutz says of Revenges most virtuosic sequence, a violent showdown between Jen and a fully naked Richard that bathed the set of his sleek luxury villa in so much fake blood the production had to have more flown in from Paris. They were making it over and over and over, she says smiling proudly. It was me and the actors and the Steadicam operator giving very basic instructions like, Left! Right! Running! More anger! and it was kind of a ballet, Fargeat says. I told my script supervisor, Dont worry, I know how Im going to edit it. Me, I loved it. Because I knew I had it all in my head. Revenges elemental story of survival relies little on dialogue and increasingly on the visceral experience as Jen turns the tables on her predators. But Fargeat and Lutz couldnt have predicted the cathartic release Revenge would bring to moviegoers in 2018, particularly women, as they hit the festival circuit with the film at the height of the #MeToo and Times Up movements. Advertisement Fargeat had written Revenge (distributed theatrically by NEON and digitally via streaming service Shudder) before the current dialogue around sexual harassment and assault rippled into Hollywoods consciousness and public conversations. The films Toronto International Film Festival premiere was three weeks before reports in the New York Times and the New Yorker blew the Harvey Weinstein scandal wide open. Its obvious that when you start to pay attention to the difference in treatment, or what women have to face, its huge, says Fargeat, who is gratified to see discussions of Revenge join the ongoing discourse. And its true that we are raised so as to think its normal. I was raised being told that being a girl is dangerous, that you can be raped, that if you dress sexy youre going to be raped, and you think its normal. Matilda Lutz as Jen in Revenge. (Shudder / NEON ) A major change of society is needed and thats not going to happen in three or four or five months ... its the whole root of society that needs to be changed. Revenge director Coralie Fargeat Advertisement Its just amazing how society was used to being blind, she adds. I think, unfortunately, that the Weinstein story is just the tip of the iceberg. A major change of society is needed and thats not going to happen in three or four or five months, because its the whole root of society that needs to be changed. Lutz says she left the shoot a changed woman, challenging values she was taught back home as she brought Revenges avenger to life. Its crazy how its changed so many things in my life, what I learned from set, she says. Shooting a movie like that gave me a lot of confidence. In Italy you grow up being told that you shouldnt wear a skirt because men will look at you. Ive always been strong, but Ive always felt very concerned about what other people thought of me, what my body looked like, what people were saying about my body, on the beach... on the street if a man was looking at me I would either put my head down or change sides because I was scared of what might happen to me. And now, she said, I dont do that anymore. Advertisement They have both found new energy in California Lutz in Santa Monica where she lives, and Fargeat in L.A. where shes been researching her next film. My next movie wont be horror. I like to do different things, she teases. But I think there are common elements that attract me: Some kind of excess, some kind of madness in the characters that can go very far for what they want, and also creating a not totally realistic universe. Fargeat plans to return to Europe to shepherd Revenge through its U.K. release, but, Lutz says with assurance, Shell be back! I never saw how important a director can be for an actor, she says. Working with [Fargeat] I really realized how important it was for me to trust her and for her to trust me, to do what she wanted me to do. I dont think this would have been the same if she wasnt the director of this movie. Advertisement Day to day it was not easy, Fargeat says, glancing warmly at Lutz. It was tiring but we had this bond during the whole movie, and I think the fact that it was a very intense role, physically and emotionally, added to this relationship. She decided to trust and to be there and that was amazing. So, I think there was a destiny. It was meant to be. ALSO The language of horror: Coralie Fargeat, John Carpenter and more horror maestros on what drives the movies that scare us most Fast Color turns the superhero genre upside down, with a woman of color and a mother in the lead Advertisement Chills and thrills: 7 scary movies to see this summer jen.yamato@latimes.com @jenyamato Something of a follow-up to his 2007 documentary, Swimming in Auschwitz, Jon Keans After Auschwitz examines life after liberation with similarly incisive results. Gathering the same six Holocaust survivors whose remarkably vivid recollections lent the previous film its unique all-female perspective, Keans new group portrait details the uncertain path ahead of each of them after being informed by their Russian liberators that they were free to go home. Not knowing if there even was a home awaiting them, let alone any surviving family members, the women two each from Poland and Czechoslovakia, one from Hungary and one from Holland would end up leaving Europe for America, eventually all settling in Southern California. While Linda Sherman would find work as Ricardo Montalbans nanny and Renee Firestone would go on to become a renowned fashion designer, they along with the other four, would all marry and despite some initial concerns, raise families. Advertisement Despite their best efforts to assimilate into American culture (apparently symbolized for many by ownership of a Chevrolet), theyd find it difficult to leave their pasts behind them, and later, encouraged by their inquisitive grandchildren, would find themselves educating the public about the unspeakable past. Although several of its subjects have since passed on, Keans perceptive film does an effective job of keeping their moving, lucid observations vitally alive. ------------- After Auschwitz Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 21 minutes Playing: Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills; Laemmle Town Center, Encino See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers Advertisement calendar@latimes.com Timed to May Day and International Workers Day, on May 1, comes the documentary American Socialist: The Life and Times of Eugene Victor Debs, directed by Yale Strom. The film opens with the assertion that Debs was the only presidential candidate to be jailed for his platform, and the documentary then wends its way toward this event. American Socialist is a fairly straightforward biographical documentary of Debs, the radical, forward-thinking Socialist leader active during the turn of the century. He got his start as a railroad union leader, was a founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World, and rose through the ranks of the Socialist Party in the United States, which was focused on rights for workers and farmers. He ran for U.S. president five times, once from a prison cell while serving a sentence for sedition because he publicly opposed World War I, and he still managed to garner nearly a million votes. Though Debs is a legendary and influential character, the style of American Socialist fails to come to life. It decidedly apes the style of Ken Burns documentaries, with archival photos, narrated voice-over passages, plus various contemporary talking heads. It feels rooted in the past, despite the freshness of Debs ideas. But American Socialist is an exhaustive primer on his life, executed in a traditional style that doesnt necessarily match the revolutionary thoughts of the man and the movement. Advertisement ------------- American Socialist: The Life and Times of Eugene Victor Debs Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 37 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com Norwegian director Harald Zwart has been a reliable Hollywood hand for nearly two decades, helming undistinguished action-comedies like The Pink Panther 2 alongside the occasional winner like 2010s The Karate Kid. But hes never worked on anything as accomplished or as personal as The 12th Man. Based on the true story of World War II resistance fighter Jan Baalsrud (played by Thomas Gullestad), The 12th Man weaves a tale of wilderness survival into a more expansive look back at how Norway refused to make things easy for the Nazis. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers plays a Gestapo officer determined not to allow any Norwegian to feel emboldened. In 1943, Baalsrud and three trained commandos traveled with an eight-person boat crew to destroy a pivotal Nazi outpost. The rest of the party was captured or killed, but Baalsrud escaped into the mountains, where he relied on his wits, his fellow citizens and a herd of reindeer to survive the severe, bone-chilling weather. The 12th Man dramatizes the most famous moments from the would-be saboteurs story, including him performing self-surgery to stave off gangrene. Fans of extreme survival movies like The Revenant and All Is Lost should appreciate this pictures frostbitten rawness. Advertisement But even more impressive is how Zwart has taken what hes learned from pricey American productions and applied it to one of his homelands self-affirming historical sagas. The 12th Man is a polished crowd-pleaser, with a timeless message: Nazis suck. ------------- The 12th Man In Norwegian and German with English subtitles Not rated Running time: 2 hours, 10 minutes Playing: Arena Cinelounge Sunset, Hollywood See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers Advertisement calendar@latimes.com Adapted from his 2014 play of the same name, Henry Jagloms Train to Zakopane, shot in black-and-white, is an expanded reenactment of an uncomfortable encounter related by his father during a fateful rail trip. Unfortunately, the ride from stage to screen proves equally bumpy. The year is 1928, and Semyon (Mike Falkow), a successful Russian businessman en route to Warsaw, is finding himself simultaneously attracted to and repelled by Katya (Jaglom muse Tanna Frederick) a Polish nurse given to anti-Semitic rants. Despite challenging her beliefs, Semyon finds himself unable to reveal his own Jewish identity in front of his fellow passengers, also including a Polish priest (Stephen Howard) who shares many of her sentiments, and a retired actress (Cathy Arden), all reprising their stage roles. Advertisement Even by Jagloms standards he has often used relationships as fodder for his films this is obviously personal stuff, but what may have been more forgiving in a theatrical setting is subject to greater scrutiny when projected onto a larger canvas. Among the more glaring issues are performances that sound distractingly contemporary and obvious budget constraints that serve to suffocate the overly talky chamber piece instead of providing much-needed breathing room. In the absence of any subtlety, Jagloms protracted discourse on intolerance and compassion begins losing dramatic steam long before it reaches its intended destination. ------------- Train to Zakopane Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 53 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena; Laemmle Town Center 5, Encino See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Advertisement Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com Conan OBrien is tired of sitting at a desk. In 2019, OBrien is abandoning the traditional late-night show formula for his TBS show Conan, trimming his 60-minute series by 30 minutes for a less structured program with fewer guests and more original comedy segments. As part of the joint venture with the network, OBrien will create television, digital and social content and host live events. The first live event will come later this year when he embarks on a multi-city tour to feature new stand-up comedians. Theres no clear idea of what the show would look like in this new format, OBrien said in a Thursday morning conference call with several journalists. But he said he wants to have the option of being more agile and showcase what he says makes Conan stand apart from the other late-night shows. At this stage in my career, what Id like to do is do much more of the stuff that Ive loved or that Im passionate about, he said. Advertisement The popular hour-long segment Conan Without Borders that started with a guerrilla-style trip to Cuba will continue, the network said. OBrien said that first trip was one catalyst that motivated him to think about alternative formats for the show. That was almost a religious experience for me, he said. It completely changed my opinion about what these shows can be. The network also announced Late Night With Conan OBrien and Conan will be available digitally on teamcoco.com in the fall. OBrien was particularly pleased by that announcement. I dont recall being as happy...and I have two children, OBrien joked. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra If selecting an outfit is a daily challenge for many of us, consider for a moment the pressures of being part of the royal family. Sure, you have a phalanx of designers fighting to dress you, but that doesnt ease the burden, given that every ensemble must appear not only regal but relatable as well as comfortable yet stylish all while adhering to an archaic set of royal protocols that vary by season, location and event. Its enough to make even the most blue-blooded aristocrat weep into her hat, let alone a born-and-bred California girl with more use for a Panama hat than a pillbox. However, Meghan Markle, the Los Angeles-born actress and former Suits star set to wed Britains Prince Harry May 19, has tackled the challenge of royal dressing with aplomb since news broke of the couples engagement last November. She has displayed a smart sense of style that is elegant and authentic during her first flurry of official royal outings, although there has been the occasional sartorial hiccup along the way. She looks good, said Moroccan-born fashion designer Jacques Azagury, who dressed Diana, Princess of Wales, during a recent interview, She hasnt made any great statements, but I think thats probably done on purpose. Meghan Markle attends the Anzac Day service at Westminster Abbey. Samir Hussein / WireImage Just a few weeks ago, for example, Markle, 36, opted to wear a bespoke black skirt suit from one of the Duchess of Cambridges favorite designers, Emilia Wickstead, while attending a service commemorating soldiers from New Zealand and Australia at Westminster Abbey in London. Although the calf-length hemline threatened to overwhelm Markles slim silhouette, the Jackie Onassis-inspired cropped jacket teamed with a tailored pencil skirt turned out to be not only a sophisticated choice but an intelligent one given that Wickstead was born in New Zealand. Countdown to the Royal Wedding Your complete guide to the royal wedding 2018 Similarly, during her first official visit to Scotland in February, Meghan wore a Burberry coat in green tartan paired with a purse from Scottish label Strathberry, an ensemble clearly intended to pay homage to the host country. Prince Harry, not pictured, and fiancee Meghan Markle visit Social Bite, a cafe that donates all profits to social causes, during their first official joint visit to Scotland. Karwai Tang / WireImage Countdown to the Royal Wedding Your complete guide to the royal wedding 2018 Diplomatic dressing, or literal dressing, is a feature of royal dress going back centuries, said fashion historian Eleri Lynn, who curated the Diana: Her Fashion Story exhibition at Kensington Palace. When it comes to clothes, the English have been navigating a complex set of guidelines since the Middle Ages when King Edward III first introduced a series of laws governing what citizens were permitted to wear according to their socioeconomic status. Today, certain events such as Royal Ascot, the most prestigious horse race of the summer season, are still subject to dress codes so dictatorial they stipulate how narrow a womans dress straps may be (one inch or greater). Another of Dianas couturiers, Bruce Oldfield, whos clothing some of the guests for Markle and Prince Harrys wedding, believes royal dress codes have loosened a little over the last quarter century. It is more relaxed [today] than it was even when I was dressing the princess, he said, referring to Diana who married Prince Charles in 1981. But it would still be quite different, I suppose, from the day to day dress of a Los Angelean. Which is why, perhaps, there has been the occasional slip-up. Take the Ralph & Russo gown Markle chose for her engagement photo shoot with Harry, for one. The gown, which featured a sheer bodice covered only in strategically stitched gold thread, raised eyebrows. Also, a shoulder-baring dress from Altuzarra, worn without pantyhose, sparked comment from royal watchers when Markle accompanied Harry, 33, to a conference during an unseasonably hot April week. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for one of two official engagement photos at Frogmore House in December 2017 in Windsor, United Kingdom. Handout / Alexi Lubomirski via Getty Image Take a look at Prince Harry's style through the years According to Richard Dennen, editor of British society magazine Tatler, Markle has nothing to worry about. I dont even think upper-class English girls get it right in the 21st century, he said. The rule book for everything has been ripped up. Which is why other supposed fashion faux pas, such as Markles now signature messy bun or her penchant for cross-body purses instead of clutch bags (leaving her arms free to hug well-wishers in the crowds), could instead be read as a way of communicating her personality now that she can no longer rely on speaking directly to fans on social media or her lifestyle blog, the Tig, which she shuttered ahead of the engagement announcement last year. It was a technique often employed by Diana, who didnt hesitate to abandon her hats and gloves if it meant she could better interact with members of the public. She said, You cant cuddle a child in a hat, Lynn said. A lot of her fashion was about expressing approachability and warmth. Meghan Markle's penchant for cross-body purses instead of clutch bags leaves her arms free to hug well-wishers in the crowds. At right, a look at Markle's signature messy bun. James Glossop / AFP/Getty Images; Samir Hussein / WireImage Similarly Queen Elizabeth II, although fastidious about royal protocol, dresses in bright colors to ensure she can easily be seen by the crowds who camp out to catch a glimpse of her. She always uses a clear umbrella when it rains during official engagements for the same reason. Its a very business-like approach to the Queen and her wardrobe, said costume designer Jane Petrie, who researched royal dress for her work on the Netflix series The Crown. The Queens hat never comes off on a windy day. Her skirts dont blow up, Petrie said. Its managed better than we [the costume department] do it, and our job, in filmmaking, is to make sure things like that dont go wrong during the action. Such considerations are why royal excursions require a lot more homework than a mere sashay down the red carpet, but Markles background will put her in good stead. Shes got huge experience of how to dress and how to look from all her time being an actress and being on the red carpet, Azagury said. Shes playing a princess now. So shes adapting to that. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walk through the corridors of the Palace of Holyroodhouse on their way to a reception in Edinburgh, Scotland. Andrew Milligan / AFP/Getty Images Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. Meghan Markle might become the new patron saint of British fashion. After all, the actress, who will wed Prince Harry on May 19, wore a Ralph & Russo gown for her official engagement photos, and she has been spotted in brands such as Burberry and Jigsaw. Now, as a consequence of the anticipated nuptials and all things English, fashion brands from across the pond are in the spotlight. Some of them are Markles personal favorites, while others have been worn by the royal adjacent (such as the watch sported by James Matthews, who married Pippa Middleton, sister-in-law of Prince William). In all cases, these are U.K. labels, many available locally, to keep an eye on as you take in or celebrate the latest royal wedding. Stephen Webster The new Fish Tales collection from jewelry designer Stephen Webster. (Stephen Webster ) Advertisement Jewelry designer Stephen Webster, who has a boutique in Beverly Hills, launched his Fish Tales collection of marine-inspired jewelry. The 26 charm pendants feature letters of the alphabet fused with something sea-life related (such as a diamond-studded D with a dolphin swimming through the letter). $995 each. Available at the Stephen Webster boutique, 202 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, www.stephenwebster.com. Strathberry Meghan Markle-favorite Strathberry makes the MC Mini leather handbag with a chevron design. (Strathberry ) Edinburgh, Scotland-based handbag brand Strathberry has found a fan in the soon-to-be-princess. She carried one when she accompanied Prince Harry on her first official trip to Scotland earlier this year. The bags are all handmade in Spain. Here, the MC Mini leather handbag is shown. $545. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, www.saksfifthavenue.com and us.strathberry.com. Palmer Harding Shirtdresses in voluminous shapes are a specialty of Palmer Harding. (Palmer Harding ) Levi Palmer and Matthew Harding are the Central Saint Martins-trained designers behind 6-year-old womens brand Palmer Harding, known predominantly for its statement shirts and shirtdresses (with asymmetrical hems or shoulders and oversized cuffs). Shirts start at about $405. Available at www.palmerharding.com. Bremont Sporty and sophisticated watches from British timepiece brand Bremont. (Bremont ) The Bremont Jaguar MKII was worn by wealthy hedge fund manager James Matthews when he married Pippa Middleton, sister to Catherine, duchess of Cambridge, last year. The aesthetic of the brand is grounded in aviation and engineering. Prices start at about $4,800. Available at Feldmar Watch Co., 9000 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, feldmarwatch.com and bremont.com. Rixo London Bright prints are a signature of fashion brand Rixo London. (Rixo London ) Advertisement Fun and feminine dresses in vivid prints are the signature of Rixo London, which was founded in 2015 by Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey, fashion graduates and former Asos buyers who bonded over their love of all things vintage. Dresses average around $400. Available at Elyse Walker stores, 15306 W. Antioch St., Pacific Palisades, and 3444 Via Lido, Newport Beach, www.elysewalker.com, Forward by Elyse Walker at www.fwrd.com, and www.rixo.co.uk. Storksak A luxury carry-on this one is on wheels from Storksak. (Storksak ) From Storksak come family-inspired luxury bags such as this leather-trimmed Cabin Carry-On on wheels, which might allow you to easily move through Los Angeles International Airport or Londons Heathrow Airport. $230. Available at storksak.us. The White Co. A navy washed-silk maxi dress from the White Co., the same brand that has made clothing for Prince George. (The White Co. ) Advertisement The duke and duchess of Cambridge have dressed their firstborn Prince George in clothing from the White Co. However, also popular are the brands simple, minimalist womens clothes such as this navy washed-silk maxi dress. $249. Available at thewhitecompany.com. Clements & Church A ready-to-wear grooms shirt in Egyptian cotton from bespoke menswear brand Clements & Church. (Clements & Church ) Bespoke menswear brand Clements & Church is known for its sophisticated wedding suits (no word yet if Harry will be wearing one). However, if you cant get one of the brands traveling tailors to come to you, you can still pick up an Egyptian-cotton white shirt from the label locally. $300. Available at Fred Segal, 8500 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood, (310) 432-0560, and www.clementsandchurch.co.uk. Cutler and Gross Sunglass and optical frames from British eyewear brand Cutler and Gross are available at the labels store in West Hollywood. (Cutler and Gross ) Advertisement Founded in 1969, eyewear label Cutler and Gross, whose frames have been worn by Grace Jones, Robert Downey Jr., Elton John, Madonna, the late Princess Diana and former First Lady Michelle Obama, makes handcrafted sunglasses (such as this style, the 1292-03). It also makes an array of optical frames, which are sold globally including at the brands local store. (Some Cutler and Gross designs are unisex.) $445. Available at Cutler and Gross, 8505 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood. cutlerandgross.com. Dunhill The venerable British brand Dunhill is known for its elegant take on menswear. (Dunhill ) Countdown to the Royal Wedding: Your complete guide to the royal wedding 2018 Elegant menswear brand Dunhill makes this navy classic two-button notch lapel suit. $2,095. Available at Saks Fifth Avenue, 9600 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills (310) 275-4211, and dunhill.com. Advertisement Ted Baker Ted Bakers Origami dress has a sporty element thanks to stripes in pink, blue and white. (Ted Baker ) Fashion and accessories brand Ted Baker has this Origami dress, a rayon knit navy number with sporty stripes in pink, blue and white. $245. Available at Ted Baker, Westfield Century City, 10250 Santa Monica Blvd., Los Angeles, and tedbaker.com. Paul Smith Paul Smith camp-collar printed voile shirt. (Mr Porter ) British designer Paul Smith, who used to scout Hawaiian shirts in remote vintage shops, plunges into his archives for this printed Italian-made voile shirt with a midnight beachfront scene. $295. Available at www.mrporter.com. Advertisement image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. Early in her acting career, Katie Nehra learned that if she wanted to play the complex on-screen roles she was looking for, she would have to write them herself. For TV, they write a lot more interesting parts for women, but for film they really do not, says Nehra, who cut her teeth at New Yorks Neighborhood Playhouse and at Los Angeles Groundlings Theatre before co-writing and playing a supporting role in Chris Messinas directorial debut, Alex of Venice, in 2014. When it comes to fashion, Nehra has adopted that same DIY attitude, starting in 2007 with her debut clothing line, Simone, which began with six short, frilly dresses, each named after friends. It was selfish, the self-taught designer says about that endeavor. I wanted to make dresses that I couldnt find. Eventually the label reached cult status with its custom varsity and cropped leather and suede jackets favored by the likes of Mary-Kate Olsen and Kristen Stewart. So in 2016, when the Baltimore native kept turning up empty-handed in her search for the perfect sweatpants for women, Nehras natural instinct was to fashion her own. That laid the foundation for Nehra Simone, the designers new line of elevated sportswear spanning everything from cropped hoodies to knit overalls and a mesh bodysuit with a plunging neckline, priced between $295 and $2,225. As for her dream sweatpants, there are plenty of those in the lineup too, including her roomy Supersize sweatpants in Japanese fleece with leather-panel inserts and a logo-splashed pair in cozy merino wool, part of the lines mostly unisex offerings. Predominantly made in Los Angeles, the 52-piece collection is available online at nehrasimone.com. Katie Nehra, a screenwriter, actress and clothing designer, wears a vintage Chicago Bulls shirt, Nehra Simone logo long johns ($315), a Nehra Simone varsity jacket with leather sleeves ($895), and Air Jordans. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times I wanted something that you could wear to bed then wear it out to dinner, says Nehra, pointing to a fluid checkered pajama shirt and a pair of lace-up boxer shorts with floral piping, currently hanging with part of the collection on a rack in her Hollywood Hills home office. In the mix are Nehras signature leather jackets, including an oversize bomber that lends its wearer a little more swagger, she says. (The Simone labels made-to-order jackets were also absorbed into this line.) Thumbing through the collection, she stops at a red argyle-embossed leather sweatsuit. I wish [rapper] Future would wear it onstage. Those are the kind of people I love, she says, nodding toward a photo of Gucci Mane on her inspiration board. Living out loud with big personalities. Nehra, dressed in long johns and a varsity jacket from her own line, paired with Air Jordans and a vintage Chicago Bulls tee, is not one to shy away from sartorial statements of her own. I may look casual but I mean business, she says, summarizing her style approach. However, it has evolved over the years. Since moving to Los Angeles in 2005, her heels have been replaced with a highly edited closet of sneakers, sourced from the likes of Los Angeles footwear store Undefeated and resale site Grailed. Its like collecting art, she says. Would she ever launch her own sneakers? Thats my dream, but its so hard, she says. For now, her line boasts Nehra Simone logo slides in recycled cork, along with a wide-ranging selection of accessories spanning plush hooded terry bathrobes to branded rolling papers. Katie Nehra at her Hollywood Hills home office. Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times Along with creating her athleisure wear, Nehra also found time to pen a script for her second feature, an interracial love story that shes currently shopping around and in which she hopes to star. If anything, working in fashion has helped shape her perspective as a screenwriter, she says. (In Alex of Venice, she plays a failing fashion designer.) The more you have your heart broken or fall down, the better your writing and art is going to be, she says. Does Nehra identify more as an actor, screenwriter or a designer? I think of myself more as an artist, she says. As someone who is just creating things. Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. Historian, curator and performer Charles Phoenix knows how to attract attention. After all, since launching his series of vintage slideshow events in 1998, conducting bus tours and writing coffee-table books, the self-described Ambassador of Americana entertains audiences by mining his ever-growing archive of vernacular culture that includes subjects such as Disneyland, Las Vegas and the holiday season. His latest venture is equally engaging. The Sir Charles of Phoenix collaboration with Burbank-based Pinup Girl Clothing, featuring vintage-inspired dresses as well as mens shirts, is an extension of his singular style. Plus, its a return to the industry in which Phoenix started his career. Fashion was my first go-to creative place in my mind as a result of watching Sonny [Bono] and Cher [on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour] and I Love Lucy, the Silver Lake resident and Ontario, Calif., native explained during a recent interview. After graduating from FIDM in the early 1980s, he worked for various Los Angeles fashion brands until, at age 29, he fell in love with buying and selling classic cars. Advertisement Next came his expanding niche of collecting and presenting to audiences slides and images of midcentury Americana, distilled through Phoenixs irrepressible zeal and vocalized with his signature swooping timbre. His worldview translates to high-reverence, unpatronizing kitsch. Pinup Girl Clothings Gloria swing dress with Pele bolero in Calypso Castaway print by Charles Phoenix, $240. (Fabian Fioto ) Phoenix also nurtured his love of the sartorial arts by having suits custom-made by tailor Johnathan Behr, who has an L.A. shop on Wilshire Boulevard. Until this new collaboration though, it had been decades since Phoenixs clothing design efforts extended beyond his own closet. Getting back into the fashion game, he partnered with Pinup Girl Clothing, which owner Laura Byrnes launched in 1997 and built into a label known for its retro aesthetic and inclusive sizing. Its also earned a reputation for its frequent creative collaborations with local figures such as Cassandra Peterson, best known as playing Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, and Traci Lords. It was built at the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend festival, where Ive performed for 15 years, Phoenix said of his partnership with Pinup Girl. He and Byrnes got to know each other during the annual event, and Phoenix started to notice how their respective crowds often overlapped. I could spot a Pinup Girl dress on a woman from a mile away because the fit and flare is so good, he said. It turned out that Byrnes had been wanting to add original menswear to her inventory but had yet to find the right partner. Pinup Girl Clothings Bali Hai dress in Hawaiian Honeymoon all-over print by Charles Phoenix, $229. (Fabian Fioto ) As for Phoenix, I really trust his vision and aesthetic, Byrnes said. He knows what he wants. Hes got great taste, and I really love anyone else who has exacting, high standards. Advertisement For the Sir Charles of Phoenix collaboration (a fan came up with the name), Phoenix selected three hand-paintings we found from a guy downtown who had old textile designs that had never been printed, he said. Phoenix then added his own spin to the color palette. The trio of tropical-inflected patterns worked perfectly for Hawaiian-style, convertible collar short-sleeve mens shirts ($94) as well as three retro-style, knee-length dress silhouettes ($178 to $240; matching his-and-hers garments are also cheekily offered as honeymoon sets) that are all manufactured in L.A. and sold at the Pinup Girl Boutique, 3606 W. Magnolia Blvd. in Burbank, and online at www.pinupgirlclothing.com. Based on the reception of the spring/summer 2018 collection, which debuted in March, Byrnes and Phoenix are working on new goods. Phoenix said hes excited to create casual gabardine mens jackets and shirts. When I was in fashion design school, a lot of stuff I designed was 1950s style, which wasnt exactly welcomed with open arms in the 80s, he said. But I saved it all. Advertisement Taking a deep dive into the ephemera of his own past for creative inspiration? Thats a process that suits Phoenix perfectly. image@latimes.com Advertisement For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. Hair is often associated with reinvention. A new cut, color or style can reinvigorate a persons life. But sometimes, reinvention is just as healthy for those cutting tresses too. After living for 20 years in New York, veteran celebrity hairstylist Ted Gibson is trying a new look on for size after moving his business to Los Angeles. We wanted to do something a little bit different, Gibson said, adding that he and his business partner and husband, hair colorist Jason Backe, had recently signed a lease for a new salon. Located at 211 S. La Brea Ave., the salon will be called Starring by Ted Gibson. The announcement was made late last month during an event for the hairstylists upcoming hair-care line, Starring. Gibson, who has styled the hair of Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyongo, Debra Messing, Priyanka Chopra and Jessica Chastain, sent shock waves through Manhattan when he closed his 2,500-square-foot Flatiron District salon of 13 years in December 2016. At the time, Gibson and Backe didnt have a plan, but they knew they needed a change. We had this conversation, said the Texas-born hairdresser, who once had salons in Washington, D.C., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. We said, What are we doing this for? Its not making us happy. It doesnt make sense anymore. Gibson said hed also noticed a shift in the beauty business where hairstylists preferred an independent mentality over working in large salons like the one he and Backe had previously owned. Shortly after, the couple sold their apartment in the city as well as their home in upstate New York. They loaded a truck with their belongings and took a road trip west. Meanwhile, various media outlets began calling to inquire about their next move. We couldnt tell anybody, because we didnt know what we were going to do, Gibson said. Thats when we realized, We have to keep it a secret that we moved to L.A. until we have a plan, Backe added. Hairdresser Ted Gibson styles "Will & Grace" star Debra Messing's hair. Ted Gibson The couple quietly arrived in town in July, much to their own surprise. I never thought that I would live in Los Angeles, Backe said with a laugh. I was one of those New Yorkers that was like, Egh. L.A.? Whats L.A.? And all of a sudden, this switch flipped. Los Angeles seems to be the incubator for creatives. As Manhattan becomes more and more and more banking- and real estate-driven, its challenging for creatives to grow there, you know? Even moving out into the boroughs is still tight and expensive. Gibson said their Los Angeles salon, which they hope to open by August, will be the opposite of what weve done before. Itll be intimate, with only five or six chairs, as opposed to the 50 they previously had in New York. Its going to be highly concierge, he said, adding that he and Backe were previously adamant that they would never open another salon again, because they kept themselves busy with editorial jobs, their hair-care academy and private celebrity clientele. However, Gibson and Backe eventually changed their minds. Our brand really loves the idea of a salon, Gibson said. We love service. Jason loves coloring hair, and I love cutting and styling hair. We didnt want to do it in our apartment. We needed a home that can support our brand legacy. They also considered a space in Beverly Hills but ultimately decided against it. We felt like, If were going to open in Beverly Hills, we might as well have stayed in Manhattan, Backe said. It would have been the same kind of thing in a different town. We want to do a different kind of thing, a different way with the same integrity and quality. The evolution of our brand is going from a fancy 5th Avenue lady to young, sexy Hollywood. Gibson, who became known for his $950 haircut rate, raised his price in 2012 to $1,200. His current rate is $1,650 per cut, while Backes is $400 for every 30 minutes he works on a clients hair color. I was one of those New Yorkers that was like, Egh. L.A.? Whats L.A.? And all of a sudden, this switch flipped. Jason Backe, celebrity colorist In addition to the salon, Gibson is launching the hair-care line, featuring three products Runway Ready Volumizing Mist ($48), Shooting Star Texture Meringue ($52) and Beautifullest Powerball Styler ($62) all of which will be available for pre-order online at www.tedgibson.com. Starrings first product will be officially released during New York Fashion Week in September. Each product, according to Gibson, is unique in its application, its fragrance and also in its formula. The lines name is an homage to Gibsons love of cinema but also to the idea of independent beauty. Starring is for the everyday person who is the protagonist of his or her own life, he said, adding, Its a movement and a culture. Its about an individual who isnt following what other people are doing. Underscoring this notion, Gibson and Backe marked their arrival with an unorthodox, early morning cocktail party April 20 on the rooftop of a hip Hollywood loft. I know the Hollywood sign is looking fabulous, but gather around, Gibson instructed the crowd as he grabbed a mike from the DJ booth. The announcement about their new salon and hair-care line was made at exactly 10:25 a.m. at the event as well as on the brands new social media account @Starring. My astrologer said that this would be a perfect time to launch, Gibson said. Its not so airy fairy, he insisted, adding that he talks with his astrologer three or four times a year. I always ask her about my relationship with Jason and my career, he said. She said that 4/20 at 10:25 a.m. Starring could be born. Ted Gibson with Academy Award winner Lupita Nyong'o. Ted Gibson Although Gibsons name is often more recognizable, the duo are true partners in business and in life (they wed in 2014). Not only do I love him, but I like him, Gibson said, adding that their relationship gives them a unique perspective on and approach to beauty. There isnt an interracial gay couple within the confines of what beauty is, he said, adding that theyve been together for 25 years, having met when Gibson was an educator for Aveda and Backe was his student. Its not a typical kind of thing, Gibson added. They each have different roles in their relationship. He is really the visionary, Backe said of Gibson. He comes up with all the ideas and can take concepts and turn them into things, and Im good at making sure that the checks dont bounce and the dog gets fed. The couple laughed. Hes always wanted to be famous, Backe said. I just want to be rich. So if we can make that happen The duo married one another twice, once before gay marriage was legalized. The first time was for love, Gibson said, and then the second time was for money. Ted Gibson with "Lady Bird" star Saoirse Ronan. Ted Gibson Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. From Captain America, Loki and Rocket in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to Batman, Deadpool and the young Han Solo, theres one secret weapon Hollywoods highest-profile superheroes have in common. That would be stylist Ilaria Urbinati, who has long served as a sartorial sidekick to the men behind the masks, dressing them for press tours, premieres and award shows in the kind of sharp threads that make them standouts in a sea of red-carpet sameness. A superhero of styling set in her own right this year, she notched No. 6 on the Hollywood Reporters annual list of most powerful stylists Urbinati recently launched a capsule menswear collaboration with the Little Rock, Ark., -based label Strong Suit that brings her penchant for color and subtle 70s references to an affordable assortment of suits and dress shirts. Strong Suit by Ilaria Urbinati (suits retail from $745 to $945, dress shirts for $125) is available exclusively at shop.nordstom.com and two brick-and-mortar Nordstroms its new mens store in New York and the store at the Grove in Los Angeles. We recently chatted with the L.A.-based stylist to the stars, who talked about her start in the business, how the collaborative collection addresses some of her menswear pet peeves and why the upcoming Cannes Film Festival red carpet might mean saying so long to the 70s. Here are some excerpts from that conversation. How long have you been a stylist? Probably about 15 years now. The client I still have that Ive worked the longest with is Chris Evans. He was doing [press for] The Nanny Diaries, and his publicist called me. I remember exactly where I was furniture shopping at the time. Id dressed a couple of people before that, including Brendan Fraser, but it was a big deal for me at that point, even though he wasnt the Chris Evans he is now. How did you get your start in the business? I was in retail for a long time. I was a buyer for my aunts store [Laura Urbinati in Sunset Plaza] for a long time, then a buyer at Satine and then Milk, and then I opened my own store, Confederacy, in the fall of 2008, which was open for five years. During my Satine days, I was hired to work on The L Word. One of the girls from the show shopped at Satine and brought me in for an interview. And Id never styled before. It was mostly women, but there was one guy on the show, Eric Lively, and he won some best-dressed man on television award, and thats when I started thinking, Maybe theres something here that I have with [dressing] men. In addition to Chris Evans, who else are you currently working with? I started working with Bradley Cooper about the same time as I started working with Chris, and our careers really took off at the same time. Im still working with him now. Im also working with Ryan Reynolds, Ben and Casey Affleck, Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Armie Hammer and Rami Malek. Donald Glover is probably getting the most attention of all my clients right now. Urbinati's handiwork includes Tom Hiddleston in Corneliani, from left, Anya Taylor-Joy in Elie Saab, Bradley Cooper in Brunello Cucinelli and Chris Evans in custom Gucci. (From left: Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney, Anthony Harvey / AFP/Getty Images, Ethan Miller / Getty Images for CinemaCon and Stephane Cardinale / Corbis You work with some women too, right? Yes. Shailene Woodley, Krysten Ritter, Anya Taylor-Joy and Jenny Slate. Whats the biggest difference between working with men and working with women? With men, I get to be more creative, and its more about my eye, because I can get my hands on anything I want. Theres not a lot stopping me . With women, I might have a whole idea about what they should be wearing, but it doesnt mean I can get those things. With [dressing] women, there are more games more politics involved. With the guys, I can say, Hey, I want that red Bottega Veneta suit that went down the runway, and I can get it. With people like Donald Glover, I can go to Gucci and literally ask, Can you make me this? I can get custom this and custom that. Wait until you see what [Glover is] wearing to Cannes. Its a tux Ive been dreaming of my whole life. It sounds like you really enjoy the work youre doing with Donald Glover. What makes him so much fun to dress? Id say Donald and Rami are kind of like my muses ... I get to really go to town and get to be creative. Its very reviving for me creatively. Theyre so open. They can get away with a lot. Donald has his own vibe, [his own] swagger. Its very specific. Rami has that too. Theyre both very adventurous. Donald Glover in a brown velvet Gucci tuxedo at the 2017 Golden Globes, from left, a white Ermenegildo Zegna Couture tuxedo at the 2018 Grammy Awards and Gucci (with Christian Louboutin shoes) at the 2018 Vanity Fair Oscar Party, all styled by Ilaria Urbinati. From left, Frazer Harrison, Jamie McCarthy and Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images Do you have a favorite Donald Glover red-carpet moment? The big moment for Donald was the [2017] Golden Globes Emmys in that Gucci brown velvet [tuxedo]. That probably got him the most attention of any outfit Ive ever [put] on anybody. And, of course, there was the awesome white [Ermenegildo Zegna Couture] tuxedo he wore to the [2018] Grammys. With Donald, I do all these 70s looks, with silky shirts unbuttoned down to there and chains and things like youd [usually] never do. You mentioned the 1970s, and the Strong Suit collaboration has a definite 70s vibe. Why? Im just into that phase right now. As a stylist, I work in phases, and Ill get into certain things heavily. But the No. 1 thing for me is to make sure my clients all look like individual people. A really good example is that for the [Solo: A Star Wars Story] press [tour], Im dressing Alden Ehrenreich, who plays Han Solo, and Im [also] dressing Donald, who plays Lando [Calrissian]. And their styles personally could not be more different. And when you look at them, Id hope you would never know that the same person styled them. So thats No. 1 for me always. I dont dress Ben Affleck the way I dress Tom Hiddleston, and I take a lot of pride in that. But I do go through phases that Im into, and that does tend to seep into everyones looks a little bit, but in a different way for [each person]. But why the 70s specifically? I think its a little bit of whats happening in fashion. Ive been into it progressively more and more for a good three years now. I was watching a lot of early Scorsese movies and Im really into what Ben Cobb is doing. Hes one of my biggest inspirations right now. Hes a mens editor who traipses all over Milan Fashion Week looking super 70s sleek and incredible. But just wait. Donalds look at Cannes the tux look is going to be the pinnacle of this phase. Its [such a] pinnacle that I might get over [the 70s inspiration] after that. I might be able to move on. The Strong Suit by Ilaria Urbinati collection includes suits, left, and boldly patterned shirts, as well as neckties (not pictured). Donato Sardella / Getty Images How did that 70s vibe make its way into the Strong Suit collaboration? The printed [dress] shirts, for sure, and I did a much higher-waisted trouser. Its a good three inches higher than most pants on a suit. [And] the lapels are just a little bit wider. I didnt get too crazy, because I still wanted it to be wearable for the average guy, but there are subtle details like the ticket pocket and the all-gold hardware, the buckles and zippers. How did your decade-plus of styling experience find its way into the Strong Suit by Ilaria Urbinati collection? Im dressing guys who are now on their 20th film press tour. Theyre doing 30 different dates, and the thing they want is a comfortable suit. Thats the thing they live for. So I figured, Why not make some? All the linen blazers are unstructured and unlined, and theyre easy to pack and easy to wear. And they look great, because its very relaxed looking, and the guys are comfortable and happy. And they can breathe in [the jackets]. This particular capsule collection is for spring and summer. Is there another one in the works? Were discussing that and hoping to include both mens and womens [pieces]. That little dress I wore [to the April 26 L.A. collection launch party] Strong Suit made for me based on something Id asked them to design. I think it would be fun to do a little suit-dress line. Even though youve worked with some of the biggest names in Hollywood, do you have any bucket-list clients? Absolutely, Im a big Tom Brady fan, and Id love to work with Conor McGregor. But my dream client of all time would have to be Bill Murray. In this job, you want to work around people you want to be around. Hes the bees knees, so I would rather pick him over whoever the next big superhero is. Thats not to dis superheroes. All my clients are superheroes. I mean, I dressed both Captain America [Evans] and Batman [Affleck]. Oh, and Rocket [Cooper] and Loki [Hiddleston] too. So Im not complaining. I love the superheroes. Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. adam.tschorn@latimes.com For more musings on all things fashion and style, follow me at @ARTschorn. Los Angeles is in the midst of a historic homelessness emergency. While numbers may vary, its estimated California has about 134,000 homeless people approximately 24 percent of the nation's total. Los Angeles County has the most within the state at least 55,000 people, according to one audit. Centered in the skid row area of downtown Los Angeles, the Midnight Mission has been on the front lines of the homeless crisis since 1914, providing assistance to the homeless by offering paths to self-sufficiency, including access to shelter, clothing, medical care and food. The mission is also a charity beneficiary of this months Food Bowl. Recently, I spoke with Georgia Berkovich, director of public affairs for the Mission, about topics ranging from the crisis itself to misconceptions about homelessness and its causes, as well as how we can help. This interview was edited for length and clarity. What services does the mission provide? One is immediate subsistence to any man, woman or child who comes through our doors, no questions asked. That includes three meals a day, every day. We serve almost a million meals a year. We have mail service, so you can send and receive mail here. We have a security desk that's open 24 hours, seven days a week where you can seek help. Maybe you need diapers for your children. Maybe you need a hygiene kit. Maybe you need a bar of soap, whatever. We have a courtyard where we have restrooms and showers available to the community. We have the only restrooms in skid row that are open 24 hours. Our courtyard is equipped with heaters. We have a barber shop, a library and weekly art and music programs. Thats just immediate subsistence available to anyone. No questions asked. Art is to the soul what food is to the body. Its just as important, so we provide that as well. Georgia Berkovich, Director of Public Affairs, Midnight Mission How are you funded? We are funded by private donors. And we received grant money to open our women's shelter. You also provide housing. We have crisis and bridge housing for men and women. Maybe it's that they just need a hand up, to be connected with the right service. They need help getting rent for a month, kind of a simpler connection, such as our crisis housing. And then we have bridge housing which is longer, and that's [for] when people have a greater need and we're trying to connect them with services. Then we have our family living facility in Inglewood where we house homeless families, and that's a similar program to what we offer here in our recovery program. Does the mission adhere any particular philosophy? All of our programs are based on the 12-step philosophy. Even if it's not about recovery, we still use that philosophy. We're not a religious organization, even though we have "mission" in our name. We believe that somebody who is in need of help needs something to believe in before they can get help, not the other way around. There are other organizations that work well for other people who have a strong faith, but you must believe in certain things to get the services. We just encourage people to find their own higher power, whatever that may mean for them. Los Angeles is in the middle of a historic crisis with respect to homelessness right now. How is the mission addressing this? As it has increased, so have our services. Last year, we opened a women's shelter, and the year before we opened the shelter in Orange County. We continue to expand our services because the reasons that people are homeless are so varied and there is not just one solution. Homeless men, women and children gather on an L.A. street for a meal provided by Midnight Mission. Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times Food Bowl Explore the best offerings from L.A.s top bars, cafes, hotels, markets, and restaurants and the worlds best chefs at hundreds of extraordinary events, and help raise awareness and funds to fight food waste, hunger and food insecurity and to promote sustainability at this year's Los Angeles Times Food Bowl. On May 12, Lawrys will celebrate its 80th anniversary with an afternoon featuring four of L.A.s most iconic chefs: Nancy Silverton, Jon Shook, Vinny Dotolo and Sang Yoon will reinvent classic elements of a Lawrys quintessential meal to create a one-of-a-kind, four-course prime rib lunch benefiting the Midnight Mission. Lunch will be followed by a panel discussion moderated by Jonathan Gold. Look at the stats: In Los Angeles last year, over 14,000 people were housed, yet the homeless count went up 23 percent. What that tells us is that people are becoming homeless more quickly than we can get them housed. It's not just a government issue, it's not just a private sector issue, it is all of our issues every single person's responsibility. I have a family member who has struggled with homelessness. It happens so slowly; one minute everything's fine and then incrementally things happen. There are people who never dreamed as a child that one day, they would be homeless. You dont wake up homeless. What would happen is most likely, let's say you lost your job or you didn't have money. Youd go stay with some friends for awhile, but maybe you feel like you wear out your welcome. So you try staying in a shelter, but you have to be in by a certain hour and out by a certain hour, and maybe it's not working with you and your kid. So maybe you think, Ill just stay in my car for right now. But now your car is getting ticketed, and you can't pay the tickets. So your car is towed or maybe stolen. So you find a clearing and think, I can put a tent here, we can stay here and then be close to where I can get meals for me and my kid. And ever so slowly, you're having to lower your standards to meet the way that you have to survive. It can be such a slow progression. So now you're living on the street, you're staying up at night to protect your kid and maybe you need a little help staying awake. So now when the drug dealer comes by, before maybe you would have said no, but now you're saying yes because you need to stay up so you can sleep during the day to protect your kid. Did the drug addiction come first or did it come as a result of being on the street and just looking for some kind of relief? Maybe you're doing things that you swore you'd never do, and it doesn't happen overnight. And you have to want help to get it. There was one guy who was in our courtyard for, gosh, it took something like two years for us to finally get him connected with housing. He was a victim of a home invasion robbery and could not stand to be enclosed; he had to be outside. You never know someones story. So much of its about building trust. A lot of the services are about establishing that trust. Having meals three times a day. We're here every holiday. We have art and music. With each of these programs or projects that we do, we try to build that trust. Its also about changing others perceptions of the homeless. Some people will say, Well, some people choose to be homeless. And it may look like that when you come up to somebody on the street and you say, Hey, I can get you into some housing. Do you want it? and they say, Go away. It is not that they don't want housing. Its that they've lost faith. They've lost trust. Maybe they've been made promises before. Maybe they're mentally ill, and they don't even know that there's a solution. You don't know what you don't know. How can we help, and what are some misconceptions about homelessness youd like to clear up? Some people think, Ill go down to skid row, and I will take all my old clothes, and give them out of the back of my car. Thats a really, really bad idea. First, because it's undignified for the people in the community, what ends up happening is people hand clothes out of their car and they end up being left in the street. They become rat nests and trash. So much of the trash on the streets is from people who are trying to do the right thing. Georgia Berkovich It's the same with serving food out of your vehicle. So people may make 300 peanut butter sandwiches or something and they'll serve them out of their cars. It's not safe for the person doing it or for the people coming to the car. The rush of people to the car can cause fights, and then you have to think about the trash you're leaving behind and the leftover food. What do you recommend? We suggest that people work with an organization, and it doesn't have to be ours. But people could come in and volunteer. Lets say you want to make 300 peanut butter sandwiches. Donate them here, and we'll hand them out. We have a security staff, and we have a way we do giveaways for things such as hygiene kits or clothing. Its a better experience for the people who are donating and it's a more dignified experience for the people receiving the services. Midnight Mission volunteer Brian Burnham, left, hands out plates of food. Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times How can we volunteer? We need help with events. We need help with meal service. We have an art program, a music program, so we need bands to come or just single musicians. You can hand out hygiene kits. We need canned food. People can do peer-to-peer fundraising and reach out on social media. We have an annual toy drive where we ask people to collect toys a couple of months before Christmas. And then also, if somebody has a passion, we try to turn that into something for them. Is there anything out there about the issue of homelessness that hasn't received the attention it deserves? Remember the individual story. We talk about the issue of thousands in skid row. You know, just remember that there are the individual stories I think are being missed. And the individual success stories. The Midnight Mission: 601 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, (213) 624-9258, www.midnightmission.org, Instagram: @themidnightmission USC names retired aerospace executive Wanda Austin as acting president, announces Nikias departure By Harriet Ryan USC appointed a retired aerospace executive as interim president and laid out a detailed plan for selecting a permanent leader Tuesday, ending speculation about whether outgoing President C.L. Max Nikias might remain in the post. Nikias, embattled over his administrations handling of a campus gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, relinquished his duties after a meeting of USCs board. The trustees tapped one of their own, Wanda Austin, an alumna and former president of the Aerospace Corp., to temporarily run the university. The trustees also approved the formation of a search committee and the hiring of firm Isaacson, Miller to coordinate the selection of a successor. A second search company, Heidrick & Struggles, will also advise trustees. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ex-student sues elite Brentwood School after teacher is charged with sexually abusing him By Richard Winton A former student sued the elite Brentwood School on Monday in the wake of a female teacher being charged with repeatedly having sex with the minor, alleging that other faculty members encouraged the unlawful behavior and failed to report it to authorities. The lawsuit accuses the private school, whose students include the children of many of Hollywoods elite and L.A.s powerful, of acting negligently and allowing Aimee Palmitessa to abuse and batter the teenager sexually. The suit alleges that the student was abused in summer 2017 after one of the schools counselors offered words of encouragement to the then-17-year-old, identified in the suit as only John Doe, to engage in an illegal relationship with the teacher. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Civil jury vindicates fired Montebello school executives in whistleblower case By Howard Blume The Montebello school district is in dire straits at risk of insolvency and under apparent criminal investigation. An outside audit in July found some teachers earning more than $200,000 a year, as well as improper raises, excess paid vacation time and inappropriate overtime, sick leave and car allowances. Fixing the district and pinpointing blame could take time. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. schools fall short on safety measures, new report warns By Howard Blume After the mass shooting at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, Los Angeles school officials reassured parents that much had been done to keep local schools safe. California had tougher gun laws, after all, and the school district paid close attention to students mental health. But a new report issued Monday by a panel convened to take a close look offers some cause for concern, flagging inconsistent campus safety measures, thinly spread mental health staff and inadequate coordination between the school district and other public agencies. With the stakes this high, we must strive to do better, said L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer, who assembled the panel. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. school district says more are graduating, but rate may not show it By Howard Blume The L.A. Unified School District has hopes of continuing its winning streak this year with another record graduation rate, but the official numbers may not show it. A senior district administrator warned the board Tuesday that graduation rates were likely to decline 2% to 3% across the state, even though L.A. Unified is likely doing better than ever in producing graduates, he said. The issue is that the state will now count high school students who transfer to adult school as dropouts, said Oscar Lafarga, who heads the districts office of data and accountability. Previously, schools treated these students as though they had simply enrolled in another high school, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Betsy DeVos to California: Not so fast on that federal education plan By Joy Resmovits Education Secretary Betsy DeVos (Erik Lesser / European Pressphoto Agency) In April, Californias top education officials breathed a sigh of relief. After months of debate and back-and-forth with Betsy DeVos staff, they had finalized a plan to satisfy a major education law that aims to make sure all students get a decent education. The state focused on aligning its plan to fulfill the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act with Californias Local Control Funding Formula, which gives extra money to districts to help students who come from low-income families, are in the foster system or are English learners. But this week, DeVos team said not so fast. Jason Botel, the U.S. Department of Educations principal deputy assistant secretary, sent California education officials a letter asking for more information in such areas as measuring student progress, graduation rates and English learners. In an unsigned statement, the California Department of Education declared itself surprised and disappointed because officials thought after a meeting with federal officials in Washington that they were on the right track to get approval. Now the Every Student Succeeds Act plan will be up for discussion once again at the July meeting of the State Board of Education. The U.S. Department of Education has already approved most state plans. Every Student Succeeds is the Obama administrations 2015 replacement for the No Child Left Behind Act. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board sets a new goal: prepare every grad to be eligible to apply for Cal State or UC By Sonali Kohli Last month, Los Angeles school board president proposed a spate of highly ambitious mandates aimed at ensuring that every district graduate be eligible to apply to one of the states public four-year universities by 2023. By the time the L.A. Unified school board unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday, the original language had been watered down. The goal is no longer that in five years 100% of students meet the long list of benchmarks, which include not just college eligibility for graduates but first-grade reading proficiency and English fluency by sixth grade for all students who enter the district in kindergarten or first grade speaking another language. The original college-readiness goal, for example, called for 100% of all high school students to be eligible to apply to one of the states four-year universities. Now the goal seems to offer more wiggle room: Prepare all high school graduates to be eligible to apply to a California four-year university. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement We have been hurt. More women say they were mistreated by USC gynecologist By Richard Winton USC student Anika Narayanan says she vividly recalls her first appointment with Dr. George Tyndall at the campus health center, alleging that he made several explicit comments during an examination she felt was inappropriate and invasive. When she came back for a second visit in 2016 after a nonconsensual sexual encounter, he allegedly chastised her, she said in a civil lawsuit and at a press conference Tuesday. He asked me if I had forgotten to use a condom again, said Narayanan, 21. At one point, she said, Tyndall asked if I did a lot of doggy style, she said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. Unified gives inspector general brief contract extension By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school board on Tuesday extended the contract of Ken Bramlett, its inspector general, by three months, though his job is far from secure and questions remain about the future direction of his watchdog office. Board members also unanimously promoted Vivian Ekchian, who had been the runner-up for the superintendents job, to deputy superintendent the districts No. 2 position. Both moves had elements of peacemaking between different factions on the board. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USCs handling of complaints about campus gynecologist is being investigated by federal government By Harriet Ryan The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into how the University of Southern California handled misconduct complaints against a campus gynecologist, the latest fallout in a scandal that has prompted the resignation of USCs president, two law enforcement investigations and dozens of lawsuits. In revealing the inquiry by the departments Office of Civil Rights, officials rebuked USC for what they alleged was improper withholding of information about Dr. George Tyndall during a previous federal investigation. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who has been criticized for taking a less vigorous approach to examining sexual misconduct than predecessors, called for a systemic examination of USC and urged administrators to fully cooperate. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Judge to sentence woman and her boyfriend for the murder of an 8-year-old that led to L.A. child welfare reforms By Marisa Gerber A woman and her boyfriend are expected to be sentenced Thursday for the torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy whose killing in 2013 provoked public outrage, prompted sweeping reform of Los Angeles Countys child welfare system, and led to unprecedented criminal charges against social workers who handled the childs case. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, 34, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the death of her son, Gabriel. A jury decided last year that her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 37, should be executed. When paramedics arrived at the boys Palmdale home in May 2013, Gabriel had slipped out of consciousness. He had a fractured skull, broken ribs, burned skin, missing teeth and BB pellets embedded in his groin. A paramedic would later testify that every inch of the boys small body had been abused. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. Unifieds spending out of step with similar school systems, task force says By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school district is out of step with similar school systems, spending more on teachers pay and health benefits and less on activities that could enhance student learning, according to a new report by an outside task force. The L.A. Unified School District Advisory Task Force did not make specific recommendations, but instead posed a series of questions it said the district needs to answer to make sure its funding is aimed at providing a full opportunity for all students to succeed. What were trying to say is: Lets put the data on the table. Lets look at the truth. Lets be transparent and here are the numbers, said task force member Renata Simril. This is not to say that we should cut teachers salaries. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Top USC medical school official feared dean was doing drugs and alerted administration, he testifies By Paul Pringle A former vice dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine testified Tuesday that he feared the schools then-dean, Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito, could be doing drugs and expressed concerns about his general well-being to the universitys No. 2 administrator before Puliafito abruptly left his job in 2016. Dr. Henri Fords testimony at a hearing of the state Medical Board marks the first suggestion that any USC administrator had suspicions about Puliafitos possible drug use before he stepped down. A Times investigation in 2017 found Puliafito led a secret second life of using illegal drugs with a circle of young criminals and addicts. Puliafito testified about his behavior at the hearing Tuesday, saying he took drugs with one young woman on a weekly basis. Ford said that he decided to alert USC Provost Michael Quick after receiving reports in early 2016 that Puliafito was partying in hotels with people of questionable reputation, and that he came to worry about his mental stability. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Why L.A. Unified may face financial crisis even with a giant surplus this year By Jessica Calefati With more than half a billion dollars socked away for next school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District hardly seems just two years from financial ruin. Its a scenario that is especially tough to swallow if youre a low-wage worker seeking a raise or a teacher who wants smaller classes. But budget documents show that todays $548-million surplus cannot be sustained and that even basic services face steep, seemingly unavoidable cuts because of massive problems barreling the districts way. Theres a disconnect between the rosy short-term picture and what we know is coming, said board member Kelly Gonez. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print We have failed: Top USC officials try to reassure students amid gynecologist scandal By Joy Resmovits Top administrators at USC are reaching out to students in the wake of misconduct allegations against the universitys longtime gynecologist, acknowledging failings and vowing reforms as they try to address growing outrage over the revelations. Several USC deans have sent out messages trying to reassure students and faculty that the university is committed to changing. We have failed, wrote Jack H. Knott, dean of USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy, in a May 24 letter. What happened is antithetical to everything we know is right. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Rick Caruso is named chair of USCs trustees, vows swift investigation of gynecologist scandal By Thomas Curwen The University of Southern Californias board of trustees has elected mall magnate Rick Caruso to be the new chair of the board, giving fresh leadership as the university navigates a widening scandal involving a longtime campus gynecologist. The move marks the latest effort by USC to address the case, which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and dozens of civil lawsuits. More than 400 people have contacted a hotline that the university established for patients to make reports about their experience with Dr. George Tyndall. In his first act as chairman, Caruso announced that the white-shoe L.A. law firm OMelveny & Myers would conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the gynecologists conduct and reporting failures at the clinic. He set an ambitious timeline for the review, pledging it would conclude before students return for the fall semester. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC Berkeley students persistence helps win more liberal rules for in-state tuition By Teresa Watanabe Ifechukwu Okeke thought shed be a shoo-in for in-state tuition when she was admitted to UC Berkeley for fall 2016. She had moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2012 to go to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. By the time she got her acceptance to transfer to UC to study molecular and cell biology, she had lived in California four years. She had a California drivers license, bank account and rental records as proof. UC Berkeley, however, ruled she was a nonresident which meant she would have to pay nearly $27,000 more. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement State medical board calls former County-USC doctor a sexual predator, suspends his license By Matt Hamilton A UCLA cardiologist has been temporarily stripped of his medical license after state regulators described him as a sexual predator who assaulted three female colleagues when he was working and training at L.A. County-USC Medical Center. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Global California 2030' aims to get more students learning more languages By Joy Resmovits Tom Torlakson (Andrew Seng / Associated Press) Outgoing state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on Wednesday announced a new statewide effort to encourage students to learn more languages. Called Global California 2030, its goal is to help more students become fluent in multiple tongues. Torlakson said that by 2030, he wants half of the states 6.2 million K-12 students to participate in classes or programs that lead to proficiency in two or more languages. By 2040, he wants three out of four students to be proficient enough to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. Torlakson announced the initiative at Cahuenga Elementary School, which offers a dual-language immersion program in English and Korean. Californias public school students speak more than 60 languages at home, and 40% come to school with knowledge of a language other than English. Torlakson called his plan a call to action that invites parents, legislators, educators and community members to pool resources to expand language offerings in schools and get more bilingual teachers trained. He said the state already is working with Mexico and Spain to expand a teacher-exchange program. Fluency, the plan argues, can help students succeed economically and language acquisition can help their overall critical thinking. The initiative builds on Proposition 58, a ballot initiative passed in 2016 that undid an earlier requirement that English learners be taught in English-immersion classes unless their parents signed waivers. Torlakson recently visited Mexico and met with that countrys education secretary. They later signed a pact to increase collaboration, particularly in language education. This [Global California 2030] is great follow-through on Toms part and very important, Patricia Gandara, a UCLA education professor who hosted the Mexico meeting, said in an email. It hands over a plan to move forward in an area in which California has a unique advantage, but must seize the opportunity. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Jury convicts man of murder in 2015 slaying of UCLA student found inside her burning apartment By Marisa Gerber A jury on Tuesday convicted a man in the 2015 slaying of a UCLA student found dead inside her burning apartment a gruesome stabbing case that led to a fierce rebuke of the police response amid concerns that the killing could have been prevented. The panel deliberated for about six hours before finding Alberto Medina, 24, guilty of murder, arson, burglary and animal cruelty. On Sept. 21, 2015, firefighters found the charred body of Andrea DelVesco inside her apartment after responding to the complex a block from campus. The 21-year-old student an Austin, Texas, native known to her sorority sisters as a fearless giver who befriended others with ease was stabbed at least 19 times, authorities said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print LAPD begins sweeping criminal probe of former USC gynecologist while urging patients to come forward By Adam Elmahrek The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating 52 complaints of misconduct filed by former patients of USCs longtime campus gynecologist as detectives launch a sweeping criminal probe into the scandal that has rocked the university. LAPD detectives also made an appeal for other patients who feel mistreated to come forward, noting that thousands of students were examined by Dr. George Tyndall during his nearly 30-year career at USC. More than 410 people have contacted a university hotline about the physician since The Times revealed the allegations this month. Tyndalls behavior and practices appear to go beyond the norms of the medical profession and gynecological examinations, said Asst. Chief Beatrice Girmala. We sincerely realize that victims may have difficulty recounting such details to investigators. We are empathetic and ready to listen. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At L.A.'s only school for the deaf, parents want leaders who speak the same language By Anna M. Phillips Ever since her son was 6 months old, Juliet Hidalgo has been bringing him to the Marlton School, a low-slung building in Baldwin Hills that for generations has been a second home for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Los Angeles. Marlton staff taught Hidalgos brother and sister, both of whom are deaf. The school was where her deaf son learned to make the signs for milk and food. Hidalgo had planned to enroll her daughter, taking advantage of a popular program that allows hearing children to learn American Sign Language alongside their deaf siblings. But after more than a decade of involvement, she and other family members are considering withdrawing their children. They are not alone. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Fueled by unlimited donations, independent groups play their biggest role yet in a California primary for governor By Ryan Menezes An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governors race, giving independent groups unrestricted by contribution limits a greater say in picking the states chief executive than ever before. The groups have already spent more than $26 million through Thursday, the most ever spent by noncandidate committees in a gubernatorial primary, according to a Times analysis of campaign finance reports. California elections have always been expensive, and the future is even more expensive, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College and a former state Republican leader. The stakes are very real. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 2 hurt in Indiana middle school shooting; suspect in custody, authorities say By Associated Press Authorities say two victims in a shooting at a suburban Indianapolis school are being taken to a hospital and the lone suspect is in custody. Bryant Orem, a spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release that the victims in Friday mornings attack at Noblesville West Middle School are being taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and their families have been notified. He says no other information is available about the victims. Orem said the suspect is believed to have acted alone and was taken into custody. No additional information about the suspect was made public. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For new L.A. schools chief Austin Beutner, some key unions are giving no honeymoon period By Howard Blume In the less than two weeks since Austin Beutner took charge of Los Angeles schools, unions representing teachers and administrators have staged a job action and a protest. Theyve made it clear that they will not give the new superintendent the traditional honeymoon period, and they are bashing him for his wealth and lack of experience running either a school or a school district. Beutner is a billionaire investment banker with zero qualifications, local teachers union President Alex Caputo-Pearl told members in a phone alert urging them to participate in a Thursday afternoon rally in Grand Park. The board is saying that billionaires who made their money blowing institutions up and making money off it know best not the education professionals who have dedicated our careers to working with students. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Pressure grows on Board of Trustees amid USC gynecologist scandal By Paul Pringle USCs large and powerful Board of Trustees is coming under growing pressure to provide a stronger hand as the university faces a crisis over misconduct allegations against the campus longtime gynecologist that has prompted calls for President C.L. Max Nikias to step down. Allegations that Dr. George Tyndall mistreated students during his nearly 30 years at USC have roiled the campus, with about 300 people coming forward to make reports to the university and the Los Angeles Police Department launching a criminal investigation. USC is already beginning to face what is expected to be costly litigation by women who say they were victimized by the physician. So far, the trustees to whom Nikias reports have expressed sympathy for the women who have come forward and launched an independent investigation while also publicly backing the president. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC regents approve leaner budget for Janet Napolitano By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents on Thursday unanimously approved a leaner, more transparent budget for President Janet Napolitano, moving to address political criticism over the systems central office operations. The $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 reflects spending cuts of 2%, including reductions in staffing, travel and such systemwide programs as public service law fellowships, carbon neutrality and food security. Napolitano shifted $30 million to campuses for housing needs and $10 million to UC Riverside to support its five-year-old medical school. She also permanently redirected $8.5 million annually to help enroll more California students, as required by the state. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USCs Academic Senate calls on university president to resign after a series of scandals By Matt Hamilton The body that represents USCs faculty called on President C.L. Max Nikias to resign Wednesday in the wake of relevations that the universitys longtime gynecologist faced years of accusations of misconduct by students and colleagues at the campus health clinic. The Academic Senate took the vote late Wednesday afternoon after a fiery town hall meeting attended by more than 100 faculty members, many of whom voiced outrage over Nikias and the Board of Trustees leadership. The vote came a day after the trustees executive committee stood firmly behind Nikias, saying it has full confidence in his leadership, ethics and values. At the town hall meeting, Senate President Paul Rosenbloom said he did not think Nikias or Provost Michael Quick committed wrongdoing but that the university president deserved criticism for a lack of transparency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias public universities on the way to getting a big longed-for boost in funding By Teresa Watanabe The University of California and California State University systems are poised to get major funding boosts that will help them enroll thousands of additional state students and eliminate the need for tuition increases in the coming school year. A key Assembly budget panel on Wednesday approved $117.5 million in new funds for the UC. A Senate panel approved a similar sum last week. The same committees recently approved even more funding for the Cal State system. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement UC regents to scrutinize Janet Napolitanos office budget in a step toward stronger oversight By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents this week plan to scrutinize the budget of President Janet Napolitano, whose office came under political fire last year for questionable spending and murky accounting. Regents will vote on the proposed $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 during their two-day meeting, which starts Wednesday, at UC San Francisco. They also will discuss state funding, financial aid, online education and transfer student policies. Board Chairman George Kieffer said regents are stepping up to exert stronger oversight of the presidents office after a blistering state audit last year found financial problems including an unreported $175 million budget reserve. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State legislative panels approve major funding boost for Cal State By Teresa Watanabe Cal State students protest against a tuition increase outside the chancellors office (Irfan Khan) After months of intensive lobbying, Cal State University has convinced two key legislative panels to approve funding to enroll nearly 11,000 more students, hire more faculty and expand housing aid to those without shelter this fall. An Assembly budget panel on Tuesday approved $215.7 million more for Cal State, adding to Gov. Jerry Browns proposed $92.1 million general fund increase. A Senate budget panel approved a similar increase last week. The extra funding which went beyond Cal States own request to the Legislature of $171 million is still subject to final budget negotiations with Brown. But the actions by the Senate and Assembly panels amount to a demand from Democrats that the governor hike higher education spending. Cal State University is the workhorse undergraduate university serving hundreds of thousands of Californians, said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who heads the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. We need more graduates for the California workforce and higher education is the ticket to the middle class. Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White hailed the actions, but said it was too soon to celebrate. The CSU has a singular focus on helping students earn high-quality degrees sooner, and the entire university community has rallied to reinforce that message to our states lawmakers, he said in a statement. The actions taken thus far by the Assembly and Senate are promising and show that our message is being received, but there is still work to be done. Funding for the University of California was not taken up Tuesday as originally scheduled. McCarty would not comment on sticking points but said he was confident that a resolution would be reached this week. Were looking to provide resources above whats in the governors budget, but negotiations are ongoing, he said in an interview. State per-student funding is not what it once was, leaving both Cal State and the UC in a tough financial squeeze. Both systems raised tuition last year after a six-year freeze on higher costs. For this year, Cal State had asked for funding to enroll an additional 3,621 students, but both the Senate and Assembly panels approved three times that amount. Cal State, the largest public university system in the nation, turned away 32,000 eligible students last year because its campuses werent able to accommodate them. The panels asked that at least $50 million of the extra funding be used to hire more tenure-track faculty to help boost graduation rates. The Assembly panel also approved one-time funding of $5 million to ease hunger on campuses and $14 million for rapid rehousing pilot projects at three campuses, offering needy students rental support and short-term case management. Other items approved include $5 million to support the CSU Long Beach Shark Labs research on sharks and beach safety and $2 million for equal employment opportunity practices. This post has been updated to include comments from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty and Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Faculty members call for USC president to step down: He has lost the moral authority to lead By Matt Hamilton Two hundred USC professors on Tuesday demanded the resignation of university President C. L. Max Nikias, saying he had lost the moral authority to lead in the wake of revelations that a campus gynecologist was kept on staff for decades despite repeated complaints of misconduct. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gun battle, negotiations lasted 15 minutes before Texas school shooter was apprehended, sheriff says By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Minutes after a school shooter opened fire in an art class last week, killing 10 people and wounding 13, including a local police officer, fellow officers returned fire in a protracted gun battle before isolating the suspect, the local sheriff said Monday. Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset praised first responders as well as Santa Fe Police Officer John Barnes, who was working as a resource officer at the school the day of the shooting. Their actions, he said, prevented the attack from spreading to other classrooms and potentially claiming additional victims. As officials continue to probe last Fridays shooting at Santa Fe High School, students are worried about returning to the scene of the attack when classes resume next week. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 6 women sue USC, alleging they were victimized by campus gynecologist By Richard Winton Six women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staff about the doctors behavior. One woman alleged Dr. George Tyndall forced his entire ungloved hand into her vagina during an appointment in 2003 while making vulgar remarks about her genitalia, according to one of the lawsuits. Another woman alleged that Tyndall groped her breasts in a 2008 visit and that later he falsely told her she likely had AIDS. A third woman accused the doctor of grazing his ungloved fingers over her nude body and leering at her during a purported skin exam, the lawsuit states. The wave of litigation comes as USC continues to grapple with the scandal, which legal experts said could prove costly to the university as scores of former patients come forward about their experiences with the gynecologist. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Fatalities reported in Texas high school shooting; suspect arrested, officials say By Associated Press Houston-area media citing unnamed law enforcement officials are reporting that there are fatalities following a shooting at a local high school Friday morning. Television station KHOU and the Houston Chronicle are citing unnamed federal, county and police officials following the shooting at Santa Fe High School, which went on lockdown around 8 a.m. The Associated Press has not been able to confirm the reports. The school district has confirmed an unspecified number of injuries but said it wouldnt immediately release further details. Assistant Principal Cris Richardson said a suspect has been arrested and secured. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print This student followed the new L.A. schools chief on his first-day tour L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner is greeted by Van Nuys High School principal Yolanda Gardea. (Melissa Barales-Lopez) Melissa Barales-Lopez, a senior at Garfield High School followed Supt. Austin Beutner on his first day on the job, as he toured a variety of programs around the Los Angeles Unified School District. Heres what she took from the experience. LAUSD students and staff alike are looking for a personal champion, someone who will address and improve the difficulties afflicting their education. What LAUSD students need is someone whos willing to listen and learn, someone who can understand the current issues affecting their schools and act to efficiently amend them, someone who can unlock the full potential of LAUSD students and enable them to reach their goals. During the entirety of his first day, superintendent Austin Beutner did indeed demonstrate a willingness to learn. Posing questions to teachers and students, Beutner engaged with the student communities he encountered to gain a better comprehension of the minutiae and nuances that distinguish each school inside an overwhelmingly large district. From inquiries about Grand View Boulevard Elementary Schools dual language program to questions regarding the services of LAUSDs after-school program, Beyond the Bell, Beutner revealed he has a lot to learn about the system. But, Beutner also showcased a willingness to tackle challenges head-on on his first day. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USC let a gynecologist continue treating students despite years of misconduct allegations By Matt Hamilton For nearly 30 years, the University of Southern Californias student health clinic had one full-time gynecologist: Dr. George Tyndall. Tall and garrulous with distinctive jet black hair, he treated tens of thousands of female students, many of them teenagers seeing a gynecologist for the first time. Few who lay down on Tyndalls exam table at the Engemann Student Health Center knew that he had been accused repeatedly of misconduct toward young patients. The complaints began in the 1990s, when co-workers alleged he was improperly photographing students genitals. In the years that followed, patients and nursing staff accused him again and again of creepy behavior, including touching women inappropriately during pelvic exams and making sexually suggestive remarks about their bodies. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print On his first day as L.A. schools chief, Beutner plans a day of visits across the district By Howard Blume L.A. Unifieds new superintendent, Austin Beutner, will kick off his first day of work on Tuesday with a choreographed tour of the nations second-largest school district, from the San Fernando Valley to Carson. His day is scheduled to begin at 5:15 a.m. at a school bus depot and end more than 12 hours later at a parent meeting at Garfield High School. Along the way, Beutner is expected to be joined by school district administrators, L.A. Unified board members and the vice president of the union that represents school bus drivers. Though he will be covering a lot of ground, Beutners tour has him skipping Tuesdays school board meeting, when board members are expected to discuss labor negotiations in closed session. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Why a handful of rich charter school supporters are spending millions to elect Antonio Villaraigosa as governor By Ryan Menezes California voters have seen a barrage of sunny television ads in recent weeks touting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosas record on finances, crime and education, aired by Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018. But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter-school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosas chances in the June 5 primary at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election. Their efforts are part of a broader proxy war among Democrats between teachers unions longtime stalwarts of the party and those who argue that the groups have failed low-income and minority schoolchildren. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Talking schools with L.A. Unifieds new superintendent By Anna M. Phillips Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ( Incoming L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner talks to students at Belmont High School.) Austin Beutner, who officially starts Tuesday as the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is taking on a famously difficult job at a particularly difficult time. The school board is divided and did not back him unanimously. The nations second-largest school district has deep-seated problems, including declining enrollment, lagging academic achievement and rising pension and healthcare costs that eat away at its budget. The 58-year-old former investment banker and former L.A. Times publisher has years of experience in the financial world but none as an educator. Earlier this week, he sat down with the Times education team to discuss the challenges facing the district, which has about 60,000 employees and 500,000 students in traditional public schools. He did not talk about his plans saying repeatedly, stay tuned but he spoke in broad terms about his mindset in approaching the tough decisions ahead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Suspect detained, authorities search campus after reports of armed man at Palmdale high school By James Queally One person has been detained after a report of an armed man at a Palmdale high school sparked a massive law enforcement response Friday morning. The suspect was spotted at 7:05 a.m. on the campus of Highland High School in Palmdale, according to Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. The person was detained in a nearby parking lot, according to Nishida, who did not know whether that person was an adult or juvenile. Deputies at the scene are clearing the school methodically, and students will be transported home via school buses once the campus is deemed safe, Nishida said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement The education of Bertha Perez: How a UC Merced custodians disenchantment led to a political awakening By Robin Abcarian Its the third day of a three-day strike, and UC Merced custodian Bertha Perez is taking a break from a picket line at the universitys unremarkable entrance, an intersection with stop lights. Photos from other UC campuses this week have shown big crowds of striking service workers members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees marching and chanting pro-labor slogans as they try to force the University of California back to the negotiating table. But here, at UC Merced, whose handful of big buildings rise from a flat expanse of farmland, the picket line is tiny, maybe two dozen workers and a few students. Its not a big-city-style show of force. Then again, a union sympathizer is banging relentlessly on a snare drum, so its noisier than youd expect. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ref Rodriguez resigns from teacher credentialing commission By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez appears during a court appearance. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez has resigned from the states Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which oversees the integrity and quality of Californias teachers. Rodriguez faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. Separately, his former employer, a charter school organization, has accused him of improperly authorizing checks to a nonprofit under his control. Rodriguez has denied wrongdoing. Rodriguezs resignation from the state body was effective May 4, days after he cast a crucial vote as part of a narrow majority that voted to authorize contract negotiations with Austin Beutner to become superintendent of the L.A. Unified School District. Beutners first official day on the job is Tuesday. Rodriguez remains in his $125,000-a-year position on the Los Angeles Board of Education. The mission of the state body is to ensure integrity, relevance, and high quality in the preparation, certification, and discipline of Californias teachers. Critics had questioned Rodriguezs continued service on the commission, given that teachers can be suspended from work if they face criminal charges. They also can lose their jobs for lapses in personal behavior, such as excessive drinking, with the potential to affect their performance. Police in Pasadena arrested Rodriguez on a Friday afternoon in March for public drunkenness. He was not charged in the incident and has apologized. The state commission reviews teacher discipline cases and can take action to remove a teachers credential to work in a California classroom. The commission has 15 members. Rodriguezs departure was disclosed in a one-sentence announcement on the agencys website. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print School board members request for restraining order against blogger is rejected By Priscella Vega An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a school board members petition for a permanent restraining order against a Huntington Beach blogger. Attorney Jeffrey W. Shields filed the petition on behalf of Ocean View School District trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin, 46, who alleged in court documents that Charles Keeler Johnson, 56, has threatened her on social media and at school board meetings, causing her to fear for my own safety and for that of my immediate family members. Johnson, who goes by Chuck and publishes HBSledgehammer.com, said the trustee tried to stifle his freedom of speech. He also contended that Clayton-Tarvin took his blog posts and Facebook comments too seriously and out of context, saying anyone who is afraid of metaphors has serious issues. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Deal with workers averts one-day strike that could have shut down L.A. schools By Howard Blume Los Angeles school district and union officials announced a contract agreement Tuesday night that averted a one-day strike planned for next week. The pact, which runs through June 2020, removes one labor problem from the desk of incoming Supt. Austin Beutner whose first day on the job would have coincided with the strike. Plenty of other challenges remain. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC labor strike expands with show of support from more unions By Teresa Watanabe Fong Chuu is a registered nurse who has assisted with countless liver transplants, kidney surgeries and gastric bypasses during 34 years at UCLA. Working with her are scrub technicians who sterilize equipment, hand medical instruments to the surgeon and dress patient wounds. They are a team, Chuu says, which is why she walked off her job Tuesday in support of those technicians and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. The 25,000 member AFSCME local, the University of Californias largest employee union, launched a three-day strike Monday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print We are humans too: Voices of UCLAs striking custodians, hospital aides and imaging technicians By Joy Resmovits Demonstrators parade in front of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) This week, thousands of UC employees are staging a three-day strike for better pay and working conditions. On Monday, more than 20,000 custodians, cooks, lab technicians, nurse aides and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 walked off their jobs. By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes. The union and UC reached a bargaining impasse last year. The university has said it wont meet the workers demands. The strikers said they wanted better pay, more equity in the allocation of work, stable healthcare premiums and an end to the universitys use of contract workers. These are their stories. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Massive UC workers strike disrupts dining, classes and medical services By Joy Resmovits A massive labor strike across the University of California on Monday forced medical centers to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments, and campuses to cancel some classes and limit dining services. More than 20,000 members of UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, walked off their jobs on the first day of a three-day strike. They include custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Two altercations involving protesters and people driving near the rallies were reported at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, police took a man into custody Monday after he drove his vehicle into a crowd, hitting three staff members. They were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, said Lt. Kevin Kilgore of the UCLA Police Department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Kamala Harris to skip UC Berkeley commencement in support of striking workers By Teresa Watanabe Sen. Kamala Harris (Chris Dekmas) California Sen. Kamala Harris has canceled plans to deliver UC Berkeleys commencement address this weekend in support of UC workers who are on strike over wages and health benefits. Due to the ongoing labor dispute, Sen. Harris regretfully cannot attend and speak at this years commencement ceremony at UC Berkeley, said a statement from Harris office issued Monday. She wishes the graduates and their families a joyous commencement weekend and success for the future. They are bright young leaders and our country is counting on them. UCs largest employee union, the 25,000-member American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Local 3299, launched a three-day strike Monday and had earlier called for a speakers boycott. The union and university reached a bargaining impasse last year and subsequent mediation efforts have failed to produce an agreement. The union is asking for a multiyear contract with a 6% annual pay increase while the university is offering 3% annual increases over four years. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ will deliver the keynote address instead, the university announced. About 5,800 students are expected to participate in the ceremony Saturday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement School mural depicting Trumps bloody, severed head sparks controversy By Gary Warth A Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting. We understand that there was a mural painted at the event this past weekend that does not align with our schools philosophy of non-violence, read the statement from MAAC Community Charter School director Tommy Ramirez. We have been in communication with the artist who has agreed to modify the artwork to better align with the schools philosophy. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New blackface incident at Cal Poly prompts calls for state investigation By Kim Christensen Cal Poly San Luis Obispo officials have asked the state attorney generals office to investigate after a new photo of a white student in blackface surfaced on a fraternity groups private Snapchat. I am outraged, Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a video address Friday to the campus. These vile and absolutely unacceptable acts cannot continue. We must not allow these acts to define us as an institution. Armstrong said the latest photo was intended to imitate an incident last month in which a white member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was photographed at a party wearing blackface. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print More than 50,000 UC workers set to strike this week but campuses will remain open By Teresa Watanabe More than 50,000 workers across the University of California are set to strike this week, causing potential disruptions to surgery schedules, food preparation and campus maintenance. The systems 10 campuses and five medical centers are to remain open, with classes scheduled as planned. UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, plans to begin a three-day strike Monday involving 25,000 workers, including custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New L.A. schools chief Beutner pledges to listen, learn and take action By Howard Blume New Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner proved Wednesday that hes a quick learner even without an education background. Like countless public officials before him, he appeared at an important event his first speech and news conference with a photogenic background of students. His message that he would put those students first seemed heartfelt if hardly original. Nor was it a huge surprise that he pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. As an introduction, Beutner, a former investment banker who made a fortune on Wall Street, offered little flash, but that was partly the point. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In a school lockdown, one student takes stock of the stressful scene (Phalaen Chang) At the beginning of lunch one day late last month, Duarte High School, Northview Middle School, and California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley were advised by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to go into lockdown mode due to police activity in the immediate area. Phalaen Chang, a junior at the California School of the Arts, wrote a series of notes on her iPhone while she sat in a room with her classmates. By the time the lockdown ended an hour later, she wrote, she knew which of her friends would hold open the door for others, be the ones calming others down, be the ones barricading the doors. She knew that all of them have the potential to be such strong people. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tale as old as time: L.A. Unified superintendent pick follows a historical pattern of outside-the-box choices By Joy Resmovits Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, superintendent from 2006-2008. (L.A. Times file photo) L.A. Unified has long gone back and forth between picking insiders and outsiders to run the nations second largest school district. The choice of Austin Beutner, announced Tuesday, places the district squarely back in the outsider camp months after a consummate insider, Supt. Michelle King, announced that she had cancer and would not return to the job. Check out this timeline of former L.A. superintendents to see how the school board members have changed their minds, sometimes favoring leaders who come from the world of education and sometimes executives from elsewhere, recruited to shock the system into change. At one point, the district hired someone from the military retired Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, who served as superintendent from 2006-2008. In hiring Brewer, board members had opted for a non-educator largely because they sought a fresh thinker, unwedded to the bureaucracy, unafraid to make bold, even unorthodox moves, reads a 2008 Times story. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Austin Beutner named superintendent of Los Angeles schools By Howard Blume Austin Beutner, a philanthropist and former investment banker, on Tuesday was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest school system. His selection was the biggest move yet by a Los Angeles school board majority elected with major support from charter school advocates. The decision came after lengthy public testimony, most of it in support of the other remaining finalist, interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian, who is well known within the school system. Beutner, 58, has no background leading a school or school district. Less than 2 years ago, a school board with a very different balance of power named Michelle King, a former teacher who rose through the district throughout her career, to L.A. Unifieds top job. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Hearing delay gives both sides more time in Ref Rodriguezs potential trial By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez and his attorneys will have more time to prepare their defense against charges of political money laundering, a judge ruled Monday. The preliminary hearing in the case had been scheduled to begin May 9, but that date will now be pushed back to July 23 per the ruling from L.A. Superior Court Judge Deborah S. Brazil. Rodriguez, 46, faces three felony charges of conspiracy, perjury and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. school board poised to name Beutner as superintendent By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is poised to select philanthropist and former investment banker Austin Beutner to be the next superintendent of the nations second-largest school system. Barring a last-minute development, the only mystery is whether Beutner emerges with four or five votes from the boards seven members. Terms of his contract already have been under discussion, according to sources close to the process who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak. The selection of Beutner, 58, who has no experience managing a school or a school district, would be a signal that the board majority that took control nearly a year ago wants to rely on business management skills instead of insider educational expertise. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Teacher walkouts in Arizona and Colorado continue national debate on money for schools By Michael Livingston Following the lead of teachers who walked off the job in other states in recent weeks, thousands of teachers and their supporters took to the streets in Arizona and Colorado for the second day in a row to demand better pay and more funding for education. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Three decades before the #MeToo movement, UC San Diego led the way against sexual assault By Teresa Watanabe When Nancy Wahlig first started her fight against sexual assault, one company was marketing a capsule for women to stash in their bras and then smash to release a vile odor. Because of the very nature of society, the only person who can prevent rape is the woman herself, read a 1981 advertisement for the Repulse rape deterrent. Ideas about how to prevent sexual violence have come a long way since then, and Wahlig has helped lead that evolution on college campuses. In 1988, she started UC San Diegos Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC), the first stand-alone program at the University of California. Today, she remains the systems most senior specialist. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Andres Alonso withdraws from consideration for L.A. schools job By Howard Blume Andres Alonso, believed to be one of three remaining finalists to lead the Los Angeles school system, has withdrawn from consideration. The remaining known candidates in the confidential search are former investment banker Austin Beutner and interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian. Alonso, 60, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday night, saying he had notified the L.A. Unified School District on Monday. The exit of Alonso, the former Baltimore schools chief, seems to solidify the front-runner status of Beutner, who also was a former L.A. Times publisher and a Los Angeles deputy mayor. He held each of those positions for about a year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Heres why the apparent increase in autism spectrum disorders may be good for U.S. children By Karen Kaplan The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among American children continues to rise, new government data suggest. And that may be a good thing. Among 11 sites across the U.S. where records of 8-year-olds are scrutinized in detail, 1 in 59 kids was deemed to have ASD in 2014. Thats up from 1 in 68 in 2012. Normally, health officials would prefer to see less of a disease, not more of it. But in this case, the higher number is probably a sign that more children of color who are on the autism spectrum are being recognized as such and getting services to help them, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC shelves tuition increase for now, in hopes of getting more state funding By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents will not vote on a tuition increase next month, shelving the plan for now in hopes that state lawmakers will come through with more funding. Raising tuition is always a last resort and one we take very seriously, UC President Janet Napolitano said Thursday in a statement. We will continue to advocate with our students who are doing a tremendous job of educating legislators about the necessity of adequately funding the university to ensure UC remains a world-class institution and engine of economic growth for our state. Last week, Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White said the 23-campus system no longer would consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year. But unlike Cal State, UC officials have not taken a tuition increase off the table entirely. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A chemical spill, unchecked eyewash stations, poor training: Audit details Cal States lax lab safety By Joy Resmovits In May 2016, two bottles tumbled off a poorly supported shelf and broke, leading to a chemical spill in a Sacramento State University lab. The liquid got onto one students legs and soaked anothers feet. Five employees cleaned up the mess, even though no one knew for sure what it was and whether it was dangerous. They called fellow employee Kim Harrington, their union representative, to let her know what happened. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After blackface incident, minority students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo say they dont feel welcome By Hailey Branson-Potts Aaliyah Ramos was walking through the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus last year when a prospective student approached her. Ramos was the only black person, the young woman said, that she and her mother had seen that day. They asked about the quality of education and the diversity of the student body. Ramos, a mechanical engineering student, didnt want to sugarcoat the truth: Cal Poly long has been predominantly white. But she told the young woman who also was black that she didnt want to discourage her from applying, because that wouldnt help with diversity at a school where only 0.7% of students are African American the lowest percentage of any university in the California State system. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills wins the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon By Carlos Lozano El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills has won the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon, officials said. The winner was announced early Saturday at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas. More than 600 students from the U.S., Canada, China and the United Kingdom gathered there over the last three days to compete in the 37th annual U.S. Academic Decathlon. Congratulations to El Camino Real Charter High School for another impressive victory, said Vivian Ekchian, interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Your academic stamina and competitive spirit to win is remarkable. The entire L.A. Unified family is so proud of you. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Anticipation mounts as L.A. school board meets over superintendent selection By Howard Blume L.A. schools superintendent candidate Andres Alonso got an endorsement Friday, but Austin Beutner and Vivian Ekchian also have supporters. (Elizabeth Malby) The Los Angeles Board of Education is reconvening in closed session Friday at noon as anticipation mounts about the choice of the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. The presumed front-runner is former investment banker and philanthropist Austin Beutner, but interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian and former Baltimore Supt. Andres Alonso also are in the running. Most district insiders appear to be rooting for Ekchian, who has spent her entire career in education within the school system. After her 10 years as a teacher, her roles have included head of human resources, chief labor negotiator and regional administrator for campuses in the west San Fernando Valley. Shes managed the district since September, when then-Supt. Michelle King went on medical leave and chose Ekchian to fill in for her. King, who is battling cancer, never returned and announced her retirement in January. Numerous influential civic leaders have urged and pressured the board to select Beutner. Also lending their weight have been advocates for charter schools, which are independently operated, growing in number and competing for students with district-operated campuses. Four of the seven board members enough to control the outcome were elected with major financial support from charter supporters. Beutner has two ongoing connections with the L.A. Unified School District. The first is his leadership of an outside task force that is making recommendations on how to improve the school system. The second is his charity, Vision to Learn, which supplies glasses to low-income students. The charity and the school system are in a dispute at the moment over who is responsible for delays in providing services to students as part of a $6 million contract, half of which is paid for by L.A. Unified. Unlike Ekchian and Buetner, Alonso, who currently teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has no deep-seated local constituency, but the prospect of his selection has generated some excitement. While in Baltimore, Alonso was recognized for pushing for progress at low-performing schools, and for being willing to take strong action. While in Baltimore, he also weathered a test-score cheating scandal and occasionally rocky relations with the teachers union. But by the time he resigned, after six years, he and union leaders seemed to be working together without rancor. Leaders of some community groups have split from the pro-Beutner camp. They worry that Beutners approach to confronting the districts financial problems could shut out their voices or involve severe economic cutbacks that would undermine programs that are helping students. Some prefer Ekchian; some Alonso. Theyve been reluctant to speak out publicly because theyll have to work with whoever is selected, but they have tried to get the ear of board members. On Friday morning, one leader of a community group decided to come out in favor of Alonso. L.A. Unified has the opportunity to bring in an instructional leader of color with a history of success, said Alberto Retana, president and chief executive of Community Coalition, which works on behalf of low-income students and families in South Los Angeles. If we have a shot at that, we should go for it because its in the best interests of our kids and of our community. Retana said his statement was not meant to criticize Beutner or Ekchian but to alert board members that there also is community support for Alonso. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cal State leader shelves proposed tuition hike: Its the right thing to do, but its not without risk By Joy Resmovits Cal State, the nations largest public university system, will no longer consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year, Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Friday. The decision is a bet that Sacramento will come through in the end. If Cal State loses that bet, it could mean cuts to campus programs. White said in an interview that Californias economy is strong enough that families should not be shouldering the burden of higher college costs. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. students to participate in national walkout activities on Friday By Joy Resmovits (Los Angeles Times) Students are taking to the streets again Friday to protest gun violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Starting at 10 a.m., students at many schools will spend 13 seconds honoring the 13 people 12 students and one teacher killed on that day in Littleton, Colo. After that, theyll participate in a host of different activities. Within L.A. Unified, one school is having an open-mic event for students to talk about school violence, and lawmakers are visiting campuses to hear students thoughts. According to a central hub for organizing the protests written by the students of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut the walkouts are intended to drive the political change necessary to curb school violence. The day is also a time for students to interact on an elevated platform they have never had before, the site states. It is a day of discourse and thoughtful sharing. Bringing together communities and students to get a national discussion rolling. Organizers have suggested using the event to convey the importance of curbing gun violence to legislators. They are encouraging students to push legislation that would ban assault weapons and tighten up rules around who can buy guns and how. Over 2,500 schools nationwide are expected to participate. In L.A., some students at campuses including Eagle Rock High School, the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and Bravo Medical Magnet plan to walk out. Students from various schools expect to join area marches, including those in Santa Monica and Huntington Park. Other schools are hosting career days and voter registration drives. At 1 p.m., students plan to start a rally in front of L.A. Unified headquarters. For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that 12 teachers and one student were killed in the Columbine shooting. The opposite is true: twelve students and one teacher died. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Stabbing of popular student devastates South El Monte High School; teen friend suspected in slaying By Sonali Kohli When administrators at South El Monte High School called Jeremy Sanchezs parents to say he never showed up for class Wednesday, his father began to worry. It was unusual for the 17-year-old junior to miss school, so his father filed a missing persons report and assembled two of Jeremys close friends to look for the popular student-athlete. Their search took them to a scenic stretch of the San Gabriel River Trail, where one of the friends a 16-year-old boy made a tragic discovery. Among the bushes in the riverbed near Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive was Jeremys body, punctured with stab wounds, according to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Racist fliers spark outrage at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo By Alene Tchekmedyian Soon after Neal MacDougall arrived on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus Tuesday, the professor noticed university police standing outside a restroom near his office. A racial slur against African Americans had been scrawled in red marker on a stall wall. Later, he discovered a series of racist fliers pinned up next to his door. Someone had also slashed posters hed hung outside his office supporting students in the country illegally. The discovery was the latest controversy on the prestigious campus which the president said is less than 55% white that MacDougall said demonstrates a culture of racism at the university. Last week, photographs emerged of white fraternity members, including one in blackface, flashing gang signs. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement The superintendent waiting game, paying for L.A.'s College Promise, Princetons slave history: Whats new in education By Joy Resmovits Acting LAUSD superintendent Vivian Ekchian is a finalist for the permanent job. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In and around Los Angeles: The L.A. Unified school board spent 10 hours interviewing and discussing candidates for superintendent. When they adjourned after 10 p.m., they said they would reconvene on Friday. Who is paying for Mayor Eric Garcettis much-touted College Promise, a program that promises two years of community college for LAUSD grads? In California: The Legislature is considering a proposal that would boost K-12 education funding for black students. When the cost of living is taken into account, California has the highest rate of child poverty. Nationwide: The families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School are suing Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never occurred. Princeton will name two spaces an arch and a garden after slaves who lived or worked on the campus. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board meets privately with finalists and debates choice for school district leader By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education adjourned late Tuesday after spending more than 10 hours interviewing candidates and trying to reach a decision on who would be the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. When the meeting finally recessed at 10:11 p.m., a spokesman announced only that the school board would reconvene Friday at noon. Going into the days meetings, there were apparently four finalists, according to sources who could not be named because they were unauthorized to speak. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Two Sandy Hook families sue Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never happened By David Altimari Families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School have filed lawsuits in Texas against controversial radio host Alex Jones for continually claiming the massacre never happened. Neil Heslin, the father of Jesse Lewis, and Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose son Noah Pozner died in the massacre, filed separate lawsuits late Monday in Travis County, Texas. The lawsuits allege that Jones defamed the parents by constantly calling them crisis actors and insisting the shooting was a false flag operation; they also claim Jones accusations have led to death threats against the Sandy Hook families by Jones followers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Beutner emerges as a top pick for L.A. schools superintendent amid last-minute jockeying By Howard Blume Austin Beutner has emerged as a leading contender to run the Los Angeles school district, with backers saying he is smart enough and tough enough to confront its financial and academic struggles. Though he does not have a background in education, the former investment banker has in the last year examined some of the districts intractable problems, serving as co-chair of an outside task force with the support of then-Supt. Michelle King. Sources inside and outside the school district said Beutner appears to have more support on the seven-member board than other finalists, and his name could come up for a vote as early as Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Challenge at Chicago school construction site: Watch for 38,000 unmarked graves By Nereida Moreno A 15-year effort to build a school in Chicagos Dunning neighborhood is underway with an unusual complication: Construction workers are taking careful steps to avoid disturbing human remains that may lie beneath the soil. The $70-million school is to be built on the grounds of a former Cook County Poor House, where an estimated 38,000 people were buried in unmarked graves. Among the dead are residents who were too poor to afford funeral costs, unclaimed bodies and patients from the countys insane asylum. There can be and there have been bodies found all over the place, said Barry Fleig, a genealogist and cemetery researcher who began investigating the site in 1989. Its a spooky, scary place. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Oklahoma teacher walkout winds down despite lawmakers failure to meet demands By Washington Post Oklahomas largest teachers union has announced an end to a walkout that has drawn thousands of educators out of classrooms and to the state Capitol demanding greater investment in the states schools, which have endured the nations steepest funding cuts. The announcement Thursday from the Oklahoma Education Assn. does not necessarily end the protests at the Capitol, as teachers not affiliated with the union vowed to stay longer. Instead of a walkout, the union and school districts across the state have said they plan to send delegations of teachers to Oklahoma City to keep the pressure on lawmakers. Teachers and their supporters have also promised to push education issues to the forefront of November elections, when the state chooses a new governor. As school districts begin to reopen, the protests may lose steam. The Legislature is not in session Friday, and observers are waiting to see what happens Monday, when lawmakers return. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Most Californians are worried about school shooting threats and oppose arming teachers, survey finds By Joy Resmovits Hamilton High School student Aiyana Dabriel holds a sign during a March 14 walkout in support of the Parkland shooting victims. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Most Californians are worried that a school shooting like the one that occurred in Parkland, Fla., in February could shed blood closer to home, a new survey found. Some 73% percent of adults and 82% of public school parents said they were very concerned or somewhat concerned about school shootings. The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed 1,704 adults in the state by phone just after the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence. Latino and black respondents were significantly more likely to be concerned about school violence than white or Asian respondents, the institute found. Two-thirds of adults and public school parents said they opposed letting more educators carry weapons in school. The response differed across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents voicing their opposition, while 60% percent of Republicans said they would support a measure to arm educators. The poll, which had a margin of error of 3.2% in either direction, also asked Californians about school funding, educational issues in the governors race and the impact of immigration enforcement on students. You can find the full results here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias largest virtual charter school network agrees to contract with its teachers By Anna M. Phillips Nearly four years after teachers at Californias largest online charter school voted to unionize, they have reached a deal to increase pay and create job protections, according to a spokesman for the California Teachers Assn. The contract, which is still tentative and subject to ratification, is a victory for the teachers union. Although charter schools are publicly funded, most are privately managed and their employees arent protected by labor contracts. Under the terms of the contract the result of years of negotiation and legal wrangling approximately 500 teachers working for California Virtual Academies will no longer be at-will employees who can be dismissed for almost any reason. Their average salary will rise to just over $45,000, according to union estimates, a figure that remains far below the norm for traditional public school teachers. Still, it is an improvement over the previous average of $38,000. The accord also places a limit on the number of students each teacher is responsible for monitoring in online homeroom classes. Were very satisfied with the gains we made, said teacher Brianna Carroll, president of California Virtual Educators United. I think were going to see some extraordinary changes in our schools. According to Carroll, teachers at California Virtual Academies better known as CAVA had grown frustrated with the organizations foot-dragging and were making preparations to go on strike when CAVAs leadership agreed to the deal. CAVA and K12, the Virginia-based for-profit company linked to its schools, did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday asking for comment. The network currently operates nine virtual charter schools across California. In 2016, the charter network agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle claims of false advertising, misleading parents and inadequate instruction. The state attorney generals office had also accused K12 of controlling the charters for its own financial benefit. Neither CAVA nor K12 admitted to wrongdoing in the settlement. A year later, the state imposed a $2-million fine on CAVA after an audit found that it had misspent public funds. The network disputed the findings. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement School board approves a new formula for funding high-need schools By Sonali Kohli L.A. schools will soon get more money if they are located in neighborhoods with such problems as high levels of gun violence and asthma. The Los Angeles Unified school board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new formula to determine how to dole out some funding to schools, based not only on the characteristics of the student populations but on the traumas that affect the communities around campuses. The new formula will be applied to $25 million in funding next fiscal year and about $263 million annually in future years a small part of the districts $7.5 billion annual budget. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Protesters demand Ref Rodriguez resignation outside school board meeting By Sonali Kohli Students, parents, teachers and UTLA marching outside the board meeting chanting "Ref resign" pic.twitter.com/W0LRWZSIXY Sonali Kohli (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 A few dozen parents, students and teachers marched outside the Los Angeles Unified School Board meeting Tuesday, some calling for board member Ref Rodriguez to resign the week after news broke that he was taken into custody on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena bar and restaurant. Rodriguez was not cited or charged in that incident, but was held for more than five and a half hours before being released. The school board member faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. He is accused of getting more than two dozen people people to donate to his campaign for his school board seat with the understanding that he would reimburse them. He stepped down from his post as school board president after he was charged last fall, but he did not give up his seat on the board. He has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May. He cant give his full focus to our students, said Rebecca LaFond, a Highland Park parent whose three children marched with her as she chanted, Ref resign. One daughter marched in front of her, using a drum stick to hit the bottom of a gallon-size empty water jug. Our kids deserve someone who has the utmost ethical standards representing them, LaFond said. The protests continued into the board meeting, where some addressed Rodriguez directly, calling on him to step down during public comment portions of the meeting. Rodriguez, through his chief of staff, declined to comment. Some parents outside the board meeting did not know about the charges against Rodriguez but came out to protest the possibility of sharing their school campuses with charter schools. Protesters also oppose colocation not all of the parents are here to ask Ref Rodriguez to step down pic.twitter.com/1Co8zQ9zSi Sonali Kohli (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 Cynthia Martinez said her son, who goes to Christopher Dena Elementary School in Boyle Heights, has been bullied in the past by students from a charter school sharing the campus. She said she didnt know who Rodriguez was. Some parents and teachers are worried about losing computer labs, robotics rooms and fitness centers if they are required to share their campus with charter schools, said Ilse Escobar, a parent community organizer for United Teachers Los Angeles. The issues of Rodriguez and colocation are related, Escobar said. Rodriguez is part of a majority on the school board elected with financial backing from charter school supporters, and many parents, she said, feel that the school board is compromised if he is a part of it. Staff reporter Howard Blume contributed to this post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Delaine Eastin tries to gain momentum in the California governors race, one voter at a time By Seema Mehta Delaine Eastin was a sophomore in high school when a drama teacher urged her to try out for a part in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She hesitated until he told her: This is a metaphor for your whole life. If you never try out, you will never get the part. Eastin auditioned and won the role. Decades later, the advice sticks with the former state schools chief, this time in her unlikely run for governor. Despite calls for more women in leadership roles in state politics following sexual misconduct allegations in Sacramento, Eastin has been largely overlooked in the race, lagging far behind her Democratic rivals in fundraising and the polls. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Arizona high court rejects in-state tuition for DACA recipients By Associated Press Young immigrants granted deferred deportation status under a program started by President Obama are not eligible for lower in-state college tuition, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous ruling will affect at least 2,000 students attending the states largest community college district and hundreds more at other colleges and the states three public universities. The Maricopa County Community Colleges District and state universities said they would begin raising tuition immediately for the coming school year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New York high school students injured when bus strikes overpass By Associated Press A charter bus carrying teenagers returning from a spring break trip Sunday night struck a bridge overpass on Long Island, seriously injuring six passengers and mangling the entire length of the top of the bus. The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview, according to New York State Police. One of the six injured passengers had very serious injuries, said State Police Maj. David Candelaria. Thirty-seven other passengers suffered minor injuries. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Some good news for California in national student test scores By Joy Resmovits National test scores for fourth- and eighth-graders were generally flat from 2015, but eighth-grade reading scores showed some improvement. Every two years, the nations fourth- and eighth-graders are tested in math and reading and newly released results from last years tests give California at least a little reason to be pleased. The 2017 results out Monday night were mostly flat nationwide compared with 2015, though the average score in eighth-grade reading went up. But while that improvement largely came from the increased scores of the highest-performing students, California eighth-graders showed some reading progress from the lowest levels to the highest. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Under state control, Inglewood school districts financial picture worsened By Anna M. Phillips When Eugenio Villa agreed to return to the Inglewood schools for a second tour last summer, he knew the district remained one of Californias most troubled. Inglewood Unified had been nearly insolvent when it was taken over by the state Department of Education in 2012. Six years later, its enrollment was still declining. Its school buildings were tired some edging into decrepitude. Its test scores and graduation rates were still below the state average. And the public was out of patience. Still, Villa, who had signed back on as the districts chief business official, was shocked at what he found when he arrived in June 2017. Two years earlier, he had left the school system on what he thought was firm ground. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Charter school group drops two lawsuits against L.A. Unified By Howard Blume A charter schools advocacy group last week announced that it would end two long-running lawsuits in which it was seeking more classroom space and construction money from the Los Angeles school district. The decision, the California Charter Schools Assn. said, reflects better relations between charter schools and the L.A. Unified School District. But the move also suggests that the litigation, which already contributed to significant gains for area charters, was unlikely to produce much more. It takes time, money and effort to litigate, said Ricardo Soto, general counsel for the charter group. Maybe its better to see if we can find the time and opportunity for collaboration. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez is arrested on suspicion of public intoxication By Richard Winton Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez was arrested recently on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena restaurant, the latest trouble for an elected official who faces political money-laundering charges. Pasadena police took Rodriguez into custody on March 16, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. Officers arrested Rodriguez at about 4:30 p.m. at the Yard House restaurant and bar at the Paseo Mall and held him in jail for more than five-and-a-half hours. Rodriguez was ultimately released without being cited or charged, Derderian told The Times. Other details about the arrest were not available, she As thousands of passenger vehicles roll off the assembly line this week destined for the U.S. market, each of them will be equipped with backup cameras the result of a long-awaited federal rule that went into effect Tuesday. The technology, which has already become standard in many vehicles, is expected to further reduce the number of injuries and fatalities caused by so-called backover crashes. An estimated 210 people die and 15,000 are injured each year because of backover crashes, federal data show. Children younger than 5 account for 31% of backover deaths each year, and adults 70 and older account for 26%. This technology helps drivers see behind the vehicle, which will help save lives and prevent injuries, Heidi King, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration deputy administrator, said in a statement this week. Advertisement However, safety advocates had at best mixed feelings over the mandate, arguing that the rule was years in the making and the auto industry should be required to do more to protect drivers and their families. It took a long time, and sadly, along that journey, we had more families joining us in our fight because they had lost their children while knowing there is this preventable technology, said Cathy Chase, president of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, which helped lead the campaign for the change. Its heartbreaking. Under the rule, all cars, buses and trucks under 10,000 pounds manufactured or made to sell in the United States are required to have rearview video systems as standard equipment. The field of view must include a 10-foot by 20-foot zone directly behind the vehicle. In response to the federal requirement, Ford standardized rearview cameras for all cars and trucks under 10,000 pounds in November. Nissan and Toyota both are in compliance with the rule as well. Automakers started rolling out the rearview technology in the early 2000s, but it was largely only available in more expensive models and trim levels. Since that time, it has become increasingly more common and advanced, with some manufacturers offering a birds-eye view outside the vehicle. However, Chase noted that many families couldnt previously afford the trim levels of vehicles that came with backup cameras. The federal regulation addresses that disparity. It is a tremendous safety victory, Chase said. It means that a family will not lose their little baby because this camera alerted them that the baby ran behind the car. How can you put a price tag on that? Its just comforting to know when people are going to buy cars now that they have this safety feature, and they dont have to shell out an additional $2,000 to $4,000. Advertisement An organized campaign to require the technology was partially inspired by a 2-year-old boy, Cameron Gulbransen, who died in 2002 after his father, a pediatrician, accidentally backed over him in the driveway because he was unable to see the toddler in the blind zone behind his vehicle. Janette Fennell, president and founder of the child safety organization Kids and Cars, said her organization had been trying to raise awareness about the need for backup cameras after watching the numbers of children dying from backover accidents increase since the late 1990s. She was at the American Academy of Pediatrics, about to present on the topic in 2002, when her staff member called her and told her about Camerons death. She told the room full of pediatricians about how a backover accident could happen to anyone, even a pediatrician. Fennell later met Camerons father, Greg, and they worked with other advocates and federal lawmakers to pass the legislation. In 2008, the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act was enacted by Congress. It required that federal transportation officials write a regulation addressing vehicle rear visibility, among other mandates. Regulators and automakers later agreed that rearview cameras would be the best solution. Advertisement However, that effort floundered, until finally, in 2014, facing a lawsuit from safety advocates, transportation officials announced that backup cameras would be required in all passenger vehicles starting this week. Automakers were given four years to phase in the technology. Obviously, some of the automakers started to phase them in before, but I would have preferred to have seen such an obvious safety enhancement be required much sooner after that rule making, said John Simpson, a consumer advocate for Consumer Watchdog. Safety advocates are not entirely satisfied with the new rule. Ideally, Fennell said, federal regulators would have required not only backup cameras but also emergency braking and alert systems that automatically stop a vehicle when sensors detect objects or people in a rear blind spot. Research has shown that those three features would help significantly, compared with just having a backup camera. Rearview cameras can be expected to prevent nearly 1 in 6 police-reported backing crashes, according to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study. Advertisement The 2016 study compared rates of backing crashes for vehicles equipped with rearview cameras from four automakers with crash rates for the same models without the feature. On average, the cameras cut such crashes by 16%. The cameras had the biggest benefit for drivers 70 and older. Their backing crash rate fell 40% with cameras, compared with 15% for drivers younger than 70. However, a 2018 study from the institute found that a rear automatic braking system bundled with rear parking sensors and a rearview camera can reduce backing crash-involvement rates by more than 75%. Collision avoidance technology technology that steps in when a driver might not respond appropriately tends to be more effective than systems that depend on drivers to make the correct response, said the studys author, Jessica Cicchino, the vice president of research at the institute. On the camera, its all on the driver. Its giving you more information about whats behind you, but you still have to respond properly. Advertisement There are more safety mandates on the way. In 2016, federal regulators and the auto industry reached an agreement that automatic emergency-braking systems will become standard in all cars and light trucks by 2022. Such systems rely on forward sensors that can automatically apply brakes if a driver does not stop for a slowed or halted vehicle or any other visible obstruction. However, safety advocates note that this agreement is voluntary and only applies to obstructions in front of vehicles, not behind. jaclyn.cosgrove@latimes.com Advertisement @jaclyncosgrove Julia Horowitz joined the Girl Scouts when she was 6 or 7. She sold cookies, of course, but also took part in crafts and community cleanups. The Beverly Hills teenager liked some of the activities but said it bothered her that there were not more of the outdoor endeavors offered by the Boy Scouts, such as survival lessons. I like going outside and doing things in nature and learning how to defend myself rather than sitting inside and drawing, she said. The gender barrier that for generations divided Scouting is slowly fading away, generating both cheers and concerns from within the organization and the Girl Scouts. Advertisement The Boy Scouts of America announced plans on Wednesday to change the name of its signature program for older youth, Boy Scouts, to the gender-neutral Scouts BSA. The name is part of a rebranding effort to reflect the groups historic decision last year to accept girls. Since then, 3,000 girls have joined Cub Scouts, the program for younger children. Starting in 2019, the organization plans to admit female members to Scouts BSA, which would offer girls the chance to attain the rank of Eagle Scout. The name change is the latest piece of a culture shift within the storied organization, which in recent years has lifted its ban on gay and transgender members after years of debate. It comes as Scouting has seen a decline in participation, something officials hope the modernization effort will reverse. To some, this is all long overdue, the century-old Scouts catching up with changes in society. This change will allow local troops to decide the best approach for them and will eventually allow girls to earn the rank of Eagle Scout, Zach Wahls, an Eagle Scout who co-founded the group Scouts for Equality, said in a statement. But there remain doubters. Noah Blumofe, a West L.A. podiatrist who founded a Girl Scout troop and also has a son in Boy Scouts, said he disapproved of the Boy Scouts decision to accept girls. Our society is making it so that boys can no longer be boys, he said. While Girl Scouts dont accept boys, Boy Scouts are now accepting girls. Its somewhat hypocritical. Advertisement Stacie Davis, a Girl Scout troop leader for six years since her daughter, Jordan, entered Scouting in kindergarten, said she is shocked absolutely shocked. I think it can destroy the organization, the Laguna Niguel mother said. Boys need to be around boys. Girls need to be around girls, developing friendships, making memories. Davis cited as an example her troops recent field trip to Santa Catalina Island to celebrate members upcoming elementary school graduation. She challenged her Scouts to finish a rigorous mountain hike, overcoming thorny cactus and a really tough climb. They were so mad at me, she said. But they pushed through and the view was simply gorgeous. They proved to themselves that as girls, they could achieve. Advertisement Marydale Leonard and her daughter Grace, 10, at home in Laguna Niguel. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times ) Marydale Leonard, a Laguna Niguel mother whose daughter, Gracie, joined the Girl Scouts back in second grade, said she heard about the name change a week ago. Why confuse the girls with these options? she asked. There are enough things that are inclusive. Kids need to have some time to themselves and not to worry about how they look or how they act,. Boys and girls have different strengths, thoughts and dreams. Others see the name change as a push for relevance and membership as it competes with Girl Scouts of the USAs all-girl market share. The name change accompanies a new advertising campaign, called Scout Me In, that puts girls front and center. In October, the Boy Scouts group announced it would allow girls to join its Cub Scouts program. Advertisement As we enter a new era for our organization, it is important that all youth can see themselves in Scouting in every way possible, Michael Surbaugh, Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America, said in a statement. The arrival of Scouts BSA, however, does not mean that the organization is abandoning gender-segregated Scouting. The program will allow girls to participate and earn the same awards as boys, but they will still be separated by gender. It sounds like theyre starting a Girl Scouts, said Kathryn Kolbert, director of the Athena Center for Leadership Studies, a program at Barnard College, a womens college in New York City. Kolbert has worked with Girl Scouts on some joint programming with Barnard. To me this is just an act of desperation by an organization which has historically been extraordinarily discriminatory and is now facing the consequences. Those consequences, Kolbert said, are smaller pools of interested children. Both Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts are struggling to retain and grow their membership. Advertisement Today, the Girl Scouts says it has 1.8 million members nationally and that participation has been falling steadily over the past decade. However, officials at the organization pointed out that the losses have become less severe, suggesting that membership could be stabilizing. The Boy Scouts boast of membership of 2.3 million youth members no longer just boys but figures from its annual reports indicate that it has shrunk by about 300,000 members since 2012. There have also been reports of Scout councils having to sell their campgrounds. The Girl Scouts said the group would respond to the change by redoubling its promotion and recruitment efforts. We do what we do very well. They [Boy Scouts] are now just added to our list of competitors for kids time, said Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles marketing and advocacy director Kenya Yarbrough. With the market confusion that theyre relying on, theyre looking at us to give them the answers. Advertisement In greater Los Angeles, Girl Scouts has increased membership over the last four years by about 5%, according to the groups own figures. This, despite declining birthrates and increasing gentrification, which has forced some families to relocate to the fringes of L.A. County. The demographics have changed, too. Whereas the Girl Scouts in L.A. were majority white in 2014, by 2017 the organization was 39% white. Some Boy Scouts stalwarts said they see the recent changes as a sad departure from tradition. One Scout leader in L.A. County, who agreed to speak to The Times on the condition that he remain unnamed, said he opposed the change but feared sharing that opinion publicly. Doing so could bring too much blowback, he said. Staff writer Anna M. Phillips contributed reporting. Spirits were high Wednesday as more members of the Central American caravan about one-third of the roughly 150 who made the trek entered the United States. But as their monthlong journey to the United States comes to an end, those seeking asylum are preparing for a different kind of journey: one through the U.S. immigration system. Our trip isnt over, said Jose Coello, 17, of Honduras, as he walked into the U.S. from Tijuana. This is just the next step. During an asylum process that takes months, even years, to complete, immigrants from the caravan can expect interviews and screenings by multiple federal agencies, stints in private detention centers and complicated legal arguments without the help of a lawyer. Advertisement Caravan members have said they wont rest until every single one of them is in the U.S. Pueblo Sin Fronteras caravan leaders plan to go further, by having members of their legal team follow up with immigrants in the States. We are committed to standing with them as best we can, said organizer Leo Olsen. Early Wednesday, Pueblo Sin Fronteras leaders gathered in the middle of their makeshift tent city to call out the latest names of asylum-seekers with the help of a loudspeaker as they huddled under an umbrella to shield them from morning showers. Dozens of immigrants surrounded Alex Mensing, one of the organizers, as he called out each name. Some ran up to the middle of the encampment in excitement, shouting, Yes, thats me. The chosen were given five minutes to gather their belongings and head into the San Ysidro Port of Entry for processing. All planned to claim asylum. Among them was Katerina Enamorado, a 22-year-old from Honduras traveling with her 1-year-old daughter. Enamorado was feeding her child when her name was called. She was so excited that she ran to Mensing without putting on her shoes and still holding her childs baby food. Im so tired, but Im even more excited, she said while packing her belongings. I hope to work and give my daughter a better life. Coello was serving food to other immigrants when his name was called. It took him a few seconds to realize it meant he was moving on. Advertisement The teen joined the caravan at the Guatemalan border. During the trip, members of the caravan had become a family, he said. This is something beautiful, unforgettable, he said. We are a family, and we wont be happy until the last one of us gets through. But they also know the process is just beginning. Statistics show that people from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have higher asylum denial rates than those of other counties. Not having an attorney stacks the odds against them even more. Unlike criminal court, immigration court does not guarantee people the right to an attorney. Those who cannot afford a lawyer or are unable to find pro-bono representation have to make their own case before an immigration judge. Advertisement Caravan members likely will spend time in one of three Southern California immigration detention centers. Generally, asylum-seekers spend most, if not all, of their time in facilities run by private prison companies contracted with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. People who present themselves at the border in San Diego often go to Otay Mesa Detention Center. If there is no room, they are transported to the Adelanto ICE Processing Center, the Imperial Regional Detention Facility or even further. There also are temporary holding facilities that immigrants from the caravan call the ice box because of how cold it can get inside. Advertisement Solis and Hernandez write for the San Diego Union-Tribune. gustavo.solis@uniontrib.com david.hernandez@utsandiego.com Two dozen people were treated Wednesday evening after someone accidentally released pepper spray inside the Department of Motor Vehicles building in Newhall, officials said. Fire crews responded to the DMV at 24427 Newhall Ave., where 24 people complained of eye irritation and coughing, said Michael Pittman, a supervising dispatcher with the Los Angeles County Fire Department. One person was taken to a hospital, and the others were released at the scene. The building was evacuated during the incident. They did ask everybody to go outside. That would make sense if there were any source of irritation inside the building, Pittman said. Advertisement Its unclear who released the pepper spray. Los Angeles County Sheriffs Deputy Trina Schrader said no law enforcement officers were involved in the incident. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek Since freeing a man last year who spent more than 38 years behind bars for a grisly double murder he didnt commit, Simi Valley police detectives have been searching for the real killer. So when they heard last week that Joseph James DeAngelo had been arrested on suspicion of being the Golden State Killer, their interest was piqued. It was a long shot, they thought, but the way he allegedly carried out 12 slayings was similar enough to the Simi Valley murders in 1978 and within the same time frame that it might be he was responsible. Right now anything is possible, said Simi Valley Deputy Police Chief Joseph May. Advertisement The agency joins cold-case investigators across California who are reexamining unsolved homicides with the Golden State Killer suspect in mind a move May said is standard procedure when new information comes to light. In Simi Valley, a DNA comparison is in the works, though the process can take weeks or months depending on the crime labs workload. Once we do a side-by-side comparison, well be able to tell fairly quickly whether or not hes involved, May said. Detectives are still chasing other leads, and if anything, hope to at least eliminate DeAngelo as a possible suspect. Before his arrest, DeAngelo, 72, wasnt on the radar of detectives investigating the murders of Rhonda Wicht, 24, and her 4-year-old son, Donald, in Simi Valley. Early one November morning in 1978, Wicht was beaten, raped and strangled with an 11-foot macrame rope in her apartment. Her son was smothered in his bed. Investigators quickly arrested Craig Coley, the son of a retired Los Angeles policeman who had dated Wicht for nearly two years. He was convicted on two counts of first-degree murder after a second trial, largely based on the testimony of two witnesses. Craig Coley spent more than 38 years incarcerated for a grisly 1978 double murder in Simi Valley that he didnt commit. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times ) There were doubts early on about Coleys guilt. News accounts at the time said defense attorneys criticized Simi Valley police for failing to investigate three other possible suspects, and the Simi Valley Mirror, a weekly tabloid, published reports asserting that investigators had focused on an innocent man. Advertisement But Coleys fiercest advocate was Mike Bender, a now-retired detective on the Simi Valley police force who for decades sought to free him. Coley was exonerated last year by DNA evidence that was once thought destroyed. A piece of Wichts bedsheet the night she was found dead contained another mans sperm, along with a mans epithelial cells. Coleys DNA was not found on the sheet. The night before Thanksgiving, he was pardoned by Gov. Jerry Brown. When reached Wednesday, Coley said a link would provide much-needed closure for the Wicht family, who in recent months have had to relive the killings. Advertisement That would be fantastic, an immediate resolution, he said. Think what the familys going through. But investigators acknowledged that theres not a whole lot of similarities between the cases. The time frame, the area, May said, and the fact that he preyed on young women. The Golden State Killer didnt strike Ventura County until 1980, but he began his crime spree long before. Nine months before the Wicht murders, Brian and Kate Maggiore were gunned down by a man in a ski mask while walking their dog in their Rancho Cordova neighborhood in Sacramento County. Advertisement Almost two years later and farther south, in Goleta he sneaked through a sliding glass door and tied up a couple, Dr. Robert Offerman and clinical psychologist Alexandria Manning, and shot them both. While a match would mark a big break for the agency, Bender who conducted his own investigation into the Wicht murders that helped free Coley said hed be surprised if the Simi Valley slayings were linked to the Golden State Killer. His M.O. was similar and he was operating at the same time, but I have other suspects in mind that make more sense, Bender said. Sheriffs investigators in Los Angeles and Placer counties are also combing through cold case files with a fresh eye. Advertisement Were going through them to see if any could be remotely connected, said Lt. Andrew Scott of the Placer County Sheriffs Office. When something as monumental as this happens, you want to do that. Among those files being scanned are the unsolved murders of two women, one in 1991 and the other in 1993 both outside the known timeline of the Golden State Killer. Cindy Wanner, 35, disappeared from her sisters Granite Bay home in November 1991, leaving behind her baby in a high chair. Her body was found three weeks later in the Foresthill area, east of Auburn. Police said she was strangled by a ligature, and clues included fingerprints and green wool fibers. Wanner lived in Rancho Cordova and cleaned her sisters house every Monday. Cherilyn Hawkley, 39, was abducted near the Oakhills Elementary School in Granite Bay, where she taught fifth grade, in October 1993. Her body was found less than two miles away, shoved between the seats of her family van. She also had been strangled with a rope or cord. Advertisement I think given the time frame it would not normally be reasonable to connect those cases to the crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer, Scott said. The crimes believed to have been committed by him include the East Area Rapist series in the Sacramento area from 1976 to 1979, and the Original Night Stalker crimes in Southern California from 1979 to 1986. But he said, weird things have happened and those are among the Placer County cold cases now being revisited. Sacramento County Sheriffs spokesman Sgt. Shaun Hampton said the agency would not comment on any active efforts to link DeAngelo to other unsolved slayings and rapes. He said the departments entire homicide unit is trying to put order to the mountain of information gathered statewide on the crimes already known to be part of the Golden State Killers spree. But Hampton said new information is coming in as people who knew DeAngelo come forward. Advertisement And investigators are aware that the attacks may have continued after the killers last known victim in May 1986. The possibility of unreported rapes is high, he said. We dont know if he stopped offending, Hampton said, and there may be victims out there. Times staff writer Joseph Serna contributed to this report. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @AleneTchek A Sacramento County judge on Thursday ruled that the Golden State Killer suspect cannot refuse to provide additional DNA samples, fingerprints and photographs of his body sought by authorities as part of their investigation. In the ruling, the judge agreed with prosecutors who argued that the evidence authorities sought was part of a search warrant already approved by a judge and did not amount to self-incrimination. Joseph James DeAngelo, 72, is suspected of raping at least 46 women and killing at least a dozen people. He was arrested at his home in the Sacramento suburbs in April 24, just days after DNA samples surreptitiously gathered from him by law enforcement linked him to crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer and East Area Rapist. DeAngelos attorney filed a motion earlier this week seeking to prevent sheriffs investigators from taking additional DNA samples and fingerprints and photographing his body, including his genitals. Advertisement The government seeks to execute a warrant issued before the defendants arrest and arraignment, defense attorney Diane Howard argued in the filing. But the governments right to unfettered investigation is substantially curtailed by constitutional concerns which attend the right to a fair trial and a right to counsel. For more than 40 years, law enforcement agencies up and down California had hunted for the man who terrorized the East Bay, the Sacramento area and Southern California in the 70s and 80s. Sacramento County investigators announced DeAngelos arrest last week and said that not only did his DNA match evidence found at some of the killings, but his known whereabouts also coincided with the timeline of the killings. Prosecutors argued that obtaining additional DNA, fingerprints and photographs were just a continuation of a search warrant a judge signed April 24, and that by providing them DeAngelo would not be incriminating himself which he could lawfully refuse to do under the Constitution. In the present case, obtaining the defendants major case prints and his DNA sample does not require him to speak or say even a word, prosecutors wrote. Likewise, taking photographs of his person does not require the defendant to share his thoughts and beliefs with law enforcement. Public defenders had argued that now that DeAngelo is charged with murder, police must go through the court and follow discovery rules to collect such evidence. Judge Michael Sweet however ruled that what investigators seek, though more extensive, is akin to the fingerprints and swabs collected from anyone booked on a serious felony charge. The collection of such evidence was approved before DeAngelos arrest in a search warrant signed by a magistrate. That search warrant is among documents that remain sealed in the case. The Times and other news organizations have filed a motion to have the search warrant unsealed. Sweet will consider that motion on May 14, the next time DAngelo is due to appear in court. Advertisement Thus far, authorities have been tight-lipped on what evidence they have that connects DeAngelo to the killings other than his DNA. Over the years, the Golden State Killer was variously known in different parts of the state as the Original Night Stalker, the East Area Rapist and the Visalia Ransacker. His known crimes started with violent burglaries in Visalia that graduated to rapes around Sacramento County and then rapes and killings by the time he popped up on the radar of Southern California law enforcement at the end of 1979. Not until DNA technology advanced two decades later did authorities conclude that all the crimes were committed by the same persont. Advertisement And it wasnt until an investigator took a novel and to some controversial approach in submitting the killers DNA to a public genealogy database that investigators knew where to start looking. The familial trail led to DeAngelo, officials say. Detectives then gathered two separate DNA samples from DeAngelo that they said matched evidence collected at crime scenes and took him into custody. At Thursdays hearing, DeAngelo was again shackled to a wheelchair and rolled into the courtroom. He did not speak to the judge but exchanged words with public defender Diane Howard, who often put a hand on his shoulder. DeAngelo had appeared sluggish at his arraignment last week, but more alert on Thursday. St. John reported from Sacramento and Serna from Los Angeles. Advertisement joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. The defense attorney for Golden State Killer suspect Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. is trying to stop investigators from obtaining more DNA samples and photographing DeAngelos body, including his genitals, according to motions filed this week in Sacramento County. The government seeks to execute a warrant issued before the defendants arrest and arraignment, defense attorney Diane Howard argued in a court filing Tuesday. But the governments right to unfettered investigation is substantially curtailed by constitutional concerns which attend the right to a fair trial and a right to counsel. DeAngelo, 72, is suspected of raping at least 46 women and killing at least a dozen people. He was arrested at his home April 24, just days after DNA samples surreptitiously gathered from him by law enforcement linked him to crimes attributed to the Golden State Killer and East Area Rapist. For more than 40 years, law enforcement agencies up and down California had hunted for a man who terrorized the East Bay, the Sacramento area and Southern California in the 70s and 80s. Advertisement Sacramento County investigators announced DeAngelos arrest last week and said that not only did his DNA match evidence found at some of the killings, but his known whereabouts coincided with the serial killers timeline. Prosecutors argued in court Wednesday that additional DNA, fingerprinting and photographs were just a continuation of a search warrant that a judge signed April 24 and that obtaining them isnt the same as DeAngelo incriminating himself which he has constitutional protection from doing. In the present case, obtaining the defendants major case prints and his DNA sample does not require him to speak or say even a word, prosecutors wrote. Likewise, taking photographs of his person does not require the defendant to share his thoughts and beliefs with law enforcement. Thus far, authorities have been tight-lipped on what evidence theyve obtained that connects DeAngelo to the killings other than his DNA. Over the years, the Golden State Killer was variously known in different parts of the state as the Original Night Stalker, the East Area Rapist and the Visalia Ransacker. His known crimes started with violent burglaries in Visalia that graduated to rapes around Sacramento County and then rapes and killings by the time he popped up on Southern California law enforcements radar at the end of 1979. Not until DNA technology advanced two decades later did authorities realize all these crimes were by the same person. And it wasnt until an investigator took a novel and some say controversial approach in submitting the killers DNA to a public genealogy database that investigators knew where to start looking. Advertisement The familial trail led to DeAngelo, officials say. Detectives then gathered two separate DNA samples from DeAngelo that they said matched evidence collected at crime scenes and took him into custody. A decision in his attorneys fight against giving over more DNA and other potential evidence was put off until at least Thursday morning, when a judge is scheduled to have a hearing on the matter. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. Authorities warned residents to shelter in place for more than two hours Thursday afternoon after they said an 80-year-old man shot two people at an apartment complex in Mill Valley, Calif. The order was lifted shortly before 6 p.m. when authorities announced that the man was found dead inside an apartment from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, FOX KTVU reported. The shelter in place has been lifted as any danger to the community is over, the Marin County Sheriffs Office tweeted. Sgt. Brenton Schneider told reporters that deputies responded to the complex shortly before 3:30 p.m. and found a man and a woman with gunshot wounds. Deputies carried them to waiting ambulances and began evacuating neighboring apartments. It was unclear whether the dead man was found in the same apartment as the two wounded victims. Advertisement A perimeter established by authorities had included Blithedale and Ashford avenues to Meadow Drive, including Dorset Lane, Shell Road and Lomita Drive, and from Meadow to Highway 101. The suspect described as Latino or Filipino, 5 foot 5 and wearing a white T-shirt was considered armed and dangerous, Schneider said. Active shooter in the 900 block of East Blithedale Ave in Mill Valley, please shelter in place. pic.twitter.com/3yue1dvaN2 Marin County Sheriff (@MarinSheriff) May 3, 2018 alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek UPDATES: 6:25 p.m.: This article was updated to reflect the shelter-in-place order was lifted. 5 p.m.: This article was updated with a description of the shooter. Advertisement 3:50 p.m.: This article was updated with information about victims and the search for the suspect. This article was originally published at 3:40 p.m. A Santa Monica woman has been charged with murder and accused of setting fire to a home this week, leading to the death of the elderly woman she lived with, authorities said. Investigators believe that Victoria Renae Darlington, 26, intentionally set fire to a garage attached to a single-family home in the 2600 block of 31st Street in Santa Monica around 9:40 p.m. Monday, according to a statement by the Santa Monica Police Department. As Santa Monica firefighters worked to extinguish the blaze, an elderly woman was found unconscious inside the home, police said. She was pronounced dead at an area hospital a short time later. Darlington was arrested by the Riverside County Sheriffs Department the next day near Joshua Tree, Santa Monica Police Lt. Saul Rodriguez said. Advertisement Rodriguez confirmed that Darlington lived at the home with the woman, but he declined to elaborate on their relationship. Prosecutors filed murder and arson charges in the case Thursday, Rodriguez said. Darlington has a history of mental instability, according to Rodriguez, who said city police officers have detained her on mental health holds in the past. Investigators do not believe Darlington and the victim were involved in a dispute before the incident, and Rodriguez declined to say how the fire was set. Darlington is being held in lieu of $2-million bail. She is expected to appear in court Thursday. Ed Winter, spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroners office, said the victim was a 93-year-old woman. Her identity is being withheld until notification of her family, according to Winter, who declined to comment on her cause of death before an autopsy was completed. Rodriguez said police believe that the woman likely died of smoke inhalation. james.queally@latimes.com Twitter: @JamesQueallyLAT UPDATES: Advertisement 3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with comments from the coroners office and updated information about the date of the fire. This article originally published at 12:40 p.m. A fight over a parking space escalated Tuesday into an exchange of racial slurs and a physical altercation in what officials at Santa Monica College describe as a hate crime. The dispute, which was captured on video by a college student, took place about 6:30 p.m. at a Santa Monica College Performing Arts Campus parking lot. In the minute-long video posted on Facebook, an older white man is seen repeatedly yelling racial slurs at a younger African American woman. The altercation escalated to kicks and shoves. Advertisement Warning: This video contains graphic language. At one point during the video, the man tells the woman: You dont belong here, go back to South L.A. Bystanders can be heard in the background urging the woman to leave. Hes not worth your time, a person tells the woman. The video does not show the beginning of the confrontation. Santa Monica College Chief of Police Johnnie Adams said the dispute started over the womans parked car, which was taking up more than one parking spot. The woman was in the process of rectifying the situation when it escalated and turned into that physical altercation, Adams said. College police took 80-year-old Fredric Allan Shinerock into custody, according to a statement by the department. Advertisement Shinerock was cited with misdemeanor battery and released. Due to repeated racial slurs and a derogatory statement made toward the woman, Santa Monica College officials classified the incident as a hate crime, Adams said. In totality we felt the elements of bias against that person was motivated in part by race, he said. The Santa Monica city attorneys office will review the case and separately determine whether the incident can be labeled as a hate crime under California statutes. Advertisement Santa Monica College President Kathryn E. Jeffery said in a statement that school officials took immediate action to remind students and guests that there is no room for hate. Santa Monica College is an institution that prides itself on inclusivity and diversity, Jeffery said in a statement. We will continue to do our utmost to uphold our commitment to provide a safe and inclusive learning environment. Shinerock did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Advertisement melissa.etehad@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @melissaetehad West Hollywood has identified more than 800 buildings that could be at risk of damage or collapse in a major earthquake, part of a comprehensive effort to inventory them and require retrofits. About 90% of the 821 buildings on the list are thought to be wood-frame structures, such as apartments with carports on the ground floor. The rest are believed to be concrete or steel. Officials emphasized that properties on the list are not necessarily unsafe, and that further study will be required to determine whether retrofitting is needed. West Hollywood is one of several California cities attempting to strengthen buildings before the next major temblor, joining Santa Monica and Los Angeles among others. The Hollywood fault runs along the citys famed Sunset Strip, and buildings listed as needing further study include landmark hotels like the Andaz West Hollywood, Mondrian, Standard and Sunset Tower. City officials say the mandatory retrofit law is needed not only to protect those in West Hollywoods apartments, offices and hotels, but also to keep rent-controlled affordable housing from being destroyed when the next earthquake strikes. Affordable housing is central to the identity of West Hollywood, which became its own city in 1984 on promises to stabilize rents. About 78% of West Hollywoods residents live in apartments, most of them rent controlled, said Mayor Pro Tempore John Duran. One good shaker without seismic reinforcements could bring many of those buildings into being red-tagged and having to be demolished thus wiping out a good portion of our affordable housing stock, Duran said. To me, this is about infrastructure repair and maintenance. The second and third floors of the Northridge Meadows apartment collapsed on the ground floor during the 1994 Northridge earthquake, killing 16 people. Julie Markes / For The Times We could see a massive overturn of many of our longtime residents if our buildings are not retrofitted, Duran said. The retrofit ordinance passed by the City Council last year was not without controversy. Condominium owners organized in opposition, and elected leaders eventually agreed to exempt concrete and steel condominiums from the mandatory retrofit law. Nevertheless, West Hollywoods move to mandate retrofits of wood, concrete and steel buildings was seen as a milestone in Southern Californias efforts to begin reinforcing some of the regions most vulnerable building types. GRAPHIC: Why apartments with carports can collapse in an earthquake. Raoul Ranoa / Los Angeles Times The city hired a structural engineering firm, Degenkolb Engineers, to conduct a sidewalk survey of possibly vulnerable structures and, in consultation with city records, create a list of buildings that would need to be studied further, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Belsanti. After receiving a letter from the city, owners will have a certain amount of time, depending on the building type, to submit a report that will help determine whether a retrofit is called for or to dispute a structures initial listing by proving, for instance, that it has already been retrofitted or is of a type not covered under the law. Owners of such structures will have deadlines on when they must file retrofit plans, begin construction and complete it. The possibly vulnerable buildings on West Hollywoods list blanket the nearly 2-square-mile city, from its vibrant Sunset Strip to its quieter east side. According to the data, 738 are thought to be wood-frame buildings with a soft-story that can buckle when shaken vulnerable because upper floors rest on a flimsy ground story, like those with carports held up by thin poles. The average wooden soft-story building in West Hollywood has about 10 residential units. GRAPHIC: Look at how apartments can collapse during an earthquake Concrete columns supporting the stairwells of Olive View Medical Center failed because there was too little steel reinforcement. John Malmin / March 4, 1971 During the 1994 Northridge earthquake, 16 people died on the ground story when such an apartment complex collapsed. About 200 more apartments of the same style were damaged or destroyed. West Hollywood also reported 27 concrete buildings and 16 steel buildings that will need further study, and 40 more of an unconfirmed type that may be either concrete or steel. The collapse of just one large steel or concrete building potentially could result in a death toll larger than any seen in a California earthquake since the great 1906 San Francisco earthquake. A seven-story brittle concrete building in Mexico City collapsed to a three-story height, killing 49, after a devastating magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck in 2017. Rong-Gong Lin II / Los Angeles Times Rong-Gong Lin II / Los Angeles Times A concrete column lies snapped in half at the Enrique Rebsamen school in Mexico City. More reinforcing steel within the column would have prevented the concrete from snapping like a piece of chalk, and enabled it to flex when shaken; 26 people were fatally injured. Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times Past quakes have shown the vulnerability of concrete structures. The Sylmar earthquake in 1971 brought down hospitals, including the aged Veterans Administration Hospital in San Fernando and the then 5-month-old Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar, killing 52 people. Brittle concrete buildings have also come crashing down in earthquakes around the world. In Mexico City last September, the collapse of the Enrique Rebsamen school killed 19 students and seven adults; a seven-story office building that pancaked killed 49. Video captured during that quake showed how a five-story concrete building, with a soft-story on the ground floor, collapsed catastrophically when shaken. Some older concrete buildings are now known to have a key flaw a lack of enough steel reinforcing bars in the right configuration to prevent concrete from exploding out of columns when shaken. The defect remains in thousands of California buildings, structural engineers say, and most cities with Los Angeles and Santa Monica as exceptions do not require them to be retrofitted. A certain class of steel buildings constructed before the 1994 Northridge earthquake also is thought to be potentially vulnerable; the U.S. Geological Survey has said it is plausible that five so-called steel moment frame buildings could come tumbling down across Southern California in a hypothetical magnitude 7.8 earthquake on the San Andreas fault, killing more than 400 people. In the Northridge quake, a steel moment frame building housing the Automobile Club of Southern California in Santa Clarita came close to collapse. Once West Hollywood sends notices, owners will have one year to submit a screening report to determine whether seismic strengthening is needed and five years to complete a retrofit of a wood-frame soft-story building, with the city prioritizing apartments with 16 or more units and buildings with three or more stories. Concrete and steel buildings will have 20 years to complete a full retrofit, although major deficiencies will need to be identified in an engineering report filed with the city within three years and corrected within 10 years. The city estimates that most soft-story wood apartment retrofits will cost between $40,000 and $160,000, while the average retrofit costs for concrete and steel buildings could vary between $50 to $100 per square foot. Flimsy ground story walls for carports, garages or stores can crumble in an earthquake, and are called "soft-story" buildings, explains U.S. Geological Survey geophysicist Ken Hudnut. West Hollywood still needs to work out some details, such as who will pay for retrofits. Duran said some of the citys lowest income tenants would be hard-pressed to pay more in rent, while some property owners say theyre already burdened by rent control and dont think they can turn a fair profit. The city needs to find an approach, he said, that will protect vulnerable tenants without causing property owners to get out of the business. Under the Ellis Act, people may be evicted from rent-controlled buildings if the owner decides to tear down a building or convert the apartments to condos. Duran said he has encountered some younger tenants who have voiced opposition to paying for seismic upgrades, to which he responds: Youve never experienced an earthquake in your life, have you? Once you go through one big one, you learn to revere them very quickly. I remind people if you want evidence were in earthquake country, look at the Sunset Strip, Duran said. The reason those buildings are there with the beautiful view is because we sit on an earthquake fault. A link to West Hollywoods list of addresses can be found at www.weho.org/seismic, by clicking on the link to visual survey of properties subject to the seismic retrofit ordinances. Times staff writer Patrick McDonnell in Mexico City contributed to this report. ron.lin@latimes.com | Twitter: @ronlin ellis.simani@latimes.com | Twitter: @emsimani Nearly 160 members of the Central American caravan have entered the United States, organizers said Thursday morning. About 70 immigrants, the largest single group so far, walked into the United States to claim asylum about 9 a.m., said organizer Gina Garibo. When Garibo announced the news to the immigrants sleeping in a tent city a few feet from the U.S. border, they chanted: Si, se pudo, Yes, we could. As of Wednesday night, 88 immigrants had crossed into the United States to claim asylum. Thursday mornings group brought the total to 158. Advertisement We are very happy today, said Biron Hernandez, 27, of Honduras, who has been with the caravan since the Guatemala-Mexico border. Hernandez expected the rest of the asylum-seeking caravan to enter the United States by Friday. Organizers say there are about 70 Central Americans left waiting to claim asylum. But that number could change because organizers need to figure out exactly how many people plan to claim asylum in the United States and how many have chosen to stay in Mexico. The caravan arrived in Tijuana on Sunday. About 150 slept on the ground in the tent city while 75 slept in migrant shelters, for an estimated total of 225, Garibo said. gustavo.solis@sduniontribune.com Solis writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. At a contentious City Council meeting Wednesday night, Costa Mesa became the latest Orange County community to declare its official opposition to Senate Bill 54, the so-called sanctuary law that provides expanded protections for immigrants who have entered the country without permission. The 3-2 vote to adopt a resolution against SB 54 prompted cheers and chants of USA! USA! from opponents of the law, who waited in City Hall until roughly 1 a.m. for the councils vote. Mayor Sandy Genis, Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoor and Councilman Jim Righeimer voted in favor of the resultion. Council members Katrina Foley and John Stephens cast the dissenting votes. Opponents of the resolution responded with cries of outrage. Advertisement Council members who voted yes said they felt it was important to go on the record with their concerns about SB 54, which in many cases prohibits local and state police agencies from notifying federal officials when theyre about to release immigrants in their custody who may be subject to deportation. If you are putting people back on the street and then trying to re-apprehend them that puts people at risk, Genis said. Stephens questioned the practical purpose of the resolution and said hes concerned that it could diminish the citys influence with state and federal legislators when it comes to other local issues, such as sober-living homes. According to the resolution, The adoption of SB 54 has created a conflict between state and federal law and has restricted local law enforcements ability to cooperate with federal authorities to protect California residents. This conflict leaves the City Council no choice but to publicly state its opposition to SB 54. Foley characterized the action as a divisive political stunt. I am never going to stand on the side of hate and bigotry and divisive politics, she said. I am always going to stand on the side of justice and care and community. But Mansoor said: This is not about bashing immigrants. If this was about bashing immigrants, Id be bashing my parents. My parents both immigrated here legally and they have always taught me to respect legal immigration and upholding our laws. The debate played out in front of a large and sometimes rowdy crowd, on both sides of the issue. People waved American flags and held signs with messages such as Immigrants in, racists out, You must uphold the Constitution, Respect our country and I support safe communities, I support SB 54. Advertisement Genis repeatedly admonished the audience for interrupting speakers with applause or boos. Several times she threatened to clear the chamber if the crowd didnt pipe down, and she asked police officers to temporarily remove people who were being disruptive. In approving the resolution, Costa Mesa joined the register of Orange County municipalities that have taken official action opposing Californias sanctuary laws, including Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, Aliso Viejo, Los Alamitos, Orange, San Juan Capistrano, Yorba Linda and the county itself. Huntington Beach and others have gone further by filing lawsuits against California and the state attorney general challenging the legality of the states sanctuary mandates. Council members in Fountain Valley chose to join a court brief supporting an ongoing federal lawsuit against the laws, and the Newport Beach City Council said it might follow up with a court brief to accompany its own resolution opposing SB 54. With President Trump scheduled to speak at the National Rifle Assn. convention in Dallas on Friday, The Times sat down with Collins Idehen, a.k.a. Colion Noir, a 34-year-old NRATV host and lawyer whose controversial videos about guns, race and current events have earned him some 690,000 followers on YouTube. As a black NRA member, Noir takes issue with those who view him as a token, citing a history of black gun ownership dating back to the formation of the Buffalo Soldiers from a U.S. Army regiment in 1866. It had been five years since his last interview with the newspaper, and he had plenty to say about Trump, the role of the AR-15 rifle in mass shootings and the rise of a youth movement for gun control following the February massacre of 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. How have things changed in the last five years? Im starting to branch out of the gun space. I just did the interview with Killer Mike [rapper and activist Michael Render] and the podcast with [comedian] Joe Rogan. Unfortunately the Parkland shooting has created the fervor where everyone wants to talk about this issue. The Killer Mike interview caused a lot of controversy. Can you explain what you said about Parkland? Ive always been of the mindset that the conversation about firearms should not be divided along political affiliations. You can be a liberal and still be a gun owner, you can be a conservative and be a gun owner, you can be a libertarian and be a gun owner, you can be a Green Party member and be a gun owner. The gun transcends political party lines, in my mind. However, weve allowed the conversation about guns to be divided along political lines. So I thought what better way to start destroying those walls than to have someone like Killer Mike, who I dont necessarily agree with on [supporting] Bernie Sanders. But we agree on this issue. Theres been this perception that black people are monolithic when it comes to gun ownership, and thats just not true. Advertisement So what happened? We had that conversation, and part of that dealt with Parkland. It created an uproar under the guise of, How dare you criticize these kids for marching to save their lives. Were you criticizing the Parkland students? I wasnt criticizing them. I wasnt criticizing their march. I was criticizing the policies they were pushing. I will fight for their right to march. I have no problem with them using the 1st Amendment right to march. What I didnt like was the hypocrisy and the way they were utilizing this march to not only advocate against the 2nd Amendment but also using it as a way to stifle the voices of the people who do agree with the 2nd Amendment by getting Amazon or Apple to bar us from having a platform on their platform. I thought that was incredibly disingenuous. You cant say in one breath, Im using my 1st Amendment right to express my ideas, but then also [use] your 1st Amendment right to prevent me from using my 1st Amendment right to express my ideas that so happen to disagree with yours. That wasnt fair. What was happening, they were utilizing these kids in such a way that they were beyond reproach. When you say they, you mean The gun control lobby. They were trying to get Amazon to boycott us, NRATV. A poster with the face of Colion Noir, NRATV host, inside the 2018 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times ) Why do you think the Parkland students got so much attention? Because the kids were so vocal. I dont think weve had a group of kids that were as vocal after a mass shooting as these kids were. And then you couple that with the social media component, which is bigger than its ever been before and allowed them to spread their message far and wide. Which I think they did a brilliant job of. I just disagree. I said, I wish nobody knew your names, because then that would mean none of your friends died, and that there was someone to either stop it or prevent it. The way the media cut it was, I wish no one ever knew your names. And you went on to talk about a school security officer who stopped a school shooting in Maryland so thats what you meant? Yes, that I wish there was a good guy with a gun there to stop it. I put out my own video clarifying what I said. Trump is coming to the convention Friday. Did you vote for him? Yes. It was Hillary [Clinton] or Trump, and we had a Supreme Court seat that was up for grabs, and the court was split. And the court has an incredible ability to shift what the 2nd Amendment is. How has Trump done? Some good and some bad. His rhetoric is, bar none, entertaining. Some of it is necessary; some of it I dont think is. Advertisement What do you think about how Trump has handled white nationalists? I dont believe hes a white nationalist. I dont. Do I think hes ignorant to some aspects of race? Absolutely. Think about it: Hes a billionaire, hes white, hes by and large lived on the East Coast. Hes not going to have an incredibly informed understanding of the idiosyncrasies of the black community. What I dont get is an undertone of inherent vitriol or hatred or racism from him. Certain levels of ignorance or misunderstanding, absolutely. I dont regret my vote because I know what the alternative was. What do you think of Trumps decision to come to the convention? It demonstrates how important the 2nd Amendment is and how important the NRA is in this country. Guns wont be allowed into Trumps keynote speech, and protesters are expected outside. Are you concerned about safety? I dont feel any less safe than I do walking around any other day. Its not like theyre saying no guns at all. If youre at that venue, youre going to be protected by people with guns. Its like what we said should happen after Parkland. Theyre not only saying you cant bring your gun; theyre saying were going to search people and have armed guards. Whereas at a school, its just a sign in the window saying Gun-free zone. I dont think a mass shooters going to see that sign and turn around. What would you say to those who see the NRA as racist? Do you know how many black people have said to me, I started shooting because of you and what you do with the NRA? That seems counterproductive for an organization that doesnt want black people to own guns. Advertisement Since we last talked, Texas like some other states made it legal to openly carry handguns. Do you? I do not open carry. That is based on a tactical decision. I dont have a problem with it. I prefer [the sight of my gun] to be a surprise. Some people prefer it to be a deterrent. Whats up with the picture of a gun on your T-shirt? Its actually a shirt I sell. Its called AR-15: The beauty is in the lines. I consider the AR-15 platform to be visually, aesthetically beautiful. What do you mean? I just love the way the platform looks. Meaning the design of the weapon? Yeah. Im one of those people who that tends to find aesthetic value in mechanical things, whether it be a car or a gun. Advertisement How are you feeling about the AR-15? Largely my feelings about the AR-15 have not changed. Ive seen a re-vilification of it as of late. Its become public enemy No. 1, which is a bit odd to me. What would you say to people who after Parkland or other mass shootings blame the AR-15 or say if we dont have these weapons, if we dont have bump stocks, we wont have as many fatalities? That its not true. Its hard to disconnect the emotional aspect of witnessing carnage like that from the actual carnage. To think that banning a bump stock or an AR-15 would have prevented that, its just not true. Not just in theory, but in reality. One of the most deadly mass shootings we had was Virginia Tech. He used an handgun. He didnt use an AR-15. Were focusing on the tool used instead of the underlying reason for why this is happening. Questions and answers have been edited for length and clarity. Advertisement molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com @mollyhf The military plane that crashed onto a Georgia highway this week shortly after takeoff, killing all nine airmen aboard, was manufactured in the late 1970s and on its final flight before its scheduled retirement, officials said. The cause is under investigation. But the accident has drawn attention to the condition of aging military aircraft fleets. I can assure you the United States Air Force will conduct a thorough investigation in the hopes to minimize such occurrences from happening again in the future, Col. Pete Boone, vice wing commander of the 165th Airlift Wing of the Georgia Air National Guard, said Thursday at a news briefing in Port Wentworth, near Savannah. Its extremely important for us to fully understand what has happened, he said. Any speculation at this point without having all of the details could affect the outcome of the investigation. Advertisement The WC-130 cargo aircraft from Puerto Ricos 156th Airlift Wing nosedived into the middle of a state highway northeast of the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport on Wednesday morning, sending a fireball and thick, dark smoke into the sky. The WC-130 is a modified variant of the C-130 Hercules, considered one of the militarys safest and most versatile planes and widely utilized by forces across the world. It was one of six C-130s used by the Puerto Rico National Guard and had been used to rescue U.S. citizens from the Caribbean last year during hurricanes Irma and Maria and deliver food and water to islanders. For the last two months, it had been been grounded in Savannah for maintenance, and only this week was declared fit for takeoff. Two other C-130s in the fleet had already been deemed inoperable and were grounded. Military experts said numerous aircraft used by the National Guard and Army Reserve were aging hand-me-downs from other sectors of the military. Brig. Gen. Isabelo Rivera, commanding officer of the Puerto Rico National Guard, said at a Wednesday news briefing that some of the C-130s in his fleet were more than 60 years old and due to be retired. Still, he stopped short of saying age was a factor in the crash. Through the maintenance process these airplanes are constantly being upgraded, he said. An older-model airplane could be in flying condition and modified into a modern airplane. The pilot in the crash Wednesday, Maj. Jose R. Roman Rosado, had told a friend that one aircraft he flew was built in the 1960s and had been rebuilt a few times, said the friend, Carlos Narvaez Rosario, a sports editor for El Vocero de Puerto Rico, a newspaper in San Juan. Advertisement I was very worried about that, Narvaez said. I asked him once, like a joke, What will you do if your airplane goes down? and he told me, I need to be sure that the people on the ground will be safe, he said, suggesting that that nosedive was an intentional maneuver to avoid more crowded areas. The crash is the second involving a C-130 in the U.S. in the last year. Last July, 15 Marines and a Navy corpsman died when a KC-130T crashed into farmland in Mississippi as it traveled from North Carolina to California. The inquiry into that crash is ongoing. It is also the latest in a string of deadly military aviation accidents. Last month, the Military Times compiled a database of manned warplane mishaps through the Freedom of Information Act, indicating that last year there were 909 accidents up 40% from the 656 in 2013. Advertisement Some legislators have been quick to link recent accidents to cuts in military spending after President Obama signed the Budget Control Act of 2011. What has been evident to me for some time is now becoming clear to the American people, House Armed Services Chairman Mac Thornberry said in a statement last month. The readiness of our military is at a crisis point. In March, Congress passed a $1.3-trillion spending bill that would boost defense spending, including for operations and maintenance, which involves maintenance of tanks, warplanes and ships, as well as troop training and ammunition. But experts said there was no single factor that could explain the rise. Advertisement If you look at the accident data for certain fleets of aircraft, the accident rates are going up, and thats a big problem, said Todd Harrison, an aerospace expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a nonpartisan research group in Washington. Its not entirely clear that theres one single reason why. Harrison said the U.S. Air Force was operating the oldest fleet of aircraft in its history. But he also said that significant numbers of accidents in which the crew made errors suggested a lack of training. A big part of it is our force has been stretched thin in terms of operations around the world, he said. And when you have your forces forward-deployed, doing real-world operations, that takes time away from maintenance and training. Money doesnt fix that. Its a time problem. Questioned by reporters on Wednesday, Adm. John Richardson, the chief of naval operations, pushed back against suggestions that the Navy was sending aviators up in unsafe planes, insisting at a Defense Department news briefing that all planes and pilots were mission-ready. Advertisement These are controlled by strict regulations, Richardson said, according to a Defense Department transcript. Were not violating any of those regulations. Were not sending people into the air in aircraft or pilots that are unprepared for the missions that they take. On Thursday, Puerto Rican officials released the names of the airmen killed in the crash. In addition to Roman, the pilot, they are Maj. Carlos Perez Serra, 1st Lt. David Albandoz, Senior Master Sgt. Jan Paravisini, Master Sgt. Jean Audriffred, Master Sgt. Mario Brana, Master Sgt. Victor Colon, Master Sgt. Eric Circun and Senior Airman Roberto Espada. Collectively, they had 167 years of service. Our prayers for the family and friends of these nine Puerto Ricans, Gov. Ricardo Rossello said in a statement Thursday declaring a state of mourning. In their honor, the flags will fly at half-staff for nine days. Advertisement UPDATES: 4:30 p.m.: The article was updated with comments from a friend of the pilot. The article was originally published at 3:45 p.m. Good morning, and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Its Thursday, May 3, and heres whats happening across California: TOP STORIES When hundreds of Central American immigrants departed Tapachula, Mexico, they never imagined that their voyage would ricochet around the world. They moved north on buses, trains and on foot with limited access to news. Many had only a vague sense that they had gotten caught in a political fight stirred by a steady stream of President Donald Trumps tweets. On Americas doorstep, their circumstances grew ever more surreal. Los Angeles Times The fight begins Advertisement The defense attorney for Golden State Killer suspect Joseph James DeAngelo Jr. is trying to stop investigators from obtaining more DNA samples and photographing his body, including his genitals, according to motions filed this week in Sacramento County. Los Angeles Times Plus: Cold-case investigators are reanalyzing unsolved homicides with the Golden State Killer suspect in mind. Los Angeles Times Yuck For decades, government agencies have grappled over what to do about the New River, whose putrid green water runs like a primordial stew from Mexicos sprawling city of Mexicali through Californias Imperial Valley. And while it is cleaner than it once was, it is still such a cesspool of pollution that Imperial Valley residents believe it will never be restored. Los Angeles Times Get the Essential California newsletter Benjamin Ramirez, left, and his father Alex Ramirez serve food from their cart during a rally in Hollywood in July 2017. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times ) L.A. STORIES New job, new challenge: In his first news conference since being named to the post, Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner on Wednesday acknowledged his lack of experience in education, yet pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Scoop! The nationwide hunt for L.A.s next police chief has narrowed to a handful of contenders who have deep ties to the Los Angeles Police Department, setting the stage for another insider to likely get the job. The Police Commission, the civilian panel that oversees the LAPD, began conducting closed-door interviews Wednesday morning. Los Angeles Times Airbnb life: The Los Angeles City Council unanimously backed a set of proposed rules Wednesday that would allow Angelenos to host night-to-night rentals only in their own homes but bar them from renting out a house or apartment for short stays if it is not their primary residence. Los Angeles Times An appreciation: Power to the people who bring us street tacos and cheap T-shirts, writes columnist Gustavo Arellano. Los Angeles Times IMMIGRATION AND THE BORDER Advertisement Fascinating story: With California and the Trump administration locked in a legal battle over immigration policies, a state Republican leader and a critic of illegal immigration are quietly offering to help communities fight the states new sanctuary law. Los Angeles Times Plus: Throughout 2017, Alameda County probation officers and ICE agents traded information, including peoples home addresses, photographs, and citizenship status. East Bay Express POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT A post-mortem: A major California housing bill failed after opposition from the low-income residents it aimed to help. Heres how it went wrong. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Plus: Californias population grows to 39.8 million and housing stock increases too, but at a far slower pace. San Francisco Chronicle Outside help: House Speaker Paul D. Ryan of Wisconsin is among the Republicans from outside California who have contributed to the campaign to repeal the states gas-tax increase. Los Angeles Times Good job! A new report shows that most colleges are failing when it comes to graduating low-income students, but the University of California system is an exception. The Atlantic CRIME AND COURTS Advertisement Big court decision: The rise of independent contracting has delivered benefits for some, such as greater flexibility for workers and lower costs for employers. But it also ensnared some people in low-wage jobs without benefits and with working schedules that can change daily. Now, after a state Supreme Court ruling Monday, businesses across California could be forced to reclassify swaths of their workforces as employees, with profound effects on workers and companies. Los Angeles Times Remember this? San Bernardino County prosecutors on Wednesday dropped felony charges against a homeless Joshua Tree couple accused of child abuse after they were found living with their children in a shack in the desert. Los Angeles Times On the run: A manhunt was underway for a registered sex offender and parolee who led police on an hours-long car chase Tuesday in his motor home with two of his young children on board, authorities said. Los Angeles Times Charged: A suspected Buena Park gang member is facing federal charges after a series of armed robberies at gas stations and convenience stores in Orange and Los Angeles counties. Los Angeles Daily News Advertisement THE ENVIRONMENT Spooky scary: The first death from E. coli-contaminated romaine lettuce has been reported in California, as the outbreak spreads. Los Angeles Times Yay, bikers! Closed for nearly a decade, the historic Gabrielino Trail is nearly restored thanks to mountain bikers. Los Angeles Times CALIFORNIA CULTURE Advertisement Oh snap: Snap Inc. again shows why it should not have become a public company, writes columnist Michael Hiltzik. Los Angeles Times Cool exhibit: In Los Angeles, Ingmar Bergmans Cinema, a retrospective unprecedented in its scope, begins Friday and lasts till the end of June. Los Angeles Times Fun: The California Stage Theater Creations is joining the Sacramento Public Library in presenting a five-week festival exploring the Lost Plays of Shakespeare. Capital Public Radio At the movies: Rachel Weisz takes matters into her own hands in her film Disobedience. Los Angeles Times Advertisement Playmate to Politico: How Pamela Anderson became an international woman of mystery. The Hollywood Reporter CALIFORNIA ALMANAC Los Angeles area: sunny, 68, Thursday; sunny, 82, Friday. San Diego: sunny, 66, Thursday; sunny, 75, Friday. San Francisco area: partly cloudy, 60, Thursday; partly cloudy, 62, Friday. Sacramento: sunny, 82, Thursday; partly cloudy, 85, Friday. More weather is here. AND FINALLY Advertisement Todays California memory comes from Mike Shaw: In 1975, I transferred my unemployment insurance ($95 a week) from New York to California. Hitched a ride in a van with three strangers. Most memorable stops were Halloween in Boulder, Colo., and our last night in Yosemite. They dropped me off in Sausalito, at my sister Pams house. Spent two glorious years in Mill Valley. Thirty-five years later and after 25 as a mailman and raising a family in Sacramento, I relocated to Fort Walton Beach, Fla. I often wonder what happened to my traveling strangers. Thanks for the memories, Northern California. If you have a memory or story about the Golden State, share it with us. Send us an email to let us know what you love or fondly remember about our state. (Please keep your story to 100 words.) Please let us know what we can do to make this newsletter more useful to you. Send comments, complaints and ideas to Benjamin Oreskes and Shelby Grad. Also follow them on Twitter @boreskes and @shelbygrad. For much of his time in office, President Trump has been loudly asserting that there was no collusion between his presidential campaign and Russia, while also defending some of the controversial actions hes taken such as firing former FBI Director James B. Comey that understandably have attracted the interest of Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III. In the past the president also has indicated his willingness to speak to the special counsel when the time was appropriate. That time is drawing near. This week the New York Times published a leaked list of topics apparently put into the form of questions by one of Trumps lawyers that the special counsel hopes to explore in an interview with the president. Many of the subjects would have been obvious to anyone who has followed the tumultuous events of the Trump presidency. They include what the presidents motives were in firing Comey and whether he was aware of any efforts to dangle the possibility of a presidential pardon to former national security advisor Michael Flynn. But there were also some surprises, notably this question: What knowledge did you have of any outreach by your campaign, including by Paul Manafort, to Russia about potential assistance to the campaign? This is the first indication that Mueller might suspect that Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman who has been charged with tax evasion and bank fraud, may have sought Russias help to elect Trump. Advertisement Clearly the Mueller investigation has matured to the point that investigators believe they can profitably question Trump. While Mueller may feel it necessary to negotiate the logistics of such an encounter with the White House, neither the presidents high office nor his contempt for the investigation entitle him to refuse to cooperate or to insist on unreasonable conditions, such as being permitted to respond to questions in writing. Its unclear whether Trump and his legal team understand that. Last month, when Mueller broached the possibility of subpoenaing Trump to appear before a grand jury, one of his lawyers protested: You are screwing with the work of the president of the United States. Its true that the president enjoys some protections by virtue of his office. Under a long-standing Justice Department interpretation, a sitting president may not be indicted. But he is not otherwise above the law. Mueller has legitimate questions to pose to the president. Its time for Trump to stop trash-talking and answer them. During the Watergate scandal, the Supreme Court ruled that President Nixon had to comply with a subpoena for White House tape recordings, despite an assertion of executive privilege. In 1998, independent counsel Kenneth Starr subpoenaed President Clinton to testify before a federal grand jury investigating Clintons relationship with Monica Lewinsky, though the subpoena was withdrawn when Clinton agreed to testify voluntarily. Trump conceivably could challenge a subpoena for his testimony. But no subpoena would be necessary if he honored his earlier assurance that he would speak to Mueller. A refusal to answer the special counsels questions would shred the credibility of the presidents protestations of innocence and no collusion. So, of course, would any move by the president to dismiss Mueller or Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who appointed Mueller and oversees his investigation. On Wednesday, Trump alluded to a complaint by House Republicans who threatened to impeach Rosenstein for not providing them with documents related to the Russia investigation and other matters. At some point, Trump tweeted, I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved! Mueller has legitimate questions to pose to the president. Its time for Trump to stop trash-talking and answer them. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook What ails our criminal justice system? Defense attorney Dean Strang, made famous in the Netflix documentary series Making a Murderer, says its a tragic lack of humility and an unwarranted certitude on the part of police officers and prosecutors and defense lawyers and judges and jurors that theyre getting it right. Strangs diagnosis was confirmed in California two weeks ago, when my client Vicente Benavides walked out of San Quentin prison, exonerated after languishing on death row for more than a quarter-century. This was a victory for justice, but no one should take Benavides release as an indication that the system works in California better than anywhere else. In 1993, Benavides was sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit: sexually assaulting his girlfriends 21-month-old daughter so violently that she died. He always maintained his innocence. He had no prior criminal history, no history of violence or sexual deviance. By everyones account, he had always been kind and caring toward the child and others. Nonetheless, he was convicted based on the testimony of several doctors who confidently concluded that the child had been sexually abused. One doctor testified that he believed it without a doubt, claiming that this was the worst case of child sexual abuse he had ever seen. Another doctor showed the jury how he believed Benavides sodomized the child while she was sitting on his lap. A third doctor told the jurors the child had been repeatedly sodomized. After viewing the graphic photos of the childs genitalia purportedly showing the effects of the abuse, the last holdout juror voted to condemn Benavides to death. Advertisement Benavides is the fifth death row inmate to be exonerated in California. When my colleagues and I at the Habeas Corpus Resource Center were appointed to represent Benavides in 1999, he already had been on death row for six years. We began by obtaining every piece of paper related to the childs medical treatment during the eight days she spent at three hospitals before she succumbed to her injuries. We tracked down the doctors who had testified and showed them the complete medical records, which they had not seen before they took the witness stand. These records unequivocally showed that the child had no signs of sexual abuse when she was admitted to the emergency room of the first hospital. The records also showed that the injuries observed at the second and third hospital, that were in the photographs shown to jurors, likely resulted from medical procedures undertaken in the emergency room of the first hospital and the childs deteriorating medical condition. The doctors who previously had been so certain about their diagnosis realized they had made a grave mistake. They recanted their testimony. The prosecutions star witness, a child abuse pediatrician, proclaimed that the case was a tremendous failing of the criminal justice system. In March, the California Supreme Court unanimously reversed Benavides conviction, finding that the false evidence presented at his trial was extensive, pervasive and impactful. At oral argument, Justice Carol A. Corrigan, who is a former prosecutor, said the case was among the most hair-raising false evidence cases she had ever encountered. On April 19, prosecutors dismissed all charges and Benavides was released. Benavides, 42 at the time of his conviction, is now 68. He can never regain the years he lost. If Proposition 66 had been in place during his appeal, Benavides may well have been executed rather than exonerated. That law, which accelerates the death penalty review process and lowers the qualifications for defense attorneys, was passed by 51% of California voters in November 2016. It took us almost two decades of unrelenting effort to overcome the unwarranted certitude of the police, the prosecutors and the medical experts in Benavides case. The state attorney general did not admit the conviction was based on false evidence until 2015, even though we had presented proof that the testimony was false over a decade earlier. Without providing sufficient time to adequately investigate capital cases, as well as additional resources to defense attorneys and the courts, Proposition 66 will not fix Californias dysfunctional death penalty system. According to the bipartisan California Commission on the Fair Administration of Justice, there are only two possible solutions: Provide almost $100 million more in funding a year to ensure that the system is fair, or eliminate the death penalty. Advertisement In 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown blithely dismissed the possibility that innocent people have been sentenced to death in California. He said, I know people say, Oh, there have been all these innocent people. Well, I have not seen one name on death row thats been told to me. He has been told one now. Benavides is, in fact, the fifth death row inmate to be exonerated in California. Brown and the California Supreme Court should commute all death row sentences before the governors term ends in January. They can no longer share in the unwarranted certitude that the criminal justice system is infallible. Cristina Borde is a former Habeas Corpus Resource Center attorney for Vicente Benavides. She currently is the director of the Wisconsin Latino Exoneration Program at the Wisconsin Innocence Project. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Ive been a pediatrician for 30 years. Ive cared for thousands of children, providing support for parents to encourage their babies development, and recommendations to guide them through the joys and challenges of parenting. Ive helped navigate children and families through illness, developmental disabilities and life-threatening conditions. Recently though, I met a little girl in a border town in Texas who will forever stand out in my mind. Unlike the patients Ive treated in my exam room, I was helpless to comfort her. The little girl was a toddler, her face splotched red from crying, her fists balled up in frustration, pounding on a play mat in the shelter for unaccompanied children run by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement. No parent was there to scoop her up, no known and trusted adult to rub her back and soothe her sobs. The staff members at the center tried their best, and shared my heartbreak while watching this child writhe on the floor, alone. We knew what was wrong, but we were powerless to help. She wanted her mother. And the only reason she could not be with her mother was because immigration authorities had forcibly separated them when they crossed the border into the United States. The mother was detained, and the little girl was handed over to the shelter as an unaccompanied child. Since October, the federal government has separated more than 700 children from their parents as they entered the United States, according to Office of Refugee Resettlement data reviewed by the New York Times. Most of these families have requested asylum. Officials at the Department of Homeland Security claim they act solely to protect the best interests of minor children. But the White House has vocally supported the idea of family separation as a deterrent to keep migrant families from the U.S. border. Advertisement On Friday, a San Diego federal court judge will hear directly from lawyers representing parents whose children have been taken from them. The American Civil Liberties Union will request a nationwide injunction to reunite hundreds of families and to stop future separations. Pediatricians have submitted affidavits in this case, challenging the governments actions and sharing physicians perspectives on the toll the practice takes on children. Studies overwhelmingly demonstrate the irreparable harm caused by breaking up families. Studies overwhelmingly demonstrate the irreparable harm caused by breaking up families. Prolonged exposure to highly stressful situations known as toxic stress can disrupt a childs brain architecture and affect his or her short- and long-term health. A parent or a known caregivers role is to mitigate these dangers. When robbed of that buffer, children are susceptible to learning deficits and chronic conditions such as depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and even heart disease. The governments practice of separating children from their parents at the border counteracts every science-based recommendation I have ever made to families who seek to build, and not harm, their childrens intellectual and emotional development. These parents are given two untenable options. They can return with their children to their home country and the conditions that forced them to flee in the first place. Or they can endure being detained sometimes halfway across the country from their children. Contact is often limited. The separation makes it hard for parents to provide support for the childs asylum request. In some cases, parents have been deported, leaving a child behind in government custody. The American Academy of Pediatrics has written to the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security now Kirstjen Nielsen on at least five occasions opposing the forced separation of parents and children at the border. More than 200 child welfare, juvenile justice and child development organizations signed a letter urging Nielsen to abandon any plans to systematically separate children from their families. Members of Congress have spoken out in opposition. And yet we know the practice continues. As Fridays hearing takes place in San Diego, we turn to the judicial system to right this wrong, for the sake of the little girl I saw suffering in Texas, and for the hundreds of other families torn apart by the country they turned to for refuge. Dr. Colleen Kraft is the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She practices medicine in Mission Viejo. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook. Never mind nuclear fears about North Korea and Iran. Set aside concerns about Russian cyberattacks. World leaders today are racing to harness a different source of power to tip the geopolitical balance in their favor. From Moscow to Pyongyang, from Paris to Jerusalem, presidents, prime ministers and dictators-for-life are seeking to weaponize Donald Trumps vanity. Different leaders are using different approaches. South Korean President Moon Jae-in gave President Trump credit for a diplomatic breakthrough with North Korea, to ensure Trump saw peace as a potential legacy issue. French President Emmanuel Macron literally and figuratively stroked Trump, with the goal of getting him to preserve the Iran nuclear deal. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu put on an internationally televised show just for Trump, tailored to make Trump feel that his long-expressed hostility to Iran was justified. Chinas leader, Xi Jingping, and the Saudi king both rolled out the red carpet for Trump in ways they did not for President Obama, ensuring that Trump felt special. Advertisement Some leaders have played on Trumps fear of humiliation. The prosecutor general of Ukraine has stopped supporting the Mueller investigation in order to curry favor with Trump and to ensure that certain arms deals would move forward, according to the New York Times. Russian President Vladimir Putin has proved a virtuoso at playing Trumps fragile ego, sometimes propping him up with glowing reports from Russian propaganda outlets, other times firing warning shots. There is nothing new, of course, about leaders flattering one another. Indeed, we have institutionalized flattery in international relations with the pomp and circumstance of official welcomes, 21-gun salutes and state dinners. French President Emmanuel Macron literally and figuratively stroked Trump, with the goal of getting him to preserve the Iran nuclear deal. But with those ceremonies, we are paying deference to entire nations, not necessarily to the individuals who happen to represent them. With Trump, we have entered new territory. In his short time in office, Trump has revealed himself to be unlike his predecessors in several important ways. Although all presidents have egos, Trump has spent his career promoting his own personal brand, inscribing his name in big gold letters wherever he could. He has shown himself to be extraordinarily self-absorbed, providing a constant stream of self-congratulatory remarks. He has claimed credit for economic recoveries that started years before he assumed office, for launching the career of Lady Gaga and for business deals he had nothing to do with not to mention the supposedly record-breaking inauguration crowd that wasnt. All of this sends a message to other world leaders. As one former U.S. Cabinet official who deals regularly with foreign leaders put it to me: They know he can be played. Or, as a prominent business leader said during a trip to China in April: He is so vain. Hes like a child easy to manage if you know what he wants. Advertisement Its not just Trumps sensitivity and insatiable hunger for the spotlight that make him easy pickings. He has institutionalized his egotism in a way no previous American president did. Trump has demoted and devalued entire departments and processes that once distributed power through the government. He has concentrated power in the Oval Office and made it clear that he will not tolerate being upstaged by his Cabinet. His administrations cringe-worthy fawning over him shows that the members understand their public service is all about serving one man. The institutions of our government are supposed to depersonalize the process of governing, to offset the power and interests of individuals. As Trump undercuts these institutions, putting himself and his feelings at the center of everything, he has made global affairs revolve around his own vanity and foibles. This is dangerous in the best of times. It is especially dangerous when the leader in question is under siege, ill-informed and impulsive and when those who seek to influence him know it. Advertisement As these circumstances worsen, and as more power is concentrated in one self-absorbed man, it is increasingly likely that the challenges of our time will be resolved not according to their merits, but by how Trump feels they make him look when he looks in the mirror. David Rothkopf is a visiting scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, host of the Deep State Radio podcast and an author of many books on international affairs. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook The United Nations, 25 years ago, thought it was a good idea to put World Press Freedom Day on its international calendar, where today it shares designations with the likes of World Environment Day, International Literacy Day and World Suicide Prevention Day. The late 80s and early 90s looked to be shaping up hopefully: top-down governments and their top-down economies were folding their tents, and the role of honestly brokered journalism in nations affairs was slowly in the ascendant. Yet now, on World Press Freedom Day 2018, the world press is not only less free but even more endangered. And that extends into the United States, whose free press protections and practices have been an international model. Journalists the world over are murdered by criminal forces, like the Mexican reporters assassinated by drug cartels, murdered by radicals of one stripe or another, like the Charlie Hebdo massacre in Paris. And reporters are killed, if not at the actual behest of their own governments, then by shall we say less than aggressive protections of their work and prosecutions of their killers. A number of Russian journalists have been killed or died suspiciously after reporting on corruption and human rights violations. Last month, a Siberian correspondent allegedly fell from his fifth-floor apartment balcony; his recent stories were about private Russian military contractors killed fighting in Syria. Advertisement And in Afghanistan this week, 10 journalists 10 were killed in a single day. The White House deplored the Afghanistan attacks as a senseless and heinous act. And yet the Trump administration has wrought its own kind of damage on the principles of a free press here and, by echo effect, around the world. Any nations guarantee of a free press is only as formidable as its willingness to defend it. When President Trump called the American news media the enemy of the people, he revived a phrase beloved of Stalin, Lenin and Hitlers chief propaganda thug, Joseph Goebbels, who used it to describe Jews. Trumps fake news insult has been taken up by other leaders as a stick to beat their own nations journalists. The president of Poland threw the fake news slight at his countrys press. Rodrigo Duterte, as the newly elected Philippine president, was asked about protecting press freedom after a reporter was murdered in Manila. Instead, in a country that ranks as the sixth most dangerous in the world for journalists, he raged against reporters: Just because youre a journalist you are not exempted from assassination, if youre a son of a bitch. Here at home, fake news has become the routine fallback for people who just dont like the stories written about them. David M. Shribman, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, wrote in the New York Times that the most prominent public-relations officer in Pittsburgh told us that a perfectly benign, and completely accurate, report on his institutions activities was another example of fake news. Like Americans who tell pollsters they hate Congress, but who keep reelecting their own members of Congress, American presidents arent personally enchanted by their own treatment in the press, but almost to a man, they have recognized its indispensable role. John Adams used the short-lived Sedition Act to imprison editors for any false, scandalous and malicious writing about him. A Vermont congressman who wrote an essay saying the Adams administration was awash in ridiculous pomp, foolish adulation, and selfish avarice spent election day behind bars; his constituents reelected him. Advertisement Any nations guarantee of a free press is only as formidable as its willingness to defend it. Trump, who ought to be sticking up for Americas free press principles as an example to the world, and defending them at home as part of the constitution he swore to preserve, protect and defend, has railed about a son of a bitch NBC news host. He has exhorted crowds to an ugly frenzy about the disgusting press. NBCs Katy Tur, insulted by Trump as dishonest little Katy, wrote in her fine book about covering the 2016 campaign that NBC had to provide security for her, and that the Secret Service once had to escort her safely out of a particularly nasty rally. To his followers, Trump has very effectively undercut some constitutional and operational aspects of democracy, mocking federal judges, reviling career civil servants as the deep state, and savaging any press critique of his administration. How effective? A Pew Research poll this spring found that not even half 49% of the Republicans it polled agreed that press criticism is important to a strong democracy, compared to 76% of Democrats. And a Gallup-Knight Foundation survey found that 42% of Republicans think even accurate news stories that happen to cast a politician or political group in a negative light should always be regarded as fake news. (For Democrats, that number was 17%.) Its not the same as journalists getting shot or defenestrated, but its surely no coincidence that Trumps choleric attacks parallel the Radio Television Digital News Associations tally of 44 physical attacks on journalists here last year. Two were by politicians. Montana Republican congressional candidate Greg Gianforte pleaded guilty to knocking down and punching a reporter asking him questions on election eve. (Gianforte won and people sent his campaign more than $100,000, atta boy dollars from Americans evidently cheering an attack on a journalist.) Advertisement At this moment, newspapers, and smaller newspapers especially the safety net of all news reporting in this country are getting hacked up or killed off by brutal economics and sometimes even more brutal business practices. And still, journalists persist. Real news reporting is the peoples intelligence service, and though it is far from perfect, it operates ideally as a self-correcting mechanism that wrestles with itself over every story, every day. At heart, most journalists patriotically think their work helps the nation live up to its ideals, and to do that, theyre willing to take on a job that they know means theyll be sometimes unpopular and almost always underpaid. But personal insults from the president of the United States, and physical attacks from people who dont like the work they do, cant ever be part of that tradeoff. On this World Press Freedom Day, we should be alarmed by whats happening to journalists overseas. But at home, were called on to defend democratic principles from the unprincipled. As Sen. John McCain warned last year, to preserve democracy as we know it, we have to have a free and sometimes adversarial press. Without it, thats how dictators get started. Advertisement Patt Morrison is the author of the new book Dont Stop the Presses: Truth, Justice and the American Newspaper. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook To the editor: The conservative punditry site RedState, which recently eliminated any criticism of President Trump, has a mirror image in the liberal DailyKos.com. As one of the tens of thousands of members and contributors for more than a decade, I can tell you that what had been a liberal site tolerant of diverse political views has changed. As an example, Michelle Wolfs routine at the White House Correspondents Assn. dinner not only was praised, but my criticism of her was met with vitriol and the accusation of middle of the roadism. I got a whiff of how moderate Republican officials fear the ire of Trump if they speak out against his behavior. The internet has the capacity to bring people together, but as we are learning, this is being overshadowed by fragmentation into hostile groups that protect against infiltration, which comes to mean expressing a different perspective. In a cyberworld of infinite, yet evanescent choices, thoughtfulness doesnt have a chance. Al Rodbell, Carlsbad Advertisement .. To the editor: I seldom agree with Pattericos Pontifications writer Patrick Frey, who was recently dismissed as a RedState contributor, but this time I share his concerns. It should scare all Americans that a group of writers of any political leaning has been purged for opposing President Trump. However, Frey neglects to mention his own responsibility in creating the environment that made it possible. For example, to use his own words, he asserts that Obamacare increases premiums and reduces freedom. Well, I have never bought into that argument, and it would appear his principled conservatism let him blur fact and fiction, which has ultimately cost him a very real and dear freedom. Actually, we have all lost a bit of freedom. Jeff Gold, Granada Hills .. To the editor: Frey writes that he and other critics of Trump at RedState were recently terminated by the sites owners. Prior to that purge, Frey says, RedState was distinguished by its commentary on principled, constitutional conservatism. He should send this quote by Republican President Theodore Roosevelt to RedStates owners: Advertisement To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nina Trotta-Sutton, Simi Valley Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Newsoms budget proposes $3 million for Alzheimers research, brain task force By Melody Gutierrez Amyloid plaques, shown here in human brains, are a hallmark of Alzheimers disease. (UCLA School of Medicine) Gov. Gavin Newsom will call for the creation of a brain health task force and dedicate $3 million annually from the states general fund to Alzheimers disease research in the budget proposal he will release Thursday, a source close to the administration said. The money for Alzheimers research would target the new grants at understanding why the disease is more prevalent in women and people of color. Former California first lady and Alzheimers activist Maria Shriver pushed for the funding to be included in the state budget. Shriver said in a statement Wednesday that the funding would make California the first state to make understanding our brains a priority. The states former first lady, whose late father Sargent Shriver was diagnosed with Alzheimers, founded the Womens Alzheimers Movement, an advocacy group raising awareness about womens increased risk for developing the disease. In 2011, she wrote a comprehensive assessment on the disease, to which Newsom then mayor of San Francisco contributed a portion called What one city is doing. This is personal to me, just like it is to millions of California families, Shriver said. Alzheimers is one of the largest medical, social and economic crises in our state, and of our time. I am so proud that, once again, California is leading the way. Wiping out Alzheimers is going to require bold thinking, and there is no doubt in my mind that California is home to bold thinkers who can make this happen. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Gavin Newsom orders reinvention of troubled California DMV By Patrick McGreevy A line of people stretches around the South L.A. location of a California Department of Motor Vehicles Office on Aug. 7. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Gov. Gavin Newsom on Wednesday ordered an overhaul of the California Department of Motor Vehicles, which has been plagued by hours-long wait times at field offices, computer crashes and voter registration errors involving tens of thousands of customers. Just a few days after taking office, Newsom appointed a top advisor to a new DMV Reinvention Strike Team to revamp the beleaguered agency over the next six months. By any metric, California DMV has been chronically mismanaged and failed in its fundamental mission to the state customers it serves and the state workers it employs, Newsom said in a statement, adding Its time for a reinvention. The governor appointed state Government Operations Agency Secretary Marybel Batjer to lead the strike team with a goal of modernizing the agency and enacting changes that improve customer satisfaction, employee performance and transparency. Newsom also ordered an accelerated review of initial findings of an ongoing audit ordered last year by Gov. Jerry Brown. The action was welcomed by lawmakers who have been critical of the DMV, including Assemblyman Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield). The egregious management failures of the DMV have been self-evident, which is why I have been calling for new leadership and a comprehensive independent audit of this troubled state agency over and over again as the problems grew significantly worse, Fong said. Last summer, Californians seeking new driver licenses complained of wait times of four to six hours at DMV offices, which the agency blamed partly on snafus caused by a rush of people trying to get Real IDs, a new identification card design required for airline passengers starting in late 2020. Delays were also blamed on computer crashes at DMV offices as the agency struggled to update its aging automation systems. The DMV also admitted that there were an estimated 23,000 errors as people either were unknowingly registered to vote or mistakes were made in their registration status as part of the states new motor voter program. The agency registered to vote as many as 1,500 people with legal U.S. residency but no citizenship. Last month, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto retired from the agency. Legislators were angered earlier this week when the DMV said it needed an additional $40 million to prevent the return of long lines at its field offices. In addition, the agency has been under fire for issuing driver licenses in the last year that do not comply with the federal Real ID standards requiring two forms of identification by applicants. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police unions are preparing to battle new transparency law in the courtroom By Maya Lau Just as a landmark police transparency law is going into effect, some California police agencies are shredding internal affairs documents and law enforcement unions are rushing to block the information from being released. The new law, which begins to unwind Californias strictest-in-the-nation protections over the secrecy of law enforcement records, opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. But the lawsuits and records destruction, which began even before the law took effect Jan. 1, could tie up the release of information for months or years, and in some instances, prevent it from ever being disclosed. The fact that police unions are challenging this law is on some level not surprising, said Peter Bibring, director of police practices at the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, one of the principal supporters of the new law. They have a long history of fighting tooth and nail against transparency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Secretary of State Alex Padilla begins second term with challenge to ensure every Californian is counted By Jazmine Ulloa Secretary of State Alex Padilla takes the oath of office as his family stands by his side on Monday in Sacramento. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Secretary of State Alex Padilla was sworn in for a second term on Monday, saying he would continue the battle to protect the right to vote at a time when voter suppression efforts, online disinformation campaigns and interference from foreign adversaries have polarized the public and threatened to undermine trust in U.S. elections. I am doubling down on our fight here in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C., to defend our democracy, he said. Working on the front lines with so many of you, I know that our collective resolve has never been stronger. But the loudest applause came when Padilla promised to fight back against the Trump administrations changes to the U.S. census, saying he will ensure every Californian gets counted. Padilla, a former state senator and Los Angeles City Council member from the San Fernando Valley, led the cause for a new motor voter registration law in 2015, and a new system for online business registrations. But the programs have had experienced problems: More than 23,000 Californians were registered to vote incorrectly by the state DMV, the agency reported last year. On Monday, Padilla said he would continue to push back against false claims of voter fraud in California and pointed to the states voter turnout as proof that his office was involving more people in the democratic process, a promise he made when he was first sworn in four years ago. More than 12.7 million voters cast ballots in the Nov. 6 midterm election, representing roughly 65% of the states registered voters, the highest number of any midterm election since 1982, according to state certified results. I made that promise based on a shared belief that we are a stronger democracy and a better California when we hear all voices from all corners of California, and when those voices are not just heard but counted, Padilla said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Ricardo Lara, Californias first statewide officeholder to come out as gay, sworn in as insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara on the floor of the state Senate in 2016. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Ricardo Lara took the oath of office as California insurance commissioner on Monday, pledging action to boost healthcare coverage and combat climate change. Lara, a Democrat from Bell Gardens, is the first elected statewide officeholder in California who has come out as gay. He began his speech in downtown Sacramento by thanking LGBTQ leaders who came before him and celebrated the occasion. Today, because of you, weve shattered the pink ceiling, Lara said. In his inaugural speech, Lara announced the creation of an executive position in his office to address climate change. There is no other industry that has the necessary expertise to ensure that California is prepared to mitigate and reduce risk to our communities and our environment, Lara said. Our planet cant wait. Im ready, and I hope you are too. Lara served as a state legislator and in 2017 introduced a bill to create a single-payer healthcare system in the state. He promised to work with new Gov. Gavin Newsom to expand coverage across California. Lara was sworn in by retired U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who declared unconstitutional Californias Proposition 8 gay marriage ban. State Sen. President Pro Tem Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) was on hand for the ceremony along with multiple other state lawmakers. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis says she will help expand access to universities in the state New Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, center, is shown in June talking with attendees at the Power to the Polls rally in Sacramento. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) More Californians should be given access to public universities, Eleni Kounalakis said as she took the oath of office Monday to become the states first woman elected lieutenant governor. Kounalakis was given the oath of office by Gov. Gavin Newsom, her predecessor in the job, who pledged they would work together. As lieutenant governor, Kounalakis serves on the University of California Board of Regents and the California State University Board of Trustees, she noted in a speech at her swearing-in ceremony at the main Sacramento Library. In that role, she said, she will be committed to expanding access to affordable public higher education here in our state. Its wise, its smart and it is the best way to address our rapidly changing digital economy. Kounalakis is former president of a development company founded by her father, Angelo Tsakopoulos, and served during the Obama administration as the U.S. ambassador to Hungary. In November, she won her first run for statewide office. Also attending the ceremony were House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California meets Dutch Newsom, who steals the show at his fathers inauguration By Taryn Luna Gov. Gavin Newsom gives his inaugural address while holding his youngest son, Dutch. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) In the California political world, all eyes were on Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday until his 2-year-old son stole the show. Dutch, the youngest of four children in the Newsom brood, climbed onstage in the middle of his fathers inaugural address in a tent outside the Capitol on Monday. The unplanned moment saw the 51-year-old governors big day interrupted by the toddler, bringing levity to the ceremony. Newsom was recounting Gov. Jerry Browns last inaugural speech and reference to the Sermon on the Mount, a biblical story about two men who built separate homes on sand and rock, when Dutch approached his father, a pacifier in his mouth and blanket in hand. Now more than ever we Californians know how much a house matters and children matter, Newsom said, improvising as he scooped the boy into his arms. The governor kissed Dutch on the cheek and held him for several minutes as he continued with the speech. This is exactly how it was scripted, Newsom joked. Newsom eventually put his child down and Dutch walked to the edge of the stage before retreating behind the podium to hide from his mother, First Lady Jennifer Siebel Newsom. The crowd roared. Siebel Newsom was able to briefly divert her son only for him to return to the stage minutes later. She grabbed him again and this time, the crying toddler did not reemerge. When fires strikes, when kids cry and the earth shakes, well be there for each other, Newsom said. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, who said the moment humanized Newsom, threw cold water on any theories that Dutchs cameo was planned. No, I know it was not, Garcetti said with a laugh after Newsoms speech concluded. I could see that look of absolute abject terror [on Newsoms face]. Weve all been there. Kids always think its about themselves and theyve proved it. California Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) agreed. I worked in early childhood education for 20 years and theres no way you can ever get a child to do anything when you want them to do it, Rendon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Fiona Ma takes oath as Californias new treasurer By Liam Dillon State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Fiona Ma took the oath of office in Sacramento on Monday as the states 34th treasurer, promising to boost Californias economy. Ma previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, in the state Assembly and on the California Board of Equalization. I want to thank everyone for entrusting me with this important job. I understand my role here as your state treasurer is to build that financial wall around California so that we will remain the fifth-largest economy, Ma said in brief remarks. That is my promise to you. California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye administered the oath to Ma. Following the ceremony, Ma held an ice cream social for guests. On Wednesday, she will host a public event in San Francisco to celebrate her swearing-in. State Treasurer Fiona Ma takes the oath of office. (Liam Dillon / Los Angeles Times) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Expectations are high for newly sworn-in state schools chief Tony Thurmond Tony Thurmond shakes hands with retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco after taking the oath of office. (Melody Gutierrez / Los Angeles Times) Tony Thurmond took the oath of office as Californias state superintendent of public schools on Monday, promising a labor-friendly agenda before the teachers, students and Democratic officials who filled an auditorium at McClatchy High School in Sacramento to watch him being sworn in. We cant close the achievement gap without a great teacher at the head of every class, Thurmond said Monday to applause. We have to make sure we provide quality compensation and support to our teachers and our classified staff and all the educators who support our kids. Thurmond, a Bay Area Democrat who served in the state Assembly, won a hotly contested and expensive race with the help of labor leaders against charter school executive Marshall Tuck. The race took several days to sort out after Tuck held an initial lead in early returns on election night before falling behind thereafter. Thurmond was sworn in Monday by retired Alameda County Superior Court Judge Gordon Baranco. He was joined on stage by labor rights leader Dolores Huerta and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount). Thurmonds former colleagues in the state Assembly took turns praising him and promising to be an ally in improving schools. Many said they expected Thurmond would be a strong leader focused on improving student outcomes. We know we are going to work hard to give you the money you need and the budget you need to fully fund education and our schools so we can put our money where our mouth is and make sure our children have everything they need, Assemblywoman Connie Leyva (D-Chino Hills) said. As state superintendent, Thurmond will oversee the education of 6.2 million students at 10,000 schools. Thurmond was a member of the West Contra Costa County School Board and a Richmond city councilman before he was elected to the state Assembly. Tony is the right man at the right time to fight the federal, Donald Trump, Betsy DeVos anti-child, anti-education, anti-civil and -human rights agenda, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said. Tony is going to do that for us. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State Controller Betty Yee takes oath of office with call for more affordable housing and healthcare State Controller Betty Yee California Controller Betty Yee took the oath of office Monday for a second term, saying she still has work to do addressing problems that include a lack of affordability in housing, healthcare and higher education. A San Francisco native, Yee is the chief financial officer of California the fifth-largest economy in the world having first won election to the post in 2014 before winning reelection in November. No region is spared from the widening inequality and increased poverty that plague our state, fueled by the lack of affordable, stable housing, the cost of healthcare and transportation, limited educational opportunities, student loan debt, displacement caused by disasters and more, she said. Yee was administered the oath of office by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento before an overflow crowd that included state Senate leader Toni Atkins (D-San Diego), state Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra and San Francisco Mayor London Breed. As a public official it is about governance that delivers results and stays accountable while upholding the underlying value of dignity for all, Yee said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra begins new term promising to fight Trump policies California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra on Monday took the oath of office for a new term, saying he would continue his role as a leading challenger to Trump administration actions that he believes are counter to the states interests. Becerra, a former 12-term congressman, has become a national opposition figure to Trump, having sued the federal government 45 times since he was appointed as the states first Latino attorney general in 2017. Weve been a little busy stopping the dysfunction and insanity in Washington, D.C., from infecting California, Becerra told an audience during a swearing-in ceremony at the California Museum in Sacramento. Whether its the criminals on our streets or the conman in the boardrooms or highest office of the land, Becerra said, the California Department of Justice, well, weve got your back. Becerra won his first statewide election as the states top cop in November, two years after he filled the post vacated when predecessor Kamala Harris was elected to the U.S. Senate. He has peppered the Trump administration with lawsuits challenging federal policies on healthcare, the U.S. census, the environment and immigration. Our state builds dreams, not walls, he said in a direct criticism of Trumps proposal to build a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border. Just last week, Becerra led a coalition of 17 Democratic attorneys general in announcing an appeal of a federal judge in Texas that ruled the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. The ACA has been the law for nearly a decade and is the backbone of our healthcare system, Becerra said last week. This case impacts nearly every American workers covered by employers, families, women, children, young adults and seniors so we will lead the ACAs defense as long and far as it takes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California Democratic Party Vice Chairman Daraka Larimore-Hall announces bid to lead group By Christine Mai-Duc Daraka Larimore-Hall. (Dominic Parisi / Courtesy of Daraka Larimore-Hall) Daraka Larimore-Hall, a top official at the California Democratic Party, said Monday hes running to replace former chairman Eric Bauman, who resigned abruptly in November after being confronted with allegations of sexual misconduct. Larimore-Hall, a longtime state party activist and former chairman of the Democratic Party of Santa Barbara County, was one of the party leaders who urged Bauman to resign following the allegations. In an email to supporters announcing his bid, he urged both structural and cultural change at every level of our Party. He also repeated his call for a top-to-bottom investigation of the allegations, the party and its culture. In a Times investigation, 10 party activists and staff members said Bauman made crude sexual comments and engaged in unwanted touching and physical intimidation in professional settings. In order to be where we need to be for 2020, we have to confront the culture of abuse and fear that allowed someone to behave in such a vile way for so long, Larimore-Hall said in an interview. We cant brush it aside or think that our activists or our candidates or our donors are going to forget about this overnight. Larimore-Hall said his first priority would be to fully investigate the allegations and restore rank-and-file confidence in the partys leadership. The second would be to refocus the party on political priorities as the 2020 presidential election nears. The Bauman episode, Larimore-Hall said, threatens to derail the Democrats plans to help defeat President Trump and keep the seven congressional seats gained in the midterm elections. Its definitely a crisis, Larimore-Hall said. But the component parts the energy, the enthusiasm, the volunteers, the infrastructure its still there. We just need to direct it toward something. Larimore-Hall was elected vice chairman of the state party in February following Baumans razor-thin victory over Bay Area activist Kimberly Ellis. Ellis has announced another bid for the chairmanship and former state Senate leader Kevin de Leon is also mulling a run. The vote will take place at the partys May convention in San Francisco. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom will vow to seize this moment, and swipe at Trump in Monday inaugural address By Melanie Mason Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family attend an Inauguration Family Event at the California Railroad Museum in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Building on the theme of California exceptionalism that defined his campaign, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will depict the state as a guardian of progressive values and a counterweight to President Trump in his inaugural address Monday, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks. What we do today is even more consequential, because of whats happening in our country, read the excerpts obtained by The Times. Peoples lives, freedom, security, the water we drink, the air we breathe they all hang in the balance. The country is watching us. The world is waiting on us. The future depends on us. And we will seize this moment. The speech casts Californias political stakes in a decidedly national scope, promising an agenda that will unify and be an example to the rest of the country. It contrasts the governing goals of Newsom, a Democrat, with that of Trump, the incoming governors perennial foil. We will offer an alternative to the corruption and incompetence in the White House, the excerpts say. Our government will be progressive, principled, and always on the side of the people. Newsom campaigned on an ambitious and wide-ranging platform, promising sweeping solutions on housing, healthcare, education and other issues that rank among Californians top concerns. In the weeks after his election, he struck a more muted tone, taking pains to emphasize his fiscal caution and need for patience in achieving those goals. The inaugural excerpts indicate a return to lofty pledges. While Newsom will vow to prepare for uncertain times ahead by building budgetary reserves and paying down debt, the prepared remarks quickly turn to a vow to be bold. Newsom has already floated several proposals for his first budget that carry significant price tags, including a nearly $2-billion plan to boost early childhood development for low-income families and a dramatic expansion of paid family leave from six weeks to six months. When asked for a preview of his inauguration speech during a news conference Sunday evening, Newsom predicted pundits would criticize his address as short on specifics. Well, of course, Im at an inaugural, Newsom said. But Ill be very detailed in the budget, a few days later. And then we will architect, in much more nuance and detail, in state of the state. I really see this as three opportunities to communicate over the next few weeks our agenda, our vision for the state. Times staff writer Taryn Luna contributed to this report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom-hosted benefit concert raises nearly $5 million for wildfire victims By Taryn Luna Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom speaks at a concert to benefit wildfire victims at the Golden 1 Arena in Sacramento on Jan. 6. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) On the eve of the gubernatorial inauguration, Californias political class rubbed elbows in Sacramento for a benefit concert hosted by Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and headlined by the rapper Pitbull. Newsom told the crowd gathered at the Golden 1 Center on Sunday evening that the fundraiser brought in nearly $5 million for the California Wildfire Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the families of fallen firefighters and communities affected by wildfires. You know, a lot of folks feel anxious about not just politics, but government, Newsom said on stage before introducing the rapper and activist Common. But those firefighters, they are the antidote to the fear and cynicism; they are the manifestation of why government matters and why you should care. Top sponsors, including Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente and other interest groups, paid up to $1 million each to support the cause and curry favor with the new administration. Nathan Click, a spokesman for Newsom, said organizers sold more than 7,000 tickets. Several state lawmakers attended the concert alongside Capitol staff, lobbyists and business types, who mingled on the floor of the arena and offstage in private VIP areas. The rock band X Ambassadors and a duo called the Cold Weather Sons from the town of Paradise, which was destroyed by fire in November, were among several performers who entertained the crowd during the four-hour event. The California Rises concert is the final in a series of festivities held Sunday to celebrate the inauguration of Californias 40th governor. Earlier in the day, Newsom attended a private brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum and his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront. Newsoms inauguration is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday on the steps of the Capitol. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inauguration fever hits Sacramento as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom prepares to take office By Phil Willon Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom holds his son, Dutch, as he and his family attend an inaugural event at the at the state Railroad Museum Sunday. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Incoming Gov. Gavin Newsom doesnt officially take the oath of office until Monday, but the parties celebrating his inauguration were in full swing all day Sunday. Newsom and his family were mobbed by well-wishers at the California State Railroad Museum at the Old Sacramento Waterfront in the afternoon, where his inaugural committee hosted a free party for families. He just has charisma. Hes able to really connect with people, said Rosielyn Pulmano, an attorney from Elk Grove who came to see Newsom with her husband, two sons and her niece. I think he cares about working Californians and a lot of their issues. Newsom arrived with his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, and their four young children, and the governor-elect spent a good deal of his time wading through crowds, taking selfies with supporters and signing autographs as music boomed in the background. As the family toured the inside of the museums locomotives and the bevy of exhibits, Newsoms two-year-old son, Dutch, was wide-eyed, impressed by all the train cars and seemingly a little overwhelmed by the crowd. Newsom said that for his son, all that was missing from the museum was Thomas the Train, popular fictional locomotive in childrens books and cartoons . If theres one thing I can contribute to Sacramento maybe its getting a Thomas the Train exhibit for the two years olds, Newsom joked when talking with reporters afterward. Newsom said he wanted to include such an event in his inaugural festivities to highlight families and children, whose wellbeing will be among the top priorities of his administration. Youll see that not only as a preamble to the inaugural and the budget that well be submitting next week, but I think itll be a big part of the administration, Newsom said. The museum event followed a private, high-dollar brunch at Sacramentos Crocker Art Museum. A steady rain failed to dissuade as many as 200 guests who sipped wine and dined on chicken and salmon while waiting for a photo with Californias new first couple. Seen at the event were representatives of some of the states most powerful political interests, among them organized labor, healthcare companies and tribal gaming interests. A few other high-profile guests attended, too, including Larry Baer, CEO of the San Francisco Giants, and Erika Jayne, a singer and cast member of the reality TV show The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Im excited to see someone like Gavin young, vibrant taking over the state and leading us into the future, Jayne said after attending the brunch with her husband, attorney Tom Girardi. Hes got a lot of great plans. Attendees said the event, which was closed to reporters and held under a tent in the museums outdoor atrium, did not include prepared remarks by Newsom. Among those seen leaving the event were representatives of AT&T, the California Medical Assn., Uber, Kaiser Permanente and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. A fundraising invitation obtained by The Times offered bundled tickets to all of the inauguration events, including those on Sunday and the Monday ceremony, ranging in price from $25,000 to $200,000. The money will be collected by a committee specifically organized to pay for Newsoms inaugural weekend. Sundays festivities are scheduled to end with a benefit concert headlined by Pitbull at the Golden 1 Center, home of the NBAs Sacramento Kings, to raise money for the victims of Californias recent deadly wildfires. Among the attendees at @GavinNewsoms pre-inaugural leadership brunch: Real Housewife of Bev Hills @erikajayne. Im excited to see someone like Gavinyoung, vibranttaking over the state and leading us into the future. Hes got a lot of great plans. pic.twitter.com/561NHiy2XQ Melanie Mason (@melmason) January 6, 2019 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement As Newsom inaugural events begin, he unveils more state budget promises on education and paid family leave Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, seen here last April, will propose new state budget efforts on paid family leave and education subsidies. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Californias incoming governor, who must send his first state budget plan to the Legislature this week, has already signaled a significant new focus on programs to help families and children from infancy to college. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom campaigned on a platform that included a number of child-focused efforts specifically aimed at helping lower-income families. The price tag for the initial efforts is expected to approach $2 billion a cost paid out of an unrestricted tax revenue windfall that could be one of the largest in state history. Newsom may also seek help for families through new subsidies paid by California employers. The governor-elect is expected to propose a dramatic expansion of paid parental leave from six weeks to six months according to an internal document provided by a source close to the Newsom transition team, first reported on Sunday by the New York Times. The document doesnt offer a full explanation for how the program will be funded, saying instead that the budget will set a goal of ensuring that all newborns and newly adopted babies can be cared for by a parent or a close family member for the first six months. Employers across the state are currently assessed a payroll tax that helps offer a subsidy to parents who temporarily leave their job to care for a newborn. Newsoms plan, according to the document, would pay for some of the new costs by shrinking the mandated cash reserve of the state fund that administers the program, allowing more of the money to be paid in benefits. The increase in paid leave would not all happen at once but instead be phased in over a multi-year period. A task force to help implement the expanded care plan is also envisioned, according to the document. It would determine whether two parents could split the six months of paid leave and whether an extended family member could be enlisted to help care for the child of a single parent over the six-month period. The incoming administrations focus on young children will also include $1.8 billion in new spending on early childhood education programs, with a particular focus on training childcare workers and pushing for more California schools to offer full-day kindergarten. Those costs, according to an overview memo obtained by the Los Angeles Times, are considered to be a one-time expense while leaving the long-term costs of the effort to be determined later. More community college students would get free tuition under a third initiative expected in the new governors budget plan. Newsom will propose spending $40 million to offer a second year of tuition-free college to California students, according to an outline provided by a transition official, first reported by Politico. Students are already eligible for a single year of paid tuition under a plan agreed to by Gov. Jerry Brown and lawmakers in 2017. The incoming governor embraced the idea of free community college during the 2018 campaign as part of a broader focus on additional investments in higher education. Education is an economic development strategy, Newsom said at a higher education forum last spring. We need to significantly increase the investment from the general fund of this state on higher education. Theres no greater higher return on investment. Whether the proposal would be targeted to students based on a familys financial need is unclear. Many low-income students are already eligible for fee waivers at community colleges. The new governor must submit his full state budget plan to lawmakers no later than Thursday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom and his family decide Sacramento is the place to be The Old Governors Mansion State Historic Park in Sacramento. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will move his family into the mansion. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom and his family will give up the Marin County life and move to the Victorian-style governors mansion in Sacramento after he takes the oath of office Monday. Newsom and his wife, documentary filmmaker Jennifer Siebel Newsom, had debated whether or when to relocate to the state capital since his election in November. The couple have four young children and expressed reservations about moving in the middle of a school year. To best serve the people of California while also maximizing family time together, the Newsoms have therefore decided to move to Sacramento, said Newsoms spokesman, Nathan Click. On Monday, they will move into the Governors Mansion along with their four children, their two family dogs, and their family bunny rabbit and reside there for the immediate future. The Newsoms currently live in Marin County. Gov. Jerry Brown and his wife, Ann Gust Brown, moved into the grand house in 2015 after it underwent $4.1 million in renovations to update electrical and plumbing systems, as well as to remove lead-based paint and install a fire sprinkler system and other security features. The mansion was built in 1877 and has been home to 14 governors, but before Brown it had not housed a California governor for nearly half a century. The state bought the mansion from a wealthy Sacramento hardware merchant, Albert Gallatin, in 1903 for $32,500. It was one of the few California homes at that time to have indoor plumbing. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom announces top labor, business liaisons as he prepares to take office Julie Su will be secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency for Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (Katie Falkenberg / Los Angeles Times) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday named two advisors on issues related to the California economy, each recognized for their expertise on business and labor. The incoming governor will appoint Julie Su as secretary of the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency and Lenny Mendonca as chief economic and business advisor and director of the Governors Office of Business and Economic Development. Su, 49, has served as state labor commissioner under Gov. Jerry Brown since 2011 and has led an office tasked with the enforcement of Californias labor laws. She won a MacArthur Foundation genius grant in 2001 and previously worked as a civil rights attorney representing low-wage workers. In her new position, Su will be tasked with coordinating the work of several workforce departments in state government, including those that administer unemployment benefits and oversee the relationship between agriculture workers and employers. Mendonca, 57, has been a longtime advocate for rethinking government operations as co-chairman of the nonprofit organization California Forward. Previously, he was partner at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm. While he will be a key advisor to Newsom on the states economy, Mendonca will also lead the office often referred to as Go-Biz, designated as a high-level way to encourage job growth and economic development. In his new role, Mendonca will help ensure that California is rolling out the welcome mat to current and future California businesses and growing a sustainable economy for every Californian, said a statement from the Newsom transition team. Newsom will take the oath of office as governor Monday. He has previously selected key advisors on the state budget, legislative affairs and the executive branchs wide array of agencies and departments. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Joshua Groban, aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, sworn in to California Supreme Court By Taryn Luna California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban gives remarks after he is sworn into the court by Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday. (Taryn Luna) California Supreme Court Justice Joshua Groban, a lawyer and longtime aide to Gov. Jerry Brown, was sworn into the states highest court Thursday in Sacramento. The ceremony marked Browns fourth appointment to the state Supreme Court and gave the seven-member bench a Democratic majority. We live in a highly chaotic, ever-changing and ever-confusing world, Groban said in prepared remarks at the Stanley Mosk Library and Courts Building. But Im happy to report that Im joining an institution whose fundamental purpose, at core, is to provide stability and consistency amidst this chaotic place we live. I look forward to doing that with a sense of reflection, respect, fidelity to the law and compassion. None of Browns appointees, Groban included, have judicial experience. Groban served as legal counsel to Browns 2010 gubernatorial campaign and joined the administration as a senior advisor to the governor, overseeing the appointments of some 600 judges over the last eight years. Prior to working with Brown, Groban, 45, practiced law for more than a decade. In perhaps his final public appearance before his successor, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, takes office next week, Brown pushed back on notions that he stacked the court. I dont want this to be known as a Brown court, the governor said before administering the judicial oath of office. First of all, the so-called Brown appointments do not agree with themselves and nor should they. They are individuals. They will differ. Its not anybodys court. The governor called the court a high calling and said Groban possesses the values for the job. Probably, next to my wife, Ive talked to no person as much as Ive talked to Josh Groban, Brown said. I think youve talked to him more, Californias First Lady Anne Gust Brown interjected. I cant tell you what the hell hes going to do, Brown later quipped. I warned him, dont screw up, at least not at first. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California campaign watchdog agency seeks law barring use of campaign funds to fight harassment claims Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). ( (Steve Yeater / Associated Press)) Elected officials accused of harassment or discrimination would be barred from using political contributions to cover their legal defense costs under legislation proposed by Californias campaign watchdog agency. The state Fair Political Practices Commission has agreed to pursue a law change to clear up confusion after an attorney for one former state lawmaker argued political funds could be used in such legal defenses. Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said putting a prohibition into the law would provide some much needed clarity. As chair, I would like to show the public their lawmakers are held to a standard that is above reproach, Germond said in a statement. People dont give money to campaigns for lawmakers to use it to defend their own bad behavior, so lawmakers shouldnt be able to use it in that manner. The issue came up a year ago when an attorney for former Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) sought a formal opinion from the FPPC after the Senate launched an investigation that later concluded Mendoza likely engaged in a pattern of harassment against female aides. Mendoza resigned in February under threat of expulsion by the Senate. In a Jan. 10, 2018, letter, Cassandra Ferrannini, an attorney for Mendoza, wrote to the FPPC that she believed Mendoza should be allowed to establish a legal defense fund able to defray his legal expenses in defending himself against the allegations. The use of campaign funds for attorneys fees under these circumstances would fall squarely within the scope of legislative matters, since it involves the alleged conduct of a legislator with regard to legislative staff that he supervised, Ferrannini wrote. The commission staff originally issued an advice letter that said Mendoza may use campaign and legal defense funds to defend himself from claims of sexual harassment that arose directly out of his activities or status as a candidate or elected officer. But the panel later rescinded the letter after some members questioned using campaign funds to fight sexual harassment claims. That left uncertainty about what was allowed, which Germond said could be cleared up by a new law. The FPPC is still looking for a legislator to carry the bill, a spokesman said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias landmark police transparency law takes effect after court denies police union effort to block it California Supreme Court building (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) A new state law allowing the public disclosure of internal police shooting investigations has gone into effect after the California Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a bid by a police union to block it. The law opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. challenged the law last month, asking state Supreme Court justices to decide that the law only apply to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. The court rejected that request Wednesday, allowing members of the public to seek all applicable records held by police departments. Union president Grant Ward said in a statement that his organization was disappointed with the decision and is now seeking other legal options. We feel this is a statewide issue and should be considered accordingly, Ward said. Last month, the city of Inglewood authorized the destruction of more than 100 police shooting investigations and other records in advance of Jan. 1, when the disclosure law was scheduled to take effect. California law requires police departments to keep such records for five years, and Inglewood City Council voted to destroy records older than that. Mayor James T. Butts has said the decision had nothing to do with the new law. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Michel Moore has said that complying with the new disclosure rules could take hundreds of thousands of hours of work. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of the transparency law, has said she has no immediate plans to propose changes to it. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Few complaints of racial profiling are sustained by police agencies in California, state panel finds CHP Officer J. Nelson stands outside the office of Gov. Jerry Brown as activists in 2015 support requiring the tracking of police stops. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Law enforcement agencies in California sustain few citizen complaints of racial or identity profiling, according to a report Wednesday by a state panel set up to help reduce bias in policing. The states Racial and Identity Profiling Advisory Board recommended in its annual report that law enforcement agencies improve training and adopt clear guidelines for tracking and reporting data on who is stopped by officers. The panel said that 453 law enforcement agencies in the state received 9,459 civilian complaints in 2017, including 865 complaints alleging racial or identity profiling. Of the racial and identity complaints that reached a disposition that year, 1.5% were sustained, 14.6% resulted in officers being exonerated and 83.9% of complaints were not sustained or were determined to be unfounded, the report said. A clearer picture of the issue is expected from a 2015 law that requires police agencies to report demographic data on all detentions and searches. The first reports by the eight largest agencies, including the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, are due to be submitted in April. California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra, whose office oversees the board, said tracking of all detentions and searches will be helpful to understand the scope of the issue. The Boards recommendations will help make our law enforcement agencies more transparent and promote critical steps to enhance, and in some cases, repair the public trust, Becerra said in a statement Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California housing crisis podcast: What Minneapolis decision to end single-family zoning might mean for California A view of downtown Minneapolis in 2014 (Stephen Maturen / Getty Images) Theres a national movement brewing to roll back zoning rules in cities that only allow one house on a plot of land. The epicenter of that movement is Minneapolis, which passed a plan last month to eliminate single-family zoning citywide and let landowners build duplexes and triplexes on residential property. On this episode of Gimme Shelter: The California Housing Crisis Podcast, we talk about the reasons why Minneapolis leaders took this action, including their desire to combat a history of racial exclusion and spur more housing density to fight climate change. We also debate how Minneapolis decision might affect housing politics in California. Our guest is Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender, who helped shepherd the new zoning rules to passage and a former San Francisco city planner. The episode also crowns 2018s Avocado of the Year the most ridiculous story exemplifying Californias housing woes and includes our predictions for the most under-the-radar important themes in housing politics in 2019. Gimme Shelter, a biweekly podcast that looks at why its so expensive to live in California and what the state can do about it, features Liam Dillon, who covers housing affordability issues for the Los Angeles Times Sacramento bureau, and Matt Levin, data and housing reporter for CALmatters. You can subscribe to Gimme Shelter on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud, Google Play and Overcast. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement How young immigrant Dreamers made flipping control of the House a personal quest By Jazmine Ulloa Gabriela Cruz, who was brought to the U.S. illegally when she was 1, couldnt vote, but in the final hours before the Nov. 6 election, she was making one last run to get people to the polls. The sun was setting in Modesto when she found Ronald Silva, 41, smoking a cigarette on a tattered old couch behind a group home. He politely tried to wave her off until she reminded him he had a right that she as an immigrant without citizenship didnt have. It could really make a change for us, said Cruz, 29. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose almost $2 billion for early childhood programs (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Seeking to frame his new administration as one with a firm focus on closing the gap between children from affluent and poor families, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom will propose spending some $1.8 billion on an array of programs designed to boost Californias enrollment in early education and child-care programs. Newsoms plan, which he hinted at in a Fresno event last month, will be a key element in the state budget proposal he will submit to the Legislature shortly after taking office Monday, a source close to the governor-elects transition team said. The spending would boost programs designed to ensure children enter kindergarten prepared to learn, closing what some researchers have called the readiness gap that exists based on a familys income. It would also phase in an expansion of prekindergarten and offer money to help school districts that dont have facilities for full-day kindergarten. The fact that hes making significant investments with his opening budget is really exciting, Ted Lempert, president of the Bay Area-based nonprofit Children Now, said Tuesday. Whats exciting is the comprehensiveness of it, because its saying were going to focus on prenatal through age 5. A broad overview document reviewed by The Times on Tuesday shows that most of the outlay under the plan $1.5 billion would be a one-time expense in the budget year that begins July 1. Those dollars would be a single infusion of cash, an approach favored by Gov. Jerry Brown in recent years. Most of the money would be spent on efforts to expand child-care services and kindergarten classes. By law, a governor must submit a full budget to the Legislature no later than Jan. 10. Lawmakers will spend the winter and spring reviewing the proposal and must send a final budget plan to Newsom by June 15. Though legislative Democrats have pushed for additional early childhood funding in recent years a key demand of the Legislative Womens Caucus those actions have typically come late in the budget-writing season in Sacramento. Quite frankly, to start out with a January proposal that includes that investment in Californias children reflects a new day, state Sen. Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) said. The governor-elect will propose a $750-million boost to kindergarten funding, aimed at expanding facilities to allow full-day programs. A number of school districts offer only partial-day programs, leaving many low-income families to skip enrolling their children because kindergarten classes end in the middle of the workday. Because the money would not count toward meeting Californias three-decades-old education spending guarantee under Proposition 98, which sets a minimum annual funding level for K-12 schools and community colleges, it will not reduce planned spending on other education services. Close behind in total cost is a budget proposal by Newsom to help train child-care workers and expand local facilities already subsidized by the state, as well as those serving parents who attend state colleges and universities. Together, those efforts could cost $747 million, according to the budget overview document. An expansion of prekindergarten programs would be phased in over three years at a cost of $125 million in the first year. The multiyear rollout would, according to the budget overview, ensure the system can plan for the increase in capacity. Lempert said the Newsom proposal is notable for trying to avoid the kinds of battles that in recent years pitted prekindergarten and expanded child care against each other for additional taxpayer dollars. The reality is we need to expand both simultaneously, he said. Another $200 million of the proposal would be earmarked for programs that provide home visits to expectant parents from limited-income families and programs that provide healthcare screenings for young children. Some of the money would come from the states Medi-Cal program, and other money from federal matching dollars. Funding for the home visits program was provided in the budget Brown signed last summer; the Newsom effort would build on that. Emphasizing a policy area with broad appeal in his first state budget could reflect Newsoms political sensibility about the challenges ahead. Democratic lawmakers and interest groups will be especially eager to see how Newsom addresses the demand for an overhaul of healthcare coverage in California especially after a 2017 effort to create a single-payer, universal system fizzled. The path forward on healthcare is complex and costly, making early childhood education a more achievable goal in the governor-elects early tenure. Newsom is likely to face considerable demands for other additional spending. In November, the Legislatures independent analysts projected that continued strength in tax revenues could produce a cash reserve of some $29 billion over the next 18 months. Almost $15 billion of that could be in unrestricted reserves, the kind that can be spent on any number of government programs. Kim Belshe, executive director of the child advocacy organization First 5 LA and a former state health and human services secretary, said the initial Newsom budget proposal suggests the next governor will focus on a comprehensive approach to improving outcomes for children from low-income families. School-ready kids deserve quality early learning, strong and well-supported families, and access to early screening services, Belshe said. Newsom understands the whole child, multifaceted needs of our kids and is clearly ready to lead. Mitchell, the chair of the Senate budget committee, said shes eager to see the details of the governor-elects proposal to determine whether it might signal the beginning of an even broader expansion of early education efforts. Similar efforts have been hindered by a lack of money and ongoing debate over which services to help children 5 and younger need state funding the most. Universal preschool, in particular, has been debated for more than a decade. California voters rejected a ballot measure to fund a full prekindergarten system in 2006. Its clear theres a new movement afoot trying to engage on investment for universal preschool, Mitchell said. How we invest, and how we prioritize that investment, is going to be a great conversation for the coming months. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: A final conversation with Gov. Jerry Brown No Californian has served longer as governor, signed more laws, granted clemency to more felons or waged more high-profile campaigns than Gov. Jerry Brown. Brown will leave behind a unique legacy when he packs his last belongings for the trip from the governors mansion in Sacramento to his Northern California ranch. His final two terms in office could be his most consequential. The governor reviewed some of the more notable moments from the past eight years in a far-reaching interview with The Times on Dec. 22. This weeks podcast episode includes extended portions of that conversation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A sagging economy could doom a 2020 ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes, Gov. Jerry Brown says Gov. Jerry Brown, at his Colusa County home on Saturday, said a ballot measure to raise commercial property taxes could struggle in 2020. (Randall Benton/For The Times) An effort to remove commercial property in California from the tax limits imposed by the landmark Proposition 13 could be felled by an economic slowdown, Gov. Jerry Brown said. In a Saturday interview with The Times at his Northern California ranch, Brown said liberal activist groups that have successfully placed the proposal on the November 2020 statewide ballot shouldnt read too much into early poll numbers showing support for the plan. That isnt as easy as you think, Brown said. Because youre going to be in a downturn of the business cycle. And youre talking many kinds of business. And the cost of doing business in California is already high. The ballot measure would allow counties to more frequently assess the market value of commercial property in California than allowed under Proposition 13, a 1978 ballot initiative that amended the state constitution to place strict limits on assessing property values and taxation for both homeowners and businesses. An analysis of the new measure, which qualified in October for the 2020 ballot, estimates it could bring in some $10.5 billion a year in new tax revenue. The business community will fight it, Brown said. And the minimum wage, the family leave, the environmental rules business[es] have left California, thats going to be the big argument. And I think thats something you really have to think a lot about. The governor, who leaves office early next month due to term limits, declined to either endorse or oppose the ballot measure. He said Californias economic health in two years time could be a key factor in how voters weigh the proposal. Well be in a recession by then, Brown said. So its anybodys guess. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Inglewood to destroy more than 100 police shooting records that could otherwise become public under new California law By Jack Dolan Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts (Maria Alejandra Cardona / Los Angeles Times) The city of Inglewood has authorized the shredding of more than 100 police shooting and other internal investigation records weeks before a new state law could allow the public to access them for the first time. The decision, made at a City Council meeting earlier this month, has troubled civil liberties advocates who were behind the state legislation, Senate Bill 1421, which takes effect Jan. 1. The law opens to the public internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The legislature passed SB 1421 because communities demanded an end to the secrecy cloaking police misconduct and use of force, Marcus Benigno, a spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, said in a statement. Inglewood PDs decision to purge records undermines police accountability and transparency against the will of Californians. California law says police departments must retain records of officer shootings and internal misconduct investigations for five years. The city of Inglewood, however, had kept records longer than that, including case files of police shootings dating to 1991. State Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), the author of SB 1421, intended for her bill to allow public access to all qualifying records held by a department, no matter the date of the incident. Inglewood City Council approved the destruction of records that have been in the police departments possession more than 100 cases longer than required by law. The city staff report and council resolution describing the action makes no mention of the new police transparency law. Instead it says the affected records are obsolete, occupy valuable space, and are of no further use to the police department. It added the traditional method of destroying such records is to shred them. It is unclear whether the records have since been destroyed. A spokesman for the Inglewood Police Department along with Inglewoods city manager, attorney, clerk, four council members and Mayor James T. Butts, a former Santa Monica police chief, did not respond to requests for comment. Inglewoods City Hall is closed the last two weeks of December. The Inglewood Police Department has a reputation for secrecy and using excessive force. In 2008, the departments officers fatally shot four men in as many months, three of whom turned out to be unarmed. The U.S. Department of Justice launched a civil rights probe and found significant flaws in the way the department oversaw use-of-force cases and investigated complaints against officers. Civil rights advocates still question why Inglewood police opened fire on a couple found sleeping in a car in 2016, killing them both. California police have a long history of shredding records to avoid scrutiny of their actions. In the 1970s, the LAPD famously destroyed more than four tons of personnel records after defense attorneys began requesting them as part of criminal cases against their clients. The move resulted in the dismissal of more than a hundred criminal complaints. In response, the Legislature demanded that records be preserved but then took other measures, supported by police unions, to ensure the public had very little access to them, making California the most secretive state in the nation when it comes to police misconduct. Skinners legislation begins to unwind those laws, which have been on the books since 1978. No video or audio of the Dec. 11 council action is available on the citys website and neither are meeting minutes or any record of the decision. A city spokeswoman, Courtney Torres, confirmed that the council had voted in favor of the police records purge, and said all the relevant reasons for the decision were included in the city staff report. The Jan. 1 implementation for SB 1421 has prompted other police officials to act. A police union in San Bernardino is asking the state Supreme Court to determine that Skinners bill only applies to incidents that occur in 2019 or later. Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner earlier this month warning that complying with the law in regard to older records in the departments possession could take hundreds of thousands of work hours. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Federal officials question California DMVs process for issuing Real IDs (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has notified the California Department of Motor Vehicles that its process for providing residents with federally recognized identification cards is not adequate. DMV spokesman Armando Botello said Friday that 2.3 million residents who received Real IDs under the current process will have to submit additional documentation when their cards are renewed in five years but will be able to use them in the meantime. The DMV is developing a way for residents to submit more documentation online or via email to comply with the stricter federal requirement, he said. But some state legislators are upset about delays in notifying them of the problem and say Homeland Security could eventually require additional documentation provided by current holders. The DMV has known for a month that millions of Real IDs theyve been dolling out are potentially invalid, Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) said. The DMVs only hope is that the Department of Homeland Security takes pity on California and gives the DMV more time to fix this mess. Real IDs are a new kind of driver license and identification card that federal law will require legal residents to present when boarding domestic flights or visiting military bases and other federal facilities starting Oct. 1, 2020. The DMV has only been requiring one form of documentation, including a current lease or utility bill, to verify the residence of a card applicant. But the federal government said in a Nov. 21 letter to the agency that two such documents are needed. On Friday, DMV Director Jean Shiomoto released a letter defending the current process but said her agency will start requiring a second document to prove residency in April. In order to minimize confusion among our customers, the CADMV will work to inform individuals who have been issued a Real ID under the current process that their card will be accepted for official federal purposes, even if their renewal occurs after the October 1, 2020, final enforcement date for Real ID, Shiomoto wrote to the federal agency. Legislative officials worry there is still a possibility that those issued Real IDs in the past might be required to present a second document to have their cards designated as compliant. The more complex process for obtaining Real IDs has led to hours-long waits for customers at DMV field offices this year, although wait times have been reduced recently by an increase in staffing. Shiomoto last month announced that she is retiring amid problems with the motor voter registration system and after the governor ordered an audit of her agency in response to the long wait times. On Friday, Assembly Republican Leader Marie Waldron of Escondido blasted the DMV for waiting a month to tell legislators of the problem. This is unacceptable and flies in the face of security for our citizens, which is what Real ID was created for in the first place, she said in a statement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom taps Keely Bosler to be his finance director Keely Bosler, the director of the California Department of Finance, will continue in that role under Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom. (California Department of Finance) Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom on Friday appointed Keely Martin Bosler as director of the California Department of Finance, continuing the role she has served under Gov. Jerry Brown since August. Bosler will become Newsoms chief fiscal advisor, and will play a pivotal role in shaping Newsoms spending plan for the state that will lay the foundation for his top policy priorities. Newsom must roll out his first budget plan within days of taking office on Jan. 7. Californias brighter future depends on a strong, stable fiscal foundation, Newsom said in a statement released Friday afternoon. Keely is an accomplished public servant of sound fiscal judgment. She understands that state budgets are more than numbers on a page they are value statements affecting the fate and future of millions of families reaching for the California Dream. We are fortunate to have her on our team. Prior to being appointed finance director, Bosler served as Browns cabinet secretary for two years and, before that, as the chief deputy director for budget in the Finance Department for three years. Earlier this year, Brown picked Bosler to lead an audit of the Department of Motor Vehicles, which had come under fire for long wait times at DMV field offices and numerous computer problems, including errors in the new motor voter program that registered Californians to vote. As we have discussed, long wait times at the Department of Motor Vehicles do not reflect the high standards of service that Californians expect from their state government, Bosler wrote in a letter in September to DMV Director Jean Shiomoto. The audit is still ongoing, but Shiomoto has since announced she will retire at the end of the year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias legislative analyst, after decades of nonpartisan research for lawmakers, calls it a career Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor, who has led the state research unit since 2008, will retire on Dec. 31. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Only five people have led the independent research office of the California Legislature since its creation in 1941. And each of them has had a pretty simple mantra to live by in reviewing public policy proposals and government programs: Call it like you see it. The job of any analyst, to me, is you maintain that nonpartisanship, Legislative Analyst Mac Taylor said. Taylor, 65, will retire from the post at the end of December after a four-decade career with the research team that began, as he likes to tell it, just after the passage of the landmark property tax rollback, Proposition 13, in 1978. He became the leader of the office, with the title of legislative analyst, in October 2008. Two months later, state government found itself in arguably the worst fiscal crisis in its history a projected shortfall that ultimately grew to $42 billion by the following winter. There were forces beyond our control, Taylor said of that time. But dont underestimate the policy changes that were made afterward. Those changes, most notably a boost in taxes paid by high-income earners and a robust state budget cash reserve fund, have helped lead to successive years of fully funded government services. The state is projected to have some $24 billion in reserves by the end of the current fiscal year. Taylor announced his intention earlier to step down this year. Leaders from both houses of the Legislature select the analyst, who leads a staff of almost five dozen researchers. The office provides in-depth reports on pending legislation, as well as on broader policy topics like education and healthcare, and produces an independent analysis for every proposed ballot measure. A succession of lawmakers and governors alike have praised or panned the work of the Legislative Analysts Office based on their own political worldview. Taylor said his staff is mindful that they work for legislators, but try to ignore the rhetoric that follows the release of a major report. People are going to do what theyre going to do with our information, he said. They dont always like it, but they appreciate that we give them our best advice. Taylor oversaw a transformation in the way the Legislative Analysts Office distributes its information, embracing the release of research reports through social media instead of relying on traditional printed copies and journalist roundtable events. But he said the work of the researchers has remained largely unchanged through the decades. Having an independent take on things, I think, is good for the Legislature, he said. No replacement for Taylor has been announced, which means a short transition for his eventual successor before Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom sends his first budget proposal to lawmakers in early January. Taylor, who lives in the Sacramento suburbs, said he will honor the tradition of his predecessors in stepping away from public policy debates in order to give the new analyst space to lead the team as he or she sees fit. He said he hopes to travel in the coming years and spend time with his children who have moved to the East Coast. Forty years in state government, Taylor said in why he was stepping aside now. Isnt that enough? Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown sues to save California sentencing laws By Don Thompson, Associated Press (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Outgoing Gov. Jerry Brown sued Thursday to protect one of his signature actions in office, a voter-approved measure that allows most prison inmates to seek earlier release and participate in rehabilitation programs. His administration filed a lawsuit challenging a pending 2020 initiative that seeks to toughen criminal penalties as part of an effort to roll back reforms adopted by voters within the last decade. Browns lawsuit in Sacramento County Superior Court contends the measure lacked enough valid signatures to overturn a previously approved constitutional amendment. County officials and California Secretary of State Alex Padilla certified the signatures in July but said they were submitted too late to qualify for last months election. The lawsuit names Padilla and the ballot measures official proponent, Nina Salarno Besselman, president of the advocacy group Crime Victims United. Padilla said the measure exceeded the required roughly 366,000 valid signatures, equal to 5% of votes cast for governor in 2014. Browns lawsuit says he used the wrong threshold. It says changing the state Constitution requires 8%, or more than 585,400 signatures. That makes the pending initiative more than 150,000 signatures short, the lawsuit says. Hes wrong, said Jeff Flint, a spokesman for the campaign backing the measure. He predicted a judge will be reluctant to reject a measure that already has qualified for the ballot. The secretary of state told us how many signatures are required, and thats how many we collected, Flint said. Padillas office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The measure would reverse reforms adopted by voters through Proposition 47 in 2014 and Proposition 57 in 2016. Proposition 57 allows most inmates to seek earlier paroles, and Proposition 47 reduced some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. The combination has helped keep Californias inmate population below a population cap set by federal judges. Corrections department spokeswoman Vicky Waters said the measure gives corrections and parole officials broad discretion to protect our communities and fashion a rational system of rehabilitation and punishment. This new initiative unlawfully seeks to supplant the departments constitutional authority to implement these critical reforms to our criminal justice system. The pending initiative would shorten the list of crimes that qualify for earlier parole and change some theft crimes from misdemeanors back to felonies. It would also increase the number of crimes for which DNA is collected, a list that was limited when some crimes went from felonies to misdemeanors. Those supporting the tougher penalties say easing criminal penalties has increased the number of dangerous criminals on the streets, but those backing the changes say they have helped reduce mass incarceration and rehabilitate convicted criminals. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Supreme Court orders records unsealed in pardon of ex-state Sen. Roderick Wright Former state Sen. Roderick Wright (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times) The California Supreme Court has granted a request to unseal court records involving Gov. Jerry Browns decision last month to pardon former state Sen. Roderick Wright for felony convictions involving lying about living in his legislative district, officials said Thursday. The court order was in response to a request by the nonpartisan First Amendment Coalition, which argued that the public has a right to know what information went into the governors decision to grant clemency to Wright. This is an important victory for public access to court files involving the exercise of executive clemency, said coalition spokesman Glen A. Smith. We are gratified the court has recognized that these decisions should be subject to the same public access rules that apply to other judicial records under California law. The court gave Browns office until Jan. 2 to redact confidential material before giving the court documents that can be released to the public. The court files submitted by the governors office include letters of support for a pardon and an internal review of Wrights case. The court denied a motion to unseal the records of all clemency cases but left open consideration of requests on other individual cases. Browns office is currently evaluating the courts decision, said spokesman Brian Ferguson. The governor argued against unsealing records in a recent court filing that said confidentiality is consistent with historical practice and is supported by state law. In pardoning Wright on Nov. 22, the governor wrote: He has shown that since his release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law abiding citizen. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California political watchdog agency fines BART, urges prosecution over using public funds for campaign A Bay Area Rapid Transit train leaves the station in Oakland in this 2013 file photo. (Ben Margot / AP) Californias state political watchdog agency on Thursday imposed a $7,500 fine against the Bay Area Rapid Transit District and called for a possible criminal or civil prosecution over allegations the district used public resources to campaign for a 2016 bond measure. The state Fair Political Practices Commission levied an administrative fine against BART for its failure to disclose spending on YouTube videos, social media posts and text messages to promote Measure RR, which authorized $3.5 billion in general obligation bonds. Though the panel lacks authority to seek criminal charges over the misuse of public funds, it also urged county district attorneys in the BART service area and the state attorney general to pursue possible criminal or civil charges over the spending of taxpayer dollars for campaign purposes, Commission Chairwoman Alice Germond said. It is the concept of misusing public funds that I think we all here are very disturbed about, and we want to send a warning and not create a precedent that is a minor, little slap on the wrist, Germond said, adding that the referral to criminal prosecutors would further send a message that this is wrong. Commissioner Brian Hatch also called for the state Legislature to consider granting the FPPC power to go after public agencies that spend taxpayer money on campaigns. Sen. Steve Glazer (D-Orinda) called on the agency to increase the fine to the maximum level of $33,375. The proposed $7,500 fine represents a slap on the wrist for a very serious violation of the law and the publics trust, Glazer said in a letter to the panel. In supporting the fine recommended by the staff, Germond said BART has agreed to pay the penalty. Somebody did something wrong and they have admitted it, she said. A staff report said there were factors in favor of a fine below the maximum. Although the Commission considers BARTs violations to be serious, the absence of any evidence of an intention to conceal, deceive, or mislead; the voluntary filing of the delinquent campaign statement; and the absence of a prior record are mitigating, the report said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police union seeks state Supreme Court review of new law disclosing internal investigation records Los Angeles Police Department officers. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A police union is asking the California Supreme Court to block the release of internal officer investigations before a new state law takes effect next year. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Employees Benefit Assn. filed a petition Tuesday asking justices to rule that only investigations of incidents that occur after Jan. 1 would be available under the law and not those the department has on file from years prior. The litigation comes after this years passage of Senate Bill 1421, which opens to the public for the first time internal investigations of officer shootings and other major uses of force, along with confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. The law goes into effect Jan. 1, and the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department has told the union it intends to make available in response to public records requests all the information it has. The union is very concerned about any plans to retroactively apply Senate Bill 1421, Grant Ward, the unions president, said in a statement. We believe retroactive application violates our members rights and we hope the California Supreme Court will consider the serious issues raised by our legal challenge. The bills author, Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), does not agree with the unions interpretation. She has said her legislation should apply to all the records in a police departments possession because the law simply declared that affected records were no longer confidential. If the record exists, its disclosable, Skinner said. A decision on what records will be available under the law is key to how far-reaching it will be. If the court restricts access to incidents that occurred prior to 2019, those cases will not be subject to public scrutiny. The police union in San Bernardino County is not the only one raising concerns about the law. Earlier this month, Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore sent a letter to Skinner expressing concern that his agency would be overwhelmed if the law required the department to disclose older incidents. Even if the law only applied to the previous five years, Moore wrote, it could take nearly 300,000 hours of work to comply with its provisions. The LAPD operates with a guiding principle of Reverence for the Law; as such, we will diligently comply with SB 1421, Moore wrote. We maintain, however, that a retroactive implementation of SB 1421 will be exceptionally burdensome and would require significant reallocation of front-line investigative personnel. Skinner said if complying with the law becomes untenable for law enforcement agencies that maintain records for a long time, she would consider modifications. But she said agencies did not raise this concern during discussion over the bill. SB 1421 went through multiple committee hearings, multiple floor debates, extensive opportunity for all parties to weigh in on concerns with its structure, she said. That was not an issue that was raised by law enforcement at the time. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Brown warns of backlash for Republicans in 2020 if Obamacare repeal is upheld Gov. Jerry Brown at the National Press Club in April. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown warned Republicans on Tuesday that repeal of the Affordable Care Act would devastate the partys political chances in the 2020 election. Brown, speaking at a Sacramento Press Club event moderated by Los Angeles Times columnist George Skelton and Brown family historian Miriam Pawel, said a federal judges ruling last week to strike down the 2010 law if upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court will build such a backlash that the Democrats will not only take over the Senate, theyll win the presidency and will win with the kind of momentum, particularly on the issue of healthcare, that [the law] will be replaced probably with something even better. The governor, who leaves office in less than three weeks, said he did not believe the ruling by a Texas judge would ultimately prevail. I think the decision will probably be overturned, Brown said. Few states have embraced the law championed by former President Obama more than California, both through its healthcare exchange, Covered California, and by expanding access to government-funded services under Medi-Cal. Some 12 million Californians now receive healthcare through Medi-Cal, and Brown said a final ruling affecting the federal dollars that subsidize that care would be a serious blow. California would not be able to afford it without the subsidy, the governor said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bars in Los Angeles, San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks (acuna-hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses, and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors, and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bars in Los Angeles and San Francisco could stay open until 4 a.m. under new bill A bar in Sherman Oaks. (Acuna-Hansen) For the third year in a row, a California lawmaker is trying to keep bars open until 4 a.m. State Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) is reintroducing legislation that would allow Los Angeles, San Francisco and seven other cities to extend the sales of alcohol in bars, clubs and restaurants by an additional two hours. Nightlife brings people together, fosters creativity and innovation, supports small businesses and creates middle-class jobs, Wiener said in a statement. Its time to embrace our nighttime economy and give our cities the tools they need to foster the best nightlife possible. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a similar bill by Wiener, writing: I believe we have enough mischief from midnight to 2 without adding two more hours of mayhem. Should this years measure, Senate Bill 58, advance through the Legislature, Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom would decide whether to sign it into law. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has endorsed SB 58, saying the city should have more flexibility than it does now. Every community has its own needs, and cities should be able to make informed decisions about what nightlife hours make sense for residents, visitors and neighborhoods, Garcetti said in a statement. The bill would create a five-year pilot program where Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, Sacramento, West Hollywood, Long Beach, Coachella, Cathedral City and Palm Springs could decide to allow restaurants and bars within their cities to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. with the approval of the state Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias DMV director announces retirement amid problems with motor voter program (Kent Nishamura/Los Angeles Times) The director of the California Department of Motor Vehicles will retire at years end with a number of questions unanswered about the implementation of a major voter registration system and long wait times experienced by customers for much of the past summer. Jean Shiomoto will not continue in her current role as Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom takes office, and announced to staff several weeks ago her intent to retire at the end of the year after 38 years in state service, spokesman Armando Botello said in an email to The Times on Friday. Newsoms transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on who might lead the department in 2019. Shiomoto was appointed DMV director by Gov. Jerry Brown in the fall of 2013, having served in prior leadership roles with the department. DMV officials have been sharply criticized by lawmakers in recent months for delays in serving customers at its field offices across the state. Last week, DMV officials revealed errors in registering California voters for the November election mistakes that followed a series of problems in the rollout of the states new motor voter registration system. Secretary of State Alex Padilla last week said he had lost confidence in Shiomotos leadership as a result of the voting registration problems. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New law could break the stalemate over housing on the site of a near-vacant Cupertino mall By Liam Dillon For more than a decade, developers have tried to build new housing on the site of an all-but-empty mall in Cupertino, a city in the heart of Silicon Valley and home to Apple headquarters. A well-organized group of neighbors, upset about traffic, building heights and the potential loss of the communitys suburban lifestyle, turned away every plan. Now, for the first time, the stalemate might be broken thanks to a decision made in the state Capitol. In an effort to address Californias housing affordability problem, legislators passed a law last year that requires cities and counties to approve housing projects if they comply with local zoning rules and other standards, forcing some resistant communities to agree to new homebuilding. In September, the city of Cupertino, citing the state law, approved developer Sand Hill Property Co.s proposal to build an office park and more than 2,400 homes where the Vallco Shopping Mall sits. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Local government was a last bastion for struggling California Republicans. Not anymore By Mark Z. Barabak Theres no shortage of watery metaphors to describe the disaster that befell California Republicans this midterm election. A blue wave. A Democratic tsunami. But the most apt may be a flood, with the casualties steadily rising as the vote count climbed in the days and weeks following Nov. 6. Eventually half the GOP congressional delegation was washed away, along with the entire slate of statewide Republican candidates. In Sacramento, Democrats claimed 29 of 40 state Senate seats and seized three-quarters of the 80-member Assembly the largest number since 1883, when Chester A. Arthur was serving in the White House. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For the Republicans left in Californias Legislature, fewer lawmakers will have to do more work By John Myers From January to late summer every year, the California Legislature is a perpetual motion machine. And in the new year, the people most likely to struggle in keeping up will be Republicans, vastly outnumbered but still responsible for representing millions of the states residents. There are 22 standing committees in the state Senate, plus at least a dozen more subcommittees or special committees. And after Novembers election, only 11 Republican senators will be left to divvy up the work. To the victors go the spoils. To the vanquished go the extra assignments. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias DMV failed to finish registering 329 new voters before November election (Los Angeles Times) Officials at the California Department of Motor Vehicles said Friday that the agency failed to send information for 329 new voters to state elections officers in time for the November election, the latest revelation in a string of mishaps regarding voter registration. Secretary of State Alex Padilla responded with a blistering letter, calling on Gov. Jerry Brown or Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom to replace Jean Shiomoto, the DMV director. The Director of DMV has lost my confidence and trust, Padilla wrote. In all, the agency revealed that 589 mailed voter registration records that should have been processed under election deadlines werent sent to Californias secretary of state until late November, including forms from 260 drivers who had intended to update their address on existing voter registration records. The DMV had been instructed to not send registration forms that came in after Oct. 22, but the voters in question had forms that were postmarked before the deadline. In some cases, when the postmark wasnt legible, the agency said, documents inside indicated the voter had intended to finish their registration in time for the Nov. 6 election. The DMV recognizes the pause in transmittals was an error and affected the timing of the registration of the 589 individuals referenced above relative to the November election, Shiomoto wrote in a letter to Padilla on Friday. The pause was due to a misunderstanding on the part of the department, for which we take responsibility. Those who were trying to update their address for voter registration would not have been blocked from casting ballots. But officials said its unclear whether any of the 329 new voters were able to participate in the election. Shiomoto said in her letter that DMV will work with elections officials. The errors were not related to previous DMV mistakes about registering voters, problems associated with the rollout of the states new motor voter law. In those cases, multiple registration forms were sent to local elections offices for some voters, some people were assigned the wrong political party preference and others who are noncitizens were incorrectly placed on the list of registered voters. DMV officials have yet to respond to questions posed by The Times over the last several weeks about who knew of those mistakes and when. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom appoints a labor advocate and a former staffer as his chief deputy Cabinet secretaries By Taryn Luna A labor advocate and a San Francisco political operative have accepted positions in Gov.-elect Gavin Newsoms new administration. Angie Wei, a Capitol insider with deep ties to organized labor in California, will serve as a chief deputy Cabinet secretary with a focus on policy development. As a legislative director and chief of staff at the California Labor Federation, Wei has represented more than 1,200 unions and 2.1 million workers in Capitol fights over a host of policy issues, including drug-pricing transparency and paid family leave. The governor-elect also tapped Jason Elliott, a policy advisor to Newsom during his time as mayor of San Francisco and a chief of staff to San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, as another chief deputy Cabinet secretary overseeing executive branch operations. Elliott and Wei will serve under Ana Matosantos, Newsoms previously Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a recent addition to President Trumps legal team, said Wednesday night that Trump made a series of payments reimbursing his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 settlement with an adult-film actress appearing to contradict Trumps assertion last month that he was unaware of the payment. The president repaid it,' Giuliani told Fox News Sean Hannity. Trump didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this with my clients, Giuliani said. I dont burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people.' Giuliani argued that the payment to actress Stormy Daniels could not have violated campaign finance laws because no campaign money was involved. Advertisement Larry Noble, general counsel for the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center, said Giulianis statements do not end the questions about possible campaign finance violations and in fact could point to further concerns. What is surprising is that Trump recently said he knew nothing about the payment. Now, Giuliani is trying to get the stories in sync, but this still leaves several potential violations, Noble said. The timing of the payment is still strong evidence of it being campaign related. And the fact that Trump paid Cohen back strengthens that argument. Giulianis remarks raise the question of whether Trump misrepresented his knowledge of the arrangement. Last month, a reporter on Air Force One pressed Trump about the payment, asking him, Did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels? Trump responded, No. The reporter then asked, Then why did Michael Cohen make [the payment], if there was no truth to her allegations? Youll have to ask Michael Cohen, Trump said. Michaels my attorney, and youll have to ask Michael. Another reporter asked the president, Do you know where he got the money to make that payment? Advertisement No, Trump said. I dont know. On Wednesday night, Giuliani said Trump repaid Cohen through a series of payments over a period of months, but didnt specify when they occurred. Cohen has said he arranged the financing of the settlement with Daniels through his home-equity line of credit. In a statement earlier this year, he did not mention any role by Trump. Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly, Cohen said, using Daniels real name, Stephanie Clifford. Advertisement Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Cohens business practices, including whether there were any crimes committed as part of a possible pattern or strategy of buying the silence of people who could offer accounts in 2016 that could have damaged Trumps candidacy, according to people familiar with the probe. Daniels sued Trump in early March, seeking to void the deal she signed shortly before the 2016 election. That suit also named Essential Consultants, a company that Cohen set up as a vehicle for the $130,000 payment. Michael Avenatti, an attorney for Daniels, said Giulianis comments suggested campaign finance violations and possibly bank fraud and money laundering. According to Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen were co-conspirators in a felony, he said. Now it is time for justice to be served, and we intend to serve it. Advertisement Trumps attorney in the Daniels case, Charles Harder, did not respond immediately late Wednesday to a request for comment. On Fox News, Giuliani appeared surprised to learn that Cohen has said he made the payment to Daniels on his own. He did? Look, I dont know, I havent investigated that, no reason to dispute that, no reason to dispute his recollection, he said. I like Michael a lot, you like Michael a lot. I feel very bad hes been victimized by this. The president feels even worse. The fact is, just trust me, theyre going to come up with no violations there. The payments are perfectly legal. Giuliani also offered new rationale for why Trump fired then-FBI Director James B. Comey in May 2017, saying the president was justified in removing Comey because Comey would not publicly say that the president was not under investigation as part of the FBIs probe of Russian election interference. Advertisement He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasnt a target of the investigation, Giuliani said. Hes entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that, and he couldnt get that. So he fired him, and he said, Im free of this guy. UPDATES: 8:25 p.m.: Updated with Washington Post reporting. The article was first published at 7:45 p.m. Another senior member of President Trumps legal team is stepping down, the latest high-level turmoil as the White House grapples with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs efforts to interview the president and to subpoena him if necessary. The shake-up on Wednesday was seen as another sign that Trump is seeking a more combative approach to the Russia investigation, which has clouded his presidency from the start and led to criminal charges against several former aides so far. It also may signal that Trump will refuse to submit to an interview or will fight a grand jury subpoena, setting the stage for a constitutional battle over his executive powers. The legal question of whether a president can be required to answer questions in a criminal case has never been tested. The confrontation looms as Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer who advocated for cooperating with Muellers prosecutors, including for Trump to submit to an interview, prepares to exit this month and be replaced by Emmet Flood. Advertisement Flood helped represent President Clinton at his Senate impeachment trial in January 1999. Clinton was acquitted on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. In a statement, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said Flood would represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt, using the harsh rhetoric that Trump deploys almost daily but Cobb avoided. Trumps thin stable of lawyers has undergone considerable turnover since the Justice Department named Mueller as special counsel last May. Mueller is investigating whether any of Trumps aides cooperated with Russian efforts to manipulate the 2016 election, and whether the president obstructed justice by trying to block or influence the inquiry. Emmet Flood, President Trumps new White House lawyer, previously helped represent President Clinton during impeachment proceedings. (Williams & Connolly ) Trump last month hired former New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, a onetime federal prosecutor, to replace John Dowd, a veteran white-collar defense attorney who was the presidents lead lawyer before resigning in March. Giuliani reportedly has met with Mueller and is seeking to negotiate limits to any potential testimony by Trump. The first test of Trumps increasingly bellicose stance will likely come as Mueller continues to push for a presidential interview. In a testy meeting in early March, the former FBI director told Trumps lawyers that he could issue a subpoena for the president to testify before a grand jury, according to the Washington Post. Trump seemed to confirm details of the March meeting in a tweet Wednesday evening, sharing a comment that Dowd had reportedly made to prosecutors This isnt some game. You are screwing with the work of the president of the United States. The possibility of a subpoena has raised the stakes for Trump, who has publicly said he is eager to sit down with prosecutors even though his advisors believe it would be a perilous encounter given the presidents routine use of exaggeration, hyperbole and outright falsehoods. Advertisement With Cobbs departure, the number of people who think the president should talk to Mueller has gotten to zero, said a source familiar with Trumps legal team who declined to speak publicly about their deliberations. If Trump resists a grand jury subpoena, the dispute could rocket to the top of the U.S. Supreme Courts docket, setting the stage for an unprecedented showdown between the executive and judicial branches. Several previous White House episodes are relevant, although none shows clearly how the justices might rule. In July 1998, independent counsel Kenneth W. Starr issued the first subpoena to a sitting president to compel Clinton to testify to the Monica S. Lewinsky grand jury. Several weeks later, Clinton agreed to submit to four hours of questioning by prosecutors at the White House after Starr withdrew the subpoena. Advertisement In June 1974, during the Watergate scandal, the Supreme Court voted unanimously to force President Nixon to give a special prosecutor secretly recorded audiotapes of the presidents conversations. The release of the Oval Office tapes helped turn public opinion against Nixon, and he resigned two months later. But the decision did not address the question of whether Nixon could be required to testify. Senior members of Congress have warned Trump not to try to fire Mueller, warning it could lead to a constitutional showdown. But a Trump refusal to submit to a special counsel interview or honor a subpoena could be a fast track to a similar result. Theres a potential for a constitutional crisis right around the corner in all of these things, said Randall D. Eliason, a former federal prosecutor in Washington who teaches white-collar criminal law at George Washington University. Advertisement Many legal experts say Trump could not legally refuse a grand jury subpoena. I could see it going back to the Supreme Court, said John Yoo, a senior Justice Department lawyer during President George W. Bushs first term, who now teaches law at UC Berkeley. But I dont see how Trump could win. Paul Rosenzweig, who worked with Starr in the Clinton investigation, said Trump could delay his testimony by fighting a subpoena, but ultimately he would fail in the courts. It would not succeed in the long run, he said. Advertisement Not even Alan Dershowitz, an emeritus professor at Harvard Law School who has been among Trumps highest-profile defenders, believes the president could reject a subpoena out of hand. He said Trump may be able to avoid certain lines of questioning involving, for example, the firing of James B. Comey as FBI director, because the presidents power to dismiss members of the executive branch is undisputed. If Trump chooses to litigate, Dershowitz said, I think hed win on some areas and lose on some areas. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington Advertisement Mueller appears to have anticipated a high-stakes legal clash. His team includes Michael Dreeben, a highly respected deputy solicitor general who two years ago earned the rare distinction of arguing more than 100 cases before the Supreme Court. At least part of the scope of Muellers investigation was revealed this week when the New York Times obtained a list of about four dozen likely questions for Trump that was compiled by the presidents lawyers after they spoke to Muellers team in March. The list includes several inquiries about what Trump knew about Russian interference in the election and why he decided to fire Comey. Its unclear whether Muellers interests have changed or expanded since Trumps lawyers made the list. Trump apparently had constitutional issues, and the list, on his mind early Wednesday. Advertisement The questions are an intrusion into the Presidents Article 2 powers under the Constitution to fire any Executive Branch Employee, he tweeted, citing comments from Joseph diGenova, a former federal prosecutor who almost joined his legal team. There was no Collusion (it is a Hoax) and there is no Obstruction of Justice (that is a setup & trap), Trump added. Cobb, the outgoing lawyer, was hired last July as the White House attorney for the Russia investigation. In an effort to help Mueller reach a speedy conclusion, he urged full compliance with prosecutors requests, arranged interviews with White House officials and turned over reams of documents. He maintained that stance Wednesday, telling ABC News that an interview with Mueller wasnt off the table. He also said the special counsels office didnt leak the list of questions for Trump, a disclosure the president had called so disgraceful. Advertisement Cobbs legal strategy came under fire from Trumps more combative allies, such as former White House strategist Stephen K. Bannon and independent operative Roger Stone. Cobb also lost standing in the Oval Office as his frequent predictions that the Russia inquiry was nearly over failed to come to pass. Ty Cobb was a mistake from the beginning, totally incompetent and in over his head, Bannon told the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. Cobb argued that cooperation would lead to some sort of special relationship with Mueller, but he failed to realize that there never would be or could be a special relationship with a by-the-book guy like Mueller, he added. Cobb said in a statement that he had discussed his retirement for a few weeks and was glad the president persuaded Emmet to carry the torch forward. Advertisement Flood, a graduate of Yale Law School and former clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, is best known for his work on Clintons legal team in the impeachment proceedings. Clinton was impeached by the Republican-controlled House in December 1998 but was acquitted by the Democratic-controlled Senate less than two months later. Flood also served for two years in the White House counsels office under President Bush. Since then he has worked at Williams & Connolly, a prominent litigation firm that handles civil, criminal and administrative cases. Lanny J. Davis, who also represented Clinton, said Floods new job would be a challenge because Trump is a famously difficult client. No matter how good your legal instincts are, Davis said, your effectiveness is only as good as President Trumps ability to face reality and tell you all of the truth. Advertisement Times staff writer Noah Bierman contributed to this report. chris.megerian@latimes.com Twitter: @chrismegerian Rep. Tony Cardenas, a San Fernando Valley Democrat, confirmed Thursday that he is the unidentified elected official in a lawsuit filed last week in Los Angeles alleging sexual molestation of a teenage girl in 2007, but he vehemently denied the allegations. My client is sickened and distraught by these horrific allegations, which are 100%, categorically untrue, Patricia Glaser, an attorney for Cardenas, said Thursday in a statement. We respect victims who have found the strength to come forward and call out misconduct when it has actually occurred, but the type of baseless and reckless allegations that are contained in the complaint against my client can ruin the lives and careers of innocent people, she said. Cardenas attorney said the woman who filed the suit is the daughter of a disgruntled former employee and may be the victim of manipulation. Advertisement The suit states that the young woman came forward with the allegations because of the #MeToo movement that followed numerous disclosures of sexual harassment by high-profile business leaders and politicians. Now married, the woman wants to be a strong role model for her daughter, according to the suit. Cardenas, one of the highest-ranking Latino members of Congress, leads the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Bold PAC, which works to elect Latinos nationwide. He also holds a low-level position in the House leadership. Cardenas has been contacting fellow members of Congress in recent days to assert his innocence in connection with the lawsuit. The Times has been unable to corroborate the allegations, and no public evidence has emerged to support them. The lawsuit poses one of the biggest political threats the rising Democratic star has faced. Repeated attempts to contact Cardenas and his staff during the last week have failed. We ask that his constituents, the public generally, and his congressional colleagues do the right thing and appropriately withhold judgment until there has been a full vetting of the facts, Glaser said in the statement. The congressman expects complete exoneration, as he is 100% innocent. The encounter is alleged to have occurred more than a decade ago when Cardenas, an avid golfer and advocate for a youth golf program, was a Los Angeles city councilman. The suit claims that the elected official gave the girl water with a peculiar taste on a Los Angeles golf course and then molested her later in a car. The Los Angeles Police Department has no active investigation into Cardenas, said Josh Rubenstein, director of communications. Advertisement Despite the anonymity in the suit, as required by California law, its descriptions of the alleged offender, including his age, political experience and affinity for golf, led reporters and others to suspect Cardenas was the person being accused. Attorney Lisa Bloom, who has been involved with several high-profile assault cases, is representing the woman, identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. I represent the young woman who, carefully following California law, filed this action against the defendant named only as John Doe, Bloom said. Once the court grants us leave to name the defendant, we will do so. According to the suit, Cardenas was once close to the young womans family. Advertisement Former Los Angeles City Councilman Richard Alarcon said in an interview with The Times that he had a meeting in 2016 with a former Cardenas employee who he now believes is the accusers father. The meeting took place not long after Alarcon had announced plans to run for Congress against Cardenas in the primary. During the meeting, Alarcon said, the man said he had negative information on Cardenas but would only provide it to the media in exchange for a job on Alarcons campaign. The man also claimed he had been cooperating with the U.S. attorneys office in a probe involving Cardenas and had entered into a plea agreement, Alarcon said. Alarcon said that during the meeting, he decided he had no interest in hiring the man. At no point during the conversation did the man say that Cardenas had committed sexual assault against anyone, Alarcon said. Advertisement Alarcon said that after the meeting ended, he received a text message from the man. It said, Hey Tony, youll never believe who called me and I just met with, Alarcon said. Alarcon said he assumed that the text had been sent to him in error and was meant for Cardenas. My instant reaction was, This guy is trying to play both of us, Alarcon said. Not long after the meeting, Alarcon said, he reported the incident to the FBI. Alarcon said he is not taking sides in the lawsuit or trying to cast doubt on the accusers story. Im very sensitive to people who make these kinds of allegations, because if theyre proven to be true, theyre egregious, he added. Advertisement The Times has made repeated unsuccessful attempts to contact the man and his daughter for comment. The Times typically does not disclose the identities of alleged victims of sexual crimes. The latest from Washington More than half a dozen U.S. representatives and senators have been forced to resign since a wave of women have come forward detailing their experiences with sexual harassment by powerful men in politics, entertainment and the media. In addition, Cardenas longtime political ally Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, a fellow northeast San Fernando Valley Democrat, resigned last fall after multiple sexual harassment claims were made against him. In a statement at the time, Cardenas said the state Assembly must thoroughly and expeditiously investigate the allegations made against [Bocanegra] and he should resign immediately if he is found to be guilty. Advertisement Cardenas didnt show up to a scheduled event in his district Wednesday evening where he was expected to announce the winner of a student art competition whose work will hang in the halls of Congress. Hes very, very sorry he couldnt make it today, his district director, Gabriela Marquez, told the dozens of students and parents gathered at Mission College in Sylmar. Before joining Congress in 2013, Cardenas served for a decade on the Los Angeles City Council, and before that, three terms in the state Legislature. In 2015, Cardenass district director reported that she had been subpoenaed by a grand jury. The congressman has refused to discuss the underlying reason for the subpoena in the years since. Advertisement Over the next two years, his campaign spent $372,952 on legal services. The charges for legal services have tapered off, but Cardenas campaign has paid prominent Washington law firm Perkins Coie LLP $31,389 since January 2017, with just under half of that being charged in February of this year. The youngest of 11 children, Cardenas grew up in the Central Valley, where his father was a farmworker, and later moved to Pacoima. His father became a union construction worker and then started a gardening business. Cardenas, 55, and his siblings run a foundation named for their parents that provides scholarships to local children. He and his wife, Norma, have four children. Times staff writers Emily Alpert Reyes, Christine Mai-Duc and Richard Winton contributed to this report. Advertisement sarah.wire@latimes.com Twitter: @sarahdwire david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @davidzahniser Advertisement UPDATES: 4:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional background information. 3:35 p.m.: This article was updated with more details about the suit and comments from Bloom and Alarcon. This article was originally published at 2:15 p.m. For decades, earthlings have dispatched spacecraft to Mars to study the planets dusty surface and its thin atmosphere. Now NASA is sending a lander to the red planet to look deep into its heart. As early as Saturday morning, NASAs InSight will blast off from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. After a nearly seven-month journey, it will begin probing the deep interior of a nearby world that once may have looked much more like our own. The Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport mission aims to understand the hidden heat flow of the planet, its seismic activity and the nature of its core. All of these could help scientists delve into the history and evolution of our planetary neighbor. Even though weve had a lot of missions to Mars orbiters and also landers and rovers crawling around on the surface weve never had a mission that was devoted to looking inside Mars, said Gerald Schubert, a geophysicist and planetary physicist at UCLA who is not involved in the mission. InSights really unique in exploring the internal structure and composition of the terrestrial planets. Theres never really been one like this before. Advertisement NASA has sent seismometers to Mars before, aboard the two Viking landers that touched down in 1976. But those didnt work as planned the instrument on Viking 1 failed, and the one on Viking 2 was overwhelmed by vibrations from the Martian winds. (The last time NASA seismometers were successfully deployed off Earth was during the Apollo missions to the moon.) Bruce Banerdt remembers those Viking failures all too well. A graduate student in geological sciences at the time, he felt a pang of dismay when it became clear the sensors wouldnt produce much, if any, seismological data. Now Banerdt is a geophysicist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in La Canada Flintridge and the principal investigator for InSight. With a new generation of Martian seismometers ready for launch, I can hardly even sleep at night, Im so excited, he said. Its been such a long path. NASAs InSight to Mars undergoes final preparations at Vandenberg Air Force Base. (NASA ) Rovers, landers and orbiting spacecraft have found evidence of lakes, rivers, volcanoes and life-friendly chemical combinations on Mars. Seismology allows scientists to glimpse the internal machinations that led to those features. With seismology, we can basically put together a 3D map of the inside of the planet, Banerdt said. From that we can start to understand how the planet was formed, how it works. InSight will land in Elysium Planitia, a plain just north of the Martian equator. This map shows the location of previous NASA landers and rovers. (NASA) Advertisement Billions of years ago, scientists think, Mars looked much more like Earth: It had water lakes and perhaps even a shallow ocean under puffy clouds that floated in a thick atmosphere. Tests conducted by the Curiosity rover have shown that microbial life could theoretically have existed in an environment such as this. Then the planets interior cooled and Mars lost most of its atmosphere. Without it, the water evaporated and the surface became the rusty, dusty expanse we see today. Studying Mars internal dynamics will help scientists learn why it evolved the way it did, Banerdt said. For example, Earth has a protective magnetic field that prevents our atmosphere from being stripped away by the solar wind and cosmic rays. That field is powered by the movement of molten metal in Earths core. Advertisement Mars appears to have lost its magnetic shield early in its history, and the planets atmosphere today is about 100 times thinner than Earths. Studying the Martian core could help researchers understand why Mars fate diverged from our own. Engineers and technicians at Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colo., test InSights solar arrays to make sure they can fully deploy and collect power. (Lockheed Martin Space ) On a rocky planet like Mars, the heat coming from the interior today is largely produced by radioactive elements, said Sue Smrekar, a JPL geophysicist and InSights deputy principal investigator. That heat would have powered Martian volcanoes and other geophysical reactions, ultimately producing the planets atmosphere and at least some of its liquid water. Knowing things like where the atmosphere came from, what was in it and how long it lasted could help scientists estimate how long Mars hosted life-friendly environments. And knowing the concentrations of radiogenic elements inside Mars will help scientists figure out how much energy was available to fuel all of this activity, Smrekar said. Advertisement That helps us better understand the original building blocks of the planet, she said. Once InSight lands on Mars in late November, it will act as a solar-paneled doctor, using its three main instruments to take the planets temperature, check its reflexes and perform a sonogram. The craft will place a seismometer on the surface of the planet and then cover it with a protective shield to damp out the wind and thermal noise on the surface. This seismometer will listen for marsquakes the Martian version of earthquakes as well as meteorite strikes. Advertisement Both produce seismic waves that are altered in different ways as they pass through the planets layers of material. The farther away these perturbations originate the better, because the waves will pass through more material and sample deeper portions of the planet before reaching the seismometer. Studying the subtle modifications to those waves will reveal a clearer picture of Mars contents. InSight will also deploy a heat flow probe to get a better sense of the planets internal temperature, hammering it about 16 feet deep to avoid the influence of the day-night swings on the surface. The changes it detects should help scientists determine how hot Mars interior is. This illustration shows the InSight lander with its sensors, cameras and instruments at work. (NASA ) Finally, the spacecraft will measure the shift in radio signals between it and Earth to see how much the Martian north pole wobbles as the planet revolves around the sun. That wobbles size and frequency could offer hints about the diameter and density of the planets core. Advertisement While scientists have made educated guesses about how the Martian interior looks, they still dont know for sure what theyll find, said Sean Solomon, a seismologist and planetary scientist at Columbia University who was the principal investigator for NASAs 2011 MESSENGER mission to Mercury. Much of what we understand about seismic records from the Earth may not apply when we go to another planetary body, said Solomon, who is not involved in InSight. Thats a good thing, scientists say. Each of the rocky planets in our solar system particularly Venus, Earth and Mars are made of roughly the same stuff and formed in roughly the same solar environment. But subtle differences in factors such as their size, composition and distance from the sun led each planet to look very different from its neighbors. Advertisement In that way, each one serves as a separate run of a natural experiment that can teach us about planets in general, Solomon said. Someday we will be sending spacecraft to the nearest star with planets, but in the meantime were limited to what astronomical observations can be made, he said. So the deeper we understand our solar system neighbors, the better position we will be in to interpret what we can measure from exoplanets. amina.khan@latimes.com Follow @aminawrite on Twitter for more science news and like Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. Advertisement MORE IN SCIENCE A pileup of 14 distant galaxies is set to become the most massive structure in the universe NASA is about to step up its planet-hunting game with the launch of TESS A search for some of Earths most extreme creatures in the West Coasts deepest underwater canyon Hundreds of Hawaiian shirt-clad mainlanders will stream into the Irvine Barclay Theatre later this month to get a taste of the island life with a performance by music group Voices of Hawaii. The performance on May 23 will close out the years Hawaiian Music Masters Series at the theater. Voices of Hawaii is comprised of Kawika Kahiapo and Nathan Aweau, two of the most recognized names in Hawaiian music. These two performers are two of the very best in Hawaii, said Irvine Barclay Theatre President Jerry Mandel. This is the perfect way to finish off our season. This will make you feel like you are back in Hawaii. Though theyve been friends for many years and performed together, the duo united last year for their first tour as the group, visiting 26 cities across the U.S. Kahiapo, 58, said that while the groups style is traditional Hawaiian, they integrate some jazz and a Latin feel to their music. Kahiapo and Aweau are veteran musicians who have been embedded in the traditional Hawaiian music scene since they were young. Kahiapos father introduced him to the ukulele when he was 8 and he picked up the guitar two years later. Kahiapo employs a Hawaiian style of guitar playing called slack-key guitar, which utilizes non-standard, open chord tunings. Most of his professional years have been spent sitting in with other bands as a studio musician hes participated in 105 recordings in Hawaii. Hes also toured the mainland several times, where he said Hawaiian music has many devoted followers who are seeking the escapism it provides. For people who cant be in the sun on the beach with the warm surf rolling up on their feet, watching the palm trees sway its as if the music and accompanying hula conjures up all of those feelings of the islands and the vibe, Kahiapo said by phone. Nathan Aweau, a Hawaiian musician, will be performing with Hawaiian guitarist and singer Kawika Kahiapo at the Irvine Barclay Theater on May 23 as part of the group Voices of Hawaii. (Courtesy of Nathan Aweau ) Music plays an important role in Hawaiian culture, acting as a form of biography that tells of the islands people, history and natural settings, he said. Hawaiian music is storytelling, Kahiapo said. Its about us being able to share the heartbeat of the people, which is Aloha the inclusivity, welcoming and nurturing of the people. Kahiapo is personally influenced by his five children, in particular, his 28-year-old autistic son, Jeremiah. Last year, he released the album Aloha Autism, with donated songs from famed Hawaiian artists including Jack Johnson, Johnny Helm and Henry Kapono. Proceeds from the album go toward the Hawaii Autism Foundation in Honolulu. Aweau also donated a song to the record. Similar to Kahiapo, Aweau grew up with a musical family. While he can play various instruments, the electric bass became his primary choice during his collegiate years in jazz ensemble. Aweau has claimed many regional accolades for his music, including multiple Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, the states equivalent of the Grammy Awards. Voices of Hawaii will perform at 8 p.m. May 23 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre at 4242 Campus Drive. For tickets, visit https://bit.ly/2jluhJW. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot An attorney representing a woman charged with murder and driving under the influence in a March 29 crash that killed three Las Vegas teenagers in Huntington Beach argued in court documents this week that her client is not a flight risk and that her bail should be reduced from $4 million. Bani Duarte, 27, of San Clemente faces three counts of murder and one count of driving under the influence causing injury, as well as a possible sentencing enhancement on allegations of inflicting great bodily injury. She pleaded not guilty Monday to all charges, according to Orange County Superior Court records. If convicted, she could be sentenced to 51 years to life in state prison, according to prosecutors. Duarte, who is being held at Orange County Jail in Santa Ana, appeared Thursday in Superior Court in Westminster for a scheduled hearing to review her bail amount. However, attorneys decided to delay the hearing until May 29. They did not provide a reason. During Duartes arraignment Monday, Judge Thomas Glazier set her bail at $4 million. Prosecutors argued that it should be $5 million, while Duartes defense attorney, Debra White, suggested $100,000. Duarte, who is listed in jail records as a receptionist, was initially arrested after the crash on suspicion of driving under the influence and gross vehicular manslaughter and posted $100,000 bail three days later. Investigators said they took Duarte into custody again at about 1 p.m. Sunday in Downey on a warrant after they received information that she may have intended to flee the country to avoid prosecution. It isnt clear what information led to that conclusion. White wrote in a court motion filed Monday that Duarte has four children younger than 10 and shares custody of them with their father. She has no family outside California and therefore would be unlikely to flee, White argued. Duarte is a permanent legal resident of the United States who has lived in the country since she was a child, White said. It isnt clear where she lived before moving to the U.S. The teenagers who were killed were visiting Southern California from Las Vegas for spring break when the fiery crash occurred shortly after 1 a.m. at Pacific Coast Highway and Magnolia Street. Authorities allege Duarte was traveling north on PCH in a Hyundai Sonata when she rear-ended the teens Toyota, which was stopped at a red light at the intersection with Magnolia. The impact pushed the Toyota through the intersection and forced it into a pole, and it burst into flames, prosecutors said. Brooke Hawley, 17, Dylan Mack, 18, and A.J. Rossi, 17, were killed. Alexis Vargas, a fourth teenager in the Toyota, survived the crash and was taken to a hospital for treatment. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN Empower Jacksonville Urges Jacksonville City Council to Vote No for Anti-2nd Amendment Developer's District JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 3, 2018 / In a February 17, 2018 New York Times article, Rummell said he would only contribute to candidates supportive of banning assault weapons. In an April 3, 2018 interview with First Coast Connect, Rummell said "I'm a strong supporter of Mayor Curry and I'm sure he will see the light" in regards to backing an assault-weapons ban. "Peter Rummell's anti-2nd amendment rhetoric is not in line with Empower Jacksonville's values," said Harry Lewis, Co-Chairman of Empower Jacksonville. "We cannot support hardworking Jacksonville citizens' tax dollars lining Mr. Rummell's pockets through the development of The District. We will engage our supporters to put their councilman or councilwoman on notice that a vote for The District is a vote against the 2nd Amendment." Empower Jacksonville's mission is to call local conservative citizens to unity and action, and to impact Jacksonville public policies and positions of leadership. Empower Jacksonville's values are religious liberty, fiscal conservatism, accountable & transparent leaders and pro-2nd amendment. For more information on Empower Jacksonville, please visit our Facebook page at Share Tweet Contact: Harry Lewis, 904-703-7839, EmpowerJax2018@gmail.com JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 3, 2018 / Christian Newswire / -- Empower Jacksonville urges the Jacksonville City Council to vote NO on the Southbank development The District. The developer, Peter Rummell, has been outspoken on his anti-2nd Amendment views that Empower Jacksonville cannot support.In a February 17, 2018 New York Times article, Rummell said he would only contribute to candidates supportive of banning assault weapons.In an April 3, 2018 interview with First Coast Connect, Rummell said "I'm a strong supporter of Mayor Curry and I'm sure he will see the light" in regards to backing an assault-weapons ban."Peter Rummell's anti-2nd amendment rhetoric is not in line with Empower Jacksonville's values," said Harry Lewis, Co-Chairman of Empower Jacksonville. "We cannot support hardworking Jacksonville citizens' tax dollars lining Mr. Rummell's pockets through the development of The District. We will engage our supporters to put their councilman or councilwoman on notice that a vote for The District is a vote against the 2nd Amendment."Empower Jacksonville's mission is to call local conservative citizens to unity and action, and to impact Jacksonville public policies and positions of leadership. Empower Jacksonville's values are religious liberty, fiscal conservatism, accountable & transparent leaders and pro-2nd amendment.For more information on Empower Jacksonville, please visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/EmpowerJacksonville.org The Laguna Beach Planning Commission recommended adding more directional signs to a planned program that boosters hope will help drive pedestrians beyond the downtown core. Though city staff originally proposed six signs poles with attached blades pointing in specific directions the commission voted Wednesday to add two more after hearing widespread support for the program from local residents, the Chamber of Commerce and the visitors bureau. The City Council originally approved the program in 2016 with a $65,000 contract for San Diego-based Graphic Solutions to plan and design the signs. A city subcommittee was formed later to advise on the effort. The council is scheduled to consider the signs during its May 22 meeting. They are planned for the following intersections along South Coast Highway: Broadway; Ocean, Laguna and Forest avenues; Cleo and Thalia streets; and two at Legion Street. The program would start this summer and possibly be extended if well-received. City staff already installed a prototype at Forest Avenue last month. Kavita Reddy, owner of Buy Hand, a boutique in the HIP District, initially suggested the additional signs for Cleo and Thalia streets. One of the programs goals is to drive more customers to HIP, the stretch of South Coast Highway between Anita Street and Bluebird Canyon Drive. We will want to know if people are actually going to walk and mill around, Reddy said. The Planning Commission also recommended adding a QR code to the poles. Cellphone users could scan the code, which would open an electronic survey on their phones to gauge what they think of the sign program. The commission couldnt agree on the color of the directional blades or whether they should be in multiple colors. The Forest Avenue prototype has blades in blue, brown and green. Resident John Hanauer said the signs shouldnt be subtle. I want it to stand out, he said. Whatever color it is, lets not have so muted that nobody sees it. City staff will show the commissioners color samples during their May 16 meeting, in time to make a recommendation for when the council reviews the project the following week. BRADLEY ZINT is a contributor to Times Community News. Police and city officials expressed opposition Tuesday to a proposed mobile needle exchange service in Costa Mesas Westside, saying the program could attract drug users and undermine the recovery of residents in sober-living homes. The Orange County Needle Exchange Program, a nonprofit that seeks to provide drug users with clean needles to help prevent the spread of diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis C, submitted an application in March to the California Department of Public Health to hand out needles and other supplies from a van in a largely industrial and commercial area in Costa Mesa. This program could be a magnet for drug users in other cities where a needle exchange program does not exist, thus drawing more drug users to Costa Mesa, police Capt. Bryan Glass wrote to the state health agency Tuesday in a memo opposing the application. The van would operate in locations bordered by West 18th Street, West 16th Street, Monrovia Avenue and the Armstrong Petroleum building from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, according to the programs proposal. Mobile services also would be set up in Santa Ana, Anaheim and Orange, if approved by the state. Glass memo raised concern about the exchange being near some homes and an elementary school and about the possibility of discarded needles ending up in public areas, creating a health risk to residents and visitors. He also raised the possibility of unintentionally undermining the successful recovery of those living within the sober-living community by exposing them to an inevitable migration of individuals suffering from addiction coming to Costa Mesa seeking free needles. The needle exchange doesnt need approval of the cities where it proposes to operate. However, state health officials will consult with local law enforcement and health officers, according to the Department of Public Health. Costa Mesa City Council members also voiced their opposition to the program during their meeting Tuesday night. Mayor Sandy Genis noted that several mobile home parks and apartment buildings are in and around the area where the program would operate. I certainly oppose it, she said. Councilwoman Katrina Foley agreed and said misinformation on social media has led some people to incorrectly think the city is behind the initiative. Neither the city of Costa Mesa nor anybody on this dais has proposed any kind of needle exchange program, Foley said. Thats a myth thats being spread on the internet. The needle exchange program the only one of its kind in Orange County was operating at the Santa Ana Civic Center until city officials denied the groups permit application in mid-January, citing an increased number of discarded syringes in the area. Dallas Augustine, a board member for the needle exchange, said last month that the group is seeking to expand its hours to give people more opportunity to dispose of their used syringes. That would help combat the litter issue that led to complaints in Santa Ana, she said. According to its proposal, the group would conduct walk-throughs in the planned locations to gather discarded syringes. There also be would a phone hotline and an email address for people to report finding used needles. That way we can be directly informed and act on it, Augustine said. In the past, we werent informed of where the needles were being found, so we were doing our best to do needle cleanup sweeps of where we thought they would be. The Department of Public Health is accepting public comments about the proposal until June 25 at sepapplication@cdph.ca.gov. Staff writers Luke Money and Ben Brazil contributed to this report. hannah.fry@latimes.com Twitter: @HannahFryTCN State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) will travel by bus with doctors and patients to hold a series of political events Thursday in the districts of three congressional Republicans including Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) who voted last year in favor of repealing and replacing major provisions of the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. Those efforts ultimately failed in the Senate. After stops in Santa Clarita and Los Angeles, the group which also is targeting Reps. Steve Knight and Mimi Walters will arrive at Pier Plaza in Huntington Beach at about 2:45 p.m. Physicians, patients and other Obamacare advocates are expected to speak. Rohrabacher, Knight and Walters are all up for reelection this year. Rohrabacher represents the 48th Congressional District, which includes Huntington Beach, Fountain Valley, Costa Mesa, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach, among other cities. Newport Womens Democratic Club to host filmmaker and congressional candidate The Newport Beach Womens Democratic Club and Imagine Action Orange County are partnering this month to host Jennifer Siebel Newsom, a filmmaker and founder of the Representation Project, and Julia Peacock, a candidate in Californias 42nd Congressional District, which primarily covers the Inland Empire. Both will appear at the clubs next meeting May 15 at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. and is free, though RSVPs are required. For more information or to register, visit NBWDC.org or call (949) 423-6468. Wednesday morning, our Costa Mesa City Council passed a resolution opposing Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act. This issue has been making the proverbial rounds this spring within Orange County Los Alamitos, Fullerton, Huntington Beach and the county all considered responses to SB 54. As Costa Mesa Councilman John Stephens poignantly asked, Who is the audience for this resolution? It appeared to give Mayor Sandra Genis pause, as if she had not considered the audience. Now, Im no policy wonk but, Ive heard that when you pass a policy, you pass it because you want to communicate something to someone thats basic Public Policy 101. That audience should likely be the first thing on your mind when you take a stand. I had a political science professor at UC Irvine whose words always stuck with me: Policy is the authoritative allocation of values for society. So, to Councilman Stephens question: What is being communicated to whom by this resolution? From where I sat in the audience, this was what I took away from councils decision. To the engaged residents of Costa Mesa, we dont care what you think. We got all of your letters, we heard your overwhelming comments asking to either do nothing, receive and file or to pass a resolution in support of SB 54. But, alas, none of that mattered. Next time, simply stay home, and definitely dont bring your kids to learn about how to be engaged, thoughtful citizens it wont matter. To the immigrant community of Costa Mesa, we definitely do not care if you live in fear. You have no sanctuary here and, please, continue to be traumatized daily if you are undocumented. Be fearful walking your kids to school. Be sure to never have a taillight out on your car. And definitely do not call the police if your husband is beating you. No one is coming to save you. To the state Legislature, we need you to know how much we dislike Sacramento and your values. When we ask you for help on our sober-living home (SLH) crisis, for state regulators to be placed in our county, or for anything else that we may need to keep our residents safe from the scourge of the SLH crisis, please ignore us. We have essentially flipped you the symbolic bird and want to ensure that you feel slighted by us and have no desire to prioritize an essentially Costa Mesa issue (SLH). Stay angry at us, Sacramento. To the Trump administration, we love where youre headed with this. Thanks again for bringing the Make America Great Again (MAGA) troupe to our town; it was great show, so many patriots. We dont want to pitch in for the lawsuit financially, but we want you to know were here for moral support. We wish we had the cash to help, but were a bit strapped, so please, know that were here to cheer you on. I love Costa Mesa and our community has so many wonderful people. It is tragic to see a manufactured crisis be brought to town, detracting from all of the real issues we face. It was tragic to see the 3-2 vote on the wrong side of history. LEAH ERSOYLU is a Costa Mesa parks commissioner and business owner. Carl Povilaitis formally became the Glendale police chief Tuesday after spending four months leading the agency as interim chief. His appointment was made official during the council meeting. Povilaitis previously served as deputy chief before stepping into the temporary post when Robert Castro retired in December. Povilaitis said he was truly humbled by the opportunity and praised his peers in the premiere law enforcement agency in the United States. They are the finest men and women, the hardest-working men and women, and the best law enforcement agency that you can find, he said. Mayor Zareh Sinanyan called the appointment one of the easiest choices hes made on the City Council. It was just a reflection of 27 years of loyal service to the city of Glendale and its residents, he said. Povilaitis, who started as a patrol officer, joined the department in 1990. Glendale City Manager Yasmin Beers pointed to the respect hes earned throughout the city during his years of service. His leadership that he has brought to the department, and his commitment to the organization and the community, is truly unparalleled, she said. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition Target is coming to La Canada Flintridge! Its just what Ive always wanted, all the more so since Foothill Boulevard has been recently graced with two 7-Elevens within spitting distance of the supposedly upscale Target that will soon be the anchor of the hard luck Town Center. Imagine the traffic! Imagine the spillover into our neighborhoods of a small portion of the hundreds who will pour into LCF at a time when crime statistics are running well above normal! Imagine how jealous San Marino must be as their City Council members scratch their heads and wonder how we managed to snag these jewels in addition to Big Lots, Marshalls and TJ Maxx! Why, its as if the Wizard of Oz gave Dorothy nothing she asked for. Now, I admit I am a little bit late to this party. However, the fact that it is going to happen suggests that many La Canadans either ignored the whole issue believing that the City Council would do the right thing, they simply didnt know about it until it was too late (thats me), or they just plain didnt care (very small contingent of I dont cares in our unique town). Either way, I am going to spend the rest of this op-ed writing about the financial atrocity that is taking place with the relocation of City Hall. Its not too late to stop this $15-million-plus self indulgence dead in its tracks. Long story short is the City Council authorized the purchase of the vacant Sport Chalet headquarters building at a cost in excess of $11 million. This took place last year. In the interim, I suspect all sorts of plans have been discussed as to how to put the building to its best possible use. What they have ended up with is a $6.45 million remodeling of a basically brand-new building so it suits the needs of La Canadas civil servants. A few clarifying facts: The old City Hall encompasses about 7,200 square feet. It is in relatively good shape and, if I had to guess, a couple of million would take care of any real shortcomings. Last time I was there, you could have rolled a bowling ball down any of several halls. Overcrowded it isnt. What it also isnt is modern and the kind of place that reeks power and influence. In short, it is what it should be: a modest building suitable for operating the town of La Canada Flintridge. And make no mistake, La Canada is more a town than a city. The new City Hall is almost four times larger: 27,881 square feet. You know what you get when you move several dozens of civil servants into bigger quarters? You get hundreds of civil servants, and faster than you can blink, the well-managed, fiscally prudent town of La Canada Flintridge will find that it is a bankrupt wannabe city. The powers that be do intend to lease out some of the new City Hall to other tenants about 8,000 square feet to be more precise. That still leaves 19,000 square feet for civil servants to busily plan how to spend other peoples (taxpayers) money without much in the way of constraint. By the way, spending other peoples money is the basic problem with any politician who is worth his salt. The only way to stop it is to forbid them from doing it and then watching to make certain they dont. Heres how we fix this. Demand that the modernization plan be put on hold. Organize a special election and vote on it. A year and a half ago, the city had a healthy comfortable emergency stash (millions in reserve funds) to get through hard times. What will it be left with after all this money is spent on the new City Hall? Dont be fooled by statements that moving City Hall to the Sport Chalet corporate office is a 30- to 50-year investment in our community. Nonsense. What it is is a totally unnecessary palace. Keep the staff where they are and if the overcrowding becomes too much, have a layoff. Bob Lang is a longtime La Canada Flintridge resident. A former aerospace executive, he is a volunteer tutor and inner-city SAT prep teacher. He has a website, Medicareorbust.com. Forget stars homes. These tours visit pot growers and bong makers By Hugo Martin In Napa and Sonoma, tour bus operators ferry oenophiles between tasting rooms and vineyards. In Hollywood and environs, they shepherd the starstruck past the homes of the rich and famous. Now theyre giving customers a mind-expanding look at one of Los Angeles burgeoning industries: pot. Since recreational use of marijuana became legal a year ago, a pot tourism business has emerged, taking visitors behind the scenes of Californias estimated $7-billion cannabis industry. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Plans for a state-backed pot bank arent feasible, a study says By Sam Dean Hopes that California might create a public bank to serve the states legal marijuana industry are nothing but a pipe dream, the authors of a new feasibility study told state officials Thursday. In the end we were not able to find any approach to doing this that makes any sense whatsoever, said William Roetzheim, founder and chief executive of Level 4 Ventures, the consulting firm hired to carry out the study for the State Treasurers Cannabis Banking Working Group. California voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize growing, possessing and selling marijuana for recreational use. But since cannabis remains illegal under federal law, most banks which are federally chartered and insured by the FDIC refuse to hold weed money. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Santa Cruz marijuana company fined $50,000 for explosion that badly burned employee By Hannah Fry A Santa Cruz-based marijuana manufacturing company is being fined more than $50,000 by state regulators for safety violations after an employee was severely burned in a propane explosion, officials have announced. An employee at Future2 Labs Health Services was working alone inside a 128-square-foot portable storage container in Watsonville on June 19, extracting oil from cannabis leaves with propane, when a spark ignited the tank and it exploded. The worker was hospitalized with severe burns, according to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The process of using a highly flammable gas to extract oil from cannabis leaves is dangerous, Cal/OSHA Chief Juliann Sum said Thursday in a prepared statement. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print FDA casts shadow on hemp win, calling CBD products illegal By Associated Press The hemp industry still has work ahead to win legal status for hemp-derived cannabidiol, or CBD oil, as an ingredient in food or dietary supplements despite the big farm bill President Trump signed this week designating hemp as an agricultural crop. CBD oils have become increasingly popular in lotions, tinctures and foods, but their legal status has been murky and the Food and Drug Administration has sent warning letters to some companies making health claims for CBD. In a statement following Thursdays bill signing in Washington, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb restated his agencys stance that CBD is a drug ingredient and therefore illegal to add to food or health products without approval from his agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement One year of legal pot sales and California doesnt have the bustling industry it expected. Heres why By Patrick McGreevy When Californians voted in 2016 to allow the sale of recreational marijuana, advocates of the move envisioned thousands of pot shops and cannabis farms obtaining state licenses, making the drug easily available to all adults within a short drive. But as the first year of licensed sales comes to a close, Californias legal market hasnt performed as state officials and the cannabis industry had hoped. Retailers and growers say theyve been stunted by complex regulations, high taxes and decisions by most cities to ban cannabis shops. At the same time, many residents are going to city halls and courts to fight pot businesses they see as nuisances, and police chiefs are raising concerns about crime triggered by the marijuana trade. Gov.-elect Gavin Newsom, who played a large role in the legalization of cannabis, will inherit the numerous challenges when he takes office in January as legislators hope to send him a raft of bills next year to provide banking for the pot industry, ease the tax burden on retailers and crack down on sales to minors. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Hemp is about to be legal under the 2018 farm bill. You cant get high from it but you can wear it By Kurtis Lee Hemp a close relative of marijuana that can be used to make textiles and other products has long been classified as a Schedule I drug by the federal government. Thats set to change. President Trump is soon expected to sign a farm bill that includes a section that legalizes the commercial cultivation of hemp nationwide. The bill, years in the making, comes as public support for cannabis legalization has increased over the years, offering a cover of sorts to politicians who see the potential for boosting state tax revenue. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Students sent home after Marysville middle schooler brings pot brownies for class to eat By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Several students at a middle school in Marysville, Calif., were sent home this week after eating marijuana-laced brownies, officials said. Staff at Anna McKenney Intermediate School called police Wednesday morning after learning that a 13-year-old girl had passed out the brownies to her classmates, said Marysville Police Sgt. Jason Garringer. Nine students were sent home, Garringer said, but no one who ate the brownies showed obvious signs of being under the influence. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mistletoke, luxe vape cases and other gift suggestions for the cannabis enthusiast on your nice list By Adam Tschorn Now that some form of cannabis use is legal in 33 U.S. states and the District of Columbia and Californias era of legal adult-use weed is almost a year old (though it remains illegal under federal law), its easier than ever to find a little something special for the cannabis consumer on your nice list. Below are a few items that with the exception of the first item which is available in L.A. only are legal, widely available and, if ordered soon, can still be under the tree in the U.S. by Christmas Day. For those who want to do good while feeling good and score a little holiday decor at the same time L.A.-based Zoma Cannabis is prepared to send some lucky L.A. residents a limited-edition floral-meets-cannabis Mistletoke arrangement that intertwines sprigs of mistletoe with three trimmed buds (roughly five grams total) of its Santa Cruz-grown True OG and/or Gelato strain cannabis flower all tied up in a big red Santa-worthy bow. No purchase is necessary, but recipients are highly encouraged to make a donation to the charity reforestation group One Tree Planted to aid in the recovery efforts from the 2017 and 2018 California fires. Zoma will match donations dollar for dollar. Each dollar donated means one tree gets planted, and that means the green you donate for its green means a greener Golden State moving forward. Zoma is set to deliver the decor right to your door if you live in L.A., are over the age of 21 and are one of the first 50 folks to fire off an email to info@zomacannabis.com with the word Mistletoke in the subject line. Supplies willing, orders placed as late as Dec. 20 will arrive in time to make your Christmas very merry indeed. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 3 marijuana businesses win OK in Costa Mesa as another is put on hold By Bradley Zint The Costa Mesa Planning Commission this week approved three new marijuana facilities but postponed a decision on a fourth due to the absence of one commissioner, whose vote likely will decide the fate of the business. After two commissioners expressed support and two expressed opposition for Triiads proposal for a marijuana distribution facility, the panel voted 3-1 on Monday night, with Commissioner Jeffrey Harlan absent, to hold a special meeting Monday to reexamine the matter. Commissioner Carla Navarro Woods dissented. The proposed location at 3525 Hyland Ave., Suite 265, is in Hyland Plaza, north of South Coast Collection in an area identified under city law as permissible for marijuana uses. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Marlboro cigarette maker places a $2.4-billion bet on marijuana By Associated Press Altria Group Inc., one of the worlds biggest tobacco companies, is diving into the cannabis market with a $2.4 billion buy-in. The Marlboro cigarette maker is taking a 45% stake in Cronos Group Inc., the Canadian medical and recreational marijuana provider said Friday. Altria will pay an additional $1.4 billion for warrants that, if exercised, would give Altria a 55% ownership stake in the Toronto company. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Utah voters approved medical marijuana in November. State lawmakers just passed big changes to the ballot measure By Associated Press Lawmakers in Utah passed sweeping changes Monday to a voter-approved medical marijuana ballot measure under a planned compromise that secured the support of the influential Mormon Church but sparked a backlash from pot advocates. Supporters of the compromise cheered the vote, saying it would help suffering patients while creating safeguards against broader recreational use. I believe this agreement was a landmark day for our state, and we are helping people, said outgoing Republican House Speaker Greg Hughes, who sponsored the legislation and helped bring together the players for talks. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Los Angeles County sheriffs deputy, two others arrested on drug charges after heist at pot warehouse By Maya Lau The Los Angeles sheriffs deputy pulled up to the pot-filled warehouse just after three in the morning. He held up an official-looking document to a guard, who promptly unlocked a gate. The deputy and two other men, each of them armed and dressed in sheriffs jackets, got out. After locking the guard and two other employees in the back of the deputys SUV, the men went to work lugging bags of marijuana from the warehouse. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cannary West dispensary to host Higher Standards pop-up shop Saturday through Feb. 28 By Adam Tschorn The Higher Standards X Cannary West pop-up is slated to run from Saturday through Feb. 28. (Higher Standards) Following its successful (and still running) pop-up space inside the Pottery dispensary in L.A.s Mid-City, purveyor of luxury-level cannabis accoutrements Higher Standards has announced plans to take up temporary residence inside the Cannary West dispensary in the Rancho Park neighborhood just in time for the holidays. On track to pop-up on Saturday (with a 20% opening day discount) and run through the end of February, itll serve up a similar curated mix of high-end smoking tools and accessories from brands like Marley Naturals, Grav Labs, Dr. Dabber and Puffco (makers of the futuristic-looking Peak dab rig) as well as home goods for the discerning head by Jonathan Adler, Malin+Goetz and Forestry Wool. Higher Standards X Cannary West Where: 2435 Military Ave., Los Angeles. Entry is restricted to those 21 and older. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays from Saturday through Feb. 28. Info: cannarywest.com, higherstandards.com Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print I fell off the way. A charismatic pastor-turned-marijuana smuggler heads to prison By Kristina Davis On Easter Sunday 2007, Pastor John Lee Bishop drew about 15,000 worshipers to a sports arena in Portland, Ore. With a flair for showmanship, Bishop a jeans-clad minister sporting a youthful, moppish haircut relished building buzz around his Living Hope Church, based in Vancouver, Wash., on the north bank of the Columbia River. One time, it was bringing a Bengal tiger onstage. Another, according to an account in the Columbian newspaper, it was advertising a sermon series with the word sex prominently facing a busy street. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For all your weed needs, theres now a pot superstore in Las Vegas By David Montero The employee in the red shirt counseled the two men on what or what not to buy. Now, if you start thinking dolphins are talking to you, that might be too much, she explained. The two young men nodded slowly. One stroked his beard. Neither had ever talked to dolphins before. Or even yelled at them on Sundays when they play against the New England Patriots. Above them, the continuous light show on the ceiling was like an electric lava lamp orbs expanding and dividing in an endless trip. Then it was gone and replaced by flowers and a Saturn-like planet floating in the sky. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 4 more marijuana permit applications await Costa Mesa Planning Commission review By Luke Money The recent parade of permit applications from marijuana manufacturing and distribution businesses looking to open in Costa Mesa will continue next week, when the city Planning Commission is scheduled to review four more. All the requests on Mondays agenda are for conditional use permits, which are among several approvals required to open a cannabis company in the city. Here is the latest lineup of applicants: Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print With Jeff Sessions out at the Justice Dept., the marijuana movement exhales By Kurtis Lee He described marijuana as a very real danger and has said its effects are only slightly less awful than those of heroin. Once, during a drug hearing when he was a Senator, he said he wanted to send a clear message: Good people dont smoke marijuana. So when Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions was ousted recently, a collective sigh of relief rose up from proponents of legalized pot activists, politicians, investors who felt targeted by the nations top law enforcement officer. Sessionss departure has translated into spiking stocks for cannabis companies and a reset of sorts for the legalization movement which, since 2012, has seen nearly a dozen states pass recreational pot measures. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print This is what a cannabis executives party pad looks like By Kavita Daswani Dont expect to find bongs, water pipes and empty packets of Funyuns at the Los Angeles-area home of Will Htun. When we asked to look inside the home of the CEO of cannabis brand Sherbinskis, we found a sleek and minimal space where he could host chef-catered, cannabis-paired dinners on the rooftop and take meetings in a high-ceilinged front room. Htun, 34, moved into the 2,700-square-foot townhouse in July 2016, after he and brand founder Mario Sherbinski, who is based in San Francisco, decided it would make an ideal live/work space. With its three en-suite bedrooms, Htun opens up the home to associates in town for business instead of housing them in a serviced apartment. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print First recreational pot shops in Eastern U.S. to open in Massachusetts By Associated Press Two marijuana stores in Massachusetts have been given the green light to begin selling to recreational customers, making them the first commercial pot shops in the eastern United States. Both stores, one located in Northampton and the other in Leicester, said they would open Tuesday morning after the Cannabis Control Commission, the states marijuana regulatory agency, on Friday authorized them to begin operations. The announcement ended a long wait for commercial sales to begin in Massachusetts. The states voters legalized the use of recreational marijuana by adults 21 and older in 2016, but its taken more than two years for state legislators and regulators to reach the point where the first stores can finally open. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres whats behind Mexicos radical move toward legalizing marijuana during its war on drugs By Kate Linthicum Mexico may soon legalize marijuana, a radical shift for a country whose prohibition on narcotics has been at the heart of its long and violent war against drug traffickers. Legislation submitted to Congress last week by the party of leftist President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador would regulate cannabis, allowing it to be grown, sold and consumed for recreational use. Proponents of legalization say it would reduce bloodshed in Mexico by weakening drug cartels and freeing up police officers and prosecutors to focus on more serious crimes. But the proposal has critics, including the Catholic Church, which holds significant sway in Mexican politics. A poll in Mexico last year showed a majority of respondents opposed legalizing marijuana. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Curious about all the CBD-infused products you see? By Kavita Daswani Some chew it, or place a few drops under the tongue or let it soak in through the skin. There are numerous ways to consume cannabidiol better known as CBD. Its touted for its therapeutic effects, but, unlike its better-known cousin THC, does not get you high. Hemp-derived CBD is increasingly in the limelight these days, at natural products stores and even fashion boutiques, catering to widening demand from consumers who find it helps them with pain, anxiety and insomnia. Despite Californias marijuana-friendly laws, however, the state announced earlier this year it is waiting for the federal government to rule on the use of CBD oils and products before giving the green light to sales. Critics, meanwhile, have been asking for clarity, to help consumers who want options. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 6 cannabis cookbooks with recipes from basic to gourmet By Amy Scattergood As cannabis is legalized although it remains illegal under federal law and goes mainstream in California and other states, the cookbook industry has churned into high gear with books on what ways to use jazz cabbage beyond the bong. What to look for? A lot depends on your level of expertise not just in the kitchen but with cannabis itself. If youve been making batches of pot brownies and want to expand your repertoire to, say, French macarons, there are cookbooks to help you out. Many books have lengthy introductions that outline the specifics of cooking with cannabis, so find one that fits with what you know or dont know. Bong Appetit: Mastering the Art of Cooking With Weed by the editors of Munchies (Ten Speed Press, $30) This book, based on the Munchies and Viceland television series Bong Appetit, was published in October by Ten Speed Press. (This is in itself notable, as Ten Speed is one of the best cookbook publishers around, and continues the legitimate trajectory of the cannabis cooking genre.) The book has a comprehensive introduction that includes topics such as dosing, techniques, methods of decarboxylation and infusion, cannabis pairing tips, questions to ask your dispensary, tips on equipment and more. The recipes are sourced from the Munchies test kitchen and from many well-known chefs, whose recipes are recalibrated to add cannabis. Thus: Korean fried chicken from Deuki Hong of San Franciscos Sunday Bird; fried soft-shell crab with shishito pepper mole from Daniela Soto-Innes of Cosme and Atla; and (my favorite) Joan Nathans preserved lemons. The Munchies test kitchen also has some fun ones, including herb focaccia with, well, herb; and confit octopus, in which a whole octopus is poached in cannabis-infused olive oil. If that sounds too aspirational, there are instructions for making an apple bong a hollowed-out apple filled with weed-infused mezcal at the end of the drinks chapter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sativa or indica? CBD or THC? What to know before cooking with cannabis By Brette Warshaw Dont know the difference between MSG and THC? Heres a guide to the terminology youll encounter. Cannabis sativa and cannabis indica are two of the three species of cannabis. (The third species, cannabis ruderalis, is less attractive due to its smaller stature and low concentration of THC.) Sativa is a warm-weather species characterized by tall plants and thin leaves. The plant takes 10 to 15 weeks to mature and is known for a cerebral, energetic and invigorating high thats particularly suited for daytime use. Medically, it can be used to help people with depression and chronic pain. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California pot tax revenue improves but is still short of projections (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) The amount of money collected by the state from taxes on cannabis grown and sold legally in California continues to increase but is still falling short of budget estimates, according to figures released Wednesday. Tax revenue reported from the cannabis industry totaled $93.1 million for the three months ending Sept. 30, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. That is an increase from the $80.2 million collected during the second quarter of the year. If revenue continues to grow by the same 16% per quarter, pot taxes will bring in $471 million during the fiscal year that began July 1, while the budget approved by the governor and Legislature estimates the taxes would bring in $630 million during the fiscal year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Eaze launches (nearly) nationwide delivery of hemp-derived CBD products By Adam Tschorn Eaze Wellness offers non-psychoactive CBD products derived from hemp. (Eaze) Eaze, the San Francisco-based technology platform thats been coordinating dispensary-to-consumer home deliveries of cannabis in Los Angeles since April, has expanded its reach for CBD-containing products, that is to most of the United States. (CBD, a.k.a cannabidiol, is a cannabis compound said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties but none of the high associated with THC. These claims have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.) Through the just-launched Eaze Wellness website, consumers over the age of 21 in 41 states and the District of Columbia can order a range of hemp-derived CBD tinctures, tablets, balms, bath bombs, patches, vape pens and pet products for delivery within four to six days. (Shipping is free for orders $50 and up; otherwise, itll cost you $5.) Much like its in-state marijuana-delivery service, which coordinates deliveries with local dispensaries, Eaze isnt doing the shipping itself, but rather working with a third-party partner to get goods from brands such as Plant People, Cannuka, BeTru Wellness and Vital Leaf from point A to point B. Although the laws surrounding the legality of CBD are murky at best (a loophole in federal law has been widely interpreted as making CBD derived from hemp grown for research purposes legal), one point B that Eaze Wellness wont be coordinating shipping to is its home state of California. (The company cites state regulations as the reason.) Yes, California, where cannabis even the kind that gets you high has been legal under state law since the beginning of the year. Additional information is available at www.eazewellness.com. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print What THC-infused edibles are most popular? Fruit-flavored gummies and chocolate-covered coffee beans for starters By Adam Tschorn Nearly a year in to the state-legal cannabis scene, theres no shortage of THC-infused items on the market for 21-and-older consumers, from sachets of herbal tea and cans of citrus-flavored soda to honey mustard pretzels, with analysts and dispensary owners seeing it as a growing side of the business. Since recreational use was legalized in January, edibles have seen a 20%-30% hike in sales, said Nick Danias, managing partner of the Pottery and Cannary West dispensaries in Los Angeles, who added that edibles have proved particularly popular with new cannabis users who might be reluctant to start experimenting by smoking cannabis flower. Edibles companies have been able to offer consumers micro dosing that allows for a controlled amount of THC to be ingested, he said. (State law requires that edibles be portioned or scored into servings that contain no more than 10 milligrams of THC per piece and no more than 100 milligrams of THC per package.) Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 5 more marijuana permit applications await Costa Mesa Planning Commission By Luke Money The torrent of applications from marijuana manufacturing and distribution facilities looking to open in Costa Mesa continues Thursday, when city planning commissioners will review five more during a special meeting. Should the commission grant all the requested conditional use permits, it would bring the total number of marijuana facilities with such approvals to 22 including nine in the past month. The applications up for review this time are: Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Two shot and killed in Koreatown marijuana dispensary By James Queally Two people were shot and killed early Monday morning after gunfire erupted inside a Koreatown marijuana dispensary, authorities said. Officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 400 block of Western Avenue in Koreatown around 4:20 a.m. Monday, according to a statement issued by the Los Angeles Police Department. There, they found a locked and sealed marijuana dispensary, according to the statement. A female employee told police she and several customers were inside the dispensary when they heard gunshots in the waiting room. They fled through the back of the building, and when officers gained entry, they found two people who were pronounced dead at the scene. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Party of Mexicos president-elect wants to legalize marijuana By Associated Press The party of Mexicos president-elect submitted legislation Thursday that would legalize marijuana possession, public use, growing and sales. Sen. Olga Sanchez Cordero presented the measure, saying that everyone should have the right to carry up to 30 grams [1 ounce] of cannabis. People could carry more than an ounce if they obtained a permit to do so under the proposal. From the point of view of negative effects, there is no reason why marijuana should not be legal, if alcohol and tobacco are, according to the bill. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Want to grow your own marijuana? This class will show you how By Jeanette Marantos California law lets anyone over 21 grow up to six marijuana plants in their yard or home, as long as the plants are not accessible to the public. (Check your City Hall for any additional local rules.) Unsure how to start? Check out Fig Earth Supplys two-hour workshops, Cannabis Cultivation for the Home Grower, on Nov. 10 or Nov. 17, taught by professional cannabis growers. Attendees must be at least 21. No plants or seeds will be sold. Workshops cost $95 and start at 5 p.m. at 3577 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles. More info: figearthsupply.com Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Whats that smell? Survey asks Venice Beach denizens if theyre vexed by odor of marijuana By Joseph Serna They descended on free-wheeling Venice Beach with clipboards and questions in hand. Their goal: to gauge humanitys tolerance for the smell and sight of public pot smoking. Akbar Karriem considered them ridiculous. Everybody be smoking, Karriem said as he sat on the boardwalk and lit a marijuana pipe. Its part of the culture here. Its like a religion. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Las Vegas newest and biggest pot shop aims to entertain By Jay Jones Prepare to be entertained at Las Vegas newest and biggest cannabis store a mile west of the Strip. Planet 13 combines light shows and fog-making fountains to wow visitors at the shop, which sells recreational pot, cannabis extracts and cannabis-infused products. The idea is to meld a cannabis shop with an entertainment complex. Visitors, who must be at least 21, can change the colors of 13 giant LED-lighted lotus flowers blooming on the roof of the building. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CBD-infused products are being sold everywhere in California but are they legal? By Laura Newberry Greg and Gary Avetisyan make no secret of it: They proudly sell all manner of products infused with CBD, from essential oils to bath bombs to fruity tea-like beverages that promise calming relief in a frantic world. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is a molecule derived from cannabis. But unlike its chemical cousin THC, it wont get you high. What it might do, according to some research, is alleviate anxiety, seizures, chronic pain and dozens of other ailments. The Avetisyan brothers belief in the alleged benefits of the extract is so steadfast that they opened Californias first CBD-only store, Topikal, in Tarzana last year and opened a second along the Venice Beach boardwalk in April. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Review: Documentary Weed the People looks at cannabis and pediatric cancer By Kimber Myers An urgent cry for help, Weed the People explores the effects of cannabis on pediatric cancer, as well as the establishments disinterest in researching its efficacy. With the lack of scientific studies available, Abby Epsteins moving documentary primarily devotes its time to five children and their families who are trying to survive using the alternative treatment. Weed the People doesnt ease into its multi-story narrative, wasting no time in sharing the stories of these kids with cancer. With parents desperate for their children to feel better, they turn to medical marijuana to ease the pain, as well as directly addressing the cancer cells. Without studies and lack of nationwide legalization, there is little regulation in the industry. Enter Mara Gordon, a former process engineer who brings precision and rigor to her medical cannabis company, offering the families hope for healing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Denver verdict on pot odor and property values could discourage homeowners from filing RICO lawsuits By Associated Press A Colorado jury likely threw cold water on future legal challenges against cannabis companies by homeowners who consider filing racketeering lawsuits alleging that proximity to pot operations hurts their property values, analysts and industry lawyers said Thursday. A federal jury in Denver on Wednesday rejected claims involving the odor from a pot farm made in a case that was closely watched by the marijuana industry. It was the first such lawsuit to reach a jury. Three others are pending in California, Massachusetts and Oregon. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office makes its largest seizure of illegal marijuana plants By Joseph Serna An estimated 400,000 marijuana plants were destroyed by Santa Barbara County sheriffs investigators this week in what authorities are calling the countys largest seizure of pot plants at one site. The plants were hidden among farmland in Santa Maria and discovered by sheriffs investigators on Monday, the sheriffs office said in a statement. The crop belonged to a resident who, authorities said, had applied for a temporary state cannabis license using false information and did not have a valid cannabis license. Investigators found the 400,000 plants in various levels of maturity and tapped state Department of Fish and Wildlife personnel to help in the case. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Is Rohrabacher trying to lose Republican voters by caving on marijuana policy? To the editor: I was disappointed to read in a column on voters trying to flip an Orange County congressional district that Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) wants to weaken federal laws against marijuana. Recently-approved state laws legalizing marijuana have not been beneficial. In Colorado, following the legalization of recreational marijuana, the number of traffic fatalities involving marijuana-impaired drivers more than doubled. Surveys have found a majority of marijuana users in Colorado do not believe driving high is dangerous, leading some to get behind the wheel impaired. As a retired law enforcement officer who has had the opportunity to work with people impacted by drug addiction, and as a lifelong Republican, I feel Rohrabacher is making a mistake. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Berners Melrose birthday bash celebrates a new dispensary and a collaboration with the G Pen Gio By Adam Tschorn The Cookies dispensary at 8360 Melrose Ave. celebrated its grand opening on Saturday. (Grenco Science) On Saturday morning, the lines were stretching around the corner and down the block outside the bright blue Beverly Grove storefront with the word Cookies above the door. The enthusiastic members of the crowd werent queued up for baked goods, though. They were waiting to get into a new cannabis dispensary and to help celebrate the birthday of its founding partner, Bay Area rapper and entrepreneur Berner (born Gilbert Millam Jr.). Minimalist, awash in natural light and appointed in the brands blue and white color scheme and emblazoned with the cookie-with-a-bite-missing logo, it marks the second Cookies dispensary in Los Angeles County; the first, Cookies Los Angeles, is located in Maywood. Like that one, its stocked with a wide variety of cannabis flower, oils, edibles and the like, with a particular emphasis on the proprietary strains from the Cookie Family collective (the growers who originated the strain formerly known as Girl Scout Cookies as well as other dessert-named strains such as Gelato and Sunset Sherbet). It also stocks three different Cookies-logoed colors (blue, white and black) of the new G Pen Gio ($29.95), a vaporizer pen that uses cannabis concentrate cartridges for a super-simple, draw-activated plug-and-puff experience. The Cookies G Pen Gio from Grenco Science x Berner collaboration officially launched at the Saturday Berner bash, and includes Gio cannabis-oil cartridges filled with Gelato, London Poundcake, Sunset Sherbet or Snowman strains ($60 for 500 mg, which Tim Patenaude, Grencos vice president of marketing, says marks the first time those Cookie strains have been commercially available as concentrates. (Gio pod cartridges are now available at 500 dispensaries across 12 states, according to Patenaude, including MedMen, BARC and the Pottery locally, as well as through the Eaze delivery service.) Shown are Berners blue-and-white birthday cake, left, and vape pens and cartridges from his Cookies G Pen Gio collaboration. (Grenco Science) Patenaude says the partnership with Berner has its roots in Grencos 2014 partnership with another rapper Wiz Khalifa (Wiz Khalifas weed guy was Berner, Patenaude said, and thats how we first met him.). He calls Berner the most important person in cannabis today, citing not only Berner and his partners wildly successful strains, but the rapper/entrepreneurs brand-building abilities outside of the cannabis space. His Cookies clothing label is sold in every Zumiez in every mall in America, Patenaude said. In a chat with the Los Angeles Times Rolling Paper, Berner said that the Cookies SF streetwear label he launched out of his garage less than a decade ago saw $12.8 million in revenue in 2017 and that hes aiming to open a store next door to the dispensary hopefully in time for the Black Friday shopping season. (Theres currently a single flagship store in San Francisco.) He also said the dispensary opening bash was a good way to usher in his 35th year on the planet. Man, I couldnt be happier, he said. Were turning [over] customers left and right, theres no holdup anywhere, everyone is super-juiced and there was a line down the block and wrapped around [the corner] at 6 a.m. You cant ask for anything else. Cookies Melrose, 8360 Melrose Ave. (at North Kings Road), Los Angeles. Additional information on the G Pen Gio (including local availability) is at gpen.com. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 2 Chainz wants to put a THC tiger in your tank with his new cannabis brand Gas By Adam Tschorn Rapper 2 Chainz attends the launch party for Gas, his fuel-themed cannabis line now available in flower and pre-rolled joints. (Adam Tschorn / Los Angeles Times) Rolling into the Friday launch party for his new cannabis brand Gas, the first thing Grammy-winning rapper 2 Chainz did was brandish a joint in one hand and a smartphone in the other to record the rows of boldly packaged cannabis flower and pre-rolled joints in a video to share with his 5.7 million Instagram followers. The second thing he did was stand back and take in the moment. I cant believe it, thats why I was over here just trying to take it all in, 2 Chainz said about seeing all the green, yellow and black plastic pouches filled with marijuana, and a jerrycan converted into a display tray overflowing with green buds. Ive been told for over a year that we were doing this line, so now Im just trying to live in the moment. I dont do that a lot. The launch party took place at the Mid-Wilshire offices of Green Street Agency, a cannabis-focused branding and licensing company that is one of the rappers two Southern California partners in the venture. The other is L.A.-based Mazel Management Group (owners of the Westside Station dispensary in Van Nuys). Before joining the throng of well-wishers, industry friends and employees dressed in logo-emblazoned overalls, 2 Chainz (born Tauheed Epps), chatted with the Los Angeles Times Rolling Paper about his new project, how cannabis branding is like music and what took so long for the project to come to fruition. (Hint: There was lots of taste-testing). The Rolling Paper: Where does the name of your line Gas come from and what does it mean? 2 Chainz: Its Atlanta lingo that we use that basically signifies that this is a stronger type of flower a stronger cannabis. Ive been saying it since I came into the rap game and Ive used it in a few verses of a few songs. At first people were like: What do you mean by [the line] gas in the ashtray? After it caught on and basically went mainstream, I figured why veer off from what got me here? So we started a legal line of cannabis called Gas. TRP: Ive heard that you were pretty picky in the development process. 2C: It took months and months and about 30 different kinds of [cannabis] flower. I think I was looking for that first impression that first pull how it made me feel. Were there fireworks or no fireworks? What kind of memory did it create? Thats what I was looking for. TRP: The three different types of flower youre launching with dont have names but numbers 87, 89 and 93 are those supposed to be kind of like octane ratings but for marijuana? 2C: Thats a great way of describing it. The 87, for example [a Petrol OG hybrid, with a THC content of 14%] is for functioning throughout the day, [and for] people who are on the go [or] at work and cant get that whole indica sleepy feeling during the middle of the day. I think 87 will be sufficient. The 89 [a Sour Gas hybrid, 17% THC] is for when people go out for cocktails after work, when they want to get ready for the wind-down it signifies the medium [strength]. And the 93 [an indica called Gods Fuel No. 2 with a THC level of 20%] Id definitely say is the strongest. Thats for night-night. TRP: How did the fuel theme and octane ratings and all that evolve from the name? 2C: I approached this the way I do in my music which was come up with the concept and follow all the way through with it. So, when you have Gas, you have to have the gas cans and the imagery that actually represents the gas pumps and things that tie in to the brand itself. I think that gives it legs gives it a little more substance and sustainability. And I used these colors because I knew they would be very catching and appealing to the eye and I know that I will kind of have to muscle my way in as far as getting where I need to be on [dispensary] shelves these days. I figure I could be on the back of the shelf and you could still see this green, this yellow and this black packaging. Gas prices range from $12 to $14 (for 1-gram pre-rolled joints) and $36 to $48 for 3.5 gram packages of flower. Currently available at Westside Station, 7022 Valjean Ave., Van Nuys. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A chemical found in liverwort has surprising similarities to the THC in marijuana By Noga Tarnopolsky Its an amazing plant that produces hypnotic effects, according to online testimonials. Some people who have ingested it or inhaled its smoke say it gave them a mild, marijuana-like high. Now scientists have weighed in. In experiments with more than 100 mice, they found that chemicals in the liverwort plant produced four of the same key effects as THC, the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. An hour after being injected with the experimental chemicals, the mice entered a trance-like state, lost some of their ability to move, became less responsive to pain and experienced a drop in body temperature, according to a study published this week in the journal Science Advances. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Hours-long standoff at Tarzana weed dispensary ends after police learn building is empty By Hailey Branson-Potts The police standoff lasted more than six hours, shutting down a busy six-lane stretch of Ventura Boulevard in Tarzana for most of the evening. An armed robbery suspect, authorities said, had barricaded himself inside an illegal marijuana dispensary in a strip mall in the 18300 block of Ventura Boulevard. He was believed to be one of four suspects and was thought to have a female hostage. But when officers searched the building after 8:20 p.m., there was no one inside, said Officer Mike Lopez, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Police Department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State officials decline to drop plan to allow home deliveries of pot in California cities that ban marijuana stores Cities and law enforcement leaders say a state proposal to allow pot delivery to homes would increase crime. (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) Despite objections from cities and police chiefs, state officials on Friday declined to drop a proposal allowing marijuana firms to deliver to homes everywhere in California, including in areas that have banned pot shops. The proposed rule, which was made public in July, was opposed by the League of California Cities, which represents the states 482 municipalities, and the California Police Chiefs Assn., which said it would jeopardize public safety. But the state Bureau of Cannabis Control announced Friday that it is moving forward with the proposed rule after a series of public hearings and after weighing hundreds of comments from residents and interested parties. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print San Diego plans to crack down on marijuana ads, especially billboards By David Garrick San Diego officials say they plan to crack down on marijuana advertising, particularly the billboard ads that have become increasingly common with recreational use of the drug now legal in California. Legislation proposed by City Councilman Chris Cate aims to keep marijuana billboard ads out of areas where young people congregate and to prevent illegal marijuana businesses from advertising anywhere. The proposal, which would go beyond relatively new state laws that govern marijuana advertising, will be included in a series of city code updates that Mayor Kevin Faulconers staff plans to present to the City Council next year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Drinking before a flight is common. Now some fliers are turning to pot before takeoff By Hugo Martin Commercial flights can be so stressful cramped seats, delays, turbulence, loud seatmates that more than 60% of travelers in a recent survey said they down a drink or two before heading to the airport. But the survey by a drug treatment organization found that nearly as many fliers are now turning to marijuana to relax before getting on a plane. The online survey of 1,137 people who have flown in the past year was taken by Florida-based Delphi Behavioral Health Group. It found that nearly 30% of respondents said they had smoked marijuana and another 25% had consumed pot-infused snacks before arriving at an airport. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Marijuana issues dominate Costa Mesa Planning Commission agenda By Luke Money Cannabis-related companies will be front and center in Costa Mesa again Monday, when city planning commissioners will consider four applications for proposed marijuana manufacturing and distribution facilities. Should the Planning Commission OK all the requests, it would bring the number of marijuana businesses with city-approved conditional use permits to 17. First up will be Aureus LLC, which is looking to open in a 5,556-square-foot industrial space at 3505 Cadillac Ave., Building A. The company proposes to manufacture cannabis concentrates, particularly oils intended for use in vaporizer cartridges, according to city planning documents. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Canada is now the worlds largest legal marijuana marketplace By Associated Press Ian Power was among the first to buy legal recreational marijuana in Canada but he has no plans to smoke it. He plans to frame it. Canada became the largest country with a legal national marijuana marketplace as sales began early Wednesday in Newfoundland. Power was first in line at a store in St. Johns, Newfoundland. I am going to frame it and hang it on my wall. Im not even going to smoke it. Im just going to save it forever, Power said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bloom Farms doubles its meal donations on Oct. 16 in observance of World Food Day By Adam Tschorn Bloom Farms Pineapple Single Origin vape cartridge is a World Food Day exclusive that will be available only in October. (Bloom Farms) In recognition of the United Nations designation of Oct. 16 as World Food Day 2018, Oakland-based cannabis company Bloom Farms is doubling its usual meal-donation-per-sale for purchase made through the Eaze delivery service (which is doing its part by offering a day-long 20% discount on all Bloom Farms products) as well as participating dispensaries statewide (including Buds & Roses, Urban Treez and Green Dot locally). The company says that since 2014 it has donated about 1.4 million meals to food banks statewide through its one-for-one program, with a goal of donating 5 million meals. World Harvest Food Bank in Los Angeles and the San Diego Food Bank are among the SoCal beneficiaries of the Bloom Farm donations. Although the double-down on meal donations lasts only one day, Bloom Farms has a couple of slightly less time-sensitive promotions to raise awareness and drive donations in furtherance of the U.N.s mission of a zero-hunger world by 2030. One is a partnership with vaporizer maker Pax which has pledged $10,000 to fund meal donations that includes a free Pax Era vape pen (custom-engraved on-site) with the purchase of two Bloom Farms Pax pods at special dispensary events throughout the month, the second is an exclusive, October-only Pineapple Single Origin vape cartridge that, after the purchase of any two Bloom Farms products can be purchased for just a penny. Additional information and a calendar of dispensary events and demonstrations can be found at getbloomfarms.com/events. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Screened at U.S. border, Canadians who are honest about using marijuana could be banned from the U.S. By Kurtis Lee Bill Powers flipped through the sworn statement he gave to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the printed pages taking him back to that August afternoon back to the border checkpoint into Washington state where agents asked if he had ever smoked marijuana. Yes, he answered, not initially thinking much of the question. The 57-year-old Canadian has a license for medical marijuana, and pot had been legal in Washington for six years. Like that, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents turned him away with an extreme decree: He had been banned from the United States. Its absolutely out of control. Here I am being honest with the United States and I get the boot, Powers said on a recent afternoon as he stood in his driveway in this farming town an hour east of Vancouver. I have a license yet theyre turning people away for pot? It makes not a single bit of sense. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newport mayor says he wants to sell his boat factory site, not grow marijuana on it By Hillary Davis Despite having local and state approvals to cultivate or distribute medical marijuana on the site of his boat factory in San Bernardino County, Newport Beach Mayor Marshall Duffy Duffield says he isnt a pot farmer. Rather, he says, he sought the entitlements to make the property more attractive to buyers so he can move his factory to Utah. Duffield said in a statement emailed to the Daily Pilot on Sunday that he split his 4.7-acre property in Adelanto into thirds and sought a cannabis distribution permit from the California Bureau of Cannabis Control to take advantage of increased property values that followed Adelantos passage of a medicinal cultivation ordinance in 2015 and creation of a cultivation zone in 2016 that later expanded to include the factory site. As a property owner, I am trying to maximize the value to sell the land, not grow pot, Duffield said. I am actively manufacturing electric boats at the plant and there is no room to be growing pot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print NHL: Legal pot in Canada wont affect league policy By Associated Press Now a handful of years into retirement from more than a decade of junior and pro hockey, former enforcer Riley Cote is a proponent of cannabis and its oils as an alternative to more addictive drugs commonly used by athletes to play through pain. Marijuana can be detected in a persons system for more than 30 days, is banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency without a specific therapeutic use exemption and is illegal in much of the United States. Canada on Wednesday will become the largest country in the world to legalize recreational marijuana. That means it will be available under the law in seven more NHL cities (its been legal to adults in Denver since 2012). The move is a step forward for those who, like Cote, believe marijuana has been stigmatized and should be accepted as a form of treatment. It was so tainted for a long time, Ottawa Senators forward Matt Duchene said. And now people are starting to learn a little bit more about it and there is definitely some positive uses to different elements of it. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Costa Mesa council to review marijuana permit decision By Luke Money Costa Mesas review process for marijuana-related businesses will enter uncharted territory Tuesday when the City Council takes a second look at an earlier decision to award a required permit. So far, whats separated this particular application by Pivot Naturals LLC from the dozen other marijuana manufacturing and distribution facilities that previously sailed through City Hall isnt so much the question of whether the business should be allowed to open, but when. City planning commissioners decided last month to grant the business a conditional use permit to operate within a 5,283-square-foot industrial space in Suite 101 at 3595 Cadillac Ave. However, they added a new wrinkle by restricting hours to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Business linked to Newport mayor paid councilman to help create marijuana facility in Inland Empire, records show By Hillary Davis A business linked to Newport Beach Mayor Marshall Duffy Duffield paid his City Council colleague Scott Peotter to help convert part of Duffields boat manufacturing facility in San Bernardino County to a medical marijuana cultivation or distribution hub, records show. Peotter made at least $10,000 from DC Developments, a Duffield-associated company, according to Peotters state-required statement of economic interest forms. A string of corporations that financially tie the two together appears to answer a question has Peotter ever worked for Duffield? that has dogged them for weeks as they seek reelection in November. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Following California, pot legalization campaigns across the U.S. aim to throw out old convictions By Kurtis Lee Rob Jenkins tried for four years to find a job, scouring the internet for anything that seemed at all appealing a maintenance position at a Chevron refinery, a counselor for foster kids, a clerk at Hertz. Some employers seemed interested, until they found out about his 2008 misdemeanor conviction for growing marijuana. I was stuck, recalled the 37-year-old college graduate. No job opportunities were coming in. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Canada is about to legalize marijuana. How did that happen? Justin Trudeau, for starters By Kurtis Lee Politicians herald it as transformative. Residents offer resounding support in the polls. Investors see billions of dollars on the horizon. When Canada legalizes marijuana on Oct. 17, it will join Uruguay as the only countries to allow recreational cannabis nationwide. The South American country became the first in 2013. The effort, years in the making, is unlike the piecemeal approaches to marijuana legalization that have been passed in the United States and the Netherlands. For pot proponents around the world, Canadas implementation of legal marijuana is being closely watched. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Can you carry marijuana in LAX? Yes, but its more complicated than that By Chris Erskine LAX wants you to know this about the marijuana you may be taking with you on your trip: Whats legal on the street is also legal in the terminals. Up to a point. Travelers can carry the legal amount of marijuana in California up to 28.5 grams through the airport areas that are under city supervision, that is up to pre-security checkpoints. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Dont you dare light up at Las Vegas new cannabis museum By Jay Jones Inhale we mean through your nose in the new marijuana museum in Las Vegas. You wont smell a thing, even though recreational pot is legal in Nevada. Signs in the elevators at Neonopolis, the downtown entertainment, dining and retail center thats home to the immersive Cannabition museum, make it clear that consumption in public is still against the law. Just steps away, a colorful mural covering the museums exterior depicts the changing attitudes toward marijuana, from the scare tactics of the 1930s to strict law enforcement in the 80s to growing tolerance today. That history is depicted in greater detail once youre inside. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Costa Mesa Planning Commission awards permit to 13th marijuana business By Luke Money A 13th marijuana manufacturing and distribution facility took a step closer to opening in Costa Mesa after the city Planning Commission decided Monday to grant it a required permit. The 3-2 vote, with Chairman Stephan Andranian and Vice Chairman Byron de Arakal opposed, awards a conditional use permit to Pivot Naturals LLC to operate in an existing 5,283-square-foot industrial space in Suite 101 at 3595 Cadillac Ave. Pivot Naturals intends to process cannabis oils into a powder for use in a variety of products, including tablets, food and beverages. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kindergartner can take cannabis drug to school, judge says By Associated Press A kindergartner can keep bringing a cannabis-based drug used for emergency treatment of a rare form of epilepsy to her public school, a judge ruled Friday. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that a judge sided with the family of 5-year-old Brooke Adams. The Rincon Valley Union School District in Santa Rosa sought to ban the ointment from school grounds because it contains the active ingredient in marijuana. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Glendale police seize hundreds of marijuana plants after reportedly discovering elaborate grow operation By Andy Nguyen What started as a routine wellness check by Glendale police officers on Monday led to the alleged discovery of an illegal marijuana grow operation and the seizure of more than 600 plants. Officers with the Glendale Police Department were in the 100 block of Wonderview Drive at around 12:40 a.m. after receiving a call about a person yelling for help from one of the homes in the neighborhood. After speaking with the homes occupant, 38-year-old Rui Yun Guan, officers entered the residence and discovered it had been converted into an elaborate marijuana grow operation, according to Tahnee Lightfoot, a spokeswoman for the department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tilrays wild ride shows how hyped pot stocks are catching up to the crypto craze By Craig Giammona Tilray Inc. investors could probably use a bit of the companys products right now. The Canadian maker of medicinal cannabis extracts finished a whipsaw session Wednesday with its share price 38% higher. But Tilray was up as much as 94% earlier in the day, peaking at $300. Fifty-three minutes and four trading halts later, it was in negative territory. The closing flourish that added $63 to the share price it finished up $59.08 to $214.06 took just six minutes. It left a sea of bodies, both longs and shorts, behind in its wake, said Dave Lutz, managing director at JonesTrading. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Marijuana industry fights stoner, pot and other words that stigmatizes people By Gary Robbins Theres a badge on her uniform, possibly a gun on her hip, and her arms are spread a little, suggesting shes ready for anything. You might think that youre looking at a police officer walking a beat. But what youve seen on billboards and, more recently, the internet is an effort by MedMen Enterprises of Culver City to remind you that marijuana users come from all walks of life. They can be cops, nurses, teachers, scientists, construction foremen and grandmothers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Police arrest eight people after searching illegal cannabis store in San Fernando Valley By Alejandra Reyes-Velarde Los Angeles police arrested eight people at an illegal cannabis store in the San Fernando Valley after serving a search warrant, officials said Wednesday. About 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Los Angeles Police Departments Mission Area Narcotics Unit searched a cannabis retail shop in the 15400 block of Devonshire Street and confiscated several items of evidence and contraband, police said in a news release. The store was operating without proper permits and was considered a nuisance location, authorities said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print More than 2 million U.S. middle and high school students have vaped marijuana, study finds By Karen Kaplan Electronic cigarettes are the most popular tobacco product among U.S. teens, but tobacco isnt the only thing theyre vaping. A new report from researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that more than 2 million middle and high school students have used an e-cigarette to vape marijuana. That figure is based on survey results from the 2016 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which polls a representative sample of American students in grades 6 through 12. Among the questions the 20,675 participants were asked in 2016 was, Have you ever used an e-cigarette device with a substance besides nicotine? One of the possible answers was this: Yes, I have used an e-cigarette device with marijuana, THC or hash oil, or THC wax. (THC, short for tetrahydrocannabinol, is the mind-altering chemical that produces marijuanas high.) Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Police chiefs warn of increased crime if California allows pot deliveries statewide By Patrick McGreevy The prospect of vans loaded with pot delivering to homes in quiet Morgan Hill makes Police Chief David Swing uneasy. Like most cities in the state, the upscale San Jose suburb has banned pot shops. But now, as California considers a proposal to allow marijuana businesses to send home-delivery vans into communities where retail stores are prohibited, Swing and others in law enforcement say they are preparing for the worst. This will make it easier and more lucrative to rob a delivery person than a liquor store, said Swing, who is president of the California Police Chiefs Assn. He notes drivers would be allowed to carry up to $10,000 in cash. Robberies are the tip of the iceberg. They can lead to other crimes, including aggravated assaults and homicides. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Tesla erupts in chaos after senior executives leave and Elon Musk tokes up By Dana Hull The turmoil at Tesla Inc. reached a fever pitch Friday, as news emerged that two senior executives will leave Elon Musks electric-car maker a matter of hours after he smoked marijuana during an hours-long interview with a comedian. Chief Accounting Officer Dave Morton gave notice Tuesday that he was resigning less than a month into the job, according to a filing. Teslas stock plunged, then extended declines after Gabrielle Toledano, the head of human resources whos been on a leave of absence, told Bloomberg News that she wont rejoin the company. Morton, a former chief financial officer for computer-drive maker Seagate Technology Plc, joined Tesla the day before Chief Executive Musk tweeted that he was considering buying out some investors at $420 a share and taking the company private. Musk abandoned that take-private effort 17 days later, and in the process drew a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission and a series of lawsuits alleging market manipulation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Elon Musk smokes a blunt live on YouTube with podcaster Joe Rogan By Russ Mitchell Elon Musk apparently smoked dope with comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan live on YouTube late Thursday night, then giggled about turning Mars into a big Jamaica. I mean, its legal, right? Musk said, accepting a lit blunt from Rogan in the Los Angeles studio, where The Joe Rogan Experience is webcast live. Rogan told Musk hed rolled marijuana in tobacco leaves. Musk took a single deep toke. If the pair were joking about what they were smoking, they didnt say so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. launches crackdown on unlicensed marijuana businesses; more than 500 people are charged By Joseph Serna A police crackdown on local unlicensed marijuana businesses has ended with misdemeanor charges against more than 500 people in Los Angeles, the city attorneys office said. In 120 criminal cases filed since May, City Atty. Mike Feuer has charged 515 people in connection with 105 illegal marijuana businesses, grow sites, extraction labs and delivery companies located throughout the city, his office announced Friday. All of the defendants were charged with unlicensed commercial cannabis activity within the city, which carries a potential sentence of six months in jail and $1,000 in fines. Local judges have been hearing the cases since May with arraignments scheduled through the end of October, Feuers office said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 12th marijuana business wins permit approval in Costa Mesa By Luke Money Costa Mesa planning commissioners Monday evening gave their blessing to another local marijuana manufacturing and distribution facility, bringing the total number of approvals to 12. On a 4-0 vote with Chairman Stephan Andranian absent the commission awarded a conditional use permit to Pure Labs Inc., which is looking to open in a 2,025-square-foot space in Unit M-103 at 3505 Cadillac Ave. The decision is final unless appealed to the City Council within seven days. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former L.A. mayor Villaraigosa joins board of local cannabis firm MedMen By James Rufus Koren Former L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is joining the board of publicly traded cannabis company MedMen, marking his return to the business world following a resounding defeat in Junes Democratic gubernatorial primary. MedMen, a Culver City company that operates high-end cannabis shops in California, Nevada and New York and has aggressive expansion plans, announced Villaraigosas appointment Wednesday morning. Villaraigosa adds political and governmental experience to a board made up of branding, entertainment and accounting executives. Other recent additions to the companys board include Stacey Hallerman, a former executive at the conglomerate that owns luxury brands Montblanc and Cartier, and Jay Brown, the chief executive of of RocNation, the entertainment company co-founded by Shawn Jay Z Carter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newport man accused of operating illegal marijuana dispensary in Costa Mesa By Luke Money A Newport Beach man is accused of operating an illegal marijuana dispensary in Costa Mesa, according to authorities. Omid Delkash, 47, was charged Monday with four misdemeanor counts of unlawful transportation, sale and furnishing of marijuana. He pleaded not guilty and is in custody at Orange County Jail, records show. He is scheduled to appear in court Friday for a pretrial hearing. Costa Mesa law prohibits the retail sale of marijuana or marijuana products anywhere in the city. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California lawmakers want the state to collect data on drivers under the influence of pot By Patrick McGreevy After she was injured in a car accident allegedly caused by a driver impaired by pot, state Controller Betty Yee is backing a bill approved Monday by the Legislature that aims to begin addressing the problem of drugged driving on California roads. The measure sent to Gov. Jerry Brown would require the California Highway Patrol to report on how many motorists stopped for impaired driving are allegedly under the influence of marijuana. Its what other states have done like Colorado and Washington to at least start collecting state-level data, Yee said. They just want to understand the extent of cannabis-impaired driving. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Marijuana use is rising among pregnant patients. Not so fast, doctors warn By Jenny Gold Marijuana may be losing its image as a dangerous drug, but mounting research suggests women should steer clear of it if they are pregnant or breastfeeding, according to new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics. The advice comes as more than half of the states, including California, have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use. Growing acceptance of the drug has made it seem harmless, or even beneficial. As a result, doctors fret that more and more babies are being exposed to the drug. The march toward legalization has outpaced scientific research about marijuanas health effects. Because it is a Schedule 1 drug one with potential for abuse and no approved medical use studies have been limited by federal law. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mormon Church ramps up opposition to medical marijuana effort in Utah, speaking out publicly By Kurtis Lee The Mormon Church has played a quiet role in the fight against an effort to legalize medical marijuana in Utah, releasing measured statements and helping to bankroll lawsuits. But on Thursday, leaders of the powerful Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints came out from behind the scenes. We are deeply concerned by the history of other states that have allowed medical and recreational use of this drug and have experienced serious consequences to the health of its citizens, Elder Jack N. Gerard, flanked by politicians, medical professionals and other church leaders, said at a news conference at the state Capitol. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmakers move to help expunge pot-related convictions California lawmakers voted Wednesday to ease the process for clearing the records of those convicted in the past of marijuana offenses. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) With recreational marijuana legalized by the states voters, Californians with past convictions for cannabis-related offenses would get state help in expunging their records under a bill sent by lawmakers to the governor on Wednesday. Proposition 64, which state voters approved in 2016, legalized the sale and use of marijuana for recreational use and permitted those with past convictions for the activity to petition the courts to clear their records. But state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) told his colleagues Wednesday that the process is complicated, and many with pot convictions do not know about the opportunity. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement By next year, you can buy medical marijuana in Hawaii, but youll still have to jump through some hoops By Jay Jones Out-of-state medical marijuana users next year will be able to buy cannabis products at dispensaries in Hawaii. The only hitches: Visitors will need to apply online and pay $45 (plus a $4.50 processing fee) for a temporary Hawaii medical marijuana card thats valid for 60 days. Weve been fielding a lot of calls daily about reciprocity, said George Bullock, director of the Cure Oahu marijuana dispensary in Waikiki. We really look forward to being able to serve them in the future. The Hawaii Department of Health plans to allow medical marijuana cardholders from other states to make purchases at dispensaries on Oahu, Maui and Kauai. But state officials are not using the word reciprocity because those out-of-state cards wont work. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Teen sold weed from her bedroom, with her parents as suppliers, Merced County officials say By Joseph Serna A teenage girl who sold marijuana out of her bedroom was using her gun-toting parents as her suppliers, the Merced County Sheriffs Office said. On Friday, deputies served a search warrant on the home of Jose Reyes Martinez, 44, and his wife in Delhi, Calif., where they found 80 pounds of packaged marijuana and a dozen large plants along with two firearms, officials said on Facebook. The packaged weed was found in the master bedroom closet alongside a loaded AK-47, deputies said. A makeshift greenhouse in the backyard held a dozen large plants, authorities said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newport Beach sues to halt what city calls a marijuana dispensary at Church of the Holy Grail By Hannah Fry Newport Beach officials are asking an Orange County Superior Court judge to block an operation that identifies itself as a church but the city says is a marijuana dispensary violating local law. Brick-and-mortar marijuana dispensaries are prohibited in Newport Beach under municipal code. Cultivation, processing, distribution and delivery of cannabis have been banned in the city since 2016. A civil lawsuit Newport filed June 25 seeks an injunction to forbid the organization known as Church of the Holy Grail from operating at 2072 Bristol St. It isnt clear how long it has been operating, though the lawsuit states the location has been running without a business license since at least Jan. 24. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Proposal to create state-chartered banks for California marijuana industry fails to advance Virgil Grant arranges containers of various strains of medical marijuana in a display case at a dispensary he runs in Los Angeles. (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images) California lawmakers on Thursday shelved a proposal to allow the state to license private banks to handle the billions of dollars expected to be generated by the states legal marijuana industry amid questions about the plans feasibility. Voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize growing, possessing and selling marijuana for recreational use, but newly licensed pot shops and farms say they cannot put their money in federally chartered banks because cannabis remains illegal under federal law. Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Los Angeles) proposed that the state could license special privately financed banks that would issue checks to the businesses to pay rent and state and local taxes and fees, and to compensate vendors for goods and services provided to their businesses. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Parent of Corona beer bets $3.8 billion on U.S. love of marijuana By Bloomberg Constellation Brands Inc., which for seven decades has made its money off beer, wine and whiskey, sees its future in a marijuana leaf. In the biggest (legal) marijuana deal, the Victor, N.Y., beverage company will spend about $3.8 billion to boost its stake in Canadian grower Canopy Growth Corp., betting legalization will gain traction around the world and especially in the United States. This is rocket fuel, Canopy Chief Executive Bruce Linton said on the companys earnings call Wednesday. Were going to be way more global. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Marijuana is not really legal in California if residents dont have a reasonable way to buy it By The Times Editorial Board California law allows adults to buy marijuana. It allows licensed businesses to deliver marijuana to customers, and it says specifically that cities and counties cannot prevent delivery services from traveling on public roads. Yet even though cities cant stop deliveries traveling through their jurisdiction, many cities currently ban deliveries to their jurisdiction. That means that unlike deliveries of virtually every other legal, adult-use product including alcohol and cigarettes, which can be ordered over the internet in California marijuana deliveries are barred. The practical effect is that residents in some places have little to no access to legal medical or recreational cannabis products because of local regulations which seems contrary to the intent of Proposition 64. Roughly half of Californians live in cities or counties that prohibit marijuana stores and delivery services form opening in their jurisdictions. An analysis by the Sacramento Bee earlier this year found residents in 40% of the state had to drive 60 miles or more to find a licensed dispensary to buy legal marijuana medical or recreational. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California cities oppose plan to allow pot delivery in areas where sales are banned California cities are objecting to changes in the states rules on marijuana that they say undermine local control. (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) California cities on Monday objected to a state proposal that would allow marijuana delivery to homes in areas where storefront pot sales have been banned locally. The changes, which are being considered by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control, will undermine a citys ability to effectively regulate cannabis at the local level, Charles Harvey, a legislative representative for the League of California Cities, said in a letter to the bureau. The cities group, which represents the states 482 municipalities, supports other changes to clarify the rules of Proposition 64, which was approved by voters in 2016 and allows the growing and sale of marijuana for recreational use. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cypress Hills B-Real set to open a Sylmar dispensary, as Cannary West takes flight Saturday By Adam Tschorn B-Real, from left, Kenji Fujishima and Rojo Desantis in front of the soon-to-open Dr. Greenthumbs dispensary in Sylmar. (Dr. Greenthumbs) Rapper and marijuana entrepreneur Louis Freese, better known as Cypress Hill frontman B-Real, plans to celebrate the grand opening of his flagship dispensary in Sylmar with a day-long bash next Wednesday. Called Dr. Greenthumbs a name music fans will recognize as the title of a 1998 Cypress Hill song the Foothill Boulevard dispensary will be heavy on strains from B-Reals Insane brand of cannabis as well his Phuncky Feel Tips product line (glass tips designed to fit the business end of a hand-rolled joint). It will also serve as the home base for the rappers online BReal.TV network. According to todays announcement, the Wednesday event will be open to the public (though youll need to be at least 21 or 18 with a medical marijuana card) and feature a line-up of BRealTVs DJs as well as a slew of surprise guests [making] appearances throughout the day. A second Dr. Greenthumbs is expected to open in Cathedral City later this year. Dr. Greenthumbs grand-opening party, Aug. 15 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., 12751 Foothill Blvd., Sylmar (just west of the 210 freeway between Arroyo and Vaughn streets). Cannary West In other dispensary-opening news, a rebooted and relocated Cannary West (this version by the folks behind the stylish, upscale Venice Blvd. dispensary the Pottery), officially opens its doors Saturday. Although parts of the space in the Rancho Park neighborhood are still under construction, its only because plans include adding sustainable on-site cultivation (a process also underway at the Pottery), it does already have one of Los Angeles real estates most enviable features a dedicated off-street parking lot for customers around back. To mark the grand opening, the first 200 customers who spend $30 or more after the dispensary opens for business at 10 a.m. will receive a little something special for their efforts. Cannary West, grand opening, Aug. 11 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 2435 Military Avenue, Los Angeles (just south of Pico and two blocks east of Sepulveda). Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement As budget remedies, Huntington Beach may explore marijuana-related revenue and boosting fines for illegal short-term rentals By Priscella Vega With general-fund revenue increases projected to taper off in coming years, the Huntington Beach Finance Commission this week recommended several potential budget-tightening and revenue-generating solutions. Among them are increasing fines for illegal short-term rentals, reducing city staff and exploring opportunities for marijuana-related revenue. Some recommendations will be unpopular with employees, but at the same time we hope they realize implementing some recommendations may make funding available for salary increases, Finance Commission Chairman Nouha Hreish told the City Council during a study session Monday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print High Times rolls out new online video network By Adam Tschorn High Times, which launched as a print magazine in 1974, has added a streaming video service to its offerings. (High Times TV) Los Angeles-based cannabis media brand High Times, which launched as a print magazine in 1974, has added a streaming video service to its offerings. Announced Thursday, the ad-supported web channel High Times TV is both a showcase for the brands own content (behind-the-scenes videos from its Cannabis Cup events, for example, and how-to videos for ganja guacamole) as well as a platform for an assortment of independent cannabis-content creators like the Stoner Mom (a Colorado mother with a family of six who focuses on living a responsible cannabis lifestyle), StrainCentral (a strain review site founded by Joshua Young) and That High Couple (Hollywood-based couple Alice and Clark who chronicle their THC-infused life via social media). While High Times newest venture is hardly a unique move- there isnt a legacy media brand out there that isnt trying to capitalize on streaming video it could end up being a lifeline for the independents in the stoner space who have seen their traditional social media channels (particularly YouTube) threatened, restricted or suspended in a cannabis-content crackdown that began earlier this year. High Times TV is now available as an app on Android, Roku and Apple TV as well as online at tv.hightimes.com. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newport Beach lawsuit seeks to ban marijuana business that operated in residential neighborhoods By Hannah Fry Newport Beach officials are asking an Orange County Superior Court judge to block a marijuana business from operating in two homes in violation of city law. A civil lawsuit filed May 4 seeks an injunction to forbid the business known as OC Healing House, Bud Man OC and Bud Man Newport Beach from operating at a home on Drakes Bay Drive in Corona del Mar and a home on Promontory Drive in Newports Promontory Point community. The city attorneys office says the business was using the homes for marijuana delivery and distribution. The lawsuit calls the business a public nuisance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Marijuana is a gift from God. A battle over pot pits the Mormon Church against an unlikely group: other Mormons By Kurtis Lee Brian Stoll faced a dilemma as his wedding day approached. For more than a year, he had been smoking marijuana to treat severe back pain, but to remain in good standing with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and get married in the temple, he had to stop using pot. Since marijuana was illegal under Utah law, church leaders told him, it was forbidden. Stoll turned to an opioid painkiller and has continued using it since his marriage three years ago, despite unpleasant side effects and its inability to match the soothing qualities of marijuana. This was devastating ... I had to choose between my health and my fiancee, Stoll said recently. It seemed asinine that if I lived in another state, I wouldnt have to make such a difficult decision. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Roommates were unaware of drug lab operation in Glendale home, police say By Andy Nguyen Authorities arrested a man on Friday suspected of operating an illegal butane honey-oil lab out of a Glendale home. John Kelly, 52, was taken into custody after the Glendale Police Department received a tip about the suspected manufacturing operation in the 1400 block of Randall Street. The information was derived from an ongoing narcotics investigation, according to Sgt. Dan Suttles, a spokesman for the department. Butane honey oil is a type of concentrated cannabis product made when marijuana is soaked in butane in order to extract the plants essential oils. The process can lead to explosions if the butane gas builds up in an enclosed area and ignites from a spark. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rams guard Jamon Brown says marijuana is reason for suspension By Gary Klein Rams starting right guard Jamon Brown, suspended for the first two games of the season for violating the NFLs substance-abuse policy, said Thursday that the suspension stemmed from a 2017 incident in Kentucky that involved marijuana. Brown still worked with the first-team offense Thursday as the Rams held their first training camp practice at UC Irvine. Brown, a fourth-year pro from Louisville, said that before last season he was pulled over for speeding and that police found marijuana in the car. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrats still havent figured out that legal weed is a winning issue By Tom Angell Every Democratic U.S. senator rumored to be considering a 2020 presidential run supports marijuana legalization. So do 77% of Democratic voters. The partys 2016 national platform backs states rights on cannabis and calls for a reasoned pathway for future legalization. So why is the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee the entity charged with winning back control of the U.S. House attacking a Republican congressman over his support for marijuana reform? And why is it citing a right-wing magazine to make the case? Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Costa Mesa) has a cult-like fixation on marijuana, said a National Review article excerpt the Democratic committee highlighted in a tweet posted Monday. The party organ said the GOP congressmans cannabis advocacy is one reason why [Democratic nominee] @HarleyRouda needs your help flipping this seat...from #RedToBlue. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print They worked at Apple, Amazon and Lyft. Now theyre working to get you stoned By Tracey Lien For much of her career, Natasha Pecor followed a path well-worn by tech workers. She built her reputation with her first employer in the industry, earning the title head of platform at Yelp. Then she jumped to one of the giants, Amazon, where she worked as a product manager. Most recently she parlayed that experience into a leadership role at a smaller start-up a common move among techies willing to take a risk for a new challenge and perhaps a big payday. But this start-up wasnt exactly a tech company. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Fountain Valley man sentenced to life in prison in kidnapping and torture of marijuana dispensary owner By Hannah Fry A Fountain Valley man was sentenced Friday to spend the rest of his life behind bars for kidnapping a medical marijuana dispensary owner and his roommate in 2012 and torturing the dispensary owner as part of a plot to extort money. Orange County Superior Court Judge Gregg Prickett gave Kyle Shirakawa Handley, 39, the maximum sentence of life in state prison. A Superior Court jury in January swiftly found Handley guilty of of kidnapping, aggravated mayhem and torture, all felonies. Prosecutors contended that Handley, a marijuana grower who supplied the victims dispensary, and three other defendants kidnapped the man and his female roommate from their 25th Street home on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach on Oct. 2, 2012. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print More California kids are having pot-related health scares, poison control officials warn By Patrick McGreevy State and local officials say they are alarmed by a spike in calls they have received to report children and teenagers ingesting marijuana products since California legalized cannabis for recreational use by adults in 2016. The number of calls to poison control centers involving people 19 and younger who were exposed to marijuana has steadily risen from 347 three years ago to 588 last year. In the first six months of this year, there have been 386 calls to poison control centers involving marijuana exposure by underage people. If that trend continues, there could be more than double the reports in 2018 as there were 2015. Nearly half of the calls received last year 256 involved children 5 and younger, including 38 children under 12 months old, and 64 toddlers who were a year old, according to Stuart E. Heard, executive director of the California Poison Control System. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print With marijuana legal, California flooded with dubious health claims about the drug By Gary Robbins Spend a few minutes surfing Twitter and youre likely to encounter a startling claim that comes without proof: Cannabis cures cancer. The online world is awash with such posts, startling scientists and physicians who are urging weeds proselytizers to tap the brakes. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Jerry Brown appoints members to new cannabis permit appeals panel Marijuana on display at the Harborside dispensary in Oakland. (Mathew Sumner / Associated Press) Six months after California began licensing growing and selling marijuana, Gov. Jerry Brown on July 3 appointed the first members of a new Cannabis Control Appeals Panel to consider objections from those denied permits or those facing penalties for violating regulations. The governor gets to name three of the five members of the panel and appointed county prosecutor Sabrina D. Ashjian of Fresno, college lecturer Diandra Bremond of Los Angeles, and a staff attorney for the governor, Adrian Carpenter of Plumas Lake. The other two appointments will be made by the Senate Rules Committee and the speaker of the Assembly. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Federal law? State law? Which takes precedence when you want to travel with cannabis? By Catharine Hamm You cant take it with you. Actually, you can. But its not a good idea when youre traveling, especially for the risk-averse. We speak, of course, of cannabis; its use was approved by 57% of California voters in November 2016. Proposition 64, known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, allows the recreational use of marijuana in the Golden State; medical marijuana had been legal for about a decade before that. Legal, it should be noted, in California. Not legal according to federal law, although President Trump has signaled his willingness to support legislation that, according to an L.A. Times article, would end the federal ban on marijuana. Read More Facebook Twit Irans foreign minister has taken to YouTube to criticize President Trumps threat to withdraw from the nuclear deal, saying Iran will not renegotiate or add onto the accord. Mohammad Javad Zarifs video Thursday which was also posted to Trumps favorite social media platform, Twitter appeared to be taking his message to the masses after he spoke to news outlets across the U.S. to defend the deal. The five-minute video shows Zarif behind his desk, delivering his message on the deal. Zarif also appeared to troll Trump, saying: To put it in real-estate terms, when you buy a house and move your family in it or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and renegotiate the price. President Trump is hinting there may soon be an update on the three Americans being held captive in North Korea. Trump tweeted Wednesday: As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! The president is preparing for a potential summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, tentatively scheduled for May or early June. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Kim discussed the Americans last month when Pompeo visited North Korea. Trump has said the U.S. is working hard to win the Americans freedom. Advertisement Trumps national security advisor, John Bolton, said the release of the Americans would be a demonstration of their sincerity in the lead-up to the summit. Heres a brief look at those U.S. citizens: A television news broadcast displays a portrait of three Americans detained in North Korea: from left, Kim Dong Chul, Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song. (Ahn Young-joon / Associated Press) Kim Dong Chul Kim, a South Korean-born U.S. citizen, has been held the longest. The former Virginia resident was sentenced in April 2016 to 10 years in prison with hard labor after being convicted of espionage. He reportedly ran a trade and hotel service company in Rason, a special economic zone on North Koreas border with Russia. Kim Hak Song Kim worked in agricultural development at an experimental farm run by the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. The university is the only privately funded college in North Korea and was founded in 2010 with donations from Christian groups. He was detained last May for alleged anti-state activities. Tony Kim Advertisement Tony Kim, who also uses the name Kim Sang-duk, was detained a year ago at the Pyongyang airport. He taught accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology. He was accused of committing unspecified criminal acts intended to overthrow the government. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) In 2008, women from the town of Dado in Maguindanao were displaced as a result of village clashes. Three years later and fed up with violence, they closed their legs in protest at least until their husbands lay down their arms. It worked. The hilarious, innovative solution to the armed conflict is reminiscent of Aristophanes' Greek comedy Lysistrata, where the women hold a sex strike to put an end to the war between Athens and Sparta. The titular character Lysistrata is a strong-willed leader who incites the strike, and the play covers how she must deal with impassioned women, fragile masculinity, and the bureaucracy that comes with fighting for peace. In an age where war is still a stark reality in Mindanao, and in a time where women are becoming increasingly aware of their rights, Lysistrata is ripe for a contemporary and local adaptation. In the final production to its 39th season, Ateneo de Manila Universitys oldest theater company, Tanghalang Ateneo, steps up to the plate. Lysistrata ng Bakwit draws on the universality of war and sex to talk about how women bear the brunt of conflict and, in the lack of effective government aid and law enforcement, they have to get creative. The play is directed by Dr. Ricky Abad, whose sociological background has a touch in the play's awareness of current events. The play also utilizes music from Filipino instruments, giving it a uniquely organic and culturally grounded sound. Photo from TANGHALANG ATENEO While the play tackles war, gender politics takes center stage. Exaggerated, in-your-face sexual elements give the comedy its kick. The ragged costumes have hypersexualized features, making a caricature of the body; although it is initially there for shock value, it sets up funny turns later on. The otherwise minimalist set even features a giant penis, although this does not have much use on stage. Because these elements are bloated, the audience turns to the spaces of the narrative that are not about sex: displacement, development, and the effects of conflict. The specific town where the play takes place is never named a good call that could situate the story anywhere. These spaces of food for thought are tucked in the nuances of dialogue, care of playwrights Gerald Manuel and Sabrina Basilio, who also doubles as Lysistrata. The play is directed by Dr. Ricky Abad, whose sociological background has a touch in the play's awareness of current events. Abad was also behind Tanghalang Ateneo's award-winning Sintang Dalisay, a Mindanao-set adaptation of Romeo and Juliet. Both plays utilize music from Filipino instruments, giving the play a uniquely organic and culturally grounded sound. In one scene, Lysistrata is tasked with meeting the heads of the warring clans to convince them to settle for a peace treaty. The vice mayor, the government housing authority, and even a non-government organization specializing in peace initiatives speak down on her. While the officials say it is because she is inexperienced and a widow, the truth is in the subtext: they speak down on her because she is a woman, and she is displaced. It is simply difficult for those in positions of power to afford her the recognition she deserves. All this is packed with punches of great comedic timing. Chase Salazar gives an authoritative air to Lysistrata, at once compassionate and cunning, recognizing the importance of restraint and picking her battles to win the war. Catherine Jane Lubangco plays a hilarious and sultry Mayet, who teases her husband until he agrees to send word to their commander. What makes Lysistrata ng Bakwit a necessary work of culture is a need for a diverse portrayal of the displaced and of the Mindanaoan. It shows us women who may need our help, but who do not need our pity. Photo from TANGHALANG ATENEO It remains to be seen though, if the work will appeal to audiences in Mindanao. Admittedly, this might not be so to a conservative lot. However, it could resonate with younger university-based audiences in the region, if Tanghalang Ateneo will consider taking the play on tour. Its intention to provoke is sure to spark discussion. After all, when we consider conflict in Mindanao, we often think about how those affected are deprived of necessities: food, water, shelter. We hardly ever think of sex, or how inconvenient being in an evacuation center is for a young couple in their honeymoon stage. When the difficult situation of displacement is rendered into art, we still think of stories that are morose, or which tread into the realm of poverty porn. What makes Lysistrata ng Bakwit a necessary work of culture is a need for a diverse portrayal of the displaced and of the Mindanaoan. It shows us women who may need our help, but who do not need our pity. As such, it is worthy attempt to take back the empowerment that women lose in the face of war. This is why the play's divisive ending may place its message of empowerment at risk, or even undercut it. However, upon further reflection, any other conclusion would be dishonest. Lysistrata ng Bakwit understands there is no clean ending wrapped up in ribbons for a story that tackles conflict in Mindanao at least not until the region sees a definitive end to conflict in real life. What makes this adaptation work is precisely because it recognizes that the difficult work of peace-building is not solely a woman's job. *** Tanghalang Ateneo's "Lysistrata ng Bakwit" runs at the Doreen Black Box, Arete Arts Wing at Ateneo de Manila University until May 5. Reserve your ticket here or contact Nina Calupitan for inquiries at 09214717960. Proceeds of the play will be donated to the Marawi Relief Fund. Updated to include the statement from Malacanang. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said calls for his resignation were part of politics, and urged critics to leave the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) out of it. "So the calls are normal, you know politics but I think kayo na mag-judge [you be the one to judge] in this last year whether we stepped up or we've slacked off in taking care of concerns of our OFWs," Cayetano told reporters late Wednesday evening. Cayetano was at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to welcome Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa, who returned home after being expelled by Kuwaiti officials over a fiasco involving the rescue mission of distressed Filipino workers. "If there are people making calls, it's their privilege and I respect that. But don't use the name of the Department and the career officials unless sila talaga 'yung nanananawagan [they are the ones who are calling for it]," he said. However, Cayetano did not deny that there have been calls for his resignation. He added, "If a majority in the DFA says 'we cannot follow you,' I have no business being there. But so far, I have had meetings with them, and so far, they understand. They might not necessarily agree with our direction, but they understand." But Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Cayetano still enjoys the full trust of the President. "As far as the Palace is concerned, there is no reason for him to resign. Because I think he still has the full trust and confidence of the President," Roque said in a press briefing Thursday. But should the Foreign Affairs Chief push through with his resignation, Roque said it would be Cayetano's call. A report came out Wednesday claiming career officers from the DFA wanted Cayetano to resign from his post, citing the Foreign Affairs Secretary's lack of experience as a threat to the welfare of the Filipino workers in Kuwait. The DFA released a statement later in the day refuting the report, saying the letter demanding Cayetano's resignation has not been seen by the Office of the President. "The alleged clamor by career officials for the Secretary to resign as contained in the supposed letter came from some who do not represent the views of the entire career Foreign Service Corps, the DFA statement said. CNN Philippines' Patricia Garcia contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa is back in the country a week after the Kuwaiti government declared him a persona non grata and ordered his expulsion. Villa's return comes after a dispute over the rescue operations carried out by Philippine embassy personnel for supposedly distressed Filipino workers. "I'm really glad to be back in the Philippines, filled with pride and honor for having been given the opportunity to serve our country and most especially our fellow kababayan especially in Kuwait for almost 3 years," Villa told reporters late Wednesday evening upon his arrival. "I will always have fond memories of Kuwait." Villa will continue to give updates from the Filipino community in Kuwait. Meanwhile, at least two diplomats and a driver who were involved in the operations were left in the Gulf State. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said the two diplomats are facing kidnapping charges. "They are covered by diplomatic immunity and even if they are not, there's no crime, but they said we have to sort it out, they have to investigate," Cayetano explained. The Foreign Affairs Department said it cannot fully disclose developments on the discussion between the two countries, but Cayetano is confident that ties between Philippines and Kuwait will remain strong. "We assure everyone that the Philippine government will remain guided by the interest in seeking solutions that will be beneficial to all concerned. In other words po, kalma lang po, part po talaga 'to ng [calm down, this is just part of a] misunderstanding. (The) objective is the welfare of the Filipino people," he said. CNN Philippines' Triciah Terada contributed to this report. Updated to include statements from Malacanang. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) Only when Filipinos receive full protection in Kuwait will the ban on their deployment to the Gulf state be lifted. "Ang direksyon ng ating Pangulo pag 100 percent protected ang ating kababayan, then and only there will we have a lifting of the ban," said Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano Wednesday, after welcoming Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Villa back to the country. [Translation: The direction of the President is that when our countrymen received 100 percent protection, then and only there will we have a lifting of the ban.] The signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between both governments was one way to achieve this objective, Cayetano said. He also said they were discussing "other things" to arrive at the goal, but he could not disclose the details of the discussions as it could cause more confusion. President Rodrigo Duterte initially said the deployment ban was permanent, but Malacanang said the ban would only be in place until the signing of the MOU. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and other Foreign Affairs officials are scheduled to fly to the Gulf State on May 7 for the MOU signing. However, the status of the signing has been in limbo since Villa's expulsion. Roque said he is not sure if the meeting would push through. "Nothing is set. We're hoping, but not sure yet," Roque said in a press briefing Thursday. Villa was declared by Kuwait as persona non grata last week ordering him to leave the country, following the rescue mission of distressed Filipino workers in the Gulf state. The Department of Foreign Affairs called Villa's expulsion "deeply disturbing" and asked the Kuwaiti Ambassador to the Philippines to explain the decision. A video of the rescue mission went viral, to which Cayetano apologized and then said the Kuwaiti government accepted their explanation. Warrants of arrest were issued against FIlipino diplomats who were said to be involved in the rescue. Cayetano said they were accused of kidnapping. Cayetano said they were "sorting out" the issue as diplomats are given immunity. "We assure everyone that the Philippine government will remain guided by the national interest in seeking solutions that will be beneficial to all concerned. In other words po, kalma lang po [we ask for calm]," Cayetano said. He added this was just part of the misunderstanding, but they did have an objective. "Ang objective dito, ang welfare ng ating [The objective here is the welfare of our] overseas Filipino. And we will get to that objective while repairing any damage or restoring the strength of our relationship with Kuwait," he said. Faculty & Programs Rossin Connection Podcast: Hannah Dailey When Hannah Dailey says she feels like she's been at Lehigh her whole life, she means it. She did... City officials in both Allentown and Bethlehem are set this month to discuss proposals on making marijuana punishable by a fine, not jail. Allentown City Council on Wednesday night introduced a bill that, if approved, would make possession of a small amount of marijuana or marijuana paraphernalia and personal use punishable by a fine starting at $25. It's similar to a proposal introduced April 17 by Bethlehem City Council and a measure rejected Feb. 28 by Easton City Council. Easton officials said it's a state issue and passed a resolution urging a statewide to "decriminalize" small amounts of marijuana, making it a summary offense punishable by fine rather than a misdemeanor as designated by state law. Allentown council is scheduled to review the proposal as a committee of the whole at 6 p.m. May 8 in council chambers. Bethlehem council's public safety committee is scheduled to take up the proposal at 6 p.m. May 22 in Town Hall. Both bills propose fines of $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second in one calendar year, $100 for a third offense in a year and $150 or up to eight hours' community service for a fourth offense. The proposals earmark any revenue from the new law for recreation and police community engagement. The issue is a thorny one in the Lehigh Valley, with Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin staunchly opposed to contradicting state law. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli says municipalities have a right to consider a lesser penalty for what is being defined as possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana or up to 8 grams of hashish. "At its heart, arrests for small amounts of marijuana equate to a bad start for many and for others it's a life sentence without available opportunities," Jeff Riedy, executive director of the Lehigh Valley chapter of the marijuana advocacy group NORML, told Allentown council Wednesday night. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg, York, State College and Erie have all passed local laws on decriminalization, Riedy said. He told council he's been working with lawmakers in Harrisburg on a state marijuana possession proposal, House Bill 928. "I can tell you that the process is slow, distractions are many and I can tell you that the divide seems to grow daily," Riedy said. Allentown council heard from supporters of the local proposal, including health-care provider Christina DiArcangelo Puller. She touched on Pennsylvania sales of medical marijuana that began Feb. 16 to qualified patients. "It is important that they be able to walk down the street with their prescribed product in their pocket and not have to worry about being arrested because someone happened to smell something while they were on the street," DiArcangelo Puller said. Severin Freeman, a medical marijuana patient from Bethlehem, said the relief that comes with his prescription may be out of reach financially for many in the Lehigh Valley. It cost him $1,500 to get his medical marijuana identification card and his first month's prescription products. Reducing the penalty for possession could aid those who buy marijuana illegally. "Where are your sick residents supposed to turn when they have these conditions and they cannot afford it?" Freeman asked Allentown council. "There are people that truly can benefit that don't deserve to be called criminals and have to go to jail if they medicate." Allentown Bill 17 of 2018: Marijuana decriminalization by Anonymous arnc2g2N on Scribd Bethlehem Proposed Marijuana Possession Ordinance by Anonymous arnc2g2N on Scribd Editor's note: This article was changed from its original version to update the date for the Allentown meeting, following a change by city council. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. By Robert Donchez The recent announcement that Moravian College would be buying the historic Moravian Book Shop -- the nation's and perhaps the world's oldest continuously operating bookstore -- from the Moravian Church Northern Province has been met with mixed reactions in the community. I believe fears about the sale are unfounded. I join the college and the church in stating this is very good news, not only for Bethlehem's Main Street but for the book shop. Based on conversations I have had with the shop's current leadership as well as college officials, the sale was necessary to ensure the shops' survival in what has become a very tough retail environment in our downtown and in the Lehigh Valley. Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez. The shop is not just another business. It is a cultural and historic asset in Bethlehem since 1745. While the store has been struggling lately to be competitive, it has never forgotten the important role it has played as an anchor business in our downtown and part of the city's historic fabric, as a significant Moravian Church-related institution. We believe more than any other institution in the city, Moravian College understands how important the book shop is to our community. For them it's more than just a bookstore, too. We are very appreciative of the Northern Province's stewardship and ownership of the shop and understand why they made the difficult decision to transfer ownership to Moravian College. But the transfer couldn't have been anymore fateful or positive. The college will operate it as its college bookstore and maintain it as a community bookstore. The campus bookstore is no longer the place you go to buy your textbooks once a semester. It's part of the changing landscape of what colleges and universities offer their students. We believe the book shop, as envisioned by the college and their operational advisors, Barnes and Noble College Book Stores and Sodexo Food Service, can become more than just a college bookstore. It can become a Main Street "town square" where students, faculty, visitors and local members of the community can have lunch, meet friends for coffee or perhaps a glass of wine and yes -- buy a book. This sale is a win-win for everyone. Most of all it is a win for this cultural icon that has been a part of Bethlehem almost as long as there as been a Bethlehem. Moravian Book Shop is one of the next generation of campus bookstores -- remade like colleges have done with recreational and gym facilities and dining facilities. While Moravian College has many campus "hubs" of activity, this will be the first in the community. Considering the college campus extends from the south end of Main Street to the north end of Main Street, the shop holds a strategic significance for the college, providing campus connections and campus cohesiveness and identity. Moravian College said is drawing inspiration from the College of William and Mary and its bookstore in historic Colonial Williamsburg on the Duke of Gloucester Street. That's a great example of an historic store in an historic community. There are many other examples of Barnes and Noble-operated college bookstores that are very successful examples of the next generation of campus and community book stores. The University of Pennsylvania's new bookstore was built in a new retail complex that houses a coffee and sandwich shop, several new restaurants, a hotel and other retail development. Other stores managed by Barnes and Noble include, Penn State, Yale and Harvard. The most important thing is Moravian Book Shop and its unique brand of retail, centered around history and culture, will remain an important part of Bethlehem. Kudos to the church and the book shop board for being exceptional stewards of this cultural asset. I am convinced college President Bryon L. Grigsby and the board will take this level of stewardship to the next level. While the ownership may change, the commitment to the store's history, core values and cultural status will stay the same and grow. Robert J. Donchez is the mayor of Bethlehem. IBM Acquired Access360 in 2002 and rebranded their products as TIM 4.4. All later versions of the product are built off this code base. TIM 4.5 was released in September 2003. TIM 5.0 was released in July, 2005. TIM 5.0 was released in December 2007. TIM 5.1 was released in June 2009. IBM changed the name of the product to IBM Security Identity Manager (ISIM) with the release of version 6 (IBM Identity Manager V6.0) at the end of 2012. If you are interested in starting a career in IBM Tivoli Identity Manager, VirtualNuggets is the best choice. IBM TIM is designed to ensure that the participant achieves a deeper understanding of Tivoli Identity Manager in order to achieve certification. VirtualNuggets is the key to IBM Tivoli Identity Manager Training. The IBM TIM Training can be delivered by Certified Real-Time Experts in IBM Technology. VirtualNuggets offer almost all IBM Technologies and all other IT technical training. Demos will be conducted right in their suitable timings. Course Duration / Schedule We provide IBM Tivoli Identity Manager Training on regular and fast track batches both weekdays and weekends. 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VirtualNuggets, Contact No: + 1-707-666-8949 (USA), + 91-888-556-0202 (India) Email id: info (at) virtualnuggets (dot) com Telecommunications Oculeus Wins Fortress Cybersecurity Award 03.05.2018 22:29:08 - Companys Oculeus Anti-Fraud System acknowledged for improving threat detection on telecommunications networks (live-PR.com) - Oculeus Wins Fortress Cybersecurity Award Companys Oculeus Anti-Fraud System acknowledged for improving threat detection on telecommunications networks Frankfurt, Germany (May 3, 2018) Oculeus, a leading provider of innovative OSS/BSS solutions for telecommunications service providers and network operators, today announced that the company has won the Fortress Cybersecurity Award for improving threat detection on telecommunications networks with its Oculeus Anti-Fraud System. The - Oculeus Wins Fortress Cybersecurity AwardCompanys Oculeus Anti-Fraud System acknowledged for improving threat detection on telecommunications networksFrankfurt, Germany (May 3, 2018) Oculeus, a leading provider of innovative OSS/BSS solutions for telecommunications service providers and network operators, today announced that the company has won the Fortress Cybersecurity Award for improving threat detection on telecommunications networks with its Oculeus Anti-Fraud System.The Fortress Cybersecurity Award program identifies the worlds leading cybersecurity companies and products that are keeping electronic data and assets safe from growing threats and exposure to hacking. The Oculeus Anti-Fraud System improves the fraud prevention practices of telecommunications service providers and network operators by creating an automatic framework to rapidly identify and block threats of telecommunications fraud. While existing practices for telecommunications fraud prevention still rely on time consuming manual processes and cross department interactions, the Oculeus Anti-Fraud Systems combines anomaly detection and automated processes to detect and stop fraudulent telecommunications traffic in near-real-time before significant revenue is lost. The Oculeus Anti-Fraud System starts by building a baseline profile of expected telecommunications activity and then continuously monitors all telecommunications traffic. The system uses call attempt evaluations, call records and commercial data to check for traffic anomalies and patterns that are typical of fraud. In addition to rapid post-call fraud evaluations, the system performs fraud evaluations before the start of a call by working with a SIP redirect server and a pre-call fraud detection engine in order to evaluate all pre-call attempts and immediately block traffic that is identified as fraudulent. An unlimited number of scenarios can be analyzed for instances of fraud, including parameters such as time, frequency, call value, destination, origin and more. Telcos, especially their fraud management and revenue assurance teams, need to understand that the perpetrators of telecoms fraud today are using highly advanced cyber-hacking techniques to inject costly and damaging fraudulent telecommunications traffic and must adopt a proven cybersecurity approach to effectively combat fraud, explained Arnd Baranowski, CEO of Oculeus. We are proud to say that our Oculeus Anti-Fraud System is now an award winning technology that positions our telco customers to stop threats of telecom fraud within minutes, even seconds. Oculeus will be demonstrating its Oculeus Anti-Fraud Systems as well as its entire portfolio of OSS/BSS systems at the International Telecoms Week event in Chicago on May 6-9, 2018. Oculeus will be exhibiting at Booth #1512. About Oculeus Oculeus is a leading provider of innovative OSS/BSS solutions for telecommunications service providers, network operators and other providers of voice and SMS services. Oculeus systems portfolio includes the companys flagship Captura solution, a wholesale, routing, operations and billing system for managing a service providers interconnect business for voice and SMS. Oculeus also offers complete systems for fraud protection, network quality monitoring and dispute management, which can be deployed individually or as bundled solutions. Oculeus has been serving customers since 2004 as a technology partner and strategic vendor. Oculeus is a German GmbH company with offices in Germany and the United States. For more information, please visit Press Contact Tony Miller +1 617 418 3024 tony@noteya.com Fortress Cybersecurity Award program identifies the worlds leading cybersecurity companies and products that are keeping electronic data and assets safe from growing threats and exposure to hacking.The Oculeus Anti-Fraud System improves the fraud prevention practices of telecommunications service providers and network operators by creating an automatic framework to rapidly identify and block threats of telecommunications fraud.While existing practices for telecommunications fraud prevention still rely on time consuming manual processes and cross department interactions, the Oculeus Anti-Fraud Systems combines anomaly detection and automated processes to detect and stop fraudulent telecommunications traffic in near-real-time before significant revenue is lost.The Oculeus Anti-Fraud System starts by building a baseline profile of expected telecommunications activity and then continuously monitors all telecommunications traffic. The system uses call attempt evaluations, call records and commercial data to check for traffic anomalies and patterns that are typical of fraud. In addition to rapid post-call fraud evaluations, the system performs fraud evaluations before the start of a call by working with a SIP redirect server and a pre-call fraud detection engine in order to evaluate all pre-call attempts and immediately block traffic that is identified as fraudulent. An unlimited number of scenarios can be analyzed for instances of fraud, including parameters such as time, frequency, call value, destination, origin and more.Telcos, especially their fraud management and revenue assurance teams, need to understand that the perpetrators of telecoms fraud today are using highly advanced cyber-hacking techniques to inject costly and damaging fraudulent telecommunications traffic and must adopt a proven cybersecurity approach to effectively combat fraud, explained Arnd Baranowski, CEO of Oculeus. We are proud to say that our Oculeus Anti-Fraud System is now an award winning technology that positions our telco customers to stop threats of telecom fraud within minutes, even seconds.Oculeus will be demonstrating its Oculeus Anti-Fraud Systems as well as its entire portfolio of OSS/BSS systems at the International Telecoms Week event in Chicago on May 6-9, 2018. Oculeus will be exhibiting at Booth #1512.About OculeusOculeus is a leading provider of innovative OSS/BSS solutions for telecommunications service providers, network operators and other providers of voice and SMS services. Oculeus systems portfolio includes the companys flagship Captura solution, a wholesale, routing, operations and billing system for managing a service providers interconnect business for voice and SMS. Oculeus also offers complete systems for fraud protection, network quality monitoring and dispute management, which can be deployed individually or as bundled solutions. Oculeus has been serving customers since 2004 as a technology partner and strategic vendor. Oculeus is a German GmbH company with offices in Germany and the United States. For more information, please visit www.oculeus.com Press ContactTony Miller+1 617 418 3024 Press Information: Oculeus Germany Contact Person: Tony Miller Phone: +1 617 418 3024 eMail: eMail Web: http://www.oculeus.com 03.05.2018 22:29:08 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) The Office of the President is investigating all government officials linked to the controversial P60 million ad deal between the Department of Tourism (DOT) and state-run TV network PTV-4, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Thursday. Asked if Communications Secretary Martin Andanar who oversees PTV-4 would be one of the high-ranking officials probed for the deal, Roque said the probe will cover all officials who may be linked to the deal. "It would be an investigation that would cover everyone... It is being investigated by the Office of the President," Roque told in a media briefing. He said President Rodrigo Duterte is aware of the controversy and has ordered the investigation. Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo is in hot water after the Commission on Audit revealed her department has placed P60 million-worth of TV advertisements on the show of her brothers, Ben and Erwin Tulfo, on PTV-4. Despite the controversies surrounding Tulfo-Teo and other executives involved, Roque said they are still trusted by Duterte. "Every Cabinet member, until they're fired, enjoys the trust and confidence of the President... The President lets them go if it's proven they're involved in graft and corruption. That's the President's track record. " he said, Roque clarified the investigation conducted by the Office of the President will be informal and administrative, which is why he urged the Office of the Ombudsman to look into the audit report. "Ombudsman has to investigate and do its own case build up," he said. Audit report The Commission on Audit (COA) in its 2017 report said the multi-million transaction between the DOT and Bitag Media Unlimited Inc. (BMUI) a media outfit headed by Ben Tulfo lacked supporting documents. COA said DOT paid P60.009 million in three tranches to BMUI to place commercials on "Kilos Pronto," the show on PTV-4 which features Ben and Erwin Tulfo and Alex Santos. "Kilos Pronto" is a blocktimer, meaning it is paying PTV-4 to be able to air their show on the state-run TV network. The auditing body raised DOT's dealings with Bitag Media were "not supported with proper documents," such as the Memorandum of Agreement, Certificate of Performance, duly-approved budget utilization request, and billing statement detailing the media company's deliverables. Teo earlier denied there was a conflict of interest as her department had dealings with PTV-4, and not her brother's production house. COA, however, said the Tourism Department knew of the ad's placement in "Kilos Pronto." "The MOA (memorandum of agreement) on file was between PTNI (also known as PTV-4) and DOT, specifically requiring PTNI (People's Television Network Inc.) to air a 6-minute segment buy in PTVs Daily News-type magazine segment, Kilos Pronto, plus a 3-minute DOT spot within the program," the audit report read. Opposition lawmakers and activist groups have called for Teo's resignation. Stock Market News Centamin more than doubles profit in first quarter 03-05-2018 07:47 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News InterContinental Hotels expands luxury and upscale estate in the UK 03-05-2018 07:44 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News Standard Life and Phoenix report progress towards insurance deal 03-05-2018 13:26 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News US trade shortfall narrows sharply in March, capital goods exports higher 03-05-2018 14:39 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk (CNN) About 709,000 years ago, someone butchered a rhinoceros using stone tools on the Philippine island of Luzon. That may not seem remarkable except that humans weren't supposed to be in the Philippines so long ago. Before this discovery, the earliest indicator that early humans, or hominins, were even on those islands had been a single foot bone from 67,000 years ago, uncovered in the Callao Cave on Luzon. That's quite a time jump. Research says that the new findings push back the date for humans inhabiting the Philippines by hundreds of thousands of years. A study published Wednesday in the journal Nature also says that this securely dated evidence pushes back the date for humans living in the wider South East Asian islands region. Researchers came close to figuring out that Luzon may have been inhabited by early humans when stone tools and the fossils of large animals were discovered there in the 1950s. But they weren't able to securely date those findings to the Middle Pleistocene, which spans 126,000 to 781,000 years ago. But recent excavations in the Kalinga province of northern Luzon uncovered 57 stone tools and more than 400 bones of animals like monitor lizard, Philippine brown deer, freshwater turtles and stegodons, a now-extinct animal in the same family as elephants and mammoths. The biggest find was a 75% complete skeleton of a rhinoceros that was clearly butchered, with 13 of its bones displaying cut marks and areas where bone was struck to release marrow. All of the remains were dated to 709,000 years ago using electron-spin resonance methods, which can date material in a way that radiocarbon dating can't. These methods can be applied to such things as tooth enamel and rocks that had been heated, like quartz found in sediment. The discovery is important for a multitude of reasons, said study author Thomas Ingicco, associate professor at the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle. "First is the very old age of this site which multiplies by ten the formerly known early presence of Hominins in the Philippines," Ingicco wrote in an email. "Second is the evidence for colonization of an ever-isolated island in The Philippines by the early Middle Pleistocene and therefore most likely by a hominin species other than Homo sapiens." Although there is no direct fossil evidence to suggest who these early humans might have been, the "Kalinga toolmakers" represent a new area of interest and research. "The butchery marks were a very good surprise," Ingicco said. "I only can think of two sites where you have evidences of butchery activities, one is the famous site of Choukoutien in China and the other is Ngebung in the Sangiran Dome of Java, Indonesia. So we actually know very little about these early Middle Pleistocene hominins' behaviour in Southeast Asia." The finding adds to another intriguing area of continuing research that concerns the Callao Cave on Luzon. The previously discovered 67,000-year-old foot bone found in that cave appears to have come from an individual who had a form of dwarfism. This is similar to the discovery of fossil evidence suggesting "hobbits" on the Indonesian island of Flores. In 2016, two studies published in Nature described a partial lower jaw and six teeth, belonging to at least one adult and two children, dating to around 700,000 years ago. The fossils show how the hobbits' regular-sized ancestors "rapidly" shrank to about 3.2 feet high. University of Wollongong Centre for Archaeological Science senior fellow Gerrit van den Bergh, who also participated in the Kalinga study, was lead author of the Flores research. "The morphology of the fossil teeth also suggests that this human lineage represents a dwarfed descendant of early Homo erectus that somehow got marooned on the island of Flores," Yousuke Kaifu of Tokyo's National Museum of Nature and Science said of the 2016 studies. The new Luzon evidence "might be mimicking what we know now on Flores Island, meaning an early colonization of an isolated island followed by the diminution in body size and speciation of this remote hominin population," Ingicco said. "Luzon Island might have been the place for similar endemic evolution of hominins into dwarfism just like what happened on Flores Island. There is a huge time gap between Kalinga and Callao archaeological evidences with a lots of questions in between." These findings are like puzzle pieces that don't quite fit together yet. "At Kalinga we have tools and butchery activities, and at Callao they have hominin remains and some butchery marks as well but no tools," Ingicco said. "Comparing the two sites is not easy at the moment." How did the early humans reach these islands in the first place? Islands like Flores and Luzon are more than 1,700 miles apart, although the map would have looked much different 700,000 years ago. It is not believed that early humans were capable of building watercraft. But it can't be ruled out completely, Ingicco said. "Considering evidence of sea-crossing during the Middle Pleistocene is increasing in number, such a hypothesis cannot currently be rejected." What about the animals? Although fossils of large mammals were found, none of them belongs to carnivores -- which are not known for having good long-distance swimming skills, Ingicco said. But other large mammals are. Small animals like rats, tortoises and lizards have been found to float on vegetation to reach islands. That scenario is likely here, according to the study. Inclement weather, like typhoons, can also create natural rafts out of vegetation capable of carrying hominins and animals. "Colonization of the islands could have been possible thanks to natural rafts such as floating mangroves that typhoons occasionally break off the coast," Ingicco said. "These floating islands would have come with animals and possibly hominins on them. Such natural rafts are quite well documented for historical periods and it is therefore a likely way of colonizing Luzon Island during the mid-Pleistocene by hominins." The site is excavated for a month each year. The next excavation is planned for this summer. The researchers hope that more excavations will help to answer the questions prompted by their latest findings. "One is who made the stone tools and butchered the rhino," Ingicco said. "To answer this we have to continue excavating and hope to be lucky enough to find a Hominin fossil of some sort. "The other question is the origin of the dispersion. Did they come from the North as our team suspect or did they come from the West as some other archaeologists suspect? Comparing the early Middle Pleistocene fauna of the Philippines with what is known by the same age in China and in Indonesia will surely help to answer to this question." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Humans were in Philippines thousands of years before previously thought." The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) Rice farmers dependent on pumps for water supply bear the brunt of the government's new tax reform law, a rice research agency said Wednesday. The agriculture department's Philippine Rice Institute (PhilRice) asserted rice farmers doubled their expenses to fuel irrigation pumps for production since the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law's implementation in January. "TRAIN increases the production cost of pump-dependent farmers by 50 centavos for every kilogram of palay produced, which diminishes their income by 10%," PhilRice stated. The research agency said rice farmers spend up 3.47 per kilogram (/kg) for fuel while earning 5.12/kg before the TRAIN law was effected. Now they consume 3.97/kg which reduces their income to 4.62/kg. RELATED: Duterte signs tax reform bill, 2018 budget into law "Fuel consumption more than doubles for farmers who fully rely on pumps (397-413 liters/hectare), accounting for 29-30% of their total production cost," the article stated. Rice farmers normally consume 179 to 205 liters per hectare of fuel, which accounts for 13 to 15 percent of their total expense. According to PhilRice, rice farmers have to adopt mechanization and water-saving technologies to cushion the ill effects of the TRAIN law. The news come after the Office of the Solicitor General asked the Supreme Court to junk petitions against the TRAIN law for lack of merit. Solicitor General Jose Calida said "The government stands to lose P146.6B in 2018 from the lowering and restructuring of personal income tax. The TRAIN Law is expected to provide P89.9B in incremental revenues for 2018, and P786B within its first five years," in a tweet Monday citing the consolidated comment on the petitions. Opposition lawyers filed the petition to declare the TRAIN law as unconstitutional in January on the grounds it was signed without quorum of Congress. READ: Opposition solons ask SC to strike down new tax reform law President Rodrigo Duterte signed the TRAIN in December last year, saying he adopted the law to create a "simpler, fairer, and more efficient" tax system. READ: Duterte: 2018 budget, TRAIN govt's biggest Christmas gift to Filipinos CNN's Ella Hermonio contributed to this report. Download Image: Web With an understanding of the need for a place for black women to come together to be praised, to connect, to inspire and to grow with each other, the Lycoming College Black Womens Empowerment Workshop was held on March 24 on the Lycoming College campus. The event brought together Lycoming College Black women and supportive Black women from the community. The event fulfilled the planning committees and Colleges vision of a place where black women could learn about and sympathize with one anothers personal stories, as well as an opportunity for participants to better understand themselves and connect with other local women, alumni and the YWCA GirlsFirst group in Williamsport. Valuable knowledge and experiences were passed down to younger generations by inspirational individuals. It was amazing We laughed, cried and learned things about ourselves, remarked Deborah Sharp, senior economics major at Lycoming College and event organizer. Im blessed to have been able to help make the workshop happen, and I look forward to further supporting its growth. The planning committee and the College intend for the workshop to be an annual event and in time a regional event. Lycoming College is committed to promoting racial inclusiveness, gender equality and an appreciation of cultural diversity. It supports individual growth and community development through a combination of academic and co-curricular programs in a supportive residential environment that seeks to foster self-awareness, model social responsibility and provide opportunities to develop leadership skills. This story was updated to include the apology from Sen. Lacson. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) Senate President Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III denied Thursday having an agreement with Senate Majority Floor leader Vicente "Tito" Sotto III to transfer the Senate presidency. "No agreement. But will talk to Sen. Sotto immediately upon arrival. Then hold [majority] caucus," Pimentel told CNN Philippines. This follows a statement by Senator Panfilo Lacson that the "there is already an agreement or understanding" between the two leaders on the transfer of the Senate presidency. He added the Senate will respect whatever is agreed upon by Pimentel and Sotto, and will vote accordingly. Lacson later apologized for the statement through a tweet. "An apology is in order and is therefore offered to SP Pimentel. It was my understanding that a leadership change in the Senate between him and Sen Sotto does exist," he said. Sotto, meanwhile, said he will accept the post should the move push through. "I will humbly accept leadership chores that my colleagues will entrust with me," Sotto said. Both Pimentel and Sotto were elected to their posts on July 25, 2016. Pimentel is also the current president of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the current ruling party of President Rodrigo Duterte. Sotto, meanwhile, is a member of the Nationalist People's Coalition, and is allied with PDP-Laban as part of the supermajority bloc. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) "Dumb and cruel," that's how Senator Ping Lacson described the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)'s release of the administration's so-called narco list. The former police chief explains this is because the list of barangay officials allegedly involved in the drug list was not validated. "It's dumb and cruel," Lacson said during a press conference. "Dumb because ang intelligence report ginagamit ito para tumulong sa law enforcement na mag-gather ng ebidensya." [Translation: Dumb because intelligence reports are used to help law enforcement gather evidence.] By publicizing the list, the Senator said that PDEA might have jeopardized potential cases by forewarning barangay officials who might indeed be involved in illegal drug trade. These officials can now destroy evidence that can be used against them before an investigation can be conducted. READ: PDEA still gathering evidence on 200 'validated' drug-linked barangay officials "[It's] cruel kasi hindi mo pwede sabihing validated ang isang intelligence report," said Lacson. [Translation: It's cruel because you can't say that the intelligence report was validated.] He explained that an intelligence report can only be considered validated once a case supported with sufficient evidence has been filed before the Department of Justice or a prosecutor. Then it becomes the job of law enforcement officials to convert the intel report to a case once supporting evidence has been found. "It's wrong to assume or even say na validated yung intel report," Lacson said. "Pwedeng sabihin na confirmed by other sources pero hindi pwedeng sabihin na validated. Sabihin validated pero yun pala patay na, that negates kanilang claim na validated intel report." [Translation: It's wrong to assume or even say that the intel report was validated. You can say that it was confirmed by other sources but that doesn't mean that it's validated. If you say it's validated and then it comes out that one of the people has died already, that negates their claim that it's a validated intel report.] Those who were named in the list may even file libel charges against those who released the narco list for destroying their reputation, he warned. READ: Barangay chair on PDEA narco list denies involvement in illegal drugs Despite their inclusion in the 'narco list', people may still vote for these barangay officials. "Maski nalagay sa listahan at naisangkot na, naihayag sa publiko, kung palagay ng nasa barangay na nasama lang sa listahan for political purpose, iboboto pa rin nila yun dahil pananaw nila, mas kilala pa rin nila kandidato at sa kanilang judgment, di talaga totoo yung nilabas ng PDEA," he said. [Translation: Even if a politician has been put on the list, and it's been publicized, if the barangay believes that they're there because of a political position, then they'll still vote for them. In their opinion, they know their candidate better and based on their judgment, what PDEA said isn't true.] New Delhi : The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to apprise it on May 8 about steps taken for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board for implementation of its judgement on distribution of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. The Centre, which was asked by the top court to frame and file a draft Cauvery management scheme by May 3, today asked it to hear the matter a day after the Karnataka polls on the ground that the draft scheme has to be put before the Union Cabinet for approval. Attorney General K K Venugopal told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues are busy campaigning in Karnataka and hence the draft could not be placed before the Union Cabinet. Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, took strong exception at the submission saying, "This is the end of co-operative federalism and the rule of law in the country. This is the partisan attitude of the union of India to favour Karnataka." He referred to the ongoing summer and the water crisis being faced by citizens of Tamil Nadu. The bench also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud initially asked the Karnataka government to release four TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by May 8, but later directed the state to apprise it "as to how much water can be released". Earlier the apex court had asked the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments to ensure that peace prevails till it finalises the Cauvery management scheme for implementation of its judgment on water distribution. PTI Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) The United States said Thursday it is providing an additional P182 million pesos or roughly $3.5 million dollars for relief, recovery and rehabilitation efforts in Marawi, a southern city left in ruins after months of fighting between government troops and Islamic militants. U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim said that brings Washington's total contribution to the humanitarian response to Marawi to nearly P1.4 billion pesos or $26.4 million. "Together with our partners on the ground we will build transitional shelters, repair water and sanitation facilities, provide psycho-social support, establish safe spaces to protect women and children from exploitation and violence and also hopefully in the process help jumpstart the local economy thru income-generating activities," he said. Kim said the additional aid will to help almost 58,000 internally displaced people in Marawi and surrounding areas. The military said more than 1,000 people have been killed, including at least 847 militants, in the fighting that dragged on for months after ISIS-linked militants laid seige to the mosque-studded city, a center of Islamic faith in predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines. The ambassador added he feels upbeat about the relationship between the two countries. "These recent developments demonstrate the deep ties and unbreakable bond between the United States and the Philippines," he said. On the other hand, Kim said the U.S. remains vigilant to the continuing threats in Marawi and the whole southern Philippines. Last January, the U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory calling for "increased caution" in the southern Philippines. It warned its citizens not to travel to Marawi City due to "terrorism and unrest," as well as the Sulu archipelago and southern Sulu Sea for the same reasons, on top of crime. We publish here in English an oft-quoted text, The Sexual Revolution in Russia, by Dr. Grigory Batkis, published in German in 1925 as a contribution to the proceedings of the World League for Sexual Reform. Unable to locate an English language edition, we found a copy of the German original and had it translated by our German and Austrian comrades of the IMT. Introduction by Fred Weston Dr Batkis worked at the Social Hygiene Institute at the University of Moscow and in this pamphlet outlined the situation in the Soviet Union in relation to family law, womens and childrens rights, and also explained the impact of the new legislation concerning homosexual relations. A reading of this pamphlet reveals the immensely progressive changes introduced by Soviet law compared to the old Tsarist legislation. For example, couples living together had the same rights as legally married couples. Children deemed illegitimate under Tsarist law, i.e. born to unmarried mothers, were now deemed to be equal in law to legitimate children. The new laws were very advanced for the period. They even placed the interests of the child above those of the parents in cases of legal disputes. The subordinate position of women was ended and full political and economic equality between the sexes was declared. Maternity rights were introduced throughout society, including the provision of creches in workplaces. Dr Batkis also explained that acts of homosexuality and any other forms of sexual pleasure had the same legal status as heterosexual relations, adding that, All forms of intercourse are treated as a personal matter. The state intervened only if violence, abuse and coercion were involved. This was an extremely advanced outlook on same-sex love and remained the case until the Stalinist political counter-revolution reversed everything back to the old Tsarist measures of repression. Batkiss text highlights the approach of the Bolsheviks in power on these questions. It was later buried and forgotten about after the Stalinist regime in the 1930s undid a part of what had been achieved for women and homosexuals. Since the 1930s, reactionary anti-communists could always point the finger at Stalin and say see, this is what communists do to gays!. But the truth is always concrete and this document shows that communists actually acted far in advance of what most advanced capitalists countries were doing at the time, both in terms of womens rights and the rights of homosexuals. All those who today still claim Stalinism as part of their heritage need to do some serious self-questioning on this issue. Why did Stalin and the bureaucratic regime he governed over behave in such a barbaric manner? We await an answer from todays Stalinists and Maoists! 2 May 2018 Sexual legislation in the Soviet republics today is the product of the October Revolution. This great event is of prime importance, not only from a political point of view, inasmuch as the proletariat gained their political dictatorship, but also because the revolution had an impact on all spheres of life. The leaders of the revolution did not embark on their work of liberation, courageously and resolutely breaking the chains of the old laws and institutions, to merely proclaim pompous principles in their stead. Faced with everyday life, such proclamations would collapse like a house of cards. The first French Revolution was the most instructive example where grey theory and abstract thinking were the main inspiration for law and institutions. The social legislation of the Russian Communist revolution, on the other hand, does not intend to merely reproduce academic wisdom, but to be an expression of life itself. Only after the successful overthrow of the old order this victorious triumph of practice over theory was a new, firm legislation called for. And thus, new norms of family life and sexual relations were shaped according to the natural needs and demands of the people. The legislation of tsarism consisted of many volumes, whose basic principles were unlimited despotism, arbitrariness, violence and enslavement of women. The old Russian marriage and family laws were shaped by a system based on political and economic oppression. Features of the tsarist legislation were the following: the conception and perception of the family as a matter of merely private concern, the unlimited power and authority of the head of the family based on the Roman model of the pater familias legitimised by unscientific canonical law of religious morals that degraded women to being vessels of the devil, entirely ignoring the natural relations. The wife must fear her husband this accepted piece of wisdom, instilled into women during marriage ceremonies by the Orthodox Church was the basic idea behind all such legislation. The conditions of children were very similar to those of women. The relevant laws bore a rather significant title: On the power of the parents. Illegitimate pregnancies were almost unprotected, abortions were punished with forced labour, womens and child labour was shamelessly exploited. Interference in private matters, such as sexual life, under the cover of concern for public morality, while at the same time positively stimulating the spread of prostitution, such were the basic tendencies of that legislation. Ignorant clergy and administrative authorities had a huge influence on the mass of the population, especially the peasants. The idea of the satanic origin of women whose only right to exist derived from the satisfaction of their husbands sexual needs was taught for centuries and nourished the belief in the divine authority of these truly diabolical laws. The women who started the February Revolution, benefitted hugely from Soviet legislation / Image: public domain There was only one means, only one way by which workers and peasants could be masters and exercise unlimited power legitimised by God and Law. Politically and economically oppressed, always humiliated in their day to day lives, workers and peasants could only be masters within their own family. For a long time, progressive workers, peasants and liberal intellectuals had declared their opposition to the old medieval order that had repressed free, social and individual development in Russia, and which stood constantly in opposition to reality. War set the broad masses in motion. A hundred million peasants were confronted with new conditions and began to develop a new perception of life. In the factories and in the countryside women conquered their economic independence during the first period of the war. However, only the October Revolution could break the chains not just in a formal manner. Legislation was revolutionised. None of the old, despotic and infinitely unscientific laws were left standing. This was entirely different from reformist bourgeois legislation, where legal subtleties are used to salvage the notion of property in the sexual sphere, and which, in the final analysis, serves to entrench double standards in sexual life. All those laws were written with an active disregard for science. Soviet legislation embarked on a wholly different, entirely new road, with the objective of satisfying the needs and tasks of the social revolution. In the history of mankind this was the first revolution, the first society ever to take on this task. Soviet sexual law is based on principles that satisfy the demands of the majority of the population and which correspond to the results of modern science. It is an expression of todays life but, at the same time, it looks at tomorrow and at basic tendencies of a future development. It does not want to remain unaffected and inflexible until the end of time like the Ten Commandments. Like every social institution, Soviet legislation subordinates itself to the laws of development. The laws of development of public relations proclaim resolutely that with the abolition of private property, the family as an economic institution has been shaken to its foundations. Politically emancipated women are included in the public process of production; their old oppressed status, in which they were subordinate to children, kitchen and Church, has been shattered. The raising of children, previously defined as a private duty and a matter of private concern, has now become one of public concern, and is protected in the interest of society and the individual. Nonetheless, todays Soviet laws reflect a period of transition; destroying the old and preparing the new, a future that is still struggling to be born. But at the same time, it still reflects the situation of today, a young society which cannot yet regulate the processes of material life in their entirety, so as to guarantee provisions for all citizens and care for all children. The current working conditions for women in factories or other workplaces do not fully permit all women to work in the factories or other enterprises. The family unit still retains great power and practical importance, and the low level of technology restrains an immediate collectivisation of lifestyles. Public education of the children can only be put into practice very slowly and gradually due to a lack of material means. In this period of transition, Soviet legislation takes into consideration every aspect of life and builds the new society on the following principles: - Non-interference of either state or society in sexual relations, insofar as they do not harm or violate anyones interest. - Full economic, social and political equality of both sexes. - State and society are legal guardians and protectors of children and women. Protection of children and women is demanded in every sphere. - Laws that are linked to religious ceremonies are to be abolished. - The law is modified if necessary; practical application of the law will be the general principle. This is quite the contrary of the old idiom Fiat justitia pereat mundus [Let justice be done, though the world perish]. Excerpt from the former tsarist laws, as an overview and for comparison Article 106 of the Code: A husband shall love his wife as his own body and live with her in harmony; he shall honour her and assist her during sickness. He shall provide his wife with nourishment and support to the best of his ability. Article 107: A wife shall obey her husband as the head of the family, abide with him in love, respect and unlimited obedience and render him every satisfaction and affection as the mistress of the house. Article 164: Parental rights: The parents power extends to children, of both genders and of all ages. This is subject to restrictions which have been defined previously. Article 165: The parents have the right to use domestic measures for the purpose of improvement of intractable and disobedient infants. In case of a failure of these measures the parents are empowered to: 1) Send children of both genders to prison in case of stubborn disobedience against the parental power, immoral conduct and other blatant misbehaviour, unless they are employed by the state. The corresponding legislation is stipulated in article 1592 Edict on punishment (in the year 1885). 2) Submit complaints about their children to judicial institutions.Stubborn disobedience against the parental power, immoral conduct and other blatant misbehaviour can be punished by certain measures when required by the parents. These measures can amount to up to 2-4 months of imprisonment and can be enforced by the parents without specific inquiry. The parents are entitled to reduce or lift the punishment at their discretion. Article 122: It is the duty of the police to make sure that young people respect their elders and the aged, and that children obey their parents. Article 177: Childrens duties:The children are obliged to attest their wholehearted deference, obedience, devotion and love of their parents. They must serve their parents, speak about them with esteem and bear parental admonition and ameliorative measures with patience and without complaint. The childrens respect must continue beyond the parents death. Article 168: No complaint concerning personal insults whatsoever be it of either a civil or penal nature will be accepted in case of application by the children against their parents.This law is not applicable in cases of parents who are guilty of criminal behaviour concerning their children. In these cases the local authorities provide necessary protection by investigating the case and taking the persons that are deemed guilty to the law courts. The new [Soviet] legislation The marriage law of Soviet Russia reduced marriage to a purely civil affair. Only civil marriage is lawfully recognized as such. Couples that celebrated their marriage in a church wedding before the revolution are an exception. Their validity as well as their equal legality regarding civil marriage was confirmed by the new law. There are special administrative bodies with the task of registering marriages in special registries. The spouses must be fully aware of the consequences of their actions. Only sane and accountable persons can be registered for marriage. Lack of maturity, i. e. young age, is regarded as a biological obstacle to marriage. The legal minimum age for the marriage partners to celebrate a legal marriage must be 18 years of age for men and 16 years of age for women. In specific parts of the country where puberty is reached earlier, these minimum age thresholds can be lowered. Another obstacle to marriage is kinship in direct line (mother-son/father-daughter, etc.) Marriages that violate these laws are still valid if they no longer violate the law at the time of contestation (e.g. the minimum age has been reached) or if the marriage has produced children or pregnancy. The couple is free to choose either the husbands or wifes surname, a compound name or for both to keep their old surnames. For example, if the husband's surname is Schultz and the wife's surname is Mayer, the couple can either decide to adopt the name Schultz or Mayer as a surname or adopt the compound name Schultz-Mayer. The same applies to the childrens surnames. The child can have the surname of either parent or the compound surname depending on the parents agreement. Every citizen reaching the legal age is entitled to the right to change their surname. People's Commissar for Justice in 1925, Dmitry Kursky / Image: public domain When getting married, the partners keep their nationality/citizenship if neither of them desires to adopt the nationality/citizenship of the other. Another reason to deny registration of a marriage would be if one of the partners is already registered in another marriage. One cannot register two marriages at a time. Sexual relationships outside the registered marriage, however, are not persecuted in any way. Although Soviet law envisages a system of registered civil marriages, it also deems both partners in every relationship that is like marriage to have the same rights and duties as in an officially registered legal marriage. If, potentially, one of the partners additionally to the first relationship is in a relationship or even a registered marriage with someone else, the same duties for both the relationship and the marriage are applied. This is the fundamental difference between the laws of bourgeois states and those of the workers' and peasants state: the latter grants the same rights to every lasting relationship even though these relationships may not be registered in a formal way. An attempt is made to establish some order in those cases of intermixed coexisting relationships if the relationship clearly harms one of the persons involved. A relationship is classified as harmful if its polyamorous character is not made known to every partner involved. Such a case is regarded as fraud. An example of a harmful relationship would be the following: Someone who lives in a registered marriage for some time and provides for his family. If this man were to enter into a second relationship the same duties would be demanded. As a result, the first family would be harmed since their material conditions would worsen. Let us assume that he does not tell his first wife about the second relationship this would undoubtedly be a case of fraud. The same applies to keeping his first family a secret. The practice of daily life leads to the recognition of the fact that what should be penalized is not the double relationship, but the fraud and the resulting violation of the familys interests. The law emphasises that every relationship that has the character of a marriage also grants the same rights and duties to the partners as in officially registered marriages. If one of the involved partners lives in a parallel relationship, or even a registered marriage, he has the same duties in every single one of these relationships. A new draft law which will be presented to the Central Executive Committee of the Soviet in the near future includes the following article: Individuals who live in marriage-like non-registered relationships are always entitled to the right to certification of these relationships. The demand of registration does not grant any special rights but is to a certain degree only a concession to real life. In a memorandum concerning the proposed law, the People's Commissar of Justice wrote: Registrations are only required to the extent that the law guarantees certain privileges to the family. A timely registration makes it easier to state the fact that a family exists. Also, the old element of authority that is inherent in these ceremonies still plays a role amongst the masses. One can feel a growing demand among the masses to replace the former, religious, mystical sacrament of marriage with the secular act of registration. Statistics show that registered marriages have actually surpassed the number of church weddings. In outlying areas of the Soviet Union, certain paragraphs have been added to the common Soviet law because the relics of old national institutions in such areas, for example in the Caucasus, Turkestan and Siberia, still play a big role in the lives of their peoples. Amongst the Nomadic peoples the Kirgiz, Uzbeks and the Russian mountain tribes a system of common law has been used since primitive times. Marriage by abduction, marriage by acquisition, the inheritance of the widows as part of the deceaseds entire fortune all this was legitimate due to customary right. The woman was treated as an object, as a commodity, as a part of the fortune. She had no possibility of freely expressing her volition whatsoever. In the course of fighting these last relicts of primitive times, the local governments enacted legislation such as a strict prohibition of bride kidnapping, payment of ransoms, coercion to marry against the will of the woman and other norms that until now repressed the womans freedom. All these additional laws were approved by the Soviet Central Executive Committee as part of an all-Russian Code in the last session of their congress. The latest proposal for the new marriage law contains an important article written by Narkomedrav. According to this draft, the spouses are obliged to acknowledge in writing that they both have been fully informed about each others state of health, especially concerning psychological and sexual diseases and tuberculosis. This draft is likely to be adopted by the legislative bodies. It goes without saying that this proposal of Narkomedravs is of paramount importance for social hygiene. It is certain to be passed and has been approved by all relevant legislative institutions. The question of the obligation of medical inspection before marriage was postponed several times but not rejected. Both the comparatively low level of organisation of medical aid and the still low cultural level of the masses present obstacles. Besides all the other questions and statements, special attention is paid to the state of health of both partners in order to prevent a severe and contagious disease from ruining the marriage later. According to Soviet laws, marriage ends with the death of one of the partners or in the case of the intention of one or both partners to dissolve the marriage. Soviet legislation does not aim to force people to continue an unwanted relationship. However, it is the task of the State to provide protection of the interests of the weaker part in most cases those of the woman and especially the children and to register their claims and impose the duties upon the stronger partner that resulted from the sexual communion of two people. In case of a unanimous decision of the partners concerning the dissolution of their marriage, it is sufficient to submit an affirmation that includes the duties towards the other person and the children. This must be handed to the local authorities. In case of disagreement the divorce is tabled to the Peoples Court. The courts task is the establishment of mutual duties. Of course, the judge, faced with a dramatic situation, does not remain a cold observer. He will always try to reconcile the spouses when this seems possible. Indeed, he often succeeds in doing so. It is false to claim that the number of divorces increased due to the legal possibility of divorce. The highest number of divorces in Russia was documented in April 1918. It was almost the proverbial time of degeneration of marriages that had been celebrated in Tsarist times. In most cases they were only defined as marriages in juridical terms. Also divorces of couples that became estranged from each other in the new times, in the light of revolutionary upheaval, were observed. Marriage and divorce laws under the early Soviet regime were the most advanced in the world / Image: public domain The urban proletarian worker who considers himself to be an active member of public life did not want to stay with his wife who in the majority of cases did not understand and share his interests. He therefore has become estranged from his wife and his family and has striven to free himself from it. The woman stayed behind with the children as a victim in the midst of the difficult conditions of that time. In rural areas, a different process could be observed. The man having been a soldier in a long war, often wounded returns home and finds his wife with a new man and a new family. In such cases the man is a victim of the conditions. The Soviet legislation was as mentioned above forced to introduce laws which defended the rights of the weakest partner. The number of divorces subsequently began to decrease. It is even possible to state an inner consolidation of marriages nowadays. The annual rate of divorces in Moscow, for instance, amounts to 3,500, while at the same time, the rate of marriage is 20,000. Full mutual liberty in the relationship between man and woman leads to a healthy amicable relationship and the stabilisation of the marriage. The spouses are economically independent from each other. The fortune earned and owned by each of the spouses before marriage continues to be his or her personal property. Any contracts that might undermine one spouses rights for the benefit of the other are invalid. At the same time, all wealth that was acquired during the marriage is the property of both spouses. In case of divorce it is subject to being divided. Family structures in Soviet Russia have not yet passed the stage where in most cases the man makes a living for the family outside and the woman stays at home, caring for the children. It is difficult to say whose work is the hardest the mans work in the factory or the womans work at home. In very many cases the women have harder work to carry out than the men. Therefore, the woman is seen as having equal ownership of any family income. Of course, this legislation is also applied to the man if he is not able to work for reasons of health or other reasons, whereas the woman is economically independent. Generally, marriage and family legislation defines the duty of mutual help in times of economic hardship. Only blood relations are regarded as the basis of a family. Formal relations of any other kind are not considered. Adoption of children has only been legalised recently. The problem of legitimate and illegitimate children has ceased to exist under law and in juridical practise. All children, both legitimate and illegitimate, possess the same rights in relation to their parents. The parents have the same duties in relation to their children, regardless of whether they were born inside or outside marriage. The fundamental idea and aim of family law is in every respect the protection of the childrens interests. Family law has become a genuine institution for the child. Its first concern is the identification of the parents. The mother is obliged to indicate the childs fathers name when applying for birth registration. The spouses are obliged to confirm their parenthood by signature. The law emphasises and supports the mothers right to investigate the childs father. Like in Scandinavia, the mother is entitled to indicate the name of the man she presumes to be the childs father three months before childbirth. If the mentioned man does not protest within a period of two weeks, he shall be recognised as the childs father. In case he does protest, the case goes to court. A deliberate untruthful denial of paternity will be treated as perjury and punished as such (as a crime). Russian law has anticipated the cases in which the mother could not give testimony about the childs father with a reasonable degree of certainty because of sexual relations with two or more men during the time of conception. In such cases in which any of the men could potentially be the father the court orders that all of them are obliged to pay the childs expenses and provide the necessary means for the mother. The mothers right to receive alimony is statutory and will be implemented rigorously. The demand for maintenance and its payment will no longer be implemented juridically but enforced by the public authorities. This is a big relief for the mother. Refusal to pay maintenance will be punished as a crime. The court decides the amount of maintenance based on need. In case of changed circumstances it is possible to revise or modify the judgement at any time. Likewise, it is possible to revise the admission of paternity. This is also the case if desired by the children. The parents interests concerning the children are only acknowledged if they correlate with the childrens interest and wellbeing. It is even possible for the court to go against the codified law if this is in the childs interest. In this regard, a big difference between the old Tsarist legislation and legislation of the new Russia is once again clear. The old law and its most important judicial institution, the Senate, allowed the parents to withdraw their children from any care and take them home at any time even if it was obvious that the return to their parents would have negative effects on the children. Soviet legislation contains similar articles that grant the parents the right to claim their child from other persons. But the practical application of the law has shown that in case of doubt the court decides in favour of the childs interest and does not permit the parents to claim the return of their child in their care. We have a case in the governorate of Premsk from the year of 1919 which is of special interest: A son was born to the married couple Baburin in 1913. The childs father was a soldier at that time. In his absence, the mother impecunious and without means left the child at the door of a monastery. The child was found and given over to the married couple I which brought up the child as though it were their own. Six years later the married couple B. took legal action for the restitution of the child. The People's Court adhered to the law and implemented procedures on behalf of the parents interest. However, at a higher level of jurisdiction, the following was announced: The article concerning the restitution of the child could only be implemented if the restitution were in the childs interest. The child, having lived in the family for seven years and being comfortable in said place, did not want to go back to the (biological) parents. Therefore, it was decided that the child should stay with the foster parents. Many other examples could be quoted all of which were primarily in the childs interest. Child protection could not be legally fixed in a more rational, more flexible way (also concerning the parents). Article 153 of the Family Code is a (marvellous) expression of this. The parents rights are always treated as subordinate to the childs interest. Everything that follows from this, every further legal step, is a continuation of these few words of such great content. Education will be organised collectively by the parents, and no parent shall act arbitrarily without the consent of the other. In case of disagreement between the spouses the court takes the decision. Abuse of parental rights leads to their loss. In such cases the child is withdrawn from the parents. By these means the child is under the constant protection of the law and no egoistic actions (not even of the parents) can harm the child. (*) [(*) For a decision concerning the childs labour the childs agreement is needed. They (children) have the full right to dispose of their earned salary. Profitable work is not allowed for adolescents under 16 years of age; a dispensation from the age of 14 can only be permitted in exceptional circumstances.] The implementation of all this Soviet legislation not only frees the family from the former enslavement, but also protects it from the violence and arbitrariness that formerly dominated family life. Furthermore, Soviet legislation addresses the question of material privileges given at birth and focuses on changing the current inheritance law in accordance with the general social legislation. At the core of this is the principle of equality birth shall not lead to future economic inequality. The family is not the source of accumulation of wealth and property that is passed on from generation to generation. This fundamental inequality of the bourgeois world and the capitalist order has now been eliminated. The future social ranking of the child will not be determined by the parents status any longer. In this transitional phase, the family exists as an institution where family members help and support each other. Adults unable to work, and children in particular, can claim means of support from other working members of the family. The claim expires if the said family member has access to public or state funds, for instance if a child in a nursery or a disabled person are in an institution corresponding to their needs. The children, however, have no claim to their parents property just as the parents have no claim to the property of their children. The testator can only obtain the property that remains posthumously under one condition: all obligations towards family members that the deceased person had must have been fulfilled. Furthermore, the property cannot exceed the limit of 10,000 roubles. In the absence of a will, the sum of 10,000 roubles is evenly distributed amongst all family members. The rest shall be the property of the state. (**) [(**) Code concerning inheritance. The sum of 10,000 roubles represents the common average value of peasant property, i.e. the inventory and the buildings. The ground itself cannot be passed on because it is not considered private property. Nonetheless, it is handed to a peasant for his use for his whole life. Every family member receives a proportion of the ground regardless of their age.] The liberation of women and the protection of the children are not limited to the sphere of family and marriage. General legislation of Soviet Russia has established full political and economic equality between the sexes. The mother is under special legal protection. Maternity protection is a prominent feature of the Labour Law. A mother can make use of maternity leave for a period of three months in total. Furthermore, the hours of the working day can be reduced for women in most of the factories; also special leave of absence for a breastfeeding mother during her working time is made possible. Besides this, there are the norms of social security, various government measures with the aim of improving healthcare and the provision of special needs for mothers, as well as a series of measures that consolidate the mothers maternity rights and material means that enable her to put her rights into practice. Here, the mothers right to maternity is not a simple declaration, not a solemn phrase of a bourgeois constitution (see the Weimar constitution). The mothers right of maternity is established through numerous institutions that help and protect both mother and child. It is sufficient to refer to particular norms concerning mother and child care that are put into effect in the form of a social insurance, i.e. the measures that enable the mother to breastfeed her child. Almost all big factories and companies with a high percentage of female employees are obliged to set up creches. During seasonal work, for example during the summer period in the countryside, there are summer creches. Another matter of relevance is the question of abortion. Soviet legislation does not treat the procedure of abortion as an irrelevant question for the womans health and the legislative organs are not indifferent and neutral witnesses and observers of the living conditions that force thousands of women to carry out an abortion. H. Semashko [Note: People's Commissar of Public Health 1918-1930] writes in an article: neither the working woman, nor the peasant woman has an abortion because she does not want to have children it is rather because she cannot have any more children. Most of these women already have children. Barely a fifth of women that have an abortion are childless. On average, an abortion is carried out after the womans fourth child. The low cultural level of the broad masses degrades woman to a birthing machine. Taking into consideration that families with many children lack the means to feed their offspring, abortion seems to be a natural instrument to protect the woman from total exhaustion and the children from starvation and misery. As long as the state cannot provide full security and protection for every child that is born, it has no right whatsoever to force a woman to bear children. Furthermore, life itself is stronger than any legislation and speaks for itself. Even in Tsarist Russia abortions were carried out, just as in other countries where women were threatened with the most severe draconian punishment. The number of abortions added up to hundreds of thousands. Yet only a few hundred cases went to court. Most of the mothers were poor and indigent. Are there any educational values whatsoever in these dreadful norms of law? Soviet legislation free from any hypocrisy or sham moralism has now declared total exemption from punishment for abortion. It also enables women who were driven to abortion due to difficult circumstances to have an operation as safe and hygienic as possible. By the end of 1920 it was decided that the interruption of a pregnancy may be carried out by doctors in a hospital. Later, the Penal Code stipulated that it was only possible to be punished for carrying out an abortion if this was in direct contradiction to the law. Accordingly, it is a criminal act to: Carry out an abortion without being a doctor. Carry out an abortion under adverse conditions or carry out abortions as a personal trade (this includes doctors). The latter case will lead to a considerably higher punishment. The woman herself, however, remains unpunished in any case. (*) [(*) Chapter 5 of the Penal Code. Part I, homicide. Article 146. If the abortion of the foetus or an artificial pregnancy interruption is carried out without the necessary medical training or under adverse conditions, the punishment will be up to one year of imprisonment or forced labour, including if the mother has consented. If the abortion was carried out for profit or without the mothers consent or if the abortion caused the mothers death, the punishment will be increased up to five 5 years of imprisonment.] These laws hold the possibility of having negative effects, or even a sort of negative influence and encouragement to have abortions even in cases where the decision is taken without a sufficient number of reasons. Very frequently the woman decides to have an abortion because of a lack of knowledge about the rights that she can claim as a mother or because she is unable to assert a claim and not because she is in a difficult position. Particularly with regard to so-called illegitimate pregnancies, women are put under enormous pressure shame, lack of knowledge of the mothers rights towards the childs father all this forces the woman to have an abortion. In order to bring about a change, special commissions were constituted mostly composed of women, working women and peasant women. Women that intend to interrupt their pregnancies will be received in a friendly, comradely manner. Together, all the circumstances that drive the woman to want an abortion will be considered. Measures and resources will be found to make the abortion avoidable. In this context, all her rights will be explained to the mother (the illegitimate mother in particular) she will get help to find out the childs father and enforce maintenance costs from him. It will be offered to her that she can count on material support, given that she can find accommodation in a corresponding establishment during pregnancy and lactation. If necessary, the child can be brought up at the expense of the state. (*) [(*) Abortion. Abortion used to be carried out by healers or midwives and kept a secret. These interventions often resulted in serious injuries and death of the woman. Nowadays they are treated as a medical operation. The fact that the number of abortions in hospitals has increased, therefore, is not an argument against Soviet law but rather for it. Statistics reveal there has been a decrease in the number of women who visit a hospital after an inadequate abortion for after-treatment. Between 1910 and 1922 this number has seen a decrease of 50 percent in one of the biggest birth centres of Moscow. The number of medical diseases in this area has declined even more. The growing number of abortions that are carried out in hospitals indicates that women are mainly being directed towards hospitals and are therefore protected from the dangers that result from a non-professional procedure.] In many cases especially during the first pregnancy where an abortion is most dangerous it is possible to prevent premature abortion by means of said measures. In hopeless cases where relief is hardly possible, i.e. families with many children, abortion is considered in spite of everything. And yet, even with the strongest and most determined will, and the most glowing ambitions of the Soviet government, these ideal norms are not capable of shaking off the yoke of centuries-old oppression and slavery of women. Even though the Russian general public showed such widespread sympathy towards these measures and efforts, it became apparent that it was impossible to wipe out all the cruel, hideous symptoms of womens oppression that had existed for centuries. We have already mentioned that Soviet legislation had to struggle with the remains of all the national institutions of the barbaric nomadic peoples of the East. It is struggling, and with it, the entire public is fighting a hard and defiant battle against another barbaric relic of the old order: prostitution. During the civil war period at the time of the general obligation to work it seems that the question of prostitution ceased to exist. This was for the following reasons: There was no unemployment accordingly there was no reason for women to prostitute themselves. In the face of the blockade and general work obligation there was only a low demand for prostitution everyone received only as much as was needed for the satisfaction of their basic needs. The bourgeois class had disappeared for some time. At that time, Soviet legislation treated prostitutes as deserters from work. All citizens were equally provided with the same rights to satisfy their most basic needs. The end of the civil war meant an end to the general obligation to work, which implied unemployment especially of women. On the other hand, Russia was experiencing the rise of a new bourgeoisie. The so-called NEP-men were making immense fortunes and created a fresh demand for prostitution. These two elements led to the return of prostitution. The measures against prostitution took on a new form. Prostitution was not deemed as desertion from work any longer the state was not able to support every unemployed woman and provide her with job possibilities. Therefore, the fight against prostitution is by no means a fight against the prostitute. Measures are being taken to alleviate the effects of female unemployment. Measures like the organisation of assistance for unemployed women, the creation of asylum and shelter for homeless women, and the education of the masses are of particular importance. Every forceful measure is strictly prohibited, i.e. control or any kind of secret or open regimentation of prostitutes is categorically prohibited. Later decrees confirm this position administrative and social institutions turn their attention primarily against all agents and accomplices of prostitution. The Penal Code provides for the harshest punishment of bar [brothel] owners, procurers and women-traffickers that facilitate prostitution. The struggle against prostitution is not a mere administrative matter. The All-Russian institutions, as well as local committees that fight against prostitution, are composed of deputies of local administrations and representatives of various public and professional organisations, notably the womens organisations. Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) counselling centres play a decisive role in the fight against prostitution. The scope and duties of these counselling centres range from the medical treatment of STDs to educating the general public about the correlation between the spread of STDs and the rise of prostitution. To this effect, the counselling centres work together with interested organisations. They implement measures related to social aid and provide an opportunity for those unfortunate women to give up their ugly trade. The fundamental approach of Soviet legislation concerning the sexual affairs of the individual is one of non-interference. On the whole, however, when individual freedom in the sexual sphere leads to unhealthy phenomena in the general life of society, the Soviet justice system strives to intervene by law. Likewise, Soviet justice enacts severe laws against those who act in a violent and selfish manner in a sexual context regarding the interests of the other. The Penal Code provides severe penalties for those who are not up to their civil obligations such as not paying maintenance and neglecting paternal duties. A specific part of the code elaborates on sexual offences. A sexual offence shall be deemed to be any sexual act with a child. The penalty is 3 to 5 years of imprisonment. The more demeaning a sexual act with a child is, the more severe the punishment will be than the above. The Penal Code contains severe punishment for rape by physical or psychological subjugation, as well as coercion of a woman in a state of helplessness, to enter into sexual intercourse, if she is dependent on the abuser in a material or job-related way. Furthermore, the infection with a sexual disease is punishable. However, legislation does not intervene in any sexual relationship between two adult individuals that is not forced and which is free from pressure. Sexual intercourse of that kind is treated as a matter of private concern of the persons involved. The question of public morality is thus irrelevant for legislation. Acts of homosexuality, sodomy and any other forms of sexual pleasure have the same legal status as the above mentioned. Whilst European legislation defines all this as a breach of public morality, Soviet legislation makes no difference between homosexuality and so-called natural intercourse. All forms of intercourse are treated as a personal matter. Criminal prosecution is only implemented in cases of violence, abuse or a violation of the interests of others. "Acts of homosexuality, sodomy and any other forms of sexual pleasure have the same legal status as the above mentioned. Whilst European legislation defines all this as a breach of public morality, Soviet legislation makes no difference between homosexuality and so-called natural intercourse. All forms of intercourse are treated as a personal matter. Criminal prosecution is only implemented in cases of violence, abuse or a violation of the interests of others." / Image: Justin Torres These are the basic intentions of the revolution concerning sexuality. This revolutionary legislation reflects the sexual revolution as it proceeded in real life. The enemies of this new society invent myths and lies about wild free love, the socialisation of women and similar nonsense and spread it throughout the whole world. After all that has been outlined here, it is obvious how stupid and crude this sensational news has been. Observation of real life teaches us the exact opposite. It has been stated before that marital relations have experienced an inner consolidation, and therefore at this point it is worth saying something about the gender relations of the adolescent generation. Immediately after the great revolutionary convulsion that Soviet Russia lived through, it was thought that the sex life of the youth was of particular concern. It brought back memories of the bitter experience of the complete hodgepodge in respect to sexual self-realisation by the youth the urban and so-called educated youth in particular in the year of 1905, in times of the restoration of reaction. The lives of the intelligentsia, and particularly the youth, during the years of reaction were filled with pornographic literature such as Arzibashevs Shanin, sexual circles and associations in which one could uninhibitedly release ones sexuality. How did things stand in Russia in the period of the October Revolution and the civil war that followed and how did things stand with Russian youth in the period of the transition to the period of peaceful building [of a new society]? Eroticism and sexuality were rather marginal aspects during the revolution. The youth lived and breathed for the great revolutionary idea and were captured by the revolutionary spirit. During the quieter times of reconstruction, it was feared that the youth which had now cooled down and sobered up would tread a path of unlimited eroticism as experienced in the year of 1905. This was not the case. The passionate work for the organisation of public and private life was the spiritual nourishment of the youth, especially the female youth. Based on experiences in Soviet Russia, I would argue that a process of sexual cooling down took place amongst women. The process of undergoing social liberation and being included into a process of transition from a mere female to a real human being replaced her sexual desire even though only temporarily. From now on the major task will be the sexual education of the youth. Education is always the first step in a process of creating new conventions and a new life. The problems of sexual pedagogy are the topical talk of the day in Soviet Russia, and soon they are going to be the topic of the most vivid discussions at the All-Russian Congress [of Soviets]. To raise healthy human beings, citizens of the future society whose natural desires are fully synchronised with the great social tasks that lie ahead of them, this shall be the task of sexual pedagogy in Russia. The directives shall therefore be: everything that is creative in the natural desires shall be encouraged; everything that has damaging and harmful effects on the personal development of a member of the collective shall be removed. A society based on these principles, would be a society of harmony and love of life. Today, we have already seen the liberation of love from all political and economic constraints. Free love in Russia is not some kind of rampant and wild self-realisation but rather a relation between two free and independent human beings. German translation by Stephanie Theilhaber, 1925; Published by Dr. Felix A. Theilhaber Pamphlet IV, 1925 Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 3) A court in Valenzuela City junked drug charges on Thursday against nine suspects in the smuggling of 6.4 billion worth of shabu from China in May 2017. The suspects, however, are not yet off the hook as they face another case before a Manila court. It is the second time that a Valenzuela Regional Trial Court (RTC) has dismissed charges against the same suspects. The Valenzuela RTC Branch 284 on April 23 banished the transportation and delivery of drugs case filed by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in January, after an original importation case was junked weeks earlier by the city's RTC Branch 171. The dismissed charges were those filed against against Richard Tan, owner of the Hong Fei Logistics warehouse in Valenzuela City where the drug shipment was found; fixer Mark Taguba II; alleged middlemen Manny Li and Kenneth Dong; import company owner Eirene May Tatad; Customs broker Teejay Marcellana; and Taiwanese businessmen Chen I-Min, Jhu Ming Jhun, and Chen Rong Huan. The decision, penned by Presiding Judge Arthur Melicor, granted the motions filed by suspects Tan, Taguba and Marcellana to dismiss the complaint on the grounds of forum shopping. Forum shopping happens when a case is filed in two separate courts in hopes that one of them will rule favorably. "Filing a case for importation in Manila after the court in Valenzuela City has dismissed an earlier case for importation for lack of jurisdiction, and then filing another case, this time for transportation, before this court involving the same accused and based on the same facts, issues and arguments, clearly bears the hallmarks of forum shopping," Melicor's decision read. Melicor in his resolution said the prosecutors divided the criminal information importation and delivery between two separate courts, were part of a "common ultimate design" eventually ending in the deposit of the shabu shipment in Hong Fei's warehouse. "From the point of view of the conspiracy to import the subject shabu, it may be said that the transport and delivery to the Hong Fei warehouse was a mere part of a series of acts to execute their shared design to import shabu," the decision read. Another importation of drugs case filed in November last year against the suspects is pending at the Manila Regional Trial Court. The DOJ filed the charges against the nine suspects for allegedly conspiring to transport and deliver dangerous drugs under Sections 5 and 26 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. The 604-kilogram shabu shipment is one of the biggest hauls of smuggled drugs in the country, and was subjected to a Senate inquiry. The shipment passed through the Bureau of Customs as kitchenware on May 17, 2017. Nine days later, Customs officials found the bags of shabu in Tan's warehouse, hidden in five solid steel cylinders used in printing presses. CNN Philippines' Eimor Santos and Anjo Alimario contributed to this report. SPRINGFIELD -- Simply Grace LLC will be honored as the Small Business Administration 2018 Microenterprise Business of the Year for Massachusetts for its role in the the renaissance of downtown Springfield. Simply Grace owners Nancy Feth and Mikki Lessard offer retail products and wellness experiences at Simply Serendipity Boutique, Dharma Yoga Studio and collaborations with other business owners at The Shops at Marketplace on Market Street in Springfield. Feth and Lessard started off as part of a promotion of holiday pop-up shops in the winter of 2015-16. Market Street is a pedestrian walkway running parallel to Main Street from Harrison Avenue south for a block. Simply Grace received a U.S. Small Business Administration guaranteed loan through Berkshire Bank in 2016 to support growth, according to a news release from the SBA. "The transformation of Downtown Springfield is being driven by dynamic women business owners such as Mikki and Nancy of Simply Grace," said SBA Massachusetts District Director Robert Nelson in a news release. "For over 12 years, their Main Street location was vacant until they started a microbusiness that turned into an anchor for a vibrant business district." Nelson said Simply Grace is part of what he hopes will grow into a district of shops that offer experiences as well as merchandise. "We passionately believe in the renaissance of downtown Springfield. The Shops at Marketplace is our collective contribution to this amazing, inspiring, unfolding story in the city. We embrace a contemporary solution of sustainable retail business through collaborative partnerships and experiences," Feth and Lessar said in a statement. "There is a different way to live life and be in business. Mindfully, our tagline supports our values and purpose. '...discover and experience a little local goodness downtown.'" The SBA will honor Lessard and Feth at the annual SCORE Boston/SBA awards luncheon along with other 2018 Massachusetts Small Business Week winners at the Sheraton Needham Hotel on Friday. SPRINGFIELD -- Uber Eats has arrived in Springfield. Starting Thursday, May 4, Uber, the ride-hailing app, is offering restaurant meal deliveries through the Uber Eats App. Uber announced Wednesday that it's already got agreements with Old School Pizzeria in Springfield, Crepe's Tea House in West Springfield, Moctezuma's Tradition and Flavor in Springfield, Janna Juice Bar and Grill in West Springfield, Panjabi Tadka in Springfield and An Cafe in Springfield. A delivery map provided by Uber Eats indicates that meal delivery will be available in most of Springfield and a sliver of West Springfield along the Connecticut River. Uber, which revolutionized transportation by making it easy to call a car for a ride using a mobile phone app instead of relying on taxis, began Uber Eats in 2015. Uber introduced it in Boston in April 2017 and in Worcester on March 29. Uber Eats is a standalone mobile app, but it works similar to the Uber app. Users enter a credit card and can order from the restaurant. Restaurants put a menu on the app, and prices can vary from what is charged in the restaurant, according to Uber. There is also a booking fee of just less than $5 charged per delivery order. So if a family of four orders four entrees to one address, that's one booking fee. Uber said it takes its fee from each order, promising restaurants a cost savings in drivers and exposure to new customers through the app. Uber said its drivers -- it calls them delivery partners -- are paid for each delivery based on a pickup fee, a drop-off fee, and a mileage fee. That's just like when they give people a ride. Uber isn't the first to come up with the idea. Grubhub offers food ordering through an app, sometimes with an added fee, sometimes with an added charge of a dollar or two and sometimes with a minimum order. Delivery Express in West Springfield charges $3.80 per delivery and operates in Amherst, Northampton and Springfield with a variety of restaurants. The "American Pickers" are coming to Western Massachusetts in the coming days to pick for treasures of the antique kind, but Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz only pick private collections: No stores, malls, flea markets, museums, auctions, businesses or anything open to the public. "New England is definitely a favorite area to head to for the guys," said Emily J. Chafetz, casting associate. "This is because of the amount of history associated with it, being that it's one of the oldest parts of the country where things first came into and were made in the USA." It is hoped that filming in the area for Season 9 of "American Pickers," a documentary series that explores the world of antique "picking" on the History Channel, will take place in early June. The show follows Wolfe and Fritz, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America's valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizeable, unique collections and learn the interesting stories behind them. As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Wolfe and Fritz are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet people with remarkable and exceptional items and hope to give historically significant objects a new lease on life. They will be looking for things that tell a story about a time, a place and the people who once used them. "Criteria they're looking out for: a variety of items with different subject matter, antiques that are in original state (non-restored items) people who have an interesting story or history connecting them to their collection, and generally they're looking for large, unorganized collections that are enough for Mike and Frank to spend a day digging through and discovering things," Chafetz said. "They get really excited about finding rare and unique items that they've never seen before." Perennial good finds include items related to transportation and advertising, specifically antique American motorcycles, bicycles and gas and oil pieces. "This is just scratching the surface of what they're interested in," Chafetz said. They have been to the Springfield area before, even digging up an old Indian Motocycle in a backyard. They have a passion for the machines once manufactured in Springfield. Exactly where Wolfe and Fritz will pick depends on the leads they get. "People from all over the New England area can reach out to us, and the boys will go where the good picks are," she said. Chafetz credits the show's success to its ability to let Americans travel the United States "vicariously through the guys, as well as see history in their back yards." "American Pickers" is looking for leads. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the "Pickers" can spend the better part of the day looking through, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-OLD-RUST. Police discovered the body of a 23-year-old Lawrence man as they investigated a report of gunfire on Broadway Tuesday night, the Boston Globe reported. A spokeswoman for the Essex County District Attorney's Office said police found the body of Victor Pena in his crashed car on Broadway at about 11 p.m. The victim had been shot in the chest. Police found Pena slumped over the steering wheel of his car which had crashed into two parked cars. He was transported to Lawrence General Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. Police said in a statement that the killing did not appear to be random and that the assailant and victim appeared to know each other. Elaine Wynn has issued a public warning to a member of the Wynn Resorts board who she wants out. Wynn, ex-wife of Steve Wynn, with whom she founded the company, released a letter to shareholders this week in her vote campaign against John Hagenbuch, a board member up for re-election at the annual meeting of shareholders this month. In the letter, she expressed continued concern about the potential sale of the Boston-area casino project and the composition of the board of directors. Steve Wynn resigned as CEO and sold his shares of the company this year following a wave of sexual misconduct allegations. Elaine Wynn is the largest shareholder and has criticized continued ties of board members to her former husband. "I am concerned that the longstanding legacy directors cannot exercise objective judgment on our behalf going forward, in light of the regulatory and media scrutiny of their past decision-making," Wynn wrote in her letter to shareholders. "In particular, I am troubled by the potential conflict of interest between the protection of their personal and professional reputations and their responsibilities to the Company and that this conflict could lead to business decisions that are not in the interests of the shareholders." Following an explosive report in the Wall Street Journal detailing decades of sexual harassment allegations against Steve Wynn, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission opened an investigation into the suitability of Wynn Resorts to hold the sole eastern Massachusetts casino license. "Some members of the current board are directly implicated by the Massachusetts regulatory investigation," Wynn alleged in her letter. "I do not know what the Commission will conclude, but I believe that the legacy directors would prefer that their actions not be scrutinized by the gaming officials." Wynn said the Massachusetts casino project - recently renamed Encore Boston Harbor - is an "extremely attractive opportunity" for the company. "Wynn holds the only gaming license in the immediate Boston region and will be the only luxury gaming destination in the Northeastern United States," she said. Wynn Resorts CEO Matt Maddox recently denied a planned sale of the $2.4 billion casino project in Everett. "Boston's not up for sale. What Boston represents for us is a good growth opportunity," Maddox said on CNBC. "I like that market. I found that land. I pursued that deal. I entered the agreement with the host community five years ago. I liked that market then, I like that market now." A day prior to those comments, Maddox hinted at a sale. He described Massachusetts project as a "really good opportunity" for the company but kept the possibility of a sale on the table. "If there was ever any risk due to heightened rhetoric that there could be any contagion from Massachusetts into our $20 billion company in Las Vegas and Macau, we will have to take a hard look at what is best to protect our shareholders and value," Maddox said, as reported by the Review-Journal. Industry insiders have confirmed to MassLive that gaming officials are exploring the sale of Wynn Boston Harbor, with MGM Resorts International as a top candidate to purchase the project. Wynn claimed in her letter to shareholders that Maddox is concerned not about market dynamics but rather the "reputational risk" the Massachusetts investigation "could inflict upon management and members of the board of directors." Wynn has called on shareholders to re-elect Hagenbuch to the board. "Given Jay's key board role and deep institutional knowledge, withholding your vote for him would only serve to undercut the progress Wynn is making," the company said in a filing Wednesday. Wynn Resorts has expanded its board to 11 members and rehired three female directors in recent months. Former Senate President Stan Rosenberg's attorney told investigators that the Senate's anti-harassment and IT policies do not apply to elected members, according to an Ethics Committee report on Rosenberg's culpability for his husband Bryon Hefner's alleged sexual misconduct. The report, which found that Rosenberg had not violated specific Senate rules, faulted him for sharing his email password with Hefner and for not responding decisively when he learned of sexual messages send by Hefner. Investigators did not find that Rosenberg had any knowledge of the assaults. Special investigators from the law firm of Hogan Lovells concluded that Rosenberg had displayed little regard for the Senate's policies on harassment and network security. But when Rosenberg was interviewed by special investigators, his attorney said that violations of those policies should not affect the inquiry, in part because Rosenberg was not bound by them. "His counsel argued that the Senate IT policy was vague and that neither the IT Policy nor the Senate Anti-Harassment Policy - which were both attached as appendices to the Senate Employee Handbook and issued with a cover letter bearing Senator Rosenberg's signature - applied to Senators," the report said. Investigators found that Hefner had broad access, with Rosenberg's knowledge, to the Senate President's email and calendar, and that on at least two occasions Hefner had used that access to send unauthorized emails under Rosenberg's name. "The Senate IT Policy expressly forbids the sharing of passwords," the independent investigators wrote in their report. "Senator Rosenberg's conduct in this regard was patently unreasonable and arguably reckless given his awareness that Hefner was likely to act improperly." The investigators also concluded that while Rosenberg may not have violated the Senate's anti-harassment policy, his knowledge and subsequent tolerance of Hefner's sexually inappropriate messages and comments undermined its spirit. The Senate's anti-harassment policy notes a range of behaviors that could be considered harassment, including several the report says were done by Hefner - including displaying sexually suggestive pictures and suggestive comments. Rosenberg's attorney argued that the Senate President was not fully aware of the IT and anti-harassment policies and was not bound by them, according to the report. Rosenberg told investigators that he only shared the password to give Hefner access to his daily schedule and that he never actually read the Senate's IT policy. And his attorney argued that many legislators likely share their mobile phone passwords with their spouses, which would in effect give a spouse access to the senator's email. But the Ethics Committee dismissed that reasoning, noting that Rosenberg had touted the Senate's "zero tolerance" policy for harassment and that he had to click through an IT policy notice each time he logged into his Senate computer. Investigators added that there was a clear distinction between sharing a phone password and giving "unfettered access" to Senate email from any device. "That is irrelevant. He was the Senate President and required to lead by example, at the very least," the report said. The special investigators also found that argument lacking, according to their report. "There can be no question that the IT Policy and Senate IT Guidelines applied to Senator Rosenberg at all times and that he breached, and caused his staff to breach, the policy by providing his password to Hefner," the special investigators' report said. AMHERST - A handful of people waiting for the B43 bus to leave the Haigis Mall at the University of Massachusetts on Thursday hadn't heard about the previous day's knife attack on the same bus line, nor were they concerned. One student said he rode fairly regularly without any incident. Classes are over at UMass and final exams are in progress, so few people were waiting for buses Thursday. Brietta Brown, 26, allegedly slashed two people in the throat during the attack, which the victims described as "unprovoked," according to Hadley police. She was taken to a hospital after she was booked on charges of attempted murder and assault. It is unclear when she will be arraigned on those charges. Police said Brown pulled a knife and began to threaten passengers on board the Northampton-to-Amherst bus, and then slashed the victims. The bus driver pulled over on Route 9 near the Friendly's restaurant, and he and passengers wrestled the weapon away from Brown, police said. Witnesses said Brown continued to struggle until officers arrived and took her into custody. Amherst police over the years have had some issues on Pioneer Valley Transit Authority buses through town, mostly on the weekends. In March, a man causing a scene downtown by confronting a bus driver was located and advised he would be issued a trespass notice to stay away from PVTA buses. The Daily Hampshire Gazette reported in March that a homeless man who repeatedly caused disruptions for PVTA buses traveling through Amherst was arrested on charges of malicious destruction of property over $250 and disorderly conduct after he allegedly stood in front of a bus that had stopped near the intersection of Main and Triangle streets and refused to move. l In 2015, a police officer riding the bus tried to arrest a 22-year-old when he stepped off a bus drinking a beer. The man resisted arrest as officers tried to put him in handcuffs. He was charged with having an open container of alcohol and resisting arrest. SPRINGFIELD -- An electrical fire in the roof of a Hancock Street restaurant heavily damaged the interior of the building Wednesday and shut down the business at least temporarily. Dennis Leger, aide to Fire Commissioner Bernard Calvi, said a fault in a roof-top ventilation blower of the El Salvador Restaurant, 231 Hancock St., is listed as the cause of the fire, which badly damaged the roof. An initial report at just before 6 p.m. placed the fire at the back of the building. Firefighters were forced to cut into the wooden structure of the roof to search for hidden flames. Leger estimated the fire caused about $20,000 in damage to the building. AMHERST - Former state Rep. Ellen Story thinks Sen. Stan Rosenberg had no choice but to resign following a report showing he "failed to protect the Senate from his husband, whom he knew was disruptive, volatile and abusive." "I think it's a real tragedy," Story said. The former legislator was referring to what happened to Rosenberg personally as well as the effect on his district. Both Story and Rosenberg are from Amherst. The Senate Ethics Committee released a report Wednesday showing that Rosenberg knew about his husband Bryon Hefner's inappropriate behavior and should have known that Hefner was sexually harassing people with business before the Senate. The report also said Rosenberg improperly gave Hefner access to his Senate email account, and that Hefner set two emails impersonating Rosenberg. Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey on Wednesday called on Rosenberg to resign. In a statement Thursday morning, Rosenberg said he would do so effective Friday. Rosenberg, a 68-year-old Democrat, has been a state senator since 1991 and was Senate president from 2015-17. He gave up the Senate presidency after allegations against Hefner came to light. "I had hoped that, with the conclusion of the investigation, I would be able to focus, once again, on representing my constituents and contributing meaningfully to the work of the Senate," Rosenberg said in a statement. "In light, however, of the disciplinary measures recommended by the Ethics Committee, it would not be fair to my constituents to have a representative in the Senate who lacked the authority to represent their interests fully." Story said "there was too much turmoil" for Rosenberg to stay on. She had said earlier in the day, before his decision to resign, that she believed Rosenberg's constituents would have re-elected him. She said many people she talked to still support him for all he's done in the district. Greenfield Mayor William Martin has known Rosenberg since the senator was an aide to former U.S. Rep. John Olver. "I'm not feeling happy about it (his resignation). I'm not surprised," Martin said. "I can feel for his situation as a leader in the Senate." "To end a stellar career like this is unfortunate," Martin said. Rosenberg's Senate district encompasses two dozen communities in Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester counties. "The whole situation is, obviously, very sad," said Eric Nakajima, who is running for the House seat currently held by Solomon Goldstein-Rose. "With Stan Rosenberg's resignation, we are losing a very dedicated and effective legislator and that is a great loss. But we are going to have to move forward. In doing so, I also think we owe Stan deep respect and thanks for his decades of outstanding service to our district." Northampton resident Chelsea Kline, who in March announced her intentions to challenge Rosenberg in the Sept. 4 Democratic primary, said in a statement Thursday: "I want to thank Senator Rosenberg for making the right decision for survivors, for the Senate, and for the district in stepping down today." "Senator Rosenberg leaves an impressive progressive legacy that has improved lives throughout Massachusetts. In stepping down, Senator Rosenberg makes room for survivors, for the district, and for the progressive movement to move forward and to move on," Kline said. Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to file signatures with city and town clerks to run for Rosenberg's seat. Kline was the only one other than Rosenberg to file signatures, according to clerks in Amherst and Northampton. ABC News(WASHINGTON) -- Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie said Rudy Giuliani was using time-honored strategy by publicly stating that President Trump reimbursed Michael Cohen for his $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. Giuliani, the former New York City mayor who is Trumps new attorney, made the comments on Fox News Wednesday night. "He knows that theres been different stories being told about this payment and how it was made," Christie told ABC News' chief anchor George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America" Thursday morning. "The fact is Rudy has to go out there now and clean it up -- thats what lawyers get hired to do." "Its a typical thing to do and it wasnt surprising at all," Christie said. Giuliani said the president paid Cohen before the 2016 election and there was no campaign finance violation. The president backed him up. "I think Bob Mueller is looking at much bigger things than that," Christie said speaking on violations. Trump, who has publicly denied any knowledge of the payment to the porn star, admitted he paid his attorney "a monthly retainer." Christie said the president should not be interviewed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, alluding to Giuliani's motive to reveal Trump's reimbursement. "When you look at the questions that he put out, I think it backs up what Ive said and I know Dan said too, which is you cant let this guy be interviewed," he said. "You cannot let the president be interviewed." "You dont want to expose your client to that," Christie said. "Ive been saying for months that he had a below-grade legal team," he added said. "Now what hes got in Giuliani and in Emmet Flood are two very experienced warriors." Despite the newly revealed information, the president continues to deny the alleged affair with Stormy Daniels. "The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair," Trump tweeted. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Page Content The launch of the European Commissions proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) throws a spotlight on how the EU budget should be used to maximise the added value of EU spending. In presenting the MFF proposals, President Juncker referred to the fundamental EU principle of solidarity and the need for spending to make a real difference to the lives of citizens and businesses. Yet, new research indicates a potential contradiction between the MFF proposed by the Commission, and what makes a difference to citizens perception of the EU. On 26 April 2018, the multi-disciplinary Horizon2020 project COHESIFY presented its main research results at the European Committee of the Regions. For two years a consortium of 8 universities and 2 SMEs investigated the question of how EU citizens perceive Cohesion Policy and whether they identify themselves with the EU. The study found clear evidence of the impact of Cohesion Policy on citizens perceptions of the EU and European identity . A key finding is that Cohesion Policy improves the recognition of the advantages of the EU and EU integration . The key recommendations and results of the project were presented to EU policy-makers and to the Commissioners responsible for the EU budget and Cohesion Policy just in time for the finalisation of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) which sets out the annual budget of the EU for the period 2021 2027 and actually proposes major cuts to spending on Cohesion Policy after 2020. According to Prof. John Bachtler, lead COHESIFY researcher from the University of Strathclyde and responsible for coordinating the 10 project partners, there is a contradiction between the EUs ambitions and its proposals in the MFF. Public trust in EU institutions has deteriorated over the past decade. A key message from our study is that citizens recognise the importance of Cohesion Policy for their region or locality and want to see more control of EU spending at local level. The MFF is going in the reverse direction: proposing the biggest cuts in Cohesion Policy in its history and centralising rather than decentralising EU spending. The COHESIFY study is ground-breaking in providing a new and much more comprehensive view of how Cohesion Policy currently accounting for one third of the EU budget is perceived by citizens on the ground. The project applied an innovative methodological approach by combining case studies in 17 pilot regions across 12 Member States, stakeholder interviews, a large-scale telephone survey among 8,500 citizens, a cross-national media framing analysis (including over 110,000 posts and comments on social media) as well as 47 focus groups including 240 citizens. Dr Carlos Mendez, COHESIFY Project manager from the University of Strathclyde, added: Our study found that perceptions of the EU and specifically EU Cohesion Policy are influenced by the scale of funding under the policy as well as its performance and good management. The results also show the importance of EU spending being regionally and locally differentiated and considered by citizens to be addressing the needs and development changes that matter to them. Introducing a more participatory citizen-focused approach to the programming and communication of EU funds is therefore needed and would undoubtedly further strengthen peoples identification with the EU. The study also has important implications for how the EU communicates with citizens. Although many people recognise the importance of the policy for addressing regional disparities and improving their quality of life, they do not feel adequately informed about it. Future communication strategies therefore need to be given a higher priority and need to target citizens more explicitly so that they feel an ownership of the projects in their area. It needs to be a two-way process,Dr. Andreja Pegan from Trinity College Dublin stressed, citizens want to have more say on how funds are allocated or governed in their area . Another part of the study also analysed the way Cohesion Policy is currently framed in the media. Dr. Vasiliki Triga from the Cyprus University of Technology explained that indeed Cohesion Policy frames are rich and diverse and overall positive since the two dominant frames describe the positive economic effects of Cohesion Policy for Member States as well as the dominant impact on the citizens quality of life. However, the analysis also brought to the fore a difference between regional and national media: the former frame the effects of Cohesion Policy more positively while the national media focus more on criticising national governments or authorities regarding the way Cohesion Policy is being implemented. All the results of the project and the presentations of the final event are available at www.cohesify.eu/final-conference By Gintautas Dumcius and Shira Schoenberg Massachusetts Sen. Stan Rosenberg has resigned, ending a political career that at its peak had him becoming one of the most powerful people in state government and the state Senate's first openly gay leader. It is a career that crashed when sexual misconduct allegations were leveled against his husband Bryon Hefner. His resignation becomes effective Friday at 5 p.m. In a statement, Rosenberg issued a public apology for his actions. Rosenberg, a 68-year-old Amherst Democrat and a former aide to Congressman John Olver, has been a state senator since 1991 and served as Senate president between 2015 and 2017. After four men accused Hefner of harassment in late 2017, Rosenberg stepped down as Senate president and moved to the basement of the Massachusetts State House. Now he's completely leaving the building following a devastating report by the Senate Ethics Committee, released Wednesday and put together by investigators with the Hogan Lovells law firm. The report laid out a pattern of alleged misconduct by Hefner and repeated interference in Senate business, despite Rosenberg promising a "firewall" between his professional and private lives. Weeks before the report's release, a statewide grand jury on March 29 indicted Hefner on counts of indecent assault and battery, open and gross lewdness and distribution of an image of nude or partially nude person. Hefner has pleaded not guilty to the charges in Suffolk Superior Court. The Ethics Committee, in its report, noted that Rosenberg is not "directly responsible for the alleged misdeeds of his husband." But he made "significant failures of judgment and leadership" as state Senate president, the report added. "In essence, he did not protect the Senate from Hefner, who he knew could be disruptive, volatile and abusive," the report said. The committee did not consider expulsion, its report said, because "there is no evidence in the report that Senator Rosenberg engaged in criminal activity, or was even aware of Hefner's allegedly criminal acts." But the committee recommended that Rosenberg be stripped of all leadership positions through 2020. Typically, every Senate Democrat holds a committee chairmanship. Rosenberg cited that recommendation as a reason to step down. "I had hoped that, with the conclusion of the investigation, I would be able to focus, once again, on representing my constituents and contributing meaningfully to the work of the Senate," Rosenberg said. "In light, however, of the disciplinary measures recommended by the Ethics Committee, it would not be fair to my constituents to have a representative in the Senate who lacked the authority to represent their interests fully." As Senate president, Rosenberg brought increased clout to Western Massachusetts, a region that is not always well-represented in top positions at the State House. While in the state Senate, Rosenberg was a key figure in the fight to protect a Supreme Judicial Court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage and he co-authored a 1993 "Motor Voter" law aimed at increasing voter turnout. According to his biography, Rosenberg is also "chief architect" of the 2011 law expanding gambling in Massachusetts. The law set up the Massachusetts Gaming Commission and has led to the construction of the MGM Springfield casino and the Wynn Boston Harbor casino in Everett, north of Boston. Rosenberg had faced an increasing number of calls for him to resign, starting with Attorney General Maura Healey and Gov. Charlie Baker immediately after the Ethics Committee report's release, and senators, from John Keenan of Quincy to James Welch of West Springfield. The incoming Senate president, Karen Spilka, added her name to the list on Thursday morning. "Because Senator Rosenberg allowed a destructive pattern of behavior to continue over the course of many years, violating the trust that my colleagues and I invested in him, it is my firm belief that he should resign," she said in a statement. "Doing so will move us towards our goal of healing the Senate and making it a safe, welcoming and productive place for everyone." Rosenberg represents the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester district. "Although, as the report notes, I was unaware of many of the events attributed to Bryon, and took steps to address those incidents that came to my attention, that does not diminish my sorrow at what reportedly transpired or my sense of responsibility for what the Ethics Committee concludes was a failure on my part in not doing more to protect the Senate," Rosenberg wrote in his statement Thursday. Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to file signatures with city and town clerks to run for his seat. Only Rosenberg and Democratic challenger Chelsea Kline filed their signatures, according to clerks in Northampton and Amherst. There are no independents or Republicans running. Under Senate rules, a special election is only called if a vacancy occurs before April 1. With Rosenberg's resignation, his seat will remain empty until the general election in November 2018. The only way for anyone other than Kline to run in November would be to mount a write-in campaign. Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, said Rosenberg's move to resign was the "right decision" that will serve Western Massachusetts well, because the area needs "vigorous representation" at the State House. "I mean, quite frankly, the default for us is to be left out decisions made in this building," Lesser said. "So I hope that in the next several months we're going to have an across-the-board, vigorous conversation about what we need to do in Western Mass. to make sure we reverse some of the things we've seen, like the job losses we've seen, some of the continued population we've seen," he added. "We need some big visions and we need to stay focused on that vision." This post was updated with additional comments and information. NORTHAMPTON - The Northampton City Council may take steps to lower the voting age to 16 for local municipal elections. A resolution will be discussed at the Council's meeting Thursday that, if passed, would see the Council petition the state legislature to officially lower the voting age in Northampton. It is being sponsored by Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz's Youth Commission, along with Councilor At-Large Bill Dwight. The U.S. Constitution's 26th amendment, passed and ratified in 1971, set the legal age for voting in state and national elections at 18. However, the amendment does not prevent states from lowering that age for state or local elections. In the past, a number of communities in Massachusetts have unsuccessfully lobbied the state's legislature to allow the voting age to be lowered for their municipalities. In 2001, teens in Cambridge made attempts to lower the city's voting age--and convinced the local City Council to pass a measure extending voting rights to 17-year-olds. However, the measure never received a hearing by the state legislature. Similarly, youth activists in Lowell attempted to lower the city's voting age to 17 in 2011, but the Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin deemed these attempts "unconstitutional." The Northampton City Council's resolution calls the right to vote "elemental to democracy" and argues that "early voter engagement increases civic participation later in life." 16-year-olds in Massachusetts are already permitted to obtain a driver's license, pay taxes, have sex, get married with parental consent, and work a full-time job, the resolution reasons. Furthermore they have "the same critical analytic intelligence" as 18-year-olds, it argues. The resolution also cites a specific political issue--gun violence--as a rationale for lowering the voting age. Local youth have been "demonstrating their desire to influence the government that serves them by demonstrating for sensible laws to prevent gun violence," the resolution states--referring to recent youth activism on the issue. The Northampton City Council has shown recent support for this activism, including a resolution passed in April that calls for stricter gun laws in Massachusetts, while also citing local and statewide youth activist efforts. The Council will hold a first reading on the resolution at its meeting Thursday, May 3rd. Meetings begin at 7 p.m. SPRINGFIELD -- City Police Captain Philip Tarpey was on the witness stand Wednesday, introducing into evidence guns, ammunition, a bulletproof vest, a neoprene face mask, ammunition clips and other items found in an apartment ceiling at 685 State St. back in 2011. Ayyub Abdul-Alim of Springfield is on trial on two charges of illegal possession of a firearm and one charge each of illegal possession of ammunition and possession of a large capacity feeding device. Assistant District Attorney Robert A. Schmidt says Abdul-Alim owned the weapons. The woman Abdul-Alim was married to at the time says he -- when she visited him in jail while he was held on another case -- to move something in the ceiling above a bathroom for him. Instead, the woman told police, and officers found the weapons during a search in December 2011. Abdul-Alim was not indicted on the charges until January 2014. The woman, Siham Nafai Stewart, is no longer married to Abdul-Alim. In a previous hearing testimony showed she had acted as a paid informant for the FBI at one point. Defense lawyer Daniel D. Kelly told Hampden Superior Court Judge Tina S. Page the prosecution's case is full of irregularities, including mistakes in dates and property tag numbers on police documents. Abdul-Alim chose to have a jury-waived trial before Page. Kelly said Abdul-Alim will testify the FBI tried to recruit him as an agent at one time. Abdul-Alim was convicted in a separate case in April 2014 of possession of a firearm and ammunition without a firearms identification card. He was sentenced to four to six years in state prison, and has served that sentence. A group of supporters from area towns and cities have attended hearings during both the earlier case and this case. About a dozen of the supporters, all wearing purple t-shirts, were in court Wednesday along with family members of Abdul-Alim. Evidence introduced by Tarpey included a semi-automatic rifle, a magazine that can hold 30 rounds of ammunition, a .25-caliber handgun, spent shell casings, a holster and a bulletproof vest. He testified he got a search warrant for the apartment based on the information from Stewart. He said she let him and other officers into the apartment where they found the guns in a bathroom ceiling. Massachusetts Sen. Stan Rosenberg said he is resigning, effective Friday, after a Senate Ethics Committee report blasted him for failing to protect the lawmaking body from his husband Bryon Hefner. He released a statement apologizing his role and noted that the sanctions outlined by the Senate Ethics Committee -- blocking him from leadership positions and committee chairmanships -- as the reasons for his decision to step down. Rosenberg, D-Amherst, stepped down from the Senate presidency in December 2017, after a report of sexual misconduct allegations leveled against his husband. But he remained a rank-and-file senator, with reduced pay and limited staff. The statement, available below, comes after several senators, as well Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey, called for Rosenberg to resign from his Senate seat. As I have stated repeatedly over the last 5 months, I deeply regret the difficulties that this situation has created for the members, the staff and the institution of the Senate. In its report, Hogan Lovells found no conduct by me that violated Senate Rules or state ethics law, no evidence that Bryon influenced my actions as Senate President, and no knowledge on my part of any alleged sexual advances, assaults or attempts by Bryon to influence other senators or staff. The report does, however, summarize statements from witnesses alleging that Bryon engaged in actions that harmed them and others, and it finds fault with my not having done more to control Bryon's access to information and to the people who worked in and around the Senate. Although, as the report notes, I was unaware of many of the events attributed to Bryon, and took steps to address those incidents that came to my attention, that does not diminish my sorrow at what reportedly transpired or my sense of responsibility for what the Ethics Committee concludes was a failure on my part in not doing more to protect the Senate. I have devoted nearly forty years of my life to public service with over 25 years in the Senate, motivated always by the best interests of that body and my constituents. To the extent my efforts fell short, and most especially to all who have been affected by the events described in the Hogan Lovells report, I convey my sincere apology. I had hoped that, with the conclusion of the investigation, I would be able to focus, once again, on representing my constituents and contributing meaningfully to the work of the Senate. In light, however, of the disciplinary measures recommended by the Ethics Committee, it would not be fair to my constituents to have a representative in the Senate who lacked the authority to represent their interests fully. I have resigned from my position as State Senator for the Hampshire Franklin and Worcester District effective Friday May 4, 2018 at 5:00pm. The Boy Scouts of America recently announced they would change their name to Scouts BSA as they welcome girls into the program. More than 3,000 girls have already joined the organization, but not everyone is excited about it. The Girls Scouts of America argue they are still "the premier leadership development organization for girls" and others see the gender integration as PC culture run amok. Do you think girls should be allowed to join Boy Scouts? PERSPECTIVES The Boy Scouts of America will change its name to Scouts BSA in order to be more inclusive and reflect the admission of girls into their program. More than 3,000 girls have already joined Cub Scouts packs alone, but not everyone is happy about it. The Girls Scouts of America feel the Boy Scouts are overstepping their bounds and argue they are still the "premier leadership development organization for girls." Many former Scouts have expressed their support of the Boy Scouts to admit girls. As an Eagle Scout, Im all about a Scouts program open to everyone. Not sure where your deep sadness comes from on this one. The Boy Scouts had a big impact on my life, and it would be great if more people could join. Chase (@chasenobles_) May 2, 2018 It's 2018, it's about time the Boy Scouts become gender inclusive. Dear Boy Scouts (soon to be Scouts), Oberlin was the first college to begin accepting women in 1846. LEGO had gender neutral marketing in their ad campaigns in the 70s and 80s. Welcome to the modern world. Its progressive here. We have internet. And the future is female. Kaz Weida (@kazweida) May 2, 2018 But others are saddened about the news, and believe it's an example of PC culture run amok. So, Boy Scouts is admitting girls and wont be called Boy Scouts anymore. How soon before they change the name to People Scouts? Jack Posobiec (@JackPosobiec) May 2, 2018 We learn two things from the self-destruction of the Boy Scouts organization: 1) The Left will eat you alive if you compromise with them. 2) Boys are not allowed to have any of their own spaces in this ridiculous culture we've made for ourselves. Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 2, 2018 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. SOUTHWICK - After learning that Southwick high graduate Kyle Reyes, an outspoken conservative who supports military and law enforcement, was disinvited to speak at a veterans memorial dedication at his alma mater, State Rep. John Velis of Westfield, a Democrat and veteran, responded without wearing either of those hats. "My views are simple," he said. "Any day we suppress free speech is a bad day for America." Reyes was asked to speak at the dedication of the Veterans Memorial Foyer at Southwick Regional School, a school for grades 7-12, by Southwick VFW Post 872. The hall will honor three Southwick high school graduates killed in action. Reyes was disinvited by school district administration. Superintendent Jennifer Willard issued the following statement: "On May 21, 2018, we will dedicate the Veterans Memorial Foyer of the Southwick Regional School to honor three local veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Out of respect to Southwick's and Granville's fallen heroes and their families, we are striving to keep the focus of the dedication ceremony on these veterans and their immeasurable service to our nation." Velis said disinviting Reyes to speak because he might make some students uncomfortable is not about being liberal or conservative, it's about the First Amendment. "We should not be in the business of suppressing free speech. It's not about being a Democrat or Republican," he said. Velis said exposing young people to different opinions is a good thing. "Exposure to views other than those in agreement with our own - especially at a young age - helps us learn to deal with adversity," he said. "After high school, these students will be met with many opposing views and adversity. The sooner they are exposed to that, the better." Reyes and the VFW are trying to keep the focus on the three veterans being honored -- William Alamed Jr., class of 1966, Steven B. Wentworth, class of 1981, and Travis J. Fuller, class of 1997. Alamed served in the U.S. Army and was killed in action in 1970. Wentworthserved in the Marine Corps and was killed in action in Beirut in 1983. Fuller served in the Marines and was killed in action in 2005 in Iraq. BOSTON - Last month the Governor's Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts released its initial recommendations. Its vision is for residents to "proactively plan for a 100-year life" in a state where aging is a valued asset and there is equal "access to health and social supports and disparities are reduced." It would like Massachusetts to become "the Silicon Valley of innovation in aging and exports knowledge and services." The council with its more than two dozen members was created by Governor Charlie Baker last April to "promote healthy aging in the commonwealth." It joins other ongoing state efforts, including those of the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative and the Massachusetts Commission on Falls, in addressing this issue. The origins of the collaborative date back to 2009. The commission on falls was created by legislation in 2010. Unintentional falls are said to be the leading cause of injury-related death and non-fatal injuries among those 65 and older both in the state and in the country. The commission committed in its most recent report to meeting quarterly and the falls commission's next open meeting - Monday, May 7 - takes place from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at One Ashburton Place during what happens to be Older Americans Month. The meeting includes presentations by the Massachusetts Healthy Aging Collaborative as well as by the Governor's Council to Address Aging in Massachusetts. Data from the collaborative's 2015 Highlights Report, based on information from the Tufts Health Plan Foundation and UMass-Boston's Gerontology Institute, indicates that one-out-of-five state residents will be 65 or older by 2030. The data identified 121 health risk indicators in 367 communities. The council's initial blueprint recommendations contained in the report, "Aging in Massachusetts: Shaping the Future," identifies several areas involved in making the commonwealth the "most age friendly state for people of all ages." These include improving economic security - Massachusetts is identified as one of the top states for high rates of elder economic insecurity among singles; greater access to health and supportive services to foster continued independence; and facilitating engagement to reduce isolation among seniors. Input from 500 residents during nine months of meetings showed, according to the report, such concerns among residents as a desire to remain in their homes, have access to affordable housing and transportation as well as support for caregivers. The report notes that nearly 30 percent of households over 65 in Massachusetts have incomes below $20,000. In its section on the need for local solutions to transportation gaps it says that 75 percent of people live in suburban and rural areas. It also notes that the "average caregiver is a 49-year-old female caring for a 69-year-old female relative, most likely her mother." Its recommendations include promoting the benefits of hiring and maintaining what it calls "mature workers"; increasing the supply of affordable and supportive housing; and promoting language, communication and training that does not stereotype aging. Dr. Laura Iglesias, a specialist in geriatric medicine at Baystate Medical Center, is among the Western Massachusetts members on the council which is supported by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Feedback on the report can be given on the council's website. SUFFIELD, Conn. -- Police, working with Massachusetts counterparts, recently extradited a Springfield, Mass. man wanted for shoplifting in their town. Nicholas Roy, 27, of Indian Orchard, was one of five suspects wanted for shopliftings committed in the Suffield CVS pharmacy in March and April of 2017, Suffield Police Capt. Christopher McKee said. On March 17, 2017, Roy fled the CVS with approximately $500 worth of merchandise. CVS staff acted quickly to report the theft and Agawam police stopped him as he crossed into Massachusetts. Suffield police responded, charged Roy with the theft and recovered the property stolen from the store. Roy, however, assumed the identity of another man, known to him, who has a similar physical description. Roy was then released at the scene on a field-issued summons to appear in court. When Suffield police learned of the deception, they investigated further, determined the suspect's actual identity and learned he was wanted on three active court-issued warrants, for similar crimes, held by Ludlow, Holyoke and Ware police. On March 24, 2017, Suffield police partnered with the Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) West Unit, members of the Springfield police department and U.S. Marshals Task Force officers to find Roy and an acquaintance that was present at the time of the crime in Suffield. Roy was located in Springfield and taken into custody. Agawam police later charged Roy with impersonation offenses due to his arrest in their town. Suffield police then obtained an arrest warrant for Roy, issued by Enfield Superior Court, for larceny in the fifth degree for the Suffield theft. Suffield police were then granted extradition by the Hartford State's Attorney's Office to return Roy to Connecticut to answer to the Suffield charges. On Monday, Roy was surrendered to the custody of Suffield police officers who traveled to the Hampshire County House of Correction in Northampton. SPRINGFIELD -- With temperatures in the mid-80s Thursday morning, Miriam Rivera stood outside 1550 Main St. wearing a long-sleeved jacket and a knitted cap and holding a sign reading, "We are not invisible." Even on warm days in Springfield, it's still not like the heat of her native Puerto Rico. Rivera joined a large group of Puerto Rican evacuees who visited the district offices of U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Cambridge, and Ed Markey, D-Malden, to ask the lawmakers for help in finding permanent housing options for families facing homelessness in the coming weeks. Although the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross recently extended their housing assistance deadlines through May 14, several hotels in West Springfield are evicting more than a dozen families on May 6, claiming that their rooms have been booked and the hotels will be sold out starting May 7. "We have nowhere to go. Do I have to go live under a bridge in order to be noticed?" Rivera asked in Spanish. Nearly eight months after Hurricane Maria devastated the island of Puerto Rico, there are still many families who have not been able to secure permanent housing. Brenda Hernandez is in a West Springfield hotel with her two children. She has been denied apartments multiple times. "Some landlords require first, last (month's rent) and security (deposit) before you can move in, which is hard for some of us to come up with that money," she said. "Some of us have been able get a job, but have been told that we need six months job history in the U.S. before being approved." Hernandez said they have been to a shelter, but were told they are not eligible because they technically have housing at the hotel. Ramon Siaca is here with his wife and three children. They first arrived in Florida, where they did not receive help, and then made it to Western Massachusetts. He said he is in the process of looking for work, but limited English makes it difficult. "I have looked for many apartments, but all of them want you to have a job. This weekend, my children and my wife and I will be out on the street," he said. The evacuees were supported by members of the Holyoke chapter of the Pioneer Valley Project, including pastors Miguel A. Cruz, Wilson Ramos and Aida Villegas. Their Holyoke churches have been helping the families. "This is just a small representation of the many families who are in the same situation right now," Cruz said through a bull horn outside the senators' Springfield offices. The group hoped to deliver a letter to each of the senator's offices that asked Warren and Markey to meet with them face-to-face. Evacuees, however, were told there was no one in Markey's office and that the representative from Warren's office would not come to the lobby to accept the letter. Warren spokesman Matt Cournoyer said the senator's office has been working with hurricane evacuees and advocates on the issue. The senators, in a joint statement issued Thursday afternoon, stressed that they "share the concerns of hurricane evacuees here in Western Mass." "The federal government's response to the crisis in Puerto Rico is unacceptable. (The Department of Homeland Security's) decision to extend temporary shelter assistance is a needed step, but we're concerned there is still no longer-term plan in place," they said. "Families need certainty as they work to get back on their feet, not arbitrary deadlines, and we will keep pressing the Trump Administration for a safe and stable housing solution." Springfield City Councilor Adam Gomez, a candidate for the Hampden District state Senate seat, said the evacuees are in a desperate situation. "They came here because of a natural disaster, they did not have a choice, and if they could they would go back to Puerto Rico," Gomez said, pointing out that parts of the island still remains without electricity, and many schools and hospitals remain closed. "We understand that our state delegation has given $15 million to our school system, but these people need permanent solutions. They can't have empty promises anymore," he said. FEMA spokeswoman Cheria Brown said applicants of the agency's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program are given check-out dates when signing into participating hotels. If a hotel is unable to house a hurricane evacuee for the entirety of his or her benefit due to bookings for other guests, the applicant must find another room at any other hotel participating in the FEMA program, including those in other states. Brown, however, said it's up to applicants -- not FEMA -- to determine if their new accommodations "will be convenient or not." The Republican staff reporter Shannon Young contributed to the reporting of this story. Clogging the nation's roads with gas-guzzlers won't make America great again. Nonetheless, President Donald Trump's administration is looking to do just that by rolling back fuel-efficiency standards that had been set to take effect. The Environmental Protection Agency's plans, not yet formally released, would put off implementation of the new standards. What would follow? A menu of worse choices for vehicle fuel efficiency. There's also been talk that the Department of Transportation will seek to end the federal waver that allows California to set its own mileage standards. As a result, California -- joined by 16 other states and the District of Columbia -- is suing the federal government in an effort to keep implementation of the planned fuel standards from being put on hold. Massachusetts is one of the states joining the suit, which was filed on Tuesday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. The planned set of fuel standards would apply to vehicles made from 2022 through 2025. But since they'd been a product of the previous administration, that, apparently, was reason enough for Trump to want them gone. It's easy, sometimes, to know what it is that Trump will oppose: anything that can be expressed with the modifier "Obama-era" before it. The fuel-consumption standards were not picked out of the clear(ing) blue sky, but were worked out through a comprehensive process. What the Trump administration wants to do, however, is to rip up the plans willy-nilly. Just because. One needn't be a legal scholar to believe that the EPA's plans could well be put on hold as the suit from the states works its way through the courts. And you needn't be an environmentalist or a card-carrying member of Greenpeace to believe that solid efforts to curb emissions of the gasses that promote climate change are essential to the longterm health of the citizenry and the planet. But Trump and EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, the personification of the Washington swamp that the president had vowed to drain, have another agenda. Please the base and the donor class. Make the Big Three automakers happy. Focus only on the present, with little regard for, or concern about, what likely lies ahead. That such an approach is shortsighted in the extreme should go without saying. Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier Two new restaurants and a record store are on the way, and a cheese shop, and a clothing retailer are already calling the downtown street home. Bryon Hefner sent his husband, former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, sexually explicit text messages about legislative staffers and senators. Hefner sent Rosenberg text messages of naked men, and Rosenberg saw Hefner show a nude photo to another elected official. These were among the details included in a report of the Senate Committee on Ethics, based on an investigation done by the law firm Hogan Lovells. The report concluded that Rosenberg demonstrated "a significant failure of judgment and leadership." "That failure undermined the integrity of the Senate and had destructive consequences for the Senate and the people with business before it," Ethics Committee Chairman Sen. Michael Rodrigues, D-Westport, said in a statement on behalf of the committee. "Essentially, Senator Rosenberg failed to protect the Senate from his husband, whom he knew was disruptive, volatile and abusive." Hefner has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges, including sexual assault. The report details five separate instances where Hefner was accused of engaging in nonconsensual sexual touching with four different men. Independent investigator Anthony Fuller of Hogan Lovells said there no is evidence that Rosenberg was told of the alleged assaults, and Rosenberg said he was not aware of any unwanted touching. But Rosenberg was aware of Hefner's inappropriate behavior. The report states that Hefner sent multiple sexually explicit texts to Rosenberg, including one text in 2016 where he stated, "I want to roofie (a Senator) and make a sex tape," referring to a date rape drug. Rosenberg told investigators that Hefner sent him pictures of naked men that he downloaded from the internet as a joke, and Rosenberg told him to stop. Investigators found that Rosenberg failed to adequately address what he did know of Hefner's sexualized conduct toward Senate personnel. "We conclude he should have known that Bryon Hefner was likely to engage in sexually harassing conduct toward personnel," Fuller said. In 2014, after Hefner posted disparaging comments on social media about outgoing Senate President Therese Murray, Rosenberg said he maintained a "firewall" between Hefner and his work in the Senate. The report found that the firewall was ineffective. Hefner had unfettered access to Rosenberg's email. In two instances, Hefner sent unauthorized emails pretending to be Rosenberg. Rosenberg stepped down from the Senate presidency during the investigation. The Senate Ethics Committee is recommending that Rosenberg be barred from serving as Senate President, as a member of Senate leadership or as chairman of any committee through 2020. The full Senate will have to vote on the recommendations. Rodrigues said the Ethics Committee believes it should be up to Rosenberg's constituents whether he should continue to serve in the Senate. Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, and Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, both called on Rosenberg to resign. "The Senate's ethics report reveals a deeply disturbing pattern of behavior, making it clear that Senator Rosenberg has compromised the business of the Chamber and trust of his constituents," Baker said. "For the good of the institution and those who elected him to serve, I believe the Senator needs to resign immediately." Healey said, "It's clear to me that Stan Rosenberg cannot continue to serve in the Senate. I think it's best if he steps down immediately." Rosenberg's spokeswoman declined a request for comment. Rosenberg told investigators that he believed Hefner's inappropriate conduct was the result of an undiagnosed mental illness and alcohol abuse. The couple has since separated, and Hefner sought treatment for alcoholism. The report provides explicit details of Hefner's inappropriate behavior. In 2013, Hefner repeatedly touched a Senate staffer's foot in a social setting, then sent text messages asking for a "sleepover" at the Beacon Hill condo that Hefner and Rosenberg shared. Hefner texted the staffer a photograph of what he said was his penis. A Senate staff member in 2015 and 2016 said Hefner sent him numerous sexually suggestive text messages. One read, "You weren't my gift under the Menorah this year. I'm mad at Santa," and was followed by a text of Hefner sitting shirtless on Santa's lap. One of the reports of sexual assault came from a policy advocate who said Hefner grabbed the man's genitals while Hefner propositioned the advocate. Hefner touched the same advocate under the table at a political dinner while the advocate was moderating a discussion. He later asked the advocate to have sex with him in a bathroom. Hefner told the man he had access to Rosenberg. Hefner on one occasion berated a Senate staffer with inappropriate racist comments. The staffer told Rosenberg, who said he would do everything he could to prevent Hefner from engaging in similar conduct in the future. The report found that Rosenberg gave Hefner access to his Senate email account from 2009 to 2017. Although there is no evidence Hefner influenced Rosenberg's official actions, the report found that Hefner repeatedly abused his access to Rosenberg's computer. Hefner contacted Rosenberg's staff in 2013 to try to gain funding for a program for at-risk youth that Hefner worked for. Another time, Hefner forwarded an email sent to Rosenberg by a policy advocate to his colleagues at the program, marking it "confidential." On two occasions in January 2017, Hefner wrote emails pretending to be Rosenberg, trying to set up meetings related to official Senate business. Hefner also criticized and demeaned Rosenberg's staff. In one case, Hefner texted two staffers from Rosenberg's phone as if he were Rosenberg, writing, "you're all still failures for your lack of foresight. ... Sometimes the best person for the job is a straight white man." Rosenberg told investigators that he could not completely wall his spouse off from his work, and he wanted Hefner to have access to his calendar, but he never allowed Hefner to influence his decisions. The Senate held a five-hour closed-door caucus Wednesday, and senators plan to convene again Thursday as they decide whether to adopt the recommendations of the Senate Ethics Committee to bar Rosenberg from leadership. "The independent investigation report presented today was thorough and troubling. Like my colleagues, I am taking time tonight to further review the report and the strong recommendations of the Ethics Committee," said Senate President Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester, in a statement. "This has been a trying time for the victims and witnesses in this case, for Senate staff, for Senators, and for the Senate as an institution. I am hopeful that after tomorrow, we can begin turning the page and healing as a body." Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, a member of the Ethics Committee, called the report "very, very serious." "There was clearly a failure of judgment here, and there was clearly a failure of leadership, and those failures had consequences that harmed the Senate," Tarr said. Tarr called it "intolerable" that people felt threatened by the Senate president's husband. Rodrigues said the allegations of a culture of harassment are "sad," "disappointing" and "something we should do everything in our power to change." U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, called on chamber leaders this week to ensure the Trump administration keeps Congress informed of its negotiations with North Korea ahead of an expected summit between the country's two leaders. The Massachusetts Democrats, who joined more than two dozen of their colleagues in signing an April 30 letter, urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Foreign Relations Committee leaders to request a briefing on the White House's negotiation strategy. Arguing that Congress has played an important role in shaping the United States' North Korea policy -- including authoring various sanctions against the country -- the senators further called for Senate leaders to press the administration for monthly briefings so lawmakers can remain fully informed as negotiations move forward. The senators, who noted that they "strongly support a diplomatic solution to freeze and ultimately denuclearize the Korean Peninsula," contended that communication between the White House and Congress is needed as the Trump administration engages in such talks. They added that "there is recent historical precedent for the White House keeping Congress consistently informed during delicate international negotiations," pointing to briefings the Obama administration routinely held with lawmakers on Iran. "We believe the Trump administration should commit to this level of engagement with Congress for the duration of its talks with North Korea. ... Congress must remain well-informed throughout any talks with the Kim regime, particularly if an agreement requires the removal of sanctions as an inducement to North Korea taking steps toward denuclearization," they wrote. The senators, in asking the White House to commit to "a sustained engagement with Congress" during and after the expected summit between President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un, argued that "the more the White House engages with Congress on its progress in negotiations, the more effective partner that Congress can be to support a peaceful resolution to this crisis." Joining Warren and Markey in signing the letter, were: U.S. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Connecticut; Bernie Sanders, I-Vermont; and Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont; among several others. The letter came amid reports that the White House was looking at Singapore and a facility inside the Korean peninsula's demilitarized zone as possible sites for Trump's anticipated meeting with Kim. The president reportedly said this week that the location and date of the upcoming summit may be announced soon. Evacuees who fled Puerto Rico after last year's devastating hurricanes may now stay in mainland U.S. hotels and other temporary FEMA shelters through the end of June -- more than a month later than expected, officials said Thursday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced that it has again extended the Transitional Sheltering Assistance program --- this time through June 30 -- to give evacuees using the benefit 60 days to solidify their long-term housing plans. Federal officials, who noted that this will be the final extension of the program for those impacted by Hurricanes Irma and Maria, said FEMA will further offer families living in the continental United States under the shelter assistance benefit transportation back to Puerto Rico. FEMA said it's actively working with social service agencies and non-profit groups to help evacuees, as well as providing direct aid through short-term housing assistance and rental assistance, among other things. Officials noted that FEMA's shelter program has provided hotel rooms for more than 7,000 families. The agency added that it's continuing to help those in need find longer-term housing solutions. About 2,300 families remain in TSA-participating hotel rooms across more than 30 states and Puerto Rico, including 380 in Massachusetts alone, according to FEMA. Those families had previously been guaranteed the TSA benefit through May 14 ahead of Thursday's deadline extension. Despite that deadline, several hurricane evacuees living in Springfield-area lodgings pressed federal lawmakers for help Thursday after reportedly being notified that they will be evicted on May 6 due to other hotel bookings. Evacuees hoped to deliver a letter to U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey's Springfield offices that asked the lawmakers to meet them in person over housing concerns. They, however, were told there was no one in Markey's office and that the representative from Warren's office would not come to the lobby to accept the letter. Warren spokesman Matt Cournoyer said the senator's office has been working with hurricane evacuees and advocates on the issue. The senators, in a joint statement, stressed that they "share the concerns of hurricane evacuees here in Western Mass." "The federal government's response to the crisis in Puerto Rico is unacceptable. (The Department of Homeland Security's) decision to extend temporary shelter assistance is a needed step, but we're concerned there is still no longer-term plan in place," they said. "Families need certainty as they work to get back on their feet, not arbitrary deadlines, and we will keep pressing the Trump Administration for a safe and stable housing solution." U.S. Rep. Richard Neal's, D-Springfield, office added that the congressman is continuing "to work with his colleagues on the federal and state level in order to assist those displaced by Hurricanes Maria and Irma." "As this is a national issue, finding and implementing a long-term solution requires input from stakeholders on all levels, in all states," spokeswoman Margaret Boyle said in an email. FEMA spokeswoman Cheria Brown offered that applicants of the agency's Transitional Sheltering Assistance program are given check-out dates when signing into participating hotels. If a hotel is unable to house a hurricane evacuee for the entirety of his or her benefit due to bookings for other guests, the applicant must find another room at any other hotel participating in the FEMA program, including those in other states. Brown said it's up to applicants -- not FEMA -- to determine if their new accommodations "will be convenient or not." Incoming Senate President Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, on Thursday joined the chorus of politicians calling on former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, to resign from the Senate. "As the incoming Senate President, I am struck by the awesome responsibility and obligation of this office to protect the Senate, staff, and the public and others, and to uphold the integrity of an institution that is fundamental to our democracy," Spilka said in a statement emailed to reporters. "This responsibility lies with the Senate President alone, and requires a higher level of accountability than that of rank and file members. Because Senator Rosenberg allowed a destructive pattern of behavior to continue over the course of many years, violating the trust that my colleagues and I invested in him, it is my firm belief that he should resign." Spilka said Rosenberg's resignation "will move us towards our goal of healing the Senate and making it a safe, welcoming and productive place for everyone." The Senate Ethics Committee released a report Wednesday showing that Rosenberg knew about his husband Bryon Hefner's inappropriate behavior and should have known that Hefner was sexually harassing people with business before the Senate. The report condemned the former Senate president for "a significant failure of judgment and leadership," and said Rosenberg allowed Hefner inappropriate levels of access to his Senate business. Rosenberg has not made any public statements since the report was released. An aide said he is in Western Massachusetts Thursday. State senators are meeting behind closed doors Thursday to decide Rosenberg's political fate. The ethics committee recommended barring Rosenberg from any leadership positions through 2020 but the full Senate must vote on the recommendation before it goes into effect. A growing number of politicians have called on Rosenberg to resign. Current Senate President Harriette Chandler has not yet said whether she believes Rosenberg should remain in office. Spilka intends to take over the presidency from Chandler in July. Rosenberg represents the Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester district. Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to file signatures with city and town clerks to run for the Senate seat. Rosenberg and Democratic challenger Chelsea Kline filed signatures, according to clerks in Northampton and Amherst. No Republicans or independents submitted signatures to run. The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday apologized to the victims of Bryon Hefner as lawmakers accepted the resignation of Hefner's husband, former Senate President Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst. "As members of this body, we want to say to victims, staff, and all whose lives were affected: We are sorry for what you have been through," said Senate President Harriette Chandler, D-Worcester. "You deserved better. We must do better." Hours after Rosenberg said he would leave the Senate, effective Friday, Chandler said, "We accept Senator Rosenberg's resignation because we agree with the decision that it is no longer appropriate for him to serve in the Senate." Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Rodrigues said the Senate unanimously agreed to accept Rosenberg's resignation. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, a member of the Ethics Committee, said, "We were willing to give Sen. Rosenberg the opportunity to do the right thing. He did it." The Senate Republican caucus put out a statement saying the end of the investigation does not heal the wounds of those victimized by Hefner. The Republicans said Rosenberg's resignation will help restore a climate of "integrity and respectful conduct." "Rosenberg failed to effectively act to resolve the numerous instances of his husband's conduct," the Republican senators said. "Those behaviors and failures have consequences which have negatively impacted the Senate, those who serve it, and they have impacted the trust placed in it by the public. Hefner's reported actions are reprehensible and are now appropriately a matter before the judicial system." Rosenberg's decision to resign alleviated the burden on state senators to decide whether to follow the ethics committee's recommendations that Rosenberg be barred from any leadership position through 2020. Typically, every Democratic senator gets a committee chairmanship. Some senators were expected to argue in favor of harsher sanctions. The Senate would have had to take a public vote on any sanctions. With Rosenberg's resignation, the recommendations for discipline become moot. A Senate Ethics Committee report released Wednesday after an independent investigation found that Rosenberg knew about his husband Bryon Hefner's inappropriate behavior and should have known that Hefner was sexually harassing people with business before the Senate. Hefner is facing criminal charges, including sexual assault. The report condemned Rosenberg for "a significant failure of judgment and leadership," and said Rosenberg allowed Hefner inappropriate levels of access to his Senate business. Rosenberg gave Hefner his email password, which Hefner abused. Hefner sent emails pretending to be Rosenberg and also berated Rosenberg's staff. Earlier Thursday, members of the ethics committee said it would be up to Rosenberg and his constituents whether he should continue to serve as a senator. But a growing number of politicians called on Rosenberg to resign, including Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey. Rodrigues said committee members believe the proposed sanctions were "severe, significant and appropriate," but the senators also agree with Rosenberg's decision that "it is no longer appropriate for him to serve." Tarr said Rosenberg "absolutely did the right thing for the Senate." Tarr called Rosenberg's decision to step down "the right result." As the Massachusetts Senate decides how to deal with Sen. Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, a growing chorus of elected officials, including some of his former political allies, are calling on Rosenberg to resign. The Senate Ethics Committee released a report Wednesday showing that Rosenberg knew about his husband Bryon Hefner's inappropriate behavior and should have known that Hefner was sexually harassing people with business before the Senate. The report condemned the former Senate President for "a significant failure of judgment and leadership," and said Rosenberg allowed Hefner inappropriate levels of access to his Senate business. Rosenberg has not made any public statements since the report was released. The Senate Ethics Committee is recommending that Rosenberg be barred from serving as Senate President, as a member of Senate leadership or as chairman of any committee through 2020. The full Senate will have to vote on the recommendations. Senators are meeting Thursday to discuss how to proceed. Meanwhile, there are a growing number of Republicans and Democrats urging Rosenberg to step down. Immediately after the report was released, two of the state's most powerful elected officials called for Rosenberg's resignation. "The Senate's ethics report reveals a deeply disturbing pattern of behavior, making it clear that Senator Rosenberg has compromised the business of the Chamber and trust of his constituents," said Gov. Charlie Baker. "For the good of the institution and those who elected him to serve, I believe the Senator needs to resign immediately." Baker, a Republican, held regular meetings with Rosenberg when Rosenberg was Senate president, and the two appeared to work well together. Attorney General Maura Healey, a Democrat, said, "It's clear to me that Stan Rosenberg cannot continue to serve in the Senate. I think it's best if he steps down immediately." Healey and Rosenberg are both progressive Democrats committed to gay rights, and they were frequent political allies on a range of issues. Numerous Republicans have also urged Rosenberg to step down. House Minority Leader Brad Jones, D-North Reading, said Thursday, "Given the information uncovered by the committee's investigation, Senator Rosenberg should resign immediately from the Senate." "The Senate Ethics Committee's report underscores the fact that Senator Rosenberg was not only aware of some of his husband's inappropriate behavior, but also provided him with access to his official State House e-mail account and other confidential information," Jones said in a statement. "Senator Rosenberg's lapse in judgment and failure to put a stop to this constitutes a clear violation of the public's trust that has unfairly compromised the integrity of the Massachusetts Senate." Massachusetts Republican Party Chairwoman Kirsten Hughes, state treasurer candidate Keiko Orrall, secretary of state candidate Anthony Amore and U.S. Senate candidate Geoff Diehl also called on Rosenberg to resign immediately. But the calls came even from within Rosenberg's own party. State Sen. Jim Welch, D-West Springfield, a fellow Western Massachusetts senator, tweeted, "After full consideration of the Ethics report, I believe it is in the best interest of all involved, especially the victims, that Sen. Rosenberg resign from the Massachusetts Senate." After full consideration of the Ethics report, I believe it is in the best interest of all involved, especially the victims, that Sen. Rosenberg resign from the Massachusetts Senate. James Welch (@Sen_Jim_Welch) May 2, 2018 Sen. Jamie Eldridge, D-Acton, a progressive Democrat, also called on Rosenberg to resign and said in a statement on Facebook, "I am deeply disturbed, appalled, and hurt by the actions of Senator Rosenberg, as thoroughly detailed in the Senate Committee on Ethics Report." Sen. Barbara L'Italian, an Andover Democrat who is running for Congress, called Rosenberg's conduct "reckless and an abandonment of the incredible responsibility he undertook as Senate President" in a statement calling for Rosenberg's resignation. Former Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, said, "Public servants, especially those in leadership, must always be held to a higher standard. Senator Rosenberg should resign immediately." Just finished reading the Senate Ethics Committee report. Public servants, especially those in leadership, must always be held to a higher standard. Senator Rosenberg should resign immediately. Benjamin Downing (@BenjaminDowning) May 3, 2018 Members of the Senate Ethics Committee were more circumspect. Senate Ethics Committee Chairman Michael Rodrigues said Wednesday that expulsion from the Senate is reserved for members found guilty of criminal activity. "Whether Sen. Rosenberg serves as a senator should be up to the voters of his district to decide," Rodrigues said. Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, R-Gloucester, said the ethics committee is recommending serious sanctions by removing Rosenberg from leadership. "He will not have any stature other than a senator, and that stature is conveyed by someone's constituents at the ballot box," Tarr said. Among Western Massachusetts senators, a spokeswoman for Sen. Adam Hinds, D-Pittsfield, said Hinds will not comment until after the Senate completes its deliberations. Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who recently joined President Donald Trump's legal team, announced Thursday that North Korea will release three Americans that were being imprisoned. Giuliani said during a morning appearance on Fox and Friends that the Trump administration had "got (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners" Thursday. The former mayor's remarks came one day after Trump hinted at the Americans' release on Twitter. "As everybody is aware, the past administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" he posted Wednesday evening. As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 CNN reported that as of late Wednesday, U.S. officials did not have confirmation that the three men had been released from North Korean detention. An official told the news outlet that their release was "imminent." White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she had no official comment on the possible release, according to reports. The three Americans, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk -- known as Tony Kim -- have been detained in North Korea for several months. Tony Kim and Kim Hak-song were arrested last Spring after being accused of carrying out "hostile acts" against the North Korean regime, while Kim Dong Chul was arrested in 2015 for allegedly spying on behalf of South Korea, according to CNN. This is a breaking news story and will be updated when more information is made available. Although Scott Lively garnered enough support at the Massachusetts Republican Party convention to make the 2018 gubernatorial primary ballot, political observers caution against reading too much into the Springfield pastor's showing. Lively, who has sparked controversy over his views on LGBTQ issues, surprised many after receiving support from 626 of the 2,000-plus delegates attending the April 28 convention at the DCU Center in Worcester -- nearly double the 15 percent threshold needed to appear on the September ballot against incumbent Gov. Charlie Baker. Springfield political consultant Anthony Cignoli said that, while Lively was not expected to get as much support as he did, the gubernatorial hopeful's expected appearance on the ballot should not be seen as a sign of a shifting Massachusetts Republican Party. "When you've got the nation's most popular governor at the top of the ballot, certainly it's strange that Scott Lively would be able to get from the Republican convention-goers that kind of support and that kind of a vote," Cignoli said in an interview. "Did these convention-goers, these delegates, go there specifically for him, was this an effort that was orchestrated and to the credit of his campaign? Or is this indicative of what the base of the Republican Party regulars are?" Cignoli said he doesn't believe the results of Saturday's convention are "in keeping with the average general Republican electorate or even the independents that help vote for a Republican governor." Offering that delegates who attend state party conventions are often more hard-line than the overall voter base, Cignoli argued that the major takeaway from Lively making the ballot is that there is a "30 percent hardcore" group of Massachusetts Republicans who believe the party should take a more conservative stance on issues. "It's impressive that Lively accomplished this at the convention, but it's such a different universe than is the overall electorate: whether that be the Republican electorate for the primary or the general election electorate for November," Cignoli said, noting that Baker still won 70 percent of the vote among delegates. Tim Vercellotti, director of Western New England University's Polling Institute, agreed that Lively's convention performance doesn't necessarily indicate a shift within the party. "I think we have to keep in mind that this is not a representative sample of Republican voters in Massachusetts. These are activists, these are people who are very passionate with very strong views," he said in an interview. "It was clear that there's a vocal minority of delegates who are frustrated that Gov. Baker's not being more supportive of President (Donald) Trump. They feel like he is not being loyal to the party and so it's taking a sentiment that's out there -- that's probably a pretty small segment of the voting population -- and really amplifying it through delegates because they are more active than the average voter." Vercellotti added that Lively's expected appearance on the ballot likely will help -- not hurt -- Baker come primary day. "In a way, Lively is the perfect foil for Baker. ... Lively's statements, his political activism and history are such that Baker can easily distance himself from Lively and not suffer much in the way of Republican support," Vercellotti said. Paul Santaniello, a former Longmeadow selectman who ran as a Trump delegate for the 2016 Republican National Convention, said while Lively's campaign has a grassroots effort behind it, many of the votes for the controversial pastor may have come out of protest against Baker. "I think there's definitely a more conservative bent at the convention -- as much as you can get that in Massachusetts -- and I'm assuming a lot of that's just protest votes from conservatives against Charlie Baker," Santaniello said. "I think by the time the primary does come around, the votes that are cast won't even reflect the numbers that were garnered at the convention." Santaniello added that he believes "when push comes to shove and it's primary day that some of the people who may have voted for Scott Lively at the convention are more likely to vote for Charlie Baker." Lively previously ran as an independent against Baker in 2014. Before he can go head-to-head with the governor in the party's Sept. 4 primary, he must collect the 10,000 voter signatures needed for ballot certification, his campaign noted. Lively told supporters his campaign is taking an "all hands on deck" approach toward signature collection ahead of the May 8 deadline. The candidate said although he had already collected at least 10,250 signatures, he is hoping to get 3,000 to 5,000 more to serve as a buffer in case some are disqualified. Baker declined to tell reporters last weekend whether he planned to debate his controversial opponent ahead of the September election. He added that, in his opinion, "there's no place and no point in public life, in any life, for a lot of the things Scott Lively says and believes." Lively took issue with the governor's stance on issues like abortion and sanctuary cities, as well as his efforts to distance himself from the Trump administration. "You can't pretend to be a conservative by opposing sanctuary states when you're hanging out with (Boston Mayor) Marty Walsh and (Lawrence Mayor) Dan Rivera and the rest of the leftists that are pushing their agenda in this state. ... This is what our party's descended to under the management of Charlie Baker," Lively said. Massachusetts senators on Thursday entered a second day of closed-door meetings to decide what to do about Sen. Stan Rosenberg, D-Amherst, after an ethics report faulted him for a serious lapse in leadership and judgment. The report found Rosenberg, the former Senate president, allowed his husband Bryon Hefner access to his Senate business, and failed to stop Hefner's sexually inappropriate behavior involving people with ties to the Senate. Most senators entering the caucus declined to talk to the press. Sen. Jim Welch, D-West Springfield, is one of five Democrats who have publicly called on Rosenberg to step down. "At this point it's my opinion that political expediency and loyalty, when you're talking about sexual assault, when you're talking about serious crimes like this, all of that gets thrown out the window," Welch said. Welch said his goal is to protect and advocate on behalf of the victims and the institution of the Senate. "There's some very damning things in the report and very challenging, beyond challenging things in the report, things that I think are very difficult for many of us to even deal with," Welch said. Hefner has pleaded not guilty to multiple felony charges, including sexual assault. The report found no evidence that Rosenberg knew about the assaults, but found that he was aware generally of Hefner's sexually inappropriate behavior. Rosenberg did not attend Thursday's caucus. An aide said he was in Western Massachusetts. This story was updated Thursday, May 3, 2018 at 2:54 p.m. to correct the status of Hefner's criminal case. SPRINGFIELD -- State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield, was 38 signatures short in his quest to be placed on the 2018 election ballot, but said he is running "full-steam ahead" with a write-in campaign for re-election. "Stickers and write-ins, the old fashioned way," Gonzales said Thursday. "We're running full-steam ahead on Sept. 4, and we're doing it with a write-in campaign." No one else is on the ballot for Gonzalez's seat. He represents the 10th Hampden District in Springfield. The city Election Office said there were 112 valid signatures turned in by the Gonzalez campaign by the deadline, May 1, which was 38 signatures short of the 150 needed to be placed on the state election ballot. As a result, the write-in campaign is needed for the Sept. 4 primary. "We miscalculated on folks that were turning them in," Gonzalez said of the signatures. "I'm one of those guys, I see the future, not the past. So I will continue to run like we have always run, whether there is someone against me, a full campaign or a sticker campaign." Gonzalez was first elected as state representative in 2014, winning a two-year term. He defeated two other candidates for the seat, Ivette Hernandez and Melvin Edwards. Gonzalez replaced longtime state Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera, who vacated the seat to take a job as an assistant clerk at Hampshire Superior Court. She is now running for Hampden County register of deeds. In 2016, Gonzalez ran unopposed for re-election. The Election Commission routinely provides candidates with up-to-date lists of registered voters to help them in their signature drives, Election Commissioner Gladys Oyola said. Gonzalez didn't ask for one. The office also advises candidates to collect double the number of required signatures because a portion will inevitably not qualify under state election standards, she said. For example, Amaad Rivera, a challenger to state Sen. James Welch, D-West Springfield, submitted 1,000 signatures to appear on the ballot. The threshold for signatures for that seat is 300. Gonzalez submitted 191 signatures, Oyola said. Just 112 were certified. The elections head said that although Gonzalez has the right to appeal, the state has been less-then-generous on appeals in the past. "They are kind of sticklers," Oyola said, adding that the state uses a common database to evaluate signatures. "We're excited," Gonzalez said Thursday. "I think we have activated the base of support for Team Gonzalez. We're proud to have served and continue to serve the 10th Hampden District." With no one on the ballot for Gonzalez's seat, anyone in the district can run a write-in campaign, officials said. Gonzalez said his campaign will be "knocking on doors, listening and being an active voice in Boston." The person with the most votes in each party will advance to the Nov. 6 general election, with a minimum of 150 votes needed, an Election Office official said. The 10th Hampden District encompasses 15 Springfield precincts including the North End, South End, downtown and Forest Park neighborhoods. Staff writer Stephanie Barry contributed to this report. BOSTON -- Mookie Betts got a curtain call. He got a Gatorade bath. After day in which he surpassed Ted Williams for most three home run games by a Red Sox player, Betts was surrounded by reporters in the clubhouse ready to discuss his performance. One reporter asked Betts about his third home run -- a 440-foot bomb to center field that capped off his amazing day. But instead of thinking about the things he did right in the at-bat, he immediately thought of the things he did wrong. "I didn't start off very well," Betts said. "I should have been more aggressive, I took that fastball right down the middle. ... I swung at another one in the dirt. I was 0-2 there but I was able to kind of flush it out and be ready for the next one." Betts is a perfectionist. He does not like to do anything wrong. In Wednesday's game, that was not much of an issue. But one thing Betts has focused on doing this season has been to not be afraid of striking out. He's tasked himself with staying aggressive with two strikes, and looking to drive the ball instead of simply putting the ball in play. "I think just my at-bats are a little bit different," Betts said. "I don't care about striking out that much, I still want to be able to drive the ball with two strikes. It's the same idea if it's 2-0. I think I'm just keeping that same aggressive drive-the-ball mindset throughout the whole at-bat." The results have been impressive. Betts already has four home runs with two strikes on him this season, and has brought his total to 11 -- the most in the majors. Betts now has nine home runs in his last 12 games. He was coming off a minor injury Wednesday too. With the exception of his last home run before Wednesday, which came off of Danny Barnes on Apr. 25, all of Betts' home runs have been pulled. In many cases, hitters will try to use their power to the entire field, to prevent pitchers from being able to simply pitch away from them to avoid their power. In Betts' case, he has been able to hit for power on anything in the strike zone. "The whole pulling thing and going the other way, if you're great at pulling the ball and you're elite, who cares?" Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "I think he's covering the outside of the plate too. That's the most important thing. "He was a guy that a lot of teams would attack outside and throw him sliders. Now it seems like he's on them. He's able to pull them. There's nothing wrong with that. As long as he keeps putting the bat on the ball." With Betts showing so much power, one might assume that the Red Sox would consider moving him down in the order -- giving him an opportunity to drive in some more runs instead of hitting solo shots all the time. Cora shot down that idea, however, saying he plans on keeping Betts in the leadoff spot for the rest of the year. At this rate, why change anything? The Red Sox are happy to get Betts as many at-bats as he can. Just ask Drew Pomeranz. "I was just trying to shut them down long enough to keep letting Mookie get at-bats," Pomeranz said. 'When he gets hot like that, we are all cheering for more at-bats for him. They keep throwing him pitches, but he was hitting out everything they threw at him. It's pretty awesome to watch." The president of George Mason University has ordered an inquiry into whether big-money donors are being given undue influence over academic matters, after documents were released showing that the Charles Koch Foundation had been given a voice in hiring and firing professors. The university president, Angel Cabrera, wrote in an email to faculty Monday night that he was ordering the investigation after learning of documents revealing "problematic gift agreements." The newly released documents were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by Samantha Parsons of UnKoch My Campus, a group that seeks to expose the influence of the billionaire industrialists Charles and David Koch over colleges and universities. By ANEMONA HARTOCOLLIS *** Montana State University faculty vote no on Koch-funded research center http://www.matr.net/article-82535.html The Montana Department of Revenue is in the process of closing half of the agencys offices across the state that evaluate property taxes and, on occasion, informally help people with their income tax questions. Revenue Director Mike Kadas updated lawmakers in the Revenue and Transportation Interim Committee Wednesday on how his department is handling budget cuts passed in the 2017 legislative session. By Corin Cates-Carney http://mtpr.org/post/budget-cuts-force-closure-montana-department-revenue-offices Chobani is setting a new standard by offering six weeks of 100 percent paid parental leave for all employees. Chobani now offers six weeks of 100 percent paid parental leave for all employees. Its offered to both moms and dads whove given birth, adopted or fostered a child. Author: Kim Fields https://www.ktvb.com/article/life/life-in-balance/idaho-company-praised-for-parental-leave-policy/277-547132582 Careers at Chobani: Come as you are, and become the best you Our energetic work environment is a culmination of diverse backgrounds and cultures. Since the beginning, weve focused on fostering tight-knit teams that feed off innovation and creativity. We believe that when youre comfortable being yourself and truly love what you do, amazing things can happen. https://www.chobani.com/careers/ Soodesh Callichurn a prononce un discours lors de la ceremonie de signature de contrat de Price Monitoring and Control Application qui a eu lieu cans les locaux du ministere des Tins a Ebene. Ladies and Gentleman, Good Afternoon It is a great honour and privilege for me to be present today for the signing ceremony of the Price Monitoring and Control Application which will be implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation in the forthcoming months. I would like to seize this opportunity to commend the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council for its laudable initiative to promote and nurture an innovation culture in Mauritius. The Public Sector Transformation Scheme, under which the Price Monitoring and Control application has been developed, has been one of the key initiatives announced by this Government in Budget 2020-2021. The aim of the project was to encourage innovative companies and start-ups to develop high quality applications to be used by Ministries to enhance public sector delivery. The main objective behind this strategy is to prepare and equip the public sector to remain efficient, resilient and responsive in order to face a complex and highly competitive global landscape by leveraging on innovative technologies and smart processes. This scheme has attracted numerous Mauritian organisations from different fields to propose practical innovative solutions to common life problems and de facto increases the competitive edge of industries for sustainable economic and social growth. Officers of my Ministry have been working relentlessly on the development of the Price Monitoring and Control application since 2020 and their efforts continued even during the second national confinement this year. I am extremely pleased to note that my Ministry is the first and sole public organisation so far, to have been able to tap on this opportunity. Ladies and gentlemen, The COVID-19 outbreak last year shook the whole world and Mauritius has not been spared of its spill-over effects. Over the past months, consumers have been and are still being flooded by rising prices of many essential commodities, which are attributed to escalating costs of imports, such as freight and insurance, as well as the appreciation of several foreign exchange currencies compared to the Mauritian Rupee. Since Mauritius is a net import economy, these factors have had a direct influence on the price of imported goods and eventually on retail prices of most commodities. In the face of such a situation, Government could not have remained insensitive to the plight of its people. This is why in July 2021, this Government took the bold in itiative to fix a maximum price for seven essential products such as edible oil, pulses, canned tomatoes, milk powder, margarine, cheese and canned fish. A subsidy of around 500 million rupees has been provided by the Government so that these products are available at affordable prices to the population. As at date, 371 different brands of commodities have been fixed under the Consumer Protection (Maximum Price of Essential Goods) Regulations 2021. In parallel, the State Trading Corporation will import milk powder and edible oil to help stabilize prices of these strategic commodities on the local market. Government has also mandated the Corporation to explore new avenues for the procurement of other essential products in order to assist in stabilizing their retail prices. At the same time, in order to provide consumers with more visibility on prices of certain products and protect consumers from profiteering that may be practiced by certain traders, Government has also agreed to re-establish the former Price Observatory. This mechanism will define a basket of commodities comprising 100 categories of the most widely used products by Mauritians. The basket will consist of both food and non-food products and will be reviewed on a regular basis. A monthly online publication indicating the prices of different brands of selected products across different supermarkets and hypermarkets will be collected and monitored. Such a tool will provide consumers with an indication on which supermarket or hypermarket in their region is more affordable. Dear guests, The Price Monitoring and Control Application will thus be a fundamental and supportive tool which will help in the smooth implementation of the Price Observatory. It will also allow an effective price-control monitoring by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection. That app will be accessible to retailers, members of the public as well as other stakeholders. It will allow officers of my Ministry to effectively collect, record, cross verify prices of fixed items at supermarkets and shops and take pictures on an online system in real time. Such technology shall help to do instant comparison and analysis with the data received. It will also help officers of the Consumer Affairs Unit quickly identify whenever and wherever prices of products which are under price control, are being sold at a higher price than fixed and allow my Ministry to take sanctions as appropriate. The whole system will be managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection. And I am confident that Verde Frontiers Solutions Ltd will ensure seamless user experience, technical support and guarantee the technical and administrative aspects of the system. Ladies and gentlemen, The vision of this Government is to build a new model for the public service aligned on a common purpose, that is to guarantee good service to the public at large. I sincerely hope that the Citizens and all the stakeholders concerned make optimum use of the Price Monitoring and Control Application and help in the concerted effort towards consumer protection. Thank you for your attention. Planetary science is the study of planets, satellites, and other small bodies in our solar system; and, in recent decades, those in other solar systems as well. Planetary scientists have the unique ability to send probes to better study or even physically touch their targets, while astronomers and astrophysicists are limited to peering at faraway objects they will never reach. Planetary science and planetary geology can be done right at home, here on Earth, by studying our own planet, as well as those that share our Sun with us. This amazing field links Earth back into the larger whole of planetary bodies, showing that while our planet is unique in many ways (thus far), it is not, by any means, alone. If youre an avid reader of our magazine, the name Rosaly Lopes may ring a bell. Our February 2018 issue featured an article by Michael Carroll and Rosaly Lopes: Enceladus on Earth. It is the story of their journey to the worlds southernmost active volcano, Antarticas Mount Erebus, in search of the processes and landscapes we might find on other worlds such as, you might guess, Enceladus by studying some of the most remote and most extreme places right here on Earth. Going further back, you may also recognize her name from articles in April 2012 or November 2010. Dr. Lopes is a planetary scientist and volcanologist currently working as a senior research scientist at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Her experience includes not only fieldwork around active volcanoes on Earth, but also work on the Galileo mission to Jupiter and the Cassini mission to Saturn, studying the geology of Io and Titan, respectively. Her name is in the 2006 Guinness Book of World Records for the discovery of the most active volcanoes anywhere, following her identification of 71 active volcanoes on Io. More recently, she became the first female to serve as chief editor of the planetary science journal Icarus. This April, Dr. Lopes was celebrated as the recipient of the Adler Planetarium Womens Boards 16th annual Women In Space Science Award. Each year, a woman is chosen from the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) not only for success in her chosen career, but for her role as inspiration for young women who are currently seeking their own path to aim for the stars. In addition to the Women In Space Science Award, the Womens Board also bestows the Paul H. Knappenberger, Jr., Ph.D. STEM Award to a graduating senior who embodies the spirit of STEM education and advocacy. This years recipient was Nathalea Espinosa, who has been an active participant in the planetariums Teen Programs. Dr. Lopes is not only a brilliant scientist, she is also dedicated to spreading her joy of science to others. She participates extensively in science outreach and has authored numerous books and articles, from work featured in Astronomy magazine to The Volcano Adventure Guide and Alien Seas. I was invited to attend the award celebration and fundraiser hosted by the Adler Planetariums Womens Board on April 24, as well as follow the program into the afternoon as students took part in unique and engaging STEM activities. Getting to know Rosaly Lopes As a little girl growing up in Brazil near Ipanema Beach, Dr. Lopes was first inspired by the astronauts of the day. But as she grew older, she realized her dream of becoming one wasnt likely not only was she Brazilian (there were no Brazilian astronauts, only American and Russian), but she was female (and all the astronauts, save one, were male) and she had terrible eyesight. So it wasnt going to work, she admits. Instead, she decided that she would study astronomy and become a scientist. But most people, she said, laughed and thought this ambition was cute. They didnt think she was serious, but I proved them wrong. Another major source of inspiration occurred in her teenage years, when the Apollo 13 mission took place. The newspapers printed a picture of Frances Poppy Northcutt, she says, and it further bolstered her desire and confidence to pursue a career in science: She was a woman and she was in Mission Control. With the support of her parents, Lopes pursued her higher education at University College London. It was there that she discovered that it was planetary science and geology, not astronomy, that was her true passion. During that time, I took a final-year course in planetary geology, she says. I had a professor, Dr. John Guest, who was so inspiring on the third week of classes, he didnt show up. He sent a young man, a substitute, and the young man said, Well, Mount Etna, this volcano in Sicily, erupted, and the professor had to go. And I thought, Thats really exciting, thats what I want to do. So I started to going to volcanoes. Lopes studied under Guest to earn her Ph.D., and later took a postdoctoral position at JPL in 1989. She originally worked on Mars, but was told that shed have to start doing something else, as no plans existed to return to the Red Planet at the time (she laughs, now, at how things have changed). She turned to the Galileo mission to Jupiter, and worked on observation planning for Io and studied the volcanic moon in the infrared with the Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) instrument. When Galileo ended, Lopes became part of the Cassini missions radar team, and now studies Titan. My main work has been on Titan and figuring out the geologic history of the surface, doing a global geologic map of Titan, and studying the features that we think are cryovolcanoes, she says. Spotlight on women in science The Women in Space Science Award Celebration is more than just an award ceremony, luncheon, and talk. Following the award and keynote presentation at the Drake Hotel, young girls from the Chicago area gather at the Adler Planetarium to take part in a variety of STEM activities, as well as hear Dr. Lopes speak about her love of science and the experiences that have brought her to where she is today. After her presentation, students lined up to ask questions, inquiring about everything from Lopes views on climate change to the dangers of visiting active volcanoes. In response to questions, she spoke about the challenges of attending university-level classes not only in a non-native language, but also within a system that had prepared its students differently for college courses. Despite being at the top of her class in Brazil, she struggled at first in classes with students who had specialized in physics and astronomy during the latter part of their high school education. But, she says, she kept going, and here she is, today. In addition to attending the presentation, students separated into groups to take part in STEM activity stations that included programming rovers to perform tasks such as singing a tune or navigating an obstacle course, designing a spacesuit that would protect a marshmallow during decompression in a vacuum chamber, and building an apparatus capable of gathering iron meteorites from the bottom of a lake and bringing them to the surface. At each station, I was impressed not only with the enthusiasm of the Adler staff (as I always am), but also with the quality of the tools they were using and the attentiveness of the girls a sure sign that the activities were engaging and exciting. The Adlers Far Horizons balloon team lent their equipment to illustrate how hard it is to hit a small target on a planets surface with a spacecraft launched from far away at the Can You Land on Mars? station. Zoom In Meteorite was a newly designed activity based on the Aquarius Project, a teen-driven effort that will dredge Lake Michigan for pieces of the 600-pound meteorite that streaked into the lake near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, last year. Led by a teen volunteer involved in the project, girls put together their own ROV sledge and watched as it was pulled along a floor scattered with magnetic meteorites. Once the number of captured meteorites had been noted, they were asked what they could do to improve their design to bring up even more, encouraging the girls to further exercise their creativity and problem-solving skills. Following your passion Ultimately, the purpose of the Women In Space Science Award is to show young girls that not only are science, engineering, and math interesting and exciting, but that they can pursue a career in these fields and achieve success. The day is meant to celebrate not only those women who are achieving great things in science today, but also to encourage and support those who will achieve greater things tomorrow. When she was a graduate student, Dr. Lopes says, I was the first female graduate student there. All the other women were secretaries, so I was the only woman on staff. But her experiences, she went on, were positive: I was used to being the only woman on a field trip or in a group. And it didnt really bother me. I never really sort of focused on that, and everyone was really professional and nice. So if people had prejudice I cant say that I really encountered it. I didnt go looking for it, I just did my work. The Adlers goal in promoting STEM activities and education among young people today is to change part of that picture, so that young women are no longer the only females in their fields. Their goal is also to ensure these young women are indeed treated professionally and with respect, so their experiences can be positive as well. The field of planetary science, Lopes says, is about 30 to 35 percent female. Astrophysics remains more heavily male dominated, but that doesnt mean it cant change. Ultimately, Lopes says of both her success and her enjoyment of her career, I think that everyone needs to find a passion and follow that. I think thats the most important thing that I tell them: You need to find that subject, that one thing, that you really, really want to do. It could be science, it could be art, it could be music, but you have to be passionate about it because in order to succeed at that, you have to be very dedicated. So you better really be passionate about it. Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging think tanker, aspiring novelist, hanger on of academia, parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, Speedboat, proudly banned from Twitter so officially more dangerous than the Taliban, eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me. TNVolunteer73 said: Someone Tell BubbaJones, muslims are not the only people that attack others. Click to expand... SPECULATED THAT IT WAS IN FACT ANOTHER MUSLIM ATTACK TNVolunteer73 said: Why does this racist think that Conservatives only think that muslims are violent. one he is a Bigot two he is a Racist. three he is an stupid ass who thinks that Conservatives are racist Bigots. But he proves who he is by his projection on Racism upon conservatives. Click to expand... stated the Toronto attack was MUSLIMS, THAT WOULD BE YOUR CONSERVATIVE FRIENDS ON THIS BOARD. THEY are the one's that said it was mostly likely Muslims. Jesus H Tap Dancing Christ would you PLEASE taking a god damned mother F*****G reading comprehension course ???? You can't POSSIBLY be as IGNORANT, stupid and completely uninformed as you appear on this board !!!!!THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT of my original post was that IT WAS NOT MUSLIMS that carried out the Toronto attack. The ONLY REASON I started this thread WAS THE FACT THAT A FEW OF THE BOARDS CONSERVATIVES!!!!!!!!!!I am not the racist. I AM NOT the one thatJUST how in FUCKING HELL am I the racist for pointing out that it was NOT MUSLIMS ????? A 39-year-old man who was caught putting his Tesla into autopilot mode before hopping into the passenger seat has been banned from driving for 18 months by a U.K. court. Bhavesh Patel of Nottingham, England pleaded guilty to dangerous driving in St Albans Crown Court in late April, and was also levied the punishment of 100 hours community service, a 10-day rehabilitation order and a fine of 1,800 euros. People both witnessed and filmed the man turn his vehicle's autopilot system on and then hop into the passenger seat of his Model S 60 as it continued down the congested M1 motorway in May 2017. The Independent reports witnesses detailed the man putting his life in control of the autopilot system as he appeared to have his hands behind his head while sitting in the passenger seat. "What Patel did was grossly irresponsible and could have easily ended in tragedy," an investigating officer told the Independent. "He not only endangered his own life, but the lives of other innocent people using the motorway on that day. "This case should serve as an example to all drivers who have access to autopilot controls and have thought about attempting something similar." While Patel is said to have admitted that the action was "silly," he maintained that his Tesla was capable of "amazing" tasks and that he was just the "unlucky one who got caught." Tesla's Autopilot is a driver assistance system that uses sensors, radar and cameras to steer, speed up and slow down a vehicle based on traffic and road conditions. While the vehicle takes over steering, braking and accelerating, the driver must keep two hands placed on the wheel. If the driver takes their hands off the wheel, the Tesla will warn them twice before putting the driver in "autopilot timeout" the third time. This sentence comes on the heels f a March 23 fatal crash involving a Tesla Model X SUV that happened on U.S. Highway 101 in Mountain View, California. In this crash, a 38-year-old man was killed when his Model X struck a freeway barrier that was either missing or had a damaged safety shield. Tesla said that the driver had about five seconds and 150 meters of unobstructed view before the fatal collision with the concrete divider. The Palo Alto-based electric car maker said in a blog post that its vehicle logs showed that no action was taken by the driver. The company said the driver did not have his hands on the steering wheel for at least six seconds before the crash, and that he was visually and audibly warned several times. In March, a woman was killed after being struck by a self-driving Uber in Arizona in which the human backup driver was exposed as being distracted prior to the collision. On the inside of the vehicle, the driver is shown with their head down until the moment they realized the vehicle they were behind the wheel of was about to strike someone. This crash represented the first death involving an autonomous vehicle being tested on public roads. Toyota plans to open a 60-acre site to test and develop autonomous vehicle technology in October at the Michigan Technical Resource Park in Ottawa Lake, Michigan. One of its key uses will be replicating "edge case" driving scenarios that are too dangerous or risky to perform on public roads, according to the Japanese automaker. It will also serve as a proving ground to accelerate the development of its Toyota Guardian automation mode. The automaker revealed the plans in a Thursday morning, May 3 news release, and said that construction of the closed-course facility is underway. Ottawa Lake is in deep southeast Michigan just miles from the Michigan-Ohio border and northeast of Toledo. "By constructing a course for ourselves, we can design it around our unique testing needs and rapidly advance capabilities, especially with Toyota Guardian automated vehicle mode," Ryan Eustice, Toyota Research Institute senior vice president of automated driving, said in the release. "This new site will give us the flexibility to customize driving scenarios that will push the limits of our technology and move us closer to conceiving a human-driven vehicle that is incapable of causing a crash." Toyota says it will build the new facility inside of the Michigan Technical Resource Park's 1.85-mile oval-shaped test track. As part of Toyota's work, it will replicate congested urban environments, slick surfaces, and a four-lane highway complete with high-speed entrance and exit ramps. The automaker says it will lease the land from the resource park, but Toyota is responsible for its own design, construction and maintenance of the facility once it is up and running. As part of the partnership, though, Toyota will have access to the existing oval track, on-site facilities and services. The Michigan Technical Resource Park launched as a proving ground for auto manufacturers back in 1968. It was reportedly sold to a private developer back in 2010, and now serves as a testing site available for testing and advanced engineered technology development. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation Director David Marquardt is looking forward to the day when all the bulldozer and cranes are done restoring the rapids back to the Grand River. Those muddy construction sites will become "opportunity sites" and some of the city's newest, most exciting parks, Marquardt said. Marquardt admitted he doesn't yet know what these five sites will look like or how the city will pay to have them developed. "We don't even know what the costs are going to be," Marquardt said. Depending on funding and budgets, some of those sites may remain undeveloped for the foreseeable future, he said. These public lands that construction crews will use to gain access the river, remove the dams and haul in new rocks will become a key part of how city residents and visitors interact with the restored river. Those riverfront sites could eventually be used by fishermen, kayakers, walkers and others for recreation activities on or alongside the river. The riverfront changes, in the form of several parks and public access points between Fulton Street and Ann Street, are a major part of the overall project designed to restore the rapids to the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids. Tentatively scheduled for completion in 2024 or 2025, the $45 million project is designed to recreate the rapids by removing the dams and adding rocks and substrate to the riverbed. For the past year, a River For All advisory committee to Grand Rapids Whitewater has been talking about these future riverfront sites with residents, students, downtown business owners and native Americans who were the original settlers along the rapids. Lynee Wells, an urban planner and community engagement leader with Williams & Works, said the 26 members of the committee had 2,150 conversations with individuals and met with seven stakeholder groups. "Over and over again, the biggest desire is to be able to touch the river -- to go to the water -- to either dip your feet in the water or have access," Wells said. "We heard this from young people and the senior community across the base." One of the most intriguing aspects of the project has been the involvement of the Anishinaabe community, which lived on the rapids before the Europeans arrived, Wells said. The native groups want a place on the river where they can have their traditional "three fires" ceremonies to commemorate their ancestors and loved ones who have died. The native groups also want to add indigenous plants such as birch trees, wild rice and sweet grass to the land next to the river. Belinda Bardwell, a member of the Little Traverse Band of Odawa Indians and a member of the city's Community Relations Commission, said about 40 members of native American tribes attended the sessions. "I think the overall feeling was that we were happy that they now accept the fact that we exist," Bardwell said of the meetings. Native Americans are hoping the restored rapids and shoreline developments will honor the residents who made the rapids a trading destination long before the Europeans arrived and built dams, Bardwell said. "For 30,000 years, we've had contact with the river," Bardwell said. "It's provided us with life. The general feeling from that meeting was that native people wanted space and access to the river." For Marquardt, one of his priorities is focused on making the east bank of the river more user-friendly north of downtown between the Canal Street Park and Ann Street. That includes developing a trail along the river between Leonard Street and Ann Street -- a thorny, debris-filled stretch along the riverfront between downtown's trail system and the White Pine Trail, which begins at Riverside Park and heads north. The stretch includes a railroad bridge that is still used to serve the city's West Side. One of the sites that will be developed between Leonard and Ann Street is currently used as a storage yard for the city's water department. Plans call for it to be transformed into an active park for persons wanting to enter the new rapids. During construction, the storage yard will become an access point for the "adjustable hydraulic structure" that will be built to block the sea lamprey from going upstream. After construction, the site will offer the public access to the river for tubing, kayaking and fishing. Plans also call for a suspended "canopy walk" over the flood plain between the storage yard and the railroad bridge. South of Leonard Street, long-range plans call for removing a fire station on Monroe Avenue and marketing the property for a mixed-used development. The Coldbrook Pumping Station, a 106-year-old Beaux Arts building that is no longer used by the city's water works, will be repurposed, possibly as a headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Department. Beneath the water plant property is Coldbrook Creek, a stream that has been buried for years for much of its path through the Northeast Side of Grand Rapids. Marquardt said discussions are underway to uncover parts of the creek as it enters the Grand River. After the Sixth Street Dam is removed, the city plans to continue maintaining the fish ladder, originally created in 1974 by artist Joseph Kinnebrew. ANN ARBOR, MI - Lawrence Dolph told Ann Arbor planning officials this week his grandfather Ray Dolph gifted the Dolph Nature Area to the city in 1955 to be a jewel and environmental oasis. He said most cities don't have that, and Ann Arbor does with the 57-acre wooded area and trails surrounding the only naturally formed lakes in Ann Arbor, the First and Second Sister Lakes. But now he's worried about the potential impacts of a three-story, 95-unit senior housing facility proposed next to the northwest side of that nature area off Wagner and Jackson roads. Joining many other residents speaking out before the Planning Commission on Tuesday night, May 1, Dolph called the development that's proposed a "jurassic monster" and "a gross distortion" of what's currently only single-family homes around the nature area. Dolph and other residents argued a professionally staffed senior housing facility is commercial in nature and placing that next to the nature area on land zoned for single-family housing is wrong. "If you allow this to be built, the ghost of Ray Dolph will haunt you and you do not want that," he told commissioners. His remarks drew appreciative laughs, cheers and applause from other residents in the audience who raised concerns about potential visual impacts on their neighborhood, traffic impacts, noise and lighting, and environmental impacts on the Sister Lakes area. Wagner Road resident Roger Rayle, chairman of the local Coalition for Action on Remediation of Dioxane, also raised concerns related to the Gelman dioxane plume, suggesting the development could eliminate some of the best options for monitoring the ongoing spread of the toxic chemical that's coming from the former Gelman Sciences plant nearby, threatening Ann Arbor's main drinking water source. After hearing the many concerns, the Planning Commission voted to postpone consideration of the project for now until several questions that were raised can be more thoroughly addressed. Southfield-based Lockwood Companies is proposing the $20-million senior independent living facility, with at least 20 percent of the 95 apartments dedicated as affordable rental housing. The property is currently zoned for single-family residential use and the developer is seeking city approval for a special planned unit development project with PUD zoning. The plans indicate there would be 50 one-bedroom apartments ranging from 650 to 695 square feet and 45 two-bedroom apartments ranging from 825 to 1,090 square feet, and 65 parking spaces. Lockwood estimates there would be about 18 full-time and part-time employees working at the facility and the company maintains that most of the senior-citizen tenants wouldn't own or drive cars. The 3.5-acre property is located at 3365 Jackson Road, east of Wagner Road and just west of the Dolph Nature Area's north end. The name of the development is Lockwood of Ann Arbor Apartments. Just west of the proposed development site is Westover Hills, a subdivision of single-family homes where some residents are raising concerns about the prospect of a three-story building with a pitched roof encroaching on their neighborhood. "Our neighborhood is a wonderful melting pot. We are not anti-seniors or NIMBYs. We just want some housing which is not commercial in nature. This will be more like a hotel or a hospital," argues Elizabeth Collins, who lives near the end of a dirt road cul-de-sac on Porter Avenue where her backyard abuts the development site. She's concerned one of the wings of the X-shaped facility would come close to her property, drastically changing the view she enjoys from her back deck where she now looks out at a vacant property filled with trees and occasionally wild animals such as turkey and deer. Collins spoke out before the Planning Commission, identifying herself as a representative for the Sister Lakes neighbors. "I was born and raised in Ann Arbor and I love my home and my neighborhood," she said, adding she cherishes the glacier-made lakes. She said she confirmed that the lot next to her property was zoned for single-family housing before she bought her home. She calls what's now proposed a "gargantuan" development that's commercial in nature, and she said about 99 percent of the 350 residents in the area are against the rezoning for it. Mark Lockwood, president of Lockwood Companies, took issue with the characterization of the project as commercial in nature. He said it's still a residential housing development. He said Lockwood Development has been a Michigan-based company since 1942, and since 1986 has focused exclusively on development of affordable and mixed-income housing. "This is what we do on a day-to-day basis," he said of the affordable housing component of the project, suggesting it wasn't an afterthought included just to gain PUD approval. "We develop affordable housing, build affordable housing and manage affordable housing," he said. "Throughout our history, we've developed over 5,100 multi-family affordable and mixed-income housing development units. The proposed development is 95 senior independent residential apartments with a suite of services and amenities that are focused on enhancing the quality of life of residents, creating opportunities for residents to have greater social engagement with their peers, and, contrary to some claims, create opportunities to meet the needs of residents who do not have vehicles." He said Lockwood's experience with its other senior housing communities, which he said includes more than 2,300 apartments, is that more than 70 percent of residents do not have vehicles and are reliant on amenities within the community and transportation services that are provided complimentary to all residents regardless of whether they're in a market-rate, full-service amenity program or whether they fall under the affordability program. He said Lockwood is proposing to designate at least 20 percent of the apartments as affordable for low-income residents at 50 percent of the area median income or below. If the project is allowed to go forward, he said, Lockwood plans to seek additional funding from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority to expand the affordability component of the project beyond 20 percent. Project architect Jordan London of Southfield-based Edmund London & Associates Inc. also talked about the project. "With all due to respect to the neighbors who got up, I know it's upsetting to see construction on a site that's been vacant, but I think there's been some misrepresentation of the size and the nature of the development," he told commissioners. London said the facility is designed to accommodate elderly people who on average are going to be in their 80s. "It is not a facility for 55-year-olds. It's not a facility even for 70-year-olds," he said. "Most of the people who will move in here are moving here for a need-based reason -- they can't live in a single-family house, they can't take care of it, they can't drive well, so they come to senior living facilities so they can get meals, get activities, have a higher quality of life, and this will become their home." He said there would be living room and dining spaces, including private dining spaces for families to come, a bistro-type cafe, arts and crafts areas, game room, barber shop, mail room and apartment balconies. "One of the reasons that I think the Lockwoods chose this site is the proximity to the park and the fact that these people who will live here, these 95 residents or so, will appreciate that park tremendously," London said. "It's a traumatic experience to move from their homes. They certainly want to live within a residential district. They don't want to live in an urban, high-density area totally different from where they grew up from. So this facility was designed to really be located in a residential setting and to take advantage of this side of the park." London also argued it would be a three-story building next to two-story homes so the difference in height isn't all that much. That prompted some disagreeing remarks from residents. "We are a very viable and diverse neighborhood with working and taxpaying citizens who will have their lives diminished if this is rezoned and developed by an out-of-county developer who will be renting 77 units between $2,500 and $3,500 per month to seniors on a fixed income," Collins said. "Yes, 19 units will be affordable, but that's still $1,000 a month and only for 15 years. This is a lucrative landlord situation where they will be making a lot of money at the neighborhood's expense. This will cause a detrimental effect on many of the residents if it is built. There will be significant added noise, lights and smells from especially the dumpsters and the loading zone." Collins also suggested employees taking smoke breaks outside could be a problem for neighbors. "Trucks will be idling with carbon monoxide, beeping in reverse, loud banging of the dumpsters," she said. "We will now have lights all around us ... and I will have residents peering down on my backyard from the third-floor balconies." Rayle, who has spent the last 25 years as a citizen volunteer watching over the Gelman dioxane plume and tracking its spread, mentioned the importance of the dioxane monitoring wells on the site. He said he understands monitoring well MW-30i/d is going to remain, but he believes a previous homeowner's well at 3365 Jackson Road is just as important, if not more important, and he's worried about losing it. "That seems to be on the center line of the dioxane plume that's making its way from the Gelman site northeast through the Evergreen site and then maybe onward to Barton Pond in the coming decades and centuries, where Ann Arbor gets 85 percent of its water," he said. "So, you're a planning commission. How far in advance do you plan? Because when you talk about this site, it's very unique in the world. We're talking about very long timescales." Rayle told commissioners they need to be planning 300 years out in the case of the slow-moving Gelman dioxane plume. "That's longer than the United States has been a country," he said. "So, as you make decisions like this, think about what effect the dioxane is going to have over this timescale and whether or not you have enough monitoring wells in the right locations." Rayle said he believes the current monitoring well at 3365 Jackson would end up under one of the arms of the proposed building. "Well, that means it has to be moved," he said. "But what if that was the best location? Now, what if the next best location is another arm of the building? You have lost your opportunity to do proper sampling to protect Ann Arbor's water supply for decades and decades, so please consider what opportunities you're losing if you allow this project." Rayle also suggested requiring groundwater modeling for infiltration to see what effect it might have on the plume. Collins said her neighborhood has been in existence for about 100 years, long before car dealerships came along and long before Gelman Sciences polluted their wells decades ago. "We do not want commercial buildings next to our single-family homes," she said. "We are concerned about the ecological impact of clearcutting all of the trees on a bluff above the wetlands and already-compromised First Sister Lake. This is a habitat of many wildlife species. I have a rare smokey gray turkey who lives there." ANN ARBOR, MI - A few weeks ago, Association of American Universities President Mary Sue Coleman was asked by a Washington Post reporter during an interview if sexual assault on college campuses was still a focus of institutions, or if they had moved on to other topics. Coleman, who previously served as president of the University of Michigan from 2002 to 2014, was stunned by the question. Not only is it still relevant - the discussion has evolved, she said. That is perhaps why Coleman and the AAU are looking into advancing a 2015 study that surveyed undergraduate students from 27 universities with a follow-up that includes graduate students and their relationships with faculty. Coleman believes the focus must shift to include the graduate student population given the #MeToo movement and feedback the AAU has received from its member institutions. "We should explore misbehavior wherever it occurs in the academy, and surveying graduate students and faculty is a possible next step for the AAU," Coleman said. "The #MeToo movement is not over. We're seeing elongated correction to the ways people are treated in the workplace - and on campuses - thanks to courageous individuals speaking out against sexual harassment, intimidation and violence. It's been difficult, and it's been messy, but it is fundamentally changing our world for the better." While a deep dive into the climate might be on the horizon, Coleman said sexual assault on campus remains most prevalent among its youngest populations. Coleman shared her thoughts on the current climate of sexual assault and misconduct on Wednesday, May 2, during a Summit on the Prevention of Campus Sexual Assault inside UM's Rackham Auditorium. She was joined for morning remarks during the day-long summit by U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, State of Michigan First Lady Sue Snyder and UM President Mark Schlissel. The AAU's 2015 study found that the incidence of sexual assault and sexual misconduct due to physical force, threats of physical force, or incapacitation among female undergraduate student respondents was 23.1 percent, including 10.8 percent who experienced penetration. Overall, first-year students remain at a higher level of risk than upperclassmen, Coleman said, as they adapt to a new environment and newfound freedom. "We learned from students that the risk of the most serious types of sexual assault decline from freshman to senior years," she said. "This reinforced what many of us already knew: That first-year students are the most vulnerable. These are 17 and 18-year-olds, away from home for the first time and experiencing a new kind of freedom. They're managing their own lives, often by their own rules. It is exhilarating, and sometimes overwhelming, with many emotions in play." Schlissel said UM continues to examine how it responds to complaints of sexual misconduct from a policy standpoint. In early February, UM announced it had updated its policy and procedures regarding student sexual and gender-based misconduct following a regular review in the fall. A week later, Schlissel announced at UM's Board of Regents meeting that the university would engage an outside expert to review its policies and practices to be sure UM is doing all it can to prevent and respond to reports of sexual misconduct. The review was a reflection of the university's commitment to education and prevention efforts as well as having fair and effective processes for addressing sexual misconduct in the UM community, Schlissel said. It also came after recent news of a former UM doctor, Mark F. Hoeltzel, who was jailed on federal charges of possessing and receiving child pornography. Hoeltzel also is accused of having a sexual relationship with a patient. Addressing the case of Hoeltzel, Schlissel said UM has retained an "experienced national firm" with health care expertise to investigate the matter. He noted the doctor no longer works for Michigan Medicine. Schlissel said he believes the national conversation about #MeToo and sexual misconduct is taking place on college campuses, as well. "Our society is experiencing what I hope is a transformational moment in how we address sexual misconduct, and more broadly, how the different genders treat one another in the workplace, in our schools and our communities," Schlissel said. "In our communities and our campuses, survivors and supporters have united to give voice to those who for too long have been ignored and silenced. Colleges and universities across our nation have a clear responsibility to act, as well." Dingell, D-Dearborn, has gone on record that she has "too many" stories of sexual harassment she experienced during her career. The #MeToo movement, she said, applies on college campuses, as well, where power dynamics can discourage women from coming forward. "This movement isn't real until students on campuses, factory floor workers, a lawyer trying to make partner, tip waitresses, and a whole lot of women you and I know ever have the courage to come forward and talk," Dingell said. "We have to have real conversations, because for too many women, and it's very true on college campuses, there are consequences of coming forward. These discussions need to talk about those consequences and why people are afraid, and they don't feel like they're in an environment where they can come forward." The Campus Sexual Assault Summit today was hosted by the UM Injury Prevention Center. ANN ARBOR, MI - The matter remains under investigation, but police don't believe an overnight break-in and sexual assault is connected to a series of recent break-ins in Ann Arbor. Several home invasions have been reported on the city's west side in recent weeks. Police believe the same man, with his face covered with a mask, entered several homes through unlocked doors in April. One incident was reported as an attempted rape. Then, about 2:50 a.m. Wednesday, May 2, police were called to the 1000 block of Church Street for a reported sexual assault. A 19-year-old University of Michigan student told police she awoke to an unknown intruder sexually assaulting her, said Ann Arbor police Detective Sgt. Craig Martin. The suspect, described as an unknown white man who broke into the home, fled the residence after the assault, police say. Police continue to investigate how the man got in. Martin said that as of Wednesday afternoon, the May 2 incident was not believed to be connected with the west-side break-ins. "At this point, we do not believe it to be related, however this is still an ongoing investigation," Martin said. Police are offering a $500 reward for information connected with those incidents. Those with information on any of these incidents are asked to call the Ann Arbor Police tip line at 734-794-6939 or e-mail tips@a2gov.org. ANN ARBOR, MI - A medical marijuana dispensary near the University of Michigan Diag has joined the ranks of Ann Arbor cannabis businesses now with official city zoning approval. The city's Planning Commission voted unanimously this week to approve a special-exception use permit for Liv Cafe N Wellness, which occupies a nearly 1,500-square-foot space at 603 E. William St. just west of State Street. While already in operation before this week, the dispensary, like others in Ann Arbor, has had to go through the city's new approval process to become official under new regulations. It's now the ninth marijuana dispensary in Ann Arbor to receive zoning approval from the Planning Commission in recent weeks. The city is taking a new look at tightening its regulations since so many marijuana dispensaries are looking to set up shop. More than 30 have sought approval from the city this year. Located in a second-floor loft space next to the New York Pizza Depot, Liv Cafe N Wellness describes itself as a destination for a refreshing, educational and better health environment, providing a mix of medicinal and non-medicinal products and services, including medical-grade marijuana for registered patients. The cafe features a cozy lounge area and serves up fresh-squeezed and pressed juices and freshly brewed coffee, teas and medicinal herbs. It also features an oxygen bar with aromatherapy and "over 10 natural oil aromas to choose from," the Liv website states. "We are a Wellness and Health food center located in Ann Arbor. We offer over 20 medicinal marijuana strains, CBD, and other health foods and organic products," the Liv website states. "We take a different approach to your medical marijuana and health needs. We focus on natural and healthy products that will help you achieve a happier and healthier lifestyle." Liv also states on its website that all of its medicine is thoroughly tested for impurities and contaminants. "You can trust that your medicine is going to be safe and top medical-grade quality," it states. The Planning Commission initially postponed consideration of Liv's permit application in March due to a police report of a recent incident at the William Street dispensary. Commissioner Zachary Ackerman said he saw the police report and it seems to have been a family dispute, but it did raise questions about the dispensary's security system. He said he wanted to postpone approval until the commission had more clarification around the incident and any followup that may affect future operations. Ackerman said the Planning Commission has to be judicial in how it approaches special-exception uses for marijuana dispensaries and security systems are one specific consideration. He said the city's planning staff has worked with the Ann Arbor Police Department since March to ensure the problem has been resolved and that no incidents have occurred on the property since. With that understood, commissioners didn't see any reason not to approve the zoning for the dispensary Tuesday night, May 1. A dispensary manager declined to comment for this story and the owner did not respond to requests for comment. Ann Arbor police were not able to immediately provide any additional information about the incident commissioners cited. Because there was a police report involving the dispensary, Commissioner Alex Milshteyn raised the question of whether extra conditions should be added to require the dispensary to reapply for zoning approval if there are any other police reports filed in the future due to employees or ownership issues. Brett Lenart, the city's planning department manager, said he wouldn't recommend that. "I think we have adequate protections as a city," he said. "Because the additional requirement beyond land use is that they're going to have to receive a permit from the city clerk to operate any medical marijuana facility on an annual basis." As part of the permit process, Lenart said, the clerk will seek feedback from a variety of departments, including police, fire and planning, and if there's a high level of concern about police calls there, it would be appropriate to not reissue the permit at that time. Commissioners considered that sufficient and didn't add any extra conditions about police calls, though they are requiring the dispensary to install a bicycle hoop for bicycle parking outside the dispensary, either along William Street or Maynard Street. The Planning Commission has approved the zoning for these nine marijuana dispensaries so far this year: Liv Cafe N Wellness, 603 E. William St. Bloom City Club, 423 Miller Ave. Arbors Wellness at 321 E. Liberty St. Treecity Health Collective at 2730 Jackson Ave. Greenstone Society at 338 S. Ashley St. Stadium Ventures Inc. at 2460 W. Stadium Blvd. Medicine Man of Ann Arbor Inc. at 2793 Plymouth Road Arborside at 1818 Packard St. Om of Medicine at 111 S. Main St. The Planning Commission recently rejected a proposal for a marijuana dispensary in the Burns Park area. Several other dispensaries are still seeking zoning approval from the city. After more than 30 applied recently, the City Council decided last month to put a 60-day moratorium on issuing new permits, except for those dispensaries already under consideration. During the moratorium, the city is considering changes to further limit the number of dispensaries that will be able to sprout in Ann Arbor, as well as rethinking how close to one another they can be. Currently the required buffer between dispensaries is 600 feet, though some city officials are pushing for 1,000 feet. Once the zoning is approved, dispensaries still need building compliance approval, permit approval through the city clerk's office and license approval through the state. The official name of the company behind the Liv dispensary is the A2 Go Green Corp. The company's articles of incorporation list Martin Khemmoro as the resident agent. ANN ARBOR, MI - Imagine a pill that "lights up" when exposed to infrared light after ingestion, allowing doctors to detect and diagnose breast cancer earlier, more easily and accurately, and with less risk to patients. Researchers at the University of Michigan believe they have developed it, demonstrating that the concept works in mice. UM Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Assistant Professor Greg Thurber and his team have been working in collaboration with College of Pharmacy Professor David Smith on developing the pill, which uses an imaging agent that binds to a molecule using bright fluorescents for detection. Most imaging done in screenings like mammograms is anatomical, Thurber said, meaning that doctors are looking for lumps or masses. The problem with that is you don't receive any information on the "specific biology" that's going on. While they are the most common breast cancer screening test, mammograms are an imprecise tool, Thurber said. According to the American Cancer Society, screening mammograms do not find about 1 in 5 breast cancers. Additionally, about half of the women getting annual mammograms over a 10-year period will have a false-positive finding. "We've known in the cancer biology field for a long time now that cancer is really a molecular-driven disease and a lot of therapeutics have been moving in that direction, targeting specific molecular pathways, but the problem is screening has been caught in the realm of looking at anatomy," Thurber said. "Therefore, what happens is you require a lot of follow-up testing - biopsies and lab tests - to really figure out what's going on. We're trying to get that molecular information at an earlier stage so that you won't have to unnecessarily go through those follow-up tests if they're not needed." Those follow-ups can be expensive, Thurber said, costing around $4 billion per year on the diagnosis and treatment of cancers. To improve this process, Thurber and his team believe they have found a more effective method of determining which tumors need to be treated immediately. Thurber's team uses a dye in a pill that responds to infrared light to tag a molecule commonly found on tumor cells, in the blood vessels that feed tumors and in inflamed tissue. By providing specific information on the types of molecules on the surface of the tumor cells, physicians can better distinguish a malignant cancer from a benign tumor. During testing, the targeting molecule has been shown to make it through the stomach and liver unscathed, meaning it can travel through the bloodstream. The team attached a molecule that fluoresces when it is struck with infrared light to this drug. Then, they gave the drug to mice that had breast cancer, and they saw the tumors light up. "It really came down to, for breast cancer, selecting molecules that are upregulated or overexpressed within the malignant tumors, as opposed to benign masses that don't need to be removed or don't need chemotherapy," Thurber said. Thurber believes this process also is safer than current methods like taking X-rays, which involve a small risk of disrupting DNA and seeding a new tumor. Taking the dye pill orally, rather than injecting it into the bloodstream, is also safer, cheaper and more time efficient for doctors and patients. "It's a low risk, but it's always there, and when you're screening a huge number of patients, and they're potentially healthy patients, that's really an unacceptable risk, for a person to potentially go into anaphylactic shock," Thurber said, explaining the IV delivery method. "From a safety standpoint, it's more like a vaccine, where you're treating a large number of healthy people, so there's a very high bar for safety." Thurber said researchers selected breast cancer as an initial target of study because it's one of the most important as a proof of principle. Other diseases, specifically rheumatoid arthritis, could be future targets. Having multiple targeting agents, he said, would allow physicians to have more information when making a judgment on whether a patient needs to undergo an additional procedure or not. "To move forward, we've selected these agents because there's a high likelihood they'll be safe," he said. "But just because variants of these molecules have gone into patients before, you still have to go through all of the same hurdles for developing new agents. We need to go into larger animal models and make sure it's still effective in those, and also testing toxicity before reaching the stage where we would initiate clinical trials." The possibilities are exciting for the future, Thurber said. His team is collaborating with UM Professor of Rheumatology David Fox to look at how the pill performs with regards to rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints that is largely irreversible. "We have very effective drugs to actually stop the progression of the disease," Thurber said. "The sooner you detect it, you can stop the disease from getting worse, so there's a strong incentive to detect it earlier when the patient doesn't have any symptoms, and maybe even detect it early enough that you can cure it." Thurber's research is described in a study in the journal Molecular Pharmaceutics, titled, "Oral administration and detection of a near-infrared molecular imaging agent in an orthotopic mouse model for breast cancer screening." ANN ARBOR, MI - A group of people marking May Day marched through downtown Ann Arbor Tuesday evening waving Soviet flags and black-and-red flags. Also known as International Workers' Day, May Day dates to the 1800s. They walked up and down Main Street between 5-6 p.m. Tuesday, May 1 before making their way to the Ann Arbor Police Department, 301 E. Huron St., where they stood outside without explaining why. "We made contact with them to see if we could help them out at all and they wouldn't tell us," said Ann Arbor Police Sgt. Patrick Maguire. "It was just a peaceful protest from my understanding. They moved to a couple of different locations downtown and ended up here before dispersing." Maguire said some of the group members were seen walking in the road but complied when officers asked they move to the sidewalk. Members of the group in Ann Arbor declined to comment why they marched or what they were hoping to achieve. In France, French police arrested 109 people in Paris on Tuesday as far-left anarchist groups "hijacked" a peaceful rally against the president's labor reforms, according to an article from BBC. HANDY TOWNSHIP, MI - Police say a suicidal Livingston County man is in stable condition after he was shot while threatening officers with a knife over the weekend. Michigan State Police troopers responded with a Fowlerville officer to a report of a suicidal subject in the 5000 block of Hogback Road in Livingston County's Handy Township about 5 a.m. Sunday, April 29, said MSP Lt. Jeremy Brewer. The suicidal man in his 30s had already injured himself with a knife and was hiding in the basement of the home when authorities arrived, police said in a release. "Officers were able to make contact with him and call for an ambulance, but when they attempted to render aid he became combative and moved towards them with the knife," police said. "The Fowlerville officer shot the man to stop the threat." The man was airlifted to the University of Michigan hospital where he underwent surgery. State police Lt. Mario Gonzales said on Thursday, May 3 that the man was in stable condition. The Livingston County Prosecutor's Office is reviewing the case and will decide whether the man will face any criminal charges, Gonzales said. The state trooper also was struck by a fragment from the Fowlerville officer's bullet. He was treated at a hospital and released. The Fowlerville officer was placed on administrative leave while the investigation is conducted. The officer was only called as backup because no other trooper or county deputy was available at the time, police said. Though the probe continues, Brewer said there was no indication the officer involved acted improperly. "It looks like they acted completely in the realm of authority," Brewer said, adding that the prosecutor will be the one to make a final determination. ANN ARBOR, MI - Tayler Thurman's boyfriend Gregory Tremble would sometimes hint about proposing marriage during the course of the couple's two-year relationship. But she would always say she didn't want to get married while completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan. Tremble respected her wishes, although he waited just seconds after she received her bachelor's degree in biopsychology, cognition and neuroscience. He proposed to her at the commencement ceremony in front of a packed audience on Saturday, April 28, inside the Power Center. She said "Yes." As Thurman accepted her diploma, she was met by Tremble, dressed in a black suit with an engagement ring in hand, as he got down on one knee to propose to the woman he had known since the two were freshmen at Cass Technical High School in Detroit. Check out the video below, courtesy of Taylor Wilson: "I could tell he was extremely nervous when he was on the stage and probably grabbed my hands to steady his and to make him less nervous," Thurman said. "At that point I was still a little unclear of what was happening. I assumed that maybe he was about to take my picture or help me down from the stage. ... But it wasn't until he gave his (speech) that I knew what was happening." Thurman and Tremble didn't start dating until their sophomore years in college. Although Thurman said she was expecting Tremble could propose soon, she certainly didn't expect the big moment to take place on the stage of the Power Center. "Grand gestures aren't usually common in our relationship, we just enjoy spending quality time with each other when we can, since he is stationed in another state," Thurman said of her fiance, who is in the Marine Corps. "It was like tears just immediately came to me," she added. "I'm usually not an emotional person, so I was really caught off guard. I couldn't stop crying afterward. I was just in shock that he had actually done it there." While Thurman didn't have a large amount of family in attendance during the commencement ceremony, those who did were in on the secret and were waiting for the moment to happen. Having the proposal take place simultaneously with another significant moment in her life, she said, made it all the more memorable. "I'm extremely happy," Thurman said. "I think these two big events represent a new part of life that I am about to experience and I am just excited it will be with the man that I love." Tremble has spent the last few years in North Carolina while serving in the Marine Corps, but plans to work in Detroit, where the couple grew up, when his service concludes in July. Thurman plans to work as a research assistant in Ann Arbor this summer. BAY COUNTY, MI -- A fired Bay County sheriff's deputy who won an almost half-million-dollar lawsuit against the department has filed another lawsuit, this time against the current sheriff for not rehiring him Jason N. Holsapple, through attorney Victor J. Mastromarco Jr., on April 23 filed a federal lawsuit against Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham. The suit alleges three counts -- political affiliation discrimination, free speech retaliation and retaliation in violation of the Michigan Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act. Holsapple, currently a Frankenmuth police officer, is seeking damages exceeding $75,000. Former Bay County Sheriff John E. Miller hired Holsapple as a deputy in July 2011. Miller fired him in March 2012, while Holsapple was still a probationary employee. Holsapple then filed a federal lawsuit, alleging his firing was retaliation for his support of 2012 sheriff candidate Robert C. "Bobby" Lee and that his First Amendment rights were violated. Miller's attorneys filed motions saying Holsapple's termination was for "misconduct, his apparent disregard for the sheriff's office and commanding officers and his probationary status." All those matters were dismissed in May 2014 as part of an out-of-court settlement that saw Holsapple receive a check for $480,000 from the Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority, the sheriff's office's insurer. The agreement was signed by Miller, Cunningham, Stewart, and then-Bay County Board of Commissioners Chairman Ernie Krygier. As part of that agreement, Holsapple was not to apply for Bay County employment before Dec. 31, 2016. On Dec. 27, 2016, the sheriff's office posted a job opening for a full-time deputy, a position Holsapple applied for on Jan. 4, 2017. The following month, after the county approved hiring two deputies, Holsapple learned deputies were joking amongst themselves that the county would never hire him again, the suit states. Holsapple argues that Cunningham did not acknowledge his application or interview him, even though he had "superior qualifications than those selected for the position," according to the suit. Holsapple, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2001 to 2005, was owed preferential treatment as a veteran, the suit alleges. Several more times throughout 2017, Holsapple applied for other openings the county posted. He received no responses on these applications, he asserts. Holsapple declined to comment when contacted by The Bay City Times-MLive, referring the matter to Mastromarco, his attorney. "This is a clear, plain case of retaliation by Cunningham," Mastromarco said. "We insisted (when the prior lawsuits were settled) that he be able to reapply after Miller left since when our suit settled, Miller was still sheriff. Holsapple had the right to reapply, they agreed he had the right to reapply, and they better have a damn good reason why Holsapple did not get the job." Mastromarco said Holsapple genuinely wants to work for the sheriff's office and did not file his latest lawsuit hoping he would not be hired and would then have grounds for a suit. "People who have talked to (Holsapple) have said Cunningham has made statements that he's not going to hire Holsapple," Mastromarco continued. "It's not (Cunningham's) prerogative. His prerogative is being colored by Holsapple having filed a (prior) lawsuit against him." Bay County Sheriff Troy R. Cunningham Cunningham also declined to comment to MLive, referring matters to Amber Davis-Johnson, the county's corporation counsel. "The Bay County sheriff strongly denies the allegations in Mr. Holsapple's latest complaint," Davis-Johnson said. " It is unfortunate that Mr. Holsapple continues to waste tax payer dollars on unsubstantiated lawsuits the sheriff's office and Bay County are forced to defend. The sheriff remains confident that Mr. Holsapple's complaint will be dismissed in its entirety and in short order. Despite Mr. Holsapple's assertions, the sheriff is under no obligation to re-hire previously discharged employees whose past work ethic and performance with the department suggest he would not best serve the Bay County citizens the sheriff's office is entrusted to protect." Cunningham, then the undersheriff, ran as a Democrat for sheriff in 2016 after Miller announced he was not seeking reelection. Holsapple ran against him as a Republican. Cunningham received 31,735 votes to Holsapple's 18,905. BAY CITY, MI - Four Bay City Western Middle School students are back with their fellow students after receiving some bumps and bruises Wednesday afternoon following a bus crash in Washington, D.C. The students were heading back to Washington, D.C. from Gettysburg in a group of three charter buses when the lead vehicle abruptly stopped after it was cut off by a passenger van. Amy Bailey, Bay City Western Middle School principal, said four eighth-grade students sustained minor injuries after the second bus rear-ended the lead vehicle. Those students were transported to Inova Fairfax Hospital, treated, and later released from the medical facility, Bailey said. Messages were put out to the families of all 109 students on the trip that will include stops at Gettysburg, the White House, and several national monuments in the nation's capital. Stephen Bigelow, superintendent of Bay City Public Schools, said it's the ninth year of the trip and this is the first incident he recalls ever having taken place. Bailey noted the immediate care taken by school personnel on the trip to provide comfort to the students and the concern from parents after the incident in checking on their child's classmates. "They have been extremely supportive," she said. The students are due to arrive back in Bay City by Saturday morning. DETROIT -- The city's top two real estate developers touted their massive downtown construction projects as examples of Detroit's economic resurgence at a Urban Land Institute conference on Wednesday. And Ilitch Holdings CEO Chris Ilitch said the current surge in development activity represents just the beginning for Detroit. The Urban Land Institute's annual Spring Meeting gathers thousands of real estate leaders from around the country to study business trends and tour cities that have gone through transformations. Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert, who joined Ilitch on stage Wednesday, noted that while significant progress has been in Detroit, far more job creation, safety enhancement, education improvement and blight prevention is sorely needed. "You can't have better education until you increase the population," Gilbert said. "You won't have a big enough tax base. No one will move into the city until you create more jobs. No one will create more jobs until there's enough people to fill the city." The solution, he believes, is what he calls the Big Bang approach. "The theory is, the universe was created in one-trillionth of a second," said Gilbert, who plans to build Michigan's tallest building at the former Hudson's department store site in a massive, $900-million project. "I'm not talking quite that fast, but if you develop a vision for all of these challenges at one time... and you have everyone around you behind the boat that's rowing in the same direction... can you have a shot at really accomplishing this and making this happen? To me, that's really the only way." Gilbert also plans a $1-billion mixed-use development at the site of a failed Wayne County jail construction site, among many other major projects like the Shinola Hotel. The Ilitch family, meanwhile, is building a new Little Caesars headquarters, and continues to build around the $863-million-plus Little Caesars Arena, including a pedestrian plaza along Columbia Street, $200-million in office space and a sixth parking garage. "Detroit is at a unique moment in time," said Ilitch. "Detroit is just getting started." Ilitch also claims that Olympia Development's 26 surface parking lots "serve as launching pads for new development." The Ilitch family owns the Detroit Red Wings and Detroit Tigers, which were bought by Chris Ilitch's late father, Mike Ilitch. In the 1950s, Mike and his wife Marian established Little Caesars pizza. "The story of my late father Mike Ilitch and my mother Marian Ilitch really began to intertwine with development and land use in Detroit,' Ilitch said. "Woodward Avenue... had around this time frame become neglected and run down. Then Mayor Coleman Young called my parents. "(He) was calling to ask my parents to consider the aging, yet historic Fox Theater and its adjoining office building as a possible new home for their global enterprise." Other big-name businesses that have moved into or near the downtown-area in recent years include: Nike, Under Armour, John Varvatos, Bonobos, Lululemon, LinkedIn, Google, Microsoft, and the Detroit Pistons, who now play at the Little Caesars Arena and are building a practice facility in New Center. A Metro Detroit Lyft driver is accused of sexually assaulting a woman who hired him for a ride, and investigators think there may be more victims. Raheel Bin Hanif, the 24-year-old driver from Waterford Township, faces three counts of third-degree criminal sexual assault, each of which carries a possible punishment of 15 years in prison. Oakland County sheriff's detectives say Hanif knew the victim from previous fares. She contacted him about 5 p.m. on April 24 for a ride. "This driver claimed he was the owner of a health spa and would give her $400 if she let him give her a massage and filled out a survey evaluating the massage afterward," according to a statement issued by the Oakland County Sheriff's Office. "The victim stated the suspect also encouraged her to drink from an already opened container of Four Loko, an alcoholic beverage. "The victim arrived at the alleged spa and felt as if she was 'buzzed.'" Following the massage, the victim tells detectives Hanif offered her $1,000 to have sex; and when she refused, he sexually assaulted her and drove her home. The woman reported the attack, and Hanif was arrested the following day, but, at the time, there wasn't enough evidence to secure an arrest warrant, sheriff's officials say. During the investigation, it was discovered that Hanif was named as the suspect in a separate sexual assault that was reported in December. "The detectives assigned to this case worked quickly and methodically in order to give this victim the justice she deserves," Oakland County Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard said. "We will never tolerate behavior from those who commit sexual violence. I commend this victim for coming forward as she may have brought closure for other victims as well. This is a reminder to review some of the newest safety features included in apps such as Uber and Lyft, which allow you to send your location to friends and family and call for emergency help quickly." Anyone with information about this case or other incidents involving Hanif is asked to call 248-858-4911. A $750,000 surety bond was set at Hanif's arraignment. If he is able to meet bond, he must wear a GPS tether upon his release from jail. LAPEER, MI-- The Lapeer County Sheriff's office is warning the public of a male impersonating a sheriff's deputy and making fraudulent phone calls requesting money. Two physicians in Lapeer called the sheriff's office on Wednesday, May 2, about receiving fake phone calls from a man claiming to be a deputy, according to a statement released from the sheriff's office. The man claimed he was calling to settle outstanding warrants for arrest by collecting $1,000. The man used the names of actual deputies from the sheriff's office as well as fake court docket numbers. The calls were made from the phone number (810) 620-0222 and when calling the number the greeting states "Lapeer County Sheriff's Office Warrant Division - Civil Process." Callers are then advised to leave a message because no deputy is currently available, according to the press release. When the call is returned, the man identifies himself using the name of an actual deputy, provides a fake court docket number and then requests money in the range of $1,000 to resolve the fake outstanding arrest warrant. The man then instructs the caller to transfer funds through Green Dot Cards and advises not to go to the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office or the Lapeer County Court Compex. Only two people, the physicians in Lapeer, have reported receiving calls from this individual. The Lapeer County Sheriff's Office is reminding people that they never contact individuals by phone regarding outstanding warrants. Instead, if an individual has an outstanding warrant they will receive a letter in the mail instructing them to surrender at the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office or the Lapeer County Court Complex. The sheriff's office is attempting to identify the person making these fraudulent calls. FLINT, MI -- The state of Michigan pointed to the safety of Flint's tap water when it cut off payments for bottled water last month, but a March letter from the Department of Environmental Quality points out multiple "significant deficiencies" in the city's water system overall. The March 21 letter from Robert A. London, surface water treatment engineer at DEQ, came just two weeks before the agency announced the end of payments for bottled water because Flint's water system quality had been restored. In the letter, London did not contradict that assertion, but he gave the city a series of deadlines for showing progress on a laundry list of unresolved problems within the distribution system, including Flint's capacity for managing it, its lack of a rate structure that allows for proper operation and maintenance, and its inability to recruit and hire critical system staff. Tiffany Brown, a DEQ spokeswoman, said in an email Thursday, May 3, that despite the long-term deficiencies, Flint's water system "is currently producing very high quality drinking water and distributing it around the city and that is backed up by rigorous government and independent testing results." "The department's concern is the ability of the city to maintain that," Brown said in an email to MLive-The Flint Journal. "The treatment plant is not adequately staffed and is being supplemented by a short-term contract. The department is also concerned about the viability of the funding for the system and the ability of the city to adopt a rate structure that will adequately support operation of the system. DEQ is working with the city on the next steps to maintain the consistency of the system." Two weeks after expressing those concerns, state officials announced they were ending payments for bottled water, citing two years of testing that showed water in homes was below the federal action level for lead. The most recent state testing under the Lead and Copper Rule showed the city's 90th percentile for lead was at 4 parts per billion, below the federal action level of 15 ppb. Weaver has protested an end to the bottled water program, which had cost the state an average of $22,000 a day this year, maintaining the water crisis won't be over until all lead and galvanized service lines have been removed and replaced. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has warned that the heavy amount of underground construction involved in those removals brings with it he potential for releases of lead from protective coating inside water lines. Thousands of service lines, which experts have said were damaged by the use of corrosive Flint River water, were replaced in the city in 2016, but thousands more remain and the job of removing them could continue until late 2019. The mayor has threatened to sue the state over an end to the bottled water program and other issues related to the water crisis because of failures of state government agencies and because emergency managers appointed by Gov. Rick Snyder were running the city's affairs before, during and after the decision to change the city's water source to the river in April 2014. A spokeswoman for the mayor reiterated her position in a statement issued this week, which said, in part, "The water quality in Flint continues to improve and that is a great thing, but the crisis still is not over." "Not when in-home plumbing and residents' water heaters have been damaged through no fault of their own, and nothing has been done to help them fix it. And not when the medical community and environmental experts tell us we still need to be on filtered water because of the ongoing work to replace all the lead-tainted pipes leading to homes in the city, a process that isn't expected to be complete for at least another year." State Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, on Thursday, May 3, called the decision to end bottled water weeks after the DEQ's cited the continued "significant deficiencies" in the water system "very troubling." "The state forced the shift (in water source) and caused the crisis," Ananich said. "To say, 'mission accomplished,' is not accurate." In addition to the significant deficiencies identified in London's letter, the engineer noted recommendations to Weaver, including the need to add features to the treatment system to "enhance treatment reliability and consistency, as well as operator safety." The letter also recommends adding a back-up power supply for a reservoir on Cedar Street, upgrades to booster pumps, and planning financially for updates of its capital improvement and other programs. FLINT, MI - A teacher shortage in Flint Community Schools has administrators and counselors stepping in so students are not left unsupervised in multiple classrooms. Karen Christian, president of the United Teachers of Flint Union, said the district is short approximately 30 full-time teachers, and that's causing a strain on the staff members and learning environment for students. "We've had shortages, especially not having substitute teachers has made it very difficult," she commented Wednesday afternoon. Some of the reasons Christian pinpointed include outlying districts offering higher wages, low morale in some buildings, heightened scrutiny at the government level and fewer people going into the education field. "It's very difficult when you've taken freezes and you've taken furlough days, so that takes away from the pay scale," she said. Shelly Umprhey, assistant Flint Community Schools superintendent, said in a statement that, "The substitute teacher shortage is an issue across the state of Michigan" and the local district "is no exception." "However, it is important to note students are not left unsupervised in any instance," commented Umphrey. Other building staff provide support with "curriculum, grading and attendance reporting, ensuring students stay on track. Christian said the district's assessment "is pretty much exactly what's going on," while adding some teachers have been using their own prep time to cover classes and design lesson plans for classes that are not their own. "At the high school level, you've got so many absences because of not having positions filled that it makes it very difficult for teachers to be able to have a prep time to be able to prepare their lessons and do what they need to do," she noted, claiming some high school teachers are almost performing double duty. "Instead, people are being shuffled into their room because we don't have a teacher (to cover)." The district's human resources department is actively recruiting candidates to fill permanent teaching positions while also exploring options within the Flint Community Schools District and with PESG, the substitute teacher staffing system, to fill those positions, Umphrey said. "It's got to be a calling because if it's not a calling, sometimes you're not successful in the classroom because it's not what you're meant to do," Christian said. "These kids have been through a lot of trauma with the water crisis, with all the different things that encapsulate that. You have to have that heart." She also argued a "culture and climate" change is needed at Flint Southwestern Classical Academy, telling the school board Wednesday night that teachers there took a no-confidence vote last week against Principal Maria Boyd Springer. Part of that change also needs to come from within the community itself, Christian said. "The mentality of our residents in Flint has to change, that we make education the priority. I know there are other issues we're dealing with, but these kids are kids and they need to be allowed to be kids and they're not," she argued. "They're taking on adult issues. Let the adults deal with the adult issues and let the kids do their learning, because they're not going to be able to get the job that they want or be the productive citizen that we need if they aren't in class and don't get the education that they need." Anyone interested in becoming a substitute teacher may contact the district's human resources office at 810-760-1218. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A young black bear spent more than two hours in a tree in a Southwest Grand Rapids neighborhood before crews were able cage it. The Department of Natural Resources used a tranquilizer on Thursday, May 3, to immobilize the approximately 2-year-old bear sitting about 22 feet up in a tree behind a residence in the 800 block of Dayton Street SW. The plan is to transport the bear, which officials expect to be fine, to Northern Michigan to be released. Using a ladder, firefighters tied a rope around the bear and attempted to lower it to the ground. The 125-pound bear slipped out, but a DNR spokesperson said it landed on soft, wet ground and would likely be fine. Officers then caged the bear, with the intent of driving it "several counties" north of Grand Rapids to release it into the wild. Thursday's episode began before 9:30 a.m. when police began receiving reports of a black bear being spotted on the city's southwest side. Kelsey DeVord, a resident in the area, said she was walking past a window in her living room when she noticed the animal walking on the sidewalk. She called animal control, Grand Rapids police and John Ball Zoo while watching the bear walk into a yard across the street, and then back down her driveway. "It scared me," DeVord said. "I took pictures because I thought, my husband isn't going to believe me. Because we live so close to the zoo, we've always joked that it'd be funny to look out the window and have a tiger or another animal walking down the street." Frances Estrada, another neighbor, said she saw the bear run across the street and thought it was a large dog. It wasn't until she saw it's face that she was sure it was a bear. Police located the animal and began tracking its movement until it climbed a tree in the area. Residents flocked to the scene, circling the police-taped perimeter hoping to get a glimpse of the bear. By around 12:30 p.m., DNR officers and firefighters began carrying out their plan to recover the bear. John Niewoonder, a DNR biologist, said there wasn't a significant risk to the public because black bears rarely attack people unless they're cornered or if people are attempting to feed them out of their hands. "They wouldn't viciously attack someone," Niewoonder said. "They might knock them down to get them out of their way, or if a dog came at them they might get fired up and take a swipe at them but they don't like to mess with people." Thursday's bear report was the second in the area this week. Niewoonder said there was a report of a bear west of town a couple days earlier, but he couldn't confirm if it was the same bear. "This is by far the most urban area I've found (a bear)," he said. "He was lost." The Kent County Sheriff's Department also responded to a report of a bear sighting Wednesday evening. At about 2 years old, Niewoonder said bears have to leave their den and start looking for a home of their own. He expects that the bear located in Grand Rapids got confused, and then became frightened when it encountered people and found safety in the tree. The tranquilizing drug wears off in about two hours. Soon after, the bear will be released into a less populated area in Northern Michigan. The Grand Rapids Police Department, Grand Rapids Fire Department, Michigan State Police, Kent County Animal Control and the DNR responded to the scene Thursday. Police re-opened the surrounding streets to traffic around 12:30 p.m. after the bear's capture. SPOILER ALERT: Full results of the Gallert family's appearance on "Family Feud" to follow. LOS ANGELES - The "Family Feud" journey has come to an end for Michigan's family of math-teaching sisters. The Gallert family, made up of oldest sister Roxanne Gallert, second oldest Danielle Ayala, identical twins Brooke Holt and Brianne Daye and the youngest sister, Kendra Gallert, appeared on the popular game show on Wednesday, May 2. A day after defeating the Cole family, the Grand Rapids sisters took on the Harris family from San Pedro, Calif. Unfortunately for them, they couldn't extend their win streak to two, losing the match 414-54. "Ya'll one of my favorite teams, man," host Steve Harvey told the Gallerts at the end of the episode. "I love ya'll, You're a great family. Beautiful girls. Beautiful family." In addition to their winnings on Tuesday, they won a Green Dot Prepaid Visa worth $500. Here's a round-by-round recap of the action in case you missed the episode. Round 1 Score: Sister at podium: Question: The Gallerts took control of the board when Holt's answer, "acne" came in as the third-most popular. Choosing to play, the family correctly guessed the No. 1 answer "bad breath, "and No. 5 answer, "wimpy body," but then struck out when "stupidity," "no job" and "family" did no appear on the board. With a chance to steal, the Harris family correctly gave the No. 2 answer, "bad personality," and took an early 71-0 lead. Round 2 Score: Sister at podium: Question: The Gallerts took control of the board for the second-straight time when Daye's answer, "lingerie" came in the top spot. Roxanne Gallert followed that up with "jewelry," the No. 4 answer, but wrong responses "child" and "car" gave the family two strikes. Holt and Daye delayed a strike out by naming the No. 6 and No. 5 answers "perfume" and "flowers," but when "chocolates" didn't appear on the board, they struck out. Once again, the Harris family had a chance to steal. When their answer "sex toy" appeared as the No. 2 answer, they took a commanding 141-0 lead. Round 3 Score: Sister at podium: Question: The Harris family took control of the board for the first time when their answer "food" came in at No. 2, one spot higher than Roxanne's answer "pillow." However, they quickly struck out with answers such as "trucker hat" and "sex magazine" and when the Gallerts' answer "drink" came in at the top spot they stole the round, cutting the Harris lead to 141-54. Round 4 Score: Harris (141) Gallert (54) Sister at podium: Danielle Ayala Question: Name a place you don't like to go because it might be painful. Top 4 answers on board. Point values triple. The Harris family took control of the board with the top answer "doctor's office" and never gave it back. They quickly filled in the rest of the board with "gym," "work" and "funeral" to earn massive points and win the match 414-54. They would go on to win $20,000 playing fast money. Bear captured in Grand Rapids to be released in Northern Michigan UPDATE, 12:50 p.m.: The bear was shot by officials with a tranquilizer and brought down from the tree it was in. Officials cleared the scene. They expect the bear to be fine. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A large male black bear has been spotted in a neighborhood in southwest Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids and Michigan State police were dispatched before 9:30 a.m. Thursday, May 3, to a report of a bear being spotted in the 800 block of Dayton Street SW. Personnel with Kent County Animal Control confirmed that a large male bear was spotted in the area. Officers were tracking the bear's movement through the neighborhood while the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was notified. Around 9:50 a.m., the bear was in a tree near the corner of Dayton Street and Deloney Avenue SW. Steve Kelso, communications director at the Kent County Health Department, said animal control has officers trained in administering tranquilizers. Two animal control officers are on scene. John Ball Zoo does not have a black bear, and all of their animals are accounted for, according to a zoo spokesperson. Kelso said bears sightings are reported in the area from time to time, but he can't remember any incidents in which animal control needed to tranquilize a bear in recent years. The DNR will be responsible for getting the bear out of the city. Their conservation officers arrived on scene shortly after 10 a.m. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- HexArmor, a 16-year-old Grand Rapids company that makes industrial gloves, arm guards and other equipment, is expanding at a new location and adding 50 jobs. Leaders with The Right Place Inc. announced the expansion and $8.7 million capital investment on Wednesday, May 2. HexArmor, also known Performance Fabrics Inc., now has about 130 employees and is situated at 2000 Oak Industrial Drive NE. It's moving to an existing 52,000-square foot building at 640 Leffingwell Ave. NE, with plans to refurbish the building and start operations there in early 2019. HexArmor makes industrial personal protection equipment, including cut and puncture resistant gloves and arm guards. More recently, safety eyewear was added to the product line. The expansion project involves a partnership between The Right Place Inc., Grand Rapids City and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to offer support to HexArmor. The MEDC is providing a $350,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant. The city has authorized a "P.A. 146 Obsolete Property Rehabilitation ACT" in support of the company's revitalization of the facility. The Right Place Inc. helped HexArmor connect with West Michigan Works! to assist with worker training. HexArmor was established in 2002. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A rash of "paintball wars" in the city, causing property damage and at least one case of injury, is prompting a warning from police. Police and prosecutors say that anyone caught shooting at person who isn't a participating in a "paintball war" will be charge with a 93-day misdemeanor. Police say there are several problems with shooting paintball guns in urban areas, including that many paintball guns look like real weapons. Since April 28, Grand Rapids police have investigated 17 reports involving paintball wars or paintball guns. In most cases, the participants are riding in vehicles and shooting out windows at houses, passing vehicles and other people. In one case, two people on a moped were injured when they apparently were struck in a paintball attack. A Grand Rapids police photo of paintball guns "In addition to causing injury or damage, someone shooting at others could cause a traffic accident or be mistaken for a real gun," police said. Police believe the surge in paintball activity is due to Atlanta rapper 21 Savage's campaign against gun violence called "Guns Down, Paint Up." While the campaign was intended to be helpful, police think it has "morphed" into something that can be dangerous. Officers investigating the paintball complaints say they've been able to link the rapper's campaign to the local paintball activity. Police say they're not opposed to "paintball wars" in concept, but say it should be done in an area "free of non-participants," with people wearing protective gear and away from areas where property damage might happen. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - An initiative to develop teacher leaders in three high-poverty Kent County districts is seeing positive results in achievement, improved knowledge and instructional skills of peer teachers, and culture, officials say. Fourth-graders at Stocking Elementary eagerly wave their hands to solve a math equation in Rebecca Ophoff's class. Students called on confidently jump to their feet to explain the steps taken to reach the answer. Their classmates can challenge the accuracy and if the approach is the most efficient and fastest way. "This holds students accountable, knowing that not only can I push back on them but other students can and will,'' said Ophoff, about teaching critical thinking skills such as seeing multiple strategies to solve all types of problems. Ophoff, one of six Stocking teacher leaders, said building teachers are working collaboratively to build instructional capacity to improve teaching and learning for student success. Educators at Stocking and Sibley Elementary in Grand Rapids Public Schools, as well as Wyoming's Parkview and Gladiola elementaries and Intermediate School are working closely with the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. The Center for Teaching and Learning is a division of the advocacy group, Education Trust-Midwest. The group was awarded a $2 million grant by the Steelcase Foundation, to help the district schools raise achievement. This is the fourth year of the grant and the center is applying for the renewal. Kelloggsville's West Elementary School was added to the project last year, officials say. Education Trust-Midwest's report "Top Ten For Education: Not By Chance'' highlights improvements by students in the Grand Rapids and Wyoming schools have seen on the state standardized test, M-STEP, when compared to other high-poverty schools in Michigan. For example, Stocking ranks above the 80th percentile for building-wide math improvement since 2015 and has seen gains in science as well, according to the report. Sibley now ranks among the highest improving elementary statewide in third grade reading and ranks above the 90th percentile in math. "We are focused on closing the achievement gap for our students,'' said Stocking Elementary Principal JoAnn Riemersma, about working with teachers to change practices and processes to achieve better outcomes. "We are making sure there is a high-quality instructional leader in every classroom, not just pockets of excellence. It is promising to listen to students engaged in discussions about rigorous and relevant lessons.'' Cheryl Corpus, associate director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, said the principals and the core group of teacher leaders have had strong conversations around data and what their students need to be successful. "They've let data articulate the need and determined the highly effective instructional practices that need to be leveraged,'' she said. "The teacher leaders work with the principal to really start to lead professional learning for their staffs. Everything is aligned with the School Improvement Plan and district and building priorities.'' Julie Tessier, a teacher leader at Parkview Elementary, said their school has a laser focus on student achievement and improving success by improving instructional practice. "This initiative has not only helped me focus on myself as a teacher but everyone in the group,'' said Tessier, who said there has been complete buy-in and accountability for change. "Everyone can see the progress we are making with our students. The job of educators is huge but this process has helped us figure out where we want to go and how to get there.'' According to the report, Parkview ranks among the highest-improving, high-poverty schools in Michigan for subjects such as reading and math. For example, ranking near the 20th percentile for improvements in third grade reading. Parkview Principal Katie Jobson said teachers have learned new strategies to help grow students reading comprehension and math skills but are working to have an event greater impact. "We have conversations around the things that we are doing,'' said Jobson, about teachers adjusting instruction after studying data. "We are intentional and consistent at each grade level and that consistency and intentionality is paying off. I just see us in a positive place where there is momentum that is continuing to build and we have to sustain that growth. She said they don't just rely on the M-STEP spring snapshot, rather track student growth over the year using the Scholastic Reading Inventory and DIBELS. For example, at the beginning of school year, 47 percent of their fourth-graders were not proficient in reading but by mid-March the percentage not proficient had falling to 29 percent, according to Scholastic Reading Inventory data. Stocking uses the Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test to track student growth and progress throughout the year. Chad Tolson, director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, said center leaders looks at M-STEP and other data in different ways to see trends in improvement for those serving the most vulnerable population of students. He emphasized that the center is building on existing school and district level actions to improve performance and are one piece in a larger puzzle of different initiatives. "While we are doing well when compared to schools that are like us, our ultimate goal is to be at the proficiency level that all students are in the state are,'' he said, about celebrating the progress but recognizing the end goal. For example, 34 percent of Stocking third-graders rated proficient on last year's M-STEP, up from 23 percent in 2016. This year, 87.7 percent of Stocking's 352 students are economically disadvantaged, according to the state, and 33.8 percent are English learners. "When we look at M-STEP data over the last year, we made gains in all four subject areas and that wasn't typical of the state,'' said Riemersma, about making a difference for their student families. "We are looking to sustain this momentum and have academic traction.'' Education Trust-Midwest report lays out how Michigan can build smarter, more effective improvement systems to reach its goal of becoming a top 10 education state, using the state's implementation of third-grade reading as a case study of how to get there. Read the full report on the website. MUNISING, MI - Coming off a long Michigan winter that clearly wore out its welcome, it's no surprise that people this week were having fun sharing a summer beach picture dotted with floating icebergs. Photographer Craig Sterken captured the image during a 2014 Memorial Day trip to Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Munising. It's one of a series of photos he shot that day showing the "Pure Michigan" juxtaposition of winter and summer: An 84-degree day that drew people to the Upper Peninsula park's Miner's Beach and saw kayakers paddling through bobbing ice in Lake Superior - remnants of a winter with record cold. Sterken shared the memory on Facebook Wednesday. It quickly got thousands of shares. "It looked like a summer day, except for all the ice floes," said Sterken, 58, of Essexville. At the beach, he spotted a family surrounded by their sunbathing gear. The man in the picture waded into the water and picked up a big chunk of ice, bringing it ashore, he remembers. That year, Michigan was coming off a winter that saw 92 percent of the Great Lakes covered in ice. Sterken's picture begs the question: Does our long winter mean we'll be seeing icebergs on some Michigan beaches when the summer vacation season kicks off later this month? A few days ago, rangers were still measuring 3 feet of snow in some parts of the Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park in the western U.P. Ice in Isle Royale's harbors in Lake Superior is still 2-feet thick, according to reports. And Great Lakes ice coverage maps this week show 1 to 2 feet of ice hugging the shore between Marquette and Munising, and more than 2 feet in the St. Marys River between Lake Superior and Lake Huron. MLive Meteorologist Mark Torregrossa thinks the ice will be long gone by the time we set up our Memorial Day beach picnics. On this date in 2014, Lake Superior still had 35 percent ice coverage, he said. Today it has 6 percent. Sterken, too, wasn't sure if he'll see a repeat of his picture this year. He's been working on building his photography portfolio for about eight years. "We travel around the state," he said of his family. "We go to the U.P. a lot. It's so dramatic up there." In the Lower Peninsula, some of his favorite spots to take pictures are Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore and the Ludington area.. To see more of his work, visit his website at craigsterken.com. Michigan lawmakers at the state and federal level have been calling for a Soo Locks upgrade for years, but the effort appeared to get a boost Saturday when President Donald Trump said he supported revamping the decades-old structure. During a rally in Macomb County on Saturday night, Trump told a crowd of a few thousand supporters that he supported funding upgrades to the Soo Locks in the Upper Peninsula. "Do you know what the Soo Locks are? Well, the Soo Locks are going to hell. We're gonna get them fixed up," he said. "We're gonna start that as soon as I get back." "It hasn't been fixed in 50 years," Trump continued. "After spending all that money in the Middle East, we cant fix a lock." Trump said he planned to call the Army Corps of Engineers the following day to fix them, but didn't elaborate on additional details of how he'd get the process moving. Michigan's Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie are a connector for shipping iron, coal, grain and other materials from the shores of Lake Superior to the rest of the country. In 2016, U.S.-flagged Great Lakes freighters moved 83.3 million tons of cargo, according to the Cleveland-based Lake Carriers Association. Currently, the biggest of the locks, the Poe Lock, is operating normally. But many worry an unexpected breakdown of the lock could throw the shipping industry and national security into chaos. An upgrade to convert two smaller locks into another lock the size of Poe has mostly languished without funding since it was initially authorized 1986. Michigan's Congressional delegation has renewed the push to fund this project by appealing to other members of Congress and President Donald Trump's administration. Trump's Michigan campaign holds rally in Macomb County Saturday 27 Gallery: Trump's Michigan campaign holds rally in Macomb County Saturday Michigan Republicans were excited by the new development - following Trump's speech, Gov. Snyder designated Lt. Gov. Calley as the administration's point person for working with the Trump administration to make the investments happen. The Snyder administration also put together a "Fix the Soo Locks" website to house information and updates on the prospective project. "The Soo Locks are in dire need of an upgrade and the clock is ticking on this aging infrastructure," Calley said in a statement following a Wednesday visit to the Soo Locks. "The Soo Locks represent millions of American jobs -- the locks are quite literally an artery in the heart of the American economy." U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman, R-Watersmeet, represents the Upper Peninsula in Congress and introduced legislation last year to authorize funding along with U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow. Bergman said in a statement that building a new Poe-sized lock "has been my number one infrastructure priority for the First District of Michigan." He said he appreciates the Trump administration and Calley's commitment to get a new lock in place. "Last week I had the opportunity to speak with President Donald Trump about the critical need for a new Lock and the economic impact a Lock failure would have not only on Michigan, but the entire country," Bergman said. Trump also criticized Stabenow's record on taxes and immigration during the Michigan rally. Following Trump's speech, a Stabenow spokesperson said Michigan residents are "tired of political attacks" and simply want results. "That's exactly what Senator Stabenow has done by restoring every penny of President Trump's cuts to Great Lakes funding and leading the bipartisan effort to upgrade the Soo Locks," the spokesperson said. A Department of Homeland Security report concluded a hypothetical unexpected breakdown at the Poe Lock lasting six months would cripple the United States economy and cost 11 million jobs, and predicted the national unemployment rate would hit 11.3 percent. The report found a shutdown of Great Lakes steel production caused by a sudden halt in ore transportation would in turn shut down almost all North American appliance, automobile, construction, farm and mining equipment, and railcar production within weeks. Michigan State University says work is underway to address a report by an outside law firm that found that administrators have struggled to build trust and create awareness of sexual assault prevention programs. "Since the preliminary report was released in March, we've already started addressing many of the suggestions including adding new staff resources, creating the foundation for new education and outreach programs, and evaluating ways to review the campus climate," Interim President John Engler said in a statement. In March, MSU released a preliminary version of a report by Husch Blackwell that examined the university's Title IX program. Specifically, the law firm focused on the effectiveness of sexual assault education and prevention programs, support services and resources offered on campus, and outreach efforts tied to those programs. Researchers spoke with students, faculty and staff about their awareness and knowledge of the programs. On Wednesday, the university said work is underway to address the recommendations made in the preliminary report, as well as an additional section released last month that featured more feedback from students, faculty and staff on the university's Title IX program. The university says it's addressing the recommendations by improving education and outreach for employees and students, updating the academic orientation program, and adding staff to the Sexual Assault Program, the Office of Institutional Equity and Student Affairs to support sexual assault victims. A Title IX campus climate survey for students, faculty and staff is also being planned for the 2018-19 school year. And efforts to improve communication between the Office of Institutional Equity, human resources and staff have been implemented, the university said. "Strengthening our protocols, adding resources and enhancing our educational outreach programs are first steps toward addressing the concerns we heard throughout this review process," Jessica Norris, associate vice president of MSU's Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance, said in a statement. In October, MSU released another report conducted by Husch Blackwell, focusing on whether the university's Title IX program was in compliance with federal law. That report found that MSU had demonstrated a commitment to creating a safe campus and combating sexual misconduct. Eric D. Knox, 18. PARMA, MI - A teen who was facing multiple felony charges for bringing a gun to Western Career Prep High School and threatening to shoot staff several months ago won't be going to trial. Eric Knox, 18, pleaded guilty on all charges at his pretrial hearing, April 27, court records show. He was charged with one felony count each of unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, carrying a dangerous weapon with unlawful intent and three felony counts of resisting or obstructing police. Knox was arrested, Jan. 26, after unsuccessfully fleeing police who were questioning him about some alleged threats he made at the school that morning. He was suspended at the time of the incident, causing several staff members to be concerned when he entered the school. Knox had threatened to open fire on a teacher after the teacher approached him and asked why he was on school property, according to a Jackson County Sheriff's Office report obtained by MLive/Jackson Citizen Patriot through a Freedom of Information Act request. A teacher approached him and told him he was not allowed at the school, to which Knox replied "---- you. You need to stop following me or I'm going to fire on your ass," the report says. The teacher told police he did not see a gun, though he had heard Knox owned one. Jackson County sheriff's deputies located Knox walking along Robinson Road and detained him for questioning at about 8:10 a.m., according to the report and police body camera recordings. He fled police and was caught a short time later by pursuing deputies and a Blackman-Leoni Township Public Safety Officer. After handcuffing Knox and placing him in the back of a patrol car, police searched his backpack and found the loaded handgun, along with several loose bullets, the report says. Knox is scheduled for sentencing June 14 before Circuit Judge Thomas Wilson. He is currently free on bond. KALAMAZOO, MI -- The three finalists for Western Michigan University's new vice president for marketing and strategic communication will visit campus next week. Each of the candidates will tour campus, give a public presentation and meet with university leaders beginning Sunday, May 6. The newly created position will lead the Office of University Relations and "help Western Michigan University realize its strategic goals by advancing an enhanced image of the university regionally, nationally and beyond, as a university of choice," WMU said on its website. Renea Morris, chief marketing officer in the University Communications and Marketing Department at Ohio University, will visit Sunday, May 6 and Monday, May 7. She will give a public presentation at 1 p.m. Monday, May 7, in 1920 Sangren Hall. Joseph A. Brennan, former vice president for communications and marketing at University at Albany-State University of New York, will visit Tuesday May 8 and Wednesday, May 9. He will give a public presentation at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 9, in 1910 Sangren Hall. Michael "Tony" Proudfoot, interim senior vice president for marketing and communications at the University of Arizona, will visit Thursday May 10 and Friday, May 11. He will give a public presentation at 1 p.m. Friday, May 11, in 1920 Sangren Hall. KALAMAZOO, MI -- A proposed mixed-use business incubator in Kalamazoo could help prospective entrepreneurs take the next step toward economic independence, city officials say. Last fall, economic development staff suggested creating a business accelerator during a larger conversation about strategies to empower residents financially. A recent partnership with Local Initiatives Support Corporation put funds toward exploring the idea further. Florida-based Greenwood Consulting Group, Inc. was contracted for a series of feasibility studies before planners fully commit to the project. A market survey completed in March shows strong support from the community, especially among minority and low-income entrepreneurs. "We cannot recall a prior project in which we were as impressed with the market potential as we are for the proposed Kalamazoo mixed-use incubator," states the study, obtained by MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette through the Freedom of Information Act. "From a market standpoint, the proposed ... business incubator appears to be very feasible." A contract signed earlier this year outlines up to $33,000 in analysis work. The survey defines a business incubator as a facility that houses and develops small and startup firms, improving their chances of surviving and thriving. Support services could include small loans, encouraging collaboration, or guidance on marketing and financing. The city is also seeking a mixed-use component that would cater to a broad cross section of businesses in a variety of industries. Economic development officials also want to focus on minority, underserved and low-income residents. Interviews were conducted with 329 individuals with various experience between Feb. 12 and March 9. Ninety-seven percent said the incubator is a good idea. Dwayne Powell Jr., neighborhood business and special projects coordinator for the city, is excited about the findings, but it's only the first step toward determining the incubator's usefulness. He said specifics of the project's location and price tag won't be nailed down for some time. Still, Powell said it's clear that the community wants some kind of business development center. "I'm confident that it's not a matter of if, it's when and how," Powell said. Greenwood found 149 respondents are interested in being a tenant. There appears to be a higher demand for service-based companies, followed by retail. Other industries can be accommodated by working with existing incubators in the community, like the Western Michigan University Innovation Center and Can-Do Kitchen. Most respondents wanted the facility to sit downtown. Three-quarters of respondents indicated they are members of a minority, while just over half are black. Fifty respondents reported household incomes less than $35,000. The economy is moving out of the information age and into an age of innovation, Powell said, and Kalamazoo will need a different level of entrepreneurial capacity to meet the demand for jobs in emerging fields. Greenwood Consulting Group is contracted to study funding and sustainability, and look at other factors to determine the feasibility of the proposed incubator. Fundraising could start in the fall if the results are favorable, Powell said. Here are a selection of anonymous comments potential tenants included in the survey: MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - Testimony in the trial of Jeffrey Willis for the kidnapping and murder of Jessica Heeringa is expected to get underway on Tuesday. Attorneys continued one-on-one questioning of potential jurors Thursday and expected to move to a large-group format Friday afternoon. The trial is not scheduled for Mondays, so Tuesday is the anticipated day for opening statements and the beginning of the prosecution's case, court officials said. Willis is facing trial for the kidnapping and murder of Heeringa, who disappeared from her late-night job at a Norton Shores gas station in April 2013. Her body has never been recovered. Willis was convicted in late 2017 for the murder of jogger Rebekah Bletsch in June 2014. He still faces trial for the kidnapping of a teenage girl in April 2016, who escaped her abductor and later identified Willis as the suspect. Her identification of Willis and searches of his home and van led investigators to him as the suspect in the unsolved Heeringa and Bletsch cases. Prosecutors allege that Willis schemed to abduct women so he could rape, torture and murder them. More than 100 potential jurors were called to the courthouse Tuesday. They filled out questionnaires about what they knew about the cases and based on their answers, were chosen for further one-on-one questioning from the prosecutor and defense attorney. That process was winding down Thursday afternoon with a goal of developing a pool of about 50 to 60 jurors who will go through the traditional "voir dire" questioning of potential jurors. Under that process, jurors are randomly chosen to undergo questioning about their suitability, including their familiarity with any witnesses in the case and their past contact with the criminal justice system. Voir dire is expected to begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The prosecutor and defense attorney each will be able to reject 15 potential jurors during that questioning. The goal is to have 14 jurors - including two alternates - in time for the start of opening statements Tuesday. SAGINAW, MI -- A retired Michigan Court of Appeals judge who is now serving as the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw's delegate for reviewing sexual misconduct has had an initial meeting with prosecutors. Michael J. Talbot on Wednesday, May 2, met with Saginaw County Prosecutor John McColgan and Assistant Prosecutor Mark Gaertner "in the spirit and interest of cooperation." In a press release, Talbot said he met with the prosecutors to ask them if there are any allegations against other clergy members who have not already been removed from ministry. "We have a common interest," Talbot said. "We have no desire to have anyone out in active ministry, or any employee of the diocese who would be endangering minors. I'm concerned about whether there is anybody else. And I asked, 'If there is, please let me know; we wanted to take them out of ministry. My concern is the protection of young people out there today.'" Talbot did not divulge the prosecutors' answers to his questions. The prosecutors declined to comment when contacted by The Saginaw News-MLive. Bishop Joseph R. Cistone appointed the former judge to his current position in mid-April, a month after Cistone's home and two diocesan offices were raided by police. Prior to that, in late February, the Rev. Robert J. "Father Bob" DeLand Jr. was arrested and charged with sexual assault charges. DeLand, Cistone, and the Catholic Diocese of Saginaw are named as codefendants in a lawsuit alleging DeLand engaged in sexually molested a teenage boy, something the bishop and diocese turned a blind eye to. DeLand is criminally charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving injury and single counts of attempted second-degree criminal sexual conduct, assault with intent to commit second-degree criminal sexual conduct, gross indecency between males, selling alcohol to a minor, and distributing an imitation controlled substance. The charges involve three separate males, one of whom is the plaintiff in the lawsuit. When Talbot's appointment was announced the diocese also named the following five clerics who had been permanently removed from ministry due to credible allegations of sexual abuse of minors: Stanislaus A. Bur John E. Hammer Richard L Howard Jack J. Leipert Leonard F. Wilkuski In addition, in March the Rev. Ronald J. Dombrowski, 72, was suspended as a "precautionary measure" after a person told the diocese on March 15 that Dombrowski allegedly sexually abused them when they were a minor. The diocese forwarded the complaint to law enforcement. No criminal charges have been filed against Dombrowski. The diocese suspended DeLand after his arrest. DeLand's trial date is pending. CARO, MI -- A group of liquor retailers hopes Tuscola County voters give them the OK this August to sell their boozy wares on Sundays. Tuscola County is the only county in Michigan with a countywide ban on Sunday liquor retail sales. Patrons can enjoy liquor and mixed drinks at a bar or restaurant on Sundays, but can't purchase and take home a bottle. Beer and wine sales are allowed after noon. "It's getting tougher and tougher in this day and age as an independent retailer to do business," said Tim Wingert, owner of Wingert's Food Center in Mayville. "Every sale counts, and to lose that business to surrounding counties is tough." Wingert and others gathered nearly 4,000 petition signatures -- more than double the required amount -- to place a proposal allowing Sunday liquor sales on the August 7 ballot, said Tuscola County Clerk Jodi Fetting. The signatures were turned in Monday, April 30, and are being verified. The issue has gone to a vote before. In 1994, Tuscola County residents voted down a measure to allow Sunday liquor sales by a tally of 9,460 to 7,387, according to a previous Saginaw News article. The only other county with a form of Sunday liquor ban in Michigan is Hillsdale County, which allows people to buy liquor at stores, but not in bars and restaurants. Numerous townships and municipalities across Michigan have some sort of Sunday liquor law. The day-specific restrictions are sometimes referred to as "blue laws," meaning they arose from religious strictures on what one should or should not do on Sundays, the Christian holy day of rest. The last statewide alcohol-related "blue law" was amended in 2010, with retailers allowed to buy licenses to sell alcohol at 7 a.m. on Sundays. Before that, retailers couldn't sell alcohol until noon. "Some people think we're joking when we tell them we can't sell" liquor in Tuscola County, Wingert said. "We just feel this law is very outdated." Tuscola County Commissioner Craig Kirkpatrick said he's heard a "mixed bag" of support and opposition to the Sunday liquor sale proposal. "It's a conservative county, and there are folks that are inclined to feel it's inappropriate," Kirkpatrick said. "We're anxious to see it get out to the folks and give them a chance to vote on it." Although Wingert has heard only positive reaction from his customers, he said he understands concerns from the religious community. "I get it that some people, for religious purposes, feel this shouldn't take place and I respect those people's opinion," he said. "But then again, beer and wine can be sold on Sundays, medical marijuana can be sold on Sundays." The decision to revisit the Sunday prohibition came in mid-2017 when Wingert realized he'd be losing two big days of liquor sales -- New Year's Eve and Christmas Eve -- to the restricted days that year. According to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, there are 27 active licensed stores across Tuscola County that sell liquor. Wingert says the liquor ban is financially detrimental to these businesses. If stores turn a person away who wants liquor on a Sunday, the customer might just drive a few miles away to another county to make not only the liquor purchase, but groceries as well, he said. Wingert estimates he loses up to $30,000 in sales each year due to the prohibition. In 2016, Tuscola County had the lowest per-capita wholesale liquor purchases by restaurants, bars and retailers in all of Michigan, according to MLCC data. Tuscola County Commissioner Tom Young said he supports the voting for Sunday liquor sales because it supports jobs and businesses in the county. "These stores really just want a fair shake to try and compete with the other grocery stores and liquor stores just across the county line," Young said. "Why wouldn't you want to support people in Tuscola County creating jobs and sales?" Mark Wojdula purchased Dunn Hardware around 14 years ago and moved the shop into its current location, a former grocery store, seven years ago. The hardware store's foray into alcohol started at its current location with a walk-in "beer cave." When the grocer's pharmacist moved out, Wojdula was able to buy the town's only liquor license. "The logic of the law escapes me," Wojdula said. "But we trust whatever the voters decide." Wojdula says he sees occasional customers who aren't aware of Tuscola County's ban on Sunday liquor sales because he's so close to the Saginaw County line . "It affects us probably more than other locations because we're right on the line," Wojdula said. "If I moved the store 100 yards across the street I could sell liquor on Sundays." "Is it a big deal to me, dollars and cents? No," Wojdula said. "But everything helps." Bridget Palmatier co-owns Fostoria Grocery in Fostoria with her husband. Just five miles away across the Lapeer County border there's a party store with a sign stating "We sell liquor on Sundays," Palmatier said. "As a business owner, I'd like to see it go because we lose business," she said. "I've had hunters decide they're not going to come here because they can't get what they want on a Sunday." If the proposal is shot down at the polls, those wanting a refreshing cocktail on a Sunday will continue doing what they've already been doing, Wingert said. They'll stock up the day before, go to a bar or travel across the county line. SAGINAW, MI -- At least three Saginaw houses and some parked vehicles were marred by paintballs early Thursday morning. Saginaw police were dispatched to homes in the 100 through 300 blocks of Superior Street at about 2:40 a.m. on Thursday, May 3, in reference to a 911 call of houses being struck by paintballs. Officers learned a red Ford Explorer had been involved, according to Sgt. Matthew Gerow. A Michigan State Police trooper spotted the Explorer at Michigan and Court streets and pulled it over. The Explorer contained seven individuals, both juveniles and adults. Police searched the vehicle and found nine paintball guns and several hundred rounds. Police issued citations to the seven individuals and seized their paintball guns. They were not lodged in the Saginaw County Jail. "The quick apprehension of these subjects and the seizure of the evidence can be attributed to the joint effort of the Saginaw Police, Michigan State Police, and Saginaw County Central Dispatch," Gerow said. "The Saginaw Police Department is committed to working together in partnership with all law enforcement agencies." Police are seeking charges of disturbing the peace against the seven people. Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, By By: Dr. Francis R. Souder, 85, formerly of Telford, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2007 in the skilled nursing unit of Peter Becker Community, Franconia Township. He and his wife Marion R. (Parker) Souder celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary in July. Born in Souderton, he was a son of the late Elvin B. and Mary (Rittenhouse) Souder. A 1938 graduate of Souderton High School, he received his undergraduate degree in 1941 from the University of Pennsylvania where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa. Dr. Souder went on to receive his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in 1944 and completed his internship at Hahnemann Hospital from Oct. 1944 July, 1945. He served with the U.S. Navy Medical Corps for 30 months in San Diego and Long Beach, Calif. during WW II and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant prior to his discharge. He entered his second tour of duty during the Korean War where he served in Panama City, Fla. as the medical officer for the Panama City Naval Air Station and the Tyndal Air Force Base. Dr. Souder owned and operated his family practice on Main Street in Telford from 1947-1989. He served on the staff of Grand View Hospital, and as its president, and taught at the Grand View Hospital Nursing School. He was a member of the Pa. Medical Society, the Bucks County Medical Society, Diplomat American Academy of Family Practices, and served on the board of trustees at Grand View Hospital, Sellersville. He was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ in Telford, where he sang in the church choir. He was also a member of the MacCalla Lodge #596 in Souderton, the Raja Shrine, and Lehigh Consistory. In addition to his widow, he is survived by a son, Dr. Ronald L. Souder, and his wife Susan L. of Green Lane; a daughter, Susan J. Souder, and her husband Stephan Russo of New York, N.Y.; five grandchildren: Jennifer A. Souder of Philadelphia; Emily E. Souder of Philadelphia; Kathryn A. Souder of Washington, D.C.; Noah Russo of New York, N.Y., and Rebekah Russo of New York, N.Y., and two brothers: Attorney Elvin B. Souder of Souderton and Dr. Lawrence Souder of Souderton. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12 p.m. in Trinity United Church of Christ, 101 S. Main St., Telford, with calling hours following the service. Interment will be private in Trinity UCC Cemetery Telford. Memorial contributions may be made to Grand View Hospital, 700 Lawn Ave., Sellersville, Pa. 18960. Arrangements are by Sadler-Suess Funeral Home, Telford. May 03, 2018 Yemen - Massacres and Assassinations Trigger a New Phase of War In mid April some 20+ of Sudanese soldiers were killed in an ambush in northern Yemen. Sudan, which sent up to 10,000 soldiers to Yemen in hope of Saudi money, is reconsidering its engagement. The Gulf states had promised investments in Sudan and the lifting of U.S. sanction in exchange for sending cannon fodder. Neither happened. The war Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the powers behind them wage on Yemen aims to install a proxy-government that defers to them. The Yemeni people do not want that. They resist against the overwhelming forces of their rich neighbors. Especially the Zaidi people of north Yemen dislike their proselytizing Wahhabi neighbors. Their Houthi movement leads the fight. Yemeni in general regard them as 'monkeys with laptops'. To overcome the resistance the Saudi launched a genocidal campaign of blockading, bombing and starving the people into submission. The same week the Sudanese mercenaries were killed, airstrikes by Saudi jets slaughtered dozens of Yemeni civilians: An airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition hit a wedding party in northern Yemen, killing at least 20 people including the bride, health officials said Monday, as harrowing images emerged on social media of the deadly bombing, the third to hit Yemeni civilians since the weekend. ... An airstrike on Sunday night hit a house elsewhere in Hajja, killing an entire family of five, according to al-Nadhri. On Saturday, at least 20 civilians were killed when coalition fighter jets bombed a bus carrying commuters in western Yemen, near the city of Taiz, which has been locked in fighting for three years. After the bombing of the wedding one boy, 3 to 5 years old, clutched to his dead father all night (video) and rejected attempts to be taken away. A graphic video taken the next morning shows that the boy is still there and the terrible aftermath of the Saudi massacre. The Onion only slightly exaggerates when it writes that the Saudi clown prince visited the child to finish the job. The standard agency reports from Yemen, like the above one, always repeat the UN estimate that more than 10,000 have died in the war. But that UN number is at least two years old, never changes and only hides the ongoing massacre: Elisabeth Kendall @Dr_E_Kendall - 20:28 UTC - 11 Apr 2018 #Yemen war: Why does the much-quoted UN statistic of 10,000 deaths never seem to increase? @YemenData documents 16,847 air raids by the #Saudi-led coalition from 3/2015 to 3/2018 (with 423 this March) & @MSF received over 97,000 emergency patients in 1st 3 months of 2017 alone At least 70,000 have been killed by bombing alone. That number does not include the probably one hundred thousand who starved or died from easily preventable diseases. When asked about the real numbers UN officials are evading any sensible response (vid). The Saudi coalition strikes on civilians are not by accident. The Saudis target infrastructure, all food and people transport, health facilities and any gathering that is deemed suspicious. Other strikes are targeted assassinations. One recent drone camera video from a United Arab Emirates owned drone, follows a car near Hodeidah port in north-west Yemen and shows a missile hitting it. The video cuts to a second drone camera, filmed from a screen in an operations room, which shows people coming to the rescue after the first strike. A second missile strike kills them all. The people in the operations room are elated. That 'double tap' strike killed an important man and will prolong the war: Saleh al-Samad, the president of the Houthis Supreme Political Council, was killed in the drone strike, delivering the deathblow to an already stagnant Yemeni peace process. Samad was regarded as a conciliatory figure within the Houthi rebellion and had sought to reach a negotiated settlement to Yemens civil war. He was scheduled to meet with Martin Griffiths, the U.N. special envoy for Yemen, on April 28. A well bribed nephew of the deceased former president of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh may help the UAE to kill his dead uncle's allies. I though suspect that U.S. intelligence, targeting mobile phones and alike, or even U.S. boots on the ground are heavily involved: Tareq Saleh and his men were forced to seek refuge in the UAE, bringing with them a deep knowledge of the Houthis inner workings. ... Samads death was not an isolated incident. A number of key Houthi figures, who shared close ties to former President Saleh, have been killed recently. Mansour al-Saidi, the commander of Houthi naval forces; Salah al-Sharqai, his deputy; Nasser al-Qaubari, the major general of Houthi missile forces; and Fares Manea, a notorious arms dealer and former governor of Saada, were all killed in airstrikes over the last week. Killing the leaders of resistance movements is not a successful strategy. Such leaders usually get replaced with smarter or more brutal hardliners who care less about collateral damage: Samads successor, Mahdi al-Mashat, who was appointed Monday, is a hard-liner with extensive links to Hezbollah in Lebanon. Ali al-Bukhaiti, a former senior Houthi figure now based in Amman, Jordan, claims that there is growing puritanism within the movement. Mashat is the polar opposite of his predecessor: He is tactless, threatens, doesnt compromise, he says. He does not build relationships he damages them. Tens of thousands gathered in the Yemeni capital Sanaa for the funeral commemoration for Saleh al-Samad. Saudi jets flew over the crowd and bombed nearby. The crowd was not deterred. No one ran away but the people got up on their feet (vid) and chanted (vid) Houthi slogans. They are willing to fight and far from defeated. The United Arab Emirates has its own design on Yemen. It is in for the money. The UAE occupies the Yemeni Sakrota island, the Unesco-protected 'Jewel of Arabia', and is stealing its natural resources. Aden, in the south of Yemen is also under UAE occupation. The UAE company Dubai Port, now DP World, wants to control Aden's port. But mothers in Aden starve themselves to death to keep their children alive. There is no state, no security and no one gets paid for their work as doctor, teacher or street sweeper. Some food is available on the markets but the people can not longer afford it. Professor Isa Blumi of Stockholm University argues (radio) that the war in Yemen is not a civil war and not even a war by the local powers Saudi Arabia and the UAE. It is an imperial war by larger powers with a deep colonial history. Neither the UAE nor Saudi Arabia could do anything in Yemen without direction and support from Britain (pdf) and the USA: Thousands of UK and non-UK employees of UK companies work in Saudi Arabia to train, install, maintain and help operate UK-supplied aircraft and other military equipment, including the Tornado IDS fighter-bombers and Typhoon fighters that constitute just under 50% of the in-service combat aircraft of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF). ... [T]he UK has made a blanket commitment to provide RSAF with UK civilian and military personnel to support and arm UK-supplied aircraft used by RSAF in an armed conflict. ... UK officials interviewed for this paper, and at least one of the government-to-government agreements governing the supply of UK weapons systems to RSAF, thus suggest that the UK MOD has detailed knowledge about the roles and activities of UK personnel both civilian and military, private and governmental, in Saudi Arabia; as well as about the use of UK-supplied aircraft and their munitions. IHS Janes recently reported that the U.S. seeks a private company to rescue its soldiers in Yemen: The US military is looking for contractors to provide personnel recovery, as well as airborne casualty and medical evacuation services, for special forces personnel operating in and around Yemen. Why would the U.S. need those? And why in these weird places? (And why would the U.S. Special Operations Command ever outsource such a specialized, dangerous and important military task?) So far the U.S. had claimed that a very few of its soldiers are looking for al-Qaeda in south Yemen. These are supposed to be in-hit-out operations with direct U.S. air support. The U.S. downplays its intelligence and aerial refueling support for the Saudi bombing of the various hospitals and weddings. In reality no Saudi plane would fly without direct U.S. and UK support. Now we learn that U.S. soldiers are also directly involved in the fighting on the ground: [L]ate last year, a team of about a dozen Green Berets arrived on Saudi Arabias border with Yemen, in a continuing escalation of Americas secret wars. With virtually no public discussion or debate, the Army commandos are helping locate and destroy caches of ballistic missiles and launch sites that Houthi rebels in Yemen are using to attack Riyadh and other Saudi cities. ... Along the porous border, the Americans are working with surveillance planes that can gather electronic signals to track the Houthi weapons and their launch sites, .. ... They also are working closely with American intelligence analysts in Najran, a city in southern Saudi Arabia that has been repeatedly attacked with rockets, to help locate Houthi missile sites within Yemen. The U.S. media seem to support the U.S. war on Yemen. In a recent interview on CNN Senator Rand Paul argued to at least debate the war in the U.S. congress. CNN host Wolf Blitzer dismissed (vid) that as "moral issue". He says there are "a lot of jobs at stake" and selling less bombs to Saudi Arabia might cause a "significant loss of jobs and revenues". He wonders why that is "secondary question" to Paul. I'll leave it to a Yemeni to respond: Haykal Bafana @BaFana3 - 19:51 UTC- 14 Apr 2018 To whom it may concern: Which part is not sinking into your small-brained thick skull? Your half-fucked fuckery has been one long fuckin' orgy of disastrous self-fucking from start to now. End this humiliating porn. And stay the fuck out of Yemen. Dumb fucks. The Sudanese seem to have understood. Others still have to learn. After the recent assassination of their leaders the Houthis promised to directly attack Saudi and UAE leaders. This will be a new phase of the ongoing war. If the war continues for long the people of Yemen turn their eyes towards the imperial powers behind those figures. Posted by b on May 3, 2018 at 18:32 UTC | Permalink Comments next page Less than a month after some of her opponents said she should quit over decades-old ethical allegations, five-term incumbent Sheriff Laurie Smith has come out swinging. In a no-holds-barred interview with editors of the Gilroy Dispatch and Morgan Hill Times, Smith claimed San Jose media were deliberately spreading false complaints about herthat she had interfered with a gender harassment complaint against her 25 years agoand accused her leading challenger, her former undersheriff John Hirokawa, of responsibility for lax jail administration that led to the murder of an inmate in 2015 by correctional officers. On the same day of Smiths interview, April 20, Hirokawa also sat down in Morgan Hill with the same editorsNew SV Media Publisher Dan Pulcrano, New SV Media Managing Editor and Gilroy Dispatch Editor Barry Holtzclaw and Morgan Hill Times Editor Michael Moore. Hirokawa said the sheriff had been asleep and unresponsive to his pleas for jail reforms prior to the death of a mentally ill inmate whose assailantsthree jailerswould be convicted of murder. The two candidates attacks on each other in separate interviews showed clearly that the increasingly vicious race for sheriff of Californias sixth most populous county has emerged as a two-person contest, and one that could continue past the June 5 primary. Administration of the county jail continues to be a big issue for both the incumbent and challengers. Smith is pressing hard to top the 50-percent mark in the primary vote and avoid a long, hot summer campaign. At the same time, she has avoided some opportunities to tell her storymost recently as a no-show at a candidate forum on April 24although she agreed to the nearly one-hour interview with the Times and Dispatch. The other challengers on the June ballot are retired Lt. Jose Salcido, Deputy Joe La Jeunesse and retired police chief Martin J. Monica. The Sheriffs Office has a staff of 1,800 sworn and non-sworn employees and an annual budget of about $308 million. The elected sheriff serves a term of four years. The Santa Clara County Sheriffs Office serves the communities of Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. The agency maintains contracts with the Valley Transportation Authority and the Santa Clara County Parks Department for law enforcement services. The Sheriffs Office is also responsible for the safety and security of the Santa Clara County Superior Court system and all its staff. The Sheriffs Office oversees the jail system for Santa Clara County, with more than 4,000 inmates. Four of the five county supervisors Cindy Chavez, Mike Wasserman, Dave Cortese and Ken Yeagerhave endorsed Smith. Supervisor Joe Simitian has not. The editors said they chose to limit their sheriff interviews to the two front-runners who have raised the most funds and campaigned most extensively. The newspapers endorsement editorial for Santa Clara County Sheriff is on Page 6 of the May 4 issues. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. This coming Saturday, May 5, Omaha, Nebraska will host the event sometimes referred to as "Woodstock for Capitalists": the annual Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.B) shareholder meeting, led by chairman Warren Buffett and vice chairman Charlie Munger. (For those who cant make it in person, the meeting will be livestreamed.) That means it's time for our annual look at the mutual funds with the biggest stakes in the stocks held in Berkshire Hathaway's investment portfolio, as listed in Buffett's annual letter to shareholders and in Berkshire's annual report. This year's letter, like previous ones, included Buffett's explanations and opinions on a variety of topics. Morningstar's Jeremy Glaser discussed all that back in late February when the letter came out. The list of the top stocks in Berkshire's investment portfolio comes near the end. This portfolio used to be managed entirely by Buffett, but for the past few years some of it has been run independently by Todd Combs and Ted Weschler, who each now manage more than $10 billion. (Thus, a more accurate title for this article might be "Funds That Buy Like Buffett, Combs, and Weschler," but that's not as snappy.) Morningstar Premium Members have access to full analyst reports such as this for more than 1,000 of the largest and best mutual funds. Not a Premium Member? Gain full access to our analyst reports and advanced tools immediately when you try Morningstar Premium free for 14 days. Vanguard Short-Term Investment Grade provides consistent exposure to short-term corporate and securitized bonds at an attractive price. Yet, with the departure of lead manager and co-head of Vanguard's U.S. corporate bond desk, Greg Nassour, the fund's People Pillar has been downgraded to Neutral from Positive. The fund's Morningstar Analyst Rating has also been lowered to Bronze from Silver. On April 13, 2018, Vanguard announced that longtime corporate bond skipper Nassour had left the firm. He had managed more than $110 billion in active fixed-income assets and oversaw U.S. corporate bond trading and portfolio management at Vanguard for nearly a decade. Until Vanguard finds a replacement to fill Nassour's seat, Samuel Martinez and Daniel Shaykevich will comanage this fund. Martinez and Shaykevich ascended Vanguard's ranks as assistant portfolio managers but are relatively new as lead managers themselves. Shaykevich has run Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond (VEMBX) since early 2016, while Martinez had comanaged Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond (VUBFX) with Nassour since the beginning of 2017. Vanguard still has ample fixed-income resources supporting this fund, including a deep corporate research team, but the vacancy left by Nassour's departure highlights the need for improved succession planning. Otherwise, the fund continues to be managed in a regimented fashion and is unlikely to see big changes under its new leadership. Top-down themes will continue to come down as directives from senior fixed-income leaders, while specialist portfolio managers oversee their assigned sectors. As the lead manager of corporate credit, Nassour curated the fund's corporate bond stake (60%-70% of the portfolio at times) and oversaw its allocation across corporate sectors. While any changes made by the fund's new managers bear watching, Vanguard's team-oriented approach and the advantage of a cheap price tag should keep this fund on a steady course. Process Pillar: Neutral | Alaina Bompiedi 04/25/2018 Vanguard's "hub-and-satellite" structure has guided this fund's approach since its implementation in 2007. The hub, composed of Vanguard's senior fixed-income leaders, sets broad investment guidelines and risk parameters for the fund, while satellite teams of sector-specific analysts, traders, and portfolio managers develop and execute themes within their sectors. Like many Vanguard bond funds, this portfolio is managed to an internal benchmark which informs, but does not dictate, the fund's yield curve, duration, sector, and quality positioning. Portfolio managers have some discretion to tailor the fund's stance, but its well-defined internal benchmark grants limited wiggle room. While Vanguard hasn't shared the exact specifications of that benchmark, the fund has limitations on the size of its BBB stake (maximum 30%), high yield (maximum 5%), and duration (within half a year of its index's). The fund maintains a consistent overweighting in investment-grade corporates (60%-70%), with a slant toward financials and industrials. The remainder is typically held in asset-backed (10%-20%) and commercial mortgage-backed (2%-20%) securities, with a sprinkling of foreign bonds and U.S. Treasuries. A simple, if not cutting-edge, process supports a Neutral Process rating. The short-term bond Morningstar Category is heterogeneous in its credit quality and sector makeup. This fund's bias to corporate bonds saddles it with more credit risk than average, but its investment-grade tilt makes the fund a higher-quality option in the category. In addition to its large holdings of corporates, the fund maintains a ballast of ABS and CMBS, usually in the range of 10%-20% combined. In March 2018, the fund held 60% in corporate bonds and 20% in securitized debt. In recent years, the team has preferred shorter-term auto loans within its ABS exposure, and high-quality CMBS tranches. A persistent 5%-15% ballast of Treasuries (6.5% as of March 2018) provides a source of liquidity and will fluctuate as the managers find buying opportunities or decide to increase or decrease risk. Over the past two years, the fund has also held less BBB exposure than the category. That allocation stood at 21% versus it's typical peer's 23% in March 2018. The fund's duration tends to be longer than the category average but doesn't stray far from its Bloomberg-Barclays U.S. Credit 1-5 Year iIndex. As of March 2018, the fund's 2.7-year duration fell just short of its benchmark (roughly 2.8 years) but was amply longer than the peer group median (1.8 years). That range has been typical for the fund over the trailing five years, which tends to run at the long end of the category. Performance Pillar: Neutral | Alaina Bompiedi 04/25/2018 Funds in the short-term bond category can vary widely in their sector and quality makeup. This fund, with its focus on corporate bonds, lies on the more aggressive end of the category with respect to its credit risk and interest-rate sensitivity. The fund has accrued a strong long-term record, but its recent manager departure leads us to reset the fund's Performance rating to Neutral. Over Nassour's decade-long tenure, from 2008 through March 2018, the fund returned 2.9% annualized, landing in the top quartile of its category. Its volatility, as measured by standard deviation, also sat at the high end of the peer group. Much of the fund's strong relative returns and heightened volatility can be attributed to its persistent overweighting in corporate credit and, more recently, its longer duration relative to peers. These characteristics have helped the fund in the wake of the credit crisis, which has mostly been supportive for credit and interest-rate risk. Still, the fund hasn't held positions as large in mid- to lower-grade bonds as others in its category have. This characteristic helped it turn in a top-decile return in 2015, a difficult year for corporate bond funds, which were affected by a sell-off in energy company debt. However, during the first two months of 2018, the fund's longer duration became a liability as yields jumped, causing the fund to underperform 80% of its peers. People Pillar: Neutral | Alaina Bompiedi 04/25/2018 Longtime manager Greg Nassour unexpectedly left Vanguard on April 13, 2018. The firm responded by handing the reins to Daniel Shaykevich and Samuel Martinez--who have managed Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond since 2016 and Vanguard Ultra-Short-Term Bond since 2017, respectively--while it searched for a new lead corporate bond manager to assume Nassour's vacated seat. The fund continues to have the support of 22 corporate analysts and traders, but this impromptu transition raises concerns about the firm's succession planning, resulting in a downgrade of the fund's People rating to Neutral from Positive. Shaykevich and Martinez have ascended through the ranks as assistant portfolio managers since joining Vanguard in 2013 and 2007, respectively, though neither had more than two years of lead portfolio manager experience when they took over here. Shaykevich has overseen emerging-markets debt trading and portfolio management since 2016, and Martinez has performed the same function for the asset-backed and commercial mortgage-backed desk since 2017. These personnel changes coincide with Vanguard's reshuffling among its fixed-income heads. Effective June 2018, Vanguard's global head of credit, Paul Jakubowski, will take over as global head of fixed-income indexing for a retiring Ken Volpert, and Vanguard municipal head Chris Alwine will move into Jakubowski's seat. Parent Pillar: Positive | 12/12/2016 Vanguard has one of the mutual fund industry's strongest corporate cultures and earns a Positive Parent rating. Its consistent messages to investors to keep costs low, diversify, and stay the course are reflected in the firm's own behavior. Vanguard's U.S. fundholders own the firm through small investments by each mutual fund, mitigating potential conflicts of interest that can exist at other firms that are serving two masters. Fund performance is strong overall: Over the past three-, five-, and 10-year periods, its Morningstar Success Ratios are greater than 70%--high among large, diversified fund families. Over the past year, the firm has collected more than USD 200 billion in net inflows, thanks in large part to investors' interest in passive investing. The firm's indexing and ETF prowess, low costs, and success in penetrating the financial-advisor sales channel all have fueled growth. Total assets under management now exceed USD 3.3 trillion, giving Vanguard a significant more-than-20% market share across U.S. mutual funds. Vanguard has been a global player for years but has only more recently turned its focus to growing internationally. The firm is a large player in Australia, where it has the most history, but doesn't yet have the brand recognition and trust it enjoys in the United States in other parts of the world. While non-U.S. funds don't participate in the ownership of Vanguard, the firm's investorcentric culture extends globally. Price Pillar: Positive | Alaina Bompiedi 04/25/2018 In typical Vanguard fashion, the fund's fees are low across all share classes, earning a Price rating of Positive. The fund is offered in Vanguard's standard Investor and Admiral share classes, which charge 20 and 10 basis points per year, respectively, as well as an Institutional share class, priced at 7 basis points. Most assets are held in the Admiral class; its fee ranks low relative to other no-load short-term bond funds. The Admiral share class has a $50,000 investment minimum, and the Investor share class carries a $3,000 minimum. But I dont want to go among mad people," Alice remarked. "Oh, you cant help that," said the Cat: "were all mad here. Im mad. Youre mad." "How do you know Im mad?" said Alice. "You must be," said the Cat, "or you wouldnt have come here. Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland With freedom comes responsibility. Eleanor Roosevelt Feng Zhao and Zichen Qian have won the 2018 Bhakta Rath Research Award for their work on nanoscaffolding in tissue engineering. Beneath the skin, the human body is a vast network of arteries, veins and capillaries that transport nutrients and oxygen to cells. If these connections are damaged, the body tries to repair itself. When this fails, tissue engineering can offer hope for restoration. At Michigan Tech, two researchers have been awarded the Bhakta Rath Award, Michigan Techs top honor to a doctoral student and faculty advisor working on cutting edge research that has important social implications. Zichen Qian 17 and Feng Zhao, associate professor of biomedical engineering, have been working on how to provide enough oxygen to implanted tissues so they dont die and the body doesnt reject a tissue implant. Vascularizing tissue implantsproviding a way for implants to quickly form connections with existing tissuesis the goal toward which Qian and Zhao are working. Just breathe: Engineering pre-vascularized tissues to encourage lower implantation rejection rates Qian and Zhaos work differs from that of others because rather than using synthetic material to create implant prototypes, the pair creates tissues by using actual cells. Using multi-potent adult stem cells, which can differentiate into a few different cell types, including cartilage, skeletal and muscle, there is less risk that the cells will morph the tissue implant into a malignant tumor, which is more likely to occur with pluripotent stem cells. Additionally, by using a persons own cells to make engineered tissue, the body is more likely to accept the implant, known as a low-immune response. Feng Zhao, associate professor of biomedical engineering, has been honored for her role as a mentor to graduate students. However, engineering tissue isnt analogous to patching a tiresome tissues, such as cardiac and skeletal muscles, must be highly aligned to millions of microvessels and must be a certain density, or thickness, which aids in maturation of blood vessels and the functional performance of the engineered tissue. Qian and Zhao use cells from human skin to make a material of highly aligned nanofibers by using a patterned substrate on top of which cells secrete proteins and sugars to organize into nanofibers. After removing the substrate, the aligned nanofibers remain. We call that the scaffold, Zhao said. Its elastic and flexible. On top of the scaffold, we grow stem cells. By attaining the same physiological oxygen concentration in the scaffold as the location where the stem cells are obtained from the body, Zhao and Qian are able to maintain a high plasticity to the stem cells while evading problematic cell differentiation. On top of the aligned scaffold grow the cells that form the capillariesendothelial cellsthe tube-like inner layer of the blood vessels, contributing to the highly aligned nature of the engineered capillaries. The stem cells help to stabilize the micro-vessels and mature them. The duos next step is to build on their scaffolding approach to make thick, dense tissues. Mentoring and a collaborative environment are the key to engineering success But even such revolutionary research isnt the entire focus of the Bhakta Rath Award. An equally important aspect is the relationship between adviser and student. Zhao spoke fondly of the working relationship she had with Qian, describing their weekly meetings as sessions of discovery, discussing the science and planning for future research. She also described the bond between two immigrants who have had to work through language barriers while reaching expectations of excellence. Zichen Qian '17, who now works at Merck, has been honored for his partnership with Feng Zhao in tissue engineering research. Feng always inspires me with new ideas and guides me to improve my new experiment designs, Qian says. She shares her perspective on the feasibility of potential solutions, helps me prioritize my efforts to stay focused and encourages me to dig deeper on new findings. And Zhaos comment on how Qian operates may strike hope into the hearts of overworked graduate students everywhere: Hes not the kind of person who works seven days a week, but he works wisely. Hes diligent and efficient. Research takes time to learn and to do. Qian graduated from Michigan Tech in 2017 and now works as a scientist at Merck developing engineered cell lines for manufacturing therapeutic biologics. He and Zhao have co-authored 14 publications, four of which Qian was first author. Moreover, they currently have one more paper under review, which they say is their best yet. My PhD training on cell biology and engineering is critical for my day-to-day job now, Qian says. Im grateful about all the knowledge and skills that I acquired earlier to help me do better in the future. Bhakta Rath Research Award The Bhakta Rath Research Award recognizes a doctoral student and his/her Michigan Tech faculty advisor. The pair earns the award for research that dares to be cutting edge while remaining focused on the social contribution of the work. The award was established in 2010 by an endowment from Bhakta B. Rath and his wife, Sushama Rath, to promote and reward excellence in scientific and engineering research at Michigan Tech. Learn more about the award on the Office of Research website. Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior. Michigan Techs thought leaders glimpse into the Universitys future. Drawing on his 14 years as University president, Glenn D. Mroz reflects on the future of higher education. The world needs educated people. That may sound like a platitude or thinly veiled marketing, but it also happens to be trueand nowhere is it more apparent than in the state of Michigan. In late 2016, the Michigan Bureau of Labor Market Information and Strategic Initiatives published "Michigans Hot 50 for 2024"a list of the states top 50 high-demand, high-wage occupations. Of the 50 jobs on the list, 36 require at least a bachelors degree. Those 36 professions are projected to create more than 19,000 annual job openings from now through 2024, while the professions that dont require a four-year degree are projected to create less than half thatjust a little more than 8,300. Theres a lot of talk today about how a college education isnt worth the investment, that you can find plenty of jobs that pay the sameor even morein skilled trades. But as the Michigan Hot 50 data shows, although there are jobs in skilled trades, young people are more likely to secure a middle-class income and lifestyle through a college education. In other words, the conversation we should be having isnt either/orits yes/and. College makes dollars and sense A university education is an engine of social mobility and Michigan Tech is the perfect example. Low-income students make up more than a quarter of the Universitys undergraduate population. Once theyve earned their degrees, students who come from the bottom fifth of household income have a 47 percent chance of moving to the top fifth. Eighteen percent of Michigan Tech graduates move up two or more income quintiles during their careers. Some people say education is a private good, rather than a public one. While the numbers above illuminate individual earning potential, the picture is bigger than that. Consider how Michigan Tech supports the state economy. An estimated 56 percent of Michigan Tech graduates take jobs in Michigan. That's just under 1,000 students a year. If you assume that each of those grads makes the median Michigan Tech starting salary$60,000 a yearthe most recent class of knowledge-based economy workers will earn a collective $60 million this year. Thats money earned and invested in the state of Michigan. This is the leading edge of a virtuous cycle. A recent report using data from 1.2 million inventors, Who Becomes an Inventor in America? The Importance of Exposure to Innovation, noted that exposure to innovation at an early age is a causal factor in becoming an inventor. A lack of exposure leads to the lost Einstein effect. It doesnt end there. Continued exposure through higher education plays a role as well, with that same report ranking Michigan Tech sixth among public and private universities in the nation, and the number one public university in the nation for inventors per 1,000 students. That innovation creates jobs for many others. But again, the picture is bigger than that. Throughout my career in higher education, both as an educator and administrator, Ive had conversations with countless parents about their childrens decision to go to college. While every parent wants their child to find a good job and contribute to society, they also want their children to lead fulfilling lives. The Glengariff Group recently conducted a statewide survey for the Michigan Association of State Universities to gauge resident views on higher education and four-year degrees. Parents who participated in the survey were asked what was most important to them when it came to their childrens future careers. Forty-two percent said the most important goal is that their children find rewarding work. Getting a good education ranked second at 12.4 percent. In a separate question, more than 64 percent of all respondents (not just parents) said that a four-year degree is the best route to a fulfilling career. Psychologist Barry Schwartz argues that people have an innate need to be valued. While we all work to make a living, most of us want our work to be about more than moneywe want to feel like the work we do means something, even if were not in the job of our dreams. Schwartz contends that before the industrial age, people probably didnt reflect much on whether their occupations were fulfilling, because work like farming and carpentry constantly provided new challenges and learning opportunities. Work was interwoven into their daily lives on a psychological as well as a physical basis. With the advent of the assembly line, however, people began to do the same thing over and over again, with little opportunity to engage, address challenges and learn. Part of the reason, Schwartz says, why we want fulfillment so badly now is because its been missing for many of us for more than 200 years. These are thoughts to keep in mind as we look to a future that promises automation. Create the future of higher education As a university president, its been my job to imagine the future. Almost daily, Ive had to consider how the decisions made today will impact the University 10, 20, even 30 years down the road. And for at least a decade, thought leaders in higher education (and almost every other sector) have been contemplating a future in which automation consumes many of the jobs humans perform today. Indeed, in Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Martin Ford warned that machines are coming for the high-wage, high-skill jobs as well. How do we prepare the coming generations for what many see as an inevitable reality? The answer is in higher education. Experts note that jobs requiring manual dexterity, creativity, general knowledge and social interactions and intelligence will thrive as automation and artificial intelligence (AI) increase. In fact, the White House Council of Economic Advisors has identified four employment categories that might experience direct AI-driven growth in the future: engagement, development, supervision and response to paradigm shifts. In other words, we can avoid the mistakes of the past that Schwartz describes. Automation cannot strip away the value of the human, and universities can and must ensure that ones fulfillment and purpose are valued concepts in this brave new digital age. We need to be equipping students not only with technical skills, but with social smarts and critical thinking as welllike interpersonal skills, social engagement, problem solving and the ability to innovate. Traditional education is based on lectures, but research shows that students learn more and better when they can get involved and engage with problems that have no right or wrong answerbut they do have a best answer. When students interact with their peers, are given the freedom to be creative and use critical thinking skills, incredible things happen. Learning is a social process. Students need to bounce ideas off each other and constructively disagree. They need multiple points of view. Thats whyin a country where only 19 percent of the engineers are womenwe need to continue our efforts to diversify our faculty and student body. Kanwal Rekhi, a recipient of our Distinguished Alumni Award in 2000, once reminded me that one of the reasons the U.S. prospered so well in the early 20th century was because it compelled K-12 education for every student. He also suggested that the next country to ensure access to higher education for all would be the next to see similar growth and success. While Im not suggesting we compel post-secondary education for all students in the US, I am saying that the world needs more educated people. Why shouldnt our country provide them? About the Author Glenn D. Mroz Glenn D. Mroz became the ninth president of Michigan Technological University in 2004 after serving as dean of the School of Forest Resources and Environmental Science for four years. He had served as a faculty member in the School since 1980. President Mroz earned his BS and MS degrees in Forestry from Michigan Technological University and earned his PhD in Forestry from North Carolina State University in 1983. He will return to the Michigan Tech faculty on July 1, 2018. Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) A Native American teenager who was with his younger brother when the two were pulled from a college tour said the ordeal began less than 30 minutes after they had arrived on the Colorado campus. School officials say a parent in the group called the police to report feeling nervous about their presence. "I think it's pretty discriminatory," 19-year-old Thomas Kanewakeron Gray said Thursday. "Me and my brother just stayed to ourselves the whole time. I guess that was scaring people; that we were just quiet." Gray said police stopped him and his 17-year-old brother, Lloyd Skanahwati Gray, while the Colorado State University admissions tour group was inside a gymnasium Monday, and began questioning the brothers aggressively about why they were on campus that day. Campus police patted down each of the teens and released them only after they were able to provide an email proving they had reserved spots on the tour. By then, however, their tour group had moved on without them and the brothers left the campus and returned home to New Mexico. The older brother said the school was their first choice, because of its proximity to Denver, where they could attend concerts. The brothers, both Mohawk, are musicians, and study contemporary and traditional music. The older of the two brothers is currently a student at Northern New Mexico College in Espanola and hoped to transfer. The younger brother is a high school senior at Santa Fe Indian School. The siblings saved until they had enough money to drive the roughly seven hours from the family's home in Santa Cruz, New Mexico to Fort Collins for the tour. The brothers' ordeal marks the latest in a series of incidences nationwide spotlighting treatment minorities often face in everyday circumstances, including the arrest of two black men at a Starbucks in Philadelphia who were handcuffed and taken to jail after a worker said they had refused to buy anything or leave. Colorado State University officials said in an email to students that it is reviewing what happened to try to avoid similar situations or handle them more appropriately. "The incident is sad and frustrating from nearly every angle, particularly the experience of two students who were here to see if this was a good fit for them as an institution," the email said. "As a university community, we deeply regret the experience of these students while they were guests on our campus." The university officials said a parent called police about the brothers, who had joined the tour after it started. According the email, the tour guide did not know that campus police had been called or responded. The teens' mother, Lorraine Kahneratokwas Gray, said she believes her sons were victims of racial profiling and she feared for their safety after learning about the encounter. "I felt they had been the victim of racism and that they weren't safe there," she said in a post this week on Facebook. She later told the AP, "I don't think they even grasped the magnitude of what happened to them until we talked." ___ Associated Press writer Colleen Slevin contributed to this report from Denver. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Mick Ruis packed his suitcases for his first trip to the Kentucky Derby as an owner and trainer. The 57-year-old high school dropout stuffed more than clothing and toiletries in his bags. He feels so strongly about Bolt d'Oro's chances the colt is the co-fourth choice at 8-1 Ruis packed plenty of cash. "When he dropped from first to fifth or sixth now after he lost the Santa Anita Derby, every week I just put more money in a suitcase to come here to bet on him Saturday," Ruis said. "That's how confident we are." Ruis said he also wagered $1,200 on Bolt d'Oro in Las Vegas when he was 40-1 last year. "But you can't put a money value on winning the race," he said. Ruis is an anomaly in the sport because he owns, trains and handles much of the work around the barn, all with his horses. He first came to love racing on a 1979 visit to Agua Caliente in Tijuana, Mexico. Leaving high school, he worked his way up from entry level positions in construction and shoring. He started his first company with $3,000 and sold it six years later for $2.5 million. Ruis used the stake to go into training and racing thoroughbreds, but crashed out in the middle of the last decade. He earned $467,981 in purses over three years before finding himself $1 million in debt. "Never worked so hard to lose so much money in my life," he said. He turned full-time attention to his San Diego-based company American Scaffolding, which has contracts on ships in five states and with the Navy. Driven to find a path back into racing, he built up the company and sold it for a reported $78 million two years ago while keeping a 20 percent stake. Ruis is faring much better his second time back in the sport. He spent about $2 million on horses to get Ruis Racing underway. One of his purchases for $635,000 in 2016 was Bolt d'Oro, named for retired Olympic champion sprinter Usain Bolt and the colt's sire Medaglia d'Oro. Some of his family is along for the ride, including wife Wendy. The couple married 23 years ago after knowing each other for three weeks. He was divorced with three kids and she was widowed with two. Together, they had two more. His 25-year-old daughter, Shelbe, is his assistant. Most owners with a horse in the Derby for the first time revel in seeing their silks during the post parade as the 100,000-strong crowd sings "My Old Kentucky Home." Once again, Ruis is going his own way. Jockey Victor Espinoza will wear the colors of Spendthrift Farm aboard Bolt d'Oro on Saturday. Ruis sold 50 percent of the colt's future breeding rights to 84-year-old Spendthrift owner B. Wayne Hughes, while keeping the rest for himself. The change in Derby silks was a gift to Hughes, the billionaire owner of Public Storage. "I'm not in here to be the center of attention," Ruis said. He admits the hubbub of his first Derby week has been stressful. "You're thinking about the high, what could be," he said. To escape, Ruis went back to his roots. He headed across the Ohio River to visit a wrestling club in New Albany, Indiana, on Wednesday. A gold medalist in the Junior Pan Am Games as a high school wrestler, Ruis likes to quote Olympic champion Dan Gable and credits the sport for teaching him a work ethic and respect. He spoke to the group of boys ranging from age seven to 18 and then donated $10,000 to their club. "They're building character," he said. "These guys will make it out in the world." Ruis wasn't done, either. If Bolt d'Oro wins the Derby, he promised to hand over $50,000. The winning owner receives $1.43 million. "I got a bunch of guys rooting for Bolt to win," Ruis said, smiling. After the colt's morning workout, Ruis headed out of town to decompress Thursday, this time down Interstate 64 to Lexington, where he bought a farm near Keeneland. A Derby win can generate more clients with good horses for a trainer. But Ruis isn't interested. "Right now, we're really happy where we're at," he said, anticipating the 20 yearlings he has coming into his stable. However, he would like to see other owners expand their choice of trainers beyond the sport's big names of Bob Baffert, Todd Pletcher, Steve Asmussen and Chad Brown. "There's so many good horsemen on the backside, give some of these guys a chance back here," Ruis said. "I don't understand why these mega-owners just go with the big name. I don't think it's the best thing for racing." While careful not to criticize the high-profile trainers, Ruis sees himself as the person to stand up for the little guys. "I would hope if we do good, that's the message Bolt d'Oro can give," he said. Ruis isn't planning much of an upgrade to his trademark white T-shirt and jeans for Derby day. He took advantage of a buy-one-get-one-free deal at a men's store and will wear a $220 sport coat over the shirt. Explaining his attire to his wife, he said, "I made my money with a white T-shirt." She replied, "The rest of us are going to look good." They all will if their colt is in the winner's circle wearing the garland of red roses. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LOS ANGELES (AP) The TV academy said it is reviewing Bill Cosby's inclusion in the academy's Hall of Fame following his sexual assault conviction. Cosby's spokesman didn't immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment. Although the academy hasn't decided whether he'll remain in the Hall of Fame, Cosby's name had previously been removed a list of Hall of Fame honorees on the academy's website. A bust of Cosby no longer will be part of a rotating Walk of Fame exhibit honoring TV heavyweights at the academy's Los Angeles headquarters, an academy spokesman said. Last week, jurors in Pennsylvania convicted Cosby of drugging and molesting a Temple University employee in 2004. He awaits sentencing. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect new information from the TV academy. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. PHILADELPHIA (AP) Bill Cosby's wife called Thursday for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case that could put the 80-year-old comedian in prison for the rest of his life was "mob justice, not real justice" and a "tragedy." Camille Cosby made her first comments on the verdict in a three-page statement sent to the media through a family spokesman, as institutions from Hollywood to Madison Avenue continued to wipe away the remnants of his legacy. He was expelled on Thursday from the motion picture academy and the Advertising Hall of Fame. Camille Cosby compared her husband of 54 years, convicted a week ago on three counts of aggravated indecent assault, to Emmett Till and other blacks mistreated by the justice system. "Once again, an innocent person has been found guilty based on an unthinking, unquestioning, unconstitutional frenzy propagated by the media and allowed to play out in a supposed court of law," she said. "This is mob justice, not real justice. This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country." Camille Cosby, 74, said chief accuser Andrea Constand was a liar whose testimony about being drugged and molested at Cosby's home in January 2004 was "riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions." She echoed Cosby's lawyers, who contended that Constand framed him to score a big payday. Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing. His lawyers have vowed to appeal. Her statement did not address behavior Cosby has admitted to, such as philandering and contention that he was having a consensual affair with Constand. Constand's lawyer bristled at the statement and asked, "why would any reputable outlet publish that?" "Twelve honorable jurors peers of Cosby have spoken," lawyer Dolores Troiani said. "There is nothing else that needs to be said." Constand said in a tweet last week that "Truth prevails." The jury said in a statement Monday that she was "credible and compelling." Prosecutors opposing a request for juror names from The Associated Press and other news media outlets urged a judge on Thursday to consider a "cooling off" before they're disclosed. They cited a 90-day wait in the case of Casey Anthony, the Florida mother acquitted in 2011 of charges she killed her young daughter. Camille Cosby stayed away from both of her husband's trials, except for the defense's closing arguments. She and Bill Cosby had five children two of whom have died and she served as his business manager. Before the jury came in last week to hear from Cosby's lawyers, she went to the defense table and put her arm around Cosby, who is legally blind. They embraced, smiled and chatted, and he gave her a peck on the cheek. When it was the prosecution's turn to argue, she left the courtroom, and Constand entered. Constand sued Cosby in 2005 when prosecutors dropped a criminal investigation after four weeks. Cosby wound up settling for nearly $3.4 million after giving four days of depositions, including testimony about giving quaaludes to women before sex, that a juror said Monday was instrumental in his conviction. Camille Cosby compared the dozens of other women who've accused her husband to a "lynch mob" spurred on by the media's "frenzied, relentless demonization" of the man who earned a reputation as America's Dad playing Dr. Cliff Huxtable on the top-rated family sitcom "The Cosby Show." She compared his treatment to Till, the black teenager who was kidnapped and murdered after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955, and Darryl Hunt, a black man wrongly convicted of raping and killing a white woman in North Carolina in 1984. Constand is white. "Someday the truth will prevail, it always does," Camille Cosby said. She said her husband's prosecution was politically motivated, repeating his team's contention that he had been a pawn in a heated race for district attorney. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele attacked opponent Bruce Castor in campaign ads over his decision not to charge Cosby in 2005 and announced Cosby's arrest a month after winning the November 2015 election. She said Steele and his team were "exploitive and corrupt" and that their "primary purpose is to advance themselves professionally and economically at the expense of Mr. Cosby's life." "If they can do this to Mr. Cosby, they can do so to anyone," she said. Steele's office declined to comment. The Associated Press does not typically identify people who say they are victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, as Constand has done. ___ Follow Sisak at twitter.com/mikesisak ___ For more coverage visit https://www.apnews.com/tag/CosbyonTrial Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. Night of Joy, the long running Christian music event at Walt Disney World, will not be returning this year, or any year. Night of Joy will not return to Disney World in 2018 Spokesperson confirms 2017 event is the last year Christian artists to perform at Epcot Food and Wine Festival A Walt Disney World spokesperson confirmed Thursday that the 2017 Night of Joy will be the last edition of the long-running event. Night of Joy began in 1983 at Magic Kingdom. The one-night annual event shut down the Disney park and shined a spotlight on Christian music, bringing in performers such as Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, CeCe Winans and Steven Curtis Chapman. The spokesperson said that although Night of Joy is going away, Christian artists MercyMe and Tauren Wells will perform during the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival this year. Meanwhile, Universal Studios will continue to host Rock the Universe, a two-night Christian music event, with 12 acts Sept. 7-8. SeaWorld also hosts a Christian music concert series called Praise Wave, held in February. ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. -- A 36-year-old man has been arrested in connection to a 2016 voter fraud case in which police say mail ballots were stolen and forged. Man stole, forged 2016 absentee ballots, investigators say Bret Warren of Casselberry charged with voter fraud Police report: DNA, fingerprints linked Warren to ballots Bret Warren of Casselberry, Fla., is being held on a charge of submitting false voter registration or information. According to an Altamonte Springs Police report, several homeowners on Spring Valley Lane in October 2016 reported to authorities that their absentee ballots had been stolen from their mailboxes. The Seminole County Supervisor of Elections Office said it had received completed ballots from the residents but urged them to fill out provisional ballots, police said. Meanwhile, the elections office submitted the original ballots suspected of being fraudulently filled out to the FBI for investigation. Envelopes that contained the original absentee ballots were turned over to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for DNA analysis, and the ballots were also analyzed for fingerprints. Investigators said a fingerprint matching Warren's was recovered from the absentee ballots in August 2017. Also, last month, an FDLE report said DNA from the envelopes was linked to a profile of Warren's, police said. When investigators went to Warren's Casselberry residence in January, they said he admitted that he used to live near the neighborhood where the absentee ballots disappeared. Warren was booked into the Seminole County jail on the warrant and several other charges. ORLANDO, Fla. -- Graduating seniors at the University of Central Florida had a unique opportunity to celebrate the big milestone with their family Wednesday night. Their culture played a huge part in the celebration. Soon-to-be Latino grads at UCF celebrate milestone 'Nuestra Graduacion' organized by Latino Faculty & Staff Assoc. Bilingual ceremony allowed students to celebrate w/ loved ones Buenas tardes y bienvenido a nuestra graduacion, announced Dr. Cyndia Muniz, Assistant Director of Hispanic Initiative at UCF, as she welcomed about 50 future graduates and their families at the UCF Live Oak Center. It's already been an emotional week for hundreds of graduating seniors at the UCF. Its been a long time coming, laughed Felix Sosa, whos finally graduating with a computer science degree after seven years in college. "This is a big milestone in my life," said Arleen Ramirez, graduating with her masters in music. Before they officially walk across the stage at graduation, a group of Hispanic soon-to-be graduates got a chance to celebrate the achievement in an intimate space. "I thought it was more meaningful. I think my heritage is very important to me; its been a big part of my identity," said Sosa of his Cuban descent. "I guess somehow we feel familiar with the culture, and language and everything," said Ramirez. For a second year in a row, UCF's Latino Faculty & Staff Association organized what they call Nuestra Graduacion. "It has a Latino flavor, if you will," Muniz said. Future graduates had a chance to celebrate with their families in a bilingual symbolic ceremony where they received a special medallion for their efforts, and got to share this moment with their loved ones. "They have been with me all the way. They have been my supporters. If it wasn't for them, I would have not been able to make it, Ramirez said. UCF's official commencement ceremonies begin this Thursday. MELBOURNE, Fla. -- A man fleeing from law enforcement in a stolen pickup truck crashed into a house in Brevard County on Wednesday night, Melbourne Police say. No one hurt when pickup truck crashed into house People in the home have to live somewhere else Police say Jerrell Brown Jr. stole pickup truck Brown faces various charges Jerrell Brown Jr. is facing a list of charges after police say he stole a white Ford F-150 pickup truck, Lt. Shawn Eising said. At about 9:40 p.m., Melbourne Police officers tried to stop the pickup truck, which was reported stolen from Palm Bay, Eising said. The 46-year-old Brown drove southbound on Lipscomb Street, where police tried to do a traffic stop. Brown avoided the stop sticks placed at the intersection of Lipscomb Street and University Boulevard, Eising said. Brown then tried to make a right turn onto Juniper Lane but was going too fast, lost control of the pickup truck and crashed into the home, police said. Family members of the residents at the home said 2 people were in the house when the truck plowed through the front door. No one was hurt. (Courtesy of LaShaunda Edwards) Brown escaped from the pickup truck but was caught by police, Eising said. According to the family and police, the home is uninhabitable. The two people inside will have to find somewhere else to live for now. Brown faces a slew of charges, including reckless driving, driving with a suspended license and drug possession. BERLIN The Board of Finance has asked the mayor and Town Council for input on budget cuts and requested council members attend the finance board meeting next week. We think it would be best if the two boards can come together, said finance board Chairperson Sam Lomaglio. We feel its better government this way. Lomaglio hopes working with the council will help the finance board create a budget acceptable to voters, preferably one without cuts to personnel or core services. Were getting there, I appreciate them looking at it hard, said Mayor Mark Kaczynski. He said he would be willing to attend Tuesdays finance board meeting and has been speaking with finance board members. They sent us a clear message, Lomaglio said of last months budget referendum, where 63.4 percent of voters said the general budget is too high. We answered that message, we cut over one million dollars from that budget. The cuts being discussed will affect every department, Lomaglio said, including $50,000 from the police overtime account and $100,000 from the Visiting Nurse Association. The cuts are very deep, he said. As of Thursday, the finance board had reduced the budget to where it can be sustained with a mill rate increase of 1.13, according to board member Sal Bordonaro, down from the 1.6 mill hike included in the rejected budget. We took a pretty good chunk of money out, Bordonaro said. Thats getting down there, I would think that somewhere close to a mill would be in the range of what I think would be a pretty significant reduction, Kaczynski said. He expects capital projects will be cut the most. The finance board has not yet made cuts to the Board of Education budget. Kaczynski and Bordonaro said they believe theyre obligated to reduce school spending after 60.1 percent of referendum voters said the boards budget is too high. Its not easy for anybody to have to do it, but the voters spoke and we have to try to implement what they asked for, Kaczynski said. dleithyessian@record-journal.com 203-317-2317 Twitter: @leith_yessian MERIDEN Instead of sprawling landscapes, the first thing hikers Will Roman and Daisy Alicea noticed after reaching the top of Castle Craig Wednesday was bright orange spray paint. Its depressing to see, Roman said. You come up there to see a nice little view and then you see this. Scrawled on the stone at the top of the historic observation tower were I (heart) U Rebecca, in orange spray paint and 2018-19 and FT, in black. Police were not aware of the graffiti when reached by phone Wednesday afternoon, but sent an officer to investigate. Police spokesman Sgt. Christopher Fry said catching the perpetrators could be difficult. If we dont have any witnesses or anyone who can shed some light on this, its going to be very difficult to find out who did it, Fry said. Well have a tough time identifying any suspects. Anyone with information is asked to call the police department at 203-630-6201. ltauss@record-journal.com 203-317-2231 Twitter: @LeighTaussRJ MERIDEN The phone rang steadily in Robert Peters office Tuesday and Wednesday with calls from concerned residents wanting to know if their drinking water was safe. Peter is the citys water and wasterwater superintendent and he notified nearly one-third of city residents that their drinking water had been contaminated for several months. They are not used to us receiving a violation, Peter said at his office on Evansville Drive. They want to know if you can drink the water. Its a contaminant that can cause a chronic health problem. You might have a health problem if its long term if youre drinking a lot of it for a long duration. Ive been drinking it. I fill my water bottle with it, I drink it in my coffee. The citys drinking water violated the maximum contamination level of haloacetic acids in certain areas from January to March, although Peter said a March 12 test revealed the levels returned to below the accepted level. The problem occurred because the Evansville Treatment Plant was shut down for repairs, leaving the Broad Brook Treatment Plant to service the city. After identifying the problems, the water department repaired a chemical feeding line that was pumping chlorine up Johnson Avenue. Chlorine is used to disinfect the water supply to prevent people from getting sick. After repairing a well and replacing filters, the Evansville plant went back on line Wednesday, Peter said. The state Department of Public Health called it a Tier 2 violation that required notification within 30 days, beginning at the end of the reporting period, to affected residents. More than 17,000 letters were mailed to households on the citys west side on April 24 notifying people about the violation and the corrective action the department took to remedy the situation. The letters and the dates of the violation alarmed residents who feared for the safety of their families and their pets. Why couldnt they notify us sooner? asked Ryan Price, a hydration specialist who tests water regularly for clients and sells water filters. Im pretty sure they were aware this was going on three months ago. We want answers why didnt they let us know. They could have put out of alert. Price said he notified the city recently that its fluoride levels were high, as were lead levels in certain parts of the city, but he wasnt taken seriously. Since the letters arrived, hes heard from people with sick relatives and pets wondering if the drinking water was to blame. He started a Facebook page Meriden CT Water (Drink at Your Own Risk) to allow people to seek and share information. Im so enraged because I know what it does to people, Price said. People telling me animals are sick, wondered about water, family members are sick, people hospitalized. Im very concerned for peoples health. Price plans to address the City Council about the issue when it meets Monday. Peter defended the departments action, saying he followed the DPH guidelines about reporting and issuing notifications. Drinking it instantaneously isnt going to get you sick, its not like a bacteria, or a protozoa thats going to make you sick, Peter said. You have to consume this for a while before it causes harm. If the problem had not been quickly corrected, the department had the ability to shut the plant down and find another water source, Peter said. City residents also stated drinking water violations are not acceptable given the recent increases in water and sewer bills. Last year, the City Council approved a 14.8 percent increase in the average residential familys combined water and sewer bills. The rate increases were needed to fund a $47 million upgrade to the citys water treatment plant that would lower phosphorus levels discharged into the Quinnipiac River, as required by the federal government. In March, the water and sewer division sought an additional 6 percent increase to begin in the fall. Department officials said other than infrastructure projects and increases to insurance to, the department budget has been flat. Unlike other city departments, the water and sewer divisions use revenue from user fees to cover operational expenses and infrastructure improvements. Several recent improvements include the work at the Evansville well, installing a dissolved air system online at the Broad Brook treatment plant, and redeveloping the wells at Platt High School and Columbus Street, Peter said. The citys Public Health Department has also been receiving phone calls since the notices were mailed. Executive Director Lea Crown said that while the state monitors the drinking water, she has confidence in the city water staff and Public Utilities Director Dennis Waz. I trust Dennis' judgement and his staff's expertise in keeping our local water system safe, and their timeliness of correcting any contaminant levels that need to be addressed, Crown said. mgodin@record-journal.com 203-317-2255 Twitter: @Cconnbiz SOUTHINGTON A ceremony was held at the police department Wednesday to commemorate the dedication of the Interstate 84 West Street overpass in honor of the late Detective Bruce Boislard. Boislard, a 25-year veteran of the Southington Police Department, died in 2007 after a battle with cancer. He was born in Biddeford, Maine, in 1955 and moved to Southington during his childhood. He graduated from Southington High School in 1973, and joined the force in 1982, working with the patrol division, detective division, with the Drug Enforcement Agency and the Statewide Narcotics Task Force. The ceremony was attended by current and retired members of the police and fire departments, family members and town officials. He led by example, Police Chief Jack Daly said of Boislard. He was taken away too young. This is a great tribute. He deserved it. Deputy Chief William Palmieri said Boislard had a caring demeanor. John DeMello, a retired Cheshire police officer, said he knew Boislard well and still thinks of him when DeMello drives through Boislards hometown in Maine. Bruce was a cops cop, DeMello said. That is a very special saying. Boislards son, Nate Boislard, his two daughters, Jocelyn Alia and Meghan DeFilippo, his wife, Sue, and six grandchildren were present for the ceremony. Nate Boislard, a Southington police sergeant, remembers his father as an officer people would look to for answers. It was nice having an outside perspective of the family and seeing how hes impacted so many people in the community in general, Nate Boislard said. Alia, a teacher at Thalberg School, said the bridge dedication will be a nice way to say hello to her father when she drives by the sign. Sue Boislard said the ceremony was a good way to acknowledge the amazing person his family always knew him to be. He would do anything for anybody, Sue Boislard said. He was the one who gave of himself without a second thought. He was always there for his family and the community. WALLINGFORD Recent environmental reviews of the rare sand barren habitat on Allnex USAs property found several state-listed insect species, a classification that includes endangered, protected, and species of special concern classifications. The reviews found no state-listed plant species, though. Developer Rusty Rogers, who wants to excavate sand from the site and build a 230,000-square-foot warehouse, commissioned two environmental reviews as part of his application to the towns Planning and Zoning Commission. Rogers is in talks with Allnex to purchase 25 acres of undeveloped land in the southeast corner of Allnexs property, located at 10-20 Toelles Road. Because the site includes two rare and critical habits a sand barren and dry acidic forest and is also believed to contain several state-listed wildlife species, environmental advocates have strongly contested the application, writing in testimony to the PZC that excavating sand from the property would impact the species. Rogers commissioned two separate environmental reviews to study the presence of plant and insect species that the states Department of Energy and Environmental Protection lists as endangered, threatened or of special concern. Laura Saucier, a wildlife biologist at DEEP, said in written testimony to the PZC that the site hosts rare communities and state-listed species. An insect survey commissioned by Rogers last year found five state-listed species of insects, including one moth species listed as threatened and four species, three moth and one beetle, considered species of special concern. Another review focusing on rare species of plants found no plants that are currently listed in Connecticut as endangered, threatened, (or) special concern. Joan Molloy, the attorney representing Rogers for the application, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The environmental reviews were recently submitted to the town at the request of the Planning and Zoning Commission. Molloy initially declined to submit the environmental reviews into the record when asked to do so by the Town Planner, according to town Environmental Planner Erin OHare. The insect review was performed from May 2017 to October 2017 by Tanner Matson, a masters student in the University of Connecticuts ecology and evolutionary biology program. DEEP defines species of special concern as having a naturally restricted range or habitat in the state, to be at a low population level, to be in such high demand by man that its unregulated taking would be detrimental to the conservation of its population or has been extirpated from the state. The plant survey was performed by consulting botanist William Moorehead and found no plants that are currently listed in Connecticut as endangered, threatened, (or) special concern. In a report on his findings dated Nov. 8, Moorehead wrote that, in addition to specifically looking for three plant species listed by DEEP, he compiled an expanded list of 52 rare species that might reasonably be expected to occur on the site, based on their known habitat. OHare, who read the report this week, noted that the area Moorehead said he studied was only 21 acres and did not cover the entire site. OHare said its possible that state-listed plants could be on the portion of the property Moorehead did not study. OHare also noted that a portion of the sandplain habitat on Allnexs property, about 25 percent, isnt located within the 25-acre site Rogers is looking to develop. She also argued that the rare habitats on the site hold value regardless of whether state-listed species are found. Just because you dont find those species that were found several years ago...doesnt mean that the property cannot support these species, OHare said. Moorhead noted in his report that the lack of state-listed plants on the site does not appear to be due to a lack of suitable habitat. Charles Strasser, a director-at-large with the Connecticut Botanical Society, believes its important to keep in mind that several state-listed plant species could be reintroduced to the site given the habitats potential. They keep focusing on whats there, and they dont want the public to understand the potential of this parcel if you ecologically took care of it, Strasser said. Because DEEPs natural diversity database, which maps approximate locations of state-listed species, identifies the 25-acre site as having state-listed species, the applicant is required to receive a permit from DEEP for the excavation and construction phases of the project. The applicant recently submitted to the town a list of DEEP permits that the project will require. Hand asked the applicant last month to provide her with the list because town officials were unclear on DEEPs oversight for the project. The project will also require permitting related to storm water and wastewater discharge. The Planning and Zoning Commission is expected to discuss the project application at a meeting on May 14 at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. mzabierek@record-journal.com 203-317-2279 Twitter: @MatthewZabierek WALLINGFORD At a time when the country seems torn by division, town leaders, clergy and members of the public spoke out Thursday about the need for unity. We need to be the light in our community, said Catherine Yaghsizian, who organized the event at White Baptist Church to honor National Day of Prayer. We pray for those in positions of power so we can achieve that unity of the spirit in that bond of peace. Members of various faiths and town leaders lead the prayer service, which was part of the 40th Day of Prayer. Federal and state law decrees the first Thursday in May as National Day of Prayer. Across the country, services were held in churches, synagogues, public squares, parks and other public places Thursdays theme was unity in America, and local speakers offered prayers to state, local and federal government leaders in a search for wisdom and guidance. Prayers were also offered for past and present members of the military, the media arts, business, education, church, and family. Craig Turner, director of Wallingford Youth Services, touched on the need to pray for those providing services to the many people in need of assistance with substance abuse and keeping their families together. He also prayed for first responders, whose jobs have become more difficult in recent times. Some are more challenging and overwhelming and beyond the scope of human ability, Turner said. They need strength from sources stronger than us. Mayor William W. Dickinson Jr. read a proclamation from Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. Dickinson also spoke of the inalienable rights granted to all by their creator. These are rights that come from their creator, that is essential, Dickinson said. That started a revolution. Talk with your creator about his plan for your talents and values. This is praying. This is the most important thing you can do. Some of the speakers highlighted issues in the national spotlight. Robin Min prayed for education, schools, teachers and students. In a time when our schools are targets...please keep them safe, Min said. You are a protector. Maria Harlow, executive director of the Spanish Community of Wallingford, prayed for the need to welcome migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. They have made a very difficult and dangerous journey, Harlow said. Banish fear from our hearts. Embrace their children. Colleen Linaberry offered prayers for the media, journalists, producers, and creators of television, movies and video games. There is a battle going on for the heart of the media, Linaberry said. Pray journalists do their best to bring lightness to dark. There were also prayers for those in the federal government, national and state leaders. We pray the federal government to preserve our Democracy, peace, enlightenment and hope, Yaghsizian said. How important it is to keep these servants and leaders in our prayers. mgodin@record-journal.com 203-317-2255 Twitter: @Cconnbiz National Geographic WILD is home to a big family of animal caretakers and rescuers. In these special episodes, check out how the Men of WILD are helping all kinds of creatures one case at a time. Fridays from 8:30pm AEDT. Sign up to receive the First Reading newsletter, your guide to the world of Canadian politics. First Reading is your guide to the world of Canadian politics. Sign up now> Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Leaving a trail of death and heavy destruction, rains and thunderstorm claimed around 70 lives and injured around 80 persons across Uttar Pradesh, especially Agra division and a few western districts, on late Wednesday night. Around 43 lives were lost alone in Agra district where 51 persons sustained injuries during the squall. While the toll was expected to rise further, the state met department, on Thursday, predicted the possibility of another spell of a thunderstorm and gusty winds in many parts of the state in next 36 hours. The district magistrates of areas where more rain is expected have been put on high alert. Besides Agra, three persons died each in Bijnore in western UP and Kanpur Dehat in central. Two persons succumbed in each in Saharanpur, Kanpur Nagar, Mirzapur and Hamirpur while one each died in Bareilly, Pilibhit, Chitrakoot, Rae Bareli and Unnao, Mathura, Amroha, Banda, Sitapur, Sambhal, Etawh, Allahabad and Rampur. There was a loss of over 155 livestock reported from the state. Taking cognizance of the destruction and loss of life, Chief minister Yogi Adityanath, who is on Karnataka campaign trail till Friday, directed the district magistrates of the badly hit districts to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing and provide the relief to affected people within 24 hours. State revenue and relief commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Sharma claimed that the state government had decided to give a financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh each to the next kin of deceased, Rs 13, 000 and free of cost treatment to those injured. Moreover, those who lost the livestock and crops would be given up to Rs 30,000 as compensation. The relief commissioner said that the DMs and divisional commissioners were asked to ensure distribution of relief within 24 hours across 10 worst-hit districts. Meanwhile, Agra DM, who was under fire for not taking adequate measures to handle the situation even while there were several alerts and warnings issued in advance, claimed that in his district about 33 per cent of the standing crop was destroyed. He even demanded Rs 3 crore from the state government to make up the losses due to squall which lasted for 90 minutes. Power supply and train traffic were affected after a number of trees were uprooted across the state and walls collapsed because of the high-velocity winds which were blowing at a speed of 132 km per hour. The administration was in the process of assessing the quantum of loss caused to the standing crops across the state following the weather unrest. By Express News Service KOLKATA: A Special Task Force team of the Kolkata Police has nabbed a high profile Nepalese Maoist leader who is suspected to be the mastermind of the low-intensity blast near Indian Consulate in Nepals Biratnagar on April 16. The arrest gains significance before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Nepal this month. Accused Suresh Kumar Rai alias Sagar Rai (62) is a district level leader of CPN (ML) Red Star (Biplab Group) at Morangtanki Sinwari of Nepal's Semoa and fled to Raiganj in north Bengal and then to Kolkata after the blasts. He was nabbed from Delhi. READ: Bomb explodes near Indian Embassy in Nepal The Maoist is suspected to have links with CPI (ML) Red Star which is spearheading the Bhangar anti-power grid agitation in South 24 Parganas district. STF sources revealed that members of the the Indian wing of Red Star are likely to be summoned for questioning in connection with suspected links with Sagar Rai. The Bilpab group of CPN (ML) Red Star is also suspected to be behind the blast at Arun III hydroelectric power station in Tumlingtar on April 29, where Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to visit, an STF source said. "The two blasts are suspected to be conducted in protest against our Prime Minister's visit," the source added. Both the blasts damaged the compound walls of the consulate and the power station office respectively. However, none were hurt in the blasts. Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa attended celebrations of 50th anniversary of establishment of APEMH Foundation (Association des Parents d'Enfants Mentalement Handicapes), held at Bettange Castle in Luxembourg. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide good living, education and social integration conditions for the persons with disabilities but also help consultancy for the families around them. This morning, before setting out on her journey to Seattle, USA, Crown Princess Mary of Denmark attended Equal Opportunities conference at Copenhagen Eigtveds Pakhus Conference Center. That conference is an international conference and held by the Council of Europe for the purpose of initiating Social Gender Equality Strategy 2018-2023. The Crown Princess gave a speech at the conference. In 2018, Denmark is the president of Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. Skatepark Location Finally Approved After two-plus decades of study, the dreams of skateboarding enthusiasts in Newport, RI to build their own skatepark became a real possibility after the City Council voted 4-2 to develop... Temple Shalom Celebrates Its 60th Anniversary This year marks the 60th anniversary of Middletown, RIs Temple Shalom. In 1961, the Jewish community united around forming a conservative congregation on Aquidneck Island, and by the High Holidays,... Purgatory Road Project Taking Shape The Middletown Planning Department has released preliminary blueprints for the proposed Purgatory Road sidewalk installation that will connect Aquidneck Avenue to the existing walking path leading to Second Beach. The... First Beach: What Goes or Stays? In the Executive Summary of the Eastons Beach 45-page report, it states DBVW Architects and Yoder + Tidwell, structural engineers, conducted inspecitons of the rotunda, carousel building and the snack... I am a retired newspaperman. I live in Poca, WV, with my wife of 43 years, Lou Ann. I grew up in Cleveland. Three kids. Grandfather. Report all errors to DonSurber@GMail.com Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy with occasional showers this afternoon. High around 75F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Variable clouds with showers and scattered thunderstorms. Storms more numerous this evening. Low 63F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. The Government is studying the feasibility of introducing a tax on vacant first-hand private residential properties. Chief Executive Carrie Lam made the statement during a Legislative Council question and answer session today, saying the vacancy tax will help release residential units into the market to increase supply. Mrs Lam said the Government will consider the rationale, feasibility and the public response comprehensively before deciding on the matter. She added there is no plan to introduce a capital gains tax on residential properties owned by non-Hong Kong residents. It is important to maintain Hong Kong's simple and low tax regime to remain competitive, she said. UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount Google Ad Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. "The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer Generation A 13 your chance to be the change President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev "uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan Google Ad UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN Joint statement Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT COVID19:77 new cases Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say Within 2 Days, His Dad and His Son Were Dead of COVID (Newser) Feel like getting away on the open sea for a long while? Get yourself a boat and head to Pakistan's coastal town of Sonmiani. From there, you can embark on the longest sailable straight line possible, reaching Russia's Karaginsky District some 19,940 miles away, according to researchers. Rohan Chabukswar of Ireland's United Technologies Research Center tells LiveScience he loves solving "particularly fun" puzzles with his colleague, Kushal Mukherjee, and the pair "took it as a challenge" when they came across a 2012 Reddit post claiming the longest straight-line path over water was one from Pakistan to Russia. After developing their own algorithm, they confirmed Patrick Anderson's theory was right, reports MIT Technology Review. story continues below While Anderson had used Wikipedia data to trace a path that originated in Pakistan, went between mainland Africa and Madagascar, and continued between Antarctica and the southern tip of South America before reaching Russia, Chabukswar and Mukherjee wanted to be more precise, which meant examining some 5 trillion points on Earth, per Smithsonian. To do this, they created a "branch-and-bound" algorithm that "returned the longest path in about 10 minutes," according to their study uploaded to arXiv. On a flat map, the path appears to curve, though it's in fact straight when visualized on a globe. For fun, the researchers also used the algorithm to find the longest straight-line route over land without hitting water. It's a 6,985-mile path starting in China and ending in Portugal. (Read about one of the worst sailing disasters in US history.) (Newser) The Charles Koch Foundation donated millions to George Mason University, and newly released documents reveal that in exchange, the conservative foundation was granted some influence over the hiring and firing of professors. After the revelation, the president of the university ordered an inquiry into the school's gift acceptance policy, the New York Times reports. "Given the discovery of problematic gift agreements ... I have requested a thorough review of all active donor agreements supporting faculty positions throughout the university to ensure that they do not grant donors undue influence in academic matters," Angel Cabrera wrote in an email to faculty and staff Monday night, per the Washington Post. Though he did not specifically name the Koch donations in the email, a university spokesman confirms to the Times that's what he was referencing. story continues below Per the AP, the documents reveal agreements in which the Koch Foundation endowed"a fund to pay the salary of one or more professors at the university's Mercatus Center, a free-market think tank," and got the right to name two of the five members of each selection committee to choose the professors. The foundation reportedly had similar rights when it came to the committees formed to recommend a professor's dismissal. The documents were obtained after the group UnKoch My Campus filed a Freedom of Information Act Request. After the news broke, the Koch Foundation released a statement downplaying its influence and noting its current grant agreements do not include the same provisions. Cabrera also noted that all the agreements in question, which were made between 2003 and 2011, had expired except one, which has now been voided. (Read more George Mason University stories.) (Newser) When Keziah Daum first saw in a vintage shop the red dress she ended up wearing to prom, she appreciated its elegance and "knew it was the one," she tells ABC News. Some research into the dress revealed it was a symbol of female empowerment and reinforced her decision. Daum then posted pictures on Twitter last month of herself wearing it to the event, and that's when things got messy for the 18-year-old Utah senior. A man IDed by BuzzFeed as 20-year-old University of Utah student Jeremy Lam, tore into Daum with his own tweet: "My culture is NOT your god---- prom dress." Daum's dress: a qipao, or cheongsam, a traditional Chinese dress that has some calling her out for cultural appropriation and what they say are offensive poses. "There's a long history behind the dress and white people are not a part of it," one commenter noted. story continues below But not everyone agrees Daum should be slammedincluding some observers in China, per the New York Times. "To Chinese, it's not sacred and it's not that meaningful," one Beijing blogger says. Others note the qipao's history (CNN has more on that) shows the dress may have been appropriated itself in China: A majority Chinese ethnic group appears to have adopted it from a minority one, and it was originally a baggy outfit worn by men; today, the skintight version is mostly worn by waitstaff and flight attendants or to fancy events like weddings. Lam tells BuzzFeed he's now being harassed after online sleuths found past tweets in which he used racially tinged language, which he's apologized for. As for Daum, she's not backing down. "I'm not deleting my post because I've done nothing but show my love for the culture," she said in a tweet. "It's a f---ing dress. And it's beautiful." (Read more cultural appropriation stories.) (Newser) Las Vegas police have released body cam footage from officers who stormed gunman Stephen Paddock's Mandalay Bay hotel suite on Oct. 1. The videos are graphic, a word used by Sheriff Joe Lombardo Tuesday in describing the release of what the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports is a total of about 160 minutes of footage: "We believe the release of the graphic footage will further traumatize a wounded community, and for that, we apologize," he said, per CNN. Police had resisted release of the records, arguing that they had scant funds and resources to carry out the request and citing potential trauma to survivors and victims' family members. story continues below The Nevada Supreme Court on Friday ruled that the video had to be released, and the Review-Journal notes the footage gives the public its first view into how officers handled that night. It captures the officers' tension as they wait. "Breach, breach, breach," can be heard, followed by the explosion that blew open Paddock's door. An alarm sounds; the group remains calm and shows no emotion. As they move forward, they're heard identifying a camera, spotting a rifle, and saying they're going to check under the bed. Officer Levi Hancock entered the suite first but his body camera was off, meaning the initial moments in the room aren't viewable. The footage was taken by two K-9 officers who entered the room shortly after Hancock, and after Paddock's body had been discovered. (Read more Las Vegas shooting stories.) (Newser) Police in Calgary have ruled out foul play in a gruesome find behind a wall of a mall bathroombut there are still some unanswered questions. Police say a man in his 20s died after climbing inside the wall of a women's bathroom and becoming stuck, but they're not sure why he decided to enter the wall in the first place, the CBC reports. The "pony wall," used to hide utilities, is not connected to the ceiling but has a vent cover on top, which the man removed before climbing in. Police say the man climbed in the wall Friday evening after entering the food court bathroom alone. His body was discovered Monday morning by a maintenance worker investigating why the toilet in front of the wall wouldn't flush. story continues below Investigators say there were no other access points through which the man could have entered the wall, which is more than six feet high. Police say the man's family was notified after an autopsy was completed Wednesday, but they are not releasing his identity because the death has been ruled accidental, the Calgary Herald reports. The exact cause and time of death have also not been disclosed. "The victim's motivation for crawling inside the wall is unknown at this time," police said. A spokesperson for the Core Shopping Center says the employee who found the body is a mall employee who has been offered counseling and time off "to deal with whatever he may be going through." (Read more Calgary stories.) (Newser) North Korea may be preparing to hand President Trump a major diplomatic victory ahead of his summit with Kim Jong Un, according to a South Korean activist with contacts north of the border. South Korean reports have quoted Choi Sung-ryong as saying three detained Americans have been shifted from labor camps to a hotel near Pyongyang in what appears to be preparation for their release, reports Reuters. North Korea and the US "seem to have decided on a date to release these people," according to Choi, who said they were moved weeks ago. The State Department said it "cannot confirm the validity of these reports," but they are working to see detained Americans "come home as soon as possible." story continues below "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump tweeted Wednesday. The three detained Americans are Kim Dong Chul, a pastor who was sentenced to 10 years with hard labor in 2016; Tony Kim, a Pyongyang University of Science and Technology professor detained as he tried to fly out of Pyongyang a year ago; and Kim Hak Song, a fellow professor arrested a week after Tony Kim was detained. According to Choi, Pyongyang plans to release the three men as a gesture of goodwill, and they are now receiving good food and medical care, the BBC reports. (Read more North Korea stories.) (Newser) The Pacific nation of Vanuatu is preparing to permanently evacuate the entire population of one of its islands as thick ash spewing from a volcano kills crops, dirties water supplies, and fouls the air. The 10,000 or so people who remain on Ambae island have mixed feelings about the plans. Some who are badly affected by the ash are eager to leave while others are resisting losing their land and culture. The 154-square mile island was temporarily evacuated last September when the eruption cycle began. This time, authorities are planning a permanent move. Government spokesman Hilaire Bule tells the AP he expects the Council of Ministers to approve a relocation plan in which the islanders will be offered residence on two neighboring islands. "It's not an easy decision," he says. story continues below Brad Scott, a New Zealand volcanologist who has been seconded to help Vanuatu authorities, says more than one-quarter of Ambae has been severely impacted, with many traditional thatch roofs collapsing under the weight of the thick ash. He says there is no way of predicting when the next explosive phase will begin. Many people have close family and spiritual ties to the islands where they'll be relocated, Maewo and Pentecost, Bule says. Traditional religion even has it that the islands are part of a familyPentecost being the mother, Maewo the father, and Ambae the son. Asked if there was a chance that the residents might be able to one day move back to the island, Bule said that was not a question for him. "We don't know," he said. "You'll have to ask the volcano." (Read more Vanuatu stories.) (Newser) Students at the University of North Carolina were out celebrating the end of classes Tuesday. But by 10:30pm, the revelry turned to tragedy on a party bus moving through the streets of Charlotte, NC. Police say UNC Charlotte student Polly Rogers died when she fell out of a bus window and was struck by two cars. "The cars hit her before [other passengers] could even get the bus driver to stop," the father of one student tells WSOC. He says his son told him Rogers, a 20-year-old Zeta Tau Alpha sorority member studying special education, leaned against an emergency exit window with a broken latch. The owner of Charlotte Party Charters disagrees. Describing this as "one of the worst times of my life," Victor Rabb says "one of the kids on the bus opened the emergency window and the lady fell out." story continues below Police, who say speed was not a factor, have yet to comment on how the incident unfolded after the bus departed UNC Charlotte and headed toward a bar with 55 to 60 people on board, per WBTV and the Charlotte Observer, though alcohol will be a focus of the investigation. Before it was taken down Wednesday, a website for Charlotte Party Charters, which faced previous alcohol violations, noted alcohol is allowed on buses if all riders are at least 21, per WSOC. But though its terms of service state the person renting the bus will be held responsible for underage drinking, an Alcohol Law Enforcement agent says the bus driver is actually in charge. A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help with memorial costs. (Read more bus accident stories.) (Newser) Hawaii looks poised to become a world leader in the fight to protect coral reefs with a move that could leave sunscreen brands feeling the heat. A bill banning non-prescription sunscreens containing two chemicals believed to cause coral bleaching easily passed Hawaii's legislature Tuesdaythere were just four votes against it in the Housemeaning it now goes to Gov. David Ige's desk, reports NPR. If Ige signs the bill, Hawaii will become the first US state to impose a law banning oxybenzone and octinoxate, to take effect in 2021, reports the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. State Sen. Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill, says it would also be "a first-in-the-world law." And "our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow." story continues below As oxybenzone and octinoxate are found in more than 3,500 sunscreen products, including from brands Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone, and Banana Boat, critics fear a ban will encourage people to go without, increasing instances of skin cancer, per NPR and USA Today. But there are plenty of all-natural, Hawaiian-made sunscreens tourists can choose from, reports Outside. It quotes ecotoxicologist Craig Downs, who found 29,000 nanongrams of oxybenzone per liter of seawater at Oahu's Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve in 2017. "Anything above basically 50 nanograms per liter ... can induce toxicity in a variety of marine organisms," he says. A 2015 study cited by NPR notes oxybenzone "leaches the coral of its nutrients" and can "disrupt the development of fish and other wildlife." (Read more Hawaii stories.) (Newser) In the wake of his conviction for sexual assault, we've heard from Bill Cosby and the women who've accused him. Now Camille Cosby, who's been married to the disgraced comedian for almost 55 years, is taking her turn at the podium, via a statement released Thursday that calls what happened to her husband "mob justice," per Deadline. Taking aim at the media, accuser Andrea Constand, and Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, among others, Camille Cosby blasts the "frenzied, relentless demonization" of her husband and "unproven accusations [that] evolved into lynch mobs," which led to a series of inconvenient and embarrassing consequences for the Cosbys (she mentions show cancellations, a "vindictive attempt" to shut down their exhibit at the Smithsonian, and the rescinding of honorary degrees). story continues below Cosby goes on to compare her husband's trial to that of Emmett Till ("Since when are all accusers truthful?") and says she wants a criminal probe into Steele, whose office she says ran an "unethical campaign." She also tries to appeal to the readers' patriotism, noting "if they can do this to Mr. Cosby, they can do so to anyone." "How much longer will we, the majority of the people, tolerate judicial, executive, legislative, media, and corporate abuses of power?," she continues. "We, the majority of the people, must make America what it has declared itself to be a democracy not to be destroyed by vicious, lying, self-absorbed paradigms of evilness. This is mob justice, not real justice. This tragedy must be undone not just for Bill Cosby, but for the country." Read more from Camille Cosby's scathing statement here. (Read more Bill Cosby stories.) (Newser) Are seniors having sex? The survey says yes. A new national study of 1,002 adults ages 65 to 80 has found that although frequency of sex declines with age and illness, many are still having sex and most older adults are happy with their sex lives. Investigators at the University of Michigan conducted the National Poll on Healthy Aging in late 2017 with funding from AARP. Among the findings reported in Time and USA Today: Overall, 40% of seniors report being sexually active Overall, 31% of the women and 51% of the men said they were sexually active 46% of respondents age 65 to 70 reported being sexually active 39% of respondents age 71 to 75 reported being sexually active 25% of respondents age 76 to 80 reported being sexually active story continues below 76% overall say that sex is an important part of a romantic relationship at any age 65% overall are interested in sex 50% of men, but just 12% of women described themselves as very or extremely interested in sex 54% overall say that sex adds to quality of life 18% of men and 3% of women had used medications to boost sexual functioning The survey also revealed areas in need of improvement. In the last two years, only 17% of respondents reported discussing their sexual health with their doctor or medical provider. In the report, the authors recommend that providers encourage more older adults to do so. "Sex is an important part of the lives of older people and a part that probably doesnt get the attention it deserves, sociologist Erica Solway, associate director of the poll, tells USA Today. (Read more sex survey stories.) (Newser) The chilling story of Sandra Bullocks convicted stalker has come to a dramatic close. Joshua James Corbett, who was convicted of breaking into Bullocks home in 2014, killed himself Wednesday in his La Crescenta, Calif., home during a five-hour standoff with police, USA Today reports. Corbett, 42, barricaded himself in his home around 7am after officers arrived with an arrest warrant related to the Bullock case. A SWAT team was called in after threats of violence, according to a police spokesperson. When the police eventually stormed the house, they found Corbett dead of "self-inflicted injuries" from a "sharp object," the spokesperson says. story continues below Corbetts conviction came after he broke into the Oscar-winning actress home as she hid in a closet. He was inside her house when police arrived. After that incident, police found a cache of weapons in his home. Corbett's lawyer tells the AP the warrant was being served because Corbett missed a court date last month for a progress report hearing related to his probation in the Bullock case. "He was due for a progress report and he just didn't want to go to court," the attorney says. "It's a very sad situation." (Read more Sandra Bullock stories.) Professional ministers of Republican party to remain in government (video) There was no discussion of a position, no bargaining till now and there is no at the moment. Ararat Mirzoyan, member of the Yelk (Way out) faction, recalls that he called for solidarity and stated that there was no bargaining. "In honor of the Tsarukyan bloc, ARF faction, Yelk faction, and Civil Contract party, these messages are all well understood. There was no discussion of any position, no bargaining till now and there is no at the moment," said Ararat Mirzoyan. Ararat Mirzoyan urged not to hurry with the coalition issue but assured that the professional ministers of the Republican party would remain in the government, but did not give them names. (Newser) The Pentagon says the US has issued a formal complaint to China over the use of lasers near the military base in Djibouti that were directed at aircraft and resulted in minor injuries to two American pilots. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White says the US is confident that Chinese nationals are responsible for the use of the lasers, the AP reports. She says the incidents represent a serious threat to US airmen. She says the US has asked China to investigate the incidents. The Pentagon says reports from pilots indicate that on three occasions the lasers were military grade and came from the Chinese base nearby. The US has notified airmen to exercise caution when flying in that area. The Chinese recently built a base near Camp Lemonnier, the US base in Djibouti. (Read more US-China relations stories.) (Newser) Uproar ensued after Rev. Patrick Conroy, chaplain to the House of Representatives since 2011, submitted his resignation under pressure from House Speaker Paul Ryan last month. Now Conroy, who originally planned to step down May 24, has rescinded that resignation, submitting a new letter to Ryan stating that there was no cause for him to be removed from the position and he intends to continue in his role, CNN reports. "You may wish to outright fire me, if you have the authority to do so, but should you wish to terminate my services, it will be without my offer of resignation," the letter reads, per the Washington Post. In the letter, Conroy says that Ryan himself never confronted Conroy, but Ryan's chief of staff mentioned several reasons behind Ryan's request for Conroy's resignationincluding telling Conroy, "Maybe its time that we had a chaplain that wasnt a Catholic." story continues below Conroy says Ryan's chief of staff also mentioned a prayer Conroy delivered during the tax-cut debate in November that some thought implied he was siding with the Democrats (Conroy is a Jesuit priest, and the Jesuit community holds some liberal positions), as well as an interview Conroy gave to the National Journal in January. But, Conroy says in the letter, when questioned about Conroy's ouster, Ryan himself publicly stated it was because Conroy wasn't offering "adequate" pastoral services. "I have never been disciplined, nor reprimanded, nor have I ever heard a complaint about my ministry during my time as House chaplain," Conroy writes, but if that was the reason behind Ryan's request, he says he should have been offered a chance to correct the issue. Hours after the letter made headlines, Ryan released a statement saying Conroy would remain in his role and that the two will sit down together next week, the AP reports. (Read more House of Representatives stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region UCOM hosted interns of Russian CBOSS corporation for a month The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. "The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer Generation A 13 your chance to be the change President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev "uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan Google Ad UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN Joint statement Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT COVID19:77 new cases Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say New Delhi: Battle lines have been drawnA inA Karnataka ahead of the forthcoming Assembly elections scheduled onA May 12. As the election was approaching the southern state, both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) shifted their political gears and started campaigning more aggressively. While Rahul Gandhi is spearheading the Congressa campaign in Karnataka, the BJP has once again gone with its tried and tested aNarendra Modia formula. On Thursday, Prime Minister Modi will launch the third leg of BJPas campaigning and address three rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru. Rahul will lead the Congressa Jana Ashirwada YatraA and hold acorner meetingsa in Karnatakaas Bidar district. HIGHLIGHTS #02:35 PM: The unbecoming of a PM:A PM Modi has nothing to say about Karnataka and has no plans for the people of the state. This is why he resorts to personal attacks against me. His jibes are unbecoming of a PM. #02:30 PM: Reddy's are the new "gabbar": Rahul tooka jibe at Modi and said, "PM Modi plans to unleash his "Gabbar Singh gang" (Reddy bros) upon Karnataka." #02: 25 PM: Silence on Jay Shah: The Gandhi scion questionedA Modi's silence on the Nirav Modi scam and Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's "dubious deals". He said, "PM Modi neither speaks of the Chhota Modi scam nor does he speak of Jay Shah's dubious deals. He answers no questions on the scams perpetrated by his friends." #02:20 PM: The "Chhota Modi" jibe: The Congress president took a jibe at PM Modi voer demonetisation and said, "while the poor people of the country stood in queues and went through troubles post demonetisation, the likes of #ChhotaModi looted people's money and escaped." # 02:15 PM: DesperateA PM resorts toA personal attacks: Rahul said, "PM Modi resorts to personal attacks and character assassination when he's desperate. I never resort to personal attacks. Instead, I ask questions. Questions PM Modi doesn't answer." # 02:10 PM: BJP-RSSA polarising people: "The BJP-RSS duo doesn't care about Karnataka's aspirations, it only cares about polarising people to win elections," says Congress president. # 02:05 PM: Karnataka polls, a battle of ideologies: "This election is a contest between two ideologies. On one hand, there's Congress with its ideology of unity, compassion & an inclusive Karnataka while on the other, we have BJP-RSS with its ideology of hatred & division," says Rahul gandhi # 02:00 PM: Now, itsA Rahul Gandhi's turn. Congress President @RahulGandhi arrives to address a gathering at Aurad. pic.twitter.com/9QXciPNytO a Congress (@INCIndia) May 3, 2018 # 01:05 PM: Congress made a 'sin':A Congress sat over Swaminathan Commission recommendation to increase MSP for farmers. It's not expected of them to accept this sin but they can at least keep quiet, when our government has approved its implementation. # 01:00 PM: Modi again invokes nationalism:A Congress has no respect for the sacrifices of our soldiers. When our soldiers did surgical strikes, the shameless Congress party questioned the strikes. All they kept asking for proof. # 12:55 PM: Elect BJP to change people's lives:A This election is not only for changing the Congress govt. but for changing the fate of youth, women and farmers of Karnataka. When you go out to vote on 12 May, keep the better future of Karnataka in mind and vote for BJP. # 12:50 PM:A Congress ruined Karnataka in last five years: Launching a blistering attack on Congress, PM Modi said, "We have seen the state being ruined for five years and we will no longer allow the state to be ruined further. People are seeing that in all corners of India the Congress is being rejected." # 12:45 PM: PM Narendra Modi speaking at a rally in Kalaburagi:A Watch LIVE LIVE : PM Modi addresses public meeting at Kalaburagi, Karnataka. #NaavuModiJothe https://t.co/TRByn5RfKp a BJP (@BJP4India) May 3, 2018 # 10:35 AM:A Siddaramaiah holds no punches back, tweetsA PM Modias "insensitivity" towards farmers:A 1. I asked for farm loan waiver. PM refused; 2. I asked for intervention to solve Mahadayi issue. PM refused. 3. I asked for an increase in Disaster Relief Fund as Karnataka gets 1750 Crore and Maharashtra gets 8000 Crore. No reply from PM # 10:30 AM: PM Modi accuses Congress of ignoring Karnartaka's agriculture sector, Siddaramaiah hits back: Reacting to Modi's accusations, the Karnataka CM tweeted, "Really! This is rich coming from the you Mr. Prime Minister. I have spoken a lot about what we have done for the farmers. But I will repeat it in this thread. I will also talk about your insensitivity to farmers." 1. We are the only state that gives farm loans at zero % interest rate 2. We have waived Rs 8165 Cr. farm loans taken from cooperative societies. 22.50 lakh farmers benefited 3. We spend Rs 8000 Cr every year to give free assured power (7Hrs) to farmers 4. We have launched Direct Income Support program for 70 lakh dryland farmers. They get Rs 5000 to 10000 in their Bank account for growing crops 5. We have financed construction of two lakh farm ponds. 6. We have allocated 50,000 Cr in 5 years & spent 45,000 crores on irrigation. 7. We have given a bonus over MSP & procured lakhs of tons of Tur when prices fell 8. We have contributed 50% to the Fasal Beema Yojana & are the only state to have an IT system for direct cash transfer of insurance payment 9. We pioneered eMandi system & it is a model for GoI. 10. We do free (cashless) surgeries for farmers who are cooperative members. 11. We have set up Agri Machinery Hiring centres throughout the state. 12. We have built an excellent network of roads in the state. 13. We have added 5000 MW of power capacity in 5 years. #09: 45 AM: Rahul Gandhi blows the bugle for today Karnataka 'battle', tweets PM Modi's report card.A Mr Modias Report Card State: Karnataka Sub: Agriculture 1. Contribution to Cong State Govts 8,500 Cr Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs 2. PMas crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt insurance companies make huge profits. 3. No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F pic.twitter.com/SLJBE4cXWC a Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 3, 2018 #09:35 AM: Schedule of Rahul Gandhi in Karnataka today: Corner meetings in Bidar Day - 1 Itinerary of Congress President Shri @RahulGandhi's visit to Karnataka where he will be holding rallies & meetings in Bidar District. #CongressMathomme pic.twitter.com/s5pS8gnwei a Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) May 3, 2018 #09:30 AM: PM Modi's schedule for today:A Rallies, rallies and more rallies PM Shri @narendramodi will address public rallies in Karnatakaas Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru today. Watch LIVE at https://t.co/vpP0MInUi4. Listen LIVE speech by dialing 9345014501. @BJP4Karnataka #NaavuModiJothe pic.twitter.com/4s2WJrR5e6 a BJP (@BJP4India) May 3, 2018 #09:00 AM: Hello and welcome to the live updates ofA Karnataka Assembly Election 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday will take on each other in a fierce political battle. While Modi was pushing BJPas attempt to add another state in its kitty, Rahul was also sweating buckets to retain power in the only big state, his partyA Congress was left with. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invoked nationalism and accused the Congress of insulting Indian Army by questioning the authenticity of surgical strikes. While addressing a rally in Kalaburagi area of poll-bound Karnataka, Modi accused Congress president Rahul Gandhi of disrespecting the national song vande mataram. They (Congress) sought proof about the genuineness of the surgical strike. Bodies of Pakistani soldiers were carried on trucks, a newspaper said that...and they need proof. Should our soldiers go on such operations with a camera or a gun? he said. Seeking to appeal to patriotic sentiments of voters, the prime minister said that a Congress leader even called the Army chief a goonda (gangster) after the surgical strike. Modi said that it was in the nature of Congress party to forget national heroes like General (KS) Thimayya and General (KM) Cariappa, two legends of the Army, who hailed from Karnataka. Karnataka Election Updates: 'Desperate' PM resorts to personal attacks, says Rahul Gandhi Forgetting the national heroes, patriots and history is the nature of a family in the Congress. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and V K Krishna Menon insulted General (KS) Thimayya, who had to resign. They neglected General (K M) Cariappa, Modi said. The prime minister said that while the BJP approved the Swaminathan Commission recommendation, the Congress committed a sin by not sanctioning the commissions report to increase MSP for farmers. Congress sat over Swaminathan Commission recommendation to increase MSP for farmers. It's not expected of them to accept this sin but they can at least keep quiet, when our govt has approved its implementation, he said. New Delhi: The prestigious ceremony of the 65th National Film Awards is all set to be held in the national capital on Thursday in the presence of president Ram Nath Kovind, Information & Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and several others. President Kovind will be conferring the winners which were announced in last month by a 10 members jury headed by renowned filmmaker Shekhar Kapur.A The winners include late actress Sridevi who has won the best actress award posthumously for her performance in Mom along with late actor Vinod Khanna who will be honoured with Dadasaheb Phalke award, India's highest film honour.A While the winners have been ecstatic to for the coveted ceremony, the 65th National Film Awards got mired with a controversy after it was reported that President Ram Nath Kovind will be presenting the awards to 11 winners out of the 140 recipients. Reportedly, this last minute change was made owing to the President's busy schedule, he has been able to spare an hour for the ceremony. The reports suggest that the remaining awards will be presented by I&B Minister, Smriti Irani. Upset with this recent development, several National Award winners have reportedly threatened to boycott the ceremony. As the 65th National Film Awards are about to begin, we bring you all the live updates about the ceremony: 65th National Film Awards Highlights: #A President Ram Nath Kovind addresses the gathering and remembers Sridevi and Vinod Khanna in his speech #A Smriti Irani addresses the gathering after the awards have been distributed # Assamese movie Village Rockstars wins the Best Feature Film award at the 65th National Film Award from President Ram Nath Kovind #A Best Cinematography award goes to Nikhil S Praveen for an excellent photography in a difficult terrain in the Malayalam Film Bhayanakam # Boney Kapoor collects National award fromA President Ram Nath Kovind on behalf of his wife late actress Sridevi # Musician A R Rahman wins the National award for MOM # Akshay Khanna collects Dada Saheb Phalke Award from President Ram Nath Kovind on behalf of his father late actor Vinod Khanna. #PresidentKovind confers Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2017 to Late Vinod Khanna, who featured in as many as 146 films in a career spanning over 4 decades. He left behind a legacy that will stay etched in our memories for years to come.#NationalFilmAwards pic.twitter.com/JVY3DKRjNa a PIB India (@PIB_India) May 3, 2018 # President Ram Nath Kovind arrives atA 65th National Film Awards #A Shibu G Suseelan takes home Indira Gandhi Award for Best Debut film for Sinjar #A Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment award goes to Baahubali - The Conclusion and the award was received by Prasad Devineni #A National Film Award for best action director goes to King Solomon for the amazingly well-designed action drama Baahubali: The ConclusionA # Divya Dutta bags the Best Supporting Actress Award for the eye opening film Irada, where the greed of human beings pollutes the environment including the ground water. Irada shows an effort to reverse the same. .@divyadutta25 bags the Best Supporting Actress Award for the eye opening film Irada, where the greed of human beings pollutes the environment including the ground water. Irada shows an effort to reverse the same. #NationalFilmAwards pic.twitter.com/g29fHXwTMb a PIB India (@PIB_India) May 3, 2018 #A Master Yasharaj Karhade, got a special mention in the Feature Film Section for the Marathi movie Mhorkya #A Best Cinematography award goes to Nikhil S Praveen for an excellent photography in a difficult terrain in the Malayalam Film Bhayanakam #A Best Debut Non-feature film of a Director goes to the movie Water Baby #A The award for best educational film in the Non-feature film section goes to The Little Girl We Were... And The Women We Are # Ganesh Acharya collects his second National Award. This time he won the honour for the song 'Gori Tu Latth Maar' from Toilet: Ek Prem Katha. Ganesh Acharya, one of Indiaas most noted choreographers bags the National Film Award for best choreography for #toiletekpremkatha #NationalFilmAwards pic.twitter.com/9SEQX0Wsud a PIB India (@PIB_India) May 3, 2018 #A Manish Mundra takes the Best Hindi Film award for Newton.A #A Ghazi producer Prasad V. Potluri receives Best Telugu Film award. # Pankaj Tripathi received the honour from Smriti Irani. He won the award for his performance in Rajkummar Rao starrer Newton #A Madhya Pradesh receives the award for the Most Film Friendly State. Uttarakhand received a Special Mention in the same category #MadhyaPradesh receives the award for the Most Film Friendly State. #Uttarakhand received a Special Mention in the same category#NationalFilmAwards pic.twitter.com/pwhD8d8aNV a PIB India (@PIB_India) May 3, 2018 #A Smriti Irani, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and Narendra Kumar Sinha begin the award distribution at the 65th National Film Awards ceremony.A # Boney Kapoor arrives with his Janhvi Kapoor and Khushi Kapoor to receive the National Award for late actress Sridevi.A # Late actor Vinod Khanna to be honoured with Dada Saheb Phalke Award. His wife Kavita Khanna and son Akshaye Khanna arrives for65th National Film Awards. The mother-son duo admits it to be a proud and emotional moment for the family. # Choreographer Ganesh Acharya arrived with his family. He will be receiving the National Award for the second time. # Pankaj Tripathi arrives with his wife forA 65th National Film Awards # The prestigious ceremony of 65th National Film Awards begin with the history of Indian cinema #A "President attends all award functions and convocations for a maximum of one hour. This has been the protocol since he took office. It was conveyed to Information and Broadcasting Ministry several weeks ago and the ministry knew this all along. Rashtrapati Bhavan is surprised by the 11th hour questions that have been raised," said Ashok Malik, press secretary to the president. #A "It's extremely disappointing. It's unfair. Not to undermine any minister but it's the biggest recognition that an artiste gets from his or her nation and it's given by the president. These winners had already reached Delhi and they were in the middle of their rehearsals when they were informed. That's humiliating," filmmaker Hansal Mehta told Indian Express # "Sadly, awards these days have lost credibility. Politics and star power rule over truly deserving artists. I donat care who hands out the awards. I care more about why Akshay Kumar was conferred Best Actor last year and not Manoj Bajpayee for the performance of a lifetime for Aligarh," former National Award winner Apurva Asrani told Indian Express. # Director Danish Husain said, "The idea of state honouring artists anyway is distasteful. And then to pick & choose a select few for the award ceremony is humiliating them further, and doing disservice to, almost mocking, their talents." The idea of state honouring artists anyway is distasteful. And then to pick & choose a select few for the award ceremony is humiliating them further, and doing disservice to, almost mocking, their talents. #NationalFilmAwards https://t.co/36EjN8lD7K a Danish Husain (@DanHusain) May 3, 2018 # Filmmaker Ashwini Chaudhary also voiced a similarA opinion and said, "I think it is happening for the first time in 65 years that awardees of #NationalFilmAwards won't be felicitated by @rashtrapatibhvn. Only 11 out of 141 will get awards from the President. This is how the best of Indian Cinema is being treated." I think it is happening for the first time in 65 years that awardees of #NationalFilmAwards wont be felicitated by @rashtrapatibhvn. Only 11 out of 141 will get awards from the President. This is how the best of Indian Cinema is being treated.#Sad a ashwini chaudhary (@DhoopAshwini) May 3, 2018 The Indian Film Industry should come out in open and take a stand against the humilation of National Film Awardees who are going to skip the award ceremony today. Dark day in the history of #NationalFilmAwards a ashwini chaudhary (@DhoopAshwini) May 3, 2018 # National-award winning filmmaker Rahul Dholakia expressed his views on micro-blogging site Twitter and wrote, "one of the reason the Nation Film Awards are prestigious is because they are handed by the @rashtrapatibhvn - not a minister. This is a moment of a lifetime for Film makers; please don't deprive them of their merit/glory" one of the reason the National Film Awards are prestigious is because they are handed by the @rashtrapatibhvn -not a minister. This is a moment of a lifetime for Film makers ; please donat deprive them of their merit / glory #NationalFilmAwards @smritiirani @Ra_THORe a rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) May 3, 2018 #A After reports emerged that President Kovind will be giving away only 11 awards. National Award winning Marathi film director Prakash Oak says, ' We feel insulted, 75 awardees are threatening to boycott the award ceremony today.' #A More than 60 National Film Award recipients say they will skip ceremony this evening because President Ram Nath Kovind will present only 11 awards A A A A For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a stern warning, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Karnataka government to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu or face serious consequences. The apex court also asked the Centre to apprise it about the steps taken for setting up of the Cauvery Management Board by May 8. However, attorney general KK Venugopal sought more time from the court citing Prime Minister Narendra Modis unavailability due to Karnataka Assembly elections. The Prime Minister and ministers were busy in Karnataka polls and can't approve the scheme for releasing water to Tamil Nadu, as directed," the attorney general told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra. Earlier in April, the apex court had asked the Modi government to frame and file a draft Cauvery management scheme by May 3. Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, took strong exception at the submission saying, This is the end of co-operative federalism and the rule of law in the country. This is the partisan attitude of the union of India to favour Karnataka. The bench also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud initially asked the Karnataka government to release four TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu by May 8, but later directed the state to apprise it as to how much water can be released. It said once the Centre places the draft scheme, which would also include Cauvery Water Management Board and Monitoring Authority, it would consider the grievances of all the stakeholder states. The top court had on February 16 raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadus share, while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin, saying the issue of drinking water has to be placed on a higher pedestal. With the apex courts verdict, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry would be annually entitled to 404.25 tmcft, 284.75 tmcft, 30 tmcft and 7 tmcft of Cauvery water respectively out of the total of 740 tmcft. (With input from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: As many as 95 people were killed and over 100 others injured after a powerful dust storm followed by thunder showers wreaked havoc in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday night. The high-intensity dust storm in parts of Uttar Pradesh overnight left at least 64 people dead and scores others injured. Agra was the worst hit where 43 people lost their lives. As per the latest figures received here, 64 people were killed and 47 injured in the dust storm in different parts of the state, Uttar Pradesh Relief Commissioner Sanjay Kumar said. Apart from Agra, three persons died in Bijnor, two in Saharanpur, three in Kanpur Dehat, one each in Bareilly, Chitrakoot, Raebareli and Unnao besides other districts, the government official said. Congress slams CM Yogi for campaigning in Karnataka even when people suffer from dust storm The Congress slammed UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka even when people of his state were reeling under the impact of the severe dust storm that has left many dead. "Even if people of Uttar Pradesh are suffering, I am busy culling out 'jumlas' (gimmicks) in Karnataka elections -- Adityanath, missing chief minister, Uttar Pradesh," Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted. Adityanath is scheduled to address election rallies in Karnataka over the next two days. Rajasthan death toll reaches to 31, CM Raje announces compensation In Rajasthan, the high-speed dust storm wreaked havoc in Alwar, Dholpur, Bharatpur districts, uprooting hundreds of trees and electricity polls. At least 16 people were killed in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and five in Alwar. However, Hemant Kumar Gera, Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief confimred only 27 deaths, but reports said that four more people succumbed to injuries in Bharatapur. "So far, 27 people have died due to the disaster, including 12 in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and 5 in Alwar. The squall was reported mainly in three districts," PTI quoted as saying. Gera said that a detailed report of the disaster was awaited even as relief and rescue teams were sent to clear debris and restore power supply, he said. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje expressed her condolences to the families of deceased and directed concerned district officials to begin relief work and restore utilities. Have directed Ministers and concerned officials to affected areas to begin relief work immediately and restore utilities. An unfortunate incident, we have been working closely with local authorities to mitigate the situation, Raje tweeted. A compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the family members of deceased and Rs 2 lakh for people sustaining 60 per cent injuries was announced by the authories. Rs People with 40 to 50 per cent injuries will also be given Rs 60,000. The Chief Minister also assigned monitoring tasks to several ministers and party leaders. Gulabchand Kataria and Arun Chaturvedi were asked to monitor situation in Alwar and Dholpur, respectively. While state Health Minister Kalicharan Saraf was monitoring the situation in Bharatpur, Surendrapal Singh was looking after the relief work in Jhunjhunu. Rajasthan Congress president Sachin Pilot asked district Congress presidents and Seva Dal members to provide any possible help to those affected by the inclement weather. Extremely grieved at the loss of lives, former Rajasthan chief minister and Congress national general secretary Ashok Gehlot cancelled his birthday celebration at his residence. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A Bhiwandi court on Wednesday asked Congress president Rahul Gandhi to personally appear before it on June 12 to record statement in Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) defamation case. While hearing the arguments on Rahuls application, the court sought a detailed recording of evidence instead of a summary trial and adjourned the matter till June 12. While the trial in such cases are normally held summarily, Gandhi had filed an application seeking a summons trial on April 2018. A summary trial is short and will be completed with just submitting the written arguments. We have sought for a summons trial which would go into the in-depth recording of the evidence, Rahul Gandhis lawyer Narayan Iyer said. The case relates to historical facts and hence, we need to rely on several documents and would like to record the evidence of experts, Iyer added. What is the RSS defemation case? In 2014, Rajesh Kunte, an RSS leader from Maharashtras Thane had filed a criminal defamation case against the Congress president for accusing the RSS of Mahatma Gandhis assassination. On March 6, 2014, Gandhi had allegedly said that the RSS people had killed (Mahatma) Gandhi at an election rally in Bhiwandi. Earlier, the Congress president had moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the case. The apex court rejected his plea and said that he would have to face the trial if he did not express regret for his remark. The Congress leader declined to accept the suggestion and expressed willingness to face the trial. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Why are the deaths of nine journalists in Kabul bombings receiving so much international media coverage? Is it because their lives are seen by the wider public to matter more than those of the police and emergency workers who also died? Or is a case of editors deciding this for us? Journalists are meant to be objective, but when it comes to other journalists being specially targeted by bombers, snipers, hit-men, government agents and ruthless extremists, does this objectivity go out the window? Inevitably at times it does, especially if the victim is well known in media circles. Then the amount of coverage given to the incident becomes disproportionate. According to witnesses and survivors, after an initial suicide attack during the morning rush hour in Kabul on Monday, another suicide bomber targeted journalists, police and emergency workers who had arrived on the scene. A total of 25 people died in the carnage, including nine journalists and four police officers. A branch of the Islamic State extremist group has claimed responsibility. Newspapers, news agencies and news websites around the world gave the bombings splash coverage, some of them going so far as to give biographies of each of the nine journalists who died. Would they have gone to this extent if, for example, nine medical workers had died? Probably not. The difference, perhaps, is that attacks on journalists are seen as attacks on the freedom of expression recognised as a basic human right. Where media are in danger, all other human rights are under greater threat, the US Embassy in Kabul said in the wake of the attacks. (The) attack, like all such attacks on journalists, is an attack on Afghanistans free press the publics right to know, said David Kaye, the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression. These attacks serve to remind those who glibly demonise the press that journalists serve a crucial function in societies: the illumination of all matters of public interest, Kaye was quoted as saying. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted: Independent media is a cornerstone of democracy. The Afghan Journalists Safety Committee (AJSC), an independent watchdog, says the Taliban and Islamic State deliberately target journalists in Afghanistan beating them, detaining them and killing them in order to intimidate news organisations into self-censorship. They hated journalists, Shah Marai, Kabul chief photographer of international news agency Agence France-Presse who was among Mondays dead, wrote in 2016, referring to the Taliban. Marai was well known for his courage, continuing to document the spiral of violence enveloping his homeland despite being threatened and once even beaten by the Taliban. Because of his links to a global news agency, Marais death added an international angle to the story. AFP wrote a detailed obituary, complete with glowing tributes from foreign correspondents who had worked with the man it described as a charismatic and courageous journalist. The obituary emphasized Marias love for his six children, one of whom was born just a week before he died, telling how he would often bring them into the bureau to interact with his colleagues. It spoke of how he would encourage his colleagues to play ping pong or volleyball to ease the tension. It also quoted from a 2016 blog Marai wrote in which he highlighted the dangers of being a journalist in Kabul. I dont dare to take my children for a walk... Every morning as I go to the office and every evening when I return home, all I think of are cars that can be booby-trapped, or of suicide bombers coming out of a crowd. I cant take the risk. So we dont go out, he wrote. I had the privilege of working with Marai in 2001 while covering for AFP the routing of the Taliban in Afghanistan by US-led forces following the 9/11 attacks. At the time he was full of hope, believing his country was entering what he later went on to describe as a golden agewhich alas proved short-lived. Filled with humour and goodwill Marai, then hired by AFP as a driver while taking photos on the side, would head into the snow-filled streets of Kabul with a cheery goodbye, returning hours later with photos and quotes from a press conference or an incident he had come across. His good humour was infectious and the mood always brightened when he was around. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists. Mondays bombing represented the deadliest single attack involving journalists in Afghanistan since at least 2002, and one of the most lethal ever worldwide. More poignantly for me, it killed my dear colleague Shah Marai. Which is why, in my biased opinion, the splash coverage was warranted. New Delhi: The widespread outrage in the Kashmir valley over the attack by stone-pelters on a school bus carrying class-II students in Shopian and the head injury to a two-year-old boy has shocked the conscience of Kashmiris and provoked even political parties that had goaded Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to announce an amnesty for the pelters to rethink. It is revealing to see even former chief minister Omar Abdullah of the National Conference acknowledge that the goons are misusing the amnesty and to suggest by implication that the police come down hard on these protesters. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq of the separatist Hurriyat Conference also described the incident as quite disturbing and warned that such hooliganism would tarnish our movement. Weather-cocks as these politicians are, their about-turn is the result of the publics revulsion towards such acts of senseless violence by misguided elements. It goes without saying that these turncoats would go back to their old ways of supporting the enemy across the border and the terror outfits acting at their behest when public anger subsides. It is indeed crucial that the Central government take these rare sane expressions seriously before they change their tune. The stone-pelters must be tracked down and brought to book. Indeed, they must be unmasked and shamed for such a cowardly and condemnable act. Their instigators and financiers suspected to be from Pakistan must be exposed for what they are, barbaric and unperturbed about who these boys were aiming their stones at. For too long have we allowed the enemy country to misguide people at large in Kashmir and for their men to move about sowing seeds of discord. It is shocking how, among other things, pro-Pakistan elements are allowed to raise slogans of Pakistan zindabad and down with India, especially after prayers, outside mosques. Such sloganeers must be put behind bars without delay. There has to be a threshold limit of tolerance and that has long been crossed. When the public gets the impression that the government is incapable of controlling the perpetrators of violence, fear of the militants forces them to act at their behest. Why cant the authorities start by ensuring that adequate protection is given to people to frustrate the designs of those who call bandhs and other disruptions to work? The disruptionists must be made to realise that their show of strength would be met with strong counter-measures and that they would be made to pay a price, howsoever high their connections. Nothing has been heard for months now on the status of cases filed against some Hurriyat leaders for financing terror operations. It is time the Mehbooba Mufti government is told in no uncertain terms that it must maintain law and order or it would be dismissed and replaced by Presidents rule. At the same time, the law-abiding citizen must be rewarded for his good deeds. After all the appeasement of stone-pelters and other anti-national elements, Chief Minister Mufti has said that the child-attackers who unleashed violence on them in Shopian would be tracked down and punished. She must be held to her word. It is heartening that the Kashmir police has, by and large, displayed commitment to duty in recent days. They need to be rewarded for their commitment and encouraged to respect and uphold law. The Modi government has shown that if the Pakistan army violates the ceasefire it would be given a bloody nose. Why have we stopped at one round of surgical strikes? More such forays to destroy enemy camps across the border are necessary. Also, terror perpetrators from across the border must be tracked down through hot pursuit. Indeed, a multi-pronged attack on terror proxies as well as army regulars with relentless force is the need of the hour. The Hakata Dontaku port festival has started in the southern Japanese city of Fukuoka. The two-day event is expected to draw about 2 million people. Organizers opened a large decorative ball to mark the start of the festival on Thursday. The opening ceremony included a dance performed to a local traditional song. The Dontaku is based on a dance and music performance that was first held 800 years ago. The main attraction is a parade featuring 35,000 participants from 780 groups. Fukuoka Governor Hiroshi Ogawa said the participants include residents from Toho Village, which was severely affected by heavy rains last July. He said the residents will show their gratitude for the relief support they received, and their resolve to rebuild the village. He asked spectators to cheer enthusiastically for them. One woman whose child is participating in the parade said she wants her child to show how hard they have practiced for the event. A 40-year-old man who recently moved to Fukuoka said he looks forward to watching the parade for the first time. An advisory panel to the United Nations' cultural agency has recommended that places linked to the history of Japan's persecuted Christians be granted World Heritage status. The International Council on Monuments and Sites gave the highest rating out of its 4-level recommendation scale to the nominated property "Hidden Christian Sites in the Nagasaki Region." UNESCO's World Heritage Committee is expected to honor the property in a meeting to be held in Bahrain later this year. The 12 components of the property are located in Japan's southwestern prefectures of Nagasaki and Kumamoto. They include "Remains of Hara Castle," "Oura Cathedral," and villages where people secretly practiced Christianity despite a ban on the faith from the 17th to 19th centuries. Japan now has 17 World Cultural Heritage properties and 4 World Natural Heritage properties. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his eagerness on Thursday to clarify the rationale for the existence of the Self-Defense Forces in the pacifist constitution. "The time has come for us to work on revising the constitution," Abe said in a video message to a forum in Tokyo of a private organization promoting constitutional amendments. "We need to build a broad consensus among the people." Thursday was the Constitution Memorial Day, a national holiday, to mark the 71st anniversary of the enforcement of the constitution in 1947. Japan's supreme charter has never been revised since being drafted by U.S. occupation forces after World War II. In a message to last year's forum of the same group, Abe set his sights on bringing a revised constitution into force in 2020. Superficially, he proposed adding language to clarify the existence of the triservice SDF in war-renouncing Article 9, which currently bans Japan from possessing any forces as means of settling international disputes, or other war potential. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu, agreed Wednesday to launch a new dialogue scheme to allow both countries' foreign affairs and defense officials to discuss ways to deepen the two countries' strategic relationship. During their talks in Jerusalem, the two leaders also confirmed that their countries will step up cooperation in the field of cybersecurity and other advanced technologies, where Israel has an advantage, according to officials familiar with the meeting. Abe and Netanyahu agreed that Japanese researchers will be sent to Israel's cybersecurity research center, while reiterating their stance of promoting private-sector exchanges in the field, as well. The Japanese leader called for Middle East peace talks to be resumed in a way that involves the United States, and also urged Israel to refrain from its settlement activity. In response, Netanyahu noted the importance of talks among concerned parties. Abe expressed his support for efforts to realize peace in the region through a two-state solution. On Thursday the Asahi Shimbun newspaper remembered a 29-year-old reporter killed in a 1987 shooting at its western Japan bureau, in an attack claimed by ultra-rightists angered by the major daily's "antinational" reporting. Local residents paid tribute at the bureau in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, while the newspaper companyas officials renewed their pledge to defend freedom of the press on the 31st anniversary of the killing. aIt is important that we pass on the lesson from the incident to younger generations so that he will live on in our hearts,a said Hideo Kitamura, a 68-year-old former civil servant from the city who visits the bureau every year to offer a prayer. On May 3, 1987, a shotgun-wielding man in a ski mask entered the dailyas Hanshin bureau and shot Tomohiro Kojiri and his colleague with a shotgun. Kojiri died of gunshot wounds, while his colleague Hyoe Inukai sustained serious injuries. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by Sekihotai, believed by police to be a right-wing extremist group. The assailant escaped the scene of the shooting and was never identified. The group sent letters to Kyodo News and other news organizations after the attack, saying that all aanti-Japan elementsa should be executed. Sekihotai also claimed responsibility for other attacks and an attempted bombing of Asahi Shimbun facilities between 1987 and 1988. The statute of limitations for the bureau killing passed in 2002, and those for the other attacks expired in 2003. Syracuse, N.Y. -- Upstate New York just rocketed from winter to summer in about 48 hours. On Monday, a trace of snow fell in Syracuse, Albany and Binghamton. Today, heat records for the date were tied or broken across Upstate New York as temperatures soared into the high 80s and beyond. Albany reached 90 degrees, breaking the May 2 record of 88, set in 2001. At least three cities tied their daily records: Syracuse, 86 degrees; Elmira, 88; and Rochester, 85. Buffalo and Watertown, though, stayed comparatively cool. The same southwest winds that brought heat to Upstate New York also blew across relatively cold lakes Erie and Ontario, keeping temperatures in the 70s at the eastern ends of the lakes. Lake Erie was 41 degrees, said John Hitchcock, a National Weather Service meteorologist in Buffalo. "With a southwest wind off that cold bathtub," he said, "it's tough to get warm." Here's a look at unofficial high temperatures today for selected Upstate cities. High temperatures, May 2 City Temperature Record Year Albany 90 88 2001 Binghamton 83 83 2001 Buffalo 78 84 1954 Elmira 88 87 2010 Poughkeepsie 89 90 2010 Rochester 85 85 2001 Syracuse 86 86 2001 Watertown 76 87 1970 Source: Northeast Regional Climate Center; National Weather Service The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday warned political parties against engaging in electioneering before the end of the year.The Chairman of the electoral body, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the warning at a town hall meeting on Health, democracy and governance: Putting health as top political agenda of Nigeria, organised by the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).He lamented that even though INEC had rolled out a timetable for the 2019 general elections, politicians were flouting it and mounting campaign billboards in different parts of the country.Yakubu said the commission was spending a huge amount of money on technology due to a lack of trust among politicians, the electorate and the commission. He added that such funds would have been channeled into useful programmes like immunisation and other health projects.Represented by a National Commissioner, Muhammed Lecky, the INEC boss said the commission was facing challenges posed by the social media.The Chairman, Partners for Electoral Reforms and the co-convener of Say No Campaign Nigeria, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, observed that the pauperization of citizens by hurtful government policies, recent attempts at shutting down the corruption economy and the inability of many to adjust to the absence of free money for unbridled consumption and ostentation are a sure threat to the 2019 election.According to him, fake news portends real threat to the 2019 election,Ezenwa warned that 2019 might be defined by increased political violence. We must raise the ante and support INEC to foreclose the possibility of this happening, he said. President Muhammadu Buhari meets with Donald Trump at the White House President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to arrive Nigeria three days after leaving Washington where he met with President Donald Trump. Buhari left US on Monday after the visit. A report by Punch revealed that Buhari is currently in London, United Kingdom. Reacting to questions why the President is yet to arrive Nigeria after three days of leaving US, the Presidency attributed his presence in the British capital to what it called technical stopover. Speaking in a telephone conversation with Punch today, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said "They had a technical stopover in London. I am sure if you keep your ears to the ground, you will hear of his arrival soon. Buhari, who travelled to the United States for a meeting with President Donald Trump, had left Washington, D.C. on Tuesday after the Monday meeting. The presidential spokesman did not give details of the technical stopover but insisted its not something to worry about. Following his delayed return, it has been learnt that Buharis scheduled trip to his hometown, Daura in Katsina State might have been cancelled. The President has his doctors who he has been consulting for years based in London. Buhari, in 2017, spent months in the British capital attending to his health. He had, on arrival, after one of such medical trips, said he had never been that sick in his life. Federal Government has amended the $2.1 billion arms funds diversion charge against former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo D... Federal Government has amended the $2.1 billion arms funds diversion charge against former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd) and others.In the amended charge, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Uche Secondus, former Chairman Board of Trustees PDP Tony Anenih; former PDP spokesperson Olisa Metuh; Publisher of Thisday, Nduka Obaigbena; ex-Senate President Iyorchia Ayu and founder, DAAR Communications Raymond Dokpesi were listed as beneficiary of the fraud.Also listed are Mouftah Baba-Ahmed, Bello Abba Mohammed, Dr. Bello Mohammed, AVM M. N Umar and Otunba Jonah Ogunniyi, among others.Apart from individuals, corporate organisations were also named as beneficiaries in the amended charge.They are AMP Solar Service, Afro-Arab Investment, Bam Project and Projecties Limited, Bob Oshodin Organisation Limited, WEHSAC Farms Limited, Wehsac Limited, Dimaris Mode Coolture Limited, First ARALAC Global Limited, Stellavera Development Limited, Jawaz Multi-purpose Venture Limited, Little Italy Global Services Limited, Belsha Nigeria Ltd and Syvan McNamara Limited among others.The amended charge was filed at the Abuja Federal High Court, where the old one is pending.The amended charge of 32 count will replace the earlier 18-counts filed against the defendants about three years ago.Another amendment of the earlier charge is the removal of a former Director of Finance and Supply in the ONSA, Salisu Shuaib (who served while Dasuki was NSA) as a defendant in the case.The amended charge dated April 30, 2018 was signed by Mr. Chile Okoroma, Director of Legal Services with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).The prosecution did not give any reason yesterday why it amended the charge and why the alteration was effected.The earlier charge filed in 2015 had Dasuki, Shuaib, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited as defendants.The amended charge, sighted yesterday, now has Dasuki, Aminu Baba Kusa, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.Justice Baba-Yusuf has adjourned to May 17, for the re-arraignment of the defendants on the amended charge.At the beginning of proceedings yesterday, lead prosecution lawyer Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) informed the court about the amendment to the charge and urged the court to accept it.Jacobs said: We have served them (the defendants) the additional documents and we have also filed an amended charge dated and filed April 30, 2018.I urge my Lord to accept the amended charge and allow it.Jacobs told the court that one of the reasons for allowing it is that it tends to remove the second defendant and also there are additional counts to make them 32 counts.Lawyer to Dasuki, Ahmed Raji (SAN), confirmed the receipt of the amended charge.He urged the court to graciously avail the first defendant more time to enable them study the additional counts.Raji said: I confirm that around 5:30pm on Monday, my office was served. Yesterday, there was no work. So, this morning, my attention was brought to it.I have not had the privilege of discussing the content with the first defendant. I scantily went through it and discovered that the counts are now almost double, Raji said. Even after repeated calls by various persons on the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to respect his supposed pastoral calling an... Subsidy was a fraud and would be stopped Fuel would be sold at 40 per liter, and Fuel scarcity would end. The Buhari administration is paying more subsidy than former President Jonathan ever paid at 1.4 trillion annually. Fuel price was increased from 87 to 145 per liter Fuel scarcity is worse. Even after repeated calls by various persons on the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to respect his supposed pastoral calling and stop his nasty habit of lying, Pastor Osinbajo refuses to heed these calls and continues to spew falsehood forgetting or perhaps not caring that the devil is the father of all liars.Nigerians may recall that Vice President Osinbajo falsely alleged that former President Jonathan took 100 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria in cash to his personal house in Abuja and when challenged to provide proof of his fallacious claims, the Vice President hid behind sources and began to feed stories from anonymous officials to the media.This time around, the Vice President alleges that three persons working under former President Jonathan looted $3 billion from the nations resources.I make bold to say that Vice President Osinbajo is a liar and I challenge him once again to prove me wrong by mentioning those three people and providing proof that they stole the amounts allegedly stolen. It is sad that at a time when the Buhari administration should be telling Nigerians what they have achieved after three years, they continue to blame and point fingers.The reason for this is because neither President Buhari nor Vice President Osinbajo can point to any project that they have initiated, started and completed in three years. Nigerians voted for President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo because they said that:Faced with these facts, a desperate Buhari administration, wanting to be re-elected and knowing that it cannot run on its record, has devised a plan to distract attention from its woeful record of failure by making constant false allegations on the person of former President Goodluck Jonathan.I therefore call on the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye to caution Pastor Yemi Osinbajo to stop lying.If Professor Osinbajo fails to heed this advice, I urge Pastor Adeboye to remember that the Redeemed Christian Church of God ordains it pastors not to lie but to spread the word of God. Is this what Vice President Osinbajo is doing?This administration has yet to tell Nigerians what happened to the $25 billion that was awarded in contracts without due process by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation or how Maina was returned, reinstated, double promoted and given armed guards or why the indicted Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Health Insurance Scheme was reinstated despite a clear case of corruption or when Babachir Lawal would be charged.Instead they continue to throw mud at those who have achieved what they have not achieved. If Pastor Osinbajo cannot stop his habit of lying, I hereby call on pastor Adeboye to withdraw his pastorate before he brings the church of Christ into disrepute. Reno Omokri Barely 24 hours after troops of the Nigerian Army arrested a notorious herdsman said to be the brain behind most killings in Benue state, another herdsman has been nabbed by soldiers.According to Army authorities, troops of 72 Special Forces Battalion deployed in operation Mesa while on patrol at Adagu village in Guma LGA of Benue state, arrested one militia herdsman, Idi Gemu.Items recovered from him include one AK 47 rifle with 3 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.The Army said efforts are on to arrest other members of the group who fled the area following the superior firepower of the troops during a shootout.Members of the public are once again reminded to report any suspicious activities to security agents, a statement signed by Brigadier General Texas Chukwu, Director, Army Public Relations said. Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday denied supporting President Muhammadu Buharis expressed interest to run for the 2019 Presid... Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday denied supporting President Muhammadu Buharis expressed interest to run for the 2019 Presidential election in the country as allegedly and erroneously reported in the social media.Obasanjo in a statement by his medi a aide, Mr Kehinde Akinyemi, noted that Buhari is a failure and wont endorse failure.He blamed the dishing out of the false report on Buharis camp and Support group, who he accused of desperately labouring to secure a second term for him through guile and lies.It has come to the attention of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo that some elements in the Muhammadu Buhari camp and or support group are desperate to secure a second term, fair or foul. In this desperation, everything is fair, including telling libelous lies against persons and institutions, instead of addressing the fundamental issues of statecraft and economic management.In the last 24 hours the internet has been bombarded with deliberate falsehoods aimed at hoodwinking the unsuspecting Nigerians to believe that Obasanjo has now supported Buhari for his second term because of some perceived Buharis superlative performance in his encounter with Trump during his visit to the White House in Washington D.C.In another breath, these blackmailers insinuated that Chief Obasanjo met with some Nigeria Labour Congress leaders in his house in Abuja on Workers Day. What a pathetic fallacy! Chief Obasanjo never met any Labour man or woman on May 1, 2018 to make any supposed volte face to support Buhari. Furthermore, neither was Chief Obasanjo in Abuja on that date nor does he own a house in Abuja. Any time he visits Abuja, he usually stays in a Guest House or hotel.For the record, Obasanjo has not and cannot endorse failure. His position remains as stated in his January 23rd, 2018 statement on the state of the nation. Chief Obasanjo sympathises with the plight of those campaigners and supporters of Buhari.He doesnt believe dishing out fake news that can only be believed by imbeciles will turn black into white. Nigerians know that Chief Obasanjo has only spoken the truth about widening poverty, alienation and social disunity and near disintegration of the country through Buharis incompetence. Obasanjo will continue to exercise his right to free speech and no amount of hate speech will assuage Nigerians who are in need of a brand new leadership. The mediocre performance of Buhari cannot be described by anybody as superlative even by morons not the least President Obasanjo.From the Buhari/Trump meeting, Chief Obasanjo only saw through three points: One, the US will continue to reduce purchase of crude oil from Nigeria and there is nothing Nigeria under Buhari can do about; two, the US will export agricultural products to Nigeria and Buharis government will encourage that; and three all the killings taking place in Nigeria by herdsmen are being done by expatriates trained by Gadaffi and no Nigerian is to blame and Buhari cannot do anything to stop it.For whatever the meeting was worth, President Buhari again bungled another opportunity to self-redeem. No wonder President Trump ordered him in a rather condescending manner to go back home and stop the killings going on in Nigeria! We hope now Buhari will heed Trumps advice which hopefully will be considered non-abusive.Therefore, Chief Obasanjo is more convinced in his statement of January 23rd and will not change his position. No lies, fake news dished out by these desperate and unintelligent supporters is worth believing and these misinformation cartel and social media tigers will do more damage to the flint reputation of their principal.Chief Obasanjo understands that the internet has good and bad uses. Those abusing the media should desist from this barbaric act as it will only expose them to greater ridicule at the end of the day.Obasanjo will continue to speak out. He will continue to issue patriotic statements under his signature or cause them to be issued on his behalf under the signature of his media representative, Mr. Kehinde Akinyemi, the statement reads. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the aloofness of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) ad... The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the aloofness of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) administration on issues of security was responsible for the escalated killings in Nigeria. It also described as extremely wicked and heartrending, the horrible killing of 60 worshippers in a blast at a mosque and nearby market in Mubi, Adamawa State by insurgents. In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the main opposition Party also lamented as shocking and devastating, the gruesome murder of Mr. Ebikimi Okoringa, Special Adviser to Bayelsa Governor, Seriake Dickson, by gunmen on Monday. The statement reads: The PDP and indeed all Nigerians are deeply worried about the ceaseless killing of citizens, which has It is painful that while President Buhari and the APC Federal Government are busy misleading Nigerians and the world with false claims of having decimated insurgents, the same insurgents are having a field day pillaging our citizens in various parts of the country. We hold that if the incompetent APC administration had not continued to issue false security assurances, these compatriots would not have believed a lie and dropped their guards when they would have adopted more precautionary measures; only to be slaughtered as soft targets by insurgents. The PDP therefore charge our security agencies to insulate themselves from the APC propaganda and take urgent steps to tackle the security situation in the country. Nigerians look up to them now, more than ever before, to deploy their patriotism and professional skills to ensure the safety of lives in our country. Furthermore, the PDP is shocked by the murder of Mr. Okoringa, a patriotic and selfless Nigerian, who worked hard not only for the development of his state but Nigeria at large. We charge security forces in Bayelsa state to immediately spread out and apprehend his killers and bring them to book. The PDP stands and commiserates with the families of Mr. Okoringa, the victims of the blast in Adamawa state and the daily bloodletting in Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa, Zamfara, Plateau, Kogi and other states, which have become the order of the day under the APC administration. Garba Shehu, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, says there is a limit to the travel distance of the small plane his principal is cur... Garba Shehu, spokesman of President Muhammadu Buhari, says there is a limit to the travel distance of the small plane his principal is currently using. Shehu said this while clarifying his earlier comment that the president had a technical stopover in London. He said the big presidential jet is undergoing repairs and the one in use has limited capacity. The big jet is under repairs. It has been taken for major repairs. So the president is using a small plane and there is a limit to the distance the small plane can cover, he said. So the technical stopover I talked about is that the journey from US to Abuja is broken into two. Technical stopover is that the plane stops at a point, refuel, do some checks and then proceed on the journey. It is a routine thing. The plane can do Abuja-Washington, thats about 12 hours and the maximum the plane can fly is 12 hours, 40 minutes. But you dont need to push it to the edge. This is very normal. There is nothing unusual about it. In any case, they are already on their way back home. The president was expected in Nigeria on Wednesday after rounding off his US trip. Buharis aircraft, left Joint Base Andrews military airfield in Washington on Tuesday morning. President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to arrive Abuja, two days after he left Washington DC, where he met with President Donald Trump and busi... President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to arrive Abuja, two days after he left Washington DC, where he met with President Donald Trump and business executives. Garba Shehu, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, said Buhari had technical stopover in London and will be on his way back soon, giving an indication that he may return Thursday. The president was expected in Nigeria on Wednesday and was to leave Abuja Friday to rest in Daura, his hometown in Katsina state. The rece and advance team that had left for Daura ahead of his visit are on their way back to Abuja as of the time of filing this report. Buharis official aircraft, Eagle One, left Joint Base Andrews military airfield in Washington on Tuesday morning as twitted by Bashir Ahmad, on this Twitter handle, @BashirAhmaad. President @MBuhari has departed Joint Base Andrews Airport for Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja after a Working Visit to Washington DC where he had a bilateral talks with US President @realDonaldTrump, and met with a group of business executives. #PMBinDC The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Ibe Kachikwu, has ordered the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Maikanti Baru; the Director, Department of Petroleum Resources, Modecai Ladan; and Executive Secretary, Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, Saidu Abdulkadir, to provide the information being sought by a human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, on fuel importation and sundry matters.In his April 17, 2018 letter to the minister, Falana raised several concerns about the oil industry and asked Kachikwu to respond, pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act, adding that your reply should be received within seven days of the receipt of this letter.Kachikwu told Falana in a letter dated April 21, 2018, with reference number, HMS/MPR/085/VOL.1/389, which was made available to our correspondent in Abuja on Wednesday, that he had directed the chief executives of the NNPC, DPR and PPPRA to furnish the lawyer with the information he requested, subject to the limits of the firms contractual, legal and business confidentiality.In the response, which was personally signed by Kachikwu, he stated that he never said the Federal Government was spending N1.4tn monthly as payment for under-recovery on Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol.He, however, commended Falana for seeking proper information on the issue and stated that he had directed the heads of the selected agencies under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources to furnish the lawyer with the requisite data.Our correspondent observed that Kachikwus response to Falana was copied to the heads of the three agencies, as their names and designations were clearly outlined in the ministers letter.Kachikwu wrote, I thank you for your continued interest in seeking the proper information on this issue. I have forwarded your letter to the GMD of the NNPC, the director of the DPR and the executive secretary of the PPPRA, the corporation and agencies who under their establishing laws are the managers of the Federal Governments downstream commercial business and the ones in the best position to provide you with the correct data.I, therefore, have directed them, working through the GMD of the NNPC, to furnish you with such information as you have requested, subject to the limits of their contractual, legal and business confidentiality.It had been reported on April 18 that Falana had told the minister that his (Kachikwu) daily petrol consumption claim was untenable.The lawyer had said, In December 2017, the management of the NNPC disclosed that the nations consumption rate of fuel was 28 million litres per day and that subsidy cost was N726m per day, i.e., N261.4bn per annum. But on March 5, 2018, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, claimed that the figure had metamorphosed to 50 million litres per day and that the NNPC had spent $5.8bn (N1.7tn) on fuel importation in January and February 2018.Furthermore, at a public forum held in Abuja two weeks ago, you (Kachikwu) stated that the consumption rate of fuel had skyrocketed to 60 million and that the cost of subsidy was N1.4tn! We are not unaware that the increasing consumption rate has been blamed on the smuggling of imported fuel from Nigeria to neighbouring countries by some economic saboteurs.Assuming without conceding that the story of smuggling is true, the total volume of fuel consumed by Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Niger, Chad and Ghana is said to be less than 250,000 litres per day. You will agree with me that this does not explain the difference of 32 million litres per day between the consumption rate of imported fuel in December 2017 and March 2018.But Kachikwu distanced himself from ever saying that under-recovery on PMS was N1.4tn monthly, adding that the ministry had also denied the statement.The minister said, Your request to me is predicated on a statement purportedly credited to me to the effect that the Federal Government is spending N1.4tn monthly on payment for under-recovery on PMS. Let me, for the umpteenth time, state that I made no such a statement and a previous rebuttal has clarified this. The information you quoted is both incorrect and alarmingly speculative.Other requests by the human rights lawyer, as contained in the letter he sent to Kachikwu, included Bill of Laden and the DPR certified Cargo Discharged Certificates of the imported subsidised petroleum products into the country from December 2017 to March 2018; and Offshore Processing Agreements pertaining to the sale of the 445,000 barrels of crude oil per day plus any additional crude barrels approved for domestic consumption from December 2017 to March 2018. The House of Representatives on Thursday issued a stern warning to security agencies, particularly the Police, about the security of Senator Dino Melaye.Melaye, who represents Kogi-West Senatorial District at the Senate, was said to have been driven in a police ambulance from Abuja to Lokoja on Thursday.The embattled senator was stretchered into the Magistrates Court in Lokoja, where he was arraigned on gun-running allegations by the Police.The senator was later remanded in custody till June 11.But the House said in Abuja that the sight of Melaye on a stretcher was reminiscent of that of a sick man who should have received medical attention before his arraignment.The Houses reaction came after a member from Kogi State, Mr. Karimi Sunday, raised a point of personal explanation on the floor to bring the plight of Melaye to the attention of members.Sunday had alleged that Melaye was being persecuted by the Kogi State Government because of his strong views on certain issues affecting the state.He stated, Melaye is facing persecution from the state government because of his beliefs.We must do all that is within our constitutional powers to ensure that the rule of law prevails.What is happening to Melaye today can happen to any of us tomorrow, if we keep quiet.The Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, while ruling on the matter, said the House was satisfied with the steps taken so far by the Senate and was solidly behind the upper chamber.All I can say at this point is that nothing must happen to Senator Melaye.If any law has been breached, the Police must ensure that his life is secured first.If anything happens to him, the security agencies will be held accountable.I have not seen in any country where someone is arraigned on a stretcher to take pleas. How do you even take his pleas?He must be alive first to answer to your charges because his life comes before the prosecution, Dogara added. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, recalled how late Afenifere and National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Leader, late Senator... Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, yesterday, recalled how late Afenifere and National Democratic Coalition, NADECO, Leader, late Senator Abraham Aderibigbe Adesanya, on three occasions turned down his appeal for support in the 1999 presidential poll. According to him, Senator Adesanya was a man of principle, who never bent the rules in his undertakings. He spoke in Lagos at a well-attended symposium entitled: Leadership and The Future of Nigeria, to mark 10 years of Senator Abrahams death. Obasanjo, who disclosed that he appointed late Chief Bola Ige and Adesanyas daughter, Modupe Adelaja, as ministers in his government without the late politicians knowledge, said Adesanyas opposition accounted for his poor performance in the South-West at the 1999 election. He said: Adesanya deserves his honour. I did not know him in his early days in politics; I came to know him when I was going into politics myself. Because of necessity, the path of politicians do cross, I was persuaded to contest for the post of Nigerias president. I decided to go on consultations and meeting leaders all over the country. One of the leaders I had to meet was Abraham Adesanya. I remember I got the address of his home, phoned him, and went around 10 pm, but he was waiting for me and received me very warmly. That was also the first time I met his daughter, Dupe, who became one of my ministers. When I met Pa Adesanya, he did not mince words. He said, why did you come here, you are not with us? He said: I will not support you. I said, no problem but it must be my duty and responsibility to inform you and to let you know that I have been persuaded and I am going into this. As I went on consultation, I decided to call on him the second time. And again the same thing happened, he asked me, what have you come here for again? I said, I came to give you progress report and he asked me: how is it going? and I told him it was not going badly. He said again he would not support me, and I said that was all right. He said, whether you join us or not we are not going to support you. So I left. That was the second occasion. He was consistent and to the point and I think I was adamant also. President Muhammadu Buhari will arrive in Abuja from his Washington, D.C. official visit on Thursday (today) evening.This was made known by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, via his Twitter handle on Thursday afternoon.He wrote, MB arrives Abuja this evening. The good work of rebuilding Nigeria continues.The President had visited the United States of America for three days, during which he had met President Donald Trump at the White House.Earlier on Thursday, another presidential aide, Garba Shehu, had volunteered that President Buhari, who reportedly left Washington, D.C. two days ago, is currently on technical stopover in London, without elaborating what he meant.It may, however, be recalled that the President sees his doctors in the British capital, where had spent 107 days after which he confessed to having been seriously sick.See Adesinas tweet below:PMB arrives Abuja this evening. The good work of rebuilding Nigeria continues. Femi Adesina (@FemAdesina) May 3, 2018 Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has asked the police to ensure the safety of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kog... Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, has asked the police to ensure the safety of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west senatorial district. Melaye has been a running battle with the Nigeria police force since he was accused of supplying arms to some arrested suspects. The senators attempt to escape from police custody landed him in hospital, and charges were filed against him one week later. On Thursday, he was brought before a Kogi court which denied him bail. He is to spend 39 days in custody. At the house plenary, Sunday Karimi from Kogi called on the house to intervene in the senators travails. Karimi had said: Melaye is being prosecuted because of this belief. And as members of national assembly, we cannot continue to keep quiet. There is need for us to act and prevail on the IG on the issue. But Dogara said the matter is already being deliberated on the floor of the senate and being a motion of personal explanation, the house cannot debate on it. He, however, frowned at the decision of the police to arraign the senator before a court while on a stretcher. All I can say is that nothing must happen to the senator. If anybody in this country has committed an offence, the law is there for the person to he prosecuted or arraigned within the ambit of the law, he said. So my admonition to the security agencies is to do everything possible to ensure that his life is secure first before prosecution. Prosecution cannot come at the expense of death. And that is very important, because if anything happens to him, squarely the responsibility will lie on the security agents. And that is without mincing words. Dogara said he is yet to see a country where someone will be arraigned on a stretcher when he is not even in the right frame of mind to even take a plea. Four companies which pleaded guilty to laundering $15.5 million allegedly belonging to former First Lady, Mrs Patience Jonathan, yesterday, asked a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos to reverse their guilty plea.The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, arraigned the companies, alongside a former Special Adviser on Domestic Affairs to President Jonathan, Dr Waripamo Dudafa, a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, who is the companies secretary and a banker, Adedamola Bolodeoku.Dudafa, Briggs and Bolodeoku had pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge.The companies lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome, SAN, told trial judge, Justice Babs Kuewumi, that the companies were not given a fair trial before their conviction because they had no legal representation of their choice.Throughout the trial, they did not have any counsel or counsel of their choice, he argued, adding that had the judges attention been drawn to it, he would have ordered the prosecution to provide a counsel for the defendants.He said he was briefed to represent the companies after its directors pleaded guilty despite not being authorised by the board to do so.He argued that the trial be done de novo (afresh) and the previous proceedings declared null, void and unsustainable in law.The application, he said, was on the ground that the court failed to pass a sentence on the convicted companies, as the judge reserved sentence till end of the trial of the other defendants.Ozekhome said the directors who pleaded guilty were not authorised by the board to defend the companies, which he said were denied the right to cross-examine the purported directors in a proper trial. Seun Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has reacted to the federal governments ban on the production of Codeine cont... Seun Kuti, son of late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo Kuti, has reacted to the federal governments ban on the production of Codeine containing syrups in Nigeria. Recall that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, on Tuesday directed the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, to ban with immediate effect further issuance of permits for the importation of codeine as active pharmaceutical ingredient for cough preparations. Adewole said the directive became necessary due to the gross abuse of Codeine usage in the country. But reacting through his Twitter handle, Kuti said the ban would not be effective as it only means that drug dealers will make more money. He wrote: Igbo has been banned since forever (unjustly) but e still dey everywhere. Atletico Madrid manager, Diego Simeone, has said he is not interested in sentiments, when his side welcomes Arsenal in their Europa League semi-final second leg on Thursday night.Atletico carry a 1-1 draw and an away goal into the second leg at the Wanda Metropolitano.Defeat for Arsenal would mean them missing out on Champions League qualification for a second season in a row, just as Wenger calls time on his 22 years in charge.Simeone however said there would be no room for emotions when his players take to the field.We are not thinking about Wengers last season at Arsenal, only about what we need.We need to see a full stadium, the excitement of our players, the energy in the team, thats what matters to us, he told reporters on Wednesday.Simeone was sent to the stands in the first leg and the feisty Argentinian will serve a touchline ban in the second leg.Ill take it badly, Simeone said.Im sad about this situation and Ill have to improve. I better shut up. United Airlines, which has taken a public battering in recent years for incidents ranging from the dragging of a passenger off an overbooked flight, to killing someone's dog, has brought a high-profile face to its communications team who is not unfamiliar with crisis management. The airline, the largest air carrier at Newark Liberty International Airport, has named former White House spokesman Josh Earnest as senior vice president and chief communications officer. "Josh is a proven leader and world-class communications strategist who has thrived when the stakes are the highest--and the margin for error is the smallest," said Oscar Munoz, the airline's chief executive officer. "He'll play a crucial role on our leadership team as we position our brand and this company for success." United's image has been repeatedly hammered over the past three years by a series of unfortunate episodes that have drawn no small amount of unwelcome attention to the airline. Last year, a screaming passenger was seen on a cellphone video being violently dragged from a United Express flight out of Chicago after he refused to give up his seat for an airline employee, leading to congressional hearings. Earlier this year, a family's French bulldog apparently suffocated during a flight from Houston to New York after a United flight attendant forced them to place the pet in an overhead compartment for the three-hour trip. And the airline agreed to pay $2.4 million to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve charges stemming from a money-losing direct flight between Newark Liberty International Airport and South Carolina, near the vacation home of then-Port Authority Chairman David Samson, who admitted using his clout to coerce United to put the route on its schedule. United officials said Earnest, who served President Barack Obama, will be responsible for developing the company's global communications strategy, working closely with the company's leadership to shape the airline's public image and serve as the company's chief spokesman. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Almost a year before he was elected governor, Phil Murphy sat before an audience full of teachers and made a promise: He would "scrap PARCC Day 1." Vote for him, in other words, and the most controversial standardized tests in New Jersey history would soon be nothing but a bad memory. Flash forward to this spring, more than 100 days into Murphy's tenure: Students are now taking PARCC for what they thought would be the final time. Except, despite the popular belief that Murphy is ridding schools of PARCC, the exams aren't going away just yet. Given the lengthy, bureaucratic processes involved, PARCC -- a test often criticized as too time consuming and confusing -- will be around next school year, and possibly beyond. Promising to scrap PARCC was easy. Killing the tests and finding a viable long-term solution won't be, education experts agree. Equally concerning to many: There is no guarantee New Jersey will be able to come up with a better or dramatically different standardized test. Consider it a case study in what happens when lofty campaign rhetoric gets tangled in the reality of government red tape. "If you are trying to develop a test that can inform instruction and inform parents on how well their child is doing, it's difficult," said David Hespe, a former state education commissioner who oversaw the transition into PARCC testing under Gov. Chris Christie. "It's very difficult." New Jersey is already committed to PARCC for the 2018-19 school year, a fact that wasn't announced publicly until acting Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet appeared in front of state lawmakers in mid-April. Pressed to give a clear timeframe for when PARCC will be gone once and for all, Repollet couldn't say for sure. "It's definitely not going as fast as the governor said it would be," said Christopher Tienken, an associate professor of education at Seton Hall University. "That's not how I took the governor's campaign promise. I don't think a lot of parents understood it that way either." A faulty timeline What went wrong here? For one thing, Murphy's "Day 1" timeline was never realistic. New Jersey already had a contract to administer PARCC tests this spring, the final year of the initial four-year contract for the computerized math and English exams. And Murphy didn't take office until mid-January, less than eight months before the start of the 2018-19 school year. Federal law says every state must administer a standardized test in math and English each year, so skipping testing completely wasn't an option. Still, PARCC opponents were energized by Murphy's comments and thought the new administration could hustle to replace PARCC with an interim set of exams. Not quite. In theory, the state could have picked a so-called "off-the-shelf" test (i.e., one that's already created, administered in other states, aligned to New Jersey's standards and approved for use by the U.S. Department of Education.) In reality, Murphy's hands were tied, according to the state. Because any deal with a test vendor is a government contract, the state would have needed to solicit bids by fall 2017, before Murphy took office, to have a new new test ready in time for the 2018-19 school year, said Mike Yaple, a spokesman for the Department of Education. Now, Murphy's administration appears poised to continue with PARCC on a year-to-year basis until it decides exactly what it wants from a new exam. The state this month is launching a 21-county listening tour to gather insight from teachers, students and parents, and Repollet told lawmakers he envisions a customized exam, "a New Jersey test for New Jersey standards for New Jersey students." Could New Jersey actually create that from scratch? "If you have sufficient resources and time, you can do a credible job of developing your own assessments," said Drew Gitomer, a professor of education at Rutgers University. "But that is typically not the case." Time, then, might be Murphy's biggest obstacle. It took roughly four years for New Jersey to make the transition to the PARCC exams, which were developed in partnership with a consortium of other states. While that timeline could be expedited, there's no shortcut around the nuts and bolts of creating a new exam, said Chris Cerf, the state's education commissioner from 2010 to 2013. Questions need to be written, reviewed, field tested and evaluated for bias. The state has to make sure the test is aligned to its standards and teachers are trained to understand it. A test vendor needs to be secured through an RFP process replete with red tape, and the federal government has to review the exam to make sure it's valid. "It's a multi-year process that involves lots and lots of work to do effectively," Cerf said. Is PARCC Lite the answer? New Jersey isn't the first state to move away from PARCC, and there's already a blueprint for how to do it without starting over from square one. Massachusetts was considering adopting the PARCC exams in 2015 but instead decided to go with a hybrid exam: A mixture of questions from PARCC and the state's existing test, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) Officially, the new test is called the "Next Generation MCAS" or "MCAS 2.0. Informally, it's called "PARCC Lite." Repollet told lawmakers last month that New Jersey will look at what Massachusetts has done. He called the Massachusetts model of buying PARCC questions and using them to create its own test "one of the best in the country." But following that model could be a tough sell politically in New Jersey. The state's largest teachers union excoriated PARCC as a flawed exam and distraction from learning before testing even started, prompting tens of thousands of students to skip the exams annually. And scrapping the exams was one of Murphy's signature education campaign promises. "I'm not sure the governor ran on changing the name of PARCC," Tienken, the Seton Hall professor, said. "That is just like a bait and switch." If PARCC is truly being dumped, New Jersey's best-case scenario would be for the state to spend time determining how to get the results it needs with the minimal amount of testing time, Gitomer said. If it does that, the state could become a model for standardized testing nationwide, he added. More realistically, considering the political urgency to develop new tests, the state will come up with something that takes less time than PARCC, which should assuage parents and teachers even if it's not as good of a test, he said. Then, there's the worst-case scenario. "You have something as disruptive as PARCC," Gitomer said, "with worse information and even more reasons for dissatisfaction." Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook Mayor Jimmy Davis is riding a wave of change the likes of which his city hasn't seen in decades. There's construction for new residential developments down Avenue E; deals struck for major projects on the former Military Ocean Terminal, which had remained mostly vacant for 20 years; and new businesses cropping up. It's all part of a strategy, enacted through the work of his administration, that seems to be working: entice people to move to Bayonne to increase the median income and restore its local economy. Davis is now seated atop a renaissance of sorts. But whether he can continue holding the reins will be decided in Tuesday's municipal election. "Go back four years ago. See where the city was four years ago. ... It was spiraling downward," Davis, 54, said. "We lost a sense of community. ... I ran a campaign based on that." Now, Davis says, his residents "feel that pride about living in Bayonne" again. "That's what I wanted to change and I think now we have the ball moving in the right direction. We just need to keep it going." A graduate of St. John's University, Davis joined the Bayonne Police Department 1986 and also worked within the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office's Homicide Unit, en route to earning the rank of captain. A growing segment of the population, however, sees the city's revitalization as unpaced and unchecked. Critics say development in the city is out of control and that lucrative tax breaks for developers are putting the city's future and taxpayers at risk. Davis will face his biggest political challenge yet in a pivotal election next week, where he and his opponents will find out if his strategy is resonating with his residents. He is being challenged by former Assemblyman Jason O'Donnell, the campaign manager for Mayor Mark Smith (who Davis unseated in 2014) and Dr. Mitchell Brown. Both are running campaigns based on what they say is an unchecked municipal government. Davis has not gone unscathed, and he has certainly suffered setbacks. He has been embroiled in a "sexting" scandal with a former city employee that could cost taxpayers money. He told The Jersey Journal that he believes he will be vindicated when the lawsuit goes to court. His administration also fought to keep a seven-figure police brutality lawsuit settlement agreement hidden. The Jersey Journal spent nearly a year battling the city and its insurer in court for information that should have been disclosed from the get-go. A lawsuit filed by a Muslim group after the group's plan to build a mosque and community center were rejected resulted in a $400,000 payout. Meanwhile, he's taken consistent heat for his administration's use of tax abatements to bring in development, which circumvent typical taxation and let the developer pay monies directly to the city. But these, he said, "have been an effective weapon in the war on the operating (structural) deficit," which at its peak stood at $30.4 million but is now roughly $18 million. "When I came into office... the city was known as the place where deals go to die. We couldn't get developers to come to the city of Bayonne," he said. "Jersey City, Weehawken, Harrison -- we're in competition with these cities, and if I don't use (PILOTs) to develop our city, you cannot fix the city's finances," he added. "I owe it to the taxpayer to fix the structural deficit and the finances of this city, and that's exactly what I'm doing." Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. PREVIOUS COVERAGE Local activists took to the steps of St. Aloysius Church in Jersey City this week to mourn the death of a Filipino priest murdered Sunday in the Philippines. Rev. Mark Ventura, the cousin of a Jersey City-based activist, was gunned down by an unidentified shooter after saying Mass in the city of Gattaran, in the northern province of Cagayan. Tuesday's candlelight vigil was sponsored by International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines and Malaya, a U.S.-based movement dedicated to stopping the government-sanctioned killings in the Philippines while also promoting democracy there. Attendees toted signs with messages condemning President Rodrigo Duterte, whose drug war has claimed the lives of an estimated 14,000 people. Combined with Duterte's wars on terrorism and against Communist rebels, Raymond Palatino told The Jersey Journal last week that it is the poor and indigenous peoples of the Philippines who are suffering the most and are least able to advocate for themselves. Ventura, the second activist priest to be murdered in the Philippines in the last four months, was "known for his anti-mining advocacy and for helping indigenous peoples in the province, which is famous for its copper and gold mines," Asia News reported. Ventura was a priest in the Diocese of Tuguegarao. Ventura is the cousin of Jersey City activist and New Jersey City University student Bea Sabino, who helped organize a recent Stop the Killings speaking tour in New York and New Jersey. The tour featured Palatino, a former member of the Filipino Congress. JERSEY CITY -- Closing statements were heard today in the sexual assault trial of the North Bergen "sexorcist" accused of using his stature as a "prophet" to prey upon a young man in 2009. "In what can only be described as cruel irony, this man used the Pentecostal faith's beliefs on sexuality to sexually assault (the victim)," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Baginski said of Gregorio Martinez, who has already been convicted of bail jumping and molesting a 13-year-old. Baginski noted yesterday's testimony by the now 27-year-old man in which he said he thought of Martinez as a mentor and an internationally prominent religious figure. But he said during a road trip to a prayer service, Martinez began fondling his crotch. The Jersey City man said he pushed Martinez's hand away. The man said that on another occasion, Martinez asked him to go into a car with him alone because he wanted to pray over him. He said that while praying, they closed their eyes and Martinez reached inside his pants. Finally, the man said Martinez came to his home unannounced one day, took him aside and asked him about his sexual habits. He said Martinez became concerned and said he wanted to pray over him again, so they went inside. The victim testified that Martinez wanted to pray over his genitals. The 27-year-old said he pulled down his own pants and underwear and Martinez prayed over his genitals, which he also touched and kissed. The man added that he thought Martinez's actions had a religious purpose and were proper. Baginski told the jury today that Martinez had found through trial and error the best way to prey on the then 18-year-old man was to manipulate him with religion. In his closing argument, defense attorney Daniel Gonzalez told the jury that there was not one shred of evidence corroborating the man's accusations, adding that the case was rife with reasonable doubt. "No one in the United States of America should be found guilty of something with this sparse, nonexistent, incredible evidence," Gonzalez told the jury. He noted that in his statement, the accuser first told a detective that if Martinez had touched his genitals he would have punched him or "gone ballistic." Later in the statement, the man does say Martinez touched and kissed his genitals. But Gonzalez reminded the jury that the man said he had pulled down his pants and underwear himself and there was no attempt to stop Martinez. He suggested that if something happened, it was consensual. "He was 18 and full of testosterone," Gonzalez said. "How that was working is up with him... If it worked toward accepting it and he liked it, it's cool -- it's 2018." Gonzalez also mused about the mental state of an 18-year-old who believed he had met a prophet who spoke to God. "I don't know, maybe the issue is mental health. Maybe he needed therapy," Gonzalez said. "You guys will not solve anything in that young man's life by convicting this man," Gonzalez said. "Have faith in reasonable doubt. Have faith. When we started this case (Martinez) was presumed innocent. The state has not met its burden, not even come close." The jury will begin deliberating after being instructed on aspects of the law pertinent to the charge against Martinez, who has been said to perform exorcisms. He faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted. He is currently serving nine years for molesting the 13-year-old and bail jumping. The trial is before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. The proposed removal of a memorial to the victims of a 1940 Polish massacre is officially an international incident, with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Polish Senator Stanislaw Karczewski trading barbs about plans to find a new home for the statue. Karczewski, speaker of Poland's senate, said Wednesday on Polish Radio that the push to move the Katyn memorial is "scandalous," while Fulop fired back with an accusation that Karczewski is a "known anti-Semite." The insults come three days after The Jersey Journal reported that the Katyn memorial, a bronze-and-granite fixture at Exchange Place since 1991, may be moved following a renovation of the plaza where it stands. The park renovation will be undertaken by the Exchange Place business group chaired by Mack-Cali CEO Mike DeMarco, who said he'd prefer the "gruesome" statue get a new home. The city has not said whether the Katyn memorial will remain at Exchange Place. "It is a really scandalous and very unpleasant situation for us," Karczewski said on Wednesday, adding that the monument "speaks of Polish heroism, Polish heroes and also speaks of tragic events." Poland's ambassador to the United States, Piotr Wilczek, said on Monday the city should keep the statue at Exchange Place. Karczewski has faced criticism from Jewish and Israeli groups since the Polish Senate passed a law earlier this year banning anyone from insinuating that Poland was complicit in the Holocaust. Fulop, whose grandparents were prisoners at Auschwitz, released a statement through his spokeswoman saying the "only thing scandalous or unpleasant is Stanislaw's actions." "The fact that a known anti-Semite, a known white nationalist, and a known Holocaust denier thinks that he will be able to influence Jersey City parks or policies is laughable," Fulop said. "This guy has zero credibility and he only has served to undermine Poland's standing in the world." On Twitter late Thursday, Wilczek addressed Fulop: "your accusations regarding Speaker @stkarczewski are baseless and I categorically condemn them. I renew my appeal from Monday for constructive dialogue w/ the Polish-American community to #SaveKatynMonument." DeMarco and Mack-Cali are powerful forces in Jersey City. Three of the six board members of the Exchange Place Special Improvement District, which is heading the plaza renovation project, work for Mack-Cali. The firm also spends freely in support of local politicians, everything from giving a $250,000 donation to a super PAC linked to Fulop's now-abandoned gubernatorial run to buying school supplies it gives to politicians who hand them out at back-to-school events. The Polish artist behind the memorial, which features a bound-and-gagged soldier stabbed in the back with a bayoneted rifle, old The Jersey Journal he is "pissed off" that DeMarco has suggested moving the statue permanently. Andrzej Pitynski, reached by phone, said the statue should remain where it is. He then called DeMarco a "schmuck." "After 30 years some businessman with big money comes and he tries to dictate," Pitynski, who now lives in Hamilton, told The Jersey Journal. "Who this f***ing guy is? The hell with him." A request for comment from DeMarco was not returned. The statue commemorates the killing of over 22,000 Polish officers and other prisoners by the Soviet secret police after the Soviets invaded Poland. In a twist, Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis Thursday evening offered to take the Katyn memorial if Jersey City doesn't want it. "As mayor I would be proud to have it at one of our many of our wonderful parks, maybe at Rutkowski Park which is named in honor of one of Bayonne's most prominent Polish-American leaders," Davis said in a statement from his spokesman. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- A man was gunned down outside of a City Crossing apartment unit on Wednesday night, officials said. The Hudson County Prosecutor's Office confirmed it was investigating the fatal shooting of a male at 21 Merseles Ct. Prosecutor's homicide unit on the scene at 21 Merseles Court in JC investigating apparent fatal shooting of a male. ProsecutorSuarezHCPO (@HCPOProsecutor) May 3, 2018 Sources say at least one other person, a woman, was injured during the gunfire. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening, according to a source. The victim appears to have been shot somewhere outside of the apartment, which is a gated complex off of Bright Street. Blood stained the sidewalk where a wooden table was set up. A dice was lying in the street next to medical gloves. One source said the man collapsed and died inside the building. Police were back at the scene on Thursday morning. The small, two-story building, was damaged by two bullet holes. Additional information was not immediately available. The death is expected to be ruled the sixth homicide in Jersey City this year and the eighth in Hudson County in 2018. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. The Union City teachers union chief is under fire after the release of an undercover video that shows her denigrating some of the city's public-school students, suggesting a teacher not report that he hurt a student and referring to a Union City teacher who had sex with a child but was not charged criminally. Conservative group Project Veritas, which has been slammed by the statewide teachers union for "using dishonest and illegal tactics to fabricate false stories," released the 15-minute video on Wednesday morning, one day following the release of a similar video that resulted in the suspension of a teachers union president in Hamilton Township. Kathleen Valencia, president of the Union City Education Association, is identified as the woman in the newest sting. Asked to comment, a statement from the school district says Valencia has been suspended. "The board finds the comments that were made deeply disturbing and inappropriate because they in no way reflect the views, and core beliefs and values, of our school district, or of the professionalism of our educators, and other employees," the statement says. "We have no governing control over the UCEA, its policies or procedures we are separate and distinct entities. The UCEA does not speak for our school district." Requests for comment from Valencia were not returned. In the video, a woman working for Project Veritas poses as the sister of a Union City teacher worried about losing his job for pushing and injuring a student. In occasionally whispered tones, Valencia tells the woman not to worry. "Did the kid's parent come in? No? Nothing happened," Valencia says. "There's no video? Nothing happened." Valencia, whose LinkedIn page says she works at Jose Marti Freshman Academy, goes on to trash some of the children in the 14,000-student district. "I know dirt bags. I have taught the dirt bags. They have a whole dirt bag class at the high school. I've taught the dirt bag class, OK?" Valencia says in the video. "It's the biggest f***ing pieces of s*** I have worked with." The woman from Project Veritas expresses fear that her brother will be criminally charged and asks Valencia for assurance that he won't be. "People have done worse things than him and, like, been fine?" the woman says. In response, Valencia points to a file on her desk. "This file right here is from a teacher who had sex with a student, OK? You're not going to jail," Valencia says. "This file is about whether or not the teacher gets to keep his pension. Sex with a teenage girl. Is he going to jail? No. How come? Because the child's not pressing charges." Project Veritas, headed by James O'Keefe, has been criticized for selectively editing videos to push a conservative agenda. A woman working with the group tried to get the Washington Post in 2017 to publish false information about Roy Moore, a Republican Senate candidate. The New Jersey Education Association yesterday issued a statement slamming Project Veritas after the video of the Hamilton teacher, who is seen in that video saying he would not report a teacher who beat a student. The statewide union did not respond to comment about the Union City video. "Project Veritas cannot be trusted as a source and should not be dignified with coverage or response, other than to note that it is a political advocacy organization with a history of using dishonest and illegal tactics to fabricate false stories," the NJEA said. "Nothing is more important to NJEA members than the safety and well-being of the students they are privileged to educate. NJEA members go above and beyond every day to ensure that students are safe, healthy and well educated." Pay records show Valencia was hired in 2002 and makes over $68,000. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. A 27-year-old Jersey City man testified yesterday at the trial of a North Bergen pastor that the "sexorcist" prayed over him before molesting him in packed van heading to a prayer service in 2009. "This is a case about faith," Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Andrew Baginski said in his opening statement yesterday morning in the trial of convicted child molester and bail jumper Gregorio Martinez, 50. Martinez was sentenced to four years for the sex assault of a 13-year-old and five years for bail-jumping earlier this year. "Those who hold positions of authority in our religious community hold a lot of power that can be abused," Baginski said. "The evidence in this case will show that Gregorio Martinez used the power that he had to kiss and touch a young man's penis for his sexual gratification." "It's not about faith," said defense attorney Daniel Gonzalez in his opening statement. "It's about a young man who says something happened to him. ... An 18-year old man, who you are going to hear from his own mouth, pulled down his pants, pulled down his underwear, all by himself." Gonzalez suggested that the alleged victim was ashamed that he may have had a sexual relationship with a man and deflected it by claiming he had been sexually assaulted. The 27-year-old Jersey City native said he met Martinez in 2008, at a time when he was lost and very anti-social. "He was well known in the United States and around the world," the 27-year-old said of Martinez. "He said God put him on this Earth to pray over us. He just wanted to pray over us. I looked to him as somebody who was a mentor, who was a guide." The man said that on a long ride to a prayer service, Martinez reached over and touched his crotch area. "I was very shocked and confused, and I just took his hand, and I threw it aside," said the 27-year-old who said he went to at least three, two-to-three-hour prayer services each week. The man said that on another occasion Martinez and the alleged victim were alone in a car when Martinez said he wanted to pray over him. He said this time Martinez reached inside his pants. "I was pretty shocked and confused because of the way that he did it -- he started with prayer," the 27-year-old said. "We closed our eyes, and he would just go inside and grab me and start ..." Finally, the man said Martinez came to his home unannounced one day, took him aside and asked him about his sexual habits. He said Martinez became concerned and said he wanted to pray over him, so they went inside. He said Martinez prayed over him and then said he wanted to pray over his genitals. The 27-year-old said he pulled down his own pants and underwear and Martinez prayed over his genitals, which he also touched and kissed. "I thought this was actually the right thing to do -- pray over a body part if it was messing with you," the man said. But under cross examination, the man admitted that when first interviewed by detectives in 2015, he said that when he met Martinez, he thought Martinez may be a homosexual, he didn't trust Martinez and that there was something fishy about him. Martinez's lawyer asked the man if he told the detective "I would punch him in the face if he touched my penis." "Correct," he replied, and the man also admitted he never told the detective he had been alone in a car with Martinez. He said he told the detective that Martinez helped him take his pants off and only later in the interview did he say the kiss had happened. Gonzalez noted that the man never told the detective that Martinez had gotten down on his knees and the man replied, "The reason why I didn't tell her is I still wasn't comfortable at that time." Gonzalez also asked the man if he used the phrase "I'm not ashamed to tell you" early in an interview with the detective. He said he did not remember, but after reviewing the transcript, the man said "Yes." Gonzalez asked the alleged victim if Martinez had touched him for a longer period of time when they were alone in the car and the man said he had. "So you allowed that?" Gonzalez pressed. "Yes," the man answered. Finally, Gonzalez noted that the man provided more details on the stand yesterday than he had when interviewed three years ago. Asked if his memory was better then or now. the alleged victim said "I'd probably say, yes, back in 2015." The alleged victim continued his testimony yesterday. The trial is expected to finish today. Martinez faces five to 10 years in prison if convicted. The trial is before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Mirtha Ospina in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. Yes, New Jersey, your governor has smoked weed. Gov. Phil Murphy ducked the questions on whether he had or would smoke in the future twice in two days, including at a public event Thursday in Edison. Then, two hours later he made the big reveal on Twitter: "Here's the deal: I've tried marijuana literally once or twice many years ago, and I don't have any desire to partake again," Murphy wrote. Heres the deal: Ive tried marijuana literally once or twice many years ago, and I dont have any desire to partake again. But this effort isnt about me - this is about social justice. https://t.co/OdT3LLrVks Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 3, 2018 On Wednesday, Murphy, a Democrat, who wants to legalize recreational marijuana, was vague when a reporter asked if had or intended to "consume the product." "I said to somebody: If this were legalization of Scotch or Irish whiskey, I would not need any advice," Murphy replied. "I'd know exactly what to do. I've never been a marijuana guy -- this is for social justice." When pressed if that was a yes or a no, Murphy didn't answer as he left the news conference. On Thursday, Murphy smiled when The Record's Charlie Stile asked him to clarify whether he plans to smoke pot if it becomes legal. "Ah, Jesus, Charlie," Murphy replied. "We'll deal with that some other time." Murphy then walked away from the lectern to sign an executive order regarding labor. "Some other time" came a few hours later. Murphy's vague response on Wednesday prompted others to jump in on Twitter, including the mayor of New Jersey's second largest city, Steve Fulop of Jersey City. "I don't understand why politicians are always so cagey on this," Fulop tweeted. I dont understand why politicians are always so cagey on this. It is what it is + you are who you are - no big deal. 1) Im for legalization 2) social justice is important to me as well 3) I used to smoke tons of weed (ok maybe not tons since we are talking about quantities) https://t.co/etIcOgz4b1 Steven Fulop (@StevenFulop) May 2, 2018 Aside from calling it a matter of social justice for those locked up on marijuana charges, Murphy sees legalizing pot as a way to generate tax revenue. In fact, his first state budget proposal expects $60 million in tax dollars from legal pot. In Murphy's admission he's tried marijuana, he repeated his assertion that legalization was about social justice. There are 24,000 marijuana-related arrests each year in NJ, with black residents arrested at three times the rate of white residents. NJ has the largest black-white incarceration gap in the nation - that's shameful, and legalizing marijuana is critical to reducing that disparity. Governor Phil Murphy (@GovMurphy) May 3, 2018 NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. A trucker from Florida who was passing through New Jersey was found with more than $2 million in drugs when authorities searched his tractor trailer at a New Jersey Turnpike rest stop, prosecutors said. Detective Joe Angarone and his K9 Bela. (File photo) On Tuesday evening, Mercer County Narcotics Task Force officers searched the truck bearing a Florida registration at the Woodrow Wilson Service Area on the northbound side of the turnpike in Hamilton Township. Prosecutor's Detective Sgt. Joe Angarone's K9 partner, Bela, alerted him to the scent of drugs, and "detectives became suspicious of the driver's nervous demeanor," prosecutors said. They found 13 kilograms of cocaine and four kilograms of heroin hidden in the sleeping portion of the trailer. Prosecutors estimate the street value of the seized cocaine was $1.3 and the heroin was worth $800,000. The driver, Frank Rosario, 44, of Kissimmee, Florida, was charged with multiple narcotic-related offenses, and the prosecutor's office has filed to have him detained. The prosecutor's office did not elaborate on the arrest, citing an ongoing investigation. Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A Hamilton Township school employee has been suspended after a hidden camera video appeared to depict him saying he would downplay and not report an incident of a teacher beating a student. The video was published Wednesday on YouTube by Project Veritas -- which the New Jersey Education Association said has used "illegal tactics to "fabricate false stories" -- and identifies the employee as Hamilton Township Education Association President David R. Perry. The incident between the student and teacher never happened. The Veritas employee, posing as the sister-in-law of a fictitious middle school teacher, used it to get the man identified as Perry to talk about what steps would be taken if the student reported the assault. Perry could not be reached immediately for comment. Hamilton Township Superintendent Scott Rocco said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that once he was aware of the video the district called authorities, suspended "the individual" and opened an internal investigation. "The true beliefs and values of this school district are not represented in this video and are not aligned with who we are as faculty, staff, administration, and community," Rocco said. In the video, the man identified as Perry says the teacher should come to him and tell him "the truth" about what happened. Later, he says he could change the date of any records he keeps, making it appear it was reported the day after it happened, and that he would downplay the incident. "I need to know the truth, so that we can bend the truth," he says in the video. "If nobody brings it up from (the) school, I don't say boo. "I'm here to defend even the worst people," he later says on camera. In a second video, Project Veritas' James O'Keefe confronts Perry about the undercover video. "I said, what we do is we help people," Perry says in a second video. "And what they do wrong, they deserve their punishment." Project Veritas has been criticized for using selective editing to create false impressions about what people in academia, government and social service organizations have said during undercover audio or video conversations. The New Jersey Education Association dismissed the video. "Project Veritas cannot be trusted as a source and should not be dignified with coverage or response, other than to note that it is a political advocacy organization with a history of using dishonest and illegal tactics to fabricate false stories," the NJEA said in a statement. "Nothing is more important to NJEA members than the safety and well-being of the students they are privileged to educate. NJEA members go above and beyond every day to ensure that students are safe, healthy and well educated." The video was also posted to the Facebook page of Hamilton Township Community Supporting Education, where several people who identified themselves as parents called the video sickening. "This is just pathetic," Denise Ragolia-Ayres commented. "I have kids in this school system and this is infuriating." Others were skeptical because Project Veritas was responsible for the video. "I don't trust any videos put out by Project Veritas," said Allison Shifman Chartier. "This organization (is) horrific and has been proven to edit video for political purposes in the past. I am horrified they are in NJ, let alone Hamilton." Allison Pries may be reached at apries@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonPries. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A man was gunned down Wednesday night inside a Shell Gas station, across from the Trenton Central High School construction site, authorities said. Aveon Perry, 28, of Trenton was inside the gas station on the 800 block of Greenwood Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday when he was struck by gunfire, Mercer County Prosecutors said. When city police arrived on the scene, they found him with multiple gunshot wounds. First responders transported Perry to Capital Health Regional Medial Center, in the city, but he was pronounced dead shortly after. On Thursday morning, the parking lot of the Shell station was blocked off to pedestrians with caution tape, as the joint Mercer County Homicide Task Force continued its investigation. Fourteen evidence markers could be seen in the parking lot and surrounding block. In September 2016, three others were shot and two killed in the gas station's parking lot. Earlier Wednesday evening, Trenton police Lt. Steve Varn told NJ Advance Media, two others were shot in the Battle Monument neighborhood in North Trenton. A 21-year-old man was found with a gunshot wound to his leg on the 600 block of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and a 22-year-old man had been shot in the knee and was picked up on the 300 block of Brunswick Avenue. Both men were transported to Capital Health Regional Medical Center and treated for their injuries, Varn said. The city's Shooting Response Team believes those two were shot by the same person or group, Varn said, and the team is continuing their investigation. Shooting in Trenton leaves one dead 14 Gallery: Shooting in Trenton leaves one dead Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A employee who works as a contractor for Frontier Airlines was stabbed to death by a co-worker Thursday morning during a dispute at Philadelphia International Airport, authorities said. A suspect was taken into custody after a dispute in a secure area near Gate E6, Philadelphia police said. The injured man was brought to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center where he was pronounced dead following the 11:30 a.m. stabbing. No passengers were involved and police are still investigating. NBCPhiladelphia.com reported the argument broke out in a break room for Worldwide Flight Services, an airplane cleaning contractor. One man turned on a light switch and his co-worker objected. Then a third man got involved. FoxNews.com, meanwhile, reported that a verbal altercation on the tarmac turned physical. A spokeswoman for the airport referred questions to police. Frontier Airlines didn't immediately respond to a message asking for comment. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Federal authorities arrested a Plumsted man Tuesday on a charge accusing him of creating videos and images of two juvenile girls performing sex acts on each other in the Philippines. Frank W. Maile, 62, of New Egypt, appeared in U.S. District Court in Trenton Wednesday and was held in custody without bail, the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey announced. He's charged with one count of producing visual depictions of child sexual abuse outside the United States, with the intent that the depictions be imported into the United States. Investigators believe the sex acts with the underage girls occurred in December 2015. Other evidence alleges he pursued sex with girls for several years. Maile is a globetrotting pilot for a cargo carrier and is retired from the U.S. Air Force, authorities said. His social media pages describe him working for Atlas Air. The federal criminal complaint against Maile says he arrived from a trip abroad April 6 in Huntsville, Alabama and border authorities manually searched his electronic devices and found an image of child sex abuse on his laptop computer. Authorities seized it, as well as four other devices, and investigated further and found a large volume or apparently original child sex abuse images of several victims, the complaint alleges. Among the evidence and communications investigators say they uncovered are electronic chats Maile had with a person in the Philippines described as an "arranger or pimp." Starting around June 2013, Maile and the person began discussing Maile having sex with two minor sisters. The chats, and other evidence, suggest Maile had sex with the older sister in December 2013. More conversations in 2014 show Maile chatting with the arranger and repeatedly expressing an interest two young girls, and the arranger replying, in 2014, that the older one of the girls was 14. Maile then suggested the girl should take birth control pills, and the arranger in the Philippines responded, she was "too young" for birth control. Over the course of 2013, 2014, and 2015, Maile continued to express an interest in having sex with the younger sister, and got impatient when the arranger said the younger girl was not yet ready to have sex, the complaint says. Around December 2014, Maile allegedly chatted with the younger girl - through the arranger - and the girl said it was her 10th birthday, the complaint says. Authorities suspect, from using U.S. Customs and Border Patrol records, that Maile was in the United States, and probably at his residence in Ocean County, while chatting about engaging in sexual activity with the two sisters. Federal authorities believe Maile eventually travelled to the Philippines and filmed the sisters in sex acts, in December 2015. The complaint also says Maile, in allegedly setting up the meeting, asked about the price for him having sex with the younger sister. The arranger said he would ask the girl's mother. Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter@kevintshea. Find NJ.com on Facebook. State Sen. Jeff Van Drew has a new opponent in his bid to take over the U.S. House seat in his district. You won't see David Hogg's name on any local election ballot in June or November, but some engaged voters know he's around. Hogg is an outspoken young survivor of the Parkland (Fla.) High School mass shooting in February, in which 17 people, most of them Hogg's classmates, were killed. How Van Drew caught the attention of a South Florida student activist is unclear, but the reason is not: the conservative Democrat state senator's high marks from the National Rifle Association. Hogg recently tweeted: "Remember both Democrats and Republicans take #NRABloodMoney. Just look at New Jersey state senator @JeffVanDrew, he's a Democrat with An A rating for the NRA." Van Drew is widely considered the front-runner for the 2nd District U.S. House seat that longtime Republican incumbent Frank LoBiondo will give up at year's end. In truth, the state senator from Cape May would likely be more amenable to sensible federal gun reforms than LoBiondo, whose initial foray into Congress was heavily financed by the NRA. Yet, if Van Drew no longer stands with the NRA, he hasn't run away too hard or too fast. He says he last took NRA contributions 10 years ago, and he'll refuse them now. His problem is that standing with the NRA today is taken to mean opposing no-loophole-whatsoever background checks, supporting virtually unlimited access to rapid-fire weapons, and allowing people on "no-fly" lists to keep buying guns. In the age of Parkland, that's a view that's out of step with what most Americans want. Van Drew seems to want it both ways. It's widely believed that the state Senate held up voting on any substantial new gun measures until after the June primary, so that Van Drew's votes on them won't be recorded while he's facing a trio of more progressive Democrats for the congressional nomination. Van Drew has also portrayed himself as a Capitol dealmaker, stating "As a supporter of the Second Amendment, I feel that I'm uniquely the right voice we need in Congress to find common sense agreement combatting gun violence and break the dysfunction in Washington." That's smart positioning, but don't label Van Drew as the best hope for real reform before studying U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin III, the West Virginia Democrat who rode into office with a gun-toting 2010 commercial that effectively separated him from President Barack Obama. When, in 2013, Manchin backed some limited background check controls with Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., the NRA treated the Democrat as a traitor. The legislation failed famously. The pair briefly revived it this year, post-Parkland. It went nowhere again, this time partly because of on-and-off support from President Donald Trump. Given huge Democratic organization support, his financially challenged primary rivals, and an all-but-invisible GOP campaign, odds are high that Van Drew will be going to Washington in January. Influencers like David Hogg, as well as active young people who live within the district, and anyone else who wants to see gun violence curbed, need to keep flushing Van Drew out of his too-comfortable corner. When the full electorate votes on Nov. 6, Van Drew should have been coaxed into saying exactly what he will, and what he won't, vote for in Washington. Does he have unique ideas of his own? A strategy to succeed where Manchin and Toomey failed? Keep those tweets coming, folks. Send a letter to the editor of South Jersey Times at sjletters@njadvancemedia.com Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. This is not exactly a news bulletin, but when it comes to safety, New Jersey Transit still has a public trust issue. So when the nation's third-largest commuter railroad receives public records inquiries about the condition of its infrastructure, its reply should be something besides "MYOB." But that's what NJT told The Record twice in the last seven months - once in October and again in February - after the newspaper asked the agency to release the most recent inspection reports for the 700-plus bridges it maintains and repairs. Citing safety and security issues, NJT declined. And the Attorney General backed it up. So much for all that NJ Transit transparency we heard about during the campaign. That isn't to say NJT cannot recover its mojo on Gov. Murphy's watch, but you may assert your right to be confused on this one. There are 227,000 customers riding its trains every day, and they have a right to know the health of the bridges that NJ Transit inspects annually, since these customers pay most of the freight. The condition of road and highway bridges are available online through the Federal Highway Administration, and this is hardly different. The Federal Railroad Association bridge safety regulations do not prohibit public access to this information. NJ Transit is under no restraints from disclosing (as FHWA does) how many bridges are structurally deficient, how many have been replaced, and how many are scheduled to be replaced. This is info most riders would want to know. It is not revealing design or construction information or anything beneficial to terrorists. And even if there was something security-related in the inspection reports, the sensitive information can be redacted. Note the similarity to the oil train debate: Lawmakers in our northern boroughs have repeatedly asked that the schedule and content of tanker cars - notably, those filled with combustible Bakken crude running through Bergen County - should be shared with local governments for emergency response preparation. They were motivated by one factor - safety - but were rebuffed by a governor who cited security risks. Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg agrees "there is no difference" in the public's right to access rail bridge information. Len Resto, the president of the N.J. Association of Railroad Passengers, goes further: "Riders have a right to know the conditions of the entire infrastructure," he said. "It allows them to make an informed decision as to whether to ride the system or not. This includes concrete stairs, viaducts, archways, bridge steel, platforms, rail equipment, etc. Whether it's a safety issue or a reliability issue of being to get to work or home on time, a rider has a right to know as they are paying for their service." No doubt, NJ Transit has some urgent infrastructure issues. It has little chance of making its Dec. 31 deadline for Positive Train Control - the automatic braking system that likely would have prevented the Hoboken crash - and if the FRA doesn't grant an extension, NJT could be subject to fines and its trains could be banned from Penn Station by Amtrak. That doesn't change the public's right to know about the condition of 661 rail bridges and 81 light rail bridges maintained by NJ Transit. The last governor promised an "era of transparency," and then fought most open-records requests with fierce dissent. The current governor says that it is "unacceptable" that NJT uses "questionable tactics to decrease transparency and increase bureaucratic opaqueness." Little has changed in the five months since he said that. It is still time to rebuild the trust in a wounded agency, and hiding critical information about potential bridge failures is inconsistent with that aim. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. It remains unclear why Rudy Giuliani consented to a TV chat filled with incriminating slips and blathering contradictions, but if his goal was to assure Sean Hannity's audience that Donald Trump is being tormented by a "witch hunt" and "perjury trap," the message tanked. If anything, he provided another boatload of ammo for Robert Mueller, while forcing Trump himself to hand over his Twitter account to another typist to douse the legal bonfire Giuliani left behind. But two revelatory nuggets give Trump reason to wonder whether he'll be ratted out by everyone on his Rolodex - which may ultimately be this administration's epitaph. First, Giuliani torched the old narrative about Trump being oblivious to Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels for her silence about an alleged affair. He also disclosed that Trump reimbursed Cohen through a monthly retainer - but that "it's not a campaign finance violation. They funneled it through a law firm and the president repaid it." Funneled through a law firm. That's not a phrase they encourage in damage control school. The Washington Post asked Campaign Legal Center whether the payment method affected the legality, and general counsel Lawrence Noble was unambiguous: The payment is still a campaign finance violation even if Trump calls it a "private agreement." Cohen paid Daniels hush money before the election for Trump's benefit, so it remains an unreported campaign expenditure. And it had to be reported before Election Day, which it was not. But after months of denials, the repayment disclosure produced this gem from Trump's Twitter account: "These (non-disclosure) agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it will be used in Arbitration for damages against (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations." Just more proof how easy it is to blackmail this president for $130,000. In addition, Giuliani disclosed that Trump fired FBI Director James Comey for refusing to publicly declare that the president was not the subject of the Russia investigation. "He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation," Giuliani said. "He's entitled to that." The Lester Holt confession notwithstanding, the administration has long held that Comey was officially fired because of his handling of the Hillary Clinton email investigation - an inane pretext, but it served its purpose - yet Trump's attorney now admits it was directly related to Comey's Russian probe. Former US Attorney Barbara McQuade told The Post, "Demanding that Comey make a public statement that Trump is not under investigation would itself potentially be obstruction of justice." So what is Giuliani up to? He could be winging it. This is the man who built his political brand on a national tragedy, and then went on to lobby for Saudi Arabia, big tobacco, Hugo Chavez's oil cartel, private prisons, war profiteers, and Seisint, the data mining giant founded by cocaine smuggler Hank Asher. Now he runs the president's legal shop. It's hard to imagine more inept lawyering than this, and it's a wacky day at the White House when Donald Trump has to clean up the hash left by his own attorney. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. When I was a lad attending what was then St. Joseph's High School in Toms River, I developed the art of inserting a science-fiction paperback into a textbook and reading it during class. One such novel was "Farnham's Freehold" by Robert A. Heinlein. It was about a guy named Farnham who is catapulted by a nuclear bomb into the future. There he sets up a homestead and has sex with a younger woman, also conveniently catapulted into the future for the enjoyment of young male readers. This gave me a positive view of the word "freehold," the dictionary definition of which is " permanent and absolute tenure of land or property with freedom to dispose of it at will." That also meant I was familiar with the term some years later when I became a reporter and covered the Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, which has its office up the street a bit from my old school. I always thought the term had a nice, historical ring to it, conjuring up colonial days when the area was rural and therefore devoid of subdivisions and strip malls. Joe Pennacchio does not agree. Pennacchio is a state senator and former Morris County freeholder who is sponsoring a bill that would change the title of "freeholder" to "county commissioner." He told me the local paper, the Daily Record, had done a survey of 20 Morristown residents to see how many knew what the term "freeholder" means. "Guess how many knew?" Pennacchio asked. "One." "Why don't you put in a bill saying the other 19 can't vote?" I suggested. Pennacchio thought that a bit extreme. He said his motive for introducing the bill was simply to make county government more transparent for the voters. "My total focus was just to get people engaged," he said. "They're not gonna know who to complain to unless they know what that person's job is." I suppose that's a noble aim - at least for the counties that desire the name change. Pennacchio's original draft of the bill addressed that by giving counties the option of changing the title. But once the bill got to the Senate floor, the language was altered so that the change became mandatory. The proponents of the substitution argued that the term "chosen freeholder" has echoes of a time when women and minorities were not allowed to vote. Perhaps. But so does the term that describes the body that endorsed that substitution by a 27-4 margin. "Maybe we should change the term 'Senate' because that goes back to Roman times when they had slaves and women couldn't vote," said Ed Smith. Smith is a Republican freeholder in Warren County, which produced one of the four negative votes. He said the term often elicits questions that end up educating the voter. "People say, 'What do you do?' and I say 'I'm a freeholder' and it starts a whole conversation," he said. As for "commissioner," that's a conversation-killer, he said. He noted that most commissioners are appointed, not elected, "I've been a bridge commissioner and a mosquito commissioner, but I'm a freeholder," he said. I agree. If counties are going to be able to rename their elected officials, I'd suggest something like "county council member." Or perhaps some of those northern counties run by political machines that run up vote Soviet-style vote totals might want to use the term "commissar." But those that wish to keep the term "freeholder" should be permitted to do so. One senator who voted against the bill argues that changing the title will cost a lot of money better spent on more worthy causes. "With the attendant cost of changing signage and stationery and cards, it's insanity," said Declan O'Scanlon, who is a Republican from Monmouth County. "It's just another one of those deaths by a thousand cuts to the taxpayers." The bill will still have to be approved by the Assembly. The version there is sponsored by Republican Betty Lou DeCroce, who is also from Morris County like Pennacchio. At the moment, that version is still permissive rather than obligatory. That means there's a chance New Jersey will remain the only state with freeholders. That's fine with me. Pennacchio argues that the change "will bring county government into the 21 st century." But I liked the 20 th century just fine. Back then, the science fiction writers merely predicted the decline of government into chaos. Now we're living through it. ALSO - UNFUNNY JOKES: The sole reason I would support getting rid of the term "freeholder" is the annoying habit people have of calling them "freeloaders" as if that was some sort of original joke. It's not. Once you've heard a line like that about a hundred or so times, hearing it again is like water torture. A four-year contract with 32,000 state workers that grants future and past raises frozen by former Gov. Chris Christie's administration will cost taxpayers nearly $150 million, Gov. Phil Murphy's office said Thursday. Just Wednesday, the governor had said he did not know the exact price tag for the contract, with his office saying it will take time to crunch the numbers. His office said Thursday this newly announced figure doesn't represent a final tally. This year's budget and Murphy's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 include just enough funds to cover the contract's projected cost. Roughly half of the $148.9 million will be spent reimbursing employees who were frozen on their pay grids and did not receive customary clothing allowances during the Communications Workers of America's contract dispute with Christie. Many employees missed one or more of the "steps" that traditionally carry raises in the hundreds or thousands of dollars. Those workers will receive that backpay. Employees already on the top step will receive a $650 bonus. At a public event in Edison on Thursday, Murphy, a Democrat, said the price tag was high because the contract covered things Christie, a Republican, should have done. "More than half of that was making up for what my predecessor didn't do," Murphy said. "Even in prior administrations, on both sides of the aisle, even when there wasn't a contract, the steps were paid. He neither negotiated the contract, nor paid the steps." Under the contract, all employees with receive one 2 percent raise dating back to last August and a second 2 percent raise effective this July. Recent retirees, those who left state employment during the lapse in contracts, will get $650 bonuses instead of the retroactive raises and step increases that would have boosted their final salaries, and in turn their pensions. The current budget signed by Christie included $85.6 million for salary increases and other benefits for all state workers. Murphy's proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1 includes $64.3 million more. The CWA represents nearly half of all state employees, including some of the its highest-paid -- psychiatrists earning $226,000 a year -- and then more than 1,000 full-time employees earning less than $40,000. As of 2016, there were about 9,000 CWA employees with salaries between $40,000 and $60,000 and 9,500 between $60,000 and $80,000, according to state workforce data. The agreement was overwhelmingly ratified by the union's members, the CWA announced Tuesday. It closes the books on a three-year dispute between the labor union and the state over the step increases, which the Christie administration had said workers weren't entitled to once their contract expired in July 2015. Christie's move upset a 40-year-old practice that said the status quo should be preserved between contracts to avoid giving either side an advantage in negotiations. When previous contracts expired without a successor agreement in place, workers continued to receive their step increases. Christie held out, even after the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of local labor groups in a similar fight with their public employers, who were found to have committed unfair labor practices. But once the Republican governor left office, the CWA had a much more labor-friendly negotiating partner. Murphy accused Christie of demonizing the state's public workforce and said he wanted to restore respect and celebrate public workers. "We wanted to make sure working folks and their families are treated fairly again in this state," Murphy said Thursday. "That this is a state where folks say, 'You know what? This is a fair place to work and to do business. But ... on our side of the table, we want to make sure we enter into arrangements, when we shake hands, it's something we can live with ... it's within our means." Murphy's election campaign had strong support from labor groups, including the CWA, which spent big on Democrats in the fall election. NJ Advance Media staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report. Samantha Marcus may be reached at smarcus@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @samanthamarcus. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Two northern New Jersey towns besieged by commuters were warned to put the brakes on ordinances banning out-of-town traffic on local roads, the state's top law enforcement official disclosed on Wednesday. State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal told an Assembly committee he advised officials in Leonia and Weehawken in March not to enforce ordinances aimed at curbing the traffic crunch from New York commuters. The Leonia ban made national news late last year after local officials, facing gridlock they blamed on GPS navigation apps, tried to prevent non-residents from using their side roads as shortcuts. Appearing in front of the Budget Committee Wednesday, Grewal responded to a question about the controversy from Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, D-Bergen, by stumbling into a reference to the George Washington Bridge scandal. "This is a byproduct of Google Maps and Waze, so when you're in a traffic jam -- well, maybe I'll stay away from the traffic jams at the bridge," he said, prompting laughter in the committee room. "When you're going to the bridge and traffic is building up, Waze is directing people to go through Leonia and some side streets and that's creating some problems locally that the local police department has to deal with," Grewal, a former Bergen County prosecutor, said. Leonia passed an ordinance in December prohibiting non-residents from driving on about 60 of the township's residential streets during peak traffic hours. Under the law, violators faced a $200 fine. In February, officials in the Hudson County town of Weehawken approved a similar measure to alleviate overflow traffic from the Lincoln Tunnel. But amid outcry from neighboring towns and a few legal challenges, the Attorney General's Office in March advised officials in those towns that their bans were illegal. In a letter to an attorney for Leonia, Grewal advised town officials "immediately refrain from enforcing them," according to a copy obtained by NJ Advance Media on Wednesday. For one, such laws are subject to review by the state transportation commissioner, the attorney general wrote. Additionally, a 1955 formal opinion from the Attorney General's Office already forbids local officials from restricting through traffic on their roads. Local officials in the two towns could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening, but Grewal told state lawmakers they had "agreed to stand down on the enforcement" of the ordinances. Signs prohibiting non-resident traffic remain posted in Leonia. The attorney general said Wednesday his office was "in discussions with (the towns) to get an appropriate fix." S.P. Sullivan may be reached at ssullivan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy says it cheats New Jersey workers. And he suggests former Gov. Chris Christie did a "lousy job" protecting them from it. It's called "misclassification" -- when employers label workers as independent contractors instead of employees to avoid shelling out money for taxes and benefits. The Murphy administration just took two steps to crack down on the practice. Murphy signed an executive order Thursday to create a task force that aims to improve how the state enforces laws to punish those who commit the act. And state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced New Jersey has joined 11 other states in a legal brief urging the National Labor Relations Board to rule that misclassifying workers violates federal labor laws. "We are either gonna bring you into compliance, or we are going to put you out of business," Murphy warned employers before signing his order at the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters' training facility at Raritan Center in Edison. Murphy, a Democrat, said "unscrupulous contractors" who misclassify workers are committing fraud and cheating "honest, hardworking people out of their rightfully earned and legally protected wages and benefits." In doing so, Murphy added, those employers "unlawfully drive down costs to give themselves an unfair competitive advantage against employers who do the right thing by their workers and by the law." Misclassification, officials say, often hurts low-wage employees in industries such as construction, commercial cleaning, transportation, and nail salon work. But, they added, it's expanding to fields like teaching, nursing, and psychology. The practice, officials say, can deny workers the ability to organize and lead to unsafe working conditions. And too often, they add, workers don't know they're affected until they file their tax returns. Plus, officials note, it hurts the state's economy. Murphy's office said some audits suggest it costs New Jersey more than $500 million in tax revenue annually. Murphy said while the practice is technically illegal in New Jersey, the state has not had proper "cooperation and coordination" between agencies to enforce the law. "This is not a question about we need more or better laws -- although we're always open to that. This is a question of enforcing what is already on the books," added Murphy, who succeeded Christie, a Republican, as governor in January. "We've come out of a period where we've done a lousy job," Murphy continued. "It hasn't been coordinated. Our backs have been turned. And we're saying today: Those days are over. Definitively over and done." Grewal said misclassification "actually makes New Jersey's communities poorer in the long run by denying workers the wages and benefits to which they are legally entitled and that are essential to building a fair and prosperous economy." According to Murphy's order, the task force will review how the state enforces misclassification laws, develop plans for better coordination between departments and agencies, and make recommendations on how to educate employers, workers, and public about the issue. The panel will include 12 members, with representatives from various state departments. John Ballantyne, the executive secretary and treasurer of the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, said misclassification is "probably one of the most crucial issues we have faced within the construction industry." "We have the laws on the books," Ballantyne said. "It's really a matter of making sure they're being enforced." While Christie often clashed with labor unions, Murphy has openly said he wants to be their friend because they were neglected under the previous administration. Critics say Murphy -- who was endorsed by many public and private unions in last year's election -- is too cozy with organized labor. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. WASHINGTON -- House Republicans aren't going to give up retiring Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen's congressional seat without putting up a fight. The National Republican Congressional Committee announced Wednesday that it would help raise money and provide other support for three of the GOP candidates seeking the party's nomination in the June 5 primary. "These candidates are running strong grassroots campaigns that will be integral to expanding our House majority," said Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, the NRCC chairman. The three are state Assemblyman Jay Webber, R-Morris; investment banker Antony Ghee; and businessman Peter de Neufville. They were named to the first of three levels in a program designed to identify and assist candidates with the best chances of winning in November. The 11th District contest is rated a tossup by the two Washington-based publications that track congressional races, the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections. It is one of five GOP-held districts in New Jersey, all of which could fall to the Democrats in November, according to a recent Monmouth University poll, which cited the unpopularity of President Donald Trump and the Republican tax law, which curbed the federal deduction for state and local taxes. "Whoever emerges from the Republican primary will have the impossible task of running on the deeply unpopular GOP agenda that has increased health care premiums and hiked taxes for many families in this community," said Evan Lukaske, a spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Voters are sick and tired of this reckless Republican Congress and they're ready to elect a strong Democrat this November." Webber had $221,339 in the bank as of March 31, while Ghee had $61,738. De Neufville has yet to file a campaign finance report. Their fundraising paled in comparison with Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill, a former Navy pilot and federal prosecutor, who had $1.7 million cash on hand. The NRCC earlier began raising money for John McCann, general counsel to the New Jersey Sheriffs Association, who is trying to take on Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., in a congressional district the committee said appears "favorable to the GOP candidate." The committee gave an even bigger boost to McCann's primary opponent, former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan, saying he was "on the path to developing a mature and competitive campaign operation" and therefore deserved even more assistance from the national party. "We have no shortage of compelling, hardworking candidates on our side," Stivers said. "The NRCC is thrilled to continue supporting these candidates' campaigns." Lonegan, who lent his campaign $1 million, had $708,306 to spend entering April, while McCann had $113,773. Gottheimer, a freshman Democrat who ousted a seven-term Republican incumbent and is seeking re-election in a district that Donald Trump carried in 2016, banked $3.3 million. He is strongly favored by Cook and slightly favored by Inside Elections to win a second term. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. WASHINGTON -- Former Gov. Christie Whitman, who served as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush, said current EPA head Scott Pruitt was unfit to remain in his position. "These ethical lapses have been amazing and what they've done is they've undermined the morale," Whitman said on CNN Thursday. "That, combined with his approach to the EPA, which is, 'I hate it. I don't think it should be.'" Pruitt has been accused of misusing taxpayer funds -- including spending $43,000 on a secure telephone booth -- and renting a room from the wife of a lobbyist with business before the EPA. The allegations are under investigation by the EPA's inspector general. Whitman said Pruitt was carrying out the agenda of President Donald Trump, who has called climate change a Chinese hoax, but there were limits as to what he could do in repealing regulations. "They're being attacked in a way that is really mindless," Whitman said. "You can't just get up one day and say something which was deemed by scientists to be a problem for human health and the environment all of a sudden isn't any more. You've got to come up with an alternate study. You've got to prove this." EPA spokesman Jahan Wilcox said Pruitt is hard at work doing his job. "From advocating to leave the Paris Accord, working to repeal Obama's Clean Power Plan and Waters of the United States, declaring a war on lead and cleaning up toxic Superfund sites, Administrator Pruitt is focused on advancing President Trump's agenda of regulatory certainty and environmental stewardship," Wilcox said. Whitman said she had no problem with Trump and Pruitt re-examining regulations to see if they still were needed, but they had go through a process to change the rules, not simply act to roll back whatever President Barack Obama did. "It's fine to rethink regulations and to look at them from time to time but this seems to be just, 'If Obama had anything to do with it, we're going to get rid of it." Pruitt has come under fire from others as well. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th Dist., the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said at a hearing last month that Pruitt was "unfit to hold public office" and told him, "Every indication is you really should resign." Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. The open road in New Jersey proved deadlier for drivers on two-wheels last year, after motorcycle deaths increased by 15 percent, bucking a national trend where deaths decreased in 2017. The Governor's Highway Safety Association report was released Wednesday as summer-like weather blanketed New Jersey that was perfect for motorcycle riding. May also begins annual motorcycle safety awareness campaigns in the state. Nationally, there was an 8.6 percent decrease in motorcycle fatalities or 453 fewer deaths in 2017, based on preliminary preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. New Jersey was one of 18 states where motorcycle fatalities increased last year. Last year, 4,798 people died nationally in motorcycle crashes, down from 5,251 killed during 2016, the GHSA found. In New Jersey, 80 people were killed in motorcycle crashes last year compared to 69 in 2016, according to the report. The National Safety Council estimates 40,100 people died in traffic crashes last year. State safety experts said they couldn't identify an immediate reason for the increase, but said the increasing age of bikers, traffic congestion and distracted driving are factors in crashes. It also follows a trend where 2017 was the deadliest year on New Jersey roads in a decade, when 625 people were killed in crashes. "We are seeing that the age of motorcyclists is rising, as well as their rate of injuries and fatalities," said Tracy Noble, a AAA MIdAtlantic spokeswoman. "They face additional challenges today, more traffic, more powerful bikes, more distracted drivers and diminished physical skills." The number of older persons between age 40 and 60 either riding for the first time or returning to riding a motorcycle is spiking, Noble said. The number of fatal crashes involving mature motorcyclists also is rising, she said. A 2016 State Police analysis of fatal crashes in 2016 agreed with the GSHA's conclusions that said driving under the influence and speeding were major causes of deadly motorcycle crashes. In New Jersey, 19 people who died in motorcycle crashes in 2016 tested positive for drugs or alcohol, according to the state police analysis. State Police found distracted driving was a factor in 18 motorcycle crashes, followed by speeding which contributed to 16 collisions. A similar State Police analysis for 2017 has not been released yet. "Distraction definitely plays a part because when drivers are not paying attention to the road and then refocus, they are more likely to miss seeing a motorcycle while their attention is diverted," Noble said. Both AAA and the state Division of Highway Traffic Safety are promoting motorcycle safety awareness for bikers and drivers of other vehicles this month, as more bikers return to the road. How to reduce the high rate of motorcycle fatalities will be the focus of an event at Bergen County Harley Davidson in Rochelle Park at 11 a.m., May 8 held by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety, State Police, AAA, and other safety groups. Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @commutinglarry. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A former mayor who resigned suddenly on Christmas Eve -- after twice crashing a city car, taking a medical leave and revealing that he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder -- forcibly kissed a female subordinate in a hotel room and told her he loved her, according to a lawsuit. The actions were part of "a campaign of relentless sexual harassment" then-Mayor Samson Steinman waged against Rahway employee Denise Rolong over three-and-a-half years, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday in state Superior Court. Among her other allegations: Steinman, 47, told her she should wear sexy costumes, constantly asked her where she was, commented that he liked her body and bragged about his supposed sexual exploits. A woman who answered the door at Steinman's house Wednesday said she was "sure he's not interested" in commenting on the lawsuit. A call to a cell phone number that previously belonged to Steinman was answered by a stranger. Rolong, 47, has worked in the city's senior center, recreation department, clerk's office and art gallery since she was hired in May of 2014. She is now the gallery's managing director. When Steinman got drunk at the New Jersey State League of Municipalities conference in November of 2015, Rolong claims in the lawsuit, she walked him upstairs to his Atlantic City hotel room. As she said good night, Steinman pushed her up against a wall of the room and forcibly kissed her, the suit says. "A knock at the door caused Steinman to loosen his grasp and allowed Ms. Rolong to escape the room," the lawsuit says. On another occasion, Rolong alleges she was at the Rahway restaurant Cubanu with friends and met a man. A few hours later, the suit says, Steinman sent her frantic text messages and asked her immediately to meet him in his office. When she arrived, Rolong claims, "a distressed Steinman told her that he loved her" and begged her not to date anyone in Rahway because he knew everyone there. The city's business administrator, Cherron Rountree, was aware of Steinman's feelings and encouraged him several times to tell Rolong, according to the lawsuit. Rountree and Mayor Raymond Giacobbe Jr. referred requests for comment to the city's law director. The law director, Louis N. Rainone, said Wednesday that Rahway had not been served with the lawsuit and does not comment on pending litigation. The city will send the lawsuit to its insurance carrier, Rainone added. On March 18, 2017, Rolong alleges she was babysitting her nieces when Steinman sent her a barrage of texts and calls, asking her to go to Cubanu. She says she declined. Later that night, she claims she heard a bang outside of her house, saw a car in the middle of the street and called the police. Rolong thought she recognized Steinman's city-issued car and texted him to ask if he had gotten into an accident, according to the lawsuit. He told her he had and that he had slid on ice or hit a pothole, Rolong claims. She says she saw neither ice nor a pothole in the street. Steinman, who passed a field sobriety test after that crash but was not given a breathalyzer test, slurred his words when she spoke with him later that night, Rolong alleges. She and Steinman were out together one day in February of 2017 when he became too drunk to drive home, the lawsuit says. Rolong alleges she drove him home and was walking to her own house a few blocks away when Steinman got in his personal car and told her to get inside. He drove away after she threatened to call the police, according to the lawsuit. At one point, Rolong says she felt as if Steinman's close friends were watching her. She also alleges Steinman once gave raises to city employees and did not include her, shortly after she asked him not to visit her at work anymore. Rolong told a city councilwoman about the alleged harassment at three December meetings, and the councilwoman met with Rountree and then-council President Giacobbe on Dec. 24 to discuss Rolong's sexual harassment complaints, the lawsuit says. Steinman, a Democrat, resigned that afternoon in an email to city officials. He previously crashed his city-issued car in August of 2016 and again the next March. He then took a seven-week medical leave for then-unspecified personal issues. Steinman told NJ Advance Media in May of 2017 that he had been receiving inpatient treatment for bipolar disorder. He said at the time he did not know whether his insomnia, a side effect of his bipolarity, had played a role in either of his car crashes. Marisa Iati may be reached at miati@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @Marisa_Iati or on Facebook here. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips More than 70 experts and officials from 275 leading companies in the marijuana industry across the U.S. and Canada are headed to New Orleans next week and could offer a glimpse of the business opportunities that lie ahead for Louisiana. This will be the first time New Orleans hosts the MjBiz Conference which has travelled to cities across the U.S. over the last seven years. The conference, which will take place from May 9-11 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center will feature speakers and experts who will offer insight on how Louisiana could create a sustainable medical marijuana program. "Don't expect a bunch of people in tie dye shirts selling pot brownies," said MjBiz Daily editorial vice-president Chris Walsh. "This is a business conference of cannabis professionals who will be able to provide a wealth of information about the industry including the legal risks and the regulatory framework." The conference is not open to the public and registration is required. For more information click here. Louisiana's medical marijuana program will be relatively small, especially compared to states like Colorado and California where marijuana has been legalized entirely. The state has licensed nine dispensaries and only two growers. The list of medical conditions that can be treated with medical marijuana is also limited to cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, muscular dystrophy and Crohn's Disease. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up There is a chance however the program could grow as it has in other states. "This is going to start off as a very small market, but states that legalize medical marijuana expand," said Walsh. "They realize marijuana isn't the boogeyman and begin to add more conditions, more business licenses. This is still a grand experiment and we are working to create something that will be self-sustaining." Correction: Chris Walsh is the editorial VP of MJ Biz Daily. Maria Clark writes about health, doctors, patients and healthcare in Louisiana for NOLA.com | The Times Picayune and NOLA Mundo. Reach her at mclark@nola.com or 504.258.5306. Or follow her on Twitter at @MariaPClark1 . Two men were treated for injuries Tuesday (May 1) and then arrested, after one crashed a stolen SUV into an 18-wheeler, a light pole and a storefront while trying to escape deputies in Arabi, according to the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office. The driver, identified as 19-year-old Randy Manuel of New Orleans, and his passenger, 18-year-old Derek Jordan Jr. of Chalmette, were booked with various charges after deputies found marijuana in the crashed car. The crash occurred mid-day Tuesday, after St. Bernard authorities were dispatched to a call about a 2010 black Mazda CX-7 reported stolen out of New Orleans. The car had been spotted in Arabi, and deputies tried to make a traffic stop on the vehicle as the driver turned into an Arabi parking lot. According to authorities, the driver, later identified as Manuel, refused to stop and instead sped off. As the SUV headed westbound on St. Bernard Highway, the vehicle left the roadway several times -- and then struck the side of an 18-wheeler, the Sheriff's Office said. At that point, Manuel lost control of the car, which flipped over, hit a light pole and ran into a business in the 7400 block of West St. Bernard Highway. Manuel admitted to knowing the vehicle was stolen and claimed to have bought it from a man in New Orleans, according to the Sheriff's Office. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Inside the car, investigators found a backpack containing eight grams of marijuana along with clothing, a black ski mask and a flashlight. Deputies also found one gram of marijuana on Manuel, the Sheriff's Office said. Manuel is accused of illegal possession of stolen things, reckless operation of a motor vehicle, hit-and-run driving, aggravated flight from an officer and possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Jordan was booked with possession of marijuana. Both men were treated at a local hospital for minor injuries before they were booked into the St. Bernard Parish jail. Wednesday afternoon, bond had not yet been set for Manuel, according to the Sheriff's Office. Jordan was released from jail on a $1,250 bond. No other injuries were reported in the crash. The Harahan Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a man wanted for burglarizing one business and robbing another, said Chief Tim Walker. The burglary occurred about 9:46 p.m. on March 19 in the 1900 block of Hickory Avenue in Harahan. The suspect entered the business and stole a cash register drawer, authorities said. Investigators believe the same suspect robbed a store in the 1700 block of Hickory Avenue about 1:37 a.m. on April 24. The suspect is described as being a man between the ages of 50 and 65 years old. He stands about 5 feet 11 inches to 6 feet 1 inch tall, police said. He was driving a dark-colored 2006 to 2013 Chevrolet Impala. . . . . . . . . Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call the Harahan Police Department at 504.737.9763. The public can also call Crimestoppers at 504.822.1111 or toll-free at 877.903.7867. A LaPlace man has been jailed in Baton Rouge and booked with bigamy after authorities accuse him of being married to two women, which is against state law, according to WBRZ television. Chaffie Brown, 50, was arrested Tuesday at his second home in Baton Rouge after authorities say his first wife - who he lived with in LaPlace in St. John the Baptist Parish - called police, the TV station reports. Brown's first wife apparently confronted her husband after finding car insurance paperwork in the second wife's name, according to the TV station. Read WBRZ's entire report Charges were dropped Thursday (May 3) against longtime environmental activist Luke Fontana, who was arrested at French Quarter Fest on April 13, according to a clerk at the New Orleans' Municipal and Traffic Court. Fontana had been charged with not having the proper permit or business license. The 78-year-old president of Save Our Wetlands Inc. said he had set up a table on the French Quarter riverfront during the popular spring music festival to solicit new members for the organization, which opposes the planned Bayou Bridge crude oil pipeline that would cut across the Atchafalaya Basin. Fontana said he was offering lapel buttons, logo-marked umbrellas and T-shirts as membership bonuses. He said that nothing was for sale. As reported previously, Fontana said a police officer approached around 3 p.m. on Friday (April 13). Fontana said he asked the officer if he'd like to join the organization. The officer declined, instructing Fontana to "pack up" because the French Quarter Festival was a private event where the pipeline protestor couldn't continue his activity. Believing he was within his rights, Fontana said he refused to go. He said he was charged with not having the proper permit or business license, handcuffed and taken to jail. He was released the following morning. On April 16, Beau Tidwell, the New Orleans Police Department's Communications Director, defended the arresting officers' actions. "The individual you reference was arrested by our officers enforcing the 'Clean Zone' ordinance, passed by the City Council last December. Mr. Fontana was given ample opportunity to comply with our officers and to remove himself from the area. He refused to comply and was arrested as a result. We believe our officers acted appropriately in this instance." The "Clean Zone" ordinance institutes a "temporary prohibition of transaction of certain business and/or commercial activity in the Clean Zone areas." It also provides for "the establishment of fines and penalties for violations." In this case, the Clean Zone included the area encompassing the French Quarter Festival. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up In January 2013 a federal judge reduced the size of the Super Bowl clean zone in response to a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union. Read: "Size of Super Bowl 'clean zone' reduced by federal judge after ACLU suit." The charges were originally dropped against Fontana on May 2, but a duplicate of the charges surfaced in Municipal Court, which required him to return on May 3 to request that the second set of charges be dismissed as well. On May 2 the court ordered NOPD to return the Save Our Wetlands materials that were taken when Fontana was arrested. Undaunted by the experience, Fontana said he set up a display table soliciting for members and otherwise spreading the word about Save Our Wetlands near the Sauvage Street entrance to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival during the first weekend (April 27-29). He plans to return this weekend as well. Fontana said that he received a court injunction in the year 2000 that allows him to display Save Our Wetlands materials and solicit members in that location without police interference. Fontana said he produced the 18-year-old document during his arrest at the French Quarter Festival, but it did no good. However, he said, an NOPD officer patrolling the Jazz Fest perimeter last weekend acknowledged the authority of the document. Doug MacCash has the best job in the world, covering art, music, and culture in New Orleans. Contact him via email at dmaccash@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter at Doug MacCash and on Facebook at Douglas James MacCash. As always, please add your point of view to the comment stream. A New Orleans man was sentenced to 117 months, or nearly 10 years in prison, after pleading guilty in federal court to firearms offenses and possession with the intent to distribute heroin, according to the office of Duane Evans, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana. Timothy Jackson, 29, pleaded guilty on Jan. 10 to charges of drug trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking and being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. He's since been in federal custody. On Jan. 4, 2017, a New Orleans Police Department detective pulled over a Nissan with an illegally tinted front windshield near Simon Bolivar Avenue and Josephine Street in Central City. When the detective walked up to the Nissan, he observed a driver and passenger, later identified as Jackson. The driver appeared nervous-- her hands shook and her voice faltered when she told the detective that Jackson was paralyzed and could not move. The detective noticed a bulge under Jackson's jacket and called for back up, court documents show. When more police units arrived, the officers questioned the bulge in Jackson's jacket, but he claimed it was "only his medicine," per court documents. He reached for the jacket and officers stopped him. They pulled out two loaded Glock handguns. Officers searched the car and found prescription pills, as well as a bag of heroin and $1,825, court documents conclude. Court records show Jackson previously pleaded guilty in March 2008 to possession of cocaine and was placed on probation for three years. A month later he was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 19-year-old in Mid-City, but a jury found him not guilty. Then, in January 2012, he was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison after being found guilty of manslaughter. He was most recently named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the indictment of three men accused of conspiring to distribute heroin on behalf of the "Byrd Gang" between Oct. 1, 2015 and May 23, 2016. Olivia Matte, the woman accused of causing a high-profile 2017 fatal crash on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway while driving drunk, was released from the St. Tammany Parish jail Monday (April 30) after authorities determined her arrest for a probation violation in a separate DWI case was the result of a misunderstanding, her attorney said. Matte was arrested Friday, days after she pleaded guilty of first-offense DWI in a case that preceded the Causeway crash. Authorities had said a warrant was issued for her arrest in St. Tammany Parish as a result of a probation violation. But Ralph Whalen, Matte's attorney, said Thursday that his client did not violate probation and that the arrest last week was due to miscommunication between the judge and probation officers over the home-incarceration clause of her sentence. After her guilty plea on that misdemeanor DWI, state Judge William J. "Rusty" Knight of the 22nd Judicial District ordered Matte to serve two years of active probation, attend DWI and substance abuse classes, perform four eight-hour days of community service and pay a $600 fine plus court costs. He ordered her to remain on house arrest until the charges are resolved in the Causeway fatality case, which is being heard in Jefferson Parish. As part of her probation, Matte was required to wear an ankle monitor to ensure she followed the terms of the probation. She is allowed to leave home only for work. In paperwork filed when she was put on probation by the court, she indicated she was not employed. Whalen said she later got a job and contacted the probation office to alert them to the fact that she was going to leave home to go to work. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Due to a miscommunication, probation officials were not aware of her employment and thus assumed she had violated her probation when they realized she was not at home on Friday. A warrant was issued for her arrest and she was taken into custody, Whalen said. Matte, 27, spent the weekend in jail before Knight ordered her to be released on Monday, her attorney said. She was released under the same terms of her home incarceration, court officials said. The first-offense DWI plea stems from a Dec. 7, 2016, incident in which Matt was arrested by a Louisiana State Police trooper after he saw her car veer across the center line of Louisiana 22 in Mandeville. That arrest was the second of her three DWI arrests, coming two weeks after she had completed a diversion program for a previous DWI on the Causeway, authorities have said. The diversion program scrubbed the first DWI from her record. She was arrested again and booked with third-offense DWI, vehicular homicide and other charges in the March 23, 2017, crash on the Causeway that claimed the life of James Blackmond, 37, of Mississippi. The vehicular homicide and other charges are pending in 24th Judicial District Court in Jefferson Parish, with a pre-trial conference scheduled for May 14. She pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 2, 2017. As if Louisiana hasnt had enough of tropical weather this summer, Gov. John Bel Edwards was told Saturday that the states residents need to brace themselves for the possibility of another system coming ashore perhaps as early as next Friday. Authorities are searching for a man who disappeared in the waters near the mouth of the Mississippi River following a boating crash that left one man dead, according to the Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office. A third man survived the accident, said Lt. Chaun Domingue, spokesman for the department. Authorities have not identified any of the boaters involved. Authorities received a call for help around 8:50 a.m. An unknown type of boat had sunk in the area of the Southwest Pass, near Port Eads, Domingue said. Members of the Sheriff's Office Marine division rushed to the location and found the surviving boater and the deceased victim. Both were taken to Venice. The Sheriff's Office is searching for the missing boat with help from the U.S. Coast Guard and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. But the effort is being hampered by high tides, according to Domingue. "They're afraid the body may have been swept out to sea," he said. The Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident, which is believed to involve only one vessel. Foul play is not suspected, but the matter is still under investigation. No further information was available Wednesday afternoon. A 16-year-old student at KIPP Renaissance High School has died from injuries received when he jumped from the back of a school bus in the Bywater on April 12, the New Orleans Police Department confirmed Wednesday (May 2). The teen was identified as Tyronne Bradley, the New Orleans Coroner's Office said Thursday morning. Authorities said Bradley's death on April 17 was accidental and caused by complications of blunt trauma of the head. "The investigation is still active and ongoing," NOPD spokeswoman Ambria Washington wrote in an email. NOPD did not say whether anyone has been arrested or cited in the case. Towana Pierre-Floyd, principal of KIPP Renaissance High School, said that the school community was "deeply saddened by Tyrone's passing." "Tyronne was a beloved member of the KIPP Team and Family for many years and is remembered with great admiration by his classmates and teachers," Pierre-Floyd said in a statement Thursday. "Our thoughts and prayers are with Tyronne's family following the loss of such a wonderful young man." Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune had previously requested updates on the student's condition, but multiple requests to KIPP New Orleans Schools, police and the coroner's office either went unanswered or officials said they were not able to confirm Bradley's death. Police last month said Bradley told his peers shortly after 3:50 p.m. that he wanted to get off the bus while it was driving down the 3500 block of Burgundy Street. Bradley then got up, walked to the back of the bus, opened the emergency exit door and jumped, according to police. Neither police nor KIPP have commented on the events leading up to Bradley jumping from the bus. Hammond's Transportation, the company that owns the bus, has not responded to requests for comment before and after Bradley's death. KIPP Renaissance High serves students at 3820 St. Claude Avenue. The national charter organization also operates six other schools in New Orleans. Staff reporter Wilborn Nobles III contributed to this story. Authorities continued the search for a Baton Rouge minister who has been missing since his boat capsized Wednesday morning in the Gulf of Mexico near the mouth of the Mississippi River, killing another boater. The Rev. Donald Tabb, 85, disappeared in the water near Port Eads in Plaquemines Parish shortly after the 27-foot boat began to sink, according to Adam Einck, spokesman for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Einck identified the deceased boater as John Frey, 86, of Magnolia, Texas, A third boater, a 61-year-old Baton Rouge man, survived the accident. The men were on a fishing trip when authorities believe a large wave capsized the boat. WBRZ-TV identified Tabb as the founder of The Chapel on Campus, a church at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. A post published last night on the church's Facebook Page said the boat belonged to Tabb. The wave threw all three men into the water. Tabb directed the third boater to help Frey, according to the post. The third boater swam to shore with Frey, but wasn't able to revive him. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up When the third boater turned his attention back to the boat, he couldn't see Tabb, according to the post. Wildlife and Fisheries agents and the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the search for Tabb Wednesday night but resumed this morning, Einck said. Authorities were worried that he may have been swept out to sea because of the location near the river's mouth. The Chapel asked the community to pray the families of Tabb, Frey and the third boater. Stay with NOLA.com for more on this story. Ugandans in smaller business entities accessing affordable finance have increased, thanks to the Uganda Rural Challenge Fund (URCF) courtesy of German KFW Development Bank and the Frankfurt School. At the close-up workshop for the fund last week, leaders from financial institutions that were granted the fund said it had been crucial in helping reach more rural people. The fund has been running for more than five years. Run by aBi Trust Uganda Limited, the fund totalling up to five million euros was advanced to companies, financial institutions, NGOs, and Saccos that could help reach unbanked population and small enterprises. At least 17 companies participated. Finca Uganda managing director James Onyutta said they received 233,000 euros and used the money for micro-energy loans and to develop their credit scored card system which ensured that they collected unique data of the people in small enterprises. They did this with credit reference bureau Compuscan. With this, they managed to reach 89,000 people and get 18,000 new borrowers into the system. It also improved on our processing time. We now do one-day approval [of loans] for the repeat customers. Many local people missed out on credit because they are not in formal banking institutions or they have no data that capture their level of transactions or earnings where lenders can base on to give them money. Data captured by Finca can help to get some people into the credit-worthiness fold. Onyutta said using their calculations based on the score card, you find that we price favourably for these particular customers who are regarded risky. Timothy Akiiki, the Postbank manager of strategy and partnerships, said the institution used the funds to strengthen its mobile van banking. Using the van, he said, at least Shs 2.17bn in loans were given out while 45,000 new customers were registered. It is a true replica of a bank on wheels, Akiiki said. The customers are used to it. Customers registered for that channel [van banking] are also known for phone banking. Lawrence Ssentongo, the URCF project manager, said they experienced a couple of challenges, including the fact that there was limited absorption of the funds available. amwesigwa@observer.ug Sneered at and looked at with a lot of suspicion, Ugandas traders of blockchain technologies such as crypto currencies are about to be blessed with some sense of legitimacy, writes JEFF MBANGA. In a couple of weeks, Uganda will host the Africa Blockchain Conference, where a seat at the two-day conference will go for just under $150 (Shs 550,000). The line-up of speakers, according to the website of the Africa Blockchain Conference 2018, is broad from fintech entrepreneurs to government officials. Due to the incredible gains in the price of bitcoin, the number of hedge funds with exposure to crypto currencies is rising Lets first get to grips with what this whole blockchain thing is all about. Blockchain is simply an online system that allows the transaction of digital assets. So, assets such as crypto currencies like Bitcoin are traded across the blockchain system. Bitcoin can be used to buy different stuff. For example, the online car importation firm, Be Forward, allows crypto currencies to buy cars. The beauty about the blockchain system is that it cuts out the middleman, thereby reducing costs, improving transparency, and ultimately improving earnings between buyers and sellers. On the list of speakers at the Kampala conference, one name is quite interesting the indefatigable Professor Emmanuel Tumusiime-Mutebile, the governor of Bank of Uganda. See, in February last year, Bank of Uganda issued a statement warning the public against transacting in crypto currencies. The statement was stern: whoever wishes to invest their hard-earned savings in crypto currency forms such as One-coin, Bitcoin, Ripple, Peercoin, Namecoin, Dogecoin, Litecoin, Bytecoin, Primecoin, Blackcoin or any other forms of digital currency is taking a risk in the financial space where there is neither investor protection nor regulatory purview. Has Mutebile turned from the biblical Saul to Paul? It is not clear what Mutebile will speak at the conference. However, one gets the sense that the governor will not back down from the banks position but will probably preach, with a softer tone, the need for caution and some need of regulation if Uganda is to fully embrace blockchain technology. And that is precisely what we need to do as a country be a little cautious. For all intents and purposes, blockchain technology seeks to serve a purpose ease transactions and limit costs. Picture this: You own a piece of land that you want to sell. You assign a few land brokers to go hunting for buyers. The process takes weeks. And when it is done, the brokers demand for their cut. Another round of haggling ensues. When you are finally done with that, one year down the road, you are hit with some gut-wrenching news: there is another person claiming ownership of the land you sold. Apparently, two land titles to the same piece of land exist. Both look perfectly legit. Just who is the rightful owner nobody knows; not even the clueless officials at the land registry. Drama, Wakanda-style! Blockchain technology seeks to solve some of these archaic and backward forms of transactions. Assets such as land will soon find their way into the blockchain system and traded there. Wow, right? Caution, my friend, caution. Even before we start discussing the risks of blockchain, let us first get this clear: technology is disrupting the brick and mortar businesses as we knew them, breaking global barriers and skirting around strong regulations. The message from these rapidly increasing new forms of technology is clear get on board or stop blocking traffic! The presence of Mutebile at the conference is an indication that the governor and the technocrats at the central bank can no longer bury their heads in the sand and wish for these technologies to simply go away. You have to feel for them. Blockchain technology simply presents a nagging headache to all kinds of regulators. Let us start with Bank of Uganda. How do you regulate an opaque global market such as blockchain the blockchain market is said to transact nearly $2 billion a day! How do you regulate an online market that knows no boundaries or laws? Then there are our friends at the Uganda Revenue Authority. Taxation is built around three main issues: the definition of the business, its location and the identity of the taxable person. Well, the definition, identity and location of many of the players dealing in blockchain assets such as Bitcoin are as obscure as its founder, Satoshi Nakamoto! How does one define Bitcoin? Is it a product, a currency, an asset? Where does URA find the traders for tax assessment? They could be as far as Azerbaijan for all we know! And lastly, spare a thought for the ladies and gentlemen at the Financial Intelligence Authority. If there is a place where illicit funds are going to find a safe haven, then it is the unregulated dark market of blockchain. The only thing criminals have to do is to convert their illicit funds into crypto currencies and they are good to go. The FIA officials will never trace this money. So, where do we go from here as Uganda? Government officials have to dive in with both feet and try and understand this digital market as soon as possible. Any attempt at blocking the blockchain market is simply futile. There is very useful data that government authorities can mine from this digital market. Government can then use that data to understand human behaviour and come up with some policies. I dont see much choice beyond that. jeff@observer.ug Twitter: @jeff_mbanga Benon Kabale, a bipolar disorder patient at Butabika, plans to pursue further court action, accusing the national psychiatric referral hospital staff of torturing and holding him for hours in a secluded room. Bipolar disorder, according to experts, is also known as manic depression, a condition where sufferers struggle to manage extreme mood and energy swings. L-R: Benon Kabale, Dr Fortunate Ambangira and Prof Ben Twinomugisha of Makerere University speak at a recent press conference in Kampala Kabale, the founder of Heart Sounds Kampala, an advocacy group working with people affected by mental health issues, says he sued Butabika hospital in 2015, largely for violation of his human rights and seclusion of patients. Kabale told The Observer in a recent interview: When I was first admitted at Butabika hospital in 2005, my experience was very strange since I was sedated and also dragged into a seclusion room, where my human rights were violated. That is why I filed the case at High court, seeking for justice. Kabale says that while he was taken to Butabika for treatment, they instead locked him up in a room measuring about two-square metres for more than 24 hours. It was very cold, very dark, with an elevated concrete bed, which had a metallic door and no ventilation, he said. There was no toilet in the room, not even a bucket where you can defecate and before you are placed in a seclusion room, they undress you completely and you endure the cold. I suffered in such a situation for several hours and no medical staff checked on me or gave me food or water, however much I cried for help, he said. Kabale sued the hospital through the Centre for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) but the case was dismissed. His lawyers are working on an appeal. There are so many other mental health service users who have suffered in seclusion rooms and even if you go to Butabika hospital right now, you will find many patients in seclusion rooms in a similar situation as I explained, Kabale said. Justice Stephen Musota dismissed the case, saying it is normal practice to seclude patients with mental problems and it is in accordance with the ministry of health guidelines. And there was no sufficient evidence that patients in Butabika hospital are denied their human rights as alleged, he added. Interviewed, Prof Ben Twinomugisha, Makerere University law school lecturer and lawyer for Kabale said, seclusion breaches the right to liberty, the right to a clean and healthy environment contrary to articles 23, 24, 31, 44 (1) and 45 of the Ugandan Constitution and section 3 of the Prevention and Prohibition of Torture Act, 2012. We are specifically challenging actions of locking up and undressing anaesthetised patients in two-square- metre seclusion rooms which have no toilets, no beddings and are poorly ventilated for over eight hours without any supervision. These patients urinate and defecate in these rooms and endure living in the room with excreta, he added. According to Musotas judgment, seclusion is a normal practice for psychiatric treatment. The judge said before patients are locked in seclusion rooms, they are given night clothes, food, and doctors attend to them every two hours and they are shown toilets in the adjacent room. But Kabale disputes that. There is no seclusion policy in Butabika hospital approved by cabinet; there are no toilets in seclusion rooms, I was undressed completely and no medical personnel checked on me until after 24 hours. I was later rescued from torture by a clinical psychiatric officer Gilbert Buleki who looked for me, in the ward and after failing to get me he traced me in the seclusion room, Kabale said. Twinomugisha blamed the court for commending Butabika hospital for violating rights of patients in seclusion rooms. We need to challenge this judgement to ensure that people with mental disability are entitled to quality health care like any other human being in a good environment that can be catered for, Twinomugisha . The way Butabika hospital handled Kabale was unacceptable. His right to health was violated. Seclusion is restrictive and cannot be regarded as treatment. No Ugandan should be handled with such indignity, Primah Kwagala, the programme manager, Strategic Litigation at CEHURD, said. Interviewed, Dr David Basangwa, the senior consultant psychiatrist and executive director of Butabika hospital, said they rarely use seclusion rooms. He said patients referred to seclusion rooms are those considered dangerous. When patients come to the hospital and they are violent or aggressive and fail to respond to medicine to calm them down but continue to fightthen we have no option but to put them in seclusion rooms to give time to the medicine to work in about 30 minutes to an hour as nurses observe them, he said. Basangwa said when nurses confirm the medicine has worked and patients are calm, they are moved to the ward. But no patient stays in a seclusion room for more than 24 hours as Kabale claimed. Even in United Kingdom, they still use seclusion rooms for very aggressive mentally disturbed people. In Uganda, some communities tie mental health patients with ropes and bring them to Butabika hospital when they are chained like dogs. But in hospitals, we cant chain them. The best alternative is to put them in seclusion rooms temporally as they calm down, he said. Basangwa said in UK hospitals sidestep seclusion rooms by sedating the patient and use six nurses to hold him in one room until the drug takes effect. But here six nurses are what I might have for the whole shift. Mostly in each shift, I have only four nurses. So, I cant have four nurses around one patient yet at the wards we have over 800 patients, he said. Basangwa said seclusion rooms are bedrooms, and not every bedroom has a toilet. He said patients locked in seclusion rooms can use washrooms after an hour. We have guidelines for seclusion rooms, and no one is put there beyond an hour. The clinicians must write and consent. The patient must be observed every 15 minutes. No patient should go overnight in the side rooms. His [Kabale] case had a lot of loopholes, lacked some evidence and that is why it was thrown out, he said. zurah@observer.ug Minister Evelyn Anite Her determined push to rescue the struggling Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) from fiscal crisis has drawn mixed reactions; praise from supporters and accusations of bribery from opponents. State Minister for Investment and Privatisation Evelyn Anite is said to be under police investigation for allegedly soliciting a $8 million (Shs 28.8bn) bribe from a group of Arab investors. But in an April 26 interview, the minister tried to take the sting out of the damaging allegation. She told The Observer that her accusers are essentially jealous of her. Asked about the bribe, she laughed. you know, my job is an envious job, there are many people who want to have it. So, you would expect them to say anything, she said. Anite said she has alerted President Museveni about the rumours. When I first heard about this particular issue, I went straight to my president and I had to tell him. I told him that word making rounds is that because of UTL; I am going to get $8m just because I am fighting to save the company from liquidation. This issue is going to go before cabinet, we will discuss it, and we will choose; should the company be liquidated or not, she said, adding, I expect to hear those accusations because I am stepping on peoples feet. When I tell you that I am going ahead, negotiating big projects, and standing in the way of those who would want a bribe, you expect them to smile and clap their hands for me? Of course not. She said her job entails interacting with investors everyday but when someone says that you took $8m from investorsreally? $8mjust think about it. Where would someone put such money? I am one person who can go to the last mile without getting anything, without any financial gain or incentive. I have been very consistent and when I start on something, I dont let go. On Thursday, the director of the Criminal Investigations Directorate, Grace Akullo, said she is not aware of any investigation involving Anite and the alleged bribe. I havent seen that file. And theres no way the president can order an investigation of such a high-profile person like Anite without me knowing, she said. She added, however, that the president could have gone through her superior, the Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola. UTL struggles A 2015 audit of UTL reported that the company was on the verge of collapse with a Shs 366 billion liability, outstripping its total asset base of Shs 220 billion. Earlier in January, Museveni stopped government from recovering more than Shs 200 billion from UTL and instead directed that the debts be converted into shares. An Oregon woman who allegedly left her horse outside during the winter without adequate care and shelter, causing it pain and suffering, is now being sued by the animal for more than $100,000 in damages. Its not every day you hear about horses taking humans to court, but in states like Oregon this sort of thing has been possible ever sing 2014, when the Oregon Supreme Court ruled that animals can be victims of crime and have legally protected rights. Justice, the horse in this particular case, is listed as a plaintiff in the legal action against its former owner, and, just like a human, has a team of lawyers fighting on its behalf. According to Justices legal team at the Animal Legal Defense Fund in Portland, the 8-year-old horse has suffered a great deal of pain and suffering as a result of his former owners neglect and is entitled to a substantial amount of money that should go toward his current and future care and medical treatments. Photo: Animal Legal Defense Fund Last year, while in the care of its former owner, 51-year-old Gwendolyn Vercher, from Cornelius, Oregon, Justice was left outdoors during the winter, which led to him becoming emaciated and suffering from severe frostbite and skin infection. It was only after a concerned neighbor suggested the horse was in need of medical care that it was finally taken to a veterinarian. The vet determined that the horse was emaciated and its penis had prolapsed and could not retract because it was so swollen and heavy due to severe frostbite. He concluded that Justice should either be housed in a proper stall or be rehomed. Luckily, on March 16, 2017, Sound Equine Options rescued Justice from its abusive owner and transported it to Eagle Fern Equine Hospital in Estacada, for emergency treatment. He was extremely emaciated about 300 pounds below body weight for a horse and most significantly, he suffered from penile frostbite as a result of his exposure to the cold and that was left untreated for months, Matthew Liebman, Justices lawyer from the Animal Legal Defense Fund, told ABC News. Further examination by another veterinarian revealed that the horse was also suffering from lice and rain rot, a bacterial skin infection that irritates a horses hair and skin. Justice was in such a bad state that doctors had to wait for two days before they could sedate it for a more thorough examination. On July 10, 2017, Gwendolyn Vercher pleaded guilty to first-degree animal neglect and agreed to cover the expenses incurred by Sound Equine Options with the horses medical care, prior to July 6, 2017. KATU2 reports that she failed to do that by the set deadline of August 10, even though Vercher told ABC News that she had for his care as part of her guilty plea. The former owner only learned about her former horse legal action against her recently, after being contacted by the media, and described the whole thing as outrageous. Justices lawyers are asking for over $100,000 in damages, which should go to a trust that would be used for his veterinary care, including an upcoming surgery. The Oregon legislature clearly established an anti-cruelty statute for the safety and protection of animals, Sarah Hanneken, one of the attorneys representing the horse, told Oregon Live. Victims of crimes can sue their abusers and animals are sentient beings that are recognized as victims under Oregon law. So with that premise, weve come to the conclusion that animals can sue their abusers and were confident of our stance in this case. A young passenger trying to get some fresh air on a crowded plane at Myanyang Airport, in Chinas Sichuan Province, ended up accidentally opening the aircrafts emergency hatch and triggering the inflatable escape slide. Most passengers consider the flight crews instructions before a takeoff to be pointless, but this story is a clear example of why you should pay attention, especially if its your first time flying. The 25-year-old man, known only by his surname, Chen, was waiting to leave the plane after touching down on Myanyang airport, when he decided that letting in some fresh air into the stuffy plane would do everyone good. So he pushed and turned the lever of what he claims he thought was a window, only to see a whole section of the fuselage pop out right in front of his eyes. Because it was so stuffy, so hot on the plane, I just pushed down on the window handle beside me. When the door fell out, I panicked, Chen reportedly told Thepaper.cn. After calming down passengers, some of which panicked after seeing the hatch pop out and the emergency slide inflating on the side of the plane, the flight crew called the police. Chen was 15 days for the unauthorized removal of aviation facilities and slapped with a 70,000 yuan ($11,000) fine which should go to covering the unnamed airlines costs. Airline officials said that they will be working with police on the ongoing investigation of the incident, adding that the flight crew had gone through the usual safety and emergency instructions before takeoff. They specifically mentioned and pointed towards the emergency hatches on the sides of the plane, so its pretty clear that the man wasnt paying any attention. Still, the hatches and their levers are clearly marked with red, so its unclear how he could have mistaken them for windows. To make matters worse, with Chinas social credit system almost in full effect, Chen may be put on a travel blacklist for his foolish actions. Phil Murphy New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has dropped the $200K military lobbying outlay from his proposed budget. His predecessor Chris Christie earmarked that funding for the states Dept. of Military and Veterans Affairs for lobbying DC on defense issues, especially to protect Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst against military base closures. The Christie administration hired Cassidy & Assocs. in 2015 to serve as its Washington representative. The Pentagon closed Fort Monmouth in the 2005 round of base shutdowns. It also consolidated Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Lakehurst into the countrys only tri-service facility. The joint base contributes $7B to the Jerseys economy. It employs more than 40K people. Jerseys Legislature may restore the military lobbying funds under a revised budget. The budget must be approved by July 1. Josh Earnest Josh Earnest, who was President Obamas press secretary, is joining United Airlines as senior VP & chief communications officer. He joined the Obama team in 2007 as Iowa communications director, after serving as spokesperson for Iowa Governor Tom Vilsacks short-lived presidential run. After eight-years in the White House, Earnest was promoted to press secretary in 2014. Most recently, he worked as political analyst at NBC News and MSNBC. Oscar Munoz, CEO of United, called Earnest a proven leader and world-class communications strategies who has thrived when the stakes are the highest and the margin for error is the smallest. Earnest begins work at United on May 21. Gary Sheffer Boston University's College of Communication named Gary Sheffer, ex-chief communications officer at General Electric and senior corporate strategist at Weber Shandwick, its Sandra R. Frazier Professor of the Practice of Public Relations. In 2014 and 2015, Sheffer chaired the Arthur W. Page Society and continues to serve on the Page board of trustees. He also serves on the boards of the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, the Institute for Public Relations and several other organizations. Sheffer will teach classes in corporate communication, crisis communication, and financial and strategic communication management beginning this fall. He will also continue in his work with Weber Shandwick. James Yi APCO Worldwide tapped James Yi managing director of its Southeast Asia operations. Prior to joining APCO, Yi was executive director of Asia Pacific at GLOBALHealthPR. He has also served as CEO and market leader for Korea at Burson-Marsteller and managing director for Vietnam at Ogilvy Public Relations, as well as holding senior roles at MAX Public Relations, Fleishman-Hillard, McCann Health and Baldwin Boyle Shand. APCO Worldwide CEO Brad Staples said Yi would provide a great boost and energy to APCOs current offerings across the region. Liza Abrams-Wisk DeVries Global has brought on Liza Abrams-Wisk as director of new business development. Abrams-Wisk comes to DeVries from The Bait Shoppe, where she was a senior vp, playing a major role in the creation of the companys strategic communications practice. Before that, she was an account exec at Porter Novelli. In her new post, she is tasked with driving growth across the North America region, and will also oversee the agencys marketing efforts. DeVries has also added Tracy Brosnan and Thom Hackett to its staff as creative directors. Brosnan has held executive positions at Grey Group, Publicis Kaplan Thaler and Saatchi & Saatchi. Hackett has worked with several global beauty brands for McCann Erickson Manchester, Grey and Saatchi. Dale Bornstein Dress for Success Worldwide has added Dale Bornstein and Linda Findley Kozlowski to its board of directors. Bornstein, the CEO of M Booth, has led the firms drive towards integration and expansion, deepening and building new capabilities and recruiting best-in-class talent. She is currently serving a three-year term for the Public Relations Council, where she helps champion the SHEQUALITY initiative. Kozlowski, chief operating officer at Etsy, was previously COO at computer software company Evernote. She has overseen growth initiatives in almost every region of the world, including Europe, Asia, Latin America, Russia and India. Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help them thrive in work and in life. Liz Bowman Liz Bowman, spokesperson for the Environmental Protection Agency and its embattled leader Scott Pruitt, is exiting her post on May 11. She will join the staff of Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa. Bowman joined EPA from the American Chemistry Council, where she was director of issues and advocacy communications. She also was VP at HDMK and senior communications associate at Pew Charitable Trusts. In leaving the EPA, Bowman expressed thanks for the opportunity to serve President Trump and Pruitt. Being a member of the EPA team has allowed me to further my skills, learn from my mistakes, and make lifelong friendships, she told Politico. The New York Times reported April 18 that Pruitt faces 11 federal investigations concerning travel expenses, dismissal of EPA scientists, closes ties with industry lobbyists, pay raises for aides, security outlays and office upgrades, including the installation of a $43K secure phone booth. A Politico/Morning Consult poll found that 53 percent of respondents believe Pruitt should be removed from office,, while 12 percent say he should remain on the job. Nearly half (48 percent) of the Republicans polled say Pruitt has acted inappropriately as EPA administrator, though only 38 percent agree that he should leave. Washington, D.C.-based government relations firm Federal Advocates, Inc. has signed lobbying pacts with national pet retailer Petland, Inc., as well as pet trade organization Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council, as the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees finalize their work on the 2018 Farm Bill. The omnibus bill, which is traditionally passed by Congress every five years, authorizes federal agriculture and nutrition policy under the purview of the United States Department of Agriculture. The Houses current reauthorization of the bill also includes several provisions protecting domestic animals, such as an amendment successfully passed by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) that would alter the Animal Welfare Act and ban the killing of dogs or cats in the U.S. for human consumption, a practice already banned in New York, California and New Jersey. However, an amendment introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) would override states current ability to set their own individual animal protection standards, potentially upending a number of current state animal-related laws, for example, bans on crowded battery cages or Californias current ban on the sale of foie gras, or several states longtime prohibitions on the sale or possession of shark fins. Animal rights nonprofits such as the Animal Welfare Institute and the Humane Society of the United States are concerned that Kings amendment would effectively override anti-puppy-mill ordinances currently on the books in several states, like the one recently signed into law by California Governor Jerry Brown, which goes into effect in January 2019 and will prohibit pet stores from selling non-rescue, non-shelter dogs, cats or rabbits. The U.S. House Agriculture Committee approved its amended version of the bill in late April. PIJAC last year unsuccessfully petitioned Brown to veto the anti-puppy-mill law. The pet trade group in January also fought Hawaii's State Senate to stop a bill that would ban "ornamental" saltwater fishing, which they said would put Hawaii fishery workers out of jobs. Chillicothe, OH-based Petland, which operates approx. 150 stores in the U.S., was subject to a Humane Society investigation last year in which the advocacy group alleged that the retailer, despite claims that it buys puppies only from reputable breeders or animal welfare organizations, actually receives some of its dogs from puppy mills with poor or unknown standards of care. Both the Petland and PIJAC accounts will be managed by Federal Advocates founder Michael Esposito, along with Michael Stroud, who was formerly Congressional Relations Officer for the U.S. International Trade Commission and an Acting Assistant Secretary for the Private Sector Office at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. OECD Secretary-General, Angel Gurria said: We are very pleased to welcome Lithuania as a member of this house of best practices, joining us in our collective endeavour to provide answers to the leading economic, social and environmental challenges of our time. Lithuanias membership will help enrich the OECDs work through the countrys unique experience in several policy areas, while membership in the OECD will support Lithuanias efforts to improve the well-being of its own citizens. I look forward to my visit to Vilnius in early July to celebrate this important outcome. Throughout its accession process, Lithuania has been reviewed by 21 OECD Committees on two fronts: an evaluation of the countrys willingness and ability to implement substantive OECD legal instruments, as well as a detailed assessment of Lithuanias policies as compared to OECD best practices. As part of the process, Lithuania undertook a number of important reforms in areas such as the corporate governance of listed and state-owned enterprises, anti-corruption and investment. Lithuania was invited to open accession talks in 2015. Membership talks with Costa Rica and with Colombia are currently ongoing. For further information journalists are invited to contact the OECD's Media division on + 33 1 4524 9700. More information on OECD's work on Lithuania: http://www.oecd.org/countries/lithuania/ More information on how accession to the OECD works: www.oecd.org/about/membersandpartners/enlargement.htm. Alabama Is Home To The Nations First Lynching Memorial And One Of The Most Controversial Prison Sentencings Of The Year Elijah C. Watson Elijah Watson serves as Okayplayer's News & Culture Editor. When The moment someone enters the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery theyre greeted by 800 six-foot weathered steel monuments showing the names of over 4,000 African-American lynching victims from counties throughout the United States. Some of the monuments are level; others hang from the ceiling like lifeless bodies. The structure of it all is meant to evoke dread, discomfort no matter where you turn youre faced with a gruesome and horrific part of Americas past. The Equal Justice Initiatives (EJI) National Memorial for Peace and Justice honors black people who were lynched across the country between 1877 and 1950. Erected on top of a hill where slaves used to work, the memorial oversees downtown Montgomery and is a 15-minute walk from its companion piece the Legacy Museum. Built on a former warehouse where slaves were imprisoned, the museum chronicles the countrys history of slavery, lynching, segregation, and mass incarceration. Both the memorial and museum serve as symbols of change in a city that, for over 150 years, has been known as the Cradle of the Confederacy. Inspired by the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin and the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg, the memorial is the manifestation of years spent unearthing documents of the thousands of racial terror lynchings that took place in the South. Archives, county libraries, descendants of lynching victims, EJI founder and Just Mercy author Bryan Stevenson and a small group of lawyers ventured through counties from Alabama to Texas for the project. Both the recently opened memorial and museum are rooted in Stevensons work as a lawyer, having seen the way Americas criminal justice system mistreats black people for almost 30 years. Based in Montgomery, EJI has offered legal services to poor people in prison since its founding in 1989. Altogether, Stevenson and his staff have won reversals, relief or release for over 125 wrongly convicted prisoners on death row. We still live in a country where black and brown people are presumed dangerous and guilty and that burden weighs on us, and the narrative has to change, Stevenson said during this years Skoll World Forum. Thats why were building this museum, thats why were building a memorial to help us reflect on this history. The memorial and museum is a commentary on the evolution of black captivity and death. Slavery didnt just disappear after being abolished: it adapted and mutated, becoming an epidemic now known as mass incarceration. Other symptoms came from slaverys end too. Black codes, Jim Crow laws, redlining, segregation white supremacy still affects this nation in so many ways. Which is why the memorial and museum are important. Theyre an unflinching reminder of the damage this countrys past has caused for its present and, possibly, its future, if nothing changes. To have these institutions in Montgomery Alabamas capital is significant. Montgomery was an integral part of the proliferation of slavery throughout the country, with the city serving as a major trade center during the 1800s. Between 1820 and 1860, the amount of enslaved blacks rose from 2,655 to 23,710, making up two-thirds of the citys population. Montgomerys crest is adorned with the phrase Cradle of the Confederacy. The First White House of the Confederacy still stands today. However, encircling the words is another slogan: the Birthplace of the Civil Rights Movement. This is the city that birthed numerous civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Ralph David Abernathy, Edgar Daniel Nixon and Fred Gray after all. That these two opposing legacies come from the same place shouldnt be surprising. One is the result of the other a cause and effect that can still be felt and seen throughout Montgomery. Montgomery is reckoning with this paradox and the memorial and museum speak to that. As fatiguing and overwhelming the memorial is, it provides a needed catharsis. Black people were dehumanized through lynching. From the moment they were hung they became a spectacle, stripped of their life stripped of their identity. To see them finally be recognized is powerful. I never thought Id see something like this erected in my lifetime, Dr. Marva Banks, a former professor at Albany State University said. These lynchings and other atrocities have been hidden and denied for so long. But blacks need to know how they got where they are. The 75-year-old Banks came from Albany, Georgia with her daughter to see the memorial. Some visitors traveled from farther distances. Akil King drove seven hours from Tampa Bay, Florida to see the memorial as well as attend the Peace and Justice Summit that took place before the memorial and museums opening. Born in Arundel County in Maryland, the now 47-year-old King said he was brought to tears when a brutal lynching was recounted during the summit. A woman was distraught over the lynching of her husband so they lynched her too, King said. She was pregnant, so once they hung her they cut open her stomach and killed her baby. Although lynching no longer occurs in the United States black bodies continue to be dehumanized especially through the countrys criminal justice system. The 11,000-square-foot Legacy Museum focuses on Americas mass incarceration epidemic, featuring a multimedia exhibit where visitors can speak to inmates on death row as well as an area where short videos on former prisoners can be watched. Anthony Ray Hinton, a man who spent 30 years on Alabamas death row, is included in both multimedia projects. Hinton was wrongly convicted of the murders of two restaurant workers in Birmingham, Alabama by an all-white jury in 1985. He was finally released in 2015 after the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously overturned his conviction and the state dropped all charges against him. Its just like it was back in the lynching days. Two white men falsely accused me. It was a white mob that prosecuted me. A white judge that sentenced me. A white jury that convicted me. They created another way of execution, Hinton said in the video. It went from the tree to the electric chair, from the electric chair to the gurnerat the end of the journey they still putting you to death. Americas criminal justice system is still targeting black people. Lakeith Smith, an 18-year-old from Montgomery, was recently sentenced to 65 years in prison for the murder of his friend, even though he didnt do it. Three years ago Smith and four friends were involved in a shootout with police in Millbrook a town thats 12 minutes from Montgomery after they broke into someones home. Smiths friend, 16-year-old ADonte Washington, was fatally shot by an officer. Under Alabamas accomplice law which states a person is legally liable for the behavior of another who commits a criminal offense if that person aids or abets the first person in committing the offense, Smith was charged with Washingtons death. Whats happening to [Lakeith Smith] speaks to this larger story that were trying to tell through the [National Memorial for Peace and Justice and Legacy Museum, Evan Milligan, EJI law fellow, said. Theres all these disparities economic, education, health that manifest into the criminal justice system. Montgomery is trying to incite a necessary change in this country. A change in how people talk about race in America. The memorial and museum are harsh reminders that not much has changed in this country theres still so much work to do. An stewardess shows safety instruction on the flight EU2796, May 2, 2018. China's home-developed ARJ21 regional jetliner on Wednesday began to fly on new routes in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, said its developer. The opening of new air routes with ARJ21 represent the model's commercial flight operations in the country's most northern and extreme cold region, said the Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC). (Xinhua/Ding Ting) HARBIN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- China's home-developed ARJ21 regional jetliner on Wednesday began to fly on new routes in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, according to its developer. The opening of new air routes using the ARJ21 represents the model's commercial flight operations in the country's most northern and extreme cold region, said the Shanghai-based Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC). The new air routes include a 3,200-kilometer-long route between Harbin and Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province. The ARJ21 will also be used in a further four new direct air routes in Heilongjiang: Harbin-Heihe, Harbin-Wudalianchi, Harbin-Fuyuan and Fuyuan-Jiamusi. The ARJ21 is China's self-developed regional jet with 78 to 90 seats and a range of up to 3,700 km. It acquired certification in December 2014 and made its maiden flight in June 2016. Mass production started in September 2017. "Flying in cold regions challenges the aircraft's multiple key systems such as the engines, electrical power supply, environmental control and hydraulic pressure," said Chen Yong, chief designer of the ARJ21. "The ARJ21 has already passed verification tests in the extreme cold weather," Chen said. In December last year, the ARJ21 conducted more than 60 adaptive flights in seven airports in northern China's Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces to test its adaptation to extreme cold regions over 19 flight days. Moreover, the ARJ21 also tested capacities in operating and flight support in airports in cold and mountainous regions. To ensure the safety operation of the ARJ21 on its new air routes, Chengdu Airlines had dispatched one plane to conduct test flights in Heilongjiang for one month. "It performed well even in the lowest temperature of minus 30 Celsius degrees," according to Chen. Chengdu Airlines is the "launch customer" for the ARJ21 fleet. With the opening of new air routes, Chengdu Airlines has started the operation model of "trunk line plus regional line" with the country's home-developed civil passenger airplane model. The new operating model of the ARJ21 represents a new phase in the commercial operation as well as the marketization and industrialization of China's jetliners, according to COMAC. COMAC is also the developer of China's home-developed C919 passenger aircraft, which conducted its successful maiden flight on May 5 last year. Chengdu Airlines will use the ARJ21 to build a regional aviation network connecting hub airports and regional airports in China. 4 1 [ Editor: Zhang Zhou ] SEOUL, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Seven out of 10 South Korean people believe that a complete denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula will be possible, a local survey showed Thursday. According to the Realmeter poll, 71.4 percent of respondents said a complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearization will be possibly achieved. It was based on a survey of 501 voters conducted Wednesday. It had 4.4 percentage points in the margin of error. Over 90 percent of supporters for the ruling Democratic Party said the complete denuclearization would be possible, while more than half of supporters for the main opposition Liberty Korea Party believed it would not happen. South Korean President Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), met on the South Korean side of the border village of Panmunjom on April 27. After the third-ever inter-Korean summit, Moon and Kim announced the Panmunjom Declaration, in which the two Koreas agreed to complete denuclearization and the change of the current armistice agreement into a peace treaty by the end of this year. The Korean Peninsula remains technically in a state of war as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with armistice. [ Editor: Xueying ] Komfie Manalo, Opalesque Asia: The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) is considering the introduction of a Financial Instrument Test as a mandatory requirement under the Virtual Financial Assets Act (VFAA), applicable both within the context of an initial coin offering ('ICO') as well as during the intermediation of distributed ledger technology (DLT) assets, which may qualify as virtual financial assets. The proposal was put forward after majority of the industry respondents who were asked for feedback about the test have agreed with the MFSA's proposal to introduce the test. The MFSA said in its latest newsletter, "It is proposed that non-licensed persons providing a service or performing an activity in relation to a DLT asset, in or from within Malta, will also be required to conduct the test to determine the applicable regulatory framework." The MFSA Discussion Paper on Initial Coin Offerings, Virtual Currencies and Related Service Providers, issued on 30 November 2017, proposed the introduction of a test. The objective of the Test will be that of determining whether a DLT asset, based on its specific features, falls within the ambit of either the traditional European and local financial services legislation or the proposed VFAA or is otherwise exempt from regulation. As a further step taken by the MFSA towards achieving a comprehensive regulatory framework for the regulati...................... To view our full article Click here SEOUL, May 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in's approval rating surged following last week's summit with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a local survey showed Thursday. Support for Moon jumped 8.3 percentage points over the week to 78.3 percent this week, according to the poll by local pollster Realmeter. The result was based on a poll of 1,002 voters conducted from Monday to Wednesday. It had 3.1 percentage points in the margin of error. The pollster said the Panmunjom declaration raised expectations for the denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, which led to a fast rise in Moon's support scores. Moon and Kim met on the South Korean side of the border village of Panmunjom on April 27, agreeing to complete denuclearization and the change of the current armistice agreement into a peace treaty by the end of this year. The peninsula remains technically in a state of war as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with armistice. Support for Moon's ruling Democratic Party gained 2.7 percentage points to 54.9 percent, staying in the top post. [ Editor: Xueying ] Southwest Airlines is known for flying to small airports near big destinations. Now, it's about to do so in Hawaii. In the airline's quarterly report on April 26, 2018, CEO Gary C. Kelly announced Southwest's intent to begin service to these Hawaii airports: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Oahu (Honolulu; HNL) Lihue Airport in Kauai (LIH) Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole in Hawaii (KOA) Kahului Airport in Maui (OGG) Of these airports, Honolulu is the largest, with 26 airlines. (By contrast, more than 70 airlines operate out of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.) Eleven airlines operate out of KOA at Keahole, 10 operate out of OGG in Maui and just seven operate out of LIH in Kauai. Southwest expects to begin selling tickets to Hawaii in 2018, according to Kelly. The airline first announced the upcoming service in October 2017. Southwest's announcement is good news for island-bound travelers. It means: You'll have more options and, potentially, lower prices. For those heading to Hawaii in the future, Southwest's impending service will mean you'll have more flights to choose from. The added competition could put pressure on other airlines with similar routes to lower their prices on flights. Companion Passes will probably get a lot more valuable soon. If you qualify for the Southwest Companion Pass, you may soon be able to go to Hawaii for essentially half-price. With a Companion Pass, you can choose one traveler to fly with you for just the cost of fees and taxes. The pass is valid for the remainder of the calendar year in which you qualify, plus the following year. You must earn 110,000 qualifying points or fly 100 qualifying one-way Southwest flights in a calendar year to get this coveted status. The sign-up bonuses on the Southwest credit cards are an easy way to reach that requirement faster. A Kelso man was arrested Wednesday after he tried to lure a Hillsboro girl for sex, deputies say. Donald Lee Hogan, 65, was booked into the Cowlitz County Jail on suspicion of crimes including attempted rape, according to the county sheriff's office and jail records. Authorities began investigating about a week ago after a Hillsboro father learned someone, later identified as Hogan, was trying to persuade his daughter to meet for sex, the sheriff's office said in a news release. Hogan initially contacted the underage girl through social media, Chief Criminal Deputy Charlie Rosenzweig told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Rosenzweig didn't know how much, if any, interaction the girl had with Hogan before her father became involved. He said the father engaged Hogan on social media, posing as his daughter, then went to authorities. A pair of detectives, also posing as the minor, then took over the chat, and Hogan sent explicit photos of himself to them, the agency said. He also described the sex he sought and told the girl she should come to his house, according to the agency. He gave her directions from Hillsboro to the Kelso bus station, the sheriff's office said. Cowlitz County detectives arrested him when he arrived at the bus station. Detectives searched Hogan's home and recovered child-size lingerie and several sex toys, the sheriff's office said. At this point in the investigation there's no indication Hogan has tried to contact any other girls on the internet, Rosenzweig said. He stressed the importance of parents monitoring their children's activities online and praised the father for contacting authorities. Hogan appeared Thursday in court and is next set to appear May 15, records show. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 The April 25 weather article "Portland hits 80 degrees, breaking a record," kept with the media norm of covering the changing climate while neglecting to mention climate change. While the article notes that 80-degree days in April are not all that rare, it mentions two record highs and a third expected to come, and the gist of it is: It's warmer out. The most relevant, consequential and socially important facet of this story is that the record highs are part of an established, dangerous trend caused by human activity. The existence of this trend and its ramifications are well-known and no longer up for debate among scientists. Scientific consensus that the planet is warming, that warming will soon have catastrophic consequences for organized human life and that its primary cause is the burning of fossil fuels, is overwhelming -- around 97 percent by most accounts. The common media practice of omitting these most relevant facts when discussing extreme weather seems to defy reason, except when the outlet is beholden to fossil fuel interests. Omission is sometimes rationalized as reluctance to politicize, but facts denied by politicians are not reduced to the purely political, the inclusion of which might cloud our understanding. With climate change, the opposite is true. It is their omission that clouds our understanding. Ultimately it is of little importance whether not mentioning climate change in this context is political, an attempt at neutrality, negligent or inadvertent. What is of great importance is that it's dangerous. -- Anthony Mascorro, Southwest Portland The opioid epidemic claims the lives of 115 people in the United States every day, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Here at home, around three Oregonians die each week from an overdose of prescription opioids. This crisis has a devastating and wide-ranging impact on our state. It's evident in our classrooms, on our streets and in our emergency rooms. As nurses, we see firsthand how this epidemic destroys lives and how easily it can set off a domino effect that does irreparable damage to our communities, families and children. Recently, President Trump announced a plan to address the opioid crisis that focused on punishment, followed by the U.S. Surgeon General recommending more people purchase and carry overdose reversal drugs. It's important that the federal government acknowledges the opioid epidemic, but concentrating on punishments and eleventh-hour interventions is remarkably shortsighted. Nationally, Republicans in Congress are continuing their crusade to dismantle the Affordable Care Act and cut health care for those struggling with addiction. That leaves states like Oregon with the responsibility to address this ongoing public health crisis. Oregon has one of the highest rates of prescription opioid misuse in the nation, and our hospitals, prisons and foster care systems are filled with its victims. Sixty percent of foster children in Oregon have at least one parent with substance abuse issues, including opioids. If we make meaningful changes in how we prevent, treat and support Oregonians as they recover from substance abuse, we can create better lives for our families, improve the success of our students and lift the burden on our health care system. During the 2018 Legislative Session, Gov. Kate Brown made addressing the opioid crisis one of her top legislative priorities. Her bill, House Bill 4143, focused on introducing several lifesaving measures to aggressively combat the opioid epidemic. This new law helps lower barriers to treatment across the state, strengthens connections between emergency rooms and evidence-based treatment resources through pilot projects and increases accountability within the prescription drug system. Oregon is also investing in health programs designed to integrate substance abuse treatment into patients' primary care. And just a few weeks ago, Brown signed an executive order declaring substance abuse and addiction a public health crisis. Nurses in every Oregon community see how difficult it is for patients and their families to deal with the disease of addiction if they don't receive proper resources and support from the state. These are exactly the type of public health policies we need to turn the tide in Oregon's opioid epidemic. We can't count on officials in Washington D.C. to solve this crisis. I'm proud Gov. Brown has positioned Oregon to take the lead on this critical issue and bring stakeholders together to make a difference in Oregonians' lives. Our state is showing the way. I hope the federal government follows our example and takes additional steps to combat this national public health crisis and help our families, neighbors and friends who are struggling with the disease of addiction. -- Bruce Humphreys, BSN, RN, is president of the Oregon Nurses Association's Oregon Nurse Political Action Committee and a registered nurse in Bend. Intel has been pushing the laws of physics for years. Now, physics is pushing back. The chipmaker has again delayed the rollout of its 10-nanometer technology, the next generation of smaller, smarter, faster microprocessors. Originally expected in 2015, Intel now says the chips won't be widely available before 2019 - and maybe not until late in the year. A high percentage of the 10nm chips - produced at Intel's Hillsboro research factories -- are plagued with defects that render them useless. As chip features shrink to scales measured in just a few atoms, manufacturing techniques have proven unable to keep up with the rapid pace of advancement Intel has always promised. Moore's Law has hit a wall. For decades Intel produced new generations of chips on a two-year cycle, multiplying the number of transistors each time and thereby achieving massive increases in computing power. That long, storied run is over. The delays represent an embarrassing and expensive setback for Intel, which long astounded the semiconductor industry with dependable and dramatic improvements in its chip technology and was plainly caught off guard by its current stumbles. "Intel probably got a little overconfident because they got to be so good. They'd come out every two years with another process and were just killing everybody else in the market," said Dan Hutcheson, chief executive of VLSI Research, which closely follows the science of semiconductors. Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich admitted last week that his company's lead in chip technology is "narrowing," a remarkable statement from a company that has long dismissed its rivals' efforts. Intel set an aggressive goal for shrinking features on its 10nm chips, Krzanich explained: "We think we bit off a little too much in this case." Investors remain enthusiastic about Intel, and its stock is near its highest point since the dot-com era. Intel's overall business remains solid, and its manufacturing troubles don't appear to have affected demand for its chips. The company's first-quarter revenue, $16.1 billion, topped forecasts by a full $1 billion. Still, Intel's ongoing manufacturing trouble reflects a new era for the company - and the entire industry. The exponential growth in computing power predicted by Moore's Law, named for Intel co-founder Gordon Moore, may at last be petering out. "The reality is the world has changed," Hutcheson said. Intel rolled out new generation of computer chips roughly every two years from the 1980s through 2011, enabling chips that were consistently more powerful than their predecessors even as the cost of that computing power fell. Cheaper and better, every couple years, like clockwork. It was a process so regular, so dependable, Intel called it "tick-tock." Intel pulled off that magic trick by steadily shrinking the features on its chips, packing more and more transistors into the same space, and by changing the materials and shape of the circuitry. Engineers at Intel's Ronler Acres research campus in Hillsboro kept up the pace even as the features on the chips approached the atomic level. Now, though, Intel appears to be pushing up against the limits of what's possible. The chipmaker blames its continuing woes on delays in a new production tool for extreme ultraviolet lithography, or EUV. The tool enables chipmakers to imprint narrower patterns onto silicon wafers to create smaller features. EUV tools have themselves suffered years of delay but are finally arriving in clean rooms in Oregon and around the world. It's too late for Intel's 10nm chips, though - Intel says it won't use EUV until it starts making 7nm chips some years from now. So Intel must resort to multipatterning, a slow, exacting process that requires passing chips through the lithography process several times. Each time, the patterning machines must line up precisely with the last go-around. Even a microscopic misalignment will throw circuitry off and wreck the entire chip. "They start moving around, and you don't get perfect overlay for a multitude of reasons," Hutcheson said. "There's no leeway." Intel said costs associated with the 10nm chips contributed to a reduction in operating profits by 4 percentage points in the most recent quarter. The company indicated last week it has a clear understanding of what caused its manufacturing problems but said it will take time to correct them. In the meantime, Intel continues making upgrades to its aging 14nm processor node, which it says is performing 70 percent better than when those chips started hitting the market four years ago. "These guys are figuring out that it's a lot easier to take the existing node and figure out how to make it denser," Hutcheson said. Intel maintains that, even with the 10nm delays, its chips remain ahead of rivals such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. That has been true for many years but may not be any longer, said veteran chip industry insider Jim McGregor, with TIRIAS Research. "They're running up against the laws of physics. We've been putting band-aids on the process technology for a decade," McGregor said. "Once you get up against that wall it's kind of hard to get an advantage out of it." The slowdown means computer users may have to settle for evolutionary, rather than revolutionary, improvements in performance. Laptops, smartphones and other gadgets will keep getting better, but the remarkable leaps that revolutionized computing in the '80s, '90s and '00s may be in the past. Already, the tech industry is looking elsewhere for ways to upgrade the gadgets we all depend on, investing in improvements in wireless communication, battery performance and artificial intelligence. Intel has adjusted its own business, investing billions of dollars on advanced memory chips, self-driving cars and the Internet of Things - a term describing connected devices and home appliances. Some of those markets are already producing big returns for Intel. It's one thing for another company to catch up with Intel's manufacturing technology. It's another thing entirely to capitalize on that advance. Take data centers, for example, which arguably are Intel's most important business as the PC market flags. Intel chips dominate in data centers, and the company's first-quarter sales in that segment grew 24 percent from the same period in 2017 to $5.2 billion, providing nearly a third of Intel's total revenue. While other companies are working on customized data center processors and general purpose chips for server farms, McGregor said it can take two years or more for large data centers to incorporate new designs. So no one poses an immediate threat to Intel's hegemony. "Intel still is the king of the hill. They really haven't had anyone challenge them," McGregor said. "I don't see anybody seriously impacting their data center growth for the next few years at least." -- Mike Rogoway; twitter: @rogoway; 503-294-7699 LOS ANGELES -- A paroled sex offender driving a motor home gave police the slip after a 3 1/2-hour chase through California by turning into an almond orchard and disappearing into a cloud of dust kicked up by his vehicle. The parolee, 46-year-old Stephen Houk, was still missing Wednesday and was considered armed and dangerous, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said. "We've got to find him," sheriff's Capt. Darren Harris said. "I have no doubt we'll catch up with him but we just want to do that before anyone else gets hurt." Houk, who was on parole for felony sodomy in Oregon, led police on a chase Tuesday afternoon in Los Angeles after deputies tried to talk to him about a report that he had threatened his wife, Harris said. Houk fled with his young children inside the motor home. Police followed Houk from narrow surface streets in Hollywood more than 100 miles north to the agricultural heartland of California. In Bakersfield, Houk repeatedly exited and re-entered the freeway and at times drove through the city and a busy Walmart parking lot, all with his 3-year-old son and 11-month old daughter in the vehicle, authorities said. Eventually Houk turned on a dirt road to the orchard, where the motor home and police vehicles kicked up blinding dust, said Officer Robert Rodriguez, a spokesman with the California Highway Patrol. When the motor home stopped with its front end under a thick canopy of trees, officers pulled back for safety, Rodriguez said. Police eventually surrounded the motor home with armored vehicles and patrol cars, guns drawn, waiting for Houk to emerge. Instead, his 3-year-old son walked out about 45 minutes later. Police then found the baby inside and Houk nowhere in sight. "He got lucky," Rodriguez said. "All the forces came together and temporarily, they were on his side." Houk is wanted for assault with a deadly weapon, making terrorist threats, kidnapping, and other charges. The sheriff's department initially tried to speak with Houk after a customer at a Starbucks in Santa Clarita called police Tuesday morning to report that a woman outside said she had been threatened by her husband, that he had a gun, and she needed help, Harris said. Later, Houk's wife told deputies that he had assaulted her earlier that morning and pointed a loaded gun at her. It appears the family had recently traveled to California from Oregon but it's unclear whether they were living in the motor home, Harris said. Most police chases end with immediate arrests, often after officers force cars to stop by puncturing tires or hitting vehicles in precision maneuvers. Officers didn't do that with Houk because of the children, who were unharmed and reunited with their mother, Rodriguez said. "We were treating this with kid gloves because we didn't want to agitate the driver," Rodriguez said. Houk once surrendered to police in a child sex abuse case in western Oregon in 2002, according to Lincoln County Circuit Court records. Houk said "he knows what he did was wrong, that he was so ashamed, that he needs help, that he tried stopping hurting (the girl), but needs someone to stop him," according to a probable cause affidavit. He pleaded guilty to felony sodomy and prosecutors dropped charges of sex abuse as part of a plea agreement. He served eight years in prison. --The Associated Press A horse is suing his former Washington County owner for $100,000 in damages in a rare case in which an animal is listed as a plaintiff in legal action against its guardian. The Animal Legal Defense Fund in Portland has filed suit against former owner Gwendolyn Vercher, 51, of Cornelius on behalf of the horse. Justice, an 8-year-old American Quarter Horse, is seeking damages for negligence that left him 300 pounds underweight and afflicted with lice, a skin infection and damaged genitals from severe frostbite, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Washington County Circuit Court. He will require special medical care for the rest of his life, the suit said. Justice, formerly known as Shadow when he lived with Vercher, was removed from the Cornelius property in March 2017 and now lives at a horse rescue in Troutdale. [Read the lawsuit] Sarah Hanneken, one of the attorneys representing the horse in the case, said state case law has shown animals have legally protected rights. She said Justice should be allowed to recover the costs of damages for pain and suffering, just as a human victim would. "The Oregon legislature clearly established an anti-cruelty statute for the safety and protection of animals," she said. "Victims of crimes can sue their abusers and animals are sentient beings that are recognized as victims under Oregon law. So with that premise, we've come to the conclusion that animals can sue their abusers and we're confident of our stance in this case." Any money received from the lawsuit would go into a trust maintained by the horse's guardian to pay for medical costs, Hanneken said. Justice's medical needs have dampened his prospects of being adopted. Vercher was sentenced July 2017 in Washington County Circuit Court to three years of probation for first-degree animal neglect, Oregon court records show. The terms of her probation included not possessing any pets or livestock for five years and completing 96 hours of community service within 12 months. Vercher paid a little more than $3,700 in restitution. Vercher and Kim Mosiman, listed in the lawsuit as Justice's current guardian, didn't immediately respond to requests for comment Wednesday. Mosiman is the co-founder of Sound Equine Options, the Troutdale-based horse rescue where Justice now lives. Other cases around the country of animals suing humans haven't ended in the animals' favor. In 2013, Florida-based Nonhuman Rights Project filed lawsuits against separate owners of two chimpanzees so the chimps could be freed from cages in New York and moved to an outdoor sanctuary in Florida. Courts ruled the primates didn't have the legal rights of people. In 2011, a crested macaque used an unattended camera at a reserve in Indonesia to take pictures of himself. A lawsuit was filed on behalf of the monkey by PETA four years later to recoup proceeds gained from the published selfies. The suit was settled in 2017, but judges have determined that U.S. copyright law doesn't extend to animals. -- Everton Bailey Jr. ebailey@oregonian.com 503-221-8343; @EvertonBailey The Prime Minister has set up an organising committee for the event headed by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. The organising committee of the WEF ASEAN held their first meeting in Hanoi on May 3 to discuss the coordination mechanisms between sub-committees, relevant ministries, departments, and localities in preparation for the forum. Members also looked at plans to conduct security and logistics work to ensure the events success in terms of politics, diplomacy, economics, and culture. Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, head of the committee, stressed that the forum is one of the important external activities for the country in 2018, which aims to increase Vietnams position in the world and promote the country among leading global enterprises. He requested sub-committees and members of the organising committee to proactively work together to prepare for the event. The WEF was established in 1971 as a non-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. The forum engages the foremost political, business, and other leaders of society to shape global, regional, and industry agendas. The ambassador made the remarks at the May 1 meeting of the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) from April 23 to May 4, at the UN Office in Geneva. Ambassador Dung said, following Article IV of the NPT on peaceful uses of nuclear power, Vietnam issued the Strategy on Atomic Energy in 2006 and the Atomic Energy Law in 2008. Vietnam also signed safeguard agreements and the Additional Protocol (AP) with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and took part in most of the IAEAs international commitments on nuclear power security and safety, the ambassador noted. He urged other countries to engage in international commitments on nuclear power security and safety, and to make prompt notice of and support for nuclear incidents. He considered such engagements an important measure to ensure peaceful, sustainable, and responsible uses of nuclear power. Praising the key role of the IAEA, the diplomat proposed that its inspections and assessments be based on objectivity, equality, and technical creditability in line with the IAEAs safeguard agreements and the AP. He thanked the IAEA and other partners for their support for Vietnam in this regard. Vietnam will continue to collaborate with the IAEA as a commitment to use nuclear power for sustainable peace and prosperity, he affirmed. The NPT entered into force in 1970 and was extended indefinitely in 1995. It has 191 member countries, with Vietnam joining in June 1982. The NPT review conference is held every five years. More than 400 delegates from 118 countries and international organisations are taking part in the second session of the Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Review Conference. He made the statement while hosting a reception for Michael Kelly, Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham), in Hanoi on May 2. Vietnam believes that all of obstacles will be removed to promote cooperation, investment and trade between the two nations, he said, expressing his hope that the AmCham, the US-ASEAN Business Council and US firms will serve as a bridge, contributing to boosting the diplomatic and economic relations as well as the common development of Vietnam and the US in the coming time. The two countries have complementary economies, he noticed, given that Vietnam does not set the guideline to enjoy trade surplus with the US but focuses on exporting products of its strengths while purchasing high-tech and environmentally friendly goods from the US to meet the demands of businesses and people from both sides. Kelly, for his part, highly valued the development in the bilateral diplomatic and economic ties over the past time, saying that it has made significant contributions to increasing benefits of enterprises of the two countries. As Vietnam is predicted to post the strongest economic growth in Asia, US firms will have more opportunities to collaborate with their Vietnamese partners in the coming time, he noted. Kelly said that the US firms are interested in cooperating with Vietnamese companies in the fields of healthcare, tax, digital economy, banking, defence-security and energy security, among others. He affirmed that the AmCham will work closely with Vietnamese ministries, sectors, localities and enterprises to lever cooperation and investment between the two sides as well as seek measures to give consultations to the two Governments to address emerging problems in trade and investment. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Traversing time and space, and crossing national borders, the values of Buddhism have strengthened the bonds among nations, building a firm foundation for a more peaceful and compassionate world, the Ambassador said in her speech. She stressed that, in today's world where conflicts, inequality and poverty still persist, Lord Buddhas teachings guide us on the pathway to overcome challenges through kindness and mutual understanding. People are inspired by his teachings to maintain the aspiration and strong determination to achieve equality, sustainable peace and development for all. Discussing the religions role in Vietnam, Nga said that, in over 2000 years since Buddhism was introduced to Vietnam, Buddhism has always represented a strong force for peace and harmony in the countrys society, making great contributions to the cause of national defence, construction and development. The ambassador took the occasion to reiterate that Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of respecting and creating favourable conditions for the people to exercise their right to freedom of belief and religion, while promoting mutual respect, unity and harmony among religions, as well as the cultural and moral values of each and every religion. All religions, however diverse, converge in the common aspiration for the development of the whole nation and the betterment of peoples' lives, she said. In his remark, President of the UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajcak underscored the importance of the timeless principles of Buddhism to the work of the UN, saying that it offers insights and ideals on improving the planet and shows people the way to a more sustainable future. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also highlighted Buddhisms emphasis on non-violence as a powerful call for peace and said the Buddhist world view teaches people to see themselves as a part of this world and not as its matters. The focus in Buddhism on the inherent dignity of life finds resonance today in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said, urging everyone to commit themselves to overcoming differences, care for the most venerable and truly leave no one behind. In 1999, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it recognised the Day of Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon, to acknowledge the contributions that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. The US President, European leaders and royalty have congratulated the Polish nation on the 227th anniversary of the declaration of Poland's ground-breaking May 3rd Constitution, Polish president's top aide said on Wednesday. The presidents of the US Donald Trump, Germany's Frank-Walter Steinmeier, France's Emmanuel Macron, Hungary's Janos Ader and Romania's Klaus Iohannis as well as the British queen Elizabeth II, and the king of Sweden Carl Gustaf, have sent Poland's President Andrzej Duda congratulations for the Polish nation on the occasion of the May 3 Constitution Day as well the centenary of Poland regaining its independence, the head of the President's Office, Krzysztof Szczerski, told PAP. on Wednesday morning. Congratulations to Poland were also sent by the King of the Netherlands Willem-Alexander, President of Austria Alexander Van der Bellen, President of Italy Sergio Mattarella, President of Mexico Enrique Pena Nieto, President of Cyprus Nikos Anastasiadis, President of Egypt Abdel Fattah es-Sisi, President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, President of Montenegro Filip Vujanovic and President of India Ram Nath Kovind. The US president in his message on behalf of the American nation stressed the importance of the anniversary of the adoption of the May 3 Constitution, which is one of the oldest constitutions in the world. Trump reiterated that Poland is a valued ally and partner in NATO and that the US values the lasting cooperation and friendship between the two countries, Szczerski said. The President of Germany called the Constitution of May 3 a "milestone in the history of Europe" and stressed that it became "a model for subsequent constitutions in Europe, also in Germany," Szczerski pointed out, adding that Steinmeier expressed his joy about his upcoming visit to Poland. The President of France expressed his will to deepen Polish-French relations "for the good of an ambitious and united Europe, faithful to its principles and values that lie at its foundation, and to the numerous challenges that they must face," the presidential minister noted. The Hungarian President wrote in his message that the Polish and Hungarian nations "often had to fight to defend their independence." "That's why the word Homeland has a special meaning for us, which in turn greatly contributes to a sense of solidarity between Poles and Hungarians," he added. "The Romanian President pointed out that Poland and Romania have common means to support the security and development of the region. At the same time, he emphasised the importance of the strategic partnership between the two countries," Szczerski reported. The May 3 Constitution was passed on May 3, 1791 by the Great Sejm (grand parliament) of the PolishLithuanian Commonwealth and was Europe's first document of its kind, predating the famous French Constitution and following the American one by only four years. It introduced hereditary constitutional monarchy (in place of the free election of kings), religious tolerance and the division of power into the legislative, executive and judicial branches, among other provisions. (PAP) mr/mf/ DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival ), a program created by Former President Barack Obama in 2012 to protect people who came to the United States as children of undocumented immigrants, has been under attack by the Trump Administration for months. Now, 7 states Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Texas have filed a new lawsuit that intends to end the program altogether within the next two years. Related: 6 DACA Recipients on Trump, the American Dream and What the Future Holds The law suit was filed by Republican Texan Attorney General Ken Paxton, who claims Obama overstepped his legal rights by creating the program without the consent of Congress, and is calling for Trump to stop issuing or renewing further DACA permits. In a recent press conference, Paxton said, "The multi-state coalition lawsuit we filed today is about the rule of law, not the wisdom of any particular immigration policy. The Constitution guarantees the American people the right to set their own immigration policies through their representatives in Congress." The lawsuit comes after much contention over DACA, Teen Vogue reports, and leaves the fate of over 800,000 recipients of the act uncertain. 113,000 of those people live in Texas, the state with the second most DACA recipients of any state. (The most recipients are in California). President Trump declared he would end DACA last September after attorney generals from 11 states threatened to sue his administration in June 2017 if they didn't take action soon. The decision was met with widespread criticism. Over the last few months, three judges from Washington D.C., San Francisco, and Brooklyn all ruled that the Trump administration must continue to accept DACA applicants. Most recently, John D. Bates , the judge in D.C. said, "DACA's rescission was arbitrary and capricious because the Department failed adequately to explain its conclusion that the program was unlawful. Neither the meager legal reasoning nor the assessment of litigation risk provided by DHS to support its rescission decision is sufficient to sustain termination of the DACA program." Image via Getty We all know what the name Amanda Knox has become synonymous with. The 2016 Netflix documentary named after her about the salacious tabloid-style twists and turns of her now-infamous Italian murder trial, and the sustained trauma of being wrongfully accused and convicted explored this to powerful effect. Women like Knox know all too well the power of media in shaping how we view any woman who dares cross invisible lines into infamy, whether it is through their own free will, or in Knox's case, being thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. (Note that it is rarely a woman's "choice" as we think of choice defined as individual autonomy to pursue any kind of notoriety, but rather, and most often, a result of circumstance). All of this is done through intense media speculation around women's sex lives, public scrutiny about physical appearance, or when women voice any opinion outside of the ones they are "expected to have." Since returning home to Seattle, having had some time to reflect on her own experiences, Knox has discovered a passion in learning what's behind all of this. She's taking up the mantle through the same outlet that demonized her to help vindicate women who've been unfairly maligned. Standing beside women who have been wrongfully accused no matter what the "crime," is Knox's life's mission. We live in a patriarchal culture that upholds and destroys women (see virtually any analysis of the "virgin-whore complex") and once they've been destroyed, that same culture tells them it is wrong to reclaim themselves. It's a longstanding pathology that movements like #MeToo are successfully shattering, with literal policy-shifting, stigma-erasing results. In response to her circumstances, and a desire to empower those the media has vilified, Knox has created The Scarlet Letter Reports, which takes its aptly-titled name from the 1850 novel detailing the plight of Nathaniel Hawthorne's central female protagonist, the publicly-shamed Hester Prynne. It's a new show produced by Broadly, Vice's women's interest channel, and it aims to help women like Anita Sarkeesian, Amber Rose, Daisy Coleman, Brett Rossi, and Mischa Barton reclaim themselves after being, well, Hester Prynne-d by patriarchal society. PAPER spoke with the cat-loving Knox about #MeToo, redefining narratives of women, and creating deeper compassion in media. Read on and watch clips from her new show. (The first episode is about Anita Sarkessian, a feminist gamer who was subjected to torrential online harrassment because of her outspokenness about how female characters in games are portrayed). Hi Amanda, how are you? I'm good! I'm petting a cat at the moment. That sounds like great therapy, what kind of cat is it? Well, I have three cats. Call me crazy cat lady, everyone else does, but I got them at the cat pound so I never quite know what they are, but two orange brothers, and one very handsome, fluffy gray kitty. That's so sweet! I'm petting the fat one right now. It's awesome to talk to you today. I've watched the first two episodes of The Scarlet Letter Reports with Anita Sarkeesian and Amber Rose. How did the idea for this show emerge? I had been already writing several articles for Broadly. They all have to do with women and the criminal justice system and women in the prison environment. I pitched them several ideas, and one of them that struck them was the idea of dissecting the ways that women are vilified in the media. Once again it was something that was deeply important to me, and an issue I felt that I really wanted to address because even in my own life, with the people who know me and love me, and are horrified about what happened to me, not many of them get it when I get mad about tabloids. To this day, I get mad and they're like "Well, Amanda, you didn't ask for it, obviously. Famous people ask for it!" It has taken me a while to put my finger on it. But I had a turning point when I read Jon Ronson's So You've Been Publicly Shamed which is amazing if you haven't read it. It'll change your life. The way I've looked at this since then is you can be an objective journalist with integrity, and you can still have compassion. Because losing compassion and losing context in the process of telling a story doesn't just lose decency, it also loses truth. If you drop context and just decide to label a person as a thing and then put them up in a headline as a two-dimensional object, you are not being truthful. And that's what ends up being sacrificed along the way. You have to look at women in particular, who for the longest time have been set aside as not the most important experiences to be portrayed. When I was making this show, the #MeToo movement erupted, and it was as if suddenly we as a society were treating women's experiences like they matter. Related | Amber Rose on Sex Toys and Why the Women's Movement Isn't Inclusive Suddenly! You know? It's like we're now really beginning to question the assumption that women matter, and for the longest time we've said, okay there's one kind of woman who matter, and the other just does not. Right? So we're finally questioning that, and that's been my whole process. What do you feel you've been learning from your talks with these women who've been vilified and harassed? Just to throw it out there, I was recently listening to a Liz Phair song, called "Canary." In the lyrics, she sings: "I learn my name/ I write with a number-two pencil/ I work up to my potential/I earn my name." To me, it speaks to this idea you're getting at that women who've been discarded by the media have to work 1,000 times harder than men to establish themselves/earn or even keep their names when they've been dragged through the mud. Not only have certain women been dragged through the mud, but we give a person a label, and that becomes who they are; it encompasses their full being. You give the label of a "slut" to someone and suddenly all of the connotations that come with that, the social structure of how you treat women comes into play. It's not just the word, it's everything that comes with the word. Trying to escape from the deep black hole that someone tosses you into casually by calling you a "slut" or a "shrill bitch," you suddenly have to define yourself against a long history of society portraying women according to certain mythologies that work to delegitimize them constantly. When I'm meeting with these women to talk about their experiences, what I've found are women who've been through different versions of the same thing; who are at different stages of processing that same thing; who are doing different things about it, which is amazing because being in a room with an all-female crew -- a rare, strange paradise bird to begin with -- because we all came to these women trying to figure out what it all means. We all take certain things for granted, but we all knew what it felt like to stand on a subway platform and be leered at while we're standing next to super-objectifying advertising on the wall. We all knew what that felt like. But what was interesting is we were essentially, all women in the room, like a slumber-party vibe, were trying to figure out where we also disagreed. Where were we falling short in our understanding of each other's experiences? One of the things that I often talked about with the women I talked to was whether or not they felt they were part of the #MeToo movement and whether or not they felt their experiences were encompassed in that movement. How did feel judged, or welcomed, or unwelcome? I loved being around these women and feeling seen and heard as I was seeing and hearing them. You know? That's just a good feeling. I didn't know if I'd feel that way going into it. Going through experiences like what you all have been through can render a woman voiceless, or feeling like her voice has been stolen from her. It's very much a primary goal of the patriarchy: to silence women. How do you feel like you've been getting your voice back and reclaiming it? When I first came home from being in prison for something I didn't do, I didn't want to be the girl who was wrongly accused of murder. I'd just spent years in prison, and I just wanted to get back to the life I had. As many poetry classes as I took, the truth of my experiences was staring me in the face constantly: there was the wrongful conviction; there are the years I spent in prison; there was my pain and my fury and my loneliness. What I ultimately realized was whether I liked it or not, I was forever going to be associated with my friend's death, which is mortifying, but also that I am one of many people who have gone through an experience. By acknowledging that aspect of my identity, I've been able to pursue good work that comes from having the perspective I have, given what I've gone through. And so, in a similar way that being a wrongfully convicted person means that I can talk to what it is like to be interrogated by police and coerced into falsely confessing in a way that no one else can, also being a woman who has been vilified by the media has given me the perspective and the knowledge that is valuable in the discussion about how the media should treat human beings. In this case, women. Knowing that I have this perspective and applying it to the very medium I'm criticizing -- I'm not a media denier. I'm a media person who is trying to make media better. I'm trying to encourage a type of media that is fueled by compassion and integrity, and that is something I feel empowered to do given my experience. The fact that I'm even able to do that right now is incredible. Not too long ago, I was in a prison cell thinking I'd spend the best decades of my life there defined as this thing I was not, and I'd never get that or my innocence back. Now I'm given the opportunity to create something that reflects who I truly am. Related | Amber Rose Dressed as Feminist Heroes All the woman you're talking to are examples of what you're talking about. Totally! Thank you. What is your biggest hope and goal for the show? My greatest hope is that when faced with the humanity of these women, people will genuinely question their assumptions about other human beings that are of a type that people have labeled in their heads. And that they will demand more of the media. The media is this powerful, wonderful force for good when it is used properly -- as we are seeing with #MeToo and other social movements in this country. But when it is wielded negatively it can be so psychologically destructive. I want people to say, when they see something going wrong, let's do better, and give a sense of how we can do so. One of the ways to do that is always taking context into consideration. Compassion has an actual role in journalism. The Scarlet Letter Reports runs every Wednesday on Facebook Watch. Photo Courtesy of The Scarlet Letter Reports Last weekend, comedian Michelle Wolf spoke at The White House Correspondents' Dinner, which President Trump famously didn't attend for the second year in a row. In under 20 minutes, Wolf made sharp observations and critiques of the current administration, including a number of jabs at press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, which received a lot of backlash (and support) in the days following. The White House Correspondent's Association even apologized for her remarks, saying they failed to "offer a unifying message about our common commitment to a vigorous and free press while honoring civility, great reporting and scholarship winners." Related | Of Course the White House Correspondent's Association Apologized for Michelle Wolf's Set Today, comedian and outspoken feminist Tina Fey commented on the backlash during an appearance on NBC's Today Show, where she was promoting the musical adaptation of her classic high school movie Mean Girls, which just received 12 Tony nominations. Fey said Wolf "did her job," adding, "You can't ask a coyote to guard the henhouse, and if you invite a comedian into that place where that tone is set, they're going to give it to you straight. I think that's pretty much what she did." Fey said the room is an incredibly tough one to perform in, and joked that if The White House wants a feel-good performance, they should perhaps consider a children's choir next year. Wolf has also spoken out about the performance, telling NPR's Terry Gross that she knew what she was getting herself into going into the set, and that she wouldn't "change a single word that [she] said." Very much here for smart women saying it like it is in 2018. Image via BFA Donald Trump may be many things, but fit and trim he is not. So the fact that a statue of the president, completely nude and featuring all of his charming attributes, sold for $28,000 (23,000 euros) at an auction may seem rather surprising. Where the statue will be now be displayed puts things into context. The infamous statue, created by a West Coast anarchist collective and one of a series of similar works featuring 45 in the nude is headed to the Haunted Museum in Las Vegas and was purchased by Zak Bagan, a paranormal investigator and television personality at Julien's biannual auction in Los Angeles. It's believed to be the last of the statues not vandalized or destroyed. The four other naked Trump titled "The Emperor Has No Balls" (quite literally, the statue has no testicles) were confiscated or destroyed after first appearing in public spaces in LA, San Francisco, New York, Seattle and Cleveland. New York City officials said the statue violated regulations banning "any unpermitted erection in city parks, no matter how small." Image via Getty This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Nearly 77,000 tourists visited UNESCO-recognised Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh over the holiday. More than 2,760 ships carried approximately 26,620 cruise passengers to the bay. Dai Duong (Ocean) Park in the province was visited by nearly 70,000 people. Quang Ninh province welcomed 530,000 holiday makers overall, a year-on-year increase of 26%. Meanwhile, the Buu Long tourist site in Dong Nai province received 70,000 travellers, up 200% against the same period last year. Around 180,000 visitors paid homage to President Ho Chi Minh at his hometown in Kim Lien Relic Site in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, Nghe An province. The visitor numbers included many foreigners from Laos, France, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines. The number of visitors to Hanoi during the four-day holiday saw an increase of 10%, as 310,000 people, including 66,000 foreigners arrived in the capital city. The city is estimated to earn VND904 billion (US$39.4 million) from tourism services, up 8% year-on-year. Jim Cramer of "Mad Money" fame is doubling down on his praise for Apple after their earnings were revealed. Cramer says that Apple's growing service stream could be a major advantage for them going forward. Cramer further noted that Apple's service stream revenue has never been quite as important as it became in the second quarter of 2018. "It simply didn't have enough critical mass to make a difference until, well, now. With last night's blowout quarter, which had huge China sales and fabulously better than expected numbers for even the much derided iPhone X, that narrative is now gone. The key takeaway was that the service business has finally arrived." While Cramer is hot for Apple due to their big push into services, Reuters decided to report on the same subject with a slighly negative tone. Reuters reports today that "Apple Inc is betting on services such as app downloads and music subscriptions to help drive growth as the cell phone market matures, but the company faces tough competitors and potentially low profit margins in some of its target areas." Reuters thinks that Apple's 38% company wide margins will be tough to maintain against services like Spotify, Netflix and others who operate at much lower margins. Reuters quoted Bob O'Donnell of TechAnalysis Research as saying that "Some of these services are for sure going to have much lower margins than Apple's core hardware business." Erik Gordon, a professor at the University of Michigan Ross School of Business stated that "Apple plans to spend $1 billion developing original video content, although it doesn't charge for its shows on its Apple TV device." Okay, that last statement is a little ignorant. Apple has yet to introduce their upcoming media service that will showcase their new media series now in production. The latest on that front was announced yesterday regarding a new crime series given the green light for 10 episodes. Apple Worldwide Video is the current brand for this new service though it could change when it goes public. Apple will definitely be charging a fee for this service and it definitely won't be free as Erik Gordon is thinking. Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri noted during Apple's financial conference that he expects services to boost margins but allowed for uncertainties due to product mix. Maestri said in an interview with Reuters that "As we're able to grow the services business, that should provide a positive (to margins), a tailwind. At the same time, within the services portfolio that we have, we have services that have different levels of profitability, so we also need to take into account the mix of services we're going to be selling." Read more on this in the Reuters report. You'd think by now that Reuters and others would stop with this notion that Apple must compete with services or competitors at a particular price and make a limited margin. Apple has bucked this margin trend with iPhone sales in general and with the iPhone X sales in particular which was their number one iPhone model with the highest margins. Apple fans have no problem in generally paying a modest premium for Apple products and services and that's not going to change anytime soon. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. For various reasons, Ive had a difficult time blogging over the last several days. But Im going to try to get back into the rhythm of things. Heres a snippet from a manuscript-in-progress: Early Zionists, coming from Europe, were often unawaresometimes because they were simply not toldthat there already was a people in Palestine who regarded it as home. Their slogan, endlessly repeated, was The land without a people for the people without a land, as if, alone among all the habitable regions of the world, here was a place that was simply empty. And if there were Arabs there, well, they were Arabs just like other Arabs, indistinguishable and interchangeable. Fungible. They could live anywhere else just as well. After all, they had the whole Arab world. Golda Meir, the then prime minister of Israel, was once asked in an interview by the London Sunday Times about the Palestinians. They do not exist, she replied simply. In this, her attitude was not so very different from that of many modern Americans, who continue to be puzzled by the notion of Palestinians. Why, they ask, dont the Palestinians just go and live in Egypt or in Jordan or the Gulf? Theyre all Arabs, arent they? But to say such things is to overlook the differences of culture and dialect, to miss the peculiar history that links a people to a place after centuries of living there, and to ignore the sheer fact that, to the Palestinians, this is their land.[1] I always like to ask these Americans whether, if some foreign power were to take over the United States and expel them, they would be perfectly content to go and live in New Zealand or Scotland instead. Would they happily give up claim to their property? When the issue is put in such terms, of course, most Americans will begin to understand. It is part of the guilt and shame of some Zionists that, living in Palestine and coming into frequent contact with the Palestinians, they still do not understand. Not surprisingly, the Palestinian Arabs and the surrounding Arab states all rejected the United Nations proposal to partition Palestine between Arabs and Jews. They felt, with some justification, that Palestine was theirs and that no foreigner had the right to divide up their land and give part of it away to yet another group of foreigners. Furthermore, they feltmistakenly, as it turned out that they had the strength to resist such a proposal and to drive the intruders out of their land. [1] It is significant that, when the Israelis invaded Beirut in September 1982, one of their main targets was the PLO Research Center. This was hardly a military target. The Center was the repository of old photographs of Palestine, old land deeds and other records, books, and pre-1948 maps. Manifestly, the Israelis wanted to eliminate this tangible evidence of the fact that there was another people with a very strong legal claim to Palestine. On this, see Friedman, From Beirut to Jerusalem, 159. Posted from Jerusalem, Israel News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Managers of uniBank, KPMG, have dispelled rumours that they have terminated the appointments of some contract workers of the bank following an assessment of its operations. About 500 workers of the bank are reported to have had their contracts terminated as their services were no longer needed. But speaking to Class Business, Partner and Head of Audit Services at KPMG, Anthony Sarpong denied that they have terminated anyones contract. Weve not commenced any process as at this stage. What has happened is just that about three top executives had long outstanding leave and we fell its a good practice everywhere that everybody must take their leave. This is a bank which is suffering, and, so, if you dont take your leave, its even an added cost, so, we recommended that those who have their normal leave, well plan it and structure it so that they can take their leave. The general employee will take it as of when its due but those three executives were asked to take their leave and I know by this week some of them are already returning to their post, so, there is no iota of truth that anybody has been asked to go home or disengaged yet. It doesnt mean it will not happen, but as we speak, it hasnt happened because the process of evaluation is still ongoing. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) in March this year allowed the auditing firm to assume management of uniBank after the regulator said the indigenous bank was facing severe issues which could have led to customers losing their deposits. Source: Class Business Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Government of Ghana stands to lose over two hundred millions Ghana cedis revenue from the mining operations of RCP quarry concession at Ablekuma in Accra if concrete measures are not put in place to enforce existing rules and regulations with law and order. The RCP, a quarry company was established in 1999, and commenced business operation on January 1st 2000, to produce quarry stones, chippings and various concrete products for the construction of roads and other infrastructure project for both local and the international supervised contracts. RCP which is a leader in the concrete products supplier industry in Ghana, was the main supplier of raw materials for the construction of Tema Container terminal, Tema Meridian Port Service Container Terminal, Tamale International airport, George Walker Bush N1 road, Eastern Corridor road, Labadi beach hotel, Muvinpick ambassador hotel among a host of them. The company has employed over 230 permanent workers and indirect employment for One Thousand people such as engineers, road contractors, truck drivers, equipment and spare parts suppliers, consultants, security and producers of concrete materials within and without their catchment area of operations. The minerals which have mined by the company are also under protection by laws due to their importance for the development of the country. Such minerals are not everywhere available; therefore laws have been put in place to protect such minerals and the mining thereof as a matter of national interest. The table below shows the revenue generations based on reserve over next 15-20 years to the government of Ghana. Revenue Operator [GH]: RCP ABLEKUMA Reserves [tons] 7,830,000 Revenue @ GH 40 per ton 313,200,000 Revenue GoG [GH]: VAT/NHIS [GH] 54,810,000 Royalties [GH] 16,600,000 Extra cost for Haulage [GH] 195,750,000 Conveyance Fee [GH] 7,830,000 Total cost GoG [GH] 274,990,000 Exclusive: Tax, permits, fees, lisences However, the government of Ghana is on the blink of losing these revenues due to continue encroachment on the concession of the company despite several education and dialogue with community and opinion leaders in the operational area. According to the mining regulations, individuals should not be within 500 meters from blasting site of a mining concession. Explosive Magazines 320 meters from the public road, 480 meters from the dwelling of houses and 960 meters from buildings such as Churches, schools and hospitals. The company created a 500m buffer zone by planting trees around the concession. Despite the companies best efforts this protective forestation are has been destroyed by encroachers during the last 6 years. These are the same encroachers who built houses without permits on government land and call themselves now residents complaining about the operation of the company. To even make matters worse, quarry pit for the mining of granite and surrounding areas have been turned into a dumping site and on daily basis, refuse are burnt to pollute the environment and every single effort to get the residents put a stop to this unhealthy situation has fallen in deaf ears. All these activities are within the catchment area of the Wieja Lake and thus threatening the supply of potable water to millions of residents who depend on the dam. The Managing Director of the company Mr. Christian Braun has expressed fear that their investment may go down in the drain if government do not intervene, adding that, the threatening situation may compel them to shut down their investment and this may not only affect revenue generations but also thousands of people may lose their livelihood. He accused opinion leaders of Zongo community - Ablekuma for doing nothing to help the situation, citing several instances where opinion leaders mobilize residents to even attack them. A situation he described as unfortunate and hostile to the conducive investment climate the government is trying to create to attract foreign direct investment. Mr. Christian Braun appealed to the government to enforce existing rules and regulations and reinstall order and discipline to safeguard our multimillion dollars investment and the livelihood of thousands Ghanaians whose day to day life depends on the concession as a basic principal to protect investment and jobs. Source: Maruf Ibrahim /[email protected] Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video While the world has come to a "crossroad" with challenges such as the tension in Syria, trade disputes and terrorist attacks, China is unfazed and continues to work creating a new type of international relations and a community with a shared future for humanity. Marxism is key to China's stability and development, a theory which China has enriched and developed through practice, according to the Communist Party of China (CPC) flagship newspaper. Ahead of the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx's birth, which falls on May 5, the article reflected on his life from the German town of Trier to his efforts and theories that pushed forward "liberation and free and well-rounded development of humanity." It was because of Marxism that China's modernization over the century had the weapon of truth, said the article, referring to the country's modern history as the best illustration of Marxism's value as the guideline to the liberation of humanity. The article then elaborated on how China commemorated Marx to remind CPC members to stay true to their founding mission. As the inheritors of Marx's spirit, CPC members have observed the purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people, and have regarded the liberation, development and happiness of the people as their founding mission, the article read. "The people-oriented concept and the founding mission of striving for the wellbeing of the people illustrate the pursuit of Party members, nourish the roots and veins of Marxism, and show the essence of socialism," it said. "Today, we commemorate Marx to constantly remind us of the mission of seeking the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," the paper said. It noted that Mark's global vision and love for humanity can been seen in China's call for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, which has been embraced by more and more people. The article pledged to break new ground for the development of Marxism in the 21st century, and said the name of Marx would be remembered and his deeds carried on. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has signed a currency swap deal with the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC) worth Renminbi (RMB) 15 billion (about N 720 billion). The deal is the product of about 2 years of negotiation, as news about the deal first surfaced in April 2016 following President Muhammadu Buharis visit to China. In a statement released on Thursday by CBNs spokesperson Isaac Okorafor, governor of CBN Godwin Emefiele, led CBN officials while PBoC Governor, Dr. Yi Gang, led the Chinese team at the official signing ceremony in Beijing on Friday, April 27. The agreement is valid for three years and can be extended upon mutual consent, PBoC said The CBN statement read: The transaction, which is valued at Renminbi (RMB) 16 billion, or the equivalent of about $2.5bn, is aimed at providing adequate local currency liquidity to Nigerian and Chinese industrialists and other businesses thereby reducing the difficulties encountered in the search for third currencies. Among other benefits, this agreement will provide Naira liquidity to Chinese businesses and provide RMB liquidity to Nigerian businesses respectively, thereby improving the speed, convenience and volume of transactions between the two countries. It will also assist both countries in their foreign exchange reserves management, enhance financial stability and promote broader economic cooperation between the two countries. With the operationalisation of this agreement, it will be easier for most Nigerian manufacturers, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cottage industries in manufacturing and export businesses to import raw materials, spare-parts and simple machinery to undertake their businesses by taking advantage of available RMB liquidity from Nigerian banks without being exposed to the difficulties of seeking other scarce foreign currencies. The deal, which is purely an exchange of currencies, will also make it easier for Chinese manufacturers seeking to buy raw materials from Nigeria to obtain enough Naira from banks in China to pay for their imports from Nigeria. Indeed, the deal will protect Nigerian business people from the harsh effects of third currency fluctuations. With this, Nigeria becomes the third African country to have such an agreement in place with the PBoC. Both the Nigerian and Chinese officials expressed delight at the conclusion and signing of the agreement and expressed the hope that it would boost mutually beneficial business transactions between Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China. PBoC, in a statement on its website said: On April 27, 2018, with the approval of the State Council, the Peoples Bank of China signed a bilateral local currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Nigeria in Beijing for the purpose of facilitating bilateral trade and direct investment, and safeguarding financial market stability in both countries. The size of the swap facility is RMB 15 billion/NGN 720 billion. The agreement is valid for three years and can be extended upon mutual consent. Source: bella Naija Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Workers of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) are demanding the removal of Board Chairman Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, accusing him of usurping the authority of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph Boahen Aidoo. According to the workers, Mr Owusu-Agyeman does not have their welfare at heart. The workers, during Tuesdays May Day parade in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, displayed placards with inscriptions such as "Remove Board Chair", "Mr President, who is in charge of Cocobod; CEO or Bard Chairman?" among others. The Chairman of COCOBOD workers union at Kaase Inland Port, Richard Akomea, in an interview with Class News on the sidelines of the May Day celebrations, said apart from stepping beyond his authority, Mr Owusu-Agyeman does not listen to the concerns of workers. He said: Were demanding the removal of Hackman Owusu-Agyeman as Board Chairman. Any good thing that is coming to staff, he says no. We want to tell him that we deserve whatever were taking; therefore, our due must be given to us. We want to tell government we also voted to bring them to power, so, if he [Nana Akufo-Addo] refuses to listen to us, well also tell him our story. The staff also called for an upward adjustment of their salaries as they say they have not received any hike in salaries for the past three years. We want the president who is the first gentleman of this land to be aware of what is happening in COCOBOD now. Again, we also want the president to know that for the past three years, our salaries have not been increased and that one is also affecting us because the economy as it stands now, there is nowhere in this world that workers will work for three consecutive years without increment, so, were calling on the president to as a matter of urgency call for negotiation so that our salaries will be increased. Source: classnews Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Church of Pentecost has elected Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye as new Chairman to succeed Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, who officially retires in August this year. The election took place on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at the Pentecost Convention Centre (PCC) during the 43rd General Council Meeting of the Church. Apostle Eric Nyamekye, 53, was nominated by the outgoing Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah in consultation with the Executive Council. He secured a total of 147 Yes votes as against four (4) Nos, out of the 151 total valid votes cast, obtaining 97.5% of the total valid votes cast by the Electoral College, comprising Members of the Executive Council, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, all Area Heads in Ghana and National Heads who are apostles, prophets or evangelists. There was no abstention. The overwhelming endorsement of his candidature at the Electoral College therefore qualified him to be presented to the General Council for their affirmation. At the General Council election which was the final lap, he polled a total of 994 votes out of the 1,009 total votes cast, representing 98.5%. The No votes were 14 with, one (1) abstention. The massive votes he garnered was more than the 2/3 majority votes prescribe by the Constitution of the Church which states that, The candidate so elected at the Electoral College shall be presented to the General Council for approval by two-thirds (2/3) majority votes of the members present and voting. The General Council is made up of all Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists and ordained Pastors of the Church, Area Executive Committee members, National .Heads, National Deacons, National Secretaries, Trustees, Chairmen of Boards and Committees, and Ministry Directors, National Executive Committee Members of Ministries/National ITI PENSA Coordinating Committee, Area Womens Ministry Leaders in Ghana, Specialists, and Retired Ministers. The outgoing Chairman, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, on behalf of the General Council of the Church, congratulated Apostle Nyamekye on his election to the highest office of the Church. In his response, the Apostle Eric Nyamekye, gave glory to God for granting him the opportunity to serve in the highest office of the Church. He also thanked the outgoing Chairman, immediate past Chairman and the General Council for reposing the confidence in him to lead the Church. PROFILE OF APOSTLE ERIC NYAMEKYE Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye was born on October 21, 1965 to Mr. Stephen Antiedu Nyamekye (late) and Agnes Owusu in Asokore-Ashanti. He completed Tema Secondary School in 1983 and proceeded to Nyankpala Agric College in the Northern Region, where he obtained a certificate in General Agriculture in 1986. He also holds a diploma in Human Resource Management from the Institute of Commercial Management, U.K., a post graduate Diploma in Applied Theology from the University of Manchester, U.K., and a Master of Arts Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is currently a PhD student at the Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Apostle Nyamekye worked with Technology Consultancy Center, KNUST, for three (3) years before he was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1991 and stationed at Daboase in the Western Region between 1991 and 1995. He was later transferred to Agona Nsaba in the Central Region (1995- 1999), where he was ordained as a Pastor in 1996. Between 1999 and 2005, he was sent on missions to the Republic of South Africa. He was recalled home in 2005 and stationed at East Legon, where he served as a District Pastor till 2008. He also became the Resident Minister of Atomic branch of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) from 2008 to 2011. He was later called into the Office of Apostle and transferred to Tamale as Area Head from 2011 to 2015. Currently, Apostle Eric Nyamekye has been the Area Head of Koforidua Area since 2015. He was elected into the Executive Council of The Church of Pentecost in 2013 and has since been a Member of the Council. He has also served and continues to serve on several Boards and Committees of the Church. Among them are: Chairman, Media Ministry Committee (2015 to date), Patron, Youth Ministry (2011- 2016), Area Secretary, Madina (2009-2011), Area Childrens Leader, Madina (2005-2008), National Secretary for the Republic of South Africa (2000-2005), Member of National Executive Committee, and Youth Committee (1996-1999). Apostle Eric Nyamekye is married to Mary and together are blessed with six children: Samuel, Stephen, Lucien, Maame Boatemaa, Papa Kyere and Awura Abena. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video President Nana Akufo-Addo has granted a Presidential Charter to Ashesi University College, making it an independent degree-granting institution. The Charter will be formally presented at Ashesis 2018 Graduation Ceremony. A letter signed by the Minister of State for Tertiary Education, Prof Kwesi Yankah, said the Charter was granted after a thorough assessment of the Universitys facilities and qualifications by the National Accreditation Board. After a rigorous review of the universitys teaching and learning infrastructure, curriculum, finances, staff qualifications and governance, the National Accreditation Board presented a report to the Ministry of Education endorsing Ashesis readiness for independence from the University of Cape Coast, with which it has been affiliated, the letter read. The development will come as welcome news to the University, which submitted its application for Presidential Charter in January 2016 and was initially assured that it would be granted the Charter before the end of that year. A statement on the Universitys website said the Presidential Charter is recognition of the Universitys quality, strength, and impact on higher education in Ghana and beyond. Ashesi becomes the youngest private university in Ghanas history to receive the Charter. About Ashesi University The mission of Ashesi University is to educate ethical, entrepreneurial leaders in Africa. The University was started in 2002 with a pioneer class of 30 students and Bachelor Degree programmes in Business and Computer Science. Today, the institution has nearly 2000 students and alumni, with additional Bachelor Degree offerings in Management Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronical Engineering. Ashesi is now recognised as one of the finest institutions of higher education in Africa, with a curriculum is grounded in a multidisciplinary core, that teaches critical thinking, design thinking, entrepreneurship, ethics and leadership. Ashesi is recognized for its excellent graduate placement, with almost all of its graduates receiving job offers, starting businesses or entering graduate school within six months of graduation. Ashesis graduates are considered as some of the most career-ready in Africa, and are ranked among the best educated in the world. Ashesi has been celebrated in Ghana and around the world for its impact on higher education. In 2007, the founder of Ashesi University, Patrick Awuah, was awarded The Order of the Volta, one of Ghanas highest national awards, for his exceptional contributions to Ghanaian higher education. In 2012, the University was ranked among Ghanas ten most respected organizations in a PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of CEOs. In 2017, Ashesi also received the World Innovation Summit in Education Prize, one of the worlds biggest prizes in education, awarded by the Qatar Foundation. Source: Daily Graphic Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Ghanas President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has congratulated the newly elected Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye. Apostle Nyamekye, 53, on Thursday secured overwhelming endorsement at the General Council meeting of the biggest Pentecostal church in Ghana with presence in 99 countries as its Chairman. President Akufo-Addo in a tweet on Thursday prayed for Gods guidance for the new chairman. Warmest congratulations to Apostle Eric Nyamekye on his election as the next Chairman of the Church of Pentecost. God bless him, and be his guide, in the discharge of his duties. the presidents tweet read. Apostle Eric Nyamekye who is currently the Area Head of the Koforidua Area of the Church of Pentecost replaces Apostle Professor Opoku Onyinah who has finished serving his 10-year tenure. He was also a member of the Executive Council of The Church of Pentecost under Aps. Prof. Opoku Onyinah. Aps. Nyamekye will preside over the affairs of the Church with over 2.5 million members in Ghana and over 3 million members worldwide in the next five years. He would be eligible for another and final five year term. PROFILE OF APOSTLE ERIC NYAMEKYE Apostle Eric Kwabena Nyamekye was born on October 21, 1965, to Mr Stephen Antiedu Nyamekye (late) and Agnes Owusu in Asokore-Ashanti. He completed Tema Secondary School in 1983 and proceeded to Nyankpala Agric College in the Northern Region, where he obtained a certificate in General Agriculture in 1986. He also holds a diploma in Human Resource Management from the Institute of Commercial Management, U.K., a post-graduate Diploma in Applied Theology from the University of Manchester, U.K., and a Master of Arts Degree in Religious Studies from the University of Ghana, Legon. He is currently a PhD student at the Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Apostle Nyamekye worked with Technology Consultancy Center, KNUST, for three (3) years before he was called into the full-time ministry of The Church of Pentecost in 1991 and stationed at Daboase in the Western Region between 1991 and 1995. He was later transferred to Agona Nsaba in the Central Region (1995- 1999), where he was ordained as a Pastor in 1996. Between 1999 and 2005, he was sent on missions to the Republic of South Africa. He was recalled home in 2005 and stationed at East Legon, where he served as a District Pastor till 2008. He also became the Resident Minister of Atomic branch of the Pentecost International Worship Centre (PIWC) from 2008 to 2011. He was later called into the Office of Apostle and transferred to Tamale as Area Head from 2011 to 2015. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has praised the Church of Pentecost for its socio-economic contributions without any external support. Speaking at the church's 43rd General Council Meeting Wednesday, the Vice-President raved about the church's ability to use indigenous resources to impact their communities. He said the government wants to emulate this type of mentality hence the constant reference to its vision of a Ghana beyond aid. The church headquartered in Ghana, he said, "provides the needed example that with the right kind of leadership and prudent management of resources, the vision of Ghana beyond aid is not only realistic but achievable". The church controls 84 basic schools, 8 health institutions, two senior high schools, three vocational institutes and a university college. Addressing a large gathering of pastors and their wives, Dr. Bawumia described the venue as the "world class" Pentecost Convention Center (PCC), the health and education institutions as "phenomenal investments". The more than 250-acre PCC which can accommodate more than 20,000 people in several auditorium sizes, has played an important role in improving the local economy. It was opened in 2013 and built without any fundraising activity in the church or outside it. The leadership of the Church of Pentecost has pointed to its covenant with God not to borrow money or owe anybody. Dr. Bawumia on a lighter note said he may have to invite the Chairman of the church, Apostle Prof. Opoku Onyinah, to one of the meetings of the government's Economic Management Team. He said the government may learn a thing or two on prudent management from an indigenous gone global with more than 3.3 million members scattered across 20,000 assemblies in 99 countries. "You have proven yourself to be a proven Nation Builder," he told the church. The latest social contribution is the construction of a police station plus barracks for the Goma Fetteh community where urbanisation has seen rapid constructions. Dr. Bawumia said while on campaign trails he observed that the church as "signboards in very remote places in Ghana". This, he said shows the church is a strategic position to improve lives and also disseminate government policies and communications. He said the church can play an important role in helping the government collect taxes by educating their members on this Christian duty. Source: JFM/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video I want to wish all Ghanaian workers a very fulfilling May Day this year. You know in Ghana we talk about jobs, we talk about earnings, we talk about pension, we talk about so many different things and yet we do the kind of things that dont encourage all of that to prosper. So here is to hope, that this year those in positions of authority, those in government, those who are in regulatory positions of all types, those who are supposed to encourage particularly the ones in the public sector encourage businesses to thrive and do well so we can employ more people. I want them to think that May Day is not just a day for resting. It is a day for them to think through how they are going to encourage the men and women who create jobs to do more so many more people can be employed. I am also wishing the workers well and encouraging them to also take the jobs that they have to be their own to do the best that they can so that they can earn not just a good pay but that they can also earn a good pension so that life after working can be a happy one. So here is wishing you a wonderful May Day but then lets also make every day a Workers Day - for the worker, for management, for the owners, for everybody so that our life can be not just productive can be fruitful, but indeed a very happy one. Enjoy your day. Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video UPDATE: Autopsy report details gruesome deaths of Pa. couple killed by heroin addict Whatever double-homicide suspect Daniel Kenneth Mooney knows about the brutal killing of a young married couple in Bucks County, he is taking to the grave. This, after Bucks County officials announced late Wednesday that Mooney had died of a drug overdose in Philadelphia. As 6ABC reports, Mooney had been taken to Temple University Hospital's Episcopal Campus after suffering an apparent drug overdose around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in the city's Kensington section. Efforts to revive him failed. However, Mooney had no identification and police did not learn of his death until Wednesday afternoon. By that time, there was an all-out police search for Mooney as a person of interest in the stabbing and shooting deaths of Tyler Christopher Roy, 28, and his wife, Christina Celenza Roy, 27, in their Northampton Township home. Bucks County First Assistant District Attorney Gregg Shore said authorities are now confident Mooney killed the couple Tuesday night. A house painter found the couple's bodies Wednesday morning. "Based upon our evaluation of the evidence, our team is unequivocally convinced that he killed the victims and that he acted alone," Shore was quoted by 6ABC as saying. After the killings, police say Mooney took Tyler Roy's 2016 Ford Edge SUV. The vehicle was found, along with Mooney's cell phone, early Wednesday morning in Northeast Philadelphia. By that time -- unknown to investigators -- Mooney already was dead, 6ABC writes, adding: Police said Mooney entered the couple's home through an unlocked door. His parents live in the same neighborhood, but there was no indication that the killer knew his victims, police said. Both victims had been stabbed repeatedly and shot, Shore said, most likely by a long gun found in the home that belonged to Tyler Roy. "This tragedy is unfathomable to all of us. We pray for the victims, and pray with the victims' families," Shore said. Nearly a year ago, Camp Hill residents decided to end the borough's dry status. Now, the wait for booze sales to begin is almost over. Giant Food Stores is preparing to open a Beer & Wine Eatery, while a Cumberland County brewer plans to bring a brewpub to the borough. Giant on Trindle Road will be the first to sell beer and wine in the borough. Sales are scheduled to start in June, although a firm date has not been set, said Chris Brand, spokesman for the Carlisle-based chain. Renovations to the store will begin May 7 and will involve relocating a corner seating area near Starbucks to accommodate shelving for wine and beer sales, Brand said. To comply with liquor license requirements, Giant has to maintain 30 seats, which will mean relocating existing seating near the prepared foods section. In addition, the nutritionist's office and cash registers in the prepared foods section will be moved, he said. Last year, Giant led the charge to bring in alcohol sales. "We are glad to hear about their move from what was previously a dry borough into a wet borough," Brand said. "We felt that would be a natural fit for the store, and of course, our customers are very excited about having that option of beer and wine available." Giant sells beer and wine in 61 Pennsylvania stores and recently added the service at its locations in DuBois and Coopersburg. Brand said Giant acquired the license for the Camp Hill store privately and would not disclose a price. A brewpub also is on the way The borough's new wet status has also allowed Harty Brewing in Silver Spring Township to open a satellite brewpub. It will open as early as fall at the former Mid Penn Bank at 2101 Market St. The brewpub with a taproom will serve Harty's beers, as well as Pennsylvania wines, spirits and ciders along with foods such as panini sandwiches and pretzels. Recent changes in the state's liquor laws permit the owners, Michael Harty and Lauren Ishaq, to open satellite locations and move manufacturing to the borough without having to apply for an additional license. Why aren't there more liquor licenses in Camp Hill by now? At this point, LCB records don't show any other licenses in Camp Hill. The lack of availability and price of licenses in Cumberland County creates an obstacle for many business owners. "When a municipality goes wet, the PLCB cannot issue new licenses to that municipality if the county is already over its retail liquor license quota," said Shawn Kelly, spokesman with the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. Quotas are established according to census data, with one licenese alloted for every 3,000 residents. Cumberland County is allotted 78 retail licenses, according to 2010 census data, but due to grandfathered licenses, the county currently holds 88 retail licenses, Kelly said. Unless a retailer is able to purchase an existing license or acquire one through auction or a special economic development license, it's out of luck. Tack on the fact license prices in Cumberland County are some of the highest in the state, and it becomes even more difficult for owners. In 2016, Giant paid $556,000 in a statewide auction for a license designated for the county. Last year, Mike Milad Rhayem, owner of Cedars Restaurant in Camp Hill told Pennlive, "I don't think anybody can afford it." He said he would have to spend at least $200,000 on a license and an additional $200,000 for building reovations and equipment. At the time he said he would continue the restaurant's BYOB policy. "The person who likes BYOB, he doesn't want to go out and spend six dollars for a glass of wine when he can buy the whole bottle for 10 bucks," Rhayem said. An investigation by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office has determined nearly 3 million Pennsylvanians were impacted by a Facebook privacy breach. Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced Thursday that 2,960,311 Pennsylvanians' Facebook data was shared with Cambridge Analytic and other third parties, according to a news release. It is not known how many Pennsylvanians use Facebook. That estimate was provided by Facebook in response to a bipartisan letter demand on the social media network led by Shapiro and 41 other state Attorneys General. In all, Facebook estimates it shared a total of 70.4 million American users' data with third-party developers. "Nearly a quarter of the Commonwealth's residents - 22 percent - had their personal data compromised by Facebook's privacy breach," Shapiro said in the news release. "Social media users don't expect to have their information given to third party developers without their knowledge. Businesses like Facebook must take significant steps to better protect their users' privacy and personal data." BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping will attend a conference to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx, scheduled to be held on Friday morning. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, will deliver a speech at the conference to be held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The event will be live broadcast by China Central Television (CCTV), China National Radio (CNR), China Radio International (CRI), and on key news websites and apps run by the People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency and CCTV, as well as www.china.com.cn. WILLIAMSPORT - The 80-year-old woman named in a defamation lawsuit filed by U.S. Rep. Thomas A. Marino has apologized to the Lycoming County Republican for inferring he was a drug pusher. "I just wanted you know that my son, Mike, and I never said you pushed drugs," Marlene Steele wrote in an email to the lawmaker. Marino's attorney, Matthew W. Haverstick, said Thursday that the suit would be dropped if the Steeles publicly retract what was stated in the email. Steele describes herself as a born-again Christian who "would not do such a terrible thing to you or anyone." She explaines that she is taking care of her 83-year-old husband, Tom, who is on oxygen and uses a walker due to a back issue. Her email notes a past contact with Marino, a former county district attorney, when she was on jury duty. Steele said she planned to vote for Marino in the May 15 Republican primary even though she allowed her son to place a sign in her yard for the other GOP candidate, Bradford County Commissioner Douglas McLinko. Marino lost that vote when he sued her and her son for an email Michael Steele sent her in support of McLinko and she forwarded to a few friends. READ MORE: Man says email intended for his mother led to congressman's defamation lawsuit Any chance of her changing her mind and going back to Marino ended when he did not respond to the email in which she apologized, her son said. The lack of a response hurt her more, he said. Calling Marino a drug pusher crossed the line, he said, referring to the sentence in the email that "Tom Marino has a big hand in spreading these [opioid] drugs." The email also stated "he took a $100,000 kickback from the prescription drug industry" while authoring legislation some claim weakened efforts to fight the opioid epidemic. Marino has pointed out to his critics that the House passed the Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act he sponsored by unanimous consent, without a formal vote. Haverstick claims the email was thinly veiled ethnic stereotyping by alleging Marino has minor ties with organized crime. Michael Steele disagrees. Politics is a tough business and those in it recognize they will be the targets of tough talk, Haverstick said. But, the Steeles crossed the line, he contends. References the Steeles made in the email about Marino are not new. His contributions from the prescription drug industry were aired in a "60 Minutes" segment that preceded him withdrawing his name to be President Trump's drug czar. Marino, who is seeking his fifth term in the newly drawn 12th District that extends between the New York border and Perry County, claims in his suit the email defamed him and invaded his privacy. Besides a retraction, it seeks unspecified punitive and compensatory damages contending the email was distributed to embarrass and cause harm to his personal and professional reputation. Chambersburg police say local skimming cases are linked to a Chilean man accused in a $1.2 million skimming ring. Roberto De Miranda Martinez Roberto De Miranda Martinez, a Chilean foreign national who had overstayed his visa and was not lawfully in the U.S., was arrested recently in Colonial Heights, Va., police say. The investigation involved not only Chambersburg police, but the FBI office in Richmond, Va. and F&M Trust security. Chambersburg police said they received reports from residents in November 2017 that their F&M Trust accounts or debit/credit cards had been compromised through local ATM machines. Cash had been withdrawn using fake debit/credit cards that were made with the data that had been skimmed. The investigation led to a ring operating in the mid-Atlantic region believed responsible for $1.2 million in thefts, police said. Martinez and others are accused of placing skimming devices on ATM machines throughout the region. He was arrested in Virginia in the act of setting and or retrieving a skimming device, police said. He has pleaded guilty to federal charges in Virginia, Pennsylvania and Maryland. The investigation continues, and charges are pending against other suspects. A crash on I-83 north has closed all lanes between exits 32-22 around 10:18 p.m. Wednesday. The crash is between Exit 32: Route 382-Newberrytown and Exit 33: Route 392 - Yocumtown. For more traffic information, follow live traffic updates, accident reports and road closures below from PennDOT, Total Traffic Network and other Twitter sources. Get a look at conditions on local roads -- via PennDOT traffic cameras -- anytime here on PennLive. For Pennsylvania Turnpike updates and possible travel delays visit the Turnpike website here. Tweet us at @pennlive with any incidents you see on your commute or send a submission to submissions@pennlive.com. A western Pennsylvania man is accused of sexually molesting two girls ages 5 and 7 over the span of several years in Lebanon and Lawrence counties. Richard Alan Barker Richard Alan Barker, 63 of New Castle, is accused of forcing the girls to perform oral sex on him, performing oral sex on them, and inappropriately touching them, state police said. Barker was also accused of forcing one of the girls to "play doctor" with him, making her undress and engage in oral sex with him. Barker told police he doesn't remember the incidents, but hasn't denied that they occurred, state police said. The incidents occurred in Bethel Township, Lebanon County and in Lawrence County between 1996 and 2010, police said. Barker was arrested on charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent and indecent assault, corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children. PHILADELPHIA -- Just one week after a court ordered his early release from prison, Philadelphia-born rapper Meek Mill joined Pennsylvania's governor on Thursday in calling on state lawmakers to enact criminal justice reforms. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf said Mill's case had thrust issues in the state's system into the national spotlight. They appeared at the Constitution Center alongside a half-dozen state lawmakers and 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin. Mill, who turns 31 this weekend, said his lawyers had advised him not to speak publicly. But after serving five months of a two- to four-year sentence on a probation violation related to a decade-old gun and drug conviction, he felt compelled to discuss his case and issues he encountered in the system. "I actually know the errors of the criminal justice system personally because I've been tangled in the system since 18 years old," he said. "I actually made a commitment to speaking for the voiceless. I spent time with these men and women, and watched families being broken apart because of drug addiction, mental illness, technical violations." READ MORE: Meek Mill, released from prison, makes appearance in Philadelphia, rings bell before Sixers-Heat Game 5 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ordered Mill's immediate release from prison after prosecutors said they agreed with his lawyers that he should get a new trial because of questions raised about the arresting officer. The now-retired officer was among a list of police officers the prosecutor's office has sought to keep off the witness stand in cases across the city because of credibility questions. Since his release, Mill has spoken out about the need for reform. He noted Thursday that in Philadelphia even coming in contact with the police can trigger a technical violation for probation. Wolf added his voice Thursday by reciting his wish list of initiatives to reform the system, including measures to increase parole supervision and provide fair sentencing. He is also seeking funding for indigent defense, clearer pathways to expunging criminal records and a way to achieve uniformity in the state's probation and parole revocation process. A recent study by the Columbia University Justice Lab found Pennsylvania had about 296,000 people on probation and parole, the third highest rate in the country. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association issued a statement Thursday cautioning state lawmakers and the governor not to use one person's experience to "indict an entire system." "We caution against the wholesale elimination of appropriate consequences and accountability in the criminal justice system cloaked in the concept of reform," association President John Adams wrote in an emailed statement. One person was reportedly injured in a fire at a retirement community in Berks County Wednesday night. A fire broke out around 7:50 p.m. at the Heritage of Green Hills retirement community in Cumru Township, the Reading Eagle reports. Cumru Township Fire command looks on as crews go apartment to apartment assessing possible damage from the 2-alarm fire Wednesday night at The Heritage of Green Hills retirement community in Cumru Twp. pic.twitter.com/H6GfkVsCBx Michael Yoder (@YoderReports) May 3, 2018 Cumru Twp: 200 Tranquility Lane - AFA now upgraded to 2nd alarm SF reported fire on 3rd Floor A02 Posted by Fire Alerts of Berks County on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 UPDATED: Burn victim flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital after fire at Cumru Township retirement community. Employees who... Posted by Reading Eagle on Wednesday, May 2, 2018 The fire was on the third floor of the Liberty building on Tranquility Lane, and the sprinkler system activated. One person was rescued and flown to a hospital for treatment of burns. Residents were evacuated from the building. A midstate authority must award a contract to a railroad operating company even though fewer than half of the agency's members voted to hire that firm, a Commonwealth Court panel ruled Thursday. Judge Robert Simpson found in the state court opinion that a 7-3 vote from the 16-member Seda-Cog Joint Rail Authority constitutes a valid endorsement of a contract with Carload Express Inc. of Allegheny County. The Commonwealth Court decision overturns a ruling by a Clinton County judge who dismissed legal action Carload filed against Seda-Cog to enforce the award of the contract. It also means Carload now has authorization to take over from the Susquehanna Union Railroad Co., which had been operating five short rail lines Seda-Cog owns in Centre, Lycoming, Northumberland, Mifflin, Columbia, Clinton and Union counties. Those 200 miles of track provide rail freight service to 70 commercial customers. The court battle centered on a dispute over how many authority members were needed to constitute a majority vote to award the rail contract. Seda-Cog sought proposals for operators of the rail line in 2014. Three firms including the current operator Susquehanna Union and Carload made the final cut. Carload scored highest in the evaluations, Simpson noted. Things got complicated when six authority members abstained from voting because of their connection with companies that deal with Susquehanna Union. The authority told the bidders they had to receive at least nine of the 10 remaining votes to win the contract. When the matter came to a vote, seven members voted to hire Carload. The authority refused to award the contract, however, arguing those 7 votes fell short of the 9 votes needed to constitute a majority of the authority members. Simpson found the authority's reasoning violates the state Municipal Authorities Act. That act states contracts can be awarded based on a vote of the majority of an authority's members who are present. In this case, the 7-3 vote is valid because six authority members recused themselves and Carload was supported by a clear majority of the remaining members who were eligible to vote, Simpson concluded. "Carload is entitled to immediate execution of an operating agreement," he wrote. Carload already operates local freight service on short lines in western Pennsylvania and in Delaware, Maryland and Ohio. BELLEFONTE--Video images from inside Penn State's Beta Theta Pi house took center stage Wednesday during a preliminary hearing for 12 fraternity brothers charged in connection with the death of a pledge last year. Although video clips from the booze-fueled party have been played at two prior preliminary hearings covering a different group of defendants, prosecutors on Wednesday used the recorded evidence to zero in on a series of new faces. The 12 defendants represent a second round of students charged after Timothy Piazza underwent an alleged hazing ritual at the fraternity, then fell down a set of basement stairs and was left mortally wounded on a couch. No one called for help for nearly 12 hours. Piazza, 19, later died at a hospital from severe trauma to his brain and spleen, which a medical examiner attributed to the fall. Prosecutors filed charges against this group of defendants months after the first group, after police discovered cameras in the fraternity basement indeed had been recording, despite a fraternity member telling them otherwise. The FBI recovered basement video footage that prosecutors said had been purposefully deleted by Braxton Becker, one of the defendants in this week's preliminary hearing charged with tampering with evidence. Becker and eight other defendants did not show up for the hearing. They were granted waivers by the judge to skip the proceedings and instead were represented only by their attorneys. Three defendants were in the courtroom. Nearly all of the 12 defendants face hazing charges and alcohol violations while five of them face counts of reckless endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor. The defendants charged with reckless endangerment allegedly directly handed drinks to Piazza. Prosecutors also charged one defendant, Josh Kurczewski, with conspiracy to commit hazing, for allegedly giving cans of beer to 10 pledges so they could quickly consume it "shotgun style," at the end of an alcohol-chugging obstacle course. The hearing started more than four hours late Wednesday after the original magisterial district judge called in sick with the flu. Another judge substituted after some initial objections. Prosecutors opened their case by introducing medical evidence that showed Piazza's brain had swelled beyond his skull on the right side and four liters of blood had accumulated in his abdomen after hours of his unattended injuries. Prosecutors then showed blueprints and photos to lay out the inside of the fraternity and its various rooms and camera locations. Senior Deputy Attorney General Andrew Notaristefano took the lead on the case. He questioned Police Detective David Scicchitano on the stand about the video as the judge and defense attorneys followed along with images displayed on individual monitors. Prosecutors zeroed in on each defendant's photo, and unique clothing or features, and then showed screenshots of defendants as they watched or helped set up the alcohol-chugging obstacle course designed for pledges. Additional screenshots were shown as defendants handed beer, wine and vodka directly to pledges, sometimes with no conversation, in an effort by prosecutors to support the various elements of each criminal charge. Judge Steven Lachman adjourned for the day at 5 p.m., but prosecutors said they still had more evidence to show. They will resume presenting their case Thursday, which will feature a second witness whom they would not identify to PennLive. Defense attorneys then will have an opportunity to cross examine the witnesses and all attorneys will give closing statements. The case could finish Thursday or stretch into Friday. In the end, Lachman must rule whether prosecutors have provided enough evidence to allow each criminal charge to proceed to trial. Meanwhile, 14 other defendants already are headed to trial. It's unclear whether the cases will be combined at some point or continue as two separate batches of defendants. The defendants in this week's case include: Ryan Burke, Jonathan Kanzler, Bo Han Song, Josh Kurczewski, Aiden O'Brien, Braxton Becker, Joseph Ems Jr., Mike Fernandez, Brian Gelb, Reggie Goeke, Patrick Jackson, and Donald Prior III. As other states scramble to lure Amazon to their borders with promises of the moon, the sun and the stars, to boot, Pennsylvania lawmakers are passing up on a no-brainer of a chance to stay in the mix. But it's not too late. All they have to do is pass a bipartisan bill called The Pennsylvania Fairness Act, which would update state law to protect LGBTQ citizens from employment, housing and public accommodation discrimination. In its wish list for host cities, the online retail behemoth has made it pretty clear that the "the presence and support of a diverse population," is one of the criteria it will weigh in picking its final HQ2 site. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh made Amazon's list of 20 finalists for HQ2, a major economic engine that would create tens of thousands of new jobs and pump untold billions of dollars into Pennsylvania's economy. Both cities already have anti-discrimination ordinances for LGBTQ citizens. Statewide, just 44 municipalities have those protections. That's a small number, but they account for nearly half the state's population, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Despite priding itself on being the cradle of American democracy, Pennsylvania is the only state in the northeastern U.S. without such explicit protections. And the time for it to shed that status has long since come and gone. Anti-discrimination bills for LGBTQ citizens have been floating around Harrisburg for years. But the current House and Senate bills, respectively sponsored by Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Allegheny, and Sen. Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, aren't anywhere near to getting a vote. Frankel's bill is marooned in the House State Government Committee, which is chaired by arch-conservative Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler (He of "Stop Touching Me" fame). The Senate bill is also stuck in committee. Frankel has gotten so frustrated by the inaction that he's reintroduced his bill, and asked state House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, to send it to any committee but Metcalfe's, so it can get a hearing and a vote. There's precedent: In 2009, the state government committee narrowly approved the measure and sent it to the floor, he said. "We're an outlier state. Everyone in the northeast quadrant has these protections for the LGBTQ community," Frankel fumed this week, "It's just incredible." The proposal has the backing of Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. Two of the three Republican candidates for governor this year, Laura Ellsworth and Scott Wagner, also back it. Such major business groups as the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh chambers of commerce are onside. Gene Barr, the president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, says his group "[supports] the purpose of this legislation to ensure that no individual should be fired, denied employment or otherwise treated unfairly simply based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. And there's polling data indicating widespread public support, too. But because Pennsylvania does not such a law, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia could still miss their chance to land HQ2. And an LGBTQ advocacy group is spearheading a campaign calling on Amazon to take a pass on any state that doesn't have those protections embedded in state law. The "No Gay, No Way" campaign points out that nine of the 31 states that don't have those laws are home to 11 of the 20 finalist cities vying for Amazon's new headquarters. "It is shocking that Amazon would consider locating HQ2 with its over 50,000 employees in a state that doesn't protect LGBT people or their families," the group writes on its website. In these nine states, it is legal to fire someone, deny them housing, or refuse them service just because of who they are or who they love. As has been the case in other states that have ventured down a discriminatory path, there's the potential for a steep economic price. North Carolina's now defunct and notorious bathroom bill was projected to cost the state billions of dollars, The Associated Press reported in 2017. In a statement, Sen. Larry Farnese, of Philadelphia, the chief Democratic co-sponsor of the Senate bill, said a "statewide ban on LGBT discrimination has always been the moral thing to do, but it makes good business sense too." "Pennsylvania is making itself uncompetitive for major corporations and top tier employees because we refuse to protect all of our citizens," he said. "Without this legislation, we are saying that Pennsylvania is not open for business for everyone." To review, one of the biggest companies in the galaxy is knocking on Pennsylvania's door, trailing sack-loads of taxable and budget fortifying cash behind it. But Pennsylvania could take a pass just because it won't protect all of its citizens from discrimination. If there was ever an own-goal, this is it. And if Amazon passes on Pennsylvania because the General Assembly can't get this one right, lawmakers only have themselves to blame. By Christine Flowers It was once famously said that a savvy prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich. Christine Flowers (PennLive file) Depending on what the sandwich had actually done, I'm not sure that's accurate, but it is obvious that, unlike regular or "petit" juries that we see regularly on legal procedural shows like "Law and Order" which are more susceptible to the clever persuasion of defense attorneys, grand juries are the best friends of the prosecution. That is because in virtually all cases they are empaneled and conducted in secret. There is no right to know who was on the jury, no right to question the jurors, no right to even know what type of evidence was presented before them. In fact, while clearly not designed to impose an ultra vires, untethered sort of justice, the composition of the grand jury reminds me somewhat of the old Star Chambers that dispensed a one-sided sort of retribution. Prosecutors will object to that description, and of course it's not a fair and accurate description of most grand juries, but there is the dangerous possibility that the process can be used for improper purposes. Several weeks ago, in a column for the Legal Intelligencer, former federal prosecutor Peter Vaira noted that the Pennsylvania Constitution, unlike those of some other states, carefully limits what a grand jury can and cannot do. He writes that, based on the safeguards to a citizen's reputation guaranteed in Article I, Section 11, of the Pennsylvania Constitution: "The grand jury should be confined to its original purpose - determining if there is probable cause to charge a person with a crime. It should not be a social commentator. Issuing such reports makes the grand jury the fourth branch of government, as it is not a part of the legislature, the judiciary or the executive . . ." And there's the rub. Grand juries are legitimate, albeit one sided, tools at the prosecutor's disposal. They serve a vital public service in identifying criminal behavior, and when employed correctly can be an exceptional vehicle for achieving justice. But when used for improper purposes, that vehicle can run amok and wreak havoc, as when the contents of a grand jury report is used to advance a social or political agenda and not the search for justice. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has recognized this principle, ruling that, in a criminal proceeding, it is generally unlawful for prosecutors to use evidence beyond specific facts relevant to the terms of an indictment. And that is the problem we often see when grand jury reports are publicized with great fanfare, as whenever there is another, sad chapter announced in the sex abuse crisis in the Catholic Church. As we await the report of a current grand jury which has completed its deliberations, it is important to remember the true purpose of the process in light of our Constitution. As Vaira noted in his column, "The [state's current] grand jury reporting statute clearly fails to provide individuals with the opportunity to be heard, and the chance to defend him or herself at a meaningful time and in a meaningful manner. This is a clear abrogation of state-protected rights without procedural due process." To put it another way: Grand juries are not policy think-tanks or advisory councils or political tools; nor should they direct or pressure the making of law; nor should they damage reputations without clear and persuasive evidence and an opportunity for those damaged to defend themselves. Pennsylvania grand juries have a particular responsibility to abide by the Pennsylvania Constitution. Regrettably, it sometimes seems as if prosecutors and the grand juries feel as if they are writing material for the media to disseminate and place on the front pages, instead of delivering a sober indictment of criminal activity. Make no mistake, criminals must be held accountable for their crimes against society, particularly and most importantly when the victims are innocent children. The power of the prosecutor must be focused on righting wrongs, and doing so within the parameters of the law and due process. It cannot be enough to send PR salvos out to a public already predisposed to thinking the worst of an institution, in this case the Catholic Church (and in other cases universities like Penn State) which has a historical problem with cleaning house. Whatever we think about how an organization has dealt with crises and crimes in the past, it does not absolve us from demanding that our system of justice be applied equally to all of those accused, even those who are vulnerable to societal critique. I am glad that Vaira reminded us of the true purpose of the grand jury, and of the dangers caused when it is used more as a pre-emptive public relations tool than as a means for ensuring that the guilty are convicted and the innocent made whole. PennLive Opinion Contributor Christine Flowers is an attorney and columnist for The Philadelphia Daily News. Her work appears biweekly on PennLive. Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Ri Yong Ho, foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), during their talks in Pyongyang, the DPRK, May 2, 2018. (Xinhua) PYONGYANG, May 2 (Xinhua) -- China hopes that the dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States will be smooth and achieve substantial progress, said visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi here Wednesday. During the talks with DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, Wang said that China fully backs the DPRK's efforts to achieve the goal of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. He also said that China welcomes the successful summit meeting between the leaders of the DPRK and South Korea held on April 27 and its important outcomes. Wang recalled that DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un made a successful visit to China in March. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kim had a historic meeting during the visit. They achieved significant consensus on continuing and developing China-DPRK traditional friendly relations, as well as enhancing strategic communication and cooperation between the two countries, thus starting a new chapter of bilateral relations, Wang said. This will guide the two countries to consolidate and further develop bilateral relations in the new era, he said. Wang said that the traditional China-DPRK friendship is the shared and precious treasure of the two countries, adding that to continuously develop and pass on this friendship to future generations is a strategic choice of both countries. He said that China is ready to work with the DPRK to implement in substantial ways the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two countries, by strengthening communication and coordination between their political and diplomatic organs, pushing forward pragmatic economic and trade cooperation, cultivating people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and instilling new vigor into China-DPRK relations in the new era. While speaking highly of the positive changes that have been taking place on the Korean Peninsula, Wang said that China fully backs the DPRK in its efforts to find its own development approach suitable to its national conditions, and to concentrate all of its efforts on carrying out economic construction. China also backs the settlement of the DPRK's security concerns, and gives its full support for the improvement of inter-Korean relations, he said. Wang added that China is willing to strengthen communication with the DPRK and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue. He also expressed gratitude to Kim, the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) and the DPRK government for the great attention paid to the Chinese citizens involved in a recent major traffic accident in the country, and for providing the victims with intensive treatment and relief. Ri Yong Ho said that supreme leader Kim Jong Un cherishes traditional friendship between the DPRK and China, and it is a resolute stand of the WPK and the DPRK government to maintain and develop DPRK-China friendly relations from a new starting point. The foreign minister said that the successful Beijing meeting between DPRK and Chinese top leaders has resulted in important consensus on strengthening strategic communications and cooperation, which is a milestone in the history of DPRK-China relations. He said the DPRK is ready to make joint efforts with China to carefully implement these consensus, carry out close exchanges between their respective political and diplomatic organs, enhance pragmatic cooperation, push forward people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and make early preparations for commemorative activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and China next year. Ri said that the recent historic meeting between the leaders of the north and south sides of the Korean Peninsula is of great significance. The DPRK will maintain close communications with China on how to realize denuclearization and establish peace mechanisms on the Korean Peninsula, while enhancing dialogue with all parties concerned, he added. Liberal billionaire Tom Steyer is keeping his promise to spend big bucks on Pennsylvania's 2018 primary and general election. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said Monday that he'll seek the Democratic Party's nomination in the May 15 primary election. On Wednesday, the Steyer-backed NextGen America launched a digital campaign against Northampton County District Attorney John M. Morganelli in the Democratic nominating race for the Lehigh Valley's 7th Congressional District. Morganelli, a veteran prosecutor, has raised the ire of progressive groups for his staunch pro-life stance and his opposition to sanctuary cities. As Roll Call reports, Morganelli also angered progressives for his Twitter appeal to then President-elect Donald Trump, when he offered to serve the new administration. "John Morganelli does not support a women's right to choose and has repeatedly sought to make lives harder for immigrants," NextGen America spokeswoman Aleigha Cavalier said in a statement. "He sees no evidence that Donald Trump is a racist, and even asked to serve in his administration," Cavalier said. "These are not the values of young Pennsylvanians, and John Morganelli shouldn't represent the Democratic Party on the ballot in November." In a 10-second spot, NextGen argues that "We can't let this Pro-Trump candidate win our Dem primary. Stop Morganelli. VOTE May 15." As Roll Call notes, the ad will be seen on Facebook and Instragram. NextGen will also send out mail pieces that are similar to the video. NextGen will spend about $100,000 in the district on its anti-Morganelli efforts, Roll Call reported. All told, Steyer's group plans to spend about $3.5 million in Pennsylvania this campaign season as it looks to mobilize younger voters. Morganelli is one of three Democratic candidates looking to succeed retiring Republican U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent in a district that was redrawn by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court earlier this year. Former Allentown City Solicitor Susan Wild and the Rev. Greg Edwards are the other candidates. As Roll Call notes, Morganelli is also under fire t from EMILY's List, the group supporting pro-abortion rights female candidates. More from Roll Call: "The group's independent expenditure arm WOMEN VOTE! launched a six-figure television ad buy Wednesday knocking Morganelli for agreeing with Trump on abortion and other issues, according to a press release. "If Morganelli won't stand up to Trump," he can't represent, the narrator says in the 30-second ad. EMILY's List has endorsed Allentown City Solicitor Susan Wild in the race. WOMEN VOTE! launched a direct mail and television advertising program last week to bolster Wild. The group has so far spent nearly $90,000 on the race, according to Federal Election Commission documents." MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Potential for a bad day outdoors While deaths from encounters with nearly any of the dangers in the Pennsylvania outdoors are extremely rare or even non-existent, everything on our list can give you a real bad day in the wrong situation under the wrong conditions. Nothing on the list warrants any action by us humans other than a healthy respect for nature. Don't Edit Marcus Schneck | mschneck@pennlive.com No. 1 wildlife killer Hornets, wasps and bees, through the allergic reaction of some humans to their stings, account for more deaths from animal attack than any other group of wildlife in Pennsylvania. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 58 Pennsylvanians died of stings from 2001-13. Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Deadly collisions with deer An average of nearly 11 people were killed annually in motor vehicle collisions with deer from 1995-2013, according to the Deer Vehicle Crash Information Clearinghouse. Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Mountain lions in Pennsylvania? The Pennsylvania Game Commission discounts mountain lion sightings as misidentifications, illegal pets escaped or released, or hoaxes, but considerable numbers of reliable observers insist they've seen them in Pennsylvania. In regions of North America where cougars are known to live, from 1890-1990 they attacked 53 humans, killing 10. Don't Edit pennlive.com file Low number of attacks There have been a few dozen attacks on humans by black bears in Pennsylvania. None of them have been fatal, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The North American Bear Center in Minnesota notes that the 750,000 black bears across North America kill less than one person per year on the average. Don't Edit Don't Edit Teresa Bonner | tbonner@pennlive.com Rabies vector Raccoons again were the leading species for rabies in 2014, with 197 confirmed incidents, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Other species confirmed in 2014 were bat, 63; cat, 40; skunk, 36; fox, 18; groundhog, 7; deer, 3; dog 2; and horse, 1. Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Vipers The Centers for Disease Control recorded a half-dozen deaths from the bite of venomous snakes in Pennsylvania from 2001-13. There are three species of venomous snakes native to Pennsylvania: the copperhead, the eastern massasauga and the timber rattlesnake. Don't Edit Scott Ney Photo Never in a good mood Although they are not venomous, northern water snakes can be aggressive in defending themselves and their territories, and their bites can lead to infection. Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Coyotes in the East Coyotes, which in Pennsylvania and other eastern states are mostly coyote-wolf hybrids that can rang to 60-70 pounds in the largest males, have attacked several people, often while also attacking their dogs. Don't Edit Shutterstock.com Coyote attack In October 2009, a pair of eastern coyotes killed a 19-year-old women in a national park in Nova Scotia, Canada. Don't Edit Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Poison mushrooms The American Association of Poison Control Centers notes that in 2010 two Americans died of poisoning from wild plants and one died of mushroom poisoning. However, the association reports only those cases that found their way into its system and the actual fatality numbers are believed to be much higher. Don't Edit The deathcap (Amanita phalloides) might very well be the deadliest of fungi. You can spot it in late summer to autumn in... Posted by The Woodland Trust on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Death caps, destroying angels With names like the death cap and destroying angel, some mushrooms in the Amanita genus are among the deadliest of all poisonous mushrooms. Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Dog attacks Dog attacks killed 11 Pennsylvanians from 1999-2013, while all other mammals killed 35, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Don't Edit www.pbase.com Poison hemlock Every part of the poison hemlock, which recently became a concern in Derry Township, contains the poisonous alkaloid coniine and other alkaloids that are toxic to humans and animals. The plant can quickly infest large areas of pasture and unworked soil. Don't Edit We have some natural remedies to help reduce the itching and pain, as well as some tips to get rid of the plant without chemicals! #poisonivy Posted by Farmers' Almanac on Friday, July 10, 2015 MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Poison ivy Severe reactions to poison ivy have led to deaths, according to Penn State Extension. Don't Edit Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Spider bites Penn State Department of Entomology: For the most part, all spiders have jaws and fangs to deliver venom. However, most spider bites have little or no effect on humans. The exceptions include people with compromised immune systems or other medical conditions that leave them vulnerable to spider venoms. Don't Edit The Brown Recluse is one of the few species in North America whose venom is considered medically significant. It is... Posted by Spiders.us on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Brown recluse spider Brown recluse spiders and black widow spiders have been confirmed in Pennsylvania, and some people have been bitten by them. Don't Edit Shutterstock Lyme disease The Pennsylvania Department of Health recorded 7,400 cases of Lyme disease in 2014, up 25 percent from 2013. Pennsylvania now leads the nation in Lyme disease cases, which result from tick bites. Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@comcast.net A million per year Carriers of fatal diseases ranging from malaria to West Nile virus, mosquitoes contribute to as many as a million human deaths annually, including a handful in Pennsylvania. Don't Edit Screen capture/WPXI Rattlesnakes A man from western Pennsylvania was simply sitting by a fire at his family's camp site in Elk County this weekend when a venomous rattlesnake bit him late Saturday night,according to WPXI in Pittsburgh. The poisonous snakebite put Russell Davis, 39, of Freedom, Pa., into acute respiratory distress, and he met an ambulance for medical help, according to the news station. Davis went into cardiac arrest in a helicopter on the way to a hospital and was pronounced dead after an emergency landing. Don't Edit Don't Edit MARCUS SCHNECK, mschneck@pennlive.com Want more outdoors? Go to PennLive.com/Outdoors for all your outdoors news and information, from the Save Our Susquehanna campaign to a look at the Ants of Pennsylvania to doe hunting license allocations. China-U.S. consultation will be constructive if U.S. delegation is sincere: FM spokesperson BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Consultation between China and the United States on economic and trade issues will be constructive as long as the U.S. delegation comes with sincerity, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wednesday. Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks in response to a question regarding the upcoming China visit by a U.S. delegation comprising of high-ranking trade and economic officials. At the regular daily news briefing Wednesday, Hua confirmed the visit, saying that China welcomes the visit by the U.S. delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. Mnuchin, who is also U.S. president's special envoy, will lead the U.S. delegation to visit China from Thursday to Friday. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will exchange views on China-U.S. economic and trade issues of common concern with the U.S. delegation. China and the United States are the world's top two economies. Properly settling issues in economic and trade relations through equal consultations and maintaining the overall stability of trade relations are undoubtedly in line with the common interests of both sides and will help world economic stability and growth, said the spokesperson. Given the volume of the two economies and the complexity of their relations, it is unrealistic to expect to solve all the problems through one single consultation, Hua said. As long as the U.S. delegation is sincere about maintaining the overall stability of China-U.S. economic and trade relations and an attitude of mutual respect, equal consultation and mutual benefits, the consultation will be constructive, Hua said. Perryville soccer coach Jerry Fulton has been approached about how good his team is, because according to the results, they have to be pretty good.Perryville claimed first place in the Hillsboro The St. Vincent cross country teams made a statement. The boys finished first, while the girls took second place at the Perryville High School Invitational on Tuesday in the Perryville City Park.It St. Vincent football has asserted itself the past few years when it comes to matchups with their crosstown rival Perryville. The Indians had won three straight contests against the Pirates. St. Roth to help raise money for cancer society During last years Perryville homecoming game, the football coaches donned pink hats and pink pants in honor of a noble cause. They hope to do so again this year.Perryville football head coach Pirates play to win against Blackcats Perryville football has had a flair for the dramatic this season. This past week was no different as they held on late for a 21-14 victory over Fredericktown on Friday at Pirate Stadium. Perryville St. Vincent keeps foot on the gas in victory St. Vincent made quick work of Herculaneum in week four. The Indians got off to a quick start and kept it rolling as they dispatched of the Blackcats 49-0 on Friday at Herculaneum High School. That Click Here For Our Local Sports Page JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) The Alaska Legislature has passed a resolution urging the federal government to reconsider its listing of marijuana as a controlled substance. The resolution also asks the federal government to respect the states authority to regulate the use, production and distribution of marijuana in Alaska. The House voted 37-0 Monday to accept changes made by the Senate. The Senate passed the resolution unanimously earlier in April. Alaska voters in 2014 approved legalizing recreational use of marijuana by those 21 and older. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level. Alaska Humanities Forum's (AHF) second cohort of Alaska Salmon Fellows convened in Petersburg at the Holy Cross House for 5-days beginning with a reception at the Sons of Norway Hall last Friday. According to Fellow Kris Norosz, this was the first time the cohort of 16-fellows had met in person. The Alaska Salmon Fellows work to facilitate conversations about salmon issues and identify innovative opportunities to strengthen the resource for future generations. A contingent of about 28 people, including fellows, advisors and AHF staff toured Icicle Seafoods, Petersburg harbors and the Crys... Visitors enjoy beautiful scenery in Dandong, Liaoning province, May 1, 2018. [Photo/VCG] Buyers act on rumors of economic reform, peninsula denuclearization Property prices in the China-North Korea border city of Dandong have skyrocketed since North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Beijing in March. Housing prices in Dandong, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, have risen from 3,000 yuan ($471.5) to 5,000 yuan per square meter and those in some areas even doubled, the Global Times has learned. Xu Min, a real estate agent in Dandong, told the Global Times that prices in Xincheng district adjacent to the Yalu River are increasing especially fast. "The price hike took place after Kim Jong-un visited China," Xu said. Property prices are increasing by 300 yuan a day in some areas, a Dandong businesswoman told the Global Times. She refused to be fully named. "Apartments overlooking the Yalu River were not profitable at all in the past, but as buyers began to flood in and prices rose, real estate developers stopped giving out discounts," she said. On the website of real estate agency jiwu.com, an article outlined a popular rumor that as North Korea reforms its economy Dandong might turn into another Shenzhen, the Chinese mainland boom city near Hong Kong. The article encouraged people to buy property while prices are low. The volume of property deals is also reportedly increasing. The number of new applications has sharply risen beyond their processing limit of 260 a day, the real estate registration center of Dandong said in an April 25 notice released on the website of its parent organization the Dandong Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources. The center asked house buyers to make early appointments. But a government employee from the registration center denied the rising trade had anything to do with North Korea. "Several communities in Dandong happened to finish construction recently and the buyers are now heading to the center to complete their transactions in groups," the employee, surnamed Zhang, told the Global Times. Most of the buyers were local, the employee said, and denied widespread speculation that outsiders were flooding into the city buying up property. Inquiries about trips to North Korea have increased since Kim's March 25-28 visit to China, travel agents told the Global Times. After Kim's visit, there was a time when the large demand for train tickets to North Korea made them hard to acquire, as business trips and trips of family visits boomed, Zhang Runfu, a travel agent at Hongxiang International Travel Agency in Dandong, told the Global Times. Trips to Pyongyang were suspended last year, but inquiries about such trips have been on the rise in the past month, Zhang said. Oil prices fall Thursday on rising U.S. crude inventories, record production By Henning Gloystein SINGAPORE Petroleumworld 05 03 2018 Oil prices dipped on Thursday, weighed down by swelling U.S. crude inventories and record weekly U.S. production that is countering efforts by producer group OPEC to cut supplies and prop up prices. Brent crude oil futures LCOc1 were at $73.19 per barrel at 0404 GMT, down 17 cents, or 0.2 percent, from their last close. U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 11 cents, or 0.2 percent, at $67.82 per barrel. Prices were pulled down by a report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) on Wednesday showing U.S. crude inventories jumped by 6.2 million barrels to 435.96 million barrels C-STK-T-EIA in the week to April 27, the highest level in 2018. The (EIA) report showed a much larger than expected crude build for last week as well as an unexpected build in gasoline inventories, said William O'Loughlin, investment analyst at Australia's Rivkin Securities. U.S. oil production also rose to a record of 10.62 million barrels per day (bpd), a jump of more than a quarter since mid-2016. The United States now produces more crude oil than top exporter and Saudi Arabia, the biggest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. GRAPHIC: U.S. oil production and storage levels - reut.rs/2riHTd9 Only Russia currently pumps more oil, at around 11 million bpd, though the United States could surpass that level soon. U.S. drillers added five oil rigs looking for new production in the week to April 27, according to energy services firm Baker Hughes, bringing the total count to 825, the most since March 2015. U.S. producers are being incentivised to ramp up production as OPEC restricts production and raises prices. State-owned producer Saudi Aramco said on Wednesday it has raised the June price for its Arab Light grade for Asian customers by 70 cents a barrel versus May to a premium of $1.90 a barrel to the Oman/Dubai average, the highest since August 2014. Overall, OPEC produced around 32 million bpd of crude oil in April, according to a Reuters survey, implying that its production is slightly below its target of 32.5 million bpd, due largely to plunging output in Venezuela. BMI Research said it expects OPEC's output to remain stable around or slightly above 32 million bpd for the rest of the year. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Oil companies often misallocate operating and capital costs Transparency organization PWYP By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 05 03 2018 The authorities of oil producing nations should not only be on the lookout for inflated costs, but also, misallocated costs by petroleum companies. This is according to the Canada-based organization, Publish What You Pay (PWYP). In its most recent report, the entity warns that there are strong incentives for companies to misallocate costs between different categories and, for some fiscal regimes, between different concessions or blocks. The anticorruption agency said that most fiscal regimes draw a clear distinction between capital costs (e.g. permanent infrastructure and machinery) and annual operating costs (e.g. salaries and consumables such as fuel). It noted that operating costs can be fully claimed in the year in which they were incurred. In most cases, however, capital costs are depreciated, meaning that they are claimed over a series of years. Publish What You Pay says that the depreciation of capital costs affects the timing of government revenues. The international organization said, Companies therefore have an incentive to classify costs as operating costs when they should in fact be classified as capital costs. Auditors from India for example, have highlighted the revenue risks due to the misclassification of costs between the different project phases (exploration, development and production) and also between capital and operating costs. Furthermore, the company stated that costs can be misallocated between different blocks or concessions. It said that this is common, particularly in the petroleum sector, for operations to be ring-fenced at the level of the contract area or block. PWYP said this means that revenues, costs and taxes are calculated separately. It noted that when ring-fencing provisions are not in place, nations can end up paying for unwarranted works. It said, Particularly during the exploration phase, companies can benefit from allocating costs to those blocks that hold the greatest prospect of future production. For example, seismic testing, which is often carried out across multiple blocks, could be disproportionately allocated to a highly prospective block in order to increase the likelihood that the bulk of the costs could be recovered. It said that a concrete example comes from Timor-Leste, where costs for a well drilled in an area to be handed back to the government (relinquished) was claimed against a producing block. It said that Timor-Leste lost billions of dollars in revenue due to costs being misallocated from one block to the next. GRA PROMISES SAFEGUARDS Commissioner General of the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), Godfrey Statia, has assured that safeguards will be in place to combat notorious accounting practices by oil companies operating here. During a Press Conference, recently, the tax chief said that addressing inflated costs, among other practices, requires that there is adequate information flow at all times with all oil companies. He said, You cannot wait until the end of the period within which you are going to start an audit or I wouldn't even call it that, I would say a review. A review should be continuous. You should have persons on the spot specifically trained in these activities and have them reviewing the activities on a day by day basis Commenting further on the need to have competent staff, Statia revealed that by 2020, GRA's team would increase by 100 persons. He said it would entail people from all spheres of the petroleum industry. The tax chief said, We would need to have a mix of engineers and lawyers, too, or else you would be in problems etc. Additionally, we are slated to send eight persons from GRA to England to study oil and gas and we are trying to be at the forefront of these issues instead of waiting on the other departments. The Commissioner General subsequently reiterated to Kaieteur News that GRA is working towards ensuring that the necessary safeguards are in place to ensure Guyana gets its fair share of taxes. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Story from Kaieter News Kaieteurnewsonline.com 05 03 2018 Copyright 1999-2018 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. We welcome the use of Petroleumworld (PW) stories by anyone provided it mentions Petroleumworld.com as the source. Other stories you have to get authorization by its authors. Internet web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated. Petroleumworld welcomes your feedback and comments, share your thoughts on this article, your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Write to editor@petroleumworld.com By using this link, you agree to allow PW to publish your comments on our letters page. Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10 +/ 800x600 pixels November 13 - 15, 2018. Gubkin University, Moscow SPE Student Chapter U.S. PriceSmart to set up shop in Guyana due to expected economic oil boom By Demerarawaves GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 05 03 2018 United States-headquartered warehouse club, PriceSmart, is planning to set up shop in Guyana due to expected economic boom as a result of oil production in another two years, a senior company official said. We are very, very interested in exploring the opportunity of locating PriceSmart in Guyana. We have to do our due diligence but we hope we can eventually have a PriceSmart in Guyana. We have PriceSmart in the English-speaking Caribbean and we think that given the future prosperity in Guyana, that it is time to consider locating here, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of PriceSmart Inc. Robert Price was quoted as saying in a Ministry of the Presidency statement. Price and other board members were in Guyana on Thursday when they met with Minister of State, Joseph Harmon and other officials to explore opportunities for investment. In welcoming the team to Guyana, Minister Harmon, who met with the team during a break from this week's Cabinet meeting, said that Guyana remains open for business and Government will continue to ensure that the right conditions are put in place to promote Guyana as an investment destination. Harmon reportedly assured Price and his colleagues that government would do its best to facilitate PriceSmart's entry to the Guyanese market. I want to welcome you and you will find that while we are not as advanced as the other countries where you operate, you will find a willingness on the part of our people to work with you and on the part of the Government to create favourable conditions for businesses to succeed, he said. Price was accompanied by his son and President of the company, David Price, Executive Vice-President, Brud Drachman, Leon Janks, Board Member and their local contact, Mr. Andron Alphonso. PriceSmart operates 40 membership warehouse clubs in 12 countries and one United States territory. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Peru proposal for petrochemical plant project revived by new prime minister By Reuters LIMA Petroleumworld 05 03 2018 Peru's prime minister on Wednesday revived the idea of building a petrochemical plant in southern Peru that would be fed by a natural gas pipeline, the construction of which has been delayed by more than a year. Peru had awarded the $5 billion natural gas pipeline project in 2014 to a consortium led by Brazilian builder Odebrecht , which had planned to connect it to a proposed petrochemical plant that would be built by its subsidiary Braskem SA. But those plans were derailed by a massive graft scandal involving Odebrecht that snagged the project's financing and led the government to rescind its contract early last year. In a speech to Congress before asking for a vote of confidence, Prime Minister Cesar Villanueva did not say when the government would hold a new auction for the pipeline but described it as an anchor project key to developing the country's poorer southern regions. The natural gas pipeline must deliver gas to all of the south. But it can't just deliver the gas, it must also transform it through the installation of a petrochemical plant to make the investment in gas more profitable, Villanueva said. Villanueva also told lawmakers that the government plans to eliminate tax exemptions that do not deliver broad benefits but will not significantly raise tax rates as it seeks to trim the fiscal deficit. We will not resort to the shortcut of significantly raising tax rates, Villanueva said. Instead, the government will focus on broadening the tax base, reducing tax evasion and avoidance and cutting unnecessary government spending, Villanueva said. Villanueva said tax exemptions cost the government 16 billion soles ($4.89 billion) per year. He did not specify which tax exemptions might be eliminated. Peru is one of Latin America's most stable and robust economies, but last year the fiscal deficit widened to 3.2 percent of gross domestic product while economic growth slowed to 2.5 percent and the poverty rate rose for the first time in 16 years. Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra promised to refocus the government on infrastructure development to revive growth after his predecessor, former president Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, resigned in March in a graft scandal. Vizcarra's government plans to increase public investments by 17.5 percent this year, following a 2.3 percent contraction in 2017, Villanueva said. It also wants to cut the poverty rate to 18 percent by 2021 from 21.7 percent, he added. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Mexico leftist's wide lead narrows, 2nd place Ricardo Anaya up 5 pct as election nears By Christine Murray WASHINGTON Petroleumworld 05 03 2018 Mexican leftist presidential front-runner Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's lead narrowed for the first time in months as his nearest rival rebounded from corruption allegations ahead of the July 1 election, according to a poll released on Thursday. Less than two months before Mexicans vote, Lopez Obrador's support grew to 39 percent from 38 percent in the previous poll at the end of March, according to polling firm Parametria, but his lead narrowed to 14 points from 18. The possibility of a victory by Lopez Obrador, who has threatened changes to the country's landmark reform to lure private investment to its energy markets, has spooked some investors, helping send the peso currency down more than 3 percent in April. Support for Ricardo Anaya, the candidate of the For Mexico in Front coalition of three parties from the right and left, grew to 25 percent from 20 percent the month before. In a recent TV debate, he portrayed himself as the only alternative to the front-runner. Third-place ruling party candidate Jose Antonio Meade's support fell to 14 percent in the latest poll from 16 percent previously. There is now no debate about who is in second place, said Parametria founder Francisco Abundis, saying Anaya was helped by a shift in focus away from corruption scandals. If this trend continues, we would expect a closer election, he said, although adding that Anaya may not have enough time to catch up. Independent Margarita Zavala fell to 6 percent and Jaime Rodriguez declined to 2 percent. STEADY LEAD Until now, Lopez Obrador had maintained or increased his lead in opinion polls every month since December when he was ahead by 11 points. The face-to-face Parametria poll of 1,000 people was taken between April 25 and 30 and had a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. Some 14 percent of those asked either did not answer, said they did not know or could not choose a candidate listed. The results were similar to a poll published by national newspaper Reforma on Wednesday, which showed Lopez Obrador's lead slightly narrower than its previous poll. Despite his smaller lead, Lopez Obrador's advantage has led to a focus on how his Morena party will fare in national congressional and gubernatorial elections also held on July 1. His ability to control Congress will be key for his proposals, including a review of major energy-sector reforms enacted in recent years. In the lower chamber race for 500 seats, Lopez Obrador's Morena is ahead with 25 percent support versus 19 percent for Anaya's National Action Party (PAN). In the 128-seat Senate, Morena holds 25 percent of preferences, with the PAN at 21 percent. Abundis said the difference between the presidential numbers and those for the Senate and lower chamber showed Anaya's coalition had potential to grow. He said the first candidates debate on April 22, seen by 13 million people, was an element but not the most important factor in changing voter preferences. Anaya is generally viewed as having won the debate. Now on his third presidential bid, Lopez Obrador has been almost universally known in Mexico since he first ran in 2006, although opinion of him has varied. Less than two years ago, Anaya was known by less than half the population and Meade by less than one fifth, according to Parametria. BUSINESS JITTERS Lopez Obrador has threatened to cancel a new airport for the capital that is already under construction, leading Mexican businessman Carlos Slim, who was the world's richest man for five years, to hold a news conference to defend the project. If elected, Obrador's administration should decide the airport's fate quickly, one adviser said, although the prospect of the left-winger being in power is beginning to unsettle markets. Mexican companies are also delaying investment, bringing forward imports to protect against currency swings and warning that the next few months could be volatile. Parametria said it was working as a consultant on campaigns for all three main coalitions, but not at the presidential level. It uses that money to finance its presidential polls. The next televised candidate debate is on May 20 in the border city of Tijuana. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Mexican oil country pins hopes on a rebel Alejandro Cegarra/Bloomberg A Pemex oil well in Villahermosa. Poll leader AMLO vows to revive ghost towns in his home state. Investors worry he'll roll back landmark energy reforms By Amy Stillman MEXICO CITY Petroleumworld 05 03 2018 In the wetlands of Tabasco in southeast Mexico, indigenous farmers stand guard outside oil wells. They have no official status - but anyone who wants to do business there has to pay to get past. At Well 144 in the massive Sen field, for example, owned by state-run Pemex , service companies say they have to pay off two such groups, who claim to represent local communities and landowners. In some areas there are as many as ten. They charge fees that can reach 50,000 pesos ($2,670) a month for the larger international firms. There aren't too many other ways for the province's people to make money out of oil. In the four years since Mexico opened its energy industry to global business, more than 100 exploration and production contracts have been signed. But the promised wave of investment hasn't arrived, while Pemex and its contractors cut jobs as crude prices fell and haven't restored them in the current rally. That's one reason why voters in Mexico's oil heartland are deserting the government in the run-up to July's presidential election. They're swinging behind the only candidate who's promising a more nationalist energy policy - one that's alarmed investors. He Understands' It helps that Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador is a local boy. Andres is from Tabasco, he understands the poverty we live in,'' said Pablo Osorio, one of the indigenous farmers watching over the well. There are no hospitals, no big supermarkets. The only thing the oil reforms have brought us is polluted land.'' Lopez Obrador says he'll review contracts already signed with private oil companies, and may stop awarding new ones. He also promises to strengthen Pemex, and to build two new refineries - one of them in Tabasco. Gasoline and electricity prices will be frozen for three years. It looks increasingly likely that the 64-year-old will get the chance to implement that agenda. He's headed for a landslide win, according to Bloomberg's Mexico election tracker , which compiles local polls. It has Lopez Obrador on 47 percent -- almost 20 points clear of closest rival Ricardo Anaya, who backs the energy reforms. Error and Brake' In the industry, there's concern that Lopez Obrador would return Mexican oil to the bad old days. The reforms haven't halted a slide in Mexico's crude output, but supporters say they should be judged over the longer term. Reversing course now would be an error and a brake on the country,'' said Javier Zambrano, chief executive officer of local oil company Jaguar Exploracion y Produccion. Foreign capital is starting to arrive, ranging from global giants like Royal Dutch Shell Plc and Exxon Mobil Corp. to small drillers with big ambitions. Canada's Renaissance Oil Corp. was among the pioneers. It took part in just the third competitive auction ever held in Mexico, in December 2015, winning three onshore blocks. The company's current output of 1,650 barrels a day is just the start, said founder Craig Steinke -- provided the reforms continue. What's important is a steady flow of new opportunities.'' Who'll Pay? Economists also worry that Lopez Obrador's plans will drain the public coffers. His refineries would cost billions of dollars each - but Mexico already has six, operating at below 40 percent of capacity . Pemex is the world's most indebted oil major. Freezing fuel prices has political appeal after a sharp hike last year, known locally as the gasolinazo'' or price-slam. It was part of a liberalization that's encouraged companies such as Chevron Corp. to invest in gas stations and fuel-import facilities. That Lopez Obrador policy could be costly, too. Who is going to subsidize it? said Federico Garcia, an industrial equipment manufacturer in Villahermosa. And what about the companies investing in Mexico? You can lose competitiveness if you drop the price. Garcia also dismissed the refinery plan, saying the government doesn't have the resources and isn't an efficient constructor. We Threw Rocks' Fighting over oil in Tabasco helped launch Lopez Obrador's political career. Discoveries there propelled a boom in the late 1970s, but there was already concern that locals weren't getting a share of the wealth. After losing a controversial 1994 election for the state governorship, Lopez Obrador joined activists who were blockading Pemex's wells. He gained national exposure by appearing on television covered in blood after a clash with police. Plenty of people in Tabasco remember those days. We threw rocks, they beat us and sprayed us with tear gas,'' said Raul Drouaillet, now president of the National Movement for the Defense of Oil Workers. And they remember Lopez Obrador's role too. His political work has always been in the field, against the establishment,'' said Carlos Lopez, who went to elementary school with the candidate. Election talk in oil towns like Villahermosa is dominated by jobs. Tabasco has Mexico's highest unemployment rate. Petroleumworld.com Hit your target - Advertise with Us Story by Amy Stillman from Boomberg. bloomberg.com / 05 02 2018 Copyright 1999-2018 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. We welcome the use of Petroleumworld (PW) stories by anyone provided it mentions Petroleumworld.com as the source. Other stories you have to get authorization by its authors. Internet web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated. Petroleumworld welcomes your feedback and comments, share your thoughts on this article, your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Write to editor@petroleumworld.com By using this link, you agree to allow PW to publish your comments on our letters page. Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10 +/ 800x600 pixels November 13 - 15, 2018. Gubkin University, Moscow SPE Student Chapter The Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone, Zhang Xueqian, has assured that China would continue to collaborate with the government of Sierra Leone and the private sector to assist in the countrys development strides. China and Sierra Leone have a long friendship that started since 1971. The bond between the two countries is profound and the potential for a more sustainable cooperation between the two sides is huge. Sierra Leone is a beautiful country that has a lot of potential for growth, and China as a reliable development partner, will continue to stand by its friends around the world, including Sierra Leone, he assured. Mr. Zhang said during an interactive session with the media on Chinas 2018 training opportunities for Sierra Leone. He maintained that the Human Resource Development Cooperation Program (China Aid Training Program) was in the Framework of Chinas Foreign Aid sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce, Peoples Republic of China and that the main object of the programme was to help develop the human resource capacity of developing countries, including Sierra Leone. Chinese government will cover a large proportion of the expenses for the participants, including the cost of international round trip tickets, accommodation and traffic costs during the stay in China, accident insurance, treatment of acute diseases and also some daily stipend, he explained. He reiterated that China and Sierra Leone have a long history of cooperation in human resource development and that in recent years it has become a highlight of their cooperation. Since 2008, China has provided training opportunities for more than two thousand and six hundred (2600) Sierra Leoneans. In recent years, the beneficiaries have increased year-by-year. For example, in 2016 three hundred and ninety-eight (398) participants traveled to China and benefited from these training programs. In 2017, eight hundred and eighty (880) Sierra Leoneans participated in various training programs in China. In addition to the short-term training programs, we also have provided scholarships to over one hundred (100) Sierra Leoneans to pursue masters and Ph.D. studies, he said. He disclosed that the Chinese Embassy in Sierra Leone would continue the inspiring trajectory by ensuring that more citizens benefit from Chinese training programmes, including thirteen (13) bilateral seminars/training courses and more than one hundred (100) multilateral training programmes. Our 2018 training program is now in progress, with eleven (11) groups of trainees already in China. This is in fulfillment of the Human Resource Development Cooperation (HRDC) agreement between China and Sierra Leone. He noted that their short-term training and post-graduate programmes would cover a wide range of areas, including trade, healthcare, agriculture, education, finance, information technology (IT), energy, construction, and law enforcement. These training programmes are conducted in response to a request from both of the government and private sector of Sierra Leone. Therefore, they are specifically designed to meet the needs of social and economic development of this country. This year, four key areas are identified, namely: Agriculture, Education, Public Health, and Trade/Commerce, he added. To help strengthen the agriculture sector and enhance food security, he continued, China will provide Bilateral Seminar for thirty (30) participants on the topic: Agricultural Development and Agricultural Products Trade for Sierra Leone, coupled with another seminar on Sustainable Development of Fishery Industry for Sierra Leone, which will be conducted for another batch of 30 people in China later this year. He assured that over one thousand (1000) people will participate in different programmes this year and that some Chinese experts would be in the country this year to train 300 participants. These training opportunities will not be limited to ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) alone; there will be more opportunities for the private sector as well, so that they can also benefit, Zhang concluded. The Peoples Republic of China has through the Confucius Institute at the University of Sierra Leone, organized the first ever job fair at the Ajayi Crowther Amphitheatre at Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leones capital city. The job fair attracted huge number of graduates and continued students from the University of Sierra Leone and other tertiary institutions. Chinese Embassy and University of Sierra Leone Officials The Director of Confucius Institute, Professor He Mingqing said the aim of the job fair and International Company Exhibition was to provide a platform where students, graduates and the general public can interact with companies, organizations and institutions from diverse sectors, as potential employers. He noted that the job fair will give opportunity for one-on-one discussions and also provides the companies the stage to showcase their essence and relevance in the development of Sierra Leone. Prof. He furthered that the fair was an open event, free of charge, with the objective of establishing and experience-sharing forum in which our new graduate would benefit from the diverse sectors that will participate and also assist them in their search. The Director of Academic & Career Advisory & Counselling Services (ACACS), Dr. Fatmatta Taqi said they have for the past three years been doing job fair, annual entrepreneurship seminars with the aim of empowering graduate to be attractive to the would be employers. She informed that the job fair attracted over forty companies and businesses that had about four hundred jobs to offer. Students taking advantage of opportunities provided by China The Acting Vice- Chancellor and Principal of the University of Sierra Leone, Professor Ekudayo J.D. Thompson described the job fair as timely noting it coming at a time when there is an increasing concern about the discount between education and employment resulting in joblessness for many tertiary and higher education sector graduates. He emphasized that there is a need for students at tertiary and higher education sector to acquire skills for job creation. He therefore commended the Confucius institute for the laudable job fair initiative, adding it will give graduates and continuing students insights into what obtains in the employment market. Present at the event was the Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, His Excellency Wu Peng and other government and private sector officials. Val Gorski, CFO of TerraVida Holistic Centers, stands behind the counter in the customer consultation at the Abington dispensary on Old York Road. The medical marijuana dispensary opened April 26. Read more After a very slow start, medical marijuana dispensaries are sprouting across the region like, ehem, weeds. Until this month, the Philadelphia-region had only a trio of retailers. Patients suffering from 17 qualifying health conditions swarmed to buy their cannabis medicines in Devon, Phoenixville and Sellersville. The competition is taking root and the marketplace is expanding as about 35,000 patients have signed up. Two more retail cannabis stores opened this week in the Pennsylvania suburbs on the heels of Montgomery County's first dispensary, which opened April 23 in Abington. Ilera Healthcare, which also grows and processes cannabis in Fulton County, opened its first shop on Thursday inside a renovated bank in Plymouth Meeting at 420 Plymouth Rd. In 1970s stoner circles, "420" was a code word for smoking marijuana and getting high. "I swear, we did not chose it for the 420 address," said Greg Rochlin, CEO and co-founder of Ilera. "It was serendipity. We literally didn't realize it. None of us were part of the old culture." The building, which stands across from the Plaza Azteca restaurant, has undergone a major overhaul. Rochlin described the Ilera dispensary as looking "like the Apple Store meets a library. It's very comfortable and approachable with soft seating." Keystone Shops, which launched one of the state's first medical marijuana outlets in Devon, opened its new dispensary Thursday in King of Prussia at 367 S. Henderson Rd. Philadelphia will roll out its first dispensary in mid-May. Industry insiders received a sneak peak Wednesday night of the Restore Integrative Wellness Center on Frankford Avenue, a tranquil facility tucked inside what was once a 6,000-square-foot welding shop. Restore's clean and muted ambiance is a stark contrast to the raucous nightclub scene of its thriving Fishtown neighborhood. And that's by design, said Restore's CEO, Steve O. "This is a place where people can come to de-stress and restore a sense of serenity," O said. "It's a real privilege and honor to be on the ground floor of this industry, and my wife and I feel we have a huge responsibility for increasing patient access and dispelling the reefer madness thing." The northern suburbs are also getting another dispensary. In Bristol Township, a Beyond/ Hello medical cannabis dispensary will open May 11 in a strip mall at 2412 Durham Rd. Beyond/Hello, which has paired with the Rothman Institute to conduct research on cannabis and pain, will host a pair of informational seminars for patients and health-care providers at the Bucks County Community College. Patients can attend a session at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 12. A symposium for health-care providers is set for 8:30 a.m. Saturday, May 19. Beyond/Hello is aiming to open the first marijuana retailer in Center City by September on the 1200 block of Sansom Street. TerraVida Holistic Centers, which opened its second shop in Abington on April 23, will open a third medical cannabis dispensary at a former auto-parts emporium in Malvern on May 20. South Philadelphia will see its first dispensary up and running by mid-June. Herbology Dispensary will open on the 1100 block of East Passyunk Avenue. Mahja Sulemanjee, marketing director for the Illinois-based Herbology chain, said the store will have an atmosphere that crosses "living room chic" with a Nordstrom's jewelry counter. The shop also will offer yoga, cooking and meditation classes free to qualified patients. "Cannabis is only one tool in the pursuit of wellness," Sulemanjee said. "Proper living is another." Golden Living Centers, which in 2016 and 2017 sold the operations of 36 Pennsylvania nursing homes in a deal that did not include the real estate, has agreed to pay almost $1.8 million to former employees for lost sick and vacation time under a settlement with SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania, the union said Thursday. A settlement, reached at an April 4 mediation session, between Golden Living and the union called for the company to pay workers 89 percent of what they were owed in three installments though next February. The dispute centered on who was responsible for the sick and vacation time after a delay in the change of control for 17 facilities, including nursing homes in Doylestown and Rosemont. The deal covers licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, and service and technical workers. January 14, 2017 (L to R) Founders of Waterfront Ventures Johnathan Grzybowski and Khai Tran speak with attendee Zave Smith, co-founder of Xhilarate design firm in Philadelphia, during the Up Conference at Waterfront Ventures offices in Camden, NJ. Avi Steinhardt / For the Philadelphia Inquirer Read more Camden's business community is hiring hundreds of young employees as the local economy picks up. The growth raises hopes and questions in about equal measure. Is the surge sustainable, and will millennials continue moving to and working in Camden on the hip of Philly? Among the hopeful signs is Penji, which offers unlimited graphic design at a flat monthly rate. It is looking to hire at least 100 more Rutgers graduates by the end of 2019, and "is becoming more active in the Philly tech scene. The company is a model of how businesses can incorporate social impact and community consciousness into their business model," said Melissa Le, office manager for Waterfront Lab, a Camden coworking site that launched in April 2017. The job increase in Camden has been years in the making, and was recently aided by the IRS, which included Camden among a list of federally designated Opportunity Zones, created by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act to spur investment in low-income communities. That follows decades of state subsidies and massive tax breaks to get companies to relocate to the city. Camden Mayor Francisco "Frank" Moran welcomes new firms while recommitting to the old ones: "Our foundational businesses such as Campbell Soup, Cooper University Hospital, Lourdes, and Camden Iron and Metal, to name a few, have never given up on Camden and we will never stop working with them," he said. Brandywine Realty Trust, Liberty Property Trust, the Philadelphia 76ers, Holtec, NFI Industries, and Benjamin Foods are among businesses large and small moving into Camden, thanks in part to hefty tax incentives. An estimated $2 billion has been invested in the city over the last five years, Moran added. In addition, start-ups such as Penji are hiring students and younger residents, including Hopeworks 'N Camden graduate Sekinah Brodie and Rutgers Camden graduate Naciye Cakir. Brodie was introduced to Penji by Hopeworks, a nonprofit teaching Camden youth technology and professional skills. "I'm so thankful to Hopeworks for helping me get my career started and introducing me to Penji. I love the team, culture, and the opportunity to explore a career as a creative in the heart of Camden," Brodie said. "I never thought I would find an opportunity to do what I love every day right here in Camden," said Cakir. "As a Camden student, I am so fortunate to be a part of a wonderful team of creative people, who love giving back." Penji cofounders and Rutgers Camden alums Khai Tran and Johnathan Grzybowski wanted to build a community-conscious business. Tran, who is also CEO of Waterfront Ventures, an economic development group attracting start-ups and businesses to Camden, said, "hiring in and from Camden is a top priority for us. We believe one of the best ways to revitalize the city is to keep talent in the city." On the other hand, some traditional manufacturing businesses are having trouble hiring, training, and retraining young workers in Camden, particularly those aged 18 to 25, squarely in the millennial demographic. Michael Amato, cofounder and CEO of Camden Yards Steel, employs 43 people at two locations, most of them in Camden. Amato estimates that out of 100 temporary employees who might cycle through his training program, four or five end up staying on as permanent hires, despite generous pay, 100 percent health care coverage, and retirement benefits. He's mystified as to why it's so hard to attract and retain young hires. Camden Yards is a family-owned company, founded in 2001. The company produces hot and cold rolled carbon steel, coated steel products, and custom pre-painted coil and sheets, located within the South Jersey Port along the Delaware River, at 2500 Broadway in Camden. "It is the most difficult part of my job. The idea of a day's work is different [from] when I was their age. They don't view their job as a necessity. That's probably the biggest difference. It's easy to go find other work or collect unemployment. It's very difficult to incent to respect their job. We pay very well here, and pay 100 percent health insurance. We have 401(k)s," Amato said. Once Camden Yards hires a temporary worker, that person must work 450 hours before being moved onto payroll as a full-time employee. "A lot of them don't make it to 450 hours. We call them 'shooting stars.' They come out of the gate and then at 21 days, they don't show up or they're late," Amato said. He'd like to hire more younger workers to be trained by his older employees, some of whom have been with Camden Yards for decades. Other companies are seeking workers, too, such as Webimax (hiring 100 workers), American Water Works (an additional 100 workers), EMR (285 jobs), and Resintech (170 jobs), said spokesman Dan Keashen of the mayor's office. As a result of medical school students, recent undergraduates, and other millennials staying in Camden, Maria Yglesias, a local real estate developer, says the downtown is benefiting from the growth of nearby Philadelphia in much "the same way that Newark is profiting from New York City." Yglesias, a partner in M&M Investments LLC, a developer in downtown Camden, said: "Younger families and a wave of medical school students want to purchase houses in the city. It's practical to have a place while they're in school, it's cheaper to own than to rent. At the same time, they started seeing it as an economic opportunity. Eventually, the house will be worth more money." Camden's crop of start-ups and Rutgers-Camden enrollment are helping: The student body is estimated to grow from just more than 7,000 to 8,500 in the next two years. But the question remains whether former Gov. Chris Christie's enormous tax breaks for established companies will produce sustainable job growth: Subaru headquarters' costs are offset by $118 million in state tax breaks, part of $1 billion-plus in incentives awarded to Camden projects by the state Economic Development Authority. Gov. Murphy has a bill ready for signature that would restore the ability to charge a lower sales tax in "urban enterprise zones" including Camden, through 2023. Stephen Danley, professor at Rutgers-Camden, and a Camden resident, points out that "it cost $80,000 in tax breaks to bring each of those jobs here. The Camden metro region leads the country in job growth. That's fantastic news, but in the context of regional and national growth, it may have come at the expense of significant tax revenue." Such are the trade-offs of the policies that have been pursued, he noted. "I'm skeptical it will continue over the long term." Meanwhile, young people continue driving the hiring conversation in Camden, and not just white millennials, but those of color, who Danley pointed out "are returning to Camden and buying houses, building equity." "Millennials are money-wise," developer Yglesias said. "Boomers, we were fools. We wanted to have it all right now, and bigger and better. And millennials aren't like that. They want quality of life, more time, and they don't want to work themselves into the grave. They don't need 7,000-square-foot homes. They have student loans. That shapes the way they look at the world." In the real estate pipeline is 11 Cooper, a $48 million residential development of 156 rental homes, which just broke ground on the Camden waterfront. It's the first new construction market-rate apartment building on Camden's waterfront in 15 years. CP Residential, which owns 11 Cooper, is a partnership of the Michaels Organization, NFI, and Conner Strong & Buckelew, led by South Jersey political boss George Norcross. The three firms are moving their headquarters to the Camden Waterfront in an office tower that is under construction near the apartments. But as Danley, 33, and a millennial himself, points out, much of the new corporate construction "includes two parking garages and an internal cafeteria. That doesn't speak to what millennials want. They don't drive, they want walkable, bikeable urban cities. And developers should be sponsoring restaurants and other small businesses in these new buildings rather than keeping their employees housed inside the corporate fence. Otherwise, it's a missed opportunity." Wilmington Trust Co. headquarters on Rodney Square was an anchor of what is now the city's half-empty corporate headquarters district. Read more Former Wilmington Trust Corp. president Robert V.A. Harra Jr. and three of his top lieutenants were found guilty Thursday of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government and investors by a federal court jury that deliberated for a week after a monthlong trial. The convictions were for lying to bank regulators, investors, and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The defendants were accused of filing false financial reports to hide hundreds of millions of dollars in loans to developers that went bad in the Great Recession so they could replace losses with new money from the government and private investors. The jury's verdict could leave the bankers in prison for the rest of their lives, if they receive the maximum penalties for each charge. Prosecutors expect to recommend sentences later this year. David Weiss, U.S. Attorney for Wilmington, stood beside prosecutors, FBI and IRS agents, and other federal investigators who worked on the seven-year-old case while calling it a victory for a federal justice system that has lately been accused of favoritism. "At a time when it's become sort of a sport to ridicule the Department of Justice, the FBI, and other federal agencies, the convictions ought to warn American corporate executives, and other powerful people, that no one is above the law when they make 'false and misleading statements,'" Weiss said. Even the powerful "must be held responsible." Along with Harra, those convicted were former Wilmington Trust chief financial officer David Gibson, former chief credit officer William North, and former controller Kevyn Rakowski. They remain free pending sentencing and appeal. Harra is "stunned," his lawyer, Michael Kelly, of the Wilmington office of McCarter and English, emailed. The retired banker's wife and grown children were among the spectators who crowded into U.S. District Judge Richard G. Andrews' courtroom during much of the trial. "I am in a state of shock," added Kelly. He later called the jury's verdict "insane," and said, "We will vigorously appeal." "We maintain David Gibson's innocence," the ex-CFO's lawyer, Kenneth Breen, said. "This isn't over yet." The bankers' lawyers put on a relatively simple defense, arguing that the highly detailed accusations merely showed common business practices by bankers who had no intent to deceive anyone. Harra "never in his life ever even thought about committing a crime," Kelly added. He noted that Judge Andrews had told jurors it wasn't enough to know that regulators and investors didn't know about bad loans; jurors needed to find the bankers intended to deceive, if they were to find the bankers guilty. Weiss praised the jury for paying attention to weeks of technical testimony. He noted that prosecutors Robert Kravetz, Lesley F. Wolf, and Jamie M. McCall had spent years building the case with FBI agents led by Joseph Gordon, IRS agents led by Jonathan Schnetz, and others. "This was an important case," because the death of the bank left hundreds of veteran staff unemployed and cost shareholders many millions, Weiss said. Wilmington Trust leaders "were victims of their own arrogance; they convinced themselves that they knew better," Weiss added. They did this by continuing to fund speculative developers "while other banks were pulling back," and by lying about the resulting losses to regulators, investors, and the government's bank bailout agency. The bankers' defense at times seemed to harken back to the days when small-town lenders knew their clients socially and trusted they would eventually make bad loans good, leaving no need to disclose embarrassing losses the kind of cozy arrangements that flourished under secretive bank regulatory practices. But "the public has an absolute right to know" the condition of government-insured banks under U.S. law, Weiss said. "Especially when you are going to market" to raise more money from investors and, in this case, federal agencies. Kelly and his fellow defense lawyers insisted that it was normal for banks to "extend" loans in times of trouble. But "the jury understood" how abnormal this really was, Weiss said: "They have credit cards, they have home loans there's no extensions for them. The bank comes to see you for what you owe." Asked why the bank's top officer, former chief executive and chairman Ted T. Cecala, wasn't charged alongside Harra and the others, Weiss said he wouldn't comment on "any plans" to charge others beyond a general statement that with banks, as with drug gangs, "we make a determination whether it's worth our while and whether we have substantial evidence to convict. That's the way we approach every case. Draw your own inferences." Hours after the verdicts were delivered, Kelly continued to question the basis for the prosecution. "My friend David Weiss said that the actions of the defendants greatly contributed to the demise of the bank," he said. "I disagree. This case was about the bank's reporting of matured commercial real estate loans. The bank had been reporting these loans the same way for 28 years and nobody ever told the bank what they had been doing was illegal or wrong." But witnesses for the prosecution included one of several Wilmington Trust lenders who have pleaded guilty to fraud since the bank collapsed, veteran bank regulators, investigators for the FBI, IRS, and the special inspector general for the government's Troubled Asset Relief Program. They detailed deceptions by the bankers that prosecutors said went far beyond merely lending money to people who couldn't pay it back. Indeed, larger banks, including the former First Union, National City, Washington Mutual, and other commercial lenders, as well as investment banks such as Lehman Bros. and Bear Stearns & Co., also collapsed during the recession after borrowers and clients failed to pay back loans. Their top officers escaped fraud charges. Wilmington Trust, founded by members of the same branch of the du Pont family who organized the modern chemical company in 1901, was at the time of its collapse the largest commercial bank still headquartered in the Philadelphia region. After regulators learned of the extent of the company's loan losses, Wilmington Trust assets loans and investments, branches in Delaware, the Philadelphia area and Maryland, and offices from London to Las Vegas were sold at a steep discount to Buffalo-based M&T Corp., which last fall agreed to pay the government and investors $60 million to settle its own alleged criminal liability. A string of lower-ranking Wilmington Trust lending officers had earlier pleaded guilty to fraud charges in relation to questionable loans. The original 2015 indictment is below: The former Frankford Chocolate & Candy Factory building on Washington Avenue is being demolished by developer Ori Feibush to make way for proposed townhouses and apartments. Read more Among a certain set of Philadelphia urbanists who devour websites such as Hidden City, Naked City, and Property, the work of GroJLart has long been required reading. His funny and profane tirades on architecture originally appeared on his blog, PhilaPhilia, where he assailed surface parking lots with an arsenal of f-bombs, s-bombs, and other assorted bombs while celebrating old buildings with an equally salty spray of adjectives. Even after the self-described "foulmouthed blogger" migrated to mainstream publications and toned down his language, only a handful of people knew his actual name. For the record, it is Dennis Carlisle. It is now clear that journalism and public discourse in Philadelphia would have been better served if he had been transparent about his identity and his forays into real estate. Since taking a job in January with developer Ori Feibush, Carlisle has worked behind the scenes to facilitate the demolition of the Frankford Chocolate & Candy building, the last intact Civil War-era factory on Washington Avenue. All the while, his pseudonymous column, the Shadow Knows, has continued to appear on Hidden City, a respected website founded to promote historic preservation. Carlisle's identity (and his move to the dark side) became public in March, when he appeared before the Historical Commission with an unusual request: He wanted to withdraw the nomination he had just filed to list the chocolate factory on the city's Historic Register, which would have saved it from demolition. Several people in the audience recognized him as GroJLart because he had given tours for Hidden City. Carlisle, who had worked as a schoolteacher until June, used his real name when he filed the nomination Dec. 12. Even though he had been championing "old-ass buildings" in his columns for nearly a decade, it was the first time he had proposed one for designation. Two weeks later, Feibush offered Carlisle a job as "director of acquisitions and research." Once Carlisle was in his new position, he told me in an interview, Feibush convinced him that the factory was beyond salvage. Based on this new information, Carlisle said, he sought to withdraw the nomination to avoid prolonging "a bad situation." Whether or not you accept this explanation, Carlisle's involvement with Feibush and several other developers, it turns out casts his journalism in a new and troubling light. Was he really an ardent preservationist crusading on behalf of Philadelphia's historic patrimony? Or did he use his anonymous columns in Hidden City, Property, and City Paper to advance other agendas? It does not appear he used his column to promote Feibush's projects, but did he hold back on attacking certain projects because they involved Feibush or other clients? Though Carlisle was not the only Hidden City contributor who had an outside job, he was the only one to write under a pen name. Every other Hidden City contributor, whether it was a grad student or a practicing architect, has been identified as such. Like all human beings, they have biases, but readers can easily figure out what they are and evaluate their credibility. According to a written statement provided by Hidden City coeditor Nathaniel Popkin, the website had no knowledge that Carlisle was moonlighting for developers. It has now canceled his column. When Carlisle started PhilaPhilia in 2009, citizen-run blogs promised to give legacy media outlets like my newspapers, the Inquirer and Daily News, a kick in the pants a useful one, in my view. Freed from the albatross of tradition, they promised to dig into overlooked corners of the world and provide a fresh perspective to readers. Hence Carlisle's liberal use of profanity. It was his way of rejecting the status quo. One of things about the fuddy-duddy legacy media is that most still enforce old-fashioned ethical standards. My colleagues and I are strictly prohibited from working for the people we cover or benefiting from our professional relationships. As one editor at the New York Times told a reporter in 1977, "I don't care if you f an elephant, just so long as you don't cover the circus." (That reporter, incidentally, was Laura Foreman, who had previously worked for the Inquirer and was involved in a notorious affair with the disgraced South Philadelphia political party boss, Buddy Cianfrani.) But the lines between journalism, government, activism, and business have become even more blurred in recent years. It is increasingly difficult for typical readers to vet stories they read on Facebook or the emails that flood their inboxes from various organizations. On Fox News, which can be considered a legacy outlet, commentator Sean Hannity has frequently featured lawyer Michael Cohen without revealing their business relationship. Fox's defense is that Hannity isn't a journalist. That's Carlisle's argument, too. "I never really held myself up to those standards," he told me. That statement, however, is strikingly at odds with an interview he did last year with the website Philly Curated. "GroJLart believes blogging and journalism have essentially merged," the article stated. At the time, Carlisle told me, he had already taken a full-time job with Kurfiss Sotheby's International Realty and had helped broker the sale of the former Inquirer Building. Why did Carlisle keep those relationships secret from Hidden City? "I didn't feel any obligation to tell them," he said. "I was bound by confidentiality agreements, and I knew they would ask questions about the deals I was working on." Of course they would. Despite its lapse with Carlisle, Popkin said Hidden City aspires to maintain the same journalistic standards as the legacy media. Yet, out of a desire to trade on his GroJLart brand, the website continued to let him write under a pen name. As David Mindich, the chair of Temple University's journalism department, observed, "The problem with operating anonymously is that your life is not traceable." Liz Spikol, who was Carlisle's editor in 2013 at Property, a Philadelphia Magazine website, told me she was stunned when she saw Carlisle's name associated with Feibush, "I was completely shocked and really distressed." So was Popkin, who wrote in his statement, "We have been betrayed by one of our longest-standing writers." More important, readers have been betrayed. Carlisle is by no means directly responsible for the destruction of the chocolate factory, a handsome brick building at 21st Street that resonates with Philadelphia's industrial history and that also was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1865 for one of the city's most important wallpaper manufacturers, Howell & Bros. Paper Hangings, it ended up a century later as the home of a company that made Easter candy. The building had been sitting empty for at least a decade when Feibush made an offer in late 2017 for the block-size property. He told me he had always envisioned the factory as a teardown and paid top dollar when he closed the sale in April for $15.5 million. When the Historical Commission refused to let Carlisle withdraw his nomination for designation, Feibush found a workaround: After obtaining two engineering reports stating the building was in bad condition, he was able to persuade the commission and the Department of Licenses and Inspections to grant him a demolition permit. He is now tearing it down and wants to build a mix of townhouses and apartments. However, the land is currently zoned for industry only, and Feibush has long been at war with the district councilperson, Kenyatta Johnson, who has veto power over its rezoning. The fact that he hired Carlisle just as he was preparing to complete the purchase, Feibush said, was a coincidence. "I've known Dennis for many years. He's phenomenal at research," Feibush said. Still, Feibush admitted he rarely read Carlisle's Hidden City columns "except when my name was mentioned." Based on information from three people who recently toured the old factory L&I chief David Perri, Preservation Alliance director Paul Steinke, and architect Ben Weber demolition was not the only option. The dangerous parts of the structure could have easily been stabilized, believes Weber, who has successfully saved old buildings in much worse shape. The factory might have been given a new life as apartments, similar to Oxford Mills in Fishtown, and many other Philadelphia industrial buildings. I am sad to see Washington Avenue lose an important piece of its architectural heritage. But I am even sadder about the role a journalist played in its demise and the damage that these events will do to a profession that is crucial to preserving the architecture of our democracy. Around this time each year, the daffodils push their heads through the topsoil, and the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) Daffy Ducks push their hate at college campuses. This spring, the annual circus of disinformation about Israel has an added attraction: an attempt to pressure the world-famous Philadelphia Orchestra to cancel a June concert tour in Israel. For more than a decade, the BDS movement has been working to delegitimize Israel, using half-truths, white lies, black lies, and polka dot lies. To me, BDS stands for "Bigoted Double Standards," hurling accusations of human rights violations at Israel while being blind to mass torture, imprisonment, and murder in Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria, Libya, and elsewhere. Leading the attack against the Philadelphia Orchestra is Palestinian American novelist and activist Susan Abulhawa of Yardley, whose recent op-ed hit a false note, practically accusing the orchestra of complicity in evil acts. In a letter to the orchestra, she wrote that performing in Israel "conveys the orchestra's tacit approval for Israel's systematic denial of Palestinian rights." "Tacit approval" is a crescendo often used by BDS advocates. Since becoming the first American symphonic ensemble to tour Europe after World War II, the Philadelphia Orchestra has visited the former Soviet Union, China, Vietnam, and Cuba without being accused of endorsing communism. The attempt to enforce a boycott on the orchestra was a first, I'm told by interim president Ryan Fleur. Visits are "cultural diplomacy," he explained in a letter that Abulhawa called "dismissive" and "micro-aggressive." I think it was polite. Read it here. BDS leans on exaggeration and propaganda. It has two aims: 1) To campaign for Palestinian rights, which is legitimate; and 2) to stigmatize the Middle East's only functioning democracy, which is not. It "is a spurious, one-sided presentation of a complicated situation," wrote Nancy K. Baron-Baer of the Anti-Defamation League in an op-ed alongside Abulhawa's. BDS's primary line of attack is built on a lie accusing Israel of South African-style apartheid. The more than 20 percent of Israelis who are Arab have full rights; 18 members of the Israeli Knesset are not Jewish (11 Muslims, 5 Druze, 2 Christians); a member of the Israeli Supreme Court, who retired in 2017, was an Arab; and Arabs are in Israel's military, police, and diplomatic corps, according to the Israeli embassy. The 1999 Miss Israel was Rana Raslan, a Muslim Arab, and the 2013 Miss Israel was Yityish "Titi" Aynawa, a black Ethiopian Jew. That's apartheid? No, this is: "I will never allow a single Israeli to live among us," says Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who just days ago distinguished himself when he blamed the Jews for the Holocaust. There is no apartheid in Israel, but the "occupied territories" have a separation wall, some separate roads (to thwart attacks) for Israelis, and different license plates for Jews and Arabs. But the West Bank is not Israel (some parts may be, eventually) and West Bank Arabs are not Israeli citizens, unlike South African blacks, who were citizens. There are some Israeli practices that many American Jews don't like and some that Israelis don't like. By holding Israel, the only majority Jewish state, to a standard it imposes on no other nation, BDS invites suspicion that it is animated by anti-Semitism. BDS has had success in persuading some musicians Lorde, Elvis Costello, Lana Del Rey to cancel Israel tours. It has failed with many more: Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Radiohead, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Britney Spears, Elton John, Depeche Mode, Neil Young and Crazy Horse. The BDS movement probably won't end as abruptly as Schubert's Unfinished Symphony, but the Philadelphians send a powerful message by ignoring it. MOSCOW One sign of how long Vladimir Putin has held power is that Russians in their late teens (or even early 20s) have known no other political leader. As the Russian president begins his fourth term Monday amid much speculation about whether he'll ever relinquish power many of the best and brightest of the Putin generation are growing nervous about their futures. Young adults who study at good universities and live in Moscow or St. Petersburg cities bursting with cafes, restaurants, Western goods, and foreign visitors have grown up feeling linked to Europe and the world. But in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and cyber meddling, and U.S. and European sanctions, Putin's countermoves threaten to isolate Russia from the West. >> READ MORE: Report from Moscow: Russian TV news exacerbates disconnect between Putin and the U.S. Nothing better symbolizes this internal conflict than the Russian government's attempt on April 13 to shut down Telegram, one of the country's most popular messaging apps, after its founder, Pavel Durov, refused to turn over encryption keys to the FSB intelligence service. The shutdown effort was an embarrassing failure, briefly knocking out other popular Russian websites and failing to halt Telegram's users. But it could be the prelude to Kremlin efforts to take full control of the internet in the manner of Xi Jinping's China. To find out how educated young people feel about all this, I sat down at the Cafe Tchaikovsky, in the heart of Moscow's theater and classical music district, with some students and recent graduates of the Higher School of Economics (HSE), one of Russia's top universities. I asked them how they viewed their future in Putin's Russia and the possibility of Russia's isolation and whether they wanted to stay or leave. Nikita Sokolov, a 23-year-old recent graduate now writing for the independent online news outlet Republic, was disdainful of government efforts to control the internet. "Turning off all Western social networks, Google, is impossible," he insisted. "They don't have the hardware or the human resources. Everyone is laughing at them. Maybe all this nonsense will go away." >> READ MORE: Report from Moscow: After missile strike, will Trump or Putin be seen as the winner? And indeed, government ministers whose staffs used Telegram complained, parliament members kept using the app, and business people were outraged. Young people hastened to download VPNs, or virtual private networks. Thousands demonstrated Monday in Moscow against Kremlin restrictions. But 19-year-old philology major Maria (who only gave me her first name) was still worried about the Telegram blockage. "Four years ago, no one could imagine such a thing. We are just getting used to this," she said as we sipped cappuccinos a sharp contrast to the subject at hand. Sokolov added: "They could try to ban VPNs." Sonya Groysman, 24, a Moscow State Univ. grad who works for the independent online television channel, TV Rain, chimed in: "So many great Russian [internet] companies have sprung up. But when the government realized that content was new power, they tried to grab them." Groysman's point speaks to the worry of many young Russians in tech that innovation will be punished rather than welcomed. Indeed, when Pavel Durov previously founded the Russian equivalent of Facebook, VKontakte, it was taken over by Putin allies, leading Durov to sell out and flee the country in 2014. Nastya Iakunina, 22, who is working in IT while she studies, described herself as "independent from politics." But she worries that shutting down Western social network sites would undercut Russian sites. "There would be no competition and the quality of the product will fall," she says. Yet, the ebullient Groysman remains an optimist. "I believe in young guys who look for ways to evade the government," she says. "They are more clever than the government." This young journalist works for one of a handful of independent news outlets that still manage to operate, most of them online, and maintain a certain amount of freedom to do investigative journalism, perhaps because their big-city, middle-class audience is limited in numbers. But no one knows how long that freedom will last. >> READ MORE: Report from Moscow: Not the Cold War, not WWIII: What to look for from Russia Sokolov worries that the upcoming members of Generation Putin will be less willing to take risks. "Kids born in 2000, we are beginning to lose them," he says. "Propaganda works. They have access [to independent news] but have restrictions in their head." Many of Generation Putin have no knowledge of Russia's harsh past. "Many students have never heard of the gulag," said Maria. "They can't imagine how bad it can be in a parallel universe." After the arrest of a popular theater director, she fears, "The government can do anything. In five years anything can happen." Maria learned about history from her great-grandmother, who was repressed under Stalin. "We know about World War II," says Sokolov,"but what Stalin did is still a hidden trauma. It is terrible that we don't remember what happened. Nineteen-thirty-seven [a year of Stalinist purges] is not coming again, but who knows. We should not be too calm." But Anya Shinkaretskaya, a recent grad, is less worried. "We are not as frightened as our parents,"she says. "My mom says, 'It's possible.' We are skeptical." None of these young people want to leave Russia, which they love or at least, they don't want to leave forever. "I see myself only here," said Groysman, echoing the others. Just in case repression worsens, however, all are trying to imagine a Plan B. Can you really teach an old dog new tricks? And isn't it ageist to suggest that a 76-year-old U.S. senator might be considered an "old dog"? Like almost everything that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders does since he exploded into America's political consciousness three long summers ago, there are always more questions than answers. Consider the biggest question that looms over Sanders' wild grey mane could America really elect a by-then-79-year-old democratic socialist as its 46th (or 47th or 48th who knows these days?) president on November 3, 2020? Perhaps especially when a veteran politician who's been around since the civil rights protests of the 1960s shows he can still learn from his recent mistakes. Just ask John Fetterman, one of the contenders in the heated Democratic primary race for Pennsylvania lieutenant governor. In 2016, Fetterman was an upstart, left-wing primary candidate for U.S. Senate who endorsed Sanders, attended his local events, and had enthusiastic support from many Sanders voters who were then stunned when the Vermont senator totally blew off Fetterman. (In this space, which was normally quite friendly to Bernie and his democratic socialism, I lashed out at Sanders and the case of "The Man That Bernie Sanders Forgot"). It was Exhibit A that spring for the case that Sanders was too focused on himself to spend his political capital on building a wider movement. On Friday, Sanders returns to Pennsylvania for the first time in this critical election year of 2018, and guess what his first stop will be? A rally at Philadelphia City Hall where the progressive icon will endorse Fetterman in his lieutenant gubernatorial bid. He'll do the same later this weekend for two Democratic congressional candidates, Jess King in Lancaster and Greg Edwards in Allentown. It's part of the Our Revolution movement that's doing the hard work of planting those grassroots seeds that Sanders mostly shunned in 2016, and which already has seen a lot of success endorsing candidates like new Philadelphia DA Larry Krasner. The rallies are an exclamation point on a huge development that's happened under the radar of the daily assaults of Trumpism. The Democratic Party is, at least spiritually, Bernie Sanders' party right now despite the irony that the lifelong independent will never change his own voter registration to "D." True, the insiders including current DNC chair Tom Perez are largely still Clintonistas, but that can disguise the fact that the ideas that struck some as too radical for the timid Democratic in 2016 universal college access, single-payer health care, a $15 minimum wage are now party orthodoxy in 2018. Turn on your TV and watch the ads for the slew of congressional primary candidates, and you'll see that a dramatic expansion of access to college and some version of truly universal health care ridiculed just two years ago as too idealistic or too expensive or both are now the price of admission for the Democratic electorate. And why wouldn't they be? Polls show that a majority of American voters (including large numbers of Republicans) now support state programs to make college tuition free (62 percent in the summer of 2016, after Sanders had hammered the issue on the campaign trail) and single-payer health care (by a slimmer 51 percent, early this year) two key tenets of Sanders' no-longer-"radical" scheme for democratic socialism. It's no wonder so many candidates are jumping on the bandwagon. But Bernie Sanders hasn't rested on those gains. Last month, he was back with a bold new proposal: A guaranteed job for every American, and this time other prominent Democrats were eager to stand behind him. Liberal voters have learned to steal Salena Zito's famous line about Trump to take Sanders seriously but not literally, that his proposals may be utopian but in the reality-based world he'd fight for whatever fraction of them can be achieved. The jobs pitch was another reminder that at the very moment conventional wisdom expected a politician in his mid-70s to slow down Bernie has hit the gas. He has never really stopped campaigning, reaching out to working class whites at town hall meetings in the heart of West Virginia Trump country but more importantly building new relationships with black voters in the South, where ran so poorly in 2016. His ideas and his energy, and his newfound willingness to elect like-minded candidates, make him again a serious contender for the presidency. Some surveys of both rank-and-file voters and key party insiders have shown Bernie Sanders to be the frontrunner for the 2020 Democratic nomination, although other recent polls have shown a surge for former vice president Joe Biden (who's a sprightly 75 call it a youth movement) or Elizabeth Warren (who turns 69 next month). It's certainly plausible to see a Sanders path to the nomination. But the chattering classes in D.C. have long maintained that Sanders can't win a general election, and that if he somehow did he'd be a lousy president, unable to make deals over on Capitol Hill. The second part of that strikes me as wrong. I've written biographies of two politicians Ronald Reagan and Bernie Sanders. Obviously. the two men are polar opposites politically, but there's a critical similarity between the two. Both men never compromised their core values the Gipper's bedrock conservatism, or Sanders' focus on liberalism for the working class yet they've governed pragmatically when the situation required it. When necessary, Reagan cut deals with Democrats and raised taxes to deal with soaring deficits and to stabilize Social Security. Likewise, Sanders governed the city of Burlington as a practical progressive who could reach out to former adversaries and was hailed by Time as one of America's best mayors. I suspect he'd surprise a lot of people as a similarly results-oriented chief executive of the United States. In fact, I think Bernie would make a very good president, quite possibly a great one. But I am worried about the politics involved in electing Sanders in 2020 and performing the most critical task that America has faced in my lifetime: Removing Donald Trump and his dangerous authoritarianism from the White House. It's hard to make the kind of journey that Sanders has made without picking up baggage along the way. Some of that is the Joe McCarthy-style red-baiting that would have happened if Sanders had defeated Clinton for the nomination in 2016, which I think he could brush off. Some of it seems more complicated. Nothing has energized the Democratic base since the start of 2017 more than the Trump-Russia scandal (which, for example, has single-handedly made The Rachel Maddow Show the highest rated show on television), and so some will surely hammer Bernie over the fact that the same Russian troll farm that worked to help Trump posted pro-Sanders material online as well, even if in this case there really is zero evidence of any collusion. Then there's the matter of Bernie's wife Jane and her problematic presidency of Burlington College, after which the institution went out of business. It appears to have been a case of poor management and not a crime, which of course didn't stop a local GOP activist (who even knew there was one in Vermont?) from referring the matter to the U.S. attorney. So it's a clearly a thing that state-run television, also known as Fox News. would make into the endless "Hillary's emails" of 2020, even though it has no bearing on how Bernie would govern (not unlike Hillary's emails).. And if you spend too much time on Twitter to this, I plead guilty it's impossible to ignore that some key Democratic influencers aren't fans of Bernie and that some despise him with passion, blaming his insurgent candidacy and any discord that it sewed in the spring of 2016 for Clinton's eventual defeat. This sentiment seems particular strong with women who were the most diehard Hillary fans like members of the group Pantsuits Nation, who morphed into the leadership of the Trump Resistance and also some non-white voters. Personally, I think the lingering resentment is unfair and misguided, but it would be foolish to pretend it doesn't exist, and that it divides the party. And a divided Democratic Party is how we got in the mess in the first place. When Sanders turned 75 in September 2016 and Trump was elected two months later, there was a sense that Bernie hadn't attained the presidency but had done something equally amazing in starting a bona fide political revolution and that these four years would be about passing that torch to a new generation. The fantasy was that a candidate would emerge who embraced Sanders' ideas and his energy, but with youth and a broader appeal to those groups that didn't warm up to him in 2016. My crazy idea for saving America after Trump was"'Bernie-ism" beyond Bernie. It may have been just that, a fantasy. In this photo released by Warner Bros., a taping of "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" is seen at the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, Calif. Read more One Philly family got a couple big surprises during a visit to the Ellen DeGeneres Show that is scheduled to air today, including a $20,000 check and a slew of prizes. Ellen superfan Amber Connolly, 23, recently showed up to a taping of Ellen, where she was called up on stage to join the show's host. After a highly emotional, tearful introduction, DeGeneres read aloud a letter that Connolly had sent her describing her family's charitable efforts despite a dire financial situation. "We don't have much, but you inspire us to give to those in greater need," Connolly, a Temple grad, wrote in her letter. "We couldn't afford Christmas again this year, so we decided to use the little money we had to buy hats and gloves for the homeless." DeGeneres said she was touched by the letter, and immediately brought out Connolly's first surprise: her family. Single mother Carolyn and brothers Calen, Kamran, and Khye all joined DeGeneres and Connolly on stage for the remainder of the segment, which was just as tearful as Connolly's introduction. Caroline, a social worker in Philadelphia, told DeGeneres that charity is important to her family because "that could be myself or my family one day," and she wants her kids to see how they can help people. "If they live it and see it and help, they'll give back and teach their children," she said. Because the family found itself living paycheck-to-paycheck, DeGeneres said she wanted to help, and donated $20,000 to the family courtesy of Wal-Mart. The host also made up for the family's missed Christmas with a prize pack that included all the items in the Ellen show's recent 12 Days of Giveaways, including a 4K television, Dyson vacuum cleaner, luggage, and gift cards. Ellen, of course, is popular in the Philly area, and last year came to town sans DeGeneres to film a segment in Center City. Kalen Allen, who regularly appears on her show, is a Temple University student who began appearing on the show after going viral online last year. Ellen airs on NBC weekdays at 3 p.m. Fang Gang, a sexology professor from Chinas Forestry University, just completed his training for the first batch of Chinas sexuality educators in March. Those 60 educators are the first national-certificated professionals on empowerment sexuality education. Fang hopes that they will be the seeds of Chinas sex education for the future bloom. Photo courtesy of Fang Gang For the first time ever in Chinese history, a national-certificated sex-ed course is being offered under the supervision of Chinas National Committee for Professional Talent Pool, which is responsible for grading primary, middle, and high-school-level certifications. The program is composed of various lectures, including on family sexuality education, resolution of domestic violence and school bullying, and supervision and evaluation of sexuality education. In an exclusive interview with Peoples Daily, Fang, the instructor and organiser of the training course, noted that sexuality education encompasses gender identity and gender equality. By introducing the notion of empowerment sexuality education on the basis of comprehensive sexuality education, he designed a series of courses for Chinese sexuality educators, which emphasized that the right to sexuality as part of fundamental human rights is the illustration of human equality. The empowerment process is a tailored approach for Chinese adolescents to identify the significance of social rights and obligations and to raise awareness of rights violations and the importance of self-protection, Fang described. Typical sex education in China lacks a sense of security due to the long-existing notion of shame in Chinese culture, especially in school education, Zhang Qinqin, a course trainee and a social worker in a Chinese NGO, told Peoples Daily. The newly-authorized educators aim is to gradually sweep out the sense of shame in the traditional sex-ed in China, by means of consulting sex-related issues in school and lectures for preschool and middle school students, but most importantly, mentoring Chinese parents on adolescent sexuality. Moreover, the educators also pay attention to the sexuality education for the disabled children who are often marginalized by the society and whose normal physical need is often forgotten. (People attend a sex-ed course in Beijing. Photo courtesy of Fang Gang) China is in a great need of sexuality education, as the hurtful and harmful sexual harassment and abuse simply fits a wrongful pattern of sloppiness and ignorance toward Chinese adolescents physical and mental health, said Ge Yeyi, another course trainee. Sex education in China is always a taboo topic, especially for Chinese parents. Most Chinese parents do not dare even mention any sex-related words in front of their innocent children due to their own background of traditional abstinence education. Many students answer to where am I from is always the same, from my parents picked me from the trash bins/found me in the trash to I am a pre-paid delivery. These are not jokes, but the reality of Chinese family sexuality education, said Fang. On the other hand, Chinas educational system is witnessing an unprecedented change. File pic of The Pace of Growth In 2017, a series of primary school sexuality education textbooks, The Pace of Growth, was published by Beijing Normal University. Though it caused an intense controversy over the elaboration of sexual intercourse and detailed illustrations of sexual organs, it is one of the many successful trials conducted over sexuality education under the supervision and guidance of Chinas Ministry of Education. Moreover, the sex-ed book Where Willy Went was introduced to most kindergarten pupils in the east Chinas Zhejiang Province. In Beijing, the requirement for primary school teachers upon passing over psychological verification which included sexuality education has been implemented since 2009. File pic Until 2017, there were 19.2 million preschool students and 142 million middle school students in China, however, sexuality education is still on trial only in several first- and second-tier cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Nanjing, where educational resources are much more concentrated and advanced than in other parts of China. The number of Chinas sexuality educators is far less than it should be. The anti-stigmatization for sexuality education in China has such a long way to go that I cannot simply give you a number, said Fang. UNESCO published the International Technical Guidance On Sexuality Education in January 2018, which outlined eight key parts of educational policies for worldwide teenagers and urges a comprehensive approach to sexuality education. The sexuality certification stands for a new start for Chinese sex education after nearly 20 years of exploration. For us, the certification is a consistent impetus and an encouragement to face the rigid social stigma which will be resolved in the short run, Zhang said with confidence. A film crew records rapper Meek Mill speaking during a news conference promoting Gov. Tom Wolf's proposals to reform the criminal justice system at the National Constitution Center on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Read more Philly rapper Meek Mill's experience with the criminal justice system over the past decade will be the focus of an upcoming six-part documentary series from Amazon Prime, Amazon Studios announced today. Mill, who is in Philadelphia today at the Constitution Center with Gov. Tom Wolf, has partnered with Amazon for the series, which will chronicle the rapper's highly publicized legal odyssey, as well as examine the "negative effects [of] long tail probation" in urban communities, according to a release. Produced by Jay-Z's Roc Nation and The Intellectual Property Corporation, the untitled series aims to provide an intimate look at Mill's life, career, and trip through the criminal justice system. >> Read more: Meek Mill, freed from prison, has his biggest audience ever The series is expected to premiere on Amazon Prime in 2019. It will be organized into six hour-long episodes that follow Mill's story from his childhood up through his most recent legal troubles. "I'm grateful for this unique opportunity to share my story," Mill said via a release. "Not only will this documentary give viewers an unprecedented look at my life, but it will also allow me to use my public platform to highlight the need for criminal justice reform." Mill, real name Robert Rihmeek Williams, was recently released from Chester State Correctional Institution on bail after being sentenced to two to four years of jail time. Judge Genece Brinkley issued the sentence in connection with a 2008 drug and gun case. >> Read more: Why Meek Mill and the Sixers are made for each other The Pennsylvania Supreme Court secured Mill's release on bail last month as a measure of "extraordinary relief" due to the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office's concerns about the credibility of the rapper's arresting officer. Following his release, Mill spoke with NBC's Lester Holt on Dateline, saying "I don't feel free." "I ain't feel free since I caught this case at the age of 19. And me, I just pray. I believe god is my first lawyer. I always believed that," he said. "I got a lot of important people depending on me. And I'm not talking about them people, public officials, I'm talking about the men that's depending on me going through the same thing I'm going through." Death and despair: Danielle Lepori breaks down as she goes through the belongings of her son, Christian Cozzone, who died of a heroin overdose in the Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia last year. Read more Deaths from suicide, alcohol and drug use doubled over a 10-year period in Pennsylvania, driven by historically high levels of opioid overdose deaths, according to a new report by the Commonwealth Fund. In New Jersey, the rate of these deaths is also climbing rapidly, yet the number of deaths per capita still remains below the national average. Pennsylvania ranked 24th in overall health in the 2018 Scorecard on State Health System Performance, which evaluates states based on an analysis of dozens of health indicators. The state received high marks for access to care, employer contributions to insurance plans and preventive care for children, but suicide, drug and alcohol deaths ranked 45th among all states, dragging down Pennsylvania's overall score. Drug, alcohol, and suicide deaths, sometimes called "deaths of despair," are on the rise nationally, increasing by 50 percent between 2005 and 2016. But they've risen more rapidly in Pennsylvania by 96 percent over the same time period and in New Jersey, with a 68 percent increase. "Pennsylvania performed middle of the pack overall, but this is an area where Pennsylvania absolutely is one of the worst states," said David Radley, a senior scientist with the Commonwealth Fund. "These drug death rates are really so much higher in Pennsylvania than they are other places." New Jersey ranked 25th overall in the study, and scored especially well in its citizens' access to health care. Drug-related deaths drove the sharp increase in the "deaths of despair" category in Pennsylvania. While suicides and alcohol-related deaths increased by 32 percent and 22 percent respectively, drug-related deaths shot up 201 percent between 2005 and 2016, he said. Researchers can't break out from the data whether the drug was an opioid, Radley said, "but we have a sense this is the opioid epidemic." There were 1,217 unintentional drug overdose deaths in Philadelphia last year. Opioids were detected in 88 percent of the cases. An analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data by Kaiser Health News found that while opioid deaths were beginning to level off in some states, they have continued to rise in others, including Pennsylvania. Many factors could be contributing to this troubling trend, including feelings of social isolation and economic disparity, a lack of job opportunities, and prescribing practices for pain killers, said David Blumenthal, president of the Commonwealth Fund, speaking with reporters about the annual state health report. "That is a question that people are asking and that is really critical to addressing the opioid epidemic in a definitive way," Blumenthal said. Additionally, the report evaluates states on access and affordability, prevention and treatment, avoidable use and cost, healthy lives and disparity. The categories encompass a total of 43 indicators drawn from national health data. Pennsylvania's most improved metrics were an increase in insured adults and adults receiving all recommended vaccines. Other highlights include a decline in infant mortality, colorectal cancer deaths, and smoking among adults. New Jersey's highlights included meeting the needs of adults with mental illness, and employee health insurance contributions as a share of median income. Susan Sheridan (center) with her daughter Mackenzie and son Cal, who suffered brain damage when his newborn jaundice was overlooked. Read more As a kid, Michael Eisenberg was vaguely aware that his physician father did important work. The son was 17 when he learned just how important. John M. Eisenberg, an early director of what is now the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, died of brain cancer at age 55. Tributes poured in, recognizing his pioneering efforts to make medical care more effective, less wasteful, and less prone to deadly mistakes. Now 33, Michael Eisenberg, a filmmaker based in Chicago, is shining a light on preventable medical harm with his new documentary, To Err Is Human. The film takes its title from the landmark 1999 Institute of Medicine report, which estimated that hospital mistakes and carelessness killed as many as 98,000 Americans a year. That figure described by the film as the equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing every day for a year was shocking at the time, and put the issue of patient safety on the national agenda. The documentary cites an even more shocking updated estimate of 440,000 fatalities a year, making medical errors the third leading cause of death, behind heart disease and cancer. The film "is in every way inspired by my father," Eisenberg said before a recent screening of the film at the University of Pennsylvania, where his father spent the first 20 years of his medical career and earned an M.B.A. from the Wharton School. The documentary, three years in the making and partly underwritten with crowdfunding, is the first feature-length film for Tall Tale Productions. Eisenberg founded the company with two film school classmates, Matthew Downe and Kailey Eisenberg (who is also his wife). Initially, they planned to focus on the 30-year-old Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which remains relatively little-known and politically vulnerable. This year, it survived the Trump administration's proposal to fold it into the National Institutes of Health, a move supporters feared would neuter it. "We got in touch with people who knew my dad and would be interested in talking on camera," Eisenberg recalled. "But with every interview, it became: 15 years later, where are we with the work he felt was so important?" In addition to interviews with health-care leaders, the documentary examines changes in medical training. It also traces an Idaho family's journey from suffering two tragic medical errors to becoming advocates to improve the health-care system. At a panel discussion after the Penn screening, Eisenberg brought up the fact that the recent analysis linking 440,000 deaths to medical errors is rather controversial, leading the filmmakers to worry that some might dismiss the documentary as a polemic. Responded panelist J. Sanford Schwartz, a Penn professor of medicine and health management: "Whatever the number is, it's too much." Behind the hospital death toll are systemic failures that range from minor carelessness to major disasters. About 1.7 million people a year suffer hospital-acquired infections; perhaps 69 percent of those could be prevented with measures such as more diligent hand-washing by health-care workers. Over a five-year period, there were 2,413 surgeries performed on the wrong body part, 4,857 surgical tools left in patients, and 27 operations on the wrong patient. >> READ MORE: Dirty endoscopes aren't properly cleaned before they are reused, endangering patients AHRQ has helped to reduce such problems, and the film spends a few minutes giving it credit. But the heart and soul of the film are the interwoven tales of Sue Sheridan and her children, Cal, 23, and Mackenzie, 21. Cal suffered profound brain damage when his jaundice at birth was overlooked by the hospital. Four years later, Susan's husband, Patrick, had surgery for what they thought was a benign tumor in his spine. Pathology tests found cancer, but because of a miscommunication, the results were not shared with the couple until the aggressive cancer had progressed, dramatically reducing his chance of survival. Patrick died in 2002, the same year as John Eisenberg. Sue is now a nationally recognized patient safety activist, Mackenzie is majoring in public health, and Cal has not let cerebral palsy sideline him. He does a comedy routine, joking that "everything I do, I do to the best of my disability." To Eisenberg's surprise, when he asked Sue to be part of the film, she recalled being on a patient safety panel assembled by his father in 1999. "So many people who are in the film agreed to do it because of my dad's legacy," Eisenberg said. "They knew we weren't just out to make an expose. We wanted to contribute to the betterment" of health care. Many hospitals and medical schools have adopted error-prevention strategies, such as surgical training simulation programs, modeled after flight simulators long used by the aviation industry. The documentary shows medical students learning to recognize the early symptoms of sepsis, a fast-moving, life-threatening blood infection, using a sophisticated mannequin. The University of Toronto, meanwhile, has developed a system to record audio, visuals, and data during complex surgeries. Like the aviation "black box," the innovation provides a record of exactly what happened in the event of a disaster. Another evolving aspect of care involves informing patients that an error occurred. Today's push toward transparency and apology is a departure from the traditional approach of hiding and denying errors, then letting lawyers sort out the mess. During the post-screening discussion, Patrick Brennan, Penn's chief medical officer, said being more forthcoming has actually reduced lawsuits by aggrieved patients, because many want improvement, not vengeance. They want the hospital to understand what went wrong so it can prevent a repeat. Brennan also stressed an aspect that the film showed: doctors have to be taught how and when to break bad news. Sometimes, Brennan said, anguished doctors rush to apologize for a presumed lapse, then an investigation reveals that events unfolded differently than the doctor presumed. "Accountability is the biggest issue," Eisenberg said, "but it's tricky. And we shouldn't be punishing everybody who makes mistakes. We should be learning from them." The film is scheduled to be screened at medical centers and health-care organizations across the country, with a public release this fall, he said. Dry drowning is a myth, but wet drowning is definitely not. Children must always be supervised while swimming. Read more For years, always beginning in the spring, reports of "dry drowning" have appeared. Last year, when the death of a young child in Texas was attributed to "dry drowning," the resulting accounts spread significant fear among parents. Social media, in particular, spread tales of healthy children who suddenly developed respiratory emergencies or even died without warning, sending legions of "worried well" to emergency departments and pediatricians' offices. Well-meaning activists posted warning signs at local pools and organized awareness campaigns and legislation. Yet, there is no such thing as "dry drowning." In lay terms, to say a person drowned implies death. But in medical terms, the word refers to a range of issues. Drowning always follows some kind of submersion in a liquid, but it is not always fatal. The outcome can range from mild respiratory symptoms to death. People who think "dry drowning" exists describe it as a rare condition. But real drowning the wet kind sadly is not rare. It is a leading cause of pediatric injuries and deaths. The definition of drowning, established at the 2002 World Congress on Drowning, is "the process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion or immersion in liquid." In other words, no drowning can occur without exposure to liquid and some respiratory problem. Drowning has only three subtypes: drowning without injury, drowning with injury, and fatal drowning. Further, there has never been a case reported in medical literature of an otherwise asymptomatic and healthy child who suddenly developed serious respiratory distress or died days after being in water. But it is important to know that symptoms can get worse in the hours immediately after a drowning event. So even mild symptoms after a drowning episode warrant medical attention. What do we mean by "mild symptoms"? Anything that feels worse than the sensation that, while drinking a glass of water, some of it went down "the wrong way." Every "dry drowning" tragedy has later been found to have its roots in another medical condition. But this part of the story seems never to make its way to social media. Frankie Delgado, the 4-year-old boy whose 2017 death renewed the Facebook fervor over dry drowning, was later found to have died of viral myocarditis, a rare but dangerous heart condition with no relation to drowning, swimming, or any other water exposure. Other "dry drowning" cases have later been traced to rib fractures, pneumonia, collapsed lungs, and numerous other well-known medical conditions. It has happened that people have died of drowning hours after leaving the water. But they died of untreated complications from "wet" drowning, not any sort of esoteric condition that could not have been prevented by timely medical attention. Drowning is never "dry." Nearly every major medical organization has spoken out against misleading terms such as "dry," "near," or "secondary" drowning applied to cases in which a patient got worse within hours of water exposure. Developing symptoms days later almost certainly has nothing to do with water exposure, unless there was a separate complication such as infection from bacteria in the water. Think of it this way: If someone develops pneumonia related to food entering the lungs during a choking episode days earlier, he has not experienced "foodless choking." That term makes no more sense than "dry drowning." Children with continued respiratory problems or other symptoms after swimming should always be brought to an emergency department for evaluation. A child who maybe had a brief coughing episode but no further symptoms almost certainly requires no further medical care. Words matter when it comes to caring for our children. The widely spread tales of critically ill "dry drowning" victims succumbing days after swimming to a "rare" medical condition created fear among parents. Many likely grew to distrust physicians who tried to assure them their children did not need to be evaluated for a mythical condition. Worse of all, the "dry drowning" uproar drew attention from the real crisis we face every summer: protecting children from all-too-real drownings in swimming pools, natural bodies of water, even 5-gallon buckets for the youngest kids. The dangers of drowning are real, and not esoteric or rare, and we owe it to our children to approach this hazard armed with knowledge and understanding, not fear and fervor. We must remember that our most important tool is prevention: swimming lessons, appropriate pool fencing, and continuous supervision while kids are in the water. If, despite all these efforts, there is still a drowning incident, anyone with symptoms should receive medical attention. Online networking platforms are an ideal medium to spread important information about public health and patient care. But we owe it to ourselves and to our children to approach information especially anything that sounds hard to believe, or doesn't come from sources we know and trust with skepticism and diligence. And if it sounds especially unlikely "dry drowning" surely fits that description always be extra cautious. Rick Pescatore, DO, is director of clinical research of the department of emergency medicine at Crozer-Keystone Health System. Seth C. Hawkins, M.D. is an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Wake Forest University. Hawkins is also director of Lifeguards Without Borders and medical director of Starfish Aquatics Institute. What were dog treats doing on a restaurant cutting board? In this round of Clean Plates, a tobacco water pipe with residue in it, "potentially hazardous pudding pastries" and, of course, dead mice kept Philadelphia food inspectors busy as they temporarily closed 39 facilities between April 15 and April 30 for various violations. Inspectors visit nearly 1,000 eateries and food retailers every two weeks. Each inspection is generally regarded as a snapshot in time, and not necessarily a reflection of day-to-day conditions. Most violations were corrected immediately in the presence of an inspector. To look up reports on a specific Philadelphia restaurant, or a Montgomery, Bucks, or Gloucester County eatery, visit philly.com/cleanplates. A list of eateries that were closed follows: Top of the Hill Cafe 184 E Evergreen Ave. 12 violations, 3 serious There were mouse feces in the facility; the side/rear outer opening in the establishment were open and not protecting against the entry of insects; uncovered meats and cheeses were found inside the refrigerator under the prep unit; employees donned single use gloves without a prior hand wash; baked goods and soups in the counter area and refrigerator were not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight, distributed by statement and/or nutritional facts; an exhaust hood system was required over convection oven. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 30. Snyder Retail 1849 S 12th St. 9 violations; none serious Mouse feces were found on the floor and shelves in retail, storage, and basement areas; there was a defective hot water heater and no hot water distribution at the hand washing sink in the toilet room; there was no back flow prevention device on the main water line in basement and no mop sink inside the establishment; the toilet and sink were not clean; debris, mouse feces, and dust were found along floor perimeters in the retail, rear storage, and basement areas. Trash, old and unused items were found in the basement. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 30. Blue Grocery 4669 G St. 17 violations, 4 serious Spoiled food items including peppers and mayo were found in the bottom of the deli case; accumulated and encrusted food residue was found on the slicer surfaces, which is not being disassembled, washed, rinsed and sanitized every 4 hours; potentially hazardous pudding pastries labelled as "keep refrigerated" were stored at room temperature in the retail area; interior surfaces, openings of some equipment and the retail shelves were in need of cleaning due to accumulated residue and mouse feces; there was severe floor and ceiling damage throughout; a domestic microwave was found in the retail area. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours.. Inspected April 27. Las Primas 5562 Chancellor St. 18 violations, 7 serious There was a dead mouse on the basement floor; the food safety certified person could not demonstrate knowledge of foodborne illnesses; uncovered food including burgers and steaks were found in the chest freezer; food including cheese and eggs were held at improper temperatures; fresh and old mice feces were found on the table at self-serve coffee station, on the beverage rack, chip rack and shelving in retail area and on the floors throughout the facility; there was a leak in the pipe under the ware washing sink; there was stagnant water from catch-basin on the basement floor. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 27. YMG Supermarket 6400 Stenton Ave. 15 violations; 4 serious The facility was unable to properly wash, rinse, and sanitize dishes and utensils; there were severe leaks from all compartments of the ware washing sink; the slicer had an accumulation of food residue on the food contact surfaces and was not being washed, rinsed and sanitized at least every 4 hours; the coffee machine in the front retail area lacked a back flow prevention device on the waterline; food employees were not wearing or wearing ineffective hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints; cutting boards had deep scratches and scoring that did not allowing for effective cleaning and sanitizing; the establishments licensee and operation changes require submission of a Plan Review Application. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 25. Lucky Star Chinese Restaurant 8919 Ridge Ave. 20 violations, 8 serious The hand wash sinks in the bar, waitstaff, and kitchen areas were blocked by dishes and towels and not accessible at all times for employee use; a sign or poster was not displayed at the hand wash sink in the waitstaff and sushi prep areas to remind food employees to wash their hands; there was no soap available at the kitchen hand sink; uncovered foods were found in the walk-in refrigerator and kitchen areas; ware wash and hand sinks contained food debris; bulk bags were found open and not securely closed when not in use; food including shrimp and chicken were not held at proper temperatures; the facility did not have an available written copy of the variance procedure for sushi preparation that was submitted and approved by the Department. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue sushi preparation until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 25. Tashia's Cocktail & Cuisine 1641 W Hunting Park Ave. 1 violation. 1 serious A food safety certified person was not present. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 25. Family Dollar Store #6659 5800 Woodland Ave. 8 violations; 2 serious Severely dented, swollen, distressed canned items some without labels were in the canned pet food aisle of the retail section; there was an opened box of Kool-Aid in the juice aisle; a jar of cherry jam had an adulterated seal and jam residue on the exterior surface; mice feces were found in the back room storage area on top of storage bins, next to and behind the shelf, underneath the small candy section near the cash register, in a glue board behind the soda refrigeration unit next to the front door, and in the corner next to the baby diapers; spilled juice was found on ice tray packaging in the juice aisle; there was food debris on the floors and under shelves in the retail and back areas; dust and unclean shelves were found throughout the retail area. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 25. Fred's Water Ice 6053 Elmwwood Ave. 8 violations, 4 serious Hot dogs were not held at the proper temperature; there was old food residue, dishes and utensils in the hand wash sink; a person in charge was not present; there was a freezers between the buildings; old mouse feces was found between equipment on top of cooler; a thorough cleaning was needed around the equipment; the air conditioner vent had a build-up of dust. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 25. Nest Chestnut Hill 10 W Gravers Lane 8 violations, 5 serious There was no hot water; a severe clog was found in the food prep sink, the catch basin was overflowing; microwave cavities had food debris on the surfaces; cooked bacon, prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the prep unit, was not date marked; the facility lacked an adequate amount of sink stoppers to properly wash, rinse, and sanitize dishes and utensils; the food safety certified person was not present during the inspection. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 25. Mezzanine 17 E Price St. 23 violations, 6 serious There was expired milk and molded cheese in the refrigerator in the food prep area; there were mouse droppings on the prep table in the food prep area; flies were found throughout the facility; there was no hot water available at the hand wash sink in the 3rd floor restroom; there was a severe leak from the drainpipe under the hand washing sinks in the first floor front and second floor bar areas; the garbage grinder was not operating; soap and paper towels were not available at any of the hand washing sinks throughout the facility. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 24. Slack's Hoagie Shack 2499 Aramingo Ave. 35 violations, 10 serious Mouse droppings were found throughout the facility including on canned goods, and a prep table in the rear food preparation/ware wash room, on a box of black pepper packets and wrapped forks, on breads storage cart and trays storage cart, and on the old unused slicer in the rear food preparation area; the toilet in men's restroom was clogged; the food safety certified person had no knowledge of reportable foodborne illnesses or proper hot holding temperature; the soap dispenser at grinder sink was empty; food including grilled onions, tomato sauce and cheese sauce were not held at proper temperatures; deli meats, cheeses and dressings and opened commercially processed ready-to-eat food, located in the walk-in cooler and refrigerator, and held more than 48 hours, were not marked with the date they were opened; open rodenticide was found on the floor in dining area and ware wash area; the facility lacked a food preparation sink to wash raw vegetables and fruits; peeling paints was found on racks in walk-in cooler and above three-bay sink. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 24. Trio's Deli 2501 S 70th St. 19 violations, 7 serious Mouse feces was found on food storage containers, on shelving, cubby holes, under shelving and equipment, wooden prep table/cutting board, and floor perimeters; the outer opening in the food facility did not protect against the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals; insecticides or rodenticides in the chemical storage area were not labeled by the manufacturer for food facility usage; the gaskets on several cold holding units needed to be cleaned; a thorough cleaning was needed throughout, there was a heavy accumulation of grime observed on surfaces and mouse feces on floors, shelving and equipment. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours.Inspected April 24. Kisso Sushi Bar 205 N 4th St. 17 violations, 4 serious There was a tobacco water pipe with residue in it on a liquor shelf in the seating area; mouse droppings were found along the floor perimeter of the basement; both restrooms lack a self-closing door; a temperature measuring devices for ensuring proper temperatures of food was not available or readily accessible in the chest freezers and a cold-hold unit; a domestic rice cooker was found; there was a domestic Black and Decker toaster oven in the front service area; a person in charge was not present. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 23. The New Barber's Hall & Sunshine Club 1402 W Oxford St. 20 violations, 4 serious Mouse droppings were found on lower shelves of the rear kitchen, a bench and table in the basement, on a wiping cloth behind the first floor front bar, and on shelves of the second floor west bar; there were flies in the basement; silverware stored at the first floor front bar was not clean to sight; soap, paper towels, and hand washing reminder signs were not provided at several hand sinks; opened deli meats and cheeses, held for more than 48 hours, were not marked with the dates they were opened; the rear kitchen hand sink and prep sink were not sealed to the wall; gas cylinders in the basement by walk-in cooler were not secured; the second floor men's restroom is missing an exhaust fan; the carpeted floor surfaces in bar areas were not smooth and easily cleanable; floor surface in the basement were not in good repair or easily cleanable. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 23. Brian's Seafood, LLC dba BSFD 1901 N 27th St. 15 violations, 4 serious The hand sink in the restroom was inoperable; there was no sign or poster posted at the hand wash sink in the restroom to remind food employees to wash their hands; there was dirt and residue on the on all compartment sinks; soiled utensils were found in the prep area; chemicals were stored above or on the same shelf with food in the rear storage area; a person in charge was not present; water from leak was dripping inside a bucket below the compartment sink; a hole was found on the wall in the restroom; there was peeling paint observed in the the rear storage area; the food establishment license and operation changes required the submission of a Change of Ownership Application. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 23. Fat Jack's BBQ 10090 Roosevelt Blvde. 15 violations, 7 serious The hot water was turned off in the rear prep area; several foods were uncovered at time of inspection inside walk-in freezer unit; the ice machine was in need of cleaning; due to defective plumbing at the three-compartment sink and grease trap the facility cannot properly wash, rinse, and sanitize equipment; the garbage grinder was not operable at time of inspection; the gasket surrounding the door of the walk-in unit needs repair/replacement; soap and paper towels were not available at the hand wash sink in the front and rear prep areas; the front door was continuously open during time of inspection. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 23. Lowber Getty # 67266 1060 E Mount Airy Ave. 10 violations, 4 serious Mouse droppings were found along the floor perimeters in the retail area; chemicals were stored above pet food in the retail area; the floors in the retail area were not clean; there were water stained ceiling tiles and a missing tile in the ware washing area; the hand wash sink in the ware washing area was blocked and not accessible at all times for employee use; there was debris on the retail area shelving; a food safety certified person was not present during the inspection. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 21. Queen Express Pizza 8101 Stenton Ave. 27 violations, 8 serious A dead mouse was found on the floor in the dining area; there were mouse droppings throughout the food prep area; stagnant wastewater was found on old equipment and floors in the basement; there was heavy grease accumulation and food debris on the floors under the cooking equipment; an employee was eating and drinking food in the food prep area; there were several uncovered foods observed in reach-in freezer, walk-in cooler, and refrigerators; containers of raw chicken were stored on top of another without a protective barrier like a container lid, plastic wrap, or aluminum foil; chemicals were stored above food equipment in the food prep/ slicer area; there was no drain board or adequate storage shelving to allow for storage of soiled and/or clean items before and after cleaning at the ware wash sink; soiled dishes observed on the floor in the ware washing area. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 21. Banjara Indian Restaurant 8705 Germantown Ave. 20 violations, 5 serious The HVAC unit was draining into the hand washing sink; there were several uncovered foods in the food prep area, refrigerators, prep units, freezer, walk-in cooler, and in outdoor storage/prep area; there was food debris in the microwave cavities; the back door in the food prep area was open without a protective screen, and did not protected against the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals; there were mouse droppings on shelving in the food prep area; a food safety certified person and a person in charge were not present; the hand wash sink in the food prep area was blocked by a prep table and not accessible at all times for employee use; there rear storage area was cluttered with trash and old, unused equipment; alteration or construction began prior to plan submission and approval; there was an unapproved outdoor food prep and storage area. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 20. Pound Cake Heaven 1101 S 53rd St. 10 violations, 3 serious Soap, and paper towels were missing at the hand wash sink and toilet room sink; there was visible physical evidence of rodent activity found in the toilet room cabinet sink; prepackaged cakes were not labeled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight, distributed by statement and/or nutritional facts; the floors, walls, and ceilings throughout the establishment were damaged; a general cleaning and organizing was needed; there was old mouse feces on floors in the rear of the store; debris, dirt, and dust were on the floors; a person in charge was present at the food facility. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 20. Suh's Sunny Seafood 6133 Woodland Ave. 10 violations, 4 serious There were cobwebs and dust accumulation in the toilet room, debris and leaves from the outside in the back room storage area, dead cockroaches on glue traps under the radiator at the front of the store behind the display case, the walk-in freezer had food debris and particulate on its floor and a general cleaning and organizing was needed in the back room storage area; two canisters of pesticides were found; a hose was found latched in to the side of the sink leading to an empty ice machine that was not in use; dented and distressed canned items were on the shelves in the retail area; spilled seasoning was on the floor near the ware wash sink; there was peeling paint at window sill in the toilet room; there was damage and holes on the wall of the corridor leading to the back room. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 19. Wynnefield Pizza 1819 N 54th St. 22 violations, 9 serious Bacon was not held at the proper temperature; recently received steak was found unrefrigerated at food facility for an extended period of time; employees observed donning single use gloves without a prior hand wash; sliced deli meats, cheese, and salads located in the walk-in box, and held more than 48 hours, were not marked with the date it was opened; there was unnecessary clutter in the basement; there was visible physical evidence of rodent/insect activity in the pizza prep area on bottom section of prep table; there was food debris and dirty gaskets in side the refrigerator; lettuce and mashed potatoes were uncovered in the walk-in cooler. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 19. Tasties Soul Food Restaurant 1214 N 52ND ST 19131 15 violations, 7 serious Mouse droppings were found in the food prep area, walk-in cooler in the basement and basement area; there was grease and oil accumulation behind the cooking grill; an employee did not wash hands between changing tasks; the hot water tab at the hand wash sink in the restroom area was not working properly; a general cleaning was needed on the floor/wall perimeters in the kitchen and basement area to eliminate the mice droppings; there was food residue in compartments of the ware wash sinks that were not being cleaned and sanitized prior to use; a creme cheese cake, prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the rear counter area, was not date marked. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 19. Agape Community Outreach Child Care 1609 Wadsworth Ave. 13 violations, 2 serious Three were mouse droppings in the ware wash area; there was an ice accumulation in the reach-in freezer units; grease had accumulated on the sides of cooking equipment; a buildup of static dust was found on the vent cover of the exhaust hood system; bulk food ingredient storage containers were not labeled with the common name of the food; there were no paper towels at the hand wash sink; a food safety certified person not present. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 19. Grand China Buffet 27 Franklin Mills Blvd. 27 violations, 11 serious Water damaged/moldy flour was found with mouse feces on top of it; there was a heavy accumulation of mouse feces on pallets in the storage area, on the floor in electrical area, behind soda syrup and along floor perimeters throughout prep area; on top of cans, inside a box containing bags of tapioca pearls and bags of flour, on lower shelving with fruit and other foods, and observed on slicer on food prep table; there was encrusted food debris and grime on the hand sink handles; there were distressed and rusted cans, including apple pie filling, olives, soy sauce, bamboo shoots, cheese sauce and curry sauce were found on shelving in food storage area; uncovered raw chicken was found above vegetables and uncovered shellfish was found above pineapples in the refrigerator and walk-in boxes; pink slime was found on a plate in the ice machine; fish was held at an improper temperature; three was open bait in the food storage area. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 18. Baby Boss Pizzeria & Grill 4625 Princeton Ave. 26 violations, 6 serious Raw meats were stored above ready-to-eat food including sauces and pepperoni in the refrigerator; meats and cut tomatoes in the sandwich prep unit were stored at improper temperatures; cooked bacon and pizza were stored at room temperature without an updated time log or record to monitor the 4-hour time limit; the floor and walls needed in the food prep area, along the front perimeters and rear storage room needed to be cleaned due to accumulated grease residue and mouse feces; a certified person was not on the premises; thermometers were not readily accessible in some refrigeration units and a probe thermometer was not available; the containers storing flour were not labelled with the name of the food; prepackaged desserts in the retail refrigerator were not labelled properly with the name of product, ingredient statement, net weight, distributed by statement and/or nutritional facts; there was a leak at the pipe under the hand wash sink; the cutting board had deep scratches and discoloration. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 17. Dollar General Store # 12067 1240 E. Erie Ave. 2 violations, none serious There was a rat infestation in the rear storage area of the establishment; rat activity was observed on the floor, surfaces of equipment, and on boxes; mouse feces were observed in several locations of the rear storage area. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 17. Sam's One Stop Shop 324 S 52nd St. 10 violations, 2 serious The person in charge was not able to provide documentation that meats were from an approved source and were being packaged in an approved facility; fresh and old mice feces were found in the rear closet, on the floor in rear storage room and on shelves in retail area; food was not stored at least six inches above the floor; rice was stored on bread crates and seasonings were stored in containers on the floor. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 17. Jenaliz Food Market 2024 S 68th St. 15 violations, 6 serious Power was shut off during the inspection by the electric company; hot water was not available at the hand wash sink in the food preparation area; there was expired baby food in the retail section; there were severely dented, swollen, distressed canned item observed in retail area; deli meats and cheeses did not have dates marking when they were opened; a garbage grinder was installed on a shallow wall mounted hand sink; a flat grill in the food preparation area did not have an exhaust hood and can not be used without one; the hot water handle of the hand sink was loose; lights in the food preparation area were not shielded from breakage. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 17. K & L Store 2324 S 7th St 12 violations, 4 serious Old and fresh mouse droppings were found in the retail area under and on shelves in the central part and in the basement area; an employee was eating food in the food preparation area; an employee washed their hands at the two-bay sink rather than the designated hand wash sink; a chest freezer in the kitchen area had a defective lid; the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of the PA Food Code; the food safety certified person arrived about 40 minutes into inspection; the person in charge had not applied for a city issued Food Safety Certificate. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 17. Barbosa Ricardo/Rio Brazilian Steak/V07030 3301 Market St 3 violations, 2 serious The food safety person was not initially present; an employee did not follow proper hand washing procedure; there was no hot water on the truck. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 17. Malyah Grocery 4669 G St. 22 violations, 8 serious Mouse feces were under the storage shelf in the rear restroom area; there was severe floor and ceiling damage throughout; a certified person was not on the premises; cold water was not available at the hand wash sink; the faucet was defective; there was expired baby foods and juice for sale on the retail shelves and expired eggs for sale in the retail refrigerator; uncovered/spilled food was found in the front ice cream freezer; there was accumulated and encrusted food residue on the slicer surfaces; coffee equipment was found, the establishment is not approved to sell coffee, which requires a plan review and different license; defective/inadequate lighting was found in the retail area and restroom areas. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 17. Newman's Grill 5946 Germantown Ave. 16 violations, 5 serious Mouse droppings, dust and debris were found on the floor perimeters throughout the basement and kitchen areas including under the prep table, equipment and refrigeration unit; an employee was seen touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands; a designated food safety certified person was not present; grease and black residue were found on the food contact surfaces of the waffle maker; food residues and grime were found on the interior surfaces of the microwave in the kitchen area; there was static grease accumulation on the exhaust hood system; there were excess unused items observed in the basement that could be a potential sanctuary for vermin; the ceiling in the customer sitting area was damaged and has water stains; there was peeling paint in the rear customer sitting area. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 17. Good Taste Restaurant 1500 S 58th St. 12 violations, 6 serious The person in charge willingly neglected a mouse infestation which included mice fecal matter present on the food preparation table, under equipment, inside the walk-in cooler, inside unused equipment, along facility interior perimeters, and on top of bulk containers; cigarettes, cigarette butts, ashtray were found on the grease collector in the wok station area; the hand wash sink in the food preparation area was blocked by unused equipment and not accessible at all times for employee use; soap and paper towels not observed at the hand wash sink; several raw animal foods, including chicken, were stored above ready-to-eat foods in the walk in cooler; there was unused clutter found throughout the facility. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 16. Sugs Mobile Kitchen/ Brianna Cappo/ V03041 6700 Essington Ave. 6 violations, 3 serious There were dog treats on the cutting board; a person in charge was not present at the food facility; the food truck did not have a commissary; the office of Food Protection had not received plans for this establishment. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 16. Cappelli, Nicholas/Suburban Food Service/#000162/ROAMER 54 Conchester Rd. 8 violations, 6 serious There was no water available at the hand wash sink; the facility did not have a Health Awareness Reporting Procedure for food employees; an employee could not name foodbourne illnesses and symptoms; an employee did not follow proper hand washing procedure and use soap and/or warm water; employees were seen donning single use gloves without a prior hand wash; a person in charge was not present at the food facility; the hand wash sink was blocked by containers and not accessible at all times for employee use. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 16. Farm House Grocery 2553 S 7th St. 12 violations, 1 serious The inspection revealed a change of ownership; there were fresh and old mouse droppings found on the perimeter of floors throughout the facility, on all shelves in the sales area, on equipment, in a bag of rice and so on; a back flow prevention device was not installed on the water main pipe; there was water damaged ceiling tiles in the retail sales area; the floor tiles at rear of facility were in need of repairs; the hand wash sink in the toilet area was dirty to sight and touch; there was no sign or poster posted at the hand wash sink in the toilet area to remind food employees to wash their hands; the hand wash sink in the toilet area did not have single use towels, continuous towels, or air drying device; a domestic chest freezer was being used in the facility. Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected April 16. Cafe Spice Express 1625 Chestnut St. 1 violaiton, 1 serious A food safety certified person not present during inspection. Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected April 16. Looks are deceiving. Karen Buchholz, right, Comcasts senior vice president of administration, seems to be talking on one of the higher floors of a Philadelphia office building. But shes really standing in the companys mock-up for its new tower on the first floor of a suburban corporate office. The mockup, a nearly perfect replica of a quarter of a floor in the new tower, is designed to show employees what it will be like to work in the new building. Read more Comcast Corp.'s new tower will open later this year, a $1.5 billion steel-and-glass wonder with no private offices, no desk phones, and 300 meeting rooms linked by a scheduling app. But the tower's first incarnation has been in a more prosaic place: a former suburban office complex 30 minutes from Center City, in Horsham, that Comcast and its consultants redid to replicate a floor in the new building. Called the "mock-up," the high-ceilinged suburban office has panoramic photos of Philadelphia glued onto the walls, a mind-bending detail so Comcast employees think they are really in the tower's 36th floor when they visit. The goal is to find the layout that fuels the most creativity and collaboration. Comcast has cycled more than 1,000 employees from eight divisions through the site, surveying their reactions and observing how they interact in the so-called open floors where everyone sits together without private offices. While popular for at least a decade now at such companies as Facebook in Silicon Valley and Curalate in Philadelphia, open floors also have been criticized as distracting and stressful for employees who need some privacy to think and create. The trick is to make the new expensive tower both fun for employees and productive for the company. "We have tried to create a good section of the workplace to see how it really functions," Rebecca Humphrey, managing principal with Comcast consultant Focal Point, said during a visit. "How it looks. What it sounds like. How people really move through the space." Some Comcast employee groups even worked at the mock-up for a day for real-time feedback. Sensitive to employee concerns, Comcast has sought to carve out different settings in the floors of the new Comcast Technology Center. Some areas will be like libraries or quiet-ride train cars. Others will bustle with a Starbucks coffee shop vibe or should. Employees developing advances on the X1 set-top box, Wifi and mobility products are expected to find niches and use them. Employees will have sit-and-stand desks. The Horsham mock-up itself, off Blair Mill Road, opens to a seating area with white plastic chairs for presentations and models of the new 60-story tower. When you walk up a ramp, you come eye-to-eye with Billy Penn on City Hall. Karen Buchholz, senior vice president for administration who is tasked with making the new tower a success, said "the more information we can give people, the better experience it will be for everyone. We need it to be easy for employees to feel at home." Comcast CEO Brian Roberts has visited, assessing the new tower's look and feel. On one visit with the tower's London-based architect, Norman Foster, they agreed to put yellow, orange, red, blue and purple color in the ceilings along the corridors to make it warmer. The cable giant would like to ease the transition for the 4,000 employees who will work there, appointing 107 "change ambassadors" who are informed on the new building and its progress. There is a dedicated Slack channel for them. Most of these employees will be relocating from across the street, where Comcast leases multiple floors in the former Bell Atlantic building. According to a survey last year by the staffing firm Robert Half, open-floor structures can lead to collaboration, but they also can induce stress. "Some people thrive in an environment where there is more activity going on around them," Stephanie Naznitsky, Philadelphia-area regional vice president for Robert Half, said last week. "And others do well behind closed doors working more autonomously." Some corporate functions still use offices for privacy: human resources, executive leadership and legal, Naznitsky said. But others are open. She added that it's important for employees to "walk away and have a private experience," such as an area for personal phone calls. William Belk, an innovation consultant and blogger who conducted an online survey of open floor spaces, said that one moment the spaces feel hip and collaborative and at another moment they seem like the "loudest, most annoying, distracting and unproductive environment one can imagine." He believes they can distract the most highly productive employees. Buchholz said that the architects and designers have coated surfaces with carpet and other sound-absorbent material to soften the noise and developed many kinds of spaces for employees. Potential distractions aren't the only issue. Even with its sleek design, clutter constantly threatens Comcast desks and work spaces with set-top boxes in various stages of disassembly, television screens, wires and laptops. Some engineers could be working on multiple set-top boxes at one time, leaving a desk with no room even for a coffee cup. To avoid the messy desk malaise, Comcast designed custom roll-away bins to store set-top boxes. Some of these bins can be stored under desks. Other larger bins will be more centrally located. Roberts, Buchholz and other Comcast executives have been developing the new tower for about six years. Early on, Roberts decided he wanted a unique building, not a replica of the Comcast Center. He held a secret competition for the best design won by Foster and announced the project in early 2014. Ground was broken later that year. David L. Cohen, a senior executive vice president at Comcast, captured the contradictions of the new building the tallest between New York and Chicago with his observation in a local television interview this year that the new tower "is a building with 1.3 million square foot of office space and no offices." Liberty Property Trust, the Malvern-based real estate investment firm, is developing the tower and owns 20 percent of it (Comcast owns the remaining 80 percent). LF Driscoll is the general contractor. Liberty Property which jointly owned and developed the Comcast Center more than a decade ago recently warned of $67 million in cost overruns, blaming them on a contract dispute with Driscoll. Liberty has not said what caused the increase. But the building initially had been expected to open in late 2017. Comcast is not responsible for overruns. Everything about the new tower and its work space is designed to push technology forward, Matt Zelesko, senior vice president of technology and product, said last week. Comcast will do away with the classic desk phone and replace it with the Jabber messaging software more de-cluttering of the desk space. Jabber connects through employee laptops or other electronic devices, allowing them to talk and listen with a headset. And there will be large television screens virtually everywhere. The new tower's wireless network will enable those employees to illuminate whatever they want on those screens doing away with the need for paper printouts, it is hoped. Any place we can gather and collaborate, Zelesko said, we will have large screens. Night View of Taipei 101 (File photo by Xinhua) Recently, a number of foreign companies operating in China have come under fire for challenging the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China. In January, China asked Marriot International to shut down its websites and apps after it listed Tibet, Taiwan, and other Chinese territories as separate countries. Afterward, Delta Air Lines found itself in hot water for listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website. More recently, United Airlines and American Airlines were reportedly requested by Chinas aviation authority to stop listing Taiwan as a country on their websites. Though some have been quick to label the requests for correction as threats, China has the right to protect its core interests. The claim that valid legal requests are part of an increasingly coercive campaign to pressure foreign companies is false and misleading. Foreign companies that come to China are required to abide by Chinas laws and regulations. The more worrying issue is that some foreign companies and individuals fail to understand the sensitivity of Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity issues and in some cases are pushing an anti-China agenda. At least part of the problem seems traceable to prejudices against China and an inadequate understanding of the One China principle and the Taiwan issue. Look up the word Taiwan, for instance, and you will discover that some of the worlds most authoritative reference sources define Taiwan as a separate nation. While some reference sources such as Merriam-Webster and The American Heritage Dictionary get it right, defining Taiwan as an island of China, others paint a different picture, and one with far-reaching consequences. Oxford Dictionaries, Google Translate, and Apples Siri, for instance, all define Taiwan as an "island country" off the coast of China. The above is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather highlight an inadequate understanding of the One China principle and the Taiwan issue. According to a Chinese government white paper of the same title, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China, and all the facts and laws about Taiwan prove that Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory. Those facts are: April 1895: Japan forced the Qing government to sign the unequal Treaty of Shimonoseki, and forcibly occupied Taiwan. July 1937: Japan waged all-out war against China. December 1943: At the Cairo Conference, the United States, China, and Great Britain declared that all the territories Japan had stolen from the Chinese (including Taiwan) would be restored to China. July 1945: The Potsdam Proclamation called for the unconditional surrender of Japan. In August, Japan officially surrendered and promised in its Instrument of Surrender that it would effectuate the terms of surrender. October 1945: Taiwan and the Penghu archipelago were restored to China. October 1949: The founding of the Peoples Republic of China replaced the government of the Republic of China to become the only legitimate government of the Chinese people. Since then, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland have been in a state of temporary division, but this has not changed the fact that there is only one China, and the vast majority of the world agrees that there is only one China and Taiwan is an inseparable part of it. In October 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758: Restoration of the lawful rights of the Peoples Republic of China in the United Nations. In it, the Assembly decided to transfer Chinas seat in the United Nations to the government of the Peoples Republic of China and recognized the representatives of its government as the only legitimate representatives of China. In the 1979 US-PRC Joint Communique, the United States recognized the government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal government of China and acknowledged that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. And on Tuesday, the Dominican Republic followed recognized that there is only one China and that the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal government representing all of China. That was followed by Panamas decision last year to establish diplomatic ties with China. It is ridiculous to claim that Beijing is threatening companies around the worldwhen in fact it is Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity that is being threatened by ignorance and nefarious political agendas. It is time to get the definition of Taiwan right. Pennsylvania's emergency response to Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria has been a failure: from FEMA and the federal government, to Gov. Wolf and the state government, to Mayor Kenney and city agencies. Hurricane Maria with its 155 mph winds and 30 hours of torrential rainfall was not the only trauma these families experienced. Evacuees have remained engulfed in permanent crisis by the governments' continuous and systemic failure to meet evacuees' basic needs. There is no safety net or path to permanent housing for more than 1,000 Puerto Rican families who arrived in Pennsylvania after the hurricane struck. When it seemed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would suddenly cut its Temporary Shelter Assistance (TSA) program for at least 20 families on April 20, evacuees and their children were plummeted into yet another disaster situation. Families were directed to Philadelphia's Office of Supportive Housing (OSH), where they joined the long list of Philadelphia's homeless. They were told that Philadelphia's emergency shelters are at capacity and that they had the option of waiting in line nightly for space in a first-come, first-served overflow shelter. These overflow shelters fill to capacity regularly as well, however. After that, the only remaining option for these families is the street. >> READ MORE: 'We remain frustrated by the President's response.' What's next for Puerto Rican evacuees in Philadelphia Thankfully, FEMA reversed its decision to cut the TSA program after Puerto Rican activists protested in Philadelphia and nationwide. But now, a new May 14 deadline looms. Officials have less than a month to put a path to housing in place for thousands of evacuees. Federal emergency systems are broken. FEMA's labyrinthine processes are incapable of handling any large-scale disaster, let alone one with the magnitude of Hurricane Maria. We have seen FEMA send evacuees misinformation about program end dates, demand impossibly complex legal paperwork, lose critical correspondence, and erroneously close cases. As of Wednesday, the Department of Housing and Urban Development had not made emergency rental subsidies available or placed families in open units. We have not seen FEMA disburse any ongoing rental assistance to evacuees, even though hundreds of families should be eligible for a 100 percent rent subsidy for up to 18 months. Wolf has neither released emergency funding for housing nor adequately advocated for evacuees. In February, Wolf and Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello made an ugly farce of passing the buck. Each blamed the other for not initiating the paperwork to establish "host state" status from the federal government. Becoming a host state would cost the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania money, and Wolf lacked the political courage to locate state funding. Kenney made only five Philadelphia Housing Authority "vouchers" available for families out of the at least 1,000 that need housing immediately. The Kenney administration pointed to the 44,000 other Philadelphia families on the waiting list for public housing, instead of fighting for solutions or making public demands on FEMA or HUD. Kenney's response is merely a continuation of his do-nothing approach to Philadelphia's housing crisis. Where government has failed, individuals and nonprofits have made noble voluntary efforts to make up for the state's gaping absence. The Greater Philadelphia Long Term Recovery Committee (GPLTRC) has coordinated the meager resources available to it, created an intake system for evacuees, and advocated for housing funding. What can a voluntary coalition do, however, without a massive infusion of financial resources for evacuees? GPLTRC members are scrambling to organize without support from institutions that should be present in a crisis. Most evacuees are staying with family in Philadelphia, so in effect, the government is relying on Philadelphia's poorest community to single-handedly manage the recovery effort. In the Fairhill/West Kensington zip code, 19133, where a dense Puerto Rican community resides, the median income is $18,119. Local volunteers run an intake center in Fairhill every Saturday, helping evacuees apply to FEMA and connecting them to jobs, free food, and English classes. Volunteers collected money for subway fares and donated toiletries. Volunteers have driven evacuees to get documents notarized, stored and transported trunks and suitcases as evacuees went into shelters, helped families get children registered for schools, and personally bought Greyhound bus tickets for evacuees who ran out of options in Philly. Most evacuees have been living for months on family members' living room floors, in basements, on air mattresses, cramped in single rented rooms, or in already-full city shelters. >> READ MORE: Puerto Ricans in Philly telling others on the island 'Don't come here' Extraordinary circumstances call for extraordinary measures. Puerto Rican families have been in a state of emergency for more than seven months. It's long past time for FEMA, HUD, Wolf, and Kenney to take responsibility for the well-being of their constituents. We call on them to pull together a "housing first" plan with a simple path to no-cost housing for all evacuated families in Pennsylvania. It's time for this crisis to end. Grimaldi Baez and Ana Montanez work with Voces del Barrio, a grassroots movement comprised of community members who educate, empower, and inspire Puerto Ricans in Philadelphia. The coconut rice had peanuts and an egg, wrapped into a neat package in a banana leaf with crunchy anchovies, hot chili paste, and rich, warm spices. Nasi lemak, a staple of Malaysian cuisine, isn't so different from some dishes elsewhere around the globe it's not unlike Korean bibimbap, Indian curry, or stir-fried rice with vegetables but it was new to many of the 50-some attendants of a dinner at Sate Kampar in South Philadelphia last month. The meal was the sixth in a series of Sanctuary Suppers, modest fund-raising events organized by a group of local activists with the goal of introducing city residents to members of Philadelphia's growing immigrant communities through food, speakers, and education. Since the first gathering last year, the dinners have raised more than $13,000 for nonprofits and for the businesses hosting the meals. The idea for the dinners began in early 2017, as a national debate about immigration grew louder following President Trump's proposed travel ban. Local restaurateurs joined a list of businesses that are "sanctuaries" for immigrants. A group of activists fresh off the Women's March, some of whom have years of experience working with the immigrant and refugee communities, were inspired to take action. "At the beginning, we didn't really know what we were doing," said Jonne Smith, one of Sanctuary Suppers' key organizers. "It was just about getting people together. More and more, our goal is to add activism to it. We get them together to feed them, and then we feed them information." Each dinner costs between $50 and $60 per person, with the group size depending on the capacity of the restaurant. Dinners have been held at El Compadre, the owners of which have held their own events in support of immigrants' rights; and at Flambo, a Caribbean restaurant on Broad Street. The speakers, usually refugees and members of nonprofit groups, focus on educating diners about different immigrant populations and offering steps attendants can take toward specific goals. The Sate Kampar dinner was held to benefit Southeast by Southeast, a subset of the Mural Arts Program that focuses on immigrant and refugee families. During the meal, Smith discussed the proposal to add a citizenship question to the U.S. Census, and passed out addressed, stamped postcards for attendees to send to local politicians to register their opposition. She and other organizers compiled booklets with information about Malaysia, "In case people were vague on it but didn't want to ask," Smith said. The goal is not to open minds the attendees of the dinners are overwhelmingly liberal so much as to provide people with talking points to help attendees combat the spread of misinformation. "People say we're preaching to the choir, and that's true," Smith said. "But we want it to be an educated choir. We want people to have facts and data at their disposal to help dispel the many myths about immigrants." The Sanctuary Supper was a perfect fit with Sate Kampar owner Angelina Branca, who last year brought some of the city's top chefs together for a Muhibbah dinner series designed to unite different cultural influences through food. The dinners raised thousands for groups like the Nationalities Service Center and the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. "When I look at Philadelphia, the word diverse should be in everyone's vocabulary," said Branca, who was born in a town near Kuala Lumpur. "But we are so segregated much of the time. I wanted to think about how we bring people together." Eric Edi, president of Africom Philly, a coalition that supports African and Caribbean immigrant and refugee communities, compared the suppers with "Breaking Bread, Breaking Barriers," a program organized by Reading Terminal Market that encouraged families of different cultural backgrounds to share meals together. He said the Sanctuary Suppers also help social-service professionals like him broaden their understanding of the city's residents. "In Africa, food is what connects you," he said. "And so often, when we get people in these small groups, it all comes back to food, a person's culture, their history. The tastes will bring something back to you." The next Sanctuary Supper is planned for June 11 at the West Philadelphia Ethiopian restaurant Abyssinia, followed by one later this summer at Banana Leaf. For more information, go to facebook.com/groups/135328140436138/. Midway through Tully you hear a lovely cover of "You Only Live Twice," one of the better Bond movie songs, revamped here by Kaitlyn and Mady Dever with intertwined vocals well-suited to a story of women working in harmony. It's an inspired use of the tune, originally recorded by Nancy Sinatra in 1967 as a complement to Bond mythmaking at the peak of his appeal, when he was the quintessence of male wish fulfillment. In Tully, it expresses female wish fulfillment that is, if the lady in question is facing 40, raising two kids, one with special needs, and another on the way. She doesn't need a license to kill, or an Aston Martin. She needs a nanny. And, given the degree of difficulty involved, I'd say she's entitled. If James Bond rates an army of support personnel for a glamorous mission to Monte Carlo, why not monumentally pregnant Marlo (Charlize Theron), facing a crushing load of domestic and maternal responsibilities? Where's her Moneypenny? Her gadget guy? Another question: If James Bond had to squeeze the residue of his martinis out through sore nipples, would he drink them at all, shaken or stirred? Something like the latter actually happens in Tully, and I cite it to give you an idea of just how truthfully the movie examines the unglamorous realities of motherhood: Congratulations, mom, you've given birth, but you can't leave the hospital until we stand here and watch your command performance on the toilet. All of this is presented with an unusual but assured mixture of whimsy, comedy, and melancholy by director Jason Reitman, working again with scripter Diablo Cody. They collaborated on Juno and Young Adult, which also starred Theron. Tully combines the best elements of both movies. It's barbed, bighearted, and brave. The bravery is often embodied by Marlo, who holds on to her sense of humor when life gives her reason not to her "career" is now a job she holds for health insurance, she's bunking with a husband (Ron Livingston) who prefers Call of Duty to the call of the wild, a son whose on-the-spectrum tantrums (kicking the seat and screaming while she puts her hand over her ears) sometimes leave Marlo on the side of the road, in tears. She has a history of postpartum depression, and we can see the lack of conviction in her eyes (a fine performance by Theron) when she puts a hand on her belly and calls her baby "a blessing." Others call it a "disruption." Both can be true, of course, and the movie is good at holding different ideas in its head. One early dinner party, for instance, contrasts Marlo's growing middle-class desperation (private school for her special-needs son is in jeopardy), with the wealth and ease of her rich brother (Mark Duplass), and while the class jokes hit home, Cody's script allows Duplass' character space to be human. In fact, it's his offer to pay for a nanny that initiates the movie's most effective and moving passages. Marlo halfheartedly turns him down but one evening, after the baby arrives, so does a young woman named Tully (Mackenzie Davis), a capable and efficient godsend on the order of Mary Poppins. Except that Tully (winningly played by Davis) is as flaky and warm as a croissant, and she's not there to manage children Tully's there to take care of Marlo, who in no time is sleeping soundly and waking up to a clean house. There are cupcakes on the counter baked for school, the baby is nursed and happy. Freed from the stress of duty and the tyranny of judgment, from the pressure of being perfect or at least omnipresent, Marlo comes back to life. And Tully's New Age-y proclamations about motherhood start to feel meaningful. Marlo remembers there is something magical about it she dreams of mermaids, and if she's underwater, she's no longer drowning. We hope. We hope, because there remains in Marlo an ineffable sadness within her, something is unresolved. She sees in Tully the young woman she used to be, sees the body she used to possess, the freedom she used to enjoy. This all leads to the two of them out for a night on the town, Marlo revisiting old haunts, remembering her old self remembering, too, her ideas about the mother she'd hoped to be. Can these two women the once and future Marlo coexist? Well, as somebody once said, you only live twice. MOVIES Tully From left to right, Carla Rosanno, Leslie Field, concierge David Jackson, Gail Wright (seated), and Donna Sacks at the goodbye party organized by residents at the 777 South Broad apartment building. Read more At the party inside the club room at Dranoff Properties' 777 South Broad apartment building, over red Solo cups of vodka punch and plates of frosted cake from Stock's Bakery, the question on every residents' lips was: "Are you being retained?" David Jackson, the gregarious, well-loved concierge, was not. Neither was building manager Alan Anderson, who told a resident, "It's OK. I'm at peace." But two of the building's technicians still had a job and so did a leasing manager. Still, some residents were furious. "We're very emotional about the way it was done," said a teary-eyed Donna Sacks, 74, who organized the farewell party. "It didn't feel right." Two weeks ago, developer Carl Dranoff announced he'd be selling all his residential apartments in the Philadelphia area to Aimco, a public real estate company that owns tens of thousands of apartment units around the country, for $445 million. The fallout of the sale that would make Aimco one of the largest owners of rental units in Philadelphia was swift: On the same day, most of the 60 workers across Dranoff's apartments found out they might soon be unemployed. They were all invited to an open house at the Aimco-owned Park Towne Place apartments, where they could reinterview for their jobs, which, depending on their position, could become part time. Some got offers, some did not. Aimco spokeswoman Cindy Lempke said that, so far, more than 30 Dranoff staffers still have jobs since Aimco took over Tuesday. In an interview, Dranoff, who had stopped by 777 South Broad on Monday afternoon to personally apologize to Jackson, said that every employee, regardless of the offer status, got severance pay. He also pointed out that some did not accept the offers that were extended. Aimco staffs its concierges and housekeepers through a third party, following a trend of corporations farming out work as a way to have greater flexibility when it comes to staff. Aimco also makes its community managers and leasing staff more present with residents, de-emphasizing concierge services (Dranoff made them available all hours of the day) and offering self-service products such as a 24-hour package locker system. This was reflected in the offers made from Aimco's contractor, Connected Concierge. Jackson, 58, who worked full time and had been with Dranoff for 15 years, said he was making $11.75 an hour with paid holidays and 15 vacation days, plus a generous health-care reimbursement. During his interview with Connected Concierge, he learned the contractor offered part-time jobs that paid $14 an hour and no benefits. Eddie Bowman, 53, a concierge for 18 years at Dranoff's University City apartment, the Left Bank, also interviewed but wasn't offered a job. He said that even if he were, he wouldn't have taken it because it was part time and lacked benefits. Perhaps it would have been possible to ultimately make more money, but it would have meant working 12-hour shifts, he said. "Business is business," he said, at the goodbye party organized by Left Bank residents and held at the bar next door on Monday evening. "No hard feelings." The decision to work with a contractor for services is less of a financial decision and more reflective of business practices, said Robin Flagler, president of Philadelphia-based property management company AION Management, which uses a contractor for housekeepers. It depends on whether you think it's better for your business to manage these kinds of workers in-house. As for new building owners bringing in their own team? Generally, Flagler said, new owners will keep on a previous team because they don't usually have workers on hand to immediately staff a building, and the workers already in place have expertise and experience with specific buildings. But it depends whether the new owners think the workers are qualified and whether it fits the new company's business model in the Dranoff/Aimco sale, it wasn't a perfect one-to-one transition in terms of staff. Residents and staff said they wished they had more than two weeks' notice. Some residents scrambled to appeal to Dranoff and Aimco to rehire workers who had not gotten offers. A group at Locust on the Park, including many Wharton MBAs, sent a letter to Dranoff on Friday urging him to "do the right thing" and get Aimco to reconsider the offers made. Four days later, at least two of the concierges at Locust on the Park got and accepted offers. Meanwhile, Jackson, the singing and dancing concierge at 777 South Broad, is looking for a job. On Tuesday, he said Dranoff had just called him to say he was still trying to place him at a different building. "I'm overwhelmed with that," he said. "We've had a long relationship." For almost a decade, Akhilesh Tripathi has had this Hindu welcoming symbol called a toran across his door, and now has been told by his condo association that he must take it down. Read more A Hindu resident of the Murano at 2101 Market St. has filed a federal lawsuit alleging religious discrimination by the condo association at the luxury 43-story building of gleaming glass and spectacular views, where homeowners pay more than $1,000 a month in fees. At the heart of the conflict between Akhilesh Tripathi and the Murano Condominium Association is a symbol known as a toran, which has hung for almost a decade across the top of his front door, attached to either side of the door frame. Tripathi, born in India, lives in a 23rd-floor condo adorned with a shrine and decorated with religious symbols and artwork. A toran is a Hindu and Buddhist symbol meant to welcome guests into a home. It is believed to be pleasing and attractive to the Hindu goddess of wealth, said Tripathi, 64, speaking as classical Hindu music played softly in his condo. "The symbol of toran is saying this house is blessed with God and Lakshmiji and you are welcome here," said Tripathi, an insurance and technology consultant who formerly worked as a technology executive and as an engineering professor at the University of Pennsylvania. "This is my upbringing and my deeply embedded religious belief," said Tripathi, a single father of two adult children who lives with Kishan, a cat, and Krish, a dog, both named after the god Krishna, and another dog, Kaniya. His toran, a gift from his daughter, is made of gold-colored metal chains, bells, and multicolored balls of fabric. It was blessed by a Hindu priest before it was hung when Tripathi moved into the Murano in 2009. But as of February, the condo association says it is not welcome at the Murano, where units range in price from $300,000 to more than $900,000. The association's attorney, Monica Littman, declined to comment about Tripathi's lawsuit, filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. The suit seeks preliminary and permanent injunctions barring the association from removing the toran or directing Tripathi to do so; and seeks awards for actual and punitive damages and attorneys' fees and costs. It says the association adopted a new policy regulating the placement of holiday decorations and religious symbols on residents' front door areas Feb. 13. "The association's regulation expressly permits certain religious symbols to be permanently attached to a door frame, such as a Jewish mezuzah (which the regulation specifically references), but has been invoked by the association to forbid plaintiff's Hindu toran," says the lawsuit, filed by Kevin Toth, Tripathi's attorney. "When the plaintiff refused to remove the toran from his doorway, defendant notified him that if he does not remove it, defendant would remove it," the lawsuit states. The association's new regulation and the manner in which it is being enforced constitute disparate treatment of Tripathi and are based on his religious beliefs, which violates anti-discrimination provisions of the Fair Housing Act, Toth said Thursday in his client's condo. "The Fair Housing Act is designed to guard against creating a situation where an individual like Mr. Tripathi is not welcome in this building," Toth said. "He is confident that his rights are going to be vindicated. He is confident that he is going to be able to continue to be able to follow his religion while living here." When the association sent him a letter ordering him to remove the toran, he defiantly wrote back, "Don't you touch it," Tripathi said. The association threatened to slap him with fines, sanctions, and suspension of his condo privileges if he didn't. He hired Toth instead, and has no plans to take it down or to move out. He wants his neighbors to know what's going on, and hopes they'll speak up for him and others who he believes are being discriminated against by the association's new policy. "I think it's a wonderful community, a wonderful place to live. A lot of really good people here. I think it's a couple people on the board and management who are somewhat backwards," he said, "maybe narrow-minded, and they are the ones who want it out." Rapper Meek Mill leaves a news conference promoting Gov. Tom Wolf's proposals to reform the criminal justice system at the National Constitution Center on Thursday, May 3, 2018. Read more Just last week, Meek Mill was serving a two- to four-year sentence at the Chester state prison for a probation violation before being released on bail by order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. On Thursday, he found himself in a very different position: appearing alongside Gov. Wolf, a half-dozen state lawmakers, and his supporter Michael Rubin, a co-owner of the 76ers, at the National Constitution Center to push for criminal justice reform including a proposal to change practices that have placed 296,000 Pennsylvanians under supervision for years on end, at a rate that is among the highest in the nation. "What I went through is terrible, but I think it's a path God put me on for a better time, like right now. It's surreal to be in this situation like this to be with Gov. Wolf talking about criminal justice reform," said Mill, 30, standing in a crisp suit. "I actually made a commitment to speaking for the voiceless. I spent time with these men and women, and watched families being broken apart because of addiction, mental illness, technical violations." Proposals on the table include changes to probation laws that allowed Mill's judge to extend his supervision multiple times over the last decade and to resentence him to imprisonment on three occasions. "This case thrust Pennsylvania's criminal justice system into the national spotlight," Wolf said. He added: "We know that there are a lot more like Meek in our prisons." Wolf's wish list also includes funding defense of the indigent (Pennsylvania is the only state that doesn't do so); increasing access to expungements; and passing a justice reinvestment package that is said would save $55 million annually by instituting automatic parole for people serving short sentences. Legislation already introduced includes a bill to limit confinement for probation violations to no more than six months, and another that would limit terms for which judges can resentence people found in violation of their probation. Now, violators can be resentenced up to the statutory maximum for their initial conviction no matter how much time has passed. "If that was me in Starbucks, on probation, I would have been actually in technical violation and would have still been able to legally be sentenced to two to four years in prison," Mill said, "just because I came into contact with police." He was referencing the case of two men arrested in April in a Center City coffee shop after they refused to immediately leave or make a purchase. Mill called it "Starbucksing while black." Mill, trailed by a camera crew for a six-part documentary series being shot for Amazon, was there to provide firsthand testimony. "I always feel like my freedom could be taken," said Mill, adding that he'd been advised by his lawyers not to speak publicly. But he said he thinks he's in the best position to highlight this issue. "I've been tangled in the system since I was 18 years old," said Mill. He described how the "ruthless environment" where he grew up in North Philadelphia trained him "to think going to prison was normal." Now, he said, he wants to use his experience to make history. Immediately after the news conference, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association issued a statement attributed to Berks County District Attorney John Adams: "We cannot let one individual under very unique circumstances indict an entire system. We caution against the wholesale elimination of appropriate consequences and accountability in the criminal justice system, cloaked in the concept of reform." State Rep. Joanna McClinton, a former Philadelphia public defender, said people who commit serious crimes should face justice; the changes she wants to see would help those picked up for minor violations. To that end, she was hopeful Mill's voice could amplify causes she has long advocated, like funding public defenders. "His story is helping, because it's putting a big spotlight on an issue for so many people who don't have his name, his platform, his media, his celebrity status," she said. "It's important because I represented many Meek Mills in front of so many different judges who would not listen to me when I said it's better for them to keep their job and stay with their children and stay intact with their families." Arguably the most popular human expression is being "booked". The latest version of the "smile-drifting" book will set off on a new journey from the northeastern Chinese city of Shenyang to mark the upcoming World Smile Day on May 8 this year. The smile-drifting book Hello Smile 4.0 is designed to fill blank pages with photos and messages about smiles that will be collected during the trip, said the organizer, Shenyang Broadcasting and Television Station. Starting from Shenyang in 2012, the first smile-drifting book has travelled through China and dozens of countries and regions. The World Smile Day was launched by World Mental Health Organization in 1948 and is the only festival celebrating human expression. We are here in Shenyang, waiting for your smile, with our old sisters enjoying the sunshine. Kindly smile. We are here in Shenyang, waiting for your smile, with our incoming baby. it is our first family portrait. Happy smile. We are here in Shenyang, waiting for your smile, wandering in the book store with her. Sweet smile. (Photos provided by the organizer) Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives holds a news conference at the Philadelphia International Airport after an employee allegedly stabbed and killed a co-worker in a break room. Read more A dispute Thursday among airplane cleaners over a light's being turned off in a break room at Philadelphia International Airport ended with one man stabbed to death and another in custody, police said. Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives said the incident involved three Worldwide Flight Services employees under contract to Frontier Airlines. He said the dispute started about 11:30 a.m., when one man turned off a light in the employee break room in Terminal E and a coworker began arguing with him. The break room was not accessible to passengers. According to Walker, the argument turned into a scuffle, and when it subsided, a third man, age 35, pulled out a knife and slashed one of the other men in the stomach. Walker said some workers at the airport have access to knives or other sharp objects as part of their job responsibilities, which can include opening boxes. The 28-year-old stabbing victim was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 11:51 a.m., Walker said. He was identified Friday morning as Aaron Jenkins of the 100 block of West Roselyn Street in the city's Olney section. Authorities at the airport took the 35-year-old into custody while he was waiting for a ride, Walker said. The man was being questioned Thursday afternoon at the Homicide Unit. Police have not yet identified the suspect or announced charges against him. The stabbing was "an unfortunate situation where people allowed their anger and aggression to get the best of them," but caused no major disruptions to airport service, Walker said. Airport CEO Chellie Cameron issued a statement that said the airport was cooperating with police in their investigation of the "tragic incident." "Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased," the statement said. "The safety of everyone in our airport community is our top priority. No passengers were involved or harmed in the incident and no flights have been affected." Officials at Worldwide Flight Services' North American executive offices in New York did not immediately respond to a call and an email seeking comment. Richard Oliver III, a spokesman for Frontier, issued a statement saying: "We've been made aware of an incident involving employees of Worldwide Flight Services (WFS) at Philadelphia International Airport. The Frontier Airlines family is saddened to learn about this event and our hearts go out to those touched by the tragedy. We have reached out to WFS to assist them in any way possible as they deal with this incident." In early fall 2017, reporters decided to independently test the environmental conditions inside some of Philadelphia's most rundown district schools built before 1978, the year of the federal lead-paint ban. We used district maintenance documents and other records to create the list of schools. We then began reaching out to teachers and building staffers to ask if they would help us test for four health hazards: Mold, asbestos fibers, lead dust and lead in drinking water. To test drinking water for lead, we purchased sterile water collection bottles from a firm that sells environmental testing equipment. We later learned that it was easier and just as reliable for staffers to draw a water samples from fountain taps using their own empty water bottles. We did not precisely follow federal and state guidelines for testing water for lead. Those guidelines say testers should collect "first draw" samples, water that sat overnight in pipes. That sample should be followed up with a "second draw" after the water has run for a bit. Instead, we instructed staffers to simply press their thumb on the taps of drinking fountains and fill their containers, labeling the bottles by school name, fountain location, date and time of water draw. We did not witness the testing firsthand. We picked up samples of water from staffers and delivered them to a state-certified lab. We used International Asbestos Testing Laboratories (iATL) in Mount Laurel, N.J., to do the lead analysis. To test for lead in dust on surfaces inside schools, we purchased "Ghost Wipes," which met standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). The wipes are premoistened with deionized water and come in individually sealed packets. The wipes, after one use, were put in 50 ml "Digestion Vessels" EPA-approved collection bottles that provide greater chemical resistance. Reporters were taught at a state-certified lab how to collect dust-wipe samples using approved scientific methods. A lab technician demonstrated how to use a grid to frame out a 12-by-12-inch square and then methodically wipe within that space. Reporters used those techniques to test for lead in dust in the "Toxic City: Tainted Soil" installment of the series. We applied that knowledge and wrote out step-by-step instructions that was provided to school staffers. We also provided staffers with testing kits that included the written instructions, a permanent black-ink marker, several digestion vessels, and Ghost Wipes. We did not witness the testing. We also did not require staffers to tape down 12-by-12-inch templates, but rather to try their best to measure that amount of surface space. Some school staffers chose to wear disposable gloves during the testing. The samples were tested at iATL, the New Jersey lab. We used the same testing equipment Ghost Wipes and EPA-approved collection tubes to test for asbestos fibers in settled dust. There are no federal regulations for testing fibers in surface dust. But there are guidelines. They call for wiping a surface space of 10-by-10 centimeters, roughly a 4-by-4-inch square. We created a different set of written instructions for asbestos collection. We opted to test the material using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), which has the ability to detect very small asbestos fibers. Environmental scientists consider dust-wipe sampling to be an investigative tool to indicate potential airborne exposure. The Environmental Protection Agency, for example, used dust-wipes to gauge the scope of asbestos contamination in the wake of the September 11, 2001, collapse of the World Trade Center. Scientists and industrial hygienists say that any wipe samples that exceed 100,000 fibers (structures) per square centimeter (cm2) are cause for concern and indicate a potential fiber release. Asbestos fibers are only dangerous when inhaled. The only way to measure airborne asbestos is to collect air samples. Under city and federal law, the School District of Philadelphia is required to monitor the air during and after an asbestos abatement job. School district officials took issue with the newspapers' testing. Because we did not witness the testing, they said the chain-of-custody could not be confirmed. Also, the testing was not done by a certified environmental expert, the district noted. In addition, Gerald Junod, the district's environmental manager, said that if the staffer inadvertently wiped an area larger than 4-by-4-inches, the results could be falsely elevated. To collect mold spore samples, school staffers used one of two methods: The "Ghost Wipes" method described above. The other is called a "tape grab," placing a piece of clear tape against a spot of suspected mold. Staffers then pressed the tape on a glass slide, then numbered each slide with a marker. They wrote down sample location and noted the corresponding slide number. For example: Slide 1, back wall, classroom number, near window. The staffers placed the slides in a plastic case with dividers so the slides didn't touch. Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Trump, during an appearance on Fox & Friends on Fox News Thursday morning. Read more Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, now acting as an attorney for President Trump, made shockwaves in the political world Wednesday night by admitting to Fox News host Sean Hannity that the president knew about a $130,000 hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. During the interview, Giuliani told Hannity that the money to repay Trump's embattled lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen had been "funneled through the law firm and the president repaid it." On Thursday morning, Trump confirmed on Twitter that he reimbursed Cohen for the payment through a monthly retainer, adding that it "had nothing to do with the campaign." But minutes later, Giuliani appeared to contradict that during an interview on Fox & Friends, where he explicitly linked Cohen's payment to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Cliffords, to the 2016 presidential election. "Imagine if that came out on Oct. 15, 2016 in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton," Giuliani said. "Cohen didn't even ask. Cohen made it go away. He didn't even ask." Here's a recap of the fallout from Giuliani's comments, the president's tweets and the response from Washington: 3:15 p.m. Giuliani doesnt believe Cohen was wiretapped On Thursday, NBC News reported that federal investigators had wiretapped Cohen's phone lines. But Giuliani told the Daily Beast he doubted the accuracy of the network's report. "Us lawyers have talked about it, we don't believe it's true," Giuliani told The Daily Beast. "We think it's going to turn out to be untrue because it would be totally illegal. You can't wiretap a lawyer, you certainly can't wiretap his client who's not involved in the investigation." Giuliani added that, regardless of the truth of the wiretapping report, it would take bad faith on the part of investigators to leak knowledge of it to the press. "We should find out about this with a notification from the Justice Department, they're wiretapping the [president] of the United States, they're wiretapping a man talking to his lawyer and then they want us to cooperate? We're not suckers," Giuliani said. 3 p.m. I would always advise against giving false information In a combative briefing with reporters, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders denied knowing that Trump had repaid Cohen for a $130,000 hush payment to Daniels until Giuliani revealed it in his interview with Hannity. "The first awareness I had was during the interview last night," Sanders said. Sanders acknowledged that she had provided incorrect information to reporters when she claimed in March that the president had no knowledge of any payments. "I gave you the best information that I had at the time," Sanders said, adding, "I would always advise against giving false information." 1:30 p.m. NBC News reports Cohens phones were wiretapped Federal investigators wiretapped Cohen's phone lines for weeks leading up to the raids on his offices, hotel room and home, according to NBC News reporters Tom Winter and Julia Ainsley. According to the report, "at least one phone call between a phone line associated with Cohen and the White House" was intercepted by investigators. Michael Avenatti, Daniels' attorney, asserted on MSNBC that the wiretaps must have picked up information that Cohen was preparing to destroy documents, hence the raid. He also said he had knowledge that federal investigators also intercepted text messages, but did not provide any proof to back up his assertions. Giuliani told the Washington Post that if NBC News' reporting was correct, it would be a "mockery" of attorney-client privilege and "government misconduct." 12:30 p.m. Comey calls out Giuliani Former FBI director James Comey didn't appreciate Giuliani comparing FBI agents who raided Cohen's office, home and hotel in April to Nazi "stormtroopers." "I know the New York FBI. There are no 'stormtroopers' there; just a group of people devoted to the rule of law and the truth," Comey wrote on Twitter. "Our country would be better off if our leaders tried to be like them, rather than comparing them to Nazis." The comments also earned criticism from former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a Trump supporter. Cuccinelli, a former Virginia Republican nominee for governor, told CNN, "I really do not like to see anybody on any side of an argument wander into language of the Nazi Germany era." Even Cohen himself has praised the FBI agents, calling them "professional, courteous, respectful" in a call to CNN's Don Lemon following the raid. 11:30 a.m. Pa. Republican calls for hearings on Stormy Daniels Rep. Charlie Dent (R., Pa.), who is set to resign from Congress this month, is calling for congressional hearings in light of conflicting statements about the $130,000 payout to Daniels. "If a Democratic president had paid off a porn star to keep quiet while he was president, I suspect we'd have oversight hearings, and I suspect there probably should be some oversight hearings to get to the bottom of that," Dent said on CNN Thursday morning. "If a Democratic president had done this, we'd be waving a bloody shirt right now." Dent also criticized those who believed Trump's repeated denials that he wasn't aware of the payout to Daniels. "I don't think there was anybody on the planet who thought that Michael Cohen, out of the goodness of his heart, wrote a $130,000 check to Stormy Daniels without seeking reimbursement," Dent said. "I mean, come on! We're not fools here." 10:30 a.m. Giuliani also called Jared Kushner disposable Overlooked in the aftermath of Giuliani's interviews with Fox News and the Washington Post were comments he made to Hannity about the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner. Discussing the potential reach of Mueller's probe, Giuliani said it would cross the line for the special prosecutor to go after first daughter Ivanka Trump, despite the fact she holds an official position within the White House. "Jared is a fine man, you know that," Giuliani said Thursday night. "Men are disposable. But a fine woman like Ivanka? Come on." New York Times White House reporter Maggie Haberman wrote on Twitter that most in the White House were "gobsmacked" by Giuliani's comment. 10:15 a.m. Giuliani suggests Trump made other similar payouts Following his interview Thursday night with Hannity, Giuliani conducted a phone interview with Washington Post reporter Robert Costa, in which he suggested that Trump might have made other payouts similar to the $130,000 paid to Daniels to silence her allegations of an affair. Asked by Costa when the payments were made, Giuliani said they took place sometime right before the election, and that they were probably all paid back by the end of 2017. "That and probably a few other situations that might have been considered campaign expenses," Giuliani said. Giuliani also claimed Trump wasn't told about the payments, since the election was just five to 10 days away. But he added, "But even if he was told, he wouldn't have remembered it, like I wouldn't have remembered it." Read the full interview here. 10 a.m. Kellyanne Conways husband thinks payment was likely illegal George Conway, a lawyer and the husband of White House counselor and South Jersey native Kellyanne Conway, took to Twitter to contradict Giuliani's claim that the $130,000 payout to Daniels didn't violate campaign finance laws. Following Giuliani's interview on Fox & Friends Thursday morning, where he explicitly linked the payout to the 2016 presidential election, Conway tweeted a link to the Federal Election Commissions' website, suggesting that the payout likely did violate the law. 9:45 a.m. Fox News is having a hard time with Giulianis comments The opinion hosts on Fox News have been among Trump's most ardent supporters. But even they are having a hard time grappling with Giuliani's revelation that the president in fact knew about the payout to Daniels. During his first interview on Fox News Wednesday night, Giuliani appeared to take Hannity by surprise when he revealed the payments to Cohen were funneled through a law firm, and that Trump repaid it. "Oh, I didn't know he did," a confused Hannity quietly replied. Hannity's colleague, Ingraham Angle host Laura Ingraham, was baffled by Giuliani's admission, calling the conflicting statements with the Trump administration "a problem" "You have the president on tape on Air Force One saying he did not know about the payment, and you'll have to ask Michael Cohen about that," Ingraham said. "Rudy just goes on with Hannity and says 'Oh no, he reimbursed them.'" Ingraham added: "I love Rudy, but they better have an explanation for that. That's a problem." Even the hosts on Fox & Friends, who have been among the most consistent Trump supporters in the media, grilled Giuliani about what appeared to be a clear contradiction to what the president himself has claimed. Co-host Ainsley Earhardt pressed Giuliani on previous comments made by Cohen, where he denied being paid back by Trump for the Daniels' payout. "Now it sounds like the story's changing," Earhardt said. "He was definitely reimbursed, there's no doubt about that," Giuliani responded. "So why did he say he wasn't?" Earhardt pressed. Giuliani refused to answer Earhardt's question, instead pivoting to defend Cohen's actions as "helping the family" and claiming for that, "he's being treated as a villain." 9:20 a.m. Sarah Huckabee Sanders refuses to answer questions In the wake of Giuliani's comments on Fox News, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders refused to answer questions Thursday morning about false statements made about the Daniels case. Back on March 7, Sanders told reporters during a White House press briefing that Trump didn't know about the $130,000 payment to Daniels to silence allegations of an affair with the president, echoing comments Trump himself had made aboard Air Force One. "I've had conversations with the president about this. There was no knowledge of any payments from the president and he's denied all of these allegations," Sanders said at the time. 9 a.m. Fox News analyst says explanation is unworthy of belief Fox News judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano slammed Giuliani over a different aspect of his interview with Hannity the idea that special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election should be shut down due to corruption at the Justice Department. "There are 90,000 people that work in the Justice Department. There are 8,000 FBI agents. These people are doing the work of protecting our lives, our liberty, and our property," Napolitano said on Fox & Friends. "For him to say that the Justice Department is out of control or that the government is corrupt, is an argument that's going to be used by criminal defense lawyers in legitimate prosecutions as if to say, 'don't believe the government anymore!' " Napolitano also mocked Giuliani's suggestion that Trump had reimbursed Cohen without knowing it was due to the payout to Daniels. "If Rudy wants the public to believe that Donald Trump reimbursed Michael Cohen $130,000 and didn't know what it was for, didn't know that it was going to silence Stormy Daniels, that is unworthy of belief," Napolitano said. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi speaks on March 7, 2018, in Washington, D.C. Many Democratic candidates in the Philadelphia area wont say if they would support her as their leader in the U.S. House next year. Read more WASHINGTON Among the many Democrats running for Congress in the Philadelphia region, support for one of their party's most influential voices Nancy Pelosi is no sure thing. In interviews with 16 Democratic candidates, the vast majority wouldn't say whether they would endorse Pelosi for speaker of the House if the party takes control of the chamber in this fall's midterm elections. Several said they'd seek a change. "Ideally, I would like to see somebody new take the reins," said Molly Sheehan, who is running in the Delaware County-based Fifth District. "I have a lot of respect for Nancy Pelosi's service over the years. I just think it's time for new leadership." "Nothing against her, it's just time for a new voice," said Lindy Li, who is competing for the Democratic nomination in the same race. And in South Jersey, State Sen. Jeff Van Drew said he hasn't "gotten into that" when asked about Pelosi, even as party leaders in Washington support him over two Democratic rivals. "I think we've really got to take a good look at that," Van Drew said. "I would not say that I would support her. It would be something that I think we need to look at, and it very well could be that we look at new Democratic leadership and voices." Only a few of the Democrats interviewed said unequivocally that they would endorse Pelosi. Most hedged declining to back her, but offering fuzzy answers that left room to do so later. Many said that they wanted to see who else runs, or that they are focused on their primary races. The cautious responses reflect a dilemma facing Democratic candidates across the country. As the Democrats' House leader since 2003, Pelosi is respected on the left as a champion of liberal causes, a shrewd negotiator, and a prolific fund-raiser who has brought in nearly $660 million for fellow Democrats since 2002. But the GOP has long painted the San Franciscan as an extreme liberal, using ominous ads to motivate supporters and damage Democrats with swing voters. Even some Democrats have begun calling for younger, fresher leadership. By keeping their distance, candidates in the Philadelphia area seem to be taking a page from fellow Democrat Conor Lamb, who answered GOP attacks this year by publicly vowing not to support Pelosi as he ran in a tough Southwestern Pennsylvania special election. Lamb won a narrow victory in a deep-red district. None of the Democrats in the Philadelphia region faces such tough political terrain. In fact, many such as those in Montgomery and Delaware Counties are running on fairly blue turf. Yet most still wouldn't back Pelosi. That also includes Democrats in tough swing districts who have received support from Pelosi's leadership team, such as Van Drew, Burlington County's Andy Kim, and Chester County's Chrissy Houlahan. Their campaigns are the kind that could make the difference between a Republican or Democratic House. "I'm just focused right now on this district and the needs of this district," said Kim, who is running against Rep. Tom MacArthur (R., N.J.). "I'm going to make the decision based on who is going to help this district most." Houlahan said it would be "premature" to decide now. "It's really interesting that I frequently get that question from the media and very, very rarely get that question from my community," she said. "My first and foremost responsibility with every vote that I take is to weigh all of my options." The Democratic hesitation over Pelosi raises questions about whether she would reap the political rewards if her party takes the House, and over who might set the agenda in the chamber if not her. For her part, Pelosi said this week that she is confident her party will win the majority and that she intends to seek another term in charge. "It's important that it not be five white guys at the table, no offense," Pelosi told the Boston Globe, referring to the presidency and top leadership positions in the House and Senate. Pelosi, 78, is one of a trio of long-standing House Democratic leaders who are in their late 70s, an arrangement that has chafed some younger Democrats who have clamored for new voices and a chance to move up the ranks. "I have a lot of respect for the leadership across the board in the Democratic Party, but I also think there's room for new voices," said Rachel Reddick, a former Navy attorney who is running in the Bucks County-based First District. One of Reddick's Democratic rivals, Scott Wallace, said similarly, "We have some older leaders currently in the House. New blood is always a good thing." But he said he would wait to see who else runs before deciding. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D., N.M.), the head of the national Democratic congressional campaign arm, said Lamb's victory showed that the Pelosi-based attacks are losing potency and that voters care far more about economic issues. When a reporter noted that Lamb had vocally broken with Pelosi, Lujan seemed to suggest that other Democrats would be allowed similar breathing room, saying that "candidates know their districts best." (Pelosi publicly praised Lamb on the day he was sworn into Congress.) Republicans aren't dropping the issue, no matter what Democrats say. "It was never about Nancy Pelosi personally, it's about what she represents, the agenda she represents, and that's the same agenda the Democrats represent," said Rep. Steve Stivers (R., Ohio), head of the Republican congressional campaign arm. Even Democrats unsure whether to support Pelosi praised her leadership, and those who said they'd back her said her experience is still needed. "The immediate challenge will be to begin negotiating with Trump and our Democratic leadership. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer, Jim Clyburn are brilliant, experienced, tough, and are up to that sort of tough negotiation," said Joe Hoeffel, who is running in the Montgomery County-based Fourth District. Tanzie Youngblood, running against Van Drew in South Jersey's Second District, said, "Nancy Pelosi is a wise woman. She's been around, she's got experience, and she knows what she's doing." For the most part, however, Democrats dodged. "Since I've not won the nomination nor the general election, I'm not going to say how I'll be voting on leadership," said State Rep. Madeleine Dean, also running in the Fourth District. "I know that Nancy Pelosi is a force and is brilliant, and I will most definitely consider her." Exercising our right to vote is the purest expression of our faith in democracy. Without a shared sense of trust in the integrity of that vote, we risk becoming a nation dangerously divided against itself. Great vigilance would be in order, then, even if Pennsylvanians could rely on secure, resilient election systems and architecture. The reality, however, is otherwise. Today our state is among the most vulnerable in the country to hacking and cyber attack a democratic four-alarm blaze just waiting to happen. Pennsylvania's role as a perennial swing-state brings with it high stakes, close presidential elections, and even closer scrutiny. In 2016, Donald Trump's margin of victory here fewer than 70,000 votes was barely one percent of the nearly six million votes cast statewide. We know that faith in the validity of our elections is a quality much harder to earn than to lose. That's why, as proud Pennsylvanians who have dedicated our careers to justice, law, and education, we feel strongly that the time is now to address this vulnerability. We must come together as a commonwealth, as communities, and as citizens to make an honest assessment of Pennsylvania's election security architecture, to diagnose and discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and to plan for a better, more secure future. This is why we are launching a nonpartisan, independent Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvania's Election Security designed to bring about concrete improvements before the next presidential election in 2020. With support from The Heinz Endowments, and collaboration between University of Pittsburgh's Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security, Carnegie Mellon's Software Engineering Institute CERT Division, and Verified Voting, we will convene experts and leaders from across the state with a clear goal: strengthening the security of the systems on which Pennsylvanians rely to exercise their right to vote. The causes of our voting woes are many and complex. It is beyond the scope of any single commission to seek to address them all. But the growing concerns over our current election security must not go unaddressed. What are the concerns about Pennsylvanias election security? Pennsylvania uses at least 10 different models of voting machines, many of them more than a decade old and particularly vulnerable to hacking. In 2016, a Princeton University computer scientist, Andrew Appel, and his graduate student, Alex Halderman, demonstrated how to gain access to the memory and software of a voting machine in just minutes. They showed that modifying vote counts would be easy, while detecting the manipulation would be difficult. These same machines are in use in over 500 precincts in Pennsylvania today. In fact, Verified Voting estimates that 83 percent of Pennsylvania voters use electronic voting machines without voter-verified paper ballotsthe machines that security experts warn are most hackable. Understanding this risk, on April 12, the Secretary of State's office required that all Pennsylvania voting machines offer a verifiable paper trail by the end of 2019, and encouraged counties to do so before the November election. This is a crucial step, and we applaud Gov. Wolf and Acting Secretary of State Robert Torres for this effort. New federal funding will offset $13.5 million of the cost and the administration says that it is committed to working with the legislature to help fund these upgrades, of which the state estimates outright purchasing could cost between $95-153 million statewide, though outside expert estimates have found this could be lower. However, there is far more to the security of Pennsylvania's elections than its voting machines. In September 2017, federal authorities formally notified 21 states, including Pennsylvania, that Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to penetrate their voter registration systems. While it does not appear that voting rolls were affected, the concern remains that these actions were essentially a trial run for more aggressive efforts in future elections. Like nearly all states' voter registration systems, our own is at risk. Hackers could target our voter rolls to alter them; or to create chaos and confusion among poll workers and voters, leading to a loss of faith in the election results. Pennsylvania must also continue to plan and prepare for its resiliency and recovery in the face of an incident targeting our elections, including through direct cyber attacks and through disinformation. This requires efforts and coordination from the precinct level on up through the federal level. The persistence and sophistication of hackers and cyber adversaries is growing at an ever faster rate. Time is not on Pennsylvania's side. But with the continued efforts of our hardworking state and local officials, we are confident the Keystone State can indeed lead the country as an example of effective election securityonce again leading this American experiment in democracy. David Hickton is the founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security and the former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Paul McNulty is the president of Grove City College and the former deputy attorney general of the United States. They are co-chairs of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvania's Election Security. The commission will accept public comment at www.cyber.pitt.edu/commission beginning May 3. Cristine Gonzalez, left, and her six-year-old son Dean Pagan, right, shown here as Cristine picks up Dean from the school bus stop, in Philadelphia, Monday, February 26, 2018. Dean was severely lead poisoned at Comly Elementary School. Read more Happy Thursday, Philly, it's another warm, sunny day. Before you head out into the potentially record setting heat, set aside some time to dive into the latest installment of our Toxic City series. It's a heartbreaking look at the state of environmental hazards in Philadelphia schools and why the city hasn't stemmed the tide of toxins. You'll also want to catch up on the latest from the two black men arrested at a Center City Starbucks last month. They're making big moves to help entrepreneurs like them. And heads up, SEPTA and Amtrak riders: there's been a freight derailment (with no injuries reported) that's affecting the Wilmington/Newark Regional Rail line, so check your schedules. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning. Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com) READ MORE: Investigation reveals dangerous levels of lead, mold, asbestos in Philly schools Every school day in Philadelphia, children are exposed to environmental hazards, both visible and invisible. Is your school safe? The next installment in the Inquirer and Daily News' "Toxic City" series reveals how asbestos, lead, and mold have made their way into Philly's public schools and what the district has and often hasn't done about it. The school district doesn't routinely test classrooms for lead contamination, so our reporters did their own. The results are startling. Concerned about your local school? Use our new checkup tool to see how healthy your classrooms are. Catch up on Toxic City: READ MORE: Celebrity chef Jose Garces files for bankruptcy, will sell restaurant company The financial trials and tribulations of Philly's star chef Jose Garces continue. Yesterday, Garces for filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and announced he's selling his multi-restaurant operation to a Louisiana hospitality company for $5 million. Good news for the eateries: he expects the restaurants (which include J. G. Domestic, Distrito, Amada and more) to operate as usual post-sale. But it's not great news for the investors who have filed lawsuits against him in recent months; they're expected to fight back with a legal filing to block the bankruptcy. This story is far from over. READ MORE: Black men arrested at Starbucks settle with city for $1 and a promise Remember when two men were arrested at a Center City Starbucks for not ordering anything, sparking national outcry, days of protests and public apologies from the coffee giant's CEO and the Philly police commissioner? Of course you do. Well, the two men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, have decided not to pursue a lawsuit against the city. Instead they settled for a symbolic $1 with a promise from officials to set up a program for young entrepreneurs like themselves to the tune of $200,000. They also reached an agreement with Starbucks including an undisclosed financial settlement and "continued listening and dialogue between the parties." What you need to know today Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly Just wait until all of those cherry blossoms turn into pink confetti, @melise.romero! Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out! Thats Interesting Opinions "Like nearly all states' voter registration systems, our own is at risk. Hackers could target our voter rolls to alter them; or to create chaos and confusion among poll workers and voters, leading to a loss of faith in the election results." David Hickton and Paul McNulty, co-chairs of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Pennsylvanias Election Security, on why Summer jobs can change the lives of young people, so Sharmain Matlock-Turner, president and CEO of the Urban Affairs Coalition, is calling on local businesses to start hiring. Puerto Rican evacuees who came to Philadelphia to escape the aftermath of Hurricane Maria still need support, and there are many ways the average Philadelphian can help, writes Puerto Rican journalist Syra Ortiz-Blanes. What were reading Your Daily Dose of | Cheese* *Vegan cheese, the kind made from plants and nut milks, is having a bit of a moment in Philly. It's so good even non-vegans are taking a bite. Adele A. Barakat, 95, of Kennett Square, a businesswoman and philanthropist, died Sunday, April 29, of cardiac failure at her home. Born in Ardmore, Mrs. Barakat graduated from Haverford High School and took business courses. During World War II, she worked for the U.S. Army Signal Corps, which assisted with military communications. In 1946, she married machinist Joseph S. Barakat after he immigrated to the United States from Jage, Lebanon, the village her family had lived in before moving to the United States and settling in the Philadelphia area. "He stayed in my mom's family's house, and that's how they met," said daughter Rachel. The couple had seven children. Mrs. Barakat nurtured her brood in Havertown while juggling full-time work in a family-owned sandwich shop that later expanded into a bar. "Thank God we've been blessed," she told the Inquirer in January 1988 in a profile of her husband and the family's businesses. But it wasn't just blessings that caused the family to prosper. It was grit, determination, and hard work that led to the success of several businesses. As the enterprises grew, they employed as many as 250 workers at a time in the Philadelphia region. In 1947, the couple invested $600 in a hoagie shop called Joe's Bar & Grill in the Manoa section of Havertown. She managed the restaurant for 33 years. The family lived next door. In the early years, the couple worked 16 to 18 hours a day and kept daughter Mary Ann in a playpen in the kitchen. Soon they added a bar. By 1975, the enterprise was grossing $250,000 annually, according to the Inquirer. Other enterprises were a sheet-metal company in Southwest Philadelphia that her husband bought, turned around, and resold, and ATACS Corp., a maker of military communication systems, which he operated in Oxford, Chester County. Mrs. Barakat had a strong faith and a belief in the importance of church as a focal point for the Lebanese American community. As the family's fortunes rose, the Barakats opened their home to other Lebanese immigrants who needed help getting established in America. In the 1980s, she and her husband donated a 14-acre property to establish a church in the Philadelphia suburbs. The idea was that local Lebanese Maronite Catholics a rite of the church mostly centered in the Middle East would not have to travel to Philadelphia to worship. The property was later sold and the proceeds used to acquire a new site in Newtown Square. Construction began on St. Sharbel Church on Providence Road. Families from Delaware, Chester and Montgomery Counties celebrate the Maronite service there, the family said. In 1983, in recognition of their contributions to the Catholic Church, Mrs. Barakat and her husband were honored by Pope John Paul II. She was named a Papal Lady and he was named a Knight Commander of the Order of St. Gregory, the highest honor the Catholic Church bestows on laymen. "I remember there was a dinner where they received this award," said Rachel Barakat. "She was very humbled and honored and thrilled to be there, because it was important to her to keep the culture of the Lebanese people alive in the U.S. and help people feel at home here because of the celebration of that culture." Mrs. Barakat's love of family led her to support charitable organizations that benefited children. From 1962 to 1965, the Barakats led a regional fundraising organization on behalf of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. The couple stayed involved in the group until 1974. At one point, they helped the actor Danny Thomas, a Lebanese American who founded the hospital, organize an appearance at the Bazaar of All Nations in Delaware County. The Barakats maintained vacation homes in Bethany Beach, Del, and Naples, Fla. Mrs. Barakat loved family get-togethers and bird-watching through a picture window after she moved to a home in Kennett Square. She was an expert cook of Lebanese dishes including stuffed grape leaves and tabouli. Mrs. Barakat's husband died of cancer in 1986 at age 60. In addition to her daughters Rachel and Mary Ann Funk, she is survived by children Fred, Linda Letier, Nancy, Joseph, and John; 14 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. A viewing from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 5, will be followed by a Funeral Mass at St. Sharbel Church, 3679 Providence Rd., Newtown Square. Burial will be in SS. Peter and Paul Cemetery, Marple Township. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38105 or via www.stjude.org. My grandmother carried my 2-week-old mother in her arms when she boarded a ship bringing North Korean refugees to South Korea during the Korean War in December 1950. Friends and family had urged Grandma to leave her daughter behind, worried that she would never survive the frigid winter journey. After finally arriving at a refugee camp in the South, the baby contracted smallpox. Never one to give up, Grandma hid her behind an outhouse and enlisted a team of women to take turns guarding her from the authorities, who took sick babies from their mothers. More than a half-century later, I would make seven trips to North Korea in roughly as many years, as a journalist writing for a South Korean newspaper. The night before each trip, my grandmother would call and ask me to look up the relatives she had to leave behind on the other side of the border. She hoped I could finally find her our family in North Korea. Though inside I was torn, I had to tell her it was simply not possible. As one of the few reporters allowed above the DMZ, I was obliged to maintain professional objectivity. Those in South and North Korea really are like members of an extended family. Before the country was divided in 1945, Korea was a single country with no history of significant linguistic or cultural differences. One in five South Koreans like me has relatives still living in the North. This is why South Koreans, despite the history of a brutal civil war and periodic diplomatic clashes, still share an intense feeling of kinship with North Koreans. Last week's summit meeting between the two Koreas rekindled this familiar feeling. When the 30-something North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was embraced by South KoreaPresident Moon Jae-in, three decades his senior, it looked almost as if a long-estranged son were being welcomed home by his patient father. South Koreans had previously had an impression of Kim as a cocky upstart, so they were surprised to see him as an apparently pleasant, even respectful, visitor. Another surprise was that Kim brought his wife along for the trip something his father never did. Perhaps most tellingly, Kim departed from diplomatic protocol in the way he addressed Moon. The Korean language is hierarchical, with different ways of addressing oneself according to seniority. Since this was a conversation between heads of state, Kim should have followed Moon's lead and referred to himself with the high-status designation "na." But in an official statement, Kim used "jeo" a first-person pronoun effectively casting himself as the junior partner to the elder Moon. Kim sounded almost adolescent when he reportedly asked Moon if he could really use the newly established hotline to call him anytime. (Moon had to gently explain that calls needed to be scheduled in advance so officials on both sides could prepare.) Here in Philadelphia, I find myself having to explain why South Koreans reacted so emotionally and positively to the summit. People ask how we can trust the North Koreans when they say they will abandon nuclear weapons. I reply with a metaphor. Imagine you have a brother who dropped out of school and got into trouble. He keeps calling you to bail him out of jail. In his darkest moments, he even threatened to set your house on fire. Friends are urging you to give up on him. But how can you disown him? He is family. One of the major outcomes of the summit was the agreement to resume the reunions of separated relatives this coming August. That message came eight years too late for my grandmother. She died in 2010, having never visited her elder sister, who used to carry her on a back sling through the city of Hamhung. My grandmother and her sister spent their lives just 200 miles apart from each other, but a world away. Though my grandmother is now gone, what has stayed with me is the message she passed down: Don't give up, not on family, and not on hope. Soomin Seo teaches journalism at Temple University. She is a former reporter who visited North Korea seven times from 2000 to 2008. [File photo] China and the United States will hold talks on trade and economic issues in Beijing on Thursday and Friday. The Ministry of Commerce announced on Wednesday that a US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, visiting as US President Donald Trump's special envoy, will discuss the China-US economic and trade issues with Vice Premier Liu He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee. This is the first high-level meeting since the bilateral trade dispute escalated in March. The US delegation includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Larry Kudlow, assistant to the president for economic policy, and Peter Navarro, assistant to the president for trade and manufacturing policy. The delegates also make up most of the economic team of the administration. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday it is in the best interests of the two countries to resolve disputes and maintain overall stability of bilateral business relations through negotiations. Students from Burns and Pine Bluffs High Schools headed to Cheyenne last week to compete in the 91st Wyoming State FFA Convention and several students had success. Burns first success came on the second day of the convention, held April 18 - 21 came when Layne Burnett received reserve champion, or second-place, in creed speaking. According to the national FFA, creed speaking is an event for seventh, eighth and ninth-grade students. In the event, they must answer questions about the FFAs creed and purpose. It gives students confidence and helps develop communication skills including public speaking. Burns also had success on the second day of the convention in parliamentary procedure, outright winning the event. In the parliamentary procedure competition, students hold a mock chapter meeting and are judged by their basic knowledge of parliamentary law and procedures. Heading into day-four, Burns earned third-place in junior high horse evaluation. The team also earned reserve champion in livestock evaluation, first in team sheep evaluation and third in beef evaluation. Mackenzi Faircloth was first in individual poultry evaluation. Burns was fourth overall in the event. Burns Colton Sowards earned a silver medal in diversified agriculture production proficiency. Pine Bluffs earned fourth-place in livestock evaluation. 2016 A plan emerges to have one of the Lunar CATALYST partners deliver Resource Prospector to the lunar surface. 2017 The Trump administration pivots NASA back to the Moon. Feb. 12, 2018 The new NASA budget introduces two lunar surface initiatives: Advanced Cislunar and Surface Capabilities (ACSC) and Lunar Discovery and Exploration. ACSC is part of the agencys human spaceflight division, while Lunar Discovery and Exploration will be managed by the planetary science division. The two initiatives will help commercial partners develop and test cheap lunar landing technologies; some early payload capacities mentioned in the budget are 200, and then 500 kilograms. Resource Prospector would require the 500-kilogram variant. From there, NASA would scale up to 5,000 or 6,000-kilogram payloads, which would be large enough to handle a crewed lander. But the budget request also cancels Resource Prospector, with a pledge to move the mining instruments to future landers under the Lunar Discovery and Exploration program. April 26, 2018 LEAG, the Lunar Exploration Analysis Group (LEAG), sends a letter to new NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine protesting the Resource Prospector cancellation, arguing the mission is vital to NASA's lunar exploration goals. The letter says the mission could be ready to fly by 2022, and a later comment by Moon Express states the company's future 500-kilogram lander would be ready in time to support that. April 27, 2018 NASA re-iterates that the Resource Prospector instruments will be flown on future landers under its new lunar surface initiatives, in both an update to the Resource Prospector website and a tweet by Jim Bridenstine. NASA releases its Commercial Lunar Payload Services solicitation for companies interested in providing "end-to-end payload services" between the Earth and Moon. May 2018 Resource Prospector advocates argue that by transitioning the instruments from a single rover to multiple landers, NASA is unnecessarily delaying the project, and losing the key benefit of being able to visit multiple sites. May 3, 2018 NASA further defends the cancellation by saying Resource Prospector was a "one-time effort to explore a specific location on the Moon, and as designed, now is too limited in scope for the agency's expanded lunar exploration focus." Furthermore, "NASAs return to the Moon will include many missions to locate, extract and process elements across bigger areas of the lunar surface." In an email replying to questions about costs, a NASA spokesperson tells me the agency spent $22 million on RESOLVE, and $80 million on Resource Prospector. There was no cost estimate for getting Resource Prospector ready for a 2022 launch; the mission had yet to complete its preliminary design review. It's unlikely Resource Prospector would have met its original $250 million budget: even a Falcon 9 launch would likely cost $90 million or more, based on TESS and DSCOVR costs. That would leave just $80 million left to build the flight rover and instruments, and pay for a lander. Lincoln (NE) Police Department officers have referred more than 1,900 people to the Mental Health Association (MHA) of Nebraska's REAL program, and 85% of those people have accepted services. (Photo: Lincoln (NE) Police Department) Officers Brian Ward and Samantha Gillen of the Lincoln (NE) Police Department were recently credited with deescalating a situation involving a 43-year-old man threatening Walmart employees and shoppers. The man was pacing back and forth and acting erratically, and he said he had a gun. Ward and Gillen commanded him to take his hands out of his pockets and turn around. They kept talking to him and, eventually, they safely took him into custody. The man did not really have a gun, so the officers cited him for disturbing the peace and took him into emergency custody for a mental health evaluation. "We eventually got him the help he needs. He's alive and well, so that's kind of the main key out of the whole incident," Gillen told Omaha.com. The officers credited their training in de-escalation techniques for the situation's peaceful resolution. The department, however, also credits the Mental Health Association (MHA) of Nebraska's REAL program, where Lincoln officers refer people with mental illness to the MHA for voluntary help. REAL is an acronym for respond, empower, advocate, and listen, and is a program launched in 2011. REAL is the reason this man received a long-term solution to his mental health concerns. A peer specialist's primary role is to listen, not push someone to a doctor for medication or into an institution. One option is staying at Keya House, where "guests" can get help. (Photo: REAL Program) This is but one example of a program that is netting real results, says Officer Luke Bonkiewicz, the resource coordinator for the Lincoln PD. Since the first referral, made in 2011, officers have referred more than 1,900 people to the program, and 85% of those people have accepted services, according to a department review in August 2017. In a recent analysis of 775 individuals, the department compared those who received a REAL referral to those who did not to see if there was a difference in outcomes. The study found the REAL program greatly helped those who participated. Referred individuals were 33% less likely to be taken into emergency protective custody two years after the initial contact, compared with cases where no referral was made, the study found. At the three-year mark, individuals were 44% less likely to be taken into emergency protective custody. "We looked at where they were at 12 months, 24 months, and 36 months, Bonkiewicz says. "We found that REAL did not impact the odds of being arrested 12, 24, and 36 months later. But, we see a reduction in the number of mental health calls for service, and in the need to be taken into protective custody at 24 and 36 months. That's where the differences started to emerge." Bonkiewicz says he believes that's because, like treatment for a serious illness such as cancer, successfully treating mental illness takes time. "It takes one to two years to really see results because it takes that long to develop a stable mental health plan," he says. Let's Work Together Though dealing with citizens with mental health issues is nothing new, Bonkiewicz says the number of calls dealing with those in a mental health crisis has grown. While this might be due to an increase in population, Bonkiewicz attributes the increase, at least in part, to a decline in community-based outpatient care and support for people with chronic mental illness. Without proper care, police officers, he says, increasingly deal with mental health crises on the job. Something needs to change, and in Lincoln, this shift began more than 20 years ago, when a police captain began to look at how the department could implement more effective and long-term solutions in mental health calls for service. He reached out to several mental health organizations for help with a limited number of mental health consumers. In this fledgling program, after police contacted an individual during a crisis, they flagged that person in the system. The flag simply said, "If this person is experiencing a crisis, call this number." "Officers would call this organization and they would respond and assist because the individuals were clients of theirs," says Bonkiewicz. But eight years ago, that initiative morphed into something more formal, and the REAL program was born. (Photo: REAL Program) In 2011, the department reached out to the Lincoln Chapter of the MHA to discuss ways to better serve mental health consumers. "It seemed like the police department was working from one angle and the MHA was working from another," Bonkiewicz says. "But to really make a difference, we needed to work together." Law enforcement, he says, was approaching the situation from the angle of: Is this person dangerous? Are they a danger to themselves or others? Are they mentally ill? Do I take them to jail or to a mental health crisis center? Meanwhile, the MHA saw the person as sick and needing access to the right resources to get well. He explains officers were arresting their way out of these situations. In other words, he says, "We showed up and made an arrest to resolve the problem. But, that's not very effective. While an arrest is necessary sometimes, there are a lot of situations you cannot arrest your way out of and a mental health crisis can be one of them." He adds, "And, we were not working together. We would take people to jail and the MHA would try to catch them before they were released. Today, when police go on a mental health call for service, the MHA knows exactly what's happened, gets out there very quickly, and their response is more uniform." A Uniform Response When Lincoln officers respond to a call involving a mental health crisis today, the officers first contact the individual and make the appropriate decisions for the call, i.e. jail or emergency care, just as they did before. It's the follow-through that has changed. After the call, officers now contact the MHA via email or phone and say, "I was in contact with this individual. This was what was going on. This is the mental health condition he or she had, and these are the issues we talked about." It might be something as simple as, "I was with John Smith the other night. John says he lives with depression. He's not taking his medications because he doesn't have a doctor right now. He's lost his job and he thinks he's going to be evicted. I didn't feel John was a danger to himself or others, so I put him in contact with family and friends." Lincoln Police Department officers work with peer specialists from the REAL program to make sure subjects get the opportunity to receive mental health services. (Photo: REAL Program) Within 24 hours, the MHA dispatches a peer specialist to contact the individual. The peer specialist asks if he or she would like to participate, then works to get the individual connected to appropriate services. For example, in John's case, the peer specialists might connect him with a doctor, help him with his housing issues, and put him in contact with an employment agency. Bonkiewicz says referred individuals typically respond very well to this outreach, a fact he attributes to the peer specialists being people who also live with mental health issues. "Some live with depression and anxiety, some live with schizophrenia, some with PTSD. So, when they knock on that person's door they can say, 'I understand you talked to the police last night. I'm someone who also deals with mental health issues. Is there anything I can do?'" he says. "It's a loose way of starting a conversation to get them some help." The peer specialist's primary role is to listen, not push someone to a doctor for medication or into an institution. "They are listening and asking, 'What do you need?' That makes all the difference," he says. "The main point is we are not just leaving these people hanging." There are situations where an individual is making repeat calls to police. Those cases are handled a bit differently, according to Bonkiewicz. If a person is calling police regularly, the peer specialist meets with the team detective to problem solve. They look at the person's profile, discuss the things they've spoken to the individual about, and design a plan to help. "They then approach that person and say, "I see you've been calling the police a lot, and I believe you're reaching out to us for help. Here is a proposed plan to help you,'" he says. "They don't push the plan on the person. They just say that we have a plan." If the individual is willing, the peer specialist will work with him or her to implement a long-term solution. "Everything is voluntary," he stresses. "This is not a situation where we say, 'You do this plan, or we arrest you.' However, the MHA is very big on personal accountability. They tell mental health consumers that mental illness is not an excuse for bad behavior and, because they have lived experiences themselves, this gives them credibility." (Photo: Lincoln (NE) Police Department) He adds, "Overall people are very receptive because most people are calling police because they've run out of options. They are not calling their doctor or a loved one. They know they need help but don't know who to turn to, so they are calling us." More Mental Health Programs According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 2 million jail bookings involve a person with mental illness. Approximately 15% of men and 30% of women in local jails have a serious mental illness. One in four people killed in officer-involved shootings has a serious mental illness. These numbers highlight the role law enforcement agencies increasingly play in mental health crises. They also demonstrate the importance of having a program like the one in Lincoln. Bonkiewicz puts forth a few recommendations for other departments to get them started on this path. First and foremost, he recommends inventorying the department's culture toward mental illness. "What is the department's attitude toward calls for service? Are they treated like regular larcenies or domestic violence calls or does the department recognize that these calls require unique training?" he asks. Then, ask if your department provides this training, he says. The Lincoln PD provides training in mental health and de-escalation techniques at the academy level, the rookie in training level, and then offers ongoing in-service training for officers. Officers need to know how to identify mental illness, what to do when they encounter it, how to defuse the situation, and where to get help for the affected individual, according to Bonkiewicz. "Agencies need to provide training beyond the initial eight to 12 hours of mental health training officers receive in the academy," he adds. "They need to make sure there is periodic in-service training related to mental health. Without ongoing training, we would have never come as far as we have, because it's the training that has changed our department culture." Finally, Bonkiewicz says agencies must partner with area mental health organizations. "I recommend that an agency look at their city, their county, their state, and find out who provides mental health services, then start talking to these individuals to develop programs." He adds, "We are not going to solve these problems independently. The only way we're going to address and provide long-term mental health solutions for people in our communities is by partnering and working together." Ronnie Garrett is a freelance writer who has specialized in writing about law enforcement topics for more than two decades. A Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy was injured Tuesday after an apparent accidental shooting, authorities said. A Los Angeles deputy was rushed to the hospital after an apparent accidental shooting. Photo: KABC screen capture The unidentified deputy is in stable condition and is undergoing treatment at a Lynwood, CA, hospital, reports KABC. The incident occurred around 1 p.m. at the Compton station, according to a tweet from the sheriff's department. The specific details of the incident have not been disclosed. A man was wounded and later died after a dispute led to gunfire Thursday at Opry Mills Mall in Nashville, according to Nashville police and fire officials. Metro Nashville police said the shooting was apparently the result of an ongoing dispute between two males, one of whom was shot and brought to the hospital in critical condition, reports CBS and the Associated Press. The suspected gunman left the mall and immediately surrendered to authorities, police say. According to police spokesman Don Aaron, the suspect put his weapon on a counter at a ticket booth outside the mall and told the ticket taker he wanted no further trouble. Aaron says a retired California police officer, now living in Tennessee, stepped in and ordered the man to the ground. The suspect was then taken into custody, reports Fox News. Police say both the suspect and victim are 22-year-old Nashville residents. Troopers were already in the mall's parking lot doing motorcycle training, so they set up a perimeter to support the responding police officers, Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Miller said, reports CBS and the Associated Press. Suffolk County, NY, District Attorney Timothy D. Sini announced this week in a press release the trial conviction of a man who stabbed a Suffolk County (NY) Police officer in the face while the officer was responding to a 911 call at a home in Central Islip on Aug. 13, 2016. Photo: Suffolk (NY) PD/Facebook "Police officers put their lives on the line every time they report for duty, and we will not tolerate violence against those who are sworn to keep us safe," District Attorney Sini said. "I commend Assistant District Attorneys Laura Newcombe and Kathleen Kearon for ensuring that this individual was held accountable for his actions and for delivering justice for the police officers harmed in this attack." Mark Caraway, 42, was convicted by a jury of Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Police Officer, a class A felony, and five counts of Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, a class B felony. On Aug. 13, 2016 at approximately 1:20 p.m., Suffolk County Police responded to a 911 call requesting a welfare check on Caraway, who was at a residence on Oakland Avenue. Caraway was reportedly acting irrationally, threatening to hurt himself and others in the residence, and had barricaded himself in the basement of the house. "The officers could hear Caraway throwing things around and making noise in the room," District Attorney Sini said. "When the noise stopped, police thought the defendant might have injured himself so they entered the barricaded room to check on his wellbeing. It was during this attempt to check on his welfare that the defendant attacked responding officers." When police officers entered the room, Caraway, who was armed with two knives, slashed one of the officers in the face several times, nearly severing his nose. The officer, a 24-year veteran of the department who was assigned to the Emergency Services Section at the time of the incident, underwent four hours of surgery for his injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital. Caraway refused to drop the weapons and officers discharged a Taser in an attempt to subdue him. After multiple attempts to tase the defendant, he continued to be aggressive and another responding officer fired a single shot at Caraway, striking him in the abdomen. Caraway was treated for his injuries at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore, where he was arraigned on an indictment and remanded without bail on September 12, 2016 by Suffolk County Court Justice Stephen L. Braslow. The trial began on April 23 and the jury deliberated for approximately six hours before delivering a verdict of guilty on all charges. Caraway was remanded without bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6 in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison on the Attempted Murder and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison determinate on the Assault charges for a total maximum sentence, if run consecutively, of 50 years to life in prison. China is becoming a global leader in innovation, which can be demonstrated by its achievements in the areas of ultra-high voltage transmission, high-speed rail and nuclear power, cctv.com reported. The Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant The Tianwan Nuclear Power Plant in eastern Chinas Jiangsu Province, one of the three major plants in China, was jointly built by China and Russia. According to the agreement, the latter was in charge of overall technology, engineering design, equipment supply and technical debugging of the plant. However, when the voltage changer malfunctioned before being put into operation in 2007, the Russian side refused to offer a helping hand because they believed there were no problems with their products. The Chinese team then had to dismantle and investigate the transformer imported from Russia. Finally, after one month of research, the team solved the technical problem. Wu Wei, vice general manager of the Tebian Electric Apparatus Stock Co., Ltd (TBEA) noted that they not only domestically fixed all defective products before they were put into operation, but made a decision not to rely on importing products from other countries. From then on, China was no longer content with development by following other countries, but through independent innovation. In 2014, the country set up the worlds first standard system of ultra high voltage and the worldwide industry standard. Apart from the field of ultra high voltage, Chinas high-speed trains also demonstrated its achievements in innovation. In 2006, China purchased 280 high-speed trains from Japan, France and Germany. The trains, each with their own advantages, can be used in different areas with diverse geological conditions. However, China has a complicated environment in different areas, which means the high-speed trains need to both fit widely changing temperatures and run normally against extremely strong wind. Fortunately, after lots of efforts, China has made it through innovation. Currently, more than 1 billion people travel by high-speed train in China each year. China now has more than 1,500 high-speed trains, which cover over 19,000 kilometers in total at an average speed of 350 kilometers per hour, which is the first of its kind in the world. A high school student has been arrested on suspicion of plotting an ISIS-inspired mass shooting at Stonebriar Centre mall in Frisco, Texas, authorities announced Wednesday. Matin Azizi-Yarand (Photo: Collin County Jail) Matin Azizi-Yarand, 17, faces charges of making a terroristic threat and criminal solicitation of capital murder of a Texas peace officer. He was taken into custody at school just before noon Tuesday and transferred Wednesday to the Collin County Detention Center, where he was being held on $3 million bail. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison, reports the Dallas Morning News. Authorities say Azizi-Yarand planned to carry out the attack in mid-May with other participants. He had sent more than $1,400 to others to buy weapons and tactical gear, they allege, and had written a "Message to America" explaining his reasons for the attack. The teen discussed his plans online with FBI confidential sources and an undercover employee, mulling over attacks at a school and a Hindu temple before settling on Stonebriar Centre, according to a probable cause affidavit. He allegedly told the sources that he had learned the layout of the mall and had been observing patrons and security there. During one conversation, he allegedly stated: "I'd actually like to make a cop surrender and drop his gun // Then douse him with gasoline and burn him // record it." The case was investigated by Plano and Frisco police and the FBI. It will be prosecuted by the Collin County district attorney's office. At least 9 officers were injured when a barn exploded behind a house where police were negotiating with a man after a violent domestic incident in North Haven, CT. Photo: WFSB screenshot At least 9 officers were injured Wednesday night when a barn exploded behind a house where police were negotiating with a man after a violent domestic incident in North Haven, CT, reports CBS News. Yale-New Haven Hospital said they had 9 patients from the incident, and they were all in fair condition and suffered cuts, abrasions, and bruises, according to CBS News. Two of the injured officers were later released from the hospital Thursday, according to Freda, who said the others who remained hospitalized were in good spirits. The injured officers were members of the regional tactical team and included five from East Haven, three from North Haven, and one from Branford, reports the Associated Press. "They all did suffer injuries that were consistent with the blast," North Haven Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said. "This impacted not only the North Haven Police Department, not only our community, but this is a far reaching incident to the other communities that serve the south central region." A man, who has now been identified as John Sayre, according to the Associated Press, had reportedly barricaded himself inside the home due to a domestic violence incident. Police have not identified remains found at the scene; however, the man was the only person believed to be inside the home at the time of the blast, reports FOX61. "This started late this afternoon with what was apparently a very violent domestic call," North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda told FOX61. The police "were trying to coax himout of the house and really try to calm the situation down. Then things took a turn for the worse with an explosion." The woman who sparked the investigation was not in the home at the time of the standoff. It was not considered a hostage situation. CBS Hartford, Connecticut affiliate WFSB-TV reports the incident began around 2 p.m. Tuesday when a female victim entered North Haven Police headquarters complaining of an incident at the home. She said she had escaped from the home after being held hostage by her husband for 3 days, CBS News reports. He then barricaded himself in the barn, WFSB says. That was followed by the explosion, the station says. Dallas police Officer Crystal Almeida is slowly recovering from severe injuries she sustained in the shooting that took the life of her patrol partner last week. Dallas police Officers Crystal Almeida and Rogelio Santander were best friends and partners. Santander was shot and killed last week. Almeida was critically wounded in the same incident. She is recovering. (Photo: Dallas PD) Almeida, who remains in critical but stable condition, has begun walking but still is struggling to speak, her father, Manuel Almeida, told the El Paso Times. She is expected to undergo another surgery next week. "She is doing a lot better, but we still have a long way to go," Manuel Almeida said. "She regained consciousness; she is starting to walk around. She still can't speak much, but she is slowly starting to talk. She can't talk much right now. She has said very, very little." Crystal Almeida had surgery last week to remove bullet fragments from her brain and excess fluids that had formed in the area, Manuel Almeida said. She then was placed in a medically induced coma, and regained consciousness later that week. "Doctors say she is doing really well right now," Manuel Almeida said. "She is not out of the woods yet, but her progress is really good. She is going to be here for a while, but, thank God, she is doing much, much better." PELLA, Iowa The Ambassador of the Netherlands will visit Pella on Thursday for Tulip Time. Hendrik Jan Jurriaan Schuwer has a 38-year career with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He has never been to Pella, said Karen Eischen of the Pella Area Community and Economic Alliance. The ambassador will visit Vermeer Corp. in the morning, have lunch with city officials and community leaders, take in the community tulip celebration and ride in the parade. This visit follows last summers visit from the Consul General of the Netherlands. "His main mission was to look at agricultural companies that could have a tie to the Netherlands," Eischen said. "He was very interested in what we showed him and wanted to bring the ambassador back to also look at that and build relations." DUBUQUE, Iowa Hundreds of years ago, the black bear, bobcat and gray wolf were native to the entirety of the Midwest. They were among the dominant predators of the land, but with human expansion west in the 1800s, the tables turned for these animals. Widely considered pests, they and other predators were nearly wiped out from the region as hunting greatly reduced their numbers and agriculture wiped out much of their habitat. Today, animals such as the black bear are strangers to almost every Iowan, but that might change in the near future. "Were starting to see animals like the black bear on a regular basis," said Vince Evelsizer, a furbearer biologist with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. "Its a mind-blower. Its something that many of us havent grown up with." The bears arent the only ones. Bobcats, gray wolves and mountain lions are among the predators that are expanding into Midwest territory they have not inhabited in years. "All of these species are having a resurgence and are starting to establish themselves in new territories," said Doug Dufford, wildlife disease program manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "We have to be mindful of the potential of where they could go." However, while the sightings of gray wolves, black bears and mountain lions have been on the rise in Iowa and Illinois in the past 10 years, this does not mean that these animals are living in the states. Dufford told the Telegraph Herald that established breeding pairs for black bears and gray wolves have been recorded in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but none have been reported in Iowa or Illinois. If a black bear, gray wolf or mountain lion is spotted in Iowa, that animals presence is often the result of it being driven out of its usual territory during mating season. And with the growing population, many younger black bears, gray wolves and mountain lions are forced out to make room for cubs. "Most of the time, they will make their way through the surrounding states, but they dont usually stay for too long," Evelsizer said. Bobcats The question then is if these predator species will ever re-establish themselves in states such as Iowa and Illinois. Evelsizer said the answer is different for each species. Bobcats have come a long way in Iowa. They were still considered an endangered species in the state in 2000, but by 2007, the population had grown to the point that limited hunting started to be allowed. "Bobcats have really been in expansion mode," Evelsizer said. "Theyre having a lot of success in Iowa." Black bears Officials estimate there are 12,000 to 15,000 black bears in Minnesota mainly in the states northern third and about 29,000 in Wisconsin. Still, no breeding pairs are known to reside in Illinois or Iowa. Evelsizer said it is unknown if black bears will start breeding in Iowa, but he believes that it is likely. "Black bears will eat just about anything, so they are definitely capable of sustaining themselves here," he said. "I honestly wouldnt be surprised if we started seeing black bear cubs in the state in the next five years." He said wooded areas along the Mississippi River could sustain the bears expansion southward. Jim Jansen, northeast Iowa wildlife supervisor for the Iowa DNR, said the black bear presence has been steadily increasing in this part of the state. But adapting to the environment has been a challenge. "A lot of the black bears that make their way here are getting hit by cars," Jansen said. "We have a lot of roads in Iowa, and it seems like thats posing a challenge for them." However, Evelsizer said he is optimistic in the black bear populations ability to establish itself in Iowa. "I want to say that it seems likely," Evelsizer said. "Black bears could be native to Iowa again. Thats a really interesting thought." Gray wolf For the gray wolf, the future is more uncertain. It is on the federal endangered species list. In the spring of 2017, the gray wolf population in Wisconsin was about 950, according to the state DNR. Dufford said gray wolves are establishing themselves increasingly southward from northern and central Wisconsin, with a wolf pack being identified as far south as a few miles north of Beloit, which sits on the states border with Illinois. While the number of wolves wandering into Illinois has increased over the years, Dufford said it is uncertain whether they will call that state home soon. "A mated pair actually establishing itself in Illinois is really hard to predict," Dufford said. "There are a lot of hurdles they would need to get across." "Were definitely going to be seeing more of them as time goes on, so that possibility of them becoming established is there," he said. Mountain lions Evelsizer said mountain lions are in a similar situation as wolves. Although the species has seen an expansion from South Dakota into Nebraska, the possibility of a mating pair establishing itself in Iowa seems unlikely. Just a handful of mountain-lion kills have been recorded in the state, and many people who report seeing mountain lions actually have seen bobcats. "Theyre like wolves in that they need a lot of suitable habitat that is removed from human interaction," Evelsizer said. No breeding pairs are known to exist in Illinois or Wisconsin, either. A lawsuit has been filed in France against Libyan army commander Khalifa Haftar alleging torture and barbarism, the plaintiff's lawyer in France, Rachel Lindon, said on Wednesday. The suit, which aims to get the French government to open an investigation into operations by Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), was filed last month on behalf of a Canadian-Libyan living in Canada. Several members of the plaintiff's family were killed during a three-year LNA campaign to take control of Benghazi, Libya's second city. The complaint was filed as Haftar, 75, was receiving medical treatment in Paris after falling ill during a foreign tour. Haftar's LNA is aligned with a government based in eastern Libya which has opposed a rival, internationally backed government in the capital, Tripoli. A former commander in long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi's army, Haftar has gradually extended his grip on Libya's east and parts of the south. A separate war crimes complaint was filed last October in the United States by independent activist Emadeddin Muntasser, who said on Wednesday that that case was "in progress". Search Keywords: Short link: Tonight, the Department of Justice/FBI will continue its 17-year practice of meeting quarterly with representatives of the Muslim community in southeast Michigan. Its called a BRIDGES meeting. BRIDGES stands for Building Respect in Diverse Groups to Enhance Sensitivity. Not security, which should be the FBIs mission. Sensitivity. Indeed, the U.S. Attorneys office in Michigan no longer even mentions trying to prevent jihad as the mission of BRIDGES. Rather, the point is to ensure that all Americans receive the full protection of the Constitution and laws of the United States. The stated target is alleged Islamophobia. Jihad, in fact, has been defined away as a threat to security. At the last meeting, Bushra Alawie, an outreach specialist with the FBI in Detroit, claimed that jihad means inner struggle e.g., her struggle not to eat cheesecake as well as the struggle to defend ones property. On this account, it would be churlish to oppose jihad. Unfortunately, the account is BS. To whom does the FBI reach out by inviting to BRIDGES meetings? A heavy dose of CAIR personnel. CAIR stands for Council on American Islamic Relations. The Department of Justice named CAIR an unindicted co-conspirator in its prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation and others for providing support to the terrorist group Hamas. The court in that case sustained the designation. Moreover, the head of CAIR Michigan, Muthanna Al-Hanooti, was convicted in 2011 of conspiring to work for a foreign government by running a group that supported the Sunni-led insurgency in Iraq against U.S. forces. Yet, Al-Hanooti is among those invited to meet with the FBI/Justice tonight. So is Dawud Walid, the current head of CAIR Michigan. He has claimed that the number one perpetrators of terrorism in the United States. . .are not Muslims; they are actually white men. This too is BS. Lena Masri, CAIRs national litigation director, is also on the invitee list. She leads CAIRs resistance to President Trumps travel ban. Thats her (and CAIRs) right, of course. But why is the Trump administration Justice Deparment/FBI collaborating with her? What will go down at tonights meeting? Most likely, the same kinds of things that occurred a few months ago. A report from the last meeting states that it served as a fresh reminder of how the FBI has made a concerted effort to divert the eyes of law enforcement away from Muslim communities as potential breeding grounds for terror, and refocus attention on Islamophobic American citizens. Nearly the entire meeting was spent focusing on Islamic religious and cultural practices and trying to debunk any derogatory information police officers may have received about Islamic ideology. One eyewitness said that guests of the American Middle Eastern Christian Congress were refused the right to record the meeting. By contrast, according to the same witnesses, the right to record was granted to the Arab American News. If true, this means that the DOJ/FBI discriminated against Christians and in favor of Muslims. The BRIDGES program should be suspended, pending an investigation by Main Justice. If the meetings are reinstated, they should reflect a more balanced, more realistic assessment of the threats our country faces from terrorists. All elected Michigan representatives in Congress should be invited. Im told that currently only Rep. Debbie Dingell, a left-liberal Democrat, is. And, of course, Christian groups should have the same right to record the meeting as Muslims do. Its difficult to imagine a government operation more out of line with the views expressed by candidate Donald Trump than BRIDGES, as presented constituted. The program can be viewed as a pocket of resistance within the administration. Couple that with the programs willful blindness to the threat of jihad, and the need to stop BRIDGES in its tracks could hardly be more obvious. According to CNN and other news reports, former Trump campaign aide Michael Caputo made the statement below to the Senate Intelligence Committee at the conclusion of his testimony yesterday. Ive been looking for the full text of the statement today and finally found it via Twitter posted at the Daily Mail. CNN obtained this illuminating response from Rachel Cohen, a spokesman for Senator Warner: As we have said many, many times, Senator Warner does not comment on witnesses, regardless of how outlandish or attention-seeking they might be. Here is Caputos statement in its entirety: In 2009, my wife and I moved to my hometown of East Aurora, New York to have a family. Making far less money back home, we had a far better quality of life. That is, until the Trump-Russia narrative took off. Today, I cant possibly pay the attendant legal costs and live near my aging father, raising my kids where I grew up. Your investigation and others into the allegations of Trump campaign collusion with Russia are costing my family a great deal of money more than $125,000 and making a visceral impact on my children. Now I must to move back to Washington, New York City, Miami or elsewhere, just so I can make enough money to pay off these legal bills. And I know I have you to thank for that. Heres how I know: how many of you know Daniel Jones, former Senate Intelligence staffer for Senator Dianne Feinstein? Great guy, right? Most of you worked with him. One of you probably just talked to him this morning. Of course, very few of us in flyover country knew Daniel until recently. Now we know that he quit his job with your Senate committee not long ago to raise $50 million from ten rich Democrats to finance more work on the FusionGPS Russian dossier. The one the FBI used to get a FISA warrant and intimidate President Donald Trump, without anyone admitting until months after it was deployed that it was paid for by Hillary Clinton. In fact, good old Dan has been raising and spending millions to confirm the unconfirmable and, of course, to keep all his old intel colleagues up-to-speed on what FusionGPS and British and Russian spies have found. Got to keep that Russia story in the news. Of course Dans in touch with you guys. We know from the news that hes been briefing Senator Mark Warner, vice chairman of this committee. Which one of you works for Senator Warner? Please give Danny my best. I saw some of his handiwork just last month. Remember this lede paragraph, from McClatchy on April 13? The Justice Department special counsel has evidence that Donald Trumps personal lawyer and confidant, Michael Cohen, secretly made a late-summer trip to Prague during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Thats your pal Dan, isnt it? He came up with some kind of hollow proof that Michael Cohen was in Prague meeting with Russians when he wasnt. He tried to sell that to reporters, and they didnt buy it because it doesnt check out. So, to get a reporter to write up his line of bull, he gave the documents to the Office of Special Counsel. We know thats likely, because hes told people hes briefing investigators. So, technically, the special counsels office has evidence. Your pal Dan gave them more of the Democrats dossier, funded by more Democrats, provided again by Russian and British spies. Information no reporter would write up, but now theres an angle: the Special Counsel has it. Now its a story. Its a clever but effective ruse. Thats a story, just like when reporter Michael Isikoff of Yahoo News wrote this gem on September 16, 2016: U.S. officials have since received intelligence reports that during that same three-day trip, Page met with Igor Sechin, a longtime Putin associate a well-placed Western intelligence source tells Yahoo News. That meeting, if confirmed, is viewed as especially problematic by U.S. officials Dozens of stories were written from the Isikoff piece, doing real damage to the Trump campaign. Of course, now we know Isikoffs reference to intelligence reports was just him renaming a dossier funded by Democrats and dug up by his longtime pal Glenn Simpson and some foreign spies. Once Simpson gave his Clinton campaign opposition research to the feds, it was news. This was especially true after Isikoff intentionally labeled the campaign materials as intelligence just like McClatchy called Dans information evidence. But who is McClatchys second source? It couldnt be Dan; he was the first source. It couldnt be Simpson; he works for Dan. It cant be the Mueller investigation; they kicked the McClatchy story to the curb with aplomb. So who could it be perhaps one of his former Senate Intelligence colleagues? I mean, youre all in this together. Youre the swamp. What America needs is an investigation of the investigators. I want to know who is paying for the spies work and coordinating this attack on President Donald Trump? I want to know who Dan Jones is talking to across the investigations from the FBI, to the Southern District of New York, to the OSC, to the Department of Justice, to Congress. Forget about all the death threats against my family. I want to know who cost us so much money, who crushed our kids, who forced us out of our home, all because you lost an election. I want to know because God Damn you to Hell. The Greeks crossed the Mediterranean in the 19th century to Egypt 'not just to work: they came to live and work,' and they left a lasting mark on the culture of a country This weeks first round of the Nostos Programme in Alexandria brought back many memories for the former Greeks of Egypt. The visit was held in collaboration with the ministries of emigration of Egypt, Greece and Cyprus. It started in Alexandria with an event inaugurated by the presidents of the three countries who made statements to acknowledge the shared Mediterranean history and culture of the three countries and the influences of the Greek and Cypriot communities in Egypt. According to Maha Salem, spokesperson of Egypts Ministry of Emigration, the remainder of the visit of the mostly elderly women and men who had come to Alexandria, not just from Greece and Cyprus but from all over Europe and North America, was designed to include a visit to Cairo and Giza, especially the Pyramids area, and then to Sharm El-Sheikh, especially the Greek Orthodox Church affiliated to St Catherines Monastery. These are not just the places that the Greeks and Cypriots of Egypt once lived in, because they lived in many parts of the country, including the Suez Canal Zone. This is the path designed for the first round of the Nostos Programme, Salem said. Nostos is a Greek word that literally means a return to roots, or homecoming, particularly to roots near the sea. It makes perfect sense because Alexandria has always been perceived as the Hellenistic centre of the Mediterranean, and while the Greeks of Egypt, or the Egyptiotes as we call them, lived all over Egypt, they lived mostly in Alexandria, said Michael Diamesis, ambassador of Greece to Egypt. The visit is not just about nostalgia but is also about our long common history. There was always a connection between our people, and there is plenty of archaeological proof for relations that in their modern phase started in the late 19th century. They go back centuries before that, said Mortisis Charis, ambassador of Cyprus to Egypt. By the early decades of the 20th century there were over half a million Greeks and Cypriots living in Egypt. Today, there are around 5,000 Greeks and 500 Cypriots. However, as both Diamesis and Charis agree, the Greek presence is still there and not just in the imprint of the monuments, churches and restaurants. The Greek and Cypriot communities, with their leaders and institutions, are still very active in Egypt, unlike some other former foreign communities. REMEMBERED HISTORY Andreas Mavromotis is a third-generation Cypriot of Egypt who currently heads the Cypriot community in Cairo. Mavromotis grandfather was born in 1873, the date when the Cypriot Community Association was established, he said. Mavromotis grandfather came to Egypt in 1915. He came to live and to work not to work and then to leave, he said. It was in Mosky, a Cairo neighbourhood known to have hosted representatives of the middle and lower-middle classes of several foreign communities, that the first Mavromotis married and lived for several years. He was starting a button-making business, and at that time Mosky was the commercial hub of the city, Mavromotis recalled. One decade down the road, the family moved to the then new suburb of Heliopolis, also at the time a place that housed many foreigners. Today, Mavromotis lives in Heliopolis and is still running the same business that was started by his grandfather. Born in 1954, however, Mavromotis does not have the company of many Cypriot families as his father and grandfather did. Today, there are just a few families in Cairo and a few more in Alexandria. These families share with their Greek counterparts almost everything in terms of social and religious life. We share and complement one another as a community of people who came from the Mediterranean to live in Egypt. Like the Greeks of Egypt, we feel at home here, he said. Mavromotis was looking forward to the Nostos Programme. It is a unique reunion event, and it could well be the beginning of the return of the Cypriots to Egypt, not just to visit and walk in the paths of the good old days, but also to start a new beginning of cooperation and social and cultural engagement, he said. Dimitri Cavouras, a fourth-generation Greek of Alexandria, also has high hopes of Nostos. Cavouras hopes the event can offer an opportunity to those not familiar with the history of the Greeks of Egypt to learn more about it. I think many people in Alexandria, maybe most, know about this history as the buildings are there and the names and venues of old restaurants and patisseries still survive. But outside of Alexandria, I am not sure that many people know what the Greeks of Egypt were about, he said. One thing that Cavouras is keen that people should learn about the Greek community of Egypt in the late 19th and early 20th centuries is that this was a people who settled in and belonged to Egypt, who spoke Arabic, as most of us do fluently, and who loved this country as their homeland and nothing less. As Lilianne Eissa, half-Greek and half-Lebanese and an Alexandria resident, put it, the Greeks never lived in ghettos. Not at all they integrated widely, with Egyptians as well as with other foreigners, Eissa said. The marriage of Eissas father, a third-generation Lebanese who lived in Alexandria, with her mother Fotini Hamos was a story of this integration. Today, the name Hamos still survives as one of the most popular patisseries in Alexandria. While the Hamos of today is in the Sporting neighbourhood, where it has been for over ten years, the first was in Ramleh, the centre of the eclectic Alexandrian Greek community, and then in Ibrahimiya, which also had a high foreign presence, especially of Greeks, until the late 1950s. Hamos is famous today for its classic recipes that include French items, Greek delicacies including Easter brioche and finikia (or mellomakarona, Greek honey biscuits) and kahk Al-Eid (traditional Egyptian biscuits). For Eissa, the Greeks of Alexandria are there to share the diverse culture they belong to. Some, such as dentist Lilika Thlivitis, is Greek-Egyptian. A third-generation Greek by birth and Alexandrian by history, Thlivitis and her husband and three children became Egyptian nationals in the late 1970s. It was late president Anwar Al-Sadat who honoured us with the nationality, and today we are hoping that under President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi there will be a very close cooperation between Egypt and Greece. We have a heritage to share and so much in the future to look forward to, Thilvitis said. There is still room for people to come and build their lives and have their businesses here, and of course so much cooperation, said Georges Eleftheriou, a member of the Cypriot Community Association in Alexandria. Eleftheriou said Egypt has very promising business opportunities that just need promotion. This was the reason he had chosen to come back to Egypt, where he was born as a third-generation Cypriot, after having graduated and started a business in Europe. I came back because I liked the country and the people, but also because I saw a business opportunity here, he said. OPPORTUNITIES Business cooperation is a top issue on the agenda of the three presidents meeting for the Nostos event in Alexandria. Cultural cooperation is particularly important, according to organisers at the Ministry of Emigration. Starvoula Spanou, head of the Greek Cultural Centre in Alexandria, who was born in Greece and has been working in Alexandria for over 20 years, and Papadopoulos Christos, head of the Greek Cultural Centre in Cairo, share a firm belief in the growing volume of cultural cooperation between Egypt and Greece because of Nostos. Already we have a lot of cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, and when Nostos meets in Alexandria a delegation from the Alexandria Greek Cultural Centre will be in Athens for a literary event. I am confident that because of Nostos there will be keener interest on both sides at the official and civil society levels to promote cultural cooperation, which is the key to relations around the Mediterranean, he said. This cooperation does not exclude the Cypriots. We keep on saying that we have all lived around the Mediterranean, and we are very close to one another, he said. It is this proximity, not just geographical but also cultural, that made the men and women who crossed the Mediterranean come to Alexandria and be able to live and integrate in their new home, argues historian Khaled Fahmi. At the end of the 19th century, when waves of immigration from the north to the south of the Mediterranean started, there was no separate country of Cyprus and parts of Greece and Cyprus were part of the Ottoman Empire. Egypt too was part of the empire, but under the rule of the Mohamed Ali dynasty it enjoyed a kind of autonomy and a booming business life. For those coming from Athens to Alexandria, they were in fact coming to the dolce vita Egypt was a magnet at the time, and Alexandria was perhaps the most active of all the Greek communities around the Mediterranean, Fahmy said. Until the 1920s, Fahmy explained, it was much more interesting for many Greeks to be in Egypt. Then, he added, it became interesting for them to start going back to Greece again. However, Fahmy noted, as many of the Greeks were integrated in the societies they lived in, some chose to stay on. They came to live and to die in Egypt. They had their schools, their houses, their shops, their churches and their cemeteries here, Fahmy noted. They belonged in Egypt, and this was part of their choice to stand with Egypt upon the nationalisation of the Suez Canal in 1956, he said. Fahmy also notes the socio-economic profile of the Greeks of Egypt as another indication of the nature of the history that the community had in Egypt. Some had big companies and others had small jobs. They lived all over the country, and they conducted their lives and affairs without the support of the colonial presence of the French and the British, he said. If they had legal problems or fell on the wrong side of the law, they were dealt with like any other Egyptian. Today, Fahmy believes, re-visiting the history of this community entails reading its history carefully. I dont think that the history of this community has been written as thoroughly and efficiently as it deserves to be. It is a huge endeavour that will require time and resources and above all access to the documents and archives, he concluded. * This story was first published under the title 'Back to their roots' in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: President Trump is sporting some of the best polling numbers of his presidency. His Real Clear Politics average is 43.5 percent approve and 52.9 disapprove. Moreover, the three polls taken at the very end of April have him minus three (Monmouth), minus nine (Economist/YouGov), and even (Rasmussen). The Monmouth poll has Trump down 31-57 with voters in the 18-34 age group and basically even with voters over age-34. Trumps unpopularity with millennials is also reflected in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll that found nearly two of three young voters saying they do not like Trump. As we noted here, though, Democrats are losing support among millennials. Late April saw President Trump welcome the president of France, during whose visit Trump seemed reasonably presidential. It also saw North Korea reach out the U.S. with talk of peace, denuclearization, and a summit with Trump. Couple these developments with the strong performance of our economy, and the president is no longer that far under polling water. In our era of bad feeling, Trumps current numbers arent so bad. However, given the strong state of the economy, its a bit discouraging to find Trump still under water at all. Perhaps a few months lacking in the wrong kind of drama would do the trick. But how likely is it that we will experience a few such months? JOHN adds: Then theres this: Reuters Poll: Black Male Approval For Trump Doubles In One Week. This morning, President Trump tweeted his frustration with the Department of Justice, which has stonewalled Congressional investigations, among other offenses. He concluded, At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved! Which prompted (via Twitchy) a hilarious response from Vox, a low-information site that purports to explain current events for the benefit of liberals: This threatens the Justice Departments indepedence https://t.co/MtWjTczhRj Vox (@voxdotcom) May 2, 2018 Put aside the fact that Voxers apparently cant spell. The idea that the Department of Justice is independent of the president is ludicrous. It is part of the Executive Branch, which the President runs. See Article II of the Constitution. The President appoints the Attorney General, and DOJ reports to the president just as other federal agencies do. The President sets policies to be executed by DOJ, and his Attorney General and the AGs subordinates carry them out. That is how it is supposed to work, anyway. And it certainly is how it worked during the Obama administration, when Attorney General Eric Holder described himself as President Obamas wing man. What is going on here? Constitutional illiteracy, to be sure. But also, an open expression of the view that the federal bureaucracythe fourth branch, the administrative statenot only is, but ought to be a fifth column whenever the President is a Republican. For the Left, obstruction of the Presidents policies by his subordinates is a positive virtue, as long as the President is a Republican. While we are making fun of Vox, lets take a brief walk down memory lane: Vox: The Web Site For Dummies. The Voxers deleted this tweet, but not before someone took a screen shot: Thats what happens, I guess, when your oldest employee is 26. No one has heard of the National Recovery Administration. Still, the illiterates are probably having the last laugh. NBC reportedly invested $200 million in Vox. So the goofballs who run the site have no doubt made out like bandits, no matter how pathetic their work is. And NBC has probably gotten what it wanted, another money-losing venue to promote leftism. West Virginia has quickly become Bright Red. President Trump may be more popular there than in any other state. West Virginia still has one Democratic Senator, Joe Manchin. However, he is up for reelection this year and considered quite vulnerable. Three main Republicans are vying for the right to take on Manchin. They are Rep. Evan Jenkins, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, and former coal executive Don Blankenship. Each has at least one problem. Jenkins is an establishment Republican in an anti-establishment state (though he was the first of the three to endorse candidate Trump). Moreover, he used to be a Democrat. Morrisey is a former Washington lobbyist. He lobbied for the pharmaceutical industry in a state hit particularly hard by the opioid epidemic. Blankenship has the biggest problem, I think. He was convicted of conspiracy to violate mine safety standards following a mining disaster that killed 29 people. He claims this was a fake prosecution. However, the year he spent in prison was real. Blankenship is a nasty piece of work. Campaigning as an outsider who will reject the Washington GOP establishment if elected, he refers to the Senate Majority Leader as cocaine Mitch. Apparently, the label is based on accusations of drug smuggling on Chinese ships associated with the family of McConnells wife. Fortunately, Blankenship appears to be mired in third place. In last nights debate, Jenkins and Morrisey concentrated their fire on each other, a good sign that their polling shows Blankenship to be the least likely to win. Jenkins pushed hard on Morriseys lobbying for pharmaceutical companies. He went so far as to claim that Morrisey is a hindrance to solving the opioid problem in West Virginia. Jenkins stated: If you want to see what the problem is, it is the pill-pushers and Patrick Morrisey is representing those people for years and made millions. Interesting use of the present tense against the current Attorney General. As I understand it, Morrisey lobbied for pharmaceutical companies, but never on the opioid issue. Morriseys wife lobbies for pharmaceutical companies, and seems to do so more heavily than the candidate did. However, Ive seen no indication that she was involved with opioid issues either. As West Virginias attorney general, Morrisey has sued the federal Drug Enforcement Administration for not doing enough to stop the flow of opioids into the state. He has also reached settlements with drug distributors worth a cumulative $47 million, after lawsuits were filed by his predecessor as attorney general. In addition, he has worked to involve faith leaders in fighting the states drug problem. Thus, Jenkins claim that Morrisey is a hindrance to addressing the opioid crisis seems quite unfair. Looking at the big picture, Id say Morrisey is the most genuinely conservative of the three candidates. He successfully sued the Obama EPA and won in the U.S. Supreme Court. He was also successful in blocking Obamas executive amnesty. In addition, he initiated passage of a state Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. Given that record, its not surprising that he has the endorsement of Sen. Ted Cruz, among other Senate conservatives. The primary will be held this coming Tuesday. Polling suggests a close race between Jenkins and Morrisey. Either should have a decent shot at defeating Manchin, especially if the president involves himself. However, Manchin, with his history of great success in statewide races and his attempts at times to distance himself from Trump, certainly cannot be written off. We commemorate today the adoption of the Constitution of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the first written Constitution in Europe. This historic document was born of a bold recognition that the destiny of the people depends upon establishment and perfection of the Constitution as the guardian of external independence, internal resilience and civic liberties, facing the challenges of the time. 227 years ago, our two nations have enriched Europe and the world with a forward-looking legal act, setting a standard for many modern constitutions. The letter and spirit of the Constitution kept alive the aspirations for freedom, political identity and sovereignty, during the hard times of occupation. The aims and ideals of the 3 May Constitution are as relevant today as ever. As we face multi-dimensional regional and global challenges, we are ready to stand up to them with unity and resolve. We are determined to bolster security and stability in Europe and the world, to strengthen our bilateral relations in the fields of defence, economy, energy, transport, and others. This year Poland and Lithuania celebrate centenaries of the restored statehood. Deep historic bonds between our people inspire us to further strengthen our relations and bring our countries even closer as neighbors and partners. 227th anniversary of the enactment of the Constitution of May 3rd (1 / 13) Poland's President Andrzej Duda said on Thursday that the Constitution of May 3rd, 1791, adopted by the then Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, became a cornerstone of freedom and the modern Polish state. The head of state spoke at the keynote ceremony outside Warsaw's Royal Castle, as Poland marked the 227th anniversary of the enactment of the famous supreme law. The President called on Poles to take part in a referendum on the current constitution, which is planned for November this year, to coincide with the centenary of Polish independence. "I am announcing today that, within the statutory timeframe," Andrzej Duda said, "I will submit a relevant request with the Senate to hold a (constitutional) referendum on November 10 and 11, 2018." The head of state emphasised it is his intention that the plebiscite "where all Poles will have a say about their vision for Poland's future institutional system" takes place "on these great November dates," when the country re-emerged in 1918. Andrzej Duda added that the 3rd May Constitution - Europe's first written supreme law - became a testament and a model for future generations of Poles. President noted that by 1791, the Commonwealth was already "ripped apart" by Tsarist Russia, Prussia and Austria, and the constitution represented a patriotic attempt to restore a strong, fair Poland "like it was in the 16th century." While this did not happen, the President said, the supreme law "became a big cornerstone of freedom, a big cornerstone of modern Polish statehood." Both the victorious independence fighters of 1918 and the Solidarity movement of the 1980s - "which broke the dominance of communism in our part of the world" - drew inspiration from the famous 1791 document, Andrzej Duda added. (PAP) The US delegation expressed its appreciation for Egypt's efforts towards stability and security in the region Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a meeting with a delegation from the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) that a fair and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian-Israeli conflict would strongly influence the security of the entire region, Egyptian presidency spokesperson Bassam Rady said in a statement on Tuesday. "Fair and comprehensive solution to this [Palestinian] issue will create a new reality in the region, especially on the level of the public opinion, which will strongly influence the security of the entire region," El-Sisi stressed during the meeting, according to the statement. El-Sisi highlighted Egypt's support for international efforts and initiatives aimed at achieving a comprehensive agreement for the Palestinian cause in accordance with agreed international terms and on the basis of a two-state solution. The meeting was attended by Egypt's acting intelligence chief Abbas Kamel and many members of the JINSA delegation in Cairo. Rady also said that the officials discussed the latest regional and international developments. In regard to resolving crises in the region, El-Sisi stressed the importance of preserving the the integrity of nation-states while supporting national institutions so they may carry out their duties to maintain security and combat terrorism. Officials at the meeting also expressed Egypt's keenness to continue communication with all sectors of the American society in order to enhance common understanding. Meanwhile, the US delegation affirmed the importance of the strategic relations between Egypt and the United States in all fields, expressing its appreciation for the Egyptian efforts in various crises in the Middle East. The delegation has also praised Egypt's role in economic achievements as well as countering terrorism in general and in particular the comprehensive Operation Sinai 2018 that was launched in February 2018. Search Keywords: Short link: Dozens of parents who have children enrolled in experimental public schools held a demonstration on Thursday in front of the Ministry of Education in Downtown Cairo to protest the ministry's recently announced plan to abolish the country's popular experimental school system next year. Earlier this week, Education Minister Tarek Shawky announced that starting the 2019/2020 school year, the ministry will be abolishing experimental schools, which teach subjects including math and science in the English language, as part of a comprehensive plan to overhaul and modernize the country's ailing education system. Shawky said that under the new plan students in all public schools will be taught science, math, geography and history in the Arabic language from kindergarten until the sixth grade. "We will start with [the student's] mother language, which is Arabic, until [the student] perfects it. After this, we will teach them English, and then math and science will be taught in English," the minister said. The new system will be implemented at all public schools as well as new Japanese system schools starting the 2018/19 academic year. The minister added that the Arabization part of the plan will not affect private or international schools. The minister's announcement of plans to nix experimental schools, which were launched more than a quarter century ago to develop education, has sparked anger among many parents and students. The system has been popular among the middle classes due to its advanced English language curriculum, higher quality of education compared to regular public schools, and affordable fees. Egypt's regular public schools teach English as a foreign language after the sixth grade, while all other classes are taught in the Arabic language. In contrast, under the current system, experimental schools students are taught a second foreign language in preparatory education. Moreover, the experimental schools require slightly higher fees than regular public schools but much lower than private schools. For these reasons, the experimental schools are seen by many parents as a venue for their children to receive a good, affordable education in the hope of eventually qualifying for good jobs in a competitive market. Ahmed Hosni, whose child is enrolled in an experimental school, told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that the experimental schools have been a good option for parents who want their children to have good language skills through proper education at an early age and for affordable fees. "This is a shocking decision, the reason I admitted my child to an experimental school was to teach him the English language," he said. Another parent, Mona Zidan, told Al-Ahram that "the Arabisation of science and math classes will be a problem for me and my daughter. I will have to transfer her to a private school so she can maintain her education in English and be able to speak it fluently in the future." Search Keywords: Short link: BAAR, Switzerland, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- From Heber-principle to digital systems, thoracic surgery has significantly changed and improved over the course of time - so has chest drainage. Ten years ago, chest drainage therapy as we knew it was completely overhauled with the introduction of digital drainage systems. An onboard motor creating vacuum in a closed system consisting of tubings and fluid collection container opened a whole new way of how to manage chest drainage patients. In addition to the option to mobilize all patients with a chest drain, digital drainage systems also allowed the general reduction of complications [1]. These systems monitor the patient and alert if the measured data are out of range. Due to the digital control of the negative pressure, the system is able to objectively quantify the presence of parenchymal leakage. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/676365/Medela_Logo.jpg ) Based on science and innovative research, Medela has continuously proven to be the technology leader in this area. In 2007, Thopaz was introduced as the first truly portable, digital drainage system. In 2014, Thopaz+was launched, the first digital drainage monitoring system with electronic measurement of air-leak and drained fluid. Vast amounts of clinical and global experience show how 10 years of digital drainage have truly impacted the medical field: 1'500'000 patients on chest drains worldwide have experienced the benefits of Medela's digital systems in the past 10 years Patients benefit from a significantly shorter chest tube duration (study results show 1.1 days shorter chest tube placement on average with Thopaz) [2] Thopaz + is cost saving compared with conventional chest drains for people who need drainage after a pulmonary resection or because of a collapsed lung. Healthcare systems and hospitals benefit from shorter length of hospital stay. NICE resource impact assessment concluded that, at a national level, adopting Thopaz + is expected to save around 8.5 million per year in England (a study from Italy showed 751 saved per patient with Thopaz) [3] [4] Medela Healthcare is working with various leading clinicians, researchers and healthcare institutions to bring innovation in thoracic surgery to hospitals and to help revolutionize post-operative patient care. Through a publication matrix, the latest research findings in the field of modern chest drainage systems can be easily filtered through a number of keywords on the Medela website. Marcel Hohl, Vice President of Global Marketing at Medela Healthcare, says: "We are very proud to announce the 10-year anniversary of digital chest drainage. During these past 10 years, thoracic drainage research has become a key element of our success and, with the help of our partners; we have reached many milestones that are proof to us that this innovation is here to stay. The previous launches of Thopaz and Thopaz+ only mark the beginning of this exciting journey. Medela takes great effort to take a modern role in medicine exploring the power of data to eventually allow for better health profiles and predictive models for patient with a chest drain." Citations Frank Detterbeck, Professor of Surgery, Chief of Thoracic Surgery at Yale University and Associate Director of the Yale Cancer Center: "Scientific data from 381 patients proving shorter duration of chest tube placement, shorter hospital stays and a higher patient satisfaction for digital drainage compared to traditional drainage systems was remarkable for me.In practice, Thopaz allows complete patient mobility and independence while the chest drain is still in situ, thereby realizing the full potential of the minimally invasive surgery we are performing." Konstantinos Papagiannopoulos, MMED Thorax MD at St. James' University Hospital: "I have collaborated with Medela since 2007 and became actively involved in modifications and improvements of their suction and drainage portable pumps. We quickly embraced the benefits of a technologically advanced device like Thopaz. Our patients became extremely satisfied. They are now free, mobile and experience modern treatment with a modern device. They feel safe and comfortable with our fast-tracked discharge service facilitated by data recorded from the Thopaz electronic suction pump." Thomas Kiefer, MD, Chief of Thoracic Surgery, Lungenzentrum Bodensee: "Early digital systems were flawed in various ways, but the introduction of Thopaz gave us a product with every quality that we had been looking for. We gradually understood the predictive value of the digital air leak readings, allowing earlier, effective interventions for air leak post-operatively, which in turn further minimized the harm of prolonged air leakage. Thopaz has also proven to deliver highly reliable and effective outcome measurements for our clinical research into intra- and post-operative air leak interventions. Thus, we have redesigned our chest drain management protocols to take advantage of the benefits of digital drainage." Phillip Antippa, MBBS FRACS, Head, Thoracic Surgical Services, The Royal Melbourne Hospital: "After seeing Thopaz hard at work whilst on Sabbatical Leave in the U.K., I was very keen to introduce this technology to -Australia and New Zealand. Not having any experience with electronic drainage systems, our institution was reluctant at first and we conducted a feasibility study confirming the international results that drain tubes could be removed at least a day earlier. This quickly led to the seamless implementation of Thopaz into our service and into other parts of our Hospital. Our surgeons easily adopted its use and we have continued to collect data from Thopaz. Our ongoing research projects in close collaboration with Thopaz design engineers and scientists will continue to cement Thopaz as an important sophisticated clinical diagnostic and therapeutic tool. The greatest enthusiasm however has come from our nursing staff. After a simple education process, Thopaz has become an integral part of Thoracic Surgical management for our patients. It has definitely made patient care easier and our staff feels more engaged - the only complaints we receive is when a patient returns to the ward with an analogue system! Many of our patients understand the benefits of Thopaz. Certainly they are pleased that they are receiving best possible care and enjoy the freedom that the device allows." About Medela Medela concentrates on two business units: "Human Milk", with basic research recognised globally and leading in the development and manufacture of breastfeeding products and solutions, and "Healthcare", engineering and manufacturing highly innovative medical vacuum technology solutions. In 2007, Medela Healthcare launched the Thopaz cardiothoracic drainage system, followed by the launch of Thopaz + in 2014. Follow this link to screen all the research studies according to keywords. References Media Contact: [email protected] Burson-Marsteller: [email protected] +41-444558457 SOURCE Medela PUNE, India, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "AI in Education Market by Technology (Deep Learning and ML, NLP), Application (Virtual Facilitators and Learning Environments, ITS, CDS, Fraud and Risk Management), Component (Solutions, Services), Deployment, End-User, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market to grow from USD 537.3 Million in 2018 to USD 3,683.5 Million by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 47.0% during the forecast period. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 84 market data Tables and 55 Figures spread through 151 Pages and in-depth TOC on "AI in Education Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ai-in-education-market-200371366.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The AI technology is playing a crucial role in enhancing and improving teachers' and students' knowledge. Additionally, the increasing adoption of the AI technology for various applications in the education sector and growing need for multilingual translators integrated with the AI technology are expected to drive the growth of the AI in education market. The Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology segment is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. In the education sector, the Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology is playing a crucial role to synthesize the educational data for generating the final output. As a result, the use of the NLP technology in educational applications is growing at a rapid pace. This technology helps in analyzing large volumes of data generated by education software. The cloud deployment mode is expected to have the larger market size during the forecast period. On the basis of deployment modes, the AI in Education Market is classified into cloud and on-premises. Among deployment modes, the cloud deployment mode is expected to have the larger market size during the forecast period. The adoption of the cloud deployment mode is growing, due to various reasons such as cost-effectiveness, the ease of deployment, and reduced operational cost. Speak To Our Analyst: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=200371366 The educational institute's end-user segment is expected to have the largest market size during the forecast period. The AI technology is a leading trend in the education sector, as it can be easily integrated with educational systems for a better learning experience. AI-powered software can be crucial for scientific research and learning. This software can assist universities and institutes with medical research, technical projects, and clinical practices. Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. In the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, the growing use of digital technology and increasing government support toward the education sector are expected to contribute to the growth of the AI in education market. Moreover, governments in this region are also investing in AI-powered technologies to enhance the quality of education delivered to students. The AI in Education Market report encompasses the competitive landscape and company profiles of the key vendors based on their product offerings and business strategies. Major AI in education vendors include IBM (US), Microsoft (US), Bridge-U (UK), DreamBox Learning (US), Fishtree (US), Jellynote (France), Jenzabar (US), Knewton (US), Metacog (US), Querium Corporation (US), Google (US), AWS (US), Cognizant (US), Carnegie Learning (US), Century-Tech (UK), Cognii (US), Elemental Path (US), Liulishuo (China), Nuance Communications (US), Osmo (US), Pearson (UK), Third Space Learning (UK), Quantum Adaptive Learning (US), ALEKS (US), and Blackboard (US). Know more about AI in Education Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/ai-in-education-market-200371366.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Visit Our Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/telecom-it Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8313851-CE-China-2018/ Experience a wide range of major European brands like Severin, CASO Design, Fakir, Elgato, Blaupunkt, Bosch, LifaAir and their outstanding products and innovations in the consumer electronics as well as home appliances segments. In addition, executives from leading Chinese brands like Midea and Huawei provide insights in cutting edge technologies and latest trends. Official partners of CE China include China's largest retailers such as Suning, Tmall/ Alibaba and JD.com. CE China unites international exhibitors with Chinese retailers to bring new products to their customers. European innovations at CE China The prestigious German manufacturer of household appliances Fakir presents the new Air Wave Technology for efficient high performance. In combination with HEPA and ULPA filters to be allergy sufferer friendly, they are designed to present the future of vacuum cleaning. As yet another innovation, the manufacturer furthermore exhibits a cyclone technology model with a new LED alert system which indicates the condition of the filter. Leading Chinese brands on site International brand Midea provides markets around the world with a wide range of home appliances, including kitchen appliances, refrigerators, laundry appliances, and various small home appliances. At CE China, the company not only exhibits its latest products but also provides more detailed insights as part of the IFA Retail [email protected] The IFA Retail University This year, CE China makes it even easier to stay tuned with current and future market trends. As a major highlight, the newly introduced IFA Retail University @ CE China, developed and established in partnership with Chinese retail giant Suning, shows an extensive program of high-level presentations. TV-Footage service for media free of charge and free of rights International broadcast partner TVT.media is producing comprehensive video material of CE China 2018 on site for journalists, TV newsrooms and online media. For video clips, interviews and footage of CE China 2018 please visit IFA Global Broadcast Center. Usage of footage is free of charge. Copies are requested. Related Link: http://www.ifa-gbc.com (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679470/CE_CHINA_2018.jpg ) Video: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8313851-CE-China-2018/ SOURCE CE China 2018 STUTTGART, Germany, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The supervisory Board of Borgward AG has nominated Dr. Philip Koehn as CTO of Borgward Group AG, Stuttgart. "We are glad that we could win such an experienced manager for Borgward AG," said Ulrich Walker, CEO of Borgward Group AG. Previously Dr. Koehn (48) was Director of Engineering at British luxury car maker Rolls-Royce. He has graduated from Aachen University of Technology where he also received his Ph. D. title. In 1999 he joined BMW Group where he held various functions within the vehicle dynamics department and successfully introduced mechatronic chassis control systems into series production. Between 2009 and 2013 Dr. Koehn served as Vice President Total Vehicle Architecture and Concepts of BMW AG. During his tenure, standardized vehicle platforms for front and rear wheel drive as well as electrified vehicles were introduced. From 2013 onwards, Dr. Koehn was Director of Engineering at British luxury car maker Rolls-Royce Motorcars Ltd. and head of the product line Rolls-Royce within the BMW Group. With the introduction of an all-new aluminum space frame platform and various new derivatives as the Rolls-Royce Phantom in 2017, he delivered a strong contribution to the renewal of the traditional British car maker. "I am really looking forward to take over this challenging task together with an international team: electrification, a profitable portfolio enlargement based on a common platform as well as further establishing Borgward as premium car manufacturer. I am sure that Borgward will continue the extraordinary heritage of this brand," said Dr. Koehn. Picture is available at AP Images (http://www.apimages.com) and http://www.presseportal.de/nr/115998/ BORGWARD Group AG Kriegsbergstrasse 11 70174 Stuttgart Marco Dalan Head of Global Communications Telefon +49-711-365101041 E-Mail [email protected] www.borgward.com SOURCE BORGWARD Group AG Israeli troops shot dead three protesters along the Gaza border on Friday, Gaza medics said, hours after the United Nations human rights chief criticised Israel for using "excessive force" against demonstrators. Israeli troops have killed 41 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000 others since Gaza residents began staging protests along the border fence on March 30 to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees. The troops were holed up behind fortifications on their side of the 40km (25-mile) border fence and fired live ammunition and tear gas at protesters at five locations on the Gazan side. Gaza medical officials said two protesters who were struck by bullets were in critical condition in hospital and 600 others were wounded. The Israeli military said 10,000 Gazans were participating in what it described as "riots," and that some had tried to breach the border into Israel. It said troops "had operated in accordance with the rules of engagement" to stop people crossing the border. The Gaza health ministry said 200 were wounded by gun fire, including a Palestinian journalist who was hit in the foot by a bullet. Dozens more, including four medics, were treated for gas inhalation, as Israeli forces showered the area with tear gas canisters from behind their fortifications in Israel. Protesters hurled stones and rolled burning tyres toward the fence, and some attached cans of burning petrol to kites and flew them into Israeli territory. Others cleared away barbed wire coils which Israeli troops had placed in Gazan territory overnight in a bid to create a buffer zone between protesters and the fence. The protests come at a time of growing frustration for Palestinians as prospects for an independent Palestinian state look poor. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several years and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories have expanded. In a statement, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein called the loss of life deplorable and said a "staggering number" of injuries had been caused by live ammunition. Israel's foreign ministry had no immediate comment but the government has consistently said it is protecting its borders and that its troops are following rules of engagement. Israel's U.N. envoy, Danny Danon, told the Security Council on Thursday that Hamas in Gaza was responsible for Palestinian casualties and that it was using innocent Palestinian women and children as human shields, while they cowered behind in safety. "The terrorists are hiding while allowing, even hoping, for their people to die. This is evil in its purest form, he said. Hamas denies the Israeli accusations. "Danon's comments are an attempt to escape responsibility and to cover up for the execution of unarmed children and people by occupation soldiers," said Hamas official Mushir Al-Masri. Named the 'Great March of Return', the protest action revives a longstanding demand for the right of return of Palestinian refugees to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948. More than 2 million Palestinians are packed into the narrow coastal enclave. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. *This story was edited by Ahram Online. Search Keywords: Short link: PUNE, India, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "EMEA 3D CBCT/Cone Beam CT Systems Market by Application (Dental (Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Implantology, Orthodontic, Endodontic) and Non-Dental (Radiology, ENT)), End User (Hospitals and Clinics, Diagnostic Centres) - Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to reach USD 300.4 Million by 2023 from an estimated USD 194.3 Million in 2018, at a CAGR of 9.0%. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 74 market data Tables and 17 Figures spread through 115 Pages and in-depth TOC on "EMEA 3D CBCT/Cone Beam CT Systems Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/emea-3d-cbct-market-148086734.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report With increasing disposable incomes, rising healthcare expenditure, and the availability of health insurance, the willingness to undergo expensive cosmetic procedures in various countries has increased. Moreover, the rising expenditure on treatments for appearance enhancements is driving the demand for dental products in the market. By application, the dental segment accounted for the largest share of the EMEA 3D CBCT Systems Market in 2017 On the basis of application, the market is broadly segmented into dental and non-dental applications. The dental applications segment further sub segmented into implantology, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, endodontics, and other dental applications. The non-dental applications segment is sub segmented into ENT and radiology. The dental application segment accounted for the largest share of EMEA 3D CBCT Systems Market in 2017. Large geriatric population in the European countries, technological enhancements, wide adoption of 3D CBCT systems in dental implant procedures, and the growing focus on the evaluation of post-treatment cases are factors attributed to the large share of dental application. By type, ENT segment accounted for the largest share of the non-dental application market in 2017 Based on the type, the non-dental application market is further segmented into ENT and radiology. In 2017, ENT segment accounted for the largest share of this market. This dominant share is attributed to the increasing use of CBT imaging in the diagnosis of ENT disorders due to advantages such as high spatial resolution, better visibility of small details, lower radiation exposure compared to traditional CT, patient convenience during examination, and compatibility of CBCT systems with surgical navigation/image-guided surgery systems during ear surgeries. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=148086734 Europe dominated the market in 2017 Europe accounted for the largest share of the EMEA 3D CBCT Systems Market in 2017, followed by the Middle East and Africa. The largest share of the European region is mainly attributed to the rising geriatric population, increasing awareness about oral healthcare, rising incidence of dental diseases, growing demand for advanced cosmetic dental procedures, growing dental tourism in some European countries, and the increasing number of dental clinics and hospitals in the region. The key players in the EMEA 3D CBCT Systems Market are Danaher Corporation (US), DENTSPLY SIRONA (US), Carestream Dental (US), Planmeca Group (Finland), VATECH (South Korea), CEFLA (Italy), J. MORITA CORPORATION (Japan), ACTEON GROUP (France), Asahi Roentgen (Japan), and Genoray (South Korea). Know more about the EMEA 3D CBCT/Cone Beam CT Systems Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/emea-3d-cbct-market-148086734.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets PUNE, India, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Friction Modifiers Market by Type (Organic and Inorganic), Application (Transportation Lubricants (Commercial Vehicle, Passenger Vehicle, Aviation, Marine), and Industrial Lubricants), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Friction Modifiers Market is projected to grow from USD 843.0 Million in 2017 to USD 1,004.3 Million by 2022, at a CAGR of 3.6% during the forecast period. The increasing demand for fuel-efficient lubricants from the automotive industry in emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil are expected to fuel the growth of the Friction Modifiers Market across the globe. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 107 market data Tables and 39 Figures spread through 134 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Friction Modifiers Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/friction-modifier-market-52458814.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report Among types, the organic segment of the Friction Modifiers Market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, in terms of value. Among types, the organic segment of the Friction Modifiers Market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2017 to 2022, in terms of value. The organic segment includes fatty acids, esters & amides, and functional polymers. Organic friction modifiers are versatile and environment-friendly. These additives have a high potential to replace inorganic additives in sectors where the consequences of lubricant discharge are hazardous. Get PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=52458814 Among applications, the transportation lubricants segment is projected to account for the largest share of the Friction Modifiers Market by 2022, in terms of value. Based on application, the transportation lubricants segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the Friction Modifiers Market in 2017, in terms of value. The demand for friction modifiers in public transport and passenger vehicles is expected to increase with growing environmental concerns. The demand for friction modifiers is also expected for aviation turbine engine oils. The marine industry holds several opportunities and will be the major growth driver for the Friction Modifiers Market in the future. The Asia Pacific Friction Modifiers Market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, in terms of value. The Friction Modifiers Market has been studied for North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. The Asia Pacific Friction Modifiers Market is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period, in terms of value. The growth of the Friction Modifiers Market in the Asia Pacific region can be attributed to the increased demand for friction modifiers from various countries such as China, India, and South Korea. Countries of the Asia Pacific region have witnessed increased demand for friction modifiers in the automotive industry, which, in turn, has led to the growth of the Asia Pacific Friction Modifiers Market. Key players operating in the Friction Modifiers Market include Lubrizol (US), Afton (US), Infineum (UK), Chevron Oronite (US), Croda (UK), Chemtura (Germany), BASF (Germany), Kings Industries (US), BRB International (Netherlands), and Vanderbilt Chemicals (US). Know more about Friction Modifiers Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/friction-modifier-market-52458814.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets The rise of quantum supremacy and testing of flying personal transportation to create growth opportunities in 2018 SANTA CLARA, California, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Every year Frost & Sullivan's Visionary Innovation team of futurists, consultants and analysts scans the short-term horizon and looks across industries to identify areas of metamorphosis. Technology is a primary disruptor, from the size and power of leading companies to new technologies emerging that have long been thought of as the domain of imagination. Understanding the transformative forces set to define 2018 will allow companies to prepare, compete and invest more effectively. "In 2018, business conversations will be dominated by several key subjects: science fiction becoming a reality, the clash of technology and governments, rising consumer concerns about technology, and state-sponsored technology," said Lauren Taylor, Visionary Innovation Group Principal Analyst at Frost & Sullivan. The recent analysis, The Top Trends for 2018: The Power of Technology and Technology Companies, highlights the forces poised to create the biggest impact this year and explores trends spanning geographies, industries, and applications to offer a comprehensive view of the change agents. For further information on this analysis, please visit: http://frost.ly/2fx Five of the ten pivotal trends poised to transform industries include: The Innovation Tug-of-War: We will see increasing struggle between leading technology companies and the organizations and governments that regulate them, creating a tug-of-war on innovation that works to balance consumer protection with the pursuit of innovation. Quantum Arms Race: Quantum computing is rapidly evolving and looks poised to achieve quantum supremacythe ability to outperform traditional supercomputers. Key areas of focus will be encryption, AI, materials, and qubit generation. Flying Personal Transportation: Flying personal transportation is making notable advances with progressive tests and demos, as well as new competitors entering the space. While not on the public's radar at the moment, expect this to be the new drone craze. The Rise of Enterprise Behavioral Science: We expect behavioral science to enter the fast follower phase as an emerging function in the enterprise this year, with savvy companies adopting these economic and social science principles to increase worker productivity and nudge consumers toward desirable outcomes. Shift Away from Platform-only Models: Uber and Airbnb have indicated a move beyond platform-only models and into acquisition and partnership with asset providers, signaling a need to differentiate and overcome some of the challenges that a platform-only model presents. "Sixty percent of companies will not see a 10-year anniversary. As platforms, business models, and technologies collide in nuanced ways, and categorization becomes challenging, these insights can be an essential reference tool for companies to devise short-term strategies as well as set long-term implementation goals," concluded Taylor. The Top Trends for 2018: The Power of Technology and Technology Companies is part of Frost & Sullivan's Visionary Innovation Growth Partnership Service program. About Frost & Sullivan Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants. For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Contact us: Start the discussion The Top Trends for 2018: The Power of Technology and Technology Companies K255_VI Contact: Francesca Valente Corporate Communications Americas P: +54 11 4777 5300 E: [email protected] http://www.frost.com Related Links http://www.frost.com SOURCE Frost & Sullivan NEW DELHI, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Travelling is a great way of escaping from one's daily routine and enjoying themselves with their loved ones. People start discussing these vacations way in advance but keep procrastinating due to their busy lives. Every traveller wants to find the best deal at best affordable cost but most of the times they end up making the booking after searching a little internet. Because of the busy lifestyle, people do not have enough time to organise trips as it is a time-consuming process. This is where travel agents and tour operators serve as lifesavers and provide custom-made packages and allow the traveller to choose as per their budget and requirements. Hellotravel, India's biggest travel packages marketplace, is an age-old platform where you can search for travel packages and hotel deals. They generate more than 5 lakh unique verified enquires in a month related to custom travel packages worth $200 million annually. They are associated with more than 7,000 experts worldwide and cover more than 1,000 destinations globally. Hellotravel understood the need for travel agents and came up with a free CRM tool for them to get leads from their own custom packages. This CRM is made keeping in mind the requirement of a travel agency as it is developed by the industry veterans from grade A institutes who understand every inch of this space. Mr Pankaj Agarwal, CEO of Hellotravel on his new venture, expressed his happiness over the attention his CRM is getting in the industry and said, "This is a one stage platform for everyone from the travel agency industry to explore all kinds of business opportunities and it will surely help them generate more business and will bring growth to the overall travel industry." Travel agency or individual agents can register themselves by an easy 3-step registration process and start getting leads via phone or email absolutely free of cost. One can register themselves with the tool using their email and company name. Upon registration they fill in basic details like company details, address etc. They can create packages as per their wish and select from the various options within the tool like the meal plan, hotel services, flights etc. Based on their packages they can check for leads from their dashboard and can also manage them. They can also create and manage calls from travellers within the tool. All these features are free to use and are available in all forms of leads. They can also download the app from the Google Playstore and enjoy all these features at the tip of their fingers. Another advantage of Hellotravel CRM is that it helps travel agents to market themselves in the digital world to generate more business and also create trust among travellers while booking the tour. It also provides an impeccable payment solution that will ease the process of payments. Hellotravel CRM is one stop solution for all the needs of travel agents, be it flight booking, hotel booking, lead generation, lead management, digital marketing or promotion, reporting etc. One can register with the tool and join in the journey of making other people's journey as smooth as possible. For more information visit https://agents.hellotravel.com/signup.php Media Contact: Gaurav Gupta [email protected] +91-9899350903 Cofounder & CMO Hellotravel SOURCE Hellotravel Building on these revolutionary security advances, Hikvision has now announced the Turbo HD 5.0 family of surveillance products, which includes AcuSense Turbo HD DVRs and ColorVu Turbo HD Cameras. These technologies make it even easier for organizations and individuals to identify and react to security breaches, while also minimizing manual interventions and security costs. AcuSense Turbo HD DVR key benefits Incorporating eleven different DVR models, the AcuSense family uses the latest deep learning technologies to enhance object detection. Specifically, AcuSense Turbo HD DVR detects vehicles or humans, it filters out false alarms triggered by animals, leaves, and other insignificant objects, and minimizes costly, time-consuming manual checks. As an additional benefit, the AcuSense Quick Target Search feature identifies and extracts footage of humans and vehicles from vast video datasets automatically, saving staff from searching through massive datasets. ColorVu Turbo HD Camera key benefits ColorVu Turbo HD cameras provide bright color video images 24/7, even in the lowest-light conditions. The camera's round-the-clock color-boosting capabilities are powered by a large iris and ED optical glass, an anti-glare diffusion lens, large sensing pixels, warm supplemental lighting, and a range of other innovative video technologies. With brighter, more colourful video images, Hikvision customers are protected against security breaches, even when they happen at night. Turbo HD 5.0: heightened security at a reduced cost Hikvision's latest Turbo HD 5.0 takes the capabilities of traditional analogue and CCTV systems to new heights, helping organizations to maximize their security and lower surveillance costs. Frank Zhang, General Manager of International Product Marketing Department at Hikvision, says, "With AcuSense Turbo HD DVR, we have integrated revolutionary deep learning technology to help our customers filter out false alarms, find video evidence faster, and react to real security threats as soon as they occur. At the same time, ColorVu Turbo HD Cameras provide clear, bright, color images even in complete darkness, alerting customers to security breaches immediately and providing excellent video evidence wherever it's needed." Find out more Technical capabilities and specifications for the new Hikvision Turbo HD 5.0 products are showcased in our Turbo HD 5.0 product brochure. For more information, speak with a Hikvision representative about your security needs. About Hikvision Hikvision is the world's leading provider of innovative video surveillance products and solutions. Featuring the industry's strongest R&D workforce, Hikvision advances core technologies of audio and video encoding, video image processing, and related data storage, as well as forward-looking technologies such as cloud computing, big data, and deep learning. In addition to the video surveillance industry, Hikvision extends its reach to smart home tech, industrial automation, and automotive electronics industries to achieve its long-term vision. Always creating value for its customers, Hikvision operates 33 regional subsidiaries all over the world to achieve a truly global presence. For more information, please visit us at www.hikvision.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686329/Hikvision_Turbo_HD_5_0.jpg SOURCE Hikvision Digital Technology Services include campaign insights, churn modeling and ad-buying recommendations SANDPOINT, Idaho, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kochava Inc., the industry leader providing holistic measurement solutions for mobile and connected devices, announces an enhancement to their Kochava Intelligence suite of business intelligence tools with campaign analysis on attribution, Insight Reports on ad-inventory buy recommendations, and churn modeling to reduce attrition. "Marketers are overwhelmed with data and being able to extract the most meaning from it. They must consistently parse and export data to various providers to fully understand their campaign results," said Grant Simmons, director of client analytics at Kochava. "We address those problems by developing comprehensive tools and maximizing their use on behalf of marketers. Our team of experts are adept at using these predictive tools and surfacing data relationships marketers might not realize on their own." Kochava reveals the true value delivered by media partners and provides recommendations on how to "clean" the signals, ultimately boosting return on investment. They have performed business value assessments (BVA) for some of the biggest companies in the ecosystem. Using machine learning tools, they perform campaign insights and explore the correlations among impressions and clicks and the resulting installs. "Advertisers don't realize that the signalthe data streamthey send us may be corrupt. Whether intentional or not, the data from media partners may not be 'clean.' Signals for impressions and clicks may be mixed, skewing how marketers use attribution to predict revenue or make future marketing decisions," Simmons said. A recent BVA for a gaming company showed that their click-to-install relationship was irrational. Under the premise that clicks drive installs, the analytics team looked for a statistical relationship between the two. If true, more clicks would mean more installs. Their analysis showed the opposite; more clicks led to fewer installs. The reason was an attribution signal full of fraud and impressions sent as clicks rendering the underlying data useless. "Attribution relies on a good signal. Once they sent us impression, click and install data separately, we saw a drastic increase in the trend line between the company's clicks and installs," Simmons said. "Now they can better predict how many clicks are required to satisfy an install goal to boost revenue. They are better able to make marketing decisions with the cleaner data." Kochava experts are also available to create custom churn models in an effort to reduce attrition. Marketers can receive data of users most likely to churn and reactivate them in the platform. They can further segment the data for precise retargeting or push campaigns through Engagement. In line with predictive modeling is the new Insights Report. The report uses machine learning technology to make "buy" and "do not buy" recommendations on certain ad inventory. The report is created using their Optimization Beacon technology for marketers to base their future ad-buying decisions on. "As a measurement provider, we are the nexus between publishers and advertisers and have the ability to analyze data relationships marketers may overlook," Simmons said. "We make ourselves available to assist in interpreting the data our tools yield to their fullest extent." About Kochava Kochava Inc. (www.kochava.com) offers a unique, holistic and unbiased analytics platform to plan, target, engage, measure and optimize media spend. The Kochava platform for mobile and connected devices combines potent features and global coverage with thousands of network and publisher integrations, allowing advertisers to target audiences and measure campaign performance with precision. Real-time customizable visualizations give users fluid access to a full spectrum of data points, providing robust segmentation capabilities and real-time actionability. Yielding the most powerful tools in the ecosystem, Kochava is chosen by brands across industry verticals to measure the largest and most sophisticated ad campaigns. Contact: Ben Stein VP of Marketing [email protected] 1-855-562-4282 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/458978/Kochava_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.kochava.com SOURCE Kochava Inc. MUMBAI, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- mUni, an end-to-end higher education solutions and digital infra provider presents 'EduTech Congress 2018' for various stakeholders in higher education. EduTech Congress 2018 is wonderful platform for higher education leaders, chancellors, VC, placement heads, admission heads, trustees, directors, principals, deans and education technology services and solution providers to engage, collaborate, share use cases and brainstorm how to make education institutes ready for future, improve various functions and processes using technology. The keynote speaker for EduTech Congress 2018 is Shri E. Ravendiran (IAS) Commissioner, Maharashtra State Skill Development Society (MSSDS) EduTech Congress will have keynotes, panel discussions, technology demos from the creme de la creme of the Indian Education sector. To name a few - Dr. Abhijit Gangopadhyay , Dean of Aegis; Founding Dean of IIM Indore , Dean of Aegis; Founding Dean of IIM Indore Dr. P. D Jose, Chairperson - Digital Learning, IIM Bangalore Dr. Arun Sherry , Chief Academic Officer, NMIMS, Mumbai , Chief Academic Officer, NMIMS, Dr. P.N Razdan,Vice Chancellor, Dr D. Y. Patil University, Pune EduTech Congress 2018 is a one-day event scheduled on 12th May 2018 at The Park, Navi Mumbai, India from 2 PM onwards. EduTech Congress comprises of 6 pillars for managing higher education: Program design & Launch; Admissions; Education delivery; Administration; Skilling beyond university curriculum and Placement. Mr. Bhupesh Daheria, Founder, EduTech Congress said, "Education and modern technology collaboration is a boon to this century. We aim to align it in a more structured manner. Hence we have initiated EduTech Congress with an aim to bring together the higher education technology service/solution providers and the stakeholders of the higher education. This type of platform will help in making Indian education ready to compete at global level and ready to meet industry need." mUni has initiated EduTech Congress to showcase the best usage of technology in education, a platform to experience various solutions and offerings from Education Technology providers, understand the opportunities and challenges in the Edutech field, exchange ideas and experiences of the best practices among the higher education eco system partners and charter the path for institution from 'why' to 'how' to 'implementation'. Dr Abhijit Gangopadhyay, Dean of Aegis; Founding Dean of IIM Indore commented, "In the context of re-imagine India, the need for prioritising the relevance of education cannot be undermined. EduTech Congress 2018 is primarily into addressing education from the perspective of major pillars of higher education in terms of curriculum, assessment and skills of all the stakeholders connected in educational space. It is expected that the congress would be a significant step in bringing symbiotic relationship of various stakeholders with the focus of integrating emerging technology of education industry." Dr. P.D Jose, Professor, Chairperson, Digital Learning, IIM Bangalore, India contributed, "Today's learning context and learning models are strikingly different from yesterdays. Learning is a lifelong activity and education is not seen as a onetime sure shot to a lifelong job. It is also not location or legacy constrained. In this new scenario, EduTech is not just disrupting how education is delivered but also is challenging our ideas of how universities should be managed." "EduTech is complete innovative digital solution along with business analytics for the processes like placements, outreach, online brochures, database and scheduling for the institutes of higher learning. It's the next generation platform for the academic institutes," said Dr. Hema Date, Dean-Student Affairs, NITIE, Mumbai. About mUni: mUni, an end-to-end higher education solutions and digital infra provider. mUni is an open market place and an end-to-end education solution provider for learners, education providers, enterprises and Government. mUni helps education institute to implement digital infra and provide various solutions to improve the various functions and processes in any higher education institution namely Program design & Launch; Admissions; Education delivery; Administration; Skilling beyond university curriculum and Placement. For more information, please visit: http://www.muniversity.mobi About EduTech Congress: mUni launched EduTech Congress this year to create a platform and opportunity for all the leaders, educationalists and education technology services/solutions providers to engage, collaborate with stakeholders of higher education market. For more information and speakers list, please visit http://www.EduTechCongress.com For more information, please contact: Anita Ram +91-80807-93911 [email protected] Communicate India Rrucha Kulkarni [email protected] +91-9619891296 Account Director SOURCE mUni YANGON, Myanmar and BENGALURU, India, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys Finacle, part of EdgeVerve Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Infosys (NYSE: INFY), today announced that Myawaddy Bank Ltd., a leading domestic bank in Myanmar, has selected Finacle solution suite to power the bank's digital transformation. With Finacle, the bank aims to drive growth and innovation while achieving significant improvements in operational efficiencies. Finacle's pre-integrated digital channels stack will enable the bank to rapidly deliver a rich and seamless digital experience to its customers. Key benefits: With the Finacle core banking solution, the bank will achieve considerable automation in front and back office operations, thereby reducing manual effort and optimizing various banking processes The new solution will provide a 360-degree view of customer relationships and transactions across the bank, thus enabling superior customer service and enhanced upsell and cross-sell opportunities Further, the inbuilt product factory capability will enable the bank to rapidly launch new product offerings in response to emergent market demands ACE Data Systems Ltd, Finacle's business partner in Myanmar, will play an integral part in the solution's implementation at Myawaddy Bank Ltd. With their experience in implementing Finacle and in-depth understanding of local banking practices, they will help ensure an accelerated delivery. U Yu Lwin, Managing Director Myawaddy Bank Ltd. said, "At our bank, we are committed to delivering innovative products and services to our customers, and maintaining a high level of service quality and convenience. In the coming years, we believe the Myanmar economy will see strong progress and we are keen to expand our growth and presence in the country. We selected Finacle as our strategic partner for our technology transformation journey due to its strong solution credentials, proven track record and experience of working with leading financial institutions across the world. We are confident that with Finacle, our staff and customers will be well empowered to support our growth aspirations." Sanat Rao, Chief Business Officer, Infosys Finacle said, "The banking industry in Myanmar is witnessing rapid growth with the opening of the economy. Banks are showing a strong appetite for expansion and at this stage, a modern banking technology platform is critical to help Myanmar banks drive growth, ensure profitability and enable world class customer service. We are delighted that Myawaddy Bank has chosen Infosys Finacle to power its digital transformation. With this implementation, Myawaddy Bank will join a growing list of banks in Myanmar and financial institutions across the world, enabled with the industry's leading digital banking solution suite." Zaw Moe Thant, Chief Executive Officer, ACE Data Systems Ltd. said, "We are delighted to partner with Infosys Finacle and are strongly committed to ensuring that Myawaddy bank attains its business objectives of growth and business agility. We will continue to invest and innovate to drive efficiencies for our clients in the region." About Myawaddy Bank Ltd. Myawaddy Bank Ltd is a private company limited formed under the Myanmar Companies Act (1914) and restructured in accord with Financial Institutions Law 2016, for Development and Commercial Banking. It was established in 1993. To know more, visit https://mwdbank.com/ . About Infosys Finacle Finacle is the industry-leading digital banking solution suite from EdgeVerve Systems, a wholly owned product subsidiary of Infosys. Finacle helps traditional and emerging financial institutions drive truly digital transformation to achieve frictionless customer experiences, larger ecosystem play, insights-driven interactions and ubiquitous automation. Today, banks in over 100 countries rely on Finacle to service more than a billion consumers and 1.3 billion accounts. Finacle solutions address the core banking, omnichannel banking, payments, treasury, origination, liquidity management, Islamic banking, wealth management,analytics, artificial intelligence, and blockchain requirements of financial institutions to drive business excellence. An assessment of the top 1250 banks in the world reveals that institutions powered by the Finacle Core Banking solution, on average, enjoy 7.2% points lower costs-to-income ratio than others. To know more, visit www.finacle.com . About ACE Data Systems Ltd. ACE Data Systems Ltd. was founded in 1992 as a small software house and IT training center. Today, ACE Data Systems Group has grown into a group of nineteen companies with over six hundred employees with business operations in software development and system integration, outsourcing, IT infrastructure and cyber security, education services and e-commerce. Up to date software development techniques and the best on-site services for customers make ACE the leading software developer in Myanmar. http://acedatasystems.com/ . Safe Harbor Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements regarding our future business expectations intended to qualify for the 'safe harbor' under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. In addition, please note that the date of this press release is mentioned at the beginning of the release, and any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on assumptions that we believe to be reasonable as of this date. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company unless it is required by law. For further information, please contact: Infosys Asia Pacific Sarah Gideon Infosys, India +91 80 4156 3998 [email protected] EMEA Margherita Di Cerbo Infosys, Europe Phone: +44 207516274 [email protected] Americas Chiku Somaiya Infosys, USA +1 408 375 2722 [email protected] This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire. SOURCE Infosys Limited NEW DELHI and SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS, France, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Positioning Beacon Will Increase Soldier Survivability Orolia, a world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions with a significant presence in the Asia Pacific region, announced today that its subsidiary McMurdo Inc. was awarded a $33,986,800 contract to manufacture Personnel Recovery Devices (PRD) for the U.S. Army. This PRD is a dual-mode, MIL-SPEC Personal Locator Beacon that will be integrated into the Army's Personnel Recovery Support System (PRSS). The PRD will be capable of transmitting both open and secure signals (training-combat dual mode) to alert and notify that a soldier has become isolated, missing, detained or captured. This innovative positioning device will optimize a successful rescue operation for soldiers in a distress situation through secure enhanced capabilities. It has been designed to meet military standards and specifications and has improved accuracy, decreased size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. "We are extremely proud and honored to have been selected by the U.S. Army as the provider of this critical positioning device for the safety of U.S. warfighters. Easy to incorporate into Personnel Recovery operations, the PRD is based on Orolia's new rugged and small PNT platform dedicated to Combat Search and Rescue (C-SAR) and other dismounted soldier Assured PNT applications. This award, which follows the 2016 contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to produce 16,000 FastFind 220 personal locator beacons, is a testimony to Orolia's world leadership in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing," said Jean-Yves Courtois, CEO of Orolia. The Personnel Recovery Support System, Personnel Recovery Device contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland on behalf of the Army Air Warrior Product Management Office at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama with an estimated completion date of March 6, 2022. About Orolia Orolia is a world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions that improve the reliability, performance and safety of critical, remote or high-risk operations. With expertise in government, maritime, aviation and enterprise applications, Orolia provides virtually fail-safe GPS/GNSS and PNT products and solutions for their customers' most mission critical needs. Orolia's European headquarters is in France, with a commercial presence in more than 100 countries worldwide. http://www.orolia.com Orolia US Press Contact: Elodie Cally PR / Communications Director +33-633857693 [email protected] Media Contact: Sophie Canciani [email protected] +91-(11)-43196303 Trade officer - Marketing Communications, Business France SOURCE Orolia BENGALURU, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- - The program will equip 5,000 women with life, work and career skills - 500 polytechnic students from Delhi have successfully graduated under this program J.P. Morgan and Quest Alliance have signed an agreement to launch My Quest: ITI Development - a skills development program focussed on building stronger career paths for women studying in technical institutions. The program, funded by J.P. Morgan, will provide advanced skills development courses to 5,000 young women who are pursuing professional technical education in 15 government-run Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnics across Delhi-NCR region and Rajasthan. Critical job-specific soft-skills of communication, professional etiquettes, digital literacy and life-skills will be embedded in the training curriculum. Already, 500 polytechnic students from Delhi have successfully graduated from this initiative and will be entering the world of work or pursuing higher education over the next few months. "While India has 12,000 ITIs that impart affordable, domain-specific technical training to young people, only 20-30% of those who graduate from these institutes find gainful employment. There is, therefore, a need to upgrade the skills of these students to improve their opportunities in the labour market. We are establishing a strong partnership with the government so we can make Quest Alliance toolkits, approach and technology stacks more widely available and incentivizing the training institutes to continue the programme by demonstrating success gained through industry engagement and placement connects," said Aakash Sethi, Executive Director, Quest Alliance. Eleven all-women ITIs in Delhi-NCR region and four ITIs in Rajasthan have been selected for this program and 100 hours of content will be delivered as part of the program. Quest will work with the institutes to build a team of faculty, introduce low-cost technology integration and self-learning tools into the ITI ecosystem to ensure that these modules are embedded in the curriculum. "J.P. Morgan believes that helping the disadvantaged develop the skills they need to compete for today's jobs can transform lives and strengthen economies. Embedding employment readiness within educational institutions helps nurture tomorrow's leaders at the beginning of their careers. Our collaboration with Quest Alliance not only embodies our commitment towards the transition from education to employment but also does so with a special focus on women," said Kalpana Morparia, CEO, South and South East Asia, J.P. Morgan. The program will also run unique career connect activities such as market scans, industry guest sessions, and help students build professional digital identities using platforms like LinkedIn and connect with advisors and employers in a virtual or face-to-face environment. Additionally, larger gender notions such as social pressures, class-room challenges and gender biases at the workplace will also be integrated into these modules. As little is known about the aspirations of young women and the impact of skill training on them, the program will also have an embedded learning agenda which will collect data and information on these markers. About J.P. Morgan India: J.P. Morgan is a leading global financial services player, with a presence in India since 1922. Today, India is a key market for J.P. Morgan and the firm has consistently invested in the India business, which has been growing steadily. J.P. Morgan provides a comprehensive range of Corporate & Investment Banking, Commercial Banking, Asset & Wealth Management, and corporate functions services and solutions to our clients. J.P. Morgan is among the country's leading players in almost all of its businesses and primarily caters to the firm's global clients with business interests in India and local multinationals growing their footprint internationally. India is also home to the Global Service Centre, which services J.P. Morgan's businesses around the world in the areas of operations, technology and research. About Quest Alliance: Founded in 2005, Quest Alliance is uniquely positioned to address the challenges of 21st century learning and jobs. Quest is fuelled by research, strengthened by partnerships and driven by innovation and technology. We enable learners with the freedom to drive their learning experience in a fun and impactful manner using our signature blended learning curriculum that develops 21st century life, work and digital skills for children & youth. We work closely with teachers and educators to bring about a mind-shift from teaching to facilitation through peer learning & data driven decision-making systems. We bring together diverse stakeholders. Over the last 10 years our work has demonstrated significant improvements in learning outcomes leveraging strengths of the non-profit, corporate sector & development agencies. Quest Alliance is a registered charitable trust under the Indian Trusts Act and are registered under 12A, 80G and FCRA. Our latest annual report can be viewed here: http://questalliance.net/annual-report-2017/ Media Contact: Abhijeet Mehta Associate Director [email protected] M: +919880330381 Quest Alliance Mollica Senapati Media Relations [email protected] M: +919833988496 J.P. Morgan India SOURCE Quest Alliance Syrian rebels began pulling out of an enclave they have surrendered in south Damascus on Thursday, but a few fighters in another besieged area near Homs shelled government areas after their groups agreed to quit. The enclaves in south Damascus and near Homs are the only two besieged areas still held by rebels, though they still control large tracts of northwest and southwest Syria, lying along its international borders, which are not surrounded by the army. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has focused on dislodging rebels from their remaining besieged pockets since driving them from eastern Ghouta last month after a fierce offensive. Syrian state television showed footage of buses arriving at Beit Sahm, driving through narrow streets surrounded by soldiers and with concrete buildings above showing scars of war. It later reported that the first batch of buses had departed, carrying fighters and their families from the area. Some 5,000 fighters and their family members are expected to leave Beit Sahm, Babila and Yalda neighbourhoods for the opposition areas in northern Syria, it reported, following an earlier group which left the enclave on Monday. Islamic State (IS) militants holding another part of the same enclave are still fighting after weeks of intense bombardment in the area of al-Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk Palestinian refugee camp. On Wednesday, insurgents in the biggest of the remaining besieged areas, located between the cities of Hama and Homs around the towns of Rastan, Talbiseh and Houla, also agreed to surrender. However, a small number of them rejected the deal and shelled government areas late on Wednesday and early on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor and two local sources said. Search Keywords: Short link: PUNE, India, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Wireless Connectivity Market by Connectivity Technology (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Classic, Bluetooth Smart, NFC, ZigBee, Z-Wave, GNSS, LTE Cat-M1, NB-IoT, LoRa, Sigfox), Type (WLAN, WPAN, LPWAN), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is expected to grow from USD 50.96 Billion in 2018 to USD 95.66 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 13.42% between 2018 and 2023. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 77 market data Tables and 46 Figures spread through 188 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Wireless Connectivity Market - Global Forecast to 2023" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/wireless-connectivity-market-192605963.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The growth of the wireless connectivity market is driven by the advancements in the telecommunications industry and high adoption of smartphones, increased demand for wireless sensor networks for creating smart infrastructure, increased demand for low-power wide-area (LPWA) networks in IoT applications, significant increase in the internet penetration rate, and rise in the adoption of IoT. Moreover, significant financial support from governments across the world for R&D in the Internet of Things, emerging needs for cross-domain applications, and proliferation of Wi-Fi as wireless connectivity standard in consumer and enterprise sectors are some major opportunities for the growth of the market. The market for Wi-Fi technology expected to register the largest shipment between 2018 and 2023. The demand for Wi-Fi-enabled connected home devices such as video doorbells, thermostats, lighting solutions, smart TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, and music systems are increasing. The use of Wi-Fi in consumer electronics has enabled users to control the devices. In addition, the increase in the penetration of smartphones in the middle-class population in emerging economies, such as India, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries, is boosting the growth of the market for connected devices based on Wi-Fi technology. All these factors are helping the growth of the market for chipsets based on Wi-Fi technology. The market for LPWAN-enabled chipsets is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growing use of low-power long-range M2M connectivity solutions in smart city and smart metering applications is expected to drive the growth of the market for LPWAN technology during the forecast period. Sigfox and LoRa are expected to be the dominant LPWAN technologies in Europe and North America, while developing countries of Asia Pacific are likely to witness the high adoption of NB-IoT technology for smart city projects. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=192605963 APAC expected to hold the largest size of the wireless connectivity market between 2018 and 2023 This growth of wireless connectivity in Asia Pacific is attributed to the growing adoption of smartphones and other connected consumer electronics products, such as smart TVs and smart lighting solutions. Moreover, the new announcement of smart city projects in developing countries such as India and China, wherein advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), machine-to-machine communication (M2M) are likely to be employed in different applications, is expected to drive the growth of wireless connectivity market in Asia Pacific during the forecast period. Major players in the wireless connectivity market include Qualcomm (US), Intel (US), Broadcom (US), MediaTek (Taiwan), Texas Instruments (US), Cypress Semiconductor (US), NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), and STMicroelectronics (Switzerland), Microchip (US), and EnOcean (Germany). The market also covers other player such as NEXCOM (Taiwan), Skyworks Solutions (US), Murata Manufacturing (Japan), Marvell Technology (US), Quantenna Communications (US), Renesas Electronics (Japan), Nordic Semiconductor (Norway), CEVA (US), Espressif Systems (China), Peraso Technologies (Canada). Know more about the Wireless Connectivity Market: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/wireless-connectivity-market-192605963.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Blog: http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect with us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets "Congratulations to Mr. Utkilbaev on his impressive win," said Wang Qingzhu, Vice President of XCMG. "All of the competitors did well and their collective performance is a testament to the skill and professionalism of the people who make up the heavy construction industry in Kazakhstan. XCMG has exported more than 3,000 loaders to Kazakhstan in the past six years that have served in nearly 100 construction projects, and the country is the largest construction machinery market in Central Asia and a key link of China's "Belt and Road" Initiative, making it one of our most important markets. We look forward to deepening our relationships within the industry here." "I'd heard good things about XCMG's V Series loaders from people at LLC As-Ay Ltd Company and I've been wanting to try it, so I signed up for the competition to experience the function and quality of the machinery," said Utkilbaev, the winner of the competition. "It's very flexible, accurate and adjustable, even fully loaded, and the most important thing is that it's energy efficient." Sajjan Uzbekov, an expert from the Ministry of Investment and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, attended the competition and spoke highly of XCMG's contributions in pushing forward the economic and cultural development of China and Kazakhstan, and that the competition has affirmed XCMG's status as a world-class construction machinery brand. At the competition, XCMG also signed an order for 500 loaders with LLC As-Ay Ltd Company, getting 2018 off to a flying start. About XCMG XCMG is a multinational heavy machinery manufacturing company with a history of 74 years. It currently ranks sixth in the world's construction machinery industry. The company exports to more than 177 countries and regions around the world. For more information, please visit: www.xcmg.com, or XCMG pages on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn and Instagram. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686330/XCMG.jpg Related Links http://www.xcmg.com SOURCE XCMG MANCHESTER, England, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Chubb has announced the promotion of Andy Macfarlane to the newly-created position of Regional Manager, Scotland and the North. Andy, who was previously Regional Manager, Scotland, now has an extended role which includes Chubb's branches in Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle, in addition to his current responsibility for Scotland. He will work closely with the existing management structure to continue to support and further develop relationships with Chubb's brokers and clients. The promotion is effective immediately and Andy will continue to report to Sara Mitchell, Head of Corporate Division, UK and Ireland, Chubb. Sara Mitchell, Head of Corporate Division, UK and Ireland, Chubb, said: "I am delighted that Andy has taken on this additional responsibility - his promotion demonstrates the depth of talent we have at Chubb. Andy has helped drive Chubb's tremendous success in Scotland in recent years and I very much look forward to him continuing to build on this with our Northern hubs in his extended role. "Creating one region for the North and Scotland brings together the collective strength of a powerful team which will reinforce to our brokers and clients why working with Chubb is such a compelling proposition. The BIBA Conference which takes place in Manchester in just a couple of weeks will be the perfect opportunity for the regional market to meet Andy, along with key members of our other teams." About Chubb Chubb is the world's largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company. With operations in 54 countries and territories, Chubb provides commercial and personal property and casualty insurance, personal accident and supplemental health insurance, reinsurance and life insurance to a diverse group of clients. As an underwriting company, we assess, assume and manage risk with insight and discipline. We service and pay our claims fairly and promptly. The company is also defined by its extensive product and service offerings, broad distribution capabilities, exceptional financial strength and local operations globally. Parent company Chubb Limited is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: CB) and is a component of the S&P 500 index. Chubb maintains executive offices in Zurich, New York, London and other locations, and employs approximately 31,000 people worldwide. Additional information can be found at: chubb.com/uk Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/324916/Chubb_Logo.jpg Related Links http://chubb.com/uk SOURCE Chubb (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/685893/Traveller_Friction.jpg ) The FCM report flags warning signs of 'traveller friction' that employers should look out for. These include employee absence post-trip, resistance or reluctance to travel, poor employee retention amongst frequent travellers, frequent non-compliant bookings, jetlag impacting productivity post-trip and unproductive business trips. According to FCM, traveller friction is exacerbated when a company's business travel policy - the guidelines governing class of travel or standard of hotel accommodation that an employee is allowed to book - is too rigid or inflexible; fails to factor in the human cost of travel; or prioritises financial savings over traveller wellbeing. Other causes of traveller friction can be cumbersome or outdated travel booking processes, poor trip approval processes, unclear policy guidelines, and policies that are purely company focussed rather than traveller-centric. "Behavioural economics looks at how people make decisions about what they will buy, how much they will pay for a product or service and what factors drive these decisions. In a business travel scenario, the decisions your travellers are making daily can have a significant impact not only on your organisation's bottom line, but also on traveller wellbeing, productivity and morale," explains Jo Greenfield, UK General Manager, FCM Travel Solutions. "Traveller friction can occur when your people are travelling too much, or they are having poor travel experiences in-trip. In order to address the causes, you need to first identify and understand the key challenges your travellers face. Then these insights into traveller friction can be used to tweak your business travel policy to achieve better compliance and engagement - and to reduce the human cost of frequent travel," says Greenfield. "Business travellers lead demanding, time-poor lifestyles. If they book outside of travel policy it's not necessarily because they want to enjoy the frills of flying business class or earn more hotel loyalty points," she adds. "It could well be because they are feeling burnt out and need a good night's sleep on a long-haul flight, or to stay in a hotel where they know they can order decent room service rather than sit alone in the bar in an evening." By understanding behavioural economics, subtle changes to travel policies can also be implemented to 'nudge' travellers to make cost effective or time-effective choices, the FCM report explains. For example, by offering travellers a choice of three different hotels, at different price points, instead of two, leads to the majority selecting the mid-priced option. The FCM report also explores how business travellers are chasing simplicity in terms of the whole travel process, from a single biometric token for all travel transactions and use of digital passports via smartphones, to AI automated booking, keyless check-in and cardless payments. To download a copy of FCM Insight: Behavioural economics and your travel programme, click here About FCM Travel Solutions: FCM Travel Solutions is the flagship global travel management brand of the Flight Centre Travel Group which has expanded to become one of the world's largest travel companies. FCM is the business travel partner of choice for large national, multinational and global corporations. Our global network spans more than 90 countries, employing over 6000 people. We are transforming the business of travel through our empowered and accountable people who deliver 24/7 service and are available either online or offline. Leveraging FCM's negotiating strength and supplier relationships in conjunction with our tailored business travel programs, our expertise delivers more for our clients where it matters most to them. SOURCE FCM Travel Solutions GoforIsrael conference will be held for the second time outside of Israel, on May 29th-31th, in Hong Kong and in Foshan, China. Organized by Cukierman & Co. Investment House Ltd. and Catalyst CEL Fund, GoforIsrael is one of the most influential business conferences in Israel, having won worldwide recognition for shaping the future of Israeli and related global investments and policies. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/631752/GoforIsrael_2018_Logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/684508/Cukierman_Co_Investment_House_Catalyst_Funds.jpg ) Around 100 Israeli hitech and startup companies will fly to China to attend the GoforIsrael conference in Foshan (May 31st), a major city in Guangdong Province. More than 1,000 Chinese investors from Foshan and the Greater Bay Area, will attend the event, which will showcase the best innovation coming out of Israel on an international level, in areas such as AI, IT, Healthcare and Life Sciences, cyber security, energy, advanced manufacturing, autotech, and more. The event in Foshan is co-organized with The People's Government of Foshan Municipality. Both events - HK and Foshan - will include 1:1 meetings between Israeli entrepreneurs and Chinese investors. Foshan is part of the Greater Bay Area, one of China's leading metropolitans with GDP equivalent to Russia and South Korea. Foshan is a vibrant economic and manufacturing center, with expertise in electronics, machinery, electrical products, furniture and more. The growth in Foshan's economy is a great opportunity for Israeli tech companies to revitalize the area's industry towards industrial 4.0 revolution. Haggai Ravid, CEO of Cukierman & Co Investments House: "Following on our successful conference in China in 2016, we decided to return to China and bring Israeli hi-tech to Chinese investors. It is a unique encounter with hundreds of Chinese investors, in a very focused and direct way. Israeli technology companies will benefit from pre-organized meetings with potential investors, and from the opportunity to present their technologies on stage. Correspondingly, Foshan's economy and industry are eager to cooperate with ground breaking Israeli technologies." The last GoforIsrael conference in China was a huge success- more than 2,800 participants attended the conference, among them 1,500 high quality investors. The upcoming event in Foshan and HK reflects the significant demand from Chinese investors to invest in Israeli innovation. The long list of senior speakers in Foshan event includes: Zvi Heifetz - Ambassador of Israel to China, Peggy Wang - Founder & Managing Partner, LongTech China Ventures, Nadav Cohen - Consul General of Israel in Guangzhou, Edouard Cukierman - Chairman of Cukierman & Co Investments House and Managing Partner of Catalyst CEL China Israel Fund, Yair Shamir - Former Minister of Agriculture of Israel, Managing Partner, Catalyst CEL, Cheng Shuang - Executive Director & CEO of China Everbright Limited, Ilan Ofer - Corporate Director, BD, Orbotech, Yifei Li - Chairman, Man Group China, Yoav Sade - Head of China, Meitar, Shengyan Fan - Managing Director - Catalyst CEL Fund, Yongqing Zhang, Executive Director & Head of M&A - GF Securities Xiangjun Li - Vice Chairman, China M&A Association. For the Conference Agenda: GoforIsrael The conference panels will address issues such as: Israel-China M&A; Israel - China partnership: The Belt and Road initiative; Market strategies for Israeli companies in China; M&A and Chinese Investments in Israeli Life Science companies, and The image of Israel abroad. Elevator pitches by selected innovative Israeli companies will be held along the course of the conference. These companies will be given the opportunity to briefly introduce their products and solutions to potential investors, in the fields of technology, media, telecom and life sciences. Cukierman & Co. Investment House is the leading Israeli Cross-Border focused investment house, with a strong global network including many leading corporations, investors and financial institutions in key markets such as China, Europe, and beyond. Headquartered in Israel, the company provides a full array of investment banking services including M&A, Private Placements, Public Offerings, Consulting and Family Office Services to Israeli and European companies. With over 5.5 billion US $ in transactions, Cukierman & Co. has the leading Corporate Finance team in Israel with dedicated experts in the Life Sciences, Technologies, Media & Telecom (TMT), Green Technologies and Real Estate industries. Catalyst is a top performing Israeli based private equity multi-fund firm founded in 1999. With over US$250 million under management, Catalyst funds support capital and long-term growth of innovative Israeli middle-market companies in global markets. Catalyst assists portfolio companies in reaching their targets by leveraging on the partners' vast Israeli and Global network. Catalyst has invested in innovative companies and has a diversified portfolio, including companies from the Industrials, Telecommunications, Information Technologies, Enterprise Software, Medical Devices and Bio/Pharma industries. For further information visit: GoforIsrael Media contacts: Adi Braunshtain, Marketing Director, Cukierman Investment House, adi.b@cukierman.co.il Moshe Mendelson, POSITIVE PR, Moshe@gopositive.co.il +972-37756333 SOURCE Cukierman & Co. Investment House Ltd. and Catalyst Funds MOSCOW, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Russian convoy ships in conjunction with the Swedish Coast Guard and the Danish Navy have intercepted an attempt to enter into a dangerously close proximity to Rosatom's floating nuclear power unit by a group of antinuclear extremists near the island of Bornholm (Denmark). The Beluga-2, a boat with antinuclear activists onboard, had been on a collision course with the convoy of vessels towing Rosatom's floating nuclear power unit Akademik Lomonosov to the Russian city of Murmansk. Lomonosov is currently en route to Chukotka in the far east of Russia, where upon connecting to the grid it will become the northernmost nuclear installation in the world. Akademik Lomonosov features small modular reactors equipped with the most cutting-edge safety and security systems. The plant was built based on tried and tested technology with hundreds of reactor-years of safe operation on nuclear icebreakers in the Arctic over the course of decades. The installation is expected to replace an aging Bilibino nuclear power plant in Chukotka, as well as a heavily polluting old coal firing plant, to provide clean, safe, and reliable energy for tens of thousands of Chukotka residents. Rosatom's representative said: "We praise the professionalism of the crews the Swedish Coast Guard boat KBV314 and HDMS Najaden of the Danish Navy and our servicemen, and all involved security services and emergency response units. "Rosatom welcomes open dialogue with members of the public, including with those who are opposed to nuclear power. We respect the right for legal protests and believe it is important to have an open debate on nuclear energy and the future of the Arctic. "We strongly believe that the issues of climate change and the future of the Arctic region deserve an honest and open dialogue, not cheap and irresponsible publicity stunts. "Nuclear safety is Rosatom's first priority and we work hard to ensure public acceptance of our projects and thorough stakeholder engagement. The majority of environmentalists have expressed strong support for the project, which will reduce CO 2 and other toxic emissions in the Arctic." Chukotka's Governor Roman Kopin said: "The floating nuclear power plant in Pevek is not just about powering that small town. The future of the entire Chukotka Region - the most remote and the most extreme in the weather - and of all of its 50,000 inhabitants hinges on the project. The plant will enable reliable, safe and affordable energy supply and ensure sustainable development of the key industries in the region." Full version of the press release: http://rosatom.ru/en/press-centre/news/an-attempt-to-enter-a-dangerous-proximity-to-rosatom-s-floating-nuclear-power-unit-intercepted-in-th/ Notes to the editor: The nuclear FPU is equipped with two KLT-40C reactor systems (each with a capacity of 35 MW) similar to those used on icebreakers. The vessel is 144 metres long and 30 metres wide, and has a displacement of 21,000 tonnes. Akademik Lomonosov - the first ship of this kind - was named for 18th century Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov. About Rosatom ROSATOM is the only company in the world to offer integrated clean energy solutions across the nuclear supply chain and beyond, including the design, build and operation of nuclear power stations, uranium mining, conversion and enrichment, the supply of nuclear fuel, decommissioning, spent fuel storage and transportation and safe nuclear waste disposal. With seventy years of continuous experience, the company is the world leader in high-performance solutions for all kinds of nuclear power plants. It also works in the segments of wind generation, nuclear medicine, energy storage, amongst others. Rosatom Twitter account: https://twitter.com/RosatomGlobal Rosatom FB account: https://www.facebook.com/rosatom.worldwide/ SOURCE Rosatom Firms to provide innovative software and services to empower data-driven organizations HELSINKI, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Semarchy, the Intelligent Data Hub company, and Solita, one of the leading digital transformation companies in the Nordics, today announced their partnership to expand their services to Finland and in the Nordics. Together the companies put modern data governance as well as master and application data management solutions with Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities at the fingertips of business users. xDM, the Semarchy Intelligent Data Hub, together with the Solita Agile Data solution a combination of development tools, architecture, and Data Devops methods offer companies a perfect tool set to accelerate their data business experiments and automate both their on-premises and cloud-based data management solutions. Share this story on Twitter via Click-to-Tweet: https://ctt.ec/11wLo "Demand for data management is rising in the Nordic countries, as digitalization, the rise of AI, and new data-oriented ways to conduct business require a higher quality of data," said Pekka Ahola, Senior Vice President of cloud and analytics at Solita. "More flexible and agile ways are needed to guarantee business value with quick delivery. After trial and discussion with plenty of MDM vendors, we felt that the Intelligent Data Hub provided by Semarchy in their xDM solution gives long-needed agility, extensibility and user experience for demanding business users." An Intelligent Data Hub, xDM from Semarchy combines the Enterprise Information Management capabilities typically associated with Master Data Management (MDM), Data Governance, Quality, Enrichment, and Workflows in a single platform. Semarchy will look to the more than 650 digital business experts from service designers and lean startup experts to software developers, business intelligence and data science specialists at Solita to expand their cloud and on-premises software solution in the region. "Empowering business users with data is not a regional challenge, but a global one," said Richard Branch, VP and General Manager at Semarchy. "The synergy with Solita was apparent from our first interactions, as they saw how our xDM solution fits with their desire to create culture, services and tech solutions for better business and society." The companies have already started joint projects, including one of the largest companies in Finland, who will be the first to enjoy the fruits of the new partnership. More information on the partnership can be found at http://www.semarchy.com/solita ABOUT SOLITA: Solita (http://www.solita.fi/en/) is a digital transformation company driven by data and human insight. We create culture, services and tech solutions that help us reinvent businesses and society for the better. Our services range from strategic consulting to service design, digital development, data, AI & analytics and managed cloud services. Established in 1996, Solita employs 650 digital business specialists in Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu, Singapore, Stockholm and Tallinn. ABOUT SEMARCHY: Semarchy(www.semarchy.com) is the Intelligent Data Hub company. Its xDM platform helps to address challenges such as the Global Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). xDM solves for enterprise Master Data Management (MDM), Application Data Management (ADM), and Collaborative Data Governance challenges for some of the most well-known brands in the US and Europe. This agile platform leverages smart algorithms and material design to simplify data stewardship, quality, enrichment and workflows. xDM from Semarchy is implemented via an agile and iterative approach that delivers business value almost immediately, and scales to meet enterprise complexity. Intelligent Data Hub, Intelligent MDM, xDM and Semarchy are trademarks of Semarchy, Inc. in the US, EU, and other territories. For more information, please contact For Semarchy: North 6th Agency USA: +1.212.334.9753, semarchy@n6a.com For Solita: Pekka Ahola, Senior Vice President, Data and Cloud Finland: +358 050 3644 226, pekka.ahola@solita.fi Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/470644/Semarchy_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.semarchy.com SOURCE Semarchy LA PLAINE SAINT-DENIS, France, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Showroomprive, a leading European online retailer, specialising in fashion for the Digital Woman, has published its net revenues for Q1 2018, ended 31 March. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151124/290566LOGO ) Showroomprive recorded a 1.9% decline in net sales during the first quarter 2018 at 150.8 million euros . . This decline is consistent with a generally sluggish consumption environment in the first quarter as well as the continuation of a difficult 2017-2018 winter season for the Group. Within the framework of the "Performance 2018-2020" plan, the Group also increased its level of requirement in the commercial execution. This enhanced selectivity, the objective of which is to improve the Group's financial performance in the mid-term, has punctually weighed on revenues. Simultaneously, the other measures of the "Performance 2018-2020" plan were deployed in line with expectations, showing tangible progress. An update of the "Performance 2018-2020" plan's progress shall be made at the end of the second quarter of the year. KEY FIGURES Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Q1 2018 Net Revenues (millions EUR)* 153.8 150.8 Total Internet Revenues (millions EUR)* 149.3 145.8 Number of Buyers (in millions)** 1.5 1.5 Revenues Per Buyer (EUR)** 96.2 93.8 Number of Orders (in millions) 3.7 3.4 Average Number of Orders per Buyer** 2.4 2.3 Average Basket (EUR)** 40.4 40.6 (millions) 31/03/2017 31/03/2018 Total buyers** 7.0 8.2 %Growth Net Revenues (millions EUR)* -1.9% Total Internet Revenues (millions EUR)* -2.4% Number of Buyers (in millions)** -5.9% Revenues Per Buyer (EUR)** -2.5% Number of Orders (in millions) -8.6% Average Number of Orders per Buyer** -2.9% Average Basket (EUR)** 0.4% Variation Total buyers** 17.2% *IFRS ** Exclusive of Beauteprivee Commenting on these results, Thierry Petit and David Dayan, co-founders and co-CEOs of Showroomprive stated: "The progresses recorded during this quarter are in line with expectations established by our "Performance 2018-2020" plan, the positive effects of which should gradually materialize throughout the year. The implementation of these undertakings on which we have been fully focused, partly explains the contraction of our activity in the first quarter. We strongly believe in the virtues of our "Performance 2018-2020" plan and remain fully confident in the Group's potential in the medium term". HIGHLIGHTS OF THE FIRST QUARTER 150.8 million euros in net revenues, down 1.9% (-7.7 % on a like-for-like basis). in net revenues, down 1.9% (-7.7 % on a like-for-like basis). The decline in activity materialized both in France and abroad, inter alia reflecting a challenging retail environment. and abroad, inter alia reflecting a challenging retail environment. The implementation of the "Performance 2018-2020" plan's various undertakings, along with a higher standard of business requirement and an increased sales selectivity threshold weigh on the activity in the short term without calling into question the positive effects to be expected in the medium term. 1.5 million buyers over the period, down 5.9%, and a 2.5% decline in revenue per buyer following on the declining business momentum observed since the 4 th quarter 2017. quarter 2017. The deployment of the "Performance 2018-2020" plan is taking place in line with expectations showing tangible progress: Improvement of the operational efficiency, particularly with the ongoing reinforcement of the commercial approach and deployment of new management tools. Ongoing reinforcement of sourcing teams with senior profiles, with arrivals in categories which under-performed end of year 2017. Significant commercial successes over the quarter with strategic brands thanks to the Group's focus on its relations with brand partners. First offers of monetization of traffic. Operational relations initiated with Carrefour are well underway: both Groups are currently working in the form of workshops on each of the 4 identified synergy lines, namely: offering, logistics, marketing and data. The first common initiatives will emerge in the second quarter of the year. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains only summary information and does not purport to be comprehensive. This press release may contain forward-looking information and statements about the Group and its subsidiaries. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the words "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "target" or similar expressions. Although the Group considers that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors and shareholders of the Group are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of the Group, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially and adversely from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, this forward-looking information and these statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in filings with the Autorite des Marches Financiers made or to be made by the Group (particularly those detailed in chapter 4 of the Group's annual report). The Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. UPCOMING PUBLICATIONS General Meeting of Shareholders: 14 June 2018 Results for the 1st semester 2018: end July 2018 This is a disclosure announcement from PR Newswire. SOURCE showroomprive.com MIAMI, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Starwood Capital Group ("Starwood"), a leading global private investment firm, announced today that a controlled affiliate has agreed to sell a portfolio of 14 U.K. hotels that form part of The Principal Hotel Company to Fonciere des Regions (through its subsidiary dedicated to hotel real estate, Fonciere des Murs). Terms of the transaction, which is expected to be completed in June 2018, were not disclosed. The portfolio consists of 14 leading, full-service hotels comprised of 2,638 keys and split across two distinct landmark brands, Principal (12 hotels) and De Vere (2 hotels). The properties occupy flagship locations in high-growth cities across the U.K., including London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Oxford, York and Leeds. Included in the portfolio are The Principal London and The Principal Manchester, two of the most iconic and historic hotels in the U.K. "This landmark transaction represents a major milestone in our remarkable journey with The Principal Hotel Company," said Cody Bradshaw, Managing Director and Head of European Hotels for Starwood Capital Group. "Five years ago, we embarked on an investment strategy aimed at consolidating more than 50 hotels across four different U.K. hotel companies to form a leading platform. With this sale to Fonciere des Regions, we will have realized 35 asset disposals in total since our acquisition. As long-term institutional investors, Fonciere des Regions are extraordinary custodians of real estate and we could not be more thrilled to pass them this iconic collection of assets." The Principal Hotel Company includes many of the properties that Starwood acquired through the purchase of Principal Hayley in 2013, Four Pillars and De Vere in 2014, and the Townhouse Collection in 2015, and the subsequent combination of the four portfolios. Starwood has invested significant capital into the portfolio in recent years to reinvigorate the properties and relaunch the Principal and De Vere brands to the market. This includes the highly acclaimed openings of The Principal Edinburgh Charlotte Square, The Principal York, The Principal Manchester, The Principal Edinburgh George Street and the flagship of the brand, The Principal London, which will complete its dramatic restoration this summer. The De Vere brand recently celebrated its official relaunch following substantial investment across the estate, which saw its historic, mansion house hotels extensively renovated to celebrate their British heritage and stunning natural landscapes. Following the successful rollout of its new Smart Space meeting and events product, together with nearly a dozen new restaurants and bars, De Vere has cemented its position as the U.K.'s leading independent conference hotel group. Eastdil Secured and UBS served as advisors on the transaction. About Starwood Capital Group Starwood Capital Group is a private alternative investment firm with a core focus on global real estate, energy infrastructure and oil & gas. The Firm and its affiliates maintain 11 offices in five countries around the world, and currently have approximately 3,800 employees. Starwood Capital Group has raised $45 billion of equity capital since its inception in 1991, and currently manages approximately $56 billion in assets. The Firm has invested in virtually every category of real estate on a global basis, opportunistically shifting asset classes, geographies and positions in the capital stack as it perceives risk/reward dynamics to be evolving. Over the past 26 years, Starwood Capital Group and its affiliates have successfully executed an investment strategy that involves building enterprises in both the private and public markets. Additional information can be found at starwoodcapital.com. SOURCE Starwood Capital Group ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Fedora Update Notification FEDORA-2018-6071a600e8 2018-05-03 15:21:35.407326 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Name : php Product : Fedora 26 Version : 7.1.17 Release : 1.fc26 URL : http://www.php.net/ Summary : PHP scripting language for creating dynamic web sites Description : PHP is an HTML-embedded scripting language. PHP attempts to make it easy for developers to write dynamically generated web pages. PHP also offers built-in database integration for several commercial and non-commercial database management systems, so writing a database-enabled webpage with PHP is fairly simple. The most common use of PHP coding is probably as a replacement for CGI scripts. The php package contains the module (often referred to as mod_php) which adds support for the PHP language to Apache HTTP Server. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Update Information: **PHP version 7.1.17** (26 Apr 2018) **Date:** * Fixed bug php#76131 (mismatch arginfo for date_create). (carusogabriel) **Exif:** * Fixed bug php#76130 (Heap Buffer Overflow (READ: 1786) in exif_iif_add_value). (Stas) **FPM:** * Fixed bug php#68440 (ERROR: failed to reload: execvp() failed: Argument list too long). (Jacob Hipps) * Fixed incorrect write to getenv result in FPM reload. (Jakub Zelenka) **GD:** * Fixed bug php#52070 (imagedashedline() - dashed line sometimes is not visible). (cmb) **iconv:** * Fixed bug php#76249 (stream filter convert.iconv leads to infinite loop on invalid sequence). (Stas) **intl:** * Fixed bug php#76153 (Intl compilation fails with icu4c 61.1). (Anatol) **ldap:** * Fixed bug php#76248 (Malicious LDAP-Server Response causes Crash). (Stas) **mbstring:** * Fixed bug php#75944 (Wrong cp1251 detection). (dmk001) * Fixed bug php#76113 (mbstring does not build with Oniguruma 6.8.1). (chrullrich, cmb) **Phar:** * Fixed bug php#76129 (fix for CVE-2018-5712 may not be complete). (Stas) **phpdbg:** * Fixed bug php#76143 (Memory corruption: arbitrary NUL overwrite). (Laruence) **SPL:** * Fixed bug php#76131 (mismatch arginfo for splarray constructor). (carusogabriel) **standard:** * Fixed bug php#75996 (incorrect url in header for mt_rand). (tatarbj) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - ChangeLog: * Wed Apr 25 2018 Remi Collet - 7.1.17-1 - Update to 7.1.17 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_17.php * Wed Mar 28 2018 Remi Collet - 7.1.16-1 - Update to 7.1.16 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_16.php * Wed Feb 28 2018 Remi Collet - 7.1.15-1 - Update to 7.1.15 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_15.php * Wed Jan 31 2018 Remi Collet - 7.1.14-1 - Update to 7.1.14 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_14.php - define SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH for reproducible build * Wed Jan 3 2018 Remi Collet - 7.1.13-1 - Update to 7.1.13 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_13.php * Wed Nov 22 2017 Remi Collet - 7.1.12-1 - Update to 7.1.12 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_12.php * Wed Oct 25 2017 Remi Collet - 7.1.11-1 - Update to 7.1.11 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_11.php * Wed Sep 27 2017 Remi Collet - 7.1.10-1 - Update to 7.1.10 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_10.php * Wed Sep 6 2017 Remi Collet - 7.1.9-2 - Automatically load OpenSSL configuration file, from PHP 7.2 * Wed Aug 30 2017 Remi Collet - 7.1.9-1 - Update to 7.1.9 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_9.php * Wed Aug 2 2017 Remi Collet - 7.1.8-1 - Update to 7.1.8 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_8.php * Thu Jul 6 2017 Remi Collet - 7.1.7-1 - Update to 7.1.7 - http://www.php.net/releases/7_1_7.php ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - References: [ 1 ] Bug #1573814 - CVE-2018-10547 php: Reflected XSS vulnerability on PHAR 403 and 404 error pages https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1573814 [ 2 ] Bug #1573805 - CVE-2018-10548 php: Null pointer dereference due to mishandling of ldap_get_dn return value allows denial-of-service by malicious LDAP server or man-in-the-middle attacker https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1573805 [ 3 ] Bug #1573802 - CVE-2018-10546 php: Infinite loop in ext/iconv/iconv.c when using stream filter with convert.incov on invalid sequence leads to denial-of-service https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1573802 [ 4 ] Bug #1573797 - CVE-2018-10549 php: Out-of-bounds read in ext/exif/exif.c:exif_read_data() when reading crafted JPEG data https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1573797 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - This update can be installed with the "dnf" update program. Use su -c 'dnf upgrade --advisory FEDORA-2018-6071a600e8' at the command line. For more information, refer to the dnf documentation available at http://dnf.readthedocs.io/en/latest/command_ref.html#upgrade-command-label All packages are signed with the Fedora Project GPG key. More details on the GPG keys used by the Fedora Project can be found at https://fedoraproject.org/keys ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - _______________________________________________ package-announce mailing list -- package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org To unsubscribe send an email to package-announce-leave@lists.fedoraproject.org The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) announced on Thursday that, according to a survey conducted in March, 56 percent of Palestinian children surveyed in Gaza Strip suffer from "traumatic nightmares." NRC, an Oslo-based humanitarian organisation, said Gazan children are also "showing increasing signs of psychosocial deterioration as a result of the violent response to the Gaza protests." "Principals from 20 schools interviewed by the NRC reported a rise in symptoms of post-traumatic stress in children, including fears, anxiety, stress and nightmares," the organisation said in a press release. The violence children are witnessing in Gaza comes on top of an already worsening situation negatively impacting their mental well-being, including living under blockade for the last 11 years and three devastating wars that deprived many children of their close relatives and friends, Jan Egeland, NRC Secretary General, said. Now they are once again faced with the horrifying prospect of losing their loved ones, as they see more and more friends and relatives getting killed and injured. Last month, Palestinian protesters clashed with Israeli troops along the Gaza-Israel borders, which led to the death of roughly 40 Palestinians and injury of thousands. The protests, calling for the right of return for Palestinian to the Israeli-occupied territories, erupted in response to the decision of US President Donald Trump to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and recognise the latter as the capital of Israel. The Palestinians reject this decision, as they have long wanted Jerusalem to be the capital of their future state. Search Keywords: Short link: Sebastian Forbes: Global Banking System Lags Behind Cryptocurrency Era Economists say that money is the blood of an economy while banks are its heart and blood system. What happens when the heart and blood system stop working properly? The entire economy will be in jeopardy. Famous financial analyst Sebastian Forbes (EU) raised this problem in his video message in the Internet. Our world is constantly changing. People, cities, countries, and continents are changing. Some changes are rapid. Others last for centuries. Financial and banking systems also seem to meet the demands of the times. 10 years ago, nothing foreshadowed any changes in this area. 5 years ago, the first notes of change appeared. Today, the World Bit Bank project is ready to bring about major changes in this sphere. However, this will change your understanding of finances and banks. Imagine that there is no longer any need to carry cash or several credit cards. Your wallet will turn into just one small card where your money is freely converted into the currency of any other country or cryptocurrency. This card connects all your other cards and accounts in any bank with the help of a single mobile application which allows you to manage it in a single system. There is no need to go to the bank and sign a ton of paper to obtain a loan to buy housing or to pay for studies. There is no fear that your money will be stolen or that it will expire. Just imagine you can make a payment in a few seconds and it doesnt matter what kind of payment it is. An account in a cafe, buying a washing machine, or transferring money to relatives or friends. And most importantly, all of this will be transparent, absolutely legal. I believe the successful implementation of the World Bit Bank project will give you a significant impact changes in the worlds financial and banking system. Indeed, that was an amazing and very inspiring speech. It seems like the World Bit Bank project is going to revolutionize the global financial and banking systems in the near future. For those of you who dont know, Sebastian Forbes is a well-known financier form the EU. He graduated from Oxford University and has been a certified expert in financial audit regulatory relations between financial market participants. He is one of the most respected experts in cryptocurrencies and other financial assets. You are free to discuss this article here: forum for traders and investors As Lebanon gears up for its first parliamentary elections in a decade, confusing alliances are being formed Lebanon is gearing up for parliamentary elections slated for 6 May, with members of the countrys large expatriate community having already cast their votes in elections that have been seeing complex and intertwining alliances. The last time Lebanese politicians competed for seats in parliament was in June 2009. Nine years and a new electoral law later, three main factors have come into play. First, the elections are being held after the ratification of a law granting Lebanese nationality to the offspring of expatriates, pushed for by the Alawite Free Patriotic Movement headed by Foreign Minister Jibran Bassel. The law may attract more Christian voters, since most Lebanese abroad are Christians. Second, the elections are being held under a controversial party-list proportional representation system, which it is believed could increase the number of seats held by the 8 March Alliance led by the Shia group Hizbullah in parliament. In the previous individual-list system the stakes were higher for the 14 March Coalition, especially the Future Movement which consistently gained more seats in Sunni majority constituencies. Sunni opposition forces close to Hizbullah fared weakly when the individual-list system was in place. The third factor is the use of a preferential voting system in which each voter votes for one of the competing lists and then is entitled to cast a preferential vote for a single candidate from the same list. The preferential vote can only be applied if the candidate hails from the same district or constituency the voter comes from, and it is expected to benefit Christian voters who do not form the majority in many constituencies. Lebanons legislative elections are bound to witness intertwining, if not contradictory, alliances. While tensions have lessened between old enemies the 8 March Alliance spearheaded by Hizbullah and the 14 March Coalition led by the Future Movement, there has been more bickering within each camp. Days before the deadline for registration, Lebanons political forces were engaged in negotiations with potential allies to finalise their lists. Mustafa Alloush, a former MP and member of the political bureau of the Future Movement, described these best when he said they resembled short-term marriages. The negotiations meant that each party was trying to secure the biggest number of parliamentary seats, especially as some of the big players knew that the new electoral law would not necessarily work in their favour, he said. Many observers believe the new alliances constitute the end of the 8 March and 14 March camps that have dominated Lebanons political scene since the assassination of former prime minister Rafik Al-Hariri in 2005. The alliances have gathered opposites together and forced allies apart. The dogma now is the pursuit of parliamentary interests, even if this means alliances between liberals and conservatives, civil society and government figures, and individual candidates and their political enemies. Parliamentary interests must come first. The strongest alliance includes Hizbullah and the Amal Movement headed by Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri. However, tensions are clouding the relationship between Amal and the Free Patriotic Movement, Hizbullahs ally, headed by Bassel. While Hizbullah remains on good terms with both parties, the unease between Berri and Bassel is undermining the alliance, though not yet to the extent of skirmishing over constituencies. One of the most prominent of the new alliances forged in the light of the rapprochement between Lebanese President Michel Aoun and Prime Minister Saad Al-Hariri is that between the 8 Marchs Free Patriotic Movement and the 14 Marchs Future Movement. The latter has not appealed to friends of the Future Movement Berri and Walid Jumblatt, head of the Progressive Socialist Party, leading to tensions between the latter and the Future Movement, and consequently also between the Amal Movement and the Future Movement. Some observers also point to impending unease between the Marada Movement headed by Suleiman Frangieh and the Future Movement because of the alliance between the latter and the Free Patriotic Movement in one of the countrys northern constituencies. The Future Movement sees no problem in forging new alliances, since its parliamentary interests must come first. It broke off its alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement after the latter refused to abandon the Lebanese Catholic parliamentary seat in the constituency of Saida. These tensions will naturally resolve themselves, and Berri, Jumblatt and Frangieh are working on counter-plans, betting that Hizbullah will not be happy to see its ally Bassel working closely with its enemy Al-Hariri. The repercussions will not only be domestic since Lebanon needs international support, and this is stirring up Hizbullah. The more conventional alliance between the Free Movement and the Lebanese Forces was shaken after the latters chairman, Samir Geagea, approved of Saad Al-Hariris resignation announced in Riyadh last year, and later rescinded, igniting Al-Hariris wrath. This, however, has not stood in the way of pragmatic alliances between the two. Al-Hariri, as head of the Future Movement, sent minister Ghattas Khouri to meet with Geagea, who later announced that the Future Movement and the Lebanese Forces, together with the Progressive Socialist Party, would run on the same lists in the Baabda and Al-Shouf constituencies and that they would be discussing further alliances in other districts. The Lebanese Forces has sought to forge an alliance with the Free Patriotic Movement despite their differences after the Lebanese Forces helped Aoun to the presidency. The Lebanese Forces and Aoun were previously arch-enemies in competing to lead Lebanons Christians. The expatriate voting in the elections has also been mired in controversy in the light of accusations directed at Bassel, Aouns son-in-law, having to do with the leaking of data. Bassel has denied the accusations, saying this was available to all the electoral campaigns. Hizbullah was also in the line of fire after its followers attacked an anti-Shia candidate, journalist Ali Al-Amin. Interior Minister Nehad Al-Mashnouk said the attacks were a violation of Lebanons democracy. The divisions on Lebanons political scene are likely to further sour the formation of any new government after the elections are over. With Berri sure to preside over the parliament, obstacles will arise when it is time to assign ministers, especially if each party does not win its previous seats. * This story was first published under the title 'Perplexing Alliances in Lebanon' in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: [My new consulting firm] will be aggressively marketing itself, using the very same tactics I suggest to my clients to make sure that the word gets out to entrepreneurs in every field. Siamak Kalhor Consulting LLC has opened for new business with a new website, http://www.siamakkalhor.com/. Siamak Kalhor is an acknowledged Internet marketing expert, widely considered a visionary in the field, and he has been a highly popular Los Angeles radio personality for over 18 years, working in both Farsi and English. The new business, says Mr. Kalhor, represents a major step forward for his consulting efforts. Up to now, people have found me primarily through networking and recommendations from friends. Siamak Kalhor Consulting, however, will be aggressively marketing itself, using the very same tactics I suggest to my clients to make sure that the word gets out to entrepreneurs in every field. The online universe contains countless ways for exciting startups to engage their target audiences and transform them into customers, but making sure that a new business is able to make the most of its marketing budget has never been more challenging or complicated, said Mr. Kalhor. I help my clients by cluing them in on the many pathways to improving their online outreach with strategies that many of the big players in the field dont even want us to know. Newcomers tend to think mostly about the website and its true that starting out with a great site is absolutely mandatory. At the same time, its just one element of the kind of online campaign a start-up needs to maximize its reach, Mr. Kalhor said. For most businesses, youve got to get indexed, youve got to be on Google and make use of Google AdWords and PPC [pay per click], the most powerful forms of SEO [search engine optimization] and a lot more. Its even harder because youve also got to know how to get around a great many roadblocks to make sure that youre not spending too much money for too few visitors or contacts. I see my role as helping my clients by unlocking the well-kept marketing secrets of the Internet, said Mr. Kalhor. About Siamak Kalhor and Siamak Kalhor Consulting LLC Siamak Kalhor began his career in digital marketing in 1999. In 2000, he started his Persian-language radio program, which ran for a remarkable 18 years. At the same time, Mr. Kalhor became an extremely well-known figure both in the Los Angeles Internet marketing field, as well as in the very large and influential Los Angeles Persian-American community. He has also regularly provided English language commentary on matters relating to Iranian and American relations and has been featured on KPPCs Take Two with A Martinez and Air Talk with Larry Mantle. Siamak Kalhor Consulting LLC is an extension of decades of experience driving highly effective marketing campaigns for projects in all fields. To find out more about Siamak Kalhor Consulting LLC, please call 323-553-7752 or visit the firms web site at http://www.siamakkalhor.com/. Applebee's Triple Bacon Burger Serving those who have served our country, Applebees Neighborhood Grill + Bar is celebrating Americas veterans and active duty military members and their families as part of Military Appreciation Month. In 63 Potomac Family Dining Group operated Applebees locations, service men and women can dine in and receive $6.99 Burgers and fries* all day, every Monday throughout the month of May. Were honored to serve military members because they do so much for our neighborhoods, whether home or abroad, said Dennis Benson, President & Chief Operating Officer of Potomac Family Dining Group. We see firsthand how the contributions of our local service members and veterans impact the community. This is just a small way for us to say thanks. Applebees Neighborhood Grill + Bar was one of the first restaurants to honor veterans and active service members, a commitment that has continued for the last decade on Veterans Day and throughout the year. Team members in neighborhoods nationwide go above and beyond to give back to heroes in their communities and over the years have served millions of meals to military and veteran families. For more information about Applebees, view the online menu and stop by your neighborhood Applebee's restaurant. Valid at 63 Applebees Neighborhood Grill + Bar locations in greater Washington, D.C., Richmond, Shenandoah Valley, Hampton Roads and Elizabeth City. Participation may vary by location. Visit potomacdining.com to view locations. About Applebee's Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar offers a lively casual dining experience combining simple, craveable American fare, classic drinks and local drafts. All Applebee's restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs dedicated to serving their communities and offering quality food and drinks with genuine, neighborly service. Applebee's is one of the world's largest casual dining brands; as of Dec. 31, 2017, there are nearly 1,935 Applebee's franchise restaurants in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Guam and 14 other countries. Applebee's is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which is one of the world's largest full-service restaurant companies. Follow us: Instagram: @applebees Twitter: @applebees Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/applebees About Potomac Family Dining Group Potomac Family Dining Group (http://www.potomacdining.com) owns and operates 63 Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar restaurants in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and North Carolina. Headquartered outside of Washington, D.C., Potomac is focused on delivering a personalized, fun, friendly, carefree dining experience. Potomac Family Dining Group is also dedicated to ensuring that each location is reflective of its neighborhood and provides local residents, business professionals and travelers with a true neighborhood grill and bar experience. NetSuite has been an integral piece for companies to reach their goals driving significant value to our clients. 9Gauge Partners announced today that Oracle NetSuite has recognized 9Gauge Partners as the 2018 Americas Partner of the Year. Announced at SuiteWorld18 in Las Vegas, Nev., the award acknowledges the rapid growth of successful clients and collaboration between NetSuite and 9Gauge. 9Gauge officially launched its Systems Integration practice in 2016 to deliver the best-in-class technology on the market, led by the announcement of its NetSuite relationship. The collaboration between NetSuite and 9Gauge has helped launch dozens of new clients this past year. 9Gauge utilizes its C-suite and financial operations expertise to drive the entire process, from kickoff and implementation through post go-live to help ensure maximum ROI on the customers investment. The Texas consulting firms breadth of financial services help integrate an organizations entire operations to streamline workflow, ensure systems deliver the key metrics management needs to make informed decisions, and reduce the ramp-up time to kickoff. At 9Gauge, we believe that business leaders should have the best available people, tools, and processes necessary to make informed decisions faster, said Jonathan Hines, Partner responsible for Firm Development at 9Gauge. By offering our clients a suite of advisory, financial operations, and business systems services, we develop a scalable infrastructure for companies to reach their goals. NetSuite has been an integral piece in that equation driving significant value to our clients. We are honored to receive this award at SuiteWorld 2018, recognizing our growing relationship with NetSuite, explains Jeff Locklear, NetSuite Practice Director at 9Gauge. Being selected to present on stage at SuiteWorld last year alongside one of our clients was symbolic of our commitment to NetSuite. Accepting this award for our dedication to delivering great value to NetSuite customers shows our continued commitment. We look forward to continuing our relationship with NetSuite and growing it even more in the coming years and to providing the best possible product and service to our joint clients; enabling them to grow and operate their businesses more efficiently while providing them with actionable insights into their business operations. For more information about 9Gauge Partners NetSuite services, visit our website: https://9gauge.com/netsuite/ ABOUT ORACLE NETSUITE Oracle NetSuite pioneered the Cloud Computing revolution in 1998, establishing the worlds first company dedicated to delivering business applications over the internet. Today, it provides a suite of cloud-based financials / Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), HR and omnichannel commerce software that runs the business of companies in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.netsuite.com. TRADEMARKS Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners. ABOUT 9GAUGE PARTNERS 9Gauge Partners is a management consulting firm supporting business leaders by delivering insights that enable making better, data-driven decisions, as they navigate through growth, pivots, and change. Our business model brings clients the right resources with the right experience at the right time. When deploying our consulting teams, we flex our capacity to match our clients needs, thereby creating a sum greater than the individual parts. We offer organizations executive advisory, financial operations and business systems support, expert resource capacity, and M&A assistance. 9Gauge is a business partner that helps companies accelerate from current state to the future state they envision. We always get a lot of success stories from these events. On Thursday, May 10th, 2018, Florida National University (FNU) will be hosting its Spring 2018 Job Fair. The event is set to take place from 10AM to 1PM at FNUs Hialeah Campus that is located at 4425 W Jose Regueiro (20th) Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33012. This event is the first of two annual career events where over 30 companies are scheduled to be in attendance, all of which are looking to hire for multiple positions. Job Placement Officer, Hernan Fred Gutierrez, knows the grand prospect of an event like this: Theres going to be a lot of great employers in the building, so were extremely excited to present the opportunity to pair those companies with job-seekers in our community. We always get a lot of success stories from these events. To prepare for the event, our Job Placement department offers resume-writing, interviewing tips and other services that will help you maximize your chances of finding your new career. About Florida National University Florida National University is a regionally accredited higher learning institution founded in 1982. FNU awards a variety of certificates, associates, baccalaureate, and master degree programs, including 22 distance-learning program opportunities. FNU: opening doors to the future. Contact: Kevin Martinez Social Media /Marketing Coordinator 305-821-3333 ext. 1066 kmartinez(at)fnu(dot)edu In 2010, fewer than 10% of family physicians provided maternity care, citing lifestyle, financial and liability concerns. A recent study from researchers at the American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM) demonstrated that family physicians who are trained to provide advanced maternity care (which includes surgical obstetrics) in their practices face additional challenges beyond lifestyle impact and the cost of insurance. Variability in maternity care training for family physicians, regional and institutional variation in hospital credentialing criteria, and strained relationships with obstetricians influence a family physicians ability to practice advanced maternity care. Obstetricians provide the majority of maternity care in the United States in urban areas; however, family physicians often fill the gap in the maternity care workforce in rural America, including caring for high-risk pregnancies and providing other full spectrum maternity care services. The research used data from qualitative semi-structured interviews with 51 purposively sampled key stakeholders in family medicine maternity care. The group included family medicine-obstetrics fellowship directors, past fellows, and family medicine residency directors of programs with advanced maternity care training. The complete article can be found at: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10995-018-2469-2 Correspondence and inquiries should be addressed to: Aimee R. Eden, American Board of Family Medicine; 1648 McGrathiana Pkwy, Ste 550, Lexington, KY 40511; phone: 859-269-5626; email: aeden(at)theabfm(dot)org The NRA Show is the worlds premier gathering within the restaurant industry and Chef Works has been proud to serve that industry for decades. -- Neil Gross, Chef Works CEO Chef Works, the global leader in culinary and hospitality apparel, is thrilled to be returning to the National Restaurant Association Show for the 23rd-consecutive year. Chef Works, still riding the success of launching nearly 250 new products last year, continues to be at the vanguard of fashion and function. The NRA Show is the worlds premier gathering within the restaurant industry and Chef Works has been proud to serve that industry for decades, said Chef Works CEO Neil Gross. This years show provides us with the opportunity to collaborate with old friends and show our new ones why were the apparel provider of choice. Chef Works, which enjoys unrivaled distribution in more than 70 countries, specializes in chef coats, aprons, shirts, pants and accessories for the entire back of the house, waitstaff and various other roles throughout the hospitality industry. Fashion-forward designs and unflinching customer service are the bedrock principles upon which Chef Works was built. More than ever, chefs and restaurateurs are telling a story with their food, said Chef Works Vice President of Marketing, Amanda Stuckey. So finding the right look that matches that story and complements their brand can be as critical as deciding on the menu and decor. We want to take the guess work out of it by offering hundreds of combinations and styles that are interchangeable, functional and still match a price point. Among the products Chef Works will be highlighting this year are The Berkeley Apron, The Indy Hipster Apron, the Havana Shirt and an extensive collection of chef coats that range from classic to executive. Chef Works will be located at Booth 1113 in the South Hall. For more information, visit http://www.chefworks.com About Chef Works: Chef Works is the global leader in culinary and hospitality apparel with unrivaled distribution in more than 70 countries. With an emphasis on fashion and function, Chef Works dresses the back of the house and waitstaff for a diverse range of customers including: International hotel chains, award-winning restaurants and bars, culinary schools, food service companies, laundries, assisted living facilities and upscale cinemas. The family-owned-and-operated business has helped pave the way for the culinary uniform movement by working directly with celebrity chefs and hospitality influencers to develop innovative, fashion-forward garments. Attorney/Author Mark M. Bello tackles themes of "betrayal" as they relate to religious institutions, the civil and criminal justice systems, and local and federal law enforcement. Bello has published two novels in his Zachary Blake Legal Thriller series, with the third due out later this spring. Both novels are brimming with suspense and excitement at every turn, delivering a compelling narrative that weaves elements of fiction with modern social and political issues. "Betrayal of Faith" is a compelling reality fiction, that touches on a conspiracy of silence. Loosely based on a high-profile clergy abuse case Mr. Bello handled in the mid-1980s, the novel exemplifies whats so powerful, painful, and necessary about conversations of sexual abuse. "Betrayal of Justice" is positively chilling in its political acuity. The novel is intended to open ones eyes and mind to the hate and prejudices that lurk in our own backyards. It is a must-read for legal and political fans alike. Bellos legal experience and passion for justice can also be seen in his Justice for All blog. His blog is a vehicle to discuss the latest developments in the laws impacting all citizens. In addition, he invites readers to share their insights on today's hottest legal topics. Consumers can purchase at The Zachary Blake Legal Thriller Series: Betrayal of Faith (Book 1) and Betrayal of Justice (Book 2) online at Amazon.com. To learn more about Mark, please visit his website. To arrange a book signing or interview, contact Christine Borrello at 248-981-7003 or 8grandpublicationsa(at)gmail.com. Fattmerchant, a payment technology provider saving businesses thousands with its subscription-based model, and 3dcart, the leading SEO-friendly eCommerce platform for retailers and internet marketers, today announce a partnership providing online merchants using the 3dcart platform direct access to Fattmerchants adaptable and proprietary credit card processing technology. Were dedicated to providing companies of all sizes with the most customer-friendly payment processing possible, said Lyndsey Lang, VP of Business Development at Fattmerchant. This alliance allows online merchants to truly choose what payment options will be most profitable for their business and makes the transaction process automatic and effortless. 3dcart is a premier all-in-one eCommerce platform providing solutions that cover all three dimensions: store owners, search engines and shoppers. For more than 18 years, 3dcart has provided eCommerce solutions and has executed more than $4 billion in transactions. Currently, the software company boasts the top eCommerce software with more than 17,000 online stores. This collaboration allows internet retailers to not only receive our all-in-one eCommerce platform, but also some of the most competitive payment processing rates around, said Jimmy Rodriguez, COO of 3dcart. We know that increasing sales and making the shopping experience easy are two of the biggest goals for eCommerce merchants, which is why were working with Fattmerchant to increase payment options and remove the headaches associated with processing. Fattmerchants integration options offer companies a transparent user experience. With its proprietary technology, online merchants can accept a variety of payment methods. It also provides zero percent markups through its subscription-based model, a pricing structure that allows predictable residual revenue growth for its partners. For more information about Fattmerchant and the company's services, visit http://www.fattmerchant.com. To learn more about 3dcart, visit http://www.3dcart.com/. ### About Fattmerchant Fattmerchant is a payment technology provider offering direct-cost pricing, robust analytics, and omni-channel integrated payments solutions to businesses. Suneera Madhani and Sal Rehmetullah, CEO and COO of Fattmerchant respectively, founded the company in 2014 after working in the credit card processing industry for years, wanting to sell a technology that customers would be excited about. Fattmerchant offers plans for every business and brings the human touch back to payment processing. About 3dcart 3dcart (http://www.3dcart.com), located in Tamarac, Florida, is the most SEO-friendly eCommerce platform for retailers and internet marketers to grow their online stores' traffic and sales. 3dcart includes 24x7 Technical Support, 100+ Mobile-Ready Themes, order management software, built-in blog, email marketing tools and more. Since 1997, the company has been a leader in the eCommerce market, building online stores for businesses of all sizes. Today, 3dcart is Visa PCI Certified and a Google Partner. DirectMail2.0 and TEC Mailing Solutions, entered into a strategic partnership heading into the Industrys premier mailing event, The National Postal Forum, to facilitate more efficient and effective marketing campaigns. The DirectMail2.0 platform allows marketing service providers the ability to incorporate online advertising, social media touch points and campaign tracking with detailed ROI analysis. DirectMail2.0s multifaceted digital and human touch points have yielded dramatically higher conversion rates compared to traditional direct mail campaigns. TEC Mailing Solutions is the leading cloud solution provider of address hygiene and mail sortation, ensuring mail pieces are delivered and at the lowest postage. TECs web services have proven to create more efficient workflows with less touch points. This partnership aims to facilitate a more streamlined delivery approach; combining DirectMail2.0 and TEC Mailing Solutions is creating a truly end to end marketing solution with greater ease and efficiency. Both DirectMail2.0 and TEC Mailing Solutions have a strong history of integrating the latest technology to enable marketing service providers and mail producers alike. Both web enabled platforms are elevating the industry by bringing more effective next generation technology to the marketing service providers with greater returns for their clients. In many ways its a perfect match since both TEC Mailing Solutions and DirectMail2.0 are next generation platforms that continue to enhance the value of mail. You could say this is a type of arranged marriage, explained Scott Eganhouse, VP TEC Mailing, since many of our mutual clients are technology savvy , its inevitable the market would demand web connected solutions be integrated seamlessly. The market impact of the collaboration continues to be a work in progress as DirectMail2.0 and TEC Mailing Solutions work with key stakeholders to deliver market driven technology. Representatives from DirectMail2.0 (booth 513) and TEC Mailing (booth 834) will be on hand at The National Postal Form to share their solutions. About: DirectMail2.0 is a marketing company that gives printers and mail houses the ability to provide fully integrated campaigns to their small business clients. By adding Mail Tracking, Call Tracking ,Online Follow-Up, Social Media Follow-Up and SocialMatch to traditional direct mail campaigns. DirectMail2.0 provides the seamless, multi-channel, completely trackable marketing todays business owners demand. Since beta testing began in 2012, DirectMail2.0 has run thousands of successful campaigns across more than 300 industries, and is now available as a white label product. Visit DM20.COM for more information. About: TEC Mailing Solutions LLC, is a Software as a Service (SaaS) provider of name, address hygiene and bulk mail sortation services for web-to-print, CRM, ERP, and variable digital printing solutions. TECs services are consumed as embedded functions in applications to improve workflow or standalone web portals: MailListCleaner, MailPreparer and MailPieceTracker; available direct or through a network of resell/referral partners and VARs. Privately held, the corporate office is located in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin with locations in Illinois. More information can be found at: http://www.tecmailing.com or call 866-379-9437 Italian multinational oil and gas company Eni announced in a statement on Thursday a new oil discovery at the A-2X exploration prospect, located in the South West Meleiha license in the Egyptian Western Desert. The well is the first drilled by Eni to explore the deep geological sequences of the Faghur Basin, the company said. "The exploratory well, named SWM A-2X, has been drilled to a total depth of 5,090 meters and encountered 18 meters of light oil in the Paleozoic sandstones of Dessouky Formation of Carboniferous age," Eni said in a statement. "Based on Competent Authoritys approval, the production is expected to be linked to already existing nearby infrastructures and then shipped to El-Hamra Terminal through existing pipelines," the statement added. Egypt's Minister of Oil Tarek El-Mullah said that the exploration using the latest technologies in the Western Desert area has shown very promising results, according to Ahram Arabic website. El-Mullah added that there will continue to be intensified exploration in the area, especially with the already existing infrastructure that would allow the production of high quality crude oil. Last week, Eni announced in a statement the start of production at the Zohr gas field's second production unit (T-1), which will increase the production capacity by 400 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD). The step comes four months after gas production started at Zohr, the largest offshore gas field in the Mediterranean. Zohr now has a capacity of 800 MMSCFD, or 150,000 barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) per day, the company said. Eni is Egypt's leading LNG producer, producing around 250,000 BOE per day. Search Keywords: Short link: Dr. Sheldon Cho now practicing in Rockledge, Fla. His Space Coast patients will be glad to have him back. Physician Partners of America (PPOA), a national healthcare company, announces that Sheldon Cho, M.D., has returned to practice in Floridas Space Coast. After spending a year growing the companys newer clinic in Winter Haven, he is now practicing pain management at 211 Coral Sands Drive, Suite A, Rockledge, FL 32955. Dr. Cho lent his considerable experience and leadership to establishing the new Winter Haven practice, said Tracie Lawson, PPOA president and chief operations officer. Now he has returned to an area where he spent many years. We know his Space Coast patients will be glad to have him back. He joins Dr. Jorge Fernandez-Silva in the Rockledge practice. Taking his place in the Winter Haven clinic is Dr.Lesco Rogers, who joined PPOA April 9. Dr. Cho is board-certified is anesthesiology with sub-specialty qualifications in interventional pain medicine and substance abuse. He earned his medical degree at Seoul (South Korea) National University College of Medicine. He completed by this residency and anesthesiology internship at Nassau University Medical Center Department of Surgery, Long Island, N.Y. Dr. Cho then completed a cancer pain medicine fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centers Anesthesiology Department in New York, N.Y. He continued his medical career as a clinical instructor at the University of Rochester Medical Center, specializing in anesthesia regional block and pain medicine. After teaching and working in New York and California for several years, he joined the Physician Partners of America Pain Relief Group clinic in Merritt Island. The company has expanded its presence in the Space Coast area from one center to three, and will open a state-of-the-art 13,500-square-foot medical pavilion later this year in Merritt Island. Dr. Chos key interests include cancer pain management, spinal cord stimulator trial and implant, spine kyphoplasty, RFA, facet joint block, and epidural block. New and former Space Coast-area patients can make appointments with Dr. Cho at the Rockledge clinic by calling (321) 735-6220. The clinic is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Same-day appointments are available. About Physician Partners of America Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Physician Partners of America (PPOA) is a fast-growing national healthcare company committed to fighting the opioid epidemic through interventional pain management and cutting-edge treatment modalities. It manages operations of a wide range of medical practices and ancillary services. These include pain management, minimally invasive laser spine surgery, orthopedics, primary care, mental health services, personal injury and Workers Compensation. It also operates AAAHC-accredited ambulatory surgery centers and procedure suites. Its ancillary division includes imaging,intraoperative neuromonitoring, medical supply distribution, pharmacies, patient transportation, a COLA-accredited high-complexity quantitative toxicology lab, and a COLA-accredited pharmacogenomics lab. For more information, please visit physicianpartnersofamerica.com. Eagle Roofing Products is pleased to announce the addition of an Eagle Account Representative in Boise, Idaho as a part of the companys New Market Development effort. This new role was assumed by Craig Bailey on April 15, 2018. Bailey has played a key role in the companys multi-faceted initiative since its launch in 2015, creating awareness in the non-core tile roofing markets of Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia as the Southeast Region Eagle Account Representative. Before taking on the role of pioneering the Southeast emerging market, Bailey was an Eagle Account Representative in the Northern California region for seven years. His new position will be servicing customers in Idaho, Wyoming, Montana and Eastern Washington, with the objective to educate consumers on the features and benefits of concrete roof tile, positioning it as a valuable alternative to other roofing materials by calling on all customer types and facilitating those relationships, with a special emphasis on roofing contractors. With his 11-year tenure at Eagle, Baileys extensive knowledge of the product and industry as a whole has made him the ideal choice to further this initiative in making the Northwest a premier concrete roof tile market. I am thrilled about the companys New Market Strategy for markets that are mostly utilizing other roofing materials, said Bailey. Concrete roof tile has the potential to be successful in every market in the country and being a part of a team that has that as its primary focus is very exciting. Contact information for Craig Bailey can be found on Eagle Roofing Products' website. To learn more about Eagle Roofing Products, visit http://www.eagleroofing.com. About Eagle Roofing Products Eagle Roofing Products is a division of Burlingame Industries, a California based, privately held family organization that has been in the concrete roof tile industry for over 40 years. Founded in 1989 with five employees, Eagle has grown to four manufacturing plants, five design centers and a work force of 700 employees. As the largest USA made, USA owned concrete roof tile manufacturer in the United States, Eagle Roofing Products specializes in providing concrete tile roofing solutions for the building industry. ### WCX is designed to bring together the brightest minds while sharing the latest next generation technology. We again accomplished that goal and look forward to building on this momentum for the future. - Jim Forlenza, Group Director, SAE Events SAE Internationals WCX World Congress Experience wrapped a successful three-day run earlier this month at Cobo Center in Detroit. WCX showcased a full-spectrum, full-sensory interactive experience, uniting the mobility industrys best talent from innovation hubs around the world for active learning, high-powered collaboration and technological discovery. The event welcomed 10,000 attendees from more than 49 nations. Nearly 1,500 technical papers and presentations highlighted WCX; and nearly 200 exhibitors showcased the latest technology and innovations on the Show Floor. WCX is designed to bring together the brightest minds while sharing the latest next generation technology, Jim Forlenza, Group Director, SAE Events, said. We again accomplished that goal and look forward to building on this momentum for the future. Highlights from the event include: Keynote presentations from Ken Kelzer, Vice President, Global Vehicle Component and Subsystems, General Motors and Bob Lutz, Former Vice Chairman, General Motors; and Annual Banquet Presentation by Mark Reuss, Executive Vice President, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, General Motors Company Leadership Summit at the Exchange; Tech Hub at the Exchange; Knowledge Bar and Learning Lab all featuring dynamic, interactive and customized presentations and discussions among subject matter experts and participants. Connect2Car, which featured the latest and most critical industry information about automotive connectivity featuring: automated driving; integrated transportation; smart cities and smart grids; cyber security; regulatory developments and policies; and technology integration Bustling exhibit hall, featuring: Six OEM exhibits; NAVYA fully autonomous shuttle demo on closed course; and WCX Connect: new directory platform with enhancements and more robust options for exhibitors to showcase their company, solutions, etc. Executive Leadership provide by General Motors with WCX Leadership Team comprising AVL, DENSO, FCA, FEV, Ford, Honda and Toyota Live streaming of selected Leadership Summit presentations, including Not Dead Yet the Ever-Evolving ICE Powertrain. Videos can be viewed online at https://www.facebook.com/pg/SAEInternational/videos In addition, WCX featured, for the first time ever, the Pitch Pit, which featured seven presentations of innovative technologies with select exhibitors receiving exclusive access to FCA executives. Marcus Hayes, CEO and Co-Founder of Orbis Wheels, participated in the Pitch Pit. We have the opportunity to pitch Fiat Chrylser and discuss our technology with senior executives. SAEs World Congress is a fabulous place to have your assumptions pressure tested so that you can leave not only with a better understanding of how your technology is received but weve actually had extraordinary collaboration. The 2019 SAE International WCX World Congress Experience will be held at Detroits Cobo Center from April 9-11, 2019. Call for papers for the 2019 event will open in June 2018. About SAE International SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 127,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion and the Collegiate Design Series. The key to Jumpstarts success is that we invest significant time to understand the industrys challenges before we invest in their solutions - Eller Mallchok Jumpstart Foundry (JSF) has collected information from stakeholders across the healthcare industry and compiled it into the first published report describing the type of innovation demanded by large industry players. Most will agree that the US healthcare industry needs to innovate and improve. We need to find ways to reduce cost, improve outcomes and provide better care for patients across the country. However, no one has conducted the research or published a summary report describing the actual pain points that industry insiders are requesting. Jumpstart Foundry found this gap in the analytical landscape and invested time and resources over the last 9 months to publish the first Industry Innovation Report. To develop this report, JSF collected over 90 unique market opportunities by conducting personal interviews with executives, physicians, insurance carriers, hospital administrators, nurses, employers, and patients. It was a ton of work, but also a lot of fun. I got the chance to sit down with so many passionate people pushing to make healthcare better. They are all doing great work but need innovation to help them. The biggest challenge was distilling a lot of highly qualitative data into one comprehensive report, said Hannah Gallagher, Investment Analyst at Jumpstart Foundry. The report is divided into sections based on the type of industry stakeholder and time horizon in which they expect to need a solution. For instance, hospital systems are looking to solve different challenges than insurance companies. Entrepreneurs and other innovators will want to review the full report and use it to better target sales and business development efforts. The full report can be accessed at http://www.jsf.co/2018-industry-innovation-report JSF used the report as a key determinant in their investment thesis for the year. Building a startup in healthcare is hard and Jumpstart Foundry believes in gathering every advantage possible. By gathering insight into what industry stakeholders need and are actively looking for, Jumpstart Foundry has created opportunities to invest in solutions that will have dramatically shorter sales cycles and higher success rates. The key to Jumpstarts success is that we invest significant time to understand the industrys challenges before we invest in their solutions, said Eller Mallchok, Managing Director of Jumpstart Foundry. flushing central heating Central Heating and Boiler Power Flush Specialists What is a powerflush? If sludge and other fragments are not detached from heating systems, it can collect in radiators, pipelines and heat exchangers, causing major obstructions. This reduces the normal amount of heat circulation and can result in damaging effects to radiator valves, heating regulators and servo valves. In some circumstances this will ultimately lead to the untimely breakdown of your boiler. Any central heating boiler repair can be very costly and the power flushing will keep in good health your gas appliance for very long period of time. Any new boiler installation requires a power flushing of the central heating system as well. Not doing so will invalidate your boiler manufacturer warranty and is agains current gas regulations in the UK. Powerflushing is a well-regarded technique of washing and preserving central heating systems. The powerflushing unit directs water at high speeds through to displace and eradicate build ups of dirt and debris. A comprehensive powerflush will increase heat circulation all over a property, thus reducing the costs of energy bills and improving dependability of your home system. Power flushing is also essential in order to get annual Landlords gas certificate CP12 Signs you need a powerflush A preliminary inspection of the household ought to be done, as well as to consult with the owner. Places likely to have build-ups of sludge and debris need to be recognised, such as corrosion on pipework or failing radiators. Other indications can include tainted looking water from the radiators and the reducing warm up times of each radiator. In these instances, a radiator powerflush makes the world of difference. Water out the taps might also start to cloud up, owing to the limescale that will form inside it. Another condition where youll need assistance is when the heater within the boiler does not function at its usual proficiency. When mechanisms become too rusted or damaged, the owner must be mindful that washing these may uncover leaks in the worst affected areas of corrosion. Why should I have a Powerflush? Flushing central heating system clears the system of the persistent sludge, leaving pipeworks and mechanisms blockage free and adds years of longer life to them. There are many benefits of a central Heating Powerflush here are some of the main points: Increased Life of your Heating System A clean and debris-free system means the lessening of corrosion in the pipe works and workings of your central heating. This results in an extended life for your boiler. Once the power flush is done, an optional inhibiting agent can be put through the whole system to help prevent anymore sludge build-ups. Power Flushing can often maintain the average lifespan of your heating system to beyond 10 years. Greater Effectiveness After flushing is complete, your heating will be able to work without the stresses and strains of a corroded system. Your central heating will do its job as well as a brand new system and rise by up to 40% efficiency cold radiators and noisy boilers will be a thing of the past! Lowered Energy Bills With increased efficiency, radiators will begin to heat up faster, and in turn, the rooms are warm up quicker. This will be done without the need to turn the central heating on full, which results in less consumption of energy - reflecting in large savings of your energy bills. Long-term Effects If your boiler is serviced recurrently, your central heating system shouldnt need Powerflushing again for more than 10 years thats 10 years free from cold radiators, leaky units and systems full of sludge! How to setup the powerflushing unit Before establishing the powerflushing procedure, youll must guarantee the system is properly installed to utilise the Powerflow unit. 1. Switch off all electrics by isolating the system. Take care to fully open every lock shield valve and radiator wheel head. 2. Make sure the thermostatic radiator valves are either disconnected or turned to their highest point. Additionally, check all diverters and zone valves are both open and in a locked position. 3. Thermal store cylinders should all be isolated. 4. Select the ideal point to connect the Powerflow to the unit. It must be within reach of an appropriate waste-pipe and close to a suitable mains water source. Try using a residual current device when joining the pump to the electrical plug. The powerflushing unit is attached to the system via flushing adapters. These are used where the filter is fitted. Otherwise, it can be attached with the flow and return pipes on the boiler, and you can also install the system onto a circulator pump by utilising a powerflow pump head adapter. Lastly, you could attach the system to the radiator (though this decision should be made only if there isnt another connection point accessible.) 5. Join each of the dump discharge pipe, overflow and mains water supply, safeguarding the closure of every isolating valves. 6. Fasten the powerflushing filter onto the flow valve with the female camlock connectors. 7. The other end of the hose should joined to the powerflushing filter with the male camlock connectors. Start powerflushing Switch on the Powerflow machine to begin a preliminary flush to eliminate the unit water. Top-up with new water and measure out the required amount of Powerflushing Cleaner. Ensure the cleaner has circulation and start the process of dynamic balance flushing (withdrawing the flow intermittently). 8. Switch off every radiator running on the machine, apart from one. 9. Once the powerflush unit is up and running and is topped with fresh water, reverse and circulate the course of the flow in 1-2 minute intervals. 10. Marginally open the mains inlet and dump valves. Be sure that the dump pipe is discharged into a suitable drain outlet. 12. Slowly open the dump valve more, being sure to balance the flow via the inlet. Try and use the max discharge speed that the mains water supply can offer. Carry on circulating the powerflow during this process. After the Powerflush Lastly, after removing the unit and reinstalling the system, its a good idea to add protector fluid. Central heating protectors certify enduring defence against corrosive build up, limescale and uphold maximum productivity of the system. 1. Use the protector through either the filling loop, filter or a radiator. This can be inserted rapidly into systems, lessening time spent on site. 2. Keep circulating this protector fluid until the system gets up to a working temperature. 3. Reset the panels and give the system a check-up run. The system ought to be comprehensively powerflushed. The idea behind this, is to generate a strong flow of clean water under carefully monitored settings, to eradicate sludge from out of the system. POWER FLUSHING PROVIDED TO ONE OF OUR CUSTOMER'S PROPERTY Urbo creates a seamless line of communication between consumers and their favorite businesses. We also allow businesses that users express interest in to generate communication content in real time, on demand and with close to 100% relevancy, says Dmitry Hryppa, CTO of Urbo. UrboLabs, a startup that has pioneered a real time communication platform between businesses and consumers, announced that it has completed a financing round led by BKRT Holdings, a New York based investment firm. The company also announced a release of its Urbo platform in the New York and New Jersey area. Urbo users fully control the communication flow by reconstructing their real world virtually and retaining complete control over which businesses they would like to receive promotions from. Whether it is a favorite restaurant, pharmacy, doctor's office, retail store, bank, school, or any other entity with a physical address - Urbo covers it. This user initiated communication approach significantly increases communication relevancy while shifting control over content back to the businesses, which stands in direct contrast to all other platforms where content is driven by marketing and data analytics that heavily rely on user data. We let consumers decide and fully control who they want to hear from, which filters out unwanted noise. We also allow businesses that users express interest in to generate communication content in real time, on demand and with close to 100% relevancy, says Dmitry Hryppa, CTO of Urbo. Users benefit by having everything in one place while businesses acquire an on demand communication channel to new and existing customers and mobile presences, which is especially important to small businesses that struggle to compete with online competition and simply cannot afford development and marketing costs of proprietary mobile applications. These are only some of the benefits offered by Urbo, which is aiming to become a single consolidated platform for users to interact with the world around them. Urbo passes control back to the consumer, reduces noise, increases communication relevancy and effectiveness, combines multiple features in one app, rewards users for performing daily tasks, and much more. The fact that Urbo offers all these benefits for consumers while saving businesses time, money, and increasing revenue makes Urbo a very attractive platform for both business and consumers. MEDIA CONTACT press(at)urbolabs(dot)com http://www.urbolabs.com Macmillan Learning & OhioLINK share a common belief that affordability coupled with expert teaching and engaging learning experiences is the true path to student success. --Macmillan Learning Institutional GM, Craig Bleyer Macmillan Learning, a premier educational solutions and insights provider, and OhioLINK, a consortium of 120 academic libraries distributed among 91 Ohio colleges and universities, today announced a strategic offering designed to make course materials more affordable. This multi-pronged approach includes a textbook pricing agreement and Intellus Learning, a Macmillan Learning product, as a learning tool for participants in a statewide grant supporting Open Educational Resources (OER) in the state of Ohio. Combined, these agreements offer students at OhioLINKs participating member institutions access to Macmillans digital portfolio via inclusive access and preferred pricing models, resulting in potential student savings of nearly 70% on course materials, ensuring immediate access to materials on the first day of class, and driving higher likelihood of student success. Both Macmillan and OhioLINK institutions are focused on course outcomes and affordability as crucial elements in course design decisions. Faculty at OhioLINK institutions will have the opportunity to adopt eBooks from Macmillans digital course portfolio via Inclusive Access and grant participants will take advantage of the capability of Intellus Learning to discover and review OER and no-cost-to-students library content that matches defined course objectives. Our customers are focused on providing learning experiences that are affordable, engaging, and drive student success, explained Macmillan Learning CEO, Ken Michaels. Yet, finding the right mix of content and tools that address all three objectives can be challenging. With this strategic partnership, we are delighted to meet the needs of Ohio institutions, administrators, faculty, librarians, and students with a highly innovative solution that offers critical transparency around student engagement, content usage, and content effectiveness. The combination of affordability and insights is a game-changer in the pursuit of lifting student outcomes. Helping students achieve their ambitions is what drives me every day, and also why Im thrilled about partnering with OhioLINK. OhioLINK provided Intellus Learning, a Macmillan Learning product, to faculty participating in Ohios $1.3 million OER Innovation grant through the Ohio Department of Higher Education, OhioLINKs parent agency. Intellus enables them to efficiently identify free, quality course materials and provides insights into content use and student engagement. With patented machine learning techniques, Intellus has aggregated, indexed, and measured usage and engagement of 5.4 million Open Educational Resources (OER). Using the Intellus Learning platform, faculty cohorts from institutions across the state participating in the grant will be able to discover, curate, and assign OER along with OhioLINK shared library resources. These cohorts are working on 21 courses identified as priorities for OER adoption across multiple Ohio higher education institutions. At OhioLINK, we are focused on students first and foremost, seeking out and testing the appropriate tools and strategies that deliver cost savings to them directly, said OhioLINK Executive Director Gwen Evans. We believe in tackling affordable learning from all angles, including textbook savings, OER and inclusive access, among others. Working with Macmillan delivers complementary strategies that support student success and academic freedom simultaneously. Whether its making digital course materials available at a reduced cost to our member higher ed institutions or our grant group using Intellus to potentially speed OER adoptionwe are working diligently on these initiatives on behalf of Ohio college students. Macmillan Learning & OhioLINK share a common belief that affordability coupled with expert teaching and engaging learning experiences is the true path to student success, stated Macmillan Learning Institutional GM, Craig Bleyer. This partnership personifies this mindset and allows us to extend successful learning to as many students as possible. We are committed to the transformative nature of education, and want to do our part to help students reach their fullest potential. The inclusive access textbook pricing collaboration between Macmillan Learning and OhioLINK will be immediately available to the statewide network of libraries and their combined student population of more than 600,000 learners at institutions such as The Ohio State University, Sinclair Community College, and Bowling Green State University. Institutions interested in taking advantage of this price agreement should contact Macmillan Learning directly. Elaborating on these initiatives further, Craig Bleyer said, As a family-owned company with a 175-year history in publishing, we have a deep passion for learner success. We strive to deliver impactful learning solutions with rich insights for our student and faculty customers, and are delighted to champion affordability in the state of Ohio. To learn more about Macmillan Learnings portfolio of products and services, please visit: macmillanlearning.com. About Macmillan Learning: Macmillan Learning improves lives through learning. Our legacy of excellence in education informs our approach to using user-centered design, learning science, impact research, and data mining to develop world-class content and pioneering products that are empathetic, highly effective, and drive improved outcomes. Through deep partnership with the worlds best researchers, educators, administrators, and developers, we facilitate teaching and learning opportunities that spark student engagement and improve outcomes. We provide educators with tailored solutions designed to inspire curiosity and measure progress. Our commitment to teaching and discovery upholds our mission to improve lives through learning. To learn more, please visit http://www.macmillanlearning.com or see us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIN or join our Macmillan Community. About Intellus Learning: Intellus Learning empowers instructors to quickly access high-quality open educational resources (OER), other openly-licensed content, as well as their institutions academic library materials to help replace expensive course materials, while providing powerful, real-time insight into students engagement with the assigned content. To learn more, please visit: http://intelluslearning.com. About OhioLINK: Established in 1992, the Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLINK) is Ohios statewide academic library consortium and serves more than 600,000 end users, with 120 libraries as full members. These libraries are distributed among 92 different Ohio colleges and universities. OhioLINK membership includes the State Library of Ohio, 16 public university libraries, 51 independent college libraries, 23 two-year college libraries, 16 regional campus libraries, eight law school libraries and five medical school libraries. A member of the Ohio Technology Consortium of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, OhioLINK provides a competitive advantage for Ohios higher education community by cooperatively and cost-effectively acquiring, providing access to, and preserving an expanding array of print and digital resources, and by centrally hosting digital content. Learn more at http://ohiolink.edu. AIM Solder, a leading global manufacturer of solder assembly materials for the electronics industry, is pleased to announce their participation at TEC Warsaw, scheduled to take place on May 17, 2018 at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel & Conference Centre in Warsaw, Poland. AIM will highlight its novel REL electronic solders, REL22 and REL61. These new alloys provide the PCB assembly industry with unique solutions to address the limitations of current industry offerings. REL22 is an award winning, high reliability alloy with durability characteristics double the reliability of SAC305 in harsh environments. REL61 is a low silver solder alloy that solves the process challenges associated with many other low/no silver solder alloys. With a 10C lower melting temperature and superior wetting performance versus SAC305, REL61 can lower process temperatures, prevent PCB damage and reduce costs and waste. In recent years, AIM has expanded its presence in Europe with the addition of a full-line manufacturing facility in odz, Poland. This fully-staffed facility also provides sales support and customer service alongside AIMs unparalleled technical support. To learn more about the company and its full line of advanced solder materials, including its solder paste, liquid flux and solder alloys. For more information on these products, visit AIM at table 11 and online http://www.aimsolder.com. About AIM Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, AIM Solder is a leading global manufacturer of assembly materials for the electronics industry with manufacturing, distribution and support facilities located throughout the world. AIM produces advanced solder products such as solder paste, liquid flux, cored wire, bar solder, epoxies, lead-free and halogen-free solder products, preforms, and specialty alloys such as indium and gold for a broad range of industries. A recipient of many prestigious SMT industry awards, AIM is strongly committed to innovative research and development of product and process improvement as well as providing customers with superior technical support, service and training. For more information about AIM, visit http://www.aimsolder.com. Upcoming Events: May 15, 2018 SMTA Carolinas DoubleTree Raleigh Brownstone, Raleigh, NC May 22, 2018 SMTA Michigan Laurel Manor, Livonia, MI June 5-7, 2018 SMT Hybrid Packaging Nuremberg, Germany GFOA is among the best shows year after year. It is always well-organized and provides a plethora of opportunities for finance officers to network and advance their careers. We love seeing all of the familiar faces and meeting many new people, stated Jim Boyd, Manager of Client Services. Mitchell Humphrey & Co. (MH&Co.) is proud to participate in the 112th Annual Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Conference in their hometown of St. Louis. The professional development and networking event draws in thousands of city, state, and county government finance officers from the United States and Canada. MH&Co. executives will be showcasing their enterprise resource planning (ERP) applications. The fully supported and integrated FastTrackGov and Financial Management System software offer one solution for the entire city. Demos will show GFOA attendees a versatile and comprehensive product line designed specifically for governments that includes financial management, licensing, permitting, code enforcement, community development, and online citizen services. GFOA is among the best shows year after year. It is always well-organized and provides a plethora of opportunities for finance officers to network and advance their careers. We love seeing all of the familiar faces and meeting many new people, stated Jim Boyd, Manager of Client Services. Our ERP solution is a great fit for this clientele. We look forward to sharing our MH&Co. philosophy and giving a look inside our software. GFOAs mission is to promote excellence in state and local government financial management. GFOA provides training, professional guidance, and networking events. There are over 19,000 finance officers affiliated with GFOA throughout the United States and Canada. About Mitchell Humphrey & Co. Mitchell Humphrey & Co., founded in 1977, offers a broad range of software and services to the public sector, including Financial Management, Permitting, License and Case Management, Community Development, Online Citizen Services, and Vehicle for Hire Regulation applications. For more information, visit http://www.mitchellhumphrey.com. KloudScript, Inc., a community-led specialty pharmacy care network, announces specialty pharmacy accreditation through the Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA), with its pharmacy partner, Neighbors Pharmacy of Louisiana. In 2015, after substantial planning, Neighbors Pharmacy was established in Lafayette, Louisiana by Chad and Gretchen Bodin. Both knew it was time to expand their pharmacy business and move towards a more specialized platform; one that differentiated their pharmacy from big box stores. Neighbors Pharmacys mission is not just to fill prescriptions, but to help their trusted Neighbors make informed healthcare decisions. Centralized in Lafayette, Neighbors Pharmacy makes it easier to service a wide variety of rural areas, as well as, larger cities along Louisianas I-10. Neighbors Pharmacy offers a wide variety of patient care services including: specialty care, retail pharmacy, delivery service, customized patient education and consultation, compounding, monthly pill packs adult immunizations, and medication therapy management services. Neighbors Pharmacy partnered with KloudScript in July of 2015 and has seen tremendous growth in their specialty program. We quickly discovered that there was an urgent need in our area for specialty care and knew that partnering with KloudScript would be the solution to providing our patients with personalized, local specialty care. Our partnership ensures that our patients, in all communities, achieve desired, cost-effective outcomes, said Chad Bodin, RPh, Owner of Neighbors Pharmacy. Bodin anticipates a positive impact on Neighbors specialty business since becoming CPPA accredited in partnership with KloudScript. Becoming specialty accredited has been the ultimate goal for our business. Accreditation validates that the quality of care that we provide to our patients stands above other pharmacies in our area. We are committed to ensuring that our patients are treated like family, because thats what good Neighbors do, said Bodin. KloudScript pharmacy partners provide care to patients locally; while KloudScript provides the necessary strategy, infrastructure and support services, including financial case management through its hub to operate a specialty program that provides a better care experience than mail order specialty pharmacies. KloudScripts patient care management platform, KETU, drives compliance and quality of care through consistency in hub services, pharmacy operations and clinical care to patients, while capturing the data necessary to track trends and business intelligence, critical to various industry stakeholders. Dr. Rinku A. Patel, Founder and CEO of KloudScript, Inc., anticipates more network pharmacy partners to achieve CPPA accreditation in 2018. Accreditation with Neighbors Pharmacy proudly displays our commitment to improving overall patient outcomes and lowering out-of-pocket costs. By building our network of accredited pharmacy partners, we continuously demonstrate to prescribers, payors and pharmaceutical manufacturers that our specialty-at-retail care model not only meets the rigorous standards of quality and care, but also provides for an engaged patient that is happy to receive their medications and care from a community pharmacy they trust, said Dr. Rinku A. Patel, Founder & CEO of KloudScript, Inc. About KloudScript, Inc. KloudScript is a community-led specialty pharmacy network. We partner with community retail pharmacies nationwide and collaborate with pharmaceutical manufacturers, payors, and prescribers to make specialty medications available locally for patients. Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, KloudScripts health technology platform, hub support services, and national network of community retail pharmacy partners enable patients to have a single, local pharmacy home for medications and personalized care. Learn more about KloudScripts growing community-led specialty pharmacy network at http://www.KloudScript.com. About Neighbors Pharmacy Neighbors Pharmacy was established in Lafayette, Louisiana by Chad and Gretchen Bodin in 2015. Centralized in Lafayette, Neighbors Pharmacy makes it easier to service a wide variety of rural areas, as well as, larger cities along Louisianas I-10. Neighbors Pharmacy offers a wide variety of patient care services including: specialty care, retail pharmacy, delivery service, customized patient education and consultation, compounding, monthly pill packs adult immunizations, and medication therapy management services. Learn more about Neighbors Pharmacy and their local services at: http://www.neighborspharmacy.com. About CPPA The Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA) is a nonprofit organization established in 2012 through a partnership of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP), and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) to recognize pharmacy practices for providing patient care services that improve health outcomes and contribute to lower healthcare costs. The CPPA mission, unique among accreditors, is to raise the level of pharmacy-delivered patient care services through accreditation and, thus, serve the public health. These three organizations saw a need to establish standards to meet the publics need for specific, predictable, and measurable pharmacist clinical services across the medication use continuum. Egypts Minister of Defence Sedqi Sobhi met on Thursday with a delegation from the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA) to discuss enhancing Egyptian-US military relations, as well as cooperation in the war on terrorism and security in the Middle East. The meeting was attended by a number of Egyptian Armed Forces commanders. Sobhi stressed the significance of the decades-long Egyptian-US strategic ties that bind the armed forces of both countries, who aim to achieve peace and development, and confront threats to security and stability in the region. The JINSA delegation praised cooperation between Egypt and the United States in all fields, stressing the importance of coordination and consultation between the two countries on all levels in light of Egypt's efforts to counter terrorism and the country's active engagement with regional and international issues of common interest. Search Keywords: Short link: Bernkopf Goodman LLP is proud to announce that Sheryl C. Starr, a Real Estate, Corporate, and Business Law Partner, has been elected as the firms new Managing Partner. As Managing Partner, Starr will oversee Bernkopf Goodmans day-to-day operations by working closely with the Executive Committee, the Chief Operating Officer, the Marketing Committee, the Technology Committee, and other key leadership individuals in the firm. Sheryls track record is impressive. Her business acumen, incredible ability to analyze difficult situations and create solutions for those situations, and her outstanding work with clients and firm Partners make her the perfect choice for this role, said Neil Markson, Bernkopf Goodmans former Managing Partner, who stepped down as Managing Partner after having served in that role for over 30 years. I am honored and thrilled to serve as Managing Partner after more than 30 years at Bernkopf Goodman. I look forward to working with the entire firm to continue our focus on client service and to explore opportunities for strategic growth and other exciting initiatives, said Starr. Starr has over 30 years of experience in all aspects of commercial real estate and business transactions, including acquisitions, sales, financing, leasing, loan work-outs and restructuring, debt assumption, and joint venture activities. She has represented a wide variety of clients, including banks and other financial institutions, car dealerships, equity investors, and owners and developers of retail centers, office buildings, hotels, condominium developments, multi-family residential property, and mixed use developments. Sheryl also has experience in sophisticated financing transactions, including construction and mezzanine financing, loan defeasance, and loan portfolio acquisitions. Starr, a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania, has achieved an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell and has been previously recognized by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Top Women of Law honoree. Sheryl continues to exhibit strong organizational and leadership skills, said Ken Goldberg, Partner at Bernkopf Goodman. As an effective strategic planner and collaborator, the Partners have unanimously endorsed her elevation to Managing Partner. About Bernkopf Goodman LLP For over a century, Bernkopf Goodman LLP has represented clients in complex, high-stakes real estate, business, and litigation matters. Our ability to provide sophisticated legal counsel efficiently and cost-effectively is an important demarcation of our firm. We have earned a reputation for offering the caliber and expertise of a large firm, with the agility and personalized service of a boutique firm. Bernkopf Goodman LLP has an impressive track record of success that spans real estate development, construction, surety, corporate structure, bankruptcy, civil litigation, and regulatory compliance, including zoning and municipal matters. Grant Cardone Signs Deal With Furniture Mart USA We have seen an instant impact in not only sales but our sales culture Family-owned and operated Furniture Mart USA, a retailer with locations across 5 states, has signed a multi-year deal with international sales expert Grant Cardone to have every employee go through sales training in all 40 store locations. The training will be done through Cardone University, a multi-million dollar online sales training tool that Grant Cardone created which provides retailers, including Fortune 500 companies, with sales training, sales motivation, and sales solutions. Furniture Mart USA has already grown from a single store in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1976 to one of the largest furniture retailers in America today with over 1,200 employees. With Grant Cardone sales training, they are looking to explode with further growth. We have seen an instant impact in not only sales but our sales culture that we havent had in 40 years of our business. We can't wait to see what happens once we really get rolling and learn more about what Grant and his team will bring us. - Bill Hinks, CEO of Furniture Mart USA I look forward to partnering with Furniture Mart USA to increase their sales volume at each and every store location. I want to help them achieve their goal of becoming the number one furniture retailer in the country. - Grant Cardone Cardone University is being used by thousands of businesses worldwide to increase sales and offers the most extensive sales training curriculum in the world. For more information, call 310-777-0255 or visit http://www.cardoneuniversity.com About Grant Cardone Grant Cardone is a New York Times bestselling author, the #1 sales trainer in the world, and an internationally renowned speaker on leadership, real estate investing, entrepreneurship, social media, and finance. His 5 privately held companies have annual revenues exceeding $100 million. Forbes named Mr. Cardone #1 of the "25 Marketing Influencers to Watch in 2017". Grants straight-shooting viewpoints on the economy, the middle class, and business have made him a valuable resource for media seeking commentary and insights on real topics that matter. He regularly appears on Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC, and MSNBC, and writes for Forbes, Success Magazine, Business Insider, Entrepreneur.com, and the Huffington Post. He urges his followers and clients to make success their duty, responsibility, and obligation. He currently resides in South Florida with his wife and two daughters. The addition of Don in this key role will allow the company to more closely align with our evolving client base, while SQUAN continues to fine tune its service offering for the convergence of wireline and wireless network infrastructure. SQUAN, an industry leader specializing in telecommunications design/build services for network infrastructure, announced today that they have appointed Don Henry as their new general manager of engineering. Don is an industry veteran with over two decades of network infrastructure experience. He will report to Duane Albro, CEO at SQUAN. The addition of Don in this key role will allow the company to more closely align with our evolving client base, while SQUAN continues to fine tune its service offering for the convergence of wireline and wireless network infrastructure, said Keith Pennachio, EVP at SQUAN. In this role, Don will be responsible for the management of SQUANs multi-office engineering division, including P&L, business development and all operations functions. He will oversee a staff comprised of project managers, outside plant engineers, CAD drafters and support personnel as defined by customer needs. Don has held several key leadership positions including director of dispatch operations and general manager at Frontier Communications and director of operations and director of construction titles at Verizon. Before joining Verizon (NYNEX/New Telephone Company), Don was a combat arms officer in the Army, assigned in Germany and in the southwestern region of the United States. During this time period, he attained the rank of Captain. SQUAN is on the cutting edge of our industry and am confident that I can leverage my experience to lead its highly skilled engineering team to even greater heights as we partner with our clients to help them diagnose and overcome even the most challenging engineering and fiber-related obstacles, said Don Henry. Don holds an MBA from the Simon Business School, University of Rochester and a BS in Systems Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He is on the Advisory Board to the Master's in Telecommunications Management program at Canisius College. Don is also a trained facilitator through FranklinCovey and has conducted several workshops. About SQUAN SQUAN combines its unique and in-depth knowledge of network engineering and fiber construction to solve complex and evolving telecommunications problems around macro networks, small cell, DAS, 5G, IoT, and smart cities for wireless, wireline, and enterprise customers. SQUAN is focused on the evolution of communications networks for wireless, wireline, and the componentry within. Services include backhaul, small cells, C-RAN, fiber, right of way, and the design, construction, and technical installation services that support them. For more information visit: http://www.squan.com. Products, service names, and company logos mentioned herein may be the registered trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved. Fides ability to help clients securely connect to any bank through any channel, combined with its industry-leading payments and messaging solutions, Fides EFT and Fides ARS, has made it the multi-banking provider of choice. Fides Treasury Services Ltd., the global leader in multi-bank connectivity and communications, announced that over the course of 2017 it continued its trajectory of business growth, onboarding over 80 new clients and extending contracts for 96 more. Net-new direct customers include Millicom International Cellular SA, GlobeNet, Cochlear Limited, Ricola, CARE USA (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere), and Hastens. Clients that opted to extend their use of Fides solutions include The AES Corporation, TNT Swiss Post, Holcim, Trafigura, and Payoneer. The customized solution Fides developed for Payoneer won the Global Finance 2018 Treasury & Cash Management award for Best Corporate Implementation. Fides is one of the first Service Bureaus globally to be certified for the renewed SWIFT Shared Infrastructure Programme (SIP v2). Over the past year, the company has developed or enhanced more than 200 file format converters to help customers communicate with all of their banks globally. Its ability to help clients securely connect to any bank through any channel, combined with its industry-leading payments and messaging solutions, Fides EFT and Fides ARS, has made Fides the multi-banking provider of choice. During 2017, Fides formed a new department designed to improve and extend customer service, bringing Client Relations and Marketing together under the leadership of Simon Kaufmann. The company has also built out a client implementation team of specialists to faster support and run implementation projects. Fides continues to onboard new staff in Project Management, Client Services, IT Infrastructure, and Testing to support business growth. Hardware infrastructure capacity has been increased by more than 40%. To better serve all sizes of corporations, particularly those without the need or capacity to implement a Treasury Management System (TMS) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, Fides recently redesigned its web applications, Fides EFT and Fides ARS. A beta version has been released to selected pilot-clients, and a global roll-out to all customers is planned to take place later in the year. As more companies look to take control of their multi-bank connectivity, Fides reputation for customer service coupled with our industry-leading solutions and innovation has helped us win more business, said Kaufmann. We believe in working with our clients individually to determine and implement the best solution for their specific needs, then providing the highest level of service and support throughout the process and beyond. ABOUT FIDES Fides is the global leader in multi-bank connectivity and transaction communications. With the industrys largest bank connectivity network, Fides helps over 3,000 active clients communicate with more than 10,000 banks globally. Our geographic reach spans 170 countries across the Americas, EMEA, and APAC regions. Committed to helping corporations optimally connect and interact with their banks for over a century, Fides solutions deliver critical multi-bank account statement, payment workflow and reporting capabilities that allow treasury and finance teams to easily, accurately and securely communicate with their banks through any possible channel such as SWIFT, EBICS, SFTP or any alternative network. Press Contact: Please email marketing@fides.ch for all press inquiries Newly elected AMUG Board. Front row (L to R): Mark Barfoot, Leslie Frost, Carl Dekker and Tom Sorovetz. Back row (L to R): Vince Anewenter, Jamie Cone, Paul Bates, Todd Grimm and Gary Rabinovitz. "I am very pleased to once again lead this team as we build the 2019 program. The Additive Manufacturing Users Group (AMUG) today announced its 20182019 board. Elected by AMUG members during the annual business meeting held at the 2018 AMUG Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, the boards primary responsibility will be to build and oversee the 2019 conference. From the slate of candidates, AMUG members voted in favor of subsequent terms for candidates seeking re-election. Paul Bates, who is manager of ULs Additive Manufacturing Competency Center, was re-elected as the groups president. Bates, who has six years of AMUG service, has previously held the positions of deputy vice president and vice president. Recognizing Bates second term, members supported continuation of Mark Barfoots (Cimetrix Solutions) position as past president. In the role of vice president, AMUG members re-elected Jamie Cone of BD and Carl Dekker of Met-L-Flo. Tom Sorovetz of FCA was re-elected to the position of event manager. Secretary Kim Killoran opted to step down after filling this position for five years. To replace her, members elected Leslie Frost of GE Additive. Killoran noted that she will continue to work with the AMUG Board in a supporting role. Bates said, The 2018 AMUG Conference was a huge success, according to our members. That was made possible by the hard work and passion of our board and all those that support it. I am very pleased to once again lead this team as we build the 2019 program. Candidates for the appointed positions of chairman, treasurer, and AM industry advisor were proposed and accepted by the incoming board. With these appointments, the 2018- 2019 AMUG Board members are: President: Paul Bates, UL Past President: Mark Barfoot, Cimetrix Solutions Vice President: Carl Dekker, Met-L-Flo Vice President: Jamie Cone, BD Event Manager: Tom Sorovetz, FCA Secretary: Leslie Frost, GE Additive Chairman: Gary Rabinovitz, Reebok Treasurer: Vince Anewenter, Milwaukee School of Engineering AM Industry Advisor: Todd Grimm, T. A. Grimm & Associates The boards responsibilities will include building the program for the 2019 conference, soliciting support from businesses in the additive manufacturing industry, and overseeing the event's day-to-day activities. The five-day conference will include a two-night exhibitor expo, hands-on workshops, instructional sessions, technical presentations, and an Awards Banquet gala. The 2019 AMUG Conference will be held in Chicago, Illinois, from March 31 through April 4. ABOUT ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING USERS GROUP (AMUG) AMUG is an organization that educates and advances the uses and applications of additive manufacturing technologies. AMUG members include those with industrial additive manufacturing/3D printing technologies used for professional purposes from companies such as Stratasys, DSM Additive Manufacturing, SLM Solutions, GE Additive, ExOne, Renishaw, HP Inc., 3D Systems, Carbon, EOS, Formlabs, Desktop Metal and Additive Industries. AMUG meets annually to provide education and training through technical presentations on processes and new technologies. This information addresses operation of additive manufacturing equipment and the applications that use the parts they make. Online at http://www.amug.com. Lucas Group Partnering with a recruiting agency to source this elite talent offers additional benefits, such as fully vetted contractors, payroll and benefits management, and year-to-year continuity of services. Lucas Group, ranked third on Forbes Best Executive Recruiting Firms list for 2018, announced the publication of its latest report, The Legal Fields Best Kept Secret: How to Find and Hire Elite Legal Contractors authored by Managing Partner Myra Mendizabal. The white paper considers how the seismic shifts in the legal landscape are creating new opportunities for organizations to access elite legal talent. By partnering with a recruiting firm, legal firms and companies can now access this talent at a fraction of the cost typically associated with high-profile legal hires. This elite legal talent is at the top of their game in specialized fields, like data privacy or health care regulation, says Mendizabal. Knowing how to access this talent can be a game-changer for cost-conscious organizations. Firms can offer more competitive pricing and companies can receive expert advice that would previously be beyond their budget. For example, law firms can now add immediate bench strength on an as-needed basis for specialized projects without the carrying costs typically associated with top legal talent. Mendizabal also stressed that this legal talent is different from larger contract farms that serve more general legal needs. Specialized legal contractors have made an intentional decision to leave high-profile firms and in-house positions for the lifestyle benefits of contract work, says Mendizabal. Theyve graduated from top law schools and worked at prestigious firms. Now, theyre making a conscious choice for more flexible hours and greater autonomy over their projects and organizations can benefit. The report outlines steps for accessing this legal talent and how to ensure a successful partnership. Partnering with a recruiting agency to source this elite talent offers additional benefits, such as fully vetted contractors, payroll and benefits management, and year-to-year continuity of services, says Mendizabal. In addition to Legal contractor placement, Lucas Group provides full-time placement services for lateral firm hires at the associate and partner levels. Lucas Group also provides corporate in-house placements for general, regulatory, compliance, and litigation counsel. About Lucas Group Lucas Group is North Americas premier executive search firm specializing in in Accounting & Finance, Information Technology, Human Resources, Legal, Manufacturing, Military Transition and Sales & Marketing recruitment. Since 1970, our culture and methodologies have driven superior results. We assist clients ranging in size from small to medium-sized businesses to Fortune 500 companies find transcendent, executive talent; candidates fully realize their ambitions; and associates find professional success. To learn more, please visit Lucas Group at http://www.lucasgroup.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. Thanks Again is the Leader in Airport Loyalty We continually strive to deliver more value to our members and participating merchants. By integrating Google Pay SmartTap into our card linking solution for the travel market, we do just that. Thanks Again, the leading global card linking loyalty solution provider for the travel industry, today announced it has become an approved provider of Google Pay SmartTap. Thanks Again will enhance its groundbreaking card linked offer loyalty program through utilization of NFC-enabled loyalty cards. Simultaneously, Thanks Again will encourage even greater consumer adoption and merchant acceptance of Google Pay, which is transforming mobile payments with an easy and secure way to pay thats fast and convenient. Thanks Again makes travel even more rewarding for travelers by enabling them to securely and automatically earn extra rewards such as points, miles and cashback when they shop, dine, or park in and around more than 100 airports in North America and beyond. The Thanks Again Network is rapidly expanding with accelerating participation of global airports & travel retailers (includes leading duty-free operators) and local merchants/attractions that cater to visiting tourists and business travelers. By integrating with Google Pay, Thanks Again will enhance its card linked loyalty program in several ways: Drive active use via Google Pay Maximize consumer engagement Trigger fast and simple enrollment at the point of sale (POS) terminal Thanks Again participating merchants that will serve as initial launch partners for Google Pay SmartTap will be announced shortly. Marc Ellis, Chief Executive Officer, Thanks Again LLC remarked, We continually strive to deliver more value to our members and participating merchants. By integrating Google Pay SmartTap into our card linking solution for the travel market, we do just that. In addition, Thanks Again is very pleased to advocate to both global travelers and travel retailers that NFC mobile payment platforms like Google Pay are THE way to pay, especially when on the go. For more information on Google Pay, visit: https://pay.google.com/about/ About Thanks Again, LLC Thanks Again, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is the leading card-linked loyalty solution provider for the travel industry. Global airports, travel retailers, duty-free operators and local merchants/attractions leverage our loyalty and consumer engagement platform to make travel more rewarding for frequent business travelers and visiting tourists. Thanks Again enables members to automatically earn desired rewards when they shop, park or dine at thousands of retailers in and around more than 100 airports throughout North America and beyond. The Thanks Again program is free, secure and easy for consumers to use. Visit https://www.thanksagain.com to learn more or connect via Facebook.com, Twitter.com, Instagram.com and YouTube.com. A 132-pound tumor is very rare. When I met the patient, she was extremely malnourished because the tumor was sitting on her digestive tract, and she used a wheelchair because of the tumors weight. I wanted to help her, and I knew that we could at Danbury Hospital, said Dr. Andikyan. A lifesaving surgery to remove one of the largest known ovarian tumors was performed at Danbury Hospital, a nationally recognized community hospital that is part of Western Connecticut Health Network (WCHN). A team of dedicated surgeons, physicians, and medical staff successfully resected a 132-pound benign mucinous ovarian tumor from a 38-year-old woman in a single surgery. The patient went home just two weeks after her surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Rapid weight gain over two months about 10 pounds a week prompted the patient to seek medical attention from a gynecologist. A computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large ovarian mass. Her gynecologist referred her to Western Connecticut Medical Groups Vaagn Andikyan, MD. Dr. Andikyan, a board-certified gynecologic oncologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, gave the patient hope. I might expect to see a 25-pound ovarian tumor, but a 132-pound tumor is very rare. When I met the patient, she was extremely malnourished because the tumor was sitting on her digestive tract, and she used a wheelchair because of the tumors weight. I wanted to help her, and I knew that we could at Danbury Hospital, said Dr. Andikyan. Dr. Andikyan assembled a team of nearly 25 highly-skilled, caring clinical specialists to plan how to remove the tumor, including gynecologic oncologist Linus T. Chuang, MD, Chairman of Obstetrics and Gynecology for WCHN, plastic surgeon David Goldenberg, MD, Section Chief, Plastic Surgery Subsection at Danbury Hospital, and anesthesiologist Karl Kulikowski, MD, Vice Chairman, Department of Anesthesia, Medical Director, Operating Rooms, Department of Anesthesiology at Danbury Hospital. Extensive pre-operative planning was crucial because there were many unknowns and hurdles to address. Within two weeks, the care team developed and practiced plans for five potential scenarios. The patients care team suspected that the tumor, which occupied the patients entire abdomen, was benign; however, they could not be sure without conducting further tests. Danbury Hospitals cardiovascular experts were instrumental to the care plan because the tumor was sitting on a major blood vessel and they were concerned about the patients heart. Medical residents conducted imperative research to aid in developing the care plan. The operating room staff prepped a room to accommodate a tumor of this magnitude. The team chose to perform the tumor resection and abdominal reconstruction at the same time to reduce the number of surgeries for the patient and improve her outcome. After a five-hour surgery, Drs. Andikyan and Chuang successfully removed the tumor and only the patients left ovary. Dr. Goldenberg removed excess skin that was stretched by the tumor and reconstructed the patients abdomen. Danbury Hospitals Intensive Care Unit and Inpatient Rehabilitation helped the patient to convalesce safely and quickly, and social workers helped the patient and her family to navigate her care plan. Danbury Hospital pathologists are currently conducting genetic tests on the tumor. They want to understand why the tumor grew so quickly in two months so the care team and patient can learn from this case. Im so proud of Dr. Andikyan for his leadership and our entire team for having the courage to tackle this extraordinarily complex case. We were all determined to help our patient, even though this was the first time a case like this had come to Danbury Hospital. WCHN is a Network of exceptionally talented, compassionate clinical professionals that provide high-quality care no matter what the circumstances. We have the resources and the heart to overcome the most challenging cases, said Dr. Chuang, who is also the Fred and Irma Bering Endowed Chair in Minimally Invasive Surgery. The patient said she chose Danbury Hospital because she felt comforted by her care teams experience, know-how, and confidence that they could help her. She also liked that Danbury Hospital had accommodations that allowed her family to stay with her at the hospital. Dr. Andikyan practices out of Danbury Hospital and Norwalk Hospital, and Westport Gynecologic Oncology in Westport, CT. Call 203-739-4900 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Andikyan, and visit our website to learn more about gynecologic care at WCHN: wchn.org About Western Connecticut Health Network Western Connecticut Health Network is the regions premier, patient-centered healthcare organization serving residents of western Connecticut and adjacent New York. WCHN is anchored by three nationally recognized hospitals, Danbury Hospital, New Milford Hospital, and Norwalk Hospital. We have an integrated network of more than 1,300 employed and community physicians and specialists, 70 Western Connecticut Medical Group medical and sub-specialty practices across 16 communities, and Western Connecticut Home Care. Our nationally renowned Rudy L. Ruggles Biomedical Research Institute is leading innovative research, especially for cancer and Lyme disease. Many of our advancements have been made possible by generous donors from our community and through the Danbury Hospital & New Milford Hospital Foundation and the Norwalk Hospital Foundation. As an academic institution, we are proud to shape the future of care through our partnership with the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine. WCHN employs nearly 6,300 employees including about 1,900 clinical staff. For more information, visit wchn.org. Share your comments with us at Facebook.com/DanburyHospital, Facebook.com/NewMilfordHospital, and Facebook.com/NorwalkHospital. Women are achieving great heights in the education and technology sector and I commend ASU+GSV for establishing this award. It is an honor to be recognized as the inaugural POW! recipient. Edgenuity, a leading provider of digital curriculum and instructional services for the K-12 market, announced today its CEO, Sari Factor, was honored at The 9th Annual ASU+GSV Summit with the organizations inaugural Power of Women (POW!) Award. This award recognizes female CEOs leading and achieving successful outcomes for companies at scale in the learning and talent technology sector. Sari joined Edgenuity in 2011 and, under her leadership, the company has become one of the preeminent online learning providers in the K-12 sector, with Edgenuitys solutions currently being used in 20 of the top 25 U.S. school districts, serving more than three million learners. Women are achieving great heights in the education and technology sector and I commend ASU+GSV for establishing this award. It is an honor to be recognized as the inaugural POW! recipient, said Sari Factor. I came to Edgenuity knowing that it was a company where we could fulfill a vision of using technology to enhance learning outcomes. Our success is a testament to the great team weve built over the years and strong partnerships with school leaders who are implementing technology to provide opportunity and access for their students. The 2018 ASU + GSV Summit attracted over 4,000 leaders from across the learning and talent spectrum. Attendees included leaders from the enterprise, investment, higher education, and PreK12 communities. Over one-third of the founders and CEOs of technology companies presenting at ASU+GSV summits have been women. This figurewell above the average for other technology sectorsis one of the reasons the organization decided to formally recognize these companies female leaders, beginning with the recognition of Sari Factor. The award was presented in conjunction with this years ASU+GSV Summit, which took place in San Diego, CA from April 16 - 18. About Edgenuity Edgenuity is a leading provider of online curriculum and instructional services for the K-12 market. Nationwide, Edgenuity is in use by more than 20,000 schools, including 20 of the 25 largest school districts, to meet academic goals and improve student outcomes. We offer initial credit courses, honors and Advanced Placement courses, credit recovery, intervention and test readiness. These solutions, in addition to Edgenuitys instructional services and professional development offerings, help students, educators and districts achieve success in their online and blended learning programs. For more information, visit Edgenuity.com. Dr. Gregory Toback, Periodontist in New London, CT, Hosts Shoreline Periodontics Synergy Study Club This is a special event, titled, Technology Night, is open to dentists and specialists, and will cover the latest in laser dentistry and other advanced technology clinicians may need to apply in their practice. Drs. Gregory Toback and Marianne Urbanski will host the next Shoreline Periodontics Synergy Study Club event, scheduled for Thursday, May 24, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This is a special event titled, Technology Night, and is the second in a series of study club meetings offered for dentists and specialists. The entire Synergy Study Club continuum offers 18 continuing education credit hours to those attending all four meetings. Respected periodontists in New London, CT, and Westerly, RI, Drs. Toback and Urbanski, are pleased to offer continuing education to their colleagues, and to empower them with the tools and knowledge needed to provide the highest standard of care to their own patients. The Technology Night study club meeting will focus on advanced dental technology topics and their applications to clinical practice. Some of the technologies discussed will include Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) 3D imaging for viewing detailed digital images of bone, nerve pathways and other anatomical features. Navident, a four-step guided implant process for precision placement of dental implants, will also be discussed, as will the latest in laser dentistry applications, among other effective pieces of technology. The goal of the study club meeting is to educate attendees on the practical uses of the technologies presented and how these services can best be used to improve the oral health and lives of the patients they serve. With two practice locations, Drs. Toback and Urbanski proudly offer excellence in periodontics and implant dentistry to those seeking an experienced periodontist in New London, CT, and Westerly, RI. They are highly regarded by their peers, and known for offering the latest in laser dentistry, implant solutions and full-service periodontal care. The specialists are pleased to host Synergy Study Club events for the purpose of educating, engaging and collaborating with dental professionals on new technologies, treatment concepts and other facets of practice. Those interested in attending study club meetings hosted by an experienced periodontist in New London, CT, or Westerly, RI, are invited to contact Shoreline Periodontics at 860-443-2428 for the New London, CT, location, or 401-596-0000 for the Westerly, RI, practice. Additional information on laser dentistry and other advanced technologies performed by the practice is available at http://www.shorelineperio.com. About the Practice Shoreline Periodontics is a periodontal practice offering personalized dental care for patients since 1998 and is located in New London, CT and Westerly, RI. Leading board-certified periodontist, Dr. Gregory A. Toback, received his B.A. from St. Johns University and his Doctorate of Dental Medicine from the University of Connecticut. He also received advanced training in periodontics and dental implants at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Toback focuses on minimally invasive surgeries, offering LANAP and belongs to a small group of dental professionals currently providing the Chao Pinhole Surgical Technique for treatment of gum recession. Dr. Marianne Urbanski has been voted one of Connecticuts top dentists for more than seven years by Connecticut Magazine. Dr. Urbanski graduated cum laude from the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts where she earned a Bachelors degree in Biology. She also received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree and her Masters of Dental Science degree from the University of Connecticut Dental School. Dr. Urbanski prides herself on offering caring, professional treatment to each patient. To learn more about Shoreline Periodontics and their dental services visit their website at http://www.shorelineperio.com or call 860-443-2428 for the New London, CT location, or 401-596-0000 for the Westerly, RI office. Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said that Egypt made independent decisions and maintained objectivity during its non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for a two-year term that ended in late 2017. The minister made the remarks at a ceremony celebrating the issuance of a special supplement of Al-Ahram's Al-Siyassa Al-Dawliya magazine on the country's Security Council membership. The ceremony was held at Al-Ahram headquarters in downtown Cairo on Wednesday. Shoukry said that Egypt adhered to its standard policy and never bowed to any pressure by major powers or blocs to win support within the 15-member body. The Security Council has five permanent members: China, France, the United States, Britain and Russia, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly. Shoukry said Egypt's stances during its membership in the council aimed to put the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the crisis in Syria at the centre of attention. It also spearheaded the UN's call for the withdrawal of the US' recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital, and helped show the world the role of some regional powers in backing and financing terrorism. The minister called for intensifying efforts to "fix" the council's voting system, saying that the right to veto by the five permanent members must be eliminated or regulated. "There is an international consensus on the need to fix the work system at the Security Council, if not by eliminating the veto then by regulating its use to restrict [it] and guarantee it does not affect issues of stability and peace and the vital interests of nations." He said, however, that the decades-long issue is far from being resolved. "I cannot say that we are close to settling this issue. Stances remain different and some [stances] remain unknown." An eight-minute documentary about Egypt's efforts during its two-year stint as a council member was played during the ceremony. The documentary highlighted Egypt's role in bringing the Palestinian-Israeli issue to the forefront, spearheading international counterterrorism efforts, working to improve the deteriorating humanitarian conditions of Syrians and promoting political settlement in Libya. The film also said that Cairo brought special focus to African issues, the settlement of disputes in the continent, and promoting partnership between the African Union and the United Nations. Search Keywords: Short link: RGV FOCUS 2017 Annual Report Were changing the story to make certain our Rio Grande Valley students find success in high school, college and in the workforce... said Eduardo Infante, co-chair of the RGV FOCUS Leadership Team, and superintendent of Lyford CISD RGV FOCUS leaders recently unveiled the organizations 2017 Annual Report showing that Rio Grande Valley students now match or outperform their Texas peers in nine out of 11 key indicators from high school graduation rates, to FAFSA financial aid and AP/Dual-Credit completion (see detailed stats below). The report, which spotlights successes along with areas needing improvement, reflects a growing shift in educational attainment for area students. Educate Texas, an educational arm of Dallas-based Communities Foundation of Texas, partnered with Valley-based leaders to establish the collective impact initiative RGV FOCUS in 2012. The initiatives goal is to transform college readiness, access and success throughout the four-county Rio Grande Valley region through cross-sector collaboration of key stakeholders representing education, business, workforce, community-based organizations and philanthropies. To do this, RGV FOCUS works to measurably improve educational outcomes across the region by aligning resources that create a cradle-to-career educational pathway enabling all Rio Grande Valley learners to achieve a degree or credential that leads to a meaningful career. Were changing the story to make certain our Rio Grande Valley students find success in high school, college and in the workforce. And to do this, weve brought together a diverse leadership from the education, community, business and philanthropic sectors, said Eduardo Infante, co-chair of the RGV FOCUS Leadership Team, and superintendent of Lyford CISD. There is still much work to be done, but we are very proud of the progress of our students, and their continued improvement thanks, in part, to this unique cross-sector collaboration. Considering the size of the Rio Grande Valley, this type of collaboration is special. The regions 1.3 million population comprises four counties (Cameron, Hidalgo, Starr and Willacy), 37 school districts, four public institutions of higher education and 356,964 Pre-K-12 students. Of those students, 21,000 are seniors and more than 97% are Latino. Additionally, there are 70,373 higher-education students, of which 92% are Latino. In 2016 alone, students earned 24 doctoral, 1,186 masters, 4,374 bachelors and 4,707 associate degrees and were awarded 2,467 certificates from the four public institutions of higher education in the Rio Grande Valley. The 2017 RGV FOCUS Annual Report details how high school and college students in the region are performing compared to their peers at a baseline (metrics established by RGV FOCUS leadership in 2012). Furthermore, to provide deeper context, it compares the performance of Valley students against their Texas peers. Also showcased is RGV FOCUS commitment to strengthen each step and align resources across the cradle-to-career educational pathway. The report underscores four Bright Spots 3rd Grade Reading, 8th Grade Math, AP/Dual Credit and Postsecondary Readiness. At the unveiling event highlights from the report were shared with approximately 100 regional leaders and invited guests. The event was held at the Harlingen CISD Administration Building, 407 N. 77 Sunshine Strip in Harlingen. Speakers for the event included Mr. Infante, his RGV FOCUS Leadership Team co-chair Dr. Alda Benavidez, superintendent of La Joya ISD and Dr. Luzelma G. Canales, executive director of RGV FOCUS, as well as other members of the Leadership Team. 4 exemplary RGV students shared their story of educational success. Upon the conclusion of personal statements, the students came together to join four life-size puzzle pieces. This act represented the four counties coming together as one region to improve educational outcomes. As a result of the Leadership Teams commitment and perseverance, RGV FOCUS is making a difference. On four of the indicators, Rio Grande Valley students top their Texas peers in the four-year high school graduation rate (91% RGV students compared to 89% Texas students), FAFSA financial aid completion (74% RGV compared to 62% statewide), AP/Dual-Credit completion (43% RGV compared to 36% statewide) and higher education immediate enrollment rate (56% RGV compared to 52% statewide). When compared to the RGV FOCUS 2012 baseline, Rio Grande Valley youth showed positive progress on nine out of 11 key indicators: STAAR 3rd grade reading (2% increase from 2012 baseline) STAAR 8th grade mathematics (5% increase from 2012 baseline) 4-year high school graduation rate (4% increase from 2012 baseline) FAFSA completion rate (15% increase from 2012 baseline) College-Ready Graduates increased from 18% to 32% (between 2016 and 2017) AP/dual-credit completion (11% increase from 2012 baseline) Public 2-year higher education graduation rate (6% increase from 2012 baseline) Public 4-year higher education graduation rate (2% increase from 2012 baseline) Higher 4-year education graduates employed or enrolled (2% increase from baseline) Featured Bright Spots in the findings were: 3rd Grade Reading approaches increased from 70% to 72% (between 2012 and 2017) 8th Grade Math approaches increased from 69% to 74% (between 2012 and 2017) Pharr-San Juan-Alamo North High School graduates up to 25% of their students with an Associate Degree College-Ready Graduates Increased from 18% to 32% (between 2016 and 2017) The report also illustrates educational challenges the region faces. Leaders note that further work is needed in postsecondary education. Despite incremental increases in higher education enrollment and higher education graduation rates, since baseline, Rio Grande Valley leaders recognized the need to substantially increase both over the next five years. To accomplish this, Valley leaders have developed a three-year plan that includes five areas of focus: Early Childhood through Elementary School; Middle School; Secondary through Postsecondary; Workforce; and Teaching Excellence. We are doing a much better job of increasing credential and degree completions. However, there is a group of students that are stopping out with significant college credits and not completing their degree, said Luzelma G. Canales Ph.D. executive director of RGV FOCUS. We plan to work with our higher education partners over the next three years to reengage students with significant credits who are only a few semesters away from graduating. Over just the past two years, that number could be as high as 7,000 to 12,000 students. In addition to co-chairs Eduardo Infante and Alda Benavidez, Ed. D., the Leadership Team members representing school districts are Arturo Cavazos, Ed.D.; Superintendent, Harlingen CISD; Lisa Garcia, Ed.D., Superintendent, Point Isabel ISD; Adrian Garcia, Chief of Technology and Student Services, McAllen ISD; Jose Gonzalez, Ed. D., Superintendent, McAllen ISD; Narciso Garcia, Ed. D., Superintendent, Vanguard Academy; Marla Guerra, Ed. D., Superintendent, South Texas ISD; Linda Uribe, Administrator for College Readiness, Pharr-San Juan-Alamo (PSJA) ISD; Silvia Ibarra, Ed. D., Assistant Superintendent for Instructional Services, McAllen ISD; Gonzalo Salazar, Superintendent, Los Fresnos CISD; Virginia N. Richter, Ed. D., Vice President of Advancement, IDEA Public Schools; Esperanza Zendejas, Ed.D., Superintendent, Brownsville ISD; and Teri Alarcon, Area Assistant Superintendent, Brownsville ISD. The Leadership Team members representing institutions of higher education are Kristin Croyle, Psy.D., Vice President for Student Success, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Patricia Alvarez McHatton., Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs, Student Success and P-16 Integration, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley; Shirley A. Reed, Ed.D., President, South Texas College; Cledia Hernandez, Interim President Harlingen Campus, Texas State Technical College; and Jesus Roberto Rodriguez, Ph. D., Vice President of Student Services, Texas Southmost College. The Leadership Team members representing community-based organizations are Melissa I. Lopez, Director, Office of College and Career Readiness, Region One; Tania Chavez, Fund Development Strategist, La Union Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE); Chris Coxon, Managing Director, Programs, Educate Texas; Christina Patino Houle, Network Weaver, Rio Grande Valley Equal Voice Network; Juanita Valdez-Cox, Executive Director, La Union Del Pueblo Entero (LUPE); Priscilla Alvarez, Executive Director, Vida; and Traci Wickett, Chief Executive Officer, United Way of Southern Cameron County. The Leadership Team members representing workforce organizations are Francisco Almaraz, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley, and Pat Hobbs, Chief Executive Officer, Workforce Solutions Cameron. Funders currently supporting RGV FOCUS are the Greater Texas Foundation; Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; W.W. Caruth, Jr. Foundation; Ford Foundation; and Lumina Foundation. The school districts of the partnership are Brownsville ISD, Donna ISD, Edcouch-Elsa ISD, Edinburg CISD, Excellence in Leadership Academy, Harlingen CISD, IDEA Public Schools, Ignite Public Schools, La Feria ISD, La Joya ISD, La Villa ISD, Lasara ISD, Los Fresnos CISD, Lyford CISD, McAllen ISD, Mercedes ISD, Mid-Valley Academy Charter District, Mission CISD, Monte Alto ISD, PSJA ISD, Point Isabel ISD, Progresso ISD, Raymondville ISD, Rio Grande City CISD, Rio Hondo ISD, Roma ISD, San Benito CISD, San Isidro ISD, San Perlita ISD, Santa Maria ISD, Santa Rosa ISD, Sharyland ISD, South Texas Educational Technologies Inc., South Texas ISD, Valley View ISD, Vanguard Academy and Weslaco ISD. The higher education institutions of the partnership are South Texas College, Texas Southmost College, Texas State Technical College-Harlingen and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. The community-based organizations of the Collective are Educate Texas, Equal Voice Network, La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE), Region One Education Service Center, Equal Voice Network, United Way of Southern Cameron County and Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA). The workforce organizations of the partnership are Workforce Solutions Cameron County and Workforce Solutions Lower Rio Grande Valley. To learn more or get involved in RGV FOCUS, visit http://rgvfocus.org. Share our story of change on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook via #RGVstory and @RGVFOCUS. ### Patriot Memory always pushes the limit when it comes to how our products can benefit the end users, thats why the TRINITY drive has been created, and its creative and unique 3-in-1 design should be second to none in the market, said Roger Shinmoto, Vice President of Product Development. PATRIOT, a global leader in performance memory, SSDs, gaming peripherals, and flash storage solutions, today announced the brand new 3-in-1 USB Flash Drive, the TRINITY, a ground-breaking design of an adaptive USB Flash Drive. Users with multiple personal electronics devices such as a Smartphone, tablet, and laptop encounter a fundamental problem: How do you move data between these devices? Consumers have demand for multi-platform data storage and it is only effective if it can be used inexpensively and with great efficiency. Patriot Memory understands this inconvenience and has proposed an ultimate solution to consumers. Patriot Memory always pushes the limit when it comes to how our products can benefit the end users, thats why the TRINITY drive has been created, and its creative and unique 3-in-1 design should be second to none in the market, said Roger Shinmoto, Vice President of Product Development. The TRINITY USB Flash Drive features a USB Type-A, Type-C, and micro-B connectors all on a single USB drive housing. You dont need to use any adapter cables as this drive comes with three of the most common USB formats on a single tiny flash drive. This allows TRINITY users to store and transfer data easily between different devices without any hassle. In addition, TRINITY also supports OTG (on-the-go) for Andriod devices. It allows users to access TRINITY with any of their Andriod devices OTG without downloading any external drivers or software. It is fully plug-and-play compatible. Nowadays, many users keep a huge number of audio and photos files on their smartphone and use it as their personal data center. Sadly, if they lose their smartphone or it becomes damaged there is a chance all of their data can be lost. TRINITY USB Flash Drive is available in 3 major capacities, 32GB, 64GB, and 128GB which mirror most from their smartphone. This allows users an easy way to back up their important files to a laptop or tablet and do so with a seamless connection. The Patriot TRINITY 3-in-1 USB Flash Drive will be available to the public for purchase in May 2018 on the Patriot webstore(US only), Amazon, Newegg, and various retailers. MSRP is 32GB at USD $27.99; 64GB at USD $38.99 and 128GB at USD $69.99. For more information about the TRINITY USB Flash Drive, visit: https://www.info.patriotmemory.com/trinityusb About Patriot Patriot is a leading manufacturer of high performance, enthusiast memory modules, SSDs, flash storage, gaming peripherals and mobile accessories. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Fremont, CA, USA, Patriot is committed to technology innovation, customer satisfaction and providing the best price for performance on the market. Patriot products have become world renown for their extreme performance, reliability and innovation. Patriot sells its products through original equipment manufacturers, retailers, e-tailers and distributors throughout the world with operations in North America, South America, Asia and Europe. All company and/or product names may be trade names, trademarks and/or registered trademarks of the respective owners with which they are associated. Features, pricing, availability, and specifications are subject to change without notice. Follow us Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vipergamingpatriot Twitter: https://twitter.com/patriot_viper Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patriot_viper/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/patriotviper Dr. Teresa Flannery is the 9th International Brand Master Im honored to accept this award as the team leader of a group of talented and creative professionals at American University. Educational Marketing Group, Inc. announced today that Teresa Flannery, Ph.D., Vice President of Communication at American University (AU) has been selected as the Ninth Annual International Brand Master. Flannery has over three decades of higher education marketing experience and was AUs first chief communications and marketing officer. She brings a strategic, data-driven approach to her marketing operations, and takes a long-term approach to establishing brand platforms. In addition to marketing, she leads AUs efforts in media relations and digital initiatives. Starting in 2009, Flannery and her team began research on 12 stakeholder groups to initially establish AUs brand platform. Out of this research came 2011s WONK Campaign, focused on taking a common political term in AUs home city of Washington DC, and positioning it to represent the AU community. The implementation of the WONK campaign has led to a 17 percent increase in students whose first choice was AU and a 16 percent increase in in yield rate for admitted freshmen. The campaign also led to a significant increase in alumni engagement. In addition to the WONK campaign, Flannery was also involved in the redesign of the AU website. Working with a campus-wide committee, Flannery and her team launched and maintain http://www.american.edu/weknowsuccess/, an interactive, searchable site that shows the employment, salary, and grad school admission outcomes for students within the six months of graduation. The site demonstrates AUs value proposition and ROI, and has been recognized across the country for its transparency. Colleagues see her as one of the top professionals in the field. Terry Flannery is a brand master, said Robert Moore, Vice President of Communications and Marketing at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) She mixes smart research, brand positioning, effective strategy, and endearing and memorable creative with that most important element of any brand managers portfolio: patience. Using ROI-based metrics, and paying attention to the details, she has launched and sustained effective and lasting brand positioning programs for two major universities. Theres nobody better in the field. The International Brand Master (IBM) award is the culmination of a rigorous seven-month competition for top honors among educational marketing professionals. The prestigious honor is presented annually for exemplary brand-marketing efforts that have achieved outstanding results or recognition on behalf of an educational organization. Im honored to accept this award as the team leader of a group of talented and creative professionals at American University, said Flannery. They set the bar every day for inspiring and strategic work that gets results. Im also grateful to many colleagues in higher education marketing from whom Im constantly learning. Flannery competed in a field of top marketing candidates from around the world including the United States, Canada, and England. The IBM winner was chosen by a combination of a blue ribbon panel of six experienced education-marketing professional judges, and voting by professionals and brand stakeholders throughout the world. She was selected over two other exceptional finalists: Ruth Arnold, Director of Strategic Projects and Public Affairs at Sheffield University (Sheffield, England) and Kim Elenez, Chief Marketing Officer, University Development at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Flannerys hard work and dedication to the profession has made her a standout for years, said Bob Brock, President of Educational Marketing Group of Parker, Colo., sponsor of the annual competition. We are honored to present this award to such an exceptional individual. # # # TERESA FLANNERY BACKGROUND Terry Flannery has worked in higher education marketing for three decades. She is American Universitys first Vice President for Communication. She established a full communications and marketing organization and program, beginning with market research to inform the brand strategy. Dr. Flannerys team developed the KNOW/WONK campaign to establish AUs distinctive brand position, raise awareness and build support for the Universitys major goals. Since the launch of the campaign in 2010, the Universitys yield rate for first year enrollment, the share of students who identify AU as their first choice, and alumni engagement have all risen significantly. Dr. Flannerys responsibilities also include management of publications, media and public relations, web communications and digital media, and marketing and brand strategy. She leads a campus-wide committee that completely redesigned the Universitys award winning, responsive and accessible website and robust social media presence. Her team has redesigned the university magazine, American, and developed a digital companion to the print edition. Flannerys campus-wide leadership includes innovative efforts such as: We KNOW Success, an interactive website that displays the outcomes of recent graduates for every degree program; and an ambitious effort to Re-imagine the Student Experience (RiSE) by creating a more integrated, holistic experience that is challenging, satisfying and delivers on AUs brand promise. Since 2008, American has earned two Emmys, five Tellys, an ADDY, and dozens of national CASE Awards, including nine golds and three grand golds, as well as top recognition from eduStyle, the University College Design, and the American Association of University Photographers. Prior to her appointment at American, Dr. Flannery built a nationally recognized higher education marketing and communications program at the University of Maryland as assistant vice president. She led the team that created the Fear the Turtle campaign, which successfully elevated the profile of the university internationally, enhanced perceptions of quality, and improved the engagement of students, alumni, donors and partners. She also held positions in admissions and student affairs at Maryland, and was affiliate assistant professor in the College of Education. With expertise in marketing, branding, marketing research and assessment, Dr. Flannery serves in leadership roles in related international professional associations. -- For the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE): o Board of Trustees, Treasurer o Previously, she served as Chair of the Communications Commission, Chair of the Institute for Senior Communications and Marketing Professionals and chair of the CASE Institute for Integrated Marketing and Branding. o From 2012-2014 she served as chair of the American Marketing Associations Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, the largest annual gathering of higher ed marketing professionals in the world. o Flannery served on the American Council on Education Marketing Task Force. A frequent speaker and consultant for higher education institutions and associations, Dr. Flannery holds a B.A. in English and Masters and Ph.D. in College Student Personnel Administration, all from the University of Maryland. She and her husband, Brian, are the parents of four children. More about Dr. Flannery and the American Universitys Communications and Marketing at https://www.american.edu/ucm/. INTERNATIONAL BRAND MASTER BACKGROUND The International Brand Master award was established in 2009 to bring recognition to the outstanding work of extraordinary educational brand marketing professionals from around the world. Since then, EMG has received nominations from countries including Portugal, Belgium, Scotland, Netherlands, Australia, England, Canada, and the United States. This year, a blue-ribbon panel of volunteer international judges from the United States, Canada, and England reviewed supporting materials provided by the nominees. Nominees were asked to provide responses to a number of questions related to their brands strategy, tactics, and to provide results as well as provide several letters of support from colleagues. The judges narrowed the pool of distinguished nominees to three exceptional finalists. Two from the United States, Kim Elenez from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Dr. Teresa Flannery from American University; and one from England, Ruth Arnold from Sheffield University. Votes to determine the winner among the three finalists were cast by brand stakeholders and fellow marketing professionals from around the world. The winner was chosen by a combination of marketing professionals votes and the judges scores. This years blue ribbon judging panel included: -- Melissa Chua: Brand Strategy at Converge Consulting, United States -- Will Kopp: Chief Communications Officer at Ohio Wesleyan University, United States -- Kim Lawrence: 8th Annual International Brand Master Winner and Associate Vice-President, Marketing at University of Calgary, Canada -- Laura Montgomery: Director of Academic Program Marketing at The New School, United States -- Paul Redfern: Vice President for University Communications at St. Lawrence University, United States -- Alison Steel: Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Kingston University, Travis Brock: Chair of the 9th Annual International Brand Master Award committee, and Director of Business Development and Social Media for Educational Marketing Group, Inc., United States For more information, visit: http://www.emgonline.com/brand-master/. EDUCATIONAL MARKETING GROUP, INC. BACKGROUND EMG is a full-service, integrated brand development and marketing agency that provides custom tailored research, brand development, creative, development, new media services, and media services for universities throughout North America. Headquartered in Parker, Colorado, the company was established in 1997 and has operated in the higher education arena exclusively for 20 years. Clients have included Colorado Community College System, North Carolina State University, Washington State University, Virginia Tech, Cal Poly, Dalhousie University, University of Victoria, University of Colorado, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Tennessee, University of Arkansas, and many others. For more information, visit: http://www.emgonline.com/. GasBuddy, the only smartphone app connecting drivers with their Perfect Pit Stop, and Cuebiq, the leading location intelligence and measurement company released today their joint quarterly study examining foot traffic in the $600 billion convenience store and fuel retailing industry across the U.S. in Q1 2018. The report separates fuel and convenience brands into four categories based on the number of locations. Brands who received the most foot traffic per station in their respective categories include Ohio-based Speedway (1000+ locations), Washington-based Costco (250 999 locations), Kentucky-based Thorntons (50 249 locations) and Indiana-based Rickers (30 49 locations). More than half (53%) of visits to gas stations and convenience stores lasted less than 5 minutes, says Frank Beard, convenience store and retail trends analyst at GasBuddy. Knowing how often your customers frequent your stores and tailoring your offerings to take advantage of high traffic points during the week can prompt your customers to spend more time in the store and increase their basket size. Key study highlights include: Better Offerings, Better for Business: In the 1000+ location category, four of the top five are convenience brands that emphasize in-store offerings. Speedway captured the top spot in this category following improvements in their fresh food service and putting a bigger emphasis on their loyalty program. Cumberland Farms #1 in Most States: Cumberland Farms captures the highest average footfall traffic in six states, all of New England, despite falling short of the Top 10 overall within its category of 250 to 999 locations. Wawa comes in second with five states, including hotly-contested Pennsylvania. Costco and Kroger tie for third place with four states, and Speedway and Pilot tie for fifth place with three each. Hump Day is the Busiest Pump Day: Wednesday at 5 p.m. was the busiest time time for fuel and convenience brands, followed by Friday from 4-6 p.m. Busiest days overall include Friday (1), Thursday (2) and Wednesday (3). Consumers Reward Quality with More Visits: Findings indicate that strong correlation exists between below-average ratings in the GasBuddy app and below-average foot traffic. For example, stations with below-average customer service ratings experienced 15 percent less visits than the industry average. Conversely, stations with above-average customer service ratings experienced an uplift of nearly 7 percent, showing that todays consumers actively seek quality retail experiences. See the full report here. Methodology From January 1 to March 31, 2018, GasBuddy and Cuebiq analyzed location visit data at more than 100 fuel and convenience store brands and more than 32.6 million consumer visits across the U.S. to understand foot traffic trends, provide geo-behavioral and consumer insights, and identify the impact of key factors such as ratings and reviews on POI visits. To be considered a visit, a user must be within 30 meters of a fuel pump for between 2 and 30 minutes. About GasBuddy GasBuddy is a smartphone app connecting drivers with their Perfect Pit Stop. GasBuddy is the leader in crowdsourced information to help drivers find the best gas prices, closest stations, friendliest service, cleanest restrooms, tastiest coffee and much more. GasBuddy is the leading source for the most accurate, real-time fuel prices at more than 140,000 gas stations in the U.S., Canada and Australia. The Companys B2B Retailer Software-as-a-Service (SaaS), known as GasBuddy Business Pages, provides Fuel Marketers and Retailers their best opportunity to maintain their station information, manage their brand, and promote to their target consumer audience. About Cuebiq Cuebiq is a next generation location intelligence and measurement company, leveraging the largest database of accurate and precise location data in the U.S. to help marketers map and measure the consumer journey. Its leading data intelligence platform analyzes location patterns of 61 million monthly anonymous, opted-in U.S. smartphone users on over 180 mobile apps, allowing businesses to glean actionable insights about real-world consumer behaviors and trends. Cuebiqs SaaS platform provides clients offline location analytics, real-time campaign optimization and footfall attribution, and geo-behavioral audiences for cross-platform ad targeting. Cuebiq does not collect any personally identifiable information. Its privacy-compliant methodology is at the forefront of industry standards and has earned the company membership status with the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), the leading self-regulatory industry association dedicated to responsible data collection and its use for digital advertising. Cuebiq is headquartered in New York with offices in San Francisco, Chicago, Italy, and China. Complete logo It is extremely gratifying to watch the firm succeed and grow. The expansion of our capabilities in Connecticut is a testament to the fine work we have done there, and we are thrilled that Denis will be at the helm of the office. Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP (TLSS) is excited to announce the expansion of the firms footprint in the Northeast with the opening of a new office in Watertown, Connecticut on May 1, 2018. The new TLSS Watertown office will support the firms growing presence in Connecticut and will allow TLSS to more readily service its growing client base across the state and region. TLSS has a reputation for excellence in the national legal community, and the firms partners and attorneys are also experts within the respective jurisdictions where they practice. The new TLSS Watertown, Connecticut office will be managed by resident partner Denis Farrell, a seasoned litigator in the areas of professional and commercial liability. Denis lives in Watertown, Connecticut with his wife and three children. Of the Watertown opening, he says, I am looking forward to being able to manage and grow the firms Connecticut practice from a centrally located office, within easy reach of all corners of the state. The new TLSS office is located in the historic Princeton Building, at 27 Siemon Company Drive, an old mill factory dating back to the early 1900s, and converted into modern professional office space. Rich Traub, Managing Partner of TLSS, is also excited about the new office opening, stating, It is extremely gratifying to watch the firm succeed and grow. The expansion of our capabilities in Connecticut is a testament to the fine work we have done there, and we are thrilled that Denis will be at the helm of the office. TLSS partner Lisa Shrewsberry, an alumna of the University Of Connecticut School Of Law, is particularly enthusiastic: The firm has many lawyers, like me, who are from Connecticut and are excited to grow our presence there, so this new office is especially meaningful. Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP has achieved a national reputation for excellence in legal representation. Our philosophy is to provide quality legal representation expeditiously and efficiently. Our emphasis on client service, as well as our reputation in the legal community, has served our clients and the firm well. Traub Lieberman has been recognized by many, including Martindale-Hubbell, for outstanding legal ability and ethical standards. The firm looks forward to bringing its standards of excellence to the new Watertown office. Form more information, visit http://www.traublieberman.com. We look forward to gathering in Washington, DC this June and celebrating these amazing award winners," Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of MHA, said in announcing the awards. Mental Health America (MHA) will honor an impressive group of individuals, communications professionals and innovative programs at its 2018 Annual Conference, being held in Washington, DC on June 14-16. Throughout the three days MHA will present several awards and are happy to announce today the recipients of the Clifford W. Beers Award, the Innovation in Programming Award, the Media Award, the youth-focused mPower Award, and the George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award. MHAs Clifford W. Beers Award will be presented to mental health advocate Jennifer Marshall. The Clifford W. Beers Award is presented annually to an individual with the lived experience of mental illness who best reflects the example set by MHA founder Clifford W. Beers in his or her efforts to improve conditions for and attitudes toward people living with mental health conditions. Jennifer is the co-founder and Executive Director of This Is My Brave. Jenn, who lives with bipolar disorder, created the organization after learning first-hand how powerful and therapeutic it was to live openly and not hide her diagnosis. She wanted to give individuals from the community a platform through which to creatively share their stories of living with mental illness to educate and inspire others. MHAs 2018 Media Award will be presented on June 15 during the Media Awards Luncheon. MHAs Media Award recognizes journalists, authors, digital platforms, media outlets, television shows and filmmakers that have not shied away from the issues of mental illness and addiction and in doing so, have educated, informed, and helped break down stigma and shame around these issues. This years recipients include six outstanding and diverse examples across multiple platforms: The Da Capo Press and New York Times best-selling book, Playing Hurt: My Journey from Despair to Hope, authored by the late John Saunders with John U. Bacon. In Saunders own words before his passing: Playing Hurt is not an autobiography of a sports celebrity but a memoir of a man facing his own mental illness, and emerging better off for the effort. I will take you into the heart of my struggle with depression, including insights into some of its causes, its consequences, and its treatments. Netflix Original Series, 13 Reasons Why, for elevating the dialogue across the county between parents, students, and mental health advocates on the epidemic of teen suicide, depression, and bullying. The documentary Suicide: The Ripple Effect, by filmmakers Kevin Hines and Greg Dicharry. The film highlights the journey of Kevin Hines, who at age 19, attempted to take his life by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge. Today Kevin is a world-renowned mental health advocate, motivational speaker and author who travels the globe spreading a message of hope, recovery and wellness. The online platform The Players Tribune a new media company that provides athletes with a platform to connect directly with their fans, in their own words. This past year, TPT focused a great deal on mental health issues, highlighting raw and personal stories from the NBAs Kevin Love, Channing Frye and Keyon Dooling, NHLs Ben Scrivens, Corey Hirsch, Clint Malarchuk, and more. Kentucky Education Television (KET) for Inside Opioid Addiction, an ongoing, multi-faceted program to bust stigma, strengthen understanding, and facilitate a recovery-focused revolution in opioid addiction. The public-private collaboration of the Las Cruces Sun-News, NMPolitics.net and KRWG TV-Radio for its a multi-media project called Distressed: A Look at Behavioral Health in Southern New Mexico. MHAs George Goodman and Ruth P. Brudney Social Work Award this year goes to Marie Williams, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (TDMHSAS). Commissioner Marie Williams started her social work career with Catholic Charities, HUD, teaching at the University of Tennessee, and working at a Memphis-based community mental health center. From 2000-2004, she served as the Director of Housing Planning & Development for TDMHSAS before becoming TDMHSAS Assistant Commissioner for Mental Health Services from 2004-2011. She was promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2011, and in 2016 she began leading TDMHSAS as Commissioner. She recently began chairing the Governors Opioid Workgroup and co-chairing the Statewide Public-Private Emergency Department Boarding Workgroup. She is a current Member of the National Association of Mental Health Program Directors and a Member of the University of Tennessee Social Work Advisory Council. MHAs 2018 mPower Award goes to Hannah and Charlie Lucas from Cumming, Georgia for the creation of the notOK App. Hannah, 16, struggled with depression and self-harm last year, her freshman year of high school, after being diagnosed with a chronic illness that led her to be bullied and taunted at school. An idea formed in her head during her lowest moment: an app that would let people know she was not OK. With the assistance of her younger brother, Charlie, 13, the Lucas children got to work on the app idea which would become the notOK App. The notOK App is a digital panic button that stores up to five trusted contacts that can be reached via text message that says: Hey, Im not OK. Please call, text, or come check up on me along with the users GPS location. With the recent launch of the notOK App, Hannah and Charlie have been able to empower people struggling with mental illness to get the help they need from their friends and family. MHAs Innovation in Programming Award, which recognizes the continuing innovation and creativity of the MHA affiliate network in program development and implementation, goes to two MHA affiliates this year: MHA of Franklin County (MHAFC) for its Occumetrics program, a uniquely innovative, data-driven process to scientifically measure the workplace wellbeing of an organization in any industry. Occumetrics can predict causative factors for turnover, job satisfaction, and any other measurable workplace issue and then make practical recommendations for organizational change that will move the needle. MHA of Middle Tennessee (MHAMT) for the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network (TSPN), a private-public partnership that addresses the 10th leading cause of death in the US (2nd leading cause of death among teens ages 10-24). TSPN is a national model for suicide prevention networks, as they cover all 95 counties. The 27-member, governor-appointed advisory council represents eight regions across Tennessee. MHA will announce separately in the coming weeks the recipient of its first-ever 2018 Corporate Excellence in Mental Health, which will also be awarded at the conference. We look forward to gathering in Washington, DC this June and celebrating these amazing award winners, Paul Gionfriddo, president and CEO of MHA, said in announcing the awards. These noteworthy awardees join an already impressive line-up of speakers and participants at this years conference. With an unprecedented gathering of advocates, athletes, clinicians, and academics in the heart of the nations capital, this years conference is one not to be missed. For more information and to register for the MHA 2018 Annual Conference, click here. Raquel Lord, a Labor & Employment of counsel at global law firm Greenberg Traurig LLPs New Jersey office, has been listed as one of the New Jersey Law Journals (NJLJ) New Leaders of the Bar. The list recognizes New Jersey attorneys who demonstrate their talent and dedication, and are building impressive careers for themselves, serving their clients, and leading the legal profession in New Jersey, according to NJLJ. Lord and the other winners will be recognized in NJLJs Professional Excellence magazine and honored at the Professional Excellence Event, June 21, in Florham Park. Lord focuses her practice on general labor and employment matters, including hiring and termination procedures; performance management;, employee discipline; responding to complaints of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation; disability accommodations; employee leave issues; wage and hour compliance; restrictive covenants; and social media issues. Lord has been listed in Super Lawyers magazine, New Jersey Super Lawyers, "Rising Stars since 2013. She received her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, where she was Managing Editor of Rutgers Law Review and her B.A. at the University of Maryland, College Park. About Greenberg Traurigs Labor & Employment Practice Greenberg Traurigs Global Labor & Employment Practice serves clients from offices throughout the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia. Members of the practice have had numerous trial wins and are frequently called upon to handle complex, bet-the-company, and large high-stake cases, including class and collective actions. On the labor side, a leading group of lawyers regularly represents management with labor-relations matters. Labor & Employment team members assist clients with complex employment issues, and design practical, proactive strategies that can be readily implemented by todays human resources professionals. The practice has been recognized by Law360 as Practice Group of the Year for Labor & Employment (2011 and 2013), and has received a regional award from American Lawyer affiliate, Daily Report, for Litigation Department of the Year in Georgia (Labor & Employment 2015 and 2017). In addition, the practice is recognized by The Legal 500 United States in the areas of Labor and Employment Litigation, Labor-Management Relations, ERISA Litigation, and Trade Secrets Litigation. Visit Greenberg Traurigs Labor & Employment Blog for insights and analysis of the latest labor and employment developments, including legislation, regulations, cases, policies, and trends. About Greenberg Traurig Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2017 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Forged In Cheese will culminate with a public celebration featuring sampling of more than 2,000 artisan cheeses and specialty food and beverages It is a testament to how strong the cheese community truly is. Pretty much anyone who cares about making, selling, and enjoying great cheese comes together for education, networking, and camaraderie. Over 1,400 cheese and specialty food professionals are expected to attend the American Cheese Societys (ACS) 35th Annual Conference & Competition, Forged in Cheese at The David L. Lawrence Convention Center, in Pittsburgh, Penn., July 25-28, 2018. More than 2,000 different cheese products are expected to be judged in the world-renowned ACS Judging & Competition, with the top cheeses named Best of Show. The public can sample and purchase competition cheeses at the Festival of Cheese and Cheese Sale on Saturday, July 28, from 7:00 9:30pm. Proceeds from the Cheese Sale benefit the nonprofit American Cheese Education Foundation. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/CheeseFest18. Acknowledged as the foremost educational gathering for the cheese industry in North America, the ACS Conference and Competition broke all previous records in 2017, with 2,024 entries of cheeses and cultured dairy products from 281 companies, a 10 percent growth over the prior year. 36 U.S. states, four Canadian provinces, Mexico, and Colombia were represented, with a similar attendance expected in Pittsburgh at the 35th Annual Conference. Its exciting to see the growth of this event each year, said Nora Weiser, executive director of ACS. It is a testament to how strong the cheese community truly is. Cheesemakers, buyers, retailers, distributors pretty much anyone who cares about making, selling, and enjoying great cheese comes together for education, networking, and camaraderie. Business gets done, connections get made, and friendships get solidified. There is really no other professional industry event quite like it! she added. The ACS Judging & Competition will take place over two days, with winners announced at the Awards Ceremony on Fri., July 27. A panel of internationally renowned judges will evaluate the entries for their aesthetic and technical merits. Last years Best of Show was Tarentaise Reserve from Spring Brook Farm /Farms for City Kids Foundation in Vermont. St. Malachi from The Farm at Doe Run in Pennsylvania was second, while third place Best of Show was awarded to Harbison from Cellars at Jasper Hill in Vermont. 2018 winners will be highlighted at the Festival of Cheese on July 28, where conference attendees and the general public can taste competition cheeses while sampling craft beer, cider and specialty foods from artisan producers around the country. Education plays a central role at the ACS Conference, including: Opening keynote: Ignite Your Goals: Simple steps to accomplish more and accelerate your success, presented by Gerry OBrion, author of What Big Brands Know. More than 40 educational sessions geared toward cheesemakers, retailers and distributors. Sensory Deep Dive: How Sweet Are You? The Science of Taste session with Russell Smith of Dairy Australia (one session offered each day). First come, first serve tasting sessions, including Celebrating a Fermentation Renaissance, Drink the Apples Eat the Cheese!, Old and New Frontiers in Bandaged Cheddar and The Cornerstone Project: An American Original. ACS Certified Cheese Professional Exam Inaugural ACS T.A.S.T.E. Test (Technical, Aesthetic, Sensory, Tasting Evaluation) Meet the Cheesemaker: Conference attendees can meet and sample cheese and cultured dairy products from more than 100 producers Registration for Forged in Cheese is available at http://www.cheesesociety.org. Press passes are available to qualified individuals upon request. FastSpring, a global leader in ecommerce management for digital businesses, today announced the addition of Scott Herriman as Senior Vice President of Engineering, further expanding its leadership team of SaaS veterans. Herriman will be responsible for leading and growing the engineering department as they continue to develop the FastSpring platform to meet the needs of the growing digital commerce market. Herriman brings an extensive background in managing successful development teams at high-growth companies including Invoca and Global IP Solutions (acquired by Google in 2010), and a reputation as an expert in SaaS, user experience and DevOps. His unique experience will provide FastSpring with the necessary technical expertise needed to build a successful and sustainable ecommerce platform for the growing user base of international businesses. Were thrilled to have Scott Herriman join the FastSpring team. Scott brings a tremendous amount of experience in developing high-quality products and managing a large engineering team in fast-paced startup environments, said Chris Lueck, CEO at FastSpring. We look forward to Scotts contributions to our incredible engineering department to push the envelope on the technical capabilities of the FastSpring platform. "FastSpring is solving the ecommerce puzzle for digital businesses looking to monetize their products and services worldwide," said Herriman. "The mission, vision, and values of the company inspire me. I'm excited to work with the incredible agile engineering team and across the company to power the growing digital economy. The news follows FastSprings recent majority equity investment from Accel-KKR for continued investments in technology and go-to-market initiatives to better serve existing customers and drive continued growth in the digital commerce market. About FastSpring FastSpring powers the global digital economy by enabling subscriptions and payments for thousands of digital businesses around the world. The end-to-end ecommerce platform is designed for companies that sell software, content, or apps online. FastSpring is a privately owned company headquartered in Santa Barbara with offices in Nebraska and Amsterdam. For more information, please visit http://www.fastspring.com. With Softdocs innovative approach to ECM, cloud-based deployment model and open architecture that encourages integration to third party systems, institutions are seeing an immediate value for taking this next step, VP of Sales and Strategy, Andrew Daniel Softdocs, the sole education-focused document management, e-forms and workflow provider, today announced its continued expansion through the higher education and K-12 markets in the first quarter of 2018, including new customers as well as growing existing customer implementations and partnerships. As more school districts, colleges and universities find themselves needing to begin paperless initiatives, refresh older systems or replace outdated technology, Softdocs next generation ECM platform, Etrieve, has made an impression on institutions of all types and sizes. Accomplishments from Q1 2018 include conversions from competitive products Perceptive NolijWeb and DocuWare Fortis, as well as existing customers expanding their use of Softdocs solutions and services. This Q1 growth included: Welcoming new customers Marian University, University of Mount Union, North Island College, New College of Florida, Moberly Area Community College, Colorado Christian University and Elon University. Expanding existing customer relationships with new Etrieve implementations for Arizona Western College, Clarksville Public School District, Meridian Public School District, eStem Public Charter Schools, as well as Spartanburg School District 4s move to a cloud-based deployment model. Higher education institutions and K-12 districts are prioritizing technology investments that help save time and resources. Additionally, many are in need of easier deployment models and more flexible technology platforms. With Softdocs innovative approach to ECM, cloud-based deployment model and open architecture that encourages integration to third party systems, institutions are seeing an immediate value for taking this next step, said Softdocs VP of Sales and Strategy, Andrew Daniel. Moving forward into the year, Softdocs plans to capitalize on its recent announcement of Etrieves integration capabilities to the Ellucian Ethos Platform, providing a streamlined experience for end users and administrators alike. This initiative is following the showcasing of Etrieves rich integration to the Ellucian Banner and Colleague solutions through the Ethos Platform at the recent Ellucian Live conference in San Diego. Additionally, Softdocs will continue furthering development on their cloud offerings: Etrieve Cloud and Etrieve K12, as both new and existing customers explore this option more closely. Etrieve Cloud has been and will remain a priority for our team as interest continues to grow based on flexible licensing structures, simplification of managing the software application and overall confidence in the security and stability of cloud-based solutions, Daniel stated. For more information about Softdocs education-focused document management, e-forms and workflow solutions, please visit http://www.softdocs.com. About Softdocs: Softdocs develops enterprise content management, electronic forms and workflow solutions exclusively for the higher education and K-12 markets. The companys Etrieve platform redefines business processes, reducing the need for paper and improving student service and employee productivity by providing educational institutions complete control over how content is captured, processed and distributed. A privately held company founded in 1998, Softdocs is headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.softdocs.com. ADRMortgage.com Find out what it will cost to get a mortgage, in easy to understand language - according to Andy May at ADRMortgage.com. The true cost of getting a mortgage varies by type, find out what it's going to cost before starting the house-hunting process. Andy May, Senior Loan Officer and 13+ year owner of ADRMortgage.com explains in easy and concise language what it will cost to get each type of mortgage. Before starting, a word needs to be said about the timing of getting a mortgage. It takes a lot longer than it did even five years ago - that's why advertisers tell consumers they can get it done instantly (they can't). In the recent past (8 years ago) Andy May was able to close a consumer in 3 days (from first contact). Now, it's illegal to do so in less than 10 days. Plus, there's typically over 200 pages of documentation required on a standard mortgage (yes, consumers may opt to pay more for low-doc loans again - but this is a full doc loan example). According to Andy May, the costs to originate a mortgage are as follows for a $200k mortgage (ADRMortgage.com costs are lower in many instances, and lender costs vary significantly between lenders). The table on the side is for illustrative purposes and consumers are encouraged to shop around to ensure the lowest cost at the best rate. Lender charges may vary by several percentage points times the loan balance so be sure to shop for written statements of costs and rates. For each 1/8th rate increase the consumer may save about 1/2% in fees on a 30 year fixed loan. ADRMortgage.com is owned by Andy May Group, LLC and is a state licensed mortgage company in North Carolina and Virginia since 2005 (NMLS #88010, MLO #103418). Since 2005 the company has received Zero BBB complaints and treats customers as family. Family owned and operated from Raleigh, North Carolina the company serves military (VA mortgages), Jumbo, conventional, FHA, USDA and other families looking to obtain the lowest financing costs available. ADRMortgage.com competes on rate and service and is located at 8522 Six Forks Road, Suite 201, Raleigh, North Carolina 27615. Andy May may be reached at 919 771 3379. This program demonstrates how data-driven storytelling can address the most complex questions in technical industries, said John Corey, Founding Partner, Greentarget. Data-driven storytelling provides a powerful complement to the quantitative research programs weve delivered for years." Greentarget, a leading business-to-business public relations firm, and Duff & Phelps, the global advisor that protects, restores and maximizes value for clients, won The Holmes Reports 2018 Diamond SABRE award for Superior Achievement in Research and Planning. The SABRE Awards recognize campaigns that demonstrate the highest levels of strategic planning, creativity and business results. Greentarget and Duff & Phelps were recognized for their campaign, In Defense of Fairness Opinions. As the industry leader, Duff & Phelps felt a responsibility to elevate the conversation around fairness opinions, an important industry practice relied upon by corporate boards. While Duff & Phelps could speak to its own client work, the firm needed empirical evidence to demonstrate the utility of fairness opinions as an industry practice. The solution required analyzing thousands of pages of data filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (which could only be done using artificial intelligence). The result was a report entitled, In Defense of Fairness Opinions: An Empirical Review of Ten Years of Data. Greentarget partnered on the thought leadership campaign, including the research program, content development and media outreach. Boards of directors seeking fairness opinions have long been left to rely on their own intuition and experience in scrutinizing valuation estimates. The report provides directors with new data and empowers them to ask more informed questions, said Chris Janssen, Global Head of Transaction Opinions at Duff & Phelps. Its an honor to be recognized for our efforts and commitment to providing clients with cutting-edge thinking on a long-standing and valued business practice. This program demonstrates how data-driven storytelling can address the most complex questions in technical industries, said John Corey, Founding Partner, Greentarget. Data-driven storytelling provides a powerful complement to the quantitative research programs weve delivered for years. Leaders in business services that can integrate big data, machine learning and predictive analytics into their marketing programs can add tremendous value to their clients. We were honored to work with Duff & Phelps on this ground-breaking campaign, and we are thrilled to see Duff & Phelps and Greentarget recognized for this prestigious award. About Greentarget Greentarget is a strategic public relations firm focused exclusively on the communications needs of highly competitive business-to-business organizations. The firm was founded in 2005 to focus on the specific communications issues facing sophisticated organizations that compete on the basis of expertise, service and reputation. Today, Greentarget delivers a unique mix of earned media, content, research, digital, analytics and special situations counsel to help clients communicate and influence through normal business cycles and in times of crisis. The agencys success is due to carefully cultivated talent, specialized capabilities and strict adherence to a client service process called The Greentarget Way. Greentargets team of 60+ employees, located in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and London, offer the entrepreneurial spirit, geographic breadth and depth of experience required to serve leading business-to-business organizations. For more information, visit http://www.greentarget.com. About Duff & Phelps Duff & Phelps is the global advisor that protects, restores and maximizes value for clients in the areas of valuation, corporate finance, disputes and investigations, compliance and regulatory matters, and other governance-related issues. Our clients include publicly traded and privately held companies, law firms, government entities and investment organizations such as private equity firms and hedge funds. We also advise the worlds leading standard-setting bodies on valuation and governance best practices. The firms nearly 2,500 professionals are located in over 70 offices in 20 countries around the world. For more information, visit http://www.duffandphelps.com. About the SABRE Awards SABRE awards are bestowed annually and are presented for Superior Achievement in Branding and Reputation. Diamond SABREs recognize the increased contribution public relations is making in the C-suite, Gold SABREs recognize the best programs in specific brand-building and reputation management categories, and Silver SABREs focus on superior content creation. The Holmes Group exists to provide competitive insight and intelligence to public relations professionals. Products include consulting services, customized research, industry white papers, a weekly newsletter, The Holmes Report, and a comprehensive website. The Holmes Report is created for public relations professionals and offers industry news articles on new developments in the field and the trends and issues facing public relations professionals today and tomorrow. Contact: Lisa Seidenberg (312) 252-4108 lseidenberg@greentarget.com Clevens Face and Body Specialists was named the winner of a Silver Stevie Award in the Company of the Year Health Products & Services category in The 16th Annual American Business Awards announced this week. Founded in 2002, the awards program is known as the Oscars of the business world. Past Stevie Award winners include Apple, Ford Motor Company, Procter & Gamble, American Express and Marriott Vacations Worldwide, among others. More than 3,700 nominations from organizations of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted this year for consideration. In reviewing the nomination for Clevens Face and Body Specialists, the team of ABA judges noted the teams excellent commitment to corporate social responsibility. One judge wrote: Phenomenal accomplishments! Dr. Clevens is a true leader and icon of the community and his field. Clevens Face and Body Specialists was the only plastic surgery group in the nation to be recognized in its category. Our team is so honored to be included among some of our countrys most admired companies who have received an American Business Award, said Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS, founder and medical director of Clevens Face and Body Specialists. I feel privileged to be part of my patients lives, and to serve along with our dedicated providers and aesthetics professionals. Our team members are among the best in the nation in their respective fields, and this award truly is a testament to the unwavering passion and commitment my team demonstrates every day as they help our patients look and feel their best. The nomination focused on Clevens Face and Body Specialists marked growth in 2017 and achievements in the world of aesthetic medicine. Beyond providing an exceptional experience for their own patients, the team has shaped the future of the industry by teaching other physicians how to attain excellence in patient care, all while making a difference in the lives of others. Notable accomplishments in the past year included: Increased revenue resulting in 25% team growth Delivered pro bono care to victims of bullying and domestic violence who suffered facial trauma Launched two new treatments tattoo removal and nonsurgical laser fat reduction to contour the jawline Delivered talks about facial plastic surgery at industry meetings across the U.S. and internationally Co-hosted a health expo for women and families Organized an educational film screening and food drive event Donated to more than 50 local nonprofits throughout the year The American Business Awards are the U.S.A.s premier business awards program. Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word meaning crowned, the awards will be presented to winners at a gala ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Monday, June 11. The nominations submitted for The 2018 American Business Awards were outstanding. The competition was intense, and those recognized as Stevie Award winners should be immensely proud of this accomplishment, said Michael Gallagher, president and founder of the Stevie Awards. About Clevens Face and Body Specialists Clevens Face and Body Specialists is an award-winning plastic surgery group and medispa founded by Ross A. Clevens, MD, FACS. Trained at Yale, Harvard, and the University of Michigan, Dr. Clevens is a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon who has practiced in Brevard for more than 20 years. His practice is known for providing excellence in patient care and achieving cosmetic results that look very natural. Dr. Clevens also has made giving back to his community a priority through numerous charitable endeavors, such as donating more than $100,000 annually to local nonprofits. He is active in his Academys program Face to Face, providing pro bono facial plastic surgery to survivors of domestic violence who have suffered facial trauma. In 2010, Dr. Clevens and his family founded Face of Change, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing food and medical care to children and families locally and in developing nations. For more information about Clevens Face and Body Specialists, visit http://www.DrClevens.com. About the Stevie Awards Stevie Awards are conferred in seven programs: the Asia-Pacific Stevie Awards, the German Stevie Awards, The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, the Stevie Awards for Women in Business, the Stevie Awards for Great Employers, and the Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service. Stevie Awards competitions receive more than 10,000 entries each year from organizations in more than 60 nations. Honoring organizations of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide. Learn more about the Stevie Awards at http://www.StevieAwards.com. Sponsors of The 2018 American Business Awards include HCL America, John Hancock Financial Services and SoftPro. Details about The American Business Awards and the list of 2018 Stevie winners are available at http://www.StevieAwards.com/ABA. Jaime Raskulinecz of Next Generation Services in Roseland, N.J. is a finalist in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award Having worked hard since launching Next Generation 14 years ago, developing our team and expanding our services, it's gratifying to be recognized as an entrepreneur by business and community leaders. Ernst & Young (EY) today announced that CEO Jaime Raskulinecz of Next Generation Services is a finalist for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award in the New Jersey region. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. Raskulinecz was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 28 at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick. Having worked hard since launching Next Generation 14 years ago, developing our team and expanding our services, its gratifying to be recognized as an entrepreneur by business and community leaders, said Raskulinecz, whose company helps investors who want to self-direct their retirement plans. It is greatly rewarding to being honored in this way by EY. Next Generation, headquartered in Roseland, N.J., provides full account administration and transaction support for self-directed retirement plans, as well as custodial services through its sister firm, Next Generation Trust Company. The company also offers client education and guidance about the alternative assets these plans allow. More information is at http://NextGenerationTrust.com. Now in its 32nd year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world. Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 10, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum, the nations most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies. ### Sponsors Founded and produced by EY, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored in the US by SAP America, Merrill Corporation and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. In the New Jersey, regional sponsor include PNC Bank, DLA Piper, Morgan Lewis, Pine Hill Group and SolomonEdwards. About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year, founded by EY, is the worlds most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and the local community. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy About EY EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. For more information, visit ey.com. About Next Generation Next Generation Services provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support for self-directed retirement plans. Next Generations neutral, third-party professionals expertly guide clients and their trusted advisors as part of their white glove, personalized service for a seamless transaction experience from start to finish. Its sister company, Next Generation Trust Company, a trust company chartered in South Dakota, acts as custodian for these self-directed retirement plans. For more information on self-directing a retirement plan, visit http://www.NextGenerationTrust.com, call toll free 1.888.857.8058 or e-mail Info@NextGenerationTrust.com. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! China is pressuring airlines around the world to toe its political line. Qantas and American Airlines have confirmed they recently received a letter from China's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) warning them to follow China's laws and change references to Taiwan as a country to a province of China. Taiwan's political situation is highly contentious as the democratic island is self-ruled, but Beijing considers it to be a province of China. The letter, according to Foreign Policy, was also received by United Airlines and said the companies would be referred to "the relevant cyber-security authorities" if they did not undertake the change. Qantas confirmed to Business Insider it also received the CAA letter. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the correspondence was sent last month and requested changes to mentions of Taiwan, as well as Hong Kong and Macau which are both Special Administrative Regions of China. Business Insider reviewed Qantas' webpage at 10.30pm on Wednesday and found Taiwan was indeed listed as a country. Earlier this year, the CAA demanded Delta Air Lines issue a public apology for listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website. The airline responded and said it had made a "grave mistake". Around the same time during a regular review of its site, Qantas found a similar "oversight" that listed some Chinese territories as countries. "We are correcting this error," a Qantas spokesperson told Business Insider. It is currently unknown whether Qantas ever corrected this "error", if it was only changed on some areas of its site, or if the regions were changed to territories of China and then back again. But not complying with China's laws concerning its territories can have huge financial repercussions. Marriott was ordered to shut down its app and website for a week in January for sending an email that listed Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan as countries. Part of China's motive is to ensure international recognition for Taiwan doesn't grow. Because as more companies and countries officially recognise the democratic island as its own country, China's claim to rule diminishes. Just yesterday China snapped up one of Taiwan's largest diplomatic allies. The Dominican Republic cut ties to Taiwan in favour of establishing a formal relationship with China. The convicts are Suzzette Lamprey,19, level 100 student of University of Cape Coast, Christella Agyepong, 18, level 100 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Isabella Anning, 18, level 100 KNUST, Joyce Assabil , 21, level 100 University of Energy And Natural Resources, Agyei Elias,22, level 200 University of Professional Studies (UPS), Adjoh Wisdom ,20, level 400, UPS and ANIM Ansah ,22, level 100 ,University of Ghana ,Legon. READ ALSO: Former VC says UPSA founder never asked for renaming The rest are Antwi David, 19, level 100 (UPS), Desmond Agbesi, 26, a former student of Legon, Nyamekye Patience, 19, and Eugenia Obeng Boateng The convicts pleaded guilty to the charge of impersonation. The convicts were arraigned after the Akim Oda Police arrested them for writing exams for some candidates in the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). The convicts wrote the exams for some candidates of PLACID International School in the Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern Region. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, 3 others from a private second cycle institution, Star International School, were also arrested for the same offense. Meanwhile, Christian Dzisenu, a 23-year-old teacher with First & Star Remedial school in, Community 25, Tema who also pleaded guilty to a charge of Abetment of impersonation was convicted to a fine of GHC1, 200.00 in default serves 3 months imprisonment in hard labor. READ ALSO: Police arrest more fake WASSCE candidates He has also been banned by the court from writing any WAEC organized examinations for three (3) years. Prince Annor Darkwa of First & Star Remedial School, as well as the Director of the School, Dr Richard Salu, 45, pleaded not guilty to charges of impersonation and abetment respectively. They will reappear in Court on May 8, 2018. While one other accused person Kelvin Darko, 18, also of the First & Star Remedial School was re-arrested and put before the court but pleaded not guilty to a charge of impersonation. Moesha Bodoung recently made the headlines with her CNN news which landed her in lots of drama. She stated on CNN that the only way for a Ghanaian woman to survive is to date a man even if its a married man no problem. A lot of Ghanaians backlashed her for the statement including veteran actress Maame Dokono. Maame Dokonor even mentioned in her outrage that the actress has an artificial butt. READ ALSO: Moesha Boduong shows off perfect small waist in new photos According to a report by yabaleftonline.ng, Mr. and Mrs. Otike-Odibe started having some misunderstandings since last night over ownership of property and how their will should be prepared. Further reports indicate that the deceased and his wife from Diamond Estate, Sangotedo, Ajah in Lagos have no children, but the man has three children with another woman. Tension erupted when the woman reportedly insisted that the deceased willed all his property to her without any provision made for his three children with another woman, a demand the deceased objected to. Mrs. Otike-Odibe who allegedly stabbed herself in order to ostensibly escape the consequences of her action was rushed to the hospital where she was saved. The body of the deceased has also reportedly been conveyed to the morgue probably for an autopsy. Hopefully, Mrs. Otike-Odibe will be made to answer for her action according to the laws of the oil-rich West African country when she recovers from the self-inflicted injury. According to reports, the young lady only identified as Nakayanja Rashidah reached for a stone with which she hit the unnamed boss head. The alleged rapist reportedly incurred a life-threatening injury and bled profusely. Apparently, the incident was reported to the police and the alleged rape victim has rather become an assault perpetrator to her rape perpetrator. READ MORE: Ignorant mother buys penis pasta for her children as dinner When taken to the police station, the lady cried loudly like a baby asking for forgiveness while she remained handcuffed. It is not clear yet what has become of the case, but it seems the police are more interested in the assault on the said boss than the alleged rape that was attempted of the lady. Yabaleftonline.ng reported the Lagos Police Command as saying its Officer, CSP Mary Ubangha was on a surveillance duty within the vicinity when she spotted the suspect together with the rescued children she had allegedly abducted along Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. The Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal who addressed news men was quoted as saying: The DPO observed the womans worried countenance and felt that something is amiss. She decided to trail her. However, the suspect noticed that she was under surveillance and diverted into Saint Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba. The DPO followed her up and warned the church security men to keep an eye on the woman and never allow her exit the church without the police ascertaining her identity and mission to the church. The security men obliged and brought the woman and the children before the DPO. During interrogation, the woman gave her name as Mary Vera Henry of No. 6, Akanni Street, Shomolu. It was discovered that she was not the biological mother of the children who are of different parents. The names of the children are: Mukaila Yau, 10 and Mariam Jubril, 2. She claimed that she lost her 20-year-old daughter whom diviners told her had been reduced in size and stature to a 2-year-old child and that the 2-year-old child looked exactly like her missing 20-year-old daughter. The woman was arrested and taken to the station for further interrogation. While at the station, the biological parents of the children surfaced and gave their names as: Jubril Garba, father of the 2-year-old girl and Mukaila Amidu, father of the 10-year-old boy. The father of the 10-year-old told the police that he actually sent his son on an errand and that as he was going the 2-year-old girl accompanied him unknown to her parent. However, along the road the suspect lured the children away from their course to unknown destination. Investigation into the case is ongoing and effort is on to arrest the fleeing brother of the suspect believed to be a co-conspirator of the crime. The police commander has issued a stern caution to parents who neglect their children leaving them exposed to danger. He said his outfit will soon begin to arrest and prosecute such parents. With the foregoing, I hereby reiterate my call to parents to keep an eye on their children. The president was speaking at the World Press Freedom Day Awards Dinner on Wednesday evening. In his address, he said that the integrity of the media was at stake if the practitioners and other stakeholders fail to deal with this challenge. READ ALSO: IGP admits there are criminal cops in the Police Service This is a major threat to the integrity of the news world as we have known it. It is not something to be left only to regulators to deal with. It is something that the whole world of media practitioners must resolutely confront and assist the society to identify and eliminate. If not, it has the tendency to undermine the very profession they practice. It may in the long term, lead to a significant weakening of the entire industry, he added. The president also commended Ghanaians for the defending their right to free expression in the name of an open society and accountable governance. So far, he affirmed that Ghanaians have manifested in the 4th Republic, their deep attachment to the principles of democratic accountability, respect for individual liberties and human rights, and the rule of law. READ ALSO: Apostle Opoku Onyinah threatens to lead demo against legalising homosexuality Speaking on the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law, he said he has become a victim despite being one of the principal actors who championed its repeal in 2001. I will say again that I much prefer the noisy, boisterous, sometimes scurrilous media of today, to the monotonous, praise-singing, sycophantic one of yesteryear. Apostle Opoku Onyinah was speaking at the churchs 43rd General Council Meeting on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. He said the call to legalise homosexuality, LGBT, by some leaders of the Western world must be seen as neo-colonialism and must be condemned at the highest level. We do not accept this as an aspect of civilisation. Africans must see ourselves as people who are matured and know what is good for us and our people. The church in Ghana will continue to reject and oppose this and we are prepared to demonstrate against this if pressure continues to mount on our leaders, he added. His comments come after the UK Prime Minister Theresa May told President Akufo-Addo and other African leaders attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in London recently that it is wrong for homosexuals to be persecuted for their sexual orientation. The UK Prime Minister said her government was willing to help other African countries reform their laws and embrace homosexuality. READ ALSO: Jobless nurses to demonstrate against NABCO enrollment This brought back the public conversation of legalising homosexuality in Ghana, causing many people to oppose such calls. Meanwhile, a popular Ghanaian media personality Akumaa Mama Zimbi has alleged that some Members of Parliament, Pastors and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in the country are deeply rooted in the practice of homosexuality. The musician, identified as Kwaku Mintah has been fingered in the murder of Lance Corporal Nicholas Duku after robbing GH900,000. The robbers after shooting the police escort, took away GH900,000 from the businessman identified as Rajinder Singh. READ ALSO: 3 Police officers arrested for renting out guns to armed robbers The robbers later abandoned the vehicle they used in the operation, a Nissan Rogue with registration number GE 411-16, at the outskirts of Tarkwa. Frederick Mensah alias Kobby Nana 1 who is among four persons arrested in connection with the robbery, giving a chilling account of the incident confessed that, the gospel musician Kwaku Mintah, David, Mohamed Dauda alias Ahmed met 5 suspects from Accra led by Nat at a hotel at Bogoso to plan the robbery. He said, he and Mohamed Dauda were tasked to use Mazda Tribune 44 belonging to his accomplice [Dauda] to wait outside Bogoso to pick their accomplices from Accra after the robbery. The Accra suspects brought in a Nissan Rogue which was used for the robbery and later abandoned. READ MORE: Policeman killed by robbers in Tarkwa He revealed that David and Kwaku Mintah used Toyota Corolla and drove to the robbery scene to monitor. The suspect, Mohamed Dauda in his statement confirmed the story of Kobby Nana 1. He said GH 420,000 was robbed and not GH 900,000 which they shared after the robbery. He said they were 10 including one Mugabe who was brought in from Tarkwa by Kobby Nana 1 and each of them received GH 45,000. Another suspect, Bismark Opoku 34, alias Opambuor and a friend to Kobby Nana 1 narrating the story to the police said after the robbery, the money was hidden in a bush near Huni Valley. He said he was called by Kobby Nana 1 to meet Mohamed Dauda at the location to carry the money to the roadside which was transported in the Toyota Corolla of Kwaku Mintah the musician. READ MORE: Policeman arrested for conspiring with private security guard to rob Kwaku Mintah drove the Toyota Corolla including David, Mohamed Dauda and him [Kobby] with the money while the robbers from Accra used the Mazda Tribune to follow. In an interview with Accra-based Class FM, the IGP said that such miscreants will gradually be smoked out. Were putting measures in place and all those miscreants within the police service, were going to fish them out, but let me say that it is a human institution and I dont think we all expect every police officer to be above board. We have some officers with some criminal tendencies amongst us but these are the bad nuts that gradually we are fishing out. READ ALSO: Apostle Opoku Onyinah threatens to lead demo against legalising homosexuality His comments come after some police officers allegedly rented out their guns to armed robbers for robbery activities. Some other police officers have been accused of engaging in robberies or partnering with robbers so they can benefit from their operations. This has dented the already tarnished image of the Ghana Police Service. Mr Asante-Apeatu said the purging is part of an on-going campaign to redeem the battered image of the police. COALITION OF UNEMPLOYED PRIVATE NURSES (COUPN)PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PERSONNELS TO DEMONSTRATEThe National Executive Council of the COALITION OF UNEMPLOYED PRIVATE NURSES (COUPN) wish to bring to the notice of its members that, no one should be worried about the launching of NABCO and asking as to who is qualified and who is not qualified to apply.We will like to make it clear to members that the paraphernalia clearly indicates that NABCO trainees will receive training to be able to practice, which is an indication that it is not ideally meant for nurses and other health professionals but rather a calculated attempt to migrate health professionals onto this scheme in quest for cheap labour.Please the key issue here is SAY NO TO NABCO (Heal Ghana) and desist from visiting the website as it is a source of temptation and rather focus on availing yourself for the demonstration on Monday 7th May, 2018.DETAILS OF THE UPCOMING DEMONSTRATIONDATE: 7TH MAY, 2018.TIME: 7:00AMSTARTING/CONVERGING POINT: OBRA SPOT (CIRCLE ACCRA).MATCH THROUGH THE PRINCIPAL STREETS OF ACCRA TO ACCRA HEARTS OF OAK PARK UNDER POLICE PROTECTION.Let us all stay united and join hands together and come out in our numbers as health professionals demanding justice for our profession.Members should, therefore, remain calm and prepare towards our peaceful demonstration on Monday for us to present our petition to the vice president of the republic of Ghana and to register our displeasure.GOD BLESS (COUPN)GOD BLESS GHANAThank YouSignedMR. FREDERICK BAAH (PRESIDENT) MR. RICHMOND ASOMANING-MARFO (DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS)MR. EMMANUEL NANOR (GENERAL SECRETARY) MR. REXFORD OFORI-NTIAMOAH (ORGANISER)Cc.ALL MEDIA HOUSES. He said this has made some people disgruntled hence the call for his immediate removal. This week, some staff of COCOBOD in the Ashanti Region called on President Akufo-Addo to remove Owusu-Agyeman as a matter of urgency. During the May Day celebrations in Kumasi, a section of Cocobod workers accused Mr Owusu-Agyeman of usurping the authority of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Joseph Boahen Aidoo, and called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to remove him. This is part of an entrenched mindset of the people who have worked with COCOBOD and I think COCOBOD is in crisis", he said. There is a debt overhung of GHS1.9billion and normally when a business goes into such level of crisis, it either folds up or cuts the number of staff dramatically so that it can survive But we are not cutting off anybody", he revealed. Hackman said most of these worker are enjoying benefits that should rather go to the cocoa farmers. He said Amewu's conduct is reprehensible and not in conformity of being a Minsiter. "To him, the Minister chose to "insult" the former President because of his desire to serve his leaders, asking "John Amewu, is he a technocrat or Politician? Nah, I want to know this; for him to have come out and say that President Mahama is a conman. You see, because of our desire to lap at the feet of leaders, we intend to insult others and then when we have lost elections; we come back and say we are sorry, he said. READ ALSO: Mahama criticises government fight against illegal mining Amewu, who said he previously held the former president in high esteem, however said not even a sheet of paper on the issue was left behind by the erstwhile Mahama administration, describing the ex-president, also as a failure unfit to be advising a working government. Allotey Jacobs told journalist Kwame Sefa-Kayi on Peace FM that: "Hell live to regret. In a letter to the Board, Amidu said his office has been informed about some shady deals involving Bennet Aboagye adding that his office is in the process of being composed in accordance with its establishing statutes with the necessary professional staff to enable it function effectively. He said nobody at MMT should tamper with evidence. The letter in part read "while Metro Mass Transit Ltd is at liberty to invoke its administrative procedures to address purely administrative infractions of its regulations, care ought to be taken in that, the process does not compromise the integrity of the eventual criminal investigation to be conducted by us. "Nothing should be done that may be interpreted as calculated to interfere with any witness or witnesses or the complainant in the pending complaint. Notice also ought to be taken of the fact that any obstruction of this office from performing a function under the Act 959 may constitute an offence." The letter added that the complaint "will be fairly and impartially investigated as soon as arrangements underway for the purpose are compiled." Background Lawal who is the security coordinator of the MMT, presented a petition to the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, against Mr. Aboagye and the Board Chairman Ahmed Arthur. In his petition, he stated that the MD and the board chairman had engaged in several financial malpractices and breached several procurement laws in the acquisition of some 300 buses since taking over the company over a year ago. Lawal had also alleged that Mr. Aboagye and a leading member of the NPP Dr. Amoako Tuffuor attempted to bribe him with GH40, 000 when he confronted them with his evidence. READ ALSO: Aggrieved staff of defunct Capital Bank demand severance package He is demanding the immediate dismissal and prosecution of the Managing Director. The likes of John Boadu, Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, party Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, and Regional Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization, Kwabena Senkyire, were among those present at the Manhyia Palace to beg the Asantehene. Accra-based Joy FM reports that the group of NPP executives dropped to their knees as they begged the king to in a bid to suppress his anger. The report indicates that Otumfuos linguist, Baffour Kantankrakyi, had to step in to intercede on behalf of the NPP bigwigs. The linguist pleaded with the Ashanti overlord to pardon and forgive his grandchildren who, at that point, where still on their knees seeking mercy from the king. "Your own grand children. Regional Minister, the Mayor and John Boadu. They say this is a surprise to them. His comments come after John Peter Amewu, described Mahama as a con man who failed to deliver his on promises. Mahama speaking at the National Democratic Congress (NDC's) unity walk in Kumasi over the weekend, he described the government's approach in the campaign as counterproductive. He said "it is true that if we don't do something about it, it will destroy the environment. But we need to apply wisdom. Because we've chased young people involved in illegal small-scale mining with soldiers in the past in this country, but it didn't work." However, in a response to Mahama, Mr Amewu said the government has created 12 mining districts and 33 satellite districts. He told Accra-based Citi FM: "What has Mahama been able to do? Today, we have created a lot of mining districts, weve created 12 mining districts and 33 satellite districts. We are bringing mining back to the decentralization level. The small-scale mining which was in the status quo was supposed to have mining communities. "These were not inaugurated in all the years Mahama was President, we have just inaugurated them, bringing mining to the community of the owners of the resources. Decentralization, this is the approach, so I am so disappointed in Mahama. "He cannot address the problems. Im telling the small-scale miners that this gentleman is a con man. Hes deceiving them and if they dare go in for him just because of galamsey, this country will come down." But the NDC MP in a scathing attack on the Minister said Nana Addo is rather the con man who has failed to honour his promises and disappointed Ghanaians. Speaking on Accra-based Radio Gold, Akandoh labelled President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as the real con man. "If you want someone who is a con man, Im going to tell Amewu who a con man is...A con man is somebody who told the people of this country that look, vote for me, if I come Ill legalise galamsey, and when he comes back he bans even legal mining. "A con man is somebody who will tell us that look, vote for me, if I come Ill give every constituency $1 million and he comes back and he will come and cut even the District Assemblies Common Fund and tries to give it back to us as that money that was promised. "A con man is somebody who will promise us that look if I come Ill pay teacher trainee allowances and then he comes and pretends as if he is changing that one into degree, so that now it is a tertiary institution and it will not need any allowance." They said the enrollment of unemployed nurses under the initiative will amount to modern say slavery. READ ALSO: Jobless nurses to demonstrate against NABCO enrollment They said: "The unemployed health personnel need financial clearance and posting, and not a three-year employment contract that will further compound the challenges at the sector. The programme is expected to provide 100,000 job opportunities to unemployed graduates in the areas of health, education, information and technology, revenue mobilization and other key areas. The Association has thus announced it will on Monday, May 7 embark on a massive demonstration exercise to be staged in the capital city of the country, Accra. The said the initiative will bring such a big relief to the teeming unemployed graduates in Ghana. Launching the initiative, Akufo-Addo said: NABCO will enhance the dignity and self-esteem of our graduates, and will also present them with the added benefit of efficiency and effectiveness in the delivery of some essential public services". The Nation Builders Corps initiative was launched by President Akufo-Addo in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region on May 1, 2018 to address the perennial unemployment, which has become a canker in the country. "Afghanistan's journalists are among the bravest in the world," said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International's deputy director for South Asia. "Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs." A double suicide blast in Kabul on Monday, claimed by the Islamic State group, left 25 people dead including Marai and eight other journalists, while a BBC reporter was killed in a separate attack in eastern Khost province. Media workers from Tolo News, 1TV, Radio Free Europe and Mashal TV were also among the dead in Kabul. The deadly assaults have shaken Afghanistan's tight-knit journalist community. Most of them are close friends as well as colleagues who look out for one another as they work in an increasingly hostile environment. Many remain defiant, determined to continue their work despite the risks. Hours after the Kabul explosion, dozens of Afghan news editors and executives returned to the site in a public display of defiance to militants. "World Press Freedom Day reminds me and my colleagues of the importance of reporting -- reporting for a vibrant democracy," Parwiz Kawa, editor-in-chief of the Hasht-e-Subh Daily newspaper, told AFP. 1TV editor-in-chief Abdullah Khenjani said Thursday was a "mourning day" for the broadcaster, which lost a reporter and cameraman in Monday's blast. "This day reminds us how tough the past year was," Khenjani told AFP, adding his colleagues were heartbroken, "especially when we see the empty chairs... in our newsroom". "Afghan journalists who work in an increasingly hostile environment deserve more support and protection," said Lotfullah Najafizada, director of Tolo News. 'End journalists' slaughter' Afghanistan was last year ranked the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The media watchdog said since 2016, it has recorded the killings of 34 journalists in Afghanistan. Afghan media outlets have condemned the government's failure to protect them, particularly at the scene of suicide attacks where secondary blasts are a constant concern. The British embassy in Kabul also released a statement Thursday vowing to stand behind Afghan journalists, with the UK's minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field saying their bravery "has been noted the world over". "Despite the risks, they stand firm together, determined never to be cowed by terrorists," he said in the statement. The attack on the Afghan journalists comes amid increasing concerns over press freedom across Asia, including in the Philippines and Myanmar. On the same day as the Afghan journalists were killed, Philippine radio broadcaster Edmund Sestoso was shot by assailants in the southern city of Dumaguete, said Human Rights Watch. Sestoso died Tuesday. "That Sestoso's murder occurred on the same day 10 journalists were killed in Afghanistan made it particularly tragic," said Carlos Conde, researcher in the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. "That he died on the eve of World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder that much needs to be done for press freedom around the world and end the slaughter of journalists." A collaborative of press advocates said in a report that attacks against journalists in the Philippines have spiked since Rodrigo Duterte won the presidency in May 2016, citing 85 cases -- including murder. In Myanmar, hopes have been dashed of more press freedom under the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which took power in 2016. A recent survey of journalists released concluded that there is less press freedom now than under the former military-backed government, citing an increase in threats, physical attacks and arrests of reporters. The country has fallen six places to 137th on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Two Reuters journalists, who were investigating the extrajudicial killing of Rohingya Muslims, face charges that could result in 14-year jail sentences if convicted. These are good times for Nigerian and Chinese companies as trade between both countries will no longer require Dollars. The good news is coming after the execution of a bilateral currency swap agreement between the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC). The governor of Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele has signed the currency swap agreement on behalf of Nigeria with Yi Gang, the governor of Peoples Bank of China on behalf of China. The currency swap deal, which has taken two years of negotiation, is valued at 16 billion Renminbi (RMB) which is an equivalent of $2.5billion. Speaking on the agreement, Isaac Okorafor, CBN spokesman said: The deal, which is purely an exchange of currencies, will also make it easier for Chinese manufacturers seeking to buy raw materials from Nigeria to obtain enough naira from banks in China to pay for their imports from Nigeria. Indeed, the deal will protect Nigerian business people from the harsh effects of third currency fluctuations. With currency swap deal, Nigeria becomes the third African country to have such an agreement in place with China. Effect of $2.5billion currency swap deal After the agreement signing, the deal will provide the Chinese and Nigerian currencies directly to industrialists and other businesses from both countries. ALSO READ: CBN pumps $210m into FX market to reduce pressure on Naira The agreement will also reduce the difficulties acquiring third currencies - Dollars, Euros and Great Britain Pounds - according to the CBN spokesman. Okorafor further said: Among other benefits, this agreement will provide naira liquidity to Chinese businesses and provide RMB liquidity to Nigerian businesses respectively, thereby improving the speed, convenience, and volume of transactions between the two countries. It will also assist both countries in their foreign exchange reserves management, enhance financial stability and promote broader economic cooperation between the two countries. According to the recently released study by the WHO, air pollution consists of many pollutants, among other particulate matter. These particles are able to penetrate deeply into the respiratory tract and therefore constitute a risk for health by increased mortality from respiratory infections and diseases, lung cancer, and selected cardiovascular diseases. The level of pollution in the air, according to the study by WHO, is measured in microscopic particle of less than 2.5 microns ( PM2.5) and less than 10 microns of diameter (PM10) [ug/m3]. What is PM? In a report by the World Bank, PM is described as a microscopic particle -2.5 microns in width and almost 30 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair. When levels are high, PM particles form a haze in the sky, making their way into peoples respiratory tracts and reaching the lungs. Often dubbed a silent killer, the PM's long-term impacts on lung and heart diseases is extremely regarded dangerous. Exposure to indoor and outdoor air pollution was estimated by WHO to cause about 7 million deaths globally, raising awareness of the scourge of pollution on a global scale. The most polluted cities in Nigeria According to the World Health Organisation, the cities that may have a high rate of people suffering from respiratory infections and diseases are: ALSO READ: Nigerians among 7 million people that die of air pollution yearly 1. Aba (Abia State) Aba is a city in the southeast of Nigeria and the commercial center of Abia State. Upon the creation of Abia state in 1991, Aba was divided into two local governments areas namely; Aba South and Aba North. Aba south is the main city centre and the heart beat of Abia State, south-east Nigeria. It is located on the Aba River. PM 10: 373; PM 2.5: 49 2. Abakaliki (Ebonyi State) Abakaliki is the capital city of the present-day Ebonyi State in southeastern Nigeria, located 64 kilometres southeast of Enugu. The inhabitants are primarily members of the Igbo nation. PM 10: 88; PM 2.5: 28 3. Afikpo (Ebonyi State) Afikpo, also known as "Ehugbo", is a town and the second largest urban area in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Afikpo North Local Government Area. It is situated in the southern part of Ebonyi State and is bordered to the north by the town of Akpoha, to the south by Unwana, PM 10: 72; PM 2.5: 25 4. Enugu (Enugu) Enugu is the capital of Enugu State in Nigeria. It is located in southeastern Nigeria. The city had a population of 722,664 according to the 2006 Nigerian census. PM 10: 115; PM 2.5: 15 5. Ile-Ife (Osun State) Ile-Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. The city is located in the present day Osun State. PM 10: 103; PM 2.5: 26 6. Kaduna (Kaduna State) Kaduna is the state capital of Kaduna State in north-western Nigeria, on the Kaduna River, is a trade center and a major transportation hub for the surrounding agricultural areas with its rail and road junction. PM 10: 423; PM 2.5: 90 7. Nnewi (Anambra State) Nnewi is the second largest city in Anambra State in southeastern Nigeria. Nnewi as a metropolitan city encompasses 2 local government areas, Nnewi North, Nnewi South; Nnewi North is commonly referred to as Nnewi Central, and comprises four autonomous quarters: Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim, and Nnewichi. Nnewi North PM 10: 57; PM 2.5: 24 8. Nsukka (Enugu State) Nsukka is a town and Local Government Area in southeast Nigeria in Enugu State. Towns that share a common border with Nsukka, are Eha alumona, Edem, Alor-uno, Opi, Orba and Ede-Oballa, Obukpa, Obimo. PM 10: 117; PM 2.5: 14 9. Onitsha (Anambra State) Onitsha is a city located on the eastern bank of the Niger River, in Nigeria's Anambra State. A metropolitan city, Onitsha is known for its river port and as an economic hub for commerce, industry, and education. It hosts the Onitsha Main Market, the largest market in Africa in terms of geographical size and volume of goods. PM 10: 594; PM 2.5: 66 10. Orlu (Imo State) Orluis the second largest city, after Owerri, in Southeast Nigeria's Imo State with an estimated population of 420,000. It has a long history and has played a critical role as the headquarters for the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) ran Humanitarian Relief Agencies during the Nigeria/Biafra civil war. PM 10: 52; PM 2.5: 16 11. Owerri (Imo State) Owerri is the capital of Imo State in Nigeria, set in the heart of Igboland. It is also the state's largest city, followed by Orlu and Okigwe as second and third respectively. PM 10: 158; PM 2.5: 44 12. Umuahia (Abia State) Umuahia is the capital city of Abia State in southeastern Nigeria. Umuahia is located along the rail road that lies between Port Harcourt to its south and Enugu city to its north. On the first Thursday of May of every year, America marks a day set aside for prayers. This practice started in 1952 after it was established by Congress. Trumps message Today, the president issued a press release. Here is an excerpt: On this National Day of Prayer, we join together to offer gratitude for our many blessings and to acknowledge our need for divine wisdom, guidance, and protection. Prayer, by which we affirm our dependence on God, has long been fundamental to our pursuit of freedom, peace, unity, and prosperity. Prayer sustains us and brings us comfort, hope, peace, and strength. Therefore, we must cherish our spiritual foundation and uphold our legacy of faith America has known peace, prosperity, war, and depression and prayer has sustained us through it all. May our Nation and our people never forget the love, grace, and goodness of our Maker, and may our praise and gratitude never cease. On this National Day of Prayer, let us come together, all according to their faiths, to thank God for His many blessings and ask for His continued guidance and strength. More National Prayer Messages Christian leaders like the late s son, Frank and Joel Osteens wife, Victoria also shared their thoughts on prayers on social media. Ogundipe while addressing newsmen at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos said the four Chinese language graduates are among the 245 students who finished with first class honours. The Vice-Chancellor added that this is the first time the university produce graduates of Chinese Language adding that four out of the 14 graduates were in the first class division. He also said that the university would confer degrees, certificates and diploma to 12,638 students in various discipline at the convocation. 3 students to win the best graduating student award Speaking about the best graduating student, Ogundipe said three students emerged as the overall best with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 4.97. The students are Jude Mathew from the department of biochemistry, Abbas Roy-Larinde from the department of chemical and petroleum engineering and Emmanuel Babawale, department of early childhood education. According to the VC, out of the 245 first class students, 62 of them are from the faculty of engineering. So you know, we've followed the story of these two lovebirds since Davido made their relationship public. We want to share with you five amazing things Davido has done for his girlfriend. 1. Taking her to a close family event We all know when the buzz of the new relationship between Davido and then unknown Chioma began, fans, and followers were a bit confused about their actual status. It wasn't clear if they were actually dating or she was just one of his numerous ladies. Well, Davido took Chioma along to a private family event in and guys, that was the beginning of their beautiful love story and the narrative changed for both of them. 2. Going on tour with her Sometimes, when musicians go on a music tour, they are accompanied by not girlfriends but by most times groupies or escorts but in the case of Davido, it was different in his recent tour. The music star kind off sent a signal to would be or self-acclaimed groupies that he won't be needing them as he had his girlfriend by his side. This singular gesture must have given Chioma the assurance that her place in Davido's heart was sealed. 3. Trip to Barbados Whenever lovebirds want to take time out to explore themselves together away from chaos and the crowd, they go on vacation trips. This was the case for Davido and Chioma as they both took time out of their busy schedule (Davido's busy schedule) to fly to the beautiful Island of Barbados. We got to see photos from the trip on Davido's Instagram stories with the couple exploring the beautiful island nation. 4. Lavish birthday party We weren't expecting less when Davido decided to celebrate Chioma's birthday. It was a turnt up event as the music star shut down a nightclub just for his baby. Friends, well-wishers showed up at the club to celebrate with Chioma. The event was more like an engagement dinner as Davido announced that he was going to love her for the rest of his life! Wedding bells soon? 5. The N45M car In a developing story according to top American media house, Bloomberg, the rap mogul, Shawn Carter, popularly known as Jay-Z is in hot waters with Wall Streets top regulator. Jay Z is the target of a Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement action for failing to testify as part of an investigation into Iconix Brand Group Inc., which paid $200 million to acquire assets from his Rocawear apparel brand. The investigation has been ongoing for a while and in a statement released on Thursday, the agency identified Jay-Z by his given name, Shawn Carter. The rapper is yet to release an official response. The organizers of the awards have rolled out the nominees list, which in its usual manner has generated controversy, and also unveiled the hosts for this years event clearing the path for the event which is holding at an unusual time of the year as against its traditional end of the year date. The Headies which is regarded as Nigeria's most consistent and glamorous awards show has attempted to raise the bar with every edition, whether they have succeeded at that or not, is a debate for another day. However, outside the presentation of awards on the night and the drama that usually comes from winners or losers, another highlight of every edition of The Headies revolves around the performances by top Nigerian artists. Whether it is bringing the audience to their feet with high energy performances, or an unending round of applause with powerful emotional ballads, or at times, bringing down the roof with well orchestrated routines and surprise collaborations, the Headies stage has witnessed some of the most memorable performances of all time. Here are our 5 Top unforgettable performances at the music awards. 1. Dbanj - 'Tongolo' (2005) The first edition of the Headies award set the perfect stage for the Kokomaster who had recently returned to the country with his single, Tongolo the number one song in the land. We have come to expect the unexpected from D'Banj, but no one was prepared for him stepping out on stage in a towel with the words, 'What's The Koko' boldly written on it. Alongside Don Jazzy, the duo performed the hit single and brought the building down. 2. Rooftop Mcs featuring Cobhams - Lagimo (2008) Rooftop Mcs ft Cobhams - 'Lagimo' Gospel rap duo of Soul Snatcha and So Kleva, jointly known as Rooftop Mcs had featured iconic producer Cobhams Asuquo on their hit song, ''Lagimo''. Performing at the 2008 edition of the Headies, the duo had climbed on stage to deliver their rap verses, but at the point when the visually impaired Cobhams, took his verse, he slumped to his knees as he performed. This brought a chilling feel to those who witnessed the performance, as a large percentage of the crowd stood up and applauded the performance till the very end, with a few left teary eyed. 3. 2baba - Free (2009) The fourth edition of the Headies awards in 2009 was held at the International Conference Centre in Abuja, the first time the awards was hosted outside Lagos. Rounding up performances on the night was the legendary 2baba, who was brought on stage in a cage as he performed his song, ''Free''. 2face's set remains one of the best in Headies history. 4. Vector - King Kong (2015) Vector - 'King Kong Performance' The 2015 edition of the editions remains one of the most talked about due to the drama that occurred between Olamide and Don Jazzy on stage. But outside the controversies, the night also witnessed top notch performances and rapper Vector delivered a stand out set that wowed the crowd. Dressed in an all black Agbada (Traditional wear), the rapper took to stage complete with his hypeman, dancers and popular Yoruba Eyo Masquerades as he performed his hit single, 'King Kong'. Vector also rounded up his performance with a freestyle where he paid tribute to Goldie which had the crowd jumping off their seats. 5. P Square - Roll it (2014) Back when the twins were still one, no be two, P Square is widely regarded as the best stage performers in the country. He mentioned this at a civil court in Harare, Zimbabwe, where he also alleged that the defendant Takawira took his underwear to a prophet. This was confirmed in a report by The Standard News, which also stated that the wife had insulted Chijok in the presence of their children - a factor which led to more tensions between the couple. Takawira, however, believes Columbus Chijok filed for a protection order against her in order to cover up his promiscuous behaviour. According to reports, she got the information concerning her husband's extra-marital affair from his work colleague. Pastor ordered to pay 15k to wife who deprived him of sex A sex-deprived pastor, Joshua Aranse, has lost his marriage due to a lack of intimacy with wife who denied him conjugal rights. This prompted him to seek a relationship with another woman who is reportedly pregnant. He explained this to the Alagbado Customary Court, Lagos, during a hearing held on Thursday, March 8, 2018. An absence of sexual intercourse for a period of four years provided good motivation for the act. His wife, Funmilayo, who is described as a trader according to Vanguard News, has alleged abandonment. ALSO READ: Woman wants divorce from husband who makes private part itch badly The woman who lives in Meiran, claimed that her husband neglected his family between the year 2010 and 2014. This proved to be the catalyst inspiring a desire for divorce. My husband has not set his eyes on his three children since June 30, 2014. He refused to pay their school fees. "They no longer go to school because I do not have money to send them to school. "He sold our car and gave the money to the woman he impregnated. He has refused to take care of the children and I. "Please separate us because I no longer love him," says Funmilayo while addressing the court. Aranse submitted a different view explaining why he sought a relationship with another woman. He however refused to agree with an opinion describing him as an adulterer. I did not commit adultery except the woman I impregnated, the respondent offered a comment while addressing the issue. According to reports, a court president ordered him to pay a sum of N15,000 monthly for the welfare of three children nursed with Funmilayo. She was promised a sum of N40,000 before embarking on her trip according to a post on Tatafo Naija's Instagram. Unfortunately, a sweet deal turned sour for the unnamed woman who was reportedly locked up in a room located in a duplex owned by her host. ALSO READ: New money ritual in Ogun has a wealth seeker barking like a dog Captured but not discouraged. She escaped through an opening in a ceiling offering her an opportunity to bail through a fence. 2 brothers behead sibling accused of bewitching them Two brothers, Akaninyene and Ime Enyeokpon, alleged to have murdered sibling named Friday, have been arrested by the police in Akwa-Ibom State. The pair reportedly laid an ambush for the deceased who was on a hunting trip and beheaded him. This was based on their conviction that their late brother bewitched them, causing them to be poor. ALSO READ: 5 devilish things Internet fraudsters do to get money Mr. Adeyemi Ogunjemilusi, the state police commissioner, confirmed the arrest in the capital, Uyo. It was gathered that the suspects decapitated Friday's body, burying his head and leaving the his other parts to rot. The deceased, one Friday Enyeokpon m of Ikot Abasi Asutan Village in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area left his house and went into the bush to check his traps and while still in the bush, the suspects, one Akaninyene Enyeokpon m, and Ime Enyeokpon m, both of same address, emerged from their hideouts, unlawfully killed the deceased, beheaded the deceased, buried the deceaseds head and abandoned the lifeless body in the bush. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to the crime, noting that the deceased bewitched them with witchcraft and caused their misfortune in life. Ayuba, who resides at Karu, Abuja, is facing a two-count-charge of criminal trespass and theft. The prosecutor, Edwin Ochayi, told the court that one Ismaila Adams of Corner Shop, Karu in Abuja, reported the matter at the Karu Police Station, on April 14. Ochayi said the complainant alleged that the defendant trespassed into his shop at the above mentioned address and stole his 25 litres of kerosene, valued N6,000. He added that during police investigation, the defendant did not admit to have stolen the said kerosene but it was discovered that he had sold it to one Muntari Abubakar for N3,500. The prosecutor said that the offences contravened Sections 348 and 287 of the Penal Code. Ayuba, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge. The judge, Hassan Ishaq, granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N20, 000 with one surety in like sum. According to a press statement signed by the commands spokesman, SP Chike Oti, the suspect, one Mrs Udeme Odibi was arrested while also trying to commit suicide. Oti said that on May 3, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ogombo, Ajah, Lagos, received a distress call at about 7:30 a.m. that one Mr Otike Odibi was allegedly killed in his house at Diamond Estate, Sango-Tedo Lagos, by his wife, Mrs Odibi. Based on the information, the DPO mobilised a team of detectives to the scene where they found the man lying on the bed in the pool of his own blood, with his stomach ripped open and exposing the intestine. As if that was not enough, the killer severed his genital and placed it on his right hand. However, before the arrival of the Police, Mrs Udeme who had unsuccessfully attempted to commit suicide after allegedly killing her husband, was rushed to the hospital for treatment by neighbours. Sequel to the above, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Edgal Imohimi, directed Crime Scene Detectives from the homicide section of the SCID Panti Yaba and Forensic experts to the scene to aid in the investigation. Witness account revealed that the couple both of whom are lawyers were married three years ago after the deceased divorced his first wife. The deceased first marriage produced a daughter currently schooling in the UK. However, the current marriage is said to be without a child. ALSO READ:Man hires assassin to murder rich family to inherit wealth Further information from a neighbour revealed that the deceased called him on phone in the night before he was murdered, complaining that the wife was threatening to kill him with a knife. The said neighbour, however, warned him to be careful. The deceased also called his mother and his younger sister complaining of threat to his life that fateful night. The incident occurred late in the evening on Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at Diamond Estate located in Sangotedo. According to reports, the controversy began over a disagreement concerning the husband's belongings which she reportedly wants for herself. The woman, Mrs. Otike-Odibe, who allegedly engaged in an extra-marital affair, was rescued after also harming herself. Meanwhile, her husband's corpse has been removed from their residence by the police. ALSO READ: Man stopped from killing son who tried to murder him in dream Security guard stabbed to death over N1000 tip Ahmed Oyesiji, a security guard in Yaba, Lagos, has been stabbed to death by a colleague during a dispute over a N1000 tip. The suspect, Moshood Adigun, has been detained by the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department according to Punch News. It was gathered that the deceased had earlier lent out a sum of N4000 to his killer who was yet to submit a refund before a fight ensued on Monday, February 19, 2018. Oyesiji had reportedly insisted on holding on to the entire amount given to the pair as part of the money expected for collection. "They worked as security guards in the community. Moshood (Adigun) owed Ahmed (Oyesiji) N4,000. "Somebody gave them N1,000 while they were on duty on Monday. Instead of them to share the money, Ahmed said he would not give Moshood his share. He said Moshoods debt remained N3,500. "They argued over it and fought. "After they were separated, Moshood went for a bottle, broke it and stabbed him in the neck. He was bleeding heavily and within five minutes, he died, says a witness who spoke to Punch. After weeks of spewing out nuggets of (his own brand of) wisdom on Twitter over the past few weeks, African Americans (and in a way, all Africans) had enough when Ye bellowed in a recent visit to American Gossip site, TMZ, that Slavery seemed like a choice. Excuse you, sir?! Fans of Yes free-thinking have tried to counter his opponents with various arguments about love and why we need to understand the past. It isnt particularly surprising that most of these arguments have ignored basic facts of history. Ye saying that slavery was a choice implies that the Africans and people of other nationalities who were abducted, broken, bartered, subjugated and overworked during that dark era in the worlds history did so, even though they had an alternative. The many slave uprisings during the slave era are evidence that even after they had been brought to a new continent, even after new generations were born into slavery, the oppressed still made attempts to regain their freedom. Slave owners often lived in fear of their slaves, who were much stronger, resilient and numerous than them. On certain occasions, the pain of bondage boiled over and the slaves revolted, most times, with fatal consequences. Here are 5 slave uprisings that someone needs to remind Kanye West about: (1) Nat Turners Rebellion: After experiencing prophetic visions asking him to take his freedom by force, a deeply religious Nat Turner and his accomplices killed his masters family as they slept. So began what would be called Nat Turners Rebellion of 1831, a bloody uprising in Southampton County, Virginia. Turners small band of slaves, about 70 of them, moved from house to house, eventually killing over 50 white people. It eventually took a militia to suppress the uprising. Even after Turner and about 55 other slaves were executed, reprisal attacks from white mobs and militias killed as many as 200 slaves. Turner was a well-read slave and in the weeks after, his intelligence was cited as the reason for his revolt. To forestall future occurrences, several states passed laws prohibiting anyone from teaching blacks to read and write. (2) The Haitian Revolution: Regarded as the most successful slave rebellion in history, the Haitian Revolution began with slave riots and ended with the creation of an independent state. In 1791, slaves in the French colony of Saint-Dominique launched a well-organised revolt against their white masters, killing thousands. Sugar plantations where the blacks were put to work were burned to the ground, as the rebels continued to gain ground across the colony. The revolution did not end until three years later when the French government banned slavery in all its territories. Now free, the famed rebel general Toussaint Louverture joined forces with French Republicans and become governor of the Island. However, the war was not won yet. When Napoleon captured Louverture and attempted to reintroduce slavery, the former slaves found a new leader and defeated French forces in 1803. The next year, they declared the colony independent and founded the free republic of Haiti. (3) The St. John Insurrection: In November 1733, a group of slaves from the Akan tribe of Ghana, plagued by harsh conditions and stringent slave laws, decided it was time to revolt against their masters on the Danish-owned island of St. John. The slaves began by using smuggled weapons to kill soldiers stationed in a fort inside one of the plantations where they worked. Soon enough, co-conspirators gathered on the islands other plantations. With time, they seized control of St. Johns, ruling it for six months. Their time in the sun was cut short when in May 1734, several hundred French troops arrived and suppressed the rebellion. (4) The Creole Revolt of 1841: In November 1841, an American slave cook by the name Madison Washington led what would become the most successful slave uprising in American history. While in service on the brig Creole, which was transporting 134 slaves between states, Washington spurred 17 of his fellow slaves to revolt. They killed one of the slave traders, and in time, seized possession of the ship. Then they changed course to Nassau, which was under British control and had abolished slavery. ALSO READ: They say its the dark continent but you should see these wonderful places before you die Despite demands from America for their return, the slaves were declared free by the British Government. Washington and his band of rebels faced a different fate though; the wrong end of a mutiny charge. Months after their revolt, a court ruled in favour of the freedmen in April 1842. Apart from five who preferred to return to America and slavery, 128 slaves got their freedom. (5) The Igbo Landing of 1803: Yes, its Igbo as in the dominant tribe in South-East Nigeria. The Igbo landing refers to the site of a mass suicide at Dunbar Creek Georgia in the United States. In 1803, a group of captive Igbos who took control of their slave ship and refused a life of slavery in the United States. Upon landing in the United States, a group of 75 Igbo slaves were sold to agents of John Couper and Thomas Spalding for 100 dollars each. The Igbos had already built a reputation for being fiercely independent. So when they were packed under the deck of a small vessel to take them to the plantation, someone must have expected them to put up one final fight. Which was exactly what they did. They drowned their captors and grounded the vessel at the site now known as Igbo landing. There are varying accounts of what happened next. One account claims the slaves walked into the creek, singing in Igbo, The Water Spirit brought us, the Water Spirit will take us home. However, in other to be successful with this, it is important that we know the meaning of supply chain. What is supply chain? The supply chain is a system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to consumer. How to start a retail business? 1. Write a business plan It's worth thinking about. If you don't have family or friends who can help with reasonable contributions, a business partner can help. They can also help share the risk. 2. Determine the right business for you It is quite funny that a lot of people venture into businesses because they think they have what it takes to do it. And often, the reverse is always the case. Once you've succeeded in developing a business plan and have a clear idea of what it is you wish to retail, you will need to decide which type of retail model is right for you. Traditional choices include store retailing, online retailing, non-store retailing (such as door-to-door sales, mail order, etc.) or a combination of any of these three. 3. Find the right location No matter how hard and well they try to make it work, a Lewin store will not function in my village. And this is because petty village earners cannot afford the fortune of a Lewin shirt. As a new retail business you definitely need to be where your customers are, and you can do this by simply finding out where the demands of your products are high. Above all, when it comes to location, you'll want to ensure you combine visibility, accessibility, affordability and commercial lease terms that you can live with, through the good times and the bad. 4. Brand your retail business In a country like Nigeria where packaging is everything, the importance of using a well packaged name, logo, or time line cannot be over emphasize. A dumb logo or an awkward name will only birth a negative result. 5. Use the right suppliers If there's one thing you must not forget when it comes to supplying customers demand, is that authenticity attracts customers. And this is because when people trust your product, they help advertise you. Africa is a porous region filled with all sort of fake products. Find the registered dealers or licensed wholesalers for your retail business. Link up with the manufacturers if you can and make use of them. 6. Advertisement Advertise, advertise and advertise. T The importance of advertising your business through the media or mouth to mouth can not be over emphasize. And this is because advertisement create awareness for your brand and business. In a retail business, brand awareness is as important as meeting with demand. 7. Feasibility study This is the summary of the whole list. Find out everything you need to know about your business, because this knowledge will surely pay off in the long run. What are the types of Retailing? 1. Store retailing In other to sell a particular product, the location of a store is taken into consideration. Retail stores can be in different formats like a department store, supermarkets, convenience stores, discount store, off price retailers, and super stores. 2. Non-store retailing Non-store retailing involve the use of electronic media or direct selling medium to sell a product to customers. And examples of non-store retailing are direct selling, tele-marketing, automatic vending or online retailing. On Tuesday, May 1, 2018, the president's Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, tweeted that the president departed Joint Base Andrews Airport in the US for Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja after bilateral talks with US president, Donald Trump, and another meeting with business executives. However, a report by Premium Times disclosed that President Buhari appears to currently be in London after he arrived there at 9:42pm, according to Flight Radar 24. The president's official Eagle One aircraft remains in London as at Thursday morning. The president was not officially scheduled to stop in London, but his presence there is believed to be in connection to his recent health issues. In 2017, the president spent a combined 154 days in London on two separate medical visits to treat an undisclosed illness, prompting concerns about how fit he is for duty. Since the 75-year-old president declared to run for a second term in the 2019 presidential election, his health status is expected to be a major vulnerability for the opposition to exploit. In the course of the three years that he's been president of Nigeria, Buhari's engagement with the Nigerian media can best be described as disconcerting. While he has been more amenable to speaking to the foreign media during trips to foreign countries, the president has only been touching the local media with a 10-foot pole. Ever since he participated in a presidential media chat in December 2015, President Buhari's voice has been sorely lacking in personally addressing key issues when he's inside the country's borders. In fact, as far back as 2015 around the time of that media chat, there were already criticisms of the president's penchant for making important policy statements while abroad. It didn't take him time to garner a reputation as the president who unveils policy ideas while surrounded by foreign oxygen and people who are not too affected by those policies. In place of Buhari's presidential voice, Nigerians have had to be content with scripted and unscripted communiques delivered through the condescending channels of his media drones. With every Boko Haram attack, each new one worse than the last; or corruption scandals that have been covered in fingerprints of top officials in his inner circle; or more recently, attacks by suspected herdsmen in the country, the president typically maintains undignified silence only sometimes punctuated with prepared statements from his media team. Since that presidential media chat in 2015, he hasn't had any interviews of any form with the Nigerian media. However, in that same time, he has been accommodating enough to sit comfortably and cavort with foreign media in foreign countries. The president's erratic media engagement has puzzled many for years, especially since there has been no direct word from him as to why he prefers to employ a reticent mode of communication when he's faced with a sea of opportunities to lend his voice to burning issues in the country. However, after his recent working trip to the United States of America, Nigerians should have a little bit more clarity on why their president has been playing hard-to-get with the local media. If there's anything that rubbed off on Buhari from his meeting with US president, Donald Trump, during his trip, it has to be Trump's disdain for the media. The combative US president has made "fake news" a catchphrase in his campaign against the media, and some of his fiery influence might have been responsible for loosening Buhari's lips about his own local media. While finally clearing the air on recent comments he made about how a large population of Nigerian youths wait on handouts from the government, President Buhari put the confusion of the whole situation down to the media's refusal to fully report his comments. According to him, the Nigerian media is selective in the sort of reports published to be consumed by the Nigerian people. He said, "All these explanations I made, they refused to highlight them in their report and you know the media in Nigeria in most cases only do what they like. "For instance, the nation's achievements in the agricultural sector where millions of Nigerians benefited financially were left unreported by the media." The president didn't stop there as he noted that despite the unhelpful Nigerian media, his administration will continue to thrive. "The media may not appreciate the work we are doing but we will shock them by the success we are recording," he said. Ever since the president's perceived aloofness towards the Nigerian media, and Nigerians, this is the first time he has been explicit about his feelings. It suddenly makes sense that the years of intermittent media engagement from the president have been his own brand of punishment for erring children with too much agency to not toe the official line. If his comments are anything to go by, the president has been displeased with the Nigerian media for having the liberty to operate without pandering to his government and what it subjectively considers success. The Nigerian media, present company included, has not been kind to President Buhari's administration, but it's hard to argue that most of his government's troubles are not self-inflicted. From failing or performing abjectly on key campaign promises, one fails to see what the president is miffed about. His most legitimately highlighted success of late has been his revolution of the agricultural sector; and while great strides have definitely been made, the country is hardly in a great place right now; a far cry from what was promised. Only five months into 2018 alone, hundreds of lives have been lost to wanton killings that still have the government chasing its tail; Boko Haram is still a black mark on the nation's collective conscience; and the anti-corruption war has been struggling under the weight of expectations that the president himself used to ride to power. There's undoubtedly been a concerted effort to oust the president from power in next year's election, and the media has been a willing party to this. However, what the president might consider a planned witch hunt of his administration is simply what many consider a fairly objective review of his tenure. From a personal point of view, I do not believe that the president is as bad as he's been severally painted; but on the other hand, there's no way to objectively assess Buhari's administration without reaching the conclusion that he has failed to meet the targets he set for himself only three years ago. In those three years, the president appears to have been waging a cold, methodical war on the local media in the country while he has been exposing himself to the foreign media where the results have not always been palatable to people back home. Rather than a perceived misrepresentation of his words by the media, the outbursts against the remarks falling out of the president's mouth - whether it's him appearing to absolve herdsmen of savage attacks or indicting hardworking Nigerian youths - are simply a manifestation of his own inability to get his points across in a sound manner. The president might not get told this enough by his own coddling media team that has gone above and beyond to wrap him in wool, but a bulk of the flak that his administration has gotten is his fault. If the president could spare a day of introspection to objectively consider all the issues in a manner devoid of self-absorption, this is the same conclusion he would reach. Even the foreign media that he seems to love so much has never really been unequivocally behind his administration either, the president has just been selective with how he appraises their content. His administration has been highly dismissive of unfavourable reports from the foreign media, while unevenly quick to jump at every scrap of good news that also comes from there. The foreign media's review of the president's administration has been just as critical of his underwhelming first term as much as the local media has; Aso Rock is merely just more giddy with every whiff of positive foreign recognition of its administration that it tends to blow it up to shove the negative feedback into dark corners. The same Nigerian media that the president appears to be in conflict with now was very instrumental to his momentous victory over a government that proved itself to be as exhausting as this one has also turned out to be. With the president gearing up for re-election at next year's polls, he has to realise he needs the local media more than his foreign friends. President Buhari cannot afford to continue alienating the local media simply because he thinks they're not giving him his dues. On Tuesday, May 1, 2018, the president's Personal Assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, tweeted that he had departed Joint Base Andrews Airport in the US for Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja after bilateral talks with US president, Donald Trump, and another meeting with business executives. However, a report by Premium Times early on Thursday, May 3, revealed that President Buhari appears to currently be in London after his official Eagle One aircraft landed there at 9:42pm on Tuesday. In reaction to questions raised over the president's whereabouts, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said his presence in the United Kingdom is a "technical stopover". He told The Punch, "They had a technical stopover in London. I am sure if you keep your ears to the ground, you will hear of his arrival soon." The president's Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, also took to his official Twitter account (@FemAdesina)to disclose that the president will be back in Nigeria later on Thursday. He posted, "PMB arrives Abuja this evening. The good work of rebuilding Nigeria continues." Buhari's medical trips It's unclear what Shehu meant by the term "technical stopover", but the president's presence in London is believed to be in connection to his recent health issues. In 2017, he spent a combined 154 days in London on two separate medical visits to treat an undisclosed illness, prompting concerns about how fit he is for duty. According to Daily Post, the Senator said that most Nigerian youths take to drug abuse because of the harsh economic environment. Sani said that the greatest problem is not codeine, but the socio-economic terrain that has made Nigerian youths hopeless. Posting on Facebook, the Senator said Codeine is an opium that symbolizes our social dislocation and societal collapse.What we have is a system that has over the years ostracized and mentally deformed a generation, dispatching them to seek solace in aphrodisiac . Codeine is a problem and the bigger problem remains a corrosive socio economic order that created a state of hopelessness.We must continue to work hard in order to change it so as to give meaning to the lives of our young ones. ALSO READ:Kaduna residents applaud FG ban on codeine NAFDAC raid Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raided the four pharmaceutical companiesexposed in a documentary - Sweet Sweet Codeine, recently released by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). This was made known by the NAFDACs Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, BBC reports. Melaye appeared before a Magistrate Court in Lokoja, Kogi state on a stretcher to face criminal charges on Thursday, May 3, 2018. The arraignment happened just a day after he also appeared before an Abuja Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2 on a stretcher to answer charges brought against him by the police. The Senior Magistrate Court 2 in Lokoja ruled on Thursday that the Kogi West representative should be remanded in prison till June 11 as he faces charges of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms, kidnapping, armed robbery, murder, political thuggery and other violent crimes in the state. During plenary on Thursday, lawmakers expressed their worries about Melaye being unduly persecuted by the police and urged the National Assembly to probe the matter. While responding to the motion to prevail on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on the matter, Dogara cautioned the police against putting Melaye's health in jeopardy. He warned that the institution will be held responsible if anything happens to Melaye in the course of prosecution which he argued the lawmaker is unfit to be undergoing. He said, "All I can say is that nothing must happen to the senator. If anybody in this country has committed an offence, the law is there for the person to he prosecuted or arraigned within the ambit of the law. "So my admonition to the security agencies is to do everything possible to ensure that his life is secure first before prosecution. Prosecution cannot come at the expense of death. "And that is very important, because if anything happens to him, squarely the responsibility will lie on the security agents. And that is without mincing words." He further expressed his frustration with the prosecution of the lawmaker who is "not even in the right frame of mind to even take a plea." "So of what use is it taking someone to court when he cannot plead guilty or not guilty? What is more important is health first, before he is even tried," he said. After Kabiru Saidu, a.k.a Osama, and Nuhu Salisu, aka Small, were arrested at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi on January 19, 2018, they confessed to the police that Senator Melaye hired them to cause unrest in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections. The criminal suspects disclosed that the lawmaker handed them a bag containing one AK-47 rifle, two pump action guns and the sum of N430,000 to unleash mayhem in Kogi. The police first requested Melaye's presence in a letter addressed to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, dated March 2, 2018, urging him to report to the Police on March 7 to answer to the criminal offences levelled against him, but he refused the invitation, alleging that the police was colluding with the Kogi state government to cause him harm. He was officially declared wanted by the police on March 28, the same day he was due to be arraigned in court in Lokoja alongside OsamaandSmall who both escaped from their prison cell but were rearrested before April 1. While attempting to travel to Morocco for an official engagement on Monday, April 23, Melaye was stopped by the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja. The operatives seized his international passport to prevent him from leaving the country. According to the police, the lawmaker snatched his seized passport from NIS operatives and retreated to his house in Maitama, Abuja, where police officers later laid siege into the early hours of Tuesday, April 24. Early on Tuesday, he announced that he would pay a visit to police authorities after his police escorts were withdrawn. On Tuesday afternoon, with help from hoodlums, Melaye briefly escaped from police officers while he was being transported from Abuja to his home state. Hours later, the Senator resurfaced at the , Abuja, in an ambulance, apparently unconscious, before he was rearrested and moved to the National Hospital. He was arraigned before an Abuja Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2 on a stretcher to answer charges brought against him by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Wednesday, May 2. During his arraignment on Wednesday, Melaye was charged for criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody. Even though the presiding magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello, granted the lawmaker bail in the sum of N90 million, he was re-arrested by police officers after his arraignment and was driven to Lokoja early on Thursday. Earlier this year, the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation filed a lawsuit against Melaye for allegedly providing false information to the police about an assassination attempt on his life. In the suit (CR/106/18) filed before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Maitama on January 31, 2018, Melaye is accused of falsely incriminating Kogi's Governor Yahaya Bello's Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja David, as well as making false statement in regards to the attempted assassination. This is coming after the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara warned the police not to let anything happen to Melaye. The Senator has been dragged before two courts of law in two days on a stretcher. Police humiliating Melaye Falana also described the way the police has been treating the Senator as humiliating and degrading, adding that it is a violation of his rights. He said "The arraignment of Senator Dino Melaye on a stretcher in Abuja on Wednesday and Lokoja on Thursday morning is unacceptable in a civilised society. It is particularly degrading and humiliating as it violates the fundamental right to the dignity of his person guaranteed by Section 34 of the constitution and Section 7 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015. Meanwhile, the Senior Magistrate Court 2 in Lokoja, Kogi state has ruled that Senator Dino Melaye, should be remanded in prison while he stands trial for the criminal charges brought against him. All inside 10 days. No one saw that coming. Melayes home has been surrounded by police officers, he has been arrested at his home, he has jumped from a moving police truck into the waiting arms of hoodlums, he has sat on the hard floor to scream his lungs out at everyone in the biting sun, he has been re-arrested from a hospital bed and he has been wheeled to Lokoja (the last place he wants to be at the moment) in an ambulance for trial. Trust me, you don't want to be Dino Melaye right now. On Wednesday, May 2, 2018, the police slapped Melaye with a couple of charges including attempted suicide. According to the police, Melaye will have his day in court for attempted suicide, escape from lawful custody, criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of prohibited firearms and causing damage to government property. You have to agree that thats too many charges for one man. Some of the charges also sound contrived. What the heck is attempted suicide and causing damage to government property? As you read this, Melaye has been denied bail at the Magistrate Court in Kogiwhich means hell be spending 38 days in police custody because the Magistrate Court didnt have the jurisdiction to entertain some of the charges ab initio. Why then was he taken to the Magistrate Court in the first place? In between jumping from a police truck and making the rounds in an ambulance, Melaye which predictably crumbled like a pack of cards. A chunk of Melayes colleagues in the senate think hes being victimized and have said so at several fora. Hours before Melaye was wheeled to Lokoja in an ambulance, Senator Ben Murray Bruce said: Dino Melaye was granted bail. However, while leaving the court, he was picked up again by police. They claimed they were taking him to hospital, rather, they took him to Force Headquarters. Their intention is to move him to Kogi State anytime from now. Is this a democracy? Murray Bruce had also claimed Melaye was tear-gassed on the day he flew out of the police van. Senators Shehu Sani and Bukola Saraki told the world in the and looked in very bad shape. He was barely able to speak and his neck was bandaged. Im not a medical doctor or a nurse to conclude whether that means stable or not. That is the truth, Sani had said. We know he hasnt eaten for the last 24 hours, we are trying to resolve that. Hes on fluids and hes being seen by cardiologists, all specialists. As you know, he has other (health) issues, hes asthmatic, Saraki said. At play here is the spoils of politics in Kogi State and the battle for supremacy between Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello and Melaye. Both men now hate themselves with a passion. The governor doesnt want Melaye back in the senate in 2019 and appears to be deploying every trick in the book to achieve that objective. Bello's end game appears to be frustrating, decimating, pulverizing and destroying Melaye politically. Its a bitter battle out there. iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Former Trump campaign aide Michael Caputo is meeting behind closed doors with special counsel Robert Muellers team this afternoon as part of their investigation into alleged Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion between the country and Trump's campaign. His appearance with the special counsel marks Caputo's second meeting with investigators looking into Russian meddling in as many days. On Tuesday, Caputo sat down with Senate Intelligence Committee staff investigators as part of their ongoing investigation. Senators on the committee did not attend, as Congress is in recess all week. Ahead of his Tuesday meeting with the Senate panel's investigators, Caputo again said the Trump campaign did not collude with the Russians during the 2016 campaign. Im looking forward to talking to the Senate committee," Caputo told ABC News. "I hope its the last time Im asked to talk to anyone in Congress." Last summer, Caputo testified before the House Intelligence Committee as part of their parallel investigation into alleged Russian meddling -- an investigation that has since concluded. In a transcript of his closing remarks to Senate investigators obtained by ABC News, Caputo bemoaned the financial toll of legal expenses he's racked up over the course of these investigators, telling the panel, "God Damn you to Hell." Caputo, an associate of another former Trump adviser, Roger Stone, worked for the Trump campaign from November 2015 to June 2016 as a political adviser. Caputo and Stone met in the mid-80s when Caputo worked at Stone's lobbying firm, Black, Manafort, and Stone, as Stone's driver. Later, Caputo worked in the press shop of Trump's short-lived 1988 presidential campaign that was spearheaded, in part, by Stone. In the 1990s, Caputo lived in Russia while working for then-President Boris Yeltsin. In 2001, Caputo returned to the U.S. to work for an energy company with ties to current Russian President Vladimir Putin. Stone and Caputo joined forces again in 2015, serving in the nascent days of Trump's presidential run. ABC News has previously reported that Caputo was contacted by the FBI in July of 2017, citing a source with knowledge of the situation. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The lawmaker's arraignment comes just a day after he also appeared before an Abuja Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2 on a stretcher to answer charges brought against him by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on Wednesday, May 2. In the Abuja court, Melaye was charged for criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody. This was after he briefly escaped from police officers while he was being transported from Abuja to his home state on Tuesday, April 24. Even though the presiding magistrate, Mabel Segun-Bello, granted the lawmaker bail in the sum of N90 million, he was re-arrested by police officers after his arraignment on Wednesday. In a statement, Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, said Melaye will be arraigned in Lokoja for separate charges of criminal conspiracy and unlawful possession of prohibited firearms According to a report by Premium Times, Melaye was driven to Lokoja at about 4:30am by the police and arrived in the state around 7:00am. The Director of the Commission in Edo, Dr Akwagaga Enyia, who made the presentation in Benin, said it was a major milestone in the commissions efforts to provide a conducive learning environment to pupils. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among aid items presented to the physically challenged persons were Sensor Guide, Wheel Chairs, Hearing aid and Clutches. Enyia reiterated the commissions commitment to partner with the Edo Government to revamp public schools in the state. She noted that the NDDC recognised education as the hope for the development of the country. She pledged the commissions willingnessto intervene in the area of provision of learning materials and infrastructure development, especially in the Niger Delta region. We know that a nations hope relies on its children and childrens hope rely on education. Over the years, the commission has facilitated the provision of several physical and material resources to boost the quality of education in Niger Delta region. In Edo State, the NDDC has constructed buildings including Science and ICT laboratories, hostels and several classroom blocks in many primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. We have organised several capacity building programmes and workshops to boost the knowledge of students and teachers. We have as well embarked on several schemes of vaccination of school children against typhoid and hepatitis B across the state. We have no doubt that the donation of these desks and chairs will go a long way in making our children more comfortable in studying and imbibing lessons. It will empower them sufficiently to contribute their quota in developing our nation, she said. The director urged the school management to take good care of the furniture and deploy them to the use of our school children. On donation of items to the physically challenged persons, Enyia said it was meant to make life more comfortable to them. He was arraigned today, Wednesday, April 2, 2018, before an Abuja Magistrate Court sitting at Wuse Zone 2. The lawmaker was brought into the court on a stretcher to answer charges levelled against him by the police. Melaye as however granted bail in the sum of N90 million by the presiding magistrate, Mabel Bello. The Senator is also required to provide a surety who must be a civil servant on grade level 14, and must show evidence of residence in Abuja. The magistrate also asked Melaye to deposit his international passport with the police. He is also required to report at Wuse Zone 2 police station every first working day of the week. The case was then adjourned till June 6 for proper trial. Police statement The police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood in a statement issued to newsmen, said Senator Dino Melaye was arraigned in court by the Police today, 2nd May, 2018 at Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse, Abuja for Criminal conspiracy, causing damage to Government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody. His arraignment in Court today was subsequent to his discharge from the National Hospital after he was confirmed fit for trial. It will be recalled that, on the 24th April, 2018, at about 1200Hrs, Sen. Dino Melaye while in lawful custody of the Nigeria Police Force and being taken for arraignment for Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms in Court in Lokoja, from Abuja, escaped from lawful custody when hoodlums and miscreants in Two (2) Toyota Hilux Vehicles blocked the Police vehicle conveying Senator Dino Melaye around Area 1 Round About, Abuja and in the process the Senator broke the side glass of the vehicle and jumped out of the Police bus through the window and was rescued from the Police men by hoodlums and miscreants to an unknown destination before he was rearrested at Zankli Hospital in Abuja later in the day on same date. This case was investigated and that is why the Senator was arraigned in court today. ALSO READ:5 Times Dino Melaye attacked Buhari and his men Meanwhile, the Police Investigation Team re-arrested Senator Dino Melaye today, 2nd May, 2018 after his arraignment at Chief Magistrate Court, Wuse for the pending offences of Criminal Conspiracy and Unlawful Possession of Prohibited Firearms already filed in a Court of competent jurisdiction in Lokoja for which he will be arraigned without further delay. Melayes trouble with the police The police had earlier declared Dino Melaye wanted on March 28, 2018, following his refusal to answer an invitation extended to him by the force. The police requested wanted the Senator to clear the air on allegations made by two criminalsKabiru Saidu, aka Osama, and Nuhu Salisu, aka Small, who were arrested at Ogojueje in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi on January 19, 2018. The suspects alleged that Melaye hired them to cause unrest in the state ahead of the 2019 general elections. They also said that the Senator gave one AK-47 rifle, two pump action guns and the sum of N430,000 to recruit hardened troublemakers and unleash mayhem in Kogi state. Meanwhile, the police has re-arrested Senator Dino Melaye,despite meeting his bail conditions. The trio, who are Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) youth ambassadors, arrived the university with a single purpose to educate the students on the need to actively participate in the process of electing their leaders into power. The campus outreach was organised by INEC in collaboration with the European Union (EU), European Center for Electoral Support and Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth and Advancement (YIAGA) Africa. Will our votes count? Youths constitute over 60 percent of the Nigeria's population. Sadly, most young people in Nigeria show little or no interest in election matters. Aside the cases of violence recorded during elections, young people in Nigerian have stayed off the process often for fears that their votes may not count due to electoral malpractices. Speaking at the event, INEC chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu assured the students that their votes will count in the forthcoming elections. I want to take an undertaking before you all here today, he said with his hand raised. I assure you that your votes will count. In 2019, only the votes cast by Nigerians will count, the INEC boss declared. How about PLWD..? Cobhams was more concerned about the modalities in place to ensure that People Living with Disabilities (PLWD) are able to vote without help or discrimination. Narrating his experience during the 2015 general elections, Cobhams said unlike others who casted their votes secretly, his wife and others knew who he voted for. The multiple-award winning musician and producer advocated provisions for PLWDs to exercise their Constitutional rights like everyone else. In his reaction, the INEC chairman noted that electoral umpire had begun provision of magnifying glasses for persons with partial visual impairment and special ballot papers for the blind. Cobhams also called to INEC to address the case of underage voting in some parts of the country. Take your destiny in your hands Regardless of the frenzy whenever he spoke, 2Baba, urged said the youths have the power to determine their future by the type of leaders the vote into elective positions. The music legend urged Nigerian youths to not just register and collect their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) but also come out and vote in the 2019 elections. My generation believed our votes will not count and that is why we have people from the other generation still as our leaders today. Nigerian youths, rise up and take your destinies in your hands. It is not enough to register and vote. You can also register as a member of a political party so that you begin to grow in the process so that your own will be different from our own, he advised. Comedienne Helen was in her element when reacting to questions from students. She urged Nigerian students to vote persons who will deliver the dividends of democracy to the people and not fall for the deceit of some politicians. She also presented gifts to the Student Union Government President, Bashir Obasanjo. This was shortly before Helen took off her wig right before everyone. Yes, she did. PVC is your ticket to a good life Earlier, the director, voter education and publication at INEC, Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, describe the PVC a ticket to good life. Your PVC is your ticket to good life and right to enjoy the dividends of democracy depending on your choice. Choose wisely but most of all, register and collect it. Participate in the process of election, he said. YIAGAs executive director, Samson Itodo, who anchored the event maintained that young people can only become the leaders of tomorrow if the get involved in the process today. Syrian state news agency SANA reported on Thursday that empty buses were entering the towns of Babila, Yalda and Beit Saham, to be filled up with rebels and civilians who would head to opposition-held parts of northern Syria. "Around 5,000 terrorists and their families are expected to leave, fulfilling an agreement reached on Sunday between the Syrian government and terrorist groups," the agency said. It did not specify which rebel factions were among the evacuees, but Syria's government refers to all armed opponents as "terrorists." The deal was reached after "negotiations between figures from the three towns on one side, and Russia and the regime on the other," according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor. Those rebels who wanted to leave for the north could do so, and those who wanted to stay would abandon their weapons and have their status with the Syrian state regularised. Beit Saham, Yalda, and Babila had for several years fallen under a "reconciliation" agreement with the Syrian state, meaning they remained in rebel hands but a local ceasefire was enforced. But after capturing the Eastern Ghouta rebel stronghold outside Damascus last month, regime forces have sought to secure the entirety of the capital and its surroundings with a blend of military operations and negotiated withdrawals. They first seized control of other "reconciled" towns east of Damascus, then began a military operation against Yarmuk. The camp was mostly held by the Islamic State group but also had a small presence of fighters from Al-Qaeda's former Syrian affiliate, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Under military pressure, HTS fighters agreed to quit Yarmuk with their families earlier this week. HTS said late Wednesday the deal saw 141 of its fighters reach northern Syria. In exchange, it said, 18 wounded people and their relatives were allowed to leave a pair of regime-controlled villages besieged by hardline rebels in northwest Syria. The nuclear deal was struck in 2015 between Iran and Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, then led by Barack Obama. Under the pact, sanctions were lifted in return for a commitment not to pursue a nuclear bomb, but Iran says it is not reaping the rewards despite complying with the deal. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. As Iran's all-powerful leader, Khamenei has the final word on all policy matters, foreign and domestic, including on the nuclear deal. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, also issued a warning to the United States on Thursday in an English-language video posted on YouTube. "If the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing," said Zarif. "The US has consistently violated the agreement, especially by bullying others from doing business with Iran," he said. Iran criticises Europe Zarif also criticised European nations. "In the last year or so, we've been told that President Trump is unhappy with the deal, and it now appears that the response from some Europeans has been to offer the United States more concessions, from our pocket," said Iran's top diplomat. "This appeasement entails promises of a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations, including Iran's defensive capabilities and regional influence." Zarif was responding to Britain, France and Germany who said on Sunday that the nuclear agreement left out some "important elements". These included what happens when the current deal expires in 2025, Iran's ballistic missile programme and its "destabilising regional activity", they said in a statement. The three European countries that signed the deal have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. The Islamic republic has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the 2015 deal. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. The 40-year-old centrist has forged an unlikely relationship with Donald Trump, launched air strikes against the Syrian regime and campaigned passionately for reforms of the European Union. And despite his careful efforts to flatter Trump, the political upstart also used a trip to Washington last week to rail before Congress against the US president's "America First" agenda. Francois Heisbourg, chairman of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, described Macron's pragmatic approach to world affairs as "neo-realist". "You deal with the world as it is, while at the same time making clear what you represent, including your values," he told AFP. "He is the sole European leader who is able to speak substantively at the same time with Trump, Putin, Sisi, Erdogan," he added. Despite back-slapping and jokes with Trump during his recent trip, however, critics say Macron came back from the White House with little to show for his efforts in terms of having swayed the president. Macron himself acknowledged he had probably not managed to change Trump's mind on abandoning the hard-fought 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, and he has so far failed to coax the US back to the landmark Paris climate change accord. Analysts are likewise sceptical that pleas from Macron and other European leaders will successfully stave off a trade war, despite a temporary EU reprieve from Trump's new steel and aluminium tariffs. "The things that Macron wants him to do are things that it would be pretty difficult for Trump to accept without losing credibility with his populist base," said John Springford, deputy director of the Centre for European Reform. 'Liberal white knight'? At home Macron is pushing through his pro-business domestic reform agenda, but opinion polls suggest more than 60 percent of voters are dissatisfied with their president after a year in office. Abroad, with the US withdrawing internationally under Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister Theresa May both politically weakened, some have asked if Macron wants to take on the mantle of leader of the free world. "Many people, especially here in Washington DC, tend to see him as a white knight of the liberal world order who challenges Trump and populism," said Paul Zajac, a visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute on leave from the French diplomatic service. Fresh from beating far-right leader Marine Le Pen to the presidency, Macron gave an indication of his plans for the world stage as early as his victory speech on May 7, 2017. "Europe and the world are expecting us to defend everywhere the spirit of the enlightenment which is under threat in so many places," he said. Since then he has waded into crises from Syria to Lebanon, rallied support for anti-jihadist troops in West Africa and announced conferences in Paris on everything from climate change to the war in Yemen. Yet his influence abroad is hampered by his inability to find powerful leaders who share his agenda, analysts say. "He's a liberal who's come to power in an illiberal age," said Springford. European 'Achilles heel' In particular, little has budged on the international issue closest to Macron's heart: his plans to deepen Europe with far-reaching reforms, including a eurozone budget and finance minister. Heisbourg described the EU as Macron's "Achilles heel". "It hasn't really got very far," Springford said of the reform drive, blaming a lack of enthusiasm in an increasingly eurosceptic bloc and -- crucially -- cooling support from Merkel after months of political limbo in Germany. But while the stakes are high for Macron in Europe, Zajac played down the idea that what he is trying to do there is revolutionary. French governments have operated for years on the assumption that a stronger EU means a stronger France, he said. High Court Justice Lucy Gitari, whom Karua wanted out of the petition, said the registrar, Wambu Otieno, is an independent officer who cannot be subjected to clarifications and conversations. Ms Karua wanted to be allowed to cross-examine the registrar on why the report was incomplete, which she said was prejudicial to her. She earlier complained to the court that a flash disk containing part of her evidence had gone missing, and her efforts to trace the data were futile. She said the disk had videos of Jubilee Party and Governor Waigurus agents bribing voters. I was accompanied by my lawyer, Gitobu Imanyara, on September 5, 2017, to file the petition. I witnessed the handing over of the petition, and sealed envelopes containing the flash disk and a compact disk. We also asked the court officers to handle them with care, said Ms Karua. She added: The disk has a video of a Jubilee Party official bribing voters at Kangaru School in Mwea, Ciagiini and Wanguru. Also, a video and photos of Mutithi Primary School headteacher canvassing and bribing voters at the gate. They were filed together with the petition. Once a foe to Mrs Karua, Justice Gitari told her (Karua) that if she is disputes the registrars report, she could raise her reservations in her submissions. She was also stopped from referring to documents that are not part of the court records, or part of her evidence, such as the election statutory forms. Ngunyi's statement, however, was as controversial as the same remarks he had made during last year's elections. He sought to forgive those who had wronged him but did not apologise to those who may have been hurt by his remarks during the divisive campaign period. Forgiveness Creed "#ForgivenessCREED "...I, Mutahi Ngunyi, Citizen No. 4855678 and following in the FORGIVENESS footsteps of Uhuru Kenyatta, forgives all the BAST*RDS that abused me for speaking my TRUTH during the elections," Ngunyi tweeted. The political analyst spoke shortly after President Kenyatta called on political leaders and Kenyans in general to spread the spirit of reconciliation and apologise for hurtful remarks during the divisive campaigns of 2017. A report released by civil society group - Article 19 - on World Press Freedom Day, shows that media freedom in Kenya is on the decline. According to the report, most journalists who covered political issues, elections and protests were either physically attacked, arrested, denied access to areas, and/ or received other forms of threats. "Article 19 recorded 94 incidents of violations against individual journalists and media workers, including bloggers as well as media houses. A total of 43 journalists were physically assaulted during the monitoring period and one received death threat," the report reads. Raila's homecoming Mr Khaemba is one of the journalists who almost lost his life while covering the return of National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga into the country from his US visit. He sustained a head injury and for six hours witnessed anti-riot police officers use live bullets to scatter the thousands of NASA supporters, who thronged the street to welcome Mr Odinga. I wanted to do a live report atop our truck when clouds of tear gas and water cannons flew in our direction. I witnessed police shoot dead a supporter. At this time, we were all scared and we flew off the truck, he said. Citizen reporter Francis Gachuri and NTV Cameraperson Jane Gatwiri were also attacked by NASA supporters during a press briefing on October 31, 2017. Miguna's deportation The latest incident of attack was against KTN reporter Sophia Wanuna and Citizens Stephen Letoo, who were roughed up by GSU officer at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where they were covering the forceful deportation of Canadian-based lawyer Miguna Miguna. In January 2018 alone, Article 19 recorded 30 cases of violation to journalists. Rishad Amana, who unsuccessfully vied for the Lamu West Parliamentary seat in the August 8 General Election, was blocked by the court from seeking any political seat after he was found guilty of electoral offences. Mr. Amana was convicted of assault and causing disturbance at the Mokowe Constituency tallying centre. The Parliamentary aspirant successfully challenged the win of his main contender Maendeleo Chap Chap MP Stanley Muthama. The high court nullified the win of Mr Muthama noting that the election was not conducted in accordance with the law. "Declaration is granted that Stanley Muthama was not validly elected as the Lamu West MP and I declare Lamu West Constituency election on August 8 as null and void," Justice Weldon Korir said. Last year, Amana, who is a close confidant of Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho was summoned by the DCI to record a statement on alleged incitement. "The office has enough reasons to believe that Amana has reliable information that would assist them complete investigations in a case of incitement," letter dated March 28 from Lamu West DCI William Ndirangu read. Amanas fate A screenshot of the proposed law was widely shared on social media platforms but it remained unclear on the author of the bill and the actual timelines to its enactment. The bill has been prepared by Dr Washington Makodingo - a Jubilee operative who is associated with Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja. Increased Cohesion Makodingo previously served as Chair of the Disciplinary Committee of President Kenyatta's former party - TNA. It remains unclear if Makodingo has the blessings of the President who has a newfound political partnership with NASA Leader Raila Odinga. Chief Minister with two deputies The President shall nominate and, with the approval of the National Assembly, appoint the Chief Minister and cabinet secretaries, the proposed law reads in part. It also seeks to ensure ethnic diversity in the Cabinet by stating that there will be no more than three members of the Cabinet shall come from the same ethnic community. "These laws do not conform to the national consitutional framework nor to the relevant European standards," Iohannis said in a televised statement. "This is why I've decided to send them to the Constitutional Court and to refer the matter to the Venice Commission," he added, referring to an advisory body of the Council of Europe made up of independent experts. The three bills passed in December by parliament -- dominated by the ruling Social Democrats (PSD) -- would "weaken the status of prosecutors", "risk obstructing justice" and put in place structures "liable to intimidate magistrates", Iohannis said. He also pointed to the "serious worries expressed by our international partners," alluding to criticism of the package by the European Commission. He urged judges on the Constitutional Court to "take their time and work with" European experts and did not rule out asking the court to consider the laws again if he wasn't convinced by their reasoning. The Council of Europe's anti-corruption body Greco has also expressed concern the reforms could have a "negative impact on efforts to fight corruption" in one of the EU's most graft-prone countries. Iohannis said that the PSD government had "launched an assault against the justice system" by trying to weaken anti-corruption legislation after winning office in late 2016. Those moves sparked Romania's biggest wave of anti-government protests since the collapse of communism, forcing the government to retreat. QUIZ: Guess the Road Songs We can't wait to get back on the road again! Play this quiz and see if how many you can get right! Far Eastern Guerilla gang members get long prison terms for murders after retrial RIA Novosti, Vitaly Ankov 10:59 03/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 3 (RAPSI) - The Primorsky Krai Court in Vladivostok has sentenced five defendants in the so-called Far Eastern Guerillas case to prison terms ranging from 8 to 25 years in prison for widespread killings and robbery, the press service of the Prosecutor Generals Office reports Thursday. After retrial Alexander Kovtun and Vladimir Ilyutikov received 25 years in jail each, Alexey Nikitin was given 23.5 years in prison, Maksim Kirillov was sentenced to 21.5 years and Vadim Kovtun, who was not directly involved in murders, received 8 years behind bars, the statement reads. Moreover, they were ordered to pay the victims about 3 million rubles ($47,300) on their civil claim. The case was reconsidered by jurors, who delivered guilty verdict to the defendants. The Far Eastern Guerillas case returned to public attention after the Supreme Court of Russia overturned acquittal of five men, who were previously found innocent of several murders and robbery. In July 2016, after a retrial, jurors found evidence presented by prosecution not convincing and acquitted the defendants. The retrial was conducted with regard to the murder of four people, who were also robbed of valuables and drugs they had on them, in the Primorsky Krai. On July 28 of the same year, defendants Alexey Nikitin and Vadim Kovtun were released in a courtroom while Alexander Kovtun, Vladimir Ilyutikov and Maksim Kirillov were kept in detention as they were to serve their time in relation to two other criminal cases. On December 26, 2016, Russias Supreme Court reversed the acquittal. The group gained notoriety after a series of assaults on civilians and law enforcement officers in 2010 left six dead. The Far Eastern Guerilla gang was tracked down in a flat in the city of Ussuriysk in June 2011 and surrounded by law enforcement officials. Two policemen were injured in a shootout with the gang members, two of whom committed suicide, according to the forensic medical examination. On February 4, 2014, five of the defendants were found guilty by the jury of having participated in a criminal gang, while one was acquitted. Four gang members were convicted of killing police officers, and five were convicted of the murder of civilians. Residents of Russian town demand $86,600 in compensation for garbage crisis TASS, Artyom Geodakyan 12:35 03/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 3 (RAPSI) Residents of Volokolamsk, a town located in the Moscow Region which has lately become notorious due to a garbage crisis, have filed seven lawsuits seeking 5.5 million rubles ($86,600) in compensation for moral damages, the plaintiffs lawyer Inna Yeliseyeva has stated. Hearings over the lawsuits are scheduled for May 7, June 1 and June 6. All of them will be considered by the Volokolamsk City Court of the Moscow Region. Eight residents of the town have filed lawsuits against Yadrovo company that manages a landfill of the same name. The plaintiffs demand to restitute their right to favorable environment and to transfer the landfill under the control of authorities. Moreover, they seek to stop collection and transportation of dangerous components. In March, Yevgeny Gavrilov, ex-head of the Volokalamsk district, initiated emergency protocol and announced measures to liquidate the consequences of ecological violations during exploitation of the landfill. On March 19, Yadrovo company was fined 150,000 rubles ($2,300) by the Volokolamsk City Court. Moscow Region court refuses to close Yadrovo landfill over garbage crisis TASS, Stanislav Krasilnikov 15:50 03/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 3 (RAPSI, Nikolay Merkulov) The Volokolamsk City Court in the Moscow Region on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by local residents demanding to shut down the notorious Yadrovo landfill site leaking noxious gas and poisoning people, RAPSI reported from the courtroom. Eight residents of Volokolamsk have lodged suits against Yadrovo company that manages the landfill. The plaintiffs sought to restitute their right to favorable environment and transfer the dump under the control of authorities. Moreover, they demanded to stop collection and transportation of dangerous components. The municipal administration and the Ecology Ministry of the Moscow Region as well as the defendants asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit. According to the defendant, there is no evidence for harm to health. The plaintiffs asked the court to turn attention to a notorious fact of environmental pollution which renders adduction of additional evidence for their claims unnecessary. Emergency situation regime has been introduced in the landfill, the fact of violations has been established, plaintiff Oleg Akimov said in court. Business interests must not be above the interests of citizens, he added. In early March, Yevgeny Gavrilov, ex-head of the Volokalamsk district, initiated emergency protocol and announced measures to liquidate the consequences of ecological violations during exploitation of the landfill. Later, Yadrovo company was fined 150,000 rubles ($2,300) by the Volokolamsk City Court. Property of Jehovahs Witnesses worth $14.2 million seized by state flickr.com/Ian Crowther 16:15 03/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 3 (RAPSI) A Russian courts ruling to seize the property of the banned Jehovahs Witnesses organization in favor of the state has come into force, the St. Petersburg City Court has stated. Earlier, the St. Petersburg City Court upheld the ruling of a lower court confiscating the property of Jehovahs Witnesses valued at 881.5 million rubles (about $14.2 million). The appeal was filed by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania registered in the U.S., which is the recipient of the liquidated organizations property. The Jehovah's Witnesses assets included 16 property items in St. Petersburg, according to prosecutors. In December, the Sestrotretsky District Court of St. Petersburg found that the Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses transferred its property complex to Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania under a donation agreement on March 1, 2000. However, the court declared the deal fraudulent because the Jehovah's Witnesses continued using the property after its transfer to the foreign organization and confiscated the property complex in profit of the Russian Federation. In April 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia ordered liquidation of the Jehovah's Witnesses managing organization and all its 395 local branches. In August, the Administrative Centre of Jehovah's Witnesses was added to the list of banned extremist organizations. Jehovahs Witnesses religious organization has had many legal problems in Russia. Since 2009, 95 materials distributed by the organization in the country have been declared extremist and 8 Jehovah's Witnesses branches have been liquidated, according to the Justice Ministry. Jehovah's Witnesses is an international religious organization based in Brooklyn, New York. Since 2004 several branches and chapters of the organization were banned and shut down in various regions of Russia. Moscow court upholds house arrest of Rosgosstrakh banks ex-shareholder RIA Novosti, Vladimir Pesnya 17:22 03/05/2018 MOSCOW, May 3 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has upheld a house arrest for head of Legion Finance company, ex-shareholder of Rosgosstrakh bank Nadezhda Klepalskaya in embezzlement case, the press-service of the court has stated. According to ruling of the Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow, Klepalskaya will stay under house arrest until June 16. She is charged with embezzlement committed by an organized group or on especially large scale. Earlier, media reported that house arrest of the entrepreneur is related to criminal case against former vice-president of Rosgosstrakh Group Sergey Khachaturov, also charged with this crime. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott are enjoying a getaway with daughter Stormi. ADVERTISEMENT The 20-year-old "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" star and 26-year-old rapper brought the 3-month-old on their trip to Turks & Caicos for Scott's birthday. Jenner shared a series of photos Tuesday on Instagram, including a picture of Stormi wearing a peach-colored onesie. The snapshot received over 6.5 million likes. "My pretty girl 3 months old today," Jenner captioned the post. Jenner also shared a photo of herself and Scott embracing on the beach. She captioned the picture with a gift emoji. Jenner rented out Six Flags Magic Mountain to celebrate Scott's birthday Saturday ahead of the rapper's official birthday Monday, April 30. She discussed her new role as mom in an interview with sister Kim Kardashian for the Evening Standard published Wednesday. "I feel like it's just been so amazing, and so much fun. I'm learning so much more about myself and life, and it's been such a great experience," the star said. FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! "Of course there's hard times and stuff... even in the beginning, just not sleeping, the nights, like, baby blues... and all the ups and downs." "I think about her all the time, anywhere I am," she gushed. "I would rather be with her or wish she can come everywhere. I can't wait till she can come everywhere with me, because right when she's old enough I'll bring her everywhere." , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Soybean is trading at a 25 per cent premium to the MSP, after initially slipping below the governments threshold procurement price of Rs 2,850 a quintal. Many cotton farmers are reportedly looking to shift to soybean during the coming kharif sowing season, as the oilseed fetched a better return last year. During most of the 2017-18 cotton season (July 1 to June 30), prices have, barring a couple of short-term ripples, remained lower than the minimum support price (MSP) fixed by the government. It was only towards the end of the supply season, that prices moved above the MSP of Rs 4,020 a quintal for medium staple and Rs 4,320 a qtl for long staple in the Gujarat spot market, thanks to aggressive procurement by government-owned Cotton Corporation of India. In contrast, soybean is trading at a 25 per cent premium to the MSP, after initially slipping below the governments threshold procurement price of Rs 2,850 a qtl. The government recently raised the import duty on edible oils to enable a price increase in oilseeds and edible oils. We expect at least 15 per cent of cotton farmers shifting towards soybean this kharif season, for better realisation, said Atul Chaturvedi, chief executive at Adani Wilmar, producers of the Fortune brand of edible oil. Cotton farmers had a bad experience last year, especially in Maharashtra, due to an attack by the pink bollworm on the standing crop. Around a third of the 4.2 million ha under cotton in Maharashtra was hit by this. Even so, Indias total supply is estimated to be nearly 400,000 bales (a bale is 170 kg) higher at 44.18 million bales for 2017-18, than the estimated demand of 40.1 mn bales, according to the first Cotton Advisory Board meeting. Cotton farmers are looking to shift to more remunerative crops not only in Maharashtra but also in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Soybean is set to gain at least 12-15 per cent in acreage, primarily from cotton, this kharif season, said Atul Ganatra, spokesperson, Shree Radhalakshmi Cotton, a trading and exporting entity. Currently Rs 4,700-5,500 a qtl, cotton prices moved up during the past month when export demand emerged suddenly from Bangladesh, China and Pakistan. However, farmers in general had already sold their entire stock and did not benefit. Earlier, prompted by falling prices, CCI bought a record amount of 1.2 mn bales this year, compared to only 150,000 bales last year. Soybean is now at Rs 3,738 a qtl at the benchmark Gujarat mandi, about 23 per cent higher than its MSP of Rs 3,050 a quintal (including Rs 200 as bonus). In March, the central government raised the import duty on crude palm oil (CPO) and refined oil (refined, bleached and deodorised or RBD palmolein) to 44 per cent and 54 per cent, from the earlier 30 per cent and 40 per cent, respectively. With this third such increase in the past seven months, the basic import duty has increased by almost sixfold on CPO and fourfold on RBD palmolein. Before the first such increase in August 2017, the basic import duty on CPO and RBD palmolein stood at 7.5 per cent and 15 per cent, respectively. Over and above, a 10 per cent social welfare cess is also levied on the basic import tax. The effective import duty on edible oil, however, is much lower than the one demanded by the industry of 70 per cent on CPO and 55 per cent on RBD palmolein, with 15 per cent of differential duty. Photograph: Amit Dave/Reuters. Since the companys senior management was privy to the price-sensitive information of Ghoshs resignation, Sebi wanted to check whether the information was disseminated properly to bourses The sharp fall in the share price of InterGlobe Aviation, the company that operates IndiGo, has come under the regulatory scanner. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has asked stock exchanges to furnish information on the companys share price data for the last one month to check for any possible violation of insider trading norms, sources said. Shares of InterGlobe Aviation fell over 6 per cent, the most in seven months, on April 27, before the airline announced the resignation of the companys president Aditya Ghosh. We have received information regarding trades made during the period along with consolidated data of trading volumes and pattern of share price movement. We are looking into the data, an official privy to the development said. We have not received any notification from Sebi. In any event, please note that IndiGo has complied with all stock exchange listing requirements relating to the announcement of Aditya Ghosh as president and whole-time director of IndiGo, an IndiGo spokesperson said. According to sources, the market regulator has asked the company to provide details of key managerial personnel aware of the development. Since the companys senior management was privy to the price-sensitive information of Ghoshs resignation, Sebi wanted to check whether the information was disseminated properly to bourses, they said. IndiGo on Friday announced that Ghosh would step down as president and promoter Rahul Bhatia would take over as the interim chief executive officer. Ghosh stepped down as director effective April 26, while his resignation as president would come into effect from July 31. Legal experts said Sebi should probe the delay in the disclosure of Ghoshs resignation. The aviation major informed the stock exchanges about the development a day after it occurred. InterGlobe Aviations share price has been volatile since March, amid the strategic sale of Air India. IndiGo had earlier expressed interest in the national carriers international operations, but later decided not to bid. Shares of the company had rallied more than 20 per cent between end March and mid-April. Photograph: Vivek Prakash/Reuters 'Modi's recent decisions to improve India-China relations, adjust India's neighbourhood policies and to rebalance India's ties with the major powers are linked to his political agenda.' 'Of course, the good part is that this agenda is also in the national interest,' says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar. IMAGE: Senior Indian and Chinese army officers met in Chusul, Ladakh, on May 1, 2018, during which both sides resolved to maintain peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control, besides agreeing to work on additional confidence building measures. The meeting followed Prime Minister Narendra D Modi's meeting with China's Supreme Leader Xi Jinping in Wuhan on April 27-28, 2018. The anxiety syndrome in the American write-ups on the Wuhan summit is truly tragi-comic. An analyst at the Brookings Institution confidently predicted even before the summit between Prime Minister Narendra D Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping that the event was much ado about nothing. The US government-funded Voice of America in an analysis has now arrived at the same conclusion, after the summit. Why are these American analysts in such tearing hurry to debunk the Wuhan meeting? It is geopolitics, stupid! The prestigious Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released a report which says amongst other things that India's defence spending rose by 5.5 per cent to $63.9 billion in 2017, overtaking that of France as one of the world's top five military spenders. The report estimates that one of the main motivations behind India's plans to expand, modernise and enhance the operational capability of its armed forces lies in its tense relations with China. From the US perspective, the situation is ideal to advance the business interests of America's vendors of weaponry. Last year, business deals worth $15 billion were chalked up. Any improvement in India-China relations will profoundly hurt American interests. Fueling India-China tensions is a major objective of the US' regional strategy. Alas, there are Indians too who are eagerly serving the US interests. A prominent Chinese expert on South Asia recently wrote (in the context of the Wuhan meeting), 'Many strategic elites in India are financially backed by the West and hence speak for Western countries.' It is a national shame, but true. Be that as it may, these guys are missing the plot. Prime Minister Modi's recent decisions to improve India-China relations, adjust India's neighbourhood policies and to rebalance India's ties with the major powers are linked to his political agenda. Of course, the good part is that this agenda is also in the national interest. Take India-China relations. The Voice of America is stupid to assume that the Wuhan meeting was about border tensions. No doubt, it is important that peace and tranquility prevails on the border with China. The Doklam standoff was an eye-opener for the political leadership. Hence the 'strategic guidance' to the military issued from Wuhan (which is actually an order from the civilian leadership to the generals) to defuse confrontations during patrols in accordance with existing protocols and mechanisms. The military people may not like it, but that is how a democracy prioritises butter over guns. Clearly, Modi's top priority is about Chinese investments in India. The drivers of the Indian economy in our establishment played a decisive role in bringing about the strategic shift in the thinking toward China -- and in preparing for the Wuhan meeting. The fact of the matter is that China is already positioning itself as among India's top investors. In 2017, despite Doklam, China tripled its investment to $2 billion. Bilateral trade touched $84.44 billion in 2017, which is an increase of 18.63% over 2016. By the way, Indian exports to China went up by 40%. This year, bilateral trade in the first quarter already hit $22.1 billion, up 15.4% year on year. In April, the two countries signed over 100 trade agreements, worth $2.38 billion, when a Chinese trade delegation visited India. According to a report in Forbes magazine recently, India is courting Chinese companies to bridge its infrastructure deficit. Last year, Chinas Sany Heavy Industry planned an investment of $9.8 billion in India, while Pacific Construction, China Fortune Land Development and Dalian Wanda planned investments of more than $5 billion each. Earlier this year, the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank approved funding of $1 billion for projects in India. Meanwhile, Chinese investors have been pouring money into sectors outside the remit of government agencies. In 2015, Alibaba invested $500 million in Snapdeal and $700 million in Paytm. In 2016, Tencent invested $150 million in Hike, a messaging app, and a consortium of Chinese investors paid $900 for media.net. In 2017, Alibaba and Tencent announced or closed deals valued close to $2 billion -- Alibaba's second tranche of $177 million in Paytm, $150 million in Zomato, $100 million in FirstCry and $200 million in Big Basket. Tencent's investments included $400 million in Ola, $700 million in Flipkart and a second round of investment in Practo. Last year, China's drug giant Fosun Pharma acquired a 74% controlling stake in Indias Gland Pharma for $1.1 billion. Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi, Huawei and Oppo all are operating manufacturing plants in India, and have had great successes in Indian market, too. These plain facts may not be significant enough for our 'China hands', but they are a compelling reality for the PMO and North Block. Let me quote from the report in the Forbes magazine: 'Seemingly, there's a shared belief in both countries (India and China) that a position of hostility undermines their interests, and stabilising relations at a time of global uncertainty will yield economic dividends.' 'India's competitive edge in information technology, software and medicines, and China's strengths in manufacturing and infrastructure development make the two sides natural partners...' By the way, it is yet to sink in that the single most far-reaching outcome of the Wuhan meeting could be that India is sidestepping the CPEC controversy and is moving on to join hands with China in the construction of the so-called Five Nations Railway Corridor connecting Xinjiang with Iran. It is a prestigious flagship project of the so-called Silk Road Economic Belt, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013. Conceivably, this could be the first step in a long journey. China has shown great interest in developing economic corridors to India across Nepal and Myanmar. To be sure, Modi travelled to Wuhan with the 'big picture'. Dr Arun Jamkar, former vice chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, makes a strong case for reforming Indian medical education and believes that the National Medical Commission Bill is historic. Although the Medical Council of India was established to regulate medical education in India, we see that it has been reduced to a narrow-minded view of assessment of medical colleges based on stringent norms that only measure infrastructure with measuring tapes without bothering about quality of medical education. In its efforts to improve medical education in the country, the Government of India appointed the Dr Roy Chowdhury committee, which authored the National Medical Commission Bill. Whenever cases of irregularities against the MCI come to the Supreme Court, the GoI promises to implement the NMC Bill. The Supreme Court has also issued directions towards the same. However, since the beginning the NMC Bill has faced a lot of undue criticism mostly from vested interests. It is an open secret that the MCI is corrupt, ineffective and vindictive. It is on record that the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare summed up their findings on the status of the MCI and medical education with the words: 'To sum up, the Committee observes, even at the risk of sounding repetitive, that the need for major institutional changes in the regulatory oversight of the medical profession in the country is so urgent that it cannot be deferred any longer.' 'The Committee is, however, aware that any attempt at overhauling the regulatory framework will face huge challenges from the deeply entrenched vested interests who will try to stall and derail the entire exercise.' 'But if the medical education system has to be saved from total collapse, the Government can no longer look the other way and has to exercise its Constitutional authority and take decisive and exemplary action to restructure and revamp India's regulatory system of medical education and practice.' Their words have proven to be prophetic and frighteningly accurate in the sequence of events that have led to the NMC Bill being purposefully held up and presently referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee headed by Ram Gopal Yadav, MP, Rajya Sabha. The proposed Bill was also sent to the NITI Aayog which revamped and submitted the same to the Lok Sabha. Despite the Bill having the potential to affect every healthcare profession in the country, a minimal number of healthcare professionals have taken out time to read the draft of the NMC Bill. Instead, there have been attempts by groups with vested interests to mislead doctors and public through that the entire NMC Bill is flawed and needs to be dismissed. The Parliamentary Standing Committee took into consideration the viewpoints of various clauses of the proposed NMC Bill from the members of the Committee, experts from medical fraternity, Constitutional and legal experts, some individuals/organisations representing doctors' communities, state governments, reputed medical colleges, etc. The MIMER (Maharashtra Institute of Medical Education and Research) team had also been called to depose with their views. The members included Dr Arun Jamkar, ex-vice chancellor, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, Dr Suchetra Nagare, executive director, and Dr Chandrakant Pandav, WHO expert, Delhi. The changes suggested by the committee and accepted in the final draft of the bill are summarised below: Constitution of Commission and autonomous boards. With reference to the objection that the commission is in the hands of government officials with less representation from doctors and states, the committee's recommendations increased representation of states/UTs from three to 10 and that of elected representatives from medical professionals from five to 10. Ex-officio members reduced from 12 to seven (three directors of government medical institutions (ex-officio in rotation); one DG, ICMR + six state directors of medical education (ex-officio in rotation). The total number of members increased from 25 to 29 and would also include part-time thereby strengthening the working of National Medical Commission and making it more transparent and accountable. Recommendations regarding regulation of fees of medical colleges Fee charged by all such unregulated private medical colleges/deemed/deemed to be universities should be regulated at least for 50 per cent of their seats to remove discrepancies that exist. Allow cross subsidisation from those who can afford to pay higher fees to more meritorious but poor students or students for disadvantageous groups. States can regulate fees like before. Recommendations regarding 'Bridge course' for AYUSH practitioners The 'Bridge course' between existing medical practice and AYUSH practitioners is not under preview of the NMC. States may implement measures to enhance capacity of existing healthcare programmes by judicious use of AYUSH practitioners/BSc Nursing/BDS/BPharm/other allied health sciences as they deem fit. Medical advisory committee's rights and duties The decisions of the medical advisory committee have to be respected and their recommendations are mandatory to Commission as well four autonomous boards. Recommendations regarding curriculum and National Exit Test (NEXT). Competency-based curriculum for primary care physician to address the needs of society has been recommended. National Licentiate examination and Final MBBS examination to be conducted centrally by the NMC. As a central examination it will also act as entrance examination for PG courses and is to be called as National Exit Test (NEXT). It will include cognitive domains bit and skill evaluation and is expected to be like the United States Medical Licensure Examination (USMLE). Recommendations regarding employees of MCI Employees of G, B, C, and D category of the Council will get absorbed in other government departments. This will help make a fresh start with a new National Medical Commission. Recognition and inspections of medical colleges Claims through various channels that the NMC Bill contains clauses like 'single inspection of a medical college, provision for increasing the seats of under graduates, freedom to start PG courses without inspection and increase the seats at the discretion of the medical colleges' are false and misleading to the general public. National Assessment and Accreditation Board will do regular inspections every year and as required in life cycle of medical college under section 26(D). Recommendations regarding penalty options for non-compliant institutions Unlike the earlier monetary penalty, ranging from one half to ten times the annual fee recovered from a batch, the clause has been replaced with a provision which provides different options such as warning, reasonable monetary penalty, reducing intake, stoppage of admission leading up to withdrawal of recognition. This is not to say that the NMC Bill as proposed is perfect and there are no contentious issues. But in a democracy like ours, we can and must debate, rationalise and come to a conclusion keeping larger interest of the healthcare profession in mind. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters. Kindly note the photograph has been published only for representational purposes. 'Public spirited individuals and organisations should commemorate May 10 as Kashmir Solidarity Day by taking out candlelight marches and gathering at war memorials all over the country.' 'The occasion is not just to remember Lieutenant Fayaz, but also all those who have lost their lives in Kashmir defending the Republic,' says Colonel Anil A Athale (retd). IMAGE: The tricolour draped on Lieutenant Umar Fayaz's coffin at his funeral, May 10, 2017. Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com On May 9, 2017, almost a year ago, a 22-year-old young lieutenant of the Indian Army was abducted from his home in the Kashmir valley, where he had gone to attend a family wedding. The next day his bullet-ridden body was found in an isolated area in Shopian district, South Kashmir. Lieutenant Umar Fayaz was an alumnus of the National Defence Academy, my alma mater. The NDA where the youth of India train to join the armed forces is a unique institution. Having been through it, I can vouch for the fact that an NDA cadet is immune to divisions on the basis of caste, creed or origin. In the academy, a son of an erstwhile maharaja was treated no differently than a son of a humble jawan. In fact, some of those sons of humble jawans have gone on to the very pinnacle and become the service Chief. Lieutenant Fayaz was also an alumnus of the famed Jawaharlal Nehru University, since the NDA is affiliated with JNU. Chances are that JNU students -- hyperactive on issues of human rights -- will be silent on the first anniversary of Lieutenant Fayaz's death. There will be no candlelight marches or fiery speeches at JNU. Neither will there be any bandh in the Kashmir valley. Lieutenant Fayaz's sacrifice -- as that of over 7,000 soldiers -- will be forgotten by the 'politically correct' activists. For them, only some lives matter. In Orwellian terms, 'All animals are equal, but some are more equal than the others.' Contrast this with the hullaballoo over the death of Burhan Wani, a gun-wielding militant who was killed in a firefight with the Indian Army. Wani was killed in a fair fight. Armed to the teeth with an AK-47 rifle, Wani was killed when he refused to surrender and instead opened fire on the soldiers. In contrast, Lieutenant Fayaz was unarmed and off duty, merely attending a wedding. His was a cold blooded murder while Wani's was an unfortunate death in a conflict zone. Nothing exposes the double standards of the pseudo liberals than this differing treatment of two tragedies. For the pseudo liberals, Lieutenant Fayaz was a member of the oppressive State apparatus while for the equally pseudo nationalists, he belonged to the wrong religion. Ignoring Lieutenant Fayaz's sacrifice and martyrdom is symptomatic of what is wrong with our so-called left-leaning liberals. A soldier risking his life in Kashmir often wonders whose battle he is fighting when he sees the demonisation of soldiers in the media. Television is essentially a narrow focus visual media that never gives you the broader picture. Thus unrest in a mere four districts of the Kashmir valley is propagated as the whole of J&K being on fire. One of the most important aspects of insurgency is perception management. Since the Indian media itself projects a one sided image, it strengthens the perception in Pakistan that they have a 'legitimate' right to support the Kashmir revolt. Within the armed forces, it lowers their morale and within Kashmir, it creates more recruits for the armed militancy. A public display by ordinary citizens of support for the armed forces and remembering Lieutenant Fayaz is an effective antidote to the Pakistani propaganda. Many liberals who support Kashmiri separatism fail to appreciate the fact that an independent Kashmir of that kind will be a replica of Talibanised Afghanistan. Public spirited individuals and organisations should commemorate May 10 as Kashmir Solidarity Day by taking out candlelight marches and gathering at war memorials all over the country. The occasion is not just to remember Lieutenant Fayaz, but also all those who have lost their lives in Kashmir defending the Republic. Colonel Anil A Athale (retd), a military historian, has been studying the Kashmir conflict for the last 30 years. At least 20 people on board a Delhi-bound bus were feared dead when the vehicle skidded off a highway in Bihar's East Champaran district, fell into a deep pit and caught fire. The incident took place around 5 pm on NH-28 near Belwa village under Kotwa police station area, about 30 kilometres from Motihari, the district headquarters. The private air-conditioned bus had begun its journey at Muzaffarpur, about 85 km from Motihari. The fire incinerated the bus and nobody could be retrieved so far. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (Sadar) Murli Manohar Manjhi, altogether 11 people were undergoing treatment at hospitals for injuries sustained in the incident. He said some of the survivors had managed to come out of the bus by smashing the windows while others were rescued by locals. They are being treated for injuries at a hospital, the officials, who were supervising rescue work at the spot, said. State minister for disaster management Dinesh Chandra Yadav had expressed apprehension that more than 20 people could have been killed in the incident. However, some of the surviving passengers told regional news channels that "only 13 passengers, besides the driver and a helper", were inside the vehicle when the incident took place. They said a total of 32 passengers had booked their seats in the private bus, out of whom only 13 had boarded at Muzaffarpur and the remaining were likely to catch the vehicle at Gopalganj. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed grief over the incident and observed a minute's silence as the news reached him in Patna at a function organised to launch various schemes of the transport department. Kumar said that he was "pained by the irony" that the news of the incident was received by him at a function held by the department concerned with road safety. Kumar was also quoted in an official release as having ordered expeditious payment of ex-gratia to the next of kin of the deceased and proper treatment of the injured. However, the number of persons killed in the incident remained shrouded in mystery with officials at the spot claiming they found nothing to suggest that any person was trapped inside the bus when it went up in flames. State minister for disaster management Dinesh Chandra Yadav had said earlier in the day that the bus was carrying 32 passengers and more than 20 persons could have been killed. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi tweeted: "Very saddened by news of bus accident in Champaran in Bihar. Casualty may go up to 24 or more." However, Manjhi, as also East Champaran SP Upendra Kumar Sharma said not a single body was recovered from the spot and that while the bus was engulfed in flames, there was no smell of charred flesh. Principal Secretary, Disaster Management, Pratyay Amrit said the heap of metal would be cut through with special equipment after which there would be more clarity if any person remained trapped inside. Some of the survivors, however, told regional news channels that altogether 32 people had booked their seats in the bus online, out of whom only 13, besides the driver and a helper, had boarded the bus at Muzaffarpur. More passengers were expected to board at Gopalganj where the bus was heading to, when it overturned after the driver took a sharp turn to avoid colliding with a motorcycle, they said. Pulling up the Himachal Pradesh government, the apex court told the state government to implement the law. IMAGE: Assistant town and country planner Shail Bala Sharma, right, talks with Vijay Singh, left, before he allegedly shot her dead. Photograph: ANI The Supreme Court on Thursday castigated the Himachal Pradesh government saying said it cannot "encourage" people who break the law, while observing that the "very unfortunate" killing of a woman officer allegedly by a Kasauli hotel owner was due to the the "non-implementation" of law. The apex court pulled up the Himachal Pradesh government and said it cannot "encourage" people who break the law and carry out illegal constructions while asking it to ensure implementation of the law on illegal constructions. Terming the Kasauli incident as a "huge problem" for the future, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta asked the state government to apprise it about the status of probe in the case and the steps taken to ensure that no unauthorised constructions were carried out in the entire state. "Unless you (state) take the matter seriously and believe in the rule of law, you cannot encourage people who break the law. The death is not a result of the court's order. It is a result of non-implemention of the law. The incident is very unfortunate. You have to ensure rule of law and implementation of law on unauthorised constructions," the bench observed. Assistant town and country Planner Shail Bala Sharma had on May 1 gone to supervise the demolition of unauthorised construction at Kasauli's Narayani Guest House where its owner Vijay Singh had allegedly shot at her. She later succumbed to injuries, while another government official accompanying her had sustained serious injuries. During the hearing, the bench also directed the counsel representing Himachal Pradesh to inform it about the status of implementation of the court's order on demolition of unauthorised constructions in 13 hotels at Kasauli. It also asked the advocate to apprise it about the steps that have been taken or are proposed to be taken regarding acting against those who have made illegal constructions in other parts of the state as well. The apex court asked the state to file an affidavit or a status report giving these details and posted the matter for further hearing on May 9. "What has been brought to our notice is that there were illegal constructions in Kasauli. We do not know if illegal constructions are going on in other places in the state. If people will start taking law in their own hands and say we will construct illegally and when the people will come to seal and close it on court's order, we will shoot them dead, then who will go to seal it," the bench said. "It is a huge problem for the future. What are you doing to ensure that there are no illegal constructions? You might have illegal constructions in places like Manali. What has happened in the past is unfortunate but you have to see the future also. You have to implement the law," the bench said. It also observed that "newspaper reports say he (accused) was working in the electricity department. From where did he get the money to have this property? There may be a Prevention of Corruption Act case also. Look at it and find it out". The state's counsel, while assuring the court that they would look into this aspect, said four teams were set up to carry out demolition drive as per the court's order and the team, of which the deceased was also a part, had 14 police officials. The bench was also informed that the accused had taken the property in his mother's name. The lawyer said the team had first gone to Shivalik hotel and when the police officials and other team members were having lunch, Sharma and two other officers went to the nearby Narayani Guest House. "When gun shots were heard, the police officials rushed to the spot and found that the officer was lying there in a pool of blood. She was rushed to the hospital," he said, adding the policemen had gone to catch the accused but he fled in the dense forest adjoining the road. "Are you planning to give compensation to the family (of the victim)," the bench asked. To this, the counsel said Rs 5 lakh compensation was announced for the family of the deceased while the injured officer would also be compensated. "How are you going to assure other persons of the department that this thing will not be repeated and there will be no violence," the bench then asked. The counsel said full security has been provided to the officials and they would beef it up and an enquiry commission has also been constituted after the incident. "Out of 13 hotels, how many have been demolished," the court asked the counsel who said the demolition work was going on as per court's order after the firing incident also. The bench asked the counsel as to whether Narayani Guest House and the spot where the incident took place has been cordoned off or not. "It is a scene of crime. You have to cordon off the area so that people cannot go there," the bench asked after which the lawyer said the guest house has been closed. The state also said that Rs one lakh reward has been announced on his arrest and a divisional commissioner has been appointed as an enquiry officer who would also suggest future course of action. The apex court, which had taken cognisance on its own on the firing incident, had on April 17 asked the state to demolish unauthorised structures in 13 hotels and guest houses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan. Vijay Singh had fired at assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma, who was leading a SC mandated demolition drive against illegal structures, and fled. IMAGE: Vijay Singh had disguised himself to evade arrest. Photograph: ANI The man accused of killing a woman officer who was leading a demolition drive in Kasauli was nabbed on Thursday from the Mathura-Vrindavan area, where he was hiding in disguise, police said. A team comprising Himachal Pradesh and Delhi Police personnel arrested Vijay Singh who shot dead assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma on Tuesday, they said. "The accused Vijay Singh was arrested from Mathura-Vrindavan area this evening. It was a joint effort of the Himachal Pradesh Police and a Delhi Police special team," Solan SP, Mohit Chawla said. The accused was on the run and kept changing locations, he said. He even stayed near the Mathura refinery and the Banke Bihari temple, Chawla said adding the accused would be brought and produced before a court in Kasauli. He had disguised himself to evade arrest, a police official said. Singh had fired at Sharma, who was leading a Supreme Court mandated demolition drive against illegal structures, and fled. Himachal Pradesh authorities received much flak and were even pulled up by the apex court following the incident. Singh's mother, Narayani, owner of the Narayani Guest House, while speaking before the arrest of her son, said he had lost mental balance as he couldn't see their guest house being demolished. "Vijay Singh kept a low-profile and helped his mother run the guest house. The guest house was in her name. We are in a state of disbelief that an educated person could do such a thing. His children study in a reputed school in Kasauli. This one action of his has ruined his entire family," said a local who resides near the guest house. Meanwhile, state authorities continued the drive against unauthorised constructions in the Kasauli town planning area. The Supreme Court had pulled up state authorities for their failure to ensure safety of government officials. "We might stop passing any orders if you are going to kill people," a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said when the matter related to Sharma's killing was mentioned before it. The apex court had on April 17 ordered the state government to demolish unauthorised structures in several hotels and guest houses in Kasauli and Dharampur areas of Solan. Four teams were constituted by the authorities to carry out the work. There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2011, 2012, and 2013. IMAGE: Security personnel take positions during Sunjwan Army camp terror attack in Jammu on February 10, 2018. P hotograph: PTI Photo At least 45 youths from the Kashmir Valley including an MBA and a PhD scholar have joined insurgency this year till mid-April, according to officials, as the unusual surge in numbers take the security establishment by surprise. According to the top brass of the security establishment in the border state, Shopian and Kulgam in south Kashmir have emerged as a major hub by respectively accounting for 12 and nine of the 45 youths. The other areas of south Kashmir which have witnessed youths taking to insurgency are Anantnag (seven), Pulwama (four) and Awantipura (three). Moreover, unconfirmed reports, which were in the process of verification, suggest that three more from Pulwama had joined terrorist groups, officials said. Similarly, in north Kashmir, one youth from Handwara, two from Kupwara, one each from Bandipora and Sopore and one from Srinagar have disappeared in the recent past and are suspected to have joined terrorist organisations, they said. This includes Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, 26, an MBA degree holder from Kashmir university, and son of Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai, who took over as chairman of Tehrek-e-Hurriyat from Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Teherik-e-Hurriyat is a pro-Pakistan amalgam of separatists groups. The list also includes a 26-year-old PhD scholar Mannan Bashir Wani hailing from Kupwara, officials said. Wani was studying in the Aligarh Muslim University. According to officials, every funeral of a local insurgent spawns at least two additions to the ranks of terrorist groups. The valley has witnessed killing of of at least 55 terrorists including 27 locals this year. "It has become a bottom less pit. We engage, counter, eliminate or make them surrender and the very next day, social media gives us proof of birth of another terrorist. This vicious cycle needs to be broken," said a senior army official who is engaged in anti-insurgency operations. Ruling party politicians from south Kashmir have reportedly abandoned their ancestral homes and housed themselves in well-fortified accomodations in Srinagar or Jammu. Efforts to seek their comments on the situation in their constituencies did not yield any result as they were reluctant to be drawn into any debate related to insurgency. A senior politician, who did not wish to be named, said: "Never has this situation arisen when space for mainstream politicians has shrunk to this extent. It is a scary situation". Security agencies believe that in April there has seen a conspicuous rise in the number of locals joining various terrorist groups after 13 local terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces in Shopian and Anantnag. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been quite vocal about PDP-BJP government's alleged failure in checking the rising trend of youths joining militancy. "Mehbooba Mufti's biggest and least talked about failure has been the massive jump in the numbers of young Kashmiri men joining the ranks of militant organisations," he had tweeted earlier. On more and more locals joining militancy, he had said, "...Is no one in a position of power in Delhi alarmed by this because I certainly am!" Police has approached many parents requesting them to ask their children to surrender on the assurance of a normal life. The story remains unchanged, says a senior police official, who adds that many a times parents express their helplessness. Appeals have been made by Mehbooba Mufti as well as state police chief SP Vaid and senior army officers but in vain. "We cannot keep a finger on any particular reason for the spurt in number of youth joining militancy. However, It could be growing influence of pan-Islamisation and religious indoctrination in which unemployment emerges as a catalyst for a quick reaction to pick up a gun," says a senior security official. The first four months of 2018 has already witnessed 100 deaths, including 55 terrorists, 20 security personnel and 25 civilians. Of the 55 terrorists killed, 27 were locals whereas the rest were described as foreigners by security agencies in the press handouts issued post-encounters. In 2017, a total of 126 youths had picked up guns. It was the highest number since 2010, according to a recent data presented in the state assembly and Parliament. There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2010, 54 youths had joined insurgency while in 2011, the number came down to 23 and further dipped to 21 in 2012 and 6 in 2013. In 2014, the number shot up to 53 and in 2015, it reached 66 before touching the highest mark of 88 in 2016, the data showed. Republican lawmakers want Nobel for Trump over his work to end the Korean War. Seventeen Republican lawmakers have nominated United States President Donald Trump for this year's Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work to end the Korean War, denuclearise the Korean peninsula and bring peace to the region. Trump has accepted an invitation to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong- un. This would be the first-ever meeting between leaders of the US and North Korea. "Since taking office, President Trump has worked tirelessly to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to end its illicit weapons program and bring peace to the region. His administration successfully united the international community, including China, to impose one of the most successful international sanctions regimes in history," the letter said. The sanctions have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table, the Congressmen said in a letter to Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. On April 20, North Korea announced it will end its nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile testing programmes. On April 27, North Korea and South Korea announced that they will work toward ending the Korean War, seek to reunify their countries, and that they will begin a process to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. "President Moon Jae-in of South Korea has consistently praised the administration's work and recently said, 'President Trump should win the Nobel Peace Prize'," the lawmakers wrote. Although North Korea has evaded demands from the international community to cease its aggressions for decades, Trump's peace through strength policies are working and bringing peace to the Korean Peninsula, they said. The White House did not respond to a question on the letter. Early this week, Trump told reporters that he is focused on achieving peace in the region. Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Sun Valley, ID -- (ReleaseWire) -- 05/03/2018 --Many travelers are looking for the next adventure destination off the beaten path. Discover two of Brazil's most spectacular secret National Parks that will without a doubt capture your imagination and leave you in awe! The Fantasy World of Chapada Diamantina: Chapada Diamantina is one of Brazil's most glorious national parks, with plenty of options for hiking and trekking through gorgeous valleys, mountain plateaus, and enchanting caves. The landscapes of Chapada Diamantina are so varied, you can climb plateaus, hike through jungles, and swim in waterfalls all in one day! Gretchen Traut, South America Travel Specialist from Adventures Within Reach explains, "From snorkeling to kayaking, caving to diving, there are loads of activities to choose from." Hidden Pools and Dunes of Lencois Maranhenses: Lencois Maranhenses National Park, located in Maranhao state, in northeastern Brazil, is one of the most marvelous and unique places in the world. An area encompassing about 1000 square kilometers of white silky sands, dotted by endless cool oases of turquoise lakes and pools, will make an adventurer's heart skip a beat. Ms. Traut continues, "The best time to visit the park is roughly from May to September, when it's sunny, yet the lagoons are still full. Visitors can explore the park via 44 vehicle or by doing a barefoot trek camping out under starry skies and swimming in the magic lagoons." A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Those of you who read what I write know what I have written about the political conundrum in Malaysia these last many months. You know I have written not... 1 month ago Smiling Rocks, a philanthropic business model, inspires companies to work for betterment of the world Zulu Ghevriya, the CEO and Co-Founder of Smiling Rocks, Founder of Vedantti Jewellery and Managing Director of Prism Group has been in the diamond and jewellery industry for over 20 years. Zulu started his business, Prism Group, as a natural diamond... Work hard and you will find success Eduard Utkin, Director General of the Jewellers Guild of Russia Association, expert of the RF Chamber of Commerce and Industrys Committee on Precious Metals and Precious Stones, told R&P about implementing the SIIS PMPS (State Integrated Information... GOLDNET.MARKET - We want and are working to provide business with the opportunity to develop a lot of activity areas Today, almost all jewellery companies have their own wholesale websites, online stores, and social media pages. But a year ago, GOLDNET.MARKET, the first jewellery wholesale marketplace appeared in Russia, a new effective tool for the jewellery market... Platinums rare nature gives it additional value and appeal Huw Daniel is the CEO of Platinum Guild International, overseeing market development activities in China, Japan, India and the USA, on behalf of the platinum producers of South Africa. Before taking up this role in 2015, Huw ran PGI USA for 12 years... MTA New York City Transit President Andy Byford, recently arrived from the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and working diligently to improve operations, has named two agency veterans to executive posts running North America's largest rapid transit network. Sally Librera has been appointed Senior Vice President-Subways, reporting directly to Byford. Frank Jezycki has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer-Subways, reporting to Librera. Both appointments are effective immediately. Librera, the first woman to run New York Citys 114-year-old subway system, will oversee all aspects of the Department of Subways, including developing and delivering a long-term strategy for modernization and success, Byford said in a memo to employees. Over the past 14 years, Sally has worked in various roles at NYC Transit, each with increasing responsibility. She has consistently demonstrated a strong focus on employee safety, workforce engagement, rigorous analytics and continuous improvement of operations. Librera most recently served as Vice President and Chief Officer for Subways Operations Support and Vice President and Chief Officer for Staten Island Railway (also the first woman in that position), where she led SIR in delivering safe and reliable daily service, as well as system performance and capital improvements, Byford noted. Stand clear of the closing gender gap. The W train has arrived, the New York Post said in its story on Libreras appointment. Jezycki will run NYCTs subway day-today operations, overseeing Service Delivery, Car Equipment and Maintenance-of-Way teams. Given the huge challenges facing our subway, I needed the best possible operator and leader as my COO, and in Frank, we get just that, Byford said. Jezycki has held a number of leadership roles at NYCT, most recently in leading delivery of the Subways Action Plan. He also served as vice president and chief mechanical officer, vice president and chief maintenance officer of Maintenance-of-Way, and vice president and chief officer for Staten Island Railway, all of which, together, make him the perfect candidate for COO, Byford added. Jezycki began his career at NYC Transit in 1985 as a maintainers helper in the Ventilation and Drainage Department. He reportedly narrowly escaped the control room at the then-new South Ferry No. 1 station the night of Oct. 31, 2012, as it flooded during Superstorm Sandy. NYC Transit is at the start of a very exciting journey, one that will transform the way we do business and that will restore our reputation in the eyes of customers and stakeholders, Byford said. To succeed, I need a world-class executive team to help me construct, then deliver, the corporate plan that is our roadmap to transformationand to run NYC Transit day to day. Byford, who is British and held top positions at London Underground, Sydney (Australia) metro and TTC before arriving in the Big Apple, said to the Post, You just get way better decisions if you have womenand for that matter, people of coloron your executive team, rather than if you just have a team of clones of white men. When asked by the Post whether more subways will run on time with a womans touch, Librera, with a hearty laugh, answered, The entire gender is really counting on my answer. Trains are going to run on time. Tensar U.S. Rep. David Scott (D-GA-13) joined representatives from Tensar International Corporation, Genesee and Wyoming Inc., and other industry stakeholders on May 2 for a tour and discussion of public policy. The event took place at Tensars Morrow, Ga., facility. Tensar is headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga., and maintains manufacturing facilities in Morrow and Charlotte, N.C. Tensar produces geogrids, which are used to stabilize the foundation materials beneath roads and other infrastructure, such as ballast. The tour was led by Tensar CEO Mike Lawrence and Mark Koepsel, executive vice president of Global Operations. Those in attendance got a glimpse into the production, research and development facility based in Morrow, which is located near the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Tensar has operated the 100 percent U.S.-owned and staffed facility for more than three decades and the company said it is one of the largest manufacturing facilities within the geogrid industry worldwide. It was an honor to host Congressman Scott and share our future growth and investment plans for our Morrow facility with him today, Lawrence said. We are focused on providing the transportation industry with a reliable product that reduces costs and increases safety on both railways and roadways. We strongly support sound federal policies that encourage growth and innovation in the transportation sector. In response to customer demand for its geogrid products, Tensar announced last year that it would bring an additional 35 percent of production capacity on line at the Morrow facility in 2018. It was a pleasure to hear Tensar Corporations plans to continue and grow their investments in our local community, Rep. Scott said. Investments in transportation are critical to Georgia farmers and Atlanta-area commuters alike. I appreciate the opportunity to hear from many local transportation entrepreneurs and I am committed to continuing to fight for a pro-job and pro-transportation agenda in Congress. Rep. Scott was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002, and is now in the midst of his eighth term of service. While serving in Congress, Rep. Scott has voiced support for job creation, investing in infrastructure throughout the U.S. and improving access to healthcare. He serves as a member of the House Agriculture and Financial Services Committees and has acknowledged Georgias farmers reliance on a supported railway, Tensar said. Rep. Scott also sponsors an annual job fair for Georgia residents and has worked to secure more than 7,000 jobs for Georgias 13th District. Automaker General Motors Co. (GM) on Thursday reported a 60 percent fall in profit for the first quarter from last year, reflecting lower revenues and a charge related to the company's Korean operations restructuring. However, adjusted earnings per share for the quarter beat analysts' estimates and the company affirmed its financial outlook for fiscal 2018. However, the company's shares are declining more than 2 percent in pre-market activity. For the first quarter, the company reported net income attributable to stockholders of $1.05 billion or $0.72 per share, down from $2.61 billion or $1.70 per share in the same period last year. GM recorded a $942-million pre-tax charge on asset impairment and termination benefits related to Korea restructuring. The charge included $464 million in non-cash asset impairments. Adjusted earnings for the quarter were $2.04 billion or $1.43 per share, compared to $2.68 billion or $1.75 per share last year. On average, 19 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings of $1.24 per share. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. Total net sales and revenue for the quarter declined 3.1 percent to $36.10 billion from $37.27 billion a year ago. Analysts expected revenues of $34.66 billion for the quarter. GM's adjusted earnings before interest and tax or adjusted EBIT was $2.61 billion, down 26.6 percent compared to $3.55 billion last year. The decline in adjusted EBIT reflects the impact of planned production downtime in preparation for the company's all-new full-size Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra truck launches later this year. North America EBIT declined 37.1 percent on an adjusted basis, reflecting planned downtime in support of new full-size truck launches. Looking ahead, GM said it said it remains confident in the full-year guidance announced in January. The company continues to expect its 2018 core adjusted automotive free cash flow to be in line with 2017 results as GM benefits from strong EBIT-adjusted performance and favorable seasonal cash flow factors later this year. The Street expects earnings of $6.33 per share for the year on revenues of $144.31 billion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News China will on Friday see April results for the services and composite PMIs from Caixin, highlighting a light day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In March, the services PMI had a score of 52.3, while the composite came in at 51.8. Malaysia will release March numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. In February, imports were worth 61.3 billion ringgit and exports were at 70.3 billion ringgit for a trade surplus of 9.0 billion ringgit. South Korea will provide March figures for current account in February, the current account surplus was $2.68 billion. Hong Kong and Singapore will see April results for their respective private sector PMIs from Nikkei; in March, their scores were 50.6 and 53.7, respectively. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Today's Daily Dose brings you news about FDA panel's vote on Achaogen's Plazomicin; Karyopharm's public offering; Cellectis' progress in TALEN gene-edited product pipeline; Globus Medical's Q1 financial results; a federal Court's ruling, which has gone in favor of Progenics/Valeant, and Esperion's pivotal phase III long-term safety study results of Bempedoic acid. Read on Shares of Achaogen Inc. (AKAO) slumped over 28% in extended trading on Wednesday, after the FDA panel delivered its verdict on the Company's investigational treatment Plazomicin. The Company is seeking approval of Plazomicin IV for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections (cUTI), including pyelonephritis, and bloodstream infections (BSI) due to certain Enterobacteriaceae in patients who have limited or no alternative treatment option. While the FDA panel members unanimously backed Plazomicin for the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections, they voted 4-11 against recommending approval of the drug candidate for the treatment of bloodstream infections in patients with limited or no treatment options. The FDA's final decision on Plazomicin is expected on June 25, 2018. AKAO closed Wednesday's trading at $14.70, up 2.73%. In after-hours, the stock was down 28.91% to $10.45. Cellectis (CLLS) has filed an Investigational New Drug application to the FDA, seeking approval to initiate a Phase 1 clinical trial for UCART22, the Company's second wholly controlled TALEN gene-edited product candidate, for the treatment of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in adult patients. If all goes well as planned, the Company plans to initiate a Phase I clinical trial of UCART22 in the third quarter of 2018. Another wholly controlled TALEN gene-edited product candidate of Cellectis is UCART123, under phase I trial in patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN). Cellectis' UCART19, which is under phase I trial in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, is also a TALEN gene-edited product candidate, but is being co-developed by Servier and Pfizer. CLLS closed Wednesday's trading at $28.86, up 2.38%. In after-hours, the stock was up 2.22% to $29.50. Shares of Esperion Therapeutics Inc. (ESPR) slumped more than 35% on Wednesday, despite the Company reporting positive top-line results from its pivotal phase III long-term safety study of Bempedoic acid in high-risk patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) who are inadequately controlled with current lipid-modifying therapies. The study, dubbed Study 1 or 1002-040, which included 2,230 patients, met the primary endpoint of safety and tolerability, and the key efficacy endpoint with on-treatment LDL-C lowering of an additional 20 percent at twelve weeks in the intent to treat analysis. Patients treated with bempedoic acid also achieved a significant reduction of 22 percent in high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), an important marker of the underlying inflammation associated with cardiovascular disease. However, the number of fatal adverse events in the treatment group spooked investors - there were 13 deaths in the treatment group compared to 2 in placebo. The fatal adverse events were unrelated to the study drug, says the Company. Upcoming milestones: -- Top-line results from the pivotal Phase 3 Study 3 (1002-046) of bempedoic acid in ASCVD patients on background therapy of less than approved daily starting doses of statins expected in May. -- Top-line results from the pivotal Phase 3 Study (1002FDC-053) of the bempedoic acid / ezetimibe combination pill in ASCVD patients on maximally tolerated statin background therapy expected in August 2018. -- Top-line results from the pivotal Phase 3 Study 2 (1002-047) of bempedoic acid in ASCVD patients on maximally tolerated statin background therapy expected in September 2018. ESPR closed Wednesday's trading at $45.75, down 35.11%. Globus Medical Inc. (GMED) has reported strong results for the first quarter of 2018, and has increased its full-year forecast. On a non GAAP basis, net income for the first quarter of 2018 rose to $39.54 million or $0.39 per share from $28.71 million or $0.30 per share in the year-ago quarter. Worldwide sales were $174.4 million in the recent first quarter, up from $155.8 million in the first quarter of 2017. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting EPS of $0.36 on revenue of $167.89 million. The company has also increased guidance for full year 2018 sales to $695 million from $690 million and non-GAAP fully diluted earnings per share to $1.52 from $1.50. GMED closed Wednesday's trading at $49.65, down 0.04%. Karyopharm Therapeutics Inc. (KPTI) has offered to sell 9.15 million shares of its common stock to the public at a price of $14.75 each. The underwriters have been given a 30-day option to purchase up to 1.37 million additional shares of Company's common stock. The gross proceeds to Karyopharm from the offering are expected to be $135.0 million. The offering is slated to close on or about May 7, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. On April 30, 2018, the Company reported positive top-line data from Part 2 of its phase IIb trial of Selinexor in patients with Penta-Refractory Multiple Myeloma, dubbed STORM. Near-term Catalysts: -- Karyopharm plans to submit a New Drug Application to the FDA during the second half of 2018, with a request for accelerated approval for oral Selinexor as a new treatment for patients with penta-refractory multiple myeloma. -- The Company also plans to submit a Marketing Authorization Application to the European Medicines Agency in early 2019 with a request for conditional approval. -- A phase III study evaluating Selinexor in combination with Velcade and dexamethasone (SVd) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma who have had one to three prior lines of therapy, dubbed BOSTON, is ongoing - with top-line data anticipated in 2019. KPTI closed Wednesday's trading at $15.52, up 6.96%. Neurocrine Biosciences Inc. (NBIX) is scheduled to present new data from RE-KINECT, the largest real-world screening study to date of patients with clinician confirmed possible tardive dyskinesia on May 8, 2018. The RE-KINECT study is designed to better understand the potentially broad reaching impact of symptoms of possible tardive dyskinesia patients treated with antipsychotic medications. The Company will also present new data from the KINECT 4 study on long-term treatment with INGREZZA capsules in participants with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder or mood disorder on May 8, 2018. INGREZZA is the first FDA approved treatment for adults with tardive dyskinesia. It was approved last April. NBIX closed Wednesday's trading at $80.08, down 5.11%. Progenics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (PGNX) and partner Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. (VRX) have a reason to cheer as a federal Court's ruling pronounced on Wednesday prevents generic competition for RELISTOR injection in the United States until 2024. Progenics has exclusively licensed development and commercialization rights for RELISTOR, to Valeant. RELISTOR Tablets (450 mg once daily) are approved in the United States for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in patients with chronic non-cancer pain. RELISTOR Subcutaneous Injection (12 mg and 8 mg) is a treatment for OIC approved in the United States and worldwide for patients with advanced illness and chronic non-cancer pain. Mylan N.V. (MYL) has been seeking approval for its generic version of RELISTOR injection since 2015, and was given tentative approval by the FDA last May. Now that the Court has ruled in Progenics/ Valeant's favor, Mylan will have to wait until 2024 to launch generic RELISTOR. Another trial is slated for June 4, 2018, and the court is expected to decide the infringement and validity of other patents that could prevent generic RELISTOR vials until 2029 and generic RELISTOR syringes until 2030. Full-year 2017 net global sales of RELISTOR, as reported by Valeant, totaled $73.1 million compared to $70.6 million in 2016. PGNX closed Wednesday's trading at $6.69, up 1.36%. STAAR Surgical Co. (STAA) turned to profit in the first quarter of 2018 on 33% sales growth. Net income for the first quarter of 2018 was approximately $0.6 million or $0.01 per share compared with a net loss of $2.2 million or $0.05 per share for the prior year quarter. Adjusted Net Income for the first quarter of 2018 was $1.8 million or $0.04 per share, compared to an Adjusted Net Loss in the prior year quarter of $1.6 million or $0.04 per share. Net sales were $27.1 million for the first quarter of 2018, up 33% from $20.4 million reported in the prior year quarter. STAA closed Wednesday's trading at $16.75, up 2.13%. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Crude oil futures were flat Thursday morning after the IMF threatened to expel Venezuela over lack of transparancy with its financials. "The [Executive] Board noted that adequate data provision was an essential first step to understanding Venezuela's economic crisis and identifying possible solutions," an IMF statement said. The IMF is giving the beleagured government six months to comply. June WTI oil was down 10 cents at $67.85 a barrel. There was little reaction yesterday to news that U.S. crude oil inventories surged by much more than anticipated last week. The Energy Information Administration said U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 6.2 million barrels from the previous week. Analysts expected a weekly build of around 1 million barrels. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis Three Americans held in a North Korean prison are set to be released today, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Thursday. Giuliani, who recently joined President Donald Trump's legal team but is not a White House employee, revealed the news in an interview on "Fox & Friends." "We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today," Giuliani said, referring to Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk, also known as Tony Kim. The comment from Giuliani comes after Trump hinted at the release of the prisoners in a post to Twitter late Wednesday. "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump tweeted. While the tweet seeks to blame former President Barack Obama's administration for the men's imprisonment, two of the three were detained after Trump's inauguration. The potential release of the prisoners comes amid easing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, with Trump due to hold an historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump previously referred to Kim as a "maniac" and a "madman" but described the repressive dictator as being "very open" and "honorable" in remarks last month. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Former FBI Director James Comey has come to the defense of agents at the bureau after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani compared them to "stormtroopers." In a post on Twitter on Thursday, Comey suggested the country would be better off its leaders were more like FBI agents. "I know the New York FBI. There are no 'stormtroopers' there; just a group of people devoted to the rule of law and the truth," Comey said. He added, "Our country would be better off if our leaders tried to be like them, rather than comparing them to Nazis." The tweet from Comey comes after Giuliani suggested in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that FBI agents who raided the offices and home of President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen behaved like "stormtroopers." Giuliani described the raids as "big stormtroopers coming in and breaking down his apartment and breaking down his office." The term "stormtrooper" originally referred to German specialist soldiers in World War I but has also been applied to members of the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party. During the interview with Hannity, Giuliani also offered a new explanation for why Trump decided to fire Comey as FBI Director last year. "He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation," Giuliani said. "He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that and he couldn't get that." Comey privately told Trump he was not under investigation but did not initially reveal the information publicly despite pressure from the president. The White House initially attributed Comey's firing to a recommendation by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, although comments from Trump later suggested the move was due to the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. However, in a post on Twitter last month, Trump claimed Comey was not fired because of the "phony Russia investigation." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Rahul Gandhi (file photo) Attacking Narendra Modi for letting the farmers down in Karnataka, Congress President Rahul Gandhi in a report card gave the Prime Minister an 'F' Grade for his performance in the agricultural sector in the state. Gandhi, in a Tweet, said the Prime Minister's crop insurance scheme has made the "farmers suffer" while filling the coffers of the private insurance companies that have made "huge profits". The Congress chief said that the farmers did not receive the additional 50 per cent on their Minimum Support Price (MSP) that they have been demanding. "Contribution to Congress state governments 8,500 crore Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs. "PM's crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt (private) insurance companies make huge profits. "No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F," The attack came ahead of polling for the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, to be held on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15. Both Modi and Gandhi were scheduled to address separate public rallies in the state on Thursday. While the Prime Minister will address rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru, Gandhi will join the Congress' Jana Ashirwada Yatre, which will continue till Friday. At least storm ' title=' dust storm '>dust storm ' title=' 93 people died in storm ' title=' dust storm '>dust storm '>93 people died in dust storm and lightning strikes that hit several parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan overnight, officials said on Thursday. While 62 people were killed in Uttar Pradesh -- with 43 of them in the Taj city Agra alone -- another 31 died in Rajasthan's Alwar, Dholpur and Bharatpur districts, officials said. Around 150 people were also injured in the two states. Officials told IANS that the death toll could go up as full information on the extent of the tragedy was still pouring in. Of the casualties, many were caused by lightning, which struck at many places after the storm ' title=' dust storm '>dust storm settled down. Rains also lashed many places. In Uttar Pradesh, besides the 43 deaths from Agra, three people died each in Bijnore and Kanpur Dehat (rural) and one each in Bareilly, Pilibhit, Chitrakoot, Rae Bareli, Unnao, Mathura, Amroha, Kannauj, Banda, Kanpur city, Sitapur, Sambhal and Mirzapur. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is campaigning for the BJP in Karnataka, has told officials to ensure rescue and relief work in the worst hit Agra, Bijnore, Bareilly, Unnao, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar and Rae Bareli districts. In Rajasthan, a powerful storm ' title=' dust storm '>dust storm hit Alwar, Dholpur and Bharatpur districts, killing 31 people and injuring another 100. The storm, with a wind speed of 100 km per hour, uprooted trees, severed telephone, power and water supply links and brought down houses, officials said. State Disaster Management Minister Gulabchand Kataria called an emergency meeting and confirmed that 16 persons were killed in Bharatpur, 10 in Dhaulpur and five in Alwar. For the first time in the state, a storm has been included under the category of natural disaster and funds to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore have been sanctioned for each district, Kataria said. The exact level of damage in Alwar, Jhunjhunu and Bikaner was yet to be confirmed, said officials. Bharatpur's Additional District Magistrate O.P. Jain told IANS: "We are making all efforts to ensure that the injured are given medical aid. "We have prioritized restoration work so that drinking water and electricity get restored." Dholpur Additional District Magistrate Harphool Yadav said 10 people in the district have lost their lives. "Quick response teams have been deployed since last night." A senior official in Alwar said rescuers were still trying to reach out to people to know the exact level of damage. As phone connections have been severed, it was difficult to contact the interiors. Yadav said that some 200 people were stuck in village Lebdapura Basedi after their houses were gutted in a fire. Several electrical poles came down, disrupting power supply. The falling trees and electric poles caused the maximum accidents, leaving almost 100 people injured, Yadav said. Both Bharatpur and Alwar were without power through the night. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje directed the officials on Thursday to help the injured. "Distressed after storm in Alwar, Bharatpur and Dholpur," she tweeted. The Met department said the storm condition would continue till Saturday in Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh's regional Met office also warned of a second spell of storm ' title=' dust storm '>dust storm in many districts of Uttar Pradesh, following which an alert has been sounded by the government. According to a letter from regional Met Director J.P. Gupta to the Relief Commissioner, thunderstorms accompanied by gutsy winds were very likely in Gorakhpur, Ballia, Mau, Ghazipur, Ambedkarnagar, Sant Kabeernagar, Basti, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Siddharthnagar, Gonda, Balrampur, Sharawasti, Sitapur, Bahraich, Kheri, Shahjahanpur, Pilibhit, Rampur, Bareilly, Budayun, Aligarh, Etah, Mahamaya Nagar, Mathura, Noida, Bulandshahr, Moradabad, Meerut, Muzaffarnagar, Bijnore and Baghpat. Massive rains were also expected in some places. Gupta told IANS that there was no likelihood of the storm affecting the state capital, however. Cambridge Analytica, the political consultancy firm at the centre of the Facebook data-sharing scandal, is shutting down, media reported. The firm was accused of improperly obtaining personal information on behalf of political clients. According to Facebook, data of up to 87 million of its users was harvested by a quiz app and then passed on to the political consultancy. The social network said its own probe into the matter would continue, the BBC reported. "This doesn't change our commitment and determination to understand exactly what happened and make sure it doesn't happen again," said a spokesman. "We are continuing with our investigation in cooperation with the relevant authorities." Clarence Mitchell, a spokesman for Cambridge Analytica, referred the BBC to a statement on the firm's website. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the company's efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," it said. "Despite Cambridge Analytica's unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully... the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the company's customers and suppliers. "As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business." The statement added that its parent company SCL Elections was also commencing bankruptcy proceedings. The UK's Financial Times newspaper said it has spoken to another ex-employee of Cambridge Analytica, on condition of anonymity, who said they were sure the company would emerge "in some other incarnation or guise". The Observer journalist whose investigation first exposed the data privacy scandal has suggested that the public remain sceptical. The chair of a UK parliament committee investigating the firm's activities also raised concerns about Cambridge Analytica and SCL Elections' move. "They are party to very serious investigations and those investigations cannot be impeded by the closure of these companies," said parliamentarian Damian Collins. "I think it's absolutely vital that the closure of these companies is not used as an excuse to try and limit or restrict the ability of the authorities to investigate what they were doing," the BBC quoted Collins as saying. In March, Channel 4 aired undercover footage of Cambridge Analytica's CEO, Alexander Nix, giving examples of how the firm could swing elections around the world with underhand tactics such as smear campaigns and honey traps. The UK-based company, which denies any wrongdoing, has an extensive record of working abroad on many election campaigns, including in Italy, Kenya and Nigeria. Cambridge Analytica's chief executive Alexander Nix was suspended in March after the Channel 4 News footage was aired. In April, Cambridge Analytica said it had only licensed 30 million records belonging to US citizens from the quiz app's creator Aleksandr Kogan, and that they had not been used in the US presidential election. The firm added that it had since deleted all the information despite claims to the contrary by others. An exchange of photos between friends led to a massive donation of classroom furniture, which will arrive in Apia this week. After his school was flooded by Cyclone Gita, Reverend Aioso Pili Fata, of Manumalo Baptist School, sent photos of many desks and chairs destroyed by water to his friend in New Zealand. That friend was Sandy Watson, a teacher in Christchurch. She and her husband Jason, decided something had to be done. Jason and Sandy went school by school asking for any old classroom furniture that could be transported down here to us, said Reverend Fata. Their appeal was successful. Four schools across Christchurch had furniture to donate. They said they have a lot of things, but how are they going to ship them over? Thats when the Reverend began making arrangements to ship the furniture over. The school paid for two 20 foot containers to be shipped from Christchurch to Apia, costing more than SAT$14,000. The Reverend said the donations are worth much more than the cost of the shipping and will serve the school well. Reverend Fata and Manumalo Principal, Tasi Apati Ieremia Fata, travelled to Christchurch last week to pack the two containers and thank the schools in person. When they arrived, 20 men and women of the New Zealand Defence Force were there to help and they got the job done in only six hours. They helped to collect all the donations from different schools and packed them into the containers for free, said Reverend Fata. Reverend and Mrs. Fata said they were amazed at how well organised everything was. We were very happy, we didnt expect anything like this. I thought it would take two days for us to do that job, but it was all done on Monday, said Reverend Fata. Mrs. Fata said she found the experience very moving. Looking at how things worked that day, we knew that our Lord went before us, she said. We were worried because it was not easy to make the plans from here, without seeing anything from the other side of the world. But when they got there, the army wasnt far behind them with trucks full of donations and they quickly packed the containers. The weather was good, even though it had been raining for two or three weeks, but it was so good, said Mrs. Fata. Following Cyclone Gita, Manumalo Baptist School had to replace more than 100 desks and many of their desktop and laptop computers. To repair some of the damage, the schools staff closed the school for a week to clean the field from mud, dry the classrooms and clear out the wrecked furniture. The staff had to build a new office, and moved the computer lab up a level. The library and old computer lab sit empty waiting for new furniture to have them ready as classrooms. South Korean President Moon Jae-in sought the UN's support to verify the imminent closure of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear test site, the UN spokesperson office said Tuesday. Moon make the request Monday in a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, the office said. Moon also asked the world body to support the implementation of South Korea's agreement with the DPRK to transform their demilitarized zone into a peace zone. Guterres congratulated Moon on the success of the historic summit between Moon and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Un on April 27. During the summit meeting at the border village of Panmunjom, Kim said his country will openly close by the end of May the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in northeast of the DPRK, where all of its six nuclear tests were conducted. After the summit, Moon and Kim signed and announced the Panmunjom Declaration in which the two sides agreed on complete denuclearization and the change of the current armistice agreement into a peace treaty. The UN chief reiterated full support for furthering the inter-Korean dialogue and pledged that the UN stands ready to discuss possible forms of support. Samoa Chamber of Commerce held its April members meeting last Tuesday. The meeting was sponsored by Taumeasina Island Resort and held at their Conference Room at Taumeasina. The meeting was chaired by Samoa Chamber of Commerce President, Jennifer Ula Fruean, who provided an update to members of the current activities of the organisation. The Samoa Chamber of Commerce featured a guest presentation by Dwayne Bentley, the Marketing and Communications Specialist from Samoa Airways. Mr. Bentley discussed Samoa Airways marketing strategy and the current schedule of flights, as well as the latest sales and distribution channels allowing Samoa Airways to link online with G.D.S. Connection such as Amadeus. The business community was acknowledged for its ongoing support and commitment to Samoas very own airline. General Manager of Taumeasina Island Resort, Nathan Bucknall, also gave a special presentation on the expansion of the Resort, encompassing additional and upgraded suites and villas and extension of resort facilities. It was reiterated that over the next couple of years, Taumeasina Island Resort will only get bigger and better. Mr. Bucknall welcomed any interested investors to contact the management of the resort for more information. Nine new members were introduced and they were Asotasi Le Property Host Samoa, Moana Rentals, Grey Investments, Insight Legal, E.B.B. Samoa, ALFA Ltd, REA Farms (Savaii), Radio Polynesia Ltd and Koko Moni. Chinas Vice Minister for International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Guo Yezhou, has paid tribute to former Prime Minister, Tofilau Eti Alesana, for paving the way for Samoa and Chinas growing relationship. Mr. Guo offered the tribute in Beijing when he addressed a Parliament delegation from Samoa that was on a fact-finding mission in the Peoples Republic of China last week. The delegation was led by Senior Member of Parliament, Gatoloaifaana Amataga Alesana-Gidlow, who is a daughter of the late Tofilau Eti. The successful and ongoing relationships between China and Samoa are attributed to the progress made by generations of politicians including your father, the late Tofilau Eti Alesana, Mr. Guo said. The Chinese people will never forget her friends and thats why we will never forget the tremendous contribution made by your father in fostering and promoting the China Samoa ties. That spirit - and the robustness and closeness of our relations is but one of Tofilaus legacies to both our countries. We are also very happy to see that you are very active in promoting the China Samoa relationships. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi was also complimented for his role. The current Prime Minister Tuilaepa is also very active in promoting our friendship and he has personally chosen your delegation which demonstrated his goodwill to promote the friendship between our two countries. Tofilau personified the resilience of the Samoan people in the wake of the devastating cyclones of the early 1990s. His leadership came to the fore in the remarkable reconstruction that rebuilt Samoas economy and infrastructure after the heartbreaking damage of those disasters. At the regional level, in the South Pacific Forum, Tofilau was a quiet but wise mentor for other Leaders as they worked through common issues of economic and political co-operation in the Pacific. He played a similar role as an elder statesman for the Pacific in the Commonwealth of Nations. Among the most significant of Tofilaus achievements was the extension of suffrage from the Matai to include other citizens. His concern for the ordinary citizen shows the kind of visionary leader Tofilau was. He also left the inheritance of his deep interest in education. Many Samoans have benefited over the years from Tofilaus uncompromising pursuit of the best opportunities he could get for them to learn, and acquire the skills necessary for success. The needs of Samoa were always in his heart and on his mind. He was from Samoa, and always for Samoa. Tofilau Eti Alesana, born Aualamalefalelima Alesana (4 June 1924 19 March 1999), was a Samoan politician. He was born in Vaitogi, Tutuila, American Samoa to Samoan upper-class parents, Reverend James Alesana Faiivae and Vaoita Iosefa Malaitai. In 1957 he was elected to the legislative council, and in 1958 he became health minister. He helped draft the constitution for the newly independent state of Western Samoa. Alesana helped form the Human Rights Protection Party which won power in 1982. Alesana served as prime minister for the first time from 1982 until 1985 when he was deposed by Parliament with the help of disgruntled members of his own party. He regained control of the party in 1988 and became prime minister. Tofilau led the party to almost complete control of the country, with more than a 2/3 majority in the Parliament. In 1997 Tofilaus government changed the countrys name from Western Samoa to Samoa. Tofilau began to suffer from health problems in the 1990s, finally resigning as Prime Minister in November 1998 but remained a member of Cabinet as Minister Without Portfolio until he passed away. His party still holds power. He was also foreign minister of Samoa from 1984 to 1985 and from 1988 to 1998. Tofilau is the first of a prominent political family in both Samoas. He was the uncle to the late former Governor of American Samoa, Tauese Pita Alesana as well as the former U.S. Congressional Representative Fofo Sunia, the former Lt.Governor of American Samoa, Faoa Aitofele Sunia and late former Congressional representative, Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin also of American Samoa. His wife was Pitolua Alesana. The Fire Emergency Services Authority (F.E.S.A.) responded quickly to put out a small fire inside the premises of the Apia Bottling Company compound today. A company employee confirmed the fire was a small one and was immediately brought under control. It was just a small alarm, she said. More than 10 firefighters were at the scene. They were assisted by Electricity Power Corporation (E.P.C.) officers who switched off the electricity in the area. The Samoa Observer arrived when the firemen were still spraying the hose onto a metal tank at the back of the compound. A F.E.S.A. official told the Samoa Observer they are investigating the cause of the fire. The Samoa Tourism Exchange 2018 came to an official close on Wednesday night under the stars at the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Resort in Mulifanua. Buyers and sellers gathered to celebrate a successful exchange with old business relationships strengthened and new partnerships formed. The evening was blessed by Reverend Afamasaga Mautofu Fuimaono. The Minister of Tourism, Sala Fata Pinati, thanked all those who participated in this years exchange. As we close the S.T.E 2018 we look back on the two days of trading and five days of Beautiful Samoa and pray that everyone had a great time, both in business and leisure, he said. We thank all our S.T.E 2018 buyers and sellers for ensuring the success of this event, through partnerships established and we especially thank airlines and tourism industry members who helped in sponsoring the coordination and hosting of this important tourism event. We trust that you have had a most productive time in our country and have also had the opportunity to visit most of what makes our Beautiful Samoa a unique destination to visit and enjoy. We look forward to showing your clientele and our guests, the best services that Beautiful Samoa offers. The Resorts Director of Sales and Marketing, Sherrilyn Charles gave an informal speech during the dinner to welcome the first timers to the Sheraton Samoa Aggie Greys Beach Resort in Mulifanua. She thanked everyone for making the exchange a successful one. Thank you for being here, we really appreciate it and we hope you all have a lovely, lovely evening and I think in terms of S.T.E we havent wished for a better one its fantastic for the people being here for the first time so we hope that Samoa will really showcase itself at its best. As far as Im concerned Samoa is built on three cornerstones, its people, the Samoan culture and the passion behind the natural beauty and what all that Samoa has to offer. We hope that our spark and passion has gone over to yourselves and that you all sell Samoa and tell everybody about it. We hope you enjoy a very, very lovely evening, thank you to the S.T.A for putting everything together. The S.T.E. brought to Samoa trade and media experts from Australia, New Zealand, American Samoa, China, South Korea, USA, Germany, Japan, United Kingdom and Europe. They met with local operators for product updates, selling tips and much more. The Samoa Tourism Exchange is one of the most important events on the Samoa Tourism calendar, said Papalii Sonja Hunter, C.E.O. of Samoa Tourism Authority. It is our opportunity to reaffirm and strengthen our travel industry partnerships and alliances and gives us another opportunity to wow the world with what Samoa has to offer. Declared by the Government as the Samoa Tourism Year, 2018, it is shaping up to be a dynamic and exciting year for our nation, with a focus on keeping it beautiful and keeping it real, through promotion of our friendly people, unique culture, delicious cuisine and pristine surroundings. Reducing the costs; less manual labour and improved workflow automation. These were some of the key points discussed during a meeting at the S.S.A.Bs Business complex where the benefits of Abby equipment were discussed. Abby is a scanning software widely used in Russia, Australia, New Zealand and around Europe to name a few. And now it has arrived in Samoa. Director of Mark 3, Lupematasila Angus Malietoa, who is Abbys authorised agent in the Pacific and New Zealand presented and shared on the long term benefits of the software and the opportunities that come with it. For instance, Abby promises to enable any government organisation, corporation or private companies in Samoa to digitise manual paperwork. I am thankful for S.S.A.Bs willingness to bring me here so I can do a presentation on the Abby software and getting our Samoan people updated with the technology on the global market, Lupesmatasila said. If it wasnt for this opportunity from S.S.A.B., Abby would not have been introduced to Samoa. The President of S.S.A.B., Tofilau Fiti Leung Wai, said Abby adds to an exciting range of technological developments in Samoa today. My heart is always for our people, she said. I never want our people to be left behind in terms of technology, through my company S.S.A.B. I will always make sure that I bring in whatever new technology there is available so Samoans are empowered and developed in the world of technology. Several representatives from government bodies, corporations, institutions were invited by S.S.A.B. to attend the Abby presentation. Most organisations highlighted that time consumption and manual data entry are frequent challenges they face each day. After the session, they are excited to witness that they now have a solution to alleviate all the hassle. This cutting edge technology has never been introduced to Samoa before or any other Pacific Islands and S.S.A.B. is privilege to be partners with Abby to help Samoa. S.S.A.B. encourages everyone to ask questions about this new innovation as it has a lot of benefits as Abby increases efficiency, reduce operational costs, retention of records or digitising important documents that need to be retrieved. We have our Facebook page S.S.A.B. APIA SAMOA and email address [email protected] that you can contact on for more information pertaining to Abby. The Government is investigating a dispute between a local businessman and two Fijian women who were brought to Samoa as domestic workers. Lawyer and Hotelier, Leiataualesa Jerry Brunt, has filed a complaint with the Police, accusing Tuipolotu Talatoka and Salaseini Serukeitoga, from Fiji, of removing items from his residence among other claims. The women no longer live there. They both strongly reject the allegations against them. Assistant Chief Immigration Officer, Siaopo Pese, told the Samoa Observer that the matter has reached their Office and that they have launched an investigation. He said the Fijian women want to return home but because of the investigation, they cannot. There is also a stop order issued on the Fijian women, he said. Until the conditions of the stop order are met, they cannot leave the country. He told the Samoa Observer they are aware the women were here to work and now they want to go home. According to Siaopo, he has met with Leiataua and the Fijian women. He added that until the Police investigation is completed, only then can the Immigration Office act. In the meantime, Siaopo confirmed that the Fijian women are in Samoa legally. The Samoa Observer understands that the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) is also investigating allegations that the women were working illegally. Makaleta Ono, the Secretary of the M.C.I.L. Chief Executive Officer, confirmed that Pulotu Lyndon Chu Ling have met the Managers of the work permit division to discuss the matter. But only he can respond, Ms. Ono told the Samoa Observer on the phone yesterday. Police Superintendent and Media Spokesperson, Auapaau Logoitino Filipo confirmed they are investigating the complaint lodged by Leiataualesa. I can confirm it is being investigated and that is all I can say on this matter, he said. The Fijian women came to Samoa to work, one as a housekeeper, the other a babysitter for the businessman. However, during Easter Week, the Fijian women left the residence of Leiataualesa after a falling out. Last week, the Samoa Observer received a letter from a family member of the Fijian women. Written by one Suliasi Sarosaro, it was addressed to Fijis Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama. Fijis Minister of Commerce Industry and Labour, Minster of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister of Women Community and Social Development were copied. Sarosaro claimed that the two Fijian girls had been working in Samoa without permits. The letter further claims that the women were victims of being exploited, poorly paid and being made slaves. They are requesting the assistance of the Fiji Government to talk to the Samoa Authorities to intervene into their case and help them come back to Fiji. Unfortunately, their former boss is holding on to one of the girls passport, the letter reads. Contacted for a comment, Leiataualesa rejected the claims. So the allegations of the two being exploited and poorly paid well you be judge of that and God be our witness. They had all the freedom in the world at home, he said. According to Lei'ataualesa, they understand that bringing and sponsoring any foreigner to come and work for you in Samoa is always a gamble and a risk. We have gone through some really great foreign workers that when it was time to say good bye, it was hard because they had become part of the family and our children have become so attached to them, said Lei'ataualesa in a letter to the Samoa Observer. We have also had a fair share of the unfortunate ones but we have always worked with them to find their replacements before they return back to their home countries. Of course we meet all their return airfare costs, etc. None of our past foreign workers have done what our recent housemaid and nanny did to our family at the start of Easter this year. Lei'ataualesa claims they have discovered an heirloom of their family is missing. An ie iniini, which was used as a dancing fine mat aged 36 years old, has gone missing. We continued to wait for their respective Police reports before filing both work permit and temporary residence. We understand the extra costs involved but we need it to make sure we are not hiring any person with a criminal record, he said. Asked for a comment, both Tuipolotu Talatoka and Salaseini Serukeitoga, strongly denied Leiataualesas claims. They said they would talk to the Samoa Observer about everything. THE LETTER FROM SULIASI SAROSARO Lot 60 Pilling Road Nasinu SUVA. 27th April 2017 The Office of the Prime Minister Government Building SUVA. Dear Sir, With grave concern, I am writing on behalf of my close relative of the two Fijian girls who are lured into working in Samoa by one Jerry Brunt, a lawyer, and his Samoan wife who owns Orator Hotel arranged by another Fijian working for them. Ms. Tuipolotu Talatoka and Salaseini Serukeitoga, left Fiji in April and September last year, and has been in Samoa until today without any work permit. Both have left their work place and are staying with one Assemblies of God Church Pastor Tomasi Yabia, at Moamoa for the last 2 weeks or so. They are victims of being exploited and poorly paid and it is evident that they are more like slaves in that workplace. With the support of some Fijians and the church, they have reported the matter to the Immigration, the Samoan Labour and still nothing eventuate so far. They are requesting the assistance of the Fiji Government to talk to the Samoa Authorities to intervene into their case and help them come back to Fiji. Unfortunately, their former boss is holding on to one of the girls passport. Suffice to say, Jerry has so much influence with the top people in the government that the girls file has been delayed or swept under the carpet. Both girls are desperate to return to Fiji as soon as possible. Tuipolotus mobile number is *******. They are also deeply affected by this traumatic experience in a place away from home and are in need of your assistance. I look forward to your favourable assistance. Vinaka Suliasi Sarosaro Mobile: ****** CC: The Minister of Labour The Minster of Foreign Affairs & Trade The Minister- Department of Women & Children LEIATAUALESAS RESPONSE From: Jerry Date: 30 April 2018 RE; Tuipolotu Talatoka Samisoni (Tui) and Salaseini Serukeitoga (Sala) Bringing and sponsoring any foreigner to come and work for you in Samoa is always a gamble and a risk. We have gone through some really great foreign workers that when it was time to say good bye it was hard as they had become part of the family and our children have become so attached to them. We have also had a fair share of the unfortunate ones but we have always worked with them to find their replacements before they return back to their home countries, of course we meet all their return airfare costs, etc. None of our past foreign workers have done what our recent Housemaid and Nanny did to our family at the start of Easter this year. Our recent foreign workers Tuipolotu Talatoka Samisoni (Tui) (originally Nanny) and Salaseini Serukeitoga (Sala) (originally Housemaid) are both Fijians. We brought Tui in to Samoa on or about . We asked Tui to find us another worker from Fiji and that is how we got Sala. Prior to Tui travelling from Fiji we advised her to bring her Police report with her as we will need it for processing of her papers. Medical Report we also do it in Samoa. Tui arrived and there was no Police report. We did the same thing with Sala and again Sala arrived with no Police Report from Fiji. We were advised that it would be sent to our mail box. To date both Tui and Sala have not provided my office with any Police report. My office have all their work permit applications (forms) and temporary residence forms completed but awaiting for Police report to confirm their employment with our family. Both Tui and Sala were allowed to stay on be employed with our family while we continue to work on processing both their work permits and temporary residence. We continued to wait for their respective Police Reports before filing both work permit and temporary residence. We understand the extra costs involved but we need it to make sure we are not hiring any person with a criminal record. We did not lure Tui and Sala to come and work for us in Samoa. A Fijian relative of Tui named Watisone (Kosa) Banuve who was a former employee of ours got into contact with Tui and asked her that we were looking for a nanny. Tui agreed to come and work for us voluntarily. She understood the work she was coming to do, to work as a Nanny to our 2 grown children. Tui talked Sala into joing her to work for our family when we asked Tui to look for a second girl. Tui has a gay relative named Suliasi Sarosaro whom we now found out is Salas brothers gay partner and that is how they are connected. Sala travelled to Samoa to work for our family voluntarily knowing fully well she was coming to Samoa to work as a Housemaid for our family. In January we returned back from NZ having had our new born son and we made it known to both Tui and Sala that Sala will be the Nanny of our baby while Tui the housemaid as we cannot have Tui as Nanny for our new born child because of her heavy smoking. Tui was paid a gross weekly salary of $288. Free accommodation, free electricity, free water, free medicine and free food valued at $220.00 weekly. So for Tui alone she was getting approximately $500.00 per week from when she arrived into Samoa in April 2017. In addition we paid approximately $900 for her one way airfare to Samoa. We even supplied her with clothes, including bras and panties, perfumes and body lotions to make her smell nice when coming to work, gave her presents, etc. She was treated like a family member. She stole money from our childrens piggy bank in her early days but we had forgave her and gave her another chance. Sala was paid an initial gross salary of $256.00 up to December 2017. When she was made Nanny to our new born son, she received an extra $100 from our parents which was unknown to us while we also gave her another extra $100. So in actual fact, Sala was paid $456.00 per week from January 2018 until she ran away for no reason. Sala also enjoyed free accommodation, free electricity, free water, free medicine and free food valued at $220.00 weekly. So for Sala she was actually getting $676.00 per week. In addition we paid approximately $900 for her one way airfare to Samoa. We even supplied her with clothes, including bras and panties, perfumes and body lotions to make her smell nice when coming to work, gave her presents, etc. She was treated like a family member. She had no reason to run away, just like how she confirmed she deeply regretted running away with Tui. So the allegations of them two being exploited and poorly paid well you be judge of that and God be our witness. They had all the freedom in the world at home. Tui and Sala have a house key and a key to our property gate, Is that an indication that someone is being treated a slave. They have a key to our gate and our home. Both Tui and Sala took off from our home at 3am on Easter Friday morning assisted by one Apisalome Bolaciri Lesumaimaleya. Only thieves escaped like this and at hours like this. We had dinner Thursday before Easter Friday, we were laughing and planned the long easter weekend with the churches involved. Little did our family know that such an act was to be carried our by Tui and Sala. We woke up on Easter Friday to prepare for Church and discovered they had taken and when trying to contact where they were, we received a cheeky text message form Tui that they were in the middle of nowhere lol. We had since discovered they had attempted to steal a fine fine mat (ie sae iniini) which was found from inside their room. This fine mat was underneath the bed used by Sala. In addition a second ie iniini which was used as a dancing fine mat aged 36 years old has gone missing. We are also interviewing a Fijian worker that received 8 bags from Tui to store at her place which one of them contained linens and towels and certain clothings now discovered to be missing from our home. The matter is with the police to investigate. We have a stop notice in place. Yes Tuis passport was given to us as we were processing her work permits and temporary residence. We have asked Sala for her passport also to give to us when its time to file her permits. Tui took off at 3am. She did not ask us to give back her passport as she was running away that night. We would have gladly organised her return if only she had said that she wanted to go back to Fiji, just like we did with our other Fijian workers. You can have your passport back as it is of no use to us anymore. The allegation that I have much influence over top people in government is a joke. Suliasi Sarosaro needs to shut his mouth up as he knows nothing. We do know for a fact he had received parcels and packages sent over by Tui from Samoa containing stolen items from our Family. So who are the real victims here. Them or Us. Leiataua Jerry Brunt. Two local businesses have received a huge financial injection in the arm to take their work to the next level. SkyEye Samoa and Noras Plantation Foods are winners of the Innovation Xchange Frontier Innovators programme, which recognises outstanding social enterprises delivering development impact for communities in the Indo-Pacific region. The Samoan businesses were among 15 outstanding Frontier Innovators awardees selected from over 700 applicants in the Indo-Pacific region. Each winner will receive up to A$100,000 (T$193,000) to help accelerate their businesses and broaden their development impact. Australian High Commissioner, Sara Moriarty, congratulated the award winners. She presented the awards to Tuiolotoa Lisa Karene for Noras Plantation Foods and Faasootauloa Sam Saili for SkyEye. I want to congratulate Noras Plantation Foods and SkyEye Pacific for their success in being selected as two of only 15 Frontier Innovators from across the Indo-Pacific, Ms. Moriarty said. Both businesses will receive funding support to scale up their businesses and contribute to social and economic development in Samoa. They are also receiving a programme of support, which has been tailored to meet their needs, and delivered by experts in the relevant fields. We want to see Samoas economy grow and see jobs created that will lift people out of poverty and we believe that programmes such as this - that benefit and enhance the services of the private sector - are a strategic way of achieving that goal. Being innovative plays a critical part in achieving that goal. We believe that innovation, finding new and creating solutions to problems holds the key to adapting to the rapidly changing development landscape and making an impactful difference on the lives of people, said the High Commissioner. Innovation can help deliver development solutions that are cheaper, faster and more effective. We recognise that government doesn't have all the answers, and we need to work with businesses and the private sector. Frontier Innovators is a great step towards harnessing the creative minds of innovators throughout our region to help deliver impact. The Frontier Innovators represent the first part of Australias A$15 million (T$29m) Scaling Frontier Innovation programme supporting social entrepreneurship in the Indo-Pacific. Scaling Frontier Innovation is an initiative of the Australian Governments Innovation Xchange, which shares learnings and brokers new connections so that innovation becomes intrinsic to the delivery of the whole of Australias aid programme. Australias Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop launched, the Innovation Xchange back in 2015. At the time, she said: Our innovation Xchange will drive new and exciting technologies, ideas and partnerships in our aid programme. We will take seemingly intractable development problems and come up with the best and brightest and most practical ways of solving them. More about Noras Plantation Foods and SkyEye in the upcoming editions of the Samoa Observer. Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi is scheduled to meet the President of France Emmanuel Jean-Michel Frederic Macron in New Caledonia. Tuilaepa, who is also the Chairman of the Pacific Islands Forum, left on Wednesday evening to attend a meeting. During his weekly media programme, Tuilaepa said he is travelling to New Caledonia in his capacity as the Chairman of the Forum. Climate change, he said, will be on top of the agenda with President Macron. Its disconcerting that with the melting of the ice in North Pole, it means the sea level will rise and half of Apia will be covered with the ocean. That is the impact the climate change and why these meetings are important, he said. Tonga will sink, just as well with Kiribati that is the most difficult issue we are facing as Pacific Islands with climate change. A vocal advocate of climate change, the Prime Minister continues to play a key role in the international fight to mitigate and reduce the effects of climate change. Free Comic Book Day sounds self-explanatory, but the name doesnt even hint at the range of events happening this Saturday. Expect a carnival atmosphere, said Jamie Newbold, whose Southern California Comics in Kearny Mesa will host more than a dozen artists, writers and actors. I had to turn away a hot dog cart and a bouncy house, said Newbold, who will start handing out thousands of free volumes at 10 a.m. We have people lining up as early as 8:30 or 9, like this is Disneyland. Held annually on the first Saturday in May, Free Comic Book Day is organized by Diamond Comic Distributors. Dealers across the nation including at least a dozen in San Diego County buy specially-produced issues to give away. At many shops, these new titles are augmented with selected copies of older comics that are donated to the cause. Advertisement Many of the titles, like this years DC Super Hero Girls and Angels Street Dog, are aimed at introducing young readers, hoping theyll develop the comic book habit. Vendors like Oceansides Panels Comic Book Coffee Bar also hope the event will attract adults who havent picked up a copy of Batman or Archie in decades. Well have huge discounts on a lot of our trade paperbacks, graphic novels and comics, said co-owner Aris Lavranos. And we have a list of 20 free titles. Panels is partnering with one of its Mission Avenue neighbors: the Oceanside Public Library, which will host separate competitions for costumes and storyboarding, the use of sequential sketches to tell a tale. Comickazes Liberty Station branch will host a demonstration of an online game, Reign of Cthulu, inspired by the works of horror writer H.P. Lovecraft. The 17th annual Free Comics Day, it may be the busiest. Well have about 2,000 people, said Newbold. We have boxes and boxes of stuff. Well have a lot of artists out here to talk to people. Theyll be there, rain or shine. While sunshine is preferred, May showers fell on San Diegos last two Free Comic Book Days. Well have a shave ice truck, Newbold said, so Im hoping it will be a hot day. Advertisement Participating stores can be found at www.comicshoplocator.com/StoreLocator. Smartphone sales fell 3 percent in the March quarter compared with a year earlier, as consumers in developed countries such as the U.S. and China balk at upgrading to more expense phones. Two reports out this week from industry research firms Counterpoint and International Data Corp. both highlighted a slowdown in smartphone sales, which was particularly pronounced in China. The drop signals that new features on the latest flagship phones arent enough to offset higher prices for many consumers. The abundance of ultra-high-end flagships with big price tags released over the past 12 to 18 months has most likely halted the upgrade cycle in the near term, said Anthony Scarsella, a research manager for IDC. It now looks as if consumers are not willing to shell out this kind of money for a new device that brings minimal upgrades over their current device. Advertisement To reverse the trend, smartphone makers may opt to release more affordable premium devices in the second half of the year to boost demand, said Scarsella. IDC found worldwide smartphone sales fell 2.9 percent to 334.3 million handsets compared with the same quarter last year. Counterpoint pegged the decline at 3 percent to 360 million handsets sold. Worldwide mobile phone market, Q1 2018 Samsung: 78.2m Apple: 52.2m Huawei: 39.3m Xiaomi: 28m Oppo: 24m Others: 113m Source IDC. A sluggish market is not good news for San Diego companies such as Qualcomm and PSemi, which supply chips and technologies used in handsets. The drop came despite new flagship releases from Samsung and Huawei in the quarter, as well as the first full quarter of Apples iPhone X, which had limited availability earlier. The waning smartphone demand is due to a slowdown in developed markets where replacement cycles are lengthening with overall smartphone features and design reaching its peak, said Tarun Pathak, associate director at Counterpoint. Advertisement Higher prices have been driven by Apple, whose iPhone X costs $1,000 or more depending on memory capabilities. While not at Apples level, other top-tier smartphone makers also have increased prices. It hasnt hurt Apple. The company posted solid first quarter results this week in part because it offset a soft 3 percent gain in iPhone sales with an 11 percent year-over-year increase in the average selling prices. Across all iPhone models, Apple took in $728 per phone in the quarter, up from $655 a year earlier, according to IDC. Advertisement Samsung was the top smartphone seller in the quarter at 78 million handsets, down 2 percent year over year. While Samsung got a boost from the launch of the Galaxy S9, the new flagship hit store shelves late in the quarter. China remains a tough regional market for Samsung, with shipments there declining more than 50 percent, according to Counterpoint. Apple ranked second at more than 52 million iPhones sold driven by a 32 percent year-over-year increase in China. Chinese brands Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo round out the top six. LG came in seventh with 11.4 million phones sold, down 23 percent. The drop stemmed from a revised smartphone launch strategy that resulted in no flagship device launch in the first quarter, according to Counterpoint. Advertisement More Chinese companies are expanding into emerging countries such as India, the Middle East and the rest of Asia to offset a sluggish domestic market, where first quarter smartphone shipments dipped to their lowest level since the third quarter of 2013. That trend is expected to continue, as smartphone penetration in emerging countries is still roughly 45 percent, said Pathak of Counterpoint. The average selling prices of smartphones is increasing in emerging markets, too, with users upgrading from entry-level to the mid-smartphone segment, said Pathak. Advertisement Business mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Advertisement Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 The White House said on Tuesday that the landmark Iran nuclear deal was made on "false pretense" in 2015, while the United Nations nuclear watchdog stuck to its former claim that no evidence has been found related to Tehran's nuclear development. "Iran's nuclear capability were far more advanced and far further along than they ever indicated," said White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders at a daily briefing. "The deal that was made was made on things that weren't accurate. And we have a big problem with that," Sanders added, referring to the pact inked by the Barack Obama administration with Iran in 2015 along with other world powers. Sanders's remarks echoed U.S. President Donald Trump's recent harsh words about the 2015 deal, which has been widely seen as providing "clear and tangible" benefits by limiting Iran's nuclear program. Trump set a May 12 deadline to decide whether to pull the United States out of the deal. Differing from the White House accusation, the UN nuclear agency on Tuesday reiterated that no evidence was found in Iran relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device after 2009. "The same report stated that the Agency had no credible indications of activities in Iran relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device after 2009," the International Atomic Energy Agency said in a statement, adding that its consideration of this issue was closed. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised presentation, disclosed files allegedly obtained by Israel's intelligence agency from Iran's "secret nuclear archive," saying the files proved that Iran has been secretly working on nuclear weapons. Sanders told reporters at the briefing that the United States has had discussions with Israel. "We were notified prior to their announcement being made," Sanders added. The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Tuesday dismissed the allegations made by Netanyahu, calling them lies that were aimed at influencing Trump's upcoming decision. "The ridiculous propagandist presentations of the premier of the Zionist regime (of Israel) is one of the latest shameful and worthless shows about Iran's nuclear program," said Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi. CARLSBAD First Friday Breakfast this week at Sheraton The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce hosts a First Friday Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday at the Sheraton Carlsbad Resort & Spa, 5480 Grand Pacific Drive. Tickets are $34 to $45. Each attendee is assigned to a table of eight business professionals. Michelle Caspole, director of client development for Assessment Specialists Inc., will discuss a multifaceted approach to hiring and talent management. Call (760) 931-8400. ESCONDIDO Advertisement Womens Wellness Night set for May 17 The Escondido Chamber of Commerce and the Cryo Warehouse co-host a Womens Wellness Night from 5:30 to p.m. May 17 at 1553 Simpson Way. Also co-sponsoring are NCEPT and Dana Frames Photo & Design. The evening includes a pelvic floor workshop, raffle prizes, wine and appetizers. There will be optional cryo-facials, massage and more. Early bird sign-up: members, $8, nonmembers, $10 (includes one drink, appetizers and a raffle ticket). Price at the door is $15. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/ECOC-WWN. Email info@escondidochamber.org. Chamber to hold Business After 5 mixer The Escondido Chamber of Commerce hosts a Business After 5 mixer from 5 to 7 p.m. May 10 at Cypress Court, 1255 N. Broadway. Visit a host business, network with other chamber members and enjoy a cocktail and hors doeuvres. Bring business cards. The event is free for members and first-time guests, and $20 for nonmembers. Registration is required; call (760) 745-2125 or visit escondidochamber.org. FALLBROOK Chamber holding First Monday Coffee Fallbrook Chamber of Commerce members, guests and visitors are invited to network at First Monday Coffee at 8:30 a.m. Monday at the chamber office, 111 S. Main Ave. Call (760) 728-5845. OCEANSIDE Advertisement Board of directors appointee named The California Association of Harbor Masters and Port Captains has appointed Ted Schiafone, Oceanside Harbor Division Manager, to its board of directors. The organization works to exchange best practices on construction, maintenance and management, formulate policies to encourage harbor and marina expansion, and keep members informed of legislative action that affects the marina industry. Visit harbormaster.org. VALLEY CENTER SunRiser networking event set for Friday Advertisement This months Valley Center Chamber of Commerce SunRiser, from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday at the chamber office, 29115 Valley Center Road, is hosted by the Western Days Committee. Enjoy a free networking opportunity with your community and chamber members. Visit vcchamber.com. VISTA County assessor, SDG&E rep to speak Join the Vista Chamber of Commerce from noon to 1:30 p.m. today at 127 Main St. as it explores issues from the local to the federal level and everything in between. San Diego County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk Ernie Dronenburg gives a county tax update, and SDG&E representative Katelin Scanlan discusses implementation of Time of Use rates. Free; all welcome. Optional lunch will be provided for $7. Call (760) 726-1122 or email info@vistachamber.org. Advertisement Please send items to laura.groch@sduniontribune.com at least 10 days before events. Advertisement laura.groch@sduniontribune.com Dawn Stone, a nutrition services specialist at the Escondido Union School Districts Carilyn Gilbert Education Center, has been named as the San Diego County Classified School Employee of the Year for 2018. She was chosen by a panel of her peers and is now a candidate for California Classified School Employee of the Year honors in the Child Nutrition category. Besides eight years with the Escondido Union School District, Stone recently accepted the role of regional coordinator for all San Diego County chapters of the California School Nutrition Association. She also is co-chair for the San Diego Farm to School Task Force. Many, but not all, school districts choose classified employees of the year and teachers of the year. Not all nominees go on to compete at the county and state level. The San Diego County teacher of the year will be named in September. Advertisement These North County districts have chosen Teachers of the Year and Classified Employees of the Year: Bonsall Unified School District: Valerie Latimer, second grade, Bonsall Elementary; Miguel Carranza, daytime custodian, Sullivan Middle School and Bonsall High School. Carlsbad Unified School District: Denise Connelly, kindergarten teacher, Hope Elementary School; Sherri James, library media technician, Kelly Elementary School. Del Mar Union: Jennifer Munoz, STEAM+ science specialist, Carmel Del Mar; Marco Guajardo, human resources assistant-benefits. Encinitas Union School District: Graciela Cueva, teacher of the year, Capri Elementary; Santos Herrera-Bazzarte, classified employee of the year, Maintenance and Grounds Department; Leslie Wright, certificated administrator of the year, coordinator of ASPIRE/Enrichment programs; Nathan Short, classified employee of the year, director of information technology, district office; Denise Donar, certificated employee of the year, district nurse. Escondido Union School District: Stephanie Glanz, Rose Elementary, and Danielle Del Rosario, Rincon Middle School; Classified: Dawn Stone, nutrition specialist. Escondido Union High School District: John Williamson, mathematics, Escondido High School; Mary Garcia, registrar, Escondido High School. Fallbrook Union Elementary School District: Guillermo Acevedo, fourth grade, Maie Ellis Dual Language Elementary; Ernesto Garcia, groundskeeper. Advertisement Oceanside Unified School District: Teachers: Lisa Gill, third grade, Palmquist Elementary, Lisa Farrell, second grade, Mission Elementary. Classified: Melissa Sievers, administrative assistant, Laurel Elementary; Nathan Huggins, systems analyst, technology department. Poway Unified School District: Teachers: Ana Collins, special education, TK-fifth grade, Valley Elementary School; Shantel Raquel, first and second grade, Del Sur Elementary; Katie Wu, English, Westview High School. Classified: Shelley Porter, library media technician, Sunset Hills Elementary School; Michele Cass, administrative assistant II, Alternative Programs. Ramona Unified School District: Nick Jordan, construction teacher, Montecito High School; Kathy Savage, secretary, Olive Peirce Middle School. San Diego County Office of Education: Glady Whitehead, third grade, Monarch School; Kymm Wolfe, Foster Youth Coordinating Services and Homeless Education Services team. Advertisement San Dieguito Union High School District: George Stimson, physics and AP physics; Roberta Blank, administrative assistant, Carmel Valley Middle School. San Marcos Unified School District: Angela Castro, teacher, Adult Transition Program; Heather Cooper, office manager, La Costa Meadows Elementary School; Courtney Goode, principal, Mission Hills High School, Administrator of the Year. San Pasqual Union School District: Jen Michalski, third grade; Sue Davids, Kids Club director. Solana Beach School District: Marilyn Tajalle, kindergarten, Solana Santa Fe Elementary; Mark Garman, district office. Advertisement Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District: Howard Fraser, social studies, Oak Glen; Aida Hernandez, Migrant Services aide and community liaison. Vista Unified School District: Janet Robinson, teacher, Monte Vista Elementary; Matt Stuckey, teacher, Vista High School; Kirby Sand, teacher, Roosevelt Middle School; Michelle Bell, executive assistant to the superintendent; Rebecca Richards, special education assistant, Temple Heights Elementary; Charles Schindler, principal, Rancho Buena Vista High School. Advertisement laura.groch@sduniontribune.com Spirits were high Wednesday as more members of the Central American caravan about one-third of the roughly 150 who made the harrowing trek entered the United States Wednesday. But as their month-long journey to the United States comes to an end, those seeking asylum are preparing for a different kind of journey: one through the U.S. immigration system. Our trip isnt over, said Jose Coello, 17, of Honduras as he walked into the U.S. from Tijuana Wednesday morning. This is just the next step. During an asylum process that takes months, even years, to complete immigrants from the caravan can expect to undergo interviews and screenings by multiple federal agencies, stints in private detention centers, and make complicated legal arguments without the help of a lawyer. Advertisement 1 / 15 Staying away from the drizzle a young girl colors inside her tent at the Chaparral border. | Alejandro Tamayo A The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 15 Elvia from Honduras with her 1 year old Fernanda. The baby crawled out of the fence area and her mother calls her back with a piece of cake at the Chaparral border. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 15 In the center with a white/green hat Alex Mensing coordinator of Pueblo Sin Fronteras speaks to a group of Central Americans. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 15 In the center Ariana 2, years-old with her mother Sarah in the black from El Salvador paint. Activate Labs a non-profit organization brought art supplies to the Chaparral border. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 15 Light rains have hit the area overnight, tents and tarps cover the area for the Central Americans seeking asylum Chaparral USA/Mexico pedestrian border. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 15 A man passes by the Central Americans seeking asylum area. He heads towards the pedestrian crossing. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 15 Rusty 8, from Guatemala hangs on the fence. The sign reads Welcome, there is hope. On the left Monica Curca founder of Activate Labs, the non-profit who brought the art supplies. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 15 Paola 12, from Guatemala in pink hat paints a butterfly. Activate Labs a non-profit organization brought art supplies to the Chaparral border. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 15 Los Angeles resident Mary Lizardi with her friend Andres Vidaurre came to donate goods to the Centra Americans at at the Chaparral border. They left LA at 5:30am and arrived in Tijuana at 10:30am. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 15 A woman starts to serve food for the Central American asylum seekers. She calls for other to start forming a line. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 15 A young boy named Oscar is getting checked up by a Drs at the Chaparral border. Mobil medical units provided by the Mexican government arrive at the site. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 15 Several Central American asylum seekers are getting checked up by a Drs at the Chaparral border. Mobil medical units provided by the Mexican government arrive at the site. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 15 Children and adults paint on the ground. Activate Labs a non-profit organization brought art supplies to the Chaparral border. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 15 Alejandro (on the left) from El Salvador and Jose (on the right) from Honduras paint an Honduras flag. Activate Labs a non-profit organization brought art supplies to the Chaparral border. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 15 The Central American asylum seekers sleep underneath the tarps and shades provided for them by donations. | Alejandro Tamayo The San Diego Union Tribune 2018 (Alejandro Tamayo / The San Diego Union-Tribune) Caravan members have said they wont rest until every single one of them is in the United States. Pueblo Sin Fronteras caravan leaders plan to go further, by having members of their legal team follow up with immigrants in the U.S. We are committed to standing with them as best we can, said organizer Leo Olsen. Early Wednesday, Pueblo Sin Fronteras leaders gathered in the middle of their makeshift tent city to call out the latest names of asylum seekers with the help of a loudspeaker as they huddled under an umbrella to shield them from morning showers. Dozens of immigrants surrounded Alex Mensing, one of the organizers, as he called out each name. Some ran up to the middle of the encampment in excitement, shouting, Yes, thats me. The chosen were given five minutes to gather their belongings and head into the San Ysidro Port of Entry for processing. All of them planned to claim asylum. Among them was Katerina Enamorado, a 22-year-old from Honduras traveling with her 1-year-old daughter. Enamorado was feeding her child when her name was called. She was so excited that she ran to Mensing without putting on her shoes and still holding her childs baby food. Im so tired but Im even more excited, she said while packing her belongings. I hope to work and give my daughter a better life. Advertisement Jose Coello, 17 of Honduras, was serving food to other immigrants when his name was called. It took him a few seconds to realize it meant he was moving on. Coello joined the caravan at the Guatemalan border. During the trip, members of the caravan had become a family, he said. This is something beautiful, unforgettable, he said. We are a family and we wont be happy until the last one of us gets through. But they also know the process is just beginning. Statistics show that people from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have higher asylum denial rates than those of other counties. Not having an attorney stacks the odds against them even more. Advertisement Unlike criminal court, immigration court does not guarantee people the right to an attorney. Those who cannot afford a lawyer or are unable to find pro-bono representation have to make their own case before an immigration judge. Caravan members will likely spend time in one of three Southern California immigration detention centers. Generally, asylum seekers spend most, if not all, of their time in facilities run by private prison companies contracted with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. People who present themselves at the border in San Diego often go to Otay Detention Center. If there is no room, they are transported to Adelanto Detention Facility, the Imperial Regional Detention Facility, or even further. Advertisement There are also temporary holding facilities that immigrants from the caravan call the ice box because of how cold it can get inside. Daisey Guardado, 40, of Honduras, arrived in Tijuana Sunday with the caravan. She hopes to be let into the U.S. any day now and organizers told her to begin preparing her two daughters, 12 and 15, for the trip. They say we should make sure our kids are healthy before we go into the United States because we dont know what awaits us, she said. They told us to give them medicine because when we go to the ice box they can get sick. U.S. border officials did not initially let members of the caravan enter because of insufficient space and resources. Central Americans from the caravan grew concerned thinking the U.S. would not let them in. Advertisement But by Wednesday afternoon, 49 had been allowed into the U.S. since Sunday, officials said. About 100 still waited in the tent city. To deal with an already existing backlog of cases, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday that 18 supervising immigration judges are being assigned to hear cases in immigration courts near the border, both in person and through video teleconferencing. The department also said that 35 new assistant U.S. attorney jobs have been created to help prosecute improper entry, illegal re-entry and immigrant smuggling in the four states bordering Mexico. The caravan gained widespread attention when President Donald Trump criticized it as an example of weak immigration laws. Crews from major news networks have spent days in Tijuana covering the immigrants and following groups as they enter the United States. Advertisement Caravan organizer Olsen said other asylum-seeking immigrants will continue to head to the United States. We always say, La Lucha Sigue. The fight continues, Olsen said. The fight for migrant rights never really ends until everyone has been afforded them. As the Central American caravan shrinks, a secondary tent city made up mostly of Mexican immigrants fleeing cartel violence continues to grow. Some members from that group have waited more than a week to get into the United States. On Wednesday, approximately 50 were allowed in but about 150 were still waiting with more joining the waiting list each day. Advertisement More donated tents, clothes and food arrived mostly from American volunteers who read about the caravan on the news and decided to send some help. Because the caravans tent city is already at capacity, they gave the donated tents to members of the Mexican group, which is now larger than the caravans encampment. Members of both groups ate McDonalds chicken sandwiches that one of the donors brought. As the Mexican group grows, some Central Americans who did not travel with the caravan are joining their waiting list. Space is so compact that families share tents. Members of the Mexican group were also optimistic Wednesday as more of them continued to enter the United States. Advertisement Salvador Sixtos, of the Mexican state of Michoacan, held out hope he would be admitted in the next few days. I dont feel envy for not being among the first, the 71-year-old said. He arrived at the border on Sunday with his wife and their adult son and daughter. As he mingled with other Mexican immigrants in his group Wednesday afternoon, he expressed discontent about the amount of attention and help the caravan received, saying it was a bit unfair because those in his group were in their home country. Advertisement Later, he acknowledged both groups were in the same situation. As human beings we are equal and we have the same value and we have to respect the process, he said. I wish them good luck and ask god for the same. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter Danny Green is having a banner year. In March, the resourceful pianist took home Best Jazz Artist honors at the 2018 San Diego Music Awards. His trios current tour includes a Friday evening concert in Balboa Park to celebrate the release of their audacious new chamber-jazz album, One Day It Will. Ten compositions strong, it teams Green, bassist Justin Grinnell and drummer Julien Cantelm with a string quartet that features San Diego Symphony violinists Kate Hatmaker and Igor Pandurski. Advertisement How well will the carefully calibrated music on One Day It Will translate to the concert stage? You can find out Friday when Green and his colleagues perform the album live with violinist Isaac Allen, violist Travis Maril and cellist Erika Erenyi. Danny Green Trio Plus Strings: 8 p.m. Friday. Panama 66 in James S. Copley Auditorium, San Diego Museum of Art, 1450 El Prado, Balboa Park. $15 (general admission), $25 (front row reserved seating). (619) 696-1966. brownpapertickets.com/event/3389519 george.varga@sduniontribune.com Twitter @georgevarga Dancers from California and Mexico will compete during this annual festival, celebrating this traditional Latin American dance combining folk culture and ballet. Performers will compete in three categories for prizes and titles, in front of a number of respected judges from Mexico as part of this Cinco de Mayo celebration. Children and adult performances will alternate throughout each day. There will also be live music and games, rides and crafts for children. Plus, theres a free concert at 6 p.m. Saturday featuring Lupillo and Don Pedro Rivera. Fiesta de Reyes Cinco de Mayo Folklorico Festival: 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Sunday. Old Town San Diego State Historic Park, 4002 Wallace St., San Diego. Free. (619) 297-3100. fiestadereyes.com Art should be an experience. Thats the concept behind the return of No Rules Except ... opening May 11 at The New Childrens Museum. The installation of 40 mattresses and 165 handmade, silk-screened tire cushions by artist Brian Dick is a reprisal of one of the museums first exhibitions when it reopened 10 years ago this month downtown. (Formerly known as Childrens Museum/Museo de los Ninos San Diego, it had closed in 2002 for the construction of a new building and re-emerged in 2008 with a new look and a new name.) Its a fitting way to celebrate the museums 10th anniversary. It embodies the institutions goal of exhibiting art thats engaging to children without explanation and it has been the museums most requested work. No Rules is a kid-friendly takeoff of the groundbreaking work of Allan Kaprow, an artist and professor at the University of California San Diego, who died in 2006. His 1961 Yard re-created a junkyard at a New York gallery with old tires that people could wander over or throw around. Advertisement It will be an immersive space, exciting to be in, and absolutely safe, said Dick, who currently lives in State College, Pa. Mattresses will be stacked against the walls to be used as climbing ramps, and the soft foam tires can be stacked, climbed on or into, or thrown. The physicality of the piece is the experience, and youre inventing while youre there, Dick said. What Im making is visual, but people intuitively use it the way it should be used. There is no wrong way to play in there. The sound is very muffled. It can be a quiet, intimate space, and it can be a rowdy, loud space, depending on the activity. Tomoko Kuta, the museums deputy director since 2011, said people keep asking about the mattress room, so it seemed the perfect choice for the anniversary. The new version will be wheelchair-accessible and have a separate area for toddlers. This type of installation, which allows children to play creatively, is at the heart of the museum and represents a shift in its mission since 2008. The museum which traces its roots to La Jolla, where it opened as the Childrens Museum in 1983 started as a contemporary art museum for families. It was truly stunning, but too austere, Kuta said. But while its still focused 100 percent on art, she said, now its a childrens museum with contemporary art. It is the collaboration between the museum and artists to create one-of-a-kind spaces that makes it stand out from other childrens museums. Its difficult to fuse play with art, Kuta said. But, she added, the artistic subtleties are important. Works of art that are unique and unusual provide the discovery that we had when we went outside to play. The 50,000-square-foot, three-level space designed by Rob Quigley houses about 10 installations at a time, some small and intimate, others grand. Advertisement Creating The Wonder Sound with artist Wes Sam-Bruce, which opened in June 2016, was a pivotal moment for the museum, Kuta said. The two-way conversation about the project between museum staffers and the artist serves as a model for installations and how they connect to the community. The Wonder Sounds labyrinth of rooms, nooks and ladders was created with 18,000 hand-cut wooden shapes and then layered with objects, words, stories, pictures and even an original language. The 30-room structure, Kuta said, still takes my breath away. The museum has switched from closing for five weeks for a complete turnover of exhibitions to changing installations one at a time once they are worn out. We have become so much part of some peoples family that closing for an extended period wasnt a good business model, said Judy Forrester, who has been executive director and CEO since the end of 2015 and came on board to focus on the business side of the museum. That new approach, along with a greater focus on marketing, seems to be working. Advertisement Weve seen a 40 percent attendance growth in the last two years, Forrester said. The museum had 269,951 visitors in 2017 (including school groups and private parties), nearly twice as much as 10 years ago, and on a busy day as many as 2,000 visitors can come through the door. Almost half of last years $4.1 million operating budget was from attendance revenue admissions, memberships and private functions. Community outreach is also an important component for the museum. Free art classes, which are offered in conjunction with community partners, are available throughout the county and focus on underserved groups. We want to make sure we are accessible to everyone, Forrester said. Kuta said the museum is planning on doing more of what we have now, expanding into underutilized classroom spaces if needed. For the next five-year exhibition plan, we want to make sure we have the facilities to accommodate the growth, Forrester said. Advertisement Part of the museum will always be dedicated to creating art. The hands-on experience includes painting a 1950s truck on the patio or creating a clay figure that can be taken home. The Innovators Lab focuses on STEAM learning with projects such as light-up greeting cards. We try to demystify science at an early age, Forrester said. Its helpful for the next generation. And while the goal is to have adults interact with children, Kuta said, the museum recognizes that sometimes adults just want to chill. The important thing is that children play together. Advertisement The one thing I love and Im so proud of is that its a gathering place for people from all walks of life, backgrounds and religions, Forrester said. Its a little bit of an undiscovered gem. No Rules Except When: Opens May 11 Where: New Childrens Museum, 200 W. Island Ave., downtown Advertisement Admission: $14; $10 military and over 65; children under 1 are free Phone: (619) 233-8792 Online: thinkplaycreate.org Schimitschek is a freelance writer. Is it true that the English and Americans are two peoples separated by a common language? Absolutely. Consider the word walk. When I, your basic American, think of that word in an English setting, I think of walking to the local pub. I would not use that word to describe a 190-mile journey with a Himalayan mountains worth of elevation gain, much of it through sheep pastures. Whichever word you choose, the Wainwright Coast to Coast Walk is a manageable adventure, filled with beautiful scenery, interesting people and millenniums of history. The first thing to understand about the Walk is that it is not a single trail, which is actually the point. In 1973, Alfred Wainwright published A Coast to Coast Walk, which described how he pieced together a ramble across open access lands, on rights of way, bridle paths and roads from St. Bees Head on the Irish Sea to Robin Hoods Bay on the North Sea coast. What emerges from directions in guidebooks and talks with walking shop owners is a mosaic laid down in layers over the millenniums. The base layers include paths used in the Neolithic ax trade and Roman roads. After William conquered in 1066, stone walls were erected to mark property and contain livestock. Over the centuries, land was cultivated, fences built, roads paved. Eventually, national parks were created. Through all of those layers of history and obstacles, the right to walk from place to place remained. The walk includes treks through pastures and cropland, such as this grain field in the Vale of Mowbray. (Carl Meuser ) Advertisement For traversing the mosaic every recommended packing list includes a compass and 1:25,000 scale Ordnance Survey (OS) maps. The paths that are visible are most often narrow and resemble wildlife trails. (And yet, at key moments, one does find stone steps up a steep hill or netting on a slippery levee.) Most importantly, while one might see a particularly clever Englishman successfully navigating with just a map, a guidebook is indispensable for most. With all of the crags, riggs, pikes, becks, gills and stiles, even an earnestly written guide can read like Jabberwocky. I recommend Martin Wainwrights (no relation to Alfred) The Coast to Coast Walk. An editor for The Guardian, his writing is clear, economical and accurate. You will also note that all recommended packing lists frequently use the words waterproof and rainproof. Follow the list. Walkers themselves fall into three broad categories. The first is comprised of backpackers who carry their belongings and sleep in tents. The second group carry their belongings from B&B to B&B. This past summer, my wife, Lisa, and I were members of the third group, those who pay a company to arrange B&Bs and a porter service to carry ones luggage from town to town. We used Contours Walking Holidays, www.contours.co.uk. We told them how many days we wanted to spend on the whole adventure, and they made the arrangements. Truth be told, they recommended against our plan for walking the trail in 11 days. And still, we persisted. The time we allotted was a compromise between my wife, who could not abide the idea of traveling to England and NOT spending a couple of days in London, and me, who was neurotic about the time I was spending away from work. The tour company was correct, as was my wife. When planning your trip, its important to understand time estimates. When my wife and I estimate a hike in an American national park, our formula is to cut the recommended time in half and try to better the reduced time. We almost always succeed. England is different. If the tour book says a segment takes seven to eight hours, plan on eight solid hours. A full two weeks would have made for an even more pleasant trek. The segments of the walk fall into two broad categories walks in the park and connectors. Connectors are sections between national parks that cross farmland and pass through farmsteads and villages, the landscape being the English equivalent of the flyover state. Dont discount these sections. We met wonderful people, saw beautiful ruins and even ate good pub food. I kid you not. Speaking of pubs, my beer recommendation anywhere along the walk is simple: Order the local beer. It will be good, and you will be appreciated. If you do as most walkers and ramble west-to-east (with the wind), your first national park will be the Lake District. I doubt that I am alone in thinking of Europe as a manicured continent, where every bloom and blade of grass is thoughtfully placed. The Lake District is not like that. Once one climbs a short way into the hills, the land is rugged and unkempt and long sections feel remote. The most spectacular spot in the Lakes, and the highest point in the walk, is Kidsty Pike. While it felt isolated and ancient, we saw a variety of people come and go in all directions, from a small pack of blokes, to a single walker trekking the Roman road called High Street, to a fell (off-road) runner loping across the rough, soggy grassland. After a lovely connector, the route climbs to Nine Standards Rigg and the watershed of the Pennines, where heaven divides the waters between east and west. After the boggy Rigg, one moves into the bucolic Yorkshire Dales National Park. The sunlight there is a gentle yellow. The stone walls are moss-covered, and the barns and homes are built from local stone. The grass and hay and trees are lush and impossibly verdant. Arguably, the prettiest spot on the Coast to Coast Walk is the point where Reynoldson and Foul Sikes empty into Whitsundale Beck just above the village of Keld. (Carl Meuser ) Of course, green vegetation requires rain. Though you might be soaked, keep your eyes and mind open to moments of sublimity. For us, after our wet slog across the Rigg, a burst of sunshine hit at the point where Reynoldson and Foul Sikes empty into Whitsundale Beck just above the village of Keld. It may not be the prettiest spot on earth, but for me it was the prettiest spot in the 190-mile walk. Advertisement The North York Moors National Park is big sky country, and we hit the jackpot with our walk in August. The heather was in full bloom, and the purple blossoms lit up the high, rocky ground, while the valleys below were a patchwork of sheep pastures and tree-lined streams. This is also the section where an American would be most at home, as large stretches have wide, maintained walking trails. Heather blankets the North York Moors with dainty purple flowers in August. (Carl Meuser ) Beyond the sense of accomplishment, why do it? For me, what made it worth the trouble was the eccentricity of it all. The Coast to Coast provides the opportunity to experience from eye-level how history and geography shape the character of a nation, dismantle any stereotype of a monolithic island, and meet a range of charming individuals. We first heard of the walk in an advertisement for a tour in which one could hike sections of the walk, presumably leaving out the boring bits. An abbreviated version, though, would have missed the point of it all. Among those walkers who meet along the trail is a sense of communal respect that one would miss by walking only selected sections. The English walk enough to understand the commitment that such a journey entails, and we didnt meet a single person who wasnt warm and engaging when they learned what we were doing. Advertisement Further, walking the entire route opens one up to pleasant surprises, even during unpleasant conditions. The best for me came at Ravenseat, a sheep farm on the western edge of the Dales. After three hours of slanting mist, my wife wanted to stop for the cream tea advertised at the entrance to the farm. It was, well, lovely warming ourselves by drinking tea with a small group of strangers around a picnic table inside an old, wooden garage, while eating homemade flapjacks prepared by the owner of our B&B in Kirkby-Stephen. You cant pay a tour company to set up such happy happenstances. Yes, our feet were chewed up by the end, and, yes, we did get lost a time or 10 (we only went off the map once). No, we really didnt appreciate what we were in for when we started. And that, really, was the point of it all. As my wife observed on our second day, the Coast to Coast Walk isnt about the 190 miles, its about making your way. Meuser is a freelance writer who lives in San Diego. Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class David Holland has been named the top enlisted person in the entire U.S. Coast Guard. A member of the elite Coast Guard Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, the petty officer beat out tens of thousands of other Coasties to earn the title of Enlisted Person of the Year for 2017. Its a great reflection on both him and his peers in the team, Cmdr. William L. Arritt, the commander of Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, said by phone. The team is headquartered at Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego. Its composed of 133 officers and enlisted personnel, with about 100 of them routinely deploying overseas on maritime drug enforcement interdiction missions or to train foreign sailors and coast guardsmen. Advertisement A member of Law Enforcement Detachment Team 103, Holland distinguished himself last year during multiple overseas deployments and when responding to the wildfires that swept Southern California, according to the Coast Guard. Its pretty significant as an achievement but a complete surprise to me, Holland, 30, said by telephone. I didnt expect it at all. When I got the phone call, I was shocked. The Coast Guard lauded Holland for three successful deployments to the Eastern Pacific Ocean aboard American and Canadian vessels last year to combat transnational organized crime, crediting him with detecting, intercepting and seizing narcotics worth $45.8 million on the street. He sped deliveries of water and supplies to both first responders battling the blazes and civilians fleeing the fires. I did that in my spare time, Holland said. The call went out that they need supplies at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, for people and for the animals they were rescuing. On a 37-day deployment to the Eastern Mediterranean and Aegean Seas, he supported Special Operations Command Europe and Naval Special Warfare Unit 2 on joint exercises with SEAL Team 10 and elite units of the Hellenic Coast Guard. He also was named the Coast Guards 2017 District Eleven Enlisted Person of the Year and received the Superior Achievement Award from the National Defense Industrial Association Special Operations/ Low Intensity Conflict Division. A native of Hershey, Pennsylvania, hes a junior pursuing an undergraduate degree in criminal justice at American Military University, too. Advertisement Holland enlisted in 2007 and served aboard the Massachusetts-based patrol boat Grand Isle and on the counter-terrorism Maritime Safety Security Team in Seattle before joining the Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team in 2014. Every mission Im on, Im always with a team, he said. Im never alone. He married his wife, Natalie, during a busy 2017, too. In September at Liberty Station, Holland said. I shipped out after that. Advertisement On Thursday, he left on another narcotics interdiction mission. Advertisement Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal cprine@sduniontribune.com UPDATES: An earlier caption on this photograph has been corrected to indicate that Maritime Enforcement Specialist 1st Class David Holland is the Coast Guardsman wearing a helmet. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in North Korea on Wednesday. At a time when the inter-Korean summit just concluded and the peninsula is geared up for the North Korea-US summit, Wang's visit is heavily speculated upon. Some claim that China is worried about being marginalized and Wang was dispatched at this special moment to make diplomatic efforts. Wang's trip to Pyongyang first and foremost strengthens bilateral communication, implementing the decision reached by leaders of the two countries when they met in Beijing in March. That decision was propelled by dramatic change on the Korean Peninsula and driven by the restoration of the China-North Korea friendship. The theory that China is being marginalized on the peninsula is a shallow attempt to manipulate public opinion. It is not a professional analysis, but an expression of dissatisfaction toward China. Beijing values concrete results more than international opinion. The meeting between Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Chinese president, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was kept confidential until it was concluded. But Seoul, for its own political purposes, created much hype about the inter-Korean summit. US President Donald Trump has started claiming credit for the Kim-Trump summit before it even starts. If the US-North Korea relationship is the ceiling of North Korea nuclear issue, then Beijing-Pyongyang relations are the bottom line. Not only geographically linked to the Korean Peninsula, China is a political mainstay for North Korea and the biggest trade partner of both Koreas. China is essential to the UN framework for addressing the North Korea nuclear issue. Without China's participation, it would be impossible to reach an agreement on denuclearization and permanent peace on the peninsula. Developing Beijing-Pyongyang traditional friendship not only conforms to the interests of both countries but is also important to propelling the peninsula toward a permanent peace. China is a staunch supporter of North Korea in defending its legitimate interests in the process of denuclearization. A friendly China-North Korea relationship is also one of the stable sources for North Korea's strategic confidence. China's supervision of denuclearization of the peninsula and the establishment of a peace-building mechanism is also of substantive significance. Beijing is willing to see the success of the inter-Korean summit and North Korea-US summit. To be precise, it is what China expects from the development of the situation on the peninsula. The changes in the peninsula situation since the beginning of this year are in line with China's interests. It's narrow-minded to speculate that China feels uncomfortable. Peace on the peninsula cannot be realized without the staunch support of China. Chinese society sincerely hopes that the peace process on the peninsula will become irreversible. The Chinese people support the further development of friendly cooperation between China and North Korea. After Pyongyang announced a halt to its nuclear tests, the Chinese people released new goodwill toward Pyongyang. North Korea has also shown enthusiasm for developing traditional friendship with China. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met Song Tao, head of the international liaison department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China twice recently and visited injured Chinese tourists after a bus crash on a North Korean highway. These interactions make people optimistic about the prospects of bilateral relations. New Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner proved Wednesday that hes a quick learner even without an education background. Like countless public officials before him, he appeared at an important event his first speech and news conference with a photogenic background of students. His message that he would put those students first seemed heartfelt if hardly original. Nor was it a huge surprise that he pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. As an introduction, Beutner, a former investment banker who made a fortune on Wall Street, offered little flash, but that was partly the point. Im about deeds not words, he said when asked about his next steps. The way he said it was low key, more vow than boast. Advertisement To state the obvious, Im an unconventional choice, unconventional by lots of measures, Beutner, a former deputy mayor and L.A. Times publisher, said in prepared remarks at Belmont High School. But the district is at a crossroads. We face some tough issues. But I believe we can move forward together and address these issues to unlock the enormous potential the district holds. His remarks Wednesday were about setting the right tone: reminding his supporters that he was tough enough and smart enough to do the job well and suggesting to skeptics that he could work fairly and productively with everyone. Leaders of the teachers union express deep skepticism. They associate Beutner with charter schools, which are part of the public system but privately operated and mostly non-union. Charters compete with L.A. Unified for students, and Beutner has been a board member of, and donor to, charter organizations. I think he will treat the school district as a business, which is his background, and education is not a business unless youre trying to privatize it, said Arlene Inouye, secretary of United Teachers Los Angeles. The current school board majority was elected with major financial support from charter-school advocates, who also pushed for Beutner as superintendent, though he has said little publicly about charters. Hes also going to push the idea, Inouye said, that the school district is broke no raise for employees and that weve got to cut resources from school. Beutner did speak about the financial problems, though on his first day out he offered no specific remedies. Hard choices are just that: hard, he said. But our school board is capable of making hard choices. It was not easy to choose me, and now we have more hard choices to look at. Advertisement The district has a healthy reserve this year, but the worry is what could happen several years out with rising costs locked in and future revenue not likely to keep pace, barring increased state funding. The Board of Education selected Beutner by a 5-2 vote Tuesday, passing over interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian, who has spent her career in the L.A. Unified School District, rising from teacher to senior management. Beutner, 58, said there are core skills that translate from his mostly business resume, including building a team, being open to learning, becoming informed by data and holding himself and others accountable. The new schools chief will harness such skills for students, said Robert K. Ross, head of the nonprofit California Endowment, who also spoke at Belmont. Advertisement He is a truth seeker and truth teller, Ross said. New L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner talks to students at Belmont High School on Wednesday as school board President Monica Garcia looks on. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ) Part of what I need to do is recognize I can learn, and I will learn, the new superintendent said during a brief question-and-answer session. And I have to surround myself with people who know how this district works and know more about what happens in the classroom than I do. At Belmont, Beutner also talked briefly about his life growing up attending public schools, working as a young man in low-wage jobs, having a teacher for a mother. Making it big in high finance but then turning to public service after he broke his neck in a near-fatal mountain biking accident. Advertisement New Los Angeles Unified leader Austin Beutner hugs California Community Foundation President Antonia Hernandez after he made his first remarks as superintendent at Belmont High School in Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ) The board selected Beutner through a confidential search process that began after then-Supt. Michelle King announced her retirement for health reasons in January. The two board members who voted against Beutner asserted after the vote that the search was a sham, set up from the beginning to deliver the job to Beutner. At Belmont, board President Monica Garcia said Beutner was the right pick if we believe we can do better than right now. Beutner said he would work with his critics, including doubting teachers. Advertisement Each of us start this in the same place, which is: Its about the kids. And I think we can find common ground, he said. The magic happens in the classroom. Its my job to support [teachers]. Its my job to make sure they have the resources and the training they need to do their job, which is inspire and educate the kids. New Los Angeles Unified Supt. Austin Beutner, right, walks the Belmont High School campus with school board President Monica Garcia, left, and Vice President Nick Melvoin after making remarks. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ) howard.blume@latimes.com @howardblume Advertisement UPDATES: 7:00 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details from Beutners appearance and additional reaction to his appointment. This article was originally published at 2:55 p.m. The city of Los Angeles accused top drugmakers and distributors Thursday of fueling the nations opioid epidemic by engaging in deceptive marketing aimed at boosting sales of powerful, addictive painkillers such as OxyContin, methadone and fentanyl. In a 165-page lawsuit filed in federal court, the city sued six of the largest manufacturers and the top three distributors of prescription painkillers, alleging violations of federal laws in creating a public nuisance, negligence and misrepresentation. Additionally, the city said the drug companies violated the anti-racketeering laws typically used to target gangsters. For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly said Mallinckrodt spokeswoman Rhonda Sciarra said Los Angeles officials had wrongfully targeted the company. City Atty. Mike Feuer said that prescription drug manufacturers and distributors encouraged doctors to prescribe potent painkillers for chronic, long-term pain and downplayed the addictive nature of the drugs. The drugmakers also failed to report suspicious sales, he said. Feuer said that although Los Angeles has not been hit by the opioid crisis as hard as rural areas have, the city still feels its effects. Advertisement I will not let Los Angeles become the next West Virginia or Ohio when it comes to the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, he said at a City Hall news conference. Feuer said he was filing the lawsuit to hold the drug firms accountable for driving the opioid epidemic and the significant impacts of their reckless and irresponsible business practices. Los Angeles is joining hundreds of municipalities across the country in an ongoing effort to make the drug companies pay for their roles in fueling an opioid addiction crisis. A federal judge in Ohio has consolidated more than 350 lawsuits filed by various cities, counties and states against makers and distributors of opioid painkillers in an effort to reach a global settlement. Mayor Eric Garcetti said more people died in L.A. last year from overdoses than in homicides. The rise of the opioid crisis can be seen on the sidewalks, under bridges and on skid row, he added. People become addicts on the streets of our city, Garcetti said. We see the number of tents beginning to multiply around Los Angeles over the last few years. We know ... the reason many stay out there is their addiction and their inability to break that cycle. L.A.s civil lawsuit names Purdue Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Endo Pharmaceuticals, Cephalon, Insys Therapeutics and Mallinckrodt. The complaint alleges that the companies borrowed from the tobacco industrys playbook by using false and deceptive marketing and business practices to boost opioid sales. The firms sought to shift the way in which doctors and patients think about pain, specifically, to encourage the use of opioids to treat ... the masses who suffer from common chronic pain conditions, the suit says. Advertisement The lawsuit also targets the so-called middlemen wholesale distributors including McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and AmerisourceBergen saying they failed to report suspiciously large and frequent orders of prescription pain pills as required by state and federal law. The Healthcare Distribution Alliance, the national trade association representing wholesale distributors, including the three named in the suit, said distributors are not to blame for the addiction epidemic. The idea that distributors are responsible for the number of opioid prescriptions written defies common sense and lacks understanding of how the pharmaceutical supply chain actually works and is regulated, John Parker, senior vice president of communications for the alliance, said in a statement. Those bringing lawsuits would be better served addressing the root causes, rather than trying to redirect blame through litigation. In a statement, a Mallinckrodt spokeswoman said the company is deeply committed to regulatory compliance and maintains industry-leading controls around the sale of its opioid products. Advertisement Rhonda Sciarra, the Mallinckrodt spokeswoman, said the firm sells generic, non-promoted opioids and is limited in its manufacturing to strict quotas established by the Drug Enforcement Administration. Additionally, the company is a strong proponent of prescription drug monitoring programs, Sciarra said. Doris Saltkill, a spokeswoman for Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, which acquired Cephalon in 2011, said the company is committed to the appropriate use of opioid medicines and recognizes the impact of opioid abuse on communities. Among the steps the company is taking to address the problem, we are developing non-opioid treatments that have the potential to bring relief to patients in chronic pain, Saltkill said. The lawsuit cites a 2016 Times investigation showing that Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, knew a MacArthur Park doctor prescribed more than 73,000 OxyContin pills, with a street value of nearly $6 million, in four months. The manufacturers and distributor suspected that the doctor was running a corrupt pharmacy and peddling prescription painkillers, but they did not cut off her supply, The Times reported. Advertisement As a result, 1.1 million pills had spilled into the hands of Armenian mobsters, the Crips gang and other criminals, the investigation found. Purdue, Janssen, Endo and Insys did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Thursdays lawsuit. Twitter: @AngelJennings angel.jennings@latimes.com. Advertisement UPDATES: 4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction and additional details from the lawsuit. This article was originally published at 1 p.m. The state of California is suing an El Cajon gym over allegations that it denied a transgender woman access to the womens locker room there for almost a year. The state Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which enforces state civil rights laws, sued Crunch Fitness on Jamacha Road in mid-April, alleging intentional discrimination against Christynne Wood on the basis of her sex, specifically her gender identity and gender expression. Wood, 61, said the gym management declined her requests to use the womens locker room for nearly a year beginning in September 2016. She filed a complaint with the state, which started an administrative case to address the matter in April 2017. Mediation failed, and last month the state sued the El Cajon gym and John Romeo, one of its owners. Advertisement Wood said that even though the gym ultimately granted her access to the womens facility in September, the suit was terribly necessary. What happens when the next transgender man or woman shows up and doesnt have access to the awesome resources that were available to me? Wood said in an interview. She said she never paraded around naked in either locker room and dressed in private stalls. The suit states that in early 2017, she asked if could use the womens facility, but was told no when she said she had not had sex-reassignment surgery. She was also told that one of the owners was not comfortable with her using the womens area. A representative from the Crunch Fitness location in El Cajon said the gym respect(s) the rights of all our members, and we live by the philosophy of no judgments, and we would be happy next week to talk to the media regarding this matter. Crunch Fitness corporate offices, located in New York, provided the following statement: Our philosophy at Crunch is no judgments, and we promote positive body image and self-esteem in a fun atmosphere. All of our gyms are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for all members. The club from which the complaint arose is an independently owned and operated franchise and we cannot speak to the circumstance of the allegations. Access for transgender people to sex-segregated facilities has become a national flash point. In 2016, North Carolina passed a law that included a requirement that people use the restroom of their gender at birth. The following year, the state repealed a portion of that bill, including the bathroom requirement, after the NCAA and other groups said it would boycott the state because of the measure. According to the lawsuit, Wood is entitled to $264,000 under the law a minimum of $4,000 for each of the 66 times she used the gym but was not able to use the womens locker room from September 2016 to mid-September 2017. Advertisement On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California and Wood, through her private attorneys, filed a request to join the states lawsuit against the gym. ACLU attorney Amanda Goad said the move to join in the suit is to get justice for Christynne Wood, and protection for future Crunch Fitness gym members and trans folks in all sorts of other contexts. She said the states Unruh Civil Rights Act has been interpreted to give people the right to use facilities appropriate to their gender identity. Trans women are women, and they are to be treated as such, Goad said. Wood has been a member of Crunch Fitness for 11 years, joining shortly after she underwent angioplasty surgery. She said she went on to lose 144 pounds, and credits the gym water aerobics in particular with helping her lose weight. Advertisement Wood started her transition from male to female in 2016, and continued to use the mens locker room. The suit alleges that in September of that year, a man walked up to her in the locker room, said Hello, man, smiled and grabbed his genitals. Wood fled, feeling threatened. You are kind of vulnerable when you are in the locker room, Wood said. It should be a place where you should be relatively at peace. The lawsuit states that Wood reported the incident immediately. In response, she was told that she should be able to use the womens locker room if she presented the gym with a doctors note. She did so before the end of the month. The note stated it was important that Wood be able to use the womens locker room. A few days later, one of the gym owners reportedly said Wood could use the platinum mens locker room, reserved for members who pay for the premium area, the suit said. Advertisement Wood said that she used that locker room, and that friends escorted her through the mens locker room so she could safely access the more secluded area. In February 2017, she legally changed her name and gender. She took the decree from the San Diego County Superior Court to the gym, and asked if she could use the womens facility. The suit states that she was asked whether shed had sex-reassignment surgery and was denied her request when she said she had not. Wood took her complaint to the state in April 2017. The states lawsuit alleges that in September, Wood was dressing in the mens platinum locker room when a man sat down next to her and mumbled an expletive and a slur regarding sexuality. Advertisement Wood notified the gym of the incident on Sept. 14. The following day, the management began to allow her to use the womens locker room. In February, mediation between the state and the gym failed. The state filed the civil suit in April. Kevin Kish is the director of the states Department of Fair Employment and Housing, which brought the suit. He said Wednesday that Woods case is not an isolated incident. Its a thing a lot of people are confused about, but its clear under the law, he said. Advertisement Kish also said the law does not allow people to ask for a doctors note or proof of medical intervention, whether it be surgical or hormones or something else. Kish said he understands that some people are uncomfortable with sharing a sex-segregated facility such as a locker room with a transgender person. But he said the reality is that transgender people find themselves in danger. We are balancing discomfort with danger, he said. This case is an illustration of that. Wood said she is still subjected to occasional rudeness in the womens locker room, but at least I am no longer afraid. Advertisement Aside from monetary damages for Wood, the state wants the court to order the gym to cease any discrimination against Wood or other members on the basis of sex, and allow her and other members to use the sex-segregated locker rooms with which the person identifies. The state also wants the gym to post the courts orders and provide at least two hours of civil rights training to employees. Advertisement teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT Advertisement UPDATES: 9:45 a.m.: This article was updated to include a statement from Crunch Finess corporate offices. The article was originally published May 2. A Scripps Ranch teenager was charged Thursday in Juvenile Court with murder in the shooting death of his father in the familys Scripps Ranch condominium. Through his attorney, the 15-year-old entered a denial of the charges, which include an allegation that he used a gun. No details of Sundays deadly shooting were revealed in court. San Diego Juvenile Court Judge Aaron Katz ordered the teen to remain in Juvenile Hall, saying that the Mira Mesa High School sophomore presents a danger to the community. The teens mother, brother and extended family members were in the courtroom for the brief hearing. Advertisement Deputy District Attorney Mary Loeb asked Katz to issue a protective order for the body-worn camera evidence, but she did not specify what the footage was or when and where it was taken. According to police Lt. Anthony Dupree, the boys brother called 911 shortly before 8:40 p.m. to report that his father had been shot. Police identified the victim as 45-year-old Thanh Pham. Officers found Pham lying on a bedroom floor, bleeding from at least one gunshot wound. They provided medical aid, but Pham died at the scene. Police looked for the teenage suspect in and around the condo but could not find him. About 1 a.m., roughly 4 hours after the shooting, someone called police to report spotting the teen on Scripps Poway Parkway. Police found and arrested him there. Images of the arrest, shot by San Diego News Video, show a police officer taking a gun from the boys pocket. Officers also found two boxes of bullets and at least two ammunition clips in his backpack. Police have not said what may have led to the shooting. There was no mention during the teens court appearance of whether prosecutors want to try him as an adult. Advertisement In 2016, California voters approved a change to the law that requires all cases involving defendants under 18 years old to start in Juvenile Court. If prosecutors want to try a minor as an adult, its up to a judge to decide. And juveniles can be tried as an adult only in certain types of cases, including murder. Advertisement teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT Alicia Munoz, who represents District 3 on the San Diego County Board of Education, is seeking re-election in June, and shes facing a challenger from San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce president Eric Lund. Because there are only two candidates with no need for a runoff the election will be decided in the June primary election, not the November general. Munoz, 65, is a former English as a second language teacher at Cuyamaca College, and currently serves as the schools dean of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. She lives in San Carlos and was first elected to the countywide Board of Education in 2014 to represent southeastern San Diego County schools. Despite having more than two decades of education-related experience, Munoz said her first four-year term was like being water hosed with information, and a new trustee would have the same learning curve, regardless of background. Advertisement Now that shes accustomed to board issues, responsibilities and practices, she hopes to funnel more money toward districts with a higher number of English-learning students, since their performance on new state tests significantly affects state and federal funding. Im not serving with sights on another political office, Munoz said. Ive hit my stride and I would like to stay to really make a difference. Munoz has a masters degree in English from San Francisco State University and a bachelors in comparative literature from University of California, Berkeley. Lund, 59, of El Cajon, has more more than 17 years of experience in education. He currently teaches business classes at Grossmont and Southwestern colleges. Lund said his No. 1 priority is to allocate more funding for special education, which has grown increasingly more expensive in recent years without additional state and federal funding to offset the difference. The extra money would most likely come from the federal government, Lund said, and he has spoken with Rep. Susan Davis about issue. Lund said he believes in school choice and giving power back to the students and parents in the county. I am all about customer service and the customers are our students and their parents, Lund said. Board members need to be more responsive to parents and kids needs to make sure were adequately training the next generation. According to his website, Lund wants to push out the special interest groups that control the current board. Hes been endorsed by San Diego County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, Republican Assemblyman Randy Voepel, El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells and state Sen. Joel Anderson. Advertisement In the 2014 election, Munoz was supported by the American Federation of Teachers Local 1931. The union, which represents faculty members in the San Diego and Grossmont-Cuyamaca community college districts, pumped more than $185,000 backing and opposing candidates. Munoz is no longer an active member of the union, since her new administrative position as dean at Cuyamaca College is not union-eligible. She said union affiliations have never affected her voting and she has always made decisions based on whats right for San Diego students. I can tell you that I vote according to my conscience, Munoz said. I vote for what I think is the right thing to do, based on the information I have. Thats not special interests. Advertisement The board of education positions are non-partisan, but Munoz is a Democrat and Lund is a Republican, voter records show. The County Office of Education, which employs about 1,120 people, provides curriculum support and financial oversight for the regions 42 school districts. If elected, board members serve a four-year term, and receive a monthly stipend of $560 along with medical, dental vision and life insurance while serving. The agencys budget is about $571 million per year. Board members, with their role reviewing petitions for countywide charters and deciding on appeals from charters rejected by local districts, have been seen as increasingly important in the effort to expand charters, resulting in hundreds of thousands of dollars being poured into previous races. According to Steven Baratte, a spokesman for the California Charter Schools Association, school board candidates up for election in June have yet to receive the organizations support. Advertisement CCSA advocates and our local PAC have interviewed candidates for the San Diego County Office of Education Board races. However, they have not made a public endorsement for either district, Baratte said by email. As the race continues, they will evaluate whether or not to make a public endorsement. Advertisement Data Watch Videos On Now Data Point: Media Mergers 2:58 On Now Jaywalking infractions in San Diego 1:24 On Now Video: Finding the recipe for the perfect burrito 2:09 On Now Video: Where marijuana is legal in the United States 0:53 On Now Report: Correctional system fails women 1:22 On Now San Diego students have larger classes On Now Hierarchy of cuisine prices On Now Pay phones: Is that still a thing? On Now 2016 border apprehensions On Now STD trends, San Diego County Contact Lauryn Schroeder via Twitter or Email. The San Diego region is poised to receive $311 million in funding from the states new gas tax. Much of the fund will go to large-scale projects overseen by the San Diego Association of Governments or SANDAG. The money represents a major infusion of funds, SANDAG Chair and Del Mar Councilmember Terry Sinnott said in a press statement. With more than $311 million recommended for award construction can start in the coming months to deliver transportation system improvements, including adding carpool lanes, improving rail lines and building biking and walking paths. California Transportation Commission staff recommended the award to help pay for major projects in the region. The commission will vote on final approval when it meets in San Diego on May 16 and 17. Advertisement Projects to receive funding: $195 million for the North Coast Corridor Program, which includes adding express lanes to Interstate 5 and coastal rail and transit upgrades $82 million for the California-Mexico Border System project, aimed in part at improving waiting times at the border $10.5 million for the Sorrento to Miramar Double Track project to improve rail service along the corridor The recommendations from commission staff also included roughly $24 million for other local transportation projects such as $12.5 million for the city of Escondido, $6 million for the Port of San Diego and $6 million for the city of San Diego. The gas tax is projected to bring in about $5.4 billion a year for everything from roads to public transit to sidewalks and gutters. Republicans hoping to place a repeal of the gas tax on the November ballot recently turned in more than 940,000 signatures to the Secretary of States office. At least 585,407 must be verified as valid for the measure to be put to a vote. SB1 narrowly passing the Legislature with the needed two-thirds vote last year, raising the tax on gasoline last November by 12 cents a gallon and 20 cents a gallon for diesel. The bill also increased registration fees for cars and trucks from $25 to $175 depending on vehicle value. Owners of electric vehicles will be charged a $100 registration fee starting in 2020. Advertisement Twitter: @jemersmith Phone: (619) 293-2234 Email: joshua.smith@sduniontribune.com Nearly 160 members of the Central American caravan have entered the United States, organizers said Thursday morning. About 70 immigrants, the largest group single group so far, walked into the U.S. to claim asylum about 9 a.m., said organizer Gina Garibo. When Garibo announced the news to Central American immigrants sleeping in a tent city a few feet away from the U.S. border, the immigrants chanted, Si se pudo, or Yes we could. As of Wednesday night, 88 immigrants had crossed into the U.S. to claim asylum. Thursday mornings group brought the total to 158. Advertisement We are very happy today, said Biron Hernandez, 27 of Honduras who has been with the caravan since the Guatemala-Mexico border. Hernandez expected the rest of the asylum seeking caravan to enter the U.S. by Friday. Organizers say there are about 70 Central Americans left waiting to claim asylum. But that number could change because organizers need to figure out exactly how many people plan to claim asylum in the U.S. and how many have chosen to stay in Mexico. The caravan arrived in Tijuana Sunday. About 150 slept on the ground in the tent city while 75 slept in migrant shelters, for an estimated total of 225 or so, Garibo said. PYONGYANG, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China supports and congratulates on the successful completion of the inter-Korean summit last month, which has brought beneficial opportunities for a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. He made the remarks when meeting with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during his two-day visit to the country. Kim crossed the inter-Korean border on April 27 and met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom. On the border village, the leaders pledged to end the Korean War and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the Panmunjom Declaration. China supports an end to the state of war on the Peninsula, and backs the DPRK's decision to shift its strategic focus on economic development and the resolution of the DPRK's legitimate security concerns during the process of denuclearization, Wang said. He noted that with full considerations and resolute decision on the Korean Peninsula issue, the move from the DPRK side has brought positive changes to the peninsula's condition. China is willing to maintain communication with the DPRK over the issue and advance coordination between the two countries, he added. Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to Kim, Wang said that the historic meeting between Xi and Kim during Kim's visit to China in late March has opened a new chapter for the two countries' relations. The two leaders reached a series of significant consensuses during the meeting, jointly planned and guided bilateral ties to enter a new stage of development, he said. For his part, Kim spoke highly of China's efforts and contributions to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and said that the DPRK is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China. Achieving the denuclearization of the Peninsula is the firm position of the DPRK side, Kim said, adding that the DPRK is willing to restore mutual dialogue and establish mutual trust and explore the root causes of the threat to peace in the Peninsula. As for the two countries' ties, Kim said it is the valuable legacy left by leaders of elder generations of both countries, adding that consolidating and improving the DPRK-China friendly cooperation is a firm strategic policy of the DPRK. The DPRK will work together with China to jointly promote the bilateral ties and friendship to a new and higher level, he added. Wang kicked off his trip to the DPRK on Wednesday at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. The two diplomats held discussions on the two countries' relations and the Peninsula issue. Christopher Nolan wants to show me something interesting. Something beautiful and exceptional, something that changed his life when he was a boy. Its also something that Nolan, one of the most accomplished and successful of contemporary filmmakers, has persuaded Warner Bros. to share with the world both at the upcoming Cannes Film Festival and then in theaters nationwide, but in a way that boldly deviates from standard practice. For what is being cued up in a small, hidden-away screening room in an unmarked building in Burbank is a brand new 70-mm reel of film of one of the most significant and influential motion pictures ever made, Stanley Kubricks 1968 science-fiction epic 2001: A Space Odyssey. Yes, you read that right. Not a digital anything, an actual reel of film that was for all intents and purposes identical to the one Nolan saw as a child and Kubrick himself would have looked at when the film was new half a century ago. Advertisement How did this come about, how is it even possible? Nolan promises to explain all, but first he wants to show that reel. Through the door to share the vision come some of the people who made it possible: Ned Price, vice president of restoration at Warner, Vince Roth, technical director at the post-production facility FotoKem, and color timer Kristen Zimmermann. When you run a reel of 2001, Nolan says with a laugh, everyone wants to watch. Its easy to see why. A movie still from Stanley Kubricks 1968 science fiction film 2001: A Space Odyssey starring Gary Lockwood. (Warner Bros. Pictures ) The reel Nolan has chosen comes early on, showing the wheel-shaped Space Station 5 majestically rotating above Earth impeccably choreographed to the fluid sounds of Johann Strauss The Blue Danube Waltz, and its one of the most familiar in film history. But seeing the deep colors of the rich, supple images in a 70-mm print made from new elements taken from the original camera negative is frankly breathtaking. (Moviegoers eager to share this experience do not have long to wait. After its May 13 debut in Cannes, 2001" opens May 18 for limited runs in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago and San Francisco, with Hollywoods Arclight scheduling virtually round-the-clock screenings starting at 9 a.m.) I must have watched that scene 20 times, the director says when its over, clearly affected, and every time the space station enters the shot, it moves me. The emotional impact this film has is direct more than empathetic: you travel through the Star Gate yourself, you are in there with it. Advertisement 2001" has been one of Nolans touchstone films since childhood. When I was 7 my dad took me to see it at Londons Leicester Square, a very big theater with 70-mm projection, he recalls. I remember the scale of it, how larger than life it was. To sit in a theater and be taken on that kind of journey, its a screening Ive carried with me. Nolan had been working in this very Burbank room last year, minding his own business and making sure the colors of the 70-mm prints of Dunkirk would be matched by the 4K version used for a Blu-ray release, when Kubricks film reentered his life. Ned Price offered to show me some reels from a print made from the original 70-mm camera negative, and they were amazing, he recalls. He told me that in 1999 Warners had made interpositives from the original camera negative, which Vince Roth had very carefully repaired, but they never had the funding to take the next step to make an internegative and strike new prints. (An interpositive is a type of film stock thats essential in going from an original camera negative to a final print.) Advertisement Nolan knew that Warner had put more than 100 70-mm projectors into theaters nationwide to show the film version of Dunkirk, and that those screenings had been extremely successful. Gary Lockwood as Dr. Frank Poole and Keir Dullea as Dr. David Bowman in 2001: A Space Odyssey. (Warner Bros. Pictures ) I went to Warners and said Lets start making prints and rerelease this, Nolan says. It wont be everywhere, more like the old road show releases. A generation of younger people who didnt get to enjoy film the way we did is hungry for it, they have an appreciation of analog. Warner agreed and Nolans Dunkirk cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema turned out to be between projects and able to help. Advertisement It felt, Nolan says, like the planets were aligning. What most excites Nolan about these new 2001" prints is that they are a completely photochemical process, which is why we chose to call this the unrestored version. The 1999 interpositive had been made with Kubricks original notes. None of what we did was interpretive, we didnt correct mistakes, we didnt say maybe he would have liked to do it this way. We used our technical expertise to make sure we got the best prints possible. Its no secret that Nolan is a passionate believer in shooting and projecting film. But hes hardly an enemy of digital, seeing it rather as a tool in the tool kit, not a be all and end all. Advertisement For restoring films that are horribly damaged, absolutely. For exhibition, its very consistent, like McDonalds, it raises the standards of the worst theaters. But you lose the magnificence of the best possible exhibition. When you digitize you clean things up that dont necessarily bother people, but you lose a tremendous amount of information I call emotional information. Christopher Nolan Nolan considers film to be still the best analog for the way the eye sees that has ever been produced. Except for the last 10 years, the entire history of cinema has been done exactly the same way, photochemically, and its a great passion of mine to maintain this knowledge and expertise, to hang on to that infrastructure. When you digitize you clean things up that dont necessarily bother people, but you lose a tremendous amount of information I call emotional information. Advertisement There is a natural tendency to mistake sharpness for added information but with the photochemical process you have a direct physical relationship with the original light that came through the lens. The same shadows the filmmaker saw are the ones you watch. Nolan and his team worked for four months on 2001, but he says calling it work doesnt feel quite right. It was fun, I consider it a great privilege. I was in the middle of writing a script but whenever I was looking for a reason to mess around I came here. The amazing thing about this film is that it sustains multiple viewings. I dont know if the other movies I love would sustain this level of focus. Its a radical piece of work, you almost have to go back to D.W. Griffith to find something that new and unprecedented. I was a fan going in but this process gave me a much greater appreciation. The film grew stronger and stronger the more I watched it. Advertisement A pause. That must be the definition of a masterpiece. Nolan works alongside Dutch-Swedish cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema. (Roko Belic ) kenneth.turan@latimes.com Authorities made a gruesome discovery early Thursday when they found human remains in a structure that burned following an explosion that capped an hours-long attempt by officers to coax a barricaded man from the North Haven property. A woman, who sources say was held hostage for several days but had escaped, contacted North Haven police about 2:30 p.m., bringing authorities to her Quinnipiac Avenue home. Officers spent several hours trying to get the womans estranged husband out, but as the standoff progressed, a barn on the property exploded, touching off a massive fire. Officials believe the man was inside the barn when it exploded. They said remains were found in the structure, but have not identified the individual as they await an autopsy by the office of the chief medical examiner. The SWAT team members broke a window on the building and, as they did, they heard the man yell something loudly before the explosion, sources said. It was full of potentially flammable materials such as chlorine containers for the pool. Advertisement They do not yet know the cause of the fire. The state police, New Haven and FBI bomb squads were combing through the rubble Thursday morning looking for clues. Police are not sure how the wife managed to escape from the house on Wednesday afternoon at about 2:30 p.m., but she ran to a neighbor, who called 911. Sources said that the man had held her inside the house for several days, possibly going back to Saturday. By the time the barn exploded, six hours after the woman contacted authorities, North Haven police had been joined by a regional SWAT team. Police officials said Thursday morning that five East Haven officers, three North Haven officers and an officer from Branford all members of the SWAT Team were hospitalized. They all suffered injuries consistent with the blast, North Haven Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said. Just visited @YNHH to meet some of the SWAT team members who responded to the #NorthHaven standoff and thank them in person. pic.twitter.com/twtcn5tXVp Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) May 3, 2018 Officials with Yale-New Haven Hospital said they received a total of nine patients following the explosion. They were all in fair condition Thursday morning. By midday, East Haven police confirmed three of their officers had been released from the hospital, but two remained with serious injuries. First Selectman Michael Freda said he, Police Chief Thomas McLoughlin and chaplain Father Michael Santiago visited with the officers and their families at Yale New Haven Hospital Thursday afternoon. Two, he said, had been released before they arrived. He said those still in the hospital were positive and upbeat. Advertisement These men are true heroes, Freda said. They were the frontlines who went into that barn that exploded. Governor Dannel P. Malloy released a statement on the explosion, saying: Our hearts go out to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line, and we wish those injured a safe and speedy recovery. Yesterdays tragedy serves as a stark reminder that domestic violence is a serious issue that must continue to be addressed and remain at the forefront of the national conversation. Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman was quick to shine a light on the womans actions. In a statement, Wyman said: I applaud the woman who reported this incident, she showed tremendous bravery and courage. Her actions may have saved lives, including her own. The blaze burned through the night and firefighters were still working Thursday morning to extinguish some of the structures on the property. Advertisement From a neighbors home looking at the remains of the home on Quinnipiac Ave (Mikaela Porter / Hartford Courant ) Sources say the woman was severely beaten. She was being treated at a hospital, but officials declined to comment on her condition. The husbands fate remains unclear early Thursday, although Trooper Kelly Grant, a state police spokeswoman, said shortly before 2 a.m. that she believed the man was in the barn when it exploded. Police said that he was barricaded alone at the time they responded. The woman living in the home filed for divorce in New Haven Superior Court from her husband on April 18, saying the marriage had broken down irretrievably. She did not elaborate. He was scheduled to answer in court on May 8. The couple were married on Sept. 24, 1977, in New Haven. Advertisement According to the court filing, she was not seeking alimony and asked the court for a fair division of property and debt. The filing said for now they were representing themselves and that there were no children under 23 in the household. The home address she listed in the file was 385 Quinnipiac Ave., North Haven. Neighbor John Marotto said that, immediately after the blast, I heard them screaming. They got blown away, back from the garage. I saw a fireball come off the back of the garage, and then the roof was gone. The side facing our house was totally gone. It was unbelievable the noise, unbelievable. I thought I was in a war zone. Marottos property abuts the property where the explosion occurred. The police response began Wednesday afternoon when the domestic violence incident was reported to North Haven police, said state police Master Sgt. Marc Gelven. The man then barricaded himself in the home, and police and a regional SWAT team responded.Freda said police negotiated with a man for a couple hours. Advertisement Over the course of a couple hours our officers were trying to coax the gentlemen out and defuse the situation, Freda said. Four to six of our officers were searching the back barn area when there was an explosion in the barn back there. Four were taken to hospital with abrasions and possible concussions. Freda said he was not aware of any previous incidents involving police at the home. One neighbor described the man living in the Quinnipiac Avenue home as a recluse who was confrontational and irrational. They said he put signs up around his property ordering people to stay off and at times littered his yard with with different ceramic toilets and sinks, and filled 55-gallon drums with what neighbors did not know. He worked as a plumber. After arguments with neighbors he was known to blast music in the direction of the neighbor the argument had been with. He would run his lawn mower into the night when neighbors were having parties. Advertisement State police SWAT teams responded to the scene after the explosion and were assisting North Haven police. The state police central district major crime squad took over the investigation late Wednesday and was being assisted by state police fire and explosion investigators, the FBI and ATF. One of the aspects of this investigation is determining how this fire started, Grant said. Detectives will also be probing what led up to the explosion. Police could be heard calling out over loudspeakers to the man. Police were still trying to contact the man and firefighters were battling the blaze near midnight. Trooper Kelly Grant providing an update after the explosion on Quinnipiac Avenue in North Haven last night. https://t.co/7Sv9dvlXaB Mikaela Porter (@mikaelaporterHC) May 3, 2018 Advertisement Please come out the front door, were here to help you, police called out. If you do not come out immediately you will be subject to arrest. Come out, we want to help you, but you have to come out. Police evacuated homes adjacent to the property and asked other neighbors to remain in their homes. What we saw last night was a large group of first responders trying to solve a very tumultuous situation, Freda said. The property where the explosion occurred is on Quinnipiac Avenue near Orient Lane. Earlier Wednesday night North Haven police had urged people to avoid the area. Advertisement Anthony Laudano, who lives a short distance from the house, said the explosion broke plates in his kitchen, shattered a window and knocked pictures off the walls. I honestly thought it was an airplane crashing, it was so loud, Laudano said. Ive lived in this neighborhood for 20 years. This is the craziest thing Ive ever experienced. I mean, this is a quiet neighborhood. In his eight years as first selectman, Freda said Wednesday nights explosion was an anomaly and the largest incident hes seen. He said that section of town is considered a quiet, residential area. Advertisement This was an anomaly, you dont see this in North Haven, Freda said. As municipal leaders we recognize there is a level of anxiety, turmoil, tumult that exists in our communities and what we never know is the trigger of those wide range of emotions that emanate from peoples daily lives, Freda added. Courant reporters Matthew Ormseth and Dave Owens, and correspondent Naedine Hazell contributed to this report. The woman at the center of a domestic violence incident that led to an explosion and fire in North Haven, Conn., Wednesday night had been held hostage for several days before alerting authorities, according to law enforcement sources. The woman contacted Wallingford police about 2:30 p.m., bringing police to her home, where officers worked for several hours to get the womans estranged husband to come out. During the standoff, a barn on the property exploded, touching off a massive fire that eventually spread to the house, sources said. By the time the barn exploded six hours after the woman contacted authorities, North Haven police had been joined by a regional SWAT team. Six police officers were injured when the barn exploded. The massive fire was still burning early Thursday morning. The woman, who sources said had been severely beaten, was able to get out of the house and notify police. She was being treated at a local hospital. Her condition was not known. The husbands fate was unclear early Thursday, although Trooper Kelly Grant, a state police spokeswoman, said shortly before 2 a.m. that she believed the man was in the barn when it exploded. Advertisement As many as eight police officers were injured when the barn exploded and at least six were sent to Yale-New Haven Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries, North Haven Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said. Neighbor John Marotto said immediately after the blast, I heard them screaming. They got blown away, back from the garage. I saw a fireball come off the back of the garage, and then the roof was gone. The side facing our house was totally gone. It was unbelievable the noise, unbelievable. I thought I was in a war zone. Marottos property abuts the property where the explosion occurred. Yale-New Haven Hospital said it was treating seven patients from the incident in its emergency room. The police response began Wednesday afternoon when the domestic violence incident was reported to North Haven police, said state police Master Sgt. Marc Gelven. The man then barricaded himself in the home and police and a regional SWAT team responded. North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda said police negotiated with a man for a couple hours. Sources said a woman who lives in the home filed for divorce last month. Freda said the husband barricaded himself inside the house with his wife; he was not sure if there were any children in the home. Over the course of a couple hours our officers were trying to coax the gentlemen out and defuse the situation, Freda said. Four to six of our officers were searching the back barn area when there was an explosion in the barn back there. Four were taken to hospital with abrasions and possible concussions. Freda said he was not aware of any previous incidents involving police at the home. Freda wondered whether the barn was rigged to explode. It sounds almost like it was a booby-trap type of explosion, Freda said. Based on the way the explosions took place, from what police told me, there was a series of explosions, which may indicate some sort of rigged booby traps. Advertisement Some officials called the building a barn, others called it a garage. State police SWAT teams responded to the scene after the explosion and were assisting North Haven police. The state police central district major crime squad took over the investigation late Wednesday and was being assisted by the FBI and ATF. Police could be heard calling out over loudspeakers to the man. Police were still trying to contact the man and firefighters were battling the blaze near midnight. Scene of explosion and fire in North Haven. (Melanie Stengel / Special to the Courant ) Advertisement Please come out the front door, were here to help you, police called out. If you do not come out immediately you will be subject to arrest. Come out, we want to help you, but you have to come out. Police evacuated homes adjacent to the property and asked other neighbors to remain in their homes. The property where the explosion occurred is on Quinnipiac Avenue near Orient Lane. Earlier Wednesday night North Haven police had urged people to avoid the area. Anthony Laudano, who lives a short distance from the house, said the explosion broke plates in his kitchen, shattered a window and knocked pictures off the walls. Advertisement I honestly thought it was an airplane crashing, it was so loud, Laudano said. Ive lived in this neighborhood for 20 years. This is the craziest thing Ive ever experienced. I mean, this is a quiet neighborhood. Residents near the home reported on the police departments Facebook page that they heard the explosion and felt their own homes shake around 8:30 p.m. Courant reporter Mikaela Porter and correspondent Naedine Hazell contributed to this report. Tension between the Mexican government and Central American asylum seekers simmered Wednesday as men, women and children camped in a large plaza for a fourth straight day waiting for U.S. inspectors to process their claims. U.S. Customs and Border Protection had accepted 28 caravan members for processing at San Diegos San Ysidro crossing by late Tuesday, leaving about 100 to wait at the Mexican entrance under tarps tied to waist-high metal gates to shield them from sporadic rain. Another 20 or so caravan members were allowed to cross a long bridge to a waiting area just outside a building with U.S. inspection booths, also protected by tarps. Mexican federal immigration officials and directors of privately run migrant shelters met with organizers at a large conference room table Tuesday night, gently encouraging caravan members to return to shelters for temporary housing. Advertisement Mexicos National Human Rights Commission and Baja California state agencies said in a joint statement that their priorities were guaranteeing the safety of pregnant women and children and maintaining order, while respecting caravan members right to protest. Mexican officials sent doctors and nurses to the encampment on Wednesday for medical exams and to dispense medicine to people suffering respiratory problems and stomach pains. 1 / 11 A Central American child who is traveling with a caravan of migrants sleeps at a shelter in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 29, 2018. U.S. immigration lawyers are telling Central Americans in a caravan of asylum-seekers that traveled through Mexico to the border with San Diego that they face possible separation from their children and detention for many months. (Hans-Maximo Musielik / AP) 2 / 11 A member of the Central American migrant caravan, holding a child, looks through the border wall toward a group of people gathered on the U.S. side, as he stands on the beach where the border wall ends in the ocean in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 29, 2018. (Hans-Maximo Musielik / AP) 3 / 11 A Central American child who is traveling with a caravan of migrants peers from a bus carrying the group to the border wall for a gathering of migrants living on both sides of the border in Tijuana, Mexico, on April 29, 2018. The sign reads in Spanish: Were all brother countries from the Americas. Free transit. Stop the deportations. (Hans-Maximo Musielik / AP) 4 / 11 Pro-migrant caravan demonstrators stage a rally in on April 29, 2018, at the US-Mexico Border in San Ysidro, Calif. The U.S. has threatened to arrest Central American migrants if they try to sneak in from the U.S.-Mexico border where they have gathered, prompting President Donald Trump to order troop reinforcements on the frontier. (Sandy Huffaker / AFP/Getty Images) 5 / 11 Pro-migrant caravan demonstrators rally at the west end of the U.S.-Mexico border as pro-migrant demonstrators climb the border wall from the Mexican side of the wall on April 29, 2018 in San Diego, Calif. (Bill Wechter / Getty Images) 6 / 11 Pro-migrant caravan demonstrators rally on the Mexican side of the border wall on April 29, 2018, neaar San Diego, Calif. (Bill Wechter / Getty Images) 7 / 11 People climb a section of border fence to look toward supporters in the U.S. as members of a caravan of Central American asylum seekers arrive to a rally on April 29, 2018 in Tijuana, Mexico. (David McNew / Getty Images) 8 / 11 Carlos Antonio Aguilera, an asylum seeker from Honduras, runs toward the border fence on the beach as a caravan of Central American asylum seekers arrive to a rally on April 29, 2018 in Tijuana, Mexico. (David McNew / Getty Images) 9 / 11 People hold Honduran flags at the border fence during a rally with members of a caravan of Central American asylum seekers and supporters on April 29, 2018, in Tijuana, Mexico. (David McNew / Getty Images) 10 / 11 People post welcome signs on the border fence at a rally with members of a caravan of Central American asylum seekers and supporters on April 29, 2018, in Tijuana, Mexico. (David McNew / Getty Images) 11 / 11 A Central American migrant boy traveling with a caravan of asylum seekers removes sand from his shoes during a demonstration at the U.S.-Mexico Border at Tijuanas beaches on April 29, 2018. (Guillermo Arias / AFP/Getty Images) Caravan organizers said decisions on where to sleep rested with the asylum-seekers. Our job is to give them information as accurately as we can. At the end, they make their decision and we support them. said Roberto Corona, a leader of Pueblo Sin Fronteras. U.S. authorities say temporary capacity constraints have forced asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico. Customs and Border Protection has said there was an uptick in Mexican asylum seekers in the week before Central Americans arrived, and Mexicans continued to congregate outside the inspection facility this week to wait their turn. In 2016, when U.S. border inspectors in San Diego were overwhelmed by Haitian arrivals, a waiting list created by Mexicos immigration agency surpassed five weeks. Advertisement Mexican officials have gone to lengths to accommodate caravan members during their monthlong journey, allowing them to traverse the country and sometimes travel under police escort. Associated Press videographer Gerardo Carrillo in Tijuana contributed to this report. When tens of thousands of high school students across the country walked out of class last month to protest gun violence, many expressed relief that their voices were finally being heard. Will Riley felt like his voice was being drowned out. And so the 18-year-old senior at Carlsbad High School in New Mexico set out to organize another walkout in support of gun rights and the 2nd Amendment. On Wednesday morning, he led Stand for the Second. Riley said in a Facebook video that the demonstration included 300 schools in roughly 40 states, but those figures could not be verified. Advertisement Unlike the previous walkouts, these are for the Constitution and for the 2nd Amendment, Riley said. What were asking for is that we have equal representation to the other side on this issue, he said. The best way we can make our voices heard is to do this in the same platform. Priya Hasham and Miguel Alvarez listen to a speaker during the local Stand for the 2nd Walkout rally Wednesday at the Academy for Technology and the Classics in Santa Fe, N.M. (Gabriela Campos / Santa Fe New Mexican via AP ) The demonstrations were significantly smaller than the National Student Walkouts March 14 and the March for Our Lives 10 days later, with participation in the hundreds rather than the tens of thousands. The schools tended to be in rural areas, from Oregon to Pennsylvania. In some schools shown on a map on the event website, officials said they had no knowledge of walkouts. The map was later take down from the website. In other schools, only a few students participated. In most walkouts, students left class at 10 a.m. for 16 minutes one minute less than the March walkout for the 17 students killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in February. The walkout Wednesday was 16 minutes to avoid appearing disrespectful to those victims, according to the website. At Kearney High School in Nebraska, sophomore Braden Rich tweeted a picture of himself and 11 students wearing white Stand for the 2nd t-shirts. It was great to see that we as a school wanted to stand up for our rights! he said in an email. Advertisement At California High School in San Ramon, southeast of Oakland, students sang the national anthem and held American flags. Some held a large black flag featuring an assault rifle and the words Come and Take It. I wanted to get the message out that there are kids my age who support the 2nd Amendment, said Dennis Fiorentinos, an 18-year-old senior. Fiorentinos said the conversation about gun control should be steered toward mental health and failed government bureaucracy rather than banning assault rifles. Advertisement I dont need to buy an AR-15, but its a right I should have, he said. I want the politicians in charge to look at what the people want and not just take one side, Fiorentinos said. The rallies did not ignore the issue of school safety. In a video posted to Twitter, a student at California High School said increasing the number of surveillance cameras and officers in school could suppress mass shootings on campuses. Since the massacre in Parkland, several states have passed gun control laws with bipartisan support. Advertisement Last month, Maryland, Rhode Island and Vermont passed so-called red flag laws allowing family and law enforcement officials to get a court order to temporarily seize a persons guns. The laws are aimed at people who have exhibited patterns of potentially dangerous behavior. Laws banning bump stocks, devices that essentially turn semi-automatic guns into automatic ones, have also seen more support. The gunman who killed 59 people at a country music festival in Las Vegas last October used a bump stock. Riley said he enjoys target shooting and believes that legislation restricting gun ownership infringes on the peoples rights. Advertisement Natural rights are not up for debate. They are not up for a vote, he said in a video posted on Facebook. They cannot be taken away. They can only be violated and thats a terrible thing to do. michael.livingston@latimes.com @Livingston_LAT Fundraising is becoming increasingly more competitive in one San Diego City Council race, while the leading candidates in three other races have pulled further from the pack heading into the June 5 primary. Three Democrats battling to replace Democrat David Alvarez in District 8 Antonio Martinez, Vivian Moreno and Christian Ramirez -- each raised about $20,000 between Jan. 1 and April 21, the period covered by new donation disclosures. The top two vote-getters in that contest and separate races in Districts 2, 4 and 6 will face off in November runoffs. In the race for District 2, Republican incumbent Lorie Zapf of Bay Ho widened her already commanding fundraising lead by collecting $67,000 during the period. Advertisement Among three leading Democrats challenging Zapf, Jennifer Campbell significantly outraised Jordan Beane and Bryan Pease, collecting $25,000 compared to $13,000 for Beane and $9,000 for Pease. Campbell, a retired doctor living in Bay Ho, has raised $95,000 since the beginning of the campaign. Pease, an attorney who lives in Ocean Beach, has raised $49,000 and Beane, a former Chargers employee, has raised $39,000. Zapf has raised $363,000 since the beginning of the campaign. In District 4, incumbent Democrat Myrtle Cole widened her lead by raising $39,000 in the most recent reporting period. Meanwhile, Monica Montgomery boosted her chances of facing Cole in the November runoff by doubling the donations collected by fellow Democratic challenger Neal Arthur, $14,000 to $7,000. All three candidates live in southeastern San Diego. Cole has raised $123,000 since the beginning of the campaign. Montgomery, a civil rights lawyer, has raised $35,000 and Arthur, former Housing Commission chairman, has raised $18,000. In District 6, incumbent Republican Chris Cate of Mira Mesa increased his fundraising lead by collecting $53,000 in the filing period. Advertisement Among his Democratic challengers, Tommy Hough boosted his chances of facing Cate in November by taking a commanding fundraising lead over Matt Valenti of Clairemont. Hough raised $8,000 during the period, compared to $725 for Valenti. A third Democratic challenger in the race, Fayaz Nawabi, suspended his campaign this spring after suffering a head injury. Nawabi raised $16,000 last year, but didnt submit a disclosure this week because of the campaign suspension. Hough, leader of San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action, has raised $22,000 since the beginning of the campaign, compared to $4,100 for Valenti, an attorney. Cate has raised $380,000. In District 8, the only race without an incumbent, Ramirez emerged last fall as a viable challenger to Martinez and Moreno. Advertisement While the three candidates each raised about $20,000 during the reporting period, Moreno continues to have a strong lead in contribution totals for the entire campaign. She has raised $120,000, compared to $79,000 for Martinez and $49,000 for Ramirez, who joined the campaign late. Moreno, a staffer for Alvarez, and Martinez, a San Ysidro school board member, both live in San Ysidro. Ramirez is border activist living in Sherman Heights. Each of the races includes additional candidates, but none submitted campaign disclosures showing any donations since Jan. 1. Money allows candidates to pay for mailers and campaign signs that boost name recognition and get their message out to voters. But strong fundraising totals are no guarantee of success, with City Attorney Mara Elliott notably trailing three of her opponents by wide margins in 2016 and still winning the race. Advertisement The June primaries will be less consequential in this election cycle because of a rule change approved by city voters in 2016 that requires a November runoff among the top two finishers even if one gets more than 50 percent in June. That will prevent Zapf and Cate from clinching re-election in June when the electorate typically leans more Republican because of lower voter turnout among Democrats in primary elections. The four contests could shift City Hall further to the left with two Republicans up for re-election in swing districts and the two Democratic seats at stake in districts where no Republicans have entered the races. Democrats are essentially assured of maintaining their 5-4 majority on the council, and they could achieve a 6-3 or 7-2 majority that could override vetoes by Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer if Zapf or Cate lose or both. Advertisement david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick The District Attorneys Office is seeking the publics help in finding victims of a vehicle theft crime spree that affected nine communities in San Diego County in March. On March 27, investigators with the Regional Auto Theft Task Force, with assistance from Chula Vista police and the Sheriffs Department, arrested two suspects after a stolen vehicle was spotted in a motel parking lot in Chula Vista. After the arrest, the detectives recovered 144 items of suspected stolen property, which included cell phones, IDs, credit cards, purses and a laptop computer. Four stolen vehicles were also later identified. More than 53 victims are believed to be connected to the crime spree. More than 40 vehicles were burglarized over the course of several days across the county, authorities said. So far, less than half of the victims have been identified. Advertisement Detectives are asking for the publics help in identifying additional victims, who would have had their vehicles burglarized during the last two weeks of March. The affected communities were: downtown and Mid-City San Diego, Tierrasanta, Mission Valley, Spring Valley, the College Area, National City, Chula Vista and Imperial Beach. Ultimately, this crime spree affected dozens of people across San Diego County, District Attorney Summer Stephan said in a news release. In addition to holding the defendants accountable, were working with our partners to return large amounts of stolen property to victims. California Highway Patrol Capt. James Portilla, commander of the task force, noted that these were crimes of opportunity. To help prevent theft, you should always lock your doors and close your windows, and never leave valuable items visible in your car, he said. People who believe they may be victims of the crime spree should contact the task force at (858) 627-4000. To view some of the recovered items, go to the Facebook page for the District Attorneys Office here. Malcolm Brown, 22, pleaded guilty on April 10 to vehicle theft and residential burglary, and Alexis Carr, 25, pleaded guilty to auto theft and burglary. They are scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday in San Diego Superior Court. rob.krier@sduniontribune.com Advertisement (619) 293-2241 Twitter: @sdutKrier The family of a 35-year-old woman who was killed in a rollover crash in Spring Valley this week as she was driving her children to school has set up a GoFundMe campaign to raise money. Maria Cristina Duran of Spring Valley was killed as she was driving her two children, a 17-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter, to school on Tuesday morning. She was driving her SUV west on state Route 94, just west of Kenwood Drive, when she apparently swerved to avoid hitting a car pulling into the lane in front of her, according to the California Highway Patrol and county Medical Examiners Office. Duran veered off of the left side of the highway and onto an adjacent grass area and then apparently over-corrected as she turned back toward the highway, flipping her SUV several times. Advertisement Although she was wearing a seat belt, she was partially ejected in the crash and died before she could be taken to a hospital, authorities said. Her two children suffered minor injuries. On the GoFundMe page, relatives say Duran was a great mother, always happy being with her kids and had dedicated her life to her children. Not a day went by that she didnt think about moving herself and her kids forward in life, a family member wrote on the site. He said said theyd like to raise $4,000. Durans son, Rafael Barba, told NBC 7 San Diego that his mother, who worked at the La Jolla Hilton, always tried to support her children. She always tried to advance us in life, to help us move to the next step to become great, he said. The teen urged other young people to make sure they remember to hug their parents, the station reported. I just want you guys to do me a favor and tell your mom you love her every time you can, because who knows when theyll be gone. Advertisement Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com The Union-Tribune profiles a wanted suspect each week in an effort to make our community safer. We partner with Crime Stoppers and local law enforcement to prole known fugitives as well as draw attention to unsolved crimes. This weeks wanted suspect: Anthony Ramon Saldana, 30 Wanted: Saldana is wanted on a felony warrant for arson and burglary. His criminal history includes assault with a deadly weapon, possession of drugs for sale and other instances of burglary. Description: Latino, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 235 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Frequented areas: He is known to frequent El Cajon. Advertisement Twitter: @LAWinkley (619) 293-1546 A man who was learning to shoot a pistol accidentally fired a round into his big toe at a Kearny Mesa shooting range Wednesday, San Diego police said. The wound was minor, but he was taken to a hospital for treatment about 5:15 p.m., police Sgt. Robert Mora said. Mora said the wounded man was at Magills GlockStore on Ruffner Road with a professional shooting trainer. The student fired one round from his handgun, then aimed the gun downward. He still had his finger on the trigger and accidentally fired a round that struck his toe, Mora said. Advertisement Magills website says the business offers guns and parts for sale and instruction for all levels of experience at its indoor range. pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard By Wang Sheng The remarkable inter-Korean summit ended at the Demilitarized Zone last week, with the signing of the Panmunjom Declaration by leaders of both sides. The declaration was well beyond the expectation of observers and can be viewed as a landmark event in inter-Korean relations since the end of Cold War. The Panmunjom pact says the countries will seek a formal end to the Korean War and completely cease all hostile acts against each other in every domain. This will bring an end to the unnatural state of armistice and a peace treaty will be worked out by the end of this year. They agreed to carry out disarmament in a phased manner. All these measures will pave a solid foundation for the ending of the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula. The pact reaffirmed the common goal of complete denuclearization of the peninsula. This is the first time that North Korea agreed to give up nuclear weapons in an official document since Kim Jong-un took power in 2011. Such a positive gesture will help eliminate US strategic doubt over the sincerity of Pyongyang in this regard. After the unprecedented summit, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that a meeting with Kim could happen in three-to-four weeks. At this critical juncture, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi embarked on a trip to Pyongyang Wednesday at the invitation of his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong-ho, the first visit by a Chinese foreign minister in 11 years. This shows that China and North Korea value close communication regarding the trajectory of the peninsula. They will prepare and provide proposals for the upcoming Trump-Kim summit and multilateral talks. The Korean Armistice Agreement is only a symbolic political document. If the two Koreas want to sign a peace treaty, China, as one of the signatories of the armistice agreement, must play an indispensable role. The summit did not mention when and how North Korea will abandon its nuclear ambitions. The core agenda of the Trump-Kim summit is how to narrow the gap over this issue between the US and North Korea. The contradiction between Pyongyang and Washington is that North Korea would like to give up nuclear weapons in a phased manner, while the US will demand a timetable for Pyongyang's full denuclearization. The phased abandonment of North Korea is a refurbished version of the dual-track and dual-suspension approaches suggested by China. It is unrealistic to fix the issue once and for all at the US-North Korea summit and the main objective of the summit should be to narrow their discrepancies. It is reported that Trump nominated Admiral Harry Harris to fill the long-vacant US Ambassadorship to South Korea. The choice indicates Trump's intention to impose extreme pressure on the North. Harris is known to be tough on North Korea, as are Trump's other diplomatic henchmen such as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis. Generally Washington has carried out a carrot-and-stick approach to achieve its goals in negotiations with Pyongyang. Trump's personal determination is very important. His party faces mid-term elections. Many are dissatisfied with the way he handled Sino-US relations and other world affairs. He hopes to gain some points on the North Korean nuclear issue. The key to the US-North Korea summit is whether Trump and Kim will come out with positive results like those achieved between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Mattis has indicated that there is more optimism than ever before when it comes to dealing with North Korea and that US troop withdrawal could be up for negotiation if North Korea and South Korea can solidify a lasting peace deal. There used to be differences on the denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, but now China and the two Koreas have reached a consensus. The will of the two Koreas displayed at their summit was a breath of fresh air for the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia and the entire world. The Kim-Moon meeting was only a warm-up and the key meeting is Kim and Trump. It is hoped that all sides can extend this positive trend and eventually help realize long-term peace on the peninsula. The author is a professor of international politics at the college of public administration, Jilin University and a research fellow at the Co-Innovation Center for Korean Peninsula Studies. California Republicans gathering in San Diego for this weekends state GOP convention find themselves in a familiar spot: scrambling for ways to resurrect a party sliding toward political irrelevance in this solidly Democratic state. The most telling question will be whether one of the top two Republicans running for governor wealthy Rancho Santa Fe businessman John Cox and Huntington Beach Assemblyman Travis Allen can muster enough support to nab the state partys endorsement. The seal of approval may be essential for either to survive the June primary and appear on the November ballot. Propelling a strong Republican to the top of the ticket could be vital to rallying enough of the partys voters to help candidates in tight races down the ballot, in turn boosting GOP efforts to hold control of Congress. Conservative activists also will spend the weekend strategizing over ways to plumb voter discontent, focusing on the GOP-led proposed ballot initiative to repeal Californias recent gas-tax increase. A plan to use that campaign to cleave voters from Democratic political leaders who backed the levy has buoyed Republicans, who believe they also could win over independents and disenchanted Democrats miffed by higher costs at the pump. Advertisement Republicans hope the confluence of those political forces will generate enough momentum to stave off a Democratic uprising in the midterms fueled by an opposition to President Trump. At stake are eight vulnerable Republican-held congressional seats in California that are pivotal to the Democrats efforts to take control of the House of Representatives, and to recapture a powerful supermajority in the state Legislature. If the dust settles after the general election and Republicans lose House seats in California, they can come to the chilling conclusion it might have been because the party wasnt able to put someone on the ballot when it matters, Jon Fleischman, a conservative blogger and former state party official, said of the ramifications if the state party fails to put a standard-bearer on the November ballot. The top two Republicans in the running for governor have been working feverishly for the backing of the state party, filling mailboxes, making phone calls and texting the partys nearly 1,500 delegates. Full coverage of the party convention in San Diego Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Bill Essayli, who is running for the 60th Assembly District, speak to the media in Norwalk on April 30 next to boxes filled with signatures for an initiative to repeal the gas tax. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times ) Allen has been scooping up local GOP party endorsements around the state, while Cox has been trying to raise his profile with voters by advertising on Fox News and talk radio. The courting will crescendo at the convention: Reminiscent of the Iowa State Fair, candidates will speak to sign-waving supporters from a soapbox on Friday and Saturday before addressing the gathering from the main stage Saturday afternoon and hosting cocktail parties Saturday night. The California Republican Party adopted a new endorsement policy last year allowing the party to back candidates before the primary. The intent was to have the party faithful coalesce behind one candidate to avoid what happened in the 2016 Senate race when no Republican in the race won enough votes in Californias top-two primary to advance to the general election. You cant get into the top one unless you get into the top two, state GOP Chairman Jim Brulte said. Advertisement To win the endorsement, Cox or Allen must receive votes from at least 60% of the GOP delegates Sunday. Top Republicans in the state differ on how big an impact winning the party backing will have. Harmeet Dhillon, one of Californias representatives on the Republican National Committee and an architect of the new endorsement process, said the party nod could add 10 to 15 percentage points to a candidates support in the polls. Its very important, she said, adding that she did not know whether Cox or Allen would be able to cross the 60% threshold required for the partys imprimatur. Its tight. People are pretty evenly matched right now. Advertisement Beth Miller, a GOP consultant who is not aligned in the race, added that the endorsement was a particularly important signal to Republican voters who are unfamiliar with the candidates. Neither Travis Allen nor John Cox is very well-known, she said. But Fleischman, a delegate, argued that an endorsement will have little impact on the race, in part because it is happening so late. The secretary of states voter guide has been mailed to voters, slate mailers have been printed, and vote-by-mail ballots will start being sent out next week. Tens of millions of absentee ballots will drop as conventioneers are driving home. If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears it, does it make a sound? If Republicans gather in San Diego and endorse a candidate but no one knows about it, does it really matter? Fleischman said. Advertisement Assemblyman Travis Allen waves to supporters after announcing the receipt of more than 35,000 petitions he has received from people across the state encouraging elected leaders to opt out of a law making California a sanctuary state. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times ) Paul Mitchell, who runs the data firm Political Data Inc., says regardless of what GOP delegates decide this weekend, the fate of Republicans up and down the ballot in California could hinge, to varying degrees, on whether Cox or Allen makes it to the November election. Mitchell expects statewide ballot measures including allowing more rent control in California and repealing the gas tax to increase voter turnout across a wide political spectrum. But if the November ballot offers choices only between Democratic candidates in Californias top statewide races, some Republicans could skip going to the polls. If that happens, Republicans in tight races for Congress and the Legislature would suffer. Republicans need a reason to turn out and vote, and having a gubernatorial candidate [on the ballot] is part of that, Mitchell said. Republicans dont want to be in an environment where theyre only voting for a ballot measure. Advertisement But hope is not yet lost for the GOP. A recent poll by the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies showed Cox and Allen vying for second place in the governors race, lagging far behind Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, but slightly ahead of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, another top Democrat in the race. But that was before Democrats and their allies began spending millions of dollars on television advertisements. While the campaigning heats up, the prospect of finishing in the top two in June has intensified the already contentious battle between Cox and Allen. Both claim to be the darling of California conservatives and have accused each other of craven, self-serving politics related to Republican efforts to repeal the gas tax. Cox supporters filed a complaint against Allen with the state Fair Political Practices Commission, accusing the assemblyman of improperly using money he raised for a failed gas-tax repeal initiative to help fund his bid for governor. The Cox campaign also is airing an ad on Fox News criticizing Allen for failing to vote on legislation to provide drivers licenses to immigrants in the U.S. illegally. Allen has criticized Cox, a Chicago-area native who has poured $4 million into his own campaign, for his business practices as owner of a residential property management company, and has accused him of having more money than actual political support. Allen also frequently points out that while he voted for Trump in the 2016 presidential election, Cox voted for Libertarian Gary Johnson, the former governor of New Mexico. Cox since has said he now fully backs Trump. Advertisement Embracing Trump may play well in San Diego this weekend, but it could become a major liability in November. In California, Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton trounced Trump in the 2016 election, beating him by more than 4.2 million votes. On top of that, Democrats also have a 19-percentage-point advantage over Republicans in voter registration, and no GOP candidate has won a statewide race since 2006. Republicans in California have suffered from several maladies, said Bill Whalen, a fellow at Stanfords Hoover Institution and speechwriter for former Republican Gov. Pete Wilson. Cant win. Cant decide who we are. Cant decide what to do vis-a-vis Donald Trump. Follow California politics by signing up for our email newsletter Advertisement Coverage of California politics phil.willon@latimes.com seema.mehta@latimes.com Follow @philwillon and @LATSeema on Twitter. In San Diego, we have a powder keg that is getting ready to explode. We have seen rents skyrocket in the last several years and as a direct result homelessness has also risen uncontrollably. In Los Angeles, a 5 percent rent increase will put 2,000 more people out on the streets. Displacement due to rent gouging is affecting people of color, seniors and disabled people on fixed incomes the most. The projected numbers are worse in other cities and counties. San Diego County does not fare any better. The San Diego Housing Commission Housing Production Objectives Report shows there is a huge shortage of housing units. The shortage is currently around 180,000 units and the report also states that between 150,000-220,000 units need to be built by 2028 to keep up with expected growth. RELATED: Heres why rent control is a flawed public policy Unfortunately, the projections show that even building at maximum capacity, the county will not be able to catch up and there will still be a 152,000-housing-unit shortage in 2050. The shortage translates into ultra-low vacancy rates and also means that the drive for ever-increasing profits will create further speculation and higher rent prices. Unless San Diego gets rent control, greedy landlords and government officials will be directly responsible for the rampant creation of homelessness and increased worker suffering. Advertisement Leveraging apartments and homes for speculative-investment-profits based off perpetual 8 percent to 10 percent-plus annual rent increases is a moral hazard that needs to be addressed. Vulture capitalism needs to be capped, immediately! Housing is a right and it should not be used like a slot machine investment. As a real estate and mortgage broker, I recognize that gouging rent hikes are neither necessary or justified. As a tenants rights organizer, I see the countless abuses by wealthy landlords against defenseless tenants. The more powerful landlords always seem to flex their muscles against their most vulnerable tenants. Not because they need to, simply for profits, power and control. Jared Kushner, his father, his father in-law and his role model Sean Hannity are all wealthy landlords who target working people of color. People have been displaced from their buildings. Rents have been hiked at their buildings. Conditions have become substandard at their buildings and people have even died because of their buildings. These same abusive landlords who are neglecting properties and endangering lives without repercussions have total control. The 1995 Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act is a law that illustrates the point as a state-enforced protection for wealthy landlords by protecting houses and buildings built after February 1995 from rent control. Costa Hawkins is now headed towards repeal on the November 2018 ballot. Currently, California has at least 15 cities with rent control and eight more cities working to get it passed in the November 2018 election, including National City. Rent control is widely known by tenants rights advocates to be the most important and most effective tool against mass displacement and gentrification. Rent control is a movement for change in policy that is being fought for and won throughout the country because it is a desperately needed policy that can restore stability to working class communities that are in danger of being displaced. Most working-class people support rent control. Orange County and San Diego County were recently polled on the issue and the majority of people support rent control. Locally, San Diego Tenants United (SDTU) has been leading the fight against rent increases and organizing tenant associations against local slumlords by employing escalation tactics that range from rallies to marches and rent strikes. SDTU has also been the driving force behind the rent control efforts in San Diego. Rent control petitions signed by more than 11,000 people were presented to the San Diego City Council Smart Growth Land Use committee on April 18. SDTU has met with committee chair and Councilwoman Georgette Gomez and has asked every other council member if they support rent control. We demand rent control be implemented via an emergency urgency ordinance like in Santa Cruz, Alameda and Beverly Hills while we put together a permanent comprehensive housing justice policy that limits rent increases to 2 percent and has stronger just cause protections and relocation assistance. Advertisement We need to ensure that tenants enjoy the right to a safe, healthy and stable environment without the fear of displacement. SDTU supports building permanent affordable housing, but we need rent control now! Join the fight for rent control and help us get a permanent solution to the 13-year housing crisis on the November 2018 ballot. Contact your council member and demand rent control now! Bautista is lead organizer with San Diego Tenants United and a write-in candidate for City Council District 4. Even as the warming Arctic undergoes what one National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official called the most unprecedented transition in human history even though 2016 and 2017 were the two hottest years ever recorded even though nearly all scientists agree that, to head off disaster, humans must change their behavior to stop generating the emissions that lead to climate change President Donald Trump is not a believer. This is the staggeringly scary fact driving the Trump administrations decision to scrap federal rules requiring cars and SUVs to average nearly 55 miles per gallon by 2025 and to lower the target to 42 miles per gallon. Reducing vehicle emissions is one of the most basic steps that humanity can take to try to avoid catastrophic climatic change. Against this backdrop, the decision by California and 17 other states to sue the Trump administration to force the preservation of the fuel-mileage rules it inherited and to preserve the precedent allowing California to set tougher mileage standards than the nation as a whole should be welcomed by anyone with a pulse. Because the stakes are so high, this is the most crucial of the 30-plus legal challenges the state has filed against the federal government since Trump took office. Gov. Jerry Brown is right: The U.S. should lead the fight against global warming, not undercut it. Advertisement Twitter: @sdutIdeas Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Pity the new, independent out-of-town brewery trying to break into San Diegos crowded beer market. Without Big Beers clout or local brewpubs cachet, these invaders need world-class beers and/or a smart strategy to gain a toehold. Which brings us to Honor Brewing, a Virginia-based company whose patriotic beers are made in Colorado. This month, Military Appreciation Month, Honors beers will be on tap at Leroys in Coronado, Bottlecraft in Liberty Station, Poseidon Project in Bay Park and OBriens Pub in Kearny Mesa. Its been a great reception, said Susie Baggs, whose Brown Bag Beverage distributes Honor beers. People are excited. Co-founded by an Army veteran and the son of an Army helicopter pilot who was killed in action, Honor donates a portion of its revenue to military-related charities. Its tap handles are imprinted with the names of men and women who have died on active duty, including five from Southern California. Sgt. Clinton K. Ruiz, for instance, was a Poway native who was killed by a Taliban fighter posing as an Afghan police officer on Oct. 25, 2012. These stories are compelling, deserving of our attention. These beers? Baggs suggests that locals skip Warrior IPA its not up to San Diego standards and order Line of Sight Lager. Its exactly what a craft beer guy wants from a lager, she said. A 22-year-old man with a tractor-trailer full of potato chips went missing on April 24 during a three-hour trip from Portland to Nyssa, Oregon. Jacob Cartwrights hourslong drive turned into a brutal four-day trek after he put the wrong address into his GPS and slipped down a muddy embankment trying to turn around. Stuck in the forest with no cellphone service, Cartwright set out on foot to find help. He said he didnt stop, he walked 12-13 hours a day all three days, Cartwrights boss Roy A. Henry - the owner of Little Trees Transportation - told CNN. He told me last night, he wedged himself under a log and the ground to stay warm and stay out of the elements. Advertisement According to CBS News, Cartwright walked an estimated 14 miles - 12 to 13 hours each day - before finding his way to the interstate. There, he flagged down a motorist who drove him nine miles to his home in La Grande. The commercial truck driver was taken to a local hospital for medical evaluation. https://twitter.com/ORStatePolice/status/989670346604273667 He was so dehydrated that his kidneys stopped functioning, Henry told CNN, adding that his employee might also possibly have frostbite in is right foot. Furthermore, the guy hadnt eaten in days. Despite being stuck in the middle of nowhere with a trailer full of potato chips, Cartwright didnt even think about touching them. https://twitter.com/ORStatePolice/status/990380664032608256 That stuffs worth something, thats the load - Im not gonna touch it, Henry recalled Cartwright saying. Thats the way he was raised: That stuffs not yours, you dont touch it. Advertisement The brand name of the potato chips that Cartwright was delivering has not been disclosed. But if we were ever stranded in the middle of nowhere, these are the ones wed hope were in tow. View slideshow Advertisement more potato chip stories U.S. President Donald Trump made his first visit to the State Department Wednesday for the ceremonial swearing-in of his new Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. "Mike is a true American patriot," Trump said as he praised the new top U.S. diplomat. Pompeo has vowed to bring back the "swagger" to the State Department. "The United States diplomatic corps need to be in every corner, every stretch of the world, executing missions on behalf of this country, and it is my humble, noble undertaking to help you achieve that," said Pompeo Tuesday while speaking to personnel who gathered as he arrived for his first full day at the State Department. Pompeo takes the helm of the State Department after Trump fired then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in March, hours after Tillerson had returned from a trip to Africa. Unlike with Tillerson, Trump is said to have a close working relationship with Pompeo. "Mike Pompeo is someone who I think has the close ear of the president," said Nile Gardiner of the conservative-leaning Washington-based think-tank, The Heritage Foundation. Tuesday, Pompeo took selfies with several State Department employees, vowing to reach out to as many staff members as he could. "I'll spend as little time on the 7th floor" and meet people in "many parts of this organization," said the new secretary of state. The U.S. International Trade Commission on Tuesday decided to impose anti-dumping duties on imports of carbon and certain alloy steel wire rods from five countries including Korea, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the U.K. Earlier, it said it had determined that the U.S. industry is "materially injured" by these imports. Wire rods -- an intermediate steel product -- manufactured by POSCO and other Korean steelmakers will be subject to a 41.1 percent import duty. This decision comes less than a day after Korea was permanently exempted from the U.S.' 25-percent steel tariffs. Korea exported US$45.6 million of wire rods to the U.S. in 2016, the highest among the five countries to face the duties. Industry insiders say although the anti-dumping measures will not greatly affect Korea's overall exports to the U.S., they could be a major problem for some small steelmakers. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Responding to a written request by the Chosun Ilbo, The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the rumors are "groundless" but did not give details about the whereabouts of Mao Xinyu (48). China on Wednesday denied rumors that the only grandson of former Chinese strongman Mao Zedong was among the casualties in a bus accident in North Korea last month. The rumors were first reported by the Chinese-language version of Radio Free International on Tuesday, citing sources who said the 32 people killed in the crash were members of a group that reveres Mao Zedong and included the children of several soldiers who fought on North Korea's side in the Korean War. A post on Weibo, a Chinese version of Twitter, on Wednesday said Mao Xinyu is "alive and well in Beijing." Kai Lei, a senior reporter with Hong Kong-based newspaper Wen Wei Po, wrote, "I can confidently say that the rumors are false." Kai, who has 360,000 followers on Weibo, said he is a close friend of Mao Xinyu and added he never joined any tour group that headed to North Korea and was living in Beijing until Tuesday. Duowei News, a Chinese-language news outlet in the U.S., claimed the reason why the Chinese government has not published a list of victims of the North Korean bus crash is that they are not high-ranking officials or other prominent figures. Duowei also reported that Mao Xinyu, a major-general in the Chinese military, is too senior a figure to travel to North Korea on a package tour, and there would be no reason for Beijing to be silent about his death. Sacramento, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento, a new towing and roadside assistance franchise company, brings its portfolio of services to Sacramento. This is the latest location to be added to their growing franchise, and ensures more drivers can benefit from their expertise. The Sacramento 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento team delivers a wide range of solutions, all provided by highly-trained technicians. They can cater to drivers in emergency situations, and operate 24 hours a day. The 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento towing and roadside assistance roster includes tire replacements, motorcycle towing, flatbed towing, and car lockout / locksmith services. Their technicians use cutting-edge equipment, can work on a huge variety of vehicles, and will arrive on-site as quickly as possible. As well as their new Sacramento branch, 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento has launched a new website. This features a fresh, professional design and seamless navigation, providing drivers with key information on the services available. Contact details, opening hours, and accepted payment methods are all listed. An executive for 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento highlighted the importance of being a local business and their commitment to providing the best towing and roadside assistance services in Sacramento: "10-4 Tow Of Sacramento is passionate about providing the very best towing and roadside assistance solutions to drivers across Sacramento. We know drivers want to feel comfortable and in good hands when they need roadside help, even if it's just a gas refill or a battery replacement. All calls are treated with the same professionalism and care. "Our expert technicians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year round. We offer reasonable rates and an upfront pricing policy, so customers know exactly what they will pay before our technicians start working. "We're a new franchise company, but we're proud to keep adding new locations. Sacramento is a beautiful, fantastic place, and we're delighted to be serving our community with our comprehensive solutions." To learn more about 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento and their towing services in Sacramento, California, visit http://www.ten4tow.com/sacramento/ or call 916-573-2353. About 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento is a new franchise company, assisting drivers in Sacramento 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They work with highly-trained technicians, all committed to providing the best towing and roadside assistance solutions. Their portfolio of services includes flatbed towing, battery replacements, gas deliveries, car lockout / emergency locksmith, long-distance towing, motorcycle towing, and more. Contact: Company: 10-4 Tow Of Sacramento Address: 1023 H St. Suite #B2, Sacramento, California, 95814 Phone: 916-573-2353 Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/02/2018 -- Air-Independent Propulsion Systems for Submarine Market Overview According to a recent study report published by Market Research Future, the global market for air-independent propulsion systems for submarine market will grow at a rapid pace over the forecast period. The market is expected to witness slow but steady growth until 2023, which will be a growing fast at a moderate CAGR during the forecast period (2017 -2023). The high demand for air-independent propulsion systems for the submarine market is due to the growing need for extended submerged periods, cost-efficiency, and increased investment in research and development, thus increasing the participation of manufacturers. Rapid technology advancement, along with the increased focus of OEMs on strengthening naval capabilities, is expected to result in an increase in submarine expenses and add to the growth of the market. However, the engineering challenges in existing fuel cell technologies act as a barrier to the growth of air-independent propulsion systems for the submarine market. The revolution of second-generation submarine results in many naval submarines upgrading technologies with AIP batteries and fuel cells. Air-independent propulsion technology design to allow the diesel submarines to operate without having to access the surface for atmospheric oxygen. This will helps diesel submarines to carry out operations in a stealthy manner reducing their chances of being seen by enemy ships and aircraft. The AIP systems comprises of an engine, fuel, a generator attached to the engine, and a battery. The popularity of these systems has risen and there is a large number of navies seeking to build submarines with AIP systems. These days, several AIP schemes are under development or already in operation, can increase slow-speed endurance to as much as a month. While it is still dwarfed by the potential of nuclear power, AIP offers diesel submarines a remarkable increase in capability. Request a Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2486 Major Key Players SAAB AB (Sweden), Siemens AG (Germany), DCNS SA (France), China Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd. (China), UTC Aerospace Systems (U.S.), Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.), General Dynamics Corporation (U.S.), Kongsberg Gruppen ASA (Norway) are some of the prominent players profiled in MRFR Analysis and are at the forefront of competition in the global Air-Independent Propulsion Systems for Submarine Market. Regional Analysis North America region dominates the global air independent propulsion systems for submarine market followed by Europe, Asia-Pacific. This is mainly due to countries such as U.S., Canada, spending heavily on their navy which ultimately drives the growth of this market. Whereas, the Asia-Pacific economies are projected to drive sixty percent of the global increase in defense acquisition, research and development, and thirty percent of the global defense acquisition budget in the near future. The report for Global Air Independent Propulsion Systems for Submarine Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. Browse Full Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/air-independent-propulsion-systems-market-2486 Intended Audience - Manufacturing Industries - consultants and Investment bankers - Government as well as Independent Regulatory Authorities About Market Research Future At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- The MEA data storage market was valued at US$ 2,790 Mn in 2016 and is projected to reach US$ 8,431.3 Mn by 2025 end. Sales revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 13.6% during the forecast period i.e. 20172025. According to a new report published by Future Market Insights titled "Data Storage Market: Middle East & Africa Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172025)," major factors responsible for the growth of the data storage market in MEA include increased investments in infrastructure, a notable shift in data centre investments from being server centric to more data and storage centric, and increased adoption of entry-level and mid-range storage devices. Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gc-1237 MEA Data Storage Market: Prominent Trends Adoption of hybrid cloud storage solutions by small and medium enterprises and software defined storage solutions by large enterprises Demand changes in OPEX and CAPEX Emergence of enterprise flash controllers Demand for secure data storage solutions in defence, aerospace and BFSI verticals Adoption of cloud based data storage solutions with hyper-converged infrastructure MEA Data Storage Market: Segmental Analysis The MEA data storage market covers consumer data storage devices and enterprise data storage solutions. For each of these categories, the market has been segmented on the basis of end user, vertical and region. On the basis of storage type, the GCC data storage market is segmented into consumer storage and enterprise storage. In terms of revenue, enterprise storage is projected to be the most attractive segment in the GCC data storage market during the forecast period. The enterprise storage segment is also expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the forecast period and is expected to expand at a robust CAGR between 2017 and 2025. On the basis of end user, the GCC data storage market is segmented into commercial and residential segments. The residential segment was valued at US$ 467.8 Mn in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 14.7% during the forecast period. MEA Data Storage Market: Forecast by Region The GCC region is segmented into Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. In terms of revenue, UAE followed by Qatar are the two leading data storage markets within the GCC data storage market. UAE is the fastest growing regional data storage market within GCC with a growth rate of 15.7% during 2017 2025. In terms of revenue, UAE is projected to be the most attractive market in the GCC data storage market during the forecast period and is also expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the period of assessment. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gc-1237 MEA Data Storage Market: Key Players IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, VMware, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., NetApp Inc., Open Text Corp., SanDisk Corporation, Hitachi Data Systems, EMC Corporation (Dell Inc.), and Nexenta Systems are some of the key players operating in the MEA data storage market. Sarasota, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- Global Deepwater Hydrocarbons Exploration Market: Overview The hydrocarbons under the ocean floor remain the only source of oil and gas that is untouched while the other oil and gas reserves are getting depleted. As a result, the oil exploration and production companies are showing great interest in using these hydrocarbons. Deepwater reserves account for approximately 11% out of all the hydrocarbon reserves on the earth's surface. Download Research Report Broachers @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/deepwater-hydrocarbons-exploration-market Global Deepwater Hydrocarbons Exploration Market: Segmentation The global deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market is broadly segmented into the type of service, depth of exploration, type of drilling platforms, and regions. Based on the type of service, the deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market is classified into deepwater exploration, deepwater hydrocarbon production, and drilling. The global market is segmented on the basis of the depth of exploration into deep water and ultra-deep water. On the basis of the type of drilling platforms, the deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market is divided into subsea systems, fixed platform rig, jack-up rig, spar platforms, and compliant tower rigs. The market is geographically diversified into regions such as Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and Rest of the World. Global Deepwater Hydrocarbons Exploration Market: Growth Factors The modern technology advancements and the increasing number of companies making investments have been the major factors driving the deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market. The growing demand for conventional hydrocarbons such as crude oil and natural gas has made a significant growth in the deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market. The market growth was slow in the past due to the high cost of exploration, capital expenditure, underdeveloped technologies, and the negative profit margin. However, the scenario has changed considerably owing to the technological developments in the deepsea and ultra deepsea exploration and drilling, and high crude oil prices are making the deepsea drilling economically feasible. The technological developments and the increased R&D activities for the exploration of other unconventional hydrocarbon deepwater sources will make the market grow significantly. The factor restraining the global market growth is the increasing environmental and HSE regulations for the drilling and exploration activities. The other factor hampering the market growth is the demand for renewable and sustainable energy sources. Request Free Sample Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/deepwater-hydrocarbons-exploration-market Global Deepwater Hydrocarbons Exploration Market: Regional Analysis The region that dominates the deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market is North America. The Gulf of Mexico and the North Sea regions have been identified as the major regions where the majority of the deepsea activities are carried out since the last few years. The Latin American market is also growing significantly due to the large hydrocarbon reserves in the Venezuela and Brazilian offshore. The Asia Pacific and European regions are also showing a significant growth in the deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market. The Middle East region has many deepsea reserves, hence anticipating the market growth in the coming years. Request Report TOC (Table of Contents) @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/toc/deepwater-hydrocarbons-exploration-market Global Deepwater Hydrocarbons Exploration Market: Competitive Players Some of the key companies operating in the deepwater hydrocarbons exploration market include Oceaneering International Inc., Petrobras, Brazilian Petroleum Corporation, Schlumberger Ltd., Transocean Ltd., and Trico Marine Services Inc. Browse detail report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/deepwater-hydrocarbons-exploration-market About Zion Market Research Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting-edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Deerfield Beach, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- Global Smartphone Integrated Circuits Market Report 2017 presents an in-depth assessment of the Smartphone Integrated Circuits including technologies, key trends, market drivers, challenges, standardization, regulatory landscape, development models, operator case studies, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents forecasts for Smartphone Integrated Circuits investments from 2013-2023. The research covers the current market size of the Global Smartphone Integrated Circuits market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data along with company profile of key players/manufacturers. The in-depth information by segments of Smartphone Integrated Circuits market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies and the changing structure of the Global Smartphone Integrated Circuits Market. Request for Sample Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-smartphone-integrated-circuits-market-status-and-trend-208821#RequestSample The Scope of the Report: This report focuses on the Smartphone Integrated Circuits in North America market, especially in Europe, China, Japan, Rest APAC and Latin America. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application. Top Manufacturers Key Player of This Report: Qualcomm, Samsung Electronics, Mediatek, Intel, Skyworks Solutions, Synaptic, Texas Instruments, ST-Ericssion, Renesas Electronics, Spreadtrum Communication, Broadcomm, STM-Electronins, Infineon, Dialog Semiconductor, Fairchild Semiconductor, Free-scale S Market Segment by Type covers: Dynamic Random Access Memory Chip(DRAM), Micro-Processor Unit (MPU), Digital Signal Processor (DSP), Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM) Market Segment by Applications can be divided into: Smartphones Multitasking, Smartphones Signals Received, Other The manufacturing cost analysis depicted in the immeasurable, yet exact distribution has offered a solid examination of the key raw materials in the Earmuffs Market, other than their suppliers, market concentration rate, and price trends. Purchasers of the report additionally have admittance to the manufacturing process analysis and cost structure, including raw materials, labor cost, and manufacturing expenses. Geographically, this report is subdivuded into several key regions, with data concerned to the production and consumption patterns, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of 2018 market in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering North America, Europe, China, Japan, Rest APAC, Latin America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2017 to 2022. Key Highlights Of The Smartphone Integrated Circuits Market Report: 1) This report provides a quantitative analysis of the current trends and estimations from 2017 to 2022 of the global Smartphone Integrated Circuits market to identify the prevailing market opportunities. 2) Comprehensive analysis of factors that drive and restrict the Smartphone Integrated Circuits market growth is provided. 3) Key players and their major developments in the recent years are listed. 4) The Smartphone Integrated Circuits research report presents an in-depth analysis of current research & evaluation of recent industrial developments within the market with key dynamic factors. 5) Major countries in each region are covered according to individual market revenue. Inquiry for Buying Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-smartphone-integrated-circuits-market-status-and-trend-208821#InquiryForBuying The Smartphone Integrated Circuits research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Smartphone Integrated Circuits market revenue worldwide. Finally, Smartphone Integrated Circuits market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage. San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- This report on the global Middle East and Africa Infant Nutrition market is a comprehensive market intelligence study that brings forth the lucrativeness of the said market. Beginning with an executive summary that comprise a snapshot of how the demand for Middle East and Africa infant nutrition has evolved over the recent past and where is it headed to in the future, the report delves into the analysis of various market dynamics, such as opportunities, trends, challenges, and drivers. A detailed overview of the said market with the analysis of porter's five forces has been provided in a bid to present a concise and clear landscape of the market vendors to the readers. The market intelligence study also points at mergers, important conglomerates, numerous research and development activities, acquisitions, and corroborations. Request a sample copy of the Report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=3245 The world market for Middle East and Africa infant nutrition is anticipated to rise at a robust CAGR and is anticipated to attain a significant market valuation by the end of the period of forecast. Middle East and Africa Infant Nutrition Market: Trends and Opportunities The MENA infant milk formula market is expected to display remarkable growth over the period of forecast, due to the rising nutritional concerns in case of infants. The increase in the number of working women is one of the major factors that are driving the growth of the MENA market for infant nutrition at present. Factors such as increasing disposable income of the consumers and the rapid economic development in the MENA region are also propelling the growth of the infant nutrition market in the region. Middle East and Africa Infant Nutrition Market: Market Potential The market participants are expected to gain new opportunities as there has been an increased emphasis on spending more on the research and development activities by many of the infant nutrition making companies thereby is expected to drive further growth of the international market for Middle East and Africa infant nutrition. Furthermore, many of the market participants are anticipated to make a foray into the emerging economies that are yet to be explored and tapped so as to find new opportunities. Request TOC of the report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=3245 Middle East and Africa Infant Nutrition Market: Regional Analysis Taking regional segmentations into consideration, the world market for Middle East and Africa infant nutrition has been categorized into geographies of GCC countries such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Bahrain, Egypt, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Morocco, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Algeria, Lebanon, Tunisia, Iraq, and Rest of Middle East and Africa. Middle East and Africa Infant Nutrition Market: Competitive Landscape A few leading market players that are operating in the world market comprise eminent names such as Nestle S.A., Groupe Danone, Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co. Ltd Pfizer Inc., Abbott Nutrition, Mead Johnson Nutrition, FrieslandCampina, Meiji Holdings Co. Ltd, Beingmate Baby & Child Food Co. Ltd, The Kraft Heinz Company, Synutra International, Inc., and Pfizer Inc. Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/middle-east-and-africa-infant-nutrition-market About TMR Research TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in today's supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients' conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Staten Island, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- A local Staten Island company is celebrating a sharp increase in the demand for the services that they offer. Handyman Garage Doors provides a wide range of services for their customers including overhead garage door services, garage door installation, and opener or spring repairs. The business is delighted to see that customers are responding positively to the service that they provide. The business does not believe one lone factor caused the noticed increase in sales. Instead, the team feels that it is due to their entire work ethic as well as the response from previous clients. With over three hundred five star reviews online ,Handyman Garage Doors has a massive list of clients eager to vouch for their high-quality service and recommend them to others in need of a garage door service. As well as this, Handyman Garage Doors work hard to keep the price of their services competitive and cost-effective for their clients. The company provides long warranties from professional, insured experts to guarantee that customers feel comfortable and secure when using their service. Customer service is a top priority for the business, and they believe this has had an impact on their reputation. Providing free estimates without any appointment for installations, the company always works hard to make sure that their customers come first every time. This has helped the business guarantee repeat service and a great word of mouth both on and offline. All this and more has caused the high levels of sales that they see today. While they are experiencing a high level of demand, the company is constantly ready to deliver with a full team of expert staff ready to help their clients. Handyman Garage Doors is also aware that an issue with a garage can happen at any time. According to the company, this can make your home dangerous and potentially leave your property unsecured. That's why they also offer a full 24-hour emergency service so that clients can contact them whenever they need a fix from a professional company that they can trust. Handyman Garage Doors has been operating on the market for 3 years, striving to provide a fantastic level of customer service for every client. Taking extra care to provide a high quality of service, the company aims to keep the garage doors in New Jersey and New York in the best condition possible for their company. With a motto of 'never settle for less,' the team behind the company are always working to deliver a level of service that beats the rest on the market. With no appointments needed, the business is proud to be able to offer fantastic solution to any customers who come calling. The business is constantly working to improve their services and hopes that this will lead to an even greater level of demand in the future. More information on the company can be found on their website. Alternatively, Handyman Garage Doors can be contacted directly using the information below. Contact: Lee Melehi Company: Handyman Garage Doors Address: 45 Purdy Pl, Staten Island, NY 10309 Phone: 732-640-6997 Email: handymangaragedoorsllc@gmail.com Website: https://handymangaragedoors.com/ Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- The competitive landscape of the market for garbage bag market is a mildly fragmented one marked with the presence of quite a few large players, according to a report published by Future Market Insights (FMI). The key players in the European garbage bag market are Novolasta, s.r.o Senkvice, Extrapack OOD, Pack-It BV, Achaika Plastic S.A., DAGOPLAST AS, Terdex GmbH, International Plastics, MirPack TM, Plasta.It, Primax D.o.o. The key players are now focusing on research and development of garbage bags in a bid to stay ahead in the competition. These market players are also trying to expand their geographical reach through collaborations with local players. So far as geography is considered, the market for European garbage bag has been segmented into Germany, France, Italy, Spain, U.K., Russia, and BENELUX. Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg comprise BENELUX. Owing to the high demand of garbage bags across Europe, the market is anticipated to soar registering a good CAGR during the forecast period of 2016-2026. Demand for Biodegradable Garbage Bags to Bolster Growth The market has been segmented into five categories, so far as material is considered. The segments are, namely Low-density polyethylene (LDPE), Liner low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), High-density polyethylene (HDPE), Polypropylene (PP) and others. Request to Sample Report - https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-eu-3034 High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is characterized with high performance and extreme tensile strength and with these qualities, HDPE is forecasted to spearhead the European market for garbage bags. This segment accounted for 30% of the total revenue of the European market in 2016. During the forecast period of 2016-2026, the segment of HDPE is expected to expand at a CAGR of 5.5%. These garbage bags have the ability to contain substantial amount of weight and are cost effective as well. Such characteristics are expected to propel the market for high-density polyethylene garbage bags. Furthermore, high-density polyethylene or HDPE bags come with biodegradable versions. Biodegradable HDPE bags are made of domestic biomass material thereby diminishing oil dependency. They are also easy to recycle and are frequently used. Developed economies of countries like the U.K. and Germany are expected to fuel the demand for premium garbage bags. These premium garbage bags come with qualities like odour control and ability to stretch and people from the developed countries are willing to pay the extra bucks for these premium quality garbage bags. As such, the opportunity for such premium quality garbage bags are increasing. Stringent Government Policies to Restrain the Growth of the Market Governments of several European countries are implementing strict measure to contain the usage of plastic bags. They are imposing regulations wherein the sales of lightweight bags are getting restricted. Countries like Italy, France are applying a complete ban on HDPE plastics bags that are meant for single use. Such bans, though restraining the growth of the market for HDPE garbage bags, help to diminish the harmful effects of plastic bags on the environment, specifically the oceans, lakes, rivers, and the wildlife that inhabit in those water bodies. This is one of the major restraining factors of the European market for garbage bag. Request Report TOC @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-eu-3034 In addition, imposition of extra charges and increased taxation by the governments of various European countries on the use of plastic garbage bags are dampening the spirit of the market players. Customers are charged extra for plastic garbage bags at various convenience and retail stores. Such government initiatives play a major role in the diminishing the usage of plastic garbage bags in Europe. This review is as per the findings of a new report by Future Market Insights (FMI) titled, "Garbage Bag Market: Europe Industry Analysis & Opportunity Assessment, 2016-2026." Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- Future Market Insights (FMI) recently announced the release of its report titled "Residential Water Treatment Devices: Middle East Industry Analysis and Opportunity Assessment 2015-2025." According to the report, the middle east residential water treatment devices market was valued at US$ 414.1 Mn in 2014 and is anticipated to reach US$ 855.3 Mn by 2025, expanding at a CAGR of 6.8% throughout the forecast period. Total population of Middle East & Africa stood at approximately 346 million in 2015 and is expected to grow at the rate of 2% per annum. The Middle East & Africa is also witnessing mass migration of people to urban centers, thereby leading to increased demand for water purifiers in these centers. Economies of North Africa, on the other hand, have also been registering healthy growth rates over the last few years, which in turn is expected to fuel growth of the residential water treatment devices market in the overall MEA region. Due to large scale industrialization, quality of water in the GCC and Levant countries has deteriorated during the recent years. Water availability in these regions is estimated to be merely 1,200 m3/person/year, which is substantially lower than the global average of 7,000 m3/person/year. These factors are also prompting urban masses in Middle East countries to opt for water purifiers. Furthermore, the GCC region is witnessing entry of globally established water purifier brands, which has resulted into increased competition in the market. Increased competition, in turn, ensures marginal decline in prices of residential water treatment devices in the retail market in these regions. However, price decline has been largely reported on the reverse osmosis-based water purification devices only, the sales of which have witnessed an upsurge in recent years. Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-eu-1299 Around 44% of the Middle East & Africa population lives in rural area and is not aware about the necessity and techniques to purify and filter water. Penetrating these markets may be a challenging task for the concerned market participants as most of the vendors would have to begin by creating awareness regarding water purifier and filters and the importance of these products. Combination water purification system employs two different treatment technologies in one system. Players such as AquaPro and Kent have started offering RO+UV-based combination water purifiers in the GCC and Levant countries. Geography-wise, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dominated the GCC residential water treatment devices market in terms of value in 2014, accounting for more than one-third value share of the GCC residential water treatment devices market. On the other hand, Turkey dominated the Levant residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than 40% value share of the overall market in the region. Furthermore, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is foreseen to expand at a relatively high CAGR during the forecast period and is expected to maintain its revenue share dominance till 2025 end. The governments in the Levant and GCC regions are investing and opening up to Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and promoting industrialization, which has been leading to an increase in the per capita income of the residing population in countries such as Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Countries such as the UAE, Qatar, Egypt and Jordan are expected to register significant Y-o-Y growth during the forecast period. Besides, these countries are projected to bestow more focus on their non-oil and manufacturing sectors in the coming years, which in turn is expected to encourage the water purifier and water filter manufacturers in these countries to go in for domestic production and enhance sales. Countries such as Bahrain, Iraq, Palestine and Syria are currently witnessing moderate growth in demand for residential water treatment devices, and the trend is expected to continue during the forecast period as well. On the basis of filtration devices, the filtration faucet segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014 in terms of revenue, and is foreseen to expand at a significant CAGR during the forecast period. In terms of volume, the water tap faucet segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than half volume share of the overall market. On the basis of purification devices, the reverse osmosis segment dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014 in terms of revenue, and is foreseen to expand at a relatively high CAGR during the forecast period. In terms of volume, the gravity segment purification devices dominated the Middle East residential water treatment devices market in 2014, accounting for more than 40% volume share of the overall market. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-eu-1299 Key market players covered in the report include KENT RO Systems Ltd., Eureka Forbes, Britannic Water Treatment Company W.L.L., Panasonic Corporation, LG Electronics, Pure It LLC, Waterlife, Coolpex Pure Water System, Ultra Tec Water Treatment LLC and AQUA PRO UAE. Most players in the market are engaged in various activities, such as mergers and acquisitions, increasing investments in technological and product developments, geographical expansion and brand building via strong marketing strategies, in order to sustain their position in the competitive market. Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday tried to quell controversy over suggestions that the presence of U.S. troops in South Korea will no longer be necessary once a peace treaty with North Korea has been signed. But what are the issues at stake, and why are particularly conservatives so alarmed at the prospect of the withdrawal of the U.S. Forces Korea? From a legal standpoint, the U.S. troop presence in South Korea is based on a mutual defense treaty signed in July 1953, three months after the armistice that halted the Korean War. The treaty stipulates that South Korea granted the U.S. permission to station soldiers, ships and airplanes on its territory. There is no mention in the treaty that the aim is to contain the North Korean threat. Instead, it stipulates that the aim is to deal with "an armed attack in the Pacific region." That means the USFK can legally stay even when the North Korean threat diminishes. This is why President Moon Jae-in said Wednesday, "U.S. troops stationed in South Korea are an issue regarding the alliance between South Korea and the United States. It has nothing to do with signing peace treaties." That also means there are no grounds for North Korea to demand the withdrawal of U.S. troops. The signing of a mutual defense treaty is permitted under international law and constitutes the exercise of sovereign rights of states, so this is an issue between them. The two Koreas and the U.S. can start discussing a peace framework, but what Seoul and Washington decide is a matter for them. Those in favor of the USFK staying indefinitely point to the balance of power in Northeast Asia. China Russia and Japan are all trying to increase their military might in the region, and the U.S. troop presence on the Korean Peninsula is an effective way to counterbalance them. "Don't be anxious about moving American military forces," former U.S. secretary of state Condoleezza Rice advised U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday. "American military forces are a stabilizing force -- not just on the Korean Peninsula, but in the region as a whole." Albany, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/03/2018 -- Nitrate is a polyatomic ion containing one atom of nitrogen and three atoms of oxygen. Nitrate salts, which are a major source of sodium nitrate, are naturally obtained from the earth's crust. Sodium nitrate is an alkali metal nitrate salt containing sodium and nitrate ions. The compound has the chemical formula of NaNO3, and is also referred as Chile saltpetre, cubic or soda nitre, nitratine, and nitratite. Sodium nitrate is obtained either from mines or through chemical synthesis in laboratories. Sodium nitrate is a clear, colorless, odorless compound which either exists in the form of transparent crystals, white granules, or powder. Sodium nitrate is primarily used in the production of inorganic fertilizers, as heat transfer agent, and as intermediate in chemical processes. Request Report Brochure @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=42518 The global sodium nitrate market is primarily driven by the increase in demand for sodium nitrate fertilizers from the agriculture and food industry. Sodium nitrate fertilizers act as an oxidizing agent to proliferate the fertility of the soil and provide essential nitrogen nutrients to the crops. Sodium nitrate fertilizers are favorable for corn, wheat, sugarcane, canola, and soybeans crops. These crops are used in the production of biofuels. Consumption of biofuels in the automotive industry has been increasing as they enhance fuel efficiency and reduce vehicle emissions. Rise in demand for biofuels is projected to boost the consumption of sodium nitrate fertilizers. Increase in demand for food preservatives and variations in food habits of people are propelling the growth of sodium nitrate market. Furthermore, low cost and availability of sodium nitrate fertilizers is anticipated to boost the demand for sodium nitrate. However, excessive usage of sodium nitrate fertilizers deteriorate the quality of soil, thereby hampering the growth of the sodium nitrate market. Based on type, the sodium nitrate market can be segmented into food grade, pharmaceutical grade, industrial grade, and others. The industrial grade segment accounts for the key share of the global sodium nitrate market. Demand for industrial grade sodium nitrate is increasing due its rising consumption in fertilizers, metal casting, reprographic agents, and photochemical products. However, demand for food grade sodium nitrate is declining due to rising health concerns among consumers. In terms of end-use, the sodium nitrate market can be divided into fertilizers, food additives, construction chemicals, explosives, pharmaceuticals, wastewater treatment, and others. The fertilizers segment accounts for a significant share of the global sodium nitrate market. Demand for sodium nitrate fertilizers has increased as they possess high soluble and biodegradable properties. Read Report Overview @ https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sodium-nitrate-market.html Based on geography, the global sodium nitrate market can be classified into North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. The sodium nitrate market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to expand at a rapid pace due to growth in population and rise in disposable income of consumers. Demand for sodium nitrate has increased owing to rapid industrialization in countries such as China, India, and Japan. North America and Europe also constitute prominent share of the global sodium nitrate market owing to the increase in demand for sodium nitrate in the food and agriculture industry. Epping, Victoria -- (SBWIRE) -- 05/02/2018 -- United Homes Australia is a renowned home builder in Melbourne that's placed its focus on ensuring that clients in the region and its surroundings get the best services as it relates to home building. The company boasts of a team of professionals that bring over 25 years of experience into the industry; an advantage that has allowed them to meet the different construction needs of their clients in the best way possible. UHA's competencies lie in the provision of commercial building, town houses, new homes, and French provincials. Among the areas they operate in include Balwyn, Cranbourne Area, Mount Waverly, Point Cook, Tarneit and Craigieburn among others. They believe in offering their customers innovative home building solutions which has rendered them a one-stop shop for all building needs. Talking about why they're the best, the Head Architecture reiterated, "Our dedication and commitment to continuously serve our clients diligently has seen us climb to the top ranks. At United Homes Australia, we're all about making our clients smile, and this has pushed us towards becoming a favorite among many. The way we ensure our clients are satisfied is by making sure that we work hand in hand with them, involving them in every step of the process. This allows us to capture all the fine details that they might need included in their homes. Having worked with dozens of clients over the years, we're not knew to various client demands, and we always have a way of turning simple ideas into magnificent homes. Choosing us ensures that you get a home that will be worth every single dime that you spend on it." United Homes Australia is always a subject of discussion when one is talking about Balwyn builders for construction. Having served Balwyn for years now, the company has managed to set many benchmarks in innovative designs and superior construction. They have an eye for detail and endeavor consistently to come up with a luxurious feel in one's custom home. Throughout the construction process, they focus on the quality and development and ensure they capture every minor detail in their list of to-dos. By understanding the distinctive tastes of people, they're able to adamantly breathe character and elegance into every design making them the perfect choice for clients in Balwyn. Speaking more about their building solutions, the Head Architecture added, "There's a reason why we continue to feature among the best builders in Melbourne. This title comes as a result of hard work and commitment to ensuring that our customers get the best home building services in the industry. We not only believe in providing clients with excellent customer service but providing them with a variety of smart options that will see them a unique home. We thrive on both complex and standard projects, and we'll work on any project be it small or large." When it comes to partnering with custom home builders in Melbourne, it is important that one undertakes thorough research in order to find professional, reliable and capable custom home builders. United Homes Australia has for years been in the business of making sure that customers achieve custom homes at affordable prices. Joining hands with clients on every project they do, they've been able to construct many custom homes as per their clients' requirements. They never pass a challenge, and they can be trusted to deliver on their promises. About United Homes Australia United Homes Australia in helping individuals in Melbourne and its environments build executive homes. They provide reliable, cost-effective and contemporary home building services and promise excellence on every project they do. Company Name: Company Name: United Homes Australia Address: 12 Jovic Road, Epping, VIC 3076 Phone: 03 8407 3403 Website: http://www.unitedhomesaustralia.com.au GM Korea started a massive sales campaign, offering extended warranty periods and cash discounts to claw back some of its lost market share here. Customers who buy the Malibu sedan or Traxx small SUV in May will benefit from warranties that last seven years and up to 140,000 km. And 200 customers will win various prizes and chances to test-drive GM cars during the next two months. Customers can get between W1 million and W4 million off depending on the model purchased (US$1=W1,076). GM Korea's domestic sales stood at just 5,378 cars last month, down 54.2 percent compared to the same period of 2017. The automaker has suffered a 50-percent on-year decline in sales in Korea since announcing the closure of its plant in Gunsan, North Jeolla Province in February. South Korea, China and Japan will issue a declaration urging North Korea to denuclearize at their summit in Tokyo on May 9, Japanese media reported Wednesday. The three countries are "considering demanding in the declaration the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles," the Yomiuri Shimbun wrote. They will put in a phrase urging Pyongyang to "take concrete actions" now North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has in principle said that he willing to abandon his nuclear program. But the three neighbors are still fine-tuning their views on economic sanctions against Pyongyang. South Korea and Japan are in favor of keeping up the maximum pressure until the North denuclearizes completely, while China favors lifting sanctions gradually in keeping with progress. Meanwhile, the three countries will also commit to a trilateral free trade agreement, strengthening economic ties and expanding exchanges. The trilateral summits were launched in 2008, hosted annually by each country in turn, but they were put on ice between 2012 and 2015 over historical and territorial spats, and then promptly iced again. President Moon Jae-in, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will also sit down for separate talks between them on the sidelines of this year's summit. The Korean car industry is suffering from slumping domestic and foreign sales, intensifying competition from Chinese rivals, rising wages and a strengthening Korean won. The market shares of Korean automakers keep dropping in the U.S. and China, while imported cars are grabbing a bigger slice of the Korean market each year. Hyundai's operating profit in the first quarter of this year nearly halved on-year to W681.3 billion (US$1=W1,076). GM Korea's domestic sales plunged 50 percent for three months running, while Ssangyong's sales fell 3.9 percent last month compared to March. In the U.S., Hyundai and affiliate Kia's combined first-quarter sales fell seven percent and 14 percent compared to the same period of 2017 and 2016. The reason was their failure to shift their model lineup to respond to the growing craze for SUVs and other recreational vehicles. The situation is even worse in China, where their sales plunged 34 percent from the first three months of 2016. Meanwhile imports are grabbing a bigger slice of the domestic market, which used to be completely dominated by Korean cars. In 2010, imported cars accounted for just 6.9 percent of the domestic market, but that had risen to 18.4 percent in the first quarter of this year. Imported car dealers have been offering a wider range of discounts, resulting in more cars that cost under W50 million. Industry watchers expect imported cars to account for more than 20 percent of the market in two or three years. The Korea Customs Service has discovered a secret space in Korean Air chairman Cho Yang-ho's home in the tony residential neighborhood of Pyeongchang-dong in the northern part of Seoul where the family allegedly kept incriminating evidence in a luxury goods-smuggling scandal. "We raided his home again after a tip-off about the secret space that we failed to find during our first raid," a customs official said. Officials have raided five locations including Cho's home and Korean Air's baggage handling office at Incheon International Airport. The first raid of Cho's home was on April 21. Separately, customs officials also raided Korean Air headquarters on April 23. Cho's palatial house has three basements and two stories above ground. The family moved there in 2014 after extensive renovations. Cho lives there with his wife Lee Myung-hee and their second daughter, Cho Hyun-min, who are both suspected of smuggling luxury goods together with the older daughter, Cho Hyun-ah. This new CTI service will be launched on May 12 with three vessels on a 21-day rotation and is aiming to capture the rapidly growing trade between two of Asias tiger economies. Container lines have been steadily adding capacity to the Intra-Asia trade but shippers have also warned against overcapacity which could lead to rate volatility. Read More: Intra-Asia container trade offers growth potential, but can lines make money? China and Indonesia are two of the fastest growing economies in Asia and we are providing an express link between major ports in both countries to meet growing demand from our customers, said Gold Star Line md Danny Hoffmann. Port Rotation: Shanghai-Ningbo-Shekou-Jakarta-Surabaya-Kaohsiung-Shanghai In December 2017, the city of Ferndale adopted its inclusive housing policy. Now the city is actively searching out interested parties in helping to further define and put that policy into action. A May 11, 2018, deadline has been set for an RFP that calls for the development of a measurable action plan for the policy. Jordan Twardy, community and economic development director for the city, says that firms are encouraged to team up to present the best proposal possible. With its inclusive housing policy, Ferndale is now requiring that new residential projects of 25 units or more must set aside 25 percent of their units for affordable housing. Ten percent of the units must cost equal or less than 80 percent of the area median income, ten percent must cost equal or less than 60 percent, and five percent must cost equal or less than 50 percent. "Theres a lot of development happening in town. Its great to be a quote, unquote, "Hot area," but we want to make sure we retain what is great about us in the first place: Were accessible," Twardy says. "We want to make sure that our core values remain intact." For developments unable to reach the 25 percent requirement, the inclusive housing policy allows them to pay a penalty. Similar to a new business that cant meet a parking spot requirement, developments can offer the city a payment in lieu of creating the affordable units. Twardy says the RFP is about being pro-active and meeting the challenges of rising rents before it becomes too late. "Its easy to say we want these things but this is about having accountability," he says. "This is a point to rally around and say this is where we want to go." Click here to view the citys RFP. Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith. Press Release May 3, 2018 Dispatch from Crame No. 298: Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement of support to the DFA Career Officers' call for Cayetano's resignation 5/3/18 The Kuwait fiasco is the wake-up call that roused the career officials of the DFA to action. Yesterday, a letter from members of the Philippine diplomatic corps was released to the media calling on DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano to resign in order to save the Philippine foreign service from further international embarrassment. The action is unprecedented. This is probably the first time in the country's history that the foreign service officers of the DFA called for the resignation of the Foreign Affairs Secretary. It appears that the DFA's career officers decided that the Kuwait fiasco was the last straw, and that they were no longer willing to stand by idly on the sidelines while the institution they serve be disgraced before the international diplomatic community. Sec. Cayetano should listen to them and take heed. The Kuwait fiasco proved that he was way over his head in taking on the job of the nation's top diplomat. Before assuming the post of Foreign Affairs Secretary, Cayetano was a lawyer and a politician. He did not have any professional training and experience to lead the country's foreign service. Cayetano started out at the DFA as a dilettante in a field ruled by career diplomats with years of international exposure. This newbie status is not easily overcome by a few months of traipsing around the world and attending cocktail events. Diplomacy demands more skills. And it appears that despite several months of being DFA Secretary and trying to be the Philippines' top diplomat to the world, Cayetano just really doesn't have what it takes to be one. The Kuwait fiasco is a confirmation of this fact. Cayetano had to learn the hard way that there is no room for amateurs when it comes to foreign relations and diplomacy. Cayetano has to know his skills-set limitations and lack of experience in this field. It is time for Cayetano to surrender his DFA post to someone more capable and deserving. The position is not work that he can do at his leisure and for his pleasure. If the Kuwait fiasco has taught us anything, it is that mistakes in international diplomatic work have grave consequences. Cayetano's has cost the DFA almost everything its foreign service officers have worked hard for through the years. That is a lot to sacrifice for one man's political ambitions. Press Release May 3, 2018 Legarda Files Bill to Allot P1.16-B for Dengvaxia Recipients Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, today filed a bill to appropriate funds for medical support to those who were administered with the Dengvaxia vaccine. Senate Bill No. 1794 appropriates Php1,161,710,000 as supplemental budget for 2018 as assistance to Dengvaxia vaccinees. "This bill seeks to appropriate the said amount to fund the much-needed support to the Dengvaxia vaccine recipients by providing them with medical assistance for hospitalization, medical kits, out-patient care services, including laboratory tests, among others," said Legarda. The fund will come from the same amount refunded to the Philippine Government by Dengvaxia manufacturer Sanofi Pasteur, through its local distributor Zuellig Pharma. Upon approval of the two houses of Congress and enactment by the President, the supplemental budget will be released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to the Department of Health (DOH) to carry out the necessary activities and/or projects for the benefit of Dengvaxia recipients. Legarda noted that the Dengvaxia vaccine was originally intended to help eradicate, if not reduce, the dengue incidents in the country. "It was unfortunate that it was only after around 800,000 children were already administered with the vaccine that the public was informed of its accompanying risks, particularly to those who have not yet been infected with dengue, at the time of the first vaccine." "Tragic deaths of children supposedly linked to Dengvaxia have been reported in the news. I am certain the parents or guardians of these Dengvaxia recipients are worried about their children or ward. Hopefully, this medical assistance program will prevent further deaths and illnesses of those administered with the vaccine, regardless of the cause," Legarda concluded. Press Release May 3, 2018 Villar works for women economic empowerment Saying women empowerment has been evolving over the years, Senator Cynthia Villar noted that now, it is not just confined to empowerment against violence and other forms of abuse, but in great extent, economic empowerment. Villar said she believes that women have a lot to contribute to the country's development if they would just be given opportunities such as learning new skills. "I also believe that when we empower women, we empower families and generations of people," stressed Villar, a know advocate of women, fighting for their rights and welfare. Because of this, Villar said she prioritizes women in her projects and programs. As a woman in governance with a leadership role, Villar said there is no better way to see her influence than help her fellow women and their families. She said it is one of the most effective ways to make a positive difference in the society because "women have the power to lead, serve, nurture and transform." Villar said that being a legislator and social entrepreneur, she focuses and provides women, particularly those in poor communities, with livelihood opportunities to become financially independent and economically empowered. She also mentioned her Villar SIPAG has been establishing livelihood projects. At present, they have built 1,900 livelihood projects all over the Philippines. She noted that the benefits that these projects provide to the people are direct and fast. "No need for seed capital because the raw materials came from wastes and "we provide the training and technology for free," she said. The senator also said they have a similar advocacy for OFWs, majority of whom are women. She said there is a significant number of OFWs who encounter problems abroad. She said Villar SIPAG has resched and repatriated many of them under their Sagip-OFW program. The repatriated OFWs are provided with skills-up training to give them employable skills. Furthermore, as chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee, she also embarks on helping the country's agriculture since two-thirds of the country's population are directly or indirectly involved in this sector. Women also benefit from agricultural development because based on statistics, 25 percent of the world's population is composed of women-farmers. Oftentimes, some of them are heads of their families or households. There are worrying signs that the withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea could be used as a bargaining chip in negotiations with North Korea. What is particularly scary is the attitude of U.S. President Donald Trump, who holds the key to the upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. NBC reported that Trump raised the issue of the trade imbalance between the U.S. and South Korea in February of this year and tried to use the U.S. troop presence as a bargaining chip. White House aides barely managed to stop Trump from using that option, but we now know that the U.S. president tried to use that extremely sensitive issue to his advantage. Last year, Korea's trade surplus with the U.S. accounted for just three percent of America's total trade deficit. If he was willing to pull the U.S. Forces Korea out over such a small matter, he could very well put that option on the table when he meets with Kim for the sake of winning the Nobel Peace Prize. U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis already said a few days ago that the U.S. troop pullout could be part of issues to be discussed with North Korea. Moon Chung-in, President Moon Jae-in's special security adviser, wrote in Foreign Affairs magazine, "What will happen to U.S. forces in South Korea if a peace treaty is signed? It will be difficult to justify their continuing presence." When the comments sparked controversy, President Moon stepped in to say, "U.S. troops stationed in South Korea are an issue regarding the alliance between South Korea and the United States. It has nothing to do with signing peace treaties." He also warned his adviser not to create a confusion with his views. Until then Cheong Wa Dae had brushed off Moon Chung-in's controversial comments as his private opinion, but his views have often ended up becoming reality. They include the stalling environmental study on the impact for the stationing of a Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in southwestern Korea and postponement of joint South Korea-U.S. military drills during the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. It is well to be wary of any suggestion he tosses out. Perhaps Cheong Wa Dae was merely trying to temporarily stem the controversy. Still, a Cheong Wa Dae official told reporters that the U.S. troop presence is necessary in South Korea even after the signing of a peace treaty with North Korea. If that message is to get through to the U.S., Moon must clearly tell Trump that the issue should not be up for negotiation with Kim. One way to do that is to sack Moon Chung-in as his special adviser. Z Energy delivered annual earnings within its lowered guidance, with profits rising as the government looks more closely at pricing strategy in the fuel sector. In the year to March 31, revenue surged 18 percent to $4.57 billion, from $3.86 billion a year earlier. Net profit rose 8 percent to $263 million, while replacement cost operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and financial adjustments - a measure Z uses to strip out the changing value of inventory - rose 13 percent to $449 million. That's within the guidance update it gave in January, which was cut by about $20 million due to the shutdown of the New Zealand Refining fuel pipeline to Auckland and the rising price of crude oil. Chief executive Mike Bennetts said the company is forecasting replacement cost ebitdaf between $450 million and $485 million in the 2019 financial year, and $60 million in capital expenditure. Bennetts also said the company expects to pay a 2019 dividend of between 50 cents and 55 cents, equivalent to between 90 percent and 100 percent of free cash flow, if it hits the midpoint of that guidance. The board declared a full-year dividend of 21.9 cents, up from 19.9 cents in 2017, bringing total dividends for 2018 to 32.3 cents. The fuel industry has come under fire this week after a leaked email from BP revealed that company's pricing tactics, prompting Energy Minister Megan Woods to call BP in to explain. The industry was already being scrutinised after a report by three independent economic consultancies for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) released last July found New Zealand's petrol market may not be competitive, with retail margins increasing over the past five years while more expensive petrol in the South Island and Wellington aren't explained by higher costs in those areas. Z today said that it thinks the most likely outcome of last years fuel market study is a Commerce Commission market review once relevant legislation is passed later this year. "In our view a market review is likely to find a competitive market dynamic working effectively as demonstrated by the tension between volume and margin for existing participants, multiple new entrants investing capital due to the low barriers to entry, and customers have a wide range of choices for price and non price based offers," Z said. "The weighted average cents per litre discount declined in 2H FY18 driven by a reduction in the price spread, contrary to previous experience where spreads have expanded in a rising crude price environment. Most intense discount areas have shifted out of high population trading areas in line with an increase in new sites from regional distributors." Z said that in the year, gains from continued strong refining margin and growth in non-fuel revenue had been offset by the impact of competitor discounting and one-off supply disruption costs and price lag. Fuel margins dropped in the year, to 16.5 cents per litre, from 17.4 cents per litre in 2017. It said this reflected the changing product mix and costs from its loyalty offers. In 2018, Z sold 1.35 billion litres of petrol, which is 4 percent less on a like-for-like basis when adjusted as if the 2017 data included a full year of sales from its Caltex acquisition. Even using those adjusted figures, its diesel sales rose 4 percent to 1.64 billion litres in the year, and its other sales rose 6 percent to 1.15 billion litres, driven by jet fuel volumes. The company's monthly market share was at around 39 percent at the end of March, down from about 42 percent in March 2017, and Z said this was due to "unusual variations in competitor monthly sales data" reported through industry exchange. Some 60 new sites have been built by Z's competitors in the past two years, which the company said raises "concerns of over capitalisation leading into a period of uncertain long term demand". Z announced today it will take over the Mobil fuel supply contract with Foodstuffs, which covers 53 New World and Pak'nSave branded service stations, from September. The company didn't put a dollar value on the partnership, but said its 2019 guidance reflects seven months of the financial contribution. The company's service station food offering lifted earnings in the year, with non-fuel margins rising to $76 million from $69 million a year earlier. Average weekly shop sales rose 5 percent, helped by sales growth from sandwich and pie campaigns along with healthy food offers, Z said. Looking at the long term, Z says petrol demand is tracking above the more optimistic scenarios developed by the BusinessNZ Energy Council. It said there are insignificant changes in the lead indicators of disruption and electric vehicle uptake continues to grow from a low base, and while battery pack costs are declining, pricing and availability compared to conventional engines "remains challenging." The company's shares last traded at $7.30, and have dropped 5.6 percent in the past 12 months. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. 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Related News: Experience Comvita's Story of Innovation and Connection at World Expo 2020 Dubai National Day of Vaccination Backed by Business The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) The a2 Milk Company to Defend Class Action 6th October 2021 Morning Report NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Market Update - COVID-19 Impacts QEX Logistics Limited (NZX: QEX) NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal Censure 5th October 2021 Morning Report 4th October 2021 Morning Report Auckland International Airport Limited (NZX: AIA) Announces New Chief Executive Plexure Group Limited (NZX: PX1) Completes TASK Deal and Announce New TASK Clients US apparel group VF Corp, which bought merino wool clothing maker Icebreaker Holdings for $288 million, has been party to a number of civil lawsuits in the US but they were a normal part of doing business and don't reflect badly on the company, says New Zealand's foreign investments regulator. The Overseas Investment Office approved the sale of Icebreaker in February. Icebreaker's shareholders, including founder Jeremy Moon, had sought a tie-up with "an established international entity or group for global market access, logistics and management opportunities" to "fully realise Icebreaker's growth potential" and picked VFC as its preferred buyer after a competitive tender process, a summary of the decision said. Pennsylvania-based VFC, whose brands include The North Face, Timberland, SmartWool, Vans, Wrangler and Lee, said adding Icebreaker to its Smartwool brand would position the company as a global leader in merino wool and natural fibres. The OIO released its full decision under the Official Information Act this week, with redactions of some commercially sensitive information. The report includes the good character tests the OIO must apply to an applicant and its officers under the Overseas Investment Act, including a check on whether the ROP (relevant overseas person) and IWC (individual with control over the relevant person) are listed on the Offshore Leaks Database of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists which includes the leaked data used in the Paradise Papers, the Panama Papers, the Offshore Leaks and the Bahamas Leaks investigations. No connections were found with the ICIJ database. The OIO is required to consider all allegations of offending whether or not it resulted in a conviction. The decision lists nine lawsuits against various directors of VFC although they all related to their involvement with other companies and none were deemed to reflect poorly on their character. For one director, Robert Hurst, mention is made of a New York Times article about unpaid art sales tax in 2002. The OIO said it was "akin to an audit related to sales tax" and no money was found to be due. In another instance, in 2017 Hurst was sued in his capacity as a director of a company called Oxbow, having been appointed by his private equity firm Crestview Partners. There had been no outcome in that case by decision time, the OIO said. Four involved director Clarence Otis but related to his roles as chair or chief executive of Dardin Restaurants, which owns a number of US restaurant chains. All but one (which ended in a settlement) were dismissed. "Such articles and lawsuits are to be expected considering the range of directorships held by Otis in large corporates, and the litigious environment in North America," the OIO said. The decision lists about 29 lawsuits involving VFC, some dating back to the 1990s, and many were dismissed. They include a number of copyright or patent infringement suits, or licensing and employment disputes. The OIO also considered several reports relating to employment, notably two articles about conditions in factories in Cambodia that produced its garments. One noted articles about factory conditions in Cambodia where 500 workers "were hospitalised after fainting out of exhaustion and hunger". The plant made products for VFC, Nike, Puma and Asics. The OIO said VFC "has had multiple experiences in Cambodia with situations of a mass fainting," which it said was a phenomenon unique to that country. It said VFC had "robust protocols and programmes in place to ensure all workers within the global supply chain receive fair working conditions." Another concerned an investigation by the Fair Labour Association that said a VFC garment factory in Cambodia was guilty of freedom of association violation. The OIO said VFC put corrective measures in place including reinstatement and backpay of workers who had been dismissed and ensuring unions could operate in the factory. Other cases included VFC settling a California case for selling products containing certain chemicals without the required warnings and fines paid for making unsubstantiated public health claims for the anti-bacterial properties of North Face footwear. "As expected, VFC has been party to a number of civil lawsuits in America," the OIO said. "This is to be expected of a large, publicly listed company in the States and we don't believe it reflects negatively on its character. The lawsuits arise in the normal course of business." Icebreaker had annual sales of $220 million in the last financial year, of which 86 percent were from overseas markets, and is expected to immediately add to VFC's earnings. NYSE-listed VFC has a market capitalisation of around US$32 billion. The company lifted 2017 revenue 7 percent to US$11.8 billion, generating a profit of US$615 million. The Icebreaker deal didn't amount to a material transaction for the company. Icebreaker signed a 10-year, $100 million supply contract with New Zealand merino wool growers a week after the deal was first announced in November, with the clothing company paying a premium to recognise grower loyalty and let the firm use farm imagery and storytelling in its global marketing efforts. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Experience Comvita's Story of Innovation and Connection at World Expo 2020 Dubai National Day of Vaccination Backed by Business The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) The a2 Milk Company to Defend Class Action 6th October 2021 Morning Report NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Market Update - COVID-19 Impacts QEX Logistics Limited (NZX: QEX) NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal Censure 5th October 2021 Morning Report 4th October 2021 Morning Report Auckland International Airport Limited (NZX: AIA) Announces New Chief Executive Plexure Group Limited (NZX: PX1) Completes TASK Deal and Announce New TASK Clients A second case of Mycoplasma bovis has been found in the North Island, though the Ministry for Primary Industries says this doesn't mark a major turning point. Mycoplasma bovis is commonly found in cattle globally, including Australia. It does not infect humans and presents no food safety risk, but can have serious effects on cattle, including mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis and late-term abortions. A mixed sheep and beef property in the Pahiatua area, near Palmerston North in the Manawatu, has been confirmed as having the infection. The farm was identified through National Animal Identification and Tracing (NAIT) records, as it's connected to other infected properties through animal movements. MPI also confirmed two further mixed sheep and beef farms in Southland have been infected, but said there was nothing further to report, after speculation about the infection spreading to the Waikato. Some 35 properties have now been found to be infected, with 8,000 animals culled over eight properties and 3,000 animals to be culled by the end of the week. A final decision on future management of the disease is still to be made, MPI said today. "While this is the second North Island detection it should not be considered a major turning point in the response," MPI said."This is, in fact, just a further property uncovered through robust tracing activity. It is likely we will find further positive properties as this tracing continues." Some 53 properties are under restricted place notices, including the 35 infected properties, and MPI said those farms will stay under quarantine while it carries out testing. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. 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Related News: Experience Comvita's Story of Innovation and Connection at World Expo 2020 Dubai National Day of Vaccination Backed by Business The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) The a2 Milk Company to Defend Class Action 6th October 2021 Morning Report NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Market Update - COVID-19 Impacts QEX Logistics Limited (NZX: QEX) NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal Censure 5th October 2021 Morning Report 4th October 2021 Morning Report Auckland International Airport Limited (NZX: AIA) Announces New Chief Executive Plexure Group Limited (NZX: PX1) Completes TASK Deal and Announce New TASK Clients China Construction Bank's New Zealand subsidiary almost tripled its net interest income last year and recorded a five-fold increase in profit by adding commercial and retail customers and lending to the infrastructure, energy and resources sectors. Last year China's second-largest lender opened a local branch, becoming the first overseas bank approved under the Reserve Banks dual-registration rules, in addition to its subsidiary China Construction Bank (New Zealand) which registered on Jan. 30, 2014. Its local directors include former prime minister Jenny Shipley and professional directors John Shewin and Michael Allen. The subsidiary's disclosure statement shows net interest income jumped to $24.5 million in calendar 2017 from $8.8 million a year earlier and up from $1.4 million in the 11 months of its inaugural year 2014. Profit jumped to $10.4 million from $1.8 million. Its provision for impairments on loans rose to $1.6 million last year from $745,000 in 2016. The bank's residential mortgage book jumped 93 percent to about $735 million and its corporate loans soared 151 percent to $913 million. Total gross loans and advances rose to $1.65 billion from $745 million. While it remains a minnow compared with the big four Australian-owned banks in New Zealand (ANZ Bank's gross loans were about $126 billion at the end of 2017), if its rate of growth continues it is potentially snapping at the heels of the smallest of the 'big nine' - the Co-operative Bank, whose gross loans were $2.27 billion, according to KPMG's quarterly survey. "China Construction Bank has made significant progress in the last 3.5 years in building its client business" in New Zealand, Jun Qi, the New Zealand unit's chief executive, told BusinessDesk. The bank's "well-defined strategy, clear focus and risk management framework" culminated in the solid operating performance in 2017, he said. Qi said the outlook for 2018 was "to continue to grow on our success." Its corporate and institutional banking team has made inroads into the infrastructure, energy and resources sectors in New Zealand. In addition, it has been a lead arranger role for a transportation infrastructure PPP, provided corporate financing for three of New Zealands primary international airports and ports, and to as several NZX listed energy and property sector companies, the lender said. "These sectors align with the core strengths of the wider CCB Group and more importantly, are key areas of economic stability and growth in New Zealand," Qi said. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. 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Related News: Experience Comvita's Story of Innovation and Connection at World Expo 2020 Dubai National Day of Vaccination Backed by Business The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) The a2 Milk Company to Defend Class Action 6th October 2021 Morning Report NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Market Update - COVID-19 Impacts QEX Logistics Limited (NZX: QEX) NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal Censure 5th October 2021 Morning Report 4th October 2021 Morning Report Auckland International Airport Limited (NZX: AIA) Announces New Chief Executive Plexure Group Limited (NZX: PX1) Completes TASK Deal and Announce New TASK Clients Z Energy, which today reported revenue and profit rose in the latest financial year, has reiterated its view that the petrol market is competitive as it pushes its innovation and capability-led strategy. In the year to March 31, revenue surged 18 percent to $4.57 billion. Net profit rose 8 percent to $263 million, while replacement cost operating earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and financial adjustments - a measure Z uses to strip out the changing value of inventory - rose 13 percent to $449 million. The fuel industry has come under fire this week after a leaked email from BP revealed that company's pricing tactics, prompting Energy Minister Megan Woods to call in BP to explain. The sector was already under scrutiny after a fuel market study last year found New Zealand's petrol market may not be competitive, with retail margins increasing over the past five years while more expensive petrol in the South Island and Wellington aren't explained by higher costs in those areas. On an investor and media conference call this morning, Z chief executive Mike Bennetts said the difference between the cheapest petrol and the most expensive petrol across the Z network was 20 cents per litre, as of yesterday, and that difference "exists in Auckland as much as across the country." "This isn't a situation of provinces cross-subsidising urban centres, this is all about local individual trading markets competing fiercely on a site-by-site basis," Bennetts said. "Up until a couple of weeks ago, the cheapest place in New Zealand to get petrol - certainly in the Z network - was Invercargill, not in one of the traditional hotspots around discounting. That's moved, the current cheapest place to get petrol in the Z network is Levin. The market is moving a great deal. "Part of the reason of pointing to Invercargill is it's not a market where we've observed the 'Gull effect', it certainly is an example of there being a lot more competition beyond companies like ourselves, and that manifests in price and non-price offers," Bennetts said, adding that 20 percent of industry sales go through smaller independent brands. Within its annual earnings today, Z also announced it will take over the Mobil fuel supply contract with Foodstuffs, which covers 53 New World and Pak 'n Save branded service stations, from September. It will supply those stations and its own stations will be the redemption point for discounts on supermarket dockets, if not redeemed at those supermarket stations. Its initial volume forecast for the deal is 150 million litres per year. The company didn't put a dollar value on the partnership, but said its 2019 guidance reflects seven months of the financial contribution, though it doesn't expect to get any value in the current financial year because of the set-up costs. Bennetts told investors and media that the deal is one of six it has been working on, and it will be in a position to name and quantify the other five, "if there is indeed still five", at its half-year earnings announcement. "It has been a long time coming from our perspective. We have a relationship with Foodstuffs through the FlyBuys activity we do, and in our own ways, each of us were frustrated around having a different relationship when it comes to fuel," he said. Bennetts said the contract came to market in the past couple of months, as it does periodically. He wouldn't reveal how long the contract will last for commercial sensitivity reasons, but said it was a "medium term" contract and Z won't have to bid for it annually. The company has been moving away from an asset-led strategy to one which is capability-led through its Strategy 3.0 project. That has included its Fastlane trial, where customers can buy petrol without leaving their cars; a new app, launched yesterday; identifying 1.6 million unique named customers and 40,000 unique named commercial/SME customers; and building a predictive model for customers at risk of churn. "It's really important we've got this, it's a great example of strategy in action," Bennetts said. "We've always said that we would prefer an asset-light, structural growth in volumes rather than putting lots of new service stations down on the ground: we don't think that's the way for a company like us to participate going forward. Structural changes that are asset- or capital-light are the best thing for us to do." Bennetts said the current FlyBuys reward partnership it has with Foodstuffs, which replaced supermarket docket discounts, will stay in place for now, but expected that could change in the future. "We've got to work with Foodstuffs to say, each of us are doing a separate thing in separate ways, what can we do together that creates a different customer experience?" The company's shares have gained 1.6 percent today to $7.42. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Experience Comvita's Story of Innovation and Connection at World Expo 2020 Dubai National Day of Vaccination Backed by Business The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) The a2 Milk Company to Defend Class Action 6th October 2021 Morning Report NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Market Update - COVID-19 Impacts QEX Logistics Limited (NZX: QEX) NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal Censure 5th October 2021 Morning Report 4th October 2021 Morning Report Auckland International Airport Limited (NZX: AIA) Announces New Chief Executive Plexure Group Limited (NZX: PX1) Completes TASK Deal and Announce New TASK Clients The New Zealand dollar gained ahead of US jobs data and after charts suggested the kiwi's decline left it oversold. The kiwi dollar rose to 70.40 US cents as at 8am in Wellington from 70.17 cents late yesterday. The trade-weighted index rose to 73.45 from 73.27. The kiwi fell as low as 69.83 UAS cents yesterday and its relative strength index fell to 24 on a scale where a reading below 30 suggests it is oversold. The US dollar index fell from its highest levels since late December ahead of employment figures tonight and amid perceptions that yesterday's statement from the Federal Reserve wasn't as bullish as some in the market had expected, even though it was seen to affirm more rate hikes this year. "The kiwi is the best performer of the G10 currencies as the USD lost ground after yesterday mornings Fed announcement underwhelmed the market," traders at HiFX said in a note. " The US payrolls data is expected to show US unemployment fell to 4 percent from 4.1 percent while the world's biggest economy added188,000 workers in April. The New Zealand dollar traded at 90.46 Canadian cents from 90.11 cents late yesterday, having earlier touched a four-month low, after figures showed Canada's trade deficit rose to a record in March as imports grew faster than exports. The kiwi rose to 93.48 Australian cents from 93.25 cents yesterday. It rose to 4.4718 yuan from 4.4653 yuan and gained to 51.85 British pence from 51.60 pence. It was at 76.87 yen from 76.93 yen and rose to 58.73 euro cents from 58.50 cents. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. 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Related News: Experience Comvita's Story of Innovation and Connection at World Expo 2020 Dubai National Day of Vaccination Backed by Business The a2 Milk Company Limited (NZX: ATM) The a2 Milk Company to Defend Class Action 6th October 2021 Morning Report NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Market Update - COVID-19 Impacts QEX Logistics Limited (NZX: QEX) NZ Markets Disciplinary Tribunal Censure 5th October 2021 Morning Report 4th October 2021 Morning Report Auckland International Airport Limited (NZX: AIA) Announces New Chief Executive Plexure Group Limited (NZX: PX1) Completes TASK Deal and Announce New TASK Clients PBOC confirms move by British financial company From:ChinaDaily | 2018-05-02 22:52 Chinas central bank, the Peoples Bank of China, has confirmed it has received an application from Experian, the British provider of consumer and business credit reporting, which wants to offer corporate credit information within China. We have received the application and will take on the registration according to the law, a spokesperson for the central bank, which is also known as PBOC, told China Daily late on Wednesday. The move is being seen as a signal of the further opening-up of Chinas financial sector, following an announcement last May that the countrys credit rating services would be improved. Earlier on Wednesday, the central bank also confirmed it had received an application from the international foreign exchange service provider, WorldFirst, which wants to enter the third-party payment industry. PBOC governor Yi Gang has pledged several financial opening-up measures and a corresponding timetable. More policies are on the way, including moves to eliminate limits on foreign ownership for financial asset investment and wealth management companies set up by commercial banks, a move that is planned to take effect by the end of the year. Access to water connections made easier From:Shine | 2018-05-03 01:29 New regulations issued by Shanghai Water Authority have simplified procedures for applying for water supply and drainage. Only 11 industries including construction firms, restaurants, hospitals, heavy industries and livestock farms still have to apply for water permission as their waste water are a threat to the water treatment plants. Others like property management companies which want to connect waste water pipes to the municipal pipeline are exempted and no longer need to apply for drainage permission. Instead, the authority will do on-site assessment to evaluate the property. Companies and properties will now get water within 20 days after applying for it. Previously, it would take up to two months. The processing time for drainage permission has also been reduced to 10 days from previous 60 working days. Early yesterday, Cao Yucai from Shanghai Jihua Logistic Group visited the registration office of Shanghai SMI Water on Changping Road in Jingan District to apply for water supply for a property on Yejiazhai Road in Putuo District. Cao had filed the application online on April 27. It used to take at least three months before we could get water, Cao, who has prior experience of applying for water supply, said. But now I expect it to be sorted out much earlier. Cao is applying for water for a property that used to be a warehouse. Jihua Logistic Group plans to convert the warehouse into an office, which needs bulkier pipes as the water demand in an office is higher than a warehouse. The water company has decided to use a 75-millimeter pipe to replace the old 40mm pipe, Cao said. Cao said if water supply is made available earlier than usual he can rent out the place earlier too. The rent of the property is 1.5 million yuan (US$240,000) a month, said Cao. I can now rent the place out sooner. Chen Zhongmin from Shanghai SMI Water said most of the applications they receive are for connecting the propertys pipeline to the citys water system. The big data system with information provided by various government departments are making the task easier. Earlier, they had to dig out information about the property and the pipeline in the neighborhood after receiving an application. Instead of answering an applicants questions or correcting their applications, we are now more proactive that saves a lot of time, said Rong Shuhua from Shanghai Water Authority. Chen Qi, the manager of Rongxin Greenland International in Minhang District, was applying for drainage for the commercial property. He was expecting a longer wait from his past experience but the waste water pipeline was connected to the municipal pipeline system yesterday afternoon. Chen had applied for drainage last week. He said the pipeline will save him considerable money as he can reach out to businesses sooner. Xu Lingchao / SHINE A Shanghai Water Authority worker gets down to the sewer to connect the drainage pipeline of Rongxin Greenland International with the municipal system. The latest fist fights between right-wing Hindu activists and Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students over a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah has once again brought to fore the fault-lines running deep within the Indian society. Along with Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and many other renowned personalities, Muhammad Ali Jinnahs portrait has been gracing the AMU Students Union Hall for the last eighty years. The latest controversy was stoked by the BJP MP, Satish Gautam, who tried to question the patriotism of Aligarh Muslim University claiming the presence of the portrait proves AMU is harbouring anti-national elements. This claim is simply laughable and shows the desperation of the Sangh Parivar to seek political mileage from a dead issue. In the run up to general election 2019, the saffron outfits are on the hunt for electoral issues, and the controversy over Jinnahs portrait couldnt have come at a more opportune moment. Who was Jinnah? Jinnah was without doubt a great lawyer and a shrewd politician. In his early years, he was a nationalist to the core and rose to become an important figure in the Indian National Congress. He had a roaring practice and many top future lawyers worked under him. One of those was MC Chagla a nationalist Indian to the core - who honed his legal practice under the very tough disciplinarian that Jinnah was. Jinnah, who was not much into politics earlier, first joined the Congress in the year 1904, when he attended the Congress's twentieth annual meeting, in Bombay in December of that year. The man who later went on to lay the foundation of a separate Muslim nation was amazingly the part of the moderate faction in the nationalist party, where he and like-minded people favoured HinduMuslim unity and demanded self rule in the country. Initially, he was completely opposed to the Muslim League and the idea of separate electorates for Muslims. When many Muslim leaders met in Dhaka under the leadership of Agha Khan to form the Muslim League, Jinnah openly opposed the move. A desperate Aga Khan later wrote it was "freakishly ironic" that Jinnah would oppose the formation of a party he would later lead and "came out in bitter hostility toward all that I and my friends had done ... He said that our principle of separate electorates was dividing the nation against itself." Why Ulama opposed Jinnah? The opposition to Jinnah didnt come from well-educated westernised Muslims. He was challenged by the Muslim clergy, particularly the Ulama of Deoband, who were not just against the partition of the country, but also the idea of the two-nation theory. The scholars of Deoband realised at a very early stage the designs of a politically cunning Jinnah, who was trying to sell the idea of two-nation theory to the Muslims of the Subcontinent. In response to the Muslim League leaders campaign to shame the Muslims, who opposed the two-nation theory and who wanted to remain in an undivided India, Maulana Husain Ahmad Madani wrote: "You write that I have joined the Hindus and you are stunned by that. Why do you get affected by such propaganda? Muslims have been together with the Hindus since they moved to Hindustan. And I have been with them since I was born. I was born and raised here. If two people live together in the same country, same city, they will share lot of things with each other. Till the time there are Muslims in India, they will be together with the Hindus. In the bazaars, in homes, in railways, trams, in buses, lorries, in stations, colleges, post offices, jails, police stations, courts, councils, assemblies, hotels, etc. You tell me where and when we dont meet them or are not together with them? You are a zamindar. Are not your tenants Hindus? You are a trader; dont you buy and sell from Hindus? You are a lawyer; dont you have Hindu clients? You are in a district or municipal board; wont you be dealing with Hindus? Who is not with the Hindus? All ten crore Muslims of India are guilty then of being with the Hindus." Muslim League and Hindu Mahasabha created discord in India Muslim Leagues genesis lies in the divisive agenda. From the very beginning, they demanded separate electorates for Muslims. Jinnah, who initially was opposed to the idea, later fell for it. He went on to score his first political victory by being elected as Bombay's Muslim representative on the Imperial Legislative Council. He was a compromise candidate and emerged victorious when two older, better-known Muslims fighting for same post remained deadlocked, without anyone managing victory. Both the Muslim League and the Hindu Mahasabha were trying to divide the Muslims and Hindus as two separate poles without any meeting ground. This was a complete break from the past in a country where both the communities lived side by side in complete harmony. Hindu Mahasabha, in order to stoke anti-Muslim feelings among caste Hindus and scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, engineered riots in different parts of North India. This proved beneficial for the Hindu Mahasabha in two distinct ways: it brought a large number of SCs and STs into mainstream Hinduism and created animosity among the adherents of the two religions. This was a Godsend for the Muslim League as it was already trying to put forward its agenda by claiming that Muslims and Hindus are two distinct people and cannot remain together. So both the Hindu Mahasabha and the Muslim League served the purpose of each other by engineering riots and creating division and animosity for each other. Jinnah, a divisive figure There is no denying that despite his secular upbringing and the fact that he was a non-practising Muslim he ate pork and consumed alcohol Jinnah was a divisive figure. A shrewd politician, he used the religious sentiments to bisect a nation that had remained together for hundreds of centuries. There is no justification for his portrait to grace a place where the portraits of Mahatma Gandhi, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and a host of other nationalist leaders adorn the walls. Rafiq Zakaria, in his book The Man Who Divided India An Insight into Jinnah's Leadership and its Aftermath sums it up in his inimitable style. Zakaria says: "No one can of course blame Jinnah alone for the animosity that existed between the Hindus and the Muslims before Partition, but was division of the country the only solution? No other Muslim leader before him had ever suggested such a disastrous remedy. Why did he go to this extent? Was it the result of a deep-rooted conviction on his part or was it because of a certain vindictiveness, which blinded him to the consequences of the terrible alternative he so doggedly pursued? In the evening of his life when transfer of power from the British to the Indians became inevitable, Jinnah turned his wrath on his Hindu compatriots in the Congress on the spurious grounds that the Hindus were the real enemies of the Muslims. He worked up a religious frenzy among his community warning them that after the British left, they would be reduced to being slaves of the Hindus." Need more be said on the matter? More columns by Syed Ubaidur Rahman: Muslim Law Board caught in a time warp Minorities' persecution and blasphemy laws in Pakistan Narendra Modi Muslim outreach: Will Muslims bite the bait? Will Congress return to power in Karnataka? Muslim Law Board shocked by top cleric's views on Babri Narendra Modi: Why Muslims are losing hope Why Muslims are not mourning withdrawal of Haj subsidy Owaisi expands his appeal thanks to talaq bill Will Indian Muslims take a break from too much focus on electoral politics? STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Borough natives deeply engaged in the growing gun safety debate attended Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signing Tuesday of the Domestic Violence Prevention Act. Michael Arvanites, S.I.'s appointee to the Board of Trustees for the City University of New York, and Deyvn Sword, St. Joseph Hill Academy junior and organizer for March for Our Lives S.I., joined hundreds of fellow activists during the ceremony at John Jay City University of New York Criminal Justice College. Arvanites, who survived the City Hall assassination of Councilman James Davis in 2003, said he was enthusiastic about seeing "movement on common sense idea, instead of the inaction in D.C. People shouldn't have to fear their death at the hands of their abuser, that we can go to school, work, the movies or a concert without Damocles sword hanging over their heads." Congressional Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Parkland survivor Aleia Eastman, a junior at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who hid under the bodies of classmates during the mass shooting, also were on hand to witness Gov. Cuomo sign the law requiring domestic violence perpetrators to hand over weapons and preventing them from purchasing guns. "Women in the USA are six times more likely to die by their partners gun than in any other country," Pelosi said. "A women is fatally shot by a partner or former partner every 16 hours in America." Cuomo listed all school mass school shootings since Columbine in 1999 and then asked, "At what point does this country's federal elected officials stand up and say we can't allow these repulsive shootings to keep happening? How can we allow innocent people to keep dying." March for Our Lives S.I. organizer Sword, 15, expressed hope for the future: "New York continues to beat the forefront of change in this country, and this legislation is the next step in common sense gun safety. Washington should follow Go. Cuomo's example and take real action to protect Americans. The new law will prevent those with an order of protection and those convicted of domestic violence, will no longer be allowed to purchase a gun, they will also have to surrender what firearms the do have." Referencing the SAFE Act, passed 31 days after Sandy Hook Elementary school mass shooting 5 years ago, Cuomo said, "Those in New York who hunt, still hunt. Those who go to gun ranges, still go. No one came for their guns, and 77,000 mentally ill people in New York State are now prevented from owning a fire arm." But there is still much work to be done, Cuomo stressed. "We can do everything we can in New York, and we are; yet until we have federal reform the guns can come up, and do come up, from the Carolinas and Virginia. New York State sets the bar for the nation, we are the beacon for progressive common sense legislation, and once again we are leading the way." Lorraine Pacifico was just 10 years old when Keith Vischio killed her on July 7, 1980 STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Former Oakwood resident Ann Pacifico had one wish before she died in September 2016: That Keith Vischio, who brutally murdered her 10-year-old daughter, Lorraine, in 1980 remain behind bars for the rest of his life. Now, Pacificos son, Anthony, is doing all he can to fulfill his moms final request. He has once again joined forces with Bret Vinocur, a Columbus, Ohio, man to spearhead an online petition drive on , to shoot down Vischios latest bid to be set free. Don't Edit In this July 1980 front page photo, Keith Vischio, then 20, is escorted from the New Dorp police station by Detective Anthony DeGise, after his arrest in Lorraine Pacifico's murder. (Staten Island Advance) The web site contains a page on which individuals can petition the New York state parole board to deny Vischio parole. My mothers last dying wish was that he die in prison, that he never see the light of day, Anthony Pacifico said in a telephone interview. Hes got the blood of Lorraine on his hands. Vischio, who turns 58 later this month, will appear before the parole board during the week of May 21. Don't Edit Keith Vischio, as seen in a 2017 photo. (Courtesy of New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision) He has been denied parole on nine prior occasions. But Pacifico and Vinocur, who runs the web site, said they are particularly worried this year in view of cop-killer Herman Bells release last week from prison. Bell, 70, was convicted in 1979 of the 1971 murders of NYPD Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones in Harlem. He was also convicted of slaying a California cop in 1971. Don't Edit Capt. Peter Scalabrino, in this file photo, inches his way down the embankment where Lorraine Pacifico's body was found in July 1980. (Staten Island Advance) Pacifico said he appeared before a state parole board on April 13 in Manhattan and implored members to keep Vischio behind bars. He may say hes sorry, but he has no idea of the pain that my family has suffered, said Pacifico, 55, who lives out of state. Lorraine Pacifico was savagely slain on July 7, 1980. Authorities said Vischio, then 20 and who lived nearby, smashed her skull 20 times with a rock. The killer also slashed her stomach, from neck to waist, several times with a broken beer bottle. Don't Edit Lorraine Pacifico's body was found on July 10, 1980, beneath the Guyon Avenue overpass of the Staten Island Railway station in Oakwood, seen in this file photo (Staten Island Advance) The body of the gifted swimmer and animal lover was found three nights later underneath the Guyon Avenue overpass of the Staten Island Railway station in Oakwood. At the time of the attack, Vischio was under the influence of a mix of Quaaludes and alcohol, after quitting his job as a clerk for a Manhattan stock-brokerage firm earlier that same day, said Advance reports. Don't Edit Don't Edit Lorraine Pacifico's body was discovered on this ledge, seen in this file photo, beneath the Guyon Avenue overpass of the Staten Island Railway. (Staten Island Advance) Vischio later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced in January 1981. He admitted he killed Lorraine once she began screaming after he refused to let her leave. The Pacifico family believes it was a sex attack and that Lorraine fought back. Vischio's fingerprint was found embedded in Lorraine's blood on a piece of glass and one of his pubic hairs was next to the little girl. Don't Edit In this file photo, the Rev. Lawrence O'Connor of Our Lady Queen of Peace R.C. Church, New Dorp, is helped up the embankment at the Oakwood train station after administering Last Rites to the slain girl, on July 10, 1980 (Staten Island Advance) Vinocur said he launched the www.blockparole.com website 16 years ago in response to the paroling of an Ohio man who raped and murdered the 3-year-old daughter of the parolee's girlfriend. While he mainly limits the site to Ohio cases, Vinocur said he and Pacifico had connected online, and he felt compelled to help again. The two men first kicked off a petition drive in 2014 when Vischio was up for parole then. Don't Edit This Staten Island Advance front page from Dec. 20, 1980, informs readers of Keith Vischio's murder plea. (Staten Island Advance) If they can parole a guy who killed three police officers, its concerning, Bret Vinocur said, referring to Herman Bell. I hope they have the sense to deny this guy. Hes dangerous. I want to make it clear to the parole board theres community support and concern to keep this guy in prison, added Vinocur. This was a heinous pre-calculated murder. Thats the whole reason we started this (web site), to keep the worst of the worst in prison. If he gets out, hed be a threat. Heinz has triggered what Food For Thought dubbed "an all-out social media war" with its latest product: a sauce made by combining mayonnaise and ketchup called, wait for it, "mayochup." In Ireland, this combo is known as "burger sauce," and as "fry sauce" in Utah. It's also sold in bottle form in Puerto Rico as well. While some welcome the dawn of mayochup, others say an actual jar of ketchup and mayonnaise mixed together is sick and wrong. What do you think? PERSPECTIVES Half a million Americans asked for this! Heinz is simply bowing to the will of the people. Alright you monsters, Heinz will release Mayochup now that 500,000 of you asked for it: https://t.co/Vp1phOlEPW pic.twitter.com/Jqtilx7kTA Adweek (@Adweek) April 23, 2018 But for many condiment aficionados, this new product is an abomination. Its half ketchup, half mayonnaise, and if you ask some people, 100% wrong https://t.co/whXLi32IlG Fast Company (@FastCompany) April 21, 2018 And as many pointed out, this product is already widely available in Puerto Rico. Wtf is this Heinz "mayochup" nonsense? It's mayoketchup. It's on every grocery store shelf in Puerto Rico. pic.twitter.com/SisgnpBsXG Yesenia Perez-Cruz (@yeseniaa) April 13, 2018 Still, plenty of consumers are thrilled. Basic condiments, ranked 1) mayochup 2) mayonnaise 3) ketchup 4) mustard Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) April 27, 2018 The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When state Supreme Court Officer Michael Bisceglie recently trained to be an emergency medical technician, he expected he might have to use that knowledge if an emergency arose in court one day. But life takes strange twists, sometimes in the most unusual places. Bisceglie, 46, found that out on Tuesday -- and saved a life in the process -- when he administered CPR to revive a prisoner who went into cardiac arrest at a rest stop on the New York State Thruway in Ulster County. The inmate, who is serving a murder sentence, was stricken while being transported back to Coxsackie Correctional Facility after spending some time in the hospital. Luckily for the prisoner, Bisceglie and three colleagues from state Supreme Court, St. George - Capt. Brian Rice, Sgt. Salvatore Didonna and Officer Elaine Bacci - were returning to Staten Island after a Law Day ceremony and awards presentation at the state Court of Appeals in Albany, said Lucian Chalfen, a spokesman for the state Office of Court Administration. Officer Marquel Sanders, who is assigned to Manhattan state Supreme Court, also was with them. Bacci had received a Community Service award for her work aiding victims of Hurricane Maria, which, in September, devastated Puerto Rico and several Caribbean nations. The group stopped around 2 p.m. for lunch at a Thruway rest stop in Ulster County. Two state Corrections officers immediately flagged them down and said a 40-year-old prisoner they were transporting in a van had gone into cardiac arrest. Because they were only two, the Corrections officers couldn't open the van without additional law enforcement aid. The Staten Island contingent rushed in to help. On opening the van, Bisceglie, who just completed EMT training through the court system last July, examined the prisoner. The muscular man, who was shackled, was taking short, rapid breaths. Bisceglie, a court officer himself for less than two years, tried to keep the man alert and stabilized, and began chest compressions. But the prisoner stopped breathing and slipped into unconsciousness; Bisceglie continued CPR. Rice, meanwhile, had told Bacci to call 911 while Didonna and Sanders had secured the area, said Chalfen. Bisceglie didn't let up. Several minutes later, just as the ambulance arrived, the man coughed, opened his eyes and sat up, said Bisceglie. Bisceglie, who previously worked for FedEx for 25 years, said he had never performed CPR on another person and was admittedly nervous. "You want to make sure you're doing the right thing," he said. "You rely on your training. It kicks in." The ambulance then rushed the prisoner to Kingston Hospital for further treatment, said Chalfen. Bisceglie shrugged off any notion of being a hero. "I'm happy it all worked out," he said modestly. "I felt good. Everyone's saying you did a great thing." 5.2-magnitude quake injures 84 in western Iran From:Xinhua | 2018-05-02 20:13 Video PlayerClose TEHRAN, May 2 (Xinhua) -- At least 84 people were injured in the 5.2-magnitude earthquake that shook Sisakht city in Iran's western Kohgiluye and Boyerahmad province at 10:38 local time (0608 GMT) on Wednesday, ISNA news agency reported. The epicenter of the earthquake, with a depth of 8 km, was determined to be at 30.834 degrees north latitude and 51.559 degrees east longitude. People in Sisakht rushed out onto the streets in panic following the quake. Firefighting operators are patrolling on the streets and asking people to stay out of their houses. Major damage has not been reported in the city so far, but the residential areas in the suburban rural regions have sustained damage. The cell phone communication and power supplies have been disrupted. Rockfall in some mountainous area have blocked the roads to Yasooj, the capital city of Kohgiluye and Boyerahmad province. Relief teams have been dispatched to the region. Iran sits on the earth plates' chasms and daily occurrence of tremors are anticipated. Multiple strong quakes have shaken western Iran in the past months. In November 2017, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake shook the same area, killing at least 530 people and injured more than 8,000. Update: The accident was cleared around 7:15 a.m. from the upper level of the Brooklyn-bound Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A busy intersection near the Staten Island Expressway is closed for repairs on Thursday morning. Workers blocked Mosel Avenue at Clove Road due to road work. Notify NYC is warning of "extensive traffic delays" due to a crash on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge during the Thursday morning rush hour. The alert is for a crash on the Brooklyn-bound upper level of the span. The crash has caused two lanes to be blocked on the upper level eastbound, according to Total Traffic NYC. The MTA also is warning of delays caused by the volume of traffic on the Gowanus Expressway. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Geraldo Rivera's son, Cruz, allegedly choked and bit his girlfriend in a domestic incident. The younger Rivera got into an altercation Tuesday night with the 26-year-old woman from Staten Island inside his Washington Heights apartment, according to a spokeswoman from the NYPD. Rivera allegedly wrapped his hand around the woman's throat, and bit her hands and leg. Rivera's Washington Heights neighbors told both the New York Post and Daily News that they overheard the altercation. The 30-year-old is facing five misdemeanor charges, and one violation charge, according to online court records. No plea was on file, and it is unclear when he's due back in court. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Rep. Daniel Donovan and Borough President James Oddo announced reforms on Wednesday to the processes that hindered recovery efforts for Island residents after Superstorm Sandy. The House of Representatives passed several reforms to how the government deals with disaster relief on April 27 through the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act. Donovan (R-Staten Island/South Brooklyn) said he told the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee about his concerns and that the committee adopted his office's recommended language. The U.S. Senate is expected to pass the bill. A provision in the bill reverses a 2011 rule made by the Department of Housing and Urban Development prohibiting Small Business Administration loans to be paid off with grant money. The Federal Emergency Management Agency encouraged victims to take advantage of SBA loans after they had exhausted aid from FEMA. "'The president may not determine that a loan is duplication of assistance provided that all federal assistance is used towards a loss suffered as a result of a major disaster or emergency,'" said Donovan, reading language from the new bill. "If that sentence was included in the Sandy aid bill that was passed in Congress in early 2013 then thousands of homeowners who took out nearly $2 billion in SBA loans after Sandy wouldn't be strapped with decades of debt. Thankfully a provision that I included in a bill that passed last week." After Superstorm Sandy, thousands of homeowners applied for SBA loans, which provide low interest disaster recovery loans. Staten Islanders affected by the storm learned that they were ineligible to receive grants from Build it Back, New York City's disaster recovery program. "This resulted in a major inequity in Sandy recovery," Donovan told reporters at the South Beach Boardwalk. "Of two neighbors with the same level of damage and similar financial situations, one may have received free grant money from Build It Back while another owed tens of thousands of dollars." Donovan thanked Oddo and former HUD Region II Director Holly Leicht for producing a report -- Rebuild the Plane Now: Improving Government's Approach to Disaster Recovery and Preparedness -- that outlined what the government got wrong in its Superstorm Sandy response. "As I have said numerous times over the last several years, mistakes were made early, made often, were compounded, and were repeated," said Oddo. "Holly's work identified genuine course corrections to prevent them from being a problem the next time such a natural disaster strikes." OTHER REFORMS Language included in the FAA Reauthorization Act requires an overhaul of the federal government's post-disaster environmental review regulations. Donovan noted how Build it Back would have to conduct lengthy environmental reviews before the program could start repairing homes. The bill will also reform the number of times victims will need to provide materials when applying for disaster relief. After Superstorm Sandy, FEMA applicants needed to provide citizenship documents, multiple forms of identification, and documents to prove their residency. A provision in the bill will require an analysis of how federal agencies can streamline the process. "Gathering the necessary documents after losing a home is challenging enough," said Donovan. "But having to resubmit the same paperwork over and over again added unnecessary red tape and delays to the process." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Police remain on the lookout for a woman whose tirade at a Popeyes in Port Richmond culminated with a chair into the window. The woman apparently was unhappy with her meal and let the staff know about it with a few expletive gestures and damaged property inside the restaurant, according to police. Police released surveillance footage earlier this month that captures the incident, which occurred at about 8:32 p.m. April 8 inside the restaurant, located at 1351 Forest Ave. A post to the 121st precinct's Twitter account Tuesday reiterated the NYPD's efforts to identify and track down the unidentified woman who reportedly fled in a dark colored sedan. Help us identify this individual wanted for Criminal Mischief on 4/8 inside of 1351 Forest Ave #StatenIsland #800577Tips https://t.co/MaHB1zo6u8 NYPD 121st Precinct (@NYPD121Pct) May 1, 2018 The individual is described as a black female, 18 to 25 years old. At the time of the incident she was wearing a multi-colored do-rag, a pink bandanna, a pink hooded sweater, a black jacket and blue jeans. Anyone with information in regards to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime stoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then entering TIP577. All calls are strictly confidential. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- A Staten Island woman was arrested on Thursday in a horrific crash where she allegedly blew a red light and plowed into the intersection, fatally striking two little children and injuring several other pedestrians in Brooklyn. Dorothy Bruns, 44, of Concord, was taken into custody at her home at 8:44 a.m., after a Brooklyn grand jury decided to indict her on charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide and assault, authorities said. Bruns, of the 1000 block of Targee Street, was identified as the operator of a motor vehicle in the fatal crash on March 5 at the intersection of 9th Street and 5th Avenue in Brooklyn, according to an NYPD statement. The suspect was taken by police from her apartment to Brooklyn Supreme Court, where she is expected to be arraigned on Thursday, according to multiple sources. The New York Post reported that Bruns hobbled out of her apartment building in walking boots as a detective carried her walker. She was taken away in a black Ford SUV. Bruns was indicted on two counts of second-degree manslaughter, two counts of criminally negligent homicide, first- and second-degree reckless endangerment, three counts of third-degree assault, reckless driving and disobeying traffic signals. She had told police she suffered a seizure behind the wheel, sources told the Advance after the incident. Joshua Lew, 1, and Abigail Blumenstein, 4, both of Brooklyn, died and at least three adults were injured after Burns allegedly plowed into pedestrians at the intersection of 9th Street and 5th Avenue. Tony Award-winning actress Ruthie Ann Miles is the mother of the 4-year-old girl. Miles was injured in the crash, according to media reports. Miles, who was pregnant at the time of the crash, accepted the prestigious award in 2015 for her role as Lady Thiang in "The King and I." The preliminary investigation by the NYPD Highway District's Collision Investigation Squad determined that Bruns was driving a 2016 Volvo S60 sedan westbound on 9th Street when she failed to maintain control of the vehicle and struck the pedestrians. According to the indictment, Bruns was "facing a steady red signal" when she "failed to stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection." The NYPD announced the arrest on Twitter Thursday morning. WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday hired a veteran attorney who represented Bill Clinton during his impeachment process as the White House shifted to a more aggressive approach to a special counsel investigation that has reached a critical stage. The White House announced the hiring of lawyer Emmet Flood after disclosing the retirement of Ty Cobb, who for months has been the administration's point person dealing with special counsel Robert Mueller. It's the latest shakeup for a legal team grappling with unresolved questions on how to protect the president from legal and political jeopardy in Mueller's Russia probe, which is nearing the one-year mark. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that Cobb had been discussing the decision for weeks and would retire at the end of May and that Flood would be joining the White House staff to "represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt." "I'm deeply grateful to the president and the chief of staff for this opportunity to serve my country," Cobb told The Associated Press on Wednesday night. "It's been a privilege, and I'm confident that the matter will be in good hands with Emmet Flood." The replacement of Cobb with Flood may usher in a more adversarial stance toward the Mueller team as Trump's lawyers debate whether to make the president available for an interview with the special counsel and brace for the prospect of a grand jury subpoena if they refuse. Although Cobb does not personally represent the president, he has functioned as a critical point person for Mueller's document and interview requests, coordinated dealings with prosecutors and worked closely with Trump's personal lawyers. He has repeatedly urged cooperation with the investigation in hopes of bringing it to a quick end, and he has viewed his role as largely finished now that interviews with current and former White House officials have been completed. Yet Flood, who was embroiled in the bitterly partisan Clinton impeachment fight 20 years ago, may well advocate a more confrontational approach. His law firm, Williams & Connolly, is one of Washington's most prominent, with a reputation for aggressive advocacy for its clients and a history of tangling with the government. It has also represented senior White House officials, including presidents. Flood, a former law clerk to the late Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, has defended former Vice President Dick Cheney in a lawsuit brought by former CIA official Valerie Plame and represented President George W. Bush in executive-privilege disputes with Congress - suggesting he is well-versed in the powers of the presidency and may invoke those authorities as the Mueller investigation moves forward. Flood was always the top choice of White House counsel Don McGahn for the job Cobb was given last summer, according to a person familiar with the hiring decision who described Flood as a "fighter." The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. Cobb and McGahn hold different views on how cooperative the White House should be with the special counsel investigation. Cobb's retirement, though not a surprise, was nonetheless the latest evolution for a legal team marked by turnover. Trump's lead personal lawyer, John Dowd, left in March. Another attorney whom Trump tried to bring on ultimately passed because of conflicts, and the president two weeks ago added former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a pair of former prosecutors, Martin and Jane Raskin, to work alongside mainstay lawyer Jay Sekulow. Critical decisions lie ahead. The president's legal team has not committed him to an interview with Mueller, who has dozens of questions on a broad array of topics he'd like to ask. Trump initially said he was eager for an interview, but he hasn't said so recently. His view of Mueller soured further after raids last month that targeted one of his personal lawyers, Michael Cohen, in a separate investigation. Those interview negotiations are hugely consequential, especially after Dowd confirmed to the AP this week that Mueller's team in March raised the prospect of issuing a grand jury subpoena for Trump, an extraordinary move that would seek to force a sitting president to testify under oath. It was not immediately clear in what context the possibility of a subpoena was raised or how serious Mueller's prosecutors were about such a move. Mueller is probing not only Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates but also possible obstruction of justice by Trump after he took office. If Mueller's team decides to subpoena Trump, the president could still fight it in court or refuse to answer questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination. Trump lashed out against the investigation in familiar fashion Wednesday, tweeting: There was no Collusion (it is a Hoax) and there is no Obstruction of Justice (that is a setup & trap). What there is is Negotiations going on with North Korea over Nuclear War, Negotiations going on with China over Trade Deficits, Negotiations on NAFTA, and much more. Witch Hunt! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2018 Also Wednesday, Trump echoed the concerns of a small group of House conservatives who have been criticizing the Justice Department for not turning over certain investigation documents. A Rigged System - They dont want to turn over Documents to Congress. What are they afraid of? Why so much redacting? Why such unequal justice? At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 2, 2018 It was unclear what Trump meant by "get involved." Several Republican House committee chairmen have recently negotiated deals with the Justice Department to turn over documents related to Russia investigations into Trump and to a 2016 investigation into Democrat Hillary Clinton's emails. The Justice Department says that "dozens of members and staff from both parties" have viewed thousands of classified documents and House staff members have temporary office space in the department to review additional materials. But some lawmakers who sit on those committees remain unsatisfied, particularly members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Some of them have asked for an unredacted version of a Justice Department document that sets out the scope for Mueller's probe, a request that the department immediately denied because it pertains to an ongoing investigation. --By Chad Day and Eric Tucker China supports ending state of war on Korean Peninsula: FM Beijing, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 China's top diplomat expressed support for a formal end to the state of war on the Korean Peninsula in a rare meeting Thursday with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. During his two-day visit to the North, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said Beijing was in favour of peace efforts between Seoul and Pyongyang, who have remained technically at war since the 1950s. The North and South agreed last week to work towards a permanent treaty to replace a 65-year-old armistice agreement at a landmark inter-Korean summit, in the latest glimmer of rapprochement between the nuclear armed state and its neighbours. "China supports ending the state of war on the peninsula," China's foreign ministry quoted Wang as saying in a statement. Beijing "supports North Korea's strategic focus on economic development and supports the North in resolving its legitimate safety concerns in the process of denuclearisation," said Wang, according to the statement. Kim reiterated his commitment to denuclearisation during the talks with Wang, according to China's account of the meeting. The visit precedes a planned meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump in the coming weeks. Wang is the first Chinese foreign minister to visit the North since 2007, a lapse that highlights the rough patch in relations between the allies in recent years. China -- North Korea's only major ally and economic benefactor -- has supported a series of United Nations sanctions against Pyongyang over its nuclear and missile programmes. Last year the North staged its most powerful nuclear test to date and launched missiles capable of reaching the US mainland as Kim and Trump traded threats of war and personal insults, sparking global security fears. But early this year Kim suggested opening diplomatic channels, changing the global calculus and bringing about new hopes for peace, enhanced by a meeting between the North's leader and his counterpart President Moon Jae-in last Friday. "North Korea is willing to restore mutual dialogue and establish mutual trust and explore the root causes of the threat to peace in the peninsula," Kim said, according to China's statement. Experts say China is now likely eager to avoid being marginalised in the wave of diplomacy. In the North Korean leader's first overseas trip in office, Kim met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in March. He has also invited Xi to visit Pyongyang but no date has been set for the trip. Home Just In From the Kathmandu Press: Thursday, May 3, 2018 All Nepali and English broadsheet newspapers published from Kathmandu on Thursday have given the topmost priority to the filing of case against 63 suspects in connection with a gold smuggling case, perhaps the biggest of such case that entered the judicial trial. The issue has forced newspaper editors to keep other political, sociocultural and economic issues aside. Important Case filed against 63 gold smuggling suspects As police in Morang district concluded their investigation, the Office of District Attorney there filed a case in relation to the alleged smuggling and disappearance of 33.5 kg gold and a subsequent murder of its porter. Kantipur says different defendants have been charged with different cases including murder, organised crime, kidnapping, hostage and gold smuggling. The defendants in the case include six police officials, Republica lead story for the day informs. Meanwhile, SSP Dibesh Lohani, who was sent to judicial custody on Wednesday in connection with the case, allegedly assaulted journalists Dhruba Bhattarai and Suman Suskera, according to newspaper reports. The Himalayan Times reports that Morang chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists among others has condemned the incident and sough action against the guilty as well as security guarantee for journalists. Dahal directs party to prepare for unification Gorkhapatra informs that CPN-Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed his party leaders to prepare for the partys unification with the CPN-UML. Dahal issued the directive during a Central Secretariat meeting of the party, according to the report. Rajdhani says Dahal also told the party that unification would take place within next few days. Meanwhile, Dahal also told leaders of his party that the unified party would form a broader coalition with Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal and Baburam Bhattarai-led Naya Shakti Party Nepal, according to The Himalayan Times. On the other hand, the CPN-UML Standing Committee meeting called to discuss the unification has been postponed, according to Gorkhapatra. Ignored Awaiting reconstruction, Kashthamandap wooden logs decay A three-column box story in Kantipur reports that wooden logs salvaged from the 17th century Kashthamandap Temple, which collapsed during the magnitude-7.6 earthquake on April 25, 2015, are decaying as concerned authorities have failed to reconstruct the Temple using the same materials. A dispute among authorities including Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Department of Archaeology and National Reconstruction Authority as well as locals has pushed the reconstruction process into a standstill. Calendar for new Parliament session ready Rajdhani reports that the Federal Parliament Secretariat has finalised a likely schedule for the next Parliament session scheduled to begin next week. According to the schedule, President Bidya Devi Bhandari will present the governments policy and programme on May 15 whereas the annual budget statement will be presented on May 29. According to the schedule, the budget will be endorsed by the first week of July. Supreme Court to test constitutionality of impeachment against Karki The Supreme Court is testing the constitutionality of an impeachment motion filed against then Chief Justice Sushila Karki, according to Republica. The apex court has asked the central committee and Supreme Court unit of Nepal Bar Association to send three amicus curiae each to test the case. The five-member constitutional bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee has made the order following a heading on Wednesday, the report informs. Modi may announce special package for Janakpur As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Province 2 capital of Janakpurdham before coming to Kathmandu during his state visit to Nepal next week, he may announce a special package for the religious city, The Kathmandu Post report filed from New Delhi informs. An anonymous official at Nepals Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been quoted in the report that the special package would help conserve Janakpurs heritage as well as its development or link the Ramayan Circuit with the city. Indian Embassys direct investment in small projects Republica and Nagarik have published a report about the government decision to renew a controversial grant project run by the Indian Embassy here. The erstwhile government led by Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba had halted the renewal of Small Grants Agreement. However, the current government of CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli decided to let the project continue, Republica says, adding, the decision allows the Indian Embassy to directly fund projects upto Rs 50 million in any part of the country, purely at its own discretion, for next three years. Interesting Left transporters unlikely to support entrepreneurs strike A sharp polarisation has surfaced among transport entrepreneurs as a section of them supporting ruling parties including CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre have expressed their readiness for talks, according to Karobar lead stories. Earlier, an organisation which claims to be the umbrella organisation of all transport entrepreneurs had said it was not ready for negotiations unless the government revoked a recent directive, the report informs. 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Ferrier said that the Government of St. Maarten has until May 8th to submit an approved budget which he said has a gaping hole with a deficit of NAF. 197M. Ferrier insisted that the budget should have been approved in December 2017. He asked Members of Parliament to work along with government in order to avoid any type of instruction from the Kingdom Council. Member of Parliament Luc Mercilina in his remarks said that the Government of St. Maarten is presenting a budget with a deficit of NAF197M and nowhere is it mentioned how government will fill this gap. Mercelina noted that 50% of the budget covers personnel expenses which in his view is relatively high. He also pointed out the limited funds that is allocated for road repairs. NAF11M is allocated for infrastructure a mere NAF.5.6 more than 2017. He asked if NAF 5.6M could rebuild St. Maarten. The MP noted the high amount of money that is allocated for insurance for civil servants. Mercelina said that the first tranche (112 Euros) of monies for St. Maarten rebuilding is still not available while the second tranche will only be made available by October 2018. The new MP asked for explanations presented in the budget especially that regarding the allocated funds for BZVE. He asked government if they will consider having civil servants contribute to their health insurance like workers in the private sector. Mercelina asked what was the reason government presented the budget to parliament without the advice of the CFT. He even asked if St. Maarten will land in the same predicament as St. Eustatius with higher supervision. Mercelina also questioned the concession fees from government owned companies and why there is no concession fees coming from the Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIAE). He asked would government repay its debt of over NAF 500M. MP Rolando Brison in addressing parliament said that government did not fulfill his request by sending parliament as an excel version. He said the Minister of Finance wants Parliament to collaborate with government, he said that collaboration goes both ways. Brison said government can use various ways to safeguard the draft budget and its explanatory notes. MP Smith informed Parliament he intend to present a motion to parliament to slash the salaries of Parliamentarians. He also said that government should decide to cut their expenses by traveling economy instead of first class. Smith also pointed out that money was not budgeted for the Court of Guardianship and wanted to know if that was an error. He also questioned why some schools received an increase their subsidy while some schools their subsidy were slashed. MP Brownbill in his short presentation said that the 2018 budget is dead on arrival and that Parliament should basically move on. Solar Novus Today Has Been Integrated With Novus Light Technologies Today Visit Novus Light Technologies Today to see all the cutting-edge stories and products that you have come to enjoy on Solar Novus Today. In addition, you will find more information on related light-based technologies. Get the latest solar and renewable energy news delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for the Green Technologies newsletter CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR GREEN TECHNOLOGIES NEWSLETTER Kathmandu, May 3 Two investment management companies in Kathmandu, established and led by foreigners and Nepalis respectively, on Wednesday announced the launch of a joint venture, which according to them will be work towards promoting SMEs in the country. The joint venture between Kathmandu-based investment management company One to Watch, established by Dutch national Willem Grimminck, and True North Associates, a company owned by Nepali banker Suman Joshi, has a target of investing in small and medium-sized enterprises working in multiple sectors including agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare education and energy within next ten years. This is an important day for Nepal, Grimminck announced, The launch of this joint venture marks a shift in private equity market here. This is the first time local and international investors are coming together to support early-stage growth companies. According to him, they now will make investments in the enterprises and sectors which have a potential to help the country grow and develop in overall. Our priority is the companies that contribute to the development of Nepal, make impacts here. Meanwhile, Joshi clarified that startups will not benefit from their programmes now as their focus is small and medium-sized enterprises which have an experience of at least four to five years into the business world so that they can assure impacts of the investment. A good marriage Both the managing directors of the joint venture stated that their initiative will have three offerings for Nepali SMEs: access to finance, a combination of experiences and expertise, and expansion of services. Our partnership will provide Nepali companies an increased access, not only for capital but also for the market, Joshi shared, This is a good marriage between a Nepali and a foreignera new model in Nepali fund market. Joshi, who retired as a banker after working for leading Nepali banks for 24 years, said that his company, True North Associates, decided to combine its SME portfolio with that of One to Watch though True North is not limited to SMEs only because Nepal has a really small market for investment in SMEs; hence they need not compete but cooperate. Further, our partnership is aimed at combining skills, experiences, networks, and relationships that two of us already have as individual companies, Grimminck said, We will also organise other supporting activities for small and medium-sized enterprises and it will make us stand out from the rest. Nepal Impact Investment Community 2 Meanwhile, One to Watch also announced the launch of its Nepal Impact Investment Community 2 (NIIC 2), which the company hopes, will become Nepals largest private equity fund. It aims to raise around Euro 20 million (more than Rs 2.5 billion). Grimmink said the estimated life of the fund is 10 to 12 years, in which they will make investments in the first half and collect back the money and exit from SMEs in the second half. Around 15 to 20 companies can benefit from the fund in total, he said, adding, the first investment will be made in next 1.5 years. A substantial fund size is needed to begin the actual investment. However, we have not set any benchmark as the minimum requirement for it. Grimmink hoped that both domestic and international investors will contribute their money to their joint venture as both the companies already have proven success in the past and they have a strong presence in both domestic and international markets. Grimmink also hinted at the possibility of expanding their market further even after next 10 to 12 years. Our forwarding ambition is a fund of Euro 10 million. It will be realised as soon as possible, he smiled, The Nepali market is already ready for it. This market deserves such a fund. But it has to be done step by step. I first met her while trekking to Gosainkunda. My friends and I had walked up to her village with an old man who was headed home, a village a bit farther down on the trail to the sacred lake. When he stopped at this ramshackle place for a bowl of chhyang, we decided to join him. Thus we entered the lair of the teller of some of the tallest tales I have ever heard in Nepal. She introduced herself as Jidde Budi. Jidde was her husbands name, so her name was short for Jidde ko Budi (Jiddes Wife). Her hut had the look of something between a permanent dwelling and a temporary camp. There was no attempt at decor. Two benches flanked a table. A bamboo cut into a cup served as an ashtray. There were no decorations on the walls. Strips of meat hung from rafters directly above the hearth. That was her specialtystir-fried smoked meat. And chhyang. As Jidde Budi shuffled around to ladle out corn chhyang into aluminum bowls, a man sipping the thick spirit asked us where we were headed. Gosainkunda, we told him. The drunks expression turned pensive. There is an evil serpent that lives near the lake, he said. Like drunks, he didnt wait for permission or invitation. Without anyone so much as having uttered a word, he went into the storyteller mode. The story was about a shaman who lived long, long ago. The shaman travelled to Nag Kunda, the lake where the serpent lived, to challenge him to a duel. Before he dived into the lake, the shaman instructed his wife to beat his drum and to keep doing so no matter what. A long duel ensued underwater. Outside, the shamans wife beat the drum. The shaman eventually triumphed and surfaced with the vanquished snake draped over his shoulders. Seeing the macabre creature on her husbands shoulders, the wife lost her wits and, throwing the drum away, fled. Without the drums beating, the shaman was powerless. He became the serpents meal. This story, our drunken folklorist, concluded was proof not to ever trust women. Not stopping for a second what she was doing, our hostess shot back, Men always blame women. Maybe because she feared another misogynistic tale was forthcoming or simply to tell a better tale, our hostess took on the storytellers role with a round of stories. She told a story about Birbal, the witty minister in the Mughal Emperor Akbars court. Though nobody asked for it, she did an encore. She certainly relished telling stories. When she told stories she enacted them, delivering lines like a theatre actor. That was the first time I had been in Chisapani, a small village through which one passes if trekking to Gosainkunda from Sundarijal in Kathmandu. I have returned several times after that visit, making it a point to stop at Jidde Budis to hear more of her outlandish yet irresistible tales. The second time that I visited her, I was with a Chinese friend. As soon as she learned my companion was from China, out came a story that even the most jingoistic Chinese would have trouble believing. They say that the Kathmandu Valley is a dowry from the Chinese emperor. He said to his son-in-law, Here, take it. grow chilies in it. That particular serving, although without a grain of truth in it, was the best example of how she managed to run her inn as much on lore and legends as on food and drinks. Another time she told me the story of when her father took her down to Kathmandu for the first time. They arrived in Tundikhel and saw Tibetan refugees camped there. The men were wild, with matted hair and clad in rough gowns. From time to time they reached into their gowns and fished out black hunks. They bit off mouthfuls, stowed away the pieces in the gowns, and chewed. I asked my father what it was that they were eating and he told me that it was dried yak meat. Those stories outlandish, intriguing, historical now seem the only link between her village before the 2015 earthquake and today. Jidde Budis house, like so many others in Chisapani, was razed. Hers was a wooden hut, so was easy to rebuild, though their larger house, down in another village, needs proper rebuilding. For now, she is back in her hut. Meat hangs from the rafters again; the bamboo ashtray is on the table (she gave me one as a souvenir). Music plays on the radio. There is chhyang. And, oh, for anyone willing to stop at the nondescript hut and give her the slightest pretext, stories. Taming The Multiverse: Stephen Hawking's Final Theory About The Big Bang Cambridge UK (SPX) May 02, 2018 Professor Stephen Hawking's final theory on the origin of the universe, which he worked on in collaboration with Professor Thomas Hertog from KU Leuven, has been published today in the Journal of High Energy Physics. The theory, which was submitted for publication before Hawking's death earlier this year, is based on string theory and predicts the universe is finite and far simpler than many current theories about the big bang say. Professor Hertog, whose work has been supported by the Europ ... read more Iran says will quit nuclear deal if US walks away Tehran, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 Iran warned on Thursday that it will quit a landmark nuclear deal with world powers if President Donald Trump pulls the United States out of the accord. "If the United States withdraws from the nuclear deal, then we will not stay in it," Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy advisor to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was quoted as saying by the state television website. Trump has threatened to abandon the agreement when it comes up for renewal on May 12, calling it "insane". Iran has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. Velayati warned against any move to try to renegotiate the deal signed by Iran and six world powers in 2015 curbing Tehran's nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief. "Iran accepts the nuclear agreement as it has been prepared and will not accept adding or removing anything," he said. "Even if countries allied with the United States, especially the Europeans, seek to revise the nuclear agreement... one of our options will be withdrawing from the accord," Velayati added. Britain, France and Germany -- the three European countries that signed the deal -- have repeatedly tried to persuade Trump not to abandon it. French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday reiterated his commitment to the accord but admitted that it needed strengthening. "I don't know what the US president will decide on May 12," Macron said during a visit to Sydney. "I just want to say whatever the decision will be, we will have to prepare such a broader negotiation and a broader deal, because I think nobody wants a war in the region, and nobody wants an escalation in terms of tension in the region," he said. Greek court sentences Turk for illegal entry on tractor Thessaloniki, Greece, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 A Greek court on Thursday handed a suspended prison sentence to a Turkish man who illegally crossed the border on a tractor, near to where Turkey captured two Greek soldiers in March. The court in Orestiada, northern Greece, released the 38-year-old after suspending his five-year sentence for three years, officials said. The suspect claimed he was digging a water pipeline ditch for Turkey's Edirne municipality, which borders Greece. He is expected to appeal. The incident occurred in the same area where two Greek soldiers were caught in March after crossing the border, claiming to have lost their way in the fog. They were charged with espionage and have been held in pre-trial detention in Turkey ever since, sparking a diplomatic row between Athens and Ankara. Turkey has sought to link the incident with the case of eight Turkish soldiers who sought asylum in Greece following the failed 2016 army coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Athens has demanded the Greek soldiers' release, but Erdogan over the weekend said his government would consider the case if Athens extradited the Turkish soldiers, whom Ankara has branded terrorists. Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos on Sunday rejected the suggestion of a swap deal. Greece's Supreme Court has ruled that the eight men will not be extradited, despite Turkish demands for them to face charges at home. The men deny involvement in the coup attempt. Earlier this week, Turkish hackers hijacked the website of state news agency ANA and the Greek portal of Japanese automakers Suzuki to post messages accusing Greece of harbouring terrorists. str-jph/ecl French, US navy pilots train in the skies over Virginia Oceana, United States, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 With a deafening roar, French Rafale fighter jets and US F-18s take to the skies over Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia. Warplanes from the two countries are training here under an unusual arrangement while France's only aircraft carrier, the Charles de Gaulle, undergoes major renovations. "We need to practice what it's like flying from an aircraft carrier, and any way we can do that is good," says Arnaud, a lieutenant commander from the French navy's 17F carrier air wing. He only gave his first name for security reasons. Pilots are practicing close air support missions alongside US colleagues, as well as defensive maneuvers, aerial refuelings and other vital air skills. The Charles de Gaulle has been out of service since early 2017 and won't be deployed again until early 2019. So, since April 3, 350 French sailors, including 27 fighter pilots, have taken up residence on or around this base on the mouth of Chesapeake Bay, about 200 miles (320 kilometers) south of Washington. The US Navy has loaned them a hangar where pilots train day and night on various exercises, including simulated aircraft carrier landings on a short strip of runway and simulated attacks and evasions of the F-18s. After the land-based exercises are complete, training will continue from May 8 aboard the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier. It is extremely rare for French aircraft to land on a US ship and for such in-depth joint exercises to be conducted. The last time was in 2008, when the Charles de Gaulle underwent a maintenance overhaul. "What we got this far is an appetizer," said Captain Jim McCall, who heads Carrier Air Wing 8, which will train with the French aboard the Bush. - 'Once in a lifetime' - Aside from the 27 French pilots and their 12 Rafales, the American aircraft carrier will host French sailors representing many walks of life aboard the Charles de Gaulle, including mission trainers, mechanics and flight deck staff. Himself a pilot, McCall said the time spent with French colleagues will allow a better understanding of how the French operate and handle their Rafales, considered the jewel of the French military. It's a "once in a lifetime" opportunity, he told AFP. In welcoming the French, the US military aims to strengthen interoperability between the two forces. Ties are already close, since all French naval pilots have historically been trained in the United States. And France is the only country to have an aircraft carrier using the same landing and take-off techniques as the US Navy. Officials hope the training will also provide the two forces with additional military options. Training together for two months will foster knowledge that enhances combat effectiveness, McCall said. The United States and France conduct joint operations around the world including in Niger and Syria. "Familiarity gives flexibility and flexibility gives warfighters options," he said. Iraq speaker seeks pardon for Saddam's defence minister Baghdad, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 The speaker of Iraq's parliament on Thursday called on authorities to pardon the former defence minister of dictator Saddam Hussein on health grounds. General Sultan Hashim Ahmad, 74, was sentenced to death in 2007 but the presidential council has refused to ratify his sentence. In a letter dated Thursday and seen by AFP, Salim al-Juburi appealed to Iraqi President Fuad Masum, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and the country's highest judicial authorities for an "exceptional pardon" for Ahmad in the run-up to the holy Muslim month of Ramadan. The parliamentary speaker explained during a news conference that he had previously received "numerous requests from dignitaries in Mosul", the general's home city in northern Iraq. Ahmad's lawyer Badia Aref recently told AFP that the health of his client, detained in the southern city of Nasiriyah, was "deteriorating". The lawyer's additional requests for the release from prison of 14 members of the former dictator's regime, which ended more than 15 years ago, have had no impact. Ahmad played an important role in his country's eight-year war with Iran in the 1980s and in the repression of the Kurds in Iraq. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement World Press Freedom Day Hungary's Attack on the Media Is Un-European A Hungarian newspaper with close ties to the government has published a black list of foreign correspondents. One of those on the list is SPIEGEL ONLINE reporter Keno Verseck. It's just one more example of the country's slide into authoritarianism. Algiers, May 03, 2018 (SPS)- The Frente POLISARIO denied Moroccos allegations according to which the POLISARIO has relations with Iran in the military field, defying Rabat to present evidence of these false allegations, after deciding to break off its relations with Teheran because of its support to POLISARIO. The coordinator of the Frente POLISARIO with the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) M'hamed Khadad said that Rabats action obeys to a little political opportunism which aims at by-passing the resumption of the directed political negotiations requested by the United Nations for the settlement of the conflict of Western Sahara through a self-determination referendum for the Sahrawi people, a process which is underway since the ceasefire of 1991. Khadad made a statement to the Spanish news agency EFE following the announcement Tuesday by Morocco to break off its relations with Iran. Khadad refuted the existence of any military ties with Iran, affirming that the Frente POLISARIO has never had military relations and hasnt received weapons or held military contacts with Iran or Hezbollah. It is a farce and a big lie. Morocco seeks a protection for its withdrawal from negotiations (with the Frente POLISARIO) which should lead to a consultation, self-determination of the Spanish last colony, in accordance with UN settlement plan, he said. We defy Morocco to provide any evidence, Morocco is living in madness and doesnt know how to skip its obligation of dialogue, concluded the Sahrawi official.SPS 125/090/700 English02/05/2018 SRNA News Roundup /II/ - May 2, 2018 REPUBLIKA SRPSKA BANJALUKA - Republika Srpska Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic sends her greetings on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day, May 3, saying that the Republika Srpska Government understands the importance of the freedom of expression of journalists in the development of democracy and prosperity of a contemporary society, and that this is why it is always on the side of a fair and unbiased reporting. ISTOCNO SARAJEVO - SNSD official Stasa Kosarac has said that the crime against members of the former JNA in Sarajevo on May 2 and May 3, 1992, including the killings of soldiers in Dobrovoljacka Street, is undoubtedly a war crime which the Serbian people in Republika Srpska and BiH will never forget. BIJELJINA - Wreaths were laid at the monument to liberators and a memorial service was held in Bijeljina for more than 100 killed soldiers on the occasion of the 26th anniversary of the founding of the war-time brigade of the Republika Srpska Army, Garda Panteri. DOBOJ - The Day of Defenders of Doboj, May 2, was marked in the Doboj settlement of Lipac from where the Serbian population 26 years ago set off to defend the city from Croatian and Muslim paramilitary formations upon the decision of the Municipal Crisis Headquarters. ISTOCNO SARAJEVO - The director of the Republika Srpska Civil Protection Administration, Mile Medjed, says that someone has to be held accountable for the accident at the sediment disposal White Sea at the Sisedzam Soda Lukavac Company which caused the pollution of land around the Spreca and Bosna Rivers and the fish kill. SREBRENICA - Meliha Hodzic, a student of the Srebrenica Gymnasium, is this years winner of a competition of second-year secondary school students in the German language at the level of BiH that has been held in Sarajevo. She previously won the third place at a competition at the level of Republika Srpska that was held in Banjaluka. An article by Miro PEJIC BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA SARAJEVO - The Republika Srpska member of the BiH Presidency, Mladen Ivanic, has said that he supports every form of journalists struggle for better working conditions and free and quality media since this is at the same time the struggle for a more open, more tolerant and more successful society. FEDERATION OF BiH SARAJEVO - Twenty-three-year-old young man of Hadzici has been seriously injured in Ivan Sedlo when his motorcycle crashed with a truck. Neither the driver of the truck nor the driver of the motorcycle passed their driving tests, say sources from the Sarajevo Canton Ministry of Internal Affairs. SERBIA BELGRADE - Serbian writer and academic Goran Petrovic opened today a stand of Serbia at the International Book Fair in Teheran, where Serbia is a guest of honor. REGION BRUSSELS - The European Commission today summoned Croatia and Slovenia to verbally present their positions on Slovenias claim that by rejecting to implement arbitrage decisions Croatia is violating European and international laws. SLUNJ - The Misdemeanor Court in Slunj exonerated today controversial Croatian signer Marko Perkovic Tompson from accusations of violations of public peace and order for the use of the Ustashe greeting for the homeland ready at his concert in Slunj. WORLD NEW YORK, MOSCOW - Brain, head, eyes and testicles are body parts which cannot be replaced or donated either now or in the near future, say scientists. /end/sg Which issue is most critical to the U.S. right now? 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Under th... Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Qatar has ordered 5,000 APKWS II (Advanced Precision Kill Weapons System) laser guided missiles from the United States for $60,000 each. The price includes user training, maintenance and tech support as well as maintenance and testing equipment. These missiles will be used on the 24 AH-64 helicopter gunships Qatar has on order (to be delivered by 2020). Missiles like APKWS are basically 70mm laser guided rockets. They were developed by taking a 13.6 kg (30 pound) 70mm unguided rocket and adding a laser seeker and moveable fins for guidance. These missiles have a 2.7 kg (six pound) warhead, and a range of about six kilometers when fired from the air. Laser designators on a helicopter, or with troops on the ground, are pointed at the target and the laser seeker in the front of the guided rocket as it homes in on the reflected laser light. The laser seeker can actually see reflected laser light out to 14 kilometers but the rocket motor in most 70mm laser guided rockets is only effective at between five and ten kilometers. The 2.75 inch (70mm) rockets were developed during World War II, as an air-to-air weapon for use against heavy bomber formations. The Germans had developed a similar and very successful weapon (the R4M). Before long it was noted that neither the Japanese nor the Germans had any heavy bombers, so the U.S. 70mm rocket was switched to air-to-ground use. Actually, the 70mm rocket was retained for air-to-air use into the 1950s, but it was never successful in that role. The 70mm rocket became very popular in the 1960s, when it was discovered that the weapon worked very well when launched from multiple (7 or 19 tube) launchers mounted on helicopters. The 108-138m cm (42-55 inch) long rockets could be fired singly or in salvoes and gave helicopter pilots some airborne artillery for supporting troops on the ground. There are many variations in terms of warheads and rocket motors. Some versions could go over 10 kilometers. Since the 1990s several firms have figured out how to turn 70mm (2.75 inch) unguided rockets into laser guided missiles. Most were designed to use existing the Hellfire missile fire control system. Several successful designs entered service by 2010. The APKWS began as a 2002 effort by an American firm, which could not get it to work. British firm BAE took it over and got it to working by 2007 and partnered with the American firm to sell it. APKWS, like its competitors, was built to be compatible with existing laser designators, and aircraft equipped to use Hellfire missiles. For helicopters APKWS could also be adapted to use 7 or 19 tube launchers long employed for the unguided rockets. The big advantage of all these 70mm missiles is that it is one fourth the weight of a Hellfire, and one fourth the cost. That means AH-64s burn less fuel carrying them, and APKWS is as effective as a Hellfire in, for example, destroying the hundreds of small armed boats Iran plans to use in any war with the Arab states on the west coast of the Persian Gulf. But there are already many similar weapons available for this and few nations want to add what they consider a redundant weapon system. Despite the lack of demand, the 70mm missiles eventually found some customers. Back in 2010 the U.S. Marine Corps purchased fifty APKWS II kits for testing. That was followed by an order for kits to convert some of the 100,000 marine 70mm unguided rockets to laser guided ones. In 2013 the marines made their third purchase, for over 20,000 newly manufactured APKWS II missiles. This was the first large purchase of 70mm guided missiles, after a decade of sales efforts by several manufacturers. The marines arm their AH-1W helicopter gunships with the guided 70mm rockets and in 2012 marine AH-1Ws have fired over a hundred APKWS II in Afghanistan and none of them missed. APKWS was adapted for use from a number of helicopters as well as fixed wing aircraft like the A-10, F-16, AV-8B, CN-235 gunship and A-29. APKWS has been exported to Iraq, Lebanon and Jordan and was used in 2017-18 in the fight against ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) in Iraq. Few fixed wing aircraft can use Hellfire (only the British version of Hellfire, called Brimstone, has been adapted to use on fast moving jets). American jet fighters have demonstrated that using APKWS There are now several guided versions of the 70mm air-to-surface and surface-to-surface versions. Developing a guided 70mm rocket took so long because the manufacturers underestimated the technical difficulties of getting the laser seeker and flight control mechanisms into that small a package, at a weight and price the customer could afford. The price of the new 70mm missile is now about $30,000 each. This is typical for these weapons and about a third less than a smart bomb and less than a third of what a Hellfire missile costs. The guided 70mm rocket is used against targets that doesn't require a larger (49 kg/108 pound), and more expensive (over $100,000), Hellfire missile but still needs some targeting precision. In tests the APKWS hit within a meter (a few feet) of the aiming point, about what other 70mm missiles are capable of. The 70mm missile makes an excellent weapon for UAVs, especially since you can carry more of them. The launcher for carrying these missiles is designed to replace the one for Hellfire but can carry four missiles instead of one. Orders for 70mm guided missiles were hard to obtain at first because the Hellfire was doing the job and there just wasn't a big demand for a smaller missile. Several smaller missiles have been developed, and one of them, the Griffin, is being used over Pakistan and Afghanistan on American UAV as well as fixed wing gunships (like the AC-130). The smaller Griffin is an alternative to the Hellfire II because it weighs only 16 kg (35 pounds) with a 5.9 kg (13 pound) warhead. Griffin has a pop-out wings, allowing it to glide, and thus has a longer range (15 kilometers) than Hellfire (8,000 meters). UAVs can carry more of the smaller missiles, typically two of them in place of one Hellfire. The APKWS was found to be superior to the Griffin because, like Hellfire, it was fast and usually took no more than five seconds to reach the target. Turkish defense officials recently revealed that the air force had received six of 40 Anka UAVs they had ordered back in 2013. Eight Ankas have been built so far but two have crashed during testing. Anka is actually delivered as a system. Each Anka system consists of three UAVs plus ground control equipment and all necessary maintenance and ground operations gear. Looking very similar to the American Predator, the Anka is a 1.6 ton aircraft propelled by a rear facing propeller. The payload is 200 kg (440 pounds) and endurance is 24 hours, and Anka can operate up to 200 kilometers from its controller. Max altitude is 7,900 meters (26,000 feet). A UAV like this would sell for over $2 million each. The Turkish military was supposed to receive its first Anka by the end of 2013 but that was delayed by technical problems. Turkey also announced a larger (four ton) version of Anka that can carry missiles or a lot more reconnaissance equipment. That has also been delayed and none have entered service yet. Meanwhile, Turkey has developed and deployed workable UAVs. These are usually less ambitious than Anka and borrow heavily from commercial technology that has already proved itself. A small Turkish private firm developed the Bayraktar Tactical UAV which entered service with the Turkish Air Force in 2014. So far the Turks are the only customer. Bayraktar Tactical is a 650 kg (1,433 pounds) aircraft with a 40 kg (88 pound) payload and an endurance of 24 hours. There is also a Bayraktar Mini UAV which is a 4.6 kg (9.9 pounds) aircraft that is battery powered and hand launched. Endurance is 60 minutes and the Bayraktar can operate up to 15 kilometers from the operator. The Turkish Army has been using the Bayraktar Mini since 2007. The two Bayraktar UAVs use older, cheaper and more reliable technology and were delivered on time. The Turkish armed forces have about three dozen Bayraktar Tactical UAV and the military has ordered a total of 151. At least one Bayraktar Tactical UAV was lost in action in Syria (February 2018). The Turkish national police have also ordered the Bayraktar Tactical and by 2016 Bayraktar Tactical was equipped to carry two Turkish made laser guided missiles. In September 2016 a Bayraktar Tactical used one of these 22 kg laser guided missiles to kill six PKK (Kurdish separatist) gunmen. Turkish UAV development has been going on since the late 1990s, when Israel was still an ally and supplier of weapons and tech to the Turks. But by 2003 an anti-Israel Islamic government took power in Turkey and local UAV development was crippled but not destroyed. In 2016 Turkey put its new Anka UAV into service for the first time but deliveries of production models only began in 2017. The Turkish Air Force ordered 30 aircraft (ten systems) in 2013. About the same time, three export customers (Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia) were announced but none of these were completed because of performance and political problems. Anka was clearly a military UAV, of the type the Israelis had pioneered in the 1980s. The Turkish government apparently ordered a state-owned firm to match the Israeli Heron UAVs that were eventually (2017) returned to Israel. Building large UAVs similar to the Heron has proven difficult to do. One of the disputes with Israel was over electronic accessories Turkey wanted to add to the Israeli UAVs. The Turkish developer was perpetually late and when delivery was made there were problems installing in on the Israeli UAV. The Turks blamed the Israelis and the Israelis kept quiet until they got their UAVs back and then details of the over-promised and under delivered Turkish technology were released. This situation was not unique to the large UAVs like Anka but with other ambitious defense projects where the government demanded more than Turkish firms, especially state owned ones, could deliver. With the Israelis out of the picture, there was no one the government could blame for the years of delays in getting the Anka operational so few updates were released. The Heron Shoval UAVs Israel sold to Turkey are very similar to the American Predator A (or MQ-1). The Shoval weighs about the same (1.2 tons) and has the same endurance (40 hours). Shoval has a slightly higher ceiling (10,000 versus 8,100 meters) and software which allows it to automatically take off, carry out a mission, and land automatically. Not all American large UAVs can do this. Both Predator and Shoval cost about the same ($5 million), although the Israelis are willing to be flexible on price. The Shoval does have a larger wingspan (16.5 meters/51 feet) than the Predator (13.2 meters/41 feet) and a payload of about 137 kg/300 pounds. Meanwhile, the anti-Israel Turkish government thought Shoval would be easy to replicate because Turkey's economy has been booming since 2000 and the Islamic government made good on its pledge to crack down on the corruption that had long crippled the economy. As the economy grew, the government sought to make Turkey more self-sufficient in military equipment, and UAVs are considered part of this program. But this was mainly for show, not for real. One exception was Turkish commercial firms developing, and delivering less ambitious UAVs like the Bayraktar Tactical and Mini UAVs. By 2017 state owned firms caught on. That year STM, a state owned Turkish firm, put on the market three new locally developed UAVs. These UAVs (Alpagu, Kargu and Togan) are simpler and smaller than earlier Turkish efforts. STM declared that the three new UAVs were already in service, which meant that Turkish troops and police tested them and found them useful. What the manufacturers want is export sales and these UAVs address a market that is currently very crowded and competitive. Alpagu is a 3.7 kg (8.2 pounds) fixed wing UAV that can do surveillance but is primarily meant for use as a portable cruise missile as it carries half a kilogram warhead and can be guided to a target up to 5,000 meters away by a soldier. This is similar to the American Switchblade, a one kilogram (2.2 pound) expendable (used only once) UAV that can be equipped with explosives. The Switchblade is launched from its shipping and storage tube, at which point wings flip out, a battery powered propeller starts spinning and a vidcam begins broadcasting images to the controller. The Switchblade is operated using the same gear the larger (two kg/4.4 pound) Raven UAV employs. Moving at up to a kilometer a minute, the Switchblade can stay in the air for 20-40 minutes (depending on whether or not it is armed with explosives) and entered service in 2011. This led to a larger version in 2017. This one weighed 2.2 kg (5 pounds) with up to 30 minutes endurance and a 9 kilometer range. Meanwhile, Israel was offering its similar Hero 30, a three kg (6.6 pounds) UAV with 30 minutes endurance. Based on past experience Turkey wont have much luck finding export customers and appears to have put together these three new small UAVs mainly to show that Turkey can develop and ship this sort of thing. The other two new STM UAVs (Kargu and Togan) are based on commercial quad-copter designs. Kargu is a 6.3 kg (13.8 pounds) UAV while Togan is a 7.5 kg (16.5 pounds) quad-copter design. These also carry a wide variety of accessories already available for UAVs like this. The problem with smaller UAVs like this is that they compete in a crowded commercial market, largely dominated by dozens of Chinese firms. The companies are constantly innovating and introducing new models. Israel recognizes what is going on here and has adopted the Chinese quad-copters for military and police use. ATLANTIC OCEAN (May 1, 2018) The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) fires a RIM-116 test rolling airframe missile during combat systems ship qualification trials. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Clint Davis) X 0 20 Help Keep Us Soaring We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month. Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways: Big changes could be in the cards at Henley School after proposals to join a multi-academy trust (MAT) emerged last week. The school is asking parents, teachers and other stakeholder what they think of a plan to join the Arden Academy Trust, currently consisting of Arden School in Solihull and Lode Heath and Park Hall schools in Birmingham. Supporters of MATs are keen to draw attention to the benefits of working together schools, sharing resources and good practices, and ultimately make financial savings. However critics argue that among other things, there is no evidence that MATs raise standards and their CEOs are paid a colossal amount. Arden School is currently rated Excellent by Ofsted while both Park Hall and Lode Heath are rated Good along with Henley. The school says that joining the MAT will allow it to retain its broad, inclusive curriculum while providing financial security to ensure it wont have to compromise on its range of subjects and extracurricular activities because of budget constraints. Headteacher Steve Jefferies was keen there are no financial problems at the school which have driven the move, though funding is a well-publicised issue in education at the moment. Mr Jefferies said: Arden School isnt that far away really, only 10-15minutes down the road, theyre pretty much the closest secondary school we can work with, they are a strong school in close proximity and they are a quality organisation. Park Hall and Lode Heath are a bit further away, Lode Heath joined fairly recently, they had been struggling a bit and were really looking for Arden School to help support them. Were a bit different, were coming into this from a position of strength and I can absolutely say there is no way our resources at Henley School will be depleted by joining this MAT. Theres an outside possibility that in the future there may be some sharing of facilities, but its more about sharing resources related to professional development and sharing good practices. People might say there is no evidence that being part of a MAT raises standards but working closely with other schools, sharing good practice surely is a positive step, two heads are better than one. This will not have a negative impact on Henley School, it will probably have a positive impact but at worse it will be neutral. Some of the financial benefits include savings through sharing services. Over time some of our services would become centralised but there are currently no plans for any job losses. People sometimes raise the issue of the high pay of the CEOs at MATs and some around the country are paid as much as 300,000-400,000. However the CEO of the Arden Academy Trust is the head at Arden School, his salary of 120,000 is a matter of public record. Most heads at large secondary schools earn six figure salaries so to be honest its quite surprising she earns that little (as the CEO of a MAT). I dont think his salary is disproportionately high. Were meeting with stakeholders next Tuesday as part of our process of due diligence, there are a lot of different groups to consult. We always want to be Henleys School, thats what is most important to us. We want to provide the information to allow people to make an informed decision on this, and if a large number of informed objections were received and it is clear this is not what the community wants, we would go in a different direction. He added that no final decision had been made on joining the MAT and encouraged parents to attend an initial meeting at 7.30pm in the school hall. Earlier this year four Stratford schools, Bridgetown Primary, Bishopton Primary, Thomas Jolyffe Primary and Stratford School announced their intentions to form a new MAT. That plan met with opposition from some parents and union members who raised fears that resources could be diverted from the secondary schools to support the secondary school within the MAT. Cheyenne County Attorney Paul Schaub confirmed in a press release Wednesday that Mark M. Arledge died of several gunshot wounds and Michelle L. Arledge died of a single gunshot wound. Mark Arledge died April 16 of multiple gunshot wounds and Michelle Arledge died three days later of a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. On April 19, Cheyenne County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to the Lodgepole Village office at 12:24 p.m. The initial contact lead authorities to 819 Bondegaard St., the residence of Mark Arledge and Michelle Lee Marlatt-Arledge. Deputies knocked at the door, announcing their presence, to hear a female voice reply "Just a minute." The report stated deputies then heard a gunshot. Deputies entered the residence to find 51-year-old Michelle Lee Marlatt-Arledge, and 52-year-old Mark Arledge. Each were in separate rooms. Both had gunshot wounds. The May 2 press release says investigative efforts so far support that Michelle Arledge caused the death of Mark M. Arledge. Schaub said in the May 2 press release he cannot comment on the allegation of elder abuse because it involves a criminal case investigation. A recommendation by the Cheyenne County Assessor's Office to lower the percentages on which property tax values are based has been approved by the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission. Last month the Cheyenne County Assessor's Office made its recommendation to the Department of Revenue to lower the percentages on a number of property types. With the Department of Revenue's approval, the matter needed final approval from the Tax Equalization and Review Commission. Properties taxes are first based on their market value, with tax assessment based from 92-100 percent for residential properties, and from 69-75 percent for agricultural land. Cheyenne County's recommendation was that county properties be taxed at 92 percent of value for residential and 71 percent for agricultural land. From there, tax-supported entities establish their budgets, and mill levies are used to formulate each property's tax bill. The result of the new measure will be a drop of an estimated 10-14 percent in the city of Sidney, 9 percent in villages and small towns, with rural residence tax value figured at 5 percent less. Agricultural tax value could drop from 12-20 percent, depending on location. The company that's conquered the world of online retail is now taking on its hometown City Hall, with Amazon delivering an unprecedented public threat Wednesday against a proposal for a new tax on large employers in Seattle. The retail giant has paused construction planning on a new downtown Seattle tower until the City Council votes on the tax to fund homelessness programs, a spokesman said. Amazon also may sub-lease rather than occupy space in a skyscraper under construction downtown, said the spokesman, Drew Herdener. The questioning of two high-profile ventures by the city's largest employer is a bold political jab of the kind Amazon has never made in Seattle before and could lend weight to an effort by big businesses to kill the proposed tax. The company helmed by Jeff Bezos has planned to fill its 17-story "Block 18" tower and the skyscraper being built at Rainier Square with an estimated 7,000 workers. Mayor Jenny Durkan vowed to seek common ground, while council members pushing the measure gave no indication they intend to back down. Councilmember Kshama Sawant accused Amazon of attempting "blackmail." "I'm deeply concerned about the impact this could have on a whole range of issues," Durkan said in an interview about Amazon's play, declining to say whether the company gave her advance notice. "Everyone should be." The e-commerce behemoth last week reported a quarterly profit of $1.6 billion and has been targeted by local social-justice activists, who argue a company led by the world's richest person can afford to do more to help people living without shelter. Seattle's homeless crisis is among the worst in the country, with an official state of emergency more than two years old and a record 169 deaths recorded last year. "It's obviously a little disconcerting when a major business says, 'We're rethinking our strategy here,'" Councilmember Mike O'Brien, a sponsor of the tax measure, said Wednesday before a meeting on the proposal at City Hall. "If Amazon generally wants to engage about how they can be part of the solution, we welcome that conversation. But we need companies that are profitable and making billions of dollars every year to help with the folks that are being forced out of housing and ending up on the street." Whether Amazon's pause is just a negotiating tactic or could turn into a major slowdown in growth for the company in the city is unclear, but it comes at a time when the retailer is rapidly expanding in other cities and seeking a second headquarters in North America. This week, Amazon announced additions of office space for 3,000 employees in Vancouver, B.C. and 2,000 in Boston. Amazon's threat to pull back on its Seattle plans comes as the company is already branching out, said James Young, director of the Washington Center for Real Estate Research at the University of Washington. "The fact that they have HQ2 already in process tells me that it's a real option," Young said, describing the company's headquarters announcement in September as a warning shot for Seattle with the message, "Look, we can go elsewhere." Seattle Times editorial columnist Brier Dudley first reported the pause. 'Head tax' proposal Five of the council's nine members are backing an employee-hours tax on businesses grossing at least $20 million per year in Seattle that would raise an estimated $75 million annually. They estimate the so-called "head tax" of about $500 per employee would apply to 500 to 600 companies and they are calling for it to be spent on low-income housing and emergency services for homeless people. The council has been planning to vote later this month. The Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, which counts Amazon as a member, has come out strongly against the proposal, describing it as a "tax on jobs" by a council that can't be trusted to spend efficiently. The head tax could cost Amazon -- with about 45,000 Seattle workers -- more than $20 million per year in 2019 and 2020. In 2021, it would be replaced by a 0.7 percent payroll tax. Under that formula, Amazon's liability would likely increase. Assuming the company had 50,000 Seattle employees by 2021, its payroll-tax obligation would be an estimated $39 million. Analysis of employee data posted to the job-reviews site Glassdoor suggests Amazon employees in the city are paid an average of about $110,000 per year. "I can confirm that pending the outcome of the head-tax vote by City Council, Amazon has paused all construction planning on our Block 18 project in downtown Seattle and is evaluating options to sub-lease all space in our recently leased Rainer Square building," Herdener said in a statement. The company declined further comment. A growth juggernaut With employees spread across more than 40 buildings in South Lake Union and Denny Triangle, Amazon occupies about 10 million square feet of office space in Seattle -- about one-fifth of the city's top-class office space. That's by far the most of any company in any big city in the country. But the tech powerhouse still has planned to add at least another 4 million square feet -- which would make room for an additional 20,000 employees -- and the two endeavors now up in the air account for only a portion of that. The Block 18 tower would be part of the core campus surrounding Amazon's new biospheres and would clock in at about 400,000 square feet. The company in October said it would occupy all 722,000 square feet of office space in the Rainier Square skyscraper, slated to be the Pacific Northwest's second-tallest. Seattle's record construction boom in recent years has been predicated largely on Amazon's growth. The city has been adding about 10,000 new apartments and a few office towers each year, with developers banking on the company and its employees taking up much of that space. "Amazon dominates the downtown office market," said Young, the UW real-estate expert. "Where is the additional demand going to come from if they do this and carry through with the threat?" There's also a question of whether other projects that now exist only on paper could be scrapped. When 2018 began, there were at least 220 slated for the area between South Lake Union and Sodo, according to the Downtown Seattle Association. Amazon's impact Supporters of the tax say the companies driving Seattle's economic boom are also, by attracting high-wage tech workers to the city, driving up rents and home prices. Washington state doesn't tax income or capital gains, leaving Seattle with few new revenue options as its population explodes, the measure's sponsors said in a joint statement. "While Amazon didn't single-handedly cause this problem, they have contributed to the growing income inequality, displacement and housing affordability issues facing our city," they said. Since Amazon opened its South Lake Union headquarters in 2010, Seattle housing costs have grown at among the fastest rates in the nation. The median cost of a single-family house in Seattle has jumped 110 percent to $820,000, while rents have increased 64 percent, with the typical two-bedroom now costing more than $2,000. The company has stepped up to help recently on the homeless issue, on its own terms. Two years ago, it gave Mary's Place, a non-profit that shelters homeless women and their families, the free use of a former hotel on land slated for development. Amazon later promised to give Mary's Place -- at no cost -- part of a new company building, which remains under construction downtown. The 47,000-square-foot shelter will house more than 200 people in 65 rooms. Yet advocates of the tax proposal say philanthropy is no substitute for sustainable public revenue. "I hope that there's an understanding that we have an unfair system, starting with our tax system, and Amazon benefits from that system," O'Brien said. The council member said he learned about Amazon's pause Wednesday morning in a meeting with company executives. They didn't ask for specific changes to the proposed legislation, O'Brien said. Sawant, who led a "tax Amazon" rally in the heart of the company's campus last month, argued the council should press ahead. "Amazon has just now done an extortionary thing," she said. Council members not yet committed to the tax reacted cautiously, with Sally Bagshaw suggesting the company's big splash could slow deliberations. "I think it's going to take some more time for us to get it right," she said. Though he lacks sympathy for a company run by a super-billionaire, Council President Bruce Harrell said he harbors doubts about the legislation. "One of my biggest concerns is whether we really solve the problem," Harrell said. "If we don't move the needle, then all we did is tax business." Durkan, elected with support from the Chamber and Amazon, has not been a champion of the tax but has expressed willingness to work with council members on the legislation. On Wednesday, the mayor said an Amazon pull-back could impact a range of jobs, "from our building trades, to restaurant workers, to nurses, manufacturing jobs and tech workers." "At the same time, our city must urgently address our homelessness and affordability crisis and lift up those who have been left behind," she added, pledging to bring together council members and business and labor leaders to strike a deal. Though the vast majority of companies wouldn't pay the proposed tax, some small-business owners are worried it could hurt large companies they do business with, Durkan said. The tax already has the five council votes it needs to pass but would need six to override a mayoral veto -- a prospect Durkan declined to comment on. The Martin Luther King County Labor Council, an umbrella group for local unions, has endorsed the tax proposal. Under the draft legislation, which has yet to pass through any council committee, about $50 million per year would go to build low-income housing, $20 million to emergency shelter and services and $5 million to administration. Olympia reaction In Olympia, Gov. Jay Inslee's chief of staff said he speaks with Amazon representatives regularly and has heard them express concerns about the proposed tax "on several occasions." Though Inslee isn't looking to advise Durkan or the council on what to do, David Postman said, "I would hope there is room for compromise on the proposal, and maybe it will look different in the end." State Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, spoke out against the measure, encouraging the council to withdraw it in light of Amazon's move. "I personally believe that if this plan goes forward, we need to be wide awake to the likely unintended consequences of the loss of many thousands of jobs," Carlyle said. "I don't believe for a New York second that today's announcement is even close to a bluff." Many Seattle-area leaders have sought better relations with Amazon since the surprise news the retailer would invest $5 billion in a second corporate headquarters for as many as 50,000 employees. Some in the business community interpreted the HQ2 search as a critique of Seattle, and a large group of politicians met with Amazon executives at the company's campus in February. But the council's new proposal appears to have further stoked tensions. People who have spoken with Amazon executives and policy staff say there is a perception within the company that it is being blamed for city problems it did not cause. Amazon officials generally haven't voiced such concerns publicly, but the head-tax is proving to be an exception. Andy Jassy, chief executive of the Amazon Web Services cloud computing division, posted to Twitter last week, saying "Insane what Seattle's considering," alongside a link to an article critical of Seattle's proposed tax. Jassy also posted an opinion piece by the Seattle Times editorial board urging the city to reject the measure. On Wednesday, legislation sponsor Councilmember Lisa Herbold described Amazon's leap into the debate as "an unfortunate reaction." "It's not what I would expect from a corporation that says that it is committed to working with Seattle, as it did last year when we worked together to put together the reset meeting," Herbold said. "This is really backsliding on that commitment." -- By Matt Day and Daniel Beekman, The Seattle Times The 2018 Met Gala is almost here, so we're taking a look back at some of its most memorable looks through the years. The Costume Institute Gala at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the biggest fashion events with big-name celebrity guests like Kim Kardashian, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Sarah Jessica Parker, Madonna, George Clooney, Beyonce, Blake Lively, Ryan Reynolds, Scarlett Johansson and Jessica Simpson. This year will mark the gala's 70th anniversary. According to Vogue, the annual fundraiser began in 1948 to encourage donations from New York's high society to benefit the Met's Costume Institute. Over the past two decades, however, the event is highlighted by famous faces from fashion, film, music and art. Each year's Met Gala focuses on a theme, such as Manus x Machina, Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty, Punk: Chaos to Couture, and China: Through the Looking Glass. The 2018 Met Gala, which is themed "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination," will take place Monday, May 7. Red carpet coverage begins around 7 p.m. ET. Amal Clooney, Rihanna and Anna Wintour will serve as co-chairs for this year's event. "Fashion and religion have long been intertwined, mutually inspiring and informing one another," head curator Andrew Bolton said in a statement. "Although this relationship has been complex and sometimes contested, it has produced some of the most inventive and innovative creations in the history of fashion." Click through our photo gallery above to see some of the best-dressed and most memorable looks over the years. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Eleven days, 3 years, 4 years, 6 years, and 10 years. That's how old Clif Seaway's victims were when he began to rape and sexually abuse them for the purposes of making child pornography. "It's not like I can shut the book," one of his victims said in court today. "These types of crimes don't come with closure." Seaway's five victims are teenagers and young adults now. Two of them shared how the rest of their lives will be affected by Seaway's abuse. So what's a just sentence for the the 61-year-old man who assaulted them? Today, a judge ruled it was 360 years. Seaway, of Granby, tried to convince U.S. District Court Judge Norman Mordue to depart from federal guidelines and give him 30 years. Clif Seaway Public defender Randi Bianco, representing Seaway, said no one was disputing that what Seaway did was "terrible." She urged the court to consider Seaway's physical and sexual abuse at the hands of his father at a young age. But a prosecutor and two victims urged the judge not to show Seaway any leniency, and to consider the harm he caused them. One victim, who was sexually abused beginning when she was 11 days old through age 9, said the ordeal keeps her up at night, that she's unable to have healthy relationships with males and she is extra self-conscious about her body. "Whatever apology he thinks will make up for it -- it won't," she said. "I just want him to realize that he broke me very much." The girl, now a teenager, spoke in a serious but dry voice, showing just slivers of emotion for most of her statement. She said she felt broken physically and emotionally, and she wasn't very good with her emotions. "I still hear his voice in the back of my head," she said. "It happened for so long it felt normal for me. I was a possession to him." The second victim who spoke at sentencing took time to compose herself as she spoke through tears. The woman, now in her 20s, also testified at trial. In her remarks today, she urged the judge to consider the long-lasting effects of these crimes. She said she was glad the case was coming to an end, but noted: "It's not over for those of us who had to live through it." Assistant U.S. Attorney Lisa Fletcher said the evidence at trial showed how Seaway groomed very young children with whom he had regular contact to engage in sex acts with him and his wife Tammy Martin or his girlfriend Tammy LaMere. Both women have pleaded guilty to federal sex crimes. Fletcher said visitors and casual guests did not escape Seaway's abuse either. According to the prosecutor, two mothers testified at trial, identifying their children in photographs years after they had stayed with Seaway. "Clif Seaway ran his home like a house of horrors," Fletcher said. Not only did Seaway use children "to satisfy his sexual perversions," she said, Seaway catalogued the abuse through photographs and videos, which he arranged by victim, age and sex act in a digital archive. He even made back-ups. Seaway's collection included more than 6,000 images of one victim, taken on 400 separate days of her childhood. The 360-year sentence is the result of a jury trial, which prompted the rare testimony from a victim who was a child at the time of her abuse. Seaway rejected the prosecutor's offer of 40 years in prison before taking the case to trial. Whatever the sentence imposed today, it was likely that Seaway would die before his release from prison. Bianco argued for the judge to give Seaway some glimmer of hope due to his past abuse. She said her client had never been given any help, and asked the judge to send Seaway to a prison in Tuscon, Arizona that has a sex offender treatment program. Fletcher urged the judge to make a statement with the sentence to the defendant, his victims, their families and all others -- that the law won't "budge an inch" when it comes to these "heinous" crimes. Mordue agreed with Fletcher's recommendation, noting he felt the sentence was sufficient but not greater than necessary because of multiple factors including the "harm you caused to each of these children." He noted the victims' ages at the time of their abuse, reading them one-by-one. He said he also considered deterrence and consistency in sentencing as factors. Mordue said Seaway's "sexual fixation with children" was apparent not only in the conduct for which he was convicted, but also in the vast number of child pornography photos and videos Seaway collected from the Internet. Mordue agreed to one of the defense's requests: He recommended the Bureau of Prisons transfer Seaway into the sex offender treatment program. When the judge announced the sentence, the victim who testified at trial held her head in her hands. Around her, supporters let out gasps of "yes!" and sighs of relief. The other, younger victim who was present in court quietly clutched a supporter's hand. For the first time in the courtroom today, a slight smile appeared on her face. Public Affairs Reporter Julie McMahon covers courts, government and other issues affecting taxpayers. She can be reached anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-412-1992 SYRACUSE, NY -- It's what Rockney Roberts calls a "beer culture clash." A craft brewer, which prides itself on making bold, big-flavored beers, is setting out to re-create a brew that may have epitomized the pre-craft era of fizzy flavorlessness. It's what Roberts and Kevin Williams, his partner at Willow Rock Brewing Co. in Syracuse, signed up for, more or less. In conjunction with the Onondaga Historical Association, they're attempting to make a new version of Syracuse's historic Congress Beer. They're aiming to debut the beer Aug. 15. They're in the midst of experimenting with recipes in consultation with the OHA. Rockney Roberts, left, and Kevin Williams of Willow Rock Brewing Co. in Syracuse. Willow Rock is working with the Onondaga Historical Association to launch a new version of Syracuse's historic Congress Beer. Congress was made by Haberle Congress Brewery on Syracuse's North Side, the last survivor of the city's once thriving 19th- to 20th-century brewing industry. It was last brewed in 1962, so there aren't many people around who remember what it tasted like. It was the Syracuse equivalent of mid-20th century American lagers ranging from Schlitz to Rolling Rock. Some local rivals survive, like Utica Club from Matt Brewing in Utica and Genesee from Rochester. In the post-Prohibition era, it was probably brewed, like just about every other American beer of the day, with "adjunct" grains such as corn or rice, in addition to barley malt. American brewers made that choice, in part, because corn and rice were cheaper. It also led to pale yellow beers that were light-bodied and, to put it kindly, lacking in robust malt or hop character. And yet every beer has its own its distinctive aromas and flavors. It's possible Congress had a taste like no other. That's what Roberts and Williams are trying to re-discover, with some of their craft brewing know-how: A Congress Beer for the 21st Century. They've brewed at least three different experimental versions, each with a different focus. Rockney Roberts of Willow Rock Brewing Co, in Syracuse pours a sample of a prototype beer that will ultimately lead to the new Congress Beer. Tasting the beers are board members, staff and supporters of the Onondaga Historical Association. At a special tasting for OHA board members and other supporters this week, they unveiled a full-bodied and malty blonde ale, an extremely pale and light-bodied ale, and a hoppy, hazy lager. None of those, ultimately, will be the new Congress Beer. The very pale beer is sort of a "craft Coors Light," Roberts said, while the others highlight different malts and hops. The hoppy lager uses all New York state-grown hops. "We're playing with the extremes and we'll move to the middle to find the one that's right for us," Roberts said. "It needs to have a wide appeal, but still be a beer we're proud to serve." One thing is certain: The beer will fall within the alcoholic strength range of 4.5 to 5 percent, about the same as a standard Budweiser or Coors today . Gregg Tripoli, executive director of the OHA, agrees with the idea to make the beer attractive to a wide variety of people. "Congress Beer is part of our shared history," he said. "So the beer has to be something that appeals to a big cross-section of the beer drinkers in our community." Tripoli and the OHA announced the plan to reintroduce Congress Beer in February. Over the years, the OHA had acquired many objects and documents related to the Haberle Congress, along with its copyrights and trademarks. Among the many Congress artifacts on display at the OHA museum at 321 Montgomery St. is an 11 1/2-foot-high, 1,500-pound, cast-metal statue of Gambrinus, the "king of beer." It once hung outside on the Haberle Congress brewery on Butternut Street. Willow Rock Brewing Co. in Syracuse, working with the Onondaga Historical Association, is aiming to launch a new version of the historic Congress Beer. Using the copyrights it obtained, the OHA's gift shop has for several years sold T-shirts, glassware and similar merchandise with the Congress Beer label. But the OHA also has a "recipe" for Congress Beer, donated by the last Haberle brewmaster when the brewery closed in 1962. That recipe, actually more of a procedure, is a starting point for Roberts and Williams experimentation at Willow Rock. To follow along with the search for the new Congress Beer, you'll find examples of Willow Rock's first three experimental brews on tap, in limited quantities, at their brewery/tasting room at 115 Game Road in Syracuse. (That's off Ainsley Drive, behind Danzer's Restaurant). Williams has named the three experimental beers after once prominent, but now obscure, 19th century members of Congress: McKissock, Birdseye and Bokee. You'll find those alongside Willow Rock's own rotation of craft beers. "We're only maybe half-way through the process," Roberts said. "So we're still looking for customer feedback on these beers, as we do with all our beers." Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A doctor accused of sexually abusing patients at a VA clinic in Watertown has been temporarily barred from practicing medicine in New York. The state Board for Professional Medical Conduct ordered Dr. Jerome F. Cuyler, 74, of Sackets Harbor, to stop practicing until it completes an investigation of misconduct allegations against him. Cuyler is accused of sexually abusing seven adult male patients during "prolonged and inappropriate" prostate and genital examinations, according to court records. He was charged April 5 with fourth-degree aggravated sexual abuse, a felony; six counts of forcible touching, a misdemeanor; and five counts of third-degree sexual abuse, a misdemeanor. Officials of the Syracuse VA Medical Center, which oversees the clinic, have said they immediately suspended Cuyler from clinical duties after learning of the allegations and subsequently fired him in 2016. But Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand has questioned the VA's handing of the case. In a letter to the VA Gillibrand asked why Cuyler was allowed to continue working at the clinic for six weeks after he was accused of sexual abuse. She gave the VA a deadline of April 27 to respond in writing to her questions about the case. The VA is still working on its response, according to Gillibrand's office. Gillibrand has said the VA Office of the Inspector General and the U.S. Attorney's Office asked the Syracuse VA to hold off on reporting Cuyler to the New York state medical licensing officials after he was fired. Contact James T. Mulder anytime: Email | Twitter | 315-470-2245 Thirteen school districts in New York - including one in Central New York - are proposing to exceed the state's allowable property tax increase, according to figures released by the NYS Education Department this week. Cazenovia school district in Madison County is the only CNY district with a proposed tax increase that goes above what the state's cap for the district. There are more than 650 school districts in New York state. Last year, there were 13 districts statewide that exceeded the tax cap, including DeRuyter in Madison County. Taxpayers in districts with budgets that call for exceeding the tax cap must approve proposed school budgets by a 60 percent majority. Budget votes will be May 15 across the state. The state pays rebates to taxpayers in school districts which keep tax increases below state-set tax caps. If the district goes above that cap, taxes go up and taxpayers don't receive any rebate. The average tax rebate check last year was $179, according to state officials. For 2017-18, the average proposed school district tax levy increase is 2.1 percent, close to the state's approximate 2 percent property tax cap, according to New York State Education figures. (The exact tax cap varies from from district to district based on a state formula.) Two years ago, 36 districts exceeded the tap cap. In Cazenovia, the proposed tax levy increase is 2 percent, which exceeds the tax levy limit of -1.09 percent, according to a district newsletter. District officials said in a budget newsletter this is due to $200,000 of increases in health, safety and security costs, coupled with increases in the costs of salaries, health insurance, workers' compensation and retirement. State aid also is stagnant, officials said. School districts proposing to exceed the tax cap this year District Name Proposed 2018-19 budget Spending percent change Proposed tax levy percent change How much over tax cap limit New Rochelle $272,804,093 5.08 3.89 $3,398,617 Mamaroneck $138,940,301 2.84 3.97 $1,442,627 Johnstown $35,750,076 5.46 4.90 $613,248 Cazenovia $29,654,629 4.32 2.00 $557,821 Evans-Brant $58,877,065 1.12 1.50 $493,205 Clymer $11,561,554 2.43 12.87 $357,192 Greenport $19,038,000 3.66 4.62 $285,657 Westport $6,562,000 8.53 9.98 $265,062 Chazy $10,728,470 -1.42 3.31 $236,912 Eden $30,090,130 3.70 2.00 $219,453 Alfred-Almond $13,741,954 3.53 1.90 $119,176 Stamford $9,739,213 3.96 4.27 $69,999 Chateaugay $12,982,999 -3.98 1.42 $30,599 Source: New York State Education Department SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- "Are you a citizen of the United States?" That was the question posed by an armed federal agent to travelers in Syracuse last week. Wearing a tactical vest and a firearm on his hip, the Border Patrol agent surveyed a line of people waiting to board a bus, asking each their nationality, prompting some to present him their papers. A video of that agent has become part of an increasingly heated battle over federal immigration enforcement tactics in upstate New York. It highlights an issue activists have been fighting for years: Why can border patrol agents stop people in Syracuse without a warrant or probable cause? A spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol pointed to law authorizing agents to operate within 100 miles of the border to protect national security. The Regional Transportation Center in Syracuse is 97 miles from the Canadian border. "Although most Border Patrol work is conducted in the immediate border area, agents have broad law enforcement authorities and are not limited to a specific geography within the United States," said CBP spokesman David Long. "They have the authority to question individuals, make arrests, and take and consider evidence." Sheila Sicilia, who recorded the video, is part of a group of immigration activists who visit the train and bus station regularly to monitor law enforcement activity. She shot the video at the RTC on Thursday, April 26. Those activists fear border patrol agents are being used to harass and intimidate travelers, particularly those who look foreign. Sicilia said there were three agents at the transportation center last Thursday for at least three hours. Two were searching incoming buses and trains. The third was questioning outbound people in the lobby, she said. Travelers can be asked for documentation even when traveling domestically, like someone taking a bus from Syracuse to Albany. Sicilia said she's aware of only one person who was detained as a result of the CBP searches recently. She declined to give his name and said he did not want to speak with media, for fear of reprisal. He is in the United States on an expired visa from Indonesia, she said. Regulars at the transportation center, however, said CBP patrols are nothing new. One woman who works at a vendor there said border patrol is at the station regularly, and has been for years. She's worked there for 15 years and said patrols are usually more frequent in summer months, but she hasn't noticed any increase lately. The legality of CBP's tactics has been challenged for years, particularly by groups like the New York Civil Liberties Union. Stephen Yale-Loehr is an immigration attorney and immigration law professor at Cornell University. He said the Fourth Amendment protects citizens from random, unwarranted stops and searches, but border patrol agents are afforded extra authority within 100 miles of a border or coastline. "In my view, the Fourth Amendment still exists within 100 miles of the border, but is watered down," Yale-Loehr said. "CBP officers have broad rights, but they are not unlimited. For example, they cannot torture someone. Nor can they conduct "unreasonable" searches and seizures. What constitutes "unreasonable," however, depends on the facts and circumstances. The courts have not laid out a clear test in this area." U.S. Census data shows about two-thirds of the U.S. population lives within 100 miles of a border, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Outside that border zone, law enforcement officers need probable cause and a warrant to stop and search someone. CBP's spokesman did not address specific questions about the patrols in Syracuse, nor would he say how often they're conducted or why. He issued a blanket statement about the purpose and mission of the agency. The agency cited the Immigration and Nationality Act, which allows immigration agents -- without a warrant -- to "within a reasonable distance from any external boundary of the United States...board and search for aliens in any vessel within the territorial waters of the United States and any railcar, aircraft, conveyance, or vehicle." Agents searching trains and buses do so with the consent of the private companies that own them, such as Amtrak or Greyhound. The transportation center is operated by Centro, a state-appointed authority. Steven Koegel, a spokesman for Centro, said Centro has no jurisdiction over border patrol, and that the transportation center is a public facility. "They don't notify us," he said. "We have no idea if they're coming." In 2011, the New York Civil Liberties Union issued a report called "Justice Derailed," which argued CBP agents in upstate New York profiled travelers based on race. The report found that 76 percent of people apprehended by CBP at the Rochester train station between 2006 and 2009 had been in the country for more than a year. "These numbers cast serious doubt on whether CBP's transportation raids do anything to actually protect the border," the report said. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- The Syracuse Common Council will hold a public hearing today, Thursday, at 5 p.m. to discuss the proposed city budget. Residents are invited to offer input on Mayor Ben Walsh's proposed budget, which the council has spent the last month reviewing. The hearing takes place at the Common Council chambers on the third floor of City Hall, 233 E. Washington St. For those who can't attend, the hearing -- like all budget hearings -- will be streamed live on YouTube. The proposed budget includes a hiring freeze, money for new classes of cops and firefighters and a flat property tax rate. It would use $11 million from city reserves to plug a deficit. The total operating budget for the city is $286.2 million, which is $6.8 million less than last year. That does not include Syracuse City School District funding. The Common Council has hosted dozens of hearings over the last month with administration officials in every city department. In the coming weeks, the council will vote to adopt a budget. The fiscal year begins July 1. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A classic painting that was removed from the walls of Auburn's Seward House Museum more than five years ago is finally going to be sold, potentially for more than $18 million. The sale of the 1839 painting called "Portage Falls on the Genesee" by Thomas Cole will happen in the near future after years of negotiations between the Seward House Museum, the Emerson Foundation and the state Charities Bureau. In 2013, the painting was removed from the walls of the Seward House due to safety concerns and stored in a secure, undisclosed location after more than 100 years in the home. The painting was replaced with a museum-quality replica, which is still in place at the museum. The Emerson Foundation wanted to sell the painting, setting off a legal battle that required the approval of the local surrogate's court and the New York Attorney General's Office. Descendants of the Sewards and others wanted to keep the painting at the Seward House. The 80-by-64-inch painting has been appraised at being worth between $18 million and $20 million. The elder Seward got it as a gift from supporters when he was governor of New York. Under the agreement announced earlier this week, 100 percent of the sale proceeds will go to the Seward House Museum "and other organizations with a capacity to support a memorial for William H. Seward and his son, William H. Seward, Jr.," according to a statement from Dan Fisher, the recent president of the Seward House board. "This agreement allows for Seward House Museum to evolve as a sustainable, independent institution, and to extend the legacy of William H. Seward and his family on a much broader scale," said Rich Hole, president of the Seward House board of trustees, in a statement. Seward, who was also U.S. Secretary of State under Abraham Lincoln, died in Auburn in 1872. His grandson, William H. Seward III, left the home on South Street in Auburn and the valuable painting to the Emerson Foundation upon his death in 1951. The foundation kept up the home until 2008, when the house and its contents except for the Cole painting became the Seward House Museum under charter by the New York State Education Department. Seward was twice governor of New York. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate, where he argued passionately for abolition. President Abraham Lincoln appointed him secretary of state, and in that same position under President Andrew Johnson, Seward negotiated the purchase of Alaska from Russia. He made his home in Auburn, in the house built in 1816 by his father-in-law. The painting depicts what is now Letchworth State Park. Dr. Moses Kyobe has been a cardiologist for more than 20 years. He sees patients at St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center, Crouse Hospital, Auburn Community Hospital, and in Oswego, where he lives. Dr. Moses Kyobe | Special to Syracuse.com It's no secret that the Republican tax bill Rep. John Katko voted to pass in December is a raw deal for the wallets of Central New Yorkers, from hiking our tax bills by $2.4 billion next year, to funneling more than 50 percent of the benefits to the richest 5 percent of New Yorkers. But it's going to hurt our healthcare, too. And we're already seeing the results. One year ago this week, the Republican house voted to fully repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and while that effort ultimately died in the Senate, they didn't stop in their effort to undermine it at every turn. The TrumpTax, which was supported by every Republican house member in New York - including John Katko and Claudia Tenney - dismantled the "individual mandate" portion of the ACA, which made sure that all Americans either have health insurance or pay a penalty at the end of each year. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that eliminating the individual mandate could leave as many as 13 million people uninsured over the next decade, and hike premiums by an average of 10 percent over the same period. Now uninsured rates are indeed again on the rise. The Commonwealth Fund, which tracks the rate of uninsured Americans, found that about 15.5 percent of adults are now without health insurance; about 4 million Americans more than in 2016, after a steep drop following the initial launch of the ACA. The premium hikes will come as young, healthy people with low healthcare costs choose to risk going without insurance, leaving older, sicker people within the insurance pool - meaning insurers will be spending more money on members while taking less in from premiums, forcing them to raise costs for everyone. Don't take my word for it. President Trump's former Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price agrees, saying this week that he believes repealing the individual mandate "actually will harm the pool in the exchange market, because you'll likely have individuals who are younger and healthier not participating in that market, and consequently, that drives up the cost for other folks within that market." We're also going to be forced to watch the healthcare industry slide back into many of the bad habits of pre-ACA days. When Americans and their families are uninsured, visits to doctors' offices become a luxury they can't afford. Illnesses go untreated until they become catastrophic, and lead to exponentially more expensive visits to emergency rooms. Hospitals and providers wind up swallowing huge amounts of the cost of treating uninsured patients who can't afford their bills, leading them to increase costs for everyone else - perpetuating our ongoing cycle of rising healthcare costs nationwide. What's more, the Republican tax bill blasts a $1.5 trillion dollar hole in the federal deficit, and we know they're already eyeing cuts to the food stamps and many other critical programs to cover the difference. We all spend our working lives funding these programs with the expectation that they'll be there if the need arises, particularly when we get older. But the billions in proposed cuts would disproportionately impact poor and elderly Americans. The Republicans failed to successfully repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act because the vast majority of the country recognizes that it's better to have a healthier population that won't face financial ruin as the result of a single health crisis. Now, the tax bill that Katko supported is spurring many of the same devastating cuts his party couldn't get passed before, undermining the stability of our public health services and making the changes his constituents have overwhelmingly said they don't want. Simply put, we can't afford to buy what Katko is trying to sell us, and no matter how he tries to spin it, the TrumpTax is nothing more than the latest attempt to destroy healthcare for the poor, elderly and disabled Central New Yorkers and Americans who rely on our public health system to stay healthy. 'Lampooning our leaders is as American as apple pie': Roy S. Gutterman To the Editor: The recent commentary concerning Israeli Consul General Dani Dayan's appearance at Syracuse University ("Why we protested Israeli consul general's visit to Syracuse University," May 2, 2018), as with so many other comments, always ignores one essential fact: The Palestinian protests at the Gaza border are not peaceful and the tunnels being dug into and under Israeli land are a continuing act of war. We here in the United States would never tolerate such behavior. Why should Israel? The Palestinians deserve a homeland of their own but so does Israel. This is a concession Gazans seem unwilling or unable to admit to. When they try to pull down the fences, bomb schools and dig tunnels to attack Israelis in adjoining Israeli villages, can they really expect to be treated as victims? Gazans have a responsibility to promote peace just as Israel does. It's time for people to admit Palestinians have responsibilities and they have ignored them. Sidney Cominsky Syracuse Overtime at the Onondaga County jail may have reached the pinnacle of absurdity in the person of Lt. James Raus. Raus -- perennially the highest-paid county employee because of the number of overtime hours he works -- recently was paid $72,293.42 for overtime he didn't work, a take-home car he didn't drive, and holiday and "shift differential" pay for hours he didn't work. A state arbitrator said Raus was entitled to all of that because he would have earned them - had Raus not been sitting in a room, reading training manuals, while he faced disciplinary charges. (He eventually was cleared of those charges.) But wait, it gets worse. County taxpayers who paid overtime to Raus for not working also had to pay overtime to the jail deputies who were working in his place. While Raus was on limited duty, "my other guys were getting killed filling overtime," complained Doug Paninski, president of the Deputy Sheriff's Benevolent Association. "As a taxpayer, it infuriates me," the union rep said -- as if he had nothing to do with enforcing the conditions for overtime abuse. The Raus case illustrates the gross imbalance between management and public-sector unions created by binding arbitration rules in New York state. When employees bring grievances, Onondaga County Sheriff Gene Conway estimates arbitrators rule in favor of employees -- and against him -- 90 percent of the time. Conway said that imbalance undercuts his ability to effectively manage the jail. Thanks to another arbitration ruling, jail overtime is distributed based on seniority. As the most senior deputy, Raus is first in line at the overtime trough. That's how he tripled his base pay in 2017 to $221,241 - dwarfing the annual salaries of Conway ($111,221) and County Executive Joanie Mahoney ($157,430). Follow the seniority rule to its illogical conclusion, and you get an arbitrator deciding Raus was entitled to overtime pay for hours he did not work. That's messed up. Conway points to other reasons he is forced to turn to overtime: a growing jail population, growing demands and static staffing levels. Taxpayers are fed up with paying for overtime abuses and capricious arbitration rulings. Many levels of government need to step up to fix it. To reduce overtime, Conway needs to make a convincing case to Mahoney and the county Legislature for increased staffing at the jail. Onondaga County, in its next contract negotiation with the jail union, needs to drive a harder bargain on seniority and overtime. Finally, the state Legislature and Gov. Andrew Cuomo need to change binding arbitration laws to give municipalities, and taxpayers, a fighting chance. Syracuse.com editorials Editorials represent the collective opinion of the Advance Media New York editorial board. Our opinions are independent of news coverage. Read our Members of the editorial board are Tim Kennedy, Stephen Cvengros, Jason Murray and Marie Morelli. To respond to this editorial: Post a comment below, or submit a letter or commentary to . Read our If you have questions about the Opinions & Editorials section, contact Marie Morelli, editorial/opinion leader, at WASHINGTON -- Anthony Brindisi, one of the top recruits for Democrats seeking to take control of the House this year, says he won't support Nancy Pelosi to lead the party if he's elected to Congress. Pelosi, the 78-year-old House Democratic leader, told the Boston Globe on Tuesday that she's convinced Democrats will win a majority in the House and that she plans to run for speaker. But Brindisi, a state Assembly member from Utica who is challenging Rep. Claudia Tenney in the 22nd Congressional District, told syracuse.com that he would not be among Democrats supporting Pelosi for another term leading House Democrats. "It's something that I decided early on by talking to voters in the district," Brindisi said in an interview Thursday. "I believe it's time for new leadership on both sides of the aisle. I've always been an independent voice in Albany, and I will continue to do that in Washington." Brindisi's decision to split with Democratic leadership is significant because the party made him one of their top 11 recruits nationwide this year, and has spent more than $200,000 to support his campaign through a Democratic super PAC with close ties to Pelosi. Republicans have campaigned for years against Democratic candidates by linking them to Pelosi, whom the GOP has attempted to turn into the face of the far-left progressive agenda. Brindisi, who touts his moderate and independent credentials, said he did not inform Democratic Party leaders in advance of his decision. But he said he's not concerned about a potential backlash or a loss of campaign support. "I think that's for others to decide," Brindisi said. "I'm going to continue to run this race and listen to people across this district." Asked who he would support for Democratic leader, Brindisi said he's undecided. "I'm going into this with an open mind," Brindisi said. "My job right now is to get elected and find out the issues that are most important to people." Democrats in competitive House races are increasingly distancing themselves from Pelosi, taking a page from the playbook of Conor Lamb, who won a special election in Pittsburgh's suburbs this year after saying he would not vote for Pelosi to lead House Democrats. Brindisi becomes at least the seventh out of 41 candidates in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" program to publicly decline to support Pelosi for speaker. He is also the most prominent Democratic candidate in New York, to date, to distance himself from Pelosi in this year's election. Three of the six Democrats seeking the party's ballot line against Rep. Elise Stefanik in Upstate New York's 21st Congressional District said Wednesday that they would not vote for Pelosi for speaker. Brindisi's campaign against Tenney is considered by both political parties to be one of the most competitive in the nation this year. Political analysts who handicap the elections say Tenney is one of the 10 most vulnerable Republican House members. House Majority PAC, a super PAC aligned with Pelosi that supports Democratic House candidates, has already spent more than $214,000 on television and digital advertising as well as direct mail in the 22nd District, according to disclosure reports filed with the Federal Election Commission. Pelosi's congressional campaign and her leadership PAC, PAC to the Future, have also donated a combined $14,000 directly to Brindisi's campaign, FEC records show. Pelosi announced this week that she raised $16.1 million for House Democrats in the first quarter of 2018, bringing the total to $66.7 million that she has raised for the midterm election. The 22nd Congressional District covers all of Madison, Oneida, Cortland and Chenango counties and portions of Oswego, Broome, Herkimer, and Tioga counties. Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 The state Board of Elections ruled Thursday that Juanita Perez Williams qualifies to be on the Democratic ballot for Congress, derailing efforts by local Democrats to disqualify her and avoid a primary against Dana Balter. The board formally accepted the recommendation of a bipartisan panel of hearing examiners, who ruled Tuesday that Perez Williams had exceeded the threshold of 1,250 signatures that are required on nominating petitions to qualify for the ballot. The decision means that Perez Williams, a Syracuse lawyer who ran an unsuccessful campaign for Syracuse mayor last year, will face Balter, a visiting assistant teaching professor at Syracuse University, in a June 26 Democratic primary. The winner will have the Democratic ballot line in the November election against Rep. John Katko, R-Camillus, in the 24th Congressional District. Diane Dwire, a member of the Onondaga County Democratic Committee who filed the challenge to Perez Williams' petition, has filed a legal notice preserving her right to take the matter to court next week. Dwire said her team has not yet decided whether to pursue the challenge in court. She initially succeeded in having 1,884 of Perez Williams' petition signatures ruled invalid, leaving her with 1,393 valid signatures. After the board's ruling Thursday, Balter issued a statement in which she criticized Perez Williams for using paid canvassers, rather than volunteers, to collect some of her petition signatures. "We didn't use paid signature collectors," Balter said. "Over 800 volunteers collected nearly 8,000 signatures to put me on the ballot, and I've been traveling the 24th District for months listening to voters talk about the issues and how we'll stand up to Donald Trump." Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 May 02--Twenty-eight letters of support from prominent friends convinced a federal judge Wednesday to keep Stephanie W. Cowart out of prison, even though federal sentencing guidelines called for the former Niagara Falls Housing Authority head to spend six to 12 months locked up for her crimes. U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara sentenced Cowart to probation for two years and fined her $2,000 for a scheme with her son and daughter-in-law to pocket more than $17,000 belonging to the Niagara Falls Housing Authority. "Before I read all those letters, I was going to put her in prison," Arcara said. Cowart, 59, of Grand Island, headed the Housing Authority for 19 years. She pleaded guilty in December to a felony charge of theft concerning programs receiving federal funds. Her son, Allen Q. Cowart, and his wife, Fredia Cowart, pleaded guilty to misdemeanors. Prominent friends help former Niagara Falls housing chief avoid prison https://t.co/t5A7ILfvyE The Buffalo News (@TheBuffaloNews) May 2, 2018 Those writing letters on Cowart's behalf included former Rep. John J. LaFalce; Rev. Joseph L. Levesque, former president of Niagara University; John R. Chella, former Niagara Falls police chief; Ellen E. Grant, former CEO of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center; former Falls City Council Chairman Charles A. Walker; Niagara Falls High School principal Robert L. Bradley Jr.; and numerous clergy. "These are letters from very responsible people," Arcara said. "They're good letters." The letters emphasized Cowart's character and integrity, her work in the Niagara Falls community and her status as a breast cancer survivor. None of them attempted to explain her crimes, and neither Cowart nor her attorney, Michael A. Battle, offered any explanation, either. "I lived my life never to appear in court in this matter under these circumstances," Cowart told the judge. "My life's power, my life's passion, has been to enrich and empower communities. I have always been an advocate for the needy and the disenfranchised." But she ended up in court Wednesday because she tried to illegally enrich her family. She deposited a $6,000 foundation grant, earmarked for a youth etiquette and anti-bullying program, and gave the money to her son and daughter-in-law between October 2013 and January 2015. No training sessions were offered under the program, federal prosecutors said. Also, Stephanie Cowart ordered a pay raise for her son, Allen Cowart, who was working as a teacher in an after-school program at the authority during the 2013-14 school year. Regulations called for him to be paid $23 an hour, but his mother directed that her son be paid $50 an hour. The extra pay totaled $11,583. "The defendant used her position of public trust to benefit herself and her family, not once but twice," Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell T. Ippolito said. The $6,000 has been repaid to the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, attorneys said. And the extra money for her son's raise has also been repaid to the state government, which funded the after-school program. Ippolito asked for a sentence in accord with federal sentencing guidelines. Arcara wasn't required to follow the guidelines, and he didn't. "She appears to be very remorseful, strong community support, strong religious beliefs, and she has contributed significantly to Niagara County," Arcara said. Fredia Cowart was placed on probation for a year Wednesday. Allen Cowart is to be sentenced July 9. The Cowarts were charged after an FBI investigation into the Housing Authority. The probe led to Stephanie Cowart's retirement, which took effect in March 2017. - By Thomas J. Prohaska, The Buffalo News, N.Y. Personnel at China's first overseas military base in Africa have been using lasers to interfere with American military aircraft in the region, U.S. officials said. The incidents caused injuries to American pilots and prompted the U.S. to launch a formal diplomatic protest with China, according to CNN. American officials have urged pilots to be cautious flying in certain parts of Djibouti in eastern Africa. Lasers have been directed at U.S. aircraft in the area on a small number of separate occasions in recent weeks, according to CNN. Crew members on a C-130 suffered two minor eye injuries in one of the incidents. The lasers were reported to have originated from a nearby Chinese base, CNN said. The laser incidents are a significant concern to U.S. military forces in the region and can cause major accidents, according to CNN. The State Department is protesting the activity in an effort to get China to stop it. The U.S. has about 4,000 people at its Djibouti military base, Camp Lemonnier, which it regularly uses to target terrorists in nearby countries like Somalia and Yemen. China recently established a base in Djibouti as well. The intent of the laser incidents is unclear, according to Reuters. In a few instances, the Chinese used military-grade lasers in the activity. The Chinese base in Djibouti is just miles from the American facility, Reuters said. China also has close economic ties with Djibouti, according to CNN. U.S. officials have asked the Chinese government to launch its own investigation of the situation. Countering the rise of China and Russia is at the center of a new national defense strategy released by the U.S. military earlier this year. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112 A fiery explosion at a police standoff in Connecticut has left up to eight SWAT Team officers injured. The Associated Press reports police were negotiating with a man who had taken his wife hostage in North Haven, Conn., on Wednesday night. A blast in a barn behind their home led to non-life-threatening injuries for the officers. Explosion then fire during North Haven stand-off. Were on Quinnipiac Ave. #wfsb pic.twitter.com/iPt7FQSATV Matthew Campbell (@mgmcampbell) May 3, 2018 BREAKING: felt a large explosion during police standoff now a huge fire off Quinnipiac Ave in #NorthHaven. pic.twitter.com/LfTfuzAL1X Kevin Galliford (@KallMeKG) May 3, 2018 Chaotic scene in North Haven near MacArthur Rd. Ambulances raced to the scene and weve seen what appear to be several members of SWAT taken away in ambulances. Were waiting for information. pic.twitter.com/c53r6q40O8 Jamie Ratliff (@JamieRatliffNBC) May 3, 2018 North Haven First Selectman Michael J. Freda told WTNH that the wife had been barricaded inside the home for three days, but was able to escape before the explosion. The husband, who has not been identified, had barricaded himself inside when police responded. It's unclear whether he was injured in the blast or if he's in custody. "This is still an active, ongoing scene," Deputy Police Chief Jonathan Mulhern said early Thursday. "This is not a stable scene at this point." Police "were trying to coax him... out of the house and really try to calm the situation down. Then things took a turn for the worse with an explosion," Freda told WTIC-TV. "It's quite surprising... This is a quiet residential neighborhood. It's been a very emotional scene." According to the Associated Press, neighbors said they heard the explosion and felt their homes shake as well. Joan Mazurek told CBS she heard the blast from a mile away. "Then we heard all the, oh my God, all the ambulances and fire engines. The noise from all the emergency vehicles was unbelievable," she said. "It's a shock. Nothing ever happens like this in North Haven." According to the Associated Press, a fire was still burning Thursday morning and power is out for residents in the area. Authorities have not said what caused the blast. Fire is STILL going strong. Looks like it hasnt died down at all. Power has been cut off in this area. pic.twitter.com/T7KY2H2MME Carmen Chau (@CChauFOX61) May 3, 2018 State police are assisting North Haven police with the investigation. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives also responded to the scene. Look at whats happening here on Howard Ave. outside the ER at @YNHH. #NBCCT pic.twitter.com/Cx8n9kIQJH Matt Austin (@mattaustinTV) May 3, 2018 Greensboro, N.C. -- A 17-year-old in North Carolina has been accepted to over 100 colleges and universities and been awarded more than $4.5 million in merit-based scholarships. Jasmine Harrison will graduate from The Academy at Smith in May with a 4.0 GPA. She was awarded full scholarships to three schools: Ed Waters College in Florida, Mississippi Valley State University and Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina. She was accepted to 113 colleges and spent a total of $135 on her applications. Wow! Greensboro teen accepted to 113 colleges, awarded $4.5 million in scholarships https://t.co/1ZIhULmMVI pic.twitter.com/d0dSNpdgJP WFMY News 2 (@WFMY) May 1, 2018 All three of the schools that awarded her full scholarships are historically black colleges and universities. Harrison applied to 53 such schools and got into 26 using a single application accepted by all the schools, according to WFMY in Greensboro. She also used two other applications that allowed her to apply to multiple schools at once, including some for free. "When I got the first couple in the mail, I was like 'OK, this is really happening.' I didn't really think I'd be able to do that," she said, according to WFMY. Harrison said she spent hours on her applications, making sure they were perfect. She had help from her mother and her high school's faculty. "On those late nights when I was filling out those applications with my mom and we just felt like we cannot do this, we just ended up singing gospel songs together to get through the night," she said, according to WFMY. Harrison plans to attend Bennett College on a full scholarship and major in biology, the station said. She plans to become a neonatal intensive care nurse. Harrison's high school, The Academy at Smith, is a public career-focused school. It is part of the school district in Guilford County, North Carolina. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112 United Airlines will ban 25 different pet breeds when it resumes flying pets this summer, four months after a dog's death prompted the airline to review its policies for transporting animals. The carrier will again accept dogs and cats in the cargo hold starting July 9 if the animal's guardian is booked on the same flight, spokesman Charles Hobart said Tuesday. United is also teaming with American Humane to "improve the well-being of all pets that travel on" the Chicago-based airline, according to a company statement. You can see the full list of banned breeds by clicking here. United announced the changes less than two months after a bruising week of public-relations fiascoes involving dogs. A French bulldog died March 12 after a flight attendant had the pet and its animal crate placed in an overhead bin. In a separate incident, the airline sent a Kansas-bound German shepherd to Japan. United also took criticism over its record of animal deaths in 2017, when it accounted for 18 of the 24 animals that died on a major airline. The airline will no longer allow 21 dog and four cat breeds that are prone to physical problems from heat or other travel stress. Under its previous rates for the PetSafe program, United charged more than $2,400 for some large animals on some European and Pacific routes. Domestically, pets had cost $201-$963 depending on the animal's size. Candidates named in city and school elections With the passing of the filing deadline for the upcoming city and school election, several area governing bodies including the City of Tama and ... A new model from the scientists at the University of Illinois suggests that there will be clear and ample geological signs before the next supervolcano eruption. The new model was based on the seemingly neglected impacts of tectonic stress on the rock beds where most of the world's supervolcanoes where located. Essentially, it proposes that any prevalent tectonic stress on the rocks could signal impending instability of supervolcanoes. Tectonic stress occurs when plates are moving toward, past, or away from each other. By calculating the tectonic stress on the supervolcano locations, experts could finally estimate the timing of when the next catastrophic event will take place. Geyser Eruptions Scientists were baffled about three consecutive geyser eruptions at the Yellowstone National Park in the past six weeks. Experts, however, dismissed any assumption that the geyser eruptions are signaling a looming Yellowstone eruption. This was echoed by Patricia Gregg, geology professor and proponent of the new model. Gregg said that any seismic or geyser activity at the Yellowstone National Park will naturally trigger panic. However, their research suggests that the signs of devastating explosions will be more encompassing and long-lasting than mere seismic activity or geyser eruptions. "When new magma starts to rejuvenate a supervolcano system, we can expect to see a massive uplift, faulting, and earthquake activity. Far greater than the meter-scale events we have seen in recent time," Gregg explains in their study which was published online on April 9. New Model The team comprised of Gregg, Haley Cabaniss, a graduate student at the University of Illinois and Eric Grosfils, a geology professor at the Pomona College created their model based on the Taupo Volcanic Zone located in New Zealand. They preferred the location because of its simple extensional tectonic setting. This is a characteristic common to locations of other supervolcanoes across the world. Using the model, the team then tested different scenarios applying varying amounts of stress, tectonic plate movement, and magma supply. They observed that magma reservoirs inside the supervolcanoes remain stable in any given tectonic setting even while new clusters of magma is being actively supplied. The team, therefore, concluded that it would take hundreds to thousands of years before enough magma supply could trigger an eruption. When this happens, there would have been immense tectonic stress and plates would have then reached tens to hundreds of meters of uplifts. Furthermore, it requires several or more human lifetimes for the whole rejuvenation of magma to take place, Cabaniss explains. The full study is published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google is reportedly working on the development of a social gaming app called Arcade. It could launch as early as summer 2018 if the technology is ready by then. Who Is Michael Sayman? Michael Sayman, 21, is the founder and co-owner of Arcade. He began working at Alphabet Inc.'s Google in August 2017. Sayman is the youngest product manager in the company. He began working as an intern at Facebook at age 17. As a junior in high school, Sayman impressed Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg with the creation of a social picture snapping and guessing game called 4 Snaps. At age 19, Sayman created an app for Facebook called Lifestage, which transformed profiles into videos. The app was released in 2016 and it was created to compete against Snapchat. "What if I figured out a way to take Facebook from 2004 and bring it to 2016? What if every field in your profile was a full video?" Sayman said. In 2017, Facebook shut down Lifestage and Sayman left the company. What Is Area 120? Sayman is developing Arcade as part of Google's Area 120, which is a division where employees can work on internal startups. Many Google workers are encouraged to devote up to 20 percent of their time to passion projects in Area 120. At Area 120, Google employees join the experimental program to receive help in an entrepreneurial environment. Google could develop the projects in Area 120 into the larger company. In addition, the startups in Area 120 could shut down. Other tech companies, such as Microsoft, offer similar programs for workers. One Google project that originated in Area 120 was Advr, which is a cube-like ad format for virtual reality video. Within Area 120, Google provided Sayman with a budget for Arcade. He will reportedly use the budget for design and hiring of staff. How Will The Social Gaming App Function? Since Arcade is still in the early phases of development, not much is known about it. "It's a very early experiment, so there aren't many details to share right now," a Google spokesman said. A report from Bloomberg indicated that Arcade will incorporate elements of a trivia game, offer mobile gaming with friends, and allow users to create accounts with their phone numbers. This is not the first time that Google has experimented with social gaming. Pokemon GO studio Niantic Labs was an internal startup at Google before branching off. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Another day, another report of the Apple Watch saving the life of its wearer, this time a man from New York who suffered from an erupted ulcer. The identity of the Apple Watch is being carved out as a health-focused device, and stories of the smartwatch making a difference should prove that Apple is on the right track. Apple Watch Saves New Yorker From Erupted Ulcer New York resident William Monzidelis, 32 years old, was working at the bowling alley that was their family business in early April when he suddenly started feeling dizzy. He went to the bathroom, where he discovered that he was bleeding. The Apple Watch that he was wearing at the time then told him to seek medical attention. Nancy, William's mother, told him that he "looked like a ghost" when he emerged from the bathroom. He took the Apple Watch alert seriously, along with his symptoms, and asked his mother to drive him to the hospital. "I was seizing in the car and bleeding all over the place, from my mouth, my rectum," recounted William. In the drive to the hospital, which lasted half an hour, William was drifting in and out of consciousness. Once they arrived at the hospital, William had lost 80 percent of his blood, and was discovered to have suffered from an erupted ulcer. He lost so much blood that he needed a transfusion before he could undergo surgery. The doctors believe that William may not have survived if not for the Apple Watch notification. There was a possibility that he ignored the symptoms because he was previously healthy, which would have placed him in danger of death due to blood loss. "I would have been working in my office and they would have found me dead," William said. Apple Watch Saving Lives The story on William's survival from his ordeal comes just a day after a report that the Apple Watch heart rate monitor saved the life of a teenager. Deanna Recktenwald, 18 years old from Tampa Bay, Florida, was suddenly alerted by her Apple Watch that her resting heart rate was at an alarming 190 beats per minute. Like with William, the device recommended Deanna to seek medical attention, which resulted in the diagnosis that she was suffering from chronic kidney disease. The discovered condition was hidden for years, prompting Deanna's mother to thank Apple CEO Tim Cook through a heartfelt letter. A similar incident happened about three years ago, when 17-year-old Paul Houle Jr. was alerted by his Apple Watch that his heart rate was abnormally high. The warning allowed Paul Jr. to seek medical attention that possibly saved his life. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, together with various health organizations, issues warning against eating raw oysters from Canada, which are potentially infected with the norovirus. The FDA confirmed that the potentially contaminated raw oysters from British Columbia were distributed to Alaska, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Washington. The administration also warned about the possibility that other locations received these oysters either directly from Canada or other distributors within the United States. The contaminated oysters, which may look, smell, and taste normal, are particularly dangerous to people with weak immune systems, children below five years old, and the elderly. Raw Canadian Oysters The warning from the FDA is in line with investigations conducted by the Public Health Agency of Canada, which found that raw oysters cause the outbreak of norovirus and gastrointestinal illnesses in three Canadian provinces. The actual carrier of the virus that has infected the oysters, however, remains unknown, and investigations are still in place. For the meantime, restaurants and retailers who might have already purchased the oysters in question should stop selling them. Throw all supplies away in the garbage or return them to their distributors. The latter should eliminate the contaminated oysters. All workers who may have been in contact with the products should wash their hands thoroughly. All storage facility should also be cleaned and sanitized. Norovirus Infection The Canadian government has now advised people to cook raw oysters in an internal temperature of 194 degrees Fahrenheit for a minimum of 90 seconds. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlight that noroviruses are relatively resistant. It can survive temperatures as high as 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It can elude even the quick steaming process that is usually used for cooking oysters. CDC additionally warns that all raw shellfish have the potential to infect people with norovirus. Symptoms of norovirus include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and stomach pain. The quality of stool may be watery and non-bloody. Norovirus Prevention In general, washing of fruit and vegetables are highly advised. Thorough cooking is extremely recommended for raw shellfish. Those who are already infected with norovirus should no longer prepare food for others, especially while they are still sick. The person infected could only return to cooking and food preparations at least two days after recovery. All healthcare providers or workers in schools, daycares, and restaurants who may also contract the virus are advised to heed these same precautions. Household and hospitals with patients suffering from the norovirus are advised to clean and disinfect all surfaces that may have been in contact with patients' fecal matters and vomits. It is extremely advisable to use a chlorine bleach solution when cleaning. Put five to 25 tablespoons of bleach per gallon of water. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. After months of leaks, LG finally makes its newest flagship official. The G7 ThinQ, successor to 2017's G6, touts a new design for the G series, bumped-up speakers, a brighter screen, and more. At the top bezel of the phone is an iPhone X-style notch, but unlike on Apple's flagship, it can be hidden via software. In terms of form factor, the G7 ThinQ remains similar to its predecessor, with a few notable differences. The dual cameras are arranged vertically this time, for starters. Camera Department Speaking of cameras, the G7 ThinQ boasts artificial intelligence technology which the company says should allow the sensors to recognize different types of objects then promptly optimize the image through automatic contrast, saturation, and color adjustments. The device even vibrates when it recognizes an object. The Verge notes that the phone did indeed recognize flowers, but the difference in quality wasn't that notable. Moreover, LG claims the G7 ThinQ's photos and videos are four times brighter than its predecessor, and there's even a bright mode users can toggle on under low-light conditions. Audio Department A big component of this phone is its audio. At a time when manufacturers largely brush off, if not completely ignore audio, LG does the opposite. As such, it's bringing over the 32-bit Quad DAC from the G6 and V series. This should provide clearer and higher-fidelity sound for wired headphones, and it's also why LG seems intent on keeping the headphone jack. The phone also supports DTS:X, marking the feature's first appearance on smartphones. It creates a virtual 7.1 channel audio. There's more. As the rumors said, the G7 ThinQ does incorporate what LG calls as a Boombox Speaker, which lets the phone output incredibly loud sound 39 percent louder than the G6, in fact. LG achieves this by using the inner space of the phone as an echo chamber. Google Assistant Like Samsung's recent flagships, the G7 ThinQ features a dedicated button that'll summon a virtual assistant. But instead of creating its own assistant as Samsung did with Bixby, LG chose instead to invoke Google's own intelligent Assistant. Unfortunately, this button cannot be reprogrammed, but LG hints that this might change depending on user feedback. Specs At A Glance Another notable thing about the G7 ThinQ is its screen, which LG says can go up to 1,000 nits and display 100 percent DCI-P3 color gamut. Below are the other technical specs: Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 845. Screen 6.1-inch Quad HD FullVision Super Bright Display. Memory 4 GB RAM and 64 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 2 TB via MicroSD card slot. Cameras Dual rear sensors: one 16-megapixel super wide angle (f/1.9), and one 16-megapixel standard angle (f/1.6). Front: 8-megapixel lens (f/1.9). Battery 3,000 mAh Colors New Platinum Gray, New Aurora Black, New Moroccan Blue, Raspberry Rose. LG G7 ThinQ Pricing And Release Date LG has yet to announce when it'll release the G7 ThinQ. By contrast, the G6 was announced in February 2017 then was released a month later. If this pattern holds, then the G7 ThinQ might hit stores June. As for pricing, LG leaves that up for carriers to decide. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Hill family of Lehi, Utah was landscaping their backyard when they were interrupted by a surprising discovery. A Skeleton Surprise Homeowners Laura and Bridger Hill found something uncanny when they saw some skeletal ribs. As they slowly unearthed the remaining body parts, it turned out to be a horse skeleton. Unsure what to do with the skeleton, Hill turned to Rick Hunter, a paleontologist at the Museum of Ancient Life, who then sent a team of paleontologists over to investigate. No Horsing Around Once Hunter and his paleontologists were at the house, they began to look for the rest of the horse. Hunter and his team estimated that the skeleton was the size of a Shetland pony. Initially, the team was unable to find the horse's head. However, they found that the skeleton still had all four legs, which were near the horse's torso. Eventually, the paleontologists were able to discover the skeleton's head 50 feet beyond the discovery site. It turned out that the skull was shattered, and its fragments were moved across the excavation site. Hunter and his team estimated that the skeleton was 14,000 to 16,000 years old. Getting Museum-Ready Hunter decided to move the horse skeleton from the Hill family home. He hopes that once the skeleton is repaired and preserved, it would be added to the Museum of Ancient Life. However, the paleontologists had a challenge on their hands. The horse's bones were not yet fossils, and they were dehydrated bones that needed to be handled with extra care. "If they dry too quickly, they will crack. You have to cure them slowly," said Hunter to the New York Times. Fossils And Footprints The Hill family could relate their story to 11-year-old Ryleigh Taylor. Taylor was walking on a Douglas Lake trail in Dandridge, Tennessee, when she found an unusual rock that turned out to have prehistoric origins. The University of Tennessee, which got involved with the investigation after Taylor's parents informed them about the fossil, revealed that it was a 475-million-year-old fossil of a trilobite. Researchers said that trilobites were marine creatures that lived nearly 500 million years ago. Meanwhile, a team of Bournemouth University scientists discovered perfectly preserved footprints that belonged to a giant ground sloth near the White Sands National Monument in New Mexico. The team found that sloths walked in straight or curved paths. However, the scientists discovered "flailing circles" in the sloths' footprints, which was due to ancient humans chasing them. Matthew Bennett, one of the authors of Science Advances, believed that ancient humans might have wiped out the sloths. In March, Shawn and Caid Sellers and Michael Mahalitc discovered the partial jawbone of a mastodon while they were walking around the family land in Bovina, Mississippi. The Sellers brothers' mother notified the Mississippi Museum of Natural Science that they might have found a fossil. The museum's expert, George Phillips, was able to identify that the fossil was a mastodon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Trump reimbursed lawyer for payment to porn star: Giuliani Washington, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 Donald Trump reimbursed his long-time lawyer Michael Cohen over a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday, appearing to contradict the president's own statements on the matter. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and was paid the sum as part of a "hush agreement." "They funneled it through a law firm and the president repaid it," Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's legal team, told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "That was money that was paid by his lawyer, the way I would do, out of his law firm funds or whatever funds, it doesn't matter. The president reimbursed that over a period of several months," Giuliani said. He added that the payment did not represent a campaign financing violation because it was "not campaign money." Trump had previously denied all knowledge of the payment to Daniels, before admitting last week that Cohen struck a "deal" with the porn star on his behalf. Her lawyer Michael Avenatti reacted swiftly to the revelation, calling out the US president over his "lies." "We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it," he wrote. "Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged by what we have now learned." Daniels filed a lawsuit against the president on Monday for defamation after he trashed her claim that she had been threatened by a man representing Trump in 2011. Cohen, meanwhile, has legal troubles of his own. The FBI raided his home and office in early April and seized documents and other material in connection with a criminal investigation. The nature of the alleged criminal wrongdoing by Trump's personal attorney has not been revealed. Trump reimbursed lawyer for payment to porn star: Giuliani Washington, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 Donald Trump reimbursed his long-time lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday, appearing to contradict the president's own statements on the matter. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and was paid the sum as part of a "hush agreement." "They funneled it through a law firm and the president repaid it," Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's legal team, told Fox News host Sean Hannity. "That was money that was paid by his lawyer, the way I would do, out of his law firm funds or whatever funds, it doesn't matter. The president reimbursed that over a period of several months," Giuliani said. He added that the payment did not represent a campaign financing violation because it was "not campaign money." The sum was wired to Daniels just days before the November 2016 presidential election, and there had been suggestions Cohen could have fallen foul of campaign finance laws because it represented a contribution aimed at preventing negative press from arising. Speaking to The New York Times shortly after the television appearance, Giuliani said he had spoken with Trump before and after talking to Fox -- and that the president and his other lawyers knew what the former New York mayor would say. Giuliani told the paper he had documentation proving Trump had reimbursed the sum, which he said "removes the campaign finance violation" prospect. "Some time after the campaign is over, they set up a reimbursement, $35,000 a month, out of his personal family account," Giuliani told the Times, adding that Trump gave Cohen between $460,000 and $470,000 via this method to repay the sum to the porn star as well as "incidental expenses." Trump had previously denied all knowledge of the payment to Daniels, before admitting last week that Cohen struck a "deal" with the porn star on his behalf. Asked by reporters on Air Force One earlier this month about the deal, Trump said: "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael," he said. Pressed on whether he knew where Cohen got the money to make the payment, he said: "No, I don't know. No." - 'Blatant lie' - Giuliani also told The Wall Street Journal Trump was "probably not aware" of the payment at the time it was made, having given Cohen broad "discretion to solve these." Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti reacted swiftly to the revelation, calling out the US president over his "lies." "We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it," he wrote on Twitter. "Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged by what we have now learned. Mr. Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied." Daniels filed a lawsuit against the president on Monday for defamation after he trashed her claim that she had been threatened by a man representing Trump in 2011. Cohen, meanwhile, has legal troubles of his own. The FBI raided his home and office in early April and seized documents and other material in connection with a criminal investigation. The nature of the alleged criminal wrongdoing by Trump's personal attorney has not been revealed. Trump confirms 'reimbursement' of lawyer for payment to porn star Washington, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 US President Donald Trump confirmed Thursday he reimbursed his personal lawyer for a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop what he described as her "false and extortionist" claims of an affair. Trump's comment contradicted his earlier statements the he had no knowledge of the hush payment by his long-time lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The payment was made days before the November 2016 US presidential election, which has prompted allegations of a possible violation of campaign financing laws. In a burst of tweets, Trump denied the funds used to make the payment were connected to his campaign, calling it a "private agreement." He also said non-disclosure agreements were "very common among celebrities and people of wealth." "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA," Trump said. "The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair," he said. "Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll [sic] in this transaction." The admission came after former Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who recently joined the president's legal team, disclosed Wednesday that Trump had reimbursed Cohen for the payment over a period of several months. It also followed an FBI raid in early April on Cohen's home, office and hotel room in which information related to the payments was reportedly seized. Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump in 2006, has sued to have the non-disclosure agreement invalidated on grounds that he never signed it. In his tweets, Trump insisted the agreement is "in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels)," he said. - Money's source - Giuliani told Fox News host Sean Hannity the money was funneled through a law firm "and the president repaid it." "That was money that was paid by his lawyer, the way I would do, out of his law firm funds or whatever funds, it doesn't matter. The president reimbursed that over a period of several months," Giuliani said. He added that the payment did not represent a campaign financing violation because it was "not campaign money." Giuliani told The New York Times he had documentation proving Trump had reimbursed the sum, which he said "removes the campaign finance violation" prospect. "Some time after the campaign is over, they set up a reimbursement, $35,000 a month, out of his personal family account," Giuliani told the Times, adding that Trump gave Cohen between $460,000 and $470,000 via this method to repay the sum to the porn star as well as "incidental expenses." Trump had previously denied all knowledge of the payment to Daniels, before admitting last week that Cohen struck a "deal" with the porn star on his behalf. Asked by reporters on Air Force One earlier this month about the deal, Trump said: "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael," he said. Pressed on whether he knew where Cohen got the money to make the payment, he said: "No, I don't know. No." - 'Blatant lie' - Giuliani also told The Wall Street Journal Trump was "probably not aware" of the payment at the time it was made, having given Cohen broad "discretion to solve" a variety of situations. Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti reacted swiftly to the revelation, calling out the US president over his "lies." "We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it," he wrote on Twitter. "Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged by what we have now learned. Mr. Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied." Daniels filed a lawsuit against the president on Monday for defamation after he trashed her claim that she had been threatened by a man representing Trump in 2011. Trump admits reimbursing lawyer for porn star payoff Washington, May 3 (AFP) May 03, 2018 US President Donald Trump on Thursday admitted he reimbursed his lawyer for a $130,000 payment to a porn star, ending months of White House denial. Trump tweeted that his personal lawyer Michael Cohen used a retainer to pay off Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had sexual relations with the now president. But Trump slammed claims of an affair with Daniels -- whose real name is Stephanie Clifford -- as "false and extortionist." The sexual encounter allegedly took place in 2006, four months after Trump's wife Melania gave birth to their son Barron. Cohen's payment was made days before the November 2016 US presidential election, potentially violating campaign financing laws. In a burst of tweets, Trump denied the hush money was connected to his campaign, calling it a "private agreement." Trump also said non-disclosure agreements were "very common among celebrities and people of wealth." "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA," Trump said. "The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair, despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair," he said. "Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll [sic] in this transaction." The admission came at an awkward time for Trump, hours before he hosted religious leaders at the White House for a National Prayer Day event, which the first lady did not attend. Trump ignored questions about the issue from the press, and guests, many of whom were political supporters of the president, shouted "shame on you" at reporters. But his admission came after Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor who recently joined the president's legal team, disclosed Wednesday that Trump had reimbursed Cohen for the payment over a period of several months. It also followed an FBI raid in early April on Cohen's home, office and hotel room in which information related to the payments was reportedly seized. Daniels has sued to have the non-disclosure agreement invalidated on grounds that Trump never signed it. In his tweets, Trump insisted the agreement is "in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels)," he said. - Money's source - Giuliani told Fox News host and Trump supporter Sean Hannity that the money was funneled through a law firm "and the president repaid it." "That was money that was paid by his lawyer, the way I would do, out of his law firm funds or whatever funds, it doesn't matter. The president reimbursed that over a period of several months," Giuliani said. He added that the payment did not represent a campaign financing violation because it was "not campaign money." Giuliani told The New York Times he had documentation proving Trump had reimbursed the sum, which he said "removes the campaign finance violation" prospect. "Some time after the campaign is over, they set up a reimbursement, $35,000 a month, out of his personal family account," Giuliani told the Times, adding that Trump gave Cohen between $460,000 and $470,000 via this method to repay the sum to the porn star as well as "incidental expenses." Trump had previously denied all knowledge of the payment to Daniels, before admitting last week that Cohen struck a "deal" with the porn star on his behalf. Asked by reporters on Air Force One earlier this month about the transaction, Trump said: "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael," he said. Pressed on whether he knew where Cohen got the money to make the payment, he said: "No, I don't know. No." - 'Blatantly lied' - Giuliani also told The Wall Street Journal Trump was "probably not aware" of the payment at the time it was made, having given Cohen broad "discretion to solve" a variety of issues. Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti reacted swiftly to the revelation, accusing the US president of lying. "We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it," he wrote on Twitter. "Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged by what we have now learned. Mr. Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied." Daniels filed a lawsuit against the president on Monday for defamation after he trashed her claim that she had been threatened by a man representing Trump in 2011. Moon holds key to improving satellite views of Earth Paris (ESA) May 01, 2018 Many Earth observation satellites make use of an added ingredient to ensure reliable, good quality environmental data: the Moon. While the surface of the Earth is ever changing, the face of the Moon has stayed the same for millions of years, apart from occasional meteoroid impacts. This makes the light reflecting from the lunar surface an ideal calibration source for optical Earth-observing instruments. Now an ESA-led project has plans to make it more useful still. An instrument has been pla ... read more Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission The company Southern University selected to run one of Louisianas two medical marijuana growing operations is embroiled in a dispute over company ownership and the contract negotiated with the school, potentially jeopardizing the deal as a contract-signing deadline approaches. A lawsuit, filed in Lafayette in April, offers an explanation for delays in Southern's medical marijuana program. It has remained in its infancy for months without a final agreement between the school and the company it partnered with. LSU AgCenter, the other state-authorized grower, has partnered with a company that already is building a production facility to have medical marijuana available this year. Court filings made Thursday in the Lafayette lawsuit throw the very ownership of Advanced Biomedics LLC Southern University's chosen company into question, with founder Chad Bodin alleging that majority owner Carrol Castille never put up funds he promised, negating his claim to ownership. With the company ownership and Southern contract in turmoil, Castille was threatening legal action Thursday to prevent Southern from potentially scrapping the deal with Advanced Biomedics and picking someone else to run the medical marijuana program. Negotiations between Southern and Castille's team were ongoing Thursday. Southern, in an afternoon statement, said it is aware of the dispute between the owners of Advanced Biomedics, which "had nothing to do with the university or its stakeholders." "These internal issues were brought to our attention after we selected the firm and had negotiated a contract with their counsel," the statement said. "It is our hope that Advanced Biomedics can resolve their conflict and sign the contract, which is based upon the terms of their proposal to the university. However, the university cannot indefinitely delay its program. Therefore, on April 27, the university's counsel informed Advanced Biomedics that they would be provided until May 4 to execute the contract tendered or the university would negotiate with an alternate vendor." In the lawsuit filed in Lafayette, Castille claims that a contract negotiated with Southern by Bodin was done without permission from the company. On that basis, Castille now says he should not be held to a deadline set by Southern that requires the firm to sign a contract by Friday, according to a copy of a petition Castille threatened to file in Baton Rouge. Advanced Biomedics was selected by Southern in September to run the growing operation after a competitive bid process in which it jumped ahead of an earlier front-runner. Medical marijuana expansions advance More patients could be eligible for medical marijuana treatments after a Louisiana Senate committee advanced two medical marijuana bills Wednesday. Castille, a Lafayette-area businessman with ties to the horse racing industry, claims in the Lafayette district court lawsuit that Bodin, a pharmacy owner in Lafayette who is Advanced Biomedics' largest minority owner and founder, fraudulently negotiated the contract between the company and Southern for the medical marijuana partnership and that it was a bad deal. In court filings responding to the lawsuit, Bodin disputes that Castille holds any ownership in the company. Castille promised $12 million in funding for Advanced Biomedics, but never came through with the funds, according to Bodin. Castille's attorney also participated in the Southern University negotiations alongside Bodin, according to the filings, and Bodin was given authority to negotiate the contract in a February meeting of the firm's owners. "We're ready to move forward," said Robin Sylvester, Bodin's attorney. "Chad Bodin has done everything he is supposed to do." Sylvester said Bodin signed the contract with Southern, and because Castille never put up the money he promised, no other signatures are needed. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up According to Castille's lawsuit, he put up $8 million in capital for the firm, through Advanced Biomedics Holdings, giving him a 63 percent stake in the company. Bodin put up $2 million and owned a 25.5 percent share. Nine other people own 4 percent or less of the firm, the court documents say. Bodin surreptitiously engaged in meetings and negotiations with Southern and made substantial changes to the contract proposed by Castilles holding company, Castille's Lafayette suit said. Castille said the contract that Bodin negotiated with the school included materially worse terms than Castilles proposal. As a direct and proximate result of Bodins conduct there have been substantial delays in the formation of an agreement between Southern University and AB LLC, which has correspondingly delayed the ability of the state of Louisiana to provide medical treatment to those citizens suffering from a debilitating medical condition, the lawsuit said. Chuck Huebner, a spokesman for Castille, said Bodin created Advanced Biomedics and had the initial idea to run one of the state's two medical marijuana growing operations, but that Castille provided most of the financing through his holding company. As medical marijuana program moves forward, Louisiana doctors 'gun shy' about recommending drug Only a handful of doctors have become licensed to recommend medical marijuana to patients in Louisiana, raising concerns of a bottleneck whe Castille has owned and operated a number of business ventures, mostly in the Carencro area, including several horse racing and breeding enterprises. Castille says he learned that his proposed contract with Southern had been revised in March. After emailing proposed revisions to the contract on April 9, Southern University responded that the universitys board had already approved the agreement negotiated with Bodins counsel, the suit said. Castille contends the operating agreement signed by all owners of the firm prevents anyone but him from negotiating on the companys behalf. He said in the lawsuit he never gave Bodin permission to negotiate with Southern. The lawsuit against Bodin is for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, violations of the Louisiana Unfair Trade Practices Act and injunctive relief. Louisiana Pharmacy Board hands out remaining licenses for medical marijuana pharmacies; 10th to come later in high-demand area The Louisiana Board of Pharmacy has handed out all nine initial licenses for medical marijuana pharmacies in different regions throughout the Southern University also faced a lawsuit last fall, when the firm that initially finished first place in the school's selection process sued for copies of the other finalists' applications, as well as correspondence among members of Southern's board. Southern picked Advanced Biomedics over the first-place company, Med Louisiana. Advanced Biomedics promised the school $6 million over the five-year contract, about three times the amount Med Louisiana promised. When asked for an update of Southerns medical marijuana program last week, Lakeeshia Giddens Lusk, an AgCenter research associate, said the school is waiting on Mike Strains office to complete the firms background checks. Strain is the head of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, one of the regulators for medical marijuana in the state. After that process is complete, we plan to begin construction either in or near East Baton Rouge Parish and have products available in the dispensaries in early February, Lusk said. DONALDSONVILLE A German company called VEGA, which is considering building a instrumentation manufacturing plant in Geismar, is seeking an exemption from local property taxes. The tax exemption request is the second from an international company in Ascension Parish in the past two months. Kate MacArthur, chief executive officer of Ascension Economic Development Corp., told parish School Board members on Tuesday that the plant, a $9.3 million capital investment, would create 40 jobs with a payroll of $2.2 million. MacArthur said the VEGA plant would bring an estimated $1.7 million to the parish in property taxes and sales taxes over the 30-year life of the facility, with $766,000 of that going to the School Board. MacArthur is recommending the School Board approve the tax exemption for VEGA under the following guidelines: 100 percent exemption for five years if construction costs are $7.4 million and above; 95 percent exemption for five years if those costs are $6 million to $7.4 million; and 90 percent exemption for five years if construction costs are below $6 million. After the initial five years of the tax exemption, the plant would receive an 80 percent exemption from property taxes for three years. According to its website, VEGA employs more than 1,200 people worldwide, 600 of whom work at its headquarters in Schiltach, Germany. The company operates in more than 80 countries, including the U.S. Don Sanders, president of VEGA Engineered Solutions, told School Board members VEGA's manufacturing of instrumentation for testing, measuring and navigating in all types of industries is "clean manufacturing." The School Board took no action on the request but will take up the issue for a vote at a future meeting. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Another company, Australia-based Syrah Resources, which had considered locating in Ascension Parish and had sent representatives to a School Board meeting last month, on Monday announced it had selected a site in Vidalia for its first U.S. graphite processing facility. Vidalia site selected for $25 million, 25-job graphite processing facility from Syrah Resources Australian graphite producer Syrah Resources has selected a Vidalia site for a $25 million graphite processing facility, creating 25 new direct jobs. While the Ascension Parish School Board and other local taxing bodies have been considering requests for industrial tax exemptions on a case-by-case basis, that may change this summer under new Industrial Tax Exemption Program guidelines. Last month, Gov. John Bel Edwards proposed new program regulations that would move the major responsibility for granting the exemptions back to the state, with local government still having a say-so. Instead of a manufacturer receiving five years of property tax exemption at a 100 percent with the ability to apply for three more years at 80 percent, the new program would offer a single 10-year term at 80 percent of the property taxes owed. Local governments would be able to make an up-or-down vote on the contracts put together by the state, under Edwards' proposal. The state Board of Commerce and Industry will vote on the governor's proposal on June 27. If approved, the new regulations would go into effect in August. Trying to save him from the violence in Baton Rouge, Elizabeth Robinson encouraged her son in 2008 to join the U.S. Army, knowing he could end up in a war zone. "I felt he was going to be OK there, compared to these streets," Robinson said. Despite surviving years of military service, including deployments in Iraq and Korea, it would be a bullet in Louisiana's Capital City that would take her son's life an actualization of her greatest fear. "The streets of Baton Rouge and this gun violence ," Robinson trailed off, a tear slipping from her eye. "He should have stayed in (the Army). It would have probably saved his life." Louis Robinson Jr., 29, was shot Wednesday afternoon on Cadillac Street, and later died in a hospital from his injuries. Louis Robinson Jr., a local rapper who went by the name of 'Louis Badazz,' served for six years in the Army, enlisting soon after he graduated from Istrouma High School in 2007, heeding the advice of his parents, his mother said. He was honorably discharged and had spent the last few years focused on his music and his family, she said. "He loved his kids and his family and his momma. He was a momma's boy," Elizabeth Robinson said. "He'll be missed." Louis Robinson Jr., the oldest of five siblings, was also the father of three children, all four years old or younger. She said her son was supposed to start a new job Thursday, driving a fork-lift, similar to temporary jobs he had in the past. But she said he was most passionate about his music, and had found recent success doing just that. Southern University's band, the Human Jukebox, performed his song "Let Me Thru Dis B" in 2016, and his parents said Grambling State University's band had recently performed one of his songs. "He started off rapping, 'Humpty Dumpty fell off the wall,' (at) four years old," said his father, Louis Robinson Sr. "He pursued it all the way until he got killed." Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The self-proclaimed 'biggest fan' of 'Louis Badazz,' his mother, said she knows every word to his songs. "Now you can't go to a party without someone playing 'Let Me Thru,'" Elizabeth Robinson said, smiling. Louis Robinson Jr.'s parents called their son a leader, who wasn't afraid to voice his opinion. Both said they did not know why he was shot, but his mother did plead for a stop to the gun violence in Baton Rouge. "It's just got to stop," Elizabeth Robinson said. "I don't want anybody to go retaliate or somebody else get killed It's just not worth it." However, she is hopeful police will be able to determine who killed her son. "They have so many unsolved murders now," she said. "Please find them." Baton Rouge police spokesman Sgt. Don Coppola Jr. said officers responded to the 4700 block of Cadillac Street off Plank Road around 4 p.m. Wednesday. He said police were alerted to the shooting when Louis Robinson Jr. arrived at the hospital via a private vehicle late in the afternoon. Family members said a friend had driven him. Coppola said police have no suspects or motive at this time. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Violent Crimes Unit at (225) 389-4869 or Crimestoppers at (225) 344-7867. More than two dozen inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola refused to go to work on the farm Tuesday morning after two inmates Lawmakers are asking what the interim secretary of state knew about his bosss alleged sexual misconduct and when did he know it. Kyle Ardoin says he knew nothing about any allegations that Secretary of State Tom Schedler sexually harassed an employee until the day the staffer filed a lawsuit in February. Amid increasing calls for his resignation, Schedler, 68, announced Tuesday afternoon he would step down on May 8. The next day hell begin receiving $8,928.85 in retirement benefits each month for the rest of his life. Ardoin, his top aide, is taking over the office that oversees elections and corporate filings until voters choose a new secretary of state in November. +2 With Tom Schedler's resignation, here's what's next for Secretary of State's Office Embroiled in controversy over allegations that he sexually harassed an employee for several years, Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler w State Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, who is also chairwoman of the state Democratic Party, called out Ardoin, without mentioning his name, during a Tuesday speech on the Senate floor. "If you knew what Secretary of State Schedler was doing, step down tomorrow," Peterson, of New Orleans, said. It was a statement that was often repeated in the hallways of the State Capitol as some legislators and lobbyists spent Wednesday recalling passages from the sexually suggestive emails that were part of Schedlers on-the-clock exchanges with employee Dawn Ross. Schedler says he had a "consensual sexual relationship" with Ross, which she denies. Read the suggestive cards, letters, emails at heart of lawsuit against Secretary of State Tom Schedler Emails, Christmas cards, birthday greetings and other notes obtained by The Advocate offer the first glimpse of Louisiana Secretary of State T Her lawsuit also claims Ardoin was aware she had problems with Schedler. Ross claims Ardoin ordered her to "stay out of sight" at work after she rebuffed Schedler's sexual advances. Ardoin said Wednesday he had no clue Schedler had a sexual relationship with Ross until the day she filed the lawsuit. Asked for comment by an Advocate reporter about the lawsuit, Ardoin said he went into Schedlers office to discuss how to respond. Expecting an outright denial, Schedler instead said he had a sexual affair with Ross. Ardoin said his mouth dropped open in shock. She never came to me with any problems whatsoever, never voiced any concerns, never sent an email, Ardoin said. He was the go-to executive in the office for sexual harassment complaints and had terminated a supervisor about three years earlier over that very issue. If I knew, I would have followed the policy and conducted an investigation. No one is exempt from our policies, including the secretary, Ardoin said. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up He said he and Schedler never talked about their personal lives beyond idle chit-chat about grandchildren and vacation trips. But he was aware that Schedler was friendly with Ross, who worked in the same office suite. I thought they were friends, Ardoin said. They talked about going out for drinks, talked about going out for dinners and lunches and what not. But I never saw anything that would have clued me that something inappropriate was going on. In an interview conducted by her lawyers staff, which was published last week, Ross described a final "blow-up" in which Schedler began screaming at her after she asked to take a couple of days off. She said she told Schedler that "you're not going to do this to me anymore. I said, 'I'm gone.'" "He got right up in my face and said, 'Get out of this office and don't ever come back here again,'" Ross said. Ardoin said he was out of the office when the incident occurred. Schedler told Ardoin what happened and asked him to talk with Ross. I said, Look I understand you had a disagreement. Dont go into the Secretarys suite, Ardoin recalled. I said, Steer clear of the Secretary until all this blows over. Woman suing Tom Schedler describes decade-long 'nightmare' in first interview The woman accusing Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler of sexual harassment described her longtime boss as a "nightmare" and a "creep," Ross, in her interview, said she was transferred to the Secretary of States office in the State Capitol the following day and "sat there with nothing to do." As First Assistant Secretary, Ardoin is paid $130,000 annually. Schedler, as secretary of state, was paid $115,000. While Ardoin was at the State Capitol to testify before the Senate Finance Committee Wednesday, Schedler was at his office across town handling paperwork necessary for him to resign. Schedler has 28.1 total years of service credit in the Louisiana State Employees Retirement System, better known as LASERS. That includes nearly six years as a member of the Slidell City Council in the 1990s. He was elected to the state Senate in October 1995 and joined the legislative retirement system in 1996. A year later, voters ended pensions for part-time employees, such as legislators. But those already in the system including Schedler were allowed to stay and accrue benefits at a percentage higher than other state employees. After 12 years as a senator, Schedler reached his term limit and joined the secretary of states office in 2008. He became interim secretary of state when Jay Dardenne was elected lieutenant governor and was elected in his own right in November 2010. Eric Waxley, center, is pulled to safety by Carol Richard, left, after the boat Waxley and wife Robin Waxley, background, were using to help rescue got in trouble in swift water near the Country Roads subdivision in Central, off Central Thruway and Frenchtown Road, Sat., Aug. 13, 2016 during flooding near the confluence of the Comite and Amite Rivers. WASHINGTON Mitch Landrieu is not, at this very moment, running for president. The outgoing New Orleans mayor has yet to swing through Iowa or New Hampshire for coffee klatches with potential primary voters, though hes barnstormed the country behind a memoir a virtual prerequisite for a presidential run. Theres no well-heeled PAC putting Landrieu commercials on TV, though hes been a guest on major national programs. And the most lavish party hes hosted lately wasnt a fundraiser but a fete for the citys 300th birthday. The only running the 57-year-old Landrieu is doing, both he and his associates insist, is running out his second term in City Hall, which ends Monday. That, and perhaps the occasional jog. But thats not tamping down speculation among national Democrats that Landrieu might be a dark-horse candidate in the partys presidential primaries in 2020. And political strategists, pundits and pollsters seeing a tough climb in increasingly red Louisiana for an ex-New Orleans mayor and a Democrat say the next chapter in Landrieus political career, if there is one, will likely play out on the national stage. I dont really know what my future holds. I havent given a tremendous amount of thought to it, Landrieu told The New Orleans Advocates editorial board in April. If I served in government later, it wouldnt surprise me, depending on what happened in national politics, but its not something Im necessarily thirsting for and thinking about, Landrieu added. The potential field of Democrats vying to take on President Donald Trump in 2020 is already crowded, with a half-dozen current U.S. senators testing the waters and any number of other current or former officeholders including former Vice President Joe Biden contemplating a run. That doesnt close the door on Landrieu, a former state legislator and Louisiana lieutenant governor. Political operatives sizing up the 2020 field are taking him seriously, even though Landrieu himself has done nothing to build a campaign. Landrieus relative youth hes nearly 20 years younger than Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, two leading contenders and his background as a centrist Southern Democrat set him apart from much of the pack. Just how that might play among Democratic primary voters remains to be seen. From his perch as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Landrieu has made frequent trips to Washington and spoken repeatedly about New Orleans recovery from Hurricane Katrina, which struck five years before he took office. Can't see the video below? Click here. Bringing down the monuments in New Orleans the city carted off bronze statues of three Confederate officials and a granite obelisk dedicated to an 1874 white-supremacist uprising made national news. Landrieus speech on the issue drew wide attention and praise outside the state, and hes continued to discuss the decision while touring behind his book, In the Shadow of Statues: A White Southerner Confronts History. Hes been featured on major TV news programs from 60 Minutes to Meet the Press and got a rousing welcome from the studio audience on Comedy Centrals The Daily Show. When the exclusive inner circles of the Washington media gathered for the Gridiron Club and Foundation dinner in March, they tapped Landrieu as the Democratic headliner, across from President Donald Trump. Landrieu, who trained as an actor, drew mostly rave reviews for his roast of Republicans and his plug on behalf of Americas mayors. I have seen and heard a lot of Democratic political operatives around the country whove been very impressed with him, said Ron Faucheux, a pollster and former Louisiana state legislator. Faucheux said Landrieu has historically polled well among black voters and white liberals, two key constituencies in any Democratic presidential primary. While hes generally seen as a centrist and has assiduously avoided taking a position on some polarizing issues such as abortion his ability to speak eloquently about racial reconciliation might endear him to those further to the left. He could make a balanced ticket, said Larry Sabato, a pundit and political scientist at the University of Virginia. Moderate Southern Democrat that is leavened by the fact that he took that dramatic action on the statues. That would be his platform for liberals and African-Americans, and the other parts of his record would appeal to moderates. Jumping from City Hall to the White House would be breaking new ground no big-city mayor has ever gone on to win the presidency but the executive experience of running a city might impress voters, Sabato said. Stranger things have happened, Sabato said. Who wouldve thought someone with zero experience except on a TV reality show would be elected president? Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up If Landrieu decides against a presidential run or if his candidacy fails to gather much traction his name has also been bandied about as a potential running mate or cabinet secretary in the next Democratic administration. Any number of other politicians have turned a failed run at a presidential nomination into a profile-raising success. Running for president and losing isnt always losing, added Faucheux, pointing to Sanders massive national following and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabees lucrative second career as a conservative talk-show host. Often, people come out of presidential campaigns even though they lost with a lot more stature and national profile than they had before. At least a handful of prominent voices have already emerged to urge Landrieu to run. Former Democratic National Committee Chair Donna Brazile, a Louisiana native, told Politico hed be a fantastic candidate. James Carville, Bill Clintons top political adviser, went further, calling Landrieu a talent on the Bill Clinton, Barack Obama scale. I know people have talked to him and he just says, No, its not time to think about that yet. But I do know people at the national level will be urging him to run, because its a pretty important need to get a new generation of sensible people in the Democratic Party, said Walter Isaacson, a prize-winning author, former Aspen Institute president, Tulane University historian and friend of Landrieu. Bringing down the monuments brought Landrieu his biggest dose of sustained media attention but it was hardly the mayors first turn in the spotlight. He was sworn into office just after an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon oil rig killed 11 workers and spilled millions of barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast, a story that would dominate headlines and that brought attention to the new mayor, even though the city wasnt under immediate threat. Throughout his tenure, Landrieu has displayed a canny knack for seizing the moment to focus national attention on both New Orleans and his own administration. In 2015, a decade after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, correspondents and reporters for major outlets spilled plenty of ink and burned through airtime extolling Landrieus leadership of the citys recovery. Even many critics of Landrieu, some of whom pan him as a self-promoter, recognize his talent for selling the city and inserting New Orleans into the national consciousness, something they said helped draw investment and philanthropic dollars to the city. If youve got a company out there and you want a spokesman, Mitch Landrieus your guy, said Oliver Thomas, a former city councilman who has criticized aspects of Landrieus tenure. For the time being, Landrieu and those in his inner circle insist hes got no plans for the immediate future besides taking a long rest after more than three decades in public office. But for a restless politician known for considerable energy and ambition, few expect him to sit still for long. He will always be involved in politics in one shape or another, said Norma Jane Sabiston, a longtime Landrieu family friend who has served as an adviser to both the mayor and his sister, former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana. Hes got a lot of energy. He wants to do good work, whether its in elected office or through think tanks or nonprofits. That Landrieu likely sees no clear path to another Louisiana political office could also help sway him to make a run on the national stage. For decades, politically ambitious mayors of New Orleans have struggled to gather support outside the city. While John Bel Edwards victory in the 2015 election for governor might suggest the door isnt slammed shut on Democratic office-seekers in Louisiana, the former state legislator from Amite cuts a very different profile and brought a shorter resume than Landrieu. Landrieus blunt criticism of the legacy of the Confederacy may have played well nationally, but polling strongly suggests it alienated white voters whom Landrieu would likely need to mount a statewide run. Mitch has already served as lieutenant governor, hes already served statewide, and once youve been mayor of New Orleans, if there is going to be a next step, that next step will be national, said Mary Landrieu, a Democrat who held statewide office for more than 25 years before being knocked off by Republican Bill Cassidy in 2014. But whether there is or not, I just dont know. Chep Morrison, who was mayor of New Orleans from 1946 to 1961, failed in three different runs for governor but secured an appointment from President John F. Kennedy to serve as ambassador to the Organization of American States. Victor Schiro flopped badly in his only post-mayoral run for office, a 1975 run for state insurance commissioner. Landrieus father, Moon Landrieu, also took a presidential appointment, serving from 1979 to 1981 as President Jimmy Carters secretary of housing and urban development. And of course Ray Nagin, Landrieus immediate predecessor in office, pivoted to a very different kind of federal service, landing a 10-year prison sentence for corruption. Then theres former Mayor Marc Morial, who parlayed his experience and national profile into the top job at the National Urban League and has continued to weigh in on major political issues. It appears likely that Landrieu who was widely rumored to be on cabinet-secretary short lists had Hillary Clinton captured the White House in 2016 could follow either his fathers footsteps into the next Democratic administration or land a prominent gig like Morials, or both. A perch at a major national nonprofit or Washington think tank or perhaps a visiting professorship at a prominent university could offer Landrieu interesting work and keep him somewhat in the public eye while he contemplates a possible political next move. Hes also likely to see plenty of interest on the paid speaking circuit and from corporations. I think a lot of foundations, think tanks will be eager to talk to him, said Isaacson. Eight years ago, Mitch Landrieu stood outside Gallier Hall and asked the city to join him in taking a momentous step, to declare that New Orleans was done with recovering. He asked the people who had elected him mayor in a landslide to stop thinking about rebuilding the city we were before Hurricane Katrina, and start dreaming about the city we want to become. This was the ambitious vision that would guide Landrieus tenure that he would remake a broken police force, confront a culture of death that left hundreds murdered each year and erase City Halls reputation for corrupt dealing. GAMBIT: Exit interview with New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu It was probably inevitable that grand visions would collide with reality in some ways. Eight years later, New Orleans is still a poor city compared with regional rivals like Houston or Atlanta. Its economy is still dominated by low-wage jobs in hotels and restaurants. It still struggles with a murder problem that places it among the most violent cities in the country. But ambition has led to accomplishment as well. Taking office after the profligate final years of Ray Nagin's administration, Landrieu clawed his way out of a budget deficit nearly $100 million deep. He imposed the more transparent contracting practices that Nagins administration had resisted, and he has avoided the type of scandal that eventually landed Nagin in prison. Rather than deflect criticism of the local police force, he invited the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate abuses and draw up a landmark reform plan to be overseen by a federal judge. And while some neighborhoods still languish, whole swaths of the citys landscape have been remade new libraries, police stations and thoroughfares, built with extra recovery dollars wrung from the federal government. Can't see the video below? Click here. Mitch Landrieu for president? Here's why you shouldn't count it out WASHINGTON Mitch Landrieu is not, at this very moment, running for president. A new airport terminal is rising out of the ground a goal that had eluded New Orleans mayors for decades and officials broke ground Wednesday on redeveloping one of the biggest pieces of underutilized real estate in the city, the old World Trade Center building at the foot of Canal Street. Landrieu himself still speaks as confidently about his own abilities as he did the day he took his first oath of office. In a wide-ranging interview during his last week in office, the mayor flipped through a tall stack of completed projects, which his staff has had bound into a hardcover book titled, The Will and the Way. I think that you will agree with me, after you look at this, he said, that this is a book of accomplishments that is admirable at least, and miraculous at best. He does not admit failures: If the old Six Flags amusement park site still sits fallow in New Orleans East, it is because the time simply wasnt ripe for redevelopment. If the Sewerage & Water Board, widely blamed for last years flooding, needs reform, its still in much better shape than the way he found it, the mayor insists. Grim inheritance Landrieus case that he has had a successful tenure begins with the grim conditions he inherited in 2010. The list of disasters that preceded his election still rolls off his tongue like a well-rehearsed grocery list: hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the worst national recession since the 1930s and a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico that was threatening the citys restaurant and tourism industries. Landrieu, the scion of a political dynasty that began four decades before with his fathers two terms as mayor, had served in the state Legislature and as lieutenant governor. He had promised voters that he knew what to do and how to do it. And the first thing he had to do was cut. We were balancing the budget on the head of a pin for the first two to three years, said Andy Kopplin, who served as chief administrative officer for most of Landrieus tenure. Landrieu imposed 11 days' worth of furloughs on city workers and leveled a hiring freeze across all departments. The belt tightening would eventually draw bitter complaints from groups representing the citys firefighters and police officers. Staffing shortages at the Police Department in particular would be blamed for a spike in response times and continued high crime rates. Walter Isaacson: Mitch Landrieu's legacy? Leaving New Orleans better than he found it Wherever I go, people pepper me with questions when they find out I'm from New Orleans. In the past, they mainly asked about the music, food o But in the short term, Landrieu managed to balance the budget. And as he leaves office, the city has enough money on hand to set millions aside as an emergency reserve. The mayor also gets credit for establishing a more professional operation at City Hall. Where Nagin was accused of doling out professional services contracts to favored vendors in return for bribes and other perks, Landrieu put a committee of staffers in charge of hiring outside firms and ordered that they meet in public to make their decisions. He brought in subordinates with polished credentials and sought to hold them accountable by collecting reams of data on his various initiatives, most notably the effort to get blight under control. Under a program called BlightStat, officials met regularly to track the citys progress. A basic attribute, not fully appreciated, of the Landrieu administration was that it was filled with people who were smart, honest and innovative, said Walter Isaacson, a longtime friend and ally of the mayors who led the Aspen Institute before returning to New Orleans. "There were no big scandals; they did their jobs imaginatively and with an innovative spirit. His boosters argue that Landrieus moves paved the way for greater private investment, the establishment of new retail outlets like Costco and the boom in condo and hotel building that is still remaking the Central Business District. The fundamental task of economic development is to create conditions where people feel comfortable investing their capital, said Michael Hecht, president of the nonprofit regional economic development organization GNO Inc. And this administration, which has done so much to reintroduce stability and growth in New Orleans in a broad way, has helped radically transform New Orleans in that regard. Trouble seeing this graphic? Click here Dissent not welcome In approaching his goals, Landrieu prized unanimity, embodied in one of the slogans he introduced during his first campaign: One team. One fight. One voice. One city. He still often cites how frequently the City Council approved new policies on unanimous votes during his tenure. Critics, on the other hand, complain that Landrieu's aversion to conflicting views lent his administration an authoritarian streak. They accused the mayor of behaving like a bully behind closed doors while keeping up a mostly affable public face. The local political consultant Cheron Brylski once famously sent around a newsletter arguing that Landrieu was doing a great job even while conceding that he was an asshole. There are assholes and then there are productive assholes, Brylski wrote. And in politics, the productive ones are often what you need when you have some place to go and no easy road to get there. On many of the citys most intractable problems, Landrieu clashed openly with those he felt stood in his way. When the U.S. Justice Department and Sheriff Marlin Gusman worked out a reform agreement for the local jail that would cost the city millions of dollars a year, Landrieu lashed out at both of them. He accused the feds of unbalancing a delicate city budget and slammed Gusman for mismanaging the jail. Landrieu family built 58-year political dynasty; will Mitch Landrieu keep it going on national scene? On April 19, 1960, the Eisenhower administration escalated its criticism of Cuban strongman Fidel Castro, Jimmie Davis cruised to victory in t When the judges at Civil District Court wouldnt go along with Landrieus plans for renovating the old Charity Hospital building, he accused them of lacking vision and refused to get on board with their own plans for a new courthouse on Duncan Plaza. When firefighters accused the mayor of shortchanging their pension fund, the mayor insisted that the city simply couldnt afford bigger payments, and that the blame should fall on those who had made poor investments on the funds behalf. Even after a judge ruled against Landrieu in a lawsuit over the fund, Landrieu for months refused to pay and insisted he would stay under house arrest for two years if held in contempt of court. Probably no fight has won Landrieu more anger or accolades than the one over his decision to remove four Jim Crow-era monuments from their pedestals, a move that prompted death threats, several lawsuits and a dive in Landrieus popularity among white voters. His defenders say the mayors approach was sometimes necessary. Its a high-stress gig, and its tough to be charming all the time, former Mayor Marc Morial said. Some situations require directness ... bluntness, and decision-making that may ruffle some feathers, he said. Can't see the video below? Click here. Problems old and new For all his accomplishments, Landrieus successor will inherit a city that is struggling with many of the same problems as eight years ago, and some new ones. In a poor city, the median household income hasnt registered any measurable increase during Landrieus tenure, and black households have actually seen a decline. More than half of local renters are spending at least 30 percent of their income on housing, and some residents complain that ineffectual city policies and enforcement against the rampant use of sites like Airbnb have turned their neighborhoods into virtual tourist districts, with few places for permanent residents. Landrieu himself concedes that heavy lifting remains to be done at the Sewerage & Water Board. The flooding that struck in August of last year caught his administration uncharacteristically flat-footed. And the bungled response, in which officials repeatedly put out false information about the status of pumps, turbines and manpower, put a dent in the image of assured competence that Landrieu has worked so hard to project. The mayor insisted that the agency is much better today than when we got here, citing millions of dollars worth of recent repair work that has added more power capacity to the citys pumps than theyve had in years. But he has said incoming Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration will have big decisions to make about how to overhaul the citys drainage infrastructure, which is still woefully outdated, and how to pay for that overhaul. Cantrell will also take over a road repair program that has gotten off to a slower start than anticipated. Landrieu secured another $2.4 billion from FEMA to rebuild many of the citys roadways and the pipes underneath them, but projects remain hung up by a lengthier federal approval process than expected. Then theres the citys other major intractable issue: crime. Landrieu has described an almost personal relationship with victims of the citys violence, keeping binders with photos and details about each person killed. He has pushed a handful of initiatives aimed at pre-emptively stopping violence, grouped under the umbrella of NOLA For Life. But it's still unclear whether any of it will produce a lasting decline in the number of people murdered here in a typical year. The figure was 175 in 2010 and was down to 157 last year a measure of progress, but still leaving New Orleans with among the highest per-capita murder rates in the country. And the year-to-year fluctuations in the counts of murders and violent crimes overall make it difficult to say whether any decreases will truly stick. The number of shootings taking place in the city each year considered by many criminologists a more reliable yardstick of violent crime than murder has hardly changed since he took office. Landrieu argues he has still made headway in restoring the reputation of the Police Department. There have been 17 new recruit classes during his tenure. Officers now wear body-worn cameras meant to record potentially controversial encounters, and the city has settled civil rights claims brought by the families of those wounded or killed by police officers in the chaotic aftermath of Katrina. Today, the department's approval ratings have gone from a low of 22 percent to well above 70 percent, Landrieu said. "So when you think about whats been going on around the country in the last eight years, with things going in the other direction ... the Police Department has been doing a really good job, he said. Olivia Matte, who is accused of killing a Mississippi man in a drunk-driving crash in 2017 on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, was released from jail Monday after being picked up Friday on an allegation of violating the terms of her probation in a separate drunk-driving case in St. Tammany Parish. Matte, 27, was arrested by St. Tammany Sheriff's Office deputies and spent the weekend in jail. But her attorney, Ralph Whalen, said she was released and will not face revocation of her probation. Matte had pleaded guilty to first-offense DWI in 22nd Judicial District Court on April 24 and was sentenced to six months, suspended, and two years of probation by Judge Rusty Knight. She is also under house arrest pending trial on charges of vehicular homicide in Jefferson Parish connected to the death of James Blackmond on the Causeway. When Matte signed up for probation, Whalen said, she was not working, so she did not indicate that she had a job on the paperwork. But she later secured employment, he said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Matte, who wears a monitoring bracelet, notified the monitoring company of the location of her job and the hours she would be working, but she failed to notify her probation officer, which Whalen called an oversight. The probation office called the monitoring company on Friday to find out where she was, something Whalen said is "not typical for a first-offense DWI probation." The company said she was at work, but that didn't line up with her paperwork, Whalen said, so the probation officer ordered her picked up. House arrest typically allows people to leave home to go to work or church, to meet with their probation officer and to perform community service. Matte is also allowed two hours outside her home for exercise, Whalen said. Matte's Causeway arrest last year was her third DWI. After her first drunk-driving incident in June 2016 also on the Causeway she completed a diversion program in Jefferson Parish. More than two years after an aspiring artist was cited for selling his creations without a license on the Esplanade Avenue neutral ground, his attorney took a constitutional challenge to the citys permitting rules to the Louisiana Supreme Court this week. Most New Orleanians probably dont realize it, but city law effectively bans the outdoor sale of art anywhere outside the French Quarter. It is an oddity of the law that appears to be rarely enforced. The court's justices heard dueling arguments Tuesday over whether the code goes too far in restricting free speech. The case began March 24, 2016, when Lawrence Clark was cited for selling art from a table he had set up with a friend at Esplanade and Decatur Street, at the boundary between the French Quarter and Faubourg Marigny. City code makes it a crime punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine to sell art outdoors without a license. The only exceptions are if an artist obtains a license for the perimeter of Jackson Square, another license for Pere Antoine and Pirate alleys next to St. Louis Cathedral, and a third for Edison Park on Bourbon Street. The Jackson Square permits, which have been capped at 200 since 1978, are famously difficult to obtain and require entry in a lottery. Instead of paying his fine, Clark and his defense attorney, Laura Bixby, of the Orleans Public Defenders, opted to challenge the city law. They filed a motion to quash the citation on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. There is simply no option for artists who want to sell their art outdoors except the few narrow areas outlined in the law, they said. An artist who sets up shop in Bayou St. John or City Park is subject to citation. Bixby told the justices Tuesday that First Amendment law is clear: The state must narrowly tailor any restrictions on free speech. Visual arts are considered speech even when they are offered for commercial sale, she said. Bixby said a deep dive into the codes legislative history showed that the New Orleans City Council was concerned about overcrowding around Jackson Square when it passed restrictions beginning in the 1950s. But the council wrote the ordinances on art sales in such a way as to ban sales everywhere else, she said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up If the government wants to promote the sale of art in the French Quarter, there are other more narrowly tailored ways to do that, she said. Louisiana Deputy Solicitor General Colin Clark said there was nothing unreasonable about funneling artists into a few areas in the French Quarter. The city has decided to maximize outdoor art sales in an area where tourists converge, he argued. If I were the mayor of Paris, it might make sense to say that artists have to sell art along the Seine, near the Arc de Triomphe, the Eiffel Tower, Clark said. Colin Clark noted that Lawrence Clark could have obtained an art permit like everyone else. Were talking about a difference of three or four blocks between where he was trying to sell the art, and where he would be commercially able to do so with a nominal fee, Colin Clark said. Maybe, maybe not, Justice John Weimer replied. It may be a world of difference depending on the clientele and what his art is about. The justices did not tip their hands as to how they might rule. A few blocks away from the courthouse, a handful of artists polled in an informal survey at Jackson Square expressed surprise about the codes ban on outdoor art sales outside the French Quarter. They were steadfast in their support of requiring permits inside the Vieux Carre, however. It brings a little bit of order to an otherwise chaotic situation, A.J.S. Kinney said as she painted a new design. Without it, we couldnt make a living out here. A Jefferson Parish man was booked on a count of simple escape after officials said he slipped out of the New Orleans jail this week, but his girlfriend disputed the Sheriffs Office's version of events. Terrence Joyce, 24, was initially booked at the New Orleans jail on Monday. But he proceeded to mingle in with other inmates who were being released and left the jail, according to an arrest report. The Sheriffs Office said Joyce managed to leave the jails Intake and Processing Center due to staff error. Officials said that within two hours of discovering Joyces escape, deputies organized an all-hands-on-deck response and tracked him to a residence in Jefferson. Joyce was taken into custody in the 3000 block of Andover Street without incident, Agent Christopher Powe said in an arrest report. His girlfriend told a different story in a telephone interview Wednesday. Angelica Joseph, 22, said Joyce told her he was released because the Kenner Police Department did not come to the New Orleans jail to pick him up on outstanding warrants for missing court dates in Kenner. The supervisor lady, she opened the door for him. He didnt go through a window; he walked out the front door, Joseph said. He didnt escape. They let him out. Joyce called her from a bail bondsman's office after he left the jail about 5 p.m. Monday, she said. "Ain't nobody gonna escape jail and go to a bail bondsman and call their girlfriend," she said. Kenner Police Lt. Brian McGregor said he was not aware of Joyce's alleged escape. Joyce was wanted on outstanding warrants for failing to attend court on charges of criminal trespassing and disturbing the peace, McGregor said. He said his department notified the Orleans Parish Sheriff's Office on Monday that Kenner officials would pick Joyce up for booking on his three outstanding warrants. Joseph said she was shocked when Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office deputies arrived at her front door Monday night. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up There were six children inside her house when deputies barged in with guns drawn, she said. They forced Joyce to the floor, pointed weapons at him and took him away in handcuffs, she said. I thought they was bounty hunters, Joseph said. A lot of those children still talk about those police running in the house with guns. Deputies did not present a warrant when they arrested Joyce, she said. Jefferson Parish Sheriff Joe Lopinto said his agency was not involved in the arrest. Orleans deputies asked for back-up as they were taking Joyce into custody, but they canceled the call while one of his K-9 units was en route, Lopinto said. Joyces bail on the simple escape count was set at $10,000. The charge carries a two- to five-year sentence. Its not clear why Joyce was being booked on Monday in the first place. He was charged April 18 with possession of a firearm by a felon, illegal carrying of a weapon with a controlled dangerous substance, possession of drugs with intent to distribute, and possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia. His arraignment on those charges is set for Thursday. The details of Joyces escape as related by the Sheriffs Office mirror an attempt made by another inmate in August. In that incident, Bruce Pollard took an identification band from another inmate who was about to be released, authorities said. The ruse was uncovered when deputies attempted to conduct a DNA test. Past escapes have involved inmates who walked out of custody from Municipal Court or Criminal District Court. Ganges Part 11: The Last Leg I awoke at 4:30 a.m. with a terrible pain in my stomach. When I got up to go to the bathroom, I realized my back hurt worse than my stomach.... Ganges Part 10: Bojbasa Rest House It was torture. Linda and I had trekked over eight miles that day from 10,000 feet to 12,000 feet above sea level on our pilgrimage to the source of the... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Endy Bayuni (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 09:18 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1b37d0 1 Opinion journalism,World-Press-Freedom-Day,press-freedom,#PressFreedom,hoax,fake-news,media-verification Free On World Press Freedom Day on May 3, it may be worth for journalists in Indonesia to reinforce their commitment to fight for freedom not just their freedom, but also the wider freedom of expression. The struggle must continue, for freedom is something that no one should ever take for granted. It is therefore disturbing to find the tendency for journalists now to be on the front line in trying to set up more regulations in the name of fighting hoaxes and fake news. The government is only happy to see this and willingly will accept the task to enforce these regulations. This is going against the spirit of why we are celebrating World Press Freedom Day. Blame it on the internet for creating havoc in the information industry. The proliferation of news and information has brought about massive disruption in society. Every aspect of our lives political, economic, social, cultural and traditional is affected. Journalism, a profession closely linked to the information industry, has not been spared. Thanks to the internet, everyone with a smartphone/laptop and internet connection, can now call himself a journalist in its wider definition: someone who disseminates news and information to the masses, now through the various social media platforms. In the pre-internet era, this was almost an exclusive domain of journalists. Admittedly, not all of them observe the disciplines, principles as well as ethics that govern the profession. They are not obliged to verify the information before posting it, be fair if not balanced, cover both sides and apply other principles journalists go through. They dont have to have this sense of public service. Often, they have an agenda hidden or otherwise. They are certainly quick and beat professional journalists in their own game, irrespective of the quality of the information. Often, their stories are so outrageous and so unreal that theirs are the ones that go viral, and not stories prepared by the serious journalists. Feeling threatened, many journalist and media organizations have taken steps to defend their relevance by turning journalism into a closed-shop profession, meaning more regulations. Initiatives have been proposed to contain the threat of hoaxes and fake news. They range from the verification, registration, accreditation and certification of journalists and media, to organizing standard tests and issuing cards for those who meet the criteria. For those who had been in this profession since before Indonesia became a democracy in 1998, these initiatives sound very much like measures imposed on journalists and media under the repressive Soeharto regime, then designed to muzzle the press. While the intention may be noble this time around, their proponents are turning journalism into a profession to the exclusion of others. Like doctors and architects, only those who are so accredited should be allowed to practice the trade; all others should not be trusted. These measures at any rate could hardly stop or prevent the spread of hoaxes and fake news. You have to go to China to do that, and even there, it is not 100 percent foolproof. But what these actions have done is to announce that these card-carrying, certified and accredited journalists are in a class of their own, with all the rights that come with the profession. Indonesian journalists already enjoy privileges under the 1999 Press Law, while ordinary people are subject to the Criminal Code (KUHP). The cyberlaw, which contains draconian articles to limit our freedom, is not applied to journalists who would invoke the lex specialis principle. The campaign to make journalism a closed-shop profession is clearly driven more by self-interests rather than out of a real concern to fight fake news and hoaxes. The biggest threat to journalism is not coming from non-journalists practicing the trade without observing the principles and ethics; it is coming from journalists and media, many accredited and certified, who are violating the public trust through malpractices. They are some of the worst offenders of disseminating fakes and hoaxes. They may have shielded themselves through the press law and regulations that make them feel like a special breed of first-class citizens. They fool no one but themselves. Members of the public care little, and have little time to check whether the stories they read or watch come from accredited sources. They decide whether stories are credible or not, and they form their opinion whether the journalist or media that supplied them can be trusted. No amount of regulation, including certification and registration, can change that. On World Press Freedom Day, journalists should be thankful for the privileges and freedom the nation accorded them to allow them to work effectively. Instead of making their profession more exclusive, they should fight to ensure everyone enjoys the same privileges and freedoms. *** The writer, a senior editor of The Jakarta Post, has been a journalist for 35 years. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 07:57 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1aca22 4 Editorial World-Press-Freedom-Day,press-freedom,press,media,#PressFreedom Free On World Press Freedom Day this year, we join the global media community, particularly colleagues in Afghanistan, in honoring and mourning at least nine journalists who were killed in explosions in Kabul on Monday. A suicide bomber posing as a reporter blew himself up among press workers positioned behind a security cordon following twin attacks, reports said. The Islamic State (IS) group claimed responsibility for the strike, which killed at least 25 people and wounded almost 50 others. Watchdogs have revealed that the number of journalists killed that day in Afghanistan was equal to that of 2017. And according to various global media organizations, 32 press workers have been killed in various nations in the first four months of 2018 alone. Last year, 65 were killed across the world. Indonesia has a much safer environment for media workers. Therefore, they carry a larger responsibility to safeguard each other as well as the credibility of their profession in a time when anyone with a computer and internet connection can fabricate and spread false reports. In Indonesia, similar to other nations claiming to be democracies, ownership is in the hands of a few, thus, ensuring diverse and quality content for the public is a daily challenge despite the laws and regulations in place. And like they did five years ago, the supposedly objective media will once again face the test of elections. In the previous presidential race, we witnessed verbal wars waged between factions standing against and in favor of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, who is running for a second term. More than a year before the 2019 elections, similar scuffles have already begun. The need is greater now for the media to comply with its own code of ethics and self-imposed regulations, such as the need for formally trained journalists and accredited media companies. But the need to win by all means necessary is also greater, including by utilizing all available media platforms. As predicted, following last years divisive Jakarta gubernatorial election, sectarian sentiments have shown no signs of abating despite appeals for national unity. The temptation and need to assert solidarity with ones group of the same political views, ethnicity or religious identity through the reckless spreading of news, no matter how sensational, is often much greater than the willingness to pause and recheck sources. This continues despite the arrests made of cyber army members and sponsors accused of spreading hate speech. Conventional media should be able to save the day, but instead, media companies have failed to win the trust of the people, who prefer personal news feeds from their closed groups. The Indonesian Broadcasting Commission (KPI) has not been able to protect the nations public frequencies from abuse fostered by political interests. Creative collaborations among the public, including media watchdogs, citizen journalists and media companies, will be critical to retain whatever credibility remains of the press. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Ari Juliano Gema (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 14:49 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1c294e 3 Opinion Indonesia,#Indonesia,intellectual-property-rights,piracy Free Many may disagree with this title. Illegal copies of local and international films, television shows and songs can still be downloaded or streamed through various websites and apps. Millions of pirated copies of the same copyrighted content are available in a number of malls and traditional markets. You can even find current movies being streamed live from inside a cinema through social media. Yes, online piracy is prevalent and remains a cause for concern, but we are making progress. How? Through consistent enforcement, commitment and collaborative efforts. Since 2015, an interagency antipiracy task force within the government has shut down 392 illegal film websites that distribute or stream pirated content. By the end of 2017, the music industry said around two-thirds of the websites they had reported for infringing on their copyrighted material were already inactive. To put the significance of these numbers in context, the same statistics were cited by the International Intellectual Property Alliance, an organization of United States creative industries, in its 2018 report on Indonesia, which notes how the governments enforcement has been promising, with excellent compliance by the seven largest ISPs. While the people behind these websites can just hop to a new domain and carry on their illicit business, we are in fact making a dent in their operations by going after where it hurts: the bottom line. Online pirates earn from online advertisements, but every time their websites are shut down, the new sites they create will have lower page rankings, which will then reduce the amount of revenue they can generate. We are also going directly to advertisers. Last October, an Infringing Website List was launched by several industry associations the Association of Indonesian Film Producers (APROFI), the Indonesia Recording Industry Association (ASIRI), the Motion Picture Association (MPA) and the Association of Indonesian Advertising Agencies (P3I) with the support of the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf), to make companies aware of which sites they should not place ads on. We are also working with Google and Facebook, which have been cooperative in taking down pirated materials. YouTube, for instance, is very active on this front. Soon, the fight against these online pirates will be aided by technology that allows us to track them down, putting an end to the cat-and-mouse game. The Communications and Information Ministry to take down online sources of pornographic content and hoaxes, and it will soon use it to fight against online pirates. On the ground, we are working with theaters to curb the practice of illegal live streaming of films through social media, and they have committed to taking immediate action once violators are found. We have also asked them to install CCTVs to improve detection. As long as there is a complaint from the owner of the film rights against entities who live stream for commercial purposes, the government can take legal action. Though much of the focus now is now on online piracy, we are not ignoring the proliferation of pirated DVDs across the country. We are communicating with local governments to encourage them to exercise their authority to penalize or even shut down shopping malls or centers that allow the sale of pirated goods, and we have been receiving positive responses. Consistent enforcement, commitment and collaborative efforts have proven to help us win battles against online piracy. But thats just one of the fronts in this war. Cutting off supply is never enough to kill the market for illegal products; the demand side has to be addressed. When it comes to creative content like films, television shows and music, demand for pirated copies exist because of three things: price, distribution and habit. Therefore, strategies to fight piracy should address these aspects. The increasing availability of streaming websites and the cooperation of internet service providers help address two of the three issues: price and distribution. If we make content more affordable and easily accessible, we have seen consumers tend to shift to legal sources. Offline, one way to address the demand side is to convince content producers to reduce prices or diversify their products for different markets. At the same time, we are pushing for the use of the collective management organization to more efficiently collect royalties from companies that use copyrighted materials. This way, we help diversify the revenue sources of content companies. The third aspect, habit, would take longer to address. Instead of trying to break the habits of older people, we are focusing our efforts on educating our children to make sure these illegal habits dont form to begin with. We realize that many in the public still fail to fully grasp the harm that piracy does. Indonesian filmmakers lose more than Rp 4 billion (US$290,000) for each film that gets pirated. Indonesias recording industry loses up to Rp 14 trillion a year from the illegal downloading of songs. But we cannot develop our creative industry and support our local artists if we cant find a way to protect their work. We cannot win this fight overnight, or even over a few years. But through consistent enforcement, commitment and collaborative efforts, we will win battles and gain ground. Online piracy may never fully be eliminated. But diminishing itr presence enough to the point where the practice doesnt hurt legitimate businesses is already a significant victory. ______________________________ The writer is deputy head of the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) for Intellectual Property Rights Facilitation and Regulation. On May 3 Bekraf will co-host a seminar in observance of the World Intellectual Property Rights Day. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Mining company PT Smelting is collaborating with Taman Safari Indonesia in a conservation project to help conserve the Javan hawk-eagle, a highly endangered and protected species that can only be found in Indonesia. The Javan hawk-eagle, which served as inspiration for Indonesia's national symbol, the Garuda, was made the mascot of endangered Indonesian species in 1992 due to its majestic crest and conservation status. The endangered brown bird is facing many threats. Aside from illegal poaching and deforestation, the species is also vulnerable to being captured for pet trade. To conserve the species, a contract was signed on Saturday at Taman Safari Indonesia Lodge by Taman Safari Indonesia director Jansen Manansang and Smelting president director Hiroshi Kondo. Read also: Migrating birds from Siberia, Alaska land in West Kalimantan Students are expected to join the campaign at middle and high schools, using the tagline "Love the Javan hawk-eagle". The program targets an increase in the population of the eagle through breeding. As part of the project, a conservation facility and food station will be built and a study on behavior and reproduction and survey involving several local conservation projects in Java will be carried out. According to Janseng, the plan is for the eagles to breed on site for three years at Taman Safari Indonesia. In the fourth and fifth years, the eagles will be released into the wild. He said he hoped for the project to be supported by Indonesian citizens, as to reduce the number of wild animals captured for illegal trade. (ely/wng) Britain's Prince Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle said on Wednesday they were looking forward to the procession through Windsor following their wedding this month, after choosing an open-top royal carriage for the journey. Harry and his U.S. fiancee will ride in an Ascot Landau carriage when they take a tour through the town after the wedding ceremony at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth's home to the west of London, on May 19. "Prince Harry and Ms. Markle are very much looking forward to this short journey which they hope will allow them to express their gratitude for everyone who has gathered together in Windsor to enjoy the atmosphere of this special day," Harry's office, Kensington Palace, said in a statement. Read also: Intricate etiquette: A guide to the royal wedding The carriage procession will see the couple ride from the castle through Windsor before returning up the Long Walk, a famous, tree-flanked straight promenade that leads to the castle gates. There are more than 100 carriages in the Royal Mews collection with five Ascot Landaus. Harry travelled in one of them to the wedding of his elder brother William to Kate Middleton in 2011 when he acted as best man. Kensington Palace said the carriage would be pulled by Windsor Grey horses, which have drawn the carriages of monarchs and members of the royal family Queen Victoria in the 19th Century, and would be escorted by members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment. Australia's oldest scientist, wearing a top labelled "ageing disgracefully", has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. David Goodall does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fast-track appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel. He got on a plane in Perth late Wednesday surrounded by friends and family saying their final goodbyes, euthanasia advocates told AFP. He will spend several days with other family in Bordeaux, France, before heading to Switzerland where he is due to end his life on May 10. "I don't want to go to Switzerland, though it's a nice country," he told broadcaster ABC before leaving. "But I have to do that in order to get the opportunity of suicide which the Australian system does not permit. I feel very resentful." Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legalise it last year. But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months. Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated, most recently in New South Wales state last year. Exit International, which helped Goodall make the trip, said it was unjust that one of Australia's "oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the other side of the world to die with dignity". Read also: The disappearing jobs of yesterday It launched a GoFundMe campaign to get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and quickly raised more than Aus$20,000 (US$15,000). Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals. Goodall told ABC he appreciated the public's interest in his plight and hoped it would spark more discussion about voluntary euthanasia. "I would like them to understand it," he said. "I am 104 years old so I haven't got much time left anyway. I might as well not have (my health) getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes." Najib Yusuf, a teacher at Madrasah Tsanawiyah at-Taqwa 02 in Babelan district, Bekasi regency, has created Jetschool, an app to prevent students from cutting class as well as assist parents in monitoring students grades and school activities. Najib explained to Antara on Thursday that he created the app in August 2017 and it is being tested in six schools around Jakarta and Bekasi by at least 4,700 students. Previously, the existing app could only be used by students, parents or the school. I tried to integrate the users into one app and, praise God, it was well-received, he said. Prior to teaching, Najib was part of the IT team at Al-Azhar Rawamangun, Jakarta. The app is connected to an e-register that records students school arrival and departure time. At the same time, the children's attendance is reported to the parents mobile phones. When they go home, the students fill out their attendance record and parents will know whether their children attended school or not in real time, said Najib. Aside from recording attendance, the app also has other functions such as recording activities in the library, he added. Jetschool also has features that enable parents to monitor their childrens grades as well as complete administrative tasks such as paying tuition fees. Read also: Mobile application connects teachers and students The big picture is that with this integrated app, parents can be more involved in their childrens education. In the past, they were used to seeing their childrens grades every six months. Now they can see their day-to-day results. This is important because childrens education is a one-time-thing that parents should not miss out on, Najib said. The app also helps students study as it provides lesson summaries. Teachers are also able to give out daily tests, grade the tests and report grades to parents all within the app. Approaching the new school year in June, Najib said he had received interest from at least six new schools in using Jetschool. One school has in fact used the premium version of Jetschool, not the trial one. The other five schools will start using it in the new school year, said Najib. Sabrina, a student of MTS At-Taqwa 03, who is a Jetschool user, said the app helps her study, Im happy with the app because it helps me study and I can use it with my mobile phone. The Research, Technology and Higher Education Ministry expressed its appreciation for the development of the Jetschool app and granted Rp 300 million (US$21,600) to Najib via its Technology-Based Startup Company (PPBT) program. As this is a startup, we could use the support. I hope Jetschool can be a management and information ecosystem for schools. The philosophy is that we want to involve parents in the most important aspects of their children's education in school, even from a distance, said Najib. (asw) Once again, Retno Maruti has proven her status as a maestro of classical dance in the country. Dance company Padnecwara showcased their mastery over Javanese classical dance at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM) cultural center in Central Jakarta in late April. The set might be simple, but the two-hour dance show, titled Dewabrata, was simply breathtaking. It was masterminded by the troupes founder, maestro Retno Maruti, who teamed up with her daughter Rury Nostalgia on choreography and her husband, renowned choreographer Sentot Sudiharto, on artistic design. For Retno, who turns 71 this year, the event was special as it also marked the 42nd anniversary of Padnecwara. Going after power: An opening scene shows Durgandini facing a dilemma after getting a marriage proposal from Sentanu, the king of Hastinapura. (JP/A. Kurniawan Ulung) Performed with Javanese songs and dialogue, Dewabrata is not a new work as she had played it once in 1997 in her hometown of Surakarta in Central Java. However, at TIM, she brought it back with a bang. This time, the mission of performing Dewabrata was not just to preserve the classical dances of Yogyakarta and Surakarta or to attract young people to love the dances. Retno brought the character of Dewabrata to life in a bid to ignite the spirit of patriotism amid a year of politics. The performance of Dewabrata is a form of love or responsibility or loyalty [of a child] to his or her parents, the nation and the country, she said. The performance opens with a scene when Durgandini (Purwo Tjahja Indrawati) becomes confused after getting a marriage proposal from Prabu Sentanu, the king of Hastinapura. From the bottom of her heart, she wishes that if she has a son, he would be a king one day, but she realizes that her wish will create conflict in the future because Sentanu already has a son, crown prince Dewabrata (Wasi Bantolo). Sentanu, who does not have the heart to take the birth right of his son, falls ill after learning about the wish. When meeting Dewabrata, Durgandini tells him that she would fulfill his fathers request on one condition. If your father and I have a son, he should be the one who will take power and become the king of Hastinapura, she said in Javanese. Having deep love and respect for his father, Dewabrata says that he does not mind if the throne goes to Durgandinis children. He even pledges that he will never marry to avoid conflicts of power in the kingdom. Ready for battle: Wasi Bantolo (center) plays Dewabrata during the dance opera Dewabrata on April 27 and 28 at Taman Ismail Marzuki in Central Jakarta. (JP/A. Kurniawan Ulung) Dewabratas devotion to his kingdom continues. He even tries to help his stepbrothers, Citragada and Citrawirya, get wives by joining a contest held by the kingdom of Kasipura. The top prize is three beautiful Kasipura princesses: Amba (Yuni Swandiati), Ambika (Lasti Purwani) and Ambalika (Henny Rachmawati). Because he has sworn that he will never marry, Dewabrata plans to give the prize to his stepbrothers. He defeats two powerful giant twins Wahmuka (Yestriyono Piliyanto) and Arimuka (Mahesani Tunjung Seto) in an epic and captivating dance battle. He wins the contest only to realize that he has fallen for Amba and vice versa. But he has a pledge that he does not want to break. They both are then involved in a complicated love story. Padnecwara artistic team member Sonny Sumarsono said the performance in TIM was different from its old version in 1997. The choreography and the musical arrangement are more complicated, he said, adding that the new version of Dewabrata combined the dance style of Yogyakarta with that of Surakarta. For Wasi, Dewabrata is an example of a man who keeps his word. Wherever we are, we have to be responsible for everything we have done, he said. The classic dancer and choreographer from the Indonesian Fine Arts Institute (ISI) in Surakarta said Retno was his role model. Retno Maruti (JP/A. Kurniawan Ulung) Born into a family with art in its genes, Retno founded the Padnecwara dance company in 1976 with her husband, Sentot Sudiharto. The word Padnecwara, from Sanskrit, means empress. It comes from the words padni (wife) and iswara (king). Before Dewabrata, some of Retnos masterpieces are dance operas: Abimanyu Gugur ( 1976 ), Roro Mendut ( 1977 ), Sekar Pembayun ( 1979 ) and Ciptoning ( 1980 ). In 2006, she collaborated with Ayu Bulantrisna Djelantik, the maestro of Legong dance, for a performance entitled Bedoyo Legong Calonarang. Retno said all of her works were inspired by Javanese classical stories. They can be legends or fairytales, she said. She never recognizes the words quit or retirement even as a septuagenarian, she still performs on stage, playing Amba in one of the two-day performances. For Retno, dance is a soul that moves freely to define beauty. The popularity of the French Bulldog, known to suffer breathing problems due to the same flat face deemed its cutest feature, raises animal welfare concerns, researchers said Thursday. In Britain alone, demand for the short-muzzled, wide-eyed hound has soared, following a global fashion in small, flat-faced dogs. In 2013, 1.46 percent of all puppies born in Britain were French Bulldogs, up from 0.02 percent just 10 years earlier, a team wrote in the journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. "Frenchies", as they are also known, are predicted to become the most popular pedigree breed in the country "soon". "There is a worry that increased demand for the French Bulldog is damaging to these dogs' welfare because of the health risks associated with their extreme physical features," said study co-author Dan O'Neill of The Royal Veterinary College. These include the dogs' flat faces, bulging eyes, and the folds in their skin, which can give rise to conditions such as eye inflammation, eczema, and breathing disorders. Read also: Penguin restaurant puts spotlight on zoo controversy "Rapidly increasing numbers of French Bulldogs therefore is worsening the overall welfare of pet dogs because they are so prone to some very unpleasant disorders," O'Neill told AFP. The authors pointed out that a dog's appearance, size, and behavioural traits seem to outweigh health and longevity considerations for many pet buyers. - 'It's so cute' - "Images on social media and on TV, plus that 'Oh, it's so cute' factor, seem to be a bigger determinant on which breeds are successful and which are not," said O'Neill. In the end, "it is the general public who will decide on what (breed) is unsustainable and what breeds die out," the researcher added. People have been breeding dogs for thousands of years for certain traits, whether it be a gentle disposition, a sharp nose for hunting, good eyes, strength, endurance, or speed. The French Bulldog itself was a cross between the British Bulldog and a Parisian ratter dog. But when breeders select animals for "pure" traits, they can also pass on inherited diseases. For the latest study, O'Neill and a team obtained data on 2,228 French bulldogs treated by vets in Britain in 2013. The breed's most common health problems were ear infections, diarrhoea, and conjunctivitis (eye inflammation), they found. Nearly 13 percent of dogs had breathing problems, and skin problems were common. The reality may be even worse, said the research team. Only about 42 percent of owners of dogs suffering from obstructive airway syndrome, which can cause anything from snoring to suffocation, were aware of their pet's condition. The researchers said they hoped their work would "assist reforms in breeding practices and ultimately contribute to improved health and welfare of French bulldogs" A group of eco-tourists recently discovered a new species of beetle in the Maliau Basin in Borneo. Participants of Taxon Expeditions, a new initiative that combines real scientific research with adventure travel, discovered the beetle with the assistance of experts in rainforest biology, and named the species Grouvellinus leonardodicaprioi after the famous actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Taxon Expeditions said in a YouTube video that newly discovered animal species were sometimes named after celebrities and their trademark looks. Thats how we got the Jennifer Lopez water mites (Litarachna lopezae) or the David Bowie spider (Heteropoda davidbowie), the video's subtitles read. However, in DiCaprio's case, the animal was given his name because of the work he does for the environment. A well-known environmentalist, DiCaprio established The Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, dedicated to supporting various biodiversity preservation projects. Read also: Conservation project announced for Javan hawk-eagle Furthermore, Taxon Expeditions wrote on their website that the tribute to the actor marked the 20th anniversary of DiCaprios foundation. Black and tiny, the new beetle may not win any Oscars for its looks. But in conservation, even the smallest creatures count, concluded the expedition organizer in the video. DiCaprio responded to the tribute by adding a photo of the beetle to his profile picture on Facebook. (mut) The islands inaugural design festival provides a platform for designers and consumers to share and collaborate. The trendy neighborhood of Seminyak, known for its plush restaurants and glitzy nightclubs, will host the inaugural Seminyak Design Week ( SDW2018 ) starting this Friday. As many as 100 key players of the design industry, ranging from prominent architects and interior designers to fashion designers and product creators, will share their thoughts on SDW2018s main theme: Design for Better Community. They will also exhibit their creations during the event that will run until May 13. Through a wide range of programs open to the public, we want to provide opportunities for the wider community to witness the latest achievement of works in the creative industry especially in Indonesia, SDW2018 event director Jacob Gatot said. This event can build awareness of design in the community, be a meeting point and initiate discussion on design and discourses around it, to stimulate a universal creative spirit, he added. STELLAR MAP scarves by House of Rumantra (Seminyak Design Week/File) Jacob is also the owner of Uma Seminyak, the main venue of SDW2018. In the past few years, Uma Seminyak has grown into one of the islands leading cultural hubs by providing a platform for up and coming young artists to showcase their works. SDW2018 comprises exhibitions, inspiring panel discussions, workshops, competitions and design trails. Uma Seminyak and Seminyak Village will co-host the principal exhibition, featuring dozens of products, ranging from architecture and homewares to craft and graphic designs. Participating exhibitors include Yokasara, Andramatin, Budi Pradono, SHAU, Largo, Morfologix, Urbane, HAP (Han Awal & Paskal), Magno & Spedagi by Singgih Kartono, Santai by Dennis Pluemer, BYO Living by Lim Masulin, Studio Hiji by Abie Abdillah, Eva Natasa, CushCush, Ong Cen Kuang, Casa Studio Bali, Craft District, Studio Mari Ubud, ADGI (Indonesia Graphic Design Association), Suku Tangan, Monez, Salaga, Siji, Mena, House of Rumantra, Cinta Bumi Artisan, Vitarlenology, and Art of Whatever. TAKO desk organizer by Handhyanto Hardian (Seminyak Design Week/File) RODACILIK bamboo bicycle by Spedagi (Seminyak Design Week/File) Uma Seminyak will also host ArchiTalks, a series of intimate panel discussions during which 12 architects will share their thoughts. ArchiTalks are free to attend. Meanwhile, The Inspiring Talks program will take place at Ke{m}bali Innovation Hub from May 5 to 6. This program features 22 influential figures, who will discuss how design can help build businesses, improve sustainability, engage communities, enrich peoples lives and develop a better community. SDW2018 will also organize events outside Seminyak, including at Denpasars CushCush gallery, where an event called Natural Curiosities, a tribute to natural wonders, artisans, and designers, will run from May 11 to June 11. Moreover, Indigo Hotel and Katamama Hotel will open their doors for SDW2018s Design Trails program, which is limited to 30 people. The participants will have a guided tour, during which they will learn about the unique and distinctive architectural features and design of those establishments, SDW2018s event manager Ruth Onduko said. The success of SDW2018 would put Bali right on the heels of Berlin, Tokyo, Milan, Singapore and Chiang Mai, which each boast thriving creative communities and an influential, annual design week event. ______________________________________________ Full program and tickets are available at www.seminyakdesignweek.com. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Moses Ompusunggu (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 06:29 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1ab92b 1 National raja-ampat,Education,environment Free To commemorate National Education Day, which falls every May 2, Raja Ampat regency in West Papua launched on Wednesday an environmental education module for sixth-grade students at its world-renowned marine tourist area. The module was developed by Raja Ampat regency's Education and Culture Agency, Tourism Agency and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Agency, as well as The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Indonesia. The module touches on the relationship between marine tourism and climate change and is the latest document launched for Raja Ampat's students, following the opening of two modules on the same topic for fourth-grade and fifth-grade students in 2016. "With the presence of this module, I hope students will love and honor more of the blessings from God. We must protect our natural resources for future generations," said Raja Ampat Regent Abdul Faris Umlati in a statement issued by TNC Indonesia on Wednesday. Raja Ampat is home to 553 coral reef species, equal to 75 percent of the world's coral reef species, and more than 1,000 coral fish species. Apart from its sea resources, Raja Ampat has terrestrial forests that serve as habitats for numerous birds found nowhere else in the world. "TNC is aware that education is key to building future generations that care for the environment. We hope that one child who cares about the environment at present will contribute to a thousand people in the future," said TNC Indonesia country director Rizal Algamar. (ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 18:43 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1cea68 1 National freedom-of-expression,pandeglang,AmnestyInternational,AlnoldyBahari Free Human rights group Amnesty International Indonesia has criticized the hate speech conviction of a spiritual book author who offended some Muslims after writing a Facebook post saying that those who have not seen God are fake" Muslims. The Pandeglang District Court on Monday sentenced Alnoldy Bahari, the author of spiritual book Kitab Sihir: Rahasia Kuno (The Book of Magic: An Ancient Secret), to five years in prison and ordered him to pay a Rp 100 million (US$7,155) fine after being found guilty of spreading hate speech, as stipulated under Article 28 of the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law. Alnoldy, known by his pen name Ki Ngawur Permana, sparked controversy in November last year when he claimed to have seen God and questioned the faith of those who declared syahada (the Islamic creed declaring belief in the oneness of God) but have not had the same experience. On his Facebook page he wrote: I testify that there is no god but God, but if you have not seen God, then you are a fake witness. I am a Muslim and I testify that there is no god but God. I have seen God. Have you? According to the Southeast Asia Freedom of Expression Network (SAFEnet), Alnoldy, who had the chance to study at the Jakarta Institute of Arts, changed his Facebook privacy settings from private to public to help sell his book. Apa kesalahan Alnoldy ini? Para pelapor, massa pelaku persekusi, lalu hakim menyebut ia penyebar kebencian. Padahal... #BebaskanAlnoldy pic.twitter.com/F391Zdo9Bl Damar Juniarto (@DamarJuniarto) April 30, 2018 Amnesty Internationals researcher on Indonesia Papang Hidayat said the conviction was flawed and violated the defendants rights. People like Alnoldy have become what we call prisoners of conscience, Papang told The Jakarta Post on Thursday. Papang also said Amnesty International had talked to Alnoldys wife to discuss the possible legal action it will take after the conviction. We will also put pressure on the authorities to release Alnoldy as he is a victim of human rights violations. Alnoldy is the latest victim of the infamous ITE law, which rights activists say is draconian and a threat to freedom of speech. The law, along with the 1965 Blasphemy Law, has repeatedly been used to charge people for merely expressing their opinions online, activists say. (dpk/ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3 2018 President Joko Jokowi Widodo and Brunei Darussalams Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah are to discuss an agreement over migrant workers. Jokowi is scheduled to host a meeting with Bolkiah on Thursday, during which the state leaders plan to talk about how to better cooperate over migrant workers. They will discuss the placement and protection of Indonesian migrant workers, said Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi on Wednesday. The results of the discussion are to be formulated into a memorandum of understanding by the countries foreign ministers, Retno added. Hopefully, the draft will be finished within the near future, she said, adding that there were 80,000 Indonesians in Brunei Darussalam, which has a total population of 400,000 citizens. Jokowi and Bolkiah are also planning to talk about economic and investment cooperation, with Jokowi expecte... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 10:47 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1b5b0d 1 Business Brazil,Indonesia,visit,foreign-minister Free Brazilian Foreign Minister Aloysio Nunes is scheduled to represent Brazilian President Michel Temer on a visit to Indonesia from May 10 to 12. Brazilian Ambassador to Indonesia Rubem Antonio Correa Barbosa said on Wednesday that President Temer could not visit Indonesia because he had to attend a congressional vote on Brazil's state budget. "Our foreign affairs minister will be in Indonesia from May 10 to 12 on the request of our president," the ambassador said during a press conference in Jakarta. Correa Barbosa said that during the visit, several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) would be signed, including one that granted Indonesian passport bearers a 30-day stay without a visa in Brazil, which was a reciprocal agreement as Indonesia had granted free visas to Brazilians. The second MoU will be on the tourist sector. "Last year, 30,000 Brazilians came to this country. Most of them went to Bali because we do not have [a place like] Bali in Brazil," Correa Barbosa said. The third document will be on the agriculture sector, as Indonesia looks to obtain agricultural technology from Brazil, which, in the last 20 years, has been successful in doubling yields. What we have is middle-level technology that is more easily transferred, less costly and easier to assimilate," the ambassador said. Moreover, Correa Barbosa said that there would be a declaration between Mercado Comun del Sur (Mercosur), a South American trade block, and the Indonesian government, as an initial move to establish a free trade area. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 18:29 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1ce2b2 1 City lynching,mob-justice,Bekasi-regency,Bekasi,mob-murder,trial Free The Bekasi District Court on Thursday found six residents guilty of burning a man to death in Babelan, Bekasi. Muhammad Al Zahra, also known as Zoya, was burned to death in August after he was accused of stealing an amplifier from a musholla (prayer room). An angry mob chased and beat him and later set fire to him. The panel of judges found the six defendants guilty of manslaughter. Rosadih, who poured gasoline on Zoya and set him on fire, was sentenced to eight years, the heaviest punishment among the defendants. Rosadih is found guilty of committing violence, together with others, in public that resulted in death, said presiding judge Musa Arief on Thursday as quoted by kompas.com. The prison term was lighter that the 12 years that had been demanded by prosecutors. Rosadihs accomplices Zulkafi, Aldi, Najibulah and Subur received seven years, lower than 11 years the prosecutors had demanded. Another defendant, Karta, also got seven years, three less than the 10 years demanded. I will think about [the verdict], said Rosadih after hearing the sentence. He said he would consult with his legal counsel before deciding whether to accept the verdict. The courtroom was filled with family and relatives of the defendants, who cried upon hearing the verdicts. Zoya is survived by a wife and 4-year-old son. His wife, 25-year-old Siti Zubaidah, was six months' pregnant when he was killed. (cal/wit) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Reuters) Washington DC Thu, May 3, 2018 20:20 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1d63f9 2 World South-China-Sea,#SouthChinaSea,China,#China,missile Free China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, US news network CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports. The installations, if confirmed, would mark the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratly Islands, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims. China has made no mention of any missile deployments but says its military facilities in the Spratlys are purely defensive, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory. China's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest report. The foreign ministry said China has irrefutable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and that its necessary defensive deployments were for national security needs and not aimed at any country. "Those who do not intend to be aggressive have no need to be worried or scared," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing. China "hopes relevant parties can objectively and calmly view this", she added. CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to US intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. The US Defense Department, which opposes China's installation of military facilities on outposts it has built up in the South China Sea, declined comment. "We don't comment on matters of intelligence," a spokesman said. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank, said deploying missiles on the outposts would be important. "These would be the first missiles in the Spratlys, either surface to air, or anti-ship," he said. He added that such deployments were expected as China built missile shelters on the reefs last year and already deployed such missile systems on Woody Island further to the north. Poling said it would be a major step on China's road to dominating the South China Sea, a key global trade route. "Before this, if you were one of the other claimants ... you knew that China was monitoring your every move. Now you will know that you're operating inside Chinese missile range. That's a pretty strong, if implicit, threat," he said. CNBC said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles allowed China to strike vessels within 295 nautical miles. It said the HQ-9B long-range, surface-to-air missiles could target aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. Last month, US Admiral Philip Davidson, nominated to head US Pacific Command, said China's "forward operating bases" in the South China Sea appeared complete. "The only thing lacking are the deployed forces," he said. Once these were added, "China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania". Davidson said China could use the bases to challenge the US regional presence, and "would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants. "China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States," he said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 14:19 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1c2840 1 City dead-baby,Supreme-Court Free The lifeless body of a baby boy was found on Wednesday in a garbage bin outside the Supreme Court in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta. Cempaka Putih Police chief Comr. Rosiana Nurwidjajati said the infant, estimated to be six months old, was found by janitor Kasdiah when she was emptying the garbage bin. The baby had been placed inside a brown box that was wrapped in a white plastic bag, said Rosiana. Kasdiah had opened the plastic bag and discovered the baby. The baby was already dead when she [Kasdiah] opened the plastic, Rosiana said on Wednesday as quoted by kompas.com. The infant's body was taken to Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) for an examination while the police continued to investigate the incident. On the same day, a male newborn was found abandoned inside a box on a vacant plot on Jl. Gurame 9 in the Depok Jaya subdistrict of Pancoran Mas, Depok. Several residents who had been told of the scavenger's discovery reported the finding to local security personnel. The live baby, estimated to be 1 to 2 days old, was taken to Depok Jaya community health center for medical treatment. Pancoran Mas Police chief Comr. Roni Wowor said residents also found a letter inside the box, apparently written by the babys parent. "In the letter, the parent expressed their hope that whoever found the baby would take good care of him," said Roni. The letter went on to explain that the baby had been abandoned because of economic difficulties. (cal) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 18:58 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1cf07b 1 City Bekasi,drug-trafficking,drug-dealer,arrest Free A man in Bekasi, West Java, has been arrested on suspicion of intending to traffic 32.6 grams of crystal meth that he hid inside empty coffee packets, a toilet cleaner bottle and a toothpaste tube. Jakarta Police spokesman Comr. Argo Yuwono said on Thursday that narcotics officers arrested Heriyanto, 27, in front of the BCA building in Kemang Pratama residential complex. The police arrested the suspect on Monday at around 3 p.m. and confiscated sabu-sabu [crystal meth], Argo said on Thursday as reported by tribunnews.com. Argo said the police received reports from residents that alleged drug transactions were frequently conducted in front of the bank. The police confiscated a plastic Kapal Api coffee packet containing 7.5 grams of sabu-sabu in three zipper bags from the suspect as evidence, Argo said. They also confiscated one Kapal Api packet containing 6.5 grams of sabu-sabu in three zipper bags, one Kapal Api packet containing 6.1 grams of sabu in zipper bags inside three KISS candy bags, 100 empty zipper bags inside a Kapal Api packet and a Samsung cell phone. Argo said the police raided Heriyantos house in Griya Family residential complex in Kalapa Nunggal, Bogor, West Java, and confiscated a WPC toilet cleaner bottle containing 11.8 grams of sabu in 12 zipper bags and 0.8 grams of sabu in a zipper bag inside a Pepsodent toothpaste tube that had been emptied. The police confiscated a total of 32.6 grams of sabu as evidence, Argo said. (ami) Padjadjaran University rector Tri Hanggono Achmad (right) talks to protesters, who demanded that he step down from his position, at a university campus on Jl. Dipati Ukur in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday. The protesters criticized the rectors supposed lack of transparency in financial management, which affected lecturers, students and other employees. (JP/Arya Dipa)(right) talks to protesters, who demanded that he step down from his position, at a university campus on Jl. Dipati Ukur in Bandung, West Java, on Wednesday. The protesters criticized the rectors supposed lack of transparency in financial management, which affected lecturers, students and other employees. (JP/Arya Dipa) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Riza Roidila Mufti and Rachmadea Aisyah (The Jakarta Post) Thu, May 3 2018 Men of energy: President Joko Jokowi Widodo (second left) visits booths of energy companies during the 42nd convention and exhibition of the Indonesian Petroleum Association (IPA) in Jakarta on Wednesday, accompanied by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Ignasius Jonan (second right), Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan (right) and IPA president Ronald Gunawan. Speaking at the annual event, Jokowi called for more investment in the oil and gas sector, saying the government was cutting red tape and was open for insight from industry players on the matter. (Antara/Puspa Perwitasari) Before ending his five-year term in 2019, President Joko Jokowi Widodo has reiterated his ambition to push Indonesias oil and gas industry to revive its image and return to its glory following a decline in production and investment in the past few years. Speak... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Stefanno Reinard Sulaiman (The Jakarta Post) Kuala Lumpur Thu, May 3, 2018 14:57 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1c2af6 1 Business Mercedes-Benz,Concept-EQ,launching,Kuala-Lumpur Free German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz has unveiled to the Southeast Asian public on Thursday in Kuala Lumpur its first full-electricity car, Concept EQ. The car, with EQ standing for electric intelligence, offers a comprehensive electric mobility ecosystem of products, services, technologies and innovations. "EQ is derived from the brand values of emotion and intelligence. It encompasses all major aspects of customer-oriented electric mobility and goes beyond the vehicle itself," said Mercedes-Benz Malaysia CEO Claus Weidner. Among its ready-installed features are a 3D real-time map display, floating wide-screen display, organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays and personalized user interface. The cars are equipped with two electric motors on the front and rear axles and a battery in the vehicle floor. It can accelerate to 100 kilometers per hour under five seconds and has a range of up to 500 km. Just like your smartphone, the car is ready both for charging at home by induction or wallbox for fast charging, which to reach 100 percent it only needs one and a half hour, Weidner said. Concept EQ is part of the automakers efforts to lead in the automotive industry amid growing interest and needs for alternative-fuel cars, especially electric cars. Concept EQ was first showcased to the public two years ago at the Paris Motor Show, and has since traveled to more than dozen countries in Europe and also in the United States. After Malaysia, the car will be introduced to Singapore in the coming weeks. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 13:32 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1c043a 1 Business Manpower-Ministry,Indonesian-language,foreign-workers,requirement Free The Manpower Ministry is now preparing a regulation to bring back the requirement for foreign workers to speak Indonesian, an official has said. We will issue a ministerial regulation [on deliberation of the requirement]. It is being discussed and drafted, said Manpower Ministry legal bureau head Budiman in Jakarta on Wednesday as reported by kompas.com. The requirement was previously removed from Manpower Ministerial Regulation No. 16/2015. Budiman said the requirement was previously removed because certain foreign workers, like technicians installing machinery in Indonesian factories, only traveled to the country for several days at a time. Such workers do not need to be able to speak Indonesian because they are in fact employed by owners of the machinery, the official said, adding that if such workers were required to speak Indonesian, it could discourage investment. Budiman said that under the regulation, which is being drafted, the requirement to speak the Indonesian language would only be applied to foreign workers staying in the country for longer periods of time. Under the prepared regulation, only those who stay for six months or longer are required to be able to speak the Indonesian language, Budiman added. Previously, Indonesian Workers Association (Aspek) president Mirah Sumirat criticized the government for removing such a requirement, saying it indiscriminately brought in a flood of foreign workers. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 12:39 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1bac4b 1 Politics WestJava,election,shaman Free A group of shamans in West Java has refuted suggestions that their support for a candidate pair in the religiously conservative province was a form of negative campaign, claiming instead that their endorsement for the pair was sincere. The Deddy Mizwar-Dedi Mulyadi pair, who apparently refused to be associated with the shamans for fear of electoral backlash from Muslim voters, has reported the group to the Election Supervisory Agency for an alleged smear campaign. Go ahead and file a report, they need evidence anyway. I didnt even ask for money from them, said West Java Paranormal Community head Tubagus Zunaedi as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday. I never disparaged or talked about other candidates. I only talked about my support for Deddy Mizwar and Dedi Mulyadi. I know [Dedis] track record as Purwakarta regent, and Deddy Mizwar as West Java [deputy] governor. They are very good, he said. Dedi, a Sundanese who has a natural affinity with the Sundanese culture, has long been accused of being a syncretic Muslim, a politically damaging allegation in a region where Islamic orthodoxy is thriving. During an election debate in March, Dedis opponents questioned his decision to cover trees in Purwakarta with black-and-white fabric, in an apparent attack aimed at questioning his beliefs. The regent played down the allegation, arguing that he covered the trees with fabric to respect and protect the environment. The pair has said that the shamanic group did not coordinate with them before publicly declaring their support and suggested that the move was meant to discredit them. The declaration [of the shamans' support] will lead the public into thinking that Deddy and Dedi are supported by supernatural beings, said the pairs lawyer, Agus Sihombing. According to a 2017 Indobarometer survey, 17 percent of West Java voters said they did not like Dedi because he looked like a shaman. (dpk/ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 09:04 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1b2f1e 1 City Monas,monas-rush,death,police,investigation Free Despite previously denying claims that two children had lost their lives during a social outreach event at the National Monument (Monas), the Jakarta Police announced on Wednesday the establishment of a team to investigate the incident. The joint team, comprising personnel from the Central Jakarta Police and Jakarta Polices general crimes directorate, is set to work on the case, Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Idham Azis said as quoted by kompas.com. Mahesa Junaedi, 12, and Muhamad Rizki Syaputra, a 10-year-old with special needs, were reportedly killed on Saturday during an event that distributed free staple food packages, organized by Forum Untukmu Indonesia. Instead of directly distributing the food, organizers offered vouchers that could be exchanged for 1 kilogram of rice, three instant noodle packages and 1 liter of cooking oil. A separate lunch voucher was to be exchanged for a rice box and bread. Thousands of people showed up and began pushing for their share, causing several women to faint. However, because no medical personnel were in attendance, they were carried to safety by other visitors but received no medical treatment. Early reports from various news outlets said Mahesa and Rizki were crushed to death or died of dehydration and exhaustion. Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono finally confirmed on Monday that the children were among the visitors who had fainted. But their [deaths] may not have been the result of the event, he added. They were rushed to Tarakan Hospital [in Central Jakarta] to receive medical treatment. They were severely dehydrated and had a high temperature. Mahesa reportedly ended up in Monas unplanned with his best friend Akmal. However, due to the overwhelming crowd, the two friends were separated. Upon arriving home, Akmal told Mahesas parents about the large crowds, sending the latters father, Djunaidy, racing to Monas on his motorcycle. He was later informed that a boy had been found unconscious in the parking lot at around 4 p.m. and rushed to Tarakan Hospital. Mahesa was pronounced dead at around 8 p.m. On Wednesday, Rizkis mother Komariah, 49, reported the events organizing committee head, Dave Santosa, to the National Polices Criminal Investigation Department for alleged negligence over her sons death. According to reports by tempo.co, Dave said the forum had met with the victims families and apologized for their loss. They said they considered the matter settled as it was an unfortunate accident, he claimed. Commenting on the incident, Deputy Jakarta Governor Sandiaga Uno said he had met with the events organizers, who expressed their condolences over the childrens deaths. I have also instructed related agencies to demand responsibility from [Forum Untukmu Indonesia], he said on Wednesday. He further explained that he expected the group to indemnify the city for any losses incurred during the event, and to clean up Monas and its facilities. We also want them to apologize for using the Jakarta administration logo [on their banners] and to cooperate with the legal process brought forth by both the police and the victims families, the deputy governor said. The organizers, he claimed, had initially requested a permit to hold a pasar murah (cheap market) event, but he told them that no financial transactions could be made in events at Monas. We also told them not to distribute staple foods, but our instructions fell on deaf ears. Around 350,000 people flocked to Monas for the event, Sandiaga said, causing gridlock in the surrounding area. We need to take note of this [incident] to make sure that it will never happen again, he said. Urban Analyst Yayat Supriatna also lamented the lack of coordination at an event that attracted thousands of people. Ivany Atina Arbi & Callistasia Anggun Wijaya contributed to this story. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Mark Hosenball and Lisa Lambert (Reuters) Washington Thu, May 3, 2018 09:23 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1b38ce 2 World mass-shooting,US,Islamic-State,#IslamicState,#IslamicStateAttack Free A 17-year-old boy in Plano, Texas, has been arrested and charged with plotting a mass shooting inspired by the Islamic State at a shopping mall, law enforcement agencies said on Wednesday. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and police said high-school student Matin Azizi-Yarand had planned the attack for mid-May and had sought to recruit others for the shooting. Authorities also said he had drafted a "Message to America" justifying his planned attack. The FBI and local authorities in Collin County, Texas, said that at the time of his arrest, Azizi-Yarand had sent "more than $1,400 to others" to buy weapons and tactical gear. In an affidavit, investigators said Azizi-Yarand began communicating online with an FBI "confidential human source" last December about his desire to travel abroad or to conduct an attack in the United States. He compared himself to other recent "lone wolf" attackers, investigators said. "Look at all the other lone wolves// What training did they have yet they simply killed the kuffar?" Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source, using the Arabic word for "disbelievers," according to the affidavit. Prosecutors say Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source: "The brothers in Europe the brother in Spain the brother in New York? Had no military training//it's not about numbers it's about getting a message across to these taghut countries," using an Islamic term denoting a focus of worship other than Allah. Later in the discussion, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand told the FBI source he wanted "to put America in the state that Europe is in which is having to have soldiers deployed in streets." In other conversations, investigators say, Azizi-Yarand talked about his interest in traveling to Pakistan and then crossing into Afghanistan where he could join the Islamic State. At another point, he told the FBI source he knew a person in India who had information on jihadi activity in Libya, and who invited Azizi-Yarand to travel there with him. In one conversation, Azizi-Yarand said that he had converted to Islam, in part because of "fighting." "When I first became Muslim fighting was a big part of why I came to this religion," he said. "I saw men facing so many tribulations but remained steadfast and believed in Allah. That's one of the Core things that led me to convert seeing the strength the Muslims had." In numerous online conversations, investigators said, Azizi-Yarand shared multiple forms of Islamic State propaganda. At another point, he sent the FBI source a document authored by one of the 1999 shooters at Columbine High School in Colorado containing detailed instructions for building pipe bombs. The suspect also discussed various possible targets for a domestic U.S. attack, including a school. Later still, Azizi-Yarand discussed with an undercover FBI employee the possibility of attacking a shopping mall during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, and at one point sent the FBI employee three pictures of a mall near Plano called the Stonebriar Centre. While the FBI and a Joint Terrorism Task force conducted the investigation leading to Azizi-Yarand's arrest, so far he has only being charged under Texas state law. Under federal law, the 17-year-old is considered a juvenile, U.S. prosecutors in Texas said. "Federal law limits our ability to certify a juvenile as an adult for prosecution, and in light of that, we determined that state prosecution of the subject will best address the case," U.S. Attorney Joseph Brown said in a statement. Authorities said if that if Azizi-Yarand is convicted, he would face up to life in prison for soliciting others to participate in his planned attack, and up to 10 years in prison for making a terroristic threat. Azizi-Yarand is in custody and bond has been set at $3 million. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, May 3, 2018 19:45 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1d554a 1 City bootleg-liquor,home-industry,North-Jakarta Free The police have raided a house on Jl. Pekojan 1 in West Jakarta and confiscated five tons of ciu (fermented sugarcane liquor). Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said the police raided the premises on April 26 after suspicion arose about activities in the three-story house. The house owner and four employees were detained. The home industry produced alcoholic beverages without a license from the BPOM [Food and Drug Monitoring Agency]. We caught the owner and the employees in the act, Argo said on Thursday as reported by kompas.com. Argo said the owner admitted to running the illicit distillery for two years. Each floor of the house was reportedly used for the production and storage of the liquor. The liquor was put in bottles of a well-known beverage brand to avoid suspicion, Argo said He said the home industry made Rp 118 million (US$8,442.9) in revenue and distributed the liquor it produced to several resellers in Jakarta. The police confiscated 22,000 liters of ciu fermentation mix, 133 boxes with 3,325 bottles of ciu, several production tools and empty bottles. The suspects admitted to producing the liquor for two years. They used the boxes of a well-known beverage brand to avoid suspicion. The suspects have been charged under laws on food and beverages, Argo said. (ami) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Toluse Olorunnipa and Terrence Dopp (Bloomberg) Washington, United States Thu, May 3, 2018 19:43 1252 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1d4b1f 2 World #USA,#trump,#DonaldTrump,#Donald-Trump,#StormyDaniels Free President Donald Trump changed his story regarding US$130,000 in hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 campaign, saying Thursday he reimbursed lawyer Michael Cohen and denying the arrangement was improper. "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA," Trump said in a Twitter posting. That type of arrangement is "very common among celebrities and people of wealth, he said in a subsequent message. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair," Trump continued. The presidents tweets confirmed statements made by his new lead attorney, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, in a Fox News interview Wednesday night that contradicted Trumps previous denials of knowledge of the payments. Giuliani also asserted that payments were not made by Trumps presidential campaign and therefore didnt violate campaign finance laws. Funneled it through the law firm, and then the president repaid it, Giuliani said during an interview with Foxs Sean Hannity. On Thursday, Giuliani made the rounds of other Fox programs, telling Fox & Friends hosts that Trump didnt know the details of this until we did." Cohen didnt even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job," he said. Cohen, Trumps personal attorney, is in the midst of a legal firestorm over the payment to Daniels, which was made in exchange for Daniels silence about an alleged affair with Trump. Giuliani provided the most definitive link yet between the president and Daniels, a $130,000 payment that the White House -- and Cohen -- have tried to distance from Trump. Daniels attorney, Michael Avenatti, said Thursday on MSNBC that if the payment to his client was structured as a retainer for work that didnt occur, it may still violate laws. He said Trumps tweets appeared to have been written by a lawyer who is a "moron." "Our case just got exponentially better in the last 24 hours," Avenatti said. These folks make the Watergate burglars seem competent." Giulianis comments about the payment -- which he brought up unprompted -- capped a tumultuous day for Trumps legal team. Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer handling the investigation into possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia, is being replaced by Emmet Flood, a veteran Washington attorney who was part of the team representing former President Bill Clinton during his impeachment proceedings. Giuliani, a former US attorney, later told the New York Times that Cohen had made the payment to Daniels "on his own authority." On Thursday, Giuliani called on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to step in and end Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe. He said the raid on Cohens office and home and publication by the New York Times of a list of possible questions Muellers team wants to ask Trump -- a list said to be compiled by Trumps legal team -- lessened the chances that Trump would voluntarily agree to be interviewed for the probe. "Theyre going to have to convince us," Giuliani said of the chances of the interview and his concerns over objectivity. "Its not as good as was when I first came in." The change of approach toward Muellers investigation drew more attention to the lack of message discipline that has plagued Trumps legal team and the White House. Cohen and Trump have said the payment was made without Trumps knowledge and Cohen has insisted he used his own money to pay Daniels in the weeks before the 2016 election. That has stirred accusations that Cohens payment to the porn actress amounted to an illegal campaign contribution. Giulianis statement indicates that Trump was aware of the payment and reimbursed Cohen for it. It is unclear when or how the reimbursement took place. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When I heard Cohens retainer of $35,000, when he was doing no work for the president, I said Thats how hes repaying, with a little profit and a little margin for paying taxes for Michael, Giuliani said. Asked last month whether he knew about the payment to Daniels, Trump said No. Asked if he knew where Cohen got the money for the payment, the president said he didnt. No, I dont know, Trump told reporters. Cohen has said he paid Daniels out of his own pocket and wasnt reimbursed by the Trump Organization, the presidents company, or by the Trump campaign. He hasnt said whether Trump personally reimbursed him. Asked several times about the payment in recent months, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders has repeatedly declined to comment, saying that Trump had addressed the issue extensively. The president has addressed these directly and made very well clear that none of these allegations are true, Sanders said in March when asked if Trump had approved of the payment. On Wednesday, Giuliani said Trump was aware of the payment arrangement and that it did not constitute a campaign finance violation. He didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know, he said. But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this. That money was not campaign money, sorry," Giuliani added. Cohen, a former Trump Organization Inc. executive, has been Trumps personal lawyer and has claimed to be a loyal fixer for his longtime boss. Since the payment became known, Daniels has filed a lawsuit saying that the non-disclosure agreement wasnt valid because Trump never signed it. Cohen won a temporary halt of that lawsuit while he faces a criminal investigation. Cohen said he would assert his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in the lawsuit after the FBI raided and searched his residence, office and hotel room in New York last month. Federal investigators are looking into Cohens business dealings, including the $130,000 payment. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Bambang Muryanto (The Jakarta Post) Yogyakarta Thu, May 3 2018 Emmanuel Gobay, a public lawyer with the Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), and a few other lawyers claimed to have been harassed by dozens of local police officers while advocating for students arrested during May Day rallies. Four students have been named suspects for different charges. The case began when several public lawyers came to the Yogyakarta Police headquarters to provide legal assistance to local university students. The students had been arrested by the police due to their alleged involvement in May Day rallies, which turned into riots, at the Sunan Kalijaga State Islamic University intersection on Tuesday. Dozens of university students representing different student groups held rallies during May Day, demanding the removal of feudalism in Yogyakarta, the only province in Indonesia ruled by a sultan. They also demanded that the construction of t... TheJakartaPost Please Update your browser Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below. Just click on the icons to get to the download page. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Indonesia Fri, May 4 2018 The Rohingya refugee crisis is to be the main focus of an upcoming conference of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states in Bangladesh over the weekend, an Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman announced on Thursday. Top diplomats from Islamic and Muslim-majority countries are to convene for the 45th OIC ministers conference from Friday to Sunday in Bangladesh, where more than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have sought refuge from violence in Myanmars Rakhine state since August. Indonesia is to field Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir at the conference, spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir told a press briefing in Jakarta. There will be a meeting that highlights the humanitarian challenges faced by OIC member states, including the impact of the Rohingya [exodus], he said. Jakarta has distanced itself from characterizing the issue as a Rohingya... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Washington Fri, May 4, 2018 05:21 1251 a7124a1e87885b91d244660f9e1e3baa 2 Business trump,protectionism,US,economy,trade-war Free More than 1,100 US economists signed a letter sent to President Donald Trump and to Congress on Thursday urging them to avoid repeating the mistakes that worsened the Depression in the 1930s. The economic advisors to two Republican and two Democratic presidents and 15 Nobel laureates were among those urging the administration to fend off "a host of new protectionist activity, including threats to withdraw from trade agreements, misguided calls for new tariffs in response to trade imbalances, and the imposition of tariffs." The letter, from the National Taxpayers Union, which advocates for tax reform and government spending cuts, was sent on the anniversary of a similar missive sent to Congress on May 3, 1930. That letter also featured more than 1,000 economists urging legislators to reject the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, a trade measure widely blamed for deepening and prolonging the global economic crisis. "Congress did not take economists' advice in 1930 and Americans across the country paid the price," the NTU said. "The undersigned economists and teachers of economics strongly urge you not to repeat that mistake." The petition comes as a high level delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross are in Beijing negotiating a solution to the trade dispute sparked when Trump imposed steep tariffs on aluminum and steel, and on $50 billion in Chinese goods.The Trump administration accuses China of rampant theft of US intellectual property and is demanding changes to their investment and patent protection policies, and is also reportedly considering cutting off access of Chinese high-tech companies to US products. The White House also has riled the European Union which has only been given a temporary exemption from the steel and aluminum tariffs, which are now set to take effect on June 1. The NTU letter quotes from the 1930 missive, which warned that tariffs would hurt consumers through price increases, and farmers through loss of markets for their goods. "Such action would inevitably provoke other countries to pay us back in kind by levying retaliatory duties against our goods," the letter said, adding that the policies would sow bitterness. "A tariff war does not furnish good soil for the growth of world peace." The signatories include economists who advised former presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush as well as former Federal Reserve vice chair Alan Blinder, and 2001 Nobel Prize winner George Akerlof, husband of former Fed chair Janet Yellen. NTU's Free Trade Initiative director Bryan Riley said, "very few policy areas generate as much consensus among professional economists like free trade does. Protectionism is flat-earther economics." Malaysia is in the middle of intense campaigning for an election that pits Prime Minister Najib Razak against 92-year-old former premier Mahathir. Najib's government passed a law in April that criminalises "fake news", making it one of the first countries to do so. Critics have said the law is aimed at curbing dissent and free speech ahead of Malaysia's May 9 election. Mahathir, the opposition's prime ministerial candidate, said last week that he suspected sabotage of a private plane that was to fly him from Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi, where he was to file his candidacy, after the pilot discovered some damage to the aircraft just before take-off. The government ordered an investigation, following which the Civil Aviation Authority said the inquiry found no indication of sabotage. Its chairman had said it was wrong to make such "wild and false" claims for political gain. Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim told Reuters on Wednesday that officers were investigating Mahathir after receiving a complaint. "We have opened an inquiry based on a police report made against Mahathir," Mazlan said. A spokesman for Mahathir did not immediately respond to request for comment. Under the anti-fake news law, offenders could be fined up to 500,000 ringgit ($127,000) and face a maximum of six years in jail. Just this week, a Danish citizen was convicted for inaccurate criticism of police on social media, the first person to be prosecuted under the new law. Najib is expected to win the election despite public anger over rising costs and a financial scandal at a state fund. A survey by independent pollster Merdeka Center predicted that Mahathir's opposition bloc is likely to win the popular vote, but Najib is expected to retain power through a parliamentary majority. Under Malaysia's first-past-the-post system, the party that gets the most seats in parliament wins even if it does not win the popular vote. Critics say the odds have been stacked in the government's favour because of gerrymandering through electoral boundary changes made by the Election Commission in March. The Election Commission and the government have said the move was free from political interference. ($1 = 3.9330 ringgit) Posted Wednesday, May 2, 2018 11:00 pm The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office seized a credit card skimmer on Saturday, April 28, used by theives to steal credit card information from a gas pump in Raymond. The internal skimmer was on a gas pump at Raymond Shell. Skimmers are credit card readers installed either on the outside of a gas pump orin this caseinside the pump and used by thieves to collect credit and debit card numbers and PINs. According to Undersheriff Rick Robbins of the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, the skimmer was seized and sent to the Illinois State Police crime lab for analyzing. So far, authorities do not know when the skimmer was installed. Those who have been to the Shell station in the past few months should check financial records to ensure no information has been stolen. "In the future, we all should either pay inside all gas stations and stores, or be conscious of bank and credit card accounts," Robbins said. "If you locate any misuse of your credit or debit cards, contact the financial institution as soon as possible." Posted Wednesday, May 2, 2018 11:00 pm Artwork by two members of the Montgomery County Art Guild, Nita Markos of Hillsboro and Diane Singler of Irving, has been accepted in the Sacred and Liturgical Art Exhibit in Springfield at the Springfield Art Association. Markos' work is a fiber art entry, "Then There was Light," and Singler's is an acrylic painting entitled "Spiritual Fire." The special display will run now through May 26, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday at the Springfield Art Association, 700 N. 4th Street. The Montgomery County Art Guild will next meet on Thursday, May 3, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hillsboro. Plans will be made for a summer art exhibit at the Hillsboro Public Library. Members and guests should bring their own art and supplies. Art knowledge and supplies will be shared while creating artworks. Weather permitting, the meeting may continue outside at Lincoln Plaza. For more information, contact Diane Singler at dsingler@consolidated.net or call 217-594-2820. May 03 2018 4:45 pm Agudath Israel of America, in testimony before the New York State Assembly Health Committee today, expressed strong opposition to a bill that would allow doctors to prescribe medication for terminally ill patients that would kill them. The bill, Assembly Bill 2383-A, the Medical Aid in Dying Act, would make suicide legal. The Agudah testimony was presented by Mordechai Biser, Special Counsel to Agudath Israel of America and General Counsel to Chayim Aruchim, a division of Agudath Israel of America that assists patients and their families and advocates for patients rights. The testimony stated that in Jewish tradition, all human life is sacred, and laws that undermine the sanctity of human life send a message that is profoundly dangerous for all of society. Rabbi Biser explained that suicide is strictly forbidden under Jewish law, and that the historical disapprobation of suicide has been one of the pillars of civilized societies throughout the generations. He went on to state that another principle of Jewish law and ethics is that a doctors role is to provide healing, not to hasten death. Agudath Israel views with considerable alarm the transformation of the physicians calling envisioned by the bill in question, which would enable doctors to provide suicide medication to patients. The testimony also cited the potential abuses of legalizing suicide. The New York State Task Force on Life and the Law, in opposing physician-assisted suicide, noted the following concerns: the pressures patients would feel, from their doctors and their families, to opt for suicide; the inherent inequalities of our health care delivery systems which tend to discriminate against the poor, the handicapped and the elderly; the psychological vulnerability of the severely ill; the risk of misdiagnoses of the patients condition; the likelihood in many cases that adequate treatment of pain and depression would dissuade the patient from seeking death. Agudath Israel concurred with the Task Forces observation that as a society, we have better ways to give people greater control and relief from suffering than by making it easier for patients to commit suicide or to obtain a lethal injection. The testimony concluded by urging the Health Committee to defeat the legislation, stating that legalizing suicide would be a rapid descent into a moral abyss where the millennia-old rejection of suicide is being cast aside in the name of humanitarian progress. When most of us think about the Army, we associate it with uniformed soldiers at employment fairs, or Prince Harry in a uniform. The reality is a bit more complex than that, and in fact, the Adjutant Generals Corps Staff and Personnel Support Branch (SPS) can offer a potential career path for more people than we would normally assume. There are so many different parts of the Army that you really think of it as a normal company, Rhianon Graham from the SPS says. We are a massive organisation that needs all the similar elements that a civilian company would have. Just like any other company, the Army needs its human resources, accounting and finance and administration capability, which is the function of the SPS. The infantry is only about 20% of the whole body of the Army. The SPS, in which Rhianon works as a recruitment officer, is the largest part of the Adjutant General's Corps, the administrative branch of the Army. Before this role she started out as a Detachment Commander, from which she had a number of options of where to take her career next. However, she hadnt always thought about working in the Army. Before going to university, Rhianon had always been quite active, in particular as part of the Explorer Scouts, and doing challenges like the Duke of Edinburgh Award. After graduating from Reading with a biomedical science degree she went into recruitment, where she felt she would be better off. I realised that I quite like working with other people rather than in a solitary environment, like a lab where you won't get to chat with people very much, she remembers. Her work got her in touch with many different industries, but she soon decided that human resources was what she wanted to do - she wanted to retain that bond with the candidate and work with them within an organisation, rather than being the middle man. I just googled HR Manager, and the Army came up in the results. At the time it was not even something I considered the Army to have in my mind it was all infantry and armoured vehicles. Nevertheless, while she applied for the SPS officer role, she still had to go through the same training, at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, as all army officers. The course is one of the most rigorous in the world, but by the end of it she was proud to say shed done a lot of things she wouldnt have been strong enough to do otherwise. Besides a good training programme, working at the Army has its own other quirks, like travelling all over the world and trying out new activities. After her initial training, she enrolled in a skydiving course - which was a very challenging yet rewarding experience as she was afraid of heights. Since commissioning she has become the Army Ladies Champion in Skeleton Bobsleigh. At the end of her second term, she attended a skydiving course in California at a greatly reduced price, which she wouldnt otherwise have been able to afford. The training had its difficulties too, one of the most challenging things she had to do is riot control: I don't know if it's a female thing or because I hadnt done any sort of defence training, but I am a little bit scared of being overpowered. I've never been in a fight in my life, I'm not an aggressive person and I've always avoided confrontation. Riot control to me was quite scary because even though I knew it was a scenario, it felt very real at the time because people are pushing and shoving you. However, it showed I could hold it together in that time and thats what is important." But the best lesson Rhianon got was when she was put in positions of leadership, which gave her the confidence to stand up in front of people who she didnt know and deliver a plan: It was the idea of being able to plan something in short notice, when Im extremely tired, and still deliver results and then have the trust of those people to go through with it. Now I can deliver a presentation at short notice - I can be given five minutes to research the topic and I can do it without stumbling and looking like I have no idea what I'm talking about. Because of the way the Army HR works, Rhianon manages the administration of units, switching every two years, which lets her meet and work with a lot of different officers and soldiers: Its a case of having branch pride, and trying to be the best you can be to represent the Staff Personnel Support branch," she says. You're going to be somewhere for two years so it's also about making sure that, even though you know you're going to move on, you leave your team in a really great place. Thats what makes the SPS stand out from the rest of the Army for Rhianon: the variety that comes with meeting and administering different units. The British Army has units all over the world, which need administering, so there are a lot of options to get posted abroad, to locations including Cyprus and Brunei. For anyone who might entertain the idea of joining the Army, Rhianon suggests not taking it at face value: There are so many different parts of the army; theres a place for everyone. "So even if you're doing something like engineering, you can be an engineer in the Army - although I would rather you came to the SPS! The Army also offers undergraduate bursaries and sponsorship for those still at uni there are150 awards where you can get 6,000 per year as well as a good benefits package, with free medical and dental care and six weeks paid holiday. Carnival time in Venice is renowned for dazzling parades, outre costumes and colourful masks. This year, however, only 11,000 lucky visitors joined the celebrations as the mayor, Luigi Brugnano, has finally introduced a cap on tourist numbers. With 20,000 fewer visitors than last year, the city is now breathing again. When in Venice, many tend to leave good manners at home. Remember when Venices former mayor, Massimo Cacciari, caught a Portuguese tourist urinating in one of the citys Byzantine canals? Other misdemeanours have included defacing historical palaces, sunbathing naked on the canals banks and picnicking in forbidden areas. Venice doesnt belong to Venetians anymore. The famously sky-high tourist prices for gondola trips and food have impoverished locals as well. Living in Canal Grande is now a matter of survival. Of the former 175,000, only 55,000 residents can still afford to live in the citys historic centre, and the numbers rapidly dwindling. Introducing a cap on tourist numbers is thus a matter of dignity, as well as the only reasonable measure to make Venice accessible again for both tourists and locals. A fair, equal system of online booking will give everyone the same opportunity to visit the city. With no entry ticket required, theres no risk of millionaires taking the floating city hostage. Indeed, this measure will also challenge the monopoly of huge cruise ships that are mainly responsible for the lagoons water pollution. Of course, a cap wont educate undisciplined vacationers into showing respect. Neither will it prevent Venice from sinking in a hundred years: tidal movements in the Adriatic Sea, polar ice caps melting, and climate change are responsible for that. Itll just make clear that Venice is a gem to preserve at all costs. So stop considering it an all-you-can-eat, when its clearly more of a Michelin-star restaurant. Unfortunately, The Content Is Not Here You have arrived at this page because the page or post you were looking for no longer exists. Please check our main navigation pages for other content: Home Page Southern Pines, NC (28387) Today Partly cloudy this morning, then becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 84F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy remains as work on Biden's mandate continues Some employees would rather quit than be forced to be vaccinated for COVID-19. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Ally Fisher of Foxboro is seen with her co-worker, Emeline Ntsengue Embolo. Michael Tougias will be talking about his new book Above & Beyond Wednesday, May 9, at the Norfolk Council on Aging and Thursday, May 24, at the Millis Library. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The Government ofUganda receives funding from the United Nations Office for Project Services(UNPOS) of the Water Supply and sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) tosupport the Uganda Sanitation Fund (USF) programme. The USF overall objectiveis to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality rates throughimproved sanitation and hygiene Facilities, stopping open defecation andpromoting handwashing with soap. The project is being implemented in 40districts and it is managed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) as the ExecutingAgency and implemented by the District Local Governments as the Sub Grantees. Uganda ChristianUniversity was founded when the historic Bishop Tucker Theological College waspromoted as a university in 1997. Bishop Tucker Theological College trainedclergy and educators during its 84-year history from 1913-1997. The localchief, Hamu Mukasa, granted land for the college to operate in Mukono.International partnerships were part of the Colleges missionary history. TheChurch Mission Society teamed with Ugandan leaders and others to assure theCollege had the necessary intellectual and other capital. By the late 1990s,the Church of Uganda sought to have a broader impact on society through thehigher education not only of clergy but of other professionals as well.Uganda Christian University was established in 1997. The British AmericanTobacco is the only International tobacco group with a significant interest intobacco leaf growing which works with thousands of farmers internationally. BATruns leaf programmes providing direct agronomy support to farmer from aspectsof crop production and environmental best practice. British American Tobacco isa market leading, global organisation with a long, established history and abright and dynamic future. Thanks to our people we have continued to delivergrowth and exceed expectations in an increasingly complex and challengingmarketplace. The Vision Groupincorporated as the New Vision Printing & Publishing Company Limited (NVPPCL),started business in March 1986. It is a multimedia business housing newspaper,magazines, internet publishing, television, radio broadcasting, commercialprinting, advertising and distribution services. NVPPCL is listed on the UgandaStock Exchange, with an expected turnover of over UGX 60 billion (FY2010/2011). China on Wednesday called for an international agreement on Irans nuclear program to be upheld following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus latest accusations about Irans past nuclear activities. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said China noted that the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency has certified on 10 separate occasions that Iran is honoring the agreement and that strict inspection measures are in place to ensure compliance. What is pressing now, is that all relevant parties should bear in mind the large picture and long-term interest, and faithfully implement and uphold the agreement, Hua told reporters at a regularly scheduled news conference. China, one of five veto-wielding permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, helped conclude the 2015 agreement that lifted some economic sanctions on Iran in return for it accepting international monitoring to ensure it wasnt developing a nuclear bomb. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the U.S. will discuss Israels purported evidence with the other parties ahead of a decision by President Donald Trump on whether to abandon the deal. Hua said it is urgent that all relevant parties should bear in mind the large picture and long-term interest, and faithfully implement and uphold the agreement. (AP) The new tactic of sending kites carrying firebombs over the Gaza-Israel border fence to start large fires in Israel seems to be working. On Wednesday, just before the Jewish holiday of Lag BaOmer, one such fire kite landed in Israel and set the Beeri forest on fire. Due to the strong winds and dry weather that Israel experienced over the course of Tuesday and Wednesday, the firebomb easily caused a large conflagration in the forest and firefighters from the entire region were called in to help stop the blaze. The fire burned dozens of acres of forest before firefighters were able to contain it. The so-called fire kites have been a weapon of choice for Gaza insurgents since the protests t the fence began on March 30th, erev Pesach. Hamas has been calling the protests the Protest of Return and claim that the protest will see the return of all Palestinian refugees to Israel. thus far, the fire set on Wednesday was the largest blaze set by a fire kite to date. So far, some 86 acres of farmlands and forested areas have been burned by these fire kites and the damage has totaled more than $50,000 according to a recent report in the Jerusalem Post. Head of the Eshkol Regional Council Gadi Yarkoni, demanded that the national government and defense department find a solution to the issue. The issue of [incendiary] kites has preoccupied us very much in recent days and requires an answer, he said in Yediot Ahronot. There is damage to the wheat and barley fields [in the area]. The security personnel and the farmers in the settlements are working overtime to extinguish the fires and not to let them spread and cause more damage. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) An innovative new team of fraud fighters created by Lloyds Banking Group in Leeds has already frozen 1million from fraudsters trying to trick people into receiving and transferring cash, This is Money can reveal. Dubbed the 'money mule hunting squad' it was formed earlier in the year in an attempt to stop the movement of money snatched by scammers and shut down their ability to shift ill-gotten cash. The pilot scheme has been such a success that the bank plans to share its secrets with its rivals, Paul Davis, retail fraud director, told us in a recent meeting in the City. Whack-a-mule: Lloyds says that the problem of money mules has grown vastly - and set up a crack team to deal with it earlier in the year yielding impressive results The team of ten has developed a number of new techniques to rapidly analyse data, spotting tell-tale signs, patterns and behaviour to halt fraudsters - although Lloyds doesn't want to reveal the full tactics for security reasons. In just four months, it has stopped 1million. For all of the frozen funds, Lloyds says it is contacting the sending banks in order to help them get the money back to victims. Details of the crack team were revealed after This is Money grilled the fraud director on what the bank is doing to help stop financial fraud. Last year, 236million was lost to scams, according to UK Finance. Money mules are a rapidly growing part of the fraud landscape. Being a money mule - where individuals allow their bank account to be used to facilitate the movement of illegal funds is a form of money laundering and comes with strict penalties. There was a 27 per cent rise in 14 to 24-year-olds becoming money mules last year, as gangs target secondary school and university students with the lure of 'easy cash' largely via social media. In response, last month Cifas and the PSHE Association launched four anti-fraud education lesson plans to raise awareness of this danger in secondary schools. Paul Davis, retail fraud director at Lloyds Banking Group, said: 'Helping keep our customers' money safe is our priority. 'Our mule-hunting team was formed as a collaboration between our fraud, anti-money laundering, IT and innovation teams to create new ways that we can use the data, technology and expertise in our fraud-fighting armoury to explore, develop and test new cutting-edge tactics. 'We've been successful because we haven't just been looking out for large credits arriving into accounts and blocking this money. 'It's much more complicated than techniques focused solely on amounts that often relate to genuine purposes such as buying a house or paying for medical costs, car, weddings or holidays. 'Fighting financial fraud is a concerted effort between the banks, the police and all of us. 'The more we all know about how to spot it, the more people we will save from being victims. We are sharing our findings as part of this project with other banks in order to share expertise.' The initiative, Paul says, is part of a multi-million pound investment in advancing Lloyds' defences over the next three years. Lloyds Bank: This is Money met up with head of retail fraud Paul Davis How are accounts accessed and used? MONEY MULE? Have you, or someone you know, been approached to be a money mule or perhaps were tricked into doing it? Get in touch, anonymously: lee.boyce@thisismoney.co.uk One of the big questions around fraud is where stolen money ends up - and how fraudsters manage to open a current account to move cash in the first place. Paul says only around one in 50 cases are mule accounts opened with fake ID. They are most often either unused accounts previously belonging to genuine holders who sell them on to criminals, or existing accounts held by criminals to be used to receive the proceeds of scams. The offer of quick cash is being used by criminals most commonly on social media to recruit money mules, Lloyds says. It points to data from last year that shows 8,652 18-24 year-olds were already lured into working with fraudsters between January and September. Scams: The first scam, on Instagram and second, on Facebook, were investigated by Lloyds and found to be attempts to lure people into becoming money mules When someone acts as a 'money mule', their bank account is used to receive criminal cash. Young people need to be aware of fraudsters using fake job ads, targeted emails and social media ads promising cash in exchange for making bank transfers or withdrawing and depositing money. If caught moving fraudulent funds, unsuspecting mules will be left with no bank account, a damaged credit score and the inability to apply for a mortgage, loan or even a phone contract in the future. They could also face up to 14 years in prison although, as Paul points out, it tends to be gang leaders who are the ones who face custodial sentences. Advertisement Fast Ford fans - this is a car that will set your pulses racing. But it also might make you shudder when you see the estimated selling fee. The motor that's up for grabs is the hugely collectible Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500, of which just 499 were ever built. And this example, registered in 1987, is more special than arguably any other. That's because it's chassis number 001. The original. The one that set the tone for one of the most desirable performance cars of the 1980s. For that reason alone, experts predict it will set a new record as the most expensive Sierra Cossie ever sold with a predicted price that could surpass 120,000. Fast Ford heaven: This car has been described as the 'Holy Grail' of all fast Fords - it's chassis number 001, the first ever example of the hugely desirable Sierra Cosworth RS500 The Sierra Cosworth RS500 is fondly remember as the hottest of all fast Fords. In recent years the demand for them has sky-rocketed, with auction figures reaching astronomical heights as the fight for the ones that have avoided the scrapheap has intensified. The record currently sits at 114,750 (excluding auction fees) for an example that changed hands last year - but Silverstone Auctions reckons this one will obliterate that figure. That's because it's the first of the limited run of 499 Sierra Cosworth RS500s to come off the specialist production line at the factory in Tickford. It's also covered just 42,379 miles, which is an average of just 1,367 miles a year since it was built by Ford. It will be offered to the highest bidder on 19 May at a sale held at Silverstone circuit. Chassis 001 has been rubber-stamped as the original Sierra Cosworth RS500 by Paul Linfoot, an expert in models with the blue oval badge who gave the thumbs up to its authenticity. It will be sold by Silverstone Auctions on 19 May for a what is expected to be a world record fee for Sierra. It will need to eclipse the 114,750 paid for one last year The car is the first of 4 pre-production models made to test the high-performance engine and components that were to be fitted to a limited run of 500 examples - that means it was driven hard by Ford's testers Inside everything is original and will transport many car fans back to the glory days of the raving 1980s Linfoot confirmed that it's the first of four pre-production models and described it as the 'Holy Grail' of all Fast Fords. That might explain why the estimate figure is so high - predicted to reach between 90,000 to 120,000 by the auction house. That's no small sum for a 1980s family hatchback and is six times its original asking price of 20,000 three decades ago. The simple fact that it is car number one will almost certainly see it eclipse all prices paid for one of the '80s icons until now, said Nick Whale, managing director of Silverstone Auctions. 'It's chassis number one, the first Sierra Cosworth RS500 ever built,' he commented. 'This car is truly a one-off, and for any serious Ford collector, this must be the car to have - the one that started it all.' The plaque in the centre console of the car confirms that it is chassis 001. A Ford specialist was also brought in to confirm the authenticity of the vehicle If this Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 sells for 120,000 or more it will be 6 times the 19,950 asking price for one when it was new in 1987 Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500: What is it? The Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 uses a specially-built 2.0-litre turbocharged Cosworth engine producing 224bhp - which could be upped to 400bhp when modified for competition. The car maker needed to produce at least 500 examples for road and race use in order to qualify to run in Touring Car series' and other championships that used road-going models. These cars featured numerous aerodynamic enhancements that have since become a thing of legend among collectors. That includes the 30mm lip spoiler applied to the tailgate to increase downforce, sweeping front splitter, and larger cooling ducts for both the brakes and the engine intercooler. The cars were exclusively available through 90 nominated RS specialist dealers and went on sale in Britain on August 1st, 1987 at a price of 19,950. Linfoot, who inspected the car before the sale, said this car is like no other because chassis number one was the original test vehicle, driven by Ford to understand all aspects of the special components it had fitted before the final sign-off could be agreed. That means it had a fairly hard life in its early days. This car is truly a one-off, and for any serious Ford collector, this must be the car to have - the one that started it all Nick Whale, Silverstone Auctions managing director As with most prototypes, it was driven to the limit by the test team, and as a consequence had to be 're-shelled' by Ford. That didn't stop them selling their test car to a customer, though, with it being handed to its first owner in March 1987. In the next 20 years it had no less than five more custodians in the UK before being exported to Norway in October 2007. That's where it stayed for the next decade until February of this year when it was purchased by the current owner. Despite being ragged by Ford's testing department and changing hands no less than seven times in its lifetime, the unique RS500 parts are all still present and correct. That includes the original front bumper, low-slung front splitters and those special rear spoilers. The RS500 pinstripe and commemorative 500 badges - which are always looked for by collectors - are also present. The car has had 8 owners in total. It spent a decade in Norway before being tracked down and bought by a collectible-car hunter in February this year It remains in glorious condition with all the original parts - bar the exhaust and dashboard top - in place The Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 uses a specially-built 2.0-litre turbocharged Cosworth engine producing 224bhp - which could be upped to 400bhp when modified for competition The only aspects of the car that have been replaced are the top section of the dashboard and the exhaust, the latter of which has made way for a high-performance stainless steel Magnex system. Nick Whale said the chances of it setting a new record are very strong, especially as it's the first time he can recall a pre-production prototype being offered on the market since Fast Fords became popular among the most passionate car collectors as the '80s car to have in their garage. 'Recently we have seen a growing interest in fast Fords, and the prices have risen to record-busting levels,' he added. 'I can't recall there ever being a Ford prototype coming to auction, and I can't see this happening again. 'This is a very special and rare RS500 that presents very well and is a car that can be driven, enjoyed and is a great addition to any collection.' The ratio of rear-wing-to-car dimensions has made the Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 one of the iconic cars of the 1980s The cars were exclusively available through 90 nominated RS specialist dealers and went on sale in Britain on August 1st, 1987 Nick Whale from Silverstone Auctions said prices for Fast Fords 'have risen to record-busting levels' in recent years - and this one could top them all The unqiue Ford Sierra Cosworth RS500 will be sold with a comprehensive history file which includes a number of old MOTs, some early tax discs and the usual registration and ownership information, as well as the report by Paul Linfoot. It's not without a blemish on its record, though. Silverstone Auctions said it appears to have suffered accident damage in 1988. However, the alert on the Condition Register was subsequently removed. Something you might want to think about before raising your paddle in a few days. You can take a closer look at chassis 001 by checking out the lot list for Silverstone Auctions' upcoming sale. It also includes Sierra Cosworth RS500 chassis 451, which has just 12,000 miles on the clock and is estimated to sell for between 90,000 and 105,000. A less potent - and therefore more affordable - Sierra RS Cosworth is also up for grabs with even fewer miles tallied up. It has covered a mere 3,578 miles since it was first registered in 1987 and is predicted to achieve between 40,000 and 45,000. Here is a game everyone across the nation can play. Where is the nearest Sainsburys and Asda, and what is the travel time between them? In Birmingham it is reckoned there are six Midlands supermarkets in danger because of proximity. In south-west London, where I live, by zipping through Richmond Park you could render at least one superstore irrelevant. Across the country the worst-case scenario suggests as many as 100 shops will have to be sold or closed. So much for flimsy pledges of no store job losses from the 15billion merger. The biggest challenges are in the supply chain. Groceries ombudsman Christine Tacon says her goal would be to bring Asda up to Sainsburys standard. A Sainsbury-Asda tie up would mean that together it and Tesco would have up to 65pc of the market How that will contribute to the promised 10 per cent cut in everyday prices is not clear. I must confess to not being much of an expert on pork. But Pig World reports that Sainsburys scores 100 per cent for the quality of its pork and sources 65 per cent of its pig products in Britain. Asda is described as rock bottom among ten retailers surveyed. Thank goodness then that MPs are lifting their eyes from the esoterica of the Customs Unions and thinking about shopping baskets. The chairs of the business and environment select committees are pressing the Competition & Markets Authority to look at the impact of the deal on the supply chain as well as the consumer. A Sainsburys-Asda tie-up would mean that together it and Tesco would have up to 65pc of the market. A basket of prices might be reduced but the ability of behemoths to dictate price and choice would be strong. The City loves a good takeover. The bigger, the better, the more handsome the fees and the more opportunities for executives to lock themselves into lavish bonuses and long-term incentives. But it is the consumers, suppliers and workforce who will end up bearing the costs. Musk speak Elon Musks earnings update from Tesla was a classic. He turned on stock analysts, calling them boring and bone-headed for firing off micro questions about performance. Anyone who has ever listened in to a results conference call will be familiar with jargon syndrome. At one of a handful of times a year when access to the chief executive is granted, instead of testing strategic vision analysts feel the need to immerse themselves in the technical minutiae. If there is a quirk in earnings, cash flow or production schedules this could just as easily be explored with the finance director or investor relations team afterwards. Admittedly at Tesla, as in the early days of Amazon, the big numbers look scary. Cash has been flowing out at an alarming rate, with 740million disappearing in the first quarter, almost four times the amount in the previous period. To give credit where it is due, Musk has recognised that extreme automation of the kind he has pioneered in both lithium battery production and on the motor assembly lines has not provided consistency. So he is reintroducing traditional human engineering skills and the changeover is costly. Where the Amazon and Tesla stories are parallel is that the entrepreneurial giants in charge prioritise investment and innovation above all else. Analysts who bang on about quarterly earnings per share, cash burn and caps dont get it. Amazon was mocked for huge investment in the cloud for storing data, now it is the worlds major supplier of capacity. Teslas stock may be overpriced and the 1.5billion post-results hit to shares demonstrates the downside of honesty. But Tesla is changing the face of motor manufacturing. It is streets ahead of highly engineered German producers and the American mass market. No wonder the dry questions, to quote Musk, are killing me. Resisting Elliott What mischief Elliott Management are up to at Smith & Nephew one hates to think. Sure, S&N recently has been an underperformer, failing to meet sales and profit margin targets. But along with Glaxo, AstraZeneca et al it is a vital part of Britains world-class life sciences industry, which must be nurtured. Newly installed Sri Lankan-born chief executive Namal Nawana, with a muscular grounding in the US market for artificial limbs and dressings, looks to be the right person for the job. He must enlist the support of long-term investors, such as Blackrock and Invesco, to resist Elliott destabilisation. So you've booked your summer holiday and are thinking about travel insurance. But how do you make sure you are covered for everything you need and that you understand your policy document? Policy schedules, which often run to 50 pages or more, are riddled with complexities and it can be difficult to spot where you are not covered. Each year thousands of Brits travel abroad uninsured and you can have some sympathy when buying a comprehensive policy can be such a minefield. According to a poll conducted on behalf of CompareCover, 37 per cent of participants confessed to only sometimes purchasing travel insurance while 14 per cent admitted they never buy it. Rashpal Sidhu and Gurvinder Aujla-Sidhu travelled to Berlin to celebrate their 40th birthdays One big area of confusion is cancellation clauses, which on standard travel insurance may only cover the policyholder if they cancel the holiday and not if their flights are cancelled by the airline. Your travel insurer has no obligation if your flight is cancelled because of bad weather conditions, as airlines should cover it themselves by booking you onto a later flight, or giving you a refund. Your insurer may cover you however for expenses you have already shelled out for that cant be refunded. So a comprehensive travel insurance policy may cover things like hotels or car hire, if youve been unable to reach your destination due to adverse weather, but it may not cover you for delays on your return home. It is always wise to make sure you understand exactly what cancellation cover you have, as almost 40 per cent of all claims in 2017 were in this category, according to All Clear Travel. However it can be difficult to tell what cancellation cover actually means, as married couple Rashpal Sidhu and Gurvinder Aujla-Sidhu discovered to the cost of 900. Earlier in the year the Leicestershire couple travelled to Berlin for a romantic weekend to celebrate their joint 40th birthdays and bought gold travel insurance cover for the trip. But when they tried to catch their flight back on the Sunday evening they were told it was cancelled due to heavy snow. They were offered a refund or an alternative flight three days later on the Wednesday. 'We were really worried about getting back to our family. We have two small children who were staying with their auntie in the middle of the country, nowhere near their school or nursery. And we both had work the next day,' says Gurvinder. 'On the day we looked through the policy document and thought we were covered. We thought we could book another flight and claim it back on our insurance.' Destination: Rashpal and Gurvinder enjoyed a weekend in Berlin, but were left unstuck when their flight was cancelled (Pictured: The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin) The couple decided to secure a place on the alternative Wednesday flight as a backup while they hunted for other ways to get home. In doing this they lost their entitlement to any compensation or refund. They eventually found a flight going out the next day on another airline which cost them 600 altogether. They then booked an additional night at the hotel they had been staying at for 300. 'I just wanted to get home. It was really stressful and we needed to get back to our kids,' said Gurvinder. The policy the pair had taken out said they were covered if the public transport they were booked to travel on was cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. The document said they would be paid 20 for the first 12 hours of delay and 20 for each full 12 hours after that up to a maximum of 300. It also covered 'up to 3,000 for any irrecoverable unused travel and accommodation costs'. When they returned home they also had to pay an additional 15 for an extra day of airport parking. On contacting their insurance company they discovered they were only able to claim back 40 for the delay and could not recoup any of their additional costs. 'Looking at the policy it seems it is only for outgoing costs. Why are you not insured for returning home? The 3,000 was for any unused costs so if we were delayed on our way out and couldn't stay in our hotel we could claim that money back but it didn't cover any additional costs we had whilst stuck in Berlin. 'It is really confusing for a consumer to know what you are buying and what you are actually covered for. They need to be clearer and more honest and up front. I would pay more is I knew we were going to be covered. It is a real shame because it took the shine off what would have been an amazing trip,' said Gurvinder. Other ways in which consumers get caught out is by not being aware of clauses that state they are not covered for self-inflicted injuries or drinking too much alcohol which results in a claim. Covered: Travel insurance is there in case anything goes wrong - but policies can vary considerably, in ways that are only revealed by reading the small print Andrew Johnson, money expert at the Money Advice Service explained: 'This is really for people who have drunk to excess and are not in control. If you have just had a couple of glasses of wine and you have been turned down on a claim you should challenge them on that through their appeal procedure.' And excesses can also be complex with some policies stating that they are per incident claimed for, under each section, by each insured person. 'This catches many people out. There can be several different types of excesses so it is important to look out for that,' said Andrew. This means if you cancel flights for a holiday for a family of four, you could end up paying out an excess for each person, which could be close to the cost of the flights themselves. 'There are some policies that offer a waiver of excesses but they may be more expensive,' Andrew added. And if you are travelling in Europe it is always important to register for a free European Health Insurance Card because some travel insurance firms require it and not having one may invalidate a related claim. Other ways in which your insurance can be invalidated is if you do not declare pre-existing health conditions, even if you have not had a diagnosis yet. 'If you have been to see a consultant or are waiting for test results you need to declare it up front,' said Andrew. Analysts and unions have questioned how Sainsbury's boss Mike Coupe can promise that no stores will close following the merger with Asda that will create a 14.1billion supermarket behemoth. After 'advanced merger discussions were confirmed yesterday, Sainsburys shares shot up nearly 20 per cent while the likes of Morrisons and Tesco floundered as the future of the traditional Big Four grocery giants was thrown up in the air. Regulators will be ready to pounce on such a big, game-changing deal that would create a firm of some 330,000 employees, controlling nearly a third of the British groceries market. Will the deal manage to get the go-ahead from the Competition and Markets Authority and what will it mean for the supermarket sector and shoppers if it does? It is only right the merger is scrutinised given there would be some 330,000 employees and thousands of stores affected No one is in any doubt as to the logic behind Sainsburys plan to combine forces with Walmart-owned Asda. It makes a lot of sense in an industry where new market entrants such as Aldi and Lidl are slowly eroding away its traditional customer base, and where the big hitters such as Tesco have dominated a quarter of the market for years. Helal Miah, investment research analyst at The Share Centre, said the move offered cost savings and a boost to buying power. It addresses the groups geographical weakness in the north and keeping the two brands separate offers the diversification benefits of being exposed to two segments of the market, with Asda occupying the lower-priced, value end of the market, he said. Miah added: This is useful at times of price and income pressures faced by consumers while Sainsburys exposure to the middle and higher quality segment of the market where margins could improve in better times. With this move the combined group would have a hefty 31.4 per cent share of the total UK grocery market, outstripping Tesco (27.6 per cent) by a significant margin. Asda has lost its position as a discount supermarket after the rise of Aldi and Lidl For Asda the combined group would help shield it from the big discounters that have slowly stripped away its reputation as a store offering rock-bottom prices. The merger could even lead to the bargain European brands pulling back from their longer-term growth aspirations in the UK. Moodys vice president and senior credit officer David Beadle said: We still believe that continued store openings will help the combined market share of Aldi and Lidl reach 15 per cent by 2020 from 12.6 per cent now. 'However, the tougher competitive environment after this transaction could result in one or both of these discounters curbing their longer term growth aspirations in the UK. Sainsbury's boss Mike Coupe (pictured) has insisted no stores will close and no jobs will be lost Tesco, on the other hand, looks fairly well placed to weather the next few years. Beadle adds: Our outlook for the credit quality of Tesco and Morrison during the next 12-18 months remains unchanged. During this period we expect Tesco to make further operational progress and for its credit quality, which has improved markedly during the past year, to continue to strengthen. There is even talk that other brands, namely the Co-operative Group and Morrisons could consider their own deal or merger to tackle the fast-changing retail landscape. With Tescos recent merger with Booker getting the nod from the CMA, the precedent for further supermarket mergers has been set though perhaps with some more conditions thrown into the mix. The mergers of big supermarkets has left the door open for others to follow suit with the Cooperative Group and Morrison's tipped as potential partners Sainsburys claim that no stores will close as a result of the merger and that no jobs will be lost has been widely sniffed at. Union boss Tim Roache, the GMB general secretary, has said hundreds of thousands of workers will be affected. He said: 'They all know such announcements tend to be followed by management speak like "rationalisation" in the name of "efficiency". 'What that usually means is job losses or cuts to pay, terms and conditions which would be wholly unacceptable.' The chance to merge head offices and scale back on salary costs is one of the attractions of these deals, doing more and making more for a lot less. Yet Sainsburys boss Mike Coupe has insisted this time it will be different. Only time will tell if the CMA sees the situation a little differently when looking at the impact it will have on shoppers. The job of the CMA is to make sure competition and choice for consumers is not hit by any merger. Analyst research has found there are 197 Asda stores that are within the same postcode district as a large Sainsburys, excluding Sainsburys Local stores, which could feasibly be at risk from a closure if the CMA sees consumer choice being restricted. Patrick OBrien, UK retail research director at GlobalData, the group behind the initial research, said: Looking at it by the smaller postcode sector (the first half of the postcode plus the first digit of the second half), 75 Asda stores have a Sainsburys, excluding Locals, in the same sector. We think these 75 stores would be the absolute minimum that the CMA will want disposed of. The 75 stores in the 'red zone' would likely be closed in the event of any merger, analyst says. Peel Hunt head of research Charles Hall agreed and said: While the Sainsbury's/Asda merger might look good on paper, we see no chance of it getting through the CMA without a major dismemberment of the combined business.' Sainsburys may have the best of intentions, or could be keeping their fingers crossed that the CMA 'forces' its hand into store closures, but it is sure to be a move that transforms the grocery landscape no matter what. Independent retail analyst Nick Bubb said the entire merger would have been 'unthinkable' a couple of years ago. He added: 'The bizarre decision last year by the CMA to give the Tesco/Booker deal the go-ahead without any divestments inevitably opened the path to more sector consolidation. 'We therefore think that there's a pretty good chance the CMA will allow the merger to proceed in the end, but there will be a lot of arguing about local catchment overlaps, and the main debate is how many stores Sainsbury's/Asda will have to promise to sell to placate the CMA.' Without the precedent of the Tesco/Booker merger perhaps the future for Sainsburys and Asda would look bleaker, but most agree the CMA will give the merger a thumbs up - but it doesn't mean there will not be casualties along the way. Rolls-Royce's problems with its engines powering Boeings 787 Dreamliner aircrafts means the group is having to rejig its finances in a bid to stay in the black. Ahead of its annual general meeting in Derby today, the group said it had been forced to 're-prioritise' its discretionary spending in a bid to offset costs needed for detailed inspections of the troubled Trent 1000 engines. The company's board will face stark questions at today's AGM about the engines, which have been worn out sooner than expected, with some blades on certain engines cracking and corroding. Staying strong? Rolls-Royce's problems with its engines powering Boeings 787 Dreamliner aircrafts means the group is having to rejig its finances Rolls-Royce said it had completed around two-thirds of the initial engine inspections, with the rest due to take place in the next six weeks. In March, the group revealed that up to 500 Trent 1000 engines were affected by the issues. Last month, the company revealed it would book higher costs from accelerating the inspection programme. As well as the costs involved with the engine inspections, the airlines affected could also try to claim compensation from Rolls-Royce for the disruption. In a statement prepared ahead of today's AGM, Rolls-Royce said: 'We sincerely regret any disruption these inspections may cause and we continue to work closely with Boeing, our customers and the regulatory authorities to minimise this.' The FTSE 100 listed company's share price dipped 1.24 per cent or 10.40p to 826.40p in early morning trading. In charge: Warren East is the chief executive of Rolls-Royce Rolls-Royce said it remained on track for full-year profit and cash guidance, having earlier warned over a 340million repair bill and surging inspection costs for the affected engines. The company wants to generate free cash flow of around 450million this year, rising to 1billion by 2020. Warren East, Rolls-Royce's chief executive, said in a statement today:'I am pleased to report that the year has started well and that trading is in line with our expectations. 'We continue to make significant progress with our simplification programme; we have slimmed down the Group to three divisions from the previous five and we are making good progress with the diagnostic phase of the restructuring programme that we announced in January, the results of which will be shared in June. 'We have also announced the sale of the L'Orange fuel injector business. These are all meaningful steps as Rolls-Royce continues its ambition to deliver its full potential, both operationally and financially.' In its last set of annual results, the group posted a pre-tax surplus of 4.9billion, thanks to a 2.6billion accounting boost from the recent strengthening of the pound. Rolls-Royce's customer base spans 150 countries, comprising over 400 airlines and leasing customers, 160 armed forces, 4,000 marine customers including 70 navies, and more than 5,000 power and nuclear customers. The company employs nearly 50,000 people in 50 countries, more than 16,500 of which are engineers. Dieselgate: Former Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn has been charged in a US court CHEAT CHARGE Former Volkswagen boss Martin Winterkorn has been charged in a US federal court with conspiring to mislead regulators over the German carmakers diesel emissions. Winterkorn resigned soon after the scandal became public in September 2015. VOICE WARS Tech firm Google has ramped up its war with Amazon for peoples living rooms, making its computer voice assistant compatible with more than 5,000 devices, up from just 1,500. Amazons voice assistant, Alexa, is thought to work with more than 11,000 devices. PROFIT OPTIMISM Engineer Rolls-Royce is on track to meet full-year profit targets despite a 340million repair bill for its Trent engines. JOBS GO Call centres in Swansea and Nottingham are to be closed by Virgin Media. It employs 14,000 workers at more than 100 sites, and said 500 jobs will be lost. IRISH SWITCH Up to 125 Bank of America Merrill Lynch staff are to move to Dublin as part of its Brexit contingency plans, with affected employees at risk of redundancy if they refuse to go. HARASSMENT HOTLINE Law firm Linklaters has launched a hotline for staff to report sexual harassment. It will allow whistleblowers to report inappropriate behaviour. BOSS OFF Luxury watch maker Richemonts chief technology officer Jean-Jacques Van Oosten is stepping down due to personal reasons, after less than five months. DEALS BONANZA There were more deals done in Britain than any other west European country last month, says credit agency Moodys. UK mergers and acquisitions generated 42.8billion in April the highest figure since July 2016. SOFTWARE HYPE IT bosses at many firms do not plan to use Blockchain which has been overhyped, claims new research. Gartner said just 1 per cent of chief information officers said they were using the software. LEGO HOTEL The group behind the UKs largest Lego exhibition, Bricklive, has signed a deal with a firm in South Korea, to launch a Lego-themed hotel. STAKE CASH Investor Oxx has raised 74million to buy stakes in small firms. It aims to plug a gap not being filled by venture capital businesses and private equity houses, which prefer stakes in large companies. One of the worlds biggest hotel chains is opening more than 2,200 luxury rooms in the UK for wealthy Chinese and American tourists. Intercontinental Hotels Group will revamp 13 hotels in cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester to make it the largest luxury hotel operator in the UK. The sites, worth 830million, are in major city centres. It is the latest move by IHG to push into a luxury market fed by rising demand from American and Chinese visitors. The portfolio was bought by property firm Fonciere des Regions and will be managed by IHG. The hotels will be a combination of its five-star Intercontinental and boutique Kimpton brands. The latter was launched in the UK for the first time after IHG bought it for 316million in 2014. Some will also be renovated for a new luxury brand which IHG will launch later this year. IHG has more than 5,300 hotels in more than 100 countries, with nearly 1,700 in the pipeline. It expects the UK developments to deliver more than 200million in revenue by 2023. In March, it bought a 51 per cent stake in upmarket Taiwanese Regent Hotels and Resorts for 28million. Billionaire Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson is seeking to raise 441million to snap up consumer companies. The 67-year-old tycoon has teamed up with private equity firm Metric Capital to launch a new fund which intends to use the cash for striking deals worth up to 1.8billion. Branson will be working with Metrics founder John Sinik, who he has known for more than 20 years. Buying spree: Sir Richard Branson has teamed up with private equity firm Metric Capital to launch a new fund which intends to use the cash for striking deals worth up to 1.8bn The pair got to know each other when Sinik, 49, worked as an investment banker at UBS. The Virgin boss, who now lives in the British Virgin Islands, said: I have been impressed by the development and growth of Metric Capital. Their experience in the rapidly changing consumer and digital markets is particularly attractive and I look forward to helping John and his team with this new fund. The fund intends to invest in firms which fit Bransons previous experience, such as in the luxury goods, leisure and food and drink industries. It is hoped his reputation and contacts book will attract more investors. The aim is to back established businesses looking to grow rapidly or expand into new operations, typically for around five years. Metric has previously had success in the consumer market, and it is where Branson made his fortune. Bosses believe the market is changing at a faster pace than ever due to the rise of the internet, and see opportunities for successful businesses to grow fast and generate huge profits. They also feel that young consumers are looking for experiences rather than goods and want to cash in on this trend. The aim is to generate returns of 20 per cent, with 10 per cent of the profits going to womens and childrens charities. TIMPHISINI A game of touch ended badly for children when one of them was snatched by a man wearing a balaclava. Touch is a common game that children play in groups. The incident happened at an area known as Msahweni near Matsamo where the five-year-old was playing near his home. This is said to have happened on Monday at around 4pm. Information gathered was that the man, who was dressed in a black and covering his face, forcefully took the boy and ran away, leaving his friends terrified. The incident has now left members of the community, especially children, living in fear of being abducted. According to some of the friends who were playing with the five- year-old Nkhosinaye Dlamini, the man who abducted him had dreadlocks. The children ran away in fear to report the matter. Several members of the community then went to the area where the incident had happened to look for the boy but they could not find him. Lungile Tsabedze, the mother of Nkosinaye narrated the ordeal during an interview at her marital homestead in Msahweni. She recently moved to the homestead with Nkhosinaye as she is now married to another man. Tsabedze said she was still shocked over the incident as she did not understand why the boy was snatched by the unknown man. We just hope that wherever he is, he is still alive, said Tsabedze. She said the boy was last seen wearing pink clothes. It is these same clothes that Nkhosinaye was wearing on a photo of him taken by his mother. Tsabedze further revealed that the five-year-old was a pupil at a local preschool and that on the day he went missing, he had been playing with his friends and their voices could be heard from the homestead. Have a story idea or tip about something happening in the East Village? Or maybe a photo? Or several photos? Or video! We'd love to hear about it. Or see it. Or something. Please go here to submit a tip. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close [May 03, 2018] Atos Protects Commonwealth of Virginia Technology Infrastructure with Next Generation Cybersecurity Solution IRVING, Texas, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Atos, a global leader in digital transformation, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, today announced a new $120M multi-year relationship where Atos will provide advanced cybersecurity services for the Virginia Information Technology Agency (VITA). VITA, which supports the commonwealth by providing cybersecurity, IT infrastructure services and IT governance, continues to move forward with an IT modernization strategy to deliver secure, agile, high-quality services at cost-competitive rates. The commonwealth requires a cybersecurity solution that can keep pace with business change of executive branch agencies. Atos will provide a scalable cybersecurity platform that provides a range of business-critical functions, including threat detection, vulnerability management, security information and event management, and endpoint security. The services will be delivered via the Atos Prescriptive Security model to help consolidate threat sources and progressively learn new behaviors to help eradicate threats before they occur. "The complexity and sophistication of today's attacks continues to increase," said Mike Watson, Chief Information Security Officer of the Commonwealth and deputy chief information officer at VITA. "To counter these attacks we must us the latest technologies and remain flexible in how we deploy such products and services. The Atos Prescriptive Security service provides superior performance and reliability that keeps the data entrusted to us by Virginia's citizens and businesses protected." Because Atos' Prescriptive Security solution is powered by the Atos Bullion x 86 high-end servers, threats are rapidly detected and can be remediated in near real-time using automation and orchestration. "Atos Prescriptive Security, which utilizes automation and computing power, has a real advantage over the traditional way of just throwing overwhelmed, isolated teams of security personnel at the problem," said Chad Harris, President, North America Operations, Atos. "Our unique architecture provides VITA and the Commonwealth of Virginia a solution that can readily grow with business and cybersecurity requirements over time. By entering into the agreement with Atos, VITA can now take advantage of the latest technology to protect citizen data and provide a safe, secure technology environment that enables state agencies to accomplish their respective missions. For more information on Atos' security solutions go to https://atos.net/en/solutions/cyber-security About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of around 12 billion. European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, the Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atos-protects-commonwealth-of-virginia-technology-infrastructure-with-next-generation-cybersecurity-solution-300641862.html SOURCE Atos [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] BOE Presents "8K+5G" IoT Solutions at SAMENA Summit DUBAI, The United Arab Emirates, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- 2018 SAMENA Telecom Leaders' Summit opened on May 3 in Dubai. The event brought together the world's major telecom operators and service providers that anticipate the advent of the 5G era with new technologies and new applications. BOE, a global leader in semiconductor display industry as well as an IoT company providing intelligent interface products and professional services for information interaction and human health, attended the summit and exhibited its IoT solutions including 8K UHD display, flexible AMOLED, AR/VR and BOE iGallery. The era of 5G is all about getting everything involved and connected. Companies worldwide are working actively to develop 5G. Now operators in the world's major regions such as Asia, Europe and Africa are gathering to speed up building 5G networks to promote 4K/8K, VR/AR and other innovative aplications. 5G can provide faster connection speed, greater capacity and better network support for 8K applications, thus it can bring ultimate video experience. "The deep integration of 5G with sensor, big data and AI technologies will enable the full upgrade of user experience in smart display interface. BOE not only aims to solve the issue of display panels, but also drive the development of the entire industrial chain. We have launched the '8425 strategy', which means 'promoting 8K, popularizing 4K, replacing 2K and making good use of 5G' to achieve 8K applications throughout the whole process from shooting to production, content operation, decoding and compression, transmission and display," said Chen Rengui, Senior Vice President and Chief Sales and Marketing Officer at BOE. BOE's 8K UHD solution incorporating its 4K/8K image service cloud platform, 8K decode player and 8K display terminal is making 8K into reality. 5G can reinforce mobile broadband, high-intensity connection and high-reliability and low-delay communication, which creates enormous space for the development of flexible AMOLED and AR/VR. At the summit, BOE exhibited an AMOLED display product featuring S-shaped flexibility and QXGA resolution (2048x1536) as well as a number of 4K VR and Si-OLED VR products, bringing visitors brand-new experience. These innovative products are now becoming part of people's daily life. According to Chen Rengui, "Facing new markets and new opportunities brought by 5G, BOE is now opening up its technology and application platforms, and working together with global partners to create new value for intelligent interfaces and professional services in the era of IoT." SOURCE BOE Technology Group Co., Ltd. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2018] Honeywell Names Bin Shen President of Honeywell China SHANGHAI, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Honeywell (NYSE: HON) today announced that Bin Shen was appointed as President of Honeywell China, effective May 7, 2018. Bin will directly report to Shane Tedjarati, President of Honeywell Global High Growth Regions. "Over the past decade, we have witnessed rapid development in China. Honeywell China became the largest market outside the U.S. in 2013 and achieved 25 percent year-on-year growth in 2017. Looking forward to the next decade, Honeywell's strategies are well aligned with China's national agenda, including digital economy, beautiful China, and so on," said Tedjarati. "Honeywell has made a longstanding commitment to China, and we greatly value our presence here. Bin's unique experience in the field of connectivity and digital economy will be a definite asset as we accelerate our evolution toward becoming a Software-Industrial leader in the China market," said Tedjarati. Bin has extensive experience in business portfolio transformation, developing and implementing effective strategies, defining new product experiences, and capitalizing on growth opportunities. He has a hands-on leadership xperience in digital product development, M&A, ecosystem partnerships, venture and incubation, and data analytical marketing across hardware, software and service solutions. His background reflects Honeywell's global focus on becoming the world's premier Software-Industrial Company. Before joining Honeywell, Bin held the position of Vice President of Corporate Strategy and New Business Development at Verizon Communications in Palo Alto, California, USA. His prior roles include VP & General Manager (GM) at Marvell Technology, USA; Corporate VP & GM of Motorola Mobility in Beijing; VP of Product Management & Development at Sprint Nextel; and Manager for Strategy & Value Based Management at Deloitte Consulting/Braxton Associates. Throughout his career, Bin has kept his strong ties and worked across industries in China. Bin earned his MBA in Finance & Marketing from University of Rochester, a bachelor's degree in finance from Golden Gate University, and also studied in electrical engineering at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Honeywell China is now the single largest contributor to the company's growth. Honeywell's four strategic business groups are substantially present in China, with Shanghai serving as the company's Asia Pacific headquarters. Honeywell now employs about 13,000 people in more than 30 cities across China. About 20% are scientists and engineers. About Honeywell Honeywell ( www.honeywell.com ) is a Fortune 100 software-industrial company that delivers industry specific solutions that include aerospace and automotive products and services; control technologies for buildings, homes, and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help everything from aircraft, cars, homes and buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell, please visit www.honeywell.com/newsroom . SOURCE Honeywell [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Southern New Hampshire University Introduces Mobile-Friendly Platform to Transform Student Financial Services MANCHESTER, N.H., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), recognized as one of the country's most innovative higher education institutions, today announced the launch of a new platform designed to streamline the financial aid process for students, families, and staff. Developed by CampusLogic, higher education's leading student financial services platform, the platform includes a suite of mobile-friendly products to help students complete critical financial aid documents and make communication more effective between SNHU students and the financial aid office. "As our student body continues to grow, it is increasingly important to ensure that students have access to resources that can help them navigate the financial aid experience," said Tim Lehmann, Vice President for Student Financial Services at Southern New Hampshire University. "CampusLogic has already been nothing short of transformational, bringing greater clarity to financial services and freeing up time for our team to focus on advising and direct support to the students who need it most." Through its partnership with CampusLogic, SNHU will have access to StudentForms, which automates complex forms and keeps students engaged with text message updates, and CampusMetrics, which provides real-time analytics and data dashboards to help institutions adjust services to the needs of the student population. "Too often, the complex financial aid process creates barriers that prevent students from pursuing educational opportunities -- especially for the growing number of non-traditional learners who make up the majority of our postsecondary ppulation," said Gregg Scoresby, Founder and CEO of CampusLogic. "SNHU has a well-earned reputation as a pioneer in higher education, and we look forward to working with them to bring their forward-thinking, student-centered approach to bear on transforming student financial services." Recognized as a national leader for its transformative approach to online education, SNHU serves more than 54,000 undergraduate students across the country, more than 90 percent of whom receive some form of financial aid. SNHU has been named one of the country's most innovative organizations by U.S. News & World Report, Washington Monthly, and Fast Company. CampusLogic works with more than 450 colleges and universities nationwide to transform student financial services with the firstand onlyunified platform. Easy. Mobile. Personalized. CampusLogic's innovative software removes barriers from the student finance journey for a faster, more efficient path to enrollment and retention. Last week, CampusLogic announced an investment of $55 million from JMI Equity to expand its platform to colleges and universities nationwide. About CampusLogic CampusLogic transforms the way higher education delivers student financial services with the firstand onlycomprehensive platform. Easy. Mobile. Personalized. CampusLogic's innovative software removes financial barriers to improve student access, reduce borrowing, and drive completion in higher education. Nearly 500 schools serving 3 million students simplify financial services resulting in higher enrollment, streamlined efficiencies, and improved retention with CampusLogic. For more information visit campuslogic.com. About Southern New Hampshire University Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) is a private, nonprofit institution with an 85-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 85,000 students worldwide, SNHU offers over 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH. Recognized as the "Most Innovative" regional university by U.S. News & World Report and one of the fastest-growing universities in the country, SNHU is committed to expanding access to high quality, affordable pathways that meet the needs of each student. Learn more at www.snhu.edu. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/southern-new-hampshire-university-introduces-mobile-friendly-platform-to-transform-student-financial-services-300641175.html SOURCE CampusLogic; Southern New Hampshire University [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Travel the World with Leica Akademie Destination Photography Workshops ALLENDALE, N.J., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Following the hugely successful inaugural year of international Destination Series travel photography workshops in India and Myanmar, Leica Camera has announced the first 2018-2019 locations. Passionate and aspiring photographers will join instructor teams of renowned photographers to visit stunning locales in India, Hawaii, Colombia and Romania. The Destination Series workshops, exclusively produced once again by Momenta Workshops, are intimate, all-inclusive, customized journeys created specifically for photographers. Each itinerary is designed to allow photographers a balance of independent exploration combined with guided photographic instruction from world-class instructors, while traveling at a leisurely pace. "All-inclusive, small group, experiential learning is where the Leica Akademie excels," said Tom A. Smith, Director of the Leica Akademie, North America. "Attending a Leica Destination workshop adventure is like being invited on private assignment with a world class, professional photographer and your goal is capture beautiful, decisive moments together." These exclusive trips skip the typical tour bus approach to travel and, instead, provide luxurious four- and five-star single room accommodations, delicious local meals, and a focus on daily photographic instruction amid incredible scenery. "Each year, our team researches new countries and events for Destination attendees to explore the world's most gorgeous locations with their cameras," said Jamie Rose, COO of Momenta Group. "Last year's adventures were some of the most special workshops we have ever experienced and we expect the next series to be even more exciting." November 4-14, 2018, Destination: India, featuring internationally-known street photographer Vineet Vohra, will travel to Jodhpur, Varanasi, and Delhi during Diwali, the colorful festivalof lights. This unforgettable, ten-day experience is a must for any passionate travel or street photographer. For more information about Destination: India, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_MomentaIndia18 December 11-16, 2018, Destination: Hawaii will explore Oahu and the North Shore with celebrated waterman and adventure photographer Jeff Johnson. Mixing breathtaking landscapes, surf culture and venerable local traditions, our itinerary offers the chance to see the island from an insider's perspective. For more information about Destination: Hawaii, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_MomentaHawaii18 March 1-7, 2019, Destination: Carnaval will document the vibrant pageantry and celebration of Carnaval in Barranquilla, Colombia with documentary photographer Nicholas Pinto. Travelers will be able to become fully immersed in the magical parades and revelry that makes this one of the top festivals in the world. For more information about Destination: Carnaval, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_MomentaCarnaval19 July 21-31, 2019, Destination: Romania featuring photographer Dotan Saguy will take you off the typical tourist path and into the history and cross-section of cultures that is Romania. From the architecture of Bucharest to rural village life celebrating Sighisoara Festival of Medieval Arts and Crafts, this trip will open your eyes to all that Romania offers. For more information about Destination: Romania, or to register, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaCameraUSA_Romania19 Destination trips are open to all photographers, including those who do not already own a Leica. Those who don't currently own a Leica, but would like to experience shooting with the first-class photography equipment, will have the chance to use a variety of Leica cameras, free of cost, during the trip. For more information on each of the Destination trips, please visit: http://bit.ly/LeicaDestinations2018 About Leica Camera Passion for creating perfect pictures. Leica represents a union of craftsmanship, design and experience. It is a beautiful collision of art and engineering, and the future of form and functionality. Leica Camera is an internationally operating, premium-segment manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products. The legendary status of the Leica brand is founded on a long tradition of excellence in the supreme quality and performance of cameras and lenses, and the iconic images that artists and photojournalists everywhere captured with them. For more information about Leica visit www.leicacamerausa.com, or follow the brand on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/travel-the-world-with-leica-akademie-destination-photography-workshops-300642018.html SOURCE Leica Camera [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2018] Cypherglass Announces EOS Block Producer Candidacy Following the success of establishing ICO Alert as the most trusted and comprehensive listing of initial coin offerings (ICOs) available, Co-Founders Rob and Mike Finch have partnered with brother Ben Finch to present a premier U.S. based block producer Candidate for the highly anticipated EOS blockchain network, Cypherglass. "EOS is an exciting opportunity for the blockchain and general crypto community," said Rob Finch, Cypherglass CEO. "My brother Mike and I founded ICO Alert to fill the vacuum that existed in the ICO space for comprehensive and unbiased information. Cypherglass continues my passion for transparent and dependable blockchain solutions." The EOS network is being designed to scale to millions of transactions per second while handling large amounts of data for a rapidly expanding network. Block producers are responsible for maintaining the EOS network, and adhering to the constitution set forth by Block.one and voted in by the EOS community. Cypherglass has partnered with DataBank to ensure the scalability and reliability of the EOS network. Cypherglass' primary infrastructure site is hosted in Kansas City, MO. Just as Kansas City played an important role in the 1800s establishing the westward exploration of the United States, Cypherglass strategically picked this location because of its central position when compared to the East and West coasts. "It's smack dab in the middle of the country," said James Sutherland, Cypherglass' Principal Architect. "This will further strengthen our geographic position to work with other block producers on the East and West coasts. With a secondary hot site in Minneapolis and a Lab in Portland, OR, we have an infrastructure that will truly support the requirements of the EOS network now, and in the future." In addition to the server side competencies and the Finch brothers' success with ICO Alert, Cypherglass has assembled an experienced team for the EOS community that will help drive transparency, education, and real world use. "Blockchain has come a long way in a short amount of time," said Cypherglass Community Manager and Advisor to San Antonio Crypto Network, Adrianna Mendez. "The EOS network will be a large push towards global adoption of cryptocurrency and decentralized governance and we offer our voters value in extending that message worldwide." "All of our audiences--from large EOS contributors, to non-crypto holders who could potentially become critical contributors nd electors--deserve a block producer team that is not only experienced in leading and propelling other blockchain and crypto projects, but is actually passionate about the potential of EOS," said Ben Finch, Cypherglass Head of Strategy & Marketing as well as Founder at The Ledger Agency. "We understand that EOS has the opportunity to be adopted on a mass scale, and the underlying blockchain technology can be and should be reliable to those who use it. Users should forget they are using a blockchain after all, and should simply benefit from the decentralized apps on top of the network. This is when true mass adoption will occur." The Cypherglass team also includes Jesse Proudman as a Technical Advisor, With over 20 years of engineering and server side experience, Jesse's latest company, Strix Leviathan, is a Seattle-based technology company developing software for enterprises wrestling with the challenges of algorithmic trading of cryptocurrencies. As an Institutional Advisor to Cypherglass, Rick Squitieri brings his knowledge within the institutional financial arena. He is currently a managing director at a premier global financial services firm where he specializes in software and electronic trading. For more information on Cypherglass, please visit https://www.cypherglass.com. For information on the EOS blockchain, please visit https://eos.io/. About Cypherglass Cypherglass is a block producer candidate for the EOS blockchain scheduled for release by Block.one on June 3, 2018. With a trusted team of experienced cryptocurrency and blockchain experts, Cypherglass aims to be among the top 21 block producers, also providing support, education and development for the wider blockchain community. With core competencies in infrastructure development, outreach, and decentralized application incubation, Cypherglass will propel EOS as the most successful blockchain network to date. Cypherglass is excited to assist the creation of a borderless scalable, secure blockchain. About ICO Alert Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA , ICO Alert maintains the only comprehensive list of Pre-ICOs (also referred to as pre-sales) and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). Founders Rob and Mike Finch have used their active knowledge of cryptocurrency to develop ICO Alert as the most definitive authority within the crypto-investor world. ICO Alert has published hundreds of in-depth ICO Alert reports, offering insight into past, active, and upcoming ICOs, and maintains the ICO Alert Podcast, which hosts exclusive interviews with the biggest founders and thought leaders in the blockchain space. About The Ledger Agency The Ledger Agency was one of the first multidisciplinary agencies to specialize in blockchain development, consultation and marketing. TLA works with clients to help develop the technology that powers their business, give advice, and market their projects. TLA is focused on building an agency that applies both basic and advanced marketing principles to this ever growing industry of cryptocurrency and blockchain. About Strix Leviathan Strix Leviathan, is a Seattle-based technology company developing software for enterprises wrestling with the challenges of trading cryptocurrencies. In pursuit of this mission, the company's team of technologists and data scientists are applying decades of mathematics, computing and cloud infrastructure knowledge. About San Antonio Crypto Network The San Antonio Crypto Network is a South Texas based crypto and blockchain community. Founded in 2014 by a group of like minded individuals, it is the San Antonio Crypto Network's mission to teach the importance of decentralization, cryptocurrency and blockchain technology to the businesses and individuals who can benefit the most. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180502006477/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2018] Hospital Management Asia announces conference in Wuxi, China SINGAPORE, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hospital Management Asia (HMA), the region's leading thought leadership platform organized by Clarion Events for senior-level decision makers in hospitals and the healthcare industry, has announced an inaugural China-focused conference in Wuxi, China from July 18-20, 2018 leading up to the flagship HMA event later in the year (September 13-14, Bangkok). Well-known for connecting industry leaders and igniting conversations for future innovation, this will be the series' first event in China in its 17-year history -- reflecting the country's dramatic economic growth across all industries, including healthcare. According to the National Bureau of Statistics of China, nearly 2,000 new private hospitals have emerged in China, boosting the total number of hospitals to 29,000 in 2016, up from 6 per cent from the year before.[1]. Attendees will learn more about the One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative -- an effort by the Chinese government to recreate the Silk Road through infrastructure projects that connect Asia, Europe and Africa, as well as its impact on the development of healthcare. "Hospital Management Asia has grown to become one of the leading conferences for hospital owners and senior management personnel for over a decade. We are excited to build a bridge between Chinese hospitals and our international HMA community with endless possibilities as a united front in healthcare to tackle common challenges such as servicing the ageing population and the accessibility of healthcare in larger countries," said Richard Ireland, Managing Director of Clarion Events. "As such, our presence in China is imperative as the country has been regarded as the largest innovation superpower of the world. Chinese hospitals are already using frontier technologies such as the Internet of Things to close the gap in their healthcare system, and we look forward to learning about how they are working towards being hospitals for the future." Programme highlights include plenaries discussing the future trends of Healthy China 2030, the impact of block-chain technology in healthcare and innovation projects in hospitals. With the Chinese Hospital Association as its advisor, this conference is co-hosted by Wuxi No. 2 Hospital and supported by the European Union of Private Hospitals. For more information, please visit the website at www.hospitalmanagement-china.com. Media Contact: Serynn Guay +65-6590-3968 serynn.guay@clarionevents.com [1] Credit: National Bureau of Statistics of China. (2016). Chapter 22-1 Health Care Institutions. Retrieved from http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2016/indexeh.htm SOURCE Clarion Events [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2018] CredoLab raises US$1 million from Walden International CredoLab provides alternative credit scoring solutions to financial institutions and retailers to reduce delinquency Currently focused on SEA and China , company to target global market of 2 billion unbanked consumers SINGAPORE, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CredoLab, a fintech provider of highly predictive, mobile-based alternative credit scoring solutions for banks, consumer finance companies, and retailers, today announced it has closed a US$1 million investment from established global venture capital firm Walden International. CredoLab utilizes its proprietary mobile application, CredoApp, to extract a unique digital footprint from a consumer's mobile phone. The company uses proprietary data science algorithms to extract and analyse close to 50,000 data points, and turns these completely anonymized digital footprints into highly predictive digital credit scorecards. The use of non-traditional data and predictive data analytics enables consumers with little to no traditional credit history to access financial services. For lenders, the use of non-traditional data for credit scoring enables them to expand their pool of borrowers while keeping risks in check. "There is a big pool of unbanked consumers in Asia with no formal credit histories. In just a short period of time, CredoLab has partnered with almost 30 consumer lending institutions to generate digital credit scorecards for thin-file consumers," said Kris Leong, vice president of Walden International. "With CredoLab's plug-and-play data science solution, banks and retail lenders can profitably serve the unbanked, and individuals and businesses can access useful and affordable financial products and services that meet their needs. We are excited to join the CredoLab team to serve this huge market opportunity and scale the business globally." CedoLab has grown rapidly in the last 12 months, generating millions of data sets and credit scores for clients across Southeast Asia, China, Latin America, Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. With CredoLab's scoring solution, clients have seen improved delinquency rates and a higher percentage of consumer loans approved. Peter Barcak, CredoLab co-founder and chief executive officer, said, "I am extremely pleased to count a firm with the technical expertise and global reach of Walden International among our investors. Our next stage of growth will focus on expanding globally and actively seeking partnerships with alternative data providers to generate high quality leads for banks and consumer finance companies." With this new investment, CredoLab will focus on underserved regions, including Asia, where more than half of the world's underserved lives, and Africa, where less than 20 percent of the population has access to formal financial services[1] and where smartphone penetration growth is among the highest in the world. Established in 2016, CredoLab is headquartered in Singapore with customers in 15 countries across South East Asia, China, Latin America, Africa, and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The company was previously backed by regional fintech venture capital firm Fintonia Group, and FORUM, the largest fintech venture builder in Emerging Asia. About CredoLab CredoLab provides revolutionary smartphone-based credit scoring solutions to banks, consumer finance companies, and retailers, by using proprietary data science algorithms to enable financial inclusion. By using CredoLab, clients achieve a significant reduction in credit risk, a radical drop in time required to reach a credit decision, and the opening up of new client segments. Headquartered in Singapore, CredoLab targets the global market of 2 billion unbanked adults, and currently serves clients in 15 markets across Southeast Asia, China, Africa, Latin America and the Commonwealth of Independent States. About Walden International Walden International is a leading international venture capital firm that has provided investors access to cross-border, IT opportunities with the advantage of an unrivaled pan-Asia network since 1987. The firm's funds total US$2.6 billion in committed capital. Walden International has invested in over 500 companies in 12 countries, with in excess of 100 IPOs on 15 Stock Exchanges and more than 70 M&A exits. Walden's investments include Best Logistics, Creative Technology, JobStreet, Brandtology, HungryGoWhere, YFind Technologies, SINA, MindTree, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp., GoPro, AutoNavi, Inphi, Silergy Corp., Ambarella, Ndoors, Com2uS, SundayToz, iKang Healthcare, Sinosun Technology and Solaredge Technologies. Media Contact Keshia de Vries PR Manager, FORUM Mobile +65 9479 2366 Email kdevries@forum-cap.com 1IFC Case Study: 'How Fintech is reaching the poor in Asia and Africa' SOURCE CredoLab [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2018] SilkChain Lauded at World Blockchain Conference by Yehoshua Westover MACAU, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SilkChain, the world's first blockchain project dedicated to improving global trade, has won recognition from visionary angel investor Yehoshua Westover at the first World Blockchain Conference for its potentially disruptive role in international commerce. In a powerful speech about how technology will reshape the global economy and re-distribute wealth in the digital era. "In the near future, SilkChain will be wildly popular in world markets, and revolutionize the way international trade deals are done along China's One Belt, One Road routes," Westover told the audience. His comments align with SilkChain's vision to create a fairer and freer global trade system in the digital age. Developed by Singapore-based International Trade Digitalization Commission (ITDC), SilkChain is a next-generation smart contract platform that seeks to use blockchain technology to build a decentralized, global digital free-trade zone. Following the principles of decentralization, openness and mutual benefit, SilkChain will build an ecosystem by attracting various participants including global service providers, developers, open-source communities and trading companies to create applications that operate with localized services. Blockchain's potential to reshape centuries-old global trade systems underlines the immense impact the technology will have on everyone's lives - a key message Westover delivered in his speech. Rejecting claims that blockchain is a bubble, Westover said the distributed-ledger technology has the potential to restructure the global economy. "We see that the implementation of many technologies will completely change the structure of capitalism, which is scary. But those with vision and foresight can ride on the trend." About SilkChain SilkChain, developed by ITDC, is the world's first blockchain project dedicated to improving international trade. The project has gathered world-leading business groups; trading companies; e-commerce companies; and logistics, warehousing and finance companies from around the world with the vision of creating a decentralized, open, transparent and trusted "Global Blockchain Free-Trade Zone". With the ancient Silk Road as its model, ITDC named this digital network SilkChain. For more information, please visit https://www.silkchain.io/. Telegram: https://t.me/silkchain Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SilkChain.IO Twitter: https://twitter.com/SilkChain_IO Github: https://github.com/silkchain Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/user/SilkChain/ Medium: https://medium.com/@SilkChain_IO Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/silk-chain-05046715b/ Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180502/2121792-1 SOURCE SilkChain [May 02, 2018] Eximchain partners with YOOsourcing to connect buyers with credible suppliers, as well as employs a global testnet Eximchain, the company bringing supply chains onto the blockchain, hits two key milestones showing positive growth and momentum since completes its first fundraising round SINGAPORE, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After securing $20 million for their digital blockchain platform that empowers global supply chains, MIT founded startup, Eximchain (https://eximchain.com/) announces today a partnership with YOOsourcing, the sourcing platform that enables buyers to verify suppliers' authenticity, trustworthiness and reliability. In addition to the new partnership, Eximchain also has released a new private testnet, an alternative blockchain used to experiment with its artificial coin. The testnet includes 250 machines across 14 regions globally and has already gone through 8 rounds of trial. Eximchain's supply chain will help prevent businesses from losing trillions of dollars of potential revenue. Last month, Eximchain closed a successful funding round, raising $20 million from strategic contributors including FBG Capital, INBlockchain, and Hashed. On YOOsourcing's mobile app buyers can perform sourcing inquiries directly from a supply company's profile and reward the positive experiences with a rating system. A crowdsourced factory verification is built into the platform to ensure validity to a displayed businesses identity. By partnership with YOOsourcing, suppliers using the Exichain platform can monitor their inquiries, promote new products, and grow their reputation to garner future business leads. Eximchain's blockchain network will serve to increase the trust and accountability of data and agreements shared between buyer suppliers on YOOSourcing's platform. The company's private testnet (https://github.com/eximchain) ensures privacy, scalability and security to the user. It is a public permissioned network with a quadratic voting based governance mechanism to manage consensus participants. Usually, 'distributed' testnet systems, and the tools to manage them, operate in simulated, small, local contexts, posing a problem for enterprises and protocol developers who should require decentralized networks to be scaled elastically through a security hardened service to actually test how the distributed systems they have built will perform a larger, global networking scale. Eximchain's platform is user-friendly, allowing businesses and enterprises to seamlessly integrate its solutions into existing business processes and applications. Eximchain streamlines supply chain processes by reducing barriers, increasing coordination, and instilling trust in cross-border transactions. Current blockchain technology does not meet the supply chain industry's needs, including public transaction data, uncertain network security, and advanced IT knowledge of the system configuration. Eximchain showcased a live demo at two events in April; GMIC Global Blockchain Summit in Beijing on 27 April 2018 and World Digital Assets Summit in Singapore on 1-3 May 2018. About Eximchain Founded in 2015 at MIT Media Lab, Eximchain's mission is to provide blockchain-enabled tools to transform the global supply chain by integrating SMEs and increasing transparency. Pioneering a scalable, public blockchain with privacy for enterprise supply chain applications, Eximchain enables businesses to connect, transact, and share information more efficiently and securely. (www.eximchain.com) About YOOSourcing YOOSourcing (www.yoosourcing.com) is based in HongKong and Hangzhou city (Mainland China) and it was founded by an international team from France, India and China. YOOSourcing has developed a distributive solution to bring trust and transparency to international trade. Their open platform can be used by any traders and manufacturers to discover new leads and monitor the full transactional chain, while YOOSourcing+, their white-labeled solution, allows large sourcing offices to build their own private and fully secured platform. SOURCE Eximchain [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 02, 2018] WOOSHIN Develops Nontoxic, Eco-friendly Organic-Inorganic hybrid pigments SEOUL, South Korea, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Colors of any visible object can be turned into pigments, which play an important role in expressing colors. Wooshin Pigment (CEO: Seongsuk Jang) provides pigments to a wide variety of industries and recently launched environmentally-friendly liquid aqueous pigments based on excellent technology and safety. Well-known pigment brands of WOOSHIN includes AQUALOR, an eco-friendly water based pigment, and COSMELOR, high-quality pigment for cosmetics. 'AQUALOR' is Korea's first aqueous and oily pigments (AQUALOR AU Series) that are used in various industries from ship containers to paint, ink, paper, and leather industries. The pigments boast high compatibility, fast drying, and outstanding weather and water resistance, which allow the surface to be maintained for a long time, as well as high gloss that accentuates the color. 'Anti-blistering' is another characteristic of AQUALOR, which protects the surface for a long time. The 9 shades (red, black, orange, green, brown, violet, blue, white, yellow) of Wooshin's Universal coloring agent (AU Series) obtained Singapore Green Label, an environmentally-friendliness certificate issued by Singapore Environment Council in 2013. It means the entire AU Series products have been certified. AQUALOR also earned RoHS, which means electronics exported to Europe were found to contain less than the allowed level of harmful substances (lead, cadmium, mercury, 6 types of chrome, PBBS, PBDES) and that the products are harmless to human body. Meanwhile, "COSMELOR" is water-based pigment created based on Wooshin's milling & mixing formulation technology and used for a wide range of Korean cosmetic products from nail polish to mascara, shampoo, eyeliner, and lip gloss. All of the products are free of fixing agent and, therefore, can be directly applied to resin system without needing to replace the base. Wooshin provides customized products to each customer and, therefore, differentiates itself from other companies. Wooshin's products are not only environmentally-friendly but are solvent-free and, therefore, can be used for various purposes. Based on this technology, CHINACOAT 2017 Shanghai, took place from 15th to 17th November 2017 in Shanghai, provided WOOSHIN with a chance t shine within Chinese companies, by supplying to KCC China. WOOSHIN is a leading company in pigment-development in Korea, marking its no.1 spot in environment-friendly inorganic pigment production. Founded in 1977, WOOSHIN has built technology with dedication throughout years, providing organic and inorganic pigment and dye to various industrial fields. Especially after WOOSHIN successfully collaborated with Lanxess -- a subsidiary of German company Bayer AG -- and developed eco-friendly water-based liquid pigment, this newly developed nontoxic organic-inorganic complex pigment definitely sets their name in pigment industry. WOOSHIN also developed first liquid pigment that can be used both water or oil-based. WOOSHIN also has procuced powdered form of pigment used in everywhere- starting from paint, printing, coloring cosmetics, plastic plates, glasses and even in technology industries such as smart phone screen. It also used in major landmarks like the amusement park Everland and Leeum Museum, public libraries and bridges. WOOSHIN not only works with paint and coating related companies such as Jotun, KCC, IPK, PPG, Samhwa Paint, Noroo Paint, Chokwang paint and Jevisco, they also closely work with automobile, plastic and construction companies such as Samsung C&T, Ino Block, Dalim Industiral Co., Sabic Korea Ltd, LG, LG Chemicals, Cheil Industires, Samyang, Hyundai, KIA and Samsung. With more than 1,300 companies on their client list and supreme technology combined, WOOSHIN now aims at global market. The remarkable growth of Wooshin stemmed from CEO Chang's management policy where she puts customers and the environment first, along with her mission to create a better world with the nontoxic organic-inorganic complex pigment. Sungsook Chang, who founded WOOSHIN when she was only 23years old, took over a pigment company Daesung near Namdaesmun, Seoul. The pigment industry back then was almost exclusively ran by men and Chang says she had a tough time running a company as a woman. Nevertheless, she persevered with respectable business morals. Running a business was not easy, hardships came along. One of the trading partners went bankrupt once. However, Chang's management philosophy has been with the virtues of 'Friend' and 'Trust ' in the company's name. She also focused on working on technology of WOOSHIN. Now, as the company grows, Chang's heartfelt management policy and WOOSHIN's welfare system sets positive high bar for other companies in Korea. The employees of WOOSHIN gets 10% of net profit as a bonus. Parents of the employees, as well as the employees themselves, can get their health checked every two years. Working overtime is rare at WOOSHIN and the company also lets employees over 60 - the legal retirement age in Korea - stay at work as long as they desire. In addition to college tuition, 500,000 won per month is given to employees with children for child support. Chang paid for all employees' Southeast Asia trip for the company's 25th year anniversary and 5,000 USD travel bonus according to their working period on 40th year Anniversary in 2017. Chang said "WOOSHIN's quality control system team works relentlessly for our customers. As our pigment is so widely used in life, we want to make sure it is at its best condition." She proudly adds, "Wooshin's frontier spirit will never cease to amaze the customers in future." You can check out further information on WOOSHIN by following the links. Homepage: http://www.wspigment.co.kr/ Product Marketing Videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkTV3gqrKwA Contact Jooman Kim jooman@wspigment.co.kr +82-10-3721-7876 Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180427/2117232-1-a Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180427/2117232-1-b Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180427/2117232-1-c SOURCE WOOSHIN Pigment Co., LTD [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Orolia Awarded $34 Million Contract to Deliver Personnel Recovery Devices to the US Army NEW DELHI and SOPHIA-ANTIPOLIS, France, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative Positioning Beacon Will Increase Soldier Survivability Orolia, a world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions with a significant presence in the Asia Pacific region, announced today that its subsidiary McMurdo Inc. was awarded a $33,986,800 contract to manufacture Personnel Recovery Devices (PRD) for the U.S. Army. This PRD is a dual-mode, MIL-SPEC Personal Locator Beacon that will be integrated into the Army's Personnel Recovery Support System (PRSS). The PRD will be capable of transmitting both open and secure signals (training-combat dual mode) to alert and notify that a soldier has become isolated, missing, detained or captured. This innovative positioning device will optimize a successful rescue operation for soldiers in a distress situation through secure enhanced capabilities. It has been designed to meet military standards and specifications and has improved accuracy, decreased size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements. "We are extremey proud and honored to have been selected by the U.S. Army as the provider of this critical positioning device for the safety of U.S. warfighters. Easy to incorporate into Personnel Recovery operations, the PRD is based on Orolia's new rugged and small PNT platform dedicated to Combat Search and Rescue (C-SAR) and other dismounted soldier Assured PNT applications. This award, which follows the 2016 contract from the U.S. Coast Guard to produce 16,000 FastFind 220 personal locator beacons, is a testimony to Orolia's world leadership in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing," said Jean-Yves Courtois, CEO of Orolia. The Personnel Recovery Support System, Personnel Recovery Device contract was awarded by the U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland on behalf of the Army Air Warrior Product Management Office at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama with an estimated completion date of March 6, 2022. About Orolia Orolia is a world leader in Resilient Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) solutions that improve the reliability, performance and safety of critical, remote or high-risk operations. With expertise in government, maritime, aviation and enterprise applications, Orolia provides virtually fail-safe GPS/GNSS and PNT products and solutions for their customers' most mission critical needs. Orolia's European headquarters is in France, with a commercial presence in more than 100 countries worldwide. http://www.orolia.com Orolia US Press Contact: Elodie Cally PR / Communications Director +33-633857693 elodie.cally@orolia.com Media Contact: Sophie Canciani sophie.canciani@businessfrance.fr +91-(11)-43196303 Trade officer - Marketing Communications, Business France [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] World Health Organization Grants Name 'Seliforant' to Sensorion's SENS-111 Treatment Seliforant (formerly SENS-111) is a first-in-class histamine H4 receptor antagonist candidate selected for the treatment of vertigo of vestibular origin, in development to treat acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUV), a severe form of vestibular disease Seliforant is Sensorions lead clinical candidate currently in a Phase 2 trial MONTPELLIER, France, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sensorion (FR0012596468 ALSEN), a biotech company specializing in the treatment of inner ear diseases, today announces that the World Health Organization (WHO) has granted the International Non-Proprietary Name (INN), seliforant, to its lead clinical candidate, SENS-111 for the treatment of vertigo of vestibular origin and currently in phase 2 clinical development being investigated for acute unilateral vestibulopathy (AUV), a severe form of vertigo. We are pleased that the INN division of the WHO has granted the name seliforant to our investigational agent SENS-111, said Nawal Ouzren, Chief Executive Officer of Sensorion. This event signals continued progress for our lead clinical program and we look forward to results from the ongoing phase 2 trial, expected in end of this year. About Seliforant Seliforant (formerly SENS-111) is the first representative candidate of the histamine type 4 receptor antagonist class to be tested for the symptomatic treatment of vertigo crises. Displaying a neuromodulation effect of the sensorineural inner ear cell function, seliforant is a small molecule that can be taken orally or via a standard injection, and is currently in a Phase 2 clinical trial, being conducted in the United States, Europe and South Korea. About Sensorion Sensorion is a biotech company pioneering novel treatments of inner ear diseases such as severe vertigo, tinnitus or hearng loss. Two products are currently in the clinical development stage: Seliforant (formerly SENS-111) in phase 2 in acute unilateral vestibulopathy (vestibular neuritis), and SENS-401, which has completed a phase 1 trial. The company was founded by Inserm (the French Institute of Health and Medical Research) and is utilizing its pharmaceutical R&D experience and comprehensive technology platform to develop first-in-class easy-to-administer, notably orally active, drugs for treating and preventing hearing loss and the symptoms of bouts of vertigo and tinnitus. Based in Montpellier, Southern France, Sensorion has received financial support from Bpifrance, through the InnoBio fund, and Inserm Transfert Initiative. Sensorion has been listed on the Euronext Growth Paris exchange since April 2015. www.sensorion-pharma.com Contacts Sensorion Nawal Ouzren CEO contact@sensorion-pharma.com Tel : +33 467 207 730 Investor Relations LifeSci Advisors LLC Chris Maggos chris@lifesciadvisors.com Tel. : +41 79 367 6254 Label: SENSORION ISIN : FR0012596468 Mnemonic : ALSEN Presse Alize RP Caroline Carmagnol & Wendy Rigal sensorion@alizerp.com Disclaimer This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Sensorion and its business. Such forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that Sensorion considers to be reasonable. However, there can be no assurance that such forward-looking statements will be verified, which statements are subject to numerous risks, including the risks set forth in the Document de reference registration document filed with the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF- French Financial Market Authority) on July 28, 2016 under nR.16-069 and to the development of economic conditions, financial markets and the markets in which Sensorion operates. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to risks not yet known to Sensorion or not currently considered material by Sensorion. The occurrence of all or part of such risks could cause actual results, financial conditions, performance or achievements of Sensorion to be materially different from such forward-looking statements. This press release and the information that it contains do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe for, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for, Sensorion shares in any country. The communication of this press release in certain countries may constitute a violation of local laws and regulations. Any recipient of this press release must inform oneself of any such local restrictions and comply therewith. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Expersoft Awarded Best Front Office Solution at the WealthBriefing European Awards 2018 STEINHAUSEN, Switzerland, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Expersoft Systems, one of Europe's foremost financial services providers, was awarded the prestigious Best Front Office Solution Award at the WealthBriefing European Awards 2018, held at the Guildhall in the City of London on April 26. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/686012/Expersoft_Systems_Logo.jpg ) Showcasing 'best of breed' providers in the global private banking, wealth management and trusted advisor communities, the awards recognise companies, teams and individuals which the esteemed panel of judges deemed to have 'demonstrated innovation and excellence during 2017'. Specifically, in awarding Expersoft the Best Front Office Solution, the judges referenced Expersoft's "holistic software offering which covers all named functions and open view of the financial services world." Philipp Bisang, CEO Expersoft, said: "We are honoured to hav received this prestigious award. Our goal is always to provide the most innovative solutions for our customers - solutions that meet their needs for today and anticipate their needs for tomorrow. This award is a testament to our team's dedication and hard work and shows why so many financial service providers, large and small, use our financial services products." ClearView Financial Media's CEO, and Publisher of WealthBriefing, Stephen Harris, was first to extend his congratulations to the winners: "The firms who triumphed in these awards are all worthy winners, and I would like to extend my heartiest congratulations. These awards were judged solely on the basis of entrants' submissions and their response to a number of specific questions, which had to be answered focusing on the client experience, not quantitative performance metrics...These awards recognise the very best operators in the private client industry, with 'independence', 'integrity' and 'genuine insight' the watchwords of the judging process - such that the awards truly reflect excellence in wealth management." Expersoft Systems Expersoft offers Portfolio & Wealth Management platform solutions and services for asset managers, banks, family offices and other financial services providers. With more than 200 employees, Expersoft serves more than 600 customers worldwide, headquartered in Steinhausen with regional offices in Luxembourg, Stuttgart, London, Dubai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Panama and Sa~o Paulo. http://www.expersoft.com ClearView Financial Media Ltd ClearView Financial Media, founded by CEO, Stephen Harris in 2004, provides high quality 'need to know' information for the discerning private client community. London-based, but with a truly global focus, ClearView publishes the WealthBriefing group of newswires, along with research reports and newsletters, while also running a pan-global thought-leadership events programme. http://www.clearviewpublishing.com SOURCE Expersoft Systems [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Widening Gap Between Consumer Expectations and Reality in Personalization Signals Warning for Brands, Accenture Interactive Research Finds New research from Accenture (News - Alert) (NYSE: ACN) finds consumers feel that digital experiences are falling short of expectations, yet they're more likely to shop with a brand that treats them in a personalized manner. According to the 2018 Personalization Pulse Check from Accenture Interactive, 91 percent of consumers are more likely to shop with brands that recognize, remember, and provide them with relevant offers and recommendations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005390/en/ Expectations are outpacing experiences (Graphic: Business Wire) In last year's Personalization Pulse Check report, Accenture Interactive found the top challenge for businesses was the "burden of choice" - meaning, learning how to uniquely serve everyone without overwhelming anyone. This year's data shows that the burden of choice did not improve -- in fact, experiences are worse. The report finds that nearly half (48 percent) of all consumers have left a business' website and made a purchase elsewhere because the experience was poorly curated -- up from 40 percent last year. The research offers practical solutions to help brands improve performance when approaching personalization which include, provide a two-way dialogue with customers, be trustworthy and transparent when it comes to personal data and brands need to be cool, not creepy with experiences. Brands Need to Enable a Two-Way Dialogue The report finds consumers aren't looking for brands to define their journeys; they want brands to design experiences that help them create their own journeys. This fundamental shift away from traditional communications modes to interactive conversations will enable marketers to drive new levels of personalization, trust and meaningful experiences. Most brands have been focused on trying to predict a customer's journey in order to create personalized experiences but are now realizing this approach is difficult to scale. The research found that 75 percent of consumers say they would find it valuable to create and manage a "style profile", or a living profile, that brands could use to better curate experiences and make recommendations. "Customers often find themselves overwhelmed by choices and underwhelmed by poorly curated experiences when interacting with brands. But there is a simple solution to solve this by creating a continuous, two-way digital dialogue," said Jeriad Zoghby, global personalization lead, Accenture Interactive. "This shifts control of the experience to the customer, enabling brands to more effectively listen to the customer and enable them to buy and consume what they want on their own terms. Not only does this result in a significantly better experience for the individual, but it is also the most effective way for brands to scale 1-to-1 personalized experiences." When It Comes to Data - Transparency and Trust are Key The report finds that consumers are willing to share their data and rarely feel that companies are too personal - but they lose trust if brands go outside the relationship. Nearl three-quarters of consumers (73 percent) say that no retailer or service provider has ever communicated with them in a way that felt too personalized. And of the 27 percent who have felt it was too personal or invasive, more than two-thirds (64 percent) reported that they felt uncomfortable because they didn't knowingly provide the data the brand used. The net take-away? Transparency is key. "It is a natural tendency for brands to over-rotate on acquiring as much data as possible, and, although data is critical to enabling personalized experiences, they would be better served focusing on designing great experiences and leveraging the data provided directly by the customer," said Zoghby. Be Cool - Not Creepy The survey asked consumers how creepy or cool they found certain personalization approaches, such as apology emails after a poor online experience or in-store associates armed with their purchase histories. According to the data, the most invasive approach is using consumer location to offer personalized deals. Forty-one percent of consumers find it creepy when they receive a text from a brand or retailer as they walk by a physical store Forty percent find it creepy when they get a mobile notification after walking by a store Thirty-five percent find it creepy when they get ads on social sites for items they've browsed on a brand's website Respondents indicated that an appreciated tactic used by brands is sending apology emails after offering poor in-store or online experiences (45 percent) or an apology message on the brand website (41 percent). Methodology Accenture Interactive surveyed 8,000 consumers from United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Spain about their preferences and expectations when it comes to interacting with brands, retailers and service providers. The survey was fielded in November 2017. About Accenture Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions - underpinned by the world's largest delivery network - Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 442,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com. Accenture Interactive helps the world's leading brands transform their customer experiences across the entire customer journey. Through our connected offerings in design, marketing, content and commerce, we create new ways to win in today's experience-led economy. Accenture Interactive is ranked the world's largest digital agency in the latest Ad Age Agency Report. To learn more, follow us @AccentureACTIVE and visit www.accentureinteractive.com. Forward-Looking Statements Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements in this news release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "may," "will," "should," "likely," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "projects," "believes," "estimates," "positioned," "outlook" and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. These include, without limitation, risks that: Accenture's results of operations could be adversely affected by volatile, negative or uncertain economic and political conditions and the effects of these conditions on the company's clients' businesses and levels of business activity; Accenture's business depends on generating and maintaining ongoing, profitable client demand for the company's services and solutions including through the adaptation and expansion of its services and solutions in response to ongoing changes in technology and offerings, and a significant reduction in such demand or an inability to respond to the changing technological environment could materially affect the company's results of operations; if Accenture is unable to keep its supply of skills and resources in balance with client demand around the world and attract and retain professionals with strong leadership skills, the company's business, the utilization rate of the company's professionals and the company's results of operations may be materially adversely affected; Accenture could have liability or Accenture's reputation could be damaged if the company fails to protect client and/or company data from security breaches or cyberattacks; the markets in which Accenture operates are highly competitive, and Accenture might not be able to compete effectively; Accenture's profitability could materially suffer if the company is unable to obtain favorable pricing for its services and solutions, if the company is unable to remain competitive, if its cost-management strategies are unsuccessful or if it experiences delivery inefficiencies; changes in Accenture's level of taxes, as well as audits, investigations and tax proceedings, or changes in tax laws or in their interpretation or enforcement, could have a material adverse effect on the company's effective tax rate, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition; Accenture's results of operations could be materially adversely affected by fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; Accenture's business could be materially adversely affected if the company incurs legal liability; Accenture's work with government clients exposes the company to additional risks inherent in the government contracting environment; Accenture might not be successful at identifying, acquiring, investing in or integrating businesses, entering into joint ventures or divesting businesses; Accenture's global delivery capability is concentrated in India and the Philippines, which may expose it to operational risks; as a result of Accenture's geographically diverse operations and its growth strategy to continue geographic expansion, the company is more susceptible to certain risks; adverse changes to Accenture's relationships with key alliance partners or in the business of its key alliance partners could adversely affect the company's results of operations; if Accenture is unable to protect its intellectual property rights or if Accenture's services or solutions infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others or the company loses its ability to utilize the intellectual property of others, its business could be adversely affected; Accenture's ability to attract and retain business and employees may depend on its reputation in the marketplace; if Accenture is unable to manage the organizational challenges associated with its size, the company might be unable to achieve its business objectives; any changes to the estimates and assumptions that Accenture makes in connection with the preparation of its consolidated financial statements could adversely affect its financial results; many of Accenture's contracts include payments that link some of its fees to the attainment of performance or business targets and/or require the company to meet specific service levels, which could increase the variability of the company's revenues and impact its margins; Accenture's results of operations and share price could be adversely affected if it is unable to maintain effective internal controls; Accenture might be unable to access additional capital on favorable terms or at all and if the company raises equity capital, it may dilute its shareholders' ownership interest in the company; Accenture may be subject to criticism and negative publicity related to its incorporation in Ireland; as well as the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed under the "Risk Factors" heading in Accenture plc's most recent annual report on Form 10-K and other documents filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this news release speak only as of the date they were made, and Accenture undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements made in this news release or to conform such statements to actual results or changes in Accenture's expectations. Copyright 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005390/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] HealthSpace Announces Peterborough Public Health to Participate in the Alpha Phase of Its Blockchain Initiative - The VIA Marketplace API VANCOUVER, May 3, 2018 /CNW/ - HealthSpace Data Systems Ltd. (the "Company" or "HealthSpace") (CSE:HS) (Frankfurt:38H) (OTC:HDSLF) announced that Peterborough Public Health (Peterborough), Peterborough, Ontario has agreed to be the first environmental regulatory agency to pilot the VIA Marketplace. Peterborough will begin participating in a real world environment by having health officials use the HSTouch to enter inspections and audits performed across the city of Peterborough. HealthSpace will then utilize the VIA API for transmitting data to the Ethereum Blockchain. The arrangement with Peterborough will mark the first implementation of an environmental regulatory app to transmit public health inspections to the blockchain, in real-time. By using the HSTouch app, inspectors' day-to-day duties are undisrupted while the API extrapolates much of the complex nature of blockchain data exchanges, making it a truly seamless mobile blockchain technology solution. Further, the VIA API interlays inspection data with distributed storage on the InterPlanetary File System which allows for documents of all kinds to be stored cohesively alongside regulatory inspections and private industry audits. Peterborough Public Health serves the residents of Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Natins, and the County and City of Peterborough and offers a wide range of programs and services ranging from food safety, safe water, healthy environments, infectious diseases, rabies control, vector borne diseases, dental and sexual health clinic services. Environmental Health Program manager, Atul Jain stated that, "We are excited to be the first Ontario Local Public Health Agency to pilot this revolutionary new technology. It will increase the sharing and access of inspection data to enhance the protection and prevention of public health programs conducted by Peterborough Public Health." HealthSpace CTO, Silas Garrison stated "This pilot is a crucial step in demonstrating how HealthSpace is perfectly positioned to bring blockchain technology to the government sector. It is an evolution of our technology stack that now incorporates Cloud, Blockchain and Mobile in one fell swoop. All of this is pivotal as we bring our technology into the private sector to prove how it can improve the health and safety of consumers in everything from food service to cannabis distribution to the agricultural supply chain." About HealthSpace HealthSpace is an industry leading technology company currently providing inspection, information, communication and data management systems for federal, state, county and municipal governments. Over the last decade, HealthSpace has successfully developed both enterprise and mobile internet-based applications currently serving over 300 state and local government organizations across North America. HealthSpace currently offers the only integrated inspection, administration and analytics product suite across all platforms in North America. Further, HealthSpace now delivers inspection and auditing systems to private businesses enabling them to gain visibility and predictability into their operations to improve performance and safety. As HealthSpace continues to deliver focused service and innovative solutions to government and business organizations, it is developing advanced blockchain technology to revolutionize service delivery to its core market while expanding into other commercial enterprise verticals. Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although HealthSpace believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in forward looking statements. HealthSpace expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE HealthSpace Data [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] SteelEye and MAP FinTech Announce Partnership to Collaborate in Research and Development for Regulatory Reporting LONDON, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Partnership will focus on common areas of regulatory reporting relating to EMIR, MIFID II/MIFIR and Best Execution solutions SteelEye, the compliance technology and data analytics firm and MAP Financial Technologies Limited, ("MAP FinTech") who specialise in regulatory reporting solutions, are pleased to announce a research and development partnership. The partnership will focus on the two firms' complementary areas of regulatory reporting, specifically relating to EMIR, MIFID-II/MIFIR and Best Execution solutions. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/530173/SteelEye_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/685931/MAP_FinTech_Logo.jpg ) SteelEye has developed an intelligent data engine with analytics that provide insights to firms beyond the regulatory dimension with an ability to view, search and analyse structured, unstructured and semi-structured data through a single lens. This makes regulatory reporting simple and seamless to implement, providing a competitive advantage to firms, whilst also supplying further specialised solutions for MIFID II/MIFIR, Best Execution, Trade Reconstruction, Record Keeping and Surveillance. MAP FinTech is part of one of Europe's largest financial services advisory groups, MAP S.Platis, who are a standard-setter in EMIR reporting for online brokers and one of the very first to have reported under EMIR. Since that time, MAP FinTech has focused on developing fully-automated MiFID, MIFID-II/MIFIR, FATCA and CRS solutions to complement its fully-automated EMIR reporting system. The reconciliation, validation and monitoring capabilities of its Polaris platform make it a very useful tool for compliance officers. The respective emphasis of both SteelEye and MAP FinTech on facilitating regulatory compliance through advanced technology helps to reduce the cost, complexity and isk faced by financial markets firms. The new collaborative partnership holds much promise for current and prospective clients worldwide. Matt Smith, CEO of SteelEye, said: "We are delighted to be working collaboratively with MAP FinTech, providing a clear aim of further improving our clients' ability to cope with their onerous regulatory burden. Building on SteelEye's leading technology, we are supported by one of Europe's principal financial services advisory groups. Together we will be able to provide greater depth and breadth of reporting expertise to ensure that firms not only remain compliant, but are able to leverage their data for the benefit of their own businesses." Dr. Stelios Platis, founder and Chairman of MAP S.Platis Group, added: "We are very pleased to be working together with SteelEye to develop the next generation of data analytics and essential tools for the financial services industry. Beyond our individual efforts to provide the tools for our clients to comply efficiently and economically with the onerous financial regulatory requirements, our joint goal is to create a competitive advantage for our clients via such tools". Notes to Editors About SteelEye SteelEye is the only regulatory compliance technology and data analytics firm that offers transaction reporting, record keeping, trade reconstruction and best execution along with data insight in one comprehensive solution. The firm's scalable secure data storage platform offers encryption at rest and in flight and best-in-class analytics to help financial firms meet regulatory obligations and gain additional insights into their business activities, helping them to trade with greater efficiency and profitability, while storing their data in a geography of their choice. With a fully open API framework, SteeleEye enables clients to visualise, interpret and store consolidated data in flexible ways that suit their needs. SteelEye is headquartered in London, UK. For more information, visit: SteelEye and Iris . SteelEye contacts Richard Morgan Evans / Tania Wild / Alice Huggett-Smith SteelEye@morganrossiter.com +44(0)203-195-3240 About MAP Fintech ??? Financial Technologies Ltd (??? FinTech), is the technology arm of the financial services advisory and consultancy Group, MAP S.Platis. MAP FinTech specialises in regulatory reporting solutions for its international financial services clients arising from the requirements of a number of complex regulations such as MiFID II / MiFIR, ???R, R???T, FATCA and CRS. By utilising the firm's proprietary technology, all reporting regimes go through one centralised processing machine, with a single, user-friendly web-interface portal, providing clients with advanced configuration, management and analytics capabilities. The firm's technology is supported continuously by a dedicated and specialised support team with emphasis on compliance and risk management. For more information, visit MAP FinTech and MAP S.Platis MAP FinTech contacts Stavros Vassiliades (Cyprus) / Stuart Pettman (UK) info@mapfintech.com Cyprus: +357 2535-1335 UK: +44(0)207-060-5540 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Zegami for Schools Puts a Face to the Data OXFORD, England, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Zegami announces the launch of Zegami for Schools, a unique visual data exploration platform that allows teachers and heads of departments to quickly identify patterns and outcomes of their programs aimed at improving student performance. Schools are data-rich organisations, holding vast amounts of student information. UK school teachers are expected to record, interrogate and analyse data about their students, identifying meaningful trends and evidence to support classroom practice and progress of students at an individual level. Ofsted and Department for Education (DfE) hold schools to account on student progress through a rigorous inspection framework that is heavily reliant on 'outcomes' and schools need their data to represent endeavours made to improve student performance. There are many GDPR compliant tools that help analyse student attainment and progress data. Whilst these tools are functional, they often overwhelm the user with data and makes it difficult to digest. As a result, many teachers feel are intimidated and feel they lack the skills and experience to analyse data effectively. While access to detail is essential, there is often a 'disconnect' between the data and the student and there is a growing concern that individual students are buried beneath this data deluge, reducing individuals to nothing more than faceless statistics. Zegami for Schools works in conjunction with current solutions. It harnesses the power of student management systems by putting the student back in the data. Teachers ca easily analyse pupils based on any variables they choose, enabling them to quickly identify groups for intervention, support, reward or monitoring. Benefits of Zegami for Schools include: Visual - Presentation and analysis of complex data Presentation and analysis of complex data Accessibility - Teachers at all technical levels find the system easy to use and less daunting than other data systems, meaning that more time can be spent discussing issues and less time trying to find them. - Teachers at all technical levels find the system easy to use and less daunting than other data systems, meaning that more time can be spent discussing issues and less time trying to find them. Efficiency - Rapid identification of target groups, supporting effective intervention and differentiation - Rapid identification of target groups, supporting effective intervention and differentiation Flexibility - Most schools have developed their own ways of using data, depending on their context. What makes Zegami for Schools unique is its ability to create collections for a wide range of purposes, from class to whole school level. "With the education system putting a greater emphasis on measurement via student information systems, teachers are now struggling with the workload generated by an over-reliance on data. The manner of consuming data via current systems doesn't alleviate this pressure. Zegami for Schools puts the student front and centre of their data empowering teachers to understand and ask questions of the data around a student in an efficient manner", says Samuel Conway, CEO of Zegami. See how Zegami visualises the data of the UK Ofsted Schools Register. For secondary school collections, click here. About Zegami Zegami makes information more visual and accessible, enabling intuitive exploration, search, and discovery. Zegami's data exploration platform combines the power of machine learning and human intuition to reveal hidden insights and new perspectives. Visit www.zegami.com/schools for more information, and follow us on Twitter @getzegami. Media Contact: Oliver Abadeer Phone: +44 7500 104 133 Email: oliver@zegami.com Related Links Zegami Schools Page View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zegami-for-schools-puts-a-face-to-the-data-300638840.html SOURCE Zegami Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] AudioEye Selected by International Luxury Brand Canali for Web Accessibility TUCSON, Ariz., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- AudioEye, Inc. (OTCQB: AEYE) ("AudioEye" or the "Company") was selected by Canali, Italian heritage brand of luxury menswear, to provide web accessibility through its Ally Managed Service and enhance the usability of their U.S.-based site, www.canali.com, through deployment of the Ally Toolbar, a patented assistive technology embedded into client sites. AudioEye, which recently announced a record first quarter in its preliminary Q1 2018 report, has seen a steady increase in new customer launches from the retail sector. "As a global and innovative brand, we realize the extreme importance of offering a completely inclusive experience by ensuring that every website visitor has equal access to our content and information. Working with AudioEye allows us to address regulated obligations and more importantly, to create an online environment that is usable to all," said Stefano Canali, President and CEO of Canali Spa. The Canali site, which is in Phase 2 of a three-phase process designed to achieve sustainable accessibility in compliance with Level AA of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0, will be fully accessible to individuals relying on the use of assistive technologies, and more usable for end-users with a range of abilities, when complete. Through its managed service, AudioEye will provide ongoing monitoring to ensure the site remains compliant while allowing Canali to maintain their marketing course and grow their site as they normally would. "While we keep an eye on legislation, court decisions and regulatory affairs, we believe accessibility is about people, before compliance. Our focus is inclusivity through accessibility and helping to level the playing field for all customers and site visitors. We believe this helps AudioEye enabled sites and businesses win in the marketplace," said AudioEye CEO Todd Bankofier. "We have great respect for the Canali organization and family. They understand that accessibility is about people and their right to equal access. By selecting AudioEye, Canali is communicating that they are committed to accessibility and usability, by providing the range of their audience a more accessible and more usable experience through deployment of the Ally Toolbar on their site. Many companies do the minimum they can to skirt accessibility, working with companies that provide reporting and consulting. Unfortunately, those things don't always lead to real accessibility. Canali is taking a leadership position, not settling for less than full, impactful accessiblity and usability." The AudioEye technology platform monitors sites as they grow, automatically fixing issues to ensure accessibility to individuals using the range of assistive technology. Through its Ally Managed Service, AudioEye will provide Canali with an end-to-end accessibility solution that neither requires their resources nor alters the aesthetic of their website. The Ally Toolbar, a set of proprietary assistive tools, is now located on their site, tracking the progress of their accessibility foundation. This can be seen by clicking the icon in the bottom right corner of their site, the internationally recognized symbol for digital accessibility, or "man in blue," marks the entry to the AudioEye toolbar. "The Ally Toolbar has a range of considerations, including dyslexic fonts, adjustments to color contrast, font size and navigation, keyboard controls, a player that will read visitors content and the ability to use voice commands to navigate. The toolbar serves individuals who face barriers from low vision to paralysis," said Mr. Bankofier. "We're honored to be serving this international design, manufacturing and retail icon." About Canali S.p.A. Canali has been a paradigm of tailor-made Italian luxury and men's elegance for more than 80 years. Since 1934, it has been promoting the values of Made in Italy excellence through its artisanal know-how, creating sartorial masterpieces of exceptional wearability and comfort in a perfect balance of elements that blends culture and history with style and taste. The Canali Tailoring Principle uses innovation to achieve aesthetic perfection, continuously renewing its styles with a meticulous attention to detail and the use of premium fabrics. A family-run company now in its third generation, Canali is a modern-day design and manufacturing group with its own production centers all located in Italy and more than 1,600 employees worldwide. In addition to its 180 boutiques, a number that continues to grow, the brand can also be found in over 1,000 retail stores in more than 100 countries across the globe. About AudioEye, Inc. AudioEye is a technology company serving businesses committed to providing equal access to their digital content. Through patented technology, subject matter expertise and proprietary processes, AudioEye is transforming how the world experiences digital content. Leading with technology, AudioEye identifies and resolves issues of accessibility and enhances the user experience, making digital content more accessible and more usable for more people. AudioEye's common stock trades on the OTCQB under the symbol "AEYE." The Company maintains offices in Tucson, Atlanta and Washington D.C. For more information about AudioEye and its online accessibility solutions, please visit https://www.audioeye.com. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements in this press release about AudioEye's expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, prospects, financial condition, assumptions or future events or performance are not historical facts and are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the federal securities laws. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as "believe", "anticipate", "should", "intend", "plan", "will", "expects", "estimates", "projects", "positioned", "strategy", "outlook" and similar words. You should read the statements that contain these types of words carefully. Such forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from what is expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements, including the risk that the Company's bookings will not increase as currently expected or at all. There may be events in the future that AudioEye is not able to predict accurately or over which AudioEye has no control. Other risks are described more fully in AudioEye's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements reflect management's analysis as of the date of this press release and AudioEye urges you not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. AudioEye does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to such forward-looking statements to reflect events or uncertainties after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For Further information, please contact: Elsa Guerrero, VP of Marketing, AudioEye, Inc. Email: eguerrero@audioeye.com Phone: (520) 308-6140 Matt Kreps, Darrow Associates Investor Relations Email: mkreps@darrowir.com Phone: (214) 597-8200 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/audioeye-selected-by-international-luxury-brand-canali-for-web-accessibility-300641826.html SOURCE AudioEye, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Salesforce Ventures Introduces $100 Million Canada Trailblazer Fund TORONTO, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Salesforce (NYSE: CRM), the global leader in CRM, today announced that Salesforce Ventures, the company's global corporate investment group, has launched the Canada Trailblazer Fund, a $100 million fund to invest in Canadian startups and fuel cloud innovation and customer success in the region. Salesforce Ventures has supported the Canadian startup community since 2011, investing in innovative Canadian companies such as Vidyard and LeadSift. Comments on the News: "There is incredible innovation happening in Canada today and we want to encourage and empower the next generation of enterprise cloud startups in the region," said John Somorjai, EVP of Corporate Development and Salesforce Ventures at Salesforce. "Salesforce Ventures' Canada Trailblazer Fund is a commitment to our mission to help startups grow and enable our customers to reach new levels of success." "Canada is recognized as an excellent place to start and build globally competitive technology companies," said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. "Corporate initiatives such as Salesforce Ventures' new Canada Trailblazer Fund provide valuable support to technology entrepreneurs throughout their start-and-scale journey. I congratulate Salesforce on the launch of this important new fund, and look forward to future successes as they make progress toward their goal of investing $2 billion in Canadian businesses in the next five years." "Salesforce Ventures is an incredibly strong partner to Canadian startups," said Ali Asaria, CEO and founder of Tulip, a mobile platform built for next generation retail store associates to offer a world-class omnichannel experience. "Their investment and the unique access we get to the Salesforce ecosystem has enabled us to expand our business faster and maintain that rapid pace of growth." Empowering Canadian Startups through Salesforce Ventures' Canada Trailblazer Fund IDC forecasts that Canada's public cloud software market will grow almost six times faster than on-premise software deployments to reach C$4.1 billion by 20191. Salesforce Ventures' Canada Trailblazer Fund will provide funding and support to the companies driving this growth and empower entrepreneurs to deliver unique capabilities to Salesforce customers. The first round of funding recipients include: Tier1CRM: A provider of cloud-based CRM solutions for the capital markets industry built on Salesforce. Traction Guest: A developer of cloud-based visitor management systems (VMS) that enable global enterprises to shape the workplace experience, strengthen security and leverage visitor data with its Salesforce integration. Tulip: A mobile application provider focused on empowering workers in retail stores. Tulip integrates with Salesforce to deliver simple-to-use apps for store associates to look up products, manage customer information, check out shoppers and personalize the customer experience. OSF Commerce: A top digital cloud transformation specialist focused on building multi-cloud and unified commerce projects using Salesforce. Driving customer success and innovation with World Tour Toronto and Dreampitch The unveiling of the fund kicks off Salesforce World Tour Toronto, taking place today at Beanfield Centre. The Salesforce World Tour is a global roadshow where Trailblazers share how they're using the Customer Success Platform to create connected customer experiences, learn new skills, innovate at their companies and shape the future. World Tour Toronto will feature a keynote from Salesforce CFO Mark Hawkins , specialized breakout sessions for every role and industry and live demos of cutting-edge technologies. As part of World Tour Toronto, Salesforce Ventures will also host its first Canadian Dreampitch competition. Three early-stage Canadian startups that have built products leveraging the Salesforce Platform will pitch to a panel of expert judges and compete for an opportunity to win a $100,000 USD investment from Salesforce Ventures. Committed to the growth and success of Canadian businesses Salesforce recently announced its intent to invest $2 billion in its Canadian business over the next five years. More than 6,000 Canadian companies are using Salesforce to connect with their customers in new ways across sales, service, marketing, commerce and more. Additionally, Canadians have earned more than 87,000 badges on Trailhead Salesforce's free, gamified online learning platform acquiring the skills needed to succeed in today's technology-driven economy and be part of Salesforce's flourishing ecosystem. Additional Information Join Salesforce, alongside thousands of customer Trailblazers, at World Tour Toronto today: https://www.salesforce.com/events/ To learn more about Salesforce Ventures, please visit: www.salesforce.com/ventures To learn more about how Salesforce is driving workforce development with Trailhead, please visit: https://trailhead.salesforce.com/en Connect with Salesforce Like Salesforce on Facebook http://facebook.com/salesforce Follow @salesforce and @SalesforceVC on Twitter IDC Software Tracker 2017 About Salesforce Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. Salesforce has headquarters in San Francisco, with offices in Europe and Asia, and trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "CRM." For more information about Salesforce, visit: www.salesforce.com. About Salesforce Ventures Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, empowers companies to connect with their customers in a whole new way. Salesforce Ventures the company's corporate investment group invests in the next generation of enterprise technology that extends the power of the Salesforce Customer Success Platform. Portfolio companies receive funding, access to the world's largest cloud ecosystem and guidance from Salesforce's innovators and executives. With Salesforce Ventures, portfolio companies can also leverage Salesforce's expertise in corporate philanthropy by joining Pledge 1% to make giving back part of their business model. Salesforce Ventures has invested in more than 275 enterprise cloud startups in 17 countries since 2009. For more information, please visit www.salesforce.com/ventures. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/salesforce-ventures-introduces-100-million-canada-trailblazer-fund-300641650.html SOURCE Salesforce [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kathleen Losada Joins Tower MSA Partners as Vice President, Strategic Services Kathleen Losada has joined Tower MSA Partners as vice president of strategic services. In this role, she identifies and develops new markets and service offerings for the company, which provides Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services and Medicare Set-Asides. "Kathleen is a great addition to Tower," said CEO Rita Wilson. "Her extensive background in MSP compliance and her ability to guide clients toward claims resolution align well with Tower's consultative approach to optimize settlement outcomes." Losada has been involved in the development and implementation of MSP compliance services for the past decade. Most recently she served as vice president of business development for NuQuest/Bridge Pointe. Her 25-year career includes a leadership role with MTI (News - Alert) America, which offers transportation, translation, home health, and diagnostic imaging services to workers' compensation payers. She previously managed sales in the Southeast U.S. fr GENEX Services, a disability management and medical cost containment company active in workers' compensation, auto, and group health markets. She started her career as a claims adjuster for an insurance carrier. About Tower MSA Partners Headquartered in Delray Beach, Fla., Tower MSA Partners' services include pre-MSA Triage, MSAs, physician peer reviews, CMS submissions, MSA administration, medical cost projections, life care plans, conditional payments, and Section 111 reporting. Tower leverages leading edge technology to proactively stage claims and works collaboratively with clients to identify issues and intervene to modify outcomes. Tower remains involved in the claims through final resolution, MSA and/or other settlement. This model enables Tower's clients to provide better care to injured workers, reduce claim and MSA costs, and obtain CMS acceptance of the MSA. For more information, visit www.towermsa.com and www.mspcomplianceblog.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005076/en/ [May 03, 2018] Mediclinic International selects Vectra Cognito for AI-powered cyberattack detection and threat hunting ZURICH, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vectra, the leader in automating the hunt for in-progress cyber attacks, today announced that Mediclinic International, a fast-growing private hospital group, selected the Cognito cyberattack detection and threat hunting platform from Vectra to protect its operations, including 74 hospitals and 40 clinics in South Africa, Namibia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates. "Cognito gives us consistent, real-time visibility to detect and respond to cyberattacks, no matter where they occur," said Marais Coetzee, group security architect at Mediclinic. "The visual quality of this instant feedback lets us respond faster and more decisively to stop advanced threats." Powered by artificial intelligence and always-learning threat behavior models, Cognito finds hidden and unknown attackers in real-time to enable quick, decisive incident response. The highest-risk threats are automatically prioritized by Cognito, enabling cybersecurity teams to quickly stop advancing threats before key assets are damaged or stolen. "Cognito proved its value from Day 1," said Coetzee. "After a short period of supervised and unsupervised machine learning across our entire network, Cognito immediately detected a threat and notified our security team about an attack at one of our regional hubs." Cognito offloads Tier-1 security analysts by eliminating the need to manually chase-down every security event. In the past, different clinics followed different cybersecurity practices, which led to security gaps and slow incident response. By automating threat detection with Cognito, Mediclinic brought consistency to its global security operations and transitioned from reactive to proactive. "As an international care provider, maintaining a cosistent approach to cybersecurity can be a real challenge, especially under the deadline pressure of complying with the General Data Protection Regulation and other regulatory mandates," said Coetzee. Cognito integrated easily with Mediclinic's network and security systems. "Cognito was simple to install and didn't require a massive effort to integrate with our security infrastructure," Coetzee said. "The implementation was straightforward and its out-of-band approach is non-disruptive." Digital transformation is a strategic priority for healthcare organizations today, and they must protect the growing volumes of patient and clinical data, healthcare IT systems, and medical IoT devices against cyberattacks. "The healthcare industry is one of the top targets of cyberattackers and lives are literally at stake," said Vectra CEO Hitesh Sheth. "With Cognito, healthcare organizations have visibility into attacker behaviors in cloud and data center workloads and user and IoT devices, enabling them to stop attacks in progress and improve the efficiency of security operations." For more information, please read the Vectra case study about Mediclinic International at https://vectra.ai/assets/medicclinic.pdf. About Mediclinic International Mediclinic is an international private healthcare group founded in 1983, with operations in Southern Africa (South African and Namibia), Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. The Company's primary listing is on the LSE in the United Kingdom, with secondary listings on the JSE in South Africa and the NSX in Namibia. The Group's registered office is in London, United Kingdom. Mediclinic also holds a 29.9% interest in Spire Healthcare Group plc, an LSE-listed private healthcare group based in the United Kingdom. For more information visit www.mediclinic.com About Vectra Vectra is transforming cybersecurity with AI. Its Cognito platform automates cyberattack detection and empowers threat hunters from data center and cloud workloads to user and IoT devices. Cognito correlates threats, prioritizes hosts based on risk and provides rich context to empower response with existing security systems, reducing security operations workload by 32X. The company has been issued five U.S. patents with 14 additional patents pending for cybersecurity applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. Vectra is headquartered in San Jose, Calif. and has European regional headquarters in Zurich. For more information, visit vectra.ai. Media Contact John Kreuzer Lumina Communications for Vectra vectra@luminapr.com (408) 896-3307 View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mediclinic-international-selects-vectra-cognito-for-ai-powered-cyberattack-detection-and-threat-hunting-300641677.html SOURCE Vectra [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] NRG Yield, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2018 Financial Results NRG Yield, Inc. (NYSE:NYLD, NYLD.A) today reported first quarter 2018 financial results including Adjusted EBITDA of $189 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $65 million, and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) of $(4) million. "With the GIP transaction remaining on schedule to close in the second half of the year, we continue to execute across the Company through ongoing growth with the closing of both the Buckthorn Solar and City of Tulare fuel cell acquisitions and the refinancing of NRG Yield's revolving credit facility," said Christopher Sotos, NRG Yield's President and Chief Executive Officer. "Despite lower than expected wind resource during the first quarter, the Company's results were in line with seasonal expectations and we are pleased to announce an increase in the quarterly dividend leaving NRG Yield on track to deliver 15% dividend per share growth through 2018." Overview of Financial and Operating Results Segment Results1 Table 1: Net (Loss)/Income ($ millions) Three Months Ended Segment 3/31/18 3/31/17 Conventional 27 20 Renewables (8 ) (3 ) Thermal 8 6 Corporate (27 ) (25 ) Net Loss - (2 ) Table 2: Adjusted EBITDA ($ millions) Three Months Ended Segment 3/31/18 3/31/17 Conventional 66 62 Renewables 112 113 Thermal 16 15 Corporate (5 ) (4 ) Adjusted EBITDA 189 186 Table 3: Cash from Operating Activities and Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) Three Months Ended ($ millions) 3/31/18 3/31/17 Cash from Operating Activities 65 64 Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) (4 ) - For the first quarter of 2018, NRG Yield reported Adjusted EBITDA of $189 million, Cash from Operating Activities of $65 million, and CAFD of $(4) million. First quarter Adjusted EBITDA results were higher than 2017 primarily due to growth in the business-renewable focused distributed solar partnerships, higher availability at the El Segundo Energy Center, and favorable results in the solar portfolio, partially offset by lower wind production in 2018 versus first quarter 2017. CAFD results were lower than 2017 primarily due to lower wind production and lower distributions from unconsolidated affiliates, partially offset by the acquisition of the 25% interest in NRG Wind TE Holdco. Operational Performance Table 4: Selected Operating Results (MWh and MWht in thousands) Three Months Ended 3/31/18 3/31/17 Equivalent Availability Factor (Conventional) 85.0% 83.7% Renewables Generation Sold (MWh) 1,616 1,677 Thermal Generation Sold (MWht)22 Also includes Thermal MWh sold 626 578 In the first quarter of 2018, generation in the Renewables segment was below median expectations and 4% lower than the first quarter of 2017, primarily due to lower wind resources across the portfolio. Liquidity and Capital Resources Table 5: Liquidity3 ($ millions) 3/31/18 12/31/17 Cash and Cash Equivalents: NRG Yield, Inc. and NRG Yield LLC 40 24 Subsidiaries 133 124 Restricted Cash: Operating Accounts 38 25 Reserve Accounts 66 143 Total Cash 277 316 Revolver Availability 353 366 Total Liquidity 630 682 Total liquidity as of March 31, 2018 was $630 million, a decrease of $52 million from December 31, 2017. This reflects a decrease in total cash of $39 million4 resulting primarily from the acquisition of Buckthorn Solar and common stock dividends paid. Revolver availability during the same period decreased by $13 million due to draws related to the acquisition of Buckthorn Solar offset by decreases in issued letters of credit. Potential future sources of liquidity include excess operating cash flow in the business, the $150 million at-the-market (ATM) program, of which $99 million remained available as of May 3, 2018, and availability under the corporate revolver. During the first quarter of 2018, the Company sold 936,662 shares of Class C common stock under the ATM program raising gross proceeds of approximately $16 million5. Strategic Sponsorship with Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) On February 6, 2018, GIP entered into a purchase and sale agreement with NRG for the acquisition of NRG's full ownership interest in NRG Yield and NRG's renewable energy development and operations platform consisting of a robust pipeline of over 6.4 GW of backlog and development projects, as well as operational oversight of 2.4 GW across 17 states (the "NRG Transaction"). In connection with the NRG Transaction, NRG Yield entered into a Consent and Indemnity Agreement (the "C&I Agreement") with NRG and GIP setting forth the key terms and conditions of NRG Yield's Corporate Governance, Conflicts, and Nominating Committee's consent to the NRG Transaction. Refer to the Company's press release on February 7, 2018 for further details. The NRG Transaction is subject to certain closing conditions, including customary legal and regulatory approvals. NRG Yield expects the NRG Transaction to close in the second half of 2018. Growth Investments Closed the Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset Transaction with NRG On March 30, 2018, the Company acquired the 154 MW Buckthorn Solar utility-scale project from NRG for cash consideration of $42 million, plus assumed non-recourse debt of approximately $131 million6. Buckthorn Solar will sell power under a 25-year PPA to the City of Georgetown, Texas starting in July 2018 when it is expected to achieve commercial operation. The purchase price was funded via revolver borrowings and cash on hand and is expected to deliver approximately $4 million7 of average annual CAFD beginning in 2019. Acquired City of Tulare Fuel Cell Project On April 18, 2018, the Company acquired the 2.8 MW Central CA Fuel Cell project located in Tulare, CA from FuelCell Energy, Inc. for $11 million. The project will sell electricity under a 20-year PPA with the City of Tulare and does not have project level non-recourse debt. The purchase price was funded via cash on hand and is expected to deliver approximately $1.2 million8 of average annual CAFD. Investment Partnerships with NRG Energy During the first quarter of 2018, NRG Yield invested approximately $6 million in the existing business-renewable focused distributed solar partnerships bringing total capital invested to $215 million9 in the distributed solar investment partnerships. As of March 31, 2018, through the existing partnership agreements, NRG Yield owns approximately 262 MW10 of distributed solar capacity with a weighted average contract life by CAFD of approximately 19 years. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Thermal Project and Non-Recourse Thermal Financing On October 31, 2016, NRG Business Services LLC, a subsidiary of NRG, and NRG Energy Center Pittsburgh LLC (NECP), a subsidiary of NRG Yield, entered into an Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) agreement for the construction of an 80 MWt district energy system for NECP to provide steam, chilled water and emergency backup power service to UPMC. The initial term of the energy services agreement (under fixed capacity payments) with UPMC will be for a period of twenty years from the service commencement date. Pursuant to the terms of the EPC Agreement, NECP shall pay NRG Business Services LLC $88 million, subject to adjustment based upon certain conditions in the EPC Agreement, $84 million of which will be paid at substantial completion and $4 million of which will be paid at final completion. The project is expected to achieve commercial operations in the second quarter of 2018. In connection with the UPMC project, NRG Energy Center Minneapolis LLC established shelf facilities for the anticipated issuances of $70 million of Series E notes and $10 million of Series F notes. The proceeds from the notes, if issued, will be utilized to make payments with respect to the EPC Agreement described above. The UPMC project, net of non-recourse financing, is expected to deliver approximately $4 million11 in annual average CAFD starting in 2019. Financing Updates Refinancing of the Revolving Credit Facility On April 30, 2018, the Company closed the refinancing of the $495 million revolving credit facility, which extends the maturity of the facility to April 28, 2023 and decreases the Company's overall cost of borrowing at current leverage levels by 75 basis points to LIBOR + 175 basis points. The refinancing was led by JPMorgan Chase Bank as Sole Lead Arranger and the bank group continues to include eleven financial institutions. The facility will continue to be used for general corporate purposes including corporate working capital needs due to seasonality, financing of future acquisitions, and posting letters of credit. Quarterly Dividend Update On April 24, 2018, NRG Yield's Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend on Class A and Class C common stock of $0.309 per share (approximately $1.24 per share annualized) payable on June 15, 2018, to stockholders of record as of June 1, 2018. This equates to a 3.7% increase over the prior quarter. Seasonality NRG Yield's quarterly operating results are impacted by seasonal factors, as well as variability in renewable energy resources. The majority of NRG Yield's revenues are generated from the months of May through September, as contracted pricing and renewable resources are at their highest levels in the Company's core markets. The factors driving the fluctuation in Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash from Operating Activities, and CAFD include the following: Higher summer capacity prices from conventional assets; Higher solar insolation during the summer months; Higher wind resources during the spring months; Debt service payments which are made either quarterly or semi-annually; and Timing of maintenance capital expenditures and the impact of both unforced and forced outages. The Company takes into consideration the timing of these factors to ensure sufficient funds are available for distribution on a quarterly basis. 2018 Financial Guidance NRG Yield is maintaining 2018 full year financial guidance. This financial guidance does not include growth investments under evaluation or not yet completed. Financial guidance continues to be based on median renewable energy production estimates. ($ millions) 2018 Full Year Guidance Net Income 125 Adjusted EBITDA 950 Cash from Operating Activities 599 Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) 280 NRG Yield is targeting dividend per share growth of 15% annually on each of its Class A and Class C common stock through 2018. Earnings Conference Call On May 3, 2018, NRG Yield will host a conference call at 9:15 a.m. Eastern to discuss these results. Investors, the news media and others may access the live webcast of the conference call and accompanying presentation materials by logging on to NRG Yield's website at http://www.nrgyield.com and clicking on "Presentations & Webcasts" under "Investor Relations." About NRG Yield NRG Yield owns a diversified portfolio of contracted renewable and conventional generation and thermal infrastructure assets in the United States, including fossil fuel, solar and wind power generation facilities that provide the capacity to support more than two million American homes and businesses. Our thermal infrastructure assets provide steam, hot water and/or chilled water, and in some instances electricity, to commercial businesses, universities, hospitals and governmental units in multiple locations. NRG Yield's Class C and Class A common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols NYLD and NYLD.A, respectively. Visit www.nrgyield.com for more information. Safe Harbor Disclosure This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and typically can be identified by the use of words such as "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "forecast," "plan," "believe" and similar terms. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our Net Income, Adjusted EBITDA, Cash from Operating Activities, cash available for distribution, the satisfaction of the conditions to the Company's consent to the sale by NRG Energy, Inc. of its interests in the Company, the Company's future revenues, income, indebtedness, capital structure, strategy, plans, expectations, objectives, projected financial performance and/or business results and other future events, and views of economic and market conditions. Although NRG Yield, Inc. believes that the expectations are reasonable, it can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct, and actual results may vary materially. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated above include, among others, general economic conditions, hazards customary in the power industry, weather conditions, including wind and solar performance, competition in wholesale power markets, the volatility of energy and fuel prices, failure of customers to perform under contracts, changes in the wholesale power markets, changes in government regulations, the condition of capital markets generally, our ability to access capital markets, cyber terrorism and inadequate cybersecurity, the ability to engage in successful mergers and acquisitions activity, potential risks to the company as a result of NRG's sale of its ownership interest in the Company, including the inability to meet certain deadlines, failure of the conditions to be met, unanticipated liabilities in connection with the sale or the reaction of customer, partners or lenders to the transaction, unanticipated outages at our generation facilities, adverse results in current and future litigation, failure to identify, execute or successfully implement acquisitions (including receipt of third party consents and regulatory approvals), our ability to enter into new contracts as existing contracts expire, our ability to acquire assets from NRG Energy, Inc. or third parties, our ability to close drop down transactions, and our ability to maintain and grow our quarterly dividends. Furthermore, any dividends are subject to available capital, market conditions, and compliance with associated laws and regulations. NRG Yield, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution are estimates as of today's date, May 3, 2018, and are based on assumptions believed to be reasonable as of this date. NRG Yield expressly disclaims any current intention to update such guidance. The foregoing review of factors that could cause NRG Yield's actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in the forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in connection with information regarding risks and uncertainties that may affect NRG Yield's future results included in NRG Yield's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov. In addition, NRG Yield makes available free of charge at www.nrgyield.com, copies of materials it files with, or furnish to, the SEC. __________________________ 1 In accordance with GAAP, 2017 results have been recast to include the Buckthorn Solar Drop Down Asset and November 2017 Drop Down Assets as if the combinations had been in effect from the beginning of the financial statement period 2 Also includes Thermal MWh sold 3 In accordance with GAAP, 2017 results have been recast to include the Buckthorn Solar Drop Down and November 2017 Drop Down Assets as if the combinations had been in effect from the beginning of the financial statement period 4 See Appendix A-4 Sources and Uses of Cash and Cash Equivalents for Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 5 $6 million of proceeds settled in the second quarter of 2018 6 Estimated debt balance at term conversion in the second quarter of 2018 7 CAFD average over the 5-year period from 2019-2023 8 CAFD average over the 5-year period from 2019-2023 9 Excludes $26 million for 14 MW of residential solar leases acquired outside of partnerships 10 Based on cash to be distributed; excludes 14 MW of residential solar leases acquired outside of partnership 11 CAFD average over the 5-year period from 2019-2023 NRG YIELD, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, (In millions, except per share amounts) 2018 2017 Operating Revenues Total operating revenues $ 225 $ 221 Operating Costs and Expenses Cost of operations 89 85 Depreciation and amortization 81 77 General and administrative 5 4 Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs 1 1 Total operating costs and expenses 176 167 Operating Income 49 54 Other Income (Expense) Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates 4 19 Other income, net 1 1 Loss on debt extinguishment - (2 ) Interest expense (55 ) (75 ) Total other expense, net (50 ) (57 ) Loss Before Income Taxes (1 ) (3 ) Income tax benefit (1 ) (1 ) Net Loss - (2 ) Less: Pre-acquisition net income of Drop Down Assets 4 13 Net Loss Excluding Pre-acquisition Net Income of Drop Down Assets (4 ) (15 ) Less: Loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (20 ) (12 ) Net Income (Loss) Attributable to NRG Yield, Inc. $ 16 $ (3 ) Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to NRG Yield, Inc. Class A and Class C Common Stockholders Weighted average number of Class A common shares outstanding - basic and diluted 35 35 Weighted average number of Class C common shares outstanding - basic and diluted 65 63 Earnings (Loss) per Weighted Average Class A and Class C Common Share - Basic and Diluted $ 0.16 $ (0.03 ) Dividends Per Class A Common Share 0.298 0.26 Dividends Per Class C Common Share $ 0.298 $ 0.26 NRG YIELD, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, (In millions) 2018 2017 Net Loss $ - $ (2 ) Other Comprehensive Gain, net of tax Unrealized gain on derivatives, net of income tax expense of $3 and $1 17 6 Other comprehensive gain 17 6 Comprehensive Income 17 4 Less: Pre-acquisition net income of Drop Down Assets 4 13 Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (11 ) (9 ) Comprehensive Income Attributable to NRG Yield, Inc. $ 24 $ - NRG YIELD, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions, except shares) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 ASSETS (unaudited) Current Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 173 $ 148 Restricted cash 104 168 Accounts receivable - trade 82 95 Inventory 39 39 Notes receivable 9 13 Prepayments and other current assets 18 19 Total current assets 425 482 Property, plant and equipment, net 5,340 5,410 Other Assets Equity investments in affiliates 1,169 1,178 Intangible assets, net 1,210 1,228 Derivative instruments 16 1 Deferred income taxes 129 128 Other non-current assets 73 62 Total other assets 2,597 2,597 Total Assets $ 8,362 $ 8,489 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current Liabilities Current portion of long-term debt $ 698 $ 339 Accounts payable - trade 40 46 Accounts payable - affiliate 54 49 Derivative instruments 9 18 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 58 88 Total current liabilities 859 540 Other Liabilities Long-term debt 5,261 5,659 Derivative instruments 17 31 Other non-current liabilities 99 100 Total non-current liabilities 5,377 5,790 Total Liabilities 6,236 6,330 Commitments and Contingencies Stockholders' Equity Preferred stock, $0.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized; none issued - - Class A, Class B, Class C and Class D common stock, $0.01 par value; 3,000,000,000 shares authorized (Class A 500,000,000, Class B 500,000,000, Class C 1,000,000,000, Class D 1,000,000,000); 185,407,326 shares issued and outstanding (Class A 34,586,250, Class B 42,738,750, Class C 65,343,576, Class D 42,738,750) at March 31, 2018 and 184,780,837 shares issued and outstanding (Class A 34,586,250, Class B 42,738,750, Class C 64,717,087, Class D 42,738,750) at December 31, 2017 1 1 Additional paid-in capital 1,827 1,843 Accumulated deficit (53 ) (69 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (20 ) (28 ) Noncontrolling interest 371 412 Total Stockholders' Equity 2,126 2,159 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 8,362 $ 8,489 NRG YIELD, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) Three months ended March 31, 2018 2017 (In millions) Cash Flows from Operating Activities Net loss $ - $ (2 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates (4 ) (19 ) Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates 13 16 Depreciation and amortization 81 77 Amortization of financing costs and debt discounts 7 5 Amortization of intangibles and out-of-market contracts 17 17 Adjustment for debt extinguishment - 2 Changes in deferred income taxes (1 ) (1 ) Changes in derivative instruments (23 ) (8 ) Loss on disposal of asset components 2 3 Changes in prepaid and accrued liabilities for tolling agreements (36 ) (36 ) Changes in other working capital 9 10 Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 65 64 Cash Flows from Investing Activities Payments for the Drop Down Assets (42 ) (131 ) Capital expenditures (18 ) (6 ) Cash receipts from notes receivable 4 4 Return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates 14 16 Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (6 ) (7 ) Other 4 - Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (44 ) (124 ) Cash Flows from Financing Activities Net contributions from noncontrolling interests 30 14 Net distributions and return of capital to NRG prior to the acquisition of Drop Down Assets - (21 ) Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 10 7 Payments of dividends and distributions (55 ) (48 ) Payments of debt issuance costs - (3 ) Proceeds from the revolving credit facility 20 - Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt 14 41 Payments for long-term debt (79 ) (105 ) Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (60 ) (115 ) Net Decrease in Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash (39 ) (175 ) Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at Beginning of Period 316 498 Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash at End of Period $ 277 $ 323 Appendix Table A-1: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss): ($ in millions) Conventional Renewables Thermal Corporate Total Net Income (Loss) 27 (8 ) 8 (27 ) - Plus: Income Tax Benefit - - - (1 ) (1 ) Interest Expense, net 7 23 2 22 54 Depreciation, Amortization, and ARO 26 51 5 - 82 Contract Amortization 1 15 1 - 17 Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs - - - 1 1 Other non-recurring charges 1 1 - - 2 Adjustments to reflect NRG Yield's pro-rata share of Adjusted EBITDA from Unconsolidated Affiliates 4 30 - - 34 Adjusted EBITDA 66 112 16 (5 ) 189 Appendix Table A-2: Three Months Ended March 31, 2017, Segment Adjusted EBITDA Reconciliation The following table summarizes the calculation of Adjusted EBITDA and provides a reconciliation to Net Income/(Loss): ($ in millions) Conventional Renewables Thermal Corporate Total Net (Loss) Income 20 (3 ) 6 (25 ) (2 ) Plus: Income Tax Benefit - - - (1 ) (1 ) Interest Expense, net 12 39 3 21 75 Depreciation, Amortization, and ARO 24 49 5 - 78 Contract Amortization 1 15 1 - 17 Loss on Debt Extinguishment - 2 - - 2 Acquisition-related transaction and integration costs - - - 1 1 Other non-recurring charges 2 1 - - 3 Adjustments to reflect NRG Yield's pro-rata share of Adjusted EBITDA from Unconsolidated Affiliates 3 10 - - 13 Adjusted EBITDA 62 113 15 (4 ) 186 Appendix Table A-3: Cash Available for Distribution Reconciliation The following table summarizes the calculation of Cash Available for Distribution and provides a reconciliation to Cash from Operating Activities: Three Months Ended ($ in millions) 3/31/18 3/31/17 Adjusted EBITDA 189 186 Cash interest paid (75 ) (80 ) Changes in prepaid and accrued liabilities for tolling agreements (36 ) (36 ) Pro-rata Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates (38 ) (33 ) Distributions from unconsolidated affiliates 13 13 Changes in working capital and other 12 14 Cash from Operating Activities 65 64 Changes in working capital and other (12 ) (14 ) Return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates 14 16 Net contributions from non-controlling interest12 11 9 Maintenance capital expenditures13 (7 ) (4 ) Principal amortization of indebtedness14 (79 ) (75 ) Cash receipts from notes receivable15 4 4 Cash Available for Distribution (4 ) - __________________________ 12 Excludes $19 million of contributions in Q1 2018 related to initial funding of Buckthorn Solar tax equity partnership 13 Net of allocated insurance proceeds 14 Excludes $30 million in Q1 2017 for SPP discretionary debt retirements made by NRG as reflected in the financial due to common control 15 Reimbursement of network upgrades Appendix Table A-4: Three Months Ended March 31, 2018, Sources and Uses of Liquidity The following table summarizes the sources and uses of liquidity in 2018: Three Months Ended ($ in millions) 3/31/18 Sources: Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 65 Net contributions from noncontrolling interests 30 Proceeds from the revolving credit facility 20 Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt 14 Return of investment from unconsolidated affiliates 14 Proceeds from the issuance of common stock 10 Other net cash inflows 8 Uses: Payments for long-term debt (79 ) Payments for the Drop Down Assets (42 ) Payment of dividends and distributions (55 ) Capital expenditures (18 ) Investments in unconsolidated affiliates (6 ) Change in total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash ( 39 ) Appendix Table A-5: Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution Guidance ($ in millions) 2018 Full Year Guidance Net Income16 125 Income Tax Expense 25 Interest Expense, net 310 Depreciation, Amortization, and Accretion Expense 405 Adjustment to reflect NRG share of Adjusted EBITDA in unconsolidated affiliates 85 Adjusted EBITDA 950 Cash interest paid (286 ) Adjustment to reflect Walnut Creek investment payments (2 ) Pro-rata Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates (188 ) Cash distributions from unconsolidated affiliates 125 Cash from Operating Activities 599 Net contributions from non-controlling interest 6 Maintenance capital expenditures17 (32 ) Principal amortization of indebtedness (306 ) Cash receipts from notes receivable18 13 Cash Available for Distribution 280 __________________________ 16 Net Income guidance assumes $0 impact for mark-to-market accounting for derivatives and Hypothetical Liquidation at Book Value (HLBV) adjustments for equity method investments 17 Net of property damage insurance proceeds to replace equipment 18 Reimbursement of network upgrades Appendix Table A-6: Adjusted EBITDA and Cash Available for Distribution Drop Downs ($ in millions) Buckthorn Solar Drop Down - 5 Year Average from 2019-2022 UPMC - 5 Year Average from 2019-2023 Tulare - 5 Year Average from 2019-2023 Net Income 1 2 0.6 Interest Expense, net 6 3 - Depreciation, Amortization, and ARO 8 3 0.6 Adjusted EBITDA 15 8 1.2 Cash interest paid (6 ) (4 ) - Cash from Operating Activities 9 4 1.2 Distributions to non-controlling interest (2 ) - - Principal amortization of indebtedness (3 ) - - Estimated Cash Available for Distribution 4 4 1.2 EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are non-GAAP financial measures. These measurements are not recognized in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures of performance. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an inference that NRG Yield's future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. EBITDA represents net income before interest (including loss on debt extinguishment), taxes, depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because NRG Yield considers it an important supplemental measure of its performance and believes debt and equity holders frequently use EBITDA to analyze operating performance and debt service capacity. EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our operating results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are: EBITDA does not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements for capital expenditures, or contractual commitments; EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; EBITDA does not reflect the significant interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on debt or cash income tax payments; Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements; and Other companies in this industry may calculate EBITDA differently than NRG Yield does, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. Because of these limitations, EBITDA should not be considered as a measure of discretionary cash available to use to invest in the growth of NRG Yield's business. NRG Yield compensates for these limitations by relying primarily on our GAAP results and using EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA only on a supplemental basis. See the statements of cash flow included in the financial statements that are a part of this news release. Adjusted EBITDA is presented as a further supplemental measure of operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for mark-to-market gains or losses, asset write offs and impairments; and factors which we do not consider indicative of future operating performance. The reader is encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons NRG Yield considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. As an analytical tool, Adjusted EBITDA is subject to all of the limitations applicable to EBITDA. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted EBITDA, the reader should be aware that in the future NRG Yield may incur expenses similar to the adjustments in this news release. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors and other users of our financial statements in evaluating our operating performance because it provides them with an additional tool to compare business performance across companies and across periods. This measure is widely used by investors to measure a company's operating performance without regard to items such as interest expense, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which can vary substantially from company to company depending upon accounting methods and book value of assets, capital structure and the method by which assets were acquired. Additionally, Management believes that investors commonly adjust EBITDA information to eliminate the effect of restructuring and other expenses, which vary widely from company to company and impair comparability. As we define it, Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA adjusted for the effects of impairment losses, gains or losses on sales, dispositions or retirements of assets, any mark-to-market gains or losses from accounting for derivatives, adjustments to exclude the Adjusted EBITDA related to the non-controlling interest, gains or losses on the repurchase, modification or extinguishment of debt, and any extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring items plus adjustments to reflect the Adjusted EBITDA from our unconsolidated investments. We adjust for these items in our Adjusted EBITDA as our management believes that these items would distort their ability to efficiently view and assess our core operating trends. In summary, our management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to readily view operating trends, as a measure for planning and forecasting overall expectations and for evaluating actual results against such expectations, and in communications with our Board of Directors, shareholders, creditors, analysts and investors concerning our financial performance. Cash Available for Distribution (CAFD) is Adjusted EBITDA plus cash distributions from unconsolidated affiliates, cash receipts from notes receivable, less cash distributions to noncontrolling interests, maintenance capital expenditures, pro-rata Adjusted EBITDA from unconsolidated affiliates, cash interest paid, income taxes paid, principal amortization of indebtedness, Walnut Creek investment payments, and changes in prepaid and accrued capacity payments. Management believes cash available for distribution is a relevant supplemental measure of the Company's ability to earn and distribute cash returns to investors. We believe Cash Available for Distribution is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance because securities analysts and other interested parties use such calculations as a measure of our ability to make quarterly distributions. In addition, cash available for distribution is used by our management team for determining future acquisitions and managing our growth. The GAAP measure most directly comparable to cash available for distribution is cash from operating activities. However, cash available for distribution has limitations as an analytical tool because it does not include changes in operating assets and liabilities and excludes the effect of certain other cash flow items, all of which could have a material effect on our financial condition and results from operations. Cash available for distribution is a non GAAP measure and should not be considered an alternative to cash from operating activities or any other performance or liquidity measure determined in accordance with GAAP, nor is it indicative of funds available to fund our cash needs. In addition, our calculations of cash available for distribution are not necessarily comparable to cash available for distribution as calculated by other companies. Investors should not rely on these measures as a substitute for any GAAP measure, including cash from operating activities. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005696/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Industry Collaboration Will Utilize Digital Patient Identity and Consent to Advance Clinical Care LAS VEGAS, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technology and health leaders Arm, ForgeRock, Philips, and Qualcomm Life, along with innovative healthcare startups Sparsa and US TrustedCare, today announced a collaborative effort focused on enhancing data from medical devices to enable more trustworthy data sourcing and consented patient-information sharing. Under the banner OpenMedReady, the companies have created a framework designed to complement existing standards in remote clinical care by addressing five critical areas in remote patient monitoring: patient identity, device identity, data integrity, patient privacy, and consent. As a part of the framework, OpenMedReady will utilize capabilities such as fingerprint biometrics, available in many smartphones, with connected medical sensors to add patient identity into data stream. The framework also includes device identity, which ensures that clinicians are aware of the actual device from which a reading was taken, helping to connect patient to device for data transparency and clarity. Making use of these capabilities brings traceability and auditability to remote patient data, and enables securely binding that data with dynamic patient consent. The framework is designed to be readily implementable by telecare service providers and medical device vendors for improved clinical decision making. More on this collaboration will be unveiled at the HLTH The Future of Health Conference in Las Vegas on Sunday, May 6th, during the general session talk at 5:05pm on Advancing the State of Digital Health with Dr. James Mault, Sr. Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Qualcomm Life. Most healthcare industry initiatives related to remote patient monitoring have focused on connectivity standards such as Bluetooth, EHR data standards (such as IEEE and HL7 FHIR) and health data exchange frameworks, such as the Continua Design Guidelines. OpenMedReady will complement these important building blocks by adding assurances to physicians about the authenticity and integrity of the measured data, with a goal to increase trust in remotely gathered patient data. Ultimately, trustworthy and secure remote patient data can help lower costs across the healthcare industry and lower hospital readmission rates. Historically, clinicians have been reluctant to use remote patient data for clinical decision making due in part to the concerns regarding identity management, consent and data integrity, noted James Mault, MD, FACS, senior vice president and chief medical officer at Qualcomm Life, subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, and a leader in powering intelligent, connected care. OpenMedReady combines connected sensors with modern smartphone capabilities to provide doctors a cryptographic log of a patients identity, their devices identity, and their consent, giving care teams the confidence they need to treat patients based on data acquired remotely. At a time when research shows 87% of patients are unwilling to comprehensively divulge all medical information due to privacy and security issues, its critical to establish a proper trust relationship amng patients, care providers, telecare devices, and digital services, said Eve Maler, vice president of innovation and emerging technology, ForgeRock. The two critical pieces in doing this are authenticated identity and consent management. The OpenMedReady framework promises a method for doing this in a way that lets valuable ecosystems grow. Ramkrishna Prakash, CEO of US TrustedCare, added that OpenMedReady is an essential building block for enabling effective accountable care, and will serve as a valuable component for providers engaged in shared savings and risk contracts. We are excited to participate in the design of this framework to enable such an open solution for the healthcare and wellness industry. Future remote patient analytics platforms will employ artificial intelligence (AI) for greater data accuracy, speed, and scale in managing outcomes of large patient populations, said Karthik Ranjan, director of healthcare strategy at Arm. OpenMedReady enhances remotely acquired data by increasing its provenance, bringing us closer to the reality of closed loop health systems. Automatically reacting to a patient's condition and orchestrating the right response will help to avoid costly hospitalization and doctor visits while reducing billions of dollars from the healthcare system. About Arm: Arm technology is at the heart of a computing and connectivity revolution that is transforming the way people live and businesses operate. Our advanced, energy-efficient processor designs are enabling the intelligence in more than 125 billion silicon chips and securely powering products from the sensor to the smartphone to the supercomputer. With more than 1,000 technology partners, including the world's largest consumer brands, we are driving Arm innovation into all areas compute is happening inside the chip, the network and the cloud. About ForgeRock: ForgeRock is the Digital Identity Management company transforming the way organizations interact securely with customers, employees, devices, and things. Organizations adopt the ForgeRock Identity Platform as their digital identity system of record to monetize customer relationships, address stringent regulations for privacy and consent (GDPR, HIPAA, FCC privacy, etc.), and leverage the internet of things. ForgeRock serves hundreds of brands, including Morningstar, Vodafone, GEICO, TomTom, and Pearson, as well as governments such as Norway, New Zealand, and Belgium, among many others. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, ForgeRock has offices in Austin, London, Bristol, Grenoble, Munich, Paris, Oslo, Singapore, Sydney and Vancouver, Washington. ForgeRock is privately held, backed by leading global venture capital firms Accel Partners, Foundation Capital, Meritech Capital and KKR. For more information and free downloads, visit www.forgerock.com or follow ForgeRock on social media: Facebook ForgeRock | Twitter @ForgeRock | LinkedIn ForgeRock | About Philips: Royal Philips (NYSE:PHG) (AEX:PHIA) is a leading health technology company focused on improving people's health and enabling better outcomes across the health continuum from healthy living and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment and home care. Philips leverages advanced technology and deep clinical and consumer insights to deliver integrated solutions. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company is a leader in diagnostic imaging, image-guided therapy, patient monitoring and health informatics, as well as in consumer health and home care. Philips' health technology portfolio generated 2017 sales of EUR 17.8 billion and employs approximately 74,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. News about Philips can be found at www.philips.com/newscenter. About Qualcomm: Qualcomm invents breakthrough technologies that transform how the world connects and communicates. When we connected the phone to the Internet, the mobile revolution was born. Today, our inventions are the foundation for life-changing products, experiences, and industries. As we lead the world to 5G, we envision this next big change in cellular technology spurring a new era of intelligent, connected devices and enabling new opportunities in connected cars, remote delivery of health care services, and the IoT including smart cities, smart homes, and wearables. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, all of our engineering, research and development functions, and all of our products and services businesses, including, the QCT semiconductor business. For more information, visit Qualcomms website, OnQ blog, Twitter and Facebook pages. About Sparsa: Sparsa Inc is a Continuous Care Management platform, built with Security, Privacy, Patient Identity and data integrity at the core. About US TrustedCare: US TrustedCare, Inc., is a digital health & wellness company that enables healthcare providers to adapt and succeed in the new healthcare model associated with shared savings and shared risk. TrustedCare and its providers and insurance partners are actively engaged in developing an integrated care model that brings together healthcare and wellness is a seamless care-in-place approach. Through a unique personalized care services platform to develop and track personalized health and wellness plans and services, care providers can adapt and prosper from the shift in the healthcare industry from a procedure-based payment model to an outcome-based or capitated payment model. For more information please reach us at info@trustedcare.us.com. Contact information: Dave De Jear ForgeRock Communications Team Dave.dejear@forgerock.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Technology That Brings to Life a 168-Year-Old Legend? There's an App for That NEW LONDON, Conn., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- When it comes to legacy brands today, we know that consumers, particularly millennials, embrace products that are authentic, craftlike and true to who they are. So when Sheffield Pharmaceuticals decided to release its first direct-to-consumer brand in over 100 years--Dr. Sheffield's Naturals Toothpaste -- they brought company founder and the inventor of modern-day toothpaste, Dr. Washington Sheffield, back to tell it himself. The twist? The iconic 168-year-old company chose to channel him through the very modern-day medium of Augmented Reality. This month, the Dr. Sheffield's Naturals brand will launch an engaging new app that blends authenticity with forward-thinking innovation. The downloadable Sheffield AR app -- available on the App Store and Google Play is the first of its kind in the personal-care category. Dr. Sheffield's classically bearded, aristocratic mug activates when lined up with the outer packaging on-shelf at participating retail stores nationwide. When activated, Dr. Sheffield playfully lectures today' "little whippersnappers" about the benefits of returning to life's simpler pleasures--and that includes natural, flouride-free oral care. "We are very proud of our company's history and heritage, and we are also looking forward, innovating, and staying on the cutting edge, just as Dr. Sheffield did in his dental practice 168 years ago," said Jeffrey Davis, President & Chief Executive Officer at Sheffield Pharmaceuticals. "There really is no better technology for us to blend old and new, than through Augmented Reality," he added. The full line of great tasting Dr. Sheffield's Certified Natural Toothpastes is available at CVS, CVS.com, select Bed Bath & Beyond, BedBathandBeyond.com and HarmonDiscount.com. All varieties are certified according to the strict standards of the Natural Products Association and contain no fluoride, GMOs, synthetic detergents or foaming agents, and no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners. Dr. Sheffield's Naturals is also certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, signifying no animal testing at any stage of product development. About Dr. Sheffield's Certified Natural Toothpaste Dr. Sheffield's Naturals is a new line of toothpaste made from an age-old recipe reminiscent of simpler times. In the mid-1870s, Dr. Washington W. Sheffield, a respected dentist from New London, Connecticut, invented a 'creme dentrifice' for his patients, replacing the unsavory powders of the time. He put it in a tube, and the rest is history. Over 160 years later, Sheffield is back and harsh synthetics are out. Sheffield's timeless formulas are still free of fluoride, synthetic detergents and foaming agents, GMOs and artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners - and actually taste good! For more information, visit www.drsheffieldsnaturals.com or follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/technology-that-brings-to-life-a-168-year-old-legend-theres-an-app-for-that-300641463.html SOURCE Sheffield Pharmaceuticals, LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] 12 ReTech Corporation Will Launch 12Sconti to Bring Shoppers Back into Stores while Helping Merchants Reduce the Waste of Perishable Products Carson City, NV & Hong Kong, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 12 ReTech Corporation (OTC: RETC) announced in the next few days it will launch a pilot of 12Sconti APP, its new mobile-app. 12Sconti APP is designed to help merchants of food and other perishable products reduce waste by offering soon to expire items or services such as empty restaurant tables at a discount to a wider customer audience. The 12Sconti APP will be marketed first in Zurich, Switzerland, from where the Company will introduce it to other Swiss and European cities, and thereafter to the North American and Asian markets. The waste of perishable goods is a continuous problem for merchants in the developed world. The 12Sconti APP advances the dialogue on how to deal with it by allowing retailers to discount, on an hour by hour basis, foodstuffs and other perishable products like flowers, which otherwise would need to be disposed of as waste or recycled as agricultural compost. Using the mobile-app, a merchant will be able to attract a wide social-economic demographic of consumers who might want to purchase soon to expire products at a substantial discount. In the long term, the APP could also be used as a tool for pre-orders, which will help merchants customize their supply chain resulting in more efficient resource management. 12 ReTech will commence conducting promotional campaigns targeting university students in Zurich and surrounding areas as well as the regular customers of participating merchants. One percent (1%) of the gross income generated by the 12Sconti APP will be donated to The Hunger Project, a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the sustainable end of world hunger. Angelo Ponzetta, CEO of 12 ReTech commented, We are very excited about the launch of this new mobile-app. Being an omni-channel technology developer, the 12Sconti APP is a nice example of our solutions for retailers who need to solve a historic challenge in consumer markets. I have been concerned with the problem of food waste for many years and it would be promisig if the 12Sconti APP could at least point us in the right direction. According to our simulations, the 12Sconti APP could provide a significant boost to our Company's bottom line in the near future. Stefan Guggisberg, CEO of 12 Europe A.G. (12 ReTechs European Subsidiary) stated, "I believe the consumer will find the 12Sconti APP intuitively easy to use and a valuable and convenient tool to find offers on products and services necessary for daily life." Mr. Guggisberg continued, "The rollout of the 12Sconti APP starts in May, 2018 with Wust Backerei + Konditorei AG, a Swiss bakery group with 12 locations, and Fresh A.G., a wholesaler who supplies fresh produce to thousands of grocery stores. These retailers have been so excited about 12Sconti that they have already been promoting its launch." The financial details of the venture involving the 12Sconti APP by these first mover merchants has not been disclosed for competitive reasons. Mr. Ponzetta added, "The launch of the 12Sconti APP is the first step in our plans to help retailers increase the number of shoppers in their stores while solving various problems faced by perishable goods vendors around the globe. We look forward to discussing our next technology releases in greater detail in the near future." About 12 ReTech Corporation: At our core, we are a software company whose technology allows retailers to combat the dual threats of Walmart and Amazon both online and in physical stores. Our microbrand rollup acquisition strategy allows us to demonstrate the effectiveness of our software, devise and test new products, while providing shareholder value through immediate revenue and earnings growth. The Company operates through our subsidiaries on three continents: 12 Hong Kong, Ltd., 12 Japan, Ltd., 12 Europe A.G., 12 Retail Corporation (and its subsidiary in North America, E-Motion Apparel, Inc.). For more information please visit our website at www.12ReTech.com. 12 ReTech Corporation is publicly listed on the OTC Markets under the symbol RETC. Safe Harbor: This document contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty, including without limitation, the ability of the Company to successfully implement its turnaround strategy, changes in costs of raw materials, labor, and employee benefits, as well as general market conditions, competition and pricing. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this letter will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as representation by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. In assessing forward-looking statements included herein, readers are urged to carefully read those statements. When used in the Annual Report on Form 10-K, the words "estimate," "anticipate," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions are intended to be forward-looking statements. Investor Relations Contacts: Tom Nelson Ten Associates, LLC Tenassociates33@gmail.com 480-326-8577 (USA) Mark Gilbert Magellan FIN, LLC mgilbert@magellanfin.com 317-361-2392 (USA) [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Kaseya Merges with Leading All-in-One Mid-Market Enterprise and MSP Backup Provider, Unitrends MIAMI and BOSTON, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kaseya, the leading provider of complete IT infrastructure management solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) and mid-market enterprises (MME), today announced it will merge with Unitrends, the global leader of all-in-one enterprise backup and continuity solutions. By combining Unitrends award-winning business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) technologies with Kaseyas market leading IT Complete suite of management solutions, both MSPs and MMEs now have a single solution that meets all their critical IT needs, including remote monitoring and management (RMM), endpoint management, network monitoring and management (NMM), professional services automation (PSA), IT service desk, security, and backup and disaster recovery. Following the successful OEM relationship between Kaseya and Unitrends MSP and the rapid market adoption of the resulting Kaseya Unified Backup offering along with the adoption of Unitrends established BCDR and DRaaS (disaster recovery as-a-service) solutions for medium to large enterprises into Kaseyas enterprise customer-base todays merger enables the combined businesses to support the Kaseya IT Complete vision of delivering the most complete, end-to-end IT management solutions tailor-made for both enterprise IT and MSP business growth. Unitrends laser focus on providing best-in-class BCDR and DRaaS solutions for medium to large enterprises and the commitment to their distribution and channel partners will continue unabated. While Unitrends MSP will continue to design and deliver product variants that are customized to the need of MSPs. Unitrends will continue to operate out of its Burlington, Mass. headquarters with plans to invest and expand its workforce. Kaseya and Unitrends will continue to operate under their respective brands, and both companies remain a part of the Insight Venture Partners portfolio. The decision to merge with Unitrends was a no-brainer for us, said Fred Voccola, CEO, Kaseya. Over a year ago, we embarked on a journey to provide our customers with the best BCDR solution for their needs. After working with Unitrends to launch the Kaseya Unified Backup offering to our MSP customers, as well as introducing the core Unitrends product to our enterprise customer base, we witnessed the explosive adoption of these solutions and decided that it just made sense to further our relationship and to bring our two companies together. The powerful combination of our IT Complete platform with Unitrends industry leading BCDR solutions means we can now bring unparalleled innovation to market and set the bar even higher for the value and service we deliver to our customers and partners worldwide. Without a doubt, we believe Unitrends is the market leader in BCDR. Its technology leadership successfully spans both enterprise backup and DRaaS with the industry recognition to prove it. Unitrends is one of only two vendors recognized in both the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data Center Backup and Recovery and Disaster Recovery-as-a-Service. With its technologies, we will open up new markets for our MSPs to meet the increasingly complex requirements of larger customers and deliver enterprise-class disaster recovery as-a-service. Were excited to share this news with our customers and partners, said Paul Brady, CEO, Unitrends. The scale of our combined company brings additional resources and talent that we can apply to our award-winning technology. The pairing of Kaseya and Unitrends means an expanded market for Unitrends into the MSP landscape and the further expansion of the Kaseya IT Complete Platform into the Unitrends enterprise customer market allowing our customers to further strengthen their IT infrastructure. Our customers remain at the heart of Unitrends, and were proud to have earned their trust with a 98 percent customer satisfaction rating. The combined commitment of Kaseya and Unitrends to those customers and to our channel partners remains unwavering as we move into this next, exciting phase of Unitrends as part of the Kaseya family. About Kaseya Kaseya is the leading provider of complete IT management solutions for managed service providers (MSPs) and midsized enterprises. Through its open platform and customer-centric approach, Kaseya delivers best in breed technologies that allow organizations to efficiently manage and secure IT. Offered both on-premise and in the cloud, Kaseya solutions empower businesses to command all of IT centrally, easily manage remote and distributed environments, and automate across IT management functions. Kaseya solutions manage over 10 million endpoints worldwide. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Kaseya is privately held with a presence in over 20 countries. To learn more, visit www.kaseya.com. About Unitrends Unitrends increases uptime, productivity and confidence in a world in which IT professionals must do more with less. Unitrends leverages high-availability hardware and software engineering, cloud economics, enterprise power with consumer-grade design, and customer-obsessed support to natively provide all-in-one enterprise backup and continuity. The result is a one throat to choke set of offerings that allow customers to focus on their business rather than backup. Learn more by visiting www.unitrends.com or follow on Twitter @Unitrends and LinkedIn. Media Contact Scott Lechner Offleash for Kaseya kaseya@offleashpr.com (530) 521-3095 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Academy Launches Incubator Accelerator Program with First Project: Disciplina GRAND CAYMAN, The Cayman Islands, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Academy - School of Blockchain ("Academy"), today announced their acceptance of Disciplina as the first blockchain project to enter Academy's Incubator Accelerator (IA) program. The IA program serves to fulfil a key component of Academy's mission to ensure the future of blockchain by offering mentorship and development support for innovative startups and projects in the blockchain sector. As the inaugural Incubator Accelerator project accepted by Academy, Disciplina will help to launch this integral facet of Academy's agenda. "It's an honor to align with Academy," said Ilya Nikiforov, Disciplina co-founder. "To be recognized as an innovative project is fulfilling to our entire team and with support from Academy's Incubator Accelerator program, we can continue to deliver on our promises to the blockchain industry." Disciplina is the first blockchain for recruiting and education, working to create verified personal profiles based on academic and professional achievements that can be shared among institutions via blockchain. "When it came to identifying the first project for our Incubator Accelerator, Disciplina easily stood out as the ideal candidate," said Jason King, Academy co-founder. "Their team has the skill to backp their enthusiasm and it's a privilege to reward that passion - especially for a project that has the potential to turn academia on its head." Disciplina is a product of TeachMePlease, a program providing an aggregate of academic courses, methods, and mediums from all over the world to connect students with their ideal educational experience. Among its many promising attributes, Disciplina was engineered by former developers for Cardano, a smart contract platform celebrated for its scalability, intricate, and secure architecture. "We've seen enormous support for Academy over the past few months; the industry's confidence in our mission demonstrates deep alignment with the blockchain ecosystem. The Incubator Accelerator is part of giving back to that ecosystem," said John Souza, Academy co-founder and CEO. "Disciplina's an exciting project that's challenging the status quo in education and we're thrilled to have them in Academy's Incubator Accelerator program. We look forward to this being the first of many projects that we can support as we continue to grow our programs." About Academy - School of Blockchain Academy - School of Blockchain is the world's first accredited school for blockchain. Academy enables the future of blockchain projects worldwide by addressing the growing blockchain developer shortage. Academy is a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS-CASI) and is an internationally recognized higher education institution. Press and Media Inquiries Matthew Lutz Marketing Director Kingsland University Academy - School of Blockchain P: (888) 689-8285 x 133 E: 194401@email4pr.com Related Links/References www.kingsland.academy www.disciplina.io View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/academy-launches-incubator-accelerator-program-with-first-project-disciplina-300641085.html SOURCE Academy - School of Blockchain [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Striim Wins Best Place to Work in the Bay Area for the Second Year PALO ALTO, Calif., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Striim, provider of an enterprise-grade platform for streaming integration with intelligence, announced today it has been recognized as a winner of the 2018 Bay Area Best Places to Work award, a program presented by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Striim ranked the #10 Best Place to Work among companies with less than 50 employees in the Bay Area. "This is the second year in a row that Striim has been recognized as a top 10 company to work for," stated Katherine Rincon, SVP of Marketing at Striim. "As much as we love our streaming integration technology and believe in the vision of this company, it's the people that make Striim great!" Select employers from the Bay Area were named winners at an awards ceremony held in San Francisco on April 18, 2018. These winning organizations, including Striim, were honored for having created exceptional workplaces that their employees value highly. Award applicants were evaluated and ranked across five categories according to the number of Bay Area employees. The ranking found companies in the region whose employees rate them as the highest on such values as fun, collaborative culture, solid compensation and benefits offerings nd other amenities as well as management practices. About Striim The Striim platform is an enterprise-grade streaming data integration and intelligence solution. Striim makes it easy to continuously ingest and process high volumes of streaming data including non-intrusive change data capture for real-time Kafka and big data integration, hybrid cloud infrastructure, log correlation, edge processing, and streaming analytics. Companies worldwide use the Striim platform for a wide variety of use cases including data security, fraud, SLA monitoring, customer experience, data modernization and centralization, and Internet of Things (IoT) analytics. Please visit www.striim.com, read our blog at www.striim.com/blog, follow @striimteam, or download the Striim platform. About 2018 Bay Area Best Places to Work Best Places to Work is an innovative publication and awards program produced by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The rankings were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. The survey was administered online by the employers and through a service provided by Quantum Workplace, our research partner. The rankings are numeric based on Quantum's scoring process. By ranking companies and sharing best practices we facilitate idea sharing and help other companies learn from the best. Contact: Ryan Siss Striim, Inc. (650) 241-0680 ext. 238 194460@email4pr.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/striim-wins-best-place-to-work-in-the-bay-area-for-the-second-year-300641827.html SOURCE Striim [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] CE CHINA 2018: Innovative Technologies Presented at CE China SHENZHEN, China, May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CE China, a global IFA event, is held from 3 to 5 May 2018 in Shenzhen. Exhibitors show innovative technologies and present their strategies for the Asian market. CE China is designed to be China's premier trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances products for the Chinese and Pan-Asian market. For the third time it takes place in Shenzhen, China. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8313851-CE-China-2018/ Experience a wide range of major European brands like Severin, CASO Design, Fakir, Elgato, Blaupunkt, Bosch, LifaAir and their outstanding products and innovations in the consumer electronics as well as home appliances segments. In addition, executives from leading Chinese brands like Midea and Huawei provide insights in cutting edge technologies and latest trends. Official partners of CE China include China's largest retailers such as Suning, Tmal/ Alibaba and JD.com. CE China unites international exhibitors with Chinese retailers to bring new products to their customers. European innovations at CE China The prestigious German manufacturer of household appliances Fakir presents the new Air Wave Technology for efficient high performance. In combination with HEPA and ULPA filters to be allergy sufferer friendly, they are designed to present the future of vacuum cleaning. As yet another innovation, the manufacturer furthermore exhibits a cyclone technology model with a new LED alert system which indicates the condition of the filter. Leading Chinese brands on site International brand Midea provides markets around the world with a wide range of home appliances, including kitchen appliances, refrigerators, laundry appliances, and various small home appliances. At CE China, the company not only exhibits its latest products but also provides more detailed insights as part of the IFA Retail University@CEChina. The IFA Retail University This year, CE China makes it even easier to stay tuned with current and future market trends. As a major highlight, the newly introduced IFA Retail University @ CE China, developed and established in partnership with Chinese retail giant Suning, shows an extensive program of high-level presentations. TV-Footage service for media free of charge and free of rights International broadcast partner TVT.media is producing comprehensive video material of CE China 2018 on site for journalists, TV newsrooms and online media. For video clips, interviews and footage of CE China 2018 please visit IFA Global Broadcast Center. Usage of footage is free of charge. Copies are requested. Related Link: http://www.ifa-gbc.com (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679470/CE_CHINA_2018.jpg ) Video: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8313851-CE-China-2018/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Life Insurance Settlement Just Got Easier, According to LIS Pipeline BOCA RATON, Fla., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Life insurance policy owners and financial professionals - get ready for exciting news. Big things are happening in the life insurance settlement industry this year, and the opportunity to cash in on existing life insurance policies through a life insurance settlement just got a lot easier. Financial professionals familiar with life settlements will agree that the application process can be tedious at best. Efforts can feel unrewarding, often times taking weeks to obtain signatures before submitting applications to life settlement brokers, or as some would consider them, "black holes". Months can pass between updates, additional signatures are often needed, and determining where a submitted life settlement application is in the process can become a guessing game. Since the beginning of the life settlement industry, the focus has been on buyers. LIS Pipeline (www.lispipeline.com), a start-up technology company out of Florida, has changed that by taking a step back and creating an online life settlement submission platform aimed squarely at life insurance agents and financial professionals. Video: https://youtu.be/QZl8EWxtw4g Aside from all the bells and whistles (which are great), LIS Pipeline was created to become the tool financial professionals use to grow life settlement as an offering throughout their organizations. Agency owners can stop thinking of life settlement as a difficult opportunity to expand into. Instead, LIS Pipeline provides a clear path for agencies and financial firms to become the resource their clients & agents seek when considering where to submit life settlement cases. By simplifying and digitizing the most time-consuming aspects of life settlement transactions, LIS Pipeline reduces frustrations and provides a straight-forward solution that sets it apart. LIS Pipeline provides the first ever fully electronic life settlement application backed by blockchain auditability. Once an application is submitted, users can easily track where the application is in process and provide additional documents and information as requested. Say goodbye to processing delays; the required documents needed for buyers to make offers are automatically ordered when a case is submitted. Say goodbye to endless status requests; everything is clearly visible on a simple online dashboard. Say hello to a new revenue stream; easily expand into life settlement! As the first ever life settlement tool catered specifically to agents and financial professionals, LIS Pipeline is a good sign for future industry growth. Reducing transaction time and providing visibility into the process means financial professionals can spend less time on paperwork and more time focusing on growing their business. Contact: LIS Pipeline CEO - Stephen Jass 855-LISPIPE (855-547-7473) ext. 101, 194435@email4pr.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/life-insurance-settlement-just-got-easier-according-to-lis-pipeline-300641842.html SOURCE LIS Pipeline LLC [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Datical Announces the General Availability of Datical 5 Enterprise-class platform enhances database release visibility and increases developer productivity AUSTIN, Texas, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Datical, the leading provider of database release automation, today announced the general availability of Datical 5, its enterprise-class platform for automating database releases to deliver efficiency, speed and risk reduction for database deployments. Unveiled through a beta program in early February, Datical 5 speeds software deployment by providing a central command center to achieve a unified pipeline for application and database changes, freeing up time for development, test and database administration teams to create and deliver better application experiences -- faster. For the first time ever, developers are now empowered to continuously manage and rework database code changes, allowing for seamless and efficient collaboration across the DevOps pipeline. As a trusted partner to hundreds of brands and retailers, delivering a seamless and efficient online client experience is core to our business, and we cant afford any bottlenecks in our CI/CD process, said Devon Siegfried, database architect, Radial. Datical 5 helps us bring automation to the operations side of DevOps, clearing the path from development to production for the entire application, including the database. This not only gives more time back to database teams, but it also allows us to continue to bring new innovations to market that exceed client expectations. In additional, Datical announced new Datical 5 capabilities to its existing list of features: SSIS Support As organizations continue fueling key business decisions with data, there has been a growth in ETL (Extract, Transform, Load) workloads. However, as software releases accelerate and production database schemas evolve to support new capabilities, teams responsible for ETL processes are falling behind. To help organizations make decisions with the latest data, Datical has new capabilities to support Microsoft SSIS, one of the industrys most popular ETL solutions. Specifically, Datical 5 can version SSIS packages and orchestrate when SSIS jobs are performed alongside schema changes. With these capabilities, organizations can effectively manage database releases and simultaneously coordinate ETL workloads to ensure that no data is lost in deliberating important business decisions or in meeting audit and compliance requirements. Integration with Development Automation Tools As organizations mature in their adoption of Agile and DevOps practices, the market has witnessed growing consumption of deployment automation and orchestration tools. These tools tie together individual automation tools and technologies, streamline approvals processes and provide a single pane of glass for stakeholders to manage the entire software development process. Datical plugins for XebiaLabss XL Deploy and IBMs UrbanCode Deploy have been updated so that teams relying on Datical 5 and either of these deployment automation solutions can immediately bring the database into view as they orchestrate software releases. As enterprises continue to look for new ways to solve deployment challenges and modernize automation, Datical is at the forefront, empowering development teams with the tools needed to streamline the entire software development lifecycle, said Pete Pickerill, co-founder and VP of product strategy, Datical. Our new capabilities make it easy for application teams to focus on what is most important -- the data. Availability Datical 5 is now generally available. For more information, contact Datical at https://www.datical.com/contact/. Tweet this: .@Datical 5 is now generally available, empowering #DevOps teams to effectively manage #database #software releases. Learn how it streamlines #automation for #ContinuousDelivery https://www.datical.com/press-release/general-availability-of-datical-5 Resources Datical website: http://www.datical.com Blog: http://www.datical.com/blog/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Datical LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/datical Demo: https://www.datical.com/demo/ About Datical, Inc. Daticals mission is to transform the way businesses build software so they can deliver better customer experiences faster. Datical solutions deliver the database release automation capabilities technology executives need to get the most out of their Agile, DevOps and Continuous Delivery investments. With Datical database release automation organizations can shorten the time it takes to bring applications to market while eliminating the security vulnerabilities, costly errors, data loss and downtime often associated with current database deployment methods. For more information, visit www.datical.com, call 737-402-7187 or connect via @datical. Contact Danielle Salvato-Earl Offleash for Datical (650) 922-7287 datical@offleashpr.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] myCME Launches myCME TOWN WALL in Partnership with Inception Digital FAIRFIELD, N.J., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global online medical education leader, myCME, and Inception Digital have announced the creation of myCME TOWN WALLTM, an exclusive virtual meeting experience designed to maximize the engagement and collaboration of healthcare professionals with continuing medical education (CME) programs. myCME TOWN WALLTM is powered by PandoTM, Inception Digital's innovative, first-to-market video-technology meeting platform, with myCME designated as the exclusive CME platform for PandoTM. Led by a dedicated and experienced production staff from the state-of-the-art PandoTM studio in New Jersey, myCME TOWN WALL features an expansive, vast, live digital video wall that can present up to 60 remote wall participants and up to five thousand off-wall participants and observers. CME programs feature an in-studio moderator, joined by a faculty panel of national/international thought leaders, appearing live on the Pandorama video wall from their remote locations. Wall participants are always visible and can see the moderator, the content, or each other when speaking. Learners can connect and participate in the program via computer from their home or office, where their engagement with the program is enhanced through interactive response and survey tools. "We are always looking for meaningful opportunities to invest in new technologies that move us forward in our mission to engage and educate clinicians," said myCME General Manager, Matthew Holland. "Our partnership with Inception to create myCME TOWN WALLTM offers an unprecedented CME experience: virtual live meetings that are novel, interactive, and can be accessed from the convenience of home or office." "The ability of myCME TOWN WALLTM to provide face-to-face collaboration as well as the convenience of virtual connectivity and the impact of a live studio production is the perfect application of the PandoTM platform," said Matt Giegerich, CEO, Inception Companies. "PandoTM provides the myCME audience a depth of discussion and enriched experience that can't be experienced with standard video technologies." Education for myCME TOWN WALLTM is developed by myCME's sister company, Haymarket Medical Education (HME) an Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education accredited provider, for myCME, leading academic institutions, professional medical societies, and advocacy groups. For more information, about myCME TOWN WALLTM, please contact Matthew Holland, HME/myCME General Manager, at 973.580.8595 or matthew.holland@haymarket.com. For more information about the PandoTM platform, contact Matt Giegerich, CEO of Inception Companies, at 973-840-1800 or mgiegerich@inceptioncompanies.com About myCME and Haymarket Medical Education Recognized as a global leader of CME, myCME and HME reach 2.2 million healthcare professionals with relevant, engaging, and actionable education that positively impacts clinical performance and patient outcomes. With top-quality courses across multiple specialties and award-winning education that inspires at the learner level, myCME and HME provide scientific and medical knowledge designed to elevate the performance of both practitioner and practice. In addition, HME is an Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Educationaccredited provider of CME. To learn more about myCME and HME, visit mycme.com or haymarketmedicaleducation.com. About Inception Digital Inception Digital is a leading provider of video production, interactive visual solutions, broadcast and webcast platforms for virtual meetings and audio/visual/meeting support. With the recent introduction of PandoTM, Inception now delivers highly interactive, production-quality, face-to-face virtual meetings designed to increase engagement and collaboration. Independently held, Inception Companies are headquartered in Fairfield NJ, with additional offices in New York, NY, Blue Bell, PA and San Francisco, CA. To learn more about Pando, visit www.pandomeetings.com Contact: Doug Mack Matt Giegerich Founder and Chairman CEO Inception Companies Inception Companies dmack@inceptioncompanies.com mgiegerich@inceptioncompanies.com (973) 840-1785 973-840-1800 Matthew Holland HME/myCME General Manager 973.580.8595 matthew.holland@haymarket.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mycme-launches-mycme-town-wall-in-partnership-with-inception-digital-300641708.html SOURCE Inception Companies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] AFR Wholesale to Offer Exciting New Digital Mortgage Solution Platform AFR Wholesale, a division of American Financial Resources, Inc., announced a new partnership with Blend, a leading consumer lending technology platform, to offer the company's digital mortgage solution to AFR's independent broker partner network. Blend enhances mortgage brokers' ability to deliver a fully digital customer experience, while automating many of the steps of the mortgage process. Blend will enable AFR's brokers to operate out of one singular system, taking customer applications, receiving documentation, pricing loans, and processing easily, with just a few clicks. The process will integrate up to five different steps that brokers currently have to take into a single user-friendly platform. "By simplifying theprocess for both borrowers and lenders, we are able to enhance the user and broker experience and drive more complete and accurate applications," said Blend Head of Field Operations Brian Kneafsey. "This will lead to faster closing times and help brokers exceed borrowers' expectations and grow their business with a more streamlined process." "At AFR Wholesale, we continue to make significant investments to aid in the success of our business partners by providing industry-leading technology, professional expertise and education, as well as unbeatable, world-class customer experience," said Laura Brandao, AFR's Chief Operating Officer. Much of AFR Wholesale's advancement over the past decade has been predicated on its continually evolving, technology-enhanced products delivering Brokered and Correspondent lending solutions, with a variety of enhancements to simplify the mortgage process. AFR Wholesale's innovative technology solutions pave the way for quicker closes, easier pipeline management, and more satisfied transaction partners. "The partnership with Blend is a perfect fit for our ongoing technology-driven corporate strategy," added Brandao. "Offering the latest technology platforms to our broker partners allows them to conduct business from anywhere, on any device, with ease and efficiency." "Technology continues to transform our lives now more than ever, our brokers require tools that simplify and streamline seemingly complex tasks such as interacting with multiple lenders," said Bill Packer, Executive Vice President at American Financial Resources. "The implementation of Blend's platform not only underscores the pioneering mindset American Financial Resources has displayed throughout our over 20-year history, but also the commitment to ensuring an optimal experience for our broker partners." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005561/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] SHAREHOLDER ALERT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP Notifies Investors of an Investigation Involving Possible Securities Fraud Violations by the Board of Directors LendingClub Corporation Levi & Korsinsky announces it has commenced an investigation of LendingClub Corporation ("LendingClub" or "the Company") (NYSE: LC) concerning possible violations of federal securities laws. On April 25, 2018, the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC (News - Alert) ) issued a press release announcing allegations that LendingClub violated the FTC Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act by falsely promising consumers they would receive a loan without hidden fees and failing to provide customers with a clear and conspicuous privacy notice. To obtain additional information, go to: http://www.zlk.com/pslra-d/lendingclub-lc or contact Joseph E. Levi, Esq. either via email at jlevi@levikorsinsky.com or by telephone at (212) 363-7500, toll-free: (877) 363-5972. Levi & Korsinsky is a national firm with offices in New York, California, Connecticut and Washington D.C. The firm's attorneys have extensive expertise in prosecuting securities litigation involving financial fraud, representing investors throughout the nation in securities and shareholder lawsuits. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005987/en/ [May 03, 2018] SolarWorld Americas Donates Solar Panels to Help Expand Orphanage in Rural Haiti Today, SolarWorld Americas Inc., the largest U.S. maker of crystalline-silicon solar cells and panels for 43 years, announced that the company has donated 16.5 kilowatts of solar panels for an orphanage in remote Haiti, helping enable the facility to expand its capacity to provide homes for orphans. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005431/en/ A portion of the solar panels that SolarWorld Americas Inc. donated to a Hope for Haiti's Children orphanage and school at Thomazeau, Haiti, sits atop the children's dormitory. (Photo: Business Wire) SolarWorld Authorized Installer JD Solar Solutions, based in Bolton, Conn., donated its efforts to install two arrays at the Hope for Haiti's Children orphanage and school at Thomazeau, located in desert scrublands more than an hour inland from the capital city of Port-au-Prince. In early 2017, SolarWorld Americas provided the solar panels through its Solar2World program to supply community-based, rural-electrification programs in developing economies. Starting before the January 2010 earthquake disaster in Haiti, the company has supplied solar panels to solarize five hospitals around the country. In partnership with the water-engineering charity Water Mission, the company also has supplied solar panels to power 10 community-based water-filtration systems, enough to meet the needs of 175,000 residents. At Thomazeau, grid power voltage is ighly volatile, which burns out electrical equipment, and the grid supplies electricity only about half the time, according to James Dean, partner in JD Solar Solutions. Expensive, noisy and dirty diesel generators have picked up the slack, Dean says. Aside from powering such necessities as lighting fixtures and kitchen appliances, the solar power will be used to pump water into cisterns and tanks for use around the clock, Dean says. To secure the arrays, they were anchored and ballasted to endure winds up to 130 mph, he says. Hope for Haiti's Children is a 23-year-old Cincinnati-based charity offering housing, education, and leadership training for at-risk Haitian youth. The organization (www.HopeForHaitisChildren.org) has been ranked by Charity Navigator as a "Perfect 100" for its financial health, accountability and transparency. With the solar power system completed this spring, the organization plans to significantly increase the number of orphans served at the facility over the next several years. The solar system also is expected to cut its monthly diesel bill from $500 to $100, not including considerable savings on maintenance bills. "We are so thankful for the impact that SolarWorld and its partners have made at our orphanage and school," says Ken Bever, president of Hope for Haiti's Children. "Since 2009, our facilities have been powered by a large diesel generator, which has resulted in thousands of dollars spent annually on fuel and maintenance costs. With the cost savings of this solar-powered electrical system in place, we will be able to direct those funds to provide more services for the 400 impoverished children attending our school and the children living at our orphanage." "Our plan is to expand our facilities at the orphanage to care for more homeless," Bever says. "With this sustainable infrastructure in place, we can help more orphaned children by providing housing, clean water, food, education and training. We are grateful that now we can use this renewable source of energy to pump water into our water cisterns and provide light and electricity to our entire facility." About SolarWorld REAL VALUE: SolarWorld Americas Inc., the largest U.S. crystalline-silicon solar manufacturer for about 43 years, produces and sells high-tech solar power solutions and, in doing so, contributes to a cleaner energy supply throughout the Americas. The company maintains 430 megawatts of annual capacity to produce solar cells and 550 MW of capacity to manufacture solar modules. The company's brand stands for a proven track record of quality and reliability, and SolarWorld is the only producer whose industrial lineage has outlived its products' 25- and 30-year performance guarantees. SolarWorld upholds high social standards and commits itself to resource- and energy-efficient production. With its program Solar2World, the company supports the expansion of solar power in developing countries in Latin America. Connect with SolarWorld on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and www.solarworld.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005431/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Abattis to Commence Construction of Large-Scale Growing Facility on Gabriola Island VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. (the "Company" or "Abattis") (CSE:ATT) (OTC:ATTBF) is pleased to announce the engagement (the Engagement) of Ocean Pacific Contractors Ltd. (Ocean Pacific) for construction of a purpose-built 26,000 square foot cannabis production and extraction facility (the Facility) on Gabriola Island, British Columbia. The Engagement follows completion of the Companys recent acquisition of the remaining 10% interest in Gabriola Green Farms Inc. (Gabriola) from CannaNUMUS Blockchain Inc., as a result of which Gabriola is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Through Gabriola, the Company is in the late stages of its application for a license to produce (the LP) under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations. The Facility will be a state-of-the-art facility with proposed growing, extraction and propagation areas and a genetics lab. Under the terms of the Engagement, construction of the Facility will be completed in four stages, with estimated cost of $1.5m. On receipt of the LP, the Company will be licensed to produce and sell cannabis and cannabis derivatives. The engagement of experienced construction contractors for our Gabriola facility crystallizes an important step in our path towards becoming a full service cannabis company," stated Rob Abenante, Abattis President and CEO. "Once we receive our license through Gabriola and complete construction of the Facility, we will have a large-scale platform from which to cultivate marijuana and produce and sell extracted cannabis products, added Mr. Abenante. About Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. Abattis is a life sciences and biotchnology company which aggregates, integrates, and invests in cannabis technologies and biotechnology services for the legal cannabis industry developing in Canada. The Company has successfully developed and licensed natural health products, medicines, extractions, and ingredients for the biologics, nutraceutical, bioceutical, and cosmetic markets. The Company is also seeking to acquire exclusive intellectual property rights to agricultural technologies to be employed in extraction and processing of botanical ingredients and compounds. The Company follows strict standard operating protocols and adheres to the applicable laws of Canada and foreign jurisdictions. For more information, visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ABATTIS BIOCEUTICALS CORP., "Rob Abenante" Robert Abenante, President & CEO For more information, please visit the Company's website at: www.abattis.com or www.northernvinelabs.com For inquiries, please contact the Company at (604) 674-8232 or at news@abattis.com. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Certain information set out in this news release constitutes forward-looking information, which may include information relating to: construction of the Facility, including its expected specifications; the terms of Ocean Pacifics engagement and the expected satisfaction thereof; and the Companys plans for once the LP is received and construction at the Facility is complete. Forward-looking statements (often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as expect, may, could, anticipate, or will, and similar expressions) may describe expectations, opinions or guidance that are not statements of fact and which may be based upon information provided by third parties. Forward-looking statements are based upon the opinions, expectations and estimates of management of the Company as at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or outcomes to differ materially from those anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Those factors include, but are not limited to risks, uncertainties and other factors that are beyond the control of the Company, risks associated with the industry in general, rules and regulations relating to the cannabis industry, operational risks associated with development and production operations, delays or changes in plans and unanticipated costs and expenses, among others. In light of the risks and uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon forward-looking information. In particular, there is no assurance that construction at the Facility will be completed as expected or at all, that Ocean Pacific will satisfy the terms of its engagement, that Gabriola will be awarded its LP, that the Company will be able to carry out its plans following receipt of the LP and construction of the Facility. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements set out in this news release are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to have been correct. The forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release are expressly qualified, in their entirety, by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update any forward-looking statement contained in this news release. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] ChemTrace Celebrates 25 Years of Analytical Excellence Solution Based Chemistry QUAKERTOWN, Pa., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- ChemTrace, a Quantum Global Technologies' company, celebrates its 25th anniversary of analytical excellence. "Customers in the semiconductor, solar, photonics and OLED industries have entrusted us for 25-years to reliably provide microcontamination analysis of chamber parts, wafers/depositions, chemicals, cleanroom materials, water and airborne molecular contamination. Our copy exact network of laboratories located in the US, Korea and Taiwan are equipped with state-of-the-art analytical testing instruments ready to support trace metal, organics, anion, cation and particle analysis," states Surjany Russell, Director of Sales. ChemTrace is a globally recognized leader of microcontamination analysis and testing for the semiconductor industry. Since its inception in 1993, it has acquired a global reach with copy exact laboratories that are ISO17025:2005 accredited. Along with our sister company, QuantumClean, our service offerings can bring improvement to your operation by solving critical process chamber manufacturing challenges. Visit booth 1232 at SEMICON West, July 10-12, 2018 at the Moscone Center South in San Francisco California, for special celebration events including food, beverages,a commemorative gift and MORE! We look forward to seeing you at the celebration on July 10-11 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm and July 12 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. About Quantum Global Technologies, LLC ChemTrace and QuantumClean are divisions of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC headquartered in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. For 25 years, ChemTrace has provided independent analytical verification of semiconductor process tool chamber part cleaning effectiveness. ChemTrace offers unsurpassed microcontamination analysis of tool parts, wafers and depositions, chemicals, cleanroom materials, DI water and airborne molecular contamination, with over 120 employees in 5 labs located in 3 countries (and coming soon 8 labs in 4 countries). chemtrace.com QuantumClean is the global leader in ultra-high purity sub-10nm outsourced process tool chamber parts cleaning and coating services, tool part life extension and process tool part optimization solutions to the semiconductor wafer fabrication, OEM and OPM industries. With 1,400 employees operating 18 Advanced Technology Cleaning Centers in 8 countries, QuantumClean provides unsurpassed cleaning capability and convenience worldwide. quantumclean.com Media Contacts ChemTrace: Robin Puri, +1-503-251-0979, info@chemtrace.com QuantumClean: Meg Cox, +1-215-892-9300, info@quantumclean.com QuantumClean, ChemTrace, Advanced Technology Cleaning Centers, ATCC, Process Improvement through Consistently Cleaner Parts, Single Part Chemical Clean and SPCC are all registered trademarks of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC. ACS, Atomically Clean Surfaces, Alternative TWAS, Analytical & Engineering Services, C-Coat, Cleancoat, Cleaning, Coating & Testing Center of Excellence, Environmentally Clean Process, ECP, Final Surface Finish, FSF, QGT, M-Coat, PartSmart, PT3, QualClean, Selective Deposition Removal, SDR, Service Request form, SRF, Solution Based Chemistry, TechBriefs, The Perfect Order, The Perfect Qual, The Perfect Process Transfer, Tight-Coat, V-Clean, VeriClean, Waterless Acid, Y-Coat, Z-Coat, Smart, Lean, Clean and Green, Center of Excellence and Validated Ultra-High Purity. Maximum Productivity are all trademarks of Quantum Global Technologies, LLC. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chemtrace-celebrates-25-years-of-analytical-excellence-solution-based-chemistry-300642283.html SOURCE Quantum Global Technologies, LLC [May 03, 2018] FASTSIGNS International Inc., Receives Special 6-Year Franchisees' Choice Designation by Canadian Franchise Association - Award-winning Franchisor Recognized for Its Strong Relationship with Canadian Franchisees, As Well As Extensive Franchisee Support and Training - CARROLLTON, Texas, May 3, 2018 /CNW/ -- FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today it has been recognized by the Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) as a recipient of the Franchisees' Choice designation. FASTSIGNS was recognized for its accomplishment in receiving the designation every year since 2013. "We are incredibly proud of our high level of franchisee satisfaction throughout the FASTSIGNS system and honored to be one of a select few brands that have received this designation from the CFA for six consecutive years," said Catherine Monson, CEO of FASTSIGNS International, Inc. "We are committed to franchisee satisfaction. We will continue to allocate a significant amount of resources in the future, as we have over the last decade, to ensuring FASTSIGNS International's leadership, training, service, and support for our franchisees, as well as the franchisor-franchisee relationship, are world class. We have more than 30 open and approved markets ready to develop in Canada and look forward to continuing to grow the FASTSIGNS brand throughout Canada." The Franchisees' Choice designees are CFA member franchise systems who voluntarily took part in an independently-administered survey. This year, more than 70 CFA member franchise systems participated in the survey. Franchisees were asked to assess their franchisor in key areas of the franchise business model, including the franchisee selection process; franchisee information package; leadership; business planning and marketing; training and support; ongoing operations; and the relationship between the franchisor and franchisee. In the due diligence process of investigating a franchise opportunity, speaking with existing franchisees about the opportunity being explored is essential. For prospective franchisees, the Franchisees' Choice designation identifies that a franchise brand has received solid endorsement and ratings from its franchisees. The 2018 Franchisees' Choice designees are representative of the spectrum of franchise opportunities and the diversity and excellence of CFA members. "The true strength of a franchise system lies in the mtually-rewarding relationship between a franchisor and its franchisees," said Lorraine McLachlan, CFA President and Chief Executive Officer. "Being a Franchisees' Choice designee is an honour and a vote of confidence because the high rankings in franchisee satisfaction come directly from the franchisees themselves." FASTSIGNS currently has over 30 centers throughout Canada, including two recent openings in Calgary and additional centers slated to open in Winnipeg and Edmonton, among other cities, in the coming months. The brand projects opening 5-7 new centers each year over the next several years and is actively seeking prospective franchisees throughout the country, including a Master Franchisee to develop new centers in Quebec. Across North America, FASTSIGNS has over 400 markets ready for development. Internationally, FASTSIGNS is continuing to seek qualified candidates to grow its international footprint in target markets throughout the world, including Brazil, Quebec, North Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Europe, and Latin America. FASTSIGNS International, Inc. was ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category and 70 overall on Entrepreneur magazine's 2018 Franchise 500, the world's first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Acknowledged by entrepreneurs and franchisors as a top competitive tool of measurement, the Franchise 500 recognizes FASTSIGNS, the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100, for its exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate and brand power. FASTSIGNS also has been recognized for its franchisee satisfaction by being named a World Class Franchise by the Franchise Research Institute for five consecutive years and has been ranked by Franchise Business Review as one of the "Best of the Best" for franchisee satisfaction for the last 10 years. Additionally, FASTSIGNS also was named to Franchise Business Review's "Innovative Franchises" list in 2017 and a "Best-in-Category" franchise by Franchise Business Review in 2018. For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679). About FASTSIGNS FASTSIGNS International, Inc. is the largest sign and visual communications franchisor in North America, and is the worldwide franchisor of more than 675 independently owned and operated FASTSIGNS centers in eight countries including the US, Canada, England, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Grand Cayman, Mexico and Australia (where centers operate as SIGNWAVE). FASTSIGNS locations provide comprehensive sign and visual graphic solutions to help companies of all sizes and across all industries attract more attention, communicate their message, sell more products, help visitors find their way and extend their branding across all of their customer touch points including decor, events, wearables and marketing materials. Learn more about sign and visual graphic solutions or find a location at fastsigns.com. Follow the brand on Twitter @FASTSIGNS, Facebook at facebook.com/FASTSIGNS or LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fastsigns. About the Canadian Franchise Association The Canadian Franchise Association (CFA) helps everyday Canadians realize the dream of building their own business through the power of franchising. CFA advocates on issues that impact this dream on behalf of more than 700 corporate members and over 40,000 franchisees from many of Canada's best-known and emerging franchise brands. Beyond its role as the voice of the franchise industry, CFA strengthens and develops franchising by delivering best-practice education and creating rewarding connections between Canadians and the opportunities in franchising. Canadian franchises contribute over $96 billion per year to the Canadian economy and create jobs for more than 1.8 million Canadians. Learn more at www.cfa.ca or www.FranchiseCanada.online. Media Contact: Alisha Sheth Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 asheth@fish-consulting.com SOURCE FASTSIGNS International, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Details of Ford Motor Company's 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders Ford Motor Company (News - Alert) (NYSE:F) will conduct its 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders beginning at 8:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, May 10. The meeting is being conducted virtually through an audio broadcast accessible from a computer, tablet or smart phone device. Shareholders will be able to listen, vote and submit questions from their homes or any remote location with internet connectivity. Members of the news media, and other interested persons, will be able to access the meeting through a listen-only audio webcast. Shareholders and news media will be able to log in beginning at 8:00 a.m. EDT prior to the start of the meeting by visiting www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FORD2018. Access Information: Time: May 10, 2018, 8:30 a.m. EDT Shareholders: Enter information under "Shareholder Login" News Media and Others: Enter information under "Guest Login" Replay: Replays will be available at www.virtualshareholdermeeting.com/FORD2018 approximately 24 hours after the meeting concludes. About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. Ford employs approximately 202,000 people worldwide. For more information regarding Ford, its products and Ford Motor Credit Company, please visit www.corporate.ford.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006337/en/ [May 03, 2018] Siemens USA and Orion Talent Talk Skills Gap, Recruiting and Hiring Veterans at IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Conference Siemens Corporation, a U.S. subsidiary of global technology giant Siemens (News - Alert) AG, and Orion Talent, a total talent solutions provider, take on the growing challenge of where manufacturers should turn for experienced, highly skilled technical talent at the IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo in Raleigh, North Carolina, on May 9. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006373/en/ Employer demand for labor continues to outpace the supply. With the unemployment rate at a 10-year low, manufacturers around the U.S. are scrambling to find enough qualified talent, including an increasing need for mid-level skills. Addressing the skills gap manufacturers face today, Mike Brown, Vice President, Talent Acquisition, Americas Region, Siemens, and Mike Starich, CEO of Orion Talent, team up to present: "Case Study: Insights from Siemens' Workforce Program to Attract and Retain Top Talent" on ay 9 at 11:15 AM EDT. This timely presentation will offer insights into Siemens' newly revamped workforce program to recruit and retain skilled talent and support growth over the next decade. Topics covered include: Social, economic and geopolitical trends impacting the skilled talent shortage Tactics to reshape recruiting, onboarding, retention and training programs Talent acquisition strategies to support growth and change Additionally, the presentation delves into Siemens Corporation's approach to military recruiting, a carefully-crafted program that has resulted in the hiring of over 2,700 Veterans, a retention rate that far surpasses the market norm, and a continuous pipeline of high-caliber military talent. "While Veterans remain a top tier recruiting target for most manufacturers, only a handful of Human Resources departments are satisfied with their military talent programs," explains Starich. "In the program we developed with Siemens, our focus is on determining which roles are well-suited to military experience, the uniqueness of a Veteran's job search situation, as well as supporting their transition into the civilian workplace. Each of these assets are equally important when it comes to finding the right talent, and enabling military job seekers to excel in their new roles." "At Siemens our jobs are highly technical and require significant knowledge and experience," said Brown. "Our previous reliance on a more reactive approach to talent acquisition was not supplying us with the quality and quantity of candidates we required. Many manufacturers continue to struggle with this problem, so I look forward to sharing our story with the hope that we provide some new thinking on how to consistently meet the talent demands of our businesses." Held this year in Raleigh from May 8 to 11, the IndustryWeek Manufacturing & Technology Conference & Expo attracts over 1,500 senior manufacturing professionals from all over the country. The 3-day event focuses on the key elements of advanced manufacturing: lean and continuous improvement, leadership, technology integration, talent management and best practices to achieve operational excellence. About Siemens Corporation Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG (News - Alert) , a global powerhouse focusing on the areas of electrification, automation and digitalization. One of the world's largest producers of energy-efficient, resource-saving technologies, Siemens is a leading supplier of systems for power generation and transmission as well as medical diagnosis. With approximately 372,000 employees in 190 countries, Siemens reported worldwide revenue of $92.0 billion in fiscal 2017. Siemens in the USA reported revenue of $23.3 billion, including $5.0 billion in exports, and employs approximately 50,000 people throughout all 50 states and Puerto Rico. About Orion Talent Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, Orion Talent provides a total talent solution for businesses nationwide, including talent acquisition, recruitment optimization and military hiring solutions. As a military recruiting leader for 27+ years, Orion Talent has a long history of supporting Veterans in their search for meaningful careers. Orion Novotus, an Orion Talent company, provides a full range of recruitment optimization and consulting solutions. Orion Talent has offices nationwide, a recruiting team of hundreds and more than 400 hiring and conference events annually. Visit us at www.oriontalent.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006373/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [May 03, 2018] Convergint Technologies Expands European Business By Acquiring France's Astrec Security SCHAUMBURG, Ill., May 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Convergint Technologies, a worldwide leader in service-based systems integration, today announced the acquisition of French systems integrator Astrec Security, based in suburban Paris. Known as one of the world's top systems integrators, Convergint continues to rapidly expand its global footprint via organic growth and acquisition. The company's ninth acquisition since early 2017, Astrec's suburban Paris location and experience will serve complex global customers that are facing sophisticated integration needs on an enterprise level, according to Convergint's executive chairman and co-founder, Dan Moceri. "We are very excited to have Astrec as the latest addition to Convergint Nation. Expanding our European business into France allows us to better serve our growing global customer base," said Moceri. "Astrec has been a quality sevice partner for Convergint internationally for many years, and we are thrilled that Odile Tanfin, Eric Bois, and all of their colleagues will be joining the Convergint team." "Our team is thrilled to be joining with a company recognized around the world as a leader in our market," said Odile Tanfin, Director of Administration for Astrec Security. "In our conversations with the Convergint team, we realized what a unique opportunity it would be to join with such a like-minded company as Convergint. Both of our organizations are deeply committed to the values we believe in, especially service." Founded in 2003, Astrec offers innovative security solutions to customers throughout Europe, with a focus in access control and video surveillance. Convergint and Astrec share a company culture that is centered around a dedication to customer service, and the joint organization provides a diverse range of service-based solutions supported by a highly experienced worldwide workforce. About Convergint Technologies - Convergint Technologies is a global, industry-leading systems integrator that designs, installs, and services electronic security, fire alarm, and life safety systems. To learn more about Convergint, visit www.convergint.com. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/convergint-technologies-expands-european-business-by-acquiring-frances-astrec-security-300642396.html SOURCE Convergint Technologies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] , 2004 ., . . " ", . "" . : ? - ,? , 2004 .? : , - . , . , , , , . , , - - , - . : , . . . - . , - , . , - ? : , , , - - - -. , , . . . , , , , , , , . , , , , , - , . , . : ? ? : . . , , . , , , . . , . , 2004 . - , , . , . , , . , , . - , , , , , - . : , . , ? : . , 26 , , . , , 81 , 30 . . . , , . , - , . , , , 3 % , . , , , , . , , , , 300 , , . , . . . , , , - . , . : , ? , ? : , , , . , . , , . - . , . , , , , . . : ? : . , , , , , , - . Drew Angerer/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The Trump Organization Wednesday disputed an account by the president's former personal doctor that his office was "raided" in 2017 to collect President Donald Trump's medical records while confirming its chief legal officer was involved in the seizure. The president's former personal doctor, Harold Bornstein, said in an interview Tuesday with NBC News he felt "raped, frightened and sad" when in early February of last year Trump Organization lawyer Alan Gartens and President Trump's then-director of Oval Office operations Keith Schiller came to his office to collect the president's medical records. "At the request of the White House, Dr. Bornstein voluntarily turned over the medical records to Mr. Schiller," a spokesperson for Gartens said in a statement Tuesday to ABC News. "The hand off, which occurred well over a year ago, was peaceful, cooperative and cordial." Bornstein said he was not provided any documentation that would authorize the release of Trump's medical records, in what some have surmised could amount to a violation of patient privacy laws. Bornstein said he also believed the records collection was partly a result of a New York Times interview he gave where he revealed details about the president's health. "Prior to turning over the records, Dr. Bornstein was informed of the reasons for the request and willingly complied," Gartens' spokesperson said. In describing the episode Tuesday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said it's "standard operating procedure for a new president, the White House Medical Unit took possession of the president's medical records." But it's unclear why a lawyer from the president's private company would be present during the collection, following the president's announcement just weeks before of his formal separation from his businesses. Bornstein created further controversy later Tuesday in an interview with CNN when he claimed that the president personally "dictated" a letter during the 2016 campaign that gave the then-candidate a glowing review of Trump's health. "He dictated that whole letter. I didn't write that letter," Bornstein said. "I just made it up as I went along." Questions about the health of both Trump and his opponent Hillary Clinton were a running thread during the campaign. President Trump often publicly questioned Clinton's "stamina" while at the same time his campaign dismissed questions surrounding the letter from Dr. Bornstein that boldly stated, "If elected, Mr. Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." The White House and Trump campaign have not responded to multiple requests for comment from ABC News about whether either disputes Dr. Bornstein's claims. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Kansas City clean energy goals could get a boost from utility partnership City officials hope a partnership with Kansas City Power & Light will help it meet a set of ambitious clean energy goals. Kansas City has an important ally in its push to cut the city's energy consumption and increase its use of renewable power. Civic cheerleader news and something upbeat to consider in between constant rate increases from this local energy monopoly and political power broker. Checkit: KANSAS CITY, Kan. - UPDATE 10 PM 5/2/2017: A man shot by KCK officers Wednesday has died, according to a release from police. Officials have yet to say what led to the shooting but say the incident remains under investigation. Paramedics were called to the scene of an officer-involved shooting in Kansas City, Kan. City Hall seems to think the hotel biz is easy and that's why Mayor Sly & Co gave Mike Burke $30-Million based on some sketches and promises.Here's a look at a once thriving local hotel that did a brisk biz not so long ago, then changed hands a few times and is now home for hobo junkies and a great deal of trash.You decide . . . The General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (Cibafi), the global umbrella of Islamic financial institutions organised its third Global Forum yesterday (May 2) in Istanbul, Turkey. The Forum with the theme of The New Face of Financial Services: Disruptions, Opportunities and the New Normals is organised in partnership with the Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency of Turkey (BRSA) at Raffles Istanbul Hotel. The two-day Forum, gathered stakeholders from the Islamic finance industry, multilateral development institutions, international and national regulatory bodies, policy-makers, and academia to discuss the key emerging issues within the industry. The Forum was attended by more than 350 delegates from over 37 countries. The event was opened by welcoming remarks of Abdelilah Belatik, secretary general, of Cibafi; Abdulhameed M Aboumoussa, governor of Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt & deputy chairman of Cibafi; Meliksah Utku, general manager of Al Baraka Turk Participation Bank and chairman of the Participation Banks Association of Turkey; and Mehmet Ali Akben, chairman, Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency, Turkey. The Regulatory Keynote session was moderated by Adnan Ahmed Yousif, president and chief executive, Al Baraka Banking Group, Bahrain. The session focused on main thoughts as to how regulatory agencies remain relevant in a changing economic environment, where roles and existence of regulators is being questioned by the disruptions in the financial sector. The Forum witnessed the launch of two groundbreaking reports, namely Cibafi Global Islamic Bankers Survey 2018 and Global Takaful Survey 2018, where Belatik reported that having actual perception of Islamic Banks CEOs from 103 Islamic Banks from 31 countries measured on year by year basis is by itself an achievement. This year Cibafi also stepped into the Takaful sector by starting to measure the industry growth drivers and future outlook. Session one, themed Global C-Suite Opening Panel : Leadership Response to the Change, was chaired by Musa A. Shihadeh, chief executive officer, Jordan Islamic Bank. The session focused on CEOs reaction to transformation, and how it affected the leading manners and better usage of resources. The session discussed regional business environment and how to deliver Islamic banking services with a facelift through an ecosystem of e-partnerships. The first day of the Forum was concluded with a Session themed Future of Employment: Are We Ready for the Change?. The session focused on the future of jobs, skills, and wages. And it addressed Artificial Intelligence and robotics, along with Automatization and skills updates required to stay in the job market. Session concluded with Shariah scholars discussion and how it will cope with financial innovations and disruptions. The second day of the Forum will continue with an exclusive Cibafi BREAKFAST Session themed Leadership and Strategy in the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where Rajeev Peshawaria, chief executive officer & executive director of the ICLIF Leadership and Governance Centre, from Malaysia will talk about effective leadership style in a world of 24/7 connectivity, and how it has been changed in the open source era. TradeArabia News Service Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) today (May 3) opened a tunnel on both sides of Sheikh Rashid Street (Al Garhoud and Mina Rashid) comprising four lanes in each direction. This tunnel is part of the Improvement of Sheikh Rashid and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets Intersection Project, said a statement from RTA. The Project is situated at the intersection of Sheikh Rashid Street leading to Al Shindagha northward, and Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street leading to the intersection with Al Kuwait Street, it stated. By opening the Tunnel, the RTA has accomplished the Improvement of Sheikh Rashid-Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Streets Intersection Project. Last February, it opened two main bridges; the first was on Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street comprising two lanes in each direction. The second was a one-lane bridge stretching from Zabeel Street in the direction of Sheikh Rashid Street. The opening of the two bridges contributed to the smooth flow of traffic in the direction of Al Karama and the World Trade Intersection in the direction of Sheikh Zayed Road.-TradeArabia News Service Dubais trade for auto parts and accessories was valued at Dh39.9 billion ($10.8 billion) in 2017, as against Dh38.7 billion during the previous year, marking an increase of three per cent, according to figures released by Dubai Customs. Imports of tyres, batteries, engine components and systems into Dubai were valued at Dh22.35 billion last year, while the value of exports and re-exports coming out of the Emirate was Dh17.54 billion. The volume of trade in Dubais thriving automotive aftermarket has also increased year-on-year, with 2.25 million tonnes of tyres, batteries, engine components and systems shipped through the Emirate in 2017, 8.4 per cent up on 2016. The Dubai auto-parts trade updates were announced to an audience of manufacturers, suppliers, fleet operators, and regulators at the Smart Commercial Vehicles Middle East Conference on the side-lines of the Automechanika Dubai 2018 exhibition. According to Dubai Customs, Japan (Dh5.63 billion), South Korea (Dh3 billion), USA (Dh2.94 billion), Germany (Dh2.69 billion), and China (Dh2.39 billion) were Dubais top country partners last year in terms of total auto parts trade. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia (Dh2 billion), Afghanistan (1.34 billion), Iraq (Dh1.1 billion) Oman (Dh730 million), and Kuwait (Dh580 million) were the Emirates biggest export and re-export markets in 2017, accounting for a combined 33 per cent of Dubais exports and re-exports of auto parts, accessories, tyres, and engine components for the year. The five major trading partners comprised 69 per cent of Dubais total automotive parts imports in 2017. Japan was the top destination from which Dubais car parts originated, claiming Dh5.61 billion of the market and a 25 per cent share of total imports. South Korea followed with Dh2.94 billion worth of exports to Dubai (13 per cent share. USA (Dh2.37 billion), Germany (Dh2.29 billion), and China (Dh2.17 billion) comprise the other three top exporters to Dubai. Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, director of Dubai Customs, said: Growth in this type of trade is a success to the emirates overall external trade. We support and sustain this growth following the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai who always encourages economic diversification. In order to do this, we continually develop our services and customs facilitations to attract investments and help investors maximise their profits. Musabih added: We also encourage innovation as a daily practice in our department, and use the latest technologies and smart applications to reduce time need for cargo clearance. Dubai, as an international and regional hub, succeeded in connecting the global market of spare parts and accessories. We connect manufacturers in Asia, Europe and North America and customs in different markets including the GCC, Arab Countries, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, and South East Asia. Musabih pointed out that Dubai achieved many advancements, especially in infrastructure and transport. Dubais ports, airports and free zones are among the best worldwide, further promoting the Emirate as a global trade partner as it prepares to host the World Expo 2020. Dubai is the epicentre of Middle East and African automotive aftermarket, and its pleasing to see the Emirates spare parts and accessories trade value and volume is back on an upward track, said Ahmed Pauwels, CEO of Messe Frankfurt Middle East, the organiser of Automechanika Dubai. The latest market updates from Dubai Customs are a regular feature of Automechanika Dubai, and were delighted to continue our long-standing relationship as we work together to grow one of the worlds most promising markets for the global aftermarket community. Automechanika Dubai 2018, which runs concludes today (May 3) at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, is the Middle East and Africas largest trade exhibition for the automotive aftermarket and services industry. It features 1,812 exhibitors from 61 countries in its 16th edition, covering the six core product groups of Parts & Components; Electronics & Systems; Repair & Maintenance; Tyres & Batteries; Accessories & Customizing; and Car Wash, Care & Reconditioning. The three-day event is expected to draw in more than 30,000 trade buyers from 135 countries. TradeArabia News Service Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli has appointed Claude Rababy as its new general manager, who brings 35 years of experience in the hospitality industry. The appointment aims at strengthening the managements vision to enhance the groups repute in the sector, as well as plan its growth trajectory in tune with the changing times. Having graduated in 1982 from the Ecole Hoteliere at Thonon Les Bains in France, Rababy has worked with many renowned international brands in the hospitality industry. In 2004, he bagged his Masters Degree (DESS) in Business Administration from the University of Jean Moulin in Lyon, France. During his career spanning between Arab and Western countries, Rababy worked on analysing market patterns, which helped him enhance the hotels performance and increase revenues and profit margins, in addition to working on the standards of the hotels and the implementation of a set of plans & procedures in order to upgrade those facilities. Commenting on his new appointment, Rababy said: I am honoured to join the team of Souq Waqif Boutique hotels by Tivoli, one of Minor Hotels Group brand Tivoli Hotels & Resorts, which differentiate through the range of unique experiences offered, along with innovative and outstanding service. In a short timeframe, Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels by Tivoli has been able to reserve its place on the global tourism map, making it a distinctive tourist destination at the heart of Souq Waqif, rich in heritage, to tell the bright history of Qatar through one of the most important tourist attractions in the country. From our side, we will reaffirm this success by adding many exceptional services that meet the expectations of our guests and visitors, he added. - TradeArabia News Service Palazzo Versace Dubai has been awarded Best Hotel Lobby accolade at Leaders in Hospitality Awards 2018, held on April 29th at St. Regis Dubai. A reputable jury comprising some of the regions key experts presented Mosaico at Palazzo Versace Dubai the Best Hotel Lobby Award for its distinctive design. The venue is a masterpiece which combines the Italian craftsmanship and the elegance of a fashion-branded space. The interiors showcase the Versace lifestyle through the contemporary eyes of artistic director Donatella Versace, the iconic motifs of Versace being present in each detail such as the Medusa head, the Greek key and the Houses legendary prints. The furniture at Mosaico has been carefully designed to provide an intimate experience, ensuring that guests are fully immersed in the Versace lifestyle. A series of artworks set in the hallways feature sketches of the fabulous Atelier Versace gowns. The result is spectacular and developed in context with Palazzo Versaces natural surroundings and local heritage. The lobby features an extraordinary 1,000-sq-m marble mosaic floor, with bespoke furniture and textiles decorated with peacocks, falcons and horses, exclusively designed by Versace for the hotel. The grand chandelier Golden Breeze that welcomes guests right at the entrance is made of amber-tone and crystal-clear elements, and is based on a classic Versace arabesque pattern, shaped to appear as if moved by a soft breeze, bringing delicacy to 3,000 kgs of hand-blown glass. The lobby mosaic marble carpet is composed of 1.5 million pieces, hand cut and laid piece by piece. The mosaic was designed in conjunction with Fantini Mosaici who has created masterpieces in the UAE (Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi, The Sheikh Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque). Palazzo Versace Dubai was also named The Best Luxury Hotel in 2017 by Ctrip the leading online travel agent in China, with more than 250 million customers, and the second largest travel agency in the world. The accolade, which involved 25 million of Ctrip users and an esteemed panel of judges from across the industry, recognised Palazzo Versace Dubai as the top choice for the luxury Chinese travellers. The Russian-speaking travellers also recognised Palazzo Versace Dubai as well. During a gala ceremony that was recently held in Baku, Azerbaijan, the luxury travel consultancy agency Chance, which is based in Ukraine, named Palazzo Versace Dubai the Best Design Hotel. Chance Travel Awards are dedicated to distinguishing and rewarding the elite of the tourism industry and promote the most luxurious properties from all over the world in Ukraine. Accepting the awards, Sandra Tikal, general manager, said: Guest and team experience is at the heart of hospitality and requires passion and commitment. We are very happy that we proved this right at Palazzo Versace Dubai, and we are thankful that both our guests and partners recognise and appreciate our hard work to remain at the top of the luxury travel industry. - TradeArabia News Service A Decade After the Financial Crisis, These Lessons Can't Be Forgotten During the 2008 financial crisis, everyone in the business world, and many observers outside of it, were riveted to the news of the chaos unfolding daily in the markets. I viewed the crisis from a much different seat from the one I occupy now, having been effectively on the front row as the turmoil spread around the globe. I had joined the Risk Management Division at Citigroup in April 2008 to help Vikram Pandit and Brian Leach rebuild what had been a failed function. Of course, that was just before a period in finance developed that was unlike anything we had ever seen. Only months later, I would find myself taking part in meetings at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York during the so-called Lehman Weekend in September 2008. We're now approaching the 10-year anniversary of the events that combined to pose an extraordinary threat to the modern financial system. Clearly, we made it through, but not without making considerable changes to pre-crisis practices. Recently, I had the opportunity to reflect on the crisis and its aftermath as part of a panel called "The Role of Exchanges & Post Trade Infrastructures in Preserving Market Integrity - A Decade on from the Financial Crisis," which took place at the World Federation of Exchanges' IOMA Conference in Chicago. During the discussion, I covered six lessons I've drawn from the financial crisis, all of which I believe are relevant for central counterparties, such as OCC, as well as other types of financial intermediaries. Fat tails can't be underestimated: The returns on the many over-the-counter products that caused issues during the financial crisis are characterized as having "fat tails," that is to say, extreme negative outcomes occur with significantly greater frequency than would be the case in the widely assumed "normal distribution." Those unprepared for such outcomes, whether they were institutions, intermediaries or individuals, experienced significant and sometimes material losses during the crisis. This characteristic was manifest with respect to credit risk exposures, as well as liquidity risk exposures, particularly where liquidity step-in components had been built into certain complex products. Aggregation is a must: In managing or supervising large complex financial institutions, aggregation is extremely demanding, but critical. At one institution, the risk management group brought the aggregate equity exposure to the attention of the institutional securities group management team, only to be told by the head of the equities business that the number was off by a couple of billion dollars - and had the opposite polarity of what the risk group was reporting. It turned out that, while the equity lead understood the exposure of the desks he managed, the equity hedges in the single-name credit default swaps business and elsewhere more than offset the exposure he thought he was managing. Complex booking arrangements across various affiliates are also a challenge for aggregation: It took the firm three days to determine and aggregate all of the Lehman exposures. Many other firms faced similar predicaments. 1 2 3 next For more information on related topics, visit the following channels: The 2018 Bag Lunch Arts Series continues in May with The Hidden History of Mayberry presented by Catawba College professor Gary Freeze. The program begins at noon on Tuesday, May 15, in the Rogow Room at the Transylvania County Library. Dr. Freeze will discuss his theories on the conceptual premise of The Andy Griffith Show, which debuted in 1960. Borrowing from his North Carolina history class at Catawba College, he will use key episodes to explain how Andy Griffith himself helps the states residents understand their heritage and history. The noted history professor will give new depth and clarity to one of the states cultural treasures. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Freeze has taught history at Catawba College for 20 years and has won numerous teaching awards for his depth of knowledge and engaging presentations. He is also active in state history circles. The Bag Lunch Arts Series is sponsored by the Friends of the Transylvania County Library. There is no charge, and the public is invited to bring along a bag lunch. Refreshments for Bag Lunch are provided by the Friends and include cookies and coffee from Blue Ridge Bakery. For more information, call the Transylvania County Library at 884-3151. STATE OF North CAROLINA COUNTY OF TRANSYLVANIA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION File No: 18-E-145 EXECUTORS ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Patricia Galbraith Austin of Transylvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claim against the Estate of Patricia Galbraith Austin to present them to the undersigned on or before July 26, 2018 or the claim will be forever barred thereafter. All persons indebted to said estate, please make immediate payment. This the 26th day of April, 2018. Joan A. Keirstead, Exec. 21 Meadow Lark Dr. Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Attorney: The Neumann Law Firm, PLLC David C. Neumann, Atty. 9 Park Place West, Ste. 102 Brevard, NC 28712 828-884-6575 #13630 T/4/26/4TC-68482 ______________________________ STATE OF North CAROLINA COUNTY OF TRANSYLVANIA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION File No: 18-E-124 EXECUTORS ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of William St. Clair Austin of Transylvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claim against the Estate of William St. Clair Austin to present them to the undersigned on or before July 12, 2018 or the claim will be forever barred thereafter. All persons indebted to said estate, please make immediate payment. This the 12th day of April, 2018. Joan A. Keirstead, Exec. 41 Meadow Lark Dr. Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 Attorney: The Neumann Law Firm, PLLC David C. Neumann, Atty. 9 Park Place West, Ste. 102 Brevard, NC 28712 828-884-6575 #13630 T/4/12/4TC-68341 ______________________________ STATE OF North CAROLINA Transylvania COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT File No. 17-E-386 NOTICE TO CREDITORS I have qualified as Executor of the Estate of Charles R. Petit, Deceased, of Transylvania County, North Carolina. All persons, firms, and corporations having claims against the Estate must present them to me on or before July 12, 2018 or this Notice will be pleaded in bar of recovery. Those indebted to the Estate should make immediate payment to the Executor. Dated: April 12, 2018 Roger Petit, Executor 80 Old Rosman Highway Brevard, NC 28712 Donald E. Jordan 4 West Main Street, Suite 5 Brevard, NC 28712 (828) 862-8735 Attorney for the Executor T/4/12/4TC-68384 ______________________________ ROSMAN FIRE RESCUE, INC. PUBLIC HEARING LEGAL NOTICE Notice is hereby given, pursuant to Public Law No. 100-647 S1013(a)(24)(A) (1988), the undersigned will hold a public hearing on Monday, May 21, 2018, at 7:00 PM at the location of the undersigned listed below to discuss its acquisition by lease purchase of: QTY: 1 DESCRIPTION: Lot containing .28 acres located at 50 Church Street (formerly known as Locust Street), Rosman, NC 28772 And financial arrangments related thereto. Approximate amount of issue: $89,000.00 All interested persons are invited to attend. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and Official Seal, at my office in Rosman, this 1st day of May, 2018. Sandra Greenwood Crowe Corporate Secretary Rosman Fire Rescue, Inc. 624 Pickens Highway Rosman, NC 28772 T/5/3/1TC - 68632 ______________________________ AMENDED NOTICE OF FORECLOSURE SALE 09 SP 165 Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust made by John Konecnik, Jr. by his Attorney in Fact Arlene Konecnik and Arlene Konecnik (PRESENT RECORD OWNER(S): Arlene Konecnik and John P. Konecnik, Jr.) to Trustee Services of Carolina, LLC, Trustee(s), dated the 17th day of July, 2006, and recorded in Book DOC 360, Page 10, in Transyl-vania County Registry, North Carolina, default having been made in the payment of the note thereby secured by the said Deed of Trust and the undersigned, Substitute Trustee Services, Inc. having been substituted as Trustee in said Deed of Trust by an instrument duly recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Transylvania County, North Carolina and the holder of the note evidencing said indebtedness having directed that the Deed of Trust be foreclosed, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer for sale at the courthouse door in the City of Brevard, Transyl-vania County, North Carolina, or the customary location designated for foreclosure sales, at 10:00 AM on May 16, 2018 and will sell to the highest bidder for cash the following real estate situated in the County of Transylvania, North Carolina, and being more particularly described as follows: BEING all of Lot 27 of Block F of the subdivision of a portion of the property of Lake Toxaway Co., as same is resurveyed and replatted and as shown on a plat thereof recorded in Plat File 5, Slide 212, Records of Plats for Transylvania County. Together with improvements located thereon; said property being located at 565 Blue Ridge Road, Lake Toxaway, North Carolina. Trustee may, in the Trustees sole discretion, delay the sale for up to one hour as provided in NCGS 45-21.23. Should the property be purchased by a third party, that party must pay the excise tax, as well as the court costs of Forty-Five Cents ($0.45) per One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) required by NCGS 7A-308(a)(1). The property to be offered pursuant to this notice of sale is being offered for sale, transfer and conveyance AS IS, WHERE IS. Neither the Trustee nor the holder of the note secured by the deed of trust/security agreement, or both, being foreclosed, nor the officers, directors, attorneys, employees, agents or authorized representative of either the Trustee or the holder of the note make any representation or warranty relating to the title or any physical, environmental, health or safety conditions existing in, on, at or relating to the property being offered for sale, and any and all responsibilities or liabilities arising out of or in any way relating to any such condition expressly are disclaimed. Also, this property is being sold subject to all taxes, special assessments, and prior liens or prior encumbrances of record and any recorded releases. Said property is also being sold subject to applicable Federal and State laws. A deposit of five percent (5%) of the purchase price, or seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), whichever is greater, is required and must be tendered in the form of certified funds at the time of the sale. If the trustee is unable to convey title to this property for any reason, the sole remedy of the purchaser is the return of the deposit. Reasons of such inability to convey include, but are not limited to, the filing of a bankruptcy petition prior to the confirmation of the sale and reinstatement of the loan without the knowledge of the trustee. If the validity of the sale is challenged by any party, the trustee, in their sole discretion, if they believe the challenge to have merit, may request the court to declare the sale to be void and return the deposit. The purchaser will have no further remedy. Additional Notice for Residential Property with Less than 15 rental units, including Single-Family Residential Real Property An order for possession of the property may be issued pursuant to N.C.G.S. 45-21.29 in favor of the purchaser and against the party or parties in possession by the clerk of superior court of the county in which the property is sold. Any person who occupies the property pursuant to a rental agreement entered into or renewed on or after October 1, 2007, may after receiving the notice of foreclosure sale, terminate the rental agreement by providing written notice of termination to the landlord, to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 10 days but not more than 90 days, after the sale date contained in this notice of sale, provided that the mortgagor has not cured the default at the time the tenant provides the notice of termination. Upon termination of a rental agreement, the tenant is liable for rent due under the rental agreement prorated to the effective date of the termination. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE SERVICES, INC. SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE c/o Hutchens Law Firm P.O. Box 1028 4317 Ramsey Street Fayetteville, North Carolina 28311 Phone No: (910) 864-3068 https://sales.hutchenslaw firm.com Case No: 1019342 (FC.FAY) T/5/3/2TC-68501 ______________________________ NORTH CAROLINA Transylvania COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE: 17-E-385 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF MORTON HOWISON SMITH NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Morton Howison Smith, deceased, late of Transyl-vania County, North Carol-ina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Estate to present such claims to the undersigned on or before August 3, 2018, or this Notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of May, 2018. Susanne Bowers, Executrix Estate of Morton Howison Smith c/o Patrick D. Newton, Attorney at Law Patrick D. Newton, P.C. PO Box 1089 Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 (828) 384-3700 T/5/3/4TP-68551 ______________________________ STATE OF North CAROLINA COUNTY OF TRANSYLVANIA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 18-E-137 EXECUTORS ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Annie D. Moras of Transy-lvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claim against the Estate of Annie D. Moras to present them to the undersigned on or before July 19, 2018 or the claim will be forever barred thereafter. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment. Dated: April 19, 2018. Martine T. Dowd 16 Arreba St. Martinez, CA 94553 T4/19/ 4TP-68440 ______________________________ STATE OF North CAROLINA COUNTY OF TRANSYLVANIA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 18E138 EXECUTORS ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Carol Ann Richey Fisher of Transylvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claim against the Estate of Carol Ann Richey Fisher to present them to the undersigned on or before July 19, 2018 or the claim will be forever barred thereafter. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment. Dated: April 19, 2018. Kimberly F. Mathis 386 Kim Miller Road Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 T/4/19/4TP-68443 ______________________________ STATE OF North CAROLINA COUNTY OF TRANSYLVANIA IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 18-E-150 EXECUTORS ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Michael Steven Kilpatrick, Sr. of Transylvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claim against the Estate of Michael Steven Kilpatrick, Sr. to present them to the undersigned on or before July 26, 2018 or the claim will be forever barred thereafter. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment. Dated: April 26, 2018. Michael Steven Kilpatrick, Jr. PO Box 856 Horse Shoe, NC 28742 T/4/26/4TP-68513 ______________________________ STATE OFNORTH CAROLINA COUNTY OF Transylvania IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 18E125 EXECUTORS ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE Having qualified as Co-Executors of the Estate of Gaylord Oscar Shepherd of Transylvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claim against the Estate of Gaylord Oscar Shepherd to present them to the undersigned on or before July 12, 2018 or the claim will be forever barred thereafter. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment. Dated: April 12, 2018. Ann Shepherd Hertzberg 279 Virginia Brock Road Lake Toxaway, NC 28747 Scott Brewster Shepherd 1680 Sacketts Drive Lawanceville, GA 30043 T/4/12/4TP-68383 ______________________________ NORTH CAROLINA Transylvania COUNTY IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION BEFORE THE CLERK FILE: 18-E-59 IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF LOIS KNOPF SMITH NOTICE TO CREDITORS AND DEBTORS Having qualified as Executrix of the Estate of Lois Knopf Smith, deceased, late of Transylvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons, firms and corporations having claims against the said Estate to present such claims to the undersigned on or before August 3, 2018, or this Notice will be pleaded in the bar of their recovery. All persons indebted to said Estate will please make immediate payment. This the 3rd day of May, 2018. Susanne Bowers, Executrix Estate of Lois Knopf Smith c/o Patrick D. Newton, Attorney at Law Patrick D. Newton, P.C. PO Box 1089 Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 (828) 384-3700 T/5/3/4TP-68550 ______________________________ STATE OF North Carolina COUNTY OF Transylvania IN THE GENERAL COURT OF JUSTICE SUPERIOR COURT DIVISION FILE NO. 18-E-146 EXECUTORS ADMINISTRATORS NOTICE Having qualified as Executor of the Estate of Lois Whitmire Beshears of Transylvania County, North Carolina, this is to notify all persons having claim against the Estate of Lois Whitmire Beshears to present them to the undersigned on or before July 26, 2018 or the claim will be forever barred thereafter. All persons indebted to said estate please make immediate payment. Dated: April 26, 2018. Charles Wayne Brown PO Box 193 Pisgah Forest, NC 28768 T/4/26/4TP-68515 Moms Demand Action The Transylvania Chapter of Moms Demand Action/Everytown For Gun Safety will hold its monthly meeting on Sunday, May 6, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church, located at 24 Varsity St. in Brevard. The group will present information about current state and federal gun safety regulations and make plans for the June 2 National Gun Violence Awareness Day. Rotary Club Of Pisgah Forest For its May 9 meeting, the Rotary Club of Pisgah Forest will feature its own Joan Van Orman of Focused Marketing. Van Orman will speak about the development of the forthcoming brochure, A Photographers Guide to Transylvania County. This first-of-its-kind brochure is being produced with a grant from the Transylvania Tourism Development Authority and will be available for free at several local sites. It includes many images from local and visiting photographers that will be shown during the meeting. The public is always welcome to attend the breakfast meetings, listen to the guest speakers and share a friendly and delicious buffet breakfast at the Pisgah Fish Camp every Wednesday at 8 a.m. For information on Rotary service, contact Don Mozley at dpmoz [email protected] or (828) 877-5820 or visit http://www.pisgahforestrotary.org. Election day voting at one Transylvania County precinct will be very different this primary, according to the Election Center. The voters in the Brevard #3 precinct who vote at the Transylvania County Rescue Squad Brevard Unit on Fisher Road will be voting by paper ballot. In 2013, state legislation was passed that all 100 North Carolina counties would vote by paper ballot by January 2019. This meant that all direct record voting machines, like the ones used in Transylvania County, would no longer be certified in North Carolina. Therefore, any counties using a direct record system would have to purchase new voting equipment. The Election Center started the process to purchase new equipment in 2017, with plans to buy the equipment in 2018 and implement the new voting procedures in the 2019 municipal elections. If the equipment being tested by Brevard #3 on May 8 proves acceptable, the Board of Elections will request permission from the Board of Commissioners to proceed with the purchase. Once commissioners approve the purchase, the Board of Elections will ask the State Board of Elections and Ethics Commission for final approval to move forward with purchasing the new equipment. The purchasing process takes several months to complete, and therefore, requires elections offices to plan a year or more in advance for the purchase of new voting equipment. When the law requiring paper ballots was passed, the legislature gave counties plenty of time to implement new equipment prior to 2019, according to the Elections Center. However, the absence of a State Board due to legal disputes for more than a year required many counties, including Transylvania, to wait until the State Board could be reconstituted earlier this year. The counties are now authorized to proceed in compliance with the new voting laws. Voters in Brevard #3 will see many of the same processes as they have become accustomed to when voting in person on Election Day. The ballot will be paper instead of a computer screen and they will vote by coloring in the oval next to the name of the candidate for whom they wish to vote. To cast their ballot, the voter will insert the voted ballot into a scanning tabulator that will record the vote. A message that the ballot has been accepted will complete the voting process. When the new machines are purchased, the Board of Elections plans to have several opportunities for voters throughout the county to learn about the new equipment prior to its expected implementation in 2019. Fred M. Osteen Jr., 79, of Brevard, passed Friday, April 27, 2018. A native of Greenville, S.C., he was the son of the late Fred and Lillian Osteen. In addition to his parents, his nephew, Scott Osteen, also preceded him in death. A United States Marine Corps veteran, he met his wife, Ruth, while attending Brevard College before furthering his education at Clemson University. His career kept him in Western North Carolina before retiring from the real estate industry in 2000. He spent much of his time during retirement fishing and spending time with those he cherished most. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth S. Osteen; their two children, daughter, Ruth Anne and her husband, Orville Jones, of Dayton, Ohio, and his son, Fred M. "Sam" and his wife, Lisa Osteen, of Brevard; five grandchildren, Jason, Casey and his wife, April, Taylor and his fiancee, Danielle, AnnMarie, and Lance; two great-grandchildren, Caine and Owynn; a brother, Frank Bernard Osteen; two nephews, Lenny and David; and a niece, Shawn. A memorial service and celebration of his life will be held at noon, Saturday, May 5, 2018, in the chapel of Moore-Blanchard Funerals & Cremations, with Zack Christy officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, May 3 They come here as orphans but grow up to support and make their own family, says theatre director Rajendra Singh, who has become familiar with the orphans at the Central Khalsa Orphanage like his own family. The filmmaker has made a documentary on the lives of the inmates at the orphanage, profiling few of the kids, sneaking a peak into their lives. The purpose of this documentary is to tell the world about the stories of these kids, the tragedies they have suffered and how they have come to terms with the life at orphanage, peacefully reconciling with the past and building towards a future, says Singh. The 15-minute documentary will focus on the back stories of these kids, some of who come from distant states like Karnataka, Bihar and even Nepal. The Central Khalsa Orphanage, established way back in 1904 in Amritsar, has a lot of history associated with it, much like several other places of this city. Most people know that Shaheed Udham Singh lived here, but its history also involves the numerous stories of abandonment and loss that these kids come with. Singh narrates the story of a six-year-old inmates, who went home from school one day and enjoyed a meal with his mother, only to wake up and find her dead the next morning. The pain in their eyes, the feeling of hopelessness is evident. The orphanage aims to do is not just give them food and shelter and clothing, but also give them education, empowerment to make a better future, says Singh. The documentary features the process of making these kids self-reliant, teaching them gurmat sangeet, kirtan and opening them to the spiritual healing, he says. I have worked with these kids for five years, teaching them drama and theatre. I try to build their confidence during my sessions, similar to the attempts by the Chief Khalsa Diwan trust that runs the orphanage. The Khalsa School run by the orphanage has alumnus now spread across the world, including Ragi Iqbal Singh, informed Singh. Singh plans to release the documentary soon. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Washington, May 2 An Indian-American-owned IT company in California was on Wednesday asked to pay USD 1,73,044 in wages to 12 of its foreign employees, most of them from India, in violations of the H-1B visa program salary requirements. Investigations carried out by US Department of Labours Wage and Hour Division revealed that some of the H-1B employees that information technology provider Cloudwick Technologies Inc. brought from India with promised salaries of up to USD 8,300 per month instead received as little as USD 800 net per month. Notably, the crackdown on the company came just a day after many countries in the world celebrated the International Labour Day (International Workers Day or May Day). Based out of Newark in California in the famed Silicon Valley Indian-American Mani Chhabra is the founder and CEO of the Cloudwick Technologies, as per the companys website. It describes itself as leading provider of bimodal digital business services and solutions to the Global 1000. Its services include big data, cloud, advanced analytics, business intelligence modernisation, data science, big data pilot-to-production, IoT, mobile application development. According to the company, its clients include the likes of Bank of America, Comcast, Home Depot, Intuit, JP Morgan, NetApp, Target, Visa, and Walmart. Investigators found that the company paid impacted employees well below the wage levels required under the H-1B program based on job skill level, and also made illegal deductions from workers salaries. The intent of the H-1B foreign labour certification program is to help American companies find the highly skilled talent they need when they can prove that a shortage of US workers exists, said Susana Blanco, Wage and Hour Division District Director in San Francisco. The resolution of this case demonstrates our commitment to safeguard American jobs, level the playing field for law-abiding employers, and protect guest workers from being paid less than they are legally owed, Blanco said. In addition to the recovery of back wages, the IT employer has also signed an enhanced compliance agreement requiring them to hire an independent third-party monitor to help ensure future compliance, a media release said. To further deter and detect abuse, US Citizenship and Immigration Services has established a dedicated email address which will allow individuals (including both American workers and H-1B workers who suspect they or others may be the victim of H-1B fraud or abuse) to submit tips, alleged violations and other relevant information about potential H-1B fraud or abuse. Silicon Valley companies and high-tech ventures are among the largest employers of foreign workers with H-1B visas. The number of visas awarded each year is capped at 85,000. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Sumedha Sharma Tribune News Service Gurugram, May 3 Yet another gang-rape has brought security of women in the city under scanner as a 19-year-old girl was raped by five men, including an auto-rickshaw driver, who picked her up while she was waiting for a bus. The victim, who hails from Aligarh, was waiting at Sohna bus stand when the key accused, the driver picked her up on a shared auto. He reportedly told the victim that the bus had left and she could get a train from Gurugram railway station and she sat in the auto. He, however, took her to Raisina crusher zone where four other men stood waiting and all of them raped her. Following day-long investigations, police have managed to nab the accused, 32-year-old Aakash, a resident of Dhunela village, and seized his auto-rickshaw. According to the complaint filed by the woman, who works as a brick kiln labourer in Ghasera Nuh, she said it was on Tuesday around 8 pm when she was waiting near Sohna bus stand for an Aligarh bus that the accused picked her up. After I sat in his auto, he turned towards crusher zone and when I objected he said it was a shared auto and he had to get a passenger from there. He, however, stopped at a secluded spot and pulled me in bushes, there were four other men waiting and all pounced on me. They threatened to murder me if I made things difficult for them, said the victim. She even alleged that she was forced to drink a sedative which made her unconscious and when she came back to her senses she realised that all had fled. She somehow managed to reach home and told her brother. The victim gave the police the lead by saying she had heard the name Akash repeatedly from men who raped her and following this police quizzed all auto drivers plying on route and nabbed the accused who along with four others have been booked under Sections 376-D (gang rape), 328 (causing hurt by means of poison etc), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC at Bhondsi police station. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Panipat, May 3 The Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB) has imposed a fine of Rs 27,500 on 12 farmers of various villages in the district for burning wheat crop residue. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a ban on stubble burning which causes air pollution and other health problems. Following the NGT orders, the Agriculture Department has directed all the Agriculture Development Officers (ADOs) and the field functionaries to keep a vigil. Sunil Mann, SDO, Agriculture Department, said a team comprising a patwari and an official from the HSPCB conducted joint inspection. He said, In the last season, there were 31 teams, but this time the department has fixed responsibility of the field functionary concerned, including ADOs, to check stubble burning. The fine has been imposed on 12 farmers of Parahalad Pur Khalila, Shahpur, Raja Kheri, Seewah, Manana, Dehra and Dhodhpur villages of the district, he said, adding that eight more cases of stubble burning had been detected. Twelve cases of stubble burning have been reported so far in the district and Rs 27,500 fine has been imposed on 12 farmers, said Bhupender Singh Chahl, Regional Officer, Haryana State Pollution Control Board (HSPCB). Besides, eight cases of stubble burning were reported by the teams so far and the farmers would be challaned shortly, he said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Dharamsala, May 3 Former minister and senior Congress leader from Kangra GS Bali on Thursday alleged that the BJP government was succumbing to pressure groups. He also blamed the previous Congress government for encouraging illegal constructions by bringing in retention policy in which 100 per cent deviation from original maps was proposed to be legalised. The policy was, however, rejected by the High Court. Addressing a press conference here, Bali alleged that the incident involving an officer being shot dead while implementing the Supreme Court order was most unfortunate. The incident had tarnished the image of the state. The incident occurred as many top ministers in the government, under pressure from the lobby of hoteliers, were issuing statements that the government would provide them relief in some form. Hoteliers were putting up resistance during the drive with the expectation that the government might bail them out sooner or later. The state government should give a strong message to violators by taking stern action, Bali said. The previous government was also responsible for booming illegal structures. It brought in retention policy. amansharma@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Solan, May 3 The police on Thursday arrested Vijay Singh, the owner of Kasauli guest house who allegedly shot a woman officer, from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh. A Solan police team led by an SHO, who was coordinating with the Delhi police, managed to nab Singh from Mathura in a joint operation. A police official confirmed the arrest. Assistant Town and Country Planner Shail Bala Sharma had on May 1 gone to supervise the demolition of unauthorised construction at Kasauli's Narayani guest house where its owner Vijay Singh had allegedly shot at her. She later succumbed to injuries, while another government official accompanying her had sustained serious injuries. The four teams, which had been constituted to nab the guest house owner, collected various information, including his frequent telephonic conversations with some people from various places. The accused did not use his cell phone and it was found switched off. He had shaved off his moustache and was sporting a thin crop of hair to conceal his identity. He is being brought to Solan. Vijay Singh had bought new set of clothes and was found sitting in a temple by a three-member police team led by the Kasauli SHO. The team was working under the directions of SIT head Additional SP Shiv Kumar who tracked Singh's movements and directed the team to trace him in Mathura. Meanwhile, the state government has transferred Solan SP Mohit Chawla and Parwanoo DSP Ramesh Sharma to police headquarters following rap from the Supreme Court in inept handling of Kasauli demolition case. Additional SP Shiv Kumar has been entrusted the task of SP, while Ajay Rana is the new Parwanoo DSP. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Ambika Sharma Tribune News Service Solan, May 3 More than 48 hours after the fatal shooting of Assistant Town and Country Planner Shail Bala during a demolition drive in Kasauli on Tuesday, the Solan police in a joint operation with the Delhi Police arrested the accused, Vijay Singh, from the Mathura-Vrindavan Road in Mathura on Thursday evening. Additional SP Shiv Kumar, who headed a special investigation team (SIT), provided technical inputs, including the location, to the teams tracking the movement of the hotelier. The help of the Delhi Police was sought after his movement was traced to Delhi and subsequently Mathura. Solan SP Mohit Chawla said Singh not only purchased new clothes but also shaved his moustache and trimmed his hair to evade detection. The investigating team traced his location to Mathura on the basis of calls made to an acquaintance. Singh, who had reportedly taken a Rs 10-lakh loan, was under debt as he had spent at least Rs 15 lakh on court cases and was supposed to pay Rs 7 lakh in penalty imposed by the National Green Tribunal. Meanwhile, under fire for failing to aptly handle the demolition drive, the government in the evening transferred Solan SP Mohit Chawla and Parwanoo DSP Ramesh Sharma to the police headquarters. Additional SP Shiv Kumar will handle the charge of SP, while DSP Ajay Kumar Rana will be the Parwanoo DSP. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Hoshiarpur, May 3 IMA Punjab fully supports the MR vaccination campaign launched in Punjab by Govt of India and appeals to general public to cooperate fully in this gigantic task of eliminating measles and rubella by 2020. IMA Punjab strongly condemns the spreading of mischievous messages on social media against this programme by some miscreants for their vested interests . Dr Jatinder Kansal, State President IMA Punjab and Dr Rajender Sharma Past State President IMA Punjab in a joint statement issued here said there was no truth in the rumours. The even IMA warns such elements to desist from their nefarious designs to sabotage this programme. They also said the measles immunisation directly contributed to the reduction of under 5 child mortality, and in combination with the rubella vaccine, it will control rubella and prevent CRS (Congenital Rubella Syndrome). The Measles-Rubella campaign is a part of global efforts to reduce illness and deaths due to measles and rubella/CRS in the country.) Dr. Sharma said that all children between 9 months to 15 yrs of age are to be covered under this scheme. Already 13 states have been covered under this programme. These injections will give protection against measles and rubella diseases which are a major cause of mortality. Rubella causes congenital anomalies in new born. This is a big physical and socio-economic burden on the society. This programme will considerably reduce incidences of these two diseases and contribute towards healthy children, healthy state and a healthy nation. He said this programme had been finalised in consultation with top experts nationally and internationally. There should not be any concern with quality of the injections as these had been approved by the World Health Organisation. MR Vaccine is a safe and an effective vaccine, in use for over 40 years and in many countries across the world. The same vaccine is being given in routine immunization programme of India and in many neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar, and in USA, Japan, Canada, Australia etc. IMA Punjab appeals to all its members to properly guide the parents and encourage them to get their children vaccinated. They should allay the fears of the parents in this regard, said Dr Kansal. DC appeals to public not to pay heed to rumours Hoshiarpur: The Deputy commissioner Vipul Ujwal has appealed to the residents not to pay heed to the rumors being spread against the Measles Rubella Vaccination campaign. He also said it was the responsibility of the district administration to give support to this campaign, so that children could be safeguarded from serious diseases. He was interacting with the journalists on Thursday regarding the MR vaccine campaign. Addressing the press conference, he said the false rumours being circulated on social media about MR vaccination have to be done away with. The due process was being followed by the government but some people have been mislead by false perceptions regarding this campaign. He said the campaign, launched by the government to save the children from Measles and Rubella was very commendable because the price of this vaccine is between Rs 1,500 to 2,000 in private sectors while it was being provided completely free of cost by the government. He said by 2020, the government of India had decided to make the country a measles as well as rubella-free country. amansharma@tribunemail.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 3 It was a "rare" combination of more than two weather systems that led to havoc over North India on Wednesday, causing the death of nearly 100 persons and widespread damage to property and crops. Heavy dust storms and squalls across several parts of West and North on Wednesday killed nearly 100 persons and injured hundred more in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The weather activity also left behind a trail of destruction, uprooting trees and disrupting power supply in several places, including Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, say reports. Rain is expected to continue for a couple of more days but meteorologists say its intensity will not be as severe. Also, the ongoing weather activity will not affect performance of monsoon, which this year has been predicted to be "normal". So what exactly did happen yesterday? Meteorologists say it was a "rare combination of at least three systems" that left behind a trail of destruction across the North. A western disturbance (WD) led to the creation of cyclonic circulation over the Northwest- Rajasthan and adjoining Punjab and Haryana, explains Mahesh Palawat of private forecaster Skymet. Resultantly, thunder clouds developed over Rajasthan and parts of Haryana. The cyclonic circulation then travelled via an already existing trough to Bihar via Uttar Pradesh. The trough further received moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Temperatures were high and so was the vertical extent of clouds - combinations that gave rise to violent weather activity in the region. "Because the temperatures were high, the intensity of the weather systems also increased. Rain is expected to continue for a couple of more days but the intensity will not be as high because of a drop in temperatures. Thundershowers are common in the pre-monsoon period but the intensity seen yesterday was rare," explains Palawat. "Strong low-level convergence, moisture incursion and presence of jet speed winds in upper levels provided conditions conducive for occurrence of severe thunder squalls and heavy rains," adds the IMD. While this particular WD is gradually moving eastwards, successive systems are expected to affect Western Himalayas in the coming days, resulting in rain and thundershower activities till May 8. A fresh WD can be expected on May 5, leading to isolated to scattered rains/thundershowers over Western Himalayan region and plains of the Northwest, says the IMD. "Weather will not go completely dry for at least next one week. Therefore, we can say that whenever there is a prolonged spell of rain over the hills, it can lead to landslide and road blocks in the hilly region," warns Skymet. Meanwhile, scattered to widespread rainfall/thunderstorm activity is also very likely over East and Northeast during next three to four days because of combination of various weather systems. amansharma@tribunemail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 3 As the hearing on petitions challenging Aadhaar Act reaches a crescendo, senior counsel Shyam Divan, representing petitioners, on Thursday attacked the controversial unique identification number before the Supreme Court, terming it "technologically brilliant, but constitutionally flawed". Replying to the arguments advanced by Attorney General KK Venugopal and other senior counsel representing UIDAI and some state governments on 36th day of hearing, Divan told a five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra that Aadhaar created a mass surveillance tool which would have "chilling effects" on fundamental rights of individuals. "I don't believe that in 2018 the Supreme Court of India is going to usher in such an era of mass surveillanceMay be Aadhaar is technologically brilliant but constitutionally it's flawed" Divan told the Bench, which also included justices AK Sikri, AM Khanwilkar, DY Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan. Noting that technology was important and no one could do without it, Divan said a "balancing act was needed to safeguard fundamental rights of individuals, including right to privacy". "In the year 2018, can the Supreme Court take a chance or will it take a firm stance for protection of fundamental rights," he asked. Justice Chandrachud, who interjected Divan several times, asked him to spell out what all safeguards he would like the court to prescribe, in case it attempted to strike a balance between fundamental rights of individuals and collective interest of society represented by the State. Divan, who would resume his arguments on Tuesday, pointed out that the entire Aadhaar infrastructure was based on self-verification process and agencies appointed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) did not verify information furnished by applicants. Earlier, Attorney General KK Venugopal insisted that the Department of Telecommunications' order to link all mobile phone numbers with Aadhaar were based on orders issued by the top court. The Bench had on April 27 clarified that it had only said verification of mobile phone users should be done in the interest of national security and there was no order making linking of Aadhaar with mobile phone numbers mandatory. The Bench had on Wednesday questioned the use of Aadhaar number by private companies, saying it may not have the necessary nexus with the objective of the law that was primarily aimed at extending benefit of government schemes to the poor. rchopra@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service Guwahati, May 3 The in-charge of a police outpost in Kamrup district of Assam was arrested on Wednesday night on charges of molesting a minor girl inside the outpost. The in-charge of Ramdia police outpost, Binod Das, was arrested based on an FIR lodged by the father of the victim. As per allegation, Das had molested the victim while she was held overnight in the outpost on April 12. The girl had eloped with a boy and was rescued by the police that day and was held overnight in the police outpost. A special police team had investigated the case which led to the arrest of the policeman. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, May 3 Striking a defiant note on the renaming controversy, Dyal Singh Colleges governing body chairman Amitabh Sinha on Thursday said Delhi University was an autonomous body and the Centre had no right to interfere in its administrative matters. His comments came amid a controversy over renaming of the Dyal Singh (Evening) College as Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College by the governing body despite stiff opposition. Sinha said DU was an autonomous university and, therefore, the government didnt have any say in its administrative matters. The HRD Minister should have spoken to me first to know the exact status before making such a statement. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had on Wednesday asserted that the government would not allow the renaming of the college and would take action against the college management committee for going ahead with it without ministrys consent. Sinha said: The renaming process was legally correct and in the favour of students. Delhi University is yet to take a final decision on it. If the HRD Minister believes legal action can be taken for that, I welcome such a step. During Partition, Sikhs were forced to leave Pakistan. They had nothing when they came to India, he said. The college land was not donated by Dyal Singh Majithia. It was taken on lease from the DDA (Delhi Development Authority) at the cost of Re 1 to run the institution. The university had taken over the college at the request of the management committee when it failed to run it. The land donated by Dyal Singh for the college is in Pakistan, he said. When I first had a meeting with Javadekar, I had insisted that the issue be resolved by the Vice-Chancellor and the governing body and he had shown interest then. We found a midway and named it Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College. I dont know whether he is under some kind of pressure, Sinha said. rchopra@tribunemail.com Islamabad, May 3 Pakistans top civil-military leadership has directed authorities to forcefully pursue the alleged violations of Indus Waters Treaty with India and the World Bank, the guarantor of the agreement. The last round of talks between India and Pakistan over the issue was facilitated by the World Bank in Washington in September. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abassi chaired the 21st meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held at the Prime Ministers house on Wednesday. According to an official statement, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission briefed the meeting on the water policy approved by the Council of Common Interests on April 24, 2018, along with a water charter, which was signed by the Prime Minister and the chief ministers of four provinces. The Committee observed that this was a very significant achievement and, if properly implemented, could prove instrumental in averting the water crisis that was seriously threatening Pakistan. Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, the waters of the eastern rivers--the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi--had been allocated to India and that of the western rivers--the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab--to Pakistan except for certain non-consumptive uses. Pakistan had approached the World Bank in 2016, raising concerns over the designs of two hydroelectricity projects located in Jammu and Kashmir. It had demanded that the World Bank, which is the mediator between the two countries under the water distribution pact, set up a court of arbitration to look into its concerns. The (NSC) Committee also directed the Water Resources Division to forcefully pursue the violations of the Indus Water Treaty by India with the World Bank, according to the statement. The Committee also reviewed the prevailing situation in the Indian Ocean Region and directed to keep a robust security posture for the maintenance of security and safeguarding national interests of Pakistan. The participants reviewed the proposed administrative reforms package for Pakistan-administrated Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. No details of the reforms have been so far shared officially, but according to various media reports the reforms may include steps to further integrate Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan. It is the region though which the multibillion dollars China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes. The meeting was attended by Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Director General ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua. PTI sanjiv@tribunemail.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 3 A year and a half ago, Parminder Singh of Manjh village in Majitha, Amritsar, was caught for smuggling 17-kg heroin into Punjab from across the International Border. He was said to have received a commission of Rs 60,000 per kg for transporting it further. In March this year, a team of the Special Task Force (STF) formed by the Capt Amarinder Singh government to check drug smuggling nabbed Parminders brother Gurlal Singh with 40 kg of heroin. He had also received the consignment from across the border, but was supplying it further at a commission of Rs 2 lakh per kg. While this is an indicator of rates for peddling having shot up over the past year, the number of drug peddlers on the job seems to have remained consistent. As many as 2,573 persons were arrested by Punjab Police till March 15 this year which is 34 a day. For all of last year, the figure was around 13,000 35 a day. The National Crime Records Bureau in its 2016-17 report said more than 90 per cent of those arrested for smuggling were repeat offenders. Over the past four years of Punjabs battle against drugs launched after the 2014 election various security agencies have clamped down in different ways on the business that alleged smuggler and former DSP Jagdish Bhola had claimed to be worth Rs 6,000 crore a year. Officials of the BSF, Punjab Police, STF and the NCB say the rate of supplying heroin in Punjab has shot up from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh per kg, which is an indication of how risky the business has become. However, the increased vigil has not deterred people like Gurlal. His brother, father and grandfather were also said to have been in the same profession, and seem unable to change the vocation. Supply chain The fact that there are suppliers still in business, and their rates have gone up, indicates that the demand for drugs continues. Mohinderjit Singh, Zonal Director of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), Chandigarh, says the issue has to be seen in the context of demand and supply. Smugglers will keep at it as long as there is demand. One who needs the drug will arrange it anyhow; it takes up to two years for a heroin addict to give up fully. Till then, demand from such addicts will keep the supply chain running. He, however, points out that the high number of arrests shows security agencies are making an effort to check the flow. Mohinderjit Singh also points to another factor, Over the past year, the production of opium increased significantly in Afghanistan. This brought down the basic price of the contraband, resulting in more attempts at smuggling. At the same time, however, a couple of additional battalions were posted at the border, which prevented a corresponding increase in smuggling. There is also increased vigil by Punjab Police and other agencies. However, the challenge will not be overcome till the demand is curbed. A Punjab Police official who has been handling drugs cases, but did not want to be identified, told The Tribune, Indian smugglers during interrogation have told us that they are supplied heroin by Pakistan smugglers at Rs 4 lakh per kg now, which is down from Rs 10 lakh earlier. In the Indian market, however, it is sold for Rs 10-20 lakh per kg at different stages, and eventually for Rs 1 crore in western countries. Rehabilitation key Harpreet Sidhu, ADGP-cum-STF chief, believes rehabilitation is paramount in bringing down the demand. The supply lines have been choked, and the government is implementing an EDP strategy (enforcement, de-addiction and prevention), which is comprehensive action against drug abuse. Research suggests that treatment of addicts is the most effective way of reducing demand and consumption at the least cost. It is here that the initiative of Drug Awareness Prevention Officers (DAPO) will ensure that each addict can obtain sustained treatment with assistance from members of the community, Sidhu says. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora says he is satisfied with the results, and more will be done in the coming days. The Punjab Government has given clear directions for the elimination of drugs and to free our youth of this burden. We stand committed. There has been a lot of improvement, and we are confident of more success in this fight. rchopra@tribunemail.com Thane, May 3 A Bhiwandi court has asked Congress President Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on June 12 to record his plea in a defamation case filed against him by an RSS functionary. The court on Wednesday heard arguments on Gandhis application, seeking a detailed recording of evidence instead of a summary trial, and adjourned the matter till June 12. The court said that on June 12 it would pass an order on the application and would also record the defendants (Rahul Gandhi) plea, and asked him to remain present on that day. Rajesh Kunte, a local worker of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, had in 2014 filed the case against Rahul Gandhi after watching his speech in Thanes Bhiwandi town where the Congress leader alleged that the RSS was behind the killing of Mahatma Gandhi. He filed the case against the Congress president over the latters alleged statement at an election rally near Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014 that the RSS people had killed (Mahatma) Gandhi. Kunte claimed in his case that this statement slandered the reputation of the RSS. While the trial in such cases is normally held summarily, Rahul Gandhi filed an application last month seeking for it to be conducted as a summons trial. A summary trial is short and will be completed with just submitting the written arguments. We have sought for a summons trial which would go into the in-depth recording of the evidence, Rahuls lawyer Narayan Iyer said. The case relates to historical facts and hence, we need to rely on several documents and would like to record the evidence of experts, he said. Rahul had earlier moved the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the case. The apex court had in July 2016 said he should not have resorted to collective denunciation of an organisation, and would have to face trial if he did not express regret for his remark. The Congress leader had declined to accept the suggestion and expressed willingness to face the trial. PTI editorial@tribune.com Ramakrishna Upadhya Has Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah moved from being over-confident of leading Congress to victory in the May 12 Assembly elections to pressing the panic-button about his own prospects in the polls? After swearing that he will contest only from Chamundeshwari and nowhere else, Siddaramaiah filed his nomination papers from Badami as well, giving him the dubious distinction of becoming the first sitting Chief Minister of Karnataka to contest from two seats. Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, among others, had done it twice in 1985 and 1989, contesting from Holenarasipura and Sathanur with mixed results, winning both in the first instance and losing both the second time, but he was not a Chief Minister then. In 2004, SM Krishna, after giving a good administration, had changed his constituency from Maddur to Chamarajpet in Bengaluru as he feared losing in his hometown. Siddaramaiah has company in HD Kumaraswamy this time as the JD(S) chief ministerial candidate is also contesting from two places Ramanagara and Channapatna. By taking the softer option, Siddaramaiah is spoiling his impressive record of becoming only the second CM since Devaraj Urs to complete a full five-year term in four decades. Siddaramaiahs awkward dilemma was of his own making as he had vacated the safer Varuna constituency to his son Yatheendra and shifted to neighbouring Chamundeshwari, where he had seen five victories and two defeats. In 2006, the last time he contested from there, he had won narrowly by a mere 257 votes. Senior leaders like KPCC president G Parameshwar, Mallikarjun Kharge and Veerappa Moily strongly opposed Siddaramaiah contesting from two seats as they tried to impress upon the party high command that it would send a wrong message to the voters that the General himself was weak. Some of them even perhaps secretly wished that Siddaramaiah would lose in Chamundeshwari, ruling out a second consecutive term for him. Siddaramaiahs fears about Chamundeshwari are not unfounded. His friend of three decades, GT Deve Gowda, used to help him with Vokkaliga votes, Srinivasa Prasad with Dalit votes and Chikkamadu with Nayaka community votes. Since he became CM, he has antagonised all of them so much that they are waiting to teach him a lesson. Once this realisation dawned on Siddaramaiah, he decided to look for another seat in Badami. Is Badami any safer than Chamundeshwari? Well, it has a good number of Kuruba people, the community to which Siddaramaiah belongs, but Lingayats and Nayakas together form nearly 50 per cent of the electorate. Hence, BJP quickly moved Sriramulu (a Nayaka) to Badami so that he and Yeddyurappa (a Lingayat) could pin down Siddaramaiah in Badami as well. Its never easy to be the General. editorial@tribune.com Jupinderjit Singh Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 3 At least two FIRS are lodged against fraudulent travel agents in Punjab daily for cheating people in the grab of sending them abroad for a lucrative life. Yet, the frauds continue and so does the long line of youths willing to use any means in search of greener pastures in a foreign country. In the last 11 months from April 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018, the police have booked 752 agents. The figure is higher than the previous two years when 1,198 cases were registered. The Punjab Police explain the higher number of FIRs in the Congress government rule that began in March last year due to active policing and less political interference. Some travel agents said the desperation of youths to move to Arab or Western countries was high due to wide-scale unemployment. The rush towards a foreign land continues despite horrifying stories of the youths misled by agents. As many as 29 Punjab youths died in Iraq, while 26 others are said to be trapped in UAE currently as they dont have legal documents with them. A youth Khuswinder Singh from Bholath has been missing since November last. His family members have got no help from the government yet. The state and the Central government have tried to offer legal travel agents through separate legislation but the number of illegal agents mushroom. The government has enacted the Punjab Travel Regulation Act in 2013 to register legal agents. The Central government gives licence to recruiting agents (travel agents) after due verification who are registered with the Protectorate of Emigrant, Union Ministry of External Affairs under the Emigration Act-1983. As many as 1,088 agents are registered with the state government, while only 31 are registered with the Central government. Ironically, the number of FIRs registered outnumbers the legal travel agents hinting towards the large-scale operation of illegal travel agents. A Punjab Police spokesperson said the NRI Wing had repeatedly asked the Deputy Commissioners and district police heads to monitor and inspect the offices of the travel agents. This exercise has busted many fraudulent agents. However, people desperate to go abroad do not check the authenticity of the agents before giving them lakhs of rupees. The police are asked to intervene when the damage is done. He said the citizens had to help the police in this field as aware residents could avoid frauds played with them and others. Punjab Travel Agents Association president Kuljit Hayer said the punitive action by the police was welcome but at the same time the government had to provide jobs here also. Unemployment is the root cause of the mad rush to foreign land. In the absence of jobs, the youths and their families sell land and assets hoping for early returns once the youth is settled abroad. Suggesting faster and stringent means to check the fraud agents, he claimed that the process of registration of agents was painfully slow. amansharma@tribunemail.com New Delhi, May 3 Amid a controversy over renaming of the Dyal Singh (Evening) College as 'Dyal Singh Vande Mataram College', the institution's chairman Amitabh Sinha on Thursday said the Delhi University is an autonomous varsity and the government cannot interfere in its administrative matters. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had yesterday said the government would not allow the renaming and take action against the management committee of the college for going ahead with it without the ministry's consent. In a press conference here today, Sinha said, "The DU is an autonomous university and therefore, the government cannot have a say in its administrative matters. The HRD Minister should have spoken to me first to know the exact status before making such a statement." The college is affiliated to the Delhi University. A controversy had erupted last year with various sections vehemently opposing the move to rename the college as "Vanade Mataram Mahavidyalaya". "When the first time I had a meeting with him (Javadekar), I had insisted that the issue be resolved by the vice chancellor and the governing body and he had shown interest then. We found a midway and named it Vande Mataram Dyal Singh College. I don't know whether he is under some pressure or some arm-twisting tactics," he said. The chairman insisted that in renaming the college, its administration had done nothing wrong or outside the law. "We have done whatever is necessary. Students had put up banners with the new name in an annual function. Though, the Delhi University is yet to take a final decision on it, the Governing Body (GB) is entirely capable of looking after the administrative duties and if the HRD minister believes a legal action can be taken for that then I welcome such a step," he added. Javadekar had yesterday said, "We had earlier also asked them (the university administration) to reconsider the move. We will not allow the college to be renamed. If there are two Dyal Singh colleges, they can call them A and B or 1 and 2 to differentiate but the original name cannot be changed". - PTI editorial@tribune.com Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, May 3 The errors in the PSEB Class XII book highlight the poor translation of Sikh history and presents poor knowledge of Sikh ethos, terminology, heritage and strictures, says Sikh scholar Kuldeep Singh Dheer. Talking to The Tribune here on Thursday, he said Mir Manu had exterminated Sikhs and better words in both Punjabi and English are available to describe these events, which are important parts of Sikh heritage and history. The usage of improper words indicates the shallow understanding of Sikhism and these being part of school textbooks is fraught with danger of giving a wrong meaning while teaching about the religion, he said. The controversy over the matter had erupted last week after SADleader Daljit Singh Cheema wrote to the CM, pointing out deletion of 20 chapters from the textbooks. The government has been defending this, saying that the history syllabus was being realigned to NCERT syllabus. But as the new textbook was circulated, the apparent mistakes in the book, with regards to dates, references to historical figures and incorrect usage of words while referring to several aspects of Sikhism, have come to light, giving more political fodder to Opposition parties. The Akali Dal has said that other than chapters on Sikh history going missing from the books, the mistakes were not minor. SAD, BJP leaders to call on Governor Chandigarh: The SAD on Thursday issued an ultimatum to CM Capt Amarinder Singh to immediately issue orders to stop the conspiracy to eliminate the history and heritage of the Khalsa Panth or face a worldwide popular resistance movement by the Sikh community. SAD and BJP leaders will call on the Governor on Friday to request him to intervene and ensure that the teaching of history to schoolchildren of Classes XI and XII continues in the same exhaustive pattern as before. TNS Gurdwara panel sees conspiracy Patiala: Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) president Gobind Singh Longowal on Thursday said the deletion of Sikh history from Class XII syllabus could be a part of a bigger conspiracy. He said people with anti-Sikh and anti-Punjab attitude have done this mischief and they would not let their motives take shape. TNS gspannu7@gmail.com Manmeet Singh Gill Tribune News Service Amritsar, April 3 An Indian man who had been languishing for five years at Karachis Malir jail returned to India via Integrated check post, Attari, on Thursday. Jitendra, 21, a native of Barghat village in Seoni district of Madya Pradesh, while talking to The Tribune at Civil Hospital here, said, I do not remember how and when I landed into the hands of Pakistan officials. I remember that I had gone to Rajasthan where I worked on a fruit cart. Jidendra has been diagnosed as suffering from TB and sickle cell anaemia. A team of officials from Madhya Pradesh has already arrived in city to take him to AIIMS Delhi. An official of Amritsar administration said a flight for 10 pm has been booked for the purpose. Jitendra said while he was diagnosed with TB around a month ago, he had been getting facility of blood transfusion in Pakistan jail for the last four years. He said initially he had to face trouble as intelligence agencies interrogated him. They would ask whom I work for. This lasted for few years but later they sent me to jail, he said. As per reports, Jitendra was picked up in 2013 from where he was taken to a juvenile jail in Sindh province of Pakistan. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Dehradun, May 3 The District Magistrates will take over as administrators from May 4 as the term of the various elected representatives of the urban local bodies has come to an end on Thursday. As the matter regarding the date for holding the elections to the urban local bodies is sub judice, the government is awaiting the final decision of the High Court and has refrained from announcing the date. Urban Development Minister Madan Kaushik said that the administrators would not be empowered to take any policy decision. They will oversee the day to day functioning of the urban local bodies, he said. This is not the first time that the administrators were appointed to the urban local bodies. In 2008 and 2013 too, they were appointed due to delay in holding of urban local bodies elections. editorial@tribune.com Dehradun, May 3 Doonite Maj Rohit Shuklas family is proud of his heroics. Major Rohit had led the team of security forces that gunned down dreaded militant Sameer Ahmed Butt in Pulwama on Tuesday. Rohit himself suffered injuries and is undergoing treatment. Hizbuls dreaded terrorist Ahmed Butt, who killed a large number of innocent civilians, had challenged Major Rohit Shukla on social media. Eighteen hours after the terrorist challenge video on social media went viral, Major Rohit acting on vital inputs led a team of armymen from Rashtriya Rifles gunning down the dreaded terrorist in the Pulwama region of Jammu and Kashmir. In the operation, Major Rohit also suffered a bullet wound on his hand and has been undergoing treatment since then. Family of Major Rohit Shukla resides at Dalanwala, Dehradun. His father Gyan Chandra Shukla and mother Lakshmi Shukla are lawyers by profession. His sister is also undergoing a law course. An alumni of St Joseph Academy, Major Rohit Shukla got into Army by getting selected through NDA examination. On March 27, Major Rohit was also presented Shaurya Chakra by President Ramnath Kovind in New Delhi. TNS laxmi@tribune.com SYDNEY: Australia's oldest scientist, wearing a top labelled "ageing disgracefully", has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. David Goodall does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fast-track appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel to end his life on May 10. AFP Rhinos to return to Chad in airlift after 50 yrs Port Elizabeth (S Africa): Almost 50 years after they were hunted to local extinction, black rhinos will again roam the wilds of the Central African nation of Chad, the latest chapter in a movement to bring big mammals back to former ranges on the continent. The initiative comes against the backdrop of a poaching crisis that saw more than 1,000 rhinos slain in South Africa last year to meet red-hot demand for their horns in Asia, where they are prized for their alleged medicinal properties. Reuters laxmi@tribune.com BEIJING: China on Thursday defended the deployment of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the disputed South China Sea, saying it has indisputable sovereignty over the area. Chinas activities in the South China Sea is to uphold our sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is our right, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told mediapersons here. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com London, May 3 Cambridge Analytica, the UK-based political consulting firm at the heart of the massive data breach of Facebook users worldwide, announced it is shutting down. The company denies any wrongdoing, but says the negative media coverage has left it with no clients and mounting legal fees which has forced it to resort to closure. Despite Cambridge Analyticas unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the companys customers and suppliers, the company said in a statement. As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration, it added. The firm was accused of improperly obtaining personal information on behalf of political clients. According to Facebook, data on up to 87 million of its users was harvested by an app and then passed on to the political consultancy. The social network said its own probe into the matter would continue. This doesnt change our commitment and determination to understand exactly what happened and make sure it doesnt happen again, a Cambridge Analytica (CA) spokesperson said. The company said its parent company, SCL Elections, would also commence bankruptcy proceedings. This could impact its Indian operations as well. The chair of a UK Parliament committee investigating the firms activities also raised concerns about CA and SCL Elections move to shut down. They are party to very serious investigations and those investigations cannot be impeded by the closure of these companies, said MP Damian Collins. I think its absolutely vital that the closure of these companies is not used as an excuse to try and limit or restrict the ability of the authorities to investigate what they were doing, he said. Cambridge Analytica has been linked to Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Trumps campaign denies having used CAs data. Amid investigations, the British firm suspended CEO Alexander Tayler in April. It sought information on Facebook to build psychological profiles on a large portion of the US electorate. The company was able to amass the database quickly with the help of an app that appeared to be a personality test. The app collected data on tens of millions of people and their Facebook friends, even those who did not download the app themselves. Facebook has since tightened its privacy restrictions. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Seoul, May 3 President Moon Jae-in is enjoying record support from the South Korean public in the wake of a historic summit with his North Korean counterpart, pollsters said on Thursday. More than three in four voters approved of Moon, according to pollster Realmeteran all-time high for any South Korean president at the end of their first year in office. Realmeter said the result reflected mounting public expectations for the Norths denuclearisation and the establishment of peace on the Korean peninsula following Moons meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Friday. The presidents support rose more than eight points to 78.3 percent in the week following the summit, where the two leaders agreed to work towards a permanent peace treaty. Since his May 2017 election, Moon had projected a stable and down-to-earth style while communicating closely with voters, Jeong Han-wool of public opinion firm Hankook Research told AFP. Moons approval ratings, which were relatively low around the end of last year, surged back up following the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, he said. North Korea sent athletes, supporters, an art troupe and high-level officials to the Olympics, initiating a flurry of diplomatic gestures that culminated in last weeks summit. Jeong said Moons popularity was likely to continue through next months local elections, which Moons ruling Democratic Party is widely tipped to dominate. The centre-left party enjoyed the support of nearly 55 percent of the electorate in the latest Realmeter poll, while the conservative Liberty Korea Party had less than 18 percent support, shedding more than three percent since last week. Support for the opposition has flatlined since former presidents Park Geun-hye and her predecessor Lee Myung-bak were embroiled in massive corruption cases. Both former leaders are now in jail. AFP amansharma@tribunemail.com Washington, May 3 President Donald Trump confirmed on Thursday that he reimbursed his personal lawyer the $130,000 he had given to adult-film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence over an alleged affair with him, forcing his advisers to prepare for a new round of questions from the public. Trump's acknowledgement of the payment before the 2016 US presidential election came hours after his new legal aide and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani revealed that the president had personally repaid his personal attorney Michael Cohen the $130,000 that was used to buy Daniels's silence through a non-disclosure agreement. In an early morning tweet, Trump, 71, said he reimbursed Cohen $130,000 for the payments the latter made to Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential elections in exchange of not going public with her alleged affair with him. Trump said Cohen, was paid via a "monthly retainer" and that the hush agreement into which Cohen entered with Daniels had "nothing to do with the campaign". The President had previously denied knowledge of the payment, which has prompted complaints to the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission over potential violations of campaign finance law. "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA," Trump wrote on Twitter. "These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth," Trump claimed. "In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair," Trump said. He added, "Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in this transaction." The president's new statements about the payment and a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels, is now forcing Trump's advisers to prepare for a new round of questions from the public, The New York Times reported. Speaking on Fox News yesterday, Giuliani said the reimbursement to Cohen was "not campaign money" and that the payment was "perfectly legal". Cohen had admitted to paying Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, out of his own pocket through a private LLC. Daniels has sued Trump and Cohen, saying the nondisclosure agreement is void because Trump did not sign it. The White House has said Trump denies the affair. Giuliani recently joined Trump's legal team in an effort to bring special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's 2016 election meddling and any possible coordination with the Trump campaign to an end. "He (Trump) paid him back. No campaign finance violations, no crime of any kind. Michael had discretion to solve these," Giuliani told The Wall Street Journal in another interview. When the daily asked whether the fact that Trump had repaid his lawyer conflicted with the president's previous statements that he was unaware of the payment, Giuliani said it was "not [an] issue". "Cohen was his lawyer and had discretion to settle, as I have had for clients ultimately paying for it," he said. Trump was "probably not aware" of the payment at the time it was made, he said. Giuliani said Trump repaid Cohen "over several months" by putting him on a "retainer of $35,000 when he was doing no work for the president." Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, told CNBC: "This is exactly what we predicted would ultimately be shown. Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged." Asked if Giuliani's admission is evidence of a campaign finance violation, Avenatti simply said, "Yes." The president has repeatedly denied that he had an affair Daniels, who has described having intimate contact with Trump in 2006, much before he became president. Giuliani's comments are also in direct contrast to what Cohen has been saying for months that he used his own money to pay the actress. Cohen is under investigation by the FBI, which raided his home and office last month and seized documents that included information about the payment to Daniels. The hush-money payment to Daniels is reportedly a focus of a federal investigation into Cohen's private finances and business interests. Investigators are likely to examine whether the payment was legal under election campaign finance laws and whether Cohen disclosed the true reason for borrowing the funds. PTI laxmi@tribune.com London, May 3 Cambridge Analytica, the embattled UK-based data consulting firm that worked on Donald Trumps election campaign, has shut down citing a loss of business amidst a raging scandal that it compromised the personal information of 87 million Facebook users, including that of over 500,000 Indians. The company is accused of mapping the behaviour of voters in the run-up to the 2016 US election won by Trump. In a statement, Cambridge Analytica said it would immediately cease operations and bankruptcy proceedings would soon begin. The decision was made less than two months after Cambridge Analytica and Facebook became embroiled in the scandal. Cambridge Analytica denies any wrongdoing, but says the negative media coverage has left it with no clients and mounting legal fee which has forced it to resort to closure. Despite Cambridge Analyticas unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the companys customers and suppliers, the company said. PTI Probe on: India pardeepdhull@gmail.com London, May 3 United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday against scrapping an international deal on Irans nuclear programme unless there was a good alternative in place. US President Donald Trump has been threatening to pull out of the agreement, leading to diplomatic tensions with Iran as well as with US allies keen to preserve the agreement. If one day there is a better agreement to replace it its fine, but we should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative, Guterres said in an interview with BBC Radio 4. I believe the JCPOA (the Iran nuclear deal) was an important diplomatic victory and I think it will be important to preserve it but I also believe there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaningful dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position, he said. I understand the concerns of some countries in relation to the Iranian influence in other countries of the region. So I think we should separate things. Reuters Nikola's hydrogen-electric truck technology got a major endorsement from Anheuser-Busch in the form of an order for up to 800 trucks. Illustration: Nikola Anheuser-Busch has placed an order for up to 800 hydrogen-electric heavy-duty trucks from Nikola Motor Co. as part of a plan to convert its entire dedicated fleet to renewable power by 2025. The zero-emission trucks which will be able to travel between 500 and 1,200 miles and be refilled within 20 minutes, reducing idle time are expected to be integrated into Anheuser-Buschs dedicated fleet beginning in 2020. It will also help Nikola build out its hydrogen-fueling network. All of our stations will be open to all our fleets, Nikola spokesperson Colleen Robar told HDT. But this order helps us get 28 stations operating on key Anheuser Busch routes. Through this agreement, Anheuser-Busch aims to convert its entire long-haul dedicated fleet to renewable powered trucks by 2025. Nikolas technology will enable the brewer to achieve this milestone across its long-haul loads, while also helping to improve road safety through the trucks advanced surround viewing system, according to an announcement from the two companies. At Anheuser-Busch were continuously searching for ways to improve sustainability across our entire value chain and drive our industry forward, said Michel Doukeris, CEO of Anheuser-Busch. The transport industry is one that is ripe for innovative solutions, and Nikola is leading the way with hydrogen-electric, zero-emission capabilities. We are very excited by the possibilities our partnership with them can offer. Trevor Milton, CEO of Nikola, noted that "Anheuser-Busch has a long history of investing in progressive, sustainable technology, and we are excited to partner with them to bring the largest hydrogen network in the world to the USA. By 2028, we anticipate having over 700 hydrogen stations across the USA and Canada. With nearly $9 billion in pre-order reservations, we are building to order, not speculation, and are very excited for whats to come. About a month ago, Sweden-based Nel ASA, which Nikola tapped late last year to be the equipment supplier for its planned network of hydrogen refuelling stations, announced it had received an additional order from Nikola in the wake of a deal with a major fleet. The Nikola hydrogen electric semi-trucks will begin testing with fleets in 2019 and begin full production in 2021, Milton said as part of that announcement, noting that the then-undisclosed deal with A-B would require an additional 28 stations to go up on top of the previous Nel purchase order. Anheuser-Busch had previously ordered 40 Tesla electric Semi tractors. The partnership with Nikola will contribute to Anheuser-Buschs recently announced 2025 Sustainability Goals, which include reducing CO2 emissions by 25% across its value chain. Once fully implemented, the carbon reductions gained from these 800 trucks will reduce the brewers carbon emissions from logistics by more than 18% equivalent to taking more than 13,000 passenger vehicles off the road annually. Emission reduction has, and continues to be, a long-term focus for Anheuser-Busch. In 2006, the brewer joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys SmartWay Transport program; and since 2008, has reduced its total energy use in U.S. breweries by more than 30%. First quarter 2018 tonnage per day decreased 2.4% at YRC Freight. Photo: Deborah Lockridge Trucking company YRC Worldwide Inc. narrowed its first quarter loss but was still in the red, but it expects an improvement in its finances later in the year. The net loss of $14.6 million, or 44 cents per share, compares to a net loss of $25.3 million, or 78 cents per share, a year earlier. The results come as most every other publicly held trucking company reporting first quarter earnings so far has shown higher profits compared to a year earlier. Revenue for first quarter 2018 was $1.22 billion for an operating loss of $4.3 million, while first quarter 2017 revenue was $1.17 billion with operating income of $300,000. "The pricing and demand environment remains favorable, and in the first quarter 2018, YRC Freight and the regional companies reported strong year-over-year increases in revenue per hundredweight and revenue per shipment, said Darren Hawkins, CEO. While year-over-year tonnage per day was down for the quarter at YRC Freight, the year-over-year monthly results improved sequentially during the quarter and turned positive in March." The continued net loss was due to higher third-party costs for logistics solutions and rail purchased transportation, as well as equipment lease expenses, partially attributable to long-term leases in conjunction with YRCs strategy to reinvest in its fleet, according to the company. The companys consolidated operating ratio for first quarter 2018 was 100.4, compared to 100 in first quarter 2017. The operating ratio at YRC Freight, the companys national operation, was 100.9, compared to 101 for the same period in 2017. The regional segment's first quarter 2018 operating ratio was 98.9 compared to 97.2 a year ago. First quarter 2018 tonnage per day decreased 2.4% at YRC Freight and increased 0.2% at the regional segment compared to first quarter 2017. At YRC Freight, including fuel surcharge, first quarter 2018 revenue per hundredweight increased 6% and revenue per shipment increased 8.3% when compared to the same period in 2017. Excluding fuel surcharge, revenue per hundredweight increased 4.4% and revenue per shipment increased 6.7%. At the regional segment, including fuel surcharge, first quarter 2018 revenue per hundredweight increased 5.3% and revenue per shipment increased 9.0% when compared to the same period in 2017. Excluding fuel surcharge, revenue per hundredweight increased 3.6% and revenue per shipment increased 7.3%. At the end of March, the company's outstanding debt was $918.7 million, a decrease of $86.1 million compared to $1.005 billion as of March 31, 2017. "We are executing our strategy to secure the right price and freight mix in our networks while on-boarding a significant amount of revenue equipment in 2018," said Hawkins. "The first quarter results were in-line with our expectations, and we continue to expect year-over-year financial improvement to be weighted to the second half of the year." A quarterly survey of a varied panel of trucking fleets finds continued strong plans to buy more trucks, especially among larger fleets, and among private fleets looking to address capacity and rate issues but those truck orders are in many cases about other things than adding capacity, because drivers continue to be in short supply. The second quarter Fleet Sentiment Report by CK Commercial Vehicle Research reports that its buying index, tracked since 2008, while not at peak, is "rolling along at a nice solid clip with a 117.8 reading." The index tracks both how many fleets are planning purchases of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and trailers, as well as the volume of those planned orders. In addition, CKCVRs Hows Business rating reflects the positive outlook for carriers. The survey asks, Considering all the factors that impact your company, on a scale of 1-5 (with being poor and 5 being excellent) in your opinion, what is the overall outlook for your fleet in the next three months? After setting a record during the January survey, the reading fell a bit in Q2, but still remains at a high 4.29 on a scale of 1-5. Basically, the same percentage of survey participants that planned to purchase trucks during the first quarter plan to place orders during Q2. So far in 2018, larger fleets are tending to place orders more than the smaller fleets. Private fleets are definitely active in purchasing new equipment. While they made up 32% of the reporting group, they represented 37% of the fleets that are planning to place orders. Comments from the private fleets mentioned the increasing rates from common carriers as a strong incentive for them to increase their own fleet. The capacity problem plays into that as well, as company brands are impacted (negatively) by any delivery problems. Some of the other reasons fleets cited for their equipment-buying plans included: Newer trucks are more reliable, and more uptime means more productivity and essentially more capacity New trucks help recruit and retain drivers The new tax law has freed up some capital Booming economy and good business environment for fleets Locking in build slots in a hot order climate Concern about getting ahead of rising equipment prices Better fuel economy However, for most of the fleets planning to buy in the survey, those equipment purchase plans for Q2 do not include many units for straight-up capacity additions that is, adding equipment to their population of vehicles. That doesnt take into account how many fleets are using newer, more productive equipment to add hauling capacity. Fleets had, up to a point, been adding trailers to increase their capacity (more drop and hook, etc.), CKCVR notes, but based on what our fleets are reporting now the majority of fleets are designating most, if not all, of their equipment purchases to replacement. That's because there aren't enough drivers to put behind the wheel. Fleets in the survey continue to say they would add more capacity if they had more drivers; theres plenty of freight to haul. The percentage of fleets in the survey who indicate they have a driver shortage has now gone over 70% for the first time. In addition, the fleets that say they have a driver shortage almost 75% now need them to fill current seats. Three quarters also indicate they cant grow because drivers are not available. An international conference entitled The Great Silk Road - Towards New Frontiers of Development was held in the national tourist zone Avaza. It was attended by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The high-level forum discussed a wide range of issues on development of mutually beneficial cooperation in transport and logistics, including through the use of port infrastructure. President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov delivered a key-note speech at the forum. He outlined Turkmenistan's priorities in relation to development of international partnership in the transport and communications sector. We are confident that the Great Silk Road revival cannot be imagined without Central Asia. It was these lands through which caravan routes passed for centuries, thus connecting civilizations, and it was here that a natural bridge between East and West emerged, turning into the center of the inter-civilization dialogue. Our task is to revive this historic predestination of Central Asia in new conditions of modernity, the head of state said. The Turkmen leader stressed that the point is about building extensive, complex, combined transport and transit infrastructure that would cover the continental Eurasia with access to the sea terminals of the Black Sea and Baltic regions, South and South-East Asia and the Middle East. The head of state noted the special importance of the new seaport in the city of Turkmenbashi that goes far beyond the national level. The commissioning of the new seaport opens up greater prospects for cooperation with international and regional structures. Turkmenistan is ready to discuss various aspects and directions of such cooperation with partners from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the CIS, ECO, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said. He invited these structures to establish close interaction in the transport sector. A Declaration was adopted on the outcomes of the international forum The Great Silk Road - Towards New Frontiers of Development. It reflected the participants aspiration for a new impetus in the interstate and interregional relations, better cooperation in creating a modern global transport system that meets the interests of common development. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). The Arab region is experiencing one of the most dramatic periods of change in its history - with an escalation of conflict, a dramatic rise in poverty, and the emergence of more than 20 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs). Of vital importance to the goal of recovering from crisis and putting communities back on the path to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, most of the places experiencing conflict and hosting displaced communities are also the very parts of the region that are facing high levels of energy insecurity. Leading UNDPs local partnerships in the Arab region, one sees first-hand how lack of energy access can hold back the prospects for recovery and resilience in communities facing protracted displacement. The ability of communities to cope with and rapidly recover from crisis hinges in many ways on their ability to regain access to energy. But too often countries affected by crisis are unable to rapidly bring back the type of energy systems needed for recovery. In such contexts, decentralized solutions are receiving greater attention as a means of addressing needs while setting the foundations for longer-term resilience. In this regard, UNDP has commenced a series of new initiatives in the Arab region, led by our Country Offices and adapted to very localized needs of displaced communities. As elaborated in a new UNDP regional policy brief capturing lessons from these initiatives, we see energy access not as an end in itself, but as an enabler of resilience and putting communities on a path to recovery. Yemen, for example, is the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, with millions facing famine risk and lack of access to water and sanitation, with breakdown of hundreds of health facilities and an unprecedented outbreak of cholera. All such challenges are exacerbated by the energy crisis in the country. Yemen was already one of the regions most energy poor countries, and the ongoing conflict has dramatically reduced conventional energy supplies every further. IDPs return home to a lack of energy. UNDP in partnership with UNIDO, WHO and UN Habitat support the Darfur Regional Authority and the Government of Sudan build community resilience. Photo: UNDP Sudan Decentralized solar solutions have arisen as one solution to ease the suffering of displaced communities. UNDP in partnership with WFP, ILO and FAO is implementing the Enhanced Rural Resilience in Yemen (ERRY) project funded by the EU, supporting among other things local deployment of decentralized solar technologies to expand energy access in schools, health facilities, small businesses, and irrigation pumping for agricultural livelihoods and food security. Decentralized solar solutions were initially provided to 20 schools, 20 health clinics, 800 households, two food markets and 20 public agencies, and this has now been scaled up to reach a further 32 schools, 32 health facilities, nine markets and 2,400 households. Another important example is in Sudan, which hosts over 3 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), converging with high levels of energy insecurity. After a decade of conflict and displacement in Darfur, the Document for Peace in Darfur and the Darfur Development Strategy set the foundations for the return of a large number of IDPs to the Darfur region of Sudan. But as IDPs return, the lack of access to energy is one barrier to regenerating livelihoods and access to water, health and education services. In response, UNDP in partnership with UNIDO, WHO and UN Habitat and the support of Qatar via the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office, is supporting the Darfur Solar Electrification project to help the Darfur Regional Authority and the Government of Sudan build community resilience. Solar solutions are being deployed across 70 settlements for enhanced health clinics and schools, street lighting and solar water pumping, directly benefiting 7,000 households, with additional dividends for a further 35,000 households in neighbouring satellite settlements. Beyond innovative technology solutions, UNDP has also supported upstream policy results. Around the Syria crisis for example, support has been provided to national partners in Jordan and Lebanon to integrate sustainable energy solutions into national crisis response plans, to help close the energy gap in communities hosting Syrian refugees. Through such support, UNDP and partners help empower affected communities while supporting broader goals of national stability and resilience. Crisis contexts are characterized by high levels of complexity, reduced clarity of institutions and policies, constraints in domestic finance, and lack of data on the energy needs for effective response. One-size-fits-all approaches do not work in such settings, given the highly contextualized needs of displaced communities. Decentralized solar solutions are emerging as a practical option to empower community recovery. In regenerating livelihoods and access to water, health and education services, solar solutions can have a significant multiplier effect accelerating recovery, fostering resilience and helping to build the bridge between humanitarian and development results. Decentralized solar solutions are emerging as a practical option to empower community recovery. Photo: Shareef Sarhan/UNDP - PAPP KAMPALA, Uganda -- UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency is deeply saddened at the death of two refugee children in a traffic accident near Ibanda District this morning. A convoy of 11 buses was transporting 837 Congolese refugees from Kisoro reception centre in Western Uganda to Kyaka ll refugee settlement in Kyegegwa District when one of the buses veered off the road and overturned. Two children aged four and eight are confirmed to have died on the spot while 34 other passengers sustained injuries. We wish to convey our thoughts and prayers to the affected families, said Hassan Dabar, UNHCR Senior Field Coordinator in Mbarara , who was at the scene of the accident . UNHCR and its partners stand ready to provide all possible medical care and support to the refugees who are affected by the accident. Initial reports indicate that the bus driver lost control when he swerved to avoid a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) trying to overtake on the wrong side of the road. The bus was carrying 76 refugees. The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), UNHCR, Medical Teams International (MTI) and local police, immediately rushed refugees who had minor injuries to Ruhoko Health Centre in Ibanda District. Nine of them were taken to Mbarara Referral Hospital with serious injuries. It is heart-breaking for refugees who came to Uganda in search of safety to perish in a tragic road accident, UNHCR Representative, Joel Boutroue said from Arua. This was supposed to be the new chapter of a better life for two young children after fleeing conflict and violence in their home country. Boutroue conveyed his sympathies to the affected families. Since January this year, over 77,000 Congolese who fled violence in their homes and villages have sought refuge in Uganda mainly through Lake Albert and Kisoro. UNHCR is assisting the Government to respond to the influx, including through organizing convoys to transport refugees from border areas to Kyaka II and Kyangwali refugee settlements. - END - For media queries please contact After armed men detained her parents, Mabia* heard a volley of gunshots. The 17-year-old took her three younger sisters and ran to the forest. Surviving on bamboo shoots and water from streams, the Rohingya sisters trekked from their home in Myanmar to Kutupalong refugee settlement in south-east Bangladesh in mid-February, where Mabia, now head of the family, feels the weight of caring for her siblings aged 16, 15 and 14. Im in charge of the family now and I want to die, she says tearfully. The responsibility is beyond me. The teenager is among at least 5,600 children in the worlds largest refugee settlement who find themselves the lone heads of families and households, whose parents have been killed or are missing in Myanmar. Many are girls. They face daunting challenges as they start over in the sprawling settlement of rickety bamboo shelters, which houses more than 570,000 people. Im in charge of the family now and I want to die. The responsibility is beyond me. Besides securing shelter, food, water, cooking utensils and bedding for her sisters, Mabia sees other responsibilities that she must also meet in her new role as their primary carer. I want to feed them well, and most of all, I dont want them to remember the bad things that they saw in Myanmar, says Mabia, perched on a plastic chair alongside her sister Shamshidah, 16. See also: Orphaned Rohingya children forced to grow up too fast The youngsters had been found collapsed that morning by Nur Bahar a refugee herself who took the girls to an information point run by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, as a first step to getting them the help they need. Nur, 30, a mother of four young children, reached Bangladesh in September with her family. As a volunteer, she now works to identify refugees who need support in this huge pop-up settlement which has a population greater than Lyon, Frances third largest city and refer them to available services. Weve come a long way since we arrived, and now have some kind of stability here, she says. But the girls are still in a vulnerable position, so its very important for me and a matter of joy to help them out. Without me, my kids would be in the same situation they are. Without me, my kids would be in the same situation they are, says Nur, who is one of more than 300 UNHCR Community Outreach Members. Mabias and Shamshidahs neighbours are also keeping an eye out for them. The community elder in the area where the girls are staying helped them find a vacant plastic-roofed shack to live in. The huts former resident lives close by and collects the girls aid allocations. Nur Bahar, 30, a UNHCR Community Outreach Member poses for a portrait at the Information Point where she brought sisters Mabia and Shamshidah. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Nur Bahar, 30, a UNHCR Community Outreach Member, counsels Shamshidah at an Information Point in Kutupalong refugee settlement. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Fatama Islam, a Bangladeshi staffer with Technical Assistance Inc and Community Outreach Member Nur Bahara counsel Shamshidah and Mabia. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Shamshidah, left, and Mabia, far right, walk to their shelter in Kutupalong refugee settlement, accompanied by refugee widow they met at the UNHCR information point. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Mabia, left and Shamshidah, right, stand outside their borrowed shelter at Kutupalong refugee settlement in Bangladesh. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Two days after their first contact, Nur brings the sisters back to the information point, where a team of five staff from UNHCR and its partner Technical Assistance Inc. (TAI) conduct a case meeting for them. The team includes shelter and protection staff, who offer upgraded housing, counselling and follow-up visits to try and ensure they stay safe from sexual abuse. Another worker seeks to match them up with occupational training, such as learning to sew, make toothpowder or soap should they want it. They can meet people, overcome their isolation, express their opinions, talk to other people, it will be good for them, says Fatama Islam, a Bangladeshi staffer with TAI, who spoke to the sisters about training opportunities. They will also have a chance to talk to a counsellor. After the case meeting, Mabia and Shamshidah are uncertain what to do. They have some security in the borrowed shelter and wonder if they should accept something clearly better, but unknown. Nur is gentle but firm. She tells them that, so far, all the interventions she has made on their behalf have been good for them. Mabia listens and then nods. You decide what is best for us, she says to the adults. Now its up to you. Dressed in yellow and dark red floral print headscarves and ankle-length dresses, Mabia and Shamshidah seem more at ease. The sisters start to talk about their happy, sheltered childhood in a Myanmar village where their family farmed. I want peace for them and a proper education, so they can get any job. Mabias favourite game was Ha-du-du, a rough-and-tumble form of tag popular in South Asia. Shamshidah recalls playing high jump with her friends. Like all Rohingya, they are stateless, with no right to vote, move freely or have access to services in their country of birth. However, the sisters were able to study and want to return to class. It was difficult to continue education for me after fourth grade, but I want to be a doctor. If theres an opportunity to study, I must grab it, says Shamshidah, animatedly. If you try to get me educated, it would give me great pleasure. She leans back in the chair and smiles. If you try really hard, you can do this for me, she says with a laugh. Mabia also wants to study: If Im properly educated myself, then I can educate others, she says. They talk of their hopes for their little sisters. Mabia wants food, clothing and make-up for them. Shamshidah, younger but more serious, says: I want peace for them and a proper education, so they can get any job. The case meeting is over. Nur hovers protectively, ready to walk them back across a bamboo bridge spanning a reeking creek and through a labyrinth of footpaths to their borrowed shack. I feel safer now. All praise to God, says Mabia. And then she is gone. *Refugee sisters' names changed for protection reasons When 24-year old Ali came to Denmark two years ago as a refugee from Syria, he had no doubt that he wanted to continue studying. But he soon found out that the Danish education system was worlds apart from the one he knew in his home country. Even though official social workers assured him that it was possible to start studying in Denmark, it was clear that the road ahead would be far from easy. This is my dream, but unfortunately I found a lot of challenges and difficulties. I felt stuck, like I couldnt take the next step, Ali explains. But this changed when a friend told him about the network called Student Refugees, a volunteer group of university students who have joined forces to help young refugees access higher education. They assist refugees in understanding the Danish system, overcoming language barriers and improving their eligibility. They give them advice about opportunities, supplementary courses and the application process. And, equally as important, they provide valuable peer support and motivation. We see refugees being guided into the low-skilled, low-paid job market, and I dont think its the best way to integrate them, because then people who studied to be doctors and professors end up driving taxis and cleaning floors, explains Alba Ortega, who founded the network. With financial support, received through the Danish Student House and National Union of Students, Student Refugees was officially established in the fall of 2017. After only six months in action, theyve been in contact with more than 70 young refugees, with backgrounds in economics, chemistry, law, engineering and more. The numbers keep growing as the network regularly hosts open application-cafes, where refugees can show up, get help and support, and subsequently be paired with mentors from Student Refugees. We wanted to give people a chance to actually continue doing what theyd started in their home countries, says founder Alba Ortega, who has been invited to share the concept and experiences along with other volunteers at several integration conferences in Europe. One of the mentors with Student Refugees is Sara, a Danish medical student who joined the network to counter the negative public narratives in Denmark. Theres constantly this negative emphasis that refugees are a burden, but I dont agree, and I wanted to do something to represent my country in another way. This might be only a drop in the ocean, but I welcome refugees and want to help, she says. 24-year old Ali, who was studying French translation back in Syria before he had to flee with his mother and sister, has now submitted his application to start Human Studies at Roskilde University in the coming fall semester. This was only possible, afterwith the advice and support from the volunteershe succeeded in getting his Syrian university papers and his former education approved by the Danish Ministry of Higher Education. Now, he just has to wait for the verdict this summerwhether hell be accepted or notlike so many young refugees who have been supported by Student Refugees in submitting applications to Danish universities. But the support and help from Student Refugees at least gave Ali hope and a boost of self-confidence: They helped me have a new vision. I felt comfortable with them, because they know much more than I do about the Danish system. They made me feel like I can do it. That its not impossible, he says. Update September 2018 Good news! Ali was accepted to Roskilde University. I was optimistic, but also so nervous. When I got the letter, that I was accepted, it was almost the best day of my life. A few weeks ago, Ali started his studies for the Bachelor Degree in Social International Studies. I have made many new friends already, and here we are all just students, he says. I am really happy, but I know that it will also be a challenge, because I have been out for school for many years. I need to get back to study mode. Unfortunately, not all children and youth who have been forced to flee their homes, are able to return to school. Only 1 per cent of refugee youth have access to tertiary education, and UNHCR recently raised the alarm of the growing gap in refugee education, currently resulting in 4 million refugee children missing school. More information here. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WestStar to host gubernatorial forum May 10 04 - 27 - 2018 Contact: Erin Chesnut Share this article MARTIN, Tenn. The University of Tennessee at Martins WestStar Leadership Program will host a gubernatorial forum from 5-7 p.m., May 10, in Watkins Auditorium of the Boling University Center. Attendees must have a ticket to enter the auditorium. Tickets can be downloaded free of charge until May 7 by visiting eventbrite.com A welcome reception for attendees and candidates will begin at 4 p.m. in the Boling University Center Welcome Center. Both events are open to the public, and a live webcast of the forum will be available at utm.edu/2018forum All attendees must enter through the main doors to the Boling University Center off the Mt. Pelia Road parking lot. Metal detectors will be used at the doors, and all bags are subject to search. No one will be permitted to enter Watkins Auditorium while a candidate is speaking.Meg Kinnard Hardee, a political and legal affairs reporter for The Associated Press who bylines as Meg Kinnard, will serve as forum moderator. Each candidate will have 15 minutes to discuss questions posed by Kinnard, and speaking order will be randomly determined prior to the event.Diane Black, a Tennessee congresswoman representing the 6th District; Randy Boyd, former commissioner of Tennessee Economic and Community Development; Karl Dean, former mayor of Nashville; Craig Fitzhugh, minority leader of the Tennessee State House of Representatives; Beth Harwell, speaker of the Tennessee State House of Representatives; and Bill Lee, president and CEO of Lee Company in Nashville, have confirmed participation in the event.Candidates will be introduced by Brett Lashlee, chairman of the 2018 WestStar Leadership Development class, following official welcomes from Dr. Keith Carver, UT Martin chancellor, and Dr. Charley Deal, WestStar executive director. The forum is coordinated by the 2018 WestStar class as a group project.For more information, contact Virginia Grimes, WestStar program coordinator, at 731-881-7298 or vgrimes@utm.edu ### Link to share: http://www.utm.edu/1384/04/27/2018.html AVP for Global Engagement Finalists to Visit UW Finalists for the position of associate vice provost for global engagement at the University of Wyoming have been identified, and theyre scheduled to give public presentations at UW beginning next week. The candidates are Susan Bender, senior director of global affairs at the University of California-Irvine, and Tony Ogden, executive director of education abroad and exchanges at Michigan State University. Ogden is scheduled to give his public presentation Tuesday, May 8, at 10:10 a.m. in Room 129 of the Classroom Building. For those who cant attend in person, the event will air via the WyoCast system at https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/9a5505befbf74bfd816e96f0d278c86a1d. For more information about Ogden, go here. Benders public presentation is Monday, May 14, at 10 a.m. in Room 133 of the Classroom Building. The WyoCast link will be made available later. For more information about Bender, go here. To submit input on the candidates to the search committee, go to https://survey.uwyo.edu/TakeSurvey.aspx?SurveyID=mlK3m89MJ#. The associate vice provost for global engagement is a new position in the Office of Academic Affairs to oversee UWs new Global Engagement Office. Creation of the office is part of UWs strategic plan, Breaking Through: 2017-2022, which calls for expanded recruitment of international students and broadened exposure of faculty and students to international events and cultures. The Global Engagement Office includes the Education Abroad Office, formerly the Office of Study Abroad; the International Students and Scholars Office; and the English Language Center. Career Event Provides UW Students Look into Industry in Sweetwater County UW students in a UW Career Services pilot program recently toured a Rock Springs plant facility. Students visited several Sweetwater County industries and businesses as part of the Live Local, Work Local program that provides students opportunities to live and work in Wyoming. (UW Photo) Nineteen University of Wyoming students recently participated in a Live Local, Work Local career experience in Sweetwater County. The program provides students opportunities to live and work in Wyoming. Live Local, Work Local: Sweetwater County is a UW Career Services pilot program. The Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce was integral for the planning of the program, organizing a two-day schedule packed with events that helped students understand the driving forces within the community. Area business professionals had the opportunity to meet with UW students, discuss internships and employment opportunities, and showcase southwest Wyoming. We want to grow UW students awareness of potential employment opportunities in Wyoming by exposing them to companies and careers they likely have not been aware of, says Ann Jones, associate director of career services in the UW College of Engineering and Applied Science Center for Student Success. It provides a stage for companies to showcase their sustainable and growing businesses in the community in which they live, work and support. Students visited Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and the Sweetwater Events Complex, learning the important role each of the organizations plays in the community. The group also visited Simplot Phosphates, Rock Springs National Bank, Commerce Bank, Waddell and Reed, Sweetwater Tech, BIS Lab at Western Wyoming Community College, Mountain States Pressure Services, Halliburton, Sweetwater County Justice Center and Detention Center, and Desert View Animal Hospital. The program was valuable to learn more about local businesses and get introduced to individuals working at the companies that I aspire to work for after graduation, says Jade Jewkes, a finance student from Green River. Jessica Walsh, a chemical and petroleum engineering major from Peotone, Ill., had only known Rock Springs from driving past the community on the interstate. I had no idea of the opportunity or potential for jobs in the area, Walsh says. As someone who is currently looking for job and internship possibilities, it is beneficial for me to know all my options within Wyoming. Ongoing outreach efforts between UW and area employers who have hired UW students and graduates for full-time jobs and summer internships made the event possible, Jones says. Sweetwater County company representatives were a driving force behind the event, which included UW alumni Bruce Pivic (electrical engineering, 1984), Amy Allen (civil engineering, 1986) and Bret Pizzato (electrical engineering, 1986). All are well-connected in area business circles, Jones says. There is a desire for more engagement with UW students for learning experiences, as well as postgraduation employment, she adds. Additionally, several UW career services professionals worked with Dave Hanks from the Rock Springs Chamber of Commerce and Kayla McDonald with the Sweetwater Economic Development Coalition. While this is the first event of this magnitude, the roots of Live Local, Work Local began in spring 2017 when Jo Chytka, director of the UW Advising, Career and Exploratory Studies (ACES) Center, worked with a group of Laramie employers to organize a networking event for UW students. The UW Career Services group consists of career services individuals from the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Business, the School of Energy Resources and ACES; all co-sponsored the Sweetwater County event. They work together to organize events for students and host programs to increase awareness of career opportunities and help students meet employers, says Jennie Hedrick, student advising coordinator in the UW College of Business. The group is planning the next business tour to Fremont County. Hedrick says there is additional interest from multiple Wyoming communities to host UW students. To learn more about the program, call the ACES office at (307) 766-2398 or email aces@uwyo.edu. Students who participated in the Sweetwater County event, and their majors, are: Broomfield, Colo. -- Johnathan Tibbetts, computer science. Cheyenne -- Taylor Arnold, social science, and Sarah Dey, agricultural business. Chittagong, Bangladesh -- Faisal Bhuiyan, mechanical engineering. Dhaka, Bangladesh -- Nabil Siddiqui, economics. Evanston -- Todd Muller, chemical engineering. Green River -- Jade Jewkes, finance, and Aubrey Peterson, mechanical engineering. Hot Springs, S.D. -- Bree Thompson, international agriculture. Jacksonville, Fla. -- Anna Kemner, agricultural business. Laramie -- Michael Gunderson, accounting. Lingle -- Kaylee Greenwald, agricultural business. Loveland, Colo. -- Tyler Martin, criminal justice. Oran, Algeria -- Ikram Lalmi, computer science. Peotone, Ill. -- Jessica Walsh, chemical and petroleum engineering. Pinedale -- Joshua Anderson, chemistry. San Gabriel, Calif. -- Stephen Cummings, petroleum engineering. Standish, Mich. -- Sebastian Bowerson, petroleum engineering. Thornton, Colo. -- Tiffany Mundhenke, molecular biology and microbiology. Chief Washakie Scholars Selected at UW Chief Washakie scholarships recently were awarded to 18 University of Wyoming students for the coming academic year. They will be recognized at the American Indian Studies honoring of graduates ceremony Friday, May 11, at 5 p.m. in the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center, located at 222 S. 22nd St. Current recipients of the scholarship -- selected by the Chief Washakie Memorial awards committee -- who will continue to receive support for the coming year, are: Contessa Bonds, a Master of Science degree candidate in health services administration, from Lander; Colleen Friday, a Master of Science degree candidate in rangeland ecology and watershed management, and Vanessa Sorrels, a doctoral candidate in pharmacy, both from Laramie; Mia Holt, a senior in physiology, with a minor in American Indian studies, from Lander; and Taryn Jim, a senior in speech, language and hearing science, with a minor in disability studies, from Fort Washakie. New recipients are Jada Boyer, a freshman in veterinary science, Tonya Dewey, a junior in criminal justice, and Christie Wildcat, a senior in American Indian studies, all from Riverton; Jenna Medicine Horse, a freshman in pre-nursing, from Ethete; and Sadie Posey, a freshman in chemistry, and Nolan Smith, a freshman in kinesiology and health promotion, both from Lander. From Fort Washakie are: Chelsea Bad Hawk, a junior in psychology; Darrell Bell, a junior in business management; Wolf Star Duran, a freshman in American Indian studies; Sheri Moon, a sophomore in pre-nursing; Alyson Sounding Sides, a junior in energy resource management and development; Jackie Washakie, an undeclared freshman; and Juwan Willow, a freshman in secondary education. The Chief Washakie Scholarship committee received a record number of applicants this year, and eight of those applicants were from freshmen for the coming fall semester. The Chief Washakie Memorial Endowment at UW helps students and educators -- with significant ties to the Wind River Indian Reservation community -- gain formal knowledge, skills and abilities. The spirit of the award assumes that the recipients have, as part of their ultimate goals, some direct participation, appropriate to their educational background, in activities that will further the common good of the people of the Wind River Indian Reservation, says Debra Littlesun, UW Student Financial Aid associate director. James Trosper, the UW director of both the Native American Education, Research and Cultural Center and the High Plains American Indian Research Institute, says the committee owes its gratitude to UW President Laurie Nichols for her outreach and support to the Wind River Indian Reservation, and for her commitment to Native American students at UW. In our history, there were many places where we, as Native Americans, were not welcome. The message from the University of Wyoming is changing that, Trosper says. When I think back to the grand opening of the Native American center here on campus, something that Gov. Matt Mead said stands out. He said, We hope to send a message loud and clear to all Native Americans -- we want you at the University of Wyoming because we want you to have a wonderful opportunity for education. He says Nichols supported that message, mentioning that a record number of Native American students are enrolling at UW. The scholarship selection committee is composed of representatives of the Wind River Indian Reservation community and UW. Members are Trosper, Chief Washakie Foundation chairman; Mark Harris, co-chairman of the Chief Washakie Foundation; Zedora Enos, great-granddaughter of Chief Washakie; May Raynolds, a Lander resident and member of the Chief Washakie Foundation; Littlesun; Angela Jaime, UW director of American Indian studies; and Amy McClure, retired UW Outreach regional office academic coordinator at Central Wyoming College. For more information about the Chief Washakie Scholarships, call Littlesun at (307) 766-2411 or email her at dreed14@uwyo.edu. University of Wyoming Calendar for May 7-13 These are among the activities scheduled May 7-13 at the University of Wyoming: Monday, May 7-Friday, May 11 -- Finals week for UW students. Monday, May 7, 4-7 p.m. -- The UW Art Museum will host a community strategic planning session in the museum classroom. Free. Tuesday, May 8, 7 p.m. -- UW Planetarium full-dome movie, Mayan Archaeoastronomy: Observers of the Universe. Tickets cost $3 for students and $4 for non-students, Physical Sciences Building basement. Advance tickets are available in the Physical Sciences Building, Room 204, or by going online at www.uwyo.edu/physics/ and clicking on Planetarium Schedule. Thursday, May 10, 4 p.m. -- UW-Casper will host a Celebration of Excellence for its graduating students at the Nicolaysen Art Museum. Thursday, May 10, 5 p.m. -- African American and Diaspora Studies will host its graduation event at the Cooper House. Thursday, May 10, 7:30 p.m. -- Gamelan Candra Wyoga will perform its spring concert in the College of Education auditorium. The group is composed of UW and community members who practice the musical tradition of Balinese gamelan. Free. Friday, May 11, 10:30 a.m. -- The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing will host its Sigma Theta Tau Ceremony in the College of Arts and Sciences auditorium. Friday, May 11, noon -- The Veterans Services Center will have a graduation ceremony and luncheon in the Wyoming Union Ballroom. Friday, May 11, 2 p.m. -- The Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing convocation will take place in the College of Arts and Sciences auditorium. Friday, May 11, 3 p.m. -- The multicultural graduation ceremony will be in the Wyoming Union Ballroom. Friday, May 11, 5 p.m. -- The American Indian Studies and Native American Education, Research and Cultural Centers Native American honoring ceremony will take place at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Friday, May 11, 5:30 p.m. -- The College of Engineering and Applied Science convocation and professional obligation ceremony will be in the College of Arts and Sciences auditorium. Friday, May 11, 8 p.m. -- UW Planetarium show, Mind-Blowing Astronomy. Tickets cost $3 for students and $4 for non-students, Physical Sciences Building basement. Advance tickets are available in the Physical Sciences Building, Room 204, or by going online at www.uwyo.edu/physics/ and clicking on Planetarium Schedule. Saturday, May 12, 11 a.m. -- UW Planetarium show, Man in Space. Tickets cost $3 for students and $4 for non-students, Physical Sciences Building basement. Advance tickets are available in the Physical Sciences Building, Room 204, or by going online at www.uwyo.edu/physics/ and clicking on Planetarium Schedule. Commencement Ceremonies, Saturday, May 12: 8:30 a.m. -- College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, Arena-Auditorium. 10 a.m. -- College of Law, Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. Noon -- UW graduate students from all colleges and schools, Arena-Auditorium. 3:30 p.m. -- College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, College of Business, College of Engineering and Applied Science, College of Health Sciences, the Honors College and the School of Energy Resources, Arena-Auditorium. 6 p.m. -- Army/Air Force ROTC commissioning ceremony, Performing Arts Center. UW Commencement Ceremonies May 12 University of Wyoming academic colleges will combine spring commencement ceremonies. Instead of individual colleges holding their own ceremonies over two days, there will be three combined ceremonies May 12, all at UWs newly renovated Arena-Auditorium. (UW Photo) A former Wyoming governor, a respected industry and community leader, the first female state geologist and three University of Wyoming students are among speakers at UWs spring commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 12. UW is scheduled to accord degrees upon 1,501 undergraduate students, 386 graduate students, 73 College of Law students and 51 School of Pharmacy students. For the first time in many years, UW academic colleges will combine spring commencement ceremonies. Instead of individual colleges holding their own ceremonies over two days, there will be three combined ceremonies May 12, all at UWs newly renovated Arena-Auditorium. Each ceremony is scheduled to last about two hours, featuring a keynote speaker, student speaker, a reading of all graduates names and presentation of diplomas to each student. The ceremonies will be broadcast live via UWs WyoCast system. The first ceremony, set for 8:30 a.m., is for students graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences, the College of Education and the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources. The WyoCast link is: https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/9285996e39ef4393bfa8c8c2a145ed531d. The second, starting at noon, is for all UW graduate students. The WyoCast link is: https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/35e202f925a54f6fa2769db208b474121d. The third, beginning at 3:30 p.m., is for students graduating from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the College of Business, the College of Engineering and Applied Science, the College of Health Sciences, the School of Energy Resources and Honors College. The WyoCast link is: https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/49c35bb679334e02b4a5967d62eb47fa1d. UWs College of Law will continue to hold its own commencement ceremony, as is traditional with law schools nationally. That ceremony is Saturday, May 12, at 10 a.m. in the Buchanan Center for the Performing Arts. The graduation speaker is former law Professor Bob Southard. The WyoCast link is: https://wyocast.uwyo.edu/WyoCast/Play/3f558d93a23942699b2702b1a038ba8c1d. Two honorary degree recipients also will be honored at the undergraduate ceremonies. The University of Wyoming at Casper, which for many years has had its own commencement ceremony, is instead moving to a more intimate Celebration of Excellence at 4 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at the Nicolaysen Art Museum. The event will feature graduating UW-Casper students as guests of honor and the awarding of diplomas to graduating students. The student speakers, keynote speakers and honorary degree recipients for the May 12 ceremonies are: Student Speakers -- 8:30 a.m. ceremony: Emily Quallen, Farmington, Conn., wildlife and fisheries biology and management, and environment and natural resources. -- Noon ceremony: Stephanie Bachtelle Stacy, Tustin, Calif., doctoral student in clinical psychology. -- 3:30 p.m. ceremony: Samuel Mallory, Cheyenne, energy resource management and development, and honors. Keynote Speakers -- 8:30 a.m. ceremony: Sharon Haley Linhart, industry and community leader, and founder of Denver-based Linhart PR. She graduated from UW with a B.S. degree (1973) in journalism. -- Noon ceremony: Erin Campbell, from Laramie. She is the first female Wyoming state geologist, appointed by Gov. Matt Mead in 2017. She received her doctoral degree from UW and taught in the UW Department of Geology and Geophysics for 15 years. -- 3:30 p.m. ceremony: Former Wyoming Gov. Mike Sullivan, of Casper. He served as governor from 1987-1995. Sullivan earned a B.S. degree (1961) in petroleum engineering and a Juris Doctor (1964) degree, both from UW. He was U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 1998-2001, and has received many state and national honors. Honorary Degree Recipients -- 8:30 a.m. ceremony: Neltje, from Sheridan County. She is a Wyoming artist and philanthropist, and is a major supporter of arts programs at UW and elsewhere. -- 3:30 p.m. ceremony: Margaret Webster Maggie Scarlett, from Jackson, a UW alumna who has served in literacy, library, museum and arts volunteer leadership roles, and has received state and national recognition for her work in creating and expanding museum and library collections. UW Theatre and Dance Tours Six Songs from Ellis in Nine Wyoming Communities The UW Department of Theatre and Dance will stage Six Songs from Ellis, an original work that captures the voices of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island, in nine Wyoming communities later this month. (Donald Turner Photo) The University of Wyoming Department of Theatre and Dance will tour nine Wyoming communities performing Six Songs from Ellis, an original work that captures the voices of immigrants who passed through Ellis Island in one of the greatest human migrations of all time. The tour is supported by UW Fine Arts Outreach, the Wyoming Arts Council, the Wyoming Cultural Trust Fund, ThinkWY/Humanities Council and UWs College of Arts and Sciences. The production ran at UW April 24-29. Tour performances, unless noted otherwise, are free and open to the public. Six Songs from Ellis will be performed: -- Monday, May 14, Cheyenne Civic Center, 7 p.m. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $5 for children. -- Tuesday, May 15, Sheridan, WYO Theatre, 7:30 p.m., free. -- Wednesday, May 16, Sheridan, WYO Theatre, Wyoming Girls School students and other school guests, 10 a.m., free. -- Thursday, May 17, Thermopolis, Hot Springs County High School, 7 p.m., free. -- Friday, May 18, Casper, Kelly Walsh High School, 7:30 p.m., free. -- Saturday, May 19, Torrington, Eastern Wyoming College auditorium, 7 p.m., free. -- Monday, May 21, Cody High School, Wynona Thompson auditorium, 7 p.m., free. -- Tuesday, May 22, Riverton, Central Wyoming College, Robert A. Peck Arts Center, 7 p.m., free. -- Wednesday, May 23, Rawlins High School, 7 p.m., free. -- Thursday, May 24, Rock Springs, Western Wyoming Community College theater, 7:30 p.m., free. Following each production, a question-and-answer session will be held by humanities scholars Patty Kessler (week one) and Eric Sandeen (week two). Additional theater and dance workshops, as well as humanities lectures, also will be held in conjunction with performances in each community. Choreographed and directed by UW dance faculty member Marsha Knight and co-directed by Leigh Selting, Six Songs from Ellis is a multimedia dance-theater work that centers on the oral histories of the immigrants and refugees who passed through Ellis Island. Millions of immigrants and their stories entered the United States through the gates of Ellis Island during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Knight says. Today, more than 40 percent of Americans can trace their ancestry to this period of relatively open immigration through New Yorks harbor. Knight was so affected by the opening of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum in 1990 that she began to consider the possibility of creating a work about the immigrant experience. She conducted research at the Oral History Museum at Ellis Island, which alone houses more than 2,000 oral histories. A seminal production was presented in 2009, which explored how immigration and refugee crises are topics as critical now as they were 100 years ago, and how attitudes toward access and response to need and crisis can benefit from stories -- inspiring, cautionary and human -- of those who helped to build the country, Knight adds. During a recent yearlong sabbatical, Knights subsequent extensive research of approximately 500 oral histories resulted in a broader glimpse into possibilities for her piece, with 88 individuals represented to date. Over the past months of developing the script and getting it on its feet, I continue to find stunning the commonalities, past and present, regarding immigration, she says. Depicting the immigrant experience as human and individual is at the heart of this work. Knight expresses her passion about the subject and what these stories have to offer audiences. These similarities might be about the will to contribute uniquely to American society, the range of these contributions, their effort and pride in family and home, and of places in the world still in conflict, she adds. The oral histories have the wisdom and reflection proffered by time, and they offer story and perspective about obstacles, opportunity, hope and achievement. Excerpts for the 2018 production include themes of economically forced separation, quotas, genocide, exclusion, location (Syria and Ukraine) and religious bias, and also reflections on freedom, access, economic contribution and American identity. The piece has a particular resonance in the current moment as we, as a nation, consider again our relationship to immigrant voices, Knight says. For more detailed information for each community performance, email Knight at mfknight@uwyo.edu. UW students performing in the production and their hometowns are: Arvada, Colo. -- Justen Glover. Aspen, Colo. -- Becca Maniscalchi. Aurora, Colo. -- Jordan Himelrick and Caleb OBrien. Bozeman, Mont. -- Samantha Brooks-Smith. Brighton, Colo. -- Haley Nigro. Buffalo -- Laura Kelley (understudy). Castle Rock, Colo. -- Madison Drab. Cheyenne -- Elizabeth Daly and Walter Taylor. Eugene, Ore. -- Stephanie Young. Glenwood Springs, Colo. -- McKendrey McGown. Golden, Colo. -- Killian Ramey. Green River -- Eli West. Houston, Texas -- Hannah Kipp and Aili Maeve McLellan. Loveland, Colo. -- Baylee Butcher. Rapid City, S.D. -- Mariah Leigh Brewer and Heidi Carlson. Riverton -- Andrew Thornton. San Antonio, Texas -- Jenna Blazek. Flames and smoke rise from an Air National Guard C-130 cargo plane after it crashed near Savannah, Georgia, Wednesday, May 2, 2018. Photo soure: AP The C-130 "Hercules" cargo plane from the Puerto Rico Air National Guard crashed around 11.30am (11.30pm Singapore time) near the Savannah airport. Footage of the crash showed it falling from the sky then exploding in a fireball. Officials at first said five crewmembers were killed, but it later emerged that other people were also on board. "We've confirmed nine people, consisting of five crewmembers and four additional passengers" were on board, Puerto Rico National Guard spokesman Major Paul Dahlen said. He said the four others were also members of the military. Dahlen could not immediately confirm all nine had died, but said images of the crash spoke for themselves. Photographs on Twitter showed the charred wreckage of a plane engulfed in flames and billowing black smoke. US President Donald Trump tweeted he had been briefed on the incident, and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. Dahlen said the plane was probably more than 50 years old and was headed to the 309th Aerospace Maintenance Regeneration Group at Davis Monthan Air Force Base - also known as a boneyard for old planes. The C-130 had been in Georgia for planned maintenance and was thought to have been in good mechanical condition, he added. An investigation into the incident is underway. The US military has been rocked by a string of aviation accidents in recent weeks, including an F-16 crash near Las Vegas last month that killed the pilot. Just a day earlier, four crew members died when a Marine Corps helicopter crashed while on a routine training mission in Southern California. And in Djibouti, two incidents triggered the grounding of US military flights. According to the Military Times, accidents involving the military's manned aircraft rose nearly 40 per cent from fiscal years 2013 to 2017. The publication found the rise coincided with budget cuts from 2013, which impacted training and readiness, as well as heavy wear and tear on aircraft from back-to-back deployments. Hoa Sen Group may not be able to develop the $10.6 billion Ca Na steel complex? According to CafeBiz, steel maker Hoa Sen Group has published a bleak financial statement for the first quarter of 2018 (the second quarter of the 2017-2018 financial year ending in September this year). Accordingly, the firm reported VND7.66 trillion ($336.5 million) in revenue, up 23 per cent on-year. However, its net profit was only VND115 billion ($5.05 million), one-fifth of last years figure. The firms after-tax profit was only VND87 billion ($3.82 million). The major reason for this plunge is due to the increase of expenditures, including interest payments for debts. Notably, the corporations short-term debt increased by VND3.6 trillion ($158.1 million) to VND16.24 trillion ($713.5 million), leading to a 70 per cent increase in interest expenses. Besides, sales and management expenses increased by 35 and 90 per cent on-year. Along with the plunge in business results, Hoa Sen Group saw a decrease in its market share. Accordingly, its galvanised steel market share was 33.1 per cent in 2016, 7.8 per cent less than in 2012. Furthermore, the bleak business results had a negative effect on the corporations share value on the stock exchange. As of 3:30 PM of the May 3 transaction session, the firms shares were at VND14,550, 49 per cent less than at the beginning of this year. In the 2016-2017 financial year, Hoa Sen Group sold an estimated 1.66 million tonnes of steel with a revenue of VND26.1 trillion ($1.14 billion), signifying increases of 26 and 46 per cent, respectively. However, the consolidated after-tax profit was VND1.33 trillion ($58.3 million), 12 per cent lower than the figure of the previous financial year. The reason behind this was the soaring interest on the companys massive debts. Notably, as of the end of the second quarter of last year, Hoa Sen Group bore a debt of VND12.4 trillion ($543.6 million), VND10 trillion ($438.4 million) of which was short-term debts, while its equity was only VND5 trillion ($219.2 million). From early October 2016 to late July 2017, the group reported mobilising VND19.9 trillion ($872.4 million) in loans. Besides, the group reported that interest payments rose to VND334 billion ($14.6 million), tripling on-year. The consecutive decreases in profit raised concerns about the feasibility of Hoa Sen Groups $10.6-billion Ca Na steel complex, which the group took over from the revoked Ca Na steel manufacturing complex initially invested by a Malaysian and Vietnamese joint venture. Previously, Hoa Sen chairman Le Phuoc Vu announced that the group was ready to develop the steel project in the central province of Ninh Thuan. Established in August 2001, Hoa Sen Group is one of the leaders in steel sheet production and trading in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. It accounted for more than 30 per cent of the domestic steel sheet market and more than 20 per cent of the steel pipe market. The groups products have been exported to more than 70 countries and territories around the world. Export turnover accounts for nearly 40 per cent of the groups total revenue. Beside its home market, Hoa Sen Group also expanded to potential markets such as the Middle East, Southern Asia, Australia, America, Europe, and Africa. Hoa Sen returns to dream of Ca Na steel project The Ninh Thuan Peoples Committee has approved Hoa Sen Group, one of Vietnams leading steel producers and traders, to carry out surveys and study plans ... A laptop showing the Facebook logo is held alongside a Cambridge Analytica sign at the entrance to the building housing the offices of Cambridge Analytica, in central London. (Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP) LONDON: Cambridge Analytica, the British marketing analytics firm, announced on Wednesday (May 2) that it was closing and would file for insolvency in Britain and the United States after failing to recover from the Facebook data scandal. The decision follows weeks of intense pressure on the company, hired by Donald Trump's presidential campaign, after allegations emerged it may have hijacked up to 87 million Facebook users' data. It claimed it has been "vilified" by the "numerous unfounded accusations" which torpedoed its business and left the firm with "no realistic alternative" but to go into administration. "Despite Cambridge Analytica's unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully ... the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the company's customers and suppliers," it said in a statement. "As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business." An affiliate of British firm Strategic Communication Laboratories (SCL), CA has offices in London, New York, Washington, as well as Brazil and Malaysia. It drew attention after former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon reportedly once sat on its board and was bankrolled to the tune of US$15 million by US billionaire and Republican donor Robert Mercer. It first became embroiled in scandal in March when Canadian whistleblower Christopher Wylie, a 28-year-old former analyst for the firm, revealed it had created psychological profiles of tens of millions of Facebook users via a personality prediction app. The revelations instantly reverberated around the world, wiping billions from the social media giant's market value and drawing scrutiny from politicians and regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. To make matters worse for CA, CEO Alexander Nix was suspended within days after he was filmed by undercover reporters bragging about ways to win political campaigns, including through blackmail and honey traps. As the crisis intensified, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg was forced to apologise to its billions of users amid a small but growing exodus from the site. He eventually appeared before Congress for a two-day grilling by lawmakers, and has since vowed to overhaul the way the Facebook shares its users' data. In Britain, regulators ratcheted up a probe into CA, raiding its London offices, and later extending the investigation to 30 organisations, including Facebook. A second whistleblower from the firm also emerged at a parliamentary hearing in April claiming Britons' personal data may have been misused by a pro-Brexit campaign ahead of the 2016 referendum in which Britain voted to leave the European Union. Earlier this month, Facebook upped its count of the number of people impacted, admitting that up to 87 million users may have had their data harvested. CA has vehemently denied exploiting that data for Trump's election campaign, claiming it deleted data obtained in breach of the social network's terms of service. At a London press conference last week a CA spokesman claimed the company was "no Bond villain" and had broken no laws. It hired British barrister Julian Malins to conduct an independent investigation into what it termed "a torrent of ill-informed and inaccurate speculation" and posted his report on its website Wednesday. "(The) report ... concluded that the allegations were not 'borne out by the facts'," CA said. "(It) has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," it added. But the company conceded the crisis had taken too heavy a toll and said its board had appointed lawyers in Britain to oversee the insolvency process, and would be following suit in America. CA said that although its financial condition was "precarious" it intended "to fully meet its obligations to its employees" Initial reaction to the news in Britain was guarded. Damian Collins MP, chair of a parliamentary committee that held the hearings on the issue and questioned Nix in February and Facebook executives last month, warned CA "cannot be allowed to delete their data history by closing". "The investigations into their work are vital," he added. Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee officials look at a model project to be located in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in District 2. Photo: VNA Speaking to the media at a meeting held yesterday in the city, Vo Van Hoan, chief of secretariat and spokesperson for the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, said due to the large scale and importance of the project, the city would also call for foreign investors for the auction. Investors who win the auction must comply with the approved plan and function, Hoan said, adding: The auction of land aims to improve the citys urban development for people to live better. To be eligible, investors must ensure the projects progress, prove management capacity and responsibility to develop the project with the surrounding area, accept deposits as collateral, and must mobilise capital well, Hoan told local media. For example, investors of the Central Square in the new urban area must complete it on or before April 30, 2020, Hoan said. Representatives of the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment said the auction process would follow the ministrys Circular 14, which ensures an accurate measurement area and hires independent consulting companies to determine the prices at auction. This would be submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee before starting the auction, while the Department of Justices Auction Centre will be the auctioning unit. The nine land plots for the auction are located in an area that is expected to be a highly dense multi-function commercial centre, according to city authorities. Under the plan, towers will be built along Arc Avenue and Central Square, with building height gradually reduced towards the Saigon River and the central lake. Major public buildings include an exhibition centre, a museum, a building for a symphony orchestra, and a planning information centre. Phong asked the management board of the new urban area to work with the Department of Natural Resources and Environment and other agencies to approve the detailed plan (1/500 scale) and auction the land plots in accordance with current law. The city leader also asked agencies to relocate religious establishments in the urban area (Thu Thiem Church and Thu Thiem Lovers Church), as well as acquire land where the existing Thu Thiem Primary School is located. This will be used by the investor to build a riverside park and riverside roads. Covering a total area of 657 hectares, Thu Thiem new urban area is located on Thu Thiem peninsula in Ho Chi Minh Citys District 2, which faces downtown District 1 across Saigon River. Approved by the government in 1996, the proposed financial district and mixed-use urban area of Ho Chi Minh City is set to become the largest inner-city development in Southeast Asia. Thu Thiem will relieve some of the pressure the city currently faces. The infrastructure within the citys existing central business district is starting to overload due to rapid growth during the last three decades, city authorities have said. According to a master plan, the new urban area has five main areas: the central core, the northern residential area, the residential area along Mai Chi Tho Avenue, the eastern residential area, and the delta area in the south. To develop such a project, it took more than 10 years for site clearance of most of Thu Thiem peninsula, with as many as 15,000 households being resettled. In a document sent to the prime minister in 2015, the city authorities said total costs in the new urban area for clearance compensation and resettlement, technical infrastructure, and loan interest had reached more than VND29 trillion ($1.27 billion). Of the figure, about VND12 trillion is from commercial credit institutions, resulting in an interest of around VND2.9 billion per day. Some of the households living on land in the proposed North Phuoc Kien Residential Area, reached an agreement in mid-March on a compensation rate from the property developer Quoc Cuong Gia Lai Joint Stock Company. Many other households, however, have not agreed to the compensation rate. - Photo tuoitre.vn The Quoc Cuong Gia Lai Joint Stock Company received approval from Nha Be District to build the residential complex, but only a small percentage of families have agreed to the compensation rate. Tran Vinh Tuyen, vice chairman of the Peoples Committee, has asked the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment, the Department of Construction, and Nha Be District Peoples Committee to work with the ministry to resolve the issue. City authorities have urged Nha Be District Peoples Committee to review local households land-use certificates in the disputed area. House-ownership documents and other assets related to land will be reviewed for 36 cases of unlicensed construction by local residents, according to city authorities. While waiting for advice from the ministry, the city in the meantime has asked Nha Be District to select two to five households as a "pilot project" as an example of what could happen to other households. The city said the district should examine the households violations of construction regulations and take "coercive" action to move out of the area. District authorities were also asked to work with the project investor Quoc Cuong Gia Lai company to resolve compensation issues and speed up land clearance. Covering 93ha, the North Phuoc Kien residential area, which is the third phase of the Phuoc Kien residential area project, is under site clearance. According to the Nha Be District Peoples Committee, 73 households have been affected by the project. Of these, only 37 have land-use certificates. Land transfer dispute In a related issue, Quoc Cuong Gia Lai company has another project in Phuoc Kien in Nha Be District involved in a scandal related to the transfer of land. The company reportedly bought more than 30ha of land plots at VND1.29 million (US$56.5) per sq.m, a price that was said to be extremely low, from the Tan Thuan One Member Investment and Construction Limited Company. Secretary of HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has urged the citys Inspection Committee to examine the actions of authorities responsible for management of enterprises involved in the transfer of 30ha of land in Phuoc Kien Commune. The head of the city Partys Committee said a report on any violation committed by individuals or organisations must be submitted to the Standing Committee of the City Party before May 8. 46% Favor Government Guaranteed Jobs for All Finnish Failure: Guaranteed Basic Income Punishes Work, Subsidizes Sloth Why Finlands Basic Income Experiment Isnt Working Bernie Sanders Senator Bernie Sanders is looking ahead to the 2020 presidential election with a proposed federal government program that guarantees all Americans a job with health insurance. Nearly half of voters like the idea.The survey of 1,000 Likely U.S. Voters was conducted on April 24-25, 2018 by Rasmussen Reports. The margin of sampling error is +/- 3 percentage points with a 95% level of confidence.WE are in deep trouble. All the dumb lazy people who think communism wouldn't bump the useless eaters off THIS TIME like they did all the other times, would vote them right on in. That would be your trump haters...voting in and cheering the end of themselves and the free world forever.Welfare: The latest "big idea" in the U.S. is the Universal Basic Income a guaranteed income for all. Progressives of course like the idea, but even some conservatives and libertarians do, too. Only one problem: It doesn't work.HELSINKI, Finland Universal basic income is generating considerable interest these days, from, who says he is absolutely sympathetic to the idea, to Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, and other tech billionaires.The basic idea behind it is that handing out unconditional cash to all citizens, employed or not, would help reduce poverty and inequality, and increase individual liberty.While Bernie would call it a "job", either that or "No job", the result of "guaranteed income":Ask the CCCP. Lazada closing Hanoi office located in 838 Bach Dang, Hai Ba Trung district Lazada Vietnam has confirmed closing its Hanoi office and move all operations to Ho Chi Minh City. The reason provided is not clear as the firm only cites ambitions to unify management and make training easier. Most of the employees at the Hanoi office will retain their position or the position they would like in compliance with the companys policy. They will also be supported when moving to Lazada in Ho Chi Minh City, the representative of Lazada Vietnam told Zing.vn. However, while some employees are indeed moving to Ho Chi Minh City, the majority of the Hanoi staff have quit, according to the newswire. The demand for online shopping in the northern area in general and Hanoi in particular is increasing. Thus, Lazada Vietnam is developing its logistics department in Hanoi, including warehouses, shippers, and other departments. In Ho Chi Minh City, the company is developing human resources on trade and technology, so some office and business development staff have been transferred from Hanoi. Lazada started operating in Ho Chi Minh City six years ago and it opened its Hanoi office in 2015 with around 100 employees. This aimed to facilitate connectivity with firms and salesmen as well as expand Lazadas market share in Hanoi and the whole northern area. The closing of the Hanoi office and others in the region and over the world is in line with the firms strategy of unifying and concentrating human resources for Alibabas ambition of dominating the e-commerce market. Alibaba spent $2 billion acquiring Lazada in 2016-2017. And this giant has just poured in an additional $2 billion last month to double its investment in Lazada in Southeast Asia. Lazada also closed its technical centres in Bangkok (Thailand) and Moscow (Russia), and moved some of its employees to technical centres in Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Guangzhou (China). The Ministry of Industry and Trade has decided to remove and simplify 54 administrative procedures in 10 sectors under its management including energy, import-export and food safety. Minister Tran Tuan Anh signed the declaration on April 27 to streamline administrative procedures, marking the third time that the ministry has cut its administrative procedures. In the import-export sector, the ministry will remove the need to obtain a licence for tobacco imports for duty free trading. The licence was applied since 1998. According to the revised Circular 03, dated January 13th 2014, the ministry will grant import licences to businesses within 10 days since receiving valid documents. In the third reduction of administrative procedures, the MoIT will also reduce the time for granting certificates of free sale (CFS) for imported and exported goods. The ministry reviewed and agreed to remove 9 administrative procedures relating registrating promotional campaigns that use a lucky draw. As a result, businesses no longer have to supply images of the products involved in the draw, and can receive the registration documents within three working days instead of seven. The ministry also simplified 8 administrative procedures in food safety. Relating to Decree 109 on rice exports, which has been a topic of debate in past years, the ministry reduced the time for obtaining the necessary documents to export rice from 15 working days to 10. Administrative procedures in other sectors including goods, measurement standards, competition management, alcohol trading, energy and electricity were also removed and simplified. The ministrys first administrative shakeup was implemented in December 2016, and reduced 123 administrative procedures out of the total 443. Last year, MoIT continued to cut and simplify up to 183 administrative procedures. The ministry said the number of administrative procedures under its management had increased from 443 in 2016 to 451 in 2017, as some sectors under other ministries management was transferred to MoIT. Experts said that the ministrys reforms since 2016 have created favourable conditions for businesses and people to develop. The MoIT has been the only ministry to meet the Governments requirements in administrative procedure reduction. Moreover, the ministry has been praised for cutting 402 categories out of 702 import-export products which were under special check-ups. Ninh Binh is well known for its breathtaking sceneries. Hidden away just a few hours from Hanoi, the rural masterpiece may be small in size and population, but its rugged landscapes offer visitors a massive slice of heaven. In the past 50 years, Ninh Binh has seen more economic development and world recognition more ever than before. Hoa Lu of Ninh Binh became the capital of the Great Viet in the 10th century after inh Bo Linh conquered the stagnant warring situation between 12 factions, united them and declared himself Emperor of the Great Viet land. Dinh Tien Hoang became the first Emperor after one thousand years under occupation by the Han Chinese. Hoa Lu is naturally surrounded by many mountain ranges, according to historical records. The mountains and rivers gracefully intertwine, making the region a convenient base camp for both land and river transportation. The forests rest behind Hoa Lu, it faces a large flatland in front, the sea is further out but within reach. This is a magnificent landscape with graceful natural fengshui, it is deserved to become the Emperors citadel. Hoa Lu served as capital for 42 years and was home to the founding Dinh dynasty (968-980), the Early Le (980-1010) and Ly (1009-1225) dynasties. After King Ly Thai To, also a native Hoa Lu resident, moved the capital to Hanoi, he decided to build new residences and constructions in Dai La and named them exactly the same as the sites in Hoa Lu. King Ly Thai Tong, the second king of the Ly Dynasty was born and spent the first 10 years of his life in Hoa Lu. Later, he built One Pilar Pagoda, Dong Co Temple, dug the Lam canal to build a fortress, following the military strategy of King Le Dai Hanh. In the early years of independence, self-defence was still top priority, so Hoa Lu was perfect for that purpose with natural high mountains scattered on a larger flatland to keep away the attackers. During the 40 year it was capital, it saw continuous war against the northern and southern neighbours. The significance of Hoa Lu Citadel is that it was built as a self-defense fortress, which did not take any outline of any Chinese citadel. It used natural water flows as the routes to move from east side to the west side and in and out of the larger citadel area. Hoa Lu is a rare military structure set in the beautiful landscape. At the foot of Hang Mua staircase. A zig-zag path leading to the mountain top brings more visitors to the Dance Cave. Ranges of moutains make a natural protective walls for Hoa Lu, the citadel. A water procession was held on Tuesdays early morning to wish for peace and happiness for the country and its people. Boat racing, wrestling, human chess and cock fighting are highlights of the Hoa Lu festival. In 2014, Hoa Lu together with the greater Trang An Landscape Complex became UNESCO World Heritage. It was the countrys first mixed heritage of historic and landscaping values. Trang An was recognised for "its global significance as an outstanding tropical tower-karst landscape in the final stages of geomorphic evolution. On UNESCO website, its written, "The area is unique in having been invaded by the sea several times in the recent geological past but is now emergent on land. The blend of towering mountains draped in natural rain forest, with large internal basins and narrow cave passages containing quietly flowing waters, creates an extraordinarily beautiful and tranquil landscape." Other archaeological findings reveal the continuous human occupation dating back to more than 30,000 years. In 2017, Ninh Binh became known the world around after Hollywood blockbuster Kong, the Skull Island was filmed here. Kong Diretor Jordan Voigt-Roberts became Vietnams Tourism Ambassador and he lived intermittently between Vietnam and the US. Now Ninh Binh has become a popular tourist destination. In the 7-day Lunar New Year holiday in February, the number of tourists visiting Ninh Binh soared to more than 736,000 people, marking a 30 per cent increase over the same period last year. By end of February 2018, the number of tourists set a new record of more than 2,3 million. The sleeping beauty of Ninh Binh has woken up, to see itself surrounded by millions of admirers. Current power investors in Vietnam like CSG are resetting focus on renewable energy, photo Phuong Thu Malaysias Jaks Resources Bhd. and China Power Engineering Consulting Group Co., Ltd., that are building a 1,200 megawatt (MW), $1.87-billion coal-fired power plant in the northern province of Hai Duong, are seeking more power projects in other provinces in Vietnam, with a focus on the renewable energy segment. Renewable energy is still in its infancy in Vietnam, due to its high costs and weather conditions in certain areas that are not conducive to wind and solar power generation. Aligning with our strategy, we will grow our power portfolio in Vietnam with a view to participating in the recent renewable energy drive in the country, said Elaine Tai, general manager of Corporate Strategy at Jaks Resources. In a recent visit to the southern province of Binh Phuoc, Haris F. Abdullah, representative of Jaks Resources in Vietnam, said that the firm plans to invest in a solar power project with the capacity of 200MW and total investment capital of $262.5 million, on an area of 240 hectares. The project would be divided into two phases, with the first phase boasting a capacity of 50MW and investment of $87.5 million, and covering 80ha. Jaks Resources said it could develop upcoming projects in Vietnam alone or by forming a joint venture, depending on the size of the investment. In the next two years, Jaks Resources sees the thermal power plant in Hai Duong driving the groups profit growth, according to a report on its website. The construction of the power plant is currently 22 per cent complete and is scheduled to reach 50 per cent by the end of the year. There is a strong indication that work on the project will be expedited for full completion in 2020. As such, 2018 and 2019 are crucial years for us, Jaks Resources CEO Ang Lam Poah confirmed. The Hai Duong power plant, which was licensed in 2011, will be the Malaysian companys first foray into the Vietnamese power generation industry. It started construction in March 2016. The project is being conducted through a build-operate-transfer contract, and will be handed over to the Vietnamese government after the 25-year term ends. In a related development, a representative of China Southern Power Grid Company (CSG), the investor of the $1.75-billion Vinh Tan 1 thermal power project, which is the largest Chinese-invested project in Vietnam, told VIR, With a desire to continue to contribute to the development of Vietnams electric and electronics industry, CSG is continuing to co-operate with state-run Electricity of Vietnam EVN to develop and distribute power transmission and distribution systems. In addition, CSG is seeking opportunities to invest in renewable energy projects such as wind and solar power, waste-to-electricity, and more. CSG has been co-operating with EVN and the Vietnamese government on developing the power sector in the country since the late 1990s. CSG has not only successfully developed the Vinh Tan 1 thermal power project under the build-operate-transfer format, it also implemented several 220 and 500kV transmission lines to supply electricity to northern Vietnam. Phan Ngoc Cam Thanh, deputy director of Vinh Tan 1 Plant, revealed that the first unit of the plant will come into commercial operation in July, five months earlier than initially scheduled. On April 18, this first unit was successfully connected to the national grid for initial testing and met all standard requirements. It is slated to help increase the energy supply to the countrys southern regions, as there are concerns over power supply risks due to delays in the Song Hau 1 and Long Phu 1 thermal power projects. In a previous interview with VIR, Paddy Padmanathan, CEO and president of ACWA Power International, the investor of the Nam Dinh 1 thermal power project in the northern province of Nam Dinh, said, We are keen to invest in more power plants, using local fuel resources, which includes solar and wind resources. So, our next projects will likely focus on development in the area of renewable energy. We have already entered into a partnership with FECON, a well-established and respected Vietnamese engineering contractor, to develop a 100MW photovoltaic power plant as our next investment, he added. Vietnams electricity demand is expected to see an increase of more than 10-15 per cent per year over the next few years, due to the rising population and accelerating economic growth. Southern Vietnam, the countrys largest economic bloc which includes Ho Chi Minh City, faces a critical situation in relation to the current imbalance between the existing supply and the increasing demand for electricity. Only half of the investors that expressed interest have signed up for the PV Oil auction According to the draft regulation on the sale of shares to strategic investors submitted to the authorities for approval, PV Oil released that after completing the investment evaluation, to date, four investors confirmed joining the auction to become strategic investors, registering to buy 2.86 times more shares than was put on offer. However, the names of these four investors have yet to be disclosed. Previously, at a roadshow organised in Ho Chi Minh City in early January, the firm revealed that it was courted by eight hopeful investors, six of which hail from overseas. The potential foreign partners are major oil corporations from around the world: Royal Dutch Shell (UK/Netherlands), Kuma (Switzerland), SK (South Korea), Idemitsu Kosan (Japan), Kuwait Petroleum International, and an undisclosed firm from the Middle East. The two interested Vietnamese investors are SAM Holdings and Saigon General Service Corporation (Savico). Setting stricter criteria for strategic investors may be one of the reasons behind the decreased interest. Accordingly, interested investors must have equity of at least VND2 trillion ($87.87 million), double than the previous figure. Besides, interested investors have to agree to consume products manufactured by Dung Quat and Nghi Son refineries for ten years. The selling price will be based on the petroleum market price. According to Decision No.1979/QD-TTg, PV Oil will have to complete the sale of shares to strategic investors within three months after its equitisation plan is approved. However, the companys board of directors expects the firm to miss the deadline, thus it requested the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the prime minister to extend the deadline to late July. At present, PV Oil is waiting for the prime ministers approval. PV Oil currently operates 500 petroleum stations and supplies petroleum for 3,000 other stations, almost all of which are located in the north. PV Oil plans to increase the number of its petroleum stations to 1,500 and increase its market share through M&A activities. In 2017, PV Oil reported a consolidated revenue of VND56 trillion ($2.46 billion) with a consolidated pre-tax profit of VND405 billion ($178.02 million). This year, the firm expects to earn VND41 trillion ($1.8 billion) in revenue and VND340 billion ($149.45 million) in pre-tax profit. At stake are tariffs on billions of dollars of US and Chinese goods, which, if imposed, could put a dent in economic growth. (AFP/JASON LEE) At stake are tariffs on billions of dollars of US and Chinese goods, which, if imposed, could put a dent in humming global economic growth. US President Donald Trump has threatened to levy new tariffs on US$150 billion of Chinese imports while Beijing has so far shot back with a list of US$50 billion in targeted US goods. "It is not realistic to resolve all issues through only one round of negotiations, but we believe that, as long as the US is sincere to resolve the relevant issues, the negotiation will be a positive one," said Hua Chunying, a spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, at a regular news briefing on Wednesday. The US delegation includes seven senior officials: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, White House economic advisers Peter Navarro, Larry Kudlow, Everett Eissenstat and US Ambassador to China Terry Branstad. Each member of the team is known to harbour strong views with varying degrees of hawkishness on the dispute - from Navarro, author of "Death by China", to Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs executive who has publicly expressed optimism on resolving the spat. "I'm always hoping but not always hopeful," Lighthizer said on Tuesday before departing for Beijing. "It's a big, big challenge." Meanwhile, Trump will be watching and possibly tweeting from Washington. "Delegation heading to China to begin talks on the Massive Trade Deficit that has been created with our Country," he tweeted as the team prepared to leave. "Very much like North Korea, this should have been fixed years ago, not now ... Great Potential for USA!" Leading the talks for China will be Liu He, President Xi's top economic advisor and a Vice Premier. Liu will "exchange views with the US delegation on economic and trade issues of common concern to the US and China", China's official news agency Xinhua said Wednesday. Liu visited Washington earlier this year for trade talks but few tangible results came out of the meetings. TECH BATTLE The immediate threat of tariffs obscures the larger competition in technology looming over the talks. US officials are concerned about Beijing's 'Made in China 2025' industrial policy which they see as a Chinese plan to dominate key high tech industries. Before boarding a plane for Beijing, US Commerce Secretary Ross called the policy "frightening". Last month, Washington banned Chinese telecom and smartphone giant ZTE from purchasing crucial US components for seven years - threatening the company's survival - as punishment for breaking US export controls. The US has also reportedly opened a similar probe into another Chinese telecom major, Huawei, after restricting its operations in the country on national security grounds. Washington's moves, perceived by Beijing as a way to contain China's strategic ambitions in hi-tech, have not gone unnoticed. President Xi Jinping told scientists last week that the country must develop its own core technology. "To tackle the next key problems in science and technology, we should abandon fantasies and rely on ourselves," Xi said. Visa policy is keeping tourists at bay, illustration photo With globalisation encouraging visa-free travel all over the world, only 24 countries have visa exemptions in Vietnam, while other countries in the region have much higher numbers: 168 in Indonesia, 162 in Malaysia, 159 and Singapore and the Philippines, and 57 in Thailand. In order to attract more foreign tourists, the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) sent a letter to the Vietnamese prime minister recently, asking for more visa exemptions for international tourists, especially ones from developed countries, who might indulge in long stays and luxury spending. According to TAB, since mid-2015, the visa waiver for tourists has helped raise the number of foreign visitor arrivals by 20 per cent, but difficulties have been caused by a lack of clarity regarding the visa waiver programme for five European countries the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and Italy which will expire at the end of June. Talking to VIR, a representative of Thanh Thanh Cong Travel said, We dont know whether the programme will be extended, which is causing uncertainty for the tourism industry and making it difficult for tourism agencies to develop marketing plans for these countries. The representative added that most European tourists plan for their trips from six months to one year before, meaning that uncertainty about a valid visa-free policy will make a number of them turn their backs on the country. TAB also asked the government to approve exemptions for five years instead of renewals every year, and to increase the maximum stay to 30 days from the current 15, because most tourists from the current 12 countries with 15 days visa-free want longer stays. In addition, TAB asked for visa exemptions for tourists from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, calculating that such a change would immediately boost tourism revenue by 8-10 per cent, as much as $101 million, which is much higher than the $17 million currently earned in visa charges. TAB also recommended Vietnam to implement a one visa, multiple destinations policy in the sub-region of CLMV countriesCambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (with the addition of Thailand)to attract more tourists. As a boost to local property development, such a visa exemption would help promote the second home programme that encourages foreigners to buy properties in Vietnam, something that Malaysia has done successfully. According to realty experts, no matter how local realty firms develop their products such as villas and apartment condotels for foreigners, without a long visa, no-one would be eager to buy a second home here, said Luong Hoai Nam, a representative of TAB. Tourist visas are not a back-scratching issue but something based on ones own need. If Vietnam wants to boost local tourism and develop the economy, we should give visa-free entry to more visitors. Taking Thailanda tourist paradiseas an example, the country only has visa exemptions for 57 countries, but it offers visa-free entry for citizens of 75 others. This includes the US, Canada, the EU, Australia, and New Zealand, Nam said. According to TAB, Vietnam would lose at least 15-20 per cent in tourism revenue as other countries in the region would take potential tourists right away. Last year, Vietnam received nearly eight million international arrivals, stepping up eight places to rank 67th globally in the World Travel and Tourism Councils Tourism and Travel Index. In the index, Singapore ranks 13th, Malaysia ranks 26th, Thailand ranks 34th, and Indonesia ranks 42nd. In this past election, like many before it, the left used the specter of The Klan and Old Jim Crow in order to motivate black people to vote... Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. HM Customs Marine Section Seize 900 Cartons of Cigarettes In two separate operations since the Bank Holiday weekend, HM Customs Marine Section have arrested four Spanish nationals and seized 900 cartons of cigarettes. The first occurred on Saturday evening. Following a routine patrol of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, 200 cartons of cigarettes along with a small white pleasure craft were seized and two Spanish nationals of 35 and 71 years of age were arrested. Both were later released on Police bail until a later date when they are due to appear at New Mole House Police Station. The second incident took place at around 02:45am this morning, when a rigid inflatable boat was seen loaded with cigarettes. During a chase, the suspect vessel rammed the Customs boat whilst attempting to escape, resulting in slight damage to HMC patrol vessels starboard engine. A HM Customs Officer sustained minor injuries to his knee. The Officers successfully arrested two Spanish nationals and seized the suspect vessel and 700 cartons of cigarettes. Both detainees have been charged and are due to appear tomorrow, Friday 4th April, at the Magistrates Court. Chris Evans and his beard. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios 2018 A funny thing happened between Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers: Infinity War: Everyone grew a beard. Or, at the very least, a mustache. An hour into Infinity War, I could no longer look past the obvious: There are good guys and bad guys and Infinity Stones, but this is really a movie about facial hair. Captain America has a beard now; Falcon grew out his sideburns. Theres no reason for everyone to have invested in beard oil or a mustache brush was there a deleted scene where Iron Man sent out an official alert? but its a welcome distraction from the real plots doom and gloom. So Im proud to present this look at Infinity Wars facial hair, ranked from worst to best. Heres whos working it, and who needs to add a rider to their contract for more time with the set barber. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios 2018 9. Star-Lord The Guardians aesthetic is very 80s and usually deploys its throwbacks with finesse. But Peter Quills razor-sharp, quasi-lightning-bolt sideburns dont impress me much. Something about this feels cartoonish, not hot paste-on hair you could buy from a Queens Party City. Would it be so bad if Peter Quill was the only clean-shaven Avenger? Get us a clean-shaven Star-Lord, pronto! Photo: Film Frame/Marvel Studios 2018 8. Thor Blessed be the wig that ended up on Ragnaroks cutting-room floor. (Full disclosure: I know that wig, and hes a nice dude bougie salt spray and all.) Thors Infinity War facial hair frames his face well, and hes by far the hottest of the Avengers squad, but the Asgardian isnt serving a look we havent seen and swooned over before. We know Thor can pull off a close cut and tamed beard. Hes not necessarily resting on his laurels why mess with a good thing? but attention must be paid to the Avengers taking more risks. Photo: Film Frame/Marvel Studios 2018 7. TChalla Ive been black for 23 years (also known as my whole life) and TChalla is the only black man Ive ever known to walk in his widows peak truth. (Was this a revolution I ever expected to be televised? No!) Like Thor, TChalla is pulling his same look from his previous standalone Marvel movie (Black Panther), with that jawline-framing shadow. However, because TChallas hairline broke so many barriers in Black Panther, I feel comfortable bumping him up slightly higher than our Asgardian friend. Photo: Film Frame/Marvel Studios 2018 6. MBaku How should I put this delicately? This man could extremely 7/11 voice sweat out mblowout as hes blowing out mback. MBaku wears his stache slightly thinner than it was in Black Panther. Hes also wearing it better than TChalla wears his skinny stache, because even though Chadwick Boseman looks less like the earnest cousin type than he usually does, somehow I get the feeling that hes already volunteered to clear the plates at Mothers Day dinner and thats a little too squeaky clean. (Hunter, you might protest, this has literally nothing to do with MBakus facial hair. To which I reply: If you want serious comics writing, read literally anything else!) Photo: null 5. Falcon Falcons mustache, goatee, and sideburns were all comically slender in his previous Avengers outings. Finally, he popped a biotin and let those hairs grow! In Infinity War, he earns the status of Most Improved. He didnt come to Infinity War to make friends, he came because he had a look to show off. Hes leapfrogging beyond TChalla with this cut, even as the Wakanda king rocks basically the same situation. Photo: Film Frame/Marvel Studios 2018 4. Iron Man Theres something very zaddy in the way Tony Starks facial hair is slowly and subtly going gray. I wish his hairline would follow suit. Thats all. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios 2018 3. Dr. Strange All two hours and forty minutes of Infinity War suggested that maybe Dr. Strange is my favorite? He casts spells (are they scientific experiments?) like hes doing the Soulja Boy dance! His mustache and goatee hair are a warm rust color, and have a lot of sharp angles he means business, but like, business in the sense that he could lounge on an Eames chair in a Tom Ford movie and feel right at home. I respect that. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios 2018 2. Bucky Barnes Who gave Carter Baizen the permission! He ready to step out of Captain Americas shadow with a scruff ready for GQ cover. Its important to note that the grooming of that beard isnt alone: not only does Bucky have the Avengers best hairline, hes also perfectly positioned in front of a fan, letting his greasy hair blow in Beyonce-level wind. I respect this hustle. Photo: Chuck Zlotnick/Marvel Studios 2018 1. Captain America So what will Steve Rogers beard say at my funeral, now that its killed me? Captain America himself wont be saying much did he have even two lines in Infinity War? so its up to this magnificent beard to do the talking! It almost helps that Chris Evans literally cant stop talking about how much he wants to be done with these movies, and this his Lobby Hero mustache looks like it would come up to you at a dive bar and mumble something about Blue Lives Matter. This beard is a blessing, and basically steals the show. Its full enough to draw attention, but enough steps below The Revenant so we dont have to be concerned. This beard works: Its thicc, brown, and down to clown! Not unlike well, me. Steve Rogerss beard, you are Infinity Wars MVP. Now, politely, turn your location on. Photo: Vulture The fight for the podcast throne of 2018 remains very much up for grabs, but that doesnt mean were short on excellent contenders as well as podcast projects that are simply ear-catching, whether due to idea or execution. Were in the midst of a stacked fall for podcast releases, but that slate comes on top of a year thats already produced some tremendous listens so far. A few quick notes on how Ive assembled this list: Craft is a bit more important to me than the stories themselves. I tend to put more stock into podcasts that function well as stand-alone experiences, though Im aware that puts comedy, conversational, and after-show series at a disadvantage. As always, more established shows have the added burden of being ranked against prior seasons. Also, Im cognizant of the insanity that comes with pitting narrative, documentary, comedy, fiction, interview, and other podcast genres against each other. Oh, and of course, this list is definitive and all-encompassing and in no way is defined by the subjective limitations of myself, a human being with his own tastes and preferences. Lets go. Caliphate (The New York Times) Gripping, bold, and unsettling, the New York Times first serialized audio documentary is essential listening, full stop. Driven by a dynamic duo, Times foreign correspondent Rukmini Callimachi and Radiolab alum Andy Mills, Caliphate grapples with some fundamental questions about the withering, persistent conflict against terrorism that still consumes the western world: How does a person become radicalized? What is the dark appeal of the Islamic State? Who are we fighting, truly? Caliphate is immaculately produced, grounded with a vivid cinematic sensibility that melds well with the minds eye and an exceptionally strong opening sequence that pulls you into its world from the get-go. Above all, its a severe muscle flex from an audio team thats only beginning to figure out what its capable of doing. Why the New York Times Is Making a Podcast About ISIS Caliphate is a stunner of a podcast. Heres how it all came together. West Cork (Audible) West Cork gets mad points for expanding the palatte of the true-crime podcast. Produced by documentarian Jennifer Ford and investigative journalist Sam Bungey, the podcast focuses on the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, a French film producer who was found near her Irish vacation home around the West Cork town of Schull; a cold case thats fairly well-known in the region. The documentary turns on a major twist that you might spot from a million miles away (or through a rudimentary Google search), but its one of those stories where the revelation isnt the point. Instead, what begins as a textbook performance of a cold case quickly turns into a rich and unsettling character study of a prime suspect thats living, breathing, and actively participating in the analysis itself. Mind games abound, and listeners are made to reckon with the limitations of discerning truth from a moving target. Personal Best (CBC) If Nathan for You had a baby and left it in the Canadian woods to fend for itself, that baby would grow up to look a lot like Personal Best. Pitched as a self-improvement show for people who dont like self-improvement, this comedy podcast is so much more than that. Every episode begins with someones simple request to fix or achieve something, but they all inevitably end up in the same place: a moment of realization, facilitated by a zany and wildly impractical solution, that reveals a deeper truth about being a human person. A funny and life-affirming romp through a world of hidden wants and quiet dreams, I love this show not just for its crazy adventures, but for the simple fact that its generous and gentle. If Nathan for You Were a Podcast, Itd Sound a Lot Like Personal Best Its a self-improvement show for people who dont like self-improvement. I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats (Night Vale Presents) To love something well is an art in and of itself. Thats the big idea behind I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats, a Night Vale Presents project that recently wrapped up its first season. A collaboration between Welcome to Night Vale co-creator Joseph Fink and the Mountain Goats John Darnielle, the podcast is a vibrant and exciting listening companion to the bands 2002 album All Hail West Texas. Every episode is dedicated to a different track on the album, and they feature the two artists plus special musical guests like Andrew Bird, Amanda Palmer, and the Hold Steadys Craig Finn going deep not just about one particular song, but also larger questions concerning the creative process, the world, and how being an artist is largely informed by being a fan. In a lovely touch, every episode is capped with a cover of the song being discussed, underscoring the projects larger themes about the relationship between fandom and art. I Only Listen to the Mountain Goats is a sensational and spirited idea, surpassed only by the wonder of its execution. Slow Burn (Slate) Come for the parallels between Nixon-era maelstroms and Trump-era pandemonium, stay for the endless stream of insane details. Hosted by Slate staff writer Leon Neyfakh, who boasts an alluringly dry vocal affect, the podcast is premised on helping listeners understand what it felt like to live through a specific historical moment in this case, the Watergate scandal. The framing alone makes Slow Burn distinct from most of its genre peers, but its success largely rises from the strength of its meticulous research and its commitment to presenting the stories of the various characters it excavates from time. (Slow Burn is set to return with its second season on August 8, which will focus on the Clinton impeachment.) The Rewatchables (The Ringer) Few things are more pleasurable than a group of smart, funny, and deeply nostalgic people going long on a piece of culture they really love. For The Rewatchables, the piece of culture is the movies that you can watch over and over and over again: Point Break, The Big Lebowski, Youve Got Mail. Yes, great podcasts that go deep on beloved films are a dime a dozen think The Canon, The Next Picture Show, How Did This Get Made (sorta) but The Rewatchables pops off the Apple Podcast charts due to the sheer charisma and chemistry of its rotating cast of panelists. If youre looking to try it out, a few particularly great dispatches include The Devil Wears Prada, Mission Impossible, and Michael Friggin Clayton. Making Obama (WBEZ) WBEZs follow-up to Making Oprah is a gem. Hosted once again by Jenn White, this short audio documentary on the 44th president of the United States specifically focuses on his young adulthood in Chicago, where Obama cut his teeth as a community organizer, ran for office, and planted the seeds that would set the future in motion. Chicago plays no small role in shaping the man who would become this countrys first black president, and Making Obama understands this immensely. Over the course of six solidly produced episodes, the podcast is evocative in how it illustrates the impact of a place on a person, and a city on a psyche. Wooden Overcoats (Independent) This daffy British podcast sitcom has been around since 2015, and its only gotten better over time. Wooden Overcoats is a story about rival funeral directors in a small village on a tiny island in the English Channel, but like most stories set in small villages on tiny islands in pastoral locations, its a playground for countless hijinks and a sprawling set of quirky characters (including, among others, a mouse that serves as gossipy narrator). I only started getting into this show pretty late into its second season, and it was a great time to witness the production kick into high gear. Now in its third season, which kicked off in March, Wooden Overcoats has never been more addictive, and its world has never been more interesting. The Habitat (Gimlet Media) Lynn Levys Real World: Mars approach to the humdrum exploits of a HI-SEAS mission, in which a couple of scientists volunteer to spend time living in an isolated dome for science, proved to be a little divisive, with some listeners complaining about the lack of actual science in the podcast. I understand those complaints, but Im not particularly sympathetic because that would be asking for a completely different show. On its own terms, The Habitat is a charming look at a group of normal people mundanely carrying out their lives in an extraordinary environment. Its a sly juxtaposition, but also pretty audacious. The Habitat Is a Charming Podcast About Interplanetary Dreamers The Gimlet Media podcast is far from perfect, but in flashes and sparks, it is galactically exquisite. American Fiasco (WNYC Studios) Americans, as the old cliche goes, tend to like their underdog stories with a triumphant conclusion. Have sympathy, then, for the American soccer fan, particularly if their World Cup allegiances align with their nationality, because triumph remains endlessly elusive. The United States did not qualify for this summers tournament, and as Men in Blazers Roger Bennett illustrates through this spirited and charming serialized podcast for WNYC Studios, the failure can be understood as a continuation of an amusingly tragic historical narrative. Focusing on the run-up to the U.S. Mens National Teams doomed 1998 World Cup campaign, American Fiasco tells the story of a rag-tag teams brief flirtation with glory, subsequent temptation of fate, and ultimate date with disaster. As processed through Bennett, an Englishman turned American citizen who brims with burning love for both his adopted country and the beautiful game, the story ends up being a classic exploration of what it means to be an American in the way that only a non-American can tell it. In the Dark: Season 2 (APM Reports) Two years after its investigation into the 1989 disappearance of Jacob Wetterling, APM Reports In the Dark is back with an absolutely stellar second season. And while this follow-up effort doesnt benefit from a dramatic concurrent break in the case as it did last season, it is nonetheless everything that sophomore season should be: even more of itself rigorous, composed, thoughtful, and furiously expansive in scope with its implications. This time around, Madeleine Baran and her team have trained their attention on the case of Curtis Flowers, a black man from a small town in Mississippi who, unbelievably, has been tried six times by the same white prosecutor for the 1996 murder of four employees of a furniture store where he once worked. It is hard listening, but it is incredible. 30 for 30: Bikram (ESPN) A charismatic leader, a spiritual movement, a moment of reckoning. In this challenging season, Julia Lowrie Henderson takes listeners into the complicated world of Bikram yoga, a community struggling with its identity in the wake of sexual-assault allegations levied against its founder, Bikram Choudhury. Over five tightly produced chapters, Henderson threads together an illuminating portrait of a destructive system: how its built by a forceful individual through the use of mythology and capitalism, how it wields power, and perhaps most importantly, how dissenting voices can begin to pull it apart. 30 for 30: Bikram is, of course, exceptionally resonant culturally at this point in time. But beyond the glimpses it offers into the interiority of the #MeToo moment, Henderson has also built a prism into more elemental things in America: the way capitalisms insistent dream logic enables individuals with the capacity to create reality distortion fields and the ways in which we are also drawn to it. Episode: Five Women (This American Life) Produced by Chana Joffe-Walt, Five Women is a particularly powerful entry into the growing body of #MeToo stories. The episode is more complex and nuanced than most, primarily due to its adoption of a Rashomon-style structure that layers together the multiple perspectives of the many women linked to the same accuser. The women, deepened by their histories and biographies, clash and coalesce in many big and small ways, resulting in a portrait of a problem so messy, it reaches for a deeper truth. Its an absolute cliche to roll This American Life into any one of these arbitrary Best Podcasts lists, but I tell ya: This is one episode thats still present and alive in the back of my head, almost four months after it was published. Getting Curious With Jonathan Van Ness (Earwolf) Does the world deserve Jonathan Van Ness? Probably not, but Im still glad hes here gabbing with interesting people for our aural pleasure. Van Ness has been making this fantastic interview podcast since well before he booked Queer Eye, and the success of that reality show has thrusted Getting Curious straight into the podcasting limelight. Digging back through the archives, its apparent that Getting Curious has always been good, and that Van Ness has always been a remarkably generous, collaborative, and fun interviewer. The show is further elevated by the sheer breadth of Van Nesss interests, which span from discussions about art and social media to inquiries about the opioid crisis and Chinas economic relationship with the U.S. Its always exciting to see what he takes on next. Serial: Season 3 (Serial Productions) Serial has returned with a vastly different approach. For its third season, Sarah Koenig, new co-host Emmanuel Dzotsi, and the team spent a year covering the courts that make up Clevelands criminal justice system. The result is an ethnographic journey into the heart of the everyday reality of administering the law in these United States, and an often crushing display of the surreal ways in which humanity is lost within the practical execution of those laws. Its ambitious, rigorous, wonderfully written, and theres absolutely nothing else like it. Episode: I Survived a Mass Shooting (Beautiful/Anonymous, Earwolf) Chris Gethards Beautiful Stories From Anonymous People has a simple, high-concept, and high-wire premise: Gethard gets on the phone with an anonymous caller for a full hour, and he goes along with whatever conversation emerges. Theres a lot of possibility baked into the concept, and the show has proven to be a fascinating and often surprising listen and occasionally, it hits on something really sublime, as in the case of I Survived a Mass Shooting. In this episode, Gethard, tired after a long day of work, finds himself speaking with a woman who survived the mass shooting at the Route 91 Harvest country music festival in Las Vegas almost exactly a year ago. What ensues is a conversation thats gorgeous, hopeful, and at times, truly searching. Honorable Mentions I really enjoyed Night Vale Presents Alice Isnt Dead, which wrapped up its three-season run in late August, and functions as a lovely ode to the American road trip mixed with horror elements. Wonderys Dr. Death, its follow-up to last years true crime hit Dirty John, is a little too salacious for my liking, but definitely worth checking out if youre into the genre. Sticking to the theme of the medical world: Allison Behringers Bodies, a documentary-style podcast in which every episode begins with a medical mystery in womens health, features a remarkable series of stories. KCRWs Welcome to L.A. is one of my favorite listens all year, and I wish there were more shows like it: memoiristic, observant, well written, and unafraid of looking foolish. Everything Is Alive, Radiotopias new show from How to Do Everythings Ian Chillag, is an offbeat and incredibly strange improvisational podcast that should capture the heart of anybody who loves deadpan stuff. Maximum Funs Bubble is a worth listening to if you fancy a mix of Portlandia and Buffy the Vampire Slayer with a sprinkling of Tavi Gevinson. Mission to Zyxx, which bills itself as an improvised sci-fi comedy sitcom, recently kicked off its second season, and its super-enjoyable. A great playlist addition for fans of Hello From the Magic Tavern. Punch Up the Jam is very good. Great hangout, and even greater concept. Dont miss Vultures picks for the best TV shows of 2018, the best movies of 2018, and the best albums of 2018, and more of the years pop-culture gems. Photo: Gilbert Carrasquillo/WireImage In her first public statement since her husband Bill Cosby was convicted of sexual assault, Camille Cosby has slammed the guilty verdict as mob justice. The overall media, with their frenzied, relentless demonization of him and unquestioning acceptance of accusers allegations without any attendant proof, have superseded the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments, which guarantee due process and equal protection, and thereby eliminated the possibility of a fair trial and unbiased jury, she said. Bill Cosby was labelled as guilty because the media and accusers said so period. Camille also invoked Emmett Till the 14-year-old African-American boy who was lynched in 1955 after a white woman falsely accused him of flirting with her before writing that unproven accusations evolved into lynch mobs against her husband. (Bill Cosbys publicist also compared her client to Till last week shortly after the verdict came through.) Camilles full statement is available at Deadline. Camille, 74, and Bill, 80, have been married since 1964. She has long defended her husband against his multitude of accusers, previously arguing that he is the actual victim and that the encounters were consensual. Sixty-two women in total have brought forth allegations of being assaulted, drugged, and raped by him you can read 35 of their stories here. The first criminal trial for his 2004 sexual assault of Andrea Constand ended in a hung jury in 2017; his recent retrial found him guilty of all three counts of indecent aggravated assault. Keri Russell as Elizabeth Jennings. Photo: Patrick Harbron/FX/FX Networks. All rights reserved. When we first meet Elizabeth Jennings the highly trained Russian spy hiding under the cover of a perfect American family with her husband, Philip (Matthew Rhys) she is unlike herself. At a loud bar, over a cocktail, she works a government agent several notches below her cunning and spiky beauty. She wears a leather bustier and a flirty, salacious demeanor, her chestnut tresses hidden under a full platinum blonde bob. This first scene has the sort of slinky sexiness and allure Ive come to expect of an espionage drama. As The Americans continued, soon to finish with its currently airing sixth season, it has leaned as far away as possible from the glossy pleasures youd expect from its first scene into something wholly harder to shake. As Emily Nussbaum wrote in The New Yorker, Dread is its specialty and also its curse; its what makes The Americans at once a must-watch and a hard sell. Elizabeths double image in the Americans pilot. But Elizabeths introduction, wrapped in a visage so far from her natural one, is useful for a single image. As she talks to the government agent, the frame is bookended by her image as if there are two of her, one on each side facing the other. One is a reflection from the glossy mirror just to the right of the government official, the other the real thing. Real, of course, isnt a fixed stage on The Americans, but a forever mutating beast. Looking back over the course of the shows brilliant six seasons, this image bluntly communicates that, at its heart, The Americans has always been about identity its evolving state, influenced by a host of factors seen and unseen. This isnt just true for Philip and Elizabeth, with the various, sometimes painfully elaborate disguises in their arsenal, but every person in their orbit, no matter creed or profession. But its Elizabeth, with her hard-line, slavish, and often myopic dedication to a Soviet Union that no longer quite exists, who says the most about identity, thanks to the multi-faceted, luminescent work of Keri Russell. Its easy to get lost in the arch reconstructions of Elizabeth. Like any acolyte of the series, I have my personal favorites, like Patty, the Mary Kay seller who ended up being one of the most revealing for Elizabeth. But Russells most transcendent and emotionally realized work as Elizabeth is when the masks she wears as a wife, mother, and Russian spy slip. These transitory, private moments, when Elizabeth suspects no one is watching or can see her clearly, are the most revealing. Its here, when Elizabeth must bite back rising anger, memory, or regret, that Russell allows emotion to sweep through her like a thunderstorm, leaving her for just a moment exposed. And its these moments where Russell proves that she is giving one of the most complex performances ever on television. Russell is a performer who speaks volumes in the quietest, most fleeting moments. She is neither frustratingly opaque like the younger, new crop of actors including Rooney Mara, who read as inscrutable, forcing audiences to project onto them rather than let them in. Neither is she an actor like those who populate the Golden Age of Hollywood, privileging pleasure and persona with fierce brio like Bette Davis, or a charming yet uneasy edge of mystery like Cary Grant. She doesnt fit neatly into the harsh strictures of Method acting, either. Her performances are beguiling, and difficult to pin down. Russell was only 15 when she got her start as an actor, in 1991, appearing for a few seasons on The Mickey Mouse Club. She lacks the grating affectations that most child actors fail to lose when they transition into adulthood, perhaps because the iconic role that led her to become fixed in the pop-cultural imagination came a bit later, with her titular role on the WB drama Felicity, which ran from 1998 to 2002. On the show, Russell played Felicity Porter, a student who travels cross-country to follow a guy to college in New York. In the role, Russell is earnest, and a bit reticent, with a genuine glowing warmth that makes her immediately easy to root for. Placing Russells most iconic performances as Felicity Porter and Elizabeth Jennings side by side, you can see the vast physical and emotional terrain she can handle as an actress. Russell is also a study in how to slough off the identifiers of an iconic role to find new grooves in your career. Finding icon status on TV is tricky it can be difficult for anyone to see you beyond how they first met you, especially in a role that speaks to such a tender, personal time as college. (Arguably a crucial reason behind the intense reaction when Felicity cut her flowing curls in season two.) But what Felicity and Elizabeth share are that they are two women in different states of transition, finding new answers to the essential question: Who am I? On The Americans, the answer to the question of who you are is complicated by love. Love of country, love of family, love of self. Elizabeth puts her love of country first. It remains unwavering, even when you expect it to buckle under the immense stress of the sacrifices asked of her. In the first season, that sacrifice came in the form of Gregory (Derek Luke, radiating easygoing charisma), a black radical Elizabeth had emboldened to join her cause, who is also her first real love. Gregory is killed at the end of the first season in a police shootout. A lesser show would move on, but Russell plays Elizabeth as if each step is weighed by the accumulation of her losses and tragedies. In the fourth season, Gregory is brought up again in a scene that encapsulates Russells tremendous skills. In season fours The Magic of David Copperfield V: The Statue of Liberty Disappears, Philip is devastated when his target, Martha, whom he had a close relationship with, is sent to the Soviet Union. Elizabeth tries to offer an olive branch of sorts by attending the EST classes Philip has looked for solace in. When they talk about how she feels about the classes, her voice is falsely delicate, and a touch condescending, almost as if shes talking to a child. Philip senses she doesnt understand EST, and things escalate from there the careful facade cracks, and her anger spills forth. At least shes alive. You didnt have to send her out on the street to get mowed down, she yells, referencing Gregory. Philip is shocked by the realization that Elizabeth still thinks of Gregory. While shes prone to anger as a person, this explosive argument reveals something different: how deeply she holds in hurt, and how adept shes grown at hiding it. Russell leans into the anger, her face growing flush, a vein bulging in her forehead, her posture poised as if willing to not only yell, but draw blood. This moment demonstrates her excellence at shifting emotions abruptly, revealing hidden depths and secret hurts that add dimension to Elizabeths emotional terrain. Russells scenes with Rhys in particular demonstrate her quicksilver complexity. At times shes distant, blunt. Other times her silence offers the chance for a more genuine love or understanding to bloom. This season, their marriage is the most stressed its ever been. But lately Ive been thinking about her scenes with other women her now college-aged daughter Paige (Holly Taylor), who is following in her mothers bloody, ragged footsteps; the marks shes grown friendly with, making the horrors of her job more difficult; her mother and mother figures, who bring the price of her decision to the fore. Season four explored a dimension previously unseen in Elizabeth: how she handles a genuine friendship with another woman. One of her new personas was Patty, a Mary Kay salesman with flowing blonde locks and a penchant for bright, neon clothing. She befriends Young-hee Seong (an excellent Ruthie Ann Miles), a fellow Mary Kay consultant whose husband, Don (Rob Yang), has access to security codes Elizabeth needs to retrieve. A relationship like this requires something more elusive from Elizabeth than simple lust or outright brutality. The friendships that take root between women dont have the same cultural scripts as a love story or seduction. They take more elaborate forms, which means more risks. Its evident in the scenes that Elizabeth, as Patty, shares with Young-hee that something tender and even genuine is being coaxed out of her as they cook traditional Korean dishes or discuss the way family has shaped their lives. Elizabeth likes her. When shes with her, her smile is wide and bright. Her laughter has an easygoing flutter, reminding me in moments of the way she opened herself up to Gregory in the first season. As Elizabeth marches toward the final moments of this assignment, pain twinges at the corners of her expression. In one scene, when she uses babysitting for Young-hees three kids as a cover to search her home, there is a moment as the couple drives away that caught me. The easy smile melts from Elizabeths face, replaced with a grim determination. These quick turns of emotions are what Russell excels at, but during the Young-hee arc, they also have a layer typically unseen in Elizabeths steadfast dedication to her cause: regret. It would be easy to make Elizabeths anti-heroism (especially in contrast to Philips more openly resistant posturing toward the Soviet Union and wounded demeanor, which makes him more easy to read) tip into villainy, or play her with such a chilly air, shed seem inhuman. But Russell consistently depicts Elizabeths calculations and hardened outlook with precise empathy and care. The Young-hee story line ends in utter emotional devastation. I wont get too lost in the details, but it involves drugging Don so hell believe he slept with Elizabeth, faking a pregnancy, then suicide, and ghosting from Young-hee as she starts to recognize something is going on with her husband, although shes unsure of what. The last we hear of Young-hee is a phone call. Swaddled in a rich, plum-colored coat, Elizabeth grows tense as she is connected to Pattys voicemail through a pay phone. On the other end is Young-hee, her voice rising with worry. She notes that her husband seems different, although she cant discern the particulars of his mood. But most noticeable is her loneliness as she asks where Patty has gone. Elizabeths face tenses with guilt and yearning; then she hardens once more, hanging up before Young-hees message ends. Its a brief scene, but it exemplifies the clarity of emotion Russell is able to communicate. Yes, Elizabeth is often blunt, rough-hewn, and intense. But shes never been predominantly icy. Theres a fire to her. And even when hiding her true nature, Russell grants the character certain minute flourishes her mouth tightly drawn, a change in her posture, a faraway glance as if shes calculating the risks in every step she takes that speaks to the roiling emotions and willpower just beneath the surface. In the sixth and final season, Elizabeths face tells a story more knotted and painful than ever before. There hasnt been a single moment in which she doesnt look, as my grandmother would put it, tired to the bone. Her face is worn as she smokes, constantly after seducing a mark who sleeps on the rumpled sheets of some hotel, or outside her suburban home, wrapped in sweaters that make her stature look all the more diminutive. Elizabeth has always been a hardened woman, keenly focused on her task. But Russell has, over the course of the series, teased out a desperation in the character. This is a performance designed not to seduce, but to bruise. Rihanna. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images Rih-gae: Rihanna is officially working on a reggae album. In a Vogue profile promoting Savage X Fenty and Oceans 8, Rihanna gave details about Antis follow-up. With her next record her ninth Rihanna is moving the needle on her creative output all over again: She plans to make a reggae album, Vogue reports. Though its too soon to name a full list of collaborators, one early influence may be Supa Dups, the Jamaican-born record producer who has worked with such dancehall greats as Beenie Man, Sean Paul, and Elephant Man. According to Vogue, Rihanna named Bob Marley as her favorite reggae artist. (Buffalo Soldier is her all-time favorite.) Recall, however, that Rih knows her stuff: When Diplo begged to play her a song during a group hang, she cut him down to size. I played her a song. And she was like, This sounds like a reggae song at an airport, Diplo recounted last summer. I was like, Im gonna go kill myself. Safe to say he wont be making an appearance. The Americans Rififi Season 6 Episode 6 Editors Rating 5 stars * * * * * Previous Next A scene from The Americans. Photo: Jeffrey Neira/FX/FX Networks. All rights reserved. After last weeks white-knuckler, tonights episode of The Americans was always going to be a pause for breath, a morning-after reckoning after major events and a gearing-up for the stretch run of the series. But setting the hour over Thanksgiving gives it just the right perspective on everything: on the state of the Jenningses marriage and their splintered family dynamic, on the conflicting loyalties that gnaw at Philips conscience, and on America itself approaching the end of the Cold War and what is presumed about its chief adversary. Heading into the last four episodes, the show needed this clarifying moment before the gears of the plot take over again and the ultimate fates of these characters are determined. Philip and Elizabeths complicated partnership is always front and center on the show, but Rififi presents a good opportunity to check in on Stan, whose time in counterintelligence has been defined by tragedies and mishaps, even before you consider the most tragic blunder over six seasons has yet to reveal itself. His Thanksgiving toast is Stan in a nutshell: earnest, principled, oblivious. You know, not everybody around the world wants us to be able to live in peace and freedom, he says. But arent those the things the pilgrims came here for in the first place? Scanning the table the cutaways are absolutely priceless half the guests are legitimately concurring with Stans sentiments (Dennis Aderholt, his wife, Henry) and the others either have worked for the Russians (Philip), are currently working for the Russians (Paige), or will almost certainly be revealed to have been working for the Russians (Renee). There are wolves in the henhouse. Is it enough to say that Stan is simply bad at his job? Perhaps, but if his failures alone are a measure of his performance, then wed also have to say that Philip and Elizabeth are bad at their jobs, given the wreckage theyve left in their wake. From the shows perspective, the Cold War has been played more or less to a stalemate, a behind-the-scenes tussle with lots of hidden casualties on both sides. But Stan has been guilty of thinking too simply and trusting too easily. Theres some of George W. Bushs They hate our freedoms nonsense embedded in Stans Thanksgiving speech, added to the conviction that the Reagan administration [knows] the only way to get peace is to stand firm against those who wish us harm. And when he and Dennis are on the job, tracking a Russian spy in Chicago, they dont seem to grasp the philosophical conflict thats dividing the Russians in the lead-up to the summit. There are a lot of Olegs out there, risking their necks to make the summit a success, but all they see is subterfuge. (They want to look peaceful, says Dennis, But theyre really just trying to screw us.) While its tempting to laugh at the irony of Stans Thanksgiving address, its hard not to feel devastations past and future. His job wiped out his first marriage. His former lover, Nina, is dead. His best friend is a Russian spy whos lived under his nose for years. His current lover is probably a spy, and hes helping her get a job at the FBI. The only possible silver lining for Stan would be to make these discoveries about Renee and the Jennings family on his own, but that wont relieve the betrayal of those closest to him or the feelings of crushing inadequacy that he missed the signs for so long. He once talked to Henry about how being in the FBI meant never trusting anyone, but he plainly hasnt lived by those words. Hes a good guy. Hes opened up his heart and home, just as anyone would to stave off loneliness. His decency is irrepressible. And tragic. Meanwhile, Philip and Elizabeths marriage has hit bottom, which also has the clarifying effect of showing us how legitimate their marriage is. On the for better or for worse spectrum, having your wife accuse you of wanting to sleep with a college student because youre not getting any action at home maxes out the for-worse-o-meter. Philip recognizes that Elizabeth honey-trapped him into doing this one last, awful thing for her, but his refusal to follow through on the plan to lure Kimmy to Bulgaria strikes Elizabeth as a selfish and hypocritical act. Philip expresses his disgust over Sofia and Gennadis 7-year-old son finding their bloodied bodies, but its not as if he hasnt been part of such gruesome operations before. To Elizabeth, hes chosen an arbitrary spot to draw the line. But Rififi does an excellent job in pinpointing where theyre ultimately divided. Philip continues to oppose Elizabeth ideologically and goes one major step further by invading their secret spaces and sending Oleg a coded message about what hes learned. At the same time, hes committed to the marriage. Despite Philip and Elizabeths agreement, its become painfully obvious that the mission and the marriage cannot be separated, that one is a looming threat to the other. But Philips read on Elizabeths assignment in Chicago is that his wife fears she will not survive it, which calls on a deeper loyalty for him. He doesnt want Elizabeth or Harvest to succeed in undermining the summit. He does, however, want their marriage to have a future. For now, hell live (or die) with the contradictions. Hammers and Sickles Henrys return home underlines the sad distance between him and his mother, which has now been secretly codified, like a custody hearing that neither Jennings child knows about. When Elizabeth offers him a cigarette on the back porch, Henry is shocked by her casual disregard for his health. (Are you trying to give me cancer?) And theres something so poignant and awful about how Elizabeths merely calling Henry to make chit-chat signals to Philip how much she fears for her life. No one in Marietta, Georgia, is going to Rififi. I had to laugh at this line from Jackson Barber, Elizabeths possible source in Sam Nunns office, because I was a cinephile from Marietta, Georgia, in 1987, and Id have definitely gone to Rififi at the High Museum if Id had the chance. (One of my formative moviegoing experiences was seeing Federico Fellinis Amarcord at the High, in fact.) In any case, Jackson is correct that Rififi is the greatest heist film of all time from the greatest year ever for film, in my view and I now have a personal stake in his continuing to live, despite his pretentious inclination to call Three Men and a Cradle by its French title, which no one did at the time. (Cousin, Cousine, on the other hand ) After it seemed like Sofia and Gennadi died without ever giving the FBI a scrap of useful information, its cheering to discover that one of Gennadis diplomatic pouches contained a circuit board for the radiation sensors that the Russians covet so strongly. If it leads back to the people responsible for killing them, then thatll be some sliver of justice. Philip may be cranking up the country station, but his disillusionment with American capitalism is growing. Between the dual humiliation of Henry angling for tuition money and his having to lay off three staffers from the travel agency, Philip is starting to see himself as a failure and, in turn, see the system as an empty promise. This leaves him in a neither-here-nor-there situation thats not unlike his partnership with Elizabeth. The eclectic music choices continue with the Tears for Fears deep cut Ideas for Opiates playing over a montage of Philip rifling through Elizabeths things. The word opiates evokes the famous declaration from the Communist Manifesto that religion is the opiate of the masses, and the lyrics seem to call out ideology as lies spread on lies. Its been a good year for comics and its not even May yet. Just in time for assembling your beach-read shopping list, we present you with a list of the best comics of 2018 so far. A note on methodology: To be eligible, a work had to be a bound volume of comics art released for the first time in English in 2018. That includes collections of individual comics and single-story graphic novels/memoirs. Here they are, in no particular order. Why Art? by Eleanor Davis (Fantagraphics) We hardly deserve Eleanor Davis. Mere months after putting out one of the best comics of 2017, the nonfiction travelogue You & a Bike & the Road, shes hit us with Why Art?, which couldnt be more of a departure from the previous work, yet somehow still feels like a logical next step in the development of her aesthetic. It begins innocuously enough, with a series of cheekily non sequitur descriptions of art and artists, but it gradually morphs into something much grander. By the end, youll be questioning your assumptions about the creative process and artistic consumption, and your awe for Davis will be all the stronger. From Lone Mountain by John Porcellino (Drawn + Quarterly) This hefty collection of installments from John Porcellinos long-running zine King-Cat consists mostly of autobiographical comics, but features hearty helpings of personal miscellany, from little essays on loss and growth to lists of things the author was enjoying at the time of a given zines creation. The comics, themselves, are deceptively simple: the lines are few and the anatomy cartoony and basic. But that simplicity makes the work into an emotional Trojan horse, moving past your defenses so it can pierce your heart with its tender insights. Yellow Negroes and Other Imaginary Creatures by Yvan Alagbe (New York Review) Yellow Negroes and Other Imaginary Creatures is not an easy book. Its harsh chiaroscuro inks, fractured storytelling, and defiant politics reshape the readers brain in real time a process thats not necessarily pleasant, but absolutely necessary. Race, color, class, gender, and violence are all ruthlessly dissected in this brief collection of short vignettes (calling some of them stories feels wrong) from underappreciated French master Yvan Alagbe, and the end result is one of the most arresting comics works to hit stands in a good long while. The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang (First Second) Its no secret that were in the midst of a youth-comics renaissance, but even in a crowded marketplace, Jen Wangs The Prince and the Dressmaker stands out. Set in the Paris at the tail end of the horse-and-carriage era, this jubilant story follows two teenagers struggling to find themselves while in each others orbit: a poor tailor girl whose talents thrust her into the heights of aristocratic society, and the covertly cross-dressing prince for whom she starts designing. With ecstatic linework, potent colors, and punchy prose, Wang crafts a tale that feels at once classic and in its effortless undermining of gender roles utterly fresh. Highly recommended for any youngsters out there with sequential-art addictions. X-Men: Grand Design by Ed Piskor (Marvel) In fits and starts, Marvel is trying to make the X-Men happen again. For years, the publisher reportedly held back their merry mutants in an effort to spite their movie adaptations, which are helmed by a rival company; but theyre back in the spotlight, most notably in the form of indie cartoonist Ed Piskors X-Men: Grand Design. Its a stunning and simple pitch: let an auteur reimagine the entirety of X-Men history as a unified, heavily tweaked, grittily illustrated narrative. The end result is both a tribute to and advancement of the X-mythos and should prompt superhero publishers to take more risks with their intellectual property. The Lie and How We Told It by Tommi Parrish (Fantagraphics) Its a tale as old as time: Two old friends reunite and, as they reminisce, it becomes clear that the ghosts of the old days have never been fully exorcised. Tommi Parrishs The Lie and How We Told It is a slow-motion gut-punch, using surreal anatomical proportions, rich paints, stories-within-stories, and punctuation-light prose to meditate on sex and regret. Even though very little happens, per se, one finds oneself increasingly on edge, dreading and craving the next twist or turn in an evening of personal revelation. I had been eavesdropping on a type of life I had never wanted for myself, reads a sentence near the end, and youll find yourself feeling as though youve done just that and wondering whether that type of life is already your own. Young Frances by Hartley Lin (AdHouse) In a world where Dilbert has become sadly synonymous with the alt-right, readers deserve a fresh take on office drudgery, and Hartley Lin has just the thing. In Young Frances a collection of Lins strips from his fantastic Pope Hats series we spend ample time with the title character, a Canadienne grappling with the question of whether or not shes throwing her life away by working as a law clerk at a big firm. It eschews simple screw capitalism rhetoric in favor of a nuanced take on an assemblage of humans who are all trying to muddle through in their own ways. The artwork alone is worth the price of admission: Lin deploys evocative facial acting and thick inks that sweep with the force of a brisk Toronto winter. Batman: The Rules of Engagement by Tom King, Clay Mann, Lee Weeks, Michael Lark, Seth Mann, Jordie Bellaire, Elizabeth Breitweiser, June Chung, Clayton Cowles, and Deron Bennett (DC) While the overall consistency of the DC Comics lineup has evened out and elevated in the two years since its Rebirth initiative launched, there are still far too few series that feel like theyre advancing the superhero genre in any meaningful way. Tom Kings Batman is an obvious exception. With his rotating cast of top-flight artistic collaborators, King has put out The Rules of Engagement: yet another winning collection of Dark Knight yarns, all of them circling around the pitch-perfect romance between Batsy and Catwoman. The standout is the Superfriends two-parter, in which the happy couple go on a double date with Superman and Lois Lane it features a bevy of ticklingly brilliant observations about these august characters and the hoary genre they inhabit. Aliens: Dead Orbit by James Stokoe (Dark Horse) If only Ridley Scott would read more comics. After the piffle that was Alien: Covenant, fans of the Alien franchise may find themselves despairing in a world where that old xenomorph magic appears to have evaporated from Hollywood. But the saga is alive and well on the page thanks to James Stokoe. Aliens: Dead Orbit is more or less everything one wants from an Alien story, jam-packed with used-future claustrophobia and blood-freezing body horror. Visually, Stokoe is the ideal inheritor of the templates set for the franchise by Moebius and H.R. Giger, crafting a story that transcends verbal language and ascends to the heights of inconceivable terror. The Pervert by Remy Boydell and Michelle Perez (Image) The most somber comic featuring a threesome between a cat, a dog, and Jon from Garfield that youll read all year. The Pervert is a fragmented journey through the anthropomorphized life of a trans woman making her way in Seattle on call-center gigs and sex work, and its full near to bursting with empathy and arresting observation. Remy Boydells watercolors deftly illuminate the Pacific Northwest with murmuring sadness and the books frank accounts of stilted intimacy ring all too true. The surreal quasi-cameos from famous comics characters are the unsettling icing on this deliciously depressing cake. All the Answers by Michael Kupperman (Simon and Schuster) People have a nasty habit of breaking the things they love. In Michael Kuppermans All the Answers, the remarkably gifted cartoonist explores the personal history of his father, a former child star, and the results are brutal. While he should have been living a healthily anonymous life in grade school, Joel Kupperman was thrust into the national spotlight as the prodigious and beloved star of a quiz show. The book walks us through how, precisely, this experience ruined the boy and the man he became, as well as how the trauma has rotted away at the relationship between Messrs. Kupperman and Kupperman. No one draws in quite the way Michael does, with a style that is at once photorealistic and cartoony, and if youre used to seeing his talent deployed for humorous effect in books like Tales Designed to Thrizzle, youre in for a shock and a treat here. Sabrina by Nick Drnaso (Drawn + Quarterly) No comic Ive read this year feels as of-the-moment as Nick Drnasos Sabrina. Using his unsettlingly simple figure work, background construction, and coloring, the author pushes himself beyond the heights of his previous work, Beverly, and puts forth a chronicle about the disintegration of the American mind. Ive probably said too much already, as the book is best consumed with no preexisting expectations or foreknowledge of whats inside. Just trust that youll walk away feeling a curious mix of disgust toward and empathy for the people of this great nation. No small feat. The origin story of Starzs new series Vida is as refreshingly unusual as they come in Hollywood. Its creator and showrunner, Chicago-based playwright Tanya Saracho, moved to Los Angeles in 2012 to try to make it as a TV writer. After staff jobs on shows like Devious Maids, Looking, and How to Get Away with Murder, Saracho was wondering what was next maybe another play? when her agent told her Starzs senior vice president of original programming, Marta Fernandez, wanted to meet her. Saracho assumed they were going to discuss possible employment as a writer on a Starz show. Instead, Fernandez told her the network was interested in developing a Latinx-centered show, pitched some ideas, and asked her to pick the one with which she most connected. Saracho liked the idea of Pour Vida, as it was then titled, which featured female millennials at its center. But Fernandez wasnt offering her a staff writer position. She wanted Saracho to create it and run it. Tanya Saracho. Photo: Elizabeth Weinberg/Vulture They closed the deal in February 2016, and a month later, Saracho had surgery for a herniated lower back disc. Although the procedure was successful, she caught an infection in the hospital that required emergency surgery. For six months, as she wrote the Vida pilot, she was bedbound and relied on the help of her boyfriend and caretaker, Colin, and close friend and fellow writer Mando Alvarado to develop the outline and finish the script. The story which follows two estranged Mexican-American sisters, Emma (Mishel Prada) and Lyn (Melissa Barrera), who return to the East L.A. neighborhood where they grew up when their mother suddenly dies explores identity in myriad ways. Emma, who is queer, discovers that her mother was as well, while the community they return to is being redefined by the impact of upward mobility and gentrification. Woven throughout are questions of colorism, classism, homophobia, and sexism. In January 2017, Starz greenlit Vida, giving Saracho two weeks to staff her writers room. She decided from the jump that it would be the first all-Latinx room in Hollywood. Saracho and the shows other six writers participated in a roundtable with Vulture to talk about what it was like to work in that space. They are: Evangeline Ordaz (East Los High and Seven Seconds), a Mexican-American lawyer and playwright who was born and raised in East Los Angeles; Mando Alvarado (Seven Seconds, Tyrant), a Mexican-American actor and writer born in south Texas who has lived in Los Angeles for six years; Chelsey Lora (Greenleaf, Blindspot), who is Chilean-American, grew up in several places along the East Coast, and has lived in Los Angeles six years; Dominican-born Santa Sierra (Narcos), who grew up in Puerto Rico and Massachusetts and moved to Los Angeles in 2012; Nancy Mejia (wrote and directed the short Mateo), who was born and raised in Los Angeles to immigrant parents from El Salvador; and Puerto Rico native Jenniffer Castillo (Power, Black Sails), who was raised on the island and went to college in Boston before moving to Los Angeles. Tanya, lets begin with how the story evolved. Starz pitched you a basic theme. How did it develop for you? Tanya Saracho: I went in for a meeting with Marta Fernandez, and she said, We are looking for a female millennial show. Have you heard of the term chipster? And I was like, Of course, Chicana hipster. Have you heard of gentefication? And I actually hadnt heard of that term. She said the L.A. Times had just written an article about it a few months ago and I should take a look. Its the gentrification of Latinx space, usually by upwardly mobile Latinxs. I thought that was fascinating. She asked if I could do a pilot and I said, Of course I can. Not knowing more than that millennial female. It felt like a race because there were five other Latinx projects under consideration at Starz. Im sure they were great. I dont know how were here. Witchcraft, probably. Brujas! Chelsey Lora: I was going to say, there always felt like there was some magic around this project. TS: Chelsey and I became friends because of Outlander. CL: The funny thing is we actually have a bunch of mutual theater friends in common. And I emailed her and she never responded because shes a hot ticket. TS: No! Its because I dont check emails. CL: But we followed each other on Twitter as fellow TV writers. And I was tweeting about Outlander [about four years ago]. She started tweeting me back and then she DMd me to hang out and I was like, Bitch, I emailed you. TS: I wanted to talk about Outlander with anyone! And then Santa I met because we belonged to this Latina TV Writers Group. Theres, like, 72 of us now. You have to be staffed at least once its not just aspirational. Evangeline Ordaz: Its amazing. So many people I never would have met cause were never in rooms together. How many people did you see in total? TS: I read 152 people. I didnt finish the whole scripts, but I read all those people. I really read the 13 that came in. CL: I would not say thats common. She wanted to read everyone in our community and just get really solid people. TS: Starz has the final say. So whomever I send has to be excellent. Who happen to be Latinx. For me, that was a big deal. The proof is in the pudding, in that script. And also in the meeting. So I would I say, Say everything you said here, Mando, to Marta Fernandez. That was brilliant, but youre wasting it on me. I couldnt just be all, Im staffing my friends. From the beginning, you had made up your mind you would have an all-Latinx staff. Did Starz try to talk you out of that? TS: Never. Starz never tried. Other people did. Some people from the union. Old-guard people of the dominant culture. They tried! EO: Los gringos. TS: They were like, Why would you wanna do that to yourself? Just staff the best people. And I always thought, I will be staffing the best people. The best people for this job are the best writers who happen to be Latinx. For this particular job. Maybe not other shows I do. I do think when you see those first six episodes, you get that intimacy you couldnt have. Everyone has cultural shorthand in this room. It happened too with the directors and the cinematographers. What has it meant to you all to be in this room together? EO: We all operate in the dominant culture. That is not the world we were probably raised in, but we have learned it, and learned it well. Theres still a part of you thats missing when youre operating in that world. And you go home, and all of a sudden, you can just relax. You can talk like you talk. Youre not putting on the white talk. Thats how it is in this room. You can be who you are. You can say something in Spanish and know that everybodys gonna know what you mean. Its just so easy. Jenniffer Castillo: Ive been an assistant for five years in four different rooms before this one. Ive never felt this comfortable. I remember in this one room, pitching this one thing, and in order to explain it, I really had to say it in Spanish because it was a saying. My mother always says this. And then, obviously, I had to have that moment of translating. That never happens in this room. CL: To Evangelines point, too, I didnt realize how much energy it takes, to put that on until I was in this room. When I leave at the end of the day, I dont feel as emotionally tired. Ive been in good rooms before, too. Its just that your time and energy isnt as taxed sometimes. JC: And its not just the language, its also the cultural awareness we have thats very different. CL: I was gonna say, not just Latinx, but also having a great feminine energy in the room, and also having a queer perspective. All of the things! SS: It felt like, Oh this is what the dominant culture feels like 100 percent all the time. I didnt feel that I had to be LeBron James in this room to be appreciated. What attracted me to being in a room with Latinxs is its probably the only time I was gonna be able to do that in this business. EO: Hopefully not, right? Nancy Mejia: Its funny how people see this as this revolutionary act. But were not reinventing the wheel. Were merely telling our own stories, from our own experiences. I keep telling people its amazing we prove that the community isnt monolithic. We share cultural roots, but we all have different experiences. Because the Latinx experience in the U.S. is so diverse, Im curious to hear what parts of the story most resonated with each of you. Where did you connect the most? EO: Mine is really obvious. In addition to being born in Boyle Heights [where the show is set], I spent my entire professional life there. Before I became a writer, I was a public-interest attorney and I represented a majority-low-income neighborhood. Those are my clients. I founded a nonprofit that has as one of our missions to try to mitigate the impact of gentrification on the low-income population in the neighborhood. So that part of the story was really exciting to me, to be able to talk on television about this issue that was so insidiously impacting people. People talk about it, but they dont realize the kind of the personal impact that this neo-economic phenomena is having on people on the ground. CL: For me, the obvious ones are having two Latina leads. I love that its centered around family. Familys really important to me. Probably one of the things we talked about in my meeting is how my dad came out later in life. I got to explore that a lot in [episode four] and that was really great. Im super tight with my dad, so its totally different [than how it is on the show]. I talked to him a little bit about my episode and he was blown away. He had the same connection to it imagine if youd never shared that with your kids, like they didnt really know you? L-R: Melissa Barrera (Lyn) and Mishel Prada (Emma) star in Vida. Photo: Erica Parise/ 2017 Starz Entertainment, LLC Mando Alvarado: For me it was more of the macro: the chance to tell complex characters in a way where their psychology and history drives them to behave in certain situations. We dont really get a chance to do that on television. Its usually like theyre an immigrant or a drug dealer. So I was like Okay, lets do some work. Lets show we can do it. TS: A lot of it is sourced from me so I wont say whos my favorite. But what Im most excited to put on cable TV is the word pocho or quiovole or carnala. Very specific Mexican-American slang. That is the biggest most radical political act because we havent had that presence. The chamoyada might be a throwaway for some, but the fact that its on film and we got a real chamoyada-maker to make it; the street vendor with the tamales. The way we color the world is the most gratifying thing even those small moments are huge because Ive never seen that on American television. SS: Having come from Narcos, my first show, which sometimes promotes stereotypes about Latinos, this was a show that had nothing to do with people being killed and Latinos being criminals or drug dealers or gang members. This was just a show about a family. Thats what attracted me, because when people come to me with projects, its usually about drugs. It was refreshing as a writer to be like, I dont even have to think about that. My mind doesnt have to go to this dark place. It can just go to this human place. JC: The thing I relate to the most is definitely the queer Latinx women [who] are in the show. The whole Emma story, as well, with her mother. I know what its like to be rejected by your own mother because of your queer identity. My relationship with my mother will never be the same because she does not accept me and my partner. They did not attend my wedding. So Im in that place where Emma was before her mother passes away, potentially one day able to forgive her mother. We had a bruja come in, Sabrina, and she was like como se dice? TS: Una limpia! JC: She said, Im taking the weight of people that youre carrying. Im feeling your mother. As soon as she said that, she goes, Is your mother still alive? And I just burst into tears. I didnt realize I was holding onto that. But I know that, to my mother, in a way I died when I came out to her. And to me, my mother died when she decided not to go to my wedding. [Tears up.] So theres totally that. NM: Something I really relate to and respect is the fact that we dont shy away from exploring the contradictions of our identity, like, how do we have privilege? How do we exert that privilege? My parents obviously want me to have a better life than they did, but then how am I, this upwardly mobile Latina, contributing? Mando, I am curious about your experience working in a room where you are the only man. MA: The assumption would be that my experience would be really different because Im a man and theyre women. But the truth is that every writers room has its own dynamic energy, and I dont realize Im the guy until Im told Im the guy. That kind of dynamic doesnt really ever enter unless its for a joke. CL: I didnt realize consciously that you were gonna be the only dude on this show. Especially because our writers assistant is male, whos also awesome and from South Texas. But I was never worried about Mando in a room. Hes always in a room with ladies. Hes always so awesome and thoughtful, creatively and personally, in a room. MA: If you look at it macro, its the #MeToo movement, right? So, for me, its growing as a man in Hollywood. Its things to be aware of, but I take that out everywhere. My own privilege sometimes I have to confront that. TS: There were some things you hadnt realized before. MA: We were pitching the episodes, and everyone went in and did their pitch, and they usually went over it in like a day. And then it was my turn and it took three to four days, and I realized, Oh thats what its like on the other side. Like, Im not being taken seriously. Now, the thing I realized was that its a group dynamic. If a group dynamic is of the same and there is the other, the other will be otherized. Its not so much that its a male or female, but in a general Hollywood dominant culture, the other is either a person of color or a woman and thats it. I understood that feeling and that was really eye-opening. When people come to me with projects, its usually about drugs. It was refreshing as a writer to be like, my mind doesnt have to go to this dark place. Santa Sierra When did the writers room begin working last season? TS: We started [in] August and it was only ten weeks. So you were working when the Harvey Weinstein stories broke and the #MeToo movement started. Did that enter the conversations in the room? CL: We were in the safest room in Hollywood. Thank God. The #MeToo movement is something that we, as women in Hollywood, have always been aware of. There are people and situations that you should worry about. We were all aware of bad things before. TS: Otherized people, marginalized people, marginalized writers, weve been aware of that for longer because weve been not just sexually harassed, but also racially harassed, some of us in some of our rooms. Can you give some examples? JC: There was a room I was very engaged in, and I felt my opinion counted. But they singled me out for this one lesbian scene. They were like, So how do we do the sex for this scene? I spoke out and I told them. In this show, I talk and I contribute a lot more than just the sex scene. But there, I was specifically pointed out for that. It was an all-male room and I was an assistant. There were two assistants that were women. And I remember one of the male staff writers felt uncomfortable. I was like, Should I be feeling uncomfortable? But I wanted to be confident about this and say it. It wasnt until later that I realized, Oh this is the moment where I feel like Im singled out specifically for that. TS: When I started my first day of work [on Devious Minds], and Ive written a play about this story, one of my co-workers said, You do know youre the diversity hire. And I go, Whats a diversity hire? Id never heard that term. Id just gotten to Hollywood, you know? And he goes, Oh honey. Like that. Super bitchy. I was like, That doesnt feel good. I think diversity hires a bad thing. So I called my agent and Im like, Whats a diversity hire? He said, I didnt want to tell you because I didnt want you to get it in your head. And I said, Well, should it get in my head? Am I a staff writer? Am I working for the show? Like, do I have to be here everyday? (Laughs.) What is it? What is my role? He said, No, youre fine. Youre just like any other writer except you dont cost the show anything. So I wasnt just like any other writer, if other writers knew that I was a diversity writer and that was my value. That was a rough year and a lot of other shit happened in that room because after I had been so valued in the theater. I was the playwright. And then you get there and its like that. What did it do to you mentally and emotionally to be in that room for that year after you were told that? TS: Oh, less than! You dont speak up. I am not a quiet person. I was the quietest Ive ever been. Also, I had a showrunner that was not so down with the cause. Not very woke, you know? MA: And you were doing a Latinx-based show. Has anyone else been the diversity hire in a room? EO: I was. In my case, the showrunner did try and make me feel like everybody else. Everybody had an office. I had an office. But it did the same thing to me, like when I got to law school and it was, Oh, youre only here because youre Latina. The affirmative action days. I remember. EO: Yeah! You feel like, I dont really belong. It was the same thing here. I felt like, well, I cant be as smart and as talented as all the other people in the room, right? It does silence you. And then there was a very weird dynamic where I think people also got a sense of it and ignored me. I wasnt consequential to the room. Were there other women? EO: Yes. There were other women, and they were not supportive. It was really terrible. And there was one Latino director hired that year, and, and he was treated horribly. Horribly. This is a Latino director with 30 years of experience, and he was treated like he didnt know what he was doing. Then I realized, Oh! Theyre treating me the same way! (Laughs.) That show literally decimated my confidence that I could be a TV writer. I decided not to pursue TV writing for several years. SS: I was never the diversity hire, but I was the only Latinx in Narcos. Yeah, Narcos. For season three. EO: Again, a Latinx show. MA: Thats crazy, right? SS: You do feel a little bit like a token, and its hard to explain the feeling because you dont get a class on how to do a writers room. You are thrown in a place with different personalities. Sometimes with people that have been there before, and there are certain politics you have to navigate. So you just sit there, like, What can I say? Who should I approach? JC: I never was the diversity hire, but I would have died for one of those positions having worked as an assistant climbing the ladder. I did hear some of the horror stories but I was still, like, well, give me that horror story! Its funny how the systems made. Even though you know youre going to potentially be in a place of being abused, at least thats the way I can put my foot in the door. SS: Thats the way you have to see it. This is just a stepping stone. I always tell new writers that its okay to not be perfect your first time. This is supposed to be fun. This is not supposed to give you a panic attack. NM: Technically, I was the funded position [at Vida] for season one. TS: No! NM: Notice I said funded because I know you dont like that word. TS: They had thrown that word around, and I was like, Starz, no, were going to call it the funded position and not diversity. A person cant be diversity. I get triggered! NM: And, honestly, I totally benefited from the negative experiences that Tanya had because she did not want to impose that pain onto another human being. Do you remember the first time you saw yourself represented on TV or film where you really recognized yourself in the story or character? JC: In TV, it was last year when I watched One Day at a Time. [Elena is] Cuban but Im Puerto Rican, and were pretty darn close. Shes queer, and shes having this complication with a quinceanera. I was like, This is me, right here. The problem was the accepting mother and grandmother I didnt have that. So that was the dream version of what my life could have been. TS: I remember Resurrection Boulevard. It was on for such a brief moment, but they were trying to do a good, Latino, Mexican-American family with a patriarch. I dont remember all of it. And then Latinx were gone for a long time. I wanted to be an actor back then, and I was like, Oh great there will be a place. But no. Not for another 12 years or 15 years, or however long. They tried Cane for a season. You know, they tried. MA: Yeah no. Theres a scene in Cane Ill never forget because I hated it so much. Nestor Carbonell, who I love as an actor, was drinking Cuban coffee and he had to say, This is what I love about being Cuban. He drinks his coffee, and I just wanted to punch him in the head. TS: Probably a Cuban was not writing that! MA: No, that was probably a white man. SS: For me, thats a complicated question to answer because I am a black Latina. And I still dont see myself much on television. The black Latinos that are in Hollywood are playing African-Americans, so I never really did see myself. But if I have to go back, I remember Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) from That 70s Show. I identified with him because I had an accent, too. I think I still have an accent, but it was even thicker back then when I was in high school. I was really quiet in high school because I internalize a lot. I came here at 14 and I didnt speak a word of English. I went from being a chatty kid in Spanish, and then I came to this country and I was like, well I cant communicate, so I started to listen a lot more. And Fez was the funniest character and everybody loved him. So when I started as a comedy writer, that was probably the beginning of me seeing myself in a character, even though he was very stereotypical. TS: Thats problematic because you see yourself, some closeness, similarities, but really they were using him as a joke. Something like Broad City, when you see queer Latinos or Latinas on TV, they are for the joke, you know? Thats how we often exist. Its like a form of cooning they make us do. SS: The accent is a little bit like blackface. You see it with Modern Family. I love that show. I think its a brilliant comedy. But, again, having an accent doesnt necessarily have to be paired with having less intelligence. That affected me because I had an accent when I was in school and people automatically thought I was dumber because of it. TS: Thats why I wanted to get rid of my accent right away, as soon as I got here. We were doing a reading in class out loud, and all the kids laughed when I said Plymouth [pronounced pli-mouth]. I remember so clearly. I was used to people in Mexico laughing because I was a clown. But this was the bad kind of laughing. And that stays with you. CL: The first thing I remember is Sesame Street, and I just held on to that. I was like, Fuck everything else. Sesame Street is the only thing that makes sense to me and looks like me because I was born in Boston. Shout out to Maria! MA: La Bamba for me. Richie! Chicano kid coming out of the barrio. It was Luis Valdez. They were all, like, truth-telling. They were sticking to their guns the way they were telling a story. What Im most excited to put on cable TV is the word pocho or quiovole or carnala. Very specific Mexican-American slang. That is the most radical political act. Tanya Saracho CL: Those were my first words, La, la, la bamba! I watched that so much when I was little! TS: Its epic. No other movie has navigated mainstream and Chicano culture like that ever again. Thats sad. On that note, in the last few years, weve seen black Hollywood gaining more power both in TV and movies. Im wondering what youve been thinking about in terms of the Latinx community. We have the numbers, but we dont have the voice. Are there lessons to be learned from black Hollywood? What can Latinx Hollywood do to become more visible and successful? TS: We talk about this a lot. Any time we have a conversation, I dont want us to negate the progress that is being made in black American culture because Ive gotten into it with friends. We are 18-to-20 percent, depending on what you read, of this country, right? Black American culture is 12 percent. But, with Vida, we have now five shows on American television. Thats less than one percent. Why? We dont know why. Why are we invisible to the media? Why do we not have a voice? Obviously, we have talent, so thats not it. Its that we are not valued. We dont got the bank. EO: I think thats the key. The thing Ive always said is that, historically, there was a black free class. There were historic black colleges. There has always been a black middle class that has had resources. And theyve been integral to promoting black advancement in all areas. For the Latino community, by definition, were this immigrant community. You dont immigrate unless you absolutely economically have to. Which means youre just barely trying to get your foothold and struggling to survive. Historically, we havent had a moneyed class, and money is power everywhere, but especially in Hollywood. TS: Voting power, too. And sometimes we dont have voting power. MA: Within our spectrum, there are very many different kind of Latinx, different types of ethnicities, right? But a lot of times within our community well say, Oh, thats Mexican, but its not really like me. And thats a positive thing in that, yes, there should be more stories. But as a group, we should also support the show when it comes out because it will open doors. I feel like the African-American community as a power block, as an economic block, has united, and through the years have established: Were here. Our group is slowly starting to find that. TS: Theres one black American narrative. You can trace it. There are 27 countries that make up the Latin diaspora. How can we have one narrative? MA: But we can support each other. TS: Under that one umbrella, agreed. Like the way that One Day at a Time spoke to you and speaks to me, hopefully Vida will speak to you. Because, you know, its a construct. This Latinidad is a construct, so were all under this umbrella. And there are some similarities, so lets support. SS: We all speak the same language. TS: Brazilians dont, but yes. SS: But even that I can understand a little bit. Ive had this conversation with executives, and the many different countries confuse them. So they target the big ones, like Mexico or Florida and the Cubans. Or in New York, we have Puerto Ricans. Thats the other thing. Its not just the differences in native countries, but the regional differences, too. Mexicans in Texas and California, or Cubans in Miami and New Jersey, are not necessarily the same. EO: Exactly. We have differences. MA: Right but, again, you can tell a story of colorism. Colorism exists in all our cultures. El blanquito. El negrito. If you tell that story then were all, Yeah, I connect to that. TS: Basically tell our story of colonization, and were safe! MA: Yes. Exactly. That is our narrative. President Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. urged West Virginia Republicans on Thursday to reject Don Blankenship in next week's primary, comparing the coal baron to failed Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. "I hate to lose. So I'm gonna go out on a limb here and ask the people of West Virginia to make a wise decision and reject Blankenship! No more fumbles like Alabama," he wrote on Twitter. "We need to win in November." The comment from the President's son is the clearest signal yet that national Republicans are worried that Blankenship's upstart campaign could upend plans to run either Republican Rep. Evan Jenkins or Attorney General Patrick Morrisey against vulnerable Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in November. National Republicans were worried when Blankenship jumped into the race, given that the former CEO of Massey Energy had just recently finished serving a yearlong sentence following a misdemeanor conviction for his involvement in the deadliest US mine explosion in four decades. The tweet from Trump's son caught the Blankenship team off-guard on Thursday. In a statement, Blankenship said, "The establishment is doing everything they can to keep Joe Manchin in office." "No other Republican can beat Manchin without my full support, and neither Morrisey nor Jenkins is deserving of my support," he said. "West Virginians should be able to decide for themselves who we send to the US Senate." Blankenship did not address Trump Jr. or his tweet but said he is the only candidate capable of helping Trump "drain the swamp." The younger Trump's comparison of Blankenship to Moore is deeply stinging for Republican voters. Moore lost a special election in Alabama against Democrat Doug Jones last year after the race was turned upside down by a firestorm of allegations that the GOP candidate had sexually abused teens; Moore denied the allegations. Republicans, including Trump, had initially supported Sen. Luther Strange in the Republican primary. Trump Jr. also noted how a super PAC linked to Democrats has been running ads in West Virginia attacking Jenkins and Morrisey. The super PAC -- Duty & Country PAC -- has spent $142,000 this week in a mix of web and TV ads attacking Jenkins and has spent close to $1.5 million in the race so far. "If the democrats are doing this they know he's more beatable that the other options. Don't fall for it West Virginia. Not worth the risk," Trump Jr. wrote. All three candidates in West Virginia have sought to court President Trump in the race, given that he won 68% of the state in 2016. But Blankenship has taken that a step further, stating in a debate that he was "Trumpier than Trump" and echoing much of the messaging that animated the President's 2016 campaign. "It's clear that Don Blankenship is not the conservative we need to take on Joe Manchin in the fall," Morrisey said in a statement. "He would have no prayer of winning. I'm proud of my conservative record of standing up to President Obama, expanding gun rights, and protecting coal jobs." Jenkins tweeted, "Thanks for having our back @DonaldJTrumpJr. We can't let the anti-Trump liberals buy this race." In response to the tweet, Trump Jr. said he was "not endorsing any single candidate" in the race but thinks "there are two qualified, conservative and ELECTABLE candidates running and one train wreck who would guarantee another term for Joe Manchin." The President has not directly weighed in on the race but did headline an event in West Virginia where he was flanked by Jenkins and Morrisey. He used the event, which was pegged to touting his tax bill, to attack Manchin, a moderate Democrat who has tried to work with him at times. "You're going to have a chance to get a senator that's going to vote our program," he said. "Joe Manchin, he's really not helped us." Trump also did an informal poll during the event, asking the attendees who would be voting for the two candidates onstage. When Jenkins got a better response, Morrisey pointed out the event was in his district. Blankenship did not attend the event but thanked Trump for his visit and said it was time "for the career politicians and establishment of Manchin/Jenkins/Morrisey to say goodbye." Much to Democrats' glee, the Republican race has been contentious. Jenkins has gone after Morrisey for his wife's lobbying ties and the fact that he isn't from West Virginia, while Morrisey has primarily attacked Jenkins for only recently joining the Republican Party. Blankenship, instead, has focused much of his energy on attacking Washington, going so far as to describe the father-in-law of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, as a "Chinaperson." James Chao, father of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, was born in China but moved to the United States before starting the shipping company Foremost Group in New York. Blankenship also recently released an ad calling the majority leader "Cocaine Mitch." Josh Holmes, a McConnell adviser, tweeted Thursday night: "For those asking, this is my response to West Virginia Roy Moore: 'This clown is a walking, talking case study for the limitation of a prison's ability to rehabilitate.' " An Alabama teacher was sent home for wearing a T-shirt that read,"just pray", which the teacher said was in support of a child fighting a brain tumor. The Mobile County school teacher, Chris Burrell posted on Facebook saying quote, " Getting sent home from work today to change my Just Pray shirt. I purchased this shirt to raise money for #AubreighsArmy. I thought it was fitting to wear today since my kids were testing. I didn't think twice about it." The teacher said she wasn't trying to promote religion by wearing the shirt. The teacher went on to say that she was hurt by the situation and it has never happened to her in her 15 years of teaching. Her social media post is sparking light on the controversial situation. Although Burrell was sent home, no further disciplinary action has been taken against the teacher, altoday.com reported. According to wvtm13.com, the principal was not aware of the shirt's connection to raising money for the sick child. TRUMP-RUSSIA PROBE-THE LATEST The Latest: Clinton impeachment lawyer to represent Trump WASHINGTON (AP) - Veteran Washington, D.C., lawyer Emmet Flood, who represented President Bill Clinton during his impeachment process, is joining the White House to represent President Donald Trump in the special counsel's Russia investigation. White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement Wednesday that Flood would be joining the White House staff to "represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt." The law firm of Williams & Connolly confirmed that Flood is departing. Earlier Wednesday, the White House said Ty Cobb, the point person in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, is retiring at the end of this month. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - A major pharmaceutical company is donating 1,744 devices that contain an overdose-reversing drug to Alabama's volunteer rescue squads to combat the opioid crisis. Kaleo Inc. announced the donation of 872 boxes, which include two devices, to the state's rescue vehicles at a press conference at the Alabama State Capitol Wednesday. The Evzio device auto-injects the life-saving drug naloxone and contains a recording that talks a non-medical professional through administering it. Republican state Sen. Gerald Dial said the donation to Alabama will last three years. Kaleo Vice President of Corporate Affairs Mark Herzog didn't commit Wednesday to extending it. Kaleo came under fire for raising the A group of President Donald Trump's most ardent supporters in the House of Representatives have sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, formally nominating the President for a Nobel Peace Prize. The nomination was spearheaded by Indiana's Rep. Luke Messer, who is locked in a fierce GOP primary battle in the Hoosier State for a Senate seat. In the letter, Messer and his Republican colleagues endorse Trump's nomination by arguing that he deserves the award because of his work to end the Korean War and bring peace to the peninsula. "Since taking office, President Trump has worked tirelessly to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to end its illicit weapons program and bring peace to the region," the letter reads. Joining Messer in the letter are conservative members like Freedom Caucus leader Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and Rep. Steve King of Iowa. Six of the signatories are seeking higher office, including Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the presumptive Republican nominee for Senate in Tennessee; Rep. Diane Black, who is running for governor in Tennessee; Rep. Evan Jenkins, who is part of a three-way primary for Senate in West Virginia; Rep. Jim Renacci, who's running for governor of Ohio; and Rep. Kevin Cramer, who is attempting to unseat Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp in North Dakota. Noticeably absent from the letter is one of Messer's primary opponents in Indiana, Rep. Todd Rokita. Former state Rep. Mike Braun is also seeking the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in what is considered one of the most competitive races in the country. If Trump were to win the award, he'd be the fifth American president bestowed with the honor. Presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama are all Nobel winners. During a raucous re-election rally in Michigan on Saturday, the crowd broke out into a chant of "Nobel, Nobel" while Trump was discussing his efforts in North Korea. Clearly enjoying the response, the President smiled and said, "Thank you, that is very nice." The White House did not immediately respond to the news of the nomination. The Forever Young Senior Veterans organization sent four local veterans to Pearl Harbor for the trip of a lifetime. Before they left, the Patriot Guard honored the veterans with a flag line at the Huntsville International Airport. The Patriot Guard is a group that's dedicated to honoring veterans and first responders. The guard lined each side of the hall to clap and cheer for the veterans before they boarded their plane to Hawaii. The veterans got to the airport around 5:45 a.m., and their flight took off at 7:20. Three of the local veterans served in the army, and one of them served in the navy. John Kuhn, a former US Navy Higgins Boat Driver, told WAAY 31 this isn't his first trip to Pearl Harbor. "I haven't been to Peal Harbor since 1945. I'm looking forward to how many changes have been made and everything. I know it's all going to be different," Kuhn said. Forever Young Senior Veterans is still accepting donations to help pay for the veterans' trip. To donate, you can visit the organization's website. Police said a Vermont man shot a smoke detector in his apartment that continued to go off, the Associated Press reported. Police said shrapnel from the blast traveled through a wall and into an adjoining apartment. Fortunately, nobody was hit. However, police said Leroy Mason pointed a weapon at first responders who showed up after someone called 9-1-1 about the shooting. Mason pleaded not guilty to charges of felony aggravated assault with a weapon and misdemeanor reckless endangerment and was released. Police said Mason repeatedly called authorities in the past and requested the alarm be relocated away from his kitchen. He said even the slightest amount of heat would trigger it. Fire code in Vermont requires the fire department to place alarms in apartments and prohibits residents from moving it. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Financial firm AllianceBernstein Holding LP is moving its global headquarters from New York to Tennessee, bringing 1,050 jobs and investing more than $70 million in the booming southern city of Nashville. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, Nashville Mayor David Briley and state economic development chief Bob Rolfe announced the company's plan Wednesday at a news conference. AllianceBernstein President and CEO Seth Bernstein said the company sees Nashville as a game-changer in terms of ability to source, develop and retain talent. He said the company will maintain a presence in New York. It has about 3,500 employees and offices in more than 22 countries. The Nashville headquarters will include finance, information technology, operations, legal, compliance, internal audit, human resources, sales and marketing. AllianceBernstein manages about $549 billion in assets. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) 5/2/2018 10:34:18 AM (GMT -5:00) Police and medics swarmed Alabama A&M University's campus Thursday morning after a reported shooting just off campus. Huntsville Fire Department spokesman Capt. Frank McKenzie said 911 received a call about someone being shot in a fight on Meridian Street just north of campus around 11:15 a.m. Huntsville Police Department spokesman Lt. Michael Johnson said police are not treating the call like an active shooter situation. According to Johnson, shots were fired in a fight behind a shopping center but first responders did not find anyone that was hit by gunfire. One person who was assaulted in the fight was at Huntsville Hospital, Johnson said. When contacted just after the shooting call, an Alabama A&M spokesman said he was unaware of anything taking place on campus. The university sent out a Bulldog Alert to students later that police had located a victim in the fight who was reportedly seen running toward Elmore Gym on campus. The release of three US nationals currently detained in North Korea is "imminent," according to an official with knowledge of the ongoing negotiations. The official told CNN the North Koreans made the decision to free the Americans two months ago, and that North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho had proposed their release during his visit to Sweden in March US officials insisted at the time that their release "must not be related or used to loosen the main issue of denuclearization," the source said. The three Americans, Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk, also known as Tony Kim, have been detained in North Korea for months. Donald Trump, who looks set to become the first sitting US President to meet a North Korean leader during a planned summit with Kim Jong Un, said last month his administration was fighting "very diligently to get the three Americans back." Trump hinted at a potential development in their case Wednesday night Washington time in a tweet: "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Kim Dong Chul has been in North Korean custody since before Trump was elected, the other two detainees were arrested last spring, after Trump's inauguration and as tensions between Washington and Pyongyang were beginning to ramp up. Tony Kim and Kim Hak-song, who were arrested in April and May of 2017 respectively, were both accused of carrying out "hostile acts" against the Kim Jong Un regime. Both worked at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST) which bills itself as the only privately run university in the North Korean capital. Tony Kim's son, Kim Sol, said that he and his family "are hopeful but we have no indication that they (the detained Americans) have been released" in a Facebook post after Trump's tweet. The family members of the two educators have said their loved ones are innocent. Shortly after he was detained, Kim Hak-song's wife said in an interview with CNN that her husband is an agricultural expert and was teaching rice-growing at the university, trying to help North Koreans feed themselves. Kim Dong Chul was arrested in 2015 for spying on behalf of South Korea, he told CNN in January 2016. The interview was conducted in the presence of North Korean officials, so CNN could not determine whether Kim's comments were made under duress. Goodwill gesture? A source at the White House National Security Council said if North Korea were to release the trio, it would be viewed it as a good will gesture ahead of the planned summit with Kim Jong Un. "Their safety and well-being will factor into future interactions between the United States and North Korean government," the source said. Trump said last month his administration was fighting "very diligently to get the three Americans back" and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told ABC News he brought up the detainees during his secret meeting with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang over Easter weekend. Only one American has been released from North Korean detention during the Trump's presidency: Otto Warmbier. The former University of Virginia student was arrested while on a tour of North Korea and held for 17 months. He returned to the US in a vegetative state and died days later. North Korean officials said he contracted botulism, but US doctors found no evidence to verify that claim. Warmbier's parents have since filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the North Korean government. Counselors are still at Wilson High School to help students grieve the loss of three classmates. Thousands were at the school on Tuesday for the funerals of Coby Hines, Braden Turner, and Tyler Nelson. Wilson High School Principal, Gary Horton, said they always have three counselors on staff but students are helping each other through their grief. "We've grieved together. We've cried together. We will never get over it but we will get through it," said Wilson High School Principal, Gary Horton. Horton said reality set in for some students after attending the boys funerals, which were held at the high school gym. He says everyday they are taking baby steps together to handle the loss. "I've learned they heal by talking with each other, so a lot of our kids are counseling each other. We still have professionals on campus and on stand by if we need them," said Horton. The three boys lost their lives last week in a car crash on County Road 30. Two Florence High School students, Kate Boggus and Kaylee McGee, were also injured in the crash but expected to recover. Florence City School officials said Wednesday, Kate Boggus has been released from the Hospital. Officials said Kaylee McGee was still in stable condition at Huntsville Hospital. It's unclear when she will get to come home. St. Florian police believe speed and the weather were factors in the crash. "I don't know them but I thought about my kids. How I would feel, and the Lord just let it on my heart to come down here and pray over these children," said Brenda Rice. Rice lives near the wreck site and said her heart is broken by the loss of the boys. Braden and Coby's cleats hang around their crosses. Tyler's cleats hang near his cross on a tree at the crash site. Rice said she has this message for the families, and friends of the boys. "I love them through Christ and I just want them all to know the Lord has got this, with his strength, love, and faith in him it's going to get better," said Rice. The boys loss has brought complete strangers together. Horton said as they lean on each other for support, many students are trying to give some comfort to the boys families. "We have kids signing desks and their making plaques at trade school. We have individuals doing individual things for the families," said Horton. Braden, Tyler, and Coby were all athletes at Wilson High School. St. Florian Police are still investigating the car crash with the assistance of Alabama State Troopers. Zora Neale Hurston, an African American author best known for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God" , will posthumously have her first book published. Barracoon: The Story of the Last "Black Cargo" was originally written in 1931 but remained unpublished, until now. The book tells the story of Cudjo Lewis, the last known survivor of the Atlantic slave trade between Africa and the United States. Hurston took several trips and spent many months interviewing Lewis in order to gradually piece his story together. Lewis shared with Hurston details about his five years as a slave, his agony over leaving behind his family, and the culture shock he experienced once he was declared a free man. Lewis died in 1935 in Mobile, Al. At the time there were few companies that were willing to publish it. One publisher offered to buy it only if Hurston rewrote it in "language rather than ( southern ) dialect". She declined and the book remained unpublished. The manuscript remained in the archives of Howard University for decades. The Harper Collins publishing company plans to release the book on May 8th. Its time for some home truths about how we are talking about and dealing with sexual harassment cases. We need to stop talking about so-called hush money and we need to refocus our attention on the basic values of fairness and justice. In 2016, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan asked me to lead an independent review of the Respect and Responsibility complaints policy. While ground-breaking at the time of its introduction in 2005, the policy was in need of a refresh. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan. Credit:Joe Armao At the time, important community conversations were taking place about gender equality and the prevention of violence against women. Meanwhile, excitement was building about the launch of AFLW. Apple chief executive Tim Cook has emerged as an unlikely beneficiary of the changed political climate in the US. But he will know in the back of his mind that when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. The leader of the world's most valuable and profitable company appears to be on good terms with the leader of the free world at the moment - but it's far from assured that will stay that way. Tim Cook and US President Donald Trump are suddenly getting along. Credit:AP Apple on Tuesday morning (Australian time) cemented its status as the biggest beneficiary of US President Donald Trump's corporate tax cuts when it reported its quarterly results and announced a bonanza for its shareholders. The iPhone maker posted stronger than expected revenue and profits, lifted its dividend, and said it would increase a share buyback program by $US100 billion ($125 billion). Commonwealth Bank has admitted it lost historical bank statements belonging to almost 20 million personal accounts in a 2016 incident it chose not to make public. It's understood two magnetic tapes that contained customer statements were scheduled for destruction by the bank when they disappeared in May 2016. The tapes contained customer names, addresses, account numbers and transaction details from 19.8 million accounts spanning 2000 to early 2016. They did not contain passwords, PINs or other data which could be used to enable account fraud, CBA said in a statement on Wednesday night after BuzzFeed broke the story. "An independent forensic investigation ordered by CBA in 2016 and conducted by KPMG determined the most likely scenario was the tapes had been disposed of. The bank immediately put in place monitoring mechanisms to further protect customers." Tuesdays scathing report on the Commonwealth Bank, coming hard on the heels of the banking royal commissions shocking revelations over the past few weeks, underscores the problem facing Commissioner Kenneth Hayne right from the outset. How on earth can a one-year investigation, led by just one commissioner, deal with all thats rotten in Australias financial services industry? Commissioner Kenneth Hayne: needs more time. The child sexual abuse royal commission, with six commissioners, took five years; the trade unions royal commission had almost two years. In both cases, the government extended the final report deadline. Loading A similar extension for the banking royal commission is vital with one major proviso outlined below. This seems preferable to handing over a host of unfinished investigations to the government, which may not have the will, expertise, resources, and co-ordination capability to continue dirt-digging and devising strong responses in a timely way in an election year. The data firm at the centre of Facebook's privacy debacle is shutting down, saying the "siege of media coverage" over the scandal had driven away its customers. Cambridge Analytica on Wednesday filed applications to commence insolvency proceedings in the UK and cease all operations immediately, with insolvency practitioners appointed as independent administrators. Parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced for its US business, it said. The revelations about Cambridge Analytica's data harvesting on Facebook triggered a public outcry and sent the social network into its biggest crisis to date. Credit:Bloomberg "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," the company said in a statement on its website. Qantas and Coca-Cola Amatil have given money to the controversial Business Council of Australia campaign to sway voters at the next election as the peak industry group calls for urgent reform in next weeks budget to lift economic growth. The first major supporters of the campaign, the two companies are pouring more than $200,000 each into new television ads to remind Australians of the 10 million jobs that depend on business, with other big companies also expected to sign up. The funding comes as the council issues a new warning on the risk of growing national debt, forecasting annual deficits of $50 billion in years to come if Australia does not increase its rate of economic growth. Coca-Cola Amatil group managing director Alison Watkins (left). QANTAS chief executive Alan Joyce (centre). and Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott (right) are at the forefront of the campaign. Credit:Josh Robenstone The false promise of taxing more to spend more has been exposed for what it is a dead end, said Business Council chief executive Jennifer Westacott. The vast majority of Australians care about climate change and environmental protection. These issues have been prominent enough to influence the way millions of us have voted over the past decade. But while we rarely get to the ballot box, dozens of other important votes happen on climate change each and every year. These votes are made on behalf of you and me and, frustratingly, most oppose climate change action. Just ask your super fund. Rio Tinto chairman Simon Thompson Credit:Eddie Jim Our collective retirement savings give super funds significant stakes in Australian and international companies. With those investments comes the right to vote on corporate matters such as the election of directors, executive remuneration, or other resolutions put forward by the board and shareholders. Yet, when opportunities arise for super funds to support greater action from companies on climate change, more often than not they vote against it on behalf of their members. He said the "final blow" was remarks this week from Emanuel Exports managing director Graham Daws about extreme weather being unpredictable. Mr Fitzgibbon said he had since become concerned about the pace of the reviews into the sector and was now "convinced the government is not serious about real and meaningful action". In April, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor would "honour our commitment to await [the review's] findings" and called for the creation of an independent inspector general of animal welfare. Agriculture Minister David Littleproud last month announced a snap review that will consider whether the trade should continue during the northern summer months when animals are put at risk by high temperatures. "The incidents in 2016 and 2017 we mitigated as much as we could, but unfortunately no one can predict that weather event," Mr Daws told the ABC. Mr Fitzgibbon said, "What he is saying is, 'No matter what we do, we are always going to have events like those depicted on 60 Minutes.'" Responding to Labor's announcement, Ms Ley urged the party to back her bill and said she would be discussing it with MPs from all parties when Parliament returns. "Either you believe the trade needs to be phased out or you don't. If you do believe it, then you should support my private member's bill, which is all about a sensible transition to a future where we don't continue to export live sheep to the Middle East," she told Sky News. Mr Fitzgibbon said he had not yet seen the bill and noted the government would have to allow it to be voted on. A majority of voters say the federal government has a responsibility to give financial assistance to poorer nations and that further cuts to foreign aid would damage Australias international standing. A survey released ahead of Tuesday's federal budget shows 52 per cent agree Australia has an obligation to continue to provide aid to poorer nations, while 38 per cent disagreed. The Essential Media poll done for aid agency ChildFund Australia also found 53 per cent think cutting the overseas aid budget would be bad for Australias relations with other countries. The chief executive of ChildFund Australia, Nigel Spence, said the results proved there was solid support in the community for Australias aid program. The state government has announced an estimated completion date for the long-awaited $86 million Armadale Courthouse and Police Complex. Police minister Michelle Roberts said the project in Armadale's CBD district, first slotted into WA's budget in 2016 by the Barnett Government, would be ready for police to take up their posts by October 2021. Police minister Michelle Roberts announcing Armadale Police Station will open 24-hours a day, in July 2017. Credit:WA Police The complex will combine police and courts under one roof and create space for an extra 263 police officers above the existing Armadale station's force of 80. Mrs Roberts confirmed next week's budget would include $78.8 million to begin designing the complex and start construction work. A 200-metre stretch of road intersecting a busy level crossing in Kelmscott has again been voted WAs riskiest road in a statewide RAC survey. The RAC risky roads campaign ranks WAs 10 most dangerous roads and intersections based on more than 6000 community nominations. One of the many crashes near the Denny Avenue level crossing in Kelmscott. Credit:Hamish Hastie Denny Avenue topped the annual risky roads list last year and it seems its level crossing and three intersections are still sore spots for motorists. The confusing road and intersection layout; inadequate traffic light system; inadequate crossing and turning opportunities; and pedestrian issues secured it the inauspicious number one spot and number two and three spots in the riskiest ten intersections list for either side of the level crossing. While the initial search for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 proved fruitless, sonar and video gathered during the hunt have shone a light on some of the secrets guarded by the sea 2300 kilometres off the WA coast. WA Museum has analysed data taken by the Fugro Equator and Havilah Harmony in May and December 2015 while hunting for the ill-fated plane, and has identified two shipwrecks discovered as 19th Century merchant sailing ships loaded with cargoes of coal. This shipwreck discovered 2300km off the WA coast during the 2015 search for MH370 has been identified as an iron sailing ship loaded with a cargo of coal. Credit:Australian Transport Safety Bureau The museums maritime archaeology curator, Ross Anderson, said the wrecks lay on the sea floor 36km apart at depths of about 3700-3900m. Dr Anderson said a combination of data from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, historical research and maritime archaeological analysis helped identify the wrecks one wooden and heavily degraded, the other iron, both carrying coal. The state government is progressing its planned ban on puppy farming, on Thursday announcing it will throw open a range of proposals for public comment. Local Government Minister David Templeman said he would set aside $250,000 in next week's state budget for a public consultation process, including public workshops and a working group chaired by Maylands MP Lisa Baker. A range of options to end puppy farming have been canvassed by the government including the introduction of mandatory dog de-sexing and breeding standards, a centralised registration system to track dogs, and turning pet shops into adoption centres. The WA government is moving towards a ban on puppy farming. Credit:Debra Tranter "As an unregulated industry in Western Australia, puppy farming is able to operate without scrutiny, resulting in many unwanted dogs at animal shelters," Mr Templeman said. Washington: Two African-American men arrested at a Starbucks last month have reached a settlement with the city of Philadelphia and secured its commitment to a pilot program for young entrepreneurs. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson chose not to pursue a lawsuit against the city, Mike Dunn, a spokesman from the mayor's office, told The Washington Post. Instead, they agreed to a symbolic payment of $US1 ($1.33) each and asked the city to fund $US200,000 for a grant program for high school students aspiring to become entrepreneurs. Rashon Nelson, left, and Donte Robinson, right. Credit:AP "This was an incident that evoked a lot of pain in our city, pain that would've resurfaced over and over again in protracted litigation, which presents significant legal risks and high financial and emotional costs for everyone involved," Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a statement. Kenney said Nelson and Robinson approached the city as partners "to make something positive come of this." PARKLAND INCREASES GUIDANCE BY $50 MILLION TO 650 MILLION 5% CALGARY, Alberta, May 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Parkland Fuel Corporation (Parkland) (TSX:PKI) Canada's largest and one of North America's fastest growing independent marketers of fuel and petroleum products and a leading convenience store operator, announced today the financial and operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018. All financial figures are expressed in Canadian dollars. The Parkland team delivered exceptional results in the first quarter, said Bob Espey, President and Chief Executive Officer. These results were due to strong base business growth and supply improvement and optimization activities that yielded a one-time benefit of approximately $30 million. Parkland is revising its 2018 Adjusted EBITDA guidance from $600 million 5% to $650 million 5%. This increase is driven by a one-time Adjusted EBITDA benefit, of approximately $30 million, related to supply initiatives, earlier than anticipated realization of synergies related to the integration of our Acquisitions(5) as well as our forecast for continued strength in crack spreads at the Burnaby Refinery during the second quarter of 2018. KEY COMPONENTS OF PARKLAND'S STRATEGY Q1 2018 HIGHLIGHTS GROW Achieved record first quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $153 million, a 119% increase over the comparable period in 2017. Grew pre-Acquisitions business ("Base Business) Adjusted EBITDA by 19%, well ahead of Parkland's strategic organic growth target of 3-5%. Realized 53% growth in fuel and petroleum product volumes, delivering 4,211 million litres in the first quarter of 2018 compared to 2,756 million litres for the same period in 2017. Experienced 16% growth in Commercial Base Business propane volumes mainly attributable to large customer wins and favourable weather conditions for propane demand in Ontario. Achieved strong Retail Company C-Store same-store sales growth ("Company C-Store SSSG") of 4.1% across Canada in the first quarter of 2018. This marks the 9th consecutive quarter of positive Company C-Store SSSG at Parkland. The strong Company C-Store SSSG was driven by ongoing marketing programs including implementation of our new On the Run / Marche Express store concepts, the rollout of our proprietary private label brand "59th Street Food Co.", improved merchandising and higher forecourt to backcourt conversion rates. Parkland also saw growth in sustainable higher-margin categories such as beverages, snacks and confectionery. SUPPLY Completed a major maintenance event at the Burnaby Refinery, which began in early February and was completed in the first week of April 2018. Executed supply improvement and optimization initiatives that generated an incremental one-time benefit to Supply Adjusted EBITDA of approximately $30 million. Grew Supply Adjusted EBITDA by 209% in the first quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. The growth was driven by contributions from the Chevron Acquisition, profitable supply sourcing initiatives, improved supply economics in the Base Business, and lower Base Business operating costs. ACQUIRE Parkland exited the Ultramar Acquisition (5) transitional services agreement ("TSA") in April 2018, and is well under way to exit the Chevron Acquisition (5) TSA in late 2018. transitional services agreement ("TSA") in April 2018, and is well under way to exit the Chevron Acquisition TSA in late 2018. As at March 31, 2018, Parkland has completed initiatives that are expected to result in Annual Synergies(6) on the Acquisitions of approximately $44 million for fiscal year 2018. Parkland expects that the Annual Synergies(6) on the Acquisitions will reach approximately $80 million by the end of 2020. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA ($ millions, unless otherwise noted) 2018 2017 For the three months ended Mar 31 Dec 31 Sep 30 June 30 Mar 31 Dec 31 Sep 30 June 30 Financial Summary Sales and operating revenue 3,342 3,369 2,600 1,806 1,785 1,740 1,638 1,570 Adjusted gross profit(1) 430 469 266 168 191 197 171 167 Adjusted EBITDA(1) Retail 69 94 74 38 25 33 41 36 Commercial 38 28 8 5 29 16 4 7 Supply 71 93 25 18 23 34 24 23 Parkland USA 4 4 4 5 3 4 4 3 Corporate (29 ) (21 ) (15 ) (12 ) (10 ) (10 ) (13 ) (13 ) Consolidated 153 198 96 54 70 77 60 56 Net earnings (loss) 20 49 12 (1 ) 22 3 15 5 Per share basic 0.15 0.37 0.10 (0.01 ) 0.23 0.03 0.15 0.05 Per share diluted 0.15 0.37 0.10 (0.01 ) 0.22 0.03 0.15 0.05 Distributable cash flow(2) 29 45 45 23 38 29 28 28 Per share(2)(3) 0.22 0.33 0.35 0.20 0.40 0.30 0.29 0.30 Adjusted distributable cash flow(2) 110 86 64 39 46 43 33 37 Per share(2)(3) 0.84 0.64 0.50 0.35 0.48 0.45 0.35 0.39 Dividends 38 39 38 33 28 28 28 27 Dividends declared per share outstanding 0.2902 0.2886 0.2886 0.2886 0.2852 0.2835 0.2835 0.2835 Dividend payout ratio(2) 131 % 89 % 83 % 146 % 72 % 94 % 99 % 96 % Adjusted dividend payout ratio(2) 35 % 46 % 59 % 84 % 60 % 64 % 83 % 74 % Total assets 5,492 5,412 4,830 4,281 2,469 2,562 2,424 1,834 Shares outstanding (million shares) 132 131 131 130 97 96 96 95 Weighted average number of common shares (million shares) 131 131 131 111 96 96 96 95 Operating Summary Fuel and petroleum product volume (million litres) 4,211 4,432 3,557 2,588 2,756 2,783 2,659 2,536 Fuel and petroleum product adjusted gross profit(1) Retail (cpl) 7.88 8.95 7.10 5.78 5.25 5.39 5.69 5.64 Commercial (cpl) 9.53 8.29 6.71 9.36 13.16 11.47 8.64 10.47 Parkland USA (cpl) 3.65 3.48 2.97 3.31 3.58 3.62 3.26 3.17 Operating costs(4) (cpl) 4.92 4.50 3.40 3.00 3.11 2.93 2.79 2.93 Marketing, general and administrative (cpl) 1.66 1.62 1.37 1.41 1.28 1.39 1.38 1.42 (1) Measure of segment profit. See Section 12 of the MD&A. (2) Non-GAAP financial measure. See Section 12 of the MD&A. (3) Calculated using the weighted average number of common shares. (4) Operating costs (cpl) were restated to conform to current period's presentation in the consolidated statements of income. Specifically, customer finance income, which was formerly presented separately, is now included in operating costs. (5) On June 28, 2017, Parkland acquired the majority of the Canadian business and assets of CST Brands, Inc. (the "Ultramar Acquisition") and on October 1, 2017, Parkland acquired all outstanding shares of Chevron Canada R & M ULC (the "Chevron Acquisition"), (collectively, the Acquisitions). (6) Annual Synergies is an annualized measure and is considered to be forward-looking information. See Section 12 and Section 14 of the MD&A. MD&A AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The Q1 2018 Managements Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) and the interim condensed consolidated financial statements provide a detailed explanation of Parklands operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2018. An English version of these documents will be available online at www.parkland.ca and SEDAR immediately after the results are released by newswire under Parklands profile at www.sedar.com. French Financial Statements and MD&A will be posted to www.parkland.ca and SEDAR as soon as they become available. CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST INFORMATION Parkland will host a webcast and conference call at 6:30 a.m. MDT (8:30 a.m. EDT) on Thursday, May 3, 2018, to discuss the results for the three months ended March 31, 2018. To access the conference call by telephone, dial toll-free 1-844-889-7784 [Conference ID: 1080827]. The webcast slide presentation can be accessed at https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/3mj5y7qp. Please connect and log in approximately 10 minutes before the beginning of the call. The webcast will be available for replay two hours after the conference call ends. It will remain available at the link above for one year and will also be posted to www.parkland.ca. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking information and statements (collectively, forward-looking statements). When used in this news release the words expect, will, could, would, believe, continue, pursue and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this news release contains forward-looking statements with respect to, among other things, signs of growth, business objectives and growth strategies; the strength of Parklands operations and financial condition; sources of growth; anticipated synergies; matters related to TSAs; forecasted crack spreads; supply improvement and optimization and plans and objectives of or involving Parkland. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this news release. Parkland does not undertake any obligations to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements except as required by securities law. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of numerous risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, general economic, market and business conditions; industry capacity; competitive action by other companies; refining and marketing margins; the ability of suppliers to meet commitments; actions by governmental authorities and other regulators including but not limited to increases in taxes or restricted access to markets; changes and developments in environmental and other regulations; and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Parkland. See also the risks and uncertainties described in Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors included in Parklands Annual Information Form dated March 9, 2018 and in Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in the Q1 2018 MD&A, each as filed on SEDAR and available on the Parkland website at www.parkland.ca. Financial Measures This news release refers to certain Non-GAAP financial measures that are not determined in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). Distributable Cash Flow, Distributable Cash Flow per Share, Adjusted Distributable Cash Flow, Adjusted Distributable Cash Flow per Share, Dividend Payout Ratio, Adjusted Dividend Payout Ratio and Adjusted Marketing, General and Administrative expenses are not measures recognized under IFRS and do not have standardized meanings prescribed by IFRS. Management considers these to be important supplemental measures of Parklands performance and believes these measures are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in its industries. See Section 12 of the Q1 2018 MD&A for a discussion of non-GAAP measures and their reconciliations to the nearest applicable IFRS measure. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Gross Profit are measures of segment profit, and Annual Synergies is an annualized measure and is considered to be forward-looking information. See Section 12 of the Q1 2018 MD&A and Note 14 of the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for a reconciliation of these measures of segment profit. Investors are encouraged to evaluate each adjustment and the reasons Parkland considers it appropriate for supplemental analysis. Investors are cautioned, however, that these measures should not be construed as an alternative to net earnings determined in accordance with IFRS as an indication of Parklands performance. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. ABOUT PARKLAND FUEL CORPORATION Parkland is Canada's largest and one of North America's fastest growing independent suppliers and marketers of fuel and petroleum products and a leading convenience store operator. Parkland services customers through three channels: Retail, Commercial and Wholesale. Parkland optimizes its fuel supply across these three channels by operating the Parkland Burnaby Refinery, and leveraging a growing portfolio of supply relationships and storage infrastructure. Parkland provides trusted and locally relevant fuel brands and convenience store offerings, including its On the Run/Marche Express banners, in the communities it serves. Parkland creates value for shareholders by focusing on its proven strategy of growing organically, realizing a supply advantage and acquiring prudently and integrating successfully. At the core of our strategy are our people, as well as our values of safety, integrity, community and respect, which are embraced across our organization. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION Investor Inquiries Dean Morrison Director, Investor Relations 587-887-8339 Dean.Morrison@parkland.ca Media Inquiries Annie Cuerrier Director, Corporate Communications 403-567-2579 Annie.Cuerrier@parkland.ca To sign up for Parkland news alerts, please go to https://goo.gl/mNY2zj or visit www.parkland.ca. TEL AVIV, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As a part of its third annual YPO Innovation Week, YPO will host InnovNation Israel Innovation Experience 2018 in Tel Aviv, Israel, focusing on how leaders are navigating the opportunities and challenges of Israel while highlighting the countrys spirit of innovation. YPO Innovation Week is a series of more than 50 events conducted in over 30 countries throughout the world from 7-11 May 2018, featuring dynamic global innovators who will come together to share best-in-class business strategies as well as timely and relevant insights that are fueling innovation and shaping the future of global business over the next decade. At InnovNation Israel Innovation Experience 2018, innovation and disruption will be the leading themes, honing in on a 360-degree view of a diverse array of innovative business opportunities in Israel. Attendees will experience the latest technologies and advancements in software, including speed rounds at the No.1 research institution outside of the United States Weizmann Institute of Science as well as unique insights on mobility, food, social, humanitarian, clean/ green energy, water, biotech, medical innovation and more. The event will also feature opportunities for leaders to experience new innovation hubs in the Rothschild Boulevard start-up corridor, where many of Tel Aviv's most cutting-edge developments are made and contained amidst world-famous "Bauhaus" landmarks. Israel is known as The Start-Up Nation and this event will provide many unique opportunities for members to look at the future through the eyes of innovators, disrupters and inventors, says InnovNation Co-Chair and YPO member Vered Aharon, Founder of Get & Start Over. The event will showcase top leaders in government, academia, business and technology including: Aharon Aharon, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority Professor Daniel Zajfman, President of the Weizmann Institute of Science Yossi Vardi, High-tech industry pioneer and partner in founding 85+ different ventures, including ICQ Yuval Rabin, President and Chairman of W.T.P. Israel Yuval Shachar, Founder at Innovation Endeavors Dan Shechtman, Philip Tobias Professor of Materials Science at the Technion Israel Institute of Technology and Nobel Prize laureate for chemistry Uri Levine, Co-Founder of Waze Gidi Grinstein, Founder and President of Reut InnovNation II follows in the footsteps of our No.1-rated inaugural immersion last year and features leaders in all areas of disruption unique to Israel as a global leader of research, entrepreneurship and innovation. Members will be exposed to practical solutions for investment in their businesses and in a better tomorrow." says YPO member and InnovNation Co-Chair Nirit Harel, CEO at Impact Manhattan. As a global player in entrepreneurship, R&D and innovation, Israel is a perfect setting to inspire YPO business leaders to take the next steps towards the future. YPO Innovation Week is a global event during which the worlds most innovative companies share their inspiration and insights. YPO Innovation Week is designed for YPO leaders who are responsible for vision, strategy, information and technology who are charged with driving innovation across industries and sectors. Through signature Innovation Week events, live two-way interactive video casts and livestream events, business leaders will learn how to keep pace with innovation trends on a global scale, innovate and disrupt industry practices, nurture and develop value-creating ideas across organizations and positively impact communities, industries and the world. Additional Innovation Week signature events will be held between 7-11 May 2018 in major cities including Sydney, Australia; London, England; New York, New York, USA; Santa Domingo, Dominican Republic; and Silicon Valley, California, USA. For more information, visit the YPO Innovation Week website. ABOUT YPO The premier leadership organization of chief executives in the world. YPO is the global platform for chief executives to engage, learn and grow. YPO members harness the knowledge, influence and trust of the worlds most influential and innovative business leaders to inspire business, personal, family and community impact. Today, YPO empowers more than 25,000 members in more than 130 countries, diversified among industries and types of businesses. Altogether, YPO member-run companies employ 16 million people and generate USD6 trillion in annual revenues. Leadership. Learning. Lifelong. For more information, visit YPO.org. Contact: YPO Linda Fisk Office: +1 972 629 7305 (United States) Mobile: +1 972 207 4298 press@ypo.org SYDNEY, Australia and MINNEAPOLIS, May 02, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medibio Limited (MEB or the Company) (ASX:MEB) (OTCQB:MDBIF), a mental health technology company, is pleased to confirm it has received CE (Conformite Europeenne) Marking certification for its first release technology product and platform. Demonstrating that the product complies with European health and safety standards, the CE Marking was granted on 2 May 2018 (GMT) by DQS Med for Medibios product and platform. The successful introduction of rest of world applications in key countries will provide Medibio with the ability to further commercialize its technology and platform in alignment with our strategic plans for additional product releases. Supported by its technological and scientific platform, Medibios product enables clinicians and individuals to evaluate stress-level phenotypes, combined with dimensional circadian heart-sleep biometrics and physiological biometrics. With the support of Medibios app-based and web-based scientific platforms, this comprehensive system will allow for the non-invasive, comprehensive evaluation and monitoring of mental health. Acquiring CE Marking represents the successful completion of a lengthy and thorough evaluation process, and marks an important threshold for the company. We are pleased to have delivered against this key milestone. Alongside the recent announcement of our corporate mental health product, this accomplishment provides further validation of the product offering and technology, said CEO and Managing Director, Jack Cosentino. We are eager to progress to a new phase, and committed across the organization to deliver exceptional product quality and operational excellence as we work towards transforming mental health care delivery. About Medibio Limited Medibio (ASX:MEB) (OTCQB:MDBIF) is a mental health technology company that has pioneered the use of objective biometrics to assist in the screening, diagnosing, monitoring and management of depression and other mental health conditions. The company offers comprehensive mental health solutions for business through its Corporate Health programs and is developing products to serve both the consumer and regulated healthcare provider markets. The company was founded in Australia, with offices located in Melbourne (Vic), Perth (WA), and U.S. offices in Minneapolis, MN. Medibio is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange Ltd and trades on the OTCQB Venture Market. Investors can find additional information on www.otcmarkets.com and www.asx.com.au. CLEARWATER, Fla., May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Saturday, April 28th, the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization hosted the 2nd Annual Vet 2 Vet Reconnect Military Awards Gala in their historical Fort Harrison located in downtown Clearwater. Two hundred and thirty-five guests showed their support for Vet 2 Vets cause and honored the veterans who were awarded that evening with the Life Time Advocate, Life Time Patriot, and the Life Time Impact Awards for their dedication to our country and community. Left, Left, Left, Right, Left said The AVAST (Assisting Veterans of America Support Team) Color Guard leader as the six veterans presented The Colors, at the opening of the event. The Pledge of Allegiance and the National Anthem followed. Nothing is more important to these dedicated veterans than giving back to their fellow veterans for all their service, said MC Joanie Sigal in her opening speech to welcome the guests. Mrs. Sigal called herself an Army brat as her father and brother served in the military. Mr. Keith Collins, Chairman of Vet 2 Vet Reconnect, U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran, and organizer of the event, spoke about the volunteer services provided by Vet 2 Vet and that its a non-governmental veterans assistance center for all veterans. They are bound together by Glory, Honor, and Commitment, said Mr. Collins. He also announced that the focus for the evening was how women have supported and served in the military in this Year of Women. Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbardthe veteran who directed this hotel be purchased and renovated so all could come back from their own personal battles is why Vet 2 Vets purpose has a definite place in our hearts, said Church of Scientologys Community Affairs Director Dylan Pires as he welcomed the guests to the Fort Harrison on behalf of the Church. Dr. Candice Sabin, co-chair of Vet 2 Vet, told the guests, This is the Year of Women, so we salute those who played a role in safeguarding our country, whether in combat or supporting roles for our Vets after they return home. Dr. Sabins grandfather, father, husband, sons, and grandchild all wore the uniform and she knows how important it is to support those who return from combat. Recipients of the evenings award were: Ben Ritter for the Life Time Advocate Award; Bruce Bayes for the Life Time Impact Award; and Andy Marshal, bearer of two Purple Hearts, for the Life Time Patriot Award. Ladies and gentlemen, we owe more to these people than we can ever repay. They put their lives on the line to ensure you and I have the freedom that we enjoy, said Joanie Sigal as she wrapped up the evening with the Melody of Military Service Branch Song. For more information about holding your own event in the Fort Harrison, please contact Dylan Pires at (727) 467-6860 or email dylanpires@churchofscientology.net. The Fort Harrison Religious Retreat: Since its construction in 1927, the Fort Harrison in Downtown Clearwater has been the home for many community events and charitable organizations. The Fort Harrisons current owner, the Church of Scientology, has hosted over 500 community events there since a top-to-bottom restoration in 2009. The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard, and incorporated in 1954. To learn more, visit www.scientology.org. For More Information Contact: Pat Harney 727-467-6860 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/2c49063e-ffb4-46cd-82dc-00db4947c9e8 Foz do Iguacu, Brazil, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OptDyn, makers of Subutai, the worlds first intelligent Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Cloud computing platform, announced today that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Celtab/PTI. Celtab is one of the research centers of Brazils Itaipu Technological Park, the foundation responsible for promoting scientific, technological, and innovation development linked to Itaipu Binacional, the largest clean energy generator in the world. Celtab performs open software research aiming at innovation and the generation of solutions to meet Itaipu's needs. The MoU advances Itaipus strategy to stimulate rapid expansion of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and Industry 4.0 initiatives in Brazil using OptDyns Subutai Peer-to-Peer Cloud Computing Platform. "Subutai moves the 'Things' from the Internet of Things into the cloud, allowing more control of where the processing of the data is performed," said Jon maddog Hall, CEO of OptDyn. "Setting up a local peer-to-peer cloud allows data latencies to be lower, and lowers the amount of data transfer from the 'Things' to a secure initial processing and filtering point. I have known and worked with PTI for many years and it pleases me to be working with them in my official capacity as CEO of OptDyn, Inc." Industry 4.0 utilizes IIoT to increase automation and productivity, and dramatically reduce costs by using real-time data across systems that are self-optimizing, self-configuring, and responsive to communications, analytics, and insights. Numerous sectors, including utilities, smart factories and manufacturing, supply chain management, government and social services, energy management, and more benefit from Industry 4.0 process and infrastructure efficiencies. KPMG estimates that the component markets of Industry 4.0 will be worth more than US$4T by 2020, and Accenture projects that IIoT could add $14.2T to the economy by 2020. "Jon 'maddog' is one of the world's benchmarks in free software. He's always here for the Latinoware (Latin America Free Software Conference)," said PTI Technical Director, Claudio Issamy Osako, when signing the MoU. "What interests us is the American entrepreneurship logic. From OptDyn, mainly, we expect to transform business starting from open technologies. And this MoU will give us the possibility to apply a hardware and software technology to develop solutions in many areas. The key is not the technology itself, but the results that will come from it. If you develop real solutions for real problems, you develop a market, entrepreneurships, companies...from this MoU, we'll optimize the IoT projects and that's huge for us." "This MoU comes to reinforce a series of actions from Celtab," said Professor Miguel Matrakas, manager of Celtab/PTI, who was also present at the MoU signing. "Weve been working with IoT, we have a lab for this subject and the tool they're offering, which will be on the market in a few months, also works on this theme. With that in mind, we also consider the target audience: private individuals, for those who want some kind of automation level in their homes and also to look for partners, in an endowment exchange. So, who has a low use computer may offer computing services and transform idle machines into a personal income tool." Both Subutai's Open Source P2P Cloud Computing software and the industrial edition of the Subutai Blockchain Router v2.0 provide crucial information exchange and security infrastructure for mission-critical IIoT and Industry 4.0 applications. Subutai's adaptability means that peers dont have to be limited to actual computers or consumer edge devices. With Subutai, peers can also be part of IIoT, and are able to meet a number of stringent requirements such as unfailing control, security, reliability in extreme environments, and the ability to operate with little or no human intervention. The Subutai Blockchain Router v2.0 is a broadband Cloud router and open hardware IoT gateway. The router comes preinstalled with Subutai PeerOS tuned and hardware accelerated, and offers advanced P2P cloud router and IoT gateway functions using the worlds most powerful SoC (system-on-chip), the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC, packed with four 64-bit cores with up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM capacity. The Subutai Blockchain Router's industrial configuration is designed for mission-critical IoT applications, and uses higher grade temperature resistant chips that operate between -40C and 100C. The programmable logic is dedicated to critical IoT security operations. The Blockchain Routers hardware-based IoT security subsystem, combined with its interoperability with PMOD, Arduino, and Raspberry Pi shields has brought it to the forefront of Brazil's national IoT standards as the high-end IoT gateway of the Caninos Loucos project. Using just 18-watts, the Subutai Blockchain Router is eco-friendly and cost-effective a critically important consideration in today's energy-aware environment. Highly adaptive, the Blockchain Router's security and performance-accelerated firmware dynamically changes its configuration and implements mechanisms in response to intrusion detection, usage behavior, and any potential threats encountered. In March 2018, the Subutai Blockchain Router entered production in partnership with LSI-TEC (Laboratorio de Sistemas Integraveis Tecnologico) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dr. Matrakas recently stated that "the Subutai Blockchain Router v2.0 and its industrial configuration provide the crucial hardware security infrastructure needed for IoT applications in the utility sector." The MoU signing took place at Itaipu Technological Park in Foz do Iguacu, Brazil. Professor Claudio Issamy Osako, Technical Director of Celtab/PTI [left] and Jon maddog Hall, OptDyn CEO [right] Photo credit: Kiko Sierich. About Subutai Subutai, the world's first intelligent Peer-to-Peer Cloud computing platform, opens the $760+B Cloud and Internet-of-Things ecosystem through decentralized, self-adaptive, and cost efficient infrastructure that connects end users and devices more effectively along the continuum. Developed by Open Source trailblazers, Subutai disrupts and democratizes the Cloud, allowing users to easily participate in the crypto economy through energy-efficient cryptocurrency mining and frictionless commoditization of idle computing resources. Businesses using Subutai can instantly raise and operate a sharing economy for countless applications using KHAN, its Ethereum blockchain reserve currency token. Subutai is being deployed across the $1.5T global telecommunications and $60B Web Hosting/ISP markets, among many other industries. Visit https://subutai.io/ and https://twitter.com/Subutai_KHAN for more information. About Celtab/PTI - Latin American Center for Open Technologies Open technologies are a powerful Research and Development Tool and potential generator of solutions for the needs of Itaipu Binacional, as well as input for the formation of new enterprises. The free software research is done at the Latin American Center for Open Technologies (Celtab) aiming at innovation. The knowledge of the Center is widespread through partnerships with public, private, academic research, promotion and production institutes. In 2016, Celtab formalized a cooperation deal with Linux Professional Institute LPI, for the development of actions in the region that promote the training of professionals in open source technologies. The initial phase of this partnership seeks to identify, among the region's high schools, institutions seeking to qualify for the Linux Essentials certification, the first one of the professional career. All the qualification process must be associated with an entrepreneurial project, in which the student get to know one or more products in free software that can make up his or her service offer for the region in which he or she is inserted. In the higher education institutions, the goal is to introduce topics of the LPI Certifications, promoting the participation of these students in the offered certifications. For more information, visit https://www.pti.org.br/ About OptDyn, Inc. Founded in 2013, OptDyn is the company behind Subutai, the intelligent platform that brings Open Source Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Cloud computing, Internet of Things (IoT), and cryptocurrency mining for everyone. Unlike many companies whose promises lack a working product backing their claims, Subutai is proven, mature (v6.N), solves real-world problems, and is ready to use today. OptDyn is based in the United States with distributed teams in Europe, Asia, and South America. For more information, visit https://optdyn.com/ and https://twitter.com/optdyn . OptDyn, 2018. "OptDyn", "Subutai" and KHAN are trademarks of OptDyn, Inc. "Subutai PeerOS", "Subutai Bazaar", "Subutai Blockchain-in-a-Box", Subutai Blockchain Router", and "KHAN" are branded products of OptDyn, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. # # # Attachments Colin Milton, 74, of Kimball, died at his home in Kimball on Saturday, April 28, 2018 with all of his children and older grandchildren to wish him on his way with love and affection. Memorial services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in Kimball with Pastor Carla Gunn officiating. Friends may visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Colin's Tribute Wall and leave condolences and stories for the family. Memorials may be given to the Make- A-Wish Foundation. The services for Colin have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home. Colin Milton was born in Bristol, England on February 22, 1944, the son of Gordon and Dulcie (Mills) Milton. He received his early education in England. He moved with his family to the United States when he was 10 years old. They lived in New Jersey and he graduated from high school in 1963. He enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1964. While being stationed at Langley Air Force Base, he worked as an electronic technician on fighter jets. Colin was married to Wanda Hoskin in Denver on March 13, 1964. They lived in Colorado for 45 years and Colin worked as an electrical technician until going to work for the US Postal Service in 1976 as an Information Technologist. He retired in 2005 and moved to Kimball. He loved spending time fixing things and doing electrical work. He enjoyed spending time with his family, fishing and camping and doing any outdoor activities. Colin was a fan of Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and the original Star Trek. Colin became an animal lover, thanks to his children. He loved his German Sheppard dogs, especially Sadie who worked on search and rescue with him and his present dog, Lady. Survivors include his wife Wanda of Kimball, NE; son Daniel (Tristan) Milton of Reed Point, MT; daughters Laura (David) Whelchel of Harrisburg, NE., and Amy (Ian) Maxwell of Englewood, FL; sister Kathleen (Bill) Ketch of Randolph, NJ; 12 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. His parents and daughter Amanda Milton Cronkhite preceded him in death. Larry Wallin, 70, of Kimball, died at his home in Kimball with his family by his side after a 6 year battle with cancer on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 4, 2018 at the Cantrell Funeral Home in Kimball with Pastor Alan Foutz officiating. Burial will be in the Kimball Cemetery. Military graveside honors will be given by Kimball VFW Post #2243. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Thursday from 1:00 until 6:00 p.m., with the family present from 4:00 until 6:00. Friends may visit http://www.cantrellfh.com to view Larrys Tribute Wall and leave condolences and stories for the family. Memorials may be given in his memory to the Pheasants Forever Youth Mentor Program. The services for Larry have been entrusted to the Cantrell Funeral Home. Larry Wallin was born in Sidney, Nebraska on May 27, 1947, the son of Leland and Irene (Steele) Wallin. He grew up in Kimball and attended Kimball Public Schools, he graduated from the Kimball County High School in 1965. He served in the US Navy from September 1968 on the USS Forrestal as a signalman in the Mediterranean Area. He was honorably discharged in May 1970. He married Fran Rasmussen on April 22, 1972, they made their home in Kimball and Jeff and Brad were born to this union. As a young man he worked for many area farmers. Later in life he worked for K-N Energy and owned and operated L.W. Cartage and Laundry and L.W. Service. After closing these businesses, he drove a treater truck for Baker Petrolite, delivering oil field chemicals. Larry was an outdoorsman, and he enjoyed teaching his boys and oldest granddaughter how to hunt and fish properly and safely. He also enjoyed many family camping, hiking and fishing trips to Snowy Range in Wyoming. Fran worked with Relay for Life for 13 years, and Larry did all of the behind scene work for her. The family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to Dr. Vincent Bjorling for his kind and compassionate care over the past year. Survivors include his wife Fran of 46 years; sons Jeff (Rita) and their children Mackayla and Jentry; Brad (Tatiana Cone) and their daughter Anastasia; adopted daughter Jeannie Griggs and family; brother Richard (Pat) Wallin; sister Karen Wheeland; brothers-in-law Dennis (Jan) Rasmussen, Roger (Nancy) Rasmussen; sister-in-law Robyn Rasmussen; aunts Doris Steele. Elvera Varvel and Doris Rasmussen; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents. Outage highlights how vital Facebook has become By May. 03, 2018 Baptist Health Foundation Paducah is taking its Philanthropy Power Hour program to Marshall County for the first time. The free professional development series on philanthropic opportunities will take place from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 10, at CFSB, 221 W. 5th St., in Benton. Guest speakers will be Jennifer Flanary, LPL Registered Representative; Patrick T. Flanary and Riley D. Solomon, LPL Financial Advisor, and Matt Gardner, Regional Vice President, Jackson National Life Distributors, LLC. Space is limited; reservations are required by phoning 270.415.7785. By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 03, 2018 | 07:55 AM | MCCRACKEN COUNTY, KY McCracken County Public Librarys Adult and Digital Services Librarian Aaron Williams has been named a finalist for the 8th Annual NextGen Public Service Award for superior public service and achievement. The Awards are given by GovLoop and Young Government Leaders (YGL) and recognize exemplary public sector leaders for their dedication to improving and invigorating government. This year, more than 225 public servants across the United States were nominated by their peers. A selection committee of current and former government employees selected thirty finalists. Williams was recognized for his efforts in developing the librarys digital toolbox lending program. Williams, in partnership with Kentucky Career Center and West Kentucky Community and Technical Colleges Adult Learning Center, also launched at the library the Adult Career Education (ACE) class series for job seekers. In his work as our librarys Adult and Digital Services librarian, Aaron has demonstrated a dedication to providing excellent, responsive service to a diverse population said Library Director Susan Baier. He has conceptualized and implemented new initiatives that directly impact lives in our community plus better position the library as a key partner in education and workforce development. Williams is a 2009 graduate of Lone Oak High School. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Louisville and a Master of Science in Library Science from the University of Kentucky. The NextGen Public Service Awards Reception will be held on Wednesday, August 8 in Washington, D.C. to kick off the Next Generation of Government Training Summit taking place August 9-10 at the Renaissance DC Hotel. By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 02, 2018 | 08:13 PM | CARLISLE COUNTY, KY A man was arrested Wednesday afternoon on methamphetamine and marijuana charges. The Carlisle County Sheriff Department says deputies received information that Danny Blaylock was hiding at a home on US 51, north of Bardwell. Blaylock had a warrant for his arrest due to a parole violation. Deputies arrived and reportedly detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the home. The tenants gave deputies consent to search the home, and Blaylock was found hiding in a bedroom closet. Deputies also found almost 14 grams of methamphetamine, prescription medication, approximately six grams of marijuana, a cultivated marijuana plant and drug paraphernalia. Deputies say Blaylock admitted that the drugs were his and he was arrested. Blaylock was charged with possession of meth, marijuana, opiates and drug paraphernalia. He was also arrested on a parole violation warrant. He was lodged in the Ballard County Detention Center. By West Kentucky Star Staff May. 03, 2018 | 06:32 AM | GRAVES COUNTY, KY A man was arrested early Thursday morning in Graves County after he apparently stole a tractor and led police on a slow-speed chase. According to the Graves County Sheriff's Office, at approximately 1:30 am, deputies received a report that a farm tractor with no lights or slow-moving emblem was traveling south on KY 303. Deputies initiated their emergency equipment but the man refused to stop. Deputies pursued him for several minutes. The man said he could not shut the tractor off so a deputy got out of his patrol car, jumped on the tractor and killed the engine. The driver was arrested. He initially told deputies his name was Juan Carlos, but police later learned his name was Alex Garcia, and he had just been released from the Graves County Jail. Garcia was charged with fleeing or evading police, wanton endangerment, giving an officer false identification, theft by unlawful taking over $500 and failure to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem. According to deputies, the tractor was stolen overnight from a business on the south side of Mayfield. Esperite's biotech company The Cell Factory, Belgium has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation Programme for development and characterization of the extracellular vesicles (EVs) drug CF-MEV-126 for treatment of stroke. The project is focused on the development of the 2nd generation EVs drug, with enhanced anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities. Amsterdam, The Netherlands -3rd May 2018 The Cell Factory is investigating therapeutic properties of the EVs biologic drugs in the treatment of neurological diseases. Currently, the Company is developing two drug candidates for the treatment of neuroinflammatory diseases, CF-MEV-117 for drug-resistant epilepsy in children and CF-MEV-126 for treatment of stroke. The EU funding will support the development of the new generation EVs drug CF-MEV-126 containing an additional genetic cargo (miRNAs) to enhance their anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. In addition, the funding will allow a better understanding of the EVs mode of action in the treatment of stroke and other neurological diseases. Stroke is the second leading cause of disability in Europe, and 10-35% of these patients die within 28-30 days. Current stroke therapy is very limited and mainly focused on general care and rehabilitation. In the EU 28 countries, the annual cost of stroke is estimated to 27 billion (WHO). The number of stroke events in Europe is projected to rise from 1.1 million in 2000 to 1.5 million per year by 2025 due to the aging population. Most of the stroke injuries are caused by the brain ischemia (87%), and the rest by haemorrhage. Inflammation plays a crucial role in the brain's response to stroke incident. The pathologic processes proceeding the stroke event can be divided into 3 phases: acute (minutes to hours), subacute (hours to days) and chronic (days to months). EVs drug products could target all the phases. However, the most important property of the EVs, when comparing to the cell therapy, is their potential use during the acute phase. The EVs products can be cryo-preserved without cryoprotectants, and therefore they can be used immediately after thawing with no need of washing, centrifugation and viability tests. EVs are also safer when comparing to the MSCs due to their small size and lack of HLA markers (both class I and II). All these properties would make possible to use EVs drugs outside the hospital immediately after the stroke incident. Another advantage of the EVs, when comparing to MSCs and other cell therapies, is their penetration through the blood-brain barrier what is crucial for any effective treatment targeting the central nervous system. An increasing number of studies are focusing on the involvement of microRNAs in the regulation of immune responses. Experimental data suggest that specific microRNAs in MSC-EVs could modulate the expression of inflammation-related genes. In addition, the EVs' miRNA cargo can be modified at the stage of the MSCs culture (before the EVs secretion) or after the EVs release by MSCs. The Cell Factory will use the new generation sequencing (NGS) technology for the analysis of miRNA in the newly established Esperite's genetic laboratory in Niel. Dr. Marcin Jurga, R&D Director at The Cell Factory and the project coordinator, said: "The funding granted to The Cell Factory by the prestigious and competitive the European Union's Horizon 2020 programme confirms the importance of the EVs drugs in the regenerative medicine field. This project will let us progress with the development of the EVs drug for one of the most devastating and incurable diseases. Also, we hope that this project will encourage the pharma industry, investors, and other funding bodies to support the EVs field development." The 2nd generation EVs drugs will be developed using the existing technology of The Cell Factory. The Company is leading the EVs field manufacturing the ultra-pure vesicles according to the GMP guidelines. The Cell Factory has developed a proprietary production process of MSCs and MSC-derived EVs using only fully defined raw materials (ancillary products) during the entire production process. MSCs and EVs are manufactured without animal-derived components, and human-derived undefined components, i.e., serum, undefined serum replacements, plasma, platelet lysates, gelatine, etc. The Cell Factory technology eliminates the risk of product contamination with pathogens, unknown active substances, and external EVs. The Cell Factory production process significantly improves the EVs purity, quality, and batch-to-batch reproducibility. Our company controls the entire production process starting from procurement of the source material (via bio-bank), donor selection, international transport of the biological products (controlled cold-chain), tissue processing, storage (cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen), cell extraction and expansion, EV bioproduction and purification, final product preparation and release. The production process is designed and validated according to GLP/GMP standards and follows the international guidelines dedicated to production and clinical use of biological medicinal products. Stem cells expansion is performed in the most efficient culture systems using 3D microcarrier beads and scalable stirring bioreactor systems. In addition, the closed system can be fully automated and the entire production process (including downstream concentration and filling) can be performed in a lower sterility grade lab environment. The Cell Factory's proprietary closed cell culture system and multi-harvest EVs batch production provide new standards in biologic drugs production and resulting in significant cost reductions without compromising product quality. Ultimately, EVs can be produced at least 10-times more efficiently and cheaper when comparing to allogenic MSCs equivalent. In addition to the EVs production system, The Cell Factory has developed the new method for EVs quantification available for the scientific and biotech community. Current quantification methods do not allow precise enumeration of EVs and EVs quantification is currently one of the most significant challenges in the EVs field. Lack of standardized analytical instruments and methods for the EVs quantification have a considerable impact on the quality and reproducibility of scientific data and clinical translation of the EVs drug candidates. The Cell Factory has developed and validated a new method for EVs quantification using a combination of 3 techniques: nanoparticle tracking (NTA), multiparametric immunophenotyping (FACS) and immunomagnetic cell sorting adopted to EVs particles (MACS). Using our method different EVs can be precisely quantified based on different markers combination, e.g., tetraspanin proteins (CD9, CD63, CD81). This method is not limited however to the tetraspanins, and other markers can be used for detection and quantification of EVs. The method will be presented during the congresses in 2018 and will be published in the peer-review journal soon. We hope that using our quantification method the EVs field will develop faster and bring more quality EVs drug products into the clinic. The Cell Factory is currently developing the EVs biologic drugs for: - CF-MEV-107 for Crohn's disease (drug-resistant perianal fistulae) The Cell Factory is leading a translational project on EVs first in man use in the treatment of Crohn's disease perianal fistulas. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) encompasses a spectrum of conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The most common are Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. IBD is a chronic and often recurring inflammation of the intestines with unknown cause and limited treatment options. In the most severe cases of Crohn's disease, the patients suffer from perianal fistulas that significantly affect normal activity and may lead to complications such an increased risk of cancer and life-threating systemic inflammation. Epidemiology and market estimation: IBD affects approximately 0.5% of the western countries population, and this number is rapidly increasing. There are over 0.5 million people in the US and over 1 million in Europe with Crohn's disease, with over 10 new cases per 100.000 people every year. The annual cost of therapy exceeds 5 billion USD in the US only (CDC). Up to 50% of Crohn's disease patients are affected significantly to treat perianal fistulas, and 75% require surgery (according to CDC) what estimates the potential market size of the CF-MEV-107. The Crohn's disease market was valued at $9.2 billion in 2016 and is set to reach $13.4 billion by 2026, a CAGR of 3.8%. - CF-MEV-117 for Epilepsy (acute and chronic drug-resistant epilepsy) The Cell Factory is developing the MSC-EVs drug candidate for the treatment of untreatable-yet acute and chronic drug-resistant epilepsy. Epilepsy carries significant detrimental effects on the quality of life and can lead to secondary brain damage. The disease can have different etiology, including stroke, brain trauma, and neuro-inflammation. Epidemiology and market estimation: Epilepsy is one of the most common brain diseases affecting about 1 in 100 children under 17-year old according to CDC. The severity of the seizures is variable, and the antiepileptic drugs are effective only in about 2/3 of the patients. CDC estimated annual costs related to epilepsy exceeds 15 billion USD in the United States alone. It is estimated that sales of anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) were approximately $6.1Bn. - CF-MEV-126 for stroke (brain stroke and acute injuries of the central nervous system) Brain stroke is the most devastating neurological disease with no effective therapy available yet. The brain damage could be significantly reduced if anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective treatment is applied immediately after stroke or injury. Esperite is looking for partners to support the development of extracellular vesicle therapeutics. Epidemiology and market estimation: According to WHO, 1 in 6 people will have a stroke during lifetime and 6 million people die because of a stroke every year. Those who survive, very often suffer from severe physical and cognitive impairments due to brain damage following a stroke. CDC estimates the brain stroke-related costs around 34 billion USD every year only in the United States. About the Company: ESPERITE Group (Euronext: ESP), listed at Euronext Amsterdam and Paris, is a leading international company in regenerative and predictive medicine established in 2000. The Cell Factory is a company of ESPERITE Group, focused on innovative drug products development, clinical translation and commercialization using autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and allogenic MSC-derived extracellular vesicles (MSC-EVs). TCF-Biotech goal is a development of the highest quality therapeutic tools for affordable treatment of unmet medical needs. The Cell Factory will hire the geneticist Dr. Gabrielis Kundrotas who will be working on this project. This project focused on development of the EVs drug CF-MEV-126 for treatment of stroke has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 797424. To learn more about ESPERITE Group, or to book an interview with CEO Frederic Amar: +31 575 548 998 - ir@esperite.com or visit the website at www.esperite.com. *** This press release contains inside information as referred to in article 7 paragraph 1 of Regulation (EU) 596/2014 (Market Abuse Regulation). Hamilton, Bermuda, May 3, 2018 Message to shareholders and investors Dear Friends, For some time we have considered to adjust the size of the NAT fleet. Yesterday, we went into the tanker sale and purchase market with the view to selling two vessels, adjusting the fleet from 33 to 31 units. We expect that the sales will take place over the next couple of weeks. From a Far Eastern shipyard, we have 3 newbuildings joining our fleet in early July, end of August and end of October 2018 - 3 vessels in total. The adjustment of our fleet should be seen in this light. The message described above will assist in retaining the flexibility of NAT going forward. Our solid vetting performance, i.e. inspections of the ships by the oil companies continue. We regard our customers together with our shareholders as the main constituencies of NAT. We can assure you that we will prioritize dividend payments as in the past. At the time of this message, there are optimistic views on the tanker market going forward. Best regards, Herbjrn Hansson Chairman & CEO Nordic American Tankers Ltd. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Matters discussed in this press release may constitute forward-looking statements. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts. The Company desires to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and is including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. The words "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "will," "may," "should," "expect," "pending" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, our management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or projections. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including fluctuations in charter rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market, as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and world wide oil consumption and storage, changes in our operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, the market for our vessels, availability of financing and refinancing, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, vessels breakdowns and instances of off-hires and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the prospectus and related prospectus supplement, our Annual Report on Form 20-F, and our reports on Form 6-K. Williamson, WV (25661) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 82F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Considerable cloudiness. Occasional rain showers after midnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. BAD AXE, Mich. and PORT AUSTIN, Mich., May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Michigans Thumb Area, Bad Axe and Port Austin, known for its breath-taking sunrises, miles of pristine beaches located on Lake Huron of the Great Lakes, is rolling out the welcome wagon to industries dependent on water such as the States burgeoning Craft Beer Industry and lawmakers at both the State and Federal Level are chiming in with pro industry laws. Four years ago, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder signed bipartisan legislation that among other things doubled the amount of beer microbrewers may produce from 30,000 barrels per year to 60,000; allows microbrew owners to have interest in five other pubs as long as the annual production does not exceed 18K barrels per year, and finally allows smaller microbrewers who produce less than 1000 barrels per year to distribute directly to retailers under certain conditions. At that time, Michigan had the fifth largest number of brewpubs and microbreweries in the U.S. Now, late last year, Federal Lawmakers passed the Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act which lowers federal excise tax for small and medium size brewers. "According to Carl Osentoski, Huron Regional Development Director, the relatively new water plant built in 2005 and jointly owned by Port Austin and Bad Axe, currently has over 1/2 billion gallons annually of the finest quality H2O in Michigan, available for microbreweries and other industries requiring the highest quality water for their products. Besides the fresh, quality water we have rail for water shipping along with truck and air transportation, labor and land available. We have the resources and infrastructure required by certain industries. Osentoski noted that the area has developed a Huron Regional Water Task Force to help search out potential businesses in these industries. Among the other industries the HRWTF will be targeting are: Microbreweries Distilleries Distilleries Soft Drink Beverage Industry Regional Water Bottlers Green Houses Food Processors for canned vegetables Livestock Industry Other industries that rely on a sustainable supply of high quality water The Great Lakes represent 95 percent of the fresh water supply in the U.S. Lake Huron is the fifth largest freshwater lake in the world and borders Michigan which is shaped like a mitten. The Port Austin/ Bad Axe area is at the tip of the Thumb. Additional information is available at www.thumbwater.com English Danish Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Aarhus, 3 May 2018 Company announcement No. 19/2018 Transactions in connection with share buy-back programme during the period 30 April - 03 May 2018, completing the programme On 12 February 2018, Vestas initiated a share buy-back programme, ref. Company announcement No. 5/2018. The programme is implemented in accordance with Article 5 of Regulation No 596/2014 of the European Parliament and Council of 16 April 2014 (MAR) (the "Safe Harbour rules). The purpose of the programme is to adjust Vestas capital structure and to meet the obligations arising from share based incentive programmes to employees of Vestas. Under the programme, Vestas will buy back shares for an amount up to DKK 1,500m (approx. EUR 200 million) in the period from 12 February 2018 to 03 May 2018. The following transactions have been made under the programme during the period 30 April 03 May 2018: Number of shares Weighted average purchase price, DKK Transaction value, DKK 30 April 2018 35,000 400.00 14,000,102 01 May 2018 31,763 405.23 12,871,241 02 May 2018 22,500 410.60 9,238,595 03 May 2018 35,528 414.30 14,719,094 Accumulated under the programme 3,498,469 428.76 1,499,999,892 Details of all the transactions relating to the share buy-back programme during the period are presented in the attached appendix. The share buy-back programme initiated 12 February 2018 is hereby finalised. Contact details Vestas Wind Systems A/S, Denmark Patrik Setterberg, Vice President Investor Relations Tel: +45 6122 1913 Attachments NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the news release titled "Sabina Gold & Silver Announces Non-Brokered Private Placement Flow Through Financing to Raise Approximately C$6 Million" issued earlier today, we are advised by Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. that the first paragraph, first sentence should read "3,000,000 flow through common shares" rather than "2,000,000 flow through common shares" as originally issued. The complete corrected text follows: Sabina Gold & Silver Corp (the Company) (TSX:SBB) is pleased to announce that it has arranged a non-brokered private placement (the "Financing") pursuant to which it will sell approximately 3,000,000 flow through common shares (the Flow-Through Common Shares) at a price of $2.00 per share to raise gross proceeds of approximately C$6 million. The proceeds from the sale of the Flow-Through Common Shares will be used for exploration on the Companys Back River project. This financing enables us to use flow-through dollars rather than the hard dollars allocated for continued development activities at Back River, said Bruce McLeod, President & CEO. This funding provides for an additional 10,000 meters at Back River to follow up on successes from this years spring program as well as last years program. The Financing is scheduled to close on or about May 15, 2018 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The total gross proceeds from the Financing must be used to incur Canadian exploration expenditures as defined by the Income Tax Act (Canada) by December 31, 2019. Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is well-financed and had approximately C$94.5million in cash and equivalents post-closing a strategic equity investment in January 2018. The Company is an emerging precious metals company with district scale, advanced, high grade gold assets in one of the worlds newest, politically stable mining jurisdictions: Nunavut, Canada. Sabina released a Feasibility Study on its 100% owned Back River Gold Project which presents a project that has been designed on a fit-for purpose basis, with the potential to produce ~200,000 ounces a year for ~11 years with a rapid payback of 2.9 years (see Technical Report for the Initial Project Feasibility Study on the Back River Gold Property, Nunavut, Canada dated October 28, 2015) (the Study). At a US$1,150 gold price and a 0.80 (US$:C$) exchange rate, the Study delivers a potential after tax internal rate of return of approximately 24.2% with an initial CAPEX of $415 million. The Project received its final Project Certificate on December 19, 2017. The Project is now in the final regulatory and licensing phase. The Project received its Social License by signing a long term tenure and Inuit Impact and Benefit Agreement on April 22, 2018. In addition to Back River, Sabina also owns a significant silver royalty on Glencores Hackett River Project. The silver royalty on Hackett Rivers silver production is comprised of 22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all silver produced thereafter. All news releases and further information can be found on the Companys website at www.sabinagoldsilver.com or on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. All technical reports have been filed on www.sedar.com For further information please contact: Nicole Hoeller, Vice-President, Communications: 1 888 648-4218 nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities have not been registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration requirements. Salt Lake City, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following an extensive regionwide search for a new Vice President of Sales, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah is pleased to introduce Doug Boudreaux as the plans top Sales executive. Boudreaux comes to Regence from MountainStar Healthcare where he served as Vice President of Marketing. There, he and his team drove a 17 percent year-over-year improvement in net revenue. Prior to that, he was Regional Director of Sales and Marketing for IASIS Healthcare Corporation, with operational responsibilities spanning Utah, Nevada and Arizona. He also worked for several years for Shriners Hospitals and University of Utah Health Sciences Center. Its exciting to take what Ive learned in my time on the provider side of the health care equation to the payer side, and to be able to do that with Utahs first health insurer, said Boudreaux. Regence has a well-earned reputation for both solidity and innovation. I cant wait to join the sales team that focuses daily on accelerating Regences efforts to build a person-focused and economically sustainable health care system for individuals and organizations of all sizes, Boudreaux added. Doug brings so much enthusiasm and expertise to our team. Hes a proven leader, someone who constantly looks for new and better ways of exceeding the expectations of customers, and understands what it takes to succeed in this time of change in our industry, said Jim Swayze, market president of Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah. Boudreaux received his bachelors degree from Utah State University, and his masters in public health and health services administration from University of Utah. He has also done his part to advance the educational interests of post-secondary business students in the valley for more than a decade and a half, serving as associate instructor and adjunct professor at University of Utah and Salt Lake Community College. His official start date with Regence will be May 21. ABOUT REGENCE BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF UTAH Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah, based in Salt Lake City, is the states first health insurer and now provides more than 527,000 members with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers in Utah and nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit regence.com, facebook.com/regenceutah, or twitter.com/regenceutah. Attachment A PETA video expose of the mohair industry in South Africa the source of more than 50 percent of the worlds mohair prompted several top international retailers, including San Franciscobased Gap Inc., to ban mohair. WiGBits Headline News Would you like to receive our WiGBits? Signup today! WiG Entertainment News Would you like to receive our WiG Entertainment News? Signup today! Digital Issue Would you like to receive our Digital Issue? Signup today! As protests continue to erupt in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and across the world in outrage against the horrific shooting of Jacob Bla Read more CALGARY, Alberta, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gran Tierra Energy Inc. (Gran Tierra) (NYSE American:GTE) (NYSE MKT:GTE) (TSX:GTE) today announces the voting results from its annual meeting of stockholders held on May 2, 2018. Stockholders elected all eight individuals nominated by Gran Tierra. In addition, stockholders voted FOR the ratification of the appointment of KPMG LLP as Gran Tierras independent registered public accounting firm for 2018, and FOR the approval, on an advisory basis, of the compensation of Gran Tierras named executive officers. The detailed results of the vote are as follows: Proposal 1 Election of Directors For Percent Against Percent Abstain Percent Non Votes Peter Dey 234,580,058 92.0 20,225,933 7.9 167,176 0.07 40,955,145 Gary S. Guidry 251,999,810 98.8 2,871,037 1.1 102,320 0.04 40,955,145 Evan Hazell 252,083,779 98.9 2,736,822 1.1 152,566 0.06 40,955,145 Robert B. Hodgins 237,499,122 93.1 17,331,323 6.8 142,722 0.06 40,955,145 Ronald Royal 252,029,571 98.8 2,787,933 1.1 155,663 0.06 40,955,145 Sondra Scott 240,203,256 94.2 14,551,869 5.7 218,042 0.09 40,955,145 David P. Smith 252,073,934 98.9 2,737,113 1.1 162,120 0.06 40,955,145 Brooke Wade 240,119,610 94.2 14,697,548 5.8 156,009 0.06 40,955,145 Proposal 2 For Percent Against Percent Abstain Percent Non Votes Ratification of Appointment of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 293,584,187 99.2 2,227,204 0.8 116,921 0 0 Proposal 3 For Percent Against Percent Abstain Percent Non Votes Approval of Named Executive Officer Compensation 239,450,925 93.9 14,316,273 5.6 1,205,969 0.5 40,995,145 About Gran Tierra Energy Inc. Gran Tierra Energy Inc. together with its subsidiaries is an independent international energy company focused on oil and natural gas exploration and production in Colombia. Gran Tierra's Securities and Exchange Commission filings are available on the Securities and Exchange Commission website at http://www.sec.gov, and Gran Tierras reports filed with the Canadian Securities Administrators are available on SEDAR at http://www.sedar.com. Contact Information For investor and media inquiries please contact: Gary Guidry Chief Executive Officer Ryan Ellson Chief Financial Officer Rodger Trimble Vice President, Investor Relations 403- 265-3221 info@grantierra.com www.grantierra.com War and the Asymmetry of Interests By George Friedman This past weekend, I attended a re-enactment of the Battle of Lexington, the battle that started the American Revolutionary War, in Massachusetts. The pleasure of being with children and grandchildren was my primary motive. But as I watched the superb re-enactment, an obvious question came to mind: Why did the Americans defeat the British, not just at Lexington but in the war itself? The British forces were better armed and better trained, and there were potentially far more of them. On a purely military basis, the British should have won, yet they didnt. A phrase came to mind: asymmetry of interests. The concept of asymmetrical warfare has become commonplace in recent years. It refers to warfare in which different types of technology and tactics confront each other, like improvised explosive devices against armored brigades. Sometimes, the force with what appears to be inferior technology can compel the force with superior technology to withdraw. This is what we see in the American Revolution. We need to consider why. For the Homeland About 56,000 British troops were deployed at the height of the Revolutionary War, supplemented by 30,000 Hessian mercenaries in a kind of coalition. The Americans deployed about 80,000 regular and militia forces. The British forces were far better trained and, most important, had more and better artillery. The Hessians were professional soldiers. The Americans had a core of trained soldiers, but the militia troops were a mixed bag. During the war, 25,000 American troops died in battle or from disease compared to 24,000 British. The British losses were a fraction of the global British force, but for the Americans, this was 5 percent of the free white male population, according to the website Foxtrot Alpha. The British forces were united. The American population was divided. A little less than half of all Americans were committed to the revolution. A fifth were loyal to the British. Thus, both sides were fighting on a terrain in which substantial parts of the population opposed them. The British drew their supplies from Britain, while the Americans had to draw their logistics from the population with some help from the French. When you look at the disparities, the losses and the disunity, the Americans should have lost. It is true that the final battle involved the French fleet, but the Americans stayed intact as a fighting force for eight years to reach that point. So even leaving the French out, the Americans were not defeated. And to keep fighting, the Americans had to absorb tremendous casualties without a decisive break in cohesion and morale. They were able to do it because of the asymmetry of interests. The Americans were fighting for their homeland. Defeat would subordinate the United States to British power for a long time. They had no interests that could compete with the interest to defeat the British. The British, on the other hand, were simultaneously engaged in a struggle with France for domination of Europe and control of the oceans, a contest that would lead to global empire. For the British, the American Revolution was not a matter of indifference, but neither was its outcome decisive in determining Britains place in the world. The British were prepared to deploy a substantial force in North America, but having done that, they went on with their nascent industrial revolution and their global concerns. The amount of time and casualties they could rationally devote to North America had to be seen in the context of broader interests. They could absorb casualties, but the war could not be an absolute imperative. Absolute War World War II is on the other end of the spectrum, a rare war in which all major powers had absolutes at stake. Britain, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union and the United States all faced, or could face, existential consequences from the war. Their interests were symmetrical. It was therefore a war in which no effort was spared by anyone to avoid defeat and attain victory. In a sense, the war, once commenced, ceased to be political. It became a purely military conflict in which anything less than total military and industrial commitment would be irrational. There was precious little political maneuvering once the war got fully underway in 1941. For many Americans, the WWII model, which I will call absolute war, ought to be the model for fighting all wars. Instead, none of the U.S. wars since WWII have been absolute. As a result, since that time the U.S. has been unable to decisively defeat enemies that are militarily inferior. Korea resulted in stalemate. Vietnam resulted in stalemate, withdrawal and the defeat of Americas Vietnamese allies. The wars against jihadists have not resulted in a decisive, positive outcome for the United States. The only conflict since WWII in which the U.S. achieved its strategic goal was Desert Storm, where the Iraqi army was defeated in Kuwait. Many blame strategy or insufficient public support or a host of other reasons for this. There might be truth to all these reasons, but I think the fundamental reason was an asymmetry of interest between opposing forces. Consider Vietnam. Vietnam was on the periphery of American strategic interest. The U.S. was less concerned with Vietnam than with the consequences in the region and elsewhere if North Vietnam were to unite the country under communism. Those consequences were hypothetical even if they occurred, they might not undermine U.S. interests substantially. On the other side, the North Vietnamese were fighting for fundamental national imperatives, chief among them the unification of Vietnam under the ideological and political control of Hanoi. From this, they might control all of Indochina and emerge as a major regional power able to counterbalance China. In other words, the outcome of the wars in Vietnam French and American went to the heart of the North Vietnamese national interest. The wars from the French and American points of view were not insignificant but were still on the margins of national imperatives. The unification of Vietnam under a communist regime was essential to North Vietnam. Blocking North Vietnams ambitions was of interest to the United States, but not an absolute imperative. It was part of a mosaic of interests. The British were not prepared to devote all the resources they had to fighting American rebels. Doing so would have been irrational. Even defeat at the hands of the heavily committed Americans was more palatable than throwing their fleet into battle with the French at that time and place. For the British, there was nothing absolute in North America. It was a political war, not an absolute one. The same has been true of the United States in Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. Thus, only one of these wars was won, while over time, the imperative that led to war dissipated. When Great Powers Lose In a democratic society, sacrificing lives without an absolute commitment to victory is unsavory. All of the wars since World War II have left a bad taste in the mouths of Americans. Sacrificing lives for tactical advantage, rather than for the direct defense of the homeland, is unpalatable. Sacrificing them for tactical advantage that is abandoned over time is worse. Absolute war is moral; political war designed to bring temporary advantage has the air of immorality. In watching the re-enactment of Lexington, I could imagine British planners thinking, We cant abandon North America, but we cant ignore the French, and the French are more important. They must have spent many hours being briefed on the French and far less on the Americans. In due course, since the Americans were prepared to die far out of proportion to the interests of the British, their notional helicopters lifted off their notional embassies and left with their global power surging in spite of defeat. Great powers have multiple interests, and not all interests are the same. That means a global power is prepared to initiate and withdraw from wars without victory, for tactical and political advantage. Over time, paying the cost of the war becomes irrational. Great powers can lose wars in this sense and still see their power surge. Fighting in a war in which your countrys interest is not absolute, and therefore the lives of soldiers are not absolute, is difficult for a democracy to do. In most of the world, the great power will encounter an asymmetry of interest. Those who live there care far more about the outcome of the war than the great power does. And so, the great power withdraws from Syria when the price becomes higher than the prize. Given the string of defeats, it is expected that the great power is in decline. Like Britain after its defeat in North America, it is not in decline. It has simply moved on to more pressing interests. [Update below] The Staten Island woman who killed two children in Park Slope in March when she allegedly drove through a red light has been arrested following an indictment by a Brooklyn grand jury. The charges against 55-year-old Dorothy Bruns include manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, reckless endangerment, assault, and disobeying a red light. On March 5th, two familiesLauren Lew, 34, and her 20-month-old son Joshua, and Ruthie Ann Miles, 34, and her 4-year-old daughter Abigail Blumensteinwere walking on 9th Street near 5th Avenue when investigators say Bruns ran through the red light on 9th Street. Both children were killed. Lew was hurt badly and Miles, a Tony Award-winning actress, was also seriously injured. The Brooklyn Paper obtained security camera footage of the fatal collision: Miles was also seven months pregnant at the time, but according to her Twitter feed, her unborn child was unharmed. According to the Daily News, Bruns, who lives on Staten Island, suffers from multiple sclerosis, and claimed she had a seizure before she ran the light. In January, the Post reports, Bruns went on medical leave from her job. Neighbors told the paper she looked very ill and was slurring her words. As WNYC reported, Bruns has racked up 12 traffic violations since 2016. They include speeding in a school zone and running red lights. Police took her license the day after the crash. In March, Mayor Bill de Blasio called for stiffer penalties on careless drivers from the state Department of Motor Vehicles, and a new law that would require doctors, family members and some others to contact the state if they knew of someone whose medical condition could lead to dangerous driving. "She should never have been allowed to have been driving a car after what we know of these other violations," de Blasio said in March. Bruns is expected to be arraigned in Brooklyn on Thursday afternoon. UPDATE 3 p.m.: According to WNYC, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez says doctors told Bruns not to drive after she had a seizure behind the wheel in January. At the time, she was hospitalized after crashing her car into a parked vehicle. Bruns' attorney didn't respond to a request for comment. Hundreds of California National Guard troops are heading to San Diego Thursday for a new mission said to be part of President Trump's focus on increased safety at the U.S.-Mexico border. Sgt. Brianna Occhino has been around the world with the National Guard, being deployed in places like Italy, Germany and Afghanistan. However, her most recent deployment memo focused on her home state. "Our job is to support the Border Patrol," Occhino said. The 29-year-old started her military career with the Minnesota National Guard in 2007. After her deployment to Afghanistan in 2013, she moved to California and joined the Guard. RELATED: Agreement reached between Gov. Jerry Brown, Trump on California National Guard deployment Occhino is now part of the 143rd HHC, a military police unit out of Ventura County. On April 18, all members of the California National Guard received a call for volunteers, for what would be the first deployment to the California-Mexico border under Gov. Jerry Brown, addressing Trump's plan for increased security. "From what I understand, we are not going to be making any arrests," she said. While Occhino is not heading to San Diego due to an injury, many from her military police unit will be part of the mission. For the last week, around 400 volunteer soldiers from different units and ranks trained at Camp Roberts in Monterey. Occhino could not get into details about troop movements and training, but she did say the note clearly stated that the Guardsmen will not be dealing with any immigration-related arrests or the building of a border wall. "We will not be touching that. We are not authorized to do those kinds of activities," she said. Instead, they will work in a supportive role to the Border Patrol, focusing on patrolling gangs, human trafficking, and drug and weapons smuggling. "Guarding people, or entry control points, or exit control points," she explained. According to the note, the border mission begins Thursday. Many of her fellow soldiers have already made their own ways down to San Diego and El Centro. As with all National Guard missions, the hope is that their service does not jeopardize their lives outside their uniforms, when they return, perhaps in a few months. "You're talking about citizen soldiers," Occhino said. "They have careers, families. They're uprooting their family to go do their job and leaving their jobs for an undetermined amount of time and asking their employers to hold their job for them while they're gone. So it's very difficult although we do enjoy what we do." ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Lawmakers in New York state have approved a bill that will officially remove the terms "policeman" and "fireman" in state law. The Assembly approved a bill Tuesday that would replace the terms with the gender-neutral terms "firefighter" and "police officer." The Daily News reports Democratic Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie says state laws will now reflect that women are an important part of police and fire departments statewide. The measure was approved by the state Senate last month. It will now head to Gov. Andrew Cuomo's desk for a signature. The Democratic governor's spokesman, Rich Azzopardi, says Cuomo will review the bill. ___ Information from: Daily News, http://www.nydailynews.com (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - State lawmakers in New York are taking a closer look at a legislative proposal to give terminally ill people the right to seek life-ending medication from their physician. The Assembly's Health Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the measure Thursday in Manhattan. It comes after a hearing last month in Albany. The proposal now before lawmakers would require two doctors to sign off on the use of life-ending medication. It has been proposed for years but has yet to receive a vote in the Legislature. Seven states and Washington, D.C. already allow people facing a terminal diagnosis to seek a doctor's help in ending their life. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) UTICA, N.Y.-- New York cyclists have a nickname for the area surrounding Utica. "Utica is like a dead zone," Christine Ceely, an avid cyclist said. "The ruts where you find the trees are pulled up, the asphalt." "A lot of the roads in this area are in really bad condition, so to get out on them on a bike is kind of treacherous," Greg Baum, another local cyclist said. State officials are hoping the Empire State Trail program will connect Utica to the rest of New York. The proposal involves an east-west trail from Buffalo to Albany, combined with a north-south trail from Lake Champlain to New York City. Right now, bicyclists must often ride on city streets throughout the Mohawk Valley. Empire State Trail officials are designing more off-road bike paths, in addition to more clearly marked on-road paths that run in between. They are also planning to find funding to rehab existing trails of poorer quality. "Our primary goal right now is to close those gaps by building new off-road trails," Andy Beers, the Empire State Trail director said. "As part of the project, we are inventorying older sections of trail that may have some condition issues, tree roots, other problems that need to be addressed and we're sort of going to be prioritizing those and looking for funding sources over the next three to five years to rehabilitate and remedy any problem situations." State officials fielded questions from the public Wednesday night during a forum on the Utica-Schuyler portion of the trail. This proposed 3.7-mile length will run from Aqua Vino restaurant to Dyke Road, along the canal. One major concern for residents is the trail's proximity to Aqua Vino, as roughly 300 feet will run in front of the restaurant's entrance. "We've got a lot of handicapped people coming in, large buses come in, and they're parked there and just to maintain the ease of access to the restaurant," Steve Clinton, an Aqua Vino employee said. The trail designers plan to designate that 300-foot length a "dismount area," meaning cyclists will be asked to get off their bikes and walk them past the restaurant, rather than ride. "Where cars are coming and going, people are coming and going from the restaurant, we want to avoid any conflicts," Beers said. "The Canal Corporation has had meetings and discussions with the city and with the owners as well. There's very good compliance with signage. People understand it's about safety and so I would expect we'll have good compliance here." Chele Farley, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in New York, announced Thursday that she has been endorsed by Congresswoman Claudia Tenney. Farley, a private equity executive and party fundraiser, is running against U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in the November election. "The DC elites are averse to anyone willing to challenge the status quo," Tenney said in a news release. "Unlike her opponent, Chele Farley actually has a proven record of true accomplishments, as well as the ability to get things done. Kirsten Gillibrand just talks -- lately out of both sides of her mouth. Chele is an inspiration to women who are fed up with Washington. She's taking the fight to the DC establishment and special interests, and she has my full support." Farley has also been endorsed by former Gov. George Pataki and Congressman John Faso, among others. She says shes grateful to have Tenneys support, and her campaign will continue to take its message across New York. Career politician Kirsten Gillibrand has done nothing for upstate families in more than nine years in the U.S. Senate, Farley said in a news release. This November, voters get their chance to remind her that results matter." UTICA The Utica Common Council met Wednesday night to once again talk about term limits. Two proposals were brought up for a vote. One would revert the current 12-year consecutive term limit back to eight years, and the other would bring the term limit to a public referendum. The first proposal was rejected in a 6-3 vote, and the second was rejected in a 7-2 vote. Last fall, the Common Council voted in favor of extending the term limits for the mayor, comptroller, Common Council president and council members from eight years to 12. The second proposal brought up on Wednesday would have given the public the option to vote for term limits, but Councilman Joe Marino explains why that decision will never be made in a public vote. Based on New York State Statute, you cannot adjust term limits for a municipality under any circumstances, said Utica Councilman Joe Marino. You can impose or reject the two ends of the spectrum, but the New York State Conference of Mayors and Lawyers said there's never a possibility where you can adjust or amend term limits for a municipality. It's just a New York State law. The Common Council can make adjustments to the term limits through the City Charter, but New York State Law prohibits the action through public referendum. 1. Fill in your name or an alias. Do not leave blank or use the name 'guest' or 'anonymous'. 2. No Nivul Peh. Profanity will be deleted. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) An organization aiming to tackle pressing humanitarian challenges is getting the community involved in their effort to address mental health. The Lafayette Daybreak Rotary Club is hosting a fundraiser to bring awareness to mental health. The 11th annual A Toast to Mental Health will happen Thursday, May 3 and is open to the public. It's a chance for the rotary club to help raise money for local mental health services. There will be complimentary beer or wine, hors-d'oeuvres, live music and a silent auction. Club member Ken Ritchey said the club has raised more than $300,000 from this event over the past decade. "It has become, I should say, far more than we had ever envisioned," said Ritchey. "When we started out that first year we thought we did a pretty good job, but things have really snowballed from there." There are three organizations that will be receiving donations from this fundraiser. Mental Health America, National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Willow Stone Family Services will all benefit from the night. Ritchey said these organizations provide mental health services, advocacy, and education. "We're just pleased as the Daybreak Rotary Club to be able to be involved with these three mental health organizations." He said the organizations provide a "Wonderful service to our community." A Toast to Mental Health is being held at the Trails Banquet Facility in West Lafayette. Doors open to the public at 5:30 p.m. and tickets are $35 at the door. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) An Indiana couple has donated two Civil War documents signed by Abraham Lincoln to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The library said Wednesday that the documents are passes Lincoln wrote allowing a mother and two sisters to visit prisoners of war at Fort Delaware. The passes are about the size of a business card and have been in the family of Hank and Anna Dowler of Greenwood, Indiana since the end of the Civil War. Anna Dowler says the family "felt these passes were too important to simply keep them locked up in a safe deposit box." She says they decided "they should be given to history." Library officials say they will be added to the institution's Papers of Abraham Lincoln project, which aims to publish Lincoln documents online. TIPPECANOE CO., Ind. (WLFI) More than 70 percent of Lafayette School Corporation students qualify for free and reduced meals, and the number has been increasing in the last year. News 18 takes a look at the free and reduced meal program and how it's made a positive impact in the classroom. About 5,500 LSC students rely on free and reduced lunches in order to eat at school. The corporation saw an increase of 450 students enrolled in the program this year, alone. But teachers from the Greater Lafayette area said it's allowing them to educate more than just students. It's helping them teach parents what resources are available to make sure their families are fed. "It's sad to see the students come in hungry because it's like that's all they focus on," said Woodland Elementary School second grade teacher Jenelle Holmes. "They're not able to focus on learning or be excited about learning." Hunger in the classroom is an unfortunate reality for many teachers in Greater Lafayette. Miami Elementary Kindergarten Teacher Julie Grubb has seen the impact first hand. "We would have kids coming in that would say their stomach hurt or just seemed kind of grouchy," she said. Grubb sometimes asks kids what they had for breakfast. "Sometimes kids would say, 'Nothing' or they'd say random things like Ramen," Grubb explained. But like any caring teacher, Grubb would try to help. "I would scrounge around," Grubb said. "I started bringing snacks for certain kids before we had this program to make sure that if they came in hungry, there was something for them to eat." Since the beginning of the 2017 school year, every LSC student in grades Kindergarten through sixth have been given free breakfast. The corporation qualifies due to the number of students enrolled in the free and reduced meal program. "Every kid doesn't have to walk down to the cafeteria," Grubb said. "Every kid can have breakfast." Grubb said most of her students would have to go without if it wasn't for these federal programs. "If we didn't have these free and reduced lunches I feel like most of these kids would not be getting quality nutritious meals every day," she added. It's a similar story for the Tippecanoe School Corporation. Students are fed breakfast and lunch if they qualify through the free and reduced meal program, but the corporation does not provide free breakfast for all students. Holmes said part of her job is making sure students aren't missing out on the opportunity. "It breaks your heart when you see students or parents who don't know how to get the help they need," said Holmes, She said if she notices a student who is behind on lunch money or not bringing nutritious meals for lunch, it's her job to contact parents about enrolling in the free and reduced meal program. "I think that there are parents who maybe are afraid or don't know who to talk to," Holmes said. "I would just urge those parents to go ask for help because there are lots of resources in this wonderful community." Holmes said she's been able to get many students enrolled just by talking to parents. She said making sure her students have a way to eat is the least she can do. "Their whole life is on us," she added. "We are here to help them and we're here to help their parents." For more information on the free and reduced meal program, click here. SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) The University of Notre Dame plans to build a 180-unit housing complex for married graduate students to replace an off-campus apartment complex that's slated for demolition. The South Bend Tribune reports that the five three-story buildings will become the new home for the university's married and parenting graduate students. The complex is scheduled to be completed in August 2019. The school's recent property acquisitions have allowed officials to move forward with the project. Notre Dame spokesman Dennis Brown says officials are currently negotiating with a developer. The existing University Village apartments that house married students will be demolished. Holladay Properties will turn that site into a mixed-use retail, office and housing development. Graduate students had tried to block demolition. Residents say the apartment complex is a close-knit community. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page FirstEnergy responds to PJM grid reliability findings 03 May 2018 Share A study by US regional transmission organisation (RTO) PJM Interconnection on the effects of the proposed closure of four nuclear units on grid reliability ignores the units' contribution to fuel diversity and zero-carbon emissions, FirstEnergy Solutions (FES) said on 30 April. Beaver Valley (Image: FirstEnergy/NRC) FES has said it will deactivate the Beaver Valley, Davis-Besse and Perry units in Ohio and Pennsylvania unless legislative policy solutions can be found to keep the plants operating. Davis-Besse and Perry, which are in Ohio, are to close by 31 May 2020 and 31 May 2021 respectively, while in Pennsylvania Beaver Valley unit 1 is to close by 31 May 2021 and unit 2 by 31 October 2021. PJM has publicly stated that deactivation of the units is not expected to adversely impact the reliability of its transmission system. However, in a 30 April letter to US Energy Secretary Rick Perry, the RTO said this would require "a combination of remedial measures" to the transmission system to ensure that transmission lines and transformers will not be overloaded on withdrawal of the units. FES president and chief nuclear officer Don Moul said PJM's reliability finding was not a surprise, but it was a disappointment. "The results of the PJM reliability study highlight that their review ignores the value that these units offer the grid in terms of fuel diversity and zero-carbon emissions generation," he said. "The 4048 megawatts of capacity that these plants provide amounts to 14% of Ohio's overall generation capacity and 7% of Pennsylvania's overall generation capacity. That gap will have to be filled overwhelmingly by carbon-fuelled generation," he added. The costs of upgrades to the system to allow it to cope with the loss of the nuclear units would be passed on to consumers in the form of higher electricity bills, he said, noting that PJM "did not provide a dollar estimate" for remediation costs. "We again call on legislative and regulatory officials to work with us on policy solutions to enable our plants to continue to play their critical role in the reliability, fuel-diversity and resilience of our regional grid. When calculating the cost of operating relief for our units, we ask policy makers to do all the math: Factor in the value of zero-carbon emissions for so great a portion of Ohio and Pennsylvania's generation needs, factor in the contributions that our facilities and their employees make to local and regional economies, and factor in the cost of the PJM upgrades that consumers must bear if our capacity is retired," he said. "In mid-2019, we will begin facing decisions on each of these plants as to whether to refuel them or shut them down. Without operating relief, they will be permanently lost." A recent study by the Brattle Group estimated that closure of the plants will raise gross electricity costs for customers by around USD400 million for Ohio, USD285 million for Pennsylvania, and USD1.5 billion across all of PJM, while leading to increased emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollutants. PJM on 30 April announced the next steps in its initiative to ensure future fuel security for electricity generation on its power system, which it says is at the forefront of resilience. PJM CEO and President Andy Ott said the timing of the three-phase study, which will take six months to complete, "is not tied to any one event." "The PJM grid remains reliable even with the resource retirements analysed to date and investment in new, increasingly more efficient gas-powered generation sources," the RTO said. FES is the competitive subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corporation, which in November 2016 announced its intention to withdraw from the competitive electricity market. FES, together with FirstEnergy Nuclear Operating Company, voluntarily filed on 31 March for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with US courts to facilitate a financial restructuring. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics New cracks delay restart of Hunterston B reactor 03 May 2018 Share EDF Energy has announced that Reactor 3 of its Hunterston B nuclear power plant in Scotland, UK, will remain offline while new cracks are investigated in the unit's graphite core. Whilst these cracks are expected as part of the ageing process of the graphite bricks, the latest cracks have appeared quicker than anticipated. Hunterston B (Image: EDF Energy) Hunterston B power plant is a nuclear licensed site operating two Advanced Gas-cooled Reactors (AGRs) - units 3 and 4. The graphite core of each of the reactors is made up of around 6000 graphite bricks - 3000 of these are the graphite bricks containing fuel channels - which are all connected together. The plant began operating in 1976. Cracks have been found in some of the graphite bricks in both reactors 3 and 4 at Hunterston B during the past few years. The Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) said it was informed in March that additional cracks had been found during planned inspections of the graphite bricks that make up the core of unit 3 of Hunterston B. EDF Energy said the inspections "confirmed the expected presence of new keyway root cracks in the reactor core and also identified these happening at a slightly higher rate than modelled". EDF Energy said yesterday, "While Hunterston B Reactor 3 could return to operation from the current outage, it will remain offline while the company works with the regulator to ensure that the longer term safety case reflects the findings of the recent inspections and includes the results obtained from other analysis and modelling." It added, "The operation of other reactors is not affected." "We welcome the decision by EDF to delay the return to service of Reactor 3 at Hunterston B pending further assessment of the significance of the most recently identified keyway root cracks," said Donald Urquhart, Deputy Chief Nuclear Inspector and Director of ONR's Operating Facilities Division. "I view EDF's decision as responsible, conservative, and made in the best interest of public safety." EDF Energy said it expects the reactor to be restarted before the end of this year. "This will result in a reduction in 2018 nuclear output forecast of up to 3 TWh," the company noted. AGR reactors feature a graphite moderator and are cooled using carbon dioxide. The graphite bricks cannot be replaced or repaired during the operating life of the reactors. However, radiation damage changes the shape and size of the crystallites that comprise graphite, a process known as dimensional change, which in turn degrades the mechanical properties of the graphite. For continued operation, it is therefore necessary to demonstrate that the graphite can still perform its intended role irrespective of the degradation. EDF Energy said, "We have been working over many years to fully understand and prepare for these late life changes to the reactor core and regular inspections at all our plants have provided a clear understanding of how the reactor cores age. The longer term safety case will build on work already completed and EDF Energy expects that this will demonstrate that there are large safety margins both now and for the projected reactor lifetime." Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Police in Georgia have released a video of a burglar who used a plastic water bottle wrapping as a disguise on his head. Detectives asked the public for help in identifying the suspect. Police wrote on Twitter: did you ever give any thought to what your disguise was going to be when you decided the life of crime was your bag of water? Well, this guy did! And yes, he used a plastic bag from a package of bottled water. This puts new meaning to the term WaterHead. In all seriousness, this craftily disguised gent decided to burglarize GameStop here in St. Marys last night. Do you know who he is? You can help us catch him, once you stop laughing. Please give our detectives a call at our office. Well be sippin water while we wait. It did not take long for them to receive tips from people who recognized the suspect. He was identified as 22-year-old Kerry Hammond Jr., who is 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs 275 pounds. Police said that he was last seen driving a White Ford Taurus. Officers tracked down and arrested Hammond who was wanted in connection with a burglary of at the St. Marys, GameStop. Hammond was charged with burglary and criminal damage to property in the 2nd degree. In the second part of our YPF Rally Argentina review, we reflect on the events turning point, a lucky escape, a young upstart and an awe-inspiring spectator stat. Turning point Its often the case that remarkable charges up the order are sparked by the red mist descending and Ott Tanak was no exception to that. Visibly angry after a spin during Fridays opening test, he channeled that anger into setting lightning-quick stage times. Nowhere was that more obvious than on SS3 and SS4. He finished both stages more than three seconds ahead of the chasing pack and was only 1sec off Andreas Mikkelsens lead by lunchtime. The rest, as they say, is history. Youll never believe it The Argentine fans are known for being a passionate bunch. They love their rallying. But this year might have been one of the most popular editions of their home event yet. Police estimated almost 100,000 people made the trip into the hills - as early as the Tuesday before the rally - to claim their spot on the famous El Condor stage. Run in reverse for the first time, fans brought their tents and marquees to soak up the WRC atmosphere. Argentine fans crowded the El Condor stage Save of the rally After the event, Teemu Suninen claimed he knew he could use the earth bank on the outside of a right-hander on SS6 to lean on. But judging by how wide-eyed he and co-driver Mikko Markkula were after their near-miss, that might not have been the whole truth. Running too hot into the corner, the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team driver put his Fiesta up on two wheels and it was only the bank that stopped it rolling. Surprise of the rally In his first trip to Argentina, youd expect 17-year-old Kalle Rovanpera to play it relatively safe as he learned the conditions. Thats exactly the opposite to what he did, as the Finn proceeded to claim 11 WRC 2 stage wins against his team-mate and reigning champion Pontus Tidemand. On occasions, his stage times were more than 10 seconds quicker than Tidemands and it was only a crash on SS17 that denied him a memorable WRC 2 victory. Video More News A recent analysis by The Conference Board concluded that Boston and Washington, D.C. are the most likely locations to be chosen by Amazon for its second headquarters. The analysis looked at Amazons recent hiring patterns and current job postings, along with workforce competition from other companies. In addition to a fulfillment center in Fall River, Massachusetts and distribution centers in Dedham and Hyde Park, Amazon employs more than 500 people at its robotics office in North Reading and more than 2,000 software engineers and other higher-paid workers in Boston and Cambridge. According to Bostons HQ2 bid proposal, more than 500 Northeastern University students have completed full-time six-month internships at Amazon during the last five years. This week Amazon announced plans for new offices in Bostons Seaport district, in which 2,000 new jobs related to Alexa technology will be located. The City of Boston has promised a $5 million property tax break and $20 million to improve roadways and bus infrastructure. Many of these jobs will pay more than $150,000 in salary. If Boston is chosen for Amazons second headquarters, the most likely location is the current site of the Suffolk Downs horse track in East Boston, between the working class neighborhood of Orient Heights and the neighboring city of Revere. As part of that bid, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is studying the feasibility of building a connection between its Blue Linewhich has two stops near Suffolk Downsand Red Line, which has stops at Harvard, MIT and UMass Boston. Currently riders have to transfer to a third line in order to get from the Red to the Blue. The estimated cost of this connector is $750 million. Republican Governor Charlie Baker and Democratic Boston Mayor Marty Walsh have refused to say how many billions of dollars in tax incentives will be given to the company. Baker, in comments at the State House, gave Amazon the upper hand: Im not going to speculate about anything but that wherever that conversation goes, depending on what Amazon really has in mind, its going to vary. Instead, the bid proposal contains sycophantic descriptions of the universities in the area. Harvards boasts about its robotics program, its Center for Nanoscale Systems, and its Privacy Tools Project; MITs touts its artificial intelligence and machine learning programs, its Robotics and Internet of Things research, and its Manufacturing USA Institutes; and Suffolk University, which was founded during the Progressive era specifically for working students, boasts about its Center for Entrepreneurship and Start-up Institute. Northeastern University has a Seattle campus that has tailored its educational and research focus around the needs of Seattles employers. The bid boasts that Northeastern is one of only a handful of institutions to be selected to offer an industry boot camp as a pilot member of the Amazon Web Services Academy. Although the bid does not specify dollar amounts, it lists a large number of tax and other incentives: Payment in Lieu of Tax programs, property tax relief, a Workforce Ombudsman to help Amazon recruit workers, and a partnership that would let Amazon use Boston as a laboratory for technologies to enhance smart city advancements. According to the Imagine Boston 2030 web site, affordable housing makes up less than 10 percent of the housing stock in 28 of the 37 cities and towns in Greater Boston. In Somerville, which submitted its own separate bid, apartments in triple-decker buildings rented for $2,100 as recently as 2011. Now they are being turned into million-dollar condominiums. This fever has not yet consumed East Boston and Revere, or the neighboring cities of Chelsea, Everett and Lynn, but 50,000 high-salaried Amazon jobs would cause large rent increases and a rush of condominium conversions. These cities have housed the working class for decades and are home now to a large number of Central American immigrants. In Revere, the average assessed value for a single-family house is $343,500. Assessed values, which are determined by the city for use as a property tax base, are usually significantly lower than the market value of a house. The per capita yearly income in Revere was less than $23,000 in 2015, according to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. In Chelsea the per capita income was less than $17,000, while in Lynn the average assessed value was $273,600 and the per capita income only a little more than $20,200. Plans are already being implemented to gentrify Chelsea. The MBTA began running a Silver Line bus dubbed SL3 Express from Chelsea to the Red Line at South Station in April. For years Chelsea has suffered from inadequate public transportation. That this new line is meant to serve riders with high incomes is demonstrated by the fact that Chelsea and Transit Police will guard the Bellingham Square stop. The Chelsea Record reported in April on the first apartment being built specifically to benefit from this service, with more than 50 market rate units and 13 or 14 others set aside for affordable housing. Under section 40B of the Massachusetts General Laws, new apartment developments must set aside at least 10 percent of units for affordable housing. However, the law defines low-income housing only as any housing subsidized by the federal or state government under any program, meaning that the landlord will simply take money from the government rather than the tenant. The average rent for a studio apartmentusually smaller than 500 square feetin East Boston is $1,861. One-bedroom apartments rent for more than $2,300 on average, and two bedrooms smaller than 1,000 square feet on averagecost nearly $2,900. Citywide, Boston forecasts that the number of nonelderly households making less than $50,000 per year will increase from slightly more than 87,000 in 2010 to slightly less than 97,000 in 2030. In 2013, only 9 percent of rental listings would have been affordable to a household making $50,000 if affordability was defined as 35 percent or less of income. At the time when these statistics were documented in the citys housing plan titled Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030, there were nearly 24,000 households paying more than 50 percent of their income on rent. In addition, according to Zillows Housing Market Overview for Q4 of 2017, nearly 10 percent of Boston area homes with values in the lowest third were suffering from negative equity. The Brookings Institution recently released a study of income inequality in cities and metropolitan areas across the US. It found that in 2016 a salary at the 95th percentile was 10 times that of a worker at the 20th percentile in the Boston metro area, while in Boston proper the ratio was nearly 15 to 1. This latter ratio was the seventh highest in the country. While Massachusetts will go to great expense to impose the Amazon headquarters on East Boston and Revere, it is not providing enough funds to keep the Merrimack Riverwhich runs through the Gateway cities of Lowell, Lawrence and Haverhillclean or safe. Inadequate infrastructure has led to raw sewage overflows during recent rain storms and the river is used for drinking water by many cities. In March a program that would have cost only $370,000 to clean up hypodermic needles from the opioid epidemic was cancelled for lack of funding. Large food factories in Scotland and England face closure over the next few months, threatening thousands with unemployment. The 2 Sisters chicken processing plant in Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire, a suburb of Glasgow, has been a major employer in the town for 55 years and currently employs 450 workers. The plant is set to close in August. Pinneys of Scotlands salmon processing factory in the borders town of Annan, also employs around 450 workers and is due to close later this year. Annans entire population consists of only 10,000 people. Grimsbys Five Star Fish factory, also owned by 2 Sisters, is set to close. The fish processing factory, which received millions of investment only last year, is already in a 45-day consultation prior to closure. Grimsby, in the east central English region of Lincolnshire, despite a drastic collapse of its fishing industry, hosts one of the most concentrated food manufacturing locations in Europe, with over 500 food-related companies in operation, employing thousands of very low paid workers. 2 Sisters is seeking to restore its profits by closing operations deemed loss-making or marginal. The company has also announced the closure of two further plants in Englands West Midlands, at Smethwick and Wolverhampton, at a cost of 500 jobs. Some are likely to be taken on at another company plant, which is moving to more intensive seven-day working. Most of the plants being closed are relatively modern. Workers lives are being turned upside down because of the insatiable global hunger of finance capital for profit, which is driving intense and destructive competition across the food industry. The 2 Sisters plants current owner is Boparan Holdings, the business empire of chicken king Ranjit Singh Boparan. 2 Sisters employs 23,000 workers across 36 factories in the UK, the Netherlands, Ireland and Poland. Boparan Holdings also owns food producers such as Bernard Matthew, Fox Biscuits, and restaurant chains including the Harry Ramsden fish and chip shops. Boparan and his wife are on the Sunday Times rich list, having extracted 544 million of personal wealth from the labour of their workforce. In Britain, the company supplies high street food retailers and supermarkets such as Iceland Frozen Foods, Tesco, Lidl and Marks and Spencer (M&S). One of 2 Sisters major competitors is Youngs Seafood, also based in Grimsby. Youngs is being mooted as a potential replacement supplier to M&S for the products processed by Five Star. Youngs also own the Pinneys plant facing closure in Annan. Youngs, which claims to have been founded in 1805 by a Greenwich fish monger, employs 1,700 workers in Grimsby and 2,000 in Annan, Fraserburgh, and Livingston in Scotland. Work from the companys threatened Annan plant is also likely to move to Grimsby by the end of the year. Youngs claim the Pinneys plant is not "financially viable." Youngs has just been put up for sale in its entirety by the clutch of management funds that control itLion Capital, Bain Capital and HPS Investment Partners. London-based Lion Capital, with 4.8 billion in assets worldwide but just 30 staff, specialises in buying and selling brand name food and clothing companies. Lions current portfolio includes American Apparel, Paige, Kettle, Weetabix, and Findus foods, among others. Boston-based Bain Capitals assets are worth as much as $75 billion. As well as controlling a range of venture capital, public and private equity, insurance, and debt-based funds, the companys venture fund owns a wide range of disparate operations in healthcare, tech and consumer products. While Bain are considering selling Youngs Seafood, they also have a finger in bankrupt toy retailer ToysRUs, while its proposed $18 billion takeover of Japanese Toshiba Memory is being compromised by US President Donald Trumps anti-Chinese protectionism. HPS, formerly Highbridge Principal Strategies, has over the past eight years invested up to $13 billion in 175 companies. It also has a stake in ToysRUs among many other companies. Spun off last year from JP Morgan Asset Management, HPS claims $39 billion of assets under its control. The bewildering global reach of both 2 Sisters and Youngs Seafoods ownership and organisation stands in stark contrast to the extraordinarily narrow focus of those claiming to be defending workers interests in the threatened factories. Local and national politicians and trade union representatives in Cambuslang, Annan, Grimsby and Wolverhampton promised initiatives, campaigns, representations and blusterall based on appeals to 2 Sisters, Youngs and other companies to marginally alter their plans based on retaining whichever site they claim to represent. The Scottish National Partys MSP (member of the Scottish parliament) Clare Haughey promised to write to one of 2 Sisters local rivals in Cambuslang, Uddingston-based Dawnfresh, suggesting they take on 2 Sisters workers if Dawnfresh wins the M&S contract. The Labour Partys James Kelly demanded that instead of a working group, a full taskforce be set up to help 2 Sisters workers. Kelly also complained M&S had failed to step in and save workers serving on their production lines. In Annan, where the closure will be particularly devastating, Scottish Enterprise Minister Paul Wheelhouse insisted he would leave no stone unturned in efforts to retain jobs. Local Labour MSP Colin Smyth again invoked M&S, complaining that M&S have walked away from any corporate responsibility. Labours recently elected leader in Scotland, Richard Leonard, proposed workers be offered the chance to organise their own exploitation. He called for legislation to allow redundant workers preferential terms to buy out their threatened factories, thereby pitting their small savings against the likes of Bain Capital. The Unite trade union has members in all the threatened factories. Far from launching a struggle to save jobs, it is above all seeking to prevent any unified struggle emerging from the factory workers. Complementing the role of the politicians, the unions representatives have worked closely with the local factory managements and dignitaries to defend their region as an investment base. Grimsbys Dave Monaghan, speaking for Unite, blandly admitted that the Five Star closure had been expected for two years and comes as no surprise. Indeed, Unite had two years warning and made no preparation. Scott Walker, the Unite convenor in Cambuslang, demanded nothing more from 2 Sisters management than an extension of the consultation period. In Annan, faced with mass meetings of workers concerned for their and their towns future, regional Unite organiser Andy MacFarlane presented his efforts as wholly framed by the companys interests. I dont think anybodys going to kid anybody on that there arent major challenges in terms of the business decisions that have been made by Youngs, he said, sounding the part of a company spokesman. The closures expose the bankruptcy of all the mainstream parties and trade unions claiming to speak for the factory workers. New rank-and-file workers organisations, independent of all the official parties and trade unions, are urgently required. They are posed the task of developing a struggle to subordinate the food industry to the needs of the working population, rather than the profit drive of the global investment corporations. The new budget presented by the Social Democratic Finance Minister Olaf Scholz was discussed yesterday by the cabinet. It is characterized by two things: it maintains the notorious black zero (balanced budget) of his predecessor, Christian Democrat Wolfgang Schauble, which has made Germany one of the most unequal European countries, and it massively increases defence spending to pave the way for an aggressive foreign and great power policy. While there is supposedly no money for comprehensive social programmes, well-paid jobs, secure pensions and decent medical care, defence spending next year alone is set to rise from today's 38.93 to 42.25 billion euros. By the end of the 2021 legislative period, an increase of 5.5 billion euros is planned. This will continue the turnaround in the financing of the Bundeswehr (Armed Forces), according to the Ministry of Finance. The Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD) signed the coalition agreement, which included raising defence spending to two percent of gross domestic product by 2024, however, this is not preceding quickly enough for sections of the ruling class. The Ministry of Defence said it was indeed a significant increase, but the estimated amount was still insufficient given the huge catch-up and modernization needs of the army. According to a report by tabloid Bild am Sonntag, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (CDU) is calling for the defence budget to be increased by as much as 12 billion over the next legislative period. If there was not significantly more money next year, the minister sees the billion-euro arms projects in danger, which the grand coalition has already decided. For this reason, the Bundeswehr Association is calling for an increase of the defence budget by 15 billion euros by 2021. No matter what sum emerges at the end of the negotiations, it will be the largest German rearmament campaign since that of Hitler's Wehrmacht in the 1930s. Only a few days ago, the Bild newspaper published the defence minister's secret order list, containing 18 major orders, each exceeding the 25 million euro hurdle. These include combat drones, helicopters, mobile command posts, rocket launchers and articulated vehicles for transporting weapon systems. At the weekends Berlin ILA air show, von der Leyen announced more billion-euro arms projects. In cooperation with France, Germany wanted to develop a new generation of fighter aircraft, set to launch in 2035. At the same time, both countries wanted to jointly develop the next generation of armoured land combat systems over the next fifteen years, and a joint maritime reconnaissance craft to monitor large sea areas. Such joint projects were about optimally using the respective strengths of the industries of both countries. In Germany, these are the same arms manufacturers responsible for re-arming the German military before the two devastating world wars in the 20th century. Business daily Handelsblatt appeared last Thursday with the front-page headline, New billions for tanks: The era of military disarmament seems over. The armaments company Krauss-Maffei Wegmann expects large orders from all over Europe. In an accompanying interview, Kraus-Maffei's boss Frank Haun provides an insight into the massive projects being prepared behind the backs of the population. Asked what the Bundeswehr needed for its operations, he answers: Just to fulfil its obligations in the Alliance, Germany needs a new fully equipped mechanized division by 2027 and two more by 2032. That's nine mechanized brigades. And in terms of the planned tank upgrade, he calculates, Let's say: 5,000 new battle tanks are needed in the next 20 to 30 years ... 5,000 new tanks times 15 million euros, that's 75 billion. And if I talk about howitzers, that's nearly another 40 billion. Four years after the German government announced the end of foreign policy restraint at the 2014 Munich Security Conference, there can be no doubt that the ruling class is again turning to war in order to pursue its geo-strategic and economic interests worldwide. At the joint press conference with President Donald Trump last Friday, Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) emphasized, We are growing out of a role in which for many years after the Second World War, Germany was happy if it did not get involved too much because we had done so much harm through the Nazi era. But this time of post-war order is over, the war is more than 70 years ago, and we also have to learn to be more responsible as Germans. Her government was proud that Germany today is the second largest troop contributor in NATO. We have taken important steps, and we will have to continue with these steps. When conflicts occur on our doorstep, we cannot rely on others stepping in and that we will not have to contribute. The German contribution would therefore have to grow in the next few years, and that also has to do with military involvement. Germany must learn to play its role as a large and economically successful country. There is widespread anger among workers at the General Motors Lordstown Assembly Complex as well as in the broader community over the impending layoff of 1,500 workers at the factory being carried out with the connivance of the United Auto Workers. GM is laying off an entire shift in June at the plant that builds the Chevrolet Cruze compact car. At the same time, under terms of a Competitive Operating Agreement signed by the UAW, GM is hiring low-paid workers at its subsidiary GM Subsystems to work in the plant to replace jobs done by veteran workers. The announcement sparked outrage among workers at the Lordstown plant, who recognize it as a move by management and the UAW to drive out better-paid senior workers and bring in lower paid temporary workers with few if any rights. An article posted by the World Socialist Web Site exposing the agreement has been read by tens of thousands of workers. Workers warmly greeted a World Socialist Web Site reporting team that visited the Lordstown plant on Tuesday. Many workers were eager to take the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter and discuss the layoffs. Workers expressed disgust with the UAW, saying they had been lied to and kept in the dark about the layoffs. The union and the company are working together, said one worker. You have a conflict of interest. We all know its not right. Ive got 34 years and I cant even hold the second shift. Thats because of the Delphi transfer. (Workers who had worked at the former GM Delphi division lost their seniority along with other benefits when they transferred to GM.) Thats another thing our union really screwed us out of that deal coming over here. There are a lot of things we lost. He continued, Stand up here on the sidewalk, everyone needs to see this. My faith in the UAW International is lacking to say the least. Another worker said, I worked here for 20 years and Im just on the bubble. Ill just miss getting laid off. Im one of the last of the Mohicans. The UAW is desperately trying to deflect workers anger, falsely claiming the union executives did not realize the agreement they signed with GM would allow the company to bring in lower paid subcontract workers while senior employees were on layoff. In another diversion, UAW Local 1112 officials filed a protest over managements decision to bring in 800 fenders from Mexico due to the breakdown of a stamping press. The breakdown caused the shutdown of the second shift at the East Plant on Friday. The protest is thoroughly reactionary and is in line with the continuing attempts by the UAW to scapegoat workers in Mexico and other countries for the destruction of jobs caused as a result of the workings of capitalist system. For decades, the UAW has promoted Buy American chauvinism to justify its collaboration with the auto bosses and block the international unification of autoworkers against the global corporations. In fact, the UAW supports the decision by GM to axe hundreds of jobs and bring in low-wage replacement workers, insisting that workers bear whatever sacrifices are necessary to make GM and other US automakers competitive, i.e., profitable. Lordstown workers contacted by the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reported that, as part of the deal signed by the UAW, GM plans to bring back laid off workers as subcontractors to take over logistics jobs currently performed by senior GM workers earning standard pay and benefits. To add insult to injury, senior workers being replaced must train their replacements. These older workers will be forced back onto assembly line jobs with the aim of driving them out of the plant. Tina, a 23-year veteran, told the Autoworker Newsletter, They want workers making $30 an hour or more out the door. They are bringing in people making $15 an hour. After they take out union dues, medical deductions and 401k, they will be making minimum wage. My daughters boyfriend has been a temporary worker for years. Nothing is protecting them. The company does what it wants with the union. I am angry at the CEOs and the officials in the union. They dont get cut. If we go down to $15 they will still be making their full pay. GM workers should reject the claim that there is no alternative to layoffs and launch a fight for the defense of all jobs. Workers are not responsible for the vagaries of the capitalist market and should not be made to bear the cost. Instead of layoffs, workers should demand the introduction of a 30-hour workweek at no loss in pay. UAW officials and management will claim this is impossible, but the resources exist in abundance to provide a job and a decent income to every worker. The latest job cuts take place under conditions where GM is raking in massive profits, $2.6 billion in the first quarter of 2018 alone. After collecting a windfall of cash from Trumps corporate tax cuts, GM has awarded massive dividends to stockholders and carried out a multi-billion-dollar stock buyback to further drive up the value of the shares held by its corporate executives and richest investors. To carry out this fight requires a rebellion against the pro-company UAW. Workers should elect rank-and-file committees to unite all workersfirst- and second-tier, temporary part-time and contract workersto organize a struggle against the layoffs and defend the right of all workers to secure and good paying jobs. These committees should reach out to autoworkers at Ford, Fiat Chrysler and other autoworkers throughout the US, as well as other sections of workers, including teachers, who have launched a rebellion in defense of education and against their own unions, the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association. Workers must reject the nationalist poison spewed out by the UAW and link arms with their brother workers overseas in a common struggle against the transnational corporations. Such as fight will win enormous popular support. The GM layoffs will have a devastating effect, not just on Lordstown workers, but on workers in the entire surrounding Mahoning Valley, which has suffered decades of deindustrialization that has impoverished large sections of the working class. Already several auto parts suppliers in area have announced impending layoffs, including Source Providers, 150 jobs, and Lordstown Seating Systems, 83 jobs. WSWS Autoworker Newsletter reporters spoke to workers in the city of Warren adjacent to Lordstown about the layoffs. Warren has a median income of just over $30,000 annually compared to $52,000 for the state of Ohio. Nearby Youngstown, once a steelmaking center, had a poverty rate in 2017 of 38 percent according to the US Census Bureau. Many were shocked when they heard that the UAW had signed off not only on the job cuts, but the hiring of low-wage replacements. They're supposed to be representing them, one worker said. If I was them, I would go on strike. Workers also spoke about the depressed economic conditions in the area. GM is one of the only main employers in the area, a mother told WSWS reporters at a local grocery. It's a poor neighborhood, there's not much out here. She told reporters her husband works odd jobs to support their family. Unemployment, housing, it's just bad here in Ohio, a retired truck driver said. There's nowhere to prosper, and companies are leaving Warren. I don't see any improvement here. Workers interested in carrying out this fight should contact the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter for support and assistance in the fight to build rank-and-file committees. On April 23, the office of the public prosecutor of the central Mexican state of Jalisco announced that three film students who were kidnapped on March 19 in the Guadalajara suburb of Tonala were killed and then had their bodies dissolved in vats of acid by members of the Nueva Generacion drug cartel. The college studentsSalomon Aceves Gastelum, 25, from Mexicali, Baja California Norte; Jesus Daniel Diaz, 20, from Los Cabos, Baja California Sur; and Marco Avalos, 20 from Tepic, Nayarithad been working on a film project in a house formerly occupied by the rival cartel. When the students left the house, Nueva Cartel members dressed as local police grabbed them in the street at gunpoint. The students were taken to a farm where they were interrogated, tortured and then killed. One week before the film students were kidnapped, the Mexican army seized the weapons of 700 local police in Tlaquepaque, the Guadalajara suburb bordering Tonala, due to alleged infiltration by drug gangs. The Tonala incident is only the latest in a series of disappearances and killings of workers, youth, newspaper reporters and politicians, many of them involving federal and state police and the army acting in collusion with criminal gangs. During the government of current president Enrique Pena Nieto, more than100,000 homicides have occurred in just under six years. Three-thousand people disappeared from Jalisco state in the year 2017 alone, and more than 200,000 were killed since the war on narcotrafficking began 11 years ago under the previous president, Felipe Calderon. On April 22, the day before Jalisco authorities revealed the horrific demise of the three Guadalajara film students, the five official candidates for president in the July electionAndres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) of the National Movement for Regeneration (Morena), Ricardo Anaya of the National Action Party (the PAN), Jose Antonio Meade, of the Pena Nietos Institutional Revolution Party (the PRI), and two independent non-party candidates, Margarita Zavala (the wife of former PAN president Calderon), and Jaime Rodriguez Calderon (el Bronco)held their first debate in Mexico City. The two topics for debate were precisely the violence and lack of security in the country, and the related wholesale corruption of the government, police and military. Despite the involvement of the police and armed forces in massacres, repression and cover-ups, four of the five candidates glorified the military, pointing to bulking up the police and military as the solution. One of the candidates, el Bronco, called for a military presence in the nations high schools, and even cutting off the hands of delinquentswhether thieves or corrupt officials was unclear (I am serious, he said). Despite being questioned as to why Mexicans have lost faith in the ruling establishment, no candidate made mention of the three recently disappeared film students, or of any other crimes that have triggered angry protests across Mexico. Lopez Obrador, well ahead in the polls so far, made a perfunctory connection between increasing violence and the rising levels of poverty and youth unemployment, a position that was rejected by all the others. El Bronco demanded the abolition of social programs for the poor, and Zavala accused AMLO of criminalizing the poor. However, rather than putting forward any serious proposals for the elimination of the poverty that underlies the resort to crime, Lopez Obrador instead repeated over and over the main theme of his campaign, his promise to cleanse corruption from top to bottom, like sweeping a staircase. There is no gang that steals so much as corrupt officials, he said, robbing the government budget of billions of dollars a year. Along these same lines, Lopez Obrador was the only one to take up a question by the debate moderators as to why the massive corruption scandal involving the Brazilian conglomerate Odebrecht, which has dethroned politicians throughout the Americas, has had few consequences in Mexico. He said that things are not clarified because senior officials are involveda reference to president Pena Nietos involvement in the scandal. Lopez Obrador demagogically called for constituting a popular convention, to which Pope Francis would be invited, to discuss how to deal with the drug cartels. Mexicos economic and social crisisthe most protracted since the Mexican revolution a century agowas otherwise scarcely touched on by the candidates. Terms such as the working class, peasantry, and inequality were never used. Only passing references were made about the conditions facing indigenous communities (by Zavala), and to those in extreme poverty (by Meade), but no policy recommendations or demands were put forward. Also notably absent in the debate were the effects on poverty and drug dealing arising from Mexico being under the boot of US imperialism, its massive arming of the Mexican military and federal police, the Trump administrations military and intelligence collaboration with Mexico over policing Mexicos northern and southern borders, and the US turning away and deportation of poor immigrants, thereby feeding poverty, drug trafficking and violence. Nothing was said in the debate that would give the Mexican population reason to believe that it will not be business as usual regardless of which candidate wins in July. In the meantime, protests of the governments involvement in and failure to reduce mass violence will continue. Last week, hundreds of Mexican workers and youth marched in Guadalajara and other cities to protest the kidnapping and murder of the three film students. The marchers chanted, It is all of us, not just three! and demanded an end to the disappearances and killings. Mothers of other disappeared youth spoke to the protesters. Students interviewed by the Spanish daily El Pais talked about the levels of violence and insecurity that they face every day. When a vehicle stops in front of you, said one student, you do not know if it belongs to the police or organized crime. At the protests, many chanted No al carpetazo! (No to the cover-up!). One group of students carried a banner alluding to the 43 disappeared Ayotzinapa students. Students also demanded the resignation of Jaliscos governor, Aristoteles Sandoval. Entire families from nearby neighborhoods spontaneously joined in the protest. Two New York University (NYU) students were arrested last Friday while protesting an event in Washington Square Park celebrating the founding of the State of Israel. The pro-Israel event Rave in the Park, organized by the NYU student group Realize Israel, brought a crowd of over 100 students and youth dressed in Israeli nationalist garb to the park for a dance party commemorating a regime currently carrying out a massacre of Palestinians on the Gaza border. The two detained students were part of a counter-event, Rally for Palestinian Right of Return, organized by NYU Students for Justice in Palestine as well as other student organizations at NYU, Columbia University and City University of New York (CUNY) Hunter. According to the student publication NYU Local, one student who allegedly set an Israeli flag on fire was charged with reckless endangerment and resisting arrest, while the other student who allegedly stole and vandalized an Israeli flag was charged with assault, disorderly conduct, robbery and criminal mischief. Both students were detained overnight and released the following day. Realize Israel posted a response to these events on their Facebook page, reading: We acknowledge that these protesters have strong opinions and we respect and encourage free speech and peaceful protest. However, we condemn in the strongest terms the violent actions perpetrated by the two individuals, which have no place at our university. This statement aligns closely with the state of Israels response to the March of Return, the ongoing six-week demonstration along the border of Gaza to protest the 11-year-long illegal and inhumane blockade by Israel and Egypt. The Palestinian demonstration will continue until May 15, the day after Israels Independence Day, also recognized as Nakba (Catastrophe) Day, commemorating the quarter million Palestinians displaced in order to establish Israel in 1948. At NYU, Zionist student leaders accept and validate the police arrest of those students who raise questions about the Israeli states ongoing disregard for the democratic rights of the Palestinian people. In Israel, by announcing that the March of Return in Gaza is not peaceful protestbut rather terrorism, which necessitates deadly military force to guard the countrys borders and protect its sovereigntythe government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepts and validates the massacre of blockaded Palestinians, with the current death toll up to 44 and over 6,000 reported injured by Gazas Ministry of Health. Realize Israel went on to explain that the student group is not political at its core, while their self-described mission on their Facebook page is to strengthen and promote support of Israel throughout the greater NYU community. One cannotblindly or intentionallysupport a country without supporting the countys politics. Student Khalid Abudawas, who is acting president of NYU Students for Justice in Palestine, was interviewed by NYU Local. The event was to show them that we are not going to stand by idly while people blindly support the state of Israel, he said, nor are we going to allow them to freely practice and celebrate Zionism, while people are dying, especially at this time. We have family who are being affected by Israeli imperialism and Israeli colonialism and we have family members who have died because of it. It is also of note that NYU Students for Justice in Palestine faced censorship on Facebook after creating their public counter-rally event. The organization posted: We are highly disturbed that this event is being censored by Facebook. When you search for our event, all that comes up is the Rave in the Park, which we are protesting. This claim was confirmed by other Facebook users commenting on the post who encountered the same problem. Facebook recently spelled out their new policy on security and fake news (meaning oppositional viewpoints): We dont remove false news from Facebook but instead, significantly reduce its distribution by showing it lower in the News Feed. This censorship, implemented in secret and without user feedback, apparently extends to hiding events in search results as well. In a statement released on Monday, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) at NYU said: The rally had been organized by NYU Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) in opposition to a Rave in the Park by the Zionist student group Realize Israel on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the founding of Israel. While Realize Israel insists that it is an organization celebrating Israeli culture, the rave, taking place as it did amidst the massacre of dozens of peaceful Gaza protesters by the Israeli state, was politically highly provocative. Against this background, the arrests by the NYPD were an act of state repression, aimed at propping up the pro-Zionist event, and at intimidating all those opposed to the crimes committed by the Israeli state with the full support of US imperialism. While the IYSSE at NYU denounces the arrests as an act of state repression and an assault on free speech, we must also state and clarify our political differences with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, which SJP supports. The perspective of the BDS is politically bankrupt and ultimately serves to reinforce the ethnic and religious divisions in the Middle East. Dismissing the Israeli working class as inherently reactionary, and rejecting any progressive role for either the Palestinian or Israeli working class, the BDS campaign instead orients to lobbying American imperialism into overseeing a settlement between the Israeli government and the Palestinian bourgeoisie. Such a compromise can only come at the expense of both Israeli and Palestinian workers and will fail to resolve any of the outstanding crimes and injustices. Against this perspective we counterpose that of the revolutionary, historic role of the working class and we insist on fighting for its independence and unity across religious and nationalist lines in the fight for a socialist Middle East. Nurses, health care assistants and midwives at New Zealand public hospitals began voting on April 23 on a proposal to hold two 24-hour nationwide strikes in July. The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is dragging the ballot out over four weeks, with the result to be announced at the end of May. It follows protracted negotiations, which began in mid-2017 over a new pay agreement for 27,000 NZNO members. The members have twice rejected a 2 percent offer, advanced by the union in December and March, which would not have kept pace with soaring costs for housing, petrol and food. Health workers pay has effectively been frozen for the past decade, as part of austerity measures imposed by the former National Party government and supported by the entire political establishment, following the 2008 global financial crisis. The health system remains severely underfunded, despite promises to address the crisis by the new Labour Party-led coalition government, installed last October. Workers are determined, however, to continue their fight for decent wages and conditions. Thousands attended rallies called by the NZNO last month and are planning to join more nationwide protests on May 12. Many have called for a strike. The union bureaucracy, however, is desperately seeking to prevent any sustained political and industrial campaign against the Labour government. There has been no national nurses strike since 1989. For decades, the union has suppressed resistance to the running down of the health system under successive governments. NZNO representatives are continuing negotiations with government and District Health Board representatives as part of a so-called independent panel. Union spokesperson Cee Payne told the Nursing Review on April 20 that a strike was a last resort if a new agreement could not be reached. While the panels recommendations are non-binding, the article noted that NZNO is pencilling in possible face-to-face ratification meetings for June if the bargaining team decides the new offer could meet members pay and safe staffing concerns. The union leadership has repeatedly refused to put forward a specific pay claim or other demands, such as staffing levels, leaving everything open to negotiation. Many health workers have demanded an increase of 20 percent or more, strongly criticising the NZNO on the Facebook page New Zealand, please hear our voice. On April 18, one contributor, Warwick, said the union should listen to their members serve them and not dictate to them what their outcomes are going to be. Bernadette wrote: Quite frankly I am fed up with NZNO telling me what I should be thinking, how I should vote. In another thread, Paula commented: NZNO do not care about nurses, they are remote from reality and only concerned with themselves. Barbara, a retired nurse, described the NZNO as out of touch, adding: For the sake of public health in NZ, you need to look at retiring the tired old NZNO and forming a new union. The union is fervently promoting the Labour government. Its Facebook page recently celebrated pregnant Prime Minister Jacinda Arderns recent visit to Britain and her meeting with the royal family. When a commenter asked how this was relevant to the nurses struggle, a NZNO spokesperson replied: As a 93% female profession and with the continuation of gender inequity in the workplace, having a female leader who is pregnant is for many a welcome sign of progress. In fact, the prime minister inhabits a different universe from the entire working class, male and female. Her salary is $471,000, about 10 times the starting salary for a registered nurse. The government is refusing to keep its election promise to adequately fund the health system. While Labour and its coalition partners oppose any increase in corporate tax, Treasury estimates that at least $14 billion will be required for new hospitals and upgrades to existing facilities over the next 10 years, while the government has only committed $10 billion. Moreover, Health Minister David Clark said last weekend that the Labour Partys promise to cut the cost of visiting a doctor by $10 would be delayed, without specifying by how long. Asked whether nurses should receive pay equity with similar male-dominated professions that are more highly paid, Clark replied: They should be getting pay equity, but there is a process to work out how we do that. He went on to indicate that this was not a priority in the governments current three-year term. When a link to the ministers interview was shared on New Zealand, please hear our voice, Trish responded angrily: What process? Why doesnt he be honest and say the money isnt budgeted for? Youre not fooling anyone David Clark! Marie declared: His comment is why the strike will happen!! Kal agreed, stating: Watch how many nurses and midwives walk out after this budget. We have been waiting a long time. Around 24 hours later, the link and all comments were deleted, following the deletion, by group administrators, of several critical posts, and of links to World Socialist Web Site articles. The stifling of political discussion on the Facebook page is only assisting the union to impose another rotten sellout. The two administrators, who call themselves Nurse Florence, told Nursing Review on April 19, we are supportive of the unions activities [and] have very similar goals. The fight for decent wages and conditions can only proceed in a rebellion against the pro-capitalist unions and the entire political establishment. The Socialist Equality Group calls on all health workers to organise workplace and regional rank-and-file committees, which they control independently of the union. These committees should reach out to transport workers and other sections of the working class, in New Zealand and internationally, to build the broadest possible industrial and political movement against austerity. The fight for a high-quality public healthcare system requires a socialist perspective, including the nationalisation of the banks and major corporations under the control of the working class, huge increases in the taxation of the super-rich, and an end to the criminal waste of billions of dollars on militarism and war. The author also recommends: Union seeks to derail New Zealand nurses struggle [18 April 2018] New Zealand rail union rams through pro-company collective agreement [26 April 2018] Thousands of students and workers marched on the capital of Puerto Rico on May Day to protest brutal austerity measures, widespread public school closures, pro-corporate labor reforms and other right-wing government policies. Despite reports of largely peaceful demonstrations, the protesters were viciously attacked by police with tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and night sticks. Scores of people were injured. The police violence has gone largely unreported in US media. Rather, most accounts make note of the 15 police injuries claimed by the US territorial islands law enforcement officers. Images and footage of scenes from the day broadcast on social media by workers and youth reveal a very different story. Dozens of posts and videos show gruesome scenes of overwhelming force used by police. One video posted to a student-run Twitter account called Pulso Estudiantil shows police officers chasing down and arresting two students in a residential community in the capital. The unarmed students are pursued by over 50 armed officers as well as members from a special arrest force. The police forcibly enter a residence, overrunning those inside the gates not involved in the protest. One of the woman students is forced to the ground, surrounded by at least a dozen officers. After a few minutes she is carried away in handcuffs by police. (Video) Other clips show brigades of officers marching through the streets in military fashion, seemingly patrolling peaceful neighborhoods. Shouts of Fuera, Fuera (out, out), can be heard in the background. (Video) Dozens of other posts show photos of bloodied protesters who were beaten by police, with many arrested. Some individuals reported that police entered their homes to attack them. (Photo) The march involved thousands of people and was held in conjunction with a one day, island-wide general strike. In the capital of San Juan, one section of the march stretched completely across a 1,000-foot bridge that connects Condado to Old San Juan. As planned, multiple marches converged in the financial district in San Juan, where together they proceeded towards the Seaborne Building, home to the despised Financial Oversight Board (FOMB), which is tasked with overseeing the looting of pensions and austerity measures against the working class and poor. The FOMB is a cabal of representatives of banks and corporate interests organized into an unelected seven-member board that commands complete control over all financial decisions on the island. It was instituted by the Obama administration to secure bond holder payments from the $74 billion of debt currently plaguing the island. The most recent fiscal plan drawn up by the board includes cutting pensions for public service workers by 10 percent, eliminating mandatory Christmas bonuses, reducing vacation and sick time, passing new legislation allowing business to fire employees without having to prove just cause, closing 280 more public schools, and privatizing the electric utility PREPA. The implementation of these measures are a matter of life and death for thousands of workers. Economists are predicting that the poverty rate on the island of 3.3 million people could increase from 45 percent to more than 60 percent if these measures are implemented. The police began their assault when the protesters began their procession towards the building of the FOMB. The attack was meant to send a clear message: every measure in the arsenal of the ruling class will be used to defend its financial interests, including physical violence. There is no shortage of anger or willingness to fight among the Puerto Rican working class. Like workers throughout the US, workers in Puerto Rico have endured decades of attacks on living conditions and social services. In addition to serving as a major base of operations for the US military, the islands economy has been driven into the ground to provide cheap labor and a tax haven for US-based multinational corporations. The result of these policies is some of the most extreme levels of poverty in the US, massive unemployment and social services starved of resources. This situation was drastically exacerbated when Hurricane Maria hit the island last September. Now, eight months since the hurricane, over 30,000 residents still lack power, with blackouts occurring regularly. Just last month, an excavator downed a power line that caused an island-wide blackout. The US Federal Emergence Management Agency (FEMA) has approved less than half of the 1.1 million applications for assistance since the hurricane. Over 2,700 families remain in FEMA-sponsored short-term housing. Almost half the schools are still only functioning at 60 percent classroom capacity. Nearly 40,000 students have left Puerto Ricos schools since May 2017, either dropping out or starting school on the mainland. These conditions have led to the needless death of thousands of workers and to the suffering of millions more. The financial scheming of the banks and corporations created a massive debt crisis that has enriched a handful of bankers and corporate CEOs. Barclays, which led the bond deal that directly created the debt, profited from the scheming to the tune of $500 million; Banco Santander received $99 million; JPMorgan, $74 million; Morgan Stanley, $24 million; among others. Now, the FOMB is demanding that the workers pay the price. The lies propounded by both Democrats and Republicans, and supported by the parties of the Puerto Rican ruling class, that there is no money is insulting in the face of these numbers. It would take only a fraction of the money hoarded by the top .01 percent of the population to rebuild the islands electrical grid, fund education, restore pensions and address the growing mental health crisis. While these attacks were carried out at the behest of giant corporations and banks, workers and youth should have no illusions in the local government, including of the current governor, Ricardo Rossello, who is nothing more than a stooge of Wall Street. Speaking at the governors mansion after the protests, Governor Rossello held up a rock he claimed had been thrown at police by protesters and proclaimed, Freedom of expression cannot come at the expense of people's safety and well being. He made no mention of the safety of the thousands of people who are living without power or running water, or of the thousands of retirees who will not be able to afford housing or food with the cuts to their pensions, or of the hundreds of families who lost loved ones after the hurricane because of the lack of resources. This kind of violence damages the good name of Puerto Rico he lamented, making clear where his interests lay. He went on to claim that the police had no choice but to act after a small group of agitators hurled rocks and bottles at them. The March 25 Kemerovo fire, which took the lives of at least 60 people, 41 of them children, has shocked and angered people in Russia and throughout the world. It was not an accident, but a social crime, committed by the oligarchy that has ruled Russia since the destruction of the USSR in 1991. The tragedy has, in many ways, brought to the fore the social relations shaping Russian society amid an ongoing war campaign by the imperialist powers against Russia that threatens humanity with nuclear annihilation. The growing international and economic instability, which has already led to an upsurge in working class struggles in the US, Northern Africa, Iran and Europe, will also bring the Russian working class back onto the scene. However, there is no way forward for the working class without a conscious assimilation of the lessons of betrayals of Stalinism and the criminal character of capitalist restoration, which have created the conditions for both the Kemerovo Tragedy and the imperialist encirclement of Russia. This series will review the lessons of the miners strike of the late 1980s, which was centered on the Kuzbass region, the results of capitalist restoration and the alternative put forward by the Trotskyist movement, the International Committee of the Fourth International. What happened to the miners strike? The Kuzbass, where the fire occurred, has historically been one of the politically and economically most important working class regions in Russia. It was here that, almost 30 years ago, in 1989, a massive, union-wide strike of coal miners was launched. The strike came at the height of the perestroika policy that had been announced four years earlier by Mikhail Gorbachev, the secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU). Hailed by Western governments and petty-bourgeois left forces alike, it signified an open embrace of capitalist restorationist policies by the Soviet bureaucracy. The International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) was the only political force at that time warning the working class of where the Soviet bureaucracy was headed. In one of the many statements that the ICFI published at that time, David North, the current chairman of the international editorial board of the WSWS, stated: Gorbachevs policy consists essentially of two interrelated components. Within the USSR, the bureaucracy has sought to expand its social base by encouraging the growth of a new bourgeois strata within the cities and countryside based on the restoration of private property. Internationally, Gorbachev has moved to integrate the Soviet economy into the capitalist world market. The bureaucracy is seeking to undermine the socialist tendencies within the Soviet economy, while politically weakening the position of the proletariat. Taken as a whole, the program of Gorbachev is directed toward the political, economic and social liquidation of all that remains of the conquests of the October Revolution. [1] This prognosis was based on the analysis of Stalinism and the USSR by Leon Trotsky, who had led the October Revolution together with Lenin in 1917 and, after the Lenins death, became the main opponent of the Stalinist bureaucracy in the 1920s and 1930s, and the founder of the Fourth International in 1938. From 1924 onward, under conditions of a protracted international isolation of the Russian Revolution, the Stalinist faction of the Communist Party advanced the nationalist program of socialism in one country, which attacked the very programmatic foundations of the October Revolutionthat of international socialism and permanent revolution. The nationalist reaction to the revolution by the Stalinist bureaucracy culminated in the 1930s in the genocidal murder of the leadership of the October Revolution, the Trotskyist Left Opposition and tens of thousands of Communists and Marxist intellectuals. Explaining the transitional and contradictory character of the USSR, the Transitional Program of the Fourth International, authored by Trotsky, stated: The Soviet Union emerged from the October Revolution as a workers state. State ownership of the means of production, a necessary prerequisite to socialist development, opened up the possibility of rapid growth of the productive forces. But the apparatus of the workers state underwent a complete degeneration at the same time: it was transformed from a weapon of the working class into a weapon of bureaucratic violence against the working class and more and more a weapon for the sabotage of the countrys economy. The bureaucratization of a backward and isolated workers state and the transformation of the bureaucracy into an all-powerful privileged caste constitute the most convincing refutationnot only theoretically but this time practicallyof the theory of socialism in one country. The USSR embodies terrific contradictions. But it still remains a degenerated workers state. Such is the social diagnosis. The political prognosis has an alternative character: either the bureaucracy, becoming ever more the organ of the world bourgeoisie in the workers state, will overthrow the new forms of property and plunge the country back to capitalism; or the working class will crush the bureaucracy and open the way to socialism. [2] These contradictions were massively intensified by the globalization of production, particularly from 1980 onward, which threw into crisis all nationally based bureaucracies, be it the Stalinist bureaucracies in the USSR and Eastern Europe, or the trade unions in Western Europe and the US. In one way or another, the Soviet Union, and the Stalinist-ruled countries in Eastern Europe, had to be integrated into the world economy: either through the destruction of the USSR and the restoration of capitalism by the bureaucracy, which would transform itself into a new ruling class, or by the working class overthrowing the bureaucracy in a political revolution and extending the October Revolution of 1917 to the countries of Western Europe and the United States. Mikhail Gorbachev in 1987 The Soviet bureaucracy, facing growing pressure from both the working class and imperialism, concocted a major conspiracy to reintroduce capitalism and resolve this crisis in its own interests. This drive to restoration was dramatically accelerated through the eruption of major working class struggles in Poland in the early 1980s under the leadership of the trade union Solidarity. Starting in 1982 under the leadership of Yuri Andropov, the hangman-in-chief of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution, the Politburo (PB) took concrete steps toward preparing the all-out restoration of capitalism. Economic institutes, specialists and sociologists were asked by the PB to prepare reports on possible ways to restore capitalism. Economic experiments were conducted with increasing frequency. Yuri Andropov with Wojciech Jaruzelski, the general secretary of the Polish United Workers Party, in December 1981, after the proclamation of martial law in Poland In a secret session in April 1984, all members of the PB, which was then headed by Konstantin Chernenko, agreed on the Concept, which outlined the basics of the program of perestroika and included policiesincluding the gradual lifting of the state monopoly of foreign trade and the permission of cooperatives and individual economic activitythat were not introduced until 1986-1988. The text of this Concept was distributed only to members and candidates of the PB, the secretaries of the Central Committee and first secretaries of the Party, and chairmen of the Councils of Ministers of the Union Republics, as well as three to five other people. In other words, capitalist restoration, later clothed in vague terms like perestroika (rebuilding in Russian) and glasnost (transparency or openness), was a criminal conspiracy by the Stalinist bureaucracy. [3] However, while the bureaucracy was pushing rapidly to advance its solution to the crisis, the working class started rebelling against it. The outbreak of the miners strike in 1989 was a confirmation of the Trotskyist movements analysis of the irreconcilable conflict between the interests of the working class and those of the bureaucracy. It was not a coincidence that this massive strike movement was launched by and centered among the coal miners. The coal mining industry had been critical to Soviet industrialization. The Kuznetsk Basin (short: Kuzbass) in southwest Siberia had been a central energy source for the Soviet economy since the mid-1920s. Under Stalins first five-year plan in the 1930s, the region was heavily industrialized, with mining towns and cities being constructed at a breathtaking pace and at a large human cost. Virtually all the regions major cities and mining centers were built as part of Soviet industrialization: the local capital Kemerovo emerged from the autonomous industrial colony of the Kuzbass, which was formed in 1921 with the aim of developing the local coal industry, resorting, in particular, to the help of highly skilled American workers who, for this purpose and at Lenins invitation, emigrated to the USSR. Novokuznetsk and many other formerly small towns or assemblies of villages became full-blown industrial cities in the 1930s. Wartime production and the evacuation of entire factories and significant sections of workers from European Russia to Siberia during the Nazi war onslaught against the Soviet Union further accelerated the industrialization of the region. The Kuzbass remained, after the Donbass in what is now Ukraine, the most important coal region of the USSR. It was also the only mining region where high-quality coal was produced that could be sold on the world market, upon which the Soviet economy became increasingly dependent. Kuzbass Autonomous Industrial Colony seal Miners remained one of the most critical sections of the working class throughout the post-war decades and formed the backbone of the Soviet economy. Yet while relatively highly paid, the miners suffered dire working and living conditions. In addition to the generally widespread food and soap shortages, they were exposed to catastrophic hygiene and unsafe conditions at their workplaces. According to official data, 365,000 miners were waiting for flats in 1989 and 67,000 children from miners families had no nursery school places. The average life expectancy was far below the national average due to the dangerous working conditions and heavy environmental pollution. During perestroika, bonuses for workers were cut back and the deliveries of food and essential supplies fell. Workplace accidents, many of them deadly, were a constant occurrence and the mines were known as the second front. In January 1989, the Kremlin ordered that mines should switch to self-financing (khozrashchet). As a result, the price received by a mine for one ton of extracted coal was roughly half of the extraction costs. The majority of mines were quickly running at a loss, and many were threatened with closures. Coal miners responded with several wildcat strikes in the winter and spring of 1989. In July, the scattered strikes reached a new dimension, spreading from the mono-town Mezhdurechensk (July 10) to the entire Kuzbass, the Donbass in Ukrainethen the Soviet Unions most important coal mining regionand Karaganda in Kazakhstan. The immediate trigger for the walk-out in Mezhdurechensk was the lack of soap available to the miners. It was the largest working class struggle the Soviet Union had seen in decades, and it shook the Soviet bureaucracy to the core. A resolution by the regional committee (obkom) in April 1989 warned against those who would like to turn democratization into indiscipline, lawlessness and general license. In particular, this is shown by the refusal of workers to work, taking place in enterprises in Kemerovo, Novokuznetsk, Mezhdurechensk, Osinniki, Kiselevsk. Party members were banned from participation in strikes under the threat of immediate expulsion. [4] A few weeks later, the secretary of the regional party committee, Aleksandr Melnikov, warned the Central Committee of the seriousness of the situation. The political crisis was also underscored by the shattering defeat most party nominees suffered in the vote for peoples deputies of the USSR in March 1989. The Kuzbass strike was the first Soviet strike in decades to take place above grounda particularly courageous and militant step, given that one of the last major demonstrations against the Stalinist regime in Novocherkassk in 1962 had been put down by the military in a horrific bloodbath that Soviet workers remembered all too well. (The deployment of the military against the striking miners was, in fact, also briefly discussed in Moscow in 1989, but dismissed quickly by Gorbachev as a viable option for resolving the crisis.) Yet despite the militancy and courage of the miners, the strike not only ended in defeat but was subordinated to the bureaucracy and its accelerating drive toward capitalist restoration. How could this happen? Reflecting both the economic grievances of workers and the widespread hatred of the bureaucracy, the demands of the strikers included the establishment of a general holiday and pay and pension increases, as well as the abolition of privileges of the administration and party apparatus on all levels of our state. The demands also included economic independence for the individual mines. However, this demand had initially not been put forward by the workers. It was pushed by the city and regional committeesthat is, the local bureaucracywhich, in correspondence with the prevailing ideology of perestroika, told the workers that independence of the mines and more concessions to the market economy would provide the solution to their social and economic grievances. Simon Clarke, who wrote a detailed account of the strike, explained: As soon as the strikes moved outside the individual mines, the local authorities very quickly hitched their interests to the strike movement, cautiously aiding, if not supporting, the miners and adding their own demands to those of the miners for presentation to Moscow. The result was that the diverse grievances of the miners were swiftly swept aside, to be subsumed under the one central demand that the mines should be switched to full financial independence, on the basis of an increase in the price of coal, although this had not figured in the original demands of the workers. [5] The committees worked closely with the local administration and quickly took over many of the functions of the local soviets, including the distribution of goods. For the leaders of the strike, the committees (not only in Kuzbass) became the stepping stone to a lucrative political or commercial career. [6] The strike was called off after a few weeks. The Kremlin agreed to grant the mines independence and made limited concessions to the economic demands of the minersmost of which were never met. The argument that the miners protested for capitalist restoration, thus, is a vicious slander. It covers up for what was a criminal conspiracy of sections of the Stalinist bureaucracy, the Pabloites and the trade unions, which were working hand in glove with US imperialism, acting through the AFL-CIO, to gain control over the strike, disorient the workers and channel their movement behind support for the Yeltsin faction of the Kremlin, which was then pushing for a more aggressive pursuit of restoration. This cannot be understood without taking into account the lasting and profound impact of decades of Stalinism, which had disoriented the workers and destroyed the leadership of the October Revolution and the Soviet Left Opposition. Moreover, the Soviet working class remained isolated from the program of Trotskyism, through the combined impact of Stalinism and revisionist tendencies within the Fourth International, especially Pabloism. As a result, the political confusion among the Soviet workers was so deep that the bureaucracy and layers of the petty bourgeoisie were able to push through their agenda on the backs and at the expense of the working class. The AFL-CIO intervenes US imperialism welcomed the restorationist efforts of the Stalinist bureaucracy and rushed to intervene in the evolving process in order to secure the interests of the US bourgeoisie. The main front organization for the State Department and CIA was the AFL-CIO. Starting in 1988, the AFL-CIO provided a substantial amount of funding for the NPG (Independent Miners Union), as well as other so-called independent trade unions that supported the Yeltsin faction in the power struggle in Moscow against the faction around Gorbachev. The NPG was formed in the wake of the defeated miners strike of 1989. From the very beginning, the US, through the AFL-CIO, as well as layers of the bureaucracy, sought to subordinate its leadership to their interests. Even before the formation of the NPG, several trade unionists from the workers councils active in the miners strike had been invited to the United States, where they met with representatives from the State Department and the AFL-CIO. The first congress of the union was financed by the Soviet coal ministry. Richard Wilson, the director of programs for the Free Trade Union Institute, was present from the AFL-CIO. A visit by Richard Wilson and the secretary-treasurer of the United Mine Workers, John Banovic, to the Soviet Union in 1990 helped prepare not only the founding conference of the NPG but also the setting up of the Partners in Economic Reform (PIER) project. The PIER brought together the US coal industry association, the UMWA, the US governments Mine Safety Administration, the Russian coal ministry, and the independent coal miners union, and the NPG in a joint effort to restructure the Soviet coal industry. The FTUI described the goals of the PIER as providing technical assistance and promoting US investment in order to revitalize these coal regions, and to provide a model for other sectors of the Soviet economy in terms of adapting to a market economic system. [7] Support for Yeltsins radical reform program, later known as the shock therapy, stood at the center of the NPGs agenda. The NPG itself worked as a combination of business entity and police force among the miners. It threw its support behind Yeltsin, as well as the World Bank and the US-funded Coal Project, and their restructuring program for the coal industry, which resulted in mass closures of mines and lay-offs. Anatoly Malykhin, one of the leaders of the NPG, who started demanding the resignation of Gorbachev in 1990 on behalf of the miners who had initially put forward only economic demands, became the representative of President Yeltsin in the Kemerova oblast, while his ally from the NPG, Mikhail Kisliuk, was made governor of the oblast until he was succeeded in 1997 by Aman Tuleeev. The role of the Pabloites Neither the AFL-CIO nor the Stalinist bureaucracy could have played the role that they did had it not been for the avid and conscious support provided by the Pabloite revisionists. This tendency had emerged within the Fourth International after the end of World War II, and advocated the liquidation of the Trotskyist movement into the existing bureaucracies that dominated the workers movement. With regard to the Soviet Union, the Pabloites argued that, instead of preparing the working class for a political revolution to overthrow the bureaucracy, the Fourth International had to work to pressure presumably reformist sections of the Stalinist bureaucracy to reform socialism in the USSR. In essence, they were counterrevolutionary enemies of the Trotskyist program, opposed to the toppling of the bureaucracy in the USSR and of the bourgeoisie in the US and Western Europe. From the very beginning, the orthodox Trotskyists described and fought the Pabloites, who destroyed entire sections of the Fourth International, as petty-bourgeois agents of imperialism within the revolutionary movement. This description was fully born out in their role as a handmaiden for imperialism and the Stalinist bureaucracy in their destruction of the Soviet Union. Under the guise of pressuring the reformist faction of the bureaucracy, the Pabloites in the West, and their agents in the Soviet Union, supported first Gorbachevs perestroika and then the Yeltsin faction of the bureaucracy and its shock therapy. This was the official line of the Pabloite International Secretariat, which advanced this counterrevolutionary line while posturing as Trotskyist. In the GDR (German Democratic Republic), the head of the International Secretariat, Ernest Mandel, sided fully with the Stalinist bureaucracy, which was heading toward all-out capitalist restoration. Mandel went so far as to denounce the struggle undertaken by the German section of the ICFI, then called the Bund Sozialistischer Arbeiter (BSA), to orient workers in the GDR toward a political revolution against the bureaucracy as an illegitimate intervention of outside provocateurs. The Pabloites also intervened directly in favor of the process of capitalist restoration in the USSR. In the Soviet Union, they established ties to the so called informal movement. The informals which spread throughout Soviet cities during perestroika included representatives of various petty-bourgeois left tendencies (above all the left socialists, anarchists, and environmental activists), liberals as well as far-right nationalists and monarchists. The anarchist author Alexander Shubin, who was an active participant in the informal movement, indicated in his book about it that various Trotskyists, meaning Pabloites, played a central role in establishing contacts between these left socialists like Kagarlitsky, Grigory Pelman and liberal dissidents like Gleb Pavlovsky (who later became an advisor to Putin and is now working for the US imperialist think tank Carnegie Foundation), people they oftentimes had already known for years. They were involved in the establishment of the Club of Social Initiatives (CSI), which was formed in 1986, and essentially functioned as a think tank for capitalist restoration. The CSI emerged out of a group of informals that gathered at the apartment of the influential dissident Mikhail Gefter, where they had discussions with Andrei Sakharov, Len Karpinsky as well as Yuri Afanasiev, who was a consultant to Alexander Yakovlev, a member of the Politburo who pushed for the most radical reforms to reintroduce capitalism. Sections of this circle aligned with a circle headed by Boris Kagarlitsky, which included Mikhail Maliutin, a candidate for the Central Committee of the CPSU. Together, they formed the CSI, an organization they consciously modeled after the Polish Workers Defence Committee (Komitet Obrony Robotnikow, KOR). Formed by left wing radical intellectuals amid an upsurge of working class struggles in the 1970s, the KOR played a central role in politically disorienting the mass working class movement of the Solidarity union in the 1980s, channeling it, with the full support of the Pabloites, into a pro-capitalist direction. Precisely this function of the KOR was what the perestroika lefts sought to emulate, in a perhaps more open and crasser form. The CSI organized public discussions with the sociologist Tatiana Zaslavskaya, who had co-written the reform program for Gorbachev. The CSI also closely collaborated with the club Perestroika, where many of the leading shock therapy economists of the early 1990s (Yegor Gaidar, Anatoly Chubais, and others) gathered. It supported the cooperative-movement, the first privately owned enterprises allowed under Gorbachev, and organized its first events with sociologists Zaslavskaya and L. Gordon about cooperatives and the future of the USSR in 1987. Many informals became businessmen; the CSI itself began to receive financing from a cooperative that was co-run by Grigory Pelman. After that, the Club continued to collaborate closely with the Soviet Association of Sociologists. Pelman, who had studied under Zaslavskaya, recalled in an interview: We behaved very unceremoniously, using our contact with the Soviet Association of Sociologists; we often went to various Raikoms [regional committees] of the Komsomol and the party and said: We are for perestroika, we are for glasnost, we want to work, give us a place to stay. [8] They were granted the best locations in Leningrad and Moscow for their public events and round tables. Boris Kagarlitsky These lefts had begun to orient themselves toward Yeltsin as early as 1987. Toward late 1987, they distributed material propagating reform measures, proving, in the words of Alexander Shubin, that the informals could better formulate the positions of Yeltsin than he himself. Thus, the radicals began to aspire to the role of think tanks of the oppositional oriented nomenklatura. [9] In an interview with Rick Simon from April 4, 1989, Kagarlitsky described Yeltsin as a kind of real popular hero. His differences with Yeltsin, he indicated, were not over his programme or slogans but how those slogans will be interpreted, and although there is a real Yeltsin movement growing and sometimes becoming organized, Yeltsins movement lacks a detailed and well-developed political and economic programme and also lacks real political organizationwith its structures, rank-and-file, expertsin comparison with a real political movement. In that sense Yeltsins movement is sometimes really weak and that is why it sometimes depends very much on the support of the Moscow Popular Front which has less people but is a permanently functioning political machine. In his Dialectic of Change, published by the leading Pabloite publishing house Verso in 1990, Kagarlitsky openly called for the final destruction of the workers state, insisting that radical reforms [must] affect not only the sphere of distribution but also the sphere of production, management and ownership. They must be directed at securing an irreversible shift in the social structure. [10] The encouragement of the NPG ( (Independent Miners Union) in the miners regions was part of that line. While the Pabloites supported these supposedly independent organizations, the ICFI correctly warned that: They serve as agencies of international capital, which, in the final analysis, is the function of the Stalinist bureaucracy itself. Such unions are necessary to undermine the resistance of the working class [against capitalist restoration] from within. Therefore, the bourgeoisie supports them financially and organizationally to the best of its abilities. [11] The argument employed by the Pabloites and the informals to support the call for independence by the mines was that of economic self-management. While presented by them as a left-wing demand, and one that corresponded to the anti-bureaucratic sentiments within the working class, to the extent that it was entirely divorced from a political revolution by the working class and the principles of a planned economy, the demand was bound to be exploited in the interests of the bureaucracy as it was pushing for the reintroduction of private property relations. As the IC explained in 1989 with regard to the demand in Poland, where it had also been advanced by the Pabloites: Restricting self-management to the individual factory precinct undermines the foundations of the workers state and, with its attack on planned economy and on the monopoly of foreign trade, opens the gates wide to the profit interests of capitalism. Far from aiding the emancipation of the working class from the bureaucratic regimentation, this route could, contrary to the intentions of its advocates, be taken by the bureaucracy itself to solve the economic crisis at the expense of workers and secure its privileged position and system of rule. [12] This is precisely what happened, both in Poland and in the USSR. In the wake of the miners strike, the drive toward all-out restoration at a quicker pace than that proposed by Gorbachev, who was wavering mostly out of fear of a social explosion, gained a new momentum among layers of the intelligentsia and the radical reform wing of the bureaucracy. They supported the so called Popular Fronts, which had emerged in 1987-1988 throughout the Soviet Union and were essentially mobilizing support for the respective local and national radical reform-candidates and nationalist movements. Thus, the Popular Front in Leningrad supported Anatoly Sobchak, who later became the mentor of Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev; in Moscow it supported Yeltsin and in the Baltics the respective nationalist and pro-capitalist nationalist movement. They were marked by an increasingly systematized collaboration between the left, the liberals and the far-right, and signified a further shift to the right among broad layers of the intelligentsia, who felt that Gorbachevs course of reforms was too slow and threatened upheaval by the working classlike the coal miners strike. The Popular Fronts were to form the nuclei for the new ruling elites in the respective cities, many of whom have remained in power ever since the early 1990s. Gleb Pavlovsky Having paved the way for the shock therapy during perestroika, the left was taken into the government in 1990-1993 to manage its first stages. The government in Moscow was until 1993 dominated by self-branded social democrats like Pavel Kudyukin or Boris Kagarlitsky and relied to a significant extent on the independent unions, which continued to disorient workers struggles and channel them into support for Yeltsin. The high-point of the independent unions influence was reached in the wake of the failed August putsch against Yeltsin when they helped mobilize support for his radical reforms. During 1993, the social democrats lost most of their portfolios. At this point, they were already thoroughly discredited in the working class. By 1994, capitalism had been introduced, the bulk of the Soviet economy and welfare state was destroyed, and the new bourgeois order was legally legitimized by the Russian Constitution. The trade unions and capitalist restoration In 1991, the Tripartite Commission was established at the direct suggestion of the AFL-CIO and modeled on existing labor relations in the United States: Labor agreements were to be elaborated jointly by union representatives, management and the local government. It was a mechanism not to provide the working class with any political representation, but, on the contrary, to implement restoration and stifle any working class struggles against it in a coordinated way. In the first years of the Commission, the Federation of Independent Trade Unions (FNPR), which emerged directly out of the official Soviet trade unions, dominated with nine seats, while the independent unions Sotsprof and the NPG had three and one seats, respectively. While usually lining up behind different rival factions of the emerging oligarchy, both factions of the trade union bureaucracy supported shock therapy. In early 1992, on the eve of the freeing of prices, which plunged tens of millions into poverty, the FNPR imposed upon itself a four-month strike ban, on the grounds that strikes were pointless and would paralyze economic activity. The president of the NPG, Victor Utkin, stated just before the price explosion that the priority now was not increasing pay, but radical economic reform . [13] Khramov, the head of the independent union Sotsprof stated an interview back in December 1991: We believe it is possible and necessary for the trade union to provide a cover for enterprises which will give part of their profits to the trade union for the needs of its members. The unions and the pseudo-left also backed the voucher-privatizations, in which the Soviet economy, which had been built with tremendous sacrifices by the working class over decades, was sold for peanuts to former red directors, rising stars of the gangster-elite and Western hedge funds. Judging by the sale of equity in privatized Russian companies, the total value of Russian industry amounted to $5 billion in June 1993 and rose to $12 billion in 1994, which was less than the worth of companies like Kellogg or Anheuser-Busch. [14] The privatization of Gazprom was led by the gas minister Chernomydrin, the ex-head of the former Soviet ministry of gas (which was transformed into Gazprom under perestroika). The company was sold for some $100 million in 1993-1994. Its net worth in 2006 was $100 billion. [15] While the red directors managed for the most part to maintain their positions and expand their property, a few individuals and Western hedge funds gobbled up a substantial share of the privatized assets. The most famous case was that of Boris Jordan, also called the Russian Czar. Jordan, a young hedge fund manager from Boston with Russian ancestors, acquired 17 million of the 144 million vouchers distributed to Russians for use in bidding for shares in the privatized companies and, on this basis, bought stakes in many of Russias most important companies. Boris Jordan today co-heads and is one of the main sponsors of the Jordan Center for Advanced Russian Studies at New York University, which was named after him, and a member of NYUs Board of Trustees. The union bureaucracies themselves assisted and participated in the privatizations. Unions like Unity at AvtoVAZ, the largest auto-company in Eastern Europe, were complicit in the privatization of the respective companies. The NPG played a crucial role in the privatization of the Russian coal industry. Throughout the 1990s, the AFL-CIO, at the invitation of the Russian government, was advising the misnamed independent unions, which continued to provide critical support for the shock therapy. One of the biggest acts of looting of state property was undertaken by the so-called independent union federation, the FNPR. After long negotiations and despite protests from independent unions, which demanded a larger share for themselves, in September 1992 a contract between the FNPR and the government formally established the transfer of the whole property of the Soviet unions to the FNPR. According to a 2009 article by the the Nezavisimaya Gazeta, the property transferred included 100,000 pioneer camps, over 25,000 sports facilities, around 1000 sanatorium complexes and 23,000 clubs and culture palaces. According to the newspaper, the most modest estimates put the total worth of real estate, controlled by the FNPR in 1992, at $6-7 billion. However, this figure does not include the worth of the land on which the real estate is built. Some estimates put the total worth of the property transferred at up to $100 billion. In the following months and years, the FNPR founded the Sanatorium association, now the Closed Joint-Stock Company SKO FNPR Profkurort, the joint-stock company TsSTE-INTUR (in control of the health and tourist complexes) and the Closed Joint-Stock Company Profstroi. The Russian state was a major shareholder in these companies. The union also sold part of the property, often to the state and local governments. Mikhail Shmakov, president of the FNPR since 1993 Another huge source of profit for the FNPR became the lending of its real estate to companies and banks. The most famous example is the Moscow restaurant complex Izmailovo which yields the FNPR-leadership an estimated $15 million annually (NG, 2009). Meanwhile, membership dues contribute only around 15 percent of the total income of the FNPR, according to the Nezavisimaya Gazeta. Mikhail Shmakov, the head of the FNPR since 1993 and a close ally of Vladimir Putin, is considered to be one of the richest men in Russia, with a private fortune that is comparable to that of oligarchs like Roman Abramovich ($11.5 billion) or Oleg Deripaska ($5.3 billion). Aleksandr Buzgalin This property transfer was co-directed by Kagarlitsky, Alexander Buzgalin (a member of the Central Committee of the CPSU in 1991) and other academics and intellectuals posturing as lefts. In December 1992, Kagarlitsky, Buzgalin, Andrei Isayevs Confederation of Anarchist-Syndicalists as well as numerous Greens formed the Labor Party. The party had been built on the initiative of former CPSU-bureaucrats and FNPR president Shmakov. It was entirely financed by the FNPR and virtually ceased to exist in 1994. During its brief life span, it functioned simultaneously both as a left propaganda department of the FNPR and its economic advisory board. Isayev continued his career in the FNPR, and became the general secretary of the ideology department. Today he is a state-duma deputy, leading member of the ruling United Russia party and vice-president of the FNPR. Kagarlitsky and Buzgalin headed for a career in academia and journalism and still pose as leading lefts in Russia. They are regularly invited to congresses of the pseudo-left in Western Europe. The involvement of the trade unions in capitalist restoration in Russia was a concentrated expression of the role that the trade unions had assumed internationally: they were functioning, ever more openly, not as organizations fighting for limited economic gains for the working class, but as corporatist entities and instruments of the state and business to control the working class. The role of the AFL-CIO in the restoration of capitalism in Russia, and the formation of the Russian independent unions speaks volumes about the pro-capitalist character of these organizations and their hostility to the interests of the working class, both at home and on an international scale. For the layers of ex-lefts that worked within the trade unions, the role of the unions in the destruction of the social gains of the working class became a career path that furthered their own personal enrichment. They defended and continue to defend them not as workers organizations but as organizations that represent their class interests against the working class. The Trotskyist warning that the Stalinist bureaucracy, unless stopped by the working class, would eventually move to destroy the degenerated workers state and become a new property-owning class was fully confirmed by what happened in the 1990s. One Russian sociologist described the process quite pointedly: A minister became the holder of controlling shares in a concern; an administrative head in the Ministry of Finance became the president of a commercial bank; a senior manager in Gossnam [the former Soviet agency responsible for distributing the means of production] became the chief executive of the stock exchange. [16] Proportion of Yeltsin-era Business and Political Elites Drawn from the bureaucracy The open criminality of the new bourgeoisie was stunning. According to a survey among Cheliabinsk entrepreneurs in the early 1990s, 30 out of 40 possessors of large holdings considered it impossible to do business without breaking the law; 90 percent were convinced that they couldnt engage in business without giving bribes to various state agencies; 65 percent had bribed workers in financial auditing bodies and 55 percent had bribed deputies at various levels. In a private conversation with the economist Anders Aslund, who helped elaborate and implement shock therapy, one of the oligarchs who came to wealth and power during the loans-for-shares privatization of the mid-1990s explained, There are three kinds of businessmen in Russia. One group is murderers. Another group steals from other private individuals. And then you have honest businessmen like us who only steal from the state. [17] This perverse and criminal orgy of self-enrichment by former bureaucracy was based on the destruction of the productive forces that had been created by the Soviet working class, and the reckless and short-sighted selling-off of raw materials. The Kuzbass and the Russian coal industry are a particularly stark example for the social criminality and ruthlessness of this process. After the United States, Russia has the worlds largest coal reserves. The remnants of the Soviet coal industry were thus among the most tempting parts of the booty that both Russian and Western businessmen hoped to secure during the capitalist restoration. The US had already laid the basis for a massive intervention with the above documented PIER project launched in 1990, well before the final destruction of the USSR in late 1991. Throughout restoration and much of the 1990s, the US remained heavily involved in the so-called restructuring of the Russian coal industry. In the first years of capitalist restoration, the government, while privatizing the coal industry, backed away from cutting all of its subsidies, largely out of fear of a renewed explosion of the struggles of the coal miners, who continued to go on strikes throughout the 1990s. The coal industry also remained under the administration of the former Soviet ministry Rosugol, whose president, Yuri Malyshin, numbered among the most powerful figures at that time. While already completely privatized, the fact that the coal industry was under the de facto control of one large Russian state-business entity could not but be a thorn in the side of international, and especially American, finance capital. The main lever through which the complete subordination of the coal industry to the profit interests of large American, Australian, Austrian and Russian companies was guaranteed, was the World Bank. Determined to send the Russian coal industry along the Thatcher route, the World Bank outlined a program of massive cuts and mine closures as a condition for a $500 million loan. The Russian government for whom the coal industry was, according to one author, a political noose around its neck, accepted the proposals of the World Bank in 1995, which included the zeroing out of all coal subsidies, and a plan to cut employment in the coal industry in half within three to five years. The World Banks program was closely tied to the US-funded Coal Project, and both were fully supported by the independent miners union, the NPG, which by then had lost much of its membership and influence. The impact of the restructuring program on the coal industry was devastating. Coal mining employment in Russia plunged from 900,000 to roughly half that by 2000. Production, which had peaked in 1988 with 400 million tons, dropped to just 225 million in 1997. Rosugol became an open-type joint-stock company in 1996, with Malyshev as its president. In 1998, after the closure of at least 58 mines, the government announced plans to shut down another 86 out of the remaining 200 coal mines in Russia. Workers were going without wages for months and even years. While this was a general phenomenon in the Russia of the 1990s, the situation was particularly dire in the coal industry. In one particularly infamous case, the Kuznetskaya mine in the Kuzbass, one of the largest iron mines that had been privatized in 1991 as a joint-stock company with an Austrian firm, did not pay its workers for two years. Driven by despair, miners and their wives eventually resorted to locking the mines top management in their office and holding them hostage until their wages were paid. Coal workers, once the most highly paid group within the Soviet working class, dropped to seventh place by the late 1990s. [18] Like aluminum, steel and other raw material and energy industries, the coal industry was the subject of violent battles within the state, and among the rising oligarchs and organized crime, with the lines between these three sectors being all but non-existent. Dozens of Kuzbass mine managers were assassinated as part of the mafia wars in the 1990s. The Kuzbass had the third-highest murder rate in the nation. One mine director who was asked by the Moscow Times about the influence of organized crime on the coal business, answered briskly: They dont influence it. They run it. The social disaster resulting from the mine closures and elimination of hundreds of thousands of jobs was aggravated by the fact that, due to a serious housing shortage in Russia (which is still ongoing), it proved all but impossible for laid-off miners to move with their families to different regions to find other employment. One local government official from the Kuzbass who had formerly worked for the KGB laconically told the New York Times: These days they [the coal miners] dont care about soap. They want food. Strikes by the miners in the Kuzbass and beyond occurred throughout the 1990s, drawing in between 400,000 and 600,000 miners. Overall, millions of workers continued to go on repeated strikes throughout this period, protesting against the extreme social crisis. However, under conditions of extreme political confusion, these strikes could be manipulated and exploited by rival factions within the unions and among government officials and businessmen, who were trying to use the striking workers in order to push for their own interests in Moscow or the region. While very stark, the situation in the Kuzbass is broadly representative of the political and economic chaos, the criminality and the social despair that have come to mark the 1990s more generally, a period which many Russians, for good reason, still remember as traumatic. According to the Russian journal Expert, total industrial production in Russia collapsed by as much as 55 percent in the 1990s. By comparison, during the Great Depression in the US, production declined by 30 percent. In Russian history, only the combined effect of WWI and the Civil War after the October Revolution had been worse. Between the first half of 1993 and the first half of 1994, industrial production in sectors like armaments, electronics and construction key industries of the Soviet Union declined by 40 to 50 percent. Industrial production as a whole in 1994 was 47 percent of its 1990 levels. Domestic investment was 35 percent of its 1990 level by 1995, and in 1996, 75 percent of all companies didnt make any capital investment at all. Foreign capital would flow to the stock markets and financial institutions, but not into industry. Graph: Decline in hospital beds per 1,000 between 1991 and 2011. Graph compiled based on WHO data Privatization and the dismantling of substantial sections of industry also meant the destruction of a social welfare state that was in large measures tied to the Soviet industrial infrastructure. Moreover, the past few decades have seen relentless cuts to the health care system, in particular. The social crisis and lack of any political perspective have driven millions into suicide, and into drug and alcohol abuse. Social infrastructure has been neglected to an extent that is patently criminal. In Russia, by territory the largest country in the world and with a population of 140 million, there are only some 5,000 fire stations. The much smaller and socially also devastated Poland has over 15,000 for a population of 40 million. In 2014, 9,405 people died in fires in Russia. The number of dead per 1,000 fires was 64.5, a rate surpassed only by Belarus which had 78.8 dead per 1,000 fires. By comparison, in the US, which has a population of 320 million, 3,280 people died in fires with a death rate of 1.7 per 1,000 fires. The March 25, 2018 Kemerovo fire was one of the worst, but hardly the only major fire that was caused by the criminal disregard of basic fire safety regulations. In 2003, a fire in a student dorm of Moscow University took the lives of 44 people, injuring 156; a fire in a nursing home in Krasnodar in 2007 killed 60 people; a fire in a nightclub in Perm in 2009 killed 154; and, in 2015, a fire at a mall in Kazan killed 19 people, and injured 61. Every year, an estimated 15,000 workers die in workplace accidents, according to numbers of the International Labor Organization. A horrifying 190,000 workers die annually as a result of exposure to dangerous conditions at work. A former factory hall of the Kirovsky factory in St. Petersburg. Picture taken in 2014 In short, contrary to the claims of capitalist triumphalists and most bourgeois academics, the restoration of capitalism was anything but peaceful. It was a one-sided class war in which the working class, disarmed and beheaded by decades of Stalinism and the intervention of Pabloism, was bitterly attacked by both the rising oligarchy and imperialism. The death toll of this counterrevolution has never been drawn up. But any serious estimate would have to take into account not only the tens of thousands who died in the civil wars which erupted in the Caucasus and Central Asia; but also the over one million suicides in Russia alone since 1991; the horrific spike in deaths from previously eradicated diseases like tuberculosis; the millions of victims of the ongoing heroin and HIV epidemic; the tens of thousands of workers who have died in workplace accidents; and the many millions of victims of the decrepit state of the social infrastructure and the health care system. The Kemerovo fire adds another 60 people to this account, but it is in many ways only the tip of the iceberg. Only a tiny oligarchy and a very small upper middle class have benefited from this criminal process. The Credit Suisse global wealth report for 2016 revealed that among all major economies, Russia had by far the highest concentration of wealth in the hands of an oligarchy. The report found that the top decile owns a stunning 89 percent of all household wealth in Russia, compared to 78 percent in the United States and 73 percent in China. 122,000 individuals from Russia belong to the worlds wealthiest 1 percent, and the country has no less than 79,000 US-dollar millionaires. Russia also has the worlds third largest number of billionaires, 96, topped only by the 244 living in China (which has almost 10 times the population of Russia) and the 544 billionaires in the US. Only about 4 percent of the population qualified as middle class. By contrast, according to an article in the Nezavisimaya Gazeta from April 2017, some 56 percent of Russian workers make less than 31,000 rubles ($531) a month. The official subsistence level was recently lowered by the government to less than 9,691 rubles ($166), a wage that is impossible to live on. Official statistics indicated that the number of extremely poor people, living beneath this low threshold, stands at around 19 million. The Kuzbass today Coal production in Russia has seen a resurgence in recent years with Russia ranking as the worlds sixth largest producer. The coal industry employs around 151,000 people, with another 500,000 working in related industries. Coal is the fifth most important export product for Russia. In 2016, Russia produced 385.7 million tons of coal, of which 171.4 million tons were exported. The Kuzbass has produced between 54 and 60 percent of all coal that is mined in Russia, and up to 76 percent of Russias coal exports. Coal companies account for well over half of the regions budget. With a record low of only 70 mines as of 2016, this increase in output has been achieved above all by a massive increase in productivitythat is, a ruthless intensification of the exploitation of the working class. The profits of the coal companies have risen even more significantly than the output. In 2017, when output rose by 13 million tons to 270 million tons a year, the profits of coal companies rose by 2.8 times, according to official statistics. Coal extraction in Russia, like all extraction of raw materials, has proceeded in the most reckless and environmentally destructive manner. While this was always an issue in the Soviet period, and the subject of one of the demands raised by striking miners in late 1980s, it has gone from bad to worse since 1991 as the ruling oligarchy has been pursuing the exploitation of the working class and the raw material resources in total disregard of the consequences for the lives of ordinary people. According to a report by the NGO Ecodefense, the average life expectancy of the Kuzbass population is three to four years shorter than the average in Russia. No less than 93.8 percent of the drinking water sources in the region are polluted. The region is experiencing black snowfall, with snow containing sulphur compounds, nitrites, chlorides, potassium and manganese. Many diseases are more widespread here than in the rest of the country. The rate of tuberculosis, which made a comeback in the 1990s after having been virtually eliminated in the Soviet Union, is 1.7 times higher here than on average in the country. The Kuzbass had the highest rate of child cerebral palsy in Russia in 2011 and the second highest in 2012. Fifteen types of cancer are more common in the region than in the rest of the country. Infant circulatory system anomalies are 1.6 times higher, and female reproductive system anomalies are 3.3 times higher. Infectious and parasitic diseases among children are two to three times higher than the national average of 988 per 100,000 children. The poor state of health is a result of a combination of serious environmental pollution, poor infrastructure and extreme poverty. In a poll from 2015, several of the major mining centers in the Kuzbass were counted among the poorest cities in Siberia with a population of more than half a million. Kemerovo was the worst off, with 56 percent of the population describing themselves as low-income, meaning that they had enough money only for groceries and items of first necessity. Barnaul and Novokuznetsk, both also major centers of the mining industry, each had 55 percent. Miners salaries depend to what extent the plan is fulfilled. The average salary for a fulfilled plan (i.e., meeting a set quota for the extraction of coal), is usually around 25,000 rubles ($437) a month. Since this is a salary impossible to live onand many workers have to feed families of three to five on their wagesminers are forced to take significant security risks to overfulfill the plan. Even then, however, miners receive an average salary of 35,000 rubles ($603). In other words, while performing highly difficult and dangerous work, the miners and their families live in severe poverty. Deadly accidents at Russian mines are extremely common. Between 2004 and 2012, there were 10 major mine explosions, which took the lives of 391 miners. Among the biggest were the explosion at the Ulyanovskaya mine in 2007, which killed 110 miners, the Raspadskaya mine disaster of 2010, which killed 91 men, and the Severnaya disaster that same year, which killed another 36. According to a 2016 report by the business daily Vedomosti, only 8 out of the 70 mines in Russia were considered not dangerous. Thirty-eight of them, which produce a total of 18 million tons of coal a year, were deemed highly dangerous by the heads of Russias largest coal companies, and 12 were deemed critically dangerous. In one of the all-too-rare social reports about the situation of the Russian working class, a reporter for the journal Takie dela visited Mezhdurechensk in 2017 and spoke to a family of miners. One young miner, Vova, told her it was a regular occurrence for their employers to withhold substantial parts of their salary: They might cheat you a little. Say you go 200 meters down, they are supposed to pay you 100,000 [rubles, or $1,748], but they pay you 80,000 [rubles, or $1,398]. But you will not get this money back, because youre a simple worker and no one will listen to you. Virtually the entire town of 50,000 people depends on the mines, which are run by the Raspadskaya Coal Company. Its headquarters are in the same building that used to house the regional committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. The workers told her: Just like you previously couldnt write anything bad about the party, now you cannot write anything bad about the mining companies! The Raspadskaya Coal Company is one of Russias leading coal producers and runs the Raspadskaya mine, the largest coal and largest underground mine in the country. It is notorious for disregarding basic safety measures, with dozens of accidents over the past decades. The worst, in 2010, killed 91 miners. In 2013, large shares in the company were sold to the owners of EVRAZ, a major international coal and steel company: Roman Abramovich (net worth $11.5 billion), Alexander Frolov ($2.4 billion) and Alexander Abramov ($5.8 billion). Abramovich in particular counts among the oligarchs closest to Putin. EVRAZ also owns Yuzhkuzbassugol, another major coal-producing company in the Kuzbass, and six other mining facilities in the Kemerovo oblast. Overall, EVRAZ controls some of the most important mines in Russia and East Ukraine. The family that the reporter of Takie Dela spoke to was so desperately poor that they couldnt even offer anything to eat while housing hersomething that is standard in Russian culture, even in the poorest families. The reporter noted at the end of her piece: A few days later, I talk to Yekaterina, the wife of the miner Yura. She is very emotional and loudly screams into the receiver: You know, Ive been thinking a lot. A working person should live with dignity [dostoino]! Precisely this wordwith dignity! Then she sharply lowers her voice and adds, quiet and tired: Because the workers hold the earth on their shoulders [zemlya derzhitsia na rabochikh]. We go to work, we pay taxes. But when you came I didnt even have anything to put on the table. Covering about a fifth of the earths landmass, Russia contains some of the worlds largest raw material resources, including about 22 percent of the forests, 20 percent of fresh water and 16 percent of the mineral reserves. These include about 6 percent of the worlds oil deposits, a third of the worlds natural gas deposits, the second largest coal reserves, between 25 and 40 percent of the worlds unmined gold reserves and 10 percent of the worlds uranium reserves. At this point, almost all of these resources are controlled by a handful of oligarchsmuch to the chagrin of Western companies and especially US imperialism, which have been virtually barred from owning and extracting raw material resources. Almost all of Russias 30 richest businessmen, who have combined wealth of over $200 billion, are involved, to a greater or lesser extent, in oil, gas, aluminum, steel and coal, and it is no coincidence that several of them are now the target of US sanctions. Their control over significant sections of the worlds resources and the exploitation of the Russian working classresources that imperialism thought it could begin exploiting without impediment after the dissolution of the USSRis a major economic motive for the relentless campaign by the Western media and especially the US government against Putin and the oligarchs closest to him. To the extent that imperialism fails to achieve its aims by means of economic warfare and regime change operations in countries allied to Russia, it will resort toand is already actively preparing to resort todirect military aggression, which would have the most catastrophic consequences for the working class in the former Soviet Union and internationally. Fundamentally, the tragedy in Kemerovo and the danger of imperialist world war have the same historical and economic roots: the betrayal of the October Revolution by Stalinism, which culminated in the massacre of generations of Marxists and Trotskyists in the 1930s, and the dissolution of the USSR and restoration of capitalism a half-century later. A way out of this social devastation and the threat of imperialist war can be found only through an assimilation of the lessons of the crimes of Stalinism, and on the basis of a program that seeks to unify the working class internationally on a socialist basis. This requires a break from the trade unions and all existing bourgeois forces in Russia, all of which were implicated in the counterrevolution of 1985-1991 and horrendous crimes against the working class, and a building of a section of the International Committee of the Fourth International, the world Trotskyist movement, in Russia and throughout the former USSR. Notes: [1] David North, /Perestroika vs. Socialism. Stalinism and the Restoration of Capitalism in the USSR/, Detroit: Labor Publications 1989, p. 13. [2] Leon Trotsky, /The Transitional Program/. https://www.marxists.org/archive/trotsky/1938/tp/tia38.htm [3]Michael Ellman and Vladimir Kontorovich (ed.), /The Destruction of the Soviet Economic System: An Insiders History/, New York: Routledge 1998, pp. 16, 104. [4] Quoted in Simon Clarke, Peter Fairbother, Vadim Borisov, /The Workers Movement in Russia/, Aldershot/Bloomfield: Edward Elgar Publishing House 1995,p. 22. [5]Ibid., p. 40. [6] Ibid., p. 82. [7] David Bacon, The AFL-CIO In Moscow: The Cold War That Never Ends. [8] Quoted in Aleksandr Shubin, Predannaya demokratiya. SSSR i neformaly, 1986-1989 [Democracy Betrayed. The USSR and the Informals, 1986-1989], Moscow: Evropa 2006. [9] Ibid., p. 134. [10] Boris Kagarlitsky, The Dialectic of Change, London/New York: Verso, p. 331. Emphasis in the original. [11] Statement by the International Committee of the Fourth International, Cliff Slaughter Renounces Marxism (April 19, 1991), in: Fourth International, Vol. 18 No. 1 (Summer-Fall 1991), p. 53. [12] Wolfgang Weber, Solidarity in Poland 1980-1981 and the Perspective of Political Revolution, Detroit: Labor Publications 1989, p. 102. [13] Clarke 1995, p. 149. [14] Neil Robinson, The global economy, reform and crisis in Russia, in: Review of International Political Economy, Vol. 6, No. 4 (Winter 1999), p. 559. [15] Anders Aslund, Russias Capitalist Revolution. Why Market Reform Succeeded and Democracy Failed, Washington 2007, p. 141. [16] Olga Kryshtanovskaia, Transformation of the Old Nomenklatura into the New Russian Elite, in: /Obshchestvennye nauki i sovremennost/, 1995, no. 1, pp. 58-59. [17] Aslund 2007, p. 160. [18] Numbers from: Stephen Crowley, Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Russias Troubled Coal Industry, in: Peter Rutland (ed.), Business and State in Contemporary Russia, Boulder: Westview Press 2001, pp. 129-149. Ethics watchdogs, federal auditors and congressional committees are conducting nearly a dozen inquiries into Administrator Scott Pruitt's actions at the Environmental Protection Agency. The probes are reviewing his travel expenses, personal security, and other allegations of ethical concerns, such as Pruitt's below-market-rate lease with a lobbyist couple, one of whom represented a client before the EPA. Pruitt and the EPA have largely defended his actions, saying decisions were made by his subordinates and that, in some cases, "processes will be changed going forward." "I'm not afraid to admit there's been a learning process and when Congress or independent bodies of oversight find fault in our decision making, I want to correct that and ensure that it does not happen again," Pruitt told lawmakers at a recent hearing. Here are the probes into Pruitt: Travel: The EPA inspector general is currently reviewing all of Pruitt's travel last year. That audit is believed to include multiple taxpayer-funded weekend trips to his home state of Oklahoma as well as trips to Italy and Morocco. Security detail: The inspector general announced in April it will begin another probe into Pruitt's travel practices, suggesting it will review Pruitt's use of his unprecedented 24/7 security detail while on family vacations. First class travel: The Republican House Oversight Committee chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, has asked EPA to justify Pruitt's use of first class or business class seats on flights. Earlier this spring, Gowdy said Pruitt was not being forthcoming with records. Condo: Gowdy is also looking into Pruitt's below-market-rate lease of a DC condo from a lobbyist couple, one of whom represents clients before the EPA. The inspector general has also acknowledged concerns about the condo and the "use of the Administrator's subordinates' time," which appears to be a reference to reports the EPA scheduling director contacted real estate agents while on the clock. The condo lease also drew scrutiny from the Office of Government Ethics, which urged EPA to "take action to appropriately address any violations." Raises and hiring: Even before news broke of large raises for two political aides, the inspector general was auditing how Pruitt's team used special hiring authority to fill policy-making jobs. Demotions and reassignments: The inspector general said in a recent letter to Congress it is aware of "reassignment or demotion of staff who were attempting to ensure that expenses and other actions were in accordance with the law" and will consider the allegations. Sound proof booth: The Government Accountability Office concluded the $43,000 purchase and installation of a privacy booth for Pruitt's office violated federal spending law. Pruitt has said he uses the booth to receive classified information and hold calls with the White House. The White House, through its Office of Management and Budget, is reviewing the GAO report. Mining meeting: The inspector general and Government Accountability Office are reviewing a meeting Pruitt held last April with the National Mining Association, where he was said to have encouraged members to urge President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement. Advisory board selections: The Government Accountability Office is also reviewing how the Pruitt administration has handled appointments to agency advisory committees. Democratic senators have raised questions about the qualifications and potential conflicts of interest for several appointees. Email: A second Capitol Hill Republican -- Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, whose committee oversees the EPA has requested agency records. He is looking into reports that Pruitt has four EPA email addresses, at least one of which was not disclosed. A lobbyist and influential conservative activist were involved in planning two of Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt's foreign trips, a person familiar with the planning told CNN. Lobbyist Richard Smotkin worked closely with EPA officials to organize Pruitt's December trip to Morocco, and Leonard Leo, the head of the conservative Federalist Society, was involved in the planning of Pruitt's trip to Italy in June. Both men joined Pruitt on the respective trips, the person said. Smotkin and Leo's involvement in Pruitt's foreign travel adds a new layer to the scrutiny Pruitt is already facing over his travel and other questionable spending decisions from the EPA's inspector general and congressional investigators. The New York Times and The Washington Post earlier reported Smotkin's involvement in the Morocco trip. The papers also revealed that Smotkin, who previously lobbied for Comcast, was later hired by the Moroccan government on a $40,000 a month lobbying contract, according to his registration as a foreign agent with the Department of Justice. The Times, citing three people involved, first reported Leo's connection to the Italy trip. A source familiar with Pruitt's trip to Italy also said that Leo paid the bill for at least one dinner with Pruitt and several members of his EPA staff -- which could run afoul of government ethics rules. Neither Smotkin not Leo returned CNN requests for comment. Jahan Wilcox, an EPA spokesman, said the agency's "Office of International and Tribal Affairs organized and led the effort around Administrator Pruitt's official meetings with Morocco, the Holy See and the G-7 Summit in Italy." The EPA told both publications that Smotkin "did not attend or participate in any official meetings with the Moroccan government." However, people familiar with the arrangements told the Times that Smotkin organized several of Pruitt's meetings, including one with a phosphate mining company, OCP Group. A company representative did not respond to the Times' request for comment. On the four-day trip, Smotkin was present during a visit to the Green Energy Park, a meeting with a phosphate executive, and a dinner with Pruitt, the EPA confirmed to the Post. In the wake of the revelations, two Democratic senators are calling for a hearing to question Pruitt about his trip to Morocco. Sens. Tom Carper of Delaware and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island said "enough is enough" in a statement. "Administrator Pruitt needs to explain this trip, as well as the flood of scandal he has brought to the EPA," the senators said, urging Republicans to bring Pruitt back to Congress following his questioning last week. During last week's hearings, Pruitt maintained that the state purpose of the Morocco trip was to discuss a free-trade agreement, and that American liquified natural gas exports were brought up by ambassador of Morocco. Carper and Whitehouse argue that the "issue that does not fall within the jurisdiction of the EPA." The EPA inspector general opened an audit of Pruitt's Tulsa travel that eventually expanded into all of his 2017 travel, including his expensive trips to Morocco and Italy. Pruitt has since drawn scrutiny for several other controversial decisions, including the 24/7 security detail, a below-market-rate lease from an energy industry lobbyist and massive raises given to close aides, one of whom he described as a friend. China is turning up the heat on some of the world's top airlines over how they describe Taiwan on their websites. Qantas, Australia's biggest carrier, said Thursday it had received a warning from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). Other airlines that have fallen foul of the Chinese authorities include American and Delta. Qantas said in a statement that it would respond to the letter from the CAAC "in due course." The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the Chinese agency told Qantas to remove any public information on its website that suggests Taiwan, Hong Kong or Macau are located in countries other than China. The Chinese government in Beijing considers self-governed Taiwan to be an integral part of its territory and comes down hard on any suggestions to the contrary. Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions of China. The CAAC did not respond to a request for comment. Related: How China gets what it wants from American companies The Qantas website on Thursday was listing Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau as countries, with no mention of China. The CAAC also sent similar letters recently to American Airlines and United, according to a report Friday by Foreign Policy. American confirmed it had received a letter from the CAAC but declined to give further details. United didn't immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours. With its growing ranks of middle-class consumers eager to travel, China is an important market for global airlines. The International Air Transport Association forecast last year that China would surpass the United States as the world's top aviation market by 2020. Related: Delta flies into China trouble over Tibet and Taiwan Beijing appears to be using its increasing economic clout to push international companies to adhere to its stance on sensitive issues. Earlier this year, Delta was publicly scolded by the CAAC for listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website. Delta quickly apologized and fixed the issue. It's not just airlines, either. Chinese authorities recently blocked Marriott's websites and apps for a week in China after it listed Tibet, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as separate countries in emails and apps. European clothing retailer Zara was chastised for a similar misstep. China and Taiwan -- officially the People's Republic of China and the Republic of China, respectively -- separated in 1949 following the Communist victory on the mainland after a civil war. They have been governed separately since, though a shared cultural and linguistic heritage mostly endures -- with Mandarin spoken as the official language in both places. China has conducted a lengthy campaign to pressure governments to sever diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The latest to do so was the Dominican Republic, which switched its allegiance to Beijing this week. -- Nanlin Fang contributed to this report CLAY COUNTY, Ill. (WTHI) - An Illinois man is held on $1 million dollars bond, accused of killing a child. The Clay County, Illinois state's attorney's office has charged 22-year old Alexander Beal with first-degree murder and aggravated battery to a child. The Clay County Sheriff's Office responded to an early morning call to a home in Clay City, Illinois back on April 2, where a two-year-old child died two days later The child death investigative task force assisted in this case. Beal will appear in court on May 16th. PUTNAMVILLE, Ind. (WTHI)- Nicole Cheeks has been a State Trooper at the Putnamville post for four years. For her its about serving the state and keeping people safe on the job. But Wednesday it was about honoring those who have fallen. Standing in formation paying respects to those who lost their lives on duty. "Its very important to me that the families of the fallen troopers are remembered and it means a lot to them as well that their loved one is not forgotten of their loss in the line of duty," said Cheeks. Since 1933, 46 officers have lost their lives while serving. Each year every trooper pays their respects to these men and women. Including those who have family serving or once before dawned the uniform. Like Joseph Burton who was on the force for 25 years. "The memorial service is important to each and everyone one of us for those that are on active duty and those that are retired because it brings back what we're here for. So it's a very solemn occasion," said Burton. The ceremony when through each of those officers who lost their lives serving. Then there was the playing of Amazing Grace on bagpipes, Taps and a 21 gun salute. For many, it's a reminder of how dangerous the job can be, but for Cheeks it's a way to honor those before her. Those who had the same drive to do the best they can for their state. "My hopes for the future is to stay at it as long as I can and just keep going on. Keep getting up every day, putting on my suit and just going out and trying to be the best trooper I can be," said Cheeks. WABASH VALLEY, Ind. (WTHI) - We have new details as students all across America plan possible walk-outs and walk-ins. Their message? Stand for the Second. In the Wabash Valley, a protest was planned for Sullivan High School. We were told students were not allowed outside but would be allowed to gather indoors for an appropriate amount of time. In a statement to News 10, Superintendent Chris Stitzle said in part: "Southwest School Corporation has an obligation under the U.S. Constitution to remain neutral on matters of public concern and to allow student expression on various viewpoints on such issues, to the extent the expression will not likely cause a substantial disruption to the school environment." There's no word on whether or not a gathering actually took place on school grounds. HUTSONVILLE, Ill. (WTHI) - School funding may be improving in the Land of Lincoln, but, that doesn't mean all the education woes are solved. At Hutsonville Community Unit School District Number 1 in Illinois, a big problem persists. That is finding, and keeping quality teachers in the classroom. The issue is present throughout the state, and nation. A photo of a Hutsonville School Building. (WTHI Photo, Lacey Clifton) A photo of a Hutsonville School Building. (WTHI Photo, Lacey Clifton) At the beginning of this year there were 1,136 open teaching positions in Illinois. As of Wednesday, 700 additional positions are open. Governor Bruce Rauner recently signed a law making it easier for out-of-state teachers to get credentialed in Illinois. But, that may not be enough for struggling schools to rebound from the teacher shortage. The teacher shortage is hitting small schools like Hutsonville Community Unit School District #1 especially hard. Hustonville Superintendent Julie Kraemer says "Every individual that is out there who is working or who has a college degree, guess who got them there?" Teachers. Which Superintendent Kraemer says are hard to come by these days. She shares, "Elementary position, you could guarantee that you had hundreds of applications for an elementary position. The last time, we had maybe 5 applications, 6." Kraemer says a lot of factors are playing into why educators aren't as interested in getting into the field, especially in Illinois. For one, Kraemer says her district isnt able to pay teachers as much. On a grander scheme, she says teachers aren't staying as long, and the required testing and retirement are scaring new educators. Kraemer says, "I think if they don't re-look and take a look at what they've done to damage that retirement system, that there's going to be some issues." Kraemer says another problem she's facing is getting substitute teachers in her classrooms. Right now there is a bill at the state level that's supposed to help alleviate this issue, but Kraemer says time is quickly running out for the bill to have any impact on this school year. She says, "It's May, May 2nd. I need that bill passed now. I need it passed now so it can help me get through the rest of this year, and then going into next year I know we'll have those extra days." The bill raises the number of days a retired teacher can substitute from 100 days to 120 days. Because of how creative Kraemer has to get to fill positions, those days matter. The superintendent says, "We have hired a very good candidate that we're excited about in science, but she doesn't graduate until December. So we will be trying to make sure that we have somebody here. Hopefully, we'll be able to have our retired science teacher come and work that first semester." Its some outside the box thinking Kraemer never thought she'd have to do to fill a classroom. Kraemer says big changes still need to come at the state level. Kraemer says, "We need them to act. We are going to have to have them look at, the certification, the testing that they require our student teachers to go into, the retirement changes that they've made. And say, realistically, 'How are we going to pull individuals into the state, to come here to teach, and more importantly maybe even, how are we going to get our kids to stay here and teach?'" The only way that change can come about is with your help. Kraemer says it's important that you contact your local lawmakers and let them know what changes you think need to be made in education. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Former Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove says he's supporting fellow Democrat Jay Hughes for lieutenant governor in 2019. Hughes is an attorney, developer and first-term state representative from Oxford. He announced Thursday that he is running for the second-highest office in state government. The job will be open because Republican Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves is limited to two terms. RELATED: Rep. Jay Hughes to run for Lt. governor Musgrove says Hughes has been among the most vocal supporters of public education in the Legislature. Musgrove lived in Batesville when he served two terms in the state Senate, from 1988 to 1996, and was chairman of the Senate Education Committee the second term. He was lieutenant governor from 1996 to 2000 and governor from 2000 to 2004, losing a bid for a second term to Republican Haley Barbour. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Police say they are unsure why Mississippi's capital city has seen a recent spike in violent crime. Following four homicides last weekend, Jackson Police Chief Anthony Moore told press Wednesday that April was the deadliest month in an already violent start to the year. April saw 12 homicides, out of a total of 34 since the start of 2018. During the same span in 2017, Jackson saw 22 homicides. Moore says the department has no reason to believe the weekend's four homicides are related. Moore says he unsure what has caused the spike. He says "it's hard to say" whether the department's current staffing levels could be related: With a goal to maintain a force of 500 officers, the department currently has less than 350 and plans to recruit more. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Department of Corrections says the budget the Legislature approved in March fell $50 million short for prisoner health care and medicines, so it's forced to cut services like substance abuse treatment and prisoner re-entry programs. The department announced late Tuesday it will cut nearly $30 million in contracted programs and services to make up for the shortfall. Another $20 million will be cut from prison operations on top of $24.9 million in cuts in the budget that goes into effect July 1. Mental health and substance abuse services for offenders on probation or parole will be slashed by $9 million. Prisoners in separate facilities for drug abuse therapy will be switched into less expensive work release programs to save another $6 million. (Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) BAINBRIDGE, GA (WTXL) - Another man has been arrested and two are wanted in connection with a theft at the Bainbridge Ag-Pro in late November and at the SunSouth (John Deere) store in December. Alexander Hardy was arrested by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Alabama, Wednesday afternoon. Cortez Devon Roberts and Lakwajame Savatae Richards have been identified and are wanted. On January 24, Deandre Marquese Hale and Darius DeMichael Pitts were also arrested for the thefts. Bainbridge Public Safety Investigators have been working in conjunction with the Dothan Police Department to identify all suspects connected to the thefts and additional arrests are expected. BAINBRIDGE, GA (WALB) - Three men have been arrested in connection with a theft at the Bainbridge Ag-Pro that happened in late November. On Monday, Deandre Marquese Hale, 28, was arrested by the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office in Alabama and charged with fugitive from justice. Additionally, Darius Demichael Pitts, 26, was arrested by the U.S. Marshal's Service on a felony theft charge. And in December, Kenneth Kieuntrel Jordan, 27, was arrested on a federal firearms charge, with additional charges pending as the investigation continues. All are being considered as persons of interest in the Ag-Pro heist as well as another theft in Alabama. Bainbridge Public Safety Spokesperson Julia Harris said BPS began its investigation after the November 30 theft. Harris said that on December 6, investigators received a call from the Dothan, Alabama Police Department that the SunSouth (John Deere) store had equipment stolen on December 5. Dothan police identified three vehicles, two of which were also believed to be involved in the Bainbridge theft. Multiple law enforcement agencies in Alabama worked together to identify persons of interests and leads to the possible location of the stolen equipment. Law enforcement found stolen equipment and vehicles involved in both thefts at an abandoned metal property shop in Lee County, Alabama. Alabama investigators then made contact with residents in the area near the property and received more surveillance video that showed multiple vehicles that included a trailer with equipment and several people. Investigators met with the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office and through information related to the stolen vehicles and the surveillance videos were able to identify Hale, Pitts and Jordan, all from Montgomery, as persons of interest. Now, investigators from several agencies are working to identify all of the people involved in the thefts. Its like a domino effect, one bit of information leads us to a person of interest, and that person leads us to another. We are also linking these persons to multiple thefts. Through the cooperation of multiple law enforcement agencies, warrants will be issued as this investigation continues, said Bainbridge Public Safety Investigator Chip Nix. Copyright 2018 WALB. All rights reserved. TAMPA, Fla. (WTXL) - The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office is asking for help finding 6-month-old and 5-year-old sisters from Tampa. Deputies say the Child Protection and Investigation Division obtained a court order to pick-up 6-month-old Talia Alsubhi and 5-year-old Mayar Alsubhi after their father, Rami Abdulrahman Alsubhi, was arrested for "significant" domestic violence on Monday. After 36-year-old Alsubhi was released from jail, HCSO discovered that he and his wife, 33-year-old Amerah Salem Alghamdi, may have been making plans to leave to Saudi Arabia with the two girls as early as Thursday. Local, state and federal agencies have been notified. Below are the descriptions for each girl and their parents: Below are the descriptions for each girl and their parents: Talia Alsubhi, 6-month-old (White female, 2'0", 20 lbs., black hair and brown eyes) Mayar Alsubhi, 5-year-old (White female, 3'04", 45 lbs., black hair and brown eyes) Rami Abdulrahman Alsubhi (White male, 5'10", 170 lbs., black hair and brown eyes) Amerah Salem Alghamdi (White female, 5'7", 150 lbs.) Anyone with any information on the whereabouts of the two girls or their parents is asked to call HCSO at 247-8200 or dial 911. PANAMA CITY, Fla. (WTXL) - A former hospital CEO has been charged with wire and tax fraud after being accused of stealing more than $1 million from the Calhoun-Liberty Hospital for his own personal uses. Phillip Hill Jr., 42, of Blountstown, Fla., was arraigned Wednesday in the U.S. District Court in Panama City after a grand jury charged him with wire and tax fraud. The indictment says that, between 2010 and 2015, Hill used his positions as Chief Executive Officer and department head of Emergency Management Services to steal money from Calhoun-Liberty Hospital in Blountstown. According to the indictment, Hill billed the hospital for goods it never received and did so using invoices in the name of Southeastern Medical Supply, a fake business connected to a bank account controlled by Hill. It is alleged that Hill ordered medical supplies from eBay and other vendors and billed the hospital for these supplies at a much more expensive price than what he paid for them. The document says Hill used the funds in the hospital's bank account to pay personal credit card bills, to fund a business he owned and operated, to obtain cash, and to pay personal expenses, including grocery and travel expenses. It also states that when a hospital employee asked Hill for contact information for Southeastern, Hill stated that he did not have the phone number because he had lost his phone, and said that the last time he had talked with representatives of Southeastern, they were talking about going out of business. Court documents allege Hill, Jr. stole more than $1.1 million from the hospital between March 5, 2010 and August 5, 2015. The maximum penalty for each wire fraud count is 20 years in prison. The maximum penalty for each count of filing false tax returns is three years in prison. The trial is scheduled for July 2, at the United States Courthouse in Panama City. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - A former Publix butcher is suing the company, claiming that she was fired after she reported cross-contamination and unsafe food handling practices at the Southwood Village store. The discrimination lawsuit was filed in Leon County Circuit Court on April 29. According to the suit, Tracy Aiken had been employed as a "meat cutter" at the Southwood Village Publix since September 2001 and, in her first 14 years of employment, had never received a complaint. However, five years before she was fired, an African-American man was hired and eventually became the meat manager at the store. A year before Aiken was fired, another store manager was hired. His race is not specified in the suit. The lawsuit alleges that Aiken, who is a white woman, was mistreated by both men and another African-American male employee due to her race, gender, and her reporting of "cross contamination and other unsafe food handling practices that were occurring in the meat market." In June 2014, Aiken began noticing that the "sell-by" dates on several Porterhouse steaks had been changed to add additional time for sale. When Aiken reported it to her meat manager, however, he became upset and began to "nit pick" her work. In July 2014, Aiken again reported that sell-by dates on certain chicken products had been changed to add five days for sale. And again, according to Aiken, her manager got upset, going so far as to inform her during a work performance evaluation that she had "a mouth," and that he wanted her to work on that. Months later, the lawsuit says Aiken told her manager she was aware that the dates on meat were still being changed and told him she knew he was deliberately assigning her to the back to keep her from seeing what was happening. The manager got upset about that, becoming "aggressive by getting in [Aiken's] face." The suit says that the assistant manager at the store failed to investigate the meat dating issues any further, even after Aiken approached him about it two more times in 2015. In March 2016, the suit says Aiken began seeing employees mislabel meat products and observed other improper procedures including the cross-contamination of meats through the machines. Aiken claims that she witnessed her meat manager and other employees neglecting to clean the machines before processing different kinds of meat. Whenever she confronted her manager about this, the suit alleges he got angry and even shoved her on several occasions. Another employee also "physically assaulted" Aiken on two separate occasions. In December 2016, Aiken reported the treatment to human resources. The next day, an employee shoved her to the floor. When she reported it however, the store manager accused her of lying and sent her home. According to the lawsuit, Aiken was contacted on January 6, 2017 and told to return to work on Jan. 9 to speak with her manager. When she did, she was terminated. Based on her treatment, the suit alleges that Aiken was the victim of retaliatory actions as well as racial and gender based discrimination. PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - An Ohio man was detained at Palm Beach International Airport after telling deputies he was heading to Mar-A-Lago to smoke a "joint" with President Trump. Tyler Marrone, 27, was detained by Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, based on comments he made about President Trump. On April 18, Marrone arrived at the Palm Beach International Airport with the intentions of meeting with President Trump to smoke "a joint with him at Mar-A-Lago, and have a sit down meeting with the President." After being flagged as a suspicious person, Marrone was detained and interviewed by the U.S. Secret Service. Marrone told them, he "found a credit card and thought it was a gift from God so I bought myself a plane ticket to Florida to go see the President." The report states he had had full intentions of driving to Mar-A-Lago and walking onto the property to speak directly to the President about "the static and frequency that I constantly hear emanating from my basement and from fans and in my head." Authorities say Marrone, showed a preoccupation with governmental agencies and political figures, stating that he has, "been kicked out of the Supreme Court Building in Ohio and several courthouses where I was trying to meet with judges to discuss my thoughts and battleground ideas." Marrone met the criteria for the Baker Act, but was also charged for methamphetamine found inside his bag. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - We're just one month away from the official start of hurricane season and Wednesday, the Florida Public Service Commission got a jump on preparing for any storms. Public Service Organizations from across the state convened at Florida Public Service Commissions workshop Wednesday to review historical data that will help better prepare strategic responses for hurricane season in the future. All electric utility companies attend the two day workshop, along with several other public agencies. Together, they review preparedness plans. Their main goal is identifying ways to restore power quickly, while also minimizing damage to roads. Florida Power and Lights compared data from 2005's Hurricane Wilma to last year's Hurricane Irma and identified improvements. "What we found was that the investments we had made in hardening our infrastructure in advance of this last year paid off for our customers and actually shaved days off of restoration," said Mark Bubriski, Florida Power and Light Director of Public Affairs. Following Hurricane Irma, restoration time was one of the priorities from more than 700 consumer comments posted to the Public Service Commission's website. Data requests have been issued to explore additional topics such as pre-storm staging and causes of delays, damage assessments and accuracy of restoration forecasts, as well as customer and local government communications. The commission will accept live public comments during Thursday's workshop sessions. The Public Service Commission will present recommendations for future actions in June. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Tallahassee Police Department is looking for three suspects who were caught on camera stealing almost $5,000 worth of clothing from Victoria's Secret. TPD is investigating a retail theft that happened on April 26 at the Victoria's Secret located in Governor's Square Mall. The suspects stole $4,856 worth of clothing items. TPD says if you have any information, call them at 850-891-4316. Updated : 2018-05-03 By Wang Mingjie(chinadaily.com.cn) Chinese pharmaceutical company WuXi Biologics will invest 325 million euros ($393 million) in a new manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Ireland, the firm announced on Monday.[Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Chinese pharmaceutical company WuXi Biologics will invest 325 million euros ($393 million) in a new manufacturing facility in Dundalk, Ireland, the firm announced on Monday. The investment will create 400 highly skilled jobs during the next five years. Leo Varadkar, the prime minister of Ireland, said: "This is the start of something special. We will see the 'factory of the future', right here in Dundalk. It's the first sizable greenfield project from China in the pharma sector and I am delighted to see it located here in Dundalk. It's also the latest in a number of investments in this town, which has become a hub for a range of sectors, mainly in the new knowledge-based and pharmaceutical sectors." Li Ge, chairman of WuXi Biologics, said: "We have been engaging IDA (Industrial Development Authority) and Ireland Strategic Investment Fund for several years before finalizing today's exciting investment in this community." The deal is the company's second major partnership in Ireland, following on from WuXi NextCODE's work with Genomics Medicine Ireland. Li said: "These ventures showcase how competitive Ireland is for global enterprise and investment, and we are grateful for all the support local agencies and the talented people here have provided us." Heather Humphreys, minister for business, enterprise and innovation, welcomed the announcement, saying: "This huge 325-million-euro investment is a great vote of confidence in Ireland and reinforces our image as a global center of excellence in biologics. This development is a further example of the success of our commitment under the Regional Action Plans for Jobs to provide quality jobs in regional locations." Chen Zhisheng, chief executive of WuXi Biologics, said it had been exciting initiating the company's first global site to expedite biologics development in Europe. "This is the start and a critical part of our global biomanufacturing network to ensure that biologics are manufactured to the highest quality and with a robust supply chain to benefit patients worldwide," Chen said. He noted that the company is committed to Ireland and will work with all local partners to build the next generation biomanufacturing facility as a showcase to the global biotech community. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-02 23:39:22|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Chen Wenxian, Wang Bowen JERUSALEM, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Experts and companies from Israeli semiconductor industry said they see a lot of opportunities of working with Chinese partners in the sector. "I believe that there are a lot of opportunities that Chinese companies can work with Israeli ones in the semiconductor sector," said Sol Gradman, general chair of the Chipex2018, an annual event of the Israeli microelectronics industry. Gradman cited that Israel, with a new generation of technologies, is looking at future applications such as automotive applications, medical devices and for Internet of Things. ChipEx2018, held Tuesday in Tel Aviv, the coastal city and the economic hub of Israel, was attended by major semiconductor companies from Israel and abroad. Exhibitors presented their latest technological innovations of chips and related products and solutions, and even their ambitions of future direction of the industry. Some exhibitors said they had already close business cooperation with Chinese companies, some of which have already opened innovation and R&D centers in Israel over the past years. "We're super excited about being a part of helping grow China's semiconductor market," said Mark Granger, vice president of Global Foundries, a semiconductor foundry providing combination of design, development, and fabrication services. Global Foundries has partnered with the local government in Chengdu, capital of southwestern China's Sichuan Province, to build a 300mm fabrication facility. "China is such a huge and growing developer of products and solutions that it makes sense to have a very vibrant or large semiconductor industry," Granger told Xinhua. "That's exactly why we're building the local Chinese semiconductor fabrication facility," Granger said. Granger added that many innovative things are coming out of China in the chip design and development, and will continue to grow into a big market. The experts at the Chipex2018 also viewed artificial intelligence and machine learning as the basic elements of the future development of the semiconductor industry. However, one big challenge to further pushing forward the technological innovation of the semiconductor industry is the need for huge investment, they said. Thus, it is necessary to increase global investment for the development of the semiconductor industry, they added. "It makes sense to have a global environment and one of very free and open trade," Granger said. Photo taken on Nov. 21, 2012 shows the Palm-Leaf Manuscripts of Buddhist Sutras in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Chogo) ULAN BATOR, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Embassy in Mongolia has donated a modern Mongolian Cyrillic version of a Tibetan Buddhist classic to a library in the country's north. The sutras of 410 volumes of the classic "Kangyur and Tengyur" were handed over to the director of Central Library in the northern province of Darkhan-Uul, at a ceremony in the capital Ulan Bator attended by a number of officials from both countries. "China and Mongolia are friendly neighbors connected by mountains and rivers," Chinese Ambassador to Mongolia Xing Haiming said during the handover ceremony. "In recent years, cultural relations between the two countries have grown. Today's event is part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations in the cultural sector," he added. "This is a great gift to us from the people of China. We are grateful that our young people are able to read the wonderful scriptures in their mother language," said the library director Mr. D.Tserendavaa. Last year, the Chinese Embassy to Mongolia donated the same books to the Department of Philosophy and Religion at the National University of Mongolia. RABAT, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Wednesday called for stronger Euro-African cooperation in dealing with the migration issue. The Euro-African dialogue on migration must be the subject of a renewed partnership which allows Europeans and Africans to participate, on an equal footing, in the joint definition of the terms of cooperation, Bourita said at the 5th Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development held in Marrakech. The Euro-African partnership must be based on inter-continental cooperation and solidarity. Dialogue is the only way to support the new mobility standards, making the migrant a central player in the Euro-African space, he stressed. The 5th Euro-African Ministerial Conference on Migration and Development kicked off Wednesday, with the participation of ministers from around 60 countries in Africa and Europe, as well as from the European Commission and the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States. The conference is part of the Euro-African Ministerial Dialogue on Migration and Development, also known as the Rabat Process. The dialogue has been a platform for political cooperation among the countries along the migration routes between Africa and Europe since 2006. ROME, May 2 (Xinhua) -- School authorities in Italy's northern Piedmont region have banned children from four different families from attending kindergarten because the parents failed to comply with a government immunization deadline, Italian news agency ANSA reported on Wednesday. A government decree approved into law in July last year increases the number of mandatory vaccines for kids aged up to 16 years from four to 10. The measure includes immunization against highly contagious diseases such as measles, polio, and rubella, and makes completing these vaccinations a pre-requisite for children to attend school. Italy has seen a drop-off in immunizations in recent years in the midst of highly organized "no-vax" campaigns claiming that vaccines cause autism. The populist Five Star Movement and the rightwing League, the two winners of Italy's March 4 general election, have endorsed "no-vax" positions in the past and oppose mandatory immunizations. Perhaps as a result, a measles epidemic flared up in Italy beginning in January 2017. Last year almost 5,000 people were infected and four people died the highly contagious disease, according to the Health Ministry. Italy has seen 411 cases of measles and three cases of rubella between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28 this year, according to the Superior Institutes of Health (ISS). Of the measles cases, 92 were children under five years old and 28 were infants under 12 months old, while 91 percent of those affected had not been vaccinated, according to the ISS. Measles has the potential for large outbreaks wherever immunization coverage has dropped below the necessary threshold of 95 percent of the population, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It is globally still one of the leading causes of childhood mortality, and the only way to prevent it is by immunization, according to the WHO. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 08:07:12|Editor: Li Xia Video Player Close A Nepali journalist lights candles during a candlelight vigil to pay tribute to journalists who were killed in a deadly suicide attack in Kabul of Afghanistan, in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on May 2, 2018. The twin deadly attacks in Kabul on Monday killed at least 25 people including nine journalists, and injured 45 others including seven journalists. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma) by Xinhua writers Jin Jing, Gu Zhenqiu, Zhang Dailei MANCHESTER, Britain, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The second the spinning machines were turned on to twist cotton to make yarn, the thunderous noise became so unbearable that visitors had to plug their ears. In a demonstration at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the staff are trying to show the long and complex process that turns raw cotton into cloth, with real machines left from 19th century mills. The show, held on a regular basis at the museum, relives the wretched condition of the old Victorian cotton mills that witnessed the darkest chapter of workers' lives in modern human history due to ruthless capitalist greed for profit. What helped motivate Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels to embark on a lifelong fight for justice and communist ideals still resonates to this day ahead of the bicentenary anniversary of Marx's birthday on May 5. OLD MEMORIES REKINDLED "It brought back all the memories," said 54-year-old visitor Katy Turnbull. Like many Mancunians, Turnbull has a grandma who used to work in a mill as a weaver close to Manchester, the world's first industrial city known then as the "Cottonopolis." "My grandma used to tell me the stories when I was young. It was impossible to imagine how hard life could be for the workers," Turnbull told Xinhua. "History needs to be reminded every now and then," she added. A huge black and white picture of a little girl was placed in front of the machines. Children were employed to fix broken threads and sweep the floor as it was easier for them to get under the machines. The youngest workers in the mills were five to six years old. It was hot, humid, noisy, dusty and deadly. Britain's early industrialization that essentially propelled the country to become the world's largest imperialist power in the 19th century, was achieved at the cost of workers who suffered appalling breathing and spine problems and very often, unexpected deaths. In his landmark work The Condition of the Working-Class in England, Engels used the phrase "social murder," accusing the bourgeoisie, the class which held social and political control, of placing "hundreds of proletarians in such a position that they inevitably meet a too early and an unnatural death." Apparently, "social murder" is not an obsolete expression, as the gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen partly due to a decade of austerity measures adopted by the British government since the global financial crisis. After the Grenfell Tower fire which killed at least 80 people in one of the richest and most unequal districts in central London in 2017, Aditya Chakrabortty, a columnist, wrote in the Guardian that "over 170 years after Engels, Britain is still a country that murders its poor." "The victims of Grenfell Tower didn't just die. Austerity, outsourcing and deregulation killed them - just as Victorian Manchester killed the poor then," he wrote. RISING INTEREST IN MARX, ENGELS Manchester, where Engels lived for more than 20 years and which Marx visited almost every year since 1845, marked a crucial stop where Marx and Engels developed their theories about class, surplus value and capitalist mode production. Outside the science museum housed in a former warehouse close to the world's first inter-city railway, traces of the cotton mills are hard to find. Most of the mills that existed in the Victorian era were demolished as the cotton industry in Manchester declined quickly after 1945. The remaining ones have now been turned into either residential apartments or offices buildings. But the zeal for visiting the remains of the mills or anything related to Marx or Engels seems to be on the rise especially in the run-up to the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth. In front of the old site of Little Ireland, a notorious former slum of Irish immigrant workers described by Engels in his book as "the worst of the slums of the township," Jonathan Schofield, a tour guide, said his tours about Marx and Engel's footsteps in Manchester were very popular. The two tours scheduled for May 5, Marx's birthday, were sold out two months in advance. Schofield, who started his tour business 21 years ago, said his tours have drawn an increasing proportion of young people. After Brexit, young people who may have dodged politics, seemed to have realized that politics can make things happen and they want to be more involved, Schofield said. The increasingly widening gap between the rich and the poor has apparently revived public interest in communist ideals, he said. "Maybe sometimes we think that this is just an old story, but no, it has a real echo, a real resonance for today as well, and young people appreciate that," he told Xinhua. Chetham's Library, the place where Marx and Engels frequently met and studied together in Manchester during the summer of 1845, has also attracted an increasing number of visitors in recent years. Housed in a light-brown medieval sandstone building in the city, the library is known for a stained oak desk in the window alcove of the reading room -- Karl Marx's desk. Holding the original book of The Literature of Political Economy that Marx read in 1845 at his hand, Fergus Wilde, a senior librarian, said there is a "rebirth" of public interest in Marx. Marx's social critique has enjoyed a revival as the public realized that the financial crisis was essentially triggered by capitalist greed and a resurgence in neo-liberalism. "Marxist ideas are revisited not only because of its influence on history but also on present times," said Wilde. CALLING FOR SOCIALIST CHANGE Britain has seen in recent years rising support for socialist ideas shown by public support for the opposition Labour Party led by Jeremy Corbyn known for his strong socialist views. A recent YouGov survey put Labour's support rate at 42 percent, ahead of the Conservatives at 40 percent. There has been speculation among the mainstream media about the possibility of Corbyn being the next British prime minister. The ruling Conservative Party led by Prime Minster Theresa May unexpectedly lost its majority in the 2017 general election. Polls showed that Tories had lost the support of both young and middle-aged voters due to the Tory cuts in health, education, welfare and local government. Unlike the over-60s with secure pensions, paid-off mortgages and money in the bank, the younger generations are struggling with precarious jobs, unaffordable housing and growing debts, according to a report by the DOC Research Institute. To tackle the "multiple failures of neoliberal orthodoxy," the Labour promised "For The Many Not The Few." In its 2017 Labour manifesto, the party offered a wide-ranging socialist program, including increasing taxes on the wealthy and nationalizing the railways, postal services and utilities. "Marxist ideas are not alien in Britain," said Alain Kahn, senior librarian at the Working Class Movement Library in Salford. Some of the left-wing politicians have clearly picked up some Marxist ideas, which have helped them expand public support, he noted. "The rising support for the Labour Party and Jeremy Corbyn is the best proof that Marx's critique of the capitalist economics is pretty solid and still holds today," he said. SANTO DOMINGO, May 2 (Xinhua) -- The Dominican Republic has reached a milestone in its foreign policy by establishing diplomatic ties with China, a senator of the Caribbean country said. "We could say we made it," said Senator Charles Mariotti, who is president of the senate's Industries, Commerce and Free Trade Zones Commission. Mariotti recalled that in 2012, Dominican President Danilo Medina, soon after taking office, instructed him to travel to China to discuss the possibility of forging diplomatic ties. Those early measures paid off when the two countries signed a joint communique in Beijing Tuesday (local time) on the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relationship. The decision will secure Medina's place in history books as the head of state who succeeded in consolidating ties with a country that the Dominican Republic needs, Mariotti said. The new relationship is expected to boost bilateral cooperation in a range of areas, including infrastructure, trade, tourism, environment, energy, technology and security. "With China, we have a lot to talk about -- rail transportation, ports, hydroelectric plants ..." Mariotti said. China has become the Dominican Republic's second largest source of imports. Data from the Chinese Customs show bilateral trade was worth some 1.9 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, an increase of 10.3 percent from the previous year. Together, the two countries should work to strike a balance in the commercial relationship, while the Dominican Republic should improve its legal framework, Mariotti said. "We have to continue to make progress on our agenda to make it easier to do business. The Dominican Republic has a great challenge ahead and that is to strengthen the legal security so that Chinese investors and all others who come feel confident about investing in the country," the lawmaker added. The island should also prepare for a rise in the number of tourists from China by diversifying the industry, he said, mentioning, in particular, his country's culinary culture. "Now we have to ... mentalize and interiorize that we have to prepare ourselves for the interchange that will begin with this great nation," said Mariotti. NEW YORK, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Amid the trade tension between China and the United States, while much of the ongoing analyses focus on China's reliance on exports to the U.S., American companies and their investors have greater revenue exposure to China, an expert said. Wei Zhen, head of China research at global index provider MSCI, said in an article on the MSCI website, "5.1 percent of the revenues of companies in the MSCI USA Index come from China and may be at risk as a result of a trade war. In comparison, only 2.8 percent of the revenues of the companies in the MSCI China Index come from the U.S." To quantify the potential impact from an equity portfolio perspective, MSCI examined Chinese firms' revenue exposure to the United States and vice versa at a sector level, derived from the MSCI Economic Exposure database. The study showed that China's information technology and energy sectors are the most exposed to the U.S. economy. On the other hand, the U.S. information technology, materials, industrials, consumer staples and energy sectors all have relatively high exposure to China's economy. "While an expanded trade war could lead to a 'lose-lose' outcome, there could be greater impact for stocks in the U.S. Overall, they are more exposed to the Chinese economy than the other way around," Wei noted. A trade war could also have repercussions beyond the two countries. According to MSCI, international developed markets have more exposure to the United States in general, especially within the healthcare and consumer discretionary sectors, though they are more dependent on China within real estate. Emerging markets and Asia ex Japan are more exposed to China by wide margins across all sectors, with the exception of information technology and consumer discretionary, where the differences are smaller. "Given the potential effects of a trade war, even high-quality stocks with attractive valuations that have such exposure may need to be re-evaluated," Wei said. Explosion in U.S. state of Connecticut injures 4 police Source: Xinhua 2018-05-03 10:27:13 WASHINGTON, May 2 (Xinhua) -- An explosion in the U.S. state of Connecticut Wednesday injured four police officers responding to a domestic violence report, local media said. Editor: Li Xia SYDNEY, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A widespread crackdown on major crime syndicates in Australia's Victoria state has netted drugs worth about 10 million Australian dollars (7.5 million U.S. dollars) as well as guns, stolen property and cash, police said on Thursday. More than 30 search warrants were issued in the three-month operation covering the north of state capital Melbourne, with at least six men and a woman arrested and charged with drug and firearm offences, state police said in a media statement. More than 2,000 liters of the butanediol substance, which can be broken down into illegal drug doses, were seized in the crackdown. Twelve firearms as well as "a large quantity of cannabis and a number of items related to burglaries in the area" were also found. "The amount of Butanediol seized is substantial; if you break the volume down into individual doses, you have in excess of one million doses," police regional crime inspector Jamie Templeton said. KHARTOUM, May 2 (Xinhua)-- Sudan and Ethiopia on Wednesday reiterated their commitment to the 2015 tripartite agreement they signed with Egypt to resolve the dispute on the upcoming Nile dam in Ethiopia. Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made the commitment during their talks in Khartoum. "We are committed to the Declaration of Principles on the GERD (Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam) and to the importance of the tripartite committee," al-Bashir said. He hoped the tripartite technical committee of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan would achieve cooperation in water security and overcome the barriers which halted the technical negotiations. The Ethiopian prime minister reiterated his country's keenness to enhance strategic ties with Sudan in all fields and to work with Sudan to realize peace and development in the continent. The last round of tripartite talks on GERD was suspended in April without reaching an agreement on the technical report prepared by French firms on the potential impact of the dam. In December 2017, Egypt proposed to have the World Bank as a neutral party on the tripartite technical committee, but Ethiopia refused. GERD, which will cost 4.7 billion U.S. dollars, is now 64 percent complete. Ethiopia hopes the project will provide a constant supply of clean and affordable power and accelerate its shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial powerhouse. Ethiopia and Sudan eye massive benefits from the GERD construction, while Egypt is concerned it might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the Nile River water. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 12:37:36|Editor: pengying Video Player Close Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza speaks during a campaign in Gitega province, central Burundi on May 2, 2018. Campaigns for a referendum on constitutional amendments started Wednesday in Burundi with political parties holding rallies throughout the land-locked African country. (Xinhua/Evrard Ngendakumana) BUJUMBURA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Campaigns for a referendum on constitutional amendments started Wednesday in Burundi with political parties holding rallies throughout the land-locked African country. Campaigns for the referendum, due on May 17, are allowed till May 14, according to a presidential decree. The draft constitution provides for the creation of the post of a prime minister and only one vice-president, whereas the 2005 constitution provides for two vice-presidents. The prime minister is to be designated from the ruling party, while the vice-president will come from a different party. It extends the presidential term from the five years provided in the 2005 constitution to seven years and allows the president to serve two consecutive terms. The draft constitution will be passed if it is approved by over 50 percent of voters. The ruling National Council for the Defense of Democracy-Forces for the Defense of Democracy (CNDD-FDD) party launched its campaign in Gitega, a central province where President Pierre Nkurunziza called on all citizens to vote "yes". "I will also cast the 'yes' ballot during the constitutional referendum. The constitution is ours," he said. "Adopting the constitutional referendum means kicking away colonizers and oppressors. We, Burundian citizens, have decided to have our own destiny in our hands. We want to prepare our own future and to construct our own nation without relying on foreigners," Evariste Ndayishimiye, CNDD-FDD secretary general, told a crowd of party members. According to Ndayishimiye, the adoption of the draft constitution would mean an end to disorder in Burundi and the president would be able to choose the leaders to run the country. Other parties also launched their campaigns on Wednesday. The ruling party's allies, like the National Progress Union, the party of First Vice-President Gaston Sindimwo, the Front for Democracy in Burundi, and the Development and Peace Union also called for support for the draft constitution. The opposition coalition Burundians' Hope, headed by First Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly Agathon Rwasa, began campaigning against the draft constitution in northern Burundi. Around 5 million citizens have registered for the referendum and the general elections, the National Independent Electoral Commission said. Nkurunziza was elected president by parliament in 2005 and re-elected by universal suffrage in 2010 and in 2015. Burundi plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term bid, which he won in July 2015. His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015. HANOI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam will auction quality smuggled foreign cigarettes for export on a trial basis starting on June 18 according to a prime ministerial decision, its Ministry of Industry and Trade said on Thursday. Under the decision, exporting the auctioned cigarettes via land border gates or to Vietnam's neighboring countries is prohibited, and revenues from the auctions will be used for anti-cigarette smuggling. Nearly 1 billion smuggled cigarette packets are consumed in Vietnam each year, causing losses of some 450 million U.S. dollars to state budget, according to the Vietnam Tobacco Association. The country has 15.6 million smokers aged over 15, with 85.3 percent smoking daily, who annually spend some 31 trillion Vietnamese dong (nearly 1.4 billion U.S. dollars) on their habit, showed a recent survey by the Vietnamese Health Ministry. VIENTIANE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Lao economists have called on the government to pay more attention to preparations for the country's expected graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status, to ensure sustainable development. If Laos leaves the LDC grouping as anticipated, possibly in 2024, it will result in a reduction of Official Development Assistance (ODA) and assistance under the Generalized Scheme of Preference (GSP) granted to exporters by many developed nations, local daily Vientiane Times reported on Thursday. Local economists are concerned about the financial situation after Laos loses its LDC status as the government will need to find other sources of revenue to replace the income lost from the Official Development Assistance, said the report. A senior economist at the Lao National Economic Research Institute, Leeber Leebouapao, told Vientiane Times on Wednesday that the government has yet to devise plans and measures to cope with the challenges of the country's change in official development status. "We will face two main challenges after LDC graduation, namely a reduction in ODA and a decline in the privileged trade treatment granted to Laos which will impact the manufacturing and export sectors," he said. LONDON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Some 30 people, including children, were injured Wednesday night in an explosion during a Jewish festival bonfire in north London. Videos recorded at the event showed a bonfire being lit, followed by a large explosion and a fireball engulfing the crowd standing near the fire. Some witnesses said the explosion was sparked by mobile phones being thrown into the bonfire, a tradition for Lag BaOmer, an annual Jewish festive day. However, Jewish website Yeshiva reported that "it appears that the explosion was caused by fuel and not the smartphone, although there definitely were multiple smartphones placed inside the pile to be burned". Ten people are believed to have been hospitalized. Their conditions were not known immediately. KHARTOUM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Wednesday announced the decision to close 13 diplomatic missions and four consular missions abroad due to a financial crisis, the official Sudan News Agency reported. Al-Bashir issued a decree to restructure Sudan's external representation and directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to close select diplomatic and consular missions abroad. The decree also directed to have a one-man ambassador in seven diplomatic missions. Last month, then Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour had said that Sudan is unable to finance its diplomatic missions abroad and some diplomats have to return home. "For months, Sudanese diplomats have not received salaries and there is also a delay in paying rent for diplomatic missions," Ghandour said, prior to being fired by al-Bashir on April 19. Sudan, hit by widening economic problems, has been suffering a foreign currency shortage since January this year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 14:53:03|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close NANJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China's only original manuscripts by Karl Marx were put on exhibition Thursday at Nanjing University in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. The exhibition, held to mark the 200th anniversary of the birthday of Karl Marx on May 5, uses historical documents and other items to show how Marxism was shaped, developed and spread to China over the past 200 years. Among the items in the collection are Karl Marx's original notes from Brussels. The notes include excerpts of economics works, the mathematics behind his doctrine of surplus value as well as family accounts. The notes are part of a private collection held by Zeng Huansha, chair of Jiangsu Redsun Group. The collection has been evaluated by experts from the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the International Institute of Social History in Amsterdam and confirmed as Marx's original manuscripts. Also part of the month-long exhibition are a statue of Karl Marx by Wu Weishan, curator of the National Art Museum of China, and long-scroll calligraphy works of the Chinese version of the "Communist Manifesto." Inside the university gallery, the exhibitor built a replica of Marx's study in London, where he wrote his masterwork, "Capital." SEOUL, May 3 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in will wrestle with documents on the enforcement of the Panmunjom Declaration, signed after last week's inter-Korean summit, on May 10 that marks the first anniversary of his inauguration, the presidential Blue House said Thursday. Yoon Young-chan, senior presidential press secretary, told a press briefing that Moon will wrestle with a mountain of documents as usual on the first anniversary of his inauguration, without any special press conference. He said the Blue House was simply and plainly preparing for the anniversary as situations on the Korean Peninsula are changing at a dizzyingly rapid pace ahead of the summit between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Moon and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un met on the South Korean side of the border village of Panmunjom last Friday, signing and announcing the Panmunjom Declaration in which the two leaders agreed to complete denuclearization of the peninsula and the change of the current armistice agreement into a peace treaty by the end of this year. Kim is forecast to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump in May or early June to discuss the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The Blue House unveiled a press release on state affairs management by President Moon for the past year, in which it said peace will stand firm through the upcoming DPRK-U.S. summit, and the fourth inter-Korean summit this fall will be an opportunity to confirm a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula. Moon and Kim agreed to meet again this fall in Pyongyang. SYDNEY, May 3 (Xinhua) -- For the third month in a row Australia has posted a trade surplus of more than 1 billion Australian dollars, said the Australian Bureau of Statistics' international trade report for March on Thursday. In seasonally adjusted terms, the country recorded a surplus of 1.527 billion Australian dollars (1.15 billion U.S. dollars), the report said. It was a pleasant surprise for economists who expected the figure to come in at around 950 million Australian dollars (715 million U.S. dollars). According to the report, the main reason for the big lift was broad-based increases across all major categories. But some of the largest improvements came from a 226 million-Australian dollars surge in cereal grain exports, a 131 million-Australian dollars rise in non-monetary gold sales and an increased volume of LNG gas to Asia, which was up 58 million Australian dollars. Along with the sharp rise in exports, Australia's import totals also soared, up about 1.0 percent overall, on the back of greater fuel imports and a recent rally in global oil prices. "We anticipated a broadly neutral impact," Westpac Bank's senior economist Andrew Hanlan said. "But these figures suggest that the export upswing has resumed." "The outlook for exports is positive in our view, led by LNG as new capacity comes on stream and services such as education and tourism in response to strong demand from the Asian region and complemented by the recent retreat in the Australian dollar." Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 15:23:09|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Smartphone shipments in China fell below 100 million in the first quarter of this year, the first time since Q3 2013, a report showed. China was the biggest driver of the global smartphone shipment decline in Q1, which posted a 2.9-percent year-on-year drop to 334.3 million, according to preliminary data from global market researcher International Data Corporation (IDC). "Globally, as well as in China, a key bellwether, smartphone consumers are trading up to more premium devices, but there are no longer as many new smartphone converts, resulting in shipments dropping," said Melissa Chau, associate research director with IDC's Worldwide Mobile Device Trackers. China has more mobile internet users than any other country as their number reached 753 million by the end of 2017. Shenzhen-based Chinese telecom giant Huawei's global market share ranked third in Q1 after Samsung and Apple, followed by China's Xiaomi and OPPO, the report showed. The three Chinese smartphone makers all saw their overseas sales further expand in Q1, especially in markets in Western Europe, India and Southeast Asia. TALUQAN, Afghanistan, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Some 45 Afghan girl students were poisoned following a suspected gas attack in the northern province of Takhar on Thursday, local police said. "Up to 45 students of Banan Middle School in Khwaja Bahauddin district were mysteriously poisoned in their classrooms and have been taken to nearby hospitals," Abdul Khalil Asir, provincial police spokesman, told Xinhua. The affected students said they have smelled a strange gas when entering classrooms, Asir said, adding the provincial police department has launched an investigation into the case. Gas attacks frequently take place in girls' schools by militants who are opposing education of girls and the official did not rule out the involvement of anti-government militants in the incident. A similar attack occurred in a girls' school in southern Helmand province early last month. Enditem KIGALI, May 2 (Xinhua) -- A refugee from a Congo refugee camp on Wednesday succumbed to injuries following Tuesday's clash with the Rwandan police in western Rwanda, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugee Affairs said. The deceased refugee had sustained injuries during a confrontation with police on Tuesday, said the ministry in a statement. "One refugee from Kiziba camp succumbed to his injuries he got when, together with some refugees, he was trying to interfere with police patrols yesterday, May 1. Tear gas used to disperse the said refugees had injured him," said the statement. The ministry called on refugees not to interfere with Rwandan police patrols for their own security. The Kiziba camp is one of the five refugee camps in Rwanda. Established in 1996, the camp hosts over 17,000 refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo), around 77 percent of which are women and children, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The police on Tuesday said they arrested 23 people for violence related to the Kiziba Refugee Camp in western Rwanda. Several refugees resorted to violence, throwing stones and attacking police officers with sharp objects, leading to Tuesday's arrest of 23 individuals who were handed over to relevant authorities for investigation, said the police. PHNOM PENH, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday dispatched 428 peacekeepers, including 24 females, to join United Nations peacekeeping missions in the African nations of Mali and South Sudan. The troops were went as the one-year mission of the fourth batch of 309 troops to Mali and the sixth batch of the 119 troops in South Sudan comes to an end. Speaking at a departure ceremony held at the Military Airbase here, Gen. Pol Saroeun, commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), said the peacekeepers included airport engineers, deminers and military medics. He advised them to strictly abide by the UN rules and disciplines, the RCAF code of ethics, and the host countries' laws. "It's necessary to create good relations with the host countries and peoples and to respect their tradition and custom," he said. Alexandre Huynh, representative of the United Nations System in Cambodia, said Mali and South Sudan were a long way from home and this mission would undoubtedly challenge the peacekeepers professionally and personally. "Your service does great honor to your country, and to Cambodia's contribution to international peace, security and friendship," he said. "The ceremony today reminds us that more than two decades ago UN peacekeeping forces were sent here. But Cambodia now sends troops and expertise to UN peacekeeping operations in many countries to bring peace and stability and to protect civilians," he said. Huynh said that since 2006, Cambodia had sent a total of 5,257 troops, including 236 females, to Sudan, South Sudan, Central African Republic, Chad, Syria, Lebanon, and Mali under the UN framework. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 17:43:41|Editor: ZD Video Player Close MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Despite the progress made over the last two decades in empowering women in Asia and the Pacific, an Asian Development Bank (ADB) hosted seminar said on Thursday there remain huge gender gaps, particularly in the economic and political spheres in the region. The message from the seminar "Breaking Barriers: Women Entrepreneurship in Asia and the Pacific" held on Thursday at ADB's 51st annual meeting was that supporting women's entrepreneurship is key to their economic empowerment. "Women's entrepreneurship is important because it helps us move closer to the goal of achieving a more gender equal Asia and the Pacific," said ADB President Takehiko Nakao at the seminar, attended by policymakers, entrepreneurs, researchers, and development practitioners. "Under our new Strategy 2030, ADB will pay increased attention to generating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women," Nakao added. In the theme chapter of the Asian Development Outlook Update 2015, ADB estimated that closing the existing gender gaps could generate a 30 percent increase in the per capita income of an average Asian economy in one generation or 30 years, and 70 percent in two generations. The panelists agreed that while there is a long road ahead to full gender equality, policies supporting women's entrepreneurship can help ignite momentum for this effort, together with access to information, government services, and credit. Nearly half of ADB lending already has strong gender design elements, according to the bank. "ADB under Strategy 2030 will place an even stronger emphasis on women's economic empowerment. Infrastructure projects will maximize women's access to markets and opportunities for skilled jobs," ADB said. Nakao also mentioned ADB's ongoing efforts to improving gender balance within the bank, with representation of women among international staff increasing to a record high of 35 percent in 2017, a step closer to the bank's target of 40 percent by the end of 2022. HANOI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam spent 801 million U.S. dollars importing evidence-based medicines from January to April, seeing a year-on-year decline of 2.9 percent, according to the country's General Statistics Office on Thursday. Vietnam's medicine import turnovers were over 2.8 billion U.S. dollars last year, mainly coming from France, India, Germany, South Korea, the United States, Britain, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and Thailand. According to global research firm BMI Research, Vietnams pharmaceutical market in 2017 grew some 10 percent against 2016 to 5.2 billion U.S. dollars, and it would continue to grow at a double-digit rate in the next five years. On average, one Vietnamese person's annual spending on pharmaceutical products rose to 37.97 U.S. dollars in 2015 from 22.25 U.S. dollars in 2010 and 9.85 U.S. dollars in 2005, said a local ratings company named Vietnam Report. The spending will surge to 85 U.S. dollars by 2020 and 163 U.S. dollars by 2025, the Vietnamese company predicted. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 17:58:43|Editor: ZD Video Player Close MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) member countries can capitalize on new regional and international development dynamics, including China's Belt and Road Initiative, to strengthen regional infrastructure, boost trade, and reduce poverty, according to participants at a high-level Asian Development Bank (ADB) seminar held on Thursday. "CAREC and the Belt and Road Initiative uphold common visions of improving connectivity for shared prosperity," said ADB Vice-President Zhang Wencai. "The overlapping geographies of CAREC and the Belt and Road Initiative provide further impetus for close coordination to jointly build resilient and sustainable regional infrastructure, strengthen trade links, and create jobs and greater economic opportunities for all our countries," he said. Established in 1997 by the ADB, CAREC members include Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Participants shared their insights on how stronger collaboration among regional and international cooperation initiatives can support this process. They agreed to continue the momentum of discussion and identify concrete regional investment projects to deepen economic cooperation in the region. The session was organized on the sidelines of ADB's 51st annual meeting in Manila. During the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in May 2017, a memorandum of understanding was signed between China and six multilateral development banks (MDBs) including ADB. The agreement highlighted the MDBs' preparedness to cooperate with the Belt and Road Initiative, in the context of each MDB's respective country and subregional partnership strategies and programs. Following this, at the 16th CAREC ministerial conference in October 2017, ministers from the 11 member countries signed the "Dushanbe Declaration," which commits these countries to building stronger ties between CAREC and the Belt and Road Initiative. CAREC seeks to cooperate closely with the Belt and Road Initiative to promote economic growth, prosperity, and elimination of poverty in the region. Over the past two decades, the ADB said the CAREC program has grown from six projects worth 247 million U.S. dollars in 2001 to 185 projects worth more than 31.5 billion U.S. dollars as of December 2017. KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 (Xinhua) -- More than 60 civil work packages of the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail will be awarded to Malaysian companies, said the Malaysian rail project delivery vehicle MyHSR Corporation on Thursday. MyHSR's chief executive officer Mohd Nur Ismal told a press briefing that these packages would result in over 5,000 sub-contract packages along the 335 km alignment from the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur to the southern Johor state bordering Singapore. While pushing for localization, Nur Ismal said MyHSR has also asked local players to partner with high speed rail expertise globally to ensure the safety and efficiency of the rail as the high speed rail project is new in Malaysia. The rail project is also expected to generate more than 70,000 jobs to deliver the civil works packages, including 22,000 professionals and skilled workers. It is estimated that 209 billion ringgit (53.07 billion U.S. dollars) of gross national income will be generated based on spill over effects in the rail and supporting industries as a result of developing high speed rail capabilities in 2035. The high speed rail is a joint project between the governments of Malaysia and Singapore that aims to facilitate a 90-minute travel time between the two countries. It was announced Wednesday that consortiums of Malaysian companies had been appointed as the project delivery partners for the northern and southern sections of the alignment. The project partners will be responsible for designing and delivering the civil works for the rail project. According to Nur Ismal, the advanced works of the rail project are expected to start by the end of this year, after regulatory requirements are met and land acquisitions are settled. MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Troops from the Philippines and the United States will kick off next Monday a series of joint military exercises designed to hone their interoperability skills in fighting terrorism, including chemical attack, and disaster response, said a Philippine military officer on Thursday. "Every year, we are trying to level up the training," Lt. Liezl Vidallon told reporters. For example last year, she said the focus is natural calamity. This year, she said the drills will focus on how to counter man-made calamities like chemical attack. The U.S. and Philippines will work with regional partner nations throughout the "Balikatan" or "shoulder to shoulder" period. Multinational forces from the U.S., the Philippines, Australia, and Japan will participate in all major training events this year. The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has also invited Britain to observe training for the mitigation of post-disaster suffering. Vidallon said the participants in this year's Balikatan Exercises will be dealing with new tactics, techniques and procedures and lessons learned from last year's joint training. This year's joint exercises, slated for May 7 to 18, will be conducted in several locations in the Philippine main Luzon island. Balikatan is an annual U.S.-Philippine multilateral military exercise focused on mutual defense, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. Vidallon did not say how many American and Philippines troops are participating in this year's Balikatan exercises. About 5,400 from both countries took part in Balikatan 2017. HANOI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam gained nearly 1.1 billion U.S. dollars from exporting 104,000 tons of cashew nuts in the first four months of this year, up 33.5 percent in value and 24.6 percent in volume on-year, its Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said on Thursday. In the four-month period, the country shipped abroad 689,000 tons of coffee worth more than 1.3 billion U.S. dollars, posting respective year-on-year rises of 17.7 percent, and 0.2 percent. Meanwhile, it sold overseas 34,000 tons of tea worth 54 million U.S. dollars, witnessing respective year-on-year drops of 10.6 percent and 3.6 percent. Vietnam earned over 3.5 billion U.S. dollars from exporting 352,205 tons of cashew nuts, mainly to the United States, the Netherlands and China, in 2017, while importing 1.1 million tons of raw cashew from Africa, said the ministry. Vietnam has strength in cashew processing and customer base and it will assist Cambodia, which is interested in expanding cashew-growing area and exporting raw cashew, in growing 500,000 hectares of cashew with output of some 1 million tons in the next 10 years, according to the Vietnam Cashew Association. KIGALI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 183 people were killed and 215 others were injured in Rwanda by disasters triggered by heavy rains in the first four months of 2018, said the Ministry of Disaster Management and Refugees of Rwanda. From January 1 to April 30, the disasters including floods and lightning also destroyed a total of 9,974 houses, leaving 706 people homeless, according to figures released by the ministry on Thursday. Also destroyed were 2,450 hectares of plantations and 21 school structures, according to the figures. The cabinet of Rwanda on Wednesday at a meeting expressed concern and sympathy to all Rwandans, especially families that have lost members and those impacted by the effects of the recent disasters. The meeting also discussed strategies and mechanisms that will continue to support those affected by disasters and to fast-track repair of damaged properties. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 18:33:49|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Building a space station, probing Mars, setting up a lunar base and going deeper into the universe - artificial intelligence will be at the cutting edge of China's space odyssey. China is stepping up development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to support its space programs, Zhang Duzhou, a member of the Chinese Association of Automation and the Chinese Society of Astronautics, told a space conference in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. Back in 1995, Yang Jiachi, a leading contributor to the development of China's first satellite about half a century ago, proposed developing technology for the intelligent autonomous control of spacecraft. Experts are now developing AI technologies in visual image recognition, visual tracking, rendezvous and docking, navigation and positioning, mission planning and spacecraft fault diagnosis, said Zhang. Some Chinese spacecraft have been endowed with the preliminary ability of autonomous task-planning. For instance, Tianzhou-1, China's first cargo spacecraft launched in April 2017, accomplished autonomous fast rendezvous and docking with the Tiangong-2 space lab. The rendezvous and docking time was shortened from three days to six and a half hours thanks to AI. AI technology also aided the Chang'e-3 lunar probe, launched in 2013, to touch down softly on the Moon. The probe's lander was capable of hovering and choosing a suitable landing site on its own. However, Zhang said, China's space AI is still "weak". If AI technologies are divided into six levels, China is at level two or level three. The technology at level six, the highest level, can enable spacecraft to perform automatic reasoning and independent thinking in orbit. "Our aim is to reach level six," Zhang said. AI technology is especially useful for spacecraft that are expensive, hard to repair, doing complicated tasks, deployed in a rigorous space environment, or so far from Earth that they respond to directions very slowly, said Zhang. With AI, spacecraft could acquire the abilities of self-learning, autonomous perception and planning and self-decision, thus lowering the cost of operation and increasing the quality, safety, reliability and flexibility of space missions. The development of AI will bring breakthroughs to China's space industry, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 18:38:50|Editor: pengying Video Player Close GAZA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian man died Thursday of wounds he suffered during last Friday's anti-Israel protests along the Gaza-Israeli border fence, the Palestinian Health Ministry said. Anas Abu Asser, 19 years old, died of injuries he suffered during last Friday's "Great March of Return" in Gaza City, the Health Ministry said in a statement. Abu Asser's death brought the death toll among Palestinian protesters to 45 people since the anti-Israel rallies started on March 30. Three Palestinians were killed and 880 others wounded last Friday during clashes between dozens of Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli soldiers along the borders. The six-week rally, which always witness high turnout on Fridays, is expected to peak on May 15 when the Palestinians mark the forcible transfer of two thirds of the Palestinian people and the ethnic cleansing of over 400 Palestinian villages. Israel rejects the protests and vows to respond to any border infiltration attempts that may threaten its sovereignty as well as its residents. MOSCOW, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that Russia's cooperation with China and the Group of G20 (G20)sets an example for interaction on the international arena. "I would like to emphasize the important role of Russian-Chinese all-round interaction, which serves as a model for the relations between nations in the 21st century," Lavrov said in an interview with the Italian Panorama magazine. He pointed out that Moscow and Beijing have cooperated closely both on a bilateral basis and in various multilateral formats, such as the Eurasian Economic Union, Collective Security Treaty Organization, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Lavrov said that the role of the G20, which brings together the world's major advanced and emerging economies, is increasing. He said that the Group of Seven, which is no longer capable of solving many problems alone, and BRICS are using the G20 platform to reach agreements on the basis of consensus. "In principle, the activities of the G20 are the prototype of an institution of a just global governance, based not on dictate, but on finding a balance of interests," Lavrov said. He said that currently a polycentric system of the world order is being formed with new centers of economic power and political influence emerging and gaining strength. Polycentricity should facilitate the establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation and fruitful partnerships, Lavrov said. However, Lavrov said, the new multipolar structure had yet to reach a stable state. The actions of all international players should not be destructive, but creative and based not on force, but on international law, he said. It may be possible to effectively solve numerous problems of our time only by joining the capacities of all players and using the support of the United Nations' authority, Lavrov said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 18:48:53|Editor: ZX Video Player Close NANJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Meet Karl Marx. This is not only a wreath and a silent tribute before Marx's grave in London's Highgate cemetery. For students in Nanjing University, east China's Jiangsu Province, it is a vivid talk, accompanied to music, drawing on the life experiences and current affairs taking place in modern China. A group of young teachers and students from the university are trying to dig into the living appeal of Marx and his theories and make them popular among the younger generation in today's China, by shooting short videos and putting them on a WeChat account for the university's students. The 36-episode program "A meeting in mind with Marx," which started May last year and concluded Monday, is part of the university's activities to mark the 200th anniversary of Marx's birth, which falls Saturday. Different from class teaching, the 20-strong production team tries to communicate Marxism in a light-hearted way. "Who is Marx? His name recurs in our textbooks ... He dissected reality calmly like a surgeon; he envisioned the future romantically like a poet," Zhang Yixiu, a philosophy teacher at the university and chief scriptwriter and host of the program, wrote in the first episode. "We are going to use the youngest style, the most diversified perspective and sincerest attitude to bridge a dialogue between contemporary youth and the great mind, and present a Marx you don't know." Topics in the videos have been specially designed -- about Marx's youth, his interest in romanticist literature, his love story with Jenny, friendship with Friedrich Engels and the painstaking work in writing the masterpiece "Das Kapital" -- to bring the political philosopher closer to young student lives. As in some TV talk shows, teachers, students and special guests sit in couches in a studio renovated from a multi-purpose room to reconstruct a living room in Marx's time -- the 19th century. Wall decorations have been carefully picked -- Eugene Delacroix's masterpiece "Liberty Leading the People" indicates a revolutionary spirit, and Adolph Menzel's painting "Iron Rolling Mill," a realistic depiction of workers during the industrial revolution in Germany, shows Marx's birthplace. An electric switchbox is wittily covered with a copy of Marx's diploma. Every episode starts with a string of music notes, from a small orchestra pit in the studio. Profound Marxism is talked about in an easy parlance instead of the difficult jargon it is so often associated with. However, its serious significance is not compromised. Borrowing a buzzword from China's burgeoning entrepreneurship and innovation campaign, one episode tells the story of a frustrated "business startup" of Marx -- publishing the Deutsch-Franzosische Jahrbucher (German-French Annals). However, it was in this unsuccessful journal that Marx published two of his most important works -- the "Introduction to the Contribution to the Critique of Hegel's Philosophy of Law," and "On the Jewish Question" -- which reflected his conversion to materialism and his early communist thinking, according to Zhang Liang, professor with the university and a guest academic in the episode. Zhang Yixiu believes that century-old Marxism, as long as it is presented with a common touch, can still be a magnet for the young. The 30-year-old scholar became a postgraduate in Marxism in 2011 and a teacher of the university in 2016. He said that with the historic achievements China had made over recent years, he perceived a rise of interest in and acknowledgement of Marxism among students. In the last season from February, the program began to touch on some realistic issues in modern China such as scientific and technological innovation, environmental protection and supply-side structural reform. In an episode discussing the concept of a "community with a shared future for humanity," Wu Jiabao, a sophomore student guest, quoted Marx's "The German Ideology" to explain that Marx had also pictured an ideal community. "Only in community [with others has each] individual the means of cultivating his gifts in all directions... In a real community the individuals obtain their freedom in and through their association," she read. Zhang Yixiu said his team first thought that finding intriguing topics and interpreting them plainly would be the biggest difficulty. "It later turned out that the most challenging part for our student guests was stagecraft." "Sometimes I could see a student's lips quivering with nerves during the shooting, but I think it's ok. Nothing compares to their true feelings and heartfelt expressions," Zhang said. The team's work paid off. The series can draws over 8,000 views in one episode, about a quarter of the university's total students, outnumbering most of the account's other posts. Many students said they enjoyed it. "I should have been watching videos of Marx like I am watching a TV drama," wrote one WeChat user in a comment following one episode. "I feel that the ideas of Marx are no longer a lofty theory in a textbook, but something that resonates with ourselves and our lives," said Gao Xinyu, a history junior. Zhang Yixiu said Marx, with his optimistic, progressive and unyielding spirit, could never be too old for a young mind to understand. "Do you think Marx was born to be a bearded old man?" he once asked his students. "When Marx co-wrote the immortal The Communist Manifesto, he was no more than 30 years old." COLOMBO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka plans to attract more tourists from the Middle East by conducting promotion campaigns, a minister here said on Thursday. Tourism Development and Christian Religious Affairs Minister John Amaratunga told Xinhua that Sri Lanka received only 35,000 tourists from Saudi Arabia last year. There was great potential for the attraction of more tourists from Saudi Arabia and other countries in the Middle East region. The minister also said Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau together with leading Sri Lankan tour operators participated in the Riyadh Travel Fair last month to promote the island country's tourism. "The visit was a great success. We see an increase in tourist arrivals to the country. The tourists from the middle-eastern region are willing to spend their time in the central hills of Sri Lanka," Amaratunga said. CANBERRA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has committed 50 million Australian dollars (37.4 million U.S. dollars) to launching the nation's first space agency. The seed funding forms part of the upcoming federal budget which will be handed down by Treasurer Scott Morrison on May 8. The government has not decided where the agency will be headquartered, with Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA), the Northern Territory (NT) and Australian Capital Territory (ACT) having all expressed interest. Megan Clark, former head of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and leader of a government review into the space sector, will lead the new agency for its first year of operation. Anna Moore, a professor at Australian National University's College of Science and contributor to Clark's review, welcomed confirmation of the funding. "The 50 million Australian dollars injection is a great start for setting up the agency itself," Moore told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday. "Australia is at the perfect time to jump in and grab part of this market because it is changing. There is industry here already but it's all at a very low level, there's nothing coming up." The establishment of the agency was announced in September 2017 to bring the country up to speed with countries like New Zealand and Canada who have already had their own agencies. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull conceded at the time that it would be "small" but would help Australia move into the lucrative space industry. Bank of America Merrill Lynch in 2017 estimated that the industry would be worth more than 3.5 trillion Australian dollars within three decades. Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist at Australian National University, joined Moore in welcoming the announcement. "We can be putting things into space and we should be," he said. "We're well placed geographically for communications and for launch sites and we're well placed for creativeness in our people -- and that's what you want in a space agency." CANBERRA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Australia's peak union body has called on the government to reduce employer's access to foreign workers. In a five-point plan released on Thursday, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) Secretary Sally McManus called for the number of "vulnerable" temporary visa workers to be reduced. According to the Department of Home Affairs, there were 1.88 million people in Australia holding temporary visas in March 2015, of which 1.4 million had the right to work. The ACTU document claims that an unemployment crisis in many regions has been caused by an over-reliance on temporary visa workers. "Now, one in 10 workers in Australia is on a temporary visa. Whether they are farms, construction sites, meat processing factories or in hospitality, temporary visa workers are being exploited. This has to end," McManus said in a media release on Thursday. "Local workers deserve the opportunity to gain secure employment. Jobs must be properly advertised locally, and people must be able to get the training they need to pursue these opportunities." "We need to change the rules so employers are forced to advertise locally, and is only able to import workers for genuine skills shortages." "Australia's migration program must, as it did previously, favor permanent migration, so people can come to Australia, with their family, and build a life for themselves -- with the same rights that we all deserve," McManus said. The ACTU is the largest body representing workers in Australia. It is affiliated with 46 unions representing more than 2 million workers. The plan also called for the end of exploitation of temporary visa workers by ensuring that those workers are paid market rates and for a rebuild of the technical and further education (TAFE) system "so people can get the skills they need." "Temporary visa workers in Australia must be given basic rights, such as access to a union and being paid properly," McManus said. "All workers, no matter where they are from, should have the right to be paid properly, have basic job security and to be safe at work." The government introduced laws to protect vulnerable workers in September 2017 after revelations of exploitation in a number of industries. DHAKA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Parliamentarians from various South Asian countries are attending a regional meeting in Bangladesh capital Dhaka to discuss the prospects for further investment in early childhood and adolescent years. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) hosted the event in an effort to increase investment in children and young adults, bringing about much needed change for millions of poor and improving the prospects for healthy economic growth in the region. The South Asia Parliamentarian Platform for Children held in Dhaka on Wednesday and Thursday aims to strengthen opportunities for children in the first two decades of their lives, said the UN agency in a statement on Thursday. "While South Asia is home to one fourth of the world's population, its share of global income is just 4 percent. This fact underlines one of the biggest challenges for South Asia's progress on the social and economic front: namely the lack of investment in its largest asset, its Human Capital and especially the young within the society," said Jean Gough, regional director of UNICEF South Asia. "Parliamentarians can play an important role in ensuring adequate sufficient funding and allocation of resources for the protection of the rights of children in the National Budget," said Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, speaker of Bangladesh Parliament. According to UNICEF, 300 million children in South Asia are so-called multi-dimensionally poor with too little to eat, a high risk of falling sick from preventable disease and a very slim chance of ever going to school. It said evidence shows that investment in the young pays strong dividends to the society. "There are very good chances for bringing about radical and important change: in most countries in the region, children and young people make up a large part of society and even smaller investments now will give good results for children and South Asian societies," said Jean Gough. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 19:24:00|Editor: pengying Video Player Close British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) leaves the Methodist Central Hall with her husband Philip May after voting in the local council elections in London, Britain on May 3, 2018. Millions of people in towns and cities across England were voting Thursday in what is seen as a litmus test of the big political parties. (Xinhua/Tim Ireland) LONDON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Millions of people in towns and cities across England were voting Thursday in what is seen as a litmus test of the big political parties. The elections in 150 council areas could see the political governance in a number of key areas, including several London boroughs, change hands. Almost 4,400 seats in town hall councils are being contested in what is the first big test since last year's snap general election which saw Prime Minister Theresa May lose her majority in the House of Commons. May and her husband Philip were among the early voters to cast their votes at a Westminster polling station in London. Political commentators are predicting that the main opposition Labour Party, under its leader Jeremy Corbyn, will gain seats from the Conservatives in some of the 32 London boroughs. The Daily Telegraph reported that Labour is expected to take control of a number of councils from the Conservatives in Thursday's election - including the flagship City of Westminster council. Labour is already in control of 21 London boroughs, with some pollsters predicting the Conservatives could lose as many as 100 seats across the British capital. In a number of towns where pilot schemes are taking place for the first time, voters are only being allowed to vote if they produce photo id cards, such as driving licences or passports. The trial, introduced by the government, could pave the way for voter ID being extended across the country for future elections, but the scheme has been heavily criticised. Elections expert Stuart Wilks-Heeg, a visiting research fellow at the University of Manchester described the voter ID trial as "a solution in search of a problem". In British elections voters are traditionally not asked to produce any form of identification, with very few instances of election fraud. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 19:24:00|Editor: ZX Video Player Close HARBIN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Mingming is 23 years old, but weighs far less than most women her age. She hardly went to school and has spent most of the last 15 years of her life in bed with a chronic illness. Living at a bungalow near a railroad in Qiqihar City of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Mingming (she is hesitant to disclose her full name) is a victim of abandoned chemical weapons left by invading Japanese soldiers after the Second World War. "Everything changed when I was eight years old," she said. On Aug. 4, 2003, five iron barrels were unearthed from a construction site and nobody knew they contained highly-toxic mustard gas. A total of 44 people were poisoned, including Mingming, who had played on a pile of dirt near the gas leak. "In the last years of the Second World War, invading Japanese troops buried and abandoned large quantities of poisonous agents, and threw some into a nearby river," said Cao Zhibo, a historian who researches issues surrounding chemical weapons abandoned by invading Japanese troops. Experts estimate that there are about 2,000 victims of the fatal abandoned chemical weapons in China and many people are still suffering. Lawyers and social workers have highlighted the plight of the victims. "After the poisonous gas leak in 2003, the Japanese side provided a certain amount of relief payment or consolation money, but never in the form of compensation in a legal sense," said Luo Lijuan, a local lawyer who advocated for the victims. "The money they received were never enough to cover their medical bills." "The heath conditions of the victims are deteriorating. Many suffered from stomach, lung and liver cancer," she said. Li Guoqiang, a former doctor, died at the age of 68 in December last year. In October 1987, Li, together with his colleagues, were poisoned by mustard gas when they were sent to examine an iron bucket in a factory. "My respiratory system was severely damaged because I was standing in the front. I spent 33 days in an ICU. What a nightmare! Chemical weapons totally ruined me and my family," he said in an interview 10 days before his death. Chemical weapons are called silent killers, and caused the deaths of more than 1.3 million people during their large-scale application in the First World War. In times of peace, abandoned chemical weapons can easily take an unexpected toll, and the harm they can cause is uncontrollable, Luo said. Xu Zhifu was a factory guard when he was hit by the gas poisoning in 2003. He suffered damage in his urine system. Within 10 minutes, he had to use bathroom six times. Adult diapers were piled up in his apartment when Xinhua reporters visited him. Japan should take its responsibility from the perspectives of morality, history and law; however, it has failed in every way, said Japanese lawyer Minami Norio, who has led continuous efforts in helping the Chinese victims of chemical weapons abandoned by invading Japanese troops. The Civil Affairs Bureau of Qiqihar said victims hav been included on minimum living allowances schemes. Social workers and companies have extended help both financially and in seeking doctors. "We must live on," said Niu Haiying, another victim. "We are remainders of the scars of war, and reminder of the need to maintain peace." KATHMANDU, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Following the capture of a one-horned rhino on Thursday, Nepal finalized all four baby rhinos which will be gifted to China as part of enhancing friendship between the two neighbors. A final female rhino was taken control from the western sector of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) premise on Thursday afternoon, according to officials involved in the operation. Nurendra Aryal, Information Officer and Assistant Conservation Officer at CNP, told Xinhua, "We captured three rhinos from different parts of park in a week, as we already have one rhino under our surveillance. All the rhinos will be kept under special observation for weeks before sending them to China." A team of around 50 people including officials from Chitwan National Park and National Trust for Nature Conservation, technical experts, veterinary doctors, Nepal army officials, a representative from Chinese side along with elephants were involved in the operation. Official informed that all the captured rhinos have been kept in special enclosure called "boma" within the park premise at Sauraha. The baby rhinos will be kept in a man-made enclosure for a few weeks to help them adapt with the new environment. The decision to provide two pairs of endangered rhinos as gifts to China was made by Nepal in 2016 during the government led by KP Sharma Oli. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 19:34:04|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China will invite the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to participate in the 15th China International Small and Medium Enterprises Fair (CISMEF), the organizer said at a press conference Thursday. It will be the first time for a Middle Eastern country to take part in the CISMEF since it was launched in October 2004, said Wang Jiangping, vice minister of industry and information technology. The ministry will co-host the 15th CISMEF with the State Administration for Market Regulation and the People's Government of Guangdong Province. This year's fair will include a theme exhibition and two specialized exhibitions in Guangdong. The theme exhibition will be held in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, from October 10 to 13, focusing on intelligence, smart manufacturing and energy saving. The fair will showcase new technology in fields such as the industrial Internet and smart manufacturing. CISMEF will host product promotions, technology transfers and marketing activities to support SMEs to integrate into the global industry and value chains. Two specialized exhibitions on furniture and home appliances will be held separately on July 9-12 and August 23-26. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 19:34:05|Editor: ZD Video Player Close Cambricon Technology CEO Chen Tianshi introduces the cloud AI chip MLU100 in Shanghai, east China, May 3, 2018. China's first cloud artificial intelligence (AI) chip was released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Thursday in Shanghai. The cloud chip MLU100, developed by Cambricon Technology, will have accurate and fast big data processing ability, especially in image and voice search methods. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang) SHANGHAI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China's first cloud artificial intelligence (AI) chip was released by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) on Thursday in Shanghai. The cloud chip MLU100, developed by Cambricon Technology, will have accurate and fast big data processing ability, especially in image and voice search methods. The cloud chips are mainly used in cloud computing, including servers and data centers. The MLU100 is powerful and can complete complicated cloud intelligence tasks, according to the CAS. The cloud chip supports "deep learning," or neural networks that mimic human learning. Deep learning is a type of machine learning involving algorithms that can analyze data, recognize patterns and make predictions. BERLIN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of German police officers raided a refugee accommodation center in the German town of Ellwangen on Thursday in an attempt to regain control over its revolting inhabitants. "We will not allow lawless spaces to be created as we were beginning to encounter here," Ellwangen police vice-president Bernhard Weber justified the unusual measure. On Wednesday, German police had failed to arrest and deport a 23-year-old Togolese national at the refugee center after a "massive" and "violent" resistance staged by between 150 and 200 inhabitants of the facility. Weber told press that local police had never witnessed a comparable situation. The four police officers tasked with deporting the unsuccessful asylum seeker to Italy were forced to abandon their mission by the aggressive reaction of the largely West African refugees at the center. "I do not want to imagine what could have happened if the situation escalated," Weber said. He emphasized that local police subsequently sent an unmistakable message that "justice will be served" without exceptions in Germany. On Thursday, a much larger and heavily-armed police force returned to the Ellwangen refugee center and successfully seized the 23-year-old along with five other inhabitants suspected of drug-related offenses. According to media reports, some refugees suffered injuries as they attempted to escape from the police raid by jumping out of windows. Police spokesperson Bernhard Kohn confirmed that rescue services were "busy" as a consequence of the intervention. Commenting on the incident on Wednesday, German Interior Minister and Christian Social Union (CSU) leader Horst Seehofer described the uprising of refugees in Ellwangen as "outrageous" and a "smack in the face of the law-abiding population." Seehofer told press that he offered his "full political support" to the harsh measures adopted by security authorities and added that attempts to overturn the rule of law needed to be confronted with "full force and resoluteness." The interior minister also announced that his department would study the case closely in order to determine whether any policy implications would have to be drawn, in particular, the interior ministry's policies towards refugees who were convicted of criminal offenses after arriving in Germany. Seehofer accused the revolting inhabitants of the Ellwangen center of "abusing the hospitality" granted to them by the German state. Meanwhile, the Togolese national whose asylum application had failed, has been transferred to a different refugee center. The 23-year-old still faces deportation to Italy but may now additionally be charged by German judicial authorities on the grounds of endangering the public peace. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 19:44:08|Editor: pengying Video Player Close BAGHDAD, May 3 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi court sentenced eight foreign women to life imprisonment for joining the Islamic State (IS) terror group, a judicial spokesman said on Thursday. "The Central Criminal Court sentenced to life imprisonment eight female foreign terrorists from different countries: three from Turkey, three from Azerbaijan, one from Uzbekistan and one from Syria," Abdul Sattar al-Biraqdar, spokesman for Iraq's Supreme Judicial Council, said in a statement. The court's verdicts were issued in accordance with the anti-terrorism law, Biraqdar said. After the Iraqi forces defeated the IS in Iraq late in 2017, hundreds of IS loyalists were killed or captured, while many others are still at large in hideouts in Iraq or abroad. The increase in executions in Iraq has sparked calls for abolishing capital punishment from the UN, the European Union and some international human rights groups, citing the lack of transparency in Iraqi courts. Death penalty in Iraq was suspended on June 10, 2003, but was reinstated from Aug. 8, 2004. LUANDA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Angola counts 11 wetlands and thus has the potential to join the Ramsar Convention, which is also known as the Convention on Wetlands, an official told the press Wednesday. Nadia Bernardo, head of Department of Parks and Conservation Areas of the Ministry of Environment, said that those areas are considered as crucial to maintain the biological diversity of a specific biogeographic region. The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental environmental treaty established in 1971 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, and came into force in 1975. It provides for national action and international cooperation regarding the conservation of wetlands, and wise sustainable use of their resources. Among the criteria for a zone to be considered a "Ramsar Site," the official mentioned aspects such as sustaining vulnerable species risking extinction, endangered ecological communities, as well as supporting 1 percent of individuals of the population of species or subspecies dependent on that area. Most wetlands in Angola are located in the south-eastern region of the country, mainly in the provinces of Bie, Kuando Kubango and Moxico. Wetlands are swamp extensions, ponds or surfaces covered with water, either natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, containing stagnant or permanent water. JAKARTA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's largest state bank in term of asset, Indonesia's People Bank (BRI), posted a net profit growth of 11.57 percent to 7.42 trillion rupiah (about 532.5 million U.S. dollars) on the back of expanding loans throughout the first quarter of this year, the bank's senior executive said here on Thursday. BRI President Director Suprajarto said the bank managed to disburse 737 trillion rupiah (about 52.8 billion U.S. dollars) during the period, or 12.86 percent higher than 653 trillion rupiah (about 46.8 billion U.S. dollars) in the corresponding period last year. Part of the loans during the period, amounted 22.3 trillion rupiah (about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars), were delivered to address the government's program called People Business Loan (KUR) aimed at empowering people in starting their own businesses, he said. That figure was 28.1 percent higher than in the corresponding period last year. "BRI channeled the KUR loan to more than 1.1 million people throughout the period," he told a press conference in his office here to expose the bank's financial performance. He expected that some 79.7 trillion rupiah (about 5.7 billion U.S. dollars) of loans can be achieved through the KUR program by the end of this year. Apart from the KUR loan program, the bank also channeled some 587.7 trillion rupiah (about 42.1 billion U.S. dollars) of loans to micro and small middle enterprises (SMEs) sector in the period. "The loan portion in micro and SMEs sector has increased to 77.2 percent in the first quarter, higher than 74.4 percent in the same period last year," chief of the state bank originally purposed to finance farming sector and SMEs business activities said. He expected that loans for the micro and SMEs sector may raise up to 80 percent of loans channeled by the bank throughout the year. The remaining 20 percent would be allocated for corporations and other sectors, he said. The bank has set overall loan growth target at 12.5 percent this year. BRI posted a consolidated asset of 1,126.2 trillion rupiah (about 80.7 billion U.S. dollars) last year, making it the state bank with largest asset. HANOI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN 2018 will be held in Hanoi, Vietnam on Sept. 11-13, the event's organizing committee said on Thursday. WEF on ASEAN 2018 will feature entrepreneurship and the fourth industrial revolution, with the expected participation of ASEAN's political, business, academic and civil society leaders, as well as 100 start-ups which represent the very best of the region's dynamism and entrepreneurship. The meeting will address strategic issues of national and regional significance under three thematic pillars, namely entrepreneurship to craft new approaches to regional and global governance, entrepreneurship to drive economic and business dynamism, and entrepreneurship to shape social inclusion. In ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), the labor force is forecast to expand by 11,000 workers every day for the next 15 years. And yet, industrial robots now out-compete low-skilled manufacturing labor; artificial intelligence threatens ASEAN's service jobs; and self-driving vehicles are already at work in Southeast Asia, according to the WEF. Established in 1971 as a non-profit foundation and headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the WEF is committed to improving the state of the world by engaging business, political, academic and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. CAPE TOWN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- South Africa on Thursday began the translocation of black rhinos to Chad amid intensified efforts to salvage the endangered animal. South Africa's Minister of Environmental Affairs Edna Molewa witnessed the loading and departure of black rhinos from the Addo Elephant National Park, Eastern Cape Province. This was part of an initiative to reintroduce rhinos to the African country under an agreement signed between South Africa and Chad in 2017. The agreement on the re-introduction of black rhinos to Chad seeks to re-establish a rhino population in Chad as part of the broader biodiversity initiatives between South Africa and Chad, Molewa said. "By establishing a viable and secure rhino population of rhino in Chad, we are contributing to the expansion of the rhino population in Africa, and the survival of a species that has faced high levels of poaching for the past decade," said Molewa. The translocation of black rhinos is being achieved through a collaboration between the South African Department of Environmental Affairs, the government of Chad, South African National Parks and the African Parks Foundation. The rhinos are being translocated to the Zakouma National Park in Chad which has experienced a dramatic decrease due to poaching since 2010. The last black rhino in Chad was seen in Zakouma in the 1970s. Chad was historically home to at least two rhinoceros species - the northern white rhinos and the western black rhinos. Translocation is but one of the interventions being implemented by South Africa a part of the Integrated Strategic Management of Rhinoceros Approach, said Molewa. "Our approach includes compulsory interventions, interventions to increase rhino numbers, long-term sustainability interventions and game-changing interventions," she said. South Africa has also translocated black and white rhinos to a number of other African countries, including Botswana, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Namibia, Mozambique, Kenya and Swaziland. South Africa, home of more than 80 percent of rhino population in the world, bears the brunt of rhino poaching, lossing 1,028 rhinos to poaching last year. LONDON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Squirrels run between sprawling hundred-year-old tombs overcome with ivy and moss. The Highgate Cemetery in north London is like a massive time machine which takes visitors back to Victorian days. A vast majority of visitors come to see the tomb of Karl Marx, the famous philosopher and revolutionist who is buried at the east part of Highgate. This Saturday marks the 200th birth anniversary of Marx who settled in London in 1849 and remained in the city until his death in 1883. Hundreds of daily visitors come from all over the world, with most of them from China, Germany, east European countries and Britain. It costs 4 pounds (5.4 U.S. dollars) to visit Highgate as the gravesite, which is now run by a charity rather than financed by the government and costs about 1,000 pounds a day to maintain. "More visitors are expected to come on Saturday," said a worker tending to Marx's grave "We are laying new marble slabs for the anniversary day." Flower bouquets and candles could be seen under the 2-meter bust of Marx in bronze set on a marble pedestal. The tomb commemorates the burial sites of Marx, of his wife and other members of his family. Originally buried in a different part of the Eastern cemetery, the bodies were disinterred and reburied at their present location in 1954. Visitors took pictures in front of the tomb, reading quotes from Marx's works inscribed in the pedestal including "Workers of all lands unite" and "The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways. The point, however, is to change it." Hans Weihe, a Norwegian associate professor at Lillehammer University College was visiting Highgate with his wife during their stay in London. "Although Marx is perceived differently throughout the history and the world, you must know him or you cannot fully understand history," he said, "His thoughts are still important among academics in a country like Norway which has been heavily influenced by the social democratic movement." A South Korean professor who declined to give his name told Xinhua that although the teaching of Marx's thoughts is banned in his country's universities, he believes the man "answered the questions of his time." "I like his words on the liberation of human beings," he said. "But we should treat Marx as a human being, not a god." Marx's 200th birthday comes at a time when many contemplate communism versus capitalism. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the global financial crisis, the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s. MOGADISHU, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Thursday called for the safe release of its staff member who was abducted in the restive Somali capital Mogadishu on Wednesday evening. Daniel O'Malley, ICRC's deputy head of delegation for Somalia, said armed men entered the agency's compound at around 8pm and abducted the German nurse. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague. She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people," O'Malley said in a statement. The charity said it is in contact with various authorities to try and secure her release, noting that it's not appropriate to provide any additional information at this stage. "We are calling for her immediate and unconditional release," Crystal Wells, ICRC spokeswoman told Xinhua on Thursday. Security forces sealed off the compound immediately after the abduction and have already started investigations into the incident in Wadajir district. Sources said the private security guards who manned the compound when the incident took place were arrested. Attacks against humanitarian workers operating in the Horn of Africa nation are common and have increased in the recent past in the country which has been torn asunder by factional fighting since 1991 but has recently made progress towards stability. The latest abduction came a day after a Somali aid worker was shot dead by unknown gunmen in the main market in Mogadishu on Tuesday. It also comes barely three months after a Ugandan working for UNICEF was killed by a former security guard in the organization's office the same area. The Islamist group, al-Shabab which is fighting to topple the Western-backed government, has been targeting aid workers for political gain, sometimes demanding ransom in order to free the hostages. The humanitarian community says the volatile security situation continues to impact on civilian lives and create a challenging environment for the delivery of humanitarian assistance. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 20:19:18|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (L) shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Pyongyang, the DPRK, May 3, 2018. (Xinhua) PYONGYANG, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China supports and congratulates on the successful completion of the inter-Korean summit last month, which has brought beneficial opportunities for a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. He made the remarks when meeting with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during his two-day visit to the country. Kim crossed the inter-Korean border on April 27 and met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom. On the border village, the leaders pledged to end the Korean War and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the Panmunjom Declaration. China supports an end to the state of war on the Peninsula, and backs the DPRK's decision to shift its strategic focus on economic development and the resolution of the DPRK's legitimate security concerns during the process of denuclearization, Wang said. China is willing to maintain communication with the DPRK over the issue and advance coordination between the two countries, he added. Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to Kim, Wang said that the historic meeting between Xi and Kim during Kim's visit to China in late March has opened a new chapter for the two countries' relations. The two leaders reached a series of significant consensuses during the meeting, jointly planned and guided bilateral ties to enter a new stage of development, he said. For his part, Kim spoke highly of China's efforts and contributions to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and said that the DPRK is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China. Achieving the denuclearization of the Peninsula is the firm position of the DPRK side, Kim said, adding that the DPRK is willing to restore mutual dialogue and establish mutual trust and explore the root causes of the threat to peace in the Peninsula. Wang kicked off his trip to the DPRK on Wednesday at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. The two diplomats held discussions on the two countries' relations and the Peninsula issue. ISLAMABAD, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Senior Pakistani and Afghan military officials met in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Thursday and discussed security issues, focusing on border management, the military said. The meeting was held amid growing high level military and civil exchanges in recent weeks after both countries agreed on a bilateral dialogue mechanism. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani agreed in their meeting in Afghan capital Kabul in April on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS). APAPPS is a joint action plan for cooperation in key areas of counter-terrorism and for reduction of violence and promotion of peace and reconciliation involving repatriation of refugees and joint economic development. Both sides had agreed on seven key points of the APAPPS, which say the two countries will "undertake effective actions against fugitives and the irreconcilable elements posing security threats to either of the two countries." Pakistan army said that the Afghan military delegation visited headquarters of southern command Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, and met Commander Southern Command Lieutenant General Asim Saleem Bajwa. "During the interaction, areas of mutual security interests and concerns, including border security mechanism and management of Pak-Afghan border were deliberated upon in detail," said a statement from the army's media wing Inter-Services Public Relations. The meeting emphasized that peace and stability can be achieved through complementary efforts and enhanced mutual cooperation. Military officials met ahead of the next meeting of the APAPPS in Islamabad that will review progress on different issues discussed in previous two meetings, official sources said. The meeting is scheduled to be held on May 14. Both countries had committed under the APSPPS to deny the use of their respective territories by any country, network, group or individuals for anti-state activities against either country and will avoid territorial and aerial violations of each other's territory. GABORONE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's ministry of investment, trade and industry has issued a directive to ban importation of bottled natural and mineral water, said a statement issued by the ministry in Gaborone, capital of Botswana. Peggy Serame, permanent secretary of the ministry on Thursday said in the statement that the government has imposed restrictions on the importation of bottled natural and mineral water through the Control of Goods, Prices and Other Charges Act. Serame said implementation of the regulations would promote the competitiveness and sustainability of domestic water bottling sector. The move is also intended to stimulate investment in the sector which would in turn lead to job creation and poverty reduction. Botswana pays a high import bill for consumables, especially from the neighbouring South Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 20:29:20|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) held talks on Thursday with leading government officials in three cities in north China that failed to meet air improvement targets. Liu Changgen, deputy director of the national environmental inspection office, held talks with government officials of the cities of Jincheng and Yangquan in Shanxi Province and Handan city in Hebei Province. The inspection team found many problems of air pollution in those cities, Liu said, adding that shortcomings still exist despite tough air-cleaning measures taken by local authorities in winter. The three cities remained at the bottom of the rankings for meeting air improvement targets in 28 cities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. The ministry also suspended environment impact assessments (EIA) for new projects in those cities. BERLIN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- German chemicals manufacturer Bayer has lowered its financial outlook for 2018 in reaction to unexpectedly weak earnings during the first quarter (Q1) of the year, the company told press on Thursday. Bayer recorded a decline in Q1 revenue by 5.6 percent to 9.14 billion euros (10.96 billion U.S. dollars) while operating profits fell by around five percent to 2.9 billion euros during the same period. As a consequence, the Leverkusen-based company now also expects to experience a slight decline in annual revenue, as well as annual earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBIDTA) in 2018. Earlier, the Dax-listed company had informed shareholders that it expected to at least maintain the levels of revenue and EBIDTA achieved in 2017 throughout the current year. Bayer explained on Thursday that the deterioration in its financial position was mainly due to adverse currency effects. Resulting higher costs associated with production, research, development, marketing and sales weighed on the company's performance across diverse divisions. The company's business with pharmaceuticals, prescription free health products and agrochemicals were all considerably weaker in Q1 2018 compared to the same period last year. The pharmaceuticals unit hereby witnessed its first quarterly decline in nearly four years. In spite of the disappointing quarterly earnings figures, chief executive officer (CEO) Werner Baumann said that his company was progressing successfully towards the achievement of its larger strategic goals. According to Baumann, Bayer had made "good progress" in the widely-publicized acquisition of U.S. agrochemical company Monsanto for 62.5 billion euros. The CEO expressed confidence that the regulatory approval of U.S. antitrust authorities for the deal would be obtained shortly, enabling Bayer to finalize the merger with Monsanto by the end of the second quarter (Q2) of 2018. European Union (EU) competition authorities have recently given the greenlight to Bayer's sale of its own crop science unit to German chemical industry rival BASF, removing one significant potential obstacle to the conclusion of the Monsanto takeover. Founded in 1863, Bayer is one of the world's largest chemicals manufacturers and employs over 99,000 staff across the world. The publicly-listed company recorded annual gross revenue of 35 billion euros in 2017.(1 euro = 1.20 U.S. dollars) MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Asia and the Pacific needs to improve financial inclusion using new financial technology (fintech), according to a joint seminar co-hosted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the Central Bank of the Philippines (BSP) here on Thursday. Participants at the seminar said Asia and the Pacific has made important progress in expanding and deepening its financial systems, but must make further progress to improve financial inclusion using new fintech. "Governments in the region can improve financial inclusion by broadening access to basic digital infrastructure and providing an enabling environment for innovators and entrepreneurs," ADB President Takehiko Nakao said. "Policymakers should also consider ways to improve regulations, including protecting consumers against cybercrimes and fraud, while striking the right balance between innovation and financial stability," he said. Panelists at the seminar titled "New Technologies in Finance: Opportunities and Challenges for Asia" included IMF Deputy Managing Director Mitsuhiro Furusawa, BSP Governor Nestor Espenilla, Chair Professor at Korea National Diplomatic Academy Oh-Seok Hyun, and Director of Social Impact and Public Regulatory Affairs for the IOTA Foundation Julie Maupin. Panelists discussed how fintech, including new innovations like distributed ledger technologies, virtual currencies, machine learning, and big data, can improve financial inclusion. They said the lack of access to financial services is widely viewed as a key challenge for Asia's poor households and smaller firms. About two billion people in the world still do not have access to finance and half of them live in Asia and the Pacific. "Fintech can help foster financial inclusion in Asia by its ability to reach rural areas, making financial services more affordable, and broadening access to small and medium-sized firms," Furusawa said. "Financial regulators will play a crucial role in creating an environment that promotes financial inclusion while mitigating the risks." Seminar participants also agreed that new technologies hold promise for bringing financial services to poorer communities and for overcoming the challenge of obtaining the collateral needed to access formal credit markets. International financial institutions such as the IMF and ADB can play a significant role in supporting countries as new technologies are introduced. "There will always be a trade-off or a healthy tension between security and convenience as well as efficiency and financial integrity. That is why the BSP has established a regulatory environment that allows innovations to flourish, at the same time ensures that risks are effectively managed," Espenilla said. ADB said it supports many fintech initiatives in developing Asia. In 2017, it said ADB, Cantilan Bank in the Philippines, and Oradian, an IT company, launched a pilot cloud-based banking platform to enhance financial inclusion in Mindanao in the southern Philippines. To lead efforts to promote and further mainstream digital technology in ADB projects and programs, the bank said ADB established a new Digital Technology for Development Unit within the Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department in March 2018. KAMPALA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Three Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) refugees died and several others were injured when a bus they were traveling in on Thursday overturned along the Ibanda-Mbarara road in western Uganda. Duniya Aslam, spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Uganda, told Xinhua that three refugees had died but the details are still being worked on. "There was a single accident in Ibanda involving a bus carrying refugees. Our officers are still at the scene gathering whatever information they can get," said Patrick Onyango, deputy police spokesperson. Normally refugees are transported on bus from overcrowed reception centers to refugee settlements. According to UN figures, since this year started, over 70,000 Congolese refugees have crossed into Uganda fleeing fighting back home. Humanitarian agencies say the influx of Congolese refugees has overwhelmed provision of social services in areas where they are hosted. Uganda currently hosts the highest number of refugees in its history, receiving simultaneous emergency influxes from South Sudan, DRC, and Burundi. Out of the over 1.3 million refugees in the east African country, over one million of them are South Sudanese. MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Philippine authorities maintained on Thursday their policy of not paying ransom for the release of four hostages, including two policewomen, abducted by the Abu Sayyaf militants in the southern Philippines over the weekend. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque told a news conference that the government will not pay the five million pesos (around 96,627 U.S. dollars) that the Abu Sayyaf kidnappers are demanding in exchange for the release of the policewomen. There are also unconfirmed reports that the Abu Sayyaf extremists are demanding 300,000 pesos (around 5,794 U.S. dollars) for the release of the two other hostages. The military said the four were abducted shortly after noon on Sunday in Patikul, a remote town in the southernmost Sulu province. The four were snatched while aboard a tricycle and headed to Jolo town, the military said. The military also discouraged the families of the hostages from paying ransom. "We are discouraging them (from paying ransom)," Brig. Gen. Cirilito Sobejana, head of the military's joint task force tracking the extremists, said, adding that paying ransom to the Abu Sayyaf will result in more abductions in the province. "It (paying ransom) will allow them to continue with their operations because they can buy new weapons, they can buy supplies because currently, they are running short of logistics," Sobejana said. Sobejana said the military is "doing its best" to rescue the hostages. Already, Sobejana said three military battalions have been sent to Patikul to locate the victims. Sobejana said the Abu Sayyaf extremists are holding a total of 14 hostages, including a Dutchman, three Indonesians and a Vietnamese. Philippine authorities said the Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG) wants to establish an Islamic State in the Philippines, and ultimately, an Islamic caliphate across Southeast Asia. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the military to crush the Abu Sayyaf militants notorious for criminal and terror activities in the southern Philippines, including bombings, murder and kidnap for ransom. Actor Vardan Petrosyan returned to Armenia two days ago. He told Hetq that the trip hadn't been planned. Vardan, its been two days that you are in Yerevan. Before that, you might have been following the movement from the diaspora. What have you felt, seen, recorded? Yes, I have been following the movement from the first day. And not only me. People in the diaspora follow events in Armenia on the Internet all day long. Many people would like to be in Armenia now, but do not have the opportunity. I came since being abroad was unbearable. There were also things that troubled me, that's why I wanted to be present, not only physically, but also to live these moments. What changes have you seen in people here in Yerevan? The first change is that the wheel of the movement is in the hands of the youth. This is the most important, the most touching, and the most enjoyable change. Young people do not want to live the way they lived before. We just have to stand by them. Our generation did what it did, good or bad, it doesnt matter anymore. Yesterday, I arrived in a country that was different from the Armenia that used to be. See the happiness of people, so many smiles and courage! When I used to visit Armenia, I felt the people suffered from some form of depression, and they had fears. Theyd ask, "Vardan, what's going to happen? How do you see the way out? How long will this situation last?" I was encouraging people with my performances and private talks as much as I could. But what I saw today is very important - people have got rid of fear, have overcome their fears, have become other people right people. Everyone understands that there are difficulties and there will be, but people feel that they are building a state. Irreversible, bright changes have taken place. Finally, Armenian people have made a decision - its impossible to continue living in a state of stagnation any more. Politicians have to understand this. Nobody will be deceived by demagogy any more. These are not the people they knew. In your opinion, what has motivated people to take the streets? This was an eruption of a sleeping volcano and internal expectations. Armenia was in a critical state. Injustice became a lifestyle. Even the wealthy people were leaving the country. There was a stagnant situation in the country, which would lead to something. And everything started with Nikol Pashinyan's steps from Gyumri. You spoke about injustice. What kind of changes are needed in the judicial system? Culture, education, justice - all spheres have been desecrated. But if we are led by thoughts of revenge, the country will not be restored. All matters must be addressed legally. I have experience with the judicial system. I have seen what is happening in the prisons and courts. All of this should definitely change. After I got out of prison, my new performance is about the problems of the judicial system. That system has been getting richer, with detained people being one of the sources of enrichment. Do you know how many wrongly convicted innocent people are in our prisons? Of course, I cannot state a percentage, but more than half are. When a person is sentenced to six years of imprisonment for placing a Christmas tree, or to five years for stealing 10,000 drams ($21), such examples speak volumes. The ruling regime is really pushing back when Nikol Pashinyan talks about the establishment of the rule of law and the need for all to equal before the law. Why is this so? This morning, the French "Liberation" newspaper wrote that in Armenia 55 bandits were against 3 million people. I really like the fact that the leader of the movement does not call for any vendettas. Everything should be settled within the law. Even those who have become wealthy through illegal means will be happy to operate legally. Yesterday, I was watching speeches of Republican Party MPs in the National Assembly. They started talking about the constitution, while they were violating the constitution for years. They posed questions to PM candidate Nikol Pashinyan like, What if theres no sun any more, what if the planet doesnt go round, is the future prime minister prepared for such eventualities? It turns out that during all these years we had prime ministers who were dealing with space issues, ensuring the gravity of the earth for people, probably delivering sunrays to our country. How could they be involved in bribery? It made me sick. Those who were addressing Pashinyan in the parliament yesterday, should understand that their train is gone. The people are united. What makes you excited and hopeful about the movement? I am sure this will present a great opportunity for Armenia's rapid development. Armenia can really become a powerful state. The people will achieve their victory step by step. Just yesterday, I saw people exuberantly celebrating, but none of them lost their poise or sense of self-organization. At the beginning of our conversation, you mentioned that you had noticed some disturbing things. Certainly, there are some disturbing things. I do not know the course of the movement tomorrow. Therefore, we must be vigilant. I call on intellectuals and celebrities to stand next to the people and the youth. If some want to repress this awakening, they should realize that these self-organized, bright, creative young people can no longer be harassed. You can do nothing to a creative person. Barriers will make them be more creative, since they have internal belief. Their virtue is their weapon. Today, we have a victorious youth. I am convinced that no one can break this movement. And if anyone assumes that they can bring forces from abroad, theyd better not try to. No one can be intimidated by force any more. March 1 will not be repeated. Let the Republicans come to the street to look in people's eyes. I think they wont dare, though. Nobody will touch them - its just that they will be left out of this. They are alienated. Is this velvet Armenian revolution similar to those described in the textbooks? No revolutionary movement has ever used humanity and virtue as weapons. Revolutions typically used hatred as a weapon. It was always the case with us- dividing everything into black and white. But now, theres an amazing maturity and wonderful tenderness towards each other. This is a wonderful moment. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 21:04:33|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Kim Jong Un (L) shakes hands with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Pyongyang, the DPRK, May 3, 2018. (Xinhua) PYONGYANG, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China supports and congratulates on the successful completion of the inter-Korean summit last month, which has brought beneficial opportunities for a political solution to the Korean Peninsula issue, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday. He made the remarks when meeting with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) during his two-day visit to the country. Kim crossed the inter-Korean border on April 27 and met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in the demilitarized zone of Panmunjom. On the border village, the leaders pledged to end the Korean War and reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula in the Panmunjom Declaration. China supports an end to the state of war on the Peninsula, and backs the DPRK's decision to shift its strategic focus on economic development and the resolution of the DPRK's legitimate security concerns during the process of denuclearization, Wang said. He noted that with full considerations and resolute decision on the Korean Peninsula issue, the move from the DPRK side has brought positive changes to the peninsula's condition. China is willing to maintain communication with the DPRK over the issue and advance coordination between the two countries, he added. Conveying Chinese President Xi Jinping's cordial greetings to Kim, Wang said that the historic meeting between Xi and Kim during Kim's visit to China in late March has opened a new chapter for the two countries' relations. The two leaders reached a series of significant consensuses during the meeting, jointly planned and guided bilateral ties to enter a new stage of development, he said. For his part, Kim spoke highly of China's efforts and contributions to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and said that the DPRK is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China. Achieving the denuclearization of the Peninsula is the firm position of the DPRK side, Kim said, adding that the DPRK is willing to restore mutual dialogue and establish mutual trust and explore the root causes of the threat to peace in the Peninsula. As for the two countries' ties, Kim said it is the valuable legacy left by leaders of elder generations of both countries, adding that consolidating and improving the DPRK-China friendly cooperation is a firm strategic policy of the DPRK. The DPRK will work together with China to jointly promote the bilateral ties and friendship to a new and higher level, he added. Wang kicked off his trip to the DPRK on Wednesday at the invitation of the DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. The two diplomats held discussions on the two countries' relations and the Peninsula issue. MOGADISHU, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The UN top envoy in Somalia on Thursday called for free and independent news media in the Horn of Africa nation where journalists operate in difficult environment as the World Press Freedom Day is marked across the globe. Michael Keating, UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Somalia also lauded the courage and dedication of the country's journalists who operate in one of the world's most dangerous environments for media workers. "I salute the hundreds of Somali journalists who risk their lives on a regular basis to do their job," said Keating in a statement issued in Mogadishu. "A truly free and independent news media is indispensable in all democratic societies, an essential means to hold the powerful to account. An essential component for the media to do its job is ending the culture of impunity that, unfortunately, prevails for crimes committed against journalists," he added. The UN envoy urged lawmakers to resume their deliberations over an amended version of Somalia's 2016 Media Law and give due consideration to a list of recommended changes to the law submitted by the country's leading media associations last year. He said this year's theme "Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law" is particularly relevant to Somalia. According to the U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), no one has been brought to justice for the murders of 26 journalists over a ten-year period, and for the third consecutive year Somalia was given the worst track record worldwide for unsolved murders of journalists in the CPJ's 2017 Global Impunity Index. Keating said the Human Rights and Protection Group of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia, which he heads, has documented continuing violations of the right to freedom of expression, including the closure or suspension of 14 media outlets in Somalia since August 2016. He said the rights protection group has also documented media violations including arbitrary arrest and detention of 131 people for reasons related to freedom of expression since then. DAR ES SALAAM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A Tanzanian government senior official announced on Wednesday the suspension of 22 senior staff of the Tanzania Institute of Education (TIE), the country's education watchdog, for reportedly printing error-laden textbooks for secondary schools. Joyce Ndalichako, the Minister for Education, Science and Technology told the National Assembly in the capital Dodoma that the government will take legal action against the suspended staff for causing a huge loss. Ndalichako announced the suspension of the TIE staff when she was responding to a question posed by Felister Bura, a special seats Member of Parliament who had wanted to know efforts being taken by the government to save the education sector from further deterioration. "We are consulting state lawyers to establish possible charges against the culprits," she said shortly before the National Assembly had approved the education ministry's budget estimates for the 2018/2019 financial year. On Monday, Members of Parliament urged the government to overhaul the deteriorating education sector to avoid the east African country from producing "a nation of illiterates". The MPs, who were debating budget estimates for the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Vocational Training in the National Assembly, said the quality of the country's education sector was pathetic. They said the country's education sector has been hit by a number of challenges leading to mass failures in public primary and secondary schools. MANILA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The National Museum of the Philippines announced on Thursday the publication of a study that has established early human presence in the Philippines as long as 709,000 years ago. "The National Museum takes great pleasure in announcing the publication of the paper Earliest known hominin activity in the Philippines by 709,000 years ago,' in the May 10, 2018 issue of the journal Nature," the national museum said in a post on its Facebook account. "This journal article discusses the discovery of the oldest evidence for the peopling of the Philippines by hominins or species generally of the genus Homo, including Homo sapiens or modern humans, by an international team of prehistorians led by Dr. Thomas Ingicco from the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, France, with Clyde Jago-on, Catherine King, Marian Reyes, and Angel Bautista from the National Museum, Philippines, among others from different institutions around the world," the statement read. It said the archaeological excavations in Rizal, a town in Kalinga province, which have been ongoing for the last several years, in 2017 yielded animal remains including an almost complete skeleton of Rhinoceros philippinensis, stone tools and a tektite. "The rhinoceros remains showed butchery marks (like) cutmarks and percussion marks, suggesting defleshing and bone marrow extraction," the statement said. "All these archaeological findings are indirect evidence for a very old presence of early humans on the island of Luzon far beyond the former earliest published evidence of 67,000 years relating to a hominid bone fragment from Callao Cave in Cagayan," the statement said, referring to the province in the Philippine main Luzon island. "An early presence in the Philippine archipelago has been hypothesized since the 1950s, with the reporting of presumably Pleistocene megafaunal remains and 'Palaeolithic' industries consisting of chopping tools and flakes from surface finds and excavations in the Cagayan Valley basin of northern Luzon," says an online version of the article published on Thursday. Despite the fact that these early discoveries took place more than 60 years ago, the paper says "no direct association between megafauna and lithic industries has been documented since then, and no secure numerical dating of both fossil fauna and lithics has been available for this region." In 2013, the paper says a survey of the Cagayan Valley near the Rizal Municipality in Kalinga Province led to the discovery of a concentration of vertebrate bones and stone artefacts scattered on the surface near what became our new excavation site. "The Kalinga site has been excavated annually since 2014 and has resulted in the discovery of in situ megafauna and associated stone artefacts. The substrate consists of the upper part of the Awidon Mesa Formation, a 400-m thick sequence of alluvial stream deposits (mainly sandstones and claystones) intercalated with volcaniclastic and pyroclastic layers," the paper says. "These sediments were deposited on an alluvial fan system in braided streams of the paleo-Chico River as a consequence of uplift in the Central Cordillera to the west. During a poorly constrained Pleistocene phase of folding in response to east-west compression, alluvial fan deposition in the Kalinga area came to a halt," according to the paper. "Our excavations at Kalinga and the numeric dating results clearly provide securely dated evidence for human colonization of the Philippines by the early Middle Pleistocene epoch, and long before the appearance of modern humans in both the local context and wider Island South East Asia region," the paper concludes. Although the identity of these archaic toolmakers remains unknown, it says "it is likely that they dispersed over at least one sea barrier to reach Luzon Island." The national museum said the release of this journal article "has already swiftly generated international interest, and its findings are indeed of the highest importance to the prehistory of the Philippine islands and the remote origins of the peoples who came to inhabit them." HANOI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has issued an instruction on ensuring aviation safety after recent incidents, especially the landing of a Vietnam Airlines' flight in a runway that has not been ready to use. The authority asked Vietnam Airlines' pilots to make thorough preparations prior to flights including updating themselves on information of the scheduled flight and study the structure of the landing airport. The pilots were also asked to make early contact with the air traffic control station of the landing airport to get meteorological information as well as landing methods and runway, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday. The pilots must double check important information, strictly adhere to aviation regulations, and immediately report on unusual signs that may confuse the pilot and threaten the fight's safety, according to the instruction. On April 29, Vietnam Airlines' flight VN-7344, which departed from Ho Chi Minh City carrying a seven-member crew and 203 passengers, landed on a runway that was under construction at Cam Ranh International Airport in central Khanh Hoa province. No passenger or crew member was hurt. All crew members of the fight have been suspended for investigation. Vietnam Airlines said mistakes committed by the flight crew were an important reason for the April 29 wrongful landing. Vietnam's aviation sector transported 16 million passengers and 90,300 tons of cargoes in the first four months of this year, up 12.3 percent and down 3.5 percent on-year, respectively, according to the country's General Statistics Office. SOFIA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) should not reduce the amount of its cohesion funds, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said here on Thursday after a meeting with his Austrian counterpart Alexander Van der Bellen. "I think that the European security and defense are an absolute priority, but without cohesion, without real convergence, we risk deepening divisions within Europe," Radev said at a joint press conference when answering a question on the long-term budget proposed by the European Commission on Wednesday. This was unacceptable, because in such a situation defense and security would lose their meaning, Radev said. Therefore, Bulgaria's position was that cohesion funds "are the last thing that can be reduced," Radev said. Van der Bellen echoed that EU's solidarity and cooperation funds were not only in the interest of the recipients but also of the donors. The countries that gave the money had an interest in continuing the process of narrowing the gaps between the EU countries, he added. On Wednesday, the European Commission proposed more investment in areas such as security, while reducing by around 5 percent the money for agriculture and cohesion. On Friday in the Danube town of Ruse, the two presidents will hold an informal meeting with their Romanian counterpart. MOSCOW, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A police officer was injured in a shooting at a bank in Armenia on Thursday, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency cited a local police source as saying. According to RIA reports, police were fired at during the incident, but details of the location and name of the bank were not given. The shooting took place as the country is struggling with massive acts of civil disobedience and strikes following weeks of protests against the country's ex-prime minister. On April 23, then prime minister of Armenia and leader of the ruling Republican Party, Serzh Sargsyan, stepped down amid mass protests led by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan. A new vote for a PM candidate will be organized by the Armenia parliament on May 8. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 21:54:46|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Li Zhanshu, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), meets with the delegation of Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union led by Hayashi Yoshimasa, in Beijing, capital of China, May 3, 2018. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei) BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu met with the delegation of Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union on Thursday. Li, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), said win-win cooperation accords with the fundamental interest of both countries and long-term friendship is the only right choice. Li called on the Japanese side to remember history, learn lessons from it and avoid repeating mistakes. China and Japan should treat each other in an objective and rational way, as cooperative partners rather than threats, he said. Li called on the two sides to look into the future and help bilateral relations return to normal. Regarding legislative exchanges as an important part of bilateral ties, Li called for more exchanges of experiences on legislation and state governance, and more pragmatic cooperation. Li welcomed the Japanese side to participate in the Belt and Road. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China and Japan, and Hayashi Yoshimasa, who leads the delegation, said the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union will contribute more to improving bilateral ties. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 21:59:47|Editor: pengying Video Player Close KIEV, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine and Turkey have agreed to jointly implement the production of the An-188 military-transport plane, Ukraine's state defense conglomerate Ukroboronprom said Thursday in a statement. The cooperative agreement was reached during the Eurasia-2018 Airshow held in Turkey's southern province of Antalya on April 25-29, said the statement. The An-188 aircraft, which was developed by Ukrainian state-run aircraft producer Antonov, will be equipped with components produced by western countries and will meet the standards of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, it said. The plane with a carrying capacity of up to 50 tons is set to transport military equipment of all types, construction equipment, helicopters, up to 300 soldiers, as well as humanitarian cargo, according to the statement. The An-188 would be able to operate on unpaved airfields and land on short runways with a length of 600 meters. LUSAKA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Journalists in Zambia on Thursday joined the rest of the world in commemorating the World Press Freedom Day with proprietors of media institutions expressing concern over the shrinking media space in the country. Oscar Chavula, president of the Media Owners Association of Zambia, said the government should allow the media to operate freely without any intimidation because the media was key to the development of the country. "Media practitioners have continued to face injustices at the hands of politicians and in some instances government officials as evidenced by the physical attacks on media houses and harassment of individual journalists from both the private and public media witnessed in the recent past," he said. He said the government needed to take necessary steps to arrest the shrinking media space by enacting the Access to Information Bill into law to enable the media freely keep in check those in power and ensure that justice and the rule of law prevailed. The theme for this year's commemoration is "Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and the Rule of Law". But the media owners believe that the realization of the theme will be impossible as long as the media industry continues to face harassment from political parties and those in power. He further said the current draconian media laws were hindering journalists from questioning certain decisions made by those in power. The media owners also pledged to hold a meeting in order to deal with the problem of poor working conditions prevailing in the media industry, saying without good conditions it will be difficult to attain professionalism. Meanwhile, Zambia's human rights body has commended journalists for their unwavering resilience in defending human rights in the country despite the harsh working environment they operate in. The commemoration of the main event in Lusaka, the country's capital, started with a march of journalists from various media organizations who marched to East Park Mall shopping complex. The commemoration was also characterized by an exhibition by various media houses. Anti-government protest leader Nikol Pashinyan and U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Richard Mills met today in Yerevan and discussed the political situation in the country. After the meeting, when asked by reporters why the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) had changed its position and is now saying that it will vote in his favor of his candidacy on May 8, Pashinyan told reporters that everyone, including himself, was interested in finding a constitutional resolution of the current political impasse and was happy that such was the outlook. When asked if hes met with Serzh Sargsyan after police detained him on Artsakh Street, Pashinyan said he hasnt. They first took me to the Sevan police department. I dont know how long I was there. I wasnt wearing a watch. From there, they took me to the police holding unit in Yerevan. Ara Babloyan, Karen Karapetyan and Hrand Markaryan paid me a visit there. When asked if he might invite RPA members to join his government, Pashinyan said that the countrys next prime minister must be elected without preconditions. Our overall goal is to form an atmosphere of harmony, and well take concrete steps, based on the political situation at the time, to reach this goal, Pashinyan said. When this reporter asked if Karen Karapetyan, the acting prime minister, might join the interim government in some capacity, Pashinyan replied that such decisions would be based on the political situation. LIBREVILLE, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Emmanuel Issoze Ngondet, who resigned on Tuesday, was reappointed on Thursday as Gabon's prime minister, according to a presidential decree. Issoze-Ngondet has been instructed by President Ali Bongo Ondimba to form a new government, said the decree read by the Secretary General of the Presidency of the Republic, Jean Yves Teal. Issoze-Ngondet resigned on May 1 following a decision of the Constitutional Court to dissolve the National Assembly for that its mandate has been exhausted for two years and the elections have not been organized on time. The court dismissed the government for failing to organize the parliamentary elections. HO CHI MINH CITY, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Vietnamese customs officers on Thursday spotted 3.3 tons of pangolin scales smuggled from Africa into Ho Chi Minh City, the municipal Customs Department said. According to declarations of a local trading firm in Ho Chi Minh City, a container was full of dried cashew nuts imported from Nigeria to the city for transit to Cambodia, but the officers found bags of pangolin scales covered by cashew nut bags. Earlier, on April 27, the department detected nearly 3.8 tons of smuggled pangolin scales. Pangolin scales are still used in traditional medicines in Vietnam, although the country bans the hunting, trapping, keeping, killing, transport, sale and advertisement of pangolins or pangolin products. JAKARTA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah met on Thursday, discussing ways to expand bilateral ties and to expand trade. Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah who leads a high profile delegation of his country was received with a state visit official ceremony in Bogor presidential palace, the official residence of President Widodo. The two held a meeting in the palace to discuss various issues related to bilateral ties. Besides his visit to Bogor presidential palace, accompanied by President Widodo, the Brunei leader also made a visit to Indonesian military headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, later in the day. In his briefing to reporters, Indonesian Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arrmanatha Nasir said that the current visit of Brunei sultan to Indonesia was a reciprocal visit from the one conducted by President Widodo to Brunei in 2015. In the meeting, the two leaders agreed to deepen bilateral ties into wider sectors, including in economy, investment and people-to-people contact, Nasir said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 23:00:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close ANKARA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Four South Korean tourists were killed Thursday in a traffic accident in Turkey's southern Antalya province, local media reported. Four other tourists and a Turkish national were also wounded in the accident after a minibus crashed into a car at a crossing in Kemer district of Antalya province, the Hurriyet daily reported. A number of ambulances and fire brigades were dispatched to the scene. The injured were taken to the hospital immediately, with two of them in serious condition. TOKYO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands people rallied across Japan on Thursday to protest against Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's attempts to amend the nation's pacifist Constitution as the nation marked its 71st Constitution Memorial Day. In Tokyo, some 60,000 people, including students, legal experts, representatives from opposition parties, as well as common citizens, rallied in the city's Rinkai Disaster Prevention Park, holding banners and flags and shouting slogans such as "Changing Article 9, No" "Abe administration should step down." Kazuo Shii, head of the Japanese Communist Party, said at the gathering that the plan to change Article 9 of the Constitution would make it possible for Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) to be involved in wars abroad and such a plan should be firmly opposed. Toshihiro Yamauchi, professor emeritus of Hitotsubashi University, said that it's because of the pacifist Constitution that Japanese people could enjoy peaceful life and the Constitution Memorial Day provided people an opportunity to reaffirm the positive role that the pacifist Constitution has played on safeguarding peace. Rallies were also held in Osaka, Fukuoka and Hokkaido and other areas across Japan, according to local reports. Abe, however, reiterated on Thursday his attempts to amend the Constitution in a video message at a gathering of supporters of constitutional revision in Tokyo. He said that "now is the time" to carry forward discussions to justify the existence of the SDF in the Constitution. According to the organizer, some 1,200 people attended the gathering. Japan's current Constitution, drawn up under the Allied occupation following the World War II, is best known for its Article 9, by which Japan renounces its right to wage war and promises that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained." The Constitution has never been revised since it went into effect on May 3, 1947. Revising the Constitution has long been a goal of Abe and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP). The LDP has been advocating constitutional revision as part of its platform since the party was founded in the 1950s, including changing the war-renouncing Article 9. Public opinions about amending the Constitution, however, remain differed. A recent poll by Japan's Kyodo News showed that 61 percent of the respondents were against any constitutional amendments under the Abe administration. ATHENS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A Turkish national who illegally crossed the border into northern Greece was on Thursday sentenced to five months in prison, suspended for three years, and fined 1,500 euros (1,796 U.S. dollars) Greek national news agency AMNA reported. Musa Alerik, an employee of the Edirne municipal council, was arrested on Wednesday driving an excavator and led before a court on Thursday in the town of Orestiada. He claimed he had not realized he had strayed into Greek territory. His defense lawyer lodged an appeal and the accused must now return to attend the appeals hearing once a date is set. He is currently detained at a police station until he is deported to Turkey, according to AMNA. In early March, two Greek servicemen accidentally strayed into Turkey amid adverse weather conditions and are still detained. Their case has soured relations between the two neighboring countries who are also at odds over eight Turkish servicemen who fled to Greece in July 2016 after the failed coup attempt in Turkey. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 23:15:06|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) on Thursday published a circular on its website, requiring procuratorates at all levels to step up efforts to implement the new law protecting the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs. The circular stressed the importance of filing public interest litigation cases against activities defaming heroes and martyrs, noting that prosecutors are the representatives of public interest and procuratorates need to safeguard the public interest. The SPP also asked procuratorates nationwide to handle a series of typical cases in order to set up precedents, warn and educate the public. The law went into effect Tuesday. The country and the people should forever respect and remember the heroes and martyrs for their sacrifice and contribution to the Chinese nation and the people, according to the law. The law bans activities that defame heroes and martyrs or distort and diminish their deeds. Those who violate their rights of name, portrait, reputation and honor will be punished. The law was passed unanimously after a second reading at the bimonthly session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress Friday. RIGA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Latvian government is bracing for tough talks on EU funding after the European Commission unveiled proposals for the bloc's next multi-annual budget on Wednesday, local media reported. Latvian Prime Minister Maris Kucinskis, Finance Minister Dana Reizniece-Ozola, Agriculture Minister Janis Duklavs and Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics will all have to work hard in Brussels to defend Latvia's interests in the EU's post-Brexit budget, said Inese Vaidere, a Latvian member of European Parliament. Latvia's main concerns are about the EU Commission's plan to cut funding for agricultural and cohesion policies by roughly 5 percent. Commenting on the budget blueprint, Latvian Prime Minister Kucinskis told reporters on Thursday that nobody finds the European Commission's proposals satisfactory at this stage but that negotiations on the EU's budget for the period 2021-2027 were just beginning. It is already clear, however, that Latvia will have to be more insistent when seeking EU support for major projects like Rail Baltica railway line amid reduced cohesion funding, Kucinskis said, adding that Rail Baltica might become the central topic in Latvia's budget negotiations in Brussels. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on Wednesday unveiled plans for the EU's next seven-year budget in which expenditure would be raised to 1.279 trillion euros (1.44 trillion U.S. dollars) or 1.1 percent of the bloc's economic output. MADRID, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Mexican investigative journalist Alma Guillermoprieto was on Thursday confirmed as the winner of the 2018 Princess of Asturias Award for Communication and Humanities. The jury decided the journalist should be granted one of the most prestigious awards in Spain for "her longstanding career and her deep knowledge of the complex reality of Latin America, which she has also conveyed with enormous courage in the field of communication of the English-speaking world, thereby building bridges throughout the American continent." The jury concluded that with her "forceful and committed writing, Alma Guillermoprieto represents the finest values of journalism in contemporary society." Guillermoprieto is the second of the eight prize winners to be named in the 38th edition of the Princess of Asturias Awards. Last week saw veteran U.S. film director Martin Scorsese named as the winner of the 2018 Arts awards and the winners of the remaining six categories: International Cooperation, Sports, Literature, Social Sciences, Concord and Technical and Scientific Research, will be announced over the coming weeks. The Princess of Asturias Awards are presented in a gala ceremony attended by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and the Infanta Leonor, the Princess of Asturias and the heir to the Spanish throne, in the city of Oviedo, north Spain, every October. Prize winners earn a 50,000 euro-cash prize and a special statue created by the artist Joan Miro. (1 euro = 1.20 U.S. dollars) YEREVAN, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan who spearheaded the nationwide protests in Armenia, was nominated to run for the prime minister again next week. The parliament will vote to elect a prime minister on May 8, according to the official website of the parliament of Armenia. According to the electoral code, Pashinyan needs to secure signatures from at least one-third of the members of parliament to meet the requirement of his candidacy in the second round of the voting for PM in Armenia's National Assembly. On Thursday, the second largest faction Tsarukyan Alliance, Pashinyan's own Yelk bloc and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation Party have all pledged their support for Pashinyan in the second round. Earlier on Wednesday, the ruling Republican Party, which had thwarted Pashinyan's first bid for prime minister on Tuesday by voting against with 56 votes from 105-seat parliaments, announced that "the country will have a new prime minister on May 8." Later that day, Pashinyan called on to cease protests and acts of civil disobedience in the country. More than one-third of Armenias National Assembly deputies have today nominated Nikol Pashinyan as a candidate for the post of prime minister. On May 1, the parliament rejected Pashinyans bid to become prime minister by a vote of 56-45. A second election will be held on May 8. As on May 1, Pashinyan is the only candidate in the May 8 election. Photo taken on June 20, 2017 shows black rhinos in the Lake Nakuru National Park, Kenya. Lake Nakuru lies to the south of Nakuru, in the rift valley of Kenya and is protected by Lake Nakuru National Park. (Xinhua/Chen Cheng) NAIROBI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has mobilized security personnel to hunt for poachers who killed three rhinos at Meru National Park in the eastern part of the country, an official said on Thursday. Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, said an elite security team had been deployed to Meru National Park and its vicinity to nab the criminal gang behind the killing of two adult black rhinos and a calf on Wednesday night. "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the poaching of three rhinos on Wednesday night at the Rhino Sanctuary in Meru National Park. The security team upon hearing gunshots reacted swiftly and laid ambushes at strategic points though it did not yield results," Balala told reporters. He revealed that a covert operation has been going on to help arrest the heavily armed gang behind the latest killing of black rhinos whose horns fetch huge sums of money in the black market. "Our intelligence officers are already conducting probe on the culprits behind the first case of rhino poaching this year. An aerial and ground search could provide useful leads to help arrest these criminals," said Balala. He added that surveillance has been enhanced in all protected wildlife sanctuaries to deter poaching of large mammals like elephants and rhinos. "We have specifically beefed up security in protected parks and Laikipia area in northern Kenya where there is a large herd of elephants and rhinos," said Balala. Kenya has lately won global acclaim for rolling out interventions that have led to a significant reduction in poaching of iconic wildlife species. Balala said that poaching has been on a downward spiral thanks to law enforcement, retraining of wildlife rangers, community participation and adoption of surveillance technology. "These interventions led to 85 percent reduction in rhino poaching and 78 percent reduction in elephant poaching in 2017," said Balala adding that Kenya lost 69 elephants and 9 rhinos to poaching last year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-03 23:55:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the violence in Central African Republic (CAR) that resulted in at least 22 deaths and over 100 people injured, a deputy UN spokesperson said Thursday. Guterres extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a prompt recovery to the wounded, said Farhan Haq on his behalf. The violence erupted Tuesday in the country's capital Bangui. Two staff members of UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) were injured. Haq said the UN chief has called for calm and urged authorities to investigate the attacks and quickly bring those responsible to justice. Guterres has also expressed his continued concern over "inflammatory" rhetoric that seems to be prevalent, recalling that there is no justification for incitement to violence or hate speech, Haq said. The secretary-general reaffirms his support to the African country and to MINUSCA's role to protect civilians and stabilize the country, urging all actors to cease violence and work together to bring peace and stability to the country, he said. According to local residents, the CAR's security forces launched a search operation against a rebel leader near a Muslim neighborhood, home to some armed groups. The hunt prompted exchanges of fire that lead to the casualties. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 00:05:19|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close A damaged bus is seen at a blast site in Attock, Punjab Province, Pakistan, on May 3, 2018. At least three people were killed and 13 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a bus in Pakistan's Punjab province on Thursday, local Urdu TV channels reported. (Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, May 3 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed and 13 others injured when a suicide bomber blew himself up near a bus in Pakistan's Punjab province on Thursday, local Urdu TV channels reported. According to the reports, the suicide attacker targeted a bus carrying employees of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) on Basal road near Dhok Gama area in Attock, a city in the province. Police officials confirmed that, an employee of the PAEC and a passer-by were among the three killed in the attack whereas all the injured were employees of the PAEC. The bus driver and a passer-by tried to overpower the attacker who blew himself up after firing shots at the bus, killing both of them on the spot, said District Emergency Officer Ashfaq, adding that the bus was completely destroyed by the powerful blast. Security forces and rescue teams rushed to the site and shifted the injured to nearby hospitals in the city. Security forces have condoned off the area and kicked off a search operation. No group or individual has claimed the responsibility of the attack yet. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 00:10:21|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Buses carrying rebels and their families are seen on the southern outskirts of Damascus, Syria, on May 3, 2018. A total of 32 buses carrying hundreds of rebels and their families started leaving the towns of Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem on Thursday for the rebel-held areas in northern Syria under a deal between some rebels and the government forces. (Xinhua) DAMASCUS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army on Thursday advanced in the Hajar al-Aswad area south of the capital Damascus after days of intense battles with Islamic State (IS) militants. Syrian government troops split the main IS stronghold into two parts amid a wide-scale offensive to clear IS militants from the areas south of Damascus. Meanwhile, some rebels, who are not linked to IS, continued to leave their positions for the rebel-held areas in northern Syria under a deal with the government forces, the state news agency SANA reported. The operation is focused now on Hajar al-Aswad and the IS-held areas in the nearby Yarmouk Camp after the Syrian army recaptured a number of surrounding neighborhoods while other rebel groups started evacuating three towns of Yalda, Babila, and Beit Sahem near Hajar al-Aswad. Those rebels will shift to the rebel-held areas of Jarablus and the northwestern province of Idlib. The state TV said 32 buses carrying hundreds of rebels and their families started leaving the three towns amid ongoing military offensive on Hajar al-Aswad and Yarmouk Camp. About 200 rebels and their families from Yarmouk Camp, which are not linked to IS, left the area. But the people in the towns of Kafraya and Foa in Idlib's countryside refused to depart in batches, and demanded to leave at once. Last year, a suicide bomber attacked the assembly point of a similar evacuation from the two towns, killing 126 people. The War Media, the media wing of the Syrian army and its allies, said Syrian forces had entered the areas that were cleared of the rebels. IS has lost its major stronghold late last year, with the Syrian army capturing the Deir al-Zour city in eastern Syria as well as large swaths of the Syrian desert near the Iraqi border. The Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces also stripped IS of its de facto capital of Raqqa north of Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 00:10:23|Editor: yan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- American biologists found that a 24-hour fast can reverse the age-related loss of intestinal stem cell function that can regenerate new intestinal cells. The study, published on Thursday in the journal Cell Stem Cell, revealed that fasting dramatically improves stem cells' ability to regenerate, in both aged and young mice. In fasting mice, cells begin breaking down fatty acids instead of glucose, a change that stimulates the stem cells to become more regenerative. The researchers found that they could also boost regeneration with a molecule that activates the same metabolic switch and such an intervention could potentially help older people recovering from gastrointestinal infections or cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. "Fasting has many effects in the intestine, which include boosting regeneration as well as potential uses in any type of ailment that impinges on the intestine, such as infections or cancers," said Omer Yilmaz, an assistant professor of biology in Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and one of the senior authors of the study. "This study provided evidence that fasting induces a metabolic switch in the intestinal stem cells, from utilizing carbohydrates to burning fat," said David Sabatini, an MIT professor of biology and the paper's another senior author. "Interestingly, switching these cells to fatty acid oxidation enhanced their function significantly. Pharmacological targeting of this pathway may provide a therapeutic opportunity to improve tissue homeostasis in age-associated pathologies." Intestinal stem cells are responsible for maintaining the lining of the intestine, which typically renews itself every five days. When an injury or infection occurs, stem cells are key to repairing any damage. However as people age, the regenerative abilities of these intestinal stem cells decline, so it takes longer for the intestine to recover. After mice fasted for 24 hours, the researchers removed intestinal stem cells and grew them in a culture dish, allowing them to determine whether the cells can give rise to "mini-intestines" known as organoids. The researchers found that stem cells from the fasting mice doubled their regenerative capacity. The researchers sequenced the messenger RNA of stem cells from the mice that fasted, and revealed that fasting induces cells to switch from their usual metabolism, which burns carbohydrates such as sugars, to metabolizing fatty acids. This switch occurs through the activation of transcription factors called PPARs, which turn on many genes that are involved in metabolizing fatty acids, according to the researchers. The researchers found that if they turned off this pathway, fasting could no longer boost regeneration and they could reproduce the beneficial effects of fasting by treating mice with a molecule that mimics the effects of PPARs. The findings suggest that drug treatment could stimulate regeneration without requiring patients to fast, which is difficult for most people. One group that could benefit from such treatment is cancer patients who are receiving chemotherapy, which often harms intestinal cells. It could also benefit older people who experience intestinal infections or other gastrointestinal disorders that can damage the lining of the intestine. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 00:20:25|Editor: yan Video Player Close MUSCAT, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Oman needs to consolidate its economic ties with China to benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative, well-known Omani columnist Khalfan Al-Touqi told Xinhua in a recent interview. "The project is very important not only for China or Oman alone, but for the world," Al-Touqi, a columnist and writer, commented on the Chinese initiative, which aims to build a trade and infrastructure network to connect Asia with Africa and Europe along the ancient Silk Road trade routes. He said Oman needs to elevate its economic ties with China to the level of partnership to benefit from the Belt and Road Initiative. What distinguishes Oman is that it is located on the ancient Silk Road, and could serve as China's gateway to the Gulf and its important passage to the Horn of Africa, Al-Touqi said. "So, the economists in Oman need to think strategically in line with this project, which will change the features of trade in the future," he added. In an article published by the Omani daily Al-Royah on Sunday, Al-Touqi also urged his country to further strengthen its economic relations with China. "When it strengthens its economic cooperation with China, especially in this giant project, the Sultanate of Oman can be one of the new re-export centers or can share with China some of the main stations of the land or sea routes by direct financial investment," Al-Touqi said. He proposed creating a permanent special Omani economic team to study how to make the most of the Belt and Road Initiative, which he said will "reshape the balance of trade forces in the present century." "If the details of the project (Belt and Road Initiative) are tracked by specialists, there will certainly be more space and horizons for cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and China," he said. Al-Touqi highlighted the depth and strength of the strong relations between Oman and China, the largest importer of Omani oil. The bilateral economic ties have also flourished through the Omani-Chinese partnership in the establishment of the Al Duqm Special Economic Zone, Al-Touqi noted. KAMPALA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Uganda has launched a cholera vaccination campaign to stem the outbreak of the disease that has left 45 Democratic Republic of the Congo refugees dead and over 2,000 others hospitalized. The World Health Organization (WHO) in a statement issued on Thursday said the immunization drive that targets 360,000 people including refugees and locals is part of the efforts to control an ongoing cholera outbreak in Kyangwali and Kyaka refugee settlements. The settlements located in the Midwestern districts of Hoima and Kyegegwa host thousands of Congolese refugees fleeing fighting back home. "The Oral Cholera Vaccine is a key weapon in the fight against cholera. But it is important that other efforts such as improving water, sanitation and hygiene are stepped up, otherwise cholera will continue to haunt communities," said Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, WHO Representative for Uganda. The five-day exercise kicked off on Wednesday at the six hot spots of Kigorobya, Kabwoya and Buseruka sub counties, Kigorobya Town council and Kyangwali refugee settlement. Cholera, according to WHO, is an acute diarrheal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium vibrio cholerae. WHO recommends that vaccination against cholera be considered in emergencies and other high-risk scenarios where there are increased threats of outbreaks. Uganda Red Cross said the influx of Congolese refugees has overwhelmed health facilities in the area and led to squalid conditions in the settlements, fueling the outbreak. The humanitarian organization estimates that over 70,000 Congolese have fled to Uganda since the start of the year, 80 percent of whom are women and children. The vaccination exercise will also be held in other parts of the country like Buliisa, Pakwach, Nebbi, Kasese, Ntoroko, Zombo, Moyo, Busia, Namayingo and Arua. OTTAWA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Canada's trade deficit hit a record 4.14 billion Canadian dollars (about 3.21 billion U.S. dollars) in March as imports increased more than exports, Statistics Canada said on Thursday. Canada's imports jumped 6 percent to a record 51.7 billion Canadian dollars in March, while exports rose 3.7 percent to 47.6 billion Canadian dollars, data showed. The imports increases were recorded in nine of 11 sectors, with motor vehicles and parts and also consumer goods being larger gainers. As for exports, aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts, farm, fishing and intermediate food products, and energy products contributed the most to the widespread increase. Exports excluding energy products rose 3.6 percent. As a result, Canada's trade deficit with the world widened from 2.9 billion Canadian dollars in February to a record 4.1 billion Canadian dollars in March. In March, Canada's total trade with countries other than the United States reached a record 31.2 billion Canadian dollars, with imports increasing 11.5 percent and exports up 11.4 percent. Meanwhile, imports from China led the increase with 26.6 percent, mainly on higher imports of computers and computer peripheral equipment and of communications and audio and video equipment. Other notable increases were in imports from the Netherlands and Germany. Higher exports to countries other than the United States were mostly attributable to the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan. (1 Canadian dollar equals 1.29 Canadian dollars) Chinese President XiJinping meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province, Sept. 3, 2017. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing) MOSCOW, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday that Russia's cooperation with China and the Group of G20 (G20)sets an example for interaction on the international arena. "I would like to emphasize the important role of Russian-Chinese all-round interaction, which serves as a model for the relations between nations in the 21st century," Lavrov said in an interview with the Italian Panorama magazine. He pointed out that Moscow and Beijing have cooperated closely both on a bilateral basis and in various multilateral formats, such as the Eurasian Economic Union, Collective Security Treaty Organization, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Lavrov said that the role of the G20, which brings together the world's major advanced and emerging economies, is increasing. He said that the Group of Seven, which is no longer capable of solving many problems alone, and BRICS are using the G20 platform to reach agreements on the basis of consensus. "In principle, the activities of the G20 are the prototype of an institution of a just global governance, based not on dictate, but on finding a balance of interests," Lavrov said. He said that currently a polycentric system of the world order is being formed with new centers of economic power and political influence emerging and gaining strength. Polycentricity should facilitate the establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation and fruitful partnerships, Lavrov said. However, Lavrov said, the new multipolar structure had yet to reach a stable state. The actions of all international players should not be destructive, but creative and based not on force, but on international law, he said. It may be possible to effectively solve numerous problems of our time only by joining the capacities of all players and using the support of the United Nations' authority, Lavrov said. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov attends a press conference follwing talks with Jordanian Foreign minister Ayman Safadi in Sochi, Russia, on May 3, 2018. (Photo by Russian Foreign Ministry) MOSCOW, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A possible United States withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal would be a huge blow in the fight against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Thursday. "If the U.S., as its president has repeatedly stated, announces its withdrawal from this agreement ... we all, the international community, will lose one of the most important tools that contributes to ensuring the non-proliferation regime for weapons of mass destruction," Lavrov said at a press conference. President of the United States Donald Trump is expected to decide whether to leave the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), also known as Iran nuclear deal, no later than May 12. On July 14, 2015, Iran and six world powers: Russia, the United States, British, China, France and Germany agreed on the JCPOA, which would limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for the removal of international sanctions. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu disclosed on Monday numerous files which he said have provided "conclusive evidence" of Iran developing nuclear weapons in breach of the deal. Lavrov said that if Israel had really obtained such documents, then it should transfer them to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) immediately, the body responsible for the deal's implementation. However, Lavrov said, judging from the comments of experts who participated in the deal's creation, the documents "may well be related to the previous activities already accounted for during the IAEA inspections." Lavrov recalled that Russian President Vladimir Putin had repeatedly said, including during a recent phone conversation with Netanyahu, that the JCPOA had to be "strictly observed by all parties that signed it, especially because it was unconditionally approved by the United Nations Security Council." The Armenian government has again granted an import tax waiver to ABC Textile, a company owned by Astghik Aleksanyan, daughter of Armenian businessman and member of parliament Samvel Aleksanyan, and the sons of former Lebanese Minister of Energy and Water Reserves Arthur Nazaryan. The government had granted the company a similar waiver on April 18 of this year. ABC Textile has promised to import AMD 7 billion in raw materials and equipment to Armenia, and to create 175 jobs. The company is registered at an address in the Ararat Province town of Artashat where the Artashat Tricotage Factory owned by former Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan was located. A few months back, Abrahamyan sold the factory to Alex Textile, a company owned by Astghik Aleksanyan. VILNIUS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Lithuania has been formally invited to join the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with a planned signing of the accession agreement during the OECD ministerial meeting on May 30 and 31 in Paris, Lithuanian authorities announced Thursday. The invitation "is a result of appreciation of our state's coherent policies and reforms implemented after 1990. We are joining one of the most important organizations in the world and Europe", Lithuanian Prime Minister Saulius Skvernelis said at the Lithuanian parliament. Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite was separately informed about the invitation by OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurria. "OECD sets very high requirements for its member states. Therefore, the reforms delivered by Lithuania and smooth negotiations demonstrate the story of national success leading to new avenues of growth and development," Grybauskaite said in a statement released by her office. "Membership in the OECD is an internationally recognized mark of progress and trust, which will help Lithuania to compete on the global market," the head of state added. Grybauskaite is to visit Paris on May 31 to sign the accession agreement, making Lithuania the 36th member of the organization uniting the strongest and most progressive economies of the world. Lithuania opened its OECD accession talks in April 2015 and the negotiating process was finalized in April this year. Working with over 100 economies, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. By Alessandra Cardone ROME, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Italy's population was expected to keep shrinking in the next decades, losing up to 6.5 million by 2065, the National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) said on Thursday. Outlining a medium-term scenario, ISTAT forecast the country's resident population -- some 60 million people today -- would drop by at least 1.6 million by 2045, and by 6.5 million in further 20 years. Taking into consideration the variability of demographic events, researchers said the population estimate in 2065 would range "from a minimum of 46.4 million to a maximum of 62 (million)". "The chance of a population increase scenario by 2065 is 9 percent," ISTAT added. A shift in demographic distribution was also expected. The number of residents living in northern Italy was likely to start decreasing only from 2045 onwards, while southern regions and major islands (Sicily and Sardinia) would go through the declining demographic trend during the whole period of projection taken into account. "The empirical probability that in 2065 the Center-North will have a wider population than today is 30 percent, while for the South and Isles area it is null," researchers wrote. In 2065, the northern and central regions of Italy were as such forecast to host some 71 percent of the country's residents, against the current 66 percent. On the contrary, southern regions and major islands would give hospitality to 29 percent of residents compared to the current 34 percent. Fertility was projected to increase from 1.34 children per woman today to 1.59 children per woman by 2065, although uncertainty on this factor would grow higher in the last phase of the projection period, ISTAT specified. Finally, the Italian population -- already known for its longevity -- would see its survival rate increase further in the next decades. Life expectancy at birth for men and women would grow from 80.6 years and 85 years in 2016, respectively, to 86.1 years and 90.2 years by 2065. Italy has the second largest population aged 65 or over in the world, behind Japan and before Germany and Portugal, according to several global statistics including from the World Bank. In January, the country had a resident population of 60,494,000 million, down about 100,000 persons against January of last year, ISTAT estimated. People aged 65 and above counted for 22.6 percent of the whole. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 01:40:41|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close China launched a new communication satellite "APSTAR-6C" on a Long March-3B carrier rocket from the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center, May 4, 2018. (Xinhua/Zhang Zhengyi) XICHANG, May 4 (Xinhua) -- China launched a new communication satellite "APSTAR-6C" at 12:06 a.m. Friday at the southwestern Xichang Satellite Launch Center. The satellite was sent into orbit by the Long March-3B carrier rocket. This was the 273rd mission of the Long March rocket series. Both the satellite and the rocket were developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The user of the satellite is Hong Kong-based APT Satellite Co. Ltd. The satellite will provide TV transmission, communication, Internet and multimedia services to customers across the Asia-Pacific region. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 01:45:42|Editor: yan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Israel has arrested several suspected Hamas members in the West Bank, including a university student leader, for links to the Islamic Hamas movement, the Israel Security Agency (ISA) said Thursday. On March 7th, undercover Israeli Border Police officers arrested Omar Kiswani, 24-year-old chairman of the student council at Bir Zeit University, accusing him of receiving funding on behalf of a Hamas-affiliated student group. The ISA investigation showed that Kiswani was in contact with Hamas member Yassin Rabia, who had been expelled to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip by Israel, as well as some Hamas members in Turkey. Kiswani reportedly sought funds to advance Hamas activities at Bir Zeit University, and Rabia subsequently transferred to him approximately 150,000 Euros (179,662 U.S. dollars) which were concealed in several locations throughout West Bank, the ISA claimed. Kiswani collected the money along with his friend and fellow Hamas student association member Yahya Alawi, in an attempt to promote Hamas activities, the statement said. In 2017, a Gaza-based Hamas cell was uncovered which had recruited Bir Zeit University students to perpetrate suicide attacks in Israel. Additional Hamas student group members have recently been discovered while seeking to commit shooting attacks in the area near the West Bank city of Ramallah, the ISA said. OTTAWA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa here on Thursday to discuss the benefits of progressive trade and ways to boost bilateral relations. In the joint statement released after their meeting, the two leaders committed to further deepen the Canada-Portugal relationship through a new arrangement on youth mobility. This new collaboration, the Canadian Prime Minister's Office said, which provides greater opportunities for engagement and exchange, will help Canadian and Portuguese young people gain international experience, as well as a better understanding of each other's cultures, languages, and societies. The two leaders announced that the two countries will sign a modernized agreement on social security, and a memorandum of understanding on aeronautical search and rescue operations. They also discussed how the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is helping create good, middle class jobs and new opportunities for people of both countries. They also explored shared approaches to some of the most pressing global issues, and the importance of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, including on promoting gender equality, protecting the world's oceans, addressing climate change, and building economies that work for everyone, according to the statement. They underlined the two countries' common commitment to NATO and to peacekeeping, including the UN peacekeeping mission in Mali. Thursday's meeting is the first formal meeting between Trudeau and Costa, who arrived here on Wednesday for a three-day visit. Canada is home to a vibrant community of over 480,000 Canadians of Portuguese origin. The trade volume between Canada and Portugal stood at nearly 848 million Canadian dollars (about 659 million U.S. dollars) in 2017, with Canadian exports valued at 270 million Canadian dollars, according to the joint statement. On Sept. 21, 2017, the provisional application of CETA took effect. CETA provides new opportunities for Canadian and Portuguese businesses, and will enhance trade and investment in both countries. Portugal ratified CETA at the national level on Dec. 21, 2017. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 01:55:43|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (R) and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed attend a joint press conference in Khartoum, Sudan, on May 3, 2018. Sudan and Ethiopia on Thursday reiterated their commitment not to harm Egypt's water interests with the establishment of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) KHARTOUM, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Sudan and Ethiopia on Thursday reiterated their commitment not to harm Egypt's water interests with the establishment of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed made the pledge at a joint press conference in Khartoum at the end of Ahmed's visit. Al-Bashir vowed that the GERD would be a beneficial project for the three countries. "We reiterated our firm commitment that the water share of our brothers in Egypt will not be affected by the establishment of the GERD. We agreed to make the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam a project for enhancing the joint benefits of the three countries," said al-Bashir. Ahmed said they also discussed "the equitable and reasonable utilization of the Nile water." "All investments must be done beneficially for Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt. We don't have any intention to harm Sudan or Egypt," the Ethiopian prime minister said. Meanwhile, al-Bashir issued a decision pardoning all the Ethiopians who have earlier been arrested in Sudan for committing offences or those who have been sentenced. Ahmed on Thursday concluded a two-day visit to Sudan during which he held talks with Sudanese leaders, focusing on bilateral cooperation and the issue of GERD. The last round of tripartite talks on GERD ended in April without reaching an agreement on the technical report prepared by French firms on the potential impact of the dam. In December 2017, Egypt proposed to have the World Bank as a neutral party on the tripartite technical committee, but Ethiopia refused. The GERD project, which costs 4.7 billion U.S. dollars, is now 64 percent complete. Ethiopia hopes it will provide a constant supply of clean and affordable power and accelerate its shift from an agricultural economy to an industrial powerhouse. Ethiopia and Sudan eye massive benefits from the GERD construction, while Egypt is concerned that it might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the Nile River water. by Wang Xiaopeng and David Musyoka NAIROBI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's decision to join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is a continuation of the country's drive to diversify its core interests from the Western-led lending institutions, and to cement its relations with China that has emerged as a leading contractor of its key infrastructure projects, analysts said Thursday. The AIIB announced Wednesday that its board of governors has adopted resolutions approving applications from Papua New Guinea and Kenya to join the bank, bringing its total approved membership to 86. Kenya will officially join AIIB once they complete the required domestic processes and deposit the first installment of capital with the bank, according to AIIB. Local economic observers hailed the move by the Kenyan government. "Kenya's lag in infrastructure development for many years can be directly attributed to the conditionalities of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This is a mistake that the country does not want to repeat again and therefore the choice to join a tolerant financial development institution," Ken Ogembo, a lecturer at the Kenyatta University, told Xinhua. He gave an example of the proposed overpass along Nairobi's main traffic artery of Uhuru Highway that was expected to ease traffic congestion in Nairobi. The road was approved by the parliament in 2008. "The World Bank withdrew from its funding pledge at the eleventh hour. To date, the road has not been done," Ogembo said. Ogembo said Kenya's joining of the AIIB is part of its strategic plan to align with financial institutions that are "developing countries-minded" and therefore have a broader knowledge of the solutions for growth in a country like Kenya. "We are likely to see more African countries join the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank because it provides an opportunity for finding solutions for the south-south development challenges," he said. In recent years, China-funded infrastructure projects was credited to help the Kenyan economy grow by about 5.5 percent on average in the last five years, compared to the 4.5-percent average growth in the previous five-year period, according to the ministry of national treasury and planning. Kenya has been on a hunt for competitive development financing since 2002 when infrastructure upgrade and development drive started. "China has been a true partner of Kenya as far as infrastructure financing is concerned. It is a chance that Kenya does not want to lose now as there is still massive demand for projects to open up the country further," said David Mutua of the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA). Among such demands is an ambitious development initiative launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta last year known as the Big Four Agenda, which seeks to transform manufacturing, food security, affordable housing and health insurance in the next five years. "Kenya does not have the capacity to finance the kind of projects which are to ensure that this initiative succeeds. The demand for external financing is therefore massive. We are talking about constructing half a million houses for instance. Then you look at expanding irrigation to increase food security. These are capital intensive projects that will require support of partners," said Mutua. The move to join AIIB is also seen as a vote of confidence on Kenya-China relations. "Kenya is sending a message to China that 'We are with you for the long haul.' The gains that Kenya has made because of Chinese assistance are massive yet the need for further expansion of infrastructure is even higher as the country moves towards achieving a middle-income status," said Wilson Kamau, head of Africa Governance Institute (Kenya Chapter). "It's a benefit Kenya could not have gained from the Western partners and would not gain in future," Kamau added. Kenya adopted China as one of its preferred development partners in 2002 under the then president Mwai Kibaki. The bilateral relations have seen steady improvements since then. According to study results revealed by Ipsos in April, more Kenyans have singled out China (34 percent) as the most important foreign partner to the Eastern African country compared with the United States (26 percent). With 57 signatories at its launch in January 2016, the Beijing-headquartered AIIB aims to improve social and economic outcomes in Asia and beyond by investing in sustainable infrastructure and other productive sectors. "We're very happy to welcome Papua New Guinea and Kenya as prospective members of AIIB," AIIB Vice President and Corporate Secretary Danny Alexander said Wednesday. "AIIB now has 86 approved members from six continents. This shows a strong commitment to promoting infrastructure development through rules-based multilateral cooperation with high standards of governance," Alexander said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 02:05:48|Editor: yan Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim's will visit Kuwait next week to cement the bilateral strategic relationship, the state-run Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) reported Thursday. During the visit on May 8, Kuwait and Turkey will ink a number of cooperation agreements, KUNA quoted Kuwaiti Ambassador to Turkey Ghassan Al-Zawawi as saying. The two countries will tackle current regional challenges through further consultation and coordination, the ambassador added. In addition, Yildirim may inspect the construction site of the backup facilities for Kuwait airport, executed by the Turkish company Limak, Al-Zawawi said. Trade exchanges between Kuwait and Turkey reached about 1.5 billion U.S. dollars annually. The two countries have also cooperated in providing aid to the Syrian refugees in Turkey. Turkey is also a favorite tourist destination for many Kuwaitis, KUNA said. TRIPOLI, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed Prime Minister, Fayez Serraj, on Thursday called for establishment of Libyan-Italian investment project to counter illegal immigration. Serraj's made his remarks during the Libyan-Italian Economic Conference in Libyan capital Tripoli, which discussed joint investment opportunities and reconstruction in Libya. The event was attended by a number of businessmen and senior officials from the two countries. "We look forward to translating this partnership into joint investments, programs and initiatives in the areas of reconstruction, infrastructure, energy, finance, and tourism," Serraj said in his opening speech. The prime minister also pointed out that establishment of joint investment project could address the problem of illegal immigration on both countries, stressing that such project can be invested to fill the security gap and limit migration. "The promotion of marine fishing and establishment of tourism and economic projects along the Libyan coast, in addition to spatial development in the south and benefiting from a decentralized management approach, have significant positive impacts on migration," he said. The conference is a continuation of the work of the Libya-Italian Joint Economic Forum held in Italy in July 2017, which discussed investment opportunities in Libya between businessmen in both countries. Due to state of insecurity and chaos, Libya is a major departure point for thousands of illegal immigrants wanting to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores, particularly Italy. WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Vice President Mike Pence delayed a scheduled trip to Brazil ahead of an expected meeting between President Donald Trump and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)'s top leader Kim Jong Un, a spokesperson for Pence said on Thursday. "The Vice President is delaying his trip to Brazil in order to ensure all diplomatic and national security resources are available" as Trump plans for his talks with Kim, said Pence's press secretary Alyssa Farah in a statement. Trump, who was expected to meet Kim in the coming weeks, said on Tuesday that the location and date of their talks probably will be announced in a "couple of days." The U.S. president revealed on Monday that Singapore and the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the DPRK and South Korea could be possible sites for his meeting with Kim. Pence was scheduled to visit Brazil at the end of the month. File photo taken on Feb. 16, 2016 shows a general view of the capital Bangui, Central African Republic. (Xinhua/REUTERS) UNITED NATIONS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has condemned the violence in Central African Republic (CAR) that resulted in at least 22 deaths and over 100 people injured, a deputy UN spokesperson said Thursday. Guterres extends his condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a prompt recovery to the wounded, said Farhan Haq on his behalf. The violence erupted Tuesday in the country's capital Bangui. Two staff members of UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in CAR (MINUSCA) were injured. Haq said the UN chief has called for calm and urged authorities to investigate the attacks and quickly bring those responsible to justice. Guterres has also expressed his continued concern over "inflammatory" rhetoric that seems to be prevalent, recalling that there is no justification for incitement to violence or hate speech, Haq said. The secretary-general reaffirms his support to the African country and to MINUSCA's role to protect civilians and stabilize the country, urging all actors to cease violence and work together to bring peace and stability to the country, he said. According to local residents, the CAR's security forces launched a search operation against a rebel leader near a Muslim neighborhood, home to some armed groups. The hunt prompted exchanges of fire that lead to the casualties. LUSAKA, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Zambia and Japan on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation between companies on exploration of mineral resources such as copper and cobalt. The deal was signed by Zambia's Minister of Mines and Minerals Development Richard Musukwa and Tetsuhiro Hosono, president of Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, on the sidelines of the Japan-Africa Public Private Economic Forum, currently taking place in South Africa, said a statement issued by the Zambian embassy in that country. The agreement envisages technical, information exchange, promotion of mineral resources investment cooperation between the two countries. The Zambian minister said the southern African nation would need to enhance its technology and skills in the mining sector through its cooperation with Japan. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 03:56:10|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras speaks during a regional conference for the economic development of the northern Aegean islands in Lesvos, Greece, on May 3, 2018, as local stores and services were closed to protest the presence of thousands of migrants stranded on the island. (Xinhua/Andtea Boneti) by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras pledged more efforts to tackle the refugee challenge at the forefront of the crisis during a visit to Lesvos island on Thursday. The Aegean Sea Island which received half of the more than one million refugees and migrants who landed on Greek shores since early 2015, hosted a conference on economic development in the region which has been tested heavily by the refugee and economic crises. "The situation is difficult both for the migrants as well as locals. We acknowledge that mistakes have been made and there are shortcomings. Our goal is to face them as soon as possible," the Greek premier said. The Greek government will step up efforts to accelerate the procedures for granting asylum to refugees and will support local communities by investing in much needed infrastructure works, he added. Tsipras also praised once again the residents of Lesvos and the other islands for demonstrating solidarity with the people in need, denouncing xenophobia and racism. Many local businessmen protested on Thursday that the refugee crisis is hurting the local tourism industry and economy combined with bailout- imposed measures. Meanwhile the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) called on Greek authorities to immediately transfer refugees and migrants from Lesvos to the mainland. After the closure of the Balkan route to central Europe all new arrivals remain on the islands until their asylum bids are assessed. Those non eligible are returned to Turkey, according to the EU-Turkey agreement sealed in March 2016 to stem the refugee flows. However due to long delays in the asylum process, despite the drastic reduction of the influx compared to 2015, the reception facilities on Lesvos and other islands are still overcrowded. "Thousands of people in Lesvos -- men, women and children -- live in miserable conditions, with insufficient access to essential medical assistance. As around 500 people arrive on Lesvos every week, the overcrowding and the growing demand for medical and other services have brought Moria's camp to the brink once more," the NGO said in an e-mailed statement. MSF said there are currently more than 7,000 people living in Moria hotspot, "a structure with a maximum capacity of 2,500 people." According to the official figures of the Ministry of Interior released on Thursday, currently almost 9,000 refugees and migrants are hosted on Lesvos while capacity is about 4,000. Some 13,000 refugees and migrants are hosted in all the Aegean islands at the moment out of the more than 60,000 people stranded in Greece after the closure of the borders in the winter of 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 04:21:15|Editor: yan Video Player Close WASHINGTON, May 3 (Xinhua) -- A new study on mice, published on Thursday in the open access journal PLOS Biology offered insights into why some people's hair may turn gray in response to a serious illness or chronic stress. Researchers at the National Institutes of Health and the University of Alabama, Birmingham (UAB) have discovered a connection between the genes that contribute to hair color and the genes that notify our bodies of a pathogenic infection. According to the researchers, when a body is under attack from a virus or bacteria, the innate immune system detects them and responds by producing signaling molecules called interferons. Interferons signal to other cells to take action by turning on the expression of genes that inhibit viral replication, activate immune effector cells, and increase host defenses. Melissa Harris, the lead author and assistant professor within the Department of Biology at UAB found a connection between hair pigmentation and innate immune regulation. In this study, an unexpected link was found between gray hair, the transcription factor MITF or Melanogenesis Associated Transcription Factor, and innate immunity. MITF is best known for its role in regulating the many functions within melanocytes. But the researchers found that MITF also serves to keep the melanocytes' interferon response in check. Harris said, melanocyte stem cells were essential to hair color as they produced the melanocytes that were responsible for making and depositing pigment into the hair shaft. They found that if MITF's control of the interferon response was lost in melanocyte stem cells, hair-graying resulted. Furthermore, if innate immune signaling is artificially activated in mice that are predisposed for getting gray hair, increased numbers of gray hairs are also produced. "This new discovery suggests that genes that control pigment in hair and skin also work to control the innate immune system," said William Pavan, study co-author and chief of the Genetic Disease Research Branch at National Human Genome Research Institute under National Institute of Health. "These results may enhance our understanding of hair graying. More importantly, discovering this connection will help us understand pigmentation diseases with innate immune system involvement like vitiligo," said Paven. ALGIERS, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Algeria has "greatly contributed" to the stability of African continent, said Meng Hongwei, the president of the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and vice minister of public security of China, on Thursday in Algiers. He made the remarks to media after his meeting with Algerian Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui. Meng hailed the work done by Algerian Interior Ministry on fighting against various kinds of crimes at national and regional levels. The official said he had "fruitful and in-depth exchange" with Bedoui on several topics, including security situation in the region and the world. He stressed that Interpol "must strengthen its cooperation with the government of each country to face all security challenges," adding that "this new form of cooperation is crucial to ensure security and stability in the world." ZAGREB, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Croatia will propose bilateral talks on resolving the border dispute after Slovenian parliamentary elections which will be held on June 3, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said here on Thursday. On Wednesday, Croatia and Slovenia submitted arguments to the European Commission following Slovenia's objection that Croatia does not want to enforce a decision on border arbitration between the two states. "Croatia does not violate either international or European law because it does not recognize arbitration. The problem, however, is not irreconcilable, and the new plan will be presented immediately as Slovenia gets a new government," said Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Croatia expects the European Commission to reject Slovenian demands for arbitration and to let the two countries agree on how to resolve the dispute. "Slovenia believes that there is a new frontier after the arbitration, and Croatia claims that the border should remain where it was after the collapse of the former Yugoslavia," said Andreja Metelko-Zgombic, State Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs and Croatia's chief negotiator who also attended a hearing in Brussels. Croatia and Slovenia share 667 km of land and sea borders, and the Arbitration Court in The Hague, made a decision on June 29, 2017 on the border between the two states. Croatia withdrew from arbitration in 2015 when it was discovered that the Slovene judge in the Arbitral Tribunal Jernej Sekolec allegedly tried to influence other judges. Slovenia continues to insist on arbitration, while Croatia wants to solve the problem bilaterally. RABAT, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan Justice Minister Mohamed Aujjar and President of the Irish Senate Denis O'Donovan discussed ways to strengthen judicial cooperation in combating terrorism on Thursday. In a statement following their talks, Aujjar said that their meeting also focused on boosting cooperation in countering human trafficking. The meeting was an opportunity to highlight Morocco's rich experiences in fighting against terrorism, illegal immigration and human trafficking, Aujjar said. He said that the two countries have good bilateral relations and share the common will to exchange experiences in judicial reform and fighting illegal activities. Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 06:21:33|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Photo taken on May 3, 2018 shows the entrance of the exhibition "Karl Marx 1818-1883. Life. Work. Time." in the City Museum Simeonstift Trier in Trier, Germany. State exhibition "Karl Marx 1818-1883. Life. Work. Time." will last from May 5 to Oct. 21 in the Rheinisches Landesmuseum Trier and City Museum Simeonstift Trier. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) TRIER, Germany, May 3 (Xinhua) -- "Karl Marx is the pride of Trier!" Mayor Wolfram Leibe told Xinhua ahead of the upcoming celebrations of the 200th birthday of the thinker, which falls on Saturday. Marx was born in Trier on May 5, 1818 and spent his first 17 years here. After the 2008 global financial crisis, there is renewed interest in Karl Marx's works and Marxist theory in the Western World, including in the southwestern German small city Trier. Leibe was quite proud of being a mayor of Marx' hometown and he heard more frequently that people talked about Marx. "Trier is a very conservative city, but people here started to think about Marx's ideas and what on earth he wrote about. People are interested in Marx again, including his personal experience," said Leibe. Besides his analysis of economic crisis, Marx's focus on social injustice is still influencing the world, according to the mayor. "In my opinion, labor is the most important concept in Marx's ideas. Upon labor his ideas were developed and later trade unions were established. It was Marx that started the process," said Leibe. "I believe that the spirit of Marx's ideas is to achieve social justice. His words that impressed me the most, is what he wrote in Communist Manifesto: Proletarians of all countries, unite!" Leibe said he believed that the unique historical and cultural environment of Trier helped shape the values of young Marx, and influenced his ideas in the future. Trier is one of the oldest cities in Germany, with a history dating back to the ancient Roman times. The city belonged to France before Marx was born and later was annexed by Prussia. Aiming to become a lawyer in a Catholic-dominant society, Marx's father Heinrich, who was born in a Jewish family, converted to Christianity in the new Prussian city, but the family was still the minority of the society. Within this environment, Marx was from his childhood influenced by diverse cultures and thoughts, which, some people believed, helped him learn from different cultures and develop his own theory. According to Leibe, the environment also gave Marx a "very international" vision, and he did become an internationalized person, which was rare at that time. In addition, at Marx's times most of Trier's 10,000 plus citizen lived in poverty. Although Marx was born in a prominent Jewish family, the gap between the rich and poor made Marx think about social injustice in his childhood. Since last year, Trier has been preparing for the event marking Marx's 200th birthday. The house where he was born, now the Karl Marx House museum, will reopen on Saturday after renovation, and major exhibitions sponsored by Trier and the Rhineland-Pfalz State will also kick off on that day. "It will be a festival for all citizens!" said Leibe. Over 300 events will be held in the coming months, including symposiums, book-reading events, film-watching events and concerts. Those events are sponsored by the federal government, the state government and also the city government. "There are different ruling parties from federal to city governments. But they all sponsor, because Karl Marx was for all the people. They belonged to the overall society," Leibe said. Leibe added that the whole city is looking forward to the official unveiling of the 5.5-meter-tall Karl Marx statue, created by Chinese artist Wu Weishan, as a gift from China. "We all like this gift," said Leibe, "It's a nice symbol for Marx's birthday." Source: Xinhua| 2018-05-04 06:31:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close RAMALLAH, May 5 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Council (PNC), or the parliament of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), elected a new PLO executive committee and President Mahmoud Abbas as the PLO chairman, officials said early Friday. The PNC convened Monday in the West Bank city of Ramallah. It is the first PNC meeting since 2009, which aims to discuss the Palestinian ties with Israel and the United States, as well as the internal Palestinian situation. The EU plans to simplify the procedure for cutting off financial support for certain members states where it sees that the rule of law is at risk such as Hungary and Poland, several Hungarian papers reported on Monday, citing a Financial Times report. The European Commission plans to submit a proposal under which EU member states could suspend with a qualified majority vote the payment of funds to member states that jeopardise the independence of the judiciary, for instance Hungary and Poland, the FT said. Article 322 of the EU basic treaty would be referred to during the enactment of the new regulation. Unlike with the Treatys Article 7, there would be no need for a unanimous vote, only for the qualified majority of the EU members, to suspend the payments to states where problems with the rule of law endanger successful finances. The Austrian governments latest decision to reduce family allowances for foreign workers is unfair to Hungarian families, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said in a statement sent to state news agency MTI.. Despite EU protests, the Austrian government has decided that the allowances will be adjusted to the price level of the country in which the child of the job taker working in Austria resides. The new regulations could take effect from 2019 if approved by Parliament. As a result of the measure, slightly more than 93 a month will be paid per child who lives in Hungary, rather than the current 172. The Austrian government will save an estimated 100 million a year with the measure. The decision will affect about 39,000 Hungarian children, according to official data. Hungarys government will in each and every case act against anybody who proceeds against Hungarians in an unfair manner, Szijjarto said. Austria is an important partner of ours. It is an important ally on a number of issues, but we have a serious dispute with it on this matter. We do not accept that Hungarians should receive less family allowance than Austrians do once they meet all their obligations such as paying taxes and social insurance contributions identical commitments, Szijjarto said. MTI photo: FM Hungarian police will participate in border protection in Serbia and Macedonia for the fifth time, the national police headquarters communications service said on its website. Fifteen Hungarian police officers will travel to Serbia to work along the Bulgarian border and thirty to Macedonia to work along the Greek border, police.hu said. Deputy national police chief Istvan Kovacs bade farewell to members of the contingents in Budapest. They will patrol the border in order to prevent and uncover unlawful border crossings and will be involved in arresting human smugglers and illegal migrants. The Hungarian police will use their own equipment including vehicles and night vision devices to carry out their tasks and will act under the control and supervision of their Serbian and Macedonian colleagues, respectively. The Hungarian Liberal Party backs the proposal of liberal EP group leader Guy Verhofstadt that the EU should sanction governments, rather than countries, for failing to comply with the blocs regulations, party leader Gabor Fodor told a press conference. One such measure would be to distribute EU funding through local NGOs instead of the governments, Fodor cited Verhofstadt as saying. Such decisions would not harm the citizens but send a clear message to governments breaching standards of the EU and the rule of law, something Hungary and Polands governments have been accused of doing, he said. Lawmaker Anett Bosz said that delegates of the Liberal Party had participated in the board meeting of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in Sofia, where the alliance had discussed a manifesto for the 2019 European parliamentary election. Active opposition against the concept of the illiberal state is one of the key motifs, Bosz said. MTI photo: Illyes Tibor As Prime Minister Orban meets the leaders of the European Peoples Party, a left-wing columnist believes that European conservatives may reprimand PM Orban for his illiberal policies. A pro-government commentator dismisses such speculation, and calls on the EU not to punish Hungary and Poland by limiting their access to cohesion funds. Nepszavas Gyorgy Sebes suspects that the leadership of the European Peoples Party will criticize PM Orbans illiberal policies. The left-wing commentator believes that many conservative MEPs are worried about the Hungarian government policies, most importantly about what he calls the weakening of the rule of law and infringements on basic rights. Sebes also predicts that even if Viktor Orban is criticized by his conservative fellows in Europe, the pro-government media will deny any skirmish between him and the European Peoples Party. In Magyar Hirlap, Sandor Faggyas interprets the Prime Ministers visit to Brussels as an indication that the Hungarian Prime Minister is recognised as an important politician on the European level. The pro-government columnist recalls that Mr Orban is on good personal terms with EPP Chairman Joseph Daul and Manfred Weber, the EPP floor leader in the European Parliament, which makes it unlikely that they will criticize the Hungarian Prime Ministers policies. In a comment on the EU cohesion fund distribution plans for 2021-2027 leaked by the Financial Times, Faggyas hopes that the EU leadership will soon table a revised draft. According to a Financial Times report, the EU leadership is considering linking access to EU funds to respect for basic democratic norms and independent courts. The Financial Times interpreted the draft proposal as a measure to punish Poland and Hungary for their illiberal policies. Faggyas complains that EU cohesion funds are not gifts, but part of the EU integration deal, and they do not only serve the interest of less developed countries, but also of Western European firms which invest in Poland and Hungary. MTI photo: Soos Lajos This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story Polish national airline LOT launched its first flight from Krakow to Budapest. The airline will fly five times a week between the two cities. It will add one more flight from May 21 until October 27. The flights will be operated with Bombardier Q400s with a seating capacity of 78 passengers. The launch of the flight is an important part of the infrastructure development that aims to link Central and Eastern European economies, said Adrienne Kormendy, Hungarys consul general in Krakow. MTI photo: Kovacs Tamas Did you know that 3 May is World Press Freedom Day? HCLU is developing an easy to use online platform and mobile app for professional and citizen journalists (bloggers, Facebookers etc) with support from the Embassy of the Netherlands in Hungary. The platform answers the most common legal questions concerning their rights and duties as a journalist, in order to be an effective asset within the Hungarian democratic framework. The application will be available by the end of 2018. Stay tuned. Source: Hungarian Civil Liberties Union Linda, Mo and Elizabeth are middle-aged actresses in Hollywood, with clashing personalities but equally stalled careers. Their support group, "The United States of Actresses" is held weekly to discuss all the industry gossip. When Carole joins them as a newbie in the "U. S. A." and the group receives an unexpected offer to restart their careers, life suddenly gets even more dramatic... "Produced by special arrangement with Heuer Publishing LLC of Cedar Rapids, Iowa." An English language comedy starring adult students. Date and time: 30 May, 7.30 pm Venue: Spirit Szinhaz Address: 1023 Budapest, Arpad fejedelem utja 3-4. Tickets: 1800 HUF In cash in Spirit Szinhaz or online here E-mail: contact@dramaworks.hu Tel: +36 20 316 7268 The creation of Pelham Bay Park during the 1880s is one of the most significant events in the history of the little Town of Pelham. Indeed, creation of the park has likely protected Pelham and other parts of today's lower Westchester County from annexation by the adjacent behemoth, New York City. During the last decades of the 19th century, however, many Pelhamites (and others) battled against creation of the park. With legislative authorization, New York City was using eminent domain to acquire lands in Pelham (i.e., lands outside the New York City limits) to create a park for city residents. Although some in Pelham opposed the concept, most who battled the city were simply those whose lands were being acquired. Some joined the battle because they were angry over losing their homes or lands. Others, however, joined the battle because they did not believe they were receiving a fair price for the taking of their properties. Regardless of the various motivations of those who joined the battle, the fact remains that many fought the move by New York City to create Pelham Bay Park. One of the principal elements of the battle, of course, was founded on the Great American Pastime: lawsuits. After New York enacted into law in 1884 "An act laying out public places and parks in the twenty-third and twenty-fourth wards of the city of New York, and in the adjacent district of Westchester County, etc., Chap. 522, Laws of 1884, the Supreme Court (the trial court level in New York) entered an order finding that the statute did not violate the New York Constitution and appointing commissioners to appraise the lands that would be taken from Pelham landowners through eminent domain for creation of Pelham Bay Park so that fair payments would be made to the property owners. Pelham property owners appealed the order and sought review by the New York Court of Appeals (the highest court in the State of New York). The appellants sought reversal of the order below and argued that the New York statute authorizing the taking of lands "in the adjacent district of Westchester County" (i.e., Pelham) violated the New York State Constitution for a number of reasons (see below). On October 6, 1885, the New York Court of Appeals rejected all such claims by the appellants and affirmed the decision of the court below thereby paving the way for the eminent domain process, including takings, appraisals of, and payments for Pelham properties needed for creation of Pelham Bay Park. See , 99 N. Y. , pp. - (N.Y. 1885). Local newspapers reported extensively on the decision. Indeed, Mount Vernon's "The Chronicle" devoted much of the front pages of two of its weekly issues of the newspaper to the decision on October 30 and November 6, 1885. Those reports are quoted in full at the end of today's Historic Pelham Blog article with each followed by a citation and link to its source. The newspaper summaries of the Court of Appeals decision reveal much about the battles to block the development of Pelham Bay Park. With resolution of these issues by the Court of Appeals, however, property owners were left to fight the appraisal process and to argue that they should be entitled to as much money as possible for their properties -- the battle that followed and lasted for years until all the necessary parcels had been assembled for the new park. 1905 Map of Pelham Bay Park. Source: Office of the President of the Borough of the Bronx Topographical Bureau, Topographical Survey Sheets of the Borough of the Bronx Easterly of the Bronx River" (1905) (Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division, The New York Public Library). NOTE: Click Image to Enlarge. * * * * * "THE COURT OF APPEALS ON THE NEW PARKS. The opinion of the Court of Appeals in the matter of the new parks for New York city was written by Justice Finch, and is a very able and exhaustive document. It would, if printed in full, fill about seven columns of the Chronicle. Much of it however deals with questions of interest mainly to the to the legal profession, and such parts we propose to summarize. He begins by saying: Numerous provisions of the Constitution are claimed to have been violated by the enactment of the law authorizing and requiring the acquisition and maintenance of new public parks by the City of New York. The large interest involved and the importance of some of the questions raised, have subjected the act to a patient and critical examination both in the Court below and upon the argument at our bar; and seems to demand from us a full statement of the reasons upon which our determination is founded. It is claimed that the title of the act violates that provision of the Constitution, which requires that a private or local bill shall embrace but one subject which shall be expressed in the title. The title is 'An act laying out public places and parks and parkways in the 23rd and 24th wards, of the City of New York, and in the adjacent district in Westchester County, and authorizing the taking of lands for the same.' Section 6 of the act authorizes the use of a part of the Van Cortlandt Park for a rifle range and parade ground; and Section 12 extends the jurisdiction of the Department of Public Parks over the new acquired territory. It is claimed that these provisions of the act are not expressed in the title, and that the act embraces more than one subject. The Court of Appeals says: The criticism is quite too rigid and narrow. It would lead us to a condemnation which few titles would escape until they became cumbersome and awkward digests of the details of their enactment. What are here denominated new subjects are fairly and reasonably elements and details of the laying out of new parks, and the acquisition of lands therefor, and so embraced in the one general subject of the bill. The most valuable test of such a title, and the one which we have usually employed, is the inquiry whether the title was so framed as to be deceptive or misleading, and consummated the evil at which the constitutional prohibition was denied (Matter of Lands in Flatbush, 60 N. Y., 398; Matter of Paul, 94 N. Y. 397). Where one, reading a proposed bill with the title in his mind, comes upon provisions which take him by surprise, which he could not reasonably have anticipated, and so both citizen and legislator are misled and thrown off their guard, it is our duty to declare the condemnation of the fundamental law. But where, as in the present case, no such evil lurks in the title, and the provisions criticised [sic] may be easily and reasonably grouped within the scope and range of the general subject expressed, we ought not to destroy the legislation assailed, upon some nice and rigid criticism of forms of expression. How the parks should be used and governed is a natural detail of their laying out and acquisition, and not the introduction of a new and foreign subject. Another objection to the act was that it makes no provision for just compensation of land owners. The Court says: While it is not necessary, in advance of the taking, to pay to the landowner his compensation, it is necessary that the act which invades his ownership shall provide for a certain and definite and adequate source and manner of payment (Sage vs. City of Brooklyn, 89 N. Y., 189). It is further argued that the act violates the Constitution in that it commits the estimate and appraisal of the damages to two commissioners. The Court says: This objection is founded upon a misconstruction of the act by taking a phrase from its surroundings and reading it with literal severity. Section two provided for the appointment by the Supreme Court of three disinterested persons as commissioners to estimate damages, who are to take the oath of office and then proceed with due diligence to make a just and equitable estimate. Section eight then provides for action by a majority of the board, when only such a majority are acting or agreed. It may be conceded that the provision might have been more accurately expressed, but about its meaning and proper construction there can be no just doubt. The phrase relating to all the commissioners, 'if they had acted therein,' and that relating to such two 'as shall be acting in the premises,' indicate that the provision refers to a case where one of the three, having opportunity to act, declines to do so, or is unable to be present, or differs from his associates, and was not meant and cannot be held to give to two the right to exclude the voice or vote of the third. If under this act two of the commissioners, without notice to the third and ignoring his right should assume to make an appraisal, we should easily hold it to have been unauthorized by the statute; for the provision of section two which requires the three commissioners to make the appraisal with due diligence and to ascertain the damages, must be read in connection with section eight, and it could not be said that the commissioners made the appraisal when one of them was excluded; but it could be and would be true, as in all cases of action by a majority, where the third had notice and opportunity to participate but omitted or was [illegible]. In case of death, resignation, disqualification or refusal to act the law provides for a substituted commissioner (Section 7), so that the province of section eight is narrowed to the case of a disagreement, or a temporary or incidental absence. In these provisions we discover no purpose to evade or violate the fundamental law, and deem it our duty to adopt a natural construction in consonance with what beyond any doubt was the legislative intention. Another objection to the act is that it is unconstitutional because no sufficient notice is given to the owners of the lands to be taken. The court says: The act does provide a notice and hearing. It is true, it is by publication but this is sufficient. Another contention is that the act undertakes to extend the jurisdiction of Department of Parks over the newly acquired territory, even that in Westchester County. By the terms of the New York charter that department has charge of the protection and maintenance of the city parks, and is authorized to appoint policemen for the preservation of peace and order, who, within the parks, are vested with the same power and authority as the police of the city. For a breach of the peace or an offense committed in Pelham Bay Park, and within the County of Westchester, the arresting officer might be required to take his prisoner before a magistrate of the adjoining county. This provision of the act, it is said, violates section two of article ten of the Constitution, which preserves to counties, cities, towns, and villages the right to elect their own local officers, and to have them appointed by some designated local authority. If that were true, it would merely annul an unessential detail of the act; but we do not see how the section is infringed. The park police do not become Westchester County officers. No official of that county is legislated out of office, and successors appointed by State authority, as was the case, upon an insufficient pretext, in People vs. Albertson, 55 N. Y., 50; nor are the powers and duties of any officer in Westchester so curtailed or destroyed as practically to subvert his office and bestow it on another, as was the case of the Sheriff of Albany County in People vs. Keeler, 29, Hun, 175. The most serious question is whether the purchase of land for a park outside the city limits is 'a city purpose' and hence whether a debt therefor is unconstitutional. Upon this point we propose to give the opinion of the Court of Appeals in full in our next issue." Source: "THE DECISION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS AS TO THE PELHAM BAY PARK. Last week we gave our readers a summary of the opinion of the Court of Appeals on all but one of the questions brought before it in relation to the new parks. This week we give hereunder in full, so much of the opinion as relates especially to the Pelham Bay Park. It appears to be conceded and has not been denied that the acquisition and maintenance of public parks, securing pure air and healthful rest and recreation to the people, is a 'city purpose,' when executed within its corporate limits; and the sole contention is that it ceases to be a 'city purpose' when, in any degree or to any extent it moves outside of these boundaries. What is the change which transforms the inherent nature and character of a 'city purpose' when it passes the municipal lines, we are told only by a grouping of extreme consequences, foretold as possible results. If the city may go three miles from its nearest boundary, and with the connecting ribbon of a 'parkway' take Pelham Bay and Hunter's Island, why, it is asked, may it not take the falls of Niagara or a mountain of the Adirondacks, or land in Dutchess County, and building a road thither, claim it to be a 'city purpose'? The question is a fair one and demands a satisfactory answer. But before discussing the subject on its merits, it is best to secure the guidance and instruction of such precedents as exist, for the question will be found, I think, to be scarcely an open one. No one controverts that it was a proper city purpose for the metropolis to spend numerous millions outside of its corporate limits in the purchase, forty miles away, of water rights and land for dams and reservoirs to supply the citizens with water. It is true that the purpose contemplated was to bring the pure water to the citizens, while here it contemplates leading the citizens to the pure air. Granted that the necessities are not equal, and the modes of supply differ, and yet that test of a city purpose, which asks if the property bought and the money spent go outside of the corporate boundaries, must be abandoned. It will not serve for a rule. The question was fully argued and frankly decided in the Brooklyn Bridge case (People ex rel. Murphy vs. Kelly, 76 N. Y., 475). That enterprise was first undertaken by a private corporation, the two cities being stockholders, New York to the amount of one million, and Brooklyn of two million of dollars. During [illegible] construction, the Constitution was amended by what is now section eleven of article eight, and which, forbidding a debt for anything but a city purpose, also forbade the ownership of stock in a private corporation. The Legislature met the difficulty by providing for a dissolution of the corporation, and making the work an improvement of the two cities to be completed at their joint expense; Brooklyn, however, to pay two-thirds of the same, and the whole expense not to exceed eight millions of dollars. A refusal to issue the bonds and advance the necessary means, when it became apparent that the cost would overrun the statute limits, brought the case into the Courts. It was plain that the money of each city was being expended beyond its own boundaries, and upon a structure which, as to each, stood in part outside of its corporate limits; and equally plain that the bridge was not an imperative necessity, but only a great and useful convenience. It was contended in this Court that it did not constitute a city purpose; and the precise question was whether it did or not, by reason of each city's expenditure and construction beyond its own bounds. We decided that question; and here repeat the language used, both because of its authority and because of the attack now made upon its doctrine. Earl, J., writing the prevailing opinion, declared: 'Nor can it be said that the indebtedness authorized to be incurred by the cities for the construction of the bridge was not for a city purpose. * * * It would not be a city purpose for the City of New York to build a railroad from that city to Philadelphia, or to improve the navigation of the Hudson River generally between that city and Albany, although incidental benefits might flow to the city. Such works have never been regarded as within the legitimate scope of municipal government. On the contrary, it would be a city purpose to purchase a supply of water outside of the city and convey it into the city, and for such purposes a city debt could be created. So lands for a park could be purchased outside of the city limits and yet conveniently near thereto. * * * It cannot, therefore, well be held, as claimed by the learned counsel for the appellants, that what is meant by a city purpose is some work or expenditure within the city limits. There could be no good reason for such a limitation. 'It could be no worse for a city to incur a debt for a city purpose outside the city limits than for one within such limits, and there is just as much reason for allowing it to be incurred in the one as in the other. * * * It would have been a city purpose if either city had been authorized to build the whole of the bridge, and it is none the less so that both are to unite in building it.' Such is the doctrine which this Court has declared. We are now asked to repudiate it as hastily and carelessly uttered. With how little of justice that can be said of the language we have quoted may be made apparent by the records of the case itself. The question was involved in the controversy. It was raised and discussed by counsel quite sure to omit no pertinent suggestion. In the opinions just quoted Judges Rapallo, Andrews and Danworth concurred. Chief Judge Church and Judges [illegible] Folger dissented. The dissenting opinion was written by Judge Folger. It bears the marks of the characteristic modesty with which he differed from his associates, and of his conscientious industry in searching for the truth; and yet there is no word in it of dissent from the doctrine we have quoted, but the whole opinion is put upon the force of the limitations as to cost. It is safe, therefore, to infer that the Court were unanimous as to the doctrine under consideration, although the case was thoroughly sifted by a formidable dissent. Beyond that, we shall hope in the end to vindicate the doctrine so earnestly assailed upon the present appeal, outside of authority and on its extrinsic merits. The legislation out of which grew the Prospect Park of the City of Brooklyn came before this Court. (Matter of Land in the Town of Flatbush, 60 N. Y., 398). The original act constituted the park out of lands in the city, and adjoining lands in the Town of Flatbush, and lands in the Town of New Lots for the special use of a parade ground (Laws of 1859, Chap. 466); and afterwards additional land was taken in the Town of Flatbush (Laws of 1866, Chap. 853). Authority to contract debt for the payment and make temporary loans was also given (Laws of 1868, Chap. 493). The question raised in this Court was over the right to assess lands in Flatbush adjoining the park for benefits, and was held that the improvement was so entirely in the interest of the city that adjoining lands in the neighboring town could not be assessed for the cost. There is a feature in the Brooklyn acts which to some extent distinguished them from the act before us. The lands acquired were annexed to the City of Brooklyn, and its entire municipal jurisdiction was thrown over the newly acquired territory. But the case after all was not one of a mere extension of the city's area. It was not essential to such extension that any land should be purchased, and the real city purpose was the taking for a park and not with a view of enlarging the city boundaries. The latter measure was but a governmental step deemed best for the control of the lands purchased for a park. In the Brooklyn case the annexation consisted in throwing over the Flatbush lands the complete jurisdiction of the city. In the New York case the annexation is incomplete and pro tanto since only the authority of the city Department of Parks is extended to the outlying lands. But at least this instance suggests the inquiry whether there has not been still other legislation indicating what had long been deemed city or village purposes, and so putting construction upon that phrase as used in the Constitution. The statutes relating to rural cemeteries furnish such indication. In 1847 villages were authorized to purchase and hold lands for purposes of burial, but some of the language used indicated an intent to confine them within the corporate limit. But in 1869, (Chap. 727), cities and villages were authorized to acquire such lands adjoining their existing cemeteries, and all other restrictive language was carefully omitted; and then in 1870 (Chap. 760), the permission was made general without even the restraint of adding to an existing cemetery, and authority was given to borrow money for the purpose. Is it true that it is not a city or village purpose to go outside of the corporate lines to buy and adorn in the quiet of the country a place for the burial of the dead? Or, must health and propriety by violated by interments within city bounds unless private corporations come to the rescue? It seems not to have been so understood. In 1847 (Chap. 141), the village of Norwich was authorized to receive and hold title to land not more than one mile from its boundaries, and to purchase additional adjoining lands. In 1862 (Chap. 71), the village of Dunkirk was empowered to locate a cemetery within or without its corporate limits but within the town. And in 1858 (Chap. 72), the then village of Elmira was authorized to buy fifty acres of land for burial purposes within or near its municipal boundary, and to borrow ten thousand dollars for payment of the cost. For the preservation of the public health a city or village may certainly purchase land beyond its boundaries for a hospital or pest-house, and so remove the danger of infection. Cities and villages planted upon navigable streams may have granted to them ferry rights, and own and control them. We have just held that the City of Hudson has a a ferry right to Athens, and the village of Athens a ferry right to Hudson. Are we to say that it is not a city purpose of the one nor a village purpose of the other to buy and own land for slips or landings, or ferry-houses on the opposite shore, because beyond their own boundaries and in another town or county? It is true of all these cases that either wholly or partly the land purchased can only be used by going out of the city or village, and not by bringing anything in as in case of the Croton water. The dead and the sick must be carried out, and friends and attendants must follow, but does that make a constitutional difference? The truth is that neither in authority nor in the legislative practice, nor in the common sense of the question is there any basis for declaring that there can be no true and sound municipal purpose which reaches beyond the corporate lines; and we are sure that the enterprise under consideration does not fall under a constitutional ban, because it is in part to be executed outside of the city limits. And yet that is not the end of the question, and the inquiry as to a park at Niagara, or in the Adirondacks remain unanswered. Beyond question neither would be a city purpose, and when we have determined why, we shall have approached at near to what is the true test as the nature of the subject will permit. Whiles, as was said in one of the cases cited, it is impossible to formulate a perfect definition of what is meant by a city purpose, yet two characteristics it must have. The purpose must be primarily the benefit, use or convenience of the city as distinguished from that of the public outside of it, although they may be incidentally benefited, and the work be of such a character as to show plainly the predominance of that purpose. And then the thing to be done must be within the ordinary range of municipal action. Acquiring and maintaining parks is within that range. Acquiring them so near to the city as to make them convenient and accessible, and likely to be overtaken and surrounded by the city's growth, satisfies the first condition, while a park in the Adirondacks or at Niagara would not satisfy it at all, but would clearly indicate and conclusively prove an underlying purpose different from the city's use and convenience, and of which that use and convenience was but a pretext and cover. Where the enterprise is of such a character that it may be justly so described and breeds in the impartial mind a conviction that the use and benefit of the city is but a pretext disguising some foreign and ulterior end, we may easily deny to it the attributes of a city purpose. But the case must be a clear one, and so clear as to justify a reversal of the legislative judgment manifested by the enactment. No such state of facts exists here. When the Brooklyn park was planned the first step taken by the Legislature was to authorize the appointment of a commission to select the site. They were not confined to the corporate limits, but were to act, not merely in view of the present condition, but also in view of the future growth of the city. That example was followed in authorizing the New York Commission. It was directed to recommend parks within the city and 'the adjacent district of Westchester County.' They were not left to stray at large. Their authority kept them near enough to the city to subserve, in the judgment of the Legislature, the city's use and convenience. They were also directed to act, having in view the 'present condition and future growth and wants of the city.' That an ordinary city may be, and often should be, planned and executed with reference as well to future as present needs, cannot be denied. The city may lay out a wide street when a narrower one would answer present wants, and extend it beyond habitations and immediate needs. The city may erect a public building, having in view future necessities, and exceeding the demands of present use. That is often true economy and wise municipal administration. The adjoining district of Westchester County, in which a portion of the park was located, is a triangle shut in between the city and the river on the east and west, and an extension to the river of the city's north line. That the current of city population will soon overflow this triangle, and the corporate boundaries embrace it, the commission judged, and the Legislature determined -- thoughtfully, with deliberation, after careful study and investigation upon facts not before us, and with the opportunity and the aid of personal examination. It would require a very clear and very strong case to justify a court in pronouncing such a conclusion to be but a fraudulent cover for some ulterior design foreign to the city's welfare. Such is not the case before us. We must assume what we can see is at least possible and perhaps probable, that the lands over the borer are so near, so convenient of access, so likely to be overtaken and surrounded by the city's growth, so desirable for the health and recreation of the citizens, and so cheaply to be overtaken and surrounded by the city's growth, so desirable for the health and recreation of the citizens, and so cheaply to be got in comparison with the consequences of delay, as to indicate a primary and predominant city purpose in a matter itself within the ordinary range of municipal action. Much more might be added upon this interesting subject, but the reasonable limits of an opinion have long since, and reluctantly, been passed. The order should be affirmed with costs. 'All concur, except Rapallo, J., not voting.'" Source: Labels: 1884, 1885, Courts, Eminent Domain, Lawsuit, New York Court of Appeals, Pelham Bay Park BILL GOBIN, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources employee from the Brule Fish Hatchery, hands a net full of small brown trout to Brad Ray at Saxon Harbor on Wednesday morning. By RALPH ANSAMI [email protected] SAXON, Wis. - Brown trout were released near chunks of floating ice in Lake Superior at Saxon Harbor on Wednesday. A crew from the Department of Natural Resources Brule hatchery released the 14,200 Seeforellen browns into the lake on a cold morning. The trout would typically be stocked later in the year, but the harbor boat landings will be closed May 15 when dredging begins. The harbor is being reconstructed after a July 11, 2016, storm destroyed the park and marinas. Bill Gobin, from Brule, transported the trout from the hatchery in a refrigerate... Coun Perez reiterates warning to barangay leaders involved in drugs 07 Aug 2017 Hits:37 Comments(0) Liga ng mga Barangay President, Councilor Jerry Perez yesterday reiterated his warning to all barangay officials from using or selling drugs. Perez said he is closely monitoring the activities of all the barangay officials and vowed sanctions against erring leaders. Aqui gane na mio barangay ya quita ya iyo na puesto cunel dos barangay leaders quien mas temprano ya sale positivo na... FREDERICTON (GNB) The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure advises that Route 2 (Trans-Canada Highway) between Moncton and Fredericton will be closed to all traffic this evening as water levels continue to rise. The closure will be necessary at about 7 p.m. and will affect both the eastbound and westbound lanes. When the Trans-Canada Highway is closed, those travelling between Moncton and Fredericton will be detoured to Route 1 through River Glade and Route 7 at Oromocto. Those who need to travel between Moncton and Fredericton are urged to do so before the closure. Barricades and signage will be in place to guide motorists. Variable message signs at the borders with Quebec, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Maine will alert those travelling into New Brunswick of the closure. The public are asked to respect the barricades and check online for the latest road closures. Drive with caution in areas where water is over the road. The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure appreciates the publics patience as it responds to this flooding event. JAKARTA, May 2 (Xinhua) -- President of China Railway Corporation Lu Dongfu visited Wednesday Tunnel No.1 construction of Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway project, assuring the quality of the high-technology train transport project jointly carried out by China and Indonesia state firm consortium. During his visit in the location close to East Jakarta airport of Halim Perdanakusuma, Lu was accompanied by Minister of State-owned Enterprises of Indonesia Rini Soemarno. "Both Indonesia and China governments would always assure the quality of construction works in the high speed railway project," the Indonesian minister told reporters after received explanation on the project's technical aspects with Lu at presence. The 1.8 kilometers Tunnel No.1 in Halim area of East Jakarta was part of 13 tunnels with total length of over 16 kilometers to be built alongside the route. Conveying Indonesia's full supports towards completion of the project, Rini added that Indonesia has now settled 64.2 percent of land compensations for locals alongside the route in nine regencies whose land properties were used in the project. She said compensation on land in 22 unsettled locations in progress at present, would be totally done by May 27, paving the way for the project to progress at full swing. Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway project has made breakthrough, said Lu. "I believe that the project will show the most advanced high-speed railway in the world to Indonesian people." he added. The Jakarta-Bandung high speed railway project takes 142.3 kilometers of route with four stations alongside the route. With a speed of 350 kilometers per hour, the Chinese-technology high speed train was capable to serve a single trip between the two cities in about 36 minutes. The speed of the train plying Jakarta-Bandung would be similar to the one serving Beijing-Shanghai, Lu said. Due to complexity of the high-technology project, experienced Chinese engineers were deployed to carry out the project so as to assure the technical quality, safety and security of the whole process. As the project heavily uses a brand new technology in the country, Indonesian workers were tasked to assist the Chinese experts as part of transfer-of-technology process mandated in the project agreement. The high speed railway project was expected to spur the economy of regencies alongside the route, with a landmark theme park was planned to be built in Walini, a tourism spot near Bandung. The project worth 5.9 billion U.S. dollars was initiated in March 2015. New Delhi: Tata Motors has launched the Automatic version of the much awaited compact SUV Nexon. The Tata Nexon HyprDrive Self Shift Gears (S-SG) comes in both petrol and diesel engine options. The 1.2L petrol variant will come at a starting price of Rs 9.41 lakh while the 1.5L diesel variant will come ta Rs 10.3 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) . Tata Motors has branded all its 2 pedal transmission cars as HyprDrive while all the AMT variants from the company will be now be termed as Self-Shift Gears (S-SG), the company has said. The Tata Nexon AMT is equipped with an intelligent transmission controller, which includes features such as anti-stall, kick-down and fast-off; helping optimize the automatic gearshifts. In addition to providing a clutch-free drive experience, the car comes with features like Smart Hill Assist and Crawl function, making the car high on convenience. While the Smart Hill Assist prevents the SUV from rolling-back on uphill drives, the Crawl function comes into play during slow moving traffic by helping the car move ahead without pressing the accelerator. The SUV has safety features like dual frontal airbags and ABS with electronic brake-force distribution in all wheels. The cabin has a 350L boot space and rear 60:40 seat split. It comes with Sonic Silver dual-tone roof option, 6.5 inch floating dash-top touchscreen infotainment, Android AutoTM. Mayank Pareek, President- Passenger Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, "AMT as a transmission is ideally suited for Indias traffic conditions, reducing the stress of driving at an affordable price, without compromising on fuel efficiency. Additionally, understanding the growing need for personalization among Indian customers, we are introducing the IMAGINATOR our online platform to visualize and customize the Nexon." Patna: At least twenty-seven people were killed and several others injured when a bus carrying passengers overturned in Bihar's Motihari district on Thursday. The New Delhi-bound bus was carrying 35 passengers and had left from Bihar's Muzaffarpur when it went off the road and overturned due to a large pothole. The accident happened near Kotwa Police Station on National Highway No. 28 in the Motihari district, according to reports. According to initial reports, the ill-fated bus caught fire due to the mishap, which resulted in the tragic death of at least twenty-seven people. #UPDATE Total 27 people have died due to fire in a bus, after it overturned, in Bihar's Motihari pic.twitter.com/IHxHKzJMNX ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018 News Agency ANI had initially reported 12 deaths due to the mishap. #SpotVisuals: Bihar: 12 people dead due to fire in a bus after it overturned, in Motihari; Death toll expected to rise, more details awaited. pic.twitter.com/SNyMYUYmih ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018 The eyewitnesses, who rushed to help after seeing a huge plume of smoke billowing out of the bus, said that the death toll may go up. The locals are currently helping the passengers trapped in the bus and the Motihari district administration officials have also rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. Motihari District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police have also reached the accident spot and at least four people have been rescued safely. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) teams have also been rushed to the spot and the hospitals in Motihari and nearby Muzaffarpur districts have been put on alert. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also expressed his condolences to the kith and kin of those killed in the accident. ''It is a really painful incident, local administration officials are present at the spot. We will extend all possible help to the families of those who died,'' Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said on the Motihari bus accident. It is a really painful incident, local administration officials are present at the spot. We will extend all possible help to the families of those who died: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Motihari bus accident that claimed 27 lives pic.twitter.com/7MXmOkb19Q ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018 ''It is a really sad incident. There is a provision to give compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of dead in such cases and it will be given,'' Bihar's Disaster Management and Relief Minister said on the Motihari bus accident. It is a really sad incident. There is a provision to give compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of dead in such cases and it will be given: Bihar Disaster Management and Relief Minister on Motihari bus accident #Bihar pic.twitter.com/rS20bHej61 ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018 The Motihari bus mishap took place nearly a month after at least 10 people, including two women and as many children, were killed when a bus skidded off an elevated highway in Sitamarhi, Bihar. Earlier on April 7, a similar accident took place in Bihar's Mirganj, when another bus overturned because the driver and conductor were allegedly fighting, and the distracted driver lost control. Fifteen people were seriously injured in the accident, with seven sustaining critical injuries. In another such incident on February 19, a bus carrying a marriage party overturned. Eight people from the family died in the accident while 40 others were injured. New Delhi: Actor Sanjay Dutt, who is currently in Kyrgyzstan, shooting for his upcoming film 'Torbaaz', remembered his late mother Nargis Dutt on her 37th death anniversary and paid a tribute to her by sharing a throwback picture of her. Sanjay shared the photo on his Instagram account captioned it, "All that I am is because of you. I miss you!" The photo seems to be a shot from the initial days of Sanjay's career when he began shooting for his debut film 'Rocky'. Sanjay's wife Maanyata also commented on the post with a heart emoticon and wrote, "The heart...the soul.'' Check out Sanjay's post here: On the work front, once Sanjay wraps up shooting for 'Torbaaz', he will begin shooting for 'Kalank' also starring Madhuri Dixit, Varun Dhawan and Alia Bhatt. He has also been roped in for Ashutosh Gowariker's period film 'Panipat'. The film also features Arjun Kapoor and Kriti Sanon and is based on the third battle of Panipat that took place in 1761. Sanjay is also reported to have signed Mahesh Bhatt's 'Sadak 2'. Apart from this, Rajkumar Hirani's 'Sanju', which is a biopic on Sanjay's life is all set to hit theatres on June 29. New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Ranbir Kapoor tasted massive success with Anurag Basu's 'Barfi' which went on to bag several awards in 2012. It was highest grosser that year and even won all major awards. It featured Ranbir in the lead role with Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D'Cruz making her big screen debut. Now, Rahul Malhotra, the actor who played young Ranbir in the film and has headed to Cannes Film Festival 2018 with his short film titled 'Jihaad-E-Nafs'. Rahul, 15, has previously worked as a child artiste. In Jihaad-E-Nafs, Rahul will be seen playing a character of a young Muslim boy. The film has been selected at the short film corner in Cannes 2018. Talking about his movie, he said, "It was not easy to prepare for this character as there was not much of a reference to deliver. I loved the process of making this short movie and I hope it gets loved enough once released." Cannes Film Festival will enter its 71st year this time where movies across all genres, including documentaries, from all around the world will be showcased. It was founded in 1946, the invitation-only festival held annually at the Palais des Festivals et des Congres. This year the festival starts from May 8 till 19th. Washington: India's Aadhaar technology does not pose any privacy issue and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded the World Bank to take this approach to other countries as it is worth emulating, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said. The 62-year-old multi-billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist said Nandan Nilekani, Infosys founder who is considered as the chief architect of Aadhaar, was consulting and helping the World Bank on the project. Asked if India's Aadhaar technology is worth emulating by other countries, he replied, "Yes". "The benefits of that (basic ID -- Aadhaar) are very high," he told PTI. More than a billion people in India have enrolled in Aadhaar, the world's largest biometric ID system. "Yes, countries should adopt that approach because the quality of governance has a lot to do with how quickly countries are able to grow their economy and empower their people," Gates said in response to a question. "We have funded the World Bank to take this Aadhaar approach to other countries," he said. It is believed that several countries, including some from India's neighbourhood, have approached New Delhi for assistance in this matter. "Aadhaar in itself doesn't pose any privacy issue because it's just a bio ID verification scheme," Gates, the head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said when asked about the concerns about privacy issues raised by certain quarters in India. "The individual applications that use Aadhaar, you have to look and see what's been stored and who has access to that information. And so, application by application, you have to make sure that's well managed. In the case of the financial bank account I think it's handled very well," he said. "(It uses) Aadhar to set up the accounts so that you can both get your cell phone and get your bank account," he added. Observing that Aadhaar was started before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into office, Gates said that it was very much to his credit that he was willing to embrace it. "I'm both good friend and an admirer of Nandan Nilekani and some of the initiatives of digitisation efforts that can help with education that can help with governance," he said. In his lecture on 'Technology for Transformation' organised by NITI Aayog on November 2016, Gates had said that Aadhaar is something that had never been done by any government before, not even in a rich country. Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number for Indians, based on their biometric and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2009 by the Government of India. CHANDIGARH: A 17-year-old girl committed suicide in Mewat in Haryana after she was allegedly abducted and subsequently raped by eight men. She was found lying unconscious after she was gang-raped in a secluded area in Nuh district. An FIR has been lodged and an investigation into the case has begun. The incident took place on Monday when the teenager was alone in the house. The accused came on two motorcycles and a car and abducted her, says the complaint filed by the girl's father with the police. After raping the girl, the accused fled the spot leaving her unconscious. The girl was traced and brought back home but she allegedly committed suicide in her house on Tuesday by hanging herself. As per the complaint filed by her father, the 17-year-old had identified the accused. She had said that the accused had stalked her in the past as well. "We have registered a case of abduction, gangrape and abetment to suicide against the accused,and are conducting raids to nab them," said Rojka Mev SHO Jai Bhagwan. "Investigations in the case are on," SP, Mewat, Nazneen Bhasin said. The incident comes days after an a law was brought into force permitting death penalty for those convicted of raping girls below the age of 12 years. The sentence for the rape of a girl below 16 would be a minimum of 20 years but extendible to life imprisonment. A 22-year-old man was lynched in Bikaner in Rajasthan by a mob in an alleged love jihad case. Three persons, including the father of the woman involved, were arrested by police in connection with the incident. The police, however, dismissed reports of it being a case of love jihad, saying it was a case of attraction between a couple. Superintendent of Police Sawai Singh Godara said, We cant call it a love jihad case. In this age when you study together, attraction can happen and then you dont see religion or community. According to reports, the deceased, Saif Ali, was beaten up ruthlessly by the family of the woman and dumped at a spot on the outskirts of the city. When onlookers informed the police, they rushed to the spot and admitted the man to a hospital. However, the man succumbed to his injury and breathed his last in the hospital. According to The Asian Age, as many as seven people took Saif to the outskirts of the city and beat them up. After that, they dumped him in a drain from where the police recovered him in a critically injured state. According to reports, an FIR has been registered against seven people, of which three have been arrested by the police. (With ANI inputs) NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be travelling to Nepal for a two-day visit on May 11, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Nepal from 11-12 May," MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said while addressing a media briefing. The visit comes barely a month after Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli came to India for three days in April. The Nepal Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Radhika Shakya and an entourage of ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), secretaries and other high-ranking officials of the Nepal Government. Oli had said that the "historical" and "renewed" friendship between India and Nepal is oriented towards the future and the bilateral ties have evolved according to the "needs of times". "Our friendship is historical, renewed and developed and very fruitful. It is oriented towards future, not looking back, but looking forward," he had said during the trip after he received the Guard of Honour at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He had also said that visiting India in the "changed context" to contribute to the friendship between "our two countries and people". "With our neighbours, particularly India, we expect first is friendship. Time is changing and we have developed our friendship, according to the needs of times, and according to the desires of our people with a purpose to eliminate poverty, improve the life standard of our people," he had said. Oli had added that his government wants to build a strong edifice of "trust-based" relationship with India. He had appreciated India's initiative to have guidelines and regulations for cross-border electricity trade. "It is definitely a step ahead. However, I conveyed Nepals desire to see an early realisation of the open market provision of the bilateral power trade agreement, which was concluded between us in 2014, thanks largely to Modi jis positive direction," Oli said. PATNA: The Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) is expected to announce the results of Class 10 board exams in on May 12, 2018 at its Bihar Board's official website biharboard.ac.in. Over 17 lakh students appeared for the matriculation (BSEB) 2018 examination this year. Since the BSEB has not announced any official date of results, candidates are advised to keep checking the official websites for information regularly. In 2017, following Class 10 results were announced by the end of May due following state elections. The results are expected to be announced earlier in comparison to the last year. Steps to check your BSEB Results 2018: 1. Visit the official portal of BSEB - www.biharboard.ac.in 2. Click on 'Bihar board results 2018' 3. Click on BSEB Class 10th Results 2018 4. Enter roll number and other relevant details 5. Click on 'Submit' The students are suggested to download the results and take a print out of the same for future reference. About Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) The Bihar School Examination Board is established for holding and conducting an examination at the end of the Secondary School stage, for prescribing course of studies for such examination and for carrying out such other objects and duties as may be considered necessary for the purpose as stated in the Act, Rules and Regulations of the Board. Normally every year the Bihar School Examination Board conducts Annual Secondary School Examination in the month of February/March and Supplementary School Examination in the month of August/September on the basis of course/syllabus as prescribed by the state Government. Apart from the aforesaid Secondary School Examination, the Board also conducts departmental examinations (not on yearly basis) such as Diploma in Physical Education, Certificate in Physical Education and Teachers Training Examination on such terms and condition as laid down by the State Government. New Delhi: A day after Delhi and another 13 Indian cities figured in a WHO list of world's top-20 most polluted cities, environment minister Imran Hussain on Thursday wrote a letter to union minister Harsh Vardhan seeking a meeting between environment ministers of all NCR states. Delhi is notorious for its highly polluted air which becomes even worse in the winter months due to several reasons including paddy stubble burning in neighbouring states. Most environmentalists agree that despite several plans being thought of, many remain only on paper. Under such circumstances, Hussain wrote seeking collective action. "Collectively as a team, the environment ministers of various states under your guidance have been making efforts to curb air pollution, but it is clear from the latest global data that we need an urgent and concrete nationwide plan to effectively counter this growing threat, which poses major health challenge to the people of our country," he wrote in the letter, according to news agency ANI. Seeking active participation of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, Hussain said that pollution recognises no borders and boundaries, and therefore requires to be fought together. Apart from Delhi, the WHO list included Gurgaon and Faridabad as the most polluted in the world. UP's Kanpur fared the worst. PM 2.5 and 10 levels across many Indian cities are alarmingly high and medical experts agree that it can have long-term impact even on healthy individuals. For the young, the elerdly and those with breathing disorders, the toxic air can be potentially lethal. And yet, action on ground has been few and far in-between. Many also argue that alarm bells only ring when visibility drops in the winter months. They say toxic air is not just present when smog engulfs cities like Delhi but is a constant threat - each day, every day. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has targeted the Yogi Adityanath-led Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government over lathicharge on students of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), saying that politics should not be done with educational institutions. Questioning the police action on students, the Samajwadi Party leader said that the police under the current government was working for just a handful of people and not for all citizens. AMU . . . Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) May 3, 2018 On Wednesday, protests were held outside AMU over the controversy surrounding Mohammad Ali Jinnahs portrait in the campus. During the protests, the police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. A controversy broke out after Aligarh MP and BJP leader Satish Gautam demanded the removal of Jinnah's portrait which is being displayed on the walls of the AMUSU office. Satish Gautam had on Monday written a letter to AMU Vice Chancellor Tariq Mansoor and raised objections over the Pakistan founder's picture hanging on the walls of the AMUSU office. ''I have heard a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah is hung inside the campus. Kindly gather more details on this and give reasons behind it,'' BJP MP wrote to AMU V-C. The BJP MP also posted #JinnahFreeAMU hashtag on the social media. the matter soon snowballed into a political controversy with Congress terming the BJP's demand as nothing but a 'political gimmick'. "Before partition, Jinnah fought for India's independence. It's a different matter that country was divided in which he played a crucial role. But to remove his portrait from AMU is a political gimmick by BJP, " Congress leader Karan Dalal said. Later, defending the portrait, apparently hanging there for decades, AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai said on Tuesday that Jinnah was a founder member of the University Court and granted life membership of the student union. "Traditionally, photographs of all life members are placed on the walls of the student union. Jinnah was also accorded life membership of the AMUSU in 1938. He was the founder member of the University Court in 1920 and also a donor. He was granted membership before the demand of Pakistan had been raised by the Muslim League," PTI quoted him as saying. New Delhi: At least 41 people in Uttar Pradesh and another 27 died in Rajasthan after dust storm and thundershowers lashed several parts of northern India on Wednesday evening. (Update: The death toll in UP has risen to over 73) Although the sudden change in weather brought relief from soaring heat, it also caused loss of life and damage to property in UP where 23 died when a wall of an educational institute in Agra collapsed. In Saharanpur, a tree fell on an eight-year-old girl - killing her. Fire caused by lightning in Pilibhit - some 250 kilometres from Lucknow - also caused heavy damage to farmlands and property. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has instructed local administration to undertake swift rescue and relief operations. In Rajasthan too, local administration officials have jumped into action after reports that 27 deaths and more than 100 injuries were caused by dust storms. News agency PTI reported that electricity poles and trees were uprooted in several areas leading to blackouts and road obstructions. "So far, 27 people have died due to the disaster, including 12 in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and 5 in Alwar. The squall was reported mainly in three districts," Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief, Hemant Kumar Gera, was quoted as saying. Contingency funds have been released to the three affected districts, according to Gera. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje shared a condolence message on Twitter while Congress National General Secretary Ashok Gehlot put off his birthday celebrations in view of the deaths. The Met department has predicted light rains for most parts of northern India till Friday which means farmers are likely to bear the brunt of damage to crops even as disaster management agencies remain on their toes to provide relief where required. NEW DELHI: The newly constituted all-powerful defence panel for defence planning headed by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval for chalking out the country's military and security strategy has decided to chart a time-bound action plan for accelerating military purchases, in its inaugural meeting here on Thursday. According to a statement issued by the Defence Ministry, ''the meeting of the Defence Planning Committee 'deliberated upon the geo-strategic landscape' and agreed to chart a time-bound action plan in keeping with its broad mandate". The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Doval and was attended by the three Service Chiefs. The members of the newly-constituted defence panel which included Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra, Expenditure Secretary Ajay Narayan Jha, Foreign Secretary Vijay Keshav Gokhale and Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. Satish Dua, who is the Member Secretary, also attended the meeting. The overarching Defence Planning Committee, which was set up by the government last month, has been mandated to drive the country's military and security strategy, draft capability development plans and guide and accelerate defence equipment acquisitions in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ambitious plans to modernize the country's armed forces and their ageing war machines. Led by NSA Ajit Doval, the all-powerful defence panel comes under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and works with an aim to make decisions on military purchases much faster. The panel has been tasked to prepare military doctrines and define the Indian military objectives for the future amid rising internal and external security challenges in a heavily militarized neighbourhood. The panel was constituted by the Government in light of reports that the armed forces were unhappy with the Defence Budget 2018-19.and held an opinion that more money should have been allocated for military modernisation. In the recent defence budget, a sum of Rs 2.95 lakh crore was earmarked, which is approximately 1.58 percent of the country's GDP. This was the lowest share in terms of percentage vis-a-vis India's GDP since 1962. Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Sarath Chand, had told the Parliamentary Panel on Defence that the budget is insufficient and that it may bring an end to several 'Make in India' projects. "Allocation of Rs 21,388 crore for modernisation is insufficient even to cater for committed payments of Rs 29.033 crore for 125 ongoing schemes, emergency procurement and other requirements," the Army's Vice Chief deposed. "The Budget 2018-19 has dashed our hopes and most of what has been achieved has actually received a little setback," he said. Lt Gen Chand also raised several other budget-related concerns like the prospect of Future Ready Combat Vehicles and upgradation of existing equipment. In view of the Army's long pending demand for urgent procurement of weapons considering the threats from Pakistan and China, the Defence Ministry, during a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), had earlier cleared the proposal to buy 7.40 lakh assault rifles for the three services and procure light machine guns worth Rs 1,819 crore. The Narendra Modi government also cleared the proposal for the purchase of 5,719 sniper rifles for the Army at the cost of Rs 982 crore. The Defence Ministry said the DAC chaired by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cleared capital acquisition proposals which were valued at Rs 15,935 crore. (With IANS inputs) Thiruvananthapuram: Two men were on Thursday arrested on charges of raping and murdering a Latvian tourist who went missing from Kovalam last month, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra said. Accused Umesh and Udayan were relatives and working as unregistered tourist guides, the officer told the media. Behra cautioned the media against reporting the woman's name since she was a rape victim. "This is an unfortunate brutal crime and should not happen to any person. An innocent woman, for no fault of hers, lost her life... The police investigation team will be rewarded for their good work," Behra said. Inspector General of Police Manoj Abraham, who led the probe, said the accused will be presented in a court here on Friday. "The woman was lured away by the accused and supplied with narcotics. She was later sexually assaulted and attacked when she resisted. The probe will continue as we want to find out if there are more people involved in the crime," said Abraham. A day earlier, the Latvian's sister IIzie told the media here that the funeral of the 33-year-old deceased will be performed at the public crematorium here on Thursday and ashes taken to her home country. She also met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The victim, her partner Andrew and Ilzie had arrived in Kerala for ayurvedic treatment at a facility on Thiruvananthapuram's outskirts when she went missing on March 14. The victim was last seen hiring an auto-rickshaw for Kovalam. She was not carrying her passport or mobile phone with her when she went missing. On April 20, her highly decomposed body was found in a marshy area near the famed Kovalam tourist destination. An autopsy pointed to strangulation. Once murder was confirmed, police questioned several residents and took four into custody. In the evening, the victim's body was cremated at the state-run crematorium even as the State Human Rights Commission directed authorities not to cremate it. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, the victim's sister and a few others were present. SRINAGAR: At least 45 youths from the Kashmir Valley including an MBA and a PhD scholar have joined terror outfits this year till mid-April, according to officials, as the unusual surge in numbers takes the security establishment by surprise. According to the top brass of the security establishment in the border state, Shopian and Kulgam in south Kashmir have emerged as a major hub by respectively accounting for 12 and 9 of the 45 youths. The other areas of south Kashmir which have witnessed youths taking to terrorism are Anantnag (seven), Pulwama (four) and Awantipura (three). Moreover, unconfirmed reports, which were in the process of verification, suggest that three more from Pulwama had joined militant groups, officials said today. Similarly, in north Kashmir, one youth from Handwara, two from Kupwara, one each from Bandipora and Sopore and one from Srinagar have disappeared in the recent past and are suspected to have joined militant organisations, they said. This includes Junaid Ashraf Sehrai, 26, an MBA degree holder from Kashmir university, and son of Mohammed Ashraf Sehrai, who took over as chairman of Tehrek-e-Hurriyat from Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Teherik-e-Hurriyat is a pro-Pakistan amalgam of separatists groups. The list also includes a 26-year-old PhD scholar Mannan Bashir Wani hailing from Kupwara, officials said. Wani was studying in the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU). According to officials, every funeral of a local terrorist spawns at least two additions to the ranks of these groups. The Valley has witnessed the killing of at least 55 terrorists including 27 locals this year. "It has become a bottom-less pit. We engage, counter, eliminate or make them surrender and the very next day, social media gives us proof of birth of another militant. This vicious cycle needs to be broken," said a senior army official who is engaged in anti-terror operations. Ruling party politicians from south Kashmir have reportedly abandoned their ancestral homes and housed themselves in well-fortified accommodations in Srinagar or Jammu. Efforts to seek their comments on the situation in their constituencies did not yield any result as they were reluctant to be drawn into any debate related to militancy. A senior politician, who did not wish to be named, said: "Never has this situation arisen when space for mainstream politicians has shrunk to this extent. It is a scary situation". Security agencies believe that in April there has seen a conspicuous rise in the number of locals joining various militant groups after 13 local terrorists were killed in encounters with security forces in Shopian and Anantnag. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has been quite vocal about PDP-BJP government's alleged failure in checking the rising trend of youths joining terror groups. "Mehbooba Mufti's biggest and least talked about failure has been the massive jump in the numbers of young Kashmiri men joining the ranks of militant organisations," he had tweeted earlier. On more and more locals joining militancy, he had said, "...Is no one in a position of power in Delhi alarmed by this because I certainly am!" Police have approached many parents requesting them to ask their children to surrender on the assurance of a normal life. The story remains unchanged, says a senior police official, who adds that many a times parents express their helplessness. Appeals have been made by Mehbooba Mufti as well as state police chief SP Vaid and senior army officers but in vain. "We cannot keep a finger on any particular reason for the spurt in number of youth joining militancy. However, It could be growing influence of pan-Islamisation and religious indoctrination in which unemployment emerges as a catalyst for a quick reaction to pick up a gun," says a senior security official. The first four months of 2018 has already witnessed 100 deaths, including 55 militants, 20 security personnel and 25 civilians. Of the 55 militants killed, 27 were locals whereas the rest were described as foreigners by security agencies in the press handouts issued post-encounters. In 2017, a total of 126 youths had picked up guns. It was the highest number since 2010, according to a recent data presented in the state assembly and Parliament. There has been a steady rise in the number of youth taking up arms in the Valley since 2014 onwards as compared to 2011, 2012, and 2013. In 2010, 54 youths had joined militancy while in 2011, the number came down to 23 and further dipped to 21 in 2012 and 6 in 2013. In 2014, the number shot up to 53 and in 2015, it reached 66 before touching the highest mark of 88 in 2016, the data showed. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Nepal for a two-day visit on May 11, confirmed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Nepal from 11-12 May," said MEA official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar while addressing a media briefing. This comes barely a month after Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli's three-day visit to India in April. The Nepal Prime Minister was accompanied by his wife Radhika Shakya and an entourage of ministers, Members of Parliament (MPs), secretaries and other high-ranking officials of the Nepal Government. During his visit to India as the first Premier of Federal Nepal Prime Minister Oli interacted with many Indian politicos. He also highlighted India's commitment to link Nepal with the waterways along with the railway's links to increase the connectivity. During Oli's visit, both India and Nepal recognised the untapped potential of inland waterways, in order to contribute towards the overall economic development of the region. CHANDIGARH: The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Class 10 board examination results 2018 is expected to be announced on Thursday, May 3, on it official website pseb.ac.in by the board. Over 4.5 lakh students took the exams which were held between March 12 to March 31. Below, we present a list of official websites to check results: 1. pseb.ac.in 2. indiaresults.com 3. examresults.net The rumours of results declaration have been going on for over a week now, with the official websites often crashing as several students logged on in anticipation of scores. Servers frequently threw up responses that 'This site cant be reached.' A similar confusion had prevailed during PSEB Class 12 results. Please note, no official statements or dates have been announced for the PSEB Class 10 results 2018. The announcement of results of PSEB Class 10 and Class 12 exams have been delayed this year. This is because the board conducted re-test of a few subjects. The re-examinations were scheduled to be conducted from April 17 to April 20. Here is how you can access your PSEB Class 10 Matriculation result 2018: Step 1: Go to the official website of PSEB - www.pseb.ac.in Step 2: Look for the tab which says Results. Step 3: On the new page, enter your roll number, name and any other details if required. Step 4: Results will be displayed on screen You can also register yourself on the website with your name, roll number, mobile number and email ID so that you are notified once the results are declared. A viral video dating back to December of last year has prompted authorities to impose a fine of Rs 1 lakh on a railway vendor for using toilet water on trains to make tea and coffee. The video showed a man in a blue shirt inside the toilet of a train in Telangana filling tea cans with water. He then hands over the can to a vendor standing outside the door. The incident was filmed by a passenger on the Chennai Central-Hyderabad Charminar Express despite the vendor reportedly trying his best to act as a shield. The video soon went viral on social media with many expressing their absolute disgust and questioning railway authorities. Despite promising clean food and hygienic conditions, the Indian Railways continues to find going tough. Railway Minister Piyush Goel last month had told vendors that while quantity may be compromised upon, a dip in quality of food and beverages would be dealt with sternly. More recently, Zee Business reported that Indian Railways is looking to adopt the catering model which currently exists in the aviation sector. "Railways will be adopting the concept of mini-meals, which is available in airlines. Under the mini-meal concept, packed foods will be served to the passengers," sources had said. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has ordered the Karnataka government to immediately released 4 tmc of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The top court also directed the Centre to file an affidavit in the matter. The court is hearing a petition from Tamil Nadu against the Centre's delay in following a Supreme Court order to set up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). The Tamil Nadu government had gone to court alleging undue delay on the part of the Centre in setting up the CMB. The Supreme Court had in February ordered the Centre to set up the body, and had given it six weeks to do so. That deadline lapsed at the end of March. Political parties in Tamil Nadu have alleged that the Centre is intentionally delaying the constitution of the CMB to avoid backlash in the coming Karnataka Assembly elections. The Central government's top lawyer told the Supreme Court that the delay in setting up the CMB was for procedural reasons. " the Cauvery Management Board draft has to be tabled before the Union Cabinet, and as the Prime Minister is in Karnataka for elections, the draft therefore has not been approved yet," Attorney General KK Venugopal told the court. The SC ordered the Centre to file an affidavit informing it of the steps it has taken to set up the Cauvery Management Board. Significantly it directed the Centre to file this affidavit on May 8, four days before Karnataka votes in the Assembly election. The apex court had earlier given May 3 as the deadline for the Centre to frame the draft scheme for setting up the CMB. But on Thursday, the Centre sought more time. The Supreme Court also directed the Karnataka government to immediately release 4 tmc of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. It has set May 8 as the date for the next hearing the case. The Supreme Court's February 16 verdict was the final chapter of a decades old water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Tamil Nadu government had filed a petition to the Supreme Court saying the Centre had committed contempt of court by failing to follow the Supreme Court's order to set up the CMB by March 31. NEW DELHI: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday gave out a report card to Prime Minister Narendra Modi where he judged him for the subject 'agriculture' in Karnataka. As expected, the results are not anything that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or the PM would like. Rahul said in the tweet: "Mr Modis Report Card..State: Karnataka..Sub: Agriculture 1. Contribution to Cong State Govts 8,500 Cr Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs 2. PMs crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt insurance companies make huge profits. 3. No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers...Grade = F" Mr Modis Report Card State: Karnataka Sub: Agriculture 1. Contribution to Cong State Govts 8,500 Cr Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs 2. PMs crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt insurance companies make huge profits. 3. No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F pic.twitter.com/SLJBE4cXWC Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 3, 2018 His attack on Modi comes just before the Prime Minister begins his third round of campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka. The Prime Minister is slated to address another 12 rallies over the next few days before Karnataka goes to poll on May 12. A galaxy of BJP leaders, including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, will also be addressing public meetings in the next few days in the state. Rahul Gandhi will also be in Karnataka on Thursday on his eighth visit this year as a part of his election campaign in the state. During his two-day visit to Karnataka, he will be in Bidar district, where he will hold several meetings in Bidar district. He will also visit the state again from May 7 to May 10. A war of words has been on between the PM Modi and Rahul Gandhi in the run up to the Karnataka elections. While Rahul dared the PM to allow him to speak for 15 minutes in Parliament on various issues, including corruption, the latter challenged the Congress chief for just 15 minutes without referring to his notes. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also jumped into the fight challenging the PM to speak about the BJP government led by BS Yeddyurappa in Karnataka even by looking at a piece of paper. "Dear PM @narendramodi ji, I challenge you to speak about the achievements of BS Yeddyurappas Govt in Karnataka for 15 minutes by looking at a paper," Siddaramaiah tweeted. BENGALURU: Under attack for allegedly inciting voters in poll-bound Karnataka on communal lines, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Thursday said that he will resign as the Member of Parliament if he is proven guilty. ''I didn't hold any public meeting especially for Muslims, it was just a public meeting. I challenge, if anyone meeting the Election Commission officials has video or audio of mine saying 'vote in name of Islam', then I'll resign as Parliament member and the Leader of Opposition, '' the veteran Congress leader said while defending himself. I didn't hold any public meeting especially for Muslims, it was just a public meeting. I challenge, if anyone meeting EC officials has video or audio of mine saying 'vote in name of Islam', then I'll resign as Parliament member & leader of opposition: GN Azad #KarnatakaElections pic.twitter.com/z0mWMhYyJ0 ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018 Azad had allegedly appealed to Muslim voters to vote for Congress in order to keep the BJP at bay while canvassing for a Congress candidate Allama Prabhu Patil from the Gulbarga constituency in the run-up to the Karnataka assembly elections 2018. It is alleged that the veteran Congress leader told the voters that ''the BJP should not be allowed to come to power at any cost. Muslims should en masse cast their votes in favour of Congress candidates. Alleging bias and misuse of power by the Congress regime in Karnataka and its top leaders playing the communal card, a delegation of senior BJP leaders had met with officials of Election Commission on May 2. The BJP delegation included Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Nitin Gadkari, MA Naqvi, Dharmendra Pradhan and several state-level leaders. While talking to media later, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said, Huge irregularities have been prevailing in the poll-bound Karnataka and state election commission is watching like a mute spectator. Referring to Ghulam Nabi Azad's controversial statement, Gadkari alleged, Congress is openly playing communal card in the election and his leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is saying voting to Congress would be the real service of Islam. Is this right? EC should take action against Ghulam Nabi Azad. Moreover, religious processions are being barred by the state by the state government, which was being carried out from years there. the BJP leader said. Condemning "reprehensible campaigning" by the Congress party in reference to seeking votes directly from Muslims, the BJP delegation urged the poll panel to act decisively and firmly against such attempts of the Congress. The saffron party delegation also demanded that the assembly constituencies of Belgaum North, Gokak, Yemakanmardi, Badami and Bableshwar in the poll-bound state, be declared "critical and Central Armed Police Forces and micro observers be deployed forthwith to ensure a level playing field for all parties". In the run-up to the May 12 Karnataka assembly elections, the two main political parties the ruling and Congress and the BJP have attacked each other and the leaders from both sides have made personal attacks on their opponents. While Rahul Gandhi has accused PM Modi of making false promises and hurting the national economy by introducing the GST and implementing demonetisation, PM Modi has alleged rampant corruption in the Congress-ruled Karnataka and ignoring farmers' woes. (With Agency inputs) BIDAR: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that he will never make a personal attack on Narendra Modi since he is the Prime Minister of the country, but he will not refrain from asking questions on issues of utmost concerns. Addressing a gathering of Congress supporters in poll-bound Karnataka's Bidar district, Rahul Gandhi said, ''No matter what he (PM Modi) says about me, I will never make a personal attack on him as he is the PM of the country, but I can ask him questions.'' #WATCH: While addressing a rally in Bidar, Rahul Gandhi says, 'No matter what he (PM Modi) says about me, I will never make a personal attack on him as he is the PM of the country, but I can ask him questions.' #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/Ke8gr1Zedj ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2018 Referring to PM Modi's all-out attack on Congress, the Gandhi scion said that the PM is free to say whatever he likes to but there should be "truth and some weight" in the Prime Minister's words. "There should be truth in the words that come out of the Prime Minister's mouth. There should be some weight in his words," Rahul Gandhi said. Attacking the Prime Minister in the battleground Karnataka, Rahul said that he made tall promises to the people of this country but miserably failed to deliver them. "He (PM) said he would deposit Rs 15 lakh each in poor citizens' bank accounts. Did he do it? He promised two crore jobs to the youth every year. Did he do it? He said he would give higher minimum support price to the farmers. But he did none of this," Rahul said. "Then what does he actually do? He helps only 15 persons. He helps the Reddy brothers (Janardhana, Karunakara and Somashekara Reddy) and wants to field them in the elections," he said. Continuing his attack on the BJP dispensation, Rahul said that PM Modi had little to speak about Karnataka, its farmers and youths, and therefore the Prime Minister was resorting to personal attacks on him (Rahul Gandhi). "Modiji has very little to speak in this elections. He cannot speak about the farmers because he neither waived off their loans nor provided suitable MSP. He cannot speak of education, healthcare or developmental issues because the state's Congress government has performed excellently on all fronts. So he is resorting to personal attacks on me. But this does not suit a Prime Minister of India," Rahul said. He dared PM Modi to show guts and take action against diamantaire Nirav Modi Mehul Choksi who fled the country after the PNB scam involving thousands of crores of public money was unearthed. "Small businesses are closing down due to Gabbar Singh Tax (GST) and demonetisation. Why is Modiji silent on this? He has made fun of me but has not answered my questions," the Congress President said. Rahul's remarks came shortly after PM Modi launched an all-out attack on the Congress saying that the party is in a habit of forgetting the contributions of martyrs and insulting them repeatedly. Recalling the reaction of the Congress to the surgical strike that the Army conducted on Pakistan in September 2016, the Prime Minister said, "Congress is in a habit to insult the martyrs. When our soldiers conducted surgical strikes, the Congress sought proofs to believe whether it took place or not. Should our soldiers be carrying cameras along with guns with them to collect proofs?." The PM further added that the Congress has insulted Field Marshal KM Cariappa and other soldiers also in the past. (With IANS inputs) Chhattarpur: Senior BJP leader and Union Minister Uma Bharti skipped a meal with Dalit community members during an event held in Chhattarpur, saying that she was not like Lord Rama who would purify people by having food with them. The BJP leader later apologised, saying she was not aware that she was supposed to have food with them. According to reports, the firebrand BJP leader had refused to attend the event which was held at the Dadri village two days back. Uma Bharti had said that she does not take part in such community meals as she doesn't consider herself Lord Rama, who would purify people by having food with them. "I don't go to the houses of Dalits to have meals, though I support this trait (breaking bread with the people of scheduled caste category)," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister had said while addressing a function in the village. ''I instead invite the Dalits to my home to have food,'' she said. "I want to share a secret with you. I don't take part in 'samrasta bhoj' (community meals) because I do not consider myself Lord Rama, who went to Shabri's home and the Dalits became purified," she said, referring to the mythological episode from Ramayana. In the past few months, the RSS and the BJP have been promoting 'samrasta bhoj' to spread across the message of social harmony and to eradicate the evil of casteism. "I am not Lord Rama that if I sit with them, they will be purified... Instead, if they come to our home and sit in our kitchen, we will be sanctified," Bharti said. She added that she believes that when she serves food to Dalits on her dining table, "her place ... Utensils will attain purity." "Come to Delhi...My nephew's wife would prepare food for you, I will serve the meal to you, my nephew will collect your plate after you finish eating and wash them," she said. "I invite you to my place but I can't have a meal with you because I have already taken it...I love you all. I am with you, always," she had said. Later in a statement, Bharti said she had clarified from the dais itself during the programme that she was not aware that she was supposed to take food in the programme, organised by her close associate Harshu Maharaj. "I had to go to Papoda in Tikamgarh district, which is 150-km away from here, and meet Vidyasagar Maharaj. Therefore, I apologised for not taking meals with them," Bharti was quoted as saying. She added that the time has gone when one needed to have food with Dalits to bring about "samrasta" (harmony). "Instead, now you have to bring them on par politically, socially, in government and administration, among others, to ensure harmony.... Now, we need to bring harmony by overcoming discrimination that is being done with them (Dalits and backwards) in politics," she said. (With PTI inputs) Mumbai: Priya Prakash Varrier and Roshan Abdul Rahoof look adorable as a couple. The two young actors, who made netizens go crazy with their cute antics and sweet expressions seem to be great friends off screen too! The two recently attended a wedding ceremony in Dindigul City and posed for pictures together and with their co-stars. Priya, who has now become a household name took to her Instagram account to share photographs with Roshan, Vaishak Pavanan and Siyadh Shajahan. However, her picture that caught our attention is the one with Roshan. Priya and Roshan posed for the lovely pic clicked by Ajmal Latheef. Check it out here: @roshan_abdul_rahoof @vaishak_pavanan @siyadhshajahan A post shared by priya prakash varrier (@priya.p.varrier) on May 2, 2018 at 3:53am PDT For the unversed, the pretty girl made social media users go gaga over her captivating expressions in a viral video clip from Malayalam song the song Manikya Malaraya Poovi from Omar Lulu's upcoming film Oru Adaar Love. Click here to read more about Priya Prakash Varrier In the aforementioned video, one can see Priya making adorable expressions and winking at Roshan (who plays her high-school crush) in the film. Priya had been signed for the film to play a small role. But ever since a clip featuring Priya went viral, the makers decided to extend her role. They have made her role in the film meatier to make the most of her popularity. The script and climax have reportedly been changed to give her more prominence. The film is slated to release on June 14 this year. The Malayalam film will now release in Hindi, Tamil and Telugu languages too. The 19-year-old girl has now become so popular that she has been roped in by a number of brands to endorse their products and services. New Delhi: Retirement fund body EPFO has ruled out any leakage of subscribers' data from a government website. With regard to the news item being circulated in the social media platform that there has been vulnerabilities in the EPFO data, based on which a letter has been written to the Chief Executive Officer, Common Service Centre (CSC) to plug such vulnerabilities, a labour ministry release said. In this regard, it is informed that warnings regarding vulnerabilities in data or software is a routine administrative process based on which the services which were rendered through Common Service Centres have been discontinued w.e.f. 22nd March 2018. The news is relating to the services through common service centres and not about EPFO Software or data centre. No confirmed data leakage has been established or observed so far, it said. The retirement fund body's statement came after reports had suggested theft of data of subscribers by hackers from 'aadhaar.Epfoservices.Com', a website operated by the CSC that comes under the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The issue of data theft was purportedly raised by Joy in his letter dated March 23. "... It has been intimated that the data has been stolen by hackers by exploiting the vulnerabilities prevailing in the website (aadhaar.Epfoservices.Com) of EPFO...," the purported letter had said. EPFO said that there is nothing to be concerned about the news item and that the fund body is continuously monitoring and will continue to be vigilant about it in future. Mumbai: Neil Nitin Mukesh is getting into the skin of his character in Prabhas starrer Saaho, a film which is being shot in Abu Dhabi these days. The handsome actor, took to Instagram Thursday to share a video that shows him flaunting his pumped up arm. And going by the video it looks likely that he is going to sport a beefed-up look in the film directed by Sujeeth Reddy. Check out the video embedded below: Neil will reportedly play the main antagonist in the film and it will mark his Telugu debut. His first venture in Southern cinema was Vijay starrer Kaththi in 2014, a film for which he learnt the Tamil language. Saaho also marks the Telugu debut of Neil's colleague from Bollywood- Shraddha Kapoor. The futuristic actioner also has other Bollywood film personalities on board and the list includes Mandira Bedi, Jackie Shroff, Mahesh Manjrekar, Chunky Panday and Tinnu Anand. Saaho touted as a futuristic actioner promises high-octane action sequences good enough to give you the adrenaline rush. The release date of the film hasn't been announced yet. Recently, a few images of Prabhas from the sets of the film in Dubai surfaced online and soon they started doing the rounds on the internet. In the images, Prabhas is riding a super-majestic bike. Fans of the superstar went gaga over his images but it would be interesting to see how they react once they get to his complete look in the film. Will he flaunt his torso a la Shivudu in Baahubali: The Conclusion? Well, let's wait and watch. New Delhi: Its the fourth day of the week and we bring to you a fresh scoop from the showbiz industry. The latest gossip is that this reality TV star, who is also a former Big Boss contestant, has been thrashed by a group of college students while he was at his hotel. According to a SpotboyE report, the ex-Bigg Boss contestant was supposed to attend a college fest and had apparently charged a hefty sum for his appearance from the organisers. However, much to organisers and students' disappointment, he did not turn up at the event. Surprised at his starry tantrum, when the organisers tried to reach him by calling on his number, he refused to take the calls. Meanwhile, a huge crowd had gathered at the college campus to catch a glimpse of the star. The report suggests that the organisers somehow managed to trace the whereabouts of the reality TV star and straightaway landed at the hotel where he was staying. When they arrived at the hotel, they found out that the television star was in a meeting with some other producer. Meanwhile, the students, who had also arrived at the hotel, got aggressive and apparently beat the star black and blue for not turning up at the college event. The producer, who was shocked to see his star being thrashed, apparently tried to calm down the students but failed. Finally, the hotel staff intervened and saved the actor from the attackers. Can you guess who this reality TV star is? If not, keep guessing! Cambridge Analytica, the UK-based data firm at the centre of a massive storm following allegations of Facebook leaking user information, is reportedly planning to 'cease all operations.' The Associated Press reported that Cambridge Analytica issued a statement saying that it has been 'vilified' for actions the company terms legal and acceptable in the world of online advertising. The company in the statement reportedly says that as a result of recent data leak controversy though, it has lost a major part of its customer base as well as suppliers, and has therefore decided to shut down. The company made headlines for all the wrong reasons in recent months after reports emerged that it had attempted to build psychological profiles of a significant part of US electorate through information from Facebook. It is suspected that the company used an app to collect data of millions of Facebook users. And this was not just in the US but several other countries like Indonesia, the UK and India where user data was compromised - forcing Facebook CEO to apologise in a congressional appearance. "It was my mistake, and I'm sorry," he had said about data of almost 87 million users being compromised. While Facebook has since tightened privacy laws and assured users of protecting their data, time has not been too kind to Cambridge Analytica. The firm let go of CEO Alexander Tayler in April as it increasingly found itself in the middle of investigations. Having assured agencies of co-operation, Cambridge Analytica reportedly did not meet the deadline set for producing information requested by UK investigators. While the main charge against Cambridge Analytica is that it acquired personal data illegaly, the company has maintained that it has not broken any law. Beijing: China is willing to continue playing a positive role to seek a political resolution for the Korean peninsula, its top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, told North Korea`s foreign minister as diplomatic efforts gather pace. China is North Korea`s most important economic and diplomatic backer, despite its anger at North Korea` repeated nuclear and missile tests, and its support for strong United Nations sanctions against the North. However, China has also welcomed moves by North Korea to improve ties with South Korea and the United States. Wang is visiting Pyongyang following last week`s historic meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the North`s Kim Jong Un, when both pledged to improve ties. The North surprised the world several days before that summit by declaring it would dismantle its nuclear test site to "transparently guarantee" its dramatic commitment to stop all nuclear and missile tests. In a statement late on Wednesday, China`s foreign ministry cited Wang as offering North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho his congratulations for the successful meeting between the leaders of the North and South. China fully supported North Korea`s commitment to denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula as well as its decision to concentrate its efforts on economic development, Wang said during his trip to Pyongyang. "We hope the dialogue between the Democratic People`s Republic of Korea and the United States will be conducted successfully and that substantial progress will be made," he said, referring to an upcoming meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump. China also fully supports a resolution of North Korea`s "reasonable and legitimate security concerns" and gives its full support for the improvement of inter-Korean relations, Wang said. "China is willing to strengthen communication with North Korea and continue to play a positive role in seeking a political solution to the Korean peninsula issue," he said. In a brief statement, the Chinese ministry said Wang had also met Kim, but did not immediately provide any other details. China had largely sat on the sidelines while the two Koreas improved ties, until Kim made a secretive trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in late March. Beijing has been keen to show that it has an indispensable role to play in seeking a lasting solution, concerned that its interests may be ignored, especially as Pyongyang and Washington edge closer together. The widely read Chinese state-run tabloid the Global Times said in an editorial any suggestion China was being marginalised "is a shallow attempt to manipulate public opinion". China preferred quieter diplomacy, it said, pointing to the secrecy surrounding Kim`s meeting with Xi. "But Seoul, for its own political purposes, created much hype about the inter-Korean summit. US President Donald Trump has started claiming credit for the Kim-Trump summit before it even starts," it said. A meeting between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea president Moon Jae-in recently grabbed headlines across the world, as the two rivals pledged to improve ties. And in the latest related development, US President Donald Trump has been nominated by Republican lawmakers for Nobel Peace Prize for his work to end the Korean war. As many as 17 Republican lawmakers have nominated US President Donald Trump for this year's Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work to end the Korean War, denuclearise the Korean peninsula and bring peace to the region. Recent sanctions by the US administrations have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table, the Congressmen said in a letter to Berit Reiss-Andersen, Chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. "Since taking office, President Trump has worked tirelessly to apply maximum pressure on North Korea to end its illicit weapons program and bring peace to the region. His administration successfully united the international community, including China, to impose one of the most successful international sanctions regimes in history," the letter said. Following the meeting between the Korean leaders, Trump had a talk with the South Korean president, following which he had said that things are going very well. "Just had a long and very good talk with President Moon of South Korea. Things are going very well, time and location of meeting with North Korea is being set," Trump had written on Twitter. Moon met with Kim in a historic summit, agreeing on Friday to pursue a permanent peace and the complete denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.The meeting has raised expectations for Trump's own planned summit with the North Korean leader, the date and location of which have not yet been finalised. Also, Trump has accepted an invitation to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong- un. This would be the first-ever meeting between leaders of the US and North Korea. On April 27, North Korea and South Korea announced that they would work toward ending the Korean War, seek to reunify their countries, and that they will begin a process to denuclearize the Korean peninsula. (With PTI Inputs) The proposed Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline is generating a spirited debate on both sides of the Atlantic. But debates should be guided by facts, not fearmongering, which seems to be the preferred tool of the projects opponents. Nord Stream 2 Is Not a Russian Political Weapon This pipeline is a commercial project that Europe needs to ensure its own energy security at competitive prices for decades to come. It is supported by relevant European partners and underwritten by five Western energy companies, including ours. Our companies are not tools of any foreign governmentBASF/Wintershall, OMV and Uniper are publicly-traded entities with shareholders who expect prudent investments. We have an obligation to ensure security of supply and competitive gas prices for our customers. Related: Gas transit through Ukraine is necessary condition for Nord Stream 2, - Germany The European gas market has both modernized and liberalized over the last decade. Nord Stream 2 represents an important extension of existing import routes, and its construction is precisely in line with the aims of the European Energy Union and a strengthened internal gas market in Europe. The Third Energy Package put in place a well-developed, intra-European framework of hubs that allows gas to flow freely in multiple directions from a variety of points of origin. Europes gas market today allows European consumers to buy gas from whomever they wish and simply does not allow any supplier to block access to the market. Moreover, if any supplier determined to cut off flows of gas (and suffer the stiff economic penalties for doing so), having additional supply corridors would help ensure that every location in Europe could still be supplied through the hub system. In other words, the notion that Russia could use gas as a weaponeven if it wanted tois simply a hoax. To the Contrary, Russia Must Compete for Market Share Due to the competitive nature of the EU market, Russian gas must be priced competitively and delivered reliably to compete with other options that Europeans now have for gas, including its own domestic supply, gas from the Middle East, and liquefied natural gas (LNG). At this time, LNG, which requires time to ship and then regasification and storage once it reaches a European port, is often not as economically attractive as piped gas, but those conditions might change over time based on the principle of supply and demand. Nord Stream 2 simply provides another option for consumers and increases competition. Competition between suppliers helps keep prices down, which is what a healthy market for a fungible product dictates. Europe Needs Piped Gas Unlike the United States, Europe does not have vast reserves of natural gas to supply its energy needs. While today European production (primarily in the North Sea via Norway and the Netherlands) is an important source of natural gas for the continent, that production is dropping rapidly as those old fields deplete. Meanwhile, demand is steadily rising and will continue to do so over time, with experts forecasting that Europe will need an additional 120 billion cubic meters (bcm) of imported gas by 2035. No credible expert disputes that rising demand coupled with a decrease in domestic production means that Europe's import needs will only continue to grow. Russian piped gas, which is more competitive than LNG, is thus critical for Europewhether that gas flows through Ukraine, Poland or underneath the Baltic Sea to Germany. Of those routes, Nord Stream 2 connects directly to Western Europe and with limited transit risks. But we do not depend solely on Russian sources for our gaswe also need and consume gas from other sources, including Norway and via more LNG imports. We expect to continue purchasing gas from all those sources, even with Nord Stream 2, as the domestic supply/demand gap widens. Some have also mistakenly claimed that the current Nord Stream 1 pipeline is underutilized to argue that there is no need for Nord Stream 2. This is blatantly untrue. Each year since coming online, Nord Stream 1 has taken on more and more capacity, underscoring the increasing need for gas in Europe that Nord Stream 2 will help to supply. Nord Stream 1 was utilized at 93 percent in 2017, and to date in 2018 has been used at full capacity. Nord Stream 2 Will Not Mean the End of Gas Transit through Ukraine The notion that Nord Stream 2 will mean the loss of all transit fees for Ukraine is patently false. In 2017, European buyers imported over 170 bcm of gas from Russia, 93 bcm of which came via Ukraine, 30 bcm via Poland and 51 bcm via Nord Stream 1. Nord Stream 2, with a maximum capacity of 55 bcm, obviously cannot replace 123 bcm transported through Ukraine and Poland, especially with demand expected to rise. Europe will continue to need gas through the Ukrainian supply route. Moreover, Germany and the EU are committed to ensuring Ukraines place as a European gas partner. But placing all the proverbial eggs in the basket of Ukrainian transit is beyond foolhardyin addition to not having enough capacity to meet European needs, the Ukrainian systems age and Naftogazs lack of investment in infrastructure provide the opposite of energy security. Nord Stream 2 Is Critical to Support Europe's Environmental, Sustainability and Climate Goals A bigger share of natural gas in the European energy mix is prerequisite for achieving any climate goals, and Nord Stream 2 delivers a sustainable contribution to the EUs energy targets. A low-emission European economy needs gas to replace coal, saving 50 percent in CO2 emissions. Using the pipelines 55 bcm to replace coal would save 160 million tons of CO2 per year, equal to the combined emissions of Sweden, Finland and the Baltic States or the emissions of 30 million cars. The pipeline will also enable environmentally friendly gas transport, saving up to 44.6 million tons of CO2 in comparison with LNG (equivalent to 600700 tankers). Finally, environmental impact from offshore construction is minor, locally limited and short-term only. Nord Stream 2 provides another reliable route for transporting gas to Europe, nothing more, nothing less. Having an additional pipeline means more supply options, greater competition and enhanced energy security, all of which benefit European gas customers and the overall European economy, as well as helping to meet Europes environmental goals. Thats why our companies have invested in the project and believe so strongly in its successful completion. Nord Stream 2s principal opponentsPoland and Ukraineare predominantly interested in transit and so do not have any interest in additional secure transit routes. Fortunately, most Europeans understand that our continent needs as many reliable routes for natural gas as possible. Read the original text at National Interest. The reactor in question is called Akademik Lomonosov. Once the barge is wired into the electrical grid in the northern town of Pevek in 2019, it will be the world's northernmost nuclear reactor, capable of powering a town of 100,000 people If a Russian state-owned company has its way, remote regions of the world will soon see giant, floating nuclear reactors pumping power to port cities and drilling platforms in a real-life version of the Soviet reversal joke: In Russia, 70-megawatt nuclear reactor comes to you. The reactor in question is called Akademik Lomonosov. Once the barge is wired into the electrical grid in the northern town of Pevek in 2019, it will be the world's northernmost nuclear reactor, capable of powering a town of 100,000 people (almost the population of Green Bay, Wis.) with what its manufacturer, Rosatom, calls a great margin of safety that is invincible for tsunamis and natural disaster. But environmental groups have other names for the barge: Nuclear Titanic is one. Another is Floating Chernobyl. Critics say that pretty much the worst thing you can do to a nuclear reactor is expose it to the high waves and fierce winds of the Arctic Ocean. Jan Haverkamp, a nuclear expert for Greenpeace Central and Eastern Europe, called it a shockingly obvious threat to a fragile environment. The world will see who is right sometime next year. Lomonosov, named after an 18th-century Russian scientist and poet, was towed out of the St. Petersburg shipyard on Saturday for its meandering, year-long journey, the Associated Press reported. The floating energy plant has incorporated all the best qualities of traditional nuclear plants, Vitaly Trunev, the head of Rosenergoatom, a nuclear power station subsidiary of Rosatom, told Reuters during the launch, addressing the most obvious question. It is protected from all kinds of natural and technical harms. There are skeptics, including 11,000 people who have signed a petition hoping to sink plans to launch the vessel. And, for a time, the vessel made a sizable chunk of St. Petersburg nervous. The barge was supposed to be equipped with nuclear fuel at the city's shipyard, Rosatom said, but city leaders thought better of fueling a first-of-its-kind nuclear reactor in the middle of a city of nearly 5.3 million people. And Russia's Baltic Sea neighbors worried about what would happen if a nuclear reactor en route encountered bad weather or technical issues too close to their fjords. So the ship sans nuclear fuel will be pulled through the Baltic Sea, around the northern tip of Norway to Murmansk, a Russian city of more than 300,000 residents, where it will be fueled. It will ultimately be anchored near the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeast Russia, and moored off the coast of Pevek, where it will replace an aging reactor. By 2019, the first-of-its-kind rig will provide power for the port town and for oil rigs. For Rosatom, it is buoyant proof of concept that a floating sea-based reactor can work. Rosatom is in talks with potential buyers in Southeast Asia, Latin America and Africa, according to Russian television station RT, which estimates that 15 countries have shown interest in the floating plants. Greenpeace has several concerns about the plan, Haverkamp said. It has written reports about what it calls Rosatom's checkered past and criticized the company's plans to use its latest venture to drill for fossil fuels. Rosatom, a conglomeration of nuclear-related industries under the Russian government, produces nearly 20 percent of Russia's electricity, according to its website. Among its activities, the company also mines uranium. But Greenpeace says Rosatom's latest venture, the floating nuclear barge, is dicey. For land-based nuclear power plants, there are thousands and thousand of measures that have been taken in order to prevent things from going really wrong, Haverkamp told The Washington Post. If you look at the possibilities of a barge the possibilities are a lot more limited. Most of the lessons of the land-based reactors cannot be adapted to this small space. You're limited to what you can do if things go wrong. But Rosatom insists that the nuclear barge and the concept are safe and meet all requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency and do not pose any threat to the environment. And there are, of course, dozens of nuclear-powered vessels that spend almost their entire life at sea. According to the World Nuclear Association, about 140 ships mostly submarines, but also icebreakers and aircraft carriers prowl the world's oceans. The first nuclear-powered submarine was launched in 1955. That could be a point for either side: Some nuclear-powered submarines have been in service for years. But accidents involving nuclear-powered submarines have occurred. In one case, an explosion killed 10 and injured 49 in 1985 on Russia's Pacific Coast, according to the Maritime Executive: Two thousand people were involved in the ensuing cleanup, 290 of which were exposed to high levels of radiation. It was later discovered that the nuclear fuel had rocketed out of the Echo II class submarine and onto neighboring vessels, further onto the shore and into the water. Portions of the seabed are still contaminated even now. Read the original text at The Washington Post. Leader of the People's Council of the self-proclaimed republic Denis Pushylin said that the question of prisoners exchange will be one of the main issues at the Minsk Group meeting, which will take place on May 4 The so-called Donetsk Peoples Republic demands that Ukraine includes 288 captives to the list. Izvestia reported this with the reference to the press service of the Commissioner for Human Rights in the DNR Dina Morozova. The agency notes that Ukraine confirms the presence of 80 prisoners out of 288 requested by the republic. It is noted that during the last month the number of Donetsk citizens requested was reduced for nine people who were amnestied in Ukraine. "The number of people we requested has reduced because several people in Ukraine were amnestied and were released," Morozova press service said. As the leader of the People's Council of the self-proclaimed republic Denis Pushylin noted, the question of prisoners exchange will be one of the main issues at the Minsk Group meeting, which will take place on May 4. "This problem is constantly being hindered, blocked and sabotaged by Ukraine. It is not a secret that it is very difficult to negotiate with the current authorities in Ukraine not only for us but also for the other parties involved in the settlement of the conflict. This, of course, is not a panacea, but involving addition external forces, can help bring about changes in this issue," Pushylin said. As it was reported earlier, Ukraine announced that it intends to trad 23 Russian diplomats for its political prisoners in Russia, according to Iryna Gerashchenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraines Representative in the subgroup of humanitarian affairs. Gerashchenko also stated that the key issues of todays meeting in Minsk were the security, the violation of the Easter ceasefire by the enemy side, and the new stage of hostages release. Gerashchenko informed about the discussion of the question of missing civilians, noting that Russia demonstrates a complete unwillingness to solve this problem. Related video: Moldova concerned that its citizens can be recruited to the occupation troops The court in Moldova imposed the sentence of arrest for eight citizens for the participation in the Donbas Conflict at the side of the pro-Russian militants. Eduard Harunjen, the Prosecutor General claimed this as Reuters reported. He emphasized that the citizens of Moldova working in Russia can be involved in the Donbas Conflict. 'This is when brothers, fathers and husbands go away to work in eastern countries and there they are recruited into military groups. Sometimes they die there and sometimes they come home, but their hands are bloodied', he said. According to Harunjen, the convicted in this case will face different terms of the imprisonment. At the moment, another 25 citizens of Moldova are on the international wanted list due to the connection to the Donbas Conflict. As we reported the group of the mercenaries from Serbia arrived in occupied Donbas and joined the joins the militants of Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR). Also, on April 25, another provocation by Russia-backed militants in Luhansk region put the end to an attempt to disengage troops and forces near Stanytsia Luhanska. Russia has been blocking the procedure of mandate extension over the entire militant-held part of Ukraine-Russia border, - Ukraine's foreign ministry OSCE has extended the mandate of the special monitoring mission at Gukovo and Donetsk checkpoints in Russia. This was mentioned in the Foreign Ministry's message. The Ukrainian side condemned the fact that Russia has been blocking the procedure of mandate extension over the entire militant-held part of Ukraine-Russia border. 'Having signed the Minsk Protocol of 5 September 2014, all signatories, including the Russian Federation, undertook to ensure permanent monitoring of the Ukrainian-Russian State border and its verification by the OSCE with the formation of a security zone in the border areas of Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This agreed measure has not yet been implemented. We deeply regret that the Russian Federation persists in opposing the expansion of the mandate of the OSCE Observer Mission at the Russian checkpoints Gukovo and Donetsk to all sections of the border that is temporarily not under control of the Ukrainian authorities. Such expansion enjoys the support of the OSCE participating States, except the Russian Federation. The opposition of Russia can only be attributed to its unchanged position on continuing fueling the conflict in Ukraines Donbas, including by supplying heavy weapons, military equipment, regular troops, fighters and mercenaries, sponsoring and financing terrorist acts in the territory of Ukraine. We emphasize that these actions by Russia constitute internationally wrongful acts, which entail the international responsibility of the Russian Federation. We reiterate our call on Russia to cease these acts, to offer appropriate assurances of their non-repetition, as well as to make full reparation for the injury caused thereby. In this connection, the delegation of Ukraine recalls that Russia has not responded to numerous requests for explanations on the OSCE SMM reported presence in the occupied parts of Donbas of modern Russian weapons and military equipment. We call upon the Russian Federation to demonstrate its full commitment to the implementation of the Minsk arrangements in good faith and to allow proper and comprehensive permanent monitoring by the OSCE on the Russian side of the Ukrainian-Russian state border adjacent to the certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions with establishment of a security zone in border areas of Ukraine and the Russian Federation', reads the message. Open source The constant non-observing of the Minsk Agreements threatens the work of the Donetsk Filtration Station and puts the civilians at risk. Ertugruk Apakan, the Head of the OSCE SMM claimed this on May 3 as the press service of the station reported. OSCE SMM Head noted with a concern that the Minsk Agreements are not observed. According to him, almost 100 violations of the ceasefire were spotted during a day near the Donetsk Filtration Station. It puts the civilians at risk and threatens the work of the station. He emphasized, that the supply of the drinking water to more than 300, 000 people depends on the work of the station. 'It is necessary to guarantee the protection of the civilian workers who provide the work of the Donetsk Filtration Station and the civil observers of the OSCE SMM in Ukraine who assist the provision of the access of the workers to the station', Apakan claimed. According to him, these violations took place, despite the recently provided security guarantees. He also reminded that the sides agreed to stop the attacks in September 2014 and reached the agreement last year and it is necessary to provide the work of the Donetsk Filtration Station and other vital objects of the civilian infrastructure. As we reported the militants shelled the convoy of the filtration station's workers. Five workers suffered, one of them is in the serious condition. On April 18, Donetsk Filtration Station has stopped its work and the supply of the drinking water was stooped to Avdiivka, partially to Donetsk and Yasynuvata, Chervony Partyzan, Kruta Balka and Verkhnyotoretske villages. The Headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is sure that the situation was staged and provoked by the leaders of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republics. U.S. State Department condemned the shelling of the filtration station and claimed that Russia is responsible for the worsening of the humanitarian station in the east of Ukraine. The water supply to Avdiivka was stopped on April 20. However, on April 23, the water supply mechanism in Avdiivka, Donetsk region was fully restored at 3 p.m. Open source The Ministry of Economy of the Russian Federation has published draft amendments to the law "On Adoption of the Republic of Crimea to the Russian Federation and formation of new entities in the Russian Federation." According to the amendments, the guarantees of preservation of real estate rights that appeared in Crimea after January 1, 2008, are cancelled. This was reported by the Kommersant. The document states that the veracity of the purchasers of disputed objects will be checked by the Russian courts with the application of Ukrainian laws that were active at the time of purchase. Experts believe that the adoption of amendments will lead to a new wave of de-privatization on the peninsula. Amendments were proposed on behalf of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Kozak. The version from 2014 guaranteed owners and users of real estate objects in Crimea their rights and documents issued by Ukrainian authorities were valid "without confirmation by federal and regional state bodies". Now the Ministry of Economy proposes to cancel these conditions for those objects that were purchased after January 1, 2008. As it was reported earlier, the Verkhovna Rada documented presidential bill, which provides depriving of Ukrainian citizenship for voting in the so-called elections in annexed Crimea. According to the proposed amendments, if a Crimean resident gets Russian passport after the annexation of the peninsula, it is regarded as if a Ukrainian receives another citizenship involuntarily. Yet, if Crimean resident participated in the so-called elections conducted by Russia on the territory of Crimea, it is considered as if a Ukrainian got another citizenship voluntary. Besides, the participation in such elections is a reason to deprive of Ukrainian citizenship. This norm concerns all Ukrainian citizens who used a voting or another right provided by another citizenship. Related video: US Department of State representative Heather Nauert calls on Russian authorities in Crimea to free Ukrainian political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh who has been on hunger strike for over 48 days already. Heather Nauert wrote it on Twitter. Russian occupation authorities in Crimea should release political prisoner Volodymyr Balukh, who has been on hunger strike for 43 days. Unacceptable for Russia to jail a Ukrainian citizen for flying a Ukrainian flag in Crimea and deny him medical care, Nauert wrote. Russian occupation authorities in Crimea should release political prisoner Volodymyr #Balukh, who has been on hunger strike for 43 days. Unacceptable for #Russia to jail a Ukrainian citizen for flying a Ukrainian flag in Crimea and deny him medical care. Heather Nauert (@statedeptspox) May 2, 2018 As it was reported earlier, Balukh's lawyer Olha Dinze reported that the convoy beat Volodymyr Balukh, the illegally convicted in the occupied Crimea, Ukrainian activist on April 2. In addition, according to her, the administration of the pre-trial detention center refused to give Ukrainian political prisoner water, saying he was on a hunger strike. Volodymyr Balukh earlier claimed that he goes for a timeless hunger strike. Balukh protested against the verdict in his case, announced in January 2018. The jury sentenced him to three years and five months for the alleged storage of ammunition. As it is currently effective, the detainee now serves time in jail. Ukraine is to increase pressure on Russia to release Volodymyr Balukh, a political prisoner, kept in annexed Crimea in Simferopol detention center, as Mariana Betsa, the Spokesperson of Ukraines Foreign Ministry. Related video: The head of the Kyiv police told about the fifth attacker, and why one of the perpetrators managed to escape from the country Read the original text at 112.ua. The road conflict between the People's Deputy Mustafa Nayem and a group of young people, during which Nayem was struck several times in the face, did not remain ignored. Moreover, it evoked a wide response. A large number of people added their own commentary, expressed their own version of the fight, and it caused some confusion. The head of the Kyiv police, Andriy Kryshchenko, explained the situation: April 30, at 17:27, we received a call. Patrols and the investigative-operative group immediately left for the spot, and a little more than an hour later the Mercedes car was found. There were three people who took an active part directly in hooligan actions. The second car was put on the wanted list. All data about who was in it were not known at that time. The investigative and operational group worked on the site for more than two hours, it collected video and interviewed the witnesses. When the video was collected, and this was a large amount of work, it made it possible to qualify the actions of the three detainees as hooligans. They were detained in accordance with the procedure of Article 208, they were immediately taken to the temporary detention facility. Speaking of the person who directly inflicted bodily injuries, we found that he had already left Ukraine in 2.5-3 hours after the incident. That is, the investigative-operational group was still working on the spot and his identity was not established. We set the address by which the car was registered, went to the place, there was not a car there and that person was not there too. This person who directly was throwing the punches (we also have information, we will check it), ordered a ticket on the Internet within 25-30 minutes after the events. At the time when he crossed the border at the time of departure, his identity was not known yet. He was placed in absentia under Article 296, part 2 and 122, part 1 (serious bodily injuries of medium gravity, - Ed.). He was put on the wanted list, the court sent a petition for his compulsory delivery to the court for the purpose of choosing a restraint. Why not was everyone brought to suspicion under Article 122 part 1? Because our legislation clearly presupposes that the bodily injuries are brought to those who have directly inflicted these bodily injuries. Speaking about the fifth participant in the conflict, the driver of the BMW, we saw from the testimony that he did not take any active steps in these events, his identity is established. Once he is established, he will also be interrogated, identification and other investigative actions will be carried out, both with the victim and with witnesses. Two of the conflict participants are citizens of Ukraine, and two are Russian citizens who have a residence permit and study at the university. The man who struck and fled is a citizen of Ukraine. The court sent a petition for an examination. Given the changes in the law, we cannot assign an examination. The examination is appointed only by a court decision. Speaking about the "Interception" plan. For the first quarter of the year, this plan was introduced 74 times and it does not depend on the status of the victim, the brand of his car, marital status, etc. Such a plan is introduced if there are reports that the person who committed the crime, moves in a car. In case of stealing, robbery, unlawful restraint of freedom, and any crimes that require immediate action by the police, the "Interception" plan is introduced. The video from all surrounding cameras that recorded the event was added to the materials of the criminal proceedings. Persons suspected of a crime do not give any explanations for their actions; they are limited to communicating with the lawyers. As it was previously reported, in the area of Bessarabska Square in Kyiv on April 30, a people's deputy Mustafa Nayem was beaten. He himself informed about the incident and stressed that the incident is not connected with his political activities. The same day police detained three people. One of the participants in the conflict with the beating of the People's Deputy Mustafa Nayem on Bessarabska Square, wanted by the police, flew to Baku (Azerbaijan) 2 hours after the incident. He faces 4 years of imprisonment. Magomed Saitov, one of the suspects of an assault on Ukraines MP Mustafa Nayem, was taken under house arrest till June 30, as Kyiv Shevchenkivskyi District Court correspondent said on air of 112 Ukraine. Proponents of Russias Nord Stream II pipeline rely on at least seven arguments to explain their support for the politically motivated project. The trouble is, these justifications are based on incorrect assumptions or outright disinformation. We identified the seven myths and then used publicly available facts to set the record straight. Myth 3. Nord Stream II will not deepen Europes dependence on Russia. Both Ukraines gas transit system and Nord Stream II can coexist. Reality: Fully controlled by Russia, Nord Stream II will eliminate Ukraines independent gas transit system. Both systems cannot coexist. Europe will become even more dependent on Russia. If built, Nord Stream II will strip Ukraine of 55 bcm of transit flows, and Russias Turkstream pipeline under the Black Sea will divert another 30-40 bcm. Gazprom will prioritize its own pipelines, filling them as much as possible. Whatever peak demand remains uncovered occasionally, it will hardly be enough to financially justify preserving the necessary capacity in the Ukrainian system. If the system is not used on a regular basis, it will have to be severely downsized. Gazproms recent record-high gas supplies to the European Union would not have been possible without the flexibility of the Ukrainian system. These pipelines are loaded near their maximum capacities, with stable and predictable flows. The chart below shows that the Nord Stream and Yamal pipelines are loaded near their maximum capacities, with stable and predictable flows. The Ukrainian gas transit system provides a more advanced service and flexibly covers all the residual demand from Europe, even when Gazprom has to shut down Nord Stream completely for maintenance and repairs. If Nord Stream II is launched, Gazprom and its European clients will lose the exceptional flexibility and spare capacity of the Ukrainian system and will likely have to invest more in storing gas to cover emergency supplies and peak demand, which means increased consumer costs. Myth 4. Nord Stream II will provide superior interrupted service and is a reasonable replacement for Ukraines system. Reality: Ukraines gas transmission system is a sophisticated network of interconnected pipelines with excess capacity and dozens of compressor stations to ensure reliability and flexibility of transit. The Nord Stream II infrastructuretwo unlinked offshore pipelines with just two compressor stationsis not a reasonable replacement. To strip the issue down to its core, advocates of Nord Stream II assume the European Union would be better off sacrificing 146 billion cubic meters (bcm) of capacity in Ukraines network in exchange for two fragile, not interconnected offshore pipelines able to carry only 55 bcm. Ukraines system is a highly flexible and robust mesh of pipelines and compressors, backed by Europes largest gas storage, which serves to balance swings in European gas demand. Read the original text at Atlantic Council. Not all countries issued the permission for the construction of the pipeline Open source The construction of the German part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline has begun in Germany. The representative of Nord Stream Company claimed this to dpa as Deutsche Welle reported. It is noted that the works on the re-excavation and laying of the foundation for the gas receiving stations and the maintenance building have already begun at the docking point of the future pipeline in Lubmin, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern land, at the square of about six hectares. According to the representative of the company, the works take place according to the established schedule. He is sure that all permission for the construction of the Nord Stream 2 will be issued. 'We are sure that we will get all proper permission'. According to the representative, the string of the first Nord Stream was situated in this corridor due to the strong desire of Denmark and the company is sure that the government in Copenhagen will agree on the construction of Nord Stream 2 in this corridor. However, Nord Stream also works out the alternative routes bypassing 12-miles zone in the case of the unforeseen complications. Ukraine, Baltic States and Poland strongly protest against the construction of the Nord Stream 2, fearing the further strengthening of Russia's position as the gas monopolist in Europe. Earlier it was reported that all necessary permits needed for the project have also been received in Germany. The national permitting procedures in the other three countries along the route Russia, Sweden and Denmark are proceeding as planned. Russias leading energy enterprise Gazprom and its partners intend to start implementing the Nord Stream-2 project worth almost 10 billion euros in April 2018. The 1,200-kilometers-long pipeline is to be laid through the Baltic Sea, linking Russia and Germany bypassing Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic States. The capacity will be twice larger than that of Nord Stream-1. The construction is to be complete by late 2019. The German leader specified this is not a Normandy Four meeting since Russia's Vladimir Putin is not going to participate EPA / UPG The trilateral meeting of Ukrainian, German and French leaders will take place in Aachen (Germany) on May 10. A source at Ukraine's presidential administration said that as quoted by UNN news agency. Previously, German leader Angela Merkel announced that the respective meeting is not the part of the agenda of the Normandy Four talks; this is due to the fact that Russia's leader Vladimir Putin is not going to participate. The said meeting will be held at the Charlemagne Prize awards ceremony; the award will go to Macron - in recognition of his 'vision of the new Europe and re-creation of the European project'. Previously, French and Russian presidents discussed Iran's nuclear program and Macron's visit to Russia. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, 37 vehicles and 150 men have been putting out the fire at the military infrastructure object in Kharkiv region, northeastern Ukraine The overall area of the fire at an arsenal in Balakliya, Kharkiv region, northeastern Ukraine makes some 35 hectares. This is mentioned in the message released on the website of Ukraine's State Emergencies Service. As of 5 p.m. Thursday, 37 vehicles and 150 men have been putting out the fire at the military infrastructure object. Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko ordered to use the aviation of State Emergencies Service in order to cope with the flames. The fire began in the afternoon on May 3. A fire rescue tank trod on an unknown explosive item, which resulted in the flame. The fire, in turn, led to a number of explosions. According to the press service of the General Staff of Ukraine, the dry grass caught fire at 13:55 at the former technical territory of a 65th arsenal in Balakliya. The works on the cleaning and demining of the armaments' debris that did not explode during the previous fire took place and the new fire has begun. The staff that cleaned and de-mined the area has been evacuated. The police limited the road traffic and entrances to the town. 'Army soldiers and the Emergency Service assumed measures to provide the safety for the local', the message said. As 112 International reported, a series of powerful blasts took place at an ammunition storage facility in Kharkiv region on late March 23. The incident occurred near the town of Balakliya. Many of the locals were evacuated from the town and its vicinities. The fire caused by the blasts was finally extinguished the day after that, by the evening of March 24. Numerous casualties and even a fatality were reported. Low-intensity blasts and small ignition sites are observed at the arsenal in Balakliya, Kharkiv region, where the fire occurred on May 3. The press service of Ukraine's defence ministry reported that on Thursday evening. The press department also said that as of 10 p.m. Thursday, the aviation of the State Emergency Service performed seven water drops on the premises of the ammunition depot that suffered in the fire. 'Four crew from the Armed Forces and another six crews from the State Emergency Service, three fire tanks, armored combat engineer and the aircraft are involved in the works. 94 men are involved totally', the ministry reported. The fire began in the afternoon on May 3. A fire rescue tank trod on an unknown explosive item, which resulted in the flame. The fire, in turn, led to a number of explosions. According to the press service of the General Staff of Ukraine, the dry grass caught fire at 13:55 at the former technical territory of a 65th arsenal in Balakliya. The works on the cleaning and demining of the armaments' debris that did not explode during the previous fire took place and the new fire has begun. The staff that cleaned and de-mined the area has been evacuated. The police limited the road traffic and entrances to the town. 'Army soldiers and the Emergency Service assumed measures to provide the safety for the local', the message said. As 112 International reported, a series of powerful blasts took place at an ammunition storage facility in Kharkiv region on late March 23. The incident occurred near the town of Balakliya. Many of the locals were evacuated from the town and its vicinities. The fire caused by the blasts was finally extinguished the day after that, by the evening of March 24. Numerous casualties and even a fatality were reported. 'Such appeals have nothing to do with patriotic expressions', Arsen Avakov said Law enforcers opened a criminal investigation for violation of the racial and national equality of rights, a case of which occurred in Odesa, southern Ukraine on May 2. Arsen Avakov, Ukraine's interior minister posted that on Twitter on Thursday. 'Public anti-Semitic appeals in Ukraine are unacceptable - including those exclaimed during rallies, like the one in Odesa. It is the case of fancy medievalism, which has nothing to do with expressing patriotic views. The police of Odesa opened the case under Part 1 of Article 161 (violation of racial and national equality of rights of citizens)', he said. On May 2, solemn events took place in Odesa, timed to the fourth anniversary of the tragedy at Kulykove field and at the House of Trade Unions. The local nationalists who represented the Right Sector movement held a march, where the leader of the movement's local cell exclaimed: 'We believe that in the future, we'll bring true Ukrainian order to Odesa and the rest of Ukraine. Ukraine will belong to Ukrainians - not to the Judes or oligarchs!'. The video that contained the speech was uploaded on the Web; it evoked an outrage among many users. Open source Canada will collect biometric data of all Ukrainian citizens who apply for visa. It was reported by Ukrinform. "Biometric data (fingerprints and electronic photo) will be required from the applicants for tourist visas, permits for work, study and permanent residence in Canada," the statement said. At the same time, the biometric will be collected from each applicant only once every 10 years, regardless of the length of the issued visa. Because of this, the price for the Canadian visa will rise and will amount to $ 185. The changes will take effect this summer. As it was reported earlier, in Ontario, Canada, authorities allocated $ 750,000 to support the National Education Tour on the Holodomor. This was reported by the deputy of the local parliament Yvan Baker on Twitter. "I am proud to say that this afternoon the Canada-Ukraine Foundation received a grant of $ 750,000 to raise awareness of the famine in Ukraine in 1932-33," he wrote. Within the framework of the project, a "mobile audience" was created in the province - a bus, equipped with a special interactive equipment, which will travel to Canada's educational institutions and conduct lectures on the tragic events of 1932-1933 in Ukraine. Related: Canada, Sweden allocate USD 2 mln to restore Donbas infrastructure Related video: Zmedia type="picture" position="1"] Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv took the third attacker on People's Deputy Mustafa Nayem, Temarbulatov Umolt Ruslanovich under the night house arrest until June 30. Ukrainian Truth agency reported this. "A 22-year-old citizen of the Russian Federation Temerbulatov Umolt Ruslanovich must stay at his place of residence from 23:00 to 6:00 am until June 30. He has to give his passports and to come at the request of law-enforcers," the statement reads. As it was reported earlier, in the area of Bessarabska Square in Kyiv on April 30, a people's deputy Mustafa Nayem was beaten. He himself informed about the incident and stressed that the incident is not connected with his political activities. Related: Prosecutor's Office asks court to arrest suspected in beating of Ukraine's MP Mustafa Nayem One of the participants in the beating of the People's Deputy Mustafa Nayem on Bessarabska Square, wanted by the police, flew to Baku (Azerbaijan) 2 hours after the incident. It was reported that he was the one who broke the jaw of the deputy. The three detainees were charged under Art. 296 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the sanction of which provides for up to 4 years of imprisonment, which is a more severe punishment than that of Article 122 Part 1. Related: Beating of Mustafa Nayem: MP's state of health worsens Related video: The former participant of the Ant-Terrorist Operation in Donbas was hit in the back with a knife; offenders also used a gas cartridge The veteran of the Ant-Terrorist Operation in Donbas who participated in defending Donetsk airport Dmytro Verbych was attacked in Kyiv on Kostiantynivska Street. This was reported on the Kyiv police website. One of the attackers hit the victim with a sharp object in the back and used a gas cartridge. At the moment, he the man is in the hospital, where he is provided with necessary medical help, the message says. The friends of Verbych arrived at the site, applied a bandage and took him to the hospital. This was reported by Yevhenia Seraya on Facebook. We came within a few minutes. We had a medical pack in the car so we applied a bandage and took him to the regional hospital. At the moment, his state is stable, she wrote. She noted that 4 people attacked Verbych, but at the same time police reports of 5 attackers three men and two women. They were recorded by the CCTV. The police are asking to inform them if somebody recognizes the offenders. The question of legal qualification of the incident is being decided now. As it was reported earlier, the militants used banned weapons 17 times and tried to displace the Armed Forces of Ukraine units from their positions, one Ukrainian soldier went missing in Donbas. Ukrainian units, which are involved in the Joint Forces Operation, gave an appropriate response in the battle. Besides, according to the HQ, one Ukrainian military servicemen went missing near Shyrokyne (Donetsk region) after the enemys bombardment. The Command is taking measures to find him. The representatives of JFO headquarters reported that there were no casualties and injured as at 17:00. The casualties of the enemys side are being defined. Related video: The police has restricted the vehicle access to Balakliya due to the fire at the territory of the former armament depot. Viktoria Lyuta, the spokeswoman of Balakliya National Police Department claimed this as Interfax-Ukraine reported. 'We let everyone to leave the city but we do not allow to enter the city (except for the armored vehicles and technical machines). There are also some exception for those who have come to take the relatives away', she noted. At the same time, the evacuation is not announced. According to Kharkiv National Police, the personnel staff of Balakliya National Police Department was alerted due to the fire. 'The forces of the local police are used to block the roads; the checkpoints are set near the entrance to the military city. The calculation of the forces and equipment was worked out to provide the public order round-the-clock', the message said. At the same time, Balakliya authorities recommend the local citizens to take the children from the schools and kindergartens due to the fire. 'The planned blowing of the shells took place and now the chaotic blowing takes place. We recommend to take the children from the schools and kindergartens', Balakliya Mayor said. As we reported the fire occurred at the armament depot in Balakliya, Kharkiv region on May 3. According to the Defense Ministry, the fire tank ran over some explosive device during the execution of the technical works. According to the press service of the General Staff of Ukraine, the dry grass caught fire at 13:55 at the former technical territory of a 65th arsenal in Balakliya. The works on the cleaning and demining of the armaments' debris that did not explode during the previous fire took place and the new fire has begun. As 112 International reported, a series of powerful blasts took place at an ammunition storage facility in Kharkiv region on late March 23, 2017. The incident occurred near the town of Balakliya. Many of the locals were evacuated from the town and its vicinities. The fire caused by the blasts was finally extinguished the day after that, by evening of March 24. Numerous casualties and even a fatality were reported. It is noted, it is impossible to hold the investigative actions at the territory of country-aggressor The investigation of the murder of journalist Pavlo Sheremet is complicated by his Russian citizenship. Artem Shevchenko, the Director of Communication Department of the Interior Ministry claimed this as Hromadske reported. 'It is impossible to hold the investigative actions at the territory of country-aggressor, to establish people involved in the crime or to question them it considerably complicates the investigation', Shevchenko noted. Ukrainian journalist Pavlo Sheremet was killed in Kyiv in the morning of July 20, 2016. The car he was driving exploded in the citys downtown. The vehicle belonged to his civilian wife, Editor-in-Chief of Ukrainska Pravda outlet Olena Prytula; she was not in the car at the moment. The Ukrainian police qualified the explosion as intentional homicide. Ukraines Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko assumed the murder could be the part of some greater plan, perhaps designed by the Kremlin. The key version of Sheremets murder was his professional activity. Pavlo Sheremet was Ukrainian and Russian journalist of Belarusian origin. The 44-year-old is widely famous for his criticism of Russian and Belarusian leaders Putin and Lukashenko, respectively. Sheremet was imprisoned by the government of Belarus in 1997, sparking an international incident between Belarus and Russia. The New York Times has described him as "known for his crusading reports about political abuses in Belarus" and "a thorn in the side of Lukashenko's autocratic government". He was awarded the Committee to Protect Journalists' International Press Freedom Award in 1999 and the OSCE Prize for Journalism and Democracy in 2002. He was married with two children, a son and a daughter. He also had a son with Canadian photographer Heidi Hollinger. Vira Savchenko, the sister of MP Nadia Savchenko suspected in the preparation of the terrorist acts, was questioned at the Kyiv Chief Committee of Ukraine's Security Service as the correspondent of 112 Ukraine reported. 'As Vira Savchenko explained she was a witness. She said that there were a few dozens of the questions concerning the domestic relation between two sisters and important issues raised a few years ago. Also, 'Savchenko against Russia' case was considered, when she was illegally detained at the territory of Russia. Also, the questions on the relations of Nadia Savchenko and Volodymyr Ruban were asked. The questioning lasted about 1, 5 hour', the correspondent noted. As we reported Shevchenkivsky Court of Kyiv decided on the preventive measures for Savchenko, which is custody for two months until May 20, 2018, without a right for a bail. Besides, the Court decided that the detention on March 22 was illegal. On March 29, the Appeal Court of Kyiv kept Savchenkos arrest effective. The same day the MP went on the hunger strike. She also emphasized that she is not going to escape from Ukraine. On April 12, Savchenko was transferred from the remand center to the hospital for the examination. On April 16, it was reported that Savchenko continued her hunger strike and polygraph was postponed until April 17. On March 15, Lutsenko claimed during his speech at the parliament that Savchenko personally planned, recruited and ordered how to hold the terrorist attack in the Verkhovna Rada, destroying two lodges, governmental and post, by the combat grenades, bringing down the dome of the Verkhovna Rada by the mortar launchers and killing the survived with the assault rifles. Also, it was reported that non-affiliated MP Nadia Savchenko and Volodymyr Ruban, the Head of 'Officer Corps' planned to attack the cortege of the President of Ukraine with the large caliber sniper rifle. Eurasia Air Show was held for the first time The Ukrainian transport plane An-124-100 'Ruslan' performed the demonstration flight at the Air Show in Antalya, Turkey as Antonov Plant reported on Facebook. The press service published a video of the 'Ruslan' flight and noted that it was taken to the Euarasia Air Show at the invitation of the organizers of the event. Eurasia Air Show was held for the first time since April 25 until April 29 in Antalya, Turkey. An-124-100 'Ruslan' is a commercial transport plane produced by the Antonov Plant based on An-124 'Ruslan' military transport aircraft. The modification is a result of the harmonization of An-124 with the ICAO demands on the safety of the civic planes needed for the execution of the commercial flights to the civilian airports. The plane aims to transport heavy and large-sized cargos and various equipment for long distances. Antonov state enterprise is the leading Ukrainian developer and manufacturer of aircraft, a recognized world leader in the niche of transport aircraft. The enterprise cooperates with more than 75 countries. By the decision of the government, the enterprise has been part of the Ukroboronprom State Consortium since April 2015. Estate of Patrick Nagatani Patrick Nagatani challenged the medium he worked in, creating smart, often surprising photographs that hummed with their questions. And he broached the big questionson spirituality, the construction of self, how we heal and how we fit into the puzzle of the natural world. The mysteries and unpredictability of Nagatani's career surface in his early works, too, which are opening soon at an exhibition at the UNM Museum of Art simply titled Patrick Nagatani: A Survey of Early Photographs. The exhibition was unveiled during a formal reception on Friday, April 27. Many more events in conjunction with the exhibition will be held on campus, including a print viewing with the show's curator, Mary Statzer, on June 7. More information on such events is online at artmuseum.unm.edu. Before the show's opening, Statzer unpacked the process of curating it and the enduring beauty of the artist's work, in particular these images culled from a huge cache of photographs that Nagatani donated to the museum before his death last autumn. Alibi: How was this selection of photos chosen from amongst the works donated by Nagatani to the museum? Statzer: When I realized that Nagatani created nearly all of these photographs before or during graduate school, I was blown away. I thought, OK, this is who he was as an artist before he arrived at UNM and became the professor and nationally recognized photographer we know him as today. I decided to tell that storythat these are foundational works made in Los Angeles when he was a young artist. I wanted to represent all of the bodies of work from this period so that the viewer could have the same sense of discovery that I experienced. How do they speak to his later work? Chroma Room, from 1977, is an early example of how he orchestrated set-ups, props and models. Furthermore, color is carefully considered and manipulated, not incidental or merely descriptive. Color is an important aspect of the works content. This is especially true of Chromatherapy and the later 20x24 Polaroids. Nagatani had an obsessive aspect to his personality. To take examples from the early work, he made something like 300 photographs of partygoers in one evening for A Party, Beverly Hills, U.S.A. For Chroma Rooms, he painted the same room in his house 13 times and lived in it to see what effect the color would have on him. He used that focused attention and drive throughout his career. What do you hope visitors might come to understand by enjoying these works? Nagatanis work is grounded in the West. His work speaks, in a sophisticated way, about the places in the western United States where he lived. For example, he began the series Nuclear Enchantment the year after he arrived in New Mexico. It is of and about the history of this place. Similarly, the work in the exhibition is informed by Los Angelesthe artifice of Hollywood, the ready acceptance of fads, the influence of science and technology and the fact that photography in Southern California was less tradition-bound at the time than in any other part of the country. Did you, yourself, learn anything in putting together this exhibition? In the process of conducting my research for the show, I talked with Scott Rankin, a video artist and friend of Nagatanis since graduate school. He told me about Patricks driving need to work. Id always thought of him as an idea-driven artist but Scott emphasized his skill and commitment to the manual labor of making things. Of course, this makes complete sense when one considers the weeks and months of work that went into creating the sets for the large Polaroids, which were torn down as soon as the exposure was made. Do you have any particular favorites among these works? When I first saw the photographs that he gave to the museum, the biggest surprise for me was the 1978 series, A Party, Beverly Hills, U.S.A. They are black and white and dont involve his characteristic set-ups and directing people in them. In fact, they are quite the opposite. He simply set up a paper backdrop and the camera and let people present themselves as they wished. I love that lack of control. Im also attracted to the way that the photographs cut to the chase, using sharp wit and an economy of means. They comment on Beverly Hills society in the late 70s without being preachy. These photographs feel remarkably current to me. One has the sense that even though there was a photographer present, it was all about how people were relating to one another in front of a camera. In that way, they read like selfies. I also love the invention found in Chromatherapy, which Nagatani sustained for over 25 years. He took an idea from his first year in graduate school and ran with it, putting it through its paces. The impetus for making the workthe combination of color, light and healingstill had currency for him in the early 2000s. Thats true commitment to personal vision. Maybe I'd release a pinch of ochre to the breeze while saying out loud, Craig Childs writes in his latest,. Herein, he is tracing the route of early humans as they reached this continent for the first time, skirting the western coast before toeing an unknown land. He is soon to make landfall just as others did long ago. Childs is in wonder of pre-history in all its obscurity, as presentiment to life as we know it today. That's why in this book he broaches what remains a somewhat contentious topic 20,000 years ago how did people come here? And why? What we as a species have done on this planet and what we're going to do next are vital points of entry to understand ourselves and our place here, according to Childs. These are the big questions in human history, he said as he spoke to me over the phone from his home in lower Colorado. I want us to understand the history of the ground underneath us, he continued. A door into imagining prehistory presents itself in the landscape that largely hasn't changed in the last 20,000 years. The rivers are in the same places, the mountains are in the same places, Childs described, all you have to do is put these missing pieces in your imagination. Which is precisely how the book works. Through personal narrative, both contemporary and projected into the past, an ancient planet is given texture. We look into the distant past and it becomes two-dimensional, and as we look farther back, it becomes one-dimensional until it becomes invisible. But 20,000 years ago, it would be as real as this. Spear hunters were sitting around laughing; these were people just like us, struggling in the same ways. The power of storytelling can make that real to modern readersand Childs' writing is vivid and often visceral. He describes in cringing detail, for example, what it might have felt like to be prey. Replace mammoths and sabertooths with calls to the insurance company and walking down the street at night, he suggested. We have different dangers and fears, but it was as mundane and exciting to be alive then as it is now. Relating to ancient humans is an exercise in empathy and to stretch the imagination in that way is important, no matter what geological age you live in. To forget that there's more going on than just us, Childs said, to me that is very lonely. He went on to point out that we are animalsour hair stands on ends like hackles when we're scared, we have eyes and hands and adaptations for survival. We belong to a lineage much bigger than just ourselves, he said, and being part of it might mean being eaten, sure, but it also means that the world is more fascinating than us just existing in our palace of being homosapien. I want to open those gates and let us back out into the world. Beliefs that remove us from the wider planet are what make us a dangerous species, or as Childs so pointedly said, we've become our own sabertooth cats. As he studied and explored the vastness of human historyand by proxy human behaviorhe described feeling both proud and stricken. There were times in writing this that I was rooting for human pioneering ability, the adventurous quality of our spirit, but then I extrapolate to the future and thinkoh my god, look what our pioneering energy does, it devours everything. That self-absorbed, destructive trend is an acute part of our species' history. The path ahead of us isn't so different than the one that was laid out generations ago. The level of technology has changed, but we are still very social animals with language and weapons, Childs said. Consider the ice age and the rise of Clovis culture. There were massive environmental changes, megafauna was going extinct, and humans were witnessing this change, and it appears that their response was to make bigger weapons, he pointed out. Yes, we are repeating history. It's not all grim, though. If we can interrogate our history, we can evolve in dynamic ways, as Childs put it. And what's more, there are other innate human traitsto hold onto things, to protect, to survive, to learn. Writing the book made me look at my own worldwe live in this rich dynamic world of migrations. Humans are in motion now like always, like everything. It is going to keep going this way, he said. That is why we are such a rich species. We'll keep flushing into each other and sending out new seeds and going different directions. Works such as Atlas of a Lost World welcome us back to ourselves, to our silly, hopeful species, embedded in a world where everything is willing itself to survive and evolve. As Childs described it, I really want this book to broaden our horizons, by returning us to the horizons that we once had. Childs, who is the author of many books, will visit Bookworks to read from and discuss Atlas of a Lost World on Thursday, May 10 at 6pm. Rob M. The crease between Gov. Susana Martinez' eyebrows has been deepening over the last few days. They say she's made history. Last year, the good governor put on her best gangster face and vetoed 145 billsover half of what was approved by the legislature. This followed a hot 60-day session involving a back-and-forth between Martinez and lawmakers over the state budget, giving credence to the theory that it was all revenge. That summer, a handful of Democratic lawmakers responded with a lawsuit against the governor alleging that she violated state law by failing to provide explanations for 10 of the vetoes. A legal battle ensued that eventually led to the state's Supreme Court, where it unanimously ruled against Martinez last week, effectively making those 10 laws a reality. She's reportedly the first governor to ever suffer the honor. And nestled among those bills like a pair of bunnies were two laws related to hemp production that have the potential to bring about a real change in this state. The first bill was House Bill 144, sponsored by Rep. Bealquin Bill Gomez, which allows for hemp research to be conducted at the state's universities and establishes a fund for hemp research. The second bill was Senate Bill 6, sponsored by Sen. Cisco McSorley, which calls for the Department of Agriculture to issue licenses to grow industrial hemp for research purposes. It also promises to train police on recognizing the difference between cannabis and hemp plantssupposedly the reason Martinez is against hemp legalization. Neither of the bills legalize commercial hemp production. Right now, the focus seems to be on studying the plant and educating state officials. Unfortunatelyas usualwe're already playing catch-up with the rest of the country. As of last year, 38 states have legalized some form of hemp cultivation (for either commercial or research programs). That's the vast majority of the nation moving forward with an inevitable cash crop while we've been hemming and hawing. And get this: Last week, US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced his intentions to attach language used in a hemp legalization bill he introduced last month to this year's Farm Bill (which sets national food and agriculture policy). He famously included protections for state-sanctioned industrial hemp research programs in the 2014 Farm Bill (which has been incorrectly used by enthusiasts and advocates to defend the legality of commercially sold CBD extractwhich is totally illegal by the way, despite your budtender's well-meaning claims to the contrary). The bill McConnell introduced earlier this month that the Farm Bill will be borrowing from would distinguish hemp from cannabis on the federal level and remove it from the list of drugs banned by the Controlled Substance Act, opening the door to commercial cultivation. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018, as it's called, would allow US-grown industrial hemp to be certified USDA organic (a kindness extended to Canadian hemp already), allow hemp farmers to use the same banking system as everyone else, allow them access to public water rights and protect all the varieties of hemp products available by making a whole plant definition of hemp (instead of only allowing the use of the non-leaf portions). The bill explicitly defines hemp as the plant Cannabis sativa L and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tertahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. For the layman: Hemp is cannabis with a THC percent of 0.3 or less. If passed, the bill would legalize all manner of hemp products, including hemp-derived CBD extracts and everything else under the sun. The bill was pushed through to the Senate floor by McConnell, who used his position as majority leader to bypass the committee process, but he has yet to schedule a vote. In an interview with WKDZ radio in Kentucky, he said to expect the Farm Bill in May. If that happens, then these two state bills that finally became law will hardly mean anything, and history will have shown Martinez to be the dope who blocked hemp research for a yeareither because she was worried that cops wouldn't be able to tell the difference between it and the dreaded cannabis, or because she wanted to stick it to the Legislature. That's a whole year where we would have been ahead of at least a few other states. Why was that so much to askto not be in last place just once? I'm trying to pretend the governor isn't a real person at the moment. It's the only way to keep my vile liquid hate from spewing out of every orifice and drowning this town in a torrent of bilge. I keep telling myself her tenure will only be a faint memory in a few months. But it's hard, friends. Yes. And despite Martinez' best efforts, reason finally bashed through and let in a little light. I suppose we should be happy for any victory, even if it ends up being one of principle only. I really should be having a better month. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) A one-hour documentary, titled Paper Lanterns , on a Hiroshima survivors quest to identify the 12 American POWs killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima screens this Saturday, May 5. As part of their annual convention, the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Memorial Society present this event, taking place at the Hotel Albuquerque (800 Rio Grande NW) starting at 2:30pm. Admission is free. For more information on the Paper Lanterns project, go to paperlanternfilm. com. The Patrick J. Baca/Central & Unser Library (8081 Central Ave. NW) presents Sunday Movies this Sunday, May 6. This weeks free family movie is Wonder . Based on the New York Times bestseller of the same name by R.J. Palacio, Wonder relates the inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman (Jacob Tremblay from Room ), a young boy with facial differences who enters 5th grade, attending a mainstream elementary school for the first time. Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson play the concerned but loving parents. This film is rated PG. As advertised, admission is free to the public. Screening starts at 1:30pm. The 8th Annual Roswell Sci-Fi Film Festival and Galacticon, taking place during Roswells citywide Roswell UFO Festival (July 6 through 8), is on the hunt for feature-length and short films that fit into the sci-fi/fantasy genre. The extended deadline for submission runs out on June 2. You have until then to fill out the application and get your film in to filmfreeway. com/ RoswellScififilmfestival. Short films cost $45 to submit ($40 for students). Feature films cost $65 ($50 for students). Awards will be handed out in a variety of categories. For more info on the event itself, go to roswellfilmcon.com. No Bacon for New Mexico In October of last year, Kevin Bacon came to New Mexico to shoot a pilot for a new TV series spinoff of the long-running Tremors film franchise. The timing seemed good. Tremors: A Cold Day in Hell, the sixth film in the monstrous series, was just released on video and streaming. Michael Gross, as the doomsday prepper Burt Gummer, has appeared in all of the filmsand even headlined a short-lived, 13-episode Syfy TV series based on the franchise. The new TV series, produced by Universal Television and Blumhouse Productions, was to be the first Tremors vehicle since the 1990 original to star Kevin Bacon as hard-luck handyman Val McKee, stuck defending poor Perfection, Nev., from an invasion of worm-like monsters known as Graboids. Sadly, the new series was axed by Syfy before it even aired. Back in November, Bacon posted on Twitter, So long to N.M. Had an amazing time shooting this pilot. Hope I can keep walking in these boots. #Tremors. Unfortunately, on April 27, Bacon followed up with another Tweet: Sad to report that my dream of revisiting the world of Perfection will not become a reality. Although we made a fantastic pilot (IMHO) the network has decided not to move forward. Thanks to our killer cast and everyone behind the scenes who worked so hard. Looks like the Graboids wont be returning to New Mexico any time soon. Dateline: Maine Police mistakenly confiscated a dead man's ashes, thinking it was heroin. According to Central Maine, officers with the Kennebec County Sheriffs Office arrived at the scene of a car wreck last week in Manchester, Maine, after a 2006 Chevrolet Impala had driven off the road and crashed into a utility pole before landing in a ditch. Officers reported that the driver fell unconscious while reaching for papers in his glove compartment, leading them to believe he was under the influence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and police collected what they believed to be two bags of heroin. The bags were returned to Kevin Curtisthe vehicle's ownerabout 48 hours later, when tests showed that the powder was actually the cremated remains of his father, who died in 2013. Curtis was reportedly transporting the remains in his car while waiting for an urn he purchased to be delivered. The man driving the car at the time of the accident, Jess Legendre allegedly borrowed the vehicle from Curtis for a trip to the grocery store. After falling unconscious, authorities were able to revive him by using Narcan, a medication that counteracts opioid overdose, and is said to only affect those with opioids in their system. Curtis has said Legendre was tired after working a 20-hour shift. Curtis also claims that he was unaware that Legendre's license had been suspended for being a habitual offender. Legendre was charged with operating a vehicle after habitual offender revocation and falsifying physical evidence. He was not charged with any drug-related offenses. Dateline: Alaska A victim of repeated stabbings continued to deliver newspapers on his route despite injuries and profuse bleeding. KTVA Alaska reports that authorities were called to an apartment building where residents said they'd found bloodied copies of the Anchorage Daily News and a blood trail last week. Police were able to obtain surveillance video from the apartment complex which appeared to show a newspaper delivery person covered in blood. Authorities contacted the newspaper and were led to the man's home, where he answered the door in an injured state. Police reports say he was unable to communicate how he had been assaulted, and it was initially believed that he had been attacked by a dog. Once at the hospital, it was determined that he was suffering from multiple stab wounds. After being treated, the victim told police he had been attacked by three white men before he continued on his bike to deliver newspapers, according to the police report. It's unclear if the man was a victim of robbery. Anchorage police are urging residents in the area to immediately call 911 if they've been injured in an assault. Dateline: Florida Authorities have accused a man of kicking swans and a sleeping duck while practicing karate. Last week, police were called to Lake Eola park in Orlando, Fla., after several witnesses claimed to have seen a man practicing karate while attacking a number of swans. According to News 6 in Orlando, witnesses saw Rocco Mantella kick two swans in the head and another in the body. Mantella also allegedly kicked a duck. One witness said Mantella realized she had seen the attack and began laughing before continuing to attack nearby birds. Police reports say the kicks were made as hard as possible and were intended to harm the animals. Mantella was arrested by Orlando Police on a felony aggravated animal cruelty charge. He was also arrested earlier in the month for trespassing at Disney Springs. Those charges were dropped. Dateline: Maryland An ethical debate has erupted after it was revealed that scientists were able to keep the brains of pigs alive outside of their bodies as part of a study. Details of the case were publicly presented at a National Institutes of Health (NIH) meeting held in Bethesda, Md., last month. Yale University neuroscientist Nenad Sestan told those gathered that his research team experimented on between 100 and 200 pig brains obtained from a slaughterhouse. The team was able to restore circulation in the brains using a system of pumps, heaters and artificial blood, reportedly keeping some alive for as long as 36 hours. According to Sestan, the procedure is likely to work for any species, including primates. The researchers found no evidence the brains regained consciousness, but Sestan raised his own concerns over whether the practice is ethically sound if the subjects are found to be conscious. Last week, Sestan and a number of his colleagues published a commentary in the journal Nature, calling for guidelines and regulations governing research into the development of brain organoidshuman brain tissue grown from stem cells in a laboratoryand any research involving human brain tissue. Concerning his own research involving decapitated pig brains, Sestan told the NIH that the brains could be kept alive indefinitely and attempts could be made to restore consciousness. But the team was uncomfortable attempting either until ethical concerns were addressed. courtesy of the state of New Mexico The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled unanimously last week that Gov. Susana Martinez illegally vetoed 10 different bills last year. The ruling ends a year-long legal battle between legislators and the governor, clearing the way for the bills to go into effect. Last year, Martinez made headlines by vetoing 145 bills52 percent of what was approved by the Legislatureduring the 2017 legislative session. This followed a tense 60-day session which saw disputes between the governor and lawmakers over the state budget, in which Martinez repeatedly threatened to call a special session. Immediately following the conclusion of the session, Martinez rejected the Legislature's proposed state budget, criticizing them for increasing taxes. She then used her line item veto authority to cut $774.8 million from the plan, removing all funding for the legislative branch as well as the entire higher education budget. Martinez also vetoed a $350 million tax package, calling it reckless and irresponsible according to New Mexico In Depth. The proposed tax hikes were a response to a state deficit of around $69 million, caused in part by a downturn in the oil and gas sector. The governor announced in May 2017 that a special session would be convened to allow the Legislature to develop a budget that didn't involve any tax hikes. The Legislature responded to the line item vetoes by filing a lawsuit against Martinez, accusing her of overstepping her bounds and violating the state constitution. It also accused her of cutting higher education funding because the Senate refused to confirm her choices for University of New Mexico regents. Martinez called for the state Supreme Court to stay out of budgetary negotiations, and the court subsequently rejected the Legislature's request, saying the case was not ripe for review in its order. During the special session, funding was restored to higher education and the Legislature, but Democratic lawmakers continued to condemn the governor's actions as disruptive political maneuvering. Legislators were not finished battling Martinez, however. The timing of the 145 vetoes led some lawmakers to question if they had been politically motivated responses to the contention between themselves and the governor. A new suit was filed against Martinezthis one listing numerous Democratic legislators as plaintiffsclaiming that 10 of the bills were vetoed in violation of the state constitution. According to the suit, the governor failed to give her reasons behind the vetoes within the time period allotted by law. Lawmakers said that failure made it difficult to decide whether to attempt to override the vetoes or rewrite the bills and submit them again. The case was heard in August by 1st Judicial District Court Judge Sarah Singleton, who ruled in favor of the Legislature. The Governor's attorney appealed the decision. In September, Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver chaptered the bills into law, but they were granted a stay by the Supreme Court in January until the case had been concluded, meaning they could not become law without the approval of the state's highest court. During last week's hearing, Martinez' attorney Paul Kennedy reportedly argued that the governor had communicated her objections over the bills, although they were conveyed in an executive message sent to lawmakers instead of attached to the individual bills. The message in question said she was vetoing the various bills because legislators had not passed a budget or approved all of her appointees, according to Taos News. According to the state's constitution: If he approves, he shall sign it, and deposit it with the secretary of state; otherwise, he shall return it to the house in which it originated, with his objections. Kennedy argued that physically attaching an explanation was unnecessary. The Albuquerque Journal reports that the Supreme Court justices came to a ruling after just over an hour of deliberation. They agreed with the lower court's ruling that the governor had violated stipulations in the constitution. Supreme Court Chief Justice Judith Nakamura told the court that the reasons for a veto must be declared at the time of the veto, clarifying the requirements of the constitution. In a statement, the governor's spokesperson, Emilee Cantrell said the ruling was disappointing but not unexpected. Todays ruling shows one can pick and choose when it comes to following the constitution, Cantrell said, There is no dispute these bills were vetoed and yet partisan legislators along with submissive judges can circumvent an entire branch of government. Following the hearing, Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth told reporters, The constitution means something, and this now sets a very important precedent. I dont think youll ever see a governor make this mistake again. The ruling means that the 10 bills have officially become law: House Bill 126 gives the New Mexico Higher Education Department the authority to cover some school expenses for medical students who were enrolled in a state graduate program in return for practicing in a local designated underserved area. House Bill 144 allows industrial hemp research to be conducted at the state's universities. It also establishes a state fund for this research. Senate Bill 6 authorizes the Department of Agriculture to issue licenses to grow industrial hemp for research purposes and provide police training for recognizing hemp plants. Senate Bill 24 allows local governments to develop high-speed internet infrastructure by amending the Infrastructure Development Zone Act. Senate Bill 64 eliminates the time period when schools can access the Public School Capital Outlay Fund for fixing education technology infrastructure. Senate Bill 67 requires the county treasurer in a county where a tax increment development district has been created be notified of its creation along with the county assessor and county clerk. Senate Bill 134 allows high school computer science courses to count toward fulfilling math or science credits. Senate Bill 184 amends horse racing laws. It removes certain exceptions to conduct that require the denial or revocation of an occupational license related to horse racing, replaces the official chemist with an equine health and testing advisor, clarifies rules about handling testing specimens and offering compensation for the health and testing advisor from the state Racehorse Testing Fund. Senate Bill 222 raises the threshold of being exempt from the local public body designation from an annual revenue of $10,000 to $50,000 for political subdivisions of the state. Senate Bill 356 requires the county treasurer in a county where a public improvement district has been created be notified of its creation. News Feature Supreme Court Reverses Vetoes 10 bills from 2017 enacted as law The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled unanimously last week that Gov. Susana Martinez illegally vetoed 10 different bills last year, clearing the way for the bills to go into effect. Newscity The New Mexico Public Education Department has announced plans to restructure and redesign two failing schools; Victims of sexual assault can now retain information regarding their case by inquiring the status of their sexual assault evidence kits. YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General, addressed a message on the World Press Freedom Day on May 3, reports Armenpress. The message says: A free press is essential for peace, justice and human rights for all. It is crucial to building transparent and democratic societies and keeping those in power accountable. It is vital for sustainable development. Journalists and media workers shine a light on local and global challenges and tell the stories that need to be told. Their service to the public is invaluable. Laws that protect independent journalism, freedom of expression and the right to information need to be adopted, implemented and enforced. Crimes against journalists must be prosecuted. On World Press Freedom Day 2018, I call on governments to strengthen press freedom, and to protect journalists. Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Cambridge Analytica, the firm embroiled in a controversy over its handling of Facebook user data, and its British parent SCL Elections Ltd, are shutting down immediately after suffering a sharp drop in business, the company said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. The company will begin bankruptcy proceedings, it said, after losing clients and facing mounting legal fees resulting from the scandal over reports the company harvested personal data about millions of Facebook users beginning in 2014. The siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Companys customers and suppliers, the statement said. As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration. Allegations of the improper use of data for 87 million Facebook users by Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by President Donald Trumps 2016 U.S. election campaign, has hurt the shares of the worlds biggest social network and prompted multiple official investigations in the United States and Europe. Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas, the companys statement said. The firm is shutting down effective Wednesday and employees have been told to turn in their computers, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. The US delegation led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin arrived in Beijing to hold talks over trade issues, Associated Press said, Interfax reports. The delegation members are scheduled to meet with the Chinese top officials, including the chief economic adviser to President Xi Jinping. Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade! I look forward to being with President Xi in the not too distant future. We will always have a good (great) relationship!, US President Donald Trump tweeted. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Famous blogger Alexander Lapshin met with OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Harlem Desir and his office Director Frane Maroevic in Vienna, reports Armenpress. Lapshin said on Facebook that during the meetings he presented them the criminal attitude demonstrated against him by Azerbaijan. These people helped me a lot during difficult times, the blogger said. Earlier Lapshin said he declares 2018 as a year of punishing Azerbaijan. The blogger stated that he is going to tell the whole world about what had happened to him in Azerbaijan. I am constantly being asked why I have focused on Azerbaijan and what is my ultimate goal? The goal is very clear to punish them with a golden shekel [Israeli currency] for their crimes. Secondly, I want to inform the world about what Baku regime is doing, not only the one which happened to me, but also what it is doing with its own citizens, the blogger said, adding that he will delete that Caspian country from his world map. Lapshin was arrested in 2016 by Belarus police after being declared internationally wanted by Azerbaijan. The blogger was blacklisted by Azerbaijan for visiting Artsakh. Lapshin was extradited to Baku in early 2017, a move that sparked outrage among human rights activists and others. He was sentenced to three years in jail by Baku, but was pardoned by President Ilham Aliyev on September 11, 2017. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Armenian lawmakers are debating the election of a Constitutional Court member. Gevorg Kostanyan, chairman of the state-legal and human rights protection committee of the parliament, introduced candidate for the position Emil Babayan to lawmakers. We came to a conclusion that the Constitutional Court is a very important institution for us especially regarding legal development issues and human rights protection matters. I am calling on you, regardless of your party affiliation and political stances to respect Emil Babayans candidacy. We all need this, Kostanyan said. Kostanyan said he is sure that the election of Babayan as member of the Constitutional Court will contribute to the development of rights in the country. Babayan thanked for being nominated, stressing that it is a great honor and responsibility. I am sure that because of the latest developments in Armenia your thoughts are occupied with the solution of very important political issues for our country. However I am sure that each of you, regardless of political stances, has one goal to have and to convey to our people a democratic, legal and social Armenia. The Constitutional Court has very important significance here, Babayan said. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Tigran Sargsyan, Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) and Kazakhstans President Nursultan Nazarbayev discussed the preparation for the upcoming Supreme Eurasian Economic Council sitting on May 2 in Astana. At the directive of the Council I would like to discuss several details with you on how to hold the Supreme Council sitting more productively, which issues require special attention, and discuss issues relating to deepening of integration, Sargsyan said. The sides discussed issues relating to further deepening of Eurasian integration, EEC said. The President of Kazakhstan noted the high results of the Eurasian Economic Unions activities, as well as the growing interest of other countries for the union. 2017 was successful. Trade turnover between our countries grew 27%. We see great interest towards our union, today more than 40 countries are cooperating with us. We are meeting with you on the eve of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council sitting, with all points of its agenda being agreed upon. We will discuss uneasy issues, which will relate, among others, to sanctions, the President said. Tigran Sargsyan congratulated President Nazarbayev on the Day of Unity of People of Kazakhstan and wished prosperity to the country. Sargsyan also briefed the Kazakh President on the ongoing activities of the EEU. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of Parliament and spokesperson of the ruling Republican Party (HHK), says that the HHK will support the election of a Prime Minister. The HHK spokesperson assured that the necessary 53 votes for electing a Prime Minister will be ensured for electing the candidate nominated by 1/3rd of the parliament. The HHK will support the election of Prime Minister. How, with what quantity, I dont think it is important. Whats important is that the necessary 53 votes will be ensured and the person having the signatures of 1/3 will become Prime Minister, he said. Asked why the ruling party blocked the election on May 1 and a day later it decided not to nominate a candidate for the second round, Sharmazanov said the HHK faction found it appropriate at that moment. Regarding my stance, it hasnt changed. I have expressed my stance during the May 1 debates, and I maintain the same opinion, but this doesnt mean that there cant be other opinions. During my entire career I have been in favor of pluralism and dissent. Our vote on May 1 has been absolutely political, and we expressed our political stance, he said. Sharmazanov also commented on the probability of snap elections. He said that there are certain procedures in place for early elections. The Constitution clearly stipulates when early elections can be held. If we elect a Prime Minister on May 8, and I am nearly 100% sure that we will have a Prime Minister, then we cant go for early elections. If the Prime Minister brings the government program and this program gets approved, in this case again early elections cant be held. They are bringing an issue of amending the Electoral Code to the agenda, while this isnt an issue of discussing in a hurry. We must sit down and discuss. The electoral code is a constitutional law, which requires 3/5 of lawmakers votes for amendments. Debates will take place. Everything must be done according to the schedule, he said. After nearly 9 hours of debates on electing a Prime Minister on May 1, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan being the sole candidate, the Armenian parliament failed to make the election as 56 lawmakers voted against and 45 lawmakers voted in favor. The only nominated candidate for Prime Minister was opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who spearheaded the latest protest campaigns which prompted the resignation of Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan on April 23. Pashinyan was nominated by the opposition Yelk faction. Two other factions Tsarukyan and the ARF have endorsed the opposition MPs candidacy. Pashinyan needed at least 53 votes to be elected Prime Minister. After the May 1 vote, Pashinyan called on his supporters to go on strikes, shut down streets and highways and continue civil disobedience. There are 4 factions in the Armenian parliament. The Republican Party (HHK) faction, the ruling party of Armenia, has 58 seats in the 105-seat unicameral parliament of Armenia known as the National Assembly. The ARF faction (Armenian Revolutionary Federation aka Dashnaktsutyun), has 7 seats. The Tsarukyan alliance has 31 seats, and the Yelk faction has 9 seats. According to the Constitution, in case of failure to elect a Prime Minister in the parliament, a second round of election is held seven days later. If a Prime Minister isnt elected in the second round also, the parliament is dissolved by virtue of law. The second round of the election for Prime Minister will take place May 8, at 12:00. In the early morning of May 2, protesters shut down the road leading to Armenias Zvartnots airport. Traffic was virtually paralyzed in Yerevan. Speaker of Parliament Ara Babloyan released a statement calling on demonstrators to stop threatening and insulting lawmakers. The Speaker urged protesters to stop illegally blocking the homes of Members of Parliament. In the second round, candidates nominated by at least one third of the total number of MPs are entitled to participate in the election, according to the Constitution. On May 2, the Tsarukyan faction announced it is endorsing Nikol Pashinyan for the second round voting also. On the same day, the ruling party said it will not nominate a candidate. HHK said it will endorse the candidate who will be nominated by 1/3 of the parliament. Later in the day, Nikol Pashinyan told his supporters to cease civil disobedience campaigns and un-block streets and highways. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian addressed a message on May 3, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. The message says: Dear compatriots, After yesterdays discussions at different levels aimed at solving the current political crisis in the Republic, the political forces involved issued statements through which the democratic developments launched in the country are coming to their logical end. In this regard I welcome the responsible behavior of the pan-national movement led by Nikol Pashinyan, the Republic Party of Armenia, the Prosperous Armenia, Yelk bloc and the ARF which derives from the main interests of Armenia and our people and opens a door to national solidarity. By this our people once again showed that at a crucial moment they are able to unite and make pro-national decisions. During these days Armenia is in the spotlight of the world community. We are passing through trials, and I am confident that the achievements of the pan-national movement for the sake of reforms will be enshrined on May 8, in which everyone has its own part starting from political forces up to all parts of our people in Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora. This will raise our reputation and rating in the world. In all this I specifically want to highly appreciate the engagement and decisive role of our bright youth. A youth, which during those crucial days was shedding light, solidarity, love and belief with its creative energy, purposefulness and tolerance. I am proud of our people, the proud citizens of Armenia, our unity and solidarity. I believe and see that we have already started creating a new Armenia which will bring to all sons of our people to it, will accumulate and exercise their talent, entrepreneurship and energy. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. The signatures necessary for nominating Yelk faction head Nikol Pashinyans candidacy for the Prime Minister of Armenia already exist, Yelk faction MP Ararat Mirzoyan said, reports Armenpress. 35 signatures were required for his nomination. 27 out of 31 MPs of the Tsarukyan faction of the Parliament have signed under the paper for nominating Pashinyans candidacy for PM. Taking into account the votes of the ARF and Yelk, I think the signatures of our 27 MPs are enough in order to be able to nominate Nikol Pashinyans candidacy. Some of our MPs are abroad, Naira Zohrabyan, Tsarukyan faction MP, told reporters. She stated that each political force must respect its words and views. After nearly 9 hours of debates on electing a Prime Minister on May 1, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan being the sole candidate, the Armenian parliament failed to make the election as 56 lawmakers voted against and 45 lawmakers voted in favor. Pashinyan was nominated by the opposition Yelk faction. Two other factions Tsarukyan and the ARF have endorsed the opposition MP's candidacy. Pashinyan needed at least 53 votes to be elected Prime Minister. The second round of the election for Prime Minister will take place May 8, at 12:00 in the Armenian parliament. In the second round, candidates nominated by at least one third of the total number of MPs are entitled to participate in the election. If a Prime Minister isnt elected in the second round also, the parliament is dissolved by virtue of law. Tsarukyan, ARF and Yelk factions announced endorsing Pashinyans candidacy. The ruling Republican Party (RPA) announced that they will not nominate a candidate for PM and will support the candidate nominated by the 1/3 of the total MPs. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Turkeys ruling Justice and Development partys parliamentary faction made a decision to nominate partys leader, incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogans candidacy in the upcoming presidential election, Hurriyet reports. The party collected 316.000 signatures for nominating Erdogans candidacy. This decision was announced by prime minister Binali Yildirim during the meeting of the faction. The Nationalist Movement partys parliamentary faction on May 2 announced that their candidate in the election again is Erdogan. Turkey will hold snap parliamentary and presidential elections on June 24. After the election the country transitions from the parliamentary system to the presidential one. Leader of the Turkish Good party Meral Aksener has officially submitted an application to the Supreme Election Council on May 2 for the registration of her candidacy in the Turkish presidential election. On May 1 Vatan (Fatherland) party has officially nominated its leader Dogu Perinceks candidacy for the president. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Acting Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan on May 3 issued a congratulatory message on the World Press Freedom Day, the government told Armenpress. Dear representatives of the mass media, dear journalists, I congratulate you on the World Press Freedom Day and wish that your mind and writing are always directed to Armenias strengthening. We all have to do everything to make our country better, more powerful, and you have a very great mission in this process. You are the force which has a duty not only to raise issues and problems concerning to the society, but also to form a character of a patriotic citizen concerned over his/her countrys future. In line with the political forces, leadership and opposition, civil society, you as well are responsible for forming a more tolerant environment in our country, an environment where we will listen to and perceive the opinion of others, but even if you do not agree with this, lets be more kind, show more loving and respectful attitude towards each other. Forming such a tolerant environment is the duty of all of us. I once again congratulate you on your professional holiday and wish you good spring mood. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. MP Nikol Pashinyan, candidate for Prime Minister of Armenia nominated by three factions of the Parliament, posted a video on Facebook, stating that he had a meeting with head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) faction Vahram Baghdasaryan who reaffirmed their factions stance on the election of the PM, reports Armenpress. I had a meeting with the RPA faction head Vahram Baghdasaryan, and during the meeting he reaffirmed that their faction will support the peoples candidate to be elected as prime minister. Yes, these statements were made before our meeting, but reaffirming that stance during a personal meeting I consider important, Pashinyan said. He informed that the signatures necessary for his nomination already exist, and at the moment the necessary formulations are being carried out in the staff. We can consider my nomination as an established fact, he said. Pashinyan called on citizens to gather in Republic Square on May 8, at 11:00, and follow live the election process of the PM in the Parliament. After nearly 9 hours of debates on electing a Prime Minister on May 1, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan being the sole candidate, the Armenian parliament failed to make the election as 56 lawmakers voted against and 45 lawmakers voted in favor. Pashinyan was nominated by the opposition Yelk faction. Two other factions Tsarukyan and the ARF have endorsed the opposition MP's candidacy. Pashinyan needed at least 53 votes to be elected Prime Minister. The second round of the election for Prime Minister will take place May 8, at 12:00 in the Armenian parliament. In the second round, candidates nominated by at least one third of the total number of MPs are entitled to participate in the election. If a Prime Minister isnt elected in the second round also, the parliament is dissolved by virtue of law. Tsarukyan, ARF and Yelk factions announced endorsing Pashinyans candidacy. The ruling Republican Party (RPA) announced that they will not nominate a candidate for PM and will support the candidate nominated by the 1/3 of the total MPs. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Yelk faction MP Nikol Pashinyan, candidate for Prime Minister of Armenia nominated by the signatures of 35 MPs, commented on the ruling Republican Partys (RPA) decision to support the election of the PM set on May 8, reports Armenpress. Asked what was the reason that the RPA voted against his candidacy for PM during the May 1 election and the next day the party announced supporting the candidate nominated by 1/3 of MPs during May 8 election, Nikol Pashinyan said: I think we all are interested in this political situation to be solved as soon as possible within the Constitution and laws, and I am happy that the perception existing among all political forces, must receive a concrete expression, Pashinyan said. He informed that before the debate of the election of the PM he will have a meeting with the RPA faction and added that they have always said that they are ready for dialogue and discussions. Pashinyan once again clarified that there is no geopolitical subtext or context and a conspiracy in the political process initiated by him, and added that Armenias foreign policy will be continuous. Asked if the RPA votes in favor of his candidacy for the PM, and than for the governments program, how he imagines holding snap parliamentary elections, Nikol Pashinyan said constitutional mechanisms exist for that, and they will definitely use that mechanisms. I think we all understand that this situation is not completely solved since snap elections have not been held yet, Nikol Pashinyan said. He expressed hope that what had happened on May 1, will not repeat on May 8, but noted that they are ready for any scenario of events development. A great rally will also be held after the May 8 election of the PM, additional information will be provided on its place and date. Commenting on the question whether he thinks about changing the Constitution if elected, Pashinyan said he doesnt think that they need to think about that as they are talking about a temporary government. This is a topic which will be discussed during a pre-election period, but I dont think that constantly changing the Constitution is a good practice. In other words we need to understand by what the Constitution hinders us, and if it is so, we must record that. I think such issues must not be solved at the PM and a political force level, there must be a broad perception of the public and political forces over them, he said. After nearly 9 hours of debates on electing a Prime Minister on May 1, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan being the sole candidate, the Armenian parliament failed to make the election as 56 lawmakers voted against and 45 lawmakers voted in favor. The second round of the election for Prime Minister will take place May 8, at 12:00 in the Armenian parliament. The ruling Republican Party (RPA) announced that they will not nominate a candidate for PM and will support the candidate nominated by the 1/3 of the total MPs. Tsarukyan, ARF and Yelk factions announced endorsing Pashinyans candidacy. Yelk faction MP Ararat Mirzoyan announced that the signatures necessary for nominating Pashinyans candidacy for PM are already collected. Signatures of 35 MPs were required for his nomination. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. An armed attack occurred on the HSBC banks branch in Yerevan's Komitas avenue. 15:46 Deputy police chief of Yerevan Artak Poghosyan informs that the amount of money stolen is being clarified. The money was found not so far from the bank. Three people were wounded in the attack, but one of them, the banks security guard, has died. 15:40 - Sona Truzyan, adviser to the Chairmen of the Investigative Committee, told Armenpress that according to preliminary data, one person was killed, another was seriously wounded in the attack. The perpetrator of the attack has been arrested. Investigation has been launched, the details of the incident are being clarified. 15:39 The Police released details over the assault on the bank. The Police was notified about the armed assault on May 3, at 14:25. It was found out that an unknown man armed with a knife, grenade and a rifle, entered the bank, wounded two employees, one of whom died. The man has stolen money and escaped, but not so far. The criminal also wounded one of the police officers who arrived in the scene. The criminal was quickly neutralized and transported to police. The details of the incident are being clarified. Investigation is underway. ARMENPRESS reporters group is working at the scene. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan Police release details over the armed assault on the HSBC banks branch located in the Komitas avenue-Gyulbenkyan street intersection, reports Armenpress. The Police were notified about the armed assault on May 3, at 14:25. It was found out that an unknown man armed with a knife, grenade and a rifle, entered the bank, wounded two employees, one of whom died. The man has stolen money and escaped, but not so far. The criminal also wounded one of the police officers who arrived in the scene, but he was quickly neutralized and transported to police. The details of the incident are being clarified. Investigation is underway. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. The Police released new details over the armed assault on one of the branches of the HSBC bank in Yerevan. The Police told ARMENPRESS that the person who committed the attack is the head of the Center of violations detected by cameras of the traffic police, Police Colonel Daniel Danielyan. On May 3, at 14:25, the Police were notified about an armed assault on the HSBC banks branch. It was revealed that a man armed with a knife, grenade and a rifle, entered the bank, wounded two employees, one of whom died. The man has stolen money and escaped, but not so far. The criminal also opened fire on police officers who arrived in the scene, wounding one of the police officers. But the criminal was quickly neutralized and transported to police. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. The Kremlin hopes that the friendly allied relations between Armenia and Russia will remain constant whatever the current political situation in Armenia leads to, Russian presidents spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, TASS reports. We hope that allied, benevolent and constructive bilateral Russian - Armenian relations will remain constant in any event both for our countrys foreign policy and for the foreign policy of Yerevan, Peskov said. He expressed hope that the processes in Armenia will stay within the limits of law and the Constitution. We sincerely wish our Armenian friends to approach the settlement of the current domestic political situation as soon as possible, the Kremlin spokesman said. On April 23, at 16:00, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned as widespread protests entered the 11th day. On the same day, as required by law, the government resigned. First Deputy PM Karen Karapetyan was named acting PM at an emergency Cabinet meeting. After nearly 9 hours of debates on electing a Prime Minister on May 1, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan being the sole candidate, the Armenian parliament failed to make the election as 56 lawmakers voted against and 45 lawmakers voted in favor. The second round of the election for Prime Minister will take place May 8, at 12:00 in the Armenian parliament. The ruling Republican Party (RPA) announced that they will not nominate a candidate for PM and will support the candidate nominated by the 1/3 of the total MPs. Tsarukyan, ARF and Yelk factions announced endorsing Pashinyans candidacy. Yelk faction MP Ararat Mirzoyan announced that the signatures necessary for nominating Pashinyans candidacy for PM are already collected. Signatures of 35 MPs were required for his nomination. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Nikol Pashinyan has been nominated as candidate of Prime Minister of Armenia at the National Assembly of Armenia by 16:00, May 3. His candidacy was supported by over 1/3 of the total MPs, ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the parliament of Armenia. No Prime Minister was elected at the special session of the National Assembly on May 1. The second round will take place on May 8. Support of at least 1/3 of the total MPs is required for nominating someone as candidate in the second round. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, MAY 3, ARMENPRESS. Russian political scientist Sergey Markedonov thinks that Russias role in the security of Armenia is exclusive and that fact is comprehended both in the world and Armenia. Referring to the fact that street protest leader Nikol Pashinyan and the Yelk bloc that supports him have sometimes spoken against different aspects of relations with Russia, Sergey Markedonov noted that it has been announced several times that Russia will remain a friendly and allied country for Armenia. Even State Duma Deputy Leonid Kalashnikov, who is suspicious towards mass protests in post-Soviet countries, announced after meeting with Pashinyan that he will continue developing relations with Russia, ARMENPRESS reports the political scientist as saying during a press conference. He noted that different politicians have made different announcements over Russia at different times, which later changed. He noted that its normal when an opposition figure criticizes the authorities, since its the function of the opposition. As refers to the relations with the West, Sergey Markedonov expressed an opinion that the West cannot offer much to Armenia. What can the West offer Armenia? NATO a member of which is Turkey? This country is not just a member, but is the second in terms of troops in ANTO. Will the Americans worsen their relations with Turkey for the sake of the future of Armenia? Of course not. This means that this vector is closed in some sense, the speaker said. To the question if Russia can stop selling arms to Azerbaijan, Sergey Markedonov said, I think that Azerbaijan is an important partner for Russia, since first of all, we share border with them, while no one chooses his neighbors. If we worsen our relations with Azerbaijan and they take the path of Georgia, we will have to unfriendly countries in Caucasus. By the way, Armenia will not benefit from it, since Russia will not be able to exert pressure on Baku. As refers to arms supplies, Russia is not the only military-technical partner of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan cooperates also with Israel, Ukraine and Turkey. On April 23, at 16:00, Armenias Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan resigned as widespread protests entered the 11th day. On the same day, as required by law, the government resigned. First Deputy PM Karen Karapetyan was named acting PM at an emergency Cabinet meeting. After nearly 9 hours of debates on electing a Prime Minister on May 1, with opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan being the sole candidate, the Armenian parliament failed to make the election as 56 lawmakers voted against and 45 lawmakers voted in favor. The second round of the election for Prime Minister will take place May 8, at 12:00 in the Armenian parliament. The ruling Republican Party (RPA) announced that they will not nominate a candidate for PM and will support the candidate nominated by the 1/3 of the total MPs. Tsarukyan, ARF and Yelk factions announced endorsing Pashinyans candidacy. Nikol Pashinyan was officially nominated as candidate of Prime Minister of Armenia at the National Assembly of Armenia on May 3. His candidacy is supported by over 1/3 of the total MPs. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan One of France's most prestigious universities was forced to shut Thursday after student protesters staged a campus occupation against government plans to make higher education more competitive. The Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris is the latest of numerous universities across France to face sit-ins against President Emmanuel Macron's shake-up of the education system. Coming just as undergraduates begin their summer exams, the sit-ins have caused major disruption, including in Strasbourg where protesters blocked 700 language students from sitting a test Thursday, prompting an angry standoff with security guards. At present, anyone who graduates from high school is guaranteed a place at a public university, but Macron's government wants to introduce more selective criteria to tackle overcrowding and high dropout rates. Protesters say the plan is an attack on France's egalitarian tradition of offering a public higher education to all. But Prime Minister Edouard Philippe expressed amusement at the idea of students at the "Normale Sup'" in Paris -- part of a separate tier of highly selective top universities known as "grandes ecoles" -- joining the movement. "It's quite charming, given the extremely selective nature of the Ecole Normale Superieure," he said. Founded during the French Revolution, the Normale Sup' counts giants of French philosophy including Jean-Paul Sartre and Michel Foucault among its alumni. All classes were cancelled and riot police could be seen outside the campus Thursday after protesters -- several dozen, according to students -- began their sit-in following a meeting on Wednesday night. - Graffiti-smeared campuses - Photos taken by students before the campus shutdown showed graffiti daubed across corridors and smashed doors, scenes similar to those at other university sit-ins in recent weeks. Even a memorial to Normale Sup' staff and students who died in World War I was scrawled with anti-police graffiti, prompting widespread anger on social media. The occupiers included students and alumni as well as some outsiders, according to students at the scene. The government has accused anarchist groups of infiltrating the protest movement. Three of France's 73 public universities are currently blocked completely -- in the cities of Toulouse and Rennes as well as the Paris suburb of Nanterre -- though this is down from around 15. Some faculty buildings at other universities also remain occupied. In the northeastern city of Nancy, police scuffled with around 30 students trying to block an amphitheatre at the arts and social sciences campus where students were due to take an exam on Thursday. The student protests have added to a mood of discontent in France among various groups opposed to Macron's reforms. Thursday saw the latest of a wave of strikes launched in early April by rail workers protesting against Macron's planned overhaul of state operator SNCF. But the train strikes, like the student protests, have lost some steam in recent weeks, with the scale of the disruption easing. Half of high-speed and suburban trains ran on Thursday, up from around an eighth at the beginning of the walkouts. A similar level of disruption is expected in fresh strikes Friday. Students take part in a demonstration near the Ecole Normale Superieure (ENS) university in Paris on May 3, 2018 Riot police guarded the entrance of the Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris after students staged a campus sit-in Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday called an end to a huge wave of protests and said all parties would support his bid to run for prime minister again next week. Armenia's parliament is to hold an extraordinary session next Tuesday in a new attempt to elect a prime minister, who holds the country's top job under a parliamentary system of government. But analysts said the latest development did not mark an end to Armenia's most serious political crisis in years. Events could unfold according to three possible scenarios. - Pashinyan gets elected PM - This now appears to be the most plausible scenario. The hugely popular protest leader Pashinyan was on Tuesday eight votes short of getting elected prime minister after the ruling Republican Party -- which has a majority in the 105-seat legislature -- rejected his bid. "That was the first round of a showdown between Nikol and the Republicans in which both sides flexed their muscles," said political analyst Vigen Hakobyan. Relying on massive popular support, Pashinyan, 42, piled pressure on the ruling party through an unprecedented campaign of civil disobedience, while the Republican Party demonstrated its tight control of the legislature. After Republicans indicated on Wednesday they would support Pashinyan's bid this time around in an apparent effort to retain their parliamentary majority he called an end to protests. But many observers are sceptical they are genuinely ready to back the opposition leader after the Republicans promised not to stand in the way of Pashinyan's candidacy yet withheld their support during Tuesday's vote. Even if Pashinyan is elected prime minister the crisis will not end because the ruling party will sabotage his initiatives in parliament. "We are in for difficult times. The crisis is not over," said analyst Arman Boshyan. - Ruling party elects own PM - The ruling party said it would not nominate its own candidate, just like it said last time before sabotaging Pashinyan's bid. In principle, the Republicans could easily withdraw support for Pashinyan and elect their own candidate. But given the party's increasing unpopularity with everyday Armenians the move would only deepen the crisis, leading to unpredictable political and economic consequences. Analysts say the turmoil is quickly eroding the party's capacity to govern the country as the elites are increasingly losing both legitimacy and control over state institutions. "Society no longer wants to obey these authorities," said analyst Stepan Safaryan, adding many state employees have joined the protest movement. After "electing their own candidate, they could take a reckless step and introduce an emergency situation," Safaryan added. Critics accuse the government of corruption and failure to tackle widespread poverty in the tiny South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million people. - Dissolution of parliament - If lawmakers fail to elect a prime minister for a second time next week, the legislature will be dissolved and early elections called. Early parliamentary polls must be held no sooner than 30 days and no later than 45 days after the chamber is dissolved. Such a development would be the least desired option for the authorities as the Republican Party may lose its majority or fail to make it into parliament at all. "I think they will do everything to avoid this," said Safaryan. "They understand that there's no way they will get into parliament during snap elections," added analyst Manvel Sargsyan. Some observers said that the Republicans might opt for a wait-and-see approach hoping that popular protests will fade away in the run-up to new elections, effectively stripping Pashinyan of his main political weapon. If the government resorts to extreme measures and introduces a state of emergency, early elections will not be held, according to the constitution. Tens of thousands of Armenians converged on the capital Yerevan on Wednesday Nikol Pashinyan is piling pressure on the ruling party through an unprecedented campaign of civil disobedience Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Thursday there would be "no impunity" for ETA's crimes even though the Basque separatist group has committed to fully disbanding after more than four decades of violence. "No matter what ETA does, there is no room for impunity for its crimes. ETA can announce its disappearance but its crimes do not disappear nor do the efforts to pursue and punish them," he said in a televised speech in the northern city of Logrono. "We don't owe them anything and we have nothing to thank them for," Rajoy added. His comments come as ETA is expected to formally announce its dissolution Thursday with a filmed statement, marking the definitive end to western Europe's last armed insurgency after more than four decades of violence. Created in 1959 at the height of Francisco Franco's dictatorship, ETA waged a relentless campaign of killings and kidnappings in its fight for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France, leaving at least 829 dead. Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. In a leaked letter published Wednesday by Spanish online newspaper El Diario, the group went a step further, announcing it was fully disbanding. "ETA has completely dissolved all of its structures and declared an end to its political initiative," it said. - 'Dark chapter' - The regional leader of Spain's Basque Country, Inigo Urkullu, said he hoped ETA's end would be "unilateral, effective and definitive", in an interview published in newspaper El Pais on Thursday. The group "owed" this step to "Basque society and humanity as a whole", he added. "ETA never should have existed. It puts an end to a dark chapter of 60 years." Spanish press have also reported that veteran, high-level ETA member Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea, better known as Josu Ternera, will be in the video. The 67-year-old is a wanted fugitive who disappeared in 2002 and is said to be suffering from cancer. His potential presence in the video has infuriated some of ETA's victims, who say the separatist group should first and foremost condemn its history of violence and shed light on more than 350 unsolved crimes. "This is not the end of ETA we deserved," said Consuelo Ordonez, head of the Covite victims' association, on Wednesday. A partial apology by the separatist group last month, in which it acknowledged the harm done and apologised to some of its victims -- but not to those it considered legitimate targets such as police -- has done little to stem the criticism. - Desire for independence - While an overwhelming majority of Basques welcome the end of violence, many still want independence. The separatist coalition EH Bildu, the second largest grouping in the Basque parliament, won 21 percent of the vote in 2016's regional elections. Critics charge that pro-independence parties, which include people once part of or linked to ETA, are trying to impose their version of events. Separatists argue that Basques have been repressed for decades, even centuries, by Spain and France. This came to a head under Franco, who forbade the use of the Basque language in public. Victims and historians, though, insist ETA was a terrorist group that went on killing even after Spain transitioned to democracy in the late 1970s. It is recognised as such by the European Union. "ETA never wanted to bring about any democracy or any freedom, it wanted to end it," said Basque philosopher Fernando Savater. "And that's what we want to remind people." - 'Open wounds' - But apart from ETA victims, there were also separatists killed by far-right groups and death squads backed by members of Spain's security forces in what has become known as a "dirty war" campaign. According to a December report commissioned by the Basque regional government, more than 4,100 complaints of police torture were made between 1960 and 2014. Those victims are also demanding they be acknowledged. "If you don't recognise part of the suffering, it's very difficult to create conditions for... reconciliation," said Ane Muguruza, 28. "It's very difficult when there are open wounds. Her father Josu, a lawmaker for Herri Batasuna, ETA's political wing, was murdered in 1989 by far-right militants she believes were state-backed. Basque separatist group ETA is reportedly planning to release a filmed declaration confirming the end of a dark chapter in Spanish history The scene of a 2002 ETA car bomb attack in Madrid. The group has has apologised for the "pain" and "harm" it caused during its decades-long campaign Jose Antonio Urrutikoetxea, better known as Josu Ternerais, is a wanted fugitive who disappeared in 2002 Victims and historians insist ETA was a terrorist group that went on killing even after Spain transitioned to democracy Separatist coalition EH Bildu won 21 percent of the votes in the 2016 regional elections Daniela Rea, a Mexican journalist known for her searing chronicles of the violence gripping her country, was awarded the first edition of the Breach-Valdez Prize in journalism and human rights on Thursday. Launched in March, the prize honors journalists who risk their lives to cover human rights abuses in Mexico, following in the footsteps of two Mexican colleagues murdered last year: Miroslava Breach and Javier Valdez. Its sponsors -- the United Nations, Agence France-Presse, the French embassy in Mexico and the Ibero-American University -- praised Rea for her heartrending body of work in articles, books and documentary film telling the stories of missing and murdered Mexicans and the toll the violence takes on the country. Journalists are both chroniclers and victims of that violence: at least 12 were murdered in Mexico last year, and more than 100 have been killed since 2000. "We are gathered here today for them, for a prize born out of pain," Rea said tearfully on accepting the award from Valdez's widow. "But we are also here for all those other colleagues, many of them anonymous, who continue going out into the street, notebooks in hand, to ask questions, to write, to try to understand the workings of this machinery of death... despite our narco-government." The prize was awarded on World Press Freedom Day, as tributes poured in for 11 journalists killed in two attacks in Afghanistan on Monday, including AFP's chief photographer in Kabul, Shah Marai. "Freedom of speech and of the press are under attack," said Giancarlo Summa, director of the United Nations Information Center in Mexico. "Journalists are the ones who give a voice to victims' calls for justice when the authorities don't deliver it." - Fighting oblivion - Rea, 35, is from Guanajuato, in central Mexico, but launched her journalism career in the eastern state of Veracruz, one of the most violent in the country because of turf wars between rival drug cartels. From 2005 to 2012 she worked in Mexico City for the respected newspaper Reforma, focusing on the consequences of the Mexican government's decision in 2006 to deploy the military to fight drug trafficking. Since then, Mexico has been hit by a wave of violence that has left more than 200,000 people murdered. Another 30,000 people are missing in the country. "I didn't make a conscious choice and say, 'I'm going to write about human rights.' It was the natural result of writing about Mexican life," Rea told AFP. In her work, she said, she tries not to reduce people's lives to the crimes that ended them, telling their stories and those of their families and communities. "One of the consequences of crimes like 'forced disappearances' is to 'disappear' not only the victim but also (the stories of) everyone around them," she said. A contributor to many of Mexico's top magazines and The Harvard Review of Latin America, Rea has also written and contributed to several books and directed the award-winning documentary film "Eternity Never Surrendered." As winner of the prize, she will receive a research grant and a trip to France to take part in a series of events on free speech. - Tribute to slain colleagues - Miroslava Breach, a correspondent for Mexican daily La Jornada in the state of Chihuahua, on the US border, was a celebrated investigative journalist known for hard-hitting reports on links between politicians and organized crime. She was shot dead in broad daylight on March 23, 2017 as she drove her son to school. Javier Valdez, a long-time AFP collaborator, was gunned down on May 15, 2017 outside the offices of Riodoce, the newspaper he co-founded in Culiacan, the capital of his native Sinaloa state. An award-winning journalist, he was known for his in-depth knowledge of the dirty workings of power in a state where Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, now imprisoned in the United States, once reigned. Investigators believe Valdez was murdered for his investigative reporting on drug trafficking, Mexico's national security commissioner said last month after a suspect was arrested in the high-profile case. Mexican journalist Daniela Rea, is pictured while working at her home in Mexico City, on April 18, 2018 On Saturday, May 5, connect with progressive community organizations during the Second Annual Community Involvement Fair, hosted by SpringfieldCall2Action at Laurel United Methodist Church. The fair will feature more than two dozen local activist and advocacy organizations as well as two workshop sessions geared towards those who wish to take a more active role in community advocacy. The first workshop, titled Learn to Lobby, will be presented by Larry Luster at 11 a.m., and will teach attendees how to partake in lobbying at local, state and federal levels. The second workshop, titled Media Mojo will be presented by Stephanie Frotodo at 1 p.m., and will teach participants how they can bring awareness to causes via social media. This is a child-friendly event, free to the public. For more information about the Second Annual Community Involvement Fair and SpringfieldCall2Action, visit http://springfieldcall2action.org. Community Involvement Fair Saturday, May 5, 10am-3pm Laurel United Methodist Church 631 S. Grand Ave. W. 525-1866 Free Illinois Times has provided readers with independent journalism for more than 40 years, from news and politics to arts and culture. Now more than ever, were asking for your support to continue providing our community with real news that everyone can access, free of charge. Were also offering a home delivery option as an added convenience for friends of the paper. Click here to subscribe, or simply show your support for Illinois Times. Cyprus and Israel will seek arbitration if no settlement can be reached between companies claiming rights to a shared gas field, the island's Energy Minister George Lakkotrypis said Wednesday. The Aphrodite field is mostly on the Cypriot side of the maritime border, but some of it lies within Israel's economic zone. The two countries are at odds over how much gas is likely to be on the Israeli side, Lakkotrypis said. "We have recently agreed to ask companies first to try to reach a settlement between them as regards the quantities that may be in the Israeli area," he said. "If this is not possible then we will go to arbitration." US firm Noble Energy in 2011 made the first gas find in the Aphrodite field (Block 12), which is estimated to contain around 127.4 billion cubic metres (4.54 trillion cubic feet) of gas. Lakkotrypis said talks were underway in good faith to determine how far the field extends into the area under Israeli jurisdiction. He said energy firms Noble Energy, Shell and Delek would discuss the issue with Israel Opportunity Energy Resources. If they cannot agree, they will refer the question to experts, he said. Energy will be on the agenda when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu meets Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades in Nicosia next week, along with Greek premier Alexis Tsipras. Israel and Cyprus signed a deal on the border between their exclusive economic zones in 2010, but they did not reach an agreement on how to deal with their shared gas fields. Cyprus is in advanced talks with Cairo with a view to exporting natural gas from the Aphrodite field to Egypt. A Noble platform explores for gas in Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone in a photo taken on November 21, 2011 and released by the Cypriot Press and Information Office On the edge of the forbidding Sahara in the dusty northern market town of Djibo, Burkina Faso's battle against jihadism is at its most acute. This impoverished corner of West Africa has always seemed distant from the central government in Ouagadougou. Today, though, that isolation feels more extreme than ever. Three years of murders, targeted killings of officials, blasts and kidnappings in northern Burkina Faso have worn down residents' faith in the state's ability to protect them. Thousands have fled the remote region, and bit by bit the presence of the state is fading away. According to an official toll, 80 attacks have taken place since March 2015, causing 133 deaths, in addition to a triple assault by jihadists in the capital Ouagadougou in March this year in which 60 people were killed. Two hundred schools in northern Burkina Faso have closed, leaving around 20,000 pupils and 800 teachers idle, authorities say. In April, a teacher was kidnapped "because he was speaking French to the pupils", according to the jihadist group the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, which claimed the abduction. The same month, students took to the streets, begging teachers to allow end-of-term exams to go ahead despite the threat of violence. In Djibo, even the courthouse has shut down as judicial staff are too afraid to go to work. "The schools have closed, the town halls as well, and now it's the turn of the courthouse. Have we lost the north of our country?" asked Kouliga Nikiema from the Union for Progress and Change, an opposition party. "It's clear that national sovereignty has been badly shaken by this closure," he added of the courthouse shutdown. "For the people of Djibo, this closure may be viewed as an abandonment by the central state." Last year, reinforcement of the military presence in the north and joint operations with Mali and France enabled the Burkinabe army to regain control and restore some trust. - Security forces 'powerless' - But attacks by the shadowy enemy resumed, and fears have grown. "Despite many efforts, the lack of personnel and effective military strength are creating a growing risk of losing the region or seeing it become a no-man's-land," said security expert Karamoko Traore. "The security forces seem powerless dealing with militants who are prepared to die," said Traore, referring to the killing last month of three people, including a traditional local leader. Burkinabe political analyst Souleymane Ouedraogo said that seven out of the nine administrative areas in the northern province of Soum had been hit by attacks since 2015. According to figures provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross, more than 800 families, or around 5,000 people, have fled their homes to live farther south -- a figure that Ouedraogo says is more likely "14,000 or 15,000". "The villages are emptying little by little and those who remain there are constantly threatened by Ansarul Islam," he says, referring to a group that has carried out many attacks in the region along the 1,000-km (600-mile) border with Mali. The government has vowed to fight back. In June 2017, it launched a three-year emergency programme worth 455 billion CFA francs (700 million euros) to improve security, education, health and drinking water in the country's Sahel region. Security has also been boosted by the internationally backed G5 Sahel, an anti-jihadist group which aims to train 5,000 troops and crack down on militants in Burkina Faso and neighbouring Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. "Burkina will not give up an inch of its territory," Defence Minister Jean-Claude Bouda said at the end of last year. "We will fight tooth and nail to save our country." Violence in northern Burkina Faso is grinding down residents' faith in the state's ability to protect them The military presence in the North and joint operations with Mali and the French forces of Operation Barkhane enabled the Burkinabe army to restore some trust The government has launched a three-year emergency programme in the country's Sahel region Afghanistan's slain journalists were remembered on World Press Freedom Day Thursday, days after the deadliest attack on the country's media since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Ten journalists, including Agence France-Presse chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in assaults on Monday, underscoring the dangers faced by the media as the war-torn country slips deeper into violence. "Afghanistan's journalists are among the bravest in the world," said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International's deputy director for South Asia. "Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs." A double suicide blast in Kabul on Monday, claimed by the Islamic State group, left 25 people dead including Marai and eight other journalists, while a BBC reporter was killed in a separate attack in eastern Khost province. Media workers from Tolo News, 1TV, Radio Free Europe and Mashal TV were also among the dead in Kabul. The deadly assaults have shaken Afghanistan's tight-knit journalist community. Many of them are close friends as well as colleagues who look out for one another as they work in an increasingly hostile environment. But many remain defiant, determined to continue their work despite the risks. Hours after the Kabul explosion, dozens of Afghan news editors and executives returned to the site in a public display of defiance to militants. "World Press Freedom Day reminds me and my colleagues of the importance of reporting -- reporting for a vibrant democracy and serving people with the information they need and they want," Parwiz Kawa, editor-in-chief of the Hasht-e-Subh Daily newspaper, told AFP. "This day is to renew our commitments and to remember our sacrifices." 1TV editor-in-chief Abdullah Khenjani said Thursday was a "mourning day" for the broadcaster, which lost a reporter and cameraman in Monday's blast. "This day reminds us how tough the past year was," Khenjani told AFP, adding his colleagues were heartbroken, "especially when we see the empty chairs... in our newsroom". "We will hold a prayer ceremony... and ask God to be with us in such a tragic moment." - 'End journalists' slaughter' - Afghanistan was last year ranked the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The media watchdog said since 2016, it has recorded the killings of 34 journalists in Afghanistan. Afghan media outlets have condemned the government's failure to protect them, particularly at the scene of suicide attacks where secondary blasts are a constant concern. The British embassy in Kabul also released a statement Thursday vowing to stand behind Afghan journalists, with the UK's minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field saying their bravery "has been noted the world over". "Despite the risks, they stand firm together, determined never to be cowed by terrorists," he said in the statement. The attack on the Afghan journalists comes amid increasing concerns over press freedom across Asia, including in the Philippines and Myanmar. On the same day as the Afghan journalists were killed, Philippine radio broadcaster Edmund Sestoso was shot by assailants in the southern city of Dumaguete, said Human Rights Watch. Sestoso died Tuesday. "That Sestoso's murder occurred on the same day 10 journalists were killed in Afghanistan made it particularly tragic," said Carlos Conde, researcher in the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. "That he died on the eve of World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder that much needs to be done for press freedom around the world and end the slaughter of journalists." In Myanmar, hopes have been dashed of more press freedom under the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which took power in 2016. A recent survey of journalists released concluded that there is less press freedom now than under the former military-backed government, citing an increase in threats, physical attacks and arrests of reporters. The country has fallen six places to 137th on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Two Reuters journalists, who were investigating the extrajudicial killing of Rohingya Muslims, face charges under the Official Secrets Act that could result in a 14-year jail sentence if convicted in a high-profile case that has sparked outrage around the world. RSF figures show 50 professional journalists were killed worldwide in 2017, the lowest toll in 14 years. burs-st/mtp An Indian photojournalist in Kolkata holds a candle during a vigil for the 10 Afghan journalists killed in Monday's suicide bombing Journalists killed worldwide in 2018 Journalists around the world have mourned the killing of AFP's Shah Marai, pictured here with Sardar Ahmad -- an AFP reporter who was killed in a 2014 attack alongside his wife and children In this photo by slain AFP photographer Shah Marai, Afghan journalists take cover behind an ambulance near the Intercontinental Hotel during a fight between gunmen and security forces in Kabul on January 21, 2018 A 13-year-old genius, who has already completed her first year of university after skipping grades, is acing her biology course and calling it a breeze. Vivian Xie, who started her university career last September at the age of 12, is receiving top marks at Canadas University of Prince Edward Island, her professors say. She finished her first semester with grades above 91 per cent but surprisingly said she didnt find the work very demanding. Vivian Xie, 13, has just wrapped her first year studying biology at Canadas University of Prince Edward Island. Source: CBC News I was expecting a bit more stress than high school, Vivian told CJAD Radio. Sometimes I find [in university] there was too little to do. Vivian, who moved from China to Canadas Halifax then Charlottetown, was able to skip several grades in high school after doing tests to prove she was ready. At seven years old she already knew how to add, subtract and multiply negative numbers and decimals. The teenage scholar said her parents never pressured her to get ahead in her studies, rather her love for learning was inspired by her grandmother, who was a high school biology teacher. The teenager was able to skip several grades after doing tests to prove she was ready. Source: Yahoo Magazines Vivian said he has been enjoying university, and in particular spending time with students who are more mature. I dont think of myself as being odd or that special, she said. I dont perceive age to be a limiting factor and I think that if you work hard enough and you dont stress yourself out, youll eventually be able to do what you want. Biology professor Lawrence Hale, who taught Vivian last semester, said he was impressed when he met her. She immediately struck me as a very nice young woman, he said. You would not know that she was only 13 years old. She came off as a regular, first-year undergraduate, really. Mr Hale said she did very well in his course last semester, and he expects her to continue to do well. Vivian said she hopes to be a veterinarian some day and maybe tackle an education degree as well. She also has a few ideas for some books shed like to write. Prof. Bruno spoke recently with University of Illinois News Bureau business and law editor Phil Ciciora about a potentially crippling case for labor unions at the Supreme Court. Most Supreme Court watchers are predicting that a majority of justices will side with the petitioner Mark Janus, a child support specialist for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services against labor in Janus v. American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, Council 31. Whats at stake for labor? The conventional wisdom is that the petitioner will prevail on a 5-4 vote. It appears from the questioning during oral argument that there were a majority of justices who would vote to overturn the 1977 decision in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education and wipe out the fair share provision. These are the fees that unions charge nonmembers to cover their fair share of costs associated with the unions nonpolitical work representing all workers in providing negotiated benefits and grievance processing. The fee is an instrument to prevent nonmembers from free riding on the efforts of dues-paying union members to win better working conditions for all workers. Under Abood, unions must represent all workers, whether theyre union or not. The court unanimously recognized the unions and the governments legitimate interest in preventing workers from benefiting from a union contract while paying nothing. Some have speculated that perhaps Chief Justice Roberts is such an institutionalist with a high regard for precedent that he would be reluctant to lend his support to overturning a 40-year-old decision that has worked quite well. But if youre going by the tenor of the questions during oral argument, Roberts appears to be ready to overturn the decision in Abood. Clearly, the Janus case is a threat to organized labor and its ability to be a relevant workplace force and to function in the public sector. If the court sided with the petitioner, it could bring about truly radical change the likes of which labor hasnt seen since the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947. While the Janus decision looms, teachers in several states Kentucky, Oklahoma and West Virginia haves successfully organized walkouts and protests. What far-reaching effects will that movement likely have? Its a turning point. Janus is a serious threat, but the actions of those teachers have been incredibly inspiring. Its just not really clear that the two moments the pending Janus decision and the red-state teacher walkouts form a coherent whole. The teachers who have decided that they need to fight back against the attacks on their profession have thus far focused on state capitals and in places where school districts are making decisions that they feel are bad for education. We havent really seen an upsurge of union members who are acting collectively and waging strikes since the last big wave of teacher strikes in the early 1980s. So we havent seen this level of collective resistance in decades. Clearly, those teachers who are agitating for change also have shown the value of acting collectively. It definitely helps feed the narrative of how teachers and, in the case of Janus, other public employees, need to stick together. Would an adverse decision in Janus have the potential to blunt the teachers movements momentum? The majority of the teachers who are striking, lobbying, rallying and speaking out are not union members. They are functioning in right-to-work states, so that means they were not fair-share payers. Theyre already acting under the conditions that a post-Janus landscape would likely bring about. What that might suggest is that Janus could backfire. There could be an unintended set of consequences, which would cause workers to understand that theres a need for collective representation. Rallying and marching are necessary, but at some point, workers will need a stable institutional force that can represent them. If a teacher wasnt in the union before Janus, they might begin to reconsider that decision because once the legislative session ends, who else would represent your and your co-workers interests? This moment has signaled to nonunion teachers that perhaps they have common cause with the unionized teacher, and they might be more receptive to needing representation. Robert Bruno is a professor of labor and employment relations at the Urbana campus of the University of Illinois and the director of the Labor Education Program in Chicago. Armenian opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan on Wednesday called for an end to a huge wave of protests and said all parties would support his bid to run for prime minister again next week. "The issue has practically been solved," he told tens of thousands of people during a rally in the capital Yerevan. "All factions said they would support my candidacy." "Kids, you are going to school tomorrow. We are suspending protests and going to have a rest." Jubilant scenes erupted across the capital which was on lockdown just a few hours earlier, with everyone from soldiers to mothers with pushchairs hugging each other and dancing on the streets. Lawmakers will convene on May 8 for a new extraordinary session of parliament to elect a prime minister, after the ruling Republican Party on Tuesday voted against a bid by Pashinyan, the hugely popular opposition leader, to take power. Since last month the poor, Moscow-allied nation has been in the grip of its most serious political crisis in years after mass demonstrations forced the resignation of longtime leader Serzh Sarkisian. After Sarkisian's party rejected Pashinyan's bid, despite initially promising not to stand in the way, tens of thousands on Wednesday launched a nationwide general strike, blocking key transport links, suspending railway traffic across the country and shutting down Yerevan and other cities. - 'I don't believe them'- After the unprecedented show of defiance, Vahram Baghdasaryan, the head of the ruling party's parliamentary faction, indicated the Republicans were finally ready to back Pashinyan. He said the Republicans would back a candidate nominated by one third of lawmakers in accordance with legislation. Pashinyan, 42, said his candidacy would be formally submitted on Thursday and called a jumbo rally for next Tuesday, urging 500,000 people to gather and "seal our victory". Protester Artashes Gevorkyan, a 52-year-old school teacher, said he was sceptical of the Republicans' promises. "I don't believe them, but it looks like they are really scared and will not dare to try stealing our victory again," he told AFP. Mikhail Margaryan, a 38-year-old doctor added: "I am more than sure that in few days Nikol will be our new prime minister." Analysts said it appeared the ruling party had changed position in a bid to retain control of the legislature. If lawmakers fail to elect a prime minister for a second time, the legislature will be dissolved and early elections called. "The Republicans are doing everything to retain a majority in parliament," said analyst Manvel Sargsyan. The crisis, he added, will not end even if Pashinyan is elected prime minister because the ruling party will likely sabotage his initiatives in parliament. - Capital on lockdown - Earlier in the day tens of thousands of protesters including elderly people, pupils and even housewives paralysed Yerevan, with streets closed to traffic, and the subway and numerous stores shut. Crowds of protesters waved national flags, blew vuvuzelas and shouted "Free, independent Armenia!", turning the rallies into a street carnival. The road linking Yerevan with its airport was blocked for several hours, forcing travellers to drag their luggage on foot. The central bank warned Armenians against a run on banks, saying it was capable of ensuring the "stability of the country's financial system". On social media, people launched a "name and shame" campaign against lawmakers, prompting the parliament speaker to ask them to stop harassing MPs. In parliament, lawmakers could not convene for a session due to insufficient numbers, with the Prosperous Armenia party declaring a boycott over "an emergency situation in the country". Smaller towns and villages joined in the campaign of defiance. In the second city of Gyumri -- which hosts a Russian military base -- and the smaller town of Maralik, demonstrators burst into the mayor's offices, demanding the local authorities side with protesters. - Humour and creativity - Armenians' famed good humour and temperament were on full display as they turned the general strike into a colourful spectacle, performing the national dance at the roadblocks and grilling meat. A photo of a little boy blocking a street with his tiny toy cars went viral, as did a picture of a coffin outside the offices of the ruling party in the small town of Artik. On Tuesday, parliament voted 45 in favour to 55 against Pashinyan who was the sole candidate in the running. Observers have expressed concern that the turmoil could destabilise the country locked in a decades-long territorial dispute with Azerbaijan. Pashinyan's protest movement had accused Sarkisian of a power grab, saying he wanted to extend his grip on power by becoming premier after serving as president for a decade. Protesters say they will stay on the streets until opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan is elected prime minister Many elderly people and housewives were among the demonstrators in Yerevan Socio-economic data on Armenia A Telstra outage has seen triple zero calls across Australia going unanswered. A spokesman for the telecommunications company said a cable cut caused by an unknown party between Orange and Bowral in NSW on Friday about 2.05am was behind the interruptions. Routers impacted by the cable cut were restored about 4.50am today and services progressively returned to normal, he said. A Telstra fibre repair crew has been dispatched. NSW Police is aware of the issue and advised anyone needing to contact emergency services can call the police assistance line on 131 444. Queensland Police said it is able to receive triple zero calls. But Telstra tweeted there are still intermittent interruptions to triple zero calls in Victoria, NSW and Western Australia. Telstra added it was working with emergency departments in the three states. More to follow. US President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday that there would be imminent news about three Americans detained in North Korea, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of their possible release. The development comes as Trump is preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, following months of tense saber-rattling over the North's nuclear and missile programs. "The past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump wrote on Twitter. Two of the three hostages were detained in 2017, after Trump had assumed office. The United States has been demanding the North free Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul and reports have said the two sides were close to reaching a deal on their release. "They are staying in a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang," Choi Sung-ryong, a South Korean activist with contacts in the North told AFP earlier, adding the three were being kept separately but "going on tours, receiving medical treatment and eating good food." Diplomatic sources in Pyongyang have said there were rumors that the three had been relocated, but there had been no confirmation of their exact whereabouts. A State Department official could not confirm the reports, but added: "We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible." The matter was discussed when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Pyongyang last month, according to The Wall Street Journal. And speaking to Fox News on Sunday, National Security Advisor John Bolton said releasing the hostages would be "an opportunity" for the North to "demonstrate their authenticity." Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born American pastor, has been detained in the North since 2015 when he was arrested for spying. He was sentenced to 10 years' hard labor in 2016. Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang-duk -- or Tony Kim -- were both working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, founded by evangelical Christians from overseas, when they were detained last year on suspicion of "hostile acts." CNN had said the prisoners' release was also discussed at three-day talks in Stockholm between the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom in March. Sweden represents Washington's interests in the North. - Detente - Tensions between North Korea and its neighbors as well as the US spiked last year over the Pyongyang's testing of atomic weapons and long-range missiles, including some capable of reaching the US mainland. But a spectacular detente in recent months -- with a summit approaching between Trump and Kim, and the prospect of denuclearization -- have fed hopes of a historic turning point in the region. Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950s but South Korean President Moon Jae-In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed at a landmark summit last week to work towards a permanent treaty to replace a 65-year-old armistice. Preparations for the Trump-Kim meeting have gathered further momentum since the Korean summit, for which the US president has hinted at several possible locations. He has talked up the idea of holding it in the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas -- where Kim and Moon met -- and also floated Singapore as an option. Mongolia and Switzerland are also sites reportedly under consideration. "The United States has never been closer to potentially having something happen with respect to the Korean peninsula, that can get rid of the nuclear weapons," Trump told reporters earlier this week, voicing confidence the summit would go ahead -- and reiterating he would walk away if it failed to live up to his expectations. But as remarkable as the imagery and symbolism have been recently, many analysts point out that it is early to speculate on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with a regime that has been led with an iron fist by the Kim dynasty for nearly 70 years. Kim Dong-Chul, a Korean-American pastor detained in North Korea in 2015, was sentenced in 2016 to 10 yeas hard labour for 'attempting to steal military secrets' "The past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" President Trump wrote on Twitter A team of elite US Green Beret commandos deployed to the Saudi border of Yemen last year to help find and destroy Huthi rebel missile caches, the New York Times reported Thursday. Since Yemen's brutal conflict erupted three years ago, Huthi rebels have fired multiple ballistic missiles toward Riyadh and other Saudi cities. According to the Times, which cited US officials and European diplomats, the Army special operations soldiers arrived in December to help Saudi counterparts locate launch sites and destroy the Huthis' missile supplies. The unannounced move shows a deepening US involvement in Yemen's war that has seen the country spiral toward famine and claimed almost 10,000 lives. Citing operational security, the Pentagon said it could not comment on the makeup of forward-deployed forces. The Pentagon's "limited non-combat support, such as intelligence sharing, focuses on assisting our partners in securing their borders from cross-border attacks from the Huthis," military spokesman Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway said. The Times said there was no indication the commandos had crossed into Yemen. Saudi Arabia has since March 2015 led a US-backed coalition of Arab states fighting to roll back the Huthis in Yemen and restore its neighbor's internationally recognized government to power. Officials told the Times the US troops are training Saudi forces to secure the border. The Saudi troops are also working closely with US intelligence experts in the southern Saudi city of Najran, the Times said. The Huthis, who hail from northern Yemen, control Sanaa and much of the country's north -- which borders Saudi Arabia -- and the key Hodeida port on the Red Sea coast. US lawmakers have sounded growing alarm about America's support for the Saudis in Yemen, while President Donald Trump has bolstered ties with Riyadh and fostered a close relationship with Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Separately from Yemen's civil war, the Pentagon is bombing Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and has sent in ground troops to conduct raids against the jihadists. The campaign against AQAP, which has taken advantage of the war to expand its presence in several areas to the south and east, has intensified under Trump. An image grab taken from a video handed out by Yemen's Huthi rebels shows what appears to be Huthi military forces launching a ballistic missile A horrified woman has claimed to have been abandoned in the dark by an Uber driver after she rebuffed his advances. The female passenger in her late 20s said she ordered the Uber from Wellington, in New Zealand, on Sunday. She says her journey appeared to be like any other until, according to her, he lowered the tone of their small talk. I was sitting and happily chatting to my driver when he ever so casually said to me So, would you like to party with me? In that situation it was clear to me that he was asking me to sleep with him, the woman told online publication The Wireless. The female passenger says the driver made inappropriate advances during her journey home. Source: Getty, file. She said she failed to immediately respond due to shock over the drivers super unprofessional and predatory offer. When she eventually rejected the approach, the woman says the man pulled up at the side of the road and told her to get out of the car. In shock she jumped out, only to find herself a 20-minute walk from her home. Alone and in the dark, she made her way home. An Uber spokesperson told the company had addressed the incident with both parties. Source: Getty, file. The woman has since made a complaint to Uber who informed her the incident is under investigation. An Uber spokesperson told Yahoo7 News the incident had been addressed with both parties but could not elaborate on the matter due to privacy reasons. The spokesperson reiterated the companys guidelines for drivers behaviour and that sexual contact was strictly prohibited from its drivers. Our community guidelines explain what behaviour is and isnt appropriate when using the app and what can get you banned from Uber, which includes any sexual contact whatsoever, the spokesperson said. WASHINGTON, D.C.Well, it only took 216 years from the time Thomas Jefferson wrote his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association declaring that "I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should 'make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,' thus building a wall of separation between Church & State," until four congressmen formed the Congressional Freethought Caucus this past Monday, April 30and it's about damned time! In case anyone hasn't noticed, ever since President Grab-'Er-By-The-Pussy was elected, sucking up to religion has become, well, almost a religion in D.C.. Besides Trump promising before the election to get rid of the Johnson Amendment, which prevents churches from electioneering for or against candidates for office, and then issuing his Presidential Executive Order Promoting Free Speech and Religious Liberty, which says in part, "All executive departments and agencies shall, to the greatest extent practicable and to the extent permitted by law, respect and protect the freedom of persons and organizations to engage in religious and political speech," religio-conservatives have infiltrated almost every (if not actually every) government department, bureaucracy and committee that has any power over citizens' daily lives. One major example of that was the creation this past January of a new "Conscience and Religious Freedom" division within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), whose main purpose, according to a Washington Post article at the time, appeared to be to "ease the way for doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to opt out of providing services that violate their moral or religious beliefs," and "appears to be broad and aimed at protecting health-care workers who cite those reasons for refusing to take part in abortions, treat transgender patients or participate in other types of care." And let's not forget defunding any organization (like Planned Parenthood) which supports comprehensive sex education in schoolscheck out this astounding horseshit!and the provision of cheap or free birth control pills for union members through their health plans, not to mention college students and other at-risk women's groups. The point is, it's about time that people who don't wear their (conservative) religious views on their sleeves have a voice in the national government, and that's apparently what the Freethought Caucus' founders, Jared Huffman (D-CA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Jerry McNerney (D-CA), and Dan Kildee (D-MI), are aiming to do. Specifically, their announcement about the formation of the caucus says it's "to promote sound public policy based on reason, science and moral values, protect the secular character of our government, and champion the value of freedom of thought worldwide"and to say they've got their work cut out for them would be an incredible understatement. After all, at least half of the major cabinet departments including HHS, Department of Environmental Protection, the Centers for Disease Control, the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and dozens of others have either announced that they will no longer seek scientific evidence to back up their planned actions, or have failed to fill scientific advisory posts within their departments. Moreover, top government officials, up to and including the President, have stated words to the effect of, "Scientists don't know everything. We have to balance what they say with what we feel in our guts is the right thing to do." On the other hand, the stated goals of the Freethought Caucus are "1) to promote public policy formed on the basis of reason, science, and moral values; 2) to protect the secular character of our government by adhering to the strict Constitutional principle of the separation of church and state; 3) to oppose discrimination against atheists, agnostics, humanists, seekers, religious and nonreligious persons, and to champion the value of freedom of thought and conscience worldwide; and 4) to provide a forum for members of Congress to discuss their moral frameworks, ethical values, and personal religious journeys." Not as strong as they could be, of course, but a good start nonetheless. And how might this affect the adult industry and sex workers in general? Well, it'd be nice if a little actual scientific knowledge (as opposed to the crap "science" one can find on websites like Fight the New Drug and National Center on Sexual Exploitation) could be brought to bear on such questions as whether legal prostitution is a societal benefit, whether any adult is actually harmed by seeing two or more people having sex, whether minors are actually harmed by running across porn sites in their web surfing, whether property values actually go down in the vicinity of adult video stores, moreso than in the vicinity of bars and nightclubsthe list goes on and on! And of course, the asshole brigade has already taken notice of the caucus: "Lest we think Congressional Democrats had gone quiet since Republicans were passing their agenda anyway, there are a few Congressional Democrats yearning to take the total depravity spotlight back," wrote Conservative Review vlogger Steve Deace. "To their credit, they know that the nerd prom, featuring progressive hyena Michelle Wolfwhile an undeniably ghoulish attempt to brown-nose the demon worldis not the stuff of a permanent revolution. Democrats have been reduced to small ball, like hyperventilating over the latest leaks from the Mueller probe or turning ambulance-chasing lawyers whose names will be forgotten a year from now into cable news superstars. That simply wont do when your goal is to burn American exceptionalism to the ground. Hell demands more. Time to think bigger. Time to kill God." Rest assured, there'll be plenty more of this to come, but for the moment, let's hope the Congressional Freethought Caucus can gain some foothold in the federal legislatureand that lots more Dems and Independents see the light and join up. And hey, we'd guess they'd even accept Republicans! In a stunning turn of events, Donald Trumps new personal lawyer former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani admitted on Wednesday that Trump reimbursed his fixer Michael Cohen for the entire $130,000 that Cohen paid to Stormy Daniels as hush money to keep her quiet about her sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Giulianis startling admission came less than a month after Trump flatly denied knowing anything about the payment, in an exchange with reporters on Air Force One. In an even more stunning turn of events, Giuliani later on Wednesday told The Washington Post that he had discussed his statements with Trump in advance, and that Trump gave him the go-ahead to reveal the alleged reimbursement. If Trump indeed gave Giuliani permission to talk about the supposed reimbursement, Trumps earlier blanket denial of any knowledge of the payment becomes even more suspect. The former mayor made his comments in an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, broadcast Wednesday evening. Shortly after the broadcast, however, Giuliani scrambled to square his claim about Trump reimbursing Cohen with Trumps earlier denial that he knew anything about the money. In a subsequent interview with the Wall Street Journal Giuliani stated that Trump "probably was not aware" of the payment at the time it was made, on October 27, 2016. "Cohen was his lawyer and had discretion to settle, as I have had for clients ultimately paying for it, Giuliani said. Trump admitted in a Fox News interview last week that Cohen represented him like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal he represented me. But Trump has never claimed direct knowledge of the payment and has never, of course, acknowledged that he personally reimbursed Cohen for those funds funds which Cohen claimed that he personally put up by borrowing against his house. Cohen himself has said that he was not reimbursed by the Trump campaign or by Trumps business. And according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, Cohen has openly complained to friends that he has not been reimbursed for the Stormy Daniels hush money payoff. Giulianis claim that Trump did, in fact, pay back Cohen after the money for Daniels was the first time such a reimbursement has been acknowledged either in media reporting or by anyone in Trumps social, business or legal circle. But the new Trump lawyer, who also ran for president in 2008, added another strange detail to the claim that Trump paid back Cohen, saying that the reimbursement was made in installments over a period of time that Giuliani did not specify. Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, was interviewed later Wednesday on MSNBC, and said that he was shocked by Giulianis statement. I am absolutely speechless at this revelation, Avenatti said. This is an outrage what has gone on here. The American people have been lied to about this agreement. Avenatti said that if the payment was made in installments of $10,000 or less in order to avoid the legal requirement of reporting the payments to comply with money laundering laws, Trump and Cohen may have committed a crime. According to Mr. Giuliani, Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen were co-conspirators in a felony, Avenatti said. Photos by Fox News Screen Capture, Adam Bielawski / Wikimedia Commons In a series of early morning Twitter messages, Donald Trump addressed the Stormy Daniels affair allegations for the first time, calling Daniels claim that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 false and extortionist. While Trumps White House press spokespeople have said that he denies the affair, Thursdays Twitter posts mark the first time a denial, or any comment at all regarding the sexual allegations, has come directly from Trump. In the series of three Twitter messages, Trump also confirmed for the first time that his personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen was reimbursed for the $130,000 payment he made to Danielsa payment that was part of a hush agreement to buy her silence about the affair, though Trump now says that the affair never happened. Trumps Thursday statements followed a Fox News interview by his new personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on Wednesday in which Giuliani stated that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 payment to Daniels. On April 5, Trump made what until last Friday was his only public statement on the Daniels case, flatly denying that he was aware of the $130,000 payoff at all, when asked about it by reporters on Air Force One. Then last week in a call-in interview with the Fox News program Fox and Friends, Trump again mentioned the case, confirming that Cohen represented him on "this crazy Stormy Daniels deal." Earlier this week, Daniels and her lawyer Michael Avenatti filed a new lawsuit against Trump, accusing Trump of defamation for his statement on Twitter that a forensic sketch of a man she says threatened her was a con job. But Trumps statements on Thursday dismissing Daniels story of the sexual encounter as liesand accusing Daniels of extortionappear likely to be added to that defamation claim. The extortion claim appears particularly suspect, because to date there have been no public allegations that Daniels demanded payment from Trump. In fact, Trump has denied that he was even aware that the payment was made. Giuliani gave a second interview on Wednesday night, this one to The Washington Post, in which he offered another series of stunning and confusing explanations for the Daniels payoff situationthis time claiming that payoffs of that type are so routine and insignificant that Trump simply forgot about it. Read the transcript of that Washington Post interview at this link. It was somewhere between 10 and five days before the election. And he wasnt told. But even if he was told, he wouldnt have remembered it, like I wouldnt have remembered it, Giuliani said in the Post interview. But to Cohen, the payment was so significant that it required him to borrow the money against his house, according to Cohens own account. And according to recent reports in The Wall Street Journal, Cohen has openly complained to friends that Trump never reimbursed him for the $130,000. Avenatti had not publicly responded to Trumps Thursday tweets as of late morning, but following Giulianis interview, he said that the new Trump lawyer had proven that Trump lied about the payment. Mr. Trump stood on [Air Force One] and blatantly lied. This followed the lies told by others close to him, including Mr. Cohen, Avenatti wrote in his own Twitter account. This should never be acceptable in our America. We will not rest until justice is served. Photos by James Chang / Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons Many Americans are reluctant to accept that coup conspiracies are part of our countrys history. We tend to believe that plots to overthrow the government are totally foreign to our national character. But we do do coups. In fact, the country itself was founded on an armed coup to replace the legal ruler, King George III, with a gang of revolutionary upstarts. One coup that most of us havent heard of is The Wall Street Putsch of 1933. The financial establishment along with its media and political henchmen rushed out to bury the story and protect the gentlemen of Wall Street implicated in the part. The year before, Franklin D. Roosevelt had scored a landslide presidential victory over Wall Streets man, then-President Herbert Hoover, by promising a New Deal for millions of Americans impoverished by the Depression. Such Wall Street multimillionaires as Grayson M.P. Murphy and Robert Sterling Clark were enraged by FDRs moves. Calling Roosevelt a traitor to his class, these men implemented a plan to oust him by enlisting a private military force made up of thousands of destitute World War I vets who were protesting the failure to receive promised federal bonus payments. Gerald MacGuire, Murphys bond salesman, was an ex-soldier and an active member of The American Legion. MacGuire reached out to retired Marine Maj. Gen. Smedley Darlington Butler, a respected advocate for veterans. After several meetings spent discussing veterans issues, MacGuire finally explained that the financial powers he represented wanted Butler to create a paramilitary corps of 500,000 vets and march on Washington to force FDR from the White House. MacGuire told Butler that the Wall Street cohort plus a new group called American Liberty League were prepared to fund the cause to the tune of $300 million, and that Remington Arms would supply the weapons. The conspirators thought that FDR would go down without a fight and would welcome the coup. Once in place, the financiers and militarists would install a secretary of general affairs to run the country. And one of their choices was Smedley Butler. But he was the wrong general. Butler was a patriot and a lifelong soldier for democracy, and he was astounded and repulsed by the hubris and treachery of these aristocrats from Wall Street. Butler enlisted investigative reporter Paul Comly French to help gather proof of the bankers intent. With evidence in hand, Butler got the House Special Committee on Un-American Activities to conduct an investigation, which convinced members of the committee that Butlers story was alarmingly true. The committee then opened public hearings with Butler giving detailed testimony. Wall Street responded by immediately launching a coordinated counterattack assailing Butler and dismissing the idea that very idea of a coup was preposterous. They got the establishment media to pile on to discredit him. But the House committee final report concluded that it was able to verify all the pertinent statements made by General Butler, and that There is no question that these attempts were discussed, were planned, and might have been placed in execution when and if the financial backers deemed it expedient. Nonetheless, officials failed to punish the perpetuators of this outrageous assault on our democracy. And with the help of a Wall Street-loving media, the coup attempt was sealed off from our history books. Fortunately, a real patriot was able to expose the traitors, nipping the coup detat in the bud. Their attempt reveals the threat of concentrated wealth and the ever-present danger that the imperious rich pose to majority rule. ORLANDOFairvilla, a leading adult retailer with locations in Florida, threw a birthday party recently to celebrate 50 years of the Magic Wand. Fairvillas Sexy Things, located at 7535 International Drive, Orlando, hosted the event on April 26. The well-attended event included complimentary Harvey Wallbanger cocktails, Songbird wine from Shiisa Cellars, a wand-shaped cake, incredible body painting by Mandi Ilene Schiff, giveaways and more. Considered the Top 10 Most Influential Gadgets of All Time by Time Magazine, The Magic Wand has a special place in the heart and homes of people around the world. Listed with the U.S. Patent & Trademark office in April 1968, the powerful, reliable and iconic Magic Wand is Americas most-recommended personal massager. Its absolutely a top seller and fan favorite at Fairvilla Stores, said Debra Peterson, the Florida chains director of purchasing. Eddie Romero of Vibratex, which has been the sole importer to North America for more than 15 years, attended, providing wand-based massages to willing customers. This celebration was an energetic and interactive way of reintroducing the Magic Wand and the Rechargeable Wand to our customers. Vibratex is proud to partner with Fairvilla and sponsor this event, Romero said. Vibratex provided Magic Wands for giveaways, which were raffled off throughout the night. Each winner couldnt wait to go home and see what all the buzz is about. At the event, Fairvillas Sexy Things held a silent auction featuring art from The Magic Wand Through Art History, which places the iconic Magic Wand into famous pieces of art by Gustav Klimt, Pablo Picasso, and Michaelangelo, among others. In addition to the art and revelry, Angelique Luna of Living a Sex-Positive Life was on hand to give sexy tarot card readings to party-goers and Dr. Carrozzella from Florida Center for Hormones & Wellness shared various ways to improve sexual health, wellness, and self-image. Along with the event, Fairvilla held celebrations at its other stores (located in Orlando, Cape Canaveral, Kissimmee, Key West, and Land O Lakes) which included free cocktails, discounts on the Magic Wand and free gifts with purchase. Nikki Mier, the general manager of Fairvillas Sexy Things, who coordinated the party, was extremely happy with the outcome. Hosting in-store parties & events have always been successful ways for us to attract new customers to Fairvilla, she said. Tonight we celebrated art, education and brought people together all in the name of the best known massager in the world. Now thats a good time. For more information about Fairvilla, visit Fairvilla.com or call (407) 644-7800. CYBERSPACECherry Pimps Wednesday afternoon announced UK starlet Ella Hughes as its May Cherry of the Monththe first international performer to receive the honor. "When we saw that Ella Hughes was in the States for a short amount of time, we knew we had to act quick and shoot her for our Cherry of the Month feature," Cherry Pimps CEO Jack Avalanche said. "She is such an incredible performer and we know everyone is going to love her as much as we do." As the Cherry of the Month, Hughes received a $500 cash prize and a two-day photo shoot with noted industry photographer Dean Capture. At the end of 2018, all 12 Cherries will compete for the Cherry of the Year title. The preceding 2018 Cherries of the Month so far, in order, have been Shyla Jennings, Zoey Monroe, Kenna James and Alexis Adams. To mark Hughes' selection as Cherry of the Month, she can be seen in four solos scenes and a lesbian scene opposite Monica Sage on CherryPimps.com. "Thank you Cherry Pimps for making me May COTM," Hughes said. "It's amazing to become a Cherry and I'll remember this opportunity forever. Dean is such a nice guy and fantastic photographer, I love working with him and his images are the best. Monica Sage was perfect to work with, not only is she my best friend, she is so filthy and naughty, which means she is great to work with!" Cherry Pimps is part of the TrafficPimps.com affiliate program. NEW ORLEANSThe increasing influence of artificial intelligence in everyday life raises ongoing questions about public trust, industry experts said Wednesday at the Collision Conference. While intelligence demonstrated by machinesbetter known as AIrepresents the future of modern society, it remains flawed. Companies know so much about us, more than we would want to know really, Paul Asel, managing partner of NGP Capital, told AVN Wednesday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. A global technology investor for more than 25 years, Asel is one of dozens of venture capitalists participating in the fifth annual gathering expected to draw more than 25,000 attendees from 120 different countries as the show continues through Thursday. What it really comes down to is these companies establishing a trusted relationship with us, said Asel, who has been engaged in acquisitions and IPOs valued at more than $25 billion and is currently focused on investments in the mobile, internet of things (IOT), automobile and AI sectors. An example of this is Im investing in a company called Zubie that puts tracking devices in cars so they can tell where youre driving and how youre driving. And the wife said, I dont want that in my car. The car knows everything that Im doing. I said, Well dont you realize that the Apple phone in your pocket knows that already? She said, Oh, but thats different. Asel continued, How is it different? The Apple phone knows a lot more and is a lot more intelligent device than that device in the car. The difference is the Apple phone provides some utility to you. So we allow it to do many more things that we wouldnt permit others to do. Think of it this way: if you knew everything that Apple and Google knew about you, is that information that you would share with your best friend? Would you share it with your co-worker? Would you share it with your classmate? Chances are you wouldnt. And they know that much about us. In one of the featured sessions of Collisions Growth Summit, Asel moderated a special panel with the heads of three of the worlds fastest growing AI companies. The entrepreneur, who first invested in AI five years ago with WorkFusion, said today literally thousands of companies engineer AI technology, which has been around for decades but is accelerating at breakneck speed. The major difference between now and the old days of AI, according to panelist Jean-Francois Gagne, the co-founder and CEO of Element AI, is that today it works. I remember not that long ago trying to get some of the main approaches to work on some of the significant data sets and we couldnt figure out how to get it to the right level of accuracy or the amount of effort required, which is insane, said Gagne, whose 18-month-old company is based in Montreal and Toronto and employs 30080 of which have Ph.D.s in AI. You could get two or three steps of a process to work but then theres one step in the middle that needed to be done by people. But at this point now you can basically have the whole thing piloted by AI and supported by people. Eamon Jubbawy co-founded Onfido, which uses machine learning to help businesses verify the identify of their customers without meeting them face to face. Backed by $60 million in funding, his client portfolio includes more than 1500 businesses and counting. We founded the business six years ago and at the time there were definitely people with the required skill sets but it was difficult to get a hold of them, Jubbawy said. Now there is a bit of a hype with lots of people talking about [AI] that dont necessarily understand the nuances, but that hype has definitely increased these meet-ups and places where you can meet Ph.Ds and AI researchers. The glut of universities churning out good top-quality AI talent has now made it easier for businesses to start recruiting and building teams to deliver on these converging trends. Vishal Chatrath, co-founder and CEO of PROWLER.io, said the rapid rise of AI, which is programmed to make human decisions, will not wipe out the workforce as we know it. Will there be a shifting of jobs? For sure. Thats just the history, said Chatrath, whose 85-person company is based in Cambridge, England. But at the same time I dont know of a single moment in human history that any disruptive technology has resulted in mass unemployment. Its never happened. And Im not sure its going to happen here. Element AI CEO Gagne added, The way Id like to present this is AI is actually aiding software. Its a new way to program. We used to program every single condition. If we see this, then you do that, et cetera, et cetera, and you use a lot of manpower to do thatto encode all the conditions. Now through experience that happens to be done through data sets that we build. We can teach an algorithm to discover these conditions and by rewarding or penalizing this algorithm we can steer it towards the objectives we have. But its software at the end. So yes it adapts and it learns and it is a fundamental shift in how were engaging with machines around us, but at the end its doing more of the same things weve been doing. At some point a lot more begins to feel different. But its the same path weve been on for many, many years that is just picking up speed and accelerating. There are many things that machines still cant do, noted Onfidos Jubbawy. For us its less about who does what, Jubbawy reasoned. Its more about what does the customer want at the end of the day? So when were selling into businesses we dont talk about AI vs. humans; we just talk about the problems they have. And on our end we go away and try to solve them the best way possible. So when youre looking at image recognition and document verification for example, theres certain elements which we skew more machine side and theres certain elements which we still retain humans to provide a level of expertise that machines cant get to now. The idea of machines replacing humans is not necessarily accurate; its just changing the nature of the jobs that humans are doing. On the topic of privacy, Jubbawy said it must be achieved by design. Privacy lives in your code. Its not something you talk about in the office; its something that has to be built from the ground up, according to Jubbawy. The effects of drama on social media platforms are also informing the future of AI, according to one seasoned researcher who has been tracking it for a living. The New Orleans native Caroline Sinders, a machine learning designer and digital anthropologist, studies conversational spaces on digital platforms such as Twitter. Everything you do online is a form of data, said Sinders, who delivered a solo presentation titled Building and communicating with responsible AI on the Binate.io stage. That data is human output. Any kind of altercation you have on the internet is actually a form of trauma. That trauma is caught as data. Sinders told the audience she works at the intersection of social media, language and sub-cultures. She has spent the past two years studying online harassment and political activism on social media and is currently an Eyebeam Open Labs fellow, prototyping a machine learning system to combat online harassment. What I find really fascinating, especially in light of the Cambridge Analytica leaks as well as Mark Zuckerberg being in front of the House and Senate, is how much of that data actually is now being used [in AI applications]," she added. What I find most fascinating about machine learning though is how it can be somewhat fallible especially with algorithms. Machine learning can be subjective depending on the kinds of questions that youre asking. Sinders offered the example of so-called resting bitch face, which is when a person unintentionally looks angry or annoyed when their face is expressionless. How many of you know what resting bitch face is? How many of you have it? Sinders asked. You can be extremely happy and look extremely pissed off. Part of the problem with this is its important to highlight how many of us are actually in an everyday scenario expressing our truth. "Who gets to determine what happiness looks like? Who knows what happiness looks like if you have resting bitch face? How can someone see if youre scared if youre smiling? She said reading emotions is an area where AI technology inherently falls short. NGP Capital's Asel, who sits on the Boards of Gigwalk, WorkFusion and Zubie and formerly was responsible for tech investments in Asia at the International Finance Corporation, said as long as AI is beneficial its a net positive. Yes the systems are becoming very intelligent and theyre also becoming more seductive, Asel said. So we need to exercise care. He said companies such as Amazon that use AI extensively to customize repeat browsing experiences are not doing anything wrong. Amazon has been doing that for years and its a feature that I really enjoy. When I go on there I know its going to give me selections that are relevant to me, Asel said. What theyre doing is taking information about us and theyre personalizing recommendations but theyre doing it on a very statistical and aggregated basis. So in that sense they can see deviations in behavior that would suggest certain things you would prefer and theyre trying to get you information that is beneficial to you. Collision continues Thursday with featured speakers such as Brad Smith, president of Microsoft; activist and actress, Sophia Bush; and actor/comedian Damon Wayans Jr. For additional coverage of Collision 2018, click here. Pictured above from left: Jean-Francois Gagne, Vishal Chatrath, Eamon Jubbawy and Paul Asel. From left: Tristan Harris (Center for Humane Technology), Jim Steyer (Common Sense Media) and Alyssa Newcomb (NBC News) at the "How tech has us hooked" panel. Caroline Sinders discusses "Building and communicating with responsible AI." Baked goods supplier Cake Brands has appointed Rachel Clark as national accounts manager for its Sussex-based More Food business. Clark has 20 years experience in the baking sector, said the company, and formerly worked at Handmade Speciality Products, where her role included production and buying. Established in 2003, Chichester-based More Food entered administration last September, and was immediately sold as part of a going concern to Sussex Bakes, part of the Cake Brands business. Clark joined the firm just ahead of the launch of More Foodservice, a new brand and website to enable online ordering of wholesale cakes for next-day delivery. I have joined More Food to help with the growth of sales, said Clark. In a short space of time, I have made many contacts, and things are looking promising. Cake Brands explained that its commitment to innovation, and increasing demand from customers, led it to look for an addition to the team who would fit the ethos of innovation and exceptional service. Cake Brands are confident Rachel will play a key role in providing and implementing a high-quality service for their customers, stated the company. We've detected that JavaScript is not enabled in your browser. You must enable JavaScript to use craigslist. Beverly Boswell (incumbent, one term). Education: Graduate, Northern Nash Senior High school. Occupation: Medical assistant and phlebotomist. Career Highlights: Member of the House Select Committee on Disaster Relief, Elections and Ethics Law Committee, Agriculture Committee, and several others. Boswell is a primary sponsor on numerous bills including one to repeal the plastic bag ban in her district. Additional info on Boswell's campaign can be found here. Bobby Hanig. Education: High School diploma with some college. Career: Small business owner, Chair of the Currituck County Commission. Career Highlights: Sits on the Trillium Health Northern Regional Advisory Board, the Ocean Sands Water and Sewer District Board, and the Tourism Development Authority. Hanig is also a U.S. Army beteran. More information about Hanig's campaign can be found here. Republican Primary, state House District 6: Currituck, Dare, Hyde, and Pamlico CountiesIncumbent Rep. Beverly Boswell, R-Dare, is running for re-election in House District 6, but first she must face Currituck County Commissioner Bobby Hanig in the Republican primary.Boswell knows a thing or two about making headlines. In March, the lawmaker called students "Tide Pod eaters" after they walked out of schools to protest gun violence, and said school leaders were allowing them to run the schools.Even more controversial was when Boswell claimed to be a registered nurse online, prompting the North Carolina Board of Nursing to ask her to stop. Boswell has since removed the title from her campaign website.Hanig made allusions to this controversy in a Facebook post where he points out that candidatesand should notIn the same post, Hanig says he is a U.S. Army veteran but doesn't claim to be the Chief of Staff of the Army.Boswell's past controversies are likely to follow her throughout the primary. The N.C. FreeEnterprise Foundation ranks the district as "strong Republican."Boswell said.Boswell said.Hanig said he welcomes the opportunity to help the people in his district by going to Raleigh to cut taxes, create jobs, and be a voice for his community.Hanig said.If elected, Hanig said he would represent the voters and not political insiders.Hanig said.On the controversial Atlantic Coast Pipeline $57.8 million mitigation fund, Hanig and Boswell argue it was a slush fund and that Gov. Roy Cooper acted outside his constitutional authority.Both candidates praised House Bill 90, which diverted the money to public education in the eight counties affected by the pipeline. Where they differ is on the pipeline itself. While Boswell supports its creation, Hanig supported a Currituck County Commission resolution opposing the pipeline off the coast.But, Hanig said, he thinks energy independence is crucial to North Carolina and the country. Hanig said one of the most important issues concerning his district is the heroin and opioid crisis, which he says, isn't getting the coverage it deserves.Hanig said.Boswell said in the upcoming short session she will focus on promoting long-term viability and production of the mariculture and oyster industry.Boswell said.In the general election, Democrat Tess Judge will face the winner of the GOP primary. GOP veterans Daoud and Rucho got temporary housing to live inside newly drawn district. Longtime resident Sawyer and political newcomer Howell claim inside track to victory A.J. Daoud. Education: B.S. Barry University, MBA University of Phoenix. Occupation: Funeral director, including Huff Funeral Home in Yadkin County. Career highlights: Former police officer. Sixth Congressional District Chairman for NCGOP. N.C. Lottery Commissioner. William "Bill" Howell. Education: A.S. Wingate College. B.A. Catawba College. Occupation: Retired N.C. school teacher. Career highlights: Iredell Statesville School Board member. Bob Rucho. Education: B.A. in biology, Northeastern University. D.D.S., Medical College of Virginia. Advanced Degree in Prosthodontics from Boston University School of Dentistry. M.B.A., UNC-Charlotte. Occupation: Dentist, retired. Career highlights: Serves on the University of North Carolina Board of Governors. Former member N.C. Senate, 1997-2004, 2007-2016. Former member Mecklenburg County Commission. Former president of the Charlotte Dental Society. Vickie Sawyer. Education: B.A. in Special Education, UNC Charlotte. Occupation: Small business owner, Sawyer Insurance in Mooresville. Career highlights: Iredell County Planning Board member. Iredell County Republican Party treasurer. Republican primary, state Senate District 34 (Iredell and Yadkin Counties)Bob Rucho, Vickie Sawyer, A.J. Daoud, and William Howell are packed into a primary race where points of view are vaguely similar - but backgrounds span from experienced to outsider.Where the candidates live (or have lived) also is an issue. Since 2016, the district was redrawn, moving three incumbents to new districts - setting up opportunities for newcomers to seek the open seat. Daoud, whose family lives in Surry County, to establish residency in the district, moved into a funeral home he owns in Yadkin County. He and his wife Angie plan to buy a home in the district.Rucho, a former state senator from Mecklenburg County, moved to an apartment in Mooresville before filing. He says his family also will buy a home in the district and move there.Howell and Sawyer have no residency issues. Indeed, Sawyer says she should have a home-court advantage over her two better-known opponents.Rucho is banking on his conservative track record and looking to abandon political retirement for another round at the General Assembly. Sawyer is a small business owner and Iredell County Planning Board member.Howell is an Iredell Statesville School Board member with limited political experience but a 30-year background in public education. Daoud, the former 6th District Chairman for the GOP, has a long political resume; he's leveraging his record as a small business owner, police officer, and Republican activist.Iredell and Yadkin want aRucho told Carolina Journal.He believes he is the man for the job.Sawyer, who claims deep roots in the district, believes she is a more qualified than Rucho to represent the people of Yadkin and Iredell Counties.Daoud, though armed with experience in the GOP, claims a fresh perspective sets him apart.Howell's political aspirations didn't sprout until earlier this year. In January 2018, after seeing a consulting firm provide inaccurate information on education trends to the state legislature and State Board of Education, Howell decided to jump in with both feet.Every candidate expressed concern for farmers and agriculture. Rucho proposed regulatory reforms and protections for the industry, while Howell suggested more incentives and protection for independent farmers.Small farmers are wrongly marginalized by large corporations such as Walmart and Costco, Howell said.Daoud and Sawyer are equally concerned by opioid addiction issues across the state. Daoud and Howell want to tackle problems with the Interstate 77 toll project, an undertaking that's adding private toll roads to the route.Howell said.On other issues, Daoud is focused on creating jobs, lowering taxes, and tackling crime.Rucho wants to undertake a redesign of county economic tier systems to "better reflect the economic differences within a single county." The tier system affects funding and incentive programs. The former senator also said he is focused on lowering personal income tax rates, increasing the standard deduction, and supporting working families and small businesses.Sawyer is concerned about theRegulatory reform for small businesses is a must, she told CJ.All four candidates support the $5 billion Atlantic Coast Pipeline project - but Daoud, Rucho, and Sawyer argued that Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's so-called "pipeline slush fund scheme" was unconstitutional. Howell also opposed the deal, but was less specific on his stance.Earlier this year, the governor orchestrated a deal with pipeline operators to place nearly $58 million in a discretionary fund under his direction. The money would have paid for economic development and renewable energy projects, among other things, in the eight state counties affected by the pipeline. In February, the legislature passed House Bill 90 , a measure to instead funnel the money to school districts in those eight counties.Cooper shouldn't be allowed to channel funds without the legislature's input, Daoud said.Daoud's opponents agree.Rucho said. State Treasurer Dale Folwell strongly hinted some of the 601 people terminated from the State Health Plan after a recent eligibility audit could be investigated.Folwell said Tuesday, May 1, during his monthly Ask Me Anything teleconference with reporters.First, the department must determine how much the scams cost the State Health Plan, and what to do about thoseFolwell said.The audit is part of Folwell's focus on creating procedures to combat fraud and abuse of the programs he oversees.The Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit began in May 2017. It required all subscribers with dependents under the age of 75 to submit documents verifying dependents' eligibility. Of 187,791 dependents, 186,477 dependents, or 99 percent of the audit population, were confirmed as eligible.Officials are working with some of the 601 people to verify dependents' eligibility.Folwell said. His goal was to create what he called a living, breathing document.without being detected.For example, he said, if a State Health Plan member has a 10-year-old dependent, that information will follow the employee no matter what other state jobs he may take.Folwell said the State Health Plan is as large as the combined domestic employment base of Berkshire-Hathaway, Amazon, and J.P. Morgan. Yet the percentage of dependents removed because they couldn't be verified was lower than private industry standards.Folwell said in some states and private industry the numbers are higher because they require working spouses to sign up for their own companies' health insurance if they're eligible.North Carolina doesn't have that policy, he said, and he won't push for it. He said he has more pressing priorities.The treasurer also mentioned an April 17 Wake County indictment against Ben Hamilton Colvard III. His mother, Ruth Colvard, died in 2001. Her monthly pension benefits should have ceased that March. But the checks kept coming, and he cashed them through April 2016, totaling $266,747.Colvard was indicted on felony charges of obtaining property by false pretenses.Folwell said.In another matter, Folwell said the General Assembly needs to increase the state's contribution to the state pension plan, though he didn't cite an exact amount. Action by state pension boards automatically lowered the funded level of the plan by 2 to 3 percent.The Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System and Local Government Employees' Retirement System boards of trustees voted unanimously April 28 to reduce the assumed rate of return on investments from 7.2 percent to 7 percent, retroactive to Dec. 17. Folwell backed reductions before taking office.Pension investment gains haven't met unrealistic expectations on average the past 20 years. Lowering the rate gives a more accurate value of the plan.The state would have to kick in more money over a three-year phase-in to fill the new gap in full funding. The move would shore up long-term obligations, and maintain the state's AAA bond rating, Folwell said.in North Carolina, Folwell said. National rating agencies already are using an assumed rate of return or 6 percent or less to judge the stability of state pension plans.Folwell said. Now that it is fully apparent, to all who have the ability to pay some modicum of attention, that Imposter President Biden has extreme cognitive issues, in addition to being an inveterate liar: Can OUR Republic continue with this Executive Office that has completely failed, so many times, on far too many issues here at this early date in this abysmal presidency? No, Joseph R. Biden is completely unqualified, morally and cognitively, to represent real Americans, and lead this Republic of disparate peoples. Yes, Joseph R. Biden has started whispering again, even softer now than before; so, I know he still cares, plus, OUR media will soon stop reporting on Afghanistan in favor of OUR Socialist ideals. Tom Campbell The selection of Peter Hans to head our state's Community College System was expected, especially after it became known that Governor Roy Cooper, House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger jointly wrote a letter to the selection committee making it clear Hans was their choice. Peter Hans has previously served as a state community college board member, former chair of the UNC Board of Governors and is politically well connected. He will need that experience and those relationships in his new role.The new President faces long-standing problems with governance, funding and defining the role and improved cooperation with the state's two other education systems - state supported universities and k-12 public schools.The education governance structure in our state is confusing on all levels and been debated going back to when then Governor Terry Sanford was involved in the creation of community colleges. Sanford saw potential problems with mission overlap, funding priorities and the potential for turf battles between the post-high school education systems. Former State Board of Education Chair, Dallas Herring, also a champion for the creation for community colleges envisioned the need for just one governance structure for all education in our state, with himself as head of it. This concept met with immediate and negative response from Bill Friday and the board of the then three-school university system, forcing Herring, Sanford and the legislature to place community colleges under the purview of the State Board of Education.In 1981, the current structure of a statewide board and President was established as a third, separate arm of our education system, but unlike the UNC System, that board and president has limited authority over the 58 colleges in the system. The state board consists of 21 members, ten of whom are appointed by the Governor, with four each chosen by our House and Senate. It is both a blessing and problem that each school, governed by a local board and president, has great autonomy from the state office. Whereas the UNC System President and governors can establish and enforce policies, priorities and lobby the legislature effectively for funding, our Community Colleges lack the same clout, resulting in our community colleges, the third largest such system in the nation, suffering from, among other things, inadequate funding.Perhaps more importantly, that independence has made it difficult to better define and effectively coordinate community colleges' role within the education structure. We've long felt that Sanford and Herring were right in believing the ultimate solution was to have one overall education governance structure, with an education czar, if you will, as its head, but the Rapture may occur before that happens.UNC System President Margaret Spellings was correct in saying there is no comprehensive education plan for our state. We are one the few states that doesn't help administrators and students in navigating from pre-k through post-secondary education. With two-thirds of all jobs requiring more than just a high school diploma this lack of coordination is frustrating, as employers can't find workers and these workers don't have the job skills needed.So Peter Hans has big challenges and great opportunities in his new role as President of our community colleges. Hopefully, his past experience with community colleges, universities and politicians should serve him well. NC Job Ready Fund would improve workforce training, increase access to degree and credential programs and support employer involvement Contact: Ford Porter Ford Porter govpress@nc.gov RALEIGH: Ahead of the release of his short session budget, Governor Roy Cooper today shared recommendations to create the NC Job Ready Fund to train and grow North Carolina's workforce to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow. In February, Gov. Cooper laid out his key principles for improving North Carolina's workforce: providing education and skills training, partnering with employers to prepare workers for evolving industries, and tapping into local innovation.said Gov. Cooper.The NC Job Ready Fund includes three main components to invest in North Carolina's workers and would total $60 million. The fund would include the following:Many good-paying jobs of today and tomorrow require skilled workers with specialized training. Gov. Cooper's budget establishes a $30 million financial aid program to provide free training for high-demand fields. NC GROW (Getting Ready for Opportunities in the Workforce), will help cover tuition and selected fees for students pursuing training in high-demand fields. The Community College System and Department of Commerce will identify industries with high demand for skilled workers, including construction, health sciences, information technology and manufacturing.North Carolina's community colleges and four-year colleges and universities are opening doors for students all across the state. But too often, financial emergencies like unexpected healthcare costs, childcare expenses, or car breakdowns prevent students who are on the cusp of graduating from reaching that milestone. The $20 million Finish Line Grants Program will help students complete their degrees when facing unforeseen financial challenges. Funds can be used for course materials, housing, medical needs, dependent care, or other financial emergencies that students face through no fault of their own.Community college students who are within 15 credit hours of completing a degree will be eligible to receive up to $1,000 per semester. $5 million will be set aside to help at least 5,000 community college students complete their training.Students at UNC System institutions and independent colleges and universities who are within 30 credit hours of graduating and have maintained a minimum GPA will be eligible for grants of up to $1,000 per semester. $15 million will be available ($10 million for UNC institutions and $5 million for independent colleges) to help at least 15,000 students complete their undergraduate degrees.Employers themselves know the most about the skills industries require. The budget provides $10 million for a competitive grant program to assist employers in addressing workforce training needs and employee skill gaps. Funds will support work-based learning initiatives like flexible, paid internship and employment opportunities for students, apprenticeship programs, and "up-skill/back-fill" projects to help current employees develop the skills needed to fill new roles and back-fill job openings with new hires. The Department of Commerce will collaborate with Workforce Development Boards, the NC Community College System, employers, and other industry partners to design and implement the grant program.For a fact sheet on Gov. Cooper's recommendations, click HERE said Kevin Trapani, Chair of the NCWorks Commission and Co-Founder & CEO of The Redwoods Group.said Dr. A Hope Williams, President of NCICU, North Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities.said NC Community College System President Peter Hans.said Jeff Frederick, President of NCAWDB and Pat Sturdivant, President of the Workforce Development Board Directors Council. Sarah Sanders at the podium: Above. Issued on: May 1, 2018 James S. Brady Press Briefing Room 2:50 P.M. EDTGood afternoon. Today, President Trump welcomed the heroic crew and passengers of Southwest Flight 1380 to the White House. While in route from New York to Dallas last month, an engine failure crippled the aircraft. Because of Captain Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first women ever to fly tactical fighter aircraft in the United States Navy, First Officer Darren Ellisor, and the three crewmembers, the plane was able to land safely in Philadelphia.We continue to pray for the family of Jennifer Riordan who tragically passed away due to injuries she sustained. The President thanks all of these men and women for their bravery.Lastly, we strongly condemn yesterday's suicide bombing in Kabul. More than 35 people were killed, including at least 10 journalists. These journalists were in the area to cover a bomb blast when a second explosion occurred. Afghanistan's press corps is a powerful illustration of how that country has transformed. There's absolutely no justification for such a senseless and heinous act.And with that, I will take your questions. John.Sarah, the President has had a suggested list of questions from the Office of the Special Counsel since somewhere near the beginning of March. We know that the Special Counsel wants to look into some 50 different areas of inquiry. Has the President had a chance to review those questions, digest them? And what does he think of the line of questioning?As with all questions of this nature, I would refer you to the President's outside personal attorneys, Jay Sekulow and Rudy Giuliani.Sarah, can you tell us what the President's level of confidence is in Chief of Staff Kelly? And is he under serious consideration to be the next nominee for the Veterans Affairs Administration?No, he is not being considered as the VA Secretary. Both the President and the Chief of Staff are very happy with his position that he currently holds, which is Chief of Staff to the President at the White House. And I would refer you back to General Kelly's statement that he put out yesterday specific to the comments - the allegations about comments that he'd made:Can I ask you about Iran, Sarah? You described - or the NSC last night described it as a clerical error. But it was a significant editing error that has policy implications. Can you state from the podium what this White House believes is the current state of Iran's pursuit of a nuclear weapon, and if it's in full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as the IAEA has said it is?We think the biggest mistake that was made was under the Obama administration by ever entering the deal in the first place. The typo that you referenced was noticed and immediately corrected. And we are focused on moving forward on the safety and security of our country.But you assert what that says, that there is no current program in Iran, and that it is in compliance with the deal, at least as it's negotiated. Right?Well, the problem is that the deal was made on a completely false pretense. Iran lied on the front end. They were dishonest actors, and so the deal that was made was made on things that weren't accurate. And we have a big problem with that.Can you specify?Sure. Particularly the fact that Iran's nuclear capability were far more advanced and far further along than they ever indicated, which if this nuclear deal maintains as it is right now, when the sunset provision hits in seven years, they will be much further along in the process and able to make a nuclear weapon much quicker than they've ever indicated before. And that's a big problem.Jon.Thank you, Sarah. I wanted to ask you about the reprieve that the EU, Canada, and Mexico are receiving - this 30-day reprieve for the tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. What is going to take place during this 30-day period? And what are the chances of that exemption being made permanent for the EU, Canada, and Mexico?We are extending those negotiations because we've seen some progress. I'm not going to get ahead of what that may look like, but we have 30 days to continue in those negotiations, and hopeful that we can get something that works for everybody.And if I may, I just wanted to ask you about something that took place last week involving the President's personal attorney, Michael Cohen. He, in court documents, asserted that he would assert his Fifth Amendment rights in the Stormy Daniels lawsuit, which was filed against both him and the President. And you may recall that in September of 2017, the President at a campaign rally, said, "The mob takes the Fifth." And he also said, "If you're innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?" Do those ideas also apply to Michael Cohen? Does the President stand by those comments?I can't speak on behalf of Michael Cohen. I'd refer you to him.Francesca.Thank you, Sarah. On those list of 44 questions, the President said today that the leak was disgraceful, but a former assistant to Special Counsel Robert Mueller has suggested that the White House was behind the leak. Is he wrong?Once again, I can't comment on anything regarding those questions, and I would refer you to the President's outside counsel.Well, that was a question about specifically the White House being involved in it.It was actually specific to the President, and that's why I'm referencing and referring you to the President's personal attorneys who can speak on that matter.Okay, well, a question about the White House specifically then: Is the White House concerned, as Congressman Adam Schiff has said, that so many of the questions point to obstruction of justice?We, here at the White House, try never to be concerned with anything dealing with Adam Schiff.Blake.Thank you, Sarah. Let me point you back to what John had started on with the tariffs. Wilbur Ross, the Commerce Secretary, had said today - said earlier today, "If we're going to impose it, we're going to have to do it pretty soon, or else people will start gaming the system." It sounds like you feel like this is moving along. But do you agree - does the White House agree with the Commerce Secretary that you're going to have to move forward on this pretty soon? And if so, what exactly is "pretty soon"?Certainly. It's a 30-day extension, and we expect for the negotiations to be completed at the end of those 30 days.So won't this be the last of the 30 days then?I'm not going to get ahead of the process. But right now, we're working on negotiating a deal during this 30-day time period, and we'll keep you posted if there's anything that changes.Sarah, can you clarify Dr. Ronny Jackson's status? If he's no longer the President's personal physician, why not?He's still an active-duty Navy doctor assigned to the White House. But upon his nomination to the Veterans Affairs - Department of Veterans Affairs as the Secretary, an acting doctor was put in his place, and Dr. Conley will remain there.Why is that, though? Why not bring him back in that role if the President was so happy with him before?Again, Dr. Conley had already assumed that role, but Dr. Jackson continues to be an active-duty Navy doctor that's assigned here at the White House where there are a number of doctors that are part of the White House Medical Unit.And did the President have any response to the defamation suit filed yesterday by Stormy Daniels?I don't have anything for you on that.Two questions for you. Why did Keith Schiller, who was a White House employee at the time, go and take medical records from the President's personal doctor last year?As is standard operating procedure for a new President, the White House Medical Unit took possession of the President's medical records.It was characterized as a raid. Is that your understanding of what happened? The doctor seemed to be pretty upset about it.No, that is not my understanding.And my second question, Sarah, just relates to -Actually, this is your third.The other one was a follow-up, but thank you. You talked about - you made very clear you don't want to get into this list of questions from the New York Times, which is fine. But the President has tweeted about it. He's talked about how none of these questions relate to collusion. But that's not true; over a dozen of them do. We've talked about accuracy from the President in the past. Why is he mischaracterizing these reports?Once again, I'm not going to get into the back-and-forth on matters involving the Special Counsel. And I would refer you -That's not a question involving the Special Counsel, that's -It certainly has implications with the Special Counsel, and I'm not going to get into a back-and-forth on it. I refer you to the President's personal attorney.Sarah, just to follow up on Hallie's first question - there are some today who are essentially saying that what has happened with the President's former personal doctor was a burglary, the way Keith Schiller busted in and essentially -I don't know it was "some." I think there's one, but not some.What's your response to that characterization?Once again, that it would be standard procedure for the President - a newly elected President's records to be in possession by the White House Medical Unit. And that was what was taking place, is those records were being transferred over to the White House Medical Unit as requested.And if I could ask a second question. There are some allies of the President's up on Capitol Hill who are apparently drafting articles of impeachment for the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Is it the President's belief that Rod Rosenstein has either committed a high crime or a misdemeanor?I'm not aware of any belief of that.Does the White House then not endorse that drive? Would the White House call on these members not to pursue that?I haven't seen the specific document, but we don't have any personnel announcements, and we're continuing to move forward with the Department of Justice.Sarah, there are two questions. There are questions percolating about James Shaw Jr. and the President. The President has - has he called him? Is he planning on meeting with him? He's talking to heroes who have - the heroes of the Southwest flight in the Oval Office today. And you said something about James Shaw Jr., but is the President himself going to reach out to him? Will he come to the White House?My understanding is that there has been an outreach effort to bring him here to the White House, and I'll keep you updated on that as I have more information.Okay. And second question: Payoffs, hush money, Russia trolls, Facebook, WikiLeaks, DNC hack, Comey email investigations on the eve of the election, allegations of collusion. Do these issues give support to those who say - who offer questions about the President's legitimacy?I'm not sure I follow the question, but I think the fact that millions of Americans came out and voted for and continue to support this presidency makes him pretty legitimate.Steve.Sarah, the Israeli announcement yesterday, how is that affecting the President's thinking about what to do about the Iran nuclear deal?Certainly the fact that the deal was made under a false pretense is problematic. But the President has been very clear that he thinks the deal is one of the worst that we've ever seen, and we'll keep you posted when he's made a final decision on that front.And when did the President first hear about this? Was it in early March when he spoke to Prime Minister Netanyahu?I'm not aware of the exact date that the President was made aware, but we were - the White House and the President were made aware prior to Israel's announcement yesterday.And last thing. Was this coordinated yesterday with the White House? Did Netanyahu say - give you a heads up and say this is coming? Contact: White House White House Press Office Gina Haspel has displayed dedication and leadership throughout her more than three decades of service with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). During her more than thirty years of service in the CIA, Gina Haspel has shown an unparalleled commitment to the mission of the CIA and rule of law. Haspel is a career intelligence officer, having joined the CIA in 1985. Gina Haspel has led a historic and distinguished career at the highest levels of the CIA, including as Deputy Director and now Acting Director. Haspel is the first woman to be nominated as Director of the CIA. Haspel has served in senior positions at the CIA, including as: Deputy Director of the National Clandestine Service Chief of Staff for the Directorate of Operations Chief of Station for multiple stations, including locations in Europe and Eurasia In order to join the then-growing fight against al Qaeda, Haspel requested a transfer to the CIA's Counterterrorism Center, where her first day on the job was September 11, 2001. During her three years at the CTC, Haspel served as a deputy group chief and senior-level supervisor.Gina Haspel has developed outstanding intelligence expertise and understanding during her distinguished career at the CIA. Gina Haspel is an intelligence expert with a full understanding of the varying aspects of the CIA and the Intelligence Community (IC), developed through her close work with officers across the Agency and the IC. Haspel has extensive counterterrorism experience, having served in the CIA's Counterterrorism Center and in the field. Through her senior roles at the CIA, Haspel has gained significant management experience and developed a strong working relationship with the White House and Administration officials. Haspel has received multiple awards and recognitions during her distinguished career, including: The Presidential Rank Award, the most prestigious award in federal civil service. The Intelligence Medal of Merit, awarded by the CIA for especially meritorious service or achievement above normal duties. The George H.W. Bush Award, granted for excellence in counterterrorism. The Donovan Award, presented to individuals serving in CIA's Directorate of Operations who demonstrate particularly superior innovation, open mindedness, and dedication to the mission of the Directorate of Operations and exemplify the spirit and tradition of General William "Wild Bill" Donovan.Gina Haspel's nomination has gained widespread support from former intelligence and national security officials. In a true testimony to her leadership and qualifications, Haspel has earned the praise and respect of her colleagues in the Intelligence Community. Intelligence and national security officials across past Administrations have praised Gina Haspel's nomination to lead the CIA. Leon Panetta, former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense during the Obama Administration, said "I'm glad it's Gina because frankly she is someone who really knows the CIA inside out." John Brennan, former CIA Director during the Obama Administration, stated Haspel "has the experience-the breadth and depth-on intelligence issues." Michael Hayden, former CIA Director during the Clinton and Bush Administrations, called Haspel a "great choice" and "highly regarded." James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence during the Obama Administration, John Bennett, former Director of CIA's National Clandestine Service during the Obama Administration, remarked that Haspel Michael Morell, former CIA Deputy Director during the Obama Administration, said that Haspel is John McLaughlin, former CIA Deputy Director during the Bush Administration, commented Former senior government officials have written a letter to Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA), urging the swift confirmation of Haspel. Those offering their support include former senior officials from the CIA, State Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense, National Security Agency, and more. It's been another busy week in Washington, as the special counsel investigation into the President continues and the Stormy Daniels scandal remains unsettled. However, it's attention of a very different kind that is circulating Donald Trump in the latest headlines. Calls for President Trump to win the Nobel Peace Prize have emerged and there's a great possibility he could walk away with the prestigious accolade. South Korean President Moon Jae-in put forward the Commander-in-Chief after it was suggested that he himself should be nominated for the award. According to the Washington Post, he said: "If anyone were to win the Nobel Peace Prize for the current effort to solve the North Korean nuclear problem, it should be President Trump." It comes after a landmark meeting between President Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un that ended in an commitment to end a war between the two nations that has lasted nearly 70 years. Peace in the Korean Peninsula Despite an armistice being signed in July 1953, which saw the creation of a two-mile-wide demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea, no formal peace treaty was ever agreed and so the pair have been in a longstanding ceasefire. Until now. It may seem like a technicality to end a war that hasn't seen any major conflict for a number of decades, but the moves towards peace in the Korean Peninsula mean much more than that. Previous talks have fallen through because of missile tests launched by North Korea and its seemingly stubborn stance on maintaining its nuclear arsenal. However, during the landmark summit in Panmunjom, Moon and Kim agreed to sign a peace treaty by the end of the year that would include work towards denuclearisation of the area. "South and North Korea confirmed the common goal of realising, through complete denuclearisation, a nuclear-free Korean peninsula," a shared declaration said. But where does Trump come in? Although it never officially declared war on North Korea, the US supported South Korea in fighting against the invasion from Pyongyang. Since then, US Presidents have had a difficult relationship with the Korean Peninsula but Trump's threats of military action and international sanctions over North Korea's missile activity may have been enough to force the two nations into talks. However, it's unlikely that a peace treaty will be the end of any conflict in the area, as humanitarian concerns persist about how the North Korean regime treats its citizens. No precedent for the President Previous US Presidents have been honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize - including Theodore Roosevelt and Trump's predecessor Barack Obama - so the idea isn't that far-fetched. However, what may be unsettling for some liberals, especially Trump's opposition in the Democrats, is the less-than-peaceful impact he's had in his own country. From forbidding transgender people from joining the US army to overturning the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and signing a travel ban on people from Muslim-majority countries, Trump has made a number of hostile moves in his presidency. With this in mind, it may be understandable why some are angered by calls for the US President to walk away with the Nobel Peace Prize. But there are other matters for Trump to contend with, as well as checking his diary is free for awards ceremonies. Although he may be keen to see peace in the Korean Peninsula, the US President has made the headlines recently for his role in bringing further instability to the Middle East. Trump has made various comments about his intention to withdraw from the Iran nuclear treaty, which is likely to trigger a complete collapse of the deal. Will Trump destroy the Iran treaty? Reports suggest that Trump has all-but-decided to walk away, but many are still hoping he will change his mind. The President's hard-line stance has been bolstered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who has been keen to present Iran as a major threat to the US long before the treaty was signed in 2015. Former Secretary of State and one of the architects of the deal John Kerry tweeted in defence of the agreement after the latest remarks from Netanyahu. Every detail PM Netanyahu presented yesterday was every reason the world came together to apply years of sanctions and negotiate the Iran nuclear agreement - because the threat was real and had to be stopped. It's working! That's why Israeli security experts are speaking out. 1/4 ? John Kerry (@JohnKerry) 1 May 2018 However, the man currently in the role, Mike Pompeo, highlighted flaws in the deal and defended the President's attitude towards withdrawing from it. Speaking from NATO headquarters, he said: "The President has been clear - absent a substantial fix, absent overcoming the shortcomings, the flaws of the deal - he is unlikely to stay in that deal past this May." Congress will demand that Trump either signs a presidential waiver on sanctions on Iran or withdraws from the nuclear accord next week (May 12). Market reaction The landmark summit between North and South Korea caused an increase in Asia-Pacific equities but experts are warning about investors reading too much into the event. JPMorgan Asset Management chief strategist Tai Hui told the Financial Times that its potential to benefit the markets "should not be overstated". Making a comparison between now and 2017 when tensions were high in the Korean Peninsula but the Korean equity market remained one of the best-performing in the world, he said any impact would be short-lived. He added that the summit was not "expected to provide a windfall of earnings improvement" and any "positive impact on sentiment" would likely be "limited and temporary". State allegations against a Springfield mortgage broker mirror accusations contained in a lawsuit filed by a Petersburg man who says that he was cheated out of his home. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation on April 19 suspended Chris Schallers mortgage loan orginators license on an emergency basis, saying that the department has evidence that Schaller has been defrauding consumers. The scheme involves multiple consumers in need of financial assistance approaching Schaller to obtain a mortgage, regulators wrote in the order suspending Schallers license for 180 days pending further investigation. Schaller, rather than obtaining a mortgage, deceives consumers to transfer ownership interest in their property. In furtherance of his scheme, Schaller uses a bank trust to hold ownership interest and control of the consumers property. Schaller is the sole beneficiary of the trust. Chris Schaller The state in March suspended the license for Schallers office, a branch of Diamond Residential Mortgage Corp. on Greenbriar Drive, saying that loan paperwork wasnt in order and that the department had reason to believe a shredding service had been summoned after investigators began following up on a complaint. The suspension of Schallers brokers license prevents him from conducting mortgage work anywhere in Illinois. Via telephone, Schaller said that hes done nothing wrong. He said that he is stacking chips. The chips are going to fall, and Im going to be laughing all the way to the bank, Schaller said. If you want to know what I mean by that, I cant elaborate on that. In Facebook postings, Schaller has said that hes been set up by business competitors. On Facebook, Schaller also acknowledges a federal investigation, saying that the U.S. attorneys office in 2015 subpoenaed every title company in Springfield for every record on every closing that I ever did. The status of any federal investigation isnt clear. The state allegation is similar to one made in Menard County Circuit Court, where Daniel Fricke is suing Schaller, claiming that the embattled mortgage broker tricked him out of a house and 70 acres in 2011. It wasnt a typical real estate deal. Fricke was facing the loss of 40 acres of farmland adjoining his home due to an allegation that the land had been wrongly conveyed to him by his mother before she declared bankruptcy. In lieu of an auction, a bankruptcy trustee agreed to accept $15,000 for the land, but Fricke didnt have the money. He says that Schaller agreed to pay $15,000 to the trustee, plus collect a $9,000 loan fee, and the money eventually would be repaid in a lump sum. Fricke continued living in the home. Last year, Fricke says, he decided to sell the house and move so that he could pay his debt to Schaller. He says he was stunned when Schaller told him that he had no right to be on the property because he had sold it to a trust controlled by Schaller in 2011. During a hearing last fall, Fricke testified that he believed that he, not Schaller, was the trusts beneficiary. Schaller says that he decided to sell the property because Fricke was late with property taxes and he feared the real estate would be lost for unpaid taxes if it wasnt sold. According to a lease dated 2011, Fricke was a tenant who would pay property taxes, plus a $33,876 lump sum after living on the property for five years. During a hearing last fall, Fricke testified that he hadnt seen the lease until last year. In his lawsuit, Fricke, who is disabled, says that he was taking painkillers when he made the 2011 deal with Schaller and so was easily confused. As far as I know, he never bought anything from me, Fricke testified during the September hearing. I dont know anybody on the planet who would sell 70 acres and a house for $32,000. The deal confused Eighth Circuit Court Judge Scott Butler enough that he asked for details during the September hearing. How come hes (Fricke is) paying rent? the judge asked. He wasnt paying monthly rent, Schaller answered. No, but the rent was given with a lump sum payment with interest, the judge responded. That was just the basis for what I originally purchased the property for, Schaller said. So, this was a lease, but he didnt have to pay you any rent? the judge asked. Correct, Schaller said. Ever? the judge pressed. Schaller nodded. Thats correct? Butler asked. Correct, Schaller answered. After Fricke started asking questions, Schaller last year drew up paperwork that would give Fricke $57,000 from the sale of the home, which fetched $165,000, plus four acres, according to Frickes lawsuit. It was, Schaller told him, a take-it-or-leave it deal, according to the lawsuit. Schaller told Dan that if he did not accept this agreement, he would be penniless and homeless when the home sold because Schaller did not have to provide him with anything, Fricke claims in his lawsuit. Schaller says that he was trying to be charitable. Why is he entitled to $57,000 in 2017 for the sale (of the property? August Appleton, Frickes lawyer, asked during the September hearing, after Schaller had testified that Fricke lost any claim to the land after signing the 2011 paperwork. I was trying to be a nice guy, Schaller answered. I didnt have to do anything, but I didnt want him to be homeless as well. So, you were just, essentially, gifting him $57,000 and four acres? Appleton inquired. Is that your position? That is correct, Schaller responded. After the hearing, Butler denied Frickes request for money held in an escrow account from proceeds of the sale of the house, ruling that he must wait for litigation to conclude before he can receive any funds. But the judge indicated that Frickes case has merit. Youre challenging this entire transaction, Butler said. Theres lots of evidence to support your position. Schaller has denied any wrongdoing. Last week, I flew to Toronto to check out a new phone that LG's had a hell of a time trying to keep a secret: the LG G7 ThinQ. It looks looks and feels a lot like most of the high end handsets that companies are pushing out today. It's slick to the touch (you'll definitely want to put it into a case), has a nice heft to it, and yes, a notch at the at the top of its display a la iPhone X, but the company reps were quick to point out to me that you can totally make it disappear with a little software sorcery. Depending on where you are in the world, you'll be able to pick up the G7 ThinQ with 4GB of RAM plus 64GB storage or with 6GB RAM plus 128GB storage. No matter which one you fork over your money for, storage shouldn't be an issue: the handset supports microSD cards up to 2TB in size. The phone's got an ultra bright 1,000-nit display which, while they wouldn't let me take outside to test, LG swears will make it easy to see in direct sunlight. I don't doubt that this is the case. Its camera does tricks, too. It uses onboard A.I. to guess at what you're taking a photo of and sets itself up to take the best shot of your subject that it can. Under controlled conditions, I was shown how it can take photos in near darkness that'll come out well lit and looking reasonably good. Sadly, its not a feature, to my understanding, that can be turned off. Goodbye moody emo shots. While I was at their hands-on press event, LG let the journalists in attendance listen to how loud the speaker mono, not stereo, mind you was. They told us about how they used the spare space inside of the phone as a resonance chamber to boost the volume level that its capable of, without reducing audio quality. Neat. Most importantly, to run it all, the handset comes with a big ol' battery that'll keep it running right through your workday, and depending on how much you use it, likely until bed time. For all intents and purposes, it looked, to me, like a solid choice for anyone looking for a decent Android phone. However, there was one feature that I came away from the event feeling uneasy about. In the time since I returned home, that feeling hasn't changed. There's a button baked into the side of the G7 ThinQ that can only be used to call up Google Assistant. Topically, it's not a terrible idea: having a button to call on Google's digital helper means no more having to yell "OK, Google" for everyone in the room to hear. As far as I'm concerned, that's a win. But here's the thing: this button, which the PR reps assured me was made possible by an exclusive deal with Google, can't be reprogrammed to do anything else. At least that's what LG's people told me. I find this both gross and intrusive. I'm relatively new to using Android on a full-time basis. One of the things that I enjoy about how the OS has evolved since the last time I used it routinely back in 2010, is that if you don't like an app or a service, you can disable it. Out of sight, out of mind. Different camera apps can be downloaded. You don't have to rely on Google Docs to get shit done and if you hate the way the OS looks, you can theme it or plop in a different set of icons. While I'm uncomfortable with the comparatively low level of security an Android handset offers compared to what you get with iOS, I can say that all of this makes a modern Android phone, for me at least, a pleasure to use. Having a button that's exclusively associated with a particular app, especially one that demands access to the minutiae of my daily life, my contacts, and other particulars, feels uncomfortable. Google Assistant needs to map your location and habits to suggest things that you might enjoy. It trawls your handset's data to better serve you, although Google's pretty stingy on the details of what data Google Assistant collects: "Web and app activity, which includes your searches, Chrome history, and content you browse on the web and in apps. This info helps Google Assistant provide better results and suggestions." It can even look at what's being shown on your display so that it can suggest similar content. It hears all, it sees all and, the last time I checked, it doesn't work well with encryption (do correct me if I'm wrong about this). That, no matter which platform I'm using, is a deal breaker. The solution of course, is to simply buy a handset that lacks a hardwired A.I. assistant button. Cool. But the fact that we've got one that gussies such a button up as a feature makes me concerned that it may become more difficult, as time goes on, to avoid intrusive services like Siri, Alexa Google Assistant or Cortana. Even if you don't own a smart speaker or handset that rocks an always-on audio connection to some far-flung server on the other side of the world, your friends do. Maybe your mom got an Alexa Dot to use in the kitchen. Being watched and listened to, against our will, is an uncomfortable part of modern life. I fear that the day is coming where we won't have the option of choosing anonymity. The ability to decide how much access to our lives we give to our governments and the corporations that fellate consumers with promises of cutting-edge convenience could soon be lost to us. I know it's just a button on a handset that I'm under no obligation to buy. But it gives me the fucking creeps. Hobby Lobby's President Steve Green was part of a conspiracy to steal a lot of irreplaceable antiquities. The stolen artifacts have now been returned to the Iraqi Government. Mr. Green is suffering as a devout Christian does, before his God and no one else. Via CBS: Thousands of ancient clay tablets, seals and other Iraqi archaeological objects that were smuggled into the U.S. and shipped to the head of arts and crafts chain Hobby Lobby were returned to the Iraqi government on Wednesday. The Oklahoma City-based private company, whose devout Christian owners won a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court ruling exempting them from providing certain contraceptive coverage for employees, agreed to pay a $3 million fine last year to settle a lawsuit over the company's role in the smuggling of the artifacts, which authorities say were looted from the war-torn country. Prosecutors say Steve Green, the president of the $4 billion company, agreed to buy more than 5,500 artifacts in 2010 for $1.6 million in a scheme that involved a number of middlemen and the use of phony or misleading invoices, shipping labels and other paperwork to slip the artifacts past U.S. customs agents. Signal is an encrypted messaging app for smartphones and desktops that I and a lot of other folks use on a daily basis to communicate with discretion and security. I like it so much that I've moved away from using other services on my iOS and Android phones to using Signal for all of the texting I do, even with those who don't use the app. Unfortunately, according to The Verge, the Signal team is having a difficult time trying to provide its services to users in the UAE, Egypt and Oman, where the app has been banned by the government. Considering the fact that these states aren't known for treating political dissidents and minorities none too well, that's a big deal. For some people, encrypted comms are essential to avoiding incarceration or worse. The crux of Signal's issues with providing services to users in these countries is that Amazon, whose CloudFront web services Signal's parent company, Open Whisper System, uses, has banned domain-fronting. Domain-fronting, put simply, is a technique for making traffic from one site look like it's from another site. In an email received by Open Whisper System's founder, Moxie Marlinspike (best damn name in the business,) the General Manager of Amazon CloudFront called Open Whisper Systems' domain-fronting out, telling Marlinspike that Amazon would love to have their business, but not his company refuses to comply with their no domain-fronting policies. From the email: When access to Signal was originally censored in Egypt, Oman, Qatar, and UAE, we responded by through Google App Engine. This meant that to block Signal, those countries would also have to block google.com. That was not a step those countries were willing to take, and as a result Signal has been usable there for the past 1.5 years, even though direct access remains blocked. This required no configuration from users; they could simply install the app and use it as normal. For the time being, not being able to offer Signal to users via domain-fronting in countries where the government clamps down hard on privacy could be a serious threat to anyone living there with a proclivity for partaking in anything outside of regime-enforced societal norms. Given that Open Whisper Systems has already moved on from using Google's servers to provide Signal's services to their users, the company is running out of ground to stand on. They're looking for a work around that will allow Signal users in countries where the app is banned to continue using it, but for the time being, people in Oman, the UAE and Egypt are shit out of luck. Hawaii just passed a bill that would make it the first US state as well as the first place in the world to ban most sunscreens. Chemicals used in over 3,500 sunscreen products oxybenzone (aka Benzophenone-3) and octinoxate "have significant harmful impacts on Hawaii's marine environment and residing ecosystems, including coral reefs that protect Hawaii's shoreline," says the bill that Hawaii lawmakers passed on Tuesday. If signed by Governor David Ige, the sunscreen ban will become law by January 1, 2021. From NPR: "Amazingly, this is a first-in-the-world law," state Sen. Mike Gabbard, who introduced the bill, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. "So, Hawaii is definitely on the cutting edge by banning these dangerous chemicals in sunscreens." The chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are used in more than 3,500 of the world's most popular sunscreen products, including Hawaiian Tropic, Coppertone and Banana Boat, would be prohibited. As NPR reported, a 2015 study of coral reefs in Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Israel determined oxybenzone "leaches the coral of its nutrients and bleaches it white. It can also disrupt the development of fish and other wildlife." Even a small drop is enough to damage delicate corals. At the time, researchers estimated about 14,000 tons of sunscreen lotions end up in coral reefs around the world each year. Of course, opposition comes from sunscreen makers such as Bayer, who makes Coppertone. Prescription sunscreens that contain the harmful chemicals would still be permitted under the new law. Image: dronepicr Hawaii Maui Makena Big Beach, CC BY 2.0, Link Here's a fact you can kill with alcohol or a head injury and never miss: Ikea doles out around 2 million of its Swedish meatballs, per day. Here's another: those Swedish meatballs? There's a very good chance that they're not actually Swedish. According to the Hurriet Daily News, the recipe for Swedish meatballs is actually based on a recipe from Turkey. In a tweet that shook the meat-in-ball-form world, the Swedish government declared that "Swedish meatballs are actually based on a recipe King Charles XII brought home from Turkey in the early 18th century. Let's stick to the facts!" From the Hurriet Daily News: Annie Mattson, a researcher at the literature department of Uppsala University, told Anadoly Agency that Sweden's King Charles XII lost a battle against Russia and took shelter in Bender, then an Ottoman territory near Moldova. Having spent a long time in Bender, apparently on a local food bender, Charles XII couldn't bear to leave behind the local cuisine. When he finally headed on home, he came packing the recipes for cabbage rolls, meatballs and, god love him, introduced Turkey's national love for strong, hot coffee to the Swedish people. Earlier today, The Guardian got their meat hooks on this story and added to it. Apparently, feelings on the revelation, in Turkey are mixed. This week in Turkey's meatball capital, Inegol, a local chef, Ibrahim Veysel, told the Dogan news agency it was an honor that the Turkish dish should have become "an example to different cuisines all over the world". Others were less happy. Serdar Cam, president of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency, complained that Ikea, which sells 2m meatballs a day in its in-store restaurants should not be selling the dish as though it were Swedish. I just don't know what to believe in anymore. N509FZ Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, Link Most Cubans have terrible access to the Internet estimates suggest only 5-25% of the populace can regularly get online. The government made it a bit easier in recent years with paid wifi hotspots, but they require dough, and they're super slow. So Cubans have instead, in the last decade, evolved a complex, massive sneakernet. It's called "El Paquete Semanal", or "The Weekly Package" in which a loosely-connected group of Cubans assemble a bunch of files (video, audio, web pages, texts) and distribute them around the country via external hard drives, CDs and USB sticks. It's pretty stunning: A weekly curated version of the best of the global Internet, mixed with a ton of locally-produced Cuban content, too. The upshot is a population that is fully conversant in contemporary global TVs, movie and music, except they get it all via USB port and DVD drive. A group of academics did a deep dive into how El Paquete works, and their paper is free online. They met with "Los Maestros" the folks who download and compile the material, relying on their own crowdsourced networks of Cubans who get files off the creaky public wifi, or, in the case of bigger files, from contributors who have fatter bandwidth at their government or university jobs. The Maestros also act as promoters of local content, finding Cuban music and video and putting that in El Paquete. The next step in the chain is Los Paqueteros "The Packagers" who are the distributors: They buy the weekly package from the Maestros, and sell files to everyday customers. They work as librarians of a sort, helping people find the content they're looking for On a narrow street in Havana Vieja, we visited a bottom-floor apartment with a blinking, rainbow-colored sign that read "OPEN." Inside, the front room of this house had been converted into a shop with a desk, couch, and a wall full of DVDs packaged in colorful paper envelopes. Ricardo, one of the shop owners, sat behind the desk scrolling through digital files on his Dell desktop computer as a middle-aged woman, Aileen, looked on. "Copy me something good," she told him, "Whatever you recommend." Ricardo quickly navigated through several folders on his screen until he got to the soap opera section. "I'm going to put a soap opera on here for you that you're going to like, just the first season," he told her. "If you don't, just bring it back and we'll find you something else." Aileen pulled out a USB stick from her purse and handed it to Ricardo who got up from his chair to plug the USB into the computer tower on the floor behind his PC. As he began to copy the files onto the USB, Aileen told him that she had been having trouble with her phone. Ricardo told her to come back later in the day and that he would help her install the latest software update that just came out in the week's EP. "See," he told us, "I not only sell them content, I help people in my community with everything." Interestingly, Los Paqueteros also work as filters and censors, which they pitch as a service to customers, with each packager having a different sensibility: Paqueteros also clean or censor EP, most often to ensure that their content is high-quality or that it does not contain overtly anti-government messages. At other times, censoring is due to personal beliefs or beliefs of customers. For example, Renier has been selling EP for six years and the majority of his 100 clients are religious. Renier shared that his religious views impact the way in which he compiles his version of EP: "Sometimes I clean EP when it arrives. That is, I remove what I consider to be obscene things that are against the Christian theme. [My] EP comes from me and I do not like to distribute something with content that is not good. If there is something I do not approve of, I try to eliminate that section. It's like censoring. "Renier (M, 35) Renier's customers, therefore, receive an offline internet that is censored based on his sensitivities. Renier's view is that he censors his material as an extra service for customers and, if they do not approve, they can find a different Paquetero with a different EP Parents hunt around between different packagers to find educational stuff for their children Zamira visits multiple Paqueteros and asks friends in order to find educational content that is appropriate for her five year-old granddaughter. She also searches for "items from Discovery, " a phrase that alludes to content from the Discovery Channel but has evolved to mean any documentary film: "It's important for people to have a larger view of what is in the world. I love watching Los Discovery because it allows me to see what life is like for people all over the world. This is important for us here. "Zamira (F, 74) The weekly package also includes the latest copy of Revolico, which is the Craiglist of Cuba the packagers will download it, sometimes formatting all its postings in PDFs that people can more easily print to hand around. It's a pretty remarkable system, I gotta say. Also: One thing that struck me was how the valuable curation in El Paquete is human, and not algorithmic. Out here in America, we're struggling with the problems of abundance: How do you sort through and find the useful stuff amongst the Niagaran postings online? Years ago the major social networks and content sites like Facebook and Youtube decided that the only way was algorithmic recommender systems which scaled easily, sure, but with the emergent problems of algorithmic gameability, inscrutability and loopy bias. In contrast, El Paquete actually reminds me of the early "social" Internet of the late 90s and early 00s. It, too, relied on human curation: Links posted on discussion boards and email lists, bloggers finding stuff, RSS stitching things together. Those cultural mechanisms have been pushed to the margins of the Internet, but some people still enjoy them: Hey, you're reading this on Boing Boing, right? BTW, if you want another slice of Cuba's online world, check out the terrific piece that Antonio Garcia Martinez wrote for Wired last summer, where he visited members of El Paquete and reported on hackers that have meshed together their own parallel intertubes, complete with Cuban versions of all the major US social services. (CC-licensed photo via Bojana Brkovic) ( Thanks to Fred Benenson for pointing out this one to me!) The Core Shopping Center caters to the needs of Calgary, Canada's downtown office workers. Wandering its multiple floors over a series of city blocks, you'll find a mid-ranged food court, travel agencies, cell phone stores and stores flogging business attire pretty standard stuff. Its white walls and polished floors give it an institutional feel that shouts "shop and bugger off." It's a mall! You could mistake it for any number of other shopping centers around North America, except for one thing: the Core has, or rather, had, a dead fella in the wall of one of its women's washrooms. I spend six months of the year in and around Calgary and worked for a number of years managing mall cops. Lemme set the scene. Instead of forcing maintenance personnel to rip a hole in a wall to access plumbing every time that there's a problem, a lot of mall bathrooms are designed to include small, lockable doors that provide access to the pipes. The wall that this door is baked into is often referred to as a "pony wall." Pony walls aren't designed for load bearing. They're there, primarily, to hide plumbing, HVAC and electrical conduits from folks using the building. It looks nice. In between a pony wall and the wall that lies beyond it, there's usually a small chunk of space maybe one and a half feet feet deep to allow workers to get parts of themselves and their tools into to make repairs. The access hatch for a pony wall can be locked and unlocked from the outside. The space behind the wall typically isn't large enough to safely accommodate a person. There's no reason to have a handle or a latch on the inside of the hatch. Now, we're good to go. Earlier this week, according to the Calgary Herald, one of The Core's maintenance personnel was dispatched to the woman's washroom by the mall food court. A toilet wasn't flushing. Easy fix. With his tools in tow, maintenance worker bopped into the stall in question, unlocked the maintenance hatch and found some poor, dead bastard jammed into the space behind the pony wall. It wasn't long before the police arrived on the scene, followed by one of the city's medical examiners. Soon after, the fire department showed up to help extricate the body from the wall remember, the access hatches are large enough to get an arm and maybe your head into, but not a whole body. From The Calgary Herald: "Despite the circumstances of where the body was located, investigators do not suspect foul play and the death remains classified as undetermined," police said in a news release. The man's identity has not been determined. Police said they are still investigating when he died and how he ended up inside the wall. Poole said earlier that it's possible someone crawling through a vent or duct fell from above and got stuck. "That would be the most logical that it was from above," said Poole. "That is obviously something they would be looking at is someone crawling through the ventilation system." No matter how he got into the space behind the wall or why he might have been crawling around the mall's HVAC system, that's a terrible way to die. The poor maintenance worker that made the ugly discovery has been given a few days off, with pay, and has been encouraged to seek out therapeutic counseling. Image via Flickr, courtesy of Tony Webster Oakland, California a city across the bay from San Francisco whose large African-American population has struggled with gentrification and police violence for decades has a long reputation for police corruption and surveillance. Many people outside of California first became aware of the Oakland Police Department's terrible internal controls during the Occupy movement, when swivel-eyed, pistol waving undercovers vied with the attempted murder of a decorated veteran and vicious, unprovoked shooting of photographers for headlines. After Occupy, there was the official stonewalling and the revelation that the top cop had a policy of ignoring any complaints, queries or messages about Occupy. In the years since Occupy, there have been unprovoked police killings and cops who raped teens with impunity. Oakland isn't just a locus of police violence, though: it's also ground zero for some of the most extensive, least transparent urban mass surveillance outside of China, with "fusion centers" and license trackers being deployed without citizen oversight or consent, often in total secrecy. But Oakland isn't a city that takes this kind of thing lying down. The city, after all, is the birthplace of the Black Panthers, and its tradition of organized resistance has only strengthened in the years since. Thus it is that the Oakland City Council unanimously passed the city's "Rules for Surveillance", the country's most stringent police surveillance oversight law. The law provides for a "Privacy Advisory Commission" and directs police to produce an annual report with fine-grained details of how surveillance technology was used. The Privacy Advisory Commission must be notified any time the city and its police seek funding or appropriations to procure any new surveillance technology. The city is also barred from entering into nondisclosure agreements with surveillance technology providers that would impair this transparency a key provision, doubtless inspired by the Harris Corporation's practice of binding police departments to secrecy over its Stingray cellphone spying devices, a bizarre attempt to thwart transparency that culminated with Federal agents raiding local police departments to seize evidence before it could be introduced in open court, which would have revealed the existence and characteristics of Stingray devices. In the wake of Oakland's 2013 efforts to approve federal grant money to construct a "Domain Awareness Center," the city has now also created a "Privacy Advisory Commission," or PAC. This body, comprised of volunteer commissioners from each city council district, acts as a privacy check on the city when any municipal entity (typically the police department) wants to acquire a technology that may impinge on individual privacy. The new law requires that the PAC be notified if the city is spending money or seeking outside grant money to be spent on any hardware or software that could potentially impact privacy. Notably, Oakland's law specifically includes provisions that forbid non-disclosure agreements and protect whistleblowers. Oakland passes "strongest" surveillance oversight law in US [Cyrus Farivar/Ars Technica] (Image: REUTERS/Noah Berger) Is driving an overrated and oversaturated way to travel? In terms of highway congestion, price of maintenance, and the havoc cars do on the planet, absolutely. And, to top it all off, highway traffic can actually kill you in more ways than one. That's why we've turned our attention to biking whenever we can, but READ THE REST The first installment of documents put online by the Papers of Abraham Lincoln project is but a sliver of things to come. But what a sliver it is. It is easy to spend more time than planned browsing through what Lincoln wrote and what he read between his birth in 1809 and 1842, his final year as a state representative in the General Assembly. From an infamous ciphering book produced when he was a boy to a note informing the House speaker of his intent to introduce a bill allowing construction of a toll bridge, the online repository is, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum says, the worlds most complete collection of primary documents covering the first three decades of Lincolns life. Some have been published before, but not all in one place, nor in the form presented by the papers project housed at the ALPLM. The ciphering book is a prime example. The 11 known surviving pages are scattered around the world, with each page owned by a different person or institution. The papers project has tracked each one down and figured out the proper order of the pages so the book can be presented online in as close to original form as possible, with researchers even digitally stitching together a page that had been ripped in half. The significant thing is, for the first time ever, this group of documents has been brought together in one spot, says Samuel Wheeler, state historian and acting director of the papers project. The project aims to put online, to the extent possible, every document ever written or read by Lincoln. Ultimately, that could total 200,000 documents, and so researchers likely have years of work ahead of them transcribing handwritten documents so that they can be easily read and annotating them with relevant facts that add context. Papers from Lincolns legal career were put online in 2009 by the ALPLM. This latest batch goes above and beyond, with 340 letters, canceled checks, receipts and other records either written by Lincoln or addressed to him that make the Great Emancipator come to life. Consider Lincolns 1834 note to a man who insisted on getting a receipt for one years worth of postage to receive a newspaper. The payment was late. The law requires News paper postage to be paid in advance and now that I have waited a full year you choose to wound my feelings by insinuating that unless you get a receipt I will probably make you pay it again, wrote Lincoln, who was postmaster of New Salem. He was all of 25 at the time and just a few months away from winning election to the state House. There also are 4,839 documents, largely from the General Assembly, that are not addressed to Lincoln, nor written by him, but are included to help add context to his life and work. Some are the essence of routine: Who, really, wants to read the 1841 law that created the town of Vienna? For the most part, those documents, individually, dont tell you a lot, Wheeler says. But collectively, they will give scholars the first opportunity to really evaluate Abraham Lincolns career in the state legislature. Lincoln could be a political animal. In an 1841 letter to U.S. Rep. John Stuart, his first law partner, Lincoln urged that Bat Webb, who dated Mary Todd before Lincoln married her, be appointed district attorney. In that same letter, Lincoln also wrote about chances for the General Assembly to remove nine counties, including Sangamon, from Stuarts congressional district and thought it more likely than an alternate plan because our opponents are somewhat afraid of the latter themselves. We cant forget that this isnt yet the Lincoln of our better angels, Wheeler observes. This is a party politician here in Illinois trying to advance his partys interests in Illinois. The release of documents comes after a hiatus of sorts for the project, which has seen staff and budget reductions in recent years amid controversy over how the project has been administered. Expressing frustration over the slow pace of the project, which began in the 1980s as an effort to collect only legal papers, museum brass last year fired the projects director. An ad hoc panel of experts a year ago released a critical report, saying that the project was vital but had gotten bogged down and needed new policies, procedures and direction. The project, which had obtained federal funding in prior years from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission, did not apply for an NHPRC grant last year, with presidential museum administrators saying that a reevaluation of efforts was needed. Staffing is down to three from a high of a dozen employees a few years ago. Wheeler said that the museum expects to hire a permanent director for the project, but he could not say when. Once a director is on board, Wheeler said he expects the project will again apply for NHPRC grants. In the meantime, the project expects to publish documents as they are ready, with a fresh batch posted each Monday, Wheeler said. The world is not going to have to wait decades for new releases, he said. News / National by Staff reporter A CITY man has been accused of selling his late brother's property and emotionally abusing his wife.The matter came to light at the Harare Civil Court where Tendai Marovedze was seeking for a peace order against her brother- in-law James Mauwa."Mauwa is my brother-in-law and he was the one who was left in custody of children when my husband died."Although my husband left me in custody of the estate, Mauwa demanded for the papers and managed to sell some of the property without my consent."He sold a shop and a farm which my husband left, so that I can fend for my children and pay their school fees."I now struggle to make a living since he destroyed all my sources of income and he does not even help me with paying school fees."We do not stay together, he stays in Mufakose with his family, and he insults me, accuse me of being the cause of my husband's death."He must stop abusing me and refund all the property that he sold," she said.In response, Mauwa was opposed to the application."She is a liar, I do not abuse her and I have never accused her of my brother's death but as for the property issue, I have the right to sell it since I was left in charge."I will not refund that money because I used it to pay her children's school fees and she is not grateful," said Mauwa.Presiding magistrate Lazini Ncube granted the peace order in Marovedze's favour and advised her to approach relevant authorities for help. News / National by Simbarashe Sithole One of the suspected armed robbers who are reportedly terrorising Mashonaland Central has been arrested Bulawayo24.com has learnt.Sources close to investigations allege Valentine Mutasa who is one of the suspected thugs who are causing havoc in Mashonaland Central was arrested on Sunday by Vehicle Theft Squad."Mutasa was nabbed on Sunday he is one of suspect of armed robbers who were targeting service stations around Bindura, Glendale, Guruve and Mvurwi, he is also suspected to be one of the armed robbers who robbed more than $10 000 at Golly's whole sale in Mvurwi."Apparently, the ring leader of the thugs Lucky Chibira was arrested in March and is currently on remand another suspect died on the spot of a traffic accident in Dotito where police and army uniforms were recovered on the scene. News / National by Byo24News Reporter The National Patriotic Front (NPF) is warming up to work with the MDC Alliance and cause a major electoral upset for the ruling party.Key NPF member, Shadreck Mashayamombe on Thursday afternoon attended the MDC Alliance rally held in Harare South where he chanted the MDC slogan, tshisa mpama tshisa.NPF is the brainchild of disposed former Zanu PF leader, Robert Mugabe and his close G40 allies who were forced out of the party during the November 15, 2017 coup.Addressing the rally, Mashayamombe said the MDC Alliance which is led by Advocate Nelson Chamisa is the only hope for Zimbabwe.He quizzed if things changed after the military removed Mugabe, to which the crowd responded with a loud NO."They said Mugabe was bad and remove him. Let us remove them and vote president Chamisa," he said to loud cheers from the crowd."We thought we cannot be found missing when others who share the same view with us are gathered. We are together in this fight and we want complete change," Mashayamombe said.Another former Zanu PF and Zim PF member, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti assured the crowd that he will work tireless to make sure disgruntled former Zanu PF members rally behind Chamisa. News / National by Staff Reporter Acting Minister of Media, Information and Broadcasting Services Simon Khaya Moyo has called on journalists to stop meddling in politics and stay ethical for the greater good of the profession.Addressing media professionals at an event organized to commemorate World Press Freedom Day at Harare Polytechnic College, Khaya Moyo said said journalistic work ought to mirror the society as it is."Stay clear from the old habit of polarization which had seen our media conducting themselves in a partisan manner."Leave politics to politicians and their parties. After all, we have 104 of them," he said.The minister urged journalists to be professional and stop gossip and speculation.Addressing the same gathering, Zimbabwe National Editors Forum (ZINEF) chairperson, Dumisani Muleya said it is unethical for journalists to embed themselves into political parties or their factions.Muleya described as a disgrace state media journalists who participated in the just ended Zanu PF primary elections Opinion / Columnist Distraught! Here was this woman, probably in her early twenties but she already three times as old, whose hut had just burnt down with all she had in this world. She and her son were lucky to escape the inferno. She sat there in a heap.She was crying but without shedding a single tear. Once in a while she heaved a huge sigh as if the sheer weight of her trials and tribulations were crashing the last breath out of her and the heap was being flattened before our own eyes.The next time I was to see another heart-breaking scene of human misery and hopelessness was in a Refugee Camp for Mozambicans fleeing the fighting in their country. These refugees had lost all their material possession, their relatives and family, their self-belief, everything. They had lived through horrible things, few of us cannot ever image possible.So, when I read of the wave of refugees from Mozambique, all I could think of "Not again!""The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a possible influx of Mozambican refugees in Zimbabwe following indications that there are already over 6 000 refugees camped at the buffer zone between the two countries waiting to be relocated to Tongogara Camp in Chipinge," reported Zimeye."The WFP reports that the number of refugees who have entered Zimbabwe increased in 2017 due to violent clashes between the Mozambican government forces and Renamo."Reports also indicate that there is renewed insecurity in the Kasai Region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a development which could also increase the number of refugees in the country."Zimbabwe has produced millions of economic and/or political refugees, not all refugees are in refugee camps.Africa's endless problems of refugees, famine, disease epidemic, economic collapse, rigged elections, military coups (euphemistically called "military assisted transition" to soften treasonous act), civils wars, etc., etc. can all be traced back to one cause bad governance. Africa is one of the richest continent on earth in terms of natural resources and potential what we have lacked are the leaders who would harness these resources for the benefit of us all."Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it," said Sir Winston Churchill. His words ring true for Africa and we, in Zimbabwe, must listen and pay heed.In 1980, when the country gained her independence, Zimbabwe had the potential to become the South Korea of Africa, a free, justice, prosperous and proud nation. Four decades of incompetent, corrupt and tyrannical Zanu PF rule has turned us into the poorest nation on the planet! We have stuck with our bad government for 38 years because Zanu PF rigged the elections to stay in power.We have had many opportunities to do something to end the Zanu PF dictatorship but have wasted each and every one of these chances. The best chance by far was during the GNU when all Morgan Tsvangirai and his MDC friends were tasked to do was to implement the democratic reforms SADC leaders had already managed to get Mugabe and his Zanu PF thugs to agree to. MDC failed to get even one reform implemented in five years.We, the people, let ourselves down because we should have been on MDC leaders' cases to make sure they implemented the reforms. The GNU had allowed some economic reforms ending the food shortages and the economy grew by 12% after a decade of economic decline. We were overjoyed with the economic recovery, we took our eyes of the ball implementing the democratic reforms to end the bad governance.At the end of the GNU in 2013, SADC lost its supervisory role as the guarantor of Zimbabwe's Global Political Agreement Of course, and the chance to get the reforms implemented was lost. But whenever the devil closes the door of opportunity somewhere the Lord open a window of opportunity.Almost immediately after its return to power following the rigged 2013 elections, a dog-eat-dog fight broke out in Zanu PF over who was to succeed Mugabe as party leader. Before the party's 2014 elective congress in which Joice Mujuru was set to win the VP post putting her in pole position to succeed Mugabe, she and 150 or so senior party members were booted out of the party. They were accused of plotting to assassinate Mugabe among other frivolous charges. As soon as they were booted of the party and posed no further political threat, the charges were brought and forgotten.But before the dust of booting out Mai Mujuru and her supporters had settled; another dog-eat-dog factional war broke out pitting Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Lacoste supporters against Grace Mugabe and her G40 supporters.President Mugabe has relied on Mnangagwa and Joint Operation Command (JOC) members, a junta comprising top brass Army, Police, CIO and Prison Services plus a select few from the party and government, to mastermind and ruthlessly execute the devious plans, including beating and murder of political opponents and civilians, to create and retain the de facto one-party, Zanu PF, dictatorship. Most of the JOC members belong to Mnangagwa's Lacoste faction.As the ones who had done the heavy duty of imposing the dictatorship on the nation the junta felt they should be the ones to succeed Mugabe. They therefore viewed Robert Mugabe's moves to have his wife as the successor as an act of betrayal.In November last year the junta stage the military coup that forced Mugabe to step down and allow Mnangagwa to takeover.Zanu PF has imploded, the party is weak and divided; there are Mujuru and G40 supporters who are wearing the party regalia with Mnangagwa's portrait but hate the man with a burning passion. The November coup makes this Zanu PF regime illegitimate in the eyes of the international community. There is a window of opportunity to pressure this junta to implement the democratic reforms and end the dictatorship once and once for all.The junta's argument that Zanu PF was transformed by the coup must be rejected with the contempt it rightly deserves. How can the dictatorship have been transformed when the junta continue to enjoy the carte blanche powers to rig elections?The junta has gone on an all-out campaign to revive the economy with its "Zimbabwe is open for business!" clarion call. Unfortunately, the regime has very little to show for its effort because the foreign investors it is targeting can see Zimbabwe is still a pariah state, the coup swapped one dictator for another and left the dictatorship itself untouched.Still, some Zimbabweans are arguing that the nation must accept this Mnangagwa regime, forget that it is a dictatorship and is rigging these elections."ED is far better than Mugabe (which is true)!" many Zimbabweans argue. "Put aside his shortcomings (his checked past and present failure to hold free and fair election); his regime is more coherent and focused than the opposition (also true)!"But to start comparing Mnangagwa to Chamisa and who is more likely to bring about some economic recovery is to completely miss the point. We are failing to learn from history and repeat the same mistake over and over again.Zimbabwe, like Mozambique, DRC and many, many other African countries, is stack in this economic and political mess because of bad governance. During the 2008 to 2013 GNU we had the chance to solve this problem but wasted it because we turned our attention to the economy. We were so pleased with the signs of economic recovery, 12% growth, we completely forgot about the reforms.Our number one priority today is to get the reforms implemented only when this is done can we ever have the confidence that whoever is elected is elected by the people and, if they should so wish, they can remove him/her from office which is the essence of free and fair elections.No Zimbabwean should ever have to suffer the misery of abject poverty or be forced to become an economic and/or political refugee. But, unless we deal this the problem of bad governance, here and now and decisively, there will be many Zimbabweans lives will continue to be hell-on-earth! The Federal Court of Canada has dismissed Canada's application to overturn a potentially expensive NAFTA ruling that it wrongly denied a U.S. company permission to open a quarry in Digby Neck, N.S. In a decision released Wednesday, Justice Anne Mactavish ruled an international arbitration panel "did not exceed its jurisdiction" when it found Canada at fault and liable for damages under investor protections contained in the North American Free Trade Agreement. Canada had asked the court to set aside an award from the tribunal convened by the Permanent Court of Arbitration an intergovernmental organization that it is liable for damages to Delaware-based concrete company Bilcon. U.S. company wants $443M US The company is seeking $443 million US (about $570 million Cdn) in damages for lost profits after its proposal for a 152-hectare quarry and marine terminal on Digby Neck was rejected in 2008 on the basis of a flawed joint Canada-Nova Scotia environmental review panel recommendation. Bilcon argued it was blindsided when the joint review panel found the quarry project violated "community core values," a concept not raised in the 2007 environmental assessment hearing. In a two-to-one decision, the tribunal found "community core values" was not a "rational government policy" and was at odds with the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act. In January 2018, lawyers for the federal government argued the Canadian courts, rather than an international tribunal, are the appropriate forum to redress problems with a joint review panel. The case has raised widespread concern over whether Canada will be able to enforce its own environmental laws and protect Canadians from potentially damaging projects. Environmental process a 'sham' On Wednesday, Bilcon issued a statement saying it "welcomed" the Federal Court ruling that it was the victim of discriminatory treatment. The release said Bilcon's owners, the Clayton family of New Jersey, "invested in a sham environmental process for which the outcome had already been predetermined." Story continues "During the critical NAFTA discussions currently underway between Canada and the U.S., the Claytons' case is a cautionary tale to both U.S. and Canadian investors that expect reciprocal and fair treatment in both countries," the company stated. The Sierra Club Canada Foundation, which intervened in the Federal Court of Canada case, had an entirely different reaction Wednesday. "It's a pretty stunning decision," said Sierra Club national program director Gretchen Fitzgerald. "I guess I'm pretty shaken, I have to say." She said the ruling shows that under NAFTA, corporate interests are placed above local environmental protections. "Everybody in Digby and eventually in Nova Scotia knew this was a bad project in the wrong place, wasn't appropriate and placed the environment at risk," Fitzgerald said. Why Canada lost But Mactavish agreed with Bilcon that the international tribunal was entitled to consider the conduct of the joint review panel that effectively killed its Nova Scotia quarry proposal. "I find that the tribunal made a factual finding of arbitrary conduct and applied customary international law in determining whether Canada violated the minimum standard of treatment for the purposes of Article 1105 of NAFTA," Mactavish wrote in her 63-page decision. Mactavish acknowledged the tribunal's finding of Canada's liability for damage "raises significant policy concerns." She identified those as "the ability of NAFTA parties to regulate environmental matters within their jurisdiction, the ability of NAFTA tribunals to properly assess whether foreign investors have been treated fairly under domestic environmental assessment processes and the potential 'chill' in the environmental assessment process that could result from the majority's decision." Even so, she concluded that Canada did not satisfy its obligation to provide Bilcon with fair and equitable treatment under NAFTA. She said the tribunal had established that Canada's treatment of the investors was discriminatory and differed from the treatment that would be given to similarly situated Canadian investors. Ruling on amount pending "Canada has thus not established that the decision of the majority deals with a dispute not contemplated by or not falling within the terms of the submission to arbitration, or contains decisions on matters beyond the scope of the submission to arbitration," Mactavish wrote. Mactavish heard the case in Ottawa in January. While she pondered her decision, the NAFTA case proceeded to the next phase in Toronto in February. The tribunal heard arguments over how much money will be awarded to Bilcon for damages. The company is seeking $443 million US in lost profits on two million tonnes of gravel per year for 50 years the estimate of the life of the quarry at Whites Point on Digby Neck. The government of Canada rejects the claim and had little response Wednesday to its Federal Court defeat. "We are aware of the Federal Court decision and are reviewing it," spokesperson John Babcock of Global Affairs said in an email. "Canada is also awaiting the tribunal's award on quantum of damages, which will likely not be issued before the end of 2018." Though Marian Eliot always wanted to make a life for herself in Canada, the 37-year-old from a small town on an island in the Philippines didn't expect to end up with a job at a P.E.I. lobster plant. "It never occurred to me that I'm going to be working in a fish plant, or any production company," she said. "It was very difficult for me coming from an office life." Eliot studied business in college and worked in several countries in business and hotel management before her aunt living on the Island told her about a job opportunity at Royal Star Foods in Tignish. Every year, P.E.I. lobster plants bring in hundreds of temporary foreign workers and new immigration rules could allow some employees to apply to become permanent Canadian residents. "As a child my dream is really to come to Canada," she said. "Canada for us means greener pastures and I think it's the same for the rest of the Filipinos." A difficult decision The most difficult part of realizing that dream for the single mom is being away from her three-year-old son Ethan. The last time she was visiting home he tried to climb in her suitcase when she was heading back to Canada. "I'm very sensitive when it comes to family," she said, her voice breaking. Even after being away from home for 15 years, it doesn't get easier and she still misses her son and her parents who care for him. Her paperwork has been submitted and she hopes to bring her son to Canada in 2019, along with other family members if possible. "Any work I'm willing to do, just to bring my family here," Eliot said. 'I'm getting used to it' Vicente Octavio is also from the Philippines, and he and his 25-year-old sister work at Royal Star Foods as well. She made an official request to bring him here, and he says without that it would have taken much longer. "For a Filipino it's very difficult to go here in Canada, if you don't get requested by your family here," he said. Story continues He graduated with a diploma in health-care services and worked at a hospital as an information clerk in the Philippines. "In the the Philippines, my salary was $150 a month," said Octavio, adding he makes about $2,000 in the same span at the plant. Right now he's working in the frozen meat section of the plant, and said at first he was tired going from an administrative job to manual labour. "I'm getting used to it," he said. "It's big money, it's no big deal." He said he enjoys his life in Tignish and feels accepted by the other workers in the plant and the community. "It's a good opportunity to work in Canada." 'Earn money for my family' He's single and doesn't have any children but is now the one supporting his family he's one of five children and sends money back home to help his parents, brother and sisters. "For now I want to earn money for my family," Octavio said, adding he hopes to be able to help other relatives. Octavio is waiting on an application for permanent resident status. "I'm now on the pilot program, my hopes are to bring my family here also," he said. Octavio loves the Canadian winter and hopes to share it with his family. "That's one of my dreams to bring my mother and father here so they can experience what snow is." He said the lobster plant is a stepping stone to life in Canada he hopes to continue on with his studies. "I'm very happy that I'm here in Canada everyone dreams to come here." 'We need a workforce' The manager at Royal Star Foods said without the temporary foreign workers, the plant couldn't run because he can't hire enough local people. "Living in rural P.E.I. we have a -7 population growth in the last seven to eight years, so without the temporary foreign workers we can't run the plant," said Francis Morrissey, manager of Royal Star Foods. "We need a workforce." This year the plant will have about 60 foreign workers, mostly from the Philippines. He said he knows it's a touchy issue, but hopes the rules change to make it easier for workers to come and go. "We hope there's a few changes coming to make it easier." He said it's sad to know workers are so far away from their family and children and is happy with the pilot project bringing in changes to immigration rules. "I don't think it's right," he said. "I just hope that I can see them with their families here." More P.E.I. news (Removes erroneous reference in April 18 article to Iraq's first finance minister, Sasoon Eskell, being buried near Baghdad. He is in fact buried in Paris.) By Maher Chmaytelli, Jeffrey Heller and Stephen Farrell BAGHDAD/JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Behind the high concrete walls of Baghdads Jewish cemetery, Violette Saul lies at rest under a weathered and cracked tombstone, one of the last memorials to an ancient community that is now all but extinct. The Iraqi nurse was buried a decade ago alongside thousands of others in the sands of a country where her community thrived for more than 2,500 years. Drive west to the shores of the Mediterranean - just a days journey geographically but a world away politically - and there is a lament inscribed at the entrance to the Babylonian Jewry Heritage Centre in Israel - The Jewish community in Iraq is no more". It is no accident that such a somber epitaph to Iraqs Jews should be found in Israel, where tens of thousands of them fled after 1948 amid the violent spasms that accompanied the birth of that state. That transplanting of an educated, vibrant and creative community unquestionably enriched Israel, which celebrates its 70th anniversary on Wednesday. But it also denuded Iraq of a minority that had long contributed to its political, economic and cultural identity. In 1947, a year before Israel's birth, Iraqs Jewish community numbered around 150,000. Now their numbers are in single figures. And they are missed. Ziyad al-Bayati, an Iraqi Muslim who looks after the rarely visited graveyard near the East Baghdad neighborhood Sadr City, said his father used to reminisce about an Iraq in which ethnic communities lived together. It was a time, Bayati said, that predated the turmoil around Israel's creation, the wars of later years, and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and unleashed years of sectarian bloodshed. "My father used to say it was the good times when people lived peacefully side by side,' said Bayati, 48. There is no concern shown for the cemetery, (even if) the culture of people here is to respect the dead and their graves." The chronology of Jews in Iraq stretches back some 4,000 years to the biblical patriarch Abraham of Ur, and to the Babylonian monarch Nebuchadnezzar, who sent Jews into exile there more than 2,500 years ago. OLD LAND TO NEW LAND The creation of Israel in 1948 and its successive defeats of Arab armies caused further bursts of popular anger and violence against Jews, an episode of history that is written in graves n the cemetery, where five Iraqi Jews accused of spying for Israel now lie side by side. Between 1950 and 1952 about 125,000 Iraqi Jews were airlifted to Israel. Each came with one suitcase, and all had to give up their Iraqi citizenship. For one of them, Aharon Ben Hur, memories of Iraq are bitter. Now 84 and the owner of two falafel restaurants in Tel Aviv, he recalled the 1941 Farhud pogrom that killed more than 180 Jews during the Jewish festival of Shavuot. His father and younger brother were among them. "They were thrown from the second floor. My father died ten days later and the boy almost immediately. He held him in his hands, and they threw them down 100 stairs. I was saved," Ben Hur said. He left early, in 1951. Some hung on much longer. Emad Levy, 52, was the last of Baghdad's Jews to immigrate to Israel, in 2010. We kept our tradition, the holidays, the synagogue, he told Reuters during the build-up to Israel's Independence Day. But its not the joy you feel here during a holiday, walking down the street where most people are Jewish. Levy is among perhaps 600,000 Israelis, out of a population of some 8.8 million, who can claim a measure of Iraqi ancestry, according to the heritage center in the town of Or Yehuda near Tel Aviv. Inside a building built in the style of a traditional two-story Jewish home in Baghdad, there are displays of religious and cultural artefacts of Jewish life in Iraq through the centuries. Visitors walk through the reconstructed crooked alleys of Baghdad's Jewish quarter and view a scaled-down replica of the city's Great Synagogue. Exhibits at the museum depict a hard landing for the Iraqi immigrants in the early years of Israel, where Ashkenazim, or Jews of European descent, were the ruling elite and Sephardim, Jews with roots in the Middle East, faced prejudice. One photo shows Iraqi newcomers being sprayed with DDT pesticide. A tent has been erected on the floor, showing how the immigrants were initially housed. But it also records how Iraqi Jews have gone on to become generals in the Israeli military, cabinet ministers, legislators, business executives, entertainers and celebrated writers. Few expect ever to go back, amid the violent turmoil that still envelops Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and other countries which once had thriving Jewish communities. Now aged 90, Zevulun Hareli joined a Jewish self-defense underground movement in Iraq, and recalls the fate of some of his fellow Zionists in 1948. "They were children, 14 or 15. They were tortured. They were hanged. Their genitals were burned, said Hareli, who immigrated to Israel in 1949. Iraq said Zionism is a crime." Some still harbor more positive sentiments. Edwin Shuker, who was born in Iraq, has made several visits to the Baghdad cemetery in recent years, sometimes bringing people who want to say Kaddish - the Jewish prayer for the dead - over the graves. He says he is welcomed by Iraqis when he goes back, and encounters nostalgia for a time when Iraq included a mosaic of minorities. No-one is going to move back, concedes Shuker, 62, who had to escape Iraq in 1971. However there are many who would be very receptive to visiting their shrines and where there ancestors are buried. The Iraqi Jewish community is the most ardent Jewish community, probably anywhere, that is so attached to its birthplace, because of its history. (Writing by Maher Chmaytelli and Jeffrey Heller; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Andrew Heavens) It's a promise that seems almost too good to be true: super-fast internet that's cheap, and free of the contracts and hassles that come with major service providers. That's not a pipe dream for Brian Hall, it's his goal. The lead volunteer behind the community group NYC Mesh aims to bring affordable internet with lightning-quick downloads to everyone in New York, one building at a time. "Our typical speeds are 80 to 110 megabits a second," Hall says, pointing out that streaming something like Netflix only requires about 5 Mbps. CBC News joined him one afternoon on a roof in the Brooklyn neighbourhood of Greenpoint. Hall was installing the latest addition to the mesh network that will deliver his vision. The worksite is one of the group's latest customers, a converted warehouse that houses a video production company. The regular commercial internet providers were going to charge tens of thousands of dollars to get them online. NYC Mesh took on the job for a small installation fee of a few hundred dollars and a monthly donation. Mesh networks explained So what is a mesh network? Picture a spiderweb of wireless connections. The main signal originates from what's called the Supernode. It's a direct plugin to the internet, via an internet exchange point the same place Internet Service Providers get their connection. The signal from the supernode, sent out wirelessly via an antenna, covers an area of several kilometres. From there, a mesh of smaller antennas spread out on rooftops or balconies receive that signal. They're connected to Wi-Fi access points that allow people to use the internet. Each supernode can connect thousands of users. And the access points talk to the others around them, so if one goes down for some reason the rest still work. "Mesh networks are an alternative to standard ISP hookups. You're not provided with an internet connection through their cable, but through in our case Wi-Fi networks," says Jason Howard, a programmer and actor who's helping with the latest installation. Story continues NYC Mesh bought an industrial-strength connection to the internet right at an Internet Exchange Point (IXP), in this case a futuristic-looking tower in downtown Manhattan. It's the same place that internet service providers (ISPs) like Verizon and Spectrum connect to the internet, accessing massive amounts of wired bandwidth. NYC Mesh then installed an antenna on the roof of the IXP. That became the supernode, the heart of its mesh network. From there it beams out and receives Wi-Fi signals, connecting to receivers on rooftops spread through the East Village and Chinatown, and across the river into parts of Brooklyn. Myth of the ISP Zach Giles is one of the brains behind the network and one its busiest volunteers. When he's not working his day job in finance, he's maintaining the supernode. The rooftop has become his second office. He's a mesh network evangelist who says most people don't realize they don't need to rely on traditional ISPs to get online. "That's the myth of the ISP," Giles says in between installing another antenna. "The internet doesn't really cost you anything, it's just the connection [that has a fee]. So however you can get plugged in then you're on the internet. Nobody owns the internet, there's no one to pay." Staring out over a city of millions with so many potential users, Giles says he wishes he could shout out that message for everyone to hear that there are other and cheaper ways to connect to the internet than corporate ISPs. One person who has heard the message is Jessica Marshall. A mechanical engineer, she's been watching NYC Mesh's growth for a while. On the day CBC News joined Hall and Howard, Marshall tagged along as well, ready to take a more hands-on role. Like Giles and the other volunteers, she sees the work as a mission. Marshall says she's driven by, "the fact that I didn't have to rely on a gigantic company that's headquartered somewhere else that's run by people who don't care about me or the internet necessarily, but profits." She adds that, "You can build your own internet [connection] and have control over it." Net neutrality Since 2013, NYC Mesh has installed 154 antennas around New York, offering service to thousands of people. When net neutrality rules in the U.S. were repealed in December, interest in NYC Mesh spiked dramatically. The group went from 500 requests for installation all of last year to 1,300 so far this year. The fear drawing some new users to NYC Mesh is that, with net neutrality rules gone the Federal Communications Commission in the U.S. took them off the books on Monday ISPs have the ability to block or slow down access to various websites or potentially charge for access to certain sites. The new FCC rules do require ISPs to disclose any throttling, as well as when they prioritize the speed of some content over others. But for many users, the end of net neutrality goes against the spirit of the internet as something that should be open and accessible to all. NYC Mesh promises they won't slow down internet speeds or limit access to sites, and will never store, track or monitor personal data. The ability to get around the big internet providers gives a Robin Hood-esque feel to the volunteers at NYC Mesh, many of whom, like Howard, admit to a rebellious streak. Howard says he doesn't see himself as a revolutionary "maybe just anti-authority," he adds with a smile. "The big companies would have you think that there's no option than them, especially in New York City," Howard says. "It's so refreshing to come across this ability to do something else as an alternative." Still niche But for all its growth, NYC Mesh is still very much in its infancy, says Motherboard science writer Kaleigh Rogers. "It's still such a small sort of niche community." She says mesh networks challenge the public's sense of how the internet operates. "We are so used to the internet being this other thing, run by private businesses. But there's no reason why it has to be. You know, the core infrastructure that rigs up the whole planet with internet, anyone can connect to it," she says, echoing Gile's point. Rogers does point out, however, that one of the barriers to entry for mesh customers can be the technical requirements. Unlike signing up with a commercial ISP, which just involves a phone call to a major provider, a mesh network requires customers to invest a bit more time and effort. "You have to understand a little bit about the technical aspects of it," Rogers says. "So I think people are a little intimidated. And it's just not as widely known we don't have any really good 'use' cases here in North America that show how active and how nice [mesh] can be if you actually have enough users." While there are mesh networks dotting the U.S., she says the best working example of what mesh technology can do is in Spain. Guifi.net has more than 34,000 nodes covering an area of roughly 50,000 square kilometres across the Catalonia region. Inside the mesh Back in New York, most of NYC Mesh's users are clustered around the first supernode in downtown Manhattan, in Chinatown and the Lower East Side. The surge in interest has allowed the group to build a second supernode in Brooklyn, expanding coverage there. Linda Justice has been using the network for about a year and a half. She read about the project in a local newspaper and was instantly drawn to the idea of a community-driven network. "I love the idea of communities coming together and supporting each other. I think that's very good, because if it wasn't for them I wouldn't even have Wi-Fi, I'd have to go down to the park and sit out there," she says. She adds that the difference in cost is remarkable. She gives NYC Mesh a donation of $20 a month, when she can. Justice was paying close to $100 a month with her old provider. Justice admits she's not the most tech-savvy person, and doesn't always understand what Brian Hall and the other volunteers are saying. What she does know is that her speeds are a bit slower at times because her signal is being bounced through various nodes to get to her, but that's an acceptable tradeoff. "It's worth it to take the time and learn about it," Justice says. Bridging the digital divide Affordability is one feature of mesh networks, another is resiliency. Since the routers are interconnected, if one node goes down, the others can pick up the slack. So even if the main connection to the internet is lost during a power outage, the mesh network can maintain connectivity among its access points for basic functions like text messaging. During Superstorm Sandy in 2012, a mesh network in Red Hook in Brooklyn managed to stay up, even when power and other utilities shut down. With limited service and a small number of connections, it allowed neighbours, and even FEMA, to stay connected during the storm. The U.S. government is now funding mesh networks in various neighbourhoods to prepare for the next storm. In Harlem, Clayton Banks jumped at the chance to provide his area with one. As head of community tech group Silicon Harlem, he sees the potential reaching far beyond the initial rollout to local businesses. "We're going to help your kids learn a little bit more about technology. We're going to hire people in this community. We want to be able to give more digital literacy in here," Banks says, noting that close 40 per cent of residents in East Harlem don't have access to broadband internet. Bridging the digital divide by providing low-cost, high-speed internet is the goal for his mesh network. He says he's tired of seeing kids in his neighbourhood forced to go to coffee shops and use Wi-Fi there to do homework. "I had a 15-year-old young person come to me and say 'I don't have a computer at home and we don't have broadband. I'm falling behind because those who have those things are no smarter, but they just have the tools to get it done.' So that's why this is so vital." What's next for mesh NYC Mesh currently has two supernodes and estimates that with about a dozen more it could blanket the entire city with wireless internet. Growth is ramping up and more users means more funding, but it's still a volunteer-driven organization something that may have to change as it scales up. There's also debate in the community about whether to start charging more for the service as more users join the network. The group also knows there will be growing pains as they challenge the status quo and that it's only a matter of time before the big ISPs take notice, which could bring new challenges. But Giles says his group is a return to the original idea of what the internet was supposed to be, free and accessible to all. "I would think it's actually actually how it used to be - we are going back to simpler time. It looks complicated, lots of wires, but it's simple." Watch Steven D'Souza's feature on NYC Mesh from CBC's The National: Photo by Matt Penning NPR Illinois managing editor Sean Crawford inside Studio D. A new transmitter for the station will be installed soon in Mechanicsburg. NPR is one of the top news sources in the country today, said Randy Eccles, general manager and publisher for NPR Illinois, the radio station housed at the University of Illinois Springfield and previously branded as WUIS. It is rated highly and seen as very credible. All the member stations are a part of that, including us. In the past year, the Springfield station has added three new reporters, bringing the newsroom staff to eight. An increased focus on community engagement on important statewide issues has helped put the station front and center among regional news sources. Eccles pointed out that coverage of state politics has been the cornerstone of the stations existence since its beginnings as WSSR in 1975. Because we are in the state capital, one of the things weve recognized is that state news is local news, he said, pointing out that nearly everyone in Springfield is connected to state government, either directly or indirectly. During the [state budget] impasse, you could feel people starting to stress out in this community. Photo by Clayton stalter Mary Hansen, a recent addition to the reporting staff, writes about the ways state and local government intersect. Photo by Carter Staley Sean Crawford (right) participating in an AARP-sponsored forum regarding the state budget impasse. Photo by Clayton Stalter Reporter Daisy Contreras recently won an Associated Press award for a story about the rights of temporary employees Photo by Matt Penning Award-winning reporter Rachel Otwell is interested in reaching out to milllenials and even younger listeners. The impasse directly affected the station, which was forced to hold off on hiring new reporters following the loss of valuable staff members, including the departure of Statehouse bureau chief Amanda Vinicky for Chicagos WTTW in 2016 a problem which is thankfully now in the past. Editorial is at full strength, Eccles said. Recent additions include Jaclyn Driscoll, formerly of WICS Channel 20; Mary Hansen, who had previously reported on the Statehouse for the State Journal-Register, and Daisy Contreras, a graduate of UISs Public Affairs Reporting program, who had worked at the station as an intern. Contreras and veteran NPR Illinois reporter Rachel Otwell, another PAR program graduate, each recently received Associated Press awards for stories on exploitation in temporary employment and gun violence in Springfield, respectively. On the technical side, a new transmitter is being installed for the station in Mechanicsburg, which Eccles says will result in an improved signal.The daily Illinois Edition feature, helmed by Otwell, was put onto indefinite hiatus during the impasse but may still return in the future. To continue to do Illinois Edition on a daily basis was going to have us stressed out, Eccles said. A daily deadline keeps you running pretty hard. For now, occasional collaborations with WILLs daily broadcast The 21st, with host Niala Boodhoo, help fill the gap in reporting left by the erstwhile daily segment. The stations 2014 absorption of venerable print magazine Illinois Issues (also long headquartered on the UIS campus) has borne fruit in the form of weekly in-depth digital stories. The next phase for Illinois Issues is emphasizing high-quality audio, said Eccles, who pointed out that many stations throughout the state have begun carrying the digital stories, along with St. Louis Metro East NPR affiliate, and there are hopes that WBEZ in Chicago along with national NPR will start picking up these stories in the near future.Of course, maintaining a staff of eight journalists takes money and NPR Illinois which has an annual operating budget of approximately $2 million, $1.2 million of which goes toward news and programming has been increasing its focus on fundraising, but the old models for bringing in money dont always fly anymore. The traditional pledge drive is largely gone, said Eccles, who described a new approach he called quiet drives, where listeners are reminded during breaks that its time to contribute, rather than spending multiple days pushing hard for financial support on air. Existing NPR members are mostly already part of Calendar Club so they are on a schedule and dont need to be reminded, according to Eccles, who said that the new drives are designed to let new people know that NPR Illinois is indeed listener-supported. That is the most important string of our funding, Eccles said. Listener donations and other giving amount to 17 percent of the operating budget for the station, with nearly 50 percent of the rest taking the form of state appropriations along with donated facilities and support.In addition, an annual, standing grant from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) accounts for 12 to 15 percent of the annual budget, contingent on a yearly audit. There is also a smaller grant each year from the Illinois Arts Council. These grants have given the station resources to hire reporters, and three sales positions will be posted soon. Thats critical to us, said Eccles. We need to find some good salespeople so we can beef our underwriting back up after John Wallenstein (director of community affairs and public marketing) passed away in 2014. A university is not very oriented toward sales positions, so we have had to work through the process a little bit. A recent posting for membership and engagement coordinator, responsible for events and fundraising among other duties, will also help to this end.The funds made available through the CPB grant are federal, something which is considered controversial in some circles. It often comes up that people want to cut funding to public media, which they sometimes portray as having a liberal bias, he said. However, public radio coverage is really pretty centrist and fact-based. The fact that many public radio stations exist in rural, largely Republican areas which would find themselves with no service at all if this funding were to be cut is part of what keeps them safe. Representatives from those areas end up not voting to cut that funding and theres a good reason for that, said Eccles.Statehouse reporter Brian Mackey and education desk reporter Dusty Rhodes have recently been participating in The Illinois Newsroom, a collaboration with several other stations around the state, headquartered at WILL in Urbana. The arrangement provides stations opportunities to create more in-depth work and receive wider distribution, according to Eccles, who says a special series on downstate gun violence is being prepared. The station has also found itself able to increase other types of coverage, including a greater concentration on health news, reported by Jaclyn Driscoll.Last year, during the depths of the state budget impasse, NPR Illinois put together a listening tour of 11 cities around the state, sponsored by AARP and dubbed the Illinois Issues Forums, giving voice to ordinary citizens affected and concerned by the then-ongoing crisis, with panels of experts on hand to help provide detail and context. What you heard was how stressed out higher education was and how devastated social services were, illustrated by actual stories said Eccles. The forums were so successful that a second tour, also funded by AARP, will happen beginning this month, under the title Election 2018: Seeking Solutions. We will be trying not to cover the campaign horse races so much as looking at some of the top issues in the state and forcing some conversation on it. The first stop will be in Springfield on May 10.There has been a lot of pivoting and adjusting to try and create things that audiences will be receptive to, said reporter Rachel Otwell. That is a big part of it its not just funding. How do you get people interested in public affairs? With all the Statehouse coverage we do, the question is always how to make that palatable to the public, so were not just reporting for other reporters and politicians. Its easy to make rhetoric sexy not so much with public policy. Engagement of the kind represented by the forums is one answer. I think it holds both the public and public media accountable for building conversations and bridges with one another, Otwell said.Our core DNA is Statehouse and the arts, said Eccles. We might not be a music station, but we still care about it, whether its the symphony or Americana or local artists as well as theater and the display arts, its all important. For example, National NPR recently held its fourth annual Tiny Desk Contest, which allows unknown artists from around the country to compete for national exposure on the popular Tiny Desk Concert series. Leading up to the contest, NPR Illinois opened up its studio resources to local musicians, shooting video and mixing sound for hopeful entrants. This years winner was Naia Izumi from Los Angeles.The station will also be reaching out to the community this summer through a new pilot program called PodCamp, aimed at middle school students, with UIS communication department professor Ann Strahle providing a curriculum focusing on civic education. They will be learning how to do the first episode of a podcast, said Eccles. If they want to continue it after that and we hope a few will that would be great. The hope is that if it works well with middle school kids, we can expand it into high school students and eventually to adults, and help them all get podcasts going. NPR is a dominating force in the world of podcasts on a national level and Eccles pointed out that high-quality work from PodCamp could be shared on NPR Illinois and potentially enjoy exposure via iTunes and the popular NPR One streaming app. For information on signing up for PodCamp, visit http://nprillinois.org/post/podcamp-npr-illinois#stream/0 .I am interested in reaching out to millennials and younger, said Otwell. Public radios demographic of listeners tends to skew old and white. Its a challenge Im interested in facing. The time is now to try to include diverse voices and I think we know why, perhaps more than we did before. Ive seen more collaboration and people getting to know their community in the past year or so and its our job to tell these stories. I think a lot of times journalists think its balanced to talk to one extreme and the other extreme, while the multitude of people are somewhere in the middle.Ive started covering the ways that state and local government intersect but also economic development, community development Ive done some pieces on the shift in retail and how that is uniquely affecting smaller and midsize cities, said reporter Mary Hansen, who has also done recent stories about active shooter readiness training efforts on the UIS campus. I think the more local an issue is and the more it affects people, the more open they are to talking about it. But with big national issues like guns or immigration, people often just retreat to their corners.I have great colleagues here who have helped me out, especially on the radio side, said reporter Daisy Contreras, who not long ago was an NPR Illinois intern. Her recent Associated Press Award-winning story on abuses of employees hired through temporary agencies was an exciting and eye-opening experience for her. I had three weeks to work on the story. I met the workers and shadowed them, I sat in the car with them as they were getting ready to go to work, saw right up close what the process was like, the conditions under which they were working. One of the workers she followed was expected to work with an injured wrist while performing manual labor, such as assembling cardboard boxes, until bringing suit against the staffing agency.Any time journalism can help connect dots that otherwise would not be connected, Otwell said, that is inspiring to me. The Canada Revenue Agency is investigating Giuseppe and Alfina Grande, the owners of Winnipeg's Mona Lisa Ristorante, to determine if they cheated on their business and personal tax returns, alleging they failed to declare more than a million dollars in income in 2011 and 2012. According to an information to obtain a search warrant filed in court Jan. 30, 2018 and obtained by CBC News, 21 revenue agency officers executed search warrants on Feb. 7, 2018, on the Grandes' home in the Tuxedo neighbourhood, their businesses and their accountant's home office, seizing financial documents related to the family's personal and business dealings. The search warrant application includes interviews and allegations not tested in court. "The things that we hope to seize will be used to determine if DNJ Enterprises Ltd. [the Grandes' company that operates as Mona Lisa Ristorante Italiano], Giuseppe Grande and Alfina Grande have paid the correct amount of income tax and Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax, and to determine whether they have wilfully understated their taxable income and net Goods and Services Tax/Harmonized Sales Tax Payable," a CRA investigator wrote in an information to obtain a search warrant filed in court. No charges have been laid and a CRA spokesperson said the investigation is still ongoing. "The CRA will continue to review the evidence gathered until a determination can be made as to whether charges are warranted," Canada Revenue Agency spokesperson Randy Westerman said in an email to CBC News. $2M in charges for 'snacks' In the information to obtain the document officers provide to a judge to explain why they want a search warrant the revenue agency said it conducted an audit into the Grandes and DNJ Enterprises Ltd. in October 2014, after seeing a media report that revealed DNJ had received a large contract from the Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters Inc. in 2011 and 2012. Story continues The CRA said in the document that the audit revealed discrepancies between the income reported on the Grandes' tax returns and the money deposited in their bank accounts. During the flood of 2011, the Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters an organization which is no longer operating was the aid agency responsible for the care of thousands of evacuees forced from their homes on Manitoba First Nations. Mona Lisa Ristorante was hired by MANFF to provide "nighttime snacks" to evacuees staying in hotels where the kitchens were closed. But in less than two years, the aid agency racked up $2.1 million in food charges. Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (now called Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada) later hired the firm KPMG to audit the firefighters association after allegations of misspending surfaced in 2013. The KPMG audit found Mona Lisa, which was initially thought to have billed more than $1 million in late-night snacks, had actually made more than $2 million and raised some of its food prices 100 per cent. That audit prompted the federal government to strip MANFF of its funding and transferred the care of evacuees who still needed help to the Red Cross. The information to obtain court documents show the revenue agency called for another audit to determine if Mona Lisa's owners had reported the earnings on their tax returns and paid the appropriate taxes. A CRA auditor collected financial information from the family's personal accounts for the years 2011 to 2013 and from DNJ Enterprises for 2012 to 2014, which was compared to the documents from their financial institutions, according to the court documents. Giuseppe Grande did not provide all the paperwork the auditor had requested. The auditor also found discrepancies between the money deposited into the Grandes' accounts and the income they declared, an auditor wrote in the court documents. Lifestyle exceeded reported income: documents The auditor said Giuseppe, Alfina and their three daughters declared a combined total income of $466,617 in 2011 and 2012, according to the search warrant documents. That's less than a third of the $1,446,229 the investigator said had been deposited in the family's personal bank accounts. The Canada Revenue Agency said $979,612 of that came from "unidentified bank deposits." "The reported household income of the family is not reflective of the lifestyle that the family is leading," the court document said. The search warrant documents alleged the Grandes spent a total of $1,286,659 on personal expenses between Jan. 1, 2011, and December 31, 2013, including: - $250,193 on remodeling the pool area and backyard of their home. - $60,000 for down payments on three investment condos. - $32,278 on personal restaurant meals. - $62,904 in clothing purchases. - $145,692 on home repairs and upgrades. - $122,798 on recreation and entertainment. In addition, $244,479 in cash was withdrawn from their personal accounts during the three-year period. The CRA wrote that nearly a million dollars in income wasn't declared on either DNJ's or the Grandes' tax filings, and that approximately $35,576 in GST/HST was not paid. CRA refers case to criminal investigators In January 2016, the auditor referred the file to the CRA's Criminal Investigations Division, the documents show, adding the investigator in charge of the file said he found multiple errors in the Grandes' accounting records, as well as attempts to fix them at year end. The auditor "made numerous requests for documentation to support a large credit to the shareholders account" and "no explanation and/or backup documents were provided," the investigator wrote. The investigator added the auditor also identified a number of accounting errors that made it difficult to rely on DNJ's records. "Tax cheating is a crime. Wilful failure to follow tax laws will result in serious consequences, including penalties, court fines and jail time," revenue agency spokesperson Westerman said in an email to CBC News. He wouldn't comment on the case but said criminal investigations can be complex and require a significant amount of time to complete. "In order for charges to be considered, there needs to be sufficient evidence to establish that a crime has been committed and that the individual did so with a guilty mind," he said. Westerman said a person convicted of tax evasion will be fined 50 to 200 per cent of the evaded taxes and can be sentenced to up to five years in prison. "If convicted of fraud under Section 380 of the Criminal Code, an individual can face up to 14 years in jail," said Westerman. Guiseppe Grande said he could not comment. None of the allegations in the application have been tested in court. KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Electoral watchdog groups in Malaysia said on Thursday the voter list for next week's general election had major flaws, including the existence of a 121-year-old voter, raising the specter of possible fraud. About 15 million Malaysians are registered to vote in Wednesday's election pitting Prime Minister Najib Razak's Barisan Nasional coalition, which has ruled for six decades, against a resurgent opposition led by former leader Mahathir Mohamad. A joint study of the voters' rolls by electoral reform groups Bersih and Engage found more than 500,000 cases of voters registered with the same address, while more than two million were found to have no address. The groups highlighted 10 major irregularities they said affected hundreds of thousands of voters nationwide. "A defective electoral roll will bring into question the legitimacy of the whole election," they said in a statement. "Despite the huge number of dubious voters discovered, we believe these preliminary findings are just the tip of the iceberg." The study found some cases in which dead voters were re-registered, and one voter whose birth year was listed as 1897. In one example, the study listed numerous cases of multiple people registered at the same address in the parliamentary constituency of Bagan Datuk, held by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. "Our conclusion is that there are symptoms of a deliberate plan ... action to massively move voters to impact elections in marginal constituencies," Bersih official Chan Tsu Chong told a news conference. The groups did not say who they believed was behind the plan. The Malaysian Election Commission did not respond to a request for comment. Barisan Nasional said in an email response that Bersih's findings should not be taken as objective facts as it was a "functioning arm of Malaysias opposition". As such, Bersih has every reason to undermine confidence in the vote so that afterwards it can complain that the election wasnt fair. This is a smear on Malaysia, and the integrity of Malaysias independent Electoral Commission, a spokesperson said. The opposition and other critics have said that recently redrawn electoral boundaries favor the ruling coalition, which has been accused of gerrymandering. The government and the Election Commission have rejected that assertion, saying the changes were made independently and without political interference. Campaigning kicked off last Saturday for an election that is widely expected to be the toughest yet for Barisan Nasional. Najib is grappling with a multi-billion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and popular anger over rising living costs, which have given momentum to the challenge from his 92-year-old mentor-turned-foe, Mahathir. Najib denies wrongdoing. The coalition is expected to retain power, but a diminished majority in the 222-seat parliament could leave Najib open to an internal leadership challenge. Bersih and Engage said in their statement that the effect of the "cheating" could only be overcome by an overwhelming voter turnout. (Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Writing by Joseph Sipalan; Editing by John Chalmers and Nick Macfie) Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..Gatestone Institute..02 May '18..The weekly demonstrations along the border between the Gaza Strip and Israel, which are scheduled to enter their sixth week this Friday, will undoubtedly continue to attract the attention of the international community and media.Meanwhile, no one will pay attention to what is happening on the Gaza Strip's other border with Egypt, which has been closed for most of the past 10 years.The demonstrations near the border with Israel are being organized by Hamas and other Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip as part of the "March of Return" -- a six-week campaign of protests that is expected to reach its peak on "Nakba Day" ("The Day of Catastrophe"), the term used by Palestinians to describe the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.The Arab countries at the time opposed the creation of a homeland for the Jewish people and sent their armies to attack Israel, but lost -- a result that should probably be taken into consideration before one attacks. Since then, the Palestinians and Arabs have been commemorating their loss by holding anti-Israel protests and voicing their refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist.There are, of course, no demonstrations planned along Gaza's border with Egypt to protest the continued closure of Gaza's better-known border crossing, Rafah -- its crossing to Egypt.The Palestinians do not feel comfortable talking about Egypt's blockade of the Gaza Strip. They prefer to turn a blind eye to the severe travel restrictions imposed by Egypt on the residents of Gaza and instead put all the blame on Israel. Currently, Hamas leaders cannot leave the Gaza Strip without Egypt's permission. They are afraid to embarrass the Egyptians lest they be banned from leaving the Gaza Strip completely. THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- French Bulldogs can melt your heart with their wrinkled faces and big ears, but they come with a special set of health problems, a new report warns. The breed is becoming the most popular in the United Kingdom, so researchers at the Royal Veterinary College analyzed data from more than 2,200 French Bulldogs that received care at more than 300 veterinary clinics in 2013. The most common issues during that year were ear infections, diarrhea and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye surface). Other troubles included breathing problems (nearly 13 percent of the dogs) and skin conditions, which may be due to their short muzzles and skin folds, respectively. The study was published May 2 in the journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. "French Bulldogs are a relatively new arrival to the list of common U.K. breeds, so there is very little current research on them in the U.K.," said study author Dr. Dan O'Neill, a senior lecturer at the college. "Our study provides owners with information on the issues that they could expect and should look out for in French Bulldogs," he added in a journal news release. "It may also help potential new owners to decide if a French Bulldog really is for them," O'Neill suggested. "There is a worry that increased demand for the French Bulldog is damaging to these dogs' welfare because of the health risks associated with their extreme physical features," he explained. O'Neill added that one of the "interesting findings from our research is that male French Bulldogs appear to be less healthy than females. Males were more likely to get eight of the 26 most common health problems, while there were no issues that females were more likely to get than males." More information The American Kennel Club has more on the French Bulldog. THURSDAY, May 3, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- If you think seniors abandon their sex lives as the physical woes of aging descend upon them, a new survey suggests otherwise. The reality is that 40 percent of older Americans still have sex, while 54 percent of older couples still do it, according to a new poll from the University of Michigan. Even more couples -- 61 percent -- say that sex matters for their quality of life. Luckily, 73 percent of those aged 65 to 80 are satisfied with their sex lives. To older folks, those numbers might not sound so surprising, said Erica Solway, co-associate director of the university's National Poll on Healthy Aging, published May 3. But, she added, the results might be eye-opening to younger people who think aging spells the end of romance. "Sex is still an important part of many older adults' lives," said Solway. In fact, sex can sometimes get better with age, said psychologist Rachel Needle, of the Center for Marital and Sexual Health of South Florida, in West Palm Beach. For one, she said, women past menopause do not have to worry about pregnancy anymore. And with age, Needle said, some people feel "more comfortable in their own bodies" and more confident in asking for what they need sexually. Of course, people vary. In the poll, some seniors were more interested in sex, or were more active, than others. In general, men beat women on both fronts: Half of men said they were "very" or "extremely" interested in sex, versus 12 percent of women. Just over half of men were sexually active, compared with 31 percent of women, the survey found. That might be, in part, because men were more likely to have a partner, Solway said. Whereas 73 percent of men were in a relationship, only 60 percent of women were. Similarly, older adults in good physical health were more sexually active: Of all people who described their health as "good" to "excellent," 45 percent were sexually active, versus 22 percent of those who rated their health as "fair" to "poor." That's not surprising, Solway said. But, it's still not clear how often older adults' health problems prevented them from being sexually active. It's possible that people were using medications that have sexual side effects, and sometimes the health condition itself might have hindered sex, she suggested. Needle also pointed out that after menopause and its accompanying decline in estrogen, some women have pain during sex. In those cases, water-based lubricants, or possibly hormone therapy, could help, she said. Even if older adults are no longer having sex, that does not have to mean an end to intimacy, Needle stressed. "One myth to put aside," she said, "is that 'sex' equals 'intercourse.' Physical intimacy includes more than just sex. Touch is important." Solway agreed and said that just because some older couples have stopped having sex, that does not mean something is "wrong." If both partners are happy and they have other ways of connecting, that is what matters, she said. When it came to sexual health, only 17 percent of survey respondents said they had talked to a health provider about the subject in the past two years. It's not clear what to make of that figure, according to Solway, since the poll did not ask people about sexual dysfunction. But, she said, most people who had spoken to their doctor had brought the topic up themselves -- which suggests doctors are not asking. Past research has borne that out, according to Lawrence Siegel, director of education at the Sage Institute for Family Development, in Florida. Most older adults do not feel comfortable talking about sexual issues with their doctor, he said -- often because they're worried they will embarrass the doctor. Doctors, in turn, are also uncomfortable, Siegel said, with very few having specific training in that area. Doctors' silence, Siegel said, can send older adults a "distinct message" that sexual health is not something they want to discuss. He encouraged older adults to speak up if they have concerns. "It's part of [a doctor's] job to answer our questions and address our concerns," Siegel said. "If one has a question or concern, no matter how embarrassing or trivial you think it might be, ask." More information The U.S. National Institute on Aging has more on sex later in life. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram Feza Media Group trial ends, defendants sentenced An Istanbul court on April 30 convicted 10 people affiliated with the shuttered Feza Media Group, best known as the publisher of the daily Zaman, on terrorism-related charges, CNNTurk and the media news website P24 reported. All of the defendants were acquitted on charges of attempting to eliminate the constitutional order, the reports stated. According to the reports, the sentences are as follows: Hakan Tasdelen, the former manager for Fezas Fia production company, Ahmet Metin Sekizkardes, the former manager for Fezas Cihan media company, and Faruk Akkan, Cihans former general director, were each sentenced to 9 years in prison for being a member of a [terrorist] organization. All three will remain in prison and their time served will count toward their sentences. Osman Nuri Aslan and Yuksel Durgut, former Cihan News Agency employees, and Ahmet Irem, a former Cihan News Agency accountant, were sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison each for being member[s] of a [terrorist] organization. Aslan and Durgut will remain on probation pending appeal. Irem was released from prison on probation pending appeal. Murat Avcoglu, a former Fia shareholder, was sentenced to 3 years and 45 days in prison for aiding a [terrorist] organization willingly and knowingly without being a member and released on probation pending appeal. Cuma Kaya, a former Fia manager, and Alaattin Guner and Huseyin Turan, former Feza Group partners, were sentenced to 5 years in prison each for aiding a [terrorist] organization willingly and knowingly without being a member, but were released on probation pending appeal. Huseyin Belli, Onur Kutlu, Ismail Kucuk, and Ali Huseyin Celebi, Zaman advertisement department employees, and Zafer Ozsoy, a Cihan News Agency broadcast technician, were acquitted of all charges, the reports stated. Journalist imprisoned Turkish authorities jailed Mehmet Sddk Damar, a former reporter for the shuttered Dicle News Agency (DIHA), after an appeals court upheld his conviction on charges of making propaganda for a [terrorist] organization, and his six-month prison sentence, the online news website Gazete Karnca reported on May 1. According to Gazete Karnca, Istanbul police detained Damar on May 1 and sent him to the citys Metris Prison. The journalist was previously imprisoned in August 2017 and released after his first trial hearing, CPJ documented. Indian and French navies conducted final and third phase of Varuna naval exercise 2018 near Reunion Island in Indian Ocean region (IOR) to enhance their operational coordination. In the final phase, both navies simulated different possible scenarios such as asymmetric warfare and tested their air defence capabilities. Varuna Exercise 2018 2018 Varuna naval exercise between Indian and French Navy was conducted in three phases and included anti-submarine, air defence and asymmetric engagement exercises. It was aimed to explore measures to facilitate operational-level interactions between their armed forces and increase mutual cooperation, considering common global threats. It was also held at time when Indian Ocean is witnessing increased Chinese naval presence. The first phase was held in Arabian Sea, second phase was held off the Chennai coast in Bay of Bengal and third near Frances Reunion Island in South Western Indian Ocean. The first phase had focused on joint anti-submarine combat training off Indian coast in Goa, with participation of French nuclear submarine and Indias Kalvari Scorpene-class submarine. The second phase focused on amphibious operations. Indian Navys destroyer, INS Mumbai, and frigate INS Trikand were the vessels participating in the exercise. Moreover, Indian Navys submarine, Kalvari, P8-1 and Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and MiG 29K fighter aircraft also had participated in the exercise. Background India is major defence partner of France in Indian Ocean region. Maritime security is priority in India-Frances defence and security policy, along with fight against terrorism. Indian Navy and French Navy have been conducting naval exercises since 1983. These exercises were christened as Varuna in 2001. The last edition of this annual bilateral exercise was conducted off French coast in April 2017. The Varuna series of naval exercises now has grown in scope and complexity and provides opportunity to naval forces of both countries to increase interoperability and learn from each others best practices. Reunion Island: It is French island strategically located in Indian Ocean east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius. Around 8,50,000 French citizens reside there. It is most prosperous island in the Indian Ocean, having the highest GDP per capita in the region. ATLANTA A state panel has decided to delay the execution of a Baldwin County man convicted of killing another man during a 1996 carjacking. The decision, announced late Wednesday night, halts the execution of Robert Earl Butts Jr., who was scheduled to die Thursday evening. The state Board of Pardons and Paroles can spend up to three months considering whether to spare Butts life. Due to the considerable amount of additional information the board has received regarding the case and because the Board understands the importance and seriousness of its authority and responsibility, a stay was issued, the boards spokesman Steve Hayes said in a statement. Attorneys for Butts claimed this week that a witness who claimed at trial that Butts told him he was the triggerman now says he lied in an attempt to help Butts co-defendant, Marion Wilson, who also sits on death row for the murder of 24-year-old Donovan Parks. He straight up asked me to do it for his kid, and I agreed, the petition claims Horace May said of Wilson, whose girlfriend was pregnant at the time. May was incarcerated with both defendants as they awaited trial. It was likely one of the key arguments made Wednesday during a closed-door meeting of the board, which usually closes clemency hearings to the public. Butts attorneys declined to comment Wednesday through a board spokesman. Butts was scheduled to die by lethal injection Thursday night at 7 p.m., which would have made him the second person to be executed in Georgia this year. The board has the authority to reduce his death sentence to life in prison with or without the possibility of parole. Butts and Wilson, who were accused at trial of belonging to the Folk Nation gang, targeted Parks after standing behind him in the checkout line at the Milledgeville Wal-Mart, where Parks was buying cat food. Butts had once worked with Parks at a fast food restaurant. The pair followed him out to the parking lot and asked for a ride. They later pulled out a sawed-off shotgun and demanded that Parks, who worked as a corrections officer, stop the car. Parks was then shot in the back of his head on the side of the road. When Butts and Wilson couldnt sell Parks Acura for parts in Atlanta, they set the car ablaze in Macon. Butts denied his involvement when caught two decades ago because he says he thought it was wrong to snitch. Now, the 40-year-old admits that he played a role although he points to Wilson as the shooter. I think about Mr. Parks and that night every single day, going over it again and again in my mind, Butts wrote, according to a statement included in his petition. Theres no excuse for what I did, and Im tremendously sorry for what happened to Mr. Parks, he added. District Attorney Stephen Bradley with the Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit said Wednesday that the changing testimony should make no difference. Our position from day one with this case is it doesnt matter who pulled the trigger because well never know for certain, Bradley said. Theyre each claiming its the other one, but all we know for certain is that these are the two people responsible for Donovan Parks death, he added. And the jury treated them the same and we think they ought to be treated the same because thats what follows the credible evidence. Parks father, brother and other family members were among those who implored the board to uphold Butts death sentence. They did not speak to the media Wednesday. The family is exhausted from the long wait, Bradley said of the 22 years that have passed. Butts was represented Wednesday by Phil Holladay with King and Spalding and Gerald King and Victoria Calvert with the Federal Defender Program in Atlanta. Butts mother who was painted as an absentee parent who spent her sons childhood drunk and high was there to beg the board to show mercy. His siblings, uncles and pastor were also there. Butts attorneys also argued that the board should consider their clients difficult childhood, as well as his age when the crime was committed. He was 18 years old. They also argued that theres been a shift away from death sentences in Georgia. They claimed that a jury would be far less inclined to sentence Butts to death for the same crime which involved one murder victim and one aggravating factor if committed today. Board holds clemency hearing for condemned Georgia inmate Georgia's parole board on Wednesday was considering whether to grant clemency for a condemned inmate set to be executed this week. Robert Earl Butts Jr. is scheduled to die Thursday evening at the state prison in Jackson. The State Board of Pardons and Paroles was holding a closed-door clemency hearing to hear arguments for and against commuting the 40-year-old inmate's sentence. The parole board is the only authority in Georgia with the power to commute a death sentence. Butts, 40, and Marion Wilson Jr., 41, were convicted and sentenced to death in the March 1996 slaying of Donovan Corey Parks in central Georgia. The two men asked Parks for a ride outside a Walmart store and then ordered him out of the car and fatally shot him a short distance away. Prosecutors have said Butts fired the fatal shot. Wilson's case is still pending in the courts. Butts' attorneys asked the parole board in a clemency application filed last week to spare his life. "I think about Mr. Parks and that night every single day, going over it again and again in my mind," Butts said in a statement included with his petition. "There's no excuse for what I did, and I'm tremendously sorry for what happened to Mr. Parks." His attorneys insisted in the petition that Butts wasn't the shooter. A jailhouse witness, Horace May, who testified at trial that Butts confessed to being the shooter has now signed a sworn statement saying he made the story up out of sympathy for Wilson, whom he also met in jail. Wilson also told May that the pair had agreed to steal Parks' car but that Butts believed they would release Parks, the statement says. Butts' lawyers have also filed challenges in several courts. They argued in a filing in Baldwin County Superior Court, where he was originally sentenced, that Butts' execution should be halted and he should be resentenced. Given recent trends in sentencing, he wouldn't be sentenced to death today so his death sentence is "grossly disproportionate," they argued. A judge rejected that argument, and Butt's lawyers filed a notice of intent to appeal to the state Supreme Court. In a petition filed in Butts County Superior Court, where the prison that houses death row is located, his lawyers argued that his sentence is unconstitutional. He was 18 at the time of the killing and a chaotic and troubled childhood stunted his intellectual, social and psychological growth, causing his mental age and maturity to lag behind his actual age, his lawyers wrote. Executing him would be like executing someone who was younger than 18 when his crime was committed, and that's not lawful, his lawyers argued. His attorneys have also consistently argued that his trial lawyers were ineffective and failed to thoroughly investigate his case or to present mitigating evidence, including a childhood characterized by abuse and neglect that could have spared him the death penalty. State and federal courts have rejected his appeals, but his lawyers have argued that a Georgia Supreme Court opinion published in January and a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last month in Wilson's case open the door for a federal judge to consider his claims of ineffective assistance of counsel. A federal judge has rejected those arguments. Butts would be the second inmate executed by Georgia this year. Carlton Gary, convicted of raping and killing three older women and known as the "stocking strangler," was put to death March 15. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde A bill moving through the Louisiana legislature could change the way juries in felony cases reach a verdict. Senate bill 243, authored by Sen. J.P. Morrell (D-New Orleans), would require unanimous verdicts in felony cases. As the law stands now, only 10 of 12 jurors need to agree. Louisiana is 1 of only 2 states that don't require a unanimous decision, Oregon being the other. But, it's the only state that allows a 10 out of 12 vote in murder cases, with the exception of death penalty trials. "I just made it a personal commitment that I would do everything I could to see that this law was repealed," said Ed Tarpley, a former district attorney in Grant Parish and a current criminal defense attorney in Central Louisiana. After 35 years practicing law, Tarpley said it took a book called "Jim Crow's Last Stand" to open his eyes to the origins of the state's non-unanimous jury verdict law. "This was something that was shameful and disgraceful that Louisiana had a law like this and that it affected the lives of thousands and thousands of people," he said. Last week, Tarpley testified in favor of SB 243, that would require unanimous verdicts in felony cases. As the law stands now, you can be convicted of a felony, or acquitted for that matter, in Louisiana if 10 out of 12 jurors say so. A house committee unanimously supported the bill last week. It was a shock given that the bill has been opposed by nearly all of the district attorneys in the state. "When the vote was called for and the chairman asked if there was any opposition and there was no opposition, we were stunned," said Tarpley. Tarpley's argument is that the current law has Jim Crow era origins. In the debate over the state's 1974 constitution, no argument about the law was made about race. Instead, the debate focused on judicial efficiency and it was ultimately adopted by the people. One of the district attorney's who has been vocal against the bill is John DeRosier of Calcasieu Parish. Loren Lampert, the former chief of police of the Alexandria Police Department and a longtime prosecutor, is his administrative 1st assistant district attorney. He also does specialty prosecution around the state. "The problem that I have right now is that there is absolutely no empirical evidence to suggest that unanimity equates to reliability of verdicts," said Lampert. "I think we can get there. I think we can do independent, objective study of that and analysis of the data that exists." Lampert emphasized to us that only 12 convictions since the current law was adopted in 1974 have been reversed for a lack of sufficient evidence. And, in 9 of those 12 cases, it was a unanimous verdict. "The origins of this, it's horrible. There is no way to soften that blow," he said. "I'm as empathetic as I can be and I really acknowledge that and I'm not trying to diminish that in any way whatsoever. If this is a way to fix that, and the public decides that is the case, I'm for that as well." Lampert hopes the debate focuses on the substance of reliable verdicts. "I think if the data were to come out and show that unanimity in any substantial way improves reliability, not only would I not oppose that bill personally and individually, I'm speaking for myself, I would support it because I have that much faith in our system. It's the best system on the planet," he said. He also points out that non-unanimous jury verdicts often help avoid things like costly re-trials that come if there are hung juries. "I do think as good stewards we need to understand the data and know what it's going to cost," he said. "It's going to be a significant increase in the cost of a trial and length of a trial and the length of deliberations. But, if it does equate to reliability, then we should be willing to spend that money gladly. We just don't know the answer to that question." Meanwhile, Tarpley argues that it's a prosecutor's responsibility to get a conviction by a jury beyond a reasonable doubt: "How can you say a person has been convicted beyond a reasonable doubt when one or two people on the jury still have doubt?" The next step for the bill is to clear the full house by a 2/3 margin. It would then head back to the senate. If it passes the full legislature, you'll be asked to vote on it as a constitutional amendment in the fall. We reached out to our local district attorneys in Central Louisiana for their thoughts on the bill. Avoyelles Parish District Attorney Charles Riddle told us he will support a unanimous jury verdict system, but would also like to give prosecutors the option to require a jury. In other words, if a defendant can waive a jury trial, the state should be able to require one. Grant Parish District Attorney Jay Lemoine gave us this statement: "If unanimous jury verdicts are actually more reliable, we must insist that we have them. If Louisiana's role in reconstruction and the racism that occurred during that time is the only factor to consider in whether split verdicts can stand, then they must fall. Currently, we only have anecdotal evidence and unscientific studies that are put forward supporting this change. Unanimous verdicts do not necessarily increase the reliability of verdicts, and allows one holdout to nullify the jury. I support the study of reliable and empirical evidence, and until that shows that unanimous jury verdicts are unreliable, I oppose the move to require unanimous jury verdicts on all felony cases." Rapides Parish District Attorney Phillip Terrell gave us this statement: "On the one hand, the burden of proof the state must bear is beyond a reasonable doubt. It has clearly been held by the United States Supreme Court that the 10-2 verdict is not unconstitutional. Many argue that a public safety issue would arise if the more erroneous burden of unanimous verdict were placed upon the prosecution. On the other hand, the origins of the 9-3 or 10-2 verdict clearly arose in our state during Jim Crow and any reading of the 1878 Constitutional Convention minutes and comments makes clear the racial intentions of the framers. It is suggested by some cooler heads that the matter be referred to the Louisiana Law Institute for research and recommendation. However, this office will certainly live with the wishes of the people if there is a vote to change the Louisiana Constitution." Calls for comment to Vernon Parish District Attorney Asa Skinner's office were not returned. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde KALB news, May 2, 2018 He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals (Photo: AFP) Australia's oldest scientist, who caused a stir when his university tried to vacate his office aged 102, will fly to Switzerland in early May to end his life, reigniting a national euthanasia debate. David Goodall, who is now 104, does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fast-track appointment with an assisted dying agency in Basel, euthanasia advocates said. "I greatly regret having reached that age," the ecologist told broadcaster ABC on his birthday earlier this month. "I'm not happy. I want to die. It's not sad particularly. What is sad is if one is prevented. "My feeling is that an old person like myself should have full citizenship rights including the right of assisted suicide," he added. Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legalise the practice last year. But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months. Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated, mostly recently in New South Wales state last year. Exit International, which is helping Goodall make the trip, said it was unjust that one of Australia's "oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the other side of the world to die with dignity". "A peaceful, dignified death is the entitlement of all who want it. And a person should not be forced to leave home to achieve it," it said on its website Monday. The group has launched a GoFundMe campaign to get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and has so far raised more than Aus$17,000 (US$13,000). Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals. Hyderabad: Hyderabad High Court has confirmed the life sentence awarded by Nizamabad Trial Court in 2005 to Pakistani spy Ashique Ali alias Shahneel for transferring strategic defence information of India to Pakistani Army. On January 26, 2002, Nizamabad police arrested Ashique Ali, a Pakistani National from near Jannapally Junction in the town at night based on reliable information that he was transferring strategic defence information to Pakistani Army through e-mails and phone calls. The investigation revealed that Ashique Ali conspired with Major Chaudry Zahid Ahmed, Hawaldar Mahemood and Hawaldar Tahir, all Pakistan nationals, with an intention to collect sensitive and strategic defence information related to Indian Armed Forces and in pursuance of the said conspiracy, they had sent Ashique Ali to India on June 15, 2001, under the guise of a tourist for 30 to 60 days, to visit Delhi and Kanpur only. The police charged that as part of the conspiracy, the accused collected information and passed it to Pakistan for waging war against the Government of India. The investigation further revealed that though Ashique Ali entered the country to visit Delhi and Kanpur only, he visited several places in Punjab, Hyderabad, Nizamabad, Bombay and Nagpur in Maharashtra State and collected information with regard to location of EME Centres of Secunderabad Cantonment Area, Artillery Centres at Golconda, Hyderabad, Army and Air-Force Training Centres in Hyderabad and communicated about this to his masters in Pakistan. The police booked him under Section 121 and Section 121-A of the IPC and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and also under Officials Secrets Act. During the trial, the accused confessed that he communicated in cryptic language using uncle as code for 54 division; sons as units; house nos. as number of units; name of colony's place as code for location of the units. The police had earlier produced an Army officer as a witness in the case and the officer deposed before the trial court that the accused had met him during his journey to Jabalpur in a train and introduced himself as a tourist and resident of Delhi. Ramanathapuram: Defence minister Nirmala Sitharamans car on Tuesday came under attack from a group of DMK workers, who pelted it with stones, threw slippers and showed black flags, condemning the centre for not forming the Cauvery Management Board. Police said the stones hit the rear end of the vehicle, which did not suffer any damage and the minister continued with her journey. All the DMK workers were removed and arrested, they said. BJP workers following the ministers convoy in a vehicle shouted slogans against DMK, to which the latter too responded. The defence minister is on a visit to Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts to carry out a review of Centre schemes. In the wake of the February 16 verdict which directed the Centre to evolve a scheme on the Cauvery dispute, DMK and other parties have been insisting on a Cauvery Management Board. Americas defence secretary James Mattis understands military hardware well. A retired Marine general who commanded US troops in southern Afghanistan in the opening weeks of the war in 2001, Mr Mattis sees India as one of the most lucrative and attractive destinations for his countrys defence contractors as he gleefully advised members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. He is clearly trying to reshape the psyche and policy of his countrys political masters when he comments: India... we probably have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to find more common ground I think its there... We dont have to search hard for it in the sense of creating it. We just have to get an understanding of each others interests. A profound observation indeed. For Western arms manufacturers, particularly those from the United States, India is just waiting to be lapped up. The country seems a readymade and tailored market. The arms manufacturers just have to land, in the manner of Vasco da Gama or Robert Clive, and things will immediately fall into place. Mr Mattis appears to be a practical, wise and thinking general. His advisory comes as a forewarning to his political colleagues, who more often than not have shown propensity to pass laws which later came back to harm, and not help, their own cause. Mr Mattis diagnosis is near perfect and precise. He urges that US legislators should allow the government flexible waiver authority pertaining to Russia-related sanctions that seek to punish Third World countries, like India, for making significant transactions like arms purchase from Russia. He has clearly seen through the US fault line; he says it is likely to prevent ourselves (US) from acting in our own best interests and place an undue burden on our allies/partners. The waiver he seeks is from punitive actions under the Countering Americas Adversaries through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), passed by the US Congress in January last year. So whats the status of the Indo-Russian relationship? The answer is that its solid. Despite the volatile and changing international scenario, Indias reliance on Russia, even today, is peerless. Russia supplied 68 per cent of Indias imports in 2012-2016, compared to the US 14 per cent and Israels 7.2 per cent. Imports from Russia are often in the form of assembly or licensed production of major weapons by Indias state-owned arms industry. If we look at the contemporary order list and long-term planning, it will be clear that Russia will continue to be Indias main supplier of major arms and equipment in the foreseeable future. Hence, it is necessary to make everyone understand, and particularly the United States, that there is no point even in trying to think of imposing sanctions on India for buying Russian arms. Despite its chaotic polity and its endlessly quarrelling and squabbling leaders, India cant be cajoled or compelled to fall in line. No one doubts Russias loyalty towards India; what Russia has been doing for India in the armaments industry since 1950s no other country has done! No doubt Russia too has made money and at times did not play fair financially, yet in the overarching scenario, despite being a virtual monopoly stakeholder in the Indian arms bazar, Russia has always given whatever India has asked for and it never pulled strings or imposed conditions on the end-use of weapons that it supplied to this country. A cursory glance at the inventory of Indias Army, Navy and Air Force reveals this reality. According to Military Balance 2018 (published in February 2018 by International Institute for Strategic Studies, London), apart from 122 (India-made) Arjun tanks, all 1,950 T-72M1 and 1,025 T-90S main battle tanks (MBTs) are of Russian origin. Further, infantry fighting vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, armoured engineering vehicles, recovery vehicles, anti-tank infrastructure and surface-to-air missiles are also from Russia. The Indian Navys dependence on Russia goes back to the 1960s when the first Foxtrot-class diesel electric patrol submarine was inducted into its fleet on December 8, 1967. Today, the lone nuclear-powered attack submarine (SSN) INS Chakra (ex-Russian Akula II) is on lease from Moscow. So is the case with nine imported Kilo-class submarines. The Navys long-range lethality originated with five Rajput (Kashin) class destroyers on September 30, 1980. The sole aircraft-carrier INS Vikrama-ditya today is of Russias Kiev class. All the indigenous surface shipbuilding programme of India, like those of the Delhi, Kolkata and Shivalik class destroyers and Brahmaputra, Godavari, Talwar class frigates are either designed by Russia or derived heavily from it. In naval aviation too, there is the MiG-29K/KUB Fulcrum; Ilyushin-38SD and Ka-28 helicopter. The Indian Air Force too has banked heavily on various types MiGs MiG-21, 23, 25R, 27 and 29 for more than 50 years. Although MiG-25R and 27 are retired, according to Military Balance 2018, there are 62 MiG-29 fighters and over 250 operational MiG-21 and 23 fighter ground attack aircraft in the Indian fleet. The IAF also flies Mi-25, 35 and 17 helicopters. So the relationship between the Indian military and Russia just cannot be wished away by anyone. I am no supporter of Russia, or for that matter anyone else, other than our own enterprises. However, realpolitik and real-time situations became a compulsion for India from 1962 onwards to seek assistance. That was the time when the West did not feel it necessary to give us the latest and the best. When late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had complained over the arming of Pakistan with the F-86 Sabre jet, Lockheed F-104 and (then) General Dynamics F-16, the situation indeed looked grim and gloomy for the Indian armed forces. Her fault was that she had waged a war in 1971 to break what some in the West felt was perhaps the strongest bulwark against hegemonic India. It was during those dark hours that the Russians came to New Delhis rescue. Of course, the Russians too had their own motives to counter their Cold War rivals on Indian soil. However, it was a blessing in disguise for India. The point to make today is that the American establishment both the administration and Congress should heed what Mr Mattis says, and desist from trying to impose sanctions on India for purchasing arms or collaborating with Russians in matters related to Indias national security. The Americans fight with Russia cant be carried out on, or from, Indian soil the way 18th and 19th century Europes Anglo-French wars were waged from Wandiwash and Arcot to Plassey and Bharatpur to Seringapatnam. India needs to be able to take its own sovereign decisions on what it considers best for its national security. Other nations need to stay out and not try to interfere, just as the Indian Parliament does not try to exercise jurisdiction over foreign lands! Ukraine boosts exports to EU by 26.5% in 1Q Imports from the EU over the said period grew 10.7%, amounting to US$4.523 billion. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter "We are confident that we will receive all relevant approvals," said the Nord Stream spokesman. Construction work has begun on the controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline at Lubmin, Germany's landing point. According to a spokesman for the Gazprom subsidiary, civil engineering and foundation work for the gas receiving station and the plant building started on an area of six hectares. In addition to Germany, Finland has already approved the construction of the 1200-km pipeline. From the end of 2019, it will transport around 55 billion cubic meters of Russian natural gas annually from Russia to Germany bypassing Ukraine, Pipeline Journal reports citing dpa. The decisions of Russia, Sweden and Denmark on the construction of the nine-billion-euro project are pending. Read alsoEU's General Court dismisses Ukraine's claim over OPAL gas pipeline as inadmissible"We are confident that we will receive all relevant approvals," said the Nord Stream spokesman. In Denmark, the pipeline is to run parallel to the existing first Nord Stream route south of the island of Bornholm. According to the company, the route for the first pipeline was chosen at the time at the express request of Denmark. It is therefore optimistic that the second pipeline on this corridor will also meet with approval. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine, Poland and Baltic States strongly oppose the Nord Stream 2 construction, warning the EU against letting Russia further strengthen its energy monopoly position in Europe. The contract is worth hundreds of millions of Czech crowns. Excalibur Army, a subsidiary of Czech defense holding company Czechoslovak Group (CSG), has secured a contract to deliver refurbished Russian-designed BVP-1 (BMP-1) amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and 2S1 amphibious tracked self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense. "The contract was signed recently and is worth hundreds of millions of crowns and involves dozens of vehicle platforms," CSG spokesman Andrej Cirtek told U.K.-headquartered defense news portal Jane's. Read alsoUkraine's major arms exporter reports profit up 1.3 times in 2017 "Excalibur Army will completely overhaul the armored vehicles and self-propelled howitzers at VOP 026 Sternberk and then transport them to our partner Wtorplast in Poland, which will export them to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine," he added. Truck Driver Regulations Can Encourage E. Coli Ross Marchand, E21 The current outbreak of E. coli has inflicted a large toll, leading to dozens of sicknesses in nearly half of all states. While officials aren't entirely sure where in the supply chain the bacteria originated, transportation remains a possibility. Transportation of produce opens up the possibility of contamination and rotting. Some problems are inevitable, the result of one of the largest, most efficient food delivery networks in the world. But, as has occurred too many times, misguided federal policies have unintended consequences that lead to increased suffering and complications. Read more here..... After many meetings and debates, the Chicago delegation succeeded in working with the New York United Federation of Teachers, Local 2 (UFT) to push the AFT to take stronger stands on charter school accountability and school closings though many delegates from Chicago would have liked the language to have been even stronger. Generally speaking, the New York delegation represented organizing charters as the best model for handling their role in reshaping unions, despite the fact that according to many reports few charter schools in New York have been organized as is the case in Chicago. This logic is the same touted by the Progressive Caucus of the AFT. The few that have been organized are a part of the UFT local though they have separate contracts negotiated with the help of UFT. The Chicago delegation reflection the mindset that allowing new charters to continue to proliferate while attempting to organize existing charters is an end game in which public schools and the union lose. Jen Johnson, CTU, Local 1 in Substance The High Court of Justice in London on May 3 rejected the statement filed by SCM Financial Overseas Limited from SCM Group on sending for consideration to the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) a case related to the sale of Ukrtelecom, in which the LCIA previously ruled in favor of Raga Establishment. "The application was filed on procedural grounds, and today's decision will not affect the legality of SCM's claims against Raga now being under consideration. This decision indicates that the LCIA did not consider "potentially very important evidence," as a result of consideration of which the outcome of the case and the arbitration decision could be different," SCM said in a statement to Interfax-Ukraine. SCM explains that contesting the arbitration decision in the High Court of Justice in London was based on the fact that the LCIA had to postpone it until legal proceedings on the privatization of Ukrtelecom in Ukraine are completed. This would give an opportunity to take into account and consider all the relevant facts in this case. "We are disappointed by today's decision of the High Court and, nevertheless, this does not mean that the LCIA arbitration came to the correct conclusion in its decision against SCM. As the judge said, today's decision is limited to a solely procedural issue," Director of International and Investor Relations at SCM Jock Mendoza-Wilson said. The Fitch international rating agency has noted improvement in the solvency of Ukrainian banks, while noting that some financial institutions need additional capitalization, according to a press release from the rating agency. "At the end of Q1, 2018, most of the largest 25 banks (together representing over 90% of sector assets) were compliant with the standard regulatory capital adequacy requirement of 10%," the document states. Fitch experts added that problem assets remain relatively high. "Impaired loans, which are mostly legacy exposures and include both those more than 90 days overdue and those with a low probability of repayment, represented 56% of loans at the end of Q1, 2018," according to the report. "In 2018 the National Bank will conduct a new asset quality review and capital stress test on the largest 25 banks to identify any capital shortfalls that need to be covered by bank owners," it says. "We expect the asset quality review to confirm some recapitalization needs as individual banks have moderate reserve coverage of restructured exposures (mostly captured in the impaired category). State- and foreign-owned banks should be able to receive additional capital support, if needed. Privately owned banks may have more limited access to new capital and in some cases may be understating loan impairment, in our view," the experts said. Aggressor state should bear responsibility, pay high price for what it did in Ukraine - Groysman Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said that Ukraine has all the opportunities to build bilateral relations with partner countries, and for this purpose it does not need any "artificial entities like the CIS," the press service of the Cabinet of Ministers has reported. Groysman said on Wednesday, May 2, at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) devoted to the sanctions policy and Ukraine's withdrawal from the CIS bodies, that the policy of sanctions against individuals and legal entities of Russia, which was recognized as an aggressor country against Ukraine, should be continued and strengthened. "We have a full understanding of the fact that the aggressor country should bear responsibility and pay a high price for what they did on the territory of our state. The government considered the decision to extend sanctions and put forward its proposals to the NSDC. Anyone who is involved in any crimes, which are supported by Russia, must be severely punished," Groysman said. He also added that "there can be no cooperation with the aggressor," so the decision on Ukraine's withdrawal from the CIS bodies is fair. "We have all the opportunities to build bilateral relations with partners without artificial entities like the CIS," he said. Groysman also spoke about the elections to merged territorial communities on April 29, which, "according to experts' estimates, have become one of the dirtiest after the Revolution of Dignity." The head of government stressed that law enforcement agencies were already involved in investigations. "We approved the draft law on responsibility (for illegal actions during the elections), and when we make it law, the situation will improve. If you buy votes, you'll be in prison," Groysman added. Kyiv's Obolonsky District Court has decided to interrogate defense witnesses for disgraced ex-President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych. The witnesses had previously been declared, but lawyers did not ensure their appearance. "The court has decided, pursuant to a paragraph of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, to resume only the elucidation of the case by questioning witnesses whose appearance at the hearing was called by the defense," said presiding judge Vladyslav Deviatko on Thursday, May 3. The court is going to hear testimony from Antimaidan rally participant Andriy Nikiforov, who will participate in a video call from Russian-occupied Crimea, and from former Vyshgorod district council member from Yanukovych's Party of Regions Anatoliy Kobylynsky, who headed the Grosser protection agency, which was responsible for guarding Yanukovych's Mezhyhirya residence outside of Kyiv. At the previous hearing on April 19, the court decided to start the judicial debate on the case of Viktor Yanukovych's government. Yanukovych's lawyers left the courtroom. The court then postponed the hearing to May 3, indicating that it would replace Yanukovych's lawyers if they failed to appear. Kyiv's Shevchenkivsky District Court has remanded three suspects involved in the assault on Member of Parliament Mustafa Nayyem (Petro Poroshenko Bloc) to home arrest. Kyiv's Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) told the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Thursday that Russian citizen Magomed-Salikh Arbuevich Saitov, born 1996, a second year student at Kyiv's Polytechnic Institute, was put under 24/7 house arrest. The suspect has been in Ukraine since April 2, 2018, and possesses a temporary residence permit. The court also remanded Russian citizen Umolt Ruslanovich Temerbulatov, born 1996, temporarily unemployed, to home arrest during night hours. According to the PGO, he has been in Ukraine since April 16, 2018, possesses a temporary residence permit and is seeking employment. Ukrainian citizen Akhmed Abubakarovich Saitov, born 1999, unemployed, was also remanded to home arrest during night hours. The brother of Mustafa Nayyem, Masi Nayyem said on his Facebook page the following on Thursday: "Russian citizen Magomed-Salikh Arbuevich Saitov is suspected of violating Part 2 of Article 296 of Ukraine's Criminal Code (hooliganism, group hooliganism). His participation in the incident was pushing my brother (this can be seen in the video of the incident). His participation in the fight that ensued is being determined by detectives, who have requested the suspect be remanded to house arrest. The court has remanded him to house arrest at his residence until June 30, 2018." According to Masi Nayyem, the court obliged Magomed-Salikh Saitov to also wear an electronic bracelet and to appear for questioning by investigators as summoned, as well as to turn over documents required for him to leave Ukraine. Masi Nayyem said the two other suspects are remanded to house arrest from 23.00 to 06.00 and are not required to wear electronic bracelets. As previously reported, police said a fourth suspect in the attack on MP Nayyem in the center of Kyiv on April 30, 2018, had crossed the state border and left Ukraine's territory on a Kyiv-Baku plane. Dry grass has caught fire in the territory of a former artillery ammunition depot near Balakliya (military unit A 1352, Kharkiv region), fire tanks and an engineering machine are being used to extinguish the fire, the press service of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported. "Today, on May 3, at 13:35, dry grass caught fire in the territory of a former arms depot in Balakliya, Kharkiv region, where the work continues to clean up and demine remains of shells that did not get off during last year's emergency," the General Staff of the Armed Forces said in the message posted on its Facebook page. Two firefighting tanks and an obstacle-clearing vehicle are containing the fire. "Mine action personnel have been evacuated," the staff said. Servicemen and rescuers of the Ukrainian State Emergency Service are providing security for the local population. The staff did not provide details of the fire scale and possible casualties. Munitions started to explode at the 65th depot near Balakliya on March 23, 2017. The explosions killed a woman and injured three people. Three Ukrainian fighters wounded in over 50 enemy attacks on May 2 The situation on the contact line in Donbas has remained tense over the past 24 hours, as militants fired at the positions of the Joint Forces 51 times, including from large-caliber artillery, wounding three Ukrainian soldiers, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported. "Three of our defenders were wounded as a result of enemy attacks. They were evacuated to mobile military hospitals. The condition of our military is satisfactory," Defense Ministry spokesman Dmytro Hutsuliak said at a briefing on Thursday. In the Luhansk sector, the Svitlodarsk bulge the epicenter of tensions. The greatest aggravation in the past day was observed near Troitske and Svitlodarsk, where militants actively used 120mm and 82mm mortars, arms of infantry fighting vehicles, grenade launchers and small arms of various types and calibers. Over 120 mines of various calibers were launched at Ukrainian troops. "Of the 14 attacks generally recorded over the past day in the Luhansk sector, ten occurred exactly in the Svitlodarsk bulge area," the ministry said. Ukrainian strongpoints near Zaitseve and Novhorodske came under enemy fire. Militants used 82mm mortars, grenade launchers and small arms of various types and calibers there. Thirty-seven attacks were recorded in the Donetsk sector. The enemy showed the greatest activity near Avdiyivka, Maryinka, Vodiane and Shyrokyne. "In violation of the Minsk agreements, the Russian occupation troops once again used 122mm artillery. From about 16:00, 39 122mm artillery shells were fired within an hour at our military near Vodiane and Shyrokyne," the report said. In addition, Ukrainian strongpoints near Vodiane came under enemy fire twice from 120mm mortars: "Our military counted 30 explosions of mortar shells." Ukrainian servicemen staying near Avdiyivka, Lebedynske, Opytne and Pisky also came under 82mm mortar fire. Small arms, large-caliber machineguns, grenade launchers of various types and weapons of infantry fighting vehicles were used to fire at Ukrainian positions near Avdiyivka, Vodiane, Kamianka, Maryinka, Lebedynske, Novotroitske, Opytne, Pavlopil, Slavne, and Shyrokyne. "The militants of the Russian occupation authorities fired 39 122mm artillery shells, about 100 120mm mortar shells and 80 82mm mortar shells at our defensive positions of the Joint Forces. In order to preserve the life and health of the personnel, servicemen of the Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire 44 times, using only weapons that are exclusively permitted by the Minsk agreements," the Defense Ministry said. PARIS/BRUSSELS, May 3 (Reuters) European powers still want to hand Donald Trump next week a plan to save the Iran nuclear deal, but they have also started work on protecting EU-Iranian business ties if the U.S. president makes good on a threat to withdraw, six sources told Reuters. Trump, who says the 2015 accord is a "disaster", has all but decided to withdraw by May 12, U.S. officials say, and looks set to reject four months of European efforts to address his concerns. But France, Britain and Germany aim to present to the White House a separate political agreement that commits to taking a tougher stance on Iran if they can agree it in time with the U.S. State Department, their American interlocutors. Several of the sources said they were skeptical the effort would succeed, and all said the Europeans were also working on damage limitation scenarios if it fails. "We have a week to continue talking to the Americans to see if we can find an agreement on the deal," said a senior European diplomat. "But I don't think there is any reason to be overly optimistic." The political agreement, which is a culmination of transatlantic diplomacy, does not include Iran or Russia and China, the other parties to the accord. It seeks to spell out to Trump that Europe will seek to contain Tehran's ballistic missile program, its influence in Syria and Yemen, the terms by which inspectors visit suspect Iranian sites, and "sunset" clauses under which some of its terms expire. While the Europeans and the Americans have narrowed their differences, they are struggling to agree on how to handle a U.S. desire to extend some of the limits on Iran's nuclear program, without reopening the July 2015 accord. "We're trying to find the right formulas that respond to the expectations of the Americans, but at the same time do not go against the deal," said a second senior European diplomat. "There is a chance of getting an agreement, but even if we have we one, I'm not convinced that it will be enough to stop the U.S. withdrawing," the diplomat said. In their package for Trump, the Europeans are also grappling with a U.S. desire to make explicit that Iran must give international inspectors access to military sites. The Europeans say this is already implicit in the original deal. "There's a U.S. view that the inspection provisions aren't strong enough, which is not a view that is shared by the Europeans," said a third diplomat involved in the discussions. BUYING TIME, CONTINGENCY MEASURES France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are continuing to lobby Trump, but with the prospect of him changing his mind remote, the focus has shifted to managing the fallout and avoiding a dangerous vacuum. Macron in Washington last week proposed that, irrespective of Trump's decision, there should be a wider discussion between Iran and the powers behind the original deal, which took 12 years to negotiate, working towards a grand bargain. That would incorporate the existing nuclear deal and the issues currently discussed between Europeans and Americans. But it is hard to see how Iran could be brought back to the table. Tehran says it is abiding by the terms of the 2015 deal and has no intention to renegotiate it. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday rejected any form of renegotiation. France, Britain and Germany all say they will stay in the deal even if the United States withdraws, and try to protect and foster trade with Iran that has soared since the European Union lifted most of its economic sanctions on Iran. Iran's exports of mainly fuel and other energy products to the EU in 2016 jumped 344 percent to 5.5 billion euros ($6.58 billion) compared to the previous year, while investment in Iran jumped to more than 20 billion euros. If Trump can't be persuaded not to withdraw, "the second-best solution is to encourage the Americans to ... keep conditions that enable our companies in non-oil related sectors to continue to trade," said a French official. The German Economy Ministry said it was waiting for a formal U.S. decision on the Iran deal before deciding whether to stop offering German firms export guarantees for business deals with Tehran. Such guarantees provide state protection for companies doing business abroad when foreign debtors fail to pay. The prospect of trade with Europe would provide the Europeans with a chance to assuage the Iranians, and dissuade them from rash decisions such as leaving the deal or reviving the nuclear activities they agreed to give up. Countermeasures could include a special EU blocking statute developed in the 1990s but never fully used, to shield European firms doing business with Iran from U.S. legal action if Washington reimposes sanctions. But EU plans to keep money flowing to Iran would require the United States to approve non-dollar-denominated export credit facilities and other funding support to help firms enter Iran without fear of American legal ramifications. Two European officials said reviving the blocking statutes would still be mostly a symbolic step to show the Iranians that Europe was committed to the deal. In practice, companies would fear that investing in Iran would harm their commercial interests with the United States. A senior Iranian official agreed. "These are good ideas to show the Europeans are committed to the agreement, but we think that if they have to choose between Iran and the United States, they will choose the America," said the senior Iranian official. Iranian government spokesman Mohammad Baqer Nobakht believes that US will drop the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or Tehrans nuclear deal on May 12, adding, expect to see change in the Islamic Republics situation. Speaking on Wednesday, May 2, in Northern port city of Bandar Anzali, Nobakht said, The US is likely to walk away from JCPOA and we have to expect a different situation in the country. Nobakht did not clarify the "changes" he referred to but one possibility is a deteriorating economic situation in the country. Meanwhile, he insisted that Tehran will not be surprised by the US possible withdrawal from the nuclear deal, noting, We are ready for any development. We have paved the way and prepared necessary budget for post JCPOA era. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly described JCPOA as the worst possible deal, is expected to declare the US position on JCPOA on May 12. Earlier, he had set four conditions for not stepping out of the deal: international inspectors should have immediate access to all locations and facilities across Iran, limitation on the Islamic Republics nuclear activities should be permanent, Tehran should guarantee that it will never seek nuclear weapons and Irans Ballistic missiles plan should be curbed. In a statement on January 12, U.S. President Donald Trump gave Europeans only 120 days to agree to an overhaul of the JCPOA and insisted that if the deal is not revised he would unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from it. Furthermore, President Trump has cautioned that if the Islamic Republic resumes its nuclear activities, Tehran should expect bigger problems. The European leaders have urged President Trump to remain in JCPOA, while saying that they are prepared to change and revise it. However, Tehran has repeatedly said that it would never accept any revision or re-negotiation of JCPOA. Iran will never accept any change in the nuclear deal, President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday, April 25. Echoing the president comments, secretary of the Islamic Republics Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani warned the European states of losing prestige and interest in case Washington discards the 2015 nuclear deal. The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Rear-Admiral Shamkhani also threatened, Tehran is entitled to withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if it loses its interests due to the illegal behavior of the opposite side. Earlier on April 26, IRGC Brigadier General Hossein Salami had urged Rouhanis Administration to take a tougher stance in debates over JCPOA. Government officials should be more authoritative in their comments on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and wipe out the conception that regardless of Washingtons decision on JCPOA, Iran will remain loyal to it, state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), cited Salami as saying. Salami said he speaks for Irans military elites in calling on Iranian President Hassan Rouhani to be tougher on the U.S., adding his own prediction that Washington will preserve sanctions and try to agitate the people of Iran into a confrontation with the IRGC and the Supreme Leader. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which Iran signed with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France, and Germany, curbed Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Reacting to the countdown for May 12, Nobakht maintained that Tehran is already under economic siege and the government is dutybound to break it. However, Nobakht affirmed that Tehran will defend JCPOA to the last minute. Referring to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahus recent comments on the Islamic Republics clandestine nuclear activities, Iranian Government spokesman said, He [Netanyahu] hoped to form an anti-Iran and anti-JCPOA movement, but UNs nuclear watchdog, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the sole globally recognized authority in such cases. Without any elaboration Nobakht also said, The enemies failed to destroy Iran through war and tried to eradicate the country's identity with reliance on Daesh [IS] terrorist group, but to no avail. On 27-29 April 2018. This year, PwC Azerbaijans Marshals Team celebrated the third year of success, leading the legendary Sector 1 consisting of 42 marshals. As in the previous 2 years, the Team demonstrated the outstanding performance and great team spirit. For the second year in a row, the team was led by a young and dedicated Chief, former sportswoman Inara Namaliyeva, a part of PwC Azerbaijans HC Team. Two members of PwC Azerbaijans Leadership Team - the Firms People and Organisation Leader, Rena Rzayeva and IT Leader, Namig Hajiyev also contributed to the success of Azerbaijan Grand Prix 2018: Rena was the Chief Observer and Namig was a member of the Scrutineering Team one of the few people who sees the pilots and cars live. The most exciting part of the team's experience this year was a dramatic Red Bull drivers crash in our sector. It happened on Turn 1 and was professionally handeled by PwC Azerbaijans marshals. Along with the F1 races, three cars from F2 races on 28 and 29 April were recovered by our team. For PwC, F1 experience is another proof of the Firm's commitment to its diversity demonstrated by 50% females in marshals team and core values, one of which is working together beyond boundaries to celebrate a common success - the success of the teams, organizers and the country, in a broad sense Notes for editor: At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems of our clients. We achieve this by offering client centric solutions in tax, legal, assurance and advisory from strategy through execution. Over 140 professionals from 6 countries working in PwC Azerbaijan share their thinking, values, experience and solutions to develop fresh perspectives and practical advice for our clients. We are a network of firms in 158 countries with more than 236,000 people who are committed to delivering quality in assurance, advisory and tax services. Find out more and tell us what matters to you by visiting us at www.pwc.com/az Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Samir Ali - Trend: A civilian car with a brigade engaged in the repair of artesian wells in Azerbaijans Aghdam district underwent fire from the districts territories occupied by Armenia, Executive Power of the district told Trend May 3. The incident occurred May 2 in the Chamanli village of the district. The people, who were inside the car, werent injured and had run off, leaving the car behind. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to his Polish counterpart Andrzej Duda. On behalf of the people of Azerbaijan and on my own behalf, I extend my sincerest congratulations to you and all the people of your country on the occasion of the national holiday of the Republic of Poland Constitution Day, Ilham Aliyev said in his letter. Relations between Azerbaijan and Poland have diverse traditions. The Joint Declaration on strategic partnership, which we signed during my visit to your country last year, opened a new page in the history of our bilateral relations. I believe that we will continue to make joint efforts to constantly strengthen our intergovernmental relations and deepen our cooperation in a number of important areas of mutual interest, Ilham Aliyev said. On this remarkable day, I wish you the best of health, success in your endeavors, and lasting peace and prosperity to the friendly people of Poland. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily Bodnar has arrived in Azerbaijan on a working visit, the Embassy of Ukraine in Azerbaijan said in a message posted in its Facebook account May 3. Bodnar will participate in the Ukrainian-Azerbaijani political consultations, according to the message. The parties will discuss the state and prospects of further development of the bilateral cooperation, the message said. Azerbaijans trade turnover with Ukraine amounted to $810.2 million in 2017, about $460 million of which accounted for the imports of Ukrainian products, according to Azerbaijans State Customs Committee. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: The next meeting of the heads of government of the member countries of the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development will be held in June in Chisinau city, GUAM Secretary General Altay Efendiyev said in an interview with Ukraines Glavkom news agency. Last year we managed to hold a meeting of the heads of government of the member countries of the GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development in Kyiv, he said. Efendiyev also added that there are prerequisites for the summit of heads of state and government during Ukraines presidency in the organization in 2019. The GUAM Organization for Democracy and Economic Development was established on May 23, 2006, at the first summit of GUAM in Kyiv. Cooperation between Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova, the member countries of the organization, started with the GUAM consultative forum, established on Oct. 10, 1997 in Strasbourg. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: Tripartite political consultations will be held among Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Turkey. This was announced during the political consultations between the Foreign Ministries of Azerbaijan and Ukraine, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said in a message on May 3. The talks were attended by Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Khalaf Khalafov and Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Bondar. Bondar, voicing satisfaction with being in Azerbaijan, noted that further strengthening of the strategic cooperation with Azerbaijan, as well as providing regional security together with Azerbaijan play a big role for Ukraine. In this regard, Bondar expressed confidence that tripartite political consultations between Azerbaijan, Ukraine and Turkey will play a big role. The sides emphasized that the political dialogue at the level of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Ukraine will give a strong impetus to dynamic development of the ties. Pointing to existence of a wide potential for further development of the economic cooperation between the two countries, Khalafov emphasized the role of the Azerbaijan- Ukraine joint intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation. During the meeting, Khalafov informed about implementation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the North-South, East-West and South-West transport routes being realized upon the initiative and with participation of Azerbaijan, as well as the TAP and TANAP pipeline projects. Khalafov noted that Ukraine can take advantage of these projects. During the meeting, the sides further exchanged views on negotiation process with the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group for settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The sides touched upon cooperation in the humanitarian sector, science, education, tourism and other spheres. They also discussed other issues of mutual interest. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has congratulated the heads of governments of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan on the forthcoming 73rd anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War, reads a message posted on the website of the Russian government. Medvedev in his messages spoke about the memories of the Great Victory, unifying citizens of these countries. The messages read that courage and heroism of the soldiers of the Great Patriotic War, dedication of home front workers will forever remain in the hearts of the present and future generations. He expressed confidence that the lasting traditions of friendship, laid down during the difficult period of war challenges, will continue to serve as a reliable foundation for the interstate relations. Medvedev asked his colleagues to convey the wishes of happiness, prosperity and longevity to the frontline soldiers and home front workers, respect and gratitude for their unprecedented deed. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: Success in the cooperation between the US and Azerbaijan promises new prospects, Head of the Delegation of the House of Representatives of the US Congress Robert Goodlatte said. Goodlatte made the remarks at a meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov in Baku, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry said May 3. The sides expressed gratification with the current level of relations between Azerbaijan and the US and exchanged views on further intensification of cooperation on the bilateral platform. Mammadyarov briefed the guests on foreign policy priorities of Azerbaijan, large-scale energy projects being implemented with the initiative and participation of Azerbaijan, as well as directions of the non-oil sector development. Speaking about the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which is the main threat to stability and security in the region, Mammadyarov said that attempts to change internationally recognized borders are unacceptable. The minister noted that the demands of the UN Security Council's relevant resolutions on immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of armed forces of Armenia from occupied territories of Azerbaijan must be implemented and the conflict must be resolved within the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan. In his turn, Goodlatte said that the US attaches great importance to relations with Azerbaijan and added that successful cooperation in various areas promises new perspectives. The sides also exchanged views on various issues of international and regional agenda. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Trend News Agency is the bridge of reliable information that connects Azerbaijan with the world, political analyst and international relations expert at the Milwaukee-based Marquette University Peter Tase told Trend. Trend is one of the very best news agencies in the Caucasus, providing accurate, timely, strategic information about Central Asian countries, Turkey, Europe and beyond. Over the years Trend has forged a great alliance with the public at large and regional governments, thanks to its leadership in providing reliable information, effective international relations prognosis and a timely analysis of various geopolitical, economic, trade deals and partnerships that are taking place among governments in the Caucasus and Europe, he said. Tase pointed out that Trend is a news agency that publishes on Azerbaijan in various languages, this is critical and fundamental knowing that Azerbaijan continues to be discriminated by some of the largest global news agencies (heavily sponsored by Armenian Diaspora groups); Baku has been a victim of fake news and misleading propaganda that is spread from the Wilson Quarterly publication to The Guardian Newspaper and the Huffington Post. Trend gives a special emphasis to economic, financial and trade analysis and reporting, pays tremendous attention to the strategic partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan, he noted. The US expert pointed out that the use of English language on all publications of Trend News Agency is articulate, lucid, vibrant and extremely accurate. Trend News Agency is highly practical to international audiences and readership for the following reasons: publication of oil and gas regional reports; permanent coverage of relations among Central Asian countries; energy reporting and exports of Iran; helpful information on the strategic partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan; publications on bilateral partnership between Azerbaijan and United States of America, added Tase. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: Native of Azerbaijan Irada Ayupova has been appointed as Minister of Culture of Tatarstan (Russia). The corresponding decree was signed by the President of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov, Russian media outlets reported May 3. To date, she has held the position of Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Tatarstan on the Archival Affairs. Irada Ayupova was born in Baku. In 1993, she graduated from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy with a degree in mathematics, and in 2002 - from the Tatar Institute of Assistance to Business with a degree in law, and passed professional training in a Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education entitled as the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of Russia. From 1994 to 2000, Ayupova worked in Nizhnekamsk, including as a software engineer. Later she continued her career in Kazan. She held various positions from Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Support to Business of the City, and the Chief of the Personnel Department of the Kazan City Administration, to the chief of Department of the Ministry of Economy of Tatarstan. In 2008, she became Deputy Minister, and later the First Deputy Minister of Culture. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Drug advertising is partially allowed in Azerbaijan, but this issue should be reconsidered, Head of the Healthcare Committee of the Azerbaijani Parliament Ahliman Amiraslanov said at the Committees meeting May 3. He noted that he is not a supporter of drug advertising. This advertising is more dangerous than advertising of cigarettes, Amiraslanov said, adding that drug advertising is prohibited in Europe. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Azerbaijan has achieved significant results in development of the non-oil sector over the recent years, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Azerbaijan Vitezslav Pivonka told Trend. "During my tenure in Azerbaijan, I have witnessed not only an economically favorable period, but also a crisis period of 2016-2017. Firstly, the shock caused by the fall in oil prices, which was then the main source of revenues to the state budget, should be noted. This was a very serious test for Azerbaijan's economy," he said. According to Pivonka, the very fact that Azerbaijan has not only withstood such tests, but also was able to stabilize its economy during a very short period of time - in one-two years - is a great achievement. The ambassador emphasized that any crisis is a serious test for a country. "However, at the same time, the crisis can sometimes give a chance for development, as it happened in case of Azerbaijan." "As part of the anti-crisis program, reforms were launched to increase the non-oil sector's share in the economy of Azerbaijan. Some of these reforms, for example, reform on customs procedures, development of ASAN system, a project on the free economic zone in Alat, and many others are beginning to show a positive result. In addition, many economic reforms have yet to be implemented," Pivonka said. Speaking about the reforms aimed at increasing the share of the non-oil sector in Azerbaijan's economy, the ambassador stressed that it is necessary to ensure implementation of all reforms in full and without delay. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Ali_Mustafayev Istanbul, Turkey, May 3 By Ilaha Mammadli Trend: Turkish Airlines is ready to help Azerbaijan to train pilots and improve their skills on more favorable terms, coordinator of the Turkish Airlines training center told reporters during the press tour to the company. Turkish Airlines training center, which ranks third in the world, provides training for pilots and flight personnel. "Azerbaijani pilots are trained in Dubai, but we offer Azerbaijan our services, which can be more profitable taking into account the costs of training and accommodation. We can build a similar center in Azerbaijan in the case of reaching an agreement at the state level, " the coordinator said. For example, while the hour of use of aircraft simulators in Europe costs $440, in Dubai it costs $350-400 and in Turkey it is 25-50 percent cheaper. At the moment, such airlines as Royal Fleet, Saudia, Onur, Kuwait, Kam Air, Hats, Iraq Air, etc. are the clients of the center. The coordinator of the center also evaluated the quality of training of pilots in terms of the number of accidents that occur very often in recent years. There were three or four accidents during the operation of Turkish Airlines over the last 10 years. The center trains tens of thousands of people a year, including about 3,000 pilots. Every day, 850 people attend the training in the center. The center is equipped with more than 10 aircraft simulators which simulate Boeing and Airbus aircraft, and the price of one such machine is about $20 million. By the end of 2019, their number will be increased to 30. The simulator allows for simulating any country and area and creating conditions such as bad weather and turbulence which are the most close to reality, and playing any scenarios, such as fire. The first meeting of the Joint Kyrgyz-Kuwait Intergovernmental Commission on Economic and Technical Cooperation was held in El Kuwait on April 24-26 this year for the first time in the history of Kyrgyz-Kuwaiti bilateral relations at the level of Deputy Ministers of Finance, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic said in a message. The interdepartmental delegation of the Kyrgyz Republic, headed by Deputy Minister of Finance Karmyshakov, included responsible representatives of relevant state bodies of the Kyrgyz Republic. During the meeting the parties discussed issues of development of Kyrgyz-Kuwaiti cooperation in the areas of finance and trade, transport and agriculture, education and science, culture and information, tourism and sports, emergencies and ecology. Special attention was also paid to agreements in the field of financial and economic cooperation with the aim of attracting grants and investments from Kuwait to finance nationwide infrastructure projects and business projects for small and medium-sized businesses in the Kyrgyz Republic. In addition, during the plenary session, the participants were presented the video about the Third World Nomad Games and tourist opportunities in Kyrgyzstan. Based on the results of the work of the expert groups, the parties signed the Protocol of the meeting of the Kyrgyz-Kuwaiti Intergovernmental Commission. The first meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Kyrgyz-Kuwait Commission took place thanks to Article 8 of the Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation between the Governments of the two countries signed in December 2015. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbekistan started implementation of 29 projects within the framework of the 2017-2019 Program of measures on further development of textile and sewing-knitting industry in the 1Q2018, the press service of the Uztekstilprom association stated on May 3. According to the statement, some 7 new enterprises worth $104.8 million of investments were opened in the 1Q2018. Export potential of the new enterprises is approx. $50 million per year. They will allow organizing production of fabrics, dyed yarn, linen and yarn. According to the program on creating new working places, implementation of the new projects and development of the existing enterprises allowed to open 1,290 new working places in the textile industry of the country. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, May 3 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov received Governor of Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhilkin, local TV channel "Altyn Asyr" reported May 3. The Russian delegation took part in the celebrations to mark the opening of the international seaport in the Pre-Caspian city of Turkmenbashi May 2. Berdymukhamedov stressed the friendly, good-neighbourly nature of cooperation with the Astrakhan region, the relevance of joint projects in various fields, including projects in the field of shipping. The head of state emphasized that the development of direct and effective contacts with the regions and leading industrial centers of Russia is one of the key directions of the interstate Turkmen-Russian dialogue. The sides focused on such priority areas as trade and economic, transport and communication spheres. At the same time, the prospects for expanding the partnership between the business circles of the two countries were noted, taking into account the full range of logistics services and other opportunities of the new seaport in Turkmenbashi. Earlier, it was reported that new prospects are opened by Turkmenistan's projects to create transnational transport and transit corridors in the direction of Iran, Afghanistan and India. During the bilateral meetings, the idea of opening a wholesale and logistics center in the Astrakhan region to introduce Turkmen goods into the Russian market was also expressed. In February 2018, it was reported that the port of Turkmenbashi is already loading polypropylene into the holds of the Russian dry cargo ship "Musa Jalil" for delivery to the port of Olya in the Astrakhan region. Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan, May 3 By Vugar Imanov - Trend: The opening ceremony of the international seaport in the Pre-Caspian city of Turkmenbashi was held in Turkmenistan, Trend's correspondent reported from the event. The ceremony was attended by President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. The ceremony was also attended by numerous foreign guests, representatives of diplomatic missions, including representatives of Azerbaijan - Minister of transport, communications and high technologies Ramin Guluzade, President of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC Javid Gurbanov, Director General of the Baku international sea trade port Taleh Ziyadov, and Ambassador to Turkmenistan Hasan Zeynalov. The cost of the project, implemented since 2014 by the Turkish Gap insaat company, exceeds $1.5 billion. With the commissioning of the new port, great opportunities open up for sending goods coming to Turkmenbashi through the route of the Silk Road from Asia and the Pacific, further to Europe through the ports of Russia and Azerbaijan. The new port covers an area of about 152 hectares and includes a common loading terminal, a bulk terminal, a polypropylene terminal, as well as shipbuilding and ship repair docks. A road with overpass junctions has also been built, and railway tracks have been laid. The total length of berths, which can simultaneously serve 17 ships, is more than 1800 meters. Shipbuilding and ship repair dock "Balkan" was built on the territory of the port. This facility, which has the capacity to process 12,000 tons of steel per year, is designed for the construction of 4 ships and repair of 20 vessels. The project was developed in accordance with the international "Greenport" standard. The annual cargo handling capacity of the port will be 17-18 million tons excluding oil products. Together with the previously operating port, this figure will be 25-26 million tons. The international ferry and passenger port will be able to serve 300,000 passengers and 75,000 trailers a year. The container terminal is designed for an average annual capacity of 400,000 TEU (20-foot containers). The multimodal logistics center operating in the port will provide a range of services for storage and combined handling of containerized cargo delivered by air, road and rail transport, ensuring their transshipment to and from water transport. The new seaport is designed to become an important link in the formation of a modern maritime transportation system, creating the most favorable conditions for access to the Black Sea region, and in the direction of countries of Europe, the Middle East, South Asia and the Asia-Pacific region, allowing to significantly reduce the distance and travel time for large volumes of cargo. The new port in Turkmenbashi will also give impetus to the development of industrial and transport infrastructure, and attraction of investments, and will contribute to growth of the inflow of tourists. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Ilkin Shafiyev Trend: Azerbaijani producers will take part in the SIAL China 2018, Asia's Biggest Food Innovation Exhibition, to be held in Shanghai May 16-18, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Wine Producers and Exporters Association Elchin Madatov told Trend May 3. "The entrepreneurs will take part in the exhibition through Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), he said. Azerbaijani producers will traditionally participate in the exhibition with a single national stand. The delegation consisting of 20 entrepreneurs will represent the companies producing wine, juices, persimmons and other products." Madatov added that the issue of opening the wine house of Azerbaijan in Shanghai will also be discussed during the visit of the Azerbaijani delegation. "The discussions are underway, he said. During the visit to China, we will thoroughly consider this issue. There are several issues mainly related to the creation of a legal entity. The wine house will be located in Shanghais free economic zone." As part of the promotion of the "Made in Azerbaijan" brand in foreign markets, in 2017 Azerbaijan's products were exhibited at the Gulfood 2017 international food, beverage and hospitality exhibition in Dubai, the Prowein 2017 international trade fair for wines and spirits in Dusseldorf, the International Food Exhibition ANUGA, and the Worldfood Moscow 2017. Moreover, 10 export missions were sent to foreign countries. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Ilkin Shafiyev Trend: Azerbaijani wine producer Agro-Azerinvest LLC intends to greatly increase export of wine to Kyrgyzstan, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Wine Producers and Exporters Association Elchin Madatov told Trend May 3. "The company supplied the first batch of wine and cognac to Kyrgyzstan in January, which is about 10 tons of products worth $30,000," he added. The company intends to increase these volumes by 5-6 times by the end of the year." Presently, Azerbaijani wine producers are negotiating with importers from Kazakhstan and are conducting research in the Uzbek market, Madatov said. The plans also include expansion of export of wine to the Baltic countries. "In general, we would like to get in 2018 positive export dynamics, as we managed to do in 2017, he said. The first quarter of this year was very successful for us and we achieved the desired results. However, the April devaluation of the ruble and the fall of the yuan to the dollar slightly changed our forecasts, because Russia and China are our main export markets." According to the State Program for Winemaking Development in 2018-2025, approved by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on May 3, the country intends to increase wine exports fivefold by 2025. Over 1 million decaliters of wine products were produced in Azerbaijan in 2017, 375,000 decaliters of which were exported. Azerbaijan mainly exports its wine to Russia (338,000 decalitres) and China (27,000 decaliters). --- Follow the author on Twitter: @IlkinShafiyev SOCAR AQS has signed the agreement with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), one of the top universities in the world, for establishment of the MIT Azerbaijan Fund. The MIT- Azerbaijan Fund will support the new MITAzerbaijan Global Startup Labs initiative to be administered by the MIT International Science and Technology Initiatives (MISTI) Program. The agreement was signed by Mr. Israel Ruiz, Executive Vice President and Treasurer of MIT, and Mr. Ramin Isayev, General Director of SOCAR AQS. The first MITAzerbaijan Global Startup Labs will be organized in the summer of 2018 at ADA University (identified as per the appreciation mission of the MIT representative to academic institutions in the country). The MITAzerbaijan Global Startup Lab entails an intensive applied training for young entreprenerus and tech-savvy students in the development of mobile/web app-based startups and entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan. Participants will be selected by the MIT Team. The MITAzerbaijan Global Startup Lab will hold an investor / demo day, where startups will have an opportunity to pitch the ideas and products they develop during the program and to seek funding from investors and/or invitations to local startup incubators or accelerators. The MITAzerbaijan Global Startup Labs graduates will also have the opportunity to compete for participation in MITs global startup and idea competitions, thus providing Azerbaijans students and young entreprenuers with access to global startup funding and innovation ecosystem. Dr. Elizabeth Wood, Faculty Director of MIT MISTIs Eurasia program, said that MIT is proud of its role expanding the frontiers of technological and entrepreneurship innovation. Through the MITAzerbaijan Global Startup Lab we want to take the best practices and modern approaches in startup ecosystem development to aspiring countries in the world. Dr. Hafiz Pashayev, the Rector of ADA University said: This important partnership with the MIT and SOCAR AQS will enable ADA Universitys Innovation Center to further strengthen the universitys startup support and innovation capacity. It will also be an important contribution to developing the startup ecosystem in the country. Azerbaijan has a young and entrepreneurial population. The country needs to reinvigorate its startup ecosystem to further enhance its innovation economy. SOCAR AQS is proud to support the country in these efforts, said Mr. Ramin Isayev, General Director of SOCAR AQS. Candidates interested in the MIT Global Startup Lab Azerbaijan bootcamp should apply by the deadline of May 29th, 2018 at the following link: http://gsl.mit.edu/program/azerbaijan-summer-2018/ SOCAR AQS as a national drilling company supports initiatives and programs aimed at increasing the existing capabilities to integrate oil capital into human capital. SOCAR AQS launches the Summer Internship Program for 3rd and 4th year Bachelor degree students and master's degree students. Besides the company grants scholarship for students, who study oil and gas engineering. SOCAR AQS's shareholders are SOCAR and Nobel Oil Services. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Maksim Tsurkov Trend: Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR continues work to implement its strategic goals for making stable and sustainable contribution to the countrys economy, a source in Azerbaijans oil and gas market told Trend. The source noted that presently, SOCAR has main strategic goals, which will also allow the company to successfully operate on a global scale. "The first goal is to maintain a stable level of oil production, as well as to increase production and export of natural gas," the source said. "It is also important to create and develop new, modernize and effectively use the existing infrastructure, increase and consolidate activity in the processing, petrochemical and marketing sector in local and regional scale." The source noted that one of the goals is to increase the efficiency of SOCARs operations. "To do this, it is necessary to increase the international activity of the company by expanding the investment portfolio and the scope of operations, diversify sales markets and export routes," the source said. The source added that strategic goals also include SOCARs contribution to the development of the Southern Gas Corridor project and further contribution to the economic development of Azerbaijan. Follow the author on Twitter: @MTsurkovTrend Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: Azerbaijan state company SOCAR plans to use the Baku-Tbilisi - Kars railway for urea supplies to Georgia and Turkey, director of the carbamide plant Khayal Jafarov said. He said, SOCAR is not afraid of high competition in the urea market, despite the construction of factories in Russia and Turkmenistan. "Our main market is Turkey. We studied it and found out that the main deliveries of urea to Turkey come from Egypt and partly from Russia. However, we have such advantage as logistics. In addition, after 2020, the demand for urea will grow everywhere", - said Jafarov. He noted that the recently launched BTK railway will make it possible to quickly deliver goods from Azerbaijan to Georgia and Turkey. "Given the logistics, we will be very competitive with the use of BTK," said Jafarov. SOCARs urea factory will produce 1,200 tons of ammonia and, subsequently, 2,000 tons of urea per day. It is planned to supply a quarter of production, that is, 150,000 tons of urea (with a potential growth of up to 200,000 tons, or 30 percent of production) to the Azerbaijani domestic market. The remaining part will be exported. South Koreas Samsung Engineering won the tender for the construction of the urea factory. Samsung Engineering acts as a general contractor of the factorys construction, but it has no license for production of urea and ammonia, which will be by-product in the urea production process. Therefore, the relevant licensing agreements were signed with Haldor Topsoe company (Denmark) for production of ammonia and Stamicarbon B.V. company (the Netherlands) for production of urea. Production at the factory will be environmentally friendly, that is, no pollutant emissions into the atmosphere are expected. The factory will have an autonomous electricity system. The factory will consume 25-26 MW of electricity per hour. At first, financing of construction work was carried out from the Azerbaijani state budget and about 210 million manats were allocated from there before the beginning of 2015, another 60-65 million euros were allocated by SOCAR. But later it was decided to switch to project finance and negotiations with banks were started. As a result, the ExportImport Bank of South Korea (EximBank) opened a line of credit worth 500 million euros under Azerbaijans state guarantee to complete the construction of the factory. EximBank will directly provide 251 million euros, while 249 million euros will be allocated by three commercial banks (Italys UniCredit S.p.A., Frances Societe Generale S.A. and Germanys Deutsche Bank AG) with the support of EximBank. Some 1.3 million cubic meters of gas per day will be required to operate the urea factory at full capacity. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Huseyn Veliyev Trend: A new "Tecnovate" incubation center to support innovative projects was established in Baku, head and founder of the center Farid Ismayilzade told Trend May 3. Ismayilzade noted that the center will provide financial and advisory support to innovative projects with real potential to enter the global market. "The center already has the first residents, and these are the "Frogo" and "Spinal" projects. Besides these, there are also another four applicant projects," said Ismailzade. The projects of the incubation center will have an opportunity to participate in various competitions, and to undergo training with the participation of foreign industry experts. The center with a total area of 90 square meters is located on the 12th floor of the Globus Center business center in Baku. The residents of the center will be provided with the necessary technical support (computer equipment and Internet access). Only promising projects with the potential to enter the global market can qualify for assistance from the incubation center. --- Twitter: @h_veliyev Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: In April 2018, the number of Azerbaijani tourists visiting Georgia increased by 10.4 percent compared to the same period of 2017, Georgian media reported citing Georgy Chogovadze, the head of the National Tourism Administration. He said that the number of Azerbaijani citizens, who visited Georgia in April 2018, was 596,700 people. In April, the number of tourists - foreigners who spent 24 hours or more in the country - exceeded 278,000 people (a growth of 24.9 percent over the year). During the period, along with Azerbaijani citizens, the country also welcomed more tourists from Russia (a growth of 43.4 percent), Turkey (a growth of 29.2 percent ), Iran (almost double growth), France (a growth of 24.7 percent), Estonia (a growth of 83 percent), Kuwait (a growth of 80.9), Latvia (a growth of 82.6 percent), China (a growth of 62 percent), Poland (a growth of 37.3 percent), Great Britain (a growth of 33.6 percent), Israel (a growth of 28 percent) and the Netherlands (a growth of 29.1 percent). Furthermore, the total number of foreigners, who visited Georgia in January-April 2018, reached 2.06 million people, including 937,300 tourists. The growth of these indicators was 15.9 and 27.2 percent, respectively. Belarus and Kazakhstan are conducting a joint command and staff exercise for missile and artillery forces, representatives of the Belarusian Defense Ministry told BelTA, Kazinform reported May 3. In line with the international military cooperation plan a Belarusian-Kazakh joint command and staff exercise for missile and artillery forces is scheduled to take place in the Sary-Shagan exercise area on 2-4 May. Units using the tactical missile systems Tochka-U, multiple-launch rocket systems Polonez, units of the 927th center for UAV training and deployment, the 85th and 86th communications brigade, the 1562nd technical missile base, the 31st navigation and topography center, engineer troops, and representatives of Armed Forces organizations are taking part in the exercise. Up to 100 vehicles and over 200 personnel will be deployed for the exercise. The exercise is focused on improving practical skills of commanding officers and staffs in carrying out marches, preparing for and carrying out missile strikes in rough and open terrain together with missile units and artillery units of the Kazakh army. Participants of the exercise will practice preparing for and managing combat actions of missile units, carrying out singular and multiple-launch missile strikes at extreme ranges followed by reconnaissance checks, tactical camouflaging of deployed units and areas, and practical confirmation of combat parameters of missile systems, Kazinform has learnt from BelTA. Tehran, Iran, May 3 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad Trend: Managing Director of the Iranian Automaker Group SAIPA Mohsen Jahroudi said the company has no plans to shut down the production line of its infamous Pride car model. The production line of Pride will not be halted as it is being exported to neighboring Iraq in high numbers annually, Jahroudi told reporters in Tehran on May 1. SAIPAs Pride has long been on the top of the sin list whenever there is talk of halting production of low quality cars. The vehicle is notorious for poor mileage, high emission rate, and simply put, a major road hazard. He added that the low quality vehicle will be phased out of the countrys domestic market, in the future, after all the necessary arrangements are made. "Some 22,000 units were exported to Iraq in 2017 with a price of $4,250 each," Jahroudi said. The vehicles exported to the neighboring country are equipped with two airbags and ABS, he further said, adding exporting Pride cars to the Arab country has become a profitable business for the Islamic Republic. Irans second largest auto manufacturer and its subsidiaries produced 457,967 vehicles during the first ten months of 2017. The automotive group which includes SAIPA, Pars Khodro, Zamyad and SAIPA Diesel sold 440,757 units during the ten-month period. During the period the four companies earned 120 trillion rials ($3.1 billion) in overall revenue. SAIPA had the biggest share of this income with 67% followed by Pars Khodro - with 26 percent, Zamyad - 4 percent, and SAIPA Diesel - 3 percent. SAIPAs X100 platform better known as the Pride and whose quality is long under a question mark, continued to lead in overall production with 233,867 units produced and 232,225 units sold in ten months. Tehran, Iran, May 3 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad Trend: Serbias Ambassador to Tehran Dragan Todorovic said Iran and Serbia plan to resume charter flights in the near future after a hiatus of nearly 27 years. At present, Irans national flag-carrier airline Iran Air is offering a direct service between Tehran and Belgrade twice a week, Todorovic said on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 31st edition of the Tehran International Book Fair in the capital. He added that charter flights, operated by the country's private carrier Mahan Air, will be also added to the air route between the two countries soon. The Serbian envoy further said Tehran and Belgrade look to boost their economic cooperation, adding that the two countries plan to hold a joint economic commission in the Serbian capital in June. In 2017, the government of Serbia announced that in order to improve bilateral relations as well as to attract tourists and investors to Serbia, it had passed a legislation to abolish visa requirements for citizens of Iran and India intending to travel to the country. The level of trade between Iran and Serbia stands at $20 million. Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in February visited Belgrade to explore the avenues for expanding economic relations between the two countries. In a meeting with his Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic, Zarif named oil, gas, petrochemicals, mines, agriculture and IT as some areas appropriate for expansion of ties between the two countries. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Umid Niayesh - Trend: Trade turnover between Iran and Turkey reached $2.641 billion in the first quarter of 2018, some 3 percent more compared to the first three months of preceding year, when the mutual trade value amounted to $2.562 billion. The latest statistics released by the Turkish Statistical Institute indicates that the exports of Turkey to Iran in March 2018 were valued at about $233.81 million, 2.6 percent less compared to $240.1 million in March 2017. Turkey exported $759.1 million worth of goods to Iran in January-March 2018, 5.4 percent less year-on-year. Meanwhile, the country imported goods worth $736.55 million from Iran in the third month of current year, compared to $608.57 million worth of imports in March 2017 (21 percent more). Turkey's imports from Iran in the first quarter of 2018 amounted to $1.882 billion, 7 percent more year-on-year. Trade turnover between Iran and Turkey stood at $10.75 billion in January-December 2017. The figure indicates a rise by 11.2 percent compared to the same period of the preceding year ($9.67 billion). Turkey's exports to Iran in the period amounted to $3.26 billion, compared to $4.97 billion in the 12-month period of 2016. The trade turnover between the two countries was $13.71 billion in 2014, which stood at $9.76 billion in 2015, indicating a 29-percent plunge. Tehran, Iran, May 3 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad Trend: The volume of Irans medicine exports to Kazakhstan is expected to witness a gigantic leap in 2018, statistics suggest. Exports of Irans medical products to Kazakhstan will rise to $1 million in 2018, the statistics released by Irans Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) indicated. Ane Dordi Iran Panah, Irans commercial attache in Kazakhstan, said the Islamic Republics share from the Central Asian countrys medicine market was only $61,000 in 2016, the TPO website reported May 1. He added that reports suggest that the Kazak government plans to modernize its pharmaceutical equipment and manage its drug distribution system in a bid to supply 50 percent of its domestic demand in 2019. The total amount of medicine produced by Astana in 2016 and 2017 only addressed 11.7% and 14% of its domestic needs, respectively, he noted. He further referred to Irans production medicine capacities and its stance in the region, saying that Iran has the potential to compete with Asian and European countries in this regard. "Kazakhstan will need Irans medicine imports for at least the next ten years which can be a good opportunity for Iranian exporters," Iran Panah said. On April 12, 2016, Iran and Kazakhstan signed 66 documents, worth $2 billion, for cooperation in the public and private sectors. Kazakhstan and Iran cooperate fruitfully in international and regional organizations, including the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Tehran, Iran, May 3 Trend: Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated that Tehran will by no means agree to renegotiate the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or add any new terms to it, warning that Iran will choose how to respond to a US withdrawal from the nuclear deal. In a video message released on Youtube and his twitter account on May 3, Zarif dismissed the idea of revision of the 2015 nuclear agreement with the P5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), Tasnim news agency reported. Let me make it absolutely clear once and for all: We will neither outsource our security, nor will we negotiate or add onto a deal we have already implemented in good faith, he stressed. Pointing to US President Donald Trumps attempts to scrap the JCPOA over the past two years, Zarif said with sarcasm, To put it in real estate terms, when you buy a house and move your family in or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and try to renegotiate the price. In the coming days, the United States will have to decide whether to finally abide by its obligations, Zarif said of the US presidents plan to announce his administrations policy on the JCPOA on May 12. If the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws all together, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing. Bluster or threats wont get the US a new deal particularly as it is not honoring the deal it has already made, Zarif explained. It now appears that the response form some Europeans has been to offer the United States more concessions, from our pocket. This appeasement entails promises of a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations, including Irans defense capabilities, and regional influence, he underlined. As regards the Israeli prime ministers recent allegations against Irans nuclear program, Zarif said, Relying on cartoonish allegations, rehash from more than a decade ago, and dealt with by the IAEA, to make a case for nixing the deal has fooled no one. Thus, the US is well advised to finally start honoring its commitments, or it, and only it, will have to accept responsibility for the consequences of not doing so, the Iranian minister warned. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Umid Niayesh - Trend: The number of people revealed to be HIV-positive in Iran has reached 36,570, said Parvin Afsar Kazerouni, an official with Irans health ministry. However, Kazerouni, who heads the Bureau of the AIDS at the ministry, added that the mentioned number does not include the non-registered people, ISNA news agency reported. She said that about 60 percent of HIV-positive people in Iran are not registered, adding that they might not even know they are having the infection. The official further said that some 50 percent of the people diagnosed with the HIV infection are between the ages of 21 to 35. Iranian officials say that some 67 percent of those diagnosed as HIV-positive, have acquired the virus via injection, while 30 percent have caught it via sexual intercourses. Earlier in 2016, Ali Akbar Sayyari, deputy health minister, said that the number of Iranians infected with HIV through sexual intercourse has doubled over the past decade. A report by Iran's health ministry, dated back to 2015 says that almost five percent of Iranian sex workers suffer HIV infection. In 2013, Iran's Health Minister Hassan Hashemi expressed worries over the fast pace of the spread of AIDS in Iran, adding that a taboo about the disease prevents many Iranians from knowing they are infected. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 1 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Possible US sanctions on Iran will not much affect the oil prices, since the oil market has already, at least partly, priced in the risk of sanctions being re-imposed, the UK-based consulting company Capital Economics said in its analysis obtained by Trend. "Tensions in the Middle East have escalated dramatically over the last few weeks, pushing up oil prices. The biggest risk is that the US re-imposes sanctions on Irans oil exports. The recent personnel change in the White House and chemical weapons attack in Syria makes it even more likely that Trump will re-impose sanctions. The previous sanctions on Iran reduced its oil output by about 1m bpd for four years, " said the report. The analysts believe that if the US sanctions are less severe than last time, Tehran could decide to stay in the deal or at least refrain from ramping up its nuclear programme. "In this case, the EU may not deem it necessary to reimpose its sanctions on shipping insurance which were crucial in disrupting Irans oil exports last time. The impact on oil supply could be relatively subdued as Iran would be able to export oil to countries less concerned about US sanctions, especially in Asia, " said Capital Economics. The experts remined that however, Tehran has stated that it will respond to any violation of the nuclear deal by withdrawing from it as well and restarting its uranium enrichment programme. " This would probably prompt the EU to re-impose its shipping sanctions. In this scenario we would expect Irans oil exports to fall by a similar amount as last time, although the US may have a harder time getting China to reduce its imports given Trumps tense relationship with Beijing. However, even in this scenario, oil prices may not rise much further for a couple of reasons. First, the oil market has already, at least partly, priced in the risk of sanctions being re-imposed, " said the report. Second, the analysts of Capital Economics pointed out that Saudi Arabia has plenty of spare capacity which it can use to offset any reduction in supply from Iran. "Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia recently intercepted three missiles over Riyadh which were fired by Yemens Houthis. The Houthis claimed to have been targeting the defence ministry and a Saudi Aramco facility. Earlier in April, Yemeni rebels attacked and damaged an oil tanker in the Red Sea near the Suez Canal, through which more than 3m bpd of oil passes. A successful attack on critical oil infrastructure in the region is probably quite unlikely as these assets are well defended. But if such an attack did happen, either on oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia or a tanker in the region, global oil supply could be significantly disrupted and prices would surge, " said the report. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: The leader of the opposition movement of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan has collected signatures of one third of the members of the Parliament necessary for nomination as the Prime Minister, the MP from the opposition bloc Yelq (Exit) Ararat Mirzoyan told reporters May 3, TASS reports. "We were able to collect signatures of one third of the MPs. Pashinyan's candidacy will be officially nominated either today or tomorrow," Mirzoyan said. Representative of Tsarukyan bloc, MP Naira Zohrabyan told journalists that 27 out of 31 MPs of her bloc have already signed the document. On May 8, the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) will vote for a PM candidate who has the support of one third of MPs, head of RPA parliamentary faction Vahram Baghdasaryan declared May 2. On May 1, the Parliament rejected the candidacy of opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan as the Prime Minister. Forty-five legislators voted for him, while he had to win 53 votes to be elected as PM. After that Pashinyan called on his supporters to launch large-scale actions of civil disobedience. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: The identity of the man, who invaded the Yerevan bank, has been revealed, the RIA Novosti reported. The report said the man turned out to be the head of the Center for Registration of Traffic Violations, a police colonel, RIA Novosti reported referring to the Armenian Police. Previously, it was reported that one police officer and the bank's employee was injured during the attack on Bank in Yerevan on May 3. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 Trend: The leader of the Armenian opposition faction Yelq (Exit), leader of protests, Nikol Pashinyan was re-nominated for the post of prime minister, RIA Novosti reported citing the Armenian Parliament. "Nikol Pashinyan was nominated for the post of prime minister of Armenia. His candidacy was put forward by more than a third of the parliamentarians," the Parliament said in a message on May 3. Earlier, Pashinyan said he met with the head of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Republican Party on May 3, and was assured that the faction would support the "candidate of the people" in the election on May 8. The day before, the head of the Republican Party faction told reporters that Armenia will have a prime minister at the second round of the voting scheduled for May 8. The Republican Party will not nominate its candidate for this post and support a candidate who will be nominated by one third of the parliament. On May 1, the Parliament of Armenia failed to elect the leader of the protest movement Nikol Pashinyan as the head of the government. Forty-five MPs voted for him, while 53 votes were required. According to the law, in a week the Parliament will try to re-elect a prime minister. Otherwise, the legislative body will be dissolved. Actions against the election of former President Serzh Sargsyan as Armenia's prime minister began on April 13. The opposition accuses Sargsyan, who was twice elected president, of poor governance and deterioration of economic situation in the country. On April 17, the opposition announced the beginning of the "velvet revolution". Despite the protests, the Armenian Parliament elected Sargsyan head of the Cabinet on the same day. Less than a week later, on April 23, Sargsyan resigned amid continuing protests. About 15 public schools in Georgia will be turned into more energy-efficient buildings through a pilot project that introduces energy-saving solutions for schools, Agenda reports. At the first stage of the project 10-15 schools will be chosen throughout Georgia which will be equipped with solar panels this year. Georgian Minister of Education Mikheil Chkhenkeli said the project will be implemented with the support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). Chkhenkeli also highlighted the educational importance of introducing solar panels at schools. He said it will be a good green energy example to pupils as well as teachers who will see how advantageous renewable energy is. Meanwhile, Georgias capital Tbilisi is already enjoying its first energy efficient kindergarten. The 95th Kindergarten in Tbilisi became an energy efficient building in 2016. Thanks to the changes, the cost of the kindergarten's electricity is expected to drop by 51 percent. North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong-ho has held talks with China's top diplomat to discuss ways to improve the two countries' ties and the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Yonhap reported Thursday. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to the North came as President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held a historic summit last Friday, reaffirming the goal of "complete" denuclearization of the peninsula. The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Ri and Wang on Wednesday had an "in-depth" discussion on the issues of developing North Korea-China "friendly and cooperative" relations following a summit in Beijing between the leaders of the two nations in late March. "They also candidly exchanged their opinions on the matters of mutual concern including the situation on the Korean Peninsula," the report said. It is the first visit to North Korea by a Chinese foreign minister in 11 years. The North's long frozen relations with China have begun to thaw following Kim Jong-un's surprise visit to Beijing in March ahead of his summits with South Korea and the United States. China, North Korea's only remaining ally and economic lifeline, had seen its ties with the North strained due to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile provocations. Chinese President Xi Jinping is likely to visit North Korea after Kim holds a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump probably this month. Trump said in late April that he will meet with the North's leader in three to four weeks to discuss the denuclearization of the regime. A joint declaration issued after last week's inter-Korean summit said the two Koreas agreed to seek trilateral meetings involving them and the United States or four-way talks also joined by China to discuss a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. China has complained about the possibility of being left behind in the peacemaking process on the peninsula. Beijing's active engagement with the North is seen as an attempt to raise its voice about the establishment of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, experts say. China will crack down on organized crime in the countryside in a bid to prevent gangs from manipulating elections or exploiting rural resources, the civil affairs ministry said, according Reuters. The Ministry of Civil Affairs said in comments published on its website late on Wednesday it would crack down on attempts by rural gangsters to intervene in village-level politics, monopolize rural resources, take over collectively owned assets and use clan power to oppress village communities. The ministry also said it would improve the education and supervision of rural officials and fight against bureaucratism as part of the protracted battle against rural organized crime. It said only a small minority of village committee members were involved in organized crime but local civil affairs departments needed to provide more staff and funding to help fight against violations. Alibaba chairman Jack Ma today met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem. The meeting took place shortly after the state visit by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Globes reports. The prime ministers also discussed bilateral business ties between the two countries and implementation of their trade and aviation agreements. This was the third meeting between Netanyahu and Abe, two of which have taken place in Jerusalem. Netanyahu greeted Ma by saying, "It's wonderful to welcome you to Israel you are a very successful leader in a very competitive business, and in a very competitive world. The world belongs to those who innovate, and Israel is the nation of innovation." "We have received many requests, and we have seen a great many people, and in the next two days, we will be very busy I think that thanks to your leadership, we are discovering that this country is much more peaceful than we thought, and both the economy and security are strong," Ma told Netanyahu. Netanyahu told Ma that the Alibaba group had excellent reasons for investing in Israeli innovation. Ma said that he was currently visiting Israel with a group of 28 young Alibaba group presidents, and that he was impressed by the business opportunities in Israel. This is the third time that Netanyahu and Ma have met. They met previously during the prime minister's visit to Davos in January 2016 and during Netanyahu's visit to China in March 2017. During these meetings, Netanyahu invited Ma to visit Israel. Alibaba senior executives today visited the offices of OrCam, the new company of Mobileye founders Prof. Amnon Shashua and Ziv Avraham. The executives watched a presentation of the OrCam MyEye 2.0 product's technology designed to improve the lives of the blind and partially sighted by using artificial vision to make them independent. The product has a wireless unit containing a microprocessor and camera connected by magnet to reading glasses and sunglasses. The product makes it possible to read texts, identify faces and colors, etc. Ma is finishing his third day in Israel. Accompanied by 35 Chinese CEOs, Ma yesterday visited the Old City of Jerusalem and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center. He is scheduled to attend a festive event at the Israel Museum, a meeting that will include instruction on Jewish tradition, and a meeting with businesspeople. The CEOs accompanying Ma continued on to a series of meetings in Jerusalem with the Jerusalem Venture Partners (JVP) venture capital fund. Alibaba has invested tens of millions of dollars over the past two years in JVP, Alibaba's strategic partner in Israel. Some of the companies operating from JVP's offices in the former railway station site were presented to the CEOs. The unusual and interesting timetable of the Alibaba executives continued today with a meeting with author Yochi Brandes, who told them about Jewish meditation through the Bible. The entire Alibaba delegation is scheduled to hold its third work meeting on Friday in JVP's offices in Jerusalem. While shared bicycle ventures reached Israel from China a long time ago, two of them, Ofo and Mobike, are now expanding their nationwide deployment. Following a pilot at Bar Ilan University, Ofo is commencing operations in Ramat Gan, while Mobike is expanding its presence in Rehovot and at Tel Aviv University, Globes reports. The idea is that these bicycles do not need parking stations because they come with a built-in lock. Ofo will gradually place 500 bicycles on the streets of Ramat Gan. At the same time, the service will also begin on the grounds of Sheba Medical Center (Tel Hashomer) in order to add to the mobility of visitors and hospital staff. The Mobike venture is announcing the expansion of its presence. There are currently 200 Mobike bicycles in Rehovot and the venture is already operating near Haifa in Kiryat Motzkin and Kiryat Bialik. Entering Tel Aviv University is a big step forward for Mobike. Operations are in cooperation with Nehes, the Tel Aviv University student union's economic corporation. Hundreds of bicycles will be placed on campuses. During the run-in period, service for students will be free of charge. The new expansion is a step towards Mobike's goal of introducing the venture in Tel Aviv, especially given that campus bicycle users will be able to take them away from the campus and leave them elsewhere in the city. Tel Aviv already has the Tel-O-Fun venture, which prevents competing ventures (most of which are more efficient) from entering Tel Aviv. Mobike's next target is entering the Jordan Valley. The company is also in tender proceedings in Rishon Lezion and Ashdod. The Ofo and Mobike setups are based on locating the bicycles through a special application. The bicycles can be collected from anywhere - scanning a QR code will make it possible to open and lock the bicycles. After the journey, riders do not have to go to a parking station; they can leave the bicycle in a designated parking space. Half an hour of bicycle riding will cost NIS 1 in the first money of Ofo's launch, after which the price will rise to NIS 2.90 per half hour. The cost of the service is determined from the time the bicycle is unlocked until the time it is locked again at the rider's destination. During the pilot period, Mobike's service will be free, and the price will subsequently vary from NIS 2 to NIS 4 per half hour of riding. Both ventures operate in a number of countries around the world, with millions of bicycles serving millions of users. Israel Railways, together with the Ministry of Transport, recently announced the opening of a tender to place shared bicycles at railway stations throughout Israel for the purpose of aiding passengers on public transportation and making the stations more accessible to a larger group of passengers. Mobike currently operates nine million bicycles for over 200 million customers making over 30 million daily trips. United Nations Secretary-Genera Antonio Guterres on Thursday said he was optimistic about the prospects for progress on the issue of North Koreas nuclear program after recent diplomatic moves by Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington, Reuters reports. I am optimistic ... I think now things are on track for a meaningful negotiation, he said during an interview on BBC Radio 4. Its in the interest of the North Koreans that have been dramatically impacted by the sanctions, its in the interest of South Korea that needs peace and security, its in the interest of China that was always against a nuclear North Korea but also wants a good security framework in the region, its in the interest of the United States because for the United States the de-nuclearization of the Korean peninsula has always been a main objective. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told a visiting Chinese diplomat on Thursday that he is committed to denuclearization, Chinas foreign ministry said, as diplomatic efforts to bring lasting peace to the Korean peninsula gather pace, Reuters reports. China is North Koreas most important economic and diplomatic backer, despite its anger at North Korea repeated nuclear and missile tests, and its support for strong U.N. sanctions against the North. However, China has also welcomed moves by North Korea to improve ties with South Korea and the United States. Chinas top diplomat, State Councillor Wang Yi, is visiting North Korea following last weeks historic meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the Norths Kim Jong Un, when both pledged to improve ties. The North surprised the world several days before the summit by declaring it would dismantle its nuclear test site to transparently guarantee its dramatic commitment to stop all nuclear and missile tests. Meeting in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, Kim told Wang that recent positive changes on the peninsula were beneficial to a peaceful resolution, Chinas foreign ministry said in a statement. Kim Jong Un said achieving the denuclearization of the peninsula is the firm position of the North Korean side, the ministry said. Wang told Kim that North Korea had seized the day and made a decisive decision, bringing positive changes. Last weeks summit talks between the leaders of the two Koreans had brought about an opportunity for a political resolution, Wang added. China supported an end to the state of war on the peninsula, North Koreas shift to economic development and the resolution of North Koreas legitimate security concerns during the denuclearization process, he said. China is willing to maintain communication with North Korea on this and increase coordination. The 1950-53 Korean War, which technically is still going on because a peace treaty has yet to be signed. Wang also met North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is postponing his plans to travel to Brazil this month in order to ensure foreign policy resources are focused on President Donald Trumps coming talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Pences spokeswoman said on Thursday Reuters reported The Vice President is delaying his trip to Brazil in order to ensure all diplomatic and national security resources are available as President Trump plans for his historic talks with the Kim regime, said Alyssa Farah, Pences spokeswoman. No exact date or location has been announced for Trumps meeting with Kim but it is expected to take place in late May or early June. Pence did not want divert any attention from the talks, Farah said. Pences trip had been expected to include a stop in Manaus, a city near the border with Venezuela. The Trump administration has been critical of Venezuelas government and has been weighing new sanctions against it. Pence had also been scheduled to visit Rio de Janeiro on May 30 and meet with Brazilian President Michel Temer and cabinet ministers in Brasilia on May 31, a Brazilian government source told Reuters last month. The vice president looks forward to traveling to Brazil in the near future and will continue to work closely with U.S. allies in Latin America to further strengthen our important alliances in the region, Farah said. Russian and Jordanian Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Ayman Safadi will hold a meeting in Sochi on Thursday. The situation in Syria and the work of the de-escalation zone in the south of that country are expected to top the agenda of the negotiations, TASS reports. "During the talks, which are scheduled to be held in Sochi, [the two ministers] plan to exchange views on a wide array of pressing international and regional issues, discuss the current state and prospects for Russian-Jordanian cooperation," Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said earlier. According to Zakharova, the situation in Syria with an emphasis on developments in the south of that country, specifically, the work of the de-escalation zone coordinated with the participation of Russia, the US and Jordan is expected to top the agenda. Besides, the two top diplomats will exchange views on the situation in the Gaza Strip and the impact of events taking place there on the prospects for a Middle East settlement. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, Lavrov and Safadi will also take up some pressing issues related to the multifaceted and mutually beneficial Russian-Jordanian cooperation. A group of scientists, who study the Siberian Arctic shelf as a source of greenhouse gases, in fall will head for an expedition on board the Akademik Mstislav Keldysh research vessel to the Laptev and East Siberian Seas, the Tomsk Universitys press service told TASS. "It would be for the first time, that the research complex will include layers of studies in geology, geophysics, bio-geo-chemistry, meteorology and space - from the sediments to precipitation surface, across the water into the atmosphere," the press service quoted Professor Igor Semiletov as saying. According to the scientist, this approach is necessary to make climate models, which have never counted on methane emissions from the East Arctic seas, "whereas they are bigger than in any other areas of the World Ocean." The Tomsk University told TASS the Russian Academy of Sciences expeditions would be annual. And the expedition in 2018 would be jointly with the Viktor Ilyichev Pacific Studies Institute. The expeditions target areas would be in the Laptev and in the East Siberian Seas, where, since 2008, scientists have been watching methane emissions. Earlier, the Russian government extended for two years a mega grant for research of the underwater permafrosts degradation in the Arctic, which causes growing greenhouse gases emissions. Scientists hope to be able to forecast climate changes as result of studying those processes. During Arctic expeditions, scientists have confirmed the permafrosts big degradation. The current situation is that the big "cork," which would have stopped the gas hydrates, is "leaking" now. Through those fractions in the underwater permafrost, methane from the sediment layers is rising as high as the atmosphere, thus "warming" it up. Moscow will form an opinion on Washingtons willingness to build constructive relations only by Washingtons practical steps, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Italys Panorama magazine, TASS reports. "We have said on numerous occasions that we see remarks by President Donald Trump about the desire to establish normal dialogue between our two countries in a positive light," he noted. "Moreover, we fully share this approach and are prepared to travel our part of the path to break the artificial impasse in bilateral ties the Obama administration steered them into." Lavrov stressed, however, that Moscow "will judge whether its partners are interested in constructive cooperation based on mutual respect by practical steps only." Meanwhile, "the situation in bilateral relations continues to deteriorate," Russias top diplomat noted. "If there are some positive signals from the US president, they are fully levelled off by rampant Russophobia in the US establishment, where our country is presented is a threat. They speak out in favor of Russias systemic containment using sanctions and other pressure tools," the minister added. "Of course, all that stems from internal political feuds in Washington and has nothing to do with reality." Lavrov drew attention to the fact that interaction on important global issues "has stalled, while many in Washington continue to plunge into self-replicating Russophobia." "This has an adverse effect on the global situation, where too many issues, which cannot be resolved without cooperation between Russia and the US, have accumulated," he noted. Russias top diplomat was hopeful that "common sense will eventually prevail in Washingtons corridors of power." "We would like to establish normal, predictable, even, if you like, friendly relations with the US, but not at the cost of trading principles and Russias national interests," he stressed. Global relations have become strained because of the actions carried out by the US and its allies, he said. "It is clear that the global situation is escalating and becoming less predictable, unfortunately," he said. "We repeatedly noted that this state of affairs was chiefly caused by ongoing unilateral actions by the US and some Western states influenced by it." The foreign minister added that it causes situations "in which a sham or a mistake may have global consequences." Lavrov pointed out that Russia wants to count on the western countries good sense. "But this good sense means that the leaders of the collective West will be able to act in a highly responsible and predictable manner and strictly observe international laws based on the UN Charter," he continued. "Weve doubted this ability of late." In this situation Russia acts as a highly responsible state that does not use its advantages to the disadvantage of other countries and strives to prevent the international life from sliding down to confrontation, the minister stressed. "We act as a guarantor of global stability and oppose the Security Councils decisions aimed at justifying plans of the unilateral use of force against undesirable regimes in violation of the Charter of the United Nations," the Russian foreign minister added. A Sukhoi-30SM jet of Russias Aerospace Force has crashed in the Mediterranean killing both pilots, the Defense Ministry told the media on Thursday, TASS reports. "At 09:45 on May 3, a Russian Sukhoi-30SM fighter crashed in the Mediterranean during the climb shortly after taking off from the Khmeimim airdrome. As follows from an onsite report, both pilots tried to keep the plane under control till the last moment. Both died," the Defense Ministry said. According to preliminary estimates, a bird hit the planes engine. "There was no fire impact on the plane," the Defense Ministry said. Moscow strongly condemns the double terrorist bomb attack in Kabul, which caused dozens of casualties, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a commentary on Thursday, Reuters reports. "On April 30, a double terrorist bomb attack in Kabul killed and injured dozens of people, including Afghan and foreign mass media workers. The Afghan wing of the terrorist organization Islamic State claimed responsibility," the Foreign Ministry said. "This terrorist attack was one of the worst against journalists committed in Afghanistan over years. We resolutely condemn this barbaric act." "We offer condolences to the families of those killed and wish prompt recovery to the injured. We urge the Afghan authorities to take the necessary measures to ensure security, including that of mass media workers," the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The terrorist attack reaffirmed once again the importance of uncompromising struggle against the Islamic State, which stepped up its criminal activity in Afghanistan in recent years," the commentary runs. On Monday, two explosions took place in Kabul in the area of foreign embassies and Afghanistans intelligence service. One occurred at about 08:00 local time. It was carried out by a suicide biker. The other followed twenty minutes later, when emergency personnel and journalists gathered at the scene. The double terrorist attack killed 29 people, including nine journalists. Israels arguments Iran has been pushing ahead with its nuclear weapons program apparently refer to an earlier period the IAEA has already taken into account, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference, TASS reports. "The specialists who participated in drafting the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (a document concerning the Iranian nuclear program adopted as a result of talks by the sextet of international mediators and Iran - TASS) and the commentaries that Ive heard say that these documents quite probably concern previous activities, already taken into account by the IAEA inspection," he said. "If Israel or somebody else has obtained documents proving that Iran has retained its nuclear weapons program, such documents must be handed over to the IAEA at once," Lavrov stated. The United States has failed to provide sufficient security guarantees for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the refugee camp Rukban in southern Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference on Thursday, TASS reports. "As far as the Rukban refugee camp is concerned from the standpoint of delivering humanitarian aid there, the Americans have long refused to open it to humanitarian convoys on the pretext the Syrian government allegedly refuses to give its consent," he said. "This is not so. All issues between the Syrian government and humanitarian organizations have been resolved. In fact, the United States fails to provide sufficient security guarantees for the delivery of humanitarian cargoes to that camp." Lavrov said the United States suggested the humanitarian supplies be brought to the border of the Rukban camp, where its residents would be able to distribute them on their own. "We have been able to see more than once in Eastern Aleppo and in Eastern Ghouta humanitarian aid delivered in this way was either seized by militants or sold at exorbitant prices. This is not a way out. It is not a solution," he stated. "Let me say once again that the whole range of issues connected with normalization in southern Syria near the Jordanian border requires comprehensive consideration," Lavrov added. Russia will continue cooperation with Jordan and the US to support the operation of a de-escalation zone in southern Syria, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a news conference after negotiations with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al Safadi on Thursday, TASS reports. "We are cooperating within the Astana process, in which Jordan participates as an observer and, of course, we are cooperating to sustain the de-escalation zone regime in southwestern Syria near the border with Jordan," Lavrov noted. "Today, we agreed to continue cooperation on this important issue both bilaterally and trilaterally, involving Americans and the monitoring center." In July 2017, Russia, Jordan and the US agreed to establish a de-escalation zone in southwestern Syria, which included three southernmost Syrian provinces: Daraa, Quneitra and As-Suwayda. The situation escalated there in recent months. The Russian Foreign Ministry noted reported attempts by the Syrian opposition and the Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic State terror organizations, which are outlawed in Russia, to establish autonomy in southern Syria with support from the US, which may lead to a breakup of the country. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim made a farewell speech and urged the people to unite around the government, Turkish media reported May 3. The PM noted that the economic and political heights reached by Turkey were not easy. "Let everyone know that the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has always acted in the interests of the Turkish people," Yildirim said. Yildirim also expressed confidence that during the presidential and parliamentary elections, the people of Turkey will support the AKP. In the parliamentary election held in Turkey on November 1, 2015, the Justice and Development Party won 49.41 percent of the votes, the People's Republican Party (CHP) - 25.38 percent of the votes, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) - 11.93 percent, and the Democratic Party of Peoples (HDP) - 10.7 percent of the votes. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari is paying a visit to Turkey from May 3-4 in order to attend the Turkish-Iraqi joint Economic Commission (KEK) meeting Hurriyetdailynews reported Al-Jaaferi will meet Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci and Foreign Affairs Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. Turkey hopes the upcoming elections in Iraq will be held in peace and security, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hami Aksoy told reporters at a press conference on May 3. Until now, we have observed that Iraqi politicians have avoided sectarian rhetoric and we welcome this, Aksoy said. We hope the new government will be inclusive and will carry out policies that embrace all electorates, the spokesperson said. Turkey expects the new Iraqi government will display a determined attitude in the fight against the outlawed PKK [Kurdistan Workers Party] and FETO [Fethullahist Terrorist Organization], he said. The upcoming election will be the fourth held since the fall of Saddam Hussein after the United States led an invasion of Iraq in 2003. More than 24 million of Iraqs 37 million people are eligible to vote on May 12. Ankara urges the Iraqi government to take action against the PKK and its affiliates in the Sinjar region. He even wants a joint military operation in the region. Earlier, Cavusoglu said Turkey and Iraq are mulling to launch an operation into northern Iraq after the latters elections in May. Baku, Azerbaijan, May 3 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: In March 2018, 3,984 Belarusian tourists visited Turkey, which is by 825 people more compared to March 2017, the Turkish Culture and Tourism Ministry told Trend on May 3. Belarusian citizens accounted for 0.19 percent of the total number of foreigners, who visited Turkey in March 2018, compared to 0.20 percent in March 2017. "In January-March 2018, 7,489 tourists from Belarus visited Turkey," the ministry said. At the end of 2017, more than 250,000 tourists from Belarus visited Turkey. Turkey's tourism revenues increased by 31.3 percent and amounted to $4.425 billion In January-March 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. In January-March 2018, 76.1 percent of total profit accounted for foreign citizens, while 23.9 percent - for Turkish citizens living abroad. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Police in Nashville, Tennessee, are responding to a shooting at Opry Mills Mall in which one person was critically injured, Sputnik reported citing local media. The Tennessean, citing police scanners, is reporting that a suspect is in custody. It's unclear if law enforcement officials are searching for a second shooter. The Nashville Fire Department released information on Twitter confirming that one person has been transported to Skyline Hospital in critical condition. Officers are currently in the process of evacuating the mall and blocking the mall's entry points. Local station WSMV has reported that ATF agents have arrived on the scene to investigate the incident. Video footage of the scene outside has begun to emerge on social media. The site of the Thursday shooting is close to the Waffle House that 29-year-old Travis Reinking opened fire on late last month. Basic facilities for the pilgrimage, adhering to social distancing norms, are ready at the Lord Ayyappa temple and its premises, state Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan told the state assembly. Most medical students choose to practice medicine after graduation. Few choose a career exclusively as researchers. The trend in the proportion of doctors who want to do research has been declining for several decades and has resulted in a recruitment problem. But a Medical Student Research Programme (MSRP) option that has been built into Norwegian medical curricula shows a different picture. "The research programme yields ten times as many physicians who complete a PhD than medical schools that do not offer this option," says Professor Emeritus Geir Wenberg Jacobsen, author of an article now being published in PLOS ONE. In addition, a much larger proportion of former students who opted for the research track aspire to an academic career after graduation. And about twice as large a proportion of these previous students consider a possible career in research. Publishing more research The MSRP took effect in 2002. The programme faced no lack of criticism from those who felt such an option was unnecessary, since physicians were expected to do research anyway and those who wanted to pursue a PhD would do it regardless of the extra offering. Seven years later, in 2009, a report concluded that although the programme had increased the proportion of doctors who became researchers, the data was inadequate to gauge the outlook going forward. Now such data have become available. The article in PLOS ONE is based on the survey responses of 538 former medical students. Of these, 221 had taken the MSRP option and the rest made up a representative control group. During the first eight years following students' graduation as MDs (from 2006-2014), 39 per cent of the MSRP students had completed a PhD as compared with four per cent of the traditional medical students. Among students who had not yet completed a PhD, about half of those with an MSRP background were in the process of obtaining on. By contrast, about 12 per cent of the other students were pursuing a doctorate. The MSRP students had published more research and been abroad to study for a period of at least three months at twice the rate of the control group. The researchers behind the article in PLOS ONE found no gender differences. Head start as researchers Clearly, some students opting for the research track may have already had their sights on an academic career. It can be argued that these students would have chosen an academic career regardless, perhaps with equally good results. Nevertheless, the article concludes that a specialized research track can provide additional benefits, since students gain several years head start as active researchers. Other factors may also be involved. The MSRP reduces the time it takes for students to complete a doctorate, since their supervisor from the research programme usually follows them while they work on their PhD. The price these students pay is that they spend about one and a half years longer specializing in a medical field. "From the perspective of a 40-year career, that's not very long," says Jacobsen. Applicable to other fields of study The results show how effective a targeted programme can be when introduced to undergraduate university students early on. The MSRP can also provide a model for other fields of study across Europe, according to the article. Jacobsen says efforts are now being undertaken to create research programmes in faculties other than medicine. Gunnar Bovim, NTNU's rector, is among those working to develop new research programmes. He was one of four deans who initiated the medical study research programmes in Trondheim, Bergen, Oslo and Troms in 2002. "The research programme was a response to the fact that research activity among physicians had decreased. This study option has helped to reverse that trend. It shows that connecting intelligent students to research environments is working. Students achieve a much higher level of competence than if they did the study programmes sequentially. Both Norwegian and international experience show that this approach works. We believe it will be equally effective in other fields of study," says Bovim. Another prime mover for the establishment of a research track in medicine was John-Arne Rttingen, current Director General of the Research Council of Norway. The Research Council and Norway's Ministry of Education have been involved and secured funding since the start. The editor of PLOS ONE has also praised the article because of its national profile, the use of a relevant control group, and because it can be followed up with regard to further long-term effects. ### Source: Springboard to an Academic Career - A National Medical Student Research Program. Geir W. Jacobsen, Helge Rder, Marianne H. Stien, Louis A. Munthe, Vegard Skogen. Law Enforcement CBP officers test body cams Customs and Border Protection is conducting a trial at ports of entry around the country that include body-worn and vehicle-mounted cameras and content management systems that the agency says it hopes will help with agent interaction with the public. The six-month long trial of an Incident Driven Video Recording System (IDVRS), announced by CBP on May 1, will see a limited deployment of small video cameras mounted on border agents and vehicles. "As the first federal law enforcement agency to complete a feasibility study of body worn cameras, we are now ready to deploy video cameras in border environments to evaluate their ability to document law enforcement encounters effectively," CBP Commissioner Kevin McAleenan said in a May 1 statement announcing the trial. The technology will be tested at nine locations, running the gamut of land border crossings, marine operations and airports. The cameras will be evaluated in environments that include border line watch, border checkpoints, vessel interdictions and boardings, according to CBP. "CBP is committed to continuous improvement, innovation, transparency and the highest standards of professionalism. We are constantly pursuing technologies and embracing those that further those goals," said Austin Skero, executive director of CBP's Law Enforcement Safety and Compliance Directorate in a May 2 statement to FCW. "While strengthening the performance and accountability of CBP law enforcement personnel is certainly a benefit of IDVRS, the safety of our workforce is one of our highest priorities," he said. If successful, the trial might lead to one of the largest deployments of body cameras in law enforcement, as the agency has over 45,000 federal agents and officers. CBP conducted the body-camera feasibility study in 2014, under then-Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske. The study and subsequent field testing in 2015 ultimately found existing camera technology wasn't up to the brutal environmental conditions along the border. "We experimented with body cams for the border patrol quite extensively," Kerlikowske said in an email to FCW on May 2. "The short term result was that we were unable find a camera that withstood that environment for more than a few months," he said. Dash cameras for pursuit vehicles at ports of entry were also considered at the time, he added. Despite the disappointing vulnerability of the small video cameras then, the technology still appealed to agents on the ground, according to Kerlikowske. "The border patrol agents I met with who tested the body cams were enthusiastic and supportive of them," he said. In an April 2 privacy assessment of the project, CBP said it is using commercial technology in a limited deployment for the current trial, but it could lead to a larger acquisition of the technology down the road. The back-end storage and retrieval technology for the video data could be challenging, according to both the agency and Kerlikowske. CBP noted that "many practical policy and privacy questions as well as the significant financial costs associated with deployment, maintenance, video data storage, training, and technology upgrades," have to be sorted out before the agency rolls out the new system. Kerlikowske agreed. "The short term cost is the camera, the long term and greater cost is storage and retrieval," he said. He said CBP could now have a better handle on the recurring costs of the systems, since fixed-video systems are common at federal agencies. "We only had back of the envelope calculations, but there is a lot more data now on recurring cost since some agencies have had these for several years," he said. Defense Pentagon bans sale of Chinese phones at military exchanges The Pentagon announced that military exchange service stores and concessionaires will no longer sell Huawei and ZTE phones and telecommunications equipment. According to Pentagon spokesman Maj. Dave Eastburn, the directive was issued April 25 at the behest of the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. The directive was originally just for Huawei products but ZTE was added to the list due to "potential security concerns." "The three Department of Defense exchange services immediately ceased selling Huawei brand cellular phones, personal mobile internet modems, and related products, because these devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the Department's personnel and mission," Eastburn told FCW. "Given the security concerns associated with these devices, as expressed by senior U.S. intelligence officials, it was not prudent for the Department's exchange services to continue selling these products to our personnel." Eastburn declined to comment further on the nature of the potential threats posed by ZTE and Huawei devices, citing security concerns. Navy Secretary Richard Spencer provided more details about the rationale behind the directive during a May 2 Pentagon news conference. He also referenced testimony from an April 19 Senate Armed Services committee hearing where it was revealed that DOD had put a recent contract award on hold when officials realized Huawei would be one of the subcontractors. "The mobile phone ban was due to the location devices more than anything else the ability to be located," said Spencer. Spencer also said the ban was more reflective of a general device concern rather than a specific nation state. In February 2018, the heads of the FBI, NSA and CIA all testified to Congress that they and their organizations do not use Huawei or ZTE phones or products, and warned others against doing so as well. Eastburn indicated the Pentagon's decision stemmed in part from that hearing and said the department is evaluating the situation to determine if additional security actions are needed. However, there is also a long history of suspicion between the U.S. government and these firms around the extent to which their phones could be used to facilitate Chinese government surveillance. Concerns about the two firms date back to as early as 2011, when the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence conducted an investigation that concluded the products posed a direct threat to U.S. government systems and encouraged private sector companies to consider the long term risks of doing business with them. Huawei was banned from competing for U.S. government contracts in 2014 and ZTE has faced a torrent of regulatory actions from the U.S. in recent years, including a combined $1.4 billion in fines and a ban on buying from U.S. tech firms after the Department of Commerce determined the company had violated U.S. trade sanctions by selling telecommunications equipment to North Korea and Iran. More recently, the two telecom giants were singled out in a report by the U.S.-China Economic Security Review Commission alleging that the Chinese government has actively and intentionally placed local companies at the nexus of the U.S. IT supply chain. Both Huawei and ZTE have vehemently rejected claims by U.S. officials that they are helping or assisting Chinese intelligence operations and have repeatedly insisted their products are safe and secure for U.S. users. emergency exit on plane kryzhov/Shutterstock A man was detained for 15 days after removing an emergency exit door on an airplane that had landed at China's Mianyang Nanjiao Airport, according to The South China Morning Post. The 25-year-old man, who has only been identified by his surname, Chen, reportedly said he was attempting to bring fresh air into the cabin, which had become hot. He said he didn't realize the latch he pulled down would open the emergency exit. A man was detained for 15 days after removing an emergency exit door on an airplane that had landed at China's Mianyang Nanjiao Airport, according to The South China Morning Post. The 25-year-old man, who has only been identified by his surname, Chen, reportedly said he was attempting to bring fresh air into the cabin, which had become hot. He said he didn't realize the latch he pulled down would open the emergency exit. "Because it was so stuffy, so hot on the plane, I just pushed down on the window handle beside me. When the door fell out, I panicked," he told The South China Morning Post. Chen was later detained by authorities for 15 days for the unauthorized removal of aviation facilities and received an $11,000 fine to cover the costs associated with the door's removal. The airline has not been identified, but it reportedly said the emergency exits were pointed out to Chen and other passengers and that it would take a significant amount of force to open one. In February, a United Airlines passenger was arrested after deploying and using the emergency exit slide on a flight that was boarding at New Liberty International Airport. The man claimed he had boarded the wrong flight, but United confirmed the man was on the correct flight. In January, a passenger on a delayed Ryanair flight climbed onto a wing before the plane deboarded in Malaga, Spain. The passenger was reportedly frustrated by having to wait to get off the plane. He was also arrested after the incident. Story continues NOW WATCH: Investors need to lower their expectations See Also: SEE ALSO: Passengers reveal the most annoying things people commonly do on planes Even as Amazon continues to grow at a staggering rate, it is pumping the brakes on its long-planned hometown expansion. The retail giant threw down the gauntlet this week when it announced that it would stop construction on a new building because of a proposed city tax. The new law is designed to address Seattles housing crunch, charging large companies $500 per head. The proposal is pretty clearly aimed at Amazons own expansion, and the company is taking the move to heart, potentially abandoning construction on a new building and just moving into a pre-existing space instead. A spokesperson for the company told The New York Times that its evaluating options and has paused all construction planning, pending the results of the vote. The move apparently caught Seattle city council off guard, ahead of the May 14 vote. Im deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have on a large range of jobs from our building trades, to restaurant workers, to nurses, manufacturing jobs and tech workers, the citys mayor Jenny Durkan told the paper. At the same time, our city must urgently address our homelessness and affordability crisis and lift up those who have been left behind. Its hard not to see echoes of San Franciscos own housing and homelessness crises in the rise of Seattles tech industry. And while $500 a head would be a drop in the bucket for Amazon, the company clearly understands its leverage as the citys largest employer. The move comes as various cities around North American have tripped over themselves to house Amazons second headquarters. Wherever the company ultimately lands seems likely to sweeten the deal with some manner of corporate tax cut. Amazon, meanwhile, is facing scrutiny from a number of angles, including, notably, the president, who has called out the companys shipping deals as part of a larger, ongoing feud with Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. Amazon Threatens Seattle Over New Tax That Would Help the Homeless has suspended part of its expansion plans in Seattle, pending the outcome of a City Council vote on a new tax on large employers that would fund programs aimed at providing affordable housing and helping the homeless. The company, which already employs more than 40,000 people in Seattle, has been planning a new 17-storey office tower that would house at least 7,000 new workers. But now the project is on hold, and Amazon is even threatening to sublease out all the space its leased in another building thats already under construction. Its a bold political move on the part of Amazon, one of the biggest employers in Seattle. However, its also not a great look for a company whose soaring earnings just made CEO Jeff Bezos $12 billion richer in one day. Bezos, the worlds richest man, subsequently said the only way he could think of spending his vast fortune was to convert it into space travel. Seattles City Council on Friday released new draft legislation that would tax large employers in order to raise $75 million next year to counter the effects of rising rents and house prices. Seattle is a city of great prosperity that has experienced tremendous growth of its economy and population, the draft read. However, this growth and prosperity has directly contributed to the rapid increase in the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The citys homeless are dying in ever greater numbers--169 last year, up by 32 from 2016. Under the proposal, companies pulling in more than $20 million a year in the city would have to pay 26 cents for each hour worked by a local employee. This head tax would apply next year and in 2020, after which it would be replaced by a 0.7% payroll tax. The Seattle Chamber of Commerce, whose members include big employers like Amazon, and , opposes the measure because it is not confident the Council would use new revenue wisely. Story continues I can confirm that pending the outcome of the head-tax vote by City Council, Amazon has paused all construction planning on our Block 18 project in downtown Seattle and is evaluating options to sublease all space in our recently leased Rainier Square building, Amazon VP Drew Herdener told the Seattle Times. Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan told the Seattle Times that she was deeply concerned about the impact this decision will have on a large range of jobs--from our building trades, to restaurant workers, to nurses, manufacturing jobs and tech workers. However, she added: At the same time, our city must urgently address our homelessness and affordability crisis and lift up those who have been left behind. I fundamentally believe we can do both by working together. Amazon is in the process of expanding in other locations, having recently announced 3,000 new jobs in Vancouver and 1,000 in Boston. It is also on the hunt for another North American city to host its HQ2--a second headquarters, that could give it even more leverage over the terms offered to it in the city where it all started. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com There are no comprehensive laws on the books when it comes to cryptocurrencies, though. Whether its differences from country to country or from one US state to another, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the legality of dealing with crypto wherever you live. The most useful way to rectify this, therefore, is to provide as detailed information as possible depending on your specific geographic location. Blockchain-based cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are all the rage at the moment. Their unregulated and decentralized nature means they are potentially disruptive when it comes to how global currency is handled. Without having to be associated with a geopolitical force like a national government or a central bank, digital currency is likely to have a big impact on the fintech sector. However, because of the unclear nature of cryptocurrency, the legal status of Bitcoin and other altcoins is most certainly in flux. Some countries regulate crypto heavily, some not so much; in some cases, its banned outright. It can be difficult keeping things straight, so here are some important facts you need to know about the safety and legality of the blockchain. No Consumer Protection Makes Jurisdictions Wary Cryptocurrencies are iconoclastic in the extreme these borderless virtual currencies are universal and are completely untroubled by jurisdiction or regulation. As long as youve got an internet connection, youve got access to Bitcoin and other crypto coins, or at least you should according to crypto enthusiasts everywhere. This is, however, not true universally, thanks to governments worldwide taking steps to limit the scope of crypto in their jurisdictions, with the usual rationale being that there are no consumer protections in place. There are no comprehensive laws on the books when it comes to cryptocurrencies, though. Whether its differences from country to country or from one US state to another, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to the legality of dealing with crypto wherever you live. This can make user security for cryptocurrency an issue if youre unsure of the laws in your region or if you do business overseas. The most useful way to rectify this, therefore, is to provide as detailed information as possible depending on your specific geographic location. North America The United States The US has one of the most confusing approaches to cryptocurrency. Federal approaches to digital currencies are mostly concerned with whether they can be considered taxable income, with the US Securities and Exchange Commission investigating if classifying crypto assets as securities are appropriate. On the individual state level, though, there are few states that have crypto regulations in place. Some jurisdictions, such as New York, have taken steps to require crypto businesses to comply specific regulations. A good example of this is how Coinbase had to seek licensing under NYs BitLicense law to function within the state. Story continues Canada Canada doesnt acknowledge crypto as legal tender within its borders. At the same time, the country has said that, under certain circumstances, crypto transactions may be taxable. Additional requirements for crypto companies operating within the nation include being in compliance with anti-money laundering laws, but crypto is otherwise permitted in Canada. Europe The European Union Caution is the watchword in the European Union. The EUs Central Bank has gone on record about the possibility of using crypto in money laundering, but by the same token, theres simply not enough information on hand to make a ruling. The president of the ECB, Mario Draghi, has said as much in recent interviews. The UK The United Kingdoms Financial Conduct Agency has said that its leaning towards classifying cryptocurrencies as commodities. Theres no movement on implementing regulation as yet, however, which means the UK is a safe place to conduct crypto-related business for now. Asia Australia The Australian government requires crypto exchanges operating within its borders to be properly registered. Additionally, there are anti-money laundering regulations being written that once implemented, will require these same exchanges to be in compliance. For now, thats all Australia has in store for crypto enthusiasts as far as regulation goes. China China is certainly taking crypto seriously. Crypto exchanges have been under fire, and so have bitcoin miners who up until now were being provided tax deductions and inexpensive electricity. While theres no outright ban in place, the Chinese government is likely to crack down more in the future. The legality of cryptocurrencies remains unclear. India The Indian government doesnt accept crypto as legal tender. At the same time, there are no plans to ban or regulate blockchain-based currencies. The government has, however, made it clear that cryptocurrencys volatility and unpredictable nature can be dangerous. Japan Unlike the rest of the world, Japan has been at the forefront of accepting digital currencies. Bitcoin is well on its way to be considered legal tender in the country, but this also means that crypto businesses within Japans borders are going to be heavily regulated as a result. Malaysia There havent been any announcements yet as to their nature, but the Malaysian government and its central bank are hard at work on national regulations for cryptocurrency within its borders. Russia Vladimir Putin, Russias president, has been clear that hes a proponent of cryptocurrency. There are likely regulations in the works within the country, much as is the case with Malaysia. South Korea South Korea is taking a hard-line approach to crypto fraud and has already made it illegal to hold an anonymous cryptocurrency account. Cryptocurrency exchanges operating within the country are also likely to come under regulatory fire soon. Singapore Singapore has no plans to regulate crypto quite yet. In the future, the sovereign city plans to create a regulatory framework to facilitate payments made in bitcoin, though. Thailand As of 2014, Thailand declared cryptocurrency not legal tender. However, this decision lifted a previous ban on the virtual currency that was in place up to that point. Suggested Articles Central and South America Argentina Argentinas central bank has sounded the alarm when it comes to unregulated currencies and their possible dangers. Despite that, the Argentinian government has not passed any laws in an attempt to control cryptocurrency within its borders. Bolivia Cryptocurrencies, and in fact any type of currency not specifically cleared by its government, have been illegal in Bolivia since 2014. Ecuador Bitcoin and other digital currencies have been illegal in Ecuador from 2014 as well, with the National Assembly taking steps to ensure its ban. Mexico Mexicos central bank has the legal authority to regulate any crypto service company that operates within the country, thanks to a 2017 law. The country has, meanwhile, taken a page from Canadas approach by requiring Mexico-based companies to implement anti-money laundering rules. Africa Morocco Foreign exchange laws in Morocco changed in late 2017, making it illegal to conduct any business with digital currencies. Violating this rule can net you some rather steep penalties if caught. Namibia Namibia, like Morocco, has taken a hard-line approach to crypto assets. The country has unequivocally declared blockchain-based digital assets as completely illegal. Nigeria There are no specific regulations that ban people living inside the borders of Nigeria from owning cryptocurrency, as the country is still working on an official response. At the same time, the countrys banks are not permitted to handle any virtual currency of any kind. South Africa The South Africa Reserve bank made a decision in 2017 to partner with blockchain service provider Bankymoon to experiment with whether regulating cryptocurrency is feasible within the country. This sandbox approach means there will be no official regulations passed until research has concluded. Zimbabwe Zimbabwes central bank has declared that cryptocurrencies arent considered legal within the country. At the same time, there have been no rules set in stone for regulating or banning digital currencies at this time, leaving things up in the air until the government makes a more definitive ruling. This article was written by Catherine Tims, a freelance writer. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: Chinese state media has a message for the US ahead of trade talks in Beijing Officials from the U.S. and China are scheduled to meet in Beijing on Thursday and Friday to iron out their trade tensions. "The imminent dialogue must be held on equal footing," state media Global Times said in an editorial on Wednesday. Ahead of a meeting between officials from the world's two largest economies to iron out their trade tensions, state-owned Chinese media has one message for the United States delegates: Don't expect China to give into all of your demand. "Washington had better not expect that its trade-war stick will force Beijing to take whatever the US delegation offers. The imminent dialogue must be held on an equal footing and the US delegation has to come with sincerity," said a Global Times editorial published on Wednesday. The meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday in Beijing , after tensions between the two economic giants intensified in recent months with both sides threatening to impose additional tariffs on each other's products. The U.S. is sending a high-level delegation to Beijing for the talks, including Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin , Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow , the Global Times said. China has also lined up some of its heavyweight officials to meet the U.S. team, including President Xi Jinping , Vice President Wang Qishan and Xi's top economic adviser Liu He, The Wall Street Journal reported. "The composition of the US delegation indicates the importance Washington attaches to China-US trade. We hope this can also be shown in how flexible the delegation will be in negotiations. China won't abandon its principles despite pressure," the Global Times said. The U.S., under President Donald Trump , has repeatedly decried Chinese practices which it has called unfair and blamed for worsening the trade balance between the two countries. Trump has also accused China of stealing intellectual property from American companies. Story continues China in the last few weeks reiterated its commitment to opening up its economy, including relaxing rules on investments by foreign auto companies and strengthening intellectual property rights protection but these moves weren't made in response to the trade fight with the U.S., according to an editorial by China Daily . China is opening up because that's necessary for its own development and it's "merely an added bonus" if doing so narrows the trade balance with some countries, China Daily said, adding that the U.S. should expect some give-and-take during the talks. "If the US delegation comes to China believing Beijing's resolve to open wider to the outside world is a matter of expediency under pressure from Washington, it will likely mean a lot of time is wasted setting the record straight," the editorial said. More From CNBC When news stories pop up about Flat Earth believers claiming to have proof that NASA and every scientist on the face of the the planet is lying about its shape, we tend to lump them all into one big pile of crazy. Thats totally unfair to them because, as a recent Flat Earth expo has revealed, theres many different flavors of crazy when it comes to people who think were living on a sheet of paper or maybe a diamond. The conference, which was held in Birmingham in England, was the UKs first Flat Earth Convention, according to The Daily Star. The momentous event attracted a whopping 200-or-so visitors and featured renowned speakers ranging from some guy who was once a graphic designer to a man who stumbled across Flat Earth videos on YouTube two years ago. Yes, it was a veritable whos who of utter insanity, and boy was there a lot to take in. Don't Miss: 50 people quit their jobs at Apple to build and launch this device The really special thing about Flat Earth believers is that they think everyone else is insane, even other Flat Earthers who dont believe exactly what they themselves believe. For example, theres a subset of the Flat Earth community that believes that the Earth is flat and that it is surrounded by a wall of ice that we know as Antarctica. Others, meanwhile, think that theres water right up to the edge, but that a massive dome covers the entire flat planet like a roof, keeping everything nice and tidy inside. Still others have even more obscure theories (I know, thats hard to imagine). One of the speakers at the conference, who spends his days as a dance musician and not a scientist, insists that the planet is actually diamond-shaped, with flat sides but three-dimensional geometry. How would such an object be supported? By massive pillars, he says. Its so obvious! NASA and other actual scientists and researchers rarely take the time to address these insane claims, mainly because theyre so laughable its hard to even speak about them without breaking into a fit of the giggles. Story continues BGR Top Deals: Trending Right Now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com [caption id="attachment_19329" align="alignnone" width="620"] Judge Karen Gievers/courtesy photo Judge Karen Gievers/courtesy photo[/caption] Siding with the state Department of Health, an appeals court at least temporarily blocked a Tampa businessman from being able to grow marijuana as he seeks to prevent a relapse of lung cancer. The First District Court of Appeal reinstated a stay of a Leon County circuit judges ruling that would allow Joe Redner to grow his own pot for a treatment known as juicing. Circuit Judge Karen Gievers last month ruled that Redner is entitled grow and possess marijuana for juicing under a 2016 constitutional amendment that broadly legalized medical marijuana in Florida. The Department of Health appealed the ruling, triggering an automatic stay. But Gievers then lifted the automatic stay, spurring lawyers for the state to quickly ask the Tallahassee-based appeals court to reinstate the stay. The appeals court Tuesday issued a one-page order reinstating the stay, which will remain in place as the court considers the appeal of Gievers underlying ruling that Redner should be allowed to grow his own marijuana. After this panels preliminary review of the full wording of the constitutional amendment, we determine that appellee [Redner] did not sufficiently demonstrate a likelihood of success on the merits as required to justify vacating the automatic governmental stay, Tuesdays order said. However, we do not intend to preclude full review of the issues on appeal by the merits panel [of the appeals court]. Redner, who made his fortune as a strip-club owner, filed the lawsuit last year as the state carried out the 2016 constitutional amendment. While the state has faced a series of legal challenges, it has designed a regulatory system that involves licensing limited numbers of businesses to grow, process and sell medical marijuana. Redners doctor ordered a juicing treatment that uses live marijuana plants to prevent a relapse of stage 4 lung cancer, according to court documents. Emulsification, or juicing, of the biomass of the marijuana plant was determined to be the most effective way for Redner to get the benefit of medical marijuana, according to Gievers initial ruling last month. Gievers ruling was narrowly tailored to Redner. But in arguing last month that the stay should remain in place while an appeal moves forward, attorneys for the Department of Health argued that the ruling opens the door for plaintiff and other qualified patients to grow medical marijuana unchecked from any state regulation. In other words, the effect of the final judgment is to grant civil and criminal immunity to any one of the thousands of qualifying patients in Florida who may wish to grow and use medical marijuana as plaintiff has been authorized to do by this [Gievers] court, the departments attorneys, Jason Gonzalez and Amber Stoner, wrote in an April 16 document. The only way to prevent the proliferation of unregulated homegrown marijuana is to maintain the status quo while the appellate court reviews the propriety of Gievers interpretation of the 2016 constitutional amendment. Jim Saunders reports for the News Service of Florida. When United Airlines accepted full responsibility for the death of a dog on one of its flights earlier this year, it prompted a major review of the US carriers policies for transporting animals. The company said this week it is working with the countrys oldest national humane animal organization, American Humane, to improve the well-being of pets that fly with the airline, and will resume transporting them as cargo from July 9but it has also decided to ban 25 pet breeds from its aircraft. The Chicago-based airline said the 21 dog and four cat breeds are being banned because they are prone to physical problems from heat or other travel stress. The four cat breeds prevented from flying with the airline are Burmese, exotic shorthair, Himalayan, and Persian. The dog breeds include some of the most popular ones in the US, including Boston terriers, bulldogs, boxers, and mastiffs. Short-nosed dogs from the brachycephalic breeds, such as small Pekingese and pug dogs, are also banned. Many of these breeds are already barred from traveling cargo on several other airlines, or are restricted from travel at warmer times of the year, but a few carriers are more welcoming. While the complete list is available on Uniteds website, here is how the 21 breeds rank in popularity in the US, according to American Kennel Club (AKC) data. A total of 190 breeds were ranked in 2017. Dog breeds banned from United Popularity ranking by AKC Affenpinscher 147 American Bully n/a American Pit Bull Terrier/Pit Bull n/a American Staffordshire Terrier/Amstaff 83 Belgian Malinois 44 Boston Terrier 21 Boxer 11 Brussels Griffon 94 Bulldog 5 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 19 Chow Chow 76 English Toy Spaniel/Prince Charles Spaniel 134 Japanese Chin/Japanese Spaniel 108 Lhasa Apso 77 Mastiff 28 Pekingese 88 Pug 31 Shar-Pei/Chinese Shar-Pei 64 Shih-Tzu 20 Staffordshire Bull Terrier/Staffys 82 Tibetan Spaniel 121 ____________________________________________________________________________ Story continues Read next: The top dog breed in the US has remained the same for almost 30 years Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: Rudy Giuliani calls President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, "disposable." Giuliani is representing Trump in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The former New York mayor warns that Americans will turn against Mueller if he investigates Trump's daughter Ivanka. Rudy Giuliani called President Donald Trump s son-in-law, Jared Kushner , "disposable" and warned that special counsel Robert Mueller should stay away from Ivanka Trump. Giuliani's off-the-cuff cut on Kushner, a senior adviser to the president, came Wednesday night as he also revealed that the president had repaid long-time lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels . Giuliani, who is now on Trump's legal team, told Fox News' Sean Hannity that Kushner's wife, Ivanka Trump should not be subject to Robert Mueller 's probe of Russian meddling into the 2016 election. Ivanka Trump is also a senior presidential adviser. "Jared is a fine man, you know that," the former New York mayor said. "Men are disposable." "But a fine woman like Ivanka? Come on." Tweet "'Ivanka Trump? I think I would get on my charger and go right into ... their offices with a lance if they go after Ivanka," the former federal prosecutor said of Mueller's team. Giuliani also predicted that "the whole country will turn on," Mueller if the special counsel went after the president's daughter. Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, as well as possible collusion by Trump campaign officials. In June 2016, Trump's son Donald Jr., Kushner and then-campaign chief Paul Manafort met with a Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, at Trump Tower in New York. Donald Trump Jr. accepted the meeting with Veselnitskaya after he was told she had incriminating information about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was running for president against his father. Story continues Veselnitskaya told NBC News this year that after she left that meeting and was waiting for an elevator, she exchanged pleasantries with a woman she believed was Ivanka Trump. A source familiar with the meeting told NBC News that it was in fact Ivanka Trump. The Los Angeles Times reported in January that Mueller's investigators are interested in the Russian lawyer's encounter with Ivanka. More From CNBC On Wednesday, Mandy Manning, an English and math teacher from Spokane, Washington, was recognized at the White House for being named 2018 National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Manning brought some reading material for President Trump a stack of 45 letters from her immigrant and refugee students. The 19-year teaching veteran says that Trump accepted the letters graciously. Manning teaches English at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School, which serves students speaking 72 languages and aims to help immigrant and refugee students adjust to life in the United States. "A good education," the program's website states, "is the key to a successful life in America." The letters Manning brought chronicle her students' experiences coming to the United States from countries such as Syria, Iraq, Uganda, Burma and El Salvador. Manning tells The Washington Post that her students "felt it was important for the president to understand the really rigorous and difficult process and length of time it takes to come to the United States as a refugee." President Trump has previously made negative comments about immigrants and refugees, including a 2015 campaign speech in which he said that Mexican immigrants were "bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." In this speech he also said that the threats he associates with immigration were "coming from all over South and Latin America" as well as the Middle East. One of the letters that Manning gave Trump was written by a student from Rwanda who addressed the president's language in relation to immigrants and refugees. Manning tells Politico that the student "hopes he would model for others positive messaging around our immigrant and refugee communities," stressing that "his words have a lot of weight." In her remarks upon accepting the award on Wednesday, Manning emphasized that all students "are wanted, that they are enough and that they matter." During the ceremony, she wore several pins including one that read "Trans Equality Now" and another from the Women's March. Story continues Manning tells The Washington Post that she's not sure if Trump will read all the letters, but she's hopeful a characteristic she learned from her students. "The thing about our immigrant and refugee students is that they have this innate hopefulness," Manning told the paper . "They have gone through very, very difficult experiences, but they see coming to the United States as an opportunity. They feel that they can have dreams, and that they can potentially achieve those dreams. It's really quite beautiful, actually, because no matter what no matter what they experience they still have this hope, this resilience." Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook Don't miss: 5 tricks for paying for college This New Orleans teen was accepted by more than 80 colleges Study finds that picking the wrong college can make you depressedhere's why More From CNBC What happened Units of Enbridge Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE: EEP) sold off on Wednesday, falling nearly 10% at 2:45 p.m. EDT after pipeline peer TC Pipelines (NYSE: TCP) slashed its distribution due to a rule change that might have similar implications for Enbridge Energy Partners. So what Earlier this year, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) changed a long-standing policy that allowed master limited partnerships (MLPs) like Enbridge Energy Partners and TC Pipelines to collect an allowance for income taxes on certain pipelines. As a result, Enbridge Energy Partners revised its full-year guidance to reflect its expectation that this policy change will result in a $100 million reduction in revenue and a $60 million drop in distributable cash flow. Several oil pipleines overhead with a blue background and oil pumpjacks in the foreground. Image source: Getty Images. Because of that, the company only expects to generate enough cash to cover its distribution by a tight 1.0 times this year as opposed to the more comfortable 1.15 times it initially anticipated. That razor-thin margin for error has investors concerned that Enbridge Energy Partners might reduce its distribution again to give it more breathing room. Those fears have increased with today's news that TC Pipelines will cut its payout 35% due to the impact the FERC rule change will have on its cash flow. Now what With today's sell-off, units of Enbridge Energy Partners now yield nearly 14.8%, reflecting the market's view that the company's payout isn't sustainable. While the company did recently declare its first-quarter distribution at the same rate as the previous quarter, the market seems to think it will either eventually reduce the distribution or will be taken private by parent company Enbridge (NYSE: ENB). Investors should have a better idea of Enbridge's plans for its MLP when both companies report earnings on May 10. More From The Motley Fool Matthew DiLallo owns shares of Enbridge and Enbridge Energy Partners. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Enbridge. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Kim Kardashian Makes Typos, Too. So She's Asking Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey for an 'Edit' Button Husband Kanye West has been showing support for President Trump in recent weeks. Kim Kardashian West, meanwhile, is reportedly working with the presidents son-in-law on a possible presidential pardon. Kardashian West has had a number of conversations with senior advisor Jared Kushner about a possible pardon for Alice Marie Johnson, a 62-year-old serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, according to Mic. Johnson was arrested in 1993 and convicted of drug conspiracy and money laundering in 1997. While she reportedly did not sell drugs herself, she acted as an intermediary and has been serving a life sentence without parole since, despite it being a first-time nonviolent offense. Johnson has not broken any rules while serving her sentence and has become an ordained minister, playwright, and mentor during her time in prison, according to Business Insider. Kardashian West learned about Johnsons case from a video produced by Mic in October, which she shared on Twitter, calling the case unfair. This is so unfair... https://t.co/W3lPINbQuy Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) October 26, 2017 In the months since, Kardashian West has enlisted her lawyers to advocate for Johnsons release. Kardashian West hopes Kushner, a criminal justice reform advocate himself, can help push Trump for a presidential pardon or clemency. With Trumps recent comments advocating for harsher punishments for drug dealers including the death penalty, however, it is unclear whether he will be open to discussing Johnsons release. Trump has issued just three presidential pardons since taking office: to former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, former Navy sailor Kristian Saucier, and Scooter Libby, the Chief of Staff to former Vice President Dick Cheney. FILE PHOTO: The logo of Xerox company is seen on a building in Minsk, Belarus, March 21, 2016. REUTERS/Vasily Fedosenko/File Photo (Reuters) - Xerox Corp (XRX.N), battling shareholder disapproval over its $6.1 billion (4.5 billion pounds) deal with Fujifilm Holdings , reported on Wednesday a 42.5 percent plunge in quarterly profit, partly due to a charge linked to its venture with the Japanese firm. Xerox said on Tuesday its chief executive officer and most of its board will step down to settle a lawsuit by activist shareholders Carl Icahn and Darwin Deason, paving the way for new management to reconsider the contentious deal with Fujifilm. The company said on Wednesday that it will not provide a forecast for 2018 due to the pending director appointment, nomination and settlement agreement with Icahn and Deason. It would have reaffirmed its full-year guidance on revenue, adjusted operating margin, cash flow and adjusted earnings per share, in the normal course of business, the company said in a statement. Xerox, whose shares closed down 9 percent on Wednesday, also canceled a scheduled post-earnings conference call with analysts. Icahn and Deason, who together hold 15 percent of Xerox, won a rare court order to temporarily block the deal with Fujifilm, which they said undervalued Xerox. Separately, Fujifilm filed on Wednesday an objection with a U.S. Supreme Court judge over Xerox's settlement with Icahn and Deason, criticizing the way the company handled the process and said it had not followed proper procedure to change control of its board. "The current hurly-burly of private communications with the Court, make-shift submissions and midnight filings is not the proper procedure to decide the fate of a $7 billion publicly traded company," Fujifilm said in the letter to the court that was seen by Reuters. Fujifilm and Xerox struck a complex deal in January to combine the U.S. company into their existing joint venture, Fuji Xerox, to gain scale and cut costs as demand for office printing equipment declines. Fujifilm was to then take a majority stake in the combined company. Story continues But the deal soon ran into opposition. Earlier on Wednesday, Xerox said Keith Cozza, the CEO of Icahn Enterprises, would become its chairman. John Visentin, who formerly led Novitex Enterprise Solutions and had previously been hired by Icahn to assist him in fighting Xerox, is to step in as Xerox's new CEO. On Wednesday Xerox said net income attributable to the company dropped to $23 million, or 8 cents per share, in the quarter ended March 31 from $40 million, or 14 cents per share, a year earlier. The company earned an adjusted profit of 68 cents per share, missing average analysts' estimate of 73 cents per share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Quarterly earnings from continuing operations was down from last year primarily due to lower equity income, including the Xerox share of a Fuji Xerox restructuring charge, the company said in a statement. Total revenue was nearly flat at $2.44 billion, above the $2.41 billion analysts had expected. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil and Subrat Patnaik in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Liana Baker; Editing by Sayantani Ghosh and Muralikumar Anantharaman) Officials in Afghanistan say a gunman has shot and killed a deputy counterterrorism official in the countrys western province of Farah. Mohammad Naser Mehri, a spokesman for Farahs provincial governor, said the unknown gunman opened fire on the vehicle of the official, Abdul Jalal, and killed him on May 3. The attack took place in the provincial capital, the city of Farah, as Jalal was returning to his home from work. The gunman escaped from the scene of the killing. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. With reporting by AP INDUSTRY INSIGHT The critical need for automation in agency cyber defense The rise of cyber attacks targeting the data and critical infrastructure of nation-states is undeniable, with no sign of slowing down. From state-sponsored hackers to hacktivists to criminal enterprises, groups are leveraging the power of automation to deploy malware with speed and scale, with federal agency data and critical infrastructure in the crosshairs. Given the automated nature of many of these attacks, traditional manual approaches to defense are clearly no longer enough. However, there are ways federal agencies can protect critical information and infrastructure from compromise. The automated threat landscape Last years Executive Order on Strengthening the Cybersecurity of Federal Networks and Critical Infrastructure emphasized agencies' migration to the cloud as a key part of the strategy. Cloud adoption, however, is proving to be both a blessing and a curse. While the cloud introduces scalability and flexibility that traditional networks struggle to provide, it also expands the attack surface with out-of-band threat vectors like shadow IT and personal cloud services. In addition, an increasing reliance on connected devices to automate and perform everyday tasks reduces the security profile of agencies and invites unwanted visitors. Even encryption, meant to foster security, also has a dark side. While helpful for maintaining privacy, it presents challenges to threat monitoring and detection. Organizations -- especially those with higher HTTPS ratios -- cannot afford to turn a blind eye toward threats that might be lurking within encrypted communications. Cloud and encryption allow todays malicious actors to deliver attacks faster, farther and more cheaply. Even more troubling, a huge proportion of exploit activity today is fully automated using tools that methodically scan wide swaths of the internet, probing for opportunistic vulnerabilities. These modern tools, combined with the growing crime-as-a-service infrastructure, enable attackers to operate on a global scale at digital speeds. The significant threat posed by automated attacks Federal IT security teams are facing an avalanche of security alerts, and many simply dont have the resources or even the expertise to respond to them. Additionally, modern attacks, especially automated ones, have a short half-life; the indicators of compromise linked to these attacks fade quickly, which means teams must be able to respond when an attack is visible, not after the attack has occurred. This is a complex and difficult task in agencies with deployed network point solutions that rely primarily on humans for the necessary integration. In such environments, responding to automated attacks using defensive automation -- the orchestration of alerts through devices like security information and event management products, sandboxes and similar solutions -- is incredibly important. Thats at the agency level. There is also a trend towards increasingly malicious cyber activity targeted at the nations critical infrastructure -- including water systems, transportation, energy, finance and emergency services -- that is particularly worrisome because the interruption of those services can have devastating effects on the economy, impact citizens' well-being and even cause the loss of life. In its report last year on securing critical infrastructure, the National Infrastructure Advisory Council raised concerns that the public and private sectors remain unable to move actionable information to the right people at the speed required to address cyber threats. This is primarily because many of the security systems in place require a significant level of human intervention to detect and respond to threats, and real-time threat intelligence between organizations is either limited or nonexistent. Best practices for defeating automated attacks As various security components begin to work together as an integrated system, through direct communication and coordination, agencies can begin to let the technology start to make some automated decisions. While automatically removing the actual threat may still be a distance away, once a threat is detected, automated systems can help immediately contain or isolate a breach. This gives incident response teams more time to fight the attack. To realize the potential advantages of a coordinated and automated security strategy, agencies can adopt and integrate five strategies that unify control across all attack vectors to stop automated attacks: 1. Zero in on visibility. Use threat intelligence solutions to deepen understanding of attackers' identity, tactics and procedures, and then start intelligently defending according to that information. Know where critical assets are located, and prioritize security efforts there. 2. Patch management is non-negotiable. Mirai, Hajime and newer threats such as AutoSploit are stealthier and more advanced generations of self-propagating malware that exemplify the kind of damage that can be done when IT teams fail to patch known vulnerabilities. 3. An intrusion prevention system is the first line of automated defense. Because manufacturers still arent accountable for securing internet-of-things devices, there are billions of connected devices that are vulnerable to attack, with no patches in sight. IPS provides virtual patching by blocking hacks and attacks targeted at vulnerable IoT devices. Forging a blockchain agencies can use Besides examining agency spending and performance, the Government Accountability Office also has its eye on distributed ledger technologies. GAO's five-year strategic plan released in February identified blockchain and cryptocurrencies as technologies that have the ability potentially transform society. Agencies considering using blockchain to improve government processes must develop policies and procedures that address risk, change management and training as part of their strategy, GAO Director of Financial Management and Assurance Asif Khan said. Blockchain is so customizable and versatile so you need to clearly think through the needs in your environment, he said at May 2 KPMG Future Ready Government event. We find people who are interested in blockchain because it is a buzzword," Khan said. But with more experimentation and proofs of concept, "the word will get out as to how people can adopt blockchain within their own [agencies], he said. Agencies need risk-based policies and procedures for the blockchain projects. For instance, Khan said, agencies must have a game plan for what happens if the ledger is hacked and the chain can no longer be accessed for a specific project. Change management and training enter the picture when blockchain starts making processes more efficient and eliminating redundancies. Peoples' roles are going to shift, so change management is necessary to show how [the project] will be implemented, Khan said. Each person needs to be trained on what their roles are in the environment. GAO itself is interested in using blockchain to verify information at the source level for its reports, but the idea has not gone beyond the discussion phase, Kahn said. The Treasury Department's Bureau of Fiscal Service, however, already has seen benefits from a blockchain proof of concept that inventoried employees' computers and phones. However, it remains to be seen whether blockchain will be able to live up to the hype, said Craig Fischer, program manager for that agency's Office of Financial Innovation and Transformation. The next step is [to] understand what this [type of project] means when it is moved to into an operational environment in the federal government, Fischer said. When you have a network that spans and effects several agencies, it could be useful, but we need to determine what the architecture for that would look like. NEW YORK, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bermudas unique value to onshore economies across industry sectors was the clear message of an executive forum held in New York today by the Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA). The forum saw an impressive collective effort by government, regulatory and industry executives who spoke about the islands blue-chip legacy, innovative corporate environment, world-respected regulation, and pool of talent across sectors ranging from reinsurance and fund management to ship finance and high-net-worth services. Its important that Bermuda is represented here in New York. We always say Bermuda is open for business, but we need to meet businessand all of Bermuda Inc were here today through all the industries we represent as a global financial centre, said Premier the Hon David Burt, who attended the midtown event and opened the fintech portion of the day-long programme by highlighting pioneering legislation passed by Bermudas Parliament this spring to govern digital currencies. Were here to show investors that there are great opportunities in Bermuda, whether thats in any of the traditional industries, or in the emerging digital asset space, said the Premier, joined by National Security Minister the Hon Wayne Caines, who took part in a panel on fintechs New Value Equation. Close to 300 attendees filled the forum location on Seventh Avenue, where more than 60 industry executives detailed Bermudas message to an audience of investors, entrepreneurs and c-suite executives on a dozen moderated discussion panels. Weve had terrific attendancewe were thrilled to see how many people came to every one of the sessions, said BDA Chair Paul Scope. Sometimes in Bermuda, industries stay in their own silos, but through collaborative initiatives like this one, were promoting the broad base of businesses across our whole financial sector. Our aim is to show the diversity of industries on our island that are served by the same sophisticated infrastructure. Keynote speaker Brian Duperreault, the Bermudian market veteran who was named CEO of American International Group last May, addressed a packed lunchtime auditorium, highlighting the islands unique combination of experience, quality and innovation. Bermuda is a wonderful jurisdiction and I personally benefitted from the island, its approach to the market, whats been created, and I just feel Ive got to give back Ive got to help tell the story, Duperreault said afterwards. I wanted to speak today about what a great marketplace it is, how welcoming it is, how pro-business it is. I think it makes sense to come to New York, as the centre of finance, to tell our story, because we have a great story to tell. Industry panels throughout the day covered topics such as the impact of US tax reform, recent mergers and acquisitions, and the advent of blockchain technology and virtual currencies. This is the second international multi-industry forum organised by the BDA. The first, held in London last November, attracted more than 200 delegates encompassing a wide range of industries, and featured Deputy Chair of Lloyds and Hiscox Chair Robert Childs as keynote. MEDIA CONTACT: Rosemary Jones Head of Communications & Marketing rosemary@bda.bm 441 278-6558 441 337-4696 CONNECTING BUSINESS The BDA encourages direct investment and helps companies start up, re-locate or expand their operations in our premier jurisdiction. An independent, public-private partnership, we connect you to industry professionals, regulatory officials, and key contacts in the Bermuda government to assist domicile decisions. Our goal? To make doing business in Bermuda smooth and beneficial. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/f3f77ad5-0143-4a66-9dd6-89a9d9ca6fa7 English French Financial release 3 May 2018 Aeroports de Paris SA 2018 first quarter consolidated revenue up by 37.3%, driven by growth in traffic and international activities Financial information as of 31 March 2018, Consolidated revenue, including the full consolidation of TAV Airports up by 37.3%, at 965 million Consolidated revenue, excluding the full consolidation of TAV Airports up by 2.8%, at 723 million Groupe ADP passengers traffic : +13.6%, at 53.7 million passengers (vs. 47.2 million passengers during the 1 st quarter of 2017) Paris Aeroport traffic : +3.7%, at 22.8 million passengers (vs. 22.0 million passengers during the 1 st quarter of 2017), thanks to the dynamism of low cost airlines (+10.1%) and international traffic (+6.3%) Aviation (+2.8%): growth in revenue from airport fees (+4.5%, at 240 million) due to the increase in tariffs since 1 st April 2017 (+0.97%) and the good growth in traffic Retail and services (+3.4%): good dynamic of retail activities (+3.3%, at 105 million), driven by the revenue from bars and restaurants (+18.1%). Sales/pax is down on the 1 st quarter of 2018 (-1.4%, at 18.6), due to the negative impact of strong Euro and the refurbishment works in terminal 2E Real Estate (+2.7%): growth in external revenue (+4.1%, at 65 million) linked to the positive effect resulting from the full acquisition of the "Dome" building in Paris-Charles de Gaulle International and airports developments (+240 million): effect of the full consolidation of TAV Airports for 243 million on the 1 st quarter of 2018 Other activities (-34.4%): decrease linked to the change in Hub Safe consolidation method, now accounted for as share of results from non-operation associates Reminder of 2018 assumptions and forecasts, unchanged since the publication of 2017 full year results Traffic growth assumption for Paris Aeroport between 2.5% and 3.5% in 2018 compared to 2017 Traffic growth assumption for TAV Airports between 10% and 12% in 2018 compared to 2017 2018 consolidated EBITDA : increase of between 10% and 15% in 2018 compared to 2017, with the full-year effect of the full consolidation of TAV Airports and excluding the effects of any change in scope that occurred or may occur in 2018 2018 consolidated EBITDA excluding the full consolidation of TAV Airports: increase of between 2.5% and 3.5% in 2018 compared to 2017 Reminder of the TAV Airports EBITDA 's guidance: increase of between 5% and 7% in 2018 compared to 2017 Maintained pay-out of 60% of NRAG 2018 2018 first quarter consolidated revenue (in millions of euros) Q1 2018 Q1 2017 restated(1) Q1 2018/ Q1 2017(1) Revenue 965 703 +37.3% Aviation 426 415 +2.8% Retail and services 230 223 +3.4% Real estate 74 72 +2.7% International and airport developments 256 16 +240m of which TAV Airports 243 - +243m Other activities 37 56 -34.4% Inter-sector eliminations (58) (78) -26.2% (1) Restatement linked to the norm IFRS 15. Please refer to note 2 below. Augustin de Romanet, Chairman and CEO of Aeroports de Paris SA - Groupe ADP, stated: "2018 first quarter revenue, including the full consolidation of TAV Airports, increased by 37.3%, to 965 million, driven by the international and European traffic dynamic, with a favourable impact on airport fees. Those will benefit from 1 April 2018 from the increase in tariffs by 2.125%. Retail activities growth keeps on being driven by the dynamism of bars and restaurants. Sales in airside shops per passenger is down, negatively impacted by strong Euro and important works in terminal 2E. Abroad, TAV Airports posted good results for 2018 first quarter with a strong growth in traffic. Then, Groupe ADP, through its subsidiary ADP International, finalized a few days ago, the transaction for the ownership of 51% of the capital and the control of Airport International Group, concessionary of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan. Regarding this 1st quarter revenue, our forecasts are confirmed." 2018 first quarter consolidated revenue Aviation (in millions of euros) Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Q1 2018/ Q1 2017 Revenue 426 415 +2.8% Airport fees 240 229 +4.5% Passenger fees 147 138 +6.0% Landing fees 56 54 +2.4% Parking fees 37 36 +2.2% Ancillary fees 61 59 +3.4% Revenue from airport safety and security services 116 116 +0.6% Other income 9 11 -15.8% Over the 1st quarter of 2018, Aviation segment revenue is up by 2.8%, at 426 million. Revenue for airport fees (passenger fees, landing fees and aircraft parking fees) was up by 4.5%, at 240 million, benefiting from the growth in passenger traffic (+3.7%) and the increase in tariffs as of 1 April 2017 (+0.97%). It should be noted that, as of 1 April 2017, tariffs (excluding PRM fees) have increased by 1.51%, except the CREWS fee that decreased significantly. Overall, excluding PRM fees, the increase was equal to +0.97% on average. Ancillary fees were up by 3.4%, at 61 million mainly thanks to the increase in revenues from the PMR fee (+8.6%, at 13 million). Revenue from airport safety and security services was up slightly by 0.6%, at 116 million. Other income, which mostly consists in re-invoicing the French Air Navigation Services Division, leasing associated with the use of terminals and other works services made for third parties, decreased by 15.8%, at 9 million. Retail and services (in millions of euros) Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Q1 2018/ Q1 2017 Revenue 230 223 +3.4% Retail activities 105 101 +3.3% Airside shops 70 68 +1.8% Landside shops 4 4 +15.8% Bars and restaurants 10 9 +18.1% Advertising 10 11 -4.1% Others 10 9 +4.3% Car parks and access roads 40 41 -2.9% Industrial services revenue 36 37 -2.4% Rental income 37 36 +2.5% Other income 13 8 +70.0% Over the 1st quarter of 2018, revenue from Retail and services, was up by 3.4%, at 230 million. Revenue from retail activities (rents received from airside and landside shops, bars and restaurants, banking and foreign exchange activities, and car rental companies, as well as revenue from advertising) was up by 3.3%, at 105 million. Among this item, the rents from airside shops stood at 70 million, up by 1.8%, positive traffic mix being offset by the negative impact of strong Euro and important works in terminal 2E, hall K and L leading to shops closing during the work. The sales per passenger on the 1 st quarter of 2018 is down consequently by 1.4%; Rents from landside shops increased by 15.8%, at 4 million; Bars and restaurants posted a growth of 18.1%, at 10 million, thanks to rise in power of EPIGO and the full year impact of the opening in 2017 of new shops. Media Aeroports de Paris saw a decrease of 2.3% of its revenue, at 11 million. Revenue from car parks stood at 40 million, down by 2.9%. Revenue from industrial services (the supply of electricity and water) was also down by 2.4%, at 26 million. Rental revenue (leasing of space within terminals) increased by 2.5%, at 37 million. Other revenue saw an increase of 5 million, at 13 million. Real Estate (in millions of euros) Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Q1 2018/ Q1 2017 Revenue 74 72 +2.7% External revenue (generated with third parties) 65 62 +4.1% Land 27 26 +4.2% Buildings 16 19 -13.3% Others 22 18 +22.2% Internal revenue 10 10 -6.1% Other income and expenses (1) 1 -2m Over the 1st quarter of 2018, Real estate revenue was up by 2.7%, at 74 million. External revenue increased by 4.1%, to 65 million, thanks to the positive effect of the full acquisition of the "Dome" building, in Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Internal revenue decreased by 6.1%, to 10 million, due to the revision of internal rents since the second half of 2017. International and airports developments (in millions of euros) Q1 2018 Q1 2017 restated(1) Q1 2018/ Q1 2017(1) Revenue 256 16 +240m ADP Ingenierie 10 11 -7.9% ADP International 3 5 -33.7% TAV Airports 243 - +243m (1) Restatement linked to the norm IFRS 15. Please see below. Please note that the new norm IFRS 15 must be implemented for all financial period starting from 1 April 2018. This norm modifies the principles for revenue recognition (other than those relative to lease contracts) and has, in particular, a repercussion on the methodology for accounting the revenue recognized using the percentage of completion method. Its implementation led to 4 million on ADP International revenue for 2017 1st quarter revenue. The data presented here takes into account this restatement. Over the 1st quarter of 2018, revenue from International and airport developments stood at 256 million due to the full consolidation of TAV Airports since 7 July 2017. Excluding the full consolidation of TAV Airports, 2018 first quarter revenue for the segment would have been down by 15.5%. ADP Ingenierie's revenue decreased by 7.9%, at 10 million. At the end of March 2018, ADP Ingenierie's backlog amounted to 57 million. ADP International saw its revenue decrease strongly by 33.7%, to 3 million, due to the negative base effect of the end of a mission of assistance for commissioning Zagred Airport's new terminal that occurred during the 1st quarter of 2017. TAV Airports' revenue stood at 243 million. Other activities (in millions of euros) Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Q1 2018/ Q1 2017 Revenue 37 56 -34.4% Hub One 36 37 -1.4% Hub Safe - 19 n/a Over the 1st quarter of 2018, other activities segment revenue decreased by 34.4%, to 37 million due to the change in Hub Safe consolidation method since 29 September 2017. The entity's results are now integrated as share in associates from non-operating activities, following the sale by Groupe ADP of 80% of its stake in the entity. Hub One saw its revenue decrease by 1.4%, to 36 million, due to renegociation of intragroup contracts, without impact on the consolidated revenue. Highlights of the period occurred after the publication of 2017 full year results, on 22 February 2018 Change in passenger traffic over the 1st quarter of 2018 Group stake-weighted traffic: Group traffic (million passengers) Groupe ADP stake(1) Stake-weighted traffic(2) Q1 2018 / Q1 2017 change(3) Groupe ADP Paris Aeroport (CDG+ORY) @ 100% 22.8 +3.7% Zagreb @ 20.8% 0.1 +13.5% Jeddah-Hajj @ 5% 0.1 +2.2% Amman @ 9.5% 0.2 +8.5% Mauritius @ 10% 0.1 +4.0% Conakry @ 29% 0.0 +11.4% Santiago de Chile @ 45% 2.8 +14.0% Madagascar @ 35% 0.1 +14.2% TAV Airports Group Istanbul Ataturk @ 46.1% 15.5 (@ 100 %) +21.5% Ankara Esenboga @ 46.1% 4.4 (@ 100 %) +41.4% Izmir @ 46.1% 3.1 (@ 100 %) +16.1% Other airports(4) @ 46.1% 4.5 (@ 100 %) +20.1% TOTAL GROUP 53.7 +13.6% (1) Direct or indirect. (2) Total traffic is calculated using the following method: traffic at the airports that are fully integrated is recognised at 100%, while the traffic from the other airports is accounted for pro rata to Groupe ADP's percentage holding. Traffic in TAV Airports' airports is taken into account at 100% in accordance with TAV Airports' financial communication pratices. (3) Change in 2018 traffic as compared to 2017. For TAV Airports, change in traffic in 2018 vs 2017 is calculated on a comparable basis (as if TAV Airports was fully consolidated in Q1 2017). (4)Turkey (Milas-Bodrum), Croatia (Zagreb), Saudi Arabia (Medinah), Tunisia (Monastir & Enfidha), Georgia (Tbilissi & Batumi), and Macedonia (Skopje & Ohrid). Paris Aeroport traffic Over the 1st quarter of 2018, Paris Aeroport traffic welcomed 22.8 million passengers, an increase of 3.7% compared with the 1st quarter 2017. 15.6 million passengers travelled through Paris-Charles de Gaulle (+4.6%) and 7.2 million passengers through Paris-Orly (+1.8%). Geographical breakdown is as follows: International traffic (excluding Europe) was up (+6.3%) due to growth in the following destinations: the Middle East (+9.7%), the French Overseas Territories (+9.7%), Africa (+8.1%), North America (+6.8%) and Pacific-Asia (+2.1%). Only Latin America is down (-1.4%); European traffic (excluding France) was up by 3.4%; Traffic within France was up by 4.1%. Geographic split Paris Aeroport Q1 2018 / Q1 2017 change Share of total traffic France -3.4% 15.8% Europe +4.1% 41.9% Other International +6.3% 42.3% Of which Africa +8.1% 12.1% North America +6.8% 8.5% Latin America -1.4% 3.7% Middle East +9.7% 5.7% Asia-Pacific +2.1% 7.0% French Overseas Territories +9.7% 5.2% Total Paris Aeroport +3.7% 100.0% The number of connecting passengers increased by 2.1%. The connecting rate stood at 23.9%, down by 0.3 points compared with the first quarter of 2017. The load factor was up by 2.1 points, at 83.7%. Air traffic movements (158,628) were down by 0.6%. Freight and postal activity decreased by 0.3%, with 540,095 tonnes transported. Appointments within Groupe ADP On 5 April 2018, Augustin de Romanet, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of Aeroports de Paris SA - Groupe ADP, announced the following appointments: Mathieu Daubert is appointed Director of the Customer Division, member of the Executive Committee , starting 7 May 2018, to replace Laure Baume. He previously held the position of Head of Retail. Fernando Echegaray is appointed Chief International Officer, member of the Executive Committee , starting 1 May 2018, to replace Antonin Beurrier. He previously held the position of Chief Operations Officer at ADP International. Antoine Crombez has been appointed Chief of Staff, attached to the Chairman and CEO since the 1 April 2018. Laure Baume and Antonin Beurrier decided to leave the group for new professional projects. Groupe ADP acquires the exclusive control of Airport International Group, concessionary of Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan On 19 April 2018, Groupe ADP, through its 100%-subsidiary ADP International, announced the finalization of the transaction for the ownership of 51% of the capital, and the exclusive control of Airport International Group ( AIG ), concessionary of Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) in Amman, Jordan. The new co-shareholders with which Groupe ADP invests are the infrastructures investment funds Meridiam and IDB Infrastructure Fund II. Edgo, already present, remains co-shareholder. Groupe ADP's investment stands at $265 million. With this operation, Groupe ADP, already shareholder of AIG with a 9.5%-stake will fully consolidate the financial accounts of the concessionary firm. Operator of QAIA since the beginning of the concession (25 years) in 2007, Groupe ADP has contributed to the performance and growth of the airport over the last ten years. Since 2007, traffic has been growing in average by 6.5% per year and a new terminal was built in 2013, then extended in autumn 2016, raising the airport capacity to 12 million passengers. With the takeover of AIG, Groupe ADP will be able to spread its know-how, its expertise and its services offer. The objectives are to reinforce the air network departing from Amman, improve the quality of service offered to passengers and the performance of aviation and retail activities, and, at last, ensure a sustainable and socially responsible development during the remaining duration of the concession (until 2032). A reference airport in the Middle East Queen Alia International Airport handles 98% of Jordanian traffic. It is the base and hub of Royal Jordanian Airlines and the gateway for the main touristic spots of the country, especially Petra, the Dead Sea and Wadi Rum desert. It welcomed 7.9 million passengers in 2017, an increase of 6.8% compared to 2016 and 1.8 million passengers between January and March 2018, an increase of 8.5% compared to the same period in 2018. For 2017 financial year, AIG's EBITDA reached 66.3 million. This airport was ranked by the Airport Council International (ACI) second best airport of its category (more than 2 million passengers) in the Middle East, on the basis of the survey Airport Service Quality (ASQ/ACI) 2017, the most important worldwide reference programme regarding airport passengers satisfaction. Finally, it is the first airport in the Middle East to reach the level 3+ of the ACA Carbon accreditation, that is to say, the carbon neutrality. Agenda A conference call will be held today at 8:30 am (Paris time) and a live audiocast will be available on our website. The presentation is available on the website: finance.groupeadp.fr . Audiocast available on the website: Audiocast in English Live + 33 (0) 1 76 77 22 57 from France +44 (0) 33 0336 9411 from other countries Confirmation code: 3965766 General meeting of shareholders: 4 May 2018 Next traffic publication: Wednesday 16 May 2018: April 2018 traffic figures Next results publication: Monday 30 July 2018 (after market closing): 2018 half year results Contact Investor relations Audrey Arnoux: + 33 1 74 25 70 64 - invest@adp.fr Press Lola Bourget: + 33 1 74 25 23 23 Website finance.groupeadp.fr Investor Relations: Audrey Arnoux, Head of Investor Relations +33 1 74 25 70 64 - invest@adp.fr Press contact: Lola Bourget, Head of Medias and Reputation Department +33 1 74 25 23 23 Groupe ADP develops and manages airports, including Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Paris-Orly and Paris-Le Bourget. In 2017, the group handled through its brand Paris Aeroport more than 101 million passengers and 2.3 million metric tonnes of freight and mail at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Paris-Orly, and more than 127 million passengers in airports abroad through its subsidiary ADP International. Boasting an exceptional geographic location and a major catchment area, the Group is pursuing its strategy of adapting and modernizing its terminal facilities and upgrading quality of services; the group also intends to develop its retail and real estate businesses. In 2017, group revenue stood at 3,617 million and net income at 571 million. Registered office: 1, rue de France, 93 290 Tremblay-en-France. Aeroports de Paris is a public limited company (Societe Anonyme) with share capital of 296,881,806. Registered in the Bobigny Trade and Company Register under no. 552 016 628. groupeadp.fr Appendix: 2017 first quarter restated revenue (in million of euros) Q1 2017 restated Q1 2017 published Groupe ADP consolidated revenue 703 700 International and airports developments 16 12 ADP International 5 1 English French Indosuez Wealth Management completes acquisition of Banca Leonardo Paris/Milan, 3rd May, 2018 - Indosuez Wealth Management, the global wealth management brand of Credit Agricole Group, is pleased to announce the completion of the acquisition of 94.1% of leading Italian wealth manager Banca Leonardo, having received the required approvals from regulators. The acquisition, which was initially announced in November 2017, further strengthens the bank's presence in Italy. The combined business will bring together 230 employees in Italy serving clients from 6 offices. Total assets under management in Italy are expected to represent around 7 billion euros. Olivier Chatain, CEO of CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe), commented: "The completion of this transaction is an important step for our development in Italy, one of the Group's core markets. Our teams really look forward to working alongside our new colleagues from Banca Leonardo, a strong and recognised wealth manager in Italy. Our joint ambition is to deliver a comprehensive, bespoke, wealth management offering to Italian families and entrepreneurs." The transaction will have an impact of approximately 1 basis point on Credit Agricole S.A.'s and no material impact on Credit Agricole Group's Common Equity Tier 1 ratio. For further Information, please contact: Indosuez Wealth Management Eleonore Givort eleonore.givort@ca-indosuez.com +33 1 43 23 26 94 Melinda Raverdy melinda.raverdy@ca-indosuez.ch +41 58 321 95 97 PR agency - FinElk Teresa Wincrantz teresa.wincrantz@finelk.eu +44 7595 055 877 About Indosuez Wealth Management group Indosuez Wealth Management is the global wealth management brand of Credit Agricole group, ranked 13th in the world based on Tier 1 capital (source: The Banker, July 2017). Shaped by 140 years of experience helping families and entrepreneurs around the globe, Indosuez Wealth Management offers a tailored approach that enables clients to manage, protect and pass on their wealth according to their specific needs. Its teams take a comprehensive view and provide expert advice and exceptional service, offering a wide range of services for the management of both personal and business assets. Renowned for its international reach combined with a human scale, Indosuez Wealth Management has 3,110 employees in 14 countries around the world, in Europe (France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Luxembourg, Monaco and Switzerland), Asia-Pacific (Hong Kong, Singapore and New Caledonia), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Lebanon) and the Americas (Brazil, Uruguay and Miami). With EUR 118 billion in assets under management (as at 31/12/2017), Indosuez Wealth Management group is one of the global leaders in wealth management. About CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) is one of the leading institutions in Luxembourg. Its roots date back to 1920 with the founding of its forerunner, La Luxembourgeoise, which was the country's major bank. The Bank's team, comprising more than 500 highly specialised professionals based in Luxemburg, Belgium, Italy and Spain, combines their knowledge of local and European environment with the vast expertise and opportunities provided by the global network of Indosuez Wealth Management and Credit Agricole group. CA Indosuez Wealth (Europe) directs the development of Indosuez Wealth Management activities in Europe (excluding France). About Banca Leonardo - Gruppo CA Indosuez Wealth Management Banca Leonardo was founded by a group of major Italian stockbrokers in October 1999. In April 2006, a group of leading European investors acquired and recapitalised Banca Leonardo, with the aim of creating a financial group characterized by its managerial approach, professionalism and independence. Following a number of significant corporate transactions which have allowed the Bank to return capital invested to its shareholders, Banca Leonardo now operates exclusively in the wealth management sector in Italy and Switzerland. About Credit Agricole in Italy The Credit Agricole Group has been present in Italy for over 40 years. Today, headed by the Senior Country Officer Giampiero Maioli, Credit Agricole operates in Italy with 15 companies covering all business segments: commercial banking, consumer finance and specialized financial services, corporate and investment banking, asset management, Insurance, asset servicing and has completed its range of services with private banking. Italy is the second domestic market for Credit Agricole with 64 billion euros' financing to the economy, serving more than 4 million clients with over 14,000 employees. Dublin, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Telecom API Market Outlook and Forecasts 2018 - 2023" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Telecom API Market Outlook and Forecasts 2018 - 2023 provides an in-depth assessment of the global Telecom API market, including business models, value chain analysis, operator strategies and a quantitative assessment of the industry from 2018 to 2023. Global Communication Service Providers (CSP) continue to see Telecom APIs as a means of leveraging their network and subscriber assets to generate revenues with high margins. However, the ecosystem remains one in which largely third-parties, such as OTT players, maintain the end-user relationship with app and service clients, while CSPs merely provide essentially data as a service on a B2B basis. While this model may suffice for CSPs with respect to the consumer segment and SMBs, it is not sustainable for large corporate clients. CSPs are facing increasing pressure to provide a greater variety of high quality enterprise communications and business collaboration solutions. Accordingly, we see this as an area ripe for leveraging Telecom APIs to offer value-added carrier offerings such as team collaboration, telepresence, and unified communications (UC). For many larger Telecom API vendors, a substantial proportion of revenue continues to be generated from SIP Trunking in support of their client's VoIP, UC, and other IP-based communications apps and services. However, many smaller players are innovating in areas that have high growth potential such as analytics data, device information, edge computing, and number management for calls, data, and subscribers. The last category in particular is emerging as an important area for unwanted call management solutions including robocall management. Longer term, we see CSPs leveraging Telecom APIs and related tools to support a variety of industry requirements in which carriers are amply positioned to leverage their market position. Those opportunities include Internet of Things (IoT) authentication, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI) platforms, Mobile Edge Computing (MEC), and support of Blockchain. Three areas that represent great opportunities for carriers to aggressively pursue solution development in the more near-term timeframe are AI, IoT, and Mobile Edge Computing. Telecom APIs in IoT IoT represents a huge and largely untapped market for CSPs, which we see emerging once carriers begin to fully leverage 5G for IoT apps and services. More specifically, we have identified the opportunity for carriers to act as a orchestrator/mediator within the IoT ecosystem. Uniquely positioned as owner of the primary network to be used for IoT, and provider of data services for humans and machines alike, CSPs have the opportunity to provide various critical services such as IoT authentication, authorization, and accounting. This will include use of Telecom API resources to help manage IoT related access control, permissions, and usage tracking. Telecom APIs in Mobile Edge Computing Carriers are also well positioned to leverage Telecom API enabled capabilities in support of many edge computing use cases as MEC is rolled-out to optimize LTE, 5G, and IoT. Many MEC use cases will require support from multiple Telecom API categories such as Location, Presence, Subscriber Data, and QoS in support of zone-based enterprise apps, services, and data analytics. This will create both a challenge and opportunity for CSPs, which will need the assistance of systems integrators for implementation and managed infrastructure services providers for ongoing operations. Telecom APIs in Artificial Intelligence While many AI capabilities will be embedded within other areas (such as platforms, devices, semiconductors, etc.), AI will also be closely associated with end-users, creating an opportunity for CSPs to provide resource support for many AI enabled use cases. This will include basic support for AI, such as user verification, as well as more advanced functionality, such as identifying resource usage and behaviors among a closed user group like enterprise collaboration teams. This report evaluates the current state of the market and outlook for the future including analysis and forecasts for the Telecom API market segmented many ways including: Globally, Regionally, and Countries Stakeholder Type (Carriers and Vendors) Network Technology (2G, 3G, LTE, and 5G) API Category (Presence, Location, SCM, etc.) App Developer (Carrier, Enterprise, Long Tail, and Partner) Deployment Type (Enterprise Hosted, Private Cloud, and Public Cloud) Implementation (Development and Set-up) and by Ongoing Operations Solution (AI, Analytics, Blockchain, Edge Computing, Robotics, WebRTC, etc.) Select Report Findings: Total global Telecom API related revenue will reach $319.6B by 2023 Telecom API support of IoT remains a high priority cellular operator-only opportunity Edge Computing related Telecom API revenue reaches $395M in North America by 2023 Global IoT platform and authentication API revenue reaches $5.3B and $9.2B respectively by 2019 Fastest growing global revenue areas will be MEC, blockchain, and robotics at 39%, 34%, and 31% respectively Conversely, the market share for next generation use cases remains low compared to messaging, WebRTC, and others Report Benefits: Gain a better perspective of the State of the Market for Telecom APIs Identify challenges and opportunities across the entire API ecosystem Understand the role of Telecom APIs within the realm of Programmable Telecom Identify leading companies and solutions for Telecom API enabled apps and services Understand the market dynamics, players, and outlook for communication enabled apps Forecasts for every major Telecom API area including Categories, Solutions, Stakeholder Share, and more Forecasts for Telecom API support of Unwanted Call Management including Do Not Disturb and Call Screening Target Audience: Telecom API providers ICT Infrastructure providers Data infrastructure and services companies Legacy mobile network operators and OTT service providers Systems integrators for enterprise communications and collaboration solutions Application developers such as unified communications and enterprise collaboration Communications service providers including contact centers, VoIP based carriers, and others Vendors in Report: Amdocs Apidaze Apifonica Aspect Software Bandwidth BICS CA Technologies Cisco CLX Communications Ericsson Fortumo GENBAND Google hSenid Mobile Huawei Hubtel LocationSmart Mashape MessageBird Mulesoft Nokia Networks Oracle Persistent Systems Syniverse TeleStax Telnyx Twilio Tyntec Vidyo Vonage Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Introduction 3 Telecom API Overview 4 API Aggregation 5 Telecom API Marketplace 6 Telecom API Enabled App Use Cases 7 Communication Service Provider Telecom API Strategies 8 API Enabled Application Developer Strategies 9 Telecom API Vendor Strategies 10 Telecom API Market Analysis and Forecasts 11 Technology and Market Drivers for API Market Growth 12 Conclusions and Recommendation 13 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/tg293p/global_telecom?w=12 TORONTO, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lingo Media Corporation (TSX-V:LM) (OTC:LMDCF) (FSE:LIMA) (Lingo Media or the Company) a global provider of digital English Language Learning solutions is pleased to announce that its wholly-owned subsidiary, ELL Technologies Ltd., (ELL), has secured a sales contract with the municipality of Floridablanca in Colombia. Under the contract, which was secured through the distribution partnership with E-Training SAS, Floridablanca Municipality is purchasing ELLs Campus English language learning program. Floridablanca is a municipality in the metropolitan area of Bucaramanga in Colombia with 16 schools and more than 30,000 students. ELLs Campus is a program designed for young adults from junior middle school through to undergraduates (ages 13 to 22 years) and extends to adult learners as well. This is our second municipal government contract in Colombia, said Gali Bar-Ziv, COO of Lingo Media. Colombia is seeking to systematically improve its citizens English language skills, which provides us with a continued opportunity to capture market share and drive future growth. This deal is a reflection of our growing market penetration in Colombia and Latin America in general. About Lingo Media Lingo Media is a global provider of best-in-class digital and print-based English language learning solutions that are Changing the way the world learns English. Developed for learners of English at every level, Lingo Medias ELL Technologies products combine a vast content library with proprietary technology. ELL Technologies intuitive dashboards enable students to track and manage their progress, and allow teachers to organize and interact with students, providing ongoing support. Lingo Medias Lingo Learning division is a print-based publisher of English language learning programs in China. Lingo Medias product and program are marketed through established sales channels to key education, government and business organizations in Latin America and China and continues to extend its global reach and expand its product offerings. Follow Lingo Media On: For further information, contact: Lingo Media Michael Kraft, President & CEO Tel: (+1) 416-927-7000 Ext. 23 Toll Free: 1-866-927-7011 Email: mkraft@lingomedia.com To learn more, visit us at www.lingomedia.com Portions of this press release may include "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws. These statements are made in reliance upon Sections 21E and 27A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results, performance, or expectations implied by these forward-looking statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations and involve certain risks and uncertainties. Actual results may vary materially from management's expectations and projections and thus readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Lingo Media has tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as "may," "should," "expect," "hope," "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "plan," "estimate" and similar expressions. Lingo Medias expectations, among other things, are dependent upon general economic conditions, the continued and growth in demand for its products, retention of its key management and operating personnel, its need for and availability of additional capital as well as other uncontrollable or unknown factors. No assurance can be given that the actual results will be consistent with the forward-looking statements. Except as otherwise required by US Federal securities laws, Lingo Media undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason. Certain factors that can affect the Company's ability to achieve projected results are described in the Company's filings with the Canadian and United States securities regulators available on www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________ NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE English French PRESS RELEASE MANAGEMENT EVOLUTION TO LEAD MAISONS DU MONDE INTO A NEW PHASE _________________________________________ Julie Walbaum promoted to CEO, effective July 1 Gilles Petit to remain as special advisor to the new CEO and member of the Board to ensure a smooth transition _________________________________________ Nantes, 3 May 2018 Maisons du Monde (Euronext Paris: MDM, ISIN Code: FR0013153541), a European leader in affordable and inspirational decoration and furniture homeware, announces that Julie Walbaum will become Chief Executive Officer, effective July 1. She will succeed Gilles Petit, who will remain a special advisor to the CEO and member of the Board of Directors to ensure a smooth management transition. Julie Walbaum's nomination was today approved by the Board of Directors of Maisons du Monde, following an extensive search that also included external candidates. She has been Maisons du Monde's Executive Director, Digital, Customer Marketing and Customer Care since 2014 and has been instrumental in growing the Group's online and multichannel capabilities. Prior to joining Maisons du Monde, she was co-founder and Managing Director of Westwing France, an e-commerce start-up selling home decoration and furnishing products, and has 11 years of experience in management consulting at McKinsey & Company and Deloitte Consulting. Under Gilles Petit, the company was successfully listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange in 2016 and has consistently posted solid double-digit growth in sales and profitability, rolling out its multichannel model across seven European countries. Sir Ian Cheshire, chairman of the Board of Directors, declared: "Having led Maisons du Monde's ramp-up in digital and shown strong leadership abilities, Julie Walbaum was a natural choice as Gilles Petit's successor to continue the Company's profitable growth trajectory. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Maisons du Monde, I would like to thank Gilles Petit for having taken this initiative to ensure a smooth management transition and prepare Maison du Monde for the future. The Board of Directors thanks Gilles Petit for his outstanding leadership and I know we can rely on him to remain closely involved as special advisor to Julie Walbaum and as a Board member." Gilles Petit declared: "After three years at Maisons du Monde's helm, I thought it was the right time to transfer operational responsibilities to a very worthy successor. I am very pleased to be passing on the baton to Julie Walbaum, whose energy and track-record make her the right person to lead the Company in its next phase. I look forward to working alongside her over the next several months as her special advisor." Julie Walbaum declared: "I am very honoured and excited to have been selected to be the new CEO of Maisons du Monde. In my current role, I have been able to see the company's huge potential and I look forward to being able to lead it into a new stage of growth. I am fortunate to be able to count on the support and guidance of Gilles Petit and the Executive Committee as I take on this new role." *** About Maisons du Monde Maisons du Monde is a creator of inspirational lifestyle universes in the homeware industry, offering distinctive and affordable decoration and furniture collections that showcase multiple styles. The Group develops its business through an integrated and complementary omnichannel approach, leveraging its international network of stores, websites and catalogues. The Group was founded in France in 1996 and has profitably expanded across Europe since 2003. The Group posted sales of 1,011 million and EBITDA of 139 million for the year ended 31 December 2017. In 2017, the Group operated 313 stores in seven countries including France, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, and derived over 38% of its sales from outside France. The Group has also built a successful complementary and comprehensive online shopping website, sales from which grew 35% per year on average between 2010 and 2017. The website is available in eleven countries: the seven countries where the Group operates stores plus Austria, the Netherlands, Portugal and the United Kingdom. In 2017, online sales represented 21% of the Group's sales. www.corporate.maisonsdumonde.com *** Contacts AvantiPrep wrote: Hi kebabcurry, Thank you very much for your post. Let me start by apologizing for the other GMAT Club members who thought it was appropriate to comment in this thread (and share insensitive remarks, no less). One of those users and comments has been removed. (Please ignore the other one as it as almost equally inane.) Your international work experience will be an asset for you, though it will be incumbent upon you to "unlock the value" of the professional experiences, personal growth, challenges, failures, etc. that came from it. The nature of your clients (and client work) is intriguing. So is your cultural immersion and the fact that you were the only "anglo foreigner" on your team. All nice on paper... but the key will be telling the story of why all of that is important, matters, shaped you, influenced your world view and career goals, etc. The job itself is more "tier two" than "tier one," but the international element can definitely help boost that, so long as it's properly told. Your GMAT score is solid but the quant percentile will, to your point, hurt you some at competitive programs. Your quant undergrad and quant work experience help, but if you took the GMAT with little preparation, got a 720, and think you can strike higher on the quant side, then I recommend pursuing a re-take. 720 is a solid score, but if you can boost your way up to 740+, that will have a meaningful impact on your chances and will hopefully do away with the "soft spot" that you current quant sub-score creates. (By the way, focus on the quant but don't ignore the verbal when you re-prepare... you don't want to swing entirely the other way with your second take. Key in on the quant but remember to keep the verbal fresh, too!) As I'm sure you know, the schools you've mentioned are very difficult to get into. The programs you've listed have three of the four lowest acceptance rates in the U.S. HBS should be approached as a long shot for almost everyone. That doesn't mean you shouldn't include it, it just means you should know you're shooting for the stars. Boost that score, tell your story, and give it a go! Sloan and Haas will be tough, too, though they're more achievable than HBS, and by all means your scores (ideally with an improved GMAT / quant sub-score) and experience entitle you to apply. Sloan is fairly small and Haas is very small. They'll be tough. Not many seats to go around. A lot will come down to application execution for you. I encourage you to consider which "international brands" you consider worthwhile enough to include your application strategy. I'm not suggesting that you include programs for which you don't perceive the right amount of value in whatever market you're in after the MBA, but your current list of schools likely warrants some lengthening and diversification. Right now it'd be a very, very aggressive strategy. Happy to help you sort that out and answer any other questions you may have. Please feel free to sign up for a Free Consultation via the link below. Best Regards, Greg Thanks Greg. Appreciate the very detailed response. Going to focus on raising that quant over the next few months and will keep you in mind if I need some assistance in creating a coherent story.Sent from my SM-G935K using GMAT Club Forum mobile app MBA2020Vision wrote: Background Work experience: Financial Analyst (3 years anticipated) for Federal Government (10,000+ employees) involves balancing budget, reviewing business cases, advising clients on spending, performance, and forecasts which feeds into major public reports. Managed one student. Sounds like you'll have a great track record when you apply. Keep good records of your work accomplishments so you can explain the impact of your work when it comes time. Is a promotion possible in that time? Managing more people? Or other leadership roles on projects? Those would be the kinds of experiences to seek out. Extra curriculars: Canadian Armed Forces Reserve as a signaling officer, avid volunteer for local refugee (tutoring Syrian refugees in math/economics), member of top 50 dragon boat team in Canada. These are great! Keep up the involvement, and possibly amp it up. Can you lead a team of volunteers? Can you be a team captain? Things like that. Undergrad school/major: B.A Economics from top Canadian University (UofT, Mcgill, Queens) Other education/coursework: CPA, Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) Race/nationality: Chinese/Canadian Sex: Male 25 Stats GMAT Score: 700 on GMAT practice tests, target 720 Keep up the practicing, aim to do between 6-10 full tests before you take the real thing. A 720 or even 730 would put you in a good position for the more competitive schools on your list. Undergrad GPA: 3.2, worked part time at a grocery store throughout university A little low on the GPA, which is why I encourage you to aim high on the GMAT. Definitely be sure to mention somehow that you worked throughout college, good indicator of your work ethic. MBA Info Goal of MBA: Management Consulting, Economic Consulting 2nd tier, B4, or MBB Sounds doable! Target schools: Tepper, Johnson, Tuck, Mccombs, Haas, UCLA and NYU (personal preference) I think this is a good list. If you advance your leadership, and score well on the GMAT, I think these are good targets for you. Over time, try to visit these schools and network with students/alums so you have a clear picture of why it's a good fit for you when it comes time to apply. Will also try for Booth, Kellogg, Fuqua, Columbia. Booth/Kellogg/Columbia will be reaches, probably even if you get a 720. But give them a shot. What is the best school I could possibly get in for consulting and how could I improve my application 2 years up the road? mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant Chicago Booth Alum, 60 5-star reviews on GMAT Club Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation at https://www.mbamission.com/consult/mba-admissions/ Read our Insider's Guides to the top b-schools: http://www.mbamission.com/guides.php?category=insiders Kate RichardsonmbaMission Senior Admissions ConsultantChicago Booth Alum, 60 5-star reviews on GMAT ClubSign up for a free 30-minute consultation at https://www.mbamission.com/consult/mba-admissions/Read our Insider's Guides to the top b-schools: http://www.mbamission.com/guides.php?category=insiders Signature Read More Hi there! See my notes in line below...I included both my reactions, and a few ideas on improvement areas (since you have some time til you apply). Keep us posted with any follow up questions!Best,Kate_________________ Request Profile Evaluation [ #permalink Id like to request an evaluation of my profile Background: Indian American male. Undergrad GPA: 3.57 (Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University) Masters GPA: 3.76 (Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University) Work Experience: 7 years (by time of application) as a design engineer at a top 3 aircraft engine manufacturer. I started one level above an entry-level role due to my masters, and have had one promotion. Ive spent the majority of that time working on teams, collaborating with numerous partners inside and outside the company to design, validate and sustain engine components. In my current role as a design lead, I typically have ownership of component designs and technical oversight/mentorship of one to two people on any given project. GMAT 720 (48Q, 41V, 5.5 AWA, 5 IR) Volunteer Experience: - 4 years on the board of an Employee Resource Group, 1 year as vice president. Conducted professional development, community service, and recruitment events, including co-leading a group to build picnic tables for a local school. - President of the student chapter of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers chapter during my senior year in undergrad. I re-energized the chapter after a few years of minimal activity. Reach Schools: MIT Sloan, Booth, Wharton, Tuck, Columbia, Yale Target Schools: Ross, Tepper, Johnson Goals: Ive had the opportunity to develop my technical and analytical skills, and would like to transition to strategy and management. Preference for roles in aerospace or technology-oriented industries, but open to other opportunities. Can you please comment on my chances at the schools Ive identified? Do you have any recommendations for others to consider? As a separate question, what are my chances for scholarships at these schools? STORY UPDATED: check for updates below. Were Ramon Smith and Jarron Moreland, both 21, "lynched" by four white men on April 14, 2018? That's not exactly true: the word "lynched" invokes visions of white hoods, burning crosses and an angry mob stringing up people. In reality the two men were killed by one person during a botched firearms sale. An article published on May 2, 2018 by NewsOne went viral with the headline "Two Young Black Men Lynched In Oklahoma By Four Whites And It's Getting No Media Attention" (archived here) which opened: When people talk about modern lynchings, R. Kelly and Bill Cosby are not legitimate examples. Ramon Smith and Jarron Moreland, both 21, are two men who were lynched in 2018. On April 18, police found the dismembered bodies of the young men in a pond outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Three white men and one white woman have been arrested for the crime. According to WJLA.com, "Police arrested 22-year-old Kevin Garcia-Boettler, 43-year-old Johnny Shane Barker and the 16-year-old brother of Garcia-Boettler, who police say is the suspected shooter. Their mother, Crystal Rachelle Boettler, 40, has also been charged with accessory after the fact." According to court records, "on April 14, Garcia-Boettler drove his brother to meet the two victims because he believed his brother was going to purchase a gun from Moreland. The sale was arranged through Craigslist and the two parties agreed to meet in a nearby grocery store parking lot. Garcia-Boettler told police that Moreland got out of a sedan and into the back seat of his van. He claims that he heard a gun "rack" and told police he witnessed his brother open fire killing the two men." Lynching is usually defined as: Lynching is a premeditated extrajudicial killing by a group. It is most often used to characterize informal public executions by a mob in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate a group. A man killing two other men during a meeting to purchase a gun does not seem to fit that definition. Note that the original news report only speaks of one shooter, the others helped dispose of the bodies by cutting them to pieces and throwing them in a pond. Those are horrible things to do but that doesn't make it a "lynching". The confusion about whether it was a "lynching" likely stems from the original news report quoted by NewsOne: 3 white men arrested in connection with the murder and dismemberment of 2 young black men Three white men have been arrested in connection to the brutal murders of a two young black of men outside Oklahoma City.Ramon Smith and Jarron Moreland, both 21, were reported missing on April 14. Family and friends hung missing persons posters around the That article had following sentence in it: On Twitter, journalist Shaun King called this incident a "modern day lynching." Just calling Shaun King a journalist leaves out some crucial bits of info: Shaun King - Wikipedia Jeffery Shaun King (born September 17, 1979) is an American writer and civil rights activist. He is noted for his use of social media to promote religious, charitable, and social causes, including the Black Lives Matter movement. He is a political commentator for The Young Turks . In that context it is easy to see that the tweet being referenced is not taking a neutral point of view: This literally appears to be a modern day lynching. These 2 men, and 1 other, abducted 2 young Black men from a grocery store parking lot in Moore, Oklahoma. Then shot & killed them. Stripped them naked. Burned clothes. Took them to a pond & tied their bodies to cinder blocks pic.twitter.com/m7m0Sq03X5 -- Shaun King (@ShaunKing) April 26, 2018 That tweet doesn't accurately describe what happened according to the police report. There was no abduction and the charges for the arrested men read: According to court documents, the teen is charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, unlawful removal of a dead body, desecration of human corpse and possessing a firearm after delinquent adjudication. Garcia-Boettler is charged with accessory after the fact and unlawful removal of a dead body. Barker, is charged with accessory after the fact, unlawful removal of a body and desecration of a human corpse. So, only one killer and the others helped move/cut/dispose the bodies. Terrible people, terrible crime, but no lynching. As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Portland, Maine/Ottawa, May 2 (IBNS): National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was asked by a group of Democratic senators, led by Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, that the United States should audit the job Canada is doing to protect endangered whales, media reports said. Citing the grim status of North Atlantic right whales as a reason to put some pressure on Canada, the senators out of the total number 450 there were 17 deaths in 2017, and 12 of the deaths were in Canada. The U.S. imported more than $3.3 billion worth of Canadian seafood in 2017. In an April 25 letter to the NOAA the senator said that the agency should conduct a review of Canadas right whale conservation standards, and prohibit some Canadian seafood imports if they are too weak. After a deadly year, U.S. officials warn that right whales could soon become extinct. Canada believes its making a lot of strides to protect the whales, and also wants to avoid negative effects on the countries trade relationship, said Lauren Sankey, a spokeswoman for Fisheries and Oceans Canada (FAOC). Considering two of the biggest threats to right whales are entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with large ships, Sankey added that Canada had just recently introduced new protection measures, such as fishing gear reductions. (Reporting by Asha Bajaj) There is still a chance that Trump could remain in the deal, which was supposed to provided sanctions relief to the ailing nation in exchange for curbs on its nuclear programme, in order to maintain an alliance with French President Emmanuel Macron, according to one source. Macron met with Trump last month to persuade him to remain in the deal. If Trump pulls out of the deal, US sanctions relief would end and other countries might also choose to end their sanctions relief. If this happens, Iran has threatened to restart its nuclear programme, but evidence suggests they never disbanded it in the first place. Iran has also threatened attacks on US personnel or allies in the Middle East. One White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that Trump may well end up doing something in between a full pullout and remaining in the deal as is, but was unable to speculate what that might look like. The official said: [Trump is] most of the way there toward pulling out of the deal but he hasnt made the decision [and he] seems poised to do it but until a decision is made by this president it is not final. Another official said that top aides are not attempting to talk Trump out of the decision. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a presentation documenting evidence of Irans past nuclear arms programme to encourage Trump to withdraw from the deal, which is signed by Iran and six major powers Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States. Fixes Back in January, Trump gave a May 12 deadline for Britain, France and Germany to fix the flaws in the nuclear deal, which included: a failure to address Irans ballistic missile programme the sunset clauses that allow nuclear restrictions to expire lax restrictions surrounding inspections of suspected nuclear sites It is increasingly unlikely that these flaws will be fixed in time and US negotiators do not know what would secure Trumps approval and cannot tell Europe what to focus on. If Trump wanted to, he could refuse to renew the sanctions waivers, but also exploit the deals dispute resolution mechanism, by giving US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo more time to negotiate with the Europeans before the biggest sanctions take effect. The situation seemed promising and the meeting resulted in a pledge made by North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un to close down the Punggye-ri nuclear testing site before the end of the month. The new Secretary of State to Trumps administration, Mike Pompeo, has already been to North Korea and after meeting Kim Jong-un he said that it looks like there is a real possibility of Washington coming to an agreement with Pyongyang to halt its nuclear testing. It is expected that US President Donald Trump will visit North Korea imminently. This leaves the Iran nuclear threat. In 2015, Iran, France, Britain, Germany, the United States, China, Russia and the rest of the EU negotiated the infamous nuclear deal. It was controversial at the time and it remains just as controversial now. Trump has criticised the deal for being weak and vowed to scrap it. Others, especially a number of European leaders, are saying that the weak deal is better than having no deal in place. Trump disagrees and he has said that he will make a decision about the deals future by 12th May when he will ratify, or decline to ratify, its continuance. Trump has made it clear that he has major doubts about Irans compliance. Iran pleads innocence, but at the same time refuses to let inspectors access suspect sites. The developments in the Koreas will perhaps change the course of events. Trump and the international community put pressure on North Korea and it ended up with only China as an ally. The North Korean dictator finally got Trumps message that he was serious. The international community stood behind Trump and Kim Jong-un was made to realise that its amassing of intercontinental ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons will not be tolerated. The pressure, unity and perseverance from the international community was what made the North Korean leader realise that threats and confrontation are a waste of time. However, the lack of unity and coherence from the international community with regards to Iran makes this threat different. Yet the leaders of Iran can take a lesson from the North Korea situation that is, the United States has a great strength in the international community. Iran is getting more and more isolated and with a little more pressure it too can realise that it is a futile task to keep pushing back against the United States. Trump has made it very clear that Irans belligerence in the Middle East, its meddling in the internal affair of other nations, its abuse of human rights at home, its support of terrorism, and so on, will not be tolerated. The Iranian regime would be wise to realise that he is not going to change his mind. New PBS Series Explores Science with Talithia Williams A woman of data, tenacity, and intellect, Talithia Williams achievements showcase the testament of a Black woman in science. Williams earned her bachelors degree in Mathematics from Spelman College, masters degree in Mathematics from Howard University, and earned her Ph.D. in Statistics from Rice University. Her popular Ted Talk titled Own Your Bodys Data, explained the statistical importance of measuring health. Williams is now an Associate Dean for Research and Experiential Learning and Associate Professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California. She spoke to the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper about her role in the new PBS series NOVA Wonders. NOVA Wonders explores the depths of our universe with new age science. LOS ANGELES SENTINEL NEWSPAPER: What was the moment you realized you wanted to explore a career using data? TALITHIA WILLIAMS: I remember a professor showing the data between pregnant women who smoked and those that didnt. We looked at how long the baby was in the womb and the weight of when the baby was born. I remember the professor telling me why every package of cigarettes has a warning label because of this research. That was the moment for me. I said wow! There is so much power in this data. It literally changed policies. Thats what really struck me. LAS: What type of data should we be gathering for us to live a better life? ADVERTISEMENT WILLIAMS: Theres so many products that will automatically collect data for us. In this day and age, we have no excuse to not know some basics. Examples include, the number of steps we take a day, our blood pressure, or our resting heart rate. There are many apps that help. LAS: What was your favorite aspect of working with NOVA Wonders? WILLIAMS: Overall knowing that young people and little girls that look like me will see the show. I remember growing up watching shows and really wanting to see people in science that looked like me. It makes a difference when we see ourselves reflected. We have been intentional on NOVA Wonders to showcase the diversity in science. LAS: What has been the most difficult part of being a woman of color in a male dominated field? WILLIAMS: It was not easy to stay on this path. Ive seen instances of micro and macro aggressions. I recognize that there arent many Black women in mathematics and a lot of people see that too. One time at a conference, me and another mathematician, who was an older White male, walked to a table. This woman looks up at me and asked was I at the right conference. She looked as though I didnt belong. It takes a lot of grit and tenacity to stick with an area that consistently pushes you out. LAS: Where did you find the confidence to withstand the backlash? ADVERTISEMENT WILLIAMS: For me, one reason that I have been successful is having a degree at Spelman College and being affirmed as a Black woman in that environment. I saw other Black women that had a Ph.D. I knew it was obtainable. I want to be the example for young girls of color to see someone that reflects them. Its exposure, its encouragement, its your family and peers. Its hard to be successful without encouragement. I want to help them see that they can have a career in science. NOVA Wonders episodes will range from discovering the mysteries of the human body, to exploring extraterrestrial life. The series, produced by WGBH Boston, premiered on Wednesday April 25. For upcoming episodes, please check your local PBS listings. Ben Crump Takes on Saraland Case National Civil Rights attorney, Ben Crump, during a press conference on Wednesday, April 25, said that a young African American woman arrested at a Waffle House in Saraland, Alabama was assaulted, choked and brutalized by police. Crump held the conference to counteract the one given by the Saraland Police Department on April 23, where facts about the incident were given and it was concluded that the actions of three Saraland officers against 25-year-old Chikesia Clemons were justifiable. Not so, said Crump whose services have been obtained by Clemons mother, rather that Clemons was attacked immediately upon police arrival, being slammed to the ground and threatened with bodily injury. Crump and officials from the NAACP legal defense fund didnt officially call for a boycott of the Waffle House, but did say they wanted to look into whether this incident was indicative of a pattern at the eatery. They noted that some African American patrons at a Waffle House in Oklahoma had been asked to pay for food ahead of it being prepared. If proven to be a pattern, they said that Americans should question whether to patronize such an establishment. If you care about Black women, you need to fill their inbox and tell Waffle House that this is unacceptable, said Crump. This all started because their waitress, who is their representative, discriminated against these young, Black people. We have to say that we will take our business elsewhere and refuse to give you our hard-earned money and allow you to treat our women like this. ADVERTISEMENT The incident began when Clemons asked for plastic utensils, which are reportedly free with Waffle House orders, and was told she would have to pay for them. Clemons asked to speak to management but police were called instead. Employees said that Clemons, along with another woman and a man had been drunk and disorderly and had been yelling at the wait staff. But Crump said he obtained sworn statements from two White witnesses he said, who contradicted that story. Witness Mandy Sullivan said in her statement that the waitress told a lady in white that she needed to leave because she was not serving her. The waitress told the lady in white that she needed to leave because she was not serving her. The lady who was arrested got her friend to go outside and was trying to de-escalate the situation. There was no mention of alcohol being brought into the restaurant nor any mention of a gun or any type of weapon. I dont remember what the waitress originally said to the lady who got arrested later, but she said something so rude, to make the girl who got arrested upset. The girl who got arrested stated in short that she just wanted the number to the corporate office and that she was not trying to be difficult. Cell phone footage taken by Clemons friend shows officers choking Clemons and leaving her breast exposed. The Saraland Police Department maintains that race played no role in Clemons arrest. However, Crump said he strongly believes otherwise. ADVERTISEMENT Women are disrespected so often, Crump said. And, these officers assaulted her, threatened her, choked her and exposed her with no evidence whatsoever. They give young, White men who are confirmed murderers more respect and consideration than they did for this unarmed Black woman. This is a beautiful young sister, mother if we dont stand up for this young sister, then shame on us all. Bill Cosby to Remain on House Arrest Convicted comedian Bill Cosby, will remain on house arrest until hes sentenced this summer following his conviction on three counts of aggravated indecent sexual assault. Judge Steven T. ONeill, ordered Cosby to get written permission from adult probation officials, if he wants to leave his Philadelphia area home to visit his doctor or to meet with lawyers. Those are the only movements hes allowed, and they must be within a five-county radius of Montgomery County. Cosby has been fitted with a tracking device, so that court officials can monitor him. ADVERTISEMENT This was a man who had evaded this moment for far too long, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said after the verdict. Steele said that Cosby had shown his true colors, when the legendary actor called the prosecutor an ahole after Steele argued that he should immediately be locked up following the verdict. ONeill ruled that Cosby could remain free on the same $1 million bail he posted when he was arraigned in December of 2015. We still believe that Mr. Cosby is innocent of these charges, lead defense attorney Tom Mesereau said. The fight isnt over. About an hour after the verdict and before Cosby left the courthouse, several of his defense team members huddled, including attorneys Jaya Gupta and Rachael Robinson, both sobbing. An emotional Andrew Wyatt, Cosbys chief spokesman, said the trial was reminiscent of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Mississippi African American whose lynching after he was accused of whistling at a White woman, ignited the Civil Rights Movement. ADVERTISEMENT This became a public lynching, Wyatt said. What Gloria Allred was able to do, she took a salt and pepper shaker. She [shook] out a lot of salt and sprinkled in a little black pepper and the South came east. Ebonee Benson, who joined Wyatt on morning television shows after the verdict, said the comparison to Emmett Till is real. We can take a look at Emmett Till, she said. Since when are all women honest? Several television analysts questioned the verdict. Lawyer and famed CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson, who before the verdict said the case should have been declared a mistrial, said after the decision that Cosbys team has many grounds for appeal. He said he was stunned by the verdict as well as the swiftness in which the jury delivered it. Certainly, the prosecution put up vigorous case but I thought the defense did a significant job of discrediting Andrea Constand giving the jury an indication that there was a number of lies she told over a period of time, Jackson said. Jackson continued: The first trial took them 52 hours and they were hung. This time it took 15 hours and they convict, so here we go. I think the most significant grounds were the five accusers. In the first trial, there was one and when you have five, they just have such prejudicial value and I think it just overwhelmed the jury. Thats probably the biggest point in attempting to get Bill Cosby a new trial. Jackson called the issue significant and one that might allow Cosby, whose facing 30 years in prison, to remain free through the appeal process. City Atty. Feuer and LAUSD Discuss School Safety Parents and Administrators had a different agenda when it came to public discussions. Parents and city residents expected to be able to address their personal issues of disparity and over-policing. City Attorney Feuer, however, had another effort in mind by hand picking experts to individually highlight and present topics including mental health resources, anti-bullying initiatives, restorative justice programs, and the effects of childrens exposure to violence. On Sunday afternoon at the Holman United Methodist Church on W. Adams, City Attorney Feuer hosted a blue-ribbon panel of policy-makers, law enforcement and educators sat at a long table before an audience of about 100 attendees. Keeping our kids safe and secure should be our top priority, Feuer said. Our blue ribbon panel has been traveling across the city to hear from students, parents, teachers, administrators and experts, taking a comprehensive look at LAUSDs school safety efforts and examining ways to further enhance safety on campuses and in surrounding neighborhoods. The panel was formed by Feuer in response to a Feb. 1 incident in which a gun brought to Salvador Castro Middle School by a 12-year-old girl accidentally discharged inside a classroom at the Westlake district campus, injuring two students, and the Feb. 14 shooting that killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Florida. In an unorthodox fashion, the panel, led by Feuer, allowed specifically-tapped presenters to give full and at times lengthy comments on their specific field of expertise, receiving questions from the panel afterward. The first presenter was Robert Hernandez who opened his presentation by asking the audience to close their eyes and envision life as a child of Los Angeles; underprivileged surrounded by violence and unable to know the difference. There definitely needs to be more of an emphasis on Emotional intelligence and increased emotional intelligence, believes Hernandez. If any has social and moral support around them, theyll feel like they can succeed. ADVERTISEMENT But the audience just sat and listened, only given a chance to ask questions after over an hour of presentations and dialogue from the presenters. Its good to know the thoughts out there but at the same time, if feels like a bunch of theatrics. Students deserve better, says Kahlilid Al-Alim, parent member and organizer of Crenshaw/Park Mesa Heights. Schools [and] Los Angeles Students Deserve, a grassroots coalition of students, parents and teachers working for justice in and beyond schools. I have two kids in LAUSD, one in elementary school and the other in middle school. In February and in March, my daughter has been pulled out her of class for random searches. These searches arent random. Theyre not talking about the elephant in the room. Face the Truth About Lynchings to Move Our Country Forward If we dont know the whereas, the therefore doesnt make sense. Witness the ovens in Auschwitz and Treblinka, and then you can understand the creation of Israel. Last week, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened in Montgomery, Ala., demanding a reckoning with one of this nations most repressed atrocities: the lynching of thousands of black people in a campaign of racist terror that lasted for decades. Lynching is an act of violence that, to this day, is not a federal crime. Visit the memorial in Montgomery, where Jefferson Davis reigned as the architect of slavery, succession and sedition, where Dr. King preached, and youll understand the therefore, from the civil rights movement of Dr. King to the current calls for equal justice, police reform and an end to mass incarceration. ADVERTISEMENT The museum, set on a six- acre site overlooking the Alabama State Capitol, has a haunting majesty. The open- air museum features 800 steel monuments, suspended from a high ceiling, one for each county where a lynching occurred. Each is engraved with the name of the county and the names of the victims, some 4,400 in total. Lynching was domestic racial terrorism. It wasnt accidental or incidental. The terrorism grew after the Civil War in fierce reaction to the Reconstruction that gave the freed slaves the right to vote and to own property. Terrorist groups like the Ku Klux Klan werent outliers; they enlisted some of the White gentry to terrorize blacks into subservience. Lynchings varied, but many were public affairs, announced in the newspapers, gathering large crowds to watch the mutilation of often innocent victims, while the local authorities turned their heads. Their gruesome nature was purposeful, designed to instill fear, and thus help perpetuate white supremacy. The lynchings spread even as the memorials honoring Confederate generals and leaders proliferated to reinforce the point. Bryan Stevenson, the extraordinary director of the Equal Justice Initiative that gave birth to this project, is clear on his intent. Im not interested in talking about Americas history because I want to punish America, he said, I want to liberate America. This shadow cannot be lifted until we shine the light of truth on the destructive violence that shaped our nation, traumatized people of color and compromised our commitment to the rule of law and to equal justice. Everyone wants to celebrate the resurrection, but you cant embrace the resurrection unless you acknowledge the crucifixion. As Stevenson puts it, we all want reconciliation, but truth and reconciliation are sequential. You cant get to reconciliation until you first get to truth. ADVERTISEMENT The lynchings accelerated in the 1880s, peaked in the early 1900s and continued until the beginning of World War II. They helped enforce segregation and Jim Crow laws with blood and fear, an apartheid system that lasted until the Civil Rights Movement freed the South in the 1960s. This isnt ancient history. To this day, African Americans live with entrenched inequalities: greater poverty, greater unemployment and lower life spans. African American men are more likely to be stopped by police, more likely to be searched if stopped, more likely to be jailed if detained, more likely to be shot by police. Black and Brown people are still presumed dangerous and guilty, says Stevenson. There are these terrible disparities in quality of life for people of color, and you begin asking questions about why these things persist, and I think it inevitably leads to wanting to talk more concretely about history. Near the memorial is the Legacy Museum, located in a warehouse that once was part of Montgomerys slave trade. That museum documents with artifacts and narrative the transition from slavery to segregation to voter suppression and mass incarceration. Stevensons hope is that the truth can help foster greater reconciliation. At the memorial, each county marker has a duplicate, with every county invited to use to create its own memorial. A first step would be to finally make lynching a federal crime. More than 200 attempts were made to pass an anti- lynching law in Congress that would allow federal prosecution of perpetrators and hold local officials accountable if they did not act to protect the victims. With Southern senators armed with the filibuster, the Congress never acted. Finally, in 2005, a Senate resolution was passed that expressed regret for the failure. Yet to this day, lynching is still not a federal offense. Similarly, Congress and the administration could proceed with bipartisan efforts to end mass incarceration and to reform discriminatory police practices. Real progress was beginning with the cooperation of both parties during the Obama years. Now, the Trump administration, with a Justice Department led by former Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, has begun to reverse these vital reforms. The reckoning that began with the Civil Rights Movement has continued; the memorial is a testament to that. People of good will want the healing to continue. The vibrancy and prosperity of the New South requires that the healing continue. But to heal wounds, you have to take the shrapnel out first. To move to reconciliation, you must start with the truth. Bryan Stevenson has courageously built a memorial that helps us do just that. Facebook Continues to Fail the Black Community Mr. Zuckerberg, would you be comfortable sharing with us the name of the hotel you stayed in last night? That was a question Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) posed to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerbergs congressional hearing in which the latter responded with an awkward no. It is likely that Mr. Zuckerberg found this question too intrusive, yet when 87 million users lost their privacy under Facebooks neglectful watch; its CEO doesnt bat an eye, offering only an insubstantial, Im sorry. The Cambridge Analytica hack is just one of many transgressions by Facebook, in which an apology will simply not suffice. Facebooks laissez-faire attitude toward privacy protection is not just a betrayal and insult to its user base, but it is compounded by its lack of vigilance to protect one of the platforms most vulnerable user demographicsAfrican Americans. For example, late last year, Facebook hosted Russian sponsored ads that portrayed African Americans in a less than flattering light. The ads had political motives and aimed to sway viewers to vote for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Another example arose just this month when the news broke that the largest Black Lives Matter group on the social media platform was in fact a fraudulent page, created by a White man in Australia designed to discredit the youth-based civil rights group. ADVERTISEMENT Either of the above examples is enough to seriously question the general disposition and integrity of the social media juggernaut. However, Facebooks lack of transparency, reliability, and accountability in these two situations also substantiates the increasing doubt regarding the fairness of the 2016 presidential election. Specifically, Cambridge Analytica worked with the Trump campaign, and among the data it misused were pictures, profiles, and even direct messages between users. This data miningwhich used the personal information of 87 million people without their consentwas used to develop techniques for the firms work on the Trump campaign. This combined with the racially charged Russian ads, some of which explicitly purporting that Black Lives Matter activists were murderers, is not only wholly unscrupulous, it also carries the stench of voter manipulation. Swaying voters toward one candidate based on racially exploitative lies smacks of a type voter suppression that, while more insidious, is not unlike the voter ID laws that currently attempt to suppress the Black vote. As a pioneer in the tech industry serving 1.4 billion users each day, Facebook has a moral and ethical obligation to protect those most vulnerable on its sites, including minors, women, and LGBT, Brown, and Black communities. As a whole, Americans are more tolerant of hate speech than others in the world; however, this does not and should not permit Facebook to turn a blind eye to the copious amounts of hate speech the Black community, and other vulnerable communities experience on Facebook. These communities cannot be satiated with an apology, but rather require a clear and thorough plan of defensive and offensive action. More care needs to be taken by Facebook and its tech industry peers to ensure that in connecting people with one another, these connections are positivea sentiment which Mr. Zuckerberg said his company strives to achieve. Moving forward, companies like Facebook can take a greater stance against those who wish to use online spaces to corrupt. First, they must be on the offense, not just deleting but reporting and perhaps even fining advertisers with such ill intent. Second, they should also be more aggressive on the defensive front, removing the burden of reporting hate speech from the user and instead placing it on themselves. While Facebook has already started this approach, devoting more resources to this effort would allow for a quicker and more intelligent sweep of bad content. Additionally, these resources must include hiring more people of color across all levels of the companyan initiative that would address Silicon Valleys failure to take real steps towards embracing diversity. This is an issue brought up on Day 2 of Zuckerbergs hearing, when Rep. G.K. Butterfield mentioned that the companys Black representation has only risen from 2 percent to 3 percent. Furthermore, while 67 percent of African Americans are Facebook users, the companys C-suite remains entirely White. Lastly, in a clear and concise manner, users should be made aware of their privacy terms, including instances when their information will be shared and how the information will be used. Facebook may or may not feel a moral imperative to protect the users that allow it to exist, but that does not mean it should not be held accountable for its actions, inactions, and indifference to user privacy. Derrick Johnson is the President and CEO of the NAACP. Follow him on Twitter @DerrickNAACP and @NAACP. Film Review: KINGS On March 3, 1991, five LAPD officers were caught on camera beating an unarmed black man who had led them on a high-speed chase instead of pulling over as directed. That driver, Rodney King suffered a broken ankle, a broken cheekbone, and numerous skull fractures and chipped teeth in the assault by billy clubs. A year later, riots broke out all over South Central L.A. after a jury acquitted all the officers involved in the arrest. By the time the dust had settled a half-dozen days later, 63 people had died and thousands of businesses had been looted and burned to the ground, resulting in over a billion dollars in damages. ADVERTISEMENT What was it like in the midst of the chaos and conflagration? That was the challenge accepted by Deniz Gamze Erguven in mounting Kings, a surreal saga chronicling a foster-moms frantic search for her missing kids at the height of the Rodney King riots. You may remember that the talented Turkish writer/director made a spectacular debut a couple of years ago with Mustang, a female-centric, coming-of-age adventure which landed an Oscar nomination in the Best Foreign Film category. So, Kings is just Ms. Erguvens second feature-length movie, and her first in English. While the ambitious offering earns an A for the convincing way in which it recreates pandemonium, it only gets a C for coherency. For, the film unfolds less like a traditional narrative than a series of loosely-connected, impressionistic vignettes. It stars Academy Award-winner Halle Berry (for Monsters Ball) as Millie Dunbar, an overworked single-mom with 8 foster kids. When civil unrest breaks out, she embarks on a quest to round them up with the help of her agoraphobic next-door neighbor, Obie, the last white guy living in the hood. The hunky shut-in, played by Daniel 007 Craig, summons up the courage to get out of the house for the sake of Millies missing brood. The plot thickens when the two are mistaken for looters by a gruff cop (Kirk Baltz) too overwhelmed by the situation to listen to any explanations. Millie and Obie end up handcuffed to each other which might not be entirely bad, since the close quarters affords them an opportunity to get better acquainted. So who knows, the old maid might even find a man in the midst of the mayhem. This otherwise grim period piece arrives blessed with a retro soundtrack featuring James Browns African-American anthem Say It Loud, Im Black & Im Proud, Bill Withers haunting, R&B classic City of the Angels, and Nina Simones searing rendition of Ooh Child. Nevertheless, consider Kings a harrowing descent into depravity that makes The Florida Project look like Leave It to Beaver. Very Good (3 stars) Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity and pervasive profanity Running time: 92 minutes Production Studios: Bliss Media/ CG Cinema / Maven Pictures Distributor: The Orchard Company To see a trailer for Kings, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSjkrVUnLuA Go To Jail???!!!!Not My Children!!!! We have millions of workforce energy stored in prisons, jails. Why? Some points to consider: We already know there is a substantial divide between arrests imprisonment of African American Hispanic, and other. Nationwide, *Nationwide, African American children: 32% of children arrested, *42% of children detained, and 52% of children cases are judicially waived to criminal court. The imprisonment rate for African American women is twice that of white women. (NAACP Prison Statistics) * It cost from about $31,000-$60,000 for incarcerationone inmate.[The Price of Prisons Report] Martha Teichner reported on CBS NewsCalifornia was badly overcrowded. US Supreme Court ordered California to cut its prison population by 30,000 inmates. *If African Americans and Hispanics were incarcerated at the same rates as whites, prison and jail populations would decline by almost 40%. THIS IS REMARKABLE! It costs approximately $6,000-$18,000 to educate one child in the public school system (reported by Lam Thuy Vo). Nationwide, African American children represent 32% of children who are arrested, 42% of children who are detained, and 52% of children whose cases judicially waived to criminal court. Herein lies the heart of the problem. We need to stop handling the problem from anal position. Use the oral position. Educate our children!!!! Starting point is with children. *Imprisonment rate for African American women is twice that of white women. *Martha Teichner of CBS News: California: badly overcrowded. US Supreme ordered to cut prison population by 30,000. Pivotal Empirical research offers some explanation as to why US prison population has grown exponentially: National Research Council of the National Academies During the 1980s, the U.S. Congress and most state legislatures enacted laws mandating lengthy prison sentences often of 5, 10, and 20 years or longer for drug offenses, violent offenses, and career criminals. In the 1990s, Congress and more than one-half of the states enacted three strikes and youre out laws that mandated minimum sentences of 25 years or longer for affected offenders. A majority of states enacted truth-in-sentencing laws requiring affected offenders to serve at least 85% of their nominal prison sentences. INSIGHT: *Between 1980 and 2015, the number of people incarcerated in America increased from roughly 500,000 to over 2.2 million. *United States makes up about 5% of the worlds population; has 21% of the worlds prisoners. *1 in 37 adults in the United States, or 2.7% of the adults under correctional supervision.*African Americans/ Hispanics make up approximately 32% of the US population, comprise 56% of incarcerated in 2015. *African Americans/whites use drugs at similar rates. Imprisonment rate of African Americans for drug charges 6 times that of whites. *African Americans represent 12.5% of illicit drug users, 29% arrested for drug offenses; 33% of incarcerated in state facilities for drug offenses. *Criminal records reduce likelihood job callbacknearly 50 percent. Criminal record impacttwice as large for African American applicants. Dr. Jeanette Grattan Parker: Founder-Superintendent Today;s Fresh Start Charter School:Inquiring Minds Want To Know.copyright. Contact: [email protected] ADVERTISEMENT L.A. Sentinel, Taste of Soul Partner Airbnb Hosts Community Reception for South L.A. In a growingly divisive world, one company is trying to turn that tide into a more positive direction. Airbnb is all about creating a community where everyone benefits from each other a sharing economy. The bed and breakfast company wants to bring that concept to South Los Angeles. On Thursday, April 26, Airbnb with partners, the L.A. Sentinel and Taste of Soul, presented a community reception at the Museum of African American Art (MAAA) in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza to share with attendees about the opportunities Airbnb is bringing to the table. Airbnb is really about giving people an opportunity to turn whats typically theyre greatest expense, which is their home, whether their paying rent or mortgage, and turn that into an actual economic engine, said John Choi, Southern California Policy Manager for Airbnb. ADVERTISEMENT He continued, Hosts in Los Angeles are able to typically make anywhere from $9,000 and up depending on how often they hostand thats real money that can help make ends meet. Were talking about money to help pay for groceries, offset rent [and] save for college. More and more, people are deciding to list their homes on Airbnb to make extra income simply by giving someone a place to hang their hat. Whats great about joining with Airbnb is hosts get to create their own profiles for their property, choose their price, availability and guidelines for guests. Guests will be able to search for lodgings with a host whether its a room, entire home or a unique accommodation. Both hosts and guests confirm travel dates, expectations and pay through Airbnb. Altogether, it makes for an experience where people learn new things about each other and create a memorable experience. Ive been with Airbnb for two years nowI love it, said Peggy Sturdivant, an Airbnb Host Ambassador. Airbnb does all the leg workthey verify [guests]. Born and raised in South L.A., Sturdivant heard about Airbnb through others but it was Beyoncs Super Bowl speech about the company that changed her mind ultimately. She has been an Uber driver and worked through Ebay but found a better solution in becoming a host with Airbnb. Sturdivant enjoys being able to work from home, entertain guests from other countries and change the way people look at South L.A. The only thing people hear about [South L.A.] is on the news, said Sturdivant. Now, when [guests] come in, theyre like, Oh, is it safe? Can I go outside? and Im like, Yes it is, its safe, you can go outside. She continued, I get a chance to talk about their home towns, learn how they travel, how they live, their expensesits like a new family. ADVERTISEMENT Im almost setting up a bonding because I get Christmas cards from them. Just about 33% of our hosts in Los Angeles have told us that the income they earn from home sharing has helped them avoid foreclosure or eviction and thats a really meaningful impact, said Choi. Actually, Airbnb has observed that South Los Angeles is becoming one of the fastest growing areas in the city. Its demographics along with its rich culture, growing business opportunities and expo line access make the area an excellent candidate for Airbnb business. The opportunities for economic empowerment is great and many locals are considering it. Jerome Wiley, a South L.A. resident, came out to the community reception to learn more about Airbnb. He is considering becoming an Airbnb host, which he feels will help increase his business. I have a rental property, monthly rent but if their numbers work correctly, Airbnb will actually generate more revenue than a monthly rental, said Wiley. Amanda Woodson is also a South L.A. resident, who has always been interested in Airbnb. Her father recently passed away leaving her to manage a fourplex apartment building. She feels Airbnb will help her to utilize the building better while garnering more income. I definitely want to let people have the opportunity and I just want to participate at the highest level and I figure Airbnb is the way to go, said Woodson. Whats different about Airbnb is it makes sure that the money is actually staying here in local communities, said Choi. Ninety-Seven percent of the money that hosts charge for booking stay with that hosttheyre able to set their own prices, theyre able to keep that money and what that really means is that money stimulates the local economy, small businesses and overall, its a win-win for Los Angeles. Airbnb are proud partners with Taste of Soul, which has given the company better insight into the community. Its at the largest family festival in SoCal and they have gotten the chance to meet the community the last few years. Its no surprise that its a wonderful partnership as both Airbnb and Taste of Soul share the same missionunity. Its such an incredible event [Taste of Soul], it brings people from all over, not just L.A., all over Southern California, said Choi. Its part of Airbnbs mission to really bring people together, to create a place, a world where everyone can belong, anywhere and Taste of Soul is doing that. He continued, Its a natural fit for us to really partner with Taste of Soul, the L.A. Sentinel, really such a core part of the community here in L.A. The Airbnb reception at MAAA saw a large turnout of South L.A. residents interested to hear what Airbnb is offering the community. Attendees participated in break off sessions as they listened to Airbnb personnel share the benefits of becoming hosts. Everyone that attended left with information and the possibility of becoming Airbnb hosts. What we saw tonight is a tremendous amount of interest, said Choi. I think people are excitedits a signal that every day people really want to participate. All I can tell anybody thats interested that has an extra room, needs some extra incomeits the thing to do, said Sturdivant. For more information on Airbnb, please visit their website at www.airbnb.com. LA County Poised to Develop Vermont Manchester Project Now that a judge has approved its use of eminent domain, Los Angeles County is poised on May 7 to take possession of a four-acre property at the corner of Vermont and Manchester that has been blighted since the 1992 Civil Unrest, and to embark on the process of developing one of the largest tracts of vacant land in South LA. The County plans to build affordable housing and retail, as well a Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) transit plaza, preparatory boarding academy and training center on the site. Renderings for the project were released in February. It is currently finalizing the solicitation process to operate the academy in partnership with Metro. On April 30, bids will be solicited from affordable housing and retail developers that want to be part of the project. The County sued in December to condemn the property on the east side of the 8400 and 8500 blocks of South Vermont Avenue from owner Eli Sasson, who had left it largely undeveloped for 26 years. The two blocks have been subject to more than 35 notices of building code violations over that period. ADVERTISEMENT In his ruling on April 26, LA Superior Court Judge Daniel Murphy wrote, The Court finds that (the Countys) needs override any hardship suffered by (Sasson). He added, (Sasson) will not lose rents and (Sasson has) sat idly on the project without development for years. LA County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas hailed the courts ruling, saying it paves the way for the proposed project to enter the development and implementation stages. Local governments have an absolute obligation to think imaginatively about our most pressing issues job creation, quality education, transportation, and the development of affordable housing and community centers, Supervisor Ridley-Thomas said. With this project, we are taking an out-of-the-box approach to getting all of that done at the corner of Vermont and Manchester. US Rep. Karen Bass said, I am grateful and relieved to hear todays ruling. Over and over, residents have heard lofty promises about all kinds of redevelopment, resources, jobs and housing on this site. Now, revitalization is finally on the way. South LA has waited for a fresh start on Vermont Manchester for 26 years, added LA City Council Member Marqueece Harris-Dawson. Over the course of almost three decades, residents endured crime, blight, violence, and neglect all while waiting for empty promises and false starts to produce something real. Today, a longstanding injustice has been resolved! With the court upholding the Countys right to take immediate possession of the property, the Supervisor will begin working with community residents on the various elements of the project. ADVERTISEMENT One of its most innovative components is a state-of-the-art vocational and college preparatory boarding academy that will allow students from the Countys child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as well as youth from surrounding communities, to graduate with the skills needed for careers in transportation. The local transportation industry is sorely in need of well-trained workers. Almost 40 percent of Metro employees will be eligible for retirement over the next two and a half years, and Measure M has generated funds to support 778,000 new jobs over the next 40 years. We have projects, we have jobs and we have funding but not nearly enough skilled workers, said Metro CEO Phillip Washington. This new workforce education model represents a shift in how Metro plans to prepare the next generation of workers. Community members also celebrated the news. This neighborhood has been held hostage to lip service and empty promises, said Robert Rubin of the Vermont Village Economic Development Corporation. We have literally waited decades for this site to receive the investment, improvements and development it deserves. We are grateful that the County has taken steps to end the dilapidation of this prominent location in our community, so that we can have much needed and long-overdue public amenities, added Pastor Anthony L. Williams of the 88th Street Temple Church. Shegog-Whitlock Helps COR Church to be a Community Changer What is your name and what is your ministry? I am the Rev. Hermia Shegog-Whitlock, ordained Itinerant Deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church; serving in ministry as associate minister and employed as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Christ Our Redeemer AME Church (COR) and its affiliated non-profit, COR Community Development Corporation. How long have you been in this ministry? Before entering the five-year formal ministerial training in the AME Church in 2008, I served with my spouse, the Rev. Mark E. Whitlock, Jr., upon his assignment to COR in 1998. In addition to being the first lady, I was the music administrator, Womens Missionary president, and liturgical dancer. I was appointed COO in 2009. What role has God played in your ministry? Only God could have taken the faltering ministry that COR Church was in 1998 and allowed an inexperienced pastor and a handful of faithful members to flourish and grow in Orange County to embrace a multi-cultural, beyond-the-walls, social justice ministry striving to create The Beloved Community. I remain amazed at the miracles God has performed in the life of my ministry and humbled that God chose to use me. ADVERTISEMENT What is most memorable moment during your ministry? After moving us from the University of California Irvine campus to own and retire the mortgage on a 13,000-square-foot facility in just five short years, God placed us in a position to use that facility as our down payment on a facility twice the size. It was a challenging summer as we worked through a double escrow and the purchase/sale agreements. And, of course, as we moved forward, the enemy got busy trying to divide us against ourselves. Through it all, the contributions of a few committed Christians, the dedication of our church officers, and a deliverance service to banish the spirit of division proved successful. In November 2015, we dedicated our facility at 45 Tesla in Irvine to the Lord with a shout of triumph. What are you doing now and what are your future goals? I am focusing my personal ministry on support for an intergenerational liturgical dance ministry to be fully integrated into the worship service. Given that the AME denomination requires my spouse to retire no later than 2025, my goals for the future are to find ways to share the teachings gleaned from our church growth and management experiences with other ministry teams in re-wirement. What impact is your ministry having on the community? COR Church has become a Community Changer in Orange County demonstrating that the AME Church out to connect Christians of different races and ethnic backgrounds to worship and together and work ministry together. How can others get involved in your ministry? Our ministry is open to all who accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior. COR Church is located at 45 Tesla, Irvine, CA 92618. Our telephone number is 949-955-0014. We can be reached at Christ Our Redeemer AME Church at corchurch.org and on FaceBook,Twitter and Instagram. There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have. - Don Herold Sometimes the appropriate response to reality is to go insane. - Phillip K. Dick In the fight between you and the world, back the world.- Frank Zappa Suspect Sought in the Murder of Hannah Bell On Friday April 27, Hannah Bell was waiting in line to get a meal with her mother at Best Burgers on the corner of Western and 78th when a suspect with a hoodie walked up behind them and shot Bell. She died soon after she was taken to the hospital. A prayer vigil was held on Sunday where Bells mom Samatha Mays, expressed, I used to practice with them, if somebody shoots, to get down, but I never thought somebody would be so bold to just walk up and shoot randomly, Mays said. She then tugged on her shirt, which had Hannahs face on it, saying, She will forever be remembered as my angel on my shirt. This is how I see her, my beautiful baby. A press conference was held at the murder location on Monday where community leaders came to address the senseless killing. We know somebody [saw] who committed this crime and were asking those people to call in, stated Lawanda Hawkins of Justice for Murdered Children. People who stand up in our communities are heroes. You are a hero when you stand up in your community. We cannot let people commit this crime and think its ok. We run our community and we have to demand they be arrested, charged and convicted. ADVERTISEMENT Khalid Shaw of Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation stated, enough is enough, and gave his condolences to the family. Brother Shaw then pledged $500 to the family and asked the community to do the same. A GoFundMe page has been set up in Bells name which reads, Hannah Bell, born March 19, 2003life was taken away from us on Monday, April 27, 2018. On this particular night, she mentioned to her mother Samantha Mays that she was hungry, so they walk to their corner burger stand for a bite to eat. While waiting for their order, a young man approached her to gun her down. She was a light to the family with a promising future leaving behind four siblings, unfortunately by the hands of a coward, her life was taken. Our family was not prepared we ask that you keep our family in prayer, pray for others affected by gun violence in our community. Thanks in advance. Police dont believe Bell had any gang connections and are trying to discover whether or not she was the intended target. The shooting is under investigation, and no suspects have been named or arrested. Los Angeles Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, has offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. If you have any information call (877) LAPD-247. The Legacy Museum and Memorial Breaks the Silence to Publicly Confront Lynching in America Over the course of two days, thousands of supporters participated in the grand opening ceremony of the Equal Justice Initiatives (EJI) unveiling of the National Memorial for Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration in Montgomery, AL. Individuals of all races traveled from different parts of the country, near and far, to attend the two-day truth telling celebration, pay homage to their ancestors, reconcile horrific acts against humanity and properly heal a haunted past to rebuilding a new vision for America. Toni Battle, a generational victim affected by slavery and first-time visitor, drove from San Francisco for opening day, she told the Associated Press Im a descendant of three lynching victims. I wanted to come and honor them and those in my family that couldnt be here. Tears continued to drip throughout the days as thought-leaders and visitors witnessed an interactive experience that includes mapped lynching locations, incidents of over 4,400 men, women and children that were hung, burned alive, shot, drowned, and beaten to death by White mobs between 1877 and 1950, as well as in-depth profiles of the stories behind these acts of violence. ADVERTISEMENT No hashtag in the world can trend this deep, nor no emoji stand trial to express the depth of the somber mood of this unapologetic installation. The thousands of terror cases recognized in the Memorials installation bears the names of guilty counties and 800 steel monuments spread out across six acres of sacred land dedicated for the first time in U.S. history as an honest space to reflect, connect and confront racial acts of terror committed in America. To make this day a reality, EJI raised more than $20 million from private donations. Bryan Stevenson, a lawyer and founder of EJI believes that we cannot truly move forward as a nation until we confront this dark chapter from our past. Stevenson reminded an emotionally stirred crowd, You cant build a memorial without workers, without women and men who go to a place and put shovels in the soil, put hammers on screws and do the difficult workTonight I want to thank the builders who helped us make the institution. We want to thank you for your labor. We cannot do justice without labor. Also, with the help from Google, this undeniable part of American and world history, lynching in America can be experienced online as an extended means to educate the public. Whats important about EJIs Lynching in America project is that they are giving everyone access to untold stories of our racial history and helping people develop a deeper understanding for how we have gotten to where we are in this country, said Justin Steele, Principal, Google.org. Paying homage to the millions of Black slaves slain, economically exploited and countless undocumented names we will never know, EJIs Memorial and Museum rests in a state (Alabama) whose population was comprised of nearly 45 percent African slaves in the 1860s. United in the gap of relentless courage and impeccable creativity these two institutionalized landmarks exemplify dual acts of massive liberation once lodged in a suffocating harness of American soil that has now been set free. Included in the opening of the Legacy Museum and Memorial were events to help lead the fight for justice at the Peace and Justice Summit. The summit featured leading conversations with individuals who have dedicated their lives to advancing social justice. Some of which are: Sherrilyn Ifill; Congressman John Lewis; Rev. Jesse Jackson, author and Director Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund; Michelle Alexander, the courageous author of The New Jim Crow; Jelani Cobb, award-winning writer for the New Yorker and professor of journalism at Columbia University; Chrystal Rucker, chart-topping gospel recording artist; the legendary Marian Wright Edelman and Gloria Steinem; award-winning director of Selma, Ava Duvernay; Elizabeth Alexander, poet and playwright and Anna Deavere Smith, founding director of the Institute on the Arts and Civic Dialogue to name a few. In closing, the Peace and Justice Concert uplifted an audience open to being ambassadors for healing racially motivated wounds. Artists like The Roots, Common ft. Tasha Cobbs, Dave Matthews, Usher, Robert Glasper, Brittany Howard, Valerie June and Kirk Franklin amplified the movement through their music as the iconic Stevie Wonder parlayed his smile to impart this message before rocking with the crowd, I come to you tonight to say to all of you in America and throughout the world and to all of you specifically in the SouthI dare you, I challenge you to have a year of atonement. I dare you artists and leaders of this world and nation including you Mr. President I dare you to see with the eyes that you may see as clearly as my eyes are blind to move forward for real not for fake. Love. My hope in that we will come together as a united people, not only in this country but as a people come together in this world before it is too late. Just as Africa has its Door of No Return on Goree Island, America now has the Legacy Museum and Memorial to address the systemic trauma and acts of racial terror to educate Americans and the world about the deep-rooted impact of Lynching in America. Against all odds, the narrative of America is changing. In our new America we will not have the highest incarceration rate in the world. In our new America we will not hate the poor. In our new America no one will be illegal. In our new America, we wont discard the disabled. In our new America every woman and girl will never be harassed or excluded. Bryan Stevenson rests his case and salutes the mic to all who attended the kickoff celebration for solidifying justice. ADVERTISEMENT Moving forward to eradicate modern day lynching and racially targeted policies, ask yourself and others, What is your vision for a new America? Plan your trip and learn more about the curators, artists and resources at the Legacy Museum and Memorial, Visit: www.eji.org and museumandmemorial.eji.org We Must Protect Individuals with Debt from Loan Shark Tactics The Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (the Act) has served consumers well, and ensures fair debt collection related to credit card debt. However, the Act does not protect individuals who have unpaid parking tickets, storage and towing fees from receiving multiple calls in one night from a debt collector using profane and offensive language in pursuit of collecting delinquent payments. Nobody plans on accumulating more debt than can be easily paid. Yet, many people find themselves with debts that may leave them subject to harassment. Unfortunately there are no protections that prevent the use of loan shark tactics by debt collectors. That is why when the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) came to me describing instances where courts ruled that people with certain debts were not protected from bullying behavior, I knew I had to author Assembly Bill 2825 (AB 2825). These types of financial delinquencies are prevalent in low income communities, who cannot afford lawyers, making them more susceptible to aggressive and unacceptable tactics. ADVERTISEMENT I have spent my career in the Legislature fighting for the voiceless. The people in the communities I represent often take on debt out of necessity, because they were not born with silver spoons in their hands. They have to make the tough choice between paying their rent, buying groceries, or paying a parking ticket. If we want the South Los Angeles, Walnut Parks, Florence-Firestones and Huntington Parks of the world to flourish, then we have to give them a fair chance. The debts that families face are already a burden, and should not be vulnerable to harassment by unscrupulous debt collectors. We already offer protections against unethical debt collection practices for consumer credit transactions. We should extend the same protections to financial delinquencies that arise from parking tickets, storage and towing fees. AB 2825 would help make sure that debt is treated in a fair and transparent manner. We all need fairness and dignity. Women Building Social and Health Equity I recently joined a gathering of Black women leaders in Sacramento to discuss the well-being of Black women in California. It was a pretty amazing feeling to be in a roomful of women leaders from across the stateelected officials, business leaders, non-profit leaders and policymakerswho looked like me, all having this kind of discussion together. It doesnt happen often enough. The event coincided with the release of a report that highlights some striking disparities in the lives of Black women. Black women have one of the highest workforce participation rates of any population group, with more than 60 percent employed, but their earnings lag far behind the general populationa persistent root cause of poverty among the full-time workforce. ADVERTISEMENT Eighty percent of working Black women are family breadwinners. Like many women, they also have primary caregiving responsibility for children, elderly family members, and family members with disabilitiesunderscoring the need for paid leave and sick days to help women balance work and family obligations. Black women are underrepresented at all levels of elected office, where the policy changes that could create more fairness and equity in the lives of women and families are considereddespite the fact that Black women vote at a higher rate than all other population groups, including in the last two presidential elections. When a woman is working full-time, still not earning enough to support a family, and struggling to balance family and child care responsibilities, she may end up placing her own health lower on the priority list than it should be. When she lacks resources and access to health care and healthy food, and experiences the discrimination and bias that are still at play in the lives of people of color, both physical and mental health are deeply affected. Black women have a shorter life expectancy than White women. Their mortality rate from heart disease is 33% higher and breast cancer 56% higher. Heartbreakingly, Black women are 3-4 times more likely to die of complications from pregnancy. We know that inequities in health care and health outcomes are largely driven by inequities in social conditions. These social inequities include unequal access to educational opportunities, pay gaps, lack of support for family care, lack of representation in governmentand lack of access to quality health care. Access to quality health coverage is an important social condition. Although Medicaid was originally conceived to address this issue, growing economic disparities in our country have expanded it from a program serving 4 million people in 1966, its year of inception, to a program serving 70 million people today. A quarter of the U.S. population is now on Medicaid. In California, one third of the population and half of babies born are on Medicaid. The program has been stretched beyond what it was originally designed for, but so many people are now dependent on it. Low levels of provider reimbursement make it a less than adequate insurance programCalifornia ranks 47th in the nation for Medicaid provider payments. This is a key factor in lack of access to quality health care. We need to create a better solution, one that balances access to quality care with providing doctors with the resources they need to do a good job. I think thats one reason were starting to hear more conversation about a single-payer solution, including Medicare for All, where uniform standards of access, care, and payment would provide adequate access for all residents. These conversations are gaining traction at both ends of the political spectrum in a way that seemed impossible just a few years ago. ADVERTISEMENT There are no easy short-term fixes, but progress starts by recognizing the problems and taking steps toward possible answers. While the facts and the way forward can be daunting, I was impressed by the women I met at the meeting who are leading the way, the scope of issues that were addressed, the quality of the data that was shared, and the recommendations for actions to address the issues. I was particularly impressed by the voices of the young women at the conference. They were outspoken and articulate. They talked about the need for community leaders and policy makers to be more strategic and to take more actions to address inequities affecting Black women. With the #MeToo movement and the Parkland teens echoing in my mind, I was struck by what I saw in Sacramento: Women ready to step up and lead. This excites me and gives me hope for the future. We have a lot of work to do together. Dr. Elaine Batchlor is the chief executive officer of Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Hospital in Watts. Share your comments and stories with [email protected]. Young Scores High Marks in Education and Law Enforcement The career path of Ann E. Young has come full circle. Starting out as a teacher for six years, she switched to law enforcement for 35 years and then returned to education instructing college students. Most impressive about her rounded journey is the heights she reached, and continues to attain, in both fields. Currently serving as an adjunct professor specializing in criminal justice at California State University Dominguez Hills, Southwest College and the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, Young also holds the distinction of being the first African American female captain in the Los Angeles Police Department. ADVERTISEMENT Combining her education and law enforcement backgrounds has worked well for Young and her students, she said. One of my goals is to hopefully excite the young people about the field of criminal law. What I like about the positions that Im in is Im able to bring in experts from the police and sheriff departments either to help recruit or talk about their particular assignment in SWAT, Metro, Patrol or as a Commander and share their experience in law enforcement, explained Young. It reinforces what students are learning through their textbooks and their assignments in class. Through her relationships with former LAPD colleagues, Young exposes her classes to police station visits, ride-a-longs with officers and various training scenarios such as the shoot-dont shoot simulator. With the simulator, youre placed in a situation, you hear a script played and you have to decide, based on the scenario, whether to use use-of-force or not use use-of-force. Then your actions are critiqued by one of the LAPD experts, Young said, adding that community members can arrange to participate in the scenarios as well. It gives you a whole different perspective when you realize that officers have two-to-three seconds to size up a situation and make a determination whether or not they are in a use-of-force situation, said Young, who hopes that providing these learning experiences for her students will influence them to consider a law enforcement or criminal justice career. While acknowledging that LAPD and South L.A. residents have a historically tense relationship, Young still believes the rapport would improve if more officers came from local neighborhoods. ADVERTISEMENT We want people from the community to join LAPD because they could make a difference. I know that sounds very cliche-ish, but it is so true. There are really so many dedicated, hard working people in the LAPD and I truly believe that to this day, she noted. We recruit from the community and they [the officers] are doing some great and amazing work out there through some challenging times. Weve come a long way with community policing, but we have a ways to go. Join the team! Youngs commitment to law enforcement remained firm throughout her road to becoming LAPDs first Black female captain. Joining the department in 1981, she ascended the ranks despite facing challenges and lack of female officers. Within 10 years, Young promoted to Police Officer III, worked as an undercover narcotics officer, made Detective and became a Sergeant. Her assignments ranged from the Juvenile Division Abused Child Unit, the Robbery Homicide Division Rape Special Section and Internal Affairs Division in the 77th Area to field supervisor in the Central Area. Promotions continued from 1995 to 2000 as Young advanced to Sergeant II, Lieutenant, Lieutenant II and Captain while serving in the Hollywood, Pacific, and Van Nuys Areas. In 2002, she promoted to Captain II and served in the South Traffic, Central Traffic, Detective Support and Vice Divisions before retiring from LAPD in 2016. In addition to a heralded law enforcement career, Young is big on education. She earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Kinesiology at UCLA, her teaching credential at UC Irvine and her Masters Degree in Education from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Also, Young is a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigations National Academy of Law Enforcement in Quantico, Virginia, and the West Point Leadership Program and Supervisory Leadership Institute. Reflecting on her LAPD career, Young said, I was at LAPD for 35 years. I was the first Black female to be promoted to captain, making history and hopefully opening the doors for many to follow was not an easy feat. But, things arent always easy. You have to make a decision in this career how you want to succeed. Things arent always a bed of roses or a cakewalk. I had to decide and choose to live my life and get the best out of police work that I could get out of it, she said. Sometimes when youre the first, sometimes its still the hardest. People arent quite adjusted or used to what you bring to the table. Hopefully, things have gotten somewhat better. Today, there are more Black female captains and there is a Black female commander, said Young. The improvements on the law enforcement horizon also motivate Young to work to inspire her students to consider a law enforcement career. These are exciting times for the law enforcement field. Its a career that can be very exciting. It has its ups and downs, but you get to really work with a group of hard-working individuals who love the community, love the work that theyre doing and are excited about their job, she insisted. It doesnt have to be local law enforcement. It could be FBI, city police or homeland security. Therere so many different opportunities now. One of my goals is to hopefully excite the young people about the field of criminal law. This is Whats Trending Today Lawmakers in the American state of Hawaii have passed a bill banning sunscreens that can harm coral reefs. If the states governor signs the bill, Hawaii would become the first state in the country to pass such a law. The bill would ban the sale of sun care products that contain the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate. Scientists say the two substances can harm coral, an important part of the ocean ecosystem and popular with tourists. The chemicals are found in more than 3,500 sunscreens worldwide, including Coppertone and Banana Boat products. Senator Mike Gabbard introduced the bill. He told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser newspaper, Amazingly, this is a first-in-the-world law. He added, Our island paradise, surrounded by coral reefs, is the perfect place to set the gold standard for the world to follow." Craig Downs is a scientist. His 2015 peer-examined study found that oxybenzone threatened coral reefs. He found that as much as 14,000 tons of sunscreen ends up in coral reefs each year. He said the Hawaii bill is the first real chance that local reefs have to recover. Opponents of the bill question the science. Tina Yamaki is the president of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii. She said there are still not enough independent studies on the issue to know whether the chemicals cause harm to coral. And, she said, the ban might keep people from buying sunscreen products from local stores. The American Chemistry Council also opposed the bill, noting concerns over the risks of sun damage to skin. Sharon Har was one of four Hawaiian lawmakers who voted against the bill. She said, Yes, we must protect the environment -- it is our number one resource -- but at the end of the day, studies have pointed to global warming, human contact, coastal development as other major threats to coral. Many sunscreen manufacturers already sell reef-friendly products. And companies still have some time to sell products that contain the two chemicals; the ban would not take effect until January 2021. And thats Whats Trending Today. Im Caty Weaver. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English, with additional materials. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story sunscreen - n. a lotion that you put on your skin to prevent sunburn by blocking out some of the sun's rays coral reef - n. a long line of coral that lies in warm, shallow water (coral: a hard material formed on the bottom of the sea by the skeletons of small creatures) tourist - n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure paradise - n. a very beautiful, pleasant, or peaceful place that seems to be perfect standard - n. something that is very good and that is used to make judgments about the quality of other things introduce - n. to present (something) for discussion or consideration amazingly - adv. suprisingly; wonderfully peer - n. a person who belongs to the same age group or social group as someone else global - adj. of or about the whole world NASA, the American space agency, is sending a robotic scientist to Mars. It will dig deeper than ever before to study the planets geological activity. The Mars InSight spacecraft launches May 5. On Mars, the spacecraft will use scientific instruments to take the first measurements of marsquakes, or quakes on Mars. It will also measure the circular movement of Mars on its axis to better understand the size and makeup of its core. The spacecrafts instruments will permit scientists to stare down deep into the planet, said Bruce Banerdt. He is with NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the missions chief scientist. The $1-billion, joint U.S.-European mission marks the first study of the inside of Mars. Scientists hope the research will help them understand how Mars formed 4.5 billion years ago. Mars is smaller and less geologically active than Earth. On Earth, geological movements over time have changed the planets original makeup. Mars, though, has more evidence of its early development, Banerdt said. During the launch, InSight will also take two small satellites with it. After liftoff, the satellites will break free and then follow the spacecraft for six months as it travels to Mars. The satellites will not stop at Mars, though. Instead, they will fly past the planet. Scientists call the two satellites CubeSats. Their purpose is to test whether they can provide a communication link with InSight as it lands on Mars on November 26. InSight will launch from central Californias Vandenberg Air Force Base. It will be the first time that NASA has launched a mission to another planet from somewhere other than Floridas Cape Canaveral. A difficult trip The trip to Mars will be difficult. Only 40 percent of spacecraft that have tried to reach the red planet have made it. The United States is the only country to have successfully landed and operated spacecraft on Mars. The first time was in 1976, with the Viking 1 and 2 spacecraft. The most recent landing was in 2012, by the Curiosity rover. A rover is a space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of a planet. The InSight will use a parachute and engine firings to lower itself to Mars. Scientists predict it will take seven minutes for the spacecraft to enter the atmosphere of Mars and then land on the planet. However, Banerdt says landing on Mars with a spacecraft that is not much bigger than two office desks will not be easy. Digging deeper than ever before Once on the surface, InSight will dig almost five meters into the planets surface. At the same time, a robotic arm will place a scientific instrument that measure quakes on Mars surface. It will detect the planets vibrations. InSight stands for Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport. It weighs 694 kilograms. It has three legs, and will not be able to move around. InSights scientific mission is similar to NASAs Apollo program in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time, Apollo astronauts dug over two meters into the moons surface so that scientists back home could measure the moons underground flow of heat. Earlier Mars missions have dug just below the surface to research the red planets rocks, minerals, atmosphere and magnetic fields. But Banerdt says scientists have never examined any deeper into the surface. Mars is still a pretty mysterious planet, Banerdt said. Even with all the studying that weve done, it could throw us a curveball. Im Phil Dierking. Marcia Dunn reported this story for the Associated Press. Phil Dierking adapted her story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. What do you think they will learn about Mars? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story axis - n. the imaginary straight line that something (such as the Earth) turns around briefcase - n. a flat case that is used for carrying papers or books core - n. the central part of a fruit (such as an apple) that contains the seeds curveball - n. a pitch that is thrown with spin so that the ball curves in the air desk - n. a piece of furniture that is like a table and often has drawers dig - v. to move soil, sand, snow, etc., in order to create a hole geological - adj. a science that studies rocks, layers of soil, etc., in order to learn about the history of the Earth and its life mission - n. a task or job that someone is given to do spacecraft - n. a vehicle that is used for travel in outer space vibration - n. a continuous slight shaking movement The United States government is studying reports that three Americans held in North Korea have been moved from a labor camp. Reuters news service reported that an unnamed American official said the three have been put in a hotel near the North Korean capital Pyongyang. The move comes as both sides continue efforts to plan a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The American official said there was no immediate confirmation on a change in the conditions under which the Americans are being held. A possible sign of goodwill Trump administration officials have pressed for the release of the Korean-Americans as a sign of goodwill before the planned meeting. Former New York City Mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said the three would be released on Thursday. Trump made note of the three Americans held in North Korea late Wednesday on Twitter. He suggested there might be more information about their situation soon. Stay tuned! he tweeted. The summit between Trump and Kim is expected to take place in late May or early June. Trump would be the third world leader to meet with Kim Jong Un this year. In March, Kim met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. And last week, he met with South Korean President Moon Jae-in in Panmunjom. The North Korean leader, who took power in 2011, had never met with top officials of any country before this year. The three not heard from since June The three Korean-Americans are Kim Hak-song, Tony Kim and Kim Dong-chul. They have been held in a North Korean labor camp. South Korean media reported Wednesday that a South Korean activist said North Korea had moved the three in early April. A U.S. State Department spokeswoman said she could not confirm the reports. However, she added, The welfare and safety of U.S. citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State. We are working to see U.S. citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible. The last time any American official had met with the Korean-Americans was in June 2017. Tony Kim was detained on April 22, 2017 at Pyongyangs airport. He had been teaching accounting at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology known as PUST. Kim Hak-song also had been working at PUST. He was detained in May of last year. Kim Dong-chul was arrested in October 2016 and sentenced to 10 years of hard labor on charges of spying. Tony Kims family told Reuters, through a spokesman, that they were hopeful but had not heard anything from Kim since last June. Im Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter adapted this Reuters story for VOA Learning English with additional material from VOA News. Ashley Thompson was the editor. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story goodwill n. an action or gift that adds to the reputation of the giver summit n. a meeting between the leaders of two or more governments welfare n. the wellbeing of people priority n. something that is more important than other things We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. A high-level trade delegation from the United States arrived in Beijing Thursday to hold talks with Chinese officials on trade policies. The U.S. team includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. The Chinese side is led by Vice Premier Liu He, the top economic adviser to President Xi Jinping. U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that China has unfair trade policies that hurt the U.S. economy and its workers. Trump also wants to reduce the large U.S. trade deficit with China. Foreign companies are concerned about policies that, they say, force them to share technology with Chinese partners in order to do business in China. The negotiations are expected to deal with ways to resolve these trade disputes. In addition, the two sides are expected to discuss newly-announced trade tariffs. In early April, China announced tariffs on more than 100 U.S. goods, including vehicles, plastic goods and agricultural products. The new tariffs would affect $50 billion worth of U.S. products. The move followed a Trump administration announcement that it planned to place tariffs on about $50 billion dollars of Chinese exports. Trump has also suggested he is considering putting additional tariffs on up to $100 billion in Chinese goods. China denies that it carries out unfair trading policies. However, it recently announced moves some observers see as partly answering the U.S. criticism. Chinese officials have promised to reduce a 25 percent tariff on imported foreign cars by 2022. China also announced it would drop rules requiring foreign automakers to share factory ownership and profits with Chinese companies by the same year. Trump expressed hope about the new trade talks in a Twitter message late Wednesday. Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade! he tweeted. I look forward to being with President Xi in the not too distant future. We will always have a good (great) relationship! U.S. government numbers released Thursday showed the U.S. trade deficit with China fell 11.6 percent in March to $26 billion. That number comes after the deficit in February reached its highest level in nine years. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman confirmed the talks had begun, but did not provide further information. The spokeswoman said China welcomed the talks. But she said the negotiations should be based on equality and respect, to provide a win-win agreement for both sides. The official China Daily said in an editorial Chinese officials would stand up to any U.S. bullying as necessary during the talks. Christopher Balding is a professor at Peking Universitys HSBC Business School. He says getting the two sides to resolve major trade differences during the talks is likely to be very difficult. I would be somewhat surprised if there was any real change in the negotiating stance of either party, he said. He added that the main issue is Chinas repeated unwillingness to further open its markets. Balding said he thinks the best result would be the two sides finding enough room to compromise to avoid getting into a possible trade war. Im Bryan Lynn. Bryan Lynn wrote this story for VOA Learning English, based on reports from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Mario Ritter was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story deficit n. situation in which a country buys more from other countries than it sells to other countries tariff n. tax on goods coming or leaving a country bullying n. the mistreatment or abuse of someone by a stronger or more powerful individual stance n. opinion or belief about something The Pacific nation of Vanuatu is preparing to permanently evacuate the entire population of one of its islands. Thick ash from a volcano kills crops, dirties water, and pollutes the air for the 10,000 people who live on Ambae Island. Some are eager to leave, but others are resisting losing their land and culture. Most people on Ambae live by farming and fishing. Hundreds of people have already created temporary homes on parts of the island that are not so affected by the ash. Ambae is one of about 65 inhabited islands in Vanuatu, an island country of 280,000 people. The country is on the Pacific Oceans Ring of Fire -- an area where earthquakes and volcanoes are common. The people who lived on Ambae Island were temporarily evacuated last September when the volcano erupted. This time, authorities are planning a permanent move. Countries including France, New Zealand and Australia provided aid and financial help for the earlier evacuation. On Thursday, Australia announced it was providing 300,000 Australian dollars (about $226,000 US) to help with the islands permanent evacuation. Government spokesman Hilaire Bule told The Associated Press that he expects the move to be approved by next week. He said officials still had to organize many details, including providing schools for students and homes for people. Bule said the population will be offered places on two neighboring islands, Maewo and Pentecost. Many people from Ambae have close family and spiritual ties to the two islands. Traditional religion says that the three islands are part of a family - Pentecost the mother, Maewo the father and Ambae the son. When asked if the islanders might be able to move back some day, Bule said that was not a question for him. He added, Youll have to ask the volcano. I'm Jonathan Evans. Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on the AP news reports. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story evacuate - v. to remove (someone) from a dangerous place inhabit - v. to live in a place erupt - v. to send out rock, ash, lava, etc.. from a volcano 1. Comments must not be racist, misogynistic, homophobic, or otherwise bigoted. 2. Comments must not involve little more than name-calling and insulting remarks. 3. Comments must not be made by "anonymous" or "unknown". 4. Comments must not try to sneak in some free advertising for themselves (like spam). I invite anyone who wishes to comment on this blog to do so. I enjoy the comments, whether you agree with what I have said or not. But some people want to abuse the right to comment, and since this is my blog, I have decided to lay down the following rules. If your comment violates these rules, it will not be published. Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More 6 hours ago Will Lightning Strike Twice for These 3 October 2020 Winners? In many ways, history is the best guide we have when it comes to stock investing. It teaches us what went right and what went wrong for a particular company. Moreover, investors who study stock charts rely heavily on historical patterns. Whether it be seasonality in a business, technical trendlines, or just plain coincidence, history has a way of repeating itself with certain stock price movements. Read Article Resolute Forest Products Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates in the forest products industry in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Market Pulp, Tissue, Wood Products, and Paper. The Market Pulp segment offers virgin and recycled bleached kraft pulp, which is used to make a range of consumer products, including tissue, packaging, specialty paper products, diapers, and other absorbent products. The Tissue segment provides various tissue products, such as recycled and virgin paper products for the away-from-home and retail markets; and sells parent rolls. The Wood Products segment produces construction-grade and spruce-pine-fir lumber products, wood chips, bed frame components, finger joints, and furring strips for pulp and paper mills, as well as I-joists for the construction industry. The Paper segment offers newsprint to newspaper publishers, as well as to commercial printers for a range of uses comprising inserts and flyers. This segment also provides various uncoated mechanical papers, including supercalendered and white papers, as well as uncoated freesheet papers to commercial printers, direct mailers, publishers, catalogers, and retailers. Its specialty papers are used in books, retail inserts, direct mail, coupons, magazines, catalogs, bags, and other commercial printing applications. This segment sells specialty papers to commercial printers, direct mailers, publishers, catalogers, and retailers. The company also produces electricity at six cogeneration facilities and seven hydroelectric dams. Resolute Forest Products Inc. is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More TO kick off one of the largest cultural events in Asia, Hong Kong and Macaus Le French May 2018 will present Duo Jatekok, who will perform tonight at the Military Club of Macau. Duo Jatekok is in the city for the first time, and will open Le French May in Macau, following their recent performance in Kuala Lumpur. The duo said that they had prepared a special repertoire for the local audience as they are set to play four hands at tonights opening and at a masterclass to be held at the University of Macau in the morning. We prepared something with Brazilian music and they can remember perhaps something like Portuguese [music] also. We are really happy to play French music because we specialize in this. So were really pleased to present all these pieces, said Nairi Badal, one of the pianists. This is the fourth time that Hong Kong and Macaus Le French May is kicking off in the region, and is organized by the University of Macaus Moon Chun Memorial College. Following their performance in Macau today, the duo will be performing in Hong Kong this weekend as part of the festival, and then will be heading to Shenzhen and Dalian. The duo spoke about their excitement to perform to a local audience later today at the Military Club of Macau, citing the different setting and ambience of the location, which will also allow them to interact more with the local audience. Meanwhile, the duo aims to break the stigma of classical music as it is often perceived as a genre that only caters to the elites. For us its important to have all generations in the audience. So we try to break the image of classical music to make it reachable and not just for the elite, Panaget shared. Its important to speak about the music [that we play] because when the audience has an idea about the way of composing the pieces, and about us, its easier for them to hear and enjoy the music, she added. Panaget also remarked that the duo has been collaborating with different artists, actors and musicians including heavy metal band, Rammstein. In Hong Kong, the duo will be collaborating with a sand artist, Hoi Chiu, while they tell a tale of Butterfly Lovers, a Chinese legend of a tragic love story. Its important to mix a lot of cultures. This way, we can have other audience [types come] and think that classical music is great, said Panaget. Echoing the same sentiments, Badal stressed that the duo aims to build bridges between classical music and other form of arts, breaking the culture of classical music. Some think that classical music can be strict but its not true. You just need to relax and open your ears and allow the performers to lead you through their music, Badal noted. It was a decade ago that Badal and Panaget formed their duo, after attending the National Superior Paris Conservatory. Winning two major international piano duo competitions, the duo launched their second album two months ago titled Les Boys a tribute to the American piano duet of Arthur Gold and Robert Fizdale, which features modern and classic repertoires. The album will be available for sale at their performance today. Chinas foreign minister arrived in North Koreas capital yesterday and could meet with leader Kim Jong Un while trying to ensure a larger role for Beijing in the new round of nuclear diplomacy with Pyongyang that had been driven by Seoul and Washington. Wang Yis visit came days after Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in vowed to work toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, though they did not mention specific plans or timetables. They also agreed to work toward formally ending the 1950-53 Korean War and push for three-way talks with Washington or four-way talks that also include Beijing to do so. The Koreas cant officially end the war themselves because South Korea wasnt a direct signatory to the armistice that stopped the fighting but left the peninsula technically in a state of war. More substantial discussions on the Norths denuclearization including what, when and how it would occur are expected between Kim and President Donald Trump, who could meet in May or June. The Norths state-media have not yet commented on Wangs arrival in Pyongyang. Wang is likely to use his visit to further ensure that Beijing would not be sidelined in the high-stakes discussions surrounding the North. Some South Korean analysts believe Wang would specifically seek Kims commitment that the process on formally ending the war would include China. The meeting between Kim and Moon at the border truce village of Panmunjom on Friday came a month after Kim made a surprise visit to Beijing and met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Kims Beijing visit was widely seen as a move to strengthen his leverage ahead of his talks with Trump by re-introducing China as a major player in the global diplomatic push to resolve the nuclear standoff. Analysts say Kim would have asked China, North Koreas only major ally and main economic lifeline, to soften its enforcement of sanctions aimed at the North. Kim also may have sought Chinese commitments to strongly oppose any military measure the United States might take should his talks with Trump fall apart and the North starts testing missiles again. While the Kim-Trump talks is shaping up to be crucial, theres still widespread doubt whether Kim will ever agree to entirely abandon his nuclear weapons when he apparently sees them as providing his only guarantee of survival in a region surrounded by enemies. Seoul has said Kim expressed genuine interest in dealing away his nuclear weapons. But North Korea for decades has been pushing a concept of denuclearization that bears no resemblance to the American definition, vowing to pursue nuclear development unless Washington removes its troops and the nuclear umbrella defending South Korea and Japan. Kims move to re-insert China as a major player in the process has been seen as a sign that the Norths traditional stance essentially remains. Beijing has been calling for a dual suspension of the Norths nuclear and missile activities and of the large-scale military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea. Kim Tong-Hyung, Seoulm, AP The director of the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), Gloria Batalha Ung, has formally assumed the role of deputy secretary-general of the permanent secretariat of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and the Portuguese-Speaking Countries (Macau) since May 1, in addition to her role as IPIM chief, according to an official communication. Ung was appointed by the Macau government to the position following the resignation for personal reasons of Echo Chan, an advisor to the Office of the Secretary for Economy and Finance. The new deputy secretary-general is, in addition to being an executive member of IPIM, the secretary-general of the Commission for the Development of the Platform for Services for Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese- speaking Countries. Announcing the nomination of Ung, the Secretary for Economy and Finance of Macau said that Ung taking on two roles will help to pool the resources of Forum Macau and IPIM, further increasing the support of the institution in the development of exchange activities on an economic and trade level between China and the Portuguese- speaking countries. It was a message that Ung had already argued when news first broke that she would be assuming the post. In April, the IPIM chief said taking on both positions would improve communication between the two entities under her purview and allow for a better work flow Forum Macau is headed by China-appointed secretary-general Xu Yingzhen and has three deputy secretaries-general appointed by China (Ding Tian), Macau (Echo Chan) and the Portuguese-speaking countries (Rodrigo Brum). MDT/Macauhub The First Standing Committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL) has suggested that the government amend the citys laws on the rights of demonstration and the rights of public meetings. Ho Ion Sang, chairman of the AL First Standing Committee, revealed this information yesterday, after the committee had a meeting with government representatives. Regarding the overall future amendment of this law, the government has agreed with the suggestions and opinions proposed by the committee, said Ho Ion Sang, adding that the government said that, in case the law needs to be amended comprehensively, it [the amendment] must go through a public consultation. Only then the related [law amendment] works can proceed. However, the government does not yet have a confirmed schedule [regarding the amendment]. According to Ho, the First Standing Committees lawmakers are proposing that the government amend the demonstration law for several reasons. For one, the Court of Final Appeal has, on several occasions, arrived at different verdicts for similar cases concerning demonstration applications that involve both the government and the applicants. According to Ho, the court said that disparities in verdicts regarding disputes between the government and demonstration applicants are caused by ambiguity in the citys legal articles. Because of this, the government should, in the future, in terms of the articles and time and location restrictions, have clearer articles in [the demonstration law], said Ho, declaring that the government has heard our suggestions. Ho further explained that after our analysis, we found out that this law [has been used] for a rather long time. Some of its content is not adequate in view of [societys] development, therefore we indicated some [of the laws] problems caused by phrasing. We brought up our suggestion [and] the government agreed. The government said that, in the future, it will carry out the amending of the related law. [The government said that] the amendment cannot be [completed just] by the administration authoritys own lawmakers; [] it needs a public consultation, said Ho. When talking about transferring the authorization of the demonstrations from the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau (IACM) to the Public Security Police Force (PSP), Ho noted that the government had previously explained that the change would not decrease the residents rights of demonstration. Ho claimed that in the future demonstrations and public meetings [will] not need to be approved. [They] just need to notify [the related government department]. He reaffirmed that the amendment only changes the department which the applications are delivered to. According to Hos introduction, previously, there were eight locations, under the administration of IACM, where demonstration applicants could visit to deliver their applications. After transferring the responsibility, the PSP will also have eight places available for the public to submit relevant notifications: five in Macau, one in Coloane, and two in Taipa. The new locations opening hours will be between 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., longer than those of the previous offices. The government will continue to meet with the AL First Standing Committee to discuss other technical matters concerning the latest amendment. The May 1 International Workers Day demonstrations in Macau have historically been accompanied by days of turmoil, with many demonstrators on the streets frequently clashing with police, involving injuries, arrests, and gun shots fired by authorities to contain the fury of unhappy demonstrators. Those days look to be long gone judging by the official numbers of the protesters that hit the streets on May 1 this year. A mere 800 protested this year, the Public Security Police Force (PSP) told the media. From the three main groups who requested authorization to conduct street protests that day, the Pearl Horizon demonstration gathered the most participants, similar to previous years. Around 520 demonstrators attended, according to police figures, although the figure reported by organizers is between 600 and 700. Still, such figures are a significant reduction from last year, when the combined demonstrations were said to have gathered a total of over 2,600 people. Two petitions were delivered to the government by a group that marched from the Area Preta area. Starting at 2 p.m., the group marched a route that stopped at the Central Government Liaison Office, where the first petition was delivered, and concluded at the governments headquarters, where the second petition was delivered. As in several past demonstrations, the group, led by Kou Meng Pok, demanded that the government and project developer and contractor (Polytec) solve the unresolved class action between several thousands of small buyers of housing units that were ultimately not developed. Kou is the head of the Pearl Horizon Condominium Owners United Association and was a candidate for the Legislative Assembly during last years elections. The government has since claimed back the land due to the non-development of the project within the deadline of the land concession. This time, the group is attacking on two fronts one towards the government and the other towards the company, shouting through megaphones: The Government has no credit and Polytec has no heart. Another of the groups that marched along the streets of Macau demanding government and employer action was the New Macau Gaming Staff Rights Association. The group is one of several groups led and represented by gaming workers rights activist Cloee Chao, who, followed by a group of casino workers, marched from the surroundings of the Wynn Macau resort to the governments headquarters. This group called for added benefits to gaming workers similar to those offered to civil servants, such as 14 months of wage per year as well as continuing its campaign against smoking inside the gaming areas of the casino, especially in VIP rooms. Chao, who previously told the Times that she expected over 500 participants to join the protest, saw her figures reduced to about 300, according to the police. Earlier in the day, the Macao Federation of Trade Unions also walked to the government headquarters in order to submit a petition. In the petition, the organization calls for an acceleration of the procedures for the review of the Labor Relations law. This is in line with their representatives at the Legislative Assembly, who have been urging the government to approve several changes in the law to give greater benefits to workers, in particular the compensation of public holidays that fall on weekly rest days of the workers, among others. According to the PSP, a total of 250 officers were assigned to follow the demonstrations and to make sure that they ran without any problems. All of the demonstrations took place in a peaceful manner and the protesters were able to deliver their petitions to the intended places. HK Pearl Horizon buyer refused entry into Macau A resident of Hong Kong, who is believed to be one of the pre-sale buyers of the Polytecs Peal Horizon development, saw his entry into the region refused by the Public Security Police Force (PSP), according to the leader of the Pearl Horizon Condominium Owners United Association, Kou Meng Pok. Kou made the comments while speaking to the media as his group delivered a petition to the governments headquarters on Tuesday. According to Kou, the man was travelling to Macau from Hong Kong in the company of his wife to participate in the rally on May 1, but was barred by the Macau authorities at immigration. At the time Kou did not provide any concrete reason given by the PSP for the mans refusal of entry, but accused authorities of trying to reduce the number of participants in the demonstration. A woman, said to be the wife of the barred man, corroborated the story but did not provide further details. The PSP said in a statement, [the force] does not comment on individual cases, adding, all procedures [performed by the PSP] are in accordance with the rules of the Immigration Services. Lawmaker Mak Soi Kun has suggested that the Macau SAR government include content about state security in the citys school textbooks. In a written inquiry delivered to the government, Mak praised the recent exhibition on state security education, which was organized by the SAR government. He believes that the exhibition not only enhanced the knowledge of Macau residents about state security, but also sent a message of loving the country and loving Macau. As usual, Mak encouraged the government to organize more activities about state security. He asked the government whether it has considered including additional content on state security into the citys school textbooks, to help the younger generation learn more about it while they are still young. This way, children will know how to take the initiative to execute their obligations and responsibilities regarding protection of the state. Lawmaker raises debate on investment immigration Lawmaker Lei Cheng I has proposed that the Legislative Assembly (AL) have a debate on the citys investment immigration policy. In a letter delivered to the AL, Lei explained that Macaus laws on important investment immigration and highly skilled professional immigration have not been amended for nearly 20 years, and that existing approval standards and supervision are insufficient. Lei pointed out that in 2017, the Commission Against Corruption (CCAC) discovered forged documents concerning investment immigration cases, and that the CCAC has criticized Macaus investment immigration policy for being flawed. Lei concluded that Macaus investment immigration policy has a big loophole and requires urgent review and amendment. Vendors unhappy with govt proposals The governments proposal concerning the management of vendors and street market stalls keeps gathering opposition due to the proposed regulation requiring vendors and street market stalls to apply for operation every six years. The proposal suggests that in the future, the first-time lease associated with each stall or vendor will last three years and can be renewed once. This means every six years vendors will be required to file a new application. Ung Sau Hong, coordinator for the Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau, said that all other regions in the world operate street markets on a contract system. He noted that if vendors and street market stalls operate well during the six-year period, then there will be a good chance they will be allowed to continue their operations. A total of 109 people were in custody yesterday after May Day protests against reforms by French President Emmanuel Macron turned violent in the French capital, Paris police said. Heated demonstrations on Tuesday saw six cars torched, a McDonalds restaurant smashed up and vandalism at automobile shops. Those in custody yesterday are suspected of offenses that include carrying prohibited weapons and firing projectiles. Though several people were injured including a police service worker and even hospitalized, Frances Interior Minister said yesterday on France 2 Television he was pleased no one was seriously injured. Opposition figures seized upon Macrons absence on a visit to Australia to paint an image of disorder in a country without a leader amid criticism that police did not act quickly enough to pacify the violence. Macron responded from Sydney: There is a government. There is a state thats being run and it will continue to react. Paris Police Prefect Michel Delpuech said that the violence was carried out by masked attackers from a libertarian group called the Black Blocs that numbered around 1,200 people in total and were on the margins of the 20,000-strong protest. He added that the desire of the radical activists was to spiral the day out of control. A cherubic British cartoon character has become an unlikely target of Chinas censors as fans use her porcine likeness in rap videos and gangster tattoos. The bright pink swines subversive alter-ego has made her a viral hit but also an apparent target of government workers who police the internet. Videos with the hashtag #PeppaPig could not be searched yesterday on Douyin, a popular video app. The catchphrase, Get a tattoo of Peppa Pig, give a round of applause to gangsters, was also not searchable on the Weibo microblogging platform, which posted a message saying it was acting in accordance with relevant legal regulations. Regulators have been ratcheting up control over Chinese blogs and apps in recent months. A controversial cybersecurity law was introduced last June as part of President Xi Jinpings efforts to tighten control over what Chinas public can see and say online while still trying to reap the economic benefits of internet use. It was not clear whether the censorship of Peppa on Douyin was prompted by a government mandate. Bytedance, the company that owns Douyin, did not respond to requests for comment. Bytedance saw its social networking app Neihan Duanzi shut down by the State Adminstration of Radio and Television last month. The app was a hub for GIFs, memes and often-vulgar humor which the authorities deemed unhealthy. The companys chief executive, Zhang Yiming, said in an apologetic statement at the time that he would increase the size of the content-monitoring team to 10,000 employees. Chinese media said there had been at least 30,000 clips under Peppas hashtag on Douyin. Variations on the name, such as PigPig or PeppaPeppa are still searchable. In a statement to The Associated Press, Douyin denied that it has banned Peppa Pig. But a source close to the company who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on its behalf said Douyin removed some user-generated videos featuring Peppa Pig that the company deemed inappropriate. Internet users have aligned Peppa with the culture of shehuiren literally society people which connotes a gangster attitude and street smarts. The Global Times, a state-run newspaper, wrote Monday that the moniker refers to people who run counter to the mainstream value and are usually poorly educated with no stable job. They are unruly slackers roaming around and the antithesis of the young generation the [ruling Communist] Party tries to cultivate. The party newspaper Peoples Daily likewise warned last week that Peppa should not be allowed to destroy childrens childhoods. It noted that Peppa has been used to sell merchandise not connected with the original brand. Xi, who strives to rally citizens around the idea of a China Dream, has emphasized in speeches the importance of young peoples contributions to the countrys rejuvenation following foreign incursions and civil war over the last 150 years. Despite such entreaties from the Communist Party, a number of internet subcultures fueled largely by young Chinese from despondent sang people to lackadaisical Buddhist youths have resisted the presidents call to roll up your sleeves and work harder. Peppa Pig is not the first fictional creature to be targeted by Chinas censors for political and sociological reasons. References to Winnie the Pooh were recently scrubbed from the internet after users began employing the cuddly bear as a proxy for the somewhat corpulent Xi when he engineered a move this year to remove presidential term limits from the constitution. Among the popular postings, Winnie was shown hugging a jar of honey alongside the quote, find the thing you love and stick with it. On her show, Peppa and her animal friends partake in mundane activities such as bike riding and swimming. But society people have co-opted innocuous lines from the program for their own satirical takes, such as playing lewd rap songs after a scene in which Peppa says: I like this. Its very grown-up. The topic Society Person Peppa Pig has been viewed nearly 30 million times on Weibo, with fans sharing photos of themselves and Peppa paraphernalia along with the tag society person. Some users have juxtaposed images of Peppa with racy pop lyrics, or edited Peppa videos to include techno lighting. Users also encouraged one another to get Peppa tattoos. Tens of thousands have purchased temporary tattoos featuring the pig on e-commerce site Taobao. In a post reflecting on Peppas puzzling popularity, verified Weibo blogger Cao Zhi mused, Peppa Society People have added a bit of fun and merriment to our dry, tedious lives. Yanan Wang, Beijing, AP A court in southern Thailand has sentenced six men to death for several bombings in 2016 that killed two people and wounded more than 20, an army spokesman said yesterday. Col. Pramote Prom-in of the Internal Security Operations Command said 10 defendants had originally received death sentences on Monday from the Pattani Provincial Court. Because of their cooperation, three had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment and another to 40 years in prison. The prosecutors had charged the defendants for five bombings between June and December 2016 in Pattani and possession of pistols and bomb-making materials. Thailands three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat have been plagued for over a decade by Muslim insurgents seeking autonomy from predominantly Buddhist Thailand. More than 6,500 people have been killed in the violence since 2004. It is unclear if the convicted men will be put to death, since Thailand has apparently not carried out a death sentence in more than eight years. However, just over a month ago it saw another case in which six men were sentenced to death in one case in southern Thailand for the massacre of eight members of one family, including three children, over a land and loan dispute. Several defendants in the case in Krabi province had pleaded guilty to some charges, which would normally result in a reduction of their sentence, but the court said it did not commute the sentences because the crime was deeply upsetting and causing public fear. AP Members of the new parliament of the Soviet Republic of Latvia have met to discuss independence from Moscow. Leaders of the Latvian Popular Front are confident they can muster the majority they need to change the constitution. In March this year, neighbouring Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to pass a unilateral declaration of independence. In retaliation, the Kremlin shut off supplies of crude oil and natural gas. Latvia is hoping to avoid a similar confrontation with the USSRs President Mikhail Gorbachev by calling for a transition period before full independence takes effect. This morning, their elected representatives led a procession to a memorial in the capital, Riga, dedicated to those who fought and died for Latvian independence after World War 1. The Lithuanian president, a guest at todays opening of parliament, had this advice for the Latvians Courage! One strategy put forward was to adopt parts of the Soviet constitution to avoid being accused of breaking the law. We have to avoid any confrontation because it would be useless, unproductive, said Nikolai Neiland, head of the Independent Communist Party. Russian demonstrators outside the parliament building held up banners reminding politicians inside that almost half of Latvias population is ethnically Russian and that independence might provoke a backlash. Also out on the streets of Riga were groups of Soviet paratroops. They say they are here for a parade but nationalists believe their presence is a crude reminder of Soviet power. Courtesy BBC News In context The following day the Latvian parliament declared de jure independence of Republic of Latvia. President Gorbachev could not resist pressure from hardliners in Moscow determined to prevent the break-up of the Soviet Union, and he issued a decree annulling the declaration. Then in January 1991 Soviet special troops stormed and took over Latvias Interior Ministry building. The occupation continued until the failed Moscow coup in August that year, when the Latvian parliament voted for full independence and banned the Communist Party. A few weeks later, on 7 September, Russias President Boris Yeltsin recognized the independence of Latvia and its Baltic neighbours Estonia and Lithuania. All three were admitted into the United Nations the same month. Moscow hardliners were particularly concerned for the large numbers of ethnic Russians and other migrants who live in the Baltic states. In fact, tough legislation was soon introduced making it very difficult for Russians to gain Latvian citizenship. But the law was eventually modified after international criticism. For the first quarter of 2018, the total value of merchandise import increased by a significant 27.2 percent year- on-year to MOP22.62 billion, while the total value of merchandise export increased only marginally by 0.8 percent to MOP2.97 billion. Accordingly, the merchandise trade deficit widened to MOP19.65 billion, as per the latest data from the Statistics and Census Bureau. Analyzed by place of origin, mainland China continued to be the largest market for merchandise imports into to Macau, accounting for MOP7.68 billion in the first quarter, followed by the European Union at MOP5.97 billion. Imports from Portuguese-speaking countries and the Belt and Road participating countries outside of greater China amounted to MOP200 million and MOP1.92 billion respectively. Imports of consumer goods increased 23.9 percent in the first quarter to MOP14.64 billion, with the value of imports of beauty, cosmetic and skin-care products (MOP1.15 billion) and motor cars and motorcycles (MOP470 million) rising by 52.9 percent and 45.3 percent respectively. In addition, the value of imports of mobile phones (MOP2.17 billion), fuels and lubricants (MOP1.56 billion) and construction materials (MOP598 million) grew by 74 percent, 22.9 percent and 30.1 percent respectively. As for merchandise exports, the majority of the MOP2.97 billion in the first quarter was headed for Hong Kong (MOP1.92 billion), followed by mainland China (MOP471 million). The value of merchandise exports to the United States declined 21.7 percent year-on- year to MOP32 million. The rival Koreas dismantled huge loudspeakers used to blare Cold War-style propaganda across their tense border this week, as South Koreas president asked the United Nations to observe the Norths planned closing of its nuclear test site. The dismantling of dozens of loudspeakers was in line with an agreement on reconciliation by the leaders of the Koreas at their historic summit last Friday. It is still unclear if such measures can bring permanent peace because no major breakthrough in the North Korean nuclear standoff was produced at the summit. South Korean soldiers disassembled loudspeakers in multiple front-line areas in the presence of journalists before pulling them away from the border, the Defense Ministry said. A South Korea military officer said later that North Korea had also begun taking down its propaganda loudspeakers earlier in the day. He requested anonymity, citing department rules. Both Koreas had turned off the propaganda broadcasts along the 248-kilometer -long border last week before the summit. They had restarted their propaganda warfare in early 2016 when tensions rose sharply after North Koreas fourth nuclear test. South Korea broadcast K-pop songs as well as criticism of the Norths abysmal human rights conditions, world news and weather forecasts. The North broadcast anti-South messages and praises of its own political system. North Korea is extremely sensitive to any outside criticism of its system, and most of its 24 million people are not allowed access to foreign TV and radio programs. In 2014, North Korean soldiers opened fire after South Korean activists sent anti-North leaflets over the border with large balloons, prompting South Korea to return fire. There were no reports of casualties. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has suspended nuclear and missile tests and placed his nuclear program up for negotiation, but skepticism lingers about how serious his offer is and what disarmament steps he would eventually take. Some experts say Kims sincerity will be tested during his planned meeting in several weeks with U.S. President Donald Trump, in what would be the first North Korea-U.S. summit talks since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War. Trump said Monday he likes the idea of going to the southern side of Panmunjom, the location of the Korean summit, to meet Kim, though he said Singapore was also under consideration. Ahead of that meeting, the leaders of South Korea, Japan and China are to meet next Wednesday in Tokyo for a regular trilateral summit that is expected to focus on North Koreas nuclear program and other regional issues. During their meeting last Friday, Kim told South Korean President Moon Jae-in that he would shut down his countrys only known nuclear test site and allow outside experts and journalists to watch the process. He also said he would be willing to give up his nuclear programs if the United States commits to a formal end to the Korean War and pledges not to attack the North, according to South Koreas presidential office. During a telephone call with U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres yesterday, Moon said he wants the U.N. to observe the closure of the Punggy-ri test site. Moon also asked the U.N. to formally declare its support for his summit declaration with Kim. Guterres responded that he will try to contribute to the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, according to Moons office. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said that Moon asked Guterres for U.N. support to verify the imminent closure of North Koreas nuclear test site. He said the South Korean leader also asked the secretary-general for U.N. support in implementing the agreement by Moon and Kim to transform the demilitarized zone into a peace zone. Dujarric said the secretary-general reiterated the full support of the United Nations to furthering the inter-Korean dialogue and in this regard pledged that the United Nations stands ready to discuss possible forms of support. Some experts downplayed the closure of the Punggy-ri site, saying the six underground nuclear explosions that have been conducted there may have made it too unstable for more testing. Kim denied such views, saying the site has two additional underground tunnels that could be used for new tests. A major source of outside suspicion about Kims sincerity is his use of the term, the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula instead of the denuclearization of North Korea. North Korea has long used the first term, and has argued it can disarm only when the United States withdraws its 28,500 troops from South Korea and removes its so-called nuclear umbrella security commitment to South Korea and Japan. A joint summit statement issued by Kim and Moon said they will work together to achieve a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula through complete denuclearization. It was the first time that Kim has proposed negotiating away his nuclear weapons, and some analysts say he could reveal more substantial disarmament measures in his meeting with Trump, including the possible scrapping of his long-range missile program that has posed a direct threat to the United States. Prospects for the Kim-Trump talks remain unclear because Kim prefers a gradual, step- by-step disarmament process in return for corresponding rewards, while the United States wants complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization. On Monday, Moon shook off a suggestion that he receive the Nobel Peace Prize for reducing tensions with North Korea, saying Trump can take the Nobel prize as long as the Koreas receive peace in return. Hyung-Jin Kim, Seoul, AP Koreas The following companies are subsidiares of TE Connectivity: 999 Arques Corp., ABB ENTRELEC terminal block business, ACC Telecommunications, ADC Chile Limitada, ADC Communications (SEA) Pte. Ltd., ADC Communications (UK) Holding Ltd., ADC Communications (UK) Ltd., ADC Communications Hong Kong Limited, ADC Telecommunications Equipment (Shanghai) Co., AMP Amermex, AMP Products Pacific Limited, AMP Taiwan B.V., AMP Trading B.V., AMP de Venezuela, Acalon Holdings Limited, Advanced Fiber Products LLC, Advanced Fiber Products Limited, Advanced Tube Technologies, AdvancedCath, AdvancedCath Technologies, Alpha Technics, American Sensor Technologies, Betatherm (R&D) Limited, Brantner Holding Company, Brantner and Associates, Butterfly Management SAS, C.S. 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This image of an eye shows how twisted and dilated vessels of the retina can indicate retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP, the leading cause of childhood blindness. Credit: Michael Chiang/OHSU An algorithm that uses artificial intelligence can automatically and more accurately diagnose a potentially devastating cause of childhood blindness than most expert physicians, a paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology suggests. The finding could help prevent blindness in more babies with the disease, called retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP. Musician Stevie Wonder went blind due to this condition. The algorithm accurately diagnosed the condition in images of infant eyes 91 percent of the time. On the other hand, a team of eight physicians with ROP expertise who examined the same images had an average accuracy rate of 82 percent. "There's a huge shortage of ophthalmologists who are trained and willing to diagnose ROP. This creates enormous gaps in care, even in the United States, and sadly leads too many children around the world to go undiagnosed," said the study's co-lead researcher, Michael Chiang, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology and medical informatics & clinical epidemiology in the OHSU School of Medicine and a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Elks Children's Eye Clinic in the OHSU Casey Eye Institute. "This algorithm distills the knowledge of ophthalmologists who are skilled at identifying ROP and puts it into a mathematical model so clinicians who may not have that same wealth of experience can still help babies receive a timely, accurate diagnosis," said the other lead researcher, Jayashree Kalpathy-Cramer, Ph.D., of the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, who is also an associate professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School. Leading cause of childhood blindness Retinopathy of prematurity is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth near the retina, the light-sensitive portion in the back of an eye. The condition is common in premature babies and is the leading cause of childhood blindness globally. The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health reports that up to 16,000 U.S. babies experience retinopathy of prematurity to some degree, but only up to 600 become legally blind each year as a result. The condition is becoming more common as medical care for premature babies improves. The disease is diagnosed by visually inspecting a baby's eye. Physicians typically use a magnifying device that shines light into a baby's dilated eye, but that approach can lead to variable and subjective diagnoses. Computational smarts Artificial intelligence, also called AI, enables machines to think like humans and is a growing field in health care. Last month, the FDA approved an AI device that detects diabetes-related eye disease. Others have tried developing computerized systems to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity, but none have been able to match the accuracy of visual diagnosis by physicians. This algorithm specifically uses deep learning, a form of AI that mimics how humans perceive the world through vision, including identifying objects. The MGH researchers combined two existing AI models to create the algorithm, while the OHSU researchers developed extensive reference standards to train it. They first trained the algorithm to identify retinal vessels in more than 5,000 pictures taken during infant visits to an ophthalmologist. Next, they trained it to differentiate between healthy and diseased vessels. Afterward, they compared the algorithm's accuracy with that of trained experts who viewed the same images and discovered it performed better than most of the expert physicians. The full research team is now working with a collaborator in India to see if the algorithm can diagnose ROP in Indian babies as well as it did for the group of primarily Caucasian babies involved in this study. They are also exploring whether the algorithm can diagnose the condition in images of other parts of the retina besides vessels. The ultimate goal is to enable physicians to incorporate the technology into their clinical practices. Explore further Telemedicine provides accurate diagnosis of rare cause of blindness in preemies More information: James M. Brown et al, Automated Diagnosis of Plus Disease in Retinopathy of Prematurity Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, JAMA Ophthalmology (2018). Journal information: JAMA Ophthalmology James M. Brown et al, Automated Diagnosis of Plus Disease in Retinopathy of Prematurity Using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks,(2018). DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.1934 (HealthDay)Early humans' ability to adapt to cold climates may have been helped by a genetic variant that's common in modern people who live in colder regionsand is linked with migraine headaches, researchers say. Within the last 50,000 years, humans left Africa and colonized cold areas in Asia, Europe, and other parts of the world. And this colonization could have triggered genetic adaptations that helped these early travelers respond to cold temperatures, explained study supervisor Aida Andres. She is a geneticist with the UCL Genetics Institute, in London, England. The researchers focused on a gene called TRPM8, which codes for the only known receptor that enables people to detect and respond to cool and cold temperatures. The investigation revealed that a genetic variant that's "upstream" from TRPM8, and may regulate it, became increasingly common in humans living in colder climates over the last 25,000 years. For example, only 5 percent of people with Nigerian ancestry have the variant, compared to 88 percent of people with Finnish ancestry, the researchers explained. The higher the latitude and the colder the climate, the greater the percentage of people who have the variant, according to the study published online May 3 in the journal PLoS Genetics. Previous research found a strong association between this variant and migraine headaches. The highest rate of migraines is among people of European descent, who also have the highest rate of the cold-adaptive genetic variant, the study authors said. Andres and her colleagues suggested that early humans' ability to adapt to cold temperatures may have contributed, to some degree, to the differences in the prevalence of migraine headaches that exist among various human populations today. Explore further Study sheds light on genetic foundation of migraines More information: The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on Journal information: PLoS Genetics The American Academy of Family Physicians has more on migraines Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. There is no evidence that publishing patient death rates for individual bowel surgeons in England has led to risk averse behaviour or 'gaming' of data, finds a study published by The BMJ today. In fact, the results show that the introduction of public reporting of individual surgeons' outcomes coincided with a substantial reduction in mortality for patients having non-emergency ("elective" or "scheduled") bowel cancer surgery. Similar improvements were not found for emergency surgery, suggesting that improvements in care before, during and after major bowel surgeryonly possible for elective proceduresmay explain the findings. When patient death rates for individual surgeons were first published in June 2013, the move was hailed as a major breakthrough in transparency that would drive up standards of care in England. But critics argue that public reporting of outcomes encourages risk averse behaviour, whereby surgeons are less likely to offer surgery to patients at higher risk, and manipulation of data to increase patients' predicted risk or to make patients ineligible for public reporting, often referred to as "gaming." So far, the evidence that public reporting leads to improvements in the quality of patient care is surprisingly weak, and its effect has been studied only in cardiac surgery and almost exclusively in the US. So a team of UK researchers led by Kate Walker from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, decided to look for evidence of risk averse behaviour, manipulation of data, and change in death rates immediately before and after the introduction of surgeon specific outcome reporting in colorectal cancer surgery across the NHS in England. They analysed data for over 111,000 patients included in the National Bowel Cancer Audit (NBOCA) diagnosed with colorectal cancer from April 2011 to March 2015. To investigate risk averse behaviour, they compared the proportion of patients who had elective surgery, predicted 90 day mortality, and observed 90 day mortality, before and after the introduction of public outcome reporting. After factors that could have affected the results, such as patient characteristics and tumour grade, were taken into account, the researchers found that the proportion of patients with colorectal cancer who had major surgery did not change after the introduction of public outcome reporting (63.3% before compared with 63.2% after). The proportion of urgent or emergency proceduresand therefore ineligible for public reportingalso did not change after the introduction of public reporting (15.5% before compared with 15.6% after). The predicted 90 day mortality remained the same (2.7%), but the observed 90 day mortality fell from 2.8% before to 2.1% after. Further analysis showed that this reduction was over and above the existing downward trend in mortality before the introduction of public reporting. The authors outline some strengths of the study, noting the large sample size which represents 92% of all colorectal cancer patients admitted to an English NHS hospital. However, they point out that this is an observational study, so no firm conclusions can be drawn about cause and effectand say that using a "before-after" design is a potential weakness as changes may occur in the quality of data over time. Nevertheless, they say their study "provides unique evidence that the introduction of public reporting of outcomes for individual colorectal cancer surgeons has not led to a decrease in the number of patients at high risk undergoing a major resection and has coincided with an improvement in 90 day mortality for eligible patients." These findings suggest that public reporting for individual clinicians "seems to have triggered an improvement in outcomes after elective procedures that can be achieved only through the involvement of the entire clinical team," they conclude. Explore further Emergency treatment by older surgeons linked to slightly lower death rates More information: Effect of public reporting of surgeons' outcomes on patient selection, "gaming," and mortality in colorectal cancer surgery in England: population based cohort study, The BMJ, www.bmj.com/content/361/bmj.k1581 Effect of public reporting of surgeons' outcomes on patient selection, "gaming," and mortality in colorectal cancer surgery in England: population based cohort study, Harsher drug prohibition won't stop violence, argue Paul Whitehouse, former Chief Constable of Sussex Police, and Jason Reed at Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP UK) which supports drug policy reform, in The BMJ today. They say spending 40m on policies based on prohibition "is unlikely to solve the problem" and they call for drug policy to shift focus from criminal justice to public health. Last week, the Royal College of Physicians of London joined calls for an end to criminal sanctions against people who take drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and cannabis for non-medical reasons, saying the criminal justice system "is not the place to address the often complex needs of people addicted to drugs." Earlier this month, after a spate of violent crime, the UK Home Office released its Serious Violence Strategy, stating that the government's response "must tackle the misuse of drugs" as a priority, with more expected from the police. But the authors point out that only four years ago, the same department released a report acknowledging that drug laws have no real impact on drug use. They highlight the failed, dangerous and expensive pursuit of a punitive drug policy. For example, the Home Office has prioritised tackling "county lines," where gangs recruit children to distribute drugs to provincial towns. Yet Neil Woods, an undercover police officer and LEAP UK chairperson estimates that for the 1000 years of cumulative prison time, with each operation taking around six months to complete, the flow of drugs in any city was interrupted for only around two hours, and it's often the most vulnerable who were affected and not those at the head of the supply chain. Woods and many colleagues now call for the control and regulation of drugs to take this $320bn global industry out of the hands of organised crime. Reed and Whitehouse also point to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, that makes all drug possession and supply a crime, "but the deterrent doesn't work and drugs are more readily available than ever," they write. Scotland now has the highest rate of drug related deaths in the EU, with 867 people dying in 2016 - more than twice as many as a decade ago, while the government's Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs reports that 2,677 people died from opioid overdose in 2015 in the UK. "Without the threat of criminal repercussions more people with drug problems could get help," they write. Furthermore, each UK taxpayer spends an estimated 400 a year on drug policy, with the annual cost of class A drug use in England and Wales estimated at over 15bn and in Scotland around 3.5bn, they add. Some police forces are taking different approaches to drug enforcement within the law, they explain. For instance, in Durham, a policy of not arresting people for drug possession and low level dealing has gained public support, while in North Wales, police are putting more focus on supportive services. International examples also show that more humane drug policies do not lead to an increase in consumption, as proponents of prohibition argue, but to a reduction in crime and overdose deaths. Reed and Whitehouse argue that the government's "new" strategy is already outdated. To reduce the violence from illegal trade "we should replace our enforcement led approach with regulation, taxation, support, and education in a health based strategy." Until Westminster sees how much the public support drug policy reform "we are unlikely to see any differences in rates of street crime. When so many law enforcement voices are calling for drug law reform, we have to ask why legislators are not listening," they conclude. Explore further The war on drugs has failed and doctors should lead calls for change, says BMJ More information: Harsher drug prohibition won't stop violence, but regulation might, The BMJ, blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2018/05/02/h ut-regulation-might/ Journal information: British Medical Journal (BMJ) Harsher drug prohibition won't stop violence, but regulation might, The Empathic Cultural Mapping (ECM) is an online interactive tool that visually presents big data alongside personal vignettes and stories of six individuals whove settled into Calgary. It presents the newcomer experience in a way that connects the individual lived experience with big data and mapping analysis. Credit: Lynda Sea, Faculty of Nursing Big data isn't just an empty buzzword getting tossed around in the realms of business, health and science. For nursing researcher Suzanne Goopy, large data sets and analysis can actually help us better understand how to create healthy and sustainable cities, but the key is giving context to numbers and examining where statistics meet stories. Goopy is a visual anthropologist, registered nurse and associate professor in the Faculty of Nursing. She's exploring the Calgarian newcomer experience and how it's shaping their daily lives and impacting their health and well-being. On April 23, she launched the Empathic Cultural Mapping (ECM) project at the Taylor Family Digital Library. It is one of five University of Calgary projects funded by a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation through UCalgary Libraries and Cultural Resources (LCR). ECM is an online interactive tool that visually presents big data from sources like Statistics Canada, Calgary Police Service, City of Calgary and other published research findings alongside personal vignettes and stories of six individuals who've settled into Calgary. It was developed in consultation with the City of Calgary and community stakeholders. "We have been exploring how best to tell the story of the newcomer experience in a way that connects the individual lived experience with big data and mapping analysis," says Goopy. Throughout ECM, you'll encounter personal stories of new immigrants to Calgary like this journal entry by Ali, a Syrian tile setter now living in Calgary in Forest Lawn. Credit: University of Calgary For the past few years, she has been working with colleagues across campus from Cumming School of Medicine, Werklund School of Education, Faculty of Environmental Design and with the City of Calgary, exploring barriers to walking and mobility for Calgary's newcomer communities. Their focus is on the South Asian community in Rundle and surrounding communities, as well as recently arrived refugees from countries such as Syria. ECM is the result, building on data collected through the Barriers to Walkability project. It's an interactive online tool that brings together various traditional GIS maps (e.g., demographic, community development, transit, and various hotspot maps) to form a new kindthe empathic cultural map. An empathic cultural map offers detailed, qualitative insights into individual and group experiences of living and working in a particular area. In that sense, with ECM, users can navigate geographical maps on the interactive pages and discover spatial and numeric data, from walkability scores in Calgary neighbourhoods to immigration rates across the globe. But they also encounter audio interviews, scanned journal entries and stories about the new immigrants to Calgary and their personal anecdotes. The juxtaposition encourages users to see links across data which might not always be traditionally evident, with the aim of making connections and seeing key facilitators, blockers or constraints relevant to health. "By locating small stories within the big data and big data beside the small voices of individuals, I hope the ECM can show us the human implications of things that are often thought of in abstract terms," says Goopy. ECM is an interactive online tool that brings together various traditional GIS maps (e.g., demographic, community development, transit, and various hotspot maps) with a new type of map the empathic cultural map. Credit: University of Calgary For example, as you navigate through ECM, you'll come across the story of Ali, who lived in Homs, working as a tile setter before the Syrian civil war. In 2012, he and his family fled to Lebanon and lived there for four years before they were resettled in Calgary in Forest Lawn. They arrived in Calgary in the middle of the winter and didn't speak English and didn't own a car. When Ali's wife and son became ill, they were hospitalized at the Peter Lougheed Centre and the Alberta Children's Hospital (ACH) respectively, and he had to rely on public transit to visit them. Goopy's research team documented Ali's route, using the YYC transit app and time-lapse video to see what that journey was like from Forest Lawn to ACH. The app proposed it should only take an hour and 10 minutes travel time, but the actual trip took six hours alone, without any visiting time at the hospital. "As we learn more about the challenges newcomers face getting around our city on foot and on transit, we are not surprised to hear more than one of our participants tell us that you aren't a Calgarian until you own a car," she says. "Knowing that active transportation can have significant positive effects in reducing the incidence of the 'bog four' chronic diseases, it is important that we look for ways to give people more real choices." When talking about about health and well-being, it's impossible to ignore the world around us, the infrastructure and how we live in it day to day. In that way, the highly visual, interactive multi-media platform invites users to take their time to engage, ponder and imagine how big things play out in the small everyday lives of people. Credit: University of Calgary Learn about empathic approach and explore the ECM platform May 3 and 4 Goopy says an empathic approach to understanding these experiences can encourage a more creative pathway to solutions. ECM is significant in that it can help inform actual or future city planning and offers other researchers from different disciplines an educational tool. Going forward, the platform can evolve as new data sets are added accordingly, says Goopy. "We need to have things that people can engage with and that's at the heart of this," she adds. Explore further This low-carbon plan comes with an economic upside Luis Ostrosky, M.D. Credit: UTHealth When it comes to the examination room at your health care clinic, you might think that avoiding catching the flu or other more deadly viruses is out of your hands, so to speak. But infectious disease experts at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), who just published a practical guide for infectious disease control in clinics, reveal how we can all help make a difference in infection control. A first-of-its-kind paper in Open Forum Infectious Diseases, a publication of the Infectious Disease Society of America, the step-by-step guide specifies exactly what clinicians need to do to achieve better infection prevention and control as health care delivery continues to shift from hospital to outpatient settings. Previous prevention recommendations have been broad or issued in the wake of outbreaks and epidemics, but this paper promotes a more proactive and systemized approach. While the paper is directed to health care providers, senior author Luis Ostrosky, M.D., professor of infectious diseases at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth, said patients can do their own part to hold them accountable. "Our mantra is 'It's OK to ask.' So it's OK to ask your doctor or nurse if they washed their hands and if the instrument they are using on you is sterilized. People need to be their own advocates to make sure they're being taken care of safely," said Ostrosky, who is also vice chair for healthcare quality at McGovern Medical School and associate medical director for infection prevention at UT Physicians, the clinical practice of McGovern Medical School. Among the key areas of focus are injection safety, cleaning and sterilization, high-level disinfection and something everyone can play a part in practicinggood hand hygiene. Hand hygieneHailed as the cornerstone of infection prevention, this is highlighted as an issue prone to inconsistency and lack of oversight. The paper cautions that hand hygiene facilities must be placed in patient care areas, medication preparation areas and medical equipment cleaning areas. "Patients should also make use of the hand gel sanitizer dispensers in clinic reception areas. We advocate for the use of these gels for medical professionals before and after they finish an examination," he said. "In addition, using soap and water is necessary when there's visible soiling of the hands because the gel will not wash it away." Injection safetyThe majority of reported viral and bacterial outbreaks caused by dirty syringes in recent years have occurred in outpatient settings. Common culprits were lack of access to hand hygiene facilities, reuse of vials and syringes and medication mixing. In all reported outbreaks, implementing basic prevention measures decreased subsequent transmission. Patients can also see with their own eyes whether the correct procedures are happening. "People can make sure the injection is drawn in a sterile fashion and that an antiseptic is used. It needs to be a brand new syringe and the little stopper for the vial must be wiped. Think fresh, in front of you, sterile materials and antiseptics," Ostrosky explained. Cleaning, sterilization, and high-level disinfectionWhen it comes to cleanliness, order is crucial. Older clinics tend to only have one room for cleaning reusable medical devices, so with smaller spaces it is advised to focus on the separation of clean and dirty processes. Glucose meters, used to measure blood sugar levels, are singled out especially as needing standardization and training on disinfection. The device is cited as a priority due to its historic association with transmission of bloodborne pathogensinfectious microorganisms in blood that can cause diseases such as hepatitis. Although all facilities are not required to undergo routine regulatory audits, all clinics providing care are expected to meet infection prevention standards. First author Fozia Steinkuller, M.P.H., said, "For example, when your dental or minor procedure surgical instruments are presented to you or opened there should be a chemical indicator in the pack marking whether it has met the sterilization parameters. The other things you can ask are whether their instrument and scopes used to examine inside cavities such as the nose and colon have been reprocessed and if the people reprocessing have been trained? These are simple answers that every provider should have." By offering clear and realistic advice, the paper aims to help all clinics, including those with more limited resources, to be squeaky clean in areas that are not externally regulated or monitored. Airborne illnesses, such as measles and tuberculosis, are another issue demanding patients speak up. Clinics need to be notified upon or before arrival of possible infections, so appropriate precautions can be taken. In the event of a patient being known or suspected of an airborne illness, it is recommended to have a room ready and an alternative entry into the space. "Letting the receptionist know up front should be a patient responsibility, as there's a full procedure for dealing with this. There are masks and tissues we can give the patient and a different area so they're not in the general waiting room," Ostrosky said. "We want to prevent any transmission of infection, whether it's flu in a pediatric clinic or hepatitis in a gastroenterology clinic," he said. As medical practice is increasingly moving out of hospitals and into clinics, antibiotic resistance, which occurs when bacteria change in a way that reduces the effectiveness of drugs, is another focus area. Viral infections, for example, do not require antibiotics but some physicians might still order them. Ostrosky said: "We're working with our doctors and patients to question the use of antibiotics and we're rolling out guidelines for infections. On the patient empowerment side it's OK to ask, 'Do I really need an antibiotic?' and not demand one." Explore further Handwashing gets skipped a third of the time in outpatient healthcare Robot-assisted spinal surgery for chordoma tumor removal. Credit: Penn Medicine Noah Pernikoff is back to his life in New York City after becoming the first patient in the world to undergo a complex three-part, robotic-assisted surgery. The robotic arms made it possible for the multidisciplinary team at Penn to successfully remove a rare tumor from Noah's neck, where the skull meets the spine. The ground breaking surgery was completed by a multi-surgeon team, led by Dr. Neil Malhotra, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in August 2017 over a span of two days and more than 20 hours. Chordoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull base and spine. A chordoma tumor usually grows slowly and is often asymptomatic for years. In the case of 27-year-old Noah Pernikoff, a 2016 car accident revealed his surprising diagnosis. Among his injuries from the accident, Noahwho was working in New York City for a commercial contracting firmtore his rotator cuff and had several herniated discs. More important, however, was his post-accident nagging neck pain, which lead to an x-ray that revealed a concerning lesion in his neck, on his cervical spine. The lesion was clearly unrelated to the accident, and far more concerning than the minor injuries he had endured. After making a recovery from the accident, Pernikoff's father, a physician, encouraged his son to see a neurosurgeon for evaluation of the injury. The neurosurgeon Pernikoff saw ultimately recommended a biopsy of the spot, which resulted in a diagnosis of chordoma. "I'm lucky because they caught mine early. For a lot of people, if it's not found and treated early, it's lethal," Pernikoff said. "The doctor said if I hadn't discovered it through the car accident it probably would have kept growing until it came to a point on my spinal cord where it caused paralysis or death. I feel very lucky in that regard." Unfortunately, the neurosurgeon explained to Pernikoff, while surgery is known to be the best option for chordoma, Pernikoff's would be too difficult to resect and he would have to try the second option, radiation with proton therapy. Chordoma is extremely rare; it affects only one in 1 million people each year. Pernikoff's specific type of chordoma, located on his C2 vertebrae, is even rarer, making treatment a challenge. Pernikoff's neurosurgeon immediately referred him to Penn, where a multidisciplinary team reviewed his case, and his options, and began crafting a treatment plannot through radiation, but a complex surgery that had never been performed before. Neil Malhotra, MD, an assistant professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery and the vice chair of operations in the department of Neurosurgery, gathered a multidisciplinary team of physicians to treat Pernikoff's chordoma. Malhotra planned to remove the tumor through a rare and complex spinal surgery approach. Bert W. O'Malley Jr., MD, a professor and chairman of the department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, planned to aid Malhotra's approach and improve Pernikoff's recovery by using a trans-oral robotic (TORS) approach for the second part of the surgery. TORS is the world's first group of minimally invasive robotic surgery techniques, invented at Penn, to remove benign and malignant tumors of the mouth and throat. "This would be a first ever use of a robot in this mannera rare approach to an already rare and complex case," Malhotra said. "Our team needed to reconstruct the removed area of Pernikoff's spine using bone and rods, and that was only the beginning." The stakes were high. Because of the placement of the tumor, Malhotra said removal could compromise the structural integrity of Pernikoff's spine, causing permanent paralysis. There was also a risk of complications such as bone and tissue breakdown, loss of sense of smell, fine motor skill issues, and complete paralysis. And, he said, "if we couldn't remove the entire tumor, it would likely grow back, perhaps more aggressive than before." The surgery was performed in three parts. First, the neurosurgeons went through the back of Pernikoff's neck and cut the spine around the tumor to prepare for the second stage, removing the tumor through his mouth. The key to this stage would be to make ultrasonic bone cutsremoving a piece of bonearound the tumor without touching it, and without injuring the spinal cord that lay between the neurosurgeon and the tumor/spinal column. With stage one success, O'Malley and a team of three head and neck surgeons used the surgical robot to clear a path so Malhotra could remove the tumor, and part of the spinal column, in its entirety through the mouth. Finally, the team reconstructed Pernikoff's spinal column, which was now missing an important bone in his neck, using some of Pernikoffs' own bone from his hip and rods to finalize stabilization of the newly built portion of his spine. "The capability of this technology and procedure is revolutionary," O'Malley said. "This surgery was groundbreaking and it's a wonderful example of how versatile TORS is for tumors in the head, neck, and now spine." Now, nine months after the surgery, Pernikoff is already back to work in commercial contracting and says he's forever grateful for the car accident that revealed his diagnosis and the life-saving care that he received at Penn Medicine. Explore further Do patients with neck injuries really need that MRI after a normal CT? Key findings from the May 2018 National Poll on Healthy Aging report, on sexual health after age 65. Credit: University of Michigan A new poll busts stereotypes about the sex lives of older Americansand reveals gender and health-related divides on key aspects of sexual health, while highlighting the need for more people to talk with their health providers about sexual issues. Forty percent of people between the ages of 65 and 80 are sexually active, according to the new findings from the National Poll on Healthy Aging. Nearly three-quarters of people in this age range have a romantic partner and 54 percent of those with a partner are sexually active. Whether or not they have an active sex life, nearly two-thirds of older adults say they're interested in sex, and more than half say sex is important to their quality of life. And when asked if they are satisfied with their current sex life, 73 percent of the nationally representative sample of 1,002 people polled said they were. The poll was conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, and sponsored by AARP and Michigan Medicine, U-M's academic medical center. The poll explored how older adults might seek help or advice for sexual problems, and if they've talked with their doctors about their sexual health. In all, 18 percent of older men and 3 percent of older women say they've taken medications or supplements to improve sexual function in the past two years. But only 17 percent of older adults said they have talked with their doctor or other health care provider about sexual health in the past two years. Most who had engaged in such discussions said they brought the topic up, suggesting the need for more proactive conversations by clinicians with their older patients. "Sexual health among older adults doesn't get much attention but is linked closely to quality of life, health and well-being," says U-M's Erica Solway, Ph.D., co-associate director of the poll. "It's important for older adults and the clinicians who care for them to talk about these issues and about how age-related changes in physical health, relationships, lifestyles and responsibilities such as caregiving, affect them." Key findings from the May 2018 National Poll on Healthy Aging report, on sexual health after age 65. Credit: University of Michigan Gender, age and health status divides Solway notes that the poll finds some sharp differences along health, age and gender lines. For instance, compared with the 45 percent of respondents with excellent, very good, or good health who reported they were sexually active, only 22 percent of those who said they are in fair or poor health were sexually active. Only 28 percent of those with fair or poor health said they were extremely or very satisfied with their sex lives. There are also differences within age groups. Those between the ages of 65 and 70 were nearly twice as likely as those in their late 70s to be sexually active. One-third of those in their late 60s said they were extremely or very interested in sex, compared with 19 percent of those in their late 70s. The gender gaps that emerged reveal some differences that may create challenges for relationships. For instance, women were less likely than men to be sexually active31 percent overall, compared with 51 percent of menbut were more likely to be extremely or very satisfied with their sex lives. And while 84 percent of older men said sex was an important part of a romantic relationship, 69 percent of older women agreed with that statement. But the biggest gender difference was the percentage of those who said they were extremely or very interested in sex. Half of men aged 65 to 80 said they had this level of interest, compared with just 12 percent of women in the same age range. "This survey just confirms that the need for and interest in sexual intimacy doesn't stop at a certain age," says Alison Bryant, Ph.D., senior vice president of research for AARP. "Although most older adults say that they would talk with their doctor about sexual concerns, health care providers should routinely be asking all of their older patients about their sexual health and not assume that bringing up the issue will offend or embarrass them." A key takeaway from the poll, Solway notes, is that there appears to be opportunity for more proactive conversations between providers and their older patients about sexual health. In all, 62 percent of the older adults polled said that if they were having a problem with their sexual health, they would talk with their health provider about it, yet only 17 percent had actually done so in the past two years. The majority (88 percent) of those who had talked with their provider about their sexual health said they were comfortable doing so. The poll results are based on answers from a nationally representative sample of 1,002 people ages 65 to 80. The poll respondents answered a wide range of questions online. Questions were written, and data interpreted and compiled, by the IHPI team. Laptops and Internet access were provided to poll respondents who did not already have it. Explore further Medical marijuana gets wary welcome from older adults, poll shows More information: A full report of the findings and methodology is available at A full report of the findings and methodology is available at www.healthyagingpoll.org , along with past National Poll on Healthy Aging reports. Rapid HIV test. Credit: varnent / LGBT Free Media Collective Almost 40 percent of people previously diagnosed with HIV do not disclose their HIV status during diagnosis campaigns, leading to unnecessary retesting. In addition to wasting valuable resources, this phenomenon can distort indicators of progress toward the UNAIDS targets. These are the conclusions of a study performed in Southern Mozambique and led by ISGlobalan institution supported by the "la Caixa" Foundationin collaboration with the Manhica Health Research Centre (CISM). In 2014, UNAIDS set the goal to reach the 90-90-90 target by 2020: diagnose 90 percent of people infected with HIV, treat 90 percent of seropositive people, and achieve viral suppression in 90 percent of treated persons. Progress has been made in several African regions, but awareness of HIV status remains one of the challenges. This goes beyond diagnosis, requiring accepting the result, understanding the implications, and willingness to disclose the status to others, including health counsellors. Failure to do so can lead to unnecessary repeated testing or dropping out of care. In this study, the research team sought to characterize the people living with HIV that do not disclose their serological status during a diagnosis campaign in Manhica district with 174,000 inhabitants and a high HIV prevalence (40 percent of adults). Of 1179 people registered as HIV-positive, more than one-third (36 percent) did not disclose their previous positive diagnosis to counsellors. Most of them were young, had dropped out of care, and had no history of antiretroviral treatment. The high percentage of people who know they are infected but decide not to disclose it can lead to an overestimation of new HIV cases, thereby distorting programme indicators, particularly in countries like Mozambique where HIV testing is anonymous. "These results suggest that we are maybe closer the first UNAIDS target (90 percent of diagnosed people) and that we have to concentrate efforts on scaling up treatment delivery and reaching HIV positive individuals that have dropped out of care," says Denise Naniche, ISGlobal researcher and coordinator of the study. The reasons for not disclosing HIV status may include not believing the result, thinking that brief periods of treatment has provided a cure, or fear of stigma. Therefore, the authors emphasise the need to develop interventions that "ensure appropriate psychosocial support to encourage the population to disclose their status and optimize scarce resources." More information: Laura Fuente-Soro et al, Monitoring progress towards the first UNAIDS target: understanding the impact of people living with HIV who re-test during HIV-testing campaigns in rural Mozambique, Journal of the International AIDS Society (2018). Laura Fuente-Soro et al, Monitoring progress towards the first UNAIDS target: understanding the impact of people living with HIV who re-test during HIV-testing campaigns in rural Mozambique,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25095 Provided by Barcelona Institute for Global Health You could say Hollis Cline's lab at The Scripps Research Institute is building better tadpoles. To better understand how humans learn, Cline, PhD, Hahn Professor of Neuroscience and co-chair of the Department of Neuroscience, leads experiments designed to spark learning in tadpole brains. Over the years, her lab's work with tadpoles has shed light on neuroplasticityhow new experiences flood brain cells with proteins that fuel brain development and learning. Now the lab's latest study, published in eLife, suggests a key to neuroplasticity is not just the presence of new proteins, but how the brain makes proteins in the first place. The research also points to a possible new role for proteins in sensory processing in some people with autism spectrum disorder. "The idea that visual experience can influence how we make proteins is something brand new," Cline says. "This is interesting to think about because we live in a very busy sensory world." The researchers used tadpoles that naturally have translucent skinwhich makes them an excellent model for peering into the wirings of a living brain. The tadpoles were kept in the dark and then exposed to either ambient light (for the control group) or a screen with moving bars (simulating normal visual experience) for four hours. Working closely with Professor John Yates, PhD, of the Scripps Research Department of Molecular Medicine, Cline's team measured changes in protein expressionthe production of proteins in cellsbefore and after each experiment. They found that the expression of 83 proteins shifted either up or down in the experimental group. Many of these were effector proteinsthe proteins doing specific jobs in cells. But the team also spotted three outliers: proteins eIF3A, FUS and RPS17. These three are regulatory proteins, meaning they construct the machinery that makes the effector proteins further down the line. Cline was surprised. She and her colleagues always thought regulatory protein expression would hold steady even when visual experience varied. "We just thought the regulatory machine would be just humming along," Cline says. "So, we were surprised to see them on our list. We thought, 'Is this accurate? Is this true?'" It turned out that these regulatory proteins are essential for learning from visual experience. Cells are better at building connections and reinforcing learning when they synthesize these proteins at a certain rate during visual experience. In fact, researchers could tag neurons with fluorescent proteins to see the physical signature that visual experience left in the brain. Thanks to eIF3A, FUS and RPS17, tadpoles had significant neuronal growthseen in how their neurons sent out branch-like tendrilsafter just four hours of visual experience. Next, the scientists investigated whether changes in protein expression affected tadpole behavior. How important were these proteins for teaching tadpoles? To find out, the researchers took advantage of a natural tadpole behavior: the instinct to avoid any large shape that may be a looming predator. The researchers had tadpoles swim above a screen that projected large, predator-like spots. Then they tracked whether a tadpole would turn to avoid the dark spots. The tadpoles with exposure to visual experience did significantly better on the avoidance test than tadpoles in the control group. This suggests they had formed the neural circuits to better process visual information. Interestingly, tadpoles did not do as well on the testeven after exposure to visual experiencewhen they could not express all three key proteins (eIF3A, FUS and RPS17). This finding further confirmed the importance of the regulatory proteins in neuronal plasticity. Finally, the researchers were curious whether the 83 total proteins they identified were expressed differently in human brain disorders, so they cross referenced their list with two databasesone of people with risk factors for autism spectrum disorders, and one with people with fragile X syndrome, which has similar characteristics as autism. The results came as a surprise. Twenty-five percent of the proteins on the Scripps Research list overlapped with the database lists of genes thought to cause autism spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome. That was a much bigger number than Cline expected, and it prompts new questions about what makes an autism "risk factor" actually risky. Cline thinks mutations in regulatory proteins might keep some people from expressing the other proteins needed for processing sights, smells, textures, tastes and sounds. "This brings to mind a new dimension for understanding autism," Cline says. Cline says future studies could focus on understanding all 83 synthesized proteins. She says the work has also made her consider the visual experience humans take in every day. "It's fascinating to think about how sensory experience affects the brains of our children," says Cline. "We may wittingly or unwittingly affect how their brains develop." Additional authors of the study, "Role of the visual experience-dependent nascent proteome in neuronal plasticity," were first author Han-Hsuan Liu, Daniel B. McClatchy, and Lucio Schiapparelli of Scripps Research; and Wanhua Shen of Scripps Research and Hangzhou Normal University. Explore further The backwards brain? Study shows how brain maps develop to help us perceive the world More information: Han-Hsuan Liu et al, Role of the visual experience-dependent nascent proteome in neuronal plasticity, eLife (2018). Journal information: eLife Han-Hsuan Liu et al, Role of the visual experience-dependent nascent proteome in neuronal plasticity,(2018). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.33420 WASHINGTON Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russias election interference, has at least four dozen questions on an exhaustive array of subjects he wants to ask President Trump to learn more about his ties to Russia and determine whether he obstructed the inquiry itself, according to a list of the questions obtained by The New York Times. [Read the questions here.] The open-ended queries appear to be an attempt to penetrate the presidents thinking, to get at the motivation behind some of his most combative Twitter posts and to examine his relationships with his family and his closest advisers. They deal chiefly with the presidents high-profile firings of the F.B.I. director and his first national security adviser, his treatment of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and a 2016 Trump Tower meeting between campaign officials and Russians offering dirt on Hillary Clinton. But they also touch on the presidents businesses; any discussions with his longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, about a Moscow real estate deal; whether the president knew of any attempt by Mr. Trumps son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to set up a back channel to Russia during the transition; any contacts he had with Roger J. Stone Jr., a longtime adviser who claimed to have inside information about Democratic email hackings; and what happened during Mr. Trumps 2013 trip to Moscow for the Miss Universe pageant. Mr. Trump said on Twitter on Tuesday that it was disgraceful that questions the special counsel would like to ask him were publicly disclosed, and he incorrectly noted that there were no questions about collusion. The president also said collusion was a phony crime. A United Nations human rights expert on Tuesday strongly condemned the killing of nine journalists in Afghanistan who were among the victims of Mondays terrorist attack in the countrys capital. The condemnation came just in advance of , annually observed on 3 May. Yesterdays attack, like all such attacks on journalists, is an attack on Afghanistans and the publics right to know, said the UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of opinion and expression, MTN has released its quarterly update for the period ended 31 March 2018. The company said its operations in South Africa recorded year-on-year service revenue growth of 2.5%. While lower than our full-year expectations, this improving quarter-on-quarter performance follows the more muted performance in the prior quarter, said MTN. The growth was supported by data and digital revenue, which increased by 12.1% and 17.7% respectively, it said. Outgoing voice revenue decreased by 9.2%, while data traffic increased by 49%. There was also a 14% increase in active data users. MTN South Africas EBITDA margin expanded to 35% year-on-year, supported by continued cost efficiencies and the increase in service revenue. From a subscriber standpoint, MTN SA reported: 132,000 postpaid net additions. 536,000 prepaid net additions. Its subscriber total for South Africa stood at 29.8 million. Investment MTN said the company invested R1.7 billion in capex locally in the first quarter of 2018, following the marked improvement in our network in 2017. It has also continued to focus on customer acquisition in the postpaid business, improving channel footprint and reducing churn, said MTN. The MTN Group reported positive figures in multiple segments, too. Group subscribers increased by 1.9% quarter-on-quarter, with net additions of 4.1 million. Active MTN Mobile Money customers increased by 3.9% quarter-on-quarter to 22.7 million. Voice traffic (billable minutes) increased by 24.2%. Total data traffic increased by 56.7%. Group service revenue increased by 9.1%. Group data revenue increased by 26.9%. MTN Group CEO Rob Shuter said the group continued to focus on operational execution across its markets, leveraging off the strong network investment of the past few years. This allowed us to deliver an acceleration in service revenue growth to 9.1%, led by MTN Nigeria and MTN Ghana, said Shuter. Now read: Xiaomi shows massive growth ahead of IPO Carey van Vlaanderen did not follow the usual path to the top. Instead of working herself up to the position of CEO, she started a company shortly after she left university and never looked back. Van Vlaanderen studied a BCom in Information Systems at the University of Cape Town and decided to travel across the UK and Asia. During these travels she started her first real job a sixth-month PA position to the Director of Sport England in London. Her big break came after she returned to South Africa, when she joined a few business partners to create 4D Digital Security now known as 4Di Group. 4D Digital Security was an information security business that focused on security audits, penetration testing, and other security services. I had found my place in the chaos and knew that I was home, said van Vlaanderen. From 2004 to 2009, she served as the Sales and Operations Manager at ESET Southern Africa, which is owned by 4Di Group, and in October 2009 became Chief Operating Officer at the company. She was promoted to CEO of ESET Southern Africa in March 2010 and has served in this position since. Advice to young people Van Vlaanderen said qualifications are undoubtedly chief credentials, and a necessary tool for career advancement. However, she pointed out that qualifications only set up the premise for a person to acquire skills and it is their skill set that will either cripple or enable them. So, my advice would be to first align your studies with your areas of passion and interest, because ultimately it will be these areas where you find the most joy, she said. Secondly, give equal weighting to the kinds of hands-on spaces that your chosen qualifications will present to you. This is where you can pick up new skills, and actively leverage and apply them. She further advises young professionals to hold themselves to higher standards around commitment, hard work, and attitude, as these will be the real hallmarks for their rate of development in the end. Van Vlaanderens tech and business choices Which smartphone do you use? Samsung Galaxy S8. Which laptop do you use? MacBook Air. What is the worst gadget you have ever bought? My first Walkman. What Internet connection do you have at home? Afrihost Fibre. What is the best investment you have ever made? 15 years at ESET. What is the worst investment you have ever made? A bad investment could mean a bad decision, and theres always good in that. One learns to make better decisions so really, is there such a thing as a bad investment? What is the best business book you have ever read? The Australian government has invested AUS$50 million to build the countrys space programme, ABC News reports. The establishment of the Australian space agency will reportedly be announced on 8 May. Creating its own space agency will place Australia in a league with many other developed nations which have space programmes, including New Zealand. The Australian government has not decided where the headquarters of the space agency will be, but it expects the private sector to contribute most of the funding toward the development of the programme. The report stated that former CSIRO boss Megan Clark will head up the agency for its first year of operation. Georgia in the US is considering a new law that will allow companies to hack back when cyber attacked, Threatpost reported. Opponents have criticised the bill, warning that allowing companies to go on the offensive may encourage a new kind of corporate warfare. The criminalisation of activities like vulnerability research and penetration testing is also a concern. Google and Microsoft are among the laws opponents, and have asked the governor of Georgia to veto the bill. They argued that the bill will make Georgia a laboratory for offensive cybersecurity practices that have not been authorised in other jurisdictions, which may have unintended consequences. Microsoft and Google warned that the provisions in the bill could lead to abuse and be deployed for anti-competitive purposes. The Napa-Sonoma Small Business Development Center, hosted by Napa Valley College, recently received $25,000 from Wells Fargo Bank to help small businesses recover from the October wildfires. The SBDC is a nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs and business owners address challenges and opportunities and increase profits. We appreciate Wells Fargo supporting the SBDC in our efforts to assist Napa and Sonoma County businesses impacted by the October wildfires, as many small business owners are still struggling to get back on their feet," said Mary Cervantes, who manages, supervises and markets SBDC programs and services. Cervantes accepted the $25,000 check on April 19 during a ceremony in Santa Rosa attended by other grant recipients and several Wells Fargo executives. The Napa Valley Jazz Society presents another in its s Series with a pairing of reed master Ken Peplowski and Brazilian guitarist Diego Figueiredo. The program of swinging standards and bossa nova rhythms will be performed at Silos Club in Napa, Sunday, May 13 at 4 p.m. Figueiredo, a virtuoso with an infectious, joyful feeling, has been hailed by critics for his superb technique, timing and imagination. He has performed in more than 50 countries and has received top awards twice at the Montreux Jazz Festival. His concerts unite technique and emotion in a fusion of Brazilian music and jazz. According to George Benson, Diego Figueiredo is one of the greatest guitarists Ive seen in my whole life. The world needs to listen to his music." One of the most highly regarded reedmen around, Peplowski is known for his swinging, soulful jazz, as well as his virtuosity on clarinet. He has been featured by several symphony orchestras as soloist on such pieces as the Mozart Clarinet Concerto.The New York Times describes Peplowski as "Goodman straight up, with a twist of lightning." All of Napa Valley is a stage in the first days of May. Here are a few performances to consider: Shakespeare at Silverado William Shakespeare may have written his plays 400 years before they were born, but drama students at Silverado Middle School say his works still resonate with their lives. Deep into rehearsals for upcoming performances of The Tempest and Much Ado About Nothing, they paused to discuss the question of why people still perform the Bards works after all those years. The answer, many said, is that the tales of warring princes or exiled dukes making magic may not be the stuff of everyday life but many of the the themes he explores jealousy, betrayal can be found the hallways of a middle school. And delving into Shakespeares plays, learning the lines, provides escapes to other worlds. And even though you know that other people have played these roles, no one will ever say it just the way you do, said Jazzy Satten, who plays the role of Prospero. Riders board the Napa Valley Wine Train expecting fine wine, a gourmet meal and million-dollar views. Graffiti is probably not on their must-see list. Unfortunately, thats what they get especially between Lincoln Avenue and California Boulevard in Napa. Block after block, a gauntlet of graffiti decorates fences and walls facing the railroad tracks and the Vine Trail that runs beside them. Pain Gang read one scrawled post. Pueblo Block and Buster x3 read others. On another wall scribbles wrapped around a goofy cartoon face. Scott Goldie, co-CEO of the Wine Train, is not amused. Its a blight, said Goldie. Its ugly. Going through areas blighted by such vandalism makes people not feel as safe, he said. Graffiti ruins the beauty of the Vine Trail and advertises gangs in our community, wrote one Napan who regularly travels on the Vine Trail to and from work. Its not what I expect in the city of Napa, said this resident, whom the Register agreed not to identify by name because the person works in law enforcement. According to Goldie, the amount of graffiti along that stretch of central Napa definitely got worse last year. However, because the surfaces containing the graffiti are private property, access to the blighted urban stretch is restricted, Goldie said. We dont like it at all but its private property, he said. Its not our responsibility. Goldie said he encourages residents to clean up graffiti on their back fences or buildings, but the Wine Train doesnt have the resources to do it themselves. If its on our property, we do remove graffiti, he said. If its not on Wine Train property, we encourage people to comply with the (city) ordinance that says you are required to remove that from your building or home. But ultimately, thats between them and the city, he said. Jaina French, community relations spokeswoman for the city of Napa, said the city has a limited role to play. Our parks department addresses graffiti on the public trail, not on private properties along the trail, she said. City removal is limited to signs, poles, concrete curbs/walls, trail fences and the asphalt itself. For those areas, the graffiti will be removed when found by either parks staff or through an agreement with The Fathers House church, said French. The Fathers House removes larger graffiti on trails and parks and recreation areas citywide once a week. They do this as a public service to the community at no cost to the city, said French. When graffiti appears on private property, Public Works will notify the property owner and request that the owner to remove the graffiti or offer to remove the graffiti at a cost, she said. Pastor Raymond Beaty of The Fathers House said that his volunteers clean up graffiti in Napa as often as two and three times a week. After making contact with the property owner, Fathers House workers will remove graffiti from private buildings that face the Vine Trail, said Beaty. Most are happy to let the team paint it over, he said. Others say they will take care of it themselves. Nobody wants to see graffiti, said Beaty. While the taggers do return, were just not going to give up, he said. People get tired of tagging if they know youre going to paint over it. RAD Napa The graffiti contrasts sharply with another program that was created to beautify the Vine Trail. The Wine Train and a nonprofit group called RAD (Rail Arts District) Napa have teamed up to create public art on the backs of buildings facing the tracks and the Vine Trail. To date, five murals and a decorated chain link fence have been created between Lincoln Avenue and Vallejo Street, including one on the back of the Napa Valley Register building. Another 12 Wine Train signal boxes will be decorated by Northern California artists in the coming weeks. This beautification at the southern end of the Rail Arts District hasnt stopped vandals from tagging and painting the rest of the central Napa route. Chuck McMinn, founder and board president of the non-profit Napa Valley Vine Trail Coalition, noted that the area has always been plagued by graffiti. The Vine Trail Coalition relies on the citys GONE program, which paints over the graffiti from time to time, he said. The RAD Napa program is another way to combat the vandalism. By creating new murals on surfaces that might be tagged, Were taking walls away from the graffiti guys, McMinn said. Anything we can do to beautify that area is a win for the community, he said. If we could raise money more quickly we could get more murals, said McMinn. Goldie said each train trip includes a short presentation about the RAD and what it hopes to accomplish. Each check includes the option of donating $1 to the program. McMinn said the success of the Rail Arts District may in time encourage private property owners to take a more aggressive approach to graffiti removal. Im not sure that a building owner couldnt do something about it if he was so inclined such as go and paint over the graffiti themselves, said McMinn. Im hoping that as we go along everyone takes more pride in that corridor. Graffiti is not as much of an issue here in Napa as it is in many other cities, said French. However, it is still a public nuisance that needs to be abated, she said. The city is pursuing additional avenues to tackle graffiti, which includes partnering with local organizations and considering updating ordinances to reflect how we should respond to graffiti on private property, said French. Our economy is so heavily based on tourism, said the Napan who travels on the Vine Trail regularly. I know tourists like to come to a beautiful, clean and safe place and graffiti doesnt represent any of those characteristics. Pop the cork on Napa Valley wine! Discover the hidden stories of Napa Valley wine and the people behind it -- plus expert analysis from our columnists and more with our weekly email newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. On Tuesday, Napas elected leaders declared their willingness to support a redevelopment plan for 5.4 acres around Pearl Street where the Cinedome once stood, so long as the focus is on creating room for homes and cars. And in trying to make it work, members of the City Council hinted they could accept higher, denser housing construction than Napans have seen in the heart of town both to help relieve a persistent housing crunch and to win over builders skeptical of the success of lower-cost residential construction. I can see a point in more housing density and height, said Jim Krider, one of four councilmembers scrutinizing the project at City Hall. To have affordable housing pencil out, you have to have a little more density and a little more height. In reshaping the Cinedomes old environs between Main Street and Soscol Avenue, the plan would blend residential and commercial uses on eight properties owned by the city, the theaters former owner SyWest Development of San Rafael, and the Napa Sanitation District, which controls land north of Pearl Street opposite where the six-screen movie house once stood. Gonzalez Fletcher reminded committee members that the Capitol had been wracked by scandal after scandal about sexual harassment and retaliation that underscored employee powerlessness. Allowing legislative employees to join a union, she said, would give them protection against being punished if they complain about ill treatment. A number of legislators and senior legislative staffers have been accused of harassment and investigations have proved many of the accusations to be valid. The Legislature has incurred heavy payments to settle harassment and retaliation lawsuits, several legislators have been forced to resign, several others have been admonished and still more investigations are underway. Coby Pizzotti, a former legislative employee who now lobbies for a public employee union, told the committee of the menial tasks he was forced to perform as the aide to a legislator, including running personal errands and babysitting the legislators children. I was afraid to speak up then, Pizzotti said, adding that when he finally did complain to the legislators chief of staff, he was fired. Representatives of several major unions and the California Labor Federation also voiced support for the bill, but it wasnt enough. "Water affects the quality of life of every Napa County resident. "The purpose of this initiative is to protect the quality, biological productivity, and economic and environmental value of Napa County's streams, watersheds, wetlands and forests, and to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare of the County's residents." Courts, in particular, must look at this language and make findings and decisions that presumably carry out the intentions of the ballot initiative and the persons promoting it. On the other hand, the opponents and their lawyers, who are hired and paid for their advice, advocate any claim they may want to make in support of their position, even if it's nonsensical. That is what lawyers are paid to do in order to represent their clients as best they can. If the clients have a tough time making a credible case, they turn to their lawyers to come up with some kind of an argument that offers a basis for turning down a public initiative. Consumer behaviors and how they search, buy and consume wine is very different than it was just 18 months ago, he said. Were looking at a unique way of reaching out directly to our consumersomething thats never been done before, he said without elaborating. As important as profit, Beck said, is how The Coppola Family gives back to the community. The brand touted various trailblazing females in the wine industry on its Great Women Spirits Instagram and Facebook feeds all throughout Womens History Month and also ran promotions to support community rebuilding efforts in the wake of last falls area wildfires. We were overwhelmed with the outreach from our customers as they clearly wanted to help in any way possible, Beck said, adding that although visitations to the Coppola estate fell off after the blazes, the company has made up for it thanks to online retail. When I think of our great industry, I always look back to our founders and how they paved the way for what we have now, the CEO explained. Ive had the pleasure to spend eight years on the Sonoma County Vintners Board, and I appreciate how our board has looked at the bigger picture, such as marketing Sonoma County and, most importantly, charitable giving. Giving back to our communities is one of the most gratifying aspects of my job. The words wine country conjure images of beautiful vistas and vine rows marching (or sprawling, depending on viticultural philosophies) into the sunset. But as you plan your wine country vacations this year, dont ignore the industrial parks, the winery co-ops or the custom crush facilities where several winemakers pool their resources. Warehouses may not be as sexy as sunsets, but some of the best wines are being made in the most unscenic places. This is simple economics. Cutting-edge winemakers are not always going to be your rich tech entrepreneurs, real estate tycoons or pioneering medical researchers who cash in their large fortunes to make smaller ones by dynamiting hillsides and building faux Tuscan villas in a quest to produce the next cult cabernet sauvignon. Just as often they are young, ambitious winemakers who dont own vineyards but work closely with growers to source quality fruit from top vineyards in hopes of producing the next cult pinot noir. Or sauvignon blanc, maybe Sangiovese or zinfandel from century-old vines. They may not have their own wineries, but they often are challenging the way wines are made, marketed and sold. These places can be hard to find, in part because they dont spend a lot of time and effort promoting themselves as wine tourism destinations. That makes them all the more fun to discover. Iran, EEU begin talks to reach agreement over permanent treaty on free trade zone An abundant TechnoFall with Inecobank - NFC payments and more Armenia FM says his Indian counterpart will visit Yerevan in the next few days Deputy PM: A comprehensive study of documents agreed by Armenian and Azerbaijani is necessary Digest: Azerbaijan using Armenia's airspace, Baku says it's ready to mend relations with Yerevan Health minister: All coronavirus vaccines in Armenia meet quality standards Armenia health minister: Those who recovered from COVID-19 also need to get vaccinated Armenia Deputy PM announces name of another POW returned from Azerbaijan Armenia and Italy Presidents hold personal talks at Quirinal Palace Armenian FM: MFA welcomes Iran's stance on inviolability of Armenia's borders EU ready to share experience with Azerbaijan and Armenia in borders demarcation and delimitation Dollar dropping in Armenia Lavrov: Russia, Iran discussed 3 + 3 format concept with Turkey, Caucasus countries participation Hossein Amir-Abdollahian: Iran won't accept geopolitical changes in the Caucasus Armenia Ambassador meets with Iranian Deputy FM Armenia Parliament Speaker visits Armenian church of Russia and New Nakhijevan Diocese Armenia to host event with companies having made investments worth over $2,000,000,000 Aliyev announces start of process of opening communications with Armenia Civil Aviation Committee confirms Baku-Nakhchivan flight through Armenia airspace Wednesday Armenia government programs under EU assistance package are discussed Azerbaijan lodges complaint with ECHR for review of case of assassination attempt against Lapshin Armenian MP also on list of Erdogan's petition to strip several Turkey lawmakers of parliamentary immunity Armenia Deputy PM Suren Papikyan has new advisor Armenia State Revenue Committee chief has new deputy Italy President to Armen Sarkissian: OSCE Minsk Group is the format for sustainable and peaceful solution Armenia ombudsman emphasizes to Vatican Secretary of State urgency of returning Armenian captives in Azerbaijan Aliyev: Azerbaijan is ready to launch negotiations with Armenia for normalization of relations Armenia Parliament Speaker meets with Russian State Duma chairman Ruling faction MP: Armenia airspace has never been closed to Azerbaijan civilian air transportation New France ambassador visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Opposition MP: Not only is there no security system in Armenia but there is no one who wants to maintain that system Not first time that reports are made on opening of Armenia airspace to Azerbaijan Armenia flag raised on Italy presidential palace Armenia Competition Protection Commission chief heads for Greece, memorandum of cooperation to be signed It is snowing with large flakes in Armenias Vanadzor Civil Aviation Committee silent on issue of allowing Baku-Nakhchivan flights through Armenia airspace Armenia State Revenue Committee hosting meeting of council of CIS tax authorities heads Fall forward: Gurgen Khachatryan, Co-Founder of Galaxy Group of Companies, addresses message to Armenia youth Gas price in Europe exceeds $ 1,600 per thousand cubic meters Those displaced from Artsakhs Hadrut again protesting outside Armenia government building World oil prices stabilizing 1,155 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Baku starts using Armenia airspace for flights to Nakhchivan Armenia National Assembly passes important law initiative Russia peacekeepers monitoring ceasefire in Karabakh Snow falls at Armenias Dilijan road bends Greece-Turkey arms race: France frigates vs. Germany submarines? Armenia legislature continues regular sessions Newspaper: Armenia employees to pay considerably for tests if not vaccinated against coronavirus Newspaper: Court denies Armenia parliament speakers petition for opposition MP Hundreds of kilograms of cocaine found in Scotland historic castle ruins Iran FM to discuss developments in Caucasus with his Russian counterpart Armenia FM receives Special Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office in South Caucasus Karabakh emergency situations service: Remains of 2 more Armenian servicemen found in Jrakan 330,000 children were sex abuse victims in French Catholic Church Armenia ex-defense minister: We need to ask Pashinyan what he agreed with Aliyev with regard to mine maps Belgium returns to Egypt artifacts that were illegally exported from country Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff vows to continue military operations to counter Iran Opposition MP: Turks are pressuring Armenia more and more since there is no response from Yerevan Greece proposes pan-European hedging mechanism against sharp fluctuations in gas prices ARF-D member: I am certain that there will be rallies in Armenia in November Czech Republic signs deal to buy new air defense system from Israel Macron and Blinken discuss tensions between Paris and Washington Kharrazi warns Azerbaijan to not be under any illusion about relying on foreign forces for security Armenia President arrives in Rome on state visit Truck providing for rear of Armenia's army damaged after gunshots fired by Azerbaijan in Yeraskh section of border EU: Facebook outage shows need for more players Digest: Putin-Pashinyan's meeting rumored, quake hits Armenia Armenia PM congratulates teachers on their professional day UK officials hold talks with Taliban in Afghanistan Armenia opposition MP: Ruling party deputy is granting AMD 1,000,000,000 in assistance to Goris, why isn't he arrested? Louise Mushikiwabo: International Organisation of La Francophonie is very sensitive to Armenia's political issues Louise Mushikiwabo to Pashinyan: You have much more difficult issues to manage for the country and the region Armenia government intends to tax electronic services provided by non-resident organizations Ohanyan on Iran-Azerbaijan relations: Everything must be done do prevent hostilities in Armenias Syunik Province Opposition "Armenia" faction MP: Authorities shouldn't ruin relations with Iran Aliyev threatens Iran, advises not to pry its nose into Azerbaijans affairs Karabakh President receives members of "Aramazd" military detachment Anti-Corruption Committee chief, US Ambassador discuss justice sector reforms in Armenia (PHOTOS) Armenia ex-defense minister Seyran Ohanyan on detention of Davit Tonoyan Karabakh President meets with relatives of teachers who fell in 2020 war Dollar loses value in Armenia Armenia health minister signs cooperation agreement with Lithuanian counterpart Armenia deputy justice ministers receive EU delegation Baku office of Iran Supreme Leaders representative in Azerbaijan closed Iran closes its airspace to Azerbaijan's air force Armenia opposition MP: There are fears that Armenian authorities could fulfill all demands of Azerbaijan Ships of Georgia and NATO hold joint exercises in the Black Sea Armenia opposition MP: It's hard to expect anything good from the Putin-Aliyev-Pashinyan meeting Armenia legislature supports opposition candidate for post of Public Services Regulatory Commission member Bitcoin price surpasses $ 50,000 for the first time since September 7 Azerbaijan, Georgia sign defense cooperation plan Members of Armenia opposition factions leave session of parliamentary standing committee Kocharyan, Gevorgyan trial: Yerevan court gives defense lawyer 1 week to get familiarized with 128 volumes of case file Khachatryan, Kopirkin discuss Armenia-Russia economic cooperation Earthquake hits Armenia-Georgia border zone Armenia ex-deputy PM, now opposition MP Gevorgyan's lawyer motions court to recognize his parliamentary immunity Kocharyan, Gevorgyan trial: Yerevan court refuses to give new defense attorney few days to study case file State borders not determined by law on administrative-territorial division, says Armenia official Armenia ex-president Kocharyan, former deputy PM and now MP Gevorgyan criminal case court session resumes YEREVAN. The government of Armenia on Thursday convened its regular Cabinet meeting, and Acting Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan chaired it for the last time. Today is the last session of the government with this makeup, and I want to thank you all for the joint work, Karapetyan said addressing the Cabinet members in attendance. It has been a very interesting period. I propose that we give an account to the public as to what have we done during this period. The National Assembly (NA) on Tuesday failed to elect a new PM. But on Thursday, NA Way Out (Yelk) Faction head Nikol Pashinyan was re-nominated PM candidate, and with the signature of 41 MPs. The Tsarukyan and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun Party factions have announced that they will support Pashinyans candidacy. And the parliamentary majority faction of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia has stated that it will not nominate its own candidate and will assist the candidate nominated by one-third of the 105-seat NA to become the next PM. Russias role in the security of Armenia is exclusive and that fact is comprehended both in the world and Armenia, Russian political scientist Sergey Markedonov said. According to him, even State Duma Deputy Leonid Kalashnikov, who is suspicious towards mass protests in post-Soviet countries, announced after meeting with Pashinyan that he will continue developing relations with Russia. He also noted that different politicians have made different announcements over Russia at different times, which later changed. "Its normal when an opposition figure criticizes the authorities, since its the function of the opposition," political scientist noted. Sergey Markedonov noted that the West cannot offer much to Armenia. What can the West offer Armenia? NATO a member of which is Turkey? This country is not just a member, but is the second in terms of troops in NATO. Will the Americans worsen their relations with Turkey for the sake of the future of Armenia? Of course not. This means that this vector is closed in some sense, the speaker said. To the question if Russia can stop selling arms to Azerbaijan, Sergey Markedonov said, I think that Azerbaijan is an important partner for Russia, since first of all, we share border with them, while no one chooses his neighbors. If we worsen our relations with Azerbaijan and they take the path of Georgia, we will have to unfriendly countries in Caucasus. By the way, Armenia will not benefit from it, since Russia will not be able to exert pressure on Baku. As refers to arms supplies, Russia is not the only military-technical partner of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan cooperates also with Israel, Ukraine and Turkey. The US has issued a formal complaint to the Chinese government over the use of high-grade lasers near the military base in Djibouti that were directed at aircraft and resulted in minor injuries to two American pilots, the Pentagon said Thursday. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said that the U.S. is confident that Chinese nationals are responsible for the use of the lasers, which targeted aircraft on several occasions in the last few weeks. White said the incidents represent a serious threat to U.S. airmen, and that the U.S. has asked China to investigate the incidents, USNews reported quoting AP. She estimated there have been fewer than 10 laser incidents in recent weeks, and the Pentagon sought the formal complaint because of the injuries and the growing number of instances the problem happened. Marine Lt. Col. Chris Logan, a Pentagon spokesman, said that reports from pilots indicate that on three occasions the lasers were military grade and came from the Chinese base nearby. Roberto Barrios, right, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, discusses research plans with Grace Vargas, a senior earning a degree in anthropology. Vargas recently received a Cultural Anthropology Research Experience for Undergraduates supplemental grant from the National Science Foundation to assist Barrios with the research in three Houston neighborhoods. (Photo by Russell Bailey) NSF grant helps anthropologist, student study effects of Hurricane Harvey by Tim Crosby CARBONDALE, Ill. We often hear disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes referred to as natural disasters, as humans dont cause them the way they might cause a chemical spill. But for anthropologists, calling something a natural disaster is a bit of a misnomer. Its only a disaster if humans are impacted, for one thing, and humans have very different perceptions of the causes and effects of such events, as well. In that way, the aftermath of such events can reveal a lot about who we are, if you ask the right questions. Research looks for differences in viewpoints surrounding disaster A researcher at Southern Illinois University Carbondale is using a grant from the National Science Foundation to find out more about how people recovering from Hurricane Harvey have interpreted the event, as well what they think are the best ways to prepare for and prevent such calamity in the future. Roberto Barrios, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, hopes a cross-section of Houston locals, including residents, civil society leaders and local government officials, will reveal the various ways they understand the disaster and explain what is at stake in terms of long-term recovery from Harvey, which hit Texas in late August of last year. NSF grant leads the way Barrios, along with a colleague from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, received the $78,000 NSF grant in 2017 for the project titled "Changing perceptions of causes and consequences in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. The funding runs until mid-October this year. The grant also is paying dividends in terms of SIUs strong commitment to undergraduate research. Grace Vargas, a senior earning a degree in anthropology, recently received a Cultural Anthropology Research Experience for Undergraduates supplemental grant from the NSF. Vargas will help Barrios with the research in three Houston neighborhoods. Vargas said she feels truly fortunate for the opportunity, and the process of writing the grant proposal has informed and changed her thinking about course material as a student. Its the ideal combination of being able to pursue independent work, while simultaneously benefitting from the enthusiastic mentorship of a true expert, already working on a closely-related topic, she said. The fieldwork experience will ultimately enrich my formal education, and prepare me to use the knowledge I've acquired at SIU, for contexts outside of the classroom. Disasters lie in the eye of the beholder Barrios said disasters such as Harvey disrupt the way humans develop their society and use land. Consequently, we believe the term natural disasters is a misnomer, as all disasters occur at the intersection of society and the environment, Barrios said. For some anthropologists, Barrios said, a disaster is a revelatory crisis that provides a way of evaluating which development practices used by humans are conducive to long-term adaptation and sustainability, as well as those that are not. The revelatory quality of disasters, however, is contingent on the observer having an anthropologically informed perspective on disasters, he said. Investigating a theory Barrios and his colleagues believe what a disaster reveals to various members of a society varies from one observer to another, depending on their socioeconomic status and their vantage point. It also might vary based on how each person visualizes the policies and practices necessary to recover from and mitigate a disaster. We want to see how the members of these various social groups understand the disaster's causes, and what they think are necessary actions to reduce the probability of a similar disaster occurring in the future, as well as how to best recover from this recent calamity, Barrios said. A long record of gaining trust Barrios has had ample experience in the area of disaster recovery from an anthropological point of view. During the last 18 years, his research has covered disasters ranging from Southern Honduras, to New Orleans and Southeastern Mexico and back to Southern Illinois. The experiences resulted in a book titled Governing Affect: Neoliberalism and Disaster Reconstruction. Ive learned the methodology needs to be tailored to the social particularities of each research site, he said. Some methods such as random sampling and door-to-door surveys are more suited to some field sites than others. You have to be very sensitive to the social and historical context that you are working in. Communities with histories of socioeconomic marginalization often are quite sensitive to outsiders asking questions. It can be a challenge to develop the trust and rapport needed to elicit in-depth conversations that yield good, usable data and information in such cases. Your work cannot take a cold, scientific demeanor, he explained. You must understand you are working with people with long histories of suffering and struggle, and you must earn people's trust if they are to share their perspectives and experiences with you. Work is already under way Barrios conducted an initial round of field work in October, returning in January and March as well. He plans longer trips in June and July, as well as weeklong trip in October of this year. The researchers will address questions such as what did Hurricane Harvey reveal for you? Why do you think the rains of this hurricane triggered a catastrophic event in Houston? What policies and practices do you think are necessary to rebuild the city and prevent or mitigate similar disasters in the future? This is a qualitative study, so it is not a large sample, but we hope to develop a profound understanding of each (persons) interpretation and experience of the disaster, he said. Early results are indicating that for those who have been socioeconomically disadvantaged, the hurricane is just another phase in what they are calling a long-standing toxic flood. To understand why Hurricane Harvey manifested in the way it did, we have to understand the way the urban landscape of Houston developed in the way it did since the 1950s and the relationship of this growth to petro-chemical production, for instance, Barrios said. SIUs Small Business Development Center celebrates successes during National Small Business Week by Christi Mathis CARBONDALE, Ill. During National Small Business Week, the Illinois Small Business Development Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale wants small businesses to know they are not alone. The SBDC offers a variety of services to help the regions small businesses thrive. Services available for all Services include assistance with starting or expanding a business, utilizing new technology and expanding into additional markets. Business owners can get one-on-one professional consulting, training and workshops, and more. Helping for decades The SBDC at SIU has been helping new and expanding businesses since 1984. The center earned the Roger Luman Program Excellence Award from the Illinois Entrepreneurship and Small Business Growth Association in 2015 in recognition of the outstanding and innovative services and programs it provides to entrepreneurs and small businesses. For additional information about the SBDC and the many services it provides to new and growing businesses, visit the website at www.sbdc.siu.edu or contact Greg Bouhl at gbouhl@biz.siu.edu or 618/536-2424. Success by the numbers In 2017 alone, SIUs award-winning center: Assisted 222 clients. Provided 1,309 hours of free advising. Hosted numerous business management training sessions. Those efforts resulted in: The creation or retention of 36 businesses. A total of 154 jobs that were either created or saved. Local businesses being able to secure $4.6 million in funding. SIU joins the nationwide celebration The U.S. Small Business Administration celebrates National Small Business Week April 29-May 5 this year. Nationally, clients of the countrys small business development centers start a new business every 30 minutes, create a new job every 5.5 minutes and generate $100,000 in new sales every 8.2 minutes while raising $100,000 in capital every 10 minutes, according to federal officials. They also note that the job growth for SBDC clients is 13 times greater than that of the average business and client sales growth is nearly four times higher than general business growth. Funding provided by SBA SIU Carbondale hosts the Illinois Small Business Development Center with funding provided by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity to help entrepreneurs in Southern Illinois start and growth successful businesses. Shen Yun Performing Arts returns to Milan for its sixth consecutive year with an all-new 2018 production. The classical Chinese dance and music company aims to give audiences a taste of Chinas semi-divine culture. A stupendous performance, said Marquis Pietro Paolo Cavalletti. The artists have a fantastic internal power. Its a performance that has something behind it. Its not just a superficial performance that you just went for the dances and left, said Marquess Inge Cavalletti.I think its a show that makes us talk about it. I think that what Shen Yun is doing is important and special. Here I see that you give a lot of importance to the spiritual aspect of the human being, which is a rare thing now, said Daniela Javarone, president of the Amici della lirica (Friends of opera) Association. She was also awarded the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, and is a philanthropist and PR manager. Because, unfortunately, we are heading more and more toward the materiality of people, forgetting that we are not only made of flesh and bone. But there is something more important within us, which sustains us and helps us to live. According to its website, Shen Yun means the beauty of divine beings dancing. In ancient China, music and dance were originally used to give thanks to and praise the divine. Audiences were touched by the spiritual aspect of the performance, in particular, the artists embodiment of virtues such as compassion and kindness through the mini-drama pieces. I think there is absolutely something very spiritual and deep. I think that art and beauty are always spiritual, said Silvia Chiodin, an author and director. And this show expresses this concept the best way possible. It is important that this culture stays alive and it is important because it gives us a new starting point to review our own cultures, our Western traditions, said Antonio Fortarezza, a documentary director. It teaches to pay attention and to give importance to our tradition, our origin, our tradition. It gives you a sense of sweetness and harmony. You go home with a heart full of love toward others. It truly gives you serenity. The message is positive, certainly positive. Keep on going! Dont stop. Continue [with Shen Yun shows] because yours is not only a show, but a mission that you are carrying out. It is truly precious and admirable. Many compliments, really, Javarone added. Home | News | General | Govts yet to take definite position on education Christopher varsity V-C By Dayo Adesulu THE Vice-Chancellor of Christopher University, Professor Friday Ndubuisi has decried the attitudes of both the Federal Government, state governments and local governments toward education in Nigeria. Ndubuisi who spoke during the institutions second matriculation ceremony in Ogun State said: The government at all levels have not shown enough willpower to take a deliberate position on education. According to him, the three tiers of government have not taken a specific position on education either to ask parents to cater for the education that would impact positively on the advancement of knowledge and our economic development or not. While he posited that funding a university is a daunting task, he lamented that government at all levels are not seeing school owners as helping admission shortfalls in the sector. He argued that if the government was really interested in the education of its citizenry, it would do everything possible to encourage private universities in the country. One of the ways to encourage private universities, he stated, was for government to pass into law a bill that could enable private universities have access to Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFUND. He said: The issue of paucity of funds is as biting and critical in the private universities as they are in public universities. In the advanced world, individuals and corporate organizations willingly and generously provide funds for research and award scholarships to students both in the private and public universities. A typical example is TETFUND, which restricts its funding activities and assistance to public universities only. It is a paradox nonetheless that the bulk of the funds accruing to TETFUND is from the private sector through levying of two per cent education tax on all registered companies in Nigeria, yet, its lofty gestures and goodwill are not extended to private universities. The private universities are owned by Nigerians, either as missionaries, groups individuals with very minimal foreign participation. In the same vein, majority of the students of private universities are also Nigerians. The manpower they have produced and are producing in no small way, contribute to the nations economic development. Does it, therefore, make sense to deny private universities fund from an organisation such as TETFUND that the private sector is indeed funding? He urged the government to make a move to change the policy of TETFUND, adding that it should not only be liberal and progressive in its outlook but do what has been seen as equitable and just. An executive bill should be sponsored to the National Assembly to widen the scope and area of operations of TETFUND to include private universities, he added. Speaking at the unveiling of the 30 nominees in Lagos, its chairman, Oluwafunmi Atanda said: Today, we are unveiling 30 nominees for recognition, but we shall formally recognise 10 young outstanding people among them doing exceptionally well in their chosen fields in August. According to her, nominations from the public for the 10 outstanding people living in Nigeria or in the Diaspora, started last week Sunday. If you are contributing to the growth of your community and also trying to put so much out there to save humanity, people should actually recognise you for what you are doing, she said. Explaining the opportunities the recipients would have, Atanda said individual development, international opportunities and networking business opportunities are some of the opportunities. Going down memory lane of entries, she said: We opened nominations for fifty days and ended the nominations on January 31 with about 1,817 nominations of young people doing well in their various fields across the country and also outside the country. Nominees were streamlined based on JCI values. We believe that faith in God gives one a purpose in human life, that economy, justice can best be run by enterprise, that government should be and the service to humanity is best work of life. These nominees were x-rayed based on these values that JCI has espoused for 61 years. Meanwhile, one of the past winners, Prince Lekan Fadina, in his remarks said that his challenge to JCI was not just people applying, but what they do with those talented Nigerians. He said: I have seen some of the great things in the submission either in terms of economy, environment, in terms of everything. To me the greatest challenge to JCI is that we should not sit down and just allow them to go. My organization will be interested in collaborating with JCI; we must get those people out of the number that have been able to stay down to 50. Are they going to go like that? Is their knowledge going to go like that? Cant we get what I describe as a basket of knowledge? JCI must create a platform where all the thoughts and ideas of these young people are put together in what I call the basket of knowledge. It is then we can say that JCI has added to the development process in Nigeria. We must have a programme to nurture discipline among the young people by stilling in them the spirit of patriotism, moral values, loyalty and family values. You must organize a training programme that will look at policies, strategy, diplomacy, support system, international relations and global economy. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Expert urges states to amend financial laws to improve IGR By Chinedu Adonu ENUGUTASK team leader of State and Local Governance Reform, SLOGOR, Mr Ikechukwu Nweje, has urged state governments to amend outdated financial laws to improve their Internally Generated Revenue, IGR and financial governance. Nweje made the call at a retreat organised for the six SLOGOR states participating in the Public Financial Management, PFM, Reforms in Enugu yesterday. The retreat was organized by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in collaboration with the World Bank and the European Union. The theme of the three-day retreat is: Assessing the Implementation of the PFM Reforms at the Sub-National Levels of Government. Nweje noted that the obsolete financial laws made in the 60s had been a clog in the wheel of progress of a robust, dynamic and progressive 21st century financial system meant for better revenue collection and management. He also said that there is a need for more awareness on recent financial governance laws so that executors and state chief executives should respect them to improve transparency and accountability in public financial management. The task team leader, whose SLOGOR project had lasted for over three years, said that SLOGOR had tremendously improved the IGR of some states through following modern financial laws and procedures. He said: Through SLOGOR, some states had increased the number of people in their tax and IGR drag-nets to include not only civil servants but the wealthy traders and other people that engage in one business activity or the other. The SLOGOR project had made states subscribe to modern and practical financial integrity packages like Treasury Single Account, TSA and other forms of financial stream-lining to check financial mismanagement, leakages and fraud. SLOGOR is also focusing on continuous advocacy and enlightenment to build the capacity of personnel of state IGR officers and for them to learn international and modern best practices, he said. In an address, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget And National Planning, Mr Olajide Odewale, said that the choice of the theme for the retreat was to enable all stakeholders to critically assess the project and take stock of the implementation of its different components, particularly the PFM Reforms. Odewale, who was represented by the Director of Finance and Account, Mr Adetokunbo Adebanjo, noted that the success of the implementation of this component would no doubt enhance the achievement of the project development objectives, which is to improve transparency, accountability and quality in public financial management in the participating states. It is pertinent to point out that the SLOGOR project was not designed for the PFM alone, it is also expected to promote devolution of functions to Local Government Areas and strengthen project coordination. The commitment by the states is therefore, critical for the realization of the project objectives. Earlier, the National Project Co-ordinator of SLOGOR, Mr S.O. Eloho, said that an effective PFM reforms at the state level would complement the efforts of the Federal Government, particularly in its fight against corruption and economic diversification. We appreciate the European Union for providing the resources under an implementation arrangement with the World Bank and to thank the World Bank for its commitment to the effective delivery of the project. It is also worthwhile to commend the efforts of the six beneficiary states for the progress made so far and to urge you to work harder to access the Performance Challenge Fund which is an incentive for performance, Eloho said. The six states participating in the SLOGOR project are; Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano, Osun and Yobe. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General The police in Lagos have arrested a middle-aged woman, Mary Henry, for allegedly abducting two children in the Yaba area of the state. The suspect, who lives on Akanni Street, Somolu, was reportedly caught with the kids Mukaila Yau, 10, and Mariam Jubril, 2 along Herbert Macaulay Way, Yaba. It was gathered that Yau was sent on an errand around 10am on Wednesday and Jubril had followed him. They were running the errand when Henry reportedly lured them. Our correspondent gathered that the woman was fleeing with the kids when she was trailed by a team of policemen from the Sabo division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Mary Ubangha. While parading the suspect at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja, the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imohimi, said the woman ran into a church with the victims. He said, The DPO observed the womans worried countenance and felt something was amiss. She decided to trail her. The suspect, however, noticed that she was under surveillance and diverted into Saint Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba. The DPO followed her and warned the church security men to keep an eye on the woman and never allow her exit the church without the police ascertaining the identities of the children with her. The security man obliged and brought the woman and the children to the DPO. During interrogation, it was discovered that she was not the biological mother of the children, who are of different parents. Investigation into the case is ongoing. Imohimi added that the police were on the trail of the suspects brother, believed to be her accomplice in the alleged abduction. But the suspect, who was aggressive, said her daughter was with one Shitan. She was evasive when asked whether she abducted the children in retaliation, adding that Shitan had earlier visited the command on Wednesday. She said, I did nothing. You (the police) are making a false accusation against me. They arrested me for no just cause. God will bear me witness. My daughter, Ada, is with Shitan. Senate President Bukola Saraki says he is not surprised that Ibrahim Idris, inspector-general of police (IGP) refused to appear before the senate. The senate summoned the IGP on two different occasions to brief them on the travails of Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, and on the security situation in the country but he sent a representative. Last week when he was first summoned, he informed the lawmakers that he accompanied President Muhammadu Buhari to Bauchi. He was re-summoned on Wednesday but he told them he went to Kaduna for an official assignment. Speaking on Wednesday, Saraki said the IGP also disobeyed President Muhammadu Buhari when he was asked to relocate to Benue state over the killings but did not stay for more than 24 hours in the state. Again, we cannot say it is just to us because the president told us that he told him to go to Benue and the man refused to go, Saraki said. He added that the IGPs failure to appear before the upper legislative chamber endangers the nations democracy. Under constitutional powers, it is required of the IG to come and give a report on the incident involving a colleague and the incessant killings happening in the country, he said. Since beginning of the year, over 500 or 600 have been killed and we believe that the man in charge of enforcing this does not think he needs to sit down with senate to engage with us when there is something wrong somewhere. He has felt that he cannot come and wants to delegate it to a junior to come. No IG has ever refused to appear before the senate since we started practicing democracy. I dont think that has happened before. But we must know these actions are danger to our democracy. He asked the senate leader and the chairman of committee on police affairs to engage with the executive and send our position. So let us hold and give them time within a week and come back to us and I am sure that wisdom would prevail, he said. Home | News | General | Murray-Bruce explains why Dino Melaye escaped from police vehicle - Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has alleged that the embattled Dino Melaye jumped out of a moving vehicle because he was repeatedly tear-gassed by the police - He said the senator had to force his way out of the vehicle the second time he was tear-gassed - He said he visited Melaye and wasn't happy with the condition he met him Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has confirmed that the lawmaker representing Kogi West in the Senate, Dino Melaye, actually jumped from a police vehicle. Murray-Bruce alleged that Melaye jumped from the vehicle because he was repeatedly tear-gassed by police officers, Premium Times reports. NAIJ.com notes that Murray-Bruce explained that he visited Melaye at the hospital on Monday, April 30 and was not happy with the condition he met him. READ ALSO: We will address waste challenges before rainy season - Lagos state government He tweeted: Just met with @dino_melaye. Very sad to hear what transpired. Dino is asthmatic, yet while in transit, the police gassed him & he could barely breathe. Second time they gassed him, he had to force his way out of the vehicle. Dino literally escaped death. SAD! The police later took Senator Melaye to the National Hospital and monitored him on his sickbed. He was arraigned on Wednesday, May 2 for attempted suicide and destruction of property, amongst other allegations. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, NAIJ.com previously reported that Senator Dino Melaye was re-arrested after being granted N90 million bail by a Wuse Zone 2 chief magistrates court in Abuja on Wednesday, May 2. Melaye was accused by the police of escaping lawful detention and was granted bail. He was picked up immediately by the police again who took him away in an ambulance. An FCT high court in Apo, presided over by Honourable Justice Adeniyi, ordered that Senator Dino Melaye should be released by the police. Dino Melaye and 2019 Criminal Conspiracy | on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Believers should give up their dinner for 200 nights and God will fight for them - Rev. Uma Ukpai speaks on killings - Reverend Uma Ukpai has called on Christians to begin a 200 days praying fasting against killings across Nigeria - The preacher advised Christians to give up their dinner for God to intervene in the carnage going in the country - According to Ukpai, no good will come out of 2019 general elections Nigeria's renowned evangelist and fiery preacher, Reverend Uma Ukpai has advised Christians on action to take to end the killings in various states of the country, Leadership reports. Ukpai said it is important that Christians sacrifice their food and pray against the continued carnage across Nigeria. Speaking to members of the correspondent chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state capital, the preacher called for a 200 days praying and fasting. READ ALSO: Death toll rises to 86 after Adamawa mosque attack - Gravediggers allege He also urged all Nigerians above 25 and prone to corruption to resign from partisan politics. Ukpai said: The frequent killing of Christians by people alleged to be herdsmen is like telling us that cows are now more valuable than Christians. But I maintain that nobody is supposed to lose his life because of cows. It is painful that cows are now preferred. The solution is for all believers in the country to give up their dinner for 200 nights and pray for God to fight for them and it will work. Let us ask God to fight for us and He will, Ukpai said. "Though we are equal in fellowship but we are not equal in anointing. A man of excuse is a man of failure and as long as the government cannot take care of our challenges then there is no future for the country. READ ALSO: What Buhari failed to do during his meeting with Trump - Obasanjo assesses president's US visit Speaking on the 2019 general election, Ukpa said nothing good will emerge from the next election. He said: "The incoming leaders will still be corrupt because the entire system is corrupt. The solution to a credible leadership is however for everyone above the age of 25 to retire from active politics because they all have eaten the poisoned apple and not fit to rule." PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, NAIJ.com earlier reported that about 86 people were reportedly killed in twin attacks on worshippers in Mubi town of Adamawa state. Some gravediggers in the area said the death toll from the attack rose to 86 after some of the victims died from injuries sustained from the incident. The bombers were said to have detonated their bombs on worshippers observing the afternoon prayers at a mosque in the town. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Buhari bungled talks with Trump, says Obasanjo - Newspaper review The main headlines of the mainstream Nigerian newspapers for Thursday, May 3, are focused on ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo's reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari's meeting with US president, Donald Trump. Punch reports that former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Wednesday declared that even morons would not describe the mediocre performance of President Buhari as superlative. He made the declaration even as he distanced himself from a purported report trending on the social media that he had made a U-turn on his verdict of non-performance and had declared support for President Buhari. The Punch Newspaper Vanguard reports that Obasanjo said the president bungled his trip to the US for talks with President Donald Trump, and thereby lost another opportunity to self-redeem. The Presidency however refused to comment last night. Special Adviser to the President on Media, Chief Femi Adesina told Vanguard on phone that there would be no reactions to the latest missive from the former president. Similarly, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed declined comments. Vanguard Newspaper READ ALSO: Obasanjo list 3 points he noticed during Buharis meeting with Trump The Guardian reports that Masked operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the premises of the National Assembly yesterday, causing tension among lawmakers, journalists and other workers. There was a standing directive barring security men from entering the NASS premises with arms. They were to dump their arms and ammunition in the armory of the complex. But armed with Tavor assault rifles, the DSS operatives took up positions in parts of the building housing the two legislative chambers. The Gaurdian Newspaper PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The Nation reports that with one voice, some leaders from the North, East and West yesterday spoke on restructuring, saying it is the only way to stabilise Nigeria and guarantee its progress. Former Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former military governor of Rivers State Gen Zamani Lekwot, renowned historian Prof. Banji Akintoye and Ohanaeze Ndigbo President-General Chief John Nwodo, among others, urged those in power to arrest the countrys drift by returning to true federalism. The Nation Newspaper This Day reports that elder statesman Chief Emeka Anyaoku has urged the electorate to make restructuring a condition for voting for candidates in next years election. Anyaokus advocacy got for support from the President-General General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Highl Chief John Nwoko, who also called for a detribalised leadership and former military of the old Rivers State in the 1970s, General Zamani Lekwot. This Day Newspaper Busted: Over 300 suspected hoodlums, criminals and prostitutes paraded in Lagos | NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Hate speech worries Kolade, wants immediate check Prof. Christopher Kolade, Nigerias former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, has warned against the dangers of hate speech and stressed the need to tackle the menace. The 86-year-old business mogul and broadcaster stated this during the 66th General Assembly of the Broadcasters Organisation of Nigeria (BON) in Lagos. Dr Christopher Kolade He spoke on Hate Speech and the Nigerian Broadcast Industry, and maintained that hate speech if not addressed could hinder the nations unity. Hate speech is injurious to our joint endeavour. We know that hate speech can jeopardise the success of what we want to do together, he said. According to the former envoy, hate speech wreaks havoc on fostering unity as backed by the nations constitution. We know that if we want to live as our constitution says, the constitution says we the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria having firmly and solemnly resolved to live in peace and harmony, we know that hate speech will not let that happen. The BON Assembly is a gathering of key stakeholders in Nigerias broadcasting industry to brainstorm on how to make next years general election conducted without stress. Kolade blamed the liberalisation of the broadcasting world on the creation of the social media. He, therefore, implored broadcasters and key players to communicate effectively with the public in a responsible manner. The former envoy strongly believes that the problems associated with hate speech can be effectively dealt with by media professionals. For those who are leading BON today, the responsibility of dealing with hate speech now belongs to you. Let us never forget that we are voluntarily working together on objectives that we share. With the general elections less than a year from now, Nigerians expect that these efforts put together would pay off especially when proper campaigns take place across the country later in the year. Kolade was sometime DirectorGeneral of the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation. He was Chief Executive and Chairman of Cadbury Nigeria Plc and formerly the Nigerian High Commissioner CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Slain Afghan journalists remembered on World Press Freedom Day Afghanistans slain journalists were remembered on World Press Freedom Day Thursday, days after the deadliest attack on the countrys media since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Ten journalists, including Agence France-Presse chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in assaults on Monday, underscoring the dangers faced by the media as the war-torn country slips deeper into violence. Afghanistans journalists are among the bravest in the world, said Omar Waraich, Amnesty Internationals deputy director for South Asia. Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs. A double suicide blast in Kabul on Monday, claimed by the Islamic State group, left 25 people dead including Marai and eight other journalists, while a BBC reporter was killed in a separate attack in eastern Khost province. Media workers from Tolo News, 1TV, Radio Free Europe and Mashal TV were also among the dead in Kabul. The deadly assaults have shaken Afghanistans tight-knit journalist community. Many of them are close friends as well as colleagues who look out for one another as they work in an increasingly hostile environment. But many remain defiant, determined to continue their work despite the risks. Hours after the Kabul explosion, dozens of Afghan news editors and executives returned to the site in a public display of defiance to militants. World Press Freedom Day reminds me and my colleagues of the importance of reporting reporting for a vibrant democracy and serving people with the information they need and they want, Parwiz Kawa, editor-in-chief of the Hasht-e-Subh Daily newspaper, said. This day is to renew our commitments and to remember our sacrifices. 1TV editor-in-chief Abdullah Khenjani said Thursday was a mourning day for the broadcaster, which lost a reporter and cameraman in Mondays blast. This day reminds us how tough the past year was, Khenjani said, adding his colleagues were heartbroken, especially when we see the empty chairs in our newsroom. We will hold a prayer ceremony and ask God to be with us in such a tragic moment. End journalists slaughter Afghanistan was last year ranked the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The media watchdog said since 2016, it has recorded the killings of 34 journalists in Afghanistan. Afghan media outlets have condemned the governments failure to protect them, particularly at the scene of suicide attacks where secondary blasts are a constant concern. The British embassy in Kabul also released a statement Thursday vowing to stand behind Afghan journalists, with the UKs minister for Asia and the Pacific Mark Field saying their bravery has been noted the world over. Despite the risks, they stand firm together, determined never to be cowed by terrorists, he said in the statement. The attack on the Afghan journalists comes amid increasing concerns over press freedom across Asia, including in the Philippines and Myanmar. On the same day as the Afghan journalists were killed, Philippine radio broadcaster Edmund Sestoso was shot by assailants in the southern city of Dumaguete, said Human Rights Watch. Sestoso died Tuesday. That Sestosos murder occurred on the same day 10 journalists were killed in Afghanistan made it particularly tragic, said Carlos Conde, researcher in the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. That he died on the eve of World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder that much needs to be done for press freedom around the world and end the slaughter of journalists. In Myanmar, hopes have been dashed of more press freedom under the government of Aung San Suu Kyi, which took power in 2016. A recent survey of journalists released concluded that there is less press freedom now than under the former military-backed government, citing an increase in threats, physical attacks and arrests of reporters. The country has fallen six places to 137th on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Two Reuters journalists, who were investigating the extrajudicial killing of Rohingya Muslims, face charges under the Official Secrets Act that could result in a 14-year jail sentence if convicted in a high-profile case that has sparked outrage around the world. RSF figures show 50 professional journalists were killed worldwide in 2017, the lowest toll in 14 years. AFP CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Nig/EU trade volume reaches 25.3bn in 2017 By Victoria Ojeme & Ene Ocheme ABUJA- Head of EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Ketil Karlsen has said that bilateral trade volume between Nigeria and the European Union reached 25.3bn in 2017. Karlsen, while briefing newsmen in Abuja on the forthcoming Europe Day May 9, said this figure was an increase of 27% from that of 2016, which stood at 19.9 billion. He said about 50% of the 2017 trade value was in favour of Nigeria. About 25.3 billion Euro was traded in 2017. There is clear significant surplus in the benefit of Nigeria. Of the trade volume, around 50% more is actually benefitting Nigeria, the envoy said. According to him, the EU remains the most significant trading partner of Nigeria, stressing that trade and investment was an integral part of Europe partnership with Nigeria. He said though about 30% of Nigerias external market is Europe, the region is exploring ways to expand the trade ties. He said the EU was making efforts to provide an additional market access for Nigerian products in Europe and beyond, thereby creating job opportunities for the teeming population. On the EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), which Nigeria is yet to sign, the envoy said the union would continue engaging Nigerian government and other stakeholders on the benefits of the agreement. We are partnering with the Nigerian government, private businesses and other stakeholders to promote this and to continue the dialogue on the economic partnership agreement. What we do want is to engage with everybody to stress the potential benefit that we consider in this kind of engagement in opening the market access, providing technical assistance in order to make sure that it does not become hostile to industries and the opportunities for youth employment, but opportunities to develop industries through access to market, he added. He also disclosed that the EU was expanding its humanitarian support in north-east Nigeria to include job creation for the displaced populations. We need to think of the north-east in economic terms and job creation. This is part of our foreign policy. In the period of 2015 to 2017, we have provided 144.5 million Euro in humanitarian aid mainly in the north-east. In 2018, we have set aside 34.5 million Euros in provision of food aid. We are working in Borno state and currently in dialogue with Yobe state on how we can expand our support to the area. All together, we have set aside 257.5 million Euro in our support not only for humanitarian support but also in our long-term development in that region. There is need for military response, engagement in political dialogue, humanitarian aid to the victims but there is also need to engage in long-term development to secure job and strengthen local and state institutions so that they can provide all the opportunities. We are working the talk on not only providing humanitarian relief but also engaging in long-term development cooperation, he said. The envoy added that the EU has supported water and sanitation projects in 14 states to the tune 353.5 million Euro, reaching and benefitting more than four million people in the country. Karlsen, who noted that it may be a little difficult to assess Nigerias level of implementation of the recommendations at this stage, called for improvement of internal democracy in political parties in the country. The envoy however, advised policy and law makers to ensure that reforms as regarding the electoral process should be done on time, preferably 6 months to the conduct of elections. Speaking at a media parley on its forthcoming National Day celebration, Karlsen, remarked that the EU take seriously, the issue of election and democracy in Nigeria and hence have continued to support efforts at improving them. Since Nigerias return to civil rule in 1999, the EU has provided $100m in funding to support Nigerias electoral process. The European Unions intervention in the electoral cycle targets key stakeholders, including the election management body the Independent National Electoral Commission with the overall goal of contributing towards the consolidation of Nigerias democratic process. Ahead of the 2019 elections, supporting the process of electoral reforms that will enhance the capacity of Nigerias institutions to carry out their statutory duties in an effective, transparent manner remains a key priority for the European Union. The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN), an ambitious 26.5m Euros multifaceted programme, was designed in pursuit of this goal, he said. The programme, which he noted is being implemented in partnership with the government of Nigeria and key stakeholders, and will run until 2021, has five key components which involves support to INEC, support to the National Assembly, support to political parties, support to the media and support to the civil society. He emphasized that EUs interest is to strengthen the national leadership to consolidate democracy by ensuring that winners take over power and not to decide whom to be elected. We dont have a preference. All we do is to bring our expertise to support a credible election in the country , he said. Other areas of support the EU intends to expand outside electoral matters, the envoy noted, include issue of migration and mobility; trade and infrastructure development. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | President Buhari expected back in Abuja after meeting with Trump President Muhammadu Buhari is expected back in Abuja, Nigeria any moments from now after a successful bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House. President Buhari arrived in Washington on Sunday, April 29 and had a series of bilateral meetings with Trump, including a working launch and a joint press briefing. According to Bashir Ahmad, a personal assistant to President Buhari on New Media, said the president has departed the US for Nigeria. READ ALSO: Breaking: Finally, Dino Melaye arrives Kogi in ambulance for court appearance His tweet: "President @MBuhari has departed Joint Base Andrews Airport for Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport, Abuja after a Working Visit to Washington DC where he had bilateral talks with US President @realDonaldTrump, and met with a group of business executives. #PMBinDC" NAIJ.com previously reported that the media aide to President Buhari on social media, Lauretta Onochie, said that Nigeria cannot have a president who would not visit America. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android and read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Shortly after the president arrived Washington DC on a working visit to the country, Onochie took to Facebook to say there are more Nigerians in the United States of America than any other country and many cities in Nigeria. She said Nigerians in the US need a president who they can always meet at least whenever he visits. She wrote: "President Barack Obama, an African American was pained as the President of America. He could not embrace the rotten, morbidly corrupt government in place in Nigeria at the time. He was excited when Nigerians kicked out Fortunato Looter King. "President Obama publicly announced President Buhari as doing a great job in Nigeria. Now, President Buhari is in America on a state visit to discuss issues of mutual benefits with America's President Donald Trump. Buhari to Contest for Presidency in 2019! NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | CBN finally seals $2.5b deal with China, after 2-year deliberations - The CBN has carried out a a $2. 5 billion bilateral currency swap with China - Isaac Okoroafor, CBN's images maker, reported that the agreement between both nations came after serious deliberations that last for two years - Okoroafor also stated that the swap would provide local currency liquidity for both Nigerian and Chinese businessmen The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has reported that it executed a $2. 5 billion bilateral currency swap agreement with the Peoples Bank of China (PBoC). Godwin Emefiele, the governor of the CBN led his operatives while PBoC boss, Yi Gang, spearheaded the Chinese team at the official signing ceremony in Beijing, China on Friday, April 27. Isaac Okoroafor, CBN's images maker, in a statement revealed that the resolve was a result of over two years of critical negotiations by both apex banks. The swap would provide local currency liquidity for both Nigerian and Chinese entrepreneurs, the Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: Breaking: Southern, middle belt leaders meet with Saraki, Ekweremadu Okoroafor said: The transaction, which is valued at Renminbi (RMB) 16 billion, or the equivalent of about $2.5bn, is aimed at providing adequate local currency liquidity to Nigerian and Chinese industrialists and other businesses thereby reducing the difficulties encountered in the search for third currencies. Among other benefits, this agreement will provide Naira liquidity to Chinese businesses and provide RMB liquidity to Nigerian businesses respectively, thereby improving the speed, convenience and volume of transactions between the two countries. It will also assist both countries in their foreign exchange reserves management, enhance financial stability and promote broader economic cooperation between the two countries. With the operationalisation of this agreement, it will be easier for most Nigerian manufacturers, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and cottage industries in manufacturing and export businesses to import raw materials, spare-parts and simple machinery to undertake their businesses by taking advantage of available RMB liquidity from Nigerian banks without being exposed to the difficulties of seeking other scarce foreign currencies. The deal, which is purely an exchange of currencies, will also make it easier for Chinese manufacturers seeking to buy raw materials from Nigeria to obtain enough Naira from banks in China to pay for their imports from Nigeria. Indeed, the deal will protect Nigerian business people from the harsh effects of third currency fluctuations. With this, Nigeria becomes the third African country to have such an agreement in place with the PBoC. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Both the Nigerian and Chinese officials expressed delight at the conclusion and signing of the agreement and expressed the hope that it would boost mutually beneficial business transactions between Nigeria and the Peoples Republic of China. Meanwhile, NAIJ.com reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had given out new orders from Beijing, China. According to a statement issued by Shehu Garba, the presidency's senior special assistant on media and publicity, the president directed that technical committees be immediately established to finalize discussions on new joint Nigeria/China rail, power, manufacturing, agricultural and solid mineral projects. Aircraft purchase: Should President Buhari be Impeached? Abuja Residents React | NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Ekiti governorship primaries: APC clears disqualified governorship aspirant - An APC governorship aspirant, Muyiwa Coker, earlier disqualified by the partys screening committee has been cleared to contest in the partys forthcoming primaries - He said the initial decision of the committee to disqualify him was a mistake as he has satisfied all the partys requirements for the gubernatorial position - Coker, however, commended the decision of the appeal panel that upturned the committees decision after his complaint An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti state, Muyiwa Coker, on Thursday, May 3, expressed displeasure at how he was wrongly disqualified despite giving the party the best supports he could in the past. He alleged that some powerful people in the party were behind the plot to stop him. He said that the screening committee of the party made a mistake in disqualifying him from participating in the Saturdays governorship primary of the party. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Court denies Melaye bail, remands him in police custody Coker, however, praised the appeal panel for upturning the verdict of the screening committee, led by former Bayelsa state governor, Timipre Sylva, saying his initial disqualification was a misguided action targeted at rubbishing him, Vanguard reports. In a statement in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, May 2, Coker said: In the last few days rumour had been making the rounds as to my purported disqualification from participating in the forthcoming governorship primary of our party, in Ekiti state on Saturday the 5th May, 2018 without any reason. On the strength of the rumour, I went to Abuja and said to them that there was no way I could be screened out, except it was beyond the set criteria. Part of the screening criteria was education of which the minimum qualification is a School Certificate. To the glory of God, I am a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, an MBA holder from the University of Ibadan and Chartered Stock Broker. The question is with all these qualifications benchmarked against the set down criteria, how could I have been disqualified? Another criterion was your accomplishments, loyalty and support in the party. In 2015, the party was in a very deep financial mess to the extent that staff salaries and rent were unpaid and legal matters were in court that could not be funded. I gave the party money to resolve some of these problems, the records can be verified. Since 2012 to date, I had been an aide of Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun. Again, just recently, I was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari to serve on the Board of National Orientation Agency (NOA). I met all the set criteria and when no reason was given, I had to appeal to the Appeal Screening Committee and based on the merits of my arguments, the committee upturned the decision of the Screening Committee and I was consequently cleared to participate in the election. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app He appealed to his numerous admirers to take the challenge with equanimity and be rest assured that he would clinch the governorship ticket despite the temporary hiccup. NAIJ.com previously reported that two aspirants for the governorship seat of Ekiti state on the platform of the APC, Kayode Ojo and Opeyemi Bamidele, said they are still in the race against claims that they have stepped down for Kayode Fayemi. Fayemi, a former governor and current solid minerals minister, is also in the race with other aspirants on the partys platform. On his part, Bamidele denied stepping down ahead of the primary election of the APC. He described the rumour as laughable as, according to him, there is no reason to quit when he is convinced that he has a good chance of clinching the partys ticket. President Buhari on 2019 presidential election: will you vote for him? | NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has asked the Presidency to end their official secrecy and come clear on the reasons for President Buharis alleged technical stopover in London. In a statement released today, the party said Nigerians should note that President Buhari left the United States 48 hours ago and embarked on an unofficial visit to United Kingdom for undisclosed reasons without transmitting a letter to the National Assembly. This is impunity and another constitutional breach. Continue to read their statement below President Buhari had on Tuesday left the United States, where he had an embarrassing and fruitless outing and instead of returning to the country, detoured to the UK for another private visit without regard to full disclosure requirements of our constitution and laws. Indeed, Nigerians are worried about the signal being sent out by this penchant for secret itinerary, particularly, given the poor reputation and governance transparency issues confronting our nation under the Buhari administration. The Presidency must understand that President Buhari is not a private citizen and as long as his upkeep and itinerary is sourced from our hard-earned resources, there must be full disclosure, as citizens deserve to know the purpose of the visit and the cost to our nation. This is especially as President Buharis foreign trips, which come at great costs, have not brought any gains to our country. Instead, the President has continued to de-market our nation in the international arena. The just concluded the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, where he cast aspersion at our enterprising youths and failed to return with any dividend readily comes to mind. Furthermore, President Buharis admission at the Voice of America (VOA) that he was unable to reach any agreement with President Donald Trump on any matter of interest to Nigeria, during his US visit and that he has no future development agenda to validate his 2019 re-election bid, confirm our position that the Buhari administration has nothing to offer Nigerians. The PDP therefore urges President Buharis handlers to adequately prepare him before international outings as well as ensure full disclosure on all his visits outside the country, since he embodies the image and integrity of our nation, until May 29, 2019. The House of Representatives on Thursday issued a stern warning to security agencies, particularly the Police, about the security of Senator Dino Melaye. Melaye, who represents Kogi-West Senatorial District at the Senate, was said to have been driven in a police ambulance from Abuja to Lokoja on Thursday. The embattled senator was stretchered into the Magistrates Court in Lokoja, where he was arraigned on gun-running allegations by the Police. The senator was later remanded in custody till June 11. But the House said in Abuja that the sight of Melaye on a stretcher was reminiscent of that of a sick man who should have received medical attention before his arraignment. The Houses reaction came after a member from Kogi State, Mr. Karimi Sunday, raised a point of personal explanation on the floor to bring the plight of Melaye to the attention of members. Sunday had alleged that Melaye was being persecuted by the Kogi State Government because of his strong views on certain issues affecting the state. He stated, Melaye is facing persecution from the state government because of his beliefs. We must do all that is within our constitutional powers to ensure that the rule of law prevails. What is happening to Melaye today can happen to any of us tomorrow, if we keep quiet. The Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, while ruling on the matter, said the House was satisfied with the steps taken so far by the Senate and was solidly behind the upper chamber. All I can say at this point is that nothing must happen to Senator Melaye. If any law has been breached, the Police must ensure that his life is secured first. If anything happens to him, the security agencies will be held accountable. I have not seen in any country where someone is arraigned on a stretcher to take pleas. How do you even take his pleas? He must be alive first to answer to your charges because his life comes before the prosecution, Dogara added. Home | News | General | I was blackmailed, labeled as a religious bigot; I feel sad - Northern senator cries out - Senator Binta Garba has stated that she feels sad after being labeled as a religious bigot following her disclosure of her ordeal after converting to Christianity - She wondered why some people who could not confront her on issues, would resort to whipping up sentiments to get at her - Her father also decried reports alleging that the senator was maltreating him because he is a Muslim The only female senator from the North, Binta Masi, has expressed sadness over moves by political opponents to portray her as a religious bigot. Masi made this known while speaking with newsmen on Thursday, May 3, in her ward, Jigalambu, in Michika local government area of Adamawa, NAN reports. READ ALSO: Sheriff, Shettima reach peace deal in Abuja meeting NAIJ.com gathers that she said that her political opponents had misrepresented her recent testimony in church to mark her 50th birthday, where she spoke on her conversion to Christianity at a tender age, as insulting Islam and Muslims. I am not a religious bigot. I come from a family with religious tolerance where we have Muslims and Christians. My grandfather is a Christian; my father and mother are Muslims and we are living peacefully with other Muslim and Christian siblings and family members. Masi, representing Adamawa North Senatorial District, noted that she was first elected into the House of Representatives in Kaduna in a constituency where Muslims were in the majority. She further said that in Adamawa, Muslims also supported her to emerge a senator and wondered why some people who could not confront her on issues, resorted to whipping up sentiments to get at her. Politicians need to realise the danger of religious sentiments, particularly in our area and be kind enough to concentrate on issue-based campaigns. Meanwhile, the father of the senator, Alhaji Garba Tumba, who also spoke at the event, decried reports alleging that the senator was maltreating him because he is a Muslim. Politicians need to show the fear of God and decorum in their campaigns instead of dangerous blackmail. I have no problem with my daughter and other siblings. We are living together as a happy family, the octogenarian said. Similarly, Malam Lawan Abubakar and Abubakar Kaja, representatives of the Muslim Council from the senatorial district, said that the senator, through her words and actions, had never shown any form of discrimination to Muslim communities. We were shocked when we heard that Binta had insulted Islam and Muslims being circulated and wondered what those circulating this story want to achieve. This is bad and dangerous politicking that must be stopped. We have come a long way with Binta and have never regretted voting for her, Abubakar said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that Senator Binta Masi Garba narrated how her biological father burnt her belongings after she gave her life to Jesus Christ. She narrated the episode at the Chapel of Praise International Church, Yola, during a thanksgiving service marking her 50th birthday on Sunday, April 15. The senator shed tears as she explained that despite the deprivation and rejection she suffered after becoming born-again, God made it possible for her to become a cornerstone. Image of Jesus Christ appears in Ikorodu Church - on NAIJ.com TV: [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Rapper Kanye West says slavery in Africa was a choice - American rapper, Kanye West has been causing quite a ruckus on social media of late - He recently stated in an interview that slavery in Africa was a choice - This is coming after he openly declared his support for President Trump American rap legend, Kanye West, may have just lost a large number of fans due to his recent remarks. The music artiste and producer who has been off social media for a long while, recently came back on and has left everyone in shock. A while back, he had openly declared his support for President Donald Trump. This reportedly made him loose several followers mostly from the black community. It appears he isn't slowing down with the controversial opinions. In a recent interview with TMZ, he stated that slavery in Africa was a choice. According to him, "When you hear about slavery for 400 years for 400 years? That sounds like a choice. Were mentally imprisoned, READ ALSO: Davido's girlfriend Chioma replies to a troll who said she will have a painful marriage West later tweeted that his comments on Tuesday had been misinterpreted and that he brought up the 400 years point because we cant be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years. To the interviewers at TMZ, West said that right now were choosing to be enslaved, which provoked an angry response from a black member of staff at the company, Van Lathan. READ ALSO: Nollywood actress Rita Nzelus family returns N70 bride price to their ex in-laws, she was married for 14 years According to Mr Lattan, the comments made by the rapper appeared to be made with the absence of thought. Youre entitled to believe whatever you want, but there is fact and real-world, real-life consequence behind everything that you just said, he added as the star stood still stroking his chin. We have to deal with the marginalization that has come from the 400 years of slavery that you said for our people was a choice. Im appalled, and brother I am unbelievably hurt by the fact that you have morphed into something to me that isnt real. His comments has since received major backlash on social media with some Twitter users suggesting the rapper should revisit the history books. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on NAIJ.com News App Talented Nigerian man with 28 skills says he did not learn from anybody (Amazing Story) |NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Shettima, Sheriff finally reach truce, forgive each other as ex Borno governor is given permission to rejoin APC A truce has been reached between the governor of Borno state, Kashim Shettima and a former governor of the state, Ali Modu Sheriff; as Shettima and the state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have agreed to allow the ex governor and his allies rejoin the ruling party. Shettima and Sheriff; alongside Sheriffs ally Alhaji Kashim Imam as well as the brokers, Malam Abba Kyari and Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, reportedly reached the truce at a meeting which took place in Abuja, on Tuesday night, May 1, into the early hours of Wednesday, May 2. According to Daily Trust, the meeting took place at the Asokoro residence of Ambassador Babagana Kingibe, and was brokered by the chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Malam Abba Kyari. READ ALSO: Kano University of Science and Technology shut, following protest NAIJ.com gathers that Shettima and Sheriff forgave each other at the end of the meeting; and it was decided that the former governor and his allies could rejoin the party; not as a group, but as individuals, at the ward level. Also, it was agreed that in accordance with the partys constitution, the impending ward, local government and state congresses would go ahead. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a top politician close to Shettima reportedly confirmed that the meeting took place. According to the source, it held at Kingibes residence, since he is the eldest of the Abuja-based Borno elders. The source further disclosed that the meeting was convened in order to achieve peace and unity among elders of the state, particularly in view of the Boko Haram insurgency and other issues confronting Borno. He added that Sheriff would not be allowed to dabble into the affairs of the party in the state and try to upset the apple-cart, even though the former governor and his allies would assume the role of elder statesmen. However, another source reportedly stated: This hullaballoo about Ali Modu Sheriff coming back to APC is a storm in a teacup. Remember that when President Goodluck Jonathan visited Maiduguri on January 23, 2015 for his reelection campaign, Senator Ali Sheriff publicly declared that he was going to deliver 70% of Borno votes to PDP and that he should be held personally responsible if that did not happen. At the end of it, Jonathan got 3.2% of the votes cast in Borno state. It was Governor Shettima that, as leader of APC in the state, despite the ceaseless onslaught of the PDP machine, delivered all three Senate seats, ten House of Representatives seats and 28 House of Assembly seats, in addition to the governorship and 96% of the votes for President Buhari. So, what is the excitement about Ali Modu Sheriff joining APC? But speaking in defense of the ex governor, one of his loyalists said his return would improve the APCs chances not only in Borno, but in the North and entire country. He said: Sheriff is a household name; he is the father of modern politics in Borno and almost all those in the corridors of power in the state are his disciples. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that the All Progressives Congress reacted to the planned defection of a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Ali Modu Sheriff, to the party. Media reports had suggested that Sheriff was billed to visit the APC national secretariat, on Thursday, April 26, to officially announce his defection. A statement sent to NAIJ.com by the national publicity secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, however stated that whilst the party was happy to receive new members, membership cards are not issued at the national secretariat. What does Nigeria need right now? (Nigerian Street Interview) - on NAIJ.com TV: [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | If anything happens to Melaye, it is your fault - Dogara tells Police; says prosecution cannot come at expense of death - Speaker Yakubu Dogara has tasked the Police to ensure the safety of Senator Dino Melaye, following the latters arraignment in court - A lawmaker from Kogi had called for the Houses intervention into the matter, saying that Melaye was being prosecuted because of his beliefs - Dogara said prosecution cannot come at the expense of death, and frowned on the Police for arraigning the Senator when his medical condition has not improved and he cannot make a plea The Nigerian Police Force has been asked by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to ensure the safety of embattled Senator Dino Melaye, The Cable reports. After attempting to flee from Police custody following allegations that he had been involved in gun running, Melaye had landed in hospital and was subsequently charged to court. READ ALSO: Kachikwu replies Falana, denies N1.4 trillion subsidy remark NAIJ.com notes that following his arraignment at a Kogi court on Thursday, May 3, the senator would spend 39 days in custody. The lower legislative chamber, at its plenary on Thursday, was urged to intervene in the matter by a lawmaker from Kogi, Hon Sunday Karimi. He stated: Melaye is being prosecuted because of this belief; and as members of the National Assembly, we cannot continue to keep quiet. There is need for us to act and prevail on the IG on the issue. The speaker, however, stated that the green chamber could not deliberate on the issue because it is a motion of personal explanation' and is being deliberated upon in the Senate. Dogara however, frowned on the decision of the police to arraign Melaye in court while on a stretcher. He said: All I can say is that nothing must happen to the senator. If anybody in this country has committed an offence, the law is there for the person to be prosecuted or arraigned within the ambit of the law. So my admonition to the security agencies is to do everything possible to ensure that his life is secure first before prosecution. Prosecution cannot come at the expense of death. And that is very important, because if anything happens to him, squarely the responsibility will lie on the security agents. And that is without mincing words. The speaker said he has not seen a country where someone will be arraigned on a stretcher when he is not even in the right frame of mind to even take a plea. He added: So of what use is it taking someone to court when he cannot plead guilty or not guilty? What is more important is health first, before he is even tried. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that NAIJ.com previously reported that Senator Dino Melaye was denied bail by a magistrate's court 2 in Lokoja, Kogi state, in the case of an alleged criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property, attempted suicide and escape from lawful custody. The chief magistrate, Suleiman Abdullahi, denied the senators bail application and ruled that he would remain in custody till June 11, 2018. Dino Melaye and 2019 criminal conspiracy - on NAIJ.com TV: [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Prominent northern university shuts down as protest rocks institution following death of student - Kano University of Science and Technology has been closed by authorities following protests, after the death of a student - The deceased student had drowned as he and two colleagues went for a swim in River Wudil; the two others were rescued - The schools VC disclosed that the protesters damaged school property; and all students were subsequently asked to vacate the premises before closing hours of Thursday (today) The authorities of Kano University of Science and Technology (KUST) Wudil, have ordered the closure of the university for two weeks following students protest on Wednesday night, May 2, over the death of their colleague, NAN reports. The deceased, a 300 level student, Faruk Abubakar, drowned in River Wudil on Wednesday. READ ALSO: Melaye saga: Prosecution cannot come at the expense of death - Dogara tells Police NAIJ.com gathers that the vice-chancellor of the university, Prof Shehu Alhaji-Musa disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Wudil on Thursday, May 3. He said the universitys Senate had declared Thursday and Friday as lecture free days to mourn the deceased student. He said the students were expected to go on mid-semester break from Monday, May 7 to Friday, May 18. The incident coincided with the mid-semester break hence our decision to close the school to students and entire school community to observe two days mourning after which the students proceed on the break, he said According to him, the students had been directed to vacate the campus before closing hours of (today) Thursday, May 3. He said three students went to the river on Wednesday to swim but were warned by the security not to go into the river. You know students, they refused to heed to the advice; and as a result, the three of them drowned. The university had blocked all access roads to the river, but the three students insisted that they must go and swim, he said. Alhaji-Musa said soon after the incident, the university mobilised a rescue team which rescued two of the students, while the remaining one is yet to be recovered. He said the students who protested damaged some properties belonging to the university. Even though no much damage was done to properties, the university is taking all necessary measures to put things in order, he said. As at the time of filing this report, students were still trying to meet the deadline of vacating the school premises before the closing hours. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app This development comes following a previous report by NAIJ.com, that a 24-year-old Nigerian student drowned at a beach in Cyprus on Wednesday, March 14. The student, identified as Hassan Babatunde, was said to have drowned at the Alagadi-2 region beach in Girne, in the afternoon. Hassan was a student at the Near East University and had just transferred to the Cyprus International University. How workaholic Governor Ganduje is transforming Kano state - on NAIJ.com TV: [embedded content] Subscribe to watch new videos Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | ASUU demands probe of N5m bribe allegedly collected by LASU Director Lagos The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Lagos State University Chapter, has called for a probe into a N5million fraud allegedly committed by a senior official to facilitate processing of results by the universitys Senate. ASUU wants the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olanrewaju Fagbohun, to investigate the N5 million allegedly collected by a former AssistantDirector, School of Part-time Studies. In a petition with reference no. LASU/GS/16/268 and dated March 26, the academic staff members are asking the authorities to launch an investigation into the matter without further delay. The union alleged that the N5million was collected by the former Director from the Vice-Chairman of the then Anthony Campus of the institution. According to ASUU, a panel under the Chairmanship of Prof. Murtada Muhibbu-Din was set up under the administration of a former Vice-Chancellor, Prof. L.A. Hussein in 2005 to probe the activities of the part-time school and had submitted its findings. The Vice-Chairman of the Anthony Campus, Mr C. Ochonogor, during the visit of the panel on May 10, 2006 had alleged that Dr Abanikannda as the Assistant Director of the campus made a lot of financial demands to do one thing or the other. Ochonogor unequivocally mentioned the case of N5 million collected in cash by Dr Abanikannda to give to the LASU Senate to facilitate the consideration and approval of results. Eventually, the results were not presented to the Senate and the money was not refunded. The Vice-Chairman, for emphasis, told the panel that the Anthony Campus had three sets of final year students who could not graduate even after the collection of the N5million, the union said. According to ASUU-LASU, the former Assistant Director in question had admitted collecting the said sum in cash during an interrogation from the panel and the panel recommended that he should refund the sum. It insisted that such demand for money to facilitate the Senates processing of students results was against the universitys rules as it is the statutory duty of the Senate to do so. We urge Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Fagbohun, while being passionate on clearing backlog of misappropriation cases of such to use his good offices for proper investigation and conclusion of the case. This is because members of the university community continue to refer to this matter at every instance when staff members are disciplined, ASUU said in the petition a copy of which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Reacting, the universitys spokesman, Mr Adekoya Martins, confirmed the receipt of the petition by the management. Martins said the issue happened long before the present administration and might have been disposed of by the university council. He said that a critical examination of the petition showed that the case had gone through one sub-committee to another before it reached the council. NAN reports that LASU Governing Council had on Sept. 8, 2017 approved the dismissal of ASUU-LASU Chiarman, Dr Isaac Oyewunmi, his Deputy, Dr Adebowale Adeyemi-Suenu and 15 others. It also dismissed two other non-academic staff over what it called misconduct and malpractice. According to the university council, Oyewunmi was dismissed over alleged demand for the sum of N50, 000 for 2003 modular year students of political science education of the sandwich programme to process their results. The council claimed Adeyemi-Suenu unilaterally altered the results of 12 students already advised to withdraw by the Senate in the Department of History and International studies in the 2015/2016 academic session. Others were accused of defaulting on the conditions precedent on their training leave bond and abandonment of duty. (NAN) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Buhari makes stopover in London to refuel, repair jet, says Presidency President decries report on US trip by Nigerian media By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA-PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari made a stopover in the United Kingdom after his visit to the President of the United States of America, USA, at the instance of his technical crew who decided to break the long US trip to refuel and do routine checks on the jet being used. Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity Malam Garba Shehu, in a text message to newsmen thursday afternoon, explained that Buharis technical crew decided to break the long US trip to refuel and do routine checks. Shehu said, The big jet is under repair. It has been taken for major repairs. So the President is using a small plane and there is a limit to the distance the small plane can cover. So, the technical stopover I talked about is that the journey from US to Abuja is broken into two. Technical stopover is that the plane stops at a point, refuel, do some checks and then proceed on the journey. This is very normal. There is nothing unusual about it. In any case, they are already on their way back home. It is a routine thing. The plane can do Abuja-Washington, thats about 12 hours and the maximum the plane can fly is 12 hours, 40minutes. But you dont need to push it to the edge, the spokesman said. Recall that President Buhari had in 2017 spent several months in the UK attending to an undisclosed ailment. He had on arrival after the medical sojourn disclosed that he had never been that sick all his life. Meanwhile, the Presidency has come hard on the Nigerian media berating the press for alleged misrepresentation of the issues during the encounter between President Muhammadu Buhari and the US President, Donald Trump. President Trump on Monday, read what could be described as a riot act to the Nigerian government, saying the continued killing of Christians in the country was unacceptable to the American government. Trump who received President Buhari at the White House, Washington DC, also condemned the spate of other killings occassioned by terrorists in Nigeria as a terrible problem. The Christian Association of Nigerian, CAN, had called for the immediate resignation of President Buhari over his inability to tackle the ceaseless herdsmen killings and security challenges confronting the country. The association had also appealed to the international community to intervene in the crisis to save the country from relapsing into a religious crisis stressing that the attack on the Church in Benue was a jihad that should be stopped. Pope Francis had earlier on Sunday decried the attack on a church in Nigeria. The Pope was reacting to the killing of two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen last week Tuesday. Pope Francis had earlier on Sunday decried the attack on a church in Nigeria. The Pope was reacting to the killing of two Catholic priests and 17 other worshippers in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen last week Tuesday. The pontiff spoke concerning the killings in Nigeria during his remarks to the public in St. Peters Square. But, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu yesterday accused the press for leaving out Muslims in their reportage of the one-on-one encounter between the two leaders. His words, it is important to explain the context of the remarks by President Trump where he was quoted as saying the U.S is concerned about the murder or killing, as he put it, of Christians. At the press conference, President Trump towards the end of his remarks, at the briefing, mentioned the protection of innocent civilians of all faiths, including Muslims and Christians, which reporters left out. In his remarks, the US President neither chided nor talked down on President Buhari. Saying that we will do something about that, is a clear expression of willingness to support Nigeria to bring to an end the unwanted killings. This is contrary to the press reporting which jumped on the issue, conveying a wrong impression that President Trump was only concerned about the lives of Christians. He mentioned Muslim lives as well, he said. The spokesman equally described as wrong, the hasty condemnation of the U.S. President by some Muslim groups in the country without the benefit of a full view and understanding of what was said and the context in which it was said. It is also important that records be set straight to counter the mischief of opponents, some of whom have started rendering false narratives of a meeting to which they were neither invited nor in any way aware of its details, he added. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | US pledges support for Nigerias 2019 elections By Vera Sam Anyagafu US Consul General in Lagos, Mr. F. John Bray, has declared US governments support to realising credible, transparent, and peaceful 2019 elections in Nigeria. Bray who spoke yesterday on the theme: Media and Transparency of the 2019 Elections, at the event marking the World Press Freedom Day, tasked journalists on delivering objective and balanced reporting during the elections, for fact that the people of Nigeria on them for unbiased and accurate coverage of the campaign season and the elections. Bray said, As the 2019 election draws near, the U.S. Mission supports your efforts to provide objective and balanced reporting to the Nigerian people, adding that the US is putting together an election reporting training, scheduled to take place in four cities across Nigeria, and it will be co-facilitated by Voice of Americas Director of International Media Training and a renowned Nigerian journalism professor. This he said will help journalists to further understand their huge responsibility of reporting accurately on elections and electoral processes in the country. Also speaking, former Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, (NHRC), Dr. Chidi Odinkalu, quickly addressed that Nigeria has no problem with elections, but with the counting of votes. He said Our problem in Nigeria is with the counting of votes. We have a tradition in Nigeria of never counting properly. Our lack of transparency in election is a reflection of our larger society and Im glad that the media has been put in the front line of credible elections in Nigeria, We need to bring data reporting into journalism; set up an election fusion centre for covering elections. We should have compulsory life insurance cover for journalists covering elections; and create protocols around access to counting. Similarly, the President, Nigeria Guild of Editors, Ms Funke Egbemode , urged that journalists to continue in the good work that has brought them this far, saying that they should do what is ethical to avoid anything that will jeopardise careers or cause chaos in the society . Lending a voice, Chairman, Lagos Council of the Nigeria Union of journalists (NUJ), Mr. Quasim Akinreti advised journalists to be fair in all reportings,. His words, Report facts and be unbiased. Andi urge media organisations to ensure that welfare of journalists is well taken care of. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General THE garrulously verbose and ideologically vacuous Chris Mutsvangwa has blamed his loss in the ZANU PF primary elections on everyone except the fact that ZANU PF voters have rejected the 15 November 2017 coup. As the voice of the coup and the most vocal proponent of Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mutsvangwa's defeat signifies a rejection of Mnangagwa. Whilst Mutsvangwa disingenuously places blame on so-called G40, he needs to recognise that the demographic construct that he refers to as G40 is unconquerable and has registered one of numerous triumphs that we will be seeing over the next five years. G40 is unconquerable because it goes beyond the few so-called king-pins who were expelled from ZANU PF. G40 is unconquerable because it is in tune with the demographic reality that 77% of Zimbabwe's population are young people. G40 is unconquerable because it is the realisation of the demographic dividend that is due out of the investments made in youth by President Mugabe, including in the National Youth Service. G40 is unconquerable because it represents a realignment and dramatic change of the political system. This realignment and dramatic change in the political system is a political science phenomenon that was referred to by V. O. Key Jr in 1955 as a critical election. The G40 concept is central to a critical election that would have been completed in the 2023 elections as all the transitional provisions of the Constitution of Zimbabwe would have been fulfilled. These include the suspension of the Presidential running mate provisions in the 6th Schedule and the end of the proportional representation women's quota of 60 National Assembly members. However, the military coup of 15th November 2017 has hastened matters to the point that the 2018 election will be the critical election. The G40 concept has its origins in generational renewal processes in ZANU PF which were started in 2002 after the defeat of the 2000 Draft Constitution and the significant electoral inroads made by the MDC in the 2000 parliamentary elections. The generational renewal processes were initiated by President Robert Mugabe with the resuscitation of the National Youth Service under Youth Minister Boarder Gezi. The National Youth Service trained over 80,000 members some of whom were absorbed into the public service as security sector personnel, health professionals, teachers and civil servants. These 80,000 NYS graduates are in all villages and streets in Zimbabwe. Some of the inaugural graduates of this programme include the Edson Chakanyuka, Mike Gava, Kudzi Chipanga, Innocent Hamandishe and others. The NYS programme was to be strengthened five years later in 2007 when President Mugabe directed the introduction of NYS graduates into mainstream national politics. The directive by President Mugabe for the renewal of the ZANU PF Youth League National Executive was made through the then ZANU PF Secretary for Administration, Honourable Dydmus Mutasa, who gave that task to Comrade Absolom Sikhosana's executive, which included Saviour Kasukuwere, Tapiwa Zengeni, the late Jabulani Mangena, the late Chiratidzo Gava and myself as the national Director for Youth. This saw our executive giving way to the Edson Chakanyuka executive which included Kudzi Chipanga, Mike Gava, Innocent Hamandishe, Annastacia Ndlovu, Tabeth Kanengoni and Yeukayi Simbanegavi in 2009; seven years after the start of the NYS. By that time, the 80,000 NYS graduates had become key and critical components in all ZANU PF structures at cell/village, branch, district, District Coordinating Committees, province and national levels throughout the country. In order to give the proper ideological grounding and context to the generational renewal processes, Professor Jonathan Moyo published an article on the generational dynamics and economic empowerment thrust under the Generation 40 concept. This conceptualisation formed the basis of the ZANU PF 2013 Election Manifesto which was specifically targeting the youth. This complimented the NYS programme initiated in 2002. This manifesto was communicated by ZANU PF officials including the over 80,000 NYS graduates that had become entrenched into all ZANU PF structures through-out Zimbabwe. Over and above delivering a two thirds parliamentary majority, the 2013 election brought some of the ZANU PF Youth League's National Executive Committee's members into Parliament. These included Kudzi Chipanga, Mike Gava, Tabeth Kanengoni, Annastacia Ndlovu, Melody Tionei Dziva and Yeukau Simbanegavi. Apart from the fact that the youngest members of Parliament are from ZANU PF, most local authority councillors are young people from ZANU PF. Following on those gains for the youth, the Million Man March was conducted on 26th May 2016 to further solidify generational renewal processes in preparation for the 2018 elections. This was a monumental success despite efforts at destabilisation by the Mutsvangwa cabal. The Presidential Youth Interfaces of 2017 built on the Million Man March by firmly asserting the role of the youth in taking the mantle for the complete liberation of Zimbabwe through economic empowerment. The 80,000 NYS graduates of the early 2000s were on a roll that would see them in their forties as we approached the 2023 election. Generation 40 was on a roll. This frightened the Mutsvangwa cabal and their entitlement allies in the military. That fear resulted in military tanks and automatic weapons being rolled out on 15th November 2017 in a military coup to stop that generational renewal. The generational renewal was firmly rooted in the ideological underpinning of indigenisation, empowerment, development and employment creation as articulated in the ZANU PF 2013 Manifesto. The coup targeted individuals perceived to be spearheading and supporting this generational renewal including President Mugabe. The military junta has not taken into account the 80,000 NYS graduates who are firm believers of generational renewal and economic empowerment. The military junta has mistakenly sought to expunge the ministry responsible for the youth and economic empowerment. The military junta has sought to reverse the land reform programme. The military junta is negating the ideological premise that formed the core of the NYS orientation programme. All of this is being observed by 80,000 NYS graduates who have been thoroughly oriented and trained in the ideologies of self-determination. On top of which, these 80,000 NYS graduates have now politically matured and come of age to the point of knowing how to successfully achieve their political objectives. These are the core of the G40s. They are unconquerable. They will continue to triumph on the back of the last message they received from President Mugabe: "Iwe Neni Tine Basa. Asante Sana." Handei tione (Watch this space). Iwe neni tine basa. Umsebenzi loUmkhulu. Asante Sana. Home | World | Africa | Mnangagwa 'stalker' fights for freedom SELF-STYLED Harare prophet Gathry Chiredzero (popularly known as Madzibaba Gathry), who allegedly masqueraded as a Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) operative and stalked President Mnangagwa while armed with a loaded pistol, yesterday made an application for refusal of further remand. This is his fourth freedom bid after having previously made other applications which were thrown out. Initially, he unsuccessfully made an application for release, arguing that he was over-detained by the military police. He also made another application for bail, which was also dismissed. The State alleges that Chiredzero positioned himself near the podium where the President was speaking at the swearing-in of Cabinet ministers at State House and at the renaming of King George VI Barracks to Josiah Magama Tongogara Barracks in the capital. Through his lawyer, Mr John Ndomene, Chiredzero made the application for refusal of further remand after the State had sought for a further postponement of the matter to May 16. Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza sought for a postponement of the matter before Harare magistrate Ms Victoria Mashamba on the basis that the State was yet to obtain two crucial witness statements. "We are applying for the matter to be remanded to May 16 in the interim. The docket is complete but there are two outstanding witness statements. We anticipate by May 8 the whole procedure would have been concluded," he said. However, Mr Ndomene accused the State of buying time. "Your Worship, the State's case is weak; they do not have a case against my client. Surely, the State cannot take five months to obtain just two statements," he said. The matter was rolled over to tomorrow for ruling. According to the State, during the official ceremony to mark the renaming of King George VI barracks, Chiredzero approached the Zimbabwe Defence Intelligence personnel manning the main gate and identified himself and his accomplices as CIO Close Security Unit Officers deployed to beef up security to the President. Chiredzero produced a fake CIO identity card bearing his names and as a result, they were allowed entry into the barracks. He was subsequently apprehended by alert security agents. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Early Detection Targeted U.S., Japan Cancer Programs Collaborate on Biomarkers The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and the National Cancer Institute recently hosted a scientific workshop in Japan aimed at facilitating the research and development of early cancer detection. The focus was on biomarker discovery. Dr. Sudhir Srivastava, head of NCIs Early Detection Research Network, co-organized the meeting with Dr. Tetsuo Noda, executive director and cancer institute director of the Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research. A deeper understanding of the transition from premalignant to malignant state as a function of time will allow the development of more precise risk stratification methods and effective early intervention strategies, Srivastava said. A major hindrance to prevention, early detection and treatment of cancer is the lack of comprehensive knowledge of the molecular, cellular and tissue alterations that drive tumor development and progression from its earliest stages, he added. These meetings significantly have stimulated research activities and facilitated collaborative crosstalk between the two countries, Noda said. Since 2016, [AMED] has supported the workshops to provide cancer researchers with an invaluable opportunity to mutually exchange information regarding their cutting-edge research findings and novel technologies. AMED president Dr. Makoto Suematsu added, To conquer cancer and achieve the vision of a cancer-free society, we need to accelerate the research of early detection through collaboration among international researchers. This U.S.-Japan workshop has been [since its inception in 2012], and will continue to be, a great opportunity to maximize the value of collaboration between Japan and the U.S. Telegram ICO Irans judiciary banned the Telegram Monday, accusing the popular messenger app of allowing armed opposition groups to fuel unrest, according to Mizan Online, the judiciarys news agency, AFP-Services reported. Government officials publicly called for Telegram to be banned earlier this month after the messenger app concluded the second round of its record-setting $1.7 billion ICO to develop a full-service blockchain ecosystem. Hassan Firouzabadi, secretary of the governments High Council for Cyberspace, warned at the time that the companys new cryptocurrency will undermine the local economy if left unchecked. Government Opposes Foreign Messenger Apps The directive against the countrys most popular social network in Iran follows a recent presidential directive to ban all government workers from using foreign messenger apps. Built by Russian tech guru Pavel Durov, Telegram is used by 40 million, nearly half the countrys population. Officials temporarily banned Telegram at the beginning of the year when protests struck dozens of cities, accusing the service of allowing foreign-based counter-revolutionary groups to foment insurrection. Authorities have since tried to establish social media networks and reduce the influence of foreign-based platforms that the government claims hosts sites opposed to the government. Several platforms have emerged in recent months, such as the Soroush network, which claims 5 million subscribers. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the countrys supreme leader, and President Hassan Rouhani both said they would stop using Telegram in mid-April. Khameneis last message on Telegram directed users to use Iranian services like Soroush and Gap. Rouhani, a moderate, reportedly declared his opposition to the ban in a meeting with other high-ranking officials earlier this month. Also read: Irans government may ban Telegram over its $1.7 billion ICO Internet Providers Told To Comply Phone and Internet providers have a duty to block Telegram access, the news agency said, adding that those disobeying the order will be considered in violation and face prosecution. Story continues Telegram was still working Monday evening, according to AFP reporters. Featured image from Shutterstock. The post Iran Government Bans Telegram, Accuses App of Causing Widespread Unrest appeared first on CCN. Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano PASAY CITY, Philippines Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano again denied the alleged shouting match between him and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III over the Kuwait rescue mission. In an interview, Cayetano on Wednesday, May 2, clarified that though he and Bello disagree on certain issues concerning Kuwait and the Philippines, their argument did not reach that level. Wala talaga. Unang-una, kung mayroon man, sa harap ng presidente, thats the chance, he said. (There was none. First of all, if theres any conflict, the chance to settle it is in front of the president.) Cayetano added that considering their respective tasks in the Cabinet, they frequently call each other and talk during Cabinet meetings. Their staff also can freely communicate with one another without any conflict or tension. Asher Cadapan Jr. | UNTV News & Rescue The post Cayetano on alleged shouting match with Bello: Wala talaga appeared first on UNTV News. Department Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano PASAY CITY, Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano maintained there is no reason for him to resign, at least for now, following reports of career diplomats allegedly calling for his ouster from the DFA. Cayetano said he will only leave his post should President Rodrigo Duterte ask him to. If the President wants me to go, I will go happily and I will continue to support him, he said. Cayetano said though it is normal for critics to make such call, he urged them to leave the agency and its career officials out of the controversy. The Secretary remains confident that he has the support of DFA staff behind him amid the issues. If a majority in the Department of Foreign Affairs says, we cannot follow you, I have no business being there. But so far, I have had meetings with them and, so far, they understand. They might not necessarily agree with our direction, but they understand, he concluded. Asher Cadapan Jr. | UNTV News & Rescue The post Cayetano says no to resignation unless Duterte orders it appeared first on UNTV News. Is Hong Kong measles case linked to flight that may have sparked outbreaks in Japan and Taiwan? Health authorities in Hong Kong are trying to determine whether an expatriate man confirmed with measles was infected on a Tigerair flight linked to outbreaks in Japan and Taiwan which have left more than 100 people ill so far. The 46-year-old expat had been to Thailand where the index case or first patient had also visited before returning to Hong Kong. He was confirmed with the infectious disease in the city last week. None of his contacts had shown symptoms of the highly contagious viral disease, which had an incubation period of about 10 days. As of Tuesday, six measles cases were recorded in Hong Kong three in March and three last month. Among them, two cases were imported from mainland China and Indonesia. In a bid to stop the outbreaks in Japan and Taiwan, authorities tracing cases found that the so-called super spreader, a Taiwanese man, had travelled to Thailand before being confirmed with measles in Okinawa, where in turn 85 others were infected. The Taiwanese man infected a Tigerair flight attendant. In Taiwan, the man triggered a cluster of another 12 cases, according to the Hong Kong Department of Healths Centre for Health Protection. The cases involved flight contacts and workers of Tigerair Taiwan and other airlines, the centre said, based on reports from Taiwans Centres for Disease Control. There were 24 cases recorded on the island as of Tuesday. Meanwhile, a regional official of the World Health Organisation said the recent incidents showed that areas that experienced few or no cases of measles still had to maintain high immunisation coverage among the general population and be prepared to respond rapidly to control outbreaks. Dr Jose Hagan, WHO Western Pacific regional focal point for measles and rubella, said Japan had eliminated measles and Taiwan had been free of it for several years through very high rates of vaccination in the population. Story continues In response to this outbreak, they have both initiated outbreak investigation and response efforts to prevent further spread by identifying and immunising people who may not be immune and who may have been exposed to the virus, Hagan said. The Hong Kong Medical Association has asked the government to supply MMR (mumps, measles and rubella) shots to the Department of Healths Travel Health Service for worried travellers. Measles was a common childhood infection before the introduction of a vaccine. Those affected would initially have a fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and white spots inside the mouth. Three to seven days later a red blotchy skin rash would develop, which usually spread from the face to the rest of the body. It could be deadly, especially in small children. In Hong Kong, children are vaccinated at age one and get a second booster dose in Primary One. The WHO said measles remained an important cause of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine. The agency had sought to eliminate measles by 2020. This article Is Hong Kong measles case linked to flight that may have sparked outbreaks in Japan and Taiwan? first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Pakistan's long-awaited new airport in the capital Islamabad opened its doors Thursday, after years of delays and embarrassing setbacks that exposed the difficulty of building modern infrastructure in the chaotic country. "The new Islamabad International Airport became fully operational from today with the departure and arrival of several domestic and international flights," Pervez George, spokesman for Pakistan's Civil Aviation Authority, told AFP. "Flights took off from and landed at the new airport today as scheduled," he added. The new airport is set to be able to handle more than nine million passengers annually as China invests billions of dollars in the country and a vast improvement in security has spurred hopes Pakistan is ripe for development. However, the disconcerting number of setbacks delaying its opening since at least 2013 became a perennial joke in the capital, highlighting the government's inability to complete high-profile infrastructure projects. Just two weeks ago, the opening of the airport was delayed again after it was revealed the facility did not have any drinking water or completed restrooms. The capital's previous Benazir Bhutto International Airport was renowned for its long lines and ramshackle ways, doubling as a military base that lacked any boarding bridges. In 2014 the facility was named the world's worst airport by the online Sleeping in Airports guide, which compared the operation to a "central prison" plagued by "aggressive-yet-inconsistent security checks", corruption and an overall lack of hygiene and technology. (Center) PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde QUEZON CITY, Philippines The Philippine National Police (PNP) will launch Oplan Tokhang against barangay officials in the recently released drugs watch list. PNP Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde said they are just waiting for the validated list to be provided by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA.) As the name suggests, police will knock and ask concerned barangay executives to surrender to authorities. Drug users will be put under rehabilitation while drug protectors will be investigated before formal charges are filed. Police may also issue a search warrant to homes of those in the list. Albayalde stressed that Oplan Tokhang being applied to ordinary civilians will also be the same procedure with officials of barangay. Lea Ylagan | UNTV News & Rescue The post PNP eyes tokhang vs barangay officials on narco list appeared first on UNTV News. Anolis gundlachi prefers to perch in the shade near the ground -- according to a new study, these microclimate differences drove some of the later diversification of anoles. Credit: Manueal Leal, MU Division of Biological Sciences The islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaicacollectively known as the Greater Antillesare home to more than 100 species of Anolis lizards. The success of this colorful group of reptiles is often attributed to the evolution of distinct body shapes and behaviors that allow species to occupy different ecological niches. A new study from an international team of biologists including from the University of Missouri reports that the evolution of physiological differences that allow these lizards to take advantage of different microclimates (e.g., sun vs. shade) may have been just as important as these physical differences. The study, which was published recently in The Proceedings of the Royal Society B, has implications for predicting how well these lizards will cope with climate change. "Why are there so many species of anoles? That's the big question," says Manuel Leal, an associate professor of biological sciences at MU and one of the authors of the report. "The notion that morphological differences alone drove the amazing diversity of anoles is missing an important part of the puzzle." For scientists, the Greater Antillean anoles represent a classic example of an evolutionary process known as adaptive radiation. After appearing on each of the four islands about 50 million years ago, the colorful lizards quickly diversified to exploit different niches on the island's trees, including the canopy, trunk near the ground, mid-trunk, and other twigs. Each new species developed its own distinct body type, called an ecomorph, adapted to the niche where it lived. According to Leal, this focus on differences in appearance leaves some important questions unanswered. "How can similar species coexist without outcompeting one another? One of the tenants of evolutionary ecology is that when a structural niche is filled, species diversification should either slow or come to an end due to competition. There must be some other way they are sharing that habitat to avoid competition," he said. Anolis cooki prefers sunny perches near the ground - according to a new study, these microclimate differences drove some of the later diversification of anoles. Credit: Manueal Leal, MU Division of Biological Sciences The researchers hypothesized that the evolution of physiological traits related to temperature tolerance also facilitated the maintenance of biological diversity by providing an additional axis of co-existence. Working with Alex Gunderson with the University of California at Berkeley and D. Luke Mahler with the University of Toronto, Leal set out to test this hypothesis. The team caught and collected thermal physiological data on over 300 anoles. Most of the anoles belonged to the Puerto Rican cristatellus group, which includes four pairs of sister species, each of which occupies a different thermal niche. They also included data on Jamaican anoles. The researchers measured two aspects of thermal physiology: maximum thermal tolerance and optimal temperature for sprint performance, which they used as a measure of fitness. They asked if a species heat tolerance correlated with its optimal sprint performance. They expected that sister species would diverge in one or both of these physiological traits. They found that all Puerto Rican species pairs diverged in at least one of the two physiological traits. In three of the four pairs, the species that preferred the warmer environment had a higher thermal maximum temperature. In two cases, the species that preferred the warmer environment also had had a higher optimal temperature. They found a similar pattern among the Jamaican anoles. Manueal Leal is an evolutionary biologist in the MU Division of Biological Sciences. Credit: Manuel Leal "These findings show that when morphologically similar species co-occur in Puerto Rico and Jamaica, they differ in thermal physiology. We can say that thermal physiological differentiation is important for increasing local species richness," said Leal. An additional insight was that thermal physiology evolved slower than morphology. This evolutionary interplay, Leal said, has real-world implications when one considers the rate at which the world's climate is warming. "This is not good news for the ability of anoles to adapt to climate change," said Leal. "The data suggest that the rate at which physiology changes in anoles is not fast enough to cope with how fast temperatures are rising." The report is titled "Thermal niche evolution across replicated Anolis lizard adaptive radiations" and is available online from The Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Explore further Lizard activity levels can help scientists predict environmental change More information: Alex R. Gunderson et al. Thermal niche evolution across replicated Anolis lizard adaptive radiations, Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2018). Journal information: Proceedings of the Royal Society B Alex R. Gunderson et al. Thermal niche evolution across replicated Anolis lizard adaptive radiations,(2018). DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.2241 At left, in a normal Arabidopsis thaliana pollen grain (inside the dashed line), glutamate receptor-like proteins (green) are located in the sperm cells (arrow). At right, in a plant with a mutated cornichon protein gene, the receptor proteins are scattered throughout the entire pollen grain, disrupting important calcium signaling processes. Credit: Jose Feijo/University of Maryland Plant cells share a strange and surprising kinship with animal neurons: many plant cells have proteins that closely resemble glutamate receptors, which help to relay nerve signals from one neuron to another. While plants lack a true nervous system, previous studies have shown that plants need these glutamate receptor-like proteins (GLRs) to do important things such as mate, grow, and defend themselves against diseases and pests. A study led by University of Maryland researchers suggests a new model for how GLRs function in plant cells. Working with Arabidopsis thaliana pollen cells, the researchers found that GLRs form the basis of a complex communication network inside individual plant cells. Their findings also suggest that GLRs rely on another group of proteins, called "cornichon" proteins, to shuttle GLRs to different locations and regulate GLR activity within each cell. With the help of cornichon proteins, GLRs act as valves that carefully manage the concentration of calcium ionsa vital aspect of many cell communication pathwayswithin various structures inside the cell, the study found. The research, which could inform many new studies of cell-to-cell communication in plants and animals alike, is featured on the cover of the May 4, 2018, issue of the journal Science. Researchers from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia in Portugal and the Universidad Nacional de Autonoma de Mexico co-authored the study. "Calcium concentration is one of the most important parameters inside all cells. It is so well regulated that it allows cells to encode information. Put another way, calcium is the lingua franca of cell communication," said Jose Feijo, a professor of cell biology and molecular genetics at UMD and the senior author of the study, noting that calcium is also vital to the function of animal neurons. "Our results suggest that GLRs play a role in this basic communication system in plants, and we also propose a mechanism for how the system works in plant cells." The similarities between GLRs and animal glutamate receptors suggest that the proteins date back to a common ancestora single-celled organism that gave rise to both animals and plants. However, Feijo noted some important differences between GLRs and their counterparts in animal neurons. At left, normal Arabidopsis thaliana plants reproduce when pollen tubes (thin blue filaments) grow downward toward the ovules to produce seeds. At right, in a plant with a mutated glutamate receptor-like protein gene, this process happens much more slowly. Arrows in both images mark the advance of the pollen tubes at exactly the same time after pollination. Credit: Jose Feijo/University of Maryland To begin with, glutamatethe most common neurotransmitter in the human braindoes not play a major role in the plant system. Also, while glutamate receptors are known to sit on the outer surface of animal neurons, some of Feijo's earlier experiments suggested that GLRs might instead be located on various structures inside plant cells. "This would be the only way to consistently explain the results we were getting," Feijo said. "Our results suggest that GLRs are indeed redistributed to other compartments inside plant cells, forming a complex network that cooperates to regulate calcium concentrations and enable calcium signaling. This is a novel insight that opens completely new avenues to understand calcium signaling in plants." Feijo and Michael Wudick, a postdoctoral researcher in cell biology and molecular genetics at UMD and lead author of the paper, suspected that plant cells use a specific mechanism to control the locations of GLRs throughout the cell. This led Wudick to investigate cornichon proteins, which are linked to the activity of glutamate receptors in animals. Initially identified in fruit flies, cornichon proteins are named for the pickle-like appearance that a specific cornichon gene mutation imparts to fruit fly embryos, Feijo said. In their experiments with Arabidopsis pollen cells, Feijo's team found that cornichon proteins actively shuttled GLRs from one location to another within the cell, enabling various compartments inside the cell to maintain different calcium ion concentrations. Cornichons also act as gatekeepers for GLRs, switching the receptor molecules off and on like a valve in response to changing conditions inside the cell. All told, the team's results suggest a model for plant cell communication that is unlike anything found in animals. While animal neurons use glutamate receptors to conduct signals from cell to cell, Feijo suggested that plants depend on communication strategies that operate at the single-cell level. This fluorescence microscopy composite image of an Arabidopsis thaliana flower shows six male organs (anthers) bearing pollen grains (blue dots inside) and the central female organ (ovary) bearing two lines of ovules (light blue) targeted by pollen tubes (orange lines). A new study describes a specific protein family's role in sorting and transporting glutamate receptor-like channels, which drive calcium currents and thus affect pollen tube growth and seed production Credit: Pedro Lima and Jose Feijo "Why should plants have receptors like the ones that make neurons work? Our results support the idea that individual plant cells have a level of autonomy that animal cells do not," Feijo said. "Each plant cell has its own immune system, for example. And they have more communication channels to deal with the fact that they are stuck in place. Every flowering plant has more GLRs than animals have glutamate receptors. Our proposed model for plant cell communication suggests one reason for this abundance of GLRs." Further progress toward decoding plant communication could result in reliable tests to diagnose diseases, nutrient deficiencies and other maladies in plants, Feijo said. Such measures could help to ensure food security, as climate change and other stressors begin to take a toll on major agricultural crops. Feijo also noted that a deeper understanding of GLRs could reveal new insights into animal glutamate receptors and their defects, which could be the cause of some neurodegenerative conditions. "Some researchers have suggested that neurodegeneration is caused by over-active glutamate receptors. This is not settled, but there are some conditions in both humans and dogs that have been linked to mutations in glutamate receptor genes," Feijo said. "It is possible that our model could help investigate these conditions. The advantage is that our protocol is very easy to use." The research paper, "CORNICHON sorting and regulation of GLR channels underlie pollen tube Ca2+ homeostasis," Michael Wudick, Maria Teresa Portes, Erwan Michard, Paul Rosas-Santiago, Michael Lizzio, Custodio Oliveira Nunes, Claudia Campos, Daniel Santa Cruz Damineli, Joana Carvalho, Pedro Lima, Omar Pantoja and Jose Feijo, was published in the May 4, 2018 issue of Science. Explore further Receptors for neuron communication in humans vital for reproduction in mosses More information: "CORNICHON sorting and regulation of GLUTAMATE RECEPTORLIKE channels underlies pollen tube Ca2+ homeostasis, Science (2018). Journal information: Science "CORNICHON sorting and regulation of GLUTAMATE RECEPTORLIKE channels underlies pollen tube Ca2+ homeostasis,(2018). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.aar6464 A team of chemists has developed an MRI-based technique that can quickly diagnose what ails certain types of batteries -- from determining how much charge remains to detecting internal defects -- without opening them up. Above is an illustration of measurement setup showing the cell and the holder with the detection medium (water in this case), and (d) showing both inserted within the magnet bore of an NMR magnet. Credit: Andrew Ilott and Alexej Jerschow. A team of chemists has developed an MRI-based technique that can quickly diagnose what ails certain types of batteriesfrom determining how much charge remains to detecting internal defectswithout opening them up. "The use of alternative energy and electrically powered vehicles will further increase the demand for better and safer batteries," observes Alexej Jerschow, a professor in New York University's Department of Chemistry, who led the research team. "However, there are currently only a very limited set of tools available to diagnose a battery's health without destroying the batteryour non-invasive technique offers a faster and more expansive method for making these assessments." The work, described in the journal Nature Communications, also included Andrew Ilott, an NYU post-doctoral fellow at the time of the study and now a research investigator at Brisol-Myers Squibb; Mohaddese Mohammadi, an NYU doctoral candidate; and Christopher Schauerman and Matthew Ganter, research scientists at the Rochester Institute of Technology. "Ensuring cell quality and safety is paramount to the manufacturing process that can save companies significant cost and prevent catastrophic cell failures from occurring," says Ganter, co-director of the RIT Battery Prototyping Center. "This work not only supports the battery industry as a whole, but also the growing energy storage ecosystem in New York," adds Christopher Schauerman, co-director of the RIT Battery Prototyping Center. The research focuses on rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are used in cell phones, laptops, and other electronics. Notably, rechargeable batteries are at the heart of new technologies, including electric cars or storage for renewable energy sources. However, recent malfunctions in hand-held devices and electric vehicles have highlighted the difficulties in designing batteries for these cutting-edge technologies. In addition, engineers often cannot determine the nature of defects or even impending battery failures without taking apart the device, which typically results in its destruction. In general, magnetic resonance (MR) methods provide the ability to measure tiny changes in magnetic field maps and, as a result, create a picture of what lies inside a structurefor example, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can produce images of the human body's organs in a non-invasive manner. In their Nature Communications work, the scientists adopted a procedure similar to MRI. Here, they measured tiny magnetic field changes surrounding the battery's electrochemical cells. In their experiments, they examined Li-ion batteries in different statesvarious levels of charge (i.e., battery life) and conditions (i.e., some damaged and others not). Such cells were prepared by collaborators at RIT's Battery Prototyping Center. With these cells, the NYU team was able to match magnetic field changes surrounding the batteries to different internal conditions, revealing state of charge and certain defects. These included bent and missing electrodes as well as small foreign objects in the cell, which are flaws that can occur during the normal manufacturing process. "With future enhancements to this method, it could provide a powerful means of predicting battery failures and battery lifetimes as well as facilitate the development of next-generation high-performance, high-capacity, and long-lasting or fast-charging batteries," adds Jerschow. More information: Andrew J. Ilott et al, Rechargeable lithium-ion cell state of charge and defect detection by in-situ inside-out magnetic resonance imaging, Nature Communications (2018). Journal information: Nature Communications Andrew J. Ilott et al, Rechargeable lithium-ion cell state of charge and defect detection by in-situ inside-out magnetic resonance imaging,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04192-x {Journalists working in difficult situation in Kashmir} Srinagar, May 03: Indian controlled Kashmir is one of the most dangerous places of the world where people associated with the press and media are performing their professional duties in the most difficult circumstances and situation. According to the a report on the occasion of the World Press Freedom Day, today, ten journalists have been confirmed as being killed while performing their duties during the Kashmiris ongoing liberation struggle since 1989. They included Shabbir Ahmed Dar, Mushtaq Ali, Ghulam Muhammad Lone, Ghulam Rasool Azad, Muhammad Shaban Wakeel, Pervez Muhammad Sultan, Mushtaq Ahmed and a woman scribe, Aasiya Jeelani. The report said that in the Kashmir valley, almost routinely, the journalists face manhandling, abductions, murder attempts and death threats by the Indian troops and all this has made their everyday work extremely difficult. It revealed that the Kashmiri journalists and many other scribes while performing their professional duties were roughed up, injured and detained by the troops on fake charges in the territory. The sleuths of Indias National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested a photojournalist, Kamran Yousuf, on 4th March 2017 for highlighting the brutalities of the Indian troops during pro-freedom demonstrations in Pulwama. He was later shifted to New Delhi. Kamran Yousuf was released on bail on 14th March 2018 from New Delhis Tihar Jail. The police physically assaulted reporters and photojournalists including Tauseef Mustafa, Mubashir Khan, Farooq Javaid Khan, Umar Sheikh and Shoaib Masoodi at the Hyderpora residence-cum-office of the All Parties Hurriyet Conference Chairman, Syed Ali Gilani. The journalists had visited the area to cover a press briefing of Hurriyet leaders on 16th March, 2017. A freelance French journalist, Comiti Paul Edward, was arrested by the Indian police when he was video-graphing the pellet victims in Srinagar city on International Human Rights Day (December 10), last year. Comiti Paul Edward later in an interview said that the Kashmiris were facing the worst kind of military repression and human rights violations at the hands of the Indian troops and India did not want these happenings in Kashmir to be known internationally. A driver associated with English daily Greater Kashmir, Bilal Ahmed, and another employee, Farooq Ahmed Parray, were on way back to their homes when the troops dragged them out of the vehicle and beat them up at Safa Kadal in Srinagar on 13th April 2018. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has said that the government-control through advertisement revenue is prevalent in occupied Kashmir and the media is being pressurized to toe the official line or face financial insecurity. In a report titled Kashmirs Media in Peril: A Situation Report released in Brussels, the IFJ said, The information is controlled by government and security forces and among other challenges are out-of-bounds areas, telephone and internet shutdowns; no system in place to get official version of incidents from police or security agencies. On the other hand, mobile internet and social networking websites are blocked by the authorities during violent operations and after every killing of youth in the occupied territory. It is worth mentioning here that during the mass uprising triggered by the extrajudicial killing of popular youth leader, Burhan Wani, by the Indian troops on 8th July 2016, the Kashmir Valley witnessed the most sweeping information blackout. Indian authorities banned newspaper publication in the occupied territory and police raided media houses and also shut down printing presses of Srinagar-based news papers. The authorities had kept the publication of English daily Kashmir Reader banned for over three months. Bayer secured regulatory approval for the tie-up with Monsanto from the European Commission in March German chemicals firm Bayer said Thursday exchange rate headwinds had undermined revenues and profits in the first quarter, but kept its eyes on a planned takeover of US seeds and pesticides maker Monsanto. Net profits at the Leverkusen-based group fell 6.2 percent year-on-year, to just under 2.0 billion euros ($2.4 billion). Operating, or underlying profits lost 4.8 percent to reach 2.3 billion euros, on the back of revenues down 5.6 percent at 9.1 billion. Sales fell at all the group's divisionsprescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, crop science and animal healthalthough Bayer said that adjusting for currency effects sales of pharmaceuticals and veterinary products had in fact increased. Meanwhile operating profits were burdened by one-off costs linked to the group's mammoth buyout of Monsanto, one of the largest in German corporate history with a value of around $62.5 billion. Chief executive Werner Baumann hailed "major progress with the proposed acquisition" in the first quarter. Bayer secured regulatory approval for the tie-up from the powerful European Commission in March, trading away large chunks of its existing seeds and pesticides business to rival BASF in exchange. And the Wall Street Journal reported in April that US authorities would also green-light the deal. Executives still hope to complete the merger, which some environmentalists and politicians warn would create an over-mighty giant dominating global agriculture, before the end of June. Looking ahead to the full year, Bayer forecast a "low-single-digit percentage" decrease in sales mainly driven by currency effects, to below 35 billion euros, with a similar decline in underlying profits before special items. Explore further Bayer books bumper Q3 as Monsanto merger waits in wings 2018 AFP Hurricane Matthew led to increased nutrients flowing into North Carolina's Neuse River estuary. Credit: NASA Arthur, Bertha, Fran, Josephine. Ana, Joaquin, Hermine, Mattheweach might be a favorite child's name. But in fact they're terms for something that's far from good news: hurricanes. All hit the coast of North Carolina between 1996 and 2016, leaving destruction in their wakes. The damage included estuaries flooded with excess nutrients, leading to increased algae blooms, fish kills and dead zones. "In a span of 20 years, coastal North Carolina has been impacted by a major rise in the number of hurricanes, as well as two 500-year flood events: Hurricanes Floyd in 1999 and Matthew in 2016," said Hans Paerl, a scientist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "But the trend isn't limited to North Carolina. It extends throughout the U.S. North Atlantic and Pacific Ocean basins." North Carolina's hurricanes, including Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017, likely reflect an overall increase in Category 2 and higher storms, state Paerl and colleagues in a recently published paper in the journal Biogeochemistry. Storm warning: North Carolina's Neuse River estuary The scientists set out to chronicle how two decades of hurricanes have affected the second-largest estuary in the U.S.: North Carolina's Neuse River, which flows into Pamlico Sound. The National Science Foundation (NSF) supported the research through its Biological Oceanography and Chemical Oceanography programs, including a rapid response grant awarded after Hurricane Matthew in 2016. The coastal impacts from Hurricane Matthew were so large they could be seen from space. Credit: M.L. Parker, UNC-Chapel Hill "One manifestation of climate change may be a higher frequency of storms," said David Garrison, a program director in NSF's Division of Ocean Sciences. "This study provides valuable insights into how coastal estuaries will be affected." Added Paerl, "Understanding how an increase in extreme events such as hurricanes affects coastal ecosystems is critical to preparing for a stormier future." Along with scientist Christopher Osburn at North Carolina State University and other colleagues, Paerl used a long-term dataset to find out how hurricanes have affected the flow of nutrients into the Neuse River estuary and Pamlico Sound. The team tracked changes in populations of phytoplanktonthe base of the food weband in fisheries habitats. During Hurricane Matthew, floodwaters washed material on land into the Neuse River estuary. Credit: B. Abare, UNC-Chapel Hill Long-term observations needed Since 1994, the Neuse River has been the site of a long-term water quality and habitat assessment effort: the Neuse River Estuary Modeling and Monitoring Program. In 2000, scientists expanded the research, placing sensors on ferries that crisscross Pamlico Sound. These projects, said Paerl, "provided baseline data against which we assessed short-term [two-week] and longer-term [several-month] changes that resulted from hurricanes." The effects on coastal watersheds were clear from satellite images obtained before and after the storms' passage, according to Paerl. Impacts included increased freshwater flow, flooding and erosion, and huge inputs of nutrients and organic matter from wetlands and marshes. Organic matter encompasses everything from lawn clippings, leaves, corn stalks and straw to manure, sludge, wood and food processing wastes. Nutrients in hurricane floodwaters lead to algae blooms like the one pictured here. Credit: Pamlico Riverkeeper, Heather Deck Hurricanes, coastal dead zones and climate Organic matter that washes into the Neuse River estuary is converted into carbon dioxide (CO2) by bacteria, then released into the atmosphere. During Hurricane Irene in 2011, a Category 2 storm, as much CO2 was vented to the atmosphere as is taken up each year by Pamlico Sound's phytoplankton. "Hurricanes lead to large discharges of nutrients and organic matter from watersheds," says Paerl. "These nutrients are then shunted to coastal waters, changing the biogeochemistry of coastal ecosystems." Higher levels of nutrients led to algae blooms and low-oxygen bottom waters in the Neuse River estuary and Pamlico Sound. Fish and shellfish die-offs signaled developing dead zones. After hurricanes, scientists took samples of flooded rivers to see how the waterways had changed. Credit: Christopher Osburn "Large amounts of floodwater and organic matter created fuel for developing 'dead zones' throughout the estuary," said Paerl. "In the discharges after Hurricanes Floyd and Matthew, these dead zones grew large enough to affect shellfish and finfish habitats for miles." Fish kills lasted for months. Understanding how coastal ecosystems respond to hurricanes and other major storms, including nor'easters and severe thunderstorms, said Paerl, "is important at a time when such extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense." This big-picture look at the effects of hurricanes on estuaries also indicates that the increased CO2 in coastal waters may have an effect on climate. "The impacts of these infrequent but significant pulses of nutrients into sensitive coastal ecosystems have been mostly unknown," said Paerl. Ophelia and Beryl, Earl and Ernesto: hurricanes that have hit the North Carolina coast since 2005. What will the next hurricanes be named? And how will the Neuse River estuary and Pamlico Soundand marine ecosystems up and down the U.S. East Coastweather the storms? Paerl, Osburn and other researchers are slogging through miles of hurricane debris to uncover the answers. Explore further Researchers use genes as early warning system for harmful algae blooms Nicholas Balascio and James Van Hook admiring Rano Kau while hiking out with one of many sediment cores. Credit: William DAndrea at LDEO During March, a team of scientists led by William D'Andrea, associate research professor at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, travelled to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) to work on a major research project in the island's most important wetlands. The collaborative field team also included Lamont-Doherty's Lorelei Curtin; Andrea Seelenfreund from Chile's Universidad Academia de Humanismo Cristiano; Nicholas Balascio and James Van Hook from the College of William and Mary in Virginia; and Raymond Bradley from University of Massachusetts Amherst. The team successfully collected sediment cores from the wetlands of Rano Kau, Rano Raraku, and Rano Aroi, recovering geologic records that likely span the past 30,000 years on Rapa Nui and which will be used to examine various aspects of climatic, environmental, and human land-use history. Water is a precious commodity in Rapa Nui, and demands from agriculture, animal husbandry, and human needsexacerbated by the island's growing tourism industryare increasing every year. There is already evidence that water availability on the island has varied considerably in past millennia due to natural variations in the climate of the Pacific. Today, the lake at Rano Raraku, the famous quarry from which the ancient Rapanui people carved iconic moai statues, is completely dried up and the lakebed is exposed. This dramatic change occurred only in the past year or two previously the lake was a site of an annual local competition that involved swimming and boating. Sadly, this competition had to be relocated to the ocean this year due to the desiccation of the lake. How often in the past has this lake dried up? Has it ever been deeper than it was in historical times? Is the drying of the lake at Rano Raraku and greater Rapa Nui a result of anthropogenic climate change, or is this a temporary situation due to short-term climate variations? The researchers will use the sediments from the lakes, which accumulate year after year like pages of a book, to address these questions, as well as to examine the climate conditions experienced by the ancient Polynesians of Rapa Nui. The samples will ultimately be analyzed at the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University for molecular evidence of past climate and environmental change. Analyses will focus on lipid biomarkers that can be used to quantify past changes in precipitation and human-landscape interactions. The cores were collected with the support of Ma'u Henua (Rapa Nui's community administrating the National Park), Chile's Forest Service, the National Monument's Council, and Isla de Pascua's Technical Department of Heritage. This field campaign is possible due to funding from the Center for Climate and Life of Columbia University, the Vetlesen Foundation, the Explorers Club of New York, and the College of William and Mary Reves Center for International Studies. Explore further How can changing climate affect a civilization? Provided by State of the Planet This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. Fewer than 25,000 rhinos, of which just 5,000 are black rhinos, remain in the wild in Africa due to poaching Six critically endangered black rhinos were en route from South Africa to Chad on Thursday in a pioneering project to re-introduce the animals to a country where they were wiped out by poaching nearly 50 years ago. The wild black rhinos were loaded onto a plane at Port Elizabeth airport on the South African coast in a 3,000-mile (4,800-kilometre) journey to Chad's Zakouma National Park. After the translocation, which took two years of planning, the rhinos will be released into small enclosures before being allowed to roam freely through the vast park. Security has been strengthened at Zakouma, in the south of Chad, with officials saying that poaching has been "practically eliminated" thanks to African Parks, an international conservation group. "All too often, headlines on rhinos are about their demise as they teeter on the brink of extinction," said African Parks chief Peter Fearnhead. "However, today we are participating in an historic event and peering into a brighter future for this species which has persisted on this planet for millions of years." The four females and two males were taken by road from the Addo park in South Africa to the airport in special ventilated crates that were loaded into the plane by a crane. Teams of vets monitored the animals' stress levels. 'Truly hopeful story' Fernhead said the project was a "truly hopeful story for rhinos across Africa", and that it would encourage population growth and boost biodiversity in Chad. Fewer than 25,000 rhinos, of which just 5,000 are black rhinos, remain in the wild in Africa due to a surge in poaching. Black rhinos are rated as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Rhinos are targeted to feed a booming demand for rhino horn in China, Vietnam and other Asian countries, where it is believed to have medicinal qualities. Northern white rhinos disappeared from Chad several decades ago and the last western black rhino was recorded there in 1972, after decades of poaching pushed both subspecies to local extinction. African Parks assumed management of Zakouma in 2010 and secured the park from poaching, allowing wild animals to thrive. The park has a dedicated rhino ranger unit to ensure the animals will be protected, as well as a well-equipped law enforcement team and aerial surveillance. "It is a mark of the strength of our partnership with African Parks and the transformation of Zakouma in to a secure sanctuary that we are now able to bring rhinos back," said Chad's ambassador to South Africa Youssouf Mahamat Itno. African Parks reintroduced rhinos to Rwanda in 2017. Explore further Black rhino to return to Chad after South Africa deal 2018 AFP Credit: Bryan Brooks/Baylor University Using an innovative initiative, Latin American researchers from academia, government agencies and businesses leaders identified priority research questions for the region to tackle pressing environmental quality issues. In an article published recently in the journal of Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Bryan W. Brooks, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies and director of the environmental health science program at Baylor University, led the Global Horizon Scanning Project (GHSP), which focuses on identifying environment and health issues internationally. Brooks also facilitated GHSP workshops in Africa, Australia, Central and Southeastern Asia, Europe and North America. "The GHSP was initiated to identify multidisciplinary scientific research needs that, if answered, would achieve more sustainable environmental quality around the world," Brooks said. Tatiana Heid Furley, the study's first author and director of Aplysia Environmental Consulting in Brazil, said the GHSP was "an extremely important project because it offers the opportunity to prioritize environmental issues that need to be investigated and addressed in the short and medium-term future." As part of the study, members of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's (SETAC) Latin America geographic unit, environmental scientists and engineers completed Internet-based surveys to identify the most pressing issues facing Latin America. "The process was intentionally inclusive, bottom-up, multidisciplinary, multisector and transparent," Brooks said. "It is not one academic coming up with an idea. It is not one arm of government. It is not one business. It really is groupthink, which is needed across disciplines and sectors. It facilitates a healthy environment that allows people to think together." At a workshop on Buenos Aires, Argentina, Brooks and his Latin American colleagues analyzed the survey responses, identified 20 priority research questions and organized them into six themes: Risk assessment Environmental chemistry Ecotoxicology Health, contaminants of emerging concern, and environment Spotlight on Latin America Environmental management and policy The Latin American region "holds 40 percent of the world's biological diversity, 30 percent of the Earth's available freshwater and almost 50 percent of the world's tropical forests" making the GHSP execution and timing important, according to the article. "This project is part of a larger effort to identify important international research needs. It is essentially, for the first time, a research roadmap towards achieving more sustainable environmental quality," Brooks said. The GHSP project already has led to forward movement in South America, culminating with the announcement of significant grant funding for environmental research. "In Brazil, the results of this project arrived at an excellent time," Heid Furley said. "The eighth World Water Forum was held March 22 in Brazil. Nineteen of the 20 priority issues raised by Latin American participants relate to water. A call for proposals was prepared based on the GHSP Latin America results and announced at the forum," Heid Furley said. "We face palpable global environment and health challenges, which require innovative understanding, tools, products and systems to prevent, diagnose and manage adverse outcomes to public health and the environment. The GHSP is identifying timely research questions that are important to all of us," Brooks said. Explore further Priorities for research on pharmaceutical and personal care products in the environment More information: Tatiana Heid Furley et al, Toward sustainable environmental quality: Identifying priority research questions for Latin America, Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (2018). Tatiana Heid Furley et al, Toward sustainable environmental quality: Identifying priority research questions for Latin America,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/ieam.2023 French bulldog puppy. Credit: BioMed Central French Bulldogs, predicted soon to become the most popular dog breed in the UK, are vulnerable to a number of health conditions, according to a new study published in the open access journal Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. Researchers at The Royal Veterinary College (RVC), UK found that the most common issues in French Bulldogs over a one year period were ear infections, diarrhea and conjunctivitis (inflammation of the eye surface). Dr. Dan O'Neill, RVC Senior Lecturer and the main author, said: "French Bulldogs are a relatively new arrival to the list of common UK breeds so there is very little current research on them in the UK. Our studythe first on this breed in the UKis based on anonymised records gathered from hundreds of UK vet clinics. It provides owners with information on the issues that they could expect and should look out for in French Bulldogs. It may also help potential new owners to decide if a French Bulldog really is for them." Dr. O'Neill adds: "One of the interesting finding from our research is that male French Bulldogs appear to be less healthy than females. Males were more likely to get 8 of the 26 most common health problems while there were no issues that females were more likely to get than males." The authors suggest that the distinctive appearance of the French Bulldog, with their short muzzles and wide, prominent eyes, may be a key factor influencing their popularity. However, these characteristics may also increase the risk for some of the health problems seen in French Bulldogs. For example breathing issues, seen in 12.7% of the dogs in this study, are a known problem in breeds with short noses and flat faces. Skin problems overall were the most common group of health issues and the authors suggest that this may be due to the skin folds that are characteristic of the breed. Dr. O'Neill said: "This study also documents the dramatic rise in popularity of the French Bulldog, from 0.02% of puppies born in 2003 to 1.46% of puppies born in 2013. This level of population growth in a single dog breed is unprecedented. There is a worry that increased demand for the French Bulldog is damaging to these dogs' welfare because of the health risks associated with their extreme physical features." The authors analyzed data on 2,228 French Bulldogs under veterinary care during 2013 from 304 UK clinics, collected in the VetCompass database. The French Bulldogs had a median age of 1.3 years old compared to a median age of 4.5 years for the other dog breeds in the VetCompass database. This reflects the growth in popularity of French Bulldogs. The authors caution that the study may even under-estimate the true number of dogs with health problems as the data may include more severely affected animals that require veterinary management. Additionally, as French Bulldogs have only recently become popular the data was mostly collected from young dogs and it is well recognized that health problems generally become more common with age. Explore further Labs still lead but French bulldogs leap in popularity in US More information: Dan G. O'Neill et al, Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (2018). Dan G. O'Neill et al, Demography and disorders of the French Bulldog population under primary veterinary care in the UK in 2013,(2018). DOI: 10.1186/s40575-018-0057-9 Sackfuls of trouble for a potato cartel Two German potato packing firms landed in hot water Thursday as competition authorities pounded them with a massive fine for secretly agreeing prices for their sacks of spuds. Officials at the Kartellamt in Bonn squeezed 13.2 million euros ($15.8 million) from two businesses, Boehmer and Kuhn, which collaborated to fix prices for potatoes and onions in their contracts with retail group Metro. The figures the firms cooked up meant that "price competition between the two main suppliers of the Metro group was effectively eliminated," competition watchdog chief Andreas Mundt said in a statement. Authorities only sniffed out the unsavoury scheme when another firm in the sector reported the collusion in exchange for leniency. Germany's food sector is no stranger to scandal, as sausage makers and brewers alike have suffered fines after being caught collaborating to skim off extra profits in recent years. Supervisors have also fined truckmakers who hitched their prices together in a cartel of their own. Explore further EU fines Sony, Panasonic and Sanyo over battery cartel 2018 AFP Credit: Maxim Burkovskiy/Shutterstock.com With the support of the Australia Indonesia Centre we have identified 657 potential sites across Bali for pumped hydro energy storage (PHES), with a combined potential storage capacity of 2,300 Gigawatt-hours. Pumped hydro energy storage is a technique to store energy produced by electricity generation. Using electricity generated from renewable energy such as solar power and wind, the potential sites for PHES that we identified in Bali would be enough to support a 100% renewable Indonesian electricity grid and more. Solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind are now the leading electricity generation technologies being installed worldwide each year. Gas and coal are in third and fourth spots respectively. PV is accelerating away from other energy generation technologies because it's cheaper, scalable and produces no greenhouse gas emissions, and because there is vast availability of sunshine. Indonesia has large solar potential because of its tropical location. Much less than 1% of Indonesian land would be required to produce all of the nation's electricity using PV. About half of the panels would be on the roofs of buildings. Although Indonesia has only a small amount of PV at present, exponential growth can change this quicklyas happened in Australia, China and many other countries. Figure 1: Net new generation capacity installed worldwide in 2017. Author provided Because of its equatorial location solar energy does not vary much throughout the year, unlike in higher latitudes. PV (and wind) are now economically competitive with new-build coal and gas in Indonesia. The Australian and Indonesian electricity systems are of similar size. In Australia, effectively all new generation capacity is PV and wind, and no new coal power stations are ever likely to be built. PV and wind are replacing old coal power stations as these are retired. About 4.5 Gigawatts of new PV and wind will be installed in Australia in 2018, compared with peak demand of 35 Gigawatts. Although PV and wind are variable energy resources that depend on the local weather, the approaches to support them to achieve a reliable 100% renewable electricity grid are straightforward: provide energy storage in the form of pumped hydro energy storage (PHES) and batteries, coupled with demand management provide strong interconnection of the electricity grid between regions using high-voltage power lines spanning long distances. This smooths out adverse local weather, greatly reducing the amount of storage needed. Figure 2: Prospective areas of Indonesia that are suitable for pumped hydro. Areas coloured red are highly prospective. PHES accounts for 97% of energy storage worldwide because it is the cheapest form of large-scale storage, with an operational lifetime of 50 years or more. Most existing PHES systems are located in river valleys and are associated with hydroelectric systems. However, off-river PHES has larger potential because of the much larger number of potential sites away from rivers. Annual water requirements of a PHES-supported 100% renewable electricity grid would be much less than the current fossil fuel system, because wind and PV do not require cooling water. PHES, batteries and demand management are all likely to have prominent roles as the Indonesian grid transitions to 100% renewable energy. Off-river PHES requires pairs of modestly sized reservoirs at different altitudes, typically with an area of 100 hectares. The reservoirs are joined by a pipe with a pump and turbine. Water is pumped uphill on windy and sunny days when electricity is plentiful; then, when generation tails off, electricity can be dispatched on demand by releasing the stored water downhill through the turbine. Off-river PHES typically delivers maximum power for between five and 25 hours, depending on the size of the reservoirs. Figure 3: Upper reservoir pumped hydro sites in Bali. Author provided Indonesia has enormous pumped hydro storage potential. PHES can readily be developed to balance the electricity grid with any amount of solar and wind power, all the way up to 100%. Figure 2 shows the location of prospective areas the red areas are highly prospective. Most of the 657 potential PHES sites we have identified in Bali are off-river. Of course, there is also large potential on other islands. We will soon undertake further Indonesian site searching, and expect to find as many sites as in Australia (where we found 22,000 good sites). The locations of the Bali upper reservoir sites (blue dots) are shown in Figure 3 below. Each site has between 1 gigawatt-hour (GWh) and 100 GWh of storage potential. To put this in perspective, Indonesia probably needs less than 1,000 GWh of storage spread across a few dozen sites within the archipelago to support a 100% renewable electricity system. Developers can afford to be choosy with this large oversupply of sites. Figure 4: At most, one or two of the sites shown would be developed. Author provided Figure 4 below show a synthetic Google Earth image for some of the potential upper reservoirs in Bali (more details on the site search are available here). The larger reservoirs shown in each image are of such a scale that only one or two would be required to stabilise a 100% renewable electricity system for Bali. Detailed information about the Bali sites is available here. Explore further Hydro storage can secure 100 percent renewable electricity This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Elisabeth Graf Pannatier (WSL) is reading the volume of collected soil water that will be analysed for sulphate, nitrate, calcium, magnesium and aluminium. Credit: Reinhard Lassig The amount of sulphate, nutrients and aluminium have decreased in the water present in Europe's forest soils, due to reductions in sulphur emissions to the atmosphere. In a recent study published in Global Change Biology, scientists from 10 different countries examined changes in the chemistry of water present in the soil from 171 forests across Europe for the period 1996-2012. Soil water chemistry contains essential information; it tells, for instance, whether nutrients in the soil are available for trees to take up, and how much nutrient content is being leached from the soil. The scientists found that the amount of sulphate in soil water dropped, a reflection of sulphur emission reduction. This was accompanied by a decrease in mineral nutrients such as calcium, magnesium and potassium. Jim Johnson from the University College Dublin (UCD), the lead author of this study, says, "This suggests the rate at which these nutrients are being lost from the soil has slowed. This is good news for forest soils, as it will help maintain their nutrient pools. Also, there is less aluminium in soil water now, which is important as it can damage tree roots in high concentrations." Largest forest monitoring network in Europe Acid rain was one of the major environmental issues in Europe in the 1980s. Widespread concerns about damage to forests, rivers and lakes led to international agreements curbing emissions of sulphur and nitrogen the air pollutants that acidify rain. But what has been the effect of these reductions on forests soils? This is the key question raised by the group of scientists coordinated by Jim Johnson, Elisabeth Graf Pannatier from the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL and Mathieu Jonard from the University of Louvain (UCL), in Belgium. For their study, the researchers used data collected from a forest monitoring network in Europe called "International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests" (ICP Forests). It is one of the largest ecosystem monitoring networks in the world. Across Europe, each country follows the same procedures in collecting and analysing samples and has done so on a long-term basis. In addition, it allows scientists to see what effect air pollution is having across the entire continent. Soil acidification is slowing down The scientists could see a decrease in the amount of nitrate in the soil water which is also positive for those forests soils that were previously saturated with nitrogen. "However, nitrogen pollution from traffic emissions and agriculture still is an important issue for forests and soils in many parts of Europe," says Elisabeth Graf Pannatier from WSL. Too much nitrate in soil water, like sulphate, leaches nutrients from forest soils. Nitrate, a form of nitrogen, contaminates groundwater when present in large amounts which endangers its use as drinking water. Mathieu Jonard from UCL adds: "The study shows that soil water acidity has not recovered from the fast soil acidification caused by acid rain in the past. Indeed, this acidification process, naturally occurring in soils, continues but now at a slower rate." Because of the large amounts of sulphur and nitrogen that have been deposited to forests and the capacity of soils to store them it may take several more decades before soil water chemistry adjusts to current rainfall chemistry. As such it is important to keep monitoring the situation. Still too much nitrogen pollution The study highlights general trends in the water quality of forest soils in Europe. "In Switzerland there are the same trends ; still, local conditions such as soil type and degree of pollution play an important role," elaborated Elisabeth Graf Pannatier. For example, nitrogen pollution is a problem in Ticino and on the Swiss plateau. It is therefore important to continue analysing soil water chemistry on a regular basis because surplus of nitrate depletes the soil of nutrients. This is problematic, especially in already depleted soils. Explore further Diverse tropical forests grow fast despite widespread phosphorus limitation More information: James Johnson et al. The response of soil solution chemistry in European forests to decreasing acid deposition, Global Change Biology (2018). Journal information: Global Change Biology James Johnson et al. The response of soil solution chemistry in European forests to decreasing acid deposition,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14156 Provided by Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL Credit: Stuart Rankin The amount of mercury extracted from the sea by industrial fishing has grown steadily since the 1950s, potentially increasing mercury exposure among the populations of several coastal and island nations to levels that are unsafe for foetal development. These are the findings of a study carried out by researchers from Universite de Montreal's Department of Biological Sciences and published this week in Scientific Reports. The study combined data on the amount of mercury fished out of oceans and seas from 1950 to 2014 and the weekly consumption of fish and seafood by the populations of 175 countries between 1961 and 2011. By comparing this data, which was published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), postdoctoral fellow Raphael Lavoie was able to estimate these populations' per capita intake of methylmercury (MeHg), a highly toxic form of mercury. Working under the direction of Professor Marc Amyot, Lavoie estimated that the people of 38 per cent (66 of 175) of the countries examined by the study might be exposed to methylmercury levels higher than the maximum deemed safe for foetal development. The highest-risk countries include the Maldives, Iceland, Malaysia, Lithuania, Japan, Barbados and South Korea. When humans ingest excessively high levels of methylmercury, the toxin's molecules can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and impact cerebral development, especially in children and foetuses. Demand for seafood has skyrocketed Industrialization has released vast quantities of mercury into the atmosphere, which have settled in oceans and waterways. This mercury is absorbed by sea creatures, many of which are consumed by humans. Since 1950, demand for seafood has skyrocketed while technological breakthroughs have enabled more intensive forms of industrial fishing. Since the 1990s, when overfishing drastically reduced stocks, industrial fishing has gradually migrated to deep-sea and international waters. "The global marine catch totals 80 million tonnes of fish per year, which means that we are also pulling out increasingly large amounts of mercury," said Amyot. Of the industrial fishing areas listed by the FAO, the Northwest Pacific currently exports the most fish and the most methylmercury. The Western Central Pacific holds second place, while the Indian Ocean ranks third. "Together, these three fishing areas exported 60 per cent of the mercury resulting from global seafood production in 2014," said Lavoie. The people in these regions are some of the world's top seafood consumers. Species high up on the food chain contain the highest concentrations of mercury. From 1950 to 2014, large fish represented approximately 60 per cent of the global catch (by weight) and nearly 90 per cent of the mercury ingested by consumers from fish. High risk of exposure To be safe for foetal development, the threshold for methylmercury consumption is 1.6 micrograms for each kilogram of a person's body weight per week (1.6 g/kg/week). "By comparing FAO data on global seafood consumption, we observed that from 2001 to 2011 the populations of 38 per cent of the 175 countries we analyzed would have been exposed to weekly doses of methylmercury far above the maximum safe level of consumption for foetal development," said Lavoie. "Many of these populations are in coastal and island nations, especially developing countries." For instance, during that 10-year period, people in the Maldives would have consumed an average of 23 micrograms of methylmercury per kilogram of body weight each week, or more than 14 times what's deemed safe. The next highest-ranking were people in Kiribati (8 g/kg/week), Iceland (7.5 g/kg/week), Malaysia and Samoa (6.4 g/kg/week), French Polynesia (5 g/kg/week), Lithuania, Japan and Barbados (4.8 g/kg/week) and South Korea (4.7 g/kg/week). By contrast, the global average for mercury exposure over the same 2001-2011 period was estimated at 1.7 g/kg/week. In Canada, exposure totalled 1 g/kg/week. (A chart of select nations and their estimated exposure is here.) Lavoie and Amyot said their estimates are conservative. The global catch by the fishing industry, including artisanal and illegal fishing, is probably 50 per cent higher than the FAO data indicates, they said. Ways to reduce the risk? Both researchers believe these estimates could help authorities find ways to reduce the risk of mercury exposure, especially among high-risk populations such as children and pregnant women. Some methods of preparing and consuming fish seem to reduce the risk of methylmercury contamination, they pointed out. In a recent study, they found that cooking fish or consuming it in combination with certain polyphenols contained in foodstuffs like tea could reduce the bioavailability of methylmercury in the human body. Which is good news, because contrary to prevailing opinion, the methylmercury we consume may not be fully absorbed Explore further Study tracks methylmercury in seafood More information: Raphael A. Lavoie et al. Mercury transport and human exposure from global marine fisheries, Scientific Reports (2018). Journal information: Scientific Reports Raphael A. Lavoie et al. Mercury transport and human exposure from global marine fisheries,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-24938-3 Srinagar, May 03: Government forces fired into protesters who had come to the rescue of a few militants the forces had cornered in a house in Turkiwangam village of Shopian district on Wednesday. A youth was killed and 30 others were injured in the firing. The deceased, Umar Kumar, 17, of Pinjoora village of Shopian had a bullet injury in chest and was declared dead on arrival, a doctor at district hospital Shopian said. He said five more youth with pellet injuries were being treated at the hospital. Seventeen persons with pellet and three with bullet injuries were brought to Sub-District Hospital, Zainapora. Those with bullet injuries were referred to Srinagar hospitals, the doctor said. Two more bullet-hit persons were being treated at district hospital Anantnag. Inayat Ahmad Malla, 15, who suffered bullet injury near his throat, was shifted to the SMHS Hospital from district hospital Pulwama. The details about the anti-militancy operation and the ensuing gunfight are hazy. However, it was learnt that the militants hiding in the house opened fire on the approaching government forces. The militants are believed to have escaped after the brief exchange of fire. While the firing was on, people from nearby localities rushed to the rescue of militants as many of them believed that Zeenat ul Islam, a top Hizb commander, was trapped in the area. The people threw stones at the forces to distract their attention from the anti-militancy operation. Islam, who hails from Sugan village, has been active in the militant ranks since early 2015. He had escaped during a cordon-and-search operation near his native village at Dragad- Sugan on April 1 along with four of his associates in which seven Hizb militants were killed. Breakthrough research has unraveled the complex chemistry of Madagascar periwinkle. the plant produces the cancer-fighting compound vinblastine. Credit: Andrew Davis - John Innes Centre Plant scientists have taken the crucial last steps in a 60-year quest to unravel the complex chemistry of Madagascar periwinkle in a breakthrough that opens up the potential for rapid synthesis of cancer-fighting compounds. The team in the laboratory of Professor Sarah O'Connor at the John Innes Centre have, after 15 years of research, located the last missing genes in the genome of the periwinkle that are devoted to building the chemical vinblastine. This valuable natural product has been used as an anti-cancer drug since it was discovered in the 1950s by a Canadian research team. A potent inhibitor of cell division and used against lymphomas and testicular, breast, bladder and lung cancers, it is found in the leaves of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Until now, the complex chemical mechanisms the periwinkle uses in the production of vinblastine have not been fully understood. Consequently, access to its life-extending chemistry has been laboriousit takes approximately 500 kg of dried leaves to produce 1g of vinblastine. But the new studylead author Dr. Lorenzo Caputiwhich appears today in the peer-review journal Science, uses modern genome sequencing techniques to identify the final missing genes in the pathway. This research also identifies enzymes that build vinblastine precursor chemicals, which include catharanthine and tabersonine. These can be readily chemically coupled using synthetic biology techniques to give vinblastine. "Vinblastine is one of the of the most structurally complex medicinally active natural products in plantswhich is why so many people in the last 60 years have been trying to get where we have got to in this study. I cannot believe we are finally here," said Professor O'Connor. "With this information we can now try to increase the amount of vinblastine produced either in the plant, or by placing synthetic genes into hosts such as yeast or plants." Vinblastine structure. Credit: John Innes Centre Its attractive white or pink flowers have made the Madagascar periwinkle a popular ornamental plant in homes across the world. But for decades it has been the focus of increasingly competitive research probing its natural chemistry and potential pharmacological activity. Professor O'Connor also pointed out that this new study builds on the work of numerous other research groups around the world who contributed to the elucidation of the vinblastine pathway over the years. Having assembled the genetic pathway and the formidable chemical structures, the team are now in a position to use the information to create more compounds much more quickly using synthetic biology techniques. Professor O'Connor anticipates that her group or another in this competitive field will be able to produce microgram quantities of vinblastine or its precursors vindoline or catharanthine in the next 12 to 18 months. The John Innes Centre team were joined in the research by the Courdavault group based at Tours, France. They employed modern sequencing and genomic techniques along with some traditional chemistry relying on a blend of intuition and some literature dating back to the 1960s and 70s. In total the team counted 31 steps in the chemical chain from the primary chemical precursor to the final product, vinblastine. One molecule in the chain so volatile that Dr. Caputi came to know it as "angry-line" instead of its true scientific name dihydroprecondylocarpine acetate. The full findings can be found in the paper: Biosynthesis of the Vinblastine and Vincristine Precursors, Caranthine and Tabersonine, in the journal Science. Explore further Periwinkle can serve as tiny chemical plant More information: L. Caputi el al., "Missing enzymes in the biosynthesis of the anticancer drug vinblastine in Madagascar periwinkle," Science (2018). Journal information: Science L. Caputi el al., "Missing enzymes in the biosynthesis of the anticancer drug vinblastine in Madagascar periwinkle,"(2018). science.sciencemag.org/lookup/ 1126/science.aat4100 Photograph of lunar meteorite NWA 2727. Credit: Masahiro Kayama and M. Sasaoka (SASAMI-GEO-SCIENCE) A team of researchers led by Masahiro Kayama of Tohoku University has found evidence in a lunar meteorite that water once existed on the moon. In their paper published on the open access site Science Advances, the team describes their study of the meteorite and why they believe it offers evidence of water on the moon. Water on the moon, some have suggested, would be valuable, because it could support a colonyor perhaps be used for other purposes, such as powering spacecraft. But thus far, efforts to find any below the surface in the more temperate regions have come up empty-handed. In this new effort, the researchers were studying one of the lunar meteorites found on the surface of the Earth. Such meteorites are pieces of the moon blasted into space by an impact. The fragment studied by the team in Japan turned out to be uniqueit held some amount of moganite, a mineral that only forms in the presence of water. Prior research had shown that the meteorite, named NWA 272, crashed into a northern part of Africa approximately 17,000 years ago. Comparison with other moon surface material confirmed it came from the lunar surface, as well. After finding it contained moganite, the team ran more tests to show that it had not formed after landing on Earth. Schematic of the history of precipitation of moganite and subsurface H2O ice in the Moon. Credit: Masahiro Kayama and M. Sasaoka (SASAMI-GEO-SCIENCE) To explain the presence of the mineral, the team suggests the moon was struck by a comet or other water-bearing object. Some of the water likely evaporated, but some would also have seeped into the lunar surface. As the water sat below the surface, moganite eventually formed. Sometime thereafter, the same area was once again impactedthis time by an object that flung bits of the lunar surface containing the moganite into space. After that, it made its way to Earth. The researchers suggest their finding is exciting because logic suggests if water were under the surface at one time, more could be there now. It would just be a matter of making the effort to find it. (A) Lunar moganite, (B) red and blue denote the high and low relative abundances. Credit: Masahiro Kayama and M. Sasaoka (SASAMI-GEO-SCIENCE) Explore further Study suggests Earth's water was present before impact that caused creation of the moon More information: Masahiro Kayama et al. Discovery of moganite in a lunar meteorite as a trace of H 2 O ice in the Moon's regolith, Science Advances (2018). Masahiro Kayama et al. Discovery of moganite in a lunar meteorite as a trace of H 2 O ice in the Moon's regolith,(2018). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aar4378 Abstract Moganite, a monoclinic SiO2 phase, has been discovered in a lunar meteorite. Silica micrograins occur as nanocrystalline aggregates of mostly moganite and occasionally coesite and stishovite in the KREEP (high potassium, rare-earth element, and phosphorus)like gabbroic-basaltic breccia NWA 2727, although these grains are seemingly absent in other lunar meteorites. We interpret the origin of these grains as follows: alkaline water delivery to the Moon via carbonaceous chondrite collisions, fluid capture during impact-induced brecciation, moganite precipitation from the captured H2O at pH 9.5 to 10.5 and 363 to 399 K on the sunlit surface, and meteorite launch from the Moon caused by an impact at 8 to 22 GPa and >673 K. On the subsurface, this captured H2O may still remain as ice at estimated bulk content of >0.6 weight %. This indicates the possibility of the presence of abundant available water resources underneath local sites of the host bodies within the Procellarum KREEP and South Pole Aitken terranes. Journal information: Science Advances 2018 Phys.org Credit: CC0 Public Domain Opioids relieve pain, but can cause respiratory failure and death through overdosing. Antipsychotic drugs can help people cope with mental illnesses, but muscle spasms can be a debilitating side effect. What if we could design drugs that retain their desirable traits with fewer troubling downsides? Ron Dror, an associate professor of computer science at Stanford, led an international research team whose study published May 2 in Nature combines computer simulations with laboratory experiments to explore just that. The team focused on the molecular pathways within cells that control both the good and bad effects of roughly half of all common medications. The proteins in question, known as G-protein-coupled receptors or GPCRs, sit on the exterior of cells, awaiting biochemical signals that tell cells how to behave. Those signals are normally biological molecules circulating in the blood, but can also include many drugs. When one of these signals latches onto a GPCR, it kicks off a series of molecular changes within the cell that control a wide range of functions turning genes on or off, say, or blocking the activity of other proteins. The Nature paper focuses specifically on the relationship between GPCRs and a family of molecules called arrestins, which are among the proteins GPCRs activate. That interaction triggers the beneficial effects of many drugs, but it also results in detrimental side effects for others. "We want the good without the bad more effective drugs with fewer dangerous side effects," Dror said. "For GPCRs, that often boils down to whether or not the drug causes the GPCR to stimulate arrestin." Molecular dances Researchers have long known that GPCRs have two parts a fuller, rounder core and a long, narrow tail. The thought had been that the tail is responsible for activating arrestin. Dror's team has upended that assumption by developing computer models sophisticated enough to simulate many different possible interactions between GPCRs and arrestins. These models showed that arrestins can be stimulated by either the core or the tail. "This is true even though the GPCR core and tail bind at completely different interfaces on the arrestin," Dror said, "and the core and tail together can activate arrestin even more." The team confirmed several computational findings through experiments performed in the lab of Martha Sommer, a molecular biologist with Charite-Universitatsmedizin Berlin. Sommer had created arrestin molecules that light up when they change shape. With these light signals, her team measured the extent to which GPCR's core, tail, or both together stimulated arrestin. Action molecules Dror said computer simulations like the ones he did can help guide and accelerate biological experiments. Traditional ways of imaging molecular structures capture the equivalent of still photographs. But biomolecules like GPCR and arrestins are action molecules. They bend and fold when stimulated, and it is by virtue of their dynamic interactions that they produce their various effects. A still image doesn't tell the whole story. "With simulation, we can take GPCRs and arrestins and pull or push certain parts to see what happens. You can actually see how the atoms are moving," Dror said. The team thinks the core might select which molecule to stimulate arrestins or one of the many other molecules it can activate by adopting different shapes. Taking the idea one step further, the findings suggest that drugs designed to bind to a GPCR could aim it at desired effects or block unwanted effects by influencing the shape of its core. Related work with Dror's collaborator Mark von Zastrow at the University of California, San Francisco, also published May 2 in Nature, found that GPCRs modify the shape of arrestins so they continue signaling independent of the receptor a never-before-seen type of arrestin signaling that von Zastrow has dubbed "kiss-and-run." Together, the findings suggest that scientists might be able to fine tune drugs to be more selective in how they activate the arrestin pathway to get the desired effects. Dror emphasized that these studies address only a small piece of the grand puzzle whose solution could enable the design of better medicines for countless diseases. He hopes that complementary computer simulations and laboratory experiments can help address the remaining pieces. "These behaviors are critical to drug effects, and this should help us in the next phases of our research as we try to learn more about the interplay of GPCRs and arrestins and, potentially, new drugs." Explore further How proteins find one another More information: Naomi R. Latorraca et al. Molecular mechanism of GPCR-mediated arrestin activation, Nature (2018). Naomi R. Latorraca et al. Molecular mechanism of GPCR-mediated arrestin activation,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0077-3 Kelsie Eichel et al. Catalytic activation of -arrestin by GPCRs, Nature (2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0079-1 Journal information: Nature Mistletoe (V. album). Credit: Hans-Peter Braun, Leibniz Universitat Hannover, Germany Most people know mistletoe (Viscum album) primarily as a plant to hang up and kiss under at the holidays. But in its natural environment, mistletoe is a hemiparasite (a parasitic plant that is capable of some photosynthesis), latching onto trees and extracting water and nutrients from them. Now, two independent studies reported in Current Biology on May 3 show that mistletoe's parasitic lifestyle has led the species to a rather surprising evolutionary loss. Mistletoe lacks key components of the cellular machinery other organisms depend upon to convert glucose into the energy-carrying molecule ATP. "A loss of respiratory capacity has previously been observed only in unicellular eukaryotes, leading to a parasitic or symbiotic life style," says Etienne Meyer from the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology in Germany. "We are reporting the first case of a multicellular eukaryote that lost most of its respiratory capacity." "There was no known example that life without mitochondrial complex I is possible in multicellular eukaryotes," adds Hans-Peter Braun of Leibniz Universitat Hannover, also in Germany. "So, we were definitely surprised to realize that V. album lives without this complex." Earlier studies suggested that the genomes within cellular powerhouses known as mitochondria of Viscum species had lost genes encoding complex I subunits. It was a first among multicellular eukaryotes. But it wasn't proof that mistletoe lacked the complex altogether. There was a possibility that the genes encoding complex I had been transferred from mitochondria into the nuclear genome. Nevertheless, the findings drew the attention of Braun and Meyer. Without knowing about one another, they both decided to take a closer look. Later, the two teams met at a conference and discovered they were following parallel paths, which have now led them to essentially the same discovery. They decided to submit their work to Current Biology as a pair. Mistletoe (V. album). Credit: Hans-Peter Braun, Leibniz Universitat Hannover, Germany Braun's team presents biochemical evidence that the mitochondria of European mistletoe completely lack complex I. They also have greatly reduced amounts of complexes II and V. At the same time, they report, complexes III and IV form what they describe as "remarkably stable respiratory supercomplexes." The findings offer biochemical proof that the genes encoding subunits of complex I have not been transferred to the nuclear genome and that this respiratory complex indeed is not assembled. As a consequence, the plant's entire respiratory chain is remodeled. Meyer's team, together with Janneke Balk's team from the John Innes Centre, UK, also found that they could not detect any activity from complex I or its protein subunits. They found that levels of complex IV and the enzyme that synthesizes ATP were present at 5-fold lower concentration than another commonly studied laboratory plant. Other essential metabolic enzymes were detected at higher levels. Their findings add to evidence that mitochondrial functions within parasitic mistletoe have undergone "extreme adjustments" over evolutionary time. Mistletoe (V. album) growing on a host tree. Credit: Hans-Peter Braun, Leibniz Universitat Hannover, Germany Braun speculates that these adaptations to a parasitic lifestyle may save the plant the energy required to assemble these mitochondrial complexes. "However," he says, "this comes at a price," as the capacity for ATP generation by mitochondria is reduced. The work of both research groups indicated loss of ATP generation by mitochondria might be compensated for by ATP-producing processes in other cellular components. That's a possibility that deserves further investigation, Braun says. Meyer adds that the mitochondria of other parasitic plant species should be investigated to determine whether the reduction of respiratory capacity is specific to mistletoe. Explore further Is mistletoe more than just an excuse for a kiss? More information: Current Biology, Maclean et al.: "Absence of Complex I Is Associated with Diminished Respiratory Chain Function in European Mistletoe" , Maclean et al.: "Absence of Complex I Is Associated with Diminished Respiratory Chain Function in European Mistletoe" www.cell.com/current-biology/f 0960-9822(18)30365-8 , DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.036 Current Biology, Senkler et al.: "Absence of Complex I Implicates Rearrangement of the Respiratory Chain in European Mistletoe" www.cell.com/current-biology/f 0960-9822(18)30379-8 , DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.050 Journal information: Current Biology Provided by Cell Press Credit: CC0 Public Domain In the fifties, geneticists were faced with a mystery: when two strains of the same fruit fly species (Drosophila) crossed, they only produced female flies instead of the expected 50:50 sex ratio. At first, scientists thought that what lay behind this was a genetic mutation, but it was later discovered that the cause was a hidden bacterium, Spiroplasma poulsonii. Spiroplasma is an endosymbiotic bacterium that lives in the fruit fly's blood and is passed on to it offspring through the female's oocytes. This bacterium remains largely hidden from its host but induces a fascinating reproductive manipulation: the specific killing of male embryos. The existence of male-killer bacteria appear at first sight puzzling, but studies have shown that it promotes the long-term persistence of the symbiotic bacteria by increasing the frequency of infected females who then transmit the bacteria to their offspring. Male-killing is not restricted to Spiroplasma but is also observed in several other endosymbiotic bacteria. The molecular mechanism underlying this process has however never been clarified. The original idea was that Spiroplasma produces an "androcidin" toxin, which kills males. But despite several attempts, the identity of this of this male killer has remained a mystery. Now, Professor Bruno Lemaitre and Dr. Toshiyuki Harumoto at EPFL have identified the elusive male-killing bacterial factor, solving the mystery. In a Nature paper, they reveal that the culprit is a protein that they name Spaid (for Spiroplasma poulsonii androcidin). The gene for Spaid is known to encode a protein that has particular structural characteristics needed for its localization and activity inside the bacterium (ankyrin repeats and de-ubiquitinase domains). The scientists found that just expressing Spaid in fruit flies was enough to recreate all the phenotypes associated with male killing in the insect. Consistent with a function in male killing, Spaid specifically binds to the X chromosome of male embryos. The authors speculate that Spaid interferes with a "male-specific process", such as a mechanism that increases the transcription of genes on the X chromosome (males have one X chromosome, while females have two). Finally, the scientists discovered a strain of the Spiroplasma bacterium with a mutation in the Spaid gene, which showed a reduced ability to kill males. "To our knowledge, Spaid is the first bacterial effector protein identified to date that affects host cellular machinery in a sex-specific manner," says Harumoto. "And it is also, to our knowledge again, the first paper to identify an insect endosymbiont factor causing male killing. As such, we expect that it will have a big impact on the fields of symbiosis, sex determination and evolution." More information: Toshiyuki Harumoto et al. Male-killing toxin in a bacterial symbiont of Drosophila, Nature (2018). Journal information: Nature Toshiyuki Harumoto et al. Male-killing toxin in a bacterial symbiont of Drosophila,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0086-2 Credit: Ian Muttoo. Shared under a Creative Commons license New research from North Carolina State University and the University of Colorado Boulder finds that steep declines in the use of coal for power generation over the past decade were caused largely by less expensive natural gas and the availability of wind energy not by environmental regulations. "From 2008 to 2013, coal dropped from about 50 percent of U.S. power generation to around 30 percent," says Harrison Fell, an associate professor of resource economics at NC State and co-lead author of a paper on the work. "Coal boosters blamed stiffer regulations, calling it a 'war on coal.' But that same time period saw a steep drop in the cost of natural gas and an increase in wind generation. We wanted to know how big a role each of these factors played in driving down the demand for coal." To answer this question, the researchers looked at how much of their daily power generation capacity coal plants were using in four power transmission regions from the beginning of 2008 to the end of 2013. The four power regions the Electric Reliability Corporation of Texas (ERCOT), the Southwest Power Pool, the Midcontinent Independent System Operator and PJM Interconnection (PJM) spread across more than 20 states. Consistent with national declines, coal plants in all four regions used much less of their power capacity in 2013 than in 2008. Similarly, the price of natural gas dropped in all four regions, and the amount of available wind power increased. The researchers then created a model that accounted for an array of variables, such as daily power demand, and ran it to see how power use would have changed in 2008 if gas had been available at 2013 prices and wind power had been available at 2013 levels. "This work uses the observed data capacity factors, fuel prices, power demand and so on to make predictions about how capacity factors are affected by different variables," Fell says. "In short, we can get a good idea of what influences the extent to which we use coal power generation." And what the researchers found was that, if in 2008 natural gas had been available at 2013 prices and wind power had been available at 2013 levels, coal power use would have dropped significantly compared to what was observed in 2008. In fact, these predicted "counterfactual" 2008 capacity usages were similar to observed 2013 capacity usages. This suggests the so-called "war on coal" regulations were not the driver of the coal generation decline over this period. "If the 'war on coal' was what drove down power generation, our econometric models would not have predicted a drop in coal use caused by changes in gas and wind," Fell says. "But they did. It looks like the changes in coal power production were actually driven largely by capitalism." The paper, "The Fall of Coal: Joint Impacts of Fuel Prices and Renewables on Generation and Emissions," is published online in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy. Explore further Why this summer might be a test for the Texas electric grid More information: Harrison Fell et al. The Fall of Coal: Joint Impacts of Fuel Prices and Renewables on Generation and Emissions, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy (2018). Harrison Fell et al. The Fall of Coal: Joint Impacts of Fuel Prices and Renewables on Generation and Emissions,(2018). DOI: 10.1257/pol.20150321 Japanese-style composition before World War II was more diverse and complex than has been thought thus far. Modern European compositional techniques were used as Japanese expression, even though it has often been claimed that such expression didn't begin until after the war. The character of Japanese music has interested composers and audiences in Japan and beyond for decades. A doctoral dissertation by researcher Lasse Lehtonen examines the issue from the perspective of the writings and musical compositions of Japanese composers in the 1930s. "Japan in the 1930s is a highly interesting research topic in this sense. It was a complex and contradictory society, with Western modernism and Japanese tradition overlapping each other, partially in conflict and partially in synthesis," Lehtonen explains. This is also apparent in the nationalism that arose around that time, and ultimately in Japan's participation in World War II. The period has previously been studied a great deal from the perspective of society, culture and many fields of art to understand the overall situation, but music has received less attention. The study focuses on the pioneering composer group Shinko sakkyokuka renmei (Federation of Emerging Composers), active between 1930 and 1940, and its founding members. Focusing on modern modes of expression, the group became a prominent force: it organised several performances of contemporary music while promoting young composers and composing as a career in Japan. Members of the group such as Yasuji Kiyose, Kunihiko Hashimoto and Yoritsune Matsudaira are particularly well known for being among the first to take influences from traditional Japanese music. Later, the group grew into Japan's biggest association of composers and the Japanese chapter of the International Society of Contemporary Music. As such, it is the predecessor of the current Japan Society for Contemporary Music. Japanese-style composition means music which is influenced by traditional Japanese music and culture. Identity in an international context "In the writings and musical works of the composers, Japanese-style composition is seen as an act of seeking and creating a Japanese identity in an international context," explains Lehtonen. In this sense, Japanese-style composition is a reflection of its era. Musical works of the time also reflect conflicts and developments in society. According to Lehtonen, motivations for using traditional influences varied from one composer to the next, for example, from emphasising the older Japanese culture to methods that were used to generate a modernist form of expression. To understand these influences, it is important to study the writings of the composers in addition to the music. "Yasuji Kiyose emphasised the importance of tradition in the modernised society by basing his compositions on elements from traditional music, such as the typical scales. Kunihiko Hashimoto, meanwhile, saw Japan as a permanently changed nation and viewed jazz as the 'folk songs for city-dwellers.' He also utilised influences from traditional Japanese music as modernist expression, which in 1930s Japan was thought of as avant-garde." Japanese-style composition only became common enough to be used in governmental nationalism in the late 1930s. This means that Japanese-style music was not originally nationalistic, even though this has sometimes been claimed. Explore further Big Data reveals classical music creation secrets A correct prediction (left), and an incorrect prediction (right). Illustration by Joerael Elliott, based on a diagram by David Wolpert. Credit: Santa Fe Institute A new proof by SFI Professor David Wolpert sends a humbling message to would-be super intelligences: you can't know everything all the time. The proof starts by mathematically formalizing the way an "inference device," say, a scientist armed with a supercomputer, fabulous experimental equipment, etc., can have knowledge about the state of the universe around them. Whether that scientist's knowledge is acquired by observing their universe, controlling it, predicting what will happen next, or inferring what happened in the past, there's a mathematical structure that restricts that knowledge. The key is that the inference device, their knowledge, and the physical variable that they (may) know something about, are all subsystems of the same universe. That coupling restricts what the device can know. In particular, Wolpert proves that there is always something that the inference device cannot predict, and something that they cannot remember, and something that they cannot observe. "In some ways this formalism can be viewed as many different extensions of [Donald MacKay's] statement that 'a prediction concerning the narrator's future cannot account for the effect of the narrator's learning that prediction,'" Wolpert explains. "Perhaps the simplest extension is that, when we formalize [inference devices] mathematically, we notice that the same impossibility results that hold for predictions of the futureMacKay's concernalso hold for memories of the past. Time is an arbitrary variableit plays no role in terms of differing states of the universe." Not everyone can be right What happens if we don't require that an inference device know everything about their universe, but only that it knows the most that could be known? Wolpert's mathematical framework shows that no two inference devices who both have free will (appropriately defined) and have maximal knowledge about the universe can co-exist in that universe. There may (or not) be one such "super inference device" in some given universebut no more than one. Wolpert jokingly refers to this result as "the monotheism theorem," since while it does not forbid there being a deity in our universe, it forbids there being more than one. As an example, suppose that Bob and Alice are both scientists with unlimited computational abilities. Moreover, suppose that they both have "free will," in that the question Bob asks himself does not restrict the possible questions Alice could ask herself, and vice-versa. (This turns out to be crucial.) Then it is impossible for Bob to predict (or retrodict) what Alice thinks at another time if Alice is also asked to predict what Bob is not thinking at that time. Credit: Santa Fe Institute Wolpert compares this proposition to the Cretan liar's paradox, in which Epimenides of Knossos, a Cretan, famously stated "all Cretans are liars." Unlike Epimenides' statement though, which exposes the problem of systems that have the capability of self-reference, Wolpert's reasoning also applies to inference devices without that capability. In addition, in Wolpert's formalism, the same scientist, considered at two different moments in time, is two different inference devices. So while it could be that some inference device is a "super inference device" at one moment, they could not be so more than once. Again tongue in cheek, he refers to this as the "deism" theorem, since it allows there to be a deity that knows the most that could be known at the beginning of the universebut forbids their ever being so knowledgeable again. Because it does not rely on specific theories of physical reality like quantum mechanics or relativity, the new proof presents a broad set of limits for exploring the nature of scientific knowledge. "None of these results limiting knowledge acquired by prediction relies on there being chaotic processes in the universe it doesn't matter what the laws of physics are or if Alice is more computationally powerful than a Turing machine," says Wolpert. "All of this is independent of that and it's much broader ranging." This research is progressing in many different directions, ranging from epistemic logic to a theory of Turing machines. In particular, Wolpert and his colleagues are creating a more nuanced, probabilistic framework that will allow them to explore not only the limits of absolutely correct knowledge, but also what happens when the inference devices are not required to know with 100% accuracy. "What if Epimenides had said 'the probability that a Cretan is a liar is greater than x percent?'" Moving from impossibility to probability could tell us whether knowing one thing with greater certainty inherently limits the ability to know another thing. According to Wolpert, "we are getting some very intriguing results." Explore further Can scientists know that they do not know? More information: Read David Wolpert's "Theories of Knowledge and Theories of Everything" chapter in the The Map and the Territory: www.springer.com/us/book/9783319724775 Read David Wolpert's "Theories of Knowledge and Theories of Everything" chapter in the Constraints on physical reality arising from a formalization of knowledge: arXiv:1711.03499 [physics.hist-ph] arxiv.org/abs/1711.03499 In a new research article, a team of international researchers argue that the Tapanuli Orangutana species discovered last year in Sumatra, Indonesia, and one of the rarest animals on the planetcould lose its battle for survival, unless decisive steps are taken to rescue it. "In forty years of research, I don't think I've ever seen anything this dramatic," said Professor William Laurance from James Cook University in Australia, leader of the research team. "This is just the seventh species of Great Ape ever discovered, and it could go extinct right before our eyes," said Professor Jatna Supriatna from the University of Indonesia, a co-author of the study. "Fewer than 800 of the apes survive, and they're under assault from mega-projects, deforestation, road building, and poaching," said Dr Sean Sloan, lead author of the article in Current Biology. "Their entire remaining habitat is unbelievably smallless than a tenth the size of Sydney, Australia," said Sloan. The authors say the most imminent threat is a planned U.S.$1.6 billion mega-damthe Batang Toru projectthat would be constructed by a Chinese state-owned corporation, Sinohydro, and funded by Chinese financiers. "If it proceeds, the dam will flood crucial parts of the ape's habitat, while chopping up its remaining habitat with new roads and powerlines," said Supriatna. The team discovered the ape survives only in areas with virtually no roads, which promote illegal logging, clearing, and poaching. "This is a critical test for China and Indonesia. They say they want sustainable developmentbut words are cheap," said Laurance. "Without urgent action, this could be ecological Armageddon for one of our closest living relatives." Explore further Anthropologists describe third orangutan species More information: Sean Sloan, Jatna Supriatna, Mason Campbell, Mohammed Alamgir, and William F. Laurance. 2018. Newly discovered orangutan species requires urgent habitat protection. Current Biology 28:R1-R3. Journal information: Current Biology Sean Sloan, Jatna Supriatna, Mason Campbell, Mohammed Alamgir, and William F. Laurance. 2018. Newly discovered orangutan species requires urgent habitat protection.28:R1-R3. This rendering shows the conceptual CubeX spacecraft, which would demonstrate X-ray navigation during its mission investigating the Moon. Credit: Harvard University Now that NASA has shown the viability of autonomous X-ray navigation in space, a team led by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory plans to include the technology on a proposed CubeSat mission to the Moon, and NASA engineers are now studying the possibly of adding the capability to future human-exploration spacecraft. Interest in this emerging capability to guide spacecraft to the far reaches of the solar system comes just months after NASA scientist Keith Gendreau and his team at the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, successfully demonstrated the techniquecommonly known as XNAVwith an experiment called Station Explorer for X-ray Timing and Navigation Technology, or SEXTANT. The SEXTANT technology demonstration, which NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate had funded under its Game Changing Development program, took place late last year and demonstrated that millisecond pulsars could be used to accurately determine the location of an object moving at thousands of miles per hour in space. These pulsations are highly predictable, much like the atomic clocks used to provide timing data on the ubiquitous GPS system. During the demonstration, SEXTANT took advantage of the 52 X-ray telescopes and silicon drift detectors on NASA's Neutron-star Interior Composition Explorer, or NICER, to detect X-rays emanating from four millisecond-pulsar targets. The pulsars' timing data were fed into onboard algorithms that autonomously generated a navigation solution for the location of NICER in orbit around Earth. The team is expected to carry out another XNAV demonstration later this spring to see if it can improve on the technology's already impressive accuracy, said SEXTANT Project Manager Jason Mitchell, who works at Goddard. Engineers Luke Winternitz (left), Jason Mitchell (right) and their team developed a unique tabletop device -- aptly described as a 'pulsar on a table' -- to simulate rapid-fire X-ray pulsations needed to test algorithms and other advanced technologies for the X-ray navigation. The team recently delivered the special testbed to the Aeromechanics and Flight Mechanics Division's Electro-Optics Lab at the Johnson Space Center. Credit: NASA/P. Izzo Navigation Testbed In another development that could broaden XNAV's use, the SEXTANT team recently delivered a special testbed to the Aeromechanics and Flight Mechanics Division's Electro-Optics Lab at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. The team developed the unique tabletop device - sometimes described as a 'pulsar on a table' - to simulate the low-strength signals received from pulsars. The measurements obtained from XNAV will be used to test algorithms being developed for future crewed missions. XNAV sensors complement optical-navigation (OpNav) sensors. Together, they can serve as an autonomous navigation package to aid vehicles in case of loss of communications with the ground and to relieve the navigation tracking burden on NASA's Deep Space Network. Mitchell said NASA's Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway, where astronauts will participate in a variety of science, exploration, and commercial activities in orbit around and on the Moon, could employ XNAV capabilities. CubeX: Characterizing the Lunar Surface And in another development, the SEXTANT team is working with Suzanne Romaine, a scientist with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, and JaeSub Hong, a researcher with Harvard University, to fly XNAV on a CubeSat mission called CubeX. "This is a push to move the technology into the operational mode," said Mitchell, who, along with Gendreau, is a CubeX collaborator. "This is great opportunity for XNAV and showing its value to navigating in deep space." As currently conceived, the small satellite would gather timing data from the list of SEXTANT millisecond pulsars using CubeX's miniature X-ray telescope. An onboard algorithm would then use the data to determine the spacecraft's trajectory. The team would compare CubeX's solution against that provided by NASA's Deep Space Network, a communications and navigational capability used by all NASA deep-space missions. Demonstrating XNAV on an operational satellite, however, isn't the mission's only objective. The other half of its mission will be spent measuring the composition of the Moon's lower crust and upper mantle to understand the origin and evolution of Earth's only natural satellite, which scientists believe may have formed when a huge collision tore off a chunk of Earth. "There's a lot we don't know about the Moon. Many mysteries remain," said Hong. A better understanding of the mantle layer could be key to determining how the Moon and the Earth formed. To get this information, CubeX would use a technique called X-ray fluorescence, or XRF. XRF, which is widely used in science and industry applications, is based on the principle that when individual atoms in sediment, rocks, and other materials are excited by an external energy sourcein this case, X-rays emanating from the Sunthey emit their own X-rays that exhibit a characteristic energy or wavelength indicative of a specific element. This can be likened to how fingerprints can identify a specific person. By capturing these "fluorescing" photons with a miniaturized X-ray optic and then analyzing them with an onboard spectrometer, scientists can discern which elements make up outcrops of the Moon's rocky mantle, which have been exposed by impact craters, and its crust, which overlays the mantle. The mission would launch no earlier than 2023 to take advantage of the next solar maximum, which would assure a steady bombardment of high-energy X-rays to produce the fluorescence. Explore further NASA team first to demonstrate X-ray navigation in space {KHALID GUL} Shopian, May 4: Three houses were set ablaze in Turkiwangam village of Shopian district by army and police on Wednesday night even though a gunfight between the forces and militants, which could have been a justification for the fire, was fleeting and the militants managed to escape, local residents said. The gutted houses belong to the in-laws of top Hizb-ul-Mujahideen commander Zeenat-ul-Islam Shah, one of their close relative and a police sub-inspector. The house owners and locals termed arson as an act of vengeance. There was no encounter at all and the militants were not hiding in any of the houses which were targeted by the forces, said Muhamad Ismail, a local resident. Local residents who were helping the families clear debris seconded Ismail. We are not aware of any exchange of fire between at all. What we know is that army arrived at around 4:30 pm and fired indiscriminately at the houses, Ismail said. A source, however, revealed that about five militants, including Zeenat, managed to give forces a slip after a brief exchange of fire in open. About an hour later, people marched towards the village to save the militants they believed were trapped. The forces fired bullets and pellets into them, killing a teenaged boy and injuring 30 others. The families that lost their shelter are in a state of shock. They showered bullets on our houses when our women and children were inside, said Muhamad Yousuf Lone, one of the house owners. Lone, an employee with fire and emergency service posted at Srinagar, is father-in-law of Zeenat-ul-Islam. Barely two years after his marriage in 2013, Zeenat joined Hizb. He is father of a baby girl. I was on duty. My three sons were also not home. Only my wife and younger daughter (Zeenats wife) were home, said Lone. He said that his younger brother Abdul Rashid Lone, a carpenter by profession, whose lives next door, was also not home. Rashids wife and two little children managed to come to ours amid firing, Lone said. He said his and his brothers family members took cover in a corner of the kitchen. The forces had fired at our house for a long time, said Lone, showing me bullet marks on the half-burnt damaged walls, doors and windows of his and brothers houses. Late in the night I got a call from a police officer inquiring whether my family had come out. I told him they were inside. Soon, a contingent of forces went inside and asked them to come out. At around 12 in the night they set on fire both mine and my brothers house, Lone said. They also set on fire our cowsheds. I called my colleagues in Zainapora fire service and though they reached the spot immediately but were not allowed to douse the flames for quite some time, Lone said. Sartaj Ahmad, 16-year-old nephew of Lone, said the forces beat him up and dragged him out of the house. They also took away our valuables and cash, he said. While Lones huge house has suffered substantial damage, his younger brothers house has been reduced to rubble. All their belongings and books of children were reduced to ashes, said Ishaq, a neighbor of younger Lone. The house of Bashir Ahmad Lone, a sub-inspector of police currently posted at police lines Reeshipora in Shopian, was also set ablaze. Bashir, who is a cousin of Lones, said some valuables were also stolen from his home. Bashirs two sons have passed MCA and Msc mathematics. His younger one is preparing for MBBS. They had a library in the old house where they used to study. The library is gone, said a relative of Lones. He said the family members of Lones were also ruthlessly beaten up and they have suffered injuries too Even the house owner who himself is a police official was not spared and was thrashed. The forces stole ornaments, Rs 20,000 cash, two cell phones and a table lamp from the new house of theirs, the relative of Lones said. Senior superintendent of police Shailendra Mishra, however, denied that the forces set ablaze any of the houses. A cowshed caught fire during exchange of fire and later it engulfed one more house. We soon pressed into service fire tenders to douse the flames, said Mishra. Acknowledging that there was no encounter initially, the SSP said, An area domination party of the army came under attack from militants. The fire was retaliated after which they (militants) took shelter in nearby houses. They then started firing from inside these houses. More re-enforcement was rushed in, however, militants managed to escape under the cover of darkness. SSP said the allegations of loot are baseless. If there is any such thing the families should have come up with a complaint to the police, he said. Armys Srinagar based spokesperson termed the allegations of families and locals as baseless. Srinagar, May 03: Thousands of people attended the funeral prayers of a student, Umar Kumhar, in Shopian district, today. Umar Kumhar, a ninth class student, was killed and more than thirty people were injured when the Indian troops fired bullets, pellets and teargas shells on protesters during a cordon and search operation in Turkawangam area of the district, yesterday. The troops also damaged two houses and at least four cowsheds in the area. Thousands of people poured onto the streets as the body of the martyred student was taken for burial. They raised high-pitched pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Multiple funerals were held for Umar to accommodate the huge rush of people. Eyewitnesses said that the slain was laid to rest with his school uniform shirt over his body. Complete shutdown was observed in Pulwama, Shopian, Islamabad and Kulgam districts, today, to mourn the killing of Umar Kumhar and other youth martyred by the troops. The Indian troops fired teargas shells in Khudwani area of Kulgam after youth pelted stones on the vehicles of the forces personnel. Clashes erupted between protesters and the Indian forces in Malangpora area of Pulwama district. Indian police arrested noted religious scholar, Qazi Ahmed Yasir, in Islamabad town to prevent him from visiting Turkawangam area to express solidarity with the family of the killed student. $24 million equity fund set up in Nepal Investment management company, One to Watch, on Wednesday announced its partnership with venture capital and private equity firm True North Associates, building the largest private equity fund in the country for early stage growth companies. Feature Short Crackdown In Londongrad? RF/RL Central News Rooms video reporting from London went beyond the news of the nerve-gas attack in the U.K. on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, and explored the growing calls for Britain to use recently enacted powers for a crackdown on corrupt Russian oligarchs who own London properties. Broadcast by Current Time, the video reached a wider audience for being translated into Russian and other languages. See the Project Kiran Nazishs career as a journalist spans nearly two decades and numerous countries, including her native Pakistan, as well as India, Afghanistan, Nepal, and a stint in the newsroom at the New York Times. Unfortunately, one unifying characteristic of the journalism industry she experienced across cultures was the difficulty she and other women faced reaching the top of their profession. It was clear to Nazish that nobody was going to help women unless they help each other, so in March 2017 she and her partners founded the Coalition For Women In Journalism, an organization that provides mentoring to women journalists by connecting them all over the world. The coalition has chapters in countries throughout Latin America and Asia. The need for this kind of coalition has subconsciously always been there, Nazish told Lady Liberty. It was something I inherently understood when I entered journalism. Across all different industries, not just journalism, you see women working and having a certain status at those jobs, but they are not on an equal footing with the men. The coalition matches mid-level career journalists with mentors who can help them with whatever issue theyre facing. Some seeking support need help writing pitches, others with mechanics of the craft like storytelling. Some are looking for safety tips when reporting from dangerous places, or are facing imprisonment, harassment by officials, or sexual harassment. Sexual harassment is a big issue for women in journalism, said Nazish. We did surveys, and on average I would say that over 60 percent of women in journalism face sexual harassment of different kinds: in the field, from sources, and in the newsrooms from bosses and colleagues. Mentors and their partners agree to work together for at least three months, but Nazish says pairs usually stay in touch and continue to help each other long after that. The coalition opens the call for new members to the program twice per year, but is always ready to provide emergency assistance if needed. One of the journalists taking part in the program is Ans Boersma, a Dutch freelancer working as a correspondent for Het Financieele Dagblad from Istanbul, Turkey. I have more challenges in Turkey than in Netherlands, because there are of course cultural issues, said Boersma. But also, in Turkey, you as a journalist are not very safe, so that already comes with a lot of pressure. And having that pressure along with the pressures you are facing with the newsroom and being a female, thats a lot together. Boersma says taking part in the coalition, either as a mentor or mentee, is especially helpful for journalists working in countries without a free press, but that women journalists everywhere can benefit from the program. In the Netherlands, we teach students how to ask for help, but traveling the world, it seems women journalists dont talk to each other much, and I really think it is important for women to start talking about the issues they face, she said. Nazish says that despite a majority of journalism school graduates being women and the fact that American and European newsrooms are full of women, few of them become editors or rise in the newsroom hierarchy, they win fewer awards, they are generally less recognized for their work, and they are given less prominent assignments. The women wont be covering the crime, they wont be covering difficult political parties or terrorism. Instead, theyll be sitting on a womens desk, doing health reporting or education, she said, adding that inevitably, after a few years in the profession, many women either burn out or fall into a rut. Instead competing with each other in a male-created, male-dominated environment, Nazish said, we want to empower women by empowering each other. --Una Cilic In a Bishkek TV studio on a recent afternoon, a group of Kyrgyz women from varied backgrounds came together to discuss how women in their country can combine traditional and modern lifestyles, in a segment for a program called Sisterhood, or Eje-signdi in Kyrgyz. Launched in June 2017, first as a radio program produced by RFE/RLs Kyrgyz Service before being promptly picked up by Kyrgyz national TV and adapted for that format, Sisterhood serves as a unique platform for discussion about womens issues and social taboos, subjects often overlooked or avoided by media in the region. Program topics have ranged from weighty themes like domestic abuse, misogyny, and sexual harassment, to practical advice on balancing career and family, the ethics and repercussions of posting photos of your children online, and why New Years celebrations, with all of the cooking and planning involved, are so stressful for Kyrgyz women. With over 60,000 views online, the most popular show to date asked the question, Does artificial beauty make women happy? Hosted by well-known blogger and freelance TV producer with the Kyrgyz Service, Aliya Suranova, Sisterhood is a space for Kyrgyz women to discuss taboo subjects about their lives while respecting their cherished national culture and the particular sensibilities of their viewers. Although the show deals with serious issues, the idea is to keep it light-hearted and funny, Suranova tells RFE/RLs Lady Liberty. There are bad connotations around feminism in Kyrgyzstan, as it is viewed as something dangerous and Western. We like to keep things simple on the show, without forcing any strong opinions. There is no specific guest profile on Sisterhood, and Suranova invites smart women of all ages and social backgrounds on the show to join the conversation. Politicians, teachers, historians, anthropologists, and actresses, among others, have all had their say on Sisterhood. Prominent men are also invited on the program from time to time, with one of the most popular panels featuring famous Kyrgyz comedian Boronchu Kudaibergenov, who took on societys negative perceptions of women who laugh and joke in public. Although there is a sizable womens rights community in Kyrgyzstan, Suranova says before Sisterhood there were no TV programs addressing womens issues in the Kyrgyz language. Most of Sisterhoods viewers are from rural areas and are more comfortable in their native Kyrgyz than in Russian, the second most common language in the country. Most of the time, Kyrgyz media actually reinforces gender stereotypes instead of creating space to discuss them, she said. It is important that we started the discussion in Kyrgyz, because a lot of topics are taboo in our society, and as a result, there is a painful number of unaware and uninformed women whose lives turn into tragedies because of it. Sisterhood has had an overwhelmingly positive audience response. Women send in messages thanking our speakers for inspiring them and for introducing them to new opinions, says Suranova. Kyrgyz women living around the world have also shared their joy that these issues have finally been given a platform on national TV. The biggest challenge for women in Kyrgyzstan, in Suranovas view, is that patriarchal values are still deeply ingrained in Kyrgyz culture, and place barriers on womens opportunities and choices. Women go straight from being under the control of their family to that of their husband. There is a lack of knowing what their options are, a lack of independence, she said. Despite these difficulties, Suranova is confident things are changing for women in Kyrgyzstan, albeit slowly. In the meantime, she says, well keep on talking. There is always something new to discusswell never run out of topics. 3 bodies recovered from vehicle buried in Bajhang Security personnel have recovered bodies of three persons who went missing after a landslide buried a passenger jeep at Subeda in Bajhang district on Wednesday night. Hoping to reduce the number of dogs that are euthanized and increase the chances of positive outcomes for inmates, the Santa Maria Valley Huma This year, everyone on the planet was plunged into a brave new world, as the coronavirus pandemic " " The number of deep earthquakes that rumble near the San Andreas Fault (seen here from the air) increases just before Earth enters a tidal cycle. Flickr.com/faultfind_48 If you earn your living on the ocean, you'd better know how to read a tide table. Around the world, most coastal communities witness sea level rise and fall multiple times every day. The effect can be quite dramatic: On certain days, there's a 53-foot (16-meter) difference between the low and high tides in Canada's Minas Basin Inlet. Working fishermen, divers and ship captains must take fluctuations like these into account. For this reason, governments release tables that predict the heights of future tides for different corners of the oceans. Yet unbeknownst to many of us, the ground beneath our feet experiences tides of its own. The phenomenon goes by many names, including "land tides," "crustal tides," "Earth tides," and "solid Earth tides." No matter what you call the process, it's caused by the same forces that generate our better-known oceanic tides. Advertisement Our Elastic Planet Tides are complicated beasts; they're the net result of several different factors all working together. The most significant contributing forces are the gravitational pulls that the sun, the moon and the earth exert on one other. The sun actually has less influence over our tides than the moon does despite being 22 million times larger. That's because the moon is so much closer to planet Earth. As such, on the surface of Earth, the moon's gravitational force is about 2.2 times stronger than the sun's. High ocean tides at least in most parts of the world happen twice a day. We experience one when the moon is overhead and, counterintuitive as this may sound, a second high tide takes place when the moon is on the opposite side of Earth. Low ocean tides occur during the periods between those points. (The centrifugal force of our rotating planet helps account for the strange arrangement.) While this is happening, a similar cycle unfolds within the very crust of our planet. To a miniscule degree, the ground level itself rises and falls every day in accordance with the moon's whereabouts. "The motion extends through the whole of the solid earth, not just the crust, but is largest at the surface," Duncan Agnew says via email. "The earth," he adds, "is slightly elastic." Duncan is a geophysicist at the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics (IGPP) at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. Your naked eye is all that's required to watch the ocean tide come in and go out. However, it's straight-up impossible to observe solid Earth tides without using scientific instruments. At high tide, New York City can rise upward by 14 inches (35.5 centimeters). The Big Apple then falls by the same degree at low tide. A pedestrian standing in Times Square or the Bronx Zoo wouldn't notice any of this because all the buildings, trees, streets and people in the five boroughs rise and fall in concert. (Agnew says the "vertical motion at the surface" varies from place to place; some areas bulge and descend less dramatically than New York does. Other locales outperform the big city on that score.) Advertisement The Fortnightly Cycle So far, we've focused on how the moon affects both solid Earth and oceanic tides. But the sun should not be ignored in this discussion. Those who live in coastal areas are well aware of how solar activity can affect the strength of oceanic tides. When the sun aligns with the moon, the sea's high tides get higher and the low tides get lower. The exact opposite happens when those two celestial bodies are situated at right angles to one another, meaning the planet ends up with low "high" tides and high "low" tides.) That cycle repeats itself every two weeks and is therefore known as the "fortnightly cycle." On top of giving boaters headaches, it also affects solid Earth tides. Nicholas van der Elst of the U.S. Geological Survey was the lead author of a 2016 study that investigated the link between the fortnight cycle, land tides and seismic activity along California's San Andreas Fault. "When the earth's crust flexes in the direction of the tidal pull, this puts a stress on any tectonic faults that cut through the rock. If the combination of the tidal stress and the pre-existing tectonic stress is just right, this can set off an earthquake," van der Elst says via email. For that 2016 research effort, van der Elst's group compared 81,000 San Andreas earthquakes. They found that the rate of low-frequency 'quakes increases right before the fortnightly cycle enters its solar/lunar alignment stage. Californians shouldn't lose too much sleep over this news development. The earthquakes in question are too weak and occur too far below the planet's surface to cause any serious damage on the surface. Crustal tides are generally "far too small to matter for most faults" van der Elst notes. Nonetheless, the geologist has found that it's "possible to observe a small but measurable influence in some locations, particularly in places like mid-ocean ridges. "There are also special regions of the earth's crust where faults appear to be astoundingly weak," he adds. "These regions tend to be deep at the roots of subduction zone faults, like the faults that dive beneath Japan and the U.S. Pacific northwest." Down there, some 12 to 18 miles (20 to 30 kilometers) beneath the planet's surface, faults create small-scale seismic tremors. "The tides can have a very substantial effect on [tremors], with tremor rates oscillating by up to 30 percent in phase with the tides," van der Elst says. "However, these tiny pseudo-earthquakes are totally undetectable by people and do not pose any hazard." Still, knowledge is knowledge. Now That's Interesting The ocean isn't the only body of water that experiences its own tides. Lakes undergo them as well, but on a much smaller scale. For example, the mightiest tides on North America's Great Lakes are only 5 centimeters (0.4 inches) high. " " Andrea Gordon gets help for her math anxiety from mathematician and playwright John Mighton, founder of the Jump math program. He says anyone can discover the joys of math. Richard Lautens/Toronto Star via Getty Images The waiter is waiting. You're at a restaurant with a group of friends and you generously offered to pick up the check. Only you forgot how much you hate calculating the tip! Now the waiter is impatiently peering over your shoulder as you fumble with basic division and addition, hoping your friends don't notice how red your face is turning, and trying desperately not give the guy a 1.7 percent tip instead of 17 percent. Advertisement Math anxiety is a real thing. An estimated 25 percent of American four-year college students and 80 percent of community college students suffer from moderate to high math anxiety, defined as a negative emotional reaction to math. The cruel irony is that having math anxiety makes you even worse at math, which leads some people to avoid math at all costs not only calculating tips and filing taxes, but dismissing all math-related careers as hopeless. Sian Beilock is a cognitive scientist with the Human Performance Lab at the University of Chicago where she's conducted extensive research on math anxiety in children and adults. (She was also recently hired as the president of Barnard College at Columbia University.) When she runs brain scans on people with math anxiety, even the prospect of doing a math problem triggers a response. "Before people even see the math problem, just knowing that it's coming, the areas of the brain that are linked to the neural pain matrix are activated," Beilock says. In other words, math hurts. Math anxiety starts young and sticks around. In Beilock's research, 50 percent of first- and second-graders say that math makes them nervous. And because society tells girls that they're not as good as the boys at math, that makes girls even more anxious on average. And when high anxiety leads to bad performance on math tests (which it does), people jump to the conclusion that they were born to be bad at math. Some even wear it as a badge of pride. Beilock gets frustrated when she meets a highly intelligent colleague who brags about not being a "math person." "You don't hear anyone bragging about not being a 'reading person,'" she says. "Unfortunately, it's socially acceptable to talk about math this way, and it perpetuates this notion that you either have it or you don't. But we know that you can get better at math by practicing and learning." Solutions for Math Anxiety Bon Crowder is a veteran math educator and blogger at mathfour.com (motto: "Math is not a four-letter word"). During her 25 years of teaching math to students of all ages, she's developed some tricks for helping people get over their math anxiety. It starts with dumping the negativity. "Whoever it is that has you convinced that you're bad at math, get rid of them," says Crowder. "And that person may be you." Beilock actually conducted some interesting experiments along those very lines. In her book, "Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting it Right When You Have To", she describes a writing exercise where college kids with math anxiety were instructed to "free write" about their worries and negative thoughts before taking a math test. The reason anxiety impacts performance on things like timed tests, Beilock explains, is that the negative emotional reaction robs resources from working memory. When students were able to "offload their worries" on paper, it freed up those cognitive resources and they did better on the tests. Another of math educator Crowder's tips for overcoming math anxiety is to reimagine the entire way you think about math. "Completely get rid of this notion of textbook, schoolwork, sit-down-at-the-desk math, because that's garbage," says Crowder. "Math is not the stuff we cram down your throat." Crowder recommends reading an eye-opening essay by math teacher and author Paul Lockhart called "A Mathematician's Lament" in which he argues that math is a creative and imaginative artform on par with music or painting, not a rote-memorized system all about following directions and getting the "right" answer. The way we teach math in schools, Lockhart says, is the equivalent of teaching someone how to play the violin by making them master musical theory and notation before ever touching the instrument. What's the fun in that? It's hard, though, for adults with math anxiety to change their entire perspective about something that's been negatively reinforced for so long. If only they could go back to the beginning and relearn math in a more interesting and playful way. For math-anxious parents, that's actually an option. There's a whole movement out there to help families with young kids build healthy math habits and make the next generation immune to math anxiety. Bedtime Math is an incredible resource for incorporating fun math-related activities into daily family life. Another is Table Talk Math. Beilock recently did a study where parents and kids engaged in Bedtime Math-style activities in addition to the normal bedtime stories routine, and the kids' math performance improved. Because data from the study is still under review, Beilock can't tell us much more, but teased, "You can imagine that there are benefits for the parents, too." Oh, and here's an easy way to calculate that restaurant tip: Most states have sales tax amounts between 7 and 9 percent. Simply double the amount of the sales tax on the receipt and you'll have a decent tip. Now That's Cool In 2017, Beilock coauthored a study that found a strong link between math success for the math-anxious and activity in the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain (areas that control attention and regulate negative emotions). In other words, students with math anxiety who could control their emotions for instance, by taking a few deep breaths before starting an exam did almost as well on math tests as students with no math anxiety. " " No, really. What's the horn for, Unicorn? John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images The mythical unicorn continues to gallop its way across the fields of human imagination, from the 4,000-year-old Indus Valley civilization carvings to the Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino. But as Argentinian writer and dreamer Jorge Luis Borges pointed out, "The first version of the Unicorn is nearly identical with the latest." In other words, the unicorn is rarely little more than a one-horned horse. As Joe McCormick and I discuss in our podcast episode "Unicorns of the Mythic World," the fairy-tale beast has come to symbolize everything from sinful lust to Jesus Christ himself, and the purpose of its single horn is rarely clear. Luckily, our episode provides some tantalizing biological suggestions as to why these fanciful beasts would boast such a fabulous protrusion. Advertisement For starters, we can cast aside the more magical properties. Natural world organisms don't purify lakes or heal wounded paladins with their bony growths. It's also tempting to cast aside the notion presented in Ridley Scott's 1985 film "Legend," that a unicorn's horn is "a single horn reaching straight to heaven," as if it functions as a sort of divine antenna. Yet the idea of a horn antenna isn't that far-fetched. The most famous unicorn of the natural world is the narwhal (Monodon monoceros), though its lone tusk is actually an oversized canine tooth that grows straight out of the creature's face. The exact purpose of the tusk remains a topic of scientific dispute, but it might well function as a sense organ. After all, it's loaded with sensitive nerve endings. Some researchers theorize that narwhals use the tusk to focus their potent echolocation powers, which they use to hunt fish, shrimp and squid. Martin Nweeia of Harvard's School of Dental Medicine also suggests that it could be used to detect changes in water salinity. Still, sensory explanations for narwhal tusks are undercut by the fact that females rarely grow them. As in most cases of sexual dimorphism, we can usually assume that mating plays a key role in the difference. This brings us back to the unicorn. Perhaps only the males of the species boast horns as a means of sparring with romantic rivals or communicating sexual fitness to potential mates. The latter reason, at least, would jibe with the writings of fifth-century B.C.E. Greek historian Ctesias, in which the unicorn's horn is red, black and white. That sounds like a festive mating display to me. The other obvious possibility is that they provide a means for the unicorn to defend itself against predators, such as human hunters or its legendary rival, the lion. This at least matches up with one of the creature's most closely associated real-world counterpart: the rhinoceros. The unicorns of medieval European art were a docile-looking bunch, but older texts described a more fearsome creature. First-century Roman author Pliny the Elder wrote that a unicorn could not be taken alive, and others depicted it as a creature capable of besting lions. Sometimes, it would seem, the most violently obvious guess is the most valid. Now That's Interesting Speaking of fanciful creatures, not all dragons have sported wings and lived in mountaintop caves. Some are thought to have fins and live in the water now. 33 kg gold smuggling: Court begins recording statements of accused The Morang District Court on Thursday started recording statements of six of the 63 accused in 33 kg gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of Sanam Shakya, an alleged smuggler. Op Ed: Can Solar Power Drive Bitcoin Mining in Africa? While many in the West often overlook Africa as an emerging blockchain innovation center, a deeper look across the continent tells a very different story. The Blockchain Africa Conference came to a close last month in Johannesburg, South Africa. Around the same time, the Kenyan government set up a task force to study the impact of the technology. There are plenty of other blockchain communities growing around Africa too, in places like Nigeria, Sudan and Algeria. Although not without difficulties, the growing connectivity and an advancing computer science field especially at institutions like Makerere University in Uganda show the African blockchain ecosystem is evidently building agency. And it has the potential to make a massive impact on local economies and communities alike. During a speech, the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Managing Director of the IMF Christine Lagarde noted, So [blockchain] is not just about saving money, it is also about creating more transparency, promoting stronger accountability, and in the end, delivering a better life for every citizen. For many, cryptocurrency mining is providing a big leap forward. Communities have sprouted up across the region. But with global bitcoin mining using more power than most African countries (only South Africa, Egypt and Algeria consume more), its hard to see how its going to be sustainable on the continent. On the flipside, solar power just might have the force to push bitcoin mining in Africa to the next level. Heres how. A Snapshot of the Bitcoin Mining Community in Africa Bitcoin mining farms have begun popping up around the world to mine bitcoin in bulk. But while Egypts hot climate seems like an unfavorable place to do so, a community has developed to mine bitcoin in secret. According to the Bitcoin Africa article linked above, many miners keep a low profile for fear of being charged for working with black market foreign currencies. Still, bitcoin mining farms are spreading across Cairo. One of the main reasons for the boom is that electricity is cheaper compared to other economies. With lower overheads paid out in the local currency, miners get more back in bitcoin. Story continues Bitcoin mines are spread throughout other countries, too. IT Software company Ghana Dot Com (GDC) opened what it claims to be the countrys first bitcoin mine back in 2016, for example. (GDC is a descendant company of Network Computer Systems, which introduced internet in Ghana in 1993.) In South Africa, bitcoin mining hardware store Bitmart just opened in 2018. Theres also active communities in Nigeria, Gambia, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya. One Nairobi-based miner, Eugene Mutai, has received a fair share of press for the mining facility in his apartment. He told Bloomberg that, in the global market, bitcoin mining has leveled the playing field for him. Without a college degree, hes been able to move into the Kenyan middle class. Solar as a Viable Mining Alternative Certainly, parts of Africa arent exactly the ideal place to be mining bitcoin due to the hot climate the average temperature in Ethiopia, for example, is 93 F year round. Even more significantly, about 600 million people living in Sub-Saharan Africa dont have access to electricity. And, while nearly 1 billion people in the region might gain access to electricity by 2040, an estimated 530 million people will still not have electricity access due to population growth. Each country in Africa has its own nuanced problems and solutions; however, in a good handful of African countries, solar power is emerging as a viable option for combatting these electricity woes and there are already several solar projects on the go. In Morocco, for example, theres the 800MW Noor Midelt solar complex. According to Reuters, the estimated $2.4 billion (2 billion) project has been supported by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the European Union and the European Investment Bank, among other institutions. In addition, Seychelles just announced theyre planning to install Africas first floating solar project, which is expected to contribute 5.8 GWh annually to the country. There are also giant solar farms in South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco and Burkina Faso. Many produce so much energy, in fact, they hope to one day export solar energy to Europe. This investment in energy infrastructure could eventually help make bitcoin mining in Africa a more sustainable endeavor which, if implemented on a large scale, might actually help push Africas industry forward. In an article on Greentech Media, author Tam Hunt writes: It can make good financial sense to use solar power to mine bitcoin. Solar plants can provide power that is cheaper than grid power in areas with good insulation and low construction costs. The price of power is also known with some certainty over time because there are no fuel costs and thus no volatility. Not only can mining with solar energy drive the bitcoin industry in many African countries forward, but it will give greater parts of the population across the continent access to the global market. Instead of being held back by highly inflated currency or local tenders impacted by government turbulence, bitcoin mining is enabling many Africans to get ahead. And if solar power is brought into the mix, it can prove to be a truly sustainable leap forward for economies and individuals alike. After all, in parts of Africa there is a huge necessity for it. The power requirements to mine bitcoin are globally unsustainable. And since access to electricity in Africa is already problematic, solar power could be the answer. This is a guest post by Nabyl Charania, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rokk3r. Views expressed are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Media or Bitcoin Magazine. This article originally appeared on Bitcoin Magazine. Armenia is in political crisis after popular protests brought down its prime minister, but analysts say the opposition has a tricky path ahead as it seeks to fill the current power vacuum. Nikol Pashinyan, who led a wave of protests that virtually shut down the capital Yerevan and other cities, says he has the support of all political parties as parliament prepares to vote for a new prime minister next week. But lawmakers narrowly blocked his bid to take the role in a vote on Tuesday, after the ruling Republican party rejected his candidacy despite initially promising not to stand in the way. Independent analyst Stepan Safaryan said the situation had become more stable after the Republican leader in parliament on Wednesday said the party would back Pashinyan on his second attempt. "But it's still too early to say that everything will go to plan," he told AFP. The Republicans, however, would be unlikely to withdraw their support again after a similar move before this week's vote led to a general strike, Safaryan added. If lawmakers fail to elect a prime minister for a second time, the legislature will be dissolved and elections called. The country is certain to face early elections even if Pashinyan is approved as prime minister next week, analyst Vigen Akopyan told AFP. "The question is when they will be. The interim government, supported by Nikol Pashinyan himself and all other interested parties, will be formed on a coalition basis," Akopyan said. Safaryan warned that the 42-year-old opposition leader would have his work cut out in navigating the country's new political landscape as prime minister. "Armenia is entering a rather interesting period of disequilibrium -- before the early elections Pashinyan must manoeuvre between the will of the people and the parliamentary ruling party, which he does not belong to and which and cannot start supporting him," he said. Relying on massive popular support, Pashinyan in recent weeks piled pressure on the ruling party through an unprecedented campaign of civil disobedience, while the Republican Party demonstrated its tight control of the legislature. The protests led to the shock resignation of Serzh Sarkisian, who had moved to the newly-bolstered role of prime minister after ten years as president. Critics accused the government of corruption and failure to tackle widespread poverty in the tiny South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million people. The former defence minister said the use of force to crush protests would have been an option but added it was not his "style", in comments as he announced he was stepping down. Akopyan said any bloodshed would now be unlikely, despite the ultimate outcome of the protest movement being far from certain. "We've passed the stage when the use of force on the part of the authorities has been possible. The options now on the table are compromise solutions... both for the authorities and the opposition," he said. On the streets of Yerevan on Thursday the mood was cautious but upbeat. "The Republicans have no chance -- they've been sucking the blood from people for the last ten years," Artem Tovmasyan, a 55-year-old economist told AFP. "Pashinyan is for the people and the people trust him. We've already had our revolution -- without death, without bloodshed." Australia's oldest scientist, wearing a top labelled "ageing disgracefully", has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. David Goodall does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated and he has secured a fast-track appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel. He got on a plane in Perth late Wednesday surrounded by friends and family saying their final goodbyes, euthanasia advocates told AFP. He will spend several days with other family in Bordeaux, France, before heading to Switzerland where he is due to end his life on May 10. "I don't want to go to Switzerland, though it's a nice country," he told broadcaster ABC before leaving. "But I have to do that in order to get the opportunity of suicide which the Australian system does not permit. I feel very resentful." Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legalise it last year. But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months. Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated, most recently in New South Wales state last year. Exit International, which helped Goodall make the trip, said it was unjust that one of Australia's "oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the other side of the world to die with dignity". It launched a GoFundMe campaign to get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and quickly raised more than Aus$20,000 (US$15,000). Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perth's Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals. Goodall told ABC he appreciated the public's interest in his plight and hoped it would spark more discussion about voluntary euthanasia. "I would like them to understand it," he said. "I am 104 years old so I haven't got much time left anyway. I might as well not have (my health) getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes." Beijing Thursday reasserted its right to build "defence" facilities in the disputed South China Sea, but declined to confirm reports it had installed new missiles on artificial islands it has built in the region. The Chinese army installed anti-ship and air-to-air defences on outposts also claimed by Vietnam and the Philippines over the last 30 days, US network CNBC reported Wednesday, citing sources close to US intelligence. If the information is verified, it could provoke renewed tensions between countries bordering the strategically vital maritime region. At a regular briefing on Thursday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying neither confirmed nor denied the deployment. "China's peaceful construction in the Spratly archipelago, including the deployment of necessary national defence facilities, is aimed at protecting China's sovereignty and security," she said. "Those who don't intend to violate (this sovereignty) have no reason to worry," she said. The South China Sea issue has been brewing for years, with China, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam making competing claims in waters with vital global shipping routes and what are believed to be significant oil and natural gas deposits. In addition to land-reclamation efforts on reefs it controls and building civilian facilities there, China also has air bases, radar and communications systems, naval facilities and defensive weaponry in place including landing strips able to accommodate military planes. The new Chinese missiles were reportedly deployed on Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef, according to CNBC. They are all in the Spratly archipelago located in waters south of mainland China between Vietnam and the Philippines. Beijing's territorial claims, based on its own historical records, have also pitted it against the United States. While Washington takes no position on the sovereignty claims, it has raised concerns that Beijing is "militarising" the South China Sea. But the US Navy itself frequently sends warships and aircraft carriers to patrol the area. China's defence ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment but has previously stressed that the islands were "part of Chinese territory" and that it was up to China alone to decide what it does there. May 3 (Reuters) - AirAsia X Bhd: * REFERS TO WRIT OF SUMMONS & STATEMENT OF CLAIM FILED BY MALAYSIA AIRPORTS; SAYS CLAIM CAN BE LEGALLY DEFENDED * THERE IS NO MATERIAL FINANCIAL AND OPERATIONAL IMPACT ON CO AND NO FORESEEABLE LOSSES ARISING FROM CLAIM Source text : (http://bit.ly/2rhXEA5) Further company coverage: Chinas SenseTime held on to its title as the worlds most valuable artificial intelligence start-up for less than a month before UBTECH Robotics claimed bragging rights with a new funding round backed by Tencent Holdings. Shenzhen-based UBTECH Robotics, which designs and manufactures humanoid robots that interact with humans, announced Thursday it has secured US$820 million in funding in a so-called Series C round led by Tencent, putting its valuation at an estimated US$5 billion. That trumped the US$3 billion valuation attributed to SenseTime, which specialises in facial recognition software and raised US$600 million from Alibaba Group and other investors in early April. Chinese surveillance programme mines data from workers brains The latest funding underlines the rate at which Chinas tech giants are pouring investments into artificial intelligence. The worlds second-largest economy last year unveiled its plan to build itself into a world leader in AI by 2030 and named Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent collectively known as BAT as well as voice intelligence specialist iFlyTek, as the first group to spearhead the development of next generation AI technologies. AI refers to the field of advanced computing system that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making and translation between languages. Some of the most prominent displays of AI include AlphaGo, the first computer program to defeat a Go world champion. A deep neural network model developed by Alibaba, parent of the South China Morning Post, has scored higher than humans in a reading comprehension test. Chinese weapons lab scans travellers with missile technology China has pushed ahead with plans to create a more savvy work force, including rolling out an AI curriculum for high school students, to supplement a master plan to create an AI industry. Those efforts have drawn the attention of the US government, which may reportedly scrutinise informal partnerships between American and Chinese companies in the field of AI on worries about theft of intellectual property and technology transfer to China. Story continues The worlds most valuable AI start-up just moved into online censorship According to mainland news portal sohu.com, Tencent invested about US$120 million in UBTECH. Investors including Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and home appliance giant Haier Group also took part in the round, according to the report. Tencent did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation of the investment. To put the US$5 billion valuation in perspective, UBTECH would be worth as much as Foot Locker Inc., the New York-based footwear retailer, if it were a publicly traded company. Foot Locker made US$284 million in net income in its last financial year on US$7.8 billion of revenue. This article Chinas Tencent, Alibaba locked in battle to back next AI superstar first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Fashion retailer Esprit Holdings plans to close down its loss-making operations in Australia and New Zealand, a move that would cost up to HK$200 million (US$25.48 million), according to a stock exchange filing on Thursday. The company estimated a one-off charge between HK$150 million to HK$200 million would result from the closure of its retail operations in the two countries, which is expected to have a negative impact on the companys results for the full financial year ending 30 June 2018. The company plans to close 67 directly managed retail stores, including 38 concession counters in department stores and 13 off-price outlets in the two countries. Espirts share price was down 3 per cent at HK$2.67 in early trade on Thursday after the company announced its divestment plan before the market open. Divesting the ANZ operations will allow management to concentrate efforts and resources in developing other markets in Asia (e.g. China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia) with profitable growth opportunities for the future, and avoid incurring further losses from our non-performing operations in Australia and New Zealand, the company said in the stock exchange filing. The board considers that the rationalisation of the distribution footprint continues to be paramount in order to improve our bottom line, and that the intended divestment of the ANZ operations will allow Esprit to recharge its profit potential in the Asia-Pacific region. The Australia and New Zealand operations contributed HK$297 million (US$37.84 million) to the groups revenue for the financial year to the end of June 2017, representing less than 2 per cent of the groups total revenue. Esprit has already announced plans to scale down operations in Europe. These include the closure of more than 40 heavy loss-making shops in core European countries, or make around a 10 to 15 per cent reduction in floor space, Jose Manuel Martinez, the chief executive officer said in February. Story continues The company reported a net loss of HK$954 million for the six months ending December 31, its own first-half recording period, compared with a net profit of HK$61 million (US$7.79 million) for the same period in 2016. Revenue for the period fell 3.4 per cent on year to HK$8.03 billion, compared with HK$8.32 billion a year earlier. This article Esprit to close Australia and New Zealand retail operations first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. A landmark 2017 report concluded that CO2 emissions must drop 45 percent by 2030 and reach "net zero" by 2050 Have daughters or sons who are fans of the Disney hit "Frozen?" Or have you always wanted to check dog-sledding in the hinterlands of Finland off your travel bucket list? Scandinavian Airlines is letting kids fly for free beginning this summer. Families in the US looking for summer vacation ideas on a budget may want to consider adding cities like Copenhagen, Helsinki, Oslo and Stockholm to their shortlist this year, given the potential savings they could see on long-haul, trans-Atlantic flights with SAS this year. The deal is good for children aged two to 11, traveling with an adult. Kids pay only taxes and fees on trips taken between August 20-March, 30, 2019. Flights must be booked by May 13. Scandinavian Airlines isn't the only carrier to offer a kids-fly-free promotion, but it may be the most generous for a long-haul travel. British Airways is also offering a similar deal, but for short-haul flights within the UK. Children under the age of 12 can fly free on select return flights from London Heathrow, or from cities like Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Leeds and Newcastle. Flights must also be booked by May 13, and the deal is good for travel between June 1 to Nov. 5, 2018. By Thu Thu Aung YANGON (Reuters) - Journalists in Myanmar believe their government is failing to defend media freedom despite the transition from harsh military rule to an elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, according to a survey published to mark World Press Freedom Day on Thursday. Activist group Free Expression Myanmar and its partner organizations interviewed 200 journalists between January and April, finding almost half believed they had less freedom as journalists than a year earlier. "Journalists are frustrated by the government's failure to implement its election manifesto commitments to increase media freedom," the group said in a report on its survey. Asked to rate the government's success on defending media freedom, 79 percent of journalists questioned for the survey answered "low" or "very low." The government's main spokesman, Zaw Htay, referred Reuters' questions about the survey results to the information ministry. Reuters contacted three officials at the Ministry of Information, who all declined to comment and referred questions to other officials. Myanmar authorities - some still controlled by the army, which operates without civilian oversight - have detained journalists even though the military handed over the reins of government to Nobel laureate Suu Kyi in early 2016. Two Reuters reporters were arrested on Dec. 12 and face up to 14 years in prison under accusations they breached the colonial-era Official Secrets Act. The survey comes after Paris-based Reporters Without Borders last week moved Myanmar down in its annual press freedom index by six places to 137th out of 180 nations, citing legal action against journalists and restrictions on access to conflict-affected areas. "Journalists increasingly believe that the government, including the military, is the greatest threat to media freedom in Myanmar, both through its continued use of old oppressive laws which it has no real plans to amend and its adoption of new oppressive laws," the group said in its report. Story continues Several journalists have faced legal action in connection with their work over the past year or more, but according to Advocacy group Athan, or "voice", the two Reuters journalists - Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28 - are the only reporters in detention. Several U.S. lawmakers expressed solidarity with Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, and other imprisoned journalists, to mark World Press Freedom Day. Nine U.S. senators signed a letter to the two men promising to continue to urge the country's authorities to release them and drop all charges. A court is holding hearings to decide whether the two Reuters journalists will face trial for allegedly handling secret government documents. At the time of their arrest, the reporters had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in western Myanmars Rakhine State. The killings took place during an army crackdown that United Nations agencies say sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh. "Press Freedom Day is very meaningful for us," Wa Lone told reporters on the steps of a Yangon court on Wednesday, following the most recent hearing. "We know how important it is because we spend every day in prison." (Reporting by Thu Thu Aungl; Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Robert Birsel and Peter Cooney) Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation accused Facebook and Google of "anti-competitive practices" in one of dozens of submissions to a probe of the tech giants released Thursday by Australia's competition watchdog. A total of 57 media companies, advertisers and journalist groups put forward their cases for changes in the operations of the internet titans, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) reported. News Corp, the country's main newspaper group, its main competitor Fairfax Media and commercial broadcasters led the charge in arguing that Facebook and Google's dominance of digital advertising significantly undermined the news industry. "A number of digital platforms possess substantial market power and are engaging in anti-competitive practices that prevent publishers such as News Corp Australia from competing on the merits," the company said in a 144-page submission. "These practices have the potential to profoundly damage the creation, distribution and consumption of news and journalism in Australia." Murdoch and other executives from the company, which also owns The Wall Street Journal and the Times of London, have long led calls for Facebook and Google to "level the playing field" and pay news companies for their content. But The Australian newspaper said the ACCC submission, by alleging market abuses by the two companies, "represents a dramatic escalation of hostilities". The group stopped short of demanding regulation of Facebook and Google, saying "current laws may be sufficient to deal with our concerns". "However, it may also be the case that some further legislative, regulatory and/or policy intervention or changes are required." Fairfax complained that its main mastheads had seen their advertising revenue fall from Aus$800 million (US$600 million) in 1999 to just Aus$225 million (US$169m) in 2017 as Google and Facebook gobbled up digital advertising dollars. As a result, the group has shed hundreds of jobs. But it also stopped short of demanding new regulations, saying this should be "a last resort", and argued instead for the digital platforms to work collaboratively on solutions for the news media. Distancing itself from News Corp, Fairfax also opposed making platforms pay for news content, saying this would be "impractical" and post risks for editorial independence. Australia's main television broadcasters -- Seven, Nine and Ten -- demanded some combination of revenue sharing and tighter regulation of the tech companies' advertising activities. "The ACCC must intervene to ensure that the competition for advertising revenue is occurring in a fair and effective manner," said the Ten Network, recently purchased by US broadcaster CBS. In its own submission to the ACCC made public last month, Facebook opposed calls for tighter regulation, saying the rapidly changing digital landscape made the platforms "a challenging subject for regulatory intervention". "Consumers often have the most to gain from market disruptions caused by technological change and the most to lose from interventions that are designed to protect particular business models from the effects of those changes," it said. Google added in its submission that "changes in consumer and marketing behaviour have profound implications for traditional news business models. But they do not mean the death of journalism." The competition commission is expected to publish a preliminary report in December, and a final report next year. For the second year in a row, The Manhattan bar at the upscale Regent Singapore Hotel has been crowned Asia's best bar, for recreating old New York glamour with dark wood, marble and leather decor, and vintage cocktail recipes. Winners of Asia's 50 Best Bars were announced at Capitol Theatre in Singapore Thursday, highlighting the best watering holes across Asia. Rounding out the podium is Taipei's Indulge Experimental Bistro and Shanghai's Speak Low. With 12 addresses apiece, Singapore and China dominate the 2018 edition of the list. Inspired by the 'Golden Age' of cocktails, the Manhattan bar pays tribute to the Big Apple with a menu that time travels from the 16th century, when the banks of the Hudson River were being settled by Europeans, through to the late 19th century when the city began transforming with the arrival of Italian, Irish and Jewish immigrants. The menu features artisanal spirits and resuscitates classic and forgotten cocktails like the Iron Horse, named after the first steam locomotive that traveled from Chicago to New York City, made with Monkey Sloe Gin, Lillet Blanc, Creme de Cacao, Grenadine and Lemon. The Manhattan, helmed by mixologist Philip Bischoff, also features what they call the world's first "in-hotel" rickhouse, a storage space filled with house-made, barrel-aged spirits and bitters, and a storeroom stocked with jars of pickles alongside dried and brined ingredients for their cocktail menu. Once again give it up for @ManhattanSG on taking the top spot once again to be The Best Bar in Asia, sponsored by @Perrier! #Asia50BestBars #Singapore pic.twitter.com/BR2S6iYAKX 50BestBars (@50BestBars) May 3, 2018 The ranking is published by the same group that organizes the World's 50 Best Restaurants and is based on the votes of 200 journalists, bartenders, bar owners and "well-traveled cocktail aficionados" who make up Asia's 50 Best Bars Academy. Here are the top 10 bars in Asia for 2018: 1. The Manhattan, Singapore 2. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei 3. Speak Low, Shanghai 4. Atlas, Singapore 5. The Old Man, Hong Kong 6. High Five, Tokyo 7. Tippling Club, Singapore 8. Native, Singapore 9. The Bamboo Bar at Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok 10. Lobster Bar and Grill, Hong Kong * Sees e-commerce, foreign investment as growth drivers - CEO * Plans $208 mln investment in logistics in 2018 * Explores Myanmar expansion By Chayut Setboonsarng and Wirat Buranakanokthanasan BANGKOK, May 3 (Reuters) - WHA Corp, Thailand's top industrial estate and warehouse developer, targets a 20 percent revenue growth this year on higher government spending on infrastructure, foreign investment and a growing e-commerce market, its chief executive said on Wednesday. The company is also set to benefit from tax incentives that its customers receive on the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) project in Thailand's industrial east, Chief Executive Jareeporn Jarukornsakul told Reuters in an interview. The $45 billion project near the Gulf of Thailand, aimed at attracting high-tech investment, is a centrepiece of the Thai junta's policy to boost growth and includes building high-speed trains and airports. WHA targets land sales of 1,400 rai (224 hectares) this year and expects more next year as investment in the EEC starts. Most of its industrial estates are located in EEC provinces where investors qualify for incentives. WHA expects revenue growth to be higher in 2019, she said. The company, which also operates an industrial estate in Vietnam, is studying expansion in Myanmar, the CEO said, as it was an "interesting" market due to its large population. Another growth driver is the burgeoning e-commerce market. "E-commerce is dependent on logistics," Jareeporn said, adding that WHA plans to invest 6.6 billion baht ($208.3 million) this year in logistics and new technologies to increase efficiency and distribution for customers. Chinese tech giant Alibaba announced a $320 million investment in the EEC last month. Alibaba's Lazada is the most popular e-commerce platform in Thailand followed by Tencent-backed Sea Group's Shopee. WHA also plans an "e-commerce park" in the EEC to support logistic and distribution needs of these new businesses, CEO Jareeporn said. Story continues In January, WHA signed a warehouse and logistics agreement with JD Central, a $500 million joint venture between China's second largest e-commerce firm, JD.com Inc, and Thailand's top retailer Central Group . Central Group and WHA are venture partners in other commercial warehouses projects. This does not limit their business opportunities with e-commerce players, Jareeporn said, but declined to name any. WHA's energy arm, WHA Utilities and Power Pcl (WHAUP) , is considering the use of blockchain technology to trade electricity within its industrial estates, Jareeporn said. WHAUP plans to set up water management in Myanmar and is considering investment in Japanese solar farms, she said. ($1 = 31.6900 baht) (Editing by Gopakumar Warrier) Back to basics The KP Oli-led government has repeatedly said that its primary priority is economic development, and it has been taking various steps towards that end. Recent developments in bilateral relations with both India and China have focused on the construction of massive infrastructure projects. Nepal expects to gain significantly from its membership in the Chinese-led Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), including a railway line that directly connects Tibet with Kathmandu. Thai medical students said prayers over the coffins of hundreds of cadavers on Thursday, in a solemn ceremony to bid farewell to the corpses who helped them sharpen their dissection and anatomy knowledge. Uniformed students carrying flowers and burning incense paid tribute to those who have donated their bodies to medicine -- helping to train the medics of the future. "We don't really know the people, but for me, we are close... we spend a lot of time together," said 21-year-old Paspimol Kositchaiwat, who is in her second year of medical school at Bangkok's Chulalongkorn University. "We needed their bodies to study and today is the day we thank them." Rituals honouring medical cadavers are a common practice in Thailand, where the ceremonies fuse elements of Hinduism with the country's majority Buddhist faith. As a Brahmin priest recited prayers, the second-year students held jasmine garlands and prayed over their anatomy aides, whose remains were wreathed in plastic. The early-morning event at Chulalongkorn marked the start of three days of ceremonies that will end with cremations. Tanvaa Tansatit, an associate professor in the university's surgical training centre, said the cremations will be held across 26 different temples in Bangkok this weekend. "In the medical field, we need body donors and so for us it's important to thank the people who agreed to be donors," she said. The number of Thais signing up as donors spiked in 2015 after the death of a prominent monk who had agreed to give his body to a medical faculty. Zeke Miller/ Matthew Lee WASHINGTON, US.- President Donald Trump is trying to hit reset at the State Department on the eve of a critical decision on the Iran nuclear deal and a potential summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump made his first visit to the department on Wednesday for the ceremonial swearing-in of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, highlighting his relationship with the head of a Cabinet agency he largely neglected during the tenure of Rex Tillerson. The former Exxon Mobil CEO was unceremoniously dumped by Trump as the top U.S. diplomat in March after months of personality and policy clashes. Tillerson felt undercut in the job and was viewed overseas as an unreliable emissary for the mercurial Trump. Tillerson went unmentioned during Wednesdays brief ceremony, but Pompeos contrasting status was on full display. The former CIA director is personally close to the president and gained stature abroad after his secret visit to North Korea last month to meet with Kim. Thats more spirit than Ive heard from the State Department in a long time, Trump said as he took the podium to applause from the crowd on ornate seventh floor. It was a tacit acknowledgement that department morale had suffered under Tillerson, who undertook an unpopular restructuring of the department before he was fired. Pompeo has repeatedly promised to reinvigorate the department. JONATHAN MATTISE Tennessee, US | May 1 The maker of the Gibson guitar, omnipresent for decades on the American music stage, is filing for bankruptcy protection after wrestling for years with debt. A pre-negotiated reorganization plan filed Tuesday will allow Gibson Brands Inc. to continue operations with $135 million in financing from lenders. Gibson guitars have been esteemed by generations of guitar legends. After Chuck Berry died, his beloved cherry-red Gibson guitar was bolted to the inside of his coffin lid. David Bowie favored the 1989 Gibson L4 when he fronted Tin Machine. Slash swears by them. It is one of the most widely recognized brand names on planet Earth, said George Gruhn of Gruhn Guitars, a world-famous vintage instrument store. Gibson, founded in 1894 and based in Nashville, Tennessee, has the top market share in premium guitars. It sells more than 170,000 guitars a year in more than 80 countries, including more than 40 percent of all electric guitars that cost more than $2,000, according to a bankruptcy filing. The company has already sold off some noncore brands, acquisitions that contributed to its burdensome debt load. Gibson has begun the liquidation process for its debt-plagued, struggling international Gibson Innovations division, which sells headphones, speakers, accessories and other electronics. The decision to re-focus on our core business, musical instruments, combined with the significant support from our noteholders, we believe will assure the companys long-term stability and financial health, Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson chairman and CEO, said in a news release. Alexandra Villarreal PHILADELPHIA.- Michelle Obama told collegebound Philadelphia high school seniors Wednesday about when she applied to universities. Her counselor advised her not to set her sights too high and warned that some of the schools on her list were out of her reach, the former first lady said. There are always haters out there telling you what you cant do, Obama told the students celebrating College Signing Day. She did not heed her counselors words. Instead, she attended Princeton University and Harvard Law School. Decades later, she accompanied her husband to the White House for two terms. I know that you are me, Obama told the crowd. And if I can be standing here as your forever first lady, then you can do anything you put your mind to. The event held at Temple University was not always, or often, solemn and serious. After Obama shared her thoughts, she broke out her dance moves alongside actors Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Zendaya and Rebel Wilson as they all advocated for higher education. The epithet, forever first lady, came from actor Nick Cannon, who along with other A-listers joined Obama at the fifth annual celebration. Obama pioneered the tradition in 2014 to congratulate young people who have chosen to further their education through a professional training program, community college, four-year institution or the military. Obama closed the festivities, but a long list of known names preceded her. Karlie Kloss, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ciara, Camila Cabello, Malcolm Jenkins and other major entertainers and athletes lent their support to the college-bound students. Johnathan Phan, a first-generation college student headed to Temple, said hes excited about the experience that wasnt afforded to his parents and other relatives. He also seemed enthusiastic before Obamas speech. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Chicago, US | May 1 M agazine designer Art Paul, who created Playboys famous tuxedoed bunny head logo, has died. He was 93. Paul died of pneumonia on Saturday at a Chicagoarea hospital, according to his wife, Suzanne Seed. Paul was a freelance illustrator when he started working with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner as the magazines first employee in the 1950s. He has said he crafted the bunny logo in about an hour. Paul also hired artists to create illustrations for Playboy, including Salvador Dali, Andy Warhol and Shel Silverstein. Paul was the magazines art director until he retired in 1982. We didnt think it would be such a success right from the beginning, just Hefner and I putting it together, Mr. Paul told the Chicago SunTimes. Hef was kind to me. I think I gave him a lot. He gave me a lot. FELICIA FONSECA Arizona, US | May 2 Any great fishing hole depends on the health and well-being of its bugs. In a key stretch of the Colorado River below a dam on the ArizonaUtah border, anglers have been pulling out long, skinny trout that dont give up much of a fight with a hook in their mouths. Turns out, they dont have enough to eat, scientists say. For whatever reason, downstream of Glen Canyon Dam really lacks diversity, Researchers with the U.S. Geological Survey are hoping a monthslong experiment to release low, steady flows of water from Glen Canyon Dam will give the eggs that bugs lay just below the waters surface a better chance at survival. It starts this weekend. For whatever reason, downstream of Glen Canyon Dam really lacks diversity, said Scott VanderKooi, who oversees the U.S. Geological Surveys Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center in Flagstaff. Scientists are anticipating a 26 percent increase in black flies and midges by next summer, and the eventual return of bigger bugs seen in other stretches of the Colorado River that largely have disappeared from a prized fishery known as Lees Ferry. When insects thrive, so do fish, bats, birds and other predators, scientists say. Insects attach their eggs to hard surfaces like rocks, wood or cattails near the rivers shore. Fluctuations in the water for hydropower create artificial tides that can expose the eggs and dry them out. Elliot Spagat CALIFORNIA.- U.S. Customs and Border Protection began testing the use of body cameras by its employees at nine locations, potentially leading to a broad rollout by the nations largest law enforcement agency that would make it the first federal agency to use the devices on a large scale. Customs and Border Protection previously concluded in 2015 after a yearlong study that body cameras were not yet suitable for widespread use due to cost, technological challenges and the need for labor union approval. Tambien te puede interesar: Pension problems help drive Us protests for teacher raises However, it said the cameras had potential in limited circumstances. The agencys review also found that cameras used in field tests did not function well in the rugged, remote conditions in which many Border Patrol agents work. Some fared better than others, said Austin Skero, director of the agencys law enforcement safety and compliance directorate. Customs and Border Protection officials said technology has evolved since the 2015 test, and the cameras used in the current field tests will build on lessons learned in the previous test. The equipment was provided by several manufacturers the agency declined to name. Officials also said the potential benefits of the cameras include providing evidence in criminal cases, improved training and strengthening of job performance and accountability. A spiraling corruption scheme has implicated some of New York Citys most powerful people, including the mayor, the former head of the corrections union, and the citys former top uniformed police officer. A handful of former and active high-level cops have been named unindicted co-conspirators in an upcoming trial. Ex-union chief Norman Seabrook will be retried on bribery charges this summer. Mayor Bill de Blasio, who has not been charged, was castigated by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York for soliciting campaign contributions contrary to the intent and spirit of the laws. And it all began with humble street parking. Advertisement The star witness is a real estate developer named Jona S. Rechnitz, who parlayed a knack for networking into what he has described as a vast bribery operation built on close links to the top of the citys 55,000-person police force. A decade ago, Rechnitz was working at the Manhattan office of AFI Group, a global real estate company, when he noticed one of the firms clients had a license plate that said sheriff. The plates made it possible for the man to leave his car anywhere along Manhattans busy sidewalks without fear of a parking ticket. When he came to meet me, he would park wherever he wanted, Rechnitz testified, according to the New York Times, and that is something I thought was pretty cool. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The insight inspired him. The young developer learned who had procured the plates, a community liaison to the police and self-described fixer who could use his connections with the department to make parking tickets go awayfor a fee. It was the start of a life of Super Bowl tickets, diamond jewelry, and resort vacations in the Dominican Republic lavished on New Yorks finest in exchange for favors. Dodging parking tickets was the gateway drug that paved the way for a prostitute dressed as a flight attendant to have sex with police officers on a private jet en route to Las Vegas. In most American cities, trading up from duping meter maids to buying influence at City Hall would be unfathomable. But in New York, the discrepancy between the cost of most street parking (nothing) and the cost of parking in lots and garages (equivalent to renting an apartment in St. Louis) has opened up an opportunity for arbitrage and abuse. It starts with city policy: Last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio distributed 50,000 new parking placards to teachers and other school workers, bringing the total number of officially exempt vehicles to more than 160,000. Based on the black-market price for parking placards, de Blasios gift to the Department of Education could be appraised anywhere between $25 and $130 million. Advertisement Advertisement Its not news that cities like New York, with some of the highest land prices in the world, have underestimated the value of street space, treating curbside parking as a vestigial perk to be doled out as patronage rather than the very expensive public land that it is. Even the high-end valuation of de Blasios new placards is low, because buyers and sellers operate under the (correct) assumption that the misuse of placards will go all but ignored by the NYPD. Hard to put a price on impunity. The busier the streets, the greater the prestige of the mighty parking placard. Advertisement Of course, New York is not the only city where on-street parking is approvingly treated as a wild terrain governed by an unwritten code of favors and threats. In Boston, residents battle over space saversbeach chairs and ironing boards deployed to reserve spots that have been cleared of snow. Park in a saved spot, and you might wake up to find your windshield smashed. In Los Angeles, politicians have requested that parking violations not be enforced to the letter, creating a free-for-all on neighborhood sidewalks. Donald Shoup, the doyen of American parking studies, has argued that this is a good example of the broken windows theory of urban disorder, in which one broken window is a signal that no one cares and an inducement to further law-breaking. Free parking is a right; paying for it is for the birds. In his book The High Cost of Free Parking, Shoup quotes Seinfelds George Constanza: My father didnt pay for parking, my mother, my brother, nobody. Its like going to a prostitute. Why should I pay when, if I apply myself, maybe I can get it for free? Advertisement Advertisement While the situation in those crowded cities is similar, Shoup wrote to me in an email, New York is exceptional because the land is so valuable and the parking subsidies are so great. Last year, the city issued nearly 42,000 summonses to drivers misusing placards. Advocates argue that is just the tip of the icebergbarely one summons for every four (legal) permit-holders, all yearand police officers have largely been unaffected. Who polices the police? In the case of illegal parking, the answer is transparent: no one. The citys system of official permits, sprawling and opaque, is riddled with abuse. (The Department of Transportation releases an internal guide of what is legitimate, but the public has no way to know.) Placard-holders often use their ostensibly limited privileges to leave their cars anywhere they want, including in front of fire hydrants, at bus stops, and in bus lanes. In August, for example, Diana Richardson, a state assemblywoman from Brooklyn, stuck an Official Business placard on her dash and parked her car in front of her office in a turning lane marked No standing anytime. After she received a ticket, she used her Facebook page to put the 20-year-old traffic agent on blast for fining herthe exception proving the rule that such violations usually go unaddressed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the obvious power and value of these placards, counterfeits are good money. In October, Manhattan D.A. Cyrus Vance Jr. arraigned 30 people for using fake placards manufactured by a cottage industry of counterfeiters. (No connection to the Rechnitz investigations except: parking.) One of the men was accused of using a fake placard while he was attending the citys academy for new correction officers, and several had gone so far as to send copies of their fake placards to the New York City Department of Finance to get out of paying parking tickets. It can be hard for ticket enforcers to know whether, for example, there even is such a thing as a Queens task force within the police force of the citys department of sanitationand whether one of its members is entitled to park in a commercial loading zone in Brooklyn, as happened last week. (I still havent gotten a straight answer.) Advertisement Walk the streets of New York, and you begin to feel like spending $1,200 for a fake placardwhile a bargain compared to market monthly parking prices in Manhattan, which could cost $5,000 a yearisnt even necessary. Drivers have adopted a range of hacks, including bending the edge of their license plates to obscure the numbers, to which police turn a blind eye. More prominent are the countless items of dashboard police paraphernalia offered up like votive candles. Their message: Hey, Im one of you. In November, an illegally parked Chevy Suburban stocked the dash with an NYPD patch, NYPD and FDNY hats, get out of jail free cards from two police unions, a photo of the pope, and a gift-shop license plate that read 9-11-01. (The largest NYPD union has cut back on its get out of jail free cards, which were being sold on eBay.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Given the obvious power and value of these placards, counterfeits are good money. An anonymous Twitter account called Placard Abuse has been cataloging these fakes for years. A fluorescent yellow vest? Good enough to park on a pedestrian path. A firefighters placard from the City of Yonkers, north of the Bronx County line? Sure, leave your car in Washington Heights. A book of tickets from 2010? Take the turn lane. Official ministerial business for the Ministerial Consulate of the Universal Life Church? Whatever. It frustrates me to no end, says Sam Schwartz, an engineer who served as city transportation commissioner in the 1980s. The distribution of tens of thousands of legal permits to teachers, he said, is particularly egregious since the curbs in front of schools are supposed to be clear so that drivers in the street have a clear view of kids on the sidewalk. Schwartz recalled his time at the DOT as a full-fledged crackdown: One of the best-attended meetings was when I addressed the United Nations and took away their parking permits. The Israelis and the Arabs were getting along; Iraq and Iran pouring coffee for each other. All united in attacking me. Things have spiraled out of control since, Schwartz said, in part because the NYPDnot the citynow has jurisdiction over enforcement and is so evidently reluctant to ticket its own. Advertisement Advertisement The simmer of low-level corruption at the police department is only part of the story, though. The inability of cities to understand the real value of curb spaceand especially that it could be used for anything (parklets! Retail space!), not just personal car storagecontinues to impede their ability to enact good policies. In Chicago, citizens belatedly learned just how valuable the curb could be after shortsighted officials under then-Mayor Richard M. Daley sold off a 75-year lease on the citys parking meters to Morgan Stanley for a one-time, $1.2 billion fee. A report later found the city had undervalued the meters by at least $974 million. But that was only the beginning: The city has since found that it must compensate the bank every time a meter goes out of commission, which makes it expensive for the city to install bike lanes, bus lanes, or even hold a parade. Advertisement Advertisement That is even more true in New York, where Manhattan traffic has slowed to the pace of molasses, prompting a widespread push for a toll on all incoming drivers. Manhattan streets are undoubtedly crowded, and the failure of the congestion pricing push is more proof politicians are reluctant to price street space at its true value. But theyre also mismanaged. Lanes allotted for buses and emergency vehicles are routinely used as NYPD parking spaces. (The cycle is vicious: The buses continue to shed ridership as cars impede their right of way.) Delivery zones intended to cut down on double-parked trucks are full of cars with borrowed placards. As New York tries, however half-heartedly, to nudge its streets toward global, big-city best practices, it is hamstrung by a massive, tacit non-enforcement agreement. All this in a city where not even 1 in 3 people drive to work. Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski have been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, according to a statement issued by the organization. The Board of Governors met on Tuesday to decide whether or not Cosby, who was recently convicted of sexual assault, and Polanski, who has been convicted of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, should remain in their ranks. The board voted no, on the grounds that Cosby and Polanski do not meet the organizations recently implemented Standards of Conduct. Advertisement The Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academys values of respect for human dignity, the statement concluded. Cosby and Polanski are the third and fourth members to ever be expelled by the academy, following alleged serial predator Harvey Weinstein and sharer of screeners Carmine Caridi. Though Cosby and Polanskis expulsions are a sign of progress toward addressing industrywide sexual predation, this news is a bit hard to swallow given the organizations long-held adoration of Polanski. While these Cosby allegations have come to the forefront relatively recently, public awareness of Polanskis criminal actions are decades old. The academy nonetheless awarded him the Best Director statuette for The Pianist in 2003 and has upheld his membership for the past 40 years, until now. Last year, Polanski returned to Cannes with Based on a True Story, which debuted to mixed reviews. Though Cannes has set up a hotline to address sexual predators in their midst, representatives of the festival have not spoken out about their decision to include Polanskis work. HBO Documentary Films is going ahead with a docuseries based on Michelle McNamaras Ill Be Gone in the Dark: One Womans Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer. Deadline reports that production is already underway on the project and that veteran documentary filmmaker Liz Garbus will direct. Garbus has twice been nominated for the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature and won her second Emmy Award in 2016 for What Happened, Miss Simone? McNamara, who died unexpectedly in 2016, spent years investigating the Golden State Killer, previously known as the East Area Rapist, who was active in the 1970s and 80s. Her work was published posthumously in late February of this year by her husband, comedian Patton Oswalt, along with journalist Billy Jensen and researcher Paul Haynes. Less than two months after the books release, the Sacramento sheriffs department arrested Joseph James DeAngelo for the crimes based on DNA evidence. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Oswalt tweeted his involvement in the docuseries on Wednesday after the announcement: Charge sheet filed against 63 suspects The District Attorneys Office filed a charge sheet at the Morang District Court on Wednesday against 63 suspects in the 33 kg gold smuggling case and the subsequent murder of an alleged smuggler. The original Overboard, starring real-life couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, is a velvet-gloved fist of male populist defiance. Marrying shrew-taming misogyny with an eat-the-rich revenge fantasy, director Garry Marshalls 1987 romantic comedy yokes together a snooty yacht-dwelling heiress and the rural Oregonian contractor she stiffed. Its high-concept, caveman-friendly story wouldnt fly today, at least for mainstream audiences: The blue-collar hero humiliates an amnesiac heiress through deception and housework (he tells her shes his wife, and that she used to be very fat) until she falls in love with him and decides, after her memory returns, that her calling in life is to be a housewife and mother of four. Advertisement Given the films regressive values, its safe to say Overboard isnt the most likely candidate for a 21st-century remakewhich makes the flips, reversals, and contortions that the new version, starring Anna Faris and Eugenio Derbez, goes through to make the premise palatable to 2018 audiences far more interesting than the plot or characters. In line with the still-reigning Apatovian manboy trend, its not the woman but the man who undergoes a domestication. And a bold bid for racial and cultural inclusion finds the bilingual Derbez in his most visible role yet, the originals gajillionaire jerk rewritten as a cosmopolitan Mexican oligarch, and the unconscionable acts that make up the storyline explicitly likened to twists in a telenovela. Helmed by prolific TV director Rob Greenberg, the result somehow feels both cynical and worthy of celebration. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hawn and Russells chemistry helped usher their Overboard into the rom-com canon. Faris and Derbez have enough sparks, but its clear their default comedy styles diverge significantly. Faris plays it more naturalistic as Kate, a full-time pizza delivery driver, part-time carpet cleaner, and widowed single mom. She has no time to study for an upcoming nursing exam and no one to rely on; her flighty mother (Swoosie Kurtz) abandons her in her time of need, and her closest friend Theresa (Eva Longoria) is conveniently (in plot terms) unwilling to help care for Kates three daughters. Though Derbez nails his more dramatic scenes, his comic instincts are broader and more slapstick-dependent, and consequently his character feels less defined, more archetypal. The slight clash between the leads styles weighs down their meet-ugh scene aboard a yacht, where Derbezs Leonardo tells Kate that shes attractive for a cleaning woman, though theres something about her face he doesnt quite like. (Eventually, he concludes, its her face.) He fires her and declines to pay for her already-completed services when she wont fetch him some fruitand when she refuses to leave until she gets her check, he pushes her off the boat, along with the costly cleaning supplies shed brought with her. Advertisement Advertisement When Leonardo washes ashore with no memory of who he is, Kate is cajoled by Theresa into taking advantage of the situation as compensation for her unpaid labor. Leo will earn a paycheck and run the household for the four weeks that Kate needs to focus on her nursing test. Kate gets her comeuppance, Leo develops skills as a cook and parent that he never would have as a neer-do-well playboy, and the two grow to treasure their little nest, as do Kates daughters. Everything is fine and good until Leonardos Dynasty-esque family arrives from Mexico City to collect him, and the amnesiacs remembrances return. Advertisement At nearly two hours, Overboard runs too long, but the scenes and supporting characters that writers Greenberg and Bob Fisher add to the originals intact skeleton are many of the films finest. The internecine feuds among Leonardos father (Fernando Lujan) and quarreling sisters (Cecilia Suarez and Mariana Trevino) dont resolve with full satisfaction, but they make for a funny and self-aware melodramatic presence. The always fantastic Mel Rodriguez, playing Theresas husband and Leos construction boss, is a welcome sprinkle of uncomplicated levity, while his character helps showcase the cultural, linguistic, and economic diversity within Latino communities. Bobbys construction crew, who mock Leos lady hands, are played by a notably great ensemble (Josh Segarra, Omar Chaparro, Jesus Ochoa, and Adrian Uribe) that gives the films best moment its warm, earthy, slightly tart vitality. Still amnesiac, Leo complains that his life is not what he feels it should be: He should live in a giant mansion, have lots of money, and have sex with his wife at least sometimes. Us too, they laugh, recognizing the gap between where they thought they would be and where they actually are. Us too. This new Overboard borrows a bit too much from the older version, and is thus saddled with the originals mawkishness and delusional thinking, like the ideas that theres something cute about manipulating a psychologically disordered patientor that forcing someone into humbler circumstances will permanently change them into a humbler person. The new paint job is nice, but the insides may be too creaky to salvage. Had we but robot sex and time, This coyness, ladies, were no crime. You could sit down, and think which way To swipe, and cause me no dismay. Thou in a willing lovers bed Wouldst comfort find; Id buy instead A robot I could fuck. I would, Leave you alone once and for good, Id recognize you have free will, To choose to Netflix or to chill. My electrical love replacement Would keep me warm in mothers basement, And stop me wondering when Im sleepy Why living women find me creepy. Id fill my nights with robot sex, Confuse the real with Memorex, And live my life out all alone, With something from The Twilight Zone. Yes, ladies, I deserve this fate, For whining about who you date. But in my heart I always know Times winged chariot moves too slow; And yonder all before us lie, Valleys of vast uncannity. Thy beauty cannot yet be bought In any form of sex robot. My sorry dreams of love synthetic Will never not be hypothetic, And people call me misanthropic, Whenever I bring up this topic. Now therefore, let me hide my thoughts, And hope no one connects the dots. I wont pose rape as a solution, Instead, Ill talk of distribution. Now let me call me libertarian, Before Im branded a barbarian. Frame everything through the economy, Rather than women or autonomy. Let me roll all my hate and all Resentment up into one ball, And just ask questions while assuming Womens desires dont count as human. Thus Ill conceal my virulence: Sex robot thought experiments. Aside from awards show mega-hit The Handmaids Tale, Hulu has been struggling to keep up with competitors like Amazon and Netflix when it comes to original programming. Now, the streaming platform is hoping to appeal to horror fansparticularly fans of writer Stephen Kingwith its new series Castle Rock. The show, executive produced by J. J. Abrams, promises to give King his own cinematic (er, televisual?) universe. Castle Rock, one of Stephen Kings many fictional Maine towns, serves as a locus for his works creepy activity in this eerie series. Now, Hulu has dropped its first preview of the scares to come in anticipation of the shows July 25 debut. Advertisement This new trailer shows lead Andre Holland, AKA Henry Deaver, as he investigates the towns mysterious happenings. It looks like Castle Rock is out to appeal to longtime fans of the horror icon, with a supporting cast including cinematic King alums like Sissy Spacek and Bill Skarsgard, but Abrams fans certainly havent been left out, either. Theres a Lost-ish spookiness to the whole productionand not just because John Locke seems to be narrating. Castle Rock looks like its sure to entice fans of mystery and Maine; well just have to wait for the summer to find out more. When my daughter was born, the sleepless first weeks arrived with the force of surprise. Infants dont let you sleep. This is their most widely known attribute, other than the dirty diapers. And I knew they didnt let you sleep, or had heard it anyway. But when the predicted, the foretold, the inevitable sleeplessness of my infant arrived in all its gnarly muscularity, I felt as though there had been some serious communication failure: No one had told me, like really told me, how exhausting the early days would beeven though, of course, they had. Advertisement As with so much about motherhood, what feels singular and personal in the moment often proves to be universal. Im not talking about the exhaustion. Im talking about the not listening. In her 1997 book A Lifes Work, which has become a towering text in the rapidly expanding bookshelf of literary writing on motherhood, Rachel Cusk wrote of this sensationthat somehow no one had really told you about motherhood at all. In motherhood, she wrote, a woman exchanges her public significance for a range of private meanings, and like sounds outside a certain range they can be very difficult for other people to identify. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Motherhood, as Cusk says, is often an internal and domestic transformation, but that doesnt fully explain the tone-deafness she describes. There is, after all, another deeply private, nonpublic-facing transformation that is life-altering and all-encompassing despite being fundamentally quotidian: falling in love. I know, I know that romantic love involves sex and adventure, while parental love involves less sex and harrowing treks to the local pediatrician. But it still seems to me disproportionate that one of these personal upheavals should be the most popular subject of all time and the other should be, well, parentinginteresting only to other parents. That this is the case is a knock-on effect of millennia of disinterest in theuntil recentlyexclusively female experience of carrying, birthing, and raising children. Its sexism, so widespread and ingrained that even mothers, as feverishly obsessed with our progeny as we may be, have it too: the self-deprecation, the apology, the Sorry, I know this is so boring. Advertisement Heti works herself into contortions trying to solve the mystery of the child who is not there. All this seems like an answer to a question I saw posed on Twitter recently: Why, when there are scores of new books about mothers and mothering and motherhood, does it continue to feel like there arent any? There have long been parenting booksadvice manuals and how-tos desperately purchased at 2 a.m. on Amazonbut the trickle of books that treat parenting, and motherhood in particular, as a properly literary topic has only relatively recently become a deluge. Theres the work of Jenny Offill, Maggie Nelson, Rivka Galchen, and Eula Biss, to name a few. And with Mothers Day fast approaching, dozens more such books arrived and arriving. Parul Seghal recently noted in the Times that books about motherhood have become downright trendy, and its not just books. Diablo Codys Tully, about an overextended new mother and her youthful night nurse, arrives this weekend. On TV, theres Showtimes single-mother comedy Smilf, a new Netflix show imported from Australia called The Letdown, and Motherland, from Catastrophes Sharon Horgan. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Amongst and yet distinct from this group is Sheila Hetis Motherhood, which takes mothering as a properly literary topic even while it is actually the long, meandering story of a womans decision not to become one. Heti is the Canadian author of the strangely hard-to-categorize memoir-slash-novel How Should a Person Be?, which took a bare-souled, first-person approach to the inner life of a young writer trying to find a place for herself in the world. Here, in about 300 pages of this so-called novel, she chronicles her circuitous and discursive vacillations about motherhood: Does she want a child? Or does she want her partner, a beautiful man named Miles who doesnt want another child? Or does she want her work? Or does she want to please her mother? Would a child destroy her work? Would it make it better? Who is a woman without a child? Is a woman with a child even herself anymore? Advertisement Heti thinks that women who didnt have children until their late 20s or 30s believe they know what life is like for women without childrenand judge that life. In brief vignettes, she outlines women with children pitying women who have none, imagining sadness and emptiness where there is none, and pressuring other womenpressuring her!just to do it, to have a baby. The flip side to this condescension, which Heti captures, not so much in others, but in herself, is the strange suspicion with which people who dont have children view those who do. When we give birth, we give birth to a child but also to a new version of ourselves, a parent. How can a parent be objective on the matter of children, specifically their own? Advertisement Advertisement This is the conundrum at the heart of Motherhood: You cant know what its like to have a baby until you have a baby, but once you have a baby, what you think about that baby is biased and besmirched (unless you hate the baby: thus the strange authority of the regretful parent). If nearly everyone who has children tells you having children is worth it, is that convincing or is that brainwashing? Is that knowledge or false consciousness? On one side of motherhood is the woman who imagines she has the incisive eye, the hard questions, and the time to ponder themon one side there is Heti. And on the other is the woman with all the experiencethe woman Heti could become. Can these women hear one another? Advertisement Advertisement I do not mean to suggest that this, or anything, is laid out quite so plainly in Motherhood. Heti works herself into contortions trying to solve the mystery of the child who is not there. Motherhood, the book, is a prophylactic, a writing project that the author embarks upon, at 36, to figure out whether she wants a child, but that carries her through to 39 without one, literally pushing off the possibility of conception until her age obviates the issue. The book, in other words, is self-consciously a way of killing time, and after the first 60 pages, it reads like one. It idles, it digresses, it repeats, it makes no progress. Its a spacey version of Groundhog Day, starring a protagonist almost comically obsessed with asking strangers what she should do about having kids. It concludes with a lexapro-ex-machina, antidepressants that provide immediate clarification. Advertisement Writing, like most art, is better for having limits, problems an author has to think her way through and around to come to a better solution. Since she was a child, Heti writes, I wanted to be free. She laments the writer who denies herself the freedom to write, the whole day to workI really need an infinity amount of time to work; to access infinityand the woman who does so too. The most womanly problem is not giving oneself enough space or time, or not being allowed it, she writes. Having a child solves the impulse to give oneself nothing. It makes that impulse into a virtue. I underlined this quote in the book and wrote next to it, True. And yet I began to wish for some limitationsthe squalling baby of her imaginationthat might have made the book sharper. Motherhood is an exhibition of Hetis freedom, of all the time and space she has made for herself, but as she perseverates, providing us with tarot readings, backslidings, and repetitions, the book drifts, languorous and limp. Advertisement Advertisement Heti, if youll excuse me, already writes like a mother. Her work fits comfortably into a category of books I think of, with love, as mom lit, but that have been more respectfully described as the literature of domestic ambivalence. Books like Dept. of Speculation, The Argonauts, The Folded Clock, and Little Labors are thematically concerned with parenting while structurally reflecting it. These books are discursive and epigrammatic. They dont have chapters but short sections, bursts of paragraphs. Theyre moody, evocative, and addictive, an elegant solution to the problem of the constantly interrupting small child. There are many writers who partake in the style who are not mothers, and many mothers who write in a more sustained formCusk, for onebut this is writing that can be picked up and polished in short, awkward bits of time. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Hetis work fits comfortably into this category, but it does not gleam. Mixed in with the insights (motherhood suddenly seemed like a huge conspiracy to keep women in their 30s, when you finally have some brains and some skills and experience, from doing anything useful with them at all) and the overstated parenting burns (the egoism of childbearing is like the egoism of colonizing a country, both carry the wish of imprinting yourself on the world, and making it over with your values, and in your image) are sections that, perhaps, someone not performing all the endless time she has might have cut: I showered again this morning with the little, hand-held shower, crouching in the tub. At first I found it frustrating, it seemed impossible to get truly clean, but after only three mornings of washing this way, it already feels sensual. Advertisement Writing, like most art, is better for having limits, problems an author has to think her way through and around to come to a better solution. Heti knows this. She has given herself, in Motherhood, exactly such an artificial limit: Throughout the book, she includes long exchanges in which she stages conversations between herself and a mystical power. This involves tossing three coins to divine a Yes or No answer based on the pattern of heads or tails. For example: Advertisement Advertisement The universe lets women who make art but dont make babies, off the hook? Yes Does the universe mind if women who dont make art choose not to make babies Yes. Heti writes of this practice, Its useful, this, as a way of interrupting my habits of thought with a yes or a no. I feel my brain is becoming more flexible as I use these coins. Its an interruption to my complacencyor at least thats what it feels like, to have to dig a little deeper, to be thrown off. In other wordsand I know three coins are never going to burst into the room where she is writing with a skinned kneeits a kind of baby, an irrational authority that demands she mentally accommodate it. Advertisement Hovering over Motherhood is the art monster, first described in Jenny Offills Dept. of Speculation: My plan was to never get married. I was going to be an art monster instead. Women almost never become art monsters because art monsters only concern themselves with art, never mundane things. Nabokov didnt even fold his umbrella. Vera licked his stamps for him. The art monster has taken on a life of its own, not as a villain, but as an aspiration. Women, too, should get to be art monsters. But the lesson of the Dept. of Speculationand scores of literary works about motherhood written by mothersis that you can make your art without being an art monster: You can do it as aplease excuse me againan art mother. Advertisement Advertisement Heti writes in passing about what being a mother might do for her work, the themes and ideas it might impart. Its hard to imagine a subject better suited to Hetis autofiction than parenting, in which one is not just bored but incandescently bored. But she keeps returning to books and children as a zero-sum game. Her cousin has six children, but Heti has six books. Isnt that the same? Isnt that better? I want to make a child that will not die, she writes. A book is more powerful than any murderer. A book lives in every person who reads it. But at this moment in time, for a woman of Hetis status and class, this is a false choice: She shouldnt have children if she doesnt want to, but not because doing so would keep her from writing another bookmaybe even a better one. This post is part of Outward, Slates home for coverage of LGBTQ life, thought, and culture. Read more here. On Wednesday, the New Hampshire Senate passed a landmark bill outlawing discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, and public accommodations. The state House of Representatives has already passed the measure, and Gov. Chris Sununu has confirmed his intent to sign it. Whats remarkable about this victory is that Sununu is a Republican, and both houses of the state legislature are controlled by the GOP. Democrats pushed hard for the bill and supported with near-unanimity. But it was Republican legislators who carried it over the finish line. Advertisement This bipartisan triumph for transgender equality contrasts sharply with Donald Trumps unrelenting assault on transgender rights. Indeed, it should be been seen as a rebuke to his persistent attacks on LGBTQ Americans. The Trump administration has revoked federal guidance protecting transgender students, employees, and homeless people. It is poised to attempt to repeal nondiscrimination protections for transgender patients under the Affordable Care Act. And, of course, it is striving to ban open transgender military service by arguing that trans people are mentally unstable deviants. Vice President Mike Pence and Attorney General Jeff Sessions are the driving force behind the onslaught: Pence intervened behind the scenes to overrule Secretary of Defense James Mattis support for trans service, while Sessions has issued a stream of directives designed to undermine LGBTQ rights under federal law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement New Hampshire Republicans are not entirely immune to the anti-trans animus that grips the Trump administration. Just last year, Republicans in the state House defeated the same trans non-discrimination bill by a slim margin, expressing concern about the bathroom predator myththe canard that sexual predators will exploit these laws to abuse women and children. LGBTQ advocates responded with more appeals to empathy, bringing some of the states 4,500 transgender residents to the legislature to explain why they need legal protections. This strategy worked: About fifty Republicans voted with Democrats to pass the bill by a 195129 vote in the House, and four Republicans voted with Democrats in the Senate to clear the bill by a 1410 margin. Advertisement New England Republicans, of course, tend to be more moderate than the average GOP politician in Congress. And New Hampshires lawmakers pride themselves on their support for individual liberty; when a faction of anti-gay Republicans attempted to repeal the states marriage equality law in 2012, dozens of their GOP colleagues voted against the measure, scuttling it in a rout. But as last years failed effort to protect transgender people illustrates, securing Republican votes for LGBTQ bills still isnt easy. Advocates at Freedom New Hampshire and the New Hampshire ACLU had to convince skeptical legislators that expansive non-discrimination protections for gender minorities are good policy and good politics. Advertisement Their success proves that Pence and Sessions anti-trans extremism is increasingly anachronistic in contemporary politicsand even, perhaps, in todays Republican Party. Multiple GOP governors have signed bills banning LGBTQ conversion therapy; a coterie of moderate Republicans blocked Texas anti-trans bathroom bill; and Republican senators have spoken out in opposition to the trans troops ban. Democrats remain the unmistakable champions of LGBTQ rights, but not all Republicans are as viciously anti-trans as the Trump administration. Pence and Sessions are relicsthey may hold power right now, but they see their hardline views losing favor, hence the mad dash to enshrine as many into law as possible. They may win a few more battles. But as New Hampshire demonstrates, theyre likely doomed to lose this war. Arizona teachers again gathered en masse at the state capitol building on Wednesday in what is now the fifth day of a statewide walkout. Some stood outside to remind legislators of their presenceand of their absence from schools. Others waited inside the capitol building for news as the Legislature tried to finalize a budget that would try to subdue their anger. The teachers, wearing red, have shown up in numbers surprising even after the wave of teacher demonstrations in West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Colorado. Last Thursday, more than 50,000 people marched through downtown Phoenix to demand wage increases and increases in school funding to bring them back to pre-recession levels. On Wednesday afternoon, leaders of the movement asked teachers to return again on Thursday when the Legislature failed to pass a budget. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Slate spoke with several of the teachers who participated in the walkout to learn why they were willing to step away from the classroom and what they hoped for their schools. One teacher, 23-year-old music teacher Noah Karvelis, is a leader of the movement and has been accused by conservative media and a state Republican representative of being a political operative. (These are deliberate misconceptions constructed by opponents because were bringing change, he said.) Another, Beth Maloney, was Arizonas teacher of the year in 2014. A third, Brandi Rasmussen, missed her sons first steps while waiting to testify before the House. These conversations have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Slate: I know the leaders of the movement have put forward several demands. Which element of the walkout do you care most about? Advertisement Beth Maloney, fifth-grade teacher in the West valley of Phoenix: I dont think any of us would be out here day after day if it was just about teacher pay. Were not that passionate about it. Its really about raising budget levels. Liz Schley, AP government and politics teacher at Basha High School in Chandler: For me, its sustainable funding. Finding a funding source thats going to help schools as a whole for the long term. Not just short-term things. Advertisement Britt Yvonne James, 10th-grade English teacher at Copper Canyon High School in Glendale: Im a conservative at heart, but they need to do something in writing that will be sustainable. Abel Hoyos, biology teacher at Maryvale High School in Phoenix: I have three daughters. How come the other states are getting $16,000 or $12,000 per student, and we have a little bit less than $5,000? We as teachers decided to take action, because we think that its unfair, the amount of money the government is spending for the kids. Advertisement Advertisement Colin Miller, seventh-grade social studies teacher at Montebello School in Phoenix: The toll that budget cuts and lack of funding has put on thisits bare-bones. Im begging my legislators to fund schools. Its got to be better than this for the kids, because they cant even speak for themselves yet. How would you personally spend more funding for your classrooms? Juli Schexnayder, 12th-grade math teacher at Maryvale High School in Phoenix: This is the informational age. And were trying to do state-mandated testing with laptops 10 years old. Were using textbooks weve had 10 years or more. And when we want new textbooks, we have to compete with other departments. Advertisement Advertisement Schley: I want updated textbooks, because College Board doesnt care what your state is doing. They give a test, and I need to make sure my kids are ready. Miller: [We have] textbooks that say George W. Bush is president. Schexnayder: Some campuses, the kids cant sit on desks because they might fall apart. They have holes in the ceiling. Noah Karvelis, music teacher at Tres Rios Elementary School in Tolleson: A lot of times, educators are sitting in leaky classrooms, with no paper towels in the room. Students are not in a setting where they can be successful. How do you deal with those problems now? Schley: I started buying more things out of pocket. I wanted to be able to differentiate my instruction and do these things with my kids so that they understood the content, and a lot of that came out of my pocket. And I understood I did that freely. I wasnt forced to. I dont even use my AP government textbooks anymore because theyre so outdated. I just spend more time at home looking for resources. I think last year, I spent around $500, which was a lean year. The first year I moved up to high school, it was about $800. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Schexnayder: I spend at least $1,000 a year on my students. I know people who spend more. Hoyos: In biology, we have to buy plaster of Paris for experiments, to make models. A lot of times I have to buy it for myself, or I ask the kids if any of their dads work in construction. In my family, we have six teachers. And when we have family reunion weekends, we all talk about that: Man, we have to spend $150 on this. School funding is one big demand in the movement, but so is better teacher pay. Schley: I think one of the biggest misconceptions is its all about a teacher raise. [My school has] to hire two new people, and I want quality people, and people who feel valued. Advertisement Miller: We have 2,000 teacher positions [open in Arizona]. The reason people arent moving here is the salary is so low. We could fill those classrooms with teachers who are qualified and who want to teach. James: Our school was not able to fill eight permanent teaching positions because we didnt have enough applicants. Kids cant learn from substitute teachers. We need learning strategies, mediation, we need certified teachers to go through programs. Not Teach for America, with three weeks of training. Thats not sustainable for kids. Advertisement Advertisement Hoyos: We had a specific salary in 2008, and we have seen increments of increase in $100, $200 a year. It was frustrating, because you dont see salary increments according to the increments of cost of living. Advertisement Ill be 53 next month, and I have another seven years to retire. And you need to retire with the highest possible salary in order to retire in a decent way. I think we deserve a high-quality retirement without having to think about how we are going to pay insurance or without having to travel to Mexico for dental. Why do we have to do that when we gave this country the best years of our life? Advertisement Brandi Rasmussen, 10th-grade English and newspaper teacher at Chandler High School: Ive been [at the school] six years. I have a masters. My take-home pay is still not enough to afford rent and utilities for an apartment in Chandler. My husband totally supports me, even though it means living paycheck to paycheck. Advertisement Miller: The solution for the government [has been] to lower certification requirements. So you get people who dont know what theyre getting into and quit in a month or so. So our kids need a math teacher, and you have a sub rotating in eight, nine months in a year. Advertisement Now teachers are becoming counselors as well, becoming therapists. My counselor, he has to worry about 500 kids. Thats a daunting case load, but thats all we can afford. It would benefit us to have a social worker. It would benefit [the students] for my colleagues to not wear so many hatsand to have trained professionals, somebody who could really check in day to day and measure growth. Advertisement Maloney: We have kids with severe trauma, emotional needs. Im not trained to help them. Weve just stripped all the positions away and left everything on shoulders on teachers, while loading them up with more and more diverse students with diverse needs. What made you decide to be a part of this? Karvelis: In the wake of West Virginia, I think everyone looked around and said, Its our turn to do something. Schexnayder: In 2008, when we hit the recession, we understood we would need to tighten belts. We were all willingwe would stop getting pay raises if it meant our neighbor could keep their job. But we were also given promise if things got better, funding would get restored. So weve had enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The womens movement, the science movement, the March for Our Lives movement. We have seen other people get their point across and draw attention. Rasmussen: It was already a sea of dry trees, just waiting for one fire. It was already primed for it to be what it was. Maloney: I know the walkout has been a huge inconvenience for families. But I keep going back to: If its an inconvenience, then lets get this fixed quickly. We would much, much rather be teaching in our classroom. How have you felt about the public response to the movement? Schley: Walking out of my classroom was hard. On Friday, I went to the grocery store to get myself some dinner. And I had on my teacher shirt, and the governor had just talked about his proposal. And I just had my basket with me, and a gentleman said to me, Have you gotten your lazy ass back to work now that you got your raise? Advertisement I was exhausted from the day, and I just kind of looked over at him and kept walking. But then I cried all the whole way home. Change is hard. I cried because Ive been holding onto this for 10 years. And Im sad for my kids, and Im sad for my class sizes. I want to be the best teacher I can be, but I need help. But Im getting emails from parents being supportive. Advertisement Karvelis: There are some people who try to discredit movement, but theyre just uncomfortable because people who havent had power have power now. Maloney: Youre going to hear things that its really partisan, and all Democrats. But truly, inside the movement, its absolutely bipartisan. Theres no way youd get 50,000 people here if it was partisan. Schley: Teaching can be really lonely, because, yes, Im talking all day, but Im talking to students. So its nice to be out [among other teachers and supporters]. Being there on Thursday and taking my daughter with me, I think that is the most supported Ive ever felt as an educator. Do you think this movement will have a lasting effect beyond the budget? Hoyos: I have a lot of teacher friends who are Republicans, and they have a lot anger. That might switch the political situation for the next government. Maloney: What I would really like is for this kind of momentum to carry over into the November election. Teachers, traditionally, unfortunately, are not voters. These teachers Ive worked with for years have suddenly come alive. And theyre watching. And thats whats going to make some lasting change. Faced with the daily depravities of our political system, my friends frequently lament just how little their compatriots seem to care about people who are not like them. They have a point. Over the past weeks, I have spoken to hedge fund managers who are willing to sacrifice the rights of minorities to secure a tax cut that will make their fortunes just a little vaster. I have spoken to Republican members of Congress who are choosing to sacrifice their constitutional duties so they can reduce their chances of getting primaried. And I have talked to scores of voters who have altogether given up on the pretense that public policies should serve some common good, rather than a sectional interest. Advertisement There are genuine moral dilemmas: situations in which any course of action available seems morally unacceptable. But I have also been struck by how similar some of my friends are to those they purport to disdain: Even people who loudly claim to be moved by the suffering of the worlds weak and vulnerable are, it turns out, often depressingly willing to push their fate aside when it doesnt fit their political agenda. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Take the case of North Korea. The country has 1 million men under arms and some incredibly deadly rockets at its disposalmany of them aimed directly at its neighbor, South Korea. There is little doubt that any serious attempt to overthrow Kim Jong-uns brutal regime would lead to one of the bloodiest wars in human history. For that reason, I am as glad as anyone that we are making some progressuncertain as it is, and illusory though it may provetoward a peace settlement. Advertisement And yet, I have also been disturbed by the ease with which virtually every participant in this debate ignores the immense suffering that a deal with Kim would likely perpetuate. North Koreas 25 million residents live in a brutal totalitarian regime that impoverishes, intimidates, and humiliates its residents. The 100,000 inmates of the regimes concentration camps have it incomprehensibly worse: The grotesque cruelty they suffer rivals just about any state-sponsored regiment of sadistic torture dreamed up in the long history of humanity. All of which is to say something that should be both obvious and uncontroversial: By just about any moral standard, Kim is one of the worlds most reprehensible dictators. People who claim to disdain strongmen and care about human rights should at the very least feel queasy about the way in which the recent smiling photographs of him with other world leaders may help to legitimate his rule. Most importantly, they should feel disturbed that any rapprochement would condemn 25 million human beings to live under horrific circumstances for the foreseeable future. Advertisement Advertisement And yet, this is a point barely anybody has bothered to make. Instead, the very same people who regularly denounce the U.S. government for maintaining friendly relations with the dictatorial rulers of Egypt and Saudi Arabia, of China and Myanmar, are full-throatedly cheering the pictures of Moon Jae-in, the president of South Korea, shaking hands with Kim. In fact, the very same people who rightly keep a violin at the ready to lament the fate of any mistreated Tibetan or Palestinian seem strangely unmoved by the daily doses of death doled out in North Korean camps. Advertisement (Some people might argue that peace with North Korea could somehow lead the regime to become less brutal, or even to lose power. But, leaving the question of how likely this is aside, whats striking is that this isnt part of the debate so far: Most of the commentators who have been cheering the rapprochement with Kim havent done so on the basis of improving the lot of the North Koreans; they have done so on the basis of ignoring it.) Advertisement I can already picture the angry responses to this piece. You bloodthirsty imperialist, they will say. What on earth could a war with North Korea possibly accomplish? Advertisement But that knee-jerk reaction just goes to prove my point about the strange limits to our capacity for compassion. Somehow, our moral imagination seems to be all or nothing: Once we have decided to pursue a course of action, it causes us huge cognitive dissonance to acknowledge the people who are negatively impacted by it. Anybody who dares to mention the horrifying cost of making peace with North Korea, we therefore assume, must secretly oppose it. But this is to overlook the fact that there are genuine moral dilemmas: situations in which any course of action that is available to us seems morally unacceptable. Advertisement Take the terrible choice faced by the protagonist of William Styrons Sophies Choice: An SS soldier forces a woman to decide which of her two children is going to the gas chambers; if she refuses to condemn one of them to death, he vows to kill them both. In this kind of situation, some philosophers believe, no moral theory is able to issue clear guidance about what she should do. The least it can do is to acknowledge the tragic nature of the impossible choice she facesand to accept that any course of action is likely to lead to lasting regret. As Bernard Williams put the point: Advertisement Advertisement the agonies that a man will experience after acting in full consciousness of such a situation are not to be traced to a persistent doubt that he may not have chosen the better thing; but, for instance, to a clear conviction that he has not done the better thing because there was no better thing to be done. It would seem a glib moralist who said, as some sort of criticism, that he must be irrational to lie awake at night, having killed his daughter. Advertisement The civil war in Syria seems to me to be about as close to this kind of moral dilemma as you are likely to get in international relations. It has now been going on for more than seven years and has killed about half a million people. An end to the suffering is not in sight. The opposition is fractured and increasingly fanatical. With the help of Russia and Iran, Bashar al-Assad has steadily improved his military position. His ultimate victory may now represent the only chance the country has for an end to the hostilities. But it would leave Syria in the hands of a ruthless dictator who has, again and again, proved willing to kill scores of civilians to gain a little military leverageand will likely want to settle scores with his opponents as soon as he resumes control over all of his territory. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It seems morally impermissible to stand idly by as the slaughter in Syria continues apace. But by the same token, it is far from clear what we can do to stem the suffering: With no viable opposition that could conceivably pacify Syria in sight, any intervention in the war only risks prolonging the misery. In those rare moments when the tragedy in Syria still manages to rise to the top of the news cycle, you would therefore think that the overwhelming stance would be one of humbled despair. Irrespective of what we should have done seven years ago, or which of the terrible options that remain open at this late stage we should now pursue, it is clear that the suffering will continue. Advertisement Advertisement But that, strangely, is not how anybody seems to talk about the situation. Instead, the people who are advocating airstrikes are pretending that the few missiles the United States and its allies launched at Syria a few weeks ago somehow constitute a great act of moral heroism. The fact that it has done precious little to stop the dying somehow doesnt seem to bother them overly much. Meanwhile, the people who passionately oppose any military action in Syria promise to fight for peace and denounce anybody who disagrees with them as an imperialist warmonger. The fact that an incredibly deadly war has long been raging seems to leave them remarkably cold. Advertisement I have, in short, no idea what to do about Syria. What I do know is that each of the options we are debating is repugnant in its own wayand that anybody who has seriously grappled with the situation on the ground should have the decency and the foresight to acknowledge that the course of action they favor will, even if it is the best of a lousy lot, lead to lasting regret. Advertisement In one important sense, the North Korean case is different. Faced with Kims power and capriciousness, there is only one realistic option: to make our peace with him. But as Bernard Williams taught us, even if we are absolutely convinced of doing as best as we can, it is perfectly human to be disturbed by the extent to which some people will suffer due to our choice. Moral conflicts, Williams wrote with elegiac elegance, are neither systematically soluble, nor all soluble without remainder. It is a point we would do well to heed as we discuss the human tragedies unfolding around the globe: I, for one, would have a little more faith that the loudest voices in the roomwhether they be peace activist or neocons, self-styled idealists or loudly proclaimed realistsarent just consumed by their own righteousness if they were a little more willing to acknowledge the unbearable moral remainder that their actions will almost certainly have. Sean Hannity managed to make news Wednesday night, entirely by accident. Rudy Giuliani, recently tapped for President Trumps legal team, offhandedly told him that the president reimbursed attorney Michael Cohen for paying hush money to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Trump and his spokespeople had denied he even knew about the deal. In a series of tweets on Thursday morning, Trump essentially confirmed Giulianis statement while arguing that a reimbursement wouldnt have been in violation of campaign finance law. Advertisement A layperson might now say that the administration has lied about the payment to Stormy Daniels. The major press will not. Breaking News, a tweet from the New York Times on Thursday morning read. President Trump reversed his position on a payment to the porn actress Stormy Daniels, confirming that he reimbursed his lawyer for it. The linked article goes on to say that Trump directly contradicted his earlier statements. NPRs write-up of the story also says Trumps admission directly contradicts the initial denials. At CNN, we read that the president is shifting his story about the Stormy Daniels controversy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Reading all this brings to mind a minicontroversy that erupted Monday when Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union, veered, a bit randomly, from pretend indignation over Michelle Wolfs remarks at the White House Correspondents Dinner over the weekend into a short lecture on journalistic ethics during an interview on CNN. Just present the factslet the American people decide whos lying, he said. The journalist shouldnt be the one to say that the president or that his spokesperson is lying. Advertisement This bewildered many who took to social media shortly afterward, including quite a few journalists. Holding those in power accountable is literally the main job of journalists, author and Harpers Bazaar political editor Jennifer Wright tweeted. If this is a direct quote absent some clarifying context, its bonkers, National Reviews Jonah Goldberg wrote. Shall we task the tanners, cobblers or fish mongers with this responsibility? You wouldnt have known it watching the post-Wolf uproar unfold, but as the coverage of the administrations reversal on Stormy Daniels illustrates, most of the people presently running American political journalism agree completely with Schlapp. The majority of nonopinion news outlets in this country take pains to avoid using the word lie or otherwise accusing politicians of dishonestya norm that has been enforced, with few exceptions, for the better part of the past century, though not without debate. That debate has often seemed like a fight over semantics. It is really a debate by proxy over adversarialism and how journalists should orient themselves in response to power. Advertisement The majority of nonopinion news outlets in this country take pains to avoid using the word lie or otherwise accusing politicians of dishonestya norm that has been enforced, with few exceptions, for the better part of the past century. In the mid-2000s, it occurred to a handful of journalists that there might be a public interest in routinely reporting whether the claims politicians make are true. Since then, fact-checkersessentially special forces units who evaluate political claims in pieces cordoned off from standard reportagehave gained prominence at specialty sites like PolitiFact and Factcheck.org and in house at many other news outlets. But their capacities and the patience of liberals besides were sorely tested by the many now largely forgotten distortions of the Mitt Romney campaign in 2011 and 2012claims so brazenly dishonest that a number of writers speculated American politics had entered a post-truth age. The term was deployed by the New York Times Paul Krugman in a December 2011 column, criticizing Romney for suggesting President Obama was an anti-capitalist and mischaracterizing Obamas comments abroad as apologizing for America. Why does Mr. Romney think he can get away with this kind of thing? Krugman asked. The answer, according to Krugman, was that Romney had already gotten away with a series of equally fraudulent attacks and the political press would be reluctant to hold Romney accountable. [I]f past experience is any guide, he wrote. most of the news media will feel as though their reporting must be balanced, which means that every time they point out that a Republican lied they have to match it with a comparable accusation against a Democrateven if what the Democrat said was actually true or, at worst, a minor misstatement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A few weeks later, the Times thenpublic editor Arthur Brisbane addressed the column and asked readers: Should the Times Be a Truth Vigilante? Im looking for reader input on whether and when New York Times news reporters should challenge facts that are asserted by newsmakers they write about, Brisbane wrote. As an Op-Ed columnist, Mr. Krugman clearly has the freedom to call out what he thinks is a lie. My question for readers is: should news reporters do the same? He got an earful in response. If the Times is not going to be a truth vigilante, one representative commenter wrote, then I certainly do not need to be a Times subscriber. A number of journalists felt similarly. The Times itself has amplified the assertionmade by Romney and Rick Perrythat Obama has apologized for America, without any rebuttal, at least three times, the Washington Posts Greg Sargent wrote. I urge Brisbane to check [the articles] out. If he does, hell see that any Times customer reading them comes away misled. Advertisement Debate over how to handle political dishonesty was revived and intensified by the Trump campaign. By November 2015, Trumps mendacity was raising enough concern that a defense of accusatory restraint was offered by the Washington Posts Phillip Bump. For the media to call him a liar might please those who already dislike Trump, he wrote, but it doesnt do the media much good. Bump argued reporters cant know [Trumps] intentionality and that some of his lies could be chalked up to exaggeration: If he inflated his story to some degree to reinforce his apparent strategy of engendering fear among Republican voters, is that a lie or is it rhetoric? Advertisement Tides shifted in spite of those arguments. In September 2016, the New York Times decided to call Trumps claim that Obamas birthplace was in doubt a lie. Thats not an obfuscation, thats not an exaggeration, editor Dean Baquet explained to NPR. I think that was just demonstrably a lie, and I think that lie is not a word that newspapers use comfortably. The word lie was used again to describe the campaigns contradictory claims about whether Trump supported a small-business tax cut. Since then, mainstream outlets have taken to implying dishonesty on the part of Trump and those who work with himwith and without the word liein all kinds of ways, from written and verbal asides to on-screen captions. Many, as the Stormy Daniels story again suggests, remain uneasy about this. NPR, for one, still refuses entirely to use the word lie and directly rebuffed criticisms from listeners that Trumps demonstrably false claims about the audience at a speech he delivered in Flint, Michigan, the size of the crowd at his inauguration, and his relationship with intelligence agencies should have been called lies straightforwardly. I think the minute you start branding things with a word like lie, you push people away from you, former senior vice president for news Michael Oreskes said in January 2017. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It should be obvious that a political press that avoids sanctioning the people it covers for dishonesty whenever possible perfectly suits the aims of dishonest politicians. The debate about how to handle dishonesty is, moreover, essentially closed when it comes to political figures outside of Trumpworld. In his explanation of why the Times began using the word lie, Dean Baquet argued that Trumpian dishonesty merited different treatment from obviously wrong and misleading claims made by other politicians about public policy; claiming falsely that a tax plan will save a billion dollars, for instance, is, in his words, merely the stuff of the usual political fare. The implication here is that while journalists at major outlets can readily ascertain whether Trump and his cronies are lying with a bit of effort, they generally cant ascribe intent to anyone else in politics. Negative intent, that is. When it comes to positive intentions and motivations, supposedly neutral political journalists are practically telepaths. Take, for instance, one Washington Post reporters words last month on House Speaker Paul Ryans impending retirement. Readers were told that Paul leaves behind a mixed legacy for a lawmaker who joined Congress as a young and idealistic policy wonk two decades ago and reached the greatest heights Capitol Hill has to offer, yet failed repeatedly to bring his ideas to fruition or turn his rhetoric into reality. There is, in fact, considerable debate over whether Paul Ryans reputation as a wonk sincerely committed to the budget hawkery voiced in his statements and speeches is deserved. One side of that debate, the credulous side, was presented as fact. Advertisement Advertisement Whether or not one agrees that journalists shouldnt call probable lies lies or not, it should be obvious that a political press that avoids sanctioning the people it covers for dishonesty whenever possible perfectly suits the aims of dishonest politiciansas Richard Rovere, a political journalist and, in spite of himself, a supporter of the norm against accusations, wrote in his 1959 biography of Joseph McCarthy: Advertisement [I]n large part because McCarthy was a true innovator, because he lied with an unprecedented boldness, because he invented new kinds of lieseven those newspapers that were willing to expose him found that they lacked the technical resources. If he was to be called a liar, someone had to call him a liar. The American press was simply not set up so that it could feature a McCarthy Lies story alongside a McCarthy Says story. If his fellow Senators had been ready to challenge each mendacity, or if either of the two Presidents of his day had been willing and able to denounce him regularly, it would have worked. But that was not to be. Advertisement As with Trump now, there was a faith among neutral journalists of the time that the truth would be worked out somehow, either in the political sphere or within a public just barely able to keep abreast of political matters in the first place. Those assumptions were belied, obviously, by McCarthys success, the belatedness of his downfall, and the abuses of power that greater and lesser figures have managed to get away with since. Advertisement Theres much evidence in the age of Trumpin headlines and tag lines, in stellar and now award-winning reportingthat journalists at the major outlets take their adversarial responsibilities against such figures more seriously now than ever. This weekend, there was also evidence, in the bizarre handwringing over Michelle Wolfs routine and in reports that journalists tried to console White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders afterward, that they still dont take them quite as seriously as they perhaps should and that the press has tied its hands in a way that the political figures they cover with such urgency find highly convenient. Advertisement The response to Wolfs routine and the Schlapp backlash also implies that theres a large constituency of people who believe making the kinds of judgment calls the major press shies away from is something essential to the task of journalism. It seems unlikely that the papers and the networks will ever get more uniformly strident in response, and unlikely too that the kinds of missives written to justify existing policy will ever reach and convince those not already riveted by discussions of journalistic ethics that reporters should be shooting for coverage that falls just short of candor. All who want candor are going to have to wise up to what mainstream journalism is actually offering them and seek out voices willing to be more frank. An extensive investigation by the Washington Post into the conduct of former CBS and PBS host Charlie Rose found the longtime newsmans sexual misconduct was not only far more extensive than previously known at CBS News and elsewhere, but that Roses reputation for sexual harassment was known to managers at the network. Rose, most recently the host of CBS This Morning, was fired in November after eight women accused the 76-year-old of making unwanted sexual advances toward them, including lewd phone calls, walking around naked in their presence, or groping their breasts, buttocks or genital areas, the Post reported at the time. Advertisement On Thursday, the Post published 27 new allegations, 14 by CBS News employees and 13 by colleagues elsewhere, spanning more than 40 years. Roses behavior was known to managers at the network as early as 1986 and the warnings persisted, with the latest coming as recently as April 2017, months before he was fired. The new allegations against Rose date to 1976, when, according to a former research assistant, he exposed his penis and touched her breasts in the NBC News Washington bureau where they worked, the Post reports. At CBS News, where in addition to the morning show Rose worked as a contributing correspondent for 60 Minutes, some women who said they were harassed said they feared reporting the violations to executives, whom they viewed as prioritizing the careers of male stars. CBS News said it never received any human resources complaints about Roses inappropriate behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That doesnt mean that executives at the network didnt know what was going on however. In 1986, while Rose was filling in as an anchor on CBS Morning News, a 22-year-old news clerk reported to her senior producer boss that Rose had asked her if she liked sex and how often she liked to have it such that she didnt feel comfortable being alone with Rose. Another female assistant producer said Rose would sometimes answer the door to his home naked, holding a towel when she was tasked with dropping off work materials for him. The conduct was well known enough, the Post reports, that [w]hen Susan MacArthur was interviewing in the late 1990s for a job to be Roses assistant, she said, a CBS News executive told her to steer clear because of the hosts history of questionable behavior. She looked me dead in the eyes and said, You are going to be working alone with this man and being alone with this man in his hotel, and you need to think really hard about whether you want to do this, MacArthur told the Post. Advertisement The behavior continued, however, up until Rose was fired by CBS News and his talk show was cancelled by PBS. Roses sexual misconduct made its way to higher-ups at CBS as recently as last year, when the executive producer of CBS This Morning was flagged by his assistant concerned about his unwanted sexual advances to a 24-year-old employee. This followed a 2011 when the host forcibly kissed a morning show employee at a work party. The staffer reported Roses advance to the shows executive producer at the time, but insisted that he not pass along the information to HR. One employee, Sophie Gayter, who says she was groped by Rose in 2013 while working at 60 Minutes, offered this devastating description of the work culture at CBS News: People said what they wanted to you, people did what they wanted to you. Rose offered a one-line email denial to the Posts story: Your story is unfair and inaccurate. Its relatively rare to see the solicitor general, after arguing a case before the Supreme Court, submit a letter to the court correcting himself. Its even rarer when the letter reveals that he still hasnt corrected his error. Yet thats what happened on Tuesday. Solicitor General Noel Francisco filed with the court a short letter purporting to rectify an error he made the previous Wednesday in his closing argument in Trump v. Hawaii, the challenge to President Donald Trumps travel ban. Heres the letter: At oral argument in this matter last week, I referred during my rebuttal to a statement by the President on September 25. Transcript 81:17-19. I intended to refer to the Presidents statement on January 25, 2017, that is cited in the governments reply brief at page 28, note 8. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If the solicitor general really thinks that his error was about a mistaken date, then hes still being obtuse as to the actual positions of his boss, President Trumpand to why his closing argument was, as I and others have argued, so dangerously misleading. The statement in question was no trivial matter in the case. Rather, it was the solicitor generals climactic closing argument. And it purported to respond to his opposing counsels claim that the president had never disavowed the anti-Muslim animus that the challengers argue renders the travel ban unconstitutional under the First Amendments Establishment Clause. The solicitor general said: My final point has to do with mymy brothers recognition that, if the President were to say tomorrow that he was sorry, all of this would go away. Well, the President made crystal-clear on September 25 that he had no intention of imposing the Muslim ban. Advertisement Even having corrected the date and clarified what he was referencing, the rest of Franciscos argument is still misleading the court: Well, the President made crystal-clear that he had no intention of imposing the Muslim ban. Where the solicitor general was mistaken was not in confusing his months of the year but in vouching to the justices that President Trump has ever made crystal-clear that his travel ban isnt the Muslim ban that Trump promised as a candidate and has repeatedly taken credit for delivering on as president. Its important to remember that Trump told us what pretext he was going to use during the campaign. Yes, when asked, on Jan. 25, 2017, whether his then-forthcoming first attempt at a travel ban was the Muslim ban, Trump replied, Were talking aboutno, its not the Muslim ban. But its countries that have tremendous terror. Its countries that were going to be spelling out in a little while in the same speech. And its countries that people are going to come in and cause tremendous problems. Its now clear at least what the solicitor general was referencing. But, when one remembers everything that Trump has said since, its preposterous to claim that this statement made crystal-clear that his travel banin all three of its incarnationsisnt intended as a Muslim ban. Advertisement Advertisement First, Trump has told us why he initially downplayed the extent that the ban is seeking to at least partially accomplish his stated goal. That came, for example, in September 2017, when Trump tweeted: The travel ban into the United States should be far larger, tougher and more specific-but stupidly, that would not be politically correct! So we know what Trump meant in January: He wasnt delivering on precisely the Muslim ban he wanted, but instead a Muslim ban whose somewhat narrowed scope he regretted. That, of course, doesnt save it from its constitutional defectthough it does leave the ban ripe for expansion if the court were to uphold it. Advertisement Its also important to remember that Trump told us what pretext he was going to use during the campaign. When asked in July 2016 if he was rolling back his Muslim ban position by changing its language, he denied that was the case using nearly the same language he later did in his Jan. 25 statement. I actually dont think its a rollback, Trump told NBCs Chuck Todd. In fact, you could say its an expansion. Im looking now at territories. People were so upset when I used the word Muslim. Oh, you cant use the word Muslim. Remember this. And Im OK with that, because Im talking territory instead of Muslim. Remember this indeed! In fact, during the second presidential debate, Trump explicitly described his pretext when asked if it was correct that the Muslim ban was no longer his position. The Muslim ban is something that in some form has morphed into extreme vetting from certain areas of the world, Trump said. When pressed to say whether his Muslim ban position still stood, he would not. Its called extreme vetting, he said. Over the course of his two-minute response, he refused to answer the yes-or-no question of whether a Muslim ban was still his policy. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Second, Trumps White House has made very clear, after Trumps January 2017 statement, that his travel ban is very much a Muslim ban. Trumps own campaign website continued to make clear that the bans purpose was preventing Muslim immigration until just before a key court argument in an earlier challenge to the ban, when it was abruptly removed. And, as the justices were reminded at argument last Wednesday, after the third travel bans issuance, the deputy press secretary was asked why Trump retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted to Twitter by a far-right British politician. Heres Raj Shahs response when asked whether President Trump think[s] Muslims are a threat to the U.S.: The president has addressed these issues with the travel order that he issued earlier this year, and the companion proclamation. Those tweeted anti-Muslim videoslater shown to be false and misleading in key respectshad nothing to do with national security. They had everything to do with Islamophobia, pure and simple. This was Trumps own White House saying that his travel ban addressed his view of exactly what the questioner had asked about: Muslims. Advertisement Third and most incredibly, Trump and his White House have, in the week since arguments at the court, repudiated the solicitor generals claim to the justices. Hours after the argument, a reporter noted to White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders that the president has never actually disavowed his campaign proposal of a Muslim ban and asked, Does the White House disavow that campaign proposal, or does it stand by it? Here was a chance to be nothing short of crystal-clear. Sanders was anything but. She refused to answer the question directly and came nowhere near offering a disavowal. It turns out that she knows her boss well: When asked Monday whether hed apologize for his campaign rhetoric promising a Muslim ban if it might help his odds at the court, Trump responded that theres no reason to apologize. Of course Trump doesnt see a reason to apologize. Once a Muslim ban, still a Muslim ban. Thats whats crystal-clear. And thats where the solicitor general misled the court. Deputy mayor frees husband detained for assaulting her Deputy Mayor of the Godavari Municipality Muna Adhikari visited the Satdobato Police Circle in Lalitpur on Wednesday to release her husband, Dhurva Kunwar, who had been arrested the night before after she called police on him for assaulting her. The Iowa state legislature passed a bill on Wednesday outlawing abortions performed after fetal pole cardiac activity can first be detected, which is around six weeks of pregnancy with a transvaginal ultrasound. If signed by Gov. Kim Reynolds, a Republican who has said abortion is equivalent to murder, the bill will become the countrys strictest limit on abortion rights. Today we are taking a courageous step to tell the nation that Iowa will defend its most vulnerable: those without a voice, our unborn children, said state Rep. Shannon Lundgren in the Iowa House during discussion of the bill. Advertisement In Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the Supreme Court has affirmed the right to abortion care until fetal viability, around 24 weeks gestation. The Iowa bill would make abortion illegal as soon as what anti-abortion advocates call a heartbeata loaded, inaccurate termcan be detected, before many women even know theyre pregnant. When North Dakota passed a similar law in 2013, a federal judge blocked it, calling the legislation clearly unconstitutional. Arkansas passed its own heartbeat bill in 2013, too, though it only banned abortions performed 12 weeks or more after a womans last period, when a heartbeat could be detected by an abdominal ultrasound. Two federal courts stopped that law from going into effect, ruling that no fetus has ever been proved viable at 12 weeks gestation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The most restrictive gestation-based abortion laws currently in effect in the U.S. are the 20-week abortion bans on the books in 19 states. Mississippi passed a 15-week ban in March, but a judge issued a temporary injunction just one day after the governor signed it, preventing the law from taking effect before its argued in court. Reynolds told the Des Moines Register that shes waiting to see the bill before deciding whether or not to sign it into law, but her spokeswoman told the New York Times that she remains 100 percent pro-life and will never stop fighting for the unborn. The bill makes some exceptions for fetal abnormalities incompatible with life, threats to the life of the pregnant woman, and survivors of rape and incest who report the crimes perpetrated against them within 45 and 140 days, respectively. Advertisement Republicans hope the Supreme Court, strengthened by Neil Gorsuch and any other justices Trump nominates during his term, will agree to evaluate this law and roll back the rights to abortion and privacy affirmed by previous decisions. It is time for the Supreme Court to weigh in on the issue of life, Lundgren said this week. It has taken decades for the science to catch up to what many have believed all along: that shes a baby. Advertisement The willingness of mainstream Republicans to support extreme anti-abortion legislation is a notable shift in a party that has spent a lot of energy eroding reproductive rights with incremental legislation, including mandatory waiting periods and excessive building-code requirements for abortion clinics. In Texas and elsewhere, anti-abortion groups are fighting over how radical their movement should be. Some would rather their states not waste millions of dollars defending laws that are patently unconstitutional. Others believe its their duty to push for the most restrictive abortion bans that could possibly pass their states legislature. Advertisement Advertisement The recent passage of Mississippis 15-week ban and this new Iowa bill suggest that Republicans are getting more bullish about their chances in court. Recently, in a dissent on a 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision striking down Indiana laws that banned abortions sought for reason of fetal sex or disability, Judge Daniel Manion wrote that abortion has become a super-rightmore ironclad even than the rights enumerated in the Bill of Rights in U.S. law. He also urged the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Manion was appointed by Ronald Reagan, but Trump is currently packing the federal judiciary with far-right ideologues just as conservative as Manion. Advertisement When Mike Pence says the U.S. will end legal abortion in our time, when anti-abortion activists at the March for Life say it might be the last march we have to have because Trump is in office, this is what theyre referring to: a plan to shift the makeup of the judiciary for an entire generation, in the hopes of, among other things, allowing states to make abortion a crime. As recently as 2016, the Supreme Court wasnt interested in reconsidering Roe; that year, the justices declined to grant certiorari to defenders of Arkansas 12-week heartbeat ban, effectively striking the law for good. With Gorsuch now on the bench and a few left-leaning justices getting up there in age, the hope is that a similar petition from Iowa could, in the near future, yield a very different decision. Donald Trumps new lawyer Rudy Giuliani took to Sean Hannitys Fox News program Wednesday night to defend the president from the ongoing Mueller investigation and to calm the waters for the Trump faithful. But it looks like hes gotten the president into potentially greater legal jeopardy by admitting that Trump repaid his fixer Michael Cohen for the $130,000 payment to adult film performer Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet, seemingly contradicting the president and potentially implicating Trump and his campaign in some serious campaign finance violations. Advertisement Just to review where we are so far. It is undisputed that Trumps sometimes-attorney and fixer Michael Cohen negotiated an agreement with Daniels shortly before the 2016 election to get her not to discuss an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in exchange for $130,000. Cohen eventually said that he paid that money out of his own pocket, and he secured a loan to do so. He said that neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign reimbursed him (he did not say that he was not reimbursed at all, leaving open the possibility of a Trump reimbursement). The president told reporters he had known nothing about the payment. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement With that state of affairs, Cohen looked like he could be in legal trouble, because someone cannot make a $130,000 in-kind contribution to a federal campaign. The big question before tonight was whether the payment was campaign related. If it was wholly personal, as in made to help Trumps marriage but not his campaign, then Cohen would be off the hook. Advertisement The case drew parallels to John Edwards trial for accepting similar in-kind contributions. DOJ could not get a conviction, likely because there was no smoking gun evidence indicating that payments to Edwards mistress were campaign related and not aimed at saving his marriage. The Edwards precedent may be one of the reasons U.S. attorneys from the Southern District of New York raided Cohens office and hotel where he was staying: they may have been looking for documentary evidence of his state of mind to determine whether Cohens payment was more about Melania or Wisconsin. But if Cohen made the payment alone and neither Trump nor anyone in the campaign knew anything about it, Trump and the campaign officials would have done nothing wrong. Yes, they have to report contributions and expenditures on federal campaign reports (where they certify they are making truthful statements). But if these campaign officials knew nothing of the contribution, they did nothing wrong. (Cohen might still be on the hook, though, if it could be proven that he did it to support the campaign.) Advertisement Advertisement Now, thanks to Giuliani, the picture looks considerably different. If what Giuliani says is true, and if the payments were made to help the campaign and not (just) to help Trump personally, the campaign may be implicated in illegal activity. If Trump knew that Cohen was advancing him a $130,000 loan for campaign purposes, that would have to be reported by the campaign, as would the payments Giuliani said Trump made in installments to Cohen. These would be campaign expenditures that the committee has to keep track of. As Philip Bump notes, if the Trump Organization facilities were used to help make these payments, then there may be additional campaign violations related to the use of corporate resources for campaigns. Advertisement Advertisement Although many campaign finance violations are handled just as fines, as Giuliani seemed to suggest in his Hannity interview Wednesday night, thats not true for willful violations of campaign finance law, especially those implicating the public interest. Those can lead to criminal liability. If there was an unreported six-figure loan to the campaign to pay off someone who had an affair with a presidential candidate, with repayments facilitated through corporate resources, that seems like a serious enough violation to merit review by the Justice Department. Advertisement Ultimately, Giuliani offered two defenses for Trump on Hannity. One, as mentioned, is that the payments were not campaign-related. The other is that Trump did not know the specifics of what Cohen was doing; just that Cohen was the fixer taking care of things just like Giuliani said he did for his clients. It is a defense that could well be corroborated or rejected based on whats in the seized Cohen materials. Advertisement In the end, the campaign finance issue may not be the biggest legal problem facing Trump (obstruction of justice, for example, seems far more serious), and perhaps theres proof in the Cohen documents of an intent for this to be unrelated to the campaign. But it is just as plausible that Giuliani went out there because they know new information will come out, and this is a way to try to get ahead of the story. Right now, Trump is in a bit of a bind. Either he lied to the American people or he has an incompetent lawyer. (It could be both). For his part, Giuliani told the Washington Posts Robert Costa that the president was very pleased with his performance and knew in advance about the revelation. Stormy Daniels may not be Russian collusion. But it is a story that just got bigger thanks to Giuliani, and now Trump will face new questions about what he knew and when he knew it. President Trump has reportedly all but decided to withdraw the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal when the next certification deadline comes up on May 12. The details are still being ironed out, but this could mean that he plans to re-impose the nuclear-related sanctions lifted under the deal. Though Ive expressed some skepticism about the deals overall effectiveness, pulling out of it now would accomplish little except for increasing the likelihood of a restarted Iranian nuclear program or a disastrous military conflict. Advertisement What makes Trumps likely decision all the more frustrating is that progress is actually being made toward Trumps stated goal: getting European allies to fix what Trump sees as the deals flaws. Britain, France, and Germany have proposed new sanctions addressing Irans ballistic missile program and activities in Syriaboth issues that were outside the scope of the original agreement but critics say shouldnt have been. Its even conceivable an additional agreement could be reached to re-impose sanctions if Iran resumes its nuclear activities once the original deals controversial sunset provisions kick in. A number of prominent critics of the original deal are now calling on Trump not to blow it up entirely but to continue working to strengthen it. Its not clear if this would workIran itself might balk at the new measuresbut Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkels visits to Washington last week at least demonstrated a willingness by U.S. allies to try. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The impending demise of the Iran deal is another example of one of the Trump presidencys oddest dynamics. You may not like the Trump administrations bullying style or its prioritiesand I dont, either. But still, the presidents aggressiveness, unpredictability, and lack of interest in foreign policy norms have actually opened up some opportunities to claim meaningful achievements in a number of issues and prove his critics wrong. But this possibility has been undermined by his rush to claim short-term political victories rather than long-term progress. Trump could have an effective foreign policy. Its just not clear thats what he actually wants. Robert Worth, in his New York Times Magazine profile of Secretary of Defense James Mattis in March, noted this pattern in regard to both the Iran deal and the 2017 decision to launch airstrikes at Bashar al-Assads military in Syria. (This was before the more recent strike): Advertisement [A]fter the administration launched missile strikes on Syrian regime targets in retaliation for the poison-gas attack in Khan Sheikhoun, there was a welcome opportunity to pressure the Syrians and their Russian backers. This was precisely what John Kerry dreamed of during Obamas final years: a decisive show of force that would create leverage on the diplomatic front. Now Trump had achieved it. A European diplomat told me he spoke to McMaster just after the Syria strike and asked him: Now you have leverage: What will you do? McMaster stared back at him blankly, he told me. For them, it was not leverage, the diplomat said. It was just a strike. Advertisement Strange as it seems now, there was a time when it seemed that Trumps unorthodox approach might upset the status quoin a positive wayin the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. Many rolled their eyes at Trumps desire to achieve the ultimate deal for peace and his decision to appoint his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, to make it happen, but in a May 2017 speech I attended in Washington, D.C., Palestinian Chief Representative to the United States Husam Zomlot expressed cautious optimism about Trumps efforts, saying that it might not be such a bad thing to disrupt the peace industry that over past decades had often done as much to preserve the conflict as to end it. While clearly pro-Israel, Trump at times showed a willingness to criticize Israeli policies and said that a deal would require Israel to sacrifice certain things. Advertisement Advertisement Fairly or no, a president whom no one could accuse of having a pro-Palestinian bias could theoretically have more leverage to pressure both sides. For a year, Kushner and his team worked quietly, with mixed results, but also with reassuringly modest expectations. Then came Trumps decision last December to unilaterally recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. While the move may have scored him points with the Christian evangelicals and right-wing Jews in his circle, it effectively ended hopes of even modest progress toward peace. The Palestinian government has been boycotting contacts with the U.S. since then, and President Mahmoud Abbas ugly anti-Semitic comments last week suggest hes in no hurry to return to the table. Advertisement Advertisement This, then, brings us to the biggest foreign policy opportunity currently facing Trump: the upcoming summit with North Koreas Kim Jong-un. Putting aside the question of how much Trumps belligerent approach accounts for North Koreas newfound willingness to talk (clearly some, though probably not as much as North Korean nuclear scientists recent progress), it is true that the president has a unique and unprecedented opportunity to advance the cause of peace in a conflict that has simmered for more than a half-century. Again, unfairly, Trumps past enthusiasm for war means it will be easier for him than it would be for a Democrat to sell a peace deal with a sworn enemy to lawmakers and the public. But the signs are not reassuring. Any meaningful progress toward peace and denuclearization will have to be slow and measured. Trumps musings about a great celebration at the DMZ following his meeting with Kim suggest he thinks a breakthrough will happen immediately, meaning hes likely to either accept a flimsy or unenforceable deal in order to achieve a short-term political victory or, if no such opportunity is forthcoming, immediately go back to a war footing. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Before Trump came into office, many of us feared his impulsiveness and general ignorance about the world would drive the U.S. into new conflicts and wreck our traditional alliances. In retrospect, this view underestimated the degree to which foreign governments have an interest in accommodating the United States, no matter who occupies the Oval Office. And to give the president his due, hes sometimes evinced a healthy skepticism of the establishments conventional wisdom, which got the U.S. mired in multiple long-term armed conflicts long before he came into office. The surprising outcome of Trumps foreign policy has not been that its created disasters, but that its created opportunities he has failed to recognizewith disastrous results. Advertisement Of course, its not too late. The meeting with Kim hasnt happened yet, and he still has a few more days to change his mind on the Iran deal. (Theres some chance that he might decertify the deal, but delay the re-imposition of sanctions, to give his new secretary of state some time to work with the Europeans.) Trump has been ill-served by his desperation to achieve short-term victories he can brag about at rallies and shove in the faces of his critics. But if he really wants to prove the doubters and haters wrong, its going to require some patience. It might seem beyond debate that when a person gives you a substantial chunk of cash, hes going to expect something substantial in return. In recent years, however, a growing number of lawyers and judges have contested this basic fact of human nature and have enshrined into law their willful naivety about the corrupting influence of money. This week, two major players in the movement to deny this reality, Charles Koch and Leonard Leo, got caught up in scandals that reveal their efforts to buy influence over governmental matters. These embarrassing flaps neatly illustrate that the very same people who argue that money doesnt buy special favors have secretly been using their money to buy special favors. Advertisement The first of these imbroglios arose on Monday, when the group UnKoch My Campus released a trove of emails regarding Kochs sway over George Mason University, a state university in northern Virginia. These emails, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request that the university unsuccessfully fought in court, relate to the Charles Koch Foundations donations to GMU. The school has received more than $50 million from Koch since 2005, including $10 million in 2016 to rename its law school after the late Justice Antonin Scalia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This money has transformed GMU into the nations nerve center for libertarian-conservative law and policy. Kochs cash funded the creation of the Mercatus Center, a free-market institute that promotes deregulation. A number of Trump administration officials have ties to GMU, most notably, Neomi Raowho founded the schools Center for the Study of the Administrative State, which also opposes federal regulationsserves as the White Houses regulatory czar. Advertisement Koch has long insisted that his donations come with no strings attached and do not allow him to exert undue influence over GMUs internal affairs. The emails indicate otherwise. By far the most damning correspondences are between Leo and various GMU officials, including those who oversee the student admissions and faculty hiring processes. Leo heads the Federalist Society, a lavishly funded conservative legal group that currently serves as a pipeline to the Trump administration. (Many of Trumps judicial nominees are members of the Federalist Society, including Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, whom Leo reportedly selected for the seat himself.) Leo is friends with David and Charles Koch, who have both donated generously to his organization. It appears from these emails that Leo functioned as a kind of emissary between the Kochs and the university. In 2015, the dean of GMUs law school, Henry N. Butler, sent Leo his five-year plan. Leo promptly set up a call to discuss a number of questions, after which Butler thanked him for his wise counsel. The next year, Leo coordinated the donation of $10 million from Charles Koch and $20 million from an anonymous donor to rename the law school after Scalia. That anonymous donor was later revealed to be the BH Fund, a tax-exempt group of which Leo is president. Advertisement Advertisement On Monday, GMU President Angel Cabrera wrote in an email to faculty that he had ordered an investigation into problematic gift agreements that gave Leo and the Kochs excessive influence over the school. It appears that a number of agreements between the Kochs and GMU gave the donors an express right to participate in faculty selection and evaluation. These arrangements, Cabrera explained, fall short of the standards of academic independence I expect any gift to meet. The issue is especially pressing at a state school like GMU; Leo and the Kochs tilted the ideological playing field at the school in order to favor conservatives in hiring and admissions. Advertisement Since at least 2015, Leo has also had a direct line to Butler, which he has exploited to push GMUs law school even further to the right. Butlers emails to Leo are relentlessly obsequious, an unsurprising dynamic between a donor and donee. Leo seized upon the deans pliancy to push potential students and professors whom he favored. For instance, he sent Butler the resume of a student whose father is a senior executive at [redacted] and asked the dean to grant him a personal meeting. Less than two hours later, Butler agreed enthusiastically, and within a few weeks, he emailed Leo to boast that he closed the deal with the student, who was already in classes. Leo also repeatedly sent Butler resumes of potential conservative faculty hires, pressing him to recruit them. While Leo never made outright demands, Butler seems to have taken these suggestions as direct orders, vigorously pursuing these candidates and providing Leo with frequent updates. Advertisement Advertisement Leo and Kochs GMU experiment plainly demonstrates that money can buy access in state affairs. It is wholly unsurprising that political donors would use their wealth to buy influence at GMU. It is ironic, though, that these particular donors happen to be some of the leading proponents of the legal theory that money in politics has no corrupting effect. This theory was most clearly enshrined into law by Chief Justice John Robertsa Federalist Society alumnus recommended for his current post by Leoin 2014s McCutcheon v. FEC, as well as its predecessor, 2010s Citizens United. In those cases, the court held that most large donors do not seek improper influence over legislators actions and that ingratiation and access between donors and donees are not corruption. McCutcheon scoffed at the notion that an individual could buy favor with politicians by handing them a huge sum of money, dismissing the claim that donations would directly result in political favors. Advertisement Advertisement The Koch brothers have bankrolled a number of groups that challenge campaign finance restrictions and vigorously object to all regulations on political spending. Citizens United allowed them to raise and spend hundreds of millions to sway elections; in 2016, they poured money into the successful effort to keep the Senate in Republican hands. The senators they helped elect have been instrumental in elevating Trumps judicial nominees to the bench. And these judges have already launched an assault on remaining campaign finance restrictions. Advertisement Leo and Kochs GMU experiment plainly demonstrates that money can buy access in state affairs. So, too, does the second Leo-related controversy to arise just this week, this one regarding notoriously unscrupulous Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt. When Pruitt served as Oklahoma attorney general, Leo helped the energy industry funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars into Pruitts legal attacks on the Obama administrations environmental regulations. As an apparent reward, Pruitt took Leo on a hugely expensive state trip to the Vaticanduring which, the New York Times reports, Leo was driving most of the schedule. The EPA administrator also invited Leo to a top restaurant in Rome and allowed him to travel in his motorcade over the objections of his aides. Advertisement Needless to say, private citizens are not usually granted these favors on official trips abroad. But Leo enjoys what the Times describes as privileged status at the EPA, with his requests treated as a priority. If Leo called to ask for something, a former EPA official told the Times, we did it, it doesnt matter what it was. Did Leos government-funded Vatican adventure qualify as corruption? Did his and Charles Kochs interference with GMUs academic independence cross the line? Once again, the answer might seem obviousbut Leo and Koch have spent decades attempting to persuade us that their money doesnt really have any strings attached. The Supreme Courts Federalist Society alumni agree, but that doesnt mean the rest of us have to. To gauge the real influence of political spending, we need only look at how Leo and the Kochs conduct themselves when they dont think the public is watching. And when they call in a favor, the beneficiaries of their largesse know exactly who calls the shots. Motherboard reported claims Wednesday from current and former Facebook employees who said that multiple people have lost their jobs at the company for accessing privileged user data for stalking. This comes shortly after Facebook confirmed to NBC News earlier this week that it had fired an security engineer who allegedly stalked a woman online. The alleged stalking behavior first came to light on Sunday, when cybersecurity consultant Jackie Stokes claimed on Twitter that she had obtained copies of a text conversation in which a Facebook engineer identified himself as professional stalker to a woman hed met on Tinder. Advertisement I really, really hope Im wrong about this. pic.twitter.com/NDkOptx8Hv Jackie (@find_evil) April 30, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Wall Street Journal reports that the woman contacted Stokes company, Spyglass Security Consulting LLC, about the interaction and noted that the man had also managed to uncover personal details about her, including the name of her coding project on GitHub. Stokes said she then verified that the man was a Facebook employee by cross-referencing his Tinder profile with his LinkedIn and Keybase accounts. Advertisement While Stokes acknowledged that it is unclear whether the man did in fact improperly access the womans Facebook account, the company nevertheless launched an investigation that resulted in his firing. Alex Stamos, Facebooks chief security officer, told NBC , We are investigating this as a matter of urgency. Its important that peoples information is kept secure and private when they use Facebook. Its why we have strict policy controls and technical restrictions so employees only access the data they need to do their jobsfor example to fix bugs, manage customer support issues or respond to valid legal requests. Employees who abuse these controls will be fired. Anonymous sources familiar with Facebooks security team further told Motherboard that they know of multiple people who have been fired from the company for using access to private user info for stalking. Some of these cases reportedly involved engineers keeping tabs on exes. Facebook typically does not inform the public of those dismissals, and employees are bound by strict nondisclosure agreements. The company told Motherboard that it uses automated systems to detect and prevent abuse of data and that its internal interface presents employees with warnings and reminders about Facebooks data-privacy policy whenever they try to access sensitive info. Previous reports have suggested that rogue employees spying on consumers is also a problem among ride-sharing companies. In 2016, Uber agreed to pay a $20,000 fine to regulators in New York for allowing a wide swath of its employees to access its God View tool that tracks rider and driver locations. Authorities first caught on to the issue after an Uber executive used the tool to locate a BuzzFeed reporter. In January, Lyft said it was investigating claims that employees were using ride-sharing data to snoop on exes, significant others, people they found attractive, and celebrities. What do Suda the elephant and e-David the robot have in common? Both are capable of creating beautiful paintings, free(ish) of human interventionone uses its trunk to clutch the brush, the other a mechanical arm (though whether Suda is truly free when she paints is a matter of serious contention). Each can even sign their work. The quality of their paintings does vary slightly, though of course, beauty is in the visual sensor of the beholder. Suda, who lives in a Thai elephant camp, paints self-portraits, simple outlines of elephants and trees, while e-David, a German robot, paints portraits of others with detailed shading, strokes tailored even down to the choice of brush. Despite their artistic differences, e-David and Suda have another thing in common: dubious rights to legal authorship of the fruits of their labor. Neither is able to hold copyright under current U.S. law. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement For Suda, this seems unlikely to change. A long-running legal dispute over the creative ownership of a monkeys selfie saw a loss for animal-kind last week, with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissing a copyright infringement lawsuit by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals on behalf of the animal. The selfie, which Naruto the crested macaque snapped in 2011 with a camera belonging to wildlife photographer David Slater, has been the subject of multiple lawsuits, with PETA recently attempting to claim Naruto is its true authorand therefore entitled to profits. It might be over for Narutos claim, however. The lawsuit had already been settled in Slaters favor in a lower court, and it was reconfirmed, with the court ruling that copyright can only be claimed on behalf of humans. Advertisement In the time that the monkey selfie case has been ongoing (it even has its own Wikipedia page) the U.S. Copyright Office has re-emphasized the requirement of human authorship in intellectual property claims, updating its guidelines to explicitly rule out monkey selfies and elephant murals. According to the Next Web, some experts were looking to this latest court ruling as an important precedent in the non-human rights arena, with PETA lawyers claiming that any law passed (or not) in Narutos favor could reflect the rights of other non-human entities. Other non-human entities includes robotsbecause for now, bots dont have intellectual property rights, either. We apparently ascribe more value to chips and circuits than to flesh and blood. But when it comes to A.I., the craftsmanship and creativity of the non-human entity is quickly surpassing that of animals (sorry, Suda)potentially even reaching levels at which copyright consideration may be necessary. As John Frank Weaver once noted in Future Tense, robots are excelling in the creative fields, painting, writing, and composing original work, and theyve only matured since then, writing novels and even poems. All this raises significant questions for copyright law. Do we want to protect the intellectual property of artificial intelligence? Advertisement Advertisement Some have suggested that yes, we do. As Paresh Kathrani points out in the Conversation, intellectual property law is designed to recognize intelligence and incentivize progressif we dont give robots IP rights, some argue, we are failing to protect the value we give intelligence, In failing to recognize and appropriately reward complex work, even that done by robots, we dis-incentivize it, potentially slowing down human (?) progress to boot. Many experts, including Weaver, advocate for other forms of robot rightsfrom the right to free speech to the right to citizenshipespecially as they gain sentience. Its not clear yet what rights we may eventually ascribe to robots. But it is clear that robots are in with a better shot at these rights than animals. No one outside of PETA is particularly up in arms about the anti-Naruto rulingin fact, PETA has been portrayed as something of a joke in the coverage and by the courts. Robot rights, meanwhile, are being taken very seriously. While U.S. copyright can currently only be held by legal persons, this may not rule out robots for long. The EU is considering creating a specific category of personhood just for bots, meaning they may be eligible even without a change in IP law (though these overlapping jurisdictions are going to be messier than Sudas handwriting). Others have suggested that if not robots, copyright benefits could instead flow to their owners or creatorscopyright by human proxy. Advertisement Advertisement What does it say about us as a species that we are more comfortable conferring privileges to machines than to non-humanbut-still-living beings? We apparently ascribe more value to chips and circuits than to flesh and blood, and we seem we more willing to listen to vested interests than to animal interests. Is it fear of Rokos Basilisk that keeps us deferring to bots? Perhaps, as Nathan Heller suggests in this New Yorker essay, we feelirrationallyas uncomfortable with robot cruelty as we do with animal cruelty because robot minds are made in our own image. This makes us better at anthropomorphizing bots than monkeys, despite our shared DNA with the latter. Or perhaps, in this case, its economics. Robots are themselves intellectual property. Time, thought, and human intelligence went into A.I., into making it capable of making valuable workhumans still want to reap the benefits of their creations creations. An A.I. developer wants in on the profits of a critically acclaimed, robot-penned novelor maybe he just wants to write the sequel. If we grant property rights to robots, humans (or at least some humans) win. The rights of the robot are ultimately the rights of the creator. But apparently if we grant rights to animals, humanslike David Slaterlose. And if theres one thing humans like to do, its win. Teslas Autopilot system doesnt kill people.* Journalists who write about Teslas Autopilot system kill people. That, at any rate, seemed to be the contention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk in an extraordinary corporate earnings call on Wednesday. The quarterly conference call with investorsa routine affair for most public companiestook a left turn when Musk cut short the Q&A, deeming their questions about Teslas finances boring and bonehead and taking questions instead from a 25-year-old YouTuber who had tweeted at him on Monday. As Teslas stock plunged in after-hours trading, Musk detoured into a Trumpian rantyes, another oneagainst the dishonest media. Advertisement The visionary entrepreneurturnedpress critic blasted journalists for publishing stories about accidents involving Teslas autonomous driving software, calling such coverage outrageous and fundamentally misleading. In fact, Musk suggested, journalists who report on Autopilot crashes are themselves endangering the lives of Tesla drivers by discouraging them from using the software. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There are 1.2 million automotive deaths per year, Musk said. How many do you read about? Basically none of them. (Note: My own Google News search for fatal car crash turned up 2,790,000 results.) But if its an autonomous situation, its headline news, he continued. And the media fails to mention that actually they shouldnt really be writing the story. They should be writing about how autonomous cars are safe. But thats not the story readers want to click on. Advertisement Its really incredibly irresponsible of any journalists with integrity to write an article that would lead people to believe that autonomy is less safe, Musk went on. Because when Autopilot users read those stories, People might actually turn it off and die. Lest my journalism cause people to turn off Autopilot and die, Ive decided Ill try to follow Musks advice in this story. You will not read anything here about a Tesla that may or may not have crashed horrifically while on Autopilot in Mountain View, California, on March 23, hypothetically killing its driver. I also wont mention that Tesla got kicked off the hypothetical investigation of that noncrash by the National Transportation Safety Board, then claimed that it had withdrawn voluntarily. And I see no need to rehash the fatal nonincident in which a Tesla putatively did not slam broadside into a semitrailer in Florida in May 2016. After all, cars that are not Teslas and are not on Autopilot crash every day. Advertisement Advertisement Just to be safe, I wont even mention the self-driving Uber that some dishonest media outlets claimed ran over a pedestrian in Arizona in March. I guess its possible Musk would be OK with the media reporting on that one, since it didnt involve his company, but I dont want to take any chances here. Blood could be on my hands. Advertisement Instead Ill direct you to Musks claim that autonomy reduces the probability of a death by 50 percent, even though that claim is impossible to substantiate. Ill tell you about a 2017 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report that appeared to say Teslas Autosteer feature had made its cars 40 percent safera report Tesla has cited ever since as proof that Autopilot saves lives. But I guess I shouldnt mention that the NHTSA clarified Wednesday that it had never actually assessed Autosteers effectiveness. That oft-cited 40 percent figure simply came from a cursory comparison of Tesla crash rates before and after Autopilot was implemented, the agency said. Whoops. Advertisement Ill refer you to a story I wrote in 2016 about a man who suffered a pulmonary embolism behind the wheel and drove to the hospital with a big assist from his Tesla. Thats cool, right? As I recall, however, Musk and Teslas PR team werent happy with even that story, because it went on to discuss in some nuance the broader issues around Autopilots safety. Musk and the company were insisting even back then that it would be irresponsible of them not to enable Autopilot in all of their vehicles, given that their internal testing showed it was saving lives. Advertisement One problem I probably shouldnt get into: Tesla has never shared with the public the data that would be needed to evaluate its safety claims. Musk said on Wednesdays call that the company will start publishing quarterly Autopilot safety statistics in the future, which certainly seems like something it ought to be doing if it wants journalists to be writing all these stories about exactly how safe Autopilot is. So far, Tesla has just been asking us all to take its word for it (and, until Wednesday at least, referring us to that 2017 NHTSA report.) Advertisement Advertisement Its quite possible Autopilot really is saving lives. But we cant know that without much more detailed data on how and when its used, whos using it, under what driving conditions, and how its safety stacks up when you control for all those factors. As my colleague Henry Grabar and others have pointed out, comparing crash figures for self-driving cars to those of the general public means comparing the softwares safety to that of 16-year-old boys and drunk drivers, along with the rest. That feels like too low a bar, especially if people are only or mostly using features like Autopilot in fair conditions on well-marked freeways in the daytime while maintaining their lane. Advertisement Advertisement Anyway, the companys actual earnings report was just fine, at least by Teslas recent standards. Tesla is still far behind its own targets for production of the Model 3, the mass-market electric sedan that will make or break Teslas future. But its sales slightly exceeded expectations, it has enough cash to keep going, and its optimistic that dramatic production increases are just around the corner. Still, Musk quickly soured on questions from investors nervous about the companys financial situation and the instability of its stock. He seemed to particularly object to questions about why Tesla is losing money on each Model 3 it makes (a short-term issue, Musk insisted); whether its running out of money and needs to raise more (he says it isnt and doesnt); and how long it will be before Tesla reaches the 5,000-per-week production target on the Model 3 that Musk had said last year it would reach by the end of 2017. (Soon! Very soon! Probably as soon as everyone stops asking him about it, OK? Jeez.) Advertisement Advertisement Thats when Musk grew exasperated and turned over the questioning to Gali Russell, an NYU grad student and Tesla retail investor. From the transcript: Advertisement Advertisement Antonio M. Sacconaghi, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. LLC: And so where specifically will you be in terms of capital requirements? Elon Reeve Musk, Tesla Inc.: Excuse me. Next. Mourning bonnet questions are not cool. Next? Operator: Thank you. Our next question comes from Joseph Spak with RBC Capital Markets. Joseph Spak, RBC Capital Markets LLC: Thank you. The first question is related to the Model 3 reservations, and I was just wondering if you gave us a gauge as maybe some of the impact that the news has had. Like, of the reservations that actually opened and made available to configure, can you let us know, like, what percentage have actually taken the step to configure? Elon Reeve Musk, Tesla Inc.: Were going to go to YouTube. Sorry. These questions are so dry. Theyre killing me. Musk proceeded to entertain no fewer than a dozen questions from Russell about a wide range of topics, including the safety of Teslas Autopilot system, before giving investors a few last questions and closing the call. In conclusion, Autopilot is very safe and if you are ever tempted to think otherwise, please go read about some other automobile accidents instead. There you go, Elon. Hows my integrity now? *Not technically true. Falling behind production deadlines for its Model 3 sedan and rapidly burning cash, Tesla has been struggling mightily to speed up its assembly line. On a call with investors Wednesday, CEO Elon Musk said the company had identified an unlikely culprit in those delays: a flufferbot. As Tesla scrambles to deliver on some 450,000 orders for the Model 3, its first mass-market vehicle, Musk has described the companys predicament as production hell. Part of the problem has been an over-reliance on automation, which Musk recently acknowledged, adding in an April 13 tweet: Humans are underrated. Advertisement Musk gave the public an amusing peek into that hell on the companys quarterly earnings call Wednesday. We did go too far on the automation front and automated some pretty silly things, he said. Musk proceeded to offer the following example, about a fiberglass mat that was designed to insulate noise from the battery pack: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We had these fiberglass mats on the top of the battery pack. Theyre basically fluff. So we tried to automate the placement and bonding of fluff to the top of the battery pack. Which is ridiculous. So we had this weird flufferbot. Which was really an incredibly difficult machine to make work. Machines are not good at picking up pieces of fluff. Human hands are way better at doing that. So we had a super-complicated machine. Using a vision system to try to put a piece of fluff on a battery pack. The line kept breaking down because Flufferbot would frequently just fail to pick up the fluff. Or put it in a random location. Advertisement Musk said he asked his team whether the fluff was really necessary. The company tested a car both with and without the fiberglass battery insulation and found no change in the noise in the cabin. They concluded that the part was unnecessary and did away with the flufferbot. Elon on "silliest" examples of over-automation at Tesla: "Fluffer bot would frequently fail to pick up the fluff." Rip Flufferbot Caroline O'Donovan (@ceodonovan) May 2, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Musk also gave an example of what he called overgeneralizing the design of the Model 3. Tesla has plans for a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive version of the vehicle. But right now, its only producing the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive version. Nevertheless, the company was building battery packs with both front and rear ports, and adding a sealed plate to the front port on each one. It added cost, added manufacturing staff, and added a failure mode, Musk said. For something that is unnecessary. He implied that Tesla has stopped including the front-drive port on the batteries for rear-drive vehicles. Advertisement Partly as a result of such changes, Musk said, Weve had a radical improvement in battery pack production in just the past few weeks. Whereas assembling a pack used to take as long as seven hours, Tesla can now assemble them in under 17 minutes, he said. While it looks like Tesla will come nowhere close to Musks initial goal of building 500,000 cars this year, the company said Wednesday that it still hopes to meet a significantly revised goal of building 5,000 Model 3s per week within the next two months. However, 2,270 vehicles is the most it has built in a week so far, the company reported. You can read its full quarterly earnings report here. Teslas stock had plunged 4.8 percent in after-hours trading by the end of Wednesdays earnings call. SAN JOSEEvery spring, Facebook throws a splashy conference for app and web developers, the barnacles of its massive online ecosystem. But this years F8 came at a supremely awkward time: In the aftermath of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, the company has begun to scrub its depths, making life more annoying for developers whose products depend on tapping into Facebooks valuable deposits of user data. For years, in fact, access to that data was one way Facebook lured developers into working with the platform. Advertisement In recent weeks, Facebook has limited developers access to data on Facebook events and guest lists plus users login information, religious affiliation, relationship status, work history, call and text history, and more. Thats meant that a company with an app that, say, syncs groups invitations with Facebook events, like a gift registry, or that links Facebook friend information to its own users whether they have acquaintances in common, like dating apps, could be forced to rejigger chunks of their business model or at least ask their users to agree to new privacy conditions and get new approvals from Facebook. No wonder developers might feel kind of frosty toward Facebook right now. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged as much in his Tuesday keynote address at F8, saying, I know it hasnt been easy being a developer these last couple months, and thats probably an understatement. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Still, Zuckerberg mostly struck an optimistic note, encouraging the developer community to keep building services that help us connect in meaningful new ways and adding that Facebook connects the world in ways other technology cant if we dont work on this, the world isnt moving in this direction by itself. Thats an important message for Facebook to convey right now to a group that probably feels like its been vilified. Cambridge Analytica broke Facebooks rules when it paid an app developer to hand over the data of potentially more than 87 million Facebook users. At the time, Facebook allowed developers to extract data on users who had consented to share their information as well as the data of their friends, a practice that the company ended in 2014 because it was so cavalierly porous. But untold other apps did the same thing during this period, and Facebook is now looking at whether any of them also violated the companys policies. Advertisement The days of FarmVille and Words With Friends may be mostly behind us, but Facebooks business still relies on developers who build cool, fun, and innovative products that ostensibly add value to our experiences on the platform, keeping people within its confines and providing the company with new ideas it may absorb or copy later. While past F8 conferences have focused on Facebooks most innovative future plans, this years was more conciliatory, not to mention centered on some of the most important new things Facebook is doing right nowthings like virtual reality, augmented reality, and live video that need nifty games and applications in order to demonstrate to users that theyre worth using. The event was loaded with talks on how to market your brand with AR, on building immersive VR games to work in the new Oculus Go headset (which the company released on Tuesday), and on using Facebooks A.I. and video tools to interact with customers. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There was a wall of video selfie stills that people took with branded augmented reality filters that turned users into a comic-book character or showed how they would look with different shades of eye shadowall built by third parties to work inside Facebooks camera tool. There were stations where developers could learn about Oculus and talk to Facebook staff about how to make use of Facebooks newest VR environments, with rows of people lined up ready to strap on a VR headset and leave the conference, if only for a moment, behind. Some developers were even invited to set up their own booths, like Telestream, which was the first live-streaming developer that started integrating into Facebook Live when it became widely available a couple years ago. Being the initial go-to people when Facebook launched live streaming was a huge boost in business, said Trevor Bryant, a marketing assistant with Telestream who was manning a booth at F8 and noted that earlier this year Facebook unveiled a rival live-streaming production feature similar to Telestreams. When I asked if he was worried about Facebook becoming not only a platform that his company develop on but also a competitor, Bryant said Telestream isnt sweating it. I think there are going to be specific use cases for them and specific use cases for us, he said, through he agreed that Facebook invites developers in and sees how well the products perform and if it takes off, they seem to pick it up. Facebook has certainly taken ideas from others before, like when Instagram (which is owned by Facebook) and Facebook headed off competition from Snapchat by adding an ephemeral video feature. Instagrams version, Stories, now has more users than Snapchat does. The Wall Street Journal reported last year that Facebook even has an internal early bird warning system that identifies potential threats from apps that are performing well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Other developers at F8 told me they werent worried that Facebook might clone their products, though they certainly benefit from access to its platform. One was the Chinese drone-maker DJI, which has integrated into Facebooks live-streaming function so that drone operators can broadcast directly onto Facebook. Facebook is unlikely to build its own consumer drone anytime soonbut it certainly wants drone enthusiasts broadcasting to their friends using Facebook. F8 is a conference for developers and is also Facebooks largest annual conference. People fly in from all over the world for it, and the companys top executives take turns onstage showing off Facebooks latest innovations and fresh thinking. But Facebook depends on developers to make these new inventions worth usingand to innovate apps and features worth copying. Whats a cool new VR headset without rad games and applications? Isnt Facebooks AR camera a lot more useful when you can see how you look with the new lipstick you were thinking of buying? A makeup filter that actually samples real makeup adds more value than one that just dolls you up for fun. Zuckerbergs apology tour after Cambridge Analytica might be over for now, and it doesnt seem like Facebook users have abandoned the company despite its repeated privacy blunders. This week was a reminder that users, legislators, and the press arent the only constituencies Facebook has. In order to return to business as usual, Facebook needed to reassure one of its most important workforces that its currents are once again calm. Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now... Draft meeting draws blank as lawmaker ban issue simmers The Regulation Drafting Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) could not make headway on Wednesday as well after the major parties remained divided over suspending the parliamentarians in judicial custody and on the numbers of the parliamentary committees. Being a journalist in Slovakia in 2018 The murder of Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, prompted journalists to try and explain to the public what their job really means. You sit at your desk. The white screen of your laptop stares back at you, ready to absorb that one perfectly- crafted sentence that will make everyone want to read your story down to the very last word. There is a stain on the desk, a reminder that you have already had your many coffees of the day. Its getting dark outside; you glance at the corner of your screen and the thought that your deadline is just an hour away flashes through your mind as you begin to write... The popular idea of what a journalist does is full of stereotypical images like these. Some, including many journalism students, have nostalgic feelings for old-fashioned newsrooms full of cigarette smoke and the clatter of typewriters. Others, like the regular consumers of prime-time TV news shows and press conferences streamed live on Facebook, see the hectic life of reporters running around from one ministry to another, brushing shoulders with political celebrities. Yet more and this countrys former prime minister is one of them look down on the slimy snakes and anti-Slovak prostitutes that they believe journalists to be. But what does it really mean to be a journalist in Slovakia in 2018, the year in which a journalist was killed here for doing his job? 3. May 2018 at 7:00 | Michaela Terenzani Is Slovakias free press under attack? Journalists murder not the only reason to be concerned about media freedom in Slovakia. "The attack on journalists is the attack on us all," reads the banner. (Source: SME) An attack on journalists is an attack on all of us, read a banner journalists carried at the head of the Bratislava march to commemorate the murdered journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, on March 2. Its the beginning of May 2018 and as far as media freedom is concerned, Slovakia has just been through one of the toughest experiences in its 25 years of existence, after the couple was found murdered in their house on February 25. The police immediately confirmed that the motive of the murder was Kuciaks work as an investigative reporter. Read also: Read also: Being a journalist in Slovakia in 2018 Read more Jan Kuciaks murder in February 2018 triggered an unprecedented political earthquake in Slovakia and sent shock waves through the international community, the World Press Freedom Index writes about the current state of media freedom in Slovakia. The incident was one of the reasons why Slovakia dropped in the 2018 Index ranking by 10 positions to the 27th place. In the past years, the country always ranked among the top 20. Robert Fico, who stepped down as prime minister following the political crisis triggered by the murder and Kuciaks posthumously published findings, often used the ranking compiled by the Reporters Without Borders organisation as an argument to demonstrate there is nothing wrong with media freedom in Slovakia. The 2018 report, however, highlights Ficos statements that journalists are filthy, anti-Slovak prostitutes and idiotic hyenas, as one of the examples of politicians hostility towards the media. More and more democratically-elected leaders no longer see the media as part of democracys essential underpinning, but as an adversary of which they openly display their aversion, the report reads. A breaking point Until the attack on a journalist, the Slovak public generally neither showed any real interest in the work and existence of independent media nor did it try to fully apprehend the medias irreplaceable function for society, said Rasto Kuzel, executive director of the non-governmental media watchdog Memo98. The murder of Jan Kuciak and his partner was a watershed moment, Kuzel told The Slovak Spectator. Beata Balogova, editor-in-chief of the Sme daily, who is also a member of the executive board of the International Press Institute, believes that journalists are now even more determined to carry out investigative reporting and pursue any suspicions of corruption. A murder of a journalist is such a critical shake-up and change for society that our perception before the murder will never return, Balogova told The Slovak Spectator, adding that the next generation of journalists will always go back to this moment as the time journalists were under threat in Slovakia. Concerns about RTVS 3. May 2018 at 7:05 | Nina Hrabovska Francelova Kia launches production of third-generation Ceed Most significant changes made in the safety and greening of available engines Font size: A - | A + The carmaker Kia Motors Slovakia launched production of the third-generation Ceed model in its plant in Teplicka nad Vahom on May 2. The five-door hatchback entered production as the first model. It will be followed in three months by the Sportswagon with an extended rear overhang. Our production lines have so far built more than 1.27 million units of the first and second-generation cee'd, said Dae Sik Kim, CEO of Kia Motors Slovakia as cited in the press release. Were convinced that the third-generation will move us significantly beyond the two-million mark and will continue to be the pillar of Kias growth in Europe. This model, including new engines, will require a sizeable portion of the 300 million the carmaker invested in Teplicka nad Vahom last year and this year, the TASR newswire wrote. The most significant changes have been made in the safety and greening of available engines. The offer of engines will be extended with the 1.4-litre T-GDi and efficient new U3 1.6-litre diesel designed to meet the limits laid down by the latest Euro 6d TEMP emissions standard, specified Jozef Bace, Kia Motors Slovakia spokesman, as cited in the press release. The production start of the third-generation five-door hatchback also means an end to the manufacture of the second-generation ceed model and in less than three months of the Sportswagon. The third-generation Ceed has been designed, developed, engineered and produced in Europe, said Bace. Its role will be to strengthen Kias presence in the European C-segment. Read also: Read also: Kia has manufactured 3 million vehicles in its Slovak plant Read more The original name ceed is a homonym of the world seed a seed of the Kia car make sown in Europe. The name itself is composed of CE Community Europe and ED European Design. Later the carmaker dropped the apostrophe and began to write it with a capital C Ceed. Kia Motors Slovakia is the only Kia Motors Corporation production plant in Europe. It was built between 2004 and 2006. The production of cars as well as engines was launched in December 2006. The carmaker currently employs more than 3,800 people in Slovakia. 3. May 2018 at 13:41 | Compiled by Spectator staff Focus: Another poll confirms Smer's decline Preferences of other parties have not changed much, according to a poll of the Focus agency. Font size: A - | A + Following a poll issued by the AKO agency, a Focus agency poll has also confirmed the decline of the ruling Smer party since the murder of Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, in February, the Sme daily wrote. By the end of April (April 24-30), the support for Smer was at 20.5 percent (from a sample of 1,005 respondents), the daily wrote on May 2. Preferences of other parties have not changed much. Smer is followed by the opposition Freedom and Solidarity (SaS) with 13.2 percent and the coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) with 10.1 percent, the TASR newswire wrote. Five more parties would have made it into Parliament the far-right LSNS with 9.3 percent of votes, OLaNO and Sme Rodina both with 9.1 percent, the Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) with 6.8 percent and Most-Hid with 5.8 percent. Newcomers improving Progresivne Slovensko (3.6 percent), the ethnic-Hungarian SMK party (3.3 percent) and Spolu-Obcianska Demokracia (2.8 percent) would have failed to reach the 5 percent minimum needed to win representation in parliament. However, the two new parties, Progresivne Slovensko and Spolu, have improved their due positions, Sme commented. Other parties would have gained less than 2 percent support. Smer would have garnered 37 seats in parliament according to the poll, while SaS would get 24 seats, SNS 18 seats, LSNS 17 seats, OLaNO and Sme Rodina 16 seats each. KDH would have gained 12 seats and Most-Hid 10. As many as 71.5 percent of the respondents would have gone to the polling stations, while 16.5 percent of the respondents wouldn't have voted. The remaining respondents would not have known for whom to vote, TASR wrote, quoting Focus. 2. May 2018 at 23:37 | Compiled by Spectator staff Last Week in Slovakia: Interior Ministry will not reveal who flew on government plane Listen to all the headlines from The Slovak Spectator's news podcast. https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/438317805&color=%23ff5500&auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&show_teaser=true&visual=true The German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung wrote that a car of people suspected of the abduction of a convicted Vietnamese citizen Trinh Xuan Thanh was probably parked in front of Hotel Borik during a meeting of Slovak and Vietnamese politicians. Flights on a Slovak government jet, which the Vietnamese delegation later used, were approved by the ex-interior minister Robert Kalinak. The Interior Ministry will not reveal who flew on government plane. Four journalists of the news team of the public-service broadcaster RTVS, who signed an open letter expressing worries about the current management, are leaving. Following her status on tough normalization, Zuzana Kovacic Hanzelova will no longer prepare political news. RTVS, led by Jaroslav Reznik, claims it will give her an opportunity to work on the topics with more time to verify facts. The beginning of May will burden employers in Slovakia with several new duties. Apart from the hike in work surcharges they will have to publish the exact minimum salaries in job offers. The Labour Ministry has pushed through this new duty to make remuneration more transparent and to intensify competition between companies for workers. This programme is part of The Slovak Spectator subscription and our readers are receiving it every Thursday morning as part of their subscription. More information: Print+audio: shop.spectator.sme.sk/newspaper Online+audio: www.sme.sk/predplatne-spectator 3. May 2018 at 10:33 | Compiled by Spectator staff RTVS reporters should not be silenced, Slovak journalists said Despite the dismissals or departures of several reporters, the management of the public-service broadcaster does not think there is a reason for concern. Font size: A - | A + More than 200 reporters from Slovak media outlets have signed an open letter entitled Not Even Public-service Media Can be Silenced. They expressed their concern with the current developments at the public-service broadcaster RTVS, where several journalists and editors have recently either been dismissed or decided to leave on their own. Those trying to silence the media are first of all meddling with the right of the public to know what is happening in the country, reads the letter. It was signed by reporters from, for example, the Sme, Dennik N, Korzar and Hospodarske Noviny dailies, as well as the Trend and Tyzden weeklies, the Aktuality.sk and Euractiv.sk websites, the SITA newswire, and the private broadcaster JOJ. Read also: Read also: Is Slovakias free press under attack? Read more Meanwhile, President Andrej Kiska has expressed his concern over the current situation at the broadcaster. He expects the respective institutions, like the parliamentary committee, the Culture Ministry and the television council, to adopt measures to protect the work of the broadcasters reporters and content quality. A free and independent media are an important and inevitable condition for democracy, he wrote on Facebook on May 3. Despite the recent dismissals of several critical reporters, and the termination notices submitted by others, the broadcasters management claims the situation is standard and the departures of journalists often accompany the change in the management, Sme reported. Public-service media important The new RTVS management is bullying, restricting and getting rid of long-time reporters who have significantly contributed to restoring the trust of the public in public-service media in the past few years, reads the letter. Both the public radio and television are normalised by people who combine their journalistic experience with the work in political marketing and PR. Their current steps dont indicate that they are able to maintain the previous credibility of news and publicising programmes, the letter continues. While the coverage is impacted by the censorship and there are even attempts to broadcast conspiracy theories and propaganda, the reporters who have publicly protected the coverage against such practices have become the victims of persecution from the management. Read also: Read also: RTVS Kovacic-Hanzelova punished for harsh comments Read more The reporters who signed the letter have called on the people responsible for the broadcaster and its programme, namely general director Jaroslav Reznik, and the people responsible for news coverage: Vahram Chuguryan, Hana Lyons and Petra Stano Matasovska. RTVS is a public-service institution financed from licence fees, the letter reads. It doesnt belong to any government or political party, but the public. RTVS is an institution you should be able to run in a trustworthy way, without daily scandals. The broadcaster should serve the public, and not the political power that has been trying to silence journalists only two months after the murders of Jan Kuciak and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova. Calling the journalists enemies turns us into potential targets of further violence and legitimises other potential attacks on journalists, the reporters claimed. Free media are the basic tool for public control. Silencing journalists and their replacement with obedient propagandists is the first step to introducing a dictatorship and totalitarian regimes. Reznik will explain the situation At the end of last week, RTVS did not extend contracts with four external reporters, Jana Masarova, Matus David, Matus Banovic and Kristian Cekovsky; all of whom have signed a letter in which they expressed concern with the current broadcasters management. Another reporter, Jana Matkova, has handed in her notice. Read also: Read also: RTVS management started laying off external reporters Read more Reporter Zuzana Kovacic Hanzelova was punished for calling the situation a normalisation by being banned from working on political topics. She was later informed that the ban was meant to be a joke, as she informed on May 2. Meanwhile, another crucial member of the news desk has asked for the termination of his contract: head of broadcast and former chief editor Jozef Matej. He has already informed his colleagues, and later published the information about the decision on Facebook, Sme reported. Among the reasons he has listed is the end of several reporters, as well as the steps and behaviour of people responsible for the broadcaster and news coverage. RTVS management does not think that the public, journalists or academia should be concerned about the current situation. It claims that it has legitimately elected a general director and appointed management that is working in favour of all the people paying the licence fees, as reported by the TASR newswire. Read also: Read also: What is happening with the public-service broadcaster? Read more The departures and arrivals of employees, which were more massive in the past, are a natural consequence of every new management and pose no reason for concern, said the broadcasters spokesperson Erika Rusnakova, as quoted by TASR. RTVS is maintaining its independence, public-service character and will continue as a source of quality, verified and trustworthy information, she added. Nevertheless, Reznik was invited to explain the current situation at the May 3 session of the parliamentary media and culture committee. 3. May 2018 at 13:54 | Compiled by Spectator staff New interior minister allegedly bought lucrative space cheaply But she is now trying to sell it for the real market price, OLaNO leader claimed. Font size: A - | A + Interior Minister Denisa Sakova (Smer) allegedly bought a lucrative space in Panorama City in downtown Bratislava, close to the Danube embankment, for a significantly lower price than she is asking for it now. She bought the space from a company belonging to the J&T financial group, as chair of the Ordinary People and Independent Personalities (OLaNO) Igor Matovic told the press on May 2. The Interior Ministry responded that Matovic himself is being investigated for his business activities, the SITA newswire reported. Purchase from a J&T-related company Back in 2015, Sakova and her now ex-husband founded the Komec company, which reported a loss both in the years 2015 and 2016, as financial statements show. However, in 2016 the company reported a property worth 466,000 and a bank loan at 90,000. Apart from a two-floor non-residential space in Panorama City with a total size of 289 square metres, Sakova owns three parking spaces. She and her ex-husband bought the space after the 2016 parliamentary elections, according to Matovic. They bought a commercial space at the best location in the city for 1,350 per square metre, Matovic said, as quoted by SITA, adding that the real price for such a space is 2,580 per square metre. Sakova is currently selling the space for this price. Back in 2013 Alexander Sako was trying to defend an overpriced procurement and three years later he and his ex-wife bought a commercial space from the same company for an extremely low price, Matovic continued. Read also: Read also: President appoints Sakova as interior minister Read more He recalled the fact that Sako had served as deputy chair of the board of directors and then as a member of the board of directors in Bratislavas public transport company Dopravny Podnik Bratislava (DPB) between 2011 and 2017. In 2012 and 2013, DPB organised a purchase of 70 buses. Even though it was clear that the procurement was tailor-made for the SOR company, belonging to J&T, Sako defended it. The whole procurement was scrapped only by the Public Procurement Office, and DPB had to announce a new tender, Matovic said, as reported by SITA. Ministry rejects the claims Matovic continues with his attacks on the Interior Ministry because he himself is being investigated by the law enforcement bodies for his business activities, the ministry responded in a statement. As the minister has explained to several media in the past days, she bought the space in Panorama City from the company Panorama Byty at the turn of the years 2015 and 2016, the ministry wrote, as quoted by SITA. Read also: Read also: Former Kalinak deputy to become interior minister Read more The deal on the future agreement, which clearly set the conditions, was signed in 2015. It combined several sources for financing: a loan taken by the companys authorised representative and a bank loan. The company paid altogether 558,000 for the space. The ministry stressed that it was the activity of her ex-husband. When they divorced, they divided the property and the companys owner changed. The space is currently being sold, but not for the price mentioned by Matovic, the ministry added. The reason is that the minister has no time to take care of it and wants to focus on her function, the ministry continued, as quoted by SITA. 3. May 2018 at 13:58 | Compiled by Spectator staff Fire erupted in the High Tatras Dozens of firefighters and two helicopters came to assist. Big damages are expected. A 30 hectare forest in the Kezmarske Zlaby area of the High Tatras caught on fire on May 3, shortly after noon. About 50 firefighters from Kezmarok, Vysoke Tatry, Poprad and Presov, and two helicopters provided by the Interior and Defence Ministries were employed at the site, said spokesperson for the Fire and Rescue Corps Presidium (HaZZ), Zuzana Farkasova. The situation is complicated by the fact that the fire erupted in the highest category protection area that is difficult to access and contains strong winds, said Interior Minister Denisa Sakova, shortly after arriving in the place, the TASR newswire reported. In addition, about 800-1,200 tourists had to be evacuated from the hiking routes. The Agriculture Ministry called on people to avoid the locality stricken by the fire. The warning has been issued for Tatranska Kotlina, Kezmarske Zlaby, the path towards Plesnivec chalet and Dolina Siedmych Pramenov valley, TASR wrote. Big damages expected Stefan Bogacik, a guard of the Biela Voda parking lot, says he's never seen such a big fire in the area . Nothing like this has occurred here since the calamity in the Tatras, he told the regional daily Korzar. There were some local, smaller fires, but not such a big one. He thinks the fire was caused by careless tourists or workers. Pavol Majko, head of the Tatra National Park (TANAP), shares this opinion. He expects big damages. We have baby animals here, Majko told Korzar, adding that these include precious and protected birds. Everything without wings didnt manage to escape. It will take decades for this part of the forest to recover. 3. May 2018 at 23:12 | Compiled by Spectator staff USSK remains in Kosice for now The five-year memorandum is over, a new one is not needed. Steelmaker U.S. Steel Kosice (USSK) is not ending its production in Slovakia and is not leaving Kosice, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini (Smer) said following his meeting with officials of the Kosice-based steelmaker on Thursday, May 3. The memorandum, signed between the Slovak Government and U.S. Steel in March 2013, has expired after five years. The memorandum is over, but we agreed today that our regular meetings will take place several times per year, said Pellegrini, as cited by the SITA newswire. The relationship is actually at such a good level that we assured each other that we dont need any further memorandum to work at such a special principle. USSK President Scott Buckiso confirmed the good relations with the Slovak Government and the plan to continue meeting its representatives. Read also: Read also: UPDATED: U.S. Steel to stay at least five more years Read more Pellegrini believes signing the memorandum during times of economic crisis was a very good decision. Back in 2013, after U.S. Steel Corporation indicated its plans to sell USSK, the then-Robert Fico government promised to help cut the USSKs energy and environmental bills. In return, USSK promised to remain in Kosice and maintain its employment levels until 2018. Today, we can state that USSK is in very good condition again, and experienced a successful year in 2017. It is even hiring new employees with the entire group employing between 11,500-11,700 people here in Kosice, said Pellegrini, as cited by the TASR newswire. Read also: Read also: Chinese are closer to taking over Kosice steelworks Read more Information on the steelmakers potential sale has appeared often in the media in the past; the Chinese He Steel Group was most frequently mentioned among its potential buyers. Theres no particular bid on the table that the parent company [U.S. Steel] is discussing in the United States at the moment, said Pellegrini. Naturally, everything is up for sale on the market anytime. However, the company president assured us that no hot talks with a potential buyer are currently being waged. Pellegrini praised the fact that the company invested 250 million in new technologies over the past three years which, according to him, gives a clear signal of the U.S. investors intention to stay in Kosice. 3. May 2018 at 23:04 | Compiled by Spectator staff Austrian child benefit bill could be at odds with EU laws The change in Austrias child benefits will especially affect families living in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Font size: A - | A + The Austrian bill on changing child benefits for people working in Austria with families living in their home country is at odds with EU legislation, Slovakias Foreign and European Affairs Ministry spokesman, Peter Susko, told the TASR newswire on May 2. The Austrian Governments effort to introduce a bill to set the child benefits amount according to the living standards in the country where the children live has been taken on board by us, but at the same time, we believe that such a bill isnt in line with EU legislation, said Susko, adding that Slovakia has repeatedly debated the issue with Austria. This is already the second effort to push through such a change in Austria. The first one failed in early 2017. If the bill is approved in Austrias parliament, child benefits in Austria will be adjusted as of next year. The move would especially affect families living in Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria. Meanwhile, children living in Switzerland and Belgium, for example, should receive higher benefits due to higher living standards in these countries. Based on official data, about 50,000 Slovaks work in Austria, the public television RTVS reported. Those with children receive 63 million in child benefits every year. While child benefits average 23 in Slovakia, the same benefits average between 170 and 220 in Austria. 3. May 2018 at 22:51 | Compiled by Spectator staff Endorse HPE Act in accordance with earlier ordinance: Dr KC Senior orthopedic surgeon at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Dr Govinda KC has warned of resorting to another strike if the Health Profession Education (HPE) Act is not endorsed immediately as per the ordinance tabled earlier in the parliament. Wall Street analysts have given PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but PIMCO California Municipal Income Fund III wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Indian police arrest blast suspect A suspect behind April 17 blast at the Biratnagar-based Indian field office of the Indian Embassy has been arrested in India, according to the Indian newspaper Economic Times. Britain's Best Home Cook continues tonight on BBC One and here are the contestants taking part. The search is on for Britains Best Home Cook, in this new cookery competition judged by the queen of home cooking Mary Berry, produce expert Chris Bavin, top chef Dan Doherty, and hosted with wit and warmth by Claudia Winkleman. Advertisements This is the ultimate immersive cooking competition with home at its heart, bringing 10 passionate home cooks from across the country together to live in a shared house while they compete for the crown. Over the weeks they will face a comprehensive range of culinary challenges, from fabulous feasts to the nation's favourite dishes, and all things in between. Over eight episodes Mary, Chris and Dan will set challenges that will ask the cooks to demonstrate individual flair, skill, creativity and breadth in their home cooking. The themes chosen get increasingly more challenging and technically advanced, setting the cooks apart in terms of their abilities and skills. Each week they must make an ultimate home favourite and then create an improvised dish around a single ingredient - before it boils down to the elimination round to decide who is going to leave the competition for good. Britain's Best Home Cook contestants Katie 32-year-old 999 Police emergency call handler from Neath, South Wales. Katie always cooked with her mother but fell out of love with cooking until she met her husband, Alan, which ignited her passion for home cooking. She is very proud of her Welsh heritage and her family recipes, some of which are three or four generations old. She describes herself as an "everyday home cook" who loves to cook homely recipes, stews and casseroles to feed her friends and family. Advertisements Dipa 44-year-old civil servant from Wolverhampton. Dipa was naturally interested in cooking from an early age and by the age of 11 was making curries. Dipa says her fathers Kenyan heritage and mothers Indian heritage is her inspiration and she loves cooking with fresh spices. She never uses a cook book and relies on her instincts, simple ingredients and straightforward methods to prepare dishes for her husband and three children. Fiona 59-year-old retired shop keeper from County Down, Northern Ireland. Fiona started collecting Robert Carrier Cookery magazines when she was 15 and her hobby became an obsession. She loves cooking homely, farmhouse kitchen style food for her four sons, two daughters and her husband creating feasts that make her family happy. Cyrus 27-year-old wine consultant and entrepreneur from York. Advertisements Cyrus started cooking properly when he was 16 and he loves creating French or Italian dishes. The process of combining ingredients and flavours to create dishes is what fascinates Cyrus and he strives to be ambitious in his home cooking. Josie 37-year-old Wealth Client Executive at a bank and lives in Glasgow. Josie was intrigued by her grandparents and mother cooking and once asked to peel an onion and from that moment on she was smitten with cooking. Certain recipes remind Josie of being back in the Philippines. She loves to recreate her favourite Filipino dishes and prides herself on being an instinctive cook she never follows a recipe. Philip 48-year-old maths teacher from Surrey. Philip has loved food ever since he can remember. Growing up in the Seventies, traditional British cuisine is what he most loves to cook; prawn cocktail, a roast with all the trimmings and Black Forest gateau with a more modern take would be his ideal menu. Delias Complete Cookery Course is still his cookery book bible, as it was a huge source of inspiration while growing up. Advertisements Pippa 28-year-old oncology research biobank technician from Salford. Pippa was taught to cook by her grandma who made really homely food. Her granddad used to take her to a dim sum restaurant with a Chinese supermarket underneath which she would peruse. It was this that drew her to cooking and her love of Asian food. Q 38-year-old childrens A & E nurse from Balcombe in West Sussex. Q grew up in Slovakia where food was central to family life. Food is never far from her thoughts and she cooks with her mothers knife which she has used for years. She describes her style of home cooking as very continental with French influences using simple ingredients. Tobi 27-year-old compliance manager from London. Tobi started cooking with his mum and gran when he was just seven-years-old. He became the stand-in cook for his three brothers whenever his mum and dad were busy. Cooking is in his soul, he loves cooking food inspired by his British Nigerian heritage and love of all things French! Trevor 29-year-old farmer from Kent. Trevor's love of cooking came from his mum, grandmother and Auntie Irene. Coming from a farming background, Trevor is inspired by, and has a heartfelt appreciation of ingredients and the time and effort that goes into producing them. He enjoys cooking with spices and loves bold flavours in his home cooking. Advertisements Britain's Best Home Cook airs from 8PM on Thursday on BBC One. Landslide buries jeep in Bajhang, 3 missing Three persons have gone missing when a landslide triggered by heavy rainfall buried a passenger jeep at Subeda in Bajhang district on Wednesday night. NEA invites bids to supply solar power The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has stepped up efforts to diversify its power sources by increasing the share of solar power in its energy mix. The state-owned power utility recently called global tenders to select independent developers to supply solar power to up to 25 substations at various locations in the country. What a quiet but engulfing little gem of a film is, the new movie from Mexico by writer/director(shown below). It is not, however, for action aficionados. Not only is there practically no action at all -- our poor heroine cannot even gather the courage to jump into a swimming pool along with the rest of her peers -- even the camera here does not move. From scene to scene, whatever new view it must take in, the camera eye remains utterly stationary throughout.The cinematographer,, keeps his shots clean and pristine, even when the subject matter is often dark and dreary. And when a film boasts a leading actress whose face possesses such character -- longing, suspicion, fear, hope and all the rest -- as does that of(shown below and further below), what you have to look at will never, it seems, tire you in the least. Ms Barraza has been utterly terrific in supporting roles in movie after movie -- fromandtoand especially-- but what a pleasure it is to see her in a leading role, using that marvelous face with such command & subtlety.Ms Barraza is on screen for most of the movie, with only occasional reaction shots and a bit of dialog given to subsidiary characters. The actress plays a 60-something-year-old government worker, Dona Flor, whose job -- at least it would seem so -- is to prevent citizens (such as the woman shown below) who need some kind of government authorization from actually gthat authorization. (In its own way, the film is quite an indictment of bureaucracy.) Such a stickler Flor is for by-the-letter rules, she uses anything from the color of the ink to the fact that a man's signature is not exactly the same two times in a row (of course: no signatureis, but she's in charge, so we'll have to let that pass).The fellow with the incorrect signatures also happens to look and act like an uber-entitled wealthy man, so perhaps something else is going on here, too. Our heroine also keeps a kind of record of violent incidents against women, which we hear reported with regularity via radio and TV over the course of the film.Dona Flor also lives alone with her cat, and so may also qualify as one of those lonely cat ladies we often hear about. She also swims daily and showers with the other women, though without ever really connecting in any way with anyone. Every scene, everyin the film is given -- intentionally, I believe -- the same weight, which is certainly one interesting way to define and show us an empty life.As the movie goes along, after the loss of her only companion, small breaks in Dona Flor's facade begin to appear. And then, slowly, while at work she seems to perhapsmore closely to the people who appear in front of her for help. She even -- shock! -- begins to bend those rules just aHer journey is a slow and very small one, and yet, thanks to the minute detail that the filmmaker, her star and the supporting cast provide, this journey should prove a vital and important one for viewers looking for character and depth in place of action and special effects. The effects here are of the human and humane variety.The movie this one most reminded me of is that great but little-seen-over-here Spanish filmis its English-language title) by, which won Spain's Goya award for Best Film back in 2007. It's been more than a decade since I've seen another Spanish language movie as quiet, austere, elegant and character-driven as that one. So if you want to enter the world of a sad and lonely woman who may still have some possibilities to explore,is that opportunity. Snatch it.From, in Spanish with English subtitles and running 98 minutes, the movie opens tomorrow, Friday, May 4, in New York City at the. Elsewhere? I certainly hope so, and if and when I find out where and when, I'll post it here. The Vietnamese habit of opting for meat advertised as freshly butchered over frozen alternatives is one many experts say should be reconsidered. Thanh, a resident of District 10, Ho Chi Minh City, says she carefully evaluates freshness by inspecting the stickiness and color of pork and beef before making a purchase. "I rarely buy pork and beef in the supermarket because the meat sold there is not as fresh as what I see at the morning market near my house, Thanh said. Many Vietnamese consumers share Thanhs mindset, considering what they believe is freshly slaughtered meat meat still warm and deep red in color as fresher, more nutritious, and safer than frozen meat. Nguyen Ngoc An, general director of Vietnams top food processor Vissan, said one of the biggest difficulties facing frozen meat is educating consumers on its benefits. Even in urbanized areas like Ho Chi Minh City, a mere 20 percent of fresh meat, fish, and vegetables are bought at modern commercial outlets, compared to the 80 percent of fresh foods being purchased at traditional markets. A woman buys pork at a wet market in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre Frozen meat is safer The United States Department of Agriculture suggests that unprocessed frozen meat and poultry have the potential to maintain their quality due to their ability to keep moisture during cooking. Meat sold at traditional markets is usually slaughtered the night before going on sale, transported to wholesale markets, and finally distributed to wet markets where it is cut, sliced, formed, and packaged. Exposure to dirt and high temperatures during these steps creates an environment in which dangerous microorganisms can thrive and spread rapidly throughout each cut of meat. Comparatively, the process of slaughtering, packaging, and distributing frozen meat takes place entirely in conditions between 5 and -40 degrees Celsius, a temperature at which no bacteria is able to contaminate the meat. Even if consumers buy red meat at the market and store it in their refrigerator, it is not as safe as frozen meat from industrial slaughter facilities, explained Pham Duc Binh, director of Thanh Binh Feedmill Co., a company specializing in the production and supply of chickens and swine. In a bid to curb the amount of unsanitary meat being advertized as fresh in the countrys traditional markets, Vietnams Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development stipulated in 2012 that pork could only be sold within eight hours of being slaughtered. However, the stipulation was quickly lifted due to the unreadiness of retailers and strong opposition from suppliers. A supermarket worker sells frozen meat to customers. Photo: Tuoi Tre Catching up to the new consumption trend Some companies are preparing to embrace the growing desire among Vietnamese consumers to purchase safer meat. Thanh Binh Feedmill Co. is currently researching new freezing systems to ensure food safety for their pork and enable consumers to easily trace the origin of each piece of meat they purchase. Luong Quang Thi, director of ABA Cooltrans Co. Ltd., told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that about 3,500 retailers and supermarkets across Vietnam are doing their part to create consumer awareness of the necessity of freezing storage. The more these channels advertise a freezing storage process, the more widely frozen pork, fish and beef will be made available, he said. Thi believes that frozen supply chains will help keep the product at top quality, from slaughter to consumption, creating added value rather than expenses. Other companies, such as Greenfeed Vietnam subsidiary Feddy JSC, are gearing up for changes amongst Vietnamese consumption trends by opening shops dedicated entirely to the sale of frozen meat in Ho Chi Minh City, with future plans to expand to Hanoi and Da Nang. A customer chooses frozen meat at a supermarket in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre High rate of infected meat Eighty out of 117 samples taken from supermarkets and markets in Ho Chi Minh City early this year contained residual antibiotics or salmonella infections, according to test results published by a team from the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) based in Ho Chi Minh City's Tropical Diseases Hospital. Salmonella infected meat, if not cooked thoroughly, can cause gastroenteritis. According to the OUCRU, the rate of salmonella infection in Ho Chi Minh City is extremely high compared to Europe. Monitored data from the European Union in 2014 indicated that the proportion of salmonella contaminated samples were 2.26 percent, 0.62 percent and 0.23 percent for chickens, pigs and cows. In contrast, samples of meat from Ho Chi Minh City showed salmonella infection rates of 71.8 percent, 70.7 percent, and 62.2 percent, respectively. Police destroy poppy plants on 10 acres of land in West Rukum Police have destroyed poppy plants grown on an area covering 26 bighas (10.4 acres) of land in Sanibheri, Bafikot and Aathbiskot of West Rukum.The District Police Office had mobilised its personnel following reports of large-scale poppy cultivation in these areas. PetroVietnam Gas JSC has started up a 10 trillion dong (US$439 million) gas processing plant in southern Vietnam to produce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to meet the nations rising fuel demand. The Ca Mau Gas Processing Plant can produce 600 metric tonnes of liquefied petroleum gas and 35 tonnes of condensate a day, the company said in a statement late on Wednesday. The facility will process natural gas from offshore southern Vietnam and the joint development area between Vietnam and Malaysia, PetroVietnam Gas said. The government said in a separate statement the plant will meet around 10 percent of Vietnams demand for LPG. $1 = 22,762 dong Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ethnic-minority students have long been the subject of harrowing tales recounting school commutes laden with dangerous mountain climbs and river crossings in Vietnam. For one group of ethnic-minority students in the northwestern region, the distressing commute comes in the form of a six-hour-long jungle trek, over streams and along cliffs, to make it between school and their isolated village. Every weekend, the students of Hang Dong Middle School, a boarding school for underprivileged children in Bac Yen District, Son La Province, begin the treacherous journey back to the misty, remote village of Lang Sang. The risk these students take for their education is high 30 kilometers of jungle paths laden with venomous snakes and blinding fog along a path situated just inches away from steep cliffs, all without the aid of drinking water. Students can bring some food, but no water because it would be a burden during the uphill climb, said Thao A Vu, a 33-year-old teacher at the school. Im really sympathetic to them. Many adults baulk at entering the village through the jungle, but the children are forced to do it regularly. Students walk along a dirt road in the mountains of Son La Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Students walk along a dirt road in the mountains of Son La Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre The first half of a recent journey consisted of the children walking along the trail and crossing several shallow streams. Then, the students reached the jungle separating them from their village. Temperatures in the forest quickly dropped from the already frigid seven degrees Celsius measured at the foot of the mountain. As freezing winds rustled showers of biting precipitation from treetops, Vu hurried the students through the cold, all the while keeping an eye out for venomous snakes and centipedes along the path. The school does its best to prepare the students with survival skills that may help them prevent and mitigate the dangers of any animal attacks and flash flooding that might occur during the journey, such as using leaves from nearby trees to stop the spread of venom after a victim is bit. Children study in groups while resting during their school commute in Son La Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Children study while resting during their school commute in Son La Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Most ethnic minority families in Son La Province live well below the poverty line a situation which forces many parents to keep their children from attending school. Teachers from Hang Dong, therefore, often visit their students homes to persuade parents to continue allowing their students to attend classes. Many students are forced to quit after middle school because their parents have passed away or their families are extremely poor. I feel sorry about their situation but dont know how to help them, Vu said. People in Lang Sang are so poor that they dont have enough food to eat. They are also isolated from modern life, so they are slow in developing awareness, said Dang Ngoc Phuc, the vice-principal at Hang Dong. The students are different though. They learn just as quickly as their urban peers. Students hide from the cold in blankets at a boarding school in Son La Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Students work the land in Son La Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Two foreign tourists have been commended by the administration of Lien Chieu District in the central city of Da Nang for their bravery and selflessness in entering a burning motel to save two children trapped inside. The incident happened at around 10:30 am on Tuesday when an electrical short-circuit sparked a fire on the third floor of a motel on Kinh Duong Vuong Street in Lien Chieu District, Da Nang. The motel was closed at the time, with nobody inside except for the owners children who were locked there. As locals screamed for help, Russian national Valeria, 32, and French national Jean Christophe, 46, ran from the property they were staying at, opposite the burning house, to rescue the children. The two made their way onto the terrace of a next-door building and climbed over to the motels third floor where the children were trapped. Valeria broke the glass door with his hand while Christophe and some locals helped carry the kids out of harms way. Valeria sustained a deep cut on his right hand and lost a lot of blood during the incident. Valeria (R) sustains a deep cut on his right hand after saving two children from a burning house in Da Nang City in central Vietnam on May 1, 2018. Photo: Da Nang Fire Department On Wednesday, officials from the administration of Lien Chieu District visited the foreign tourists at their accommodation to commend them for their heroic actions. Thai Thi Be, owner of the property where the foreigners were staying, described the two as friendly and likable, having got on well with everybody since their arrival. Speaking with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper after receiving his certificate of commendation, Christophe said anybody in his place would have done the same, and that the only thing in his mind at the time was bringing anyone trapped inside the burning building to safety. French national Jean Christophe receives a certificate of commendation from the administration of Lien Chieu District in Da Nang City in central Vietnam on May 2, 2018. Clip: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A police officer in Vietnams Central Highlands has been arrested and placed under investigation for selling weapons which he stole from an arms depot. In February 2017, Nguyen Minh Chien, a policeman in Krong Bong District of Dak Lak Province, duplicated a key given to an officer in charge of the arsenal managed by the district police department, according to preliminary investigation. The 32-year-old then used the copied key to enter the arms depot while on duty, taking away two K59 pistols, one CZ75 pistol, one of the most modern weapons used by Vietnamese police, one K54 pistol and the guns bullets. Chien sold the firearms to a local named V.T.D., 39, for over VND100 million (US$4,400). Eight months later, he again stole from the depot one CZ83 pistol and its ammunition, before selling them at VND25 million ($1,100) via an acquaintance. Within one year since August 2016, D. bought different guns through six purchases from Chien, which he hid in a safe in Dak Lak. Chien has been taken into custody while legal proceedings have been launched against him on charges of appropriating, illegally trading military weapons. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Screen Australia is restructuring its Drama funding guidelines with a new Screen Story Development putting film, television and online projects into one of two program strands the Generate Fund or the Premium Fund. It will replace the current Story Development strand from July. The Generate Fund will be for lower budget projects with an emphasis on new and emerging talent or experienced talent wanting to take a creative risk. There will be no eligibility requirements for this fund. The Premium Fund will be for higher budget projects from creatives who have had critical and/or commercial success. This will be for projects that demonstrate ambition and scale with a focus on commercial viability of the project. The proposed development guidelines represent a seismic shift for early career creators doing away with barriers based on eligibility credits, distribution platform, when funding is available and even administrative barriers in the application process itself, said Screen Australia CEO Graeme Mason. We expect experienced creators will also welcome the ability to apply for multiple phases of development on a single application, and the removal of funding caps. In proposing these changes we are seeking to ensure that our funding is accessible to the best projects on the platform and budget that best suits that story, with an emphasis on supporting talent who have a strong idea and a clear pathway to an audience. We expect the proposed changes will increase the diversity of screen stories being told and who is telling them. Bottom line is the magic happens in the development stage its where the concept, the characters and the script all come to life, and this is the crucial point where Screen Australia can assist. Im confident the proposed guidelines will empower Australias talented screen creatives to do their best work. Screen Australia is currently seeking industry feedback until Thursday 31 May, before coming into effect on 1 July 2018. More info is at Screen Australia. Screentimes Head of Drama Greg Haddrick has departed to establish his own production entity Rainfall Creations. Haddrick, who has been with Screentime for 17 years, is best known for Underbelly, Cloudstreet, ANZAC Girls, Janet King and the upcoming Pine Gap, currently filming in Adelaide (he continues as exec producer / showrunner). He also produced both seasons of Wolf Creek. A statement today indicates he stepped down from his role in January and will now look to creating work for a global audience. After 17 wonderful years at Screentime, I am looking forward to continuing to create compelling original stories across all mediums of production, including feature films, said Haddrick. Screentime Executive Chairman Bob Campbell said: Greg leaves his position as Head of Drama after 17 years having made a mighty contribution to Screentimes scripted slate. He goes with our best wishes for Rainfall Creations and the certainty that we will be working with him again, hopefully on subsequent seasons of Pine Gap amongst others. Screentime is yet to announce a new Head of Drama. Underbelly, cloudstreet, ANZAC Girls and Janet King, Haddrick has been responsible for numerous benchmark and multi award winning productions. Nominated for an International Emmy, Haddrick is the recipient of seven AWGIE Awards for his screenwriting and three AFI/AACTA Awards for producing/showrunning some of Australias most celebrated dramas. Notably the writer of the first five episodes of Home and Away, Haddricks early credits include writing, script editing and script producing on Sons and Daughters, Elly & Jools and Mirror, Mirror as well as writing for The Flying Doctors, E-Street, GP and Blue Heelers. Haddrick joined Screentime as Head of Drama in 2001 following the success of My Husband My Killer, for which he wrote the screenplay. He then created, co-wrote and script-produced three series of MDA, produced The Incredible Journey of Mary Bryant, executive-produced Jessica, produced and script-edited False Witness, and wrote and produced both The Society Murders and The Informant. Also during his tenure, Haddrick secured the commission of and produced the now-legendary first series of Underbelly (with Brenda Pam), writing episodes 4, 6 and 10. He also produced Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities in addition to writing episode 8, executive produced Underbelly: The Golden Mile writing episodes 3 and 13, and produced and script-edited the critically acclaimed miniseries Tim Wintons cloudstreet (with Brenda Pam). Haddrick executive produced the three Underbelly Files telemovies, as well as Underbelly: Razor, Underbelly: Badness, Underbelly: Squizzy and Fat Tony & Co. He also executive produced and co-wrote both Crownies and Bikie Wars: Brothers In Arms. More recently Haddrick executive produced both series of the television special event Wolf Creek, the celebrated miniseries ANZAC Girls and executive produced three seasons of Janet King writing numerous episodes, as well as continuing in his capacity as executive producer/showrunner of Pine Gap. Around 30 attendees are said to have been injured during the annual Lag Baomer celebrations in northern London on Wednesday after the ceremonial bonfire exploded. It is believed that several attendees may have thrown smartphones into the flames, causing the massive explosion. 30 people injured during Jewish holiday While jewish residents were enjoying the Lag Baomer celebrations on Wednesday night, the bonfire in northern London exploded after it was lit. Haaretz reports that a huge response team arrived on the scene following the explosion and many attendees were treated for burns. Up to 30 people were injured in an explosion at a Jewish celebration on Thursday in #London. The incident happened when crowds gathered to celebrate #LagBomer on which bonfires are a tradition. https://t.co/5Pnk1Osx9Q pic.twitter.com/ChgbjYkJCF People's Daily app (@PeoplesDailyapp) May 3, 2018 The incident happened in Stamford Hill as hundreds of Jewish people celebrated the holiday. Several videos captured the scene as the bonfire was lit. The Hatzola Jewish ambulance service was called to the scene along with other ambulance services to treat the burn victims. Luckily none of the injuries were considered to be serious. Hatzola reports that they had provided what they termed a "mega response team" to the scene of the explosion, working together with the London Fire Brigade, the London Ambulance Service, and London Ambulance Hart. The bonfire was soaked in oil The Telegraph reports that the bonfire was soaked in oil, which exploded when lit, sending a fireball into the crowd of attendees. It is believed that several attendees had possibly thrown smartphones onto the bonfire prior to the blast. Reportedly the attendees at the celebration fled screaming in panic following the explosion. A video of the event and the explosion is included below. What is the celebration all about? According to Chabad.org, the Lag Ba'Omer celebrations celebrate the 33rd day of what is termed the Omer count. It is a festive occasion where bonfires, joyous events, and parades are held. In northern Israel, many people visit Meron, the burial place of the mystic and sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai who died on that day. The Rabbi was the first to teach the Kabbalah or mystical dimensions of the Torah. On the day he died he requested that his disciples celebrate the day of his death as a day of joy. A mourning period for those who died during a plague The event also mourns the passing of people during a great plague and is thus observed as a mourning period with joyful activities. The event also has the theme of people loving and respecting each other. The customary celebrations involve spending time in the outdoors, celebrating the natural beauty of the earth. Children are known to play with bows and arrows during the celebrations. In the evenings, bonfires are lit to recognize the mystical teachings being celebrated, while people sing and enjoy one anothers company. Preparations for Modis felicitation in full swing Preparations for Indian PM Narendra Modis felicitation are in full swing at Barha Bigaha ground in Janakpur. Donald Trump has been nominated by 18 Republicans for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, but is he a deserved receiver of the award that has been awarded to the likes of Nelson Mandela? The Republican lawmakers have written in their letter that it is Trumps peace through strength policies that are bringing peace to the Korean peninsula and that his tireless work towards peace in this world deserves recognition. However, it can be said that and the potential of peace to the region is in spite of Donald Trumps foreign policy jibes at North Korea. After decades of escalation and demonisation by western powers, the North is eventually seeking reconciliation with the South. Peace in the Korean peninsula? I have written before about the brief history of why North Korea sought to arm themselves with nuclear weapons. In 2003, George Bush scrapped the 1994 agreement that saw North Korea restart its suspended nuclear weapons program two years later. Furthermore, with western powers including them in the axis of evil, they had a genuine concern that they could end up with the same fate as Iraq and Libya. The documents discovered by North Korean hackers in 2016 contained evidence that the US had been planning a regime change in NK and assassinate Kim Jong-un, thus they had every right to feel concerned. On 28th April, Kim Jong-Un and his South Korean counterpart, Moon Jae-in, met in the demilitarised zone, the first time in 60 years that a north korean leader had done so, to start negotiations to bring a formal end to the 1950-53 conflict, along with denuclearisation to the region. After which, the Republicans and Donald Trump supporters began talking about how this was down to Trumps policies and his show of strength to the secret state. But it was Trump himself that almost brought a war to the region because, after his war of words with Kim Jong-Un, White House officials were contemplating striking the country. South Korean President Moon Jae-in thinks US President Donald Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the standoff with North Korea over its nuclear weapons program, according to a South Korean official. This disregards entirely the idea that North Korea had only developed missiles that could react to a strike from the US in the first place and that the Korean war was exacerbated by US-led United Nations intervention, which eventually led to the splitting of the Korean peninsula and the stand-off between the north and the US since. Furthermore, North Korean leader, Kim Jong-Un, stated that they would only get rid of their nuclear weapons if the safety of the country could be given. Undeserving nomination Donald Trump himself has played very little role in the potential of peace within the region and some may claim that his nomination for a peace prize is an insult to the likes of Nelson Mandela, who fought for the struggle of his people during the apartheid in South Africa, where he was branded a terrorist by the US and the west and imprisoned for much of his life. In fact, Donald Trump caused an escalation of tensions between the nations that could have easily swung the other way but Trump himself is merely a symptom of US violent imperial foreign policy. His role was not peace but the uncensored political leader that has highlighted the lengths that western powers will go to maintain the status quo; something that many people didnt want to believe. Donald Trump has not been and probably will never be a man of peace. His apparent strength only made things worse and his governments continuation of support of Saudi Arabias campaign in Yemen, the Israeli apartheid that is violently oppressing the Palestinians, the threat of sanctions on Iran and Americas campaign in Syria to aid ISIL and rebel groups for the violent removal of Assad, only assert that no American President should have ever received the Nobel Peace Prize. IRANIAN AUTHORITIES have arrested several Iranian nationals with UK ties, increasing tension between the two countries. Aras Amiri was detained in March when she was visiting her family for the Persian new year. The 32-year-old Iranian national is a British Council employee based in London and is the latest in a string of several arrests that include a professor from the Imperial College London, Abbas Edalat. The iran leadership have continually been accused of increasing tensions between hardliners within the region but still garner support despite the protests that have taken place. Increasing tensions The relationship with western powers have been tense since Bill Clinton imposed harsh sanctions on them, but then in 2015 the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) was signed and that briefly improved relations. However, the west and allies within the Middle-East have been looking for an excuse to sack the region and remove the leadership, with Iran-Israel relations at an all-time low and the geopolitical positioning by Iran and Saudi Arabia against each other, the tensions look to be at boiling point. One of the main problems is that the Iranian Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has constantly blamed officials and allowed factional infighting to have an impact on domestic and foreign policy. He has often praised the hard-liners and attacked moderates and reformists leading to the public being generally disillusioned with the leadership and the president, Hassan Rouhani. This has directly lead to protests in February that led to the deaths of three police officers. Government support? However, despite the protests, which are by a minority of the population, the government still remain desirable by the public. This is likely to be down to what has happened to their neighbours and allies, Yemen and Syria, both have seen western backed wars destroy the countries and scores of innocent civilians die in the process and staying loyal to their government is seen as the best option for them not suffering the same fate. But with Israel looking for any excuse to launch a substantial strike at Iran, the same fate is likely to be upon them and perhaps this is also why they back their government, to mount a strong defence? The Israel problem for Iran is likely to hit boiling point soon, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu was given free reign to wage any wars he wishes when MPs voted to give him the power. The changes mean that Netanyahu would only need approval from his Defence Minister, the far-right hard-liner Avigdor Lieberman, whereas before the PM would need approval from the entire cabinet. Just a few days later, he attended a Holocaust commemoration event and urged for action against Syria and Iran, claiming that Iran lied about not having nuclear weapons. This was an ironic piece of warmongering as it is Israel who have substantial nuclear arsenal and have constantly denied they exist despite it being the worst kept military secret in the world. Anyway, this is where the UK arrests come into play, the Iranian leadership and the hard-line Revolutionary Guard are paranoid and this is increasing. Since 2015, there have been at least 30 arrests of Iranian-British dual nationalities and the latest is Mahan Abedin, a frequent contributor to the Middle East Eye, the Iran Wire got word of his arrest from an unnamed source in Tehran but wasnt able to specify when or where Abedin was when he was arrested. Along with Aras Amiri and Abbas Edalat, it looks like the Iranian authorities are stepping up their search for potential espionage within the region. By Davide Barbuscia DUBAI, May 3 (Reuters) - State-owned Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) is raising a syndicated loan of up to around $700 million with Credit Suisse (IOB: 0QP5.IL - news) and HSBC leading the deal, banking sources said. The new loan, guaranteed by the finance ministry, has a five-year maturity and is being syndicated to international and Gulf banks, the sources said. The debt facility is one of a few debt transactions currently in the market, a sign of banks increased interest in Egypt, where business conditions are slowly improving under a three-year IMF loan programme tied to fiscal and economic reforms. There is a lot of appetite for Egypt currently and there are a few deals in the market or in the pipeline, said Zain Zaidi, director for loans and acquisition finance for the Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan at Citigroup (NYSE: C - news) . He added however that given the current country ratings, the perceived risk remains higher than in other Middle East markets. Other deals include a club loan of around $600 million for National Bank (Athens: ETEE.AT - news) of Egypt, sources told Reuters earlier this week. . In the market, there is also a $450 million refinancing loan for Egyptian Fertilizers Company, a subsidiary of Netherlands-listed OCI N.V (LSE: 0QGH.L - news) .., a company led by Egyptian billionaire Nassef Sawiris, sources said. EEHC, which did not respond to a request for comment on its new fundraising exercise, has borrowed extensively in the past. In 2015 it raised a $521 million loan provided by a group of Egyptian banks and National Bank of Abu Dhabi now First Abu Dhabi Bank. The following year, the Egyptian utility borrowed 3.5 billion euros through a debt facility backed by export credit agencies for the construction of three gas-fired power plants. For those projects, worth 6 billion euros, it also raised a $1.2 billion loan with local banks. (Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by Adrian Croft) By Bruno Federowski and Alberto Alerigi BRASILIA/SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Brazil on Wednesday contradicted a United States announcement that the two countries had reached a deal on a permanent exemption from steel and aluminium import tariffs, saying the Trump administration had unilaterally cut off talks. Representatives for Brazil's industry decried U.S. negotiation tactics, which the head of the association for aluminium producers, Milton Rego, called "Al Capone-like." "You get better results by pointing a gun to the head," he said. Under a new quota-based system, exports of Brazilian steel to the United States fall by around a fifth, dealing a blow to a key sector already grappling with widespread idle capacity and excessive global supply. The White House said on Monday that it had reached agreements for permanent exemptions on steel and aluminium for Brazil, Argentina and Australia, and that the details of the deals would be finalised shortly. It gave no details of the terms. Brazil's foreign and trade ministries said on Wednesday the U.S. government had called off talks on April 26 after giving Brazil the option of picking between tariffs or quotas. Brazil's aluminium industry opted for 10 percent import tariffs, while the steel industry opted for an imports quota system, the statement said. The White House said on Wednesday that details about the agreement had not been finalised and said President Trump would consider re-imposing the tariffs if they were not settled shortly. "The United States and Brazil reached an agreement in principle on satisfactory alternative means to address the threatened impairment to our national security from steel and aluminium imports," White House spokeswoman Lindsay Walters said in a statement. "The details of this agreement in principle have not been finalised. Further, if the alternative means are not finalised shortly, the president will consider re-imposing the tariffs," she said. Story continues Annual exports of Brazilian semi-finished steel products to the United States, which account for 80 percent of total exports, will be capped at 3.5 million tonnes, equivalent to the average of 2015-2017 exports and a 7 percent decline from 2017. In a conference call with journalists, the head of Brazil's steelmakers association, Marco Polo Lopes, called those terms "not that bad." But finished steel exports, which compete directly with U.S. producers, will be capped at 496,000 tonnes, or 70 percent of that average, driving an annual reduction ranging between 20 and 60 percent depending on the product. Brazil still expects the United States to exempt it from trade restrictions, the government statement said, but "remains willing to adopt, in bilateral and multilateral venues, all actions needed to preserve its rights and interests." (Reporting by Bruno Federowski in Brasilia and Alberto Alerigi in Sao Paulo; Additional reporting by David Lawder and Jeff Mason in Washington; editing by Sandra Maler and Phil Berlowitz) (Corrects currency in UK investment to pounds from dollars) By Martinne Geller LONDON, May 2 (Reuters) - Unilever (NYSE: UL - news) defended its plan to move its headquarters to the Netherlands at what could be its last London annual general meeting on Wednesday, saying the decision had nothing to do with protectionism or Dutch takeover rules. Unilever Chairman Marijn Dekkers repeated that the choice of the Netherlands, announced in March, was aimed at strategic flexibility rather than protectionism. If the maker of Dove soap and Ben & Jerry's ice cream had a protective mindset for incorporating in the Netherlands, it would not have sought to cancel existing Dutch preference shares that allowed certain shareholders a greater voice than others, Dekkers said. He said that decision illustrated that Unilever was not chasing protectionism. Despite having had a dual-headed Anglo-Dutch structure for 88 years, Dekkers said the structure was a hindrance in a fast-changing retail and consumer environment. Shareholders are expected to vote on the matter around the end of the third quarter, with the move expected towards the end of the year. If completed, next year's annual meeting would take place in the Netherlands. Dekkers emphasised that Britain remains very important for the company, which will have two of its business units based in London and will continue to spend 1 billion pounds ($1.36 billion) a year in resources in the country. ($1 = 0.7344 pounds) (Reporting by Martinne Geller Editing by David Goodman/Adrian Croft) Virgin Media has announced 500 job losses under a planned shake-up of its UK sites. The telecoms company, which currently operates from more than 100 locations, said its eight customer service centres would be reduced to four. The biggest loss would be a major call centre in Swansea, where 800 people currently work, though most roles would transfer, the company said. The plans would see sites in Wythenshawe, Sheffield, Birmingham and Stockton become the focus for its future customer operations. Chief (Taiwan OTC: 3345.TWO - news) executive Tom Mockridge said Virgin Media would be investing 40m in business property over the next three years. "As part of this programme we intend to create four regional customer operations hubs while also increasing the flexibility of our customer services resources. "We have also proposed the closure of a small number of our offices over the next two years, including our call centre in Swansea and our current site in Nottingham. "We will be increasing our presence in Wythenshawe, near Manchester, and refurbishing that site. "We also propose acquiring a major new building in the Reading/M4 corridor area for our people presently based in Hook, Langley, Slough and Winnersh. "We also plan to acquire smaller, better sites in Bellshill and Nottingham." He added: "We are now working with and supporting all employees who have been asked to relocate, who may be in a role at risk of redundancy or who may wish to take another role with Virgin Media or one of our partners." A man claiming he will lose his job under the plans took to Twitter (Frankfurt: A1W6XZ - news) to express his disappointment John Matthews wrote: "I've worked at #virginmedia #Swansea for over 2 years and today's news is devastating. "A vibrant, award winning center of excellence closing 800 jobs, but I can't feed my 3 kids on awards. Now I can double down on looking for a career in #eSports #GraphicDesign #GraphicDesigner." (sic). Sandra Busby, managing director of the Welsh Contact Centre forum, also said: "I am very disappointed with the news from one of our flagship sites #virginmedia @Welshccf will do everything we can to support their incredibly talented staff and are confident they will be snapped up by other contact centres in the region." Sarah2 / shutterstock Moths are the insect we truly love to hate. The press report almost annually on the looming threat of clothes moths. I have previously written in defence of diamondback moths, a migratory pest of cabbage crops, and highlighted the quirks of biology that drove the spectacle of thousands of Silver Y moths gatecrashing the Euro 2016 final without tickets. I am absolutely unapologetic about my love for these diverse and intriguing cousins of the much better-loved butterflies. Moths get a bad press thanks to a few species which negatively affect our lives (this also applies to other insects, such as wasps), but most are harmless (or beneficial), fascinating, and often even beautiful. And so we come to recent news reports of a plague of toxic caterpillars descending on London. The caterpillars in question are those of the oak processionary moth (Thaumetopoea processionea, or just OPM) just about the only species for which I struggle to summon up much sympathy. So whats the issue? Its not to say that this is an unattractive moth. The grey-black colour scheme of the adults, active in late summer, lends them the look of having been delicately sketched in pencil. You are much more likely to encounter the caterpillars, which are covered in very long, white hairs. Colonies of OPM caterpillars form white silk nests on oak trees and can be spotted moving about in remarkable nose-to-tail processions. Other moth species form similar nests in the UK, including occasionally on oak: if such a nest is found outside London (especially in Essex or Cambridgeshire), it is more likely to be the Brown-tail moth. Unlike the Brown-tail, however, the oak processionary moth is not native to the UK. It was first recorded in Britain in 1983, but the species established properly in around 2006, when its believed some eggs arrived on imported oak trees. This isnt in itself a reason to dislike OPM, as conservationists (including myself) can sometimes be hypocritical about non-native species: for instance, we are vocally concerned about the arrival of the horse-chestnut leaf-miner moth because it harms horse chestnut trees even though the trees themselves are non-native. Story continues However, OPM is also a potentially a public health problem. Each of the caterpillars hairs contains a toxin called thaumetopoein. Touching an OPM caterpillar directly could bring you out in a rash in fact, as a general rule its always best to avoid hairy caterpillars unless you know what youre dealing with. The hairs of OPM caterpillars can also break off and drift on the air and, if there are sufficiently high densities of caterpillars, these hairs can cause rashes and respiratory problems even to bystanders. Besides affecting people, OPM can also impact the oak trees on which it feeds. A particularly severe infestation could strip a tree completely bare of its leaves, though few cases of this taking place in the UK have been reported. Tackling the problem Most people agree that something needs to be done, although the NGO Butterfly Conservation argues that, rather than tackling the moth wherever it appears, control efforts should focus on areas where the threat to human health is high or large numbers of trees are at risk of death. Nevertheless, controlling OPM outbreaks is difficult. The nests are constructed in the crowns of oak trees when they are in full leaf, and even if they can be reached, removing them manually requires full protective equipment to ward off the toxic hairs. For that reason the preferred approach is currently to tackle nests remotely, spraying trees with insecticide when the moth is most vulnerable as a young caterpillar, between April and June. There is currently no insecticide that is specific to OPM, so a bacterium known as Bt is used. Unfortunately, Bt is toxic not just to OPM, but to the caterpillars of all moths and butterflies. The financial cost of these control efforts is astronomical estimated at around 1.2m per year in 2016-17. The uncounted, and incalculable, cost to the oak woodland ecosystem could be greater still. The loss of much of the insect biodiversity from our woodlands would be tragic in itself but is likely to have further implications for the bats, birds and other wildlife that rely on these insects for food during their breeding seasons a study of an OPM control programme in woods near Pangbourne, Berkshire, suggested that blue and great tits were breeding less after spraying took place. Its these losses that have put me off OPM. Looking to the future But lets not panic there are plenty of reasons to feel hopeful about the future of Britains oak woodlands. Its true that the moth has been recorded across vast regions of the south-east, but that mostly only refers to the highly-dispersive males. To spread the outbreak requires the egg-laying females to travel, and they dont fly nearly as far. This means that, for now, the toxic caterpillars are mainly confined to London. The outbreak has crossed the M25 ringroad in just a few places, and is still only expanding at a slow pace. Encouragingly, some of the more isolated sections of the outbreak also appear to be coming under control. New outbreaks in Watford, Barnet, and Pangbourne all appear to have been successfully removed. An outbreak at Bethlem Hospital, Croydon, estimated to contain 4,000 nests in 2012, was confined to just four trees by 2016. Vigilance is key, and this year the Forestry Commission is once again asking the public to report any potential sightings of OPM through its Tree Alert scheme. Finally, we may have some unexpected allies on our side. In its native southern and central Europe, OPM is not especially problematic because it rarely reaches sufficiently large population densities. Thats partly because its numbers are kept in check by its natural enemies parasitoids. This is a catch-all term for various insects with a rather gruesome life-cycle: eggs are laid inside caterpillars and other insects, before the larvae eat their victim from inside out (killing it in the process) and emerge as a fully-formed fly or wasp ready to seek out new prey. Often, when an insect expands its range by artificial means (as OPM did, entering the UK on imported trees), it can take some time for its parasitoids to catch up, and in this lag period the insect may do particularly well. However, a recent study found nearly half of the OPM caterpillars sampled from the Croydon outbreak in 2014 were infested by one such natural enemy, the Carcelia iliaca tachinid fly. This suggests the oak processionary moth may be reaching the end of its lag period in the UK, and as the flies attack more caterpillars, this could help the control efforts. My enemys enemy is truly my friend, and in this case, perhaps it is a tiny fly. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The Conversation Callum Macgregor receives funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant ID: NE/N015797/1) and has formerly received funding from Butterfly Conservation through a NERC Industrial CASE studentship (Grant ID: NE/K007394/1). He is further involved in ongoing scientific collaborations with Butterfly Conservation, not related to Oak Processionary Moth. (REX) ITVs Im A Celebrity is being fined a huge 110,000 by the Australian government, after allegedly breaching their traffic rules. Council officials are accusing the show of bringing too many vehicles onto a nearby road, which in turn was in violation of council rules, after locals complained that too many vehicles were congesting the highway. Tweed Shire Council in New South Wales introduced a rule whereby 80 vehicles are permitted to travel down the road on one day, which the show supposedly broke. (REX) Vince Connell, Tweed Shires director, claims the show has not adhered to the 80 vehicle limit, saying the production team lied that they had stayed within the regulatory numbers. They based their figure on hire vehicles and shuttle buses. It did not factor in the suppliers, Connell said. As a result of breaches during previous series of the reality show, notably last year, the council forced ITV to install traffic monitors to make sure they kept within the limit, but it appears they didnt take into account additional suppliers, as Connell states. (REX) The show could therefore be fined up to 110,000, according to the Mirror, with any monetary punishment being decided later today. Were committed to working with the council and residents to get a satisfactory outcome, says an ITV spokesperson. At present, Im A Celeb is already looking a bit different for its upcoming series, with Ant McPartlin, 42, taking a step back after his drink-driving conviction. Word is that Declan Donnelly, also 42, will take sole charge of the programme, as he has done with Saturday Night Takeaway and the current series of Britains Got Talent. Read more: Chris Evans pulls out of radio show after mothers sudden death Georgia May Foot denies she was sacked by Corrie over Islam story refusal Gemma Collins and James Argent deny theyre in a showmance on This Morning LONDON (Reuters) - Cambridge Analytica, the firm embroiled in a controversy over its handling of Facebook data, should not escape scrutiny through its decision to shut down, the chairman of a committee of MPs said. Cambridge Analytica and its parent, SCL Elections, said on Wednesday they would begin bankruptcy proceedings after losing clients and facing mounting legal fees following reports the company wrongly harvested Facebook users' personal data from 2014. "They are party to very serious investigations and those investigations cannot be impeded by the closure of these companies," Damian Collins, chairman of parliament's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee - which is scrutinising Cambridge Analytica - told Reuters. "I think it's absolutely vital that the closure of these companies is not used as an excuse to try and limit or restrict the ability of the authorities to investigate what they were doing." (Reporting by Andy Bruce; editing by John Stonestreet) Video captured by Stephen Poon shows cracked window on Southwest Airlines flight to Newark, New Jersey. The plane was evacuated on May 2 after leaving Chicagos Midway International Airport and diverted to Cleveland to switch planes. Poon was a passenger on the plane and was headed to Newark with this company Xtreme Xperience. No injuries were reported. No injuries were reported. Credit: Stephen Poon via Storyful Pyuthan hospital tense over botched delivery Pyuthan District Hospital in Bijuwar remained tense on Wednesday due to a protest staged by the relatives of a woman who had died after giving birth.Radhika Dhami, 23, of Dakhakwadi had died on Tuesday night after she underwent a caesarean delivery. Native Americans may have descended from just 250 people (Picture Rex) Scientists have long debated how big the founding population of America was ancient people who some believe crossed from Siberia 36,000 years ago and were the forefathers of Native Americans. A new DNA analysis suggests that the founding population may have been as small as 250 people, according to University of Kansas researchers. The researchers analysed noncoding regions of DNA from samples in China, 10 groups in Siberia and 10 Native American populations. Michael Crawford of Kansas University, says that the research confirms previous studies based on smaller data sets. A group of scientists believe North America was settled from a single founding population that split from East Asians around 36,000 years ago (AFP Photo/Jean Michel CORNU) Crawford said, Going from a few hundred founders to around 40 million inhabitants of the Americas, who eventually live under different environmental conditions to which they adapt, is pretty exciting stuff. MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO Its about understanding how evolution operates in terms of genetic diversity. It is difficult to go back in time to follow the populations, but we can characterize contemporary genetic diversity and estimate the mutation rates that have occurred in different regions. FILE PHOTO: Vincent Bollore, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of media group Vivendi, attends the company's shareholders meeting in Paris, France, April 19, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau/File Photo Thomson Reuters By Saliou Samb CONAKRY (Reuters) - Opposition lawmakers in Guinea on Wednesday called for a parliamentary inquiry into billionaire tycoon Vincent Bollore's dealings in the West African nation, which are under investigation in France. French authorities are looking into allegations that a unit of his company Groupe Bollore undercharged for work on behalf of presidential candidates in Guinea and Togo in return for port contracts. Guinea's Justice Minister Cheick Sako told Reuters last week that it would cooperate with the French investigation. Guinea's opposition holds just 37 of a total of 114 seats in parliament so will require support from at least some of Conde's allies in order to move forward with an inquiry, but the call shows the risk of a public backlash in West Africa to the news. "We demand the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry to shine light on the Bollore affair," Ousmane Gaoual Diallo, an MP from opposition leader Cellou Dalein Diallo's Union of Democratic Forces of Guinea (UFDG), told Reuters. "We made a proposal for this and it will be before the office of the speaker of the National Assembly tomorrow morning," he said. Bollore's lawyer, Olivier Baratelli, has denied any wrongdoing by his client, who is under formal investigation for allegations including corrupting foreign public officials and complicity in breach of trust, forgery and use of forgery, according to a French judicial source. Groupe Bollore, whose Chief Executive Gilles Alix, is also a target of the investigation, has denied the allegations as well. The sprawling company has confirmed that its African business interests were being investigated over the billing of work by its communications business Havas Worldwide in Guinea and Togo between 2009 and 2010. Allegations in Guinea center on a concession to manage and expand the container terminal in the capital Conakry. France's Getma International won the contract in a 2008 tender, beating rivals including Bollore - the dominant port and rail operator across French-speaking West and Central Africa. Story continues Guinea's current President Alpha Conde came to power after narrowly defeating Diallo in a 2010 election and canceled the agreement with Getma in March of the following year. Bollore took over the concession the same month. Former transport minister Alpha Ibrahima Keira said last week that Havas' work during the election had nothing to do with the decision, which the government says was the result of a legal tendering process. Bollore Group has also denied any link between the communications consultancy and the port business. "As with all the proposals made by the opposition since the start of this legislature, we know that this could be abandoned in a desk drawer, but we are committed to clarifying this matter," opposition MP Gaoual Diallo said. (Writing by Joe Bavier; Editing by Tim Cocks) See Also: By Gergely Szakacs BUDAPEST (Reuters) - Hungary responded angrily on Thursday after the European Commission proposed cutting development funds to countries deemed to have undermined the rule of law, saying it would not yield to "blackmail". The EU's executive announced the plans in proposing a joint budget for 2021-27 on Wednesday, a move that could cost Hungary and Poland, two of the biggest net recipients of EU aid, millions of euros. The funds have been a major driver of investments in Hungary over the past years, contributing to a rise in economic growth to 4 percent in 2017, the highest level in three years. The Commission did not specify how much of that funding might be in jeopardy. It said any measures taken would be proportionate to the threat a country's actions posed to the rule of law. "There are treaties in force in the European Union that clearly specify the rights and obligations of EU member states," Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told a news conference. "We do not agree with any proposal that would provide the potential for blackmail of anyone with regard to the payment of EU funds that are due to be given to countries based on the treaties," he said. The Commission has accused Prime Minister Viktor Orban's right-wing government of undermining the independence of Hungary's courts and curbing media freedom. The European Anti-Fraud Office is also investigating projects run by a company once controlled by Orban's son-in-law. Critics say Orban has presided over a downward slide in Hungary's global corruption rankings. Orban was re-elected in a landslide last month in an election campaign dominated by his fierce anti-migrant platform. Szijjarto, who will remain Orban's foreign minister in the new cabinet, rejected the view that EU funds were "humanitarian aid" provided to Central Europe. No subjective criteria should be introduced into how they are disbursed, he said. Story continues "We have opened up our markets and Western European companies have pocketed enormous profits in Central European markets," he said. "This is not a one-way street that those in the West are being good lads and give us some EU funds. This is a two-way street and everybody must meet their commitments," he said. Siding with France, Szijjarto added that Hungary would oppose any reduction in agricultural subsidies that could hit its sizeable farm sector. (Reporting by Gergely Szakacs, editing by Larry King) BRUSSELS (AP) The latest on Wednesday European Union budget proposals (all times local): ___ 3 p.m. The German government said the European Commission's budget proposal provided a good basis for the beginning of negotiations on the future of the EU's finances. In a joint statement, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Finance Minister Olaf Scholz noted that the proposal would "considerably increase" the financial burden on Germany. They said that under the proposals, Germany would need to pay an average of up to 10 billion euros ($12 billion) more a year from 2021. "We are willing to fulfill our responsibilities for strengthening the European Union but this also requires a fair burden-sharing of all member states," the pair said. In the upcoming discussions which are likely to take months, they added that Germany will push to "sustainably strengthen the European Union's capability for action over the next seven years" and enforce a "fundamental modernization" of EU spending. Among other priorities, Germany is looking for better protection for the EU's external borders and increased cooperation in joint defense policy. ___ 2 p.m. The European Union's executive branch has proposed a budget to finance new priorities like defense and border control as well as compensating for Britain's departure from the bloc. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said Wednesday that the 2021-2027 budget will be "bigger than the preceding one, because it will determine the future of our Europe of 27" members. The Commission unveiled a seven-year spending package worth 1.135 trillion euros ($1.36 trillion), which accounts for around 1.1 percent of the bloc's total output. Agricultural funding and "cohesion funds" that help raise the infrastructure standards of poorer states are both to be cut by around 5 percent. The Commission is also seeking powers to suspend or restrict funding to countries whose rule of law standards might pose financial risks. See Also: The ruins could be evidence that King David ruled the area (Picture Bar Ilan University) A luxurious house recently unearthed in Israel, dating from 1,000BCE, could prove that Bible stories of King Davids kingdom are true. King David who supposedly slew Goliath is also the ancestor of Jesus, who the Bible describes as son of David. The kingdom was supposed to have existed in 1,000BC but with little archaeological evidence, many had assumed the rulers of the time were just local chiefs in Jerusalem. But researchers from Bar-Ilan University in Israel have uncovered evidence at a house in Tel Eton in a classical style, similar to other Israelite sites. The house was destroyed by fire in the 8th century BC, the researchers say but was built in the 10th century BC. MOST POPULAR TODAY ON YAHOO Professor Avi Faust says, The association with David is not based on direct archaeological evidence, but solely on circumstantial grounds. But Faust says that the growth in size of the site took place at a time when David was supposed to have existed, saying, If someone thinks that there was no king by the name of David, we should find another name to call the highland king in whose time the region was incorporated into the highland kingdom. The house was built using high-quality materials, and hundreds of vessels have been discovered near the site. Professor Faust says, Surprisingly, radiocarbon dates from within the floor make-up and from within a foundation deposit that was placed below the floor indicate that the building had already been erected in the 10th century BCE, between the late 11th century and the third quarter of the 10th century BCE. This date is in line with other finds related to the construction, like the foundation deposit itself. Parents were outraged after a high school in Auckland, New Zealand, handed out pamphlets to its students with instructions on how to use methamphetamine. On Tuesday, students in their last year at Massey High School were given a pamphlet published by Drugfree.org that included a step-by-step guide on how best to discreetly use meth, local media reported. The instruction pamphlet told students when taking meth, eat something every 4 or 5 hours; drink more water than normal; and if youve been awake longer than 24 hours, have a break, among other tips on using the Class A drug with care. Trending: Solo: A Star Wars Story Director Ron Howard Narrates Arrested Development Parody, Confirms Kessel Run RTX2Q740 Reuters The pamphlet also advised students to use meth before 3 p.m. and to avoid mixing meth with other drugs or medications. It added: Swallowing meth allows your body to use its own filters. It saves your lungs from damage, produces a smoother and longer lasting high, and youre less likely to use more. Don't miss: Homeless Man Can Sue Los Angeles for Euthanizing His Pet Pigeons, Federal Judges Rule Morgan Julian from Whenuapai, one of the students mothers, posted the pamphlet page on social media and called it disgusting. The post sparked further outrage from other residents. If a student was curious about using methamphetamine, the pamphlet told them how to use it, she said. Julian said she asked authorities at the school why the students were being given the materials and was told that it was for educational purposes. [The school is] trying to say the information was for people already doing meth and how to try and remedy the effects," she said, adding that she disagreed with the approach. Story continues Most popular: E. Coli Outbreak: First Death Reported, over 100 Sick in Multi-state Spread Linked to Romaine Lettuce "I am all for drug education and keeping our children aware, but to blatantly publish a step-by-step guide on how to clean your pipes, swallow instead of injecting and to do it legally, in a way is disturbing." Following the backlash, Glen Denham, Masseys principal, told 1 News that the pamphlet has been misinterpreted and its intention was not to tell students to use meth but rather to encourage safe drug use. "Just because they've read something doesn't mean at all that they are going to do it. They are far cleverer than that," he said. "The book is about how it destroys relationships and how it destroys job opportunities, how it destroys youth." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Protesters blocked roads to the main airport in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, on May 2, after opposition leader Nikol Pashinyans bid to become Prime Minister was blocked in parliament the previous day, Radio Free Europe reported. Pashinyan called on his supporters on Tuesday to resume their campaign of civil disobedience, including labor strikes and the blocking of streets and the Yerevan subway, Aravot reported. The outlet said protesters blocked several roads in the capital, including a route to Zvartnots International Airport, forcing travelers to walk. This footage shows protesters and Armenian security forces that were deployed to the airport on Wednesday. Credit: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty via Storyful A 19-year-old man linked to a burgeoning neo-Nazi group was found with a cache of weapons and ammunition in the affluent Chicago suburb of Vernon Hills, Illinois, last month, police said. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives notified police in April that Jakub F. Zak, the man arrested on weapons charges, had been seen wearing clothing linked to the group Patriot Front on the Grayslake, Illinois-based campus of a community college called The College of Lake County, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Police later charged Zak on April 16 with misdemeanor counts of possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition without a permit after searching his home, according to a police report. Trending: More Russians Are Claiming Asylum in the U.S. Than At Any Time Since 1994 RTS1BI74 REUTERS/Joshua Roberts Related: Republican Senate candidate praises Hitler and prompts condemnation from California GOP Patriot Front has demonstrable links to the anti-immigrant, anti-Semitic alt-right movement. The group splintered from Vanguard America, which appeared prominently at the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August of 2017. There, James Fields, a 20-year-old man who appeared at the rally alongside Vanguard America, allegedly drove his car into a crowd of anti-racist protesters, which led to the death of 32-year-old Heather Heyer. Don't miss: Michael Avenatti 'Guarantees' Trump Will Resign After Giuliani's 'Bombshell' About Stormy Daniels Payment Following that incident, and the national furor that it unleashed, alt-right leadership went into a period of rebrandingin order to distance itself from symbols like swastikas, which appeared in photographs that were taken at Unite the Right. The neo-Nazi website Daily Stormer and other alt-right hubs began promoting the idea of American nationalism in the fall of 2017. The propagandistic language was an attempt to inject images of traditional Americana into neo-Nazi politics in order to make the ideology more palatable to mainstream conservatives, leaders said. Story continues Patriot Front expanded partially due to that change in branding, although the Southern Poverty Law Center has suggested that the groups origins were first spotted back in 2015. Patriot Front now has a network of neo-Nazi cells that stretches across the entire country, SPLC noted. Unicorn Riot, a decentralized, non-profit media collective, published troves of internal chats and audio recordings the group engaged in on Discord, a gaming app that has served as a popular communication tool for neo-Nazis in recent years. In those chats the group spoke glowingly of rape and other violent acts, echoing the kind of rhetoric commonly promoted on Daily Stormer and other hubs that are popular with the darker corners of the alt-right movement. Most popular: PUBG War Mode: Desert Knights Event Mode Revealed - Dates, Rules & Tips One member of the group talked about promoting patriotic American imagery in the chats, something that would create plausible deniability about their links to neo-Nazism, according to the documents released by Unicorn Riot. Zak was released on $150 bond and his next court date was set for May 17, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek RBB acquires NIDC to become 2nd largest bank Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) completed the acquisition of NIDC Development Bank on Wednesday to become the second largest commercial bank in Nepal. State-owned RBB now has a paid-up capital of more than Rs9 billion. Its total deposit collection has reached Rs154.17 billion while loans amount to Rs115.73 billion. RBB maintains a networkof 191 branches across the country. C-130 military plane REUTERS/Umit Bektas A military transport plane from the Air National Guard crashed near Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport in eastern Georgia at about 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The Air Force identified the plane as a WC-130, a weather reconnaissance aircraft that has a minimal crew of five. Nine people were aboard the plane at the time of the crash and five have been confirmed dead, ABC News reported, citing a Georgia Air National Guard captain. The plane belonged to the Air National Guard 156th Airlift Wing based in Puerto Rico, according to Oriana Pawlyk, a reporter for Military.com. A representative from the guard's public-affairs department confirmed the crash to the Savannah Morning News but did not provide additional details. The Air National Guard was not immediately available for comment. The Chatham County Emergency Management Agency said in a tweet: "There has been a plane crash at the intersection of Hwy 21 at Crossgate Rd. Roads will be shut down. Please avoid the area." The Savannah Professional Firefighters Association tweeted an image of the wreckage, showing flames and a large plume of smoke, adding: "Military c130 down at 21 and Gulfstream Rd. Avoid the area. 21 shut down until further notice." A spokeswoman for the Port Wentworth Fire Department told HuffPost that black smoke could be seen pouring into the sky and that "everyone scrambled" to the scene when the call came in. Tweet Embed: //twitter.com/mims/statuses/991707731143872512?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Military c130 down at 21 and Gulfstream Rd. Avoid the area. 21 shut down until further notice. pic.twitter.com/6hUqwmkNUu Tweet Embed: //twitter.com/mims/statuses/991704416721006594?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw FROM A VIEWER: Heading to the scene right now and bringing info to @WTOC11 at noon. pic.twitter.com/iEoTckbab6 Here's what the highway looked like after the crash: Tweet Embed: //twitter.com/mims/statuses/991727428493041665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Local members currently on scene assisting with clean up. pic.twitter.com/lSuRcqTx56 See Also: Speakers recently flew in from around (or perhaps, across?) the earth for a three-day event held in Birmingham: the UKs first ever public Flat Earth Convention. It was well attended, and wasnt just three days of speeches and YouTube clips (though, granted, there was a lot of this). There was also a lot of team-building, networking, debating, workshops and scientific experiments. Yes, flat earthers do seem to place a lot of emphasis and priority on scientific methods and, in particular, on observable facts. The weekend in no small part revolved around discussing and debating science, with lots of time spent running, planning, and reporting on the latest set of flat earth experiments and models. Indeed, as one presenter noted early on, flat earthers try to look for multiple, verifiable evidence and advised attendees to always do your own research and accept you might be wrong. While flat earthers seem to trust and support scientific methods, what they dont trust is scientists, and the established relationships between power and knowledge. This relationship between power and knowledge has long been theorised by sociologists. By exploring this relationship, we can begin to understand why there is a swelling resurgence of flat earthers. Read more: How to reason with flat earthers (it may not help though) Power and knowledge Let me begin by stating quickly that Im not really interested in discussing if the earth if flat or not (for the record, Im happily a globe earther) and Im not seeking to mock or denigrate this community. Whats important here is not necessarily whether they believe the earth is flat or not, but instead what their resurgence and public conventions tell us about science and knowledge in the 21st century. Multiple competing models were suggested throughout the weekend, including classic flat earth, domes, ice walls, diamonds, puddles with multiple worlds inside, and even the earth as the inside of a giant cosmic egg. The level of discussion however often did not revolve around the models on offer, but on broader issues of attitudes towards existing structures of knowledge, and the institutions that supported and presented these models. Story continues Flat earthers are not the first group to be sceptical of existing power structures and their tight grasps on knowledge. This viewpoint is somewhat typified by the work of Michel Foucault, a famous and heavily influential 20th century philosopher who made a career of studying those on the fringes of society to understand what they could tell us about everyday life. He is well known, amongst many other things, for looking at the close relationship between power and knowledge. He suggested that knowledge is created and used in a way that reinforces the claims to legitimacy of those in power. At the same time, those in power control what is considered to be correct and incorrect knowledge. According to Foucault, there is therefore an intimate and interlinked relationship between power and knowledge. At the time Foucault was writing on the topic, the control of power and knowledge had moved away from religious institutions, who previously held a very singular hold over knowledge and morality, and was instead beginning to move towards a network of scientific institutions, media monopolies, legal courts, and bureaucratised governments. Foucault argued that these institutions work to maintain their claims to legitimacy by controlling knowledge. Ahead of the curve? In the 21st century, we are witnessing another important shift in both power and knowledge due to factors that include the increased public platforms afforded by social media. Knowledge is no longer centrally controlled and as has been pointed out in the wake of Brexit the age of the expert may be passing. Now, everybody has the power to create and share content. When Michael Gove, a leading proponent of Brexit, proclaimed: I think the people of this country have had enough of experts, it would seem that he, in many ways, meant it. It is also clear that were seeing increased polarisation in society, as we continue to drift away from agreed singular narratives and move into camps around shared interests. Recent PEW research suggests, for example, that 80% of voters who backed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 US presidential election and 81% of Trump voters believe the two sides are unable to agree on basic facts. Despite early claims, from as far back as HG Wells world brain essays in 1936, that a worldwide shared resource of knowledge such as the internet would create peace, harmony and a common interpretation of reality, it appears that quite the opposite has happened. With the increased voice afforded by social media, knowledge has been increasingly decentralised, and competing narratives have emerged. Scottbot This was something of a reoccurring theme throughout the weekend, and was especially apparent when four flat earthers debated three physics PhD students. A particular point of contention occurred when one of the physicists pleaded with the audience to avoid trusting YouTube and bloggers. The audience and the panel of flat earthers took exception to this, noting that now weve got the internet and mass communication were not reliant on what the mainstream are telling us in newspapers, we can decide for ourselves. It was readily apparent that the flat earthers were keen to separate knowledge from scientific institutions. Flat earthers and populism At the same time as scientific claims to knowledge and power are being undermined, some power structures are decoupling themselves from scientific knowledge, moving towards a kind of populist politics that are increasingly sceptical of knowledge. This has, in recent years, manifested itself in extreme ways through such things as public politicians showing support for Pizzagate or Trumps suggestions that Ted Cruzs father shot JFK. But this can also be seen in more subtle and insidious form in the way in which Brexit, for example, was campaigned for in terms of gut feelings and emotions rather than expert statistics and predictions. Science is increasingly facing problems with its ability to communicate ideas publicly, a problem that politicians, and flat earthers, are able to circumvent with moves towards populism. Again, this theme occurred throughout the weekend. Flat earthers were encouraged to trust poetry, freedom, passion, vividness, creativity, and yearning over the more clinical regurgitation of established theories and facts. Attendees were told that hope changes everything, and warned against blindly trusting what they were told. This is a narrative echoed by some of the celebrities who have used their power to back flat earth beliefs, such as the musician B.O.B, who tweeted: Dont believe what I say, research what I say. In many ways, a public meeting of flat earthers is a product and sign of our time; a reflection of our increasing distrust in scientific institutions, and the moves by power-holding institutions towards populism and emotions. In much the same way that Foucault reflected on what social outcasts could reveal about our social systems, there is a lot flat earthers can reveal to us about the current changing relationship between power and knowledge. And judging by the success of this UK event and the large conventions planned in Canada and America this year it seems the flat earth is going to be around for a while yet. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The Conversation Harry T Dyer does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. FILE PHOTO - Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., April 26, 2018. REUTERS/Aaron P. Bernstein Thomson Reuters (Reuters) - The Trump administration has invited four U.S. senators to meet at the White House early next week about the nations biofuels policy, the latest in a series of such meetings since late last year aimed at helping refiners cope with the Renewable Fuel Standard, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The senators will include Republicans Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst of corn state Iowa, along with Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Ted Cruz of Texas, according to the sources, who asked not to be named. The planned meeting will take place on Monday or Tuesday, they said. White House spokeswoman Kelly Love did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Jarrett Renshaw; Writing by Richard Valdmanis; Editing by David Gregorio) See Also: Special package on anvil for Janakpur Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will announce a special package for Janakpur in Province 2 during his two-day visit to Nepal starting on May 11, an official said.Nepals Ministry of Foreign Affairs official said the special package would help conserve Janakpurs heritage as well as its development or link the Ramayan Circuit with the city. The University of North Georgia's (UNG) Blue Ridge Campus will move and expand to serve its rising enrollment numbers in Fannin County and the northeast Georgia region. Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal and Speaker of the House David Ralston, a UNG alumnus who represents Fannin County in the legislature, announced funding for the new campus May 2 at the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association in Blue Ridge, Georgia. Funds for the new plan are part of the $26 billion state budget Deal signed in ceremonies in Atlanta, Acworth, Blue Ridge, Statesboro, and Tifton. "We appreciate and are grateful to the support we have received from the state legislature," UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs said. "We are elated at this opportunity and know the educational impact UNG will have on this region will be felt in Fannin County and throughout this region for generations." The state budget has earmarked $5.5 million in a 20-year bond for land acquisition, design, construction, and equipment for the Blue Ridge Campus. It will be located less than four miles from the current campus on land east of Industrial Parkway off Ga. 515. "The fiscal year 2019 budget will maintain Georgias position as a national leader in conservative fiscal management while further solidifying our commitment to providing all children with greater access to quality education and continuing our efforts to build an infrastructure system that supports our growing population," Deal said in a news release about the budget signings. The new, larger UNG campus will feature classroom space, technology resources and labs for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields to serve about 500 students, UNG Blue Ridge Campus Director Sandy Ott said. It will also have support facilities for students, faculty, and staff. UNG currently leases a 3,600-square-foot facility at 83 Dunbarton Farm Road that does not offer lab space and has limited space for student use. "The new campus will open so many doors including expanded course offerings, workforce development, and Professional and Continuing Education opportunities to serve the region," Ott said. More importantly, the additional classroom space will allow UNG to serve its growing population. When the Blue Ridge Campus opened in August 2015, it welcomed 18 students. In the fall 2017, it enrolled about 151 students, marking a 738 percent increase. "Weve had significant growth," Ott said. "And we are anticipating more growth in fall 2018." The Blue Ridge Campus offers a variety of educational pathways that include dual-enrollment courses for high school students, a full-time program for first-time freshmen with courses enabling them to complete degrees in regional high-demand disciplines, courses for adult learners getting started in college or returning college to complete a degree, and continuing and professional education programs for career growth or personal enrichment. Its establishment came in response to a need for access to higher education identified through UNG's Regional Education and Economic Development (REED) Task Force, a group of more than 100 business, education, government and community leaders from northeast Georgia. With more than 18,000 students and campuses in Blue Ridge, Cumming, Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee, UNG is one of the state's largest public universities. UNG has been recognized nationally for its academic excellence and economic value, including being named one of the nation's "best value colleges" by Forbes magazine in April 2018. UNG is one of only six Senior Military College in the United States and is designated as the Military College of Georgia. Since the day Donald Trump defeated Hillary Clinton to become the new president, his victory was linked to election interference by Russia. During his latest interaction with the media, Trump was pressed on whether or not he would consider Russian President Vladimir Putin a friend. President Trump on whether Russian President Vladimir Putin is a friend or a foe: Well find out. Ill let you know. I mean, it'll be a time when Ill let you know. Youre going to find out very quickly. We'll see what happens. https://t.co/cddfDIRPrS pic.twitter.com/5P6H3w9TFn CNN (@CNN) April 3, 2018 Trump and Putin One of the headline stories during the 2016 presidential campaign was whether or not Donald Trump was in cahoots with Russia. While Trump was quick to bad mouth his political critics, including other world leaders, he made sure to speak highly of Vladimir Putin, going as far as to praise him on occasion during his campaign rallies. Fast forward to present day and Trump is still dealing with push back from critics and media over the Russian investigation, with special counsel Robert Mueller linking several former and present associates of Trump back to the Kremlin. "Ideally we want to be able to get along with Russia," Pres. Trump says. "Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Now, maybe we will, and maybe we won't." "Probably nobody's been tougher to Russia than Donald Trump," the president adds. pic.twitter.com/7Mn4dgyuu4 ABC News (@ABC) April 3, 2018 According to ABC News on April 3, Donald Trump spoke with reporters at the White House and was asked a wide range of questions, from his plan to send military troops to the southern border, to his proposal on trade and NAFTA. During the questioning, Trump was asked about his relationship and his upcoming meeting with Vladimir Putin, and whether or not he considered the Russian leader a friend or foe. "We'll find out. Ill let you know. I mean, it'll be a time when Ill let you know," Trump said, before adding, "Youre going to find out very quickly. We'll see what happens." .@POTUS: getting along with Russia would be a good thing, not a bad thing - and just about everybody agrees with that, "except very stupid people." Hallie Jackson (@HallieJackson) April 3, 2018 "Ideally we want to be able to get along with Russia," Donald Trump went on to say. "Getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing," he added, with MSNBC's Hallie Jackson quoting the president as saying only "very stupid people" would disagree with him. Twitter backlash Following Donald Trump's remarks about Vladimir Putin, those who oppose the commander in chief made sure to chime in. "He literally said the same thing 5 times. God hes an idiot," one tweet read. How can anyone listen to this moron speak and think - That is one smart, articulate, thoughtful individual? Every time he opens his mouth he reveals just how ill equipped he is for the position he now holds. It is going to take many years to undo all the damage he's inflicted. pic.twitter.com/zHEL0DKF42 Ritchie K. Blackmore (@Ritchie_1966) April 3, 2018 What an answer ? Is this a joke. He is a joke. CemSol (@cemsolll) April 3, 2018 He literally said the same thing 5 times. God hes an idiot. Edison_Crawley (@Edison_Crawley) April 3, 2018 "Trump sounds like he's 4 years old," a Twitter user wrote. "What an answer ? Is this a joke. He is a joke," another tweet added. "How can anyone listen to this moron speak and think - That is one smart, articulate, thoughtful individual? Every time he opens his mouth he reveals just how ill equipped he is for the position he now holds. It is going to take many years to undo all the damage he's inflicted," an additional tweet went on to read. We are all a little more dumb just listening to him. Steven Stern (@sternosu) April 3, 2018 Could this asshat be any more retarded? He LITERALLY sounds like he was just plucked off a shortbus. A_Distressed_USA (@_DumpATrump_) April 3, 2018 "Could this a**hat be any more retarded? He LITERALLY sounds like he was just plucked off a short-bus," a social media user wrote. "We are all a little more dumb just listening to him," a follow-up tweet stated. Since the early days of his campaign for president, Donald Trump has used social media to vent his frustrations. In response, Alec Baldwin decided to take a shot at Trump on his own Twitter account. Trump does his own tweets. And hes posted twice as many as me. And hes President. I mean.....my God. ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) May 3, 2018 Baldwin on Trump It all started when Donald Trump won the Republican primary and moved on to the general election against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. Following the first debate between both candidates, "Saturday Night Live" tapped veteran actor Alec Baldwin to play the satirical role of Trump. After receiving rave reviews from critics following his first few performances, Trump lashed out on Twitter, ripping into "SNL" and Baldwin on more than one occasion. While Trump has been mostly silent on Baldwin over the last year, that hasn't stopped him from using Twitter on a daily basis to vent his frustrations. Whatever you do, dont stop commenting, observing, critiquing this President here and in other media. Keep the fires burning. November is coming. The beginning of the end of this unfathomable nightmare. ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) April 29, 2018 With Donald Trump only increasing his use of social media, Alec Baldwin decided to mock the president for his Twitter obsession during his own tweet on March 2. "Trump does his own tweets. And hes posted twice as many as me. And hes President. I mean.....my God," Baldwin tweeted out. Baldwin's tweet comes just days after he posted another message about the president, urging Americans to continuing their push back against the administration, writing, "Whatever you do, dont stop commenting, observing, critiquing this President." Baldwin's tweets come as he continues to play the role of Trump on "SNL," and is expected to do so heading into the 2020 election. Twitter rejoices Following Alec Baldwin's tweet about Donald Trump, critics of the president were in agreement with the "Saturday Night Live" actor and made sure to let him know. "Thank you so much for sticking with the SNL impersonation even though I know you hate doing it. It means a lot," one tweet read. Thank you so much for sticking with the SNL impersonation even though I know you hate doing it. It means a lot. Boomerang (@Wait4November) May 3, 2018 How does he find any time to watch Fox and Friends??? Chuck Nowlin (@ChuckNowlinWZLX) May 3, 2018 "I totally read that on your voice. lol," a Twitter user wrote. "And Trump's grammar is 3rd grade level, at best," another tweet added. "How does he find any time to watch Fox and Friends???" an additional tweet stated. "Im skeptical if he actually does personally press the tweet button. No offence to him, but it seems hes far too inept to manage such a thing. In fact, when have we ever seen this dolt hold a phone?" a tweet noted. Im sceptical if he actually does personally press the tweet button. No offence to him, but it seems hes far too inept to manage such a thing. In fact, when have we ever seen this dolt hold a phone? Julian W (@Hamilton7081987) May 3, 2018 He must spend a lot of time on the toilet Lisa McIntosh (@happygirl71929) May 3, 2018 And also has a young child and grandchildren he doesnt see. SushiCat (@SushiCat2041) May 3, 2018 "And also has a young child and grandchildren he doesnt see," a social media user wrote. "Well duh!! Clearly obvious by bad grammar & spelling mistakes," a follow-up tweet read. The biggest news over the last 24 hours has been Rudy Giuliani's interview on Fox News where he revealed the Donald Trump repaid Michael Cohen for the "hush money" payment made to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels. With Giuliani offering a conflicting stance to what Trump has said in the past, a host on Fox News decided to speak out. Fox News on Trump In recent months, the scandal linking Donald Trump to an affair with Stormy Daniels has dominated the news cycle. When the story was first made public by the Wall Street Journal back in January, the paper also revealed that Trump's long-time lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 in hush money during the 2016 election so she would stay silent about their relationship. In the weeks and months that have followed, Trump has spoken little about the allegations, though he has gone on record denying any knowledge about the hush money payment. After Cohen had his offices raided by the FBI last month, Trump went on to hire former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as his lawyer. In today's @NBCFirstRead: Not only did Giuliani's disclosure contradict Trumps previous denial about the Stormy Daniels payment, it also puts the president in potential legal jeopardy. https://t.co/8TLLwO0R1G NBC News (@NBCNews) May 3, 2018 During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday, Rudy Giuliani contradicted Trump's previous denial, claiming that the president in fact paid back Michael Cohen for the hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels. Giuliani has since attempted to clarify his remarks, but that didn't stop Fox News host Neil Cavuto from ripping into Trump during a May 3 segment. "Mr. President. How can you drain the swamp if youre the one that keeps muddying the waters?" Cavuto asked. Neil Cavuto Calls Out Trump on His Pattern of False Statements: 'Mr. President, That's Your Swamp' (VIDEO) https://t.co/pGbHh5Cd7w pic.twitter.com/IDPyG2uVOc Mediaite (@Mediaite) May 3, 2018 "You didnt know about the $130,000 payment to a p*rn star till you did," Neil Cavuto pointed out, before adding, "You acknowledged today you were the guy behind the retainer payment." Not stopping there, Cavuto went on to call Trump out for too often pushing misinformation. "I'm having a devil of a time figuring out which news is fake," he said, before admitting "Your own words gave me lots of pause." Cavuto then listed several examples, including the Russian hacking of the 2016 election. "Like the time you said the Russians didnt interfere in the 2016 elections until a lot of Republicans had to remind you they did," he noted. Moving forward With the Stormy Daniels scandal remaining a hot topic, it's unlikely that Donald Trump is going to be able to avoid the push back, especially with Michael Cohen in court defending himself from the aforementioned FBI raid. With even some on the conservative-friendly Fox News questioning Trump's information, only time will tell if the president is able to bounce back. Scheana Marie made it clear during the sixth season of "Vanderpump Rules" that she was completely head over heels in love with Robert Parks-Valletta. She even frequently took aim at her past marriage to Mike Shay and compared the two relationships. However, during Monday night's new episode of the show (May 7), she will be seen taking aim at the actor for leaving her as she praises her ex-husband for always sticking by her, despite the circumstances seen on the Bravo TV reality series. In a sneak peek clip of the three-part reunion, Scheana is seen addressing a comment made by the reality star in which she claimed she was actually thinking about Rob on her and Mike's wedding day -- and throughout her marriage. "The day I got married, one of my bridesmaids who knew Rob and I's past relationship had said something that made me think of him and I did think of him that day. He crossed my mind. It was always kind of one of those 'what ifs.'" Scheana's co-stars are still annoyed by her 'Robsession' Scheana Marie was then asked by host Andy Cohen how she and Rob first met. In turn, she went into detail about how they first met and shared their first kiss at Disneyland. "Can we do the first version of this? I feel like I'm on the magic Disney ride," Lisa Vanderpump interjected. "Are you feeling like 'wrap it up,'" Lala Kent asked. "It was a very off and on thing," Scheana continued. "Different places at different times," she explained. Scheana's co-stars accused Rob of cheating "That was the moment [Robert Parks-Valletta] pulled away," Scheana Marie recalled. While Scheana began crying at that point over the end of her relationship with Rob last August, she seemed to be equally upset by the comments she made comparing the actor to her former husband. "I never, ever meant to discredit [Mike Shay] because he was amazing and the thing about Shay was, he had my back for all five seasons," she admitted. "Even when he thought I threw him under the bus, I put his addiction out there and I did all of this, he never left me because of the show." Scheana slams Rob for 'calculated' breakup "It was about two weeks after we wrapped and that's where I, and like Lala Kent, Ariana Madix, Brittany, and I, I'm like, 'Is this like a calculated move?'" Scheana wondered. "It was like, 'Did you just stay with me to finish filming the show because you didn't want me to have a storyline of another breakup and have to deal with that?' Okay, thank you. I think." "Manipulation at its finest!" Kristen Doute exclaimed. One of the biggest stories of the year has revolved around Donald Trump and his alleged affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels. While Trump has continued to deny the allegations, the president's lawyer Rudy Giuliani revealed new information that contradicts his previous denial. Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are..... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 Trump on Giuliani It was back in January when the Wall Street Journal broke the bombshell story claiming that Donald Trump had an affair with Stormy Daniels back in 2006. In addition, the paper reported that Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 in "hush money" during the 2016 election to keep the story from the public. Since then, Cohen's office has been raided by the FBI over the issue, and he's in court defending himself. In response, Trump has denied the affair and the payout to Daniels, writing the report off as "fake news." ...very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair,...... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 ...despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018 Despite this, current Trump lawyer and former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani spoke to Fox News host Sean Hannity on Wednesday and revealed that Donald Trump has already paid back the money Michael Cohen used to silence Stormy Daniels. "The President repaid it," Giuliani admitted. In a tweet on May 3, Trump responded to the news. "Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign," Trump tweeted. Rudy Giuliani: Trump Reimbursed Michael Cohen For Stormy Daniels Hush Money Payment https://t.co/T4kSw0KCSJ pic.twitter.com/L4iihKIgVB Mediaite (@Mediaite) May 3, 2018 "These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth," Donald Trump went on to add. "In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels) he added. The president went on to accuse Stormy Daniels of "false and extortionist accusations" about their alleged affair. Twitter reacts In response to Donald Trump's tweet, critics took time to fire back on social media. "Liar, liar, pants on fire! You cant lie your way out!" one tweet read. Melania cares and this is against his Christian base family values Missy F (@Missyf786) May 3, 2018 LOL Your attorneys are trying to do damage control via your Twitter account, but they have no idea how to be legal and sound like you at the same time. This is exquisite. Gary M. Sarli (@GMSarli) May 3, 2018 Last nights train wreck of an interview with Sean Hannity proves you and your team of dotards have the combined IQ of a used pencil shaving. Thrilliam (@StrattDaddyCXP) May 3, 2018 "Last nights train wreck of an interview with Sean Hannity proves you and your team of dotards have the combined IQ of a used pencil shaving," a Twitter user wrote. "Your attorneys are trying to do damage control via your Twitter account, but they have no idea how to be legal and sound like you at the same time," another tweet added. "These tweets are written by your attorney..the lawyer who wrote these tweets is a moron!" an additional tweet stated. These tweets are written by your attorney..the lawyer who wrote these tweets is a moron! You honestly can not shoot straight can you? In April you said you knew nothing about the $130,000 Cohen pd to Stormy or the NDA! Youre a pathological liar! Stop insulting our intelligence! AA (@Ava_ABQuteee) May 3, 2018 Give it up. You are guilty guilty guilty ACinTO (@andyinTOONT) May 3, 2018 Later you will deny writing this tweet, and Giuliani will say he did. #LyingMachine #LIVE FREE OR DIE (@carlos_orji) May 3, 2018 "Melania cares and this is against his Christian base family values," a social media user added. "Later you will deny writing this tweet, and Giuliani will say he did," a follow-up tweet read. One of the decisions taken by Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-In at the summit was to remove the loudspeakers at the borders. These used to be propaganda broadcasts meant to influence the people on the other side. The leaders felt that since reunification was on their agenda, these types of equipment could be turned off. ABC News reports that in keeping with the sentiments, both the Koreas have removed them. Such an action is seen as the first step towards peace in the region. The president of South Korea also wants the United Nations to follow up on the closure of the nuclear test site of North Korea as agreed by its leader. The first step is taken The propaganda broadcasts along the border between North and South Korea had been a regular feature for quite some time but was put on hold before the summit between Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in. It was a tentative step towards normalizing the relationship that had begun when Kim reactivated the hotline that had been closed for a long time. Moon responded by inviting the North to participate in the 2018 Winter Olympics, and the stage was set for their meeting. South Korean soldiers have removed the loudspeakers from different locations in the presence of journalists. An official of South Korea has informed that the North has also taken similar action. Incidentally, both the Koreas had stopped these broadcasts before the summit. Whether they admit it or not, reunification is at the back of their minds. Hundreds of families have been separated for decades, and they want to rejoin. The Trump-Kim summit The next logical step is the much-awaited summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. Both of them used to engage in verbal duels, but gradually the intensity has reduced. Trump has expressed satisfaction with the way Moon Jae-in has handled the mini-summit with Kim and is looking forward to meeting the leader of North Korea. In fact, the US President has indicated his willingness to have the summit in Panmunjom where Kim and Moon had met, or in Singapore. Before the Trump-Kim meeting, the leaders of South Korea, Japan, and China will be getting together in Tokyo to discuss issues related to the nuclear programs of Pyongyang as well as other regional issues. Kim Jong-un has already taken several steps to prove his sincerity. He has agreed to close down Norths only known nuclear test site and will invite experts and journalists to be present on occasion. He could be thinking about reunification and eying its benefits. Prime accused in the illegal carcass trade racket was arrested from southern fringe of the city by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) last evening, police said on Thursday. The kingpin, Biswanath Garai (52), a resident of Sonarpur of South 24 Parganas, was arrested on Wednesday evening from Garia Railway Station area by the SIT probing the case, a police official said. According to the police, the accused who owns a godown in northern part of Kolkata where the meat of dead animals were stored, was allegedly involved in collecting the meat and then processing it. Carcass meat was collected from different dumps in and around the city and stored in cold storage. From there, it was supplied to city restaurants and departmental stores. So far, 11 persons had been arrested in connection with the case, the police official said. The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday took out separate rallies to protest against the carcass meat trade unearthed last week. The BJP activists marched towards the Trinamool Congress-run Kolkata Municipal Corporation and raised slogans against the state government. The Youth Congress workers also came out with a protest rally at Moulali crossing in central Kolkata against the illegal trade scandal. Activists of both opposition parties in the state carried placards and posters against the Trinamool Congress government and demanded immediate action against the culprits. On Sunday, eight persons were arrested for alleged involvement in the trade of rotten chickens. Last week, the police had seized nearly 20 tonnes of animal meat from a cold storage in north Kolkata that was meant to be supplied to departmental stores and hotels, and arrested 10 persons. The police were preparing a detailed list of departmental stores and eateries where such meat was supplied while also looking into an international angle to the racket, amid suspicion that the rotten meat was also supplied to neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Nepal, a police official had said. Frank May, assistant professor of marketing in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, was recently named the Mary F. McVay and Theodore R. Rosenberg Junior Faculty Fellow by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. The Mary F. McVay and Theodore R. Rosenberg Junior Faculty Fellowship was established in 2004 to provide faculty support for the Pamplin College of Business and to recognize teaching and research excellence. May received his Ph.D. in business administration from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina. He joined Virginia Tech as an assistant professor in 2014. His research focuses on how factors pertaining to time influence self-control decisions. He has already published six articles in one of the fields top journals, the Journal of Consumer Research a record that places him among the elite young scholars in his field. May is developing a strong reputation as an instructor, teaching consumer behavior at the undergraduate level and buyer behavior research at the Ph.D. level. In addition, he works with and actively mentors several marketing doctoral students. He received his bachelors degree in finance from New Jersey City University and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. Related reading Battling for balance Dwayne Pinkney, senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been named senior vice president for operations and administration at Virginia Tech. Pinkney will start his new position on Aug. 1, 2018. I am pleased to welcome Dwayne to the Virginia Tech community and to our leadership team, said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. His arrival comes at a critical and exciting point in our universitys history. As we complete our campus master plan and strategic planning process, building upon key initiatives including Destination Areas and InclusiveVT, Dr. Pinkneys leadership will be essential to managing the financial and operational resources necessary to achieve our Beyond Boundaries vision. Dwayne has the financial and administrative experience as well as the collaborative and interpersonal skills to help us move forward successfully, said Sands. Reporting to the president and working closely with the executive vice president and provost, the executive leadership team, and the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, Pinkney will oversee all aspects of the financial and operational enterprises of the university, including financial affairs, human resources, policy and governance, and planning and facilities management. People across the higher education landscape are impressed by President Sands bold vision to become a leading global university one that is highly collaborative with multiple partners to address societys greatest challenges, said Pinkney. I am very excited to join and support this effort and to help make the new Partnership for an Incentive Based Budget model and other financial and operations systems integral to our success. Pinkney will bring 23 years of financial and administrative management in higher education and state legislative experience to Virginia Tech, spending the last 14 years in progressively higher-level management positions at UNC-Chapel Hill. In his most recent role as senior associate vice chancellor for finance and administration, Pinkney served as the strategic advisor and principal deputy to the vice chancellor for finance and administration. He also provided oversight of the universitys financial, budget, and accounting operations and provided leadership for the divisions shared administrative and business services functions. Prior to that position, he served as vice provost for finance and academic planning since 2010 and secretary of the university since 2014. He also served as the assistant vice chancellor for finance and administration and special assistant to the chancellor for state and local relations. In these roles, he was responsible for the Student Stores and Trademarks Licensing operations, was the campus primary liaison to the state legislature, and advised the chancellor and senior leadership on all matters related to state government affairs and local/municipal government. Prior to coming to UNC-Chapel Hill in 2004, Pinkney was an associate vice president for finance at the University of North Carolina General Administration. He also has six years of experience as a fiscal analyst with the North Carolina General Assembly and served a short period of time as the deputy secretary for administration with the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State. Pinkney received his Ph.D. in political science at UNC-Chapel Hill and a masters degree in public administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He received his bachelors degree in English and journalism from North Carolina A&T State University in Greensboro, North Carolina. Joining the Virginia Tech community with Dwayne will be his wife, Sandra Pinkney, a senior executive in the pharmaceutical industry. Their two sons are students in the University of North Carolina system institutions. DHS DHS seeks drone solution for border security NOTE: This article first appeared on FCW.com. The Department of Homeland Security plans to test small drone aircraft with sensors that can identify people and vehicles from above, track flying objects and collect data on active shooters. Test will take place in controlled airspace at an Army base in Hattiesburg, Miss., according to an April 30 request for information, posted on FedBizOpps. The Robotic Aircraft Sensor Program Borders RASP-B is part of an overarching, ongoing effort by the DHS Science and Technology Directorates borders and maritime security division to identify UAS capabilities, deficiencies and how the technology can fit into DHS many missions. RASP-B is focused primarily border security and law enforcement capabilities, allowing border security agents to test small Unmanned Aerial Systems and sensor supplier systems under "typical border mission scenarios." The assessments will be of flight-proven small drone systems, including rotary and fixed wing vehicles and their integrated sensors, according to the announcement. The small UAS systems will be run through a variety of border-security and law enforcement related scenarios, including their ability to map terrain in 3D and see changes in the terrain. Some scenarios will require the aircraft to fly unnoticed by human hearing and sight, including quick deployment to areas where sensors have detected intrusions to determine if a human agent is needed, or whether agents already on scene are injured. Another border security scenario will require a small drone aircraft to operate undetected along a predetermined route observing and reporting unusual activity and identifying faces and vehicles involved in that activity comparing them profile pictures and license plate data. DHS is also testing the ability of drones to deploy to an active shooter situation to identify buildings where a shooter or shooters might be located, identify victims, as well as identify shooters by comparing images with photos. Cheriss May/NurPhoto via Getty Images En espanol | About half of the 4.7 million low-income Americans who receive federal assistance to help them afford housing would get a rent increase and many would be subject to work requirements as part of a major overhaul of the subsidy program the Trump administration has proposed. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson has asked Congress to enact the Making Affordable Housing Work Act of 2018, which would triple the minimum rents for some of the nations neediest families from $50 a month to $150 and increase the share other poor families must pay from 30 percent of their gross income to 35 percent. The plan also would eliminate deductions allowed to that income for child care and medical expenses, something that could prove especially costly for older adults with steep health care bills. By eliminating income deductions for households with high medical or child care expenses, HUD would ensure that some of the greatest burden from the rent hikes would be felt by seniors, people with disabilities and families with young kids, the very populations already at significant risk of homelessness, said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. Carsons plan would exempt current recipients age 62 and over and individuals with disabilities from the rent increases for the first six years, but all new tenants would have to pay the higher rents immediately. Rents would be calculated every three years instead of annually, which HUD officials say would ease the administrative burden on public housing authorities, owners, and residents and allow a residents income to increase for several years before a rent increase. The bill also would allow public housing agencies or property owners to impose work or job training requirements on tenants with subsidies who are under age 65. Only a small number of housing authorities currently have work mandates. Only 6 percent of households receiving housing aid include adults who are not elderly and physically able to work but dont, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition. HUDs housing assistance is the third federal program that could subject recipients to work requirements as a condition of getting safety-net benefits. The Department of Health and Human Services has given a number of states permission to impose work rules on some Medicaid enrollees, and the House bill reauthorizing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP, or food stamps includes work rules. Former Northern State interim president, 100, tours new football stadium Lester Clarke, who taught at Northern from 1959 to 1992, toured Northern State's new football stadium. NAME: Xochitl Torres Small POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat OCCUPATION: Attorney specializing in water CITY OF RESIDENCE: Las Cruces RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Xochitl Torres Small is a water attorney and former staffer for Sen. Tom Udall. After attending college, she returned home to work on then Rep. Tom Udalls successful run for the Senate. Following his victory, she helped to set up his southern New Mexico district office, which was responsible for serving much of the current 2nd Congressional District. As a Field Representative for Sen. Udall, Xochitl worked on issues ranging from water conservation and infrastructure development to education and health care accessibility. Inspired by her work on water for Sen. Udall, Xochitl left his office to attend law school at the University of New Mexico (UNM), where she specialized in natural resources and conservation. Immediately after completing her degree, she clerked for a New Mexico federal judge with one of the heaviest criminal dockets in the country. Most recently, Xochitl has been practicing law at Kemp Smith focusing mostly on water law. EDUCATION: Georgetown University, University of New Mexico School of Law CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: XochforCongress.com QUESTIONS & ANSWERS: 1. Please give your position on DACA. For many of the young people protected by DACA and other DREAMers, the United States is the only home theyve ever known. DACA recipients are high school and college students, service members, f ull-time employees, and taxpayers aspiring towards the American Dream. I fully support DACA because DREAMers, and what they bring to our communities, are an example of what make our country great. 2. Do you favor amnesty, a path to citizenship or worker permits for most or all of the people now living illegally in the U.S.? Who do you think, if anyone, should be deported? As a former clerk for a federal judge with one of the heaviest criminal dockets in the country, I have seen first hand the costs our nation bears because of its broken immigration system. I am in favor of comprehensive immigration reform that includes options to bring people out of the shadows, allows individuals to work and live in the Un ited States legally, and provides a meaningful pathway to citizenship for qualified applicants. As a part of such reform, we can improve border security and prioritize law enforcement so we are targeting criminals rather than ripping apart families. 3. Do you believe the borders are secure enough? If not, what do you propose should be done to increase their security? Do you support Trumps proposal to build a $25 billion wall? Growing up near the border and working on issues of border security for Sen. U dall, I know how important it is to secure our borders. However, I oppose the construction of a border wall because like most New Mexicans, I understand that a wall is both ineffective and an inefficient use of our resources. I believe we need to support and fund proven effective security measures as well as increased technology and surveillance along the border to better allow agents to identify activity and respond in a timely manner. 4. Whats your position on skills- based immigration vs. family-based? Our immigration policy must reflect the needs of our country. A multi-option immigration policy recognizes that immigrants are more likely to be successful, productive members of our communities when they have a strong network of family to support their transition, while also filling existing national skills gaps by creating work permits and pathways to citizenship based on certain skills, from agriculture to STEM. On the topic of school safety and gun control: 1. Do you favor a federal ban on the sale of assault-style weapons? If so, what would you do about the millions of the assault-style weapons now legally owned by American citizens? I grew up in a household with guns and hunting is part of my heritage. One of the first serious conversations I remember having with my grandfather was about gun safety. To improve gun safety, we must implement common sense gun laws to close loopholes, efforts supported by not only a majority of Americans, but also a majority of gun owners. Additionally, experts on all sides of this issue, law enforcement, mental health and gun safety experts, the hunt ing community, and gun rights groups and students should be brought together to develop measures that make for responsible and safer gun ownership. 2. What other, if any, gun law changes would you support? I am a hunter and I grew up with guns. I believe what most gun owners believe that we need to implement common-sense gun safety measures such as keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of dangerous people, including domestic abusers, requiring comprehensive background checks for all gun sales, and closing loopholes in existing laws to keep our kids and communities safe. 3.Would you favor a repeal of the 2nd amendment? No. 4. While much of the discussion on school safety centers on gun control, what other measures would you support to make schools safer? Theres general agreement that we need to invest in the long-term solution of supporting access to mental health care in schools, in rural and urban communities, and no matter your income. On the topic of foreign policy: 1.What do you propose the U.S. do with regards to Syria? We must operate with a clear strategy, including a defined objective and timeline for involvement, to avoid entrenching ourselves in another conflict. That is why the President should not act without congressional authorization of military force. Our strategy should further two goals: preventing the return of the Islamic State and arriving at a diploma tic resolution to the civil war. 2. In Afghanistan? The war in Afghanistan has become Americas longest war in history. After 16 years, we need a plan to bring our troops home. The President has failed to explain what he seeks to achieve by increasing our presence from 8,500 to almost 15,000 troops. Our ultimate objective must remain keeping Al Qaeda or the Islamic State from establishing a safe haven in Afghanistan and minimizing the instability that allows anti U.S. terrorist groups to operate. To accomplish this, we must pursue a three- pronged strategy involving defense, development, and diplomacy. 3. In Mexico? As New Mexicans, we must maintain strong, collaborative relationship with our neighbor, Mexico. International trade is essential to New Mexicos local economy, producing over $3.6 billion in revenue, creating 15,000 jobs, and supporting 1,400 businesses, most of which are small- and medium-sized businesses. 4. Relations with Russia are said to be at their worst in many years after allegations of Russian meddling in our elections, the Trump administrations decision to sell weapons to Ukraine and the recent expulsion of 60 Russian diplomats. Do you approve of these actions? What would your posture be towards Russia? Like a majority of Americans, I believe we must impose stricter sanctions and to counter Russias dangerous and aggressive behavior. We must also rely on our intelligence agencies, secureour social media platforms, and combat the proliferation of false information, which can be weapon ized by our adversaries to weaken our democratic institutions. 5. If talks fail, would you support a pre- emptive strike on North Korea to degrade its nuclear capabilities and missile delivery systems? If talks fail, the U.S. must work with its allies and China to increase pressure on the regime and force them back to the table. On the economy: 1. How would you make New Mexico less dependent on federal spending? We need to invest in our rural communities and smaller cities to support private- sector jobs. Economic growth depends on a ready and skilled workforce, 21st Century infrastructure, collaboration, rather than one-size- fits-all regulation, and working with entrepreneurs and local leaders to capitalize on unique community assets. The federal go vernment plays a role in supporting each of these components. 2. Do you support or oppose President Trumps imposition of higher tariffs on China? Why or why not? It is clear that in order to protect New Mexican workers we need to counter the unfair trade practices from China. This should be done, so that the interests of entrepreneurs, farmers, blue collar workers and other stakeholders are all represented. Reckless statements and impulsive tariffs will not result in a successful long-term strategy. In Congress, Ill fight for fair trade policies that help New Mexican farmers, ranchers, businesses and workers. 1. Do you favor or oppose limits on late-term abortion, and do you believe tax dollars should or should not be used to fund abortions? For most women who are faced witha late-term abortion, they are in the midst of a medical crisis. Decisions like these should be made between a woman, her family, her doctor, and her faith. Their medical options should not be limited by politicians. The result of prohibiting the use of tax dollars on abortion procedures is that, low- income woman, who are insured by NM Medicaid, would not have access to life- saving medical procedures. All New Mexicans should have access to quality medical care. 2. What should be done at the federal level to address the crisis of opioid addiction? The federal government needs to face the opioid crisis head-on. Thus far Republicans in Washington have only paid lip service to this crisis, but have failed to direct any substantial resources to help states with emergency responses, addiction treatment, and stopping the flood of illegal opioids into the states. New Mexico has been a leader in these measures, and were seeing a third year of decreased deaths as a result. Its time Washingt on learns from our best practices. 3. Do you favor or oppose a national single day payer health system? Explain. I am focused on making affordable healthcare accessible to everyone. In southern New Mexico, many communities are faced with a lack of preven tive and basic healthcare services. I want to work with communities to help bridge that gap by expanding incentives for healthcare service providers to practice in rural communities. We must also work to decrease the cost of prescription medication and strengthen Medicare. 4. What would you do to rein in health care costs? While there are no easy answers, there are a handful of things we can do to begin addressing the continued rising costs of health care, including: stabilizing the insurance pool to lower premiums, prioritizing preventative care, and working to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. 5. If elected, are there any issues you could work with President Trump on, and would you be willing to do so? We need to invest in our nations infrastructure, especially in rural communities and smaller cities. Right now, our safety, education, and ability to compete for jobs is limited by where we live. I would be glad to support an infrastructure bill that leveled the playing field for our communities.I was also pleased to hear the Presidents discussion of pay inequality in his State of the Union address. I am eager to work on this issue, which impacts women and families nationwide. 6. If you had to decide today, would you vote to impeach President Trump? As an attorney, I believe in due process and that, after such process, no one is above the law. We need to firmly support the independence of ongoing investigations to protect those principles and allow the facts to unfold. 7. Should the federal government play a role in setting education policy for the nations public schools? Explain your answer. As a product of Las Cruces public schools and the daughter of an NEA member, I know that a strong education is essential to improving the quality of li fe from generation to generation. All students regardless of income, location, or background deserve a quality education. We must relentlessly advocate to increase funding for our public schools so that students have the resources they need, decrease our class sizes, institute universal Pre-K, and ensure our teachers receive the pay they deserve . 8. Why do you want to be a member of Congress? Growing up in Las Cruces, I seldom felt I was represented by the person elected to do just that. As an adult, whether as a Field Representative for Senator Udall or in my capacity as a water attorney, I have spent my career delivering results for southern New Mexico. I have successfully fought to protect water for our farmers and ranchers, increase funding to NMSU, and expand broadband throughout our rural communities. In Congress, I will continue my work to support and represent southern New Mexico. Personal background 1. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens? No. 2. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding? No. 3. Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony in New Mexico or a ny other state? If so, explain. No. Two members of Albuquerques bravest and a future member of Albuquerques finest received recognition Wednesday for going above and beyond the call of duty. Mayor Tim Keller honored crew members from Fire Station 5 for a Christmas act of kindness after inspiration came in the form of a 2-year-old girl they rescued. In what began as an effort to simply put a smile back on the girls face, fire Lts. Jeff Ruscetti and Steve Stratmoen ended up collecting and delivering more than 100 Christmas gifts to children in the hospital. Im thankful to say that shes visited us since, Ruscetti said. Shes doing well. She needed a smile on her face and we came together with a few other organizations and gathered a lot of toys to bring to her to cheer her up. The response was much more than we thought, and we ended up with about four shopping carts of toys. To put a smile on her face was definitely our goal, but in doing so we decided we would disburse these toys throughout the three floors of the childrens hospital. It was a good day for quite a few different people. Keller also recognized Albuquerque Police Cadet Brian Wilson, who is scheduled to graduate in about four weeks, for coming to the aid of a woman recently who was attacked by a pack of dogs while walking her own dog in a city neighborhood. Police Chief Michael Geier said Wilson epitomizes the kind of ideals and character desired in new officers. A young man pulled up in a car and not only offered to call the police, but made sure the woman and her dog got in her car and got to safety as soon as possible, Geier said. Cadets are very cautious about doing anything off duty. Theyre behavior is monitored 24/7. Brian took the risk and he did the right thing, and were very proud of what he did. Each of the men received a hero coin from the mayors office to memorialize their contributions. A teenager is being tried as an adult on a murder charge in the slaying of a 16-year-old boy during a road rage incident in late March. Deputies say Damian Luna, 16, fired the fatal shots that struck Efrain Arzate Jr. in the head as Arzate rode in the back of a car in southwest Albuquerque on March 20. Luna is charged with an open count of murder, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, tampering with evidence and child abuse. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, Luna emptied the clip of a 40 caliber pistol into the car carrying Arzate Jr. and two others from a car being driven by 19-year-old Alexis Rogers. Rogers was arrested Monday and, during questioning, told detectives the vehicle with Arzate Jr. in it nearly hit her and she had swerved to avoid a crash. According to the complaint, Rogers began yelling at the driver, who then flipped her off at the red light. Rogers told detectives that as they continued driving, Luna suddenly fired gunshots at the car. Deputies say once Rogers and Luna found out Arzate had been killed in the shooting, they fled the state, traveling to Texas, Nevada and Colorado before returning to Albuquerque. Luna was already booked into the Juvenile Detention Center on April 17 on unrelated charges. When detectives tried to question him about the slaying, Luna asked for an attorney. The District Attorneys Office has asked that Luna be kept behind bars until trial, with a detention hearing set for next week. Luna is the fifth juvenile arrested in four homicide cases so far in 2018. In anticipation of federal Judge Robert Bracks retirement from the bench in Las Cruces come July and after Judge Christina Armijos retirement from her seat in Albuquerque in February, New Mexicos senators have submitted recommendations for new federal judges. The recommendation, part of the senators responsibilities, includes five current judges, an Albuquerque attorney and a federal public defender. An announcement of U.S. Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrichs recommendations released Wednesday says Rep. Steve Pearce assisted with the recommendations. Suggested for the Albuquerque post are: Mark Baker, an attorney in Albuquerque with the firm Peifer, Hanson & Mullins, P.A. Kea Riggs, 5th Judicial District judge in Chaves County. James Lawrence Sanchez, a judge in the 13th Judicial District. Steven Yarbrough, a federal magistrate judge in Albuquerque. Suggested for the Las Cruces seat: Kea Riggs. Steven Sosa, an assistant federal public defender in Las Cruces. Kevin Sweazea, a federal magistrate judge in Las Cruces. Gregory Wormuth, a federal magistrate judge in Las Cruces. The White House will decide who fills each vacancy. The Boy Scouts of America will be adding something new to its programs next year girl scouts. On Wednesday, the organization announced that starting Feb. 1, 2019, the word Boy will be dropped from its signature program and will be known as Scouts BSA. At that time, girls will be able to join and earn merit badges and rank advancement toward becoming an Eagle Scout, said Chris Shelby, scout executive of the Great Southwest Council, which oversees about 8,000 scouts in New Mexico, including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Eagle Scouts. The parent organization, Boy Scouts of America, will retain its name. The move is part of the Scout Me In initiative, intended to promote inclusiveness and broaden the appeal of the organization, which like the Girl Scouts of the USA has seen declining membership in recent years. Scouting programs under the Boy Scouts of America have about 2.3 million members, while the Girl Scouts claim a membership of about 1.8 million, according to websites for the organizations. Sylvia Acevedo, CEO for Girl Scouts of the USA said in a statement that the BSA announcement did not include any girl specific programming. Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development organization for girls, she said. We are, and will remain, the first choice for girls and parents. Likewise, Peggy Sanchez Mills, CEO of Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails, which serves approximately 6,000 girls and women across central and northern New Mexico, said the organization has more than 100 years of experience building girls courage, confidence and character. We are the premier organization for girls, she said. Cub Scouts, whose name will remain unchanged, has already begun to allow girls into its program ahead of the formal opening to girls on June 1. Thus far, only about 10 girls have enrolled in Cub Scout packs affiliated with the Great Southwest Council in New Mexico, Shelby said. We do our biggest recruitment for Cub Scouts in the fall, with the start of new school year, so we expect that number to grow considerably. He noted that each of the Cub Scout packs and Boy Scout troops have the freedom to decide on their own if they want to admit girls or create a separate pack or troop for them. Still, Shelby said, he did not expect there to be much resistance. The point is to provide scouting for all, he said. Change is always a challenge for people, said Shelby, who began in scouting in the 1980s, just as women were being allowed in leadership roles within the Boy Scouts of America. That was a difficult transition for some people because scouting was a male-only organization. Now, about half of the leadership positions in this council, and I think nationwide, are filled by women, he said. The Boy Scouts of America has seen plenty of change recently. Last year it announced it would accept and register transgender youths into its organization. In 2015, it ended its ban on gay leaders. SANTA FE Sam Sena, a candidate for Santa Fe County magistrate judge and a retired New Mexico State Police officer, last year had his police certification suspended, after the state Law Enforcement Academy Board found him guilty of dishonesty and displaying a lack of good moral character. He retired from the State Police when a board investigation into his alleged untruthfulness and unprofessional conduct began to unfold. Sena said in a statement Wednesday that hes learned from his mistake and the experience will make me a more effective judge. Sena, who says on his campaign website that he now serves as community liaison for the Santa Fe County Magistrate Court DWI Drug Court, faces attorney John A. Ryansek in the June 5 Democratic primary for the courts Division 3 judgeship. He was a 15-year veteran of the State Police when he retired in July 2016. According to documents obtained from the Department of Public Safety under a records request, Senas retirement came two days after he received notice of possible termination from the State Police over alleged falsification of firearms qualification scores for other officers in his role as an instructor at the Law Enforcement Academy. The misconduct investigation continued following Senas retirement. A Sept. 9, 2016 letter from Law Enforcement Academy Director Stephan Marshall states that Sena, a lead range master who was tasked with managing officers firearms qualifications and reporting their shooting scores, had provided false scores in 2015 on multiple occasions. Upon questioning, he told officials that he had recorded the scores on his phone, but it malfunctioned and deleted the data, the letter says. Sena reluctantly admitted that score reports he provided in late 2015 were fabricated and that he made them up. Sena said he was not a liar, the letter states. The board approved Marshalls recommendation for a one-year suspension of Senas law enforcement certification in June 2017 with a recommendation that Marshall also review Senas certification as a firearms instructor. DPS spokesperson Herman Lovato confirmed Wednesday that Senas firearms instructor certification was also pulled. Sena declined a phone interview but provided the Journal with a statement that said hed been recording officers firearms scores on a personal device and they were accidentally erased. At the time I hoped to recover the information and did not immediately report the lost data to my supervisors, the statement reads. He said he later submitted figures based on his recollection of what had been on his phone. Sena said that when told he could lose his law enforcement certification, he retired because he was unable to hire an attorney to mount a defense. The experience I have gathered during my time with the New Mexico State Police is not diminished because of a single event; in fact, I believe that it will make me a more effective judge, the statement reads. I believe this from the perspective of having made a mistake and learning from the consequences. According to a KRQE report, Sena was fired from the Pueblo of Pojoaque tribal police where he started working following his State police retirement shortly after he lost his certification. Pojoaque Police Chief Frank Rael confirmed in a voicemail that Sena worked there from Oct. 7, 2016 to June 20, 2017, but Rael could not be reached again to clarify why Sena left the force. I barely slept the night before my first day as a full-fledged teacher back in August 1984. I was worried about being 22 years old and keeping a classroom full of teenagers engaged in learning. One issue that did not keep me up that night was the fear of an active shooter coming into the school. Times have changed, and some people, including our president, are calling for teachers to be armed. Sadly, active-shooter drills have become a regular part of the school year for many students and teachers. We huddle in corners with doors locked, waiting for the all-clear announcement. When I decided to teach, I didnt sign up to be an armed security guard. I didnt sign up to worry about the sanctuary of our school being invaded by a shooter armed with an AR-15 and a huge cache of ammunition. All of us want our students to be safe, and arming teachers is not the answer. Teachers like myself here in Albuquerque were relieved when the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education announced its opposition to arming teachers. The president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, Ellen Bernstein, said union members believe the idea is ridiculous. I could not agree more, and I thank APS for taking a stance against arming teachers. Its not just me and local educator organizations who feel this way. Teachers nationwide oppose this policy. The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association, the nations two largest organizations of education professionals, oppose arming teachers, as do the National Association of School Resource Officers and the president and executive director of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, which represents 75 police forces from large cities in the United States and Canada. The National Rifle Association claims arming teachers will stop active shooters during a school shooting, but the research shows that arming civilians is not an effective way to stop active shooters. In fact, the FBI found that in 160 active shooter incidents, there was only one successful armed civilian intervention and the civilian was a highly trained U.S. Marine. In contrast, unarmed civilians successfully intervened in over 20 incidents. The risks of arming civilians, on the other hand, are quite clear. When Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was shot and injured in Tucson, an armed civilian came very close to firing at the innocent unarmed civilian who disarmed the shooter. The most effective way to keep students, teachers and our community safe is to adopt proactive, common-sense solutions that keep guns out of the hands of people with dangerous histories. One of those policies is a Red Flag Law, which would empower families and law enforcement to petition courts to temporarily block a person from having firearms if they are at risk of harming themselves or others with a gun. This legislation saves lives by creating a means for family members and law enforcement to act before warning signs of violence escalate into tragedies. This kind of law rather than proposals to arm teachers might have prevented the tragedy in Parkland, Fla., where the shooter showed clear warning signs. States across the country are already turning their attention to this kind of legislation after Parkland. Another way to ensure we are stopping people with dangerous histories from acquiring guns is to require a criminal background check on every gun sale. Under federal law, convicted felons, domestic abusers and people with dangerous mental illnesses are not allowed to buy or possess firearms. However, because of a loophole in the law, they can easily buy guns from unlicensed sellers online or at a gun show. Our teachers first and foremost priority should be teaching, and our students priority should be learning. As a teacher with 25 years of experience, I can tell you that teaching our students is responsibility enough. Guns have no place in our classrooms, and teachers and law enforcement officials across the country agree. Instead of debating short-sighted policies like arming teachers, our elected leaders should focus on solutions that are proven to prevent gun violence. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal La Cueva High School students walked out of class Wednesday morning for a pro-Second Amendment rally. The Northeast Heights school joined others in the state and throughout the nation for the movement called Stand for the Second. Co-organizers Casey Bruno, 16, and Devon Van Leeuwen, 15, said about 100 students participated. The two were the main speakers at the rally, which they hope will start a conversation about gun rights. Our school safety is very important to our government and myself. Im not here to argue about that, but I am here to make sure our Second Amendment is kept safe and upheld, Van Leeuwen said. He said stricter gun laws would prevent good people from getting guns. Bruno told the Journal the rally was a way to show another perspective in a nationwide debate. We wanted our student body and government to know not everyone was anti-gun, the sophomore said. I think I planted the seed that guns can be used for good things. The 10 a.m. protest lasted about 20 minutes, Van Leeuwen said. The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun, one protesters sign said. Will Riley, a Carlsbad High School senior, is being credited as the founder of the nationwide movement. The Carlsbad walkout started just after 3:30 p.m., less than 20 minutes before the end of the school day, and more than 600 students participated, Riley said. The 18-year-old was inspired to start the movement because he felt his entire generation was being labeled as gun control advocates, and he wanted to show that wasnt the consensus. Riley said he was happy with the turnout for Stand for the Second both in Carlsbad and nationwide. I was just really proud to give a platform for people who felt like they were being ignored, and I thought I was able to break the silence, he told the Journal. Riley said he was also named an honorary sheriffs deputy by Eddy County for his advocacy efforts. I was really happy to see that law enforcement was so committed to protecting our rights, he said. Hundreds of schools from all over America participated in solidarity with the movement, including students from Illinois, California, Florida and Nebraska. Riley said he was able to spread the word about the protest using social media. The walkout comes after other recent protests have advocated for stricter controls on weapons as a way to deter gun violence after a shooting that left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Correction: The headline on an earlier version of this story was incorrect. It has been corrected above. Also, an image of Rep. Carl Trujillo was incorrectly included in an email promoting this story. Trujillo is not involved in this story. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal City Councilor Pat Davis has raised questions about the extent to which the citys role in a proposed project at the airport might violate Albuquerques immigrant-friendly resolution because the company behind it is the recipient of hundreds of millions of dollars in federal contracts from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The company, Albuquerque-based CSI Aviation, says there is no relationship between its ICE services and the hangar it rents at the Albuquerque International Sunport or the proposed project: a renovation of the former headquarters of Eclipse Aerospace, financed partly through $250,000 in state Local Economic Development Funding. The project was approved by the Albuquerque Development Commission on March 29. It has not been scheduled for a vote by the council, according to city staff, although the New Mexico Economic Development Department previously told the Journal it expected the project to go before the council in May. The company estimates the hangar renovation will create and maintain an additional 60 full-time jobs over the next decade. Those jobs include positions for pilots, maintenance personnel and administrative staff, among others, with an average annual wage of $50,000. Davis, who is also a congressional candidate, on Feb. 28 wrote a letter expressing concerns about the proposal to the citys chief administrative officer, Sarita Nair. At that time, the city had not yet passed its resolution banning the use of municipal resources to identify undocumented immigrants or apprehend people based on their immigration status. If passed, (the resolution) would explicitly prohibit the city from aiding in any part of the federal immigration enforcement or deportation process, Davis wrote in his letter to Nair. I believe this would prohibit the use of staff in the Economic Development Department from serving as aides to the (CSI Aviation) application or facilitating subsequent payments from city-administered funds, even if they are pass-throughs from the states. A CSI representative said in an email that it wouldnt be appropriate for CSI to comment on the procedural items raised by Davis. But Michele Martinez, CSI vice president for marketing, said in a statement that the company saw no conflict with the resolution, and said its New Mexico business operations are about getting sick and injured people transported by air to receive the medical care that they need to stay alive, adding quality jobs and revenue to the local economy, and coming up with a solution to use empty and wasted hangar space at the Sunport. She also said CSI has been diversifying its business operations to include work with its own aircraft through federal contracts unrelated to ICE, including transportation of military personnel for the U.S. Department of Defense. The city attorney and the Mayors Office did not respond to requests for comment. Federal databases show that over the past five years, CSI has received more than $383 million in contracts with ICEs Detention Compliance and Removals office for air charter services. A 2014 Los Angeles Times story characterized CSI as the largest private contractor for ICE Air, with more than $560 million in related contracts since 2010. The company also offers air ambulance and executive charter services, and has many contracts with other federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, though none as large as its ICE awards. Many of the companys most lucrative ICE awards expire this summer. Asked by the Journal whether CSI planned to continue working with ICE, Martinez said it would continue to offer its services where opportunities for its services exist and directed further questions about its contracts to federal agencies. Sherman McCorkle, chairman of the citys Development Commission, said the commission did not seek information about CSIs federal contracts before approving the project. Our focus is on redevelopment, and whether a project is a catalyst for economic development, and not any partisan issues, McCorkle said. CSI previously received approval from the city in 2017 for $500,000 in LEDA funds to construct a new hangar. Since then, the project has shifted to renovation of an existing 36,995-square-foot hangar, requiring a new round of city and state review. CSI Vice President Mark Ramthun previously told the Journal in a statement that the change made more sense to both the city and CSI Aviation. The companys CEO is Allen Weh, a former Republican gubernatorial candidate and a retired Marine Corps Reserve officer. Davis said in an email that he sponsored an amendment to the 2017 action that was passed that says, No direct city-initiated funds distributed for the project may be used to support or facilitate immigration enforcement efforts. SANTA FE Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce has a free ride in next months primary election, but hes already launching a television ad blitz aimed at burnishing his image and bolstering his campaign. Pearces ad shows a personal side of the veteran GOP congressman, featuring him standing in front of the run-down West Texas house he lived in for the first two years of his life. Ive been in those shoes I know the way out, Pearce says in the 30-second spot. As governor, Ill prove that its still there. The ad started airing Wednesday on cable and Albuquerque-area network stations. Its scheduled to run for three weeks, and the Pearce campaign is spending more than $110,000 to air it, a campaign spokesman said. The national Democratic Governors Association quickly responded to Pearces ad, claiming the congressmans past votes on bills dealing with health care and food assistance programs have made things harder for low-income New Mexicans. Incumbent GOP Gov. Susana Martinez is barred from seeking a third consecutive term this year and all three Democrats competing for the gubernatorial nomination Michelle Lujan Grisham, Jeff Apodaca and Joseph Cervantes have also taken to the TV airwaves, with the June 5 primary election rapidly approaching. The candidates have not gone negative with ads attacking one anothers records. Lujan Grisham, a three-term congresswoman who is also forgoing a re-election bid to run for governor, launched her first TV ad of the primary election cycle last week. She also released a new radio ad earlier this week that focuses on schools, crime and the state economy. Cervantes, a state senator from Las Cruces, began airing a TV ad of his own last week that features him with his family. Hes spending more than $102,000 to run the ad through this weekend on several Albuquerque-area network channels, according to public station files. As for Apodaca, a former Albuquerque media executive, he has been on the airwaves for months, though his recent ad spending has been more modest. In all, New Mexico gubernatorial candidates have reported spending more than $3.7 million on TV ads and other campaign expenditures a figure thats sure to rise in the coming months. Lujan Grisham and Pearce have posted the largest fundraising totals. Each candidate reported getting more than $1.4 million during a recent six-month period, though nearly half of the campaign cash reported by Pearce a total of $783,767 was transferred from his congressional campaign account. BEIJING U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin sounded a positive note Friday about talks between U.S. and Chinese officials ahead of a second day of meetings aimed at easing tensions that have taken the worlds two largest economies the closest theyve ever come to a trade war. Were having very good conversations, Mnuchin said in a brief comment to reporters at a Beijing hotel as he and other members of the U.S. delegation set off for more meetings with the Chinese. Analysts say chances for a breakthrough appear slim given the two sides intensifying rivalry in strategic technologies, where China lags behind the U.S. The Chinese side has not commented publicly on the specifics of the talk, though a foreign ministry spokeswoman said the talks should be made on the basis of mutual respect and aim for mutually beneficial outcomes. Its normal for the U.S. and China to have differences on trade, the state-run China Daily newspaper said in an editorial Friday. But the fact theyre ready to exchange blows shows how niggly those differences have become. And how difficult it will be for the two sides to walk away happy. An acceptable agreement could be possible if both sides have realistic expectations of their give and take, the paper added. Failure would herald a slugfest of tariffs that would leave global trade reeling, it said. The dispute has deepened as China has stepped up efforts to overtake western industry leaders in advanced technologies, especially for semiconductors, the silicon brains required to run smartphones, connected cars, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Under Xi, a program known as Made in China 2025 aims to make China a tech superpower by advancing development of industries that in addition to semiconductors includes artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals and electric vehicles. The plan mostly involves subsidizing Chinese firms. But it also requires foreign companies to provide key details about their technologies to Chinese partners. U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to cut the chronic U.S. trade deficit by $100 billion and gain concessions over the policies that foreign companies say force them to share technology in order to gain market access. His administration has threatened to impose new tariffs on roughly $150 billion in Chinese goods. That prompted China to announce its own tariffs on U.S. goods, and Beijing also looks unlikely to cede any ground on its strategic blueprint for technology. The Made in China 2025 industrial policy concerns Chinas long-term development plan, so the overall direction wont change at all, said Yu Miaojie, professor at Peking Universitys National School of Development. Yu says China would rather cut the trade deficit by importing high-tech products from the U.S. that are currently tightly restricted. The state-run Global Times newspaper said Thursday in a commentary that its our sovereign right to develop high-tech industry and it is connected to the quality of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It will not be abandoned due to external pressure. The U.S. delegation is due to leave Beijing on Friday evening. Trump said on Twitter at the start of the talks that he expected relations to stay on an even keel. Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade! he tweeted. I look forward to being with President Xi in the not too distant future. We will always have a good (great) relationship! Experts have noted rival views within the U.S. delegation. That could prevent an early resolution of the dispute, which could lead the U.S. to move ahead on the first round of tariffs. The team is too ideologically different to come to a unified view so they will bring Chinas concerns back to the White House for resolution, said Yukon Huang, senior fellow in the Asia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Huang said the key question is whether Trump wants to keep up the pressure on China. All evidence suggests that this is his inclination even if his thinking on trade is largely misguided, Huang said. Thus the next round of tariffs on $50 billion imports is likely to proceed but what comes next is unclear. The group led by Mnuchin includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and White House trade advisor Peter Navarro, a fierce China critic. Liu He, President Xi Jinpings top economic adviser, has headed the Chinese side in the talks. It was unclear if the group would be meeting with President Xi Jinping or with Premier Li Keqiang. A meeting with Xi might suggest signs of progress, analysts said. ____ Chan reported from Hong Kong. AP reporters Gillian Wong and Emily Wang and researcher Yu Bing contributed to this report from Beijing. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump insisted Thursday his reimbursement of a 2016 hush payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels had nothing to do with his election campaign. But the surprise revelation of the presidents payment clashed with his past statements, created new legal headaches and stunned many in the West Wing. White House aides were blindsided when Trumps recently added attorney, Rudy Giuliani, said Wednesday night that the president had repaid Michael Cohen for $130,000 that was given to Daniels to keep her quiet before the 2016 election about her allegations of an affair with Trump. Giulianis revelation, which seemed to contradict Trumps past statements, came as the presidents newly configured outside legal team pursued his defense, apparently with zero coordination with the West Wing. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said she first learned that Trump had repaid the hush money from Giulianis interview on Fox News Channels Hannity. Staffers phones began to buzz within moments. Deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley, who had pre-taped an interview with Fox News earlier Wednesday evening, was suddenly summoned to return for a live interview. While Giuliani said the payment to Daniels was going to turn out to be perfectly legal, legal experts said the new information raised a number of questions, including whether the money represented repayment of an undisclosed loan or could be seen as reimbursement for a campaign expenditure. Either could be legally problematic. Giuliani insisted Trump didnt know the specifics of Cohens arrangement with Daniels until recently, telling Fox & Friends on Thursday that the president didnt know all the details until maybe 10 days ago. Giuliani told The New York Times that Trump had repaid Cohen $35,000 a month out of his personal family account after the campaign was over. He said Cohen received $460,000 or $470,000 in all for expenses related to Trump. But no debt to Cohen was listed on Trumps personal financial disclosure form, which was certified on June 16, 2017. Asked if Trump had filed a fraudulent form, Sanders said: I dont know. Giuliani said the payment was not a campaign finance violation, but also acknowledged that Daniels hushed-up allegations could have affected the campaign, saying: Imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton. Questions remain about just what Trump knew and when. Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, is seeking to be released from a non-disclosure deal she signed in the days before the 2016 election to keep her from talking about a 2006 sexual encounter she said she had with Trump. She has also filed defamation suits against Cohen and Trump. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One several weeks ago, Trump said he did not know about the payment or where the money came from. In a phone interview with Fox and Friends last week, however, he appeared to muddy the waters, saying that Cohen represented him in the crazy Stormy Daniels deal. Sanders said Thursday that Trump eventually learned about the payment, but she did not offer details. For all the controversy Giuliani stirred up, some Trump supporters said it was wise to get the payment acknowledgement out in the open. Said former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: You know, theres an old saying in the law, Hang a lantern on your problems. So the fact is that Rudy has to go out there now and clean it up. Thats what lawyers get hired to do. Daniels herself weighed in via Twitter, saying: I dont think Cohen is qualified to clean up my horses manure. Too soon? Her attorney, Michael Avenatti, who engaged in his own press tour Thursday, slammed both Trump and Giuliani. The admissions by Mr. Giuliani as to Mr. Trumps conduct and the acts of Mr. Cohen are directly contrary to the lies previously told to the American people, he said. There will ultimately be severe consequences. Trump is facing mounting legal threats from the Cohen-Daniels situation and the special counsels investigation of Russian meddling in the election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign. Cohen is facing a criminal investigation in New York, and FBI agents raided his home and office several weeks ago seeking records about the Daniels nondisclosure agreement. Giuliani has warned Trump that he fears Cohen, the presidents longtime personal attorney, will flip, bending in the face of a potential prison sentence, and he has urged Trump to cut off communications with him, according to a person close to Giuliani. The presidents self-proclaimed legal fixer has been surprised and concerned by Trumps recent stance toward him, according to a Cohen confidant. Cohen was dismayed to hear Trump marginalize his role during an interview last week with Fox & Friends and interpreted a recent negative National Enquirer cover story as a warning shot from a publication that has long been cozy with Trump, said the person who was not authorized to talk about private conversations and spoke only on condition of anonymity. Cohen also had not indicated to friends that Trumps legal team was going to contradict his original claim that he was not reimbursed for the payment to Daniels. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and U.S. attorney, joined Trumps legal team last month. He told CNN on Thursday that the announcement of Trumps repayment of the hush money was a planned strategy, saying: You wont see daylight between me and the president. He was quickly backed up by Trump, who said on Twitter that he had repaid Cohen. Trump himself was happy with Giulianis performance, according to a person familiar with his views but not authorized to speak about them publicly. And Giuliani told The Washington Post the president was very pleased. Jason Miller, who worked on both Trumps and Giulianis presidential campaigns and remains close with both, said the fact the White House was caught off-guard was by design. He said the outside legal team was supposed to work independently of the White House, modeled on the team that defended President Bill Clinton during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. This is not the White Houses job. This is not what theyre supposed to be worried about, he said. So its good that theyre not worried about this. ___ Associated Press writers Zeke Miller and Eric Tucker contributed to this report. WASHINGTON Record exports trimmed the U.S. trade deficit in March, the first drop in seven months in a massive gap that President Donald Trump is determined to shrink with an aggressive America first policy. The Commerce Department says the trade deficit the difference between what America sells and what it buys in foreign markets slid to $49 billion, down from $57.7 billion in February and lowest since September. Trump has vowed to bring down Americas massive deficits, which he blames on bad trade agreements and abusive practices by U.S. trading partners. Exports rose in March to a record $208.5 billion, led by shipments of civilian aircraft and soybeans. Imports slipped 1.8 percent to $257.5 billion. The United States ran a $20.5 billion surplus in the trade of services such as education and banking. But that was offset by a $69.5 billion deficit in the trade of goods. Top administration officials are visiting Beijing this week for talks aimed at reducing Americas huge trade deficit in goods with China, which fell 11.6 percent in March to $25.9 billion. Trump is threatening to slap tariffs on up to $150 billion in Chinese products, and the Chinese have targeted $50 billion in U.S. products, including soybeans and small aircraft. The administration is also seeking to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada, and has slapped tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. Despite the reduction in March, the trade gap is up 18.5 percent to $163.4 billion so far this year. The president views trade deficits as a sign of economic weakness that can be brought down by more aggressive trade policies. Most economists say they are caused by bigger economic forces, mainly the fact that the United States consistently spends more than it produces. The trade gap has continued to rise since Trump entered the White House partly because the U.S. economy is strong and American consumers have an appetite for imported products and the confidence and financial wherewithal to buy them. BEIJING Chinas foreign minister congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday on his moves to reduce tensions with South Korea, China said. Their meeting in Pyongyang underscored warming ties and Beijings desire to remain a key player in the Korean Peninsula peace process. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also told Kim that Beijing backs North Koreas shift of focus to economic growth, along with its efforts to resolve its legitimate security concerns while taking steps to denuclearize, Chinas Foreign Ministry said in a statement. China supports and congratulates Kims summit meeting last week with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the statement they issued, it quoted Wang as saying. The meeting has brought a favorable opportunity for a political resolution of the (Korean) Peninsula issue, Wang said. Relations between China and North Korea have undergone a vast outward improvement following Kims recent visit to Beijing. China, North Koreas biggest trading partner, has joined United Nations sanctions against the North that have cut trade between them by around 90 percent. Kims March trip was his first to his countrys only major ally since taking power six years ago, kicking off a flurry of diplomacy. A meeting between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump is expected in the coming weeks, although arrangements have yet to be announced. For China, the recent meetings offer an opportunity for it to reinforce its importance in the region and ensure that its concerns and interests are respected in any future negotiations. Wangs visit, which was to end Thursday, was aimed at exploring ways China can contribute to the easing of tensions, along with implementing agreements reached in Beijing by Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Da Zhigang, a researcher at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences in northeastern China. Denuclearization efforts should do no harm by taking into consideration the interests of all parties, including China, Da said. If the promotion of denuclearization turns the regional situation chaotic, then that is not what people want to see, he said. China sent troops to fight on North Koreas side in the 1950-53 Korean War, but relations have suffered in recent years over the Norths reluctance to implement Chinese-style economic reforms and Kims continued pursuit of nuclear bombs and the missiles to deliver them. China has long called for a return to six-nation talks on the Norths nuclear program, and welcomed the Koreas summit as a way to reduce tensions. Analysts say Chinas sanctions may have helped prompt North Koreas diplomatic initiatives, although the secretive regime in Pyongyang has not commented publicly on the issue. China says sanctions imposed over North Koreas nuclear and missile programs are intended to further diplomacy rather than punish the North. Beijing opposes any measures that could topple North Koreas government and possibly lead to a tide of refugees crossing its border and the stationing of U.S. and South Korean troops in the North. Wang also told Kim that China supports efforts to bring a formal end to the Korean War, which was halted with an armistice, not a peace treaty, and North Koreas shift of strategic focus to building its economy. The ministry quoted Kim as hailing relations with China and stating that denuclearization was North Koreas firm position. Wang earlier told North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho that China is willing to work with the North to boost practical economic and trade cooperation and fully supports it in concentrating its strength to carry out economic construction, the ministry said. A veteran New Mexico State University economics professor says hes leaving a job he loves because he doesnt want to serve under the schools current Board of Regents, calling the five-member governing panel the most incompetent hes ever seen. James Peach leveled the criticism in his April 23 resignation letter, writing that the regents have trashed the university publicly and repeatedly when their role should be to support it. He said he does not want to work under the next chancellor and provost they appoint. The regents have attempted to micromanage the university but lack the knowledge and expertise to do so, Peach wrote Christopher Erickson, interim head of NMSUs economics, applied statistics and international business department, in a letter first made public by the student-run NMSU Round Up. At best, the regents are numerically and logically challenged. The regents claim they want a change agent as chancellor but they had one in hand. The regents are soon to select a successor for Chancellor Garrey Carruthers, whom they decided not to retain beyond his current contract term a move that has sparked some criticism from around the state. They recently named five finalists for the job, which Carruthers vacates this summer. NMSU Regent Chairwoman Debra Hicks declined a Journal request for comment on Peachs letter. Peach told the Journal on Wednesday that he greatly respects Carruthers, but his concerns go beyond the regents handling of the chancellor situation. He declined to provide specific examples of their micromanaging or trashing NMSU, saying Id rather not try to blow this up beyond what it is. He said he wrote of his regent concerns to make it clear what I was doing in a letter meant for his department head and dean. He said he did not send his letter to the student newspaper and did not try to make a story of it. While he terms it a resignation letter, he notes that he is technically retiring effective June 30. He has been at NMSU for 38 years. He said he plans to write, remain active in academic organizations and continue to speak about the economy around the state. Peach is a familiar name around New Mexico; he has frequently testified before legislative committees and been cited in many media reports on the states economy. He holds the title of regents professor, a distinction bestowed upon certain faculty for their contributions to the university and larger society. He has had the title since the early 2000s, before any of the current regents joined the board. TEHRAN, Iran Irans foreign minister took to YouTube on Thursday to criticize President Donald Trumps threat to withdraw from the nuclear deal, saying Iran will not renegotiate or add onto the atomic accord. Mohammad Javad Zarifs video, which was also posted to Trumps favorite social media platform, Twitter, appeared to be taking his message to the masses after earlier speaking to news outlets across the United States to defend the deal. It comes as Trump has signaled he will withdraw from the agreement by May 12 if it is not renegotiated and changed. Those changes have included proposals to limit Irans ballistic missile program, which Tehran says it has as a defensive deterrent. The five-minute video shows Zarif behind his desk, delivering his message on the deal. He offers background first about the deal before laying into Trump and criticizing Europe for offering the United States more concessions from our pocket. On 11 occasions since, the U.N. nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran has implemented all of its obligations, Zarif, who studied in the U.S., says in American-accented English. In contrast, the U.S. has consistently violated the agreement, especially by bullying others from doing business with Iran. Zarif adds: Let me make it absolutely clear once and for all: We will neither outsource our security nor will we renegotiate or add onto a deal we have already implemented in good faith. There was no immediate response from Washington. The 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers saw Tehran limit its enrichment of uranium and number of spinning centrifuges, as well as hand over its stockpile of uranium and reconfigure a heavy-water reactor so it couldnt produce plutonium. In exchange, Iran regained access to the global banking system and could sell its oil again on the world market. Airplane manufacturers, carmakers and others have rushed into Iran after the accord. However, some Western firms have grown increasingly reluctant to enter the market, in part over Trumps constant criticism on the campaign trail and from the White House on the deal. While directly criticizing the U.S. and Europe, Zarif did appear to leave some wiggle room for possible negotiations, however. It is Iran, and not the West, that has serious grievances and much to demand, Zarif says. That comes as Irans hard-line Revolutionary Guard continues to detain a number of dual nationals, Western citizens and others . Analysts and family members of dual nationals and others detained in Iran say hard-liners in the Islamic Republics security agencies use the prisoners as bargaining chips in negotiations with the West. A U.N. panel in September described an emerging pattern involving the arbitrary deprivation of liberty of dual nationals in Iran, which Tehran denied. The video comes amid intense lobbying on Trump from all sides. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself earlier this week gave an English-language presentation on what he called a half ton of Iranian nuclear documents illicitly seized by Israeli intelligence. Netanyahu said the documents provided evidence that Iran attempted to develop a nuclear bomb in the 2000s. The United Nations atomic watchdog previously reported such efforts and said it has no credible indications of activities in Iran relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device after 2009. Zarif himself dismissed Netanyahus presentation as a rehash of old allegations and called the prime minister the boy who cant stop crying wolf. In the video, Zarif also appears to troll Trump as well by making a real-estate analogy to the former developer. When you buy a house and move your family in it or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and renegotiate the price, he says. ___ Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Barrel Chested Bandit, who robbed more than 10 banks across six states including New Mexico, will spend the next 10 years behind bars. U.S. District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson handed down the sentenced to Anthony James Lane of Tucson on Tuesday, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. Lane, 51, had pleaded guilty to 11 counts of bank robbery and one count of attempted bank robbery. During a six-month crime spree involving six states, Lane robbed and attempted to rob twelve banks with the use of a simulated handgun, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. He was dubbed the Barrel Chested Bandit due to descriptions provided by witnesses. Lane stole more than $74,000 from the banks. According to the Albuquerque office of the FBI, robberies in New Mexico were at: Bank of the West, 500 Martin Luther King NE, in Albuquerque on Sept. 12, 2016; U.S. Bank, 2300 Louisiana NE, in Albuquerque on Nov 30, 2016; and First National Bank, 2021 Cerrillos Road, in Santa Fe on Feb. 4, 2017. The case investigation was conducted by the FBI and various state law enforcement agencies in six different states. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carmen F. Corbin and Raquel Arellano, District of Arizona, Tucson, were the prosecutors. In a story May 3 about lending practices at HomeServices of America, The Associated Press presented the bylines on the story incorrectly. The story was by Aaron Glantz and Emmanuel Martinez. A corrected version of the story is below: Buffetts mortgage companies found to cater to white clients Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting found that the three companies under HomeServices of America direct their lending toward white borrowers and white neighborhoods By AARON GLANTZ and EMMANUEL MARTINEZ of REVEAL REVEAL Trident Mortgage Co. helps more families buy homes in Philadelphia and neighboring Camden, New Jersey, than any other company, but it primarily serves one demographic: white people. That is no coincidence. All of Tridents offices are in white neighborhoods, where it makes the overwhelming majority of its loans to white homebuyers. And Trident employs a nearly all-white team of mortgage consultants.. Its a division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the giant holding company led by Warren Buffett, which has dramatically expanded its mortgage brokerage portfolio in recent years, reporting nearly 28,000 loans worth $7.3 billion last year. The potential for more growth clearly caught the eye of the octogenarian investor. HomeServices is on track to do only about 3% of the countrys home-brokerage business in 2018, Buffett wrote in his most recent shareholders report, referring to HomeServices of America Inc., which controls Trident and two other mortgage companies. That leaves 97% to go. But as theyve become major players in cities across America, Berkshire Hathaways affiliated mortgage companies have followed a consistent pattern. Government lending data reviewed by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting shows the companies direct their lending toward white borrowers and white neighborhoods, even in metros like Philadelphia where a majority of residents are people of color. The analysis is part of Reveals ongoing coverage of modern-day redlining in America, which found 61 metro areas, from Jacksonville, Florida to Tacoma, Washington, where people of color were significantly more likely to be denied a conventional home loan than their white counterparts. This was true even when people of color earned the same amount of money as white loan applicants, wanted to take on the same size loan or buy in the same neighborhood. Reveals analysis also found people of color were far more likely to be denied a loan in many of Berkshire Hathaways largest markets, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. It makes loans through three firms, Trident Mortgage, HomeServices Lending LLC and Prosperity Home Mortgage LLC. Heres a breakdown: In Philadelphia, Trident Mortgage made 1,721 conventional home purchase loans in 2015 and 2016, 47 of them to African Americans and 42 to Latinos. In Atlanta, HomeServices Lending made 1,358 conventional home purchase loans, 63 to African Americans and 46 to Latinos. In Washington, D.C., Prosperity Home Mortgage made 2,650 conventional home purchase loans, including 167 to African Americans and 144 to Latinos. Legal experts said Berkshire Hathaways mortgage companies were carrying out the very practices outlawed by the Fair Housing Act, a 50-year-old law that banned racial discrimination in lending, by locating their branches in white neighborhoods, employing mortgage consultants who from their websites appear to be overwhelmingly white and lending mostly to white borrowers. It sounds to me like they are intentionally avoiding doing business with people of color, said Allison Bethel, director of the fair housing clinic at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Representatives of Berkshire Hathaway and its affiliated mortgage companies declined to give interviews for this story. In a statement, HomeServices of America said it was categorically false to imply its lenders are trying to ensure that they dont get applications from people of color. Berkshire Hathaways lenders have constantly focused on improving access to mortgage loans in minority communities, the statement said, adding that the companies actively recruit diverse candidates and are committed to cultivating a diverse workforce. Respectfully, a mortgage officer is not the only relevant employee to consider, the company said in a follow-up email. Tridents entire staff is 82 percent white, it said, as is HomeServices Lendings. Prosperity Home Mortgages staff is 70 percent white. Reveal conducted a market share analysis covering millions of loan records, made available under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, employing techniques the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice use to spotlight lending disparities. The analysis compared the racial breakdown of mortgage lending for every lender in every city in America. It showed Berkshire Hathaways mortgage companies took in a far greater proportion of their conventional loan applications from white homebuyers than their competitors in its largest markets in 2015 and 2016. The figures were especially stark for Trident, which placed all of its 55 loan centers across Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in majority-white neighborhoods, Reveals analysis found. The analysis also showed 92 percent of the companys conventional home loan applications came from borrowers in majority-white neighborhoods. When it did lend in neighborhoods where the majority of residents were people of color, most of the loans still went to whites. Berkshire Hathaways mortgage business has the hallmarks of one that could be prosecuted for failure to serve under the Fair Housing Act, according to Eric Halperin, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw fair lending cases during President Barack Obamas first term. Thats when you take a series of actions that ensure you dont get applications from people of color, he said. The lack of diversity in Tridents staffing and lending disturbed Beth Warshaw, 38, a white manager at a local arts nonprofit, who last year bought a two-bedroom brick row house in a primarily African American neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Warshaw worked with a white loan real estate agent and white loan officer from Trident. It struck me how white everything was, she said. Somebody is not asking themselves the right questions, including me. The government lending data analyzed by Reveal also showed Trident served a much smaller and whiter section of the Philadelphia area than the regions No. 2 lender, Wells Fargo, which overall took in a slightly smaller number of conventional home purchase applications. Trident made 26 times as many conventional loans to white homebuyers as blacks in Philadelphia in 2015 and 2016, the government data show. For Wells Fargo, that ratio was seven to one. In its statement, HomeServices of America said Trident plans this June to launch a campaign in many Philadelphia majority-minority areas as well as in Camden, New Jersey and Allentown, Pennsylvania to attract minority applicants. Leaders in Philadelphias African American community including those who work to promote homeownership said they had never heard of Trident. In Nicetown, a section of North Philadelphia where vacant, boarded-up row homes dot the landscape, the chief operating officer of the local community development corporation said she would love it if Tridents loan officers would attend one of her homebuyers clubs. It would help us a lot, said Majeedah Rashid. This community needs help. It needs investment. ___ This article was provided to The Associated Press by the nonprofit news outlet Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting. To read or publish the original investigation go to: revealnews.org/redlining ____ Aaron Glantz can be reached at aglantz @Aaron_Glantz and @eman_thedataman. Over 9 decades since inception, Parle Products still continues to be a strong household name. An annual research conducted by The Economic Times Brand Equity to determine the most trusted brands in India, features Parle Products as Indias 7th most trusted brand. Parle Products, which was ranked 52nd in 2016 has remarkably jumped 45 places in 2017 amidst hundreds of other brands across sectors in India. Parle has also been featured 1st in the food brands category and 7th in the most trusted product brands category, leaving key competitors such as Britannia, ITC and Mondelez far behind. The accolade comes on the back of several conscious strategic moves made by the company in the past year, particularly campaigns that were focussed at bringing back attention to nostalgia associated with several of its heritage brands. This was done in tandem with consolidating all of its indulgent and aspirational offerings under the Parle Platina division and aimed to strengthen Parles foothold in the premium segment. Parle, Indias home-grown legacy with more than 50+ brands across categories, rolled out a corporate-focus strategy in 2017, where every campaign linked individual brands back to the house of Parle, consequently increasing the trust factor among consumers. Along with its biscuits range, Parle is fortifying its offerings in products such as confectionary, rusk, snacks, chocolate and pulses. Parle introduced its Fresh Harvest range of pulses in 2017. The company consolidated its premium brands through introduction of a new division Parle Platina in May 2017. While Parle continues to dominate the popular segment, Parle Platina caters to the premium segment of consumers with brands such as Hide & Seek, Milano, Mexitos and Simply Good Health range of products. The Naam Toh Yaad Rahega integrated brand campaign, rolled out in July 2017, brought back focus to Parles roots in confectionery. From battling cheap imitations to providing salience to brands in the confectionery category and educating the consumers about its rebranding exercise for a few brands in the biscuit category, the campaign had a strong message that helped build equity for Parles individual brands while strengthening its corporate brand. The campaign was released in 11 languages, including Hindi, English, Marathi, and Tamil, besides being sustained through a digital campaign. The strategy behind releasing the campaign in so many languages was in keeping with Parles strong focus on increasing its connect with the regional markets. In an interaction with Adgully, Mayank Shah, Category Head, Parle Products, speaks at length about the companys regional focus, spends, digital strategy and more. Excerpts: How is Parle, as a brand, focussed on regional as part of its overall marketing and communication plan? If you look at our sales composition, almost 50 per cent is from rural India. That makes it very important for us to use regional media and languages for communicating with our consumers. While in urban markets, the language for communication is typically Hindi or English; in the smaller markets, a significant section of the consumers needs to be tapped using mostly regional media. Hence, it becomes imperative for us to use regional languages for brand communication. What are the allocated regional digital ads spends for Parle? 10-15 per cent of our total budget is allotted for digital, depending on various brands and also the TG. Of that, at least 50 per cent spends go to regional. How much does the rural market contribute to your growth and will it continue to be a focus market? In certain brands that becomes very important. If you look at the Internet penetration today, almost 50 per cent of Internet users are probably consuming it in non-English language. As it goes down to Tier 2 and Tier 3, a majority of the next 100 million users that will come on to the Internet which we are envisaging will happen in the next one and a half years will probably look at regional content. They are not going to be proficient in English, and that makes it very important for any marketer who is looking forward to do something on digital. When you look at Tier 2 and 3 towns, they will see increase in mobile net penetration. In fact, mobile Internet is primarily going to be driven through these towns. Thus, it becomes imperative to have a product that has a pan-India presence and caters to every strata. Tier 2 and 3 are going to be very important for us. As you go beyond the metros and those 1 million-plus towns, the importance of regional media is only going to increase and its going to be imperative for you to use it. What is Parles digital marketing strategy? We have 50-odd brands and there are different strategies for each one of them. For example, we have Parle Platina which is typically targeted towards affluent, premium consumers and mega metros who are looking for exotic experiences. Here, the digital strategy is very different, where you are talking about native advertising. A lot of the content being created for them is in terms of giving them a completely different experience of the brand. The content is also primarily in English. On the other hand, something like Parle G, which cuts across all strata right from mega metros to 500-plus kind of population it goes across. That also has a significant digital footprint. You will also find a lot of regional content on the digital front as well for this. There, 60-65 per cent of our spends would be going into vernacular advertising as against 30-35 per cent spends on English or Hindi. Compare this with Platina, where almost 80-85 per cent of the spends would be going to pre-dominantly English content. We normally divide consumers into three groups one set of consumers are those who are proficient in English, then there is another set who dont know English at all, and the third being in-between the two, who may not be proficient in English but have working knowledge of it. The moment you look at going beyond urban India, what gains more importance is the language content and the advertising strategy depending on the regions you are targeting. So, as I shared earlier, for brands like Parle G or Monaco or Krack Jack, there would be significant amount of regional content. How do you look at Doordarshan and FTA channels as advertising mediums for Parle? Today, given an option we will prefer an FTA channel, because if you look at the CNS penetration, it has moved up significantly. In fact, in Southern markets it is above 95 per cent or so, while in other markets it is 85 per cent-plus. Hence, it makes a lot of sense for us, as when we talk about exclusive DD homes, they are very few now. Secondly, what has happened with Free Dish or DD is that you need to pay only for the first time hardware charges, post which you are not really paying for it. Most people today, even in rural India, have moved to Free Dish rather than taking up the terrestrial network which is DD. Also, there is a big difference in the programming of DD and the FTA channels. It is only recently that the broadcasters have come up with norms such as having a gap of at least one year between airing the episodes that you have probably run on your GEC and running it on your FTA channel. Otherwise they used to have a time lapse of about maximum 4-5 months. Even today, the content that you see on FTA channels is far better than that of DD, as a result of which you will see a good amount of DTH penetration is happening in rural India and thats the reason why we feel the purpose that was served by DD earlier is done by DD Free Dish, where you are getting these FTA channels. GroupM today announced the appointment of Sameer Singh (Sam Singh) as CEO of its South Asia operations. Singh will lead the continued development of GroupMs data-centric enablement for its agencies as they deliver competitive advantage to clients with digital leadership and content. Based in Delhi (Gurugram) starting in July, Singh will report to CVL Srinivas, Country Manager, WPP India, and Mark Patterson, CEO GroupM Asia Pacific. Singh joins GroupM from Google India, where he was Director - Sales, responsible for the agency business. He was earlier based at Googles headquarters in Mountain View, California where he worked on measurement, brand consulting, insights and product solutions. In a career spanning over 25 years across various geographies including India, China, UK, USA, and the Middle East, Singh, an alumnus of IIM Calcutta,worked across brand management, marketing services, media, forecasting ROI and research, sales and procurement at Gillette, P&G, GSK and Google. Prior to Google, he was VP, Global Media at GSK where he led their global pitch, set up the global media team and embedded digital excellence. Srinivas has been CEO for GroupM South Asia since January 2013. In October 2017, he was given the additional responsibility of Country Manager for WPP India. He will now transition fully to his WPP role. Commenting on Singhs appointment, CVL Srinivas, Country Manager, WPP India, said, When planning the leadership succession, we found in Sam the perfect candidate who could take GroupM South Asia to the next level. We have built a strong enabling environment for our agencies with data centricity, digital leadership and content services. Sam has a track record of driving change at organisations focused on media, technology, brands and ROI. I look forward to working with Sam who has been a client, a media partner and a friend for many years. Commenting on his appointment, Mark Patterson, CEO, GroupM Asia Pacific, said, Sam is a unique talent and a great business partner with a fantastic track record delivering growth for market-leading world-class businesses across the globe. He now joins another one, and we are excited, proud and pleased to welcome him to GroupM South Asia. Speaking on his appointment, Sam Singh said, The India market is transitioning to the next level of media sophistication, with GroupM adroitly navigating this space for their clients, and along with their media partners. I am super excited to join the GroupM team on this wonderful journey, and I look forward to bringing to the table, my experiences built at Google, as a Marketer, and while working across emerging and developed markets. I look forward to contributing, and to learning from my colleagues, our clients, and our partners. The Kathua rape case, which shook the conscience of the entire nation, took a new twist today when the three witnesses in the case - Neeraj Sharma, Sachin Sharma and Vishal Sharma - turned hostile and said that the Jammu and Kashmir Police tortured them into giving a statement against their friend and accused Vishal Jangotra. Vishal is the cousin of the juvenile who elegiacally kidnapped the eight-year-old and called Vishal to Kathua with an offer that he can rape the girl. The three witnesses have said that the police pressurised them to give a statement that Vishal was in Kathua from January 12-15. They had earlier told the Crime Branch of the J&K Police that Vishal was in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar in the said period. But the police torture and custody made them change their statement. ZEE News interviewed all three witnesses in the case - Neeraj Sharma, Sachin Sharma and Vishal Sharma which will be shown tonight in DNA show (9 pm-10:30 pm). This is a serious allegation against the J&K Police. Zee News, in its quest for truth, had earlier shown a report on April 16 which revealed the truth about the incident. The report was based on facts gathered from the village where this incident happened. The report was taken very seriously by the villagers in Kathua who did not believe on the investigation done by the Crime Branch of J&K Police. Zee News was also questioned, that it is trying to help the accused. But these allegations are wrong. The police in its chargesheet says that the girl was kidnapped by the juvenile accused on January 10, and called his cousin and co-accused Vishal Jangotra to Kathua with an offer that he can rape the girl. Vishal reached Kathua the next day, says the chargesheet, and killed her on January 13. It also says that Vishal disposed of the body on January 15 and left for Meerut at 4pm. Zee News has accessed a CCTV footage which exposes the shoddy work done by the J&K Police and puts into perspective certain things. The CCTV footage, obtained from an ATM in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar on January 15, shows Vishal inside the ATM and withdrawing money. The footage was taken at 3.03pm. So if Vishal was present inside the ATM at 3pm, how can he be present in Kathua at around the same time? The bank statement accessed by Zee News also which shows that Rs 1000 were withdrawn from the SBI ATM. The account belongs to Vishal's sister Monica Sharma. There are other aspects of the chargesheet which point towards sloppy work done by the state police. For example, the chargesheet says that call detail records of the accused show they were together in Kathua. If this is indeed the case, these records should be produced before the court. The entire country wants justice for the girl. Till the time that is achieved, Zee News will continue its quest. Catch DNA tonight at 9pm for all this and more on the Kathua rape case. For More Stories Visit Here. The top Democrat on the Senates powerful spending panel is holding up $300 million in US military aid to Egypt until Cairo helps pay for an injured American tourists medical bills and meets several human rights conditions, Al-Monitor has learned. Senate Appropriations Committee Vice Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., a persistent critic of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis government, has shared several conditions with the State Department for the aid to be released, his office confirmed. These include providing compensation for April Corley, a US citizen who was grievously injured when Egyptian forces mistakenly bombed a group of tourists in Egypts western desert in 2015. The strike killed eight Mexican nationals and four Egyptians. The tourists and tour company workers were killed by US-made Apache attack helicopters, and Leahy is also demanding that US officials and the media have access to Sinai and other areas where US military equipment is used. He is also raising concerns about the fairness of Egyptian criminal trials, calling on Cairo to dismiss the 2013 convictions of 43 US and Egyptian nongovernmental organization workers or pardon them and dismiss a 2017 law on associations that is seen as cracking down on civil society. And he wants a transparent investigation into abduction and murder of Italian graduate student Giulio Regeni in Cairo, who was under police surveillance when he disappeared in January 2016. The hold follows Sisis re-election last month in a presidential election that drew congressional criticism after all but one potential candidate left the race, citing concerns about intimidation and fairness. But many of the issues raised by Leahy have upset Americas alliance with Egypt for years. No doubt, the Egyptians are going to feel unfairly treated, said Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. This is pretty much a self-inflicted wound. They had so many opportunities to solve these problems. Egypt is eligible for up to $1.3 billion in US military aid every year, but the State Department notified Congress in January that it was withholding $195 million or 15% of that amount pending certification that Cairo meets congressional human rights requirements. Leahys hold represents an additional $105 million, for a total hold of $300 million in fiscal year 2017 foreign military financing. Egypt has just five months to meet the new conditions before the aid expires in September. Leahys office told Al-Monitor that the new constraints are in line with US positions on Egypt, and that they had been communicated to David Satterfield, the State Departments top-ranking Middle East diplomat. Experts say the move likely stems from longstanding congressional frustration over the countrys lack of transparency on human rights. This is something thats rooted in the type of governments that Egypt has, said Michele Dunne, director of the Middle East program at the Carnegie Foundation for Middle East Peace. These are military dominated governments and theyre very resistant to transparency. Leahy is a longtime human rights champion and the author of the Leahy Law, which codifies the acceptable use of US military assistance. Last year he helped craft new restrictions to Egypt aid for fiscal 2018 that block the release of $300 million in military assistance unless Cairo improves its human rights record and releases political prisoners. The new hold, however, goes beyond existing law, notably by singling out the Regeni and Corley cases for special attention. Corley, a champion roller skater who worked on Madonna and Chet Faker videos, will never be able to do such work again, Leahy aides told Al-Monitor. Her family has set up a crowdfunding site to help cover her hospital bills and medical evacuation but have only raised $48,000 of their $400,000 goal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo can legally override congressional holds on military assistance, but doing so would spark congressional ire and risk future funding cuts. The Donald Trump administration has so far respected such holds, while keeping in place Barack Obama-era rules that constrain the use of Egypts military aid for expensive defense purchases. Yet suspending military aid to Egypt could hurt Trumps campaign trail hopes of normalizing relations with Cairo. The US president notably resumed the long-paused Operation Bright Star military exercise last year, but relations wavered after Sisi last year signed the NGO law, which leading US senators denounced as draconian. Similarly, the Associated Press reported last year that then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson told Congress that Egypt had failed to protect free speech, grant US monitors access to Sinai or probe abuses by the army. And Vice President Mike Pences visit to Cairo in January appeared to be overshadowed by Egypts ongoing detention of two US citizens and Trumps decision to declare Jerusalem as Israels capital. The proposed freeze is not the first time Leahy has put Egypts human rights record under the microscope. In 2015, he placed a hold on nearly $66 million in military aid over potential violations by Egyptian units fighting in Sinai, after US officials said the US defense attache had been denied access to the area after reports of human rights abuses. Experts say that Egypt will likely continue to shun calls to probe human rights abuses or accept blame for civilian deaths, frustrating US officials. They regard it as an infringement on their sovereignty, Carnegies Dunne told Al-Monitor. They just wont come clean. Correction: May 4, 2018. This article has been updated to reflect that the State Department informed Congress it was withholding 15% of military aid to Egypt for Fiscal Year 2017 in January 2018. A previous withholding of 15 % announced in August 2017 applied to Fiscal Year 2016 funds. Following the joint US-British-French attack on Syria last month, opposition is hardening in Tehran against any form of negotiation with the West over Iran's ballistic missile program. Accompanying this trend is the rare unity among political elites in a climate of division. The shared belief underlying this attitude is that the West is seeking to hold talks with Iran over its missile program in order to undermine the country's defense capabilities and make it vulnerable to future attack. In the early hours of April 14, US President Donald Trump joined forces with Britain and France to launch over 100 missiles at three Syrian targets, which they claimed to be chemical weapons sites. The move marked Trump's second military action against the Syrian government since taking office. Although the attacks were not as severe as anticipated by many observers, they were sufficient to reinforce Iran's resolve to not negotiate with the West over its missile capabilities. Prior to the missile strikes, there were differing opinions in Tehran about the potential measures Trump might take in Syria. Within a few hours after the attack, however, a unified voice came out of Tehran: Various political groups all condemned what they described as a lack of respect for the boundaries of an internationally recognized government. This wave of condemnation was Iran's natural response to an attack on a friendly country. After the condemnation came a deeper analysis of the Western military action in Syria. Mehdi Mohammadi, a leading conservative theoretician who has opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action from the get go, tweeted on April 14, "It is interesting how with their [current] missile game in Syria, in two weeks, they plan to propose negotiating with Iran over its missile program." Meanwhile, Kayhan, the most prominent conservative outlet in Iran, wrote on April 15, "These threats and attacks have reinforced our belief for the need to work harder to strengthen our missile capabilities. The West's adventurism, in whatever form or guise, prompts us to expand our missile capabilities and our technology to develop other weapons and equipment for defense." Opposition to talks on Iran's defense capabilities is also echoed by the moderate administration of President Hassan Rouhani. For instance, on March 5, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that Iran's ballistic missile program is non-negotiable. In February, Rouhani himself also rhetorically asked how one cannot have defense capabilities in a situation where the United States flagrantly threatens other countries, adding that Iran would not negotiate with anyone over its missile program. Beyond generally weakening Iran's military capabilities, hard-liners in particular are concerned that negotiating over the country's missile program will allow for a gradual spillover of Israel's sporadic attacks on Syria, which generally avoid international condemnation. With a looming May 12 deadline for Trump to decide whether to waive sanctions under the nuclear deal, the prospect of an Israeli escalation in Syria is emerging as a point of concern since Tel Aviv has stepped up its attacks in an apparent effort to provoke a response from Iran. In addition to these concerns, there is also the matter of the West's credibility especially the United States as a negotiating partner. Prior to Trump's presidency, this kind of sentiment was confined to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and elements of the hard-line camp in Iran. However, with Trump rejecting the commitments made by the previous US administration, this sense has spread throughout the Iranian political elite, which is now largely of the view that it is irrelevant whether an agreement is reached with the United States since the next occupants of the White House can simply ignore any US commitments, including those enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions. In this vein, prominent Iranian political analyst Saeed Laylaz told Al-Monitor, "At present, there is an almost unanimous distrust toward Trump and US intentions. Perhaps international relations is not a place for trust. However, when an administration is disregarding its own commitments to this extent, how can any sane mind expect us to recognize them and negotiate with them again?" Laylaz added that Israel's increased activities in the region "are a warning sign to avoid any future negotiations." Indeed, many Iranian foreign policy experts are of the belief that the West's desire to negotiate over the country's missile program is aimed at disarming Iran and weakening its defense capabilities to allow for future attacks. Nosratollah Tajik, Iran's former ambassador to Jordan, told Al-Monitor, "What happened in Syria on April 14 showed that some aspects of Iran's missile program are not just preventative [by establishing deterrence] but also a vital factor for Iran's survival. Therefore, it is now clearer than ever that negotiations on missiles will only alter the regional balance to Iran's disadvantage and in Israel's favor." A look at the Saudi-led war on Yemen gives credence to Tajik's points. The impression in Tehran is that, instead of concentrating on Riyadh's attacks on civilians, world leaders have focused their attention on the number of Yemeni missiles, which they claim to have originated from Iran. Thus, there is a growing belief in Iran that the key motivating factor behind the West's desire to enter into negotiations over the size and scope of the country's missile program is to weaken Iran and to increase its vulnerability. Some saw this same dynamic in the negotiations leading to the nuclear deal. The assortment of broken promises by the United States, Israel's attacks on Syria and the joint US-French-British missile strikes have all contributed to the emergence of deeply negative views among Iranian political elites of the prospects of any form of negotiations with the West over the country's missile program. Although this viewpoint is more strongly felt among hard-liners, moderates and even Reformists appear convinced that any such negotiation will only be a pretext for weakening Iran's capabilities and setting the stage for a more vulnerable Tehran in the future. If anything, this sentiment will likely increase manifold should Trump withdraw from the nuclear deal on May 12. Correction: May 4, 2018. An earlier version of this article mistakenly identified Mehdi Mohammadi as the editor-in-chief of the hard-line daily Vatan-e Emrouz. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas April 30 speech to the Palestinian National Council at first went unnoticed by most Israelis and was given scant media coverage, though not for long. While the Palestinian leader was rewriting Jewish history, using racist language and denying the Holocaust, Israelis were riveted to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus live presentation of Irans nuclear program. The Iranian documents and CDs Netanyahu exhibited on all of Israels television channels left no room for Abbas on the agenda. Otherwise, Netanyahu and Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman would not have missed this opportunity to condemn him immediately. They would have argued that they had been right all along in saying he was the main obstacle to peace. In fact, even those still espousing the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict who saw Abbas as a potential negotiating partner will not be able to defend his outrageous remarks, which provide substantial grist to portray him as a hater of Jews, an anti-Semite and a Holocaust denier. Here are just a few quotes from his 90-minute speech in the West Bank city of Ramallah: From the 11th century until the Holocaust that took place in Germany, the Jews who moved to Western and Eastern Europe were subjected to a massacre every 10-15 years. But why did this happen? Abbas asked. His Shylock-inspired answer: Not because of their religion, but rather their social role related to usury and banks. The Palestinian president then launched into a conspiracy theory whereby the Jewish state was actually established by European powers. The truth is that Zionism was a colonial project with no relationship to Judaism, designed to plant a foreign presence in the land, he said. According to Abbas, the 1917 Balfour Declaration by the British rulers of Palestine supporting a homeland for the Jewish people and the 1947 UN resolution partitioning Palestine into a Jewish and an Arab state were attempts by European states to salvage their international standing, which was threatened with being supplanted in the Middle East and the Maghreb. That was why they sent the Jews east of the Suez Canal to leave the states of the Middle East backward and unstable. In between, Abbas tried to claim that Ashkenazi Jews of European origin who were persecuted by the Nazis and immigrated to Israel were not even Jewish. He based his claim on the theory advanced by Hungarian-British writer Arthur Koestler in his 1976 book The Thirteenth Tribe, which argued that Ashkenazi Jews are not descendants of the historical Israelites but of the Khazars, a Turkic people. However, Abbas truly outdid himself when he claimed that one of those pushing to settle the Jews in Palestine prior to World War II was none other than Adolf Hitler. Abbas said Hitler had reached an agreement with the Bank of Palestine (todays Bank Leumi) to enable property transfers of Jews if they were to leave Germany and move to Palestine. Abbas even went so far as to claim that Josef Stalin was Jewish. At this point, an embarrassed rustling was heard in the audience as his aides rushed to correct him. There is not enough room to quote all the comments made by Abbas in trying to deny the right of the Jews to the State of Israel. One thing, however, is clear: Rather than achieving his goal, Abbas gave weighty ammunition to his opponents and disappointed many who saw him as a partner in the peace process undermined by Netanyahus policies. This is not the first time Abbas has been suspected of racism against Jews. His doctoral thesis at Moscow University, titled The ties between the Nazis and Zionism in the years 1933-1945, gave rise to repeated accusations of Holocaust denial. Abbas claimed in his 1982 dissertation that leaders of the Zionist movement had exaggerated the number of Jews murdered in the Holocaust to 6 million and accused the Jews of aiding the Nazis. In 2014, he disavowed his argument, saying he wrote the text at a time when Israel and the PLO were at war, and today no one can deny the terrible crime of the Holocaust and the annihilation of European Jewry. In recent years, in light of his growing understanding that his tenure as the head of the Palestinian Authority will end in failure without his having attained a solution for his people, Abbas has reverted to his dark reveries. In July 2016, ahead of the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration, he suggested suing the United Kingdom via the Arab League for its proclamation, but could not find any takers. In January 2018, after US President Donald Trump announced the move of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Abbas delivered a tirade at a meeting of the PLOs National Council. May God demolish your house, he wished on Trump. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin said at the time, These are the very things for which he has been accused of being a Holocaust denier." At the Palestinian National Council meeting earlier this week, Abbas adopted a harsher tone. Without blinking, he mobilized Hitler, Stalin, Balfour and the Khazars, probably to explain the failure of his diplomatic route to a Palestinian state. The Palestinians are well-aware that Abbas has made this strategy the centerpiece of his leadership. Activists in Abbas Fatah movement told Al-Monitor that his distress is understandable because he is currently fighting for his political life. They said Abbas had sought to explain to the Palestinians that he was up against international forces far stronger than they knew. The activists were reluctant to speak openly, but they were clearly uncomfortable with the line taken by their leader. They think his old-new approach weakens international support for his just demand for a Palestinian state, especially among the European states he accused of playing a role in a Zionist conspiracy. Because of the Iranian nuke speech, it took Netanyahu almost two days to react to Abbas address. With utmost ignorance and brazen gall, he claimed that European Jews were persecuted and murdered not because they were Jews but because they made loans with interest, Netanyahu said on Wednesday. "Apparently the Holocaust denier is still a Holocaust denier. I call on the international community to condemn Abbas severe anti-Semitism. The time has come for it to pass from the world," added Netanyahu. Addressing the Knesset, Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz called upon the Palestinians to "kick Abbas out," adding, "For years I have claimed that this evil person espouses an anti-Semitic ideology worse than that of Iranian leaders or [former PLO leader] Yasser Arafat. He is truly an anti-Semite," he said. As far at the Israelis are concerned, Abbas' statements hardly advance the possibility of dialogue. Israels Interior Minister Aryeh Deri ordered April 29 the permanent deportation of four Palestinian public figures from Jerusalem. The decision culminates a 12-year legal and political Israeli battle against three members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and a former minister in the Palestinian government. Ahmad Atoun, Mohammad Abu Teir and Mohammad Totah from Jerusalem were elected in the 2006 Palestinian parliamentary elections. By signing and sponsoring the Oslo Accord, Israel and the United States had tacitly approved the convening of the elections and the participation of Jerusalem residents, both as candidates and as voters. The three were on the Change and Reform list that was supported by the Islamic movement Hamas, which won the majority of the seats. Ismail Haniyeh, the head of the list, was asked to set up a government, and he appointed a fourth Jerusalemite, Khaled Abu Arafa, as minister of Jerusalem affairs. Abu Arafa is the fourth person whose permanent residency status has been revoked. Israel reacted angrily and arrested and harassed the four men for years. In June 2006, Israel deported them from Jerusalem on charges of not showing loyalty to the State of Israel. Over the last 12 years, they have been fighting their deportation in the Israeli courts. On Sept. 13, 2017, the Israeli Supreme Court ruled that the deportation order was not legal but gave the Israeli government six months to respond. However, on March 7, the Israeli Knesset amended the "border and entry law" by adding a clause allowing for the deportation of anyone who doesnt show "loyalty" to the State of Israel. The order to deport the four comes based on that amended law. Abu Arafa told Al-Monitor that he and his colleagues are conferring with lawyers to decide on the next moves. We have few options left, but we are considering them all, including going back to the Israeli Supreme Court, he said. Fadi Qawasmi, the lawyer for the deported Jerusalemites, vowed in press statements to challenge the legality of the deportation, arguing that it attempts to punish the Palestinians for something they did long before the law was passed. Abu Arafa noted that their lawyer is considering challenging the case before the very same Israeli Supreme Court that had objected their deportation six months earlier. For the first time in the history of Israel a court case takes 11 years and forces the government to pass a 'citizenship law' within six months of its ruling, Abu Arafa said, quoting his lawyer. According to the Knesset's official website, reported Middle East Eye March 7, Israeli MKs [Knesset members] proposed the law after the Supreme Court in September overturned the ministry's decision to revoke the permanent residence permits of four Jerusalemite Palestinians three elected parliamentarians from Hamas, and a former minister. Knesset member Dov Boris Khenin of the Joint List criticized the law. He was quoted March 7 as saying, This is bad and dangerous legislation Israel's decision to annex East Jerusalem contradicts international law. The residents of East Jerusalem live there not because they chose to be Israelis but because it is their home. Khenin added that the law seeks to impose an allegiance obligation on people with no loyalty to Israel. The law does not elaborate on what a breach of allegiance might entail. On Sept. 13, 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that Israel may not revoke the residency of East Jerusalem Palestinians in violation of the rule of law on the vague assertion of breach of loyalty. Two rights organizations that had initiated the case Adalah and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) said in a joint statement Sept. 13, It is unfortunate that this ruling was made only after more than a decade, during which time the petitioners' rights were brutally violated. Palestinian news agency WAFA said Adalah and ACRI asserted in their statement that Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem never entered Israel and acquired the status of immigrants. Therefore, their residency status was never made conditional to any terms, and there is no justification for its cancellation. In addition to the four Palestinian public figures from Jerusalem, Israel is reportedly considering the deportation of 12 other Jerusalem residents and revoking their permanent residency rights in Jerusalem because of their solidarity and public support of Hamas. According to the Israeli human rights organization BTselem, 14,000 Palestinians from Jerusalem have had their residencies revoked by the State of Israel using various administrative decisions. In June 1967, Israel occupied Jerusalem and other parts of Palestinian and Arab areas. The laws regulating occupied areas namely the Fourth Geneva Convention forbid an occupying power from transferring populations under its control or seeking that they express loyalty to the occupying power. More than a decade of court hearings and a draconian law later, Israel is trying to declare that anyone in Jerusalem under its control is obliged to show "loyalty" to it, or risk deportation. While Israelis have been trying for years to change the demographic status of Jerusalem, the latest move cant be separated from the green light given to Israel by Washington following the decision by US President Donald Trump to recognize occupied Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. After five years of delay, Lebanese go to the polls May 6 to elect a new parliament for the first time since 2009. The ultimate objective of this popular vote is to readjust the power representation of the same ruling class and set its rules of engagement for the next four years. The 2018 general elections will be held for the first time under the proportional rather than the majoritarian system, with a revised gerrymandering of 15 districts (as opposed to 26 in 2009). It is safe to argue that the winners of nearly 70% of the seats have been predetermined due to the confessional nature of the political system. The electoral law reflects the current political landscape in Lebanon, where alliances are volatile and no single coalition alone can rule the country. Moreover, these legislative elections are held against the background of two significant developments: the repercussions of the 2016 presidential deal that elected Gen. Michel Aoun, and the volatile situation in Syria next door. There are five trends to watch in these elections: Hariri-ism is done but not over Nearly two decades ago, the Syrian regime and its Lebanese allies gerrymandered Beirut into three districts to weaken the electoral capabilities of then-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, who came back swinging in 2000 and won 18 out of 19 parliamentary seats allocated to Beirut. Future Movement leader Saad Hariri is not expected to win more than half of these 19 seats in 2018. Over the past three decades, Rafik and Saad Hariris parliamentary blocs included non-Sunni deputies at a time when the major Christian political parties were marginalized in the political system. The current electoral law restricts the ability of Saad Hariri and all the principal leaders to have an oversized parliamentary bloc. These elections are partially about who will inherit the extra-parliamentary Sunni, Shiite and Christian seats that Hariri is about to give up. Moreover, Hariri is facing unprecedented competition across Lebanon from Sunni rivals, including from those who are close to Saudi Arabia. While Hariri is weaker than he was in 2009, the election outcome is expected to reinforce his indispensability as a premier in the current status quo. However, this indispensability could be put at risk, either by regional turmoil or by US-Saudi pressure on Hariri to directly confront Hezbollah. Hezbollah scrambles to find new allies Hezbollahs predicament in the 2018 elections is how to find new allies to compensate for the potential loss of its major Christian ally, the Free Patriotic Movement. This relationship has gradually deteriorated since Aoun was elected president and his son-in-law, Gebran Bassil, became the new leader of the Free Patriotic Movement. Hezbollah is running candidates across Lebanon for the first time to expand the scope of a Hezbollah-friendly parliament. There is no doubt that the Shiite coalition (Hezbollah and Amal) is preparing a contingency plan by enlisting hawkish figures as candidates in case a political confrontation with Hariri is renewed. Hezbollah sees the elections as a chance to demonstrate that its legitimacy in Lebanon is not coerced. The challenge, therefore, is not to merely score a definite victory, but to secure a decent turnout in the predominantly Shiite areas, where there is growing socio-economic discontent. Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah has made corruption a central campaign issue for the first time, setting the stage for a new phase in expanding Hezbollahs role in governing. 2018 elections are about 2022 The 2018 general elections are expected to reinforce the realignment of the 2016 presidential deal and shape the quorum that will decide what will happen in four years, whether the gerrymandering of the May 2022 general elections or the October 2022 general elections, if there was no political impasse or delay of elections. The ruling class is operating on the premise that Hariri and Bassil, both in their late 40s, have a long-term agreement to rule the executive branch for at least the next decade. The plan is to transfer Hariris presidential deal with Aoun to his son-in-law Bassil in 2022. The complicity of this new guard in Lebanese politics is evident in their maneuvering of the Cabinet, their carefully crafted attacks against opponents and their electoral alliances in key districts. The growing opposition is coming from the old guard, most notably parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt, who have both lost their status as kingmakers in Lebanese politics. Lebanon will face critical economic debates in the next four years regarding privatization, gas production and a growing national debt. The economic liberalism of the new guard, which enjoys the support of the business sector, is expected to face off with the populist messages of the old guard. However, make no mistake, this is not a class struggle, it is a continuation of the confessional systems battle for influence. Heirs and generals Among the 917 candidates in the 2018 elections, there are new trends, such as the candidacies of journalists, activists and entrepreneurs. But what is most remarkable is the generational transfer of power in the feudal system and the political ambitions of the retired generals and security officers. Jumblatt, Suleiman Frangieh and Aoun, among others, have begun passing the mantle to their heirs, initiating a systemic shift that might, over time, weaken the leverage of the feudal elites. Moreover, the former head of General Security, Jamil al-Sayyed, and former director of the Internal Security Forces, Ali al-Hajj two pillars of the Lebanese-Syrian security apparatus during the Syrian regime's rule over Lebanon are running in the elections. Ashraf Rifi, who was head of the Internal Security Forces during the height of Hariri's March 14 alliance, is now running against Hariris list in Tripoli. Aouns son-in-law and former brigadier general in the army, Chamel Roukoz, is running for Aouns seat in Mount Lebanon. These are just a few names in the long list of retired officers seeking the limelight. However, their impact is limited in a playing field dominated by feudal leaders, armed groups and bank executives. The magic number is 65 There is a 50% plus one rule for a Lebanese government to gain the confidence of parliament. This means 65 votes. Based on the current realignment, neither the Future Movement-Free Patriotic Movement alliance nor the Hezbollah-Amal-Jumblatt alliance is expected to meet this threshold after May 6. They will therefore need to work out a deal to form a new Cabinet and rule the country, which means the inefficiency of the Lebanese government will continue in a system ruled by the confessional consensus tradition. While Berri seeks Shiite veto power against the Sunni-Maronite alliance, Hezbollah wants to preserve the status quo at home to focus on a regional agenda abroad. Since 2014, Hezbollah has replaced the Syrian regime in regulating the ruling coalition, but the anarchic nature of the electoral law will create a coalition that will be harder for Hezbollah to manage. The Lebanese political scene is about to become a roller coaster. The Donald Trump administration has missed a congressional target to put Baghdad in charge of paying for US security cooperation amid persistent insecurity and rising Iranian influence. The administration had planned to have Iraq start paying for the US-funded Office of Security Cooperation-Iraq in October 2017. According to a Pentagon report sent to Congress in March and reviewed by Al-Monitor, however, drawn-out combat operations against the Islamic State (IS) have left Baghdad with little bandwidth to help pay for the office out of the Iraqi treasury and US assistance programs. The office was set up in the US Embassy in Baghdad in 2011, when oversight of US security assistance to Iraq was transferred from the Pentagon to the State Department following the Barack Obama administrations decision to pull US troops out of the country. It is charged with supporting the Iraqi Ministry of Defense and counterterrorism services along with keeping track of US weapons deliveries. The office has a $42 million budget this fiscal year, down from $70 million in fiscal 2017. Since the office isnt currently involved in efforts to train and equip Iraqs military, it cant legally draw from the $1.3 billion fund that the Defense Department uses for counter-IS operations. The State and Defense departments are working with Baghdad to ensure sufficient resources to address ongoing operational and other high-priority requirements, the report states. As such, there are insufficient [US funds] and Iraqi national funds available for training efforts. A State Department official told Al-Monitor that transitioning the office was presently impractical due to the high tempo of counter-IS operations and the Iraqi militarys huge needs for equipment and sustainment support. The office is helping coordinate efforts to get Iraqs elite Counterterrorism Service back into shape; it played a key role in the battle for Mosul last summer and suffered 40% losses. Congress also recently added a provision to give the office the authority to help support Iraqi agencies responsible for homeland security, including police and other civilian security organizations; Al-Monitor first reported about the moves to add this provision in July 2017. The delay comes as the Trump administration is sending mixed messages about its long-term military goals in Iraq. The Pentagon shuttered its anti-IS combat headquarters in Iraq on Monday, while simultaneously considering stronger pushback against Iranian militias in the country in the wake of IS' defeat. Some experts say the delay in Iraq's assumption of the costs of the Office of Security Cooperation shows the difficulties involved in Iraq's strategic, long-term military planning. The return on investment is more noticeable at the tip of the spear, the investment is less noticeable the further down the hilt of the spear you go, James Dubik, a retired Army lieutenant general who headed the US-led training effort in Iraq during the 2007 surge, told Al-Monitor. Kicking [IS] out of Mosul was the right effort. But simultaneously should have been the effort to improve the systems and processes at the senior military level. The United States has approved some $22 billion worth of military sales to Iraq since 2003, according to the State Department. Yet as Baghdad looks toward parliamentary elections in June, high-ranking officials concede that the US military mission faces a rising threat of Iranian interference. We have worrisome evidence that Iran is trying to influence using money the Iraqi elections, US Defense Secretary James Mattis told reporters during a trip to the Middle East in March. In particular, the Iran-linked Popular Mobilization Units, which began to be integrated with the Iraqi Security Forces in December, have also become an increasingly powerful force in the country. They notably used stolen US tanks to help beleaguered Iraqi army troops battle IS last year. In February, the State Department told the Pentagons inspector general that the Shiite militias had snatched as many as nine M1 Abrams tanks from IS in Mosul and Tikrit. Though the Pentagon says the tanks have since been returned to the Iraqi army, experts say nabbing them has proven the militias battlefield capabilities. These guys made their names being insurgent groups, Phillip Smyth, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Al-Monitor. Now theyre capable of launching mechanized operations. Thats quite a leap. Congressional critics of US involvement in the war in Yemen are up in arms following a recent report in The New York Times revealing that the Donald Trump administration has stationed a dozen US Army Green Berets on the Saudi border as part of the fight against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The Trump administration maintains that US support for the Saudi-led coalition is limited to targeting, logistics, intelligence and midair refueling support for coalition warplanes. But in recent months the US role in the war has fallen under heightened scrutiny from lawmakers as coalition bombings result in mounting civilian casualties and the country struggles with famine and the worst cholera outbreak in history. The Trump administrations purposeful blurring of lines between train-and-equip missions and combat, from Niger to Yemen, is unacceptable, Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., told Al-Monitor in a statement. It runs afoul of our system of checks and balances in war powers and is deepening our involvement in endless wars without a vote of Congress. Progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Tea Party stalwart Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, forced a floor vote on ending US participation in the war after House leadership forestalled a similar effort by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., last year in the lower chamber. Although the Senate blocked the joint resolution 55-44, the vote reflected growing bipartisan frustration with the war frustration that continues to fester. I have strong concerns that the Trump administration is getting the US more involved in a war in Yemen without congressional authorization, Sanders tweeted today, following the Times report. Ill be seeking further clarification on these activities. We must prevent the US from getting dragged into another never-ending war. The failed Sanders-Lee resolution also prompted Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., to introduce new legislation that would require Saudi Arabia to meet a series of stringent diplomatic and human rights criteria in order to continue qualifying for US refueling support. US refueling operations are essential for the coalition in carrying out its aerial campaign. Also taking to Twitter, Khanna today argued that the ground troops go beyond just refueling Saudi-led coalition jets and targeting-assistance. Our troops continue to see their involvement increase in the Saudi-led war against the Houthis. This is an unconstitutional and unauthorized use of military force. However, critics of Irans support for the Houthi rebels against Yemens internationally recognized government are quick to defend US support for the coalition as a deterrent against a constant barrage of missiles that have targeted Saudi cities and airports in recent months. According to the Times, the handful of US troops at the border are training Saudi troops and using surveillance planes to track Houthi weapons and launch sites. "While Yemen is awash with Russian and Chinese weaponry, Iran has been a force multiplier for Houthi missile capabilities, Behnam Ben Taleblu, a research fellow at the hawkish Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Al-Monitor. One hopes that the Green Berets will be able to not only help the Saudis identify launch sites and material depots, but the launchers that enable the Houthi missile force to become mobile. He added, A known unknown in the open source community is the exact location which Yemen is using to fire missiles into the kingdom. A United Nations report earlier this year found that Tehran was in violation of an arms embargo on Yemen because the Houthis have obtained Iranian missiles. But opponents of US anti-Houthi operations in Yemen contend that The New York Times revelations indicate that the Trump administration was less than forthcoming in the debate leading up to the Senate's tabling of the Sanders-Lee joint resolution in March. The bigger question here is the credibility of the arguments the Pentagon made during the debate and how forthcoming theyre being with members who are trying to do oversight and weigh in on this, Stephen Miles, the director of Win Without War, a coalition of anti-war groups, told Al-Monitor. The Pentagon did not respond to Al-Monitors inquiry as to whether they had informed lawmakers of the Green Berets stationed at the border. During the debate, the Department of Defense maintained that US support for the Saudi coalition does not constitute involvement in hostilities. The administrations claim that US military support to Saudi Arabia which has included aircraft, weapons, training, intelligence and refueling does not constitute involvement in hostilities is absurd, Kaine told Al-Monitor. This is yet another example of why we urgently need a debate and vote on the blank check thats been given to the president to wage wars. Miles also contended that the ground troop deployment constitutes hostilities, regardless of which side of the border theyre stationed on, since theyre providing targeting assistance against targets in Yemen. He noted, Its unclear whether or not those Green Berets have gone into Yemen on a mission. AMMAN, Jordan Jordanian hairdresser Nihad Dabbas hopes to bring smiles to the faces of cancer patients, particularly children and women. Dabbas founded the initiative called Hareer (Silk) in 2017, which collects strands of hair from volunteers. The strands are then woven into natural-looking wigs for cancer patients, particularly children, who have lost their hair during chemotherapy. Dabbas hopes that Wissam, a 7-year-old leukemia patient, will pass a happier Eid al-Fitr when the hairdresser completes a wig that resembles what Wissams hair looked like before chemotherapy. Dabbas plans to give Wissam his wig in mid-June, before the Eid. Dabbas came up with the idea of making wigs when 13-year-old Ahmad walked into the salon with a friend who wanted to get a haircut in early 2017. But Dabbas noticed that Ahmad, who was wearing a hat, looked sad. When Dabbas asked his friend about the boy, it turned out Ahmad had leukemia and used the hat to hide his scarce hair. Dabbas approached the boy and asked him if he wanted his hair to return to the way it was by wearing a wig. Dabbas wove a wig for Ahmad, and the boy left for treatment abroad with his spirits lifted, at least partially. That childs sadness, combined with the fact that he had lost his uncle to cancer as well, got me thinking about how I could support the cancer patients, particularly kids, Dabbas told Al-Monitor, saying that it is often child volunteers who donate their hair. Dabbas examines pre-chemotherapy photos of the children. He then weaves wigs as similar as possible to the childrens original hairstyle using strands of hair from volunteers, whom he finds either among the patrons of his shop or in events staged in public squares. Hareer also holds awareness campaigns in Jordanian universities and big commercial centers on how to help parents and society deal with children suffering from cancer at home and in school. The initiative also offers moral support by giving the children gifts and organizing visits and face-painting activities. Dabbas describes his initiative as a local community service, saying that it brings a smile to those who need it the most. The events he organizes in shopping malls include games, face painting and free haircuts, as well as giving information on cancer and how to support cancer patients. We started out by making wigs for children suffering from cancer. The Hareer initiative will work with various groups such as refugees, to address their needs, Dabbas said, expressing his desire to organize a broader-based social responsibility, group that offers psychological support for the elderly, orphans and refugees by preparing visits, offering gifts and raising awareness about their plight through public events. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Jordan, with 5,000 new cancer cases recorded yearly. According to Mosa Riash, the director of Friends of Cancer Patients and a cancer patient herself, 15,000 Jordanians suffer from cancer, and 50% of them are above 60. Riash told Al-Monitor that the figure of 5,000 people diagnosed annually might rise to 6,000 and 7,000 due to the population growth resulting from displacement from nearby countries. According to the King Hussein Cancer Foundation, the cancer types most common among Jordanian men are lung cancer, colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. The three types most common among women are breast cancer, colorectal cancer and thyroid cancer. Among children, leukemia, brain cancer, lymph node cancer and central nervous system cancer are the most common. Three Jordanian students at the University of Jordan, Sakha'a Al-Za'atreh, Heba Hmidan and Rand Meqdad, also provide wigs for cancer patients. Unlike Dabbas, who works with mostly children, this initiative, titled Khasal (Hair locks), targets women. Hmidan first came up with the idea when she saw a Facebook post of a girl who wanted to give away her hair to cancer patients in 2017, but said that she did not know how to go about it. So Hmidan thought of collecting locks of hair and weaving them for cancer patients in Jordan. Zaatreh and Meqdad joined her a few weeks later. Meqdad told Al-Monitor, We started gathering hair from our families and friends, then expanded to schools, hair salons and the community through donation events held in big stores. She added, The initiative is nonprofit. Wigs are given for free to patients who contact us on our Facebook page, then we collect hair and work with a wig maker to weave the wig. One wig costs around $70. The three students pay for the wigs from the donations, most of which come from their close circles, such as friends and relatives. Meqdad said the biggest challenge is raising the money for the wigs. We havent received official financial support for our work. What we spend on wigs is from our personal expenses as university students and from donations we get from our friends, families and some social groups. The funds are not enough to make our initiative sustainable. Since its launch in 2017, Khasal has given wigs to 200 patients under the slogan, It will grow nicer tomorrow. Former NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot said today he will become president of a Huntsville government contractor that works for NASA and the defense industry. Lightfoot, who retired from NASA in April, will lead LSINC, a woman-owned business providing engineering, communications and other services for the government and industry. "Lightfoot knows our city and understands the critical role Huntsville companies serve in supporting our space program," the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce said in a statement. "He led Marshall through the transition from the shuttle area to the Space Launch System, which is the vehicle that will take our astronauts to Mars. He will continue to be a strong advocate for Huntsville's aerospace community in his new role." CEO Alicia Ryan said. "We've had a phenomenal couple of years and we've had a phenomenal 10 years.... With that growth, we've really had to think about how we're going to structure that growth going forward." Lightfoot will lead the company in growing while taking care of its employees and the community, Ryan said. "It was pretty easy," Lightfoot said of the choice to join the company. "In typical engineering form, I had a mnemonic. I called it the 'four P's.' People, and when I met the people at LSINC - I worked at NASA, right? - It's best place to work in government, so it's important to me to work around people I like. They're just so nice, so humble, so down-to-earth, but also driven like the folks at NASA. The Product. What does the company do? Is it something I can embrace and be engaged in. They're doing the kind of stuff I love to do: strategy assurance, product development, that's just awesome. The Position was important. I don't mean the title.... It was the ability to influence the company and our clients and what they're trying to do. The last thing was Place. That's Huntsville, Ala., and that means coming home." Lightfoot will have restrictions on what he can do for NASA for at least a year because of his past roles there, but he said those restrictions are limited, "because LSINC does more for the Department of Defense and other departments, but also a lot of work for commercial companies." "He's a great servant leader and a phenomenal leader who can help us grow," Ryan said. "But there's a specific thing that he embodies that a lot of people don't. He understands the technical side and the strategic side. We have two major divisions. We build stuff, and when I say that, I mean you come in and draw on a napkin and tell us what you want, we will design and build it.... On the other side, we will also work with senior leaders and help them understand where they need to move.... To find an engineer who also understands the business side and strategy was critical." A native of Montevallo, Ala., Lightfoot started his career in NASA in 1989 as a test engineer at Huntsville's Marshall Space Flight Center. He ended it serving as acting administrator for 15 months while Congress held up its eventual approval of President Trump's choice of Jim Bridenstine as administrator. The Senate approved Bridenstine this month and he was sworn in April 23. This whole Waffle House debacle could have possibly been confined to the city of Saraland if it had not been for a pair of exposed breasts and a video camera. Now Al Sharpton is down in Mobile, he's pushing a boycott of Waffle House nationwide after the arrest of Chikesia Clemons almost two weeks ago. He wants justice for her. He believes this situation is not only a civil rights issue but a feminist controversy. Meanwhile, the Saraland Waffle House and the Saraland Police Department are being supported by area residents. They are strongly promoting a boycott against the boycott and are encouraging everyone to go to the Saraland Waffle House this Friday and Saturday. Go, don't, it's up to you. The video was certainly uncomfortable to watch. And I don't know what the police officers were supposed to do other than remove her from the Waffle House, but they were called. It has been confirmed that there was alcohol involved. I don't think most sober people would have made that big of scene over a fifty cent set of plastic silverware. There are plenty of rights to be considered, and perhaps a few wrongs. The Waffle House employee has rights and rules to follow. The police have jobs to do too. Removing drunk, disorderly patrons from businesses no longer wanting their patronage in the wee hours of the morning is part of their job description. They can't say just anything though. They can't make threats and should reserve their remarks. Yet and still, all of this would likely have been kept silent had it not been for a set of boobs. They distract people, but women are quite familiar with them and how they operate. I've played a fair amount of beach volleyball. I enjoy it. But my friends and I have learned that if you don't want to flash everybody during a game, it is best to choose a swimsuit top that has a string around its neck. Same applies for sundresses and strapless gowns. If you enjoy dancing while getting drunk off your ass before picking up take-out from the Waffle House, you have to be careful with the sexy halters. Now yes, there is an extensive selection of undergarments ranging from adhesive patches of lace to strapless bras and corsets. There is an array, and these exist as articles of discretion and nobody should feel obligated to wear them. This is a free country. I've seen women in tank tops at the Piggle Wiggly who chose not to wear anything. It is always cold in the Pig. And that's fine. I saw a bare breast in Monroeville just last week. A young woman was nursing her baby and was not the least bit modest or shy. I'm not implying she should have been. She has rights. There was a pervert lingering at the end of the aisle watching, but if she is fine with that then so be it. We always had receiving blankets or afghans our grandmas had made us when my generation's kids were infants. But I accept that times have changed. While boobs are still very popular they are not as concealed as they once were. That's great. I'm good with it. I think most women and all men are too. I'm just not sure if a breast being exposed to the nighttime air should keep a woman from being arrested or stop the police from doing their jobs. If so...just the sight of a police car will have boobs making appearances everywhere at all times of the day and night. It could get dangerous. Al Sharpton wants the charges dropped against Ms. Clemons, an apology, and for the entire Waffle House chain to denounce the actions of the Saraland Police Department. In that, will justice be served? Amanda Walker is a blogger and contributor with AL.com, The Thomasville Times, West Alabama Watchman, Alabama Gazette and Wilcox Progressive Era. Contact her at Walkerworld77@msn.com or at https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWalker.Columnist Hoover Toyota has redesigned its facility with more service bays and touches for the customer. The location, at 2686 John Hawkins Parkway, recently held a private grand opening with Hoover Mayor Frank Brocato, representatives of Southeast Toyota Distributors and the dealership's leaders. The 100,000-square-foot redesigned location has a new customer lounge, complimentary coffee bar, free WiFi and 39 service bays. There are courtesy shuttles, and the Red Carpet program, which offers customers free car washes, pickup/delivery services and ToyotaCare No Cost Maintenance for the first two years. There are also environmentally friendly finishes including LED lights and UV Ray efficient windows. Representatives from Southeast Toyota Distributors presented Hoover Toyota with the highly regarded Katana Sword - a coveted samurai blade and award that in Japanese culture symbolizes strength, quality and integrity - in recognition of "the dealership's commitment to continuous improvement and the success of the Toyota brand." "While this appears to be an investment in our facility, it is really a reflection of our confidence in the City of Hoover and the extraordinary associates we have grown with throughout the years," Gordon Stewart, Hoover Toyota president, said. Hoover Toyota supports various local school programs and teams, including the Beauty Walk, Student for Students, Denim and Dining, Howls for Growls, Sidewalk Film Festival and Sloss Tech. On April 3, Birmingham Jefferson County Transit Authority executive director Barbara Murdock was suspended without pay by the Board of Directors for allegedly using the agency credit card for personal expenses. The primary charge, it was subsequently learned, was a $477.25 personal Alabama Power payment in September 2017; Murdock, sources confirm, reimbursed the agency in two months later. On April 25, just before the board voted 1-4-4 not to hire former BJCTA executive director Ann August as a consultant to interim executive director Christopher Ruffin (after voting 4-2-2 in a Committee of the Whole meeting the week before to hire her; just hold onto your straps), board member Patrick Sellers charged August "did the same thing" Murdock was alleged to have done. "What proof do you have?" board member Martin Weinberg asked. "It's in black and white," Sellers responded. "It's worth taking look at the statements from 2013 and 2014." BJCTA credit card statements from 2014 and 2015, obtained by AL.com, in fact, show two charges for spousal travel for August's husband, Henry, totaling $1,208.69. One transaction, for $912.49, dated 5/12 and paid to Delta airlines, is labeled "August Jr/Henry". A handwritten notation next to the charge says, "will be reimbursed by Mrs. August". (A charge for the same amount, labeled "A August' was made on same day.) Card stement showing $296.20 spousal travel charge A second transaction, for $296.20 dated 1/30 paid to US Airways, is also labeled AUGUST/HENRY, with a handwritten notation stating, "reimbursed" (A similar charge to August/AnnieDawson was made on same day.) Through her attorney, Greg Yaghmai, August, who served as executive director from 2013 to 2015, countered that booking spousal travel on the agency card was allowable under BJCTA policy and standard industry practice, as long as it was promptly reimbursed. "Desperate men take desperate action," said Yaghmai, who previously charged Sellers with defaming his client. "This is a smear campaign and we expected it. "It was the policy of the BJCTA, and standard industry practice, like at the agency where [August] is currently working in South Carolina, that if the executive director is booking a flight and the spouse goes along, they book the flights together and the agency is reimbursed. That was what was done here." Yaghmai provided AL.com with a copy of the check (see below) his client says she used to reimburse the BJCTA for her husband's ticket for $912.49. The check is dated 6/4/2014, less than a month after the ticket was purchased. Yaghmai said the second ticket ($296.20) was repaid with cash. Check August says reimbursed BJCTA for spousal ticket A BJCTA source, who asked to remain anonymous due to the state attorney general's "active" investigation into Murdock's spending, confirmed that spousal travel for the executive director and board members was acceptable, as long as the money was repaid. "Not sure why some think work-related travel and personal power bills are in the same ballpark," said former BJCTA board member Adam Snyder. Beyond the policy question, Yaghmai contends the two trips in question were for trips when August received awards for her service in the transportation industry: * In 2014, August received the Dr. Aaron Henry Leadership Award by the Community Transportation Association of America in Indianapolis, Indiana (afterward, August and her husband went to Canada, Yaghmai said, accounting for the high cost of the ticket); * In 2015, she was one of 13 women celebrated as being among "Women Who Moved the Nation" in Washington, D.C. "There was no nefarious action here," the attorney said. "This is a common practice. We're happy to answer any questions." Sellers quoted on August in Weld August also sent an article to AL.com, published in Weld on October 6, 2016, in which Sellers complimented August: "She was vital in stabilizing this organization," he is quoted as saying. "We have come a long way from where we were when she got her to where we are now. She has been able to build good relationships with our funding partners and other community leaders. She has done things that have changed the perception of BJCTA." Reached by telephone on Wednesday evening, Sellers had no comment on BJCTA policy or his quotes. Updated on 5/3/2018 at 3:31 p.m. with photo of reimbursement check and quotes from August's attorney. Roy S. Johnson's column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Hit me up at rjohnson@al.com or/and follow me at twitter.com/roysj. Birmingham Fire officials have recovered the body of a hiker who fell to his death in the quarry area near Ruffner Mountain. Irondale firefighters, as well and Birmingham police and firefighters responded to the park after the hiker fell in the quarry area, authorities said. Birmingham Lt. Pete Williston deemed the effort a recovery mission just before 2 p.m. Thursday. Birmingham firefighters were initially dispatched at 12:45 p.m. Irondale was called to assist at 12:57 p.m. Authorities said he fell 60 to 80 feet. Williston said the victim is an adult white male. Capt. Harold Watson said the man appears to be in his mid-30s. He went to Ruffner to go for a run, and was reported missing after loved ones reported him missing. He was last heard from earlier Thursday morning and later reportedly found by a friend. As of shortly before 3 p.m., rescue workers were still trying to get an ATV and stokes bucket to the site to remove the body. Williston said the death is being investigated as unclassified for now. Ruffner Park and Nature Center said on Facebook that all trails and the park are closed. Updates on the closure are here. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. AL.com reporter Anna Beahm contributed to this report. An Alabama State Trooper is seriously injured after a suspected drunk driver struck his vehicle Wednesday night. The three-car crash happened around 10:45 p.m. Wednesday, when the trooper was working in the construction zone on Interstate 59 southbound near 22nd Street, according to Corp. Steve Smith. The trooper, who hasn't been identified, was parked in the inside lane with his emergency lights on when two cars struck his car from behind. The occupants of the two other cars were injured, and the trooper sustained injuries described as serious, but not life-threatening. Officials suspect one of the drivers who struck the trooper was driving under the influence. The investigation is ongoing. Arthur Lewis was arrested May 3, 2018 for capital murder. More than 1 1/2 years after a 22-year- Birmingham man was killed over $5 and pair of Michael Jordan shoes, a second suspect has been charged in his killing. The Birmingham Police Department's Crime Reduction Team took 24-year-old Arthur Lewis into custody Thursday morning. He is charged with capital murder in the death of Byron Pritchett, who was killed Sept. 29, 2016. A convicted felon - then 23-year-old Deondre Jackson - was arrested one month after Pritchett's death. He has not yet gone to trial. The shooting happened about 6 p.m. that night while Pritchett was visiting relatives in Birmingham's Collegeville community. Family members told AL.com that three men - one of them wielding an assault-type rifle - jumped out from behind a dumpster, robbed Pritchett and then shot him. After they fled, Pritchett used his cell phone to call his father and then his mother. "He was just calling my name,'' Latanya King previously said. "I said, 'I'm on my way to the hospital.''' Because he was alert enough to call, King assumed her wounded son would survive. When she got to UAB Hospital, however, the news was dire. Doctors had already resuscitated him once and taken him into surgery. That's when his heart stopped again and, despite their attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 7:59 p.m. "It hurt,'' King said. "He took a piece of my heart with him." Pritchett's watch, Jordans and $5 were taken from him. In October, Birmingham police arrested Jackson in Pritchett's death. At the time of his arrest, Jackson was already awaiting trial on charges of cocaine possession, being a felon in possession of a firearm, theft of property and unlawful breaking and entering a vehicle. Jackson was just 17 when he was convicted of first-degree robbery and sentenced to five years in prison. Family members Pritchett was just a couple of months away from finishing his GED. He worked odd jobs as a laborer and spent a lot of time with his three children - ages 5, 3 and 1 - as well as his nine brothers and sisters, some of who are the same age as his own children. "He loved to make you laugh,'' his mother said. "He wanted to be a comedian." Lt. Pete Williston said detectives obtained the capital murder against Lewis on Wednesday. He is being held without bond in the Jefferson County Jail. Turns out freedom of the press works both ways. On Tuesday, the Walker County Area News published a detailed account of a sheriff's deputy's reported unlawful entry at the home of an unknown person. The News said the man entered without a warrant, "cased the place," and "wreaked havoc" before leaving. It questioned why Walker County Sheriff's officials would not explain the "forced entry." And then the sheriff's department decided to explain. In a press release that began with a single word: Wanted! The writer of the news, it seems, was also the unnamed resident of the home in question. And he is wanted in three counties. "The Walker County Area News is pretending this happened to someone and they are spreading the word for information to help the public,'' the sheriff's office posted on its Facebook page Wednesday. "However, this occurred at the residence of the man that created and runs the Walker County Area News Facebook page. That man is Terry Keith Hammond. He also manages the 101.1 radio station in Jasper although the license is not in his name because the FCC has previously revoked his FCC license." Sheriff's Sgt. Ralph Williams said Hammond, whose news blog has about 27,000 followers, is a wanted felon with arrests spanning multiple states. He is currently wanted by the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, and the Walker County Sheriff's Office. Under the pretense of a news report, Hammond on Tuesday posted pictures of a pickup truck and said an individual who was "openly armed" and wearing a Walker County Sheriff's Office shirt, demanded entry into the home and then forced his way through a locked door when the 19-year-old who answered the door refused him entry. The blogger wrote that he demanded answers of the sheriff's office, but none had been given. "So, as no answers are coming from Walker County SO more than 24 hours after questions were initially asked, we ask yet again, for the identity of the individuals responsible for these and why these acts were committed in the presence of a 18-year-old girl who is now frightened near out of wits and who had clearly denied entry." Well, ask yet again and you shall receive. On Wednesday, the sheriff's office posted their response as to what they say really went down at Hammond's home. According to the release, Williams and Sgt. Ray Capps, both criminal investigators, went to Hammond's residence at 214 Whitman Rd in Manchester to attempt to locate Hammond on a felony warrant for second-degree theft of property. That charge, Williams said, stems from the theft of a $1,150 AM radio transmitter that Hammond agreed to fix for someone who lives in Maryland, and then posted the module for sale on Facebook, claiming he seized it under mechanic's lien laws. Asked for comment on the matter, Hammond on Thursday denied to AL.com that he stole anything. He said client for whom he was doing the repair refused to pay for the parts and labor for three months. Still, he said, he has not listed that item for sale. "I am meeting with an attorney regarding this gross miscarriage of our legal system at this very moment,'' he said. Williams said investigators looked around Hammond's home and were not able to get anyone to the door. Investigators looked inside an unlocked room in the garage, as it was the only door that was unlocked. There was no entry made into the residence, and no damage was done to any property. "After some time, Hammond's daughter, who stated she was 23, came outside, and Investigators inquired about the whereabouts of Hammond. She stated that Hammond was not home at the time that he was out of town working at another radio station and she did not remember where it was located and did not know when he was to return." Investigators asked the daughter if they could come in and look for Hammond and she declined saying that the house was a mess, Williams said. Investigators left the home because they did not want to tip Hammond's hand and reveal to him the felony warrant because Hammond is already a fugitive from other jurisdictions. "Hammond is using his Walker County Area News page to spread a false narrative, so we are correcting that narrative and revealing the felony warrant that was issued on April 30, 2018,'' Williams said. Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Hammond is asked to call Williams, Capps or Sgt. Anthony Leach at the Walker County Sheriff's Office. The FBI unveiled a new weapon in Alabama to fight crime on Wednesday, a computer forensics lab at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville with more than $3 million in high-tech equipment designed to detect digital clues. The lab even has the capability to retrieve data from a seemingly destroyed cell phone, FBI Special Agent Todd Spiker said. The Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory is the first of its kind in the southeast and the newest of 17 such facilities around the country. Four local law enforcement agencies - Huntsville police the sheriff departments from Etowah and Madison counties as well as the Alabama National Guard Counterdrug - are partners with the FBI, providing personnel to be stationed at the lab. The facility is currently a collecting of modular buildings but plans call for a permanent structure in a few years, according to Johnnie Sharp, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Birmingham. "As we see with the advent of technology becoming more and more complex, more and more of our criminals are using sophisticated technology," Sharp said. "And what we typically see is our state and local partners don't have the technical capabilities to do the digital forensic analysis of those types of devices. So it's imperative to have partnerships such as these that we bring the subject matter expertise as a force multiplier together. "So when our participating agencies that are members of the RCFL have a specific need of a case they may have, they can bring it here and get the technical expertise they need to exploit the digital evidence that may assist them in solving a particular case." Sharp said any law enforcement agency is welcome to utilize the RCFL but priority is given to its partners. The RCFL at Redstone has self-serve stations for law enforcement to use equipment to access digital data as well as assistance from trained experts. "Any type of crime you might imagine where a digital media device - whether it be a smart phone, a tablet or a laptop or a computer is utilized to facilitate commission of that crime - we can now bring it here to the Tennessee Valley RCFL to get digital media exploitation," Sharp said. And sometimes, it can reveal digital evidence that you might never imagine. FBI Special Agent Todd Striker, who will oversee the Huntsville facility, told of a case where a woman disappeared and her husband was a suspect. The case broke due to digital evidence within the husband's automobile. Investigators found digital evidence of two car doors opening and two seatbelts being fastened. Then after driving to a location - tracked by the car's GPS - two seatbelts were unbuckled and two car doors opened. About 30 minutes later at this remote location, one car door opened and one seatbelt was buckled and the driver left the scene. Investigators scoured the area, found the victim buried in a shallow grave and brought charges against the husband. "There is a dark web out there being used by criminals," Huntsville Police Chief Mark McMurray said. "It's not being watched, it's not being policed. It's being used for narcotics. It's primarily being used for pornography. Child pornography is being transmitted around the world. It's something we don't like to admit is there but the internet is wide open for this type of tracking. "So when these sex offenders show up in our community, we need to not only be able to prosecute them for what we have but we need to be able to take their computers apart and find out who they have been transmitting the pornography to and take down entire networks of these individuals around the world." McMurray said access to expert digital technology eliminates a sort of blind spot for Huntsville police and virtually all local law enforcement agencies. "The technology is just sweeping us," he said. "We're having a difficult time keeping up with it. It's the same problem across the country. This puts us in front of the problem instead of trying to catch up." Jay Town, U.S. Attorney for the northern district of Alabama, applauded the new forensics lab and the partnerships with local law enforcement. Without the ability to quickly process information at the new lab, Alabama law enforcement would have to go to another lab and essentially stand in the back of the line. "The amount of illegal activity that takes place on the internet, on our devices, is staggering," Town said. "So facilities like this and the leadership of the FBI and all the partnering agencies is incredibly important to not only the prosecution of those cases but the investigations as well. So think about when you have a national security matter or a terrorism matter, you need to get into those devices immediately. You need to have whatever real-time information you can glean. It's only facilities like these that can provide that information." Alabama engineering design firms are raising their national profile, with Mobile-based Hargrove Engineers + Constructors leading the way, according to new Engineering News-Record rankings. The ENR's recently unveiled list of the top 500 engineering design firms in the country includes four from Alabama. Three are based in Mobile and two of those have inched their way upward in the Top 100. The highest-ranked among them is Hargrove, which rose from 73 in the 2017 list to No. 70 for 2018. ENR says its rankings are "based on design-specific revenue." Answering questions via e-mail, company president and CEO Ralph A. Hargrove said that Hargrove's design revenue was $227 million in 2017. "Over 99% of our revenue comes from process industrial, petroleum refining, manufacturing, and power generation industries," he wrote. "Our clients - many of which are also in Alabama - call upon Hargrove to plan, design, automate, build, and maintain their facilities." Ralph A. Hargrove, president and CEO of Hargrove Engineers + Constructors. (Courtesy of Hargrove) Hargrove said the company also has offices in Birmingham and Huntsville and employs more than 700 people in Alabama. Founded in 1995, it describes itself as a 100 percent employee-owned company. ENR said that together, the Top 500 firms had design revenue of $93.9 billion in 2017, up from $92.8 billion in 2016. Domestic revenue drove the increase, as revenue from overseas outside the United States fell, a decline attributed largely to the oil and gas sector. Other ranked Alabama firms were Mobile-based Volkert Inc., which rose from No. 94 to No. 87; Montgomery-based Goodwyn Mills Cawood, which rose from 216 to 213; and Mobile-based Thompson Engineering, which rose from 317 to 291. In a company news release responding to the rankings, CEO Hargrove said that "Listening to our clients and understanding their needs as they relate to project drivers continue to be key factors in our success." Hargrove said that so-called EPCM contracts, in which a single contractor has oversight of Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management, are a company strong point. "With a strong pipeline of EPCM projects, 2018 is shaping up to be another record year of growth," Hargrove predicted. That tone of optimism matched the analysis ENR published along with its list. In that story, ENR reported that "The market for major design firms is growing and is poised to continue to grow in the foreseeable future." However, ENR also said that a "sense of euphoria" seen last year has faded as the wait continues for the Trump administration to deliver on a proposed infrastructure funding package: "The big question for much of the design world is whether there will be a major infrastructure or transportation funding bill passed by Congress this year," says the analysis. "Without a guaranteed federal funding stream, state and local agencies are constrained from implementing major long-term transportation projects. Most design firms in the market say there is a consensus in Congress that a boost in funding is desperately needed, but they are worried that wrangling over the form it takes will stall any action this year." Speaking in Mobile on Tuesday, U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby said he intends to make sure that Alabama has "a seat at the table" if and when infrastructure money begins to flow. It would be critical to a plan to enlarge the Mobile Ship Channel in particular, he said. "There's going to be, we hope, an infrastructure package," said Shelby, the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. "President Trump has talked about an infrastructure package." The ENR report suggests that if midterm elections produce a significant shift in party power within Congress, negotiations over infrastructure could become more adversarial. One company CEO quoted by ENR said that "an infrastructure bill in 2019 looks like a much more likely scenario" in that case. Hargrove said he didn't think his company would feel the brunt of such a delay, because its business "is primarily heavy industrial." Moreover, he said, changes in the federal tax code will continue to provide a boost. "The law enables our clients to expense 100% of their capital investments and assets within the first years of spending on equipment and services like engineering and construction," he wrote. "Our clients have indicated that this tax treatment is allowing them to both kickoff new projects and recommission projects that they've shelved due to previous capital constraints. This essentially incentivizes the manufacturing, refining, and process industries to fast track spending to improve their facilities and products before the benefit begins to sunset in 2022." ENR releases a series of lists over the years in an effort "to bring structure to an otherwise huge and chaotic construction industry by performing annual surveys of its key segments." The 2018 list of the top 400 contractors is due this month. Mobile may have dominated the Alabama design contingent, but Birmingham firms likely will have a bigger presence in the contractor rankings. In ENR's 2017 contractor rankings, five Birmingham companies made the cut: Brasfield & Gorrie LLC at No. 30, BL Harbert International at No. 58, Robins & Morton at No. 77, Hoar Construction at No. 126 and Doster Construction Co. at No. 321. Montgomery-based Caddell Construction Co. was among them at No. 137. Hargrove made its debut at No. 349 and another newcomer, Montgomery-based Sys-Con LLC, was at No. 397. If Hargrove stays on the 2018 constructors list, it may be the only Alabama firm to appear among both the ENR's Top 500 design firms and its Top 400 contractors. "Hargrove is an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company with the capability to take projects from conceptual engineering to construction and start-up/commissioning," Hargrove wrote. "We can take the project cost, schedule, and execution risks and develop a design-build execution strategy for our clients by subcontracting with construction contractors. Our commitment to excellence covers all aspects of the project and ensures a consistent culture directed towards a safe, efficient, high quality end product." "Alabama's top contractors and design firms, including Hargrove, deploy across the state (and even regionally, nationally, and internationally.)" he wrote. "We hope to continue making Alabama a hub for innovation and technology jobs." "What is most significant for Hargrove is our growth alongside our direct competitors in the sectors we serve," Hargrove wrote. He said the company had risen from No. 20 to No. 15 in ENR's Industrial Process/Petroleum category. Within that, he said, Hargrove ranked No. 3 in the chemicals subcategory, No. 4 in pulp and paper, No. 10 in pharmaceuticals, No. 11 in refining and No. 15 in fossil fuel generation. "I'm incredibly proud of our Team," he wrote. "It all points back to the strong relationships we've built with our clients and within our Team over the past 22 years." An Alabama man was jailed in late April after lawmen say he sold fake gold to two Douglas, Wyoming residents in late March. Richard Carr, 57, was charged with two counts of obtaining property by false pretense, trib.com reported. One of of the victims told investigators a male driving an Infinity SUV with Colorado plates approached him in his Douglas shop and asked if he was interested in buying gold bars, court documents allege. The man, was later identified as Carr, told the man one of the gold bars was worth $10,000, but offered to sell it for $5,000, court documents allege. The victim bought one of the bars for $1,000 and took the bar to a gold dealer. The dealer told the victim the bar was actually 84 cents worth of brass. A second victim bought a gold bar from Carr for $5,600. A gold dealer said this bar was also brass, not gold. Carr was charged for the alleged illegal sales and faces a sentence of up to 10 years in prison. Gov. Kay Ivey's campaign raked in another half-million dollars in contributions in April, bringing her total to $3.7 million since she started raising money last summer. Ivey has steadily outpaced her challengers for the Republican nomination in fundraising and continued that trend with hefty donations from business interests and political action committees. Ivey's largest contributions included $30,000 from the Business Council of Alabama's Progress PAC; and $25,000 each from the Alabama Realtors PAC; the Franklin Resources lobbying firm PAC; Wiregrass Construction Company Inc., of Dothan; and Beverly Starr of Auburn. Ivey received $20,000 each from the Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles law firm; the Bradley Arant Boult Cummings law firm PAC; and Kelly Road Builders of Birmingham. Ivey's campaign has spent a total of $1.9 million and reported a balance of $1.8 million to end the month of April. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle continued to be the second most prolific fundraiser, raking in $254,000 in April to bring his total for the campaign to $2.1 million. Battle's biggest contributions during the month were $10,000 each from Warren Williamson of Greenville; W.J. Cabiness of Birmingham; Jorden Industries of Birmingham; The Committee for Good Government PAC; the Credit Union Coalition of Alabama; Donie N. Martin of Courtland; and Matheny Goldmon Architecture LLC of Huntsville. Battle's campaign has has spent a total of $983,000 and showed a balance of $1.1 million to end the month of April. State Sen. Bill Hightower of Mobile raised $106,000 in April, bringing his total for the campaign to $966,000. Hightower has spent $492,000 and showed a balance of $505,000 to end the month of April. Evangelist Scott Dawson of Birmingham raised $71,000 in April. Dawson has now raised $803,000 for the campaign. Dawson's largest contributions in April were $15,000 from Dotry Enterprises of Birmingham and $10,000 each from Robert Hutson Jr. of Birmingham and Barbara Sullivan of Moody. Dawson's campaign has spent a total of $739,000 and showed a balance of $66,000 to end the month of April. Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, who is seeking the Democratic nomination, raised $136,000 in April, bringing his total to $691,000 for the campaign. Maddox received $16,000 from the Associated Builders and Contractors PAC. He received $10,000 each from the Tuscaloosa firefighters PAC; the Credit Union Coalition of Alabama; Greenetrack; and Cynthia Rhoden of Birmingham. The Maddox campaign has spent a total of $467,000 and showed a balanced of $274,000 to end the month of April. Former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Sue Bell Cobb, who is also seeking the Democratic nomination, raised $101,000 in April and has now raised a total of $618,000. Cobb's biggest contributions in April were $30,000 from J.T. Stephens of Birmingham; $20,000 from the Franklin Resources lobbying firm PAC; and $10,000 from Billy Jones of Monroeville. Cobb's campaign has reported total spending of $495,000 and reported a month-ending balance of $124,000. Updated at 7:22 a.m. on May 3 to add Scott Dawson's report. Psychiatrists say mass shootings follow a "script." In that script, there invariably comes a point when we as nation reflect and look where to cast the blame. America found itself at that point once again after a man allegedly shot and killed four people at a Tennessee Waffle House on April 22. The 29-year-old had previously displayed bizarre behavior that pointed toward mental-health issues. He'd also had several run-ins with law enforcement and wasn't supposed to have access to firearms. Once again, mental illness and gun violence were at the forefront of our national gun dialogue. The issue was also brought up for discussion in "Guns: An American Conversation," an initiative by Advance Local newsrooms from across the country in partnership with Spaceship Media. The month-long project has brought together 150 engaged readers with a broad spectrum of opinions to talk about guns in an honest and civil way. The conversation has been ongoing since the beginning of April inside a closed Facebook group where participants post links to articles, ask questions and discuss issues. Today's topic: How do we keep guns away from the mentally ill? Mass shootings account for a very small percentage of gun deaths each year compared to the daily "drip, drip, drip" of daily firearm-related deaths, says Dr. Jeffrey Swanson, a Duke University Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the lead author of the 2015 study on mental illness and gun violence. The real gun-violence crisis related to mental illness is suicide, which accounts for about two-thirds of all firearm deaths, according to Swanson. The extraordinary nature of mass shootings leads to more media attention than daily gun violence, however. Law enforcement officers stand outside a Waffle House in Nashville, Tenn., where four people were killed and two were wounded after a gunman opened fire on April 22. "It's a such a frightening and disturbing, irrational event, people want an explanation for it. They want a sort of master, simple explanation," said Swanson, "And they get one. We hear these voices in the public square, whether it's lawmakers or the NRA (National Rifle Association) come out and say this is about mental illness, so let's fix the mental-health problem so we can solve gun violence." Is the gun lobby right to say mental illness is the problem and not access to firearms? Swanson and other psychiatrists who have studied gun violence and mental illness say no. "We don't have more mental illness in the United States than in any other comparable country," said Liza Gold, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine. "We don't have more angry or impulsive people than any other country. What we do have are more firearms ... that can shoot a lot of people more quickly." The doctors see gun violence as a public-health problem that should be studied. Both doctors lament the so-called Dickey Amendment that since 1996 has prevented governmental agencies from doing just that. New language in the most recent budget, signed by President Donald Trump in March, allows the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to start conducting research into gun violence again, but experts interviewed by NPR say it still lacks funding and are skeptical anything will change. Swanson and Gold said gun policy should be crafted from evidence-based studies and not by lobbying groups like the National Rifle Association. "They make a lot of money by curating the belief that the solution to gun violence is more guns in the hands of more people in more places, so we'll all just shoot it out," Swanson said about the NRA. "I think we need a change in our culture over time. Private gun ownership is embedded in our culture. They're not going away. Over time, I think there will be a shift." The perception that mentally ill people are violent is false, the doctors said. Studies show that people with mental illnesses are more likely to be victims of a violent crime, Swanson said. Both doctors cited statistics from the privately funded MacArthur Violence Risk Assessment Study that revealed 1 percent of people with diagnosed mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorders commit a violent act involving both a gun and a stranger in a given year. People who have been adjudicated as "mentally deficient" or involuntarily committed to a psychiatric institution have been prevented from owning guns by federal law since the Gun Control Act of 1968. This includes defendants found not guilty by reason of insanity and incompetent to stand trial. But how do we and how should we define mentally ill? Isn't carrying out a mass shooting evidence of mental-health issues? "It doesn't sound like it makes any sense when you say that this person who massacred a bunch of strangers might not be mentally ill," Swanson said. "Just on the face of it, that just is not the act of a healthy-minded person." Swanson said some of the shooters, like the one who killed 12 people at an Aurora, Colorado, movie theater in 2012, are severely mentally ill, but that for the most part, society is dealing with something different with major mass shootings. "They tend to be really angry, alienated, isolated, maybe emotionally disturbed young men, who for reason we don't really understand, decide to follow this really deviant cultural script that we have, and have access to this really efficient killing technology," he said. So what can be done? The laws that are in place should be bolstered, according to the doctors. That includes improvements made to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, created by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act of 1993. States are currently not required to report to the NICS database, however. One major issue is privacy. Releasing the names of people found mentally ill to the database can be perceived as a violation of the Health Insurance Portablity and Accountability Act or HIPAA. Swanson said there's no good answer to the privacy issue. "It's a balancing of risk and rights," he said. The doctors were optimistic about so-called "red flag" laws that many states have adopted since the February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. These laws allow family members and law enforcement to seek a civil action through the courts to separate individuals from their firearms. Gold calls for new gun policy to be crafted from evidence-based research, similar to how the nation tackled the problems of car crashes and smoking. She said it's unfair that the gun lobby has dominated the narrative, which generally ends with the nation saying there's nothing that can be done about gun violence because the Second Amendment protects our individual rights to bear arms. "We have to be looking at why we have acquiesced allowing our society to become paralyzed by this very narrow special interest," she said. "We have many rights in this country; all of them are regulated." Inside the conversation The participants in the "Guns: An American Conversation" closed Facebook group have also been discussing various aspects of mental illness and gun violence. Here is just a small portion of what they've said: Jen Partica of Moon Township, Pennsylvania Nashville's recent mass shooting was an example of how third-party storage is unsuccessful at keeping our communities safe. The alleged shooter was ill enough to have already shown up on police radar in an incident that did result in his firearms being removed from his possession. But rather than have law enforcement, or a licensed gun dealer, or some other regulated party store the guns until they could be returned (if ever), they were given to the father who handed them back to his ill son. We've seen this tragedy in other states that allow this kind of third-party storage and it is often ineffective. So even when we have a way of identifying the dangerously mentally ill, we need to have procedures in place to keep everyone safe, the patient included. I would also include the closing of state-level background check loopholes that allow anyone identified as unable to own a firearm to go around this restriction. Robert Davis of Winter Haven, Florida The problem is: How do you define a "dangerous" mental illness from one that is not? For example, there's PTSD from being the victim of a crime, and there's PTSD from being a soldier in combat. Either one can take a violent turn. And at the same time both can be harmless. What reasoning would there be to define a dangerous mental illness? How would the courts, or a judge, be able to rule on it? Daniel Kennamore of Killen, Alabama Here (in the Waffle House shooting), we had a history of erratic behavior. That should be a simple litmus test. A person that has been diagnosed but treated in a way that they are functional and responsible shouldn't suffer the consequences of trying to retroactively fix obvious problems. If a person has been diagnosed, but they aren't following up with treatment, or (worse) self-medicating, they shouldn't have access to dangerous objects. Dave Roth of Auburn, New York The problem with receiving treatment is it only works as long as it is taken as directed. Sadly, people quit the drugs and therapy that help them. There have been many court cases over this issue. States have flirted with civil confinement as a way of dealing with this. Reba Holley of Pennington, New Jersey While it's not a surprise to anyone that I am for tightening up gun laws, the mental illness part is hard for me because I am not comfortable with deciding who gets to decide. Imagine if Trump got to decide??? So if there's been some kind of clear episode, who do you get to decide? It can't be anyone who ever sought help. I posted earlier that my family had counseling when one of my kids was struggling as a teen. Would that be enough? And would these types of restrictions prevent someone from getting help? I don't know what the answer is. I'm no psychologist, but isn't a mental-illness diagnosis decided by one person who has the opportunity/responsibility? Peter Lotto of Fayetteville, New York I have familial experience with mental illness. Three of my extended family members have been diagnosed with diseases like manic depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and others (not all in one person, but a gamut). One of them had displayed a penchant for violence and irrational acts and was banned from buying guns in (Pennsylvania), her home state. So she drove to (Virginia) and bought an arsenal. She went home, barricaded herself in her house and started shooting. She was shot and killed by the police. The other two have shown suicidal tendencies, one has tried twice. They are under the care of psychiatrists who would absolutely not want them to have access to guns. Neither one of them would want access to guns either, for fear that they might do something. They would voluntarily be placed on a "no buy" list and they would not see this as a rights issue, they would see it as a safety issue: Theirs and their loved ones. Their cases are easy - they have diagnoses and would volunteer to go on the list. Not so easy are those who have no diagnosis and/or would not volunteer. That's why "red flag" laws are so hard to write. That's why it's so hard to get an adult involuntarily committed to an inpatient facility. Don Alley of Brighton, Michigan How do you legislate caring and looking out for one another? Because that's what needs to happen. We can call for more regulations that wouldn't have stopped this, but we're being quite disingenuous and agenda-driven if so. We can call for better mental health checks, but we would have to be careful that asking for help (for instance, seeing a psychologist after experiencing a traumatic event) will not have repercussions on our rights. If a shooting sport hobbyist that just lost his family thinks his guns will get stolen by the government because of some "mental-health policy," then he's unlikely to go to the psychologist and get help. Ruth Grunberg of Cortland, New York Red-flag laws are the best way to intervene. Degrees of mental illness have to be judged on a case-by-case basis. Thirty-nine visits by cops is enough of a threshold to take guns away temporarily. Maybe it gets the attention of the person in distress and they are more willing to accept the help they need. It should be easier for courts to order a psych evaluation, at least. This is only useful if mental health treatment is actually available if needed. Some places have laws to force people to take their meds, but they still have their freedom. Let the person scream and curse and blame the guy that comes to their house to dispense the meds. What counts is that the meds are keeping him from being a danger to himself and others even if he is telling the world he no longer needs them. Alexander Covan of Livingston, New Jersey If there are highly reliable predictors for rampage killers, we need a broad response that equally prevents the next Toronto van killer, Florida slumber party knife massacre, or mass shooting. What do you think? Vote in the poll and share your thoughts in the comments. It's been more than three weeks since Jennifer Marshell White texted her family to let them know she loved them. "She said she was going to be at peace now," White's daughter Allison Hutto Cross told AL.com. Just 12 hours earlier on April 8, White left her Moulton home. Convenience store footage shows her getting gas on Alabama 33 about a mile from her home around 1:30 p.m. She hasn't been seen since. It was 1:17 a.m. the next day when Cross says she and her sister Beth Gilchrist got a text from their mother. "She told us to take care of her grandbabies," Cross told AL.com. White's daughters were sleeping and didn't immediately get the message. But, Gilchrist's ex-husband, a police officer in a nearby small town, got a similar message and immediately called Cross. That's when she woke up and read the text from her mother. Because the message sounded like a suicide note, Cross said she started calling her mother. But there was no response. White, a 55-year-old longtime nurse, is the wife of Moulton City Councilman Brent White. She was a case manager at Decatur-Morgan Hospital. Leaving town The afternoon of April 8, Jennifer White texted several people asking for help moving out of the home she shared with her husband. They lived in the small city of Moulton, home to about 3,300 people in northwest Alabama's Lawrence County. Cross was out of town, but Gilchrist went to help their mother. The daughters say their mother had been fighting with her husband and he asked her to move out. Brent White declined comment for this story, though he told Dateline NBC he hadn't asked his wife for a divorce or to move out. He told the news outlet that his wife also sent him a text during the early morning hours after her disappearance. "Please know that I love you and I'm sorry for any pain," he told Dateline his wife sent in a text. "I love you forever. Not goodbye. Just see ya later." Cross said when her sister arrived at their mother's home, the house was in disarray. Their mother was packing her things in big plastic tubs. When Gilchrist told her mother she didn't have to leave immediately, Jennifer White told her daughter she didn't have to help. Gilchrist told Dateline her mother started "shooing" her away, saying she was fine. Gilchrist left the house around 1:30 p.m. Surveillance footage from the nearby gas station shows Jennifer White -- dressed in a big T-shirt, baggy lounge pants and rain boots -- getting gas and heading out of town about 10 minutes later. She was driving her black Chevy Tahoe with Alabama license plate 42AT756 and a pink "Salt Life" sticker on the back window. Cross said as she traveled home that evening, she unsuccessfully tried contacting her mother. The search begins After Cross and Gilchrist were awakened and found the text messages nearly 12 hours later, they began searching for their mother. They remained friends with Gilchrist's ex-husband the police officer, and he issued an alert for local law enforcement to be on the lookout for Jennifer's black SUV. Cross said they called their step-father, but he said he wasn't home -- he stayed the night with a family member after a fight with Jennifer the day before. Cross said her step-father also was trying to reach Jennifer. Cross and Gilchrist jumped in the car and drove to Decatur. In the past, their mother had slept in her office at the hospital after a fight with her husband, Cross said. "She never wanted to upset us or let her grandkids find out about it, but we knew," Cross said. When they didn't find their mother at her Decatur office or local motels, the sisters decided to head back to Moulton and file a police report. The local police department spent about an hour gathering information, Cross said. Eventually, the police department found that Jennifer White's cellphone had last "pinged" a tower near Bankhead National Forest in Double Springs, about 25 miles from the her home. The "ping" was around the time the texts were sent to Jennifer White's family. The investigation Cross has started working with Dawn Hendricks, a private investigator and former Huntsville police officer. Hendricks is working the case for free, saying she's concerned about how the local police department is handling the case -- particularly because the missing woman's husband is a city councilman. "There'a a conflict there," Hendricks told AL.com. "They've got a personal connection." Hendricks said she doesn't think the police department has done enough -- especially during the first few days of the investigation. "As a police officer, you check everything, every lead," she said. Moulton police Chief Lyndon McWhorter said his officers are doing everything they can, including working with state law enforcement and the attorney general's office. "We're following out every lead that comes in," he said. "We're doing more than we've done on any missing person case when we know the person left our jurisdiction. We're doing more than what is required." The chief said in typical missing person cases, a city police force takes a report, puts the information in a national law enforcement database, then searches within the city. But, in this case, McWhorter says his department has even worked the case outside of town, including investigating in Bankhead Forest, where Jennifer White's cellphone was last detected. Authorities have searched Smith Lake. "Hopefully she is alive somewhere," the chief said. "We want her found as much as anybody. Our department does care about the case. We've done as much as we can do without having any direction to go in." Cross said it's thanks to volunteers, organized through social media, that the family and volunteer crews have conducted searches in the forest on foot, with Jeeps and ATVs, and using a drone. "I just want my mother found," Cross told AL.com. "I just want people to remember this is someone's mother, wife, daughter, grandmother." Unanswered questions The No. 1 question Hendricks and Jennifer White's daughters have is "What happened during that first 12 hours?" Cross said her mother's cellphone records showed she made a call around 1:30 p.m. the day of her disappearance. She didn't use the phone again until 1:17 a.m. when she started sending texts to her daughters. That's unusual, Cross said, because her mother always had her phone in her hand. She needed to be available for her job at the hospital. Cross also wonders whether her mother took her purse or medications to treat Multiple Sclerosis and high blood pressure. Jennifer White doesn't have a history of mental illness, according to her daughter. But, Brent White told Dateline his wife's medical issues may have caused mental distress. Cross said she's also baffled about why her mother left the house without makeup and wearing strange clothing. "That's completely out of character for her," Cross told AL.com. "She was a professional woman. She dressed up and wore her jewelry and her makeup." And Jennifer White wasn't a nature lover. Why was she at Bankhead in the middle of the night? "My mother is not an outdoors person," Cross said. "She loved the sun and beach, but not things like the woods and bugs and hunting." The police chief said authorities do not suspect foul play. "We don't have anything to suggest it," he said. Cross said she doesn't know whether her mother is still alive or if she harmed herself. "We just want a full, fair and accurate investigation," she said. "We just want the police to give my mother a fair chance at being found. We aren't suggesting anyone killed her or accusing anyone of anything. We just want her found." Anyone with information about Jennifer White's disappearance or whereabouts is asked to call Moulton police at 256-974-3961 or Cross at 256-522-3442. Only one state in the county has a majority of residents who oppose same-sex marriage, a new poll shows. That state? Alabama. The poll from the American Values Atlas Project at the Public Religion Research Institute found 51 percent of Alabamians do not support same-sex marriage. Forty-one percent think LGBTQ partners should have the right to wed. Twenty-six percent of Alabamians said they "strongly oppose" same-sex marriage; 20 percent "strongly support" the unions. The second-highest level of disapproval for such unions was in Mississippi, where 48 percent oppose marriage equality while 42 percent support it. In six states, the issue of same-sex marriage garnered less than majority support: Alabama (41 percent); Mississippi (42 percent); Tennessee (46 percent); West Virginia (48 percent); Louisiana (48 percent); and North Carolina (49 percent). The poll showed majorities in 44 states believe gay and lesbian couples should be allowed to marry, up from 30 states in 2014. Support is strongest in the northeast, led by Vermont and Massachusetts, where 80 percent of residents back same-sex unions. Only three Southern states have a majority backing marriage equality and the majorities are slim - Kentucky (51 percent); Arkansas (52 percent); and Georgia (52 percent). Overall, 61 percent of all Americans believe same-sex couples should have the right to marry, while just 30 percent believe marriage should be exclusive to heterosexuals. The PRRI poll included results from 1,100 Alabamians. The governor is speaking out about a Mobile teacher who was sent home for wearing a shirt that said "just pray." The incident happened when Mobile County Public Schools Superintendent Martha Peek said the school's principal asked teacher Chris Burrell to change her shirt or put on a sweater. Teachers and students aren't permitted to wear clothes reflecting religious beliefs, Peek said. Burrell said on social media that she bought the shirt last year during a fundraiser for a child who has an inoperable brain tumor. Gov. Kay Ivey released a statement on the incident Wednesday. "Religious liberty is a cornerstone of the freedoms we enjoy in our country. For a teacher to be disallowed from wearing a shirt that exhorts others to pray, especially for a child suffering from terminal cancer, is simply unacceptable," she said. "The right to express one's religious beliefs, including prayer which was often invoked by George Washington himself, is not lost when one enters the schoolhouse door. I am committed to protecting religious freedom for everyone, including our teachers and school children," Ivey said. Peek said while the principal didn't know about the fundraiser, she still "would have had to exercise her judgment." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Birmingham-Southern College President Gen. Charles Krulak (Tom Coiner/Birmingham-Southern College) By General Charles C. Krulak, USMC (ret.), who was the 31st Commandant of the Marine Corps and former president of Birmingham Southern College. After the attacks of September 11, our nation's leaders succumbed to fear, departed from American ideals, and put in place a policy of torture. Sold as a boon to U.S. nation security, the CIA's "enhanced interrogation" program in fact weakened it. That's why I, along with over a hundred other former generals and admirals, spoke out against the program. Fortunately, in 2015, 78 senators--including Alabama's Richard Shelby--voted for the McCain-Feinstein amendment, which affirmed the illegality of "enhanced interrogation" techniques and went a long way toward rebuilding the bipartisan consensus against torture. But now, in a potential major setback, President Trump has nominated for CIA director a person who was intimately involved in the torture program. While the public record is incomplete, there are uncontested reports that Gina Haspel ran a black site prison where at least one detainee was repeatedly tortured. In addition, Haspel held senior positions within department of the CIA that were responsible for directing the program, which was rife with mismanagement and abuse. Before they vote on Haspel's nomination, senators--including Richard Shelby and Doug Jones--have an obligation to ascertain the nature and extent of her involvement in torture. They should insist on full declassification, with appropriate redactions to protect security, of all information regarding her role in torture. If and when they confirm that she indeed played a role, they should reject her in the name of national security and the rule of law. Well-respected former intelligence officials have spoken highly of Haspel's long record of service. Yet whatever her contributions, they cannot excuse her involvement in torture and other unlawful abuse of detainees. Nor does the claim that she was "just following orders" exonerate her. Our country did not accept this rationalization after World War II, and we should not accept it now. Waterboarding and other forms of torture were manifestly illegal. People in the government, regardless of their level, had a legal and moral duty to refuse to carry out these actions, and to report them. There is strong evidence, moreover, that Haspel's disturbing conduct went beyond even "enhanced interrogation." Public reports suggest she supervised or otherwise had a key role in the interrogation program at a time when abuses were even more brutal than what was authorized by the discredited legal memos. She also appears to have pushed for and participated in the destruction of 92 videotapes of torture including torture she supervised--over the objections of congressional leaders, intelligence and Department of Justice officials, and White House counsels. This act alone would be sufficient reason to oppose her nomination. The embrace of torture cost our nation dearly, and we're still paying the price. It increased the risk to our troops, hindered cooperation with allies, alienated populations whose support we need in the struggle against terrorism, produced bogus information that impeded investigations, and handed a priceless public relations tool to terrorist groups. To promote to CIA chief a person complicit in torture and the coverup would send precisely the wrong message to the world. Conversely, the Haspel nomination offers senators a valuable opportunity to solidify further a ban against torture that should have never been violated. By making the correct choice on Haspel, they could, perhaps once and for all, close the book on this shameful chapter in our history. Years ago, I heard a rumor that my friend Mac Parsons was planning to run for the Alabama Supreme Court, so I called him to ask if it was true. Parsons was a circuit judge and a former state senator who had gotten drawn out of his legislative district after making too much sense in Montgomery. He didn't just point out the emperor had no clothes. Goat Hill is a nudist colony, and Mac had the vice squad on speed dial. And they hated him for it. "You got all these legislators down there in Montgomery," Parsons told me once. "They put their hand on a Bible and swear to uphold the Alabama Constitution of 1901 and they haven't read either one of those things." Parsons had read both, cover to cover. When I called to ask whether he was running for the Supreme Court, he said he was thinking about it. I asked him whether, when elected, he'd put the Ten Commandments on display in the courthouse like Roy Moore had tried. "Sure, I'll put the commandments on my wall, but ten? There's a lot more than ten commandments in the Bible," he said. "I might not have room for all of them." Parsons started going through all the rules that most church-going folks breeze past when flipping their Bibles to the parts they liked. "Did you know that it says in the Bible that it's wrong to eat shellfish?" he said. "I wonder how many people down at the Fish Market know that. Somebody really ought to tell them. It'd be awful if somebody went to hell for eating shrimp." Mac lost that race, despite having political and financial backing of sitting Republican Supreme Court justices. And not long after, he died of cancer. And those of us who loved him were left to feel sad twice. Years later, I still feel the tug of that telephone. Not a week goes by I don't wish I could call to shoot the breeze about Alabama politics. But especially this week, I'd like to hear what he'd have to say about his old colleague, state Sen. Gerald Dial, and Dial's proposed constitutional amendment to decorate public buildings with the Ten Commandments. Earlier this spring, the Alabama Legislature passed Dial's amendment, and this week the Alabama Secretary of State scheduled that amendment to appear on the November ballot: "Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, providing for certain religious rights and liberties; authorizing the display of the Ten Commandments on state property and property owned or administrated by a public school or public body; and prohibiting the expenditure of public funds in defense of the constitutionality of this amendment." Did you catch that last part? This amendment, this bold stand for religious liberty or whatever -- it actually prohibits the state government from spending money on the thing it's supposed to defend. So what good is it for? According to Dial, it's to prevent school shootings. "I believe that if you had the Ten Commandments posted in a prominent place in school, it has the possibility to prohibit some student from taking action to kill other students," Dial said. Instead of granite, like Roy Moore's old washing machine-sized monument, maybe schools could make the Ten Commandments out of kevlar, so when some nut walks through the door the students could use them as bullet proof vests. Or maybe this is just another ploy for votes -- for Dial, who's running for Agriculture Commissioner, and for the Alabama GOP, whose members have broken every commandment they've written into the ethics laws. It's there to drive turn-out, and nothing else. It's nakedly political. Nakedly partisan. Naked nonsense. Mac, I'm sure, would have something funny to say. Something dry. Something witty. Something that would cut through all Dial's BS and expose him and the Montgomery lawmakers who put this thing on the ballot. Something that would make me feel better about all this stupidity. But he doesn't answer the phone anymore. And I'm left again to feel sad twice. Kyle Whitmire is the state political columnist for the Alabama Media Group. Want access to the best analysis and in-depth reporting about Alabama each week? Sign up for the weekly Reckon Report newsletter and follow Reckon on Facebook and Twitter. Waffle House "Hello, and welcome to Waffle House!" My daughter's a Waffle House girl. She doesn't need anything poached, sauced up, laced with espresso or covered with powdered sugar. Give her a plain waffle and a side order of bacon and she's one happy lady. Each Sunday she's in town, we head straight from church to the Waffle House on Valley Ave, where we (and everyone else who walked in the door) were feted with that cheesy, yet endearing greeting. We sat at the counter and were usually met by Heather, who asked us for a snippet of scripture or inspiration from the church service while pouring my decaf coffee and turning to my daughter. "The usual, honey?" We're not going there this Sunday. Or any other Sunday until the company helps us understand why it was cool for an employee to call the police on an African-American woman, a customer who was upset about being told to pay for plastic utensils (a ludicrous policy, by the way), told to leave when she refused to do so and deemed a criminal after asking how to contact the corporate office in order to share her grievances with higher-ups. We need to know why the company so quickly backed Saraland police two weeks ago after two officers (with a third looking on) treated the woman, the unarmed woman, like a rodeo calf. No, worse than a rodeo calf. Why they apparently have no trouble with officers dragging the woman onto that nasty, nasty floor, pulling at her so violently her breasts fell out of her dress, threatening to break her arm, wrapping an arm around her neck as if to choke her--all over some plastic utensils? I can't really watch the video anymore because it still makes me boil. Boil for that young woman. Boil for my daughter. Boil for all my female relatives, black female friends and for African-American women everywhere. Because they were all violated in those early morning hours on April 22 on the Waffle House floor. Because they were all 25-year-old Chikesia Clemons, as were the myriad black women brutalized through centuries of mistreatment, indignity--and worse. I do not care how loud, indignant or even threatening Clemons may have been towards Waffle House employees, as the company and police have asserted and used as justification for their actions. (Even though an employee on a 911 call to police, which was screened by AL.com, makes no mention of threats, only that a customer was disorderly.) I don't even care how much alcohol she may have ingested. (Isn't just about everyone in Waffle House in the wee morning hours at least a little bit lit?) Clemons did not deserve to be treated in such a vulgar manner--and both Waffle House Walt Ehmer and Saraland police should say so. No woman does. No one does. Unless they don't matter. Unless those Waffle House employees and Saraland police saw in Clemons someone less than their own wives, mothers, sisters--and daughters. Someone less worthy of the treatment they no doubt believe their own should receive if they found themselves similarly frustrated. And unarmed. Rev. Al Sharpton came to Mobile on Tuesday to ensure that what happened to Clemons does not fade into oblivion behind the egregious silence of Waffle House and Saraland police. I'm glad he did. I've known Rev. Sharpton for years and respect his willingness to take the heat--including the jokes--to ensure the brightest light is shined on injustice. During the afternoon, he outlined demands that Saraland police drop any charges against Clemons and apologize for their actions and that Waffle House denounce those actions, as well. Seems reasonable enough, and right. At minimum. About two hundred people joined Sharpton on Tuesday evening for a town hall at Bethel AME Church. Some of them called for a boycott of the national chain, which is slated to begin on Friday. My daughter and I decided on April 22 that we wouldn't go there again. Not until the chain explains itself. Not until Ehmer--with the eloquence and sincerity he conveyed on Saturday at the funeral of one of the victims of the tragic massacre at the Tennessee Waffle House, which also happened on April 22--explains why fifty-cent plastic utensils apparently matter more than the dignity of an African-American woman. Roy S. Johnson's column appears in The Birmingham News, the Huntsville Times, the Mobile Register and AL.com. Hit me up at rjohnson@al.com or/and follow me at twitter.com/roysj. Today I want to bring you my guide to surfing in El Salvador. This Central American country has some great surfing on the Pacific Ocean, and its worth a special trip. Surfing in El Salvador I dont think Ive formally announced it, but I have a goal of visiting every country in the world in my lifetime. One of the best things about it is that it pushes me to visit places I otherwise wouldnt travel to. Like El Salvador. This Central American country hasnt been high on my list, mostly because Ive never heard anyone talk about it. But now that Im traveling through the region I cant help stopping here. And what I find is some of the most beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels, and best surfing in El Salvador. Puro Surf When my flight arrives from Honduras, I find myself in a sparkling new airport that sets the tone for a good trip. My hotel is an hours drive away, and en route I take in the lush vegetation and flowering trees in the hills. Im staying in La Libertad on the beach in El Zonte. As soon as my driver pulls up to the hotel, I know Ive made the perfect choice. Not only is Puro Surf in a beautiful location, but its every bit as stylish and luxurious as I hoped. Rooms grace a hillside leading down to an open-air restaurant and infinity pool with inflatable flamingos gliding along it. My room at Puro Surf has an ocean view and great style, and the property has everything from a yoga room to a surf school. As I unpack, Im glad Ive splurged on such an amazing place. Surfing in El Zonte, El Salvador Speaking of amazing, the beach just below the hotel is gorgeous. Black sand glitters in the sun and the roaring waves of the Pacific Ocean charge forward with relentless energy. Its a stark contrast to the gentle Caribbean Sea where I walked this morning, and makes my inner Californian feel like Ive come home. I spend most of my time in El Zonte on the beach. It has some of the best surfing in El Salvador, and there are lots of people riding the waves. Birds, too. I watch groups of pelicans glide along the tops, swooping down to play in the spray. Back on shore there are rock arches, tide pools, and beachfront restaurants with delicious local food. I wake up at sunrise every morning and walk along the sand, marveling at how warm the Pacific is here compared to San Francisco. Despite what Ive heard about El Salvador, I feel completely safe here. In fact, theres a marked absence of both human and animal pests. Unlike everywhere else I visit in Central America, I dont get a single insect bite and not one man harasses me as I walk by. Its a refreshing break. Also refreshing is sitting poolside at Puro Surf in the afternoons. And while I mostly eat at the local restaurants on the beach, I have delicious fish tacos at the hotel restaurant one day. Relaxing here is a great mid-trip break and a perfect way to restore my energy for the next leg of my journey: Granada, Nicaragua. El Salvador As I leave El Salvador, Im sad to have not spent more time here, but happy that my goal of visiting every country has brought me to begin with. This place has been the best surprise of my trip through Central America, and Ive been amazed by the beauty of El Zonte and the surfing in El Salvador. I hope my goal of visiting the rest of the world wont keep me away for too long. New here? Join thousands of others and subscribe to the A Lady in London blog via email or Bloglovin. Some of the links in this blog post are affiliate links. At no cost to you, I earn a small commission when you click on them and make a purchase. It doesnt affect the way you shop, and its a great way to support the A Lady in London blog. Pin it! Intermittent strikes in France against Emmanuel Macrons reforms pose the toughest test yet for the young president. Strikes that forced a shutdown of the University of Paris, one of the first universities in Europe, continued for two years and placed a significant economic strain on the student quarter of Paris. The strikes followed the deaths of students who were allegedly involved in riots. City guardsmen turned unexpectedly rough and killed some students as punishment. That civil unrest happened in 1229 and is the earliest known account of strikes in France. Now, almost 800 years later, a series of protests is taking place in France against planned reforms of the national state-owned railway company SNCF. Protest leaders say the strikes are set to last at least three months, presenting the strongest challenge yet for President Emmanuel Macron and his reform agenda. Railway unions began their strike on April 2. In what they are calling a beaded strike, unions will call on SNCF employees to stop working for two days a week. The intermittent strikes amount to a total of 36 days and are the cause of major disruptions. Sham dialogue The French government is seeking to reform the railway sector before the summer. The SNCF is plagued by a debt of $57.7bn, compromising future investments. In February, Edouard Philippe, the prime minister, outlined plans to open up the rail monopoly to competition, which is an obligation for the Europe 2020 strategy to advance the economy of the European Union. The government decided to stop short of privatisation but said the SNCF should nevertheless be placed on equal footing with private competitors. The government also seeks to stop offering privileged employment status to new employees. Current SNCF personnel are guaranteed employment for life, social security, early retirement and a generous pension, as well as free train services for them and discounted rates for some of their family members. The four labour unions representing railway workers say their demands are not being met or heard. As long as the government does not open real negotiations, the mobilisation will not stop, Sylvain Esnault, head of communications at the CGT Federation of Railway Workers, one of the labour unions that initiated the strike, told Al Jazeera. From the beginning, meetings with the ministry have only been listening sessions. It is a sham dialogue. The CGT union submitted a report containing proposals for developing the public rail service to the prime minister, emphasising a focus on developing the railway system, financing it, settling the status of railway workers, and opening up to competition. Out of sympathy Political scientist Thomas Guenole said he believes the so-called advantages of railway workers are a pure and simple lie. The wages of the railway workers are in the national average, and the age at which they actually retire is in the national average too, he told Al Jazeera. There is far less automatic sympathy for the SNCF at this moment than there used to be, according to public polls. The level of rail services has sharply declined, especially for commuters, who are as a result more open to calls for reform. But to blame a strike for disrupting the functioning of the economy or the SNCF is as absurd as blaming the water for getting wet, said Guenole. {articleGUID} In an interview with the French TV channel TF1 last month, Macron said it is not about stigmatising railroaders. Working time is not consistent with the rest of society. There are rules of maintenance in society, which are more restrictive than in the civil service, he said. Macron confirmed the state would gradually take on part of the SNCFs debt when it was reformed. High stakes Surveys suggest most voters back Macrons reforms, but his overall approval ratings have fallen below 50 percent this year, according to a poll conducted by the Observatory of National Politics. Macron cannot back down now. Otherwise, he will give the impression of yielding to the first strong opposition he encounters, Bruno Cautres, a political analyst and researcher at Sciences Po in Paris, told Al Jazeera. If the strikes last a long time and the government does not make some concessions, it will have a negative effect on Macrons popularity, he said. Since Macron became president, reforms have been made to the labour market, corporation taxation, universities, vocational training and the baccalaureat. {articleGUID} In this case, there is a lot at stake for Macron, both domestically and internationally, if he backs down on his plans. A way has to be found in which no one loses face. For the moment, the battle is not yet won. But I do not doubt that Macron will achieve his goals while showing that he made some concessions to the railway workers, Cautres said. Macron remains determined to liberalise Frances economic model and restore its international status. As he told the press in February: I do not forget where I come from and why I am here today. I am the product of a form of brutality of history. I broke in because France was unhappy and worried. Amid escalating diplomatic tensions with Kuwait, the Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has called on all Filipino workers in the Gulf country to return home. His self-described Solomonic announcement, which shocked many at home and abroad, came shortly after Kuwait expelled the Philippine Ambassador Renato Villa and recalled its envoy to Manila Musaed Saleh Ahmad Althwaikh. Diplomatic tensions between the two countries spiked in February when the body of a murdered Filipina domestic worker, Joanna Demafelis, was discovered in a freezer in Kuwait. Her employers, a Lebanese and a Syrian, were subsequently sentenced to death in absentia and are currently held in Lebanon and Syria respectively. In 2016 and 2017, as many as 185 Filipinos working in Kuwait died, some under suspicious circumstances. In the aftermath of the outrage that the murder caused at home, the Duterte government scrambled to take action to reassure the Filipino public. Hoping to score some publicity points at home, some officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs posted videos of what it claimed were rescues of our distressed kababayans [fellow Filipinos] by Philippine diplomatic personnel in Kuwait. In response, the Kuwaiti authorities accused the Philippine embassy personnel of smuggling Filipino maids in flagrant violation of Kuwaits laws and international diplomatic rules. They immediately detained several non-diplomatic staff from the Philippine embassy, while issuing arrest warrants for three Filipino diplomats. After decades of cordial relations, the two nations have moved dangerously close to severing their diplomatic ties and the fate of more than 260,000 Filipinos residing in Kuwait is now hanging in the balance. The ongoing diplomatic crisis, however, is only the tip of the iceberg. It exposes a more fundamental challenge for the Philippines, which has exported labour for decades to fuel its economy. The policy is proving increasingly unsustainable, since it exposes countless Filipinos to difficult and highly dangerous working conditions abroad while the demand for labour is rising at home, along with the standard of living. The export of unemployment Up until the 1960s, the Philippines was one of the worlds fastest-growing economies. At that time, the country boasted Southeast Asias most modern infrastructure, world-class universities, a buoyant cinema industry and a burgeoning middle class, which stood at the forefront of fashion and culture in the region. In recognition of the Philippines bright economic prospects, Japan decided to set up the Asian Development Banks headquarters in Manila in 1966. Back then, the Philippines was seen as the emerging manufacturing and consumer powerhouse in the East, akin to how China is viewed today. {articleGUID} Yet, the following decade saw the Philippines gradually fall into a downward spiral of economic stagnation (PDF) under the repressive Ferdinand Marcos regime. An initial growth spurt in the early 1970s quickly gave way to ballooning debt and chronic corruption, which doomed the Philippine economy for decades to come. By the early 1980s, the Philippines was essentially bankrupt, with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund bailing out what was then seen as the sick man of Asia. It was during the period of the Marcos dictatorship and deteriorating economic conditions are home that the Philippines began to send large numbers of its citizens abroad. The trigger was the oil crisis of the early 1970s, which hammered oil-importing nations such as the Philippines but created a construction boom across the Middle East where labour was in shortage. Manila essentially exported its unemployment problems. Labour policies and shortages in the Philippines But what began as a stopgap measure under the Marcos regime turned into an official pillar of Philippine foreign policy under succeeding administrations. Over the following decades, as much as 10 percent of the Filipino households had a member working overseas. In fact, one of the three major goals of the countrys foreign policy is the protection of the welfare of Filipino migrant workers, which have been an indispensable source of capital to the countrys economy. {articleGUID} In 2017, the overseas Filipino workers remitted up to $33bn (close to 10 percent of GDP) back home. Due to their sacrifices and contributions to the Philippine economy, they are commonly referred to as modern heroes (Bagong Bayani) in the country. Yet, their economic contributions have come at an immeasurable social cost. The labour export policy has affected hundreds of thousands of nuclear families, as either one or both parents have left their children back home. There is also the broader culture of dependency, with many Filipinos opting to rely on remittances from abroad as a source of livelihood. Deploying a large number of Filipino women or the feminisation of Philippine labour export to places with minimal to non-existent safeguards and protection for minority workers has exposed them to rampant abuse. But as the Philippine economy enters a golden age of growth, there are hopes that many Filipinos can return home. In fact, amid a massive $180bn infrastructure build-up, the Philippines is, for the first time in recent history, running short on construction workers. With the Philippines again becoming one of the worlds fastest-growing economies, employers are now willing to provide better wages and conditions for local workers. Thus, low-paying and unsafe jobs abroad are beginning to look less appealing to the rising middle class in the country. For now, however, the Duterte administration is hopelessly scrambling for ways to protect its citizens in Kuwait and across the Middle East, which hosts as many as two million Filipino workers. Its an uphill struggle, which will test any governments resolve. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. There is a video tucked away somewhere deep in the attic of the internet of me 15 years ago, convening an international conference on Edward Saids book, Orientalism, at Columbia University. Said at that time was still with us. In this video, you can see me briefly introduce him (not that he needed any introduction on our campus) before he takes up the stage to share his very last thoughts on his groundbreaking masterpiece. There is another video from just a few months ago, in September 2017, in which I was interviewed by a young colleague in Geneva offering my latest thoughts on the significance of Orientalism today. In between these two events I wrote and published my own book Post-Orientalism: Knowledge and Power in Time of Terror (2009). These three dates 2003, 2009, and 2017 are very much typical of the temporal trajectory of critical thinkers of my generation and their enduring debt to Said and his magisterial text that turned an entire discipline of scholarship upside down and enabled a mode of thinking hitherto impossible to fathom in postcolonial thinking around the globe. In Orientalism, Said unleashed our tongue and unsheathed the sword of our critical thinking. Orientalism hit the right note at the most momentous occasion when the postcolonial world at large most needed it - when the condition of coloniality needed a thematic and theoretical decoupling from the framing of capitalist modernity at large. There is another crucial date I need to record here: October- November 2000 when the Italian Academy for Advanced Studies at Columbia University hosted the eminent founding figure of the school of subaltern studies, the Indian historian Ranajit Guha, to deliver a series of lectures that were subsequently published in the book, History at the Limit of World History (2003). On this occasion, my other distinguished Columbia colleague Gayatri Spivak and I organised a two-day conference around Guhas lectures that we called, Subaltern Studies at Large. Said was present at this conference and gave a keynote speech at its first plenary session. The Empire writes back These among many other seminal hallmarks of the two interrelated fields of Postcolonial and Subaltern studies, as defined by towering critical thinkers like Said, Spivak, and Guha are indices of a seismic groundswell in transforming modes of knowledge production that have historically framed and provincialised the received Eurocentrism of our understanding of the world around us. Before these seminal thinkers, the world of colonial modernity was at the receiving end of European scholarship.Their writing enabled generations of scholars to think in terms contrarian to the epistemic foregrounding of Eurocentric social sciences and humanities. {articleGUID} There are a number of crucial texts at the epicentre of this historic reorientation of critical scholarship in social sciences and humanities chief among them Spivaks powerful essay, Can the Subaltern Speak? But no other text has assumed the iconic importance of Saids Orientalism for a number of substantive and circumstantial reasons. Orientalism was the right book at the right time by the right author. Solidly established as the pre-eminent literary theorist of his generation, Said wrote many books and articles before and after Orientalism. But Orientalism hit the right note at the most momentous occasion when the postcolonial world at large most needed it when the condition of coloniality needed a thematic and theoretical decoupling from the framing of capitalist modernity at large. We on the postcolonial edges of capitalist modernity needed a defining text, a totem pole, a worldly testimony, to bring us all together and Said was born to write that text and build that edifice. Like all groundbreaking texts, Orientalism has attracted many significant critical encounters chief among them two seminal essays by Aijaz Ahmad and James Clifford. In my own Persophilia: Persian Culture on the Global Scene (2015), I have found myself seriously diverging in some crucial ways from Saids positions. Like all other seminal thoughts, Orientalism has a number of important precedents in the work of Anouar Abdel-Malek, Talal Asad, and Bernard S Cohen. But all such precedents and critical encounters, in fact, come together to stage and signify Saids Orientalism even more than if it were denied such encounters. Even those abusive readings of Orientalism that have turned it into a diatribe against the West have had their contributions to making the book the defining moment of a discipline. Saids own courageous and pioneering defence of the Palestinian cause was, in fact, paradoxically instrumental in facilitating such abusive readings. As the borderline between useful and abusive readings of Orientalism blurred, the text loomed ever larger as a classic thriving on its own mis/interpretations. Re-writing the world Against the background of all such cacophony, Orientalism was and remains a cogent critique of colonially conditioned modes of knowledge production. It is a study of the relation between knowledge and power, and as such, deeply rooted in and indebted to the work of Michel Foucault and before him Friedrich Nietzsche. There is an even longer and more substantive critique of the sociology of knowledge that goes back to Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels The German Ideology and comes down to such seminal sociologists as Max Scheler, Karl Mannheim, and George Herbert Mead. Said himself was not fully conscious of this veritable sociological trajectory, for he was primarily a literary critic and his critique of Orientalism was primarily a critique of figurative, tropic and narrative representations. The enduring lesson and abiding truth of Saids Orientalism is in its clinical precision diagnosing the pathological relationship between interested knowledge and the power it serves. As I have argued in detail in my Post-Orientalism book, today, the relation between power and knowledge about the Arab and Muslim world, or the world in general, has gone through successive gestations. The classical age of European Orientalism eventually degenerated into American Area Studies and further down to the rise of mostly Zionist think-tanks in Washington, DC, and elsewhere writing the interests of the Israeli settler colony into the imperial interests of the United States. Today, Arabs and Islam are no longer subjects of knowledge and understanding, but objects of hatred and loathing. Today, two notorious Islamophobes with a sustained history of the hatred of Muslims and their faith, Mike Pompeo and John Bolton are the US secretary of state to US President Donald Trump and his national security adviser. We are no longer in the field of Orientalism as Said understood and criticised it. Today in Europe, their hatred of Judaism and Jews has successfully transformed itself to the hatred of Islam and Muslims. At its height, classical Orientalism generated a monumental scholar like Ignaz Goldziher, who, at great personal cost to himself refused, to yield to the pernicious power of Zionists trying to recruit his knowledge into their ranks. Today, a Zionist propagandist like Bernard Lewis is the chief ideologue of the Neocons hatred against Muslims and imperial designs on their homelands. Today, a close and critical reading of Saids seminal masterpiece requires an even more radical dismantling of the European project of colonial modernity and all its ideological trappings. Said paved the way and pointed us in the right direction. The treacherous path ahead requires not just the sparkles of his critical thinking but also the grace of his courage and imagination. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. The recent killings of peaceful Palestinian protesters, children and journalists by Israeli military snipers marks a turning point in the movement against Israels decades-long occupation of Palestine. Weekly nonviolent protests by thousands in Gaza over the past month, known as the Great March of Return, have resulted in dozens dead and hundreds injured by the live fire, rubber bullets and tear gas of Israels military. As a result, the ground is shifting in the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian land, reflecting the urgency of the human rights violations taking place there, and the ongoing efforts of the Palestinian-led movement for justice, freedom and self-determination. In the United States, during this season of bourgeoning movements for womens rights, gun control and black lives, people are starting to understand the commonality of injustice, inequality and state-sponsored violence around the world. With a younger generation committed to racial justice, social equity and human rights, attitudes towards Israels occupation of Palestine are shifting, even as many mainstream Jewish organisations remain silent. {articleGUID} Recently, Israeli-American actress Natalie Portman faced accusations of antisemitism from Israeli officials and calls for revoking her citizenship for rejecting an invitation to travel to Israel to receive an award from the Genesis Prize Foundation, dubbed the Jewish Nobel. Portman said she declined to attend the ceremony in Israel due to distress over recent events (referring to the killings of Palestinian protesters) and because she did not want to appear as endorsing [Israeli Prime Minister] Benjamin Netanyahu. Jewish-American comedian Sarah Silverman spoke out in support for Ahed Tamimi, the Palestinian girl who was imprisoned for slapping an Israeli soldier and has since been called the Palestinian Rosa Parks. As both Portman and Silverman are known for their support for Israel, their unexpected reactions to and protests of Israels actions showed that there is a shift in Jewish-American attitudes towards the occupation. Meanwhile, Durham, North Carolina became the first US city to ban police training in Israel, while students at New Yorks prestigious Barnard Colleges students voted to divest from Israel. Several US lawmakers such as Senators Dianne Feinstein, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren have voiced their opposition to the shootings of Palestinians attending the Great March of Return, as Jewish millennial activists from IfNotNow have faced arrest for shutting down congressional offices as they tired to make elected officials take a stand. Israel cannot justify a system protecting rights for Jews only, any more than apartheid South Africa or Jim Crow America were able to maintain a country for whites only, as pressure, protests and boycotts ultimately forced change. There are signs of change in Israel as well. An Army Radio broadcaster said he is ashamed to be Israeli in light of the militarys killing of Gaza protesters. Some Israeli soldiers stationed in Gaza during the attacks on protesters have reportedly reached out to Breaking the Silence, the dissident Israeli group that publishes soldiers testimonies that are highly critical of the occupation. BTselem, the Israeli human rights NGO, has urged Israeli soldiers to refuse to fire at unarmed Palestinian protesters. Meanwhile, a new Jewish-Arab movement called Standing Together started working towards transforming Israeli politics and invigorating a fractured left. Every movement for justice and equality has its turning point, in which the violence perpetrated against it provides clarity to the greater society, if not the world community, regarding the moral bankruptcy of the oppressors cause. During the US civil rights movement, such flashpoints included Bloody Sunday the brutal attack by police on civil rights protesters on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama in 1965 and the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which claimed the lives of four black girls in 1963. In apartheid South Africa, the turning point was the 1960 Sharpeville massacre, in which Afrikaner police opened fire on thousands of black protesters, killing 69 and wounding 180. Another turning point came 16 years later, when South African police killed as many as 700 black students in Soweto who were protesting compulsory Afrikaans instruction. {articleGUID} The Palestinian movement for justice and equality reached a similar turning point when Israeli soldiers chose to fire upon thousands of unarmed, non-violent protesters. Israel can no longer justify a system protecting rights for Jews only, any more than apartheid South Africa or Jim Crow America were able to maintain a country for whites only, as pressure, protests and boycotts ultimately forced change. Palestinian Arabs are now the majority population in the land that encompasses Israel and Palestine, and yet they are second and third-class citizens at best, and at worst, landless refugees made captive in their own home. Israel is an apartheid state whose government apparently has no intention of providing full and equal rights to Palestinians in a democratic one-state solution, or allowing Palestinian independence through a two-state solution. Israel is continuously expanding its illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, Gaza is an open-air detainment camp in which the prisoners cannot escape, and US President Donald Trump has placated his white Christian nationalist base and made way for the rapture by taking Jerusalem off the table. Decades of a dehumanising occupation have also conditioned the hard-right leadership in the nation of refugees, that is Israel, to brand African refugees as infiltrators and monkeys who are a threat to the countrys Jewish character and existence. Justifying his Trumpesque border fence with Egypt, Netanyahu has called African migrants a greater threat than Sinai terrorists. All this despite the fact that Ethiopian Jews, just like Palestinians, are facing discrimination and violence in Israel on a daily basis. Article II of the United Nations Genocide Convention defines genocide as any of the following, with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part: (a) Killing members of the group; (b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; (c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; (d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; (e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group. Israel, a nation created in the wake of the Holocaust, should take this definition to heart as it assesses how it treats Palestinians. No longer can the Israeli government pretend Palestinians are not human, or invisible, or will simply go away. Israel cannot justify the misery it visits upon Palestinians through the military occupation, the killing and imprisonment, the restrictions on movement, the demolition of homes and the construction of illegal settlements on Palestinian land any longer. Reactions to Israeli militarys latest killing and maimings of nonviolent Palestinian protesters are proof that the Palestinian movement for justice has passed a turning point and change is coming. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Muslims of India have been feeling more vulnerable and insecure in the first four months of 2018 than ever before. Recent cases of failed justice for crimes committed against them have disheartened the Muslim community. Even to outside observers, it is increasingly clear that Muslims are being ostracised and singled out and that state institutions are failing them in India. Struggling for justice in Kathua In January, an eight-year-old girl was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered in the Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir. The girl was from the Bakarwal Muslim nomadic community. The eight men accused of participating in her abduction, assault and murder, on the other hand, are Hindus. The primary accused is a retired revenue official, while one of the others is a police officer. When the girls body was discovered near a temple in the forest, almost a week after her disappearance, Bakarwals demanded a special inquiry. The court-monitored investigation revealed that her abduction, rape and murder were purposeful and preplanned. It indicated that the attack on the girl aimed to scare the Bakarwal community away from Kathua. {articleGUID} Last month, when the special team investigating the murder, headed by a Pandit Hindu and a Muslim, went to file its charge sheet, it faced stiff resistance from some members of the Jammu and Kashmir Bar Association. They rallied against the investigative team and accused them of serving an anti-Hindu agenda. They claimed that they, too, wanted justice for the brutalised girl, but said the investigative team was biased against Hindus. They said they wanted the probe to be conducted by the Central Bureau of India (CBI) instead. The lawyers also had other, clearly anti-Muslim, demands. They demanded a change in the land use policy in the state which allows the nomads to retain the plots they had in their possession. In protests, supported by other Hindu groups and political parties active in the area, they also asked for Rohingya refugees to be removed from the area. Both these demands had nothing to do with the fairness of the investigation into the girls murder. And together, they made the protesters anti-Muslim agenda crystal clear. Today, many people from the Hindu community, against all evidence, seems to be convinced that this crime could not have been committed by Hindus. Instead, they allege that the child must have been killed by the Rohingya or the Bakarwals themselves. They claim the entire case is a Muslim-Kashmiri conspiracy aiming to undermine the Hindus. What started as a demand for a probe by a higher impartial agency has now taken a definitive anti-Muslim turn, with the local Hindu population outright denying the possibility of Hindus being involved in the crime. But these anti-Muslim sentiments are not only being promoted by Kathua lawyers or members of the public. Indias top institutions, and even the ruling party, seem to be following a similar agenda. After lawyers tried to stop the investigative team from filing the charge sheet against the men accused of the murder, the photos and videos of the agitation were shared widely in the media. Following a strong public reaction to the incident, the Supreme Court instructed the Bar Council of India (BCI) to send a fact-finding team to Kathua. In their report to the top court, the BCI said the Kathua lawyers didnt prevent the special investigative team from filing the charge sheet and blamed the media for misreporting. In fact, the team went beyond its mandate and even said the demand for a CBI probe into the crime seems to be justified. Many members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have also openly put their support behind the accused and criticised the investigation. Two BJP ministers in the state of Jammu and Kashmir addressed a rally in support of the accused, which caused a public outcry across India and both ministers were forced to resign from their roles. But after that all the BJP ministers resigned from the ministry. When new members from the party joined the government, it was pointed out that at least one of them was present in the rally opposing the probe. The new deputy chief minister insensitively said that the Kathua rape and murder was a minor incident and was being unnecessarily hyped. Seeking justice from Gujarat to Delhi But beyond the Kathua case, there have been many others that give the impression that Indias Muslims can no longer trust state institutions, including the judiciary. In March, many Indian states were hit by violence during the Hindu festival of Ramanavami. Attacks on Muslim localities in different parts of Bihar and West Bengal states have been reported. In many places, Muslim houses and business establishments have been attacked, burned and looted. Similar attacks have been going on for the last four years, but the level and intensity of violence has increased manyfold in 2018. The administration and the law-and-order authorities, in most cases, failed to take action and allowed this to happen. {articleGUID} In April, an Indian court overturned the conviction of senior BJP party member Maya Kodnani who was sentenced to 28 years in jail for her part in the murder of 97 people in 2002 in the state of Gujarat. Her co-accused Bau Bajrangi also got relief in his sentence. It was clear that the prosecution was not interested in making a good case against the accused. Kodnanis acquittal has dismayed and angered the Muslim victims of the Gujarat riots, who had fought a long battle to secure justice. Also in April, the accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case in which nine people were killed, were let off. All the accused belonged to organisations practising Hindutva ideology. This was a major case in which the investigative agencies had proved the role such organisations had played in the killing of Muslims. Lawyer Rohini Salian, who was the main prosecutor in this case, had openly accused the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of pressurising her to go soft on the accused. In a recent interview, she repeated her charge. Before this, the Uttar Pradesh government initiated the process of withdrawing 131 cases all naming Hindus as the accused including 13 murder and 11 attempted murder cases relating to the 2013 mass violence against Muslims in the cities Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. In late April, six Hindu men were arrested in Gurugram, in the state of Delhi, after photos and videos of them disrupting a Muslim Friday mass prayer went viral on social media. But they were swiftly let out on bail. Even more worryingly, around 500 people claiming allegiance to various Hindutva outfits close to the ruling BJP came out in the streets of Gurugram on April 30 in support of the six men. The protesters demanded the scrapping of the charges against the accused, as well as a ban on prayer meetings in open spaces and government land without approval from authorities. Indias Muslims have a feeling that a physical and psychological war is being waged against them. The state apparatus, as is evident from the examples given above, is turning a blind eye if not giving direct support to the injustices being committed against them. With the general elections around the corner, many fear that anti-Muslim violence in India is only going to increase and intensify in the coming months. This, unfortunately, is being seen by the BJP as a legitimate method of mobilising Hindu votes in the electoral battle. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Angry protests have erupted on the Yemeni island of Socotra after the United Arab Emirates deployed four military aircraft and more than 100 troops to the famed UNESCO World Heritage Site. Residents told Al Jazeera that the four Emirati aircraft arrived illegally on the island on Wednesday in an attempt to intimidate officials from the internationally recognised government who were making a rare visit to the archipelago. Hundreds of Yemenis had come out to welcome Ahmed bin Daghr, Yemeni prime minister, and 10 of his ministers and to denounced the UAEs presence on the island. Videos posted on social media showed protesters chanting slogans in support of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and a unified Yemen. Residents told Al Jazeera that the crowds were angry after reports emerged that Emirati forces had expelled Yemeni soldiers assigned to protect the main islands airport. . . . . pic.twitter.com/VqUzzW6pcL Dr Mohammed Jumeh (@MJumeh) May 2, 2018 Located due east of the Horn of Africa in the Arabian Sea, the island of 60,000 people, which is known for its unique flora and fauna, has been administered by Yemen for much of the last two centuries. But since the UAE entered Yemens war in March 2015 as part of a Saudi-led coalition seeking to remove Houthi rebels, Abu Dhabi has exploited the security vacuum and tried to gain a foothold in the strategically placed island. The UAE has confirmed carrying out military operations on Socotra, with local media reporting that the UAE had leased Socotra and the nearby Abd al-Kuri island for 99 years. The flag of the UAE and images of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan adorn official buildings and busy thoroughfares. According to Human Rights Watch, Abu Dhabi has financed and trained a network of militias that only answer to it, set up prisons, and created a security establishment parallel to Hadis government. Earlier this year, Yemens tourism ministry warned that the UAE had tried to convince islanders to vote on a referendum of self-determination, calling it a dangerous step. Andreas Krieg, an academic at Kings College London, said the latest developments in Socotra were part of a much larger strategy to consolidate power in southern Yemen. The UAE see themselves, or want to see themselves in the future, as the link between the east and the west. Its very important for them to control trade links which mostly go through the suez canal and the Bab al-Mandeb Strait between Yemen and the Horn of Africa. What theyve done is found an island that is very strategically located, acts as a quasi-aircraft carrier in the middle of the Indian ocean and where they can control traffic while giving favourable access to countries that are related to them. Dareen Tatour to appeal conviction for resist poem that called for Palestinian struggle against Israeli occupation. Israel has convicted a Palestinian poet for inciting violence and supporting a terror organisation after she published poems on her Facebook page along with images of Palestinians protesting Israeli occupation. Dareen Tatour, who has denied the charges, was convicted by a Nazareth court on Thursday for a 2015 social media post of a video with her reading one of her poems, titled Resist, my people, resist. In the video, which received less than 300 views, Tatour urged Palestinians to never agree to a peace solution. After the hearing, Tatour said she expected a conviction. I am ready for anything, and I do not regret anything I have done. She said there was no call for violence in her poem, but calls for a struggle, which Israeli authorities interpreted as violent. {articleGUID} The whole world will hear my story. The whole world will hear what Israels democracy is. A democracy for Jews only. Only Arabs go to jail. The court said I am convicted of terrorism. If thats my terrorism, I give the world a terrorism of love, she said. Tatour was arrested in an Israeli police raid on October 11, 2015, and spent the next 16 months under house arrest, during which time she was barred from publishing her work and accessing the internet. Since then, more than 150 American literary figures, including nine Pulitzer Prize winners, have called on Israel to free Tatour, including Alice Walker, Naomi Klein, Natasha Trethewey and Jacqueline Woodson. International writers group PEN defended Tatour in a statement on Thursday. Dareen Tatour has been convicted for doing what writers do every day we use our words to peacefully challenge injustice, it said. Buried freedom of speech In essence what the court has done has buried the right of freedom of speech in its decision while we brought the court many many different poems of Jewish poets that have written through history, things that are harsher than what Dareen has written, and nobody even thought to criminalise their poems, said Tatours lawyer Gaby Lasky. The prosecution had argued Tatours posts created a real possibility of inspired individuals committing acts of violence or terror. The court is expected to deliver its sentence against the 36-year-old sometime this month. Israel has historically handed Palestinians lengthy prison sentences for minor offences. Three years ago, Israels Knesset approved a law that imposes up to 20 years in prison on people convicted of throwing rocks, despite condemnation from rights groups. Ahed Tamimi, a 16-year-old who has had three of her family members killed in the past year, is facing eight months in jail after slapping Israeli soldiers who raided her home. The incident took place shortly after her 15-year-old cousin suffered life-threatening injuries after he was shot in the face with a rubber bullet. In February, hundreds of Palestinians launched an open-ended boycott of Israels military courts to protest against prisoners being held without charge or trial. Revelation comes as countrys financial sector faces intense scrutiny by royal commission searching for misconduct. Australias Commonwealth Bank lost the bank records of almost 20 million people and decided not to reveal the breach to customers upon discovery since 2016, according to news media reports. The bank admitted its mistake on Wednesday night after Buzzfeed News broke the story. It reported that 12 million half the Australian population was affected. Commonwealth Bank, Australias biggest bank, said it lost two magnetic data tapes that stored names, addresses, account numbers and transaction details from 2000 to 2016. They were meant to be destroyed by a subcontractor in May 2016, according to national broadcaster ABC, but the bank never received documentation for confirmation. The bank assured customers that their passwords and PINs that could be used for fraud remain intact. It also emphasised that no evidence was found of any customer information being compromised. Angus Sullivan, the banks acting group executive for retail banking services, released an official statement on Wednesday. We take the protection of customer data very seriously and incidents like this are not acceptable, he said. I want to assure our customers that we have taken the steps necessary to protect their information and we apologise for any concern this incident may cause. Forensic investigation Commonwealth Bank initially notified the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner of the breach shortly after it occurred. Sullivan said the bank undertook a thorough forensic investigation and provided updates to its regulators. It also hired accounting firm KPMG to conduct a search to find the missing tape drives, but found no trace. The forensic team formulated the view that the data had most likely been destroyed, without conclusive evidence. Only 150 people in the organisations, including risk specialists and senior executive team, were aware of the breach when it occurred. The bank considered notifying the customers, but ultimately decided that the risk of misuse or discovery of data was low, according to Buzzfeed News. Ian Narev, the banks former CEO, who was in charge at the time of the breach, resigned in August 2017. Over the past two months, the Commonwealth Bank faced has allegations from the government of money laundering and collecting fees from customers that it knew had died. The breach is the latest scandal in Australias financial industry. The revelation comes at a time when Australian banks are under unprecedented scrutiny by a royal commission searching for misconduct. The announcement raised eyebrows with politicians and organisations involved in the investigation into the company. Cambridge Analytica and its parent company SCL Group, both at the centre of the Facebook user data scandal, announced it was closing down. During a call with investors on Wednesday evening, current head of SCL Group Julian Wheatland said the companies would file for insolvency. The announcement has raised the eyebrows of some politicians and organisations involved in the investigation into the company. New York State Attorney Schneiderman said on Twitter the investigation would continue despite the shutting down of the company. https://twitter.com/AGSchneiderman/status/991773944247091201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Damian Collins, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee in the UK House of Commons, implied on Twitter there is a risk Cambridge Analytica might try to delete data important to the investigation. {articleGUID} Cambridge Analytica and SCL group cannot be allowed to delete their data history by closing. The investigations into their work are vital, Collins said on Twitter. Cambridge Analytica and SCL group cannot be allowed to delete their data history by closing. The investigations into their work are vital Damian Collins (@DamianCollins) May 2, 2018 Mary Creagh, a member of parliament for Labour, said on Twitter the insolvency would be used to cover up illegality. Outrageous. Insolvency used to cover up illegality. https://t.co/f5dboXH9DT Mary Creagh (@MaryCreagh_) May 2, 2018 According to the BBC, the British Information Commissioners Office (ICO), a regulatory body concerned with privacy and data protection, said it would continue its investigation as well. An official statementby Cambridge Analytica said: the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Companys customers and suppliers. As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, the statement claims. Wednesdays announcement also raises questions about the future of the people behind SCL Group and Cambridge Analytica. In March, before the Facebook data scandal, the people involved founded a similar company called Emerdata. Rebekah and Jessica Mercer, daughters of businessman Robert Mercer, who were major investors Cambridge Analytica and SCL Group, are directors in the company. Alexander Nix, former CEO of Cambridge Analytica, was in a managerial position at Emerdata for several weeks as well, but he was eventually replaced by Alexander Tayler, who previously worked as the chief data officer at Cambridge Analytica. Julian Wheatland, who announced Cambridge Analyticas closure, is also listed as one of the directors of Emerdata. Cambridge Analytica and its parent company, SCL Group, became the centre of a scandal in March, when whistle-blower Christopher Wylie revealed Cambridge Analytica acquired millions of Facebook users personal information to build software that could target potential swing voters in political campaigns, including US President Donald Trumps 2016 election bid. {articleGUID} The data his firm used was reportedly gathered in early 2014 through an app called thisisyourdigitallife, which was built by a Russian-American researcher at Cambridge University called Aleksandr Kogan. About 270,000 users agreed to have their data collected and used for academic research in exchange for a small payment. However, Cambridge Analytica abused Facebooks system and gathered the data of over 87 million people in total. Following the scandal, Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, announced small changes to improve the privacy of Facebook users. He also appeared before two committees of the US Congress. The market has shed 12.5 percent since the start of the year as cash injections dropped sharply. Dubai stocks hit a 27-month low on the back of sharp falls in the real estate market and a drop in liquidity levels. The Dubai Financial Market Index ended Wednesdays trading down 1.83 percent on 2,947.99 points, breaching the 3,000-point psychological barrier. The Dubai bourse, the most exposed to the global markets in the Gulf region, dropped 3.1 percent by the close of the trading week. The market has shed 12.5 percent since the start of the year as cash injections dropped sharply, with the main fall coming from the vital real estate sector. Dubai market has underperformed its GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) markets losing over 12 percent [YTD] dragged by the sell-off in real estate sector, said MR Raghu, head of research at Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz). Most of the seven Gulf bourses have made good gains in 2018 due to a partial recovery in oil prices. Fundamentally, the real estate prices have been falling and the market has been sluggish, Raghu told AFP news agency. Dubai real estate witnessed a 46 percent fall in off-plan sales by value in the first quarter, and a 24 percent decline in previously owned resales, he said. The real estate sector is one of the main pillars for Dubais highly diversified economy, which is not dependent on oil. The index of the real estate sector on Dubai bourse has shed about 18 percent since the start of the year with property giant and market leader Emaar dropping 22 percent. Damac Properties, a leading real estate developer, was down 26 percent and troubled Drake and Scull International shed 50 percent since January 1. A massive fall in liquidity levels and reports that international investors, an important component in the market, have moved to Saudi Arabia, are other causes for the downturn, analysts said. According to local economic reports, liquidity levels dropped a massive 35 percent in April alone. On World Press Freedom Day, jailed journalists continue to pay the price for media crackdowns in Egypt. The UN cultural agency, UNESCO has awarded its World Press Freedom Prize to imprisoned Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, despite criticism from the government of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi following the announcement last week. The president of the independent jury that selects the awards recipient, Maria Ressa, said the honour pays tribute to the courage, resistance and commitment to freedom of expression of Abu Zeid, who is more commonly known as Shawkan and who has been in jail since August 2013. {articleGUID} Arrested while covering deadly clashes between security forces and supporters of the deposed president, Mohamed Morsi, in Cairo, he is potentially facing the death penalty. While some rights groups hope the prize will pressure the Egyptian government to free the dozens of journalists currently imprisoned in the countrys jails, they say there is little sign of this happening. We know that this award has had an effect in the past, Scott Griffen, the director of the International Press Institute (IPI), told Al Jazeera. [Shawkan] is a symbol of an everyday journalist in Egypt who is unable to carry out his job and who has been held in terrible circumstances in the past few years. Griffen cautioned that change seems to be far off. So how has Egypts once-robust media industry ended up so endangered? On World Press Freedom Day, Al Jazeera looks at the threats facing Egyptian journalists. Jailed Journalists Rights groups have reported an unparallelled crackdown on Egypts media in recent years and say there are signs it is getting worse. {articleGUID} Compared to a year ago, the censorship feels tighter, the control of the information is higher, Sophie Anmuth, a Paris-based researcher with the Middle East desk at Reporters without Borders (RSF), told Al Jazeera. According to Anmuth, more than 20 journalists were arrested in the six months preceding the countrys presidential elections in March of this year. Anmuth, who noted that some have since been released, said that at least a dozen of these were arrested because of their work. Rights groups believe the arrests were part of a campaign to crack down on dissenting voices in the run-up to the elections. In February, a top Egyptian legal official called for action against media organisations hurting national interests by spreading false news, the Associated Press news agency reported. The government also announced telephone hotlines for reporting false news, while Sisi warned the media that speaking against the military or police was high treason. The government also ramped up online censorship; at least 496 websites were blocked between May 2017 and February 2018, according to the Freedom of Thought and Expression Law Firm (AFTE). While government monitoring is usually high around election time, Anmuth said tension remains. The level of distrust against journalists propagated by the authorities, whether from the government or the president, has reached heights it does not regularly reach in Egypt, she said. It is not something entirely new that we are seeing now but the level, or continuity, is new. At least 32 journalists are currently detained and 22 of those are held without charges, according to RSF. After the revolution In 2011, during a wave of uprisings across the Arab world, the Egyptian people ended the 30-year rule of President Hosni Mubarak. The following year, Morsi became the countrys first democratically elected president. But a little over a year later, he was deposed by the military in a coup. The counter-revolution started an unprecedented campaign of lies, Yehia Ghanem, an exiled Egyptian journalist, told Al Jazeera. Character assassinations and disinformation like we have never seen before. It was really like a runaway train. Ghanem, who worked for the countrys Al Ahram newspaper and had served as a war correspondent for 20 years, was himself put on trial. Media freedom stalled, he said, when in the wake of the revolution, partisan news outlets began campaigning against each other. Talk[ing] about press freedom in Egypt, its a nightmare, Ghanem says. Following the military coup, journalists and news outlets affiliated with Islamist-leaning groups were shut down, according to analysts. Within two months following the coup, a total of five journalists were killed, 80 journalists were detained although most were later released and 40 newsgroups were attacked by law enforcement, according to RSF. According to Ghanem, the government began buying into most media outlets through second-party companies. Unlike past administrations, which had used more covert tactics to influence the media, the state, represented by the military intelligence and the general intelligence, jumped into the market themselves, the market of the media, openly, said Ghanem. Now they own 95 percent of the TV channels. The consequences of this are far-reaching, Ghanem says. [The Egyptian] people are being targeted on an hourly basis by media that has offers nothing but disinformation campaigns. On May 3, 1912, the French illusionist and film director released what is considered as his greatest masterpiece. Described as the father of special effects and hailed for his pioneering visual techniques, Georges Melies, the French illusionist and film director, released on this day more than a hundred years ago what is considered his greatest masterpiece: The Conquest of the Pole. In its honour, Google changed its logo to its first VR and 360-degree interactive Doodle to commemorate the anniversary of his silent film which was released on May 3, 1912. This is his story: Passion for sketching Melies was born at 29 Boulevard Saint-Martin, Paris on December 8, 1861. He was the youngest of three children. He was the son of Jean-Louis-Stanislas Melies and his Dutch wife, Johannah-Catherine Melies, who were owners of three shoemaking factories in the city. Melies attended the Lycee Imperial at Vanves near Paris, but his education was interrupted when his school was bombed during the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. He continued at the Lycee Louis-le-Grand. He was described as an average pupil, who was passionate about sketching. His teachers found his exercise books with portraits and caricatures of his teachers and classmates. By the time he was 10 years old, Melies was busily constructing cardboard sets for his marionette shows that he would enthusiastically perform before an audience. He was 11 when his passion for the stage was fuelled by his first visit to the theatre; it was the first time he saw the famous magician Robert-Houdin perform. Proud to announce our latest production, the first VR/360 #GoogleDoodle! Celebrating pioneering filmmaker #GeorgesMelies, Back to the Moon was directed by @fxgoby and Doodles Helene Leroux with our friends at #GoogleSpotlightStories #BacktotheMoonhttps://t.co/MEd7cKfw3r pic.twitter.com/83QWtT1rPk Nexus Studios (@nexusstories) May 3, 2018 London Melies was enrolled into military service, and upon leaving the army in 1884, he was sent to London to learn English. Initially, he worked at a shoe shop after making use of his fathers connections, and later at a Regents Street clothing outfitters. During the evenings, he would visit the many theatrical venues in London, particularly the visual-fantasy productions that included Maskelyne and Cooke, billed as Royal Illusionists at the Egyptian Hall in Piccadilly. Despite wishes to pursue his dreams on his return to France, Melies was forced to join his familys shoe business. Melies continued his pursuits by attending lessons given by Emile Voisin, who owned a magicians shop in the Rue Vielle-du-Temple. Melies showcased his skills in front of family and later in a small theatre that presented puppet shows and comic operas. Robert-Houdin At the age of 24, Melies married Eugenie Genin, a young Dutch woman whose father was a rich industrialist and a close friend of his uncle. In 1888, Louis Melies retired and handed the business down to his sons. Melies sold his share in the company to his brothers. With the money he received, he bought the Theatre Robert-Houdin at 8 Boulevard des Italiens from Robert-Houdins widow for 40,000 francs. widow for 40,000 francs. Melies moved his family, including his daughter who was born in February 1888, to an apartment close to the theatre. He refurbished the theatre and opened its doors to the public in the autumn of 1888 with a production called La Stroubaika Persane. He was 27 at that time. In 1896, Melies founded the Star Film Company. Many of his earliest films were copies and remakes of the Lumiere Brothers films. Illusion and reality Melies devoted himself to making films. He directed over 400 films ranging in length from one to 40 minutes. His first film is a one-minute production titled Une Partie de Cartes showing Melies, his brother Gaston and two friends playing cards in a garden. Other films included: Cleopatras Tomb, Christ Walking on Water, The Voyage Across the Impossible and Hamlet. He discovered camera tricks like stop motion, slow motion, dissolves, fade-outs, superimposition, and double exposure. One trick leads to another. In the face of the success of this new style, I set myself to discover new processes, and in succession, I conceived dissolves from scene to scene effected by a special arrangement in the camera; apparitions, disappearances, metamorphoses, Melies said. With all these processes mixed one with another and used with competence, I do not hesitate to say that in cinematography, it is today possible to realise the most impossible and the most improbable things, he added. During his career, he managed his theatre, produced and directed his films, adapted plays and literature for the screen, and designed sets and costumes. In 1897, the devil appeared in his films on two occasions; it is believed that Melies was the first to realise the potential of film to shock. With all these processes ... I do not hesitate to say that in cinematography it is ... possible to realise the most impossible ... things Melies Trip to the Moon In May 1902, he produced A Trip to the Moon, and it remains one of his most famous works. It was based on Jules Vernes novel, From the Earth to the Moon. The film cost around 10,000 francs, a relatively large sum for the time, due principally to the machinery involved and the costumes of cardboard and cloth used for the Selenites, the inhabitants of the moon, Melies said. When I made Le Voyage dans la Lune, there were still no stars among the artists, their names were never known or printed on the posters or announcements, he added. The film was an enormous success in France and around the world. In 1907, he continued and created three new illusions for the stage and performed them at the Theatre Robert-Houdin. The next year, Melies made one of his most ambitious films, Humanity Through the Ages. The film tells the history of humans from Cain and Abel to The Hague Peace Conference of 1907. The film was unsuccessful, but the producer was proud of it throughout his life. In 1910, Melies temporarily stopped making films, one of his last productions was Cinderella or the Glass Slipper. In 1912, he produced his most notable film, The Conquest of the Pole, inspired by Robert Pearys expedition to the North Pole. However, in 1917 his luck changed, and the French army turned the main studio at his Montreuil property into a hospital for wounded soldiers. During the war, the army confiscated over 400 of Star Films original prints. "My friends, I address you all tonight as you truly are; wizards, mermaids, travelers, adventurers, magicians Come and dream with me." Georges Melies #GoogleDoodle A trip to the Moon 1902 (full movie) https://t.co/uJRYs9XvB7 pic.twitter.com/RgYSPOk6Ne (@GertieWentworth) May 2, 2018 I dream your dreams In 1923, the Theatre Robert-Houdin was torn down to rebuild Boulevard Haussmann. That same year, Pathe, the worlds largest film production company back then, took over Star Films and the Montreuil studio. In a rage, Melies burned all the negatives of his films that he had stored at the Montreuil studio. As a result, many of his films do not exist today. Nonetheless, over 200 Melies films have been preserved, and have been available on DVD since December 2011. Melies disappeared from public life. By late 1937, he had become very ill and was admitted to the Leopold Bellan Hospital in Paris. His last known words were: Laugh, my friends. Laugh with me, laugh for me, because I dream your dreams. He died on January 21, 1938, at the age of 76. Honduras is the most dangerous country in the Americas for journalists and they say things are getting worse. Harassment, suspicious phone calls, and restricted access to government sources have become routine for Honduran journalist and human rights defender Dina Meza, who says she is one of many media workers threatened for challenging authorities in her country. Honduras is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders. The group ranked Honduras 141 out of 180 countries on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. Dangers for journalists include physical attacks, threats, and abusive legal proceedings, Reporters Without Borders said. Meza, the founding editor of alternative digital magazine Pasos de Animal Grande, which specialises in investigative coverage of human rights issues, knows these threats firsthand. She has repeatedly suffered threats of sexual violence and against her life, as well as surveillance and other forms of intimidation, such as unusual late-night phone calls. The threats forced her to spend months outside the country in 2013. As a safety precaution, Meza often is flanked by a pair of international human rights observers provided by Peace Brigades International when she works in the field on investigations or reporting outside of the capital, Tegucigalpa. Sharp increase Violence against journalists has spiked in the wake of the 2009 US-backed military coup that removed former president Manuel Zelaya and paved the way for current President Juan Orlando Hernandez, who is often criticised for prioritising the interests of multinational corporations over the Honduran people. At least 62 journalists have been killed in the country between 2006 and 2017, according to data from the Commission for Investigation of Attacks on Journalists of the Latin American Federation of Journalists. Only two of those killings happened before 2009. In the same period, murders of land and environmental defenders, human rights activists, LGBTQ people, and other vulnerable groups have also increased. The statistics make Honduras the most deadly country for journalists in the Americas per capita. Only Mexico rivals Honduras with 165 journalists killed from 2006 to 2017, according to the federation. Meza also heads a project with the Association for Democracy and Human Rights (Asopodehu), which supports at-risk media workers and offers training to young journalists. She told Al Jazeera that Honduran authorities use the climate of fear caused by violence against journalists to their advantage. This violence against journalists creates a lot of self-censorship, Meza said. This self-censorship accompanies de facto bans by Congress and other official spaces for adversarial journalists, Meza who considers herself banned, said. Unfortunately, in Honduras, [state] institutions impose the news agenda. Masks off During the 2009 coup, the government suspended constitutional guarantees and imposed a media blackout. Cesar Silva, a television reporter with UNE TV, a two-year-old channel that has been critical of Hernandez government, said the coup was a defining moment for journalists. As Honduran media glossed over Zelayas removal as a constitutional substitution, a tiny minority of journalists reported on the popular uprising and violent military crackdown on the streets. The masks all came off, Silva told Al Jazeera, saying the vast majority of established journalists in the country followed the money and supported the coup. Everyone took a stance. Months later, Silva was abducted and tortured for two days after releasing footage of post-coup repression. He was forced to flee the country but returned several months later to continue reporting, despite the dangers. From the time we wake up, begin our work, leave our houses theres a risk, he said of his UNE TV team. Like Meza, Silva has been denied access to Congress and other state institutions. He said press freedom continues to worsen. {articleGUID} Last year, Hernandez won a second term despite widespread allegations of fraud and controversy around his re-election bid. Honduras plunged into its worst political crisis since the coup. Silvas UNE TV was the only local television channel that broadcast the police and military crackdown on the anti-fraud protests that shook the country for weeks following the November 26, 2017 election. During a live broadcast in January, soldiers beat Silva and his colleagues and smashed their camera equipment. In February, a man attempted to stab Silva while he was on the air. The conditions are more difficult every day, Silva said, decrying the targeting of independent journalists in both physical attacks and smear campaigns by mainstream media. What motivates us is that we are on the right path. Our beacon is the truth, Silva said. Continuing restrictions Last year, Congress reformed the penal code to punish journalists with four to eight years in jail for apologising for terrorism. Critics slammed the reform, known as Article 335-B, for targeting reporters who refuse to toe the government line or be bought off. A separate reform broadly redefined terrorism in a way opponents said could criminalise social protests at judges discretion. The public prosecutors office shot down Article 335-B as unconstitutional, but its future hinges on the Supreme Court. More recently, Hernandez allies in Congress promoted a cyber-security bill aimed at regulating acts of hatred and discrimination on the internet. Civil society organisations blasted the bill as a gag law. Ismael Moreno, a Jesuit priest and director of Radio Progreso, told Al Jazeera legislation like Article 335-B epitomises the extreme use of law to exercise power over the weak. He added that freedom of expression in Honduras is extremely precarious and conditioned by the arbitrary decisions of a government he claimed is the product of fraud and illegal re-election. After last years election, Radio Progresos signal went off the air in the capital in what Moreno said was an act of government-sanctioned sabotage. Moreno has not received death threats, but anonymous smear campaigns have accused him of drug trafficking, vandalism, and other crimes. He claims to have sources confirming his daily activities are surveilled by military intelligence. Like Meza and Silva, Moreno has received protective measures, in his case provided by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. He takes practical precautions to protect his safety, recognising his entire team is vulnerable. It is a challenge and a responsibility to continue exercising freedom of expression despite enormous difficulties, he said, linking restricted press freedom to attacks on other basic rights. We cannot allow a small elite with links to multinational companies to continue controlling [society], Moreno said. We have to fight to transform Honduran society with the goal of having the rule of law where freedom of expression is respected. Irans top diplomat says US bears sole responsibility for fate of deal, as another official warns of terminating pact. Iran will not be bullied by the United States into renegotiating the multilateral nuclear deal, Irans Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said, as another senior diplomat warned that US withdrawal from the pact would result in its termination. Iran stands firm in the face of futile attempts at bullying, Zarif said in a recorded message on Thursday. If the US continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing, he said referring to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He also rejected efforts to renegotiate the deal, saying: We will neither outsource our security, nor will we renegotiate or add on to a deal we have already implemented in good faith. Zarif added that the US will have to accept responsibility for the consequences of not honouring its commitment to the deal. Irans most senior diplomat issued the statement as Irans ambassador to the United Kingdom, Hamid Baeidinejad, said Tehran is ready to go back to the previous situation if Washington ditches the deal. When the United States is out of the deal, it means that there is no deal, he told CNN on Wednesday. Ditch the deal? Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior adviser to Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, also said on Thursday one of Irans options in response to US President Donald Trumps threat is to retreat. Velayati said Iran would not allow any change to the deal, according to Irans Mehr news agency. Trump faces a May 12 deadline to decide whether to keep the US commitment on the nuclear deal renew the agreements prescribed sanctions relief for Iran or withdraw from it. He has repeatedly threatened to ditch the deal if the changes he has demanded are not implemented. Under the deal signed in Vienna in 2015, Iran scaled back its uranium enrichment programme and promised not to pursue nuclear weapons. In exchange, international sanctions were lifted, allowing it to sell its oil and gas worldwide. However, secondary US sanctions remain. Since Trump came to office, he has taken several steps to block the deal. In October, he refused to certify that Iran is living up to the accord. He also targeted several Iranian businesses and individuals with new sanctions. On January 12, Trump announced he was waiving the US sanctions for the last time. He said if his demands to fix the deal were not met within 120 days, the US will withdraw from the deal on or before May 12. On Thursday, Zarif said there would be no renegotiation of the deal, putting it in real estate terms as if to address the US president directly. When you buy a house and move your family in, or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and try to renegotiate the price. Journalists in Yemen targeted by both sides of the war Its becoming harder to tell the story of whats happening in Yemen, and human rights groups say the threat is coming from both sides. Officials say they are sending a message to the world: Dont enter the US illegally. Advocates say asylum is a right. Half of the Central Americans from the so-called immigrant caravan have been allowed to apply for asylum in the US, according to lawyers on the scene. Laura Gault, an asylum lawyer from US-based group Human Rights First, said on Twitter late on Wednesday that about 65 of the 200 people in the caravan, most of whom are from Honduras, were allowed to exercise their legal right to seek asylum. Roughly 70 more were still waiting. https://twitter.com/LauraDGault/status/991811622627823616?ref_src=twsrc^tfw The 65 people allowed to enter was a sharp increase, as only a few asylum seekers had been allowed in each day for the past week. The San Ysidro crossing is in the US state of California, close to the Mexican city of Tijuana. The caravan reached the border last Wednesday. Some of the waiting had been told that US border facilities were at capacity and could not accept more applicants, according to Gault. Gault is one of many US asylum lawyers who has travelled to the San Ysidro border crossing to observe the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agencys conduct regarding the asylum seekers while also offering assistance. The Department of Justice, headed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, has also sent more US officials to the San Ysidro border crossing due to the increase in asylum applications. Misdemeanour offence Sessions said that an additional 35 assistant US attorneys and 18 immigration judges to the crossing. The Department of Justice has also charged 11 possible members of the caravan with illegal entry into the US, a misdemeanour offence. We are sending a message worldwide: Dont come illegally. Make your claim to enter America in the lawful way and wait your turn, Sessions said. The caravan is an annual event organised by volunteer group Pueblos Sin Fronteras (PSF), Spanish for people without borders. This years caravan received media attention after President Donald Trump criticised the group, which travelled 3,220km from southern Mexico to the border in California. Trump has called the immigrant caravan a sign of weak US law on migration and said it should be stopped in Mexico. The Trump administration initiated a crackdown on undocumented immigrants shortly after the president assumed office in January. Gault, the Human Rights First lawyer on the scene, said that Mexican border officials allowed US attorneys to conduct legal observations and treat asylum seekers with kindness. US should focus on rebuilding battered communities instead of waging wars abroad, Ammar Campa-Najjar says. A candidate for the US Congress in the state of California is hoping to become its first Latino-Arab American member by capturing a district that has voted Republican for the past 30 years. Ammar Campa-Najjar, a 29yearold former field campaign director for President Barack Obama, White House staffer and a labour department official, said he wants to bring positive change to Californias demographically changing 50th district. Campa-Najjar, who is of mixed Palestinian and Mexican heritage, has promised voters to work on rebuilding jobs for the middle class instead of the wall that President Donald Trump intends to build on the Mexican border. He has been endorsed by the California Democratic Party to stand against the Republican incumbent, Duncan D Hunter. He said his campaign is focused on helping the people of his district improve their living conditions and rebuild the middle class neglected by Hunter. Congressional District 50 is located on the southern tip of California close to the Mexican border and includes parts of San Diego county. Palestinian-Mexican heritage Campa-Najjar does not shy away from either his Palestinian or Mexican heritage. However, he insisted he is an American first and foremost. He told Al Jazeera he is proud of being the son of a hard-working Mexican mother, who struggled to raise him and his brother, and a Palestinian father who strived to make peace between Palestinians and Israelis in the 1990s. An Israeli newspaper reported that Campa-Najjars grandfather was a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization and was assassinated by an Israeli hit squad in 1973 after being accused of being a terrorist by Israel. Israel considered all members of the PLO to be terrorists before it recognised it as a legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and made the Oslo peace agreement with it in 1993. He told Al Jazeera he is proud of his background as a Palestinian, saying he supports peace and reconciliation between Palestinian and Israelis. The local Jewish community in the San Diego area came out and publicly defended me as an American who has nothing to do with the past, he said. The Middle Eastern community in the area also rallied around me and supported my campaign for Congress. The district is about 35 percent Latino and 15 percent of Middle Eastern descent. Campa-Najjar said he could not change the past, but unlike others, he can use his familys history and understanding of the conflict in the Middle East and turn into something positive. Our past is not our present or our future, and this campaign is not about my familys past, rather about every family right in this district, he said. I am committed to work on peace in the Middle East because I lived there during the conflict and witnessed the horrors and destruction it brings, said Campa-Najjar. He said he also opposes Trumps travel ban because it is based on Islamophobia, not on legitimate national security and legal concerns. The Trump travel ban is both unconstitutional and immoral because of its basis in Islamophobia. Despite the administrations changing the letter of the law, its the spirit of the law and original intent to ban all Muslims that makes it a violation of constitutional law. Immigration, taxes and healthcare The US should focus on rebuilding its infrastructure and battered communities instead of waging wars abroad, Campa-Najjar said. As someone who opposes Trumps plan to build a wall on the Mexican border, he urged the president in a video published on his campaign website and Twitter account to reconsider his plans, arguing about 40 percent of illegal immigration in the US actually comes from people who overstayed their visas. He argued against building the wall because the San Diego area already has a 30km-long barrier that has reduced illegal crossings and arrests by 95 percent, according to available data. I support securing our border by investing in more surveillance and monitoring. But do we really need to spend billions of taxpayer dollars on a wall? he said in the video. Campa-Najjar said his opponent voted for Trumps tax plan last year, which will hurt California residents. He said under the new tax plan, Californians will be doubled taxed this year. On healthcare, he said he supports fixing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, as it has provided millions of uninsured Americans needed health insurance, including 46,000 residents in his district. Congress must fix Obamacare, not undermine it, he said. Beni Martinez, a Mexican immigrant and resident of Escondido city, which is located in the district, told Al Jazeera he supports Campa-Najjars candidacy for Congress because he understands immigrants. This is the first time I met a candidate who actually listens to the voters and always asks them about their concerns and issues, not telling them what he wants, he said. Hunter, Campa-Najjars rival, is currently embroiled in a Department of Justice investigation of allegations he used tens of thousands of dollars from his campaign for personal use. Hunters lawyers said in a statement to the extent any mistakes were made they were strictly inadvertent and unintentional. Follow Ali Younes on Twitter: @Ali_reports Latest death comes days after armed fighters killed at least 40 members of the Tuareg community in the region. Suspected rebels have killed at least 17 civilians belonging to the Tuareg ethnic community in northern Mali, just days after 40 Tuaregs were killed during a similar raid on nearby villages, authorities say. The attacks occurred on Tuesday in the village of Tindibawen, 160km east of the town of Menaka near the border with Niger, and in a nearby village, Nanout Kotia, mayor of Menaka, told Reuters news agency. Violence has escalated in recent months as armed groups, once confined to the remote north of the west African country, have exploited ethnic tensions to recruit Fulani herders and extend their presence further south. Fulani herders have come into conflict with Tuareg pastoralists over access to scarce water points. In recent months, Tuareg civilian defence groups, supported by French soldiers, have fought against al-Qaeda-linked fighters in northeastern Mali. The attacks in the villages may also be an attempt to further exploit tensions between Tuareg and Fulani herdsmen. Mali has been struggling with lawlessness in the north since Tuareg rebels and al-Qaeda-linked fighters sought to take control there six years ago. Tuareg rebels declared independence in April 2012, just a month after President Amadou Toumani Toure was pushed out in a coup. But three months later they lost ground to Ansar Dine, a group with links to al-Qaeda that imposed a strict interpretation of Islamic law on the local population, carrying out amputations and executions. In early 2013, France intervened militarily to assist Malian government forces to take back the region. Two years later, Malis government and Tuareg rebels signed a peace deal. Impressive surge generates sense of hope in many Lebanese about womens participation in their countrys politics. Beirut, Lebanon In a country where women make up only three percent of parliament, a record number of 86 female candidates will be competing for Lebanons 128 legislative seats in elections on May 6. In fact, out of the total 976 candidates who originally registered to run, 111 were female candidates a staggering surge compared to just 12 women in 2009. The record number has generated a sense of hope in many Lebanese about womens participation in the countrys politics, with onlookers commending it as a turning point for womens rights. Yet as the pool of hopeful candidates dropped down to a final list of 583 people, 22 percent of women dropped out of the race. For many of the remaining 86 women, the countrys political parties and even media institutions seemed not to be yet ready. According to a study by Maharat, a media monitor tracking Lebanons election cycle, women are getting much less television air time than their male counterparts. {articleGUID} In the conservative northern district of Akkar, a group of women resorted to creating an all-womens list because local groups didnt take the issue of female candidacy seriously, the groups leader Rola Elmourad was quoted saying. Catherine Batruni, a researcher who specialises on womens political participation in Lebanese history, said that Lebanon is still lacking a solid overarching umbrella movement that galvanizes the masses of women, and there is a lot of work left to be done. When it comes to measuring the gender gap, international institutions give Lebanon a nearly failing grade. According to the 2016 Human Development Report, a report published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), female participation in the labor market is 23.5 percent, compared to 70.3 for men. The country also has a Gender Inequality Index (GII) of 0.381, ranked 83 out of 159 countries in UNDPs 2015 index. The country ranked 137 out of 144 countries on the Global Gender Gap Report 2017, published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), and 142 when it comes to political empowerment. In concrete terms, these figures reveal a near-total absence of legislation that protects women from abuse of all forms, as well as policies that might facilitate their advancement and equal treatment. This, despite the abundance of womens groups and non-governmental organizations that are currently active in the country. In fact, at the very heart of the dilemma of womens rights lies the sectarian makeup of Lebanese politics and policies that patch the country together. Personal Status Laws To begin, there are 18 officially recognised religious sects in Lebanon, and there is no civil code that regulates issues of personal and familial status. Instead, there are 15 distinct personal status laws, administered by religious courts aligned with the countrys diverse communities. A 2015 report by Human Rights Watch (HRW), surveying 447 recent legal judgments and interviewing tens of people, found that across all confessions, women faced legal and other obstacles in matters of divorce, pecuniary rights, and child custody, among other issues. Its not just that Lebanese women are subordinate to men, or unequal to men; they are unequal amongst each other, said Batruni. {articleGUID} That means that 18 different Lebanese women, from 18 different sects, all have completely different rights and are all being judged in courts [run] by men in a system that favours men. We all have different access to divorce, child custody, and inheritance. Its insane. Batruni says another example is the discrepancy in some religious courts when it comes to judging men and women, regarding the act of adultery. It was only in 2011 that Lebanon repealed the criminal code provision, article 562, which mitigated sentences for so-called honor killings, and only in 2017 did parliament scrap a law that allowed rapists to avoid prison by marrying their victims. Also deterring the advancement of womens rights are provisions over half a century old. For example, under a 1925 law, Lebanese women married to foreign men cannot pass their nationality to their children or spouses. Men, on the other hand, can pass their citizenship to their children, wife, or multiples wives. Lebanese politicians have consistently argued against granting women this right, for fear of shaking up the countrys delicate sectarian balance. Refugee matters Lebanon is home to more than 174,000 Palestinian refugees, according to government figures. Lebanon also has the worlds highest numbers of refugees per capita, due to the civil war in neighbouring Syria. Around 1.5 million Syrians have fled into tiny Lebanon. Earlier in March, Gebran Bassil, foreign minister, announced he would be proposing a draft law to parliament to remedy the situation, which has been a core issue of the countrys womens movement since 2006. Women married to non-Lebanese men will be allowed to pass on their nationality to their children, except if they are married to men from neighboring countries, Bassil tweeted. The exception, aimed at Palestinians and Syrians, is to avoid naturalization, he said. I would love to know what the Lebanese states argument was before the Palestinian crisis, said Batruni. This law has been in place since 1925. There was no Palestinian crisis in 1925. Civil registries Sitting at a feminist cooperative in Beirut, Nadine Moawad, a prominent feminist activist, recounted the time when she spent countless hours taking screen-grabs and recording civil registries of registered voters, which the Lebanese government had released to the public a traditional practice before each election. Because women and men vote in separate polling stations, which has apparently been the case since women got their right to vote in 1953, Moawad stumbled upon endless sheets containing womens voter registration data. She learned that obstacles to Lebanese womens rights extend beyond legislation. When you look at the [data for] women, you see incredible diversity in their names, their sects, and in the notes next to their names: She got married; she was removed. Or, She got divorced; she was moved out of the file, Moawad said, describing the sheets of data which have since been removed from government websites and could not be independently verified by Al Jazeera. {articleGUID} Moawad said women are listed by bureaucrats under their fathers registries. If a woman gets married, her record moves to that of her husbands file. If a woman gets divorced, her record moves back to that of her fathers. Conversely, men fall under a broader folder of the sects they ascribe to. That is when it became clear to me that the problem is not in the individual sect that they ascribe to. Its in the title of the folder. Its in the way that the folder is classified, said Moawad. Its almost as if in 1905, or I dont know when, the Ottomans had a computer and they created these folders and gave them sectarian names. So for example, Shiite_Baalbek: thats the name of the folder, she said, referring to a predominately Shia district of Lebanon. And now we are not allowed to change the folders names. And then you understand why women cant pass on their nationality, said Moawad. Its not only that were afraid there will be a surge of Muslims who are Sunnis [that will shake up] the demographic balance, she said. Its also because, according to the current bureaucratic system, You can only add children of the man or the wives of a man [to his file]. The woman cant add [dependents]. Shes actually a plus, she explained. Accrued momentum Several Lebanese women who spoke to Al Jazeera expressed a frustration over this issue, including a Beiruti artist who complained about not being able to vote for her own father, who is running for a seat in one of the capitals sub-districts, although she has lived there her entire life. I cant even help my community politically, because I have to vote in an area I dont know, said the artist, who preferred to remain unnamed, referring to her fathers hometown outside of Beirut. {articleGUID} My mother comes from the south and we have a house in the south. So, even the south is closer to me than where I am actually from on paper. Moawad believes that the issue of women voters categorised by their familys sect is one of life and death. As long as its on our registry, someone could kill you because of your sect, or they could appoint you because of your sect, or they could marry you because of your sect, she said. True reform, according to her, would be no longer a relationship of families to the state, [but] the relationship of the individuals to the state. In the broad view, Batruni noted that the accrued momentum of decades of womens rights activism, both globally and in Lebanon, has resulted in such a high number of women running in this election cycle. But for Moawad, this is not enough. If its a female, sectarian, hateful MP or if its a male, sectarian, hateful MP; I have no interest in gender representation. Russia inquiry: Ty Cobb leaves Trumps legal team Ty Cobb will be replaced by a lawyer who defended former US President Bill Clinton from impeachment 20 years ago. At least 36 people reported killed in the major city of Agra while at least 27 were reported dead in Rajasthan. Dust storms and heavy rains have swept through northern India, killing as many as 72 people and injuring over 100 others, in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh saw the highest fatalities with 36 people, including children, killed after the intense dust storm destroyed their homes on Wednesday, according to a Times of India report on Thursday. Nine other fatalities in other parts of Uttar Pradesh were reported, while 38 others were injured. Winds as strong as 126km per hour accompanied the dust storm, The Times reported. The dust storm was followed by heavy rainfall of as much as 48.2mm within less than three hours on Wednesday evening. Dust storms are common occurrences in Rajasthan during the period before the monsoon rains, according to Al Jazeeras senior weather presenter, Richard Angwin. A large part of the Thar desert lies within the state. Here, dry, sandy soils are prone to wind erosion and transportation. Intense dust storm across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand have left a trail of destruction. Death toll has touched almost 100 people. If this is not a sign of extreme event, then what else is? A detailed coverage is coming your way. pic.twitter.com/45OtZ0UrCl Down To Earth (@down2earthindia) May 3, 2018 According to The Hindu news site, hundreds of animals were also killed mostly in Agra. In the state of Rajasthan, at least 27 people were reported dead and 100 others injured in three districts, according to the Times of India. There were also reports of destruction of buildings and infrastructure, as well as the uprooting of hundreds of trees. Images posted online from both states showed thick brown dust hovering over communities and cities. According to reports, state officials have discussed extending financial help for the victims and their families. Meanwhile, the Business Standard reported at least 15 flights, including at least two international aircraft, were diverted from Delhi airport due to the bad weather. That latest weather disturbance may be the result of the extreme heat that the region has been experiencing in recent days, Al Jazeeras Angwin said. On Monday, a world record April temperature of 50.2 degrees Celsius (122.3 degrees Fahrenheit) was recorded in Nawabshah in Pakistans Sindh province, just west of Indias Rajasthan. Many other parts of Pakistan and northern India have been suffering the effects of extreme temperatures. It is therefore quite possible that the wind circulation induced by the heat low was more intense than normal, Angwin explained. A trough of low pressure may also have introduced moisture into the atmosphere, encouraging thunderstorms to develop. South African gold producers have reached a settlement with lawyers representing thousands of miners who contracted fatal lung disease, in the countrys largest-ever class action suit. Officials said the six mining companies involved agreed to the 5bn rand ($395m) settlement on Thursday, Reuters news agency reported. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of miners who contracted the lung disease silicosis, which is caused by inhaling fine silica dust and has no known cure, and tuberculosis in South Africas mines. This is an historic settlement, resulting from years of extensive negotiations. The agreement provides meaningful compensation to all eligible workers, the lawyers said in a statement. South Africa is one of the worlds biggest producers of gold, but the countrys mining companies have been accused of exploiting workers and neglecting their health and safety. Almost all claimants are black miners from South Africa and neighbouring countries such as Lesotho. Local media reported the draft settlement provides for a medical examination and compensation to mineworkers who have worked in South Africas gold mines from March 1965 onwards. Individual claimants can receive as much as 500,000 rand ($39,500) for the worst cases of silicosis, TimesLive reported. There is no limit to the number of people who can make a claim. The settlement will have to be approved by a high court before it is implemented. Miners trapped underground Hours after the settlement was reached, mining operator Sibanye-Stillwater said 13 miners were trapped underground in a gold mine after a cave-in on Thursday. Three miners had been located and were in contact with rescue workers in the Masakhane mine. All efforts are being made to locate the 10 employees who remain unaccounted for, and safely recover all the affected employees, the company said in a statement. Tunisia says Bosnia refused to allow Croatia to hand over suspect accused of killing Hamas member Mohammed al-Zawari. Tunisia announced the arrest of a suspect in the assassination of Mohammed al-Zawari, an aviation engineer who the Palestinian group Hamas claims was a member of its drone team. Al-Zawari, 49, was killed in a hail of bullets at the wheel of his car outside his house in the city of Sfax, 270km southeast of Tunis, in December 2016. The two people who carried out the assassination were identified both were of Bosnian nationality, Tunisian prosecution spokesman Sofiene Sliti said on Wednesday. One of the suspects was arrested on March 13 in Croatia, he said, without giving details on the other. Bosnia, which was consulted by Croatia, refused to allow its Balkan neighbour to hand over the suspect, said Sliti. We are in discussions with the Bosnian authorities [to convince them] to agree to deliver this individual, who is still in Croatia, he said. {articleGUID} We have been surprised to find, however, that the Bosnian authorities are refusing to hand over the arrested individual to Tunisia. Contacted by Al Jazeera, Bosnias ministry of internal affairs did not immediately respond. Croatias ministry of internal affairs confirmed the arrest. Following his arrest, he was ordered to extradition custody, while the extradition procedure is under the jurisdiction of judicial bodies of the Republic of Croatia, a spokesperson from Croatias interior ministry told local media. Shortly after his death, Hamas said al-Zawari was a drone expert who had worked for the resistance for a decade. The movement credited him with developing the Ababeel drones used against the last Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip in the summer of 2014. Mossad accused Leaders from both Hamas and the Lebanese Hezbollah group have accused the Israeli spy agency Mossad of assassinating al-Zawari. Last November, during a press conference in Beirut, Hamas claimed Mossad agents carrying Bosnian passports were responsible for his murder. According to their investigation, al-Zawari was under close surveillance by Mossad for four months before his assassination. The full investigative report, which is published on Hamas website, includes details of how the killing was meticulously planned over three stages in 2015 and involved 12 individuals. Israel has neither confirmed nor denied its activities abroad. Israel has assassinated several of the Hamas movements members in the past. In November 2017, al-Zawaris family denounced silence on the part of authorities and called on them to provide more details on the investigation into his killing. Israel was also accused of being behind the assassination of Fadi al-Batsh last month in Malaysia; he was a Hamas scientist who was said to be a rocket-making expert. Family and friends of Batsh accused Mossad of carrying out the killing in Kuala Lumpur on April 21. Armed opposition and civilians are expected to leave rebel-held areas after Russian backed ceasefire. More video clips from the story US returns Iraqs stolen artefacts Nearly 4,000 ancient artefacts that were illegally smuggled to US retailer Hobby Lobby were returned to Iraqi officials in Washington. World Press Freedom Day: Afghan media defiant after deadly attack Ten journalists were killed in the deadliest attack on Afghanistans media since the fall of the Taliban in 2001, underscoring the dangers faced by the media as the war-torn country slips deeper into violence. Canada seeks to alter agreement with the US, which some fear could allow it to turn back thousands from the border. Montreal, Canada Canadian and US officials have remained tight-lipped about possible plans to alter a bilateral agreement that would make it harder for asylum seekers to enter Canada from the United States. Earlier this week, Reuters news agency reported that Ottawa is seeking to expand an agreement withWashington to allow it to turn back thousands of asylum seekers at all points along the countries shared border. Thousands of migrants have entered Canada irregularly since early last year, cutting across snowy fields or through ditches to apply for asylum. The possibility that Ottawa will make it tougher on asylum seekers has raised concerns among rights groups and legal experts in Canada, who have long called on the government to suspend the Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). Its not about deepening the reach of the agreement; we think it should be entirely lifted, Alex Neve, secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada, told Al Jazeera. Under the STCA, people can only make a refugee claim in the first country they land in. In other words, a person who is already in the US cant go to an official border crossing to make an application for refugee status in Canada. A loophole in the deal, however, allows anyone who is already on Canadian soil to file for refugee status. That has pushed thousands of people to enter Canada at unofficial points of entry along the border. In 2017, Canadas federal police intercepted more than 20,500 asylum seekers walking across the border without visas, 91.5 percent of whom entered in the province of Quebec. Neve said the deal should be lifted since the US isnt a safe partner for refugee protection, especially under the Donald Trump administration, which he said has dramatically worsened the conditions for refugees and migrants there. Many of the new arrivals to Canada cited fears of deportation, detention or other human rights abuses in the US as their reason for heading north. In many respects, theres an assault on the rights of refugees and migrants under way in the United States, Neve said. In that context, for the Canadian government to be looking at ways which make it harder and harder for fearful refugees in the United States to look instead to Canada as a place of protection is very worrying. Mixed messages Canada has denied it is considering turning the entire border into a point of entry. A spokesperson for Canadas minister of public safety said that would create a 9,000-kilometre issue that would be more difficult to deal with and potentially more dangerous. It would incentivise people to cross at more remote locations and to evade detection by Canadian law enforcement so they can get to an inland immigration office and make a claim there, Scott Bardsley told Al Jazeera in an email. It could also violate Canadas obligations under international law and the STCA itself, Bardsley said. Meanwhile, an official with the US Department of Homeland Security told Al Jazeera it was currently reviewing the proposal made by Canada to amend the Safe Third Country Agreement. DHS has not made a decision on the matter, said the official, who did not respond to questions about what the Canadian proposal entails exactly. For his part, however, Canadas Minister of Public Safety Ralph Goodale told reporters this week no formal proposal has been presented to the US. There is a conversation about how we make our border both ways strong, effective, and secure from the perspective of both countries and that conversation will be ongoing, Goodale said. That was echoed by a spokesperson for Canadas ministry of immigration. Given what Canada perceives as challenges with the STCA in a modern environment, and the flows we are seeing at the border, we have raised the matter with the US, and they are aware of our concerns, Beatrice Fenelon told Al Jazeera. Renewed calls to lift STCA Should Canada and the US reopen the Safe Third Country Agreement, Sean Rehaag, a professor at Osgoode Hall Law School at York University in Toronto, said he would expect it to be more restrictive, not broader. Before the STCA came into force in 2004, about 10,000 asylum seekers would come to Canada from the US every year, Rehaag told Al Jazeera, and make their refugee claims at the border. About 200 asylum seekers would go in the other direction annually. Canada had been pushing to get some type of deal in place for years, Rehaag explained, to stem this flow of migrants, and the US only signed on to the STCA once Canada agreed to bolster information sharing with the US after the 9/11 attacks. Rehaag, who specialises in immigration and refugee law, said he has serious doubts that the US would agree to expand the STCA, given the US presidents harsh stance on immigration. I just dont think its realistic to think the US has any incentive to further decrease the number of asylum seekers coming to Canada, he said. Instead, Rehaag said, Canada should lift the agreement altogether and let people make asylum claims in an orderly and safe way at official border crossings like they did prior to 2004. Every country that has tried to close off paths for asylum seekers into the country, the result is not fewer asylums seekers coming in; the result is the asylum seekers come in through more dangerous routes, he said. Wouldnt we prefer to give them a safe, regular way into the country, instead of pushing them into either irregular crossings, or worse dangerous, surreptitious crossings? Playing politics Whatever Canada decides to do, there are renewed fears the border crossings could stoke anti-immigrant sentiment in the country. Officials say they expect as many as 400 asylum seekers to cross the border into Quebec every day this summer. Between January 1 and March 31 of this year, 4,828 asylum seekers crossed irregularly into the province, out of 5,052 nationwide. In Quebec, where a provincial election is set for October 1, some groups are already using the asylum seeker issue to try to score political points. The leader of the separatist Parti Quebecois, Jean-Francois Lisee, said last month that a fence should be built at an irregular crossing point that has become popular among asylum seekers, Roxham Road. Quebec, which has borne the majority of the recent influx of asylum seekers, has called on the federal government to provide it with more financial support to help process the new arrivals as they wait for their refugee claims to be heard. Justin Trudeaus government has also been under pressure to better regulate the border crossings from the opposition Conservative Party, which has argued in favour of making the entire Canada-US border a point of entry to deter the new arrivals. The worry that I have is the way that this has created xenophobia and divisiveness in the [United] States and in many countries in Europe, said Rehaag. He said the asylum seeker issue is completely manageable in Canada, but will require political will on the part of the Liberal government to both stop forcing people to come irregularly and properly fund the system. Properly allocating resources to the entire process from funding shelters and groups that help asylum seekers find jobs, to appropriately staffing the border and the bodies involved in Canadas refugee status determination process is critical, Rehaag said. Its not the end of the world. The skys not falling. The numbers are manageable. Neve agreed, saying the number of asylum seekers coming to Canada is a drop in the bucket compared with the hundreds of thousands and even millions of refugees who have sought protection in Turkey, Uganda, Lebanon, Jordan or Bangladesh. In that global context, we should be doing everything we can to ensure that were taking our share of the responsibility, Neve said. If that means that we will need some increased resources at this time because our southern neighbour is in the midst of a crackdown on the rights of refugees, then so be it. A fundamental problem with leftists is their refusal to believe that some people embrace evil. The leftist idea that anyone who isn't directly opposing the left can't be evil, only misguided, underlies many key leftist policies. Take gun control. It's premised on the idea that people don't kill people; guns do. But we know that removing guns does not stop evil men from murder; contrary to the leftist's deeply held belief, Cain didn't murder Abel with an assault rifle. After all, if some men weren't evil, why would Great Britain now be starting to control knives? Because leftists reject the idea that there are evil men, they refuse to admit that the best way to stop an evil man with a gun is a good man with a gun. In the leftist's universe, all men become equally bad once you put a gun in their hands. Because leftism is a faith-based but God-rejecting belief system, it doesn't matter to leftists that gun control has been tried and has failed. Facts will not stand in the way of leftists' emotional belief. Obama's "rapprochement" with Iran was based on the idea that a terrorist-funding, theocratic, fascist state could be turned toward the Golden Rule just by showing its rulers how much Obama cared about them. Obama's reasoning was like that used by Neville Chamberlain about Hitler he was a reasonable man whom Chamberlain could deal with. Because leftists don't believe that the mad mullahs who run Iran, as opposed to the average Iranian, are evil, they can't see that those mullahs have to be treated with carrots and sticks because they will not do what is right unless they fear the consequences of doing what is wrong. Obama's treatment of North Korea suffered from the same failing. North Korea is ruled by evil men and as such must be coerced into doing what is right, not talked to until its rulers see the light. That's why Trump's threats worked while Obama's carrots failed. With thousands of black people being shot in leftist-run cities, leftists act as though the killings aren't the work of a few evil men and hence should be addressed not by vigorous law enforcement, but by gun control and telling blacks their situation is all due to white racism. This despite the fact that the average black resident of the Democrat-created ghettos is an honest person who doesn't go around shooting people. Leftists also believe that we're too hard on criminals. Leftists are constantly advocating for criminals' "rights" and support the idea that letting obviously guilty criminals loose based on legal technicalities that throw out irrefutable evidence of guilt is a good thing. Leftists have a bizarre attitude toward murderers, rapists, and drug-dealers because leftists believe that criminals aren't really evil or responsible for their actions. Rather, leftists argue that societal pressures, poor upbringing, etc. are the cause of crime even though this flies in the face of the reality that most people who suffer from the problems that leftists cite as causing crime don't become criminals. During the Rodney King riots in L.A., for example, most poor blacks didn't loot stores or beat up white people. Yet they all had the same social disadvantages. The result of leftists' denial of criminals being evil is that leftists support policies that hurt law-abiding citizens. Leftists say there are too many blacks in prison and want to limit the number of blacks who are incarcerated no matter how many blacks commit crimes. But the reality is that the victims of black criminals, who are overwhelmingly black themselves, say the criminal who attacked them were black, which means that the idea that blacks are more likely to commit crimes is not from some redneck white racist, but from the black victims crying out for justice and safety. Because leftists deny that criminals are evil, they endorse polices like short prison sentences that put the vast majority of honest Americans at risk. In fact, since blacks are disproportionately the victims of crime, leftist policies are racist in their effect. Leftist belief in the underlying goodness of criminals is why leftists can be mad that so many people are in jail but not happy that crime rates have gone down after all, to leftists, pretty much everyone in prison is just a victim of a poor upbringing or other factors over which he had no control. In leftist land, no evil man actually chooses to commit a crime. Because leftists deny that some people are evil, they defend Muslim radicals and equate Israel shooting terrorist bombers with Muslim terrorist bombers who are targeting women and children. Leftists believe that radical Muslims are upset only because they don't know how much leftists love them or because of the Crusades wars that were a defensive response to Islamic aggression and happened hundreds of years ago. But the reality is that there are many Muslims who are evil people who feel that killing innocent people who either aren't Muslim or who aren't the right type of Muslim is okay. Clearly, policies that flow from the belief that radical Muslims are good people at heart who just need to be convinced that the West doesn't hate them will not actually address the real problem, which is that radicalized Muslims believe in Muhammad's claim that it's okay to kill and oppress non-Muslims. There are other leftist policies that hinge on the idea that there are no real evil people, but these examples should suffice to show the corrosive impact of the leftist's denial of the reality of evil on the American people. Interestingly enough, as alluded to above, leftists do believe that a certain class of people are uniformly evil and uniquely culpable for all their actions namely anyone who opposes leftists. Because the highest goal, the unspoken moral imperative, of all leftists is total and complete control over everyone, and because to leftists all leftist beliefs are self-evidently true, they believe that whoever opposes them is evil incarnate. Contrast leftist views on what leftists call "hate" speech directed at Muslims and the attacks on Candace Owens and Kanye West. Since Muslims can't be evil, leftists condemn anyone who brings up the truth about the beliefs of radical Muslims. On the other hand, when blacks espouse beliefs that leftists reject, such as the right to free speech or the right of blacks to hold differing opinions, leftists engage in the most vile, hateful rhetoric, because in their hearts, leftists believe that their opinions are the only good ones and that anyone who disagrees with them is evil. One can't dissent from leftist orthodoxy and be good, but one can dissent from anything else, including the idea that Muslims shouldn't murder non-Muslims, and still be a paragon of moral virtue in the eyes of leftists. When talking with friends who support leftist positions on North Korea, Iran, criminals, etc., point out to them that there are evil people in the world. Equate those evil men with bullies, since leftists also feel comfortable condemning bullies, and ask if we should treat the "bullies" in North Korea and Iran the same way we treat the good people in France or if we should use force and threats to get them to stop, just as leftists say we should use societal pressure and school punishments to stop bullying. You can read more of Toms rants at his blog, Conversations about the obvious, and feel free to follow him on Twitter. Scarcely any moment in American history is as important for America's Christians as the developing crises over religious freedom now happening in California. The legislature of Sacramento not only is underhandedly banning books opposed to the doctrines of the transgender religion (including the Bible), but also has threatened Christians' rights to free assembly and freedom of speech. According to its website, Summit Ministries, an organization devoted to advising Christian youths on how to live out a Christian worldview, has canceled its scheduled appearances at Biola University in Los Angeles "due to concerns that California will forbid some of what it teaches." Summit's concern is real. The fact is that California is about to make into law A.B. 2943, a bill recently passed by the state Assembly and probably soon to be ratified by the state Senate. The proposed law seeks to punish by fines and penalties any goods and services and services "offering to engage in or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual," claiming that such efforts constitute deceptive business practices. Summit's president, Jeff Myers, explains the dangers for Christians: Summit's program helps students develop an intelligent, defensible Christian worldview before they go to college. Our speakers are leading Christian experts who base their presentations on theology as well as sociology, psychology and science. But the wording of #AB2943 is a dog whistle to the left that intelligent Christians holding traditional views are fair game for discrimination, smears and frivolous lawsuits. Myers believes that Summit's outreach efforts would be strangled by the passage of the law because his organization defends traditional man-woman marriage and biblical concepts concerning sexual behavior. It would basically jettison counseling for those Christian students troubled by confusion over gender identity and same-sex attraction. Myers continues: What are we going to say to a young person experiencing sexual confusion? That the state of California forbids us from allowing a biblical ethic embraced by billions of people for thousands of years to inform our answer? California state authorities are hijacking good-faith concerns about reparative therapy to deny constitutional protection to those who hold traditional views of sexuality and marriage. We cannot and will not bend God's truth to accommodate the state of California." So far, so good. Myers is correct. However, Myers's and Summit Ministries' response to the challenges presented by California's legislature is rather alarming. For one thing, the site's headline is misleading: "California Bill Banning Biblical Views on Sexual Identity Forces Christian Group to Cancel Young Adult Conference." Summit has not been forced by California to cancel. Summit Ministries has chosen to cancel. It have chosen not to fight. Why? The answer (italics mine): "Summit will move ahead with its planned conferences this summer in Colorado, Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. But the very real possibility that it could face costly legal action simply for endeavoring to steep students in biblically informed truth is an unfortunate bridge too far." In other words, the possibility of legal action was enough to make Summit leaders decamp, flee, run away, desert the field. And the reason for not standing and fighting? Myers continues: We are grieved that it has come to this, but we simply cannot put our students, staff and faculty at risk. We are still free to present our conferences in 49 states and we are grateful for that. Now is the time for Californians to rise up and challenge their representatives to respect biblical values. To that end, we're doing everything we can to mobilize our California alumni to exercise their power as citizens and work to prevent this bill from becoming law. And, of course, we continue to pray for our many friends and partner organizations in California, that they would see common-sense governance restored to their state. The fact is that Summit Ministries is still free to speak in California. But Myers's words indicate that he and Summit just don't want the pushback. They don't want the fight. They don't want to pay the price. The reluctance to fight is in some ways understandable because of the high-profile examples of the Christians whose businesses and lives have been destroyed by radicals of the LGBT movement. Even big fish like Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-A have been threatened because their managers have dared to stand up for the Christian view of marriage. Moreover, many times, fellow Christians do not come to the support of other Christians who are attacked. However, despite legitimate reservations, resistance rather than flight is called for. Summit is not based in countries like the former Soviet Russia or Nazi Germany at least not yet. Summit still has recourse in the republic that is the United States of America. The organization has not yet resisted to the point of blood. In fact, it has not resisted at all. The organization's decampment from the fray has left fellow Christians, including Christian students at Biola, to face the fights in California alone. By abandoning California's Christians and opting for peace in its time, Summit doubtless has subjected Christians to inevitably increased persecution and not just for transgressing the latest transgender ideological agenda, but for myriad reasons having to do with the practice of Christian ethics. Further, President Myers exhorts those he's left behind to continue fighting for "common sense to prevail in the California legislature." After those he's left behind have done the work and taken back their rights as U.S. citizens, then might Myers and Summit come back? If only Myers and Summit had stood and fought, they may have helped fellow Californian Christians who are under siege concerning free speech, free association, and freedom of religion and religious practice. Where in Summit's Christian theology is the example of Peter? Since when has proclaiming the message of Christianity been low-risk? The apostle Peter, having been hauled in by the powers that be for preaching about Christ, was told he was under strict orders not to teach the Christian message. But as the book of Acts relates, "Peter and the other apostles replied, 'We must obey God rather than men.'" Summit apparently preferred the Munich solution. It preferred peace in our time. But by capitulating to the state's threat, Summit Ministries has made the battles California's Christians face even harder. The heat will inevitably be turned up on churches and ministries that teach Christian morality. The truth is that Summit's capitulation almost ensures there will be no peace for Christians in California. Unfortunately, the next battles to be won or lost also will have the odor of Summit's capitulation and defeat, no matter which state Summit flees to for refuge. Alas, the Christian church in America is generally as weak as Summit has shown itself to be in the face of opposition to its God-given constitutional rights. She is almost constantly capitulating while preoccupied with attacking other Christians. She is far too subject to think herself safe in her subculture bubble, constantly retreating into a non-relevance auguring the first step into nonexistence. Meanwhile, she is too often leaving the mighty but outnumbered 144,000 to fight the onslaught alone. The American church, for the sake of the Christians among her and for the sake of those outside her walls their freedoms are also threatened must wake up and take up the motto, "We have not yet begun to fight." Fay Voshell holds an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, which awarded her its prize for excellence in systematic theology. She is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. Her thoughts have appeared in many other online magazines, including National Review, RealClearReligion, CNS, and LifeSiteNews. She may be reached at fvoshell@yahoo.com. To put this story into context, let's go back to 1899 and the publication of Johann von Bloch's book Die Zukunft des Krieges (The Future of War). Bloch was a 19th-century railway magnate who had built the Warsaw to Moscow railway. In those days, the best and the brightest worked on optimizing the productivity of railroads through operational analysis. Bloch applied insights from managing railroads to theorizing about the conduct of war. His big insight, original at the time, was that wars would be won by the country with the biggest industrial output. This is the same as the Soviet military concept of "the correlation of forces." When Lenin was exiled in Switzerland from 1914 to 1917, he spent a lot of time in the Zurich and Bern public libraries, reading books on military strategy and electrification. Library records show that he borrowed The Future of War many times. But the Soviets didn't start using Bloch's insight in a big way until the 1980s. The Chernobyl nuclear plant blew up in April 1986. It was a big disaster for a country with a low standard of living. The nuclear contamination was equivalent to a nine-megaton ground burst. Three months later, at a meeting of Warsaw Pact leaders, the Bulgarian prime minister posed the question: how can the Communist Bloc profit from the Chernobyl disaster? The records of this meeting were accessed in Berlin after the fall of the Wall. The Soviets had financed the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament for decades, but that Warsaw Pact meeting triggered a new campaign against nuclear power in the West. Nuclear power was demonized, and the public was primed to accept closures after a nuclear mishap. Thus, Angela Merkel, herself the fruit of a long-term campaign by East German intelligence, was about to close the German nuclear industry without discussion, with the Fukushima mishap as the excuse. The biggest and most successful communist disinformation campaign, with the intent of reducing Western industrial capacity, has been global warming. On June 24, 1988, self-confessed global warming scientist James Hansen addressed a congressional committee and told them that "global warming has begun." The air-conditioning in the hearing room had been turned off for effect. Significantly, Hansen's verbiage was transmitted live to a reception at the offices of the European Environment Bureau, funded by the E.U., in Brussels. Those attending in Brussels were told that this was the start of something big, and so it was. But why were the Europeans in on Hansen's testimony? Because they wanted to hobble U.S. industry. When communism fell apart in 1990, the benchmark for carbon dioxide emissions was set as those of 1990. Thus, it was easy for the Europeans to comply with the regulations they wanted to impose because power generation in formerly communist Europe had collapsed. The global warming campaign gained momentum, but last decade, it hit a roadblock in the U.S. Senate, with Republican senators asking why U.S. industry should be hobbled with restrictions when Chinese carbon dioxide emissions were going through the roof. So President Obama, who had grown up among communists and who was the fruit of another long-term campaign, put a lot of effort into getting China to sign on to a climate agreement. The Chinese were quite happy to, because U.S. industry was hobbled, and they didn't have to change anything. Now China has adopted Bloch's insight and is doing what it can to hobble industry in countries gullible enough to believe in global warming. Thus, there is Greenpeace East Asia, which is headquartered in Beijing. Any NGO allowed to operate in China does so only at the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party. So Greenpeace East Asia was active in a campaign in Malaysia in trying to stop the building of a rare earths-processing plant, which would have competed with Chinese production. So the U.S. dodged a bullet when President Trump declined to sign on to the Paris climate treaty, despite the urgings of globalists Mattis, Tillerson, and Kelly. French president Macron's urging the signing of that treaty last week in Washington was just the slimy French version of the same. But the globalist global warming threat remains, and that is why Scott Pruitt has been attracting so much attention from the left-wing press recently. It's not because of anything that he has done, but because of what he has so far failed to do, and that is to rescind the 2009 endangerment finding on carbon dioxide. Doing so would produce the first government-sanctioned report from anywhere in the world that increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is not a problem. The era of "settled science" would be over. Conflicting scientific reports would rip the whole effort apart, and it wouldn't be possible to resuscitate it. A billion people -- the populations of the United States, Europe, Japan, and beyond would be set free. And Chinese connivance in the European plan to hobble the U.S. would be thwarted. The left want Pruitt replaced because he might end the endangerment finding, if he bothers to get around to it. Conservatives have no idea what is at stake. So how do the coal people fit in? Well, the next Pittsburgh Coal Conference is not being held in Pittsburgh. It is being held in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. This is just a little fragment of China's attempt to gather unto itself all the world's useful intellectual property. Instead of having to steal it, license it, or otherwise pay for it, in this case, the foreign experts will pay to travel to China and tell all they know and all that is possible. Someone tell the coal people that we are in a pre-war state with China, and it is time to stop having anything to do with the country. Just as the experiment in imposing democracy on the Middle East ended in blood and tears, the 20-year-long experiment in drawing China into the community of civilized nations has ended with the Chinese reverting to type -- attempting to subjugate the rest of the world. The memo to the coal people could be illustrated with satellite photos of Anderson AFB on Guam, where a lot of hardened shelters are being installed, at last, in preparation for that war with China. In imagery dated January 3, 2018, there are no fighter aircraft evident but a number of new fighter-sized shelters at the southeast end of the runways. The B-52s are parked far enough apart, but the B-1s on the apron could be taken out two at a time by an incoming DF-26 ballistic missile. There are some larger hardened shelters being built that could take the B-1s. They would have to fold their wings back to fit instead of leaving them open as at the moment. David Archibald's latest book is American Gripen: The Solution to the F-35 Nightmare. Note: The original version of this piece misidentifed the scientist who testified to Congress as Michael Mann. AT regrets the error. A congressional committee report states that a large electromagnetic pulse (EMP) inundating America could cause 90% of Americans to die. The EMP is inevitable. The dead Americans are not. Mark Levin invited Dr. Peter Pry on to his show to illuminate this issue. It's not hard to see why Pry is considered America's foremost expert on this topic. He has two Ph.D.s and a certificate on nuclear weapon design, worked at the CIA for a decade, worked on the House Armed Services Committee, and then served as director of the EMP Committee. Pry explained that an EMP can happen in a few different ways: if an adversary attacks America using nuclear weapons, or naturally via a large solar storm. The reason why a large EMP hitting Earth is inevitable is that solar storms are inevitable. They happen regularly. The only question is when a large one will cross Earth's path. For instance, NASA reported that if a solar superstorm from 2012 had happened just one week earlier, it would have blasted the Earth with a catastrophic EMP. We are playing this slot machine every day. Eventually, we're going to hit the jackpot. Actually, we were already hit by a large solar storm. In 1859, the Carrington Event melted circuits, caused forest fires when telegraph wires burst into flames, and even destroyed the transatlantic cable placed miles beneath the surface of the ocean. Electronics nowadays are far more sensitive and thus even more vulnerable to an EMP. The next Carrington Event will destroy electronics around the entire world. Refrigerators will stop cooling food. Gas pumps will stop working. Even tap water will stop flowing. Perhaps survivalists who live in rural areas will be okay. But many Americans live in cities and are no longer equipped with the skills to live on their own. Of particular worry is the fact that extra-high-voltage transformers, which our electric grid depends on, will be wrecked. The North American grid has about 2,000 of these transformers. They are so huge and difficult to make that the worldwide capacity for manufacturing new ones is just 200 a year. In fact, America doesn't even make these transformers anymore (they are imported). It would take years to replace our transformers in a best-case scenario. Thus, Americans would be without electricity indefinitely. Also problematic is the fact that there wouldn't be electricity to use to restore the electric grid. Beyond a solar storm, the other possibility is an EMP caused by a nuclear strike. Specifically, a single nuclear warhead detonated 100 miles above Kansas would create an electromagnetic wave that would propagate down and outward and destroy America's entire electric grid (including the transformers). The nuclear bomb EMP effect was confirmed by the 1962 Starfish Prime test. A nuclear bomb was detonated 250 miles above the Pacific Ocean. It knocked out some electrical equipment almost a thousand miles away in Hawaii. The Starfish Prime test was done with a "primitive" nuclear weapon. Since then, some countries have developed specialized nuclear warheads for the exact purpose of creating larger EMP effects. Dr. William Graham, President Reagan's science adviser, wrote, "In 2004, two Russian generals, both EMP experts, warned the EMP Commission that the design for Russia's super-EMP warhead, capable of generating high-intensity EMP fields of 200,000 volts per meter, was 'accidentally' transferred to North Korea." Many people assume that America is safe from a nuclear EMP attack due to the doctrine of mutually assured destruction. But the world is changing. There are numerous "tricky" attack vectors that may appear attractive to an aggressor. For instance, Iran could undertake the attack for religious reasons. North Korea could give a nuclear bomb to terrorists. China could coerce North Korea into attacking and then deny all responsibility. There is no reason why America must keep playing the slot machine. It would take only two to three billion dollars to harden the electric grid, to protect the core components, which are difficult to replace. Then, when an EMP does hit, we can restore electricity. Given the gargantuan budget America has for the military, this seems to be a straightforward matter. Lack of EMP preparedness has dragged on for far too long. Naive politicians have wanted to ignore the problem away. But physics doesn't work like that. Levin and Pry have done an excellent service by reminding America of this danger. God knows we have enough problems as it is without leaving one more fixable problem on the table. Can a woman revoke consent after having sex? American University says, in some circumstances, yes. College Fix: If a man and a woman are both drunk and they have sex, the man is the rapist if the woman decides he is at some point, regardless of how she felt in the moment. This is what American University is teaching students in a required sexual consent module, according to Red Alert Politics. The module "asks students personal behavioral questions like how many sexual partners they've had and how often they drink," according to Red Alert, which says the program is called "Campus Clarity: Think About It." The onLy "clarity" in this situation is that school administrators are insane. This is taking "the woman is always telling the truth" to new heights of idiocy and puts any man on campus who has sex with any woman in danger of being charged as a rapist. That appears to refer to CampusClarity (since acquired by training provider EverFi), whose invasive questions were pulled from mandatory student training by Clemson University in 2014 after they drew outside scrutiny. This is the way it always is. School administrators initiate a program that's, on its face, beyond stupid and quickly back down when people call them out for their idiocy. If these programs and policies are so beneficial and good, why abandon them the moment they come under scrutiny? Former AU student Sydney Jacobs said she was threatened with academic probation if she didn't complete the training a year ago, and when she did, the module called her a "N00B" (gamer slang for "newbie") because her answers were wrong: "I was shocked," said Jacobs. "The program explicitly says they're both too drunk to give consent but then says the man coerced the woman into a dangerous situation. The hypothetical specifically says neither gave consent but then says the woman can take certain steps towards legal options. It concludes the man likely committed sexual assault." ... "Ultimately my problem with the whole thing is it's creating a culture on campus that it's okay to re-write history and rescind your consent when you're not happy with the outcome. People are scared to hook up without facing repercussions that aren't warranted." Jacobs is further incensed because the same training is used at public universities including the University of Florida and Kansas State University, meaning taxpayers are funding the message that "it is okay to rescind consent and then [the] man is always at fault." The issue of teaching about drunken sexual encounters is not without merit. Even in the 1970s, real men knew not to engage in sex with a woman who was falling-down drunk. Teaching college kids not to become insensible when drinking when the odds of making a horribly poor decision, such as getting behind the wheel of a car or having sex, has real value. If that were where the lesson ended, most of us would support it. But administrators at American University are ignoring reality. The facts are simple: if two people who are drunk engage in sex, it is both partners' fault, and consent by either party is impossible. Why is this such a difficult concept to grasp? In fact, school administrators understand perfectly. Their assumption is that men are beasts and slaves to their enormous sexual appetites. The poor, nearly virginal women are preyed upon when they're most vulnerable. The central thesis of this program is that women are incapable of looking out for themselves and need an ex post facto reason to stick it to their sexual partners. "You'd better ask me out again, or else..." might become regular dialog on campus. An exaggeration? Ten years ago, I would have thought so. Now I'm not so sure. Women, especially, have changed. They are being taught that being a victim is their lot in life, and they might as well make the best of it. And that includes ruining the life of a man who may have jilted them. I am wondering if there will ever be significant pushback on campus against this madness. Are college men jellyfish? Have they been so cowed by feminists and school administrators that they will meekly accept this outrage? Time will tell, but I am not confident of a push for change. In Spanish, we use different words to describe foolishness. Cubans say "que payaso," or what a clown. Mexicans say "payasada," or clownish. Some use a different word not suitable for this post. Over the 34 years I've lived in Texas, I have never met a Hispanic who complained that political debates are in English and not in Spanish. This week, Representative Robert O'Rourke challenged Senator Cruz to six debates and two in Spanish: O'Rourke campaign manager Jody Casey made the proposal in a letter last week to Cruz's senior staff, adding that the debates should have "media reach to all twenty markets in the state." Well, we are silly, aren't we? This is what I am talking about with my Hispanic friends these days: 1. The Democrats had huge majorities in the House and Senate and never passed immigration reform or DACA. 2. We did not have much economic growth in the Obama years. 3. President Obama drew a red line in Syria, but there were no consequences. 4. There are elections in Mexico, and leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador may win. 5. There is a huge border crisis in Venezuela-Colombia and Venezuela-Brazil. 6. Israel's P.M. Benjamin Netanyahu made an amazing presentation about Iran, and it will probably impact President Trump's upcoming decision on the deal. 7. Why do Democrats continue to support abortion, especially after 20 weeks? And other stuff you read in the front pages every day. Yes, sometimes we speak in Spanish, especially with my mother, older Cubans, or over the phone with friends who live in Latin America. I repeat: no one has mentioned anything about voting yes or no because the debate was or was not in Spanish. My guess is that Mr. O'Rourke knows he is going to lose and has already started playing the race card. PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk) and follow me on Twitter. Social media have been on the hot seat lately, but the left-biased press has mostly focused on privacy issues. The more significant issue is capricious censorship, which has hit conservatives especially hard. For a while there, I had thought there was not much problem, and the people yelling censorship were probably nuts of some kind. But my view changed when Bridget Johnson, the pleasant, thoughtful, and intelligent writer on Pajamas Media, was banned without explanation from Twitter, and then Diamond and Silk, two funny and popular black pro-Trump vloggers, were declared by Facebook to "unsafe for the community." Unsafe? Two black women who like President Trump? Yes, unsafe, all right, but only to Democratic electoral prospects. Yeah. There's censorship. It hasn't gotten the attention it should get, and congressional hearings don't seem to be going anywhere at this point. That's why I was heartened to see that Brent Bozell, of the Media Research Center, organized a petition with 60 prominent conservatives signing on, urging Facebook and others to get serious about the shenanigans going on in their left-wing zero-political-diversity companies. It was amusing to see, since typically, only lefties do petitions of this kind. Since a left-wing group of companies is being petitioned, and this is a form of protest lefties understand, maybe these companies will respond. The petition contains four useful suggestions around transparency of policies that might just end the caprice and enable these companies to handle their content professionally instead of ideologically. Check them out here. I would add one more suggestion, and that is that these companies hire outside their political comfort zone so that a diversity of ideas can be heard in the companies. These companies are so riddled with leftists of the activist stripe, educated by the nutty professors of the left, that they might not even know they are acting like Soviet commissars. They just don't know any conservatives and have never met any, and thus, they assume that conservatives are wicked monsters instead of fellow citizens and voters. Facebook does seem to have some degree of seriousness about the problem in that it has hired former congressman John Kyl, a conservative, to look into the issue. So far, so good, but of course, the proof will be in whether he gets to the bottom of the issue and they respond to his recommendations. It looks as though it could be a good start, and in return, Facebook will avoid getting itself regulated as an edited publication responsible for every last word of content that makes it to its platform. Because if Facebook or one of the others Google, YouTube, Twitter, etc. wants to go around censoring, fine, that's its right as a public company. But they can no longer call themselves impartial platforms if that is their choice; they will have to be called edited publications. As edited publications, they will need to be held responsible for everything, every last thing, every post by a pervert, every post by a terrorist, every post by a spray shooter, and every post by a serial killer who posts on their sites. They will need to be sue-able as newspapers are if anything goes wrong, instead of exempt as neutral platforms as they are now. All because they choose to edit who can post what. Up to them. The organizing from Bozell's corner sets the stage for change and is a welcome sign that conservatives aren't gonna sit there and take this. They are taking action. Let's hope it keeps the pressure on. It's happening. Suddenly, a lot of young black men aren't all in for the Democrats anymore. Black men's approval for Donald Trump has absolutely doubled, according to a new Reuters poll, and his overall support among blacks has risen sharply. This seismic shift just happens to coincide with rap superstar Kanye West's break with the Hollywood left, coupled with his open admiration for Donald Trump. According to the Daily Caller: A poll taken on April 22, 2018 had Trump's approval rating among black men at 11 percent, while the same poll on April 29, 2018 pegged the approval rating at 22 percent. It should be noted that Reuters only sampled slightly under 200 black males each week and slightly under 3,000 people overall. Trump experienced a similar jump in approval among black people overall, spiking from 8.9 percent on April 22 to 16.5 percent on April 29. Kanye made his remarks on April 25, and much of the left panicked, calling him a sell-out, a traitor to his race, and other typical epithets black people who don't toe the Democratic Party line have endured for years. Kanye responded by doubling down, posting a picture of himself with an autographed MAGA cap, and calling Trump his "brother." What this poll represents is Democrats' worst nightmare coming true. Their black voting base, which has been taken for granted for years, is suddenly in play, and in a year when Democrats have assured themselves that they have the retaking of Congress in the bag. Black turnout is what put Barack Obama in office in 2008, and now even black support is no longer a given for them. It's probably not Kanye alone who is responsible for this, given the stunningly improved state of the Trump economy, where black unemployment has dropped to historic lows. But Kanye was probably the activator. Black people can see that their job prospects are the best in history; they can see the bigger paychecks; they can relate to Kanye's recent remarks that Barack Obama did zilch for the black community in his hometown of Chicgo; and suddenly, Kanye's break makes sense to them, just as it does to an extreme individualist like Kanye. It all falls into place. The shift in black opinion represents a major break in the cultural firewall that has kept black people from embracing the Republican Party and left them taken for granted by Democrats. Do Democrats pay any attention to widespread black views on gay marriage or transgenderism, for example? Do they pay any attention to whether black teenagers need jobs and how calls for minimum wage hikes shut them out of the market? Do Democrats pay any attention to how gun-free zones facilitate violence in black neighborhoods in places such as Chicago? Do they pay any attention to how illegal immigration has driven down the wages of black unskilled workers? Not in the least: The only thing they ask themselves is where else black people can go and well, now they have their answer, because Kanye opened that door. Kanye's own bad experiences with self-centered, rude Democrats such as President Obama, as well as his pleasant experiences with President Trump, probably had much to do with his own epiphany, as did his concern about the sufferings of black people by violence in Chicago. But it wasn't just a loud endorsement of President Trump that went on with his series of tweets. He not only broke the barrier to blacks supporting Republicans, but did two other things to change perceptions. He made a massive series of tweets about the importance of "love" and how he is centering his life on "love" (and talking like that takes a lot of courage), and he tweeted a lot about thinking freely. Both of these things went a long way to breaking the perception among blacks and others that Republicans are hateful and that Republicans are narrow-minded. If it's all about love, why shun the Republicans? Kanye's one of us. And he's bringing the party with him. Image by Sean Howell via DeviantArt, Creative Commons SA 3.0. The Democrats' long knives are going to be unsheathed on Hillary Clinton's back even sooner than I anticipated. Driven mad by the crash and burn of her "inevitable" presidency dream, she continues to come up with excuses that avoid the real reason: her personal repulsiveness. Yesterday, in the latest installment of her "it's not my fault I lost" speaking tour, she revealed an embarrassing truth about her party. David Rutz of the Free Beacon has the story: Hillary Clinton said Wednesday that being a capitalist probably hurt her cause in 2016 because so many Democrats in the party today are socialists. Normally, I do not suggest subjecting readers to a video of Hillary, but this one is only 33 seconds long, and it is well worth your time and aesthetic discomfort: Her claim to be a capitalist is specious, of course, unless one counts her miraculous success trading cattle futures in Arkansas to the point of making $100,000 in profits, and then abandoning such trading forever, after the bribe was received. Only if one inserts the word "crony" before the word "capitalist" does the assertion contain any truth. But her ability to recite polling data about Iowa Democrats, that 41% identify themselves as socialists, does suggest that she understands how her party has been radicalized during the Obama years. And her remarkable change in body language suggests that she realizes that this transformation of her own party is a real electoral problem, one that can provide exoneration for her own failure. Check out her initial posture and facial expression at the beginning of the segment, demonstrating tension: And contrast it with the body language as she expresses her excuse: By the way, what's the story on the scarf covering her neck? Did she have plastic surgery to cut away wattles? Whatever the story behind the scarf, it is increasingly clear to the powers in the party that Mrs. Clinton has become a liability to the party. The mainstream of America has not embraced socialism only the hard left and the propagandized products of the education system. But Americans and the world are witnessing where socialism leads in Venezuela. It is time for Republicans, especially President Trump, to drive home the point that socialism destroys wealth in the name of equality and ultimately enriches only the corrupt political elites. Such, Such Were the Joys, Orwell once wrote as he waxed nostalgic over his school days. For many in the left-wing media circles who presently vent opprobrium for the nightmare that is President Trump, the Joys refers to the era of Camelot for them, which naturally reached its zenith under Obama but nevertheless remained in the ascendant under Bush, in which was still possible that some loutish comedian like Stephen Colbert might be able to elicit a few cackles from that most elite reception of Washingtonian luminaries at the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. Thankfully, not anymore. I believe that Fox News's Bret Baier best encapsulated the essence of so many who bore witness to that ghastly performance by Miss Michelle Wolf the other night when he tweeted the following suggestion: Maybe this week the #WHCA should announce that there will be NO dinner in 2019. Take the year off. Instead, use the year to raise a lot money for journalism scholarships (networks step up) present scholarships & then come back in 2020 with a rebooted-retooled #WHCADinner. In addition to capturing the maelstrom of cringing and embarrassment that outraged anyone so unfortunate to have sat through Wolfe's "performance," Mr. Baier's response also spoke to a tectonic shift in today's politics, where the liberal establishment's previous debaucheries-veiled-as-humor no longer hold water at least to the degree that they did in previous administrations. All of this is good for conservatives, and particularly those on board with the renewed political idiom that bespeaks Trump's administration. Though there were indeed a few negatives from that night Wolfe has been accorded her fifteen minutes of fame, and Sarah Huckabee Sanders was cruelly made the source of some humorless and stupid punch lines (it was commendable that Matt and Mercedes Schlapp walked out in disapproval), these are transient, and soon to be quickly overwhelmed by all the positives that will result from the near universal condemnation by those still in possession of some semblance of a moral backbone. First and foremost, any question of a reciprocated sanctimonious response from the political class who professes to go "high" (whatever that means) when others "go low" went quickly out the window. If anything, this year's WHCA was vindication that liberals, not conservatives, are primarily if not exclusively responsible for engendering the despoiled state of raunchy political rhetoric that currently plagues this country. They, the virtue-signalers, who stand athwart Mount Sinai commanding as though by decree of God the evanescent morals of the day, behind closed doors (and more often now in front of them), wallow themselves in such grotesqueries. It is rather astonishing (and admirable for those who did) that in today's boundary-less media and political climate, several journalists actually openly condemned Wolf's performance. It seems that as caustic as President Trump might appear to some; his political clout is such that despite the sweeping nihilism that engulfs the modern left, his outsized political influence is enough to create actual ethical barriers of conduct, and on enemy territory, no less an incredible feat! Since President Trump's election, the contagion of vulgarity has spread like wildfire throughout left-wing circles in the media and popular culture. While the president has in large part reined in his more caustic rhetoric from the campaign trail, leftists have doubled down and, by virtue of their preordained position of society's moral arbiters, can seamlessly excuse the vitriol they routinely spew in the name of some censorious buzzword or half-baked platitude. Take, for instance, CNN's unhinged response to the president's alleged profanity about developing nations or the eruption of anti-Trump artwork that has saturated much of the public arena over the past fifteen or so months and has been displayed countless times on network television. In taking a broader, philosophical perspective, none of this comes as a shock. Modern liberalism has steadfastly worked as a corrosive agent against public morality since at least the time of Herbert Marcuse and the institutionalization of New Left values about a half-century ago. Since then, our popular culture has been increasingly compromised by an unapologetic vulgarity that has reached even more noxious and insidious levels as new media forms continuously emerge that make the field's democratization all the more realizable. Conservatives will benefit, and in large part have already benefited, from the truly deplorable performance of the 2018 WHCA. The question remains as to whether these ongoing political victories can somehow seize a cultural zeitgeist spiraling toward even greater, deeper vulgarity by the day. Paul Ingrassia is a graduate of Fordham University and former White House intern for President Trump. Former first lady Michelle Obama surfaced at a Reach Higher 2018 College Signing Day event at Temple University in the City of Brotherly Love, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Speaking on behalf of her Better Make Room initiative, Michelle was gussied up in a black jumpsuit and a denim jacket and sounded a bit like rapper Common. During her keynote speech, the former FLOTUS paused in all the right places and used ghetto-talk and hip-hop hand gestures to keep with the flow of her sing-songy exhortation to 8,000 Philadelphia high school students signing up for college. After sharing sad experiences from her childhood, the former first lady officially announced that despite the discouragement of "haters," she became America's "forever first lady." In other words, despite Melania Trump being the current "first lady," much as Michelle's husband Barack fancies himself "forever president of the United States," according to Mrs. Obama, she is, and always will be, America's "forever first lady." Based on the cheering coming from the audience, the kids agreed. Here's what Rapping Michelle had to say: Seeing as breaking it down is what rappers do, let's break down some of what the forever first lady shared. For starters, why does Michelle always try to strengthen her comments by speaking in plurals? During one part of her speech, she said, "We have such high hopes for you." Question: Is Barack the mystery half of the "we" who have "such high hopes" for 8,000 future college students? Michelle Obama excited the cheering crowd when she told them "[she] knows that [they] have everything it takes to succeed." Then, Michelle reminded the kids, "See, I am not one of those doubters." Why does Mrs. Obama always make vague references to nonexistent individuals from her past? Thankfully, Shelley is "not one of those doubters" who doubt that the 8,000 School District of Philadelphia schoolchildren can succeed. However, unlike Michelle Obama, some nameless, faceless doubter apparently thinks otherwise. After Michelle made obscure references to anonymous doubters, she played the predictable "you are me" card, telling the audience, "I know you are me." Let's not forget that both the Obamas have made it known that their goal is to have millions of tiny little Barack and Michelle clones running around like automaton facsimiles, doing what the two progressive programmers command them to do. Recently, the former president shared with an Asian audience that he and Michelle both realize that the presidency constrained their ability to propagate "a million young Barack Obamas or Michelle Obamas." So, when Michelle tells an audience full of high school students "you are me," for her, it's not clever wordplay; it's a call to service. Michelle ended her upbeat, breathy rap-style exhortation by informing the potential "little mes" that if she could be standing there as "forever first lady," then "[they] can do anything [they] put [their] mind to." Everyone was so exhilarated by the drivel; neither the Princeton grad nor her audience realized that if taken literally, what was said could be construed to mean that if the students put their mind to it, they could become America's "forever first lady" which would cancel out the "forever" part for Michelle. The keynote speaker ended her nine-minute speech by reminding the students that when they are out there, they will hit roadblocks. Then the "forever first lady" urged the students, when meeting those barriers, to think fondly of 2018 College Signing Day at Temple University and remember that when not vacationing or out stirring up racial tension, she'd be "thinking and praying" for all 8,000 of them. Jeannie hosts a blog at www.jeannie-ology.com. This is the worst news for Democrats since the election was called for Donald Trump in 2016. Kanye West appears to have punched a hole in the dam holding African-American support in a reservoir, allowing American blacks to make up their own minds about President Trump instead of conforming to the expectation that "the community" must be "united" in monolithic support for the Democrats. A poll from Reuters, conducted April 29 and released yesterday, shows a dramatic doubling of approval for the president in one week, that coincided with West's expression of support: Overall, do you approve or disapprove about the way Donald Trump is handling his job as President? Amber Athey of the Daily Caller writes: Black male support for President Donald Trump doubled in just one week, according to a Reuters poll on presidential approval. A poll taken on April 22, 2018 had Trumps approval rating among black men at 11 percent, while the same poll on April 29, 2018 pegged the approval rating at 22 percent. It should be noted that Reuters only sampled slightly under 200 black males each week and slightly under 3,000 people overall. Trump experienced a similar jump in approval among black people overall, spiking from 8.9 percent on April 22 to 16.5 percent on April 29. This has the appearance of the beginning of a preference cascade, the term made famous by Instapundit blogger Glenn Reynolds: The concept of the Preference Cascade is credited to Turkish economist Timur Kuran. Glenn Reynolds described the idea in a 2002 op-ed, Patriotism and Preferences. In short, average people behave the way they think they ought to, even though that behavior might not reflect their own personal feelings. Given a sufficient "A-HA!" moment when they discover that their personal feelings are shared by a large portion of the population their behavior may change dramatically. The folk tale "The Emperor's New Clothes" describes a preference cascade. I suspect that many African-Americans have felt intimidated over expressing, or even privately embracing wholeheartedly, their private observations that President Trump seems to be doing a pretty good job of improving the economy and addressing the international challenges facing America. Now that Kanye West, a figure widely admired and considered a leader, is openly expressing admiration for Trump, the inhibitions are starting to crumble like a dam with a crack in it. As practically all readers of American Thinker understand, the fate of the Democratic Party is intimately tied to near-monolithic support among African-Americans. If West is not heavily punished as an example to others for his "treason," a catastrophe looms for Democrats. Owing to West's popularity and willingness to speak out vigorously, there is some danger in trying to destroy him. On Monday, before the poll came out, Maxine Waters expressed disapproval in response to a question from Carla Marinucci, the veteran San Francisco Chronicle reporter who now works for Politico: "Kanye West is a very creative young man who has presented some of the most revolutionary material in the African-American community. ... But we also think that sometimes Kanye West talks out of turn and perhaps sometimes he needs some assistance in helping him to formulate some of his thoughts." "We don't think that he actually means to do harm, but we're not sure he really understands the impact of what he's saying, at the time that he's saying it and how that weighs on, particularly the African American community and for young people in general. ... And I think maybe he should think twice about politics, and maybe not have so much to say." Now that the stakes for the Democratic Party are clearer life and death, in fact I would expect much stronger criticism and efforts to absolutely destroy Kanye West. I hope and pray that some Democrat preferably a Caucasian will use the u-word ("uppity") to try to sanction West. But even if nobody is that stupid, the term should come into use to describe the criticisms of him. Keziah Daum is an 18-year-old high school girl who set off a worldwide debate on the idea of "cultural appropriation." Daum wore a dress to prom loosely based on a Chinese design and committed the mortal sin of not being Chinese. She was called out for her sin by another teen, Jeremy Lam: My culture is NOT your [g------] prom dress. https://t.co/vhkNOPevKD Jeremy Lam (@jere_bare) April 27, 2018 The rest of the story is still being written. But it's safe to say there has never been as much pushback against the towering idiocy of left-wing political correctness than there has been on this one issue. Miss Daum is one of the reasons the resistance is so effective. She is every high school boy's dream prom date. She's pretty, intelligent, vivacious and quietly courageous. She has endured tens of thousands of mean, nasty, personally insulting entries on social media platforms with a grace and aplomb that should have her parents bursting with pride and the rest of us humbled. Should people of Chinese ancestry and origin be upset? Apparently, the Chinese people are cheering Miss Daum on. Fox News: On May 1, an article on Wenxue City News covering Daum's story largely voiced applause for her look, the English-language outlet South China Morning Post reported. "Very elegant and beautiful! Really don't understand the people who are against her, they are wrong!" a supporter chimed in of the cheongsam, otherwise known as a qiapo. "I suggest the Chinese government, state television or fashion company invite her to China to display her cheongsam!" "It is not cultural theft. It is cultural appreciation and cultural respect," another agreed. Of course it is except on the left, where Miss Daum is either a villain or a dolt. Jeff Yang, a regular contributor to CNN.com, believes the latter: Cultural appropriation is a real and serious concern that's deeply intertwined with issues like colonialism, labor theft, racial privilege and ethnic stereotyping. Dismissal of the phenomenon is often simply a knee-jerk reaction by those seeking to assail what they see as "political correctness." But as always with these discussions, it pays to consider context before opening fire. "Context"? How can there be any context to a completely fabricated issue? Which brings us back to Keziah Daum's decision to wear a qipao to her prom. She clearly didn't consider the full implications of her decision to not just wear the dress, but to post pictures of herself doing so on social media without explanation. And her comments to the press make it apparent that she hasn't fully reflected on the way that wearing outfits or hairstyles associated with other cultures is itself an expression of privilege. Of course she didn't consider the "full implications" of her decision or "fully reflect" that her simple choice of wearing a pretty dress might be "an expression of privilege." That's because she's a normal, mentally healthy person who doesn't look for ways to offend anyone and certainly doesn't scour the internet for something to be outraged about. "Culture has no borders. There is no problem, as long as there is no malice or deliberate maligning. Chinese cultural treasures are worth spreading all over the world," one user mused. Got that, snowflakes? Stop picking on a pretty 18-year-old girl because she wanted a prom dress to remember. "Cultural appropriation" may be the sickest, most outrageously stupid element of political correctness in existence. The history of human civilization would never be known without the Egyptians culturally appropriating the idea of writing from some unknown source. Every major advance in the history of civilization has occurred because of one culture appropriating and improving upon an idea or invention from another culture. Can you imagine what the world would be like if the invention of agriculture had remained in the fertile crescent? It is mind-boggling that in a country that has made cultural appropriation a huge part of its identity, there would be those who would accuse anyone of "privilege" for doing what comes naturally to humans: learning from others. I don't think the cultural appropriation accusers will be able to gain as much traction with anyone except the true believers after this incident. As Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his investigative team move closer to their intended target, the president of the United States, Donald Trump's new attorney, Rudy Giuliani, went on the record extensively for the first time on Tuesday. The forum was a one-on-one interview with Sean Hannity that took up the entire hour of the Fox News Channel's #1 prime-time host. Giuliani made a lot of news during the hour with Hannity, but the media seized on the "bombshell" relating to Trump's relationship with the porn actress known as Stormy Daniels. Earlier on Wednesday, Giuliani had appeared by phone a shaky cell phone conversation with White House correspondent John Roberts[i] during Neil Cavuto's 4 P.M. E.T. Fox News program, although the former NYC mayor, federal prosecutor, friend of Trump, and new Trump legal hire left the big news for later, when he was live in studio with Hannity. Rudy Giuliani and Sean Hannity at the start of Hannity's program, May 2, 2018. The bombshell news came when Giuliani revealed that Trump had repaid his personal attorney Michael Cohen's $130,000 payment, which the media has called "hush money," to porn actress Stormy Daniels. This admission immediately jumped to the lead story on the competing news channels, wire services, network radio newscasts, and Thursday morning's newspapers coast to coast. For the first time, a representative of the POTUS had finally admitted, as the Washington Post quickly headlined it, that "Trump repaid attorney Cohen for Stormy Daniels settlement." The Post story quickly went to the #1 spot in its list of "most read world" articles. Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a recent addition to President Trump's legal team, said Wednesday night that Trump made a series of payments reimbursing his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 settlement with an adult-film actress despite Trump's assertion last month that he was unaware of the payment. "The president repaid it,'' Giuliani told Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity[.] ... Giuliani said that even though Trump reimbursed Cohen, he does not know when the president learned of the nature of the payment Cohen had made to Daniels. Giuliani said the president didn't learn many of the details about the settlement until the past two weeks, in the wake of an FBI raid on Cohen's office and residence. The ongoing story involving the "actress" Ms. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has captivated the attention of the anti-Trump MSM for the past two months. After a year during which allegations of collusion and obstruction have not quite found their mark, the MSM have been increasingly hungry for a scandal any scandal that might actually stick to Trump. To this point, the president has enjoyed the protection of a political Teflon coating, much like his predecessor in the 1980s, President Ronald Reagan. An indication of the media's preoccupation with the Trump-and-the-porn-star story is the fact that Daniels's attorney, the attention-seeking and Trump-hating Michael Avenatti, has appeared on CNN 59 times in two months to hype it. Shortly after the Fox News interview concluded, a representative of the channel emailed some quotes from the program. On the payments of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to porn star Stormy Daniels: Rudy Giuliani: "Having something to do with paying some Stormy Daniels woman $130,000- I mean which is going to turn out to be perfectly legal. That money was not campaign money. Sorry, I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know. It's not campaign money, no campaign finance violation[.]" On whether the payment was funneled through the law firm: Giuliani: "Funneled it through a law firm and the president repaid it." Rudy Giuliani on Hannity, May 2, 2018. Giuliani made other news during his hour with Hannity. On the possibility of President Donald Trump sitting down with Special Counsel Robert Mueller: "I'd like to get one not under oath I'd want it videotaped, not videotaped but audiotapes. I want to make sure they don't misrepresent his answers. But this is an outrageous miscarriage of justice." On former FBI Director James Comey: Giuliani: "James Comey seems to be their core of their investigation, he's telling the truth, the president isn't. I know James Comey and I know the president. Sorry Jim, you're a liar. A disgraceful liar, every FBI agent in America has his head down because of you." "Comey should be prosecuted for leaking confidential FBI information when he leaked his report intended to develop a special prosecutor for the president of the United States I have never, ever, you know me Sean, you knew me when I was US attorney, a lot of allegations, never leaked a damn thing. I would have considered resigning if I ever did that." "I have an open mind about Bob. I've known about Comey, I've closed my mind about Comey, I know Comey much better, and I have the indignity of unfortunately of having hired him for his first big job. And I'm embarrassed that I hired him." As Hannity's show was still airing live on Fox News, CNN put up a banner on the screen that lasted into the wee hours of Thursday that read, all in caps: "BREAKING NEWS RUDY GIULIANI: PRES. TRUMP REPAID MICHAEL COHEN FOR $130,000 STORMY DANIELS HUSH MONEY PAYMENT." Whatever other subjects the channel might have planned to cover Wednesday evening, CNN instead trotted out its usual predominantly anti-Trump talking heads, who gladly parried questions from prime-time hosts Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon. Shortly after the Hannity show concluded, Giuliani spoke with Washington Post reporter Robert Costa, who tweeted at 11:33 P.M. E.T.: Giuliani tells me he just spoke w / POTUS. Tonight by phone. President "very pleased," Giuliani says. He says they discussed his revelation of the reimbursements long in advance. Does not expect to be fired. Insists his remarks on FNC were approved by Trump. Story TK. In addition to its story, cited above, the Washington Post quickly posted a " lightly edited " transcript of its interview with Giuliani. Costa followed up his initial tweet with another one at 12 midnight E.T.: Q: The president's not angry with you? He was aware you'd bring it up? A: "Oh, yeah, yeah. A: Sure, sure. He was well-aware that at some point when I saw the opportunity, I was going to get this over with." Q: You spoke about this w/ him in recent days? A: "Probably 4 or 5 days ago" For what it's worth, most of the talking heads on CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, which followed Hannity's show Wednesday night, said Giuliani had made a major faux pas in admitting that Trump had reimbursed Cohen the $130,000 payment to Daniels and that his days as Trump's new attack dog lawyer might be numbered. It doesn't require a crystal ball to foresee that elements of this story, and how it might affect developments in the Mueller-Trump investigation and the media's obsessive speculation about it, will persist in the MSM's news cycles well into the days ahead. Lemon ended his program Wednesday night with these comments: It's been an interesting night an interesting show. What happens tomorrow Lord only knows. [i] In an interview first presented in part this afternoon on FOX News Channel's (FNC) Your World with Neil Cavuto, lead outside attorney for President Donald Trump Rudy Giuliani spoke with Chief White House correspondent John Roberts via phone and discussed whether he believes President Donald Trump should sit down with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, as well as what he believes are acceptable parameters should the interview take place. Below are highlights from the interview. On whether he believes President Donald Trump should sit down with Special Counsel Robert Mueller: My position isn't determined yet. I keep an open mind. We had a very good interchange with the special counsel. I did their work for many years, so I respect them and what I'm concerned about because I know how when you're in the middle of an investigation you can lose some objectivity is are they objective about the president's interview? Meaning, do they have an open mind to the fact that he could be telling the truth and Comey may be lying? If they have an open mind to that, then this is something we would consider. If they don't, then given all of the irregularities of this investigation, we would be foolish to have him be interviewed. On what would be acceptable parameters if President Donald Trump decides to sit down for an interview: Two hours. On the topics: Questions in advance. Relevant topics meaning Russia, which may not be relevant any longer, but we want them to tell us that. And their theory of obstruction of justice, which has to do with the Comey firing. The rest of it, the tangential stuff, we'd want to see out." Peter Barry Chowka is a veteran reporter and analyst of news on national politics, media, and popular culture. He is a frequent contributor to American Thinker. Follow Peter on Twitter at @pchowka. The newest addition to ASUSs smartphone portfolio is an entry-level device that has been launched as part of Googles Android Go program. On Wednesday, ASUS reportedly announced the ZenFone Live L1 in Indonesia, having introduced it as its first device running Android Oreo Go Edition, adding that the product will be released on May 17 in the country. The Taiwanese company hasnt announced its pricing yet but will presumably share more details on the matter in the coming days. The Android Go device will be launched next in Europe, according to ASUS, with no additional information provided by the company as of this writing. The handset will be available in two variants, with one running Android Oreo Go Edition, while the other one will feature ZenUI 5.0 running over Android 8.1 Oreo, presumably with a price tag of around $100. The ZenFone Live L1 boasts a 5.45-inch IPS display with an HD+ resolution of 1,440 by 720 pixels using a tall 18:9 (2:1) aspect ratio. The phone will come powered by a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC paired with either 1GB or 2GB of RAM, whereas its internal storage volume will sit at 16GB for both variants, with an option of being expanded by up to 2TB. The variant with Android Oreo Go Edition will include 1GB of RAM, while the one running ZenUI will get 2GB of RAM. A 13-megapixel camera supporting PDAF has been placed on the phones back and paired with an LED flash, whereas a 5-megapixel sensor is present on the front. Face unlock is part of the package, as is a 3,000mAh battery. The Android smartphone has dedicated slots for two SIM cards and a microSD card, and supports 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. ASUS will make the Zenfone Live L1 available in four color options Midnight Black, Rose Pink, Gold, and Blue. Google first announced the Android Go program last year to target emerging markets where many consumers are expected to switch from feature phones to smartphones for the first time in the coming years. Besides optimizing the Android OS to offer a seamless experience on smartphones with a basic set of specifications, Google has released a whole suite of apps specifically designed for Android Go devices, including YouTube Go, Maps Go, Google Go, and Files Go. Google announced today that the Google Assistant is now compatible with over 5,000 different smart home products. Thats a major increase from the 1,500 that was announced back in January at CES. This shows that Google is working hard to make the smart home easier to use, by providing more compatibility with the virtual assistant that is available on everyones smartphone. These products include everything thats smart, from thermostats, to outlets, to light bulbs, to door locks and so much more. Google also outlines, in this blog post, how you can control your entire home with the Google Assistant. That includes arming the security alarm on your home with your voice, turning on your TV and playing a movie from Google Play Movies & TV with your voice and so much more. Google has plans to add more brands to its compatibility list as well. Which include names like ADT, First Alert, Vivint and many more. Google is also announcing that those that have a Logitech Harmony remote can now just talk directly to the remote without needing to ask Google Assistant to talk to Logitech. Making it easier for you to tell the Assistant to turn on the TV and change the channel to USA or CNBC. Google Assistant was announced back in 2016 at Google I/O and then debuted on the Google Pixel and Google Home later that year. So the Google Assistant is still fairly new, but the search giant is making sure that its assistant is improving pretty quickly. Not just in the smart home space, but also in other areas, like general queries. Google also recently launched routines for the Google Assistant, so you can wake up and say Hey Google, good morning and itll start your morning routine. Which can be several different commands. This makes it easier to start your day, or even end your day. You can check out all of the products that work with the Google Assistant on the Google Assistant Explore page which is linked below. BarcelonaA complaint for continued neglect of duty has been filed against Carlos Lesmes, the President of Spains General Council of Judicial Power (CGPJ) and 19 other senior members of the Spanish judiciary. The Associacio Atenes de Juristes pels Drets Civils (Athens Association of Jurists for Civil Rights) has decided to lodge a criminal complaint against the judicial leadership for lack of impartiality and independence from the executive and legislative powers. In an lengthy text, the plaintiffs state that there is a plot in the CGPJ to benefit the ruling Partido Popular and place sympathizing magistrates in key positions connected to the main court cases of corruption involving Mariano Rajoy's party. "Preserving separation of powers is a basic principle; this is about democracy", stressed Jordi Ferres, one of the movers behind the legal association created in March, in comments to ARA. The complaint, written by Elpidio Jose Silva, a former judge that was disqualified over the instruction of the Blesa corruption case, is directed against Lesmes, members of the CGPJ in the majority conservatives, and National Court judges. A series of cases are listed in which different judges had maneuvered supposedly to gain control over judicial proceedings involving the PP. One of the names that has received much attention is Concepcion Espejel, the former president of the second section of the National Court's criminal court division. The plaintiffs are accusing her of taking advantage of her office after taking over the presidency to modify the traditional system of rotations of judicial cases in order to ensure that they would fall to her. Thus, she managed to achieve control over proceedings in the Gurtel case and that of the PP's slush fund, according to the legal association. Espejel, however, in the face of recusals of the parties implicated in these proceedings, was set aside by her own colleagues because they doubted her impartiality. Nonetheless, at the end of last year the full session of the CGPJ, thanks to the votes of the conservative majority, promoted her to president of the criminal court, a higher position than she used to hold. Another case brought up by the lawyers is the arrival of Enrique Lopez Lopez at the National Court's Appeals Court division. He is a judge who was also recused from the proceedings in the early stages of the Gurtel trial owing to his proximity to the PP, a charge supported by his participation in 68 events hosted by FAES (a PP foundation) and an article published in La Razon in 2011 in which he called for the PP to oust the PSOE from government. After his appointment to the appeals court, he had jurisdiction over any appeals that might result from the Gurtel case. Recommendations unheeded Beyond the string of examples to justify the alignment of judicial leadership with the PP, the promoters of the complaint warned that the CGPJ has not followed the recommendations of the Group of European States against Corruption and Organized Crime (GRECO), which in 2014 sounded the alert over the "politicization of the highest positions in the judiciary in Spain. "Some [judges] have said that sometimes they knew beforehand that they would be appointed for a specific important post", stressed the group. "The important thing is that the selection of magistrates is based on merit", said Ferres, who noted that the GRECO advised that appointments be made following "assessable objective criteria". Despite the initiative's slim chancesc of success, the complaint arrives at a time when relations between Lesmes and Rafael Catala are strained following the Justice Minister's criticisms of one of the judges in the Manada case (1). __________ Translators note: (1) A group of young men who called themselves la Manada (the Wolfpack) have been recently found guilty of sexually abusing a young woman, but rape charges were dismissed by the court, which has outraged many in Spain. One of the three judges that saw the case failed to see any sexual misconduct at all in the groups actions. By Dezan Shira & Associates Last week, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) launched a new financial technology (FinTech) Fast Track initiative that provides an expedited patent application-to-grant process for financial technology innovations. Under this initiative, FinTech patents will be granted to investors in as early as six months, as opposed to the minimum two years for normal applications. The initiative aims to support the growing demand for FinTech solutions in Singapore, and help FinTech startups bring their innovations to the market more rapidly. It aims to help Singapores innovative enterprises to compete effectively through their intellectual property and use these intellectual assets to expand and enter the worlds market. It will also allow startups to efficiently operate within the countrys regulatory policies and financial infrastructure. RELATED: Corporate Establishment Services from Dezan Shira & Associates According to the IPOS guidelines on FinTech inventions, all technologies that use blockchain to facilitate or improve the security and efficiency of clearing and settlement across borders for transaction and payment falls under the FinTech category. Other sectors eligible for the Fast Track Initiative include insurance technology, electronic payments, investment, security, fraud detection and authentication. Fast Track initiative is also available for an invention involving alternative due diligence, virtual exchanges, and smart contracts. Singapore is one of the top-ranked FinTech hubs globally, with a world-class infrastructure and connectivity. Ultra-high-speed fiber infrastructure runs across the nation, while mobile subscription penetration exceeds 100 percent factors that are all key to FinTech growth. Moreover, the country is located among the fast-growing financial markets in Southeast Asia, making it an ideal test bed for FinTech innovators looking to tap regional opportunities. The new FinTech Fast Track Initiative coupled with these factors will complement the Monetary Authority of Singapores S$225 million (US$1.8 million) Financial Sector Technology and Innovation funding scheme (FSTI) to boost FinTech development in Singapore. COP26 may be a cop-out in the making COP26 is just about a month away. Delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference has built up even more expectations and momentum during the intervening months Anonymous AskMen Reader Did distance kill it? Met someone who I really clicked with a few weeks back. She has family in London, and while visiting them, her sister was injured and required surgery. Around the same time, I was leaving for a week-long cruise. Since we were both in other countries, we didn't get a lot of chances to correspond. But, I kept in contact as best I could. Sent her pics of Mexico, Belize, etc. She said we should definitely vacation together this summer, and really looks forward to seeing me again. However, since getting back, I've noticed a significant decline in our frequency of contact. She's still dealing with family stuff over there, from what I understand. But now, it takes her days to get back with me--lately I won't hear back from her until after a week. I'm just wondering, did the distance/time apart cause her to lose interest? Or could things be that dire with her family that she's got bigger fish to fry right now? More radio silence than I'm comfortable with... This Woman Slid Into Michael B. Jordan's DMs For A Pic Trending News: A College Student Slid Into Michael B. Jordan's DMs - And It Worked Long Story Short Twitter is rooting for them (and so are we). Long Story When you're in college, you dream of going on dates with the hottest celebs. But, like, easier said than done. That's what posters on your wall are for. But 2018 is different than years past. Celebs are just a message away via social media. So when one of the hunkiest celebs around was filming a movie at her school, Sylvia, a 21-year-old who goes to Temple University, shot her shot. She sent Michael B. Jordan, 31, a message on Instagram with an offer to buy him a smoothie (here's how Micahel B. Jordan got ripped for Black Panther). Instead of being lost to the world of unanswered DMs, Jordan responded, as seen via Buzzfeed. "Can I buy you a smoothie!!!" Sylvia said. "You don't have to buy me anything! You can get a pic," Jordan responded. And here it is: so I slid in his DMas, and then this happened a pic.twitter.com/Jfm0Tj4dms sylvia (@SylaRenee) May 1, 2018 "He was so sweet and nice," Sylvia told Buzzfeed. "He was more than happy to take pictures with me and my friends that came with me!" She added: "He smelled like Mahogany Teakwood from Bath & Body Works but better." (Here's how to pick the right cologne and smell as good if not better than Michael B. Jordan.) Twitter was swooning over the couple, with one person even DMing Jordan that Twitter is rooting for them. The lessons here: If you want someone, shoot your shot.* Also, contrary to popular belief, there's nothing wrong/clingy/desperate about a woman making the first move. *That being said, you probably shouldn't shoot your shot with a coworker, someone who is clearly not into you (here are the signs), or someone who's ignoring you on Tinder (find out about Tindstagramming here). Own The Conversation Ask The Big Question Would it be weird if he actually started dating her, or is she too young? Drop This Fact Jordan is being compared to a young Denzel Washington. Ellenby specialises in a range of property disciplines and is a recognised expert in large-scale residential and mixed-use developments. He is active in the firms pro bono program and played a key role in the development of start-up focused service CorrsEdge. He is also a key member of the Corrs steering committee advancing the firms digital disruption strategy in the property industry. Thorne, who moved back to the firm in 2016, works out of Brisbane and Port Moresby. He is a specialist in the resources sector, with clients including multinational and national organisations, which he advises on major transactions and project development. He is among a small group of lawyers who are admitted to practice in Papua New Guinea, which is a qualification also held by Port Moresby partner-in-charge Vaughan Mills. Partner Bas Boris Visser, Global Head of Innovation and Business Change added that the new hub, being supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board, will bring something genuninely new to the region. As well as being Clifford Chances regional centre, the new hub will identify, develop, test and roll out new legal technology solutions across Asia Pacific and beyond. Brexit-focused lawyer to take Law Society presidency The senior partner of international law firm Edwin Coe has been elected as president of the Law Society in England & Wales from 2020. David Greene will become deputy vice-president in July this year, then vice-president in 2019 before taking the presidency a year later. He specialises in commercial litigation and heads up his firms litigation and dispute resolution group. He also represents the Law Society on Brexit-related matters, holds the Law Society Council seat for international practice, chairs the Policy and Regulatory Affairs Committee and the International Committee. Finance partner hire for Ashurst Alfred Ng has joined Ashurst in Singapore as a partner in its project finance practice. He joins from Shearman & Sterling with significant experience in advising on project finance transactions in sectors including power, infrastructure, oil & gas and petrochemicals projects, particularly in the Southeast Asia and South Asia region. In creating this new global role, we are demonstrating our ongoing commitment to attracting and retaining the very best people, she said. My priorities will be to build on our innovative people strategies and to facilitate the sharing of best practices across our diverse geographic and cultural locations. Tom Hartley, LOD CEO, said that Gibson has taken the Australian business from strength to strength and has understood the opportunities and challenges for a NewLaw firm in a changing legal landscape. Hartley said that Cowling, who is now responsible for the firms business strategy across Australia, has a dedicated and personal approach to clients and an interest in finding solutions for them. He has played a key role in building, growing and driving the firms client solutions capability and strategic client partnerships across Australia and has a deep understanding of the LOD business, Hartley said. Before joining AdventBalance in 2014, Cowling was a commercial disputes lawyers in the UK and in Hong Kong. He has also held management and operational roles at legal resourcing and legal process outsourcing businesses. Based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Brand New Muscle Car describes itself on Facebook as the place where you can order your favorite muscle car built from scratch with all-new parts, just as you want it. BNMC will work together with General Marketing Capital, Inc., which owns the licensing rights for both Yenko and Yenko Camaro.According to GM Authority , the cars will be custom built and theyll also be added to the Official Yenko Worldwide Registry for authenticity. For the time being, theres no information on the number of vehicles planned for production or price. When all is said and done, theres no denying the continuation series will be rarer than hens teeth, costing an arm and a leg.The highlight of the original is the 427-cu.in. big-block V8, codenamed L72 and rated at a whopping 450 horsepower. Less than half of the 64 cars built for 1968 are known to exist today, which makes this old-school muscle car as desirable as they get. In addition to the engine, Don Yenko added heavy-duty suspension and 4.10 gearing for the rear end.All Yenko Camaro models produced from 67 to 69 started with the L78-equipped Camaro SS as the donor vehicle. The fiberglass hood, 14x6-inch wheels, Yenko and 427 emblems, all these elements serve as visual indicators of the Yenko Camaro.On a somewhat related note, a shop called Specialty Vehicle Engineering is specialized in tuning the Gen 6 Camaro to 1,000 horsepower. But as opposed to other companies in the business, SVE has the right to bestow the Yenko Camaro nameplate to its creation. kW CVT SUV First things first, fuel economy. Combining a 2.0-liter engine and a 30-electric motor, the Rogue Hybrid is EPA-rated 33 miles per gallon city, 35 mpg highway, and 34 miles per gallon on the combined cycle. Leveling up from front- ($27,020) to all-wheel-drive ($28,370) translates to 31 city, 34 highway, and 33 combined.The range-topping SL comes in at $32,380 and $33,730, respectively, adding Intelligent Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, and Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Protection. This gets us to the SV, which isnt too shabby at all considering how many goodies come standard.5.0-inch infotainment with SiriusXM satellite radio, Motion-Activated Liftgate, LED daytime running lights, Zero Gravity front bucket seats, 40/60-split second-row seat, RearView Monitor, and Hands-free Text Messaging Assistant are all included. The SL levels up to nine-speaker audio from Bose, 7.0-inch display with satellite navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and NissanConnect Services.Assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee, the 2018 Nissan Rogue Hybrid is that little bit more powerful than the regular Rogue (176 horsepower compared to 170). Both drivetrains are matched with the Xtronic continuously variable transmission that features Sport and Eco driving modes. The thing is, nocan be considered sporty, let alone a gearbox tuned to suit the eco-friendly nature of a hybridIf the Hybrid is out of your budget, Nissan has got you covered with the ICE-only Rogue . Priced at $24,800, the one Nissan calls Americas best-selling SUV is EPA-rated 26 miles per gallon city and 33 on the highway. On the other hand, the entry-level S trim is a bit slim on standard equipment. The SV is better as an overall package, retailing at $26,020 excluding destination and handling. Electric Vehicle EV Exhibited at the 5th InternationalExpo in South Korea alongside the Niro Plug-In Hybrid and Soul, the Niro EV is different from the concept revealed in January at CES 2018. From the standpoint of design, the electric crossover differs from the other two levels of electrification by means of front and rear bumpers, headlights, front grille, and arrowhead-shaped daytime running lights.The charging port, as you can tell from the featured photo, is located on the drivers side of the tiger-nose grille. In a similar fashion to the Hyundai Kona Electric, the Niro EV is available with battery capacities: 64 kWh for the range mentioned in the first paragraph of the story and 39.2 kWh for 240 kilometers (149 miles) per charge.4,375 millimeters long and 1,805 millimeters wide, the Niro EV has a wheelbase of 2,700 millimeters. Coming as standard with 17-inch wheels, the subcompact crossover is equipped with an extensive range of safety systems, including frontal collision avoidance assistance , lane departure assistance, smart cruise control, and rear collision warning. All in all, its not bad at all when compared to the Soul EV.With the Niro EV, Kia Motors ' position in the [electric vehicle] market will further solidify. To this statement, senior vice-president Ki-Sang Lee added that the automaker doesnt believe that there is any silver bullet that can satisfy the demand for low-emission technology within the car industry, so we foresee a wide range of eco-friendly powertrains co-existing for an extended period of time.No later than 2020, Kia will launch a fuel-cell vehicle with know-how from the Hyundai Nexo . Hyundai and Kia aim to raise the average fuel economy of their vehicles by 25 percent by 2020 to meet emissions regulation in South Korea, the United States, and Europe. SUV These two machines would make for an idea two-car garage, but let keep the dreamy mood and pretend the owner of the two would want to race them against each other.Well, the result would be pretty cool and, fortunately, we don't have to turn to our imagination to figure out the result. That's because we've brought along a piece of footage that gives us a fight between the Italian and the German.The Huracan Performante and the Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid engaged in a standing kilometer drag race, with the hostilities being held by Motorsport Magazine.Despite all the differences between the two velocity tools, the beasts do have some similarities. For instance, they both mix 6xx hp outputs with dual-clutch transmissions and all-wheel-drive.Oh, and you should allow the 2.3t scale footprint of the 680 hp Panny trick you into believing this is a slouch. Sure, the thing might weigh as much as a full-size, but its instant electric torque means the long-roof Porscha has serious changes of grabbing the start.Of course, since we're talking about a one-kilometer spring, the 640 hp supercar has plenty of time to let its power-to-weight ration shine. And while the super-sized wing adorning the posterior of the Lambo might have one believe the aero element will work against the Raging Bull at speed. Nevertheless, the Aerodinamica Lamborghini Attiva (ALA) hardware introduced by the Huracan Performante , there's no need to fret.And with the video of the race also including the times delivered by the toys, you'll be able to get a clear view of the matter. Brazil said Wednesday it had not reached any agreement with the U.S. for permanent exemptions on steel and aluminum import tariffs despite an announcement Monday by the White House, the New York Times reports. The details: Brazilian officials said the U.S. ended tariff talks last week and only offered a choice of tariffs or quotas. Brazils account "appears to contradict the White Houses version of the events," per the Times. The White House said agreements had been reached in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil and will be finalized shortly. The White House didnt respond to the Times request for comment. Last month, Governor Jerry Brown flew to Toronto to bolster support for the 2017 CaliforniaCanada cap-and-trade alliance. At home, though, Brown has faced criticism for pursuing market-based policies to reduce fossil-fuel consumption, rather than calling for a state-wide freeze on new drilling. Why it matters: The California debate illustrates a larger conflict within the environmental movement: Many insist upon the most aggressive climate change policies, but for both electoral and economic reasons, climate change can't be addressed solely by government fiat. To drive change at scale, the government must also engage market forces to create better and cheaper alternative energy sources, cars, homes, buildings and transportation systems. Regionally banning a globally traded product like fossil fuel is not good political strategy or economics: Consumers would simply buy fuel from outside the state, effectively penalizing California businesses without reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Markets can often guide climate-friendly solutions, especially when business incentives align with environmental ones. For example, coal-generated electricity is declining precipitously in the U.S. not because of a ban, but because its become more expensive than other energy sources. Likewise, the city of Shenzhen, China, recently converted all of its 16,000 buses to electric power, which reduces both air pollution and operating costs. The bottom line: Using carbon cap-and-trade revenue to support green technology innovation and pilots and removing legal and structural barriers to clean-technology adoption are both strong pro-climate alternatives to fossil fuel bans. Jurisdictions that instate such policies would be rewarded with jobs and economic development as well. Ron Dizy is managing director of the Advanced Energy Centre at MaRS. The U.S. has issued a formal complaint to China following the use of military-grade lasers by Chinese nationals in an effort to interfere with U.S. military aircraft stationed at an American base in Djibouti, per the AP. The incidents were first reported by CNN and confirmed by the Pentagon. The details: The activity, which the Pentagon claimed came from a nearby Chinese base, caused two eye injuries to American pilots. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White added that the U.S. has asked China to investigate the incident. Rep. Blake Farenthold is refusing to pay for Texas' special election, the Houston Chronicle reports, saying in a letter that he "didn't call it" and doesn't "think it's necessary." The details: Texas Governor Greg Abbott requested that the former Republican congressman pay $200,000 towards the election after Farenthold resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal. Per the Chronicle, Farenthold defended himself in the letter, saying he never "engaged in physical harassment of a sexual nature," but ran "a more informal office than some people have have expected." The response: Abbott's deputy communications director Ciara Matthews told the Chronicle: "[I]t's not surprising that his last act would be to stick taxpayers with the bill at the worst possible time. While Mr. Farenthold may consider this resolved, we're not closing the case on this issue." Call him erratic: Tesla CEO Elon Musk eagerly told analysts he's on the right path, refused to answer questions he called "boring," and told off a broker whose clients, he said, can't tolerate market volatility. Why it matters: By the time Tesla's first-quarter earnings call was over Wednesday evening, its share price had dropped by 4.5%. Musk under a cloud for production failings of his vaunted mainstream Model 3, along with a 22% plummet of Tesla's share price since September is left with his old problem in place, and now a new one: He's still not making enough Model 3s And he has angered analysts responsible for rating his shares (here is the exchange). Much of the market thinks that Musk will be forced in the second half of the year to raise cash to support Tesla's ramp-up. In the call, Musk reiterated that he has no such plans. But in the event the market is right, it won't help that he insulted a group of the folks who influence the success of equity sales. Yet, Musk had a positive story to tell: His Gigafactory in Nevada is producing 3,000 to 5,000 battery packs a week, a scale that will support his push to be producing 5,000 of the Model 3 electrics a week within the next couple of months. Over the last three weeks, he accelerated the speed of battery pack production from seven hours to 17 minutes. He has much-reduced the amount of expensive cobalt in his batteries, and "we think we can get the cobalt to almost nothing," he said. Technically, that would be a stunning achievement, since cobalt physically stabilizes the battery chemistry and, though researchers are trying, no one has discovered how to get so close to removing it for use in an electric car. Producing of the Model Y crossover vehicle will begin in 2020. In addition to his brusqueness toward the analysts, Musk lashed out at press coverage of a fatal March accident in California involving a Tesla Model S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said Wednesday the Department of Justice will send 35 prosecutors and 18 judges to the southern border to tighten efforts to prosecute caravan migrants entering the country. The details: The Justice Department added that prosecutors to handle the prosecutions of improper entry, illegal reentry, and alien smuggling cases, and additional immigration judges to handle the adjudication of immigration court cases that result from the crisis at the Southwest border. State of play: Session said 15 assistant U.S. attorneys will be allocated to Texas, eight to California, six to Arizona and six to New Mexico. Timing: This comes days after scores of Central American migrants, fleeing violence in countries like Honduras and seeking U.S. asylum status, made their way through Mexico arriving at California's San Ysidro border crossing in San Diego. The Justice Department said Monday it has filed filed complaints against 11 members of the caravan and charged them with illegally entry. A team of "about a dozen" Green Berets are aiding Saudi Arabia in its fight against the Houthis in Yemen, according to a New York Times report. Why it matters: The Pentagon has been asserting that U.S. involvement is limited to things like information sharing and aircraft refueling. But the Times reports that the Green Berets "are training Saudi ground troops to secure their border," and "helping locate and destroy caches of ballistic missiles and launch sites that the Houthis have used to attack Saudi Arabia. The big picture: The war in Yemen is a primary driver of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, and the U.S. military appears to be more involved than originally explained. A face-to-face meeting between North Koreas Kim Jong-un and South Koreas Moon Jae-in has been the centerpiece of a process in which the countries have exchanged concessions and promises in order to lay the ground work for a potential peace deal. The big picture: Diplomacy with North Korea has failed several times before, and we're a long way from any denuclearization deal. But from stopping propaganda broadcasts to getting on to the same time zone, concrete steps have already been taken. What's happening: Before the inter-Korean summit: South Korea stopped its broadcasting of propaganda critical of North Korea at their shared border [BBC]. North Korea announced a freeze on nuclear and missile tests [Axios]. After the summit: North Korea announced it will switch its time zone by half an hour to get back on South Korean time, which it was on prior to 2015 [Japan Times]. The Koreas set up a joint permanent liaison office in the Norths border city, Kaesong, to prevent miscommunication. Kim has agreed to Moons proposal that they set up liaison offices in Pyongyang and Seoul as well [Yonhap]. North Korea has reportedly released three American detainees [Axios]. What to watch: Kim says the biggest pledge of all, denuclearization, is on the table. But that won't come without concessions from the U.S. in return. The U.S., meanwhile, will push for a way to verify he's keeping his word. Go deeper: What it's like to negotiate with North Korea. Opposition leader Nikol Pashinian said on Thursday he has received fresh assurances that Serzh Sarkisians Republican Party (HHK) will not prevent the parliament from choosing him as Armenias prime minister next week. Pashinian appealed to Armenians shortly after holding what he called an important meeting with the HHKs parliamentary leader, Vahram Baghdasarian. He reaffirmed that the HHK faction in the National Assembly will assist the peoples candidate in getting elected prime minister, he said in a video message posted on Facebook. In a statement released on Wednesday, the HHK faction promised to help the candidate to be nominated by one-third of the parliament to become prime minister at a session of the National Assembly slated for May 8. Pashinian said in that regard that more one-third of the parliaments 105 members have already formally backed his bid for power. We have already collected the necessary number of signatures and we consider my nomination a fait accompli, said Pashinian. The signatures are understood to have come from deputies representing Pashinians Yelk bloc, another opposition alliance led by businessman Gagik Tsarukian, and the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun). Tsarukian made clear on Wednesday that his bloc, which controls 31 parliament seats, will continue to support Pashinian. The parliament voted by 56 to 45 against Pashinians premiership bid following a long and heated debate on Tuesday. The 42-year-old oppositionist, who has triggered an unprecedented protest movement in the country, responded by urging supporters to resume their peaceful protests. Tens of thousands of them blocked streets and roads across the country on Wednesday. Pashinian told supporters to again gather in Yerevans Republic Square on May 8. In the meantime, he said, he will stay in touch with them because we must be able to very quickly react to any possible change of the political situation. Pashinian also said: You have dubbed our revolution a revolution of love and tolerance, and I hope that we will stick to that principle regardless of the political situation. Our aim is to establish national unity and solidarity. We must rule out any propaganda of hatred, an atmosphere of hatred. It was an apparent reference to a litany of abusive comments and messages directed, mainly through social media, at senior HHK figures in recent days. Several HHK lawmakers have closed their Facebook pages as a result. Some of them claim to have also received threats of violence. President Armen Sarkissian on Thursday praised the Republican Party (HHK) for effectively agreeing to hand over power to opposition leader Nikol Pashinian, saying that the move has brought to a logical conclusion democratic developments in Armenia. In this regard, I salute the responsible stance of the democratic movement led by Nikol Pashinian, the Republican Party of Armenia, the Prosperous Armenia Party, Yelk coalition and the ARF [Dashnaktsutyun] which emanates for the primary interests of Armenia and our people and opens the door for national accord, Sarkissian said in a statement. With this, our nation has proved once again that at fateful moments we are able to unite and make decisions which benefit the entire nation, he said. We are facing challenges, and I am confident that on May 8 in the name of reformation the achievements of the pan-national movement will be secured It will further elevate our reputation and standing in the world, added Sarkissian. The Armenian parliament is scheduled to meet and again try to elect the next prime minister on May 8. Leaders of the HHK majority in the National Assembly have indicated that Pashinian will garner enough votes to succeed HHK leader Serzh Sarkisian as premier. Armen Sarkissian, who has largely ceremonial powers, stood by his view that the dramatic events of the last few weeks have marked the beginning of a new Armenia. He again paid tribute to young Armenians who have been at the forefront of the unprecedented protest movement led by Pashinian. I am proud of our nation, I am proud of dignified Armenian citizens, I am proud of our unity and solidarity. I am confident and I can see that we have already started to create a new Armenia, concluded the president. Trend: A civilian car with a brigade engaged in the repair of artesian wells in Azerbaijans Aghdam district underwent fire from the districts territories occupied by Armenia, Executive Power of the district told Trend May 3. The incident occurred May 2 in the Chamanli village of the district. The people, who were inside the car, werent injured and had run off, leaving the car behind. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The annual EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum will take place in Baku on June 5. European and Azerbaijani companies and officials will discuss the latest economic reforms and development in a number of key industry sectors. The Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Azerbaijan, in collaboration with the German- Azerbaijani Chamber of Commerce (AHK) and the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO), invites Azerbaijani and European companies and other stakeholders to participate in the forthcoming EU-Azerbaijan Business Forum on 5 June 2018. The forum will be held at the JW Marriott Absheron Hotel in Baku. The Business Forum will present new perspectives on Azerbaijan's economic reforms, bringing together an estimated number of 500 high-level participants: business leaders, investors, government representatives and other policy makers. To engage participants in the dialogue about current business opportunities and challenges, moderated panel discussions will be organised on a number of key sectors, including Agriculture and Food, Construction and Machinery, Transport and Logistics, ICT and E-commerce. Speaking about the purpose of the annual Business Forum, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas said: "In the past years, the Azerbaijani government has made significant achievements in implementing economic reforms. The Business Forum presents a unique opportunity to look at the achievements and the remaining bottlenecks, to share ideas and experiences of all relevant stakeholders from the EU and Azerbaijan and to create new business deals." A number of bilateral chambers of commerce and some innovative start-up companies will present themselves at the reception hall of the event venue. Azerbaijani and EU companies will also be offered the opportunity to schedule one-on-one business meetings (B2B) on site, generating new business contacts. More information and registration Further information and registration is available on the event website: https://www.ahk- baku.de/en/events/event-details/eu-azerbaijan-business-forum-2018/. Participation in the Forum is free of charge and registration deadline is May 15, 2018. By Sara Israfilbayova This year Azerbaijans GDP is expected to reach $45.5 billion, while in 2019 - $47.9 billion, IMF analysts say. In 2019, Azerbaijans revenues are expected to hit 39 percent of GDP ($18.68 billion), and expenditures - 37.8 percent of GDP ($18.1 billion), according to the report Regional Economic Outlook: Middle East and Central Asia Update. IMF analysts forecast the revenues of Azerbaijan to make up 38 percent of GDP in 2018, which is about $17.3 billion, and expenditures - 36.6 percent of GDP ($16.65 billion). The report reads that Azerbaijans exports in 2018 will amount to $22.4 billion, and in 2019 will increase to $23.6 billion. Moreover, the IMF expects growth of Azerbaijans non-oil GDP by 4 percent in 2018, and by 3.2 percent in 2019. The IMF, created in 1945, is an organization of 189 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world. Created in 1945, the IMF is governed by and accountable to the 189 countries that make up its near-global membership. The IMF's primary purpose is to ensure the stability of the international monetary systemthe system of exchange rates and international payments that enables countries (and their citizens) to transact with each other. Azerbaijan joined the Fund on September 18, 1992. Azerbaijan received IMF loans for the support of economic reforms from 1995 to 2005. During the period, the amount of financial support reached $577.3 million. Azerbaijan fully repaid the IMF loans. Since 2005, Azerbaijan sees no need for financial resources of the IMF, so since 2006, the cooperation with the fund is implemented within the framework of consultations and technical assistance on key areas of macroeconomic policy. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova Baku is hosting the 2nd IMAGINE Euro Tolerance Festival, timed to the 70th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the European Union (EU) representation in Azerbaijan. Kestutis Jankauskas, head of the EU delegation to Azerbaijan, addressing the opening ceremony said that this Festival has already become traditional in Baku, and it is a key that unites the cultures of many states. He went on to say that this time the number of participants of the event increased, as well as the number of films presented to the audience. This year, the Festival presents 38 films. Holding the Festival in Baku for the 2nd time is not accidental, because Azerbaijan has always been and remains an example of tolerance for other countries, Jankauskas stressed. He underlined that the 2nd IMAGINE Euro Tolerance Festival is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic, as well as to the values that unite European states. In the framework of the Festival concerts will be held. The synthesis of European music with Azerbaijani mugham will also be presented here, the head of delegation underlined. Musa Akhundov, Park Cinema marketing director, said that the films will be screened at Park Cinema Flame Towers in Baku. Entrance to the films screenings is free. Addressing the conference, YARAT Contemporary Art Space Educational Programs Coordinator Ulviyya Akhundova, ambassador of the embassy of Latvia to the Republic of Azerbaijan Yuris Maklakovs, chargee d`affaires of Peru in Azerbaijan Luis Chang Boldrini spoke of the importance of the Festival. The Festival will be held with the participation of the embassies of the EU member states accredited in Azerbaijan, as well as the Embassies of Switzerland, Norway, Brazil, Costa Rica, Israel, Peru, Moldova, Mexico, USA, Argentina in Azerbaijan. The capital will host the 2nd IMAGINE Euro Tolerance Festival till May 17. The 1st IMAGINE Euro Tolerance Festival was held in Baku last October. A number of well-known film directors, musicians and other artists and performers took part at the festival. Some 20 European documentary films on the theme of tolerance and diversity were presented as part of the festival. --- Sara Israfilbayova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Sara_999Is Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva A ceremony on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel was held in Baku on May 2 with the participation of Ambassador of Israel Dan Stav and Azerbaijan's Taxes Minister Mikail Jabbarov. Azerbaijan is interested in Israel's experience in developing the non-oil sector of the economy, Jabbarov said speaking at the ceremony. Azerbaijan and Israel have achieved significant success in bilateral cooperation. We successfully cooperate in such sectors as armament, agriculture and tourism, and we hope for deepening cooperation in economic diversification, he said. The minister further conveyed President Ilham Aliyev's congratulations to the people of Israel on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel, noting that the friendship between the peoples of Israel and Azerbaijan has historical roots. Azerbaijan has played the role of a stronghold of multiculturalism for many years. We have become a home for representatives of various religions and peoples. And the people of Israel also have always felt comfortably in Azerbaijan, where there is no and has never been a room for anti-Semitism, he said. Jabbarov also voiced confidence that the cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel will only expand in the future, as the increasing trade turnover between the two countries shows. According to the Azerbaijani State Customs Committee, trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Israel amounted to $671.6 million in 2017, of which about $32.7 million accounted for the import of Israeli products. The number of Israeli tourists visiting Azerbaijan will triple in 2018 and exceed 50,000, Dan Stav then said at a press conference. Tourism is one of the areas where Azerbaijan and Israel successfully develop cooperation. The number of tourists coming to Azerbaijan from Israel is growing, and all tourists visiting Azerbaijan return home with excellent impressions, he said. The diplomat further noted that the existence of the Jewish community in Azerbaijan from ancient times is a special part of bilateral relations. Jewish communities have always lived in peace and harmony with their neighbors. Many of them migrate to Israel and play the role of a bridge between the two nations and the two countries, he said. The envoy also noted that in addition to tourism, Azerbaijan and Israel are expanding cooperation in the agriculture sector, adding that the number of Israeli companies in the country is increasing every year. Israel became the fourth state to recognize Azerbaijan's independence back in the 1990s. However, our cooperation and friendly relations have deeper roots. The celebration of the anniversary of our independence here in Baku is of special importance for me as Azerbaijan also marks the centenary of the establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, Stav said. Israir Airlines & Tourism Ltd., an Israeli airline based at Sde Dov Airport (SDV) in Tel Aviv, is carrying out flights to Baku three times a week, as part of tourist packages. The direct flight is of great significance in terms of mutual increase in tourism turnover. He voiced confidence that the bilateral cooperation between Azerbaijan and Israel will develop even more actively, covering more areas in the future. Stav went on to say that a meeting of the Azerbaijan-Israel joint intergovernmental commission will be held in May. A protocol determining the areas for further development of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Israel will be signed at a meeting to be held in Israel, he said. Azerbaijan is one of the few majority Muslim countries that has robust relationship with Israel. The partnership between the two nations is based not only on political, economic and energy cooperation, but also shared cultural values, due to a fact that a large Jewish community lives in Azerbaijan. Todays friendly relations between Azerbaijan and Israel are built on centuries of Jewish-Azerbaijani coexistence. The strategic relationship between the two countries covers trade and security matters, cultural and educational exchanges. The two states also cooperate closely in the field of energy, with Israel buying about 40 percent of its oil from Azerbaijan. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Trend News Agency is the bridge of reliable information that connects Azerbaijan with the world, political analyst and international relations expert at the Milwaukee-based Marquette University Peter Tase told Trend. Trend is one of the very best news agencies in the Caucasus, providing accurate, timely, strategic information about Central Asian countries, Turkey, Europe and beyond. Over the years Trend has forged a great alliance with the public at large and regional governments, thanks to its leadership in providing reliable information, effective international relations prognosis and a timely analysis of various geopolitical, economic, trade deals and partnerships that are taking place among governments in the Caucasus and Europe, he said. Tase pointed out that Trend is a news agency that publishes on Azerbaijan in various languages, this is critical and fundamental knowing that Azerbaijan continues to be discriminated by some of the largest global news agencies (heavily sponsored by Armenian Diaspora groups); Baku has been a victim of fake news and misleading propaganda that is spread from the Wilson Quarterly publication to The Guardian Newspaper and the Huffington Post. Trend gives a special emphasis to economic, financial and trade analysis and reporting, pays tremendous attention to the strategic partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan, he noted. The US expert pointed out that the use of English language on all publications of Trend News Agency is articulate, lucid, vibrant and extremely accurate. Trend News Agency is highly practical to international audiences and readership for the following reasons: publication of oil and gas regional reports; permanent coverage of relations among Central Asian countries; energy reporting and exports of Iran; helpful information on the strategic partnership between Turkey and Azerbaijan; publications on bilateral partnership between Azerbaijan and United States of America, added Tase. - Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Native of Azerbaijan Irada Ayupova has been appointed as Minister of Culture of Tatarstan (Russia). The corresponding decree was signed by the President of the Republic Rustam Minnikhanov, Russian media outlets reported May 3. To date, she has held the position of Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Tatarstan on the Archival Affairs. Irada Ayupova was born in Baku. In 1993, she graduated from the Azerbaijan State Oil Academy with a degree in mathematics, and in 2002 - from the Tatar Institute of Assistance to Business with a degree in law, and passed professional training in a Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Professional Education entitled as the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of Russia. From 1994 to 2000, Ayupova worked in Nizhnekamsk, including as a software engineer. Later she continued her career in Kazan. She held various positions from Deputy Chairman of the Committee of Support to Business of the City, and the Chief of the Personnel Department of the Kazan City Administration, to the chief of Department of the Ministry of Economy of Tatarstan. In 2008, she became Deputy Minister, and later the First Deputy Minister of Culture. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva Importation of the cornea and the surgeries for its transplantation to patients are already underway in Azerbaijan. The chairman of the Healthcare Committee of the Parliament, Ahliman Amiraslanov, said this at a meeting of the committee on May 3. Amiraslanov stressed that permission for clinics to perform this surgery is issued by the relevant executive authority and a doctor who will conduct such an operation is determined. Maybe some clinics have not been given permission to conduct such a surgery, but they are already performed in Azerbaijan, he added. MP Musa Guliyev said that there are no obstacles for the importation of the cornea into Azerbaijan, as in connection with this, the necessary legislative base has been created. Earlier, Farah Abdulalieva, a leading researcher of the Zarifa Aliyeva National Ophthalmology Center, noted that in the coming weeks, corneal transplantation will begin in Azerbaijan. More than 3,000 patients, waiting for corneal transplantation, have been registered at the National Ophthalmology Center, she said, adding that 20 percent of them are children. The cornea is planned to be brought from Iran, the U.S. and Russia. The surgeries will be conducted at the National Ophthalmology Center, Abdulaliyeva added. Corneal transplantation is a wide-spread surgical procedure where a damaged or diseased cornea is replaced by donated corneal tissue. So far, Azerbaijani citizens had to go to Turkey, Iran or Russia for corneal transplant surgery that cost them a lot of money and energy. A patient undergoing surgery abroad should undergo medical examination after some time -- from six to 12 months. Corneal eye disease is the fourth most common cause of blindness, after cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration, and affects more than 10 million people worldwide. As for 2014, over 65,000 corneal transplants are being performed worldwide annually. The cornea is the clear outer lens on the front of the eye. A corneal transplant is surgery to replace the cornea with tissue from a donor. It is the most common solid tissue transplant in humans. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Possible US sanctions on Iran will not much affect the oil prices, since the oil market has already, at least partly, priced in the risk of sanctions being re-imposed, the UK-based consulting company Capital Economics said in its analysis obtained by Trend. "Tensions in the Middle East have escalated dramatically over the last few weeks, pushing up oil prices. The biggest risk is that the US re-imposes sanctions on Irans oil exports. The recent personnel change in the White House and chemical weapons attack in Syria makes it even more likely that Trump will re-impose sanctions. The previous sanctions on Iran reduced its oil output by about 1m bpd for four years, " said the report. The analysts believe that if the US sanctions are less severe than last time, Tehran could decide to stay in the deal or at least refrain from ramping up its nuclear programme. "In this case, the EU may not deem it necessary to reimpose its sanctions on shipping insurance which were crucial in disrupting Irans oil exports last time. The impact on oil supply could be relatively subdued as Iran would be able to export oil to countries less concerned about US sanctions, especially in Asia, " said Capital Economics. The experts remined that however, Tehran has stated that it will respond to any violation of the nuclear deal by withdrawing from it as well and restarting its uranium enrichment programme. " This would probably prompt the EU to re-impose its shipping sanctions. In this scenario we would expect Irans oil exports to fall by a similar amount as last time, although the US may have a harder time getting China to reduce its imports given Trumps tense relationship with Beijing. However, even in this scenario, oil prices may not rise much further for a couple of reasons. First, the oil market has already, at least partly, priced in the risk of sanctions being re-imposed, " said the report. Second, the analysts of Capital Economics pointed out that Saudi Arabia has plenty of spare capacity which it can use to offset any reduction in supply from Iran. "Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia recently intercepted three missiles over Riyadh which were fired by Yemens Houthis. The Houthis claimed to have been targeting the defence ministry and a Saudi Aramco facility. Earlier in April, Yemeni rebels attacked and damaged an oil tanker in the Red Sea near the Suez Canal, through which more than 3m bpd of oil passes. A successful attack on critical oil infrastructure in the region is probably quite unlikely as these assets are well defended. But if such an attack did happen, either on oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia or a tanker in the region, global oil supply could be significantly disrupted and prices would surge, " said the report. - Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva The Uzbek national airline, Uzbekistan Airways, terminated the operation of IL-114-100 aircraft in accordance with the development strategy. Since May 1 of this year, with the aim of unifying the fleet of aircraft, increasing the efficiency and profitability of flights, the airline stopped operating IL-114-100 aircraft, the company said. According to the plan of measures of the national airline for decommissioning of Il-114-100, all aircraft will be put up for sale. There are six such units in the company's fleet. Pilots of Il-114-100 aircraft will pass in stages retraining and training for flying on Boeing and A320 aircraft operated by the company. IL-114-100 aircrafts were previously operated on in-republican directions. Earlier, Uzbekistan Airways announced that it signed an agreement on the delivery of another Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner with Boeing corporation. Thus, the national air carrier of Uzbekistan will have six airliners of this type in its fleet until 2020. Uzbekistan Airways became the first customer of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Central Asia. The airline launched commercial operation of Dreamliner in 2016. On July 27, 2017, the national air carrier of Uzbekistan performed the first non-stop flight from Tashkent to New York on this type of aircraft. Uzbekistan Airways was established on January 28, 1992 upon the presidential decree, wholly owned by the state. The aircraft fleet of the Uzbek airline currently has 31 aircraft of western production, including thirteen Boeing passenger aircraft, thirteen airbuses (three A-310 and ten A-320-200), three medium-haul RJ-85s and two cargo planes Boeing-767-300BCF. The Uzbek airline operates flights to over 20 cities in Europe, America, the Middle East, Asia, 22 cities of the CIS countries and 11 destinations on local airlines. Uzbekistan Airways has 11 airports located on the territory of Uzbekistan, six of which are international. The company has representative offices in 25 countries. The national air carrier transported more than 2.703 million passengers in 2017. Last year, Uzbekistan Airways performed 22,950 flights compared to 22,387 flights in 2016. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Armenias acting Minister of Culture Armen Amiryan has resigned, the countrys media reported. Several hours ago, Amiryan stated that he is just an acting minister, but the protesters, gathering near the Ministry of Culture, continued to insist on his resignation. Numerous figures of culture have gathered near the Ministry of Culture and demanded the resignation of the acting minister of culture. After Amiryan announced his decision, they thanked him and went to the Republic Square where the rally was to be held. - Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva Turkmenistan needs to build an extensive transport and transit infrastructure, covering continental Eurasia with access to the sea terminals of the Black Sea and Baltic regions, South and South-East Asia, and the Middle East. This was stated by Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov at the international forum entitled The Great Silk Road to new frontiers of development in Avaza, the press service of the president reported on May 2. This project also implies the prospect of connecting to the transport infrastructure in the southern and eastern directions with access to such powerful economic centers as China, India, Pakistan, the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, the head of state said. Turkmenistan is called upon to play the role of a transcontinental economic bridge between the European, Asian-Pacific and South-Asian economic systems. Therefore, in addition to the country's consistent integration into the world transport system, expansion of the national infrastructure along the main roads, connecting routes and nodes in the East-West and North-South directions, it is also envisaged to implement measures to ensure the maximum efficiency of transport routes, reduce the share of the transport component in the cost of final products in domestic, transit and export-import communications. The creation of a network of transport and logistics intermodal centers is one of the expected results of the implementation of this strategy. New transport corridors allow expanding the market of services in this area. This, in turn, requires an active marketing foreign economic policy, optimization of tariffs with the countries participating in international transport corridors and a flexible system of tariff preferences, Berdimuhamedov added. In this regard, the development of the Turkmen navy and all relevant infrastructure is of great importance, according to the Turkmen leader. The construction of the International Seaport in the city of Turkmenbashi, which started in August 2013, is the most important component here. The new port covers an area of about 152 hectares and includes ferry, passenger and cargo terminals. The total length of berths, which can simultaneously serve 17 ships, is more than 1800 meters. The total capacity of the new port is 17 million tons of cargo excluding oil products. Shipbuilding and ship repair factory "Balkan" was built on the territory of the port. This facility, which has the capacity to process 12,000 tons of steel per year, as well as construction of 4 ships and repair of 20 vessels. It is expected that the new port in Turkmenbashi City will give impetus to the development of industrial and transport infrastructure and attraction of investments, and will contribute to growth of inflow of tourists. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Turkish ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has officially nominated the countrys current president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, for the June 24 presidential election, AKP said in a message May 3. AKP noted that Erdogans candidacy for the presidency is also supported by the opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP). Turkey will also hold parliamentary election on June 24. In the parliamentary election held in Turkey on November 1, 2015, the Justice and Development Party won 49.41 percent of the votes, the CHP - 25.38 percent of the votes, the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) - 11.93 percent, the Peoples Democratic Party (HDP) - 10.7 percent of the votes. -- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva The export volume of Russian oil delivered to Uzbekistan in January-April 2018 amounted to 36,000 tons, according to the materials of the Central Dispatch Office of the Fuel and Energy Complex. In April, deliveries were not carried out. According to the Central Dispatch Office of the Fuel and Energy Complex, the export schedule for the second quarter does not yet provide for oil supplies to Uzbekistan. Russia stopped the delivery of oil to Uzbekistan in February, after supplying 24,900 tons in January. In March, supplies resumed and amounted to 11,100 tons. Recently, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that Russia and Uzbekistan entered the final stage of negotiations on concluding an intergovernmental agreement on the supply of oil. The discussion of an intergovernmental agreement on the supply of oil to Uzbekistan is at the final stage, he said. In 2017, the export of Russian oil to Uzbekistan amounted to 68,200 tonnes. In particular, in November, 30,000 tons of oil was sent to Uzbekistan, while in December the figure increased making 38,200 tons. Earlier, the official representative of Transneft, Igor Demin said that it is a question of test deliveries for now. In late February, Vice President of Transneft Sergey Andronov said that active negotiations are currently underway between Kazakh partners and Uzbekistan to determine the volumes of oil transportation. In April 2017, during the state visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Moscow, a bilateral memorandum on the delivery of 500,000 tonnes of Russian oil to Uzbekistan was signed. Earlier, Andronov said that Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, Lukoil and Russneft could take part in the delivery of 500,000 tonnes of Russian oil to Uzbekistan. On November 20, 2017, Kazakh company Kaztransoil began shipping Russian oil to Uzbekistan. Oil is pumped via the KazTransOil pipeline system en route Omsk-Pavlodar-Shymkent-Shagyr oil loading point, from where it is poured into railway tanks and then transported by rail to Uzbekistan. In Uzbekistan, gasoline production decreased by 26.2 percent, diesel fuel - by 8.3 percent, while imports of hydrocarbons increased 1.3 times in 2010-2016. In late April 2017, Uzbekistan started construction of a new refinery in Zafarobod district of the countrys Jizzakh region, which is expected to operate using the crude imported from Kazakhstan and Russia. The refinery has design capacity of processing of five million tons of oil per year, production of 3.7 million tons of car fuel, over 700,000 tonnes of aviation fuel and 300,000 tonnes of associated oil products. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Trend: Managing Director of the Iranian Automaker Group SAIPA Mohsen Jahroudi said the company has no plans to shut down the production line of its infamous Pride car model. The production line of Pride will not be halted as it is being exported to neighboring Iraq in high numbers annually, Jahroudi told reporters in Tehran on May 1. SAIPAs Pride has long been on the top of the sin list whenever there is talk of halting production of low quality cars. The vehicle is notorious for poor mileage, high emission rate, and simply put, a major road hazard. He added that the low quality vehicle will be phased out of the countrys domestic market, in the future, after all the necessary arrangements are made. "Some 22,000 units were exported to Iraq in 2017 with a price of $4,250 each," Jahroudi said. The vehicles exported to the neighboring country are equipped with two airbags and ABS, he further said, adding exporting Pride cars to the Arab country has become a profitable business for the Islamic Republic. Irans second largest auto manufacturer and its subsidiaries produced 457,967 vehicles during the first ten months of 2017. The automotive group which includes SAIPA, Pars Khodro, Zamyad and SAIPA Diesel sold 440,757 units during the ten-month period. During the period the four companies earned 120 trillion rials ($3.1 billion) in overall revenue. SAIPA had the biggest share of this income with 67% followed by Pars Khodro - with 26 percent, Zamyad - 4 percent, and SAIPA Diesel - 3 percent. SAIPAs X100 platform better known as the Pride and whose quality is long under a question mark, continued to lead in overall production with 233,867 units produced and 232,225 units sold in ten months. - Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Board of Directors, on the grounds of Art. 223 of the Commercial Law and Art.115 of the Public Offering of Securities Act, convenes a General Meeting of Shareholders of Sopharma AD, which will be held on 15 June 2018 at 11.00 at the Company's registered office in Sofia, with place of holding: 5, Lachezar Stanchev Str., building B, and in the absence of a quorum on that date - on 29 June 2018 at the same place, with the same starting hour and the same agenda: 1. Approval of the annual report of the Board of Directors on the company's activities in 2017; Draft decision: GMS approves the Annual Report of the Board of Directors on the company's activities in 2017. 2. Approval of the Report of the Investor Relations Director in 2017; Draft decision: The GMS approves the Report of the Investor Relations Director in 2017. 3. Approval of the Audited Annual Individual Financial Statement of the Company for 2017; Draft decision: The GMS approves the audited Annual Individual Financial Statement of the Company for 2017. 4. Approval of the Audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statement of the Company for 2017; Draft decision: The GMS approves the audited Annual Consolidated Financial Statement of the Company for 2017; 5. Approval the Auditor's Report on the Audit of the Annual Individual Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2017; Draft decision: The GMS approves the Auditor's Report on the Audit of the Annual Individual Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2017. 6. Approval the Auditor's Report on the Audit of the Annual Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2017; Draft decision: The GMS approves the Auditor's Report on the Audit of the Annual Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company for the year 2017. 7. Approval of a decision to distribute the Company's profit realized in 2017 and retained earnings from past periods; Draft decision: GMS approves the proposal of the Board of Directors for the distribution of the company's profit in 2017 and undistributed profits from previous periods as follows: The total amount of the profit to be distributed amounts to BGN 43,010,955.52 (forty three million ten thousand nine hundred fifty-five leva and fifty-two stotinki) of which BGN 42,237,884.12 (forty two million two hundred thirty seven thousand eight hundred eighty four and twelve stotinki) profits realized in 2017 and BGN 773,071.40 (seven hundred seventy-three thousand seventy-one leva and forty cents) undistributed profits from past periods. After allocating 10% to a mandatory reserve, a dividend of BGN 0.11 per share is distributed. The amount left over after the allocation should be taken as an additional reserve of the company. The right to receive a dividend shall have the persons entered in the registers of the Central Depository as shareholders on the 14th day following the day of the General Meeting at which the Annual Financial Statement has approved a decision on the distribution of the profit was taken. The Company shall ensure the payment of the dividend voted to the shareholders at the General Meeting within 60 days of its execution. The costs of dividend payment are at the company's expense. The payment of the dividend is made with the assistance of the Central Depository. The shareholders with open accounts with an investment intermediary will receive their dividend through the respective intermediary and those shareholders who do not use the services of an investment intermediary will receive their dividends from the branches of Eurobank Bulgaria AD (Postbank) in the country. 8. Approval of the Audit Committee's report in 2017; Draft decision: The GMS approves the Audit Committees report on its activities in 2017. 9. Approval of a decision to discharge the members of the Board of Directors for their activity in 2017; Draft decision: The GMS releases the members of the Board of Directors from responsibility for their activities in 2017. 10. Election of a registered auditor of the Company for 2018; Draft decision: The GMS elects a registered auditor to verify and certify the Annual Financial Statements of the Company for 2018, as proposed by the Audit Committee, included in the items on the agenda. 11. Approval of the Report of the Board of Directors on the implementation of the Remuneration Policy of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company for 2017; Draft decision: The General Meeting approves the Report of the Board of Directors on the Application of the Remuneration Policy of the Members of the Board of Directors of the Company for 2017. 12. Determination of the remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors for 2018; Draft decision: Pursuant to Art. 24, para 3, letter A of the Articles of Association of the company, the GMS decided: the permanent remuneration of the members of the Board of Directors and the permanent remuneration of the Executive Director in 2018 remain unchanged. 13. Approval of a decision under Art. 24, para 3, letter B of the Articles of Association of the company; Draft decision: Pursuant to Art. 24, para 3, letter B of the Articles of Association, the Executive Director of the company shall be paid an additional remuneration of 1% (one percent) of the amount of profits realized in 2017 according to the approved Annual Financial report. 14. Approval of a decision to determine a percentage of the profit realized in 2017 to be distributed among the members of the senior management team of the company, subject to the requirements of Art. 26a, item 12 of the Articles of Association of the company; Draft decision: The General Meeting adopts a decision of 2% (two percent) of the profit realized in 2017 to be distributed among the members of the company's senior management team, subject to the requirements of Art. 26a, item 12 of the Articles of Association of the Company. 15. Approval of a Substantiated Report of the Board of Directors for transactions within the scope of Art. 114, para 1 of POSA; Draft decision: GMS adopts the Substantiated Report of the Board of Directors for transactions within the scope of Art. 114, para 1 of POSA. 16. Empowerment within the meaning of Art. 114, para 1 of POSA regarding a transaction between Sopharma AD and Telecomplect AD; Draft decision: GMS empowers the representative of the public company Sopharma AD to conclude on behalf of the company as a contracting entity a transaction with Telecomplect AD as a contractor falling within the scope of Art. 114, para 1, in conjunction with paragraph 6 of the same provision of POSA, under the conditions specified in the Substantiated Report. 17. Empowerment within the meaning of Art. 114, para 1 of POSA regarding a transaction between Sopharma AD and Sopharma Trading AD; Draft decision: GMS empowers the representative of the public company Sopharma AD as a seller to conclude a transaction with Sopharma Trading AD as a buyer falling within the scope of Art. 114, para 1 of the POSA, under the conditions specified in the Substantiated Report. 18. Empowerment within the meaning of Art.114, para 1 of POSA concerning the assumption of a commitment as a co-debtor by Sopharma AD under an overdraft loan agreement between Eurobank Bulgaria AD as creditor and Momina krepost AD as a debtor. Draft decision: The GMS empowers the representative of the public company Sopharma AD to conclude on behalf of the company as a co-debtor an overdraft loan agreement with creditor Eurobank Bulgaria AD and Momina Krepost AD as a debtor - a transaction falling within the scope of Art. 114, para 1 of POSA, according to the conditions stated in the Substantiated Report. 19. Empowerment within the meaning of Art.114, para 1 of POSA regarding a transaction between Sopharma AD and Sopharma Properties REIT; Draft decision: The GMS empowers the representative of the public company Sopharma AD to conclude a transaction with Sopharma Properties REIT - a transaction falling within the scope of Art. 114, para 1 of POSA, according to the conditions stated in the Substantiated Report. 20. Approval of a decision for granting of shares in the capital of the company as a bonus for 2018 for the persons working in Sopharma AD on a labor contract or a management contract; Draft decision: The GMS decided shares of the Company to be granted as a bonus for 2018 on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the Company to all persons having an employment relationship with the Company or working under a management contract at the date of this decision taking the bonus is at the expense of the Company's own shares. The proposal of the Board of Directors included in the agenda items contains detailed information on how to determine the number of shares to be given to each person. The GMS empowers the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Executive Director to perform all necessary actions for the final transfer from the Company of the shares provided as a bonus to the employees. 21. Miscellaneous All shareholders of the company are invited to take part in the work of the General Meeting personally or through a representative. Written materials for the GMS are available to shareholders at the headquarters of the Company in Sofia, 16 Iliensko shose Str., the Records Department, every workday from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. The invitation, together with the written materials related to the items of the agenda of the Meeting, have been sent to the Financial Supervision Commission, are disclosed to the public and are published on the website of Sopharma AD - www.sopharmagroup.com from the moment the invitation is announced in the Commercial Register until the completion of the GMS. Pursuant to Art. 115b, para 1 of POSA the right to vote in the General Meeting is exercised by the persons registered as such with the right to vote in the registers of the Central Depository 14 days before the date of the General Meeting, the respective valid date for the current Regular General Meeting of Shareholders, is 1 June 2018. Persons registered as such with voting rights at that date are entitled to participate and exercise their voting rights at the General Meeting. To determine the circle of voting persons at the General Meeting, scheduled for 15 June 2018, the company will obtain a Book of Shareholders from the Central Depository AD valid as at 1 June 2018. According to the provision of Art. 187a, para 3 of the Commercial Law, the exercise of all rights, including the right to vote, on the treasury shares bought back by the company shall cease until the moment of their transfer. On the grounds of Art. 118, para 2, item 4 of POSA, persons holding together or separately at least 5 per cent of the capital of the public company Sopharma AD may request the inclusion of agenda items and propose resolutions on already included agenda items for the General Meeting under the provisions of Art. 223a of the Commercial Law. Not later than 15 days before the opening of the General Meeting, these shareholders shall submit for announcement with the Commercial Register a list of the items that will be included in the agenda and the respective proposals for decisions on them, respectively proposals for decisions on items already on the agenda. With the announcement in the Commercial Register, the items are considered included in the proposed agenda of the General Meeting, respectively proposals for decisions on items already on the agenda. At the latest on the next business day, following the announcement, the shareholders shall submit the list of items, the proposals for decisions and the written materials at the address of the company's management, as well as to the Financial Supervision Commission and the regulated market in which the shares of the company are admitted to trading. Shareholders have the right, subject to the requirements of the law, to make substantive proposals for decisions on any item included on the agenda until the debate on this item, is terminated and before the General Meeting votes a resolution on the respective item. In exercising this right, the restriction provided in Art. 118, para 3 of the Public Offering of Securities Act is valid. During the General Meeting, the shareholders of the company have the right to ask questions on all items of the agenda, as well as questions about the economic and financial situation and the commercial activity of the company, whether these are related to the agenda or not. The registration of the shareholders for participation in the General Meeting will take place on the announced day of its holding from 9:30 to 11:00 AM. For registration and participation in the GMS, the natural persons - shareholders present an identity document. Legal entities - shareholders shall present an original or a certified copy of a current commercial / judicial registration certificate as well as an identity document of the legal representative. Rules for proxy voting: Pursuant to the provisions of Art. 18, para 2 of the Articles of Association of the Company a proxy of shareholders in the General Meeting must contain an explicit written letter of attorney for the particular General Meeting with a minimum content as per Art.116, para 1 of POSA. In case a shareholder legal entity is represented by a physical person, the authorized person must provide their identity document, original or a certified copy, of a current certificate of commercial/court registration of the shareholder legal entity, as well as an explicit written letter of attorney for the particular General Meeting with content as per Art. 116, para 1 of POSA, signed by the legal representative of the shareholder legal entity, entered in the current certificate of commercial/court registration. In case a shareholder is represented by a legal entity, the person, representing the proxy, apart from their identification document, must present an original or a certified copy of a current certificate of commercial/court registration of the proxy - legal entity, an explicit written letter of attorney for the particular General Meeting with content as per Art. 116, para 1 of POSA, issued by the shareholder. If the shareholder is a legal person, the person representing the proxy must also present an original or a certified copy of a current certificate of commercial/court registration of the shareholder. The power of attorney should contain: A statement on the rights of the proxy in the cases of further included issues and / or proposals for decisions under Art. 118, para 2, item 4 of the Public Offering of Securities Act in connection with Art. 223a of the Commercial Law; A statement on the rights of the proxy in the hypothesis of Art. 231, para 1 of the Commercial Law; A statement on the right of the proxy to make substantive proposals for decisions on the items included in the agenda until the discussion on the respective issue - Art.115, para 3 of the Public Offering of Securities Act. In this case, the authorizing officer should explicitly indicate in the power of attorney a way to vote or give the proxy the right to vote at his own discretion. Pursuant to Art. 116, para 4 of POSA the re-authorization with the rights granted to the proxy according to the power of attorney given to him, as well as the power of attorney given in violation and / or in inconsistency with the provisions of Art. 116, para 1 of the POSA is void. A commercial / court registration certificate as well as a power of attorney for representation in the General Meeting issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian, certified in accordance with Art. 2a, para 2 of the Regulations on legalizations, certification and translation of documents and other papers. The translation of official documents is done by an interpreter engaged at a company that has signed a contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fact that the translator is registered with such a company is certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the signature of the translator or with an explicit certificate together with a statement by the translator that he has not been removed from the list at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If there is a discrepancy between the texts, the data in the Bulgarian translation will be accepted as valid. The Board of directors of Sopharma AD shall provide a sample paper power of attorney together with the materials for the General meeting. The power of attorney form is also available on the company's website at www.sopharmagroup.com. In view of the technical support of the registration procedure for participation in the General Meeting of Shareholders, copies of the power of attorney should be submitted to the company on paper or in electronic form at the latest by the end of the working day preceding the date of the General Meeting; namely 17:00 14 June 2018. Sopharma AD will receive and accept valid electronic notifications and proxies by e-mail to the following e-mail: ir@sopharma.bg the electronic messages should be signed with an universal electronic signature (UES) by the legal representative or natural person and accompanied by an electronic document (electronic sample) of the power of attorney, which is also signed with an universal electronic signature (UES) by the legal representative. Pursuant to Art. 16a, para 3 of the Articles of Association of the Company, the Board of directors informs shareholders that at the General Meeting scheduled for 15 June 2018, and in the absence of a quorum on that date for 29 June 2018, voting by correspondence and electronic means will be accepted, observing following rules: 1. Pursuant to Art. 16a of the Articles of Association, shareholders may exercise their voting rights before the date of the meeting by correspondence. 2. The voting right at the General Meeting of Shareholders of Sopharma AD, exercised through correspondence, is an explicit, written, notarized statement of will, issued by a shareholder of the company, which is for the particular meeting of the General Meeting of Shareholders and contains data on: identification of the shareholder in accordance with the requirements for registration for participation in the General Meeting of Shareholders; the number of shares the shareholder owns; the agenda of the items proposed for discussion at the particular meeting of the General Meeting of Shareholders of the Company, according to the Invitation to the General Meeting announced in the Commercial Register; proposals for decisions on each of the items on the agenda; the way of voting on each of the items on the agenda (for each of the items on the agenda only one of the following voting methods should be mentioned: "For", "Against" or "Abstain"); date and signature. 3. The necessary data for identifying a shareholder - natural person is: the full names, a single civilian number (EGN) and an address. The necessary data for identification of a shareholder - legal entity is: name, registered office and address of management, unified identification code (UIC) and the full name of the representative of the company. 4. The declaration referred to in para 2 above, made in a foreign language, shall be accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian language, certified in accordance with Art. 2a, para 2 of the Regulations on legalization, certification and translation of documents and other papers. The translation of official documents is done by an interpreter engaged at a company that has signed a contract with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The fact that the translator is registered with such a company is certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the signature of the translator or with an explicit certificate together with a statement by the translator that he has not been removed from the list at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. If there is a discrepancy between the texts, the data in the Bulgarian translation will be accepted. 5. In case the voting right is exercised through correspondence by a shareholder - legal person, the explicit statement must be accompanied by an original or a certified copy of a current certificate of commercial registration of the respective shareholder company. A certificate of commercial registration issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by a translation into Bulgarian, subject to the conditions set forth in para 4 above. 6. As a valid means of exercising voting rights through correspondence, the shareholders of Sopharma AD may use any of the following exhaustively listed methods: mail - by letter sent to the company with a return receipt, certifying the moment of receiving the letter from the company; e-mail - via an electronic message that must be signed with an universal electronic signature (UES) by the shareholder and accompanied by an electronic document (electronic sample) of the statement, which is also signed with an universal electronic signature (UES) by the shareholder; courier - by letter sent to the company by a courier service chosen by the shareholder. 7. Sopharma AD shall accept the validity of the vote by correspondence only if the written statement with the vote of the respective shareholder, irrespective of the preferred method of sending, was received by the company not later than 14 June 2018, which is the last business day, prior to the date set for the General Meeting of Shareholders. 8. In case a shareholder of Sopharma AD, who exercised his / her voting right through correspondence, attends the General Meeting personally on 15 June 2018, the voting rights exercised by him by correspondence shall be valid unless the shareholder states differently upon registration for participation in the meeting. In such cases, in items on which the shareholder votes in person at the General Meeting, the voting rights he has exercised through correspondence will not be honored. 9. Address for correspondence by mail or courier: Sofia, 1756, 5 Lachezar Stanchev Str., Sopharma Business Towers, Building A, fl. 11 for Sopharma AD - to the attention of the Investor Relations Director. Address for correspondence via e-mail: ir@sopharma.bg Pursuant to Art. 227, para 3 of the Commercial Law, in the absence of a quorum of the date of the General Meeting of Shareholders announced by this invitation, the same shall be held on 29 June 2018 at 11:00 AM on the same place and on the same agenda. In this case, items on the agenda may not be included under the order of Art. 223a of the Commercial Law. For many years, the only clues Buna native Joel Farr had about his World War II veteran grandfather were fragments passed down by family members from a quiet man who didn't talk much about the war. It took a mysterious Facebook message from the other side of the world to put the pieces together. Farr, 38, never knew his grandfather, Victor Phelps, but said he was "always intrigued" by stories about the World War II fighter pilot who was captured by the Germans after crashing over Italy. PHOTOS: Retracing Beaumont's historic gravesites For the past few years on Veterans Day, Farr, a history buff, would remember his grandfather through Facebook posts about his 116 missions with the Twelfth Air Force's 87th Fighter Group. His posts grabbed the attention of Andrea Soglia, an Italian man who lives in a town near the site of Phelps' crash. Farr initially brushed the messages off as "spam," but after a couple messages, thought, "OK, whoa. My grandfather's been dead since '76... How do you know my grandpa's name?" ICYMI: WWII-era suicide boat spent 71 years in Nederland garage Soglia reached out to Phelps on behalf of Associazione Amici del fiume Senio - Friends of the Senio River Association - an Italian organization that held a historical walk in honor of Phelps, who crashed near the Senio River. Even though Phelps died in 1976, four years before Farr was born, Farr said just knowing small parts of his story were enough to tell "a lot of my grandfather's character." Phelps' squadron had orders to bomb a bridge on Oct. 11, 1941. When the bombs didn't release. Phelps had to circle back for another attempt. According to Farr, Phelps knew he "was going to get shot down" but turned around anyway because, Phelps told himself, "it was my mission." Phelps bailed out of his P-47D Thunderbolt, nicknamed "The Nittany Nipper," when the Germans shot him down near the Gothic Line. Phelps would recount that while parachuting down, he saw German soldiers approaching from one direction and pitchfork-wielding farmers from the other. "He said he hoped the Germans got to him first," Farr said. PHOTOS: Mid-County cemetery a resting place for hundreds of vets Phelps hid on an Italian farm but ultimately was captured by the Germans and imprisoned in a pig stall before later being transported to a German prison camp, where he was held for more than 100 days. Phelps was among the prisoners liberated by U.S. Gen. George Patton's Army on April 29, 1945. Before hearing from Soglia, all Farr and his family knew was that Phelps was ordered to drop a bomb, was shot down and became a prisoner of war. With the help of Soglia and other Italians, including one eyewitness of the crash, Farr's family was able to receive photos and information they had never seen or heard. For Farr's grandmother, Sue Phelps Stephenson, it was "almost like having Vic back." "Without the power of social media, my family would not have been able to bring my grandfather's amazing story back to life again," Farr said. ICYMI: Beaumont man was a spy before there was a CIA Vic and Sue, now 90, met in 1947 at Louisiana State University, one year after his release from the German prison camp. The two were married in 1948 and had six children. Sue "is ready to go to Italy," Farr said. "I am too." Farr said he looks forward to possibly "tracing (Phelps') footsteps" this October, the 74th anniversary of the plane crash. PSuy@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/PhoebeSuy St. Anthony Catholic Basilica held its annual May Crowning ceremony in the Cathedral Basilica Plaza, to which attendees processed after gathering at the Basilica Center. A night of fellowship for parishioners was held following the traditional Catholic ceremony honoring Mary, the Blessed Mother. A Hardin County judge set a trial date later this month for the woman accused of stealing more than $70,000 from the Lumberton Mighty Raider Band Booster Club. Helen Cox appeared in court Thursday morning and was told to return on May 21. Here are seven updates for ASC leaders to know for May 3, 2018. Mount Sinai Queens opens $180M ambulatory pavilion New York City-based Mount Sinai Queens opened its six-story, $180 million ambulatory health pavilion April 26. The health system's 140,000-square-foot ambulatory center expands its emergency department and outpatient services. WellStar Health breaks ground on outpatient surgery center Marietta, Ga.-based WellStar Health broke ground on an outpatient surgery center May 1. The surgery center will be 25,000 square feet and spread across one level. Federal court dismisses Envision's case against UnitedHealthcare, orders arbitration Minnetonka, Minn.-based UnitedHealthcare and Nashville, Tenn.-based Envision Healthcare will be forced to arbitrate, after the U.S. District Court of Southern Florida granted United's motion to compel arbitration and its stay of action. The companies have been in a legal battle since March. HCA performed 230k outpatient surgeries in Q1 HCA Healthcare announced its first quarter fiscal year 2018 earnings, posting revenues of $11.42 billion. HCA's outpatient surgery centers increased their reported cases by 2.2 percent and HCA has added two centers since the same period last year, reaching a total of 120 freestanding ASC as of the quarter's end. ASC market has $100B in its sights by 2024 A Global Market Insights report notes that the ASC market could surpass $94 billion in total value by 2024. GMI attributes the growth to the rising prevalence of chronic diseases and the success of the ASC model. Analysts believe as more procedures migrate from inpatient to outpatient, reimbursement will follow. Casetabs reaps $6M in series A funding, investment from Nueterra Capital Casetabs received $6 million in series A funding to scale its surgery coordination application. Nueterra Capital the parent of NueHealth Holdings led the funding round, along with Evolution Financial Group. Task force releases intraocular surgical instrument sterilization guidelines for ASCs The Ophthalmic Instrument Cleaning and Sterilization Task Force released guidelines for the cleaning and sterilization of intraocular surgical instruments in ASCs. The guidelines are an update of original recommended practices published in 2007. Many of the recommendations are made with respect to all surgical procedures. Malicious software was discovered on three Florida Hospital websites, affecting certain patient information, the Orlando-based hospital said in an emailed news release May 2. The exposure was limited and no financial records were affected. Florida Hospital is addressing the vulnerabilities across its online networks, which included taking the sites offline for remediation. Patient medical records remain current, accurate and available in its EMR, according to the news release. The three websites FloridaBariatric.com, FHOrthoInstitute.com and FHExecutiveHealth.com exposed names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdates, height, weight, insurance carriers and the last four digits of individuals' Social Security numbers. However, information exposed on the orthopedic and executive health sites was limited to name, email, phone number and any comments the individual provided. A Florida Hospital spokesperson declined to disclose how many patients received breach notifications, but according to the news release, there is no evidence any patient information has been misused. As a precaution, Florida Hospital is offering affected individuals free online internet monitoring. More articles on cybersecurity: Beth Israel Deaconess unveils health tech exploration center Cerner's Q1 earnings hurt by delayed VA contract: 4 things to know UK NHS to implement Microsoft's Windows 10 under systemwide cybersecurity deal Four of the top vendors hospitals use to participate in the Medicare EHR Incentive Program are Allscripts, Cerner, Epic and Meditech, according to July 2017 ONC data. Here are 16 hospitals and health systems that posted job listings during the past two weeks seeking EHR and IT expertise. Editor's note: This is not an exhaustive list. Job listings were compiled from job seeker websites. Allscripts 1. Alta Hospitals System (Los Angeles): Seeks a case management informatics manager 2. Crouse Hospital (Syracuse, N.Y.): Seeks a clinical information systems specialist 3. Methodist Hospital of Southern California (Arcadia, Calif.): Seeks a clinical informaticist 4. Waterbury (Conn.) Hospital: Seeks a systems analyst Cerner 1. Adventist Health System (Altamonte Springs, Fla.): Seeks a chief medical information officer for its Midwest region 2. Rush Memorial Hospital (Rushville, Ind.): Seeks a clinical informaticist and application trainer 3. Sharp Healthcare (San Diego): Seeks a EMR systems analyst 4. Stonewall Jackson Memorial Hospital (Weston, W.Va.): Seeks a clinical IT analyst Epic 1. Montefiore Medical Center (New York City): Seeks a senior application analyst 2. Sutter Health (Sacramento, Calif.): Seeks a clinical quality application senior analyst 3. Texas Children's Hospital (Houston): Seeks a senior systems analyst 4. University of Maryland Medical System (Baltimore): Seeks an IT applications manager Meditech 1. Alaska Regional Hospital (Anchorage): Seeks a clinical informatics director 2. Grand View Health (Sellersville, Pa.): Seeks a chief medical information officer 3. Mainland Medical Center (Texas City, Texas): Seeks an advanced clinical applications director 4. St. Joseph Health (Irvine, Calif.): Seeks a senior clinical informaticist When Phoenix Children's Hospital set out to improve clinical documentation in outpatient settings, it found the answer in technology. The 433-bed hospital one of the nation's largest children's hospitals with a medical staff of nearly 1,000 pediatric specialists was looking for a more efficient way to document chronic diseases such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Documentation for JIA, a common type of pediatric arthritis, is particularly challenging because of the complexity of the autoinflammatory disease, according to Vinay Vaidya, MD, vice president and chief medical informatics officer for Phoenix Children's. There are multiple types of JIA, including systemic, oligoarticular and polyarticular. Additionally, there are more than 70 joints in the body, which makes documentation for the disease even more complex. Compounding the challenges associated with documenting JIA was the fact Phoenix Children's did not have specialty or disease-specific templates for documentation. Therefore, a good portion of documentation had to be done manually or transcribed or stored as free text, according to Dr. Vaidya. "Although technologies like natural language processing can extract clinically relevant information from free text, nonstructured documentation is often missing some of the key measures required to consistently track disease and compare outcomes across institutions," he said. The hospital knew it needed technology that would help physicians improve documentation without requiring them to spend extra time outside of work documenting. The solution Phoenix Children's began using Medicomp Systems' Quippe Clinical Documentation solution, which is designed to help nurses and physicians more simply complete their clinical documentation and track quality measures. Dr. Vaidya said the solution allows physicians to easily obtain information on quality measures and patient outcomes in real time. Using documentation from the solution, Phoenix Children's was able to create dashboards that are specific to certain diseases, including JIA and diabetes. Dr. Vaidya said the dashboards, which clinicians may access during pre-visit planning sessions, help clinicians see the big picture of a patient's illness, such as care gaps and the most current disease status. They can also see what follow-up care may be necessary with an individual patient, as well as how often the patient has missed a visit to their clinician. "We're able to take the data from the dashboards and slice and dice it to answer certain specific questions, such as identifying which patients currently have inflamed joints and which don't," said Dr. Vaidya. "We use the tool for our pre-visit planning so we can set up reminders of what needs to be done at the point of care. It also helps us better understand what to anticipate for patient visits and ensures that the actual visits go more smoothly for the clinicians, patients and their families. Before we had these tools, it would have been impossible to readily access much of the information we now use on a daily basis to improve patient care." Since Phoenix Children's began using the Medicomp Systems' Quippe Clinical Documentation solution in 2015, the quality of clinician notes has improved, and rheumatologists are completing most of their notes (86 percent) by 5 p.m. on the date of service. Michael Shishov, MD, a Phoenix Children's pediatric rheumatologist who collaborated with Dr. Vaidya on the clinical documentation efforts, said a complicated quality metric for JIA, called clinical inactive disease, is also successfully recorded by the providers in 99 percent of all clinical notes. Overall, the hospital has saved $1 million annually by essentially eliminating the need for transcription. Clinical documentation lessons for other hospitals Dr. Vaidya recommended that other hospitals consider similar efforts to improve clinical documentation. "Invest in technology to support physicians and collaborate with physicians to meet their needs. Creating templates for different specialties and disease states has taken much less time than expected because the templates almost build themselves and are ready to use," he said. Dr. Vaidya said it's also important that the technology is a positive for patient care and helps make is faster and more efficient. Additionally, he recommended taking the necessary time to improve documentation. "You cannot take shortcuts. You cannot not capture things that are critical and essential because it's not easy to capture. You must capture what's important for the patient and the physician," he said. More articles on healthcare finance: Allegheny Health Network posts slim profit in Q1: 5 things to know Consumerism and the patient payment transition: 2 experts discuss Mississippi hospital changes ER pricing policy after newspaper's probe into child's expensive visit Mark Herzog retired as CEO of Manitowoc, Wis.-based Holy Family Memorial, a part of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sponsored Ministries, March 30. The former chief executive leaves behind a notable career spanning more than three decades and various facets of nonprofit healthcare, including rural hospitals, urban hospitals, holding companies and faith-based entities. Here are eight things to know about Mr. Herzog and his career. 1. Mr. Herzog began working at Holy Family on Sept. 17, 2001. 2. He said he decided to retire to open the door for new leaders "who possess the skills needed for today's healthcare environment," according to a hospital news release. 3. During Mr. Herzog's tenure, Holy Family launched a five-year Vision 2022 initiative with Silver Lake College and Leede Research Group "to move Manitowoc County forward through energized planning, action and achievement, resulting in growth, community health and prosperity." 4. Other organizational achievements during his tenure include: American Heart Association Gold Plus Heart Attack Receiving Center designation; Becker's Hospital Review's Top 100 Community Hospitals and Top 150 Places to Work; CMS Five Star Grade for quality and excellence in 2017; and multiple inclusions on Hospitals & Health Networks' "Health Care's Most Wired" list. 5. Prior to joining Holy Family, Mr. Herzog served as executive vice president and COO of Saint Anthony Memorial Health Centers in Michigan City, Ind. He also previously served as executive vice president and COO of La Porte (Ind.) Hospital, as well as vice president of operations and vice president of professional services for Cleveland-based Meridia Hillcrest Hospital. He began his healthcare career at Pittsburgh-based Forbes Health System. 6. Looking back on his career, Mr. Herzog told Becker's Hospital Review he's proud he's come to understand what initiatives work well in systems and communities and what initiatives don't. He said it was also gratifying for him to see Holy Family use culture shaping as a strategic tool, which has helped staff members reach their potential. Additionally, he mentored nearly 30 individuals over the years and enjoyed seeing them move into positions at prominent organizations such as Detroit-based Henry Ford Health System, Cleveland Clinic and St. Louis-based SSM Health. 7. Outside of health systems, Mr. Herzog said he's enjoyed being able to teach colleagues through the American College of Healthcare Executives, share lessons learned during his career, and teach at several of the top-ranked U.S. health management graduate programs. 8. He plans to continue teaching with ACHE. He will also still serve in an advisory role with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sponsored Ministries until May 4. More articles on leadership and management: Boulder Community Health slashes staff by 1% VA launches investigation after veteran's father tweets pictures of unsanitary conditions Lafayette General Health issues termination warning letters to 800 employees Savannah, Ga.-based Memorial University Medical Center, which was acquired by Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare in February, laid off 85 workers over the past week, according to WTOC. An HCA official said the company is focusing on regaining financial stability at the Georgia hospital. As a result, they are looking closely at operations and how to strengthen the care team. "When we find opportunities to strengthen the organization, we have to make those changes. This week, our team took the very difficult step of saying goodbye to 85 team members who have served this hospital and this community well," an HCA spokesperson said in a statement emailed to WTOC. As a result of the layoffs, other team members stepped into new roles that "focus more directly on care delivery." Going forward, the hospital is looking to recruit more than 200 employees for patient care roles. The HCA official did not disclose which positions were affected by the layoffs. Iowa's legislature passed a bill May 2 outlawing abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which often comes six weeks into pregnancy and before a woman can realize she is pregnant, according to Reuters. The state Senate passed the bill 29 votes to 17 and it will now go to Gov. Kim Reynolds, R, to sign into law. State legislators believe the bill's passage could lead to a challenge of Roe v. Wade the U.S. Supreme Court decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. "We created an opportunity to take a run at Roe v. Wade 100 percent," state Sen. Rick Bertrand, R-Sioux City, said. The bill would require any woman seeking an abortion to undergo an ultrasound to detect a fetal heartbeat, and if one is detected, an abortion will not be allowed. "The bill weaponizes fetal heartbeat, which is by all accounts an arbitrary standard that bans abortion long before the point of fetal viability," Becca Lee, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, said in an email to Reuters. Detroit Medical Center, part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, will end its longtime affiliation with Troy, Mich.-based Wayne State University Physician Group on May 15 when the current contract for clinical and administrative services expires. In a letter to university colleagues May 2, Wayne State University President M. Roy Wilson, MD, said he was informed by Tenet that it intends to terminate Detroit Medical Center's affiliation with Wayne State, beginning with the physician group's contract, according to the Detroit Free Press. The decision to terminate the contract, which covers about 300 physicians who provide care in DMC hospitals and clinics, comes after tensions have flared between the two parties for months. In April, about six months after finalizing a contract extension, the physician group sent a letter to DMC officials threatening to terminate their partnership with DMC if a contract was not finalized by May 15. The ultimatum prompted DMC to begin exploring other options, according to Detroit Medical Center CEO Anthony Tedeschi, MD. "Wayne State University School of Medicine's letter sought to use a threat to patient care as leverage in what had been a collaborative negotiation between long-standing partners and set in motion steps to establish alternatives to WSUSOM and to forge a new future that will provide a stable long-term environment for our patients, physicians, students, interns, residents and fellows," Dr. Tedeschi said in a news release issued May 2. DMC and Wayne State have separate contracts in place for Wayne State's residency programs and undergraduate medical education, and those contracts are still in effect, according to the Detroit Free Press. Dr. Tedeschi said DMC will immediately begin searching for a new long-term academic partner. "We hope to work with WSUSOM to minimize disruption to the community and to our valued physicians," he said. Wayne State University Physician Group President and CEO Charles Shanley, MD, told the Detroit Free Press he was under the impression negotiations with DMC had been making progress, and he did not know why the hospital decided to end the contract. More articles on leadership and management: What's next for Dr. Ronny Jackson: 6 things to know Lafayette General Health issues termination warning letters to 800 employees Sen. Patty Murray raises questions over CDC director's $375k salary The local union representing more than 700 healthcare workers at New London, Conn.-based Lawrence + Memorial Hospital is under investigation over alleged misuse of funds, according to The Day. The Connecticut chapter of the American Federation of Teachers is investigating one of its local affiliates, AFT local 5123, which represents L+M healthcare workers. AFT local 5123 members include administrative assistants, as well as other service and support workers. AFT Connecticut spokesperson Matt O'Connor told The Day AFT Connecticut is investigating alleged misuse of AFT local 5123's treasury funds, but did not elaborate on the allegations or investigation. Connie Fields, the newly elected president of AFT local 5123, who took over after the previous president resigned for personal reasons, declined to comment to the publication. However, she did release a statement, provided to The Day via Mr. O'Connor. "I can confirm that local leadership is working closely with both our state and national unions to resolve prior issues regarding use of funds from our treasury," the statement reads. "Those efforts are ongoing, so it would not be appropriate to comment publicly at this time." Past AFT local 5123 President Harry Rodriguez told The Day his plans to retire from his position as coordinator for L+M's neonatal intensive care unit factored into his decision to resign as president, not allegations regarding misuse of funds. He declined to comment to the publication on whether knew about the investigation or if he personally was being investigated. Read The Day's full report here. More articles on human capital and relations: Kaiser workers to protest at hospitals across California: 10 things to know Hospitals and unions: 11 recent conflicts, agreements Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital workers hold picket amid contract negotiations Preparation efforts are ongoing ahead of a pending strike by union workers at University of California hospitals and college campuses. Here are seven things to know. 1. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents tens of thousands UC patient care and service workers, including 4,500 at the UC Davis campus and medical center, scheduled a statewide strike from May 7 to May 9 over issues such as wages and outsourcing of jobs. The University Professional and Technical Employees and California Nurses Association are also slated to support the strike from May 8 to May 9, said Jacqueline Carr, a UC San Diego Health spokesperson, in a statement to Becker's Hospital Review. 2. Amid news of the strike plans, Dwaine Duckett, UC's vice president of human resources, sent a letter to colleagues, stating the university petitioned the California Public Employment Relations Board and was notified the board will seek a court order on behalf of UC to restrict the number of striking AFSCME-represented employees. "The court hearing will be held within the next day or two and we will let you know the court's decision as soon as possible," the letter, dated May 2, reads. 3. Laura Margoni, a spokesperson for UCSD, told The San Diego Union-Tribune the campus has strike contingency plans but did not elaborate on specific efforts to address large numbers of general service workers being away from work. 4. Ms. Carr said a temporary impact to patient care is expected during the strike. She said nonurgent, elective surgical cases are being rescheduled in the short term, and "at the appropriate time, our emergency and trauma departments may be put on bypass." This means the EDs would solely take urgent cases from their service boundaries, according to the report, which notes the AFSCME also plans to have workers who are prepared to step in in the event of overwhelmed emergency services. 5. Ms. Carr said potentially affected UCSD patients will be contacted by patient care teams. 6. The university is currently in contract negotiations with the AFSCME, the University Professional and Technical Employees and the CNA. 7. The pending strike could still be avoided if a resolution is reached. More articles on human capital and relations: Kaiser workers to protest at hospitals across California: 10 things to know Hospitals and unions: 11 recent conflicts, agreements Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital workers hold picket amid contract negotiations When a New Hampshire hospital put a new communication bundle using rapid response calls into action, the hospital's rate of unplanned transfers to the intensive care and overall ICU admissions significantly declined, according to a pilot study published in the American Journal of Critical Care. The pilot study examined the development and implementation of a communication bundle at Nashua-based Southern New Hampshire Medical Center. The 189-bed hospital placed a seven-item early-warning score system, which determine the degree of a patient's illness, into patients' EMRs in its four medical-surgical units and ICU. The system's possible scores ranged from 0 to 21. Scores over 4 automatically triggered a red exclamation point next to the patient's name on the EMR, which the nurse and unit secretary could see. As part of the communication bundle, the score alerted a critical care nurse assigned to respond to rapid response team calls. The ICU nurse then reviewed the patient's EMR and discussed the score with the patient's nurse to develop a care plan by phone. ICU admissions after rapid response team calls and ICU admissions of patients with early-warning scores higher than 4 declined significantly during the study period, which suggests patients with deteriorating conditions were able to be identified sooner. The findings also suggest the communication bundle led to a considerable decrease in staff response time to early-warning score alerts on patients' EMRs. "The early-warning score helps identify patients with clinical signs of deterioration, but that information must be quickly communicated to a nurse with an appreciation for the urgency of the situation and the knowledge to take action," said primary investigator Cheryl Gagne, RN, DNP, the hospital's chief nursing officer. "Our communication bundle may have led to earlier and more effective interventions by medical-surgical nurses, facilitated by collaboration with experienced critical care nurses." Jacksonville, Fla.-based St. Vincent's Medical Center Southside conducted a pilot to reduce the use of opioids for joint replacement patients, according to The Florida Times-Union. Here are five takeaways. 1. The pilot involved 275 joint replacement patients and resulted in a 76 percent drop in opioid usage. Patients' pain scores also decreased. 2. Hospital officials asked Gavan Duffy, MD, to reduce the amount of opioids he prescribed. The medical director for the St. Vincent's Orthopedic Center of Excellence in Jacksonville, Dr. Duffy performed about 900 joint replacements annually and prescribed more opioids than any other St. Vincent's physician. 3. Dr. Duffy began using local anesthetics instead of general anesthetics. He used a spinal anesthetic for hip replacement surgeries and Marcaine for knee surgeries. For postoperative pain, he prescribed Tylenol and Celebrex and used muscle relaxers as needed. 4. Opioids were prescribed to patients who reported extreme pain that wasn't relieved by non-narcotic medications. 5. Jacksonville-based St. Vincent's HealthCare plans to make Dr. Duffy's new approach the system-wide standard of care for orthopedic care. Is a total joint ASC in your future? Learn more about developing a successful program in this upcoming webinar on May 22, 2018. Click here to learn more and register. California police arrested one Kevin Prasad, for killing his co-workers boyfriend Mark out of jealousy. It is being learnt that Kevin was madly in love with the woman, who was in a live-in relationship with Mark and the couple had a three-year-old girl child. On the day of the womans farewell, Kevin and Mark were introduced to each other. Kevin with the help of his friend, one Rivera, followed the car in which Mark and the woman were travelling and shot Mark. Kevin was heavily disguised in the shoot-out but the woman told investigators her suspicions about him and he was eventually arrested. A leading Co Armagh homeware company has landed a major contract that will open doors to the $15bn American textiles market. Bedeck, which is based at Magheralin, has a flagship store at Linen Green in Dungannon and another on Belfast's Lisburn Road, as well as a concession in House of Fraser at Victoria Square in the city. The lucrative deal will put Bedeck-branded products in stores across the United States for the first time. The company is already the UK market leader in branded bed and bath linens. The partnership with US distributor CHF Industries will give Bedeck exclusive rights to sell CHF brands such as DKNY bed and bath products throughout its 80 stores and in-shop concessions, plus other leading retailers in Ireland and the UK. CHF is one of the largest branded and private label manufacturers of home textiles in the US. Gary Irwin, Bedeck's joint managing director, said: "Partnering with CHF Industries is Bedeck's first link-up with a distributor and represents a major opportunity to grow revenue through the sale of both Bedeck and CHF brands. "CHF shares Bedeck's values and commitment to providing top quality, design-led products that will enhance any home. On that basis, CHF and Bedeck make for very comfortable business bedfellows." Joint managing director Andrew Irwin added: "Having established Bedeck as the UK's market leader in branded bed and bath linen, the time is right to take the Bedeck brand to a global audience. "Still headquartered in Magheralin, where our grandfather began the business in 1951 manufacturing linen handkerchiefs, Bedeck has evolved into the design and global sourcing of home textiles. "Our ethos is still focused on beautiful design and quality products, and we believe that the Bedeck story and legacy will be of particular appeal to US consumers." The partnership involves all major textile items for the home, including bedding, bath and window fashions. Spencer Foley, president and CMO of CHF, said: "We are proud to bring these great Irish bedlinen brands to the US market where we know consumers will appreciate authentic Irish design and beautiful patterns to adorn their homes. "We are excited by the opportunity to broaden Bedeck's reach into the bath and window categories in North America as well as the United Kingdom and Ireland." The future of the House of Fraser department store in Belfast city centre came sharply into focus yesterday after its new owner announced that the sale of the chain was conditional on closures. The owner of Hamleys has confirmed it is to take majority ownership of the struggling department store chain, and will oversee a sweeping store closure programme. C.banner, the Chinese retailer behind Hamleys, said it will buy a 51% stake in House of Fraser from its parent Nanjing Cenbest. However, the sale is conditional on House of Fraser shutting stores. A concession of Hamleys toy store had operated from the top floor at House of Fraser's Belfast store when it opened in 2008, but it closed just a year later despite doing "fantastically well". At the time Hamleys decided to withdraw from all House of Fraser stores. House of Fraser's troubles came to the fore in January after it suffered a drop in sales over Christmas and started talking to landlords about reducing the size of its property portfolio. KPMG has been drafted in to advise the firm on its restructuring proposal, with the terms of the plan likely to be finalised at the beginning of June. The 59-strong chain will put forward a restructuring plan known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which will require the approval of landlords and bondholders. Frank Slevin, chairman of House of Fraser, said C.banner's acquisition was "a step to securing House of Fraser's long-term future". "C.banner's investment is a vote of confidence in our prospects," he added. "We know that if we are to deliver a sustainable, long-term business, then we need to make difficult decisions about our under-performing legacy stores. "I am all too aware that this creates uncertainty for my colleagues in the business and so we will be transparent with them throughout the process." Retail NI chief executive Glyn Roberts said: "It is very concerning to hear that House of Fraser is planning to close a number of stores. "Given the huge importance of the Belfast store to both Victoria Square and the city centre economy as a whole, as a major footfall driver, I hope that it will continue to remain open. "These are challenging times for the retail sector given that in the last few months we have seen Carpetright, Maplin and Toys R Us all closing stores." House of Fraser is a subsidiary of Chinese conglomerate Sanpower, chaired by Yuan Yafei. Mr Yuan has voiced his commitment to House of Fraser, which has 6,000 employees and 11,500 concession staff, and has been pumping millions of pounds into the retailer. Several household names have pursued CVAs so far this year in a bid to save costs, including New Look, Carpetright and burger chain Byron. North Belfast SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon said she had contacted the Belfast Trust about Dr Watt in December 2017, but had not received satisfactory answers to her questions A Northern Ireland health trust at the centre of a growing misdiagnosis scandal has been accused of hiding behind a wall of silence. The Belfast Trust came under criticism after failing to answer a series of questions around Dr Michael Watt. Read More A high-level review of the work of Dr Watt, a neurology consultant, has led to the biggest ever recall of patients by the trust. Some 2,500 patients are being summoned back for a case review over fears they have been misdiagnosed. And last night Kathy Jack, medical director of the Belfast Trust, was unable to say whether anyone had died as a result of misdiagnoses by the suspended neurologist. "I cannot say that at the moment," she told the BBC. Yesterday the Belfast Telegraph send a list of questions to the trust about the growing scandal. However, it answered none of them. North Belfast SDLP MLA Nichola Mallon said she had contacted the Belfast Trust about Dr Watt in December 2017, but had not received satisfactory answers to her questions. "I was met by a brick wall, and the patients were met with a brick wall," she said. The Assemblywoman said she had been inundated with calls from worried patients who had received a recall letter - and also from patients of Dr Watt who had not received any letter. "They are frightened and confused, and don't know what is happening," she said. "We don't need this wall of silence. It only serves to make the patients and the public more anxious." Strangford DUP MP Jim Shannon said last night that the trust had a lot to do to restore people's confidence. "We need transparency. This is a massive issue. People's concerns must be addressed," the DUP health spokesman said. "Facts need to be known, and people must have their minds put at rest. People have a right to know what's happened to them." The top civil servant at the Department of Health, Richard Pengelly, has called in health watchdog the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) to review neurology outpatient services. The department has also ordered the RQIA to ensure the records of all Dr Watt's patients who've died over the past decade are subject to expert review. Alliance health spokeswoman Paula Bradshaw MLA said: "My concern is about how long it's going to take for patients to be absolutely assured that they have a safe diagnosis and that they're on the correct care plan. With neurological conditions, every day, week and month is crucial." UUP health spokesman Roy Beggs MLA said: "I simply cannot understand how, when concerns were raised in December 2016, it has taken until May 2018 for patients to be notified that they have potentially been misdiagnosed and have been receiving the wrong treatment ever since. This is not some administrative error - these are people's lives we are talking about." Sinn Fein health spokesman Pat Sheehan MLA added: "There does seem to be some lack of clarity and a lack of communication between the relevant agencies on that issue and that is very concerning." The questions we asked On what date did the Trust first become aware that there may be issues for investigation regarding Dr Watt? Does the Trust have any record of individual patient concerns regarding treatment by Dr Watt at any stage since 2008? On what date did the Trust actually inform the GMC of serious concerns which prompted investigation? Why did the Trust not alert patients and former patients once its own investigation had concluded and the matter was referred to RCP? What is the earliest date among the 2,500 patients who were recalled, and why did the Trust not recall patients earlier than that date? Of the sample of 48 patients investigated, how many were considered suspect diagnoses or treatments? Is Dr Watt currently under disciplinary procedures or simply voluntarily not practising since June 2017? What is the timeframe for the completion of serious investigation of this doctor which will have disciplinary or other outcomes? What are the medical and governance checks and balances which safeguard those patients who find themselves switching between private healthcare and NHS though supervised by the same consultant? How many children are involved? The Trusts response: Belfast Trust fully understand how difficult a time this is for a large number of our patients and their families. We are truly sorry for the anxiety it is causing. Our priority is to ensure all patients are seen as quickly as possible and that patients receive the best possible care. As of 2nd May at 1.30pm, our advice line answered 1,130 calls and we have booked appointments for 1,800 patients. For any patient or family member who is worried or who has concerns, we would encourage them to contact our advice line on 0800 980 1100. The lines will be open weekdays from 9am9pm and weekends from 9am5pm. We wish to assure anyone who raises any concerns with our advice line that the concern will be fully investigated and discussed with the individual. We continue to work closely with the Department of Health, the General Medical Council and the Royal College of Physicians whilst this review is ongoing. Belleek Pottery have launched a limited edition Royal Wedding celebration basket ahead of Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle. The couple are set to exchange vows on Saturday, May 19 at Windsor Castle. Prince Harry and Meghan have previously asked anyone who might wish to mark the occasion, to consider making a donation to one of their chosen charities. In support of this request, Belleek are aiming to donate 4000 to the Childrens HIV Association (CHIVA) through the sale of the celebration basket. The charity, one of those chosen by Prince Harry and Meghan, supports children growing up with HIV and their families, across the UK and Ireland. Commenting on the inspiration behind the design, Belleek Designer, Clare Conway, said: "The heart shape has been used to represent romantic love since the 15th Century and is a timeless symbol. It has been used to symbolise the adoration between Prince Harry and Meghan. "This hand woven basket features a ribbon detail at the top which signifies the marital saying tying the knot. The basket is adorned with Roses, the national flower of both England and the United States of America. These Roses have been decorated in red, white and blue and symbolise the union between the couple as well as their nationalities. "Lily of the Valley is associated with the month of May and represents romance as well as happiness, humility and sweetness; qualities which are also reflected in Harry and Meghans warm characters. "The peony is widely rumoured to be Meghans favourite flower there is an iconic hand crafted Belleek Shamrock to wish the happy couple a lucky start to their marriage and a joy filled future together. Expand Close Royal Wedding celebration basket / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Royal Wedding celebration basket Two hundred Royal Wedding celebration baskets will be handcrafted at Belleek Pottery and 10% of every sale will go directly to CHIVA. They are available from selected Belleek retail stockists and are priced at 200. David Davis (right) visited an autism centre in Middletown, Co Armagh during a visit to the Irish border. The UK's chief Brexit negotiator has been summoned to appear in front of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee to answer questions about how he intends to resolve issues over the Irish border. David Davis' Parliamentary Under-Secretary in the Brexit Department has already appeared before the committee of MPs - but they said the issue was too important and required a minister to attend. The committee has also met with chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier. Mr Barnier, who gave evidence to the committee in January, this week completed a two day visit to Northern Ireland during which he met with residents and business leaders in the border towns of Newry and Londonderry. Mr Davis visited the border for the first time as Brexit Secretary on April 23 when he spent two hours at a disused customs post and an autism centre in Middletown, Co Armagh. He was strongly criticised for not announcing his visit beforehand. In a letter to Mr Davis, the chairman of the committee, Dr Andrew Murrison MP, said: "The issue of the border remains unresolved. "Finding a solution is key to securing the right deal for the UK as we leave the EU. "To date we have not seen a worked up coherent proposal that would allow the UK to be freed from the strictures of the Customs Union and Single Market and avoid additional infrastructure at the border." The letter also welcomed the evidence it had heard from the Parliamentary Under-Secretary, Robin Walker MP, but said that "given the importance of the border to the UK-EU negotiations, we believe we need to hear from you as the minister leading the talks". It added: "We welcome your recent visit to the border in Northern Ireland. Visiting the border is crucial in understanding the complexity of the problem and we are glad you have had the opportunity to see it. You may wish to use the evidence session to discuss the visit and how it is informing your work in developing solutions." The incident happened at the junction of the Oldpark Road and Rosapenna Street. Pic Google maps The Police Ombudsman is investigating reports of an altercation between police officers and a group of youths in Belfast. The organisation, which investigates complaints made against police, said a member of the public witnessed the incident while parked in traffic at the junction of the Oldpark Road near the junction with Rosapenna Street on Tuesday, April 24 at around 6pm. "She said she witnessed what appeared to be an altercation between one of the officers and around five to seven youths between the ages of 14 and 17. "The incident took place at hoardings near shops in the area at around 6pm on Tuesday 24 April. An unmarked police car was in attendance and youths were seen with a number of pallets nearby. "Investigators are asking anyone who was involved in, or who witnessed the incident to call the Police Ombudsmans Witness Appeal Line on 07771510920." The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas Your choice for flooring in Central Texas! Your flooring is more than just the surface you walk on it's an integral part of your home. With over 35 years of flooring experience, The Best Little Floorhouse in Texas has the resources and knowled A senior PSNI officer in Londonderry has slammed the "cowardly thugs" who left an elaborate device at the home of the parents of a Catholic officer. Army technical officers were called to the Shantallow area yesterday morning where a device resembling a pipe bomb had been discovered. The couple have had their home in Drumleck Drive attacked several times since 2009. Chief Inspector Alan Hutton said it was "shameful" that this family was being needlessly targeted. He said those responsible had no thought for the impact their actions are having on a couple who had lived there all their lives. "The fact this device was an elaborate hoax does not diminish the fear and disruption it has caused," he said. "While those responsible think the fact this couple are parents of a serving officer somehow justifies their actions, I have no doubt the rest of the community will rally behind this family and show them support and kindness. "This couple have much to be proud of - just last weekend their son was on duty with colleagues assisting a vulnerable person at the bridge. We will continue to offer support to our officer and his family and the investigation into who was responsible for the hoax will continue. "What were those who made this hoax device doing to serve their community? That's the challenge that needs to be thrown back at these people." Chief Insp Hutton said that the impact of the incident was much wider than the family of this officer. He said: "It also affected the neighbours who had to leave their homes because it wasn't clear at that stage if it was safe to stay. "It disrupted the lives of people trying to get ready for a day's work or do the school run." Chief Insp Hutton appealed for information on the hoax bomb. He said: "Send a message that these types of actions should be consigned to history and that the community here in the city are committed to looking forward positively and living together peacefully." Among those evacuated from her home was a long-term neighbour of the couple. She said: "It is just disgusting that we can't get peace to live here without these stupid idiots thinking they are somehow freeing Ireland by leaving devices, real or not, at this couple's home. "They are an older couple and it does take a toll on them every time this happens. "It's hateful for us all having to gather stuff up in the morning not knowing if you will be back home in a few hours or if you will be away all day. "The ones that do this don't care about anybody, they can't see the fear and disruption they force on all of us, or maybe they do and they just don't care." For a case that has exposed a fault line between Christians and the LGBT community and attracted attention across the world, the latest legal action by Ashers Bakery came to a rather subdued end yesterday. As the most senior law lords in the land retired to consider two days of complex arguments put forward by the Christian owners of Ashers Bakery and the Equality Commission, both sides left court without uttering a word. Previous court appearances saw the photogenic young McArthur couple addressing a sea of cameras and supporters. As Ashers' owners, they were found to have discriminated against gay activist Gareth Lee, by refusing to make a cake iced with the slogan 'Support Gay Marriage'. But the mood was more businesslike yesterday morning with Daniel McArthur - unusually without his wife Amy by his side and supported instead by his father - striding purposefully into the Supreme Court in Belfast. None of the McArthur family spoke to the media yesterday, leaving Simon Calvert of their backers, the Christian Institute, to address waiting journalists. As ever, Mr Lee also declined to speak. Both sides and their fervent supporters across the world - both Christians and LGBT activists - now face a long painstaking wait of up to eight months to hear the verdict of the UK's highest court of appeal. The sums of money involved in this landmark case are vast - 200,000 and counting shelled out by the Christian Institute to fund the McArthurs' appeal, and around 150,000 spent so far by the Equality Commission to advocate for Mr Lee. As Robin Allen QC, acting for the Equality Commission, told the Supreme Court during yesterday's hearing: "Nobody could litigate this case as an individual unless they were a multi-millionaire." However, the Christian Institute appears undaunted and prepared to go the distance - to Strasbourg if necessary - as Mr Calvert indicated when he spoke to the media outside the court yesterday morning. "The Christian Institute has agreed from the start that we will meet the entire legal bill for the McArthurs," he said. "We and our supporters are very happy to do that for them because of the stance they have taken. "We will wait and see how much it is going to cost for the hearing here in the Supreme Court. "The Supreme Court will take months to issue their ruling. When that ruling comes down, the McArthurs will want to sit down with their lawyers and see whether they have won, whether they have lost, whether it's a partial victory - because that is entirely possible in a case like this - and consider their options from there. "Anyone who has exhausted their domestic remedies is free to go to the European Court of Human Rights. However, whether the McArthurs will want to do that is a decision for another day, and obviously depends on the ruling that the court gives, whether they win, lose or a bit of both. "No-one is foolish enough to predict what eventually the judges will do. We are absolutely confident that the McArthurs have a very strong legal argument and a very strong legal team, but whether the Supreme Court will be persuaded is a matter for them." The Equality Commission's Chief Commissioner, Michael Wardlow, described Mr Lee as the "ghost at the banquet". "He has been living this for four years, and the media and others have been focusing on the McArthurs," he said. "But he is, if you like, the ghost at the banquet. He is sitting at the side of this, and he has been having to live each day seeing that this still has not finished. "I don't know how you would feel if you walked into a shop and had to try to understand what is the conscience of people providing the service... do I have to go through a list before I can be served? And I think this is hopefully going to settle it once and for all." Mr Wardlow also explained why Mr Lee has stayed silent. "The reason he hasn't been doing interviews is that this isn't about Gareth Lee. Gareth was just a guy who had gone in (to Ashers) and thought he had a service but didn't get it and he was left confused. I hope that when the decision comes, whenever that is, that he will walk away knowing that he has been vindicated," he said. The son of a man killed in the Ballymurphy massacre says he's sceptical after the UVF admitted being involved in the shootings. John Teggart accused the terror group of attempting to hinder the families' bid for the truth. The Parachute Regiment has consistently been blamed for killing 10 people in the west Belfast estate in August 1971. Danny Teggart (44) was among those who died during three days of gunfire involving soldiers. His son told the Belfast Telegraph that he was deeply suspicious over new claims that a UVF sniper was involved. It emerged yesterday that "veterans" within the UVF had identified a sniper they say carried out a number of the shootings. With an inquest scheduled to start in September, the information is to be provided to the Coroners Service. One of those aware of the process described it as an attempt to shed some light on one of the most chaotic and notorious killing sprees of the Troubles. The shootings occurred amid disturbances sparked by the introduction of internment. Among the dead were a priest and a mother-of-eight. Another man later died of heart failure. Loyalists who were active at the time have now come forward with new allegations. They approached an interlocutor to claim a UVF terrorist located in the neighbouring Springmartin estate opened fire into Ballymurphy. It is understood they have provided the gunman's name, alleging he was responsible for a number of the deaths. Information has also been supplied on the rifle allegedly used, along with its subsequent seizure by the authorities. Leader of the UVF-linked PUP Billy Hutchinson claimed it was a significant move that could help provide clarity around what happened in Ballymurphy. "The IRA should reciprocate and declare what, if anything, it knows about the events over those days," he added. But Mr Teggart, who was just 11 when his father was killed, said the families would prefer the focus remains on trying to track down members from the British Army who they believe carried out the killings. He said: "We question what the intention of this is. From the start there was no evidence to suggest this. "Our loved ones were murdered by members of the Parachute Regiment. They have put statements forward from 1971 saying they murdered our loved ones, and made out that our loved ones were gunmen and gunwomen, which is completely untrue. And if there was a UVF gunman up in Springmartin, why were the paratroopers shooting civilians who lived in Ballymurphy instead of the gunman? It is laughable. "The UVF is not trying to do us any favours, they are trying to take the focus off the Parachute Regiment. From 2011, when we were granted the inquest, there have been stalling tactics, people trying to derail the inquest. We have fought that off all along, this is just another thing to sidetrack us." Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly said: "There is already a volume of evidence that the British Army were behind these killings and there would be a suspicion that this is merely aimed at deflecting from that." A Belfast City councillor Jolene Bunting is in hot water once again after a disgusting and offensive picture appeared on her Twitter account. A Belfast City councillor has been reported to the Local Government Commissioner for Standards over a racist, sectarian and offensive tweet. Independent councillor Jolene Bunting, who has previously caused controversy by associating with and supporting far-right group Britain First, posted the tweet on Thursday afternoon. It depicts two frogs, one wearing a union jack and the other wearing an Irish tricolour. The frog in the irish flag is crying, holding a pint of Guinness and wearing a hat that reads: Please be patient I have famine. Accompanying the picture is the line: Cmon Paddy, EU can leave too. Around one million people died and a further one million emigrated during the Irish Potato Famine between 1845 and 1850. The cartoon frog in the picture, known as Pepe, was adopted a number of years ago by far-right social media trolls to target, among others, autistic children. Sinn Fein council group leader Deirdre Hargey said she has lodged formal complaints with the Local Government Commissioner for Standards (LGCS) and Belfast City Council over the tweet, which she branded racist, sectarian and offensive. Alliance councillor Emmet McDonough-Brown also filed a complaint with the LGCS, calling the tweet not only crass but racist and sectarian. There is no place in our politics for this. Depressingly, it seems there is no prejudice she [Jolene Bunting] is unwilling to support, he added. SDLP representative Donal Lyons had already filed a complaint with the LGCS regarding Councillor Bunting in December in relation to an anti-Islam video she appeared in, which was filmed in front of Belfast Islamic centre. In relation to Ms Buntings latest social media controversy, Councillor Lyons said posting a caricature which has sectarian and racist undertones is disgusting and offensive in itself and adds further weight to his previous complaint. But sharing an image which makes fun of autistic children is beyond disgusting. It beggars belief that this has been posted by somebody holding elected office, he added. The cartoon frog Pepe which Jolene shared was adopted a number of years ago by racist and extreme-right trolls. Its been used to attack different groups and the particular version that Jolene shared was aimed at autistic children. Twisting a phrase thats used to help children with autism and turning it into a sectarian jag about the famine is beyond contemptible. Members of the public also took to social media to condemn the tweet. This is what an elected councillor of Belfast City Council decided to tweet. Shameful and frankly embarrassing, one wrote. Another said the tweet displays a pretty fundamental alt-right mindset that mocks mental illness whilst painting their political opponents as somehow mentally disabled. Ireland is shown here to be a disabled child and to be mocked. That's the message of this meme. From a councilor for our city, they added. This is not the first time the Greater Shankill representative has caused a stir over her controversial views. Councillor Bunting caused heated exchanges last month in the council chambers after appearing to defend a racist leaflet drop in the Ravenhill area of Belfast as information. The leaflets purported to be from a group called 'Generation Sparta' and warned against the 'Islamification' of Northern Ireland and contained several racist messages. Police have confirmed they are treating the leaflet drop as a hate crime. SDLP candidate Daniel McCrossan in Fintona canvasing for the upcoming West Tyrone by-election. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Thursday April 26, 2018. See PA story ULSTER WestTyrone. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire The result in the West Tyrone by-election isn't expected until the early hours of Friday as voters across the constituency go to the polls today. Sinn Fein is the odds-on favourite to retain the seat, with 26-year-old solicitor Orfhlaith Begley on course to become the area's first female MP. The by-election follows the resignation of Barry McElduff four months ago. He stood aside amidst fury over a video he posted on social media of himself with a loaf of Kingsmill bread on his head (below) on the anniversary of the Kingmill massacre. Polling stations across West Tyrone opened at 7am and will close at 10pm. The Electoral Office for Northern Ireland said it expected the result around 3.30-4am, although the candidates are hoping that the declaration will be earlier. The campaign has been low-key, although Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald and the other party leaders have all joined their candidates on the campaign trail. The five main parties are contesting the election. The candidates include local DUP MLA Thomas Buchanan, SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan, Ulster Unionist councillor Chris Smyth, and Alliance's Stephen Donnelly. Sinn Fein secured 51% of the vote in last year's Westminster election. Mr McElduff came in more than 10,000 votes ahead of his nearest rival, Mr Buchanan. Turnout, which was 68% last June, is expected to be lower today. Former Sinn Fein vice-president Pat Doherty won the seat from Ulster Unionist Willie Thompson in 2001. Sinn Fein's opponents have focused on the party's boycott of Westminster, with the SDLP arguing that an abstentionist MP cannot deliver a strong anti-Brexit message. Mr McElduff, who had been a Sinn Fein MLA for 19 years, was MP for only seven months before his resignation. He posted the Kingsmill bread video on January 5, the 42nd anniversary of the massacre in which 10 Protestant workmen were shot dead by the IRA. It was seen by many as a deliberate insult to the victims and their families, although Mr McElduff denied that and said he meant no offence and the timing of the video was a ghastly coincidence. In a statement yesterday, Mr Buchanan said voters had the chance to "pass judgment at the polls on Sinn Fein disrespect for victims and 17 years of no representation in the House of Commons". He said: "I have pledged on the doors to be a voice for everyone in West Tyrone in Parliament. People who were never before DUP voters have spoken to me about their disgust for how innocent victims were mocked and disrespected by Sinn Fein. Many have said they were embarrassed that such comments were associated with West Tyrone. "Orfhlaith Begley has failed to condemn Barry McElduff's outrageous video which mocked the Kingsmill victims on the anniversary of the atrocity. "Indeed, she also opted not to condemn the naming of a playground after Raymond McCreesh, who was arrested in possession of a gun used at Kingsmill. "Many will question what's the difference between Orfhlaith Begley and Barry McElduff?" Mr Buchanan added: "The DUP's delivery from Westminster for roads, schools, hospitals and broadband has demonstrated that it matters when MPs take their seats. Sinn Fein has wasted West Tyrone's influence in Parliament for the last 17 years. They claim the expenses but don't take their seats. People are tired of such an approach." Sinn Fein vice-president Michelle O'Neill lauded Ms Begley as "a young, dynamic advocate, in her political activism and work as a solicitor, for rights and equality and for a new future in a new agreed united Ireland". Mrs O'Neill said: "She has identified the twin threats of Brexit and relentless Tory austerity as the biggest threats facing the people of West Tyrone. "The people of West Tyrone will have a fighter for them to stand up against these threats." Two Northern Ireland cities are among dozens of places in the UK which suffer from worrying levels of air pollution, a report has said. Londonderry was among 31 towns and cities identified by the World Health Organisation as exceeding safe levels of fine particle pollutants known as PM2.5 in 2015. Another 15, including Armagh, are at the limit. The particles, which come from sources such as transport, industry, coal plants and burning wood, fuels or waste, are linked to conditions including stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory infections. The report said seven million people a year worldwide are dying due to poor air quality, and nine out of 10 people are exposed to levels of air pollution which are dangerous to their health. Clean air campaigners called for the UK Government, which has faced legal action over its failure to meet legal targets on another air pollutant, nitrogen dioxide, to take steps to stop people breathing dirty air. James Thornton, chief executive at environmental law charity ClientEarth, said: "These new statistics show a worrying level of this dangerous air pollution across the country." He added ministers should commit to a new Clean Air Act, adding: "Without it, many people across the UK will continue to pay with their health." Levels of PM2.5 particles in the air in Port Talbot, Wales, were recorded as 18 micrograms per cubic metre in 2015, nearly double the WHO recommended limit of 10. Other cities including London, Nottingham and York were also above safe levels in 2015. The report shows that some towns and cities, including Manchester, Scunthorpe, Liverpool and Salford, did not have figures for 2015 but had breached the recommended limits in the most recent year data was available. Alison Cook, director of policy at the British Lung Foundation, said: "How much more evidence do we need to see before the Government sets new legal limits on pollution levels to protect the nation's lung health?" A UK Environment Department spokesman said: "While air quality in the UK has improved significantly since 2010, this report from the WHO clearly shows the impact air pollution is having. "Tackling this important issue is a priority for this government which is why we have a 3.5bn plan to improve air quality and reduce harmful emissions and will set out further actions through a comprehensive Clean Air Strategy later this year." DUP MP Paul Girvan has called on Sinn Fein to answer questions over its response to a speech widely criticised as anti-Semitic. On Monday, leader of the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed a meeting of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) parliament in Ramallah. It is the first meeting of the 700-member body in nine years, and the current session will see it elect a new Executive Committee. Mr Abbas said treatment of European Jews "was not because of their religious identity but because of their social function" and that his views were based on texts from "Jewish Zionist authors". "So the Jewish question that was widespread throughout Europe was not against their religion but against their social function which relates to usury and banking and such." Former US Secretary of State John Kerry wrote on Twitter: "These comments are wrong, ugly, and unacceptable - anywhere from anyone - but particularly from anyone who says he wants to be a peacemaker. No excuses for anti-Semitism: words to be condemned, not explained away." After the conclusion of the speech, MLA Declan Kearney - who is Sinn Fein's chairman, and representing his party at the event in Ramallah - tweeted pictures from outside the event with the text: "Wide ranging speech from President Abbas on peace process". Opening session of Palestinian National Council in #Ramallah just concluded. Wide ranging speech from President Abbas on peace process#PLO pic.twitter.com/ZP5PJgCImJ Declan Kearney (@DeclanKearneySF) April 30, 2018 "The speech by Mahmoud Abbas was widely and rightly condemned for anti-Semitism," said Mr Girvan. "Anti-Semitism has been on the rise across Europe and that includes Northern Ireland." Sinn Fein has been contacted for comment on the response to the speech by Mr Abbas. A bonfire in Milltown Road in south Belfast has been set on fire. Credit: BBC An eleventh night bonfire has been set on fire in Belfast, months before it was supposed to be lit. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue service told the Belfast Telegraph that one engine had been set to Milltown Road in the Shaw's Bridge area at after 9pm. It remained at the scene at 10.20pm. Beside the busy four lane Milltown Road near Shaws Bridge south Belfast fire fighters deal with a prematurely lit 12th bonfire tonight. Its May 2 pic.twitter.com/AGrYFR8p7K Gareth Gordon (@BBCGarethG) May 2, 2018 The bonfire was being prepared for the traditional celebrations on July 11 when loyalists across the province begin to mark the Twelfth of July commemorations. Residents in the area have previously spoken of their frustration about the amount of pallets, debris and rubbish the preparations for the bonfire had caused. Staff from the Department for Infrastructure removed some tree cuttings and an old wardrobe last month following a complaint about fly-tipping. The Housing Executive also erected steel barriers around pallets at the site. Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn has been invited to give a lecture at Queen's University Belfast. The event, on May 24 2018, will be the MP's first major speaking engagement in Northern Ireland since he became the leader of the Labour Party in 2015. He is expected to speak about key issues relevant to Northern Ireland, including Brexit and upholding the Good Friday Agreement. The address will be followed by a question and answer session, facilitated by Professor Richard English, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Internationalisation and Engagement. The free event will be at 11am at the Whitla Hall. To register for the event click here. The chairman of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland has conceded there is a conflict of interest after he was criticised for accepting an 18,000 contract from an organisation in receipt of funding from the agency he leads. John Edmund is undertaking a two-month stint with the Nerve Centre in Londonderry. Last night he told this newspaper: "A conflict of interest exists in that the Arts Council is a minor funder of the Nerve Centre. "I have declared that conflict and will not be part of any discussion that involves the Nerve Centre for one year after the conclusion of this assignment. This is standard protocol. "I would point out again that the assignment is related to technical skills and workforce recruitment/future manpower requirements for such skills." The marketing veteran, who has more than 30 years' experience, said he accepted the role at the creative media arts centre to carry out a "scoping exercise" following a competitive tendering process. But it led to advocacy group ArtMattersNI questioning the appropriateness of the move. The group's Conor Shields said: "Whilst many Arts Council board members have made various declarations, is it appropriate for the chairperson to work for an organisation in direct receipt of annual funding from the Arts Council?" Despite Mr Edmund's statement, the Department for Communities said that, based on information obtained from Mr Edmund at a meeting with an official on April 26, no conflict of interest existed. "The funding for this particular assignment had been provided by another agency," it said. It named several other Arts Council members who had made similar declarations of interest relating to work with organisations in receipt of Arts Council funding. Mr Edmund's "workforce planning for NI Screen industries" assignment will end on June 1. The Arts Council said it only became aware of details of the work on April 25, more than three weeks after its commencement on April 1. "We believe the value of the tendered contract is 18,000," it said. "The council takes appropriate steps to ensure proper governance and the avoidance of such conflicts where possible, but the onus remains with individuals to safeguard their own probity in public service." It is understood the documents relating to the tender would have been submitted no later than mid-March. Asked if the late declaration removed any conflict of interest, the Arts Council referred to the organisation's internal policy, which warns that any concealment, whether intentional or through ignorance, creates "at best a risk of allegations or perceptions of misconduct" and could result in disciplinary action or litigation against the organisation. It also stressed the importance of identifying issues early to ensure risks were managed. But the DUP-appointed chairman, who stood down as chair of the Arts Council-funded Grand Opera House in January 2017 just weeks after assuming the role in order to take up his new post, insisted he'd done nothing wrong. "I declared the conflict at the first board meeting after the assignment was commissioned," Mr Edmund said. "My client is the Nerve Centre, which is very much an independent organisation." The Arts Council board passed two votes of no confidence in Mr Edmund at the end of 2017 and staged a series of walkouts from turbulent meetings. However, he has so far resisted calls to quit. Complaints around the work of Dr Michael Watt were not raised with former Health Minister Michelle O'Neill during her tenure in office, Sinn Fein has said. Mrs O'Neill took over the health portfolio at Stormont from the DUP's Simon Hamilton in May 2016, seven months before concerns about Dr Watt's work were first raised with the Belfast Health Trust by other doctors. Read More Mrs O'Neill, who held the post until the collapse of the Assembly over a year ago, yesterday expressed "very serious concerns" surrounding the 2,500 patient recall. The Belfast Telegraph contacted Sinn Fein's vice-president yesterday to ask if she had ever been made aware of any issues surrounding the consultant neurologist while in office. In response, Sinn Fein said: "The concerns around Dr Watts work were not raised with Michelle O'Neill during her tenure as Health Minister. "The Health Department permanent secretary has confirmed that a standard early alert was sent to the department on February 13, 2017. "As an operational issue, it was not referred to the Health Minister. "The issue was elevated when the initial review began in July 2017, by which stage ministers had been out of office for several months. "Nevertheless, Michelle O'Neill shares the very serious concerns surrounding the patient recall and is engaging closely with party spokesperson Pat Sheehan MLA, the Health Department and other stakeholders to ensure all necessary resources and services are in place to conduct the review swiftly and to meet the needs of patients." The DUP was also asked if any concerns had been raised with Mr Hamilton during his 12 months in the post. However, no response had been received at the time of going to press. Patients of Dr Michael Watt have expressed their fears after a probe into the work of the consultant neurologist led to 2,500 people being called back for a review of their condition and care. However, the scandal extends beyond the NHS, and one private patient of Dr Watt said last night that people in his position had been left in the dark as the crisis deepened. Read More The man - whose treatment was funded by health insurer Bupa - was referred to Dr Watt by his GP in 2016 after complaining of numbness in his face. Dr Watt saw private patients at the Hillsborough Private Clinic and at the Ulster Independent Clinic in south Belfast. "He gave me a cursory check-over and said everything was fine," the man said. "He didn't recommend any treatment. "I went back to him a couple of months later and said I wasn't very happy, and he then recommended that I go for an MRI scan at Northern MRI in Belfast. "Eventually Dr Watt came back to me to say he thought that what I had was actually an ENT (ear, nose and throat) issue, and I then saw an ENT specialist. After news broke about the recall of 2,500 of Dr Watt's NHS patients, the Antrim man contacted the NHS helpline, fearing he could not rely on Dr Watt's diagnosis. "They told me that because I was a private patient, there was nothing they could do to help me," he said. "They didn't offer me any guidance, and when I suggested I contact the Ulster Independent Clinic they said: 'You could try that'." The worried patient emailed the Ulster Clinic and explained he'd seen a consultant there in 2016, had heard the news about Dr Watt's NHS patients, and asked what he should do. "But they didn't seem to have any plan in place. They just said to me they were awaiting a report, and as soon as they got it they would look at the findings, and if they feel that they need to do anything else they may or may not be in contact with me. "I think that's absolutely scandalous. The 2,500 people recalled by the NHS will be seen eventually, but people like me who have seen him privately, we have nowhere to go to," he said. "No one's going to pay any attention to us. At the very least the Ulster Clinic should have a plan in place as to what they are going to do. "They know every private patient who saw Dr Watt. "Why are they not actively contacting those patients, instead of relying on patients to phone them to find out information?" A spokesperson for the clinic said that it had been made aware of the completion of the review into Dr Watt's clinical practice late on Monday evening. "When this is made available to us we will immediately consider the report to fully understand the type and extent of the concerns raised," they said. "Having considered the implications of the report, we will decide the most appropriate course of action to follow. "We fully appreciate that details of this report may be very concerning for some of Dr Watt's patients and their families, and we would encourage anyone who wishes to discuss their specific concerns to contact us on a dedicated helpline. "We have already received a number of calls regarding this matter and will endeavour to contact everyone as soon as possible. "We would like to reassure all Dr Watt's patients, potentially impacted by this issue, that we are moving as quickly as possible to address any concerns they may have. "We will also continue to liaise closely with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust throughout this process to ensure appropriate sharing of information regarding Dr Watt's patients." The clinic's dedicated helpline was made available from 9am yesterday on (028) 9068 6511. NHS patient Stephen Wallace, from Magherafelt, said he was "not surprised" to learn that neurologist Dr Watt had been suspended and his patients recalled for review. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002, Mr Wallace (49) had seen Dr Watt for more than a decade. "When I heard all this about the recall of his patients, I thought: that's not really much of a shock," Mr Wallace said. "He was a nice enough man, but he didn't seem to take MS that seriously. "He was a very busy man. You were nearly always referred to nurses, who walked in and out and said: 'Oh Dr Watt's very busy, blah blah blah'. "I was driving up from Magherafelt to the Royal Victoria in Belfast for appointments, and I always felt it was a waste of time. "His attitude was: 'Stephen you've got MS. A bit of a bad day you're having. "'I'll see you in six month's time'. "That's really what it was. I always thought he was very flippant about it. "I'm not a bit surprised at what's happened," the NI Water employee added. "I'm not one for running down the medical profession, but the medical world sometimes think they are untouchable." Hillsborough Private Clinic, where Dr Watt operated a private practice until last June, is also offering support to concerned patients. A spokesperson said: "We have been advised that a review into Dr Watt's clinical practice at the Belfast Trust has been completed. We would like to assure our patients that staff will be available to take calls on telephone number (028) 9268 8899." Belfast Trust has also set up a helpline on 0800 980 1100. Lines are open weekdays, 9am to 9pm, and weekends, 9am to 5pm. A Belfast woman whose daughter was belatedly diagnosed with a terminal brain condition after more than four years in the care of Dr Michael Watt says she is "disgusted and heartbroken" by the neurologist's failure to investigate the condition sooner. Amanda Scott's daughter Zoe was a student nurse with an 18-month-old daughter when she suffered a stroke at the end of March 2011. Within weeks she was placed in the care of Dr Watt at the Royal Victoria Hospital. Read More However, Amanda says that despite Zoe suffering from severe daily headaches, suicidal feelings and a "complete personality change", she was not offered a scan or any other kind of investigation for four-and-a-half years. It wasn't until Zoe collapsed in December 2015 that Amanda says she finally underwent a brain scan at the Royal, which showed that she had progressive Moyamoya disease, a rare cerebrovascular disorder. Amid deteriorating health, Zoe underwent two brain bypasses, but suffered a bleed on the brain after the second. Amanda says that Zoe, now 29, has been given a terminal diagnosis and left "severely brain damaged". The young mum is a resident in supported living who requires 24-hour care. She is blind in one eye and wheelchair-bound. "We have been left with a death sentence hanging over our heads, it's awful," Amanda told the Belfast Telegraph. "By the time Zoe got the brain bypasses it was too late, whereas if she had been diagnosed and received treatment earlier she could have had a better quality of life and enjoyed more time with her daughter. "Dr Watt has destroyed three lives by not listening to her for four-and-a-half years - Zoe's, her daughter, and mine. "I would say to him: 'Shame on you for not testing her'. "I want him to tell her wee daughter that Zoe is the way she is because he didn't listen to her. "Zoe got a letter about being recalled for an appointment yesterday, but it doesn't solve it. "I am disgusted and heartbroken for my daughter." Amanda said that her daughter was "the best wee girl" before her medical issues began. "My daughter got 11 GCSEs, three A-levels and a nursing degree. She was a great wee girl," she explained. "Zoe was a 21-year-old student nurse at Queen's University. "She was living with her partner and 18-month-old daughter while studying. "When she had the stroke she knew something was wrong but was not sure what, and over a few days her condition deteriorated so she couldn't walk straight or write. "We went to A&E, who gave her two paracetamol tablets and sent her home. "Then she went a bit blind and her GP referred her to the Mater Eye Clinic, who saw how serious it was. "Very quickly she was referred to neurology at the Royal under the care of Dr Watt, and on April 4, 2011, she was diagnosed as having suffered a stroke. "It was exactly two weeks before her 22nd birthday. "Over the next four-and-a-half years Zoe attended Dr Watt's clinic at the Royal, and for all of that time she constantly complained of headaches. "Her personality changed, she started drinking and smoking and was suicidal. They thought she had mental health problems, and she lost custody of her daughter. "But Dr Watt did nothing, he didn't even offer her a scan. "She went to see him several times and they just put it down to the first stroke. "When I look back, there were so many missed opportunities." The family's lives were shattered when Zoe began passing out in December 2015, which finally led to a scan and a crushing diagnosis. "She was diagnosed with progressive Moyamoya, which I have been told is terminal," devastated Amanda explained. "I don't know how it was missed. "I believe she had it from 2011, yet no scan was offered and no investigations done to determine why someone that young had suffered a stroke, continual headaches and a personality change. "She had her first brain bypass in June 2016 to the right side of her brain, which controls the left hand side of her body, to improve the blood supply. "She had to undergo a second bypass in January this year to the left side of her brain as she kept having strokes on the right hand side of her body, but suffered a bleed on the brain, which has made her condition worse. "She is now disabled, requires 24-hour care and is completely paralysed. "She is in supported living and spends all day sitting in her chair watching TV. "She is in a wheelchair, she's blind in her right eye, very distressed and very anxious. "She's also frustrated but can't express it. "If Zoe's condition had been detected sooner, the bypasses might have been more successful. "She would always have developed Moyamoya, but she would have had a chance at a life, it could have been managed and she could have been there for her child. "For years she has had no quality of life. "I have asked how long she has left, but no one will give me an answer." After the diagnosis, Amanda says that Zoe consulted a solicitor regarding the lack of investigations, but became too unwell to take the case further. She revealed that Zoe had also complained to the Belfast Trust in a letter. "The stress of dealing with the situation has also taken its toll on me. "Our lives have been ruined. "I had so many hopes and dreams for Zoe, and it's terrible to see that all taken away. "All anyone wants for their child is for them to be well. "When you go to see a medical professional, you trust that they know what they are doing." The Belfast Trust said it was "unable to discuss individual patients". It advised anyone concerned "to call the helpline". A former loyalist paramilitary chief who admitted five murders could be freed before an appeal against his six-and-a-half-year prison term is heard, his lawyer predicted on Thursday. The Public Prosecution Service is challenging the sentence handed down to Ulster Volunteer Force boss turned state informer Gary Haggarty on the basis that it was unduly lenient. A planned hearing at the Court of Appeal in Belfast was adjourned at the last minute due to an "administrative matter". Senior judges adjourned the case for a week, when they will sit again to review the situation. But outside court 46-year-old Haggarty's solicitor revealed Sentence Review Commissioners have already met to consider his release and are due to give their preliminary decision within days. Ciaran Shiels said: "If they order his release without challenge from the Northern Ireland Office it's likely that he would be released before the hearing of the PPS reference." "In correspondence they have already indicated they do not require the judgment of the Court of Appeal on the reference in order to effect Gary Haggarty's release." Haggarty, who was part of a UVF unit operating in north Belfast, was jailed earlier this year after confessing to hundreds of terrorist offences. His catalogue of paramilitary crime extended over 16 years, from 1991 to 2007, and included the following murders: :: Sean McParland, 55, a father of four from south Belfast gunned down while babysitting his grandchildren at a house in Skegoniel Avenue, Belfast in February 1994. :: Catholic workmen Eamon Fox, 44, and Gary Convie, 24, shot dead close to a building site on Belfast's North Queen Street in May 1994. :: Sean McDermott, a 37-year-old Catholic shot found shot dead in his car near Antrim in August 1994. :: John Harbinson, murdered after being handcuffed and beaten by a UVF gang on the Mount Vernon estate in north Belfast in May 1997. He also admitted five attempted murders, including against police officers; multiple counts of conspiracy to murder; directing terrorism; and membership of a proscribed organisation. Haggarty pleaded guilty as part of a controversial state deal that offered a reduced sentence in return for providing evidence on other terror suspects. As a consequence his prison term was slashed from 35 years to six-and-a-half years due to the assistance provided to police. Under the terms of the agreement signed back in 2010 he supplied information on scores of loyalist killings and attempted murders. But only one man is to be prosecuted over a murder using his evidence. Now the PPS is seeking to have his sentence reviewed and increased - a move defence lawyers believe is academic. Even if the appeal succeeds Haggarty will not serve any longer behind bars because the murders were committed before the Good Friday Agreement, they contend. Under the terms of that peace deal the maximum prison term for a terrorist offence committed before April 1998 is two years in prison. Dressed in a suit, the convicted killer appeared by video-link from Maghaberry Prison for the scheduled court hearing. But senior Crown Counsel Ciaran Murphy QC was granted an adjournment after telling the judges: "An administrative matter has arisen which has to be dealt with between the parties." Police were in attendance at a polling station in Greencastle, County Tyrone after reports that a gunman was present. Photo Credit: Alan Lewis A 59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear or alarm after an incident at a polling station in Co Tyrone. The man has been taken into custody for questioning and further searches as part of the investigation are ongoing. UUP West Tyrone candidate Chris Smyth claimed a man with a gun threatened voters at a Greencastle polling station in Co Tyrone. Police confirmed they received a report of a man acting suspiciously at a polling station on the Crockanboy Road, Greencastle. Read More "It was reported that the man may have been carrying a firearm," a PSNI spokesperson said. "Efforts are continuing to locate him and enquiries into the matter are ongoing." The PSNI have said they do not believe anyone was threatened during the incident. Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland Virginia McVeigh is planning to attend the polling station in Greencastle. She said that a handgun had been pulled on staff working at the station. Councillor Smyth said he was informed by police a man walked into the polling station with what appeared to be a handgun and saying he would shoot voters. "I am shocked and appalled that something like this could happen," he said. I am informed there were no police present at the time. I arrived just 10 minutes later and there is now a strong, armed police presence at the scene. It is sad that we continue to have people in our society who want to terrorise and intimidate you just because of your political opinion. These people need removed from society. I for one will not be intimidated by them. It is understood electoral officers have asked for additional police support at the polling station. The Governments preferred solution to the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic belongs in the realms of science fiction, the SNPs shadow Europe spokesman has claimed. Peter Grant said ministers were good at telling us what the Irish border wont be but that it was not clear what it would be like after Britain leaves the European Union. During Brexit questions in the Commons, Mr Grant called on Brexit minister Robin Walker to give a date by which the Government will have brought forward a practical and credible solution. The minister and his colleagues are very good at telling us what the Irish border wont be - were still no closer to having any idea of what it will bePeter Grant, SNP Mr Grant said: The minister and his colleagues are very good at telling us what the Irish border wont be were still no closer to having any idea of what it will be. He said the group of questions on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland could have been linked to the previous one on the effect of leaving the EU on the UK space industry. The Governments preferred solution still belongs in the realms of science fiction. If the minister cant tell us when we will see this practical solution that they have promised as a priority, can he at least give us an end date, an absolute guarantee, by which as a matter of confidence the Government will have brought forward something that is practical or at the very least credible? Mr Walker replied: These talks are continuing were seeking to reach agreement on the full text of the withdrawal agreement by October this year as has been set out many times by both the Commission and the UK Government. A cancer charity has accused health chiefs of significant mixed messaging on the cervical cancer screening scandal as the Chief Medical Officer confirmed the tests are 99% reliable. Donal Buggy, of the Irish Cancer Society, said women in Ireland feel confusion, concern, frustration and fear after it emerged that women with the disease were not told about wrongly interpreted smear results. He was speaking at a press conference in Dublin convened by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan aimed at giving a clear message to women concerned about their tests and potential cancer risk. Expand Close CervicalCheck programme PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp CervicalCheck programme At the start of the week it was revealed that an audit by CervicalCheck the national screening programme of 1,482 women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008 had found potential errors in 208 cases, as tests showed no abnormality when they should have been given a cancer warning. The majority of the 208 women 162 were not initially told of the outcome of the audit. Of the 208, 17 have since died. It has since emerged that a further 1,518 women with the cancer in the same period have not been audited but health chiefs stress the number affected by potential errors in this group is likely to be lower. Senior health figures remained unable to give numbers on Thursday for the second group on how many women have since been audited, found to have potential test errors or contacted regarding this but said this work is ongoing. @SimonHarrisTD @campaignforleo @morningireland As the woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and prompt but also PUBLIC. Too much has already happened behind closed doors. #CervicalCheckScandal https://t.co/uoRaRxm6mV Vicky Phelan (@PhelanVicky) May 3, 2018 Mr Buggy said: I am here this morning following a week of confusion, concern, frustration and fear for very many women right around Ireland. There has been significant mixed messaging and thats something I feel we need to get right and needs to stop today. He said he wanted clarity for the 3,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the past 10 years and for women involved in the screening programme who had been given negative results. No women will be reassured by an investigation, a commission or a political conversation this weekend. They need to have clear information. Under questioning, Dr Holohan agreed that the screening programme was 99% reliable, with National Cancer Control Programme director Dr Jerome Coffey saying there is a tiny proportion of false negatives less than one in 100. Dr Holohan said: The evidence that we have before us is not evidence of a clinical failure in relation to the programme. Its not evidence that people who have been through the programme can have less confidence in what the programme has said about their result. He said people with normal smears have no need for an emergency repeat test but will be given one after contact with their GP if wished. Meanwhile, Health Service Executive director-general Tony OBrien is to take temporary leave of absence from the board of a US company he joined earlier this year. In the Dail, deputy Joan Burton confronted Health Minister Simon Harris. She said: At a time when women are really, really hurting to most women this is just extraordinary that the CEO would be allowed by you as minister or the previous minister to take a second lucrative appointment. Mr Harris said the contract allowed the health service chief, who has faced calls to step down immediately ahead of his planned contract end in summer, to take up employment, where the minister sanctions it, if for less than five hours a month. He added: Quite rightly, considering the very important issues you highlight for womens health and the need for him to focus on that absolutely exclusively for the remaining few weeks of his term, he has appropriately taken a leave of absence. Tanaiste Simon Coveney said Mr OBrien would be focused on contributing in a positive manner to the work needed to put the problems right. I think that is the appropriate course of action. Women affected by the cervical cancer smear controversy in the Irish Republic will be compensated, the Taoiseach has said. Leo Varadkar promised a redress scheme as political pressure mounted on the government over its handling of a furore around wrongly interpreted smear tests results. At the start of the week the Republic's Health Service Executive (HSE) confirmed that an audit by CervicalCheck - the national screening programme - of 1,482 women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008 had found potential errors in 208 cases. Those mistakes meant women received clear smear results when in fact a different result warning of cancer should have been flagged. But on Tuesday evening Health Minister Simon Harris told the Dail that not all cases of cervical cancer in the last decade were subjected to the audit. Smear test results linked to an estimated 1,500 more women who were subsequently diagnosed with cervical cancer will now be reassessed - a move that opens up the possibility that many more than 208 women were given incorrect results. The majority of those 208 women - 162 - were not initially told of the outcome of the audit. Of the 208, 17 women have since died. In heated exchanges in the Dail yesterday, Mr Varadkar said: "We will need a scheme of redress for women whose cancer was missed and should have been detected beyond normal error, for women where there was a breach of duty to inform them of the audit results, so we will need to have a scheme of redress. "But we will need to establish the facts before we do that." Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said the fact not all cases had been audited was "shocking". "This shocking and out of the blue revelation confirms that the response to this crisis to date by the minister (Mr Harris) and the Department of Health has not been either competent or comprehensive," he said. The controversy was triggered by the case of Vicky Phelan, the terminally ill mother whose legal battle cast light on the issue. Last week Ms Phelan, a 43-year-old mother-of-two from Co Limerick, settled a High Court action for 2.5m after being incorrectly told in 2011 that her smear test had given a negative result for cancer. In 2014 she was diagnosed with cancer but only told of the false negative last September. An independent review of the screening programme has already been launched while the clinical director of CervicalCheck stepped down at the weekend. HSE director general Tony O'Brien, who is already due to leave his post at the end of the summer, has also faced calls to quit immediately. Officials who were called in at short notice before the Oireachtas health committee to explain the crisis were mostly from the HSE and Department of Health. They included only one member of the CervicalCheck staff, programme manager John Gleeson. Asked why CervicalCheck sent out a circular to doctors in 2016 asking them to use their judgment about whether to inform women of their test review report, he said: "We did not know when we wrote out a letter what the particular circumstances of a woman were." Questioned on why it said to just note it on a woman's file if she had died, rather than telling her next of kin, Mr Gleeson said: "Our understanding under data protection legislation was that it was her information and not to be told to anyone else." They consulted on the policy with various members of their team and specialists by phone and text to try to get it right. He said they did not tell HSE chief Mr O'Brien. Afghan interpreters who served alongside British troops fighting the Taliban will not have to pay the Home Office to stay in the UK, it has been confirmed. More than 150 translators given a five-year visa to seek sanctuary in Britain, wrote to the new Home Secretary Sajid Javid and Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson to highlight their concerns. The interpreters who worked on the battlefield in Helmand Province, said they faced deportation if they could not find the 2,398 per person to apply for indefinite leave to remain once their visas expired. The local Afghan interpreters worked in dangerous and challenging situations, regularly putting their lives at risk.Sajid Javid Ahead of the official announcement, and with the first of the issued visas set to expire next year, Mr Williamson said the fees should be waived as the translators have every right to be here. Confirming the move the Home Secretary, Sajid Javid said: The local Afghan interpreters worked in dangerous and challenging situations, regularly putting their lives at risk. We have always been clear that they will be able to stay in the UK with their families and today I have announced that they will be able to do this for free. It is understood the Ministry of Defence first raised the issue a number of weeks ago, and that the Defence Secretary has been seeking a resolution since. Mr Williamson said: I am thrilled that the Home Office has agreed that we should waive the fees for the loyal and brave interpreters who served this country by standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our armed forces on the battlefield in Afghanistan. They have always delivered for us, so it is important that we deliver for them, and this is something I have been pushing for, and I hope this gives reassurance to the interpreters and their families. Interpreter Mohammad Walizada worked for the British military between 2009 and 2015, and sought sanctuary in the UK in January 2016. His five-year visa is set to expire in 2020. Expand Close Afghan National Army soldiers were taught by UK soldiers with the help of interpreters (Ben Birchall/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Afghan National Army soldiers were taught by UK soldiers with the help of interpreters (Ben Birchall/PA) Speaking to the Press Association, the 27-year-old said he felt betrayed by the politicians who he said do not understand what he and the other translators have been through. He said the situation should never have happened in the first place, and that if the cash could not be found to pay the fee, going back to Afghanistan would be like waiting for your death to come. The letter sent by the group of interpreters to the two Cabinet ministers highlighted how many have been told their wives and children who are still in Afghanistan cannot join them in Britain. And how those whose children have been born in the UK are struggling to obtain documentation for them, and may have to shell out more than 1,000 to get it. The group of interpreters also criticised the government over the decision not to take those under the relocation scheme who served less than 12 months in Helmand Province and other places, not to take those who served outside the 2012 arbitrary date, and the decision to deport those who made their own way to the UK out of desperation. Scottish Secretary David Mundell refused to say what would happen if Holyrood refuses consent for the EU Withdrawal Bill (Jane Barlow/PA) Scottish Secretary David Mundell has refused to give MSPs a guarantee that Westminster will not overrule their wishes if they withhold consent for key Brexit legislation. Mr Mundell said he still hoped the Scottish Parliament will grant legislative consent to the UK Governments EU Withdrawal Bill. However, senior SNP MSP Bruce Crawford, a former Scottish Government minster and the convener of Holyroods Constitution Committee, said there was now a distinct possibility that MSPs would not approve the legislation. While that would not veto the Bill, it would be the first time the UK Government had passed legislation against Holyroods wishes. David Mundell repeatedly pushed by @RHBruceCrawford at @ScotParl committee on whether UK gov will respect Holyrood refusing consent on EU Withdrawal Bill. Unable, or unwilling, to answer. Dan Paris (@_DanParis) May 3, 2018 Mr Crawford pressed the Scottish Secretary five times on what the Conservative government at Westminster would do if the Scottish Parliament fails to consent to the legislation. However, Mr Mundell insisted he was focusing his efforts on reaching a deal with Scottish ministers. He said: Rather than speculating on numerous scenarios, I want to make sure we are focusing on getting agreement. Mr Crawford told him: Given you have not given a definitive position, I can only conclude then in these circumstances the UK Government would be prepared to ignore the will of the Scottish Parliament. The clash took place amid the ongoing wrangle between the Scottish and UK governments over what should happen to powers currently held in Brussels when the UK quits the European Union. Talks in London on Wednesday evening failed to reach agreement, with Scottish Brexit minister Mike Russell saying then that if MSPs do not consent to the Bill, the UK must respect that. Mr Mundell accepted that while the originally drafted legislation might have been seen to be too far in favour of the UK Government, significant changes have been made since then. As a result of these, the Welsh Government, which had been united with Scotland in opposition to the Withdrawal Bill, dropped its objections. The Scottish Parliament is expected to vote on whether or not it will consent to the legislation on Tuesday May 15. The UK Government wants to work with @scotgov to ensure laws across the UK continue to work well when we leave the EU. Its important for many reasons and will see more powers go to the Scottish Parliament. #devolution #DeliveringforScotland https://t.co/IAEX8aDntp pic.twitter.com/qtIRv5aSI3 UK Government Scotland (@UKGovScotland) May 2, 2018 To resolve the dispute Mr Mundell said a new solution, or some third way, may be needed although he added he was not clear what that is. Despite that he told MSPs: I want to put all our efforts into getting an agreement with the Scottish Government, I still would like to see agreement with the Scottish Government and I would like to see this Parliament give legislative consent to our Bill. He added: If we get to a point where agreement hasnt been reached, then thats the point at which not just speculation, but clearly events will unfold. The Scottish Secretary was giving evidence to Holyroods Finance and Constitution Committee which has previously warned the UK proposals risk damaging the integrity of the devolution settlement in Scotland. Questioning him on what could happen if Holyrood refused to grant approval to it, Mr Crawford said: I recognise there is still two weeks to go but there is a distinct possibility this Parliament will refuse consent. What will you recommend to the UK Government in these circumstances? Mr Mundell responded: Im still going to give you the same answer, that I want to focus my efforts on ensuring that we do get consent. The Tory added: I do want to encourage the Parliament to support a legislative consent motion, but I recognise that is entirely a matter for this Parliament. Asked about Mr Mundells comments First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: I think two things are relevant; that the Secretary of State refused to say that the UK Government would respect any decision that this Parliament takes around legislative consent for the Withdrawal Bill. In the absence of a commitment of that nature how can we be expected to take the UK Government at its word that it would respect our decisions on consent when it comes to any future orders that might be laid at a later stage? Speaking at First Ministers Questions she added: The Secretary of State also semed to confirm that even if every single member of this Parliament was to vote in future to withhold consent on a regulation that was being laid to reserve power at Westminster then they could still take that as consent and do it anyway. Thats not a definition of consent that I think anybody across the country will be familiar with. We want to get to an agreement on this but we will not do so if the UK Government is insisting on riding roughshod over the powers of this Parliament. The parents of Madeleine McCann have marked the 11th anniversary of her disappearance by thanking the public for staying with them on the mission to find their daughter. Kate and Gerry McCann said perseverance and hope will remain during their search for Madeleine, who vanished aged three while the family were on holiday in Portugal. The message, on the official Find Madeleine Campaign Facebook page, thanked supporters for their persisting solidarity as it gets harder to know what to say or write after her disappearance. After 11 years such warmth and persisting solidarity is truly remarkable, and at the same time a real tonic and boost to our spiritKate and Gerry McCann More than 11 million has been spent on the police investigation to find the missing girl, who disappeared from the familys holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in May 2007. The post, written on behalf of Mr and Mrs McCann, reads: It gets harder to know what to say or write as each anniversary of Madeleines abduction approaches then passes. Life is full and busy which helps but Madeleine is still missing and she is still dearly missed. Information continues to come in (incredible as it may seem after so long, although we are grateful for that) and work goes on. Perseverance and hope remain. Expand Close Missing Madeleine McCann Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Missing Madeleine McCann Mr and Mrs McCann, from Leicestershire, added: Thank you to everyone who continues to support us and wish us, especially Madeleine, well. After 11 years such warmth and persisting solidarity is truly remarkable, and at the same time a real tonic and boost to our spirit. We couldnt bear for Madeleine to be forgotten or to become just a story. She is a real person and still our little girl and as we always have, we will endeavour to do whatever it takes to find her. Thank you so much for staying with us on this mission. Donald Trump could address Parliament despite Commons Speaker John Bercows opposition, according to peers. Some peers want the US president to address MPs and members of the House of Lords in Parliaments Royal Gallery. Conservative Lord Cormack said Mr Trump should be given the opportunity to speak to both Houses and be received with proper good manners. Lord Speaker Lord Fowler said there had been no conversations with the Government about a possible address by the president but any request for him to be speak in the Royal Gallery would be discussed if and when it were received. He noted that the United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom. Expand Close Conservative peer Lord Cormack who has suggested Donald Trump should address Parliament (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/(Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Conservative peer Lord Cormack who has suggested Donald Trump should address Parliament (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/(Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0)/PA) The Independent reported that peers were pushing for the president to speak in the Royal Gallery, a lavishly decorated room at the House of Lords end of the Palace of Westminster where Mr Bercows opposition would carry less weight. Both Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton addressed peers and MPs in the Royal Gallery during visits to the UK. Former MP Lord Cormack told the website: He is the president of the United States, our most important ally. My own personal views on him are completely irrelevant we should give him the opportunity to speak to both Houses. He added: He should be received with proper good manners, and as far as a speech is concerned he would speak where most other presidents have spoken in the Royal Gallery. Mr Trump will make a working visit to the UK on July 13 and details of his trip have yet to be confirmed. The US ambassador to Britain, Woody Johnson, said Mr Trump really wants to meet the Queen, adding the president would definitely be coming to London, despite the warnings of likely demonstrations. Former trade minister Lord Jones of Birmingham said it would be an excellent idea for Mr Trump to speak in Parliament. Trump is the democratically elected leader of our largest trading partner, our biggest inward investor and the guarantor, when alls said and done, of our security, he said. The bosses of China and Saudi Arabia are happily invited. In February 2017 Mr Bercow said he was strongly opposed to Mr Trump addressing both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, as Barack Obama had done. But Lord Fowler was not consulted and told peers at the time he would keep an open mind and consider any request for Mr Trump to address Parliament, if and when it is made. Tory former Cabinet minister Lord Tebbit told MailOnline there would be support from a lot of peers if Lord Fowler offered to host a speech by the US president. John Bercow took a unilateral decision, Lord Tebbit said. I am not sure he has the power to. Lord Fowler pointed out that since becoming Lord Speaker the king of Spain and president of Colombia had spoken in the Royal Gallery the use of which had been approved by him and Lords official Black Rod, rather than Mr Bercow. He added: No conversations have taken place between the House of Lords and the UK Government regarding President Trump coming to the Royal Gallery. Any request for him to speak in the Royal Gallery would be discussed if and when it were received. The United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom. A Scottish loyalist branded the UK's most influential far-right activist by anti-racism campaigners has been closely involved with Belfast's flag protests, the BNP's activities here and the Ulster campaign against abortion. Jim Dowson, a former Orangeman who once produced flute band tapes glorifying loyalist mass murderer Michael Stone and who raised funds for the BNP from an office in Dundonald, was the subject of a BBC Radio 4 documentary this week - The Invisible Man Of Britain's Far-Right. The former preacher was said to be a major figure in Knights Templar International (KTI), an organisation described as a UK Christian militant group which, it was claimed, once boasted of sending military equipment to Kosovo, including ballistics vests and communications equipment "to help combat Islamist oppression". But Dowson, a founder of anti-Muslim group Britain First, rejected the claims that he held any position in KTI. The group dismissed the documentary as "a deceitful, hysterical but frankly lame fake news attack" from a broadcasting organisation "notorious for its left-wing bias from everything from Brexit to Israel". The BBC investigation into the 53-year-old, who once said flag protester Jamie Bryson was acting as his legal adviser in a Belfast court, was carried out in conjunction with the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network. The programme said it had seen evidence suggesting Dowson, who has a number of criminal convictions in Scotland from the 1990s, was behind a network of Facebook pages with around 2.5 million followers. Despite the denials, Matthew Collins of the anti-racism group Hope Not Hate said the KTI was a front group the Scot set up to defend Christianity from what he saw as "the barbaric hordes of cultural Marxists, homosexuals, Muslims and any number of individuals or organisations that he doesn't like". The documentary estimated that the KTI had gathered hundreds of thousands of pounds in fees from members across the world. In 2009 Dowson ran the BNP's fundraising centre from an office in Carrowreagh Industrial Estate in Dundonald. At one point he claimed he had raised 4m for the organisation before the office was shut following a dispute between him and former close associate Nick Griffin, the ex-BNP leader. A split in the party led former members to post footage on YouTube criticising Dowson and his tactics. He went on to become the self-proclaimed leader of the flag protests after restrictions were placed on the flying of the Union flag at Belfast City Hall in November 2012. He was often seen addressing crowds at rallies in the city centre, where in February 2013 he shared the platform with TUV leader Jim Allister and victims' campaigner Willie Frazer. Videos of his speeches are still available on YouTube. In one he tells then PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggott: "You can arrest 10,000 of us, you won't get us off the street and you won't stop us flying the Union flag - ever." Dowson helped set up the Protestant Coalition party in April 2013 on the back of the flag protests but quickly stepped away, claiming the movement had not realised the potential he had envisaged. He appeared in court accused of a number of offences linked to the flag protests and one of the conditions of his bail was that he couldn't attend any demos. But at one rally a seven-foot cardboard cut-out of him was held aloft by Paul Golding, who had helped him form Britain First. In April 2015 Dowson was given a three-month suspended jail sentence after pleading guilty to three charges of participating in unlawful processions in 2013. The court was told that he was under threat from two different sources but no further details were revealed. At an earlier remand hearing he represented himself in court but said that Bryson, who was in the public gallery, was acting as a legal adviser. Dowson was also involved in another high-profile protest in Belfast - against abortion - at the opening of the Marie Stopes private clinic in Great Victoria Street. A daughter brought her baby son to the demonstration and draped a graphic anti-abortion poster over his buggy. Dowson's presence, along with his banner for the UK Life League, was criticised by several other pro-life organisations, which said journalists shouldn't be talking to him. Bizarrely, Dowson hailed the fact that Protestants and Catholics were standing together in the demonstration as "marvellous". In 2016 the New York Times identified him as the founder of the Patriot News Agency, which the paper said he had established to help elect Donald Trump as US President. Dowson said he had spread anti-Hillary Clinton pro-Trump memes and soundbites into sections of the population who were too disillusioned with politics to take any notice of conventional campaigning. The New York Times said the postings were viewed hundreds of thousands of times. Last year he claimed he was an adviser to 150-plus companies and parties around the world with offices in Hungary - from where he was once barred - Texas and Belgrade. Hope Not Hate has closely monitored Dowson and his activities. Mr Collins said of him: "He seems to see himself as some kind of benevolent individual now who wants to offer the wealth of his experience and knowledge to other people." Hilary Simmons, 59, died following an incident at a shop in Middlesbrough (Cleveland Police/PA) Tributes have been paid to a Tesco employee who died after an alleged shoplifting incident at the store where she worked. Hilary Simmons, 59, died suddenly following an incident at the Tesco Extra in Corporation Road, Middlesbrough, which led police to arrest two men on suspicion of manslaughter. Colleagues had clubbed together to buy her a Mothers Day present as a thank you for her caring ways, her family said. Following the incident on Monday evening, her family released a statement saying: Hilary was a much loved mummy, wife, family member, friend and colleague. * Family of Hilary Simmons Release Photo and Tribute * The heartbroken family of 59-year-old Hilary Simmons, who sadly died after taking ill in Tesco on Corporation Road in Middlesbrough on Monday 30th April, have today paid tribute to her. Hilarys fa https://t.co/4pN1JE3BuA pic.twitter.com/oK4qoukHa1 Cleveland Police (@ClevelandPolice) May 3, 2018 She was known to all her work colleagues as Tesco mummy and was very well thought of and respected in the workplace. So much so, that on Mothers Day all of the staff contributed to buy her a gift to show their appreciation to her. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her, especially by her husband, son, daughter (known as her little girl) and her Yorkshire terrier, George who she adored. We will cherish the memories we have had with mummy and would like to thank everyone who has expressed their sympathies and condolences so far. We as a family would like to request privacy at this time to enable us to grieve. Cleveland Police said two men aged 35 and 37, who were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter and attempted theft have been bailed pending further enquiries. Anyone who was in Tesco at the time of the incident is asked to contact Cleveland Police on 101. Check out the moves from this cop as he was caught on video dancing to Pharrell Williams Happy. Officer Cody Pruitt is seen trying to encourage others to join in as he struts while also holding an ice cream. The mother who recorded the officers moves in Westboro, South Carolina, described it as a moment shell never forget. It was such a great feeling to see him dancing and showing that police officers have a human side to them, Christina Cook told the Press Association. She had been at the Colleton County Rice Festival with her family. With all the negative in the news, it was great to see an officer being so friendly and positive. I never intended for the video to go viral. I originally posted it to Facebook so the officer could see it, and I wasnt sure who the officer was at the time and I knew someone in my town would know who it was so it would eventually get back to him. Well, it got to him, and very quickly too! Its definitely been a happy experience to see so many people enjoying my video just as much as my girls and I enjoyed watching him dance. Its a moment Ill never forget!! Australias prime minister has said his wife was flattered and charmed to be described by French President Emmanuel Macron as delicious. The compliment has sparked lighthearted conjecture during the French leaders first official visit Down Under. Mr Macron raised eyebrows on Wednesday with his description of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbulls wife of 38 years, Lucy, during a Sydney press conference. I want to thank you for your welcome, thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome, Mr Macron told the prime minister. Lost in translation: Emmanuel Macron thanks Malcolm Turnbull and 'delicious' wife Lucy https://t.co/74EP9VCHcV The Sydney Morning Herald (@smh) May 2, 2018 Mr Turnbull showed no hint of jealousy when questioned on Thursday about the compliment, which the beaming prime minister revealed he also found charming. Lucy was very flattered, Mr Turnbull told reporters. Shes asked me to say that she found the presidents compliment as charming as it was memorable. President Macron charmed Australia. He certainly charmed all of us, all the Turnbulls, the prime minister said. Mrs Turnbull is both flattered and charmed, as we all are. Expand Close Emmanuel Macron's comments were headline news in Australia (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emmanuel Macron's comments were headline news in Australia (AP) The presidents comment quickly sparked lighthearted reaction on social media and in the Australian press amid lively conjecture about the French leaders intent. Sydneys best-selling newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, reported the comment on its front page on Thursday under the headline President Pepe Le Pew, likening Mr Macron to the Warner Bros love-sick French skunk cartoon character. Despite mr Macrons deadpan delivery, some observers felt he may have been joking. The comment was made just before lunch and he and Mr Turnbull had made previous comments about food. Expand Close Malcolm Turnbull's wife Lucy AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Malcolm Turnbull's wife Lucy Others felt Mr Macron may simply have slipped up in his use of English, since the French word for delicious delicieux also translates as delightful. The more mischievous may have even considered Mr Macrons comment to possibly be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Mr Trumps visit to Paris last year, when he was caught telling Mr Macrons wife, Brigitte, that she was in such great shape, before looking to her husband and saying, beautiful. In any case, the moment made headlines in Australia as a somewhat comedic ending to a serious news conference focusing on violent May Day protests in Paris, the Iran nuclear deal and Chinas growing influence. Mr Macron ended his trip to Sydney on Thursday with a thumbs-up and a farewell wave to the prime minister. Mr Macrons next stop is the South Pacific island nation of New Caledonia, where locals are preparing for a referendum in November on whether the French territory will become independent of France. Greek riot police have fired tear gas to try to disperse protesters on the island of Lesbos who tried to topple a police bus during a demonstration against a European Union migration policy. The protesters were among 2,500 demonstrators who gathered in Lesboss main port as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras arrived to speak at a conference. A large contingent of riot police formed a cordon to block the protesters from advancing further, and scores of them then tried to push over a police bus. Officers fired tear gas and earlier discharged a flash grenade. No one has been injured or arrested. The crowd has regrouped but there has not been any further violence. A general strike on Thursday virtually shut down the island in protest at a 2016 agreement between the EU and Turkey that has left thousands of asylum seekers stranded on Lesbos. Expand Close Greece Migrants AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Greece Migrants Under the deal, migrants arriving on Greek islands from Turkey are held and face deportation to Turkey unless they successfully apply for asylum in Greece. The deal has created a massive backlog, angering people on Lesbos and other Greek islands. Most businesses, shops, cafes and local government offices were shut in the main town of Mytilene. The only sign of normality was that police officers were still on duty, and the local tax office was open. Stores were also closed in protest on the nearby island of Chios. More than 15,000 migrants and refugees remain stuck on Lesbos, Chios and three other islands, most staying in severely overcrowded camps. Thousands of people are still living in appalling conditions with limited access to medical facilities, the aid group Doctors Without Borders said. Conditions at the largest refugee camp in Lesbos were putting the health and lives of people stranded on the island at risk, a spokesman said. Additional police officers, including anti-riot units, were sent to Lesbos and took up positions around Mytilene. Supporters and opponents of the government used vans fitted with loudspeakers to promote the protest as well as a speech planned by the prime minister. Tension on the islands has been building as the number of migrants arriving from Turkey has risen sharply in recent weeks. The situation on the island is exceptionally difficult. We are feeling the effects of a long-term financial crisis and the way the refugee crisis has been handled, Lesbos Mayor Spyros Galinos said. For there to be any talk of growth or recovery, we must first be lifted out of this emergency situation. The government has promised to move thousands of asylum seekers to the mainland but says the effort will take several months to implement requiring additional staff and more shelter sites around Greece. In the meantime, the number of daily arrivals continues to rise on the island and Greeces land border with Turkey. Authorities said 53 people believed to be from Iraq and Syria were picked up on Thursday after a yacht used to smuggle them into the country ran aground on a remote mainland beach in north-eastern Greece. The Turkish-flagged yacht ran aground on Molyvoti beach in the north-eastern Rodopi region, far from any of the usual smuggling routes used to ferry migrants and refugees from Turkey to Greece. The group was made up of 19 men, 11 women and 23 children between the ages of two and eight. Supporters of opposition leader Nikol Pashinian protest in Republic Square in Yerevan (Thanassis Stavrakis/AP) The opposition politician who has led weeks of mass demonstrations in Armenia has called for the protests to take a break after the ruling party appeared to clear the way for him to become prime minister. On a fast-moving day of turmoil that began with crowds blocking roads, railways and the airport in the capital of Yerevan, the head of the ruling Republican Partys faction in parliament said it would vote on May 8 for any prime minister candidate nominated by a third of the bodys 105 members. That effectively promised the job to protest leader Nikol Pashinian, just one day after parliament rejected him. Expand Close Supporters of opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinian wave an Armenian flag (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Supporters of opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinian wave an Armenian flag (AP) Mr Pashinian told a Wednesday evening rally that his Elk party and the two other opposition factions would nominate him on Thursday. Together, those parties hold 47 seats, well over the one-third mark set by the Republicans, who will not nominate a candidate of their own. Armenia will have a prime minister on May 8, Republican faction leader Vagram Bagdasarian said. In turn, Mr Pashinian called for supporters not to protest on Thursday, saying: Tomorrow, we will work in parliament. Mr Pashinian was the only candidate nominated in Tuesdays parliament vote for prime minister, but lost 45-55. Expand Close Nikol Pashinian looks set to become prime minister (Sergei Grits/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nikol Pashinian looks set to become prime minister (Sergei Grits/AP) The protests began on April 13, plunging Armenia into political turmoil and leading to the resignation of prime minister Serzh Sargsyan just days after his appointment. Mr Sargsyan had led the country as president for 10 years, but stepped down because of term limits. Soon thereafter, parliament named him prime minister under a new government structure that gave the post greater powers. Protesters said the move effectively allowed him to remain as leader indefinitely. After he lost the vote in parliament, Mr Pashinian called for Wednesdays nationwide strike. Earlier in the day, Mr Pashinian warned the government not to bring troops to the capital to quell the demonstrations. Expand Close An elderly supporter of Nikol Pashinian looks on during a protest (Sergei Grits/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp An elderly supporter of Nikol Pashinian looks on during a protest (Sergei Grits/AP) Police and security services are neutral, and if they (government) will bring for example the army to Yerevan, all soldiers will come to us and they will join us. And there is no way for any solution by force, he said. Acts of civil disobedience took place elsewhere in the small former Soviet republic. Protesters occupied the city hall in Gyumri, Armenias second-largest city, and some significant roads in the countryside became impassable. The roads are key conduits to Iran and Georgia; Armenias two other borders, with Azerbaijan and Turkey, are closed. The State Revenue Committee warned that the blockages could present a serious blow to Armenias food security and urged protesters not to interfere with food deliveries. The national railway said it was suspending passenger service for Yerevans suburban area because of protesters blocking the tracks. I think that the Republican Party yesterday have made a suicide pact, as a party, as a wholeNikol Pashinian About 300 demonstrators used cars to block the road to Armenias main international airport, forcing many travellers to make long walks with their luggage to catch flights. Mr Pashinian said that by rejecting him as prime minister, the ruling party had dealt itself a fatal blow. I think that the Republican Party yesterday have made a suicide pact, as a party, as a whole, he said. The opposition leader spearheading weeks of protests in Armenia has warned the government not to deploy troops as his supporters blocked roads, cut access to the countrys main airport and occupied at least one municipal building. Nikol Pashinian said parliaments rejection of his bid to lead the country had only galvanised the opposition, and that if the government brings troops to the capital Yerevan to quell protests, all the soldiers will come to us and join us. Mr Pashian said: Today, our actions are much bigger and there is a big crowd reaction from society and from the people. But he emphasised that Armenias political crisis cannot be resolved by force. Expand Close Supporters of opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinian wave an Armenian flag (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Supporters of opposition lawmaker Nikol Pashinian wave an Armenian flag (AP) Protesters occupied the city hall in Armenias second-largest city, Gyumri, and media reports said protesters made some significant highways in the countryside impassable. The State Revenue Committee warned that the blockages could present a serious blow to Armenias food security and called on protesters not to interfere with food deliveries. Some train services were suspended, and demonstrators are converging in the evening on Yerevans central Republic Square, where nightly demonstrations over the past three weeks have attracted crowds of tens of thousands. The protests have plunged the country into political turmoil and led to the resignation of prime minister Serzh Sargsyan just days after his appointment. Expand Close Political turmoil has gripped Armenia since mid-April (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Political turmoil has gripped Armenia since mid-April (AP) Mr Sargsyan had led the country as president for 10 years, but stepped down because of term limits. Soon afterwards, parliament named him prime minister under a new government structure that gave the post greater powers. Protesters claimed the move effectively allowed him to remain the countrys leader indefinitely. Mr Pashinian, an opposition MP who has led the protests, demanded to be named prime minister, but the parliament, where Mr Sargsyans Republican Party has the majority, rejected his bid on Tuesday. Mr Pashinian said that move effectively was suicidal for the party. The parliament will hold another vote on naming a prime minister next Tuesday. It was not immediately clear if the ruling party would put forth a candidate. Mr Pashinian was the only candidate in the first vote. The ruling party said it would not nominate its own candidate in order to avoid inflaming tensions. Expand Close Protesters in Republic Square in Yereva (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Protesters in Republic Square in Yereva (AP) Although the vote against Mr Pashinian in the parliament dashed the oppositions hopes for a quick resolution of the tensions, there were no immediate signs that tempers would boil over into clashes. Mr Pashinian insisted that the demonstrations would continue to be peaceful. He said: Police and security services are neutral and if they (government) will bring for example the army to Yerevan, all soldiers will come to us and they will join us. And there is no way for any solution by force. The national railway operator, meanwhile, announced that it was suspending passenger service for the capitals suburban area because of protesters blocking tracks. Expand Close Supporters of opposition leader Nikol Pashinian dance in Republic Square (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Supporters of opposition leader Nikol Pashinian dance in Republic Square (AP) About 300 demonstrators used cars to block the road to Armenias main international airport, forcing many travellers to take long walks hauling their luggage to catch flights. The demonstrators on Republic Square have been determined but appeared largely cheerful. Scores of protesters carried a mock coffin and then smashed it to the ground Wednesday, symbolising what they believe is the death of Armenias ruling party. Mr Pashinian said that by rejecting his bid to become prime minister, the ruling party had dealt itself a fatal blow. I think that the Republican Party yesterday have made a suicide pact, as a party, as a whole, he said. Acts of disobedience took place elsewhere in the small former Soviet republic on Wednesday, including protesters occupying the mayors office in Gyumri. President Donald Trump has hired a veteran lawyer who represented Bill Clinton during his impeachment process as the White House shifted to a more aggressive approach to the Russia investigation that has reached a critical stage. The White House announced the hiring of lawyer Emmet Flood after disclosing the retirement of Ty Cobb, who for months has been the administrations point person dealing with special counsel Robert Mueller. It is the latest shake-up for a legal team grappling with unresolved questions on how to protect the president from legal and political jeopardy in Mr Muellers Russia probe, which is nearing its one-year anniversary. White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that Mr Cobb had been discussing the decision for weeks and would retire at the end of May, and that Mr Flood would be joining the White House staff to represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt. The replacement of Mr Cobb with Mr Flood may herald a more adversarial stance toward the Mueller team as Mr Trumps lawyers debate whether to make the president available for an interview with the special counsel and brace for the prospect of a grand jury subpoena if they refuse. Though Mr Cobb did not personally represent the president, he functioned as a critical point person for Mr Muellers document and interview requests, coordinated dealings with prosecutors and worked closely with Mr Trumps personal lawyers. Expand Close Special counsel Robert Mueller (J Scott Applewhite/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Special counsel Robert Mueller (J Scott Applewhite/AP) He had repeatedly urged cooperation with the investigation in hopes of bringing it to a quick end, and viewed his role as largely finished now that interviews with dozens of current and former White House official have been completed. Yet Mr Flood, who was embroiled in the bitterly partisan Clinton impeachment fight 20 years ago, may well advocate a more confrontational approach. His law firm, Williams & Connolly, is one of Washingtons most prominent, with a reputation for aggressive advocacy for its clients and a history of tangling with the government but also representing senior White House officials, including presidents. Mr Flood, a former law clerk to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, has defended former vice president Dick Cheney in a lawsuit brought by former CIA official Valerie Plame and represented George W Bush in executive-privilege disputes with Congress suggesting he is well-versed in the powers of the presidency and may invoke those authorities as the Mueller investigation moves forward. Mr Flood was always the top choice of White House counsel Don McGahn for the job Mr Cobb was given last summer, according to a person familiar with the hiring decision who described Flood as a fighter. Mr Cobb and Mr McGahn had different views on how cooperative the White House should be with the special counsel investigation. Mr Cobbs retirement, though not a surprise, was nonetheless the latest evolution for a legal team marked by turnover. Mr Trumps lead personal lawyer, John Dowd, left in March. Another lawyer who Mr Trump tried to bring on ultimately passed because of conflicts, and the president two weeks ago added former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a pair of former prosecutors, Martin and Jane Raskin, to work alongside mainstay lawyer Jay Sekulow. Critical decisions lie ahead. The presidents legal team has not committed him to an interview with Mr Mueller, who has dozens of questions on a broad array of topics he would like to ask. Mr Trump initially said he was eager for an interview, but he has not said so recently. His view of Mr Mueller soured further after raids last month that targeted one of his personal lawyers, Michael Cohen, in a separate investigation. Those interview negotiations are hugely consequential, especially after Mr Dowd confirmed to The Associated Press this week that Mr Muellers team in March raised the prospect of issuing a grand jury subpoena for Mr Trump, an extraordinary idea that would seek to force a sitting president to testify under oath. It was not immediately clear in what context the possibility of a subpoena was raised or how serious Mr Muellers prosecutors were about such a move. Mr Mueller is probing not only Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates but possible obstruction of justice by Mr Trump after he took office. If Mr Muellers team decides to subpoena Mr Trump as part of the investigation, the president could still fight it in court or refuse to answer questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination. Mr Trump lashed out against the investigation in familiar fashion on Wednesday, saying on Twitter: There was no Collusion (it is a Hoax) and there is no Obstruction of Justice (that is a setup & trap). Also on Wednesday, Mr Trump echoed the concerns of a small group of House conservatives who have been criticising the Justice Department for not turning over certain investigation documents. What are they afraid of? Mr Trump tweeted. At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved! It was unclear what Trump meant by get involved. Several Republican House committee chairmen have recently negotiated deals with the Justice Department to turn over documents related to Russia investigations into Trump and also a 2016 investigation into Democrat Hillary Clintons emails. The Justice Department says that dozens of members and staff from both parties have viewed thousands of classified documents and House staff members have temporary office space in the department to review additional materials. But some politicians who sit on those committees remain unsatisfied, particularly members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Some of them have asked for an unredacted version of a Justice Department document that sets out the scope for Muellers probe, a request that the department immediately denied because it pertains to an ongoing investigation. A delegation from Nashville has been in Belfast as part of the Sister City relationship between the two cities. As part of their visit, there was a reception in the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre in Victoria Street, during which the Ulster-Scots Agency launched a new publication on one of the most famous residents of Nashville, Andrew Jackson, who served as the seventh president of the United States of America, from 1829 to 1837. Like all of us, Jackson was a flawed man, but he was also a great man and he is still remembered and revered as "the hero of the common man". He once said: "It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their own selfish purposes." That is a view which is shared by many people today on both sides of the Atlantic. There is an Andrew Jackson Centre at Boneybefore, on the outskirts of Carrickfergus, which was the ancestral community of the Jacksons, but we could do so much more to highlight the fact that he was the first Ulster-American president and the first of just three presidents who were first-generation Americans. Jackson is featured on the front of the US 20 dollar bill and there are counties and cities named after him across the USA, from Tennessee and Texas in the south to Indiana and Ohio in the north. A sculpture of Jackson on horseback stands in front of the White House in Washington and there are also identical statues in Nashville, New Orleans and Jacksonville, but there is a no statue of him in his ancestral homeland. We are certainly missing out on something here. Nevertheless, it is true that we are doing better and, over a period of six week, the BBC has broadcast a series of television programmes about Ulster-Scots communities. The presenters, Mark Thompson and Ruth Sanderson, started in Portavogie and then visited Raphoe, Cullybackey, Markethill and the Foyle Valley. The final programme explored stories of emigration from Co Londonderry, looking at those who left Ulster and the impact on the communities that stayed behind. The programmes had a richness of content and a warmth and authenticity for which all involved in their production deserve credit. So, there are encouragements and the Ulster-Scots Broadcast Fund, which supported the BBC series, is a sign of progress. However, this is only the start of a journey and the missed opportunities continue to occur. Last month was the 200th anniversary of the birth of Captain Thomas Mayne Reid, the author of many adventure novels. These were especially popular with boys and they were popular around the world. President Theodore Roosevelt described him as a major early inspiration, yet here in Ulster he has been almost entirely forgotten, in spite of the fact that he grew up in a Presbyterian manse at Ballyroney, in Co Down, the son of Ulster-Scots parents. For that reason, I had hoped that the cultural establishment in Northern Ireland might have done something to mark the anniversary, but it seems that the bi-centenary passed almost unnoticed. Yet, the work of Mayne Reid is part of the cultural heritage of Northern Ireland and is part of our cultural wealth. This was certainly a missed opportunity. If we are to build a shared and better future in Northern Ireland, then as a society we need to look at how and why such things happen, because cultural traditions matter to most people. Why, then, is it that some aspects of our cultural diversity are so often ignored, especially those associated with the Ulster-Scots? During the reception for the visitors from Nashville, Arlene Foster gave a short address in which she spoke about our diverse cultural traditions. She also spoke about equity, about addressing our cultural traditions holistically and about affording all our cultural traditions respect and recognition. I was encouraged by those remarks, because it seems to me that the principles she was affirming are central to the challenge of creating a shared and better future and building a more united community here in Ulster. Many large organisations, including the NHS, close ranks when engulfed by a crisis which people within its ranks already think has been badly handled There is a continuing worry among many people in the aftermath of the announcement by the Belfast Health Trust on Tuesday that 2,500 people are being recalled in light of the concerns about the work of consultant Dr Michael Watt. While it will take some time to deal with the cases of those who are recalled, there are questions which need answered in the short term. This should be a priority if it can help to alleviate the concerns of even a small number of people. We report the experience of some people, including Stephen Wallace, who had been seen by Dr Watt for more than a decade. He was not surprised that his patients had been called for review. In an attempt to gain more information about what is happening, the Belfast Telegraph submitted eleven questions to the Belfast Trust, but we only received a short response which differs little from what they were saying 24 hours earlier. The last thing which the public and the patients need at this difficult time is a wall of silence. Many large organisations, including the NHS, close ranks when engulfed by a crisis which people within its ranks already think has been badly handled. Sadly, the shortcomings in the local NHS on this subject have been mirrored by another shocking revelation that in England some 450,000 women aged between 68-71 did not receive a final routine screen for breast cancer. As a result, it is thought that up to 270 women may have died or had their lives shortened. In the Irish Republic there was also distressing news that 208 women diagnosed with cervical cancer should have received earlier intervention treatment. Seventeen women died and 162 were not notified of independent audit results. The Dublin Government has rightly agreed to an independent investigation into the failures in the State's screening programme. Such scandals inevitably dominate the headlines and lessen some people's faith in the medical establishment, which is unfair to those health professionals who carry out such good work every day. However, when things go wrong it is important for the health authorities to be transparent and reassuring. Certainly the Belfast Trust should make a better start by responding proactively to reasonable expressions of concern. An Indonesian family who escaped from the Islamic State in Raqqa gather inside their tent at a refugee camp, in Ain Issa, Syria, July 24, 2017. About 39 percent of Indonesian university students have been exposed to radical Islamic ideology, Suhardi Alius, the head of Indonesias National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT), told BenarNews. The counter-terror chief confirmed a figure given April 28 by Budi Gunawan, the head of Indonesias National Intelligence Agency (BIN), during a lecture to a college seminar in Semarang, Central Java. Thats an estimate, were talking about a survey. Thats what it indicated, Suhardi said in Padang, West Sumatra, on Wednesday. The important thing is that we recognize and prevent it. Not just students, but their teachers also must be monitored, he said. These days Im always visiting campuses. Wawan Purwanto, a BIN spokesman, said the figure came from BIN internal research conducted at state and private universities in 15 provinces in 2017. Three universities attracted BINs notice because of the high levels of dissemination of and support for radicalism and extremism, Wawan said. He declined to name the universities but said their rectors had been notified so they could address the situation. Ignorning it could have a negative impact, as when a person who is a sympathizer later becomes a supporter of terrorist acts, he told BenarNews. On tens of thousands of questionnaires distributed at universities, he said, many respondents indicated they would support making Indonesia an Islamic state, and expressed support for the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, he said. They were asked to mark agree, dont agree and dont know. The graphic showed that 24 percent of college students and 23.3 percent of high school students agree with the concept of violent jihad, Wawan said. Efforts to counter radicalism Yenny Wahid, director of the Wahid Foundation, a non-governmental organization that promotes interreligious and cross cultural understanding, agreed that radicalism has been present on campuses for decades while efforts to counter it are relatively new. We see that there are efforts by the government to ward off radicalism, especially on campuses, but it needs to be continually increased, she said. Radicalization movements continue systematically, building narratives and offering dreams that in fact are far from reality. Wahid Foundation researcher Alamsyah M. Djafar cited research carried out in 2017 where 7.7 percent of 1,500 adults surveyed said they were prepared to carry out radical actions if they had the opportunity. The government should be concerned about this figure. It needs to be tackled with a variety of approaches, he said. Radicalism targets campuses because young people are easily influenced and do not have a deep understanding of religion, he said. The figures cited by BIN and BNPT are consistent with findings of the Jakarta-based Alvara Research Center and Mata Air Foundation in October 2017. The groups polled 1,800 students from 25 leading universities in Indonesia and 2,400 students from high schools across Java and other islands. We asked about the state ideology with a statement saying, The Islamic state is worth fighting for to implement more consistent Islamic teachings and 23.5 percent of college students agree, and 16.3 percent of high school students agree, Alvara CEO Hasanuddin Ali told reporters in Jakarta The survey revealed that 17.8 percent of university students and 18.3 percent of high school students preferred the concept of a caliphate ruled by a Muslim spiritual leader over Indonesias current republic. Commitment At a Bali meeting in September 2017, about 3,000 university leaders from across Indonesia declared their common commitment to root out intolerance and radicalism on campus. Several Indonesian institutions have been working together to tackle the problem, according to Wawan, the BIN spokesman. He cited the Education Ministry, the Religious Affairs Ministry, the Indonesian Ulema Council and university rectors. Its done openly through seminars, hoaxes on social media are corrected, cyber patrols so students dont ingest raw information they encounter that could point them in the diection of radicalism and extremism, he said. The Ministry of Religious Affairs also is involved in efforts to prevent radicalism on campuses. We have a center of research on moderate religious education from pesantren (Islamic schools) all the way through to university levels, said Kamaruddin Amin, the ministrys director-general for Islamic education. His department oversees the activities of extracuriccular religious groups run by students, through school officials. And if teachers are ignoring moderate curriculums and teaching radicalism they can be reported, and we will train them, he said. A University of Indonesia spokeswoman, Rifelly Dewi Astuti, said the institution promotes the concept of Indonesian nationhood and pluralism, forbids intolerance and radicalism on campus, and has prevention mechanisms in place. They include counseling, monitoring of students academic records and periodic guidance every semester by academic counsellors in each department, she said. At the twilight of his political career, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is aiming to make a comeback at age 92 by trying to demolish the party that helped him transform Malaysia into one of Southeast Asias most-prosperous nations. During his 22-year-rule that began in 1981 the longest in Malaysias history Mahathir delivered prosperity with solid backing from the United Malays National Organization, or UMNO, the anchor party in a ruling bloc that has dominated Malaysian politics since independence from Britain in 1957. But Mahathir, a former medical doctor popularly known as Dr M, quit UMNO and came out of political retirement two years ago, in protest over allegations of financial malfeasance directed against Prime Minister Najib Razak, his former protege. He said UMNO needed to be vanquished. It is not easy for me to destroy the party that I loved for 60 years, Mahathir said, referring to UMNO. But now, today, I am fighting to take it down. The longtime leader made the statement during a convention speech in January, in which he accepted to lead the main opposition bloc in a battle against the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN, or National Front) coalition, led by Najib, in the May 9 general election. Mahathir stunned the nation when he bolted to the opposition and joined forces with his arch nemesis, former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, whom he once sent to jail on a sodomy charge. Mahathir is leading Pakatan Harapan (PH), an amalgam that includes the Malay-led multiracial Peoples Justice Party (PKR), the Democratic Action Party (DAP), the Malaysian United Indigenous Party (Bersatu) and the faith-based National Trust Party (Amanah). All are campaigning under PKRs banner after authorities recently rejected Pakatans application for registration as a political coalition and also de-listed Bersatu as a party. Mahathir, during an interview with BenarNews in September 2016, described UMNO as beyond resuscitation, beyond turning around. It has become very bad. It has become very, obviously, very corrupt. The leaders are corrupt. They dont express the views of the people, he said. So we have no choice but to form another party. Obsessed about control Najib, who is pitching a campaign promise of economic growth built around infrastructure projects, explained his falling out with Mahathir during an interview with Bloomberg News last week. I think hes obsessed about control, about calling the shots, in fact, when we were quite close together he even suggested establishing a council of elders, Najib said. Of course, you can imagine whos going to chair the council of elders. And a sitting prime minister, after every cabinet, I suppose I would have to march to his office to get his consent. In recent years, Mahathir has been drawn back into the political spotlight because of his multiple jabs at Najib, his former political student who has been embroiled in a multibillion dollar financial scandal involving 1MDB, a state development fund. Mahathir, and other opposition leaders and activists, have also accused Najib of redrawing electoral boundaries within weeks of the polls to favor UMNOs candidates. But Najib told Bloomberg News that Mahathir had also presided over several district redraws when his former political mentor was in power. Critics also accused Najib of further stifling dissent or criticism against his government after the country began prohibiting fake news in April. Parliament passed a law then to make the malicious spread or creation of fake news punishable by up to six years in prison and a maximum fine of up to 500,000 ringgit (about U.S. $128,000). On Wednesday, authorities said they were investigating Mahathir under the new law over claims last week that he suspected sabotage of a private plane that was supposed to take him from the capital Kuala Lumpur to Langkawi district, where he is running for a parliamentary seat. We have opened an inquiry based on a police report made against Mahathir, Kuala Lumpur police chief Mazlan Lazim told reporters. Private medical practice Mahathir will turn 93 on July 10. He was appointed as the countrys fourth prime minister on July 16, 1981, but he began his political career in 1946 when he joined UMNO. Mahathir, the son of a school principal, was educated at Sultan Abdul Hamid College, one of Malaysias oldest and most prestigious schools, based in his home state of Kedah. After receiving his degree in medicine from the University of Malaya, Mahathir worked as a government health officer and later ran a private medical practice in Kedah for seven years. He was elected to parliament in 1964. In the 1940s and 1950s, using the pen name Che Det, Mahathir wrote articles on Malay politics and economic issues for The Sunday Times. On Sept. 26, 1969, Mahathir was sacked from UMNO by the countrys first premier, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was reportedly irked by Mahathirs dissenting opinion about ethnic Malay nationalism. He rejoined the party after Tunku Abduls resignation in September 1970. Malaysias economy under Mahathirs leadership boomed from 1991 to 1995, with annual gross domestic product (GDP) growing an average 8.7 percent and low unemployment rate of about 2.5 percent. According to the World Bank, the Muslim-majority nation that is now known for its semiconductor factories posted an estimated 2017 GDP of U.S. $989 billion, making it the third wealthiest nation in Southeast Asia, after Singapore and Brunei. Authoritarian tendencies During Mahathirs early tenure as prime minister, he solidified his authority by dramatically reducing the power of the sultans who ruled Malaysias states. He was also accused of having authoritarian tendencies after he ordered the arrests and detention of more than 100 people, including opposition leaders and activists, under the internal security act in 1987. In 2017, Mahathir stopped short of apologizing, but accepted blame for the arrests. I accept the blame even though the detention was not my decision, he said in a blog post, decades after the operation, dubbed Ops Lalang. I am now told that detainees were tortured. I regret that the detainees in Ops Lalang were tortured. This is against the law, he said. Longtime parliamentarian Lim Kit Siang, leader of the Democratic Action Party, and his son, current DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, were among those rounded up in the crackdown described as an effort to prevent race riots. Lim spent 17 months in detention while his son was jailed for 12 months. Three newspapers The Star, Sin Chew Daily and the now-defunct Watan were also suspended. Yet Malaysias high-tech industry, including software engineering, grew under Mahathir, as the nation also saw the building of mega projects, including the Petronas Twin Towers the worlds tallest buildings until 2004. At the peak of his leadership, Mahathir developed and made Putrajaya the countrys new administrative center in 1999, replacing the old city Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia emerged relatively unscathed from the Asian financial crisis in the 1990s after Mahathir defied the International Monetary Fund by introducing controversial currency controls that effectively isolated his country from the global economy. Admitting wrong decision During an interview with Sin Chew Daily at his office in Putrajaya in March, Mahathir said he would not have sacked Anwar, if he could have turned back the clock and chosen again. Mahathir said he made a wrong decision to go strictly by the book in acting against Anwar in 1998. From a political point of view, I would not have done this. When I was the prime minister, I promised myself not to do anything that would make people hate me, Mahathir said. On Feb. 29, 2016, Mahathir left UMNO after a public outcry over allegations that Najib had allegedly helped embezzle funds from 1MDB. U.S. authorities allege that between 2009 and 2014, top executives of 1MDB and Najibs associates looted at least $4.5 billion from the fund in a complex money-laundering scheme through acquisition of properties and bank deposits in the United States, Singapore, Switzerland and other countries. According to court documents filed by the U.S. Justice Department in a civil case that seeks to recover some of that money, about U.S. $681 million landed in Najibs private bank accounts. Najib said the cash was a political donation from Saudi Arabias royal family. He denied any wrongdoings related to1MDB. I left UMNO for a reason, Mahathir told reporters. That it is now a party that protects Najib at all costs, from any wrongdoings committed by him. Thousands of Filipino university students take part in a walkout protest in defense of a free press, in Baguio city, Feb. 23, 2018. Updated at 12:37 p.m. ET on 2018-05-03 Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte dispatched a special team to investigate the killing of a local broadcaster earlier this week as the nation marked World Press Freedom Day on Thursday, the government said. A team from a presidential task force on media security was ordered to investigate the killing of crusading broadcaster Edmund Sestoso, who died Tuesday, 24 hours after he was gunned down by two men on a motorbike in the central Philippines, a presidential spokesman said. We condemn all these killings and we are assuring the public that the government is doing all it can to fulfill its responsibility, Duterte spokesman Harry Roque told reporters in Manila. We will investigate that, try the accused and those found guilty of murdering will be punished. He said the government prioritized investigating Sestosos killing. Described as a simple man whose program on the dyGB radio station tackled corruption and other issues, Sestoso, 50, was fatally shot in Dumaguete city. He was the ninth journalist to be killed since President Rodrigo Duterte came to power in 2016 and the 182nd since dictator Ferdinand Marcos was ousted in 1986. While Dutertes government has been in power for only about two years, Roque said he had never forgotten the press people who were killed. He said the president had vowed to solve the deaths and punish those found guilty. He urged members of the media who felt threatened to approach the governments own task force and coordinate their security. Sestosos killing came a day after gunmen shot and killed a priest who was known to fight for causes affecting the local indigenous community in the north. While police have yet to establish the motive for the killing of Father Mark Anthony Ventura, the church has been at odds with Duterte over his anti-drugs crackdown that has left thousands dead. In addition, he recently ordered an Australian nun expelled from the country after she joined street protests criticizing his regime. On Thursday, media groups led by the Philippine Press Institute, the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines and the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility issued a joint statement saying the Duterte regime had altered and controlled the public discourse so radically. In his first 22 months in power, Mr. Duterte has earned the dubious honor of logging 85 various cases of attacks (on the) inalienable rights of citizens, the statement said. It noted the nine killings of journalists and the filing of 16 libel cases. A Thai police officer packs away confiscated marijuana after a news conference in Bangkok, during which authorities announced the seizure of drugs worth about U.S. $29 million in recent days, April 3, 2018. Southeast Asias transnational organized criminal economy is booming alongside increasing flows in legitimate regional trade, with underworld syndicates raking in more than U.S. $100 billion in annual revenue from narcotics smuggling and other illicit enterprises, the United Nations said Thursday. The U.N.s Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed this staggering figure in a statement it issued as some 200 diplomats and officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) gathered in Bangkok for a high-level conference to discuss ways to improve border management and counter organized crime. Trade flows within Southeast Asia have quadrupled over the past decade and are estimated to reach U.S. $375 billion per year by 2025, UNODC said. In parallel to these positive achievements, the criminal economy of East and Southeast Asia is growing, with conservative estimates of the value of transnational organized crime revenues exceeding U.S. $100 billion annually more than the gross domestic product of several ASEAN-member states, the U.N. agency said. Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prajin Juntong, who addressed the conference, warned that criminal syndicates and other nefarious groups could try to take advantage of the growing volume of legitimate commerce across the 10-member regional bloc. ASEAN economic and trade flows will continue to increase. While this is positive, it also provides increased opportunities for transnational crime groups who do not respect our borders, he said. Illegal activities like trafficking often mirror legal flows and movements of goods and services, and as the economy expands criminal and even terrorist networks will look for ways to benefit, added Prajin, who is also the justice minister. During the conference, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, Thailands minister of transport, underscored the relevance of border management, as he highlighted major investments in infrastructure across the region. Arkhom was apparently referring to a massive project to build roads and bridges in the region as part of Chinese leader Xi Jinpings landmark geopolitical strategy known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a modern-day Silk Road that aims to connect China to the rest of Asia and beyond. What we see as opportunities for economic and social development are seen by others as openings to expand cross-border criminal activity, he said. A significant increase in synthetic drug production and trafficking, growing timber and wildlife trafficking, as well as indications of new human trafficking and migrant smuggling patterns have been recorded in Southeast Asia, UNODC said. Chinas foreign direct investment (FDI) into ASEAN-member countries remains relatively small at 6.8 percent of the total net inflows in 2015, but Chinese corporations were currently involved in major infrastructure projects across the region, Singapore-based economist Weiwen Ng told Bloomberg News. China accounted for 14 percent of net FDI inflows into Thailand last year, 8 percent in Vietnam and Indonesia, and 6 percent in Malaysia, Ng said. The Philippines received a marginal share of 0.14 percent, he said. ACCESSIBILITY Report an Issue Accessibility Enhanced Pages BGSU offers alternative versions of all of its pages for our users. You can select the high-contrast version below to persist throughout your BGSU website experience. Accessibility Information Toggle High Contrast Events To individuals with disabilities, please indicate if you need special services, assistance or appropriate modifications to fully participate in events by contacting Accessibility Services, access@bgsu.edu, 419-372-8495. Please notify us prior to the event. Title IX Administrative Contact information Complaints or notice of alleged policy violations, or inquiries about or concerns regarding Title IX (sexual harassment) and procedures, may be made internally to: Lakeshia Dowlen, Title IX Coordinator, Office of Title IX, 207 Hayes Hall, Bowling Green, Ohio 43403, 419-372-8476. Inquiries may be made externally to: Office for Civil Rights (OCR) U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202-1100 Customer Service Hotline #: (800) 421-3481 OCR@ed.gov Title IX Deputy Coordinators See It. Hear It. Report It. The deportation madness surrounding bin Ladens former bodyguard, Sami A. (41), in Germany continues. German authorities still see no reason to deport the top Salafist to his home country even though the Tunisian minister responsible for the issue, Mehdi Ben Gharbia, assured BILD that Sami A. does NOT face the threat of torture in Tunisia. The concern that he might be tortured caused the court in North Rhine-Westphalia to put a halt to his deportation in 2017. Lower Saxonys Minister of the Interior, Boris Pistorius (SPD), says that it would be appropriate for North Rhine-Westphalia to carry out the deportation as quickly as possible if Tunisia were to make the required assurance (NO TORTURE). Auch Interessant A spokesperson for the Federal Minister of the Interior, Horst Seehofer, confirms that, in the past, protection guarantees from home countries (including Tunisia) stating that there was no risk of torture were repeatedly taken as sufficient grounds for cancelling court-ordered deportation stops. HOWEVER, the Tunisian ministers statement is only one factor, the spokesperson says. The overall situation has not immediately changed. SERIOUSLY? The truth is that the Federal Office for Refugees (BAMF) and the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia have been trying to get rid of the former confidant of mass murderer Osama bin Laden since 2006 to no avail. Even though the al-Qaeda member (who has been living in Bochum since 1997) is considered a dangerous preacher by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution, his residency in Germany must still be tolerated, and he has received monthly benefits of 1100 Euros. North Rhine-Westphalias Minister of the Interior, Herbert Reul (CDU): I would welcome Sami A. sitting on a plane to Tunisia as soon as possible. This would mean that North Rhine-Westphalias police would no longer have to observe him. The responsible Minister for Integration in North Rhine-Westphalia, Joachim Stamp (FDP) says that it is now the Federal governments task and that of the Ministry of the Interior, in particular to intensify diplomatic endeavours and to receive a guarantee from Tunisia concerning Sami A.s protection. Minister Gharbia assured BILD that he would be happy to issue a corresponding document. However, there has been no request from Berlin as of yet. Christian Lindner, head of the FDP: It is now up to the federal government to take the signals from Tunis as the basis for concrete agreements. Alexander Dobrindt, head of the CSU state group: Salafists and potential threats like Sami A. have no place in Germany and must be deported. Germany must not become a refuge for retired jihadists. PS: Sind Sie bei Facebook? Werden Sie Fan von BILD.de-Politik! To keep the rating score and review content relevant for your upcoming trip, we archive reviews older than up to 36 months. 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Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement. Thank you for being patient. Geoff Percival and Eamon Quinn US investment firm Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland has struck an agreement to buy Merrion Capital, the broker with offices in Dublin and Cork. The deal, which is subject to Central Bank approval, comes after Irish brokers have faced continuing tough markets since the banking and property crash, despite the strong recovery of recent years. Merrion said that the deal would make it better placed in the long-term to serve its private, institutional, and corporate clients by being part of a larger international group given the growing trend of consolidation in the financial services industry. Most of Merrions 80 staff are based in Dublin, who hold small shareholdings in the firm. Merrions staff were told of the closing of the deal late yesterday. The combined firm may be able to more closely compete with Davy and Goodbody. Its two main external shareholders are Bermuda-based financial services company Somers and property investment group Tetrarch Capital. Merrion chief executive Pat ONeill said Cantor, which acquired Dolmen Stockbrokers in 2012, was ideally positioned to meet Merrions growth needs, given its similar values, broad product range and global reach in research. The values, strategies and approaches of both firms are similar, and the transaction will undoubtedly prove beneficial to both firms and their clients, Mr ONeill said. Ensuring continuity of the Merrion team, strategy and our client-focused philosophy was an important factor in our decision to join Cantor and will help us build scale and deepen our product offering for existing clients in all areas of our business, he said. Cantor chief executive Ronan Reid said the addition of Merrions wealth management, debt, and corporate finance teams, as well as its investment management division, will create one of the largest financial services firms in Ireland, while retaining both firms client-centric offering and approach. Merrion ranks as one of Irelands leading independent providers of financial services, with origins and values similar to Cantors business, Mr Reid said. Even before the crash Irish brokers were facing a downturn in profits generated from trading in Irish shares. In recent years, the costs of compliance and regulation have grown significantly. By Ann O'Loughlin A fund is entitled to judgment for 3.89m against members of a partnership over default on repayment of borrowings to build 16 apartments at Mill Race, Bunclody, Co Wexford. Promontoria (Gem) DAC, Haddington Road, Dublin, sued Ciaran Redmond, Lackabeg, Co Carlow, Michael O'Neill, Market Square, Bunclody, Peter Crean, Kildavin, Bunclody, and Clody Norton, Newtownbarry House, Bunclody, all trading as the Norc Partnership. The action arose out of a 3.89m loan made by Anglo Irish Bank to the partnership in 2005. The loan was later taken over by Nama and sold on in January 2017 to Promontoria (Gem). In June 2017, with the loan now standing at some 4.5m, Promontoria demanded repayment but it was not forthcoming. Promontoria appointed a receiver over the Bunclody apartments and also sought summary judgment against the defendants. Mr Justice Michael Twomey was satisfied to grant judgment for the principal sum of 3,896,000. He said only two members of the partnership, Mr Crean, who is a solicitor, and Ms Norton, a businesswoman, contested the summary judgement application. Mr Crean's argument that his case should go to a full hearing, rather than be dealt with summarily, was based on what he said was a binding agreement he reached with Promontoria in February 2018 whereby his liability for the 4.5m demand would be settled on an undertaking to pay 80,000. Ms Norton also relied on that alleged agreement and said the claim against her could not be sufficiently particularised until the issue over the alleged agreement was dealt with. Mr Justice Twomey rejected the case on including in relation to claims the proceedings were statute barred and that there was an alleged breach of the code of conduct for lending to small and medium enterprises. In relation to the alleged settlement agreement, the judge said it was not a credible defence to the summary proceedings. Even if agreement in principle had been reached on the 80,000 settlement figure, it was clear to the court that such an agreement would not be legally binding until legal documentation was signed by Promontoria, he said. Nearly 27,000 students have registered to vote for the first time in the run up to the upcoming referendum on the 8th Amendment. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has been running registration drives on campuses across the country to encourage young people to vote. By Ann O'Loughlin Anti-eviction campaigner Ben Gilroy has been given a one month suspended prison sentence after he admitted being in criminal contempt of court. The sentence was imposed on Mr Gilroy by Mr Justice Tony O'Connor for remarks made earlier this week when the High Court was hearing contempt of court proceedings against a Dublin couple Linda and Gordon Smith over their failure to comply with orders directing them to vacate their home. During the proceedings Mr Gilroy of Riverview, Athlumney Abbey, Navan, Co Meath admitted making the remarks on a video clip posted on social media. The remarks included describing the Judge as a being a member of "a satanic cult member" who in his decision to jail the couple had made the Irish Constitution "redundant". Mr Gilroy had also said on the clip that the Judge "had vacated his oath of office," that maybe people should "use the defence of the Dwelling Act," and "just wait for anyone coming through the door and blow their heads off with a gun." Mr Justice O'Connor deemed the comments to be in criminal contempt of the court and adjourned the matter to allow Mr Gilroy respond or obtain legal advice in the matter. When the case returned before the Judge today Mr Gilroy apologised to the court and said his remarks were "out of character." The clips, the court heard have been taken down. The Judge in handing down the sentence said the one month suspended sentence is to remain in place for a period of 30 months on conditions including that Mr Gilroy does not repeat such statements. Last Tuesday the Smiths spent a short time in custody after the Judge found them in contempt of court for refusing to comply with the terms of an injunction obtained by KBC Bank Ireland Plc in March. KBC obtained the injunction directing them to vacate their home on foot of a Circuit Court possession order the bank obtained in 2016. It claimed the couple failed to comply. They were released after they agreed to comply with the court order to leave their home at Hamlet Avenue, Cheiftan's Way, Balbriggan, Co Dublin. By Ann O'Loughlin The Court of Appeal has upheld a decision allowing the State deport to Jordan in 2016 a man allegedly involved with Islamic terrorists. The State claimed the man is the "foremost organiser and facilitator of travel by extremists prepared to undertake violent action on behalf of Islamic terrorists and was its main recruiter in Ireland. The man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, denies consulting with extremist leaders outside Ireland, that he represented a threat to national security or recruiting members for Islamic extremist groups. In 2016 Mr Justice Richard Humphreys dismissed the man's High Court actions aimed at preventing his deportation. The man was deported shortly afterwards. His lawyers appealed the High Court's finding that he had not made a valid asylum claim, which was opposed by the State. In a unanimous decision on Thursday, a court comprised of Mr Justice Michael Peart, Ms Justice Mary Irvine and Mr Justice Gerald Hogan dismissed the appeal after finding that the man had not made a valid application asylum as he claimed he had. The man claimed he was tortured in Jordan during the 1990s due to his political activities and feared being tortured if returned there. He lived in Ireland between 2000 and 2016, on the basis of having an Irish citizen child. In 2015 the authorities decided not to renew his residency permit because the child wasn't residing in the State. After being told the State wanted to deport him, the man sought asylum and alleged the Minister for Justice unlawfully refused to make a decision on his application. The decision to deport him breached his rights under Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights, he claimed. He sought various court orders aimed at setting aside the deportation order and compelling the Minister for Justice to accept his asylum application. Giving the Court of Appeal's decision Mr Justice Hogan said the appeal could not be brought under the 2000 Illegal Immigrants Act. This was because in 2000 the man had withdrawn his application for asylum in Ireland, and his application had not been refused by the Minister. The court also said the appeal amounted to "a collateral attack on an administrative decision by the Minister" which could only be challenged by way of judicial review proceedings brought under the 2000 Act. It was for this reason that the man could not make a claim that he had made a valid asylum claim in the absence of a direct challenge brought, under the 2000 Act, against the Minister's decision of June 2015 refusing his re-entry into the asylum system. In all the circumstances the court was satisfied to affirm the decision of the High Court. By Sarah-Jane Murphy A former property investor who was robbing Peter to pay Paul during a series of thefts and frauds which netted him almost 50,000 will be sentenced at the end of May. Jonathan Chubb (38) of Keeper Road, Drimnagh, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 34 counts of theft, two counts of providing a false reference, four counts of deception and six counts of possession of a forged driving licence and one count of money laundering on dates between March 2013 and July 2015. Today Garda Nathan McKenna told Ger Small BL, prosecuting, that Chubb stolen deposits from 11 people, who gave him cash believing he was the landlord of an apartment for rent at Oblate View, Tyrconnell Road, Dublin 8. Gda McKenna told the court that some of the people Chubb stole from had young children and babies. He said they were stressed, distraught and scared when they arrived to move into the property and found maybe fifteen people who had turned up to do the same thing. Gda McKenna told Ms Small that one of the injured parties suspected something was wrong after handing over a 900 deposit to Chubb, and she called him and asked for her money back. But after a phone conversation she then apologised for doubting him, gave him a deposit of 2000 and a box of chocolates by way of apology, the court heard. Another of Chubb's victims told gardai the defendant had handed him a key to the apartment and told him the property needed a few repairs and said he could move in the following week. This man took a photo of Chubb, who was using the name Darren Hartigan, and later gave it to gardai. Gda McKenna said one woman, with no family or support in Dublin, found herself and her eight-year-old daughter homeless as a consequence of Chubb's fraud. The court also heard that Chubb stole four iPhone 5s worth 2,316 from Three Ireland, after he ordered them in the name of a company and did not pay for them. Michael Bowman SC, defending, said Chubb had been robbing Peter to pay Paul. James P Dwyer BL, also defending, said that his client had brought 9,000 to court to be allocated to the injured parties, and would provide further compensation at his next court appearance. Chubb has 27 previous convictions including 12 for theft and fraud offences and 16 for road traffic offences. He has one conviction for a minor misuse of drugs offence. Judge Karen O'Connor said Chubb's crimes were very disturbing matters. He left people and their babies and young children without accommodation which is the most basic of human needs, she said. She adjourned sentencing until May 30, 2018. Submitted standing order mandates relating to numerous bank accounts The court previously heard that Chubb submitted standing order mandates relating to numerous bank accounts, accompanied by fraudulent documentation, requesting the transfer of funds on a weekly or monthly basis to accounts linked to him. He had obtained the bank details of some of the people through his work in the property management industry. Chubb obtained a total of 13,544 as a result of this scheme and all victims were all reimbursed by the banks. Another series of offences occurred while Chubb was working with currency trading software company, Wisefx, the court heard. He gave customers his own personal bank details and instructed them to lodge the money to that account and stole 20,500. Michael Bowman SC, defending, told Judge Karen O'Connor that Chubb's guilty pleas had saved the gardai, State and witnesses convoluted, complex and lengthy trials. He said the defendant was someone with a strong work ethic who had previously been someone who was trusted and capable. Mr Bowman said Chubb had significant financial debts after borrowing far beyond his means to expand his company. He said Chubb had been left destitute as a result of the downturn and suffered disastrous personal consequences. In March 2015, Chubb received 200 hours community service in lieu of two and a half years imprisonment. He had pleaded guilty to 11 charges of stealing rent money totalling 8,660 in 2012. Driverless cars will be hitting Irish roads within a decade and will save lives on Irish roads according to the Road Safety Authority. The RSA is holding a conference in Dublin Castle today to look at what needs to be done to maximise the opportunities offered by the new technology. Update:Missing 15-year-old AJ Ryan found safe AJ Ryan, 15, who was reported missing from Ronanstown garda station on April 27th has been located safe and well. May 3rd: Gardai in Ronanstown appeal for help in locating 15-year-old AJ Ryan Gardai in Ronanstown, Dublin are appealing to the public for assistance in locating 15-year-old Alan Junior (AJ) Ryan. AJ was last seen on Main Street in Swords on April 23rd at approximately 5.25pm and is known to frequent the Bray and Swords areas. He is described as approximately 5 9 in height, of medium build with short brown hair. When last seen he was wearing a blue fleece top, grey shorts and black runners. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ronanstown station at 01 6667700 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111. - Digital Desk Update 9pm: The HSE has contacted 181 of the 208 women affected by the cervical smear controversy, it has emerged tonight. The 208 women were those whose smear test audits revealed a different result. The HSE is also continuing to examine another 1,500 cervical cancer cases that were not audited. RTE are also reporting tonight that over 7,500 calls have been received by the CervicalCheck helpline since Saturday. The HSE said the priority for call-backs will be women with specific clinical queries, or a history of cervical cancer. Update 5pm: Man says his sister was one of 17 women who died after CervicalCheck false negative A man who spoke on national radio today has said he believes his sister is one of the 17 women who died following false negatives in the CervicalCheck controversy. John told Joe Duffy on RTE's about his sister, who died in June 2016. John said he believes she is in the cohort of 17 women who died, but he doesn't know for sure. He added that before she died of cervical cancer she was told she had had tests which missed the diagnosis. The first test caught the abnormal changes but his sister never received the results. She had false negatives in the 10 years before her diagnosis, and died 11 months after her diagnosis. John believes she is one of the 17 women who died and he thinks she is one of two women who died knowing that their cancer had been missed through screening. His sister was diagnosed with PTSD before she died. She initiated legal action before she died and her husband is currently pursuing the case. John's father was on the same cancer ward as his sister. On the day she went unresponsive, his father went into ICU and the family were unable tell him how ill she had become. He was gravely ill but he came through and was admitted back out on to the cancer ward, where John had to tell him his sister was dead. John said his father went into shock and was diagnosed with "complicated grief", which is when grief has a physical effect. "He started to curl up," John said, and died one month after John's sister. Update 4.05pm: A cancer charity has accused health chiefs of "significant mixed messaging" on the cervical cancer screening scandal as the Chief Medical Officer confirmed the tests are 99% reliable. Donal Buggy, of the Irish Cancer Society, said women in Ireland feel "confusion, concern, frustration and fear" after it emerged that women with the disease were not told about wrongly interpreted smear results. He was speaking at a press conference in Dublin convened by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan aimed at giving a clear message to women concerned about their tests and potential cancer risk. Professor Donal Buggy, from the Health Service Executive (HSE) clinical expert panel. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire At the start of the week it was revealed that an audit by CervicalCheck - the national screening programme - of 1,482 women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008 had found potential errors in 208 cases, as tests showed no abnormality when they should have been given a cancer warning. The majority of the 208 women - 162 - were not initially told of the outcome of the audit. Of the 208, 17 have since died. It has since emerged that a further 1,518 women with the cancer in the same period have not been audited but health chiefs stress the number affected by potential errors in this group is likely to be lower. Senior health figures remained unable to give numbers on Thursday for the second group on how many women have since been audited, found to have potential test errors or contacted regarding this but said this work is ongoing. Mr Buggy said: "I am here this morning following a week of confusion, concern, frustration and fear for very many women right around Ireland. "There has been significant mixed messaging and that's something I feel we need to get right and needs to stop today." Professor Donal Brennan, Dr Jerome Coffey and Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan from the Health Service Executive (HSE) clinical expert panel. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire He said he wanted clarity for the 3,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the past 10 years and for women involved in the screening programme who had been given negative results. "No women will be reassured by an investigation, a commission or a political conversation this weekend. They need to have clear information." Under questioning, Dr Holohan agreed that the screening programme was 99% reliable, with National Cancer Control Programme director Dr Jerome Coffey saying there is a "tiny proportion" of false negatives - less than one in 100. Dr Holohan said: "The evidence that we have before us is not evidence of a clinical failure in relation to the programme. "It's not evidence that people who have been through the programme can have less confidence in what the programme has said about their result." He said people with normal smears have no need for an emergency repeat test but will be given one after contact with their GP if wished. Meanwhile, Health Service Executive director-general Tony O'Brien is to take temporary leave of absence from the board of a US company he joined earlier this year. Tony O'Brien In the Dail, deputy prime minister Joan Burton confronted Health Minister Simon Harris. She said: "At a time when women are really, really hurting ... to most women this is just extraordinary that the CEO would be allowed by you as minister or the previous minister to take a second lucrative appointment." Mr Harris said the contract allowed the health service chief, who has faced calls to step down immediately ahead of his planned contract end in summer, to take up employment, where the minister sanctions it, if for less than five hours a month. He added: "Quite rightly, considering the very important issues you highlight for women's health and the need for him to focus on that absolutely exclusively for the remaining few weeks of his term, he has appropriately taken a leave of absence." Tanaiste Simon Coveney said Mr O'Brien would be focused on contributing in a positive manner to the work needed to put the problems right. "I think that is the appropriate course of action." PA Earlier: Simon Coveney speaks to man whose wife died after getting incorrect smear tests results By Elaine Loughlin Latest 1.10pm: Simon Coveney speaks to man whose wife died after getting incorrect smear tests results Tanaiste Simon Coveney has spoken to the husband of one of the 17 women who died after receiving false negative smear tests results. Describing the controversy as "a disgraceful breach of trust between thousands of women and the State" Mr Coveney told the Dail he had been contacted by the widower this morning who he said is "is very angry". "And I don't blame him. He has been contacted by the HSE but he needs a more detailed meeting and that is happening this evening." Fianna Fail deputy leader Dara Calleary pointed out that just two of the 17 women who who died after getting clear smear tests were not told of different results found in an audit before their death. He said it has now been eight days since the CervicalCheck scandal emerged through Vicky Phelan's case however, 26 women involved have yet to be contacted and thousands of women who rang a helpline have yet to receive a call back. Speaking in the Dail, Mr Calleary said there is "worry, concern and anger across the county" however, there is still "no sense of urgency" in providing answers. Calling on HSE director general to resign, Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty said: "Either someone is held to account or the usual pattern of unaccountability continues year after year, scandal after scandal and this simply can't happen. "Women some of whom are cancer patients, some of whom are dead or dying were denied information about their health because of the failures of those responsible in our health service." He added: "We don't need an inquiry to know that 15 women went to their graves without that information. "People have died without the information they were entitled to," he said. But Mr Coveney argued that Mr O'Brien only has 12 weeks left in his contract and suggested it would be better for him to focus on "providing as much information as possible and putting systems in place that can cooperate fully with the independent investigation." "Rather than actually looking for heads we are trying to look for the truth and establish facts." He said the departure of Mr O'Brien "of course it would give the impression of immediate accountability" the facts must be ascertained and Mr O'Brien has committed to help in that process. The Tanaiste confirmed that Mr O'Brien is to take a leave of absence from the board of a US healthcare company to focus on the cancer scandal. Mr Coveney said: "Everybody agrees now that there needs to be a statutory inquiry into this issue, it needs to be as transparent and as public as possible but we do need a scoping exercise to make sure that we have a deeper understanding of the facts and what transpired." He said this scoping exercise which hopefully can be completed by the end of next month would allow for an appropriate terms of reference to be put in place. 9am: Vicky Phelan calls for 'urgent' public Commission of Investigation into CervicalSmear scandal Vicky Phelan has called for a Commission of Investigation to be held into the CervicalSmear scandal that is "urgent and prompt" but also public. In a Tweet addressed to Leo Varadkar, Simon Harris and RTE 1's Morning Ireland programme, Ms Phelan said: "As the woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and prompt but also public. Too much has already happened behind closed doors." @SimonHarrisTD @campaignforleo @morningireland As the woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and prompt but also PUBLIC. Too much has already happened behind closed doors. #CervicalCheckScandal https://t.co/uoRaRxm6mV Vicky Phelan (@PhelanVicky) May 3, 2018 She went on to call for the resignation of HSE boss Tony O'Brien, who she said had shown "nothing but arrogance" and who was "more concerned with defending the indefensible than doing the right thing". Ms Phelan brought the controversy to light when she launched legal proceedings in the High Court after it emerged her smear test which showed no abnormalities was later found to be incorrect. 8.30am: Government to make decision on inquiry into CervicalSmear scandal The Government is due to make a decision on an of inquiry into the CervicalCheck scandal. It's expected a preliminary scoping inquiry will take place first to get immediate answers, potentially followed by a Commission of Investigation, into the cervical smear controversy. An international expert is likely to lead the inquiry. The Minister for Health Simon Harris consulted with other political parties last night after officials from the Department of Health, the HSE and CervicalCheck addressed an Oireachtas committee yesterday. There was some dispute among officials as to how successful the screening programme is. There was a general consensus among opposition TDs that a HIQA inquiry wouldn't be good enough, but also fears that a Commission of Investigation could take years to complete. The HSE continues to make contact with women affected by the controversy, including those who had audits carried out on their smear tests. The HSE will also examine the cases of at least 1,500 other women whose cases were not audited. - Digital Desk By Noel Baker Ian Bailey has said he will now go to the European Court of Human Rights after the French Supreme Court threw out his legal challenge to efforts by French authorities to try him for the voluntary homicide of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. The decision by the five-judge panel at the Cour de Cassation had been expected on May 7 but Mr Bailey said his French lawyer, Dominique Tricaud, had contacted him to say his legal challenge had been turned down. Mr Bailey (pictured below) also said that if a trial were to proceed in France, where authorities want to try him in connection with the December 1996 death of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, he would consider the possibility in principle of providing evidence via video link, although he added he would need to discuss the idea with his legal team. Earlier this year Mr Tricaud had lodged the appeal against the refusal of the French Court of Appeal, the Chambre dInstruction, to strike out a charge of voluntary homicide against Mr Bailey over Ms Toscan du Plantiers death. Mr Tricaud had told the Irish Examiner he was not pessimistic about the appeal and added: The grounds for the appeal are very strong. However, it now appears that the appeal has been unsuccessful - opening the way for a trial against Mr Bailey to proceed in his absence. Mr Bailey told the Irish Examiner: My French lawyer, Mr Dominique Tricaud, today informed me that my challenge to the decision to try me for voluntary homicide in France has failed before the French Supreme Court. I am less surprised, though clearly disappointed, that the prosecution file repeatedly rejected in Ireland could have made muster in France. He said he was also angry that he had not been informed of his right at an earlier stage to participate in the French investigation. Where do I go from here? My French lawyer will in due course take the challenge to the false allegations that I am somehow, unexplainedly, responsible for the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier to the European Court of Human Rights. He added that even if a trial against him proceeded in France and it resulted in a conviction, all they will have done is to convict an innocent man. Mr Bailey has consistently denied having any involvement in Ms du Plantiers death. The body of the French filmmaker was found near her holiday home near Schull in West Cork on December 23, 1996. Mr Tricaud said he did not believe bringing an application to the European Court of Human Rights would necessarily stop any trial against Mr Bailey from taking place in France. However, he said in his view it could be two to three years before any such trial got underway. Ms du Plantiers family has supported concerted efforts to have Mr Bailey brought to France to face trial and have said they believe a trial in Mr Baileys absence could get underway before the end of this year. Mr Bailey and his solicitor, Frank Buttimer, have consistently criticised the efforts by French authorities to prosecute the Schull-based journalist and the legal grounds for doing so. However, Mr Bailey suggested that were a trial to go ahead, he would consider giving evidence via video link, although conceded he would have to discuss the hypothetical situation with his legal representatives. If it was to come to the point that I was to be tried I would talk to my lawyer as to whether [I should] - in principle, if the advice was that I could or should, he said. Separately, it is understood that Mr Bailey might bring an appeal to the Irish Supreme Court in relation to a recent Court of Appeal decision. In March the Court of Appeal overturned its decision permitting a retrial of part of Mr Baileys civil action for damages over the conduct of the Garda investigation into the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. It is understood the written judgement may soon become available, which may trigger an appeal to the Supreme Court. By Declan Brennan Lawyers for a man accused of being the mastermind of a tiger kidnap gang have described as daft the idea that a highly organised criminal would take a souvenir of the crime into his home. Mark Farrelly (47) of Moatview Court, Priorswood, Coolock and three other men deny the false imprisonment of cash-in-transit driver Paul Richardson and his family at their home in Raheny, Dublin on March 13 and 14, 2005. They also deny robbery of 2.28m. The jury have heard that armed raiders burst into the Richardson family home and drove Marie Richardson and her two sons to the Dublin mountains while forcing her husband to go to work and drop off the cash in a prearranged spot. This trial, the fifth one to deal with the crime, began last January and closing speeches began on Wednesday. Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, told the jury that the gang had an organised command structure and that Mr Farrelly kept control of events on the night. Today the jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard the closing speech from Ciaran O'Loughlin SC, defending Mr Farrelly. The jury previously heard evidence that a fluorescent jacket found in Mr Farrelly's wardrobe was later identified as belonging to Tony Coffey, whose car was stolen days before it was later used in the kidnap. Mr Coffey last identified the jacket as his and his DNA was also found on it. Mr McGinn told the jury that the jacket was in Mr Coffey's car before it was stolen and that it was perhaps a foolish thing for Mr Farrelly to keep it but said mistakes happen, that's how criminals get caught. Mr O'Loughlin said this was as daft as any proposition I have ever heard. The idea that a highly organised criminal would take a souvenir is off the wall daft, he said. He said it was an insult to the intelligence of the jurors to suggest the jacket found in Mr Farrelly's home was the same jacket taken from the stolen car. He criticised alleged links between Mr Farrelly and a phone number, referred to as 'the grey phone', which was part of a network of phones allegedly used by the criminal gang. He said that the investigation began around the fact that the gang allowed Mr Richardson, who was held overnight in the family home, to call his wife while she was being held in the mountains. The call was made between two phones used by the raiders and investigators used phone analysis to identify these numbers and other numbers linked to these, the trial has heard. Mr O'Loughlin described this trawl as a fishing exercise and said investigators decided at an early stage the grey phone was used by Mr Farrelly. From that day forward every effort was made to shoehorn every piece of evidence into that prejudice. He said it was inevitable that people in the network of phones generated by gardai were going to know one another because that's how investigators assembled the numbers. It was unlikely any one of them would know everybody, he said. He said there is no evidence that his client knew all of the people of whom he is the alleged mastermind. He said that what happened on the night was a monstrous crime but that the investigation, while extensive, wasn't thorough. Mr Farrelly, Christopher Corcoran (70) of Rosedale, Raheny, Dublin, Niall Byrne (36) of Crumlin Road Flats, Dublin and David Byrne (45) Old Brazil Way, Knocksedan, Swords have all pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to the false imprisonment of Securicor driver Paul Richardson and his family at their home at Ashcroft, Raheny, Dublin, on March 13 and 14, 2005. The four have also pleaded not guilty to robbing Mr Richardson and Securicor of 2.28 million on March 14, 2005. The trial will resume on Tuesday with continuing speeches. The inquest into the death of a three-year-old girl in Cork has returned an open verdict. Ella Martin died tragically on September 14, 2015 in Cork University Hospital and was buried on her mothers 23rd birthday. Cork Coroners Court heard that that despite multiple tests and consultations with many experts, no anatomic cause of death could be found for Ella's death. Recalling the hours leading up to her daughter's death at todays inquest in Cork, Olivia O'Callaghan said Ella had vomited the day before, but slept through the night and asked her grandmother for food the following morning. Olivia rang home from work to check on her, and her daughter seemed to be doing fine. However by 1.30pm, she was crying with pain and Christine took her to their GP. He felt she may have appendicitis, Olivia said, and Ella was referred to CUH. Olivia said that over the course of the next few hours we watched our little girls condition deteriorate. At around 5,12pm, Paul and I were alone with Ella when she went into cardiac arrest." At 6.05pm, Ella was pronounced dead. In a couple of hours, my whole world had collapsed and I had lost my precious daughter." Professor Conor Deasy, consultant in emergency medicine at CUH, said Ella was considered very urgent and seen by Dr Jason Vandervelde, an experienced critical care and emergency medicine doctor. Clinically, he felt she had sepsis, Prof Deasy said. Blood tests pointed to severe septic shock. Prof Deasy outlined how Ella seemed to improve initially after receiving antibiotics. However, at 5.20pm she went into cardiac arrest. Although the relevant experts were involved in trying to resuscitate her and every effort was made, she died. Assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster said her autopsy report recorded sudden and unexpected death of a previously healthy three-year-old girl following a brief illness for which there was no anatomic cause". The coroner Philip Comyn, said he "could not say, on the balance of probability" that sepsis was the cause of death. "In those circumstances, the only verdict open to me, is an open verdict," he said. Olivia, of Blackrock, Cork, said they were devastated by the verdict, that she would now never know what had happened to her little girl. Also speaking after the verdict Ella's grandmother said her parents and the wider family family were completely devastated with the outcome of unexplained death. Statement of Christine O'Callaghan following inquest of Ella Martin: https://t.co/YMFm3PqeqG Cantillons (@ejcsolicitors) May 3, 2018 "The loss of a child is every parents worst nightmare and the loss is so much harder to comprehend when we have no answers as to why she died. "It is almost three years since Ellas death and every day we have relived that terrible day and wondered could something have been done differently. "The delay in receiving the results of the Genetic testing has caused Ellas family great concern and worry for the health of her little sister Maya. We understand the testing report is dated 6th June 2017, but these results were not made available to us until February 2018. Ella Martin became progressively ill over the space of 24-hours before tragically dying in hospital in September 2015. The statement went on: "Ella was a beautiful happy little girl. She was gentle and kind to everyone. She loved all animals and loved the outdoors. "Ella would have been the best big sister to Maya. "We miss Ella every minute of every day. Thats something we will have to live with for the rest of our lives. RT @Corks96FM: #Cork #News 3-yr old Ella Martin died at #CUH in 2015 and while doctors suspected she had sepsis an autopsy found no evidence of this and returned a verdict of unexplained death. Speaking after her inquest today her grandmother Christine O pic.twitter.com/A7cK5VETxX Cork Community (@BestofCork) May 3, 2018 Read full coverage of today's inquest in tomorrow's Irish Examiner - Digital Desk & Catherine Shanahan, Health Correspondent. A majority of Fianna Fail TDs have lined up with the 'No' side in the upcoming abortion referendum. 31 Dail deputies gathered for a photo shoot in Dublin earlier, to signal their opposition to repealing the 8th amendment. The TDs, including deputy leader Dara Calleary and party finance spokesman Michael McGrath, participated in the photo shoot in Dublins Merrion Square. The move comes despite their party leader Micheal Martin supporting repeal. Galway West TD Eamon O'Cuiv said the group was in line with the wishes and beliefs of most party members. "The vast majority of the party at Ard Fheis and also of the membership of the parliamentary party believe the correct vote is 'No' ... in order to protect two lives, the mother and, of course, the unborn." Responding to the photo-call Cora Sherlock of the LoveBoth Campaign said that despite pressure from their leaders, more politicians are coming forward to advocate for a NO vote. "This is happening as it becomes increasingly clear that Simon Harris abortion proposals are extreme, including unrestricted abortion up to three months and up to six months on vague mental health grounds. This goes far beyond the law in the Britain where there are over 190,000 abortions per year. She concluded: The only way to stop this extreme abortion proposal is to vote NO on May 25 and keep the most important right, the right to life, in our Constitution. - Digital Desk By Isabel Hayes and Declan Brennan A man has been acquitted of 21 counts of raping his wheelchair-bound step-daughter. The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had pleaded not guilty at the Central Criminal Court to 48 counts of sexual assault and 21 counts of anally raping the girl between 2003 and 2013 when she was aged between eight and 18. After deliberating for just over six hours a jury of five women and six men returned verdicts of not guilty on all 69 counts. The jury had earlier been told it could return a majority verdict. Justice Patrick McCarthy directed that the man be released from the indictment. In his closing speech Paul Greene SC, defending, said that there were inconsistencies in the evidence. He said it was natural to feel sympathy for the complainant, given the physical challenges she had faced in life, but he urged the jury to approach the case in a cold and dispassionate fashion. It's on her evidence that this case stands or falls, he said. He noted the household was the subject of analysis by social services for a number of years but the complainant made no disclosures until late 2013 when she was in hospital for a prolonged period with a serious illness. Mr Greene noted the disclosures started with the allegation of masturbation but the horrific crime of anal rape wasn't mentioned. He said this only came to light nine months after gardai were first involved in the case, leading to the accused man being re-arrested and charged with fresh offences. He said there was a failure of specificity in respect of the allegations made and troublingly limited assistance from the evidence of other family members. The alleged victim told the jury the 44-year-old man began sexually abusing her by touching her private parts shortly after her First Holy Communion. She said the sexual abuse progressed from touching to attempts to rape her vaginally. She said this did not succeed and he then regularly anally raped her from when she was aged 10 or 11. The woman, now aged 23, alleges the man abused her at their family home in Dublin, where her mother and other family members also lived. The accused's man and his wife separated in early 2013. The allegations initially came to light in late 2013 when the complainant confided in her aunt that the accused man had masturbated in front of her. Closing the prosecution case Paul Burns SC, told the jury that the alleged victim remained unshaken in her core testimony throughout the trial, even when cross-examination by skilled defence counsel. He said there was an implied or expressed criticism in the case that the complainant didn't give a full account of the sexual abuse when she first disclosed it. Mr Burns submitted it was not an easy thing to talk about and he referred to the complainant's evidence that she was embarrassed and ashamed. If this was all a pack of lies or part of some conspiracy, then the easiest thing in the world would be to say it all at once. Mr Burns noted it had also been implied that the victim was not telling the truth because she didn't tell social workers about the alleged abuse. The trial has heard social workers were involved in the family for a number of years on suspicion that the complainant was being neglected. She was a young child when this abuse started, Mr Burns said. She saw the accused as her father. He threatened to kill her if she told anyone. This abuse had become her normality. That was her life. Mr Burns said there were no other witnesses in the case who saw anything happen, but he said this was the nature of such cases. They are carried out in secret. He referred to evidence given by the complainant's siblings, who reported being locked out of the house at times when their mother was out, leaving the accused and the complainant alone inside. They said the blinds would be drawn during these times. The siblings also told the court they often couldn't access the bathroom or bedroom when the man and their sister were alone inside. He said the complainant gave a true and credible account of the abuse she suffered at the hands of the accused, the man she regarded as her father. Update: Husband of Natalia Karaczyn charged with her murder The husband of Natalia Karaczyn, a mother-of-three whose body was found outside Sligo town yesterday, has been charged with her murder. Polish man Rafal Karaczyn, 32, appeared at Sligo District Court this morning. Dressed in a red hoodie, he sat with his head in his hands and was visibly upset throughout the hearing, and was comforted by members of Natalias family. Sergeant Cathal Duffy told the court that the accused made no reply when he was arrested, charged and cautioned at Ballymote Garda Station shortly before 8pm last night. His barrister asked that he be put on suicide watch while in custody, and the court heard this application was supported by the family of the deceased. Judge Kevin Kilraine agreed and Mr Karaczyn was granted free legal aid and was remanded in custody to appear before Harristown District Court tomorrow. Natalia Karaczyn. Earlier: Man due in Sligo court in connection with death of Natalia Karaczyn A 32-year-old man is due in court this morning in connection with the death of Natalia Karaczyn. He was charged last night in connection with her death and is due to appear before Sligo District Court this morning. Ms Karaczyns body was discovered yesterday in the Holywell area of Sligo town, just two days after she was reported missing. The mother of three had been missing from her home at Crozon Park since early on Sunday morning. Originally from Poland, the 30-year-old been living in the town for a number of years. Gardai say the cause of her death is not being revealed. - Digital Desk Update: HSE boss to take leave of absence from board of US medical company Tony O'Brien, Director General of the HSE, is to take a leave of absence from the board of a US contraceptive manufacturer. Mr O'Brien, who joined the board of Evofem Biosciences in San Diego, will instead focus his attention on the CervicalCheck scandal until he leaves his role at the HSE in 12 weeks. Tanaiste Simon Coveney told the Dail that it was an appropriate course of action. Earlier: HSE boss refuses to take full responsibility for CervicalCheck scandal, as 10 more women take action The head of the HSE has refused to take full responsibility for the CervicalCheck scandal. Tony O'Brien was grilled in the Dail yesterday on his role in the controversy before admitting he was partly to blame for what happened. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar defended Mr O'Brien, saying that the scandal was more of a mess rather than a conspiracy by people within the HSE. Mr O'Brien agreed when questioned by Sinn Fein TD Louise O'Reilly. "As the head of the organisation, obviously I have to recognise that those who 'cocked-up', to use the Taoiseach's phrase, were in that organisation," he said. "I didn't personally make that cock-up so I can't take full responsibility for it now." Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald called for Mr O'Brien's resignation, calling the controversy a "deceit of the gravest nature". WATCH: CervicalCheck controversy "isn't simply a case of catastrophic dysfunction, it is a case study of deceit of the gravest nature" @MaryLouMcDonald tells the Taoiseach during Leader's Questions. She also calls for HSE DG Tony O'Brien to resign pic.twitter.com/tC4GsFkDLT RTE Politics (@rtepolitics) May 2, 2018 While he gave no indication of an intention to resign, Mr O'Brien said recent events had been " a personal blow" to him. It has emerged that at least 10 more women are taking legal action over the cancer screening controversy. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted yesterday that there would be a redress scheme for women whose cancer was missed and should have been detected beyond normal error and for women where there was a breach of duty to inform them of audit results. A scoping exercise is now likely to be carried out by an international expert with a view to drafting terms for a full commission of investigation. Up to 3,000 tests for women diagnosed with cancer over the last decade will now be reviewed. - Digital Desk A teenage girl has killed herself after she was gang-raped by eight men in India. The 16-year-old was one of two teenage girls who were gang-raped in separate incidents there in the last four days. She was one of two teenagers who were gang-raped in separate incidents in the country over the past four days. The girl was raped by eight men in the northern state of Haryana on Sunday, senior police official Nazneen Bhasin said. A 19-year-old woman was raped by five men on Tuesday in another district of the same state. It comes despite the Indian government introducing tougher penalties last month. They include the death penalty for the rape of girls younger than 12, and increased the prison terms for the rape of older girls and women. An autorickshaw driver, who tricked the 19-year-old into thinking she had missed her bus, offered to take her to another bus depot. A police spokesman, Ravindra Kumar, said the driver instead took her to a deserted area near Gurugram town where four accomplices were waiting. All five of them raped her. There have been no arrests made in connection with either attack. Kumar said: A case of gang-rape has been registered after the medical examination of the victim confirmed the same. The matter is under investigation. Reports suggest the 16-year-old victim was taken from her home when she was alone, and raped by local village men. She hung herself on Monday and the police have registered a case of rape, kidnapping and abetment of suicide. There has been growing outrage India over the increasing sexual violence against women in the country since the fatal gang rape and torture of a medical student on a moving bus in New Delhi nearly five years ago. She died two weeks later of injuries in a hospital in Singapore, where she was taken for treatment. - PA A man has been filmed on CCTV entering an art gallery in the US and slashing a painting worth around 2.5m which belongs to his father. Officials in Colorado have charged a British man, Nicholas Morley, with 'felony criminal mischief' after he was caught on camera cutting the untitled Christopher Wool painting twice. He denies the charge. The 40-year-old is alleged to have travelled nearly 10,000 miles to the Opera Gallery in Aspen, Colorado, to damage the artwork belonging to his 74-year-old father, Harold. The footage shows Nicholas wearing sunglasses and a cap on May 1, 2017, slashing the piece before making his escape. A local district court judge issued a warrant for Morley's arrest after an 11-month investigation, and authorities are deciding on whether to pursue his extradition. The painting, Untitled 2004, was valued for sale at $2.95m at the time and Nicholas Morley was charged in his absence yesterday with felony criminal mischief for damage worth between $1,000 and $5,000 - or the cost of repairing the painting. Aspen prosecutor Don Nottingham said: He is the person charged with directly damaging this painting. Legal documents show that his father, Harold, had told police the artwork was co-owned by his son via an investment company Fallowfield Ltd. Later he claimed his son did not own the artwork but helped with Fallowfield Ltd contracts. The Aspen Times reports Harold sent a letter to the gallery revealing he would not be pursuing an insurance claim as the painting could be easily restored. According to the affidavit, he said: It was only a minor incident. In the same vein the police investigation should be calmed down and they be quickly informed that Fallowfield are very relaxed about the whole affair since Wool is an appreciating asset and the repairs will be all but invisible. He also asked that staff at the gallery play the whole affair down as over enthusiastic reporting. He continued: We could even put it up for sale now for $3.5m on the basis it is famous. Since we are not making an insurance claim there is no reason why the recollection of the incident should not be eliminated as quickly as possible from staff and public. Macquarie Group is avoiding the softer conditions facing Australia's major domestic banks, but it has conceded it may still be affected by any regulatory backlash caused by the royal commission. In contrast to the weaker tone of recent results from Australia's large banks, Macquarie on Friday notched up 15 per cent growth in profits, which hit a record $2.56 billion for the year, helping to push its share price to new record high above $110. Macquarie said profit would be broadly flat in the year ahead, but it is known for under-promising. Credit:Jim Rice While the big four are facing softer revenue from the slowing mortgage market, Macquarie's different business mix and its skew towards overseas are delivering much stronger growth for the financial group. The 15 per cent lift in its profit was helped by stronger growth in its more volatile businesses that are exposed to swings on the capital markets, such as investment banking and stockbroking, with earnings growth of 11 per cent in these parts of the group. National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn concedes owning a financial advice and asset management businesses is exposing the bank to excessive "complexity", which is damaging the experience of its customers, and hiking costs. However, Mr Thorburn insists shock revelations at the royal commission did not influence NAB's decision to offload the remainder of its wealth business MLC, a deal which could be worth about $3 billion. National Australia Bank chief executive Andrew Thorburn. Credit:Daniel Munoz In a historic move that will slash the bank's exposure to the troubled wealth sector, NAB on Thursday said it would aim to de-merge MLC by the end of next year, potentially through a stockmarket listing. MLC was bought by NAB in 2000 for $4.5 billion and holds its financial advice, superannuation and funds management businesses. The decision is the latest sign of the major banks' exodus from the troubled wealth sector. Homeopathic products will continue to be sold in Australian pharmacies, despite a long-awaited review warning the government the practice could compromise the health of consumers. The federal government has accepted just three of the 45 recommendations made by the review of Pharmacy Remuneration and Regulation delivered to Health Minister Greg Hunt in September. Releasing the final report and its response on Thursday, the government outright rejected three recommendations and merely noted more than 30, including restrictions on the sale of complementary medicines and reforms to pharmacy location rules. A national real-time electronic drug monitoring system was one of three recommendations accepted. Another five recommendations were accepted in principle. Chair of the review, Monash University economics Professor Stephen King, said he was pleased the government had accepted the e-records recommendation, saying it would bring Australian pharmacy into the 21st century. Cr Wendt said the council had introduced more than 20 policies and procedures for more transparent governance in the past 12 months, a period that has seen 12 people including two mayors and two CEOs facing a total of 66 criminal charges. It must be stressed that nobody has yet been found guilty of anything, Cr Wendt said. Acting Ipswich mayor Wayne Wendt. Credit:Steve Gray/AAP It is our understanding that many of the charges relate to paperwork and record-keeping, and many of those allegations are in relation to money given to charity. Cr Wendt questioned whether a decision to appoint an administrator was a cost-saving exercise. We must be very careful for the sake of democracy that representation of the people is not taken away as a measure to justify the expense of a very long investigation, he said. Queenslands longest-serving councillor, Cr Tully, is one of the councillors now facing the sack. Ratepayers will lose their voice if an administrator is appointed ... Its my intention that we respond vigorously. Only the mayors have been alleged to have done the wrong thing, not the councillors,'' Cr Tully, who has been a councillor since 1979, told The Australian. One vocal supporter of an administrator was local Labor MP Jo-Ann Miller. "I hope they clean it up and clean it out, the member for Bundamba said. I'd like them to establish an ethical standards unit and conduct a forensic audit to know where the money is and where it's gone, especially with the council-owned companies. Those books should be opened." A spokesman for the CCC said: The possible decision to appoint an administrator is a matter for the State Government and we would not expect this to affect our investigation. LGAQ warns of a witch-hunt Greg Hallam, chief executive of the Local Government Association of Queensland, a private corporation funded by the states 77 councils, said it was an extraordinary day as the state government began proceedings to sack Ipswich City Council. Mr Hallam pointed out that only two non-Indigenous councils had been sacked in Queensland in the last 40 years: Gold Coast City Council in the 1970s and Johnstone Shire Council in 2007. LGAQ boss Greg Hallam says there's no evidence of widespread corruption in local government. Credit:Dave Hunt/AAP But Mr Hallam said no-one had yet been convicted and there was no evidence of a widespread culture of corruption in local government. The charges against Cr Antoniolli follow a raft of charges against his predecessor, Paul Pisasale, as well as Logan mayor Luke Smith, former Fraser Coast mayor Chris Loft and a string of other people in related investigations. We are talking about a top of a pinhead here, he said. We are talking about 0.6 per cent (sic)* and its regrettable, we wished this wouldnt have happened, its reality, we need to work hard to improve the system, but this is a very small percentage. Mr Hallam was a vocal supporter in media of Mr Pisasale and Mr Smith when details emerged of investigations into their fundraising and other activities. Earlier this year, he criticised the CCC for carrying out raids at Logan City Council offices that preceded Mr Smith being charged and the LGAQ reportedly referred Cr Smiths treatment by the CCC to the secretive Parliamentary committee that oversees the crime-fighting body. However, asked whether he now regretted these expressions of support, Mr Hallam denied he had made them. Actually, I really havent come out and defended any of those people individually, go and check the record, he said. A broader inquiry into other councils would just be an unnecessary distraction, Mr Hallam said. I dont think that serves any purpose unless there are specific matters in question, he said. Unless the CCC or any other proper authority have concrete matters, then these are witch-hunts and all we will do is sidetrack local government for the next two years and make it very difficult for them to do their jobs. If were in a constant situation where were under scrutiny, councils arent able to do their jobs, there are investigators in and out of those councils, it makes it very difficult to run a council. Government should have acted earlier: Opposition LNP leader Deb Frecklington said the Queensland government should have taken action sooner, based on complaints raised by Ms Miller and others, and any mayor charged with corruption should stand aside. LNP leader Deb Frecklington says the government should have acted sooner on allegations in Ipswich. Credit:AAP Image/ Dan Peled Ms Frecklington said Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk needed to explain why she had not acted on allegations earlier. "The Premier should actually act when she is given the information, not just when the general public start creating a big issue about it," she said. "The Premier waited until the second Labor mayor from Ipswich was in the watchhouse before she acted." No government MPs faced journalists to answer questions on Thursday, as developments emerged about the potential for the entire Ipswich council to be dismissed and contentious land clearing laws were debated. Earlier, Ms Miller said she had made complaints about the Ipswich council in Parliament, to the government and the CCC for more than 14 years. But Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said if people had complaints, they should be made to the appropriate authorities. "Anyone can get up and say whatever they like but if they don't have evidence, Mr Speaker, then they are hollow words," she told Parliament. Ms Palaszczuk said in Parliament that her government acted swiftly after charges were laid. Logan mayor Luke Smith has not stood down. Credit:Dan Himbrechts/AAP Ms Frecklington said any mayor charged with corruption should stand aside while allegations were being investigated. The Logan mayor, Cr Smith, has been charged with official corruption, perjury and failing to correct his register of interests. Cr Smith, who ran as an LNP candidate for the federal seat of Rankin in 2010, said he would be vigorously defending the charges and would not stand down. But Ms Frecklington said the situations in Logan and Ipswich were not directly comparable. "We've got an Ipswich City Council that has up to 12 people associated, either with the Queensland Labor Party, or with the Ipswich Labor council, that have been charged because of alleged corruption," she said. "I mean, the whole thing stinks." Mr Hinchliffe will next week ask cabinet to consider strengthening powers for the minister to dismiss councils. Mr Pisasale, who quit as mayor in June 2017 citing ill health, has been charged with official corruption, misconduct in public office, perjury, perverting the course of justice, fraud and assault. Police have taken a man into custody in relation to an unlawful wounding of a Taringa man. Marcus Richardson was taken into custody Friday afternoon and was set to be taken to the Brisbane Watch House. Earlier: Polair, the dog squad and plain-clothes and uniform police officers swarmed part of inner Brisbane on Thursday in the hunt for a man in relation to a stabbing earlier this week. The search spanned about three hours and concentrated on the suburb of Taringa after a 20-year-old man was stabbed several times during a home invasion. Police have released dramatic helicopter vision after they chased an allegedly stolen car, deployed stingers and arrested two teenagers in Ipswich on Wednesday afternoon. Footage shows the car swerving in and out of traffic on the Ipswich Motorway before hitting stingers and two occupants try to flee on foot. It will be alleged police were tracking the stolen car about 2pm when they deployed stingers on the Ipswich Motorway at Riverview, damaging the tyres. Police said the car continued into Collingwood Park and turned into residential streets before two occupants abandoned the car in Duncan Street. A study conducted by the Queensland Ambulance Service has led to paramedics being permanently armed with a new sedative which can do the work of four police officers. QAS put two sedatives, droperidol and midazolam, up against each other by using the two drugs during a year-long period to treat violent patients, in order to see which was most effective. Paramedics have been permanently armed with droperidol after it received a glowing report card earlier this year. Credit:AAP - Dave Hunt QAS manager of clinical policy Lachlan Parker said droperidol was proven to be just as effective in sedating violent patients and improved the safety of emergency service workers and patients. Water taxis and city-sights tour boats could begin operating along the Brisbane River from next year, with the delivery of on-water transport hubs one step closer. Brisbane City Council committed $8 million over two years at the 2017-18 budget to deliver river transport hubs and on Thursday the council confirmed the development approval for facilities at New Farm and Dutton Park. An artist's impression of New Farm river access hub. The hubs would allow water taxis, Moreton Bay and island cruises, hop-on-hop-off city-sight tours and leisure craft such as kayaks and tinnies to moor on the river. In 2016 the council said it was far from being at a point to provide operational approval for water taxis when a water taxi operator wanted to service Brisbanes CBD. Disgruntled XXXX workers are planning to target Brisbane's State of Origin blockbuster as they continue their industrial dispute with management. The brewery worker's union, United Voice, on Thursday revealed plans for strike action outside the third and final State of Origin game at Suncorp Stadium in July. Workers from the XXXX Brewery protest outside the beer brewing facility in Brisbane on Thursday, April 26. Credit:AAP The revelation comes just hours before workers prepare to walk off the job on Thursday night to rally outside the Brisbane Broncos' home NRL clash with Canterbury. It's been reported XXXX, a major sponsor of the Queensland team, would not be served inside Suncorp Stadium for Origin's game three after Carlton United won the tender. The woman's mother-in-law and sister-in-law sobbed as they tried to get her to drink milk in the kitchen. In one of the rooms had been the woman's six-month-old baby girl and two young nieces before neighbours ushered them away from the scene. "I was asking what happened and everybody around her was crying and distraught, but she kept saying over and over, 'Nothing happened'," McCready says. "She was very calm, eerily calm. I don't know if she was scared or distressed but she was just so calm." Her father-in-law was wandering around the house aimlessly, his cheeks stained with tears. "He was beside himself... he was just running around trying to make sense of it all," he says. "I just started yelling 'Get her in the shower, get her in the shower'." The 22-year-old mother would cling to life for three days, until February 6 this year, in The Alfred hospital before succumbing to the burns that had ravaged her body. Daniel McCready tried to save the life of his neighbour Sadif Karimi who died from horrific burns in February. Credit:Justin McManus An arranged marriage A photo of Sadif Karimi shows a pretty, dark-haired woman with almond-shaped eyes, a small smile playing on her face. But her seemingly content face masked pain. Sadif was born in the small impoverished village of Dawood in central Afghanistan. As a Hazara woman, an ethnic and religious minority in the war-torn country, Sadif had been born into persecution. As mostly Shiite Muslims, the Hazara have long been targets of violence by extremist Sunni Muslim groups such as the Taliban, ISIS and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi. She migrated to Melbourne in 2015 following an arranged marriage. But her exodus from terror came with new challenges. She spoke no English and knew no one in Australia when she moved in with her new husband, his parents, his brother and his family into the brick veneer house in Boronia Avenue. Those in the tight-knit Hazara community who knew Sadif say she was kind and gentle. But she struggled to adapt to life in Australia and was often overcome by such a gut-wrenching loneliness and yearning for her home that she would suddenly burst into tears. On top of the struggles she faced as a migrant in a foreign land came the added stress of caring for a newborn baby girl - her first. Boronia Avenue in Cranbourne where Sadif Karimi lived with her husband's family before she died. Credit:Justin McManus Life in a new land Most nights as the sun was going down, Sadif used to walk from her home to Carlisle Park at the end of the street, cradling her baby daughter in her arms. At the park, she would meet a group of other Afghan women who lived in the surrounding streets. They would sit at a wooden picnic table under a gazebo and quietly chat for hours as the sky grew dark. Some nights Sadif would laugh with the women as the older children tired themselves out playing in the park around them, but other times she would sit quietly, rarely uttering a word. Each time the women meet now, there's a sadness. One of them, who knew Sadif, says the women know only that she was burned, and then she was gone. Her family told those around them that Sadif had suffered a breakdown and set herself on fire. "She didn't like it here," one friend says. "She was often distressed or crying. She was unhappy with her husband and she missed her family back home. She was always on the verge of tears. It's so sad. They say she did it to herself." Opinion is divided in the Hazara community about what happened to Sadif. Some believe she was set alight and say her husband's family know more about what happened to her than they are letting on. But there are also those that say they've been left quietly wondering if Sadif was so isolated, distressed and unhappy in her circumstances that she felt she had no option but to do it to herself. 'They bring the trauma of the past with them' Sadif's feelings of isolation and loneliness are not uncommon among first-generation Hazara women who settle in Australia, despite the persecution and trauma they often suffered in their home country. They are bound by tradition, one that says marriage is for life, with divorce virtually unheard of, says leading Muslim women's advocate Batul Gulani, a Pakistani-Australian psychotherapist and founder of the Melbourne-based organisation AMAFHH Federation that offers support services and mentoring programs to ethnic minorities. Getting an Islamic divorce can be a difficult process, especially for women, who face stricter requirements for initiating divorce than men. Those who do get divorced are often ostracised and shunned from their community. Poor education complicates the women's situation: Recent studies estimate about 84 per cent of Afghan women are illiterate, while only about 2 per cent have access to higher education. "They bring the trauma of the past with them and they can't move forward because they are bound by tradition," Gulani says. "Once they arrive here they face another wave of new barriers. They tend to socialise only within their own community and very little women learn to speak English." Leaders in the Hazara community are being forced to confront darkness in their own midst, including rising rates of family violence, drug and alcohol abuse. Despite all this, Gulani says she had never heard of any Hazara women being so distressed they had set themselves alight. Gulani says Hazara men also faced formidable obstacles in their new home often turning to drugs and or alcohol to cope with support, family violence education and mentoring being provided by community leaders. She said one the biggest hurdles to overcome was resistance from those in their own community who fear any change that could threaten the traditional family structure. A horrific death Sadif suffered what's called "full thickness" burns - that destroys both layers of skin and wrecks nerve endings - to 60 per cent of her body. On that February evening, as the badly-burnt Sadif was put in the shower, McCready had run across the road to get his wife, a trained nurse, while they waited for paramedics to arrive. When they returned, Sadif was standing calmly under the running water in an almost catatonic state. After the ambulance arrived her mother-in-law and sister-in-law took her into a bedroom and dressed her in fresh clothes, then held her up as she walked to the paramedics waiting outside. Neighbours looked on as the paramedics worked on her for 20 minutes before she was taken to hospital where she would die. The investigation Sadif's husband and in-laws were spoken to by the police. They said she had set herself alight when she was alone in the backyard. Sadif's 29-year-old husband was questioned by police in relation to her death but released without charge. Each told detectives they saw different parts of the incident. Sadif's husband, who was seen running from the scene by a neighbour, offered an explanation as to why he had fled. Detective Senior Sergeant Shaun Bingham said the investigation into Sadif's "shocking" death was a priority. "It is our duty to speak on behalf of the deceased. We have to make sure everything is covered," he says. Senior Sergeant Bingham said it is not unusual for arson investigators to be faced with a crime scene that isn't clear-cut. They are investigating the family's assertions but are also looking into whether someone else doused Sadif in petrol and set her on fire. "I suspect most of these scenes present the same, unless there is an obvious accidental cause or multiple persons who saw exactly what happened," Senior Sergeant Bingham says. The facts as they stand are yet to push investigators one way or the other. They still need to forensically test items found at the scene, including the jerry can, and are re-visiting witnesses. "There are still people we need to speak with further to clarify some information we already have or provide some information for us," Senior Sergeant Bingham says. There needs to be justice McCready didn't go to work the day he learnt that Sadif had died. "I wasn't able to stop thinking about it and once I learnt she had passed away I needed to take a day to gather my thoughts," he says. Queensland's premier has been challenged over her dismissals of an MP's warnings about Ipswich, as the city lost its second mayor in less than a year and the government prepared to ask the council to show cause. On Wednesday afternoon, the Crime and Corruption Commission charged mayor Andrew Antoniolli with seven counts of fraud. A day later, Cr Antoniolli said he would stand down. Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe: Stirling Hinchliffe: the Ipswich council "can no longer function effectively". Credit:AAP/Dave Hunt Within minutes, Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe announced that following urgent legal advice, the government would start the process of appointing an administrator at the council. Major property developments including approvals for waste dumps should be examined as "the number one priority" by the soon-to-be appointed Ipswich administrator, the Ipswich Ratepayers and Residents Association said on Thursday. Ratepayers Association president Jim Dodrill made the comments after welcoming the announcement by Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe that he had begun the process of appointing an administrator to replace Ipswich City Council. Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe is likely to appoint an administrator to Ipswich City Council. Credit:AAP The decision followed the decision by the Crime and Corruption Commission to charge former Ipswich mayor Andrew Antoniolli with seven counts of fraud on Wednesday. I think that is a priority. I think that should be number one, Mr Dodrill said. The protracted battle to acquire Binani Cement is set for another showdown. The Kolkata bench of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on Wednesday asked the committee of creditors (CoC) of Binani Cement to evaluate a revised offer by UltraTech Cement Ltd. UltraTech's revised bid is Rs 1,021.70 crore more than that of Dalmia Bharat group's offer. The revised bid from UltraTech has to be submitted within three days to the resolution professional to forward the same to the CoC of Binani Cement and the entire process has to be now concluded within June 24, the NCLT said. The UltraTech offer promises to repay the claims without any haircut to all secured and unsecured claims. The development, which could possibly set a new precedent under the insolvency and bankruptcy code, comes after the Supreme Court had refused to allow the out-of-bankruptcy court deal between UltraTech Cement and Binani Industries (BIL) for its beleaguered subsidiary Binani Cement. The NCLT directed the resolution professional to accept UltraTech's revised offer for Binani Cement and place it along with the resolution plan before the committee of creditors (CoC). The NCLT bench also directed the CoC to consider Dalmia Bharat Group's Rajputana Properties Private Ltd. (RPPL) resolution plan if it matches UltraTech's offer. RRPL is the lead-member of Dalmia Bharat combine which is in race with Ultratech to takeover Binani Cement. Meanwhile, the Dalmia Bharat Group expressed surprise over the NCLT Kolkata bench order to Committee of Creditors (CoC) of Binani Cement to consider the revised bid of Ultra Tech Cement and hinted at contesting it at a higher forum. "We are surprised by the order passed by NCLT today. The Resolution Professional and CoC followed the due process of law in approving the plan of Rajputana Properties Pvt Ltd (RPPL) in which no flaw has been found. We will take all the appropriate steps required," a Dalmia Bharat spokesperson said in a statement without giving any further details on the proposed step. "In our view, any revised offer from an unsuccessful resolution applicant outside the resolution process cannot become a basis for setting aside the decision of the CoC. We have a strong conviction that we have followed the law as per the due process and believe that we will eventually succeed," the group said. Earlier, Dalmia Bharat Cement had written to the Central Vigilance Commission's (CVC) asking for a probe in the matter. Dalmia Bharat had said that the bidding process did not allow submission of revised bids. The move had infuriated some of the lenders which have large exposure to Binani Cement. Binani Industries (BIL) had moved the apex court with an appeal to redeem the pledge of its assets Binani Cement from its lenders. It had also deposited a sum of Rs 750 crore to show its commitment, along with a bank guarantee for the remaining amount of the total offer of Rs 7,266 crore. In March, UltraTech's board had agreed to issue a 'comfort letter' to provide the above-mentioned amount in return for 98.43 per cent stake in Binani Cement provided the company came out of insolvency proceedings. Significantly, this offer came after the latter's Committee of Creditors (CoC) had voted in favour of the resolution plan submitted by the Dalmia Bharat-Bain Piramal Resurgence Fund consortium. The offer from the Aditya Birla Group company was certainly fatter than Dalmia Bharat's winning bid of around Rs 6,500 crore. So, Binani Cement's CoC had decided to conditionally back the deal between BIL and UltraTech, subject to the Supreme Court's nod. A section of beleaguered Binani Cement's Operational Creditors (OCs) had pleaded before the Kolkata chapter of the adjudicating authority for rebidding. The OCs will lose about Rs 400 crore worth of claims from Binani Cements if Dalmia Bharat offer is approved, spokesperson of OCs forum Hitesh Bindal had said. Taxpayers will not be able to avail transitional input credit available for Krishi Kalyan Cess (KKC) under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime. The ruling was given by the Maharashtra Advance Ruling Authority yesterday. The Advance Ruling Authority observed that Krishi Kalyan Cess was utilised only towards payment of KKC and under GST there is no levy of KKC. It also argues that tax and cess are distinct levies and KKC cannot be treated as excise duty or service tax for availing the CENVAT credit. Under the earlier indirect tax regime, manufacturers or the output service providers were allowed a set off of the taxes paid on the inputs or the input services used for manufacturing the final product or providing the output service. This was referred to as Cenvat Credit. Therefore, the advanced ruling authority said in its order that accumulated credit by way of Krishi Kalyan Cess as appeared in the service tax return of Input Service Distributor (ISD) on June 30, 2017 which is carried forward in the electronic credit ledger maintained by the company under CGST Act 2017, will not be considered as admissible input tax-credit. Abhishek Jain, Tax Partner, EY India said, "A long awaited advance ruling was delivered yesterday by the Maharashtra Advance Ruling Authority, upholding non-admissibility of the KKC credit as an eligible input tax credit under the GST regime. While the ruling is in the context of a particular fact pattern, it does concur with the revenue authorities view of ineligibility of transitioning of KKC credits." Jain though admits that the order may trigger a long drawn legal battle on this issue. Aadhaar has been a boiling issue in India for the past few months. Data theft cases for as little as Rs 500, fake software to create Aadhaar cards, and alleged 'loopholes' in the unique identity scheme have left a dent on its credibility. It has been facing increased scrutiny over privacy concerns following several instances of breaches and misuse. Despite all this, Aadhaar as a scheme has been appreciated by many prominent people all over the world. Bill Gates, founder of one of the world's biggest tech companies, Microsoft, has been a staunch supporter of the Aadhaar scheme since the very beginning of its rollout. This time, he has again come out openly saying the Aadhaar technology does not pose any privacy issue. Not only that, he also appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for fully "embracing" the scheme, which was initiated during the previous UPA regime. The founder of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation told PTI his organisation has funded the World Bank to "emulate" the project as it is worth doing so. Bill and Melinda want other countries to also adopt the scheme. "The bio-ID verification programme has multiple benefits," says Bill. To undertake this level of project in other countries, the World Bank and the Gates Foundation have reportedly roped in multi-billionaire Nandan Nilekani. The Infosys founder, who is also considered as the chief architect of Aadhaar, will consult and help the World Bank carry out the 'Aadhaar-like' project in other countries. After the successful implantation of the Aadhaar scheme in India, other countries have also approached New Delhi for assistance in creating similar data base. Appreciating India for successfully implementing the scheme, Gates said India's Aadhaar technology could be implemented across the world. Bill Gates thinks the Aadhaar-like scheme could help improve governance, which is directly linked to economic growth and the overall improvement in society. "The benefits of that (basic ID -- Aadhaar) are very high. Yes, countries should adopt that approach because the quality of governance has a lot to do with how quickly countries are able to grow their economy and empower their people. Aadhaar in itself doesn't pose any privacy issue because it's just a bio ID verification scheme," said Gates. One of the world's richest men, Bill Gates, also tried to sooth fears around the Aadhaar data misuse, saying individual application users need to properly check who can see information. He also defended financial institutions seeking Aadhaar details for opening an account. "Application by application, you have to make sure that's well-managed. In the case of the financial bank account, I think it's handled very well. (It uses) Aadhar to set up the accounts so that you can both get your cell phone and get your bank account," he said, reported the agency. He said some of the initiatives carried out by the Narendra Modi government on digitisation could help improve the level of education in the country, and hence, the governance. Before this in 2016, Gates had said the Aadhaar is a scheme "never been done by any government before, not even in a rich country". The UIDAI's ambitious Aadhaar project is the world's largest biometric database with whopping 111 crore people of the total 125 crore Indians already connected with the identity scheme. Cambridge Analytica (and its British parent SCL Elections Ltd) is finally shutting operations. The UK-based data analytics company was in the eye of the storm for illegally harvesting personal data of 87 million Facebook users. Blaming the closure of operations on 'unfairly negative media coverage', Cambridge Analytica (CA) said it is no longer viable to continue operating the business as it was losing all its clients. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the company's efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," CA said in a press note. Cambridge Analytica said it has filed applications to commence insolvency proceedings in the UK. "The company is immediately ceasing all operations and the boards have applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP to act as the independent administrator for Cambridge Analytica," it said in a press release. A parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, the company added. Cambridge Analytica's bankruptcy proceedings come close on the heels of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg's testimony in the US Congress. The data analytics company is already facing several legal challenges in United States and Europe after the Facebook data scandal came to light. The data analytics firm was hired by US President Donald Trump's 2016 election campaign. Cambridge Analytica said it intends to fully meet its obligations to its employees, including with respect to notice periods, severance terms, and redundancy entitlements. After the announcement, Britain's data regulator said it would continue civil and criminal investigations of the firm and will pursue "individuals and directors as appropriate" despite the shutdown. "We will also monitor closely any successor companies using our powers to audit and inspect, to ensure the public is safeguarded," a spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner's Office said in a statement. Cambridge Analytica was created around 2013 initially with a focus on U.S. elections, with $15 million in backing from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon, the New York Times reported. Cambridge Analytica marketed itself as a provider of consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients. After Trump won the White House in 2016, in part with the firm's help, Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix went to more clients to pitch his services, the Times reported last year. The company boasted it could develop psychological profiles of consumers and voters which was a "secret sauce" it used to sway them more effectively than traditional advertising could. with Reuters inputs Xiaomi, Chinese electronics and software firm, has filed for an initial public offer (IPO) for listing in Hong Kong. The firm is expected to raise at least $10 billion. This will be the largest listing for a Chinese technology company in almost four years since Alibaba Group Holding raised $21.8 billion in 2014. CLSA, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc are the lead bankers to Xiaomi's IPO. Since Xiaomi is among the world's largest smartphone, electronics and software firm, the listing of the stock will attract huge investor interest across the globe. We look at how Indians can buy the Xiaomi stock after its listing in Hong Kong. 1. You can open an overseas trading account with a brokerage house (ICICI Direct, Kotak Securities etc) that offers overseas trading facility. Domestic brokers have tie-ups with their international partners to facilitate trading in your account. For this, you will have to fill separate account opening form along with details of your KYC documents. You would also be required to transfer funds to the international partner of your domestic brokerage. For transferring funds you will have to submit application cum declaration form under Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) announced by RBI. Fill form A2 available with your brokerage house. You will also have to sign a form for Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) declaration. A form authorising the designated bank branch as your bank dealer will also have to be filled. 2. You can open a trading account with an international brokerages operating in India. Do check out the costs and benefits associated with the same and compare them with the domestic brokerages. The account opening process with them is almost the same as domestic ones. 3. Global mutual funds If you are lucky enough, the Xiaomi stock will be favoured by mutual funds operating in India and they will make it part of their portfolio. But do note that this is likely to take more time in comparison to the above routes. Investment limit You cannot invest more than $2,50,000 in a financial year in foreign shares under the Liberalised Remittance Scheme (LRS) . Under the LRS introduced by the RBI, authorised dealers may freely allow remittances by resident individuals up to $2,50,000 per financial year (April-March) for any permitted current or capital account transactions or a combination of both. The scheme is not available to corporates, partnership firms, HUF and Trusts, etc. The Liberalised Remittance scheme (LRS) was introduced by RBI on February 4, 2004, with a limit of $25,000. The LRS limit has been revised in stages consistent with prevailing macro and micro economic conditions. The draft for the new national telecom policy, officially called National Digital Communications Policy, is out! Once cleared, this is going to be the fifth telecom policy ever introduced since the telecom sector took off in the country. The draft is divided into three broad areas: expanding the current telecom infrastructure, outlining plans for emerging technologies (like 5G, IoT, machine-to-machine communications) and data security. It's a draft paper so expecting too much from it would be silly. The paper, for obvious reasons, lacks details on how the government is going to achieve the lofty targets that it has set under the policy. There are two timelines to achieve most targets - 2020 and 2022. Among other things, the draft aims to provide wireline broadband access to 50 per cent households, deploy 10 million Wi-Fi hotspots, attract investments of $100 billion, and create 4 million more jobs in the sector by 2022. Interestingly, the draft, in a way, has also revised the standard speed of broadband in India - from 512 kilobits per second (kbps) to 50 megabits per second (mbps), a whopping 9765% jump. The draft tries to show a realistic picture of the mobile subscriber base in the country. While the total mobile subscriber base stood at 1,156.87 million in February 2018 with a tele-density of 90.11%, the unique subs - each subscriber is counted once, irrespective of multiple connections that one has subscribed to - are much lower. The aim is to take 'unique mobile subscriber density' to 55 by 2020 and 65 by 2022, as per the draft. There are a lot of areas that could cheer up the private sector. The draft specifies the need to rationalize levies and fees paid by telecom operators at the moment, including license fee, universal service obligation fund (USOF) levy, spectrum usage charges (SUCs) - a long-pending demand of the operators - and levies on communications equipment. The draft also emphasizes that telecom should be recognized as essential infrastructure sector and therefore, becomes eligible for low-cost financing. The expansion of telecom infrastructure, according to the draft, can be achieved with deeper broadband penetration, including expanding optical fibre cable (OFC) network; better utilization and higher availability of spectrum; and develop an ecosystem for satellite communications in India. For instance, India has about 1.5 million km of OFC, and less than one-fourth of the telecom towers are connected through fibre. The draft policy aims for fiberisation of at least 60% base stations to prepare for 4G/5G technologies. In some portions, the draft seems to be dictating terms for the sector instead of making it less interfering. For instance, it says that all commercial, commercial, residential and office spaces have to mandatorily plan for telecom installations and the associated cabling and in-building solutions. This will be forced on the developers through amendments in the national building code of India. Former telecom secretary R Chandrashekhar recently called the National Telecom Policy 1994 a "bit disaster" as it could not achieve much for the sector. A policy runs the risk of becoming irrelevant even if its intention - both in spirit and letter - is to grow a particular sector because the execution has always been the most crucial piece of the jigsaw puzzle. Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 will go up on pre-order in India at 12 pm. The new Asus device will be sold exclusively on Flipkart. Asus and Flipkart formed a partnership under which the Chinese smartphone company will be launching a line-up of their latest Zenfones in India. The pre-orders for Asus Zenfone Max Pro will only be accepted for pre-paid orders. A buyer can only purchase a single phone in every 30 days. The smartphone will get extra Rs 1000 off over regular exchange value on select models. Other than that, Flipkart will be offering extra 5 per cent off with Axis Bank Buzz Credit Card. The biggest offer comes from Flipkart with a "Protect your product" subscription worth Rs 999, which is being offered at Rs 49 for Asus Zenfone Max Pro buyers. Vodafone is also pairing up with both brands to provide offers worth Rs 3,200 for free. The Zenfone Max Pro M1 offers bang for the buyer's buck. The configuration on the Max Pro competes directly with Xiaomi's Redmi Note 5 Pro, which has been witnessing extremely high demand according to Xiaomi. While the Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1 starts at a price of Rs 10,999 the Redmi Note 5 Pro prices have been hiked up to Rs 14,999 for the base variant. However, the similarly specked version of the Zenfone Max Pro is priced at Rs 12,999. Xiaomi also offers a more expensive variant with 6GB RAM and 64GB memory at Rs 16,999. The Asus Zenfone Max Pro is powered by a Snapdragon 636 chipset which can also be found on the Redmi Note 5 Pro. However, Asus claims better performance in terms of boot up time and app opening when compared to the Redmi Note 5 Pro. The display is 5.99-inch Full View unit which has a FullHD resolution covered in 2.5D curved glass. Asus has also managed to completely incorporate the dual-lens setup in the rear panel without the camera module jutting out. Asus has used near-stock Android software. They finally decided to let go of their heavier UI to make the phone snappier. With the new Asus smartphone, the user will get Android 8.1 Oreo out of the box. The Asus Zenfone Max Pro camera is dual lens setup with one 13megapixel unit with an aperture of f/2.2 and the second is a 5megapixel unit to implement bokeh effect. The front camera houses an 8megapixel unit with an aperture of f/2.0 and an 85.5-degree wide angle lens. The bokeh mode can also be accessed via the front camera on the Zenfone Max Pro. The battery on the Asus is a mammoth 5,000mAh unit. Another sore point Asus claims it has addressed is the use of a dedicated MicroSD card slot along with two SIM slots. The Redmi Note 5 Pro comes with Hybrid SIM slots. Asus is also giving away a passive sound amplifier called Max Box free with the purchase of the device. Internally the device comes with NXP Smart Amplifier with a 5-magnet speaker. 1. Yes. There should be absolute certainty that the election was free and fair. 2. Yes. The audit could and should lead to stronger laws governing elections in the state. 3. No. Former President Trump wants the audit to further cast doubt on the 2020 vote. 4. No. Its a waste of money, an attempt by Abbott to gain favor among Trump backers. 5. Unsure. It seems unnecessary but it may provide some worthwhile findings. Vote View Results From left, the flags of China, Japan and South Korea are hoisted in Tokyo at the site of a meeting of trade ministers from the three countries in October 2016. Photo: VCG Leaders from China, Japan, and South Korea will meet next week for their first high-level trilateral talks since 2015. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang will attend the talks, which will be held Wednesday in Tokyo, making the meetings the first official visit by a Chinese premier to Japan in eight years, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday. The talks, which will also be attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, are expected to focus on the Korean Peninsula and result in a joint statement by the three countries calling for denuclearization of North Korea, according to a Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper report Wednesday. The leaders will also discuss ways to strengthen cultural exchanges between the three countries, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in statement earlier this week. North Korea has been the focus of much regional diplomatic activity in recent months, including a surprise visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Beijing in March, as well as the recently concluded historic inter-Korean summit between Kim and Moon. U.S. President Donald Trump is also expected to meet Kim in May. Another major concern shared by the three countries is how to maintain the existing system of international trade amid protectionist actions by the Trump administration, analysts in Japan told Caixin. However, an official close to preparations for the trilateral talks said the three countries might not be able to reach a consensus on the proposed China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Agreement at the upcoming meetings. There have been 13 rounds of negotiations on the trade agreement since 2013. During Lis visit to Japan, from Wednesday to May 11, the Chinese premier also plans to meet Emperor Akihito and visit Hokkaido, Japans northernmost major island. Sino-Japanese relations have been thawing after a period of tension sparked by a dispute over islands in the East China Sea. China hopes Lis visit will further consolidate the improvement of Sino-Japanese relations and push bilateral relations toward the path of normal development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua said on Wednesday. Contact reporter Teng Jing Xuan (jingxuanteng@caixin.com) It creates debates. The St. Gallen Symposium is a global gathering of Leaders of Today and Tomorrow that takes place annually in May at the University of St. Gallen, Switzerland. It is organized by the International Students Committee (ISC), a team of students from the university. Its goal is to provide a setting for relevant debates between Leaders of Today and Tomorrow on topics of manage-ment, politics and civil society. To this end, its student team builds and maintains lasting relationships with hundreds of leaders from around the globe. It aims for the best to choose the right people for the right topics, and bring them together in an environ-ment that encourages debates, friction and a healthy exchange amongst participants. It provides leaders and young talents around the globe with fresh insights into the most relevant issues concerning the world in order to create meaningful change in the lives of key decision makers. It believes in and promotes a liberal paradigm. 600 Leaders of Today will join 200 Leaders of Tomorrow at the 48th St. Gallen Symposium from 24 May 2018 to debate Beyond the end of work in St. Gallen, Switzerland. The new workplace is constantly changing, inspired by the arrival of new technologies and increasingly uninhibited by geographical boundaries. As new technologies facilitate remote work, the physical and temporal bounds of the workplace are becoming more flexible. Many enterprises are working towards the goal of optimising work and production processes and creating a so-called smart factory in which humans and machines work together and au-tomation is achieved through the deployment of intelligent machines. These intelligent self-learning systems are driven by cloud computing, breakthroughs in sensor technology and the creation of new algorithms that harness the power of big data. These developments lead to a working environment and working conditions unthinkable at the time the work-related legislation entered into force. However, manufacturers and users of new technologies must nevertheless comply with the legal framework conditions. The challenge for manufacturers and users of modern technologies alike is anticipating legal issues, while work and the workplace are continually changing. Legal risks and imponderables involved with the use of automation processes, robotics and AI in the workplace may be difficult to identify. What must be taken into consideration from a legal perspective so that employers and employ-ees, but also the social partnerships, can continue to thrive in an automated or bot-based economy? Lots of Legal Issues Surrounding Mobile Work One of the hottest issues currently being discussed in Switzerland is mobile work. Mobile work, in particular home office, has been on the increase since 2000. In November 2016 the Federal Council of Switzerland has published a report on mobile work called Telearbe-it (Telework). The report on Telework analysed if there is need for legislative action for mo-bile work. It concluded that there is no need for legal action and that the existing law suffices. According to the Federal Council certain issues, however, are worth further investigation. These issues are identified, amongst others, as working times and health & safety. The report of the Federal Council is being criticized by the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions. The latter sees an urgent need for legislative action. It accuses the Federal Council of finding legal gaps, yet not being willing to fill them. There are currently no special norms on mobile work in the existing laws. Without any specific agreement, it can indeed be unclear which rules are appli-cable. Since a high degree of trust, self-discipline and motivation of the employee is necessary in order to do mobile work successfully, it is therefore recommendable to conclude a written agreement on it. An important issue in mobile work are the limits of employee protection regarding working time regulations. When doing mobile work, the employee can dispose of working times flexi-bly which one of its great advantages. Nevertheless, the (public labour protection) regulations regarding maximum working hours per week must still be met. Regulations on breaks and rest-ing times as well as the ban on work on Sundays and during the night must be observed. Fur-thermore, employers must comply with health protection regulations, i.e. they must ensure a correct work environment (rooms, lighting, ventilation, noise prevention) and an ergonomic workplace. All of these duties are difficult to be implemented when employees perform mo-bile work. The employer is not in a position of direct control at the home of the employee. If there are references that not all working time or health protection requirements are met, the employer must find a remedy or prevent mobile work. In my opinion, when doing mobile work, employees take on more personal responsibility for keeping up with working time regu-lations and for the protection of their health. The increased need for control when managing employees from a distance raises different questions, such as: Are controlling systems being used by the employer admissible? Should reporting obligations for employees be installed? Are there access rights of the employer to the home office? Last but not least, the risk of a violation of the obligation of secrecy and of data protection is higher when doing mobile work. A Guideline on this very central issue is recommended. For the same reasons it is advisable that materials, such as laptop, are put at disposal by the em-ployer. Liability if Algorithms or Robots Cause Damage? Apart from these unsolved issues regarding mobile work, one of the most discussed legal is-sues about new technologies at the workplace is: Who should be liable in tort if algorithms or robots cause damage? In our legal system, we treat machines as an extension of the hu-man individuals who set them in motion. If machines cause damage, we attempt to claim compensation from the manufacturer, producer or user. However, the classical approach of torts is difficult to transfer to robots, particularly when they learn independently and become intelligent. It can be difficult to establish with hindsight whether an act by the robot causing damage can be attributed to the original programming or subsequent independent learning (training through use). Finding linear and foreseeable causality will be complicated. The question is therefore whether the robot itself should be liable. Liability in tort is an aspect of capacity to act. According to the current legal situation, a robot is incapable of providing a legally binding declaration of will due to a lack of legal capacity and capacity for action. Electronic declarations of will or acts must still be attributed to a human. In the future, a robot could be liable like a legal person (similar to a stock company) if it were registered in a public register and had assets. Additionally, it could have an obligatory third party liability insurance. In my view, this sort of an e-personhood is quite conceivable in the future. Health and Safety Measures are Absolutely Necessary When it comes to workplace safety, the classical liability of the employer for accidents at work and occupational illnesses is important. The employer has an obligation to take all pos-sible preventative measures to protect the health of employees. Robotics impose new require-ments on prevention as regards safety at work. Robots have to comply with all regulations regarding product safety and have to take into account the health burdens of the potential operating personnel. When planning construction of a robot, the manufacturer must have a precise idea of the concrete use of the robot in the workplace. A collaboration with the em-ployer may be necessary. Advances in robotics in the workplace will lead to a massive increase in the interaction be-tween workers and robots. Think about collaborative robots such as Baxter from Rethink Robotics or Yumi from ABB. They are affordable multi-purpose robots for production pur-poses, friendly to people and easy to program by colleagues for different tasks. This new gen-eration of industrial robots, which collaborate with human individuals, present a challenge to safety at work, as they operate outside safety barriers and cages. With the development of advanced collaborative robots carrying significant weights at high speeds, the risk of signifi-cant injury may increase. As Jim McManus, Safety Specialist at the OSHA (Operational Safe-ty and Health Agency) said at the 2016 National Robot Safety Conference in Cincinnati, If an OSHA compliance officer walks in and sees a robot operating without a guard, he is going to set off alarm bells. There is a robot, so there must be a cage or someone is going to get hurt, right? To ensure the safety of employees who work with and around collaborative robots, certain norms and standards are required, such as the ISO technical specification on collabora-tive robots (ISO/TS 15066:2016) dating from 2016. Safety at work issues are also raised in the context of personal care robots (PCR). These are service robots which perform tasks that make a direct contribution to the improvement of the quality of life of humans (with the exception of medical treatments). They challenge the con-cept of safety at work because they (1) are used for numerous requirements in environments which are not precisely defined, (2) come into contact with non-specialised users, and (3) share the workspace with humans. This is why formal and international safety standards on PCR were defined in ISO-Norm 13482:2014. Another challenge to work safety and occupational health are stress-related illnesses. They are on the increase due to todays constant employee reachability and due to physical and temporal bounds of the workplace becoming more flexible. Constant availability may pose a health threat. These changes raise the question about which public labour regulations are appli-cable, and in particular which statutes concerning working time apply to a mobile, decentral-ised workplace. Is an e-mail written on a Sunday night consistent with public labour protec-tions regulations, even though the employee has no Sunday work permission? Does the em-ployee need to be protected from checking e-mails during the week-end or on holidays in or-der to be able to de-stress? In an automated workplace, it seems important to debate how we want to deal with issues such as protecting off time, defining working time, and making sure stress-related illnesses can be prevented. Surveillance May Have Effects on Employee Health Yet another issue of work safety and occupational health are monitoring and control mecha-nisms in the workplace that may have the effect of employee surveillance adversely affecting employee health. Recorded data may provide information about working speed, the health situation or the precision of the working employee. The fact that monitoring is one of the most frequent uses for robotics clearly indicates the relevance of data protection in an age of auto-mation, robotics and AI. The affected persons right of personality must be set in relation to the employers entrepreneurial freedom to organise his or her business. It will be important to precisely define the purposes of the systems used and to delimit the necessary handling of data on the basis of this. Furthermore, it is important for data processing in employment rela-tionships that employees be informed about the use of monitoring systems in advance for rea-sons of transparency and for the employer to ensure that the employees consent is obtained. However, consent can create legal difficulties, amongst other things in the context of big data analyses. Given the balance of power in the employment relationship, consent will seldom be completely voluntary and it is revocable. Even without the employees consent it should be attempted to guarantee the legally compliant implementation of the new technologies through a well-considered choice of the data to be stored and possibly by rendering such data anony-mous. Personal monitoring should only ever be considered as a last resort even in such cases (in compliance with the principle of proportionality). Monitoring has long been a reality, as shown by the example of GPS-supported mobile devic-es. Such devices, for example, direct pickers in the Amazon warehouses to the right shelf in which they find the merchandise ordered by the customer. There are reports from England that the mobile GPS computers raise the alarm if the employee takes a break outside regular break times. Monitoring problems in relation to the right of personality and employee data protection will become more acute in the future in view of new technologies. In the case of an intelligent assembly line in a smart factory which is linked to an assembly line worker and slows down if, for example, the assembly line workers pulse becomes too high, health data about the employee is collected which should only be possible under very restricted precondi-tions in view of the protection of the employees personality. Another example are industrial exoskeletons. Exoskeletons are generally steered through body movements on the basis of cognitive and physical interaction with the human enabled by the drivetrains, sensors and microcontrollers, as well as the intelligent control system. With the exoskeleton tested in Daewoos Korean wharfs, wharf workers can carry very heavy loads. It therefore serves to protect the health of the employee, but on the other hand it can involve risks for the right of personality. Is it permissible for the exoskeleton to analyse the posture of the wharf worker and draw conclusions about his psychic condition? Perhaps certain data should not be used at all for the purposes of the employment relationship. What About Equal Treatment and Discrimination? Exoskeletons may also raise questions of equal treatment and discrimination. Should exoskele-tons be dealt with like parts of the body if they are connected to the human body, even if this is not a permanent state? There is discussion about whether public buildings or rooms can re-fuse access to the wearers of exoskeletons or may require such exoskeletons to be taken off or deactivated, including for reasons other than security. And can exoskeletons become legally necessary reasonable accommodations? Such accommodations compensate for disad-vantages and promote factual equality and non-discrimination. This would mean that an em-ployee, e.g. a disabled person or a person suffering from back injuries, would have a claim for reasonable accommodation from the employer in an individual case. Given the continual tech-nological development of aids which compensate for disadvantages and the fact that their cost will reduce significantly in the future, employers should keep an eye on these develop-ments, in particular in the USA, for example. In other countries, such as Switzerland or Ger-many, legal measures for the promotion of integration of people with disabilities into the em-ployment market are primarily based on the concept of social insurance. Should invalidity or accident insurances approve applications by a paraplegic for the payment of the costs for spe-cific exoskeletons (for example the ReWalk with costs of around EUR 72,000)? Currently, much wearable and human enhancing technology may not be objectively reasonable or may pose undue hardships because of its novelty or cost. However, as this technology becomes more common and prices reduce, it becomes more likely that social insurances or employers may be required to provide it to aid disabled employees in performing their jobs. The question of equal treatment and discrimination arises with algorithms generally. Algo-rithms may not be programmed in such a way that they discriminate, neither directly nor indirectly. In the context of the workplace, algorithms must comply with anti-discrimination regulations. Theoretically, algorithms can make decisions based on facts without prejudice by leaving criteria such as the place of origin, age and gender of an applicant out of consideration when making their decisions. In addition, there are technical methods such as data repair to exclude indirect discrimination in algorithms based on this data. There is nevertheless exten-sive criticism of decision-making by algorithms and the assumptions on which algorithms are based are increasingly disputed. After all, algorithms are programmed by human individuals and can therefore reflect their prejudices. The repetition of human behaviour can deepen dis-crimination which already exists. An example for algorithmic decision-making in the workplace is hiring by algorithm, It has become very widespread in large companies in recent years. Apart from non-discrimination, algorithms must be programmed in such a way that no impermissible questions are asked which encroach on constitutionally protected employees interests. Questions about private life and character may not influence a decision in favour of or against a job applicant made by an algorithm. This is precisely the problem with numerous personality tests which form part of e-recruitment. Employment Law Issues Surrounding the Robo-Boss Algorithms may also be used for the process of firing employees (firing by algorithm). Algorithms can collect and evaluate huge amounts of data, and use this as a basis to identify development tendencies, predict results, make recommendations and decisions and perform acts. It is therefore definitely conceivable that the decision to fire an employee could be taken by an algorithm in the future. However, whereas an algorithm or a robot can take the decision to fire and make this proposal, it cannot under any circumstances announce a termination of employment because it does not have the legitimate authority to fire a person. As long as there is no e-personhood, algorithms or robots do not have the capacity to act. Therefore, dismis-sal must be announced by an authorised human superior, in other words the managing director, an executive board member or an authorised person. And the responsibility for the dismissal must currently clearly remain with the employer as the natural or legal person behind the robot. This is reasonable because robots are not (yet) in a position to make value judgements and weigh up interests. Similar thoughts can be given to algorithms or robots issuing instructions to employees. Ac-cording to a study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 2014, humans were happier taking instructions from robots and were both more productive and more satisfied. The Japanese electronics group Hitachi has started to develop an AI system which allocates work tasks to human employees on the basis of data analysis and past working processes. This is supposed to increase productivity by 8%. Such instructions are legally possible. Obviously, they must remain within the framework of the instructions a human superior would be permit-ted to issue. The instructions of an algorithm or a robot are intended to optimise working pro-cesses through data analysis. Again, this raises data protection issues. All such decisions taken by algorithms or robots hiring or firing or issuing instructions raise the additional question about a prohibition of automated individual decisions. On the basis of new information and communication technology, decisions which have legal consequences for the persons affected or have significant adverse effects on them are increasingly taken in automated procedures, also often on the basis of profiles based on statistical data and calcula-tions (profiling). For some time already now, the EU has had provisions on the permissibility of automated individual decisions. The desire for more humaneness emanating from a pro-hibition of automated decisions assumes that human decisions are better than automated deci-sions, a belief which is being questioned by some, especially outside of the EU. Replaced by Robots: Dismissals Let me finish with one last workplace-related legal issue. One of the most frequent discussions about automation, robotics and AI is whether the industry will create more jobs than it elimi-nates. In any case, many employees will doubtlessly lose their jobs even if new jobs are creat-ed. Employers are entitled to change job profiles in line with requirements, to completely re-place jobs by automated processes and to announce dismissals. Job profiles will change. If employees cannot fulfil the changed higher expectations in spite of appropriate training and further training programmes offered, dismissals will be inevitable. For example, work with exoskeletons on building sites will present new challenges for employees. Not every building worker will be capable of operating a robot. A building worker who should learn the necessary qualifications (e.g. the functions and operation of the exoskeleton) may take part in a work-shop, but be unable to operate the exoskeleton, even after several attempts, and consequently be dismissed by the employer. Is this a redundancy for operational and business reasons where the grounds for dismissal originate from the employers sphere, or a dismissal on grounds of personal capability or conduct? If managerial authority includes the right to instruct the learning of new qualifications, the primary reason for the dismissal is not the decision by the employer to automate his business, but the lack of suitability or the conduct of the employee himself or herself. Learning new qualifications made necessary by technical progress must be viewed as part of the performance owed. The decisive factor here is the occupational profile at the present time. In the sample case, learning the functions of an exoskeleton is still within the scope of the reasonable duty to learn. This then constitutes dismissal on grounds of personal capability. By contrast, compul-sory redundancy for operational reasons involves such significant changes to occupational profiles that they become very different from the job description in the relevant contract of employment and consequently go beyond the originally agreed programme of duties, e.g. if the job requires programming capabilities after automation. news, latest-news A giant tent, cakes of giant things, and giant pumpkins - here's our pick of what to do this weekend in Canberra. 1. PANDSI CAKE OFF First they had all 107 cakes from the Australian Women's Weekly Children's Birthday Cakes cookbook baked and displayed in one room. The next year it was Canberra-themed cakes. This year, the cake versions of the Big Pineapple, the Big Banana, the Big Merino and more than 50 other iconic Aussie 'big things' have been baked for the PANDSI Cake Off. On Sunday from 2-4pm, all of the cakes will be on display at the Hyatt Hotel Canberra's Ballroom. You can just go for a sticky-beak, or cakes will be available to purchase via live and silent auctions. Entry is $10 and all money raised goes to PANDSI, which supports families in Canberra affected by perinatal depression and anxiety. Book your tickets at pandsi.org/cake-off.html. 2. PUMPKIN FESTIVAL For the past 15 years, the town of Collector has gone pumpkin crazy for one day in May at the Collector Village Pumpkin Festival. This year's event is on this Sunday from 10am-4pm, with pumpkin themed stalls, food, activities and competitions. Entry is $10 for adults, $5 for seniors and children 15 and under are free. See pumpkinfestival.com.au. 3. SPIEGELTENT Festivities at the Spiegeltent, sitting in Civic Square outside Canberra Theatre, are in full swing. As well as the spectacular (and very adults-only) Blanc de Blanc, which runs until May 20, this weekend you can also see musician Gawurra, cabaret 'performance anarchist' Yana Alana, or Michael Griffiths and Amelia Ryan singing the songs of Aussie icons Olivia Newton-John and Peter Allen. Tickets at canberratheatrecentre.com.au. 4. HANDMADE MARKET Still on the hunt for a gift for mum for Mother's Day? Handmade Canberra is on all weekend, with 260 stalls selling handmade homewares, furniture, fashion, jewellery, art, childrens products, beauty and edible gifts. This market also has a pop-up champagne bar, floral workshops, and a flower shop. It's on Saturday and Sunday, 10am-4pm at EPIC. Entry is by charity gold coin donation. Also take along any spare clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags to donate to the St Vincent De Pauls Blanket Drive. 5. CSO AT PARLIAMENT HOUSE Parliament House is turning 30 this year, and they're starting the celebrations this Saturday. Journalist and presenter Barrie Cassidy will lead a panel of special guests from 10.30am as they reflect on the architectural, social, historical, political and cultural legacy of Australian Parliament House over the last 30 years. Then at 2pm the Canberra Symphony Orchestra will perform in the Great Hall, playing music from celebrated Australian composers plus the premiere of a work by award-winning Canberra composer and pianist Sally Greenaway. Entry is free, no bookings required. See aph.gov.au/30th. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/43dbab72-154b-41a9-9e2b-9a1f002ee491/r0_350_6720_4147_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, crime An ACT public servant allegedly asked a contractor for a $100,000 kickback in return for lucrative government contracts. Christopher Hocking, 38, of Kaleen allegedly told the contractor he would make sure "you get the ... project and keep getting projects like this one. I am the man with the cheque book and you can get the work done". "I work for the government on one hundred K per year, I have ... a family to support and I live in Kaleen. I need a bit extra." The cash was never exchanged and the contractor instead reported the matter to the police. Mr Hocking was arrested on Wednesday after a three-month investigation by police. The project manager at the Transport and City Services Directorate did not enter a plea when he appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday on a charge of bribery. Police allegations, tendered in court, said Mr Hocking had met the contractor in January through a tender to complete work on an ACT school. Mr Hocking then allegedly told the contractor to drop their bid on another project by $50,000 and they would get a "shot" at a $1 million ACT government street extension project. The contractor became concerned and told his business partners as it was their understanding that it was not government practice to openly discuss tenders. The following day, during a meeting, Mr Hocking is accused of telling the contractor to turn his phone off before then asking for the cash payout. The contractor said he would need to get back to him and Mr Hocking allegedly replied: "I don't want to do any little hand overs of money, we do it once and be done with it". "I see it working like this, you hand me a bag of untraceable cash, meet me at a carpark ... and leave a bag that I'll pick up." It is alleged Mr Hocking then told the contractor that he had "over $3 million to spend in the next six months", in reference to government contracts to award. The contractor again spoke to his business partners, who took legal advice before reporting the conversation to police. Magistrate Bernadette Boss granted Mr Hocking bail on condition the accused report to Belconnen police station once a week, not contact the contractors, and reside in Kaleen. The matter will return to court later this month. Investigations are ongoing and police are urging anyone who may have any information that could assist police to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, or via the Crime Stoppers ACT website. Please quote reference 6225541 or Operation DONATI. Information can be provided anonymously. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/7ebd2f8c-c91c-4378-9235-c1dc20ef822d/r0_352_577_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Coles has launched an appeal against a decision to revoke its planning approval to redevelop the Woolworths Dickson car park into rival supermarkets and apartments. In March, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal overturned the ACT Planning Authority's decision to approve the controversial mixed-use development in Canberra's inner north, finding it broke too many planning rules. However, Coles has applied to challenge that decision in the Supreme Court, alleging the tribunal erred in law on a number of fronts. It's understood its application asks that it be allowed to appeal the decision, that the tribunal's decision be set aside, and the matter go before a differently constituted tribunal. It has also asked for the costs of the appeal. A Coles spokesman confirmed the appeal was in train but declined to comment further. Jane Goffman, one of the residents opposed to the Coles development in its current form, said the company was "bullying" the local community into accepting a "bad development". "Fishing for some tiny thing to tear down an independent and professional tribunals resounding and comprehensive refusal does not display good corporate citizen behaviour," Ms Goffman said. A spokeswoman for Greens crossbencher Caroline Le Couteur said she was disappointed to hear about the appeal. "Wed encourage the Coles Group to spend their money on architects, not lawyers to heed the clear calls from our local community and develop their plans accordingly, rather than simply appealing the umpires decision," she said. It's another twist in one of Canberra's longest running planning sagas. Coles' development arm first lodged plans to build two supermarkets and 155 apartments on the car park on the corner of of Antill and Badham streets in late 2014. But the developers were sent back to the drawing board in early 2015 after local residents and businesses complained about its impact on traffic and pedestrian safety. Their main concern was the "mall" Coles wanted to build would cut off pedestrian access to the Dickson group centre, strangling small businesses and activity in the eclectic courtyards. The ACT government gave the green light to scaled back plans in June 2016, however residents said there were still traffic and accessibility problems with the new development. Woolworths' landlord Charter Hall filed an appeal against the approval in July 2016, and the North Canberra Community Council and Downer Community Association as joined parties. There were 15 days of hearings over several months, and members of the tribunal mulled over the evidence for more than a year after hearings concluded. In its decision, the tribunal called on the territory government to review its planning laws, after Coles tried to quash the appeal on a technicality. Lawyers for Coles questioned whether ACAT had the power to review the planning approval, because of ambiguously worded legislation. That argument does not appear to be part of its appeal, which it is understood is built on the tribunal's interpretation of the myriad of different planning codes and rules that govern the precinct. The Woolworths car park is not one of the blocks of land at the centre of the controversial Dickson landswap, however its fate is tied to it. The Land Development Agency made the complicated land deal with the Dickson Tradies to trade the government-owned car park next door to its club for the CFMEU headquarters and old Downer Club in 2014. However the Tradies Club will only pay for the land once the Coles development is finished to ensure there is still parking in the area. The land deal could be referred to the ACT's proposed anti-corruption commission, after an Auditor-General probe found the CFMEU-linked club was given "significant concessions" by the government worth up to $2.6 million. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/00f6bb22-4ddf-4704-95f5-b677787bd877/r0_111_2000_1241_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A woman was trapped after her car flipped during a lunchtime crash in Dickson. The Emergency Services Agency said the ACT Ambulance Service treated a man and woman after the crash between a car and cyclist. Emergency services were called to the corner of Badham Street and Wooley Street near the Dickson KFC about 12.20pm on Thursday. Witnesses said a person was trapped for a short time. Firefighters rescued the woman from the upturned car. The male cyclist was transported to the Canberra Hospital in a stable condition, and the woman was taken to the Calvary Hospital also in a stable condition. Roads have reopened after motorists were urged to avoid the area while road closures were in place. Earlier, a man was taken to Canberra Hospital in a serious condition after a crash between a car and a truck in Fyshwick. An Emergency Services Agency spokesperson said the crash happened in Cessnock Street, about 8.30am on Thursday. The road was blocked for a short time following the crash, but traffic in the area was not impacted. In another crash, a woman was rescued after a crash on Wentworth Avenue in Kingston just before midday. Firefighters extricated her from the car using hydraulic rescue tools. She was treated at the scene for minor injuries and taken to Canberra Hospital in a stable condition. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/09a60f2b-109e-463d-bffc-23b0e8457988/r0_436_4032_2714_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, crime An off-duty officer accused of bashing a man early one morning in Civic tried to avoid a police investigation by claiming he was with a woman who wanted to leave an abusive relationship, prosecutors told a jury Thursday. And the acting sergeant who appeared on the scene also tried to pervert the course of justice, prosecutor Kylie Weston-Scheuber said, by diverting the investigation away from the assault and directing the alleged victim be unlawfully taken into custody. But a defence barrister for one of the officers on trial called the police professional standards investigation into the pair a "disgrace", saying it compared to the Salem witch trials. Both barristers also said key Crown witnesses could not be relied on. Wade Joseph Howell, 36, and acting sergeant Andrew Charles Smith, 46, have pleaded not guilty, and faced an ACT Supreme Court trial over the allegations the past two weeks. Mr Howell is charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and choking, while both are accused of trying to pervert the course of justice. Mr Smith is also charged with two back-up offences of urging unlawful confinement. Dr Weston-Scheuber told the jury in her closing address that the alleged victim and his girlfriend gave consistent evidence about what happened in Veterans Park in Civic early on April 2, 2016, in which it's said the man suffered a bloody nose and fractured cheekbone at the fists of Mr Howell. Mr Howell had been sitting on a park bench with a woman when the woman's boyfriend came running up to them, the trial heard. They did not know each other, but had all been out at Civic nightspot Mooseheads. The prosecutor told the jury Mr Howell was an experienced police officer who had been training in close personal protection, and compared the bigger man to the slight build of his alleged victim when arguing against Mr Howell's claim he acted in self-defence. His response to the man running up was "disproportionate and unreasonable", she said. She said Mr Howell was intoxicated and slurring his words, but still in possession of his faculties, and knew what he was doing when he followed the man back to his hotel and then called police, claiming the woman wanted to leave an abusive relationship. Dr Weston-Scheuber said Mr Smith, the senior officer who came to the scene, knew Mr Howell from working together in Canberra. She said Mr Smith never took a version of events from the alleged victim even with another officer saying the man had been bashed before directing he be taken into custody for "intoxicated and disorderly". A breath test reading showed the alleged victim's breath alcohol reading was just above the legal driving limit, and the prosecutor said he had no lawful basis for taking the man into custody. Dr Weston-Scheuber said although the alleged victim was kept in custody in the watchhouse for just an hour, "any interference with a person's liberty is a very serious thing". "Police are in a position of responsibility," she said. They could only confine someone where the law allowed it. Defence barrister James Sabharwal, for Mr Howell, asked the jury to put aside any feelings they had about police officers. He said the evidence was the alleged victim came running up to Mr Howell, who was sitting on a park bench with the alleged victim's girlfriend. "Clearly he was jealous," Mr Sabharwal said, "and perhaps understandably so." He said the Crown had tried to suggest a "devious" Mr Howell followed the man back to his hotel and then called police to claim he was with a woman in an abusive relationship. But Mr Howell had tried to call police at the park, and then later on in a recording on his phone, is heard telling the alleged victim to "just tell the truth". The barrister for Mr Smith, Steven Whybrow, said "the only way this case makes sense" is if the pair knew each other, but the Crown could not prove they did. Otherwise why would a well-regarded and long-serving police officer do something like this for a "bloke he doesn't know?" Mr Whybrow asked. The evidence of the girlfriend had been "totally tainted" by investigators, he said, who had gone back to her with the statements of other witnesses. He compared the police investigation to the "Salem witch trials", and said the officers weren't afforded the presumption of innocence. He called the investigation a "travesty" and a "disgrace". The jury returns Thursday to consider its verdicts. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/eee9f6d4-9a7c-4c1d-9d2f-165ca30a1e2d/r0_17_320_198_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Camille Aniversario prepared all she could for the birth of her twins, knowing it was classified as high risk. But she believes a series of mostly administrative errors and overcrowding were major factors in her pregnancy ending in an emergency. She is one of countless mothers to speak of their experiences giving birth at Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, after The Canberra Times revealed senior midwives and nurses wrote to the government expressing their concerns patients lives were put at risk by systemic issues at the hospital. In response to the concerns, the ACT Government said it will announce a plan to update the way maternity services are delivered in the ACT, but has moved to assure the community the hospital offers excellent standards of care. Brooke Love and her husband expected to be sharing precious moments with their first baby Nathaniel. Instead, they said they have been forced to deal with ongoing stress stemming from the understaffing, under-resourcing and lack of communication at the maternity ward. When they questioned why their planned induction was being pushed back repeatedly, a midwife instructed them there was not enough staff to complete it safely and to write to the health minister with their concerns. Another woman, who asked not to be named, said when she arrived at hospital in full labour she was told by a "horrified and embarrassed midwife" there was no room for her and had to drive to Calvary. "She said there were three other women ahead of me, circling the carpark and waiting for room. They were also trying to shift women out of the maternity ward (after they'd birthed) and into the general ward so there was more room. The exam rooms were also being used," she said. All these women's issues issues - from overcrowding, delays in inductions and epidurals, lack of communication and poor management and morale - correlate with the concerns raised by senior nurses and midwives in the letter sent to Minister Fitzharris. Ms Aniversario recently shared her birth story on her blog and has been overwhelmed with mothers sharing similar stories. She decided to blog about her experience after writing it down in an affidavit for legal proceedings and finding it a therapeutic experience. She was booked in for an inducement for her high risk pregnancy at 3pm, but it was not until 6am the next morning the hospital had the staff to begin it. Ms Aniversario soon became concerned about the positioning of her babies, but was told if she wanted a c-section she would have to wait for the next day as they were fully booked. After a long and traumatic labour, one of the babies was born naturally while she needed an emergency c-section to give birth to her second, Gigi. Born unresponsive, Gigi was immediately transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit, while Ms Aniversario was treated for blood loss. "The problem with Canberra Hospital is that they're so busy, so they have guidelines and they apply it to everyone," she said. "With my labour it's like trying to fit a triangle into a circle, they applied the guideline and me and my daughter nearly died. "I don't think it's an issue of quality of medical staff, I think it's an issue of staffing in the sense that there is just not enough." She said throughout the birth and in the week after, the midwives were constantly run off their feet and getting proper pain management was near impossible because the pain team never came to see her. "The issues in my opinion are systemic, I had issues across the board," Ms Aniversario said. "The hospital as a whole is overworked and it just feeds into every area." She said at times the midwives were often unresponsive, which she put down to being fed-up and exhausted. "Changes need to start at the administrative level because of the scheduling alone,' she said. "If you're allowing the hospital to be over booked and to have too many inductions double booked there are your first issues. "For 16 weeks, the hospital couldn't locate my file. That's an administrative problem but that affects me medically. "The ability of medical staff doesn't have anything to do with it, it's administrative from a receptionist right up to who organises the budget. " Ms Love - who gave birth about six weeks ago - was also booked in for an inducement due to concerns about her high blood pressure and possible effects on the baby. She was put in a short term stay area where her inital contractions were begun. The next morning a doctor said she was ready to have her waters broken, however she was told there was not enough staff on to do it safely and it was postponed twice. "Instead of 8am it was 8pm," Ms Love said. With only one anesthesiologist on, she waited more than four hours for an epidural while having major contractions. Her labour continued for another night and Nathanial was evenually delivered by forceps when his heartrate dropped. He was born blue and not breathing and transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit. "When you go to the birth classes you certainly don't expect what happened to me," Ms Love said. "The birth went for three and a half days." Ms Love said she was barely able to see Nathanial after he was born, being told they didn't have the staff to take her up to see him. Due to complications after birth, she has spent weeks in hosptial since and says she has had trouble getting help with post natal depression and dealing with her pain. "Since she has come into the hopsital there has just been delay after delay with no communication between doctors, nurses or different teams like the pain team," her mother said. "I don't think the ACT Government has thought past money. This hospital is no where near good enough for what we've got in Canberra. "When they turned around and told Brooke they couldn't break her waters because they didn't have staff they just said, if you've got an issue, complain to the minister." ACT Health has claimed some of the allegations made by staff in the inital letter were "misleading" and moved to assure the community of the standard of care at the hospital. "In response to recent media reports, it is important for us to assure Canberra families that the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children is a safe and modern facility that provides quality care to our patients," executive director of the hospital Elizabeth Chatham said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/c525d471-cadf-4b8d-a53d-c82d3bc5a129/r0_74_4500_2616_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Pets will be able to travel on Canberra's light rail network if new legislation is passed, but they still can't catch the bus. Labelling this "an obvious gap", the ACT Greens and RSPCA ACT on Thursday renewed calls for a trial to allow small pets on ACTION buses, as long as they were secured in an appropriate carrier and not impacting on other passengers or the driver. The capital has the highest rate of pet ownership in Australia, with animals in 75 per cent of Canberra homes. ACT Greens transport spokeswoman Caroline Le Couteur said the public transport system needed to reflect that, with community consultation in late 2014 showing strong support for the idea. "As most Canberrans do own a pet of some kind, it must be as convenient and accessible as possible to travel with them," Ms Le Couteur said. From an environmental perspective, its also important that we do all we can to encourage more Canberrans to shift away from car use." At present, only assistance animals or guide dogs with an exemption can take the bus, but the proposed trial would allow small, domestic animals on board. "It needs to be small enough that you can either carry the carrier and put it on your lap or in the luggage rack, which means it can't be a Great Dane," Ms Le Couteur said. "I think it's entirely possible, if the trial is successful, that larger animals would allowed, on leash, in off-peak times. That seems entirely sensible to me." Legislation recently introduced by ACT Greens leader and Minister for Road Safety Shane Rattenbury would allow pets to travel on light rail, but Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris said more work needed to be done before they were allowed on buses. "That is a policy we continue to work on," Ms Fitzharris said of pets on public buses. "Obviously, it is one that requires work with Transport Canberra bus drivers in particular." RSPCA ACT chief executive officer Tammy Ven Dange said many pet owners had been unable to take their pets to the vet because they weren't allowed on the bus. She said Canberra, and Australia as a whole, were well behind most places around the world in this respect. "It's not uncommon in other parts of the world to be able to take your pet not only on buses and trains, but also planes," Ms Ven Dange said. "We believe there's no reason the ACT government, which has been at the forefront of all sorts of animal reform in the last few years, won't be able to achieve this as well." Animal Medicines Australia backed the idea, with executive director Ben Stapley saying it made sense in a place where three in four households were home to a pet. "It is important that infrastructure, including public transport, recognises and can accommodate that reality," Mr Stapley said. "There are many health, social and mental benefits that come from pets and being able to transport those animals is important in helping realise those benefits." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/71b2ecf4-ab8c-4137-ab12-73b594e5e9d4/r0_240_4500_2782_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg comment The thaw in relations between the leaders of South and North Korea (Crossing the line, April 28, p8) is very welcome news. It is to be hoped that the apparent newly found warmth and detente between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un continue and strengthen.However, there is still a long way to go before full harmony between the two nations can be achieved. The North Korean people seem to be living in a relatively primitive dictatorial system reminiscent of the early 20th-century USSR. Assuming that harmony is what Kim Jong-un now wants, it is going to take many years before the two halves of Korea are aligned both socially and economically. Kim has to spend a lot less money on armaments and a lot more on his people. Lets hope that Kim really does see the light and makes this all happen.Donald Trump does deserve some credit for bringing North and South Korea together for talks, as pointed out by Julie Bishop (Its a result of his intervention ... Bishop salutes Trump, April 28, p8), even if it was in a very unconventional manner. However, I certainly would not go so far as to say that Trump deserves a Nobel Peace Prize, as proposed by Daniel McCarthy (Forum, April 28, p11). Douglas Mackenzie, Deakin Daniel McCarthy says peace prizes to centre-left US politicians have been awarded regardless of merit and Trump merits one (Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, April 28, p11).What merit has Trump? The world would be well served if [North Korea] simply stops further nuclear and ballistic tests and agrees to a non-proliferation framework.So, less than the deal Carter made, under which North Korea did close down its fast breeder reactor; did go into a peace and reunification agreement with South Korea; did reconfirm its (then) membership of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty; did allow inspections and did commit (late!) to a disclosure and close-down regime.Our Foreign Minister, rather than having our diplomats spin for their country, cuts out the underlings and claims, repeatedly, that North Korea has broken its past agreements.It was the Republicans who prevented Carters deal from being made a treaty. It was the Republicans who delayed and held back the heavy oil shipments that were part of the deal. It was the Republicans who prevented commencement of the peaceful-only light water nuclear reactors under that deal. Only after sustained breaches by the US did North Korea abandon the deal and go to nuclear testing.The Republicans broke the past agreements.Now, getting less than those past deals is supposed to justify a peace prize to Trump ... if even so little is achieved.That would, indeed, be a peace prize award regardless of merit: a natural call for Londons Telegraph, but not a justified award.Christopher Hood, Queanbeyan So, our Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop credits President Trumps threat of military action and the imposition of trade sanctions against North Korea for kickstarting denuclearisation talks that were unthinkable just months ago (Julie Bishop says Donald Trump deserves credit for the handshake that made history, canberratimes.com.au, April 27).In choosing to ignore the fact that the US has quietly dropped its past insistence that it would only engage in negotiations with Pyongyang if it first agreed to denuclearisation surely smacks of the same chutzpah evidenced by the Prime Minister when he tries to take credit for the royal commission into the financial services sector.If the threat of blunt force trauma is now considered to be de rigueur in enhancing international relations, I wonder when we can expect that approach to be wheeled-out against other rogue nuclear states such as India, Pakistan, South Africa, China and Russia, not to forget the arsenals of our special friends France, Israel, the United Kingdom and of course, the great Satan itself?John Richardson, Wallagoot Thanks to Anne Mroz (Letters, May 2) for putting words to a situation which had left me completely speechless. I was absolutely astonished to see these signs when they were installed. Where does this leave the driver travelling along Sulwood Drive who has had an accident with a turning vehicle? Is he/she culpable now? Do we treat these signs as the equivalent to a give way sign? There are also situations where traffic leaving or entering Mannheim Street are met by vehicles driving straight across Sulwood Drive from the parking area expecting right of way, (which they do not have) and yet there are no warning signs in Mannheim Street. I have raised this issue with ACT Roads some three to four years ago and with our local member. The whole area needs to be re-engineered but the government has claimed lack of funds. Perhaps we need to consider priorities for traffic safety rather than spending $13 million on a lakeside park without toilets.John Turner, Kambah What a very different situation Australia would be in if we took a different attitude to two groups of people the disabled and those unable to reach their full potential at school. If we believed that both groups were able to contribute to society, and enabled them to do so, what a richer world we would live in, in two senses of this expression. We are so intent on talking about the cost of the disability pension (lets change that expression for a start) we dont mention the benefits, again in every sense of the word, of enabling the disabled to contribute to society and be part of it. This week I have been served in shops by two disabled people. The first was particularly outstanding and that shop now has a customer for life. Similarly we arent prepared to spend on help for the school dropouts wed rather keep building ever more prisons and keep them for life rather than give the help, in various ways, when they are younger so they can reach their full potential. Current actions reflect on the lack of recent knowledge of our politicians, who are merely repeating what has always been done (or not done) at enormous expense both financially for the nation and for those involved. Would Malcolm Turnbull have reached his position if he had been born disabled or into a family which was violent or unable to feed him or both.Audrey Guy, Ngunnawal Re The questions Mueller wants to ask Trump (canberratimes.com.au, May 2) What would be the point? We all know that Trump would only lie anyway.M. Jackson, Kambah Firstly, I would like to thank the Canberra Times for bringing us up to date on the latest legal precedents and HR perspectives on workplace farting (Public Sector Informant, Canberra Times, May 1, p4). Seldom have I seen the subject covered as well or as fearlessly. Wilsons descriptions really put the reader right there in the room at those face-melting moments when canvas is ripped in the modern administrative setting. Paragraph by paragraph an understanding was gained of the latent career-wrecker that many of us take to work with us each and every day. My particular concern rests with older workers, who would be well advised to become familiar with the hierarchy of aggravating factors that could see a withering glance escalating to a general HR breach, up through a violation of the APS code of conduct, or even the very charge of assault. The general direction of the restive clacker is obviously key, as is avoiding the natural tendency to manually separate the buttocks for effect. But loss of muscle tone in employees well above age 50 presents a particular challenge, and may become a daily worry. In enlightened decades still to come, very comfortable and inconspicuous muffler appliances will likely be available to the mature worker. Indeed, I am personally prototyping several versions (as the long-suffering staff at Canberra Hospitals Emergency Room are well aware). In the meantime I can only suggest that workplace seniors can adopt the practice of leaving offices and meeting rooms backwards to ensure that the perambulatory pants party of the primordial cannot be held to reflect on specific colleagues.Ross Kelly, Monash For Diane Cornelius (March 11), Mike OShaughnessy (March 9) Peter Snowdon (March 12) and Peter Curtis (March 7), I stand corrected on my delusional misapprehension that we have a British cultural inheritance that aspires to kindness for animals (March 5). I have obviously spent too much time at the dog park in company with the Royal Sandringham Society of Nicely Rotund Labradors. The reality was (again) captured when international media coverage of the Commonwealth Games ran in parallel with the barbaric cruelty of Australias live animal export trade. Add coverage of the RSPCAs intervention in Queenslands dog fighting industry and a kangaroo stoned to death in China. I would have been ecstatic to hear Prince Charles provoke a diplomatic and political incident with words conveying Stuff it, Im off find your own head of state. You have all the makings of a corrupt, war-torn, cruel and repugnant banana republic. When our first President of the Republic of Australia is about to pledge their oath of service, will they too look the other way and remain silent on suffering, misery and cruelty?Ronald Elliott, Sandringham, Victoria I note that government revenue is now believed to be so healthy that we no longer need to increase the Medicare levy to fund the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and that we can also afford a $65 billion tax cut over 10 years for big business. That sounds like the government coffers are awash with funds. Maybe now we can address the appalling state of Australias foreign aid budget? I remember when there was bipartisan support for increasing the foreign aid budget to 0.5 per cent of Gross National Income, but now it languishes at around 0.2 per cent. When is it going to be the turn of the worlds poor, many of whom live on our doorstep?David Bailey, Deakin West The analysis of the increase in unit owners rates (Rates impact unfair, May 2, p15) appears accurate and highlights how most units are now taxed at the higher rates because the ACT government has decided to add units values together before deciding the rate of tax. I pity people living in a modest unit located in a big block of units. It also highlights how the Chief Minister uses treasury officials to defend his governments decision, rather than having the courage to defend the latest tax grab himself.Bruce Paine, Red Hill Experienced economists - such as CT contributor Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon (Federal budget can help the gig gofers Canberra Times, May 2) and Access Economics spokesman Chris Richardson, are now highlighting how the historically low level of government payments for Newstart etc. are helping create a new phenomenon of youth inequality in Australia. High youth unemployment and cuts to vocational training aggravate the adverse impacts on the young. Voters should not hesitate to express their views about this.Trevor Wilson, Chifley The articles euphemisms would do a poet laureate proud (Report is a must read for any business leader, May 2, p21)! A road map, in the context of the CBA, and other potential corporate donors, which addresses weakness would in plain speak, referring to ordinary mortals, involve doing porridge for criminality using the map to locate the prison! The $1b capital surcharge, described as a little sting, must surely represent Paul Keatings version of being hit with a wet sheep. Public relations expenditure resulting in framing the Gordon Gekko scrabble for profits at all costs, as dulled the senses of the institution, represents well rewarded genius in polishing reality. This Commission brings into sharp relief the functionality of the cabal of sinecured directors who flit between corporations, drawing kudos, and bags of cash, as their desensitised, Jekyll and Hyde avariciousness would appear to add nothing of moral value to quality community outcomes. Auditors should also come within the purview of the commission, as their behaviour in acceding to the egregious demands of corporations reflect total abdication of professional ethics.Hopefully Haynes investigations will lift the lid on the whole rotten corporate structure.Albert M. White, Queanbeyan STOP THE ENDLESS PAPThe ABC management seems hell-bent on destroying our public broadcaster (ABC job cuts a dogfight likened to Hunger Games, May 3, p2). We now live with a reduction in news content, reduction of local content, seemingly endless repeats of human interest interviews and stories.Ill contribute 20 cents a day with the rest of the community to see a restoration of a critical, informative broadcaster with a healthy mix of news media and informed content instead of being served up the endless course of pap we receive under the current regime.W Book, Hackett LOSE ALLEN ... LOSE MEI refer to Megan Dohertys story ABC job cuts a dogfight likened to Hunger Games. I am appalled to read that Canberras most outstanding TV newsreader, Craig Allen, is having to fight for his job. Craig is a very popular newsreader, because he articulates well and enunciates clearly. If he goes, Ill be turning to a commercial station for the evening news.John Milne, Chapman WERE STILL WAITINGThe hospital waiting lists are to be expected after all if you waste $1billion on a toy tram there is not going to much left to go towards maintaining the hospital and aged care facilities. Obviously our chief minister and the rest of this dreadful ACT government all have private health insurance and can circumvent any queues.David Roberts, Belconnen MOVING FORWARD?A complete overhaul for the Belconnen Town Centre allowing for genuine skyscrapers yet no mention of the future light rail? Isnt Belconnen included, even in the future?Ben Hardwick, Bruce BE ROO-SPONSIBLEWhat happens to the carcasses (ACT aims for biggest roo cull yet, May 3, p1)? Hats, pet food and kangaroo tail soup? Why waste.Greg Cornwell, Yarralumla WILD ABOUT HARRYI think I could become a monarchist if we can have Harry as king. That guy looks and acts like a king. William looks more like a priest, or an accountant.SW Davey, Torrens NORTH MEETS SOUTHAs Rudyard Kiplings poem starts, Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet... but North and South have met as the poem further suggests when ...two strong men stand face to face....We may all have concerns and reservations but at least one step has been made well, actually two with the crossing back and forth between the two Koreas. Now we can start to hope.Dennis Fitzgerald, Box Hill, Victoria Email: letters.editor@canberratimes.com.au. Send from the message eld, not as an attached le. Fax: 6280 2282. Mail: Letters to the Editor, The Canberra Times, PO Box 7155, Canberra Mail Centre, ACT 2610. Keep your letter to 250 or fewer words. References to Canberra Times reports should include date and page number. Letters may be edited. Provide phone number and full home address (suburb only published). Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. In a couple of days, over 13 lakh candidates will be taking the prestigious National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). Undeniably, NEET stands on top in the list of medical entrance examinations in the country. Apart from the national-level NEET, All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is also one of the top medical entrance examinations in India . AIIMS, which has its own test format and set of rules, is conducted for an admission to the MBBS courses at AIIMS, New Delhi, and eight other AIIMS (Patna, Bhopal, Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar, Rishikesh, Raipur, Guntur and Nagpur). Just like NEET, candidates who have 10+2 or its equivalent can take this popular entrance examination. After taking NEET this Sunday, thousands of students will be shifting their focus on AIIMS. Unfortunately, they will be left with only three weeks for AIIMS preparations after NEET. Many students believe that AIIMS and NEET are one and the same. To be honest, both are different and AIIMS syllabus covers more topics. However, one can shine in AIIMS with the NEET preparations. Here's how you need to use the NEET preparations to crack AIIMS. NEET UG Exam: One-stop Guide For Your Last-minute Preparation Compare The Syllabuses Though the syllabuses of AIIMS and NEET seem to be similar, AIIMS covers a few more topics due to the additional general knowledge and aptitude & logical thinking sections. Try to figure out what are the concepts in AIIMS that are not present in NEET. This activity not only saves time for AIIMS preparation but also increases your confidence. Acquaint yourself with the AIIMS exam pattern and syllabus. Minimise Time While Reading The Basic Concepts Almost all the basic concepts in both the examinations are one and the same. Devoting more than required to read the basic concepts during the last week is not encouraged. During the AIIMS revisions, you can start reading the notes you have prepared for NEET. Focus On General Knowledge And Logical Thinking A total of 20 questions were asked from both these sections, which were not present in NEET. Though the percentage of questions from these sections is very minimal, they play a crucial role for success in this exam. Try to be strong in current affairs and read topics such as world records, persons in the news, Freedom Movement, Indian geography, books and authors, science events, science and technology and international events. Switch To The AIIMS Approach Compared to NEET, the questions are lengthy and comprehensive in AIIMS. Aspirants should focus on switching to the AIIMS approach in this short duration. AIIMS asks the students to apply the theoretical knowledge in a practical way. The NEET preparations based on theoretical approach will help you during your AIIMS preparations. NEET Previous Years' Question Papers As we said above, AIIMS has its own set of rules for the test format and approach. However, the approach towards the direct questions will be same for AIIMS and NEET. More than thirty percent of the questions will be asked directly in the AIIMS examination. If you have solved the NEET previous years' question papers extensively, it will help you a lot. Revision & Mock This is known fact to many students that the revision is important during the last phase of the preparations. Try to recall all the strategies you applied for NEET and try to apply them while taking the AIIMS mock tests. If it works, you can continue using them. If not, you need to prepare a new strategy for the AIIMS examination. AIIMS Exam: How To Crack It In One Month Photo: RCMP Martin Thiffault Police in Kelowna are seeking the public's help in finding a 48-year-old man who's been missing for two weeks. Martin Thiffault, a Kelowna resident, was last seen on April 19. It is uncommon for Martin to be out of contact for this amount of time as he requires daily medication, said Cpl. Tania Carroll of the Kelowna RCMP. He takes public transit and frequents the Orchard Park Mall. Police are very concerned for his health and well-being. Thiffault is a five-foot-three, thin Caucasian man with sandy-coloured hair, brown eyes and a goatee. Kelowna RCMP have asked anyone with information about Thiffault's whereabouts to call police. Photo: The Canadian Press China's foreign minister congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Thursday on his moves to reduce tensions with South Korea, China said. Their meeting in Pyongyang underscored warming ties and Beijing's desire to remain a key player in the Korean Peninsula peace process. Foreign Minister Wang Yi also told Kim that Beijing backs North Korea's shift of focus to economic growth, along with its efforts to resolve its "legitimate security concerns" while taking steps to denuclearize, China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. China "supports and congratulates" Kim's summit meeting last week with South Korean President Moon Jae-in and the statement they issued, it quoted Wang as saying. "The meeting has brought a favourable opportunity for a political resolution of the (Korean) Peninsula issue," Wang said. Relations between China and North Korea have undergone a vast outward improvement following Kim's recent visit to Beijing. China, North Korea's biggest trading partner, has joined United Nations sanctions against the North that have cut trade between them by around 90 per cent. Kim's March trip was his first to his country's only major ally since taking power six years ago, kicking off a flurry of diplomacy. A meeting between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump is expected in the coming weeks, although arrangements have yet to be announced. For China, the recent meetings offer an opportunity for it to reinforce its importance in the region and ensure that its concerns and interests are respected in any future negotiations. Photo: Vancouver Aquarium The man who has led the Vancouver Aquarium for the last 25 years and helped create its ocean conservation organization, Ocean Wise, has announced his retirement. A news release from Ocean Wise says aquarium president and CEO John Nightingale will step down at the end of the year. Nightingale came to Vancouver in 1993, leaving a senior post at the New York Aquarium to take over from the Vancouver Aquarium's founding director, Murray Newman. Since then, the release says Nightingale has helped the aquarium refine its mission, increase attendance and greatly expand its science, conservation and public programs. It says his work culminated last year with the launch of Ocean Wise, the global conservation organization he heads as CEO. Nightingale also initiated or co-founded projects such as the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and the Ocean Wise Sustainable Seafood Program, which partners with restaurants, retailers and others to help consumers make sustainable seafood choices. Nightingale says his time at the aquarium was a remarkable adventure and he has been privileged to work with leading scientists and conservationists. "I've been very fortunate to have a career doing work close to my heart: ocean conservation, raising public awareness, supporting leading science, and making use of that science to effect change during an era when our blue planet needed it most," he says in the release. He says he believes that the need is growing for organizations like the aquarium and Ocean Wise. "We teach current and future generations about the life in our oceans with the hope they feel inspired to protect it. In this digital age, that connection to nature is needed like never before." Nightingale's final years in Vancouver have been marked by a growing controversy over the captivity of whales and other cetaceans. The aquarium announced this year it would no longer display cetaceans. Ocean Wise says an international search to find its next CEO has already begun. The next chapters of In the time of the emperorLove is still alive between Samuel (Michelle Gomez) and Pillar (Gabriela... GICA exports first clinker to Europe ICR Newsroom By 03 May 2018 The Algerian Industry Ministry said GICA exported its first shipment of clinker to Europe in April. A subsidiary of state-run GICA Group delivered 45,000t. The shipment is part of a contract to export 200,000t to Europe. GICA is expected to export more cement to African and European countries in the near future, the statement noted. Published under New cement plant planned for Al-Bayda 03 May 2018 The city of Al-Bayda in Libya will be the location of a 4000tpd greenfield cement plant. Ali Hussein, the city mayor, has held a meeting with a number of German investors in the presence of several businessmen from the city to examine the possibility of establishing a cement factory within the municipality. The meeting agreed upon a plan to establish a 1.3Mta cement plant located south of the municipality, taking into consideration the compliance with the recognised environmental standards. Published under Sure, everyone is excited to see what Meghan Markle will wear for her royal wedding to Prince Harry and who will be in attendance. But what about the food? What will the couple serve to celebrate their nuptials? Thats at least as important as the any of the other details. Click through to see what other royal couples have served at their weddings and what English protocol calls for regarding wedding food. Also, make sure you see what Prince Harry and Meghan Markle might be drinking and eating at their wedding, on pages 6 and 7. 1. The wedding breakfast Royal wedding tradition dictates that the couple should host a wedding breakfast right after the actual ceremony, according to the website Quartzy. Although its called a wedding breakfast, the menu is typically more of a luncheon affair. Generally, the menu will include a seafood starter, a meat main, and a dessert. Many royal wedding menus have been named for the bride of groom. For instance, when the queen married Prince Philip in 1947, Filet de Sole Mountbatten was on the bill of fare. Next: Some strange breakfast foods 2. Prince Albert and Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon In 1923, the queen mother, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married Prince Albert. Heres what they served at the breakfast, according to BBC News: Supremes de Saumon Reine Mary (Queen Mary salmon filets) Cotelettes dAgneau Prince Albert (Prince Albert lamb cutlets) Chapons a la Strathmore (Strathmore-style capons) Fraises Duchesse Elizabeth (Duchess Elizabeth strawberries) Next: Both bride and groom had foods named after them. 3. Queen Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten When Queen Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, their wedding breakfast featured dishes named after both of them. According to BBC News, they ate: Filet de sole Mountbatten (sole filet) Perdreau en casserole avec haricots verts et pommes noisette (braised partridge with green beans and pureed potatoes made into little balls) Bombe Glacee Princesse Elizabeth (ice cream with strawberries) Next: Heres what the beloved Princess Diana had at her wedding. 4. Diana Spencer and Prince Charles When Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981 at St Pauls Cathedral in London, she omitted the traditional promise to obey her husband from the ceremony, according to BBC News. The couple also served a menu with a twist: Supreme de Volaille Princesse de Galles (Princess of Wales chicken chicken breast stuffed with lamb mousse, a twist on a palace favorite, lamb cutlet stuffed with chicken mousse) Quenelle of brill in lobster sauce (fish dumplings in lobster sauce) Strawberries with Cornish cream (strawberries with clotted cream) Next: The latest royal wedding menu 5. Prince William and Kate Middleton In April 2011, Prince William and Kate Middleton served a locally sourced wedding breakfast. Heres what they served at their breakfast buffet, according to BBC News. Cornish crab salad on lemon blini Pressed duck terrine with fruit chutney Roulade of goat cheese with caramelized walnuts Assortment of palmiers and cheese straws Scottish smoked salmon on beetroot blini Miniature watercress and asparagus tart Poached asparagus spears with hollandaise sauce Two wedding cakes, one of which was a childhood favorite of Williams, a chocolate fridge cake Next: Heres what Meghan and Harry might toast with. 6. Heres what Harry and Meghan might drink at their wedding breakfast Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding might be a good blueprint for Prince Harry and Meghan Markles affair, according to Quartzy. Its likely all ingredients will be locally sourced with the exception of the wine, which will probably be French. Because William and Kate served Winston Churchills favorite champagne, Pol Roger NV, Harry and Meghan could opt to do the same. They might also consider Champagne Lanson Pere Et Fils, which is the official vendor to the royal family its warrant, or designation, was issued in 1760. One thing is for sure, however: Claire Ptak will bake the wedding cake, which will be a lemon elderflower base with white buttercream and fresh flowers. Next: Heres what Meghan and Harry might eat. 7. Possible menu items for Meghan and Harry Its impossible to predict exactly what will be on the May 19 menu, but it will definitely be one of the most innovative royal wedding menus to date, according to Hello Magazine. Based on the current wedding catering trends, royal guests can expect the rustic themes from Will and Kates to be continued, said Tom Bridgeman, director of catering at Cripps & Co, the wedding venue operators behind the Tithe Barn at Bolton Abbey. Were seeing a rise in big, sociable sharing dishes and feast style menus. Small, pretty dishes are a thing of the past and now wedding food is more about tasty, high quality produce. Harry and Meghan are very well travelled, which could also influence the cuisine on the menu. One of the couples favorite destinations is Botswana so there could be some exotic cocktails on offer. They might even serve Eton Mess for pudding!, said Bridgeman. Next: Cake, an important element 8. Royal wedding cakes According to Quartzy, royal wedding cakes are traditionally tiered fruit cakes decorated with fancy Victorian sugar sculptures and white icing. In 1840, Queen Victoria had a 300-pound wedding cake, a testament to her overindulgence tendencies and love of sweets. Next: Cakes that measure up 9. These royals had really tall cakes Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip served a 9-foot-tall, 500-pound cake made with ingredients donated by the Australian Girl Guides. After the wedding, the cake went to charities. In 1973, according to Quartzy, Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips served a cake that was the exact height of Anne five-feet six-inches tall. Prince Charles and Diana served 27 cakes at their wedding, most of which were gifts and most of which were given to schools, charities, and hospitals. For Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding, celebrity baker Fiona Cairns made an eight-tier fruit cake. Next: William and Kates wedding dinner 10. A wedding dinner happens, too Yes, in addition to a wedding breakfast, royal couples put on a wedding dinner. And Michelin-starred Swiss chef Anton Mosimann prepared William and Kates. According to Quartzy, they served sustainable and locally sourced ingredients. The menu included crab dressed with mousse, crayfish and prawns; Highgrove lamb filet cooked three ways; and three different desserts. Next: This would be nice on the next royal wedding menu. 11. American hopes for the royal menu Because Markle has roots in Los Angeles and calls herself a foodie, according to Quartzy, her fans likely hope to see some nods to U.S. culinary traditions on the royal menu. Obviously, things such as a seafood boil, fish tacos, and quinoa bowls wont make it onto the menu, but how about getting Alice Waters, champion of the new American cuisine to take over the kitchen for the royal meal? In lieu of that, were thinking a nice Highgrove Farm Prince Charless spring lamb and a delicious Sonoma pinot noir might fit the bill. Next: Prince Charless second time around 12. Prince Charles and Camilla Bowles When Prince Charles married Camilla Bowles in a private, civil ceremony in 2005, the queen did not attend. Although the couple did not put on a traditional, formal banquet, they stuck with a British theme, serving egg and crest sandwiches, smoked salmon, and roast venison. They also served hot finger foods, including mini Cornish pasties and grilled vegetable tartlets, according to BBC News. For dessert, the couple chose boiled fruitcake, served alongside small pastries, such as glazed mocha fudge and strawberry tartlets. Next: This princess was determined to outdo the queen. 13. Princess Margaret and Anthony Armstrong-Jones When Princess Margaret married Anthony Armstrong-Jones, aka Lord Snowdon, in 1960, she had already lost her former love, Group Captain Peter Townsend, because the queen would not allow her to marry a divorced man. She went on to live happily with Jones, but she was determined to outdo the queens wedding in every way she could. Heres what BBC News says they served at their wedding: Filet de Boeuf Princesse (beef tenderloin) Haricot verts (green beans) Souffle Surprise Montmorency (no information on what the souffle was made from) A cake that was 5 feet tall and weighed 150 pounds, plus 19 additional cakes Next: A seriously lavish wedding breakfast 14. Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips In 1973, the queens only daughter, Princess Anne, the queens only daughter, married Captain Mark Philips. The couple divorced in April 1992. According to BBC News, their lavish wedding meal had two main courses, plus a wedding cake that was exactly as tall as the Princess. The menu consisted of: Lobster Partridge Fresh peas Peppermint ice cream (even in November in England) Next: A seriously lavish wedding breakfast 15. Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson Although Sarah Ferguson, aka Fergie, is persona non grata with the royal family these days, it wasnt always that way. When she married Prince Andrew in 1986, however, the Duchess of York had some trouble adjusting to royal life, according to BBC News. Heres what the couple served at their wedding: Eggs Drumkilbo (hard-boiled egg with lobster, prawns and mayonnaise) Lamb with mint sauce Strawberries and cream Read more: An Inside Look at Prince Harry and Meghan Markles Royal Wedding Venue, Windsor Castle Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! There has been much concern in the past year over North Korea and its threat of launching nuclear weapons. But just last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with South Korean president Moon Jae-in. The meeting of the two leaders signalled a major change in North Koreas relations with the rest of the world and sparked hope that conditions for North Korean citizens--and particularly Christians--can begin to improve. Following the meeting, Kim Jong-un and Moon Jae-in issued a joint statement: "There will be no more war on the Korean peninsula, and a new age of peace has begun. Writing for Charisma News, J. Lee Grady notes that this turn of events brings to mind Isaiah 2:4 which says: He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. What is even more remarkable about this change in North Koreas presence on the world state is that Christians in South Korea have been fasting and praying for this very peace summit. In Paju, a city just south of the North Korean border, pastors held an all-night vigil and South Korean Christian politicians also fasted and prayed. The South Korean Christians were joined in prayer by their North Korean brothers and sisters in Christ. Prayer is powerful and believers from all nations are hopeful that this meeting will usher in freedom and open borders between the two nations. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/Fredex8 Publication date: May 3, 2018 Three American citizens detained in North Korea seem set to be released ahead of a meeting between the two countries leaders next month. The BBC reported that the three men had been relocated to a Pyongyang hotel and are receiving good food and medical care. US President Donald Trump tweeted yesterday (2 May) that the US has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 3 May 2018 Who are the Americans? Kim Dong-chul, a pastor in his early 60s, was arrested in 2015 and sentenced to 10 years hard labour after admitting spying for South Korea, which Seoul denied. Tony Kim (also known as Kim Sang-duk) was detained in April 2017 for committing criminal acts of hostility against the North Korean government. Kim, in his 50s, had been involved in humanitarian work with orphanages and taught at the Pyongyang University for Science and Technology (PUST), which trains the children of North Koreas elite and has a volunteer staff that includes many evangelical Christians. Kim Hak Song was arrested two weeks later, in May 2017, as he prepared to leave the country after working for several weeks as a lecturer at PUST. He was arrested on charges of hostile acts against the regime. Reuters reported that in 2015, he had posted a message on the website of a Korean-Brazilian church in Sao Paulo, saying he was a Christian missionary planning to start an experimental farm at PUST and was trying to help the North Korean people learn to become self-sufficient. Others released In August last year Hyeon Soo Lim, a Korean-Canadian church leader sentenced to life in prison with hard labour, was released on sick bail. Detained since February 2015, he was convicted later that year of numerous charges, including an attempt to overthrow the government. His release came just a few months after 22-year-old American student Otto Warmbier died at home, just one week after his release from 15 months detention for stealing a small flag from his Pyongyang hotel. Warmbier had been sentenced to 15 years hard labour but was released having reportedly falling ill while in detention and was evacuated in a medically induced coma. In 2014 two Americans were released following a personal note from then US President Barack Obama to Kim Jong-un at the beginning of Obamas week-long tour of Asia. But South Korean pastor Kim Jong-Wook, sentenced to a life of hard labour in 2014, is still being detained. As a missionary, Kim operated from the Chinese border city of Dandong, where he provided shelter, food and other aid to North Korean refugees who crossed the border seeking relief from the famine in their country. North Korea is No. 1 on the 2018 Open Doors World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. The post North Korea: US citizens set for release ahead of Trump-Kim talks appeared first on World Watch Monitor. Photo: The three Americans have been detained on charges ranging from committing hostile acts against the regime to spying for a foreign country. Photo courtesy: World Watch Monitor Publication date: May 3, 2018 The South Carolina Senate approved a measure this week that would ban about 97 percent of abortions in the state. The proposal amends a bill that already bans dismemberment abortions. The new measure bans all abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or threats to the mothers life, according to The State. Senators voted 28-10 to approve the proposal. The measure needs one more vote of approval before it can be sent to the state House for consideration. Its expected that the bill will bring opposition from abortion activists. If they challenge the proposal, lawmakers say that will be an opportunity to also challenge and overturn Roe v. Wade. Its designed to give the court an opportunity to revisit Roe v. Wade, state Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey. Reports say that the proposal would ban about 97 percent of abortions in the state. There are about 5,700 abortions each year in South Carolina, says democratic state Sen. Brad Hutto. Its clearly unconstitutional from my point of view, said state Sen. Brad Hutto. The vote to approve the new bill came just 24 hours after the Senate rejected a similar amendment to the dismemberment abortion ban. That amendment would have granted legal right to unborn babies from the moment of conception. Its not the first time the South Carolina legislation has tried to push through a bill that would give rights to unborn babies. Another bill that would recognize unborn babies as legal persons failed in the state House earlier this year. In North Dakota and Arkansas, there have been attempts to ban abortions after an unborn babys heartbeat is detectable, which is about six weeks. However, federal courts rejected those laws. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/Allexxandar Publication date: May 3, 2018 From 1949 to 1952, the unthinkable unfolded on Scottish islands known as the Hebrides: revival! Seemingly out of nowhere, a spiritual awakening swept across the islands of Lewis and Harris, replacing postWorld War II despair and depression with earnest, zealous faith. Some historians believe this was the last genuine awakening in the western world. When I came across a book detailing the Hebridian Revival, I wanted to know how a community was transformed from spiritual freefall to stunning renewal. So I booked a flight to Scotland, hoping to meet anyone who might remember what happened in those days. To my amazement, I met 11 eyewitnessesin their 80s nowwho agreed to interviews in the sanctuary of the very church where the awakening began. Bundled against the wintry barrenness outside, my new friends warmed with memories as tears flowed freely. While they admitted strong preaching and other measures had played a role in the revival, to a person they described something more essential when God moved: a kind of spiritual posture among those at the core of the awakening. They told of the attitude of brokenness and desperation that stirred Christians in that day, a spirit of necessity and audacity, a manner of prayer that could be daring and agonizing. They called it travailing prayer, from how Paul described his prayers for the Galatians of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you (4:19 KJV). Ever since I looked into the eyes of people who experienced the revival that we so desperately long to see again, I have come to believe that the link from here to there is in the hearts of men and women willing to receive this gift of travail. 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. Ashley was scared. Things had been bad for a while. She hadnt felt safe at home for some time, but now her kids were getting old enough to understand what was happening. She didnt feel safe confiding in friends. Her world was small because it was easier to keep things hidden with fewer eyes aware of her home life. She went to the one place she felt safe, her church, to speak with her pastor. Still, she wasnt sure if she was doing the right thing. She trusted her church and appreciated her pastor, but she had always managed the situation by keeping information hidden. Talking to anyone went against her every instinct. But she couldnt stay silent any more. Ashley told her pastor about three episodes in the last year that left her bruised when her husband lost his cool. She talked about how her husband insisted on knowing exactly where she was at all times, who she talked to, and what she said. Simple conversations became combustible quickly if she didnt give the right answer. While sharing these things, she spoke softly and apologized frequently. As Ashley finished her story and the pastor felt his turn to speak approaching, he felt uncomfortable for several reasons. Even though Ashley had not asked him to do anything yet, he was unsure how best to counsel her. He felt the highest sense of duty to protect Ashley, but his thoughts were complicated by several internal tensions. This hypothetical story, based on numerous encounters weve experienced with victims of domestic abuse, represents a challenge many pastors will face at some point in their ministry. Indeed, recent national events have revealed the widespread prevalence of physical and sexual assault in the workplace and at home. Pastors who wish to support, protect, and counsel survivors of abuse are often left wondering how best to minister to them. They know abuse is a multi-faceted evil. They want to provide the best counsel possible. But several misconceptions around the issue can cloud the thoughts and guide the actions of well-intentioned church leaders. Myth 1: By advocating separation, I am undermining the institution of marriage. For pastors, saying make sure youre safe may feel uncomfortably close to counseling leave your marriage for good. Pursuing safety and honoring the covenant might seem like either-or concepts instead of both-and realities. In fact, victims of abuse have been living in this tension for years. Any steps taken to protect victims of domestic abuse are steps towards fulfilling Gods will for marriage. God hates divorce because he loves marriage. But that is also why he hates abuse. Paul says marriage should reflect the order and commitment within the Godhead, and thus should depict Christs sacrificial love for the church. Abuse is in diametric opposition to Gods design for marriage. Any steps taken to protect victims of domestic abuse, therefore, are steps towards fulfilling Gods will for marriage. By intervening on behalf of those afflicted by slander (abusive speech) or violence (abusive actions), we serve as Gods arm for executing justice for the needy (Ps. 140:1112). When people try to control outcomes rather than responding wisely to present situations, this can lead to unhealthy and harmful dynamics. Victims hide their abuse for years because they want to prevent their spouses from getting upset. And sometimes pastors hesitate to advise a separation because they want to prevent separation from becoming divorce. When we dont do what we should because we are trying to prevent someone else from doing what they shouldnt, we allow that persons folly rather than godly wisdom to dictate our actions. Myth 2: I must confront the abuser right away. When pastors first hear stories of abuse, their initial instinct is often, This is bad. Something needs to be done quickly. But just because a victim speaks up, it doesn't mean she is ready to confront her abuser. In Is It My Fault? Justin and Lindsey Holcomb point to numerous studies that highlight an unfortunate reality: Many victims believe clergy have the most potential to help them, when in reality they are too often the least helpful and sometimes even hurtful. When church leaders act too quickly, questioning or confronting the abuser before the victim is ready, they can cause more harm than good, even putting the victim in greater danger. The victim may be silenced and punished by the abuser who now knows she spoke to an outsider. Ensuring the immediate safety of the victim is essential, but so is securing her long-term safety. If pastors sometimes err by hesitating in the face of the first myth, we also err by trying to bring final resolution too quickly. Myth 3: If a victim of abuse is not yet ready to act, things must not be that bad. Disclosing abuse and processing its implications can be overwhelming, and victims are often unclear about what actions, if any, they want you to take. Dont take hesitancy as a sign that nothing needs to change. Unless there is risk of imminent harm or minors are involvedboth require mandatory reportingit is best to: Develop a safety plan. Connect with a counselor experienced in working with abuse victims. Clarify the central actions that need to change so that when the victim is ready for a direct conversation with the abusive spouse, the message is clear and consistent. Justin and Lindsey Holcomb reveal that direct intervention helpers (pastors, police, lawyers) are initially less helpful to those in harms way than less direct intervention helpers (hot lines, social workers, counselors). When abuse victims are asked to make changes for which they are unprepared, even healthy changes, the situation actually gets worse. For assistance to result in a positive outcome, the abuse victim must be ready to live out the implications. This is why involving an experienced abuse counselor is so important. If the abuse victim is not prepared and has no viable plan, emotional or financial pressure often leads her back home prematurely, and it may be years before she reaches out for help again. This leads us to the fourth myth. Myth 4: As a pastor, Im the best person to solve this problem. When legal authorities get involved, the church often feels hampered in its ability to engage in restorative church discipline, which can go against a pastors shepherding impulses. A restraining order or an attorneys request for the abuser not to make any incriminating statements can delay a churchs actions for months. When this happens, it means the offenses were significant enough to merit this kind of legal process. It can be difficult for many church leaders to understand why the actions and processes of the church should be postponed so legal processes can unfold. But in Romans 13, Paul makes it very clear that in criminal matters, the state is Gods agent of justice. Deferring to legal processes is not putting God second; it is recognizing who God asked to take the lead when a crime has been committed. By putting the needs of the victim first, you are not minimizing the offenses of the abuser. Rather, you are preparing the victim to walk a difficult journey after her abuse becomes public knowledge. We know that the vast majority of pastors genuinely love the members of their congregations and want to protect them. But as in all relationships, love alone is not enough. We must respond and act with biblical wisdom. With a combination of Christian love and wisdom, therefore, we will be able to glorify God and advocate effectively for his children in need. Bruce Ashford is provost and dean of faculty at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina. He is also an elder at The Summit Church. J. D. Greear is lead pastor at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Brad Hambrick is the pastor of counseling at The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. He also serves as instructor of biblical counseling at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The warnings are dire indeed. "The world's fastest growing sect of Christianity is not Christian at all. And chances are very high that your child and church are getting infected." Yes, this ministry website tells us, "The New Apostolic Reformation movement and the Jesus Culture worship band boasts of 369 million adherents." What, exactly is this New Apostolic Reformation (abbreviated NAR)? According to the website, "The New Apostolic Reformation worships God drunk in the spirit and they teach scant amounts of truth. Christians do not need to be aware of each and every false teacher on the planet. But the New Apostolic Reformation is the most influential aberrant movement the church has ever seen." And so, the website urges, buy this one-hour DVD and you will find out how terrible this "influential aberrant" movement is. Seriously? This alleged "sect" boasts 369 million adherents? Where did this figure come from? And why is it that most of these 369 million adherents (who think they are Christian but are not) have likely never heard of NAR? I was doing my radio show last year when, during a break, my producer and I heard an ad playing for this DVD. We were absolutely shocked. What in the world were they talking about? What is this massive, dangerous "NAR"? During the 2016 presidential campaign, I had seen articles on radical-left websites accusing political leaders like Ted Cruz of being part of "NAR." By this the critics meant an alleged Christian dominionist movement that wanted to take over America. But that, apparently, was quite different than this new description of NAR, since most of its supposed followers are not dominionist. So I continued to wonder, "What is this so-called NAR?" I was familiar with the term New Apostolic Reformation, coined by Peter Wagner (more on this below), but it hardly resembled this ominous new "NAR." To make matters more interesting, last year, some colleagues began sending me links to articles and videos attacking me as one of the leaders of NAR. Worse still, the websites claimed, I denied being part of it. How nefarious and dishonest of me! (To this moment, when I tell the truth about "NAR," I'm called a liar. It would be very funny if it wasn't very sad.) I began to ask other colleagues about NAR (or, in full, the New Apostolic Reformation). Almost to a person, they responded, "What is NAR?" Yet they, too, were alleged leaders in this so-called world movement! How is it they never heard of it either? (According to the critics, all of us are lying about our involvement in NAR because we're embarrassed by it. Honestly, these critics could make better use of their time writing a novel about the Illuminati.) So where is all the confusion and misinformation coming from? Why are these critics making such outlandish charges? As best I can see, this is the progression. First, Dr. Peter Wagner coined the term the New Apostolic Reformation to describe what he saw as a growing church trend. He wrote in 2011, "The roots of the NAR go back to the beginning of the African Independent Church Movement in 1900, the Chinese House Church Movement beginning in 1976, the U.S. Independent Charismatic Movement beginning in the 1970s and the Latin American Grassroots Church Movement beginning around the same time. I was neither the founder nor a member of any of these movements, I was simply a professor who observed that they were the fastest growing churches in their respective regions and that they had a number of common characteristics." So, you can see what a broad description this is, and again, it was Dr. Wagner's personal way of categorizing a worldwide, century-old, multi-faceted church growth movement. And many of the church groups he described did not use the term "apostles" for their leaders today. Second, Dr. Wagner himself led something called the New Apostolic Reformation, and it was in that specific context I was familiar with the term. This was the "NAR" I knew about. It had distinct teachings on apostolic ministry, some of which I agreed with and some of which I rejected. I was never part of the organization, which also had specific membership requirements and annual meetings. To this day, when I bring up NAR to colleagues, either they have no idea what I'm referring to, or else they say, "That was Peter Wagner's organization." I was having dinner recently with a well-known Charismatic leader and asked him, "What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of NAR?" He responded immediately with, "It was a good attempt by Peter Wagner, but I strongly differed with him on a number of key points, which is why I never joined it." (For the record, he was quite shocked when I told him that, according to the critics, he was also a major NAR leader!) So, in this leader's mind, the New Apostolic Reformation spoke of something very specific, and that's how almost all of us who traveled in these same circles understood it. That's why we're scratching our heads today trying to understand how this term came to be used to describe this alleged worldwide, demonic movement. How in the world did this happen? It appears that some of this can be traced back to Prof. Doug Geivett and Holly Pivec, who wrote the book A New Apostolic Reformation? A Biblical Response to a Worldwide Movement. In this book, they included Charismatic leaders who believe in five-fold ministry today (as I have, for decades) and grouped them together as part of NAR. The book also painted a very negative picture, although I believe that the authors were sincere in their writing and sought to do solid research. In the end, we are left with a totally ambiguous picture of what NAR actually is, making it all the more dangerous in the minds of the conspiratorial critics, who inevitably believe the worst. (Just look at Holly's website where she tells you how to identify a NAR church and tell me if it's clear to you. Even after a two-hour dialogue with Doug and Holly, I'm still not certain as to how they identify NAR leaders or churches.) Does it matter that Mike Bickle's IHOP KC put out a categorical statement differing with some of the alleged tenets of NAR? Not at all. That just proves their duplicity. (The IHOP KC website also gives a helpful history of some of Peter Wagner's writings on the subject.) Another website claims to give "The Six Hallmarks of a NAR Church." But first, it explains that NAR is not a specific organization. Instead, the website states, "Supernatural Signs & Wonders; Dominionism; The Latter Rain Movement; Joel's Army; The 7 Mountain Mandate; Third Wave Revivalism; IHOP; Bill Johnson's Bethel Church, The Hillsong Media Empire, these are all a part of this shape-shifting movement in one way or another. It is gobbling up churches and deceiving millions who don't even know they've become a part of an apostate, end-times falling away." So, if you enjoy Hillsong worship songs, you're part of NAR, and you are apostate. (Surprise!) If you believe God confirms His Word with signs, wonders, and miracles, you're part of NAR, and you have fallen away. (Yes, surprise again!) If you believe the Church should make a positive impact on the culture through the gospel, you're part of NAR, even if you repudiate dominionism. (Sorry, but that's what the critics say!) And if your church hosts 24-7 prayer, you're NAR. (Holly's website lists this as a tell-tale sign.) In short, what the critics have basically done is take whatever trends they differ with in the worldwide Pentecostal-Charismatic movement, group them all together, and put them under the heading of NAR even though this is not what NAR has ever meant. So, they have a taken a term that had a specific meaning for years, put their own definition on it, and then decided who is part of it, regardless of how the facts line up. It would be just as misleading and inaccurate as referring to all non-Charismatics as part of Pastor John MacArthur's Strange Fire Movement (SFM). You don't agree with Pastor MacArthur? Doesn't matter. You think Strange Fire went too far? Not an issue. If you're non-Charismatic, you're part of SFM because I say you are. Yes, this is utterly ridiculous but no more ridiculous than the critics' description of "NAR." That's why I have raised my voice repeatedly in recent months to debunk the myth of NAR: What the critics describe simply doesn't exist. (For my most recent attempt to clarify this, watch this video. For my belief in five-fold ministry, go here.) To give a specific example, the first of the alleged 6 hallmarks of a NAR church is this: "There are new Apostles are on the earth today, anointed by the laying of hands to represent and speak for God here on Earth. These 'Super Apostles' are equal to the original Apostles the ones who witnessed Jesus' life, death and resurrection and were appointed by Christ Himself to the office. Since these new apostles are commissioned by God, their authority may not be questioned." I work with plenty of leaders who believe in apostolic ministry today, but I don't know any of them who believe they "are equal to the original Apostles" or who say "their authority may not be questioned." Not one. And if I met someone like that, I'd rebuke them to their face. If anything, I've domineering pastors who claim they are appointed by God and cannot be questioned. But this description of alleged super apostles is utterly foreign to me and utterly foreign to my closest ministry colleagues. Yet all of us are allegedly part of NAR! Recently, Dr. Joseph Mattera, who leads the organization once led by Peter Wagner, wrote two articles in which he strongly rejected some of the tenets of Wagner's NAR. (See here and here; for our hour-long interview, go here.) But this doesn't matter to the critics. They simply heap scorn on him for being NAR and denying it. Do these critics really care about the facts? The truth be told, the reason I and others have taken time to clarify issues is out of love for the Body of Christ as a whole. The critics are not my concern. Their attacks fuel my fire and encourage me all the more to stand for what is right. I simply feel bad for them personally and grieve over any confusion they cause in the Church. But again, that's why I've taken time to try to clarify issues: I'm concerned about the unity of the Church, and I see the work of these critics as being divisive and destructive, more harmful than helpful. As for those who think I want to look the other way and ignore abuses, may I remind you that my most recent book, Playing with Holy Fire, is devoted entirely to addressing abuses in our house meaning, in the Pentecostal-Charismatic Church? If you've read the book, you can attest that I pull no punches. You'll also know that I critique some aspects of contemporary "apostolic ministry." My suggestion, then, for those who want to be constructive is this. First, get rid of the extreme rhetoric ("not Christian"; "aberrant movement"; etc.). You're slandering your brothers and sisters. Second, drop the general term NAR. It's ambiguous at best and misleading at worst and should only be used with reference to the organization once led by Peter Wagner. Third, don't put widely disparate groups under the same heading. That only leads to confusion. Fourth, identify the beliefs or practices you question, be sure you rightly understand them from an insider perspective, then respond to them based on Scripture and fruit. Fifth, recognize the wonderful things the Spirit is doing around the world today. This way, rather than scaring people with false accusations of a conspiratorial, worldwide, demonic movement, you can engage in constructive, fruitful interaction. That way, you can build up more than tear down. Isn't that the goal we all share? Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment This speech was given by Fuller Seminary President Dr. Mark Labberton at a private meeting of evangelical leaders held at Wheaton College in Chicago, Illinois, on April 16, 2018. The following has been edited from his notes for clarity and to give context to excerpts that have been disseminated elsewhere. What draws us together hereand in hopeis the gospel of Jesus Christ. God's great love and mercy poured out for the sake of the world is deeper, wider, stronger, and wiser than any possible threat or danger, competition or distraction. Our common confession that "Jesus is Lord" names the central testimony of our faith, even as it also names that to which no one and nothing else compares: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all. What also draws us here is our deep affection and gratitude for our evangelical family. As one who was converted to Christ as an adult, my cradle identity was not evangelicalism. But as one born into Christ, the thoughtful, faithful, humble evangelicalism I stumbled into has been and is my heartland. It is where I grew up in faith and where I have found a capaciousness of mind and spirit, and a zeal for mission that tells me I am home. This gathering is not an occasion for celebration of evangelicalism, however. This gathering emerges instead from worry, sorrow, anger, and bewildermentwhether we are Democrats or Republicans. Christians in both parties found the others' candidate patently unacceptable, leading to fierce division. Many felt cornered without a genuine choice when the issues represented are complex and fear is justified. This is not the first or last time the body of Christ has gathered in lament. When evangelical leaders like us gather, it is often with a spirit of optimistic hope, known for "pressing on" in the work of the gospel. For me, this is not a time of pressing on. I feel a personal urgency to stop, to pray, to listen, to confess, and to repent and want to call us to do the same. Only the Spirit "who is in the world to convict us of sin and righteousness and judgment" (John 16:8) can bring us to clarity about the crisis we face. As I have sought that conviction, here is what I have come to believe: The central crisis facing us is that the gospel of Jesus Christ has been betrayed and shamed by an evangelicalism that has violated its own moral and spiritual integrity. This is not a crisis imposed from outside the household of faith, but from within. The core of the crisis is not specifically about Trump, or Hillary, or Obama, or the electoral college, or Comey, or Mueller, or abortion, or LGBTQIA+ debates, or Supreme Court appointees. Instead the crisis is caused by the way a toxic evangelicalism has engaged with these issues in such a way as to turn the gospel into Good News that is fake. Now on public display is an indisputable collusion between prominent evangelicalism and many forms of insidious racist, misogynistic, materialistic, and political power. The wind and the rain and the floods have come, and, as Jesus said, they will reveal our foundation. In this moment for evangelicalism, what the storms have exposed is a foundation not of solid rock but of sand. This is not a crisis taking place at the level of language. This is not about who owns or defines the term "evangelical," and whether one doesor does notchoose to identify as such. It is legitimate and important to debate if and how the term "evangelical" can currently be used in the United States to mean anything more than white, theologically and politically conservative. But that is not itself the crisis. The crisis is not at the level of our lexicon, but of our lives and a failure to embody the gospel we preach. We may debate whether the word "evangelical" can or should be redeemed. But what we must deal with is the current bankruptcy many associate with evangelical life. This is not a crisis unfolding at the level of group allegiance, denomination, or affiliation. The varied reality that is American evangelicalism is evidenced in this room. We have no formal hierarchy, leadership, or structure and form no single organization, but are sorted and divided today as we have beenfor better and worsefor much of our history. Some might wish for a clearer distinction between those who call themselves fundamentalist and those who call themselves evangelical. We might look to varying traditions or geographies to explain our division. These distinctions matter but can easily devolve into scapegoating or blaming, diverting us from our vocation as witness to God's love for a multifaceted world. This is not a recent crisis but a historic one. We face a haunting specter with a shadow that reaches back further than the 2016 electiona history that helps define the depth of the sorrow, fear, anger, anxiety, and injustice around us. Today's egregious collusion between evangelicals and worldly power is problematic enough: more painful and revealing is that such collusion has been our historic habit. Today's collusion bears astonishingand tragiccontinuity with the past. Right alongside the rich history of gospel faithfulness that evangelicalism has affirmed, there lies a destructive complicity with dominant cultural and racial power. Despite deep gospel confidence and rhetoric, evangelicalism has been long-wedded to a devastating social self-interest that defends the dominant culture over and against that of the gospel's command to love the "other" as ourselves. We are not naive in our doctrine of sin that prefers self over all, but we have failed to recognize our own guilt in it. Our professed trust in Jesus has not led evangelicals to die to ourselves, but often to justify our own self-assertioneven when that means complicity in the suffering and death of others. The scandal associated today with the evangelical gospel is not the scandal of the Cross of Christ, crucified for the salvation of the world. Rather it is the scandal of our own arrogance, unconfessed before the Cross, revealing a hypocritical superiority that we dare to associate with the God who died to save the weak and the lost. In order to be concrete about this, let me choose what I believe to be the top four arenas in which this violation of spiritual and moral character has shown itself: First is the issue of power. Our primary confession that "Jesus is Lord" is a statement about power. "The gospel is the power of God unto salvation, to the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom 1:16). This is our hope and confidence, and as those who seek to live in the kingdom of God, we profess that Jesus is Lord and all other power must be reframed in light of this reality. The Apostle Paul says it this way: "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of deatheven death on a cross" (Phil 2:58). In much of the last century, American evangelicalism has had a complex relationship with power. On one hand, it has felt itself marginalized and repudiated, defeated and silenced. On the other, it has often seemed to seekeven fawn overworldly power, mimicking in the church forms of power evident in our culture. (I remember being at a conference where it was announced we should all be back after dinner for "an evening of star-studded worship.") An evangelical dance with political power has been going on from the time of Billy Graham, through the Moral Majority and the religious right, to the Tea Party, and most recently with the white evangelical votethe result being, as honorary Chairman of the Lausanne Movement Doug Birdsall has said, "When you Google 'evangelical,' you get Trump." This points to an evangelical crisis over so many issues of power: racial, political, economic, cultural, right against left, Republican against Democrat, rich against poor, white against black, men against women, and so on. But winning power was the goal of Judas, not Jesus. A Faustian pact between evangelicals and powereven when claimed on behalf of the kingdomcannot be entered in the name of Jesus Christ without betraying the abdication of power inherent in the incarnation. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son . . . ." (John 3:16) Abuse of power is central in the national debates of the moment. Whether we think about US militarism, or mass incarceration, or the #MeToo movement (or mistreatment of women in general), or the police shootings of unarmed, young, black men, or the actions of ICE toward child and adult immigrants, or gun use and control, or tax policyall this is about power. The apparent evangelical alignment with the use of power that seeks dominance, control, supremacy, and victory over compassion and justice associates Jesus with the strategies of Caesar, not with the good news of the gospel. Second is the issue of race. The Bible knows all people to be fully human, fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image, knit together in our mother's womb. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, not just those who arrive as poor, hard-working immigrants fleeing violence or those wasting away in private prisons. All are dead and in Christ made alive, and the evidence of the resurrection is that the peculiar body of God's people, a new humanity of Jew and Greek, slave and free, male and female, are to be the evidence of a resurrected God. This is the glory of creation and new creation. Those of us who are white evangelicals must acknowledge that our story is intertwined with, and often responsible for, much of the violence and oppression around racial injustice in our American story. The stories of Native American, African American, Latino/a, or Asian peoples in the history of the United States cannot be told truthfully without naming the role of white evangelicals who testified to a God of redemption but whose theological, political, social, and economic choices contributed to suffering and injustice. Stories of devastation are often absent from a happier white evangelical narrative of promised-land life, or buried in a sanitized story that claims that past injustice is not relevant for people of color todaydespite the fact that nearly all people of color experience racism and its implications every day around the nation, including those in this room today. This unreckoned-with reality of white evangelical racism permeates American life, and its tinderbox was lit on fire by the rhetoric of our national life in recent yearswhether in reference to Ferguson, or Charlottesville, or "shithole countries" deemed without value. White history narrates the story of America's heroes, and white evangelical history views those "good guys" as the providence of a good and faithful God. When some white evangelicals triumphantly pronounce that we now have "the best president the religious right ever had," the crisis it underscores to millions of people of color is not an indictment of our President as much as it is an indictment of white evangelicalism and a racist gospel. Third is the issue of nationalism. One of Israel's particular temptations was to suppose that because the God of Israel was great, the people of Israel must be great, too. No wonder God needed to remind them, "It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples . . ." (Deut 7:7). In the greatness of the God of Israel we are reminded of a national life to be centered not in its own greatness, or as the right of its people, but fixed in gratitude and faithfulness and humility before God and, from the New Testament, in service to the God who gave his Son out of love for the world. By dramatic contrast, nationalism gives pride of place to ourselves, to regional or national assertions of primacy and the quest for power and success, control and dominance, legitimizing violence and pressing for victory. Nationalism reveals that we have mis-ordered worship. Religiously motivated nationalism simply turns God into our "godling," a deity subject to our bidding. In the complex world of global politics and economics, religion and militarism, markets and globalization, nationhood is part of the shifting landscape of human powers and forces. In a Christian hierarchy of kingdom values, nationhood has a legitimate place, but not a central or a top-tier oneand never one that displaces the authority of God. For white evangelicals to embrace a platform and advocacy that promotes, prioritizes, and defends America above all and over all is to embrace an idolatry that has only ever proven disastrous. Respect for nationhood, including borders and immigration, the rule of law, both internally and among the field of nations, are surely legitimate and defensible values. However, identification with the use of demeaning rhetoric toward other nations, not least nations of color that are facing the challenges of poverty and war, is not only confusing but violating to the dignity, value, and truth of the gospel. It is, as well, violating to the people we otherwise claim to see, serve, join, and lovenations to which, ironically, American evangelicals annually send millions of dollars for mission and evangelism. A legitimate debate about immigration laws and practices is surely necessary, as difficult as it may be. But that debate is distorted if it begins with nationalistic assumptions. The current administration's rhetoric may be odious, pejorative, and totalizing against our international neighborsyet we, too, demonstrate a gospel of fake good news when we ignore any needs or concerns that threaten our self-interests. In a pluralistic population, debates over such things as immigration policy are legitimate and bound to be contentious. But when it seems that white evangelicals endorse self-interest through political speech that is nationalistic and demeaning to others, our central commitments do not reflect Jesus Christ, but rather a cold, white heart. The people of God are to follow an enemy-loving God, as exemplified by the life of Jesus. This is part of the call to our new and peculiar life. This is not meant to dictate national foreign policy, but to hold the people of God to a more severe and demanding standard, calling on our conscience when it comes to foreign policy in relation to the citizens of foreign, militarized, even violent states who are equally loved by God. Fourth is the issue of economics. It is very hard to read the Bible and ignore God's heart for the poor and the vulnerable. Built into the faithfulness to which Israel is called are boundaries on personal wealth, stewardship for the common good, and relief and provision for the poor, the alien, and the widow. Long before free market capitalism had developed, the God of Israel, the God revealed in Jesus Christ, was shown to bend toward mercy, with justice for the poor. It was one of Israel's most distinctive priorities and practices. The life of Jesus underscores these themes throughout his public ministry. The dangers of power and greed, stoked by the biases of money and wealth, distort our lives. The faithfulness of Christians in our economic and social vision and practice are to be reflective of God who reorders all these to the purposes of the kingdom. The social practices of the church are to demonstrate the presence of God as light and salt in an otherwise dark and savorless world. American evangelicals have often divided over the significance of life this side of eternity, sometimes understanding the eschaton in ways that marginalize the significance of economics or race. Yet the gracious magnanimity of God's heart should be visible by the same magnanimity and grace we taste at the shared table and that is demonstrated toward our neighbor. When white evangelicals in prominent and wealthy places speak about what is fair and beneficial for society, but then pass laws and tax changes that create more national indebtedness and elevate the top 1% even higherwhile cutting services and provisions for children, the disabled, and the poor that are castigated as disgusting "entitlements"one has to ask how this is reconciled with being followers of Jesus. The complexities of social support for the vulnerable in our society certainly can and should be debated, but when the instigators of change are serving elite interests and disregarding the 99%, it is very hard to recognize the influence of the gospel narrative on compassion, let alone justice. Still Evangelical or Yet Evangelical? Absorbing all this, I am forced to kneel in confession, with trust that "the One who has begun a good work in us will bring it to completion in the day of Jesus Christ" (Phil 1:6). Though I would like to think all this has little to do with me or with my evangelical point of view, I know I am among the guilty. The condemnation of a gospel life poorly lived sticks to me closer than I can see or know. It has significant implications for what it means to be president of an esteemed evangelical theological seminaryone that is highly racially diverse and yet predominantly white-cultured (not least at the senior levels of leadership); that has 70 countries represented in its student body but is still too Western-oriented; that strongly affirms women in ministry and leadership yet falls short in empowering their voices. What brings me hope is something recorded at the end of the gospel of Matthew. Matthew 28 contains the great commission and clarion call of our evangelical identity, but often less noted is the sentence just before the commission itself. The text simply says, "Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted." It was to fewer than the full 12, and to these not-so-sure believer/doubters, that Jesus gave the Great Commission anyway. From the start, he called believer/doubters to the task, so perhaps he can also still use American evangelicals as well. Rather than take a defensive posture, may we open ourselves to the repentant and hopeful posture that God will make us yet truly adherents to the "evangel" at the heart of our association. The evangelical mission is God's from start to finish. The Lord Jesus Christ gathers us here for real work. May it be a work of grace that moves us to repentance, leading to personal and systemic change. May it move us deeper into the life and heart of God. Originally posted at the Fuller Theological Seminary website. Mark Labberton is president of Fuller Theological Seminary. home World Church attack in the Central African Republic leaves 15 people dead At least 15 people were killed after an attack on a church in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood in the Central African Republic's capital city of Bangui on Tuesday. According to Reuters, unidentified gunmen launched an attack with gunfire and grenades on the Notre Dame de Fatima church in the PK5 neighborhood during the morning service. Some of the parishioners were able to escape after the police bore a hole in the church wall. "Filled with panic, some Christians began to flee until bullets and grenades began to fall in the parish grounds, trapping those who remained in the compound," Moses Aliou, a priest at the church, told Reuters. A morgue official noted that nine of the dead victims were sent to Bangui's Community Hospital. The aid agency Doctors Without Borders reported that six people had died at other hospitals, where the group operates. The hospitals are also treating at least 60 wounded people, according to the group. The Red Cross in the CAR has reported that at least 16 people were killed and 99 were injured, according to French international radio station RFI. Among those who were killed was a priest identified as Albert Toungoumale Baba, according to Walter Brad Mazangue, who serves as the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bangui. The priest's body was placed on a makeshift stretcher and carried by a crowd of protesters to the presidential palace, a witness told Reuters. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in the country stated that the incident occurred after the arrest of a suspected member of a rebel group. The arrest reportedly led to a clash between the army and the rebels. The attack on Tuesday occurred just a month after 21 people were killed on the border of the neighborhood after clashes broke out during a joint mission by U.N. peacekeepers and local security forces. The clashes were blamed on the U.N. peacekeepers for firing on the residents. Demonstrators who opposed the peacekeeping operations reportedly carried the bodies of the victims to the gates of the peacekeeping mission, called MINUSCA. CAR has been facing ethnic and religious conflict since 2013, when the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels ousted President Francois Bozize. The Anti-balaka militia, composed mainly of Christians, was established in an effort to fight against the rebels. In PK5, many Muslim groups have formed, claiming to defend the Muslim civilians against the efforts to expel them from the community. An attack took place at the same church in 2014, resulting in the death of a priest and some parishioners. Beheaded body of Christian pastor found in India The beheaded body of an abducted Christian pastor was found by a reservoir in eastern India yesterday morning. Pastor Abraham Topno, 46, is believed to have been killed in the late hours of Tuesday after being attacked by about 25 masked men, suspected to be anti-government Maoists, according to World Watch Monitor. The pastor, whose body was found by the shore of Surangi reservoir in Jharkhand state, had last been seen on May 1, travelling in a jeep with local taxi driver Ranga Singh Munda before being attacked by masked men. Police inspector Gimal Kumar described the event: 'It was late in the evening, as they entered the thick forests surrounding the state capital, Ranchi. They [the assailants] pulled the pastor and the driver out, blindfolded them and tied their hands with a stiff rope. Then they cut his throat. 'The masked men told Ranga Singh Munda to go away and that that they have no business with him. "We only want him [the pastor]," they said, and asked Munda to run away.' Munda is currently in custody. A note was found near the body, which read in Hindi: 'Death to police spy. Long live PLGA [People's Liberation Guerrilla Army],' It was signed 'Your Maoists'. 'It appears that Maoists have targeted and murdered him simply based on the suspicion that he is an informer to the police,' inspector Kumar said. Pastor Topno had served in the Tamar area of Jharkhand state for nearly 25 years according to relatives, due to an interest in the indigenous tribal groups residing there. The forest range near Tamar is recognised as an unsafe area by police due to the Maoist presence there, and Topno had been attacked in 2016, again accused of being a police informant. Christian academy shut down after controversy over bible references in student handbook A school board in Alberta, Canada has voted to close a Christian academy last week, following controversy over censorship of certain biblical references in the student handbook. Board members of the Battle River School Division (BRSD) voted unanimously to officially shut down the Cornerstone Christian Academy, a year after it terminated the agreement with the school's parents-representation society over issues regarding scriptural references. The CBC reported that biblical references in question were meant to be included in the handbook, but the BRSD asked the academy to remove the verses in January 2017, saying it might contravene the provincial human rights code. School board chairman Kendall Severson said that the issue has since been dealt with and claimed that the decision to shut down the academy was due to the lack of cooperation. He pointed out that the BRSD is still facing an ongoing lawsuit filed by the the Cornerstone Christian Academy. He noted that the legal action came after the BRSD and the academy failed to reach an agreement on a communications protocol that would determine how to settle disputes between the parties. "I guess it was the unwillingness to work together for a communications protocol on how we communicate with each other and dealing with issues that arise," Severson said, according to the National Post. "We can't work together with an organization that's got legal action against us, and not willing to come together and work on an agreement". The academy, which has about 170 students, has filed an application for an injunction to stop the school closure. The parents-representation society is being represented by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms (JCCF) in the legal proceedings. JCCF attorney James Kitchen said that the injunction will allow Cornerstone to present its arguments at a judicial review. "There's been no allegations of educational deficiency or any complaints regarding Cornerstone," Kitchen said. "It's unfortunate, and in fact unlawful, for a school division to accept a school to be an alternative program, a religious alternative program, and then censor and prohibit certain beliefs and religious practices that those religious programs then engage in." Cornerstone, which joined the school division about a decade ago, plans to reopen as a private school in the fall if its lawsuit fails in court. Some parents have already started considering other options in case the school closes permanently. Gabe Vorhees, who has four children who attend Cornerstone, noted that some parents have opted for home schooling while others are driving their children to schools that are 40 to 45 minutes away. "None of us really want to be part of this school division," he contended. He noted that his family never had a problem with BRSD until it decided to shut down Cornerstone. "We are people of faith and we're a community of faith and we choose to forgive, but we also have rights," he added. Heather Cook, bishop jailed for drunk driving, applies for home detention Heather Cook, the former Episcopal Church bishop jailed for drink driving after a hit-and-run crash killed a cyclist in 2014, has applied to serve the rest of her sentence in home detention. Cook is serving a seven-year prison sentence at the Maryland Correctional Institution for Women in Jessup. She pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of vehicular manslaughter, drunken driving, driving while texting and leaving the scene of an accident in the crash that killed 41-year-old Thomas Palermo. 'Ms Cook is asking for home detention, she is not as yet under consideration for home detention,' said Gerard Shields, a spokesman for the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, according to the Baltimore Brew. Inmates can be considered for home detention within 18 months of release, which for Cook could be as early as September 2019, Shields added, saying a 'very tedious process' would now begin. 'We would have to inspect her home plan, where she would be staying, check her sponsor, check her recovery plan it's like a parole hearing,' he said. Palermo's family strongly oppose the request and Alisa Rock, the sister of Palermo's widow, called it 'unconscionable'. 'Not even a year ago, Maryland Parole Commission Chair David Blumberg stood in front of a throng of people and spoke about how Cook took no responsibility for her actions and showed a complete lack of remorse during her parole hearing,' Rock said in a statement. 'Yet now she's asking to be considered for home detention. 'I can only speak for myself. It's unconscionable. I oppose home detention. It would just create more trauma for people that I love.' Cook's case has mired The Episcopal Church the official Anglican church in the US in controversy after it emerged she had a previous drink driving conviction which the bishops' appointments panel knew about before promoting her. A report, commissioned by The Episcopal Church's bishops, found it remains in a 'system of denial and helplessness' over alcohol abuse among its senior clergy. It found 'the ecclesial structure and polity of our church proved to contribute negatively to the situation'. 'Clericalism, a misunderstanding of hierarchy, the canonical autonomy of parishes and dioceses, and a polity that hinders the enforcement of expectations all contributed to inactivity by responsible persons and bodies,' the report, published in March, said. 'The commission has discovered that in many instances, church polity has impeded the ability of the church to intervene, assess and treat impaired people and care for the injured community.' The commission exposed a fear of exposure to liability, friendships between church officials, the autonomy of dioceses and a 'culture of forgiveness' as reasons for why there was a failure to address alcohol abuse among clergy. iOS 11.3 jailbreak release date news 2018: Exploit achieved in iPhone X running Cydia software Another breakthrough in the jailbreaking business has been attained recently with the successful exploit of the iOS 11.3 being run on an iPhone X handset. Another interesting fact is that the iOS 11.3 jailbreak is performed by running the popular Cydia software. This sparked the speculations that the JB tool for the latets iOS version will be released very soon, but the users may still have to wait a little longer for that. According to the latest reports, the iOS 11.3.1 jailbreak was demonstrated by Tencent Keen Security Labs during their presentation at Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach. This latest exploit is another proof that Apple's latest iOS update still has loopholes that can be used to crack its settings. However, Tencent Keen does not appear to be interested in having their jailbreak available for public consumption. Nevertheless, the iOS 11.3.1 exploit by Tencent Keen is significant as the jailbreak tool seems to be effective in the latest iPhone X flagship device as well. Performing the jailbreak with the use of Cydia is another remarkable feat as well, as most developers failed to use the software properly to crack the iOS 11. On the other hand, a Chinese hacker known as Qixun Zhao made a claim on Twitter that he has also successfully cracked the iOS 11.3 using his own jailbreak tool. He even posted screenshots of his device running the jailbreak software. Unfortunately, Qixun Zhao is not expected to release a public version of the iOS 11.3 jailbreak, at least in the near future, as he only developed the exploit for the Microsoft Bug Bounty program to get a $30,000 score. Still, the latest iOS 11.3 jailbreak from Qixun Zhao and Tencent Keen can be analyzed by other developers and hackers in order to replicate its features. It is possible that the jailbreak tool will become publicly available soon, although it must arrive quick before Apple rolls out the next iOS 11.4 update in the coming weeks. Ministry cancels conference fearing California bill will gag Christian views on homosexuality, sexual identity & purity A ministry based in Colorado has decided to cancel student conferences that were supposed to take place in California due to a pending legislation aimed at restricting attempts to change a person's sexual identity. Summit Ministries recently announced on its website that it will no longer hold the two student conferences scheduled at Biola University this June and July due to the passage of the AB2943 at the California House. The bill in question reportedly seeks to ban "efforts to change behaviors or gender expressions, or to eliminate or reduce sexual or romantic attractions or feelings toward individuals of the same sex," CBN News reported. The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) noted that the legislation would ban books that instructs people to trust in Jesus Christ to help them get rid of gender dysphoria or same-sex attraction. ADF attorney Matt Sharp argued that the Bible itself could be banned because of its teaching on the "importance of sexual purity within the confines of marriage between a man and woman." According to the ministry, the measure also intends to amend the state's Business and Professions Code so that goods and services "offering to engage in, or engaging in sexual orientation change efforts with an individual" would be considered as deceptive business practices. Dr. Jeff Myers, the president of the Summit Ministries, described the bill as "the most blatant chilling of free speech in America in my lifetime." He noted that the ministry's program is focused on helping students develop an "intelligent, defensible Christian worldview" before they attend college. "Our speakers are leading Christian experts who base their presentations on theology as well as sociology, psychology and science. But the wording of AB2943 is a dog whistle to the left that intelligent Christians holding traditional views are fair game for discrimination, smears and frivolous lawsuits," he stated in a news release. The ministry noted that the proposed law applies to its programs because it includes speakers who affirm the traditional definition of marriage as well as those who recommend avoiding sexual activities that are not approved in the Bible. Myers argued that AB2943 would impede the ministry's ability to teach students, noting that it is common for participants to ask questions about gender identity confusion and sexual attraction as it relates to their faith. The ministry noted that the conferences scheduled for this summer in Colorado, Tennessee and Pennsylvania will go ahead as planned. The group has urged California residents to "rise up and challenge their representatives to respect biblical values." 'One Piece' Chapter 904 release date, spoilers news 2018: Straw Hat pirates now have increased bounties, thanks to Whole Cake Island incident The Straw Hat pirates are becoming more popular, thanks to their recent encounter with Big Mom. In "One Piece" chapter 904, Monkey D. Luffy and his crew will have their bounties increased after escaping from the Whole Cake Island. Before reaching their next destination, which is the Wano country, the group are already known as fearsome pirates of the sea. According to the latest spoilers provided by OtakuKart, "One Piece" chapter 904 will give an update on the current bounties on the Straw Hat members. The highlight of the group is none other than Luffy, whose bounty went up from 500,000,000 to a whopping 1,500,000,000 Berries. It appears that the news about the commotion that the Straw Hat pirates caused in Big Mom's territory has already reached overseas, and the public will start to consider Luffy as a true Yonkou like Big Mom and Kaido. Although, this part of the news is far from reality as the reports from Whole Cake Island have already been blown out of proportion. Aside from Luffy, Sanji will also have his bounty increased in "One Piece" chapter 904. From 170,000,000 Berries, his bounty has now gone up to 330,000,000 Berries, making him second to Luffy for the biggest bounty record. The third place will be reserved for Zoro, whose bounty is now at 320,000,000 Berries. Per the latest reports, "One Piece" chapter 904 will continue the unraveling of the new Reverie arc, and it is possible that the fans will get to know the new villains. However, it was tipped that the upcoming chapter will feature the comeback of the Straw Hat pirates' former enemies such as Crocodile, Vivi of Alabasta and Coby. Interestingly, chapter 904 might also see Luffy confronting Big Mom's son, Katakuri, for the third time, although it is unlikely that there will be another intense fight happening between the two. "One Piece" chapter 904 is expected to be released in Japan later this week. Orlando Pulse shooting survivor to joining Christian event celebrating freedom from homosexuality thanks to Jesus An Orlando Pulse shooting survivor will be joining a group of ex-transgender and former LGBT individuals at the Freedom March in Washington D.C. this May. The worship event will kick off at the National Sylvan Theater at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5 with speakers sharing their testimonies as they celebrate their freedom from homosexuality thanks to Jesus Christ. Among them will be Luis Javier Ruiz, who was at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando in 2016 when a mass shooter opened fired and killed 49. "I should [have] been number 50," Ruiz shared on Facebook as he recalled that horrific night when many of his friends died. "But now I have the chance to live in relationship and not religion, not just loving Christ but being in love with Christ and sharing [H]is love." Daren Mehl, the head of Voice of The Voiceless, confirmed to The Christian Post that he will be at the Freedom March on Saturday as well. A former gay man for at least 10 years, Mehl went on to marry a woman with whom he is raising two kids. He said he chose to give up his gay lifestyle after realizing that it "didn't align to my desired identity as a Christian." He believes that the Freedom March is a great opportunity to show the world how Jesus has transformed former gays and lesbians. "[It's] to testify publicly of the life-changing grace available to leave the LGBT identity for something greater," Mehl said. Personalities featured in the documentary "Here's My Heart" are also expected to be in the Freedom March to share their testimonies. The movie, which was released in January, features 12 individuals who surrendered their life to Jesus and overcame their attraction to the same sex. From the Sylvan Theater, participants will march to the White House gates at the back lawn. The Freedom March is open to anyone. Samsung Galaxy Note 9 release date, specs rumors 2018: Phablet spotted on Chinese certification website After the Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ launch at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) last February, the attention is now fixed on the South Korean tech giant's next premium offering, the Galaxy Note 9. The specs of the upcoming phablet are not yet confirmed, although the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was recently certifified by a Chinese regulatory commission, which gives some information about the device. As reported by LetsGoDigital, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has been certified by China Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (CMIIT), which is the equivalent of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in China. This recent certification could imply that the Galaxy Note 9 will arrive in the Chinese market soon, supporting the previous rumors that Samsung might launch the Note 8 successor earlier than the usual schedule. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 listing from the CMIIT certification shows that the phablet will have both the Snapdragon and Exynos variants, similar with the Galaxy S9 smartphones. To note, CMIIT first certified an unnamed Samsung device with model number SM-N9600 on March 21, followed by another certification for a device with model number SM-N9608. These two Samsung devices are highly suspected to be the two Galaxy Note 9 variants, given that the Galaxy Note usually has a model number starting with SM-N960. Although, it is not clear which of these two models will be powered by a Snapdragon and Exynos processor. It was tipped by a previous Geekbench benchmark listing that the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will pack Qualcomm's latest high-end mobile chipset, the Snapdragon 845. The listing shows the Snapdragon chip scoring 2190 for single core and 8806 for multi core tests. While it is not yet confirmed, it is possible that the Exynos variant of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 will receive the Exynos 9810 processor. Other expected features of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 include a whopping 4,000mAh battery cell, an improved S Pen, and Bixby 2.0. However, it has yet to be seen if the Note 9 will indeed boast an in-display fingerprint scanner, which has been rumored to be included in the phablet for quite some time now. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is likely to be unveiled later in August. Samsung Gear S4 release date, specs rumors 2018: Smartwatch's S Health app to feature in-depth sleep tracking According to the latest reports, Samsung is planning to launch the successor to the Gear S3 Frontier and Gear S3 Classic in the coming months. Dubbed as the Samsung Gear S4, the South Korean tech giant's upcoming smartwatch is expected to boast a brand new design, as well as improved health and fitness tracking features. The latest scoop regarding the Samsung Gear S4 came from SamMobile, which has a great track record in leaking the specs details of Samsung's upcoming hardware. The tech website mentioned an unnamed Samsung wearable carrying the model number SM-R800. Based on the model number already being used by the Gear S2 and S3 smartwatches, this device is highly speculated to be the Gear S4 itself. SamMobile has reported that the Samsung Gear S4 will include a better lineup of health and fitness tracking apps. For one, the Gear S4's S Health app is expected to have a more in-depth sleep tracking, which some users have noted to be lacking in the current Gear S models. Aside from the improvements on the currently existing health trackers, the Samsung Gear S4 is tipped to have a blood pressure monitoring feature, which will use a special minute technology that will allow the smartwatch to measure the user's blood pressure by using shining polarized light. The intensity of the scattered light will tell the blood pressure reading. Other expected upgrades in the Samsung Gear S4 include a more powerful chip processor, bigger RAM capacity and longer battery life. The same with its predecessors, the Gear S4 is likely to run the next version of Samsung's very own Tizen operating system. Samsung has yet to confirm the arrival of the Gear S4 later this year and its announcement is long overdue. The company unveiled the Gear S3 Classic and Gear S3 Frontier in November 2016, while the new Gear Sport was launched in October last year. With this, the Samsung Gear S4 is likely to be announced in the last quarter of 2018. 'Sing a new song': The ancient psalms recovered from an Egyptian papyrus Two new Jewish psalms dating to before the eighth century BC discovered on an Egyptian papyrus are granting a unique insight into the religious life of the Israelites, according to scholars working on them. The discovery of three Israelite psalms, two of which were previously unknown, is 'one of the most spectacular discoveries in ancient Near Eastern studies of recent years', according to Karel van der Toorn, professor or religion and society at the University of Amsterdam, who explained the find at the American Schools of Oriental Research (ASOR) website. While they have been known for more than a hundred years, it is only recently that they have been translated and made available for scholarly study. The texts were found on an Egyptian papyrus, known now as Papyrus Amherst 63, from the middle of the fourth century BC. One psalm bears strong similarity to Psalm 20 as recorded in modern Jewish and Christian scripture, but the other two 'are completely new to us', van der Toorn said. The texts are written in Aramaic, using Egyptian Demotic script, but irregularities in them reportedly suggest that they were originally in Hebrew. The songs invoke semitic language for God, invoking the name of 'Yaho' or 'Adonay' for the divine, and were intended for use at the Jewish Autumn harvest festival. 'The Merciful One exalts the great, Yaho humiliates the lowly one,' one psalm declares, marking Yaho's supremacy over both human destiny and other gods. The discovery of the nature of the texts has taken over a century, van der Toorn said, because the papyrus is complex, utilising Aramaic language and Demotic script, and it was originally believed to be Egyptian. Papyrus Amherst 63 is described as the 'heritage' of two Aramean groups (who did not worship Israel's god) and one Samarian (Israelite) community sharing peaceful coexistence, before the fall of Samaria in 722 BC, which ultimately split the groups. The papyrus, van der Toorn said, 'provides an entry into a vanished world. It contains the literary heritage of three communities that had once lived together but now seem worlds apart.' These probably aren't the most effective preachers in the English-speaking world and anyway, so what? Now we know: these are the 12 most effective preachers in the English-speaking world. That's according to a survey at Baylor University's Truett Seminary, whose ambition, at least, no one can fault. It might be thought rather strange that from the millions of Christian preachers in hundreds of thousands of churches, the 12 very best all happen to be American (Alistair Begg, who no doubt rejoices in being named to the topmost slot the best of the best is a Scot by birth, though he's now a US citizen). It's also a little odd that only one of them Dr Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest is female. It's just plain bizarre that fully nine of them are white. They include, if you're interested, Tim Keller, John Piper, Andy Stanley and Charles Swindoll. The seminary's list has, entirely rightly, been widely trashed already on social media and if they have any sense and an ounce of humility, the recipients of this dubious honour will join in the fun and laugh at themselves. It's impossible to see this enterprise a re-run of a similar exercise in 1996 as anything other than a bit of colossally misguided overreach on the part of people with a self-awareness bypass. Preaching Just by the way, it doesn't take a genius to work out the flaws in their methodology. If two US bodies the Evangelical Homiletics Society and the Academy of Homiletics get to pick the winners, it's not surprising the rest of the English-speaking world is sidelined. It's not nationalism, it's just that they speak the same preaching language. And if a sermon is judged to be 'good' by certain criteria, it all depends on who sets the criteria and any list that doesn't allow for the action of the Spirit of God (as this one doesn't) is going to be pretty meaningless. It's rather suspicious, too, that all the winners are 'names', with high public profiles. Is the reasoning that anyone who's any good at preaching will naturally become famous? Hardly a very sound line of reasoning, if so. But there are, of course, much better reasons for cheerfully ridiculing this whole business, and here are four. 1. Preaching is not competitive It is far more serious than that. It certainly involves craft, but preachers are not just craftspeople. They open themselves to be channels of the grace of God to their people. Trying to decide who is 'better' at it is fundamentally inappropriate. It's judging not just someone's output, but their whole life before God. It should not be done. 2. The hearer is as important as the preacher I have heard recordings of sermons by some of the preachers on that list. I assure the good homiletics professors who voted for them that I know plenty of churches where they would sink without trace, their finely-honed sermons heard politely or incredulously. The match just wouldn't be right illustrating just how false those 'good' and 'bad' categories are. 3. God is more important than either Every one of those good voters would know the story of how CH Spurgeon came to faith, but it's extraordinary how the lesson has never sunk in. Here it is again. The young Spurgeon, depressed and doubting, found his way in a snowstorm to a small chapel where the preacher hadn't turned up, leaving it to one of the congregation to fill in. He preached on 'Look unto me and be saved, all the ends of the earth', and Spurgeon recalled that he couldn't do much except keep repeating the text. But: 'Now I can never tell you how it was, but I no sooner saw whom I was to believe than I also understood what it was to believe, and I did believe in one moment.' Which preacher wouldn't give all they had to be able to preach a sermon as bad as that, with such a result? 4. Jesus wouldn't like it When James and John asked him for the places of honour at his right hand and his left, he rebuked them (Mark 10:35-45). That is just not what it's about. We are taught clearly, repeatedly, patiently and unequivocally not to play the world's game of competition and heirarchy. It's a lesson that clearly some people still need to learn. I have been present in small chapels where the most powerful sermons have been given by bad preachers. Sometimes, by the grace of God, I have delivered a terrible sermon myself and had someone tell me afterwards how much it had meant to them. Yes, all preachers should strive to do their best, and no doubt we could all do better. But we don't rank ourselves against each other, unless we've completely lost the plot. We match ourselves against the Word of God, wrestling Sunday by Sunday like Jacob, saying 'I will not let you go until you bless me' and so we become a blessing to others. Follow Mark Woods on Twitter: @RevMarkWoods Three US Christians held in North Korea could be released Three American Christians detained in North Korea could be released having reportedly been moved from a labour camp to a hotel on the outskirts of the capital city Pyongyang, according to CBN News. CBN News cited sources inside the US Department of Defense as saying that Kim Dong-chul, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Hak-song were all moved from a labour camp early last month and are being given health care and resting. Donald Trump tweeted about their potential release last night, saying: 'As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!' According to activists campaigning on the men's behalf, the move is a goodwill gesture ahead of the planned summit between Trump and North Korea's Kim Jong Un next month. 'We heard it through our sources in North Korea late last month,' said Choi Sung-ryong, a leading activist. 'We believe that Mr Trump can take them back on the day of the US-North Korea summit or he can send an envoy to take them back to the US before the summit.' Tony Kim, also known by his Korean name Kim Sang Duk, was arrested on April 22 last year, just before boarding a plane for a flight back to the US. 'My father had just finished his semester as a professor in North Korea when he was arrested at the airport,' said Kim's eldest son, Sol, in a YouTube video, posted several months ago. Kim was a professor at Pyongyang University for Science and Technology (PUST), the country's only privately-run academic institution which is open about its Christian affiliation. PUST was founded in 2010 by a Korean American evangelical Christian with the goal of helping North Korea's future elite learn the skills to modernise the isolated country and engage with the outside world, according to Reuters. 'My mum, brother and I miss our dad so much,' Kim's son said in the video. Another Christian professor from PUST, Kim Hak Song, was also arrested a month later. Both men were arrested on suspicion of alleged 'hostile acts'. A third individual, a Korean-American missionary named Kim Dong Chul, was arrested in October 2015 and sentenced in March 2016 to 10 years of hard labour for subversion. Trump's national security adviser, John Bolton, said earlier this week that releasing the three Americans would demonstrate North Korea's sincerity in the run-up to a historic summit. 'If North Korea releases the detained Americans before the North-US summit, it will be an opportunity to demonstrate their authenticity,' Bolton told Fox News. Trump confirmed last week that his administration was in high-level talks to secure the release of the Americans. 'We are likewise fighting very diligently to get the three American citizens back,' Trump told a press conference last month with the Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. 'I think there's a good chance of doing it. We're having very good dialogue,' he added. The US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also reportedly raised the plight of the Christians when he secretly met with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un over the Easter weekend. Trump this week said he will soon announce a location and date for his meeting with North Korea's dictator. 'We're setting up meetings right now and I think it's probably going to be announced over the next couple of days, location, and date,' Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. The two leaders are expected to discuss North Korea's promise to end its nuclear testing and eventually give up its atomic weapons. 'The main thing, we want to get peace,' Trump said. 'It was a big problem, and I think it's going to work out.' US officials return thousands of ancient artefacts seized from Hobby Lobby back to Iraq US officials have returned more than 3,800 artefacts illegally obtained from suppliers in Iraq and sold to Hobby Lobby, the giant craft store chain owned by evangelical Christians. The artefacts had been smuggled into the country and Hobby Lobby had bought them for the Museum of the Bible, which opened last year in Washington, DC. Hobby Lobby's founder Steve Green is the museum's chairman. The items recovered include cuneiform tablets and cylinder seals, many of them from the ancient city of Irisagrig in Iraq. They date back to 2100-1600 BC, officials said. The artefacts were imported into the US falsely labelled as tile samples. Hobby Lobby was ordered last year to forfeit them and fined $3 million. It said it had been naive in its approach to buying antiquities but denied it had deliberately set out to act illegally. Prosecutors said that the acquisition of the artefacts 'was fraught with red flags'. The company's president Steve Green said it cooperated with the government and 'should have exercised more oversight and carefully questioned how the acquisitions were handled'. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Thomas Homan said it was 'a great honour for me to return so many priceless cultural artifacts to the people of Iraq'. He continued: 'We will continue to work together to prevent the looting of antiquities and ensure that those who would attempt to profit from this crime are held accountable. This ceremony should serve as a powerful reminder that nobody is above the law.' The artefacts returned were initially intercepted by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 'CBP is honoured to have played a role, together with ICE, in the return of these national treasures to their rightful owner, the Republic of Iraq. In doing so, we ensure the protection of this priceless cultural heritage and secure a precious, tangible link to the past for future generations,' said assistant commissioner Ian Saunders. 'These pieces are very important to us and they should be returned home to Iraq, to the rightful owner of these pieces,' said Ambassador of Iraq to the United States, Fareed Yasseen. Live like a Rockefeller Picassos Fillette a la corbeille fleurie Marc Porter, the man who has orchestrated the sale of The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller, on a Rose Period masterpiece that represents all that defines humanity Picasso, the greatest artist of the 20th century, saw our future in 1905 when he painted Fillette a la corbeille fleurie, says Marc Porter, Chairman of Christies America. She represents the themes that Picasso would wrestle with for his life love, sex, beauty, tenderness, violence and all that defines humanity. In this masterpiece, Picasso reveals his singular brilliance in a timeless, mesmerising goddess gazing on the universe. In the early months of 1905 the 23-year-old Pablo Picasso was one of many unknown bohemians living and working in Montmartre who could not be sure where their next meal might come from. By the end of the year, however, he had found a new love Fernande Olivier and had fallen in with two perceptive and dedicated collectors Gertrude and Leo Stein whose acquisition of three Rose paintings in late 1905, the second of which was Fillette a la corbeille fleurie, helped to jumpstart his career. Picasso had put the hunger, poverty and sense of alienation that informed his Blue paintings behind him, and was well into his Rose Period by this time. Among a series of important works he painted in his Rose manner is Fillette a la corbeille fleurie, which Gertrude Stein later described as a charming thing, a lovely thing, a perplexing thing, a disconcerting thing, a simple thing, a clear thing, a complicated thing, an interesting thing. After a year of careful looking, I return again and again to her extraordinary face, agrees Marc Porter, who has led Christies global promotion of The Collection of Peggy and David Rockefeller, to which the painting was added in 1968. She is beautiful and adorned only with a pink ribbon and a lustrous string of pearls. It is her knowing eye at the very centre of the canvas that captures me. When he painted this picture of Linda la Bouquetiere, a teenage flower seller who also posed for Modigliani and Van Dongen, Picasso was working from a studio on the top floor of a dilapidated artists building known as the Bateau Lavoir. He had already tasted success in his debut exhibition in Paris in the summer of 1901, and was now making new friends the poets Max Jacob, Guillaume Apollinaire and Andre Salmon, the Symbolist Jean Moreas, as well as the precocious playwright Alfred Jarry. These were relationships that broadened his intellectual interests and deepened his engagement with the cosmopolitan culture of the French capital. In early summer of 1905 Picasso spent six weeks in northern Holland drawing and painting the countryside and its inhabitants, and rediscovering his enjoyment of looking at and painting female bodies. Picasso painted Fillette a la corbeille fleurie following his return to Paris from Holland, probably during the early autumn of 1905. The painting was acquired by the dealer Clovis Sagot, a former baker and circus clown, who took advantage of the fact that Picasso was more broke than usual to knock him down from 500 francs to 75. The dealer initially advertised Picassos flower seller in a newspaper as La fleur de pave (The Flower of the Cobblestones or The Street), a reference to the harsh reality of Lindas life on the mean streets of Montmartre. The classical treatment of Linda manifested in the plain, simplified curves by which he drew the girls figure is a veneer that he applied to provide an aura of innocence and purity In a sketchbook Picasso used during 1905-06, there is a pen and black ink study of a young girl wearing a long white dress and holding a bouquet of flowers for her First Communion. This drawing probably represents the artists initial idea for the painting of Linda la Bouquetiere. In the completed picture, her basket holds red poppies, a symbol of bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Such adolescent rites of passage, as a transition from innocence to experience, constitute an important theme in Picassos Rose Period. The classical treatment of Linda manifested in the plain, simplified curves by which he drew the girls figure is a veneer that he applied to provide an aura of innocence and purity, outwardly masking but nonetheless inferring the harsh reality of her life. Gertrude and Leo Stein had bought their first important Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings in 1904. In October of the following year they acquired their first Matisse at the Salon dAutomne, the well-known Fauve canvas Femme au chapeau, which had been a lightning-rod for the withering criticism directed at the artist and his colleagues. Not long afterwards, Leo stopped into Sagots gallery for the first time, purchasing a watercolour of a cafe scene by a Spanish painter. He returned a few days later to learn more about Picasso, at which point Sagot pulled out a recent acquisition, Famille dacrobates avec singe (1905). Leo immediately bought the picture, which became the first Picasso to enter the Steins collection. According to Picassos biographer, John Richardson, shortly after his initial purchase of the Famille dacrobates avec singe, Leo returned to Sagots gallery with his sister Gertrude, at which point they were shown the painting just recently advertised in Le Courrier Francais. Leo bought the painting for the equivalent of $30. At the collections core is the consistent examination of elements man-made and natural that surround us Marc Porter, Chairman Christies America Star Wars fans counting down until good battles evil in the upcoming big-screen release Solo: A Star Wars Story can help fight Houston hunger and maybe even win a screening pass to the movie at Houston Food Banks May the 4th Be With You volunteer event. The Houston Food Bank is again joining forces with local fan group Star Wars Enthusiasts of Houston to capitalize on the frenzy around May 4, which has become an internationally recognized, unofficial holiday for franchise devotees. Volunteers are encouraged to dress in costumes or fan gear for a one-hour shift, where there will be sorting and packing jobs for adults and Padawans as young as 6, followed by games and activities. The fan group has planned character appearances, which means young volunteer Stormtroopers and Chewbaccas can help inspect goods, check expiration dates and load boxes along with Han Solo and other heroes. Being able to volunteer alongside some of the characters they idolize makes it so much more worthwhile, said Rocio Rubio, who manages volunteer services and recruitment for the Houston Food Bank. Theres so much enthusiasm over the franchise, she said. Its full circle of them doing good in the movies and doing good in real life. Kids can participate in a Jedi Training Session, crafting pool noodles they have brought from home into lightsabers using duct tape. More Information May the 4th Be With You at Houston Food Bank When: 6-9 p.m. Friday Where: 535 Portwall Details: Volunteers are requested to bring 4 canned foods and their own water noodle and to register in advance at houstonfoodbank.civicore.com See More Collapse Kristen Lee Ohanyan, founder of Star Wars Enthusiasts of Houston, will help lead the lightsaber challenge like she did at last years event, teaching kids basic tricks theyve seen in the movies, like a star-shaped combat move and a force push. There were adults that wanted to try it, too, of course, she said. Ohanyans fan group has hosted several canned-food drives and events for the Houston Food Bank, using the hashtag #feedtheforce to get the word out. We want to help end the dark force of hunger in the Houston area, she said. Ohanyan will dress as Princess Leia and, with her husband as Obi Wan Kenobi, will help facilitate an all-ages Star Wars trivia challenge. As prizes for the winners, Disney donated movie screening passes for the May 25 Solo premiere. With their son and daughter, who are also superfans, the Ohanyans will collect canned food for the Houston Food Bank again the next day, Revenge of the Fifth, at a comic-book event at Edwards Houston MarqE theater. Philanthropic they are. Allison Bagley is a writer in Houston. Sending your teenager to a Houston-area high school can be a battle, quite literally. More than 70 percent of the top 30 worst-behaved high schools in 2016 belonged to the Houston and Aldine Independent School Districts, according to an analysis conducted by Chron.com using data obtained from the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The data provided by TEA included the total number and type of suspensions at Houston area high schools and provides a breakdown of offenses students committed. For most schools, students were disciplined for violating its code of conduct. Drug and fighting-related offenses were next on the list. Aldine had the most schools make the list with 12 followed by Houston with 10. Aldine had the second worst behaved school with 56 percent of MacArthur Ninth Grade School's 1,118 students getting in trouble in 2016. A large majority of the total number of infractions were for violating the school's code of conduct (2,442) followed by incidents involving a controlled substance (16) and fighting (12). THE BEST: Ranking the Houston high schools with the best teachers The 623 students who were disciplined at MacArthur Ninth Grade in 2016 committed 3,052 infractions. A request for comment was placed with Aldine ISD's administration. Houston ISD's press secretary Tracy Clemons' provided the following statement Wednesday morning. "The TEA Public Education Information Management System (PEIMS) data report associated with student behavior lags one year for all school districts in Texas," Clemons said. "Current TEA reporting for student behavior does not include data from the most recent school year in which HISD implemented a suspension ban for its youngest students, the Social and Emotional Learning department and revisions to the code of student conduct." CHANGES SOUGHT: Santa Fe ISD parents demand more communication, security upgrades At the top of the list was Clear Creek Independent School District's Clear View, which is a school that only admits at-risk students, principal Michael Houston told Chron.com. The school conducts interviews with all students who are admitted, which often includes men and women who are overage, pregnant or have a child, on probation or on parole, homeless, failed two or more classes during a previous semester or year and student with behavioral issues. Clear Creek questioned the accuracy of the data TEA provided to Chron.com. "Clear View High School is an exceptional school for students who have perhaps not been successful in a traditional high school setting," the district said in a statement. "The school operates under great leaders with high expectations for students. One such expectation is that all students arrive to school on time, every day. After eight instances, students are assigned to In School Suspension (ISS). This may be why Clear View High School's ISS rate may stand out from others. The actual cases of discipline matters are commensurate with schools in Clear Creek ISD." Houston ISD's worst behaved school in 2016 was Yates with 49 percent of its student body (1,075) getting in trouble. The largest high school to make the top 30 was Alief Independent School District's Elsik High School. The school has 39 percent of its 4,667 students get in trouble in 2016. See the slideshow above for breakdown of the 30 other Houston-area high schools that made the list. Ruth Simmons believes Prairie View A&M University can be among the best smaller universities in the country and the best historically black university. It's a big vision from a renowned higher education leader, who was inaugurated as the university's eighth president in April after celebrated leadership stints at Brown University and Smith College. Former President George H.W. Bush spent his 12th day at Houston Methodist on Thursday, eager to be discharged but "quite moved" by a hospital tribute. The 93-year-old Bush tweeted his appreciation of Methodist naming the atrium of a new building after his late wife Barbara and himself. The three-story Barbara and President George H.W. Bush Atrium was dedicated to the Bushes Wednesday night. "The atrium is beautiful, but recent developments notwithstanding I have not taken up residence here," Bush tweeted Thursday. "The doctors, nurses and support staff are so nice, but the second I get the green light I'm outta here." RELATED: The touching story behind George H.W. Bush's book socks Bush is looking forward to returning to his summer home in Kennebunkport, Maine, his spokesman has said. Bush was hospitalized April 22, a day after the funeral for Barbara, for an infection that had spread to his bloodstream. After responding well to treatment, he was moved after three days out of intensive care and into a regular room. Barbara Bush died at home April 17 after she stopped treatment for chronic heart and lung issues. Wednesday's event, emceed by sportscaster Jim Nantz, also featured the unveiling of a portrait of the Bushes, who were married for 73 years. RELATED: Barbara Bush, wife and mother of presidents, dies at 92 The atrium is part of the Paula and Joseph C. "Rusty" Walter III Tower, a 22-story, $700 million building named in recognition of that couple's $101 million gift to Methodist. The atrium features the 1.5-million tile "Extending Arms of Christ" mosaic mural, which was made in 1963 in Florence, Italy, and recently restored and relocated from Methodist's Fannin Street entrance. "Barbara and I were very honored that Houston Methodist wanted to name its beautiful, new atrium after us as we have long admired this institution for its values, its commitment to excellence, and its faith-based mission," George H.W. Bush said in a statement provided by Methodist. "After spending so much time here in recent years, Barbara and I were worried we might wear out our welcome. Instead, this wonderful place of healing which has done so much to care for us continues to give." Bush did not attend the ceremony. Todd Ackerman writes about medicine for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at todd.ackerman@chron.com or on Twitter@ChronMed. Jersey Mike's is planning to open more stores in Houston. The New Jersey-based sub sandwich chain is seeking franchise partners to open dozens of new locations across the Bayou City. The chain, which entered the Houston market in 2003, currently has 17 local restaurants. "Houston, being the fourth-largest city and a major market, there's an awful lot of opportunity and white space here," said Rich Hope, Jersey Mike's chief marketing officer. "We're under-stored in the market right now." Jersey Mike's, which opened its first location in 1956, has more than 1,100 restaurants nationwide, including 42 in Dallas, 15 in Austin and six in San Antonio. The chain, which saw same-store sales grow 6 percent in 2017, is in rapid expansion mode with plans to have more than 2,000 stores open by 2020. The chain opened more than 170 restaurants in 2017. This year, the company is on track to open 160 locations, primarily in the suburbs of major cities. A little more than half of the growth came from the expansion of existing franchisees. RELATED: Jersey Mike's Subs opens Katy location To find new partners, Jersey Mike's plans to host an information session on May 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Houston Marriott at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, for prospective franchisees to meet company executives and learn more about the brand. Interested franchisees should contact Jersey' Mike's to register for the event. Jersey Mike's is seeking individuals with a net worth of at least $300,000 and $100,000 in liquid assets. Moreover, the company is looking for partners who are community oriented, Hope said. The company holds a month of giving in March; this year, the Houston franchisees raised more than $50,000 for the Houston Food Bank. "We basically feel good people make good business owners," Hope said. "Our ideal prospect is a good community person who is looking to make a difference in the community." Jersey Mike's faces stiff competition in Houston, which has attracted several new restaurant franchise concepts in recent years. Hope said his company hopes to stand out with its northeast-style sub sandwich, which features oil and vinegar dressing, fresh-sliced vegetables and meats and grilled sandwiches. "Houston is more competitive than most markets," Hope said. "But we love this market. There's plenty of opportunity in this market." Pemex is nearly ready to start drilling in the first major offshore discovery made since Mexico ended its 75-year oil monopoly. "That is going to be a very big milestone in the energy sector in Mexico," said Carlos Trevino, chief executive of Petroleos Mexicanos, which he said is learning to operate as a global energy company, rather than a state-run monopoly. That's why Pemex is playing a bigger role at this year's Offshore Technology Conference in Houston with one of the event's biggest exhibits a large, two-story booth shaped like an oil platform. Pemex struggled mightily with finances during the recent oil bust as its monopoly ended, but is now getting back on track, he said. Pemex is doing business with more outside companies than ever and seeking new partnerships from Houston to Norway. Pemex, after all, is one of the world's 10 largest oil producers. "And we must behave like we are," Trevino said. "For Pemex, it's very important going global." For instance, just Wednesday, he met with top Chevron officials in Houston to discuss Pemex's partnership with Chevron and others on a handful of exploration blocks in the Mexican side of the Gulf of Mexico. Just afterwards, he met with leaders of Norway-based Statoil to talk about doing some global exploration outside of Mexico and information sharing with Statoil. "We are more in the analysis phase of what to do," Trevino said. "This is a very long-cycle industry. Now that we can go overseas, we have to start looking at opportunities and maybe in the future we might be able to take one of those." But, first, Pemex aims to unlock new oil and gas offshore of Mexico, which will always remain its top priority. The first is at a recent discovery by a group led by Houston-based Talos Energy. The Zama-1 well discovery is believed to have lots of potential and Pemex owns neighboring offshore blocks. So Pemex is finalizing an agreement so they can all move forward with developing the area in the Suresta basin. Pemex plans to start drilling its first appraisal wells soon this year, he said. It's expected to be the first major development to move forward since the 2013 constitutional energy reforms that invited foreign oil and gas investments into Mexico. Pemex was the monopoly in Mexico and it's still the biggest by far, but now there are maybe 70-plus players in the country, Trevino said. That means a lot of services contracts and partnership opportunities for Texas companies in Mexico, he added. "There's going to be a lot of work," he said. "The demand for services we are going to see in the very near future in one to two more years is going to be very important." The Mexican energy sector, he said, will eventually begin to operate like in Houston with a lot of competition and a lot of innovation. Companies will have to adapt or fail. The opportunities aren't just in offshore oil. There are big opportunities to develop new petroleum and fuel storage facilities with Pemex in Mexico as well. Mexico has maybe three days of fuel storage capacity and the goal is to expand that to about 15 days. Another top Mexican priority is improving and overhauling several of its oil refineries to churn out more fuel, and there are plenty of opportunities for companies to work on those projects. Pemex's biggest challenge with the energy reforms was and is changing the culture of its own people and employees, Trevino said. After more than 75 years as a monopoly, it's hard to change quickly and efficiently. But Pemex is getting there and moving away from business as usual, he said, in order to operate as efficiently as its partners. Pemex is cutting red tape and moving to a system with fewer internal approvals, he said. In the meantime, the immediate challenge is Mexico's upcoming presidential election. The front runner is leftist leader Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is besting more energy-friendly rivals in polling. He wants to cease the offshore auctions, limit oil and natural gas imports from the U.S., build two new Mexican refineries and freeze fuel prices. "It's more like a politics kind of game saying promises that are impossible to deliver," Trevino said. "Trying to build two new refineries before overhauling the other refineries is not a good idea," he said, and far too expensive. "Trying to freeze the prices is not a feasible thing to do because we don't have the budget flexibility to do that." He doesn't believe Obrador or anyone else has enough momentum and support to enact these changes even if he wins the presidency, and especially not constitutional changes. Trevino said he feels like most of the Mexican people favor Pemex's new direction. "More production and economic activity is good for the Mexican people, and I think people are seeing that." Decked out in a suit and tie, 12-year-old Santiago Reynoso may be the youngest attendee at this year's Offshore Technology Conference. Scurrying between booths on the convention floor at NRG Park, Reynoso, who accompanied his father, used his boyish charm to his advantage as exhibitors gifted him with just about every piece of swag they had at their disposal. Reynoso carried an exhibitor-issued black fabric bag brimming with notebooks, keychains, drawstring sports packs, a baseball cap and the piece de resistance, an orange, oil barrel-shaped stress ball. He noted proudly that he had gathered the loot in just about an hour. University of Houston-Clear Lake is offering day camps and an art school to keep young minds busy this summer. Registration is open for Kids U summer day camps hosted by the Center for Educational Programs, 2700 Bay Area Blvd., Houston. Chicken Shack will open in two weeks near Humble, making it the first location in Houston and even the state. Owner and Humble resident Lexi Ornelas said she wanted to offer something to people in the Lake Houston area thats a bit different from what the current crop of restaurants have. Located near the intersection of Beltway 8 and Wilson Road in front of Showbiz Cinemas, the restaurant offers items such as wings, burgers and chicken fingers. FIND A NEW FAVE: Where to eat in the Cypress area There will be a grand opening celebration where there will be a DJ and giveaways. Were really excited to serve the Lake Houston community and exicted to meet a lot of new people, Ornelas said. Our biggest thing is giving back to the community and just being able to serve different people. To keep up with the Chicken Shack in Humble, follow their Facebook page. Kingwood Family Vision Center The local Kingwood vision center recently celebrated its re-grand opening with the Lake Houston Area Chamber of Commerce after it had to close down for business due to Hurricane Harvey. The vision center is located on Main Street in Kingwood and is completely refurbished with brand new equipment. Services that are offered include comprehensive eye exams, laser vision correction, vision therapy, among others. Were definitely excited to be open again and serving the Kingwood community, Office Manager Stephanie Waters said. The doctors have been here over 30 years and would love for patients and the community to come in and see newly refurbished office and our extensive frame line. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit the Kingwood Family Vision Center website. New luxury amenity center in The Groves The Groves community homes in Humble has opened a new facility called The Hearth Amenity Center. The facility features a resort-style pool, event pavilion, lawns, hammocks, an outdoor fireplace and a creek overlook. The Groves is a master-planned community located at the intersection of West Lake Houston Parkway and Madera Run Parkway in Atascocita. kaila.contreras@chron.com The Texas Department of Transportation will begin construction this fall on the next two segments of the Grand Parkway, which is expected to be the largest highway loop in the United States by 2022. TxDOT awarded a $585 million construction contract for segments H, I-1 and I-2 to Grand Parkway Infrastructure a partnership with Ferrovial Agroman Construction, along with Webber LLC and Granite Construction Inc. Segments H and I will span from New Caney to Baytown while passing near the Crosby and Huffman areas. Currently the construction date for SH 99 Grand Parkway Segment I-1, which is the segment nearest to the Huffman/Crosby area is scheduled for early 2019, Janice Hayes, public relations manager for Grand Parkway Infrastructure said. Upon completion of the Grand Parkway in 2022, drivers will be able to travel from Baytown to League City in a loop that passes through New Caney, Spring, Tomball, Cypress and Sugar Land. Earlier in March, GPI employees began clearing of trees from Hwy. 59 in New Caney, just a mile away from Loop 494. Construction along the corridor from the Hwy. 59 interchange in New Caney to the north and Hwy. 146 in Baytown to the south will begin sometime this year. Final designs of the road, right-of-way acquisition with property owners and utility relocations are currently underway. Segments H and I-1 are approximately 37.5 miles of a two-lane toll road with intermittent four-lane sections for passing and extends from Hwy. 59 in New Caney to I-10 near Mont Belvieu. Segment I-2 is broken down into two segments, I-2A and I-2B. Segment I-2B is approximately 6.1 miles of a new four lane toll facility from SH146 in Baytown to FM 1405. Segment I-2A consists of 8.7 miles of tolling equipment upgrades and other improvements for and existing four-lane facility from FM 1405 to IH10. Grand Parkway Segment I-1 will not run directly through the Huffman and Crosby areas. Depending on where the stakeholders residence or business is located, Hwy. 99 can be as close as 6.5 miles or as far as 10 miles away. Hayes said the designs for Hwy. 99 do not feature a direct connector with Hwy. 90 but the plan does create a bridge that will go over Hwy. 90 and there will be north and south bound ramps to enter and exit the toll road. According to Grand Parkway Infrastructure officials, the Grand Parkway will improve mobility, safety and reliability and support business growth. Also known as State Highway 99 the $1.28 billion project will go through seven counties. To stay informed about SH99 construction, visit the SH 99 Grand Parkway website, their Facebook page, or Twitter feed. kaila.contreras@chron.com The Spring ISD Livestock Show and Fair raised $103,780 this year for scholarships to award to graduating students for their efforts in raising livestock animals. Since January, Maryjo Fernandez, a senior from Dekaney High School, has been waking up early to take care of the five rabbits. In March, she obtained 50 chickens, half for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the other half for the Spring ISD show. To take care of so many animals, her days began at 5 a.m. It was very time-consuming. Chickens are very messy. I would have to clean them out everyday, once day. Rabbits were more calm. They were like cats, kind of. Id just have to clean and brush them, she said. Fernandez, 17, would arrive at the agriculture barn at 5:30 a.m. to clean and feed the animals before getting to school by 7:15 a.m. to get to class on time. Once school ended by 2:30 p.m., she would go back to check on the rabbits and chickens again. Fernandez first got involved with raising animals when she heard about it from a friend as an eighth grader. Basically, this has taught me a lot, like a lot of showmanship, a lot of responsibility and how to consume my time, she said. She had also been chosen to be a fair queen for the livestock show. Part of her duties were helping to open and close gates and posed with winners recognized for their efforts in raising animals. Once she graduates in June, Fernandez said she plans to attend Blinn College for veterinary studies. Eventually, she hopes to be able to treat wildlife and wildlife animals. Matthew Tesori, a senior at Spring High School, said he first got into raising animals after seeing his older brother raise turkeys. Tesori, 18, said he began raising animals since he was in the fifth grade. For this years show, he raised a steer, pigs and chickens. Like Fernandez, he also woke up before the sun was out to take care of his animals. Id go to the cattle barn, start cleaning pens, take care of all that and then go to the pig barn, clean pens and feed. Then, go to the chicken barn and feed, he said. The steer he spent nearly a year raising was sold at the Houston Livestock and Rodeo. Although hes about to graduate and is set to attend Lone Star College to study agriculture mechanics, he said he plans to continue raising animals. Im starting to breed show pigs, he said. The 67th annual livestock show also helped showcase other students who werent able to participate in raising animals, said Marsha Cook, president of the Spring Tri-Club, which hosts the event. You cant control animals sometimes because they get sick or they dont make weight. Theres weight requirements on our animals. Sometimes they get sick and dont make weight, Cook said. Instead, students also had the option of creating arts and crafts that ranged from welding, photography, painting quilting and even baking pies. Cook estimates that about $43,000 in scholarships had been awarded to students between 2011 to 2017. The scholarships are awarded to students who have participated in the livestock show for at least two years, she said. The scholarships reward students for their hard work in raising animals and their showmanship. Its a big time commitment, Cook said. mayra.cruz@chron.com Pictures of Rebecca Zeni during her younger years showed her with flawless skin, well-defined eyebrows and long, thick lashes. Her hair, parted in the middle, was neatly tied with a bow behind her ear. Her beauty could capture a room, her daughter said, but she was more than just a beautiful face. She was a modern-day woman of the 1940s and 1950s, headstrong, career-oriented and hard-working, said Mike Prieto, a lawyer representing Zeni's family. At a time when women were expected to marry young and have children, the small-town girl from North Carolina moved to Norfolk after high school to work at the naval base there, her daughter, Pamela Puryear, said. She later became a model in New York City and worked as an assistant for CBS News's Mike Wallace before she married and became a stay-at-home mother. "Her life just became exciting," Puryear said. "She thought in her mind that everybody's life is just like this." But the once-vibrant woman later found herself living in a nursing home, where she suffered a long, painful death, her family's attorneys said. Parasitic mites had burrowed under her skin, living and laying eggs all over her body. By the time she died, vesicles and thick crusts had formed on her skin. Her right hand had turned nearly black, and Prieto said her fingers were about to fall off. The scabies that infected Zeni's body had become so severe that bacteria seeped into her bloodstream. She died in 2015 at age 93. Zeni's death is now the subject of a lawsuit filed against PruittHealth, a for-profit company that owns dozens of nursing homes, including Shepherd Hills in LaFayette, Georgia, where Zeni lived for five years until she died. Shepherd Hills, a nursing home that had multiple scabies outbreaks in recent years and a history of health violations, failed to follow policies and procedures to prevent the occurrence and spread of the highly contagious disease, documents say. Instead of providing the care that Zeni desperately needed, the lawsuit alleges that the nursing home allowed her to die an agonizing death. "The last six months of her life, she was in constant pain," Prieto said. "She was literally being eaten alive from inside out." - - - Zeni's death raises crucial - and familiar - questions about for-profit nursing homes that have long been accused of sacrificing patient care to minimize costs and maximize bottom lines. Nursing homes owned by big corporations and private investment firms consistently performed poorly in terms of quality of care and are more likely than nonprofit and government facilities to be cited for "serious deficiencies" that harm residents, according to 2011 and 2016 reports by the Government Accountability Office. Staffing levels are usually lower, meaning trained nurses spend less time with residents each day. "You must consider that the reimbursement rate from [Medicare] continues to fail to keep up with rising costs that's associated with care," said Prieto, who focuses on nursing-home litigation. "The only variable that's available for these for-profit facilities to ensure they continue to maximize their opportunity for profiting is staffing. Purposefully understaff facilities in an attempt to ensure maximum profit." Avi Mukherjee, a professor at Marshall University who focuses on health-care management, said high staff turnovers, diminishing morale, and meager pay and benefits often result in low quality of care. "The key is to understand that low service quality and negative outcomes for patients and residents is not in the interest of the long-term survival of these companies," Mukherjee said. PruittHealth's spokesman and attorneys did not respond to calls or emails seeking comment. Federal health inspection records paint a troubling picture of the company, which describes itself as the "regional leader" of providing long-term health care to the elderly in the southeast. Shepherd Hills was ordered to pay $337,786 in penalties over the past two years and has a one-star rating - the lowest - from Medicare based on health inspection results, staffing and quality of care. In 2016, for example, the facility was penalized for several staff medication errors, some of which resulted in life-threatening situations. One resident was mistakenly given morphine twice within a half-hour one morning and continued to receive the medication every two hours later that night and the following day, records show. The resident overdosed and was rushed to the intensive care unit. State health inspection records obtained by 11Alive, which first reported on Zeni's case, showed nearly three dozen violations in 2014, 2015 and 2016. The NBC affiliate reported that state officials threatened to withhold federal funding if the violations weren't addressed. Many PruittHealth-owned facilities have similarly dismal records. Nineteen other facilities in Georgia, seven in South Carolina and one in North Carolina received one- and two-star ratings from Medicare. According to the Government Accountability Office's 2016 report to Congress, skilled nursing facilities received $28.6 billion in Medicare funds in 2014. About 70 percent of these facilities are for-profit nursing homes. - - - Zeni was admitted to Shepherd Hills in 2010. By then, the 87-year-old had been diagnosed with dementia, diabetes and other illnesses. She was completely dependent on others and was no longer legally qualified to stay at an assisted-living facility. Puryear, who lives in LaFayette, was close enough to visit often. Zeni's rashes began to appear in fall 2013, around the time that a scabies outbreak at the facility was reported to the local health department. Ten residents and 10 staffers had rashes; some were diagnosed with scabies, according to Georgia Department of Public Health records. Attorneys for Puryear said the nursing home did not take the necessary steps to keep the outbreak contained and to properly treat residents. Sheets used by those infected were washed along with those of the general population, and medication was shared among residents. Families were not informed of the highly contagious disease, said attorney Stephen Chance; instead, vague signage about a rash was posted at the facility. Residents with scabies were not quarantined, and infected staffers returned to work. "Once you got a number of people that are carrying scabies, and they go home and they have it at home and they're coming back to work, going from one patient room to another patient room, that sort of approach is not going to eradicate scabies," said attorney Lance Lourie. Lourie added: "Nursing homes in this chain in particular, they're under a tremendous pressure to keep the facility full. Telling all your residents that you got an outbreak of scabies in the facility would hurt your ability to get more residents and families will leave." Another outbreak occurred in 2014, Chance said, but that was not reported to the health department. A third outbreak happened in spring 2015. Twenty residents and 15 staffers were infected, state records show. By then, Zeni's condition had dramatically worsened. Rashes had spread to her scalp, neck, chest, shoulders, back and arms. A doctor had ordered that she be given Ivermectin, a tablet used to treat worm infections, and Elimite cream, which is used to treat scabies. But the treatments and medications were at times not given as ordered, court records say. Zeni died June 2, 2015. An autopsy found that she died of Staphylococcus aureus septicemia due to Norwegian crusted scabies, a severe form of scabies that affects people with weak immune systems, such as the elderly. Scabies can spread rapidly in crowded places, such as nursing homes, extended-care facilities and prisons, according to the state health department. An affidavit by Debi Luther, a Florida nurse who reviewed Zeni's medical records, stated that the nursing home's failure to recognize her deteriorating condition and to prevent the spread of scabies resulted in her death. Nancy Nydam, spokeswoman for the Georgia health department, said the agency provides guidelines to prevent and control scabies outbreaks and follows up with facilities, but it does not have regulatory control. A separate agency, the Georgia Department of Community Health, inspects facilities and could set rules that a facility must follow. But that agency said it does not have records showing it was notified of the scabies outbreaks, 11Alive reported. "At the end of the day, our client trusted them and her trust was betrayed," Prieto, one of the attorneys, said of Puryear. Puryear said she watched helplessly as she visited her mother every day, unable to touch or hug the woman she loved and admired. "It's a nightmare," she said, adding later: "There was no dignity." A car turning onto Main swung in front of a pack of Rice University students who had just stepped out into the street, protected by a green pedestrian crossing light. They werent hit but still scrambled back onto the sidewalk, shouting a chorus of Heys! and raising their arms in indignation at the driver. Others laughed at the irony. The fear that some of them had just felt was exactly why they were at the intersection in the first place protesting what many say is a perilous crossing right outside the front gates of Rice University. Its scary! graduate student Kathryn Kundrod said, hopping back on the curb. In other circumstances, many of the students would have preferred to avoid Sunset and Main entirely. But on Thursday morning, dozens of people populated the corner of the street, advocating for change at the intersection where two members of the Rice community have died in just more than a year. The wounds are still fresh on campus after Sudipta Roy, 30, was hit and killed by a dump truck as she was bicycling across that same crossing on April 24. It could have been one of many people, and thats kind of terrifying, graduate student Ronan OConnell said. The intersection is a nightmare. The intersection is among one of the most traveled in the Rice area, several students said, citing it as a main crossing point from the university to Hermann Park and the Museum District. But its also a complicated one Sunset crosses there through both Main and Fannin, which are two-way streets located nearly side-by-side. I ride through this intersection every day, and Im very aware of how dangerous it is, Kundrod said. I see near misses here all the time. Roys crash which happened as she was leaving a lunch-date with her husband at Rice is the latest incident that highlights a longstanding problem at the crossing, said Ivan Fuentes of BikeHouston, a bicycle safety advocacy group. Scientist and Rice professor Marjorie Corcoran, 66, also died there on Feb. 3, 2017 when she biked over a set of Metro tracks along Fannin and Sunset and was hit by a crossing light rail train. The dual incidents prompted Fuentes and BikeHouston to call into question the citys progress on promised fixes to the intersection at a Houston City Council meeting this week. [Adjustments] should have started out way before another death had to happen, Fuentes said at the demonstration. This should have started 14 months ago. The city has been working with Houston Metro on alternatives at Sunset and Main, city spokeswoman Alanna Reed said. One of those plans would prevent traffic on Sunset from continuing eastbound to Fannin and would instead direct motorists to Main Street, she said. After Dr. Marjorie Corcoran's fatal accident last year at the Sunset and Fannin intersection, changes were already in design by Metro, she said. The city has approved a conceptual design and construction will begin upon approval of the final design. Mary Natoli, president of the Rice University Cycling and Triathlon group, which organized the demonstration, said temporary fixes need to at least be implemented if a long-term solution isn't possible right away. "I want a safe crossing for me on my bike, a place where cars know not to cross my path," Natoli said. "In the meantime, before larger changes like that can be implemented, I would like to see a yield to bikes sign, a yield to pedestrians sign, a painted bike lane, even if it's temporary, and red light cameras." READ ALSO: Woman found dead at Metro bus stop was stabbed, police say Sudiptas death has also surfaced questions about bicycle laws in the city. Law enforcement officials said that because she was in the road at the time of the crash and therefore must follow all the rules of a motorist, Sudipta might have been at fault. Many bicyclists have disputed that Sudipta was responsible, considering that Texas law only prohibits people from riding bicycles on sidewalks in business districts. A Houston ordinance also protects the bicyclist, Fuentes said. The law states that vehicles have to provide vulnerable road users, such as bicyclists, an appropriate amount of space between them before they turn in front of them. Richard Clark, a professor at McGovern Medical School, was at the protest and said that many Rice and medical students might not know the traffic laws theyre supposed to follow, he said. Bicyclists have to follow the rules and know what the rules are, Clark said. But, The bicyclists have to assume the drivers will do the wrong thing, because thats just the way it is. Rice has been working with the city and hopes to eventually create signalized intersections about every two blocks around the campus. We are, have been, and will be active in our pursuit of improved safety and security on and near the Rice campus, the university said in a statement. Physical improvements to the crossing should be imminent because hundreds of students bike to Rice each day, often for convenience or affordability, said Debshila Basu Mallick, who works at the university. One estimate says that more than 1,100 people commute to Rice by bicycle, and about 975 of those are students. People should not feel threatened while biking to school, Mallick said. Its not just a leisurely activity. AUSTIN Executive Commissioner Charles Smith is out as head of the embattled Texas Health and Human Services Commission after a slew of contracting errors have come to light at the mega state agency. Smith, an appointee of Gov. Greg Abbott, announced Thursday he would retire at the end of the month after nearly 30 years of service. "The agency has a big heart and strong leadership," he said in a statement. "We will be sure our employees and the people of Texas have what they need to continue to shine." The move marks a major shake-up at an agency rocked by audits and findings that the contracts sought by HHSC were riddled with errors, miscalculated scores grading vendors and a failure to check references for a company trying to do more than $10 million in business with the state. MORE: Abbott sends top aide to shake up troubled state agency HHSC found itself under fire in recent months by state officials, most recently for problems with a contract for the Texas Electronic Vital Events Registrar, which included delays causing a $2 million increase in the contract. The state also canceled five managed-care contracts for low-income children enrolled in the Childrens Health Insurance Program upon discovering mistakes in that procurement process. In addition to canceled state contracts, the errors led several people to lose their jobs. Heather Griffith Peterson, the chief operating officer, resigned last month. The associate commissioner for procurement operations, Michael Parks, was fired along with two of his aides. HHSC needs a comprehensive, outside review in order to fully identify and address the problem this agency has with its management of taxpayer dollars, House Speaker Joe Straus, a San Antonio Republican, said in a statement. The problems at HHSC are severe and longstanding, and they continue to warrant serious attention. Smiths retirement announcement comes amid mounting pressure for the agency to fix its contracting processes. Abbott sent top aide Tommy Williams to the agency help fix operations at the department three weeks ago. Williams will head up the agency on an interim basis, according to the governors office. Although the governor on Thursday praised Smith for his service and hands-on approach to solving tough issues," Abbott has called the errors unacceptable but has not speculated that the mistakes were intentional to favor one contract over another. State lawmakers, frustrated by the mistakes, blasted Smith at a hearing last month about the contracting problems. Ive been sounding the alarm over messy contracting practices at HHSC for over a year, said state Rep. Sarah Davis, a West University Place Republican critical of the agency. I believe Charles is a good person, but I think he has been out of his league from the outset. MORE: Top exec out at Texas health, human services commission amid contracting troubles Smith previously worked as deputy for child support at the attorney generals office from 2013 to 2015. His career started as a volunteer in the attorney generals Child Support Division in 1988, where he racked up 26 years of service. Abbott appointed Smith to lead the agency through February 1, 2019. HHSC oversees some of the biggest state contracts that handle critical services for low-income families and severely disabled Texans. The agency itself is responsible for about 108,000 contracts and spends more money than any other state agency, projecting more than $34 billion in spending for the 2018 fiscal year, according to a spokesperson an amount higher than the total budgets for all state government in about 45 U.S. states. Davis, who roasted the agency at a House Appropriations Committee meeting last month, raised concern about the departures of many senior agency aides with years of experience. I do hope Gov. Abbott will find someone to lead the agency with an extensive background in procurement and contracting practices," David said. "Billions of taxpayer dollars are at stake and so are millions of lives. Andrea Zelinski covers politics for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook. Send her tips at andrea.zelinski@chron.com. AUSTIN The two Democratic candidates for governor, just weeks before a May 22 runoff to decide who will challenge Republican incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott, agreed Wednesday to an Austin debate on May 11. Final details have not been confirmed for the matchup at the University of Texas between Houston entrepreneur Andrew White and former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, the two campaigns announced. Campaign insiders said it will feature a traditional debate format with a moderator, the first time that has been used in the current campaign and one that could give Texans insight into their understanding of state government. White has been pressing publicly for a debate for weeks, and Valdez has said she was considering it but no agreement had been reached in the increasingly acrimonious race until Wednesday. Both candidates have been struggling to get attention and raise money for months, in what had been mostly a sleeper race in which Valdez was the perceived frontrunner because of her support from the state's party elite and her finish well ahead of White in the primary. Abbott, with a campaign war chest of well over $40 million and a popularity lead, is considered tough to beat in Republican-controlled Texas, a state where Democrats have not won a statewide office in 24 years. "The debate is on!" White announced about 7:15 p.m. in a text message. "Democratic voters are looking for the best candidate to beat Greg Abbott, and I welcome the opportunity to convey my message of common sense, sanity and doing right by Texas. "Even as the underdog, our momentum has been building over the past few months." In a statement, the Valdez campaign said the "grassroots" debate would be organized by the state Tejano Democrats, the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Texas Stonewall Democrats, Texas Young Democrats, Texas College Democrats, Travis County Democratic Party and others. Without providing additional details, they said the debate is to take place at the University of Texas. "Elections should be about the concerns that keep working Texans up at night, not 30-second sound bites," Valdez said. "I have always believed candidates should talk about our values, our experience and our vision. "That's why I've been traveling across Texas, meeting folks, listening to voters and grassroots activists." After several terse exchanges with White in recent days, after White won the endorsement of a Latino group over her on Sunday, Valdez took a shot at him in her closing: "I have long known what my values are. I am a Texas Democrat," she said. "I look forward to seeing which opponent shows up: the 'very conservative Democrat or moderate Republican.' " White has touted himself as a common-sense Democrat, and has said he hopes to attract moderate Republicans to vote for him who are disaffected by the state's current conservative GOP leadership. Even though the two candidates have participated together in numerous question-and-answer forums across the state in recent months, the debate will be their first coming less than two weeks before the runoff to determine who will be party's nominee to face Abbott in November. Valdez and White survived a field of nine Democrats in a March 6 primary election to get into the May 22 runoff. Democratic political consultants and party insiders had said for weeks that there was little reason for Valdez, the perceived front-runner, to agree to a debate that would give White a showcase to get his message out. But in recent days, as a drumbeat among Democratic groups from Houston to San Antonio to Dallas had pressed for a debate, Valdez seemed open to one. Brandon Rottinghaus, a political scientist at the University of Houston, said Valdez carries the most risk in debating White. "It's bad for her as a frontrunner, where she will be on stage with him on an equal platform," he said. "Frontrunners want to be seen as not on the same level as another candidate. Another danger here is that she will not be prepared and will be challenged by a moderator or by White, or that she appear to crumble under pressure as she has in the past." Jerry Polinard, a political scientist at the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, agreed. But he said it also could provide opportunity. "The question people have asked, based on what we've seen so far, is does she have enough policy chops?" he said. "This is a chance for her to prove that she does. For her to decline (a debate) would not have been a winner for her." Even U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, an El Paso Democrat running to unseat Republican Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, had recently joined those calls, saying a debate would benefit undecided Texas Democrats including himself. Interactions between the two Democrats had been cordial and friendly since they started their campaigns in December, but things turned downright chilly this week -- and the debate had been a centerpiece of that earlier Wednesday. On Sunday, after an Austin political forum where Valdez was confronted for her actions on immigration enforcement while she was the Dallas sheriff, White told reporters she should not dodge the questions. She responded the following day with a 700-word apology for not answering the question, and defending her record as sheriff. White faced his own questions at the forum over his ownership of a firm that makes devices used in border-security enforcement, an issue that immigration activists had raised months ago. He had confirmed Tuesday that he is working to sell sell his interest in the firm. White fired this Tweet back at Valdez on Wednesday morning: "The sale of Geovox (Security Inc.) is underway, but it won't happen before the runoff in 3 weeks. What can happen before the runoff is a debate." "Lupe wasn't able to answer an 18-year-old's question about her record. What other questions will she avoid? It's time for a debate." Her campaign quickly responded: "Just days ago, Andrew White was saying owning a company that benefits from a militarized border is a "perfect" example of the type of leadership he wants to bring as governor," Valdez spokesman Juan Bautista Dominguez said in a statement Wednesday morning. "Now that he has new friends, he says he would divest 'if he wins.' If he thought it was truly problematic, he would divest now, stay divested, and not wait," Dominguez continued. "It very much sounds as if he makes decisions on what's politically expedient and not doing right by Texas, as goes his campaign motto. "Should Democrats wonder if his stances will change if he wins the Democratic nomination?" Legislation has passed through the House of Commons that could prevent international charities bank accounts being frozen. Currently, mainstream banks generally treat NGOs as medium-risk of money laundering because some of them operate in in high-risk environments such as Syria or Palestine. This has led to the majority of NGOs reporting some kind of problem accessing mainstream banking channels due to de-risking practices, which is when banks slow down transactions, freeze or close accounts which they think could be at risk of breaches in regulation, particularly around money laundering and counter-terrorism. Experts say there is currently a lack of clarity about whether humanitarian activity is prohibited by sanctions and has contributed to bank de-risking. The Sanctions and Anti-Money Laundering Bill, passed on Tuesday, could prevent this as it includes plans to create general licences for humanitarian, peacebuilding, development and reconstruction activities for sanctioned countries, such as Syria. The bill was introduced in the House of Lords, which now has an opportunity to consider the amendments made in the Commons. 'A crucial step' Rowan Popplewell, advocacy adviser at NGO umbrella body Bond, said in a blog on the organisations website that the Bill is a crucial step in the right direction. She said: While the bill marks an important step in the right direction, much of the hard work to create a new framework for exceptions and licenses still needs to be done through the production of guidance and secondary legislation in the coming months and years. In a letter to Bond, the government said that it intends to build exceptions and general licenses for humanitarian, peacebuilding, development and reconstruction activities in to sanctions regimes when they are created or amended, where the need for such provisions is anticipated. The government will continue to issue individual licenses for NGOs on a case-by-case basis to allow them to respond to situations as they arise. Andrew OBrien, director of policy and engagement at the Charity Finance Group, described the bills passage as a big win. He said: The new sanctions regime will give the UK government much more flexibility to support humanitarian work, and will give charities more certainty. Banks also need certainty if we are going to keep financial corridors to places like Syria open. We will be scrutinising the secondary legislation and guidance carefully, but this is a move in the right direction. However, the bills regulations will only come into effect once the UK has exited the European Union and after the transition period has ended, estimated to be 2020 at the earliest. Thursday, May 3, marks World Press Freedom Day, a date chosen by the United Nations in 1993 to celebrate the global communitys commitment to the value of a free and independent press. Today, there doesnt seem to be much to celebrate. As Joel Simon, Executive Director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, notes for CJR, more than 260 journalists were in jail at the beginning of the year, the highest number CPJ has recorded. Recent attacks against journalists in Afghanistan served to highlight the sometimes deadly consequences of practicing journalism, and crackdowns in places like Turkey and Egypt continue unabated. Simon links the recent history of problems for the press to the outbreak of the War on Terror and the backlash to the Arab Spring, adding that at the moment when information is being weaponized, the historic defenders of press freedom, the US and Europe, are failing to step up. As weve argued before, President Trumps attacks against fake news and the dishonest media have a global impact, providing leeway for autocrats and even democratically elected leaders to crack down on the press. A recent report by Reporters Without Borders blamed the climate of hatred towards journalism for the deteriorating situation around the world. RELATED: Americas role in a climate of hatred for journalists So whats the value of a day on which governments will issue supportive proclamations and organizations will hold events meant to celebrate the global commitment to press freedoms? In a practical sense, not much. But May 3 does mark an opportunity to take stock of the serious issues facing the profession and to nudge the conversation in a more productive direction. As Simon writes, I will take every World Press Freedom Day proclamation that I can get. Every public protest, every UN-hosted panel discussion, bolsters, however slightly, the global norms that for several decades supported the expansion of press freedom around the world. Below, more on the state of press freedoms on a day meant for celebration. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories Correction: An earlier version of this newsletter stated that News24 was Zimbabwe-owned. It is based in South Africa. ICYMI: We did the math on the White House Correspondents Dinner Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon. Matt McAlister has been working in digital publishing for a long time now, including a stint at The Guardian as director of digital strategy, so he has a long memory when it comes to the relationship between publishers and platforms like Google and Facebook. McAlister now runs a media research company called Kaleida, which just came out with a new report looking at the health of the publisher-platform ecosystem (a report funded by Google, although McAlister says the web giant had no influence over it). As he puts it in the preface: The inspiration for this research came from the growing tensions weve observed between news publishers and the big Internet platforms. Many publishers believe platforms are using content unfairly to grow, while the platforms believe publishers are getting a lot of benefit from traffic directed toward news. Clearly, its more complicated than that. Data for the study was supplied by 18 news publishers from across Europe who provided details of their traffic, combined with research from comScore, as well as consumer insights from YouGov on reading the news in the UK, France and Germany. Perhaps the most eye-opening detail in the report is that a single visit to a news website from a platform like Facebook is worth on average $0.008 or just eight-tenths of a cent. In other words, you could be getting millions of referrals and still not be making more than pocket change. Here are some of the other insights from the report: There were approximately 7.4 billion visits to news articles in Europe in January that were driven by clicks from third-party sites People who read news clicked on about 32 percent of the headlines they saw in a day Kaleida estimates that there were approximately 23 billion news exposures or headlines seen on third-party sites in January in Europe Total digital advertising revenue driven by all of this referral traffic to news articles was approximately $63 million or about one-third of the total digital ad market for news McAlisters conclusion: Our research shows real appetite for news. The platform-publisher-people triad is working very well in many ways. Its not a dependent or even co-dependent relationship for any of the constituents. Traffic generated by 3rd party sites is powerful fuel for a news business, but news can survive without it, too. The challenge is working out how platforms and publishers can develop a healthy longterm coexistence. Sign up for CJR 's daily email On an unrelated note, the latest quarterly results from The New York Times contained something surprising for a newspaper that, like many, has been fighting a long-term decline in print advertising revenue. Over the past two years at least, print revenue at the Times has been plummetingin some quarters it has dropped as much as 22 percent. In the third quarter, however, print ad revenue was only down by a relatively modest 1.8 percent, which the official Times PR account on Twitter confirmed (after I asked) is the best performance the paper has had since the third quarter of 2015. This is the best performance in print advertising since Q3 of 2015. NYTimes Communications (@NYTimesPR) May 3, 2018 What is the secret to this surprising performance? The Times doesnt say, but some media watchers suggested it could be a simple one-quarter anomalyeven things that are going up or down steadily dont always do so in an unbroken line. But still, to go from 15 percent or 20 percent declines to less than 2 is pretty amazing. Could it be that the print ad decline has hit bottom? Have some advertisers moved back to the Times from digital? Inquiring minds want to know. ICYMI: Headlines editors probably wish they could take back Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. The news is important, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said at an invitation only event in Menlo Park, Calif. following the companys F8 conference on Tuesday. The event was an off-the-record briefing that Zuckerberg chose to turn into an on-the-record interview with editors and reporters from a number of leading media organizations, including The New York Times, BuzzFeed, the Economist and CNN. But even if the Facebook founder thinks the news is important, that apparently doesnt mean he has any plans to actually pay for it, the way media insiders like BuzzFeed Publisher Jonah Peretti and the Tow Centers Emily Bell believe that he should. Im not sure that makes sense, Zuckerberg said when the idea was raised. Instead, he says the company wants to help media companies sell more subscriptions and generate more revenue from readers. Adrienne LaFrance writes in The Atlantic: At one point, Zuckerberg hinted at the need for government subsidy of American journalismalluding to the public-television licensing model that supports the BBC. Couldnt Facebook pay publishers directly by licensing their stories or programming? Yeah, Zuckerberg said, Im not sure that makes sense. I think news is incredibly important to society and democracy, he added. Its just that its a pretty small minority of what people are reading on Facebook. The Facebook CEO also announced that the social network has already started elevating certain preferred news sources in the News Feed based on whether users rank them as trustworthy, a controversial approach that the company first announced earlier this year. Trust is an slippery concept when it comes to newsfor example, surveys show many conservative voters dont trust mainstream media sources like CNN, but do trust Breitbart. At some point, selecting high quality sources of news means Facebook is going to be deciding who is worthy of showing in the News Feed and who isnt, which could have a significant impact on the traffic and revenue generated by those who are chosen and those who arent (I talked about this problem with Facebooks head of news partnerships, Campbell Brown, in an interview you can find here). Already, some publishers like Mic have seen their Facebook engagement decline by more than 90 percent, and the ranking process has only just begun. But Zuckerberg said the platforms responsibility to news only goes so far: Sign up for CJR 's daily email People come to Facebook primarily not to consume news but to communicate with people, Zuckerberg said. The way we can help out the most with that is by helping out with a business model that is profitable and sustainable for news organizations. Given that Facebook is going to be selecting winners and losers in the media sphere, its interesting that Zuckerbergs comments were made to a specific group of selected publications. The choice of who to include wasnt made by Facebook, howeverthe event was organized by The Information founder Jessica Lessin (who also sits on CJRs board), as well as BuzzFeed Editor Ben Smith, and Quartz Editor Kevin Delaney. Considering the sensitivity around what Zuckerberg was discussing, it was probably smart of him to go on the record with his comments, since there are already enough people out there suspicious of what Facebook is doing to the media industry behind the scenes. The bottom line seems to be that he cares about journalism, but apart from some tweaks to the News Feed and some help with subscriptions, hes not prepared to do a whole lot about it. And who knows? Maybe thats ultimately a good thing. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. Gov. Tom Wolf is vetoing a bill that would have directed prescription drugs to be ordered off a formulary under Pennsylvanias workers compensation program. Wolf, a Democrat, said in a statement Friday that the drug formulary proposal would have saved money for businesses and insurers, but wouldnt have improved health outcomes or helped fight painkiller abuse. Republican lawmakers drew up the bill, with support from business advocacy groups, in response to reports in the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News about doctors and law firms specializing in workers compensation that were operating their own pharmacies. The bill would have directed the state Department of Labor and Industry to adopt a formulary. Supporters say formularies are widely used and provide medically necessary drugs. They say it would have reined in abuses and drug price-gouging. Senate Bill 936, which Senator Don White sponsored, would have required the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry to adopt an evidence-based drug formulary for Pennsylvanias Workers Compensation program. Senator White, R-41 and chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee, issued a statement following Governor Wolfs veto of the measure. I am disappointed Governor Wolf has chosen to veto SB936 and side with political donors instead of ensuring quality care for injured workers. Simply stated, this is not government that works. By vetoing this bill, the Governor has proven his talk about addressing the opioid crisis is hollow. Instead of immediately enacting real solutions to help Pennsylvania combat the opioid crisis, he brought forward a sham of an executive order that promises no real reform, said White. His effort to hide behind an executive order that allows him to pay homage to his political cronies is quite transparent. Pennsylvanians should be as embarrassed and outraged as I am. Nevertheless, Ill continue to pursue meaningful action to address what the governor has recognized as a problem, but miserably failed to solve when he had the chance. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A National Rifle Association-branded insurance program unlawfully provided liability coverage to gun owners in the event they were charged with a crime involving their firearms, according to New York state regulators. Lockton Cos., which administered the insurance, and an affiliate were fined $7 million by New Yorks Department of Financial Services and will no longer participate in the NRAs Carry Guard program in the state of New York, the agency said in a statement Wednesday. Lockton said it will continue to cooperate with regulators. The company announced after the Parkland, Florida, school shooting in February that it would stop providing brokerage services for all NRA-endorsed insurance programs. It is our responsibility to ensure we are fully compliant, company spokesman Dean Davison said in an emailed statement. We believe this settlement is the best way to resolve these issues. The NRA acted appropriately at all times and relied on Lockton and its assurances that the program complied with state regulations, according to William Brewer, a lawyer for the NRA. Firearms Insurance The group advertises Carry Guard as the nations most complete self-defense membership program on its website, referring to Locktons plan as comprehensive personal firearms liability insurance. Regulators said the insurance unlawfully offered protection for certain acts of intentional wrongdoing and improperly provided coverage for acts of self defense. Gun control advocates have criticized the program, referring to it as murder insurance. Lockton issued 680 Carry Guard policies to New York residents between April and November of last year, the DFS determined. Between 2000 and March 2018, Lockton and the NRA offered at least 11 other insurance programs. The company collected $12 million in premiums and $785,460 in administrative fees related to these programs during that time, according to the DFS. An investigation by the DFS found the program was actively advertised in New York by the NRA both online and through traditional mail. The firearms lobby doesnt have a license to conduct insurance business in New York, according to the DFS, which oversees insurers and banks chartered in the state. Todays action is part of the Departments continuing investigation into this matter to uphold and preserve the integrity of New York law, Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo said in the DFS statement. The NRA said it will continue to cooperate with DFS. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Illinois House of Representatives has passed a bill that would create a state-monitored insurance company with the intention of driving down workers compensation insurance costs in the state. The House voted 62-43 on a plan that would establish an independent underwriter with a $10 million state loan. It would act as an insurance company in the market and pay back the loan, according to the Associated Press. The bill would create the Illinois Employers Mutual Insurance Company. Startup funding would come from the Illinois Workers Compensation Commission Operations Fund. Glenview Democratic Rep. Laura Fines idea is that it would compete with policy writers that Democrats claim havent lowered premium rates reflected by cost-saving changes they made in 2011. HB4595 is identical to legislation Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed last year. Rauner has made lowering workers comp costs one of the top priorities of his three years at the helm. But Republicans say government intervention in the market is not the answer. The American Insurance Association strongly opposes the plan. Putting the state in the workers compensation business is the wrong idea at the wrong time, Steve Schneider, AIAs vice president for state affairs, midwest region, said in the associations release. Illinois has the most competitive workers compensation insurance marketplace in the country 323 insurers currently compete for business across the state. There is simply no need for the government to enter the market, Schneider said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A series of high-profile accidents involving self-driving cars are slowing the mad rush into the autonomous vehicles business, according to a report issued Wednesday. The accidents, some of them fatal, have ignited a debate about how to regulate the safety of self-driving vehicles and tempered the publics expectations, Bloomberg New Energy Finance said in the report. Theyve also exposed the downside of rushing to market, prompting some in the industry to slow down, said Andrew Grant, a London-based analyst at Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Companies including Uber Technologies Inc., Tesla Inc. and Alphabet Inc.s Google have been touting self-driving cars as the next revolution in transportation. Pressure was mounting to make the technology road-worthy when one of Ubers cars killed a pedestrian in Arizona in March. The company halted its autonomous vehicle test program. Toyota Motor Corp. and Aptiv Plcs Nutonomy then announced they were temporarily suspending public road testing in the U.S. Also in March, a driver of a Tesla Model X died in a crash in California that occurred while Autopilot was engaged. It gives them breathing room, Grant said. Now, they can stop telling investors a growth story. They dont have to be as aggressive. While there have been no significant changes to federal autonomous-vehicle policies in the U.S. this year, Arizona in March ordered Uber to stop operating them on the states roads. Regulators are scrutinizing digital ride-hailing services, too, according to the BNEF report, citing concerns over public infrastructure and their impact on labor markets. The potential consequences of ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft Inc., such as less use of public transportation and more traffic, have prompted several states to propose or pass new taxes. San Francisco and Seattle are also encouraging companies to disclose data on driver earnings and work hours. Most of the taxes imposed on ride-hailing services to date have been too small to change consumer behavior, Grant said in an email. But as cities grapple with the adverse impacts on both traffic and public-transit use, more taxation could be in the pipeline. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. A Southwest Airlines Co. jetliner made an unscheduled landing after a window cracked, two weeks after an accident on a separate plane in which a passenger was partially sucked out of a destroyed window and died. Flight 957 from Chicago-Midway to Newark, New Jersey, didnt lose cabin pressure as it diverted to Cleveland, Southwest said in a statement Wednesday. An emergency wasnt declared. The incident raised the pressure on Southwest, which had its first passenger fatality from an accident last month when a passenger was partially sucked out of a window after an engine exploded on a plane and hurled debris against the fuselage. The National Transportation Safety Board said it found signs of metal fatigue where an engine fan blade broke off. Following Wednesdays event, the Boeing Co. 737-700, which carried 76 passengers, was taken out of service. The flight departed Midway at 8:36 a.m. and landed in Cleveland at 9:53 a.m., Southwest said. The incident was far less severe and didnt seem to raise any of the same safety issues being examined in the fatal accident. Very Rare The passenger window was broken, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, without providing further details. Neither Southwest nor the FAA, which said it would investigate the incident, identified what caused cracks to form in multiple layers of the window. My sense is that its very rare for a cabin window to have that issue, said Richard Healing, a former National Transportation Safety Board member who now leads consulting firm Air Safety Engineering. Cockpit windows crack more often than those in the passenger cabin, he said. The window performed, the backup function worked as intended, he said, with the multiple layers preventing a blowout. My suspicion is it was the outside part, but the frame held and kept it in place. People took to Twitter to criticize Southwest. Public Unease We are not feeling safe and will consider using a different airline, one person posted. Lower fares and bags flying free are not sounding appealing. Another person urged the airline to put an even stronger emphasis on maintenance reviews and practices, especially on the older aircraft models. Southwest reassured customers that its maintenance program is approved by the FAA, and that our established programs and processes are designed to enable us to operate at the highest level of safety. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. The first insurance coverage for commercial landlords that addresses risks specific to renting to cannabis businesses, has been approved by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. California Mutual Insurance Company is the first insurer in the state approved to add Lessors Risk coverage for property owners who are exposed to specific risks resulting from cannabis related business activities of their commercial tenants. As Insurance Commissioner, my goal is to make sure all Californians have insurance protectionincluding the legalized cannabis businesses in California, said Commissioner Jones. I want to make sure that when consumers shop in cannabis businesses, when investors and owners invest in cannabis businesses, when vendors sell to cannabis businesses, and when landlords rent to cannabis businesses, there is insurance coverage available to cover everyone from losses. I encourage more insurance companies to follow California Mutual Insurance Companys lead and file insurance programs to fill the gaps in coverage for the cannabis industry. Lessors Risk coverage provides liability and property insurance for commercial property owners who lease building space to commercial tenants. Specific commercial activities and businesses addressed by this coverage include cannabis labs, product manufacturing, cultivation and dispensary operations. Commissioner Jones launched an initiative last year to encourage commercial insurance companies to write insurance to fill coverage gaps for the cannabis industry. As a result of the initiative, the first filing and approval of commercial insurance for the cannabis industry was announced in November of last year and the first surety bond program for the industry was announced in February. The availability of this insurance will reduce barriers to obtaining leased space faced by the cannabis industry. Last week, Commissioner Jones renewed his call for insurers to offer insurance products for Californias legalized cannabis industry in the wake of published reports that President Trump has abandoned Attorney General Jeff Sessions policy on federal law enforcement of cannabis. Jones sent a formal letter to California insurers encouraging them to fill insurance gaps for Californias cannabis businesses. Meetings between commercial insurance executives and cannabis business owners have been convened to educate the insurance industry about the sophistication, professionalism and risk management of the cannabis industry. Jones has also organized tours for insurance executives at cannabis businesses. In October of last year, he held a first-in-the-nation public hearing to identify insurance gaps faced by the cannabis industry. Cannabis businesses and insurance industry representatives testified about the limited availability of insurance for cannabis businesses. The hearing revealed that while there is insurance available from surplus lines insurers, coverage is limited in scope and, until the approval announced last November, commercial carriers were not yet writing insurance. Jones also announced that department staff would be allocated to expedite cannabis insurance filings. Source: California Department of Insurance President Donald Trump repaid his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, Rudy Giuliani, one of the lawyers representing the president in the special counsel's probe, said Wednesday night. Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor and mayor of New York, made the remark on Wednesday night's edition of "Hannity" on Fox News. His statements appear to directly contradict the version of events proffered by both Trump and Cohen about the payment. "Funneled through a law firm, and the president repaid it," Giuliani told host Sean Hannity. Hannity video tweet The $130,000 payment to Daniels came as part of a nondisclosure pact brokered by Cohen shortly before the 2016 election in exchange for Daniels' silence about an alleged affair with Trump. Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, told CNBC: "This is exactly what we predicted would ultimately be shown. Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged." Asked if Giuliani's admission is evidence of a campaign finance violation, Avenatti simply said, "Yes." In a string of carefully worded tweets Thursday morning, Trump denied that the payment made to Daniels came from campaign contributions, saying: "Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction." In his tweets, Trump validated Guiliani's remarks on Fox News and undermined his own and Cohen's previous assertions that Trump knew nothing about the payment to Daniels. Trump also denied the affair. Donald Trump tweet 1 Donald Trump tweet 2 Donald Trump tweet 3 In an interview with The New York Times after the Wednesday night interview, Giuliani reiterated his assertion that it did not amount to a campaign-finance violation and he shared details of the payments from Trump to Cohen, saying "we have all the documentary proof for it." Giuliani told the newspaper that, after the campaign, Trump started paying $35,000 a month out of his "personal family account." Overall, the former mayor told the Times, Trump had paid Cohen $460,000 or $470,000, which included "incidental expenses." Giuliani also told the Times that he had spoken with Trump before and after his interview with Hannity. The president and other lawyers on the team knew what he would tell the Fox News host, he added. Trump said last month that he didn't know about Cohen's payment to Daniels. Cohen has previously maintained that he made the payment himself, and with his own funds. Giuliani told Hannity that the payment "is going to turn out to be perfectly legal." "That money was not campaign money. Sorry, I'm giving you a fact now that you don't know. It's not campaign money. No campaign finance violation," Giuliani said. On April 5, Trump, in one of his few public statements about Daniels, denied knowledge of the payment. But Giuliani said Wednesday night only that Trump did not know "the specifics." Asked by Hannity whether Trump knew about the payment, Giuliani said Trump "didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know." But, Giuliani added: "He did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this." In a later exchange, Giuliani said that the money "that was paid by his lawyer [Cohen], the president reimbursed that over the period of several months." But in a Wall Street Journal interview earlier Wednesday, Giuliani reportedly said Trump was "probably not aware" of the payment at the time it was made in October 2016. "Remember October 2016, hardly will recall any of that in detail. I don't remember it clearly either," he told the newspaper. An escalation in the U.S.-China trade dispute would hit the Philippines, which count the two economic giants among its five largest trading partners. But the Southeast Asian country has a plan to protect its economy from the impact, its secretary of finance said on Thursday. "Strategically speaking, the Philippines will concentrate on what we're doing right now, which is investing in infrastructure and look for growth internally rather than through external trade," Carlos Dominguez, the country's secretary of finance, told CNBC's Oriel Morrison. Dominguez, speaking at the Asian Development Bank annual meeting in Manila, said that's one reason why the Philippine government passed a tax bill to raise money to fund the country's $170 billion "Build, Build, Build" infrastructure program. The program is part of President Rodrigo Duterte's plan to transform the Philippine economy by generating more jobs and reducing poverty. Counterfeit goods remain a big problem for global retailers, especially in Asia, the chief executive officer of Adidas told CNBC Thursday. The German brand has calculated that up to 10 percent of the Adidas-branded products on sale in Asia could be fake. This includes products in stores and online. "In Asia it is a problem, but that's an overall market problem, where we believe that approximately up to 10 percent in certain categories are fakes, are copying and we are seeing that in bricks and mortar and we are seeing that online," Kasper Rorsted, chief executive officer of Adidas, told CNBC's "Squawk Box Europe." "It continues to be a big problem for our industry," he said. The brand reported Thursday an increase in net profit during the first quarter of the year. This was driven by sales in North America, Greater China and online. Growth in Greater China alone was 26 percent in the first three months of the year. Three university students posing for a selfie on graduation day. Getty Images The past several years have seen increased calls for colleges and universities to demonstrate their value to students, families and taxpayers. And the pressure has come from both sides of the political spectrum. Barack Obama, for example, didn't mince his words when he spoke a few years ago on the University of Michigan campus: "We are putting colleges on noticeyou can't assume that you'll just jack up tuition every single year. If you can't stop tuition from going up, then the funding you get from taxpayers each year will go down. We should push colleges to do better." So how is a would-be student or a tax-paying citizen to decide the value of a given university or degree? There is certainly no shortage of tools that have been developed to help in this regard. The federal College Scorecard, for example, is meant to "help students choose a school that is well-suited to meet their needs, priced affordably, and is consistent with their educational and career goals." More from the Conversation: Choosing the wrong college can be bad for your mental health When college tuition goes up, campus diversity goes down Why do we need the humanities? Various magazines put together college rankings. There have been efforts at the state level to show what graduates of a given institution or program can expect to earn. And some colleges and universities are working to provide those data themselves. So we asked our panel of presidents from the University of Michigan, University of Oregon and The Ohio State University: If you had to devise just one tool or metric to help the general public assess the value of a particular college or degree, what would it be and why? Greater life expectancy Michael Drake, president of The Ohio State University When I ask individuals if they want their own children to attend college, the answer is, overwhelmingly, yes. The evidence is clear. College graduates are more likely to be employed and more likely to earn more than those without degrees. Studies also indicate that people with college degrees have higher levels of happiness and engagement, better health and longer lives. Wow. If living a longer, healthier and happier life is a good thing, then, yes, college is worth it. A four-year degree is not necessarily the best path for everyone, of course. Many people find their lives are enhanced by earning a two-year or technical degree. For others, none of these options is the perfect choice. But if there is one data point I want to highlight, it is the correlation between a college education and greater life expectancy. In fact, one study suggests that those who attend college live, on average, seven years longer. Last year was the second year in a row that average life expectancy in the U.S. went down. But greater mortality didn't affect all Americans equally. Studies point to a growing gap in life expectancy between rich and poor. Higher education may, in other words, be part of the solution to this problem. This is just one of the reasons that so many of our country's institutions of higher learning are focused on the question of how to make sure more Americans have access to a quality and affordable college education. Since December 2016, the American Talent Initiative, a coalition of 100 (and counting) colleges and universities, has been working to educate 50,000 additional lower-income students by 2025. In another initiative, the 11 public universities in the University Innovation Alliance are committed to producing more U.S. graduates and have, over the past three years, increased their number of low-income graduates by 24.7 percent. As educators, we must continue to increase pathways to the American Dream a journey that includes health, happiness, long life and, very often, a college degree. Social mobility Michael Schill, president of the University of Oregon While it is impossible to devise only one indicator to describe the value of a university, I would suggest that a good place to begin would be the number of first-generation students it admits and the rate at which they graduate. As a first-generation college student myself, I may be somewhat biased, but I believe that our generation will be judged by how well we enhance the opportunities for social mobility among our citizens. And despite some skepticism about the value of higher education on the part of pundits and politicians, it is well-documented that there is no better way for young people to achieve the "American Dream" than by getting a college degree. Note that my metric is really two first-generation enrollment numbers and graduation rates. The simple fact is that students who go to college and don't receive a degree may well be in worse shape economically than those who don't go at all. They will have invested time and money, yet without a diploma will not achieve the economic returns from that investment. Moreover, many are hobbled by student loans without the economic wherewithal to repay them. It is easy for universities, colleges and community colleges to admit large numbers of students from modest backgrounds. That happened in the for-profit sector. However, the graduation rate at for-profit institutions is only 23 percent, compared to the 59 percent rate overall. The hard part is to support students so that they can succeed. First-generation students make up a third of college undergraduates in the United States. They are more likely to be minorities and to come from low-income households, and are far less likely to graduate than their peers who had one or more parent attend college. We can do better. Part of the solution is for more universities to provide more adequate need-based financial assistance, but even that isn't enough. College can be a confusing experience for first-generation kids, both in terms of learning how to succeed academically and "fitting in" socially. Real value will accrue to students and American society only if we can provide them with appropriate advising and counseling so that they not only get in, but persist and flourish. Freedom Mark Schlissel, president of the University of Michigan To devise one metric to help the public assess our value, we need to challenge ourselves the same way we challenge students in our classrooms and labs. Let's first determine the right question to ask. What are our students looking for in life and how can a college degree change the quality and trajectory of their lives? Higher education gives graduates the best opportunity to pursue their ambitions, change careers, define and solve complex problems, and persuade and lead others. College graduates enjoy higher salaries, qualify for further levels of education and are at a lower risk of ending up in jobs that become obsolete. Moreover, they lead richer and fuller lives happier, healthier, wealthier and longer. Countries around the world have benefited from open trade and investment and they should now put in their "utmost effort" to maintain and strengthen that system, according to Takehiko Nakao, president of the Asian Development Bank. Nakao's comments came as officials from the U.S. and China convene in Beijing to iron out their trade tensions a meeting that's widely watched by investors globally. "Open trade and investment regime is so important, we should continue to have our utmost effort to maintain and strengthen the system," Nakao told CNBC's Oriel Morrison at an ADB meeting in Manila in the Philippines. He added that trade over the past year has been responsible for lifting growth in many countries, some of which weren't growing before picking up again recently. The U.S. is among those that benefited, although the Trump administration has been arguing against free trade, which it blames for hurting American workers and companies. Nakao acknowledged that some workers may have been sidelined in an open trade system. But governments should address that, and it shouldn't come at the expense of free trade, he added. "What is the most important is to look at the benefit side of trade and we should keep and strengthen open trade and investment system, although we must address those issues on workers," he said. One Australian minister is raising concerns about the sustainability of infrastructure developments in the Pacific. Speaking with CNBC's Oriel Morrison, Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Australia's minister for international development and the Pacific, stressed the importance for infrastructure investments to "have a productive outcome" without imposing "unnecessary debt burdens." Asked if Australia had aired its concerns to China, the major supplier of loans in the region over the past few years, she said her country works with Beijing in "various overseas development projects," pointing to a tri-lateral program on malaria in Papua New Guinea. Fierravanti-Wells has previously accused Beijing of funding "roads to nowhere." "It's really important to take into account the vulnerability of Pacific island countries," said Fierravanti-Wells. While the involvement of partners and donors to the region was welcome, she said, those investments need to examine the priorities of the Pacific and vulnerabilities of particular countries. From Australia's perspective, Fierravanti-Wells said, it has committed "almost $4 billion" for overseas development assistance efforts in the form of grants that are focused on the Pacific in a "transparent, open manner." "The issue, as I said, does come down to a general understanding and appreciation, in particularly the Pacific, a region that has a lot of vulnerabilities," she added, noting that small island states in the region are often located in remote locations with limited sources of revenue. In reality, Fierravanti-Wells said, "it's one thing if it's development assistance in the form of a grant as opposed to a loan because of course loans carry with them terms, they carry with them conditions." Bank of Singapore is upbeat on its prospects in the Middle East after getting off to a strong start to the year, a top executive at the institution said Thursday. The private banking arm of OCBC, Singapore's second-largest lender by total assets, saw its assets under management in Dubai grow about 30 percent from its launch in the city's financial center last year, according to Reuters. "I firmly believe and I'm very optimistic about the prospects of the region," Vikram Malhotra, Bank of Singapore's global market head for South Asia and the Middle East, told CNBC's Sri Jegarajah. The bank moved to its premises in Dubai International Financial Centre in 2016 and currently has more than one hundred employees based in the city. Private financial wealth in the Middle East and Africa is estimated to grow 8.1 percent by the end of 2021 to $12 trillion, according to a global wealth report from the Boston Consulting Group last year. That growth figure is only surpassed by the 9.9 percent increase projected for the Asia Pacific region. Malhotra also weighed in on competition for clients in the region, as well as a greater focus on regulation, amid greater focus on regulations. "I think that's pretty much industry-specific. All the global banks are present in Dubai and are investing and growing in the region. Having said that, I think we have grown much faster than our competitors," he said. "Of course, regulatory expectations are much higher today and everybody is investing in that regard as well," Malhotra said. Less than half of the roughly 30 employees joining Bank of Singapore's Dubai branch last year were bankers as it focused on growing its support staff, he added. A Chinese Naval officer stands guard beside a submarine at the Ngong Shuen Chau Naval Base in Hong Kong. Reuters Beijing has upped the ante with its latest deployment of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems to fortified outposts in the hotly contested waters of the South China Sea. And it means China will likely soon send warplanes to the area, too, according to an expert on the region. "This should be seen as China crossing an important threshold. Missile platforms present a clear offensive threat," Gregory Poling, Center for Strategic and International Studies fellow and director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, told CNBC. "[The missile deployment] is a pretty clear threat to the other claimants and furthers China's goal of establishing complete control over the water and airspace of the South China Sea." According to U.S. intelligence reports, the installations mark the first Chinese missile deployments to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef in the Spratly Islands. The Spratlys, to which six countries lay claim, are located approximately two-thirds of the way east from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines. Map of the South China Sea. CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/CNBC The land-based anti-ship cruise missiles, designated as YJ-12B, allow China to strike surface vessels within 295 nautical miles of the reefs. Meanwhile, the long-range surface-to-air missiles designated as HQ-9B, have an expected range of targeting aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. Intelligence assessments say the missile platforms were moved to the outposts in the Spratlys within the past 30 days, according to sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "It has been clear that these were coming since at least last year when China constructed shelters for them at each of the islands, but the actual deployments are still significant," Poling said. "Now every ship or plane moving near the Spratlys is operating within Chinese missile range." While the installation of missile platforms are new to the Spratlys, China has already deployed similar systems in the nearby Paracel Islands. Satellite images of Woody Island, Beijing's military headquarters in the South China Sea, show deployments of Y-8 transport aircraft as well as J-10 and J-11 fighter jets. CSIS Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative/DigitalGlobe "It's the opportunities for micro infrastructure beyond the core projects. All the knock-on effects ... if building a railroad, there's going to be a lot of goods and services moving. You need warehouses, you need distribution capabilities. That's where private investors are getting more involved." For investors, there are "multiple levels" of potential opportunities, Merlino said, highlighting infrastructure and activities surrounding major projects under the plan. The initiative aims to connect Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa with a vast logistics and transport network, using roads, ports, railway tracks, pipelines, airports, transnational electric grids and even fiber optic lines. It's widely seen as an attempt by China to construct a massive, multi-national zone of economic and political influence that has Beijing at its core. In an interview with CNBC, Marc Merlino, Citi's global head for its global subsidiaries group, said there are opportunities for not just banks, but institutional and corporate investors. Warnings of financial risks may be sounding on China's Belt and Road Initiative , but global banks are still seeing a promising opportunity. I think the risk associated with construction of large projects is well understood in the banking sector. According to a recent report published by Nomura, new projects will create demand for goods and infrastructure. That economic boost will benefit both lenders and brokers, it said. In fact, Citi is seeing increased corporate and institutional investment in the Belt and Road, which Merlino said will be bigger than the numbers published by the Chinese government. The Nomura report, quoting numbers from China's Ministry of Commerce, said Chinese enterprises invested $14.4 billion in Belt and Road-related projects in 2017 accounting for 12 percent of China's total outbound foreign direct investment. More than 7,200 new contracts on initiative-related projects were signed for a total value of $144.3 billion. Banks have a role in the initial construction phase and long-term debt financing, but Citi has also been putting in "a lot of resources" into supporting multinational companies involved in the initiative, he said. That's despite the risks that have been associated with the mammoth initiative. A study in March found that debt risks in eight countries have been elevated because of their participation. In fact, 23 of the 68 countries identified as potential borrowers were found to be at a "quite high" risk of debt distress, the study found. The Nomura report, too, flagged the risks. "Infrastructure projects may face long payback periods, uncertain returns and potential default risk due to regulatory or political risk in the recipient economy, increasing financial risks for the investing (Chinese or other) entity," it said. But Merlino said that, despite such warnings, the banking industry is "well positioned" for that higher risk. "I think the risk associated with construction of large projects is well understood in the banking sector. Generally, that tends to be a slightly higher risk than corporate kind of risks because you have completion risks, geopolitical risks. But I think the banking industry understands that and is well positioned to deal with that," he said. Plus, there will be investors who can fill in any gaps, he indicated. "The good news is that there are quite a bit of institutional investors with appetite, whether it's insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds, for long-term debt. The best solution would be risk distribution into the appropriate hands ... to ensuring there's a match between investor risk appetite and actual underlying risk of the projects," he said. When Cramer-fave MGM Resorts' stock plummeted more than 11 percent after its earnings report last week, the CNBC host couldn't believe his eyes. "The selling here has been extreme," "Mad Money" host Jim Cramer said on Thursday. "Whenever we see this kind of action, we need to ask ourselves, are we looking at a broken company here which means sell, sell, sell or is it merely a broken stock?" "In other words, is this the kind of development that makes you want to sell MGM for good, or are we merely getting a buyable pullback in a stock that still has a compelling long-term story?" he said. Cramer has long recommended buying the stock of MGM, a hospitality giant with numerous hotel and casino properties in Las Vegas including the Bellagio and Mandalay Bay. MGM became Cramer's favorite play on the domestic gambling space. While rivals like Wynn Resorts had better exposure to the fast-growing, gambling-focused Chinese territory of Macau, MGM offered investors who were wary about China a strong, U.S.-based play. But since the marketwide January peak, shares of MGM have been sliding with the rest of the market, save for a small pop when MGM reportedly considered buying the ailing Wynn Resorts. MGM's latest earnings report only made things worse for the stock. While the earnings and revenues beat analyst estimates, MGM's revenue per available room a key metric for hotel operators declined 4.3 percent. To make matters even worse, management warned that the company's Las Vegas revenue per available room could see continued weakness and would likely need more time to recover. "Put it all together and MGM's only looking for a 1 to 3 percent increase in Las Vegas Strip revenue per available room this quarter. That's not so great. The company also talked about additional margin compression in Vegas," Cramer said. "That's why the stock got clobbered investors were hoping for much better." To determine whether MGM was a broken stock or a broken company, Cramer asked one simple question: "is the long-term story intact?" The "Mad Money" host liked MGM's long-term thesis. CEO Jim Murren guided toward a stronger second half of 2018 thanks to higher convention attendance in Las Vegas. The company is also seeing growth at its Washington, D.C., property, and has several hotels under construction in top locations including Macau. All things considered, Cramer saw the hotel and casino giant's recent weakness as more of a short-term blip than the start of a longer term problem. "Despite the hideous pullback in its share price, I think MGM Resorts is a broken stock, not a broken company," he concluded. "I don't blame anyone who wants to take profits here after MGM's monster multi-year run, but long term, I say you've got to buy this one. That's what you do with the broken stocks of very good companies." As markets swung lower, then higher on Thursday amid geopolitical worries, CNBC's Jim Cramer vetted a new thesis about what could be next in the U.S.-China trade clash. "The new thesis I'm hearing is that the president's woes are making the Chinese more intransigent," the "Mad Money" host explained. "They're beginning to take a longer view that Trump's in real trouble and they can take more pain than we can and wait out the president." "In other words, the Mueller investigation weakens the Trump hand, and it could actually hurt the global economy if it results in a prolonged trade war," he continued. President Donald Trump, whose personal lawyer Michael Cohen is at the center of a scandal involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels, revealed on Monday that he knew of a $130,000 payment Cohen made to Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. The president's comments came after Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York and one of Trump's lawyers in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe, told Fox News on Wednesday that then-candidate Trump repaid Cohen after Cohen paid Daniels. Cramer argued that this nonstop, multifaceted newsflow could weaken Trump's position in dealing with China. China's lawmakers could simply choose to wait until the president's various issues are resolved or until his four-year term is over. "This narrative has become so ingrained that we have come to expect every stock to go down as it's repeated," Cramer said. "We'd like to think that the stocks of companies that have little to do with trade, or at least anything domestic, ... would somehow be immune, but if they're in the , they go down." Big hedge fund managers and individual investors alike have flocked to index funds like the S&P 500 in recent months, causing stocks to trade in tandem as the three Ts Trump, tariffs and trade fuel the market's concerns, Cramer explained. But the broad-based declines have brought some courageous buyers out of the woodwork, too, the "Mad Money" host said. "Periodically we get bargain-hunters [who come in] and basically say, 'Enough is already enough. It can't possibly be this bad,'" Cramer said. "Look, they might be right. Maybe there will be no negative headlines about Trump tomorrow hey, crazier things have happened." Better yet, if Trump's National Economic Advisor and former CNBC host Larry Kudlow is optimistic about his meetings in China this week, the bargain-hunters could really luck out, Cramer said. "Or perhaps [tomorrow] will just be another lousy Friday like all the rest of them as people worry about what'll happen this weekend with China," he said. "If you have one takeaway from today, it should be that there comes a point where everyone is collectively too negative for that very moment, and that's when you have to take the other side of the trade." Trump troubles? U.S. President Donald Trump chats with Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2017. Andy Wong | AP MGM Resorts: Broken stock or broken company? Vehicles drive past the New York-New York Hotel & Casino, left, and MGM Resorts International Grand Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images When Cramer-fave MGM Resorts' stock plummeted more than 11 percent after its earnings report last week, the CNBC host couldn't believe his eyes. "The selling here has been extreme," Cramer said on Thursday. "Whenever we see this kind of action, we need to ask ourselves, are we looking at a broken company here which means sell, sell, sell or is it merely a broken stock?" "In other words, is this the kind of development that makes you want to sell MGM for good, or are we merely getting a buyable pullback in a stock that still has a compelling long-term story?" he said. Cramer has long recommended buying the stock of MGM, a hospitality giant with numerous hotel and casino properties in Las Vegas including the Bellagio and Mandalay Bay. But since the January peak, shares of the hotel operator have been sliding, so Cramer had to investigate. Norwegian Cruise Line CEO talks profits aboard new ship On Thursday, Cramer sat down with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings CEO Frank Del Rio aboard his company's new vessel, the Norwegian Bliss. With roughly 1,800 employees, a water park and a racetrack on board, the Bliss is a statement not only as a ship, but as a reflection of Norwegian's business, Del Rio said. "The occupancy of these vessels, on average, [is] 110 percent. We are supply-challenged," the CEO said, brushing off a common misconception that cruise ship operators are over-supplied. "I only have 26 vessels. There are at least a dozen unserved or under-served markets ... [where] I need more vessels." Del Rio emphasized that the cruise ship business, while niche, is extremely stable, with visibility into the state of the business extending seven or eight months into the future. "And the barriers to entry anyone can buy a piece of land and build a hotel," he added after Cramer noted how cheaply Norwegian's stock trades relative to hotel stocks. "You know how long it would take if you and I wanted to start a new cruise line today and get our first ship? Six, seven years." "So the barriers to entry are great, you need a lot of capital, the order book at the major ship yards is all taken, supply growth is limited," the CEO continued. "The analysts, the investors are all wound up because over the next two or three years, the supply growth is going to spike to 6, 6.5 percent from an average of 5 percent over the last 10 years. You've got to be kidding. You've got to be kidding." Proofpoint CEO: Top companies are still victim to cyberattacks Cramer also heard from Gary Steele, the CEO of cybersecurity player Proofpoint. Steele shared a worrying statistic from his company's recent Human Factor report: that "over 80 percent of organizations surveys [have] experienced an email fraud attack." "This is pervasive," Steele told Cramer on Thursday. "It's a problem, and ... it's one of the reasons we're growing at the rate we are." For companies that want to protect their employees from cyberattacks, Steele said the No. 1 strategy is to raise awareness. "It's very simple: you have to be thoughtful about what you click on and you have to be thoughtful about what documents you open, because 80 percent of malicious messages have ransomware," the CEO said. Lightning round: Beaten-down biotechs The European Union (EU) could slash funding for governments that fail to uphold democracy after it announced plans Wednesday to link its budget with the political health of member states. The EU said that it wants to link future budgets to whether or not member states have an effective judicial system in place, such as independent courts. Funds could be suspended or restricted if EU countries fail to cooperate with anti-fraud investigations and undermine independent media organizations. Current EU rules do require member states to demonstrate that they are robust against fraud, but the European Commission (EC) said that there was no current mechanism in place to protect EU taxpayers' money "in case of deficiencies regarding the rule of law in a member state." "Only an independent judiciary that upholds the rule of law and legal certainty in all member states can ultimately guarantee that money from the EU budget is sufficiently protected" the EC said in a statement. New measures, which must first be agreed by EU member states, could hit Hungary and Poland two of the biggest recipients of EU funding. Poland's government has been criticized for passing laws that weaken judicial checks and balances, while Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban has been accused of a crackdown on the country's free press. Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto warned Wednesday that he would not yield to "blackmail," according to Reuters. "We do not agree with any proposal that would provide the potential for blackmail of anyone with regard to the payment of EU funds that are due to be given to countries based on the treaties," he said. More than ever, Facebook is under pressure to prove that its algorithms are being deployed responsibly. On Wednesday, at its F8 developer conference, the company revealed that it has formed a special team and developed discrete software to ensure that its artificial intelligence systems make decisions as ethically as possible, without biases. Facebook, like other big tech companies with products used by large and diverse groups of people, is more deeply incorporating AI into its services. Facebook said this week it will start offering to translate messages that people receive via the Messenger app. Translation systems must first be trained on data, and the ethics push could help ensure that Facebook's systems are taught to give fair translations. "We'll look back and we'll say, 'It's fantastic that we were able to be proactive in getting ahead of these questions and understand before we launch things what is fairness for any given product for a demographic group,'" Isabel Kloumann, a research scientist at Facebook, told CNBC. She declined to say how many people are on the team. Facebook said these efforts are not the result of any changes that have taken place in the seven weeks since it was revealed that data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica misused personal data of the social network's users ahead of the 2016 election. But it's clear that public sentiment toward Facebook has turned dramatically negative of late, so much so that CEO Mark Zuckerberg had to sit through hours of congressional questioning last month. Every announcement is now under a microscope. A woman in Germany forged her ex-husband's signature twice to undergo IVF treatment with eggs fertilized by his sperm while they were married. Now a court has ruled he has to pay child support for a son he didn't agree to have. Five years ago, Karl and Inge gave their written permission for doctors at a local clinic to freeze Inge's eggs fertilized with Karl's sperm so they could have children later in life. (In Germany, last names aren't given in court cases.) After divorcing each other, Inge forged Karl's signature twice to use a fertilized egg to become pregnant and gave birth to a boy. More from USA Today: Men arrested at Philadelphia Starbucks will get free Arizona State University tuition New Jersey farm launches ham-flavored ice cream Giuliani says 3 Americans held by North Korea will be freed today The 37-year-old Karl had filed a lawsuit after he became legally obliged to provide child support following the birth of his son by his 42-year-old ex-wife. A regional court in the southern German city of Munich ruled on Wednesday that he must provide financial support for his child who had been born without his explicit consent. In his lawsuit, Karl argued that he should not be legally obliged to pay child support because he had revoked his permission for the eggs to be used after he split from his wife. He also argued that the clinic should take over financial support for the child. But the court ruled against him after finding that Karl was not clear enough when he called the clinic to revoke his consent for the fertilized eggs to be used. The clinic, it added, had no reason to doubt the authenticity of the forged signatures. The decision, made by the court's medical malpractice section, is not legally binding. North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un speaks during a New Year's Day speech in this photo released by North Korea's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) in Pyongyang on January 1, 2018. Three Americans held in a North Korean prison will be released today, Rudy Giuliani, a member of President Trump's legal team, said Thursday. "We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today," the former New York mayor told Fox & Friends. Giuliani made his proclamation hours after President Trump made reference to the three Americans in a tweet that reflected optimism the case of the Americans would soon be determined. More from USA Today: Trump hints at release of American prisoners held in North Korea South Korea to remove speakers that blasted North Korea for decades Trevor Noah cuts Kanye West down to size over 'slavery was a choice' remark "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail," Trump tweeted. "Stay tuned!" The three men Kim Hak-Song, also known as Jin Xue Song; Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-Duk; and Kim Dong-Chul have been relocated within the secretive nation and are getting medical treatment ahead of the planned release, according to multiple media reports. The development comes as tensions have eased between the U.S. and North Korea. A meeting between Kim and Trump is in the works, and Trump has said details could be released within days. The two leaders also have toned down their sharp rhetoric. Trump, who has referred to Kim in the past as "little rocket man," suggested last week that Kim is "very honorable." Talk of the release also comes less than a week after a historic summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in at which Kim pledged to shut down his nuclear testing site within weeks. Moon and Kim also agreed to work on a plan to formally end the Korean War that was ended under a temporary armistice in 1953. North Korea's leader has said a formal end to the hostilities, along with a pledge from the U.S. not to attack his nation, would essentially eliminate Pyongyang's need for a nuclear arsenal. Last year, U.S. college student Otto Warmbier died after being imprisoned in North Korea. He was jailed after trying to steal a propaganda sign from a hotel in the country. When he was released in June back to his family, he was in a coma and unresponsive. Rudy Giuliani said Wednesday night that President Donald Trummp's motive for firing FBI Director James Comey nearly a year ago was that Comey would not say he wasn't a target of an investigation into potential collusion between Russia and the Republican's campaign. "He fired Comey because Comey would not among other things say that he wasn't a target of the investigation," said Giuliani, who last month joined Trump's legal team addressing special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. "He fired him and he said, 'I'm free of this guy,'" Giuliani said of Trump's dismissal of Comey. Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor and mayor of New York, made the remarks in a wide-ranging interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity. Trump fired Comey as FBI director on May 9 last year. Comey has said and written about prior discussions with Trump in which the former FBI boss says the president sought personal loyalty. Trump also requested Comey let go a federal investigation into former national security advisor Mike Flynn. Trump has denied Comey's assertions. The administration has said Trump fired Comey over his handling of the investigations into Hillary Clinton during the campaign. But in an interview with NBC News' Lester Holt that aired two days after Trump fired Comey, the president said: "When I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story.'" Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed Mueller, Comey's predecessor as FBI director, to take over the Russia probe after Trump fired Comey. Attorney General Jeff Sessions had recused himself from the investigation. Trump has often slammed Mueller, Sessions and Rosenstein, while calling the probe a "witch hunt." He has also repeatedly denied any collusion took place. Representatives for the White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. CNBC's Christina Wilkie contributed to this report. SAN FRANCISCO Most big banks have tried to stay far away from the scandal-tainted virtual currency Bitcoin. But Goldman Sachs, perhaps the most storied name in finance, is bucking the risks and moving ahead with plans to set up what appears to be the first Bitcoin trading operation at a Wall Street bank. In a step that is likely to lend legitimacy to virtual currencies and create new concerns for Goldman the bank is about to begin using its own money to trade with clients in a variety of contracts linked to the price of Bitcoin. More from The New York Times: Everyone Is Getting Hilariously Rich and You're Not New York Today: Living on Bitcoin There Is Nothing Virtual About Bitcoin's Energy Appetite While Goldman will not initially be buying and selling actual Bitcoins, a team at the bank is looking at going in that direction if it can get regulatory approval and figure out how to deal with the additional risks associated with holding the virtual currency. Rana Yared, one of the Goldman executives overseeing the creation of the trading operation, said the bank was clear-eyed about what it was getting itself into. "I would not describe myself as a true believer who wakes up thinking Bitcoin will take over the world," Ms. Yared said. "For almost every person involved, there has been personal skepticism brought to the table." Still, the suggestion that Goldman Sachs, among the most vaunted banks on Wall Street and a frequent target for criticism, would even consider trading Bitcoin would have been viewed as preposterous a few years ago, when Bitcoin was primarily known as a way to buy drugs online. Bitcoin was created in 2009 by an anonymous figure going by the name Satoshi Nakamoto, who talked about replacing Wall Street banks not giving them a new revenue line. Over the last two years, however, a growing number of hedge funds and other large investors around the world have expressed an interest in virtual currencies. Tech companies like Square have begun offering Bitcoin services to their customers, and the commodity exchanges in Chicago started allowing customers to trade Bitcoin futures contracts in December. But until now, regulated financial institutions have steered clear of Bitcoin, with some going so far as to shut down the accounts of customers who traded Bitcoin. Jamie Dimon, the chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, famously called it a fraud, and many other bank chief executives have said Bitcoin is nothing more than a speculative bubble. Ms. Yared said Goldman had concluded that Bitcoin is not a fraud and does not have the characteristics of a currency. But a number of clients wanted to hold it as a valuable commodity, similar to gold, given the limited quantity of Bitcoin that can ever be "mined" in a complex, virtual system. "It resonates with us when a client says, 'I want to hold Bitcoin or Bitcoin futures because I think it is an alternate store of value,'" she said. Ms. Yared said the bank had received inquiries from hedge funds, as well as endowments and foundations that received virtual currency donations from newly minted Bitcoin millionaires and didn't know how to handle them. The ultimate decision to begin trading Bitcoin contracts went through Goldman's board of directors. The step comes with plenty of uncertainties. Bitcoin prices are primarily set on unregulated exchanges in other countries where there are few measures in place to prevent market manipulation. Since the beginning of the year, the price of Bitcoin has plunged and recovered significantly as traders have faced uncertainty about how regulators will deal with virtual currencies. "It is not a new risk that we don't understand," Ms. Yared said. "It is just a heightened risk that we need to be extra aware of here." Goldman has already been doing more than most banks in the area, clearing trades for customers who want to buy and sell Bitcoin futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange. In the next few weeks the exact start date has not been set Goldman will begin using its own money to trade Bitcoin futures contracts on behalf of clients. It will also create its own, more flexible version of a future, known as a non-deliverable forward, which it will offer to clients. The bank's first "digital asset" trader, Justin Schmidt, joined Goldman two weeks ago to handle the day-to-day operations, a hiring that was first reported by Tearsheet. In his last job, Mr. Schmidt, 38, was an electronic trader at the hedge fund Seven Eight Capital. In 2017, he left that job to trade virtual currencies on his own. He will initially be placed on Goldman's foreign currency desk because Bitcoin trading has the most similarity to movements in emerging market currencies, Ms. Yared said. Mr. Schmidt is looking at trading actual Bitcoin or physical Bitcoin, as it is somewhat ironically called if the bank can secure regulatory approval from the Federal Reserve and New York authorities. The firm also has to find a way to confidently hold Bitcoin for customers without its being stolen by hackers, as has happened to many Bitcoin exchanges. Mr. Schmidt and Ms. Yared said the current options for holding Bitcoin for clients did not yet meet Wall Street standards. Goldman is known for pushing the envelope in the trading of complicated products. The firm faced significant criticism after the financial crisis for its profitable trading of so-called synthetic derivatives tied to the subprime mortgage markets. Since the crisis, Goldman has made a big push to position itself as the most technologically sophisticated firm on Wall Street. Among other things, it has started an online lending service, known as Marcus, that has brought the firm into contact with retail customers for the first time. The virtual currency trading, though, will be available only to big institutional investors. Mr. Schmidt said Goldman's sophistication was a big part of the reason he was open to the job, despite many other opportunities in the virtual currency world. "In terms of having a trusted institutional player, it has been something I have been looking for in my own crypto trading but it didn't exist," he said. Follow Nathaniel Popper on Twitter: @nathanielpop There is no precedent in the euro zone to address the debt pile of a bailed-out county and that's why discussions on Greece's debt are taking so long, the Luxembourg finance minister told CNBC. European institutions and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have struggled to find an agreement over how to make the Greek debt which stands at about 180 percent of gross domestic product more sustainable. The discussions have dragged since the the current bailout program Greece's third started in 2015. However, as the financial assistance to Greece is due to end this August, the country still doesn't know how its future debt payments will be structured. Speaking to CNBC Thursday, Pierre Gramegna, the finance minister of Luxembourg, said that the reason why the process is taking so long is because this has never happened before. "We have a post-program surveillance that has been going on for all the countries that were supported and here (Greece) there are some elements that are additional; when something is additional it needs more discussion," Gramegna told CNBC's Joumanna Bercetche. Hawaiian Airlines CEO Peter Ingram said in a statement to CNBC that the airline "is not afraid of competition." Southwest last fall said it planned to start serving Hawaii this year . On Thursday it said it plans to fly from Oakland, San Diego, Sacramento and San Jose, California, pending regulatory approvals for it to fly long distances over the Pacific. Shares of Hawaiian Airlines ' parent tumbled Thursday after Southwest Airlines said it plans to offer service from California and fly between the Hawaiian islands. Southwest's presence tends to stir fears about lower airfares. In what's been dubbed the "Southwest Effect," in markets where the airline has nonstop service its fares are $45 lower than in cities without those routes, a University of Virginia study found. Last week, Southwest announced it would serve four airports in Hawaii Honolulu, Lihue Airport, Kona International Airport and Kahului Airport and on Thursday said it could also offer flights between the islands. Inter-island flying is "a market that has little competition, if any. We think it's very highly priced," Southwest President Tom Nealon told local news channel Hawaii News Now, adding that the airline plans to offer "low fares." A round-trip ticket from Honolulu to Kona in mid-May on Hawaiian Airlines starts at about $185, according to the airline's website. Hawaiian Airlines' CEO Ingram took issue with Nealon's comment about high-priced fares, calling it "curious" because some of Hawaiian's last-minute fares were less than Southwest's on a route of similar length, between Austin and Houston. The markets are vastly different and major Texas cities attract more business travelers. Southwest isn't the only airline adding service to Hawaii. American Airlines on Wednesday said it plans to offer winter flights from Chicago to Honolulu. Tourism to Hawaii is booming. The state took in a record 9.4 million visitors last year, up from 8.9 million in 2016, according to the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Southwest is grappling with a decline in bookings following a midair engine failure on one of its flights last month. A passenger was partially sucked out of a blown-out window after a fan blade broke loose from one of the Boeing 737-700's engines. The passenger died, marking Southwest's first accident-related passenger fatality in its 47 years of flying. Health care is broken. It's a common theme at conversations and presentations at conferences. That was no different this week at the World Health Care Congress in Washington, D.C. Yet another idea was also present: Change is coming. Spending on health care in the U.S. ballooned to $3.3 trillion in 2016, representing 18 percent of gross domestic product. And it's expected to only keep increasing unless we fix it. Government officials and industry leaders alike seemed hopeful that innovation in technology and how we pay for drugs could help finally control costs and improve patient outcomes. Any improvements could take a while, but they're optimistic they're coming. "We all know change represents opportunity," Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in his keynote address Wednesday. "So I exhort all of you to engage with us on the efforts I've discussed today and take advantage of the opportunities they represent. Because I assure you, in American healthcare, change is possible, change is necessary, and change is coming." President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to tackle rising drug prices. Azar said Trump wants to go "much further." Trump's expected to address the issue in a speech next week. Azar, formerly an executive at Eli Lilly, advocated for moving the system toward one that pays for health outcomes rather than simply treatments or procedures. Known as value-based care, some companies have welcomed the concept. Two pharmaceutical company executives on a panel said within five years, 100 percent of drugmakers will use value-based contracts. One of them, Enrique Conterno, head of diabetes at Azar's former employer, said these type of agreements make sense. Lilly has made 12 value-based agreements, five of which have been completed and seven that are ongoing. Conterno said lack of regulatory clarity has stalled the number of these contracts the company has been able to execute. Value-based contracts put patients at the center because they connect reimbursement to actual outcomes, Conterno said. These systems can save payers money, while pharmaceutical companies get paid for the value they provide, he said in an interview with CNBC. "I like that it basically rewards performance, and I think it's also a great system for innovation," Conterno said. "Then we'll be looking in a system like this to bring innovation and to bring value. Value-based arrangements in a way create an environment where I think everybody can win. We can get great clinical outcomes and great economic outcomes." Change could also come from Silicon Valley, where companies are trying to use technology to simplify and improve old ways of doing things. However, they could face obstacles unique to the complex health-care system. "There's a huge capability for change, but other parts are slow to change," Alan Warren, formerly an executive at Google and now chief technology officer and senior vice president of engineering at insurance start-up Oscar Health, said in an interview with CNBC. "The insurer is at the heart of it and can force change to all the other parts, which is why I'm here." Most agree that in order to truly change things, the system needs transparency, especially when it comes to prices. In an interview with CNBC's Bertha Coombs, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma said unlike other parts of the economy, knowing how much things will cost in health care is a "a big mystery." Her administration wants to require hospitals to post prices for procedures online. "We have a long way to go," she said. People know things need to change. The question now is whether they can do it. "The lucky boots worked again," he wrote on both Twitter and Instagram. Bezos also tipped his hat to a special good luck charm of the company: A pair of worn, red and tan cowboy boots. "Huge kudos and thanks to the entire Blue Origin team," he tweeted April 29. After Jeff Bezos' space company Blue Origin successfully launched and landed its highest test flight of a reusable rocket yet on Sunday, the billionaire tweeted out congratulations to the company. The boots, emblazoned with the Latin phrase, "gradatim ferociter" have been a part of Bezos' wardrobe for Blue Origin launches since 2016. Tweeting after Blue Origin's successful launch of its New Shepard rocket in April of that year, Bezos explained that the boots were given as a gift from a friend. In June 2016, after the New Shepard rocket's fourth launch, he sported them again, tweeting, "Careful engineering plus of course the lucky boots. Successful mission." Tweet The cowboy boots may be a nod to Bezos' Texas roots, where he spent summers on his grandfather's ranch, working with cattle and repairing windmills. Today, Bezos owns over 300,000 acres of land in West Texas, according to The Wall Street Journal, and Blue Origin's testing base is on a 30,000 acre ranch outside of Van Horn, Texas. But the boots aren't just about luck or Texas fashion. The Latin phrase "gradatim ferociter" written down the side is Blue Origin's motto, and it symbolizes the company's approach to space flight, Bezos says. "It means step by step ferociously," Bezos said in an interview with Four Peaks TV in 2013. "Basically, you can't skip steps. You have to put one foot in front of the other. Things take time. There are no short cuts," he explained. Tweet While tackling projects one detail at a time may seem like a slow process, Bezos says the strategy is actually a way to avoid mistakes which boosts efficiency and saves time in the end. "If you're building a flying vehicle, you can't cut any corners," Bezos said at the 2016 Pathfinder Awards in Seattle. "If you do, it's going to be an illusion that it's going to make it faster." To reinforce that message, Blue Origin invokes yet another symbol: The tortoise. "Our mascot is the tortoise because we believe slow is smooth and smooth is fast," Bezos said at the awards show, showing off a pair of tortoise cuff links under his tuxedo. Indeed, according to Blue Origin's CEO, the company could send tourists to space by the end of 2018. Tweet There's also one more symbol that Bezos has explained the winged hourglass in the company crest. It's to remind employees to accomplish tasks with passion, he said. "We have the winged hourglass, which is a Victorian cemetery symbol that means time is fleeting. We don't have forever," Bezos said at the Pathfinder Awards. "You do it step by step, but you do it ferociously." Don't miss: Jeff Bezos worked at McDonald's when he was 16 here's what he learned Like this story? Like CNBC Make It on Facebook! J.P. Morgan Chase hired a veteran professor as head of artificial intelligence research as the investment bank prepares for wider adoption of automation. The bank said that Manuela Veloso, head of the machine learning department at Carnegie Mellon University, will join the New York-based bank to help identify opportunities to create programs that "could potentially transform financial services," according to a memo sent to employees Thursday. Firms are increasingly looking outside finance for experts to compete as fintech companies and established tech giants threaten to encroach on traditional banking businesses. About a third of J.P. Morgan's recent senior hires are from outside the industry, according to the lender. In a shareholder letter published last month, Co-president Daniel Pinto emphasized the push the company is making in technology, where the budget has increased to $10.8 billion for this year compared with $9.5 billion in 2017. He said the pace of change will hasten in the next few years as artificial intelligence and other technologies are implemented across financial services. "We are always exploring ways to offer our clients faster, better and simpler ways to do business with us,'' Pinto said in the letter. "The banks that don't invest will lose ground.'' A janitor in South Korea who discovered seven gold bars in a garbage bin could keep them if no-one else claims ownership. The unidentified male cleaner found the discarded gold bars, that each weighed 1 kilogram and were wrapped in newspaper, at Seoul's Incheon International Airport on Thursday, according to local media reports. Altogether, the bars are worth 350 million won ($325,000). The owner of the bullion is a Korean man, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency, and two other men ditched the bars at the request of the owner out of fear of being searched at customs. According to Yonhap, police said that the men were traveling from Hong Kong to Japan, and went through South Korea in the belief that it would be easier to bypass customs searches. Whether the owner makes a claim for the discarded gold or not, the janitor will still be able to keep 5 to 20 percent of its market price, amounting to between 17.5 million won ($16,250) and 70 million won ($65,000), in accordance with South Korean law, The Korea Times reported. But he could also lose it all if the items are found to be tainted or linked to criminal activity. Correction: This report has been updated to reflect a proper conversion of 350 million won into U.S. dollars. The European Commission proposed in late March changes to how digital businesses are taxed in the 28 member states of the EU. The Commission the EU's executive body said at the time that digital companies pay on average an effective tax rate of 9.5 percent compared to 23.2 percent for traditional businesses, which it said was not fair. "If a provisional taxation would lead to an escalation in the relationship with the main partners, and specifically with the United States, it would obviously be counterproductive, that's why I think the dialogue with the U.S. is so important," Pierre Gramegna told CNBC's Joumanna Bercetche Wednesday. Luxembourg's finance minister believes that Europe should consult with the United States before going ahead with any taxation plans on large digital firms like Google . It then went on to suggest that even an added digital tax of 3 percent could generate about 5 billion euros ($5.99 billion) in revenues per year. If implemented, the proposal would therefore mean that firms such as Google, Amazon and Facebook could face higher taxes in Europe. Amazon has its European base located in Luxembourg. European authorities have said that the United States has demonstrated willingness to discuss the issue. Gramegna added that there is a "consensus inside the European Union that we need to find a new model to address the issue of digital economy." "Where there is less consensus is how to approach that, because what is on the table now is recognized by all as being kind of a quick fix, a turnover tax, which has lots of disadvantages," he said. France, perhaps the most vigorous advocate of a digital tax, wants to see an agreement at the EU level by the end of the year. The issue has become even more relevant after controversies involving tech giants such as the recent data scandal involving Facebook and ahead of European elections in 2019. However, there are countries that are against Europe taking the lead on the issue, and would rather wait for a common agreement at the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) level. On Wednesday, Mandy Manning, an English and math teacher from Spokane, Washington, was recognized at the White House for being named 2018 National Teacher of the Year by the Council of Chief State School Officers. Manning brought some reading material for President Trump a stack of 45 letters from her immigrant and refugee students. The 19-year teaching veteran says that Trump accepted the letters graciously. Manning teaches English at the Newcomer Center at Joel E. Ferris High School, which serves students speaking 72 languages and aims to help immigrant and refugee students adjust to life in the United States. "A good education," the program's website states, "is the key to a successful life in America." The letters Manning brought chronicle her students' experiences coming to the United States from countries such as Syria, Iraq, Uganda, Burma and El Salvador. Manning tells The Washington Post that her students "felt it was important for the president to understand the really rigorous and difficult process and length of time it takes to come to the United States as a refugee." President Trump has previously made negative comments about immigrants and refugees, including a 2015 campaign speech in which he said that Mexican immigrants were "bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They're rapists. And some, I assume, are good people." In this speech he also said that the threats he associates with immigration were "coming from all over South and Latin America" as well as the Middle East. On April 26, Bill Cosby was found guilty of three counts of aggravated indecent assault for drugging and sexually assaulting former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. The verdict was the first legal victory of the #MeToo movement, considered by many to be a watershed moment for survivors of sexual assault, and the woman responsible was 35-year-old prosecutor Kristen Gibbons Feden. Feden, who worked on many sex crime trials as an assistant district attorney in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, delivered a closing argument that The New York Times argues would have become a "viral moment" had cameras been permitted in the courtroom. Prosecutor Kristen Gibbons Feden Photo courtesy of Getty Looking at 80-year-old Cosby from across the courtroom, Feden called the entertainer a "con artist" and shamed his lawyer, Kathleen Bliss, for her characterizations of the women testifying against Cosby as fame-seeking, promiscuous party girls. "I'm a very loud person, and I don't like seeing people get picked on," Feden told The New York Times. "I'm also a very emotional person. That can be a flaw, but it can also be used as a tool." Feden grew up in Willingboro, New Jersey, and attended law school at Temple University after working for two years as a financial analyst at Bloomberg in New York. While at Temple, she was a member of the Temple National Trial team and an editor for the Temple Political and Civil Rights Law Review. After graduating in 2009, Feden started her legal career as a clerk for Hon. Garrett D. Page, a Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas judge. In 2012, she joined the office of the Montgomery County district attorney, where she focused on sex crimes and elder abuse cases. It was in this role that she was assigned to work with District Attorney Kevin R. Steele on the case, which alleged that Cosby had sexually assaulted Constand in his home in 2004. The case first went to trial in June 2017. Feden delivered the opening statement, and the trial ended with a deadlocked jury and a mistrial. Three months later, Feden left the district attorney's office to join Philadelphia law firm Stradley Ronon, but took a leave from the firm to serve as a prosecutor in Cosby's retrial. Bill Sasso, chairman of the law firm, says he recruited Feden after she was featured on Philadelphia Business Journal's "40 Under 40" list. Special counsel Robert Mueller is focusing intensely on alleged interactions between former top Trump campaign official Rick Gates and political operative Roger Stone, one of President Donald Trump's closest confidants, according to sources with direct knowledge of the matter. Stone, a longtime advisor to Trump, is apparently one of the top subjects of the Mueller investigation into potential collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign, sources told CNBC on condition of anonymity. The questions have been largely about what was discussed at meetings, including dinners, between Stone and Gates, before and during the campaign, said the sources, who have knowledge of the substance of the recent interviews. In February, Gates pleaded guilty to two counts stemming from the Russia investigation, and he is cooperating with Mueller's probe. The new developments indicate that Mueller's team is interested in Stone beyond his interactions with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange during the campaign. An attorney for Stone, Robert Buschel, did not deny discussions took place between his client and Gates, but sought to downplay their importance. "Roger Stone did not have any substantive or meaningful interaction with Rick Gates during or leading up to the 2016 campaign," Buschel told CNBC in a statement. An attorney for Gates declined to comment. The special counsel's office declined to comment. The link between Gates and Stone goes back to their work at what had been one of the most powerful lobbying firms in Washington, which was founded by Stone along with former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. The special counsel's probe has yielded two indictments against Manafort, who is accused of several crimes, including bank fraud and conspiracy against the United States. Gates joined the firm as an intern more three decades ago, and it is unclear how much work he did with Stone at the time. Richard Gates, former associate to Paul Manafort, leaves the Prettyman Federal Courthouse after a hearing February 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Getty Images Amid questions over the electric car maker's cash burn, its relationship with SpaceX and production of the Model 3, Musk cut off the questioners and in some cases chastised them for asking things he didn't like. It's anything but the normally amiable affairs between the CEO and those who follow his company closest. " Tesla' s 1Q18 analyst conference call was arguably the most unusual call I have experienced in 20 years on the sell-side," Adam Jonas, equity analyst at Morgan Stanley, said in a note to clients. "Many investors we spoke with post the call agree." Elon Musk 's peculiar post-earnings call was the talk of the market Thursday morning, with one analyst ranking it among the strangest moments of his career. He dismissed one question from a key analyst as "boring," then took more than 20 minutes of questioning from a 25-year-old YouTuber. "We're going to go to YouTube. Sorry. These questions are so dry. They're killing me," Musk complained. And that wasn't all. "We asked about the scope of collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX on data, to which Mr. Musk said, 'there are many areas for us to collaborate haven't really thought about it,'" Jonas said. "A surprising answer from someone who launched a Tesla Roadster into outer space on a SpaceX rocket." The fallout from the call has not been good. Tesla shares fell more than 7 percent in premarket trading Thursday as the impact of Musk's evasiveness sank in. The impact was felt across the sector, with tech shares overall pointing lower. It was about more than just comity between CEOs and analysts. Jonas said there are important questions about where Tesla is heading, considering the high levels of company debt and questions about the ability to meet production expectations. "While the consequences are unquantifiable, we believe Tesla's CEO made a mistake in refusing to answer some of the analyst questions about the Model 3 ramp," he wrote. "Additionally, we found the posture out of character with the normally inviting, enlightening tone of prior conference calls over many years. While they may be 'dry' in nature, we argue such questions are extremely important for a highly levered and cash hungry company with 2025 bonds trading at 89." The "path of the Model 3" is critical to the analyst's bull case of $561 for the stock and bear case of $175, he said. The bull case represents 86 percent upside while the bear case would translate to a 41 percent decline. As things stand, Morgan Stanley has a $376 price target on Tesla, which would be 25 percent higher from Wednesday's close. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Friday morning, Musk did take to Twitter, but not with anything resembling an apology. He explained that the analysts he attacked on the call don't represent investors but short sellers and the "short thesis" was behind their questions. Lukomnik at investor watchdog IRRC expressed some sympathy for Musk's frustration with questions about issues like quarterly gross margin. He said more CEOs should work to change the narrative and focus on the "strategic pan," and "investors could help by asking those types of questions, but right now the general dynamic is a short-term 'did you meet your quarter, what is guidance?'" But Musk, having over-promised and under-delivered on key milestones while burning cash, isn't the best CEO to play that "strategic pan" role right now. The truth is, even though Tesla's 2010 IPO was considered a success, there's a part of Tesla management that still regrets having to go public. Comments given over the years by Tesla CFO Deepak Ahuja illustrate how the company feels about the quarterly dance. Speaking last year to an audience in India, he said, "An IPO is just a milestone in the journey; it's not the end at all. It just makes life difficult. You've got to start delivering every quarter, which is quite painful compared to having slightly longer term strategy and vision and the right investors who go along with that ride." Ahuja also explained why the company went public. "It was the best way to get capital at the lowest cost possible." Ahuja explained that unlike most Silicon Valley start-ups, being an automotive company means having an asset-intensive, brick-and-mortar business model that venture capitalists aren't likely to back. "We knew we needed billions of dollars, and no VC in the Valley was going to give us even $100 million, because they're just not used to funding brick-and-mortar companies like Tesla." Morgan Stanley's research team issued its own statement of annoyance: "While they may be 'dry' in nature, we argue such questions are extremely important for a highly levered and cash hungry company with 2025 bonds trading at 89. ... Feedback we have received from investors during and following the call support this view. ... an important part of Tesla's success has been its relationship with the capital markets in funding its ambitious plans. The analysts on the call represent the providers of capital that Tesla has throughout its history depended upon." The shorts which recently ratcheted up short interest in Tesla to 30 percent of its publicly available shares are smelling blood. Some of the things Musk said are good reminders about long-term investing for individuals: "The problem is that people get too focused on what is happening in the space of a few weeks, or a few months. It is an old maxim of investing: You should not be focused on short-term things, you should be focused on long-term things." "We have no interest in satisfying the desires of day traders, we could care less please sell our stock, don't buy it." " If people are concerned about volatility, they should definitely not buy our stock. ... D o not buy it if volatility is scary." All true, but better said by a Warren Buffett or Jack Bogle when preaching the benefits of investing in broad index funds, not a single, highly levered stock that recently saw its bonds downgraded by Moody's and its credit situation switched from "stable" to "negative." Tesla is not even the Tesla version of an index fund. There remain many things about Tesla that the Larry Finks of the world like. Fink didn't stop writing letters after his 2016 missive on long-term investing. Last year Fink wrote a letter calling on all investors to support corporations that promote social change. "Increasingly, ownership lies with index funds and others who express their opinions through engagement, proxy voting and other stewardship tools, rather than buying and selling," IRRC's Lukomnik said. "But the ethos of the calls hasn't changed to meet the needs of these universal owners, who may, in fact, have a longer-term perspective. For example, ESG/sustainability issues rarely get mentioned. Yet you see the Blackrocks and State Streets of the world saying they care about those issues as active owners." Musk and Ahuja are trying to accomplish a lot more than your average index fund or ETF, or Silicon Valley start-up. "There has been no successful American car company in 100 years, and then to make it an electric car company in California that is vertically integrated in its manufacturing, and wants to challenge the dealership network, and do its own sales and service; that's an incredibly hard thing to take on." But once you take the money, to expect to be able to run is, even for Musk, asking for too much credit. More from ETF Spotlight: Saudi Arabia and Egypt are the world's best ETF markets in 2018 Gundlach's new energy ETF bet could be a gusher Many investors already think there will be no gain this quarter Barclays upgraded Nvidia to overweight on Thursday, citing swelling demand for semiconductors over the next several years and conceding to investors that it was behind the times on the company. "We obviously are late to the party after two substantial years of outperformance but after taking a clean look at the AI landscape, we believe Nvidia is an overweight," analyst Blayne Curtis wrote in a note. "Once again, ecosystem does matter and we believe that Nvidia has out a large moat around certain markets, like autos, and aims to create a similar ecosystem in robots," he added. The company's stock is up 117 percent in the past 12 months through Wednesday compared with the S&P 500's 10.3 percent gain. That performance ranks No. 2 in the entire S&P 500. The shares are down 11 percent from its high on March 13. The stock is up 2.7 percent Thursday. Curtis also bumped his price target on the stock to $280, implying 23 percent upside over the next 12 months. The stock opened slightly higher on Thursday. While the need for chips will likely scale over several years as more firms integrate AI platforms, the analyst noted that the company is likely seeing growth in its gaming segments thanks to new massive multiplayer online games in 2018 including Fortnite. Nvidia is expected to launch new Volta chip-based graphics cards considered the company's next big step in the video games space later this year, a release many on Wall Street think could carry profits higher. "As opposed to last year's lack of gaming launches, 2018 has already brought on titles like PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds and Fortnite, which are driving a revitalized cycle in gaming communities," Curtis said. "Nvidia is also gaining share, which should be bolstered by the launch of Volta later this year and should have plenty of runway." Since the dramatic and unprecedented advances in production and manufacturing of the Industrial Revolution from the late 1700s to the early 1900s, humans have been digging up coal, oil and gas for energy. Except for the introduction of nuclear power based on uranium in the 1950s and 60s, nothing has changed. Today, coal, oil and gas remain the primary sources of energy, fueling human activities around the world. But the recent and rapid decline in prices of alternative energy sources like wind and solar, and the plunging cost to store them presage a very different future on the horizon one in which fossil fuels go the way of the dinosaurs, and where in the next 10 years we will see more changes to the energy industry than we have seen in the past 100. To begin, America only recently achieved its position as the largest producer of oil and gas; a rise made possible by hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort (L) arrives at a federal courthouse with his attorney Kevin Downing, November 2, 2017 in Washington, DC. Special counsel Robert Mueller asked a judge Thursday to issue 70 blank subpoenas that will be used to compel the appearance of witnesses at the upcoming criminal trial of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. The request comes a week after a judge tossed out a civil lawsuit filed by Manafort that had challenged Mueller's authority. Manafort is charged with tax crimes and bank fraud in the federal case set to begin trial July 10 in Alexandria, Va. The alleged crimes are related to work he did on behalf of a political party in Ukraine that leaned toward Russia, as well for as former Ukraine president Viktor Yanukovych. Manafort faces an even broader array of charges pending in a separate but related case in Washington, D.C., where he is scheduled to go on trial in September. The names of the people expected to be subpoenaed for appearance at trial were not revealed. In addition to a blank space for their names, also left blank was the section that instructs them to "bring with you the following documents, electronically stored information, or objects." Manafort's co-defendant, Rick Gates, pleaded guilty in February to the reduced charges of one count of conspiracy against the United States and a single count of making a false statement. Gates also worked on the Trump campaign. Manafort and Gates are just one of a number of people targeted by Mueller, who was originally tasked with investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Ivanka Trump is also a senior presidential adviser. "Jared is a fine man, you know that," the former New York mayor said. "Men are disposable." "But a fine woman like Ivanka? Come on." Tweet "'Ivanka Trump? I think I would get on my charger and go right into ... their offices with a lance if they go after Ivanka," the former federal prosecutor said of Mueller's team. Giuliani also predicted that "the whole country will turn on," Mueller if the special counsel went after the president's daughter. Mueller is investigating Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, as well as possible collusion by Trump campaign officials. Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York Anthony Behar | Bloomberg | Getty Images In June 2016, Trump's son Donald Jr., Kushner and then-campaign chief Paul Manafort met with a Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, at Trump Tower in New York. Donald Trump Jr. accepted the meeting with Veselnitskaya after he was told she had incriminating information about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who was running for president against his father. Veselnitskaya told NBC News this year that after she left that meeting and was waiting for an elevator, she exchanged pleasantries with a woman she believed was Ivanka Trump. A source familiar with the meeting told NBC News that it was in fact Ivanka Trump. The Los Angeles Times reported in January that Mueller's investigators are interested in the Russian lawyer's encounter with Ivanka. The arrest of two black men in a Philadelphia Starbucks doesn't appear to be having an effect on the coffee chain's ability to hire workers, its COO told CNBC on Thursday. More than 5,000 applicants showed up to a hiring fair on Thursday where 20 companies were recruiting, including Starbucks, Rosalind Brewer said. "If this is any indication, we don't think there's any problems," she told CNBC's Kate Rogers in an interview on "Power Lunch." The video of the arrest went viral last month, touching off a furor around the U.S. over racial profiling. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were led away in handcuffs after the manager called the police, saying the men refused to buy anything or leave. After spending hours in jail, they were released and no charges were filed. The men said they were waiting for a business meeting about a potential real estate deal. On Wednesday, Nelson and Robinson settled with the city for a symbolic $1 each. They also received a promise from officials to set up a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs. "The footage was alarming. No one ever wants to see that. And me in particular, I have a 23-year-old son. So it was deeply personal," said Brewer, who is the first female and first African-American to serve as chief operating officer of Starbucks. CEO Kevin Johnson has apologized for the incident and after the settlement was reached thanked the two men for "their willingness to reconcile." "I welcome the opportunity to begin a relationship with them to share learnings and experiences. And Starbucks will continue to take actions that stem from this incident to repair and reaffirm our values and vision for the kind of company we want to be," Johnson said in a statement Wednesday. Last week, he told CNBC the arrests and the calls for boycotts did not affect Starbucks' April sales. Brewer said the company is "pleased" about where it is now and where it plans to go. "This wasn't one of our best moments but one thing that I can tell you personally is that I'm so proud that this company already had such a great foundation," she said. "We have the ability to start a national conversion." And the work won't stop just at Starbucks, Brewer noted. "We want to partner with other companies, we want to improve things in the city of Philadelphia. And we're very optimistic about that." The company plans to close Starbucks stores on May 29 for racial-bias training. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Correction: Over 5,000 applicants showed up to a hiring fair where 20 companies were recruiting, including Starbucks. An earlier version mischaracterized the number of applicants. Check out the companies making headlines before the bell: Cigna The health insurer beat forecasts with adjusted quarterly profit of $4.11 per share, well above the consensus estimate of $3.39 a share. Revenue also beat forecasts as more customers enrolled in Cigna health plans, and the company also raised its full-year forecast. Becton Dickinson The maker of medical products came in 2 cents a share ahead of estimates, with earnings of $2.65 per share. The company also beat on the top line and Becton raised its full-year earnings forecast. Regeneron Pharmaceuticals The drugmaker reported adjusted quarterly profit of $4.67 per share, versus a consensus estimate of $4.35 a share. Revenue came in slightly above estimates, with results helped by a 15 percent increase in U.S. sales of the company's injectable eye drug Eylea. Logitech The maker of computer peripheral devices beat estimates on the top and bottom lines with its latest earnings, and Logitech said it would be able to maintain that upward momentum after reporting record annual sales. Kraft Heinz Kraft Heinz reported adjusted quarterly profit of 89 cents per share, 7 cents a share above estimates. Revenue was essentially in line with expectations. The food producer was able to raise prices to combat higher commodity costs and also benefited from tax reform. DowDuPont The company beat estimates by 2 cents a share, with adjusted quarterly profit of $1.12 per share. Revenue also beat forecasts. Weakness in agriculture was offset by strong demand for packing, materials, and other products, as well as higher prices. KKR The private-equity firm reported better-than-expected profit, boosted its stock buyback authorization by $500 million, and announced it was converting from a partnership to a corporation following the tax reform legislation that lowered corporate tax rates. Blue Apron The meal service kit provider did see lower-than-expected revenue for the first quarter, but it also had a smaller-than-expected loss and added customers during the quarter. Teva Pharmaceutical Teva earned an adjusted 94 cents per share for its latest quarter, exceeding estimates of 67 cents a share. The drugmaker's revenue beat forecasts as well, and it also raised its full-year forecast. Tesla Tesla lost $3.35 per share for its latest quarter, smaller than the $3.58 per share loss that analysts had anticipated. The automaker's revenue beat forecasts, as well. However, its overall quarterly loss was its largest ever, and its free cash flow widened to negative $1 billion from negative $277 million in the prior quarter. Square Square reported an in-line quarter with adjusted quarterly earnings of 6 cents per share, and the mobile payments processor saw revenue beat estimates. However, product development and marketing costs jumped by nearly half over a year earlier. General Motors GM said it is working with design software maker Autodesk to manufacturer 3D-printed auto parts. Fitbit Fitbit lost 17 cents per share for its latest quarter, 2 cents a share smaller than the 19 cent loss anticipated by Wall Street analysts. The wearable fitness device maker saw revenue beat estimates, but Fitbit also gave weaker-than-expected current-quarter guidance. 3M 3M was upgraded to "outperform" from "sector perform" at RBC Capital, which calls the consumer products maker a high-quality company at a relatively attractive valuation. Express Scripts Express Scripts reported adjusted quarterly profit of $1.77 per share, coming in a penny a share ahead of estimates. The pharmacy benefit manager's revenue was essentially in line with estimates. Express Scripts also said it expects its planned takeover by Cigna to be completed by the end of the year. AIG AIG earned an adjusted $1.04 per share for the first quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.27 a share. The miss came as the insurer continues efforts to turn around its property-casualty business insurance unit. Spotify Spotify posted worse-than-expected results in its first quarterly report as a public company, with the music streaming service's paid subscription numbers below forecasts as well. Sprint Sprint earned 2 cents per share for the first quarter, compared to consensus forecasts of a 7 cent per share loss. The wireless carrier's revenue also beat forecasts. Sprint named CEO Marcelo Claure executive chairman, with chief financial officer Michel Combes moving into the CEO job. FireEye FireEye lost 4 cents per share for the first quarter, matching forecasts, while the cybersecurity company's revenue beat estimates. It also gave upbeat revenue guidance as it implements a shift to a subscription-based model. Salesforce.com Salesforce was upgraded to "market perform" from "underperform" at Bernstein, which thinks the business software company's revenue growth will overshadow concerns about margins and overall profit over the next few years. Of all the countries in the world to go completely cashless, Sweden could be the first. It's already considered to be the most cashless society in the world. More Swedes have access to a payment card than to cash, according to data from the country's central bank, the Riksbank. And the overwhelming majority of the nation 85 percent have access to online banking. The Scandinavian country has seen the circulation of notes and coins as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) drop year after year, as Swedes make less withdrawals and look to digital methods of paying for things, like cards and mobile. Just 2 percent of the total value of transactions in Sweden consist of cash, and this is expected to decline to less than half a percent by 2020, according to research by Capgemini and BNP Paribas. The situation has gotten to a stage where the central bank has had to warn on the rapid rate at which physical cash is being phased out of Swedes' lives. Earlier this year, Riksbank Governor Stefan Ingves said that a completely cashless society would mean a small number of commercial players being responsible for all payments in Sweden, posing a threat to the infrastructure for payments. A cashless Sweden could be unprepared if faced with a crisis, he added. Demand for cash would likely increase in a crisis situation, the Riksbank said, but with less notes and coins in circulation, supply would be restrained. Another problem is that some people in Sweden have little to no access to digital payment services and some don't want to go digital. "Our own starting point really is that we provide notes and coins to the society to the extent that society wants to use our version of money versus other versions of money as long as it is safe and efficient," Cecilia Skingsley, deputy governor of Riksbank, told CNBC in a phone interview. "But we have noticed this rapid development, we have noticed that there are a number of people and there a number of situations and their geographies where cash is absolutely vital." Elderly people and refugees are among those that would need access to physical cash even if the overwhelming majority of the country don't, Skingsley said. Sweden could eventually "reach a situation where legal tender is no longer an efficient medium of exchange for commercial transactions and that it is a situation that no other country has been in before," Skingsley said. As student debt grows, so do the plans to squelch it. Some of the ideas are pretty creative: New Jersey, for example, is considering establishing a lottery for borrowers burdened by student debt. Other ways of garnering money to eliminate your education debt don't rely on luck, but rather require rolling up your sleeves or knowing historical facts. Keep in mind, however, that these endeavors aren't free aid. The funds are taxable, even money from an organization in return for volunteer work. "All money you receive for volunteering or win on a trivia app or lottery is considered income by the IRS," said Mark Kantrowitz, a student loan expert. Here are some of the ways to get other people to pay off your debt. 1) At your job Currently, just 4 percent of employers offer student debt assistance. But that's changing as more employers come to realize education debt is a problem for many of their workers, said Katie Berliner, account executive at YouDecide, a benefits firm. "In order to attract and retain talent, employers are looking at offering contributions to people's student loans," Berliner said. Companies that have offered their employees help with their student loans include Aetna, Penguin Random House, Nvidia and Staples. Fidelity announced this week that 25 employers including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, New York Air Brake and Millennium Trust plan to implement its student debt employer contribution program, with 9,000 employees expected to enroll by the end of June. (Fidelity also offers a student debt benefit for its own employees.) "Do a quick Google search and find the employers who are out there doing this," Berliner said. Most likely the company you're interviewing with won't offer the benefit, but that shouldn't stop you from asking about it, Berliner said. "In the course of the interview, there comes a point where the interviewer says, 'Do you have any questions?'" Berliner said. "It would not be out of line to say: 'I want to get your perspective on whether you think this a valuable benefit.'" 2) By volunteering Excluding expenses for stock-based compensation and other items, Tesla lost $3.35 per share. Revenue rose to $3.41 billion from $2.7 billion a year ago, and outpaced an estimate of $3.22 billion. "Elon, you've got to grow up. You've got to stop looking at shiny objects and you've got to get on track," she added. "Excuse me, next, next. Boring, bonehead questions are not cool," Tesla CEO Elon Musk told analysts Wednesday after a question about his company's capital requirements. The automaker had just posted its worst quarterly loss in its history. Another analyst asked what percentage of Tesla 3 reservation holders have started to configure options for their cars an important indicator of how much profit Tesla will be able to wring from the vehicles. "We're going to go to YouTube. These questions are so dry. They're killing me," Musk said, before pivoting to take questions from a Tesla enthusiast and Youtuber named Gali Russell. After-hours trading implied a loss of more than $2 billion dollars from Tesla's market capitalization by the end of the analyst call. The call frustrated Wall Street and auto industry analysts, who were seeking clarity on Tesla's high cash burn rate and elusive Model 3 production targets, which will determine the viability and profitability of the celebrated electric carmaker. "I just left the call very frustrated," Rebecca Lindland, executive analyst at Kelley Blue Book told CNBC's "Squawk Box." "Elon, you've got to grow up. You've got to stop looking at shiny objects and you've got to get on track," she said. "You have to take analyst questions, adult analyst questions, not fanboys, not retail analysts." Excluding expenses for stock-based compensation and other items, Tesla lost $3.35 per share. Revenue rose to $3.41 billion from $2.7 billion a year ago, and outpaced an estimate of $3.22 billion. Tesla said it produced 2,270 Model 3s per week in the last week of April. It said net reservations for the Model 3, including configured orders not yet delivered, exceeded 450,000 at the end of the first quarter. "They're still struggling on the manufacturing side, and that translates directly into cash burn problems," D.R. Barton, chief technical analyst at Money Morning, told CNBC's "The Rundown." "It is a well-made and engineered car. I think the problem is, it's not engineered for manufacturing simplicity and that's going to continue to plague them through the lifecycle of that car," he said. SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Joe Skipper | Reuters Lindland expressed a similar sentiment. "This is automotive production. This is hard. It's complicated and it's not something that nobody's done before," she added. The company stood by a previously announced target of building 5,000 Model 3s per week by the end of June, and insisted it can turn a profit in the second half of the year. Nevertheless, Barton is bearish on the stock. "I would have to see a complete turnaround in the manufacturing process and the numbers that we're seeing out of the Model 3. If we get to see that, then we would be able to at least take that short off, but I think absent that, we are going to continue to see them struggle," he said. Capital raise coming? [The stream is slated to start at 11 a.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] President Donald Trump is set to give remarks at the National Day of Prayer at the White House Thursday. The event comes on the heels of Trump's statements on Twitter Thursday morning, when he acknowledged that his lawyer, Michael Cohen, was reimbursed for a $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement barring her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump. He maintained, however, that the allegations of an affair were false. Donald Trump tweet 1 Donald Trump tweet 2 Donald Trump tweet 3 Cohen had previously said that he made the payment with his own money. Trump, asked by reporters on April 5, denied knowing about the payment. Trump's tweets were precipitated by a series of bombshell interviews from former New York mayor and U.S. attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's legal team. Giuliani said the payment was "funneled through a law firm, and the president repaid it" in an interview on Fox News Wednesday evening. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, sued Trump and Cohen in March to break free of her hush agreement, arguing that it was never valid because Trump himself never signed it. In April, the porn star sued Trump for defamation after the president sent a tweet accusing her of pulling a "con job" over the media. President Donald Trump gestures while addressing a joint news conference with Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, U.S., April 30, 2018. Asia's emerging economies have a lot at stake if President Donald Trump delivers on his threat to slap tariffs on up to $150 billion worth of Chinese goods. That was a major concern expressed by experts at the Asian Development Bank's annual gathering in Manila Thursday. Later that day, a U.S. delegation heads to Beijing in what will be the first formal negotiation session since the world's two largest economies announced plans for tit-for-tat tariffs. Southeast Asian nations are seen as vulnerable to Trump's tariffs because they are a significant contributor to Chinese exports that are headed stateside. "Across Asia, there is a deep regional value chain So, trade tensions between the U.S. and China will have a spill over effect through this value chain," Cyn-Young Park, director for regional cooperation and integration at the Asian Development Bank's economic research and regional cooperation department told CNBC. In a nutshell, this production network involves Southeast Asian countries providing intermediate, i.e. semi-finished goods and raw materials to China, which it then assembles into a final product to be exported to the West. Take the faceoff in Beijing this week between Trump's trade-policy team and its Chinese counterparts. Threatening tariffs, the Trump administration is pressing for increased access to Chinese markets, reduced protection for Chinese exporters and greater protection for American intellectual property. But for the economy overall including big swaths of Trump country trade policy veterans of past Republican administrations say the challenge now is limiting damage in the form of disrupted supply chains, higher prices and lost jobs. Trump has launched, but not landed, various trade initiatives: withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, protective tariffs on steel and aluminum, confrontation with China and renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement. The details remain unresolved, and they may well produce discrete benefits for some U.S. businesses and workers. President Donald Trump is shaking up trade policy just as he promised, with one exception: the part about the "better deal" for the American economy. But Trump hobbled his team's ability to extract concessions long before these meetings. First, he withdrew the U.S. from the TPP, which was initiated by President George W. Bush and negotiated by President Barack Obama as a means of linking Pacific nations to create a counterweight to China's power. More recently, Trump alienated allies such as Canada and the European Union by threatening to apply tariffs on steel and aluminum to them as well as China. That creates double-barreled problems for U.S. business. With Trump this week deferring decisions on the scope of tariffs, and the EU and China threatening retaliation, uncertainty hangs over business purchasing and investment decisions. China has already imposed new tariffs on American sorghum, a blow to farmers in Kansas, and threatened similar steps against soybeans and other agricultural products that would hit Trump-friendly voters elsewhere in the Midwest. Whatever the administration decides, recent history points toward net negative economic efforts. Analyses of steel tariffs imposed by Bush found they created fewer jobs in steel production than they destroyed through higher prices for steel-consuming industries. The Trump administration wields the possibility of tariffs on Canada and Mexico as leverage to achieve U.S. goals in a renegotiated NAFTA. As the president warns of scrapping the existing deal, representatives of all sides report rising prospects that they'll reach a new one. The good economic news from such a deal is that it would modernize an agreement struck before the digital revolution turned commerce upside down. The bad news? Modernization had been agreed upon before Trump took office as part of TPP, and now it may come with new provisions counterproductive for U.S. business overall. "Trump created a crisis for NAFTA in order to appeal to his protectionist constituencies," said Robert Zoellick, Bush's U.S. trade representative. "The priorities of his rewrite, if Canada and Mexico agree, are supposed to restrict North American trade and investment, not boost our competitiveness with the world." One priority is changing "rules of origin" to require that a higher proportion of North American cars be produced within the U.S. Zoellick said that objective comes with rules on inputs and wage rates "that would appeal to a central planner from the old days." That worries the auto and auto parts industries, along with the lawmakers who speak for them in Congress. Record-keeping requirements and disruption to existing supply chains, they warn, could outweigh the benefits of avoiding U.S. tariffs and lead manufacturers to shift production elsewhere and increase reliance on automation. The administration also wants a "sunset" allowing the U.S. to exit a new NAFTA after five years. While that appeals to a president who built a reality television career around the words "you're fired," it undercuts the predictability corporations need for long-term planning. "The climate it creates stops investment," said Carla Hills, trade representative under President George H.W. Bush. "We look like we no longer have reliability." Trump's strategy for pursuing a new NAFTA adds another danger. The administration has discussed scuttling the existing agreement at the same time it submits a new one to Congress. The idea would be pressuring reluctant lawmakers to vote yes. But that poses the risk of calamitous economic disruption if a White House with limited success on Capitol Hill fails to gather and accurately count the necessary votes. Achieving a new NAFTA would still leave the administration with lost economic ground to make up. By scuttling TPP, Trump sacrificed market-opening steps for U.S. businesses in Japan and Vietnam, among other countries. As a result, the president has suggested the possibility of shifting course and belatedly joining TPP. Hills, a Cabinet member in two Republican administrations, hopes the administration can at least pull off a modernized NAFTA. But, she said, "we've got a lot to worry about." Correction: An earlier version misstated the length of a "sunset" clause that would allow the U.S. to exit a new NAFTA. It's five years. President Donald Trump has all but decided to withdraw from the Iran nuclear accord by the end of next week but exactly how he will do so remains unclear, Reuters reported, citing two White House officials and a source familiar with the matter. Trump repaid his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a hush payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, according to Rudy Giuliani, one of the lawyers representing the president in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe. (CNBC) * Giuliani: Trump fired Comey because he wouldn't tell him he wasn't a target (CNBC) * Donald Trump acknowledges Stormy Daniels payment, denies affair or use of campaign money (CNBC) The White House said Ty Cobb is leaving as the lead lawyer representing Trump in the ongoing probe by the special counsel. He will be replaced by Emmet Flood, the man who represented President Bill Clinton during his impeachment. (CNBC) The president, in a late Wednesday tweet, hinted that three American prisoners held in North Korea may win their release. North Korea could release them before or during a summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un. (USA Today) Brazil said it has not reached an agreement with the Trump administration to permanently exempt it from punitive steel and aluminum tariffs despite the White House claiming it had reached a preliminary deal, The New York Times reported. * It appears China has stopped buying soybeans from the US altogether because of trade fight (Bloomberg) Goldman Sachs is moving ahead with plans to set up what appears to be the first bitcoin trading operation at a Wall Street bank. A team is looking at whether it can get regulatory approval and how to deal with additional risks associated with virtual currency. (NY Times) The two black men arrested for sitting in a Starbucks (SBUX) without ordering anything last month have settled with the city for a symbolic $1 each and a promise from officials to set up a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs. (AP) Amazon (AMZN) halted a plan for a new office building in Seattle and might sub-lease rather than occupy another future tower downtown. That's pending a city council vote on a proposed tax on top businesses. (Reuters) Cambridge Analytica, the political research firm caught in a whirlwind of Facebook (FB) privacy and data collection allegations in recent months, announced it is shutting down. The firm said the "siege of media coverage" drove away clients. (CNBC) [The stream is slated to start at 2:30 p.m. ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is set to field reporters' questions at the White House Thursday, in her first briefing since President Donald Trump reversed himself and acknowledged reimbursing his lawyer for paying hush money to a porn star. Trump, asked by reporters about the hush deal in April, denied knowledge of the payment. Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, previously claimed that he paid $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels with his own money, and that he was not paid back. The payment came in October 2016 as part of a nondisclosure agreement meant to stop her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has filed a lawsuit against Trump and Cohen to void the deal, arguing that it was never validated because Trump never signed it. In a series of interviews Wednesday, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, a recent hire to the president's legal team, torpedoed Trump and Cohen's earlier claims about the payment. In a Fox News interview, Giuliani said "the president repaid" Cohen for the payment to Daniels. Giuliani also told the New York Times that Cohen's reimbursement was delivered in $35,000 increments beginning after the campaign ended, which totaled up to $470,000. Trump acknowledged the payment in a trio of tweets Thursday morning. Donald Trump tweet 1 Donald Trump tweet 2 Donald Trump tweet 3 The White House warned China Thursday of "consequences" for its ongoing militarization of the hotly contested waters of the South China Sea. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders issued the warning while she was responding to a question regarding CNBC's report that China had installed missile systems on outposts in the Spratly Islands, which are two-thirds of the way east from southern Vietnam to the southern Philippines. "We're well-aware of China's militarization of the South China Sea," Sanders told reporters. "There will be near-term and long-term consequences." The Pentagon also weighed in on the development. "We have been very vocal about our concerns about them militarizing these artificial islands," Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White said. "China has to realize that they have benefited from the free navigation of the sea and the U.S. Navy has been the guarantor of that." Trader Joe's bananas, priced at 19 cents each, are famous for being one of the best deals at the retailer and have even been the topic of conversation on Reddit threads. But the story behind the unique way the retailer sells its affordable bananas (by the piece, not by the pound) is not only surprising, it also teaches a valuable business lesson. In a recent episode of the grocery chain's new five-installment podcast, "Inside Trader Joe's," the company's chairman and CEO, Dan Bane, recalls that they used to sell bananas by the pound, "like everybody else." Since they don't have scales in the store, they would weigh and pre-package them for customers, with the smallest bag you could buy containing around four or five bananas. Bane remembers being in a Trader Joe's store when a conversation with a customer sparked the change in the way the produce is sold. "I was watching [shoppers] in Sun City, [Arizona], which was near a retirement complex," he explains. "Customer nice little lady customer comes up and she looks at all the packages but didn't put one in her cart. And so I asked her, I said, 'Ma'am, if you don't mind me asking, I saw you looking at the bananas but you didn't...put anything in your cart.' "And she says to me, 'Sonny, I may not live to that fourth banana,'" Dane recalls. "And so we decided the next day we were going to sell individual bananas. And they've been 19 cents ever since," Bane says. It's a brilliant lesson in business and in leadership: Listen to your customers. Growth in Dubai's aviation sector has been "phenomenal" but its modest infrastructure means significant investment is still needed, the chief executive of Dubai Airports told CNBC. "Over the last 10 years, the traffic growth has been phenomenal," Paul Griffiths, chief executive of Dubai Airports, told CNBC's Hadley Gamble Monday. Griffiths said Dubai's International Airport the third busiest airport in the world by total passenger traffic had "relatively modest infrastructure over a relatively small airfield" yet was still managing to get the passenger traffic that "is beating all of the global records." "We're growing faster than the other two airports in the world that are slightly larger than us in (terms of) total passenger throughput, Atlanta and Beijing, and we're catching them up very, very rapidly," he said. Dubai Airports owns and manages the operation and development of both of Dubai's airports Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC). Passenger throughput the number of passengers passing through these airports is expected to hit 90 million in Dubai this year after a period of growth, Griffiths said. "We have tripled our annual passenger through-puts since 2007. So the thing is that as we go forward we've got to find ways of using the current infrastructure more effectively and efficiently. Currently, our traffic for this year is looking to meet our expectations, around 90 million (passenger through-puts) and actually the growth for 2019 is looking pretty good," he said. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun introduces Surge S1 chipset, Mi 5C smartphone and Redmi 4X smartphone during a press conference on February 28, 2017 in Beijing, China VCG | Getty Images Xiaomi, a Chinese consumer electronics company, went public on Monday. The listing raised $23.97 billion Hong Kong dollars ($3.05 billion) and valued the company at around $54 billion, making it one of the largest IPOs since Alibaba in New York in 2014. Despite its size, you'd be forgiven for not knowing anything about Xiaomi. Many of its products have not been available outside of China until recently. So here's a rundown of Xiaomi. What does Xiaomi do? Xiaomi started life in 2010 selling smartphones. Its unique selling point was high-quality devices with top of the range specs, but at lower prices than competitors. It has grown to be the fourth-biggest smartphone player globally. Xiaomi rose rapidly to become, at one point, the biggest smartphone player in China. The company struggled in 2016, amid tougher competition from other Chinese low-cost players, but eventually began to expand into new areas. Now it offers a variety of products, including smart TVs, speakers that rival the likes of Amazon Echo, Wi-Fi routers, appliances, air and water purifiers, and lighting. It's all part of its strategy to make the smartphone the center of a connected device ecosystem. Xiaomi's smartphones run a version of Google's Android operating system that has been modified. The company calls it MIUI. And with this, it is trying to push its own services, including music and video streaming. It also makes money from its own mobile games, and from advertising too. Because of its strategy, Xiaomi has often been dubbed the "Apple of China." How much money does Xiaomi make? Xiaomi makes money from sales of its devices and services. In its IPO filing, Xiaomi showed its financials from the past few years. Revenue grew over 67 percent year-on-year in 2017 to 114.6 billion yuan ($18 billion). Xiaomi made a net loss of 43.9 billion yuan in 2017, down from the 491.6 million profit it made in 2016. The company attributes this to the issuance of preferred shares to investors. But operating profit has been climbing over the years. While the company has continued to diversify its business, smartphones still account for over 70 percent of total revenue. But this is down from over 80 percent in 2015. Meanwhile, in the same period internet of things (IOT) and lifestyle products have increased their share of revenues from 13 percent to 20.5 percent. This highlights the company is trying to expand into new areas. Internet services, however, makes up less than 10 percent. Xiaomi also still makes 72 percent of revenue from China and 28 percent from the rest of the world. It began expanding into new markets including India a few years ago, but is beginning to enter Western markets too. Wang Xiang, the head of Xiaomi's international business, told CNBC in an interview earlier this year, that the company would eventually be in the U.S. How does Xiaomi stack up to Apple and Samsung? Xiaomi is the fourth-largest smartphone player by market share. In 2017, it sold 91.4 million smartphones, according to its IPO filing. Here's how it stacks up to Apple, Samsung and Huawei, another Chinese brand. It tries to compete on price. The average selling price of a Xiaomi smartphone is 881.3 yuan or $138.40. That is significantly lower than Apple's average selling price of $688 in 2017, and Samsung's at $230 in the same year, according to Counterpoint Research. Xiaomi's highest priced phone is called the Mi MIX 2S and starts at 3,299 yuan or $518, way below the $999 starting price of Apple's iPhone X, and the $840 for Samsung's Galaxy S9 Plus. Lei Jun, the CEO of Xiaomi, has committed the company to making more more than 5 percent on hardware net profit margins. Instead, it wants to make money from services. The Chinese firm has a significantly lower operating margin. In 2017, this was 10.7 percent. In the first quarter of 2018, Apple reported an operating margin of 38.3 percent, while Samsung's was 47.3 percent. Samsung is helped by high margins on its semiconductor business. On the services front, Xiaomi made around 9.9 billion yuan in revenues that equate to over $1.5 billion. In the first quarter of 2018 alone, Apple made over $9 billion. What are the risks? For a primarily hardware business facing a slowing smartphone market, as well as intense competition, there are a number of risk factors. "Smartphone sales account for a majority of our revenue, and any decrease in such sales or any increase in the costs associated with such sales may materially and adversely affect our business," Xiaomi says in its IPO filing. That is a concern from many analysts too as well as the thin margins already highlighted. Neil Shah, research director of devices and ecosystems at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC that the lack of intellectual property means that Xiaomi's model could be replicated. President of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change Nelson Chamisa delivers a speech during a worker's day rally hosted by the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions in the capital Harare on May 1, 2018. Chinese investors are "busy asset-stripping" Zimbabwe's resources, the country's main opposition leader said in a speech this week, according to reports. "I have seen the deals that (Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa) has entered into with China and others, they are busy asset-stripping the resources of the country," Nelson Chamisa said at a May Day rally on Tuesday, as reported by the BBC and local press. Chamisa is leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). "I have said (that) beginning September when I assume office I will call the Chinese and tell them the deals they signed are unacceptable and they should return to their country," he added. CNBC was not able to independently translate Chamisa's speech. On Wednesday, the MDC published a statement on its website addressed to Zimbabwean state-owned newspaper The Herald. The statement accused the newspaper of publishing "malicious falsehoods" about Chamisa, although it did not specify what these were. The "gist and essence" of Chamisa's May Day speech was that his party "will not allow the mortgaging of this country for political expedience," it said, attributed to Luke Tamborinyoka, presidential spokesperson and director of communications. An MDC government "will audit all business deals and those that fail the national interest will be reviewed," it said. Android smartphone manufacturers continue their struggle for share in the value-driven market, while Apples iPhones 8, 8 Plus, and X maintain their position, claims the latest quarterly data from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech. Apple is big in China One of the more interesting stats in the report confirms Apples momentum in China, where iPhone X is not only Apples top performing model but the best-selling model overall. Apples share increased strongly to 22.1 percent. iPhone 8 sales marginally surpassed those of iPhone X in the U.S., as well as the top five European markets in the three months ending March 2018, the report claims though it concedes the difference in numbers to be marginal. [ Further reading: How to switch from Android to iPhone ] (When reading reports claiming weak iPhone X sales as a result, it is probably best to consider the difference is likely being overblown.) The latest data seems to show that Europe and the U.S. are moving from early adoption into a replacement cycle. Apple is quite evidently savvy to this changing market momentum, as recent iPhone marketing campaigns have attempted to underline the many reasons Android users should migrate to iOS devices, helping sales remain steady. The latest IDC and Strategy Analytics smartphone market reports confirm Apples attempt is working, pointing to a slight growth in its market share. Based on Apples published 52.2 million sales, the analysts estimate Cupertino caught c. 15.5 percent of the global market, up from 14.7 percent a year ago. Androids eternal struggle The eternal value-driven struggle that comprises the majority of the Android market continues to grind out smaller players as larger firms battle for market share. Samsung, Apple, and Huawei between them grabbed 71 percent of smartphone sales in Europe, but Xiaomi has quietly seized fourth position and a 4.4 percent share. The report claims Google achieved 3.4 percent in the U.S., up from 1.7 percent a year earlier, thanks to the Pixel. ZTEs market is declining, while Apple (up 0.1 percent) and Samsung (up 1.4 percent) maintain leadership. All the market analysts suggest the worlds biggest smartphone vendors are Samsung, Apple, Huawei, Xiaomi, and OPPO. Why services matter In the here and now, Apples position seems the most secure not only does it grab the majority of sales at the high end, but it has already built a multi-billion-dollar services business around its platform. Apples services segment saw an astonishing 31 percent growth in the most recent quarter, with the company on the way to achieving the $50 billion/year services business it hopes to build by 2020. "We think slowly but surely, [Apple] is morphing into more than just an iPhone story and is displaying ability to sustain revenue growth irrespective of iPhone trajectory, said analyst Amit Daryanani of RBC Capital Markets. Locked in a value-driven struggle against one another and without control of the operating system, competitors have not yet been able to match Apples growing services beast. It is worth noting that Google can profitably provide services across the Android ecosystem without sharing the financial risk of hardware manufacture, though it seems likely anti-trust regulation would kick in if it attempted to do so too aggressively. Up next ... iPhone SE What is important to consider is that Apples leadership position in the smartphone sector means it holds an important place in the future economic growth of entire nations, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The new tech cycle ... critically depends on the release dates of iPhones, as Apple Inc. flagship models drive global demand, the IMF wrote. In order to propel further growth, Apple is thought to be about to introduce a second-generation iPhone SE, enabling it to meet the needs of a much wider market, particularly in key developing economies. The device is thought to be one of the first to see manufacture in India, a key target market for Apple in which it recently set a new first-half record. While we dont know how the cards will fall, Apples success in building new business around its platforms, its strategy to continue widening its market, and its determination to go for the replacement cycle puts it in a strong market position moving forward. Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and get involved with the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple? Got a story? Please drop me a line via Twitter and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me there so I can let you know about new articles I publish and reports I find. Andrew Goodfellow was Director of the Conservative Research Department from May 2015 to June 2017. He writes in a personal capacity. There is a natural tendency to think that ones own generation of the Conservative Research Department represents the apotheosis of how the organisation should function. This results in wounded pride when someone with a different experience challenges that perception. Nevertheless, I think that Andrew Gimsons piece on this site yesterday, The Rudd debacle highlights a problem. Many of the Governments special advisers are no good, misses the mark in a few crucial ways. Gimsons general point, that CRD should be the training ground for Conservative special advisers, is absolutely correct. Where I would take exception is to the idea that CRD no longer performs that function effectively. The political and media landscape of 2018 differs considerably in what it demands of the Conservative machine, compared to the more sedate 1980s. The demands of ferocious 24-hour rolling news, the social media churn, and journalists desperate for content, means that the research department needs to shape its material and output to the world as we find it, rather than how we would like it to be. CRD in the 1980s no doubt had its challenges, but there was at least the benefit of waiting for the next days newspapers to see how a politician had dropped the ball, rather than watching it unfold on Twitter in real time. Whilst teaching CRD recruits the noble art of political research is vital, we now have to apply the results of said research in more forms than the traditional policy brief or press release. The Conservative Research Department has three core functions: policy research, briefing, and opposition research. This provides the material for politicians appearing on broadcast, press office rebuttals, and challenging our Labour and Liberal Democrat opponents. This all needs to be done at speed, and with impeccable precision. CRDs role is to provide the political support that Conservative politicians need to win the political argument. Gimson entirely correctly observes that gifts of intellect are needed to render under time pressure a mass of disparate material into a short, coherent and accurate summary. I maintain that this is still absolutely what CRD desk officers do, and do well, but under even more exaggerated time pressures. Some days running CRD felt more like managing an air traffic control tower, rather than the Oxbridge seminar feel that other generations of staffers were fortunate enough to experience. But some things about CRD remain the same. When Denis Healey famously compared being attacked by Geoffrey Howe to being savaged by a dead sheep, he preceded it by accusing Howe of ploughing through that tedious and tendentious farrago of moth-eaten cuttings presented to him by the Conservative Research Department. Such moth-eaten cuttings, prepared for political deployment, remain at the heart of the output of CRD desk officers. Although admittedly, when the subject is Jeremy Corbyn they tend to be a little less tedious. Special advisers recruited from CRD benefit from the same training they always have done, the difference is that now they have to use it in a more complex, fast-moving world. On the policy front, the Conservative Party benefits from a vibrant ecosystem of think tanks generating new ideas whether it is the Centre for Policy Studies, Policy Exchange, or newer ventures like Onward. It would be unwise for CRD to expend resources and energy to try to compete with these well-funded and equipped organisations, when there are more immediate political battles to be fought. It is far more important for example, for CRDs Treasury desk officer to have at their fingertips everything that John McDonnell has ever said on the subject of tax, than it is for them to construct an elegant solution to the inconsistent application of VAT to hot foods. One point that Lord Lexden makes is entirely fair the idea that government ministers have a tendency to poach promising CRD desk officers before their natural time. This is a perennial problem, but was exacerbated in the 2015-17 period where we experienced three reshuffles in three years, each of which led to CRD being raided for talent. However, it would be a far more damning indictment of the research department if ministers did not want to hire its staff at all. None of us should be averse to self-criticism, but nor should we treat the past with rose-tinted glasses. Because of the political heights that Rab Butler, Iain Macleod, David Cameron and George Osborne went on to scale, it is deceptively easy to think that their modern ex-CRD counterparts are somehow diminished by comparison.But I strongly suspect that in 25 years time, we will hold names like Alex Dawson, Keelan Carr and Meg Powell-Chandler in similar esteem. Garvan Walshe is a former National and International Security Policy Adviser to the British Conservative Party. He runs Brexit Analytics. Its the daily fare of tech executives. Al Gore toured the planet doing it after he lost to George W. Bush. Colin Powell even attempted it before the UN Security Council. But Benjamin Netanyahu made history Monday as he stood, TED talk-style in front of a huge LCD screen bearing two words in large print (but in an authoritative Roman typeface): Iran Lied. Like all TED talks, this didnt tell us anything new. He informed us that Iran had got very far along the road to developing nuclear weapons (something so widely known that Iran was placed under sanctions), that Israels security agencies were able to break into what Netanyahu so good with a phrase he should consider replacing Martin Sorrell at WPP called the Islamic Republics atomic archive (keep up the good work, boys and girls of the Mossad) and that Tehran was not to be trusted (ask Salman Rushdie). At least Netanyahu didnt stand, legs splayed as if he were wearing a golden codpiece, in the manner of the debunked TED talk on body language that inspired so Cabinet ministers in the late Cameron era. The first response of Israeli cynics (and what Israeli would deny being one?) is to suspect him of drumming up support for war. Police investigations into corruption are closing in; his rivals in the Likud party are preparing for the succession, and his party is growing weak in the opinion polls. It would be entirely in character for him to wrap himself in the flag. But I think this does him a disservice. Though it hides it better now that the Holocaust denier who threatened to wipe Israel off the map isnt president any more, Iran assuredly threatens Israels interests. Through Hezbollah it projects formidable power on Israels northern border. It helps finance Palestinian terrorists, and though the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, as the international deal to freeze Irans nuclear programme is called (tip to Home Office: if youd called the Hostile Environment that, Amber Rudd might still be in post), is now in place, Tehran retains nuclear ambitions and could resume them after the JCPOA expires between 2028 and 2030. Netanyahu has an obsession with the Iranian regime, which he considers the latest Haman (after the Babylonian kings vizier from the Book of Esther, who tried to exterminate the Jews) that hes been pursuing since at least when he left office for the first time in 1999, and has been trying to get someone to bomb Irans nuclear programme for years. Unable to convince his own generals (more on this in a moment), he turned his efforts to America, with little success. But he senses a chance after Trump fired HR McMaster and replaced him with the decidedly more bellicose John Bolton. From Netanyahus perspective, the case for an American war against Irans nuclear facilities has an indirect as well as a direct benefit. Not only could it physically destroy those elements of the Iranian programme the JCPOA cant reach; it would also force Iran to cope directly with military conflict against the worlds most powerful military. This could relieve pressure on Israels northern border and give Israel a freer hand in Syria. And perhaps, if the war unfolded as planned, and as Netanyahu hoped when he toured Capitol Hill arguing for regime change against Saddam, it would. That war, which I, then a much younger man, supported, of course went disastrously wrong, and it was Iran that took advantage of the chaos. It despatched its Quds force (the expeditionary arm of the Revolutionary guards, called after the Arabic name for Jerusalem) to support Shia in Iraq, and helped establish the Popular Mobilisation Force militias there. It now has a permanent presence in Syria as well as Lebanon, and claims not entirely without truth to have helped defend their people from the fundamentalist barbarians of Isis. Balancing the risk of unintended consequences like these against the intrusive inspection regime established by the JCPOA is what led Gadi Eizenkot to conclude: Right now the agreement, with all its faults, is working and is putting off realisation of the Iranian nuclear vision by ten to 15 years. Gadi Eizenkot is Chief of Staff of the Israel Defence Forces and if the IDF doesnt think a security measure is necessary, it isnt. Unions hit back at bid to change Welsh Labour voting rules Four leading trades unions have issued a joint statement declaring their opposition to what they see as an attempt to bounce Labour into switching to One Member, One Vote (OMOV) in the election to select the next First Minister. The GMB, Unison, Usdaw, and the CWU are defending the current electoral college model, under which members of unions and other affiliated organisations receive 1/3 of the overall vote, as it used to work for the national Labour Party before Ed Milibands reforms. Pressure for reform has been growing after the results of last weeks election for the Welsh partys first-ever deputy leader, under which the winning candidate secured almost 1,500 votes less than the (more left-wing) runner-up. Any shift would likely benefit more left-wing candidates as it has for the UK party. Mark Drakeford, the current front runner and self-styled unity candidate, supports a switch to OMOV. If this leads to the big unions supporting a rival candidate it could transform the race to succeed Carwyn Jones, who has announced that he will stand down this autumn. Sinn Fein defending unionist credentials of new Irish senator Its possibly not the most helpful endorsement for a politician trying to demonstrate their unionist bona fines. Ian Marshall, the newly-appointed member of the Irish upper house, has been staunchly defended by none other than Sinn Fein. Marshall is an ardent remainer, and was put forward for a seat in the Seanad by Leo Varadkar. Sinn Fein also endorsed his candidacy, in what one of their senators said was proof of their vision of a greater Ireland which welcomes British citizens. However, the problem arises in that despite Marshalls declared intention to represent the opinions and views of the people of Northern Ireland, he really does no such thing. Irish nationalisms anti-Brexit position is already well represented in Dublin by essentially every political party, from Varadkars traditionally more anglophile Fine Gael on one side to Sinn Fein on the other. By contrast unionist opinion even amongst pro-Remain parties such as the Ulster Unionists is rapidly consolidating behind the DUPs staunch opposition to the EUs bid to give Ulster special status which would prioritise its links to the Republic over its links to the rest of the United Kingdom. When Sinn Fein senator Rose Conway-Walsh asks herself what is a real unionist?, a useful answer in these circumstances might be somebody representative of mainstream unionist opinion. Such a voice might be a useful and novel addition to the Irish parliament but Marshall isnt it. Plaid bid to make attacks on the Welsh langauge illegal The Welsh nationalists are pushing for language to join race, gender, and sexuality as a protected characteristic in equalities legislation, Wales Online reports. Liz Saville-Roberts, Plaids Westminster leader, is making the push after a column by Rod Liddle which poked fun at Welsh during a criticism of the (decidedly low-energy) backlash against the naming of a new Severn bridge after the Prince of Wales. David TC Davies, the Conservative MP for Monmouth who is a fluent Welsh speaker, has said ahead of the debate that he was not offended by Liddles remarks. The debate is another reminder of how Plaids nationalism has a culturally prescriptive, slightly Quebecois dimension mostly lacking from its Scottish counterpart. In other language news, the News Letter reports that David Trimble has warned that the Irish Governments efforts to revive Gaelic have been disastrous, and said that Northern Ireland would be better served by examining the Scottish approach. A stand-off over an independent Irish Language Act is one of the key sticking points preventing Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionists from getting the Northern Irish Executive back on its feet. However, both parties responded to the former First Ministers suggestions by simply restating their positions. London and Edinburgh prepare for Supreme Court showdown The British and Scottish Governments are on course for a clash in the courts after the SNP claimed a deal over the Brexit Bill is no longer possible, according to the Scotsman. Both parties have been at loggerheads over the fate of powers being repatriated from the European Union which, according to the devolved executives, are somehow devolved powers which Westminster is trying to steal. Previously Wales and Scotland had maintained a united front on this issue, but Cardiff recently struck an agreement with London and left the SNP out on a limb, their arguments about being good-faith defenders of the devolution settlement somewhat threadbare. Davis invited before the Northern Irish Affairs Committee The Brexit Secretary has been invited to appear before the House of Commons Northern Irish committee to answer questions about the future of the Irish border. A solution does not currently appear to be in sight, with the EU reportedly pushing back against British proposals amidst a hardening unionist backlash against Brussels own suggestions. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. 97% Website expresoviajes.com uses latest and advanced technologies. It supports HTTPS. The main html page has a size of . This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-08-31, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. CORNWALL, Ontario Businesses dont yet realize the impact of marijuana in the workplace, once it has been legalized. Thats according to the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. This is one of the most significant changes in the workplace in recent years, states Executive Manager, Lezlie Strasser. The Chamber is concerned about how businesses will be able to adjust and its important we help them to address the issue. The Chamber, in conjunction with the Community Futures Development Corporation and the Cornwall Business Enterprise Centre, will host a luncheon on May 9 to highlight the impact of marijuana in the workplace and help businesses to understand how it can affect them. Special guest presenter will be Ivan Ross, widely recognized as an industry expert in the field of medical marijuana and the emerging environment of legalized marijuana. Strasser made reference to a marijuana workshop delivered last fall at the Alberta Health and Safety Conference. Workshop presenter, Patrick J. Delaney, noted some of the acute effects of the drug, she says. The effects included, euphoria, changes in perception, time distortion, attention deficits, and impaired motor functioning. She continued. Delaney also spoke of impairment effects that can linger for well beyond 24 hours after a single use and up to 20 days for chronic users. Health Canada has reported that cannabis use is associated with a sevenfold estimated risk of being involved in a fatal accident. Businesses and HR professionals will want to attend the luncheon seminar, says Strasser. Presenter Ross will walk delegates through the implications of marijuana in the workplace and how they will have to adjust their management practices. The luncheon will be held at Ramada Cornwall on Wednesday, May 9 beginning at 12:00 noon. Tickets are $20.00 + HST and may be purchased by contacting Lyette Montford at the Chamber office: 613-933-4004 or, on line at: http://cornwallchamber.chambermaster.com/events/details/marijuana-in-the-workplace-353 LONG SAULT, Ontario Over the weekend, a Facebook group formed called Save Long Sault Park and Forest. Members are concerned about the proposed development on the plot of land next to the Long Sault fire hall. The Township of South Stormont has seen it fit to sell off a the most beautiful historical park in Long Sault for development, said Michael Szymkowiak, an administrator of the Facebook group in a post on Facebook. This park has mature trees for shade as well as a forested portion where kids love to adventure and build forts. Our community does not want or need this land to be developed and feels as though this has been done underhandedly by counsel, without adequate public knowledge or consultation. According to Jim Bancroft, the Mayor of the Township of South Stormont, this land was never designated as a park and its sale has been advertised since December 2015. An ad from the Township of South Stormont for a Request for Proposal to develop the land behind the fire hall, referred to as the Barnhart property, was placed in the Seaway News on Dec. 10, 2015. Bancroft explained that some of the proceeds from the sale of the land are going to be used to build a park next to the Long Sault arena. The land next to the fire hall has been purchased by JF Markell Homes Ltd. and John Markell explained that the sale of the land closed early in 2018. Markell also explained that it was his wish to preserve as many trees as possible. Any tree that will not be in the way of the sewer or the road will be kept, Markell said. Markell went on to say that he is very passionate about trees and that his company is not interested in clear cutting. According to Markell, the swing set and many of the trees on the land are actually on land still owned by the Township and the Township will be moving the swing set to make room for a future planned expansion of the fire hall. Markell said that before any development is done on the land his company now owns, an Environment Assessment will be done which will include an endangered species count of local flora and fauna. Markell says that he and his company plans on building residential homes on the site. CORNWALL, Ontario The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) confirmed that the work being done on the Avonmore Rd. bridge should be completed by the end of May 2018. Construction began on the bridge at the end of April 2017 and was scheduled to be completed by the end of this past November. The completion and opening of the Avonmore Road Bridge has been delayed due mostly to two issues; the late supply of girders by the contractor and deficient work which has required extensive repairs to properly correct and ensure quality, the MTO said in an email to Seaway News. The ministry apologizes for these delays. The MTO said that it was sensitive to the issues caused by the long delay in the completion of this project. In the case of the Avonmore Road Bridge replacement, the impacts have been significant because the new bridge did not open as scheduled, which resulted in longer term detours along Municipal roads, the MTO stated. The ministrys priority is to work with its contractor to open this bridge as quickly as we can, however it will not reopen until the work has been completed to the ministrys satisfaction. Once Avonmore Rd. bridge is re-opened, the Wales Dr. bridge will then be closed for replacement. That bridge is scheduled to re-open in the fall of 2018. The MTO said that the total cost of the contract was $6.95 million, and that there has been no increased cost due to the delay. Cruickshank Construction Limited was the company awarded the contract for the replacement of these bridges. Cornwall Seaway News spoke with Steve Cruickshank of Cruickshank Construction who said that under the terms of their contract with MTO they were unable to comment on this story. Dr. Vanessa Teague is one frustrated cryptographer. A researcher at the University of Melbourne in Australia, Teague has twice demonstrated massive security flaws in the online voting systems used in state elections in Australia including one of the largest deployments of online voting ever, the 2015 New South Wales (NSW) state election, with 280,000 votes cast online. The response? Official complaints about her efforts to university administrators, and a determination by state election officials to keep using online voting, despite ample empirical proof, she says, that these systems are not secure. While insecure voting machines have received most of the attention since the 2016 U.S. presidential election, states and municipalities continue to use even enthusiastically adopt web-based online voting, including 31 states in the U.S., two provinces in Canada, and two states in Australia. Wales in the UK is pushing hard for online voting. The country of Estonia uses online voting for its national elections. Security researchers point out flaws; election officials get angry and ignore security issues that threaten the integrity of the voting results. Teague's story repeats itself around the world. Democracy at stake The purpose of an election is not just to select a winner, but to convince the loser, and their supporters, that they lost. Trust in the voting process is, therefore, an essential element to any voting system. "Voting over the internet is not secure enough to be trusted for government elections," Teague tells CSO. "It's not verifiable." Unlike electronic voting machines, online voting lets voters cast their ballots on a website with a click of a mouse or tap of a finger. While electronic voting machines could one day be used in conjunction with paper ballots to increase the security of the voting process, web-based online voting is not only insecure, but is impossible to secure, experts warn. The purpose of an election is not just to select a winner, but to convince the loser, and their supporters, that they lost. Trust in the voting process is, therefore, an essential element to any voting system. Yet politicians are pushing ahead with plans to offer online voting, despite the clear and present danger online voting poses to the integrity of the democratic process. "Like everything else on the internet, [online voting] is not secure, but the really important point for elections is that you wouldn't even know if the outcome was manipulated or not," Teague says. Voting officials defend their decisions, arguing that online voting increases voter turnout and makes voting more accessible to voters who are unable to come in person, or who live far from a polling station, for instance soldiers and sailors stationed abroad, or voters who live in rural or regional Australia, or far northern Canada. However, offering online voting also makes it accessible to every spy, gangster, mercenary, and hacker on the planet. Attackers could easily violate the sanctity of the secret ballot, modify votes, or even make the web application unavailable to certain voters on polling day. Teague and other researchers have demonstrated such attacks against live election systems. How to attack online voting Online voting is more fragile than other online services, like banking, and far easier to attack. The cheapest and easiest way to attack an online voting system is to flood the web application with garbage traffic and DDoS it. Any script kiddie with some bitcoin can rent a botnet army of compromised IoT devices and overwhelm the voting server on election day. To prevent such attacks, companies typically use distributed denial of service (DDoS) mitigation services like Cloudflare or Imperva Incapsula. Such services are suitable for many Silicon Valley-style applications, but are unsuitable for ensuring a free and open democratic election, Teague says. A DDoS mitigation service has to spy on traffic in order to stop DDoS attacks. That means it has to decrypt all traffic between the user and server to determine which traffic is good and which traffic is bad. To do so, it acts as a transport layer security (TLS) proxy and performs a "man-in-the-middle" attack with permission, of course against all traffic aimed at the online voting service it's been hired to defend. TLS is the encryption technology that makes HTTPS (the "green padlock" in a browser) work, which, under normal circumstances, would ensure the confidentiality of traffic end-to-end from the voter to the tally server. For a cloud-based DDoS mitigation service to work, however, the TLS encryption key sits on servers all over the world, and anyone able to hack into one of those servers and steal the TLS key is one giant step closer to changing the vote count. Teague's team found just this problem in the Western Australia 2017 state election. They discovered the online voting TLS encryption keys on servers in data centers in countries like Japan, Poland and China. Worse, the online voting web application shared that TLS key with "dozens of unrelated websites in countries such as the Philippines, Lithuania, and Argentina," according to their report. Any sufficiently motivated nation-state attacker could easily compromise one of these servers. Even more concerning, a nation-state could "acquire the credentials necessary to man-in-the-middle a foreign election in the context of an unrelated domestic law enforcement or national security operation," [their emphasis] their report concluded. The secret ballot has been a cornerstone of democracy since ancient Athens, and essential to preventing vote selling or voter coercion. No one, ever, should know how a voter cast their ballot. The use of a DDoS mitigation provider in an online election may prevent DDoS attacks that take the voting website offline, but it creates a giant target with a big red bulls-eye for any nation-state wanting to spy on voters or change their votes. The secret ballot has been a cornerstone of democracy since ancient Athens, and essential to preventing vote selling or voter coercion. No one, ever, should know how a voter cast their ballot. "Under what circumstances would you do a recount?" Aleksander Essex, an online voting security researcher at the University of Western Ontario, in Canada, asks. "That's the real question, because you don't have that transparency. With paper ballot voting, you can go back to the paper record, assuming you can follow the chain of custody. With online voting, you don't know." Without transparency into how the voting process works, and the ability to verify the results, online voting casts a shadow across the legitimacy of elections that include it. Democracy dies in darkness. Serious security vulnerabilities for Estonias online voting system No country in the world has as much experience with online voting as the tiny country of Estonia. Living in the shadow of its much larger neighbor, Russia, Estonia has been offering online voting in government elections since 2005. Researchers took a closer look at the country's online voting system, and not only found security issues with the software, but hilarious operational security failures, including an official video of the pre-election process that showed wi-fi passwords posted on the wall, administrators filmed typing in root passwords, and a software build system that was also being used to play PokerStars. "Estonia's internet voting system has such serious security vulnerabilities that an international team of independent experts recommends that it should be immediately discontinued," researchers concluded. "A state-level attacker, sophisticated criminal, or dishonest insider could defeat both the technological and procedural controls in order to manipulate election outcomes." Russia attacked Estonia with a massive DDoS attack in 2007 over the country's decision to move a Soviet-era war memorial. According to The Guardian, the main targets of attack were government websites, the political parties, major news organizations, and two of the country's biggest banks. Nevertheless, Estonia's National Election Committee rejected the security researchers' findings, saying in a statement at the time, "We believe that online balloting allows us to achieve a level of security greater than what is possible with paper ballots." Australian online voting cover-up The NSW state election of 2015 was so insecure that one seat in the upper house of the state parliament may have been decided by hacked votes. In response to the scandal, the electoral commission went to great lengths to avoid transparency regarding the security issues Teague and her team reported, and only revealed the true nature of the problem under close questioning in state parliament a year later. Before the election, the state electoral commission told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that "People's vote is completely secret... It's fully encrypted and safeguarded, it can't be tampered with." Yet it took researchers only a few days to identify fatal flaws in the online voting web application that could have easily been used to spy on and even modify every single vote cast online, and to do so in an undetectable manner. "This is a complete and total break of the most basic security goals of an online voting system," Teague tells CSO. "No warnings in the browser. It successfully subverted the TLS connection to the third-party [analytics] service. It would have looked completely normal at the electoral commission end. It would have looked exactly the same as a legitimate vote. It was a legitimate vote from an eligible voter. Just not the one the voter intended to cast." Because the online voting platform, built by Spanish firm Scytl, is not open source, the researchers were unable to test the application prior to the election. They had to wait until the online voting system went live, and then examine the public-facing portions of the system. To our knowledge, this is the first time enough votes to affect a parliamentary seat in a state election have been returned over an internet voting system while it was demonstrably vulnerable to attacks that would allow external vote manipulation. Teague and her team reported their findings immediately to the Australian CERT, but by the time the system was fixed, more than 66,000 votes had been cast online far more than the margin of 3,177 votes that decided one seat in the NSW Legislative Council. "To our knowledge, this is the first time enough votes to affect a parliamentary seat in a state election have been returned over an internet voting system while it was demonstrably vulnerable to attacks that would allow external vote manipulation," their report concludes. The NSW electoral commission initially reported after the election that there were no anomalies seen while using the online voting platform, but a year later, under questioning in state parliament, admitted that there were, in fact, significant anomalies reported by voters. More than 600 voters who attempted to verify their votes using a rudimentary telephone-based system were unable to do so a 10 percent failure rate, enough to call into question the voting result of the state election. "That to me is the bottom line," Teague says. "The really important thing is that we didn't find out the truth at the time." Regardless, the NSW government is pushing ahead, ignoring the danger signs. "The NSW Electoral Commission (NSWEC) intends providing iVote as a voting channel for the 2019 NSW State General Election," a NSW electoral commission spokesperson told CSO by email. Far from understanding the danger internet voting poses to free and open democratic elections, the NSW Electoral Commission went so far as to call Teague and her colleague, Alex Halderman of the University of Michigan, "anti-internet voting activists," in their 2015 response to the security research. In fact, earlier this week the NSW government contracted a second time with Scytl, the online voting vendor responsible for the 2015 debacle, according to CSO's sister publication, Computerworld Australia. Closed source online voting software: a threat to democracy? Unlike electronic voting machines, which researchers routinely pick up on eBay to reverse engineer, the complete lack of transparency around online voting systems hampers research and harms democracy, experts agree. No commercial online voting platform makes its source code available for public scrutiny. Onerous non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) typically prevent security researchers from publishing their findings. This is the opposite of how paper-based elections work: Everyone knows and understands how the system works, and can even go watch ballots being counted, if they want to. One online voting provider, Everyone Counts, touts its "Open Code Advantage," which, they claim, "allows expert inspection and auditing of source code," according to this pdf document served from their Squarespace website. However, Teague says this claim is marketing nonsense. "It means that you have to sign a punitive NDA, which includes among its terms the requirement that even the fact you've signed an NDA is secret," she tells CSO. "I don't know of anyone with any sense of integrity who has signed it." ANSONIA The clock is ticking on the Board of Educations ultimatum. Following a lengthy closed-door meeting Wednesday, the board voted 5-2 to give city officials until May 10 to negotiate a settlement on $600,000 it claims was illegally removed from its budget in January and kept out of the mayors 2018-19 proposed budget. If no settlement is reached then, the board gave Fred Dorsey, its Hartford lawyer, authority to sue the city. We cant afford to pay the bills to the end of the year, said Chris Phipps, who was among the five board members authorizing the ultimatum. We cant operate to the end of the year without layoffs ... We are going to be broke, plain and simple. Phipps noted that the board and the city already have an extremely acrimonious relationship ... and we want to mend that any way we can. That acrimony was re-ignited recently when the city requested an accounting of school employee salaries. We still havent received that, said Mayor David Cassetti. But when Phil Tripp, (a 2nd Ward alderman and staunch Board of Education supporter) requested a report on all City Hall employee salaries, he got it the same day. Why cant he help with our request? Tripp did not return a voice message Thursday. The city cannot evaluate the Board of Educations claim about expenses without additional financial information, said Corporation Counsel John P. Marini. He said the citys finance department is ready and willing to review additional budgetary information the second it is provided. Budget adjustment In January, the Board of Aldermen revised the Board of Educations budget downward by $600,000. This was done because the BOE received in excess of $600,000 more than anticipated from the state after the city budget was set, Marini said. He said the city received hundreds of thousands less in state funds than expected, causing an unexpected budgetary strain. The Board of Aldermen utilized the Public Act to correct the imbalance and protect Ansonias taxpayers, Marini said. The city is certainly willing to continue talks with the Board of Education, and the aldermen will be taking up the matter at their regular meeting next week, the citys lawyer said. The board reached its decision after Superintendent of Schools Carol Merlone received a letter from the state Department of Education earlier in the day maintaining the citys action was unlawful. Hopefully that opinion will be the cornerstone of a resolution for this matter, Dorsey said. But if its not reached by the close of business on Thursday, May 10, the Board has authorized legal action. Still, Cassetti said, a forensic audit of the Board of Educations budget is in order. Id like to look at their budget, line item by line item, he said. Ill find ways for them to save money. Under state law, municipal leaders have no say as to how the school system spends its appropriate money. Layoff catch Cassetti said the school system employs 430 people, which he said is more than Waterbury or New Haven. But Merlone, Phipps and William Nimons, the education boards chairman, dispute the mayors claim. They said the schools employ only 344 people which is significantly less than the 3,320 in New Haven and 2,861 in Waterbury. Included in the citys nearly 20,000 residents are 2,400 students, about 550 of whom are enrolled in expensive special education programs. Because of the budget shortfall, Merlone said, she sent out layoff notices to 37 teachers. She further explained that under the contract with the teachers union, there can only be four classes, district-wide with as many as 32 students. The superintendent warned if she has to lay off teachers and create more than four classes of 32 students or more, there will be more lawsuits. Cassetti has said he will not raise taxes. I will not put any more of a burden on the residents of Ansonia, he said, adding that he is open to trying to hammer out a compromise. Their action was uncalled for, he said. We cant let this go to a lawsuit, and they shouldnt either. An extended lawsuit will cost each side at least $100,000 and thats money that needs to go to the kids. Earlier, school officials offered to accept $500,000 as a compromise but that was rejected. A break in a main sewer line in Dalton, Mass. flowed into Housatonic River on Wednesday. And now, its flowing to Connecticut and ultimately into Long Island. A 14-inch sewage line at a bridge crossing on West Housatonic Street partially failed, said Chris Collibee, spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Some of the volume is impacting the river, however, some is continuing to flow in the system. The volume of impact and the release rate are unknown, but the line does convey 2.5 million gallons per day. Dalton is located about 30 miles north of the Connecticut border. The Housatonic River enters the state in Canaan and flows about 70 miles where it meets Long Island Sound in Milford and Stratford. Collibee said Mass DEP is working with the responsible party to correct the issue. A pump is on site and has began bypass operation. A catchment area has been built to collect the solids in the area around the break. The Connecticut DEEP is monitoring the situation to determine if there are any impacts to the Housatonic River within Connecticuts borders, Collibee said. HARTFORD Supreme Court Justice Richard A. Robinson is Connecticuts first black chief justice. After rejecting the earlier nomination of Supreme Court Justice Andrew McDonald, the Senate unanimously voted Thursday to advance Robinson to the state courts highest office. He fills the seat that was most recently held by Chief Justice Chase T. Rogers, who retired from the bench in February. I seriously think he will be a great chief justice, said Sen. Paul Doyle, D-Hartford, chair of the Judiciary Committee. Robinson, 60, was nominated for the chief justice job by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy after Republican claims of judicial activism and a 19-16 Senate vote stopped McDonald from becoming the states first openly gay chief justice. Robinsons name was floated as a more desirable nominee by Republicans even before the McDonald Senate vote and repeatedly after. Republicans had confidence that Robinson would not legislate from the bench and therefore, they could support him, they said Thursday. The rule of thumb, the way things need to go day in and day out, is past precedent should be followed, the letter of the law should be followed, and the Judicial Branch should follow to its final conclusion the letter of the law that the legislature lays out, said Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield, co-chair of the Judiciary Committee. Robinson stayed within his judicial limitations in the Supreme Courts 2015 decision to uphold the abolishment of the death penalty, said Senate Republican Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven. In that case, Robinson voted with McDonald and two other justices that capital punishment for Death Row inmates was incompatible with modern standards of decency. Republicans objected to McDonalds role in the decision because he voted to end capital punishment as a state legislator and was Malloys legal counsel when he signed legislation in 2012 to end the practice in Connecticut. Unlike McDonald, whom Republicans said should have recused himself from some cases, like the death penalty decision, Robinson recused himself whenever there was a perception of a conflict, said Sen. Michael McLachlan, R-Danbury, who sought talking points from his cousin and former Supreme Court judge Ian McLachlan when opposing McDonalds nomination. Deans of Connecticuts law schools defended as proper McDonalds decisions and behavior on the bench during his consideration for chief justice. A Stratford resident, Robinson was counsel for the city of Stamford from 1985 to 2000, when he was appointed to the bench. He served as president of the Stamford branch of the NAACP from 1988 until 1990. Through my own relationship with Justice Robinson when we worked together for the City of Stamford, I personally witnessed a man who not only showed dedication to his public service responsibilities, but also had a passion toward building a stronger, fairer society for all, said Malloy in a statement Thursday. I am proud to congratulate him. Robinson won 146 yes votes in the House last week, with no representatives voting against and four not voting. The vote followed unanimous approval of Robinsons nomination by the Judiciary Committee. House Republicans supported Robinson so the Judicial Branch would have a leader to help it sort out issues like understaffing, said Rep. Rosa Rebimbas, R-Naugutuck, ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, last week. The Senate is expected to vote Thursday to promote state Superior Court Judge Steven D. Ecker, 56, of New Haven to the Supreme Court to fill Robinsons seat. If the Senate confirms him along with Robinson, Malloy will have named six of the seven members of the state Supreme Court. I think he is one of the leading legal scholars in the state, said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven, on Thursday. Although they supported Robinson, most House and Senate Republicans voted against the judicial nominations to lower courts because they said the state could not afford these positions. Its a crying shame we arent in better shape fiscally because all of these candidates are eminently qualified for the positions they have been nominated for, said Sen. Scott Frantz, R-Greenwich. Republican Tony Hwang of Fairfield disagreed with his party members and voted for the lower court judges whom he helped vet on the Judiciary Committee. In this country and in this state, we have three separate branches of government and we should never deny qualified, worthy people that want to serve as justices and judges that opportunity, he said. Democrat Sen. Cathy Osten of Baltic called judges a public safety mechanism. In order to have a free and fair democracy, we need to have active, competent jurists in seats, she said. emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson Are you about to send an important internal memo to your employees? Maybe one that you would prefer your customers, clients and the general public not see? Before you hit "Send," perhaps you should consider the ramifications of what could happen if that memo were leaked to outside eyes. Related: The 7 Biggest Social Media Fails of 2017 Unfortunately, hundreds of founders and CEOs have neglected this important step of the process -- as in "stop and think." And, as a result, they've paid dearly for it. These are just some of their stories: 1. United Airlines Last year, United Airlines caught the ire of the general public after a video of a man being forcibly removed from one of its planes went viral. Afterwards, CEO Oscar Munoz tried to be as neutral as possible with his personal brand, but the memo he sent out to employees pinned the blame entirely on the customer: "As you will read, this situation was unfortunately compounded when one of the passengers we politely asked to deplane refused and it became necessary to contact Chicago Aviation Security Officers to help," Munoz wrote. His words made it sound like United Airlines was the victim, and it undermined the company's attempts to improve its image. 2. Toyota Around 2010, Toyota was facing problems with an acceleration flaw in some of its vehicles. Its original story was that these acceleration-related accidents were the result of driver error, but eventually, the company recalled the vehicles in question. Everything seemed acceptable with Toyota's version of events until a leaked document indicated that the company was intentionally using the media spotlight and public controversy as a way to distract investigators from its attempts to cover up a separate, equally damaging mistake. Ultimately, the company was hit with more than 400 wrongful death lawsuits and a $1.2 billion fine. These were the results of more than just the leaked memo, but the leaked memo certainly didn't help Toyota's public image. 3. Walmart Justified or not, Walmart doesn't have the best reputation for treating its employees well. Making that reputation even worse, hackers a few years ago leaked internal documents revealing the extensive efforts the retailer had taken to prevent its employees from unionizing. Related: What to Do When You're Getting Bad Press The documents encouraged managers who heard employees talking negatively about wages and benefits, or mentioning unions directly, to report that activity to a "Labor Relations Hotline." It's unclear what Walmart intended to do to those employees, if anything. But the retailer's intentions probably weren't positive. Walmart never explicitly threatened any employees speaking up for their rights as employees, but this instance of corporate leaking represented an image problem for the company. 4. Cerner Corporation Cerner Corporation is a health information technology company. And, back in 2001, it wasn't doing particularly well, so CEO Neal Patterson took it upon himself to berate his staffers about their declining performance. "We are getting less than 40 hours of work from a large number of our K.C.-based EMPLOYEES," he wrote. "The parking lot is sparsely used at 8 a.m.; likewise at 5 p.m. As managers -- you either do not know what your EMPLOYEES are doing; or you do not CARE. [...] you have a problem and you will fix it or I will replace you." Three days after the leaking of the memo, the share price of the company had fallen 22 percent in response to lost investor confidence. 5. Apple This one is worth including for the irony alone. After noting some of the publicly unpopular leaked memos of its tech contemporaries' tech as well as those of other major corporations -- and the leaks within its own ranks -- Apple made a decision. It decided to warn its employees about the consequences of leaking memos. In its announcement Apple claimed to have "caught" 29 leakers and arrested 12 of them. Apple then explained, in a veiled threat, "These people [will] not only lose their jobs; they can face extreme difficulty finding employment elsewhere." This memo, too, of course, was leaked, proving the ineffectiveness of the tactic. The point So, what's the point of looking at all these mishaps, failures and PR disasters? Realize that leaks will happen. You can't protect against a leak, no matter what kind of NDAs you have your employees sign. Don't get lulled into a false sense of security. You can't protect against a leak, no matter what kind of NDAs you have your employees sign. Don't get lulled into a false sense of security. Contemplate the worst-case scenario. Before you hit "send,' envision what the worst-case scenario would look like. That way, you're prepared for everything. Before you hit "send,' envision what the worst-case scenario would look like. That way, you're prepared for everything. Proofread. Read your memo over multiple times. Double check it for tone, intention and spelling. Think about how it might read to someone outside your company, or about any way it could be misinterpreted. Related: A Single Leak Can Ruin Your Business. Here's How to Protect Yourself. The wrong memo at the wrong time can make your company look terrible, hurting sales and damaging your brand reputation. Fortunately, with a cautious attitude, you can prevent or at least mitigate the damage you might incur from a leaked memo -- and avoid situations like the ones described above. Related: Is That Memo Worth Sending? These 5 Leaked Memos Will Make You Reconsider. What If, One Day, You Honestly Portrayed the 'Dark' Side of Building Your Company? A Tiny College Offers PR Crisis Lesson Businesses Should Study Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The future of banking looks bright! New possibilities, new technologies, all while serving an ever-expanding portion of the population! Oh, youre from a credit union. That introduction wasnt meant for you. I was talking to the big tech firms, the front-runners in creating banking solutions of tomorrow. What? Are you saying Jeff Bezos isnt one of my readers? Psh, you dont know that. Credit unions arent paving the way. Nor are they pioneering the ability to serve the underbanked. Seriously. Many are doing great things, thats for sure, yet the fundamental change is originating from tech firms. And theyre not doing it alone (more on that later). Lets take a look at a super-simplified cross-section of society, with a focus on traditional banking options. Where does the credit union industry fit? For the lowest-income and credit challenged (or no credit), they have few choices. A lack of financial knowledge and many other variables leads them predominantly to payday lenders (see post on that topic) or check-cashing stores. This situation, frankly, sucks. People are paying hundreds of percent (or more) in interest (or substantial fees) for access to their money. Its really expensive to be poor. When I deposit a check, I get every penny. Is that really fair? Individuals with sufficient credit to open an account can (and do) go to banks, but many choose a credit union, due to their lower fee structure. Those who choose a credit union tend to carry a higher credit card balance, with more cards and higher total debt. However, and this may be due to lower interest rates, more individualized (and thus forgiving) relationships, or some other factor, they are less likely to become delinquent in their debts. Higher-income individuals and businesses are more likely to be with the large banks. So big tech firms are looking for the path of least resistance into the banking world. It starts at the economic bottom, by offering necessities at far lower rates than the existing solutions. Then, they offer better programs than those that people have today, focusing on convenience. Finally, the companies want to become the lenders of choice for a wide range of needs. By already having successful business strategies, all this can be done at much lower margins than a dedicated banking institution could possibly reach. For example, Amazon barely makes any money on their Kindle or Echo devices (they might even sell at a loss), because they know users will purchase far more once they have them. The following is a discussion of selected large tech firms changing the banking landscape. Each are planting their own flag in the financial world of tomorrow. Will all be successful? Only time will tell. Where are the greatest opportunities? And how can a business decision help people the most? PayPal PayPal believes the answer to both those questions lies in that first economic category. As a pseudo-banking institution already, they have held money in online accounts for use on purchases for many years. This money could not be withdrawn at an ATM, nor used at a physical POS. Until now. PayPal now offers a debit card that includes many of the same features your credit union cards have. Want to pay for dinner? No problem. Withdraw money at an ATM? Sure. Deposit physical checks? Grab your phone and take a picture. All with no monthly fee, no minimum balance requirement, and a ~1% fee for deposited checks. PayPal is making it clear this account is not for everyone. Its mainly for those who you would call unbanked. In fact, their COO even said that if you already have a banking relationship, this isnt an account for you. They believe as the digital economy continues to grow, the largest opportunity is in those who arent currently banked. So PayPal is positioning themselves for enormous growth, while engaging an underserved portion of society, and minimizing economically stressed peoples reliance on high-fee payday lending. Sounds like the credit union mission, doesnt it? Other tech firms are taking a different route. Amazon Take Amazon. They want your checking accounts (allegedlyprobablylikely). Why would your members want to switch to Amazon for their checking? Its not like it would be any different. Except it could (according to surveys) be a fee-based account ($5-10 per month) that provided a series of perks. Perks like ID Theft Protection. Or Cell Phone Damage Coverage. Perhaps it would be integrated into Prime membership. We dont know. But 66% of people surveyed said they would consider paying or definitely sign up for that account, if it existed. If only your credit union could do something like that today(Disclosure: Thats my company) But I digress. Its not like Amazon is inexperienced in banking concepts. In 2011, they began small business lending to sellers on their site. They are now lending more than $1 Billion per year. And its invite only. Recently, Amazon has also expressed interest in serving the unbanked of the US and abroad. Look at them, taking on the jellies! Ok, PayPal. Theyre taking on PayPal. Venmo So you owe me $14.53 for dinner. Cool? Just Venmo me the money when you get a chance. Venmo grew so quickly that you can be forgiven if you are still recovering from the windblown hair as it blew past. Think of it as a peer to peer payment platform. It began as a way to send money through text messages, but quickly changed into its own cross-platform app. Users link existing debit cards/bank accounts and send or receive money through the service. In the time it took you to read this paragraph, you could have gotten reimbursed for gas, sent your portion for drinks last weekend, and gotten the money from another friend for the tickets to that awesome concert. They handled nearly $7 Billion in transactions in Q1 2017alone. Oh, and PayPal bought them in 2013. So giving them their own section is almost cheating. Besides, theres a newer service that aims to do the same thing, but with a twist Apple Your credit union probably supports Apple Pay. By that I mean your debit and credit cards can be added to Apple Pay on members iPhones, iPads, Watches, and Macs. Its a brilliant payment system that I use regularly (theres nothing like paying for groceries with your watchexcept notpaying for groceries). I love the simplicity and security of the process. I dont love how slowly merchants are adopting the new payment terminals (and then enabling the NFC tech in them to support it). Ugh, different discussion. Last year, Apple Pay got an upgrade. With Cash. Previously, Apple Pay only worked where a normal debit/credit card couldPOS, ie. paying at a merchant. It was useless for P2P payments like Venmo supported (and PopMoney, to speak CU service lingo). Apple Pay Cash links a debit or credit card to a digital stash of cash (you like that?) that you use to send/receive money right through iMessage. Yes, recipients have to be fellow Apple users, but, sheesh, its easy. Heck, it works with Siri. No data is available on usage, but given its built in to hundreds of millions of devices, Id say its only bound to grow. To establish these potential checking and/or savings accounts, fund these digital wallets, or receive deposited checks, none of these companies are making themselves a bank. Instead, these companies partner with an established bank, or multiple banks. Why? Think of your preparations when the NCUA examiner is inbound. Enough said. For example, for PayPals new debit card, they use a bank from Delaware for debit cards, another out of Georgia for check scanning, and a few banks in Utah for lending. Note these are all small banksis opportunity calling for your credit union? Amazon is in talks with JP Morgan Chase and Capital One for their checking program. Venmo uses your existing banking relationships. Apple Pay Cash uses a Discover debit card powered by Green Dot Bank, a fin-tech which also provides their own reloadable debit card with no minimum balance, no overdraft fees, and no credit check, while still offering things like bill pay. I feel like Ive talked about partnering to enhance your strengths while addressing your weaknesses. Ah, well, no worries. Were all here now. So the big tech firms all have a strategy to attract the banking customer of today and for years to come. Whats your plan? PS You may notice I excluded Zelle, the P2P platform of choice for American banks. It was developed by Early Warning Services out of Scottsdale, AZ, a company formed and owned by 7 banks, with 70 more in the process of joining. Its their answer to Venmo, and is built in to all their mobile apps. It connects more than 50% of checking accounts in the country and growing. So why didnt I mention such a large disruptor? Because theyre not a disruptor; theyre a service of the existing banking industry, responding to the popularity of the other platforms. You still have to pay attention to them, though. Competition is competition. So I ask againwhats your plan? The Next Russian Cyberattacks Will Be More Damaging The British Prime Minister Theresa May has pledged 15m to strengthen cybersecurity defences at an intelligence partners summit with the leaders of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who make up the "Five Eyes" security alliance with the UK and US. Speaking at the National Cyber Security Centre in London last month, the Prime Minister said: "Russia is using cyber... as part of a wider effort to attack and undermine the international system." "Its interference over the past year has included attacks on the public sector, media, telecommunications, and energy sectors." On March 15, the Department of Homeland Security together with the FBI announced that Russian government hackers infiltrated critical infrastructures in the US, including energy, nuclear, commercial facilities, water, aviation, and critical manufacturing sectors. According to the DHS-FBI report, malicious Russian activities have been ongoing since at least March 2016. The Russian malware, which has been sitting in the control systems of various US utilities, allows the Russians to shut off power or sabotage the energy grids. And they have done it before: The same malware that took down Ukraines electrical grid in 2015 and 2016 has been detected in US utilities. The potential damage of a nationwide black out, lets say on Election Day, would be significant, to say the least. And while Russian trolls and bots have captured public attention, they are already yesterdays game. The disinformation tools used by Moscow against the West are still fairly basic: They rely on exploiting human gullibility, vulnerabilities in the social media ecosystem, and lack of awareness among the public, the media, and policymakers. In the very near term, however, technological advancements in artificial intelligence and cyber capabilities will open opportunities for malicious actors to undermine democracies more covertly and effectively than what we have seen so far. Increasingly sophisticated cyber-tools, tested primarily in Ukraine, have already infected Western systems, as evidenced by the DHS-FBI report. An all-out attack on Western critical infrastructure seems inevitable. Lessons from Ukraine In the West, Russias cyber-attacks so far have been at the service of its disinformation operations: stolen data used to embarrass individuals, spin a narrative, discredit democratic institutions and values, and sow social discord. This was the pattern Russian operators followed in the United States, France, and Germany during the countries 201617 elections. Hacking email accounts of individuals or campaigns, leaking that stolen information using a proxy (primarily WikiLeaks), and then deploying an army of disinformation agents (bots, trolls, state controlled media) to disseminate and amplify a politically damaging narrative. Such cyber-enabled interference falls below the threshold of critical infrastructure attacks of significant consequence that could result in loss of life, significant destruction of property, or significant impact on [national security interests]. The nightmare of cyber-attacks crippling critical infrastructure systems still has the sound of science fiction to most Americans. But in Ukraine, this nightmare is real. As the laboratory for Russian activities, Ukraine has seen a significant uptick in attacks on its critical infrastructure systems since the 201314 Maidan revolution. A barrage of malware, denial of service attacks, and phishing campaigns bombard Ukraines critical infrastructure environments on a daily basis. In December 2015, a well-planned and sophisticated attack on Ukraines electrical grid targeted power distribution centers and left 230,000 residents without power the day before Christmas. The attackers were able to override operators password access to the system and also disable backup generators. Brookings Institute: Express: You Might Also Read: Leaked Emails Expose Russian Exploits In Ukraine: The Growing Threat Of Russian Cyber Reprisals On Britain: Deeds signed for Grant Street properties in Meyersdale Officials may discuss how to proceed at their meeting next Tuesday. It is said the more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war. This is a lesson India refuses to learn - sadly, most of the sweat is not out of any exertion, but frustration at the pace of modernisation and indigenisation of our armed forces. The world is moving towards third and fourth generation warfare. Third generation warfare uses speed, stealth and surprise and involves cyber warfare, airpower and networked armed forces delivering precision strikes. Fourth generation warfare is aimed against violent non-state actors like the ISIS. Yet, here we are, still struggling, confusing military modernisation with a shopping list of weapons - which we are the worlds largest importers of - waiting patiently for the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) to deliver the magic bullet. India Today cover story, The Army is Broke, for May 14, 2018. In China, meanwhile, President Xi Jinping has overseen dramatic changes in his countrys armed forces, and is turning it into the worlds fifth largest arms exporter. India, meanwhile, has failed to produce an effective rifle; locally made Arjun tanks cannot be used on the sensitive China or Pakistan borders because of performance issues; and after three decades spent developing our own light combat aircraft, India has now put out a tender for 110 warplanes. The last time the Indian Army underwent any sort of transformation was after the 2001 Parliament attacks when India updated General Sundarjis doctrine with the Cold Start strategy that would involve limited, rapid armoured thrusts, with infantry and air support, and allow offensive operations to begin within 48 hours after orders had been issued. Despite its grand public pronouncements on national security - the BJPs 2014 manifesto promised to "modernise the armed forces, fast track defence purchases and carry out organisational reform" - the defence ministry wallows in its bureaucratic quagmire, with four defence ministers in as many years. Although Indias defence budget has been hiked by 7.8 per cent, it is just about 1.6 per cent of the projected GDP for 2018-19, the lowest such figure since the 1962 war with China. According to experts, it needs to be over 2.5 per cent to ensure the armed forces are capable of tackling the "collusive threat" from Pakistan and China. During the Kargil war of 1999, then Army chief General VP Malik had said we shall fight with whatever we have. Almost 20 years later, the Army finds itself in almost the same situation with a budgetary squeeze and poor defence planning. The government has neither drawn up a national security strategy nor appointed a chief of defence staff (CDS), a single-point military advisor to the government who can foster integration of the armed forces and also allocate budgetary resources among them. In the absence of a CDS or an integrated headquarters of the armed forces, each individual service prepares to fight wars on its own and makes separate competing claims for budgetary resources. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is an ossified structure inherited from the British. But while Britain has moved on by horizontally integrating its MoD and armed forces, India still struggles with a wasteful colonial system. Other major militaries too are reducing manpower and increasing the use of technology; only the Indian Army is adding men instead of equipment. Executive editor Sandeep Unnithan, who wrote the cover story, has been covering the defence ministry for over a decade, which is roughly the time it takes the government to buy an item of military hardware. He says: It usually takes a crisis for the government to wake up to the neglect of the military as it did after the 1962 war and the Kargil war. Ironically, there is a lot of talk of nationalism, but no serious effort to resolve the mess in the MoD. The Make in India campaign for defence, which held great promise, is a failure. DRDO and ordnance factories are a millstone around the necks of the defence establishment. We are the largest importers of defence equipment in spite of this large government-owned military-industrial complex. The procedures are so convoluted that decisions are not made or are delayed so that equipment is obsolete. The Modi government may have removed corruption in defence purchases, but the paralysis remains. Our armed forces are a great institution with fine traditions. They need to be equipped for modern warfare with new and innovative thinking. Their courage can never be doubted; they need to be looked after. (India Today Editor-in-Chief's note for cover story, The Army is Broke; May 14, 2018.) Also read: Why India and China's new-found bonhomie could be historic The Sangh Parivar's abhorrence for and denial of history makes a lot of sense. After all, the project of a "Hindu Rashtra" needs a clean slate. Any resemblance to Swachh Bharat Abhiyan here is not a coincidence. There is only one little hitch. The fantasy of India as a clean slate to make it a playground for Hindutva fascism is threatened by the country's plural history and syncretism. No matter how many Mughalsarais are renamed as Deen Dayal Upadhyay stations, Aurangzeb Roads changed to APJs, or Taj Mahals converted into Shiva temples called Tejo Mahalayas, there simply is no way to erase the remnants of the long journey India has undertaken before it turned into a republic. If only they knew a nation is not a destination, but a perpetual contest between competing identities. Moreover, a nation is about its people, and people have a tendency to hold on to their past. It helps them in identifying and asserting themselves in a contested democracy. The latest in that long saga of the Sangh anxiety is a portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah hung on one of the walls of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students' union office. After nearly 80 years of its innocuous presence inside the building, which also has portraits of Dr BR Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi among others, a BJP parliamentarian wants it removed and has suggested so in his letter to the AMU administration. A suggestion disguised more as a threat. A report today said chief minister Yogi Adityanath's mercenaries in Hindu Yuva Vahini have asked AMU to remove the picture within 48 hours, failing which they will do it themselves. So, why does the Sangh hate Jinnah? Gandhi and Jinnah in Bombay, September 1944. Photo for representational purpose. (Credit: Wikimedia Commons/gandhiserve.org) Like it happens with most cases of hatred, it's again born out of ignorance. That Jinnah was the founder of Pakistan, and hence responsible for India's Partition, is as reductionist as to suggest Mahatma Gandhi was behind India's independence from the colonial rule. AMU as an institution is nearly 150 years old now. It started off as Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental College in 1875 and turned into a university in 1920, decades before India's independence. The university is the product of a certain moment in history, when elites and educationists - which included not only Muslims, but also Hindus and "reformist" British - led by Sir Syed Ahmad Khan decided to impart modern education to the Muslim community, which was the worst victim of the brutal aftermath of the 1857 rebellion. With the arrival of Gandhi and the launch of a formal freedom movement, as our NCERT books suggest, AMU, like all other universities in those days, responded to it. That it turned out to be a major platform for Muslims to rally around should surprise nobody. Jinnah, in that context, became popular on the Aligarh campus. Yet, Jinnah was not the first person that the AMU students' union awarded its prestigious life membership to. That honour was given, rightly so, to Gandhi in the 1920s. In subsequent years, other national leaders, including Ambedkar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Sir CV Raman, Jai Prakash Narayan and others were made life members of the students' union. Jinnah made the cut in 1938. Like portraits of most leaders inside the union building, Jinnah also found a spot. That portrait has been hanging at the AMU students' union hall for decades, and yet, it did not turn AMU into another Pakistan. The university remains a premier central institution, funded by the government itself. Did, for example, portraits of British colonialists-cum-orientalists, found in most top universities across India, turn them into Oxford or Cambridge? A university like AMU is more than a university. It is also a historical artefact, a realisation of the Aligarh Movement in concrete, literally. AMU, like most of India's artefacts, tells us about the long journey the idea of India has undertaken with all its complexities and contradictions. The past is not an annoying neighbour you decide to stay away from. So, let's be clear here, and acknowledge this new aggression under the current regime to destabilise AMU, just like the regime has destabilised other premier institutions, including JNU, which was also declared anti-national by the same forces. The idea is to paint Muslims as divisive, and having affiliations with and sympathies for Pakistan. The Jinnah row also comes a week after the RSS said it will hold a shakha on the campus. The design is to polarise the country ahead of multiple elections in various states this year, and the crucial Lok Sabha election in 2019. For a party and a government whose only priority is to win elections, there is no reason to believe that the Jinnah story will end here. The portrait in AMU will no more be frozen in time, as it has been so far. It will be retouched, and a fresh coat of stereotypes and suspicions about Indians Muslims will be put on it. The same, old story of brute majoritarian politics will continue with a new hue. Also read: Private matter of Mr and Mrs Jinnah's love and desires If April was cruel - 40 killings including 20 on the first day of the month and six on the last - May is turning out to be uglier in restive Kashmir. On the morning of May 2, a school bus ferrying 50 schoolchildren was attacked by stone-pelters in the apple town of Shopian, a hotbed of new-age militancy in south Kashmir. Two children were wounded, one of them critically, some 50km from the summer capital of Srinagar. Eight-year-old Rehan Ahmad, son of Nooruddin Gorsi of Kellar Shopian, received head injuries and was rushed to Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Soura, for treatment. According to SSP Shailendra Mishra, the bus ferrying students of Rainbow International School was targeted by stone-pelters who were sitting on a hillock. The stone-pelters had called a "hartal" to mourn fresh killings, especially that of Hizbul militant Sameer Tiger his associate, and a civilian the trio killed during an encounter in adjacent Pulwama district on April 30. School children being attacked by stone pelters in Shopian? ? Shameful https://t.co/LtvFJnORGW Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) May 2, 2018 Stone throwing incident on a school bus is quiet disturbing one fails to understand why a school bus carrying children was targeted?Those who indulge in such holliganism should realise that these actions tarnish our movement & provide an opportunity to our adversary to defame it. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) May 2, 2018 School bus attacked by stone pelters in Shopian South Kashmir. Two minor students injured , one student studying in 2nd Standard is critical & referred to SMHS hospital after head injury.Agar AZADI aise hi hoti hai toh, I don't want this so called AZADI.#GivePeaceAChance pic.twitter.com/SNI1vz0ZTr Zakir Khan (@ZakirKhan012) May 2, 2018 In the last four months, Kashmir has witnessed over 100 killings, including that of some 40 local militants, 30 civilians and security personnel. Given the number of deaths, Kashmir has been in an unending state of mourning. By the evening of the fateful day, when schoolchildren were attacked, there was another killing. Umar Kumar, a 17-year-old schoolboy from the same district was killed in firing allegedly by security forces, when protesters tried to save besieged militants in Pinjoora area of Shopian. Such killings and other rights abuse are bound to trigger public fury. But pitched battles between protesters and security forces will always be different from mob attack on civilians. A few days ago, during a similar shutdown, stone-pelters stopped an ambulance in Natipora area of Srinagar. Somehow restraining themselves from pelting stones, the mob preferred to resort to hooting at the patient and his attendants, as if it was the patients fault to have fallen sick on a day of "hartal". Amid hooting and sloganeering, the stone-pelters warned the ambulance to disappear, lest they lose their cool any further. Representational Image In the latest attack, as per a Hindustan Times report, seven tourists were injured when stone-pelters targeted passing vehicles in south Kashmirs Anantnag district on May 1. What was the patients fault and how were the schoolchildren or tourists at fault? Kashmir is getting flooded with such queries on stone-pelting. But then, we have evolved a mechanism to classify stone-pelters. The logic is simple: If a civilian is attacked, we label the attackers as miscreant and not stone-pelter. If Kashmir is a political dispute, awaiting resolution through dialogue, a stone is not expected to be the mediator, unless one expects that mountains of this Valley in the Himalayas have to come on table. Stone-pelting in Kashmir may have been a symbol of resistance for years, but now its proving more of an expression of abuse. Such attacks to protest against human rights abuse is only compounding the unjust practices against Kashmiris. The attack on schoolchildren has only hurt the Kashmir cause, the violence reminding of Karni Sena's attack in Gurgaon. On January 24, the Rajput Karni Sena stooped to an unprecedented low by attacking a school bus in Gurgaon while protesting against the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Padmaavat. If only the stones could talk, those hurting innocent children would have been given a befitting reply. Also read: Why Kashmiris fear summer of 2018 is about to get bloodier The root meaning of success is outcome, result - in other words - accomplishment of a desired end. This morning, I pondered over this noun as I recalled a question asked to me, many moons ago, by a follower and well-wisher on Twitter: "How successful has Indias covert operations been against Pakistan?" A simple yet intriguing question, especially in the current geo-political context and rise of powerful personalities as leaders in Asia and the US. Before determining the how of success, it is important to define what success looks like, feels like. And while, there could be no ambiguity in accepting that Pakistans India policy has been a dismal failure for itself, its economy, its public image, its reputation and societal development - but if you were to ask a Pakistani General, the mere ability of Pakistan to not accept its evident failure is somehow construed as success of the faujs India policy. Any psychologist would conclude this as sickness, and a mental state that has come about by "deluding the self". This is the trouble with "deceit and lies", in the short run it might help preserve ego, but you end up believing your own lies and eventually create and live your illusion because youve lost the strength to face reality. The reality being - failure of India policy, which tragically translates to failure of Pakistans current national identity, because Pakistans identity is built upon antagonism towards Hindu/India, and therefore if Pakistan has to win, India must lose. But how has Indias Pakistan policy fared? Which brings us to explore what has been Indias end goal vis-a-vis Pakistan. Lets pour some facts on the table and see if we can make any sense: What does it all sum up to? To me this screams - a convoluted policy, policy discontinuity, a policy framed at the whims of person/s at helm, a policy which is reactionary and overall lacking discipline, diligence, thoughtfulness and patience. Which brings us to our original question - has India defined the what success looks like, of its Pakistan policy? As a student and observer of South Asia peace and security studies, its apparent to me that India has no end state defined for Pakistan, expect one - that of defending India in all possible ways - by fighting or by appeasement or managing status quo. While there are folks who would differ, considering the present Hindu nationalist dispensation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and possibly conclude it as India attempting to dismember Pakistan as part of end state. Which might not be entirely inaccurate, surely Modi and his policy-makers have dismember Pakistan, somewhere, as option in an escalatory end state, but certainly it isnt the "first few" on the escalatory ladder of Pakistan policy. PM Modi began his tenure with posturing and rhetoric of "terror and talks" wont go hand-in-hand. However, ridiculously enough, PM Modi invited Prime Minister of Pakistan for his swearing in ceremony why? What changed on the ground since his being elected as PM? Did Pakistan Army halt terror? This episode substantiates the argument that India suffers from policy lapse, surprisingly every new person in New Delhi naively starts with a clean slate or reset of Pakistan policy, mindlessly hoping somehow by making a more genuine push towards peace, than the last guy, they can get Pakistan fauj off its jihadi bandwagon against India. This is what I referred to as, lacking an end state along with policy discontinuity. What followed is even more naive and, in my opinion, borderline imprudent, especially coming from tenured hands of Ajit Doval - the famed or infamous and notorious (from the vantage point of Pakistan) national security advisor who also has extensive field experience in covert operations. Post the initial Modi-Nawaz swearing-in ceremony meet, India enacted good cop, bad cop policy, beginning with taking out of Lashkar chief Hafiz Saeeds security lead, Khalid Bashar in 2013, covert bombing of various Pakistani towns and cities, worsening already fragile ethnic fault lines within Pakistan, widening of Shia-Sunni rift, pushing back fauji encirclement of Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif, and arming Baloch rebels in tit-for-tat response to Kashmir. Understandably all these are tactics to wear down Pakistan and inflict cost of enmity, but incompetence of Indias policy showed off when instead of waiting for Pakistan to come to table, PM Modi landed in Lahore acting as the good cop. Really? Elementary grasp of science of deduction would tell, you require at least two to play the good cop, bad cop act. What followed after PM Modi gate-crashing Sharif familys marriage, was Uri and Pathankot attacks, followed by continued stalling of investigation on these attacks and release of Hafiz Saeed the alleged mastermind of Mumbai 26/11 attack. Surely, one thing works in Modis favour is his ability to face reality and realign. India has since, drifted back into terror has to stop mode, with greater focus on international isolation for Pakistan, aligning US-Afghanistan to Indias policy and continuing to chip away Pakistan faujs grip over its subject by covert actions inside Pakistan and overt action on the Line of Control. But has India achieved any success, if so how much? In my opinion, the only success India deserves credit for since PM Modi, is raising the cost of terror for Pakistan, and below are three key results: 1) Pakistan-sponsored terror attacks are restrained to Army camps (unlike in the past where civilians where prime targets). 2) Terror attack target and penetration limited to border areas (unlike in the past where terrorists reached major Indian cities and towns). 3) Improved terrorist kill rate to total deaths in terror incidents. Nonetheless, without long-term policy continuity and national will to sustain an end state, these are but temporary gains only to be forgotten by new regimes in their sheepish quest for peace by appeasement. Significantly, the cost of poor policy and lack of will to pursue an end state by India affects not just India, but Kashmiris on both sides and even Pakistanis who are trapped in the vicious psychosis of "nazaria-e-pakistan". I sign off with, Ye tum ne kesa raabta rakha. Na qareeb aye, na faasla rakha. Also read: Kabul twin blasts: What the ISIS attacks mean for India, Pakistan and the US The following companies are subsidiares of Abbott Laboratories: 3A Nutrition (Vietnam) Company Limited, ABON Biopharm (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AGA Medical Belgium, AGA Medical Corporation, AGA Medical Holdings Inc., ALR Holdings, AML Medical LLC, APK Advanced Medical Technologies LLC, ATS Bermuda Holdings Limited, ATS Laboratories Inc., Abbott, Abbott (Jiaxing) Nutrition Co. Ltd., Abbott (UK) Finance Limited, Abbott (UK) Holdings Limited, Abbott AG, Abbott Asia Holdings Limited, Abbott Asia Investments Limited, Abbott Australasia Holdings Limited, Abbott Australasia Pty Ltd, Abbott B.V., Abbott Bahamas Overseas Businesses Corporation, Abbott Belgian Investments, Abbott Bermuda Holding Ltd., Abbott Biologicals B.V., Abbott Biologicals LLC, Abbott Bulgaria Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Capital India Limited, Abbott Cardiovascular Inc., Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc., Abbott Delaware LLC, Abbott Diabetes Care Inc., Abbott Diabetes Care Limited, Abbott Diabetes Care Sales Corporation, Abbott Diagnostics GmbH, Abbott Diagnostics International Ltd., Abbott Diagnostics Technologies AS, Abbott Doral Investments S.L., Abbott Equity Holdings Unlimited, Abbott Equity Investments LLC, Abbott Established Products Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Finance Company SA, Abbott Financial Holdings SRL, Abbott France S.A.S., Abbott Fund Tanzania Limited, Abbott Gesellschaft m.b.H., Abbott GmbH & Co. KG, Abbott Health Products LLC, Abbott Healthcare (Puerto Rico) Ltd., Abbott Healthcare B.V., Abbott Healthcare Costa Rica S.A., Abbott Healthcare LLC, Abbott Healthcare Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Healthcare Private Limited, Abbott Healthcare Products B.V., Abbott Healthcare Products Ltd, Abbott Holding (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding GmbH, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited, Abbott Holding Subsidiary (Gibraltar) Limited Luxembourg S.C.S., Abbott Holdings B.V., Abbott Holdings LLC, Abbott Holdings Limited, Abbott Holdings Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Hungary Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Iberian Investments (2) Limited, Abbott Iberian Investments Limited, Abbott India Limited, Abbott Informatics Asia Pacific Limited, Abbott Informatics Canada Inc, Abbott Informatics Corporation, Abbott Informatics Europe Limited, Abbott Informatics France, Abbott Informatics Germany GmbH, Abbott Informatics Netherlands B.V., Abbott Informatics Singapore Pte. Limited, Abbott Informatics Spain S.A., Abbott Informatics Technologies Ltd, Abbott International Corporation, Abbott International Enterprises Ltd., Abbott International Holdings Limited, Abbott International LLC, Abbott International Luxembourg S.ar.l., Abbott Investments Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Ireland, Abbott Ireland Financing Designated Activity Company, Abbott Ireland Limited, Abbott Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Kazakhstan Limited Liability Partnership, Abbott Knoll Investments B.V., Abbott Korea Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Bangladesh) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco (Dos) SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Chile) Holdco SpA, Abbott Laboratories (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Laboratories (Mozambique) Limitada, Abbott Laboratories (Pakistan) Limited, Abbott Laboratories (Philippines), Abbott Laboratories (Puerto Rico) Incorporated, Abbott Laboratories (Singapore) Private Limited, Abbott Laboratories A/S, Abbott Laboratories Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Abbott Laboratories B.V., Abbott Laboratories C.A., Abbott Laboratories Finance B.V., Abbott Laboratories GmbH, Abbott Laboratories Inc., Abbott Laboratories International LLC, Abbott Laboratories Ireland Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited, Abbott Laboratories Limited - Laboratoires Abbott Limitee, Abbott Laboratories NZ Limited, Abbott Laboratories Pacific Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Poland Spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Laboratories Products B.V., Abbott Laboratories Residential Development Fund Inc., Abbott Laboratories S.A., Abbott Laboratories SA, Abbott Laboratories Services Corp., Abbott Laboratories Slovakia s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories South Africa (Pty) Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Laboratories Trustee Company Limited, Abbott Laboratories Uruguay S.A., Abbott Laboratories Vascular Enterprises, Abbott Laboratories d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories de Chile Limitada, Abbott Laboratories de Colombia S.A., Abbott Laboratories de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Abbott Laboratories druzba za farmacijo in diagnostiko d.o.o., Abbott Laboratories s.r.o., Abbott Laboratories(Hellas) Societe Anonyme, Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios S.A., Abbott Laboratorios del Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Abbott Laboratuarlari Ithalat Ihracat ve Ticaret Ltd.Sti, Abbott Laboratorios Lda, Abbott Laboratorios do Brasil Ltda., Abbott Limited Egypt LLC, Abbott Logistics B.V., Abbott Management GmbH, Abbott Management LLC, Abbott Manufacturing Singapore Private Limited, Abbott Mature Products International Unlimited Company, Abbott Mature Products Management Limited, Abbott Medical (Hong Kong) Limited, Abbott Medical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Abbott Medical (Portugal) Distribuicao de Produtos Medicos Lda, Abbott Medical (Schweiz) AG, Abbott Medical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Abbott Medical (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Australia Pty. Ltd., Abbott Medical Austria Ges.m.b.H., Abbott Medical Balkan d.o.o. Beograd (Novi Beograd), Abbott Medical Belgium, Abbott Medical Canada Inc./ Medicale Abbott Canada Inc., Abbott Medical Danmark A/S, Abbott Medical Devices Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Espana S.A., Abbott Medical Estonia OU, Abbott Medical Finland Oy, Abbott Medical France SAS, Abbott Medical GmbH, Abbott Medical Hellas Limited Liability Trading Company, Abbott Medical Ireland Limited, Abbott Medical Italia S.p.A., Abbott Medical Japan Co. Ltd., Abbott Medical Korea Limited, Abbott Medical Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Abbott Medical Laboratories LTD, Abbott Medical Nederland B.V., Abbott Medical New Zealand Limited, Abbott Medical Norway AS, Abbott Medical Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Medical Sweden AB, Abbott Medical Taiwan Co., Abbott Medical U.K. Limited, Abbott Medical spoka z ograniczona odpowiedzialnoscia, Abbott Middle East S.A.R.L., Abbott Molecular Inc., Abbott Morocco SARL, Abbott Nederland C.V., Abbott Nederland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Netherlands Investments B.V., Abbott Norge AS, Abbott Nutrition Limited, Abbott Nutrition Manufacturing Inc., Abbott Operations Singapore Pte. Ltd., Abbott Operations Uruguay S.R.L., Abbott Overseas Cyprus Limited, Abbott Overseas Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Overseas S.A., Abbott Oy, Abbott Point of Care Canada Limited, Abbott Point of Care Inc., Abbott Poland Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Procurement LLC, Abbott Products (Philippines) Inc., Abbott Products (Spain) S.L., Abbott Products Algerie EURL, Abbott Products B.V., Abbott Products Distribution SAS, Abbott Products Egypt LLC, Abbott Products Limited, Abbott Products Limited Liability Company, Abbott Products Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Products Operations AG, Abbott Products Operations LLC, Abbott Products Romania S.R.L., Abbott Products Tunisie S.A.R.L., Abbott Products Unlimited Company, Abbott Resources Inc., Abbott Resources International Inc., Abbott S.r.l., Abbott Saudi Arabia Trading Company, Abbott Scandinavia Aktiebolag, Abbott Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, Abbott South Africa Luxembourg S.a r.l., Abbott Strategic Opportunities Limited, Abbott Trading Company Inc., Abbott Universal LLC, Abbott Vascular Devices (2) Limited, Abbott Vascular Devices Limited, Abbott Vascular Inc., Abbott Vascular Instruments Deutschland GmbH, Abbott Vascular International, Abbott Vascular Japan Co. Ltd, Abbott Vascular Limitada, Abbott Vascular Netherlands B.V., Abbott Vascular Solutions Inc., Abbott Ventures Inc., Abbott West Indies Limited, Abbott drustvo sa ogranicenom odgovornoscu za trgovinu i usluge, Advanced Neuromodulation Systems Inc., Alere, Alere (Shanghai) Diagnostics Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Healthcare Management Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Medical Sales Co. Ltd., Alere (Shanghai) Technology Co. Ltd., Alere A/S, Alere AB, Alere AS, Alere AS Holdings Limited, Alere BBI Holdings Limited, Alere Bangladesh Limited, Alere China Co. Ltd., Alere Colombia S.A., Alere Connect LLC, Alere Connected Health Limited, Alere Connected Health Ltd., Alere Diagnostics GmbH, Alere DoA Holding GmbH, Alere GmbH, Alere GmbH (Austria), Alere GmbH (Germany), Alere HK Holdings Ltd., Alere Health B.V., Alere Health BVBA, Alere Health Corp., Alere Health Sdn Bhd, Alere Health Services B.V., Alere Healthcare (Pty) Limited, Alere Healthcare Connections Limited, Alere Healthcare Inc., Alere Healthcare Nigeria Limited, Alere Healthcare S.L., Alere Holdco Inc., Alere Holding GmbH, Alere Holdings Bermuda Limited, Alere Holdings Pty Limited, Alere Home Monitoring Inc., Alere Inc., Alere Informatics Inc., Alere International Holding Corp., Alere International Limited, Alere Lda, Alere Limited, Alere Limited (New Zealand), Alere Medical BVBA, Alere Medical Co. Ltd., Alere Medical Pakistan (Private) Limited, Alere Medical Private Limited, Alere North America LLC, Alere Oy Ab, Alere Philippines Inc., Alere Phoenix ACQ Inc., Alere Pte Ltd, Alere S.A., Alere S.r.l., Alere S/A, Alere SAS, Alere San Diego Inc., Alere Scarborough Inc., Alere Spain S.L., Alere Switzerland GmbH, Alere Technologies GmbH, Alere Technologies Holdings Limited, Alere Technologies Limited, Alere Toxicology AB, Alere Toxicology Inc., Alere Toxicology S.r.l., Alere Toxicology Services Inc., Alere Toxicology plc, Alere UK Holdings Limited, Alere UK Subco Limited, Alere ULC, Alere US Holdings LLC, Alere s.r.o., Alisoc Investment & Co, Amedica Biotech Inc., Ameditech Inc., American Generics S.A.S., American Medical Supplies Inc., American Pharmacist Inc., Antares S.A., Apica Cardiovascular Limited, Aquagestion Capacitacion S.A., Aquagestion S.A., Arriva Medical LLC, Arriva Medical Philippines Inc., Arvis Investments Limited, Atlas Farmaceutica S.A., Avee Laboratories Inc., Axis-Shield AD III AS, Axis-Shield AD IV AS, Axis-Shield AS, Axis-Shield Diagnostics Limited, Axis-Shield Ltd., BBI Animal Health Limited, BBI Diagnostics Group 2 Public Limited Company, Banco de Vida S.A., Bioabsorbable Vascular Solutions Inc., Bioalgae S.A., Biohealth LLC, Biosite Incorporated, Bosque Bonito S.A., Branan Medical Corporation, Brandex Europe C.V., British Colloids Limited, CFR Chile S.A., CFR Interamericas EL Salvador Sociedad Anonima de Capital Variable, CFR Interamericas Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, CFR Interamericas Panama S.A., CFR Pharmaceuticals, California Property Holdings III LLC, CardioMEMS LLC, Caripharm Inc., Cephea Valve Technologies, Cephea Valve Technologies Inc., Colibri Medical Aktiebolag, Comercializadora y Distribuidora CFR Interamericas Honduras S.A., Concateno South Limited, Concateno UK Limited, Consorcio Tecnologico en Biomedicina Clinico-Molecular S.A., Continuum Services LLC, Cozart Limited, Dextech S.A., Diagnostik Nord GmbH, Distribuciones Uquifa S.A.S., Domesco Medical Import-Export Joint-Stock Corporation, Duphar International Research B.V., Endocardial Solutions, Epocal (US) Inc, Esprit de Vie S.A., European Chemicals & Co, European Drug Testing Service EDTS AB, European Services S.A., Evalve Inc., Evalve International Inc., FARMINDUSTRIA S.A., Fada Pharma Paraguay Sociedad Anonima, Fadapharma del Ecuador S.A., Farmaceutica Mont Blanc S.L., Farmacologia Em Aquicultura Veterinaria Ltda., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV Ecuador S.A., Farmacologia en Aquacultura Veterinaria FAV S.A., Fernwood Investment S.A., First Check Diagnostics LLC, Focus Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Forensics Limited, Forestcreek Overseas S.A., Fournier Pharma Corp., Fournier Pharma GmbH, Fournier Pharmaceuticals Limited, Framed B.V., Gabmed GmbH, Garden Hills LLC, Global Analytical Development LLC, Globapharm & CO LP, Glomed Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Golnorth Investments S.A., Gynocare Limited, Gynopharm Sociedad Anonima, Gynopharm de Centroamerica S.A., Gynopharm de Venezuela C.A., Hi-Tronics Designs Inc., IDEV Technologies Inc., IG Innovations Limited, IMTC Finance B.V., IMTC Holdings B.V., IMTC Technologies Inc., Ibis Biosciences LLC, Igloo Zone Chile S.A., Igloo Zone S.L., Inmobiliaria Naknek S.A.C., Innovacon Inc., Instant Tech Subsidiary Acquisition Inc., Instant Technologies Inc., Instituto de Criopreservacion de Chile S.A., Integrated Vascular Systems Inc., Inverness Canadian Acquisition Corporation, Inverness Medical (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Australia Pty Ltd., Inverness Medical Innovations Hong Kong Limited, Inverness Medical Innovations SK LLC, Inverness Medical Investments LLC, Inverness Medical LLC, Inverness Medical Shimla Private Limited, Inversiones K2 SpA, Inversiones Komodo S.R.L., Ionian Technologies LLC, Irvine Biomedical Inc., Kalila Medical, Kangshenyunga S.A., Knoll UK Investments Unlimited, LLC VeroInPharm, Laboratoires Fournier S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano Lafrancol S.A.S., Laboratorio Franco Colombiano del Ecuador S.A., Laboratorio Internacional Argentino S.A., Laboratorio Synthesis S.A.S., Laboratorios Lafi Limitada, Laboratorios Naturmedik S.A.S., Laboratorios Pauly Pharmaceutical S.A.S., Laboratorios Recalcine S.A., Laboratorios Transpharm S.A., Laboratory Specialists of America Inc., Lafrancol Dominicana S.A.S., Lafrancol Guatemala S.A. Sociedad Anonima, Lafrancol Internacional S.A.S, Lafrancol Peru S.R.L, Lake Forest Investments LLC, Lightlab Imaging Inc., Limited Liability Company Abbott Laboratories, Limited Liability Company Abbott Ukraine, Limited Liability Company VEROPHARM, Lung Fung Hong (China) Limited, Mansbridge Pharmaceuticals Limited, MediGuide LLC, MediGuide Ltd., Medscreen Holdings Limited, Metropolitana Farmaceutica S.A., Midwest Properties LLC, Murex Argentina S.A., Murex Biotech Limited, Murex Biotech South Africa, Murex Diagnostics Inc., Murex Diagnostics International Inc., Natural Supplement Association LLC, Negocios Denia Sociedad Anonima, Neosalud S.A.C., Nether Pharma N.P. C.V., NeuroTherm LLC, Normann Pharma-Handels GmbH, North Shore Properties Inc., Novamedi S.A., Novasalud.com S.A., Nutravida S.A., OJSC Voronezhkhimpharm, Omnilab Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OptiMedica, Orgenics France SAS, Orgenics International Holdings B.V., Orgenics Ltd., PBM-Selfcare LLC, PDD II LLC, PDD LLC, PT Alere Health, PT. Abbott Indonesia, PT. Abbott Products Indonesia, Pacesetter Inc., Pantech (RF) (PTY) LTD, Pembrooke Occupational Health Inc., Penagos S.A., Pharma International Sociedad Anonima, Pharmaceutical Technologies (Pharmatech) S.A., Pharmatech Boliviana S.A., Polygon Labs S.A., Quality Assured Services Inc., RF Medical Holdings LLC, RTL Holdings Inc., Ramses Business Corp., Recben Xenerics Farmaceutica Limitada, Redwood Toxicology Laboratory Inc., Rich Horizons International Limited, SC VEROPHARM, SJ Medical Mexico S de R.L. de C.V., SJM International Inc., SJM Thunder Holding Company, SPDH Inc., Saboya Enterprises Corporation, Salviac Limited, Scanax AS, Sealing Solutions Inc., Selfcare Technology Inc., Shandong Abbott Dairy Product Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Medical Devices Science and Technology Co. Ltd., Shanghai Abbott Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Shanghai Si Fa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Sinensix & Co., Spinal Modulation LLC, St. Jude Medical, St. Jude Medical AB, St. Jude Medical ATG Inc., St. Jude Medical Argentina S.A., St. Jude Medical Asia Pacific Holdings GK, St. Jude Medical Atrial Fibrillation Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Brasil Ltda., St. Jude Medical Business Services Inc., St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Inc., St. Jude Medical Colombia Ltda., St. Jude Medical Coordination Center, St. Jude Medical Costa Rica Limitada, St. Jude Medical Europe Inc., St. Jude Medical Export Ges.m.b.H., St. Jude Medical GVA Sarl, St. Jude Medical Holdings B.V., St. Jude Medical India Private Limited, St. Jude Medical International Holding, St. Jude Medical LLC, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings II, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings NT, St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings SMI S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Luxembourg Holdings TC S.a r.l., St. Jude Medical Mexico Business Services S. de R.L. de C.V., St. Jude Medical Middle East DMCC, St. Jude Medical Operations (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., St. Jude Medical Puerto Rico LLC, St. Jude Medical S.C. Inc., St. Jude Medical Systems AB, St. Jude Medical Turkey Medikal Urunler Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Standard Diagnostics Inc., Standing Stone LLC, Swan-Myers Incorporated, TC1 LLC, Tendyne Holdings Inc., Tendyne Medical Inc., Thoratec Delaware LLC, Thoratec Europe Limited, Thoratec LLC, Thoratec Switzerland GmbH, Tobal Products Incorporated, Topera GmbH in Liquidation, Topera Inc., Tremora S.A., Tuenir S.A., TwistDx, UAB Abbott Laboratories, UAB Abbott Medical Lithuania, Union-Madison Realty Company Inc., Unipath Limited (dba Alere International/aka Cranfield), Unipath Management Limited, Unipath Pension Trustee Limited, Veropharm, Veropharm Limited Liability Partnership, Vida Cell Inversiones S.A., Vida Cell S.A., Vivalsol, W&R Pharma Handels GmbH, Western Pharmaceuticals S.A., X Technologies Inc., Yissum Holding Limited, ZonePerfect Nutrition Company, eScreen Canada ULC, eScreen Inc., ( ), and Abbott Laboratories Baltics. Allergan plc, a pharmaceutical company, develops, manufactures, and commercializes branded pharmaceutical, device, biologic, surgical, and regenerative medicine products worldwide. The company operates in three segments: US Specialized Therapeutics, US General Medicine, and International. It offers a portfolio of products in various therapeutic areas, including medical aesthetics and dermatology, eye care, neuroscience, urology, gastrointestinal, women's health, and anti-infective therapeutic products. The company also offers breast implants and tissue expanders; and RM-131 (relamorelin), a peptide ghrelin agonist for the treatment of diabetic gastroparesis. In addition, it develops medical and cosmetic treatments; therapies for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and other liver diseases; inhibitor for the treatment of psoriasis and other autoimmune disorders; atopic dermatitis drug candidate; peri-ocular rings for extended drug delivery and reducing elevated intraocular pressure in glaucoma patients; and treatments for neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease. Further, the company develops RST-001, a novel gene therapy for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa; small molecule therapeutics for inflammatory and fibrotic diseases; topical medicines for fat reduction; and delivery system and botulinum toxin-based prescription products. It has collaboration, option, and license agreement with Lyndra, Inc.; and strategic alliance and option agreement with Editas Medicine, Inc. Allergan plc also has licensing agreements with Assembly Biosciences, Inc.; MedImmune; and Heptares Therapeutics, Ltd. The company was formerly known as Actavis plc and changed its name to Allergan plc in June 2015. Allergan plc was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of The Travelers Companies: 10762962 Canada Inc., 350 Market Street LLC, 8527512 Canada Inc., Aetna Life and Casualty Co, American Equity Insurance Company, American Equity Specialty Insurance Company, Aprilgrange Limited, Arch Street North LLC, Auto Hartford Investments LLC, Bayhill Restaurant II Associates, Camperdown Corporation, Constitution State Services LLC, Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Company, Discover Specialty Insurance Company, F&G UK Underwriters Limited, Farmington Casualty Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Company, Fidelity and Guaranty Insurance Underwriters Inc., First Floridian Auto and Home Insurance Company, Gulf Underwriters Insurance Company, IHP Capital Partners Fund VIII L.P., Northbrook Holdings Inc., Northfield Insurance Company, Northland Casualty Company, Northland Insurance Company, Phoenix UK Investments LLC, SPC Insurance Agency Inc., Select Insurance Company, Simply Business Holdings Inc., Simply Business Inc., St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, St. Paul Guardian Insurance Company, St. Paul Mercury Insurance Company, St. Paul Protective Insurance Company, St. Paul Surplus Lines Insurance Company, Standard Fire Properties LLC, Standard Fire UK Investments LLC, TCI Global Services Inc., TPC Investments Inc., TPC U.K. Investments LLC, The Automobile Insurance Company of Hartford Connecticut, The Charter Oak Fire Insurance Company, The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, The Family Business Institute LLC, The Phoenix Insurance Company, The St. Paul Companies Inc., The Standard Fire Insurance Company, The Travelers Casualty Company, The Travelers Home and Marine Insurance Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company, The Travelers Indemnity Company of America, The Travelers Indemnity Company of Connecticut, The Travelers Lloyds Insurance Company, TravCo Insurance Company, Travelers (Bermuda) Limited, Travelers Brazil Acquisition LLC, Travelers Brazil Holding LLC, Travelers Casualty Company of Connecticut, Travelers Casualty Insurance Company of America, Travelers Casualty UK Investments LLC, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America, Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Europe Limited, Travelers Commercial Casualty Company, Travelers Commercial Insurance Company, Travelers Constitution State Insurance Company, Travelers Distribution Alliance Inc., Travelers Excess and Surplus Lines Company, Travelers Global Inc., Travelers Indemnity U.K. Investments LLC, Travelers Insurance Company Limited, Travelers Insurance Company of Canada, Travelers Insurance Designated Activity Company, Travelers Insurance Group Holdings Inc., Travelers Lloyds of Texas Insurance Company, Travelers London Limited, Travelers MGA Inc., Travelers Management Limited, Travelers Marine LLC, Travelers Participacoes em Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Personal Insurance Company, Travelers Personal Security Insurance Company, Travelers Property Casualty Company of America, Travelers Property Casualty Corp., Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company, Travelers Seguros Brasil S.A., Travelers Syndicate Management Limited, Travelers Texas MGA Inc., Travelers Underwriting Agency Limited, Ultramar Travel Management, United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company, Xbridge Limited, Zensurance Brokers Inc., and Zensurance Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.: 2235158 Alberta Limited, A.J. Amer Agency, AHC Digital LLC, AIX Limited, AJG Coal LLC, AJG Financial Services LLC, AJG Meadows LLC, AJG North America ULC, AJG RCF LLC, AJGRMS of Louisiana LLC, ARM RE Ltda., AVIATION INSURANCE SERVICES, AVRECO, Ace IRM Insurance Broking Group, Acumus Holdings Limited, Acumus Interco Limited, Acumus Ltd, Adams & Associates International, Adaptive Marketing LLC, Adco General Corporation, Advanced Benefit Advisors, Aequus Trade Credit, Affinity Marketing Group, Ahrold Fay Rosenberg, Aires Consulting Group, Alesco Risk Management Services Limited, Alize Limited, Allied Claims Administration Inc., Alternative Market Specialists, Altman & Cronin Benefit Consultants, American Freedom Carriers Inc., American Security Services Corp., American Wholesalers Underwriting Ltd, Andrew-Anthony Insurance Agency, Anthony Hodges Consulting Limited, Antrobus Investments Limited, AquaSurance, Argentis, Argentis Financial Group Limited, Argentis Financial Management Limited, Argus Benefits, Armstrong/Robitaille/Riegle, Artex (SAC) Limited, Artex Cedar Hill, Artex Corporate Services (Malta) Limited, Artex Corporate Services Limited, Artex Holdings (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Holdings (Malta) Limited, Artex Insurance (Guernsey) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance (Tennessee) PCCIC Inc., Artex Insurance Brokers (Malta) PCC Limited, Artex Insurance ICC Limited, Artex Intermediaries Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Bermuda) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Cayman) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Gibraltar) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Guernsey) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (International) Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (Malta) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Artex Risk Solutions (UK) Limited, Artex Risk Solutions Inc., Arthur J Gallagher (Norway) Holdings AS, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (AUS) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (Illinois), Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Insurance Brokers of California Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher (Aus) Pty Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Bermuda) Holding Partnership, Arthur J. Gallagher (Life Solutions) Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Arthur J. Gallagher (U.S.) LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Asesoria S.A.C., Arthur J. Gallagher Australasia Holdings Pty Ltd., Arthur J. Gallagher Brokerage & Risk Management Services LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Broking (NZ) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Financial Services Professionals Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Group Quebec ULC, Arthur J. Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Latin America LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Management (Bermuda) Limited, Arthur J. Gallagher Real Estate Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services (Hawaii) Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services of Utah Inc., Arthur J. Gallagher School Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Service Company LLC, Arthur J. Gallagher Services (UK) Ltd, Ashmore & Associates Insurance Agency, Atlantic Risk Management Corp., Atrex Insurance (Cayman) SPC Limited, Avantek Pty Ltd, Axe Insurance PCC Limited, BIS Insurance Services, Baker - Tillys employment benefits solutions, Ballard Benefit Works, Bankers Financial Benefits, Barmore Insurance Agency, Behnke & Co. Inc., Bellisle Pty Ltd, Belmont Associates Consultants, Belmont Insurance Holdings Limited, Belmont International, Belmont International Limited, Benefit Development Group, Benefit Management Group, BenefitLink Resource Group, Benefits Planning & Insurance Agency, Benefits Unlimited, Bennett & Shade Co., Bergvall Marine, Bergvall Marine A.S., Besselman & Little Agency, Big Savings Insurance Agency Inc., Blenheim Park Ltd, Blenheim Park Services Limited, Blue Holdings Pty Ltd, Blue Horizon Insurance Services, Blue Water Benefits, BluePeak Advisors, Blueleaf Consulting Pty Ltd., Bluewater Incorporated Cell Insurance Company, Bollinger Inc., Bollinger Insurance Services Inc., Bowen Miclette Britt & Merry of Arkansas Inc., Brendis & Brendis, Brim AB, Broker Benefit Services, Brokerage Professionals, Brown Hobbs & McMurray Insurance, Bultman/Bell Associates Inc., Burkwald & Associates, Burns-Fazzi Brock & Associates, Bushong Insurance Associates, C&B Consulting Group, CGM Gallagher Insruance Brokers (Trinidad & Tobago) Limited, CJM Solutions Inc., CMA Solutions LLC, Cairnstone Financial, California Insurance Center, Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, Capitol Benefits Group, Capsicum CRLA LLP, Capsicum Re Brasil Participacoes Ltda, Capsicum Re Latin America Corretora De Resseguros Ltda, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Bermuda Limited, Capsicum Reinsurance Brokers Miami Inc., Carefree Marketing Inc., Carpenter Cammack & Associates, Cashan & Co., Castle Insurance Associates, Centennial Insurance Agency, Charity First Insurance Services Inc., Charles Allen Agency, Charter Lakes Insurance Agency, Chris Schroeder Insurance, Christie-Phoenix, Cintran Claims Canada Limited, Classic Insurance Services, Cleaveland Insurance Group, Cohen & Lord Insurance Brokers, Cohn Financial Group, Coleman Group Holdings Limited, Coleman Holdings Limited, College and University Scholastic Excess Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Commercial Insurance Brokers, Complete Benefit Alliance, Complete Financial Balance, Complete Financial Balance Pty Ltd, Consolidated Casualty Specialties LLC, Construction Risk Solutions, Contego Underwriting Limited, Contego Underwriting Ltd, Continental Excess & Surplus, Convergence Risk Services Ltd, Copper Mountain Assurance Inc., Cornwall & Stevens Co., Corporate Benefit Advisors, Corporate Life Consultants, Countrywide Accident Assistance Limited, Coverdell & Company Inc., Coverdell Canada Corporation, Cowles and Connell, Craig M. Ferguson & Co., Crist Elliott Machette Insurance Services, Crombie Lockwood (NZ) Limited, Davis-Poston & Associates, Denman Consulting Services, Detlefs Johnson & Partners, DiBrina Group, Dickinson & Associates, Discount Development Services L.L.C., Discovery Benefit Solutions, Dodson-Bateman & Co., Donald P. Pipino Co. Ltd., E. S. Susanin Inc., EHE Holdings LLC, EHS Holdings Limited, Elantis Premium Funding (NZ) Limited, Elantis Premium Funding Limited, Elite Benefits Insurance Marketing Services, Employee Benefits Analysis Corp., Employee Benefits of The Carolinas, Encore Insurance & Bonding, Everett James, Evolution Risk Services Limited, Evolution Technology Services Limited, Evolution Underwriting Group, Evolution Underwriting Group Limited, Evolution Underwriting Limited, Excel Insurance Services, FYI Direct Canada Corporation, FYI Direct LLC, Farallone Pacific Insurance Services, Fenchurch Faris Limited, Fidelity Benefits & Insurance Services, Financial Profiles Inc., Finergy Solutions Pty Ltd, First Agency, First Iowa Insurance Agency, First Premium Inc., First Premium Insurance Group, Fish & Schulkamp, Fishermans Insurance Services, Foley Healthcare Limited, Fortress Financial Solutions Pty Ltd, Fortress Insurance LLC, Foundation Strategies, Fox Lawson & Associates, Franklin-Case Agency LLC, Fraser MacAndrew Ryan Limited, Friary Intermediate Limited, Fuller & O'Brien, G.S. Chapman & Associates Insurance Brokers, G.S. Levine Insurance Services, GBS (Australia) Holdings Pty Ltd, GBS Administrators Inc., GBS Insurance and Financial Services Inc., GBS Retirement Services Inc., GBS Specialty Markets LLC, GGB Finance 1 Limited, GGB Finance 2 Limited, GGB Finance 3 Limited, GGB Finance 4 Limited, GPL Assurance, GPL Assurance Inc., Gabor Insurance Services, Gale Smith & Co. Inc., Gallagher (Bermuda) Insurance Solutions Ltd., Gallagher - Grace/Mayer Insurance Agency, Gallagher Bassett Aires Inc., Gallagher Bassett Canada Inc., Gallagher Bassett Insurance Services Ltd., Gallagher Bassett International Ltd., Gallagher Bassett NZ Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Inc. , Gallagher Bassett Services Pty Ltd., Gallagher Bassett Services Workers Compensation Victoria Pty Ltd., Gallagher Benefit Services (Canada) Group Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services (Holdings) Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Inc., Gallagher Benefit Services Management Company Limited, Gallagher Benefit Services Pty Ltd, Gallagher Benefits Consulting Limited, Gallagher Bomford Couch Wilson, Gallagher Burgess, Gallagher Canada Acquisition Corporation, Gallagher Caribbean Group Limited, Gallagher Clean Energy LLC, Gallagher Communications Limited, Gallagher Community Clinic RPG LLC, Gallagher Consulting Ltda, Gallagher Corporate Services LLC, Gallagher Coyle, Gallagher CyberRisk, Gallagher Energy Risk Services Inc., Gallagher Fiduciary Advisors LLC, Gallagher Holdings (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Bermuda Company Limited, Gallagher Holdings Four (UK) Limited, Gallagher Holdings Three (UK) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (Barbados) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Kitts & Nevis) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Lucia) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers (St. Vincent) Limited, Gallagher Insurance Brokers Jamaica Limited, Gallagher International Cash Management s.r.l., Gallagher International Holdings (US) Inc., Gallagher Investment Advisors LLC, Gallagher Inwest Group, Gallagher Koster, Gallagher Lambert Group, Gallagher Madison Risk & Insurance Services, Gallagher Mauritius Holdings, Gallagher Mississippi Brokerage LLC, Gallagher RE Colombia Ltda Corredores de Reaseguros SA, Gallagher Risk & Reward Limited, Gallagher Risk Group LLC, Gallagher Risk Placements Pty Ltd, Gallagher SKS, Gallagher Service Center LLP, Gallagher-Tarantino, Galtney Group, Game Day Insurance Inc., Gardner & White Corp., Gardner Marine Agency, Garza Long Group, Gatehouse Consulting Limited, Gault Armstrong Kemble Pty Ltd, Gault Armstrong SARL, Giles Group, Giles Holdings Limited, Giles Insurance Brokers, Gillis Ellis & Baker Inc., Goodman Insurance Agency, Grandy Pratt Co., Greenseed Alternative Mangaers Platform Ltd, Grossman & Associates, Group Benefits of Arkansas, Group Insurance Associates, Gruppo Marcucci, HLG Holdings Limited, HMG-PCMS Limited, HPF Investments LLC, HR Owen Insurance Services Limited, Hagan Newkirk Financial Services, Hagedorn & Company, Hardman & Howell Benefits, Harlequin Insurance PCC Limited, Hartstein Associates Inc., Healthcare Professionals Purchasing Group LLC, Healthcare Risk Solutions, Heath Lambert Group Ltd., Heath Lambert Limited, Heath Lambert Overseas Limited, Heiser Insurance Agency, Henderson Phillips Fine Arts Insurance, Herbruck Alder & Co., Heritage Insurance Brokers (CI) Limited, Hesse & Partner AG, Hesse Consulting, Hexagon ICC Limited, Hexagon Insurance PCC Limited, Hill Chesson & Woody, Hogan Insurance Services, Home & Travel Limited, Honour Point Limited, Horseshoe Corporate Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services Ltd, Horseshoe Fund Services USA Inc., Horseshoe ILS Services UK Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Advisors US LLC, Horseshoe Insurance Advisory Ltd., Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings Ltd, Horseshoe Insurance Services Holdings US Inc., Horseshoe Management (Gibraltar) Limited, Horseshoe Management (Ireland) Ltd, Horseshoe Management Ltd., Horseshoe PCC Limited, Horseshoe Re Limited, Horseshoe Services (Cayman) Ltd, Horseshoe Services (Pty) Ltd, Horton Insurance Agency, Housing Authorities Services Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Human Resource Management Systems, I-Protect Underwriting Pty Ltd, IBIS Advisors, IBS Reinsurance Singapore Pte Ltd, ILS Fund Services Ltd., ISG International, ITI Solutions, Igloo Insurance PCC Limited, Independent Benefit Services, Independent Fiduciary Services, Ink Underwriting Agencies Limited, InsSync Group Pty Ltd, Inspire Underwriting Limited, Instrat Insurance Brokers, Instrat Insurance Brokers Pty Ltd, Instrat Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Insurance Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Insurance Associates Inc., Insurance Dialogue Limited, Insurance Dialogue Ltd., Insurance Plans Agency, Insurance Plus Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Insurance Point, Insurance Risk Managers of Missouri Inc., Insure My Villa Limited, Insure Pty Ltd, Integrated Healthcare Strategies, InterNational Insurance Group, InterPacific Underwriting Agencies, Intermountain Financial Benefits, Interstate Insurance Underwriters, JPGAC LLC, James F. Reda & Associates, James R. Weir Insurance Agency, Jenkins and Associates, Joe E. Martin Inc., John P. Woods Co. Inc., Jones Brown, Jones Brown Group Inc., Jones Brown Insurance Solutions Inc., Joseph Distel, Joseph James & Associates Insurance Agency, Just Landlords Insurance Services Ltd, KDC Associates, KRW Insurance Agency, Kahl Insurance Services, Kaler Carney Liffler & Co. Inc., Kane Group - Insurance Management Operations, Kelly Financial, Kent Kent & Tingle and RBS, Keyser Benefits Corp., Kingspark Enterprises Pty Ltd, L&R Benefits, LSG Insurance Partners, Learn About Money Limited, Lewis & Associates Insurance Brokers, Leystone Insurance & Financial, Life Plans Unlimited, Lincoln Financial Management, Longfellow Financial, Lucas Fettes Limited, Lucas Fettes and Partners Limited, Lutgert Insurance, MA Underwriting Pty Ltd, MDM Insurance Associates, MG Advanced Coal Technologies-1 LLC, MGA Insurance Services, MRS Holdings Ltd., Madison Scott & Associates, Managed Healthcare Solutions, Mannequin Insurance PCC Limited, Marchetti Robertson & Brickell Insurance, Marine Insurance Service, Martin Gordon & Jones Inc., McDowall Associates Human Resource Consultants, McIntyre Risk Management, McLean Insurance Agency, McNeary, McPherson Benefits Group, McRory & Co., Mecacem Insurance SPC Ltd, MedInsights Inc., Melton Insurance Associates, Memberworks Canada LLC, Merit Insurance, Metcom Excess, Metzler Bros. Insurance, Meyers-Reynolds & Associates, Mid America Group, Midwest Surety Services, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers, Mike Henry Insurance Brokers Limited, Mike Henry Insurance Funding Limited, Miller Buettner & Parrott, Miller-Harrison Insurance Services, Milne Alexander Pty Ltd, Minvielle & Chastanet Insurance Brokers, Monument Insurance (NZ) Limited, Monument Llc, Monument Premium Funding Limited, Mortgage Insurance Agency, Murphy Consultants, Mutual Insurance Services, NationAir Aviation Insurance, National Administration Co., National Ethics Association, National Transportation Adjusters, Nelson/Monarch Insurance Services, Nicoud Insurance Services, NiiS/Apex Group Holdings, Nonprofit Insurance Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Noraxis Capital Corp, Nordic Forsakring & Riskhantering AB, North Alabama Insurance, Nourse Insurance Brokers, O'Gorman & Young, OAMPS (UK) Limited, OAMPS Gault Armstrong Pty Ltd, OAMPS Limited, OAMPS Special Risks Ltd, Offshore Market Placements Limited, Optimum Talent, Orb Financial Services, Orb Financial Services Limited, Osprey Insurance Brokers Limited, Oval Group, Oval Healthcare Limited, Oval Insurance Broking Limited, Oval Limited, Oval Management Services Limited, Oxygen Insurance Managers, P2 Group, PEN Insurance Management Advisors Ltd, PT IBS Insurance Broking Service, Pacific Insurance Agency, Palmer Atlantic Insurance, Palmer Atlantic Insurance Ltd, Palmer Atlantic Risk Services Ltd., Park Row Associates, Parkstar Enterprises Pty Ltd, Parmia Pty Ltd, PartnerSource, Pastel Holding (NZ) Company, Pastel Holdings Pty Limited, Pastel Purchaser (NZ) Limited, Pastel Purchaser Pty Limited, Pavey Group Holdings (UK) Limited, Pavey Group Holdings Limited, Pavey Group Limited, Pearson Dunn Insurance Inc., Pen Underwriting Canada Limited, Pen Underwriting Group Pty. Ltd., Pen Underwriting Limited, Pen Underwriting Pty Ltd, Persing Dyckman & Toynbee Inc., Personal Advice Services Pty Ltd, Petty Burton Associates, Pointer Insurance Agency, Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wilshire) Limited, Portmore Insurance Brokers Limited, Potter-Holden & Co., Powell Insurance Agency, Premier Insurance Services Inc., Premier Risk Services, Premium Finance Corporation, Preston-Patterson, ProSource Financial, Professional Agents Risk Purchasing Group LLC, Professional Claims Managers, Proinova AB, Proinova Agency AB, Pronto California Agency LLC, Pronto California General Agency LLC, Pronto Florida Claims LLC, Pronto Florida General Agency LLC, Pronto Franchise LLC, Pronto General Agency Ltd, Pronto General Agency Management LLC, Pronto Holdco Inc., Pronto Holding California LLC, Pronto Holding Florida LLC, Pronto Insurance Agency of Laredo Inc., Pronto Premium Finance LLC, Property & Commercial Ltd., Property Insurance Initatives Limited, Property and Commercial Limited, Protected Insurance Company, Protection Plan Association Inc., Protek Group Limited, Providium Consulting Group, Ptarmigan Underwriting Agency Limited, Ptarmigan Underwriting UK Limited, Purple Bridge Claims Management Limited, Purple Bridge Finance Limited, Purple Bridge Group Limited, Purple Bridge Investments Limited, Purple Bridge Online Services Limited, Purple Bridge Publishing Limited, Quantum Underwriting Solutions Limited, Quillco 226 Limited, Quillco 227 Limited, R. L. Youngdahl & Associates, R.G. Speno Inc., R.W. Scobie, RA Rossborough (Guernsey) Ltd., RA Rossborough (Insurance Brokers) Ltd, REGENCY Group inc., RGA Referencing Limited, RGA Underwriting Limited, RIL Administrators (Guernsey) Ltd., RJ Dutton Inc., RSM Insurance Services Limited, Reassurance Holdings Inc., Rebholz Insurance Agency, Reid Manson Ltd., Reimbursement Services, Rentguard Limited, Reward Management Limited, Reynolds & Rodar Insurance Group, Riley & Associates, Rio 587 Limited, Rio 588 Limited, Risk & Reward Group, Risk Management Partners Limited, Risk Placement Services Inc., Risk Planners, Risk Services (NW) Limited, Risk Services (NW) Ltd., Risk Solutions Group Limited, Robert A. Schneider Agency, Robert Keith & Associates, Roberts & Roberts Insurance Service, Robinson-Adams Insurance, Rossborough Healthcare International Ltd, Rossborough Insurance (IOM) Ltd., Rossborough Insurance Services Ltd. (Jersey), S. A. Freerks & Associates, SEG Insurance Ltd, SGB-NIA Insurance Brokers, SHILLING Ltd, SKANCO International, SMERI AB, SRS Underwriting Pty Ltd, Secure Enterprises Pty Ltd, Securitas Re, Sellers Group, Sentinel Indemnity LLC, Septagon Insurance PCC Limited, Shuford Insurance Agency, Sigma II Insurance Agency, Sinclair Billard and Weld Limited, Sobieski & Bradley, Solid Benefit Guidance, Spanjers Insurance Agency, Spataro Insurance Agency, Specialised Broking Associates, Specialty Risk, Stackhouse Poland, Stackhouse Poland Bidco Limited, Stackhouse Poland Group Limited, Stackhouse Poland Holdings Limited, Stackhouse Poland Midco Limited, Stackouse Poland Limited, Stanton Group, Stark Johnson & Stinson Inc., Steel Agency, Strata Solicitors Ltd, Strategic Health Plans Corp., Strathearn Insurance Brokers, Strathearn Insurance Brokers (Qld) Trading Trust, Strathern Insurance Group Pty Ltd, Strathern Integration Holdco Pty Ltd, Strathern Unit Trust, Strong Financial Resources, Summit Insurance Group, Sunday and Associates, Sunderland Insurance Services, Super Advice Corporate Services Pty Ltd, Taylor Benefits, Texas Insurance Agency, Texas Insurance Managers, The BeneTex Group, The Buchholz Planning, The Chapman Group, The Commonwealth Consulting Group, The Daniels Group Inc., The EHE Group LLC, The EHE Insurance Agency LLC, The Eagle Insurance Agency LLC, The Eriksen Group, The Forker Company, The Gleason Agency, The Great Lakes Agency, The HR Group, The Hawk Agency, The Human Capital Group, The Lance Group, The Levitt/Kristan Co., The MW Bagnall Company, The Old Greenwich Consulting Group, The Parks Johnson Agency, The Plus Companies Inc., The Presidio Group, The Producers Choice, The Rains Group, The Splinter Group, The Titan Group, The Treiber Group, The Woodsmall Companies Inc., Title & Covenant Brokers Ltd., Title Investments Limited, Tom Sherwin Insurance Agency, Total Reward Group, Total Rewards Group (Holdings) Limited, Towle Agency, Transwestern, Tri-State General Insurance Agency, Triad Insurance Agency, Triad USA, Tribeca Strategic Advisors, Trinder & Norwood, Trip Mate, Trissel Graham & Toole, Tropp & Co., Tudor Risk Services, Tyloma Holdings Limited, Uni-Care Inc., Unison Inc., Universico Group, Unoccupied Direct Limited, V2V Holdings LLC, VEBA Service Group, Vasek Insurance Services Limited, Velo ACU LLC, Velo Holdings Inc., Verbag AG., Vertrue LLC, Victory Insurance Agency, Vincent L. Braband Insurance, Vital Benefits, Voluntary Benefits Solutions, W. E. Kingsley Co. Inc., WM. W. George & Associates, Walker Taylor Agency, Welling Associates, Wesfarmers Insurance - Insurance Brokerage Operations, Western Benefit Solutions, White & Company Insurance, Whitehaven Insurance Group, William Gallagher Associates Insurance Brokers, William H. Connolly & Co., Williams Insurance Agency Inc., Williams-Manny Insurance Group, Winn & Company Insurance Brokers, Wischmeyer Benefit Partners, Woodbrook Underwriting Agencies, Woods & Grooms, WorkCare Northwest, Worksite Communications, Y. S. Liedman & Associates, YOA Capsicum Reinsurance Broker Limited, Zenor Limited, Zuber Insurance Agency, and e3 Financial. Meggitt PLC designs and manufactures components and sub-systems in the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, the United States, and internationally. The company operates in four segments: Airframe Systems, Engine Systems, Energy & Equipment, and Services & Support. It offers ice protection products, radomes, and structures; air data and flight display products; brake control and tyre pressure monitoring systems, and wheels and brakes; engine health and vibration monitors, H2/O2 analyzers, and turbine monitoring and protection products; and aircraft cameras and security systems, and wireless aircraft systems. The company also provides ammunition handling, thermal, weapon scoring, and weapon training systems; energy storage, power conversion and distribution, and power generation systems; ducting systems, engine composites, and flow control valves; and fire protection and controls comprising bleed air leak detection products, cables and clamps, electronic control units, fire and overheat detection products, and fire suppression products. In addition, it offers ground fuelling, and fuel systems and tanks; motion control actuators, electric motor drives, and electric motors; oxygen and specialty restraint safety systems; and accelerometers, ceramics, fluid sensors, magnetic and current sensors, position and inertial sensors, pressure sensors, speed sensors, and temperature sensors. Further, the company provides polymer seals; heat exchangers, printed circuit heat exchangers, thermal components, and thermal management systems; and live fire and virtual trainers, as well as aftermarket services. It serves aerospace, defense, and energy and equipment markets. The company was formerly known as Meggitt Holdings Public Limited Company and changed its name to Meggitt PLC in April 1989. Meggitt PLC was incorporated in 1947 and is headquartered in Coventry, the United Kingdom. Read More CYBG PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides retail and business banking products and services to individuals and businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, B, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. It operates through SME Banking and Retail Banking segments. The SME Banking segment offers a range of banking products and services, including business current accounts; and secured and unsecured term loans, business overdrafts, and invoice and asset financing products and services. It also provides international trade services, such as import loans, export loans, documentary collections, currency guarantees, and letters of credit for securing trade; and current account facilities comprising debit cards, cheque books, regular statements, direct debits, and standing orders, as well as day to day and online banking services. This segment serves business customers in the small business, commercial, corporate, and structured finance markets. The Retail Banking segment offers personal current accounts, savings accounts, and term deposits; occupied mortgage loans and BTL loans, unsecured personal loans, and overdrafts, as well as credit card products; and insurance and investment products. The company was founded in 1838 and is based in Leeds, the United Kingdom. Read More Wall Street analysts have given DP Eurasia a "Buy" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but DP Eurasia wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Exelon Corp. operates as a utility services holding company, which engages in the energy generation, power marketing, and energy delivery business. It operates through the following segments: Mid Atlantic, Midwest, New York, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and other Power Regions. The Mid-Atlantic segment represents operations in the eastern half of PJM, which includes New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, the District of Columbia and parts of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The Midwest segment operates in the western half of PJM, which includes portions of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee, and the United States footprint of MISO, excluding MISO's Southern Region, which covers all or most of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the remaining parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio not covered by PJM, and parts of Montana, Missouri and Kentucky. The New York (NY) segment provides operations within ISONY, which covers the state of New York in its entirety. The ERCOT segment includes operations within Electric Reliability Council of Texas, covering most of the state of Texas. Read More GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom. Read More Rockwell Collins, Inc. designs, produces, and supports communications and aviation systems worldwide. The company's Interior Systems segment offers commercial aircraft seats; galley structures, food and beverage preparation equipment, and water and waste systems; oxygen and passenger service equipment; cabin lighting systems; and business jet and general aviation interior products. Its Commercial Systems segment provides cabin management systems; data link, frequency, very high frequency, and satellite communications systems; landing, radio navigation, and geophysical sensors, and flight management systems; situational awareness and surveillance systems and products; integrated flight controls; simulation and training systems; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. The company's Government Systems segment provides communications systems and products; radio navigation products, global positioning system equipment, and multi-mode receivers; avionics systems; precision targeting, electronic warfare, and training systems; simulation and training systems; space wheels; visual system products; maintenance, repair, parts, and after-sales support services, and aftermarket used equipment. Its Information Management Services segment offers voice and data communication services; flight support services; airport communications and information systems; train dispatching and information systems; mission critical security systems; and cabin connectivity solutions. The company serves original equipment manufacturers of commercial air transport, business and regional aircraft, commercial airlines, U.S. Department of Defense, other ministries of defense, other government agencies, defense contractors, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, and passenger and freight railroads, as well as airport, critical infrastructure, and business aircraft operators. The company was founded in 1933 and is headquartered in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise: 3Com International Inc., 3PAR Inc., Apogee, Aruba Networks Inc., Aruba Networks International Cayman, Aruba Networks International Limited, BlueData Software, Cloud Cruiser, Cloud Technology Partners, Cloud Technology Partners Inc., Compaq Computer (Mauritius), Compaq Trademark B.V., Cray, Cray Inc., EDS World Corporation (Far East) LLC, EYP Mission Critical Facilities Inc., H3C Holdings Limited, HP Enterprise Services Australia Pty Ltd, HP Financial Services (Australia) Pty Limited, HP Financial Services (Chile) Limitada, HP Financial Services (Japan) K.K., HP Financial Services Arrendamento Mercantil S.A., HP Financial Services Company (Korea), HP Financial Services International Holdings Company, HPE Government LLC, HPFS Global Holdings I LLC, HPFS Global Holdings II LLC, HPFS Rental S.R.L., Hangzhou H3C Technologies Co. Ltd, Hewlett Packard Caribe BV LLC, Hewlett Packard Colombia Ltda., Hewlett Packard Enterprise (China) Co. Ltd., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V., Hewlett Packard Enterprise B.V. Amstelveen Meyrin Branch, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Co. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Canada Cie, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Costa Rica Limitada, Hewlett Packard Enterprise GlobalSoft Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise India Private Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Ireland Limited, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Luxembourg SCA, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Polska sp. z o.o., Hewlett Packard Pathfinder LLC, Hewlett Packard Taiwan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (Israel) Ltd., Hewlett-Packard (M) Sdn. Bhd., Hewlett-Packard (Nigeria) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Schweiz) GmbH, Hewlett-Packard (Tanzania) Limited, Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) Limited, Hewlett-Packard ApS, Hewlett-Packard Argentina S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Australia Pty Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Belgium SPRL/BVBA, Hewlett-Packard Bermuda Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Brasil Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Bulgaria EOOD, Hewlett-Packard Caribe B.V., Hewlett-Packard Caribe Y Andina B.V. LLC, Hewlett-Packard Chile Comercial Limitada, Hewlett-Packard Cyprus Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Hewlett-Packard Egypt Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Financial Services (India) Private Limited, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Canada Company, Hewlett-Packard Financial Services Company, Hewlett-Packard France SAS, Hewlett-Packard G1 SPV (Cayman) Company, Hewlett-Packard Gesellschaft mbH, Hewlett-Packard Ghana Limited, Hewlett-Packard GmbH, Hewlett-Packard Guatemala Limitada, Hewlett-Packard HK SAR Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Hellas EPE, Hewlett-Packard Holdings Ltd., Hewlett-Packard International Bank Designated Activity Company, Hewlett-Packard International Bank Public Limited Company, Hewlett-Packard International Sarl, Hewlett-Packard Italiana S.r.l., Hewlett-Packard Japan Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Korea Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Leasing Limited, Hewlett-Packard Limited, Hewlett-Packard Luxembourg Enterprises LLC, Hewlett-Packard Macau Limited, Hewlett-Packard Manufacturing Ltd, Hewlett-Packard Marigalante Ltd., Hewlett-Packard Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Middle East FZ-LLC, Hewlett-Packard Mocambique Limitada - Sociedada em Liquidacao, Hewlett-Packard Nederland B.V., Hewlett-Packard New Zealand, Hewlett-Packard Norge AS, Hewlett-Packard OY, Hewlett-Packard Operations Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Hewlett-Packard Peru S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Philippines Corporation, Hewlett-Packard Portugal Lda., Hewlett-Packard SARL, Hewlett-Packard SIA, Hewlett-Packard Servicios Espana S.L., Hewlett-Packard Singapore (Sales) Pte. Ltd., Hewlett-Packard South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Hewlett-Packard Sverige AB, Hewlett-Packard Technology Center Inc., Hewlett-Packard Teknoloji Cozumleri Limited Sirketi, Hewlett-Packard The Hague B.V., Hewlett-Packard Venezuela S.R.L., Hewlett-Packard Vision Limited, Hewlett-Packard d.o.o., Hewlett-Packard s.r.o., Limited Liability Company Hewlett Packard Enterprise, MapR Technologies, New H3C Technologies Co. Ltd., Niara Inc., Nimble Storage, Nimble Storage Inc., Nimble Storage Israel Ltd, Nimble Storage Japan GK, Nimble Storage UK Limited, Plexxi, RedPixie, SGI (Silicon Graphics), Sapphire Holding Co, Scytale, Shanghai Hewlett-Packard Co. Ltd., Silver Peak, SimpliVity, Sinope Holding B.V., Trilead, UAB ES Hague Lietuva, and Unis Huashan Technologies Co. Limited. USG Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells building materials worldwide. The company's Gypsum division manufactures and markets gypsum and related products to construct walls and ceilings of residential, nonresidential, and institutional buildings; and agricultural and industrial customers. This segment offers gypsum wallboards and compound portfolios, as well as corner beads, joint tapes, and plasters under the USG Sheetrock brand; glass mat sheathing portfolios under the Securock brand; construction plaster products under the Red Top, Imperial, Diamond, and Supremo brands; and lightweight gypsum panels under the USG Sheetrock brand, as well as ultralight panels, USG Sheetrock brand ecosmart panels, and industrial gypsum. Its Performance Materials division manufactures and markets products for interior and exterior building applications of residential and nonresidential buildings, as well as industrial applications. This segment provides cement boards, backer boards, shower systems, performance floorings, air barrier systems, roof board portfolios, and structural panels under the USG Durock, Fiberock, Levelrock, Securock, ExoAir, Securock, and USG brands. The company's Ceilings division manufactures and markets ceiling tiles under the Radar, Eclipse, Mars, and Halcyon brands; ceiling grids under the Donn, DX, Fineline, Centricitee, and Identitee DXI brands; specialty ceilings under the Curvatura, Compasso, Radians, Illusions, Multiples, Runways, Barz, Planx, Mirra, Corniche, Wallforms, and Parti brands; and acoustical drywall ceilings under the Ensemble brand. Its USG Boral Building Products division manufactures, distributes, and sells building products, mines raw gypsum, and sells natural and synthetic gypsum under the USG Boral Sheetrock, USG Boral NextGen, Elephant, Jayaboard, Durock, and Donn DX brands. The company was founded in 1902 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. Read More The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Wall Street analysts have given iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Edge MSCI Min Vol Emerging Markets ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Molina Healthcare: Aetna & Humana - Medicare Advantage, Affinity Health Plan, AmericanWork Inc., Better Health Network, Camelot Care Centers Inc, Children's Behavioral Health Inc., Choices Group Inc., College Community Services, Dockside Services Inc, Family Preservation Services Inc., Family Preservation Services of Florida Inc., Family Preservation Services of North Carolina Inc., Family Preservation Services of Washington D.C. Inc., Family Preservation Services of West Virginia Inc., Florida NetPASS LLC, Hclb Inc., Magellan Complete Care, Maple Star Nevada Inc., Maple Star Oregon Inc., Mercy CarePlus, Molina Clinical Services LLC, Molina Healthcare Data Center Inc., Molina Healthcare of Arizona Inc., Molina Healthcare of California, Molina Healthcare of Florida Inc., Molina Healthcare of Georgia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Molina Healthcare of Iowa Inc., Molina Healthcare of Louisiana Inc., Molina Healthcare of Maryland Inc., Molina Healthcare of Michigan Inc., Molina Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Molina Healthcare of Nevada Inc., Molina Healthcare of New Mexico Inc., Molina Healthcare of New York Inc., Molina Healthcare of North Carolina Inc., Molina Healthcare of Ohio Inc., Molina Healthcare of Oklahoma Inc., Molina Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Molina Healthcare of Puerto Rico Inc., Molina Healthcare of South Carolina LLC, Molina Healthcare of Texas Inc., Molina Healthcare of Texas Insurance Company, Molina Healthcare of Utah Inc., Molina Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Molina Healthcare of Washington Inc., Molina Healthcare of Wisconsin Inc., Molina Holdings Corporation, Molina Hospital Management LLC, Molina Information Systems LLC dba Molina Medicaid Solutions, Molina Medical Management Inc., Molina Pathways LLC, Molina Pathways of Texas Inc., Molina Youth Academy, NextLevel Health Illinois, Pathways Community Corrections Inc., Pathways Community Services LLC, Pathways Community Support of Texas Inc., Pathways Health and Community Support LLC, Pathways Human Services LLC., Pathways of Arizona Inc., Pathways of Delaware Inc., Pathways of Idaho LLC, Pathways of Maine Inc., Pathways of Massachusetts LLC, Pathways of Oklahoma Inc., Pathways of Washington Inc., Providence Community Services, Providence Human Services, Raystown Developmental Services Inc., The Game of Work LLC, The RedCo Group Inc., Total Care Medicaid plan, Transitional Family Services Inc., Unisys -Health Information Management, and YourCare Health Plan. The following companies are subsidiares of American International Group: AGC Life Insurance Company, AIG APAC HOLDINGS PTE. LTD., AIG Advisors S.r.l., AIG Aerospace Insurance Services Inc., AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd., AIG Asset Management (Europe) Limited, AIG Asset Management (U.S.) LLC, AIG Assurance Company, AIG Australia Limited, AIG Brazil Holding I LLC, AIG CIS Investments LLC, AIG Canada Holdings Inc., AIG Capital Corporation, AIG Capital Services Inc., AIG Claims Inc., AIG Egypt Insurance Company S.A.E., AIG Employee Services Inc., AIG Europe (Services) Limited, AIG Europe Holdings S.a.rl., AIG Europe S.A., AIG Federal Savings Bank, AIG Financial Products Corp., AIG General Insurance Co. Ltd., AIG Global Asset Management Holdings Corp., AIG Global Real Estate Investment Corp., AIG Global Reinsurance Operations, AIG Holdings Europe Limited, AIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, AIG Insurance Company China Limited, AIG Insurance Company JSC, AIG Insurance Company of Canada, AIG Insurance Company-Puerto Rico, AIG Insurance Hong Kong Limited, AIG Insurance Limited, AIG Insurance Management Services Inc., AIG Insurance New Zealand Limited, AIG International Holdings GmbH, AIG Investments UK Limited, AIG Israel Insurance Company Ltd, AIG Japan Holdings Kabushiki Kaisha, AIG Kenya Insurance Company Limited, AIG Korea Inc., AIG Latin America I.I., AIG Latin America Investments S.L., AIG Lebanon SAL, AIG Life Holdings Inc., AIG Life Insurance Company (Switzerland) Ltd, AIG Life Limited, AIG Life South Africa Limited, AIG Life of Bermuda Ltd., AIG MEA Holdings Limited, AIG MEA Limited, AIG Malaysia Insurance Berhad, AIG Markets Inc., AIG Matched Funding Corp., AIG PC Global Services Inc., AIG Philippines Insurance Inc., AIG Property Casualty Company, AIG Property Casualty Inc., AIG Property Casualty International LLC, AIG Property Casualty U.S. Inc., AIG Re-Takaful (L) Berhad, AIG Resseguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Brasil S.A., AIG Seguros Mexico S.A. de C.V., AIG Shared Services Corporation, AIG South Africa Limited, AIG Specialty Insurance Company, AIG Technologies Inc., AIG Travel Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., AIG Travel Assist Inc., AIG Travel Assist Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., AIG Travel EMEA Limited, AIG Travel Inc., AIG Uganda Limited, AIG Vietnam Insurance Company Limited, AIG WarrantyGuard Inc., AIG-FP Pinestead Holdings Corp., AIG-Metropolitana Cia. de Seguros y Reaseguros S.A., AIGGRE EOLA LLC, AIGGRE Europe Real Estate Fund I GP S.a r.l., AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I GP LLC, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund I LP, AIGGRE U.S. Real Estate Fund II GP LLC, AIU Insurance Company, AM Holdings LLC, Ageas Protect, AlphaCat Managers Ltd., American General Corporation, American General Life Insurance Company, American Home Assurance Co. Ltd., American Home Assurance Company, American Home Assurance Company Escritorio de Representacao no Brasil Ltda., American International Group Inc., American International Group UK Limited, American International Overseas Association, American International Overseas Limited, American International Realty Corp., American International Reinsurance Company Ltd., American International Underwriters del Ecuador-Holding S.A., American Security Life Insurance Company Limited, Arthur J. Glatfelter Agency Inc., Avondhu Limited, Blackboard Customer Care Insurance Services LLC, Blackboard Insurance Company, Blackboard Services LLC, Blackboard Specialty Insurance Company, Blackboard U.S. Holdings Inc., Chartis Takaful Enaya B.S.C. (c), Commerce and Industry Insurance Company, Crop Risk Services Inc., Eaglestone Reinsurance Company, Ellipse, Fortitude Group Holdings LLC, Fortitude Life & Annuity Solutions Inc., Fortitude Reinsurance Company Ltd., Franklin Life Insurance Company, Fuji Fire and Marine, Glatfelter Insurance Group, Globe and Rutgers Insurance Group, Grand Isle SAC Limited, Granite State Insurance Company, Group Risk Services Limited, Group Risk Technologies Limited, Illinois National Insurance Co., Jefferson Eola Venture LLC, Johannesburg Insurance Holdings (Proprietary) Limited, Laya Healthcare Limited, Lexington Insurance Company, MG Reinsurance Limited, Mt. Mansfield Company Inc., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh Pa., National Union Fire Insurance Company of Vermont, New Hampshire Insurance Company, PT AIG Insurance Indonesia, Pine Street Real Estate Holdings Corp., Private Joint-Stock Company AIG Ukraine Insurance Company, Risk Specialists Companies Insurance Agency Inc., SA Affordable Housing LLC, SAFG Retirement Services Inc., Service Net Warranty LLC, Stratford Insurance Company, SunAmerica Affordable Housing Partners Inc., SunAmerica Asset Management LLC, Talbot Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Holdings Ltd., Talbot Underwriting Ltd., Thai CIT Holding Company Limited, The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania, The United States Life Insurance Company in the City of New York, The Variable Annuity Life Insurance Company, Travel Guard, Travel Guard Group Canada Inc./Groupe Garde Voyage du Canada Inc., Travel Guard Group Inc., Tudor Insurance Company, VALIC Financial Advisors Inc., Valic Retirement Services Company, Validus Holdings, Validus Holdings (UK) Ltd., Validus Holdings Ltd., Validus Reinsurance (Switzerland) Ltd, Validus Reinsurance Ltd., Validus Ventures Ltd., Volunteer Firemen's Insurance Services Inc., Western World Insurance Company, and Western World Insurance Group Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of Avery Dennison: ADC PHILIPPINES INC., ADESPAN S.R.L., ADHIPRESS BANGLADESH LTD., AVERY CORP., AVERY DE MEXICO SRL DE CV, AVERY DENNISON (ASIA) HOLDINGS LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (CHANGZHOU) FILMS TECHNOLOGY CO. LTD, AVERY DENNISON (CHINA) COMPANY LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (FUZHOU) CONVERTED PRODUCTS LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (GUANGZHOU) CO. LTD., AVERY DENNISON (GUANGZHOU) CONVERTED PRODUCTS LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (GUANGZHOU) INTELLIGENT LABELS CO. LTD., AVERY DENNISON (HONG KONG) LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (INDIA) PRIVATE LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (IRELAND) LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (KENYA) PRIVATE LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (KUNSHAN) COMPANY LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (MALAYSIA) SDN. BHD., AVERY DENNISON (QINGDAO) CONVERTED PRODUCTS LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (SUZHOU) CO. LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON (THAILAND) LTD., AVERY DENNISON (VIETNAM) LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON AUSTRALIA GROUP HOLDINGS PTY LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON AUSTRALIA INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS PTY LTD., AVERY DENNISON AUSTRALIA PTY LTD., AVERY DENNISON BELGIE BVBA, AVERY DENNISON BELGIUM MANAGEMENT SERVICES SPRL, AVERY DENNISON BENELUX BVBA, AVERY DENNISON BV, AVERY DENNISON C.A., AVERY DENNISON CANADA CORPORATION, AVERY DENNISON CENTRAL EUROPE GMBH, AVERY DENNISON CHILE S.A., AVERY DENNISON COLOMBIA S. A. S., AVERY DENNISON COMMERCIAL EL SALVADOR S.A. DE C.V., AVERY DENNISON CONVERTED PRODUCTS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., AVERY DENNISON CONVERTED PRODUCTS EL SALVADOR S. A. DE C. V., AVERY DENNISON DE ARGENTINA S.R.L., AVERY DENNISON DO BRASIL LTDA., AVERY DENNISON DOMINICAN REPUBLIC S.R.L., AVERY DENNISON EGYPT LLC, AVERY DENNISON ETIKET TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI, AVERY DENNISON EUROPE HOLDING (DEUTSCHLAND) GMBH & CO KG, AVERY DENNISON FINANCE GERMANY GMBH, AVERY DENNISON G HOLDINGS I LLC, AVERY DENNISON G HOLDINGS III LLC, AVERY DENNISON G INVESTMENTS III LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON G INVESTMENTS V LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON GROUP DANMARK APS, AVERY DENNISON GROUP SINGAPORE PTE LTD, AVERY DENNISON GULF FZCO, AVERY DENNISON HOLDING & FINANCE THE NETHERLANDS BV, AVERY DENNISON HOLDING FRANCE, AVERY DENNISON HOLDING GMBH, AVERY DENNISON HOLDING LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON HOLDING LUXEMBOURG S. A. R. L., AVERY DENNISON HOLDINGS LLC, AVERY DENNISON HONG KONG B.V., AVERY DENNISON HONG KONG HOLDING I B.V., AVERY DENNISON IBERICA S.A., AVERY DENNISON INNOVATIONS LLC, AVERY DENNISON INTELLIGENT HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS LLC, AVERY DENNISON INTELLIGENT LABELS EUROPE S.R.L., AVERY DENNISON INTELLIGENT LABELS HK LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON INVESTMENT LUXEMBOURG II SARL, AVERY DENNISON INVESTMENTS LUXEMBOURG III SARL, AVERY DENNISON INVESTMENTS LUXEMBOURG IV SARL, AVERY DENNISON ISRAEL LTD., AVERY DENNISON ITALIA S.R.L., AVERY DENNISON JAPAN KK, AVERY DENNISON JAPAN MATERIALS COMPANY LTD., AVERY DENNISON KOREA LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON LABEL LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON LANKA (PRIVATE) LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON LUXEMBOURG S.A.R.L., AVERY DENNISON LUXEMBOURG SALES SARL, AVERY DENNISON MANAGEMENT GMBH, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS BELGIUM SPRL, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS EUROPE B.V., AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS EUROPE GMBH, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS FRANCE S.A.R.L., AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS GMBH, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS IRELAND LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS NEDERLAND BV, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS NEW ZEALAND LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS PTY LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS ROM SRL, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS RUSSIA LLC, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS SALES BELGIUM SPRL, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS SALES FRANCE S. A. S., AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS SALES GERMANY GMBH, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS SDN BHD, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS U.K. LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON MATERIALS UKRAINE LLC, AVERY DENNISON MAURITIUS LTD., AVERY DENNISON MEDICAL LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON MOROCCO SARL, AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT I BV, AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT II B. V., AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT III BV, AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT VII B.V., AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT VIII BV, AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT X BV, AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT XI COOPERATIEF U.A., AVERY DENNISON NETHERLANDS INVESTMENT XII BV, AVERY DENNISON NORDIC APS, AVERY DENNISON NTP A. S., AVERY DENNISON OFFICE PRODUCTS COMPANY, AVERY DENNISON OFFICE PRODUCTS HOLDINGS COMPANY, AVERY DENNISON OFFICE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURING U.K. LTD., AVERY DENNISON OVERSEAS CORPORATION, AVERY DENNISON PENSION TRUSTEE LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON PERU S. R. L., AVERY DENNISON POLSKA SP. Z O.O., AVERY DENNISON PRAHA SPOL. S R. O., AVERY DENNISON R.I.S. FRANCE S. A. S., AVERY DENNISON R.I.S. IBERIA S.L., AVERY DENNISON R.I.S. ITALIA S.R.L., AVERY DENNISON RBIS (CAMBODIA) CO. LTD, AVERY DENNISON RBIS (CAMBODIA) TRADING CO. LTD, AVERY DENNISON RBIS PTY LTD, AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES (PTY) LTD, AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES COLOMBIA S. A. S., AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES DE MEXICO S. A. DE C.V., AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES EL SALVADOR LTDA. DE C. V., AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES GUATEMALA S. A., AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES HONDURAS S. DE R.L., AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES LLC, AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES PERU SAC, AVERY DENNISON RETAIL INFORMATION SERVICES UK LTD., AVERY DENNISON RFID COMPANY, AVERY DENNISON RIS KOREA LTD., AVERY DENNISON RIS TAIWAN LTD., AVERY DENNISON RIS VIETNAM CO. LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON S.A. DE C.V., AVERY DENNISON S.R.L., AVERY DENNISON SCANDINAVIA AB, AVERY DENNISON SCANDINAVIA APS, AVERY DENNISON SECURITY PRINTING EUROPE APS, AVERY DENNISON SHARED SERVICES INC., AVERY DENNISON SINGAPORE (PTE) LTD., AVERY DENNISON SOUTH AFRICA (PROPRIETARY) LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON SUPPORT SERVICES, AVERY DENNISON SYSTEMES D'ETIQUETAGE FRANCE S.A.S., AVERY DENNISON TEKSTIL URUNLERI SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI, AVERY DENNISON TRADING COMPANY LTD, AVERY DENNISON TREASURY MANAGEMENT BV, AVERY DENNISON U.K. II LIMITED, AVERY DENNISON U.K. LIMITED, AVERY GRAPHIC SYSTEMS INC., AVERY LLC, AVERY OFFICE PRODUCTS PUERTO RICO L.L.C., AVERY PACIFIC LLC, AVERY PROPERTIES PTY. LIMITED, AWESOME PROFITS LTD, BEST COURAGE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, CHOICE CLEVER PROFITS LTD, CREATERO GMBH, DENNISON INTERNATIONAL COMPANY, DENNISON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, DM Label Group, Dunsirn Industries, EUSTON FINANCIAL LIMITED, EVERGREEN HOLDING SARL, EVERGREEN HOLDINGS V LLC, Finesse Medical, HANITA COATINGS (KUNSHAN) CO. LTD, HANITA COATINGS EUROPE B.V., HANITA COATINGS USA LLC, HANITA EUROPA GMBH, HEBEI YONGLE TAPE CO. LTD., Hanita Coatings, INK MILL LLC, JAC ASIA PACIFIC SDN BHD, JAC CARIBE C.S.Z., JAC DO BRASIL - LOCACAO DE EQUIPAMENTOS INDUSTRIAIS LTDA, JACKSTADT FRANCE S.N.C., JDC Solutions, JINTEX LIMITED, Jackstadt GmbH, L&E AMERICAS SERVICIOS S. A. DE C.V., L&E Packaging, MACTAC ASIA-PACIFIC SELF-ADHESIVE PRODUCTS PTE LTD, MACtac Europe S.A., MARKSTAR INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, MODERN MARK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, NINGBO AVERY DENNISON SHENZHOU EMBELLISHMENT CO. LTD., P. T. PACIFIC LABEL INDONESIA, P. T. PAXAR INDONESIA, PAXAR (CHINA) LTD., PAXAR B.V., PAXAR BANGLADESH LIMITED, PAXAR CANADA CORPORATION, PAXAR CORPORATION, PAXAR DE EL SALVADOR S. A. DE C. V., PAXAR DE GUATEMALA S. A., PAXAR DE MEXICO S. A. DE C. V., PAXAR DO BRASIL LTDA, PAXAR FAR EAST LIMITED, PAXAR PACKAGING (GUANGZHOU) LTD., PAXAR PAKISTAN (PRIVATE) LIMITED, PLYMOUTH YONGLE TAPE (SHANGHAI) CO. LTD, PT AVERY DENNISON INDONESIA, PT AVERY DENNISON PACKAGING INDONESIA, RVL AMERICAS S DE R.L. DE C.V., RVL CENTRAL AMERICA S. A., RVL PACKAGING FAR EAST LIMITED, RVL Packaging Inc., RVL SERVICE S. DE R. L. DE C. V., Rinke Etiketten GmbH, SECURITY PRINTING DIVISION INC., SKILLFIELD INVESTMENTS LIMITED, Stimsonite Corp, TIGER EIGHT GROUP LIMITED, WORLDWIDE RISK INSURANCE INC., YONGLE TAPE LTD, and Yongle Tape Co. Wall Street analysts have given Vanguard Information Technology ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Vanguard Information Technology ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC. Wall Street analysts have given Hertz Global a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Hertz Global wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Sealed Air: AFP (Shanghai) Limited, AFP Inc. (Branch), AFPTOH LTD, Aconcagua Distribuciones SRL, Air Ride Pallets Hong Kong Limited, Austin Foam Plastics Inc., Auto-C LLC, Automated Packaging Systems, B+ Equipment, B+ Equipment SAS, Beacon Holdings LLC, Biosphere Industries, BluPack (New Zealand), Blue Dot Packaging Pty Ltd., CPI Packaging Inc., CPI Packaging Systems Inc., Cactus (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Cactus Shanghai Trading Co. Ltd., Ciras C.V., Ciras C.V. - Luxembourg Branch, Ciras C.V. Luxembourg Branch, Cleanwise Inc., Cryovac (Malaysia) SDN. BHD, Cryovac (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Cryovac Brasil Ltda., Cryovac Chile Holdings LLC, Cryovac Holdings II LLC, Cryovac Inc., Cryovac International Holdings Inc., Cryovac LLC, Cryovac Leasing Corporation, Cryovac Londrina Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal - Embalagens Ltda., Cryovac Packaging Portugal Embalagens Ltda, Cryovac Sweden AB, Cryovac-Sealed Air de Costa Rica S.R.L., DELTAPLAM Embalagens Industria e Comercio, Deltaplam Embalagens Industria e Comercio Ltda, Diversey, Diversey Australia Pty. Ltd., Diversey Austria Trading GmbH, Diversey B.V., Diversey Belgium BVBA, Diversey Brasil Industria Quimica Ltda., Diversey Canada Inc., Diversey Centroamerica S.A., Diversey Danmark ApS, Diversey Hungary Acting Off-shore Capital Management Limited Liability Company, Diversey J Trustee Limited, Diversey Trustee Limited, Diversey Ceska republika s.r.o. clen koncernu Diversey, Entapack Pty. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Chengdu) Packing Co. Ltd. (Chongqing Branch), Fagerdala (Chongqing) Packaging Co. Ltd. (Branch), Fagerdala (Huiyang) Packaging Co. Ltd, Fagerdala (Huiyang) Packaging Co. Ltd. (Branch), Fagerdala (Shanghai) Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shanghai) Polymer Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Shenzhen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala (Suzhou) Packing Co. Ltd. (Hefei Branch), Fagerdala (Thailand) Limited, Fagerdala (Xiamen) Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Leamchabung Limited, Fagerdala Leamchabung Ltd., Fagerdala Malaysia Sdn Bhd., Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Mexico S.A. de C.V. (Chihuahua Branch), Fagerdala Mexico Supply Chain S.A. de C.V., Fagerdala Packaging Inc. (Indiana), Fagerdala Shanghai Foams Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd, Fagerdala Singapore Pte Ltd (Branch), Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Limited, Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Limited (Taiwan Branch), Fagerdala Singapore Pte. Ltd., Fagerdala Suzhou Packaging Co. Ltd., Fagerdala Suzhou Packaging Co. Ltd. (Hefei Branch), Fagerdala Thailand Ltd., GEIE VES, Getpacking.com GmbH, Indonesian Rep Office of Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Invertol S. de R.L. de C.V., JCS Sealed Air Kaustik, JSC Sealed Air Kaustik, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal LLC, Kevothermal Limited, Nelipak Holdings, Pack-Tiger GmbH, Packaging C.V., ProAseptic Technologies S.L., Producembal - Producao de Embalagens Ltda., Proxy Biomedical Ltd., Reflectix Inc., SLD Air Packaging Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Saddle Brook Insurance Company, Sealed Air (Asia) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (Barbados) S.R.L., Sealed Air (Canada) Co./CIE, Sealed Air (Canada) Holdings B.V., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air (China) Limited, Sealed Air (China) Ltd., Sealed Air (India) Limited, Sealed Air (Israel) Ltd., Sealed Air (Korea) Limited, Sealed Air (Latin America) Holdings II LLC, Sealed Air (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sealed Air (New Zealand), Sealed Air (Philippines) Inc., Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Sealed Air (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Sealed Air (Thailand) Limited, Sealed Air (Ukraine) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Sealed Air Africa (Pty.) Limited, Sealed Air Americas Manufacturing S. de R. L. de C. V., Sealed Air Argentina S.A., Sealed Air Australia (Holdings) Pty. Limited, Sealed Air Australia Pty Ltd., Sealed Air Australia Pty. Limited, Sealed Air B.V., Sealed Air Belgium N.V., Sealed Air Central America S.A., Sealed Air Chile S.P.A., Sealed Air Colombia Ltda., Sealed Air Corporation (US), Sealed Air Denmark A/S, Sealed Air Embalagens Ltda., Sealed Air Europe Holdings C.V., Sealed Air Europe Holdings LP, Sealed Air Finance B.V., Sealed Air Finance II LLC, Sealed Air Finance II LLC (Sucursal Mexico), Sealed Air Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l. Luxembourg (L) Root Finance Branch, Sealed Air Finance Luxembourg S.a.r.l. US Finance Branch, Sealed Air Funding Corporation, Sealed Air Funding LLC, Sealed Air General Trading LLC, Sealed Air Global Holdings C.V., Sealed Air Global Holdings I C.V., Sealed Air Global Holdings I LLC, Sealed Air GmbH, Sealed Air Hellas S.A., Sealed Air Holding France S.A.S., Sealed Air Holding France SAS, Sealed Air HoldingS I LLC, Sealed Air Holdings (New Zealand) Pty. Ltd., Sealed Air Holdings I C.V., Sealed Air Holdings LLC, Sealed Air Holdings South Africa Proprietary Limited, Sealed Air Hong Kong (Jakarta Indonesia Branch), Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited, Sealed Air Hungary Ltd., Sealed Air International Holdings LLC, Sealed Air International Holdings LLC , Sealed Air Investment and Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Investment and Management Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Japan G.K., Sealed Air Korea Limited, Sealed Air LLC, Sealed Air Limited, Sealed Air Luxembourg (I) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg (II) S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Sealed Air Management Holding Verwaltungs GmbH, Sealed Air Multiflex GmbH, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) I B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V. - Deutsche Zweigniederlassung, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) II B.V. - Deutsche Zweigniederlassung, Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) III B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands (Holdings) III B.V., Sealed Air Netherlands Holdings V B.V., Sealed Air Nevada Holdings Limited, Sealed Air Norge AS, Sealed Air OY, Sealed Air Packaging (India) Private Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Sealed Air Packaging (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sealed Air Packaging LLC, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging Materials (India) LLP, Sealed Air Packaging S.L.U., Sealed Air Paketleme Malzemeleri Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Sealed Air Peru S.A.C., Sealed Air Polska Sp. Zoo, Sealed Air Pty Limited, Sealed Air S.A S., Sealed Air S.A.S., Sealed Air S.r.l., Sealed Air South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Sealed Air Svenska AB, Sealed Air Taiwan Limited, Sealed Air US Holdings (Thailand) LLC, Sealed Air Uruguay S.A., Sealed Air Venezuela Corporation, Sealed Air Verpackungen GmbH, Sealed Air de Mexico Operations S. de R.L. de C.V., Sealed Air de Venezuela S.A., Sealed Air s.r.o., Shanklin Corp, Shanklin Corporation, Soinpar Industrial Ltda., TART s.r.o., TART s.r.o. Joint Venture, TTS-Ciptec, TXAFP Asia Pacific Ltd., TXAFP GP LLC, TempTrip LLC, Trigon Industries, and Vietnamese Rep Office of Sealed Air Hong Kong Limited. Wall Street analysts have given iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Aramark: 1ST & Fresh LLC, AIL Servicos Alimenticios e Participacoes Ltda., AIM Services Co. Ltd., AMP Limited Partnership, ARA Catering and Vending Services Limited, ARA Coffee Club Limited, ARA Coffee System Limited, ARA Food Services Limited, ARA Marketing Services Limited, ARA Offshore Services Limited, ARAMONT Company Ltd., Active Industrial Unif, Alcatraz Hospitality, AmeriPride Services, American Snack & Beverage LLC, Aramark (BVI) Limited, Aramark Airport Services Limited, Aramark American Food Services LLC, Aramark Asia Management LLC, Aramark Aviation Services Limited Partnership, Aramark B.V., Aramark Beverages Limited, Aramark Business & Industry LLC, Aramark Business Center LLC, Aramark Business Dining Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Business Facilities LLC, Aramark CCT Trustees Limited, Aramark Campus LLC, Aramark Canada Ltd., Aramark Canadian Investments Inc., Aramark Capital Asset Services LLC, Aramark Catering Limited, Aramark China Dining Services (Shanghai) Limited, Aramark China Holdings Limited, Aramark Chugach Alaska Services LLC, Aramark Cleaning S.A., Aramark Cleanroom Services (Puerto Rico) Inc., Aramark Cleanroom Services LLC, Aramark Co. Ltd., Aramark Colombia SAS, Aramark Concessions Services Joint Venture, Aramark Confection LLC, Aramark Construction Services Inc., Aramark Construction and Energy Services LLC, Aramark Consumer Discount Company, Aramark Correctional Services LLC, Aramark Defence Services Limited, Aramark Denmark ApS, Aramark Distribution Services Inc., Aramark Educational Group LLC, Aramark Educational Services LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Educational Services of Vermont Inc., Aramark Entertainment LLC, Aramark Entertainment Services (Canada) Inc., Aramark Executive Management Services USA Inc., Aramark FHC Business Services LLC, Aramark FHC Campus Services LLC, Aramark FHC Correctional Services LLC, Aramark FHC Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Kansas Inc., Aramark FHC LLC, Aramark FHC Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark FHC School Support Services LLC, Aramark FHC Services LLC, Aramark FHC Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark FSM LLC, Aramark Facility Services LLC, Aramark Food Service LLC, Aramark Food Service of Texas LLC, Aramark Food and Support Services Group Inc., Aramark Global Group S.a.r.l., Aramark Global Inc., Aramark GmbH, Aramark Gulf Limited, Aramark Gulf Limited Catering Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services LLC, Aramark Healthcare Support Services of the Virgin Islands Inc., Aramark Healthcare Technologies LLC, Aramark Holding Deutschland GmbH, Aramark Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Aramark Holdings Ltd., Aramark Industrial Services LLC, Aramark Intermediate HoldCo Corporation, Aramark International Finance S.a.r.l., Aramark International Holdings S.a.r.l., Aramark Inversiones Latinoamericanas Limitada, Aramark Investments Limited, Aramark Ireland Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan Holdings Limited, Aramark Japan LLC, Aramark KSA LLC, Aramark Kazakhstan Ltd., Aramark Lakewood Associates, Aramark Limited, Aramark Management GmbH, Aramark Management LLC, Aramark Management Services Limited Partnership, Aramark Manning Services UK Limited, Aramark Mexico Group, Aramark Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Manufacturing de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Monclova Support S.A.de C.V., Aramark Norway SA, Aramark Organizational Services LLC, Aramark Partnership Limited, Aramark Personnel Services, Aramark Peru S.A.C., Aramark Peru Servicios de Intermediacion SRL, Aramark Processing LLC, Aramark Property Services Limited, Aramark Qualified Opportunity Fund, Aramark Quebec Inc., Aramark RBI Inc., Aramark Rail Services LLC, Aramark Receivables LLC, Aramark Refreshment Group, Aramark Refreshment Services LLC, Aramark Refreshment Services of Tampa LLC, Aramark Regional Treasury Europe DAC, Aramark Remote Workplace Services Ltd., Aramark Restaurations GmbH, Aramark S&E/QCF Joint Venture, Aramark S.A., Aramark S.A. de C.V., Aramark S.R.O., Aramark SARL, Aramark SCM Inc., Aramark SM Management Services Inc., Aramark SMMS LLC, Aramark SMMS Real Estate LLC, Aramark School Catering Facility Ltd., Aramark Schools Facilities LLC, Aramark Schools LLC, Aramark Senior Living Services LLC, Aramark Senior Notes Company LLC, Aramark Service Industries (China) Co. Ltd., Aramark Services Inc., Aramark Services SA, Aramark Services of Kansas Inc., Aramark Services of Puerto Rico Inc., Aramark Servicios Industriales S. de R.L. de C.V., Aramark Servicios Integrales S.A., Aramark Servicios Mineros y Remotos Limitada, Aramark Servicios SRL, Aramark Servicios de Catering S.L., Aramark Servicos Alimenticos e Participacoes Ltda., Aramark Sports Facilities LLC, Aramark Sports LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Group LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services LLC, Aramark Sports and Entertainment Services of Texas LLC, Aramark Sub Investments Limited, Aramark Technical Services North Carolina Inc., Aramark Togwotee LLC, Aramark Trademark Services, Aramark Trustees Limited, Aramark U.S. Offshore Services LLC, Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel Group Inc., Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel LLC, Aramark Uniform Holding de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Aramark Uniform Manufacturing Company, Aramark Uniform Services (Canada) Ltd., Aramark Uniform Services (Matchpoint) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Rochester) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Supply Chain), Aramark Uniform Services (Syracuse) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (Texas) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services (West Adams) LLC, Aramark Uniform Services Japan Corporation, Aramark Venue Services Inc., Aramark WTC LLC, Aramark Workplace Solutions (UK) Ltd., Aramark Workplace Solutions Yonetim Hizmetleri Limited Sirketi, Aramark Worldwide Investments Limited, Aramark-Clarksville Club, Aramark-FINCO of Texas LLC, Aramark-Gourmet DPS LLC, Aramark-KWAME of St. Louis LLC, Aramark-SFS Healthcare J.V. L.L.C., Aramark/Dasko Restaurant and Catering Services S.A., Aramark/GM Concessions Joint Venture, Aramark/Giacometti Joint Venture, Aramark/Globetrotters LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-1 LLC, Aramark/Gourmet HE-2 LLC, Aramark/HF Company, Aramark/HMS LLC, Aramark/Hart Lyman Entertainment LLC, Aramark/Martin's Stadium Concession Services OPACY Joint Venture, Aramark/QHC LLC, Aramark/SFS Joint Venture, Avendra, Avendra Canada Inc., Avendra Gaming, Avendra Replenishment, Avoca, Avoca Handweavers Designs Limited, Avoca Handweavers Limited, Avoca Handweavers NI Limited, Avoca Handweavers Shops Limited, Avoca Handweavers UK Limited, Beijing Golden Collar Dining Ltd., Boompjes Hotel BV, Brand Coffee Service Inc., BuyEfficient, CDR Mantenimiento Integral S.A., Campbell Catering (Belfast) Ltd., Campbell Catering (N.I.) Ltd., Campbell Catering Holdings Limited, Campbell Catering Limited, Campbell Catering Ltd., Campbell Catering Services, Canadian Linen and Uniform Service Co., Canyonlands Rafting Hospitality LLC, Catering Alliance Limited, Caterwise Food Services Limited, Central Multiservicios S.R.L., Central de Abastecimiento Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Limitada, Central de Restaurantes Aramark Multiservicios Limitada, Central de Restaurantes S.R.L., Centrapal S.R.L., Centro de Innovacion y Servicio S.A., Cliff House Hospitality, Comertel Educa SLU, Comertel Residencia SLU, Comertel SA, Complete Purchasing Services Inc., Corporate Coffee Systems LLC, Crater Lake Hospitality, D.G. Maren II Inc., Delicious on West Street LLC, Delsac VIII Inc., Distributor JV Limited, Dongguan Best Property Management Co., Doyon/Aramark Denali National Park Concessions Joint Venture, Effective Partnerships Limited, Filterfresh Coffee Service, Filterfresh Coffee Service LLC, Filterfresh Franchise Group LLC, Fine Host Holdings LLC, Food JV Limited, Freedom Ferry Services, GTB Gastro Team Bremen GmbH, Gestion de Alimentacion y Limpieza Colectivadades SLU, Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve Concessions LLC, Glen Canyon Rafting Hospitality, Glenrye Properties Services Limited, Golden Collar, Good Uncle Services, Gourmet Aramark Services LLC, Guaranty Energy Group 1981, HPSI Purchasing Services LLC, Harrison Conference Associates LLC, Harrison Conference Services of North Carolina LLC, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of New Jersey, Harry M. Stevens Inc. of Penn., Harry M. Stevens LLC, Hunters Catering Partnership Limited, Institutional Processing Services, Instituto ICS S.A., Inversiones Aramark Chile Limitada, Inversiones Centralcorp Limitada, Inversiones Palm Limitada, Inversiones en Aseo y Mantenimiento S.A, Irish Estates (Facilities Management) Limited, L&N Uniform Supply LLC, Lake Tahoe Cruises LLC, Landy Textile Rental Services LLC, Lifeworks Restaurant Group LLC, Lotus Facilities Management, MESA, Masterplan, Medical Equipment Solutions & Applications Sagl (MESA), Mill Mount Weavers Limited, Muir Woods Hospitality, MyAssistant Inc., New Aramark LLC, Nissho Linen, North Rim Hospitality, Old Time Coffee Co., Olympic Peninsula Hospitality LLC, Orange Support Services Limited, Overall Laundry Services Inc., Paradise Hornblower LLC, Pelican Procurement Services Limited, Philadelphia Ballpark Concessions Joint Venture, Prem Hospitality Limited, Premgroup Franchise Services Limited, Premier Management Company (Dublin) Limited, Premier Partnership (Catering) Limited, Quebec Linge Co., ReMedPar, Restaura Inc., Rocky Mountain Hospitality LLC, Rushmore Hospitality LLC, SeamlessWeb, Seguricorp Servicios S.A., South Rim Hospitality LLC, Spokesoft Technologies Limited, Stuart Cabeldu Catering Limited, Sun Office Service Inc., Tarrant County Concessions LLC, The Aramark Foundation, The Original Food Company Limited, Travel Systems LLC, Trinity Hospitality Services GmbH, Trinity Hospitality Services SARL, Trinity Purchasing N.V., Vector Environmental Services Limited, Vector Workplace and Facility Management Limited, Veris Plc, Veris Property Management Limited, Veris UK Limited, WearGuard, Wilderness River Adventures, and Yosemite Hospitality LLC. Tahoe Resources Inc., together with its subsidiaries, acquires, explores for, develops, and operates mineral properties in the Americas. It explores for silver, gold, lead, zinc, and copper deposits, as well as precious metals assets. The company holds interest in the La Arena gold mine located in the Huamachuco district of northern Peru; Shahuindo mine located in the province of Cajabamba in northern Peru; and La Arena II, a copper-gold porphyry deposit located in Peru. It also holds interest in the Timmins mines, including the Bell Creek and Timmins West mines, the Fenn-Gib project, the Juby project, the Vogel project, and the Gold River project located in Timmins, Ontario. The company was formerly known as CKM Resources Inc. and changed its name to Tahoe Resources Inc. in January 2010. Tahoe Resources Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is headquartered in Reno, Nevada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Whirlpool: 1900 Holdings Corporation, ADC, Aeradriatica S.p.A., Airdun Limited, B. Blend Maquinas e Bebidas S.A., BUD Comercio de Eletrodomesticos Ltda., BWI Products Limited, Bauknecht AG, Bauknecht Hausgerate GmbH, Bauknecht Limited, Beijing Embraco Snowflake Compressor Company Limited, Bill Page Orchestra, Bill Page Orchestra Inc., Brasmotor S.A., Brunson Place Properties, Brunson Place Properties LLC, CNB Consultoria Ltda, Cannon Industries Ltd., Centro de Desarrollo Tecnologico e Innovacion WHM S. de R.L de C.V., Comercial Acros Whirlpool, Comercial Acros Whirlpool S. de R.L. de C.V., Consumer Appliances Service Limited, Ealing Compania de Gestiones y Participaciones S.A., Elera Delaware, Elera Delaware Inc., Elera Holdings Corporation, Embraco Europe S.r.l., Embraco Eurosales S.r.l., Embraco Industria de Compressores e Solucoes em Refrigeracao Ltda., Embraco Luxembourg S.a r.l., Embraco Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Embraco Mexico Servicios, Embraco Mexico Servicios S. de R.L. de C.V., Embraco North America, Embraco North America Inc., Embraco RUS LLC, Embraco Slovakia S.r.o., Everest Campus, Everest Campus LLC., General Domestic Appliances Holdings Ltd, General Domestic Appliances International Ltd., Guangdong Whirlpool Electrical Appliances Co., Guangdong Whirlpool Electrical Appliances Co. Ltd., Haceb Whirlpool Industrias S.A.S., Hefei Rongshida Sanyo Electric, Hefei Whirlpool Enterprise Management Service Co. Ltd., Hoover Comercial Limitada, IRE Beteiligungs GmbH, Indesit Argentina S.A., Indesit Company, Indesit Company Beyaz Esya Pazarlama A.S., Indesit Company Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Indesit Company Ceska S.r.o., Indesit Company Domestic Appliances Hellas Mepe, Indesit Company International Business S.A., Indesit Company Luxembourg S.A., Indesit Company Magyarorszag Kft, Indesit Company Nordics AB, Indesit Company Polska Sp. zo.o., Indesit Company Singapore Pte. Ltd., Indesit Company UK Holdings Ltd., Indesit IP S.r.l., Indesit International ZAO, Indesit Ireland Ltd., Indesit Middle East FZE, Indesit Ukraine LLC, Industrias Acros Whirlpool S. de R.L. de C.V., Industrias Acros Whirlpool S.A. de C.V, Jackson Appliances Ltd., Joint-Stock Company Indesit International, KitchenAid, KitchenAid Australia Pty Ltd, KitchenAid Australia Pty Ltd., KitchenAid Delaware Inc., KitchenAid Europa Inc., KitchenAid Global, KitchenAid Global Inc., KitchenAid Inc., KitchenAid Korea Limited, KitchenAid Promotions, KitchenAid Promotions LLC, KitchenAid Trading Co., KitchenAid Trading Co. Ltd., LAWSA S.A., MLOG Armazem Geral Ltda., Maytag Corporation, Maytag Limited, Maytag Properties, Maytag Properties LLC, Maytag Sales, Maytag Sales Inc., Maytag Worldwide N.V., Merloni Domestic Appliances Ltd., Nineteen Hundred Corporation, Polar S.A., Qingdao EECON Electronic Controls and Appliances Co., Qingdao EECON Electronic Controls and Appliances Co. Ltd., South American Sales Partnership, THC Assets Corporation, Up Points Servicos Empresariais S.A., Vitromatic S.A. de C.V., WCGP Nova Scotia Co., WHirlpool EMEA Finanace S.a r.l., Whirlpool (Australia) Pty. Limited, Whirlpool (B.V.I.) Limited, Whirlpool (China) Co. Ltd., Whirlpool (China) Investment Co., Whirlpool (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Whirlpool (Hefei) Trading Co., Whirlpool (Hefei) Trading Co. Ltd, Whirlpool (Hong Kong) Limited, Whirlpool (Japan) Co. Ltd., Whirlpool (Thailand) Limited, Whirlpool ASEAN Co., Whirlpool America Holdings Corp., Whirlpool Argentina S.r.l., Whirlpool Asia B.V., Whirlpool Asia Holdings S.a r.l., Whirlpool Asia Inc., Whirlpool Asia LLP, Whirlpool Belux N.V./S.A., Whirlpool Bermuda Euro Ltd., Whirlpool Beyaz Esya Sanayi Ve Ticaret A.S., Whirlpool Bulgaria Ltd., Whirlpool CIS Ltd., Whirlpool CR, Whirlpool CR spol. s.r.o., Whirlpool CSA Holdings S.a r.l., Whirlpool Canada Co., Whirlpool Canada Co. (post 9/1/05 amalgamation company), Whirlpool Canada Holding Co, Whirlpool Canada Holding Co. (post 4/18/06 amalgamation company), Whirlpool Canada Investments S.a r.l., Whirlpool Canada LP, Whirlpool Canada Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Whirlpool Chile Limitada, Whirlpool Colombia S.A.S., Whirlpool Comercial Ltda., Whirlpool Company Polska Sp. z o.o., Whirlpool Company Ukraine LLC, Whirlpool Croatia Ltd., Whirlpool EMEA S.p.A., Whirlpool Ecuador S.A., Whirlpool Eesti OU, Whirlpool El Salvador, Whirlpool El Salvador S.A. de C.V., Whirlpool Electrodomesticos S.A., Whirlpool Eletrodomesticos AM S.A., Whirlpool Enterprises, Whirlpool Enterprises LLC, Whirlpool Europe B.V., Whirlpool Europe Coordination Center, Whirlpool Europe Holdings Limited, Whirlpool Ev Aletleri Pazarlama Ve Ticaret A.S., Whirlpool Finance B.V., Whirlpool Finance Center Corp., Whirlpool Finance Luxembourg S.a r.l., Whirlpool Finance Overseas Ltd., Whirlpool Financial Corporation, Whirlpool Financial Corporation International, Whirlpool Floor Care Corp., Whirlpool France Holdings SAS, Whirlpool France SAS, Whirlpool Germany GmbH, Whirlpool Global B.V., Whirlpool Global Investments B.V., Whirlpool Greater China Inc., Whirlpool Guatemala, Whirlpool Guatemala S.A., Whirlpool Hellas S.A., Whirlpool Holdings Corporation, Whirlpool Home Appliances B.V., Whirlpool Home Appliances Limited Liability Company, Whirlpool Hungarian Trading Limited Liability Company, Whirlpool India Holdings Limited, Whirlpool Insurance Company, Whirlpool Insurance Company Ltd., Whirlpool Internacional S. de R.L. de C.V., Whirlpool International GmbH, Whirlpool International Holdings S.a r.l., Whirlpool International Manufacturing S.a r.l., Whirlpool Ireland Appliances Limited, Whirlpool Ireland Limited, Whirlpool Italia Holdings S.r.l., Whirlpool Italia S.r.l., Whirlpool Japan Co. Ltd., Whirlpool Japan Inc., Whirlpool Kazakhstan LLP, Whirlpool Latin America Corporation, Whirlpool Latvia S.I.A., Whirlpool Lietuva UAB, Whirlpool Ltd Belgrade, Whirlpool Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Whirlpool Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Whirlpool Luxembourg S.a r.l., Whirlpool Luxembourg Ventures S.a r.l., Whirlpool MEEA DMCC, Whirlpool Magyarorszag Kereskedelmi Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Whirlpool Management Services S.a.g.l., Whirlpool Maroc S. a r.l., Whirlpool Mauritius Limited, Whirlpool Mexico Holdings LLC, Whirlpool Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Whirlpool Mexico S.A. de C.V., Whirlpool Mexico Ventures LLC, Whirlpool Microwave Products Development Limited, Whirlpool NAAG Holdings Corporation, Whirlpool NAR Holdings, Whirlpool NAR Holdings LLC, Whirlpool Nederland B.V., Whirlpool Nordic, Whirlpool Nordic A/S, Whirlpool Nordic AB, Whirlpool Nordic AS, Whirlpool Nordic OY, Whirlpool Oceania Inc., Whirlpool Overseas Holdings, Whirlpool Overseas Holdings LLC, Whirlpool Overseas Hong Kong Limited, Whirlpool Overseas Manufacturing S.ar.l., Whirlpool Peru S.R.L., Whirlpool Polska Appliances Sp. z o.o., Whirlpool Polska Sp. z o.o., Whirlpool Portugal, Whirlpool Portugal S.A., Whirlpool Product Development (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Whirlpool Properties, Whirlpool Properties Inc., Whirlpool Puntana S.A., Whirlpool R&D S.r.l., Whirlpool RUS LLC, Whirlpool Realty Corporation, Whirlpool Romania S.r.l., Whirlpool S.A., Whirlpool SSC Limited, Whirlpool Slovakia Home Appliances spol. s.r.o., Whirlpool Slovakia spol. s.r.o., Whirlpool South Africa (Proprietary) Limited, Whirlpool Southeast Asia Pte, Whirlpool Sweden Aktiebolag, Whirlpool Taiwan Co. Ltd., Whirlpool Technologies LLC, Whirlpool UK Appliances Limited, Whirlpool UK Pension Scheme Trustee Limited, Whirlpool Ukraine LLC, Whirlpool WW Holdings B.V., Whirlpool do Brasil Investements B.V., Whirlpool do Brasil Ltda., Whirlpool of India Limited, Whirlpool Osterreich GmbH, Whirlpool Osterreich GmbH, Xpelair, Xpelair Ltd., Yummly, Yummly Canada Ltd., and Yummly Inc.. 5 Wall Street analysts have issued "buy," "hold," and "sell" ratings for bioMerieux in the last twelve months. There are currently 2 sell ratings, 1 hold rating and 2 buy ratings for the stock. The consensus among Wall Street analysts is that investors should "hold" bioMerieux stock. A hold rating indicates that analysts believe investors should maintain any existing positions they have in BMXMF, but not buy additional shares or sell existing shares. View analyst ratings for bioMerieux or view top-rated stocks. Wall Street analysts have given Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Vanguard Mid-Cap Value ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of PPG Industries: AIPCF V Texstars Blocker Inc., AkzoNobel, Alermac Inversiones S.A. de C.V., Alpha Coating Technologies LLC, Alpha Coatings Inc., Broad Range Development Limited, Brown Brothers Distribution Limited, CG Holdings Manufacturing Co., Centro de Investigacion en Polimeros S.A. de C.V., Chemfil Canada Limited, Chorlton Trade Paints Limited, Comercial Mexicana de Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Comex, Comex Industrial Coatings S.A. de C.V., Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., Cristacol S.A., Cuming Microwave Corporation, Deutek SA, Dexmet Corporation, Dexmet Holding Corporation, Distribuidora Kroma S.A. de C.V., EPIC Insurance Co. Ltd., Eberle Design Inc., Empresa Aga S.A. de C.V., Ennis Canadian Holding Company, Ennis Flint Soluciones Seguras Para Trafico, Ennis Highway Traffic Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Ennis Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Ennis Paint Australia Holding Pty Ltd, Ennis Paint Boya Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S., Ennis Paint Canada ULC, Ennis Paint Germany GmbH, Ennis Paint Netherlands Holdings LLC, Ennis Paint U.K. Holding Company Limited, Ennis Prismo Italio S.r.l., Ennis Traffic Safety Solutions Pty Ltd, Ennis Flint Mexico, Ennis Flint New Zealand, Ennis Flint New Zealand Holding Pty Ltd, Ennis-Flint, Ennis-Flint Africa (Pty) Ltd, Ennis-Flint Inc., Foshan Bairun Chemicals Co. Ltd., Fpu Industrial S.A. de C.V., Grupo Comex S.A. de C.V., Hemmelrath Automotive Coatings (Jilin) Co. Ltd., Hodij Coatings B.V., Homax Products, Industria Chimica Reggiana I.C.R. SPA, Johnstones Paints Limited, Kalon Investment Company Limited, Kalon South Africa Proprietary Limited, Manchester Thermoplastics LLC, Masterwork Paint, MetoKote Canada Limited, MetoKote Corporation, MetoKote Mexico Holding Inc., MetoKote UK Limited, MetoKote de Mexico S. de RL de CV, PPG AC - France SA, PPG ALESCO Automotive Finishes Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PPG AP Resinas S.A. de C.V., PPG Aerospace Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Architectural Coatings (Puerto Rico) Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Ireland Limited, PPG Architectural Coatings Italy S.r.l., PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited, PPG Architectural Finishes Inc., PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd., PPG COATINGS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PPG Canada Inc., PPG Cieszyn S.A., PPG Coatings (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, PPG Coatings (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., PPG Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Wuhu) Company Ltd., PPG Coatings (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings B.V., PPG Coatings Belgium BV, PPG Coatings Danmark A/S, PPG Coatings Deutschland GmbH, PPG Coatings Europe B.V., PPG Coatings Manufacturing SARL, PPG Coatings Nederland BV, PPG Coatings S.A., PPG Coatings South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PPG DYRUP S.A., PPG Deco Czech a.s., PPG Deco Polska sp. z.o.o., PPG Deco Slovakia s.r.o., PPG Deutschland Business Support GmbH, PPG Deutschland Sales & Services GmbH, PPG Distribution S.A.S., PPG Europe B.V., PPG Finance B.V., PPG France Business Support S.A.S., PPG France Manufacturing S.A.S., PPG Guadeloupe SAS, PPG Hellas S.A., PPG Hemmelrath Coatings Inc., PPG Hemmelrath Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Holdco SAS, PPG Holdings (U.K.) Limited, PPG Holdings Argentina USA LLC, PPG Holdings Latin America USA LLC, PPG Iberica S.A., PPG Iberica Sales & Services S.L., PPG Industrial Coatings B.V., PPG Industrial do Brasil - Tintas E. Vernizes - Ltda., PPG Industries (Korea) Ltd., PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Industries (UK) Ltd, PPG Industries Argentina S.R.L., PPG Industries Australia PTY Limited A.C.N. 055 500 939, PPG Industries Colombia Ltda., PPG Industries Czech Republic s.r.o., PPG Industries Delfzijl B.V., PPG Industries Europe Sarl, PPG Industries France S.A.S., PPG Industries International Inc., PPG Industries Italia S.r.l., PPG Industries Kimya a Sanayi VE Ticaret AS, PPG Industries LLC, PPG Industries Lipetsk LLC, PPG Industries Middle East FZE, PPG Industries Netherlands B.V., PPG Industries New Zealand Limited, PPG Industries Ohio Inc., PPG Industries Poland Sp. Z.o.o., PPG Industries Securities LLC, PPG Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Italia Business Support S.r.l., PPG Italia Sales & Services S.r.l., PPG Japan Ltd., PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes Canada LP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.K. LLP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.S. LLC, PPG Luxembourg Finance S.aR.L., PPG Luxembourg Holdings S.aR.L., PPG Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Packaging Coatings (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Performance Coatings (Hong Kong) Limited, PPG Powder Coatings (Shanghai) Limited, PPG Romania S.A., PPG SSC Co. Ltd., PPG Switzerland GmbH, PPG Trilak Kft., PPG Vietnam Co. Ltd., PRC-DeSoto Australia Pty Ltd., PRC-DeSoto International Inc., PT. PPG Coatings Indonesia, Painter's Supply, Paintzen, Peintures de Paris SAS, Plasticos Envolventes S.A. de C.V., Polymeric Systems Inc., Prismo Road Markings Limited, ProCoatings B.V., ProCoatings BV, Protec Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 007 857 392, Reno A&E LLC, Revocoat France SAS, Revocoat Holding SAS, Revocoat Iberica SLU, Revocoat S.A.S, Road Infrastructure Investment Holdings Inc., SEM Products Inc., Sealants Europe SAS, Sierracin Corporation, Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation, Sigma Marine & Protective Coatings Holding B.V., SigmaKalon (BC) UK Limited, SigmaKalon Group, SigmaKalon Middle East B.V., Sikar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Spraylat International Ltd, Texstars LLC, The Crown Group Co., The Crown Group Inc, The Homax Group, Tikkurila Group, Traffic Safety Intermediate LLC, Traffic Safety Parent LLC, United International Business NV, Vanex Inc., Vernisol S.p.A., Versaflex, Viasa S.A. de C.V., Whitford, Whitford B.V., Whitford Corporation, Whitford Jiangmen Ltd., Whitford Ltd. (HK), Whitford Ltd. (UK), Whitford Pte. Ltd., Whitford S.r.l., Whitford Worldwide Company LLC, Worwag Coatings, and Zaganite Industries Pty Ltd. The following companies are subsidiares of Archer-Daniels-Midland: ADM (Shanghai) Management Co. LTD, ADM (Thailand) Ltd, ADM Ag Holdings Ltd, ADM Agri-Industries Company, ADM Agriculture Limited, ADM Agro Iberica S. L. U., ADM Agro Indust Latur and Vizag Pvt Ltd, ADM Agro Industries India Private Limited, ADM Agro Industries KOTA and AKOLA Pvt. Ltd., ADM Agro SRL, ADM Agroinvestimentos LTDA, ADM Alliance Nutrition of Puerto Rico LLC, ADM Americas S de RL, ADM Andina Peru SRL, ADM Antwerp NV, ADM Arkady Ireland Limited, ADM Asia-Pacific Trading Pte. Ltd., ADM Australia Holdings I PTY Limited, ADM Bio Science And Technology (Tianjin) Co Ltd, ADM Bioproductos SA DE CV, ADM CZERNIN SA, ADM Caribbean Inc, ADM Chile Comercial LTDA, ADM Clinton Bioprocessing Inc, ADM DO Brasil LTDA, ADM Direct Polska SP. ZO.O, ADM Dominican Holdings Inc., ADM Dominicana SA, ADM Edible Bean Specialties Inc, ADM Europe HoldCo SL, ADM European Holdings LLC, ADM European Management Holding GMBH, ADM Export Co, ADM Food Technology (Beijing) Co. Ltd., ADM France, ADM Germany GmbH, ADM Grain River System Inc., ADM Hamburg Aktiengesesllschaft, ADM Holding (Thailand) LTD, ADM Holdings LLC, ADM Hungary Agro Trading LLC, ADM Industries Centers Ltd, ADM International Holdings Inc, ADM International SARL, ADM Interoceanic LTD, ADM Investments LTD, ADM Investor Services Inc, ADM Investor Services International LTD, ADM Ireland Receivables Company Limited, ADM Israel, ADM Japan Ltd, ADM MALBORK SA, ADM Mainz GMBH, ADM Medsofts Sarl, ADM Mexico Inc, ADM Mexico SA DE CV, ADM Milling Co, ADM Milling LTD, ADM New Zealand Limited, ADM Olomouc S.R.O., ADM Paraguay SRL, ADM Protexin Limited, ADM Pura Limited, ADM Receivables LLC, ADM Rice Inc, ADM Ringaskiddy Unlimited Company, ADM Romania Logistics SRL, ADM Romania Trading SRL, ADM Specialty Ingredients - Europe BV, ADM Spyck GMBH, ADM Szamotuly SP Z O.O, ADM Trading Australia Pty. Ltd., ADM Trading Co, ADM Transportation Company, ADM Trucking Inc, ADM Vietnam CO. LTD, ADM WILD Europe GmbH and Co. KG, ADM WILD Ingredients GmbH, ADM WILD Nauen GmbH, ADM WILD Valencia S.A., ADM Wild Netherlands BV, ADM Worldwide Holdings LP, ADMIS Holding Co Inc., ADMIS Hong Kong LTD, ADMIS Singapore Pte Limited, AOR, AT Holdings II Company, Agri Port Services Investments Ltd., Agri Port Services LLC, Agricolas Madagascar SARLU, Agrinational Insurance Co, Agriserve, Agrograin LTD, Alfrebro LLC, Alfred C Toepfer International Netherlands BV, Alimenta USA, American River Transportation Company LLC, Ameriseed, Amylum Bulgaria EAD, Amylum Nisasta Sanayi Ve Ticarek Anonim Sirketi, Archer Daniels Midland (UK) Limited, Archer Daniels Midland Asia Pacific Ltd., Archer Daniels Midland Erith LTD, Archer Daniels Midland Europe BV, Archer Daniels Midland Europoort BV, Archer Daniels Midland Nederland BV, Archer Daniels Midland Singapore PTE LTD, Arinos Unlimited, Aston Foods & Food Ingredients, Balanceados Nova SA Balnova, Barbados Mills Limited, Bela Vista Bio Etanol Participacoes LTDA, Bern Aqua, BioPolis SL, Biopolis, Campa Sued GmbH & Co KG, Cattleman's Choice Loomix LLC, Chamtor, Ci ADM Colombia Ltda., Controladora ADM Sa De Cv, Crosswind Petfoods Inc., Daavision BV, Eaststarch, Eatem Corporation, Eatem Foods, Elstar Oils, English River Pellets Inc., Epicore Bionetworks INC, Epicore Networks (USA) INC, Erich Ziegler GmbH, Evialis France, Fasco Mills Co., Filozoo SRL, Florida Chemical, Florida Chemical Company LLC, GP Blanching Inc., Global Cocoa Holdings LTD, Golden Peanut Company LLC, Golden Peanut and Tree Nut Seed SA (PTY) LTD, Golden Peanut and Tree Nuts SA, Group Lysac, Guyomarc'h - VCN Company Limited, Guyomarc'h Vietnam CO LTD, HFR Shipping Company Ltd, HRA Shipping Company Ltd, HTI Shipping Company Ltd, Harvest Innovations, Hilltop Grain and Feed, Holding P and A Asia Company Limited, Hubei Meiweiyuan Biotechnology, Ilitchevskiy Maslo Extractionniy Zavod (IMEZ), Invivo NSA Asia PTE LTD, Invivo NSA Philippines Inc, Jamaica Flour Mills Limited, Julius Meijer-Alpharma BV, LLC ADM Ukraine, Liquid Feed Commodities, Malta Industries SA de CV, Malta-Texo De Mexico SA de CV, Master Mix of Trinidad LTD, Medsofts Investment Co, Medsofts L.L.C., Medsofts Trading Co, Mepla Comercio e Navegacao Ltda, NRG Inc, Naviera Chaco SRL, Neovia, Neovia Latina SL, Neovia Nutricao E Saude Animal LTDA, North Star Shipping S.R.L., P and A Marketing SA, PJSC ADM Illichivsk, PT Wirifa Sakti, Pancosma (Shanghai) Feed Additives CO LTD, Pancosma France SAS, Pancosma SA, Premiere Agri Technologies of Mexico Inc, Pura Foods LTD, Rodelle Inc., Schokinag-Schokolade-Industrie Herrmann, Sermix, Setna Nutricion SA, Societe Industrielle Des Oleagineux, Southern Cellulose Products Inc, Soy Investors LLC, Specialty Commodities, Specialty Commodities LLC, Sul Mineira Alimentos LTDA, SzSzV Kft, Toepfer International, Toepfer International Trading (Shanghai) Co. LTD., Vantage Corn Processors LLC, WILD Amazon Flavors Ltda, WILD Flavors, Wild Flavors Inc., Wild Flavors International GmbH, Wild Flavors Singapore Pte. Ltd., Wild Intermare GmbH, Wild Russia LLC, and Wisium SA (PTY) LTD. The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. Wall Street analysts have given CGI Group a "Buy" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but CGI Group wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides various banking products and services to businesses, professionals, and consumers in Virginia. The company accepts checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts, cash management accounts, certificates of deposit, and individual retirement accounts. Its loan products include commercial and industrial loans, such as small business loans, asset based loans, and other secured and unsecured loans and lines of credit; purchased loans; residential and commercial mortgages; home equity loans; consumer installment loans; and consumer loans comprising automobile and boat financing, home improvement loans, and unsecured personal loans. The company also provides credit cards; and insurance, online banking, telephone banking, mobile banking, analysis checking, cash management deposit, wire, direct deposit payroll, lockbox, positive pay, and remote deposit services, as well as a line of commercial lending options. In addition, it offers management services, including estate planning and settlement, as well as trust administration, investment, and wealth management services; and revocable and irrevocable living trusts, testamentary trusts, custodial accounts, investment planning, brokerage services, investment managed accounts, and managed and self-directed rollover individual retirement accounts for personal and corporate trusts. As of March 9, 2020, the company operated 17 banking offices located throughout greater Richmond region, the Northern Neck region, Middlesex County, and the Hampton Roads region. Bay Banks of Virginia, Inc. was founded in 1930 and is headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft: 87 Leonard Development LLC, ABFS I Incorporated, ABS MB Ltd., Acacia (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Accounting Solutions Holding Company Inc, Alex. Brown Financial Services Incorporated, Alex. Brown Investments Incorporated, Alfred Herrhausen Gesellschaft mbH, Amber Investments S.a r.l., Ambidexter GmbH, Ambidexter GmbH i.L., Argent Incorporated, BHW - Gesellschaft fur Wohnungswirtschaft mbH, BHW Bausparkasse Aktiengesellschaft, BHW Holding GmbH, BHW Kreditservice GmbH, BNA Nominees Pty Limited, BT Globenet Nominees Limited, BTAS Cayman GP, BTD Nominees Pty Limited, Baincor Nominees Pty Limited, Bainpro Nominees Pty Ltd, Baldur Mortgages Limited, Bankers Trust Investments Limited, Barkly Investments Ltd., Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc, Bayan Delinquent Loan Recovery 1 (SPV-AMC) Inc., Berkshire Mortgage Finance, Betriebs-Center fur Banken AG, Biomass Holdings S.a r.l., Birch (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Blue Cork Inc, Blue Cork Inc., Borfield Sociedad Anonima, Breaking Wave DB Limited, Cape Acquisition Corp., CapeSuccess Inc., CapeSuccess LLC, Cardales UK Limited, Cardea Real Estate S.r.l., Career Blazers LLC, Career Blazers Management Company Inc, Career Blazers Management Company Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc, Career Blazers Personnel Services Inc., Career Blazers Personnel Services of Washington D.C. Inc. Washington D.C., Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc, Caribbean Resort Holdings Inc., Carpathian Investments Designated Activity Company, Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Advisory (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Cathay Asset Management Company Limited, Cathay Capital Company (No 2) Limited, Cedar (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Centennial River 2 Inc., Centennial River Corporation, Chapel Funding, Charlton (Delaware) Inc, China Recovery Fund LLC, China Recovery Fund LLC, Cinda - DB NPL Securitization Trust 2003-1, City Leasing (Thameside) Limited, City Leasing Limited, Consumo S.p.A., Consumo Srl in Liquidazione, Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., Cyrus J. Lawrence Capital Holdings Inc., D B Investments (GB) Limited, D&M Turnaround Partners Godo Kaisha, D.B. International Delaware Inc., D.B. International Delaware Inc., DAHOC (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DAHOC Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DB (Barbados) SRL, DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Asing) Sdn. Bhd., DB (Malaysia) Nominee (Tempatan) Sendirian Berhad, DB (Pacific) Limited, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB (Pacific) Limited New York, DB Abalone LLC, DB Alex. Brown Holdings Incorporated, DB Alps Corporation, DB Aotearoa Investments Limited, DB Asia Pacific Holdings Limited (in voluntary liquidation), DB Asset Finance I S.a r.l., DB Asset Finance II S.a r.l., DB Aster II LLC, DB Aster III LLC, DB Aster Inc., DB Aster LLC, DB Beteiligungs-Holding GmbH, DB Boracay LLC, DB Capital Investments Sarl, DB Capital Markets (Deutschland) GmbH, DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Capital Partners Inc., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Cartera de Inmuebles 1 S.A.U., DB Chestnut Holdings Limited, DB Commodity Services LLC, DB Consorzio S. Cons. a r. l., DB Corporate Advisory (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., DB Covered Bond S.r.l., DB Credit Investments S.a r.l., DB Delaware Holdings (Europe) Limited, DB Direkt GmbH, DB Elara LLC, DB Energy Commodities Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Energy Trading LLC, DB Enfield Infrastructure Holdings Limited, DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equipment Leasing Inc., DB Equity Limited, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance (Delaware) LLC, DB Finance International GmbH, DB Ganymede 2006 L.P., DB Global Markets Multi-Strategy Fund I Ltd., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology Inc., DB Global Technology SRL, DB Group Services (UK) Limited, DB HR Solutions GmbH, DB Holding Fundo de Investimento Multimercado Investimento no Exterior Credito Privado, DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (New York) Inc., DB Holdings (South America) Limited, DB IROC Leasing Corp., DB Immobilienfonds 1 Wieland KG, DB Immobilienfonds 2 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 4 KG i.L., DB Immobilienfonds 5 Wieland KG, DB Impact Investment (GP) Limited, DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Impact Investment Fund I L.P., DB Industrial Holdings Beteiligungs GmbH & Co. KG, DB Industrial Holdings GmbH, DB Intermezzo LLC, DB International (Asia) Limited, DB International Investments Limited, DB International Trust (Singapore) Limited, DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Managers Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Partners Inc., DB Investment Resources (US) Corporation, DB Investment Resources Holdings Corp., DB Investment Services GmbH, DB Io LP, DB Litigation Fee LLC, DB London (Investor Services) Nominees Limited, DB Management Support GmbH, DB Managers LLC, DB Municipal Holdings LLC, DB Nexus American Investments (UK) Limited (in members'voluntary liquidation), DB Nexus Investments (UK) Limited (in members' voluntary liquidation), DB Nominees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB Nominees (Singapore) Pte Ltd, DB Omega BTV S.C.S., DB Omega Holdings LLC, DB Omega Ltd., DB Omega S.C.S., DB Operaciones y Servicios Interactivos Agrupacion de Interes Economico, DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Finance Delaware Inc., DB Overseas Holdings Limited, DB PWM, DB Portfolio Southwest Inc., DB Print GmbH, DB Privat- und Firmenkundenbank AG, DB Private Clients Corp., DB Private Wealth Mortgage Ltd., DB RC Holdings LLC, DB Re S.A., DB Service Centre Limited, DB Service Uruguay S.A., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Services Americas Inc., DB Servizi Amministrativi S.r.l., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Strategic Advisors Inc., DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Derivative Products LLC, DB Structured Finance 1 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Finance 2 Designated Activity Company, DB Structured Holdings Luxembourg S.a r.l., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Structured Products Inc., DB Trustee Services Limited, DB Trustees (Hong Kong) Limited, DB U.S. Financial Markets Holding Corporation, DB UK Bank Limited, DB UK Holdings Limited, DB UK PCAM Holdings Limited, DB USA Core Corporation, DB USA Corporation, DB Valoren S.a r.l., DB Value S.a r.l., DB VersicherungsManager GmbH, DB Vita S.A., DBAB Wall Street LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBAH Capital LLC, DBCIBZ1, DBCIBZ2, DBFIC Inc., DBFIC Inc., DBNZ Overseas Investments (No.1) Limited, DBOI Global Services (UK) Limited, DBOI Global Services Private Limited, DBR Investments Co. Limited, DBRE Global Real Estate Management IA Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management IB Ltd., DBRE Global Real Estate Management US IB L.L.C., DBRMS4, DBRMSGP1, DBUK PCAM Limited, DBUKH No. 2 Limited, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ1 LLC, DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBUSBZ2 S.a r.l., DBX Advisors LLC, DBX ETF Trust, DBX Strategic Advisors LLC, DBO Vermogensverwertung GmbH, DEBEKO Immobilien GmbH & Co Grundbesitz OHG, DEE Deutsche Erneuerbare Energien GmbH, DEUFRAN Beteiligungs GmbH, DEUKONA Versicherungs-Vermittlungs-GmbH, DEUTSCHE BANK A.S., DG China Clean Tech Partners, DI Deutsche Immobilien Treuhandgesellschaft mbH, DIB-Consult Deutsche Immobilien- und BeteiligungsBeratungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., DISCA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, DNU Nominees Pty Limited, DSL Portfolio GmbH & Co. KG, DSL Portfolio Verwaltungs GmbH, DTS Nominees Pty Limited, DWS Alternatives France, DWS Alternatives Global Limited, DWS Alternatives GmbH, DWS Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, DWS Beteiligungs GmbH, DWS CH AG, DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Distributors Inc., DWS Far Eastern Investments Limited, DWS Group GmbH & Co. KGaA, DWS Group Services UK Limited, DWS Grundbesitz GmbH, DWS International GmbH, DWS Investment GmbH, DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment Management Americas Inc., DWS Investment S.A., DWS Investments Australia Limited, DWS Investments Hong Kong Limited, DWS Investments Japan Limited, DWS Investments Shanghai Limited, DWS Investments Singapore Limited, DWS Investments UK Limited, DWS Management GmbH, DWS Real Estate GmbH, DWS Service Company, DWS Trust Company, DWS USA Corporation, De Heng Asset Management Company Limited, De Meng Innovative (Beijing) Consulting Company Limited, DeAM Infrastructure Limited, Deloraine Spain S.L., Delowrezham de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Deposit Solutions, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Capital Holdings New Zealand, Deutsche (Aotearoa) Foreign Investments New Zealand, Deutsche (Mauritius) Limited Port, Deutsche (New Munster) Holdings New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Access Investments Limited, Deutsche Aeolia Power Production Societe Anonyme, Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alt-A Securities Inc., Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (France) SAS, Deutsche Alternative Asset Management (UK) Limited, Deutsche Asia Pacific Holdings Pte Ltd, Deutsche Asset Management (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Japan) Limited, Deutsche Asset Management (Korea) Company Limited, Deutsche Asset Management S.A., Deutsche Asset Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsche Australia Limited, Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Limited, Deutsche Bank (Chile), Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (China) Co. Ltd., Deutsche Bank (Malaysia) Berhad, Deutsche Bank (Suisse) SA, Deutsche Bank (Uruguay) Sociedad Anonima Institucion Financiera Externa, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Americas Holding Corp., Deutsche Bank Bauspar-Aktiengesellschaft, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance LLC I, Deutsche Bank Capital Finance Trust I, Deutsche Bank Europe GmbH, Deutsche Bank Financial Company, Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Holdings Inc., Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency Incorporated, Deutsche Bank Insurance Agency of Delaware, Deutsche Bank International Limited, Deutsche Bank Investments (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A., Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Deposits, Deutsche Bank Luxembourg S.A. - Fiduciary Note Programme, Deutsche Bank Mutui S.p.A., Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank Mexico S.A. Institucion de Banca Multiple, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company, Deutsche Bank National Trust Company Los, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Guernsey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Nominees (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Polska Spolka Akcyjna, Deutsche Bank Representative Office Nigeria Limited, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao, Deutsche Bank S.A. - Banco Alemao Sao, Deutsche Bank SPEARs/LIFERs Series DBE-8011 Trust, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Limited, Deutsche Bank Services (Jersey) Limited, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Sociedad Anonima Espanola, Deutsche Bank Societa per Azioni, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Delaware, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Company National Association, Deutsche Bank Trust Corporation, Deutsche CIB Centre Private Limited, Deutsche Capital Finance (2000) Limited, Deutsche Capital Hong Kong Limited, Deutsche Capital Management Limited, Deutsche Capital Markets Australia Limited, Deutsche Capital Partners China Limited, Deutsche Cayman Ltd., Deutsche Colombia S.A.S., Deutsche Custody N.V., Deutsche Domus New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Equities India Private Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 1 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 2 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 3 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance Co 4 Pty Limited, Deutsche Finance No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Foras New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Immobilien-Leasing mit beschrankterHaftung, Deutsche Global Markets Limited, Deutsche Group Holdings (SA) Proprietary Limited, Deutsche Group Services Pty Limited, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Deutsche Grundbesitz Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Deutsche Grundbesitz-Anlagegesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Deutsche Holdings (BTI) Limited, Deutsche Holdings (Grand Duchy), Deutsche Holdings (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., Deutsche Holdings (Malta) Ltd., Deutsche Holdings Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 2 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 3 Limited, Deutsche Holdings No. 4 Limited, Deutsche Immobilien Leasing GmbH, Deutsche India Holdings Private Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services (Ireland) Limited, Deutsche International Corporate Services Limited, Deutsche International Custodial Services Limited, Deutsche Inversiones Dos S.A., Deutsche Inversiones Limitada, Deutsche Investments (Netherlands) N.V., Deutsche Investments India Private Limited, Deutsche Investor Services Private Limited, Deutsche Knowledge Services Pte. Ltd., Deutsche Leasing New York Corp., Deutsche Mandatos S.A., Deutsche Master Funding Corporation, Deutsche Mexico Holdings S.a r.l., Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Limited, Deutsche Morgan Grenfell Group Public Limited Company, Deutsche Mortgage & Asset Receiving Corporation, Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Mortgage Securities Inc., Deutsche Nederland N.V., Deutsche New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Nominees Limited, Deutsche Oppenheim Family Office AG, Deutsche Overseas Issuance New Zealand Limited, Deutsche Postbank, Deutsche Postbank Finance Center Objekt GmbH, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC I, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC II, Deutsche Postbank Funding LLC III, Deutsche Private Asset Management Limited, Deutsche Securities (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Securities (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited, Deutsche Securities Asia Limited, Deutsche Securities Australia Limited, Deutsche Securities Inc., Deutsche Securities Israel Ltd., Deutsche Securities Korea Co., Deutsche Securities Mauritius Limited, Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Deutsche Securities S.A., Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities S.A. de C.V. Casa de Bolsa, Deutsche Securities Saudi Arabia, Deutsche Securities SpA, Deutsche Securities Venezuela S.A., Deutsche Securitisation Australia Pty Limited, Deutsche Services Polska Sp. z o.o., Deutsche StiftungsTrust GmbH, Deutsche Strategic Investment Holdings Yugen Kaisha, Deutsche Trust Company Limited Japan, Deutsche Trustee Company Limited, Deutsche Trustee Services (India) Private Limited, Deutsche Trustees Malaysia Berhad, Deutsche Wealth Management S.G.I.I.C. S.A., Deutsches Institut fur Altersvorsorge GmbH, Durian (Luxembourg) S.a r.l., EC EUROPA IMMOBILIEN FONDS NR. 3 GmbH & CO. KG i.I., Elba Finance GmbH, Elizabethan Holdings Limited, Elizabethan Management Limited, Emerald Asset Repackaging Designated Activity Company, Erste Frankfurter Hoist GmbH, European Value Added I (Alternate G.P.) LLP, Exinor SA, FARAMIR Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs GmbH, FRANKFURT CONSULT GmbH, Fiduciaria Sant' Andrea S.r.L., Finanzberatungsgesellschaft mbH der Deutschen Bank, Franz Urbig- und Oscar Schlitter-Stiftung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-037, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-039, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-040, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-041, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-043, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-044, Freddie Mac Class A Taxable Multifamily M Certificates Series M-047, Funfte SAB Treuhand und Verwaltung GmbH & Co. Suhl "Rimbachzentrum" KG, G Finance Holding Corp., G.O. IB-US Management L.L.C., G918 Corp., GAC-HEL Inc., GWC-GAC Corp., Galene S.a r.l., Gemini Technology Services Inc., German American Capital, German American Capital Corporation, Gladyr Spain S.L., Global Markets Fundo de Investimento Multimercado, Global Markets III Fundo de Investimento Multimercado - Credito, Greenwood Properties Corp., Grundstucksgesellschaft Frankfurt Bockenheimer Landstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Kerpen-Sindorf Vogelrutherfeld GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Leipzig Petersstrae GbR, Grundstucksgesellschaft Wiesbaden Luisenstrae/Kirchgasse GbR, HTB Spezial GmbH & Co. KG, Hollandsche Bank-Unie, IOS Finance EFC S.A., ISTRON Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs-GmbH, IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., IVAF I Manager S.a r.l., Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben I GbR, Immobilienfonds Buro-Center Erfurt am Flughafen Bindersleben II GbR, Immobilienfonds Mietwohnhauser Quadrath-Ichendorf GbR, Immobilienfonds Wohn- und Geschaftshaus Koln-Blumenberg V GbR, J R Nominees (Pty) Ltd, Joint Stock Company Deutsche Bank DBU, Jyogashima Godo Kaisha, KEBA Gesellschaft fur interne Services mbH, Kidson Pte Ltd, Konsul Inkasso GmbH, Kradavimd UK Lease Holdings Limited, LA Water Holdings Limited, LAWL Pte. Ltd., Latitude Australia Secured Personal Loans Trust, Leasing Verwaltungsgesellschaft Waltersdorf mbH, Leonardo III Initial GP Limited, Lindsell Finance Limited, London Industrial Leasing Limited, MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MEF I Manager S. a r.l., MHL Reinsurance Ltd., MIT Holdings Inc., MIT Holdings Inc., MPP Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Maher Terminals Holdings (Toronto) Limited, Morgan Grenfell & Company, MortgageIT, MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Inc., MortgageIT Securities Corp., Motion Picture Productions One GmbH & Co. KG, NCW Holding Inc., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., Navegator - SGFTC S.A., New 87 Leonard LLC, Nordwestdeutscher Wohnungsbautrager Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, OOO "Deutsche Bank TechCentre", OOO "Deutsche Bank", OPB Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungs-GmbH, OPB Verwaltungs- und Treuhand GmbH, OPB-Holding GmbH, OPB-Nona GmbH, OPB-Oktava GmbH, OPB-Quarta GmbH, OPB-Quinta GmbH, OPB-Septima GmbH, OPPENHEIM Capital Advisory GmbH, OPPENHEIM Flottenfonds V GmbH & Co. KG, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Manager GmbH, OPPENHEIM PRIVATE EQUITY Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, OPS Nominees Pty Limited, OVT Trust 1 GmbH, OVV Beteiligungs GmbH, Opal Funds (Ireland) Public Limited Company, PADUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, PARTS Funding LLC., PB Factoring GmbH, PB Firmenkunden AG, PB International S.A., PB Spezial-Investmentaktiengesellschaft mit Teilgesellschaftsvermogen, PBC Banking Services GmbH, PCC Services GmbH der Deutschen Bank, PT Deutsche Sekuritas Indonesia, PT. Deutsche Verdhana Sekuritas Indonesia, Pan Australian Nominees Pty Ltd, Peruda Leasing Limited, Plantation Bay Inc., Plantation Bay Inc., Postbank Akademie und Service GmbH, Postbank Beteiligungen GmbH, Postbank Direkt GmbH, Postbank Filialvertrieb AG, Postbank Finanzberatung AG, Postbank Immobilien GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH, Postbank Immobilien und Baumanagement GmbH & Co. Objekt Leipzig KG, Postbank Leasing GmbH, Postbank Service GmbH, Postbank Systems AG, QR Tower 2 LLC, Quantiguous, R.B.M. Nominees Pty Ltd, REO Properties Corporation, RREEF, RREEF America L.L.C., RREEF China REIT Management Limited, RREEF European Value Added I (G.P.) Limited, RREEF Fund Holding Co., RREEF India Advisors Private Limited, RREEF Management L.L.C., RTS Nominees Pty Limited, Reference Capital Investments Limited, RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., RoPro U.S. Holding Inc., Route 28 Receivables LLC, Route 28 Receivables LLC, SAB Real Estate Verwaltungs GmbH, SAGITA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SAPIO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SCUDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SEDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SENA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Kamenz KG, SIFA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SOLIDO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, SP Mortgage Trust, SPINO Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., SPV I Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, SPV II Sociedad Anonima Cerrada, STATOR Heizkraftwerk Frankfurt (Oder) Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Sal. Oppenheim, Sal. Oppenheim Alternative Investments GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. AG & Co. Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Beteiligungs GmbH, Sal. Oppenheim jr. & Cie. Komplementar AG, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Sechste Salomon Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., Service Company Four Limited, Sharps SP I LLC, Singer Island Tower Suite LLC, Somkid Immobiliare S.r.l., Stelvio Immobiliare S.r.l., Structured Finance Americas LLC, Structured Finance Americas LLC, Swabia 1. Vermogensbesitz-GmbH, Suddeutsche Vermogensverwaltung Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, TAKIR Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TELO Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, TEMATIS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TERRUS Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Halle I KG i.L., TESATUR Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Nordhausen I KG i.L., TOSSA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRIPLA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH, TRS Aria LLC, TRS Leda LLC, TRS Maple II LTD, TRS Oak II LTD, TRS SVCO LLC, TRS Scorpio LLC, TRS Tupelo II LTD, TRS Venor LLC, TRS Walnut II LTD, Tagus - Sociedade de Titularizacao de Creditos S.A., Tasfiye Halinde Deutsche Securities Menkul Degerler A.S., Tempurrite Leasing Limited, Thai Asset Enforcement and Recovery Asset Management Company Limited, Tianjin Deutsche AM Fund Management Co. Ltd., Treuinvest Service GmbH, Triplereason Limited, UKE Beteiligungs-GmbH, UKE Grundstucksgesellschaft mbH, UKE s.r.o., Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksgesellschaft Kirchnerstrae GbR, Ullmann - Esch Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft Disternich GbR, Ullmann Ullmann Krockow Krockow Esch GbR, VCJ Lease S.a r.l., Vesta Real Estate S.r.l., VOB-ZVD Processing GmbH, WEPLA Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, WEPLABeteiligungsgesellschaftmbH, Wealthspur Investment Ltd., Whale Holdings S.a r.l., World Trading (Delaware) Inc., World Trading(Delaware)Inc., Zumirez Drive LLC, db PBC, and norisbank GmbH. Wall Street analysts have given iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Russell 2000 Growth ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Wall Street analysts have given iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares S&P Small-Cap 600 Value ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Wall Street analysts have given iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares Yield Optimized Bond ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. L3 Technologies, Inc. provides aircraft sustainment, simulation and training, night vision and image intensification equipment, and security and detection systems used on military, homeland security, and commercial platforms in the United States and internationally. It operates in three segments: Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems; Communications and Networked Systems (C&NS); and Electronic Systems. The company offers engineering, modernization and sustainment, space avionics and imaging payload, counter unmanned aircraft systems (CUAS) mission, cyber and electronic warfare, special mission command and control, modeling and simulation, and life cycle support services for ISR, airborne sensor, warrior sensor, space and sensor, aircraft, and intelligence and mission systems, as well as for military aviation services and advanced programs. It also provides network and communication systems, secure communications products, radio frequency components, satellite communication terminals and space, microwave and telemetry products, and secure data links in various business areas, such as broadband communication, naval power, space and power, and maritime sensor systems, as well as in advanced communications. In addition, the company offers components, products, subsystems, and systems, as well as related services to military and commercial customers in various business areas, including commercial aviation solutions, precision engagement systems, link training and simulation, and security and detection systems. It serves the United States (U.S.) Department of Defense and its prime contractors, the U.S. Government intelligence agencies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, foreign governments, and commercial customers. The company was formerly known as L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to L3 Technologies, Inc. in December 2016. L3 Technologies, Inc. was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in New York, New York. Read More Manx Telecom plc provides a range of telecommunications services to consumers, businesses, and the public sector in the Isle of Man and internationally. It operates through five segments: Fixed Line, Broadband and Data; Mobile; Global Solutions; Data Centre; and Other. The Fixed Line, Broadband and Data segment offers fixed line, broadband, and connectivity services to approximately 37,000 homes and 4,000 businesses. It provides ADSL and VDSL, fixed line, and private circuit rental and connection services. The Mobile segment offers pre-paid and post-paid tariffs to various market segments; supports inbound roaming traffic; and sells mobile handsets, laptops, and accessories. It provides mobile calls, SMS, data, and mobile rental services. The Global Solutions segment offers wholesale SMS and voice, international traveler market, machine to machine, and signal mobile services, as well as mobile termination products, such as Chameleon. The Data Centre segment offers co-location, managed hosting, cloud, storage, disaster recovery, and business continuity services to corporate clients through three data centers. The Other segment provides phone book and business directory services; and operates MTTV, an online news channel, as well as manx.net portal. It also sells hardware equipment; and offers managed and interconnection services. The company was formerly known as Trafford Equityco Limited and changed its name to Manx Telecom plc in February 2014. Manx Telecom plc is headquartered in Braddan, the Isle of Man. Read More Wall Street analysts have given MFS High Yield Municipal Trust a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but MFS High Yield Municipal Trust wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of Mohawk Industries: A&S Energie NV, A&U Energie NV, Aladdin Manufacturing Corporation, Aladdin Manufacturing Of New York LLC, Aladdin Manufacturing of Alabama LLC, Alsace Logistique S.A., Avelgem Green Power CVBA, Avon Pacific Holdings Ltd, B&M NV, BGE Mexico S. de R. L. de C.V., Berghoef GmbH, Berghoef-Hout B.V., Bienes Raices y Materiales del Centro S. de R.L. de C.V., C.F. Marazzi S.A., Canterbury Spinners Ltd, Carpet Foundation Ltd, Cevotrans BV, Ceramus Bahia S/A Produtos Ceramicos, DT Mex Holdings LLC, DTM/CM Holdings LLC, Dal Italia LLC, Dal-Elit LLC, Dal-Tile Chile Comercial Limitada, Dal-Tile Colombia S.A.S., Dal-Tile Distribution Inc., Dal-Tile Group Inc., Dal-Tile I LLC, Dal-Tile Industrias S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile International Inc., Dal-Tile Mexico Comercial S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Dal-Tile Operaciones Mexico S. De R.L. De C.V., Dal-Tile Peru SRL, Dal-Tile Puerto Rico Inc., Dal-Tile Services Inc., Dal-Tile Shared Services Inc., Dal-Tile Tennessee LLC, Dal-Tile of Canada ULC, Daltile, Daltile, Dekaply NV, Durkan, Dynea NV, Eliane Argentina Sociedad Anonima, Eliane S/A - Revestimentos Ceramicos, Emilceramica India Pvt Ltd., Emilceramica S.r.l, Emilgermany GmbH, Emilgroup Asia Ltd, Explorer S.r.l., F.I.L.S. Investments Unlimited Company, Feltex Carpets Ltd, Feltex Carpets Pty Ltd, Feltex New Zealand Ltd, Fibremakers Australia Pty Ltd, Flooring Foundation Ltd, Flooring Industries Limited S.a r.l., Flooring XL B.V., Floorscape Limited, Godfrey Hirst & Co Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Australia Pty Ltd, Godfrey Hirst Group, Godfrey Hirst NZ Ltd, Hytherm (Ireland) Limited, IVC BVBA, IVC Far-East Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., IVC France S.a r.l., IVC GROUP LIMITED, IVC Green Power NV, IVC Group, IVC Group GmbH, IVC Luxembourg S.a r.l., IVC Rus OOO, IVC US Inc., International Flooring Systems S.a r.l., International Vinyl Company - Vostok OOO, KAI Group, KAI Keramica Ltd, KAI Mining EOOD, KERAMA CENTER OOO, Kerama Baltics OOO, Kerama Export OOO, Kerama Marazzi OOO, Kerampromservis (LLC), Khan Asparuh - Transport EOOD, Khan Asparuh AD, Khan Omurtag AD, Koninklijke Peitsman B.V., Kraj Kerama OOO, MG China Trading Ltd., MI Finance SRL, MUD (Holding) Brazil Ltda., Management Co EAD, Marazzi Acquisition S.r.l., Marazzi Deutschland G.m.b.H., Marazzi France Trading S.A.S., Marazzi Group, Marazzi Group F.Z.E., Marazzi Group S.r.l., Marazzi Group Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Marazzi Iberia S.L.U., Marazzi Japan Co. Ltd., Marazzi Middle East FZ LLC, Marazzi Schweiz S.A.G.L., Marazzi UK Ltd., Mohawk Assurance Services Inc., Mohawk Australia Pty Ltd, Mohawk Canada Corporation, Mohawk Capital Finance S.A., Mohawk Capital Luxembourg SA, Mohawk Carpet Distribution Inc., Mohawk Carpet Foundation Inc., Mohawk Carpet LLC, Mohawk Carpet Transportation Of Georgia LLC, Mohawk Commercial Inc., Mohawk ESV Inc., Mohawk Europe BVBA, Mohawk Factoring II Inc., Mohawk Factoring LLC, Mohawk Finance S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Acquisitions S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Funding S.a.r.l, Mohawk Foreign Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Foreign Investments Inc., Mohawk Global Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Holdings International B.V., Mohawk Industries Inc., Mohawk International (Europe) S.a r.l., Mohawk International (Hong Kong) Limited, Mohawk International Capital N.V., Mohawk International Financing S.a.r.l, Mohawk International Holdings (DE) LLC, Mohawk International Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk International Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk International Netherlands B.V., Mohawk International Services BVBA, Mohawk KAI Luxembourg Holding S.a r.l., Mohawk KAI Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Capital S.A., Mohawk Luxembourg Financing S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Holdings S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Luxembourg Pacific S.a r.l., Mohawk Marazzi International BV, Mohawk Marazzi Russia BV, Mohawk New Zealand Limited, Mohawk Operaciones Mexicali S. de R.L. de C.V., Mohawk Operations Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk Pacific Investments S.a r.l., Mohawk Resources LLC, Mohawk Servicing LLC, Mohawk Singapore Private Limited, Mohawk Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Mohawk Unilin Luxembourg S.a r.l., Mohawk United Finance B.V., Mohawk United International B.V., Mohawk Vinyl Financing S.a r.l., Molber Beheer B.V., Monarch Ceramic Tile Inc., P.F. Onroerend Goed B.V., PF Beheer B.V., Pergo, Pergo (Europe) AB, Pergo Holding BV, Pergo India Pvt Ltd, Polcolorit S.A., Premium Floors Australia Pty Limited, RR Apex LLC, Rata International Pty Ltd, Recubrimientos Interceramica S. de R.L. de C.V., Riverside Textiles Pty Ltd, S.C. KAI Ceramics SRL, Sibir Kerama OOO, SimpleSolutions USA LLC, Soft Step (Australia) Pty Ltd, Spano Group, Spano Invest BVBA, Spano NV, Stroyagromekhzapchast ChaO, Stroytrans OAO Orelstroy, Summit Wool Spinners Ltd, The Flooring Federation Ltd, Tiles Co OOD, Unilin (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Unilin ApS, Unilin Arauco Pisos Ltda., Unilin BVBA, Unilin Beheer BV, Unilin Distribution Ltd., Unilin Distribution Ukraine LLC, Unilin Finland OY, Unilin Flooring India Private Limited, Unilin Flooring SAS, Unilin GmbH, Unilin Holding BVBA, Unilin Insulation BV, Unilin Insulation SAS, Unilin Insulation Sury SAS, Unilin Italia S.R.L., Unilin North America LLC, Unilin Norway AS, Unilin OOO, Unilin Panels SAS, Unilin Poland Sp.Z.o.o., Unilin SAS, Unilin Spain SL, Unilin Swiss GmbH, Unilin s.r.o., World International Inc., Xtratherm, Xtratherm Limited, Xtratherm S.A., and Xtratherm UK Limited. Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Premium Brands Holdings Corporation, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes food products primarily in Canada and the United States. It operates in two segments, Specialty Foods and Premium Food Distribution. The company provides meat products and snacks, deli products, beef jerky and halal, sandwiches, pastries, specialty and gourmet products, salads and kettle products, entrees, panini, wraps, subs, hamburgers, burgers, muffins, breads, pastas, and baking and sushi products, as well as processed meat products. It is also involved in the distribution of food products, including meat, seafood, and halal food products, as well as operation of retail/convenience store and concessionary, and provision of food and seafood processing services. The company operates under the brand names of Harvest Meats, Hempler's, Grimm's Fine Foods, Piller's, Freybe, Isernio's, Expresco, SJ Fine Foods, McSweeney's, Made Rite, Fletcher's, Deli Chef, Belmont Meats, Conte Foods, SK Food Group, Oven Pride, Hygaard, Quality Fast Foods, HQ Fine Foods, Creekside Custom Foods, Stuyver's Bread, Bread Garden Express, Audrey's Patisserie, Duso's, Gourmet Chef, Island City Baking, Skilcor, Leadbetter's, Mclean Meats, Buddy's Kitchen, Raybern's, Partner's Crackers, Shaw Bakers, Oberto, Concord Meats, Country Prime Meats, The Meat Factory, and Golden Valley Farms. It serves chains and large format retailers, independent and specialty retailers, foodservice operators, foodservice distributors, and other food manufacturers and food brokers. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Richmond, Canada. Read More Systemax Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a direct marketer of brand name and private label industrial and business equipment and supplies in North America. It sells a range of maintenance, repair, and operation products, including storage and shelving, material handling, janitorial and maintenance products, furniture and office products, workbenches and shop desks, HVAC/R and fans, safety and security products, outdoor and grounds maintenance products, tools and instruments, and office and school supplies. The company also sells plumbing products and pumps, packaging products and supplies, electrical and lighting products, food service products and appliances, raw materials and building supplies, motors and power transmission products, pneumatics and hydraulics, medical and laboratory equipment, metalworking and cutting tools, vehicle maintenance products, and fasteners and hardware. It offers its products under the Global, GlobalIndustrial.com, Nexel Paramount, and Interion brand names. The company offers its products to businesses, educational organizations, and government entities through relationship marketers, catalogs, and e-commerce sites. Systemax Inc. was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Port Washington, New York. Read More 2:00pm 3:30pm How do we create space for Indigenous epistemologies in the academy? Post-secondary educators across the Atlantic Region are invited to attend Dr. Cote-Meeks talk and are encouraged to attend the book club that will follow. Your vacay is just weeks away. You've got your itinerary planned, your outfits picked out, and your sunscreen packed. But don't forget to give just as much thought to how you'll handle your finances while traveling. Making money missteps when you're on vacation can ruin your trip. To keep your financial stress at bay, we offer eight essential tips for traveling with cash and cards. Avoid Foreign Transaction Fees Foreign transaction fees are charged by credit and debit card companies for any transaction you complete while abroad. For example, purchasing a 3-course meal in Rome with your credit card could trigger an international transaction fee. However, this type of fee could also be applied when you use a bank overseas to process a transaction. Foreign transaction fees typically range from 1% to 3% for every transaction that's completed. These fees are typically anywhere from 1% to 3% for every transaction that's completed, says Melita DeHazes, the North America marketing director for OFX, a cross-border payments provider. They're meant to cover the cost of the credit card issuer or bank that's converting your currency on your behalf. Banks can also use foreign transaction fees to offset the fraud risks that inherently come with any international transaction. "Many consumers do not realize that foreign transaction fees actually consist of three fees in one when you use a credit card abroad," DeHazes says. "First, a fee comes from the payment network that is used, and then there is another fee from the credit card's issuing bank. So it is really no wonder that these fees are so high." To avoid paying extra for your purchases, bring along a card that doesn't charge foreign transaction fees, such as one of these travel credit cards. If you frequently pay with a credit card while traveling, the savings can really add up. Check With Your Bank About ATMs Understand your bank's terms and policies regarding the use of foreign ATMs. For instance, your bank might waive certain ATM fees if you withdraw cash from one of its partner banks abroad. A bank within the Global ATM Alliance could help you save on fees, too. This network of big banks lets consumers withdraw money from their ATMs for free, or for a lower fee. You just have to be sure you can find those partner ATMs. Otherwise, you'll be hit with high fees for using an ATM that's outside of the network, DeHazes warns. SEE ALSO: 7 Ways to Keep Your Money Secure While Traveling If your bank has branches outside of your country, you might be able to avoid ATM fees by using them. It's a good idea to ask your local bank about their coverage areas. You might find, for example, that your bank doesn't charge fees in the country you're planning on visiting. Do your research. Don't Convert Your Money at the Airport While you might be tempted to use one of the convenient exchange bureaus in the airport, don't expect the best deal there. "Their virtual monopoly means you're unlikely to get a good exchange rate, so it is best to get your currency exchanged elsewhere," DeHazes says. The best way to access money abroad is via a debit card with no foreign transaction fees. "It's worth researching which cards offer this in your home country a couple of months before traveling, as this allows you enough time to apply for a card," says Michael Rozenblit, founder of travel site The World Was Here First. "Debit cards typically give the best exchange rates." Know When to Use Cash or Credit It can be wise to use both cash and cards while abroad, but consider the size of each purchase before deciding on a type of payment. "When I travel in Europe, I stop at an ATM every three or four days to access cash to pay for day-to-day expenses," says Brett Anderson, a certified financial planner with St. Croix Advisors. "Before going, I look at what credit cards have no or small foreign transaction fees and what my banks will charge to access cash. I never exchange money prior to going or at the airport." Consider using credit cards for bigger purchases, such as hotels and train trips. "I use my credit card for hotels, trains, flights, etc.," he adds. "I carry at least two different credit cards and one bank account card. Plus, I use a money wallet." Kashlee Kucheran, who writes the Travel Off Path blog, offers her advice. "I use my credit cards for most purchases over $20," she says. "As a full-time traveler, I want to ensure I am taking advantage of my card's airline point program for each purchase I make. I also like that my transactions are recorded, and that I am not liable if the security on my card is somehow breached." Pay in the Local Currency When using a credit card on vacation, it pays to go local. "If you are given the choice of using the local currency when you are paying with your credit card in another country, take it," DeHazes says. SEE ALSO: The 9 Best Travel Credit Cards for 2018 Say you buy souvenirs in Spain and are given the option of being charged in euros rather than U.S. dollars. If you live in the U.S., go for the euros. "The majority of the time, a hotel or foreign merchant's conversion rate for changing those euros into dollars will be higher than your credit card company's rate," she says. "Sometimes merchants will charge upwards of 7% to convert the money. Leave it up to the credit card to make the currency conversion instead." Tell Your Bank About Your Travel Plans Before you travel internationally, notify your bank that you'll be using your credit and debit cards abroad. The last thing you want is for them to put a freeze on your account because they think a thief has your card. Use Cash at the Market You definitely want to have local currency on hand when you're dealing with street vendors and shopping at markets. Not only might they not want to deal with dollars, but you'll also be in a better position to negotiate. When you're at restaurants and in designer shops, it's not as much of an issue. Your credit or debit card is fine. Split Up Your Money Bring multiple cards with you when traveling, and store them in different places. "I like to keep an emergency debit card and a small amount of cash hidden in my main luggage," Rozenblit says. If your wallet does get stolen, notify your bank immediately and file a police report, so you can make a claim with your travel insurance company. 'I will stash some cash in my luggage, my purse, and in the pocket of some clothes.' Also make sure you have a list of the card numbers, either in your cell phone or separately in your suitcase. You'll no longer have the credit card on you when you call and alert the companies of the theft, notes Patricia Hajifotiou, author of Travel Like You Mean It. Kucheran explains her strategy. "I split up my cards and cash," she says. "I will stash some cash in my luggage, my purse, and in the pocket of some clothes. This way if one of my bags is stolen, I still have a cash reserve available. The same thing goes for my credit cards. I will keep two of them in separate places at all times. Readers, how do you handle cash and credit cards while traveling? Do you prefer using one over the other? Let us know in the comments below! German luxury carmaker BMW is looking to double sales of its compact luxury vehicle brand, Mini in India as it starts local assembly of the range. New Delhi: German luxury carmaker BMW is looking to double sales of its compact luxury vehicle brand, Mini in India as it starts local assembly of the range. The company, which on Thursday launched locally-assembled all new version of Mini Countryman in India priced between Rs 34.9 lakh and Rs 41.4 lakh (ex-showroom), is considering assembling more models under the range in the country. "We are looking to double sales of the Mini brand in India this year," BMW Group India President Vikram Pawah said here. Last year, the Mini brand sold 421 units clocking 17 per cent growth. In the first quarter of this year, BMW India has sold 136 units of the Mini range, growing at 15 per cent. "The second generation Mini Countryman is locally produced at our Chennai plant. It marks a new chapter in BMW's story in India," he said. This is a part of the company's strategy to deliver more value to customer, he added. "There is a lot of potential for the brand to grow in India and our first target is to double the sales this year," he said. Currently, the company sells five models under the Mini range in India and Mini Countryman is the only model to be locally assembled. "In future we will consider if we can locally produce more products under the brand," Pawah said. The new Mini Countryman comes with both petrol and diesel powertrains. The petrol variants of the model are now priced at Rs 34.9 lakh and Rs 41.4 lakh while the diesel variant is tagged at Rs 37.4 lakh (all prices ex-showroom). The deliveries of the model would begin next month. A day after Sonam Kapoor and Anand Ahujas families confirmed their wedding, actor Harshvardhan spoke to the media about how happy he is for his sister Sonam. Talking about the couple, Harshvardhan said at a promotional event, I am really happy she is getting married. Anand is a great guy. Harshvardhan would take a break from promoting Bhavesh Joshi to take part in the wedding. The wedding is on 7th and 8th. After that, I will get into film promotions... So there is enough time for both, he said. Talking about what gift Sonam could expect from him, Harshvardhan said, A hug. I am broke... The movies I do, they dont pay well. I will give her lots of love. A joint statement released by the family earlier read: The Kapoor & Ahuja families, take great joy and pride, in announcing the marriage of Sonam & Anand. The wedding will take place on the 8th of May in Mumbai. Since it is an intimate affair, we request you to respect the familys need for privacy. Thank you for all your blessings and love, as we celebrate this special moment in our lives. New Delhi: The 65th National Film Awards ceremony, to be held at New Delhis Vigyan Bhavan on Thursday, came under a strange cloud of controversy at the eleventh hour as news spread on Wednesday evening that Rashtrapati Bhavan had told the Information and Broadcasting ministry that President Ram Nath Kovind wouldnt be able to attend the entire ceremony due to his busy schedule. Sources said Rashtrapati Bhavan has said that due to President Kovinds packed schedule, he wouldnt be able to attend the whole function and had selected 11 awards that he would personally present. Also read: National Award winner Usha Jadhav opens up on being target of casting couch The Presidents House has also directed that the rest of the awards can be conferred by the I&B minister or the MoS, a source said. They did not say which 11 awards the President was likely to hand over. Mostly awards are given out in ascending order of significance. However, a Rashtrapati Bhavan source told this newspaper, It has been a while since President Kovind had decided that apart from major constitutional ceremonies, he will spend a maximum of one hour at all other functions and events, and this was communicated to the organisers of events several weeks in advance, including the organisers of the National Film Award. How many awards the organisers want the President to give away in that one hour is up to them, the source said, adding that all this was communicated to the organisers at least three weeks ago. Nevertheless, the dress rehearsal of the awards ceremony on Wednesday saw agitated award recipients protesting as they suddenly heard the news that President Kovind may not be handing over their awards. They voiced their displeasure to I&B minister Smriti Irani, saying they wanted to receive their award only from the President. Sources said Ms Irani tried to placate them. The minister told the award recipients that while she could not direct a change of schedule for the President, their sentiments would be conveyed to Rashtrapati Bhavan, sources said. The commotion a day prior to the awards ceremony, in the midst of some of Indias best actors, actresses, directors and technicians, carried a whiff of deliberate mischief. This is the first National Film Awards Mr Kovind, who became Indias 14th President on July 25 last year, will be conferring. The 65th National Film Awards were announced on April 13, in which the contribution of Vinod Khanna and Sridevi to Indian cinema were recognised by honouring them posthumously with the Dadasaheb Phalke and best actress awards respectively. Sridevis husband and daughter participated in the dress rehearsal on Wednesday. The National Film Awards, established in 1954, are presented in two main categories Feature Films and Non-Feature Films. The juries, both regional and at the Central level, are appointed by the Directorate of Film Festivals in India for selection of the films. Also read: Was in tears: Ravi on 'Mom' Sridevi bagging best actress at 65th National Film Awards The Dadasaheb Phalke award, the top national honour for the film industry, is presented at the end of the National Film Awards ceremony. (This story was first published in The Asian Age) Mumbai: Salman Khan starrer 'Bharat' is set to go on floors in Punjab next month, where they will be shooting the partition scenes. A production source revealed to DNA that the director Ali Abbas Zafar has scouted 45 villages in the heartland of the state to recreate the notorious historic event. According to a source, "The idea is to make the most significant event of our country extremely real. The set will transport the audiences to the times of the Partition. Ali and his team went scouting in 45 villages in Punjab to lock the exact location where Salman will film these scenes. Kila Raipur, Gujjarwal, Bilga and Ghungrana are some of the villages where they have done a recce so far. He is yet to decide on the village that will be the starting point of Bharat's Punjab schedule." Ali and his team visited 45 villages of Punjab to look for the right location to shoot for the film. The 'Sultan' director recently took to twitter and shared a post with a signboard that shows the direction to the Indian-Pakistan Border. Bharat , location scouting . pic.twitter.com/r6UP2lPZ5c ali abbas zafar (@aliabbaszafar) May 1, 2018 Salman Khan and Priyanka Chopra are all set to reunite on the big screen after a decade in this period-drama film. Bharat is an official remake of the Korean film An Ode To My Father and is slated to release on Eid 2019. Jaideep Ahlawat, who was earlier seen in films like GOW (Gangs of Wasseypur), Aakrosh, Commando is back with Raazi where he will be seen playing a role of Alia's mentor. The actor gets candid to Deccan Chronicle. Here are the excerpts: How did you bag Raazi? I never gave an audition for the film. I met Meghna maam and we discussed the script and she had me in mind. I feel it is a directors medium. How was it working with Alia Bhatt? It was amazing. She is really a hard working actor, be it learning the dialogues or combat fighting. She is very spontaneous and comes with a preparation on the sets. She always seeks something new to do in scenes. Tell us something about your role in the film? I am Khalid Mir, head of intelligence who trains Sehmat, Alia Bhatts character. He had a history with her father too. Sehmat is my responsibility in the film. He looks really simple from the outer appearance but he is mysterious within. He doesnt say much but thinks too fast. Jaideep Ahlawat in a photoshoot. (Photo: Vishal Seth) How was your journey been like post your debut with Aakrosh? Technically, Aakrosh was my first film but Khatta Meetha was the first film which got released. Priyan sir (Priyadarshan) offered me Khatta Meetha on the sets of Aakrosh. Back then, I was ideal and I had no work so I instantly said yes to him. I felt that I was a misfit for the industry. I was not social enough too. I only used to meet people whom I knew in those days. It has been ten years since 2008 and my journey was good. I was lucky to be a student of FTII, Pune. You never looked for a lead role? Who doesnt want to be a lead hero? In my journey, I got amazing characters to play which were as interesting as a lead role. In Commando, my role was so good. I feel no actor have rejected that kind of a role. Veterans like Amrish Puri, Om Puri, Paresh Rawal have done several negative roles for years. I dont think the lead role only belongs to a hero and not to villain. Jaideep Ahlawat in a photoshoot. (Photo: Vishal Seth) Arent you scared of being stereotyped as a villain? I never thought of it at first place. At times, you feel that people arent able to see your other aspects as an actor. I have no complaints from my characters, be it in Commando or Gangs of Wasseypur everyone on those films was grey. Later, I did Aatma and Gabbar, my roles in them were grey too. I feel life isnt black and white. How do you take your failures? If you are scared of your own failures then you are blocking yourself to improve. I would have been a better businessman but I have no regrets as far as my films are concerned. When a script comes to me, I take up only those roles which I want to do. During Commando, many people told me that my role looked like 80s villain but I never had any apprehensions. What is your wish list of directors? I have worked with the finest directors till date like Priyadarshan, Anurag Kashyap, Vipul Shah to name a few. I want to work with Rajkumar Hirani, I miss working with him, and he makes amazing cinema and Vishal Bharadwaj. I hope I got Talwar 2 (laughs). Sonam Kapoor is one actress who doesnt like to share information about her relationships publicly; she has issues talking about her marriage. Sonam Kapoor is all set to get married to her long time beau Anand Ahuja in a few days i.e. on 8th May. Anand, whose family resides in Delhi, lives in a bungalow which is worth whopping Rs. 173 crore. According to a report on India TV, Anands grandfather bought the bungalow in 2015 for 173 crore. Not to be considered lucrative till 2015, Om Arora, the owner of Variety Book Depot in Connaught Place finally sold it to Ahuja family, who grew their business there. Anand is currently the Managing Director of Shahi Exports and simultaneously he founded Bhane and became owner of a multi-brand sneaker company called Veg Non Veg. The reason cited for this was that President Ram Nath Kovind will not be present at the Vigya Bhavan for the entire prize distribution ceremony. Some of the recipients of the 65th National Film Awards were disappointed that President Ram Nath Kovind did not present all the prizes to the 137 winners when he met them at a ceremony in the Capital on Thursday, said an official who didn't want to be named. According to the official, the president was to hand over the awards to 11 of the winners. The reason cited for this was that President Ram Nath Kovind will not be present at the Vigya Bhavan for the entire prize distribution ceremony. And this triggered a lot of anger and disappointment among award winners. News agency ANI, quoted National Award winning Marathi film director Prakash Oak as saying, We feel insulted, 75 awardees are threatening to boycott the award ceremony. The official had also said that Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani visited Vigyan Bhavan on Wednesday to meet the winners who were at the venue to ease their disappointment over the matter. However, a Rashtrapati Bhavan spokesperson said the organisers had been informed weeks in advance that the President would be present only up to an hour at the function during which he would give out some of the awards and also have a group photograph taken with all the awardees. Amidst all the controversy and rage, The National Film Awards was organised in two phases. Smriti Irani handed over the first set of awards from 4 pm and the second set of awards was conferred by President Kovind from 5:30 pm onwards. The awards that were handed over by the President himself included the prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke award for lifetime achievement award that went to the actor and MP the late Vinod Khanna making him the 59th Recipient, wife Kavita Khanna was present to accept the award. Best actress award went to the late Sridevi for her role in the Hindi film Mom. Boney Kapoor along with his two daughters Khushi and Jhanvi received the award. Riddhi Sen too received the best actor award for his role in Nagar Kirtan. These were the few lucky ones to be among the 11 awardees who were conferred by the President himself. But the rest of the awardees were not quite happy with it since everyone has a dream of receiving the prestigious honour form the president himself which has been the tradition until now. Almost 50 awardees have boycotted the ceremony and 60 awardees have written a letter in protest. Congress leader and former I&B minister Manish Tewari took to twitter saying that It is unfortunate Hon'ble President of India has not been able to find time to present ALL National Film Awards that showcase India's creativity, performing Arts & Soft Power. President should reconsider as awards presented by the office he represents carries different GRAVITAS New Delhi: The startup scenario in India has witnessed a tremendous change in the last few years. This has helped strengthen the country's position as the third-largest startup ecosystem across the world. While a majority of these utilise the power of technology to deliver varied solutions to the public, the health-tech startups show immense potential in drastically improving everyday life and treatment outcomes. Here are some startups making inroads in this space: Lybrate - This online doctor consultation platform helps doctors and patients communicate from anywhere and at any time, making healthcare more accessible. It allows users to discuss any health issue with doctors through text, video and voice chat while keeping their identity anonymous. More than 150,000 doctors and health experts from varied branches of medicine from across India are connected to millions of patients through Lybrate's technology-driven platform. Healthi- It has developed scientifically validated and patent-pending prediction models and personalization algorithms that empower users to easily understand their state of health and nudge them towards seeking appropriate help and making suitable lifestyle changes. BeatO - This mobile platform aims at motivating people with diabetes to increase compliance and reduce their out-of-pocket expenses. People living with diabetes require regular monitoring of blood glucose, proactive sugar control and education by experts, switching to diabetes-friendly products for a healthy lifestyle, and convenient and affordable care. Portea Medical - It focuses on general primary health care, post-hospitalization care, chronic disease management and allied services. The company offers home visits from doctors, nurses, nursing attendants and physiotherapists. What's more is that they also provide a collection of lab samples and offers medical equipment for sale / on hire, bringing the entire gamut of healthcare services to a patient's doorstep. Portea provides home healthcare services to the elderly and to those with chronic illnesses. AddressHealth - This platform is looking to build a sustainable model for school health programmes. Designed by a multidisciplinary team of pediatricians, public health physicians, nutritionists, experts in mental and behavioural health, and experts in health informatics, the Address Health School Health Program is a revolutionary initiative that takes healthcare to campuses. KOCHI: Shreemali Balasooriya, 6, from Sri Lanka is enjoying a new lease of life following stem cell transplant. The donor was Dr Kanmani Kannan, 23, the first woman stem cell donor in Kerala. The child who was diagnosed with thalassemia, a blood disorder, two months after she was born, underwent blood stem cell transplant in a hospital in Bangalore in May 2017. It was also the first international successful stem cell donation from the state. The child's family met her saviour at a function organised by DATRI, the national stem cell registry, and Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences here on Thursday. Dr Kanmani, who studied in Amrita, had registered there as a donor. It was an unforgettable moment for the family who attended the event, 'Sahaja, ' held at Amrita Hospital, where the compassionate gesture of Dr. Kanmani was acknowledged. After the child's family came to Bangalore from Sri Lanka for better treatment, they found the matching donor - Dr. Kanmani - through DATRI registry. The doctor, born in Tamil Nadu and brought up in Kerala, is now blessed with a 'blood sibling.' "I am looking forward to see more number of women volunteering to donate their blood stem cells. Women should not hold themselves back when such opportunities knock at their doors," she said. "The probability of finding a matching blood stem cell donor is only one in 10,000 to one in over a million. Kerala has over 3.4 million population, but only around 64,326 potential blood stem cell donors are registered with DATRI. This calls for higher awareness across the state on the importance of saving lives through blood stem cell donation," said Raghu Rajagopal, co-founder and CEO of DATRI, who was present at the function. Swami Purnamritananda Puri, general secretary of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, and Dr. Subash Ranjan graced the occasion. City women bikers Jai Bharathi, ASD Shanthi, Shilpa Balakrishnan and Piya Bahadur got a standing ovation on their return to Hyderabad recently after ending their eight-week expedition Road to Mekong. The 56-day road trip was flagged off on February 11, spanned 17,000 kilometres (8,500 within India and 8,500 outside India) across six Southeast Asian countries (Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and India) through the newly-constructed India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway. Jai Bharathi, the freelance architect who led the expedition, says, Staying away from my professional and personal life for two months was demanding, so when we returned home, I just couldnt wait to see my family. The trip, which had a 11-member crew (including a four-member production team to document the entire expedition), has changed me a lot! Earlier, I was calm and composed, but since I took the initiative to lead the expedition I need to be tough on my colleagues, so I behaved like Hitler most of the time (smiles) because of the deadlines. Interestingly, these bikers were only acquaintances until they embarked on this expedition. The first two weeks saw the riders cover 15 states in India, after which they started the Southeast Asia leg of their journey by crossing into Myanmar from Manipur. One of the main challenges was to drive on bad roads amid changing weather. It was so tedious and physically draining. Fortunately, there were no motorcycle breakdowns and what kept us constantly motivated was the support lent by people. Whenever we use to stop, people used to look us strangely and then mobbed us asking for the details about the trip. It was really heartening to receive such great encouragement. The journey only broadened my horizons of thinking, says Shilpa Balakrishnan, a tourism consultant. ASD Shanthi first kissed her six-year-old daughter who was waiting to welcome her. Although I was in touch with them over phone, staying away from my two kids was tough. But if you want something, you need to sacrifice another, she shares, adding, We celebrated Ugadi in Cambodia. We hired a restaurant and prepared the festive delicacies like Ugadi pachachadi, paayasam, pulihora, etc., and distributed it to the locals. We organised cultural evenings at selected pit stops and spread the word about Indian culture, Bathukamma, etc. Piya Bahadur states that the trip shed all her inhibitions, if any. The whole objective was to promote adventure tourism and that women can pull off any task. There were a few apprehensions initially since we were new to such long expeditions, but as the trip progressed, we only grew stronger. We also had to face language problems but overcame those barriers and completed the expedition. Even after we returned, we showed no signs of exhaustion, fatigue or niggles, we were still fresh. Meghan's half-brother has previously hit out at his sibling after revealing that her royal wedding snub has 'torn the family apart'. (Photo: AP) Meghan Markles estranged half-brother has shared a handwritten letter telling Prince Harry it's 'not too late' to cancel the wedding to his sister. Meghans elder sibling Thomas Markle Jr warned Prince Harry to ditch May 19 union with actress insisting that the 36-year-old is a 'jaded, shallow, conceited woman that will make a joke of you and the royal family heritage.' The letter, that was shared with In Touch magazine reads, As more time passes to your royal wedding, it became very clear that this is the biggest mistake in royal wedding history. He further added, Meghan Markle is obviously not the right woman for you. I'm confused why you don't see the real Meghan that the whole world now sees. Meghan's attempt to act the part of a princess like a below C average Hollywood actress is getting old. The 51-year-old, who is from Oregon in the US, then went on to claim that their father went into debt in order to support Markle's acting dream and is still struggling financially. He also claims that their father was not invited to the wedding. Markles elder brother added in the letter, 'What kind of person starts out by using her own father until he's bankrupt, then forgets about him in Mexico leaving him broke, over mostly all her debts. According to Thomas, Meghan conveniently forgot about her father when it was time to pay him back. The letter further reads, Not to mention, to top it all off, she doesn't invite her own family and instead invites complete strangers to the wedding. Who does that? You and the royal family should put an end to this fake fairytale wedding before it's too late. Thoams Markle finished with: 'Meghan is still my sister. She is family. So whatever happens is up to her, whether she wants to forget knowing me or the rest of her family, family comes first. Also, you would think that a royal wedding would bring a torn family closer together, but I guess we're all distant family to Meg. Meghan's half-brother has previously hit out at his sibling after revealing that her royal wedding snub has 'torn the family apart'. Thomas has not seen his sister since 2011 when the pair and Meghan's film producer ex Trevor Engleson, 41 attended the Los Angeles funeral of their grandmother, Doris. Markle believes that his brushes with the law may have embarrassed his half sister who is avoiding him. Many believe images captured by NASA's curiosity rover depict a picture of an ancient warrior woman on Mars, suggesting they could have been an extraterrestrial army on the planet. An amateur astronomer spotted a statue that looks like the head of an ancient warrior. I added a video to a @YouTube playlist https://t.co/QrdMvkU0Rt Statue Found on MARS - Female Warrior - ArtAlienTV Joe White ArtAlienTV (@ArtAlienDotNet) April 30, 2018 "I have found what seems to be a small feminine looking statue head on Mars in Gale Crater in this recent Curiosity Rover image from NASA," 45-year-old Joe White, a space video journalist, is quoted as saying by the Metro. Adding, "Only a few inches in size or less. It resembles a carved depiction of a female warrior wearing a helmet similar to some found on Earth from the middle ages." White, who runs the You Tube channel ArtAlienTV, claims he has spotted a number of artefacts on Mars over the years and suspects an ancient civilisation may have roamed the red planet. Curiosity, the mobile robot, landed on Mars in 2012 and has been sending photos of the mysterious planet from various locations. Bengaluru: The Begur police have arrested four notorious robbers who were involved in more than 22 cases of robberies and thefts in the city. They also seized two country made pistols and four live bullets from the accused. The accused have been identified as Sayed Abrar, 29, a resident of Marathahalli, Nasrullah, 24, Tauseef Ahmed, 28, and Sayed Sheikh Thabariz, 28, all residents of K.G. Halli. According to the police, based on a complaint registered by a wholesale businessman who was threatened and robbed by the four accused on April 5 in Begur, the police had formed a special team to nab them. The police said they often used to target wholesale businessmen while on their way to the bank to deposit money. The police recovered Rs 80,000 in cash from the accused. They have also seized two bikes, two daggers, two country made pistols and four live bullets. Sayed was involved in 30 cases in the city, while Nasrullah in 18 cases and Thabariz in 15 cases. Sayed and Thabariz were listed as rowdy sheeters in K.G. Halli police station in 2014. Investigations revealed the gang had purchased the two country made pistols from Miraj Khan. The police have also arrested him and are interrogating him regarding the pistols. The police produced the four accused before a court and were remanded to judicial custody. Hyderabad: Rachakonda police on Thursday arrested a 23- year-old jilted lover at Hayathnagar for attacking a 19-year-old teenager with toilet cleaning liquid. Cheruku Shankar Goud, working as a cab driver, had thrown the liquid at the girl outside her residence, while she, along with her friend and mother, was going to a shop the, police said. The girl received burns on her body while the other two escaped unhurt. According to police, the girl and Shankar came to know each other while working at a house in Dilsukhnagar two years ago. The girl was a domestic help while Shankar was employed as a driver. A few months later they became close and entered into a relationship. Recently, after coming into contact with another girl, the victim quit her job and started working at a different place. She also started avoiding Shankar. The latter, who got to know about this, suspected that the victims friend was spreading rumours about him because of which she was avoiding him. From then on he harboured a grudge against the victim and was waiting to take his revenge on her. On Wednesday he purchased a toilet cleaning liquid thinking it was an acid and went to the victims home at around 9.30 pm. When he reached the house located at Padmavati colony under Hayathnagar police station limits, he found the victim, her mother and friend heading to a nearby shop on foot. Hayathnagar inspector K. Satish said that Shankar targeted the girl, but the liquid spilled on her mother and friend also. She was rushed to a nearby hospital where the liquid was washed and she was given first- aid. According to the doctors, she is out of danger, he added. Based on the girls complaint, a case under section 326B of IPC was registered and Shankar was arrested and sent to judicial remand on Thursday. HYDERABAD: An Arabic teacher working at a madrasa (Islamic school) in Asifnagar was arrested by the police for allegedly sexually abusing students for the last three months. According to the police, the man identified as Mohammed Rehan Ansari, 22, a native of Banaka district in Bihar who holds a Bachelor of Education degree, joined the Jamia Ul Uloom Huda, an Islamic school, located in Zeba Bagh locality of Asifnagar, in July last year. Ansari used to teach Urdu and Arabic languages at the Madrasa during the day. He stayed along with the students in the hostel rooms located in the same building. Investigations revealed that the man had been sexually assaulting and having unnatural sex with the boy students at night after threatening to kill them if they resisted. A total of six students aged between six years and ten years were abused, our probe revealed so far, said ACP Asifnagar, Mr. K Ashok Chakravarthy. A total of 25 students are studying in the institution. The abuse came to light after a student informed his father about the abuse. The childs father went to the institution and conducted an enquiry along with other locals. The child informed his father that the teacher had sexually abused him several times and each time threatened to kill him. The man later approached the police and lodged a formal complaint. The students at the madrasa hail from poor families. The madrasa charges no tuition fee and also provides free boarding and food to the students. A few students are natives of Uttar Pradesh while the others are from various districts of Telangana. Apart from the regular Arabic courses, students are also taught basic modern English. The teacher, according to the parents of the victim students, would wake one of the students in the night and sexually abuse the child after taking him to another room. Such was the fear in the victims, that none of them dared to inform their parents about their sufferings for three months. The police said that they will seek his police custody from the court and interrogate him to know more details. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two history-sheeters were arrested on Thursday in connection with the sexual assault and murder of the 32-year-old Latvian tourist near Kovalam on March 14. The accused are Umesh, 28, and Udayan, 24, both hailing from Panathura, where the tourists decomposed body was found on April 20. Umesh is involved in 13 cases of drug peddling and other criminal activities and Udayan in eight criminal cases. State police chief Lokn-ath Behera said that the tourist was lured by the accused, taken to the isolated area filled with mangroves, given narcotic substances and raped. As she resisted, she was strangled and hanged using creepers. The incident occurred on March 14, the day she was reported missing. The involvement of more persons in the crime was also being probed. Thiruvananthapuram-range IG Manoj Abraham, who was heading the probe, said that the accused were traced by locating those who used to frequent the area. The mobile call details and scientific analysis of evidence received from the spot also helped in nabbing the accused. A probe into their antecedents would also be held to ascertain whether they had committed any other similar criminal activities, he said. They will be charged under Section 302 of Indian Penal Code for murder, 376 for rape, 366 for abduction, 342 for wrongful confinement, 201 for tampering with evidence and 20(b) of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act for selling drugs. Mr Behera said that it was a difficult case to crack as there were more negative pieces of evidence from the crime spot. Since the body was in a decomposed state, it was difficult to get forensic evidence. Circumstantial and scientific evidence from the spot helped the police to solve the case. If necessary, we will seek the help of the best labs in the country to ensure that a tight case is charged against the guilty," Mr Behera said. The Latvian tourist along with her sister had come to the state on February 3. They stayed at Alappuzha, Amrithanandamayi Ashram and Varkala before coming to an ayurveda centre at Pothencode. The victim was also under treatment for depression. Following information that she had taken an autorickshaw to Kovalam, the police initiated a search at various places, including the sea with the help of Navy. Her body was spotted at the isolated area at Panathura near Kovalam on April 20. Appreciating the investigation teams efforts, Mr Behera said that a badge of honour would be presented to the members. City police commissioner P. Prakash, deputy commissioner (law and order) G. Jaidev, assistant commissioner (control room) Suresh Kumar and assistant commissioner (Fort) J.K. Dinil were the key members of the team. Meanwhile, Vadapalani police, who were on rounds at the spot heard Vijayas shouting and stopped the duo before they could escape. Chennai: The city police have arrested a woman and her sisters husband on Thursday for allegedly stealing from passengers on buses. According to police, R. Vijaya, a resident of Nazarathpet near Poonamallee and a flower vendor in Vadapalani had been travelling in MTC bus to Vadapalani on Wednesday morning when a woman carrying a newborn baby, sat next to her. The woman was trying to alight from the bus before Vadapalani bus stop in a hurry that raised suspicion in Vijayas mind. Immediately Vijaya checked her handbag and found the bag opened, the police said. Although Vijaya shouted to stop the woman, she tried to flee the spot with another man. The accused were suspected to be fleeing with Vijayas gold chain and `700. Meanwhile, Vadapalani police, who were on rounds at the spot heard Vijayas shouting and stopped the duo before they could escape. On searching the woman and her associate, the police found Vijayas gold chain and cash. They were brought to Vadapalani police station and interrogated, the police statement said. During the questioning, the duo identified themselves as A. Rathi (32) of Kuppam in Andhra Pradesh and her sisters husband K. Prabhakar (30). According to the police, their modus operandi is that Rathi stealing on buses and Prabhakar fleeing with the stolen properties. They have been using a baby to conceal themselves and to get a seat in buses, the police said. During interrogation, it came to light that they have been involved in 12 cases in various police stations. The police have also seized 42 sovereigns of gold and Rs 85,000 from them. The police also rescued the baby. They were remanded to judicial custody. Tirunelveli: A medical aspirant hanged himself by a railway bridge here on Wednesday due to depression over his fathers alcoholism, police said. In the suicide note left in his bag found under the bridge, Dinesh had pleaded with his father Madasamy, a farm coolie, to give up drinking at least now after my death. He also said he did not want his alcoholic father to conduct his last rites and made a passionate plea with the Prime Minister and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu to ban liquor consumption. The 18-year-old youth hailing from K. Reddiyapatti at Kuruvikulam near Sankarankovil, has just completed his 12th exam and was preparing for Neet hoping to become a doctor. Preliminary probe by the police revealed that the boy had often pleaded with his father to give up drinking but in vain. He was staying at his uncles house and pursuing studies after his father married a second time when mother passed away. On Tuesday night, Madasamy had gone to his brothers house and picked up quarrel with son Dinesh as the boy was nagging him to give up drinking. The boy left home dejected and took the bus to Tirunelveli about 40 km away, carrying his bag containing the Neet hall-ticket. It is also possible that he carried in that bag the long rope that he used to hang himself from the bridge. He must have taken the decision when he left home after that final showdown with his drunkard father late Tuesday evening, said an officer investing the tragedy. He said Dinesh might have got off the bus at Thachainallur, about a km from the bridge, and walked to his fatal fall. Early morning, public found the body hanging by the bridge and informed the police. The body was handed over to the family after postmortem was done at Tirunelveli general hospital. His father performed the last rites on Wednesday evening. Police sources claimed that the teenager was in an extreme state of depression following the confrontation. He had even wanted his father to accompany him to the Neet examination centre. On Tuesday, he had told his uncle that he would visit his aunt (mothers elder sister) living in Kayathar but instead went to the railway bridge where he resorted to the extreme measure. Ironically, there is a Tasmac outlet hardly 500 meters from where he took away his life tragically. Sources said he was studying 6th std when his mother died. He had always felt that his father did not speak to him properly. His stepmother has been taking care of his younger brother and younger sister. Kalaburagi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who kick started his campaign blitzkrieg in poll-bound Karnataka on Tuesday, is addressing a rally in Kalaburagi today. The Prime Minister will address 3 rallies today. Speaking at a rally in Kalaburagi, PM Modi said, This election will decide the future of Karnataka. It is about security of women, the development of farmers. Do not assume this is only about electing MLAs, it is much more than that. PM Modi also slammed the Congress for "questioning" the veracity of cross-border surgical strikes and said, Congress doesn't respect the sacrifices of our soldiers. When our soldiers carried out surgical strikes, the Congress party questioned them. They kept on asking proof of the strikes from me. The Prime Minister further said, "Karnataka has a rich history of valour with immortal names like Field Marshall Cariappa and General Thimayya. But, how Congress governments treated them is well recorded in history. In 1948 after defeating Pakistan, General Thimayya was insulted by PM Nehru and then RM Krishna Menon." Further taking a dig at the Congress, the Prime Minister said, We have seen the state being ruined for five years and we will no longer allow the state to be ruined further. People are seeing that in all corners of India the Congress is being rejected. Accusing the Congress of failing with regard to the agriculture sector, PM Modi said, Kalaburagi is known for 'Dal' cultivation. Our farmers are working hard here and availing of the benefits of the central government schemes. However, the Karnataka government is insensitive towards the condition of farmers. Congress sat over Swaminathan Commission recommendation to increase Minimum Support Prices for farmers. It's not expected of them to accept this sin but they can at least keep quiet, when our govt has approved its implementation, PM Modi further said. Prime Minister Modi also targeted the Congress on going back on its decision to make Mallikarjun Kharge the Chief Minister. "During the last election, Congress promised they will make Kharge Ji CM. They misled the Dalit community. They sidelined Kharge Ji. This is typically how Congress does their politics," he said. The government had rejected the Supreme Court collegium's recommendation to elevate Uttrakhand High Courts Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph but cleared the elevation of senior lawyer Indu Malhotra, making her the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a Supreme Court judge. (Photo: PTI | File) New Delhi: Retired district judge from Maharashtra's Solapur, G D Inamdar has approached the Supreme Court over the Centre's rejection of Justice KM Joseph's elevation to the top court, calling the government's move "illegal and arbitrary". Judge GD Inamdar said the centre cannot segregate the names recommended by the Supreme Court collegium - a group of five most-senior judges - without its approval. The government had rejected the Supreme Court collegium's recommendation to elevate Uttrakhand High Courts Justice Kuttiyil Mathew Joseph but cleared the elevation of senior lawyer Indu Malhotra, making her the first woman lawyer to be directly appointed as a Supreme Court judge. She took oath last Friday. In his plea, the retired judge said the Supreme Court must direct the Centre to appoint Justice KM Joseph to the Supreme Court. The top court must also direct the Centre to act on the collegium's recommendations in a time-bound manner and not sit on it, he said. Also Read: SC collegium defers decision on Judge KM Joseph's elevation The reason the government had cited for rejecting Justice KM Joseph's elevation was it would increase the number of judges from the Kerala High Court to two though there were many high courts which did not have any representation in the top court's bench. Another reason cited by the government was that Justice Joseph was not among the senior high court chief justices. The decision of elevating justice KM Joseph was deferred by the Supreme Court on Wednesday after the collegium held a meeting which lasted for around 50 minutes. Sources to NDTV said that the apex court collegium is firm on its recommendation to elevate Justice KM Joseph and has decided to formulate a detailed response to the government. A decision on the appointments had been deferred, an announcement by the Supreme Court said after the meeting of the collegium comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph. New Delhi: Within a day of the killing of an official in Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh who was monitoring the removal of encroachments, the Supreme Court on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of the incident and called for a report from the state government. Expressing shock and describing it as an extremely serious issue, the Chief Justice presiding over a three-judge bench observed, We might stop passing any order if you (authorities) are going to kill the people like this. The officer had gone there to implement our order. When counsel for the state informed the court that the killer fled the scene after shooting the official dead, the CJI observed, What the police was doing. It is an extremely serious issue. The alleged killer Vijay Singh committed contempt of court. Lot of people tried to violate our order. Counsel said Vijay Singh shot dead the officer Shail Bala and seriously injured another officer. Hyderabad: Are you a person who do not miss sipping a tea or coffee in trains? Be cautious as it may be made from toilet water in the trains. A video that spread on the internet recently shows that tea and coffee vendors in trains make use of water from the toilets. The video shows a man in a blue shirt, seen waiting outside the western toilets, to collect the water filled tea cans and to hand it over to the vendors. The man who is waiting outside the toilet is also very cautious while filling the tea cans with toilet water so that no one can expose their act. The toilet door is seen closed from inside and a man inside the western toilet fills the tea cans and passes it to the man waiting outside the toilet. The passenger who shot the video also questioned him after the man was caught red-handed while filling the tea cans with toilet water. The video was reportedly captured by a passenger while few workers of train vending contractor P. Sivaprasad in the section between Secunderabad and Kazipet tried mixing water in the tea cans in the Chennai Central Hyderabad Charminar Express at Secunderabad railway station. A penalty of Rs 1 lakh has been levied from the contracting agency through IRCTC. Annoyed people and train passengers lashed out at the railway authorities for not having mechanisms for strictly monitoring such cheap tricks done by tea vendors in trains. The video was shared widely on social media with a tagline Never Drink Tea, Coffee and Soups in Trains, Tea Sellers are Using Toilet Water. According to Secunde-rabad Railway Station (SCR) authorities, the incident had occurred in December, 2017. An inquiry was held to identify the wrong doers and initiate appropriate action. While clarifying about the video being circulated on the social media, SCR spokesperson told this newspaper, On the basis of the inquiry, stringent action has been taken up against the train vending contractor P. Sivaprasad, with whom the identified vendor in the video was employed. A penalty of `1 lakh has been levied. Two other persons seen in the video are unauthorised hawkers. A strict vigil is continuously being kept at various levels to ensure that no such incidents recur on the zone, the SCR chief spokesperson said. Srinagar: It was the drivers immense courage and presence of mind that saved the 50 children in the school bus that was targeted by stone pelters in south Kashmir's Shopian, on Wednesday. The children were scared and they started crying recalled the driver of the bus, whose name has not been revealed due to security reasons. "I sped as soon as I realised stones were being pelted at the bus. I tried my best to save the students," the driver of the school bus told news agency ANI. The bus carrying children of the Rainbow International School faced a hail of stones while passing through Kanipora area in Shopian. Stone pelters "gheraoed the school bus and hurled stones at it" said Shailendra Kumar, senior police officer. "The area has been sanitised and a search for the stone throwers is still on; they will be arrested soon," Kumar added. Also Read: Stone pelters attack school bus with 50 children in Kashmir, 2 students hurt Among the two boys injured, one was sent home on Wednesday after treatment but the other boy, a Class 2 student who was seriously injured is still in a multi-specialty hospital in Srinagar. "My son has been injured in stone pelting and this is against humanity. This could have been anyone's child. They are so innocent and this thing (stone-pelting) is very bad. Such incidents should not happen to children," the father of the boy told ANI. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, "Shocked and angered to hear of the attack on a school bus in Shopian. The perpetrators of this senseless and cowardly act will be brought to justice. (With inputs from ANI) Bellary, from where Reddy brothers have been given ticket again, became the second stop in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second visit to Karnataka this week. (Twitter Screengrab | @narendramodi) Bengaluru: On his second visit to the poll bound state Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday shared stage with one of the Reddy brothers in Bellary. The act was seen as the Prime Minister putting his weight behind BJPs most controversial candidate in the state days before May 12 elections. The Reddy brothers MLA and ministers during the earlier BJP government in the state - have been accused of conducting largescale illegal mining across the iron-ore-rich district of Bellary. Bellary - from where they have been given ticket again this time - became the second stop in PM Modi's Thursdays visit to the state this week. The BJP has been facing intense criticism from the Congress since it named Gali Somashekhara Reddy in its second list on April 17. Ticket for a second brother, Gali Karunakara Reddy followed. Gali Janardhan Reddy, a former minister who has the bulk of accusations against him, was soon seen campaigning across the district for the BJP. The BJP has defended the move as a "compromise", claiming they are the party's best chances for a victory in the area. On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared stage with Gali Somashekhara Reddy at the District Stadium before hundreds of supporters. He did not speak about the candidate or Congress allegations. Instead, he chose to focus on the alleged Congress failures. Read: Sidda-rupaiah govt in Karnataka has made state debt-ridden: PM Modi The Reddy brothers represent a chunk of corruption allegations that surfaced during the BJP government led by BS Yeddyurappa. Gali Somasekhara Reddy is accused of bribing a judge in the cash-for bail case that involved Janardhan Reddy. Congress president Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who are spearheading the attack on the BJP over corruption, were scathing in their criticism. Early on Thursday, Siddaramaiah had welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi with a tweet: "As you arrive in Bellary, we look forward to hear your commentary on corruption. Don't forget to mention Reddy's record scam score of 35,000 cr & still not out. With star players like Yeddy-Reddy, your score in Karnataka will be well short of 60." The Prime Minister's allegations in Bellary provoked another series of tweets: In Bellary you are asking for vote for a candidate who is the brother of the mining mafia kingpin G. Janardhana Reddy who brought shame to Bellry & the state. And you say Congress has insulted Bellary. Pray, how? !#ModiHitWicket https://t.co/HCOcizbQN7 Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 Modi ji, mining policy is done by the center. Rules by the state. Karnatakas Mineral Rules are a model to the country. We have successfully conducted e-auction of mines & are earning revenues for the Govt Earlier, under BJP Govt here your friends the Reddys used earn. Not govt! https://t.co/NYoflLc85Q Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) May 3, 2018 In Bidar, Rahul Gandhi also referred to the Rs 35,000 crore and demanded that the Prime Minister admit that he also had made a "corrupt individual his Chief Ministerial candidate". BS Yeddyurappa had to step down from the state's top post in August 2011 following corruption allegations against him. Also Read: Criticise me as much as you want but answer my questions: Rahul to PM Modi Two suspects have been arrested. The police say they lured her, drugged and sexually assaulted her. (Photo: File) Thiruvananthapuram: The Latvian woman who had come to Kerala seeking help for depression was raped and drugged before being murdered, the police told on Thursday. The decomposed body of the Latvian tourist was found - hung upside down, head severed - in a forest last month. Two suspects have been arrested. The police say they lured her, drugged and sexually assaulted her. The woman had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram in February. She was hoping to find solace at one of the ayurvedic centres the state is famous for. A few weeks later, she went to a beach in Kovalam and never returned. According to her sister, who accompanied her to India, she didn't tell her before leaving the centre. On April 21, the police found a woman's decomposed body near a mangrove forest in Thiruvallam. The woman's sister identified her body and the DNA samples confirmed it. Read: Kerala: 38 days later, sister confirms body as that of missing Liga Skromane The suspects, say police sources, are drug peddlers. One of them is a repeat offender who has sexually abused women and men in the past in the same isolated marshy area where the victim's body was found, sources added. According to NDTV report, senior police officials confirmed that "her postmortem report didn't reveal much because the body was badly decomposed". However, police sources said they have been able to confirm that the accused had the motive of rape and murder. Also Read: Headless body found in Kerala: Family loses faith in investigation "It was a blind case. Even with various means of investigation and scientific evidence, we could find that it was rape and murder. The victim was lured into this area, given drugs and sexually assaulted. She was murdered when she resisted," NDTV reported senior police Officer Manoj Abraham saying. The arrest comes 10 days after her body was discovered. "The accused thought they will be able to give it an impression of suicide if they left the body hanging. We have worked on circumstantial evidence and have made a water-tight case. The police officers who probed the case will be given a badge of honour," Kerala DGP Loknath Behera said. The woman's sister, who was earlier upset with the way the investigation was being done, now says the police have done their best. "Senior police officer Manoj Abraham has been in touch with me. I know they are doing their best to investigate and ensure justice. I am satisfied with what they are doing, and don't want to delve into the past," she said. The woman's funeral was held on Thursday in Thiruvananthapuram and there will be a memorial on Sunday. "It will be a tribute to her life," the woman's sister was quoted as saying by NDTV. She added, "My sister loved Kerala and received a lot of love and support. We don't want to leave India with bad memories." Locals, however, claimed that more than a dozen youngsters were injured in the security forces action. (Photo: Representational/PTI) Srinagar: One person was killed and four others were injured during clashes with security forces who were engaged in an encounter with terrorists in Shopian district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police official said on Wednesday. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Turkwangam village of Shopian following information about presence of terrorists there, the official said. He said a gunfight broke out between the ultras and the security forces, which was going on when the reports last came in. Meanwhile, a group of youngsters assembled near the encounter site and started throwing stones at the security forces, the official said. He said five people were injured when the security forces opened fire to chase away the stone throwers. One of the injured, 17-year-old Umar Kumhar, later died due to injuries, he added. Locals, however, claimed that more than a dozen youngsters were injured in the security forces action. Cauvery water dispute: On delay in implementing scheme, Centre told the Supreme Court that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was busy with Karnataka Assembly elections. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Karnataka to "be ready to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu or face consequences". The apex court also rebuked the Centre for asking for more time on grounds that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and ministers were busy with the elections in Karnataka. The state will go to polls on May 12. Also Read: Release 4 tmc Cauvery water to TN or face consequences: SC to Karnataka Karnataka has been asked to release four tmc (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Tamil Nadu. The top court also warned Karnataka of consequences if it did not release Cauvery water to meet the needs of Tamil Nadu for April and May. Asked for 10 more days, the central government told the court, "the PM and ministers are busy in Karnataka polls and can't approve the scheme for releasing water to Tamil Nadu, as directed." The court has directed the Centre to inform it what steps were taken to frame the scheme for monitoring the release of water to Tamil Nadu. "You are supposed to frame the scheme," Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra told the lawyer representing the Centre. Attorney General KK Venugopal then replied that the draft for the scheme had been placed before the cabinet, "PM and ministers are in Karnataka." He also said the Karnataka Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, wanted ministers to be involved in the scheme instead of experts. "We are not bothered about the polls. The scheme should have been framed by now. States have no role in this," said CJI Dipak Misra. Tamil Nadu accused the Centre of "politicising the issue" and worrying more about the elections in Karnataka. "Centre doesn't want to frame the scheme now. This is the end of cooperative federal politics. What do we tell the people of Tamil Nadu?" said the state. Earlier in the month, the Centre was chastised by the apex court for ignoring its orders on setting up a body that would monitor the release of Cauvery river waters to Tamil Nadu by Karnataka. The judges suggested that the Centre was acting in guile. "The Centre knows what the scheme means," the judges said, asking the government to inform by May 3 how it planned to implement the water sharing formula the court had laid down in February. The Supreme Court also warned Karnataka of consequences if it did not release Cauvery water to meet the needs of Tamil Nadu for April and May. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked Karnataka Government to give 4 tmc (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Tamil Nadu and also directed the Central Government to file an affidavit in the matter, news agency ANI reported. The apex court also warned Karnataka of consequences if it did not release Cauvery water to meet the needs of Tamil Nadu for April and May, reports said. The bench also rebuked Centre for not finalising the Cauvery scheme until now and asked it to apprise the court on May 8 about steps taken for setting up of Cauvery Management Board for implementation of its order. Attorney General KK Venugopal submitted to the top court that 'the Cauvery management board draft has to be tabled before the Union Cabinet and as Prime Minister is in Karnataka for elections, the draft therefore has not been approved yet'. Next date of hearing is May 8. Victim had incurred heavy loss due to drought condition in the last few years Salem: A farmer committed suicide along with his wife and son, as he could not repay his debts following loss in agriculture. Another son is being treated under critical condition at hospital. According to police, Arjunan, 50, hailingd from Thammampatty near Attur in Salem, was doing farming by taking land on lease. He incurred heavy loss due to drought condition in the last few years. He borrowed Rs 3 lakh from his neighbour Selvakumar, who is also a farmer. Faced with heavy loss in farming, Arjunan was not able to pay interest and principal amount. Selvakumar was demanding amount repeatedly and they had dispute over it. Depressed over the issue, Arjunan consumed pesticide along with his wife Vennila, 35, and two sons Mohanraj, 12, and Prakash, 8, on Tuesday night. When neighbours checked his house, they were shocked to find the bodies. However, Mohanraj was struggling for life and they rushed him to Attur government hospital for treatment. He is being treated under critical condition. On information, the Thammampatty police conducted investigation and sent the bodies for postmortem. Further investigation is on. The Supreme Court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Odisha. It also slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 each on Maharashtra, West Bengal, Punjab and Uttarakhand. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday slapped fines on eight state governments and pulled them up for "not bothering" about the welfare of widows and destitute women by not heeding to the Centre's proposal for setting up an expert committee to deal with the problem. A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta also suggested that the centre should consider framing "one proper and first class" composite scheme by merging a plethora of existing ones, which was accepted by the government. "If they (states) do not want to do it, they will not do this. If they are not bothered about women of their own state, then what should we do. There are issues raised about gender justice, but they are not bothered. They do not want to do anything," a seemingly anguished bench said. The top court imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each on Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Odisha and directed them to deposit it within four weeks with the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee for utilisation in issues related to juvenile justice. It also slapped a cost of Rs 25,000 each on Maharashtra, West Bengal, Punjab and Uttarakhand for giving "incomplete information" to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. During the hearing, the court asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) ANS Nadkarni, representing the ministry, about the issue of convergence of several schemes for destitute women and widows. "Instead of having so many schemes, why don't you have one proper and first-class scheme? Why are there so many schemes," the bench asked the ASG. Nadkarni agreed with the issue raised by the bench and said there should be a single composite scheme. "In our view and the ASG agrees that it may be appropriate if one composite scheme is framed taking the best from all the schemes that are available," the bench noted in its order and asked the ministry to take initiative in this regard. The counsel appearing for National Commission for Women (NCW) told the bench that they would extend full support to the ministry on convergence of the schemes. The bench also dealt with the issue related to temples across the country giving flowers offered by devotees to shelter homes for widows and destitute women for making of perfume, coloured powder or incense sticks to enable them to earn a livelihood. The top court was informed that only a few states have responded on the issue and the ministry and NCW would take up the matter with other states. The counsel for Uttar Pradesh told the court that steps have been initiated by the state for carrying out plastering and other repairs in widow homes there. The court posted the matter for hearing on July 31. On February 7, the top court had observed that state authorities did not appear to be interested in the welfare of widows and stressed on the need for a combined effort to improve their condition. The top court had earlier taken note of the "pathetic" condition of widows after a plea was filed in 2007 highlighting how they lived in welfare homes in Vrindavan. It had referred to various reports filed by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), District Legal Services Authority and NCW on the condition of shelter homes for widows in Vrindavan. One of the reports had said there was lack of proper toilets and bathrooms in the shelter homes, besides poor water and electricity facilities. Bellary: Addressing his second rally in poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of destroying the rich history and legacy of Bellary. By defaming Bellary, they have disrespected the people of this district, PM Modi said. The Prime Minister, who had earlier called the Siddaramaiah government a 10 per cent government, coined a new phrase - 'Sidda-rupaiah Sarkar'. Slamming the state government over corruption, PM Modi said, Look at the rising illegal mining in state. Congress government here couldn't even frame a strong mining policy. Karnataka has a 'Sidda-rupaiah Sarkar'. It has created a debt-burden for the state. People can no longer tolerate them. They will give a strong reply on 12th May, Prime Minister Modi added. Also Read: Assembly election to decide future of Karnataka, says PM Modi With reports estimating that the IT hub of Bengaluru will run dry by 2020, PM Modi targeted the Congress government over the issue. "When we had got the opportunity to serve people of Karnataka earlier, so many development initiatives were undertaken. But sadly, the Congress could not even ensure proper water supply despite the state being rich in water resources," he said. Saying that Bellary was being targeted like thieves and thugs, PM Modi asked the people of the region to teach the Congress a lesson. "People of Bellary should teach a lesson who are destroying the image of Bellary. Bellary is being targeted like thieves and thugs which is insult of people of Bellary," the Prime Minister said. Further alleging that the Congress carries out vote-bank politics, PM Modi said, The Congress does vote-bank politics. They divide people on the grounds of caste. They are insensitive towards the tribal communities and the OBCs." Prime Minister Narendra Modi kick started his campaign blitzkrieg in poll-bound Karnataka on May 1. While the final programme of his Karnataka tour is still being finalised, he is scheduled to be in the state on May 3, 5, 7 and 8. He will be addressing a total of 21 rallies three per day. Last week, the government had seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat, suspected of dead animals and sourced from dumping grounds, meant to be supplied to eateries and departmental stores in the state as well as neighbouring Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. (Representational Image | AP) Kolkata: The kingpin of the meat racket involved in procuring dead animals from dumping grounds and processing their flesh before supplying to markets was arrested from Garia in South 24 Parganas district by the SIT, the police said on Thursday. Biswanath Garai, 52, a resident of Sonarpur in South 24 Parganas district, was arrested from near the Garia railway station by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Wednesday evening, SP, Diamond Harbour police district, Koteswara Rao said. So far 11 persons have been arrested, including a leader of a political outfit, in connection with the case. Biswanath alias Bishu is the prime accused and the owner of the godown in Narkeldanga area in the city where the meat of dead animals was stored, he said. "Bishu was involved in collecting the meat and then processing it. He was then supplying them to different restaurants and markets," Rao said. Also Read: Rotten animal meat being sold in Kolkata: Govt forms SIT, 10 arrested It is also being examined whether any influential person was helping him in carrying out the "business". "We are also looking for how many years he was running this business and who all are helping him in getting orders," another SIT official, involved in the investigation, said. Last week, the government had seized 20 tonnes of rotten meat, suspected of dead animals and sourced from dumping grounds, meant to be supplied to eateries and departmental stores in the state as well as neighbouring Jharkhand, Odisha and Bihar. The state consumer affairs department is also preparing a detailed report on the matter. The West Bengal government has directed all police stations in the metropolis and the districts to keep a watch on the sale of meat in their areas, officials said. President Ram Nath Kovind conferred the Best Actress Award on Sridevi (posthumously). The award was received by her husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Janhvi and Khushi, in New Delhi on Thursday. New Delhi: The 65th National Film Awards were held on Thursday evening with more than one-third of the recipients staying away from the prestigious ceremony as a mark of protest against President Ram Nath Kovind not giving away all the honours. Sources said that approximately 55 recipients boycotted the Vigyan Bhawan ceremony while 80-odd received the awards, first from information and broadcasting ministers Smriti Irani and Col. Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore and later from the President. Expressing surprise at the 11th hour questions, Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a statement that the President attends all award functions for a maximum one hour and this was conveyed to the information and broadcasting ministry. The award ceremony passed off peacefully as the threats by some filmmakers of disrupting the proceedings or holding protests were thwarted by the timely intervention of the I&B ministry. It is learnt that Shekhar Kapur and several other jury members were asked to present the government point of view to the awardees who were staying at a hotel in the national capital. The committee members were also informed that there was a need to maintain protocol and dignity of the Presidents office. They were also told that as changes to the function could not be made at such a late stage, the filmmakers should find out an amicable solution, sources said. In an open letter earlier in the day, over 70 artistes said they were skipping the ceremony as they felt dejected rather than honoured on being informed that the President would give away only 11 awards. It was for this reason that, for the first time ever, the awards ceremony was organised in two phases. In the first phase awards were presented to the recipients by the two I&B ministers, and in the second phase the President conferred awards on 11 recipients including Dada Saheb Phalke Award to Vinod Khanna for his contribution to the film industry. The award was received by his wife Kavita Khanna and his son Akshaye Khanna. President Kovind also presented the award for best actress to Sridevi for Mom, which was received by her husband Boney Kapoor and daughters Khushi and Jahnvi. While every year the National Film Awards is interspersed with songs selected from the awarded films, this year the ceremony was devoid of performances by any of the award recipients. There was also a 20-minute break between the two phases during which clips from the awarded movies were shown. A new feature this year was a group photo of award recipients with the President. The suspect has been identified as Sonu alias Sonia Rani. According to the police, she had entered the office around 12:30 pm and had hidden a kitchen knife inside her bag along with the files. (Representational Image) Bengaluru: A 58-year-old woman was caught carrying a knife inside her bag at the Lokayukta office on Thursday afternoon. She was later detained by the Vidhana Soudha police and they are investigating the case. It may be recalled that on March 7, this year Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty, 74, was repeatedly stabbed inside his office by the one Tejraj Sharma, who had smuggled in a knife into the office. Barely a week ago Mr Shetty had reported for work after recovering from the attack. The suspect has been identified as Sonu alias Sonia Rani. According to the police, she had entered the office around 12:30 pm and had hidden a kitchen knife inside her bag along with the files. She was caught during the security check at the entrance of the office. The security officials immediately detained her and alerted the police. She reportedly told the police that she was Sonia Rani, wife of late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi. She had approached the Lokayukta office alleging that some of the Mysuru Maharajas properties belonged to her and she wanted it back. She had reportedly made several complaints to Lokayukta. A senior official said that she has been providing contradictory statements when questioned about her visit to the Lokayukta office and the presence of a knife in her bag. The police have sent her for the medical examination to check whether she is mentally stable. The Vidhana Soudha police have registered a case. New Delhi: The Supreme Court asked Karnataka to be ready to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu or face consequences. Be ready to release 4 tmcft of water to Tamil nadu by the end of May for drinking purposes. We have given priority to drinking water and this order must be complied with. Otherwise you will have to face consequences, the CJI told Karnataka. AURAD: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday took exception to the personal attacks launched against him by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the PM was belittling his position by engaging in such attacks. Addressing a public gathering here on Thursday, Mr Gandhi alleged that the PM was resorting to personal attacks as he had nothing to speak about the development issues which he (Rahul) had raised. Since Modi gives lengthy speeches on corruption, I had first asked him why his party had chosen Mr B.S. Yeddyurappa, the man who went to jail on corruption charges, as its CM candidate for Karnataka. Secondly, I had asked him why he allowed (diamantaire) Nirav Modi to escape with Rs 30,000 crore of public money, the amount equal to that the previous Congress led UPA government annually spent for providing work to rural labourers under MNREGA. Thirdly, I had asked him how his friend Amit Shahs son Jay Shah multiplied Rs.50,000 to make it Rs 80 crore in a year. Since he did not have answers to these questions, he chose to ridicule me with personal attacks, he said. Asserting that Mr Modis personal attacks would have little effect on him, Mr Gandhi declared that he would continue to raise questions about development issues. Claiming that the Siddaramaiah-led government in the state had fulfilled 90% of the promises made by the Congress in the last assembly elections, Mr. Gandhi said that none of the promises made by the BJP during the last Lok Sabha elections were fulfilled. Talk about your pre-poll promises. Talk about your assurance of bringing black money from abroad and depositing Rs. 15 lakh in the accounts of every citizen. Tell people of Karnataka what kind of governance you will give if come to power... Talking only about me without uttering a word about these issues wont help you much, the Congress president told the PM. While comparing the performance of the governments led by Mr Modi and Mr Siddaramaiah, Mr Gandhi repeatedly quoted from the Vachana composition of 12th-century social reformer Basavanna, Nudidante Nade [do as you say]. Terming the Union government anti-farmer, he said Mr Modi did not utter a word when the Congress demanded waiver of farm loans borrowed from nationalised banks. Modi did not respond to questions on waiver of farm loans but wrote off around Rs. 2.5 lakh crore of corporate loans borrowed by 15 richest businessmen. On the contrary when I asked Mr Siddaramaiah whether he could waive farmer loans borrowed by cooperative institutions, he waived them within 10 days. There is no place for the poor in the BJPs heart, he said. Mumbai: RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat has criticised BJP leaders and asked them not to do drama of taking food at the homes of Dalit families. Mr Bhagwat said that instead, regular interactions are needed to get rid of caste barriers, not the occasional symbolic gestures. Senior leaders of the RSS and Vishwa Hindu Parishad met on Wednesday in New Delhi for a discussion on social harmony, where RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat referred to the initiative started by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had recently asked BJP leaders to increase interaction with Dalits by visiting their homes. BJP president Amit Shah has visited Dalit and tribal homes on several occasions and has had meals with them. Under instructions from party bosses, many BJP leaders have started arranging programmes involving meals at the homes of dalits. The RSS chief said that such interactions should be done both ways Dalits should also be invited by upper caste people to their homes. Sources said that Mr Bhagwat said at the meeting: Taking food at Dalits homes, inviting the media or for publicity stunts, is not a good practice... Leaders should interact with dalit people routinely and regularly. Only taking food at Dalits houses is not sufficient, send family members too to their homes and invite them at your home. VHP working president Alok Kumar told this newspaper: Mr Bhagwat spoke at a meeting about social harmony. He said we should build relationships with Dalits in a routine manner as a part of lifestyle. We should send our children to the homes of Dalits and invite them to our homes. For the past couple of months, the RSS and BJP are promoting samrasta bhoj (community dining) to spread the message of social harmony and to eradicate casteism. A recent such visit by UP minister Suresh Rana got mired in controversy as there were reports suggesting that he may have brought his own food and water. A temporary shed that was put up on the terrace of the Macca Masjid collapsed due to the heavy rains on Thursday. ( Pics: P.Surendra, S. Surender Reddy, Deepak Deshpande) Hyderabad: Incomplete desilting of stormwater drains and nalas, which is a mandatory job of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) in the summer, has led to the streets being inundated. A few internal colony roads in Malkajgiri, Yapral were inundated, with there being no channel to drain rainwater. With only a month left for the Southwest Monsoon, the condition of the citys drainage system on Thursday, with only a few minutes of rains showed the GHMCs unpreparedness. Principal Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Arvind Kumar sent out an alert to GHMC staff to clear crucial water stagnation points. An uprooted tree damaged a vehicle at Goshamahal. Motorists had a tough time finding their way through stagnated rainwater, and two commuters fell into an open manhole under the Metro bridge at Ameerpet. Nala overflow was reported at Chikallguda, Akbarnagar, Chandrayangutta, Falaknuma, Rein Bazaar, Malakpet, M.J. Market, Nizam PG College and Goshamahal. At Vanasthalipuram, Three traffic cops pulled their act together and helped open a manhole cover, to allow free flow of rainwater. Thursday evenings sudden downpour saw waterlogging at Tank Bund. The government had issued a red alert for citizens not to venture out for three days as temperatures were expected to touch between 45C and 48.5C. (Photo: P. Anil Kumar) The knee-deeph water levels in Mallikarjunanagar in Malkajgiri caused immense hardship to residents, especially those returning from work. The same episode of inundation was reported in 2017, and GHMC deputy commissioner Venugopal of Malkajgiri assured residents that the nala connecting the colony will be diverted and this will help divert the rainwater entering the colony. However a year has passed and no work has been taken out. When enquired with the GHMC on desilting work for the city, an officer said, During the previous years, tenders were called during summer and a deadline of June 15 was fixed to desilt the nalas. However in 2018, tenders were called for desilting for a period of one year, and this demands that contractors remove silt when ever accumulated. Currently only 40 per cent of the nalas have been desilted. Moderate spells of rain were reported in Alwal, areas of Secunderabad Cantonment Board, Malkajgiri, Uppal, Madhapur, Malakpet, Charminar and Saroornagar. Meanwhile, the unexpected showers Wednesday evening gave much-needed relief to residents from the scorching heat, and eventually brought down temperatures that were soaring over the past few days. Vijay Singh (brown shirt), owner of one of the hotels, who allegedly shot dead Assistant Town and Country Planning officer Shail Bala Sharma (in blue), in Kasauli during demolition drive, seen talking to her hours before the incident on Tuesday. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) New Delhi/ Kasauli/Shimla: The man accused of killing a woman officer leading a demolition drive against illegal construction was nabbed today in Mathura, police said. In a bid to change his appearance, Vijay Singh shaved his moustache and trimmed his hair but he was caught sitting near a temple, they said. Police had yesterday released Singh's photograph and offered a reward of Rs 1 lakh for clues. The accused was arrested from Mathura in a joint operation by Himachal and Delhi Police. He would be brought to Himachal after obtaining transit remand. The police would interrogate him and recover the weapon used for shooting the officer, DGP Sita Ram Mardi said in Shimla. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Himachal Pradesh government for allowing large-scale illegal constructions in the state and remaining a mute spectator to the shooting down of an official who was supervising the removal of encroachments and illegal structures. A bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur and Deepak Gupta sought a status report from the government on the brutal gunning down of Shail Bala Sharma, a woman assistant town-planning officer by a resort owner on Tuesday. On Wednesday the court had taken suo motu cognisance of the incident. The bench told state advocate-general Ashok Sharma that the court was against regularisation of the illegal structures as such an action would be violation of rule of law and encourage even honest citizens to break the law. Lucknow/Jaipur: A powerful storm, accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain, barrelled through a wide swathe of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wednesday night, killing at least 106 people in a trail of destruction that brought down mud houses, uprooted trees and flattened crops, officials said on Thursday. At least 183 others were injured as a massive duststorm, followed by thundershowers, snapped power lines and sent tin roofs and street hoardings flying in parts of eastern Rajasthan and adjoining areas of Uttar Pradesh. In western Uttar Pradesh, which saw 70 deaths, Agra was the worst affected, with 43 deaths reported from various parts of the district. The other storm-hit UP districts were Bijnor, Bareli, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. In Rajasthan, 36 persons died and another 100 people were injured as winds of over 100 kmph hit the region at around 7 pm. The worst period lasted about 45 minutes, according to reports from Dholpur in Rajasthan. But the extent of the damage was known only on Thursday morning. In Rajasthan, Bharatpur district was the worst affected, with 19 deaths. The India Meterological Department (IMD) has warned of severe thunderstorms in 32 districts of Uttar Pradesh over the next 48 hours. Bengaluru: In a complete turnaround, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday came down heavily on the Janata Dal (S), accusing it of joining hands with terrorist organisations to win the Assembly elections, when only recently he had come to the defence of its supremo, H.D. Deve Gowda. Addressing an election rally at the Visvesvaraya grounds in Kengeri satellite town, Mr Modi appealed to the voters not to commit the mistake of voting for the JD(S), which he described as totally insignificant in the elections. Whatever political pundits might say, the JD(S) is restricted to third position, and cannot be an alternative to the Congress or form the government at its own strength, he maintained, claiming that a desperate JD(S) had now joined hands with terrorist organisations, that were a threat to national security, to win the elections. Mr Modis remarks against the JD(S) were made before a moderate crowd drawn from the four Assembly constituencies. New Delhi: The Centre on Thursday justified in the Supreme Court the delay in framing a scheme to implement the directions in the February 16 judgment for release of water by Karnataka as per the Tribunal award, due to Karnataka assembly elections and campaign by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Cabinet Ministers. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal who made this submission before a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.M. Kanwilkar and D.Y. Chandrachud said, We are in a difficult position. We could not finalise the scheme within the time limit of May 3. The scheme has to be approved by the Union Cabinet and since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other Ministers are traveling the scheme could not be finalised. The court in a brief order directed the Centre to file an affidavit by May 8 explaining the steps it had taken to frame the scheme and also asked Karnataka to take instructions on release of 4 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu before the end of May. Earlier the AG said the Karnataka Chief Minister has written a letter on April 26 suggesting that the authority under the scheme should include the Irrigation Ministers of the four States instead of officials. Therefore there is confusion in forming the scheme. Please give us 10 days time and have the case listed on May 15 or 16 after the polls. On April 9, the apex court had granted time to the Centre till May 3 so as to ensure that a mechanism is put in place before June when the release of water as per Tribunal directions will really come into effect. n P4 At that time the court turned down the request of the Centre to grant three months time in view of the Assembly polls in Karnataka on May 12. Senior counsel Shekar Naphade and counsel G. Umapathy for Tamil Nadu took strong exception to the AGs submission and said the Centre was playing politics to favour the BJPs fortune in the State and is taking a brazen partisan attitude in support of Karnataka. The CJI told the AG you are supposed to frame the scheme. Why should you consult the States, it is your obligation as per the judgment. When you are stating the letter written by Karnataka CM, did you take Tamil Nadu into confidence.? When Mr. Naphade submitted that they are worried about electoral fate in Karnataka, the CJI quipped that the Centres stand is a reality. Mr. Naphade said, the Centre does not want to frame the scheme before the elections on May 12. If you allow this to happen, there will be nothing left of the rule of law and co-operative federalism. What do we tell the people of Tamil Nadu? The Supreme Court passed its Cauvery judgment in February and we have still not been able to get water. Summer temperatures are rising. There is no drinking water. It is time for you to call a spade a spade. Mr. Umapathy added that as per the Tribunals award Tamil Nadu was to get 2.5 tmcft of water in April and 2.5 tmcft in May but so far it has received only one tmcft. This was countered by senior counsel Shyam Divan, Mohan Katarki for Karnataka who said water has been released to Tamil Nadu as per the distress formula. The CJI made it clear to Karnataka be ready to release 4 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu by the end of May for drinking water purposes. We have given priority to drinking water and this order must be complied with. Otherwise you will have to face consequences and your Chief Secretary must be present in the court. Counsel for Karnataka however, denied that there was any deficit in the release of water. The CJI asked the State to take instructions on when it would release 4 tmcft of water to Tamil nadu. When Mr. Naphade insisted that the court should give a firm direction to the Centre to form the Cauvery Management Board, the CJI told the counsel whether the board is formed or not, we will ensure that you (Tamil Nadu) will get water. Mr. Naphade referred to the contempt application filed by Tamil Nadu and said the AG had made a statement that the scheme was ready. Do we not believe him now? Do we not get water? Why this step-motherly treatment to us now? We cannot be at the mercy of the central government. They (Centre) will dilly-dally if the court does not take it seriously. The Bench posted the matter for further hearing on May 8. Hyderabad: Heavy rain coupled with thunder, lightning and gusty winds, hit Telangana on Thursday, killing six persons, including a 7-year-old from the city. Four persons were struck by lightning, while hailstorms killed one in Warangal district. The thunderstorm is a result of a cyclone prevailing over central India and a depression over Lakshadweep. The state has been warned of a thunderstorm on Friday and Saturday. Indravath Akhil, 7, at Karmanghat was playing on a swing tied to a tree near a temple in Anji Reddy Nagar, when he was hit by the flashes and found dead, said police. Lokesh, a standard 7 student near Hayath Nagar, was also reportedly killed, say police, after being struck by lightning. While Karola Venkataiah, 46, from Chinnaumentyala village was in the open when lightning struck, two from Nalgonda - Buchi Reddy, 55, and Naresh, 17 - were found dead under a tree, where they took cover from the heavy rain. The intensity of gusty winds, estimated to be of a speed of up to 74 kmph, interrupted power supply at all pumping stations located at Manjeera, Krishna- Phase-I, II & III and Godavari. The water board has informed that water supply in Hyderabad on Friday will be delayed and some localities can expect short supply. Hyderabad: Members of the Hyderabad School Parents Associations (HSPA), which has been relentlessly fighting indiscriminate school fee hikes, met with deputy Chief Minister and education minister Kadiyam Srihari on Thursday to discuss the cancellation of a hearing that was supposed to take place on April 23. The state government had issued an order stopping schools from increasing their fees. However, that order was stayed by the High Court. The Government subsequently filed a petition for the vacation of that stay order, and the HSPA filed an implead petition. The case was supposed to be heard on April 23, but the hearing did not take place due to changes in the bench of judges. The education minister expressed that the government was helpless before a court of law. He assured them that he would do everything in his capacity to have the case heard. He said that he would call for another meeting with them in a week. Seema Agarwal, a member of the HSPA, said, When we asked why the government couldnt request a priority hearing of the case, he said that the hearings were not being conducted at the desired pace, and there was not much the government could do about it, even though schools had been found making huge profits. She said the state had cancelled the NOCs issued to schools such as Glendale, Oakridge, and Chirec, which were charged with profiteering. But the schools had those orders stayed as well. Chennai: The Madras high court has set aside an order of the special judge for NIA cases/sessions court for exclusive trial of bomb blast cases in Poonamallee, refusing police custody of an accused in a Hindu Munnani activist murder case. A division bench comprising Justices M. Venugopal and R. Hemalathaa set aside an order of the special judge dated March 16, 2018, while allowing an appeal from the National Investigation Agency, Hyderabad camp, at Chennai. The Thudiyalur police had arrested Mubarak alias Mohammed Mubarak and another in connection with the murder of Sasikumar, district spokesperson, Hindu Munnan, in Coimbatore district. The case which was being investigated by the CBCID was transferred to the NIA in January 2018. When the NIA filed a petition seeking police custody of Mubarak, the special court in Poonamallee dismissed it. Aggrieved, the NIA filed the present appeal. The bench said the order passed by the special court for NIA cases substantially affects the rights of the agency especially when the matter was at the investigation stage in so far the accused was concerned and hence the impugned order resulting in dismissal of the petition would not be an Interlocutory order. Viewed in that perspective, the present appeal preferred by the appellant as against the order dated March 16 was perfectly maintainable under the National Investigation Act. In view of the upshot, this court comes to a resultant conclusion that the view taken by the special judge for NIA cases, was not a legally tenable one. As such, this court interferes with the order passed by the special judge and set aside the same, the bench added. The bench directed the special judge to restore the matter back to his file and pass necessary orders in a fair, just, unbiased and dispassionate manner, untrammeled and uninfluenced with any of the observations made by this court in this appeal. Aurad (Karnataka): Hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "personal attacks" on him, Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said it does not behove a person who holds the high office. Addressing a rally here in poll-bound Karnataka, Gandhi said Modi was not answering the issues raised by him such as the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal and fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi, and only launching a personal attack on him. "Whenever Modi is afraid....I would tell about Modi's character....he launches a personal attack on a person. He will talk ill of a person. Will talk wrong of a person. That is the difference between me and him," Gandhi said. Rahul Gandhi, who came under a scathing attack from Modi at his rallies in Karnataka, said, "Let him speak anything about me, whether it is wrong or right, it will not make any difference. He is the PM of India and I will not launch a personal attack against him. I am from India and he is the PM of India and I will never launch a personal attack on him," the Congress president said, as the two leaders stepped up their campaign for the May 12 Assembly polls. Gandhi also slammed Modi over the BJP giving tickets to controversial mining barons Reddy brothers in the elections. "In film Sholay, there was Gabbar Singh. You brought Gabbar Singh Tax (an allusion to GST) but this time you have gone even further. You have fielded the entire gang of Gabbar Singh. "There is Gabbar, Sambha, Kalia, and all of them.... Reddy brothers gang, which was in jail....You are trying to get them inducted into Assembly, and you tell to the country that you are fighting against corruption," Gandhi said. Gandhi said Modi can criticise him as much as he wants, but the PM should answer his questions. "Are you not trying to induct the Reddy brothers into the Assembly? Yes or no. Nirav Modi ran off with Rs 30,000 crore. What have you done on that front? Why was your mouth shut? "In Rafale (deal), you snatched contract from (public sector) HAL. The Aircraft which was to cost Rs 700 crore, you bought for Rs 1500 crore. You snatched jobs from youths and while doing this you gave the contract to your friend. You don't talk about this too," he said. Gandhi said the election in Karnataka was not about Narendra Modi or himself but it was about the future of the people of the state. Hyderabad: Who is Dev, the political strategist of Jana Sena party, and where is he from? After Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan introduced Dev as his party political strategist, several party leaders and others started inquiring about him. And the results startled many. Vasudev alias Dev is a native of Hyderabad and a well-known figure to the people of Chintala Basthi at Khairatabad in Hyderabad. He changed his name to Dev and claimed that he was from another state. When Pawan Kalyan introduced Dev to party functionaries, the latter, addressing them, had said, I do not know Telugu completely, as I can speak only bits of it. In fact, Dev is fluent in Telugu and in the past had participated in Telugu news channel debates. He joined the BJP in the past in the presence of former BJP state president and present party floor leader G. Kishan Reddy. He had also worked as a BJP spokesperson for some time and it was during this period that he participated in Telugu news channel debates representing the BJP. When asked about Vasudev, G. Kishan Reddy said I dont recollect him. Dev has not shared his contact details even with the Jana Sena office. When Jana Sena media in-charge Hariprasad was contacted for Devs phone number, he said, He has not shared his details, he did not give his contact either, every day he comes to office in the morning. Vasudev joined the BJP on December 23, 2013 as an educationalist. Devs political background is in the BJP and had tried to contest from Sanathnagar Assembly constituency on a party ticket in the previous Assembly elections, but he failed to get a ticket as that constituency was gi-ven to the Telugu Desam (TD) in the alliance. He was seen in TV news debates two years ago. He later disappeared from the BJP and suddenly appeared in a new avatar as a political strategist. He introduced himself to Jana Sena leaders and said in the meeting, In the past decade I have some experience working with nat-ional and international parties and designing their election strategies and doing surveys. He also claimed that he ran a political firm with 360 employees. Dev is also a relative of former deputy chief minister and Congress MLA from Andole constituency Damodar Raja Narasimha. Speaking to this newspaper, Damodar Raja Narasimha confirmed that Vasudev was his nephew, and said that as far as he knew Vasudev was in the BJP only and had not changed to any other party. Hyderabad: Telangana TD MLA R. Krishnaiah has urged Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to announce Backward Classes (BC) declaration over 200 resolutions passed in a meeting in December. Speaking to mediapersons on Thursday, Mr Krishnaiah said that the Telangana CM had conducted a meeting with BC MLAs and MLCs of all parties for three days in December and passed 200 resolutions. But even after five months, the CM has not implemented the resolutions. Mr Krishnaiah urged KCR to sanction 500 BC residential schools and 100 degree residential colleges for BC students. He said that the state government had collected applications to create self-employment opportunities through the BC Corporation. So far, 5.77 lakh applications were received and no one was granted subsidy till today. The TD MLA demanded the state government to sanction subsidy to all the applicants. He said that in engineering, medical, MBA and other courses, the state government has been paying total fee for SC/ST and minority students and injustice is being done to BC students. By the time the centenary of Karl Marxs death was marked 35 years ago, devotees of his ideas were struggling to promote their continued relevance. After all, by then the world differed remarkably from the mid-19th-century state of affairs, with most of the advanced capitalist nations capitulating to some extent to the need to ward off Marxs predictions by instituting welfare states that took the edge off class conflict. However, by 1983 the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan had already set in motion processes that became relentless in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse. Capitalism, red in tooth and claw, returned with a vengeance in the 1990s, and among its foremost victims were the countries of Eastern Europe that had dared to imagine a different world was possible. Idiots celebrated by proclaiming the end of history. Much of what has occurred since then in the sphere of global economics has served to underline Marxs prescience; the veracity of his conviction that capitalism carries within it the seeds of its own destruction has been acknowledged even by many of those disturbed by this tendency. The bicentenary of Marxs birth this week comes at a time when his predictions about the nature and trajectory of capital resonate particularly loudly, given the sharply growing disparities of wealth in all capitalist societies and the reluctance of the ruling classes to do anything that might reduce them. Marx was born on May 5, 1818 into a Jewish family, which shortly afterwards converted to Lutheran Christianity in the face of entrenched anti-Semitism, in the German town of Trier. His precocious intellect led to conflict with the authorities at both school and university; it also earned him a doctorate by the time he was 23. Not long afterwards he became the editor of Rheinische Zeitung, which was promptly shut down by the Prussian authorities. Marx felt obliged to shift to Paris and, when expelled from there, to Brussels. The Prussian state continued to hound him, though. He returned to France and, when Europe erupted in 1848, shortly after he and a recently befriended fellow German by the name of Friedrich Engels had published Manifesto of the Communist Party, he went back to Germany and founded the Neue Rheinische Zeitung. It wasnt allowed to survive, though, and in 1849 a certain Charles Marx, who cited Dr as his profession, landed in Dover and spent the rest of his life in Victorian London. He had by then married his teenage sweetheart, the aristocratic Jenny von Westphalen. who was four years older than him. It was an impecunious existence Marxs unrelenting intellectual labours earned him next to nothing. Apart from the occasional inheritance and sporadic loans from friends or relatives such as Marxs Netherlands-based maternal uncle who founded the Philips electronic empire, they had to rely on handouts from Engels. The latter took up a position at his familys Manchester mills in part to sustain Marx, but was able to guarantee a stable income only towards Marxs last years, after Engels sold off his portion of the business. At Marxs funeral oration at Londons Highgate Cemetery in 1883, Engels informed the fewer than a dozen other mourners that mankind was shorter by a head, but it was the greatest head of its times. Just 28 years later, the main speaker at another funeral, that of Marxs daughter Laura and her husband Paul Lafargue in Paris in 1911, declared, according to biographer Francis Wheen, that the ideas of Lauras father would be triumphantly realised sooner than anyone guessed. He was a little-known Communist by the name of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin. It was only after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917 that Marx acquired renown as both a prophet and a bogeyman, although he had gained a certain amount of notoriety back in 1871 by being wrongly identified as the instigator of the Paris Commune. Another reason why Marx comes across as more of a 20th-century than a 19th-century figure is that a number of his key texts, arguably more accessible than the incomplete Capital, werent published until the 1930s and were first translated into English several decades later. They helped to provide a more complete picture of a man who insisted that everything must be doubted. Marxs views were inevitably mainly Eurocentric, but the breadth of his interests can be gauged from his dispatches as a foreign correspondent for the New York Tribune, in which he dedicated several articles to the Indian revolt of 1857, citing reports of British atrocities in Peshawur and Pindee to argue that it is a rule of historical retribution that its instrument be forged not by the offended but by the offender himself. It should come as little surprise, then, that many of his predictions still ring true in the troubled 21st century. By arrangement with Dawn The BJP should introspect on why so many of its leaders in different parts of the country are wired so differently, socially and politically, from the rest of us. Even as Tripuras young chief minister says one atrocious thing after another, the latest to cause offence is the far more experienced Kavinder Gupta of Jammu. Until the other day, Mr Gupta was Speaker of the J&K Assembly. After the negative fallout of the Kathua rape-murder of an eight-year old Muslim tribal girl, which sent shockwaves around India, the Speaker was made to swap places with deputy chief minister Nirmal Singh and took the oath as a minister on Monday. Immediately, he resorted to pernicious talk telling the media too much shouldnt be made of the heinous crime at Kathua. That is likely to disrupt any sense of communal normality that was sought to be recreated despite the sustained communal campaign by senior elements of the BJP, two of whose ministers had to resign after the Kathua outrage. The blowback of this may be felt not just in the Kashmir Valley, but also among the minorities in the rest of the country and ordinary folk everywhere. It would also further weaken chief minister Mehbooba Muftis hand in Kashmir, where there is rising public sentiment that aligning with the BJP was a serious mistake. That is likely to hurt the already fragile political and security situation in the border state. But before the political considerations arising out of changes in the J&K council of ministers are studied, it is shocking that the BJP should decide to make the Speaker a minister overnight. A Speaker reflects constitutional neutrality within the legislature even if he came from a political party. Making the Speaker a minister is an emphatic declaration that the BJP has thought nothing of giving constitutional decorum the go-by. And what a deputy CM Mr Gupta has turned out to be shooting from the hip on Kathua in a deeply disturbing communal fashion. Mr Singh was reportedly removed as deputy CM as he backed the CM on getting the Kathua crime probed by the states crime branch, which did a credible job, in contrast with the rest of the BJP which asked for a CBI probe possibly the surest way to despatch it to the heap of lost causes. While two BJP ministers were forced to resign when anger against the Kathua story erupted since they had participated in a pro-rapist rally, Kathua MLA Rajiv Jasrotia, who also attended that rally, has now been inducted as a minister on the BJP quota. This is only rubbing the communal venom in. Its hard to believe this sequence of events wont deepen alienation in Kashmir. What India did by demonstrating solidarity with the Kathua victim is now being undone. The Supreme Court has expressed dismay at the damage wrought by the environment on the iconic Taj Mahal. The ivory white marble monument built in 1632 is being ravaged by devastating pollution and is turning into various hues like yellow, brown and green, depending on the scale of pollutants. No one seems to care. Its only right that Indias highest court should now suggest that Indian and foreign experts be brought in to ensure that the monument is protected from further damage, and consider measures to restore it to its pristine glory. This is suggestive of the fact that the Archaeological Survey of India seems unable to take proper care of the landmark that is symbolic of Indias grand legacy from an earlier era of creative workmanship. India may have been left a legacy of ancient landmarks in temples, mosques and churches, but the Taj Mahal is unique: a monument to the love Mughal emperor Shah Jahan felt for his favourite wife Mumtaz Mahal. The icon draws people from across the world with its magnetic craftsmanship in stone in the 17th century. Its a national treasure beyond description and all the controversies whipped up by the current BJP government in Uttar Pradesh cant take away a whit from the spectacular beauty of the mausoleum in marble. The nation can well afford to preserve and protect its precious legacy, its only a question of will. It may also not be a good idea to invite corporate sponsorship for this monument as has been proposed. Its time to shed any reluctance and get down to keeping a legacy that is the pride of India. The accused followed the couple home from the airport April 25 and shot the boyfriend, 31-year-old Mark Mangaccat, several times at close range. (Representational Image) Redwood City (California): Northern California prosecutors say a man who worked at San Francisco International Airport murdered the boyfriend of a co-worker he wanted to date. San Mateo County prosecutors said 31-year-old Kevin Prasad, of South San Francisco, spent months trying to persuade his co-worker to dump her boyfriend and date him. They say Prasad followed the couple home from the airport April 25 and shot the boyfriend, 31-year-old Mark Mangaccat, several times at close range. The Mercury News of San Jose reports that Kevin Prasad faces a charge of murder. District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said it was the girlfriends last day at work. The couple had a 3-year-old child together. As of Tuesday, Prasad had not been assigned an attorney. Prasad was employed by a company that provides security for the airport. Trump said that China and the United States will always have a great relationship. (Photo: ANI) Washington: The President of the United States, Donald Trump, on Thursday said that their Secretary of the Treasury is trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade in China. He also said that China and the United States will always have a great relationship. "Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade! I look forward to being with President Xi in the not too distant future. We will always have a good (great) relationship! " he wrote on Twitter. The delegation-level trade talks to be held between United States and China on Thursday will only be fruitful if the former is sincere in its determination to preserve the stability of economic ties, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Wednesday. "We hope that the United States will be sincere in its determination to preserve the stability of the Chinese-US trade and economic relations and will stick to the principles of mutual respect and equality during the talks. Then the bilateral consultations would be effective," Chunying told press, reported Sputnik. Chunying added that trade issues between the two countries would not be solved with one meeting alone, owing to the size of their economies. The trade talks to be held from May 3 to May 4 in Beijing will have the US delegation, led by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, while Chinese Vice Premier Liu He will represent China. The talks come after the recent trade tariffs imposed by Washington. On March 23, Trump had imposed massive trade tariffs amounting to USD 60 billion on China, in an effort to stop the latter from stealing "intellectual property" from American companies. In retaliation, China threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on USD 50 billion worth of US exports. A decision by Trump to end US sanctions relief would all but sink the agreement and could trigger a backlash by Iran. (Photo: File) Washington: US President Donald Trump has all but decided to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord by May 12 but exactly how he will do so remains unclear, two White House officials and a source familiar with the administration's internal debate said on Wednesday. There is a chance Trump might choose to keep the United States in the international pact under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, in part because of "alliance maintenance" with France and to save face for French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trump last week and urged him to stay in, the source said. A decision by Trump to end US sanctions relief would all but sink the agreement and could trigger a backlash by Iran, which could resume its nuclear arms programme or "punish" US allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, diplomats said. Technically, Trump must decide by May 12 whether to renew "waivers" suspending some of the US sanctions on Iran. One of the White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was possible Trump will end up with a decision that "is not a full pullout" but was unable to describe what that might look like. A presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday about what he said was documentary evidence of Tehran's past nuclear arms programme could give Trump a fresh argument to withdraw, even though UN inspectors say Iran has complied with the terms of the deal. Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and accuses its arch-foe Israel of stirring up world suspicions against it. The pact between Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - was among former US President Barack Obama's signature foreign policies but has been described by Trump as "one of the worst deals I have ever witnessed." The White House official said Trump was "most of the way there towards pulling out of the deal but he hasn't made the decision" and that he "seems poised to do it but until a decision is made by this president it is not final." Top aides are not seeking aggressively to talk Trump out of withdrawal because he seems intent on it, a second White House official said. Europeans Losing Hope Trump gave Britain, France and Germany a May 12 deadline to fix what he views as the deal's flaws - its failure to address Iran's ballistic missile programme, the terms by which inspectors visit suspect Iranian sites, and "sunset" clauses under which some of its terms expire - or he will reimpose US sanctions. While European officials continue to work towards such a "fix," they believe the odds are against reaching one. One of the main sticking points has to do with the "sunsets," where the United States in effect wishes to find a way to extend some of the limits on Iran's nuclear programme beyond their expiration dates under the agreement. The source familiar with the debate said US negotiators are hamstrung by the fact that they do not really know where Trump's "red line" is and so they cannot tell the Europeans what would secure Trump's blessing. Trump could refuse to renew the waivers but give new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo time to negotiate more with the Europeans, exploiting the deal's dispute resolution mechanism or the time before the most draconian sanctions take effect. Several sources familiar with the negotiations said that if Trump pulls out, a question for the Europeans will be whether this would be the start of a much harder US line towards Iran, including military confrontation. "The Europeans are not keen to be dragged into a regional conflict by the US," said one source familiar with the talks. Two US intelligence officials said they were particularly concerned about Iranian retaliation in harder-to-trace actions such as cyber attacks on the United States or its allies and attacks on soft targets by people without obvious ties to Tehran. Such attacks are considered more likely than actions that might trigger a US military response against Iranian nuclear and military targets. Two of the three hostages were detained in 2017, after Trump had assumed office. (Photo: File) Washington: US President Donald Trump hinted Wednesday that there would be imminent news about three Americans detained in North Korea, after sources said they had been relocated ahead of their possible release. The development comes as Trump is preparing for a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, following months of tense saber-rattling over the North's nuclear and missile programs. "The past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" Trump wrote on Twitter. Two of the three hostages were detained in 2017, after Trump had assumed office. The United States has been demanding the North free Kim Hak-song, Kim Sang-duk and Kim Dong-chul and reports have said the two sides were close to reaching a deal on their release. "They are staying in a hotel on the outskirts of Pyongyang," Choi Sung-ryong, a South Korean activist with contacts in the North told AFP earlier, adding the three were being kept separately but "going on tours, receiving medical treatment and eating good food." Diplomatic sources in Pyongyang have said there were rumours that the three had been relocated, but there had been no confirmation of their exact whereabouts. A State Department official could not confirm the reports, but added: "We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible." The matter was discussed when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo travelled to Pyongyang last month, according to The Wall Street Journal. And speaking to Fox News on Sunday, National Security Advisor John Bolton said releasing the hostages would be "an opportunity" for the North to "demonstrate their authenticity." Kim Dong-chul, a South Korea-born American pastor, has been detained in the North since 2015 when he was arrested for spying. He was sentenced to 10 years' hard labour in 2016. Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang-duk -- or Tony Kim -- were both working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, founded by evangelical Christians from overseas, when they were detained last year on suspicion of "hostile acts." CNN had said the prisoners' release was also discussed at three-day talks in Stockholm between the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho and Swedish counterpart Margot Wallstrom in March. Sweden represents Washington's interests in the North. Detente Tensions between North Korea and its neighbors as well as the US spiked last year over the Pyongyang's testing of atomic weapons and long-range missiles, including some capable of reaching the US mainland. But a spectacular detente in recent months, with a summit approaching between Trump and Kim, and the prospect of denuclearization, have fed hopes of a historic turning point in the region. Seoul and Pyongyang have remained technically at war since the 1950s but South Korean President Moon Jae-In and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un agreed at a landmark summit last week to work towards a permanent treaty to replace a 65-year-old armistice agreement. As remarkable as the imagery and symbolism have been recently, many analysts point out that it is early to speculate on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with a regime that has been led with an iron fist by the Kim dynasty for nearly 70 years. The decision was made less than two months after Cambridge Analytica and Facebook became embroiled in the scandal. London: Cambridge Analytica, the embattled UK-based data consulting firm that worked on Donald Trumps election campaign, has shut down citing a loss of business amidst a raging scandal that it compromised the personal information of 87 million Facebook users, including that of over 500,000 Indians. The firm is accused of mapping the behaviour of voters in the run-up to the 2016 US election won by Trump. In a statement, Cambridge Analytica said it would immediately cease operations and bankruptcy proceedings would soon begin. The decision was made less than two months after Cambridge Analytica and Facebook became embroiled in the scandal. Revelations about the misuse of data, plunged Facebook into crisis and prompted regulators to open investigations. Cambridge Analytica denies any wrongdoing, but says that the negative media coverage has left it with no clients and mounting legal fees which has forced it to resort to closure. Despite Cambridge Analyticas unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the companys customers and suppliers, the company said in a statement. As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration, it added. US-based social media giant Facebook has said that nearly 5.62 lakh people in India were potentially affected by its global data breach invol-ving Cambridge Anal-ytica. Facebook has informed the government that only 335 people in India were directly affected through the installation of an app and another 562,120 people were potentially aff-ected as friends of those users. Facebook has over 20 crore users in India. Cambridge Analyticas board has also applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill to act as the independent administrator. Additionally, parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced on behalf of Cambridge Analytica and certain of the Companys US affiliates in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The report of an independent investigation released by CA said that it was involved in several elections in India since 2010, but refuted charges that it interfered in poll process. According to the media reports, many Rohingyas are stranded in India and Nepal after moving illegally from Bangladesh. (Photo: ANI) Dhaka [Bangladesh]: Rohingya refugees, who fled to Bangladesh since late August 2017 to escape the inter-communal violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state, are facing another threat in the form of human trafficking. Dhaka Tribune reported, "Around 40 trafficking cases have been reported in the refugee camps since the latest influx started, according to an unofficial source. The information could not be verified independently but given the sheer number of the refugees - more than a million - the number of cases seems credible." The Rohingyas are denied citizenship and basic rights by the government in their homeland, Myanmar. In a way they are forced to leave the country to build a better future for themselves and their families but instead, end up falling prey to trafficking Bangladeshi laws, however, have been prioritized to prevent the risk of the Rohingya refugees being trafficked from the camps. To control the horrific act of human trafficking, various organizations have taken steps to spread awareness about trafficking among the refugees. Also, the Women Friendly Space by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) has organised two weekly sessions on trafficking. According to the media reports, many Rohingyas are stranded in India and Nepal after moving illegally from Bangladesh. According to reports an estimated 40,000 Rohingyas are believed to be living in India, out of which, 14,000 are registered as refugees with UNHCR. Macron flew to India in March, where he committed to strengthening a defence partnership that has already seen New Delhi buy French warplanes in 2016. (Photo: AP) Sydney/Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for the creation of a new strategic alliance among France, India and Australia to respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China. On the second day of a visit to Australia, where he hopes to cement defence ties following the 2016 signing of a USD 38 billion mega deal to supply submarines to the Australian navy, Macron said the like-minded democracies should forge closer ties. Were not naive: if we want to be seen and respected by China as an equal partner, we must organise ourselves, Macron said in a speech at an Australian naval base. Macron visited China in January, where he warned Beijing that its new Silk Road initiative should not be one-way. He then flew to India in March, where he committed to strengthen a defence partnership that has already seen New Delhi buy French warplanes in 2016. This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region, Macron said. His visit to Australia, only the second by a French president, comes amid heightened tensions in the Pacific, where France has numerous interests. France has island territories spanning the Indo-Pacific: Reunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, and Noumea, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia in the Pacific. Australia and New Zealand have each separately warned that China is seeking to exert influence in the Pacific through its international aid programme, an allegation Beijing denies. Congress president Rahul Gandhi is on a whirlwind tour of Karnataka where his party is fighting an electoral battle. He knows retaining Karnataka would be a big morale booster ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and what a defeat could do. In his maiden interview after taking over as Congress president in December, Gandhi talks to DH's Sagar Kulkarni about his vision of fighting the "divisive" RSS-BJP, the role Karnataka can play in it and how he plans to turn the tide in his party's favour. Excerpts: Nationalism is the buzzword currently and it seems to appeal to the youth. How do you look at this narrative? RG: India is a very diverse country. Different states, languages and ideas bring strength to our country. So I am very keen that in any national discussion the voice of all other states is heard. My problem with the so called nationalism of Narendra Modi and the BJP is that it includes nobody else's view except their own. So, if anybody has a slightly different view than them, they are not seen with the correct lens. They are crushed. That is not how I view India. How confident are you of countering this nationalism? RG: There is a huge reaction against the imposition of a narrowly defined and, frankly, a Nagpur-RSS idea of nationalism. During my entire tour in Karnataka, that is what people were telling to me. There is something called Karnataka's voice. And this election is frankly about Karnataka's voice versus the RSS viewpoint versus Narendra Modi's very rigid concept of what it means to be an Indian. There is a natural reaction that is coming, we saw it in Gujarat, it is there in Karnataka, it is all over the country. This country is not going to tolerate Mr Narendra Modi or anybody else for that matter, telling this country what they think this country needs to do. There is also this pitch of Congress Mukt Bharat? RG: You might have noticed Mr Modi talks very disparagingly about me, about other Congress leaders. I will always respect the post of the Prime Minister. You will not see me using the same type of language. I am even saying that the BJP view is a fact in India, and I don't want a BJP-mukt Bharat. I will fight them, I will defeat them, but it is an expression and I accept that all voices must be heard. Where I draw the line is violence. Where I draw the line is hatred. My main concern with the RSS view and the BJP view is violence, hatred, animosity. How crucial are Karnataka elections in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls? RG: Mr Narendra Modi came to power in India on some planks. Number one was jobs, number two corruption, number three farmers. He has failed in addressing all three. Gujarat is the first demonstration that he has failed in them, Karnataka will be the next, and after that you will see Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. And then in 2019, India is clearly going to state to Mr Narendra Modi Mr Modi you promised us three things and all you have given us is a lot of talk. But nothing has really happened. The reason why Bengaluru is known as the Silicon Valley is because of its cosmopolitan nature, because everybody realises that we are only going to succeed this way. Congress is accused of playing soft Hindutva card. Where do people of other religions find space in the Congress narrative? RG: My view on this is that anybody who invites me, regardless of which religion he is from, minority or Hindu, anybody who invites me to show me or introduce me to something he respects, I will go there. Because I respect his view. I visited mosques, temples in Karnataka, I visited gurudwaras in Gujarat. Many leaders such as S M Krishna, V Srinivasa Prasad, H Vishwanath have left Congress. Were there any efforts to stop them? RG: We are fighting an ideological fight. Certain people, opportunistically, left the party. Some of them are already having second thoughts. Lot of the people who left us, frankly they don't stand for some of the ideas the Congress represents. So I am actually happy they are not part of the way forward. A Catholic high school in Dearborn, Michigan, offered a unique solution for making students abide by the school's prom dress code modesty ponchos. According to The Huffington Post, the school came under fire for suggesting that female teens wear the modesty ponchos if their dresses were deemed inappropriate by teachers for the upcoming prom event. If your dress does not meet our formal dance dress requirements no problem! Weve got you covered literally. This is our Modesty Poncho, which youll be given at the door, read a note attached to a mannequin, according to HuffPost. Students at a high school in Dearborn will be evaluated by teachers before prom. If their dresses aren't appropriate, they'll be given a Modesty Poncho:https://t.co/N0TGp5KJom pic.twitter.com/CuTW57M4ya FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) April 30, 2018 Divine Child High School dressed mannequins in the halls of the school with the ponchos, which are not unlike rain ponchos and are available in both short and long styles. According to the Associated Press, the length suggests its designed to cover cleavage. The schools prom dress code, after all, said dresses can't have plunging necklines or cutouts below the traditional bra line, the Associated Press reported. The school forbids exposed cleavage and visible midriffs, and a teacher will check for compliance at the door, according to the Associated Press. Parents and students alike complained about the ponchos, calling them a form of body shaming, according to Fox 2 Detroit. The school backtracked on its commitment to the ponchos, sending out an apology letter to the community. To be clear: The poncho will not be passed out at Prom. It was on display to proactively remind students of our dress code policies and eliminate any confusion prior to this special event, the schools principal Eric Haley wrote in a letter to the community. We recognize that it has done the opposite for some members of our community and draws away from our goal of having students adhere to the dress code policy. Letter sent to Divine Child parents about the Modesty Poncho says they were on display to warn NOT to be passed out at prom but during our interview Monday it was clearly stated they would be passed out & some students have already requested & received them @FOX2News pic.twitter.com/MOtswuHKhu Jessica Dupnack (@JDupnackFOX2) May 1, 2018 A spokesperson for the Detroit Catholic Archdiocese told Fox 2 Detroit that the ponchos werent distributed to students, nor were students required to wear them. "Come prom night, if necessary, staff may provide wraps and shawls, as they and other schools have done in the past, spokesperson Holly Fournier said in a statement to Fox 2 Detroit. Theology teacher Mary Pat OMalley said she came up with the idea for the ponchos to help spread a positive message at the school. "We are trying focus on the inner beauty and not draw attention to something that doesn't need attention drawn to it," O'Malley said. An anonymous Divine Child student told Fox 2, "I do believe the school has gone too far with this. As we walk into prom, we are to shake hands with all the teachers and if you walk through and a teacher deems your dress is inappropriate you will be given a poncho at the door." The Michigan controversy comes a day after a Utah teen came under fire for her own modest dress. According to the Deseret News, Woods Cross High School teen Keziah Daum was criticized online for wearing a red qipao, a traditional Chinese dress. Critics said the dress was a case of cultural appropriation, which is defined as an act of taking or using things from a culture that is not your own, especially without showing that you understand or respect this culture," according to the Cambridge Dictionary. Daum defended her dress choice, saying she bought it for the sake of modesty. "I remember being there, and I'm like, 'I want to find something that's a little more modest. Don't want to send the wrong message,'" she told the Deseret News. SALT LAKE CITY A new report unveiled the countrys favorite Star Wars character, and its rather dark. Darth Vader is reportedly the countrys favorite Star Wars character, according to a new report from the buy-back website Decluttr.com. The website used Google Trends data from the past year to determine which characters people are searching for. Though Darth Vader topped the entire nation with 27 states, the character Rey stood out in the Beehive State. Ten other states, including Alabama, Arizona and Hawaii, listed dark side user Kylo Ren as their favorite character. However, Luke Skywalker led the way in six states. Seven states, including Utah, picked Rey as their favorite. With new movies on the way, Americas favorite character may change over the next year or so. Han Solo may overthrow Vader, while the new breed of characters including Finn may see an upsurge too. For now, though, America belongs to Darth Vader, according to Decluttr. The Deseret News asked readers last year who their favorite characters were and received 415 responses. Han Solo led the way with 95 votes, followed by Luke Skywalker (46), Obi-Wan Kenobi (41), Yoda (34) and Darth Vader (33). On the flip side, Jar Jar Binks received 148 votes for most hated characters, followed by Anakin Skywalker (53), Jabba the Hutt (26), Emperor Palpatine (26) and Kylo Ren (19). A 2017 poll from Morning Consult found Supreme Leader Snoke to be the most-hated Star Wars character in the country. Snoke received 26 percent approval rating, which was even less than Jar Jar Binks at 37 percent. SALT LAKE CITY Law enforcement officers from agencies across the state will once again take to the streets to participate in the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Utah. The torch runs are held each May leading up to the Special Olympics Utah Summer Games in June. The entire Special Olympics Utah family appreciates our law enforcement officers and their willingness to run the Special Olympics Flame of Hope down the streets of cities and towns in support of Special Olympics Utah athletes, DArcy Dixon, president and CEO of Special Olympics Utah, said in a statement. "We value the relationship that has been forged between law enforcement officers and Special Olympics Utah athletes through these torch runs and are committed to nurture and protect that bond." The public is invited to join in by cheering on those carrying the torch. The start times and routes of all the torch runs can be found at sout.org/ways-to-give/law-enforcement-torch-run. From Washington to Wyoming, well-known clergy and grass-roots people of faith plan to gather Thursday (May 3) for the annual National Day of Prayer. In the nations capital, the White House is expected to mark the day with a morning ceremony and the National Day of Prayer Task Force is hosting an evening observance at the U.S. Capitol. In Casper, Wyo., planned events include mothers gathering at restaurants to pray for their children and the nation and a blessing of the bikers in a church parking lot near a Hobby Lobby store. In between, people plan to pray in churches and at courthouses and, in the case of Ninevah Christian Church in Lawrenceburg, Ky. both. Here at our church, we have a room designated for prayer midnight tonight through midnight the next, said Katie Butler, the churchs administrative assistant, who added members also intend to head to their countys courthouse for noontime prayer. Members of our church sign up for 30-minute prayer slots. Task force organizers expect millions to attend some 40,000 events to mark the day that has been observed annually since 1952 according to an act of Congress. In 1988, the law was amended and called for the observance to be held on the first Thursday in May. At the Capitol on Thursday, Pastor Ronnie Floyd, task force president and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention, plans to interview the pastor of First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, almost six months to the day after a gunman killed more than two dozen people in his congregation. I cannot think of another moment more appropriate for America to come together and pray for unity in our nation, said Floyd when announcing plans for the annual observance. We need a massive prayer movement that will lead us back to God and bring healing to our land. First Baptist Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who is to visit Washington with his wife, Sherri, and other Sutherland Springs church members, has said they are also invited to the White House this week, Texas news outlets reported. Members of President Trumps unofficial group of evangelical advisers are expected at the morning and evening Washington events. But, as has occurred at past White House events, some religious groups, including the National Council of Churches and the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund, say their leaders have not been invited. Officials of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference and the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America have been invited and plan to attend. SALT LAKE CITY Everyone has a stake in ensuring the freedom of religion or belief, whether or not you believe in God, according to an international religious leader speaking in London this week with other U.S. and U.K. leaders. During a May 1 address to the All Party Parliamentary Group for International Freedom of Religion or Belief, Elder D. Todd Christofferson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints emphasized the role religious freedom plays in building safe, happy and successful societies. This value is foundational to other civil rights and enables people of faith to contribute to the great good of their communities, said Elder Christofferson, a member of the church's Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. "Today a substantial amount of the social welfare delivered to vulnerable communities comes from the freewill offerings of religious entities and religious people. They give food to the hungry, shelter to the homeless and jobs to the unemployed," he said. Elder Christofferson's comments come at a time when the concept of religious freedom is increasingly maligned, said Tim Schultz, president of the 1st Amendment Partnership. These days, religious freedom is linked with controversial lawsuits and legislation, rather than the people and faith groups it's protecting around the world. "People have come to judge (religious freedom) through the lens of their political preferences," he said. In this political climate, it's important to remember the value of religious freedom in countries where members of a dominant faith group can silence or imprison nonpractitioners, including atheists, said Nick Fish, national program director of American Atheists, an organization that works to protect the civil rights of nonbelievers around the world. "In nations where apostasy is a crime, and I'm talking primarily about nations where there is an official state religion, people who leave the faith or are in any way critical of it are imprisoned, put to death and subject to brutal punishment for their beliefs," he said. 'Unpopular in practice' Twenty-five years ago, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a federal policy limiting when the government can interfere with religious practices, came three votes short of passing Congress unanimously. Democrats and Republicans alike rallied around this First Amendment right, working to ensure that people of faith felt welcome in the public square. But that consensus wouldn't last, as one of the sponsors of an earlier version of the legislation predicted, Schultz noted. The late Democratic Congressman "Stephen Solarz said that religious freedom is very popular in the abstract but very unpopular in practice. I think we've seen that in the years since RFRA passed," Schultz said. In practice, religious freedom has to be balanced against other rights, a process that often leads to conflict, he added. When Catholic employers filed a lawsuit asking to be excused from the Affordable Care Act's contraception mandate, they were accused of disrespecting women's rights. When faith-based adoption agencies refuse to work with same-sex couples, they're accused of discrimination. Instead of working together to find compromises, Democrats and Republicans have parted ways in their approach to conscience rights, partly because of the religious makeup of their party members, Fish said. "The religious views of the parties have become more and more polarized. It's not so much Democrat versus Republican as it is a certain division of white evangelical Christianity versus a lot of other faith groups," he said. It's become difficult to generate widespread support for faith groups in need of new legal protections, Schultz said. Proposed legislation is debated in terms of who it will harm, instead of why it's valuable. "People are outcome-oriented when thinking about whether they value religious freedom," he said. And the outcomes they have in mind are often negative. More than spiritual benefits Elder Christofferson, who was joined in London by Jim Shannon, MP and chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group, Daniel Mark, chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Margaret Galy, head of Freedom of Religion or Belief in the Human Rights and Democracy Department in the Foreign and Commonwealth office, noted three benefits to supporting freedom of religion. "First, religious freedom supports and strengthens the rule of law. Second, freedom of religion or belief is foundational to other fundamental and cherished freedoms. And third, religion or belief, freely exercised, promotes civic virtue and is vital to strong, flourishing communities," he said. The freedom to make one's own decisions about what to believe is an essential part of societal well-being, Elder Christofferson said. "Our basic freedoms tend to rise and fall together," he said. "If the state can be convinced (or compelled) to leave space for religious dissent, it will almost surely leave space for other forms of dissent." Organizations like the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom offer a similar assessment of world affairs, noting that efforts to mandate religious practices typically happen in tandem with other human-rights violations. "In addition to endangering individuals and communities, severe violations of religious freedom threaten the stability and security of nations and regions," the commission's 2018 annual report said. Celebrating diverse religious practices, on the other hand, leads to many positive outcomes, including in the business world, Elder Christofferson said. "Countries with strong traditions of religious freedom tend to be not only more stable and safe, but more prosperous. A recent study reached the remarkable conclusion that the presence of religious freedom in a country is one of only three factors significantly associated with global economic growth," he said. The study, co-authored by Brian Grim, who is president and founder of the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation, emphasized religious freedom's role in keeping the peace. It described religious diversity as an insurance policy against the kind of tensions and conflict that drain money from an economy. "Religious hostilities and restrictions create climates that can drive away local and foreign investment, undermine sustainable development, and disrupt huge sectors of economies," the study reported. Making the case At a time when religious freedom's reputation is at risk, people of faith need to show, through their words and actions, how these protections make the world a better place, Elder Christofferson said. "Beyond the arguments that can and should be made, do our actions as people of faith make a compelling case for freedom of religion or belief?" he asked during his May 1 presentation. Elder Christofferson emphasized the role of interfaith cooperation in this effort, noting that members of a certain religion shouldn't be solely concerned with protecting their faith group. He highlighted the LDS Church's partnerships with Catholic, Muslim and other religious service organizations. "Religious organizations and people of faith must be at the forefront in urging and showing tolerance toward those of other faiths, especially those who might, for whatever reason, be unpopular minorities," he said. Schultz offered the same advice for U.S. lawmakers worried about how religious freedom is characterized in the current political climate. Moving forward, their faith-related advocacy work needs to be consistent, not aimed at benefitting only members of their own party. "It would help if we had more stories of conservative political folks supporting the religious rights of those who aren't on their political team and vice versa," he said. Religious freedom supporters must work together to ensure that this value continues to enjoy the same respect as other First Amendment rights, Schultz said. "Even if you think that some exercises of religious freedom are silly, you need to approach it the way you think of the freedom of speech. A lot of people who assert the freedom of speech are silly, but it's still an important right," he said. SALT LAKE CITY The Utah Attorney General's office is reviewing the more than $200,000 former Utah Transit Authority boss Jerry Benson is getting after being fired last month, as well as other transit agency employee contracts that offer similar provisions. "We're going to look at those on a case-by-case basis, including the Benson contract," assistant attorney general Mark Burns, director of the office's highways and utilities division, said Wednesday. There are "multiple contracts that have severance benefits" at the UTA, Burns said, adding he has already looked at Benson's deal, but "is not in the position right now to give you a legal conclusion." He did, however, point out that Benson's contract as president, CEO and general manager contained a clause stating if Benson was terminated without cause, including because his position was eliminated, the severance package is triggered. Burns said he is not aware of any state agency that awards severance pay. UTA trustees voted to let Benson go, citing a new law that takes effect next Tuesday that does away with his post. Instead, an executive director will be overseen by a new, three-member management team appointed by the governor by Nov. 1. The mid-April decision to terminate Benson and pay him nine months of salary at least $205,500, based on his $274,000 annual paycheck as of 2016 has frustrated lawmakers behind the governance changes to UTA in SB136. "We're still looking at what our options are to pull back that severance package because it's just not right," said Rep. Mike Schulz, R-Hooper, the bill's House sponsor. He said the payout could add up to as much as $250,000. Schultz had already asked the Legislature's legal counsel to determine if the severance payments could be halted because he does not believe the new law mandated Benson's firing. "It makes me nervous," Schultz said of the board's decision. "If that's the way the board is going to continue to operate, I don't think we can wait until Nov. 1 for this new board to be online." The bill's sponsor, Sen. Wayne Harper, R-Taylorsville, said he shares Schultz's concerns. "Absolutely, absolutely," Harper said, calling the severance package "a nice parachute" for Benson that "cast a shadow on a career where he did a lot of good for UTA and the public." Greg Bell, UTA board chairman, said Benson had no interest in staying on in a reduced capacity and was "completely opposed" to all the key changes made in the new law. "So he was not our guy" to carry out the changes in the new law, Bell said. He declined to talk about whether Benson would have resigned if the board had not terminated him, a decision made after a closed-door discussion. Had Benson stepped down, he would not have received severance pay. But asked about the concerns lawmakers are raising about the severance pay, Bell said. "In the reorganization, we're saving that and more. We just disagree," and added that it was the board's decision. "We fired him. He didn't fire himself. We terminated him," Bell said. On Tuesday, the board's executive committee named Steve Meyer, UTA's acting vice president for operations, capital and assets, as the new executive director, a decision that will have to be approved by the full board later this month. Gov. Gary Herbert has until November to appoint the three new trustees that will take over running UTA and replace the current 16-member board. In the meantime, Bell said the current board will fill that role. The new law also calls for the attorney general's office to replace UTA's legal department by July 2019. UTA's general counsel, Jayme Blakeley, has already announced he is leaving as of next Tuesday. Burns, whose division will represent UTA, said after the law takes effect next week, the transit agency's remaining five attorneys will receive a special designation from the attorney general's office. "I want to keep them on board as long as possible. They're all good lawyers out there," he said, adding that while their compensation is "one of many details we're working on," it's included in the current UTA budget. Trustees voted last month to allow contracting with former legal counsel, but Burns said he hopes to minimize the need for that "because we hope there will be a smooth transition." The changes being made to UTA, which also include a controversial name change to Transit District of Utah, have been described by lawmakers as giving the agency a fresh start after years of controversy. Besides critical legislative audits, UTA also signed a nonprosecution agreement with the U.S. Attorney's Office last year that requires cooperation with an ongoing federal investigation into transit development dealings and federal monitoring. SALT LAKE CITY Drinks are lot like music, according to Cody Braun, one of the founders of the rock band Reckless Kelly. If they are being given away for free, people arent picky about what theyre getting. But once money is involved, consumers become a little more selective about what they spend their paycheck on. And if they can get the same thing for free somewhere else whether it be drinks or music theyll do that instead. In 2016, Reckless Kelly released "Sunset Motel," their ninth studio album and one of their most upbeat with songs such as Radio, Moment in the Sun, How Can You Love Him (If You Dont Even Like Him), and Whos Going to Be Your Baby Now? Our goal with this one was to really kind of step more into the Americana scene a little bit, said Braun in a recent interview with the Deseret News, adding that the band was trying to step out of the Texas country music spotlight a little bit and focus on new markets. Despite being a very strong album, "Sunset Motel" barely cracked Billboard's top 200 on the U.S. album charts, though it did peak at No. 12 on the country album chart (a personal best). Braun said 2017 was a tough year not only for his band in terms of album sales, but for a lot of artists. It wasnt one of our highest selling albums, he said. But our streams are up by hundreds of thousands. On streaming services like Spotify, Braun said the band is doing well. But as is the problem for many artists, streaming songs on Spotify doesnt translate into money for artists. I dont know if most people understand how big of a hit that makes, especially on independent artists putting out their own records and paying for their own records, and then everybody listens to them for basically free instead of paying that $15 for a CD. It really has a big impact, he said. Braun admits it has forced the band to think about different ways of doing business. But he doubts theyll ever stop releasing albums. Just the process of making records is really fun and kind of part of the art that we really enjoy. I think well always continue to make records. But figuring out how to pay for them is definitely different, he said. Not only does Reckless Kelly carefully think through the songs they put on their albums and the album's cohesiveness (We like to have a beginning, middle and end, Braun said), but the band puts a lot of thought into the album's packaging, too. Reckless Kelly has been nominated for the Grammy for best album artwork for their past three records, winning one for 2013's "Long Night Moon." We do this because we love the art of playing music and the process of making records, he said. Its something Reckless Kelly has been doing now for more than 20 years. Fans of the Braun Brothers all know the story: Brothers Willy and Cody Braun began performing at a very young age in Idaho with their father, Muzzie Braun, and their brothers Micky and Gary Braun went on to form the alt country group Micky & The Motorcars. The Braun family even landed two guest spots on "The Tonight Show" when the four brothers were very young. But it was when Willy and Cody Braun set out for Bend, Oregon, and later Austin, Texas, that they achieved the sound that would become Reckless Kelly. Along the way, they picked up longtime members Jay Nazz on drums, lead guitarist David Abeyta and most recently, Joe Miller on bass. For the next two decades, the band blurred the lines between country and rock with a series of solid albums and on May 9, Reckless Kelly returns to Salt Lake City. During their last visit in the fall, they sold out the State Room and played an extra long show, giving fans an unforgettable Evening With Reckless Kelly. This time, theyll be the first ticketed event for the brand new Commonwealth Room which has the same owners as the State Room owners, but is a bigger venue. Later this year, all of the Brauns will return to Idaho for the annual Braun Brothers Reunion Festival in Challis Aug. 9-11. This year marks the second that the four Braun Brothers are completely in charge of organization the event, after having the torch passed down from their parents last year. Its an unbelievable amount of work, Cody Braun said. His parents organized the festival for 30 years. So fortunately, he says, a lot of what they do to host the event is already in place. But living 2,000 miles away in Texas has posed a challenge, he admitted, especially when most of the residents in the small Idaho town do their business at the coffee shop and not (through) email, he said. Things that most concertgoers dont think about, such as parking and ordering port-a-potties, are all items that have to be taken care of in preparation for the concert. Braun said his duties include booking whos going to play and helping organize concessions a far cry from his day-to-day work in the music business. As for the next album, Braun said Willy typically focuses on writing from now until October, as the band often spends their studio time in January and February. After that, Reckless Kelly will look to release their music to the public, who hopefully will be willing to spend a few dollars to buy a record. If you go What: Reckless Kelly When: Wednesday, May 9, doors open at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m. Where: The Commonwealth Room, 195 W. Commonwealth Ave. How much: $27 Web: www.ticketfly.com SALT LAKE CITY As a fully professional theater company that produces seven shows a season, Pioneer Theatre Company is a revolving door for actors and actresses from across the country. For some actors, scheduling conflicts and each seasons casting requirements keep them from returning to the bright lights of Lees Main Stage at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre. But for 22 of the 26 cast members in the companys May 11-26 Mamma Mia! production, performing at the theater will be a homecoming of sorts, as all but four of Mamma Mias cast has previously performed in at least one other PTC production. Its kind of extraordinary. Ive never had that experience before, said Brian Sutherland, who plays Sam Carmichael in the show. Its a testament to how well they run the theater people want to come back here. Based out of New York City, Sutherland first performed at PTC in 1986 in a production of Kiss Me Kate, and made his return 28 years later with the 2014 production of Peter and the Starcatcher. Sutherland had friends working as director (Jenn Thompson) and choreographer (Patricia Wilcox) on the production and he knew PTC's artistic director from working with her years before in Indiana which he said made Peter and the Starcatcher a family event of sorts. Its the rare experience in show business where you get to work with people who are your friends so whenever I get that chance, I kind of leap at it, Sutherland said. Coleen Sexton, who plays Donna Sheridan and appeared in last years concert version of Chess, was also drawn back to PTC by the thought of her possible collaborators. Everything about (PTC) the stage, the crew, the costumers, the sound people, the whole creative staff is just so wonderful, she said. They work so hard. Sextons desire to audition for Mamma Mia! speaks to the music's popularity. The show is filled with classic ABBA tunes such as Dancing Queen, S.O.S. and Take a Chance on Me. In 2008, midway through the jukebox musical's 14-year run, it got a big-screen adaptation starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan, which grossed more than $471 million worldwide and spawned a sequel slated for release this July. Music Theatre International began licensing the show to professional regional theaters after its Broadway run ended in 2015. (MTI just opened up licensing to amateur theater companies at the end of April, which means well be seeing even more Mamma Mia! in the years to come.) The musical, with music and lyrics by ABBAs Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson and book by Catherine Johnson, tells the story of a young woman who wants to invite the father shes never known to her wedding. But since she doesnt know which of her mothers three former boyfriends is her father, she invites all three, resulting in a complicated blast from the past for her mother. Sexton said the cast of characters from the three potential fathers to the strong-willed single mom Donna are part of what makes the show relatable. Every character is different, she said. Each one of them brings something special to the show. Aside from the characters, Sutherland said, Mamma Mia! draws audiences for two other basic reasons: its lighthearted spirit and recognizable music. Its a really light and frothy just kind of feel-good piece (and) there is something familiar and very comforting about all that music, he said. The lighthearted end Mamma Mia! brings to PTCs season which included dramas The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and Twelfth Night, as well as the world premiere of /i/ is a testament to the companys eclecticism, a quality Sutherland admires about PTC. When (a theater company) is doing that and making a successful run at it and giving (audiences) that kind of experience, I think its beneficial for everybody, he said. (Its) another reason that goes on to the list where I would gladly come back to Pioneer. Theyre just the rare theater thats doing it beautifully on all levels. If you go What: Pioneer Theatre Company's "Mamma Mia!" When: May 11-26, dates and times vary Where: Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East How much: $42-$69 Phone: 801-581-6961 Web: pioneertheatre.org Editor's note: The following commentary by Brian Grim originally appeared as a blog post for the Religious Freedom and Business Foundation and is published here with permission. Who can imagine corporate America pausing today for the U.S. National Day of Prayer? After all, the business of America is business. And yet, a major food supplier one of Fortunes Most Admired Companies in 2017, employing more than 100,000 in the U.S. does just that as a matter of course. Tyson Foods, one of the worlds largest food companies and a recognized leader in protein, employs a force of 98 dedicated chaplains to provide compassionate pastoral care to their workforce and their families, no matter what their religious affiliation or beliefs might be. This includes prayer, not just on the national day set aside for it, but when people face issues of life that a spiritual perspective can help address. U.S. law requires the president to issue annually a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer. The law envisions prayers in places of worship, in groups and by individuals, but it makes no mention of prayers in the workplace. In fact, the nonprofit National Day of Prayer Task Forces guidance on the matter is to pray for business_,_ apparently not expecting businesses to join in. Including and recognizing faith is part of other diversity and inclusion commitments. In 2017, Tom Hayes, president and CEO of Tyson Foods Inc., also joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion group of more than 250 CEOs. As part of our core values, we strive to treat each other with dignity and respect every day, said Hayes. Signing this pledge is another visible demonstration of our ongoing commitment to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, which we believe makes us a stronger, better team. Many companies engaging Tyson Foods isnt the only major global company adding religion as part of diversity and inclusion programs. Recently, EY created an online program, Religious Literacy for Organizations_,_ winning EY UK Chairman Steve Varley a Global Business & Interfaith Peace Award at a March 2018 gala keynoted by former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, with the collaboration of the U.N. Global Compact. Bloomberg, DTCC and The Walt Disney Company are sponsoring the 3rd Annual Tanenbaum Religious Diversity Leadership Summit on May 10 at Bloomberg headquarters in New York. At the summit I will discuss the global traction of the Corporate Pledge on Religious Diversity & Inclusion, which has a growing number of signatories, including the CEOs of Hyundai Elevator, Berkshire Capital, The Edmond de Rothschild Foundations, Yuhan-Kimberly and the Mizan Group, Indonesias largest Muslim publisher. Such corporate diversity and inclusion initiatives are tapping into a couple of current trends. First, workplace religious diversity is increasing as people have more job mobility. Second, religious switching in the United States and elsewhere has increased the number of people who identify as spiritual but not religious. Within this increasingly fluid religious marketplace, it is natural that the workplace becomes part of the environment where religious identities are lived and shaped, especially because that is where so many of us spend so much time. Underlying religious diversity and inclusion initiatives is the need for freedom of religion and belief in the workplace. Workplaces adopting these values send two clear messages to current and prospective employees: (1) you can work here without changing who you are; and (2) the company respects all employees and will not discriminate on the basis of religion or belief. And thats good for the business of all. Religion animates business people Religion, not just religious diversity and inclusion, also animates business leaders. Next week, at the annual Horasis Global Meeting of business and world leaders, five CEOs will share with their peers how their faith inspires and animates their work in business. And faith is a consistent topic at the annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, ranging from special sessions on the power of faith to informal events like the Davos Shabbat initiated by the late Israeli President and Prime Minister Shimon Peres. We live in a world where religious populations will dramatically outgrow religiously unaffiliated populations. According to the Pew Research Center, the global religiously affiliated population is projected to grow by 2.3 billion between 2015 and 2060 compared with almost no growth in the religiously unaffiliated population (less than 0.1 billion). This is more than a 23-fold difference in favor of religious populations. Given these workplace, religious and demographic trends, it will not be surprising if more companies join in the National Day of Prayer in 2019. When six best friends, one of whom is battling brain cancer, planned a weekend beach getaway in Northern California, they had no idea how special the trip would become. KTVU in San Francisco reported the story after one of the women, Jennifer Toby, wrote to KTVU reporter Frank Somerville about their experience. According to Toby, the Ritz-Carlton in Half Moon Bay was the only hotel available with a wheelchair accessible room facing the ocean like her friend wanted, but it was out of their budget. Toby called and explained the situation to sales coordinator Tanya Cruz, who provided a discounted rate and a special experience throughout their stay. When the women opened the door to their room, they all had chills and were in awe with what they saw, Toby wrote. They had decorated with balloons, wrote her a special card, gave her a gift bag with goodies, spoiled us with fruit and cheese platters, a s'mores kit. ... They even printed out one of the pictures that we gave them and put it in a nice picture frame in the room. Read the full story on KTVUs website. Megha And Chiru Get Hitched Star couple, Meghana Raj and Chirranjeivi Sarjaa tied the knot as per Hindu traditions on Wednesday. Days after exchanging vows at St Anthonys Church in namma Bengaluru, the two solemnised their wedding. The ceremony was attended by close family members, and friends in the film industries, mostly from the Kannada and Malayalam fraternity. The marriage ceremony was held at White Petals in Palace Grounds. The beautiful bride, Meghana Raj looked stunning in a traditional cream and bluish-green and gold bordered Kanjeevaram saree. The husband, Chiru was seen wearing a golden turban in a cream silk dhoti and kurta. This Sandalwood couple has always been open about their bond (as best friends) before they got engaged last year. The wedding of Chirranjeivi Sarjaa and Meghana Raj was attended by several known stars of the industry. Senior actors like Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, Ramakrishna, Girija Lokesh, Shivaram, Sudha Belawadi and her daughter Samyukta Hornad came to bless the couple. Moreover, a huge line of star guests is expected to attend the grand reception scheduled to be held at the venue. For latest movie reviews, ratings and trailers, download the Desimartini App. Source: s3.ap-southeast-1.amazonaws.com Google is hosting its annual I/O developer conference at the famous Shoreline Amphitheatre located at Google's Mountain View headquarters in the San Francisco Bay area. The event will take place from May 8 to May 10, starting with the companys CEO, Sundar Pichai, delivering the Google Keynote at 10 AM PT (10:30 PM IST). The two-day event will be live-streamed here on the companys official I/O website and on the Google Developers YouTube channel, here. Last year at I/O, Google made available the first public beta for Android O, introduced Android Go, launched Google Lens, announced updates to the Google Photos app and lifted the curtains off of standalone Daydream View VR headsets. The search giant is also expected to make a slew of new announcements at this year's event and heres a brief roundup of what one can expect from Google I/O 2018. The Google Keynote The Google Keynote will be delivered by CEO Sundar Pichai at 10AM PT (10:30PM IST) and will be livestreamed around the world. Pichai will lead the keynote with announcements about latest products and platform innovations. This year, we expect Google to make some key announcements around Android P, Google Assistant, Android TV, Android Auto, AI & ML, as well as VR & AR. The announcements in the keynote will be followed by individual sessions, rountables and experiences for a more detailed insight into the new products and platforms. Android P Android P will be one of the key focus areas for Google at I/O 2018. The latest operating system by the company is already in the hands of developers after the first developer preview was rolled out back in March. The first developer preview for Android P gave us a look at how Google plans to embrace the infamous notch which most smartphone makers are adopting in 2018. Reports also pointed out the Google is working on iPhone X-like gesture-based navigation support for Android P to help OEMs get rid of physical buttons and provide more screen real estate. At I/O 2018, Google might give us an official look at how this gesture-based navigation will function on Android P devices. 9to5 Google had posted exclusive renders of Android Ps gesture navigation back in April, showing that Google is completely doing away with the square Recent button, allowing users to swipe up on a new pill icon to access the multitasking screen. We may see more of this at I/O 2018 when Google releases the second developer preview for the OS. Google Assistant The Google Assistant has come a long way since its launch. The AI-based digital helper is found on both Android and iOS smartphones, Google's own apps, smart speakers, and now, smart displays. We are pretty confident that Google will expand Assistants reach and features at I/O 2018. One of the themes of Google I/O this year is Beyond Mobile and its description reads - Expand onto new screens and push the limits of whats possible. We hope to see some Assistant-powered displays which were first showcased at CES this year. The displays failed to make it to MWC 2018 and we hope to get our hands on them this time around. Actions Actions for the Google Assistant is something Google spoke about at its Google For India event late last year. Google Assistants Actions are supposed to work similar to Amazon Alexas skills, and integrate third-party services with the Assistant. Google has a session dedicated to Actions for the Assistant and its description reads - Learn how to launch an Action that will make your existing services available on hundreds of millions of devices through the Google Assistant. We hope Google is finally bringing Actions to the Assistant and Google Home devices by roping in some popular services not only internationally, but also in India. This will make the Google Home a much more relevant device in India as currently Amazons Echo has an edge over the former due to its 15,000+ skills on the platform. Android TV An FCC listing from April this year showed a mysterious Android TV dongle accompanied by a remote with the Google Assistant button on it. The dongle also had Google branding on it sparking rumours that Google could launch the device at I/O 2018. The said Android TV device was listed featuring Android Oreo, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 4.1, and an Amlogic S905X processor with 2GB RAM, 8GB storage. However, from the look of the device, it does not seem like something Google would launch for consumers. Rather, this could be a device for developers, a successor to the ADT-1 developer kit, which consists of a streaming media player and game controller designed for running and testing apps built for Android TV. Android Auto Android Auto is expected to get a facelift at Google I/O 2018. We expect some visual changes to both the app as well as the in-car platform. Also, it looks like the Google Play Store is headed to the in-car infotainment platform, allowing users to download apps directly in their cars. You can read more about it here. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Building the future of AI for everyone is a session being hosted by Google at I/O 2018. The session, we are told, will highlight some of Googles achievements in the AI and ML space, along with some new announcements. Google has been working on a bunch of AI experiments, including those for Google Photos and Pixels camera. One AI feature announce at I/O last year was image obstruction removal which was supposed to remove any obstructions from an image clicked through Pixel phones. This might just finally show up at I/O 2018. We may also hear more about Googles TensorFlow AI platform and the use of cloud TPUs (Tensor Processing Units) for image classification, object recognition, language modeling, speech recognition and more. AR and VR Google announced standalone VR headsets powered by Daydream at I/O 2017, however, apart from the Lenovo Mirage Solo, we have not seen any other third party headset makers hop onto the platform for a standalone headset. HTC and Google reportedly cancelled plans to launch a standalone Daydream Vive headset in the US, and we havent seen any such device in India as well. We might catch Google finally make some progress in this area and also see some prototype headsets that provide AR and VR experiences in Unity. Those are all the major announcements we expect from Google at I/O 2018. Of course, one can expect a few surprises from the Mountain View tech giant at the event. Google is said to be working on a mobile gaming service to let users game with their friends on one platform. Google has confirmed that a gaming project called Arcade is in the works and we might hear more about this exciting new venture at I/O 2018. The OnePlus 6 has been spotted on HDFC Banks shopping portal, SmartBuy. As per the listing, the phone is priced at either Rs 36,999 or Rs 39,999. Clicking on the phone shows that the device is out of stock, but one can still view the specifications. However, its seems like the image as well as the listed specifications are all wrong. As per the listing of the OnePlus 6 on the website, the phone is tipped to sport a 5.7-inch display with a resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels. It is powered by a Snapdragon 845 SoC with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. The listing also suggests that the phone will feature a single 23MP camera at the back, while at the front would be a dual-camera setup consisting of two 16MP sensors. The OnePlus 6 is also tipped to come with Android Oreo and sport a 3500mAh battery. The image further suggests that the phone may feature an under display fingerprint sensor. While the OnePlus 6 is listed as being powered by a Snapdragon 845 (something that the company has already confirmed), there are certain specs that seem to be wrong. First off, the size of the notch is a lot larger than the images of the phone OnePlus Co-Founder confirms notch display, 3.5mm audio jack on OnePlus 6 circulating on the internet. In fact, the size of the notch is closer to that of the iPhone X. Another thing to note is the resolution of the display. The phone is listed as having a screen size of 5.7-inches and a resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels, which points towards a resolution of 16:9. However, the company switched to the 18:9 aspect ratio with the OnePlus 5T, which also offered a 6.01-inch screen size, and all leaks and rumours suggest that it would continue the same with the OnePlus 6. The camera listing also seems wrong. While the phone is listed as having a single rear camera and a dual-front cameras, rumours suggest that the opposite is true. OnePlus is scheduled to globally unveil the OnePlus 6 on May 16, while the Indian launch is scheduled for May 17. The phone will be exclusively available via Amazon, and there will be a exclusive early sale access for Prime members at 12PM on May 21. Further, the company will also be holding Pop-up events around the globe as well as as eight cities in India. These include Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Ahmedabad. The event will take place between 3:30PM to 8MP on May 21 and between 11AM to 7PM on May 22. During these events, buyers will not only be able to buy the OnePlus 6, but also receive a bunch of goodies. Nokia is folding up its Digital Health business and selling Withings back to its original Co-Founder Eric Carreel. The move was a predictable one since Nokia announced a $164 million write-down on Withings in October last year. The company had purchase Withings back in 2016 for $191 million, but failed to make an impression with its rebranded smart hybrid watches, fitness scales and other digital health devices. The details of the deal are not yet clear, but Nokia said in a press release that the sale of Withings would be part of Nokia's shift to become a business-to-business and licensing company. The deal is expected to close the end of Q2 2018 and will include Nokias entire Digital Health portfolio including its entire ecosystem of hybrid smartwatches, scales and digital health devices. An internal memo obtained by The Verge in February showed signs of Nokia winding up its Digital Health business. The leaked memo said that the Withings business was struggling and that executives saw no path forward for the business. The Finnish firm had also launched a strategic review of its health division in February and the current sale deal could be a direct result of that review. Since its takeover of Withings two years ago, Nokia faced consumer backlash for changing the design of the Withings Health Mate app and replacing it with its own Nokia-branded health app. The re-branded app removed some crucial features from the original app and users also faced some technical glitches with it. "Regrettably, a few users faced bugs and syncing issues, others were frustrated to find some features from the previous version were not included," Nokia told BBC in an interview back in July 2017. Nokia did release a couple of updates to the app post that but looks like it could not sustain the loss making business after all. What was surprising, though, was that the company actually sold Withings back to its original Co-Founder. BHEL secures Rs536-cr order for SJVN's Nepal hydro power project Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) has secured an order for executing the 900 MW Arun-3 Hydroelectric Project from SJVN Arun-3 Power Development Company (SAPDC), in Nepal. This project will substantially enhance Nepals present installed power capacity and contribute significantly to Nepals vision of utilising its vast hydro-electric potential for accelerated economic development, BHEL stated in a release. When completed, the project located in the Sankhuwasabha district of Nepal, will also be the countrys largest hydropower project. This prestigious order is a testimony to BHELs proven technological prowess in executing power projects of this magnitude. The order will also provide a fillip to the companys focus on globalisation as a driver for growth, says the release. Valued at Rs536 crore, the order envisages design, engineering, manufacturing, supply, erection and commissioning of electro-mechanical equipment involving supply of four Vertical Francis turbines and generator sets, each rated 225 MW. BHEL, the largest electrical equipment maker in India, has a large portfolio of projects and products, including turbines, generators, boilers, DG sets, control equipment, transformers, solar modules, motors, wellheads, valves and locomotives. The company has also been providing after- sales support to its overseas customers in the form of spares and services. The cumulative installed capacity of power plants overseas with BHEL supplied equipment stands at close to 11 GW. BHEL also secured maiden export orders from countries like Benin, Togo, Chile and Estonia, expanding its global footprints to 83 countries across all the six continents. It has also received an export order valued at $1.5 billion for setting up the 1,320 MW (2x660 MW) Maitree Super Thermal Power Project in Bangladesh. BHEL is currently executing hydro projects of over 2,700 MW capacity in the country and 2,940 MW in Bhutan which are under various stages of implementation. In Nepal, BHEL started off with supply and commissioning of 2x30 MW hydro generating sets for Kulekhani-I Hydro Power Project in 1980. Thereafter, BHEL also successfully set up a 3x5 MW Devighat Hydro Power Project, besides executing a number of contracts for supply & services. The turbines, generators, generator transformers, control system, bus ducts and other associated equipment will be manufactured at BHELs manufacturing units in Bhopal, Bangalore, Rudrapur, Jhansi etc. Erection and commissioning will be undertaken by BHELs Power Sector Northern Region and 400 KV GIS will be executed by Transmission Business Group, Noida. BHEL has so far bagged orders for more than 500 hydroelectric generating sets with a combined capacity of more than 30,000 MW. Out of these, equipment for about 6,600 MW generating capacity is for overseas projects. BHELs hydro plants are successfully and efficiently performing in India and across the world, including in Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Nepal, Rwanda, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand and Vietnam. With virtually no customers left, Cambridge Analytica shuts down Cambridge Analytica, the British data firm that worked for President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign, has shut down following allegations about misuse of Facebook data and the campaign tactics it pitched to clients. In March, the company suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix, and said it was launching an independent investigation to determine if the company engaged in any wrongdoing in its work on political campaigns. Cambridge Analytica (CA) and its parent SCL Elections Ltd are shutting down immediately after suffering a sharp drop in business, the company said on Wednesday. The company will begin bankruptcy proceedings in the UK and the US, it said, after losing clients and facing mounting legal fees resulting from the scandal over allegedly harvesting personal data about millions of Facebook users beginning in 2014. It has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, the company, accused of misusing tens of millions of Facebook users data, said in a statement. "The siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the company's customers and suppliers," the statement said. "As a result, (there is) no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration." Allegations of the improper use of data for 87 million Facebook users by Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by President Donald Trump's 2016 US election campaign, has hurt the shares of the Facebook, the world's biggest social network, and prompted multiple official investigations in the United States and Europe. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the company's efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," the company's statement said. The firm shut down effective Wednesday and employees have been told to turn in their computers, The Wall Street Journal reported. CA claims it deleted data about Facebook users obtained in breach of the social network's terms of service. The company said it hired British barrister Julian Malins to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations, whose report it posted on its website on Wednesday. [The] report...concluded that the allegations were not borne out by the facts, CA said, adding that it had unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully. Its board has appointed lawyers in Britain to oversee the insolvency process, and would be following suit in America, CA added. The Cambridge Analytica sign had been removed from the reception area of its London offices on Wednesday, Reuters reported. At SCL's Washington, DC office, a man declined to answer questions from a Reuters reporter. After the announcement, Britain's data regulator said it would continue civil and criminal investigations of the firm and will pursue "individuals and directors as appropriate" despite the shutdown. "We will also monitor closely any successor companies using our powers to audit and inspect, to ensure the public is safeguarded," a spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner's Office said in a statement. Cambridge Analytica was created around 2013 initially with a focus on US elections, with $15 million in backing from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon, The New York Times reported. CA marketed itself as a provider of consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients. After Trump won the White House in 2016, in part with the firm's help, Cambridge Analytica chief executive Alexander Nix went to more clients to pitch his services, The Times reported last year. The company boasted it could develop psychological profiles of consumers and voters which was a "secret sauce" it used to sway them more effectively than traditional advertising could. One unanswered question in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether there was any collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia is whether Russia's Internet Research Agency or Russian intelligence used data Cambridge Analytica obtained from Facebook or other sources to help target and time messages during the campaign that were anti-Hillary Clinton, pro-Trump and politically and racially divisive. Bannon was a former vice president of the London-based firm, and Mueller has asked it to provide internal documents about how its data and analyses were used in the Trump campaign, according to Reuters sources. Truck startup Nikola sues Tesla for 'infringing' several patents Hydrogen truck startup Nikola Motor Company has hit Tesla with a $2-billion patent infringement lawsuit that accuses Elon Musks company of stealing certain aspects of its semi truck design. Nikola filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Arizona federal court claiming that Teslas electric semi, which was unveiled in November 2017, infringes on several of its patents, including Nikolas mid-entry door, fuselage, and wrap windshield that is designed to give the driver an unobstructed view of the road. Nikola filed the lawsuit on Tuesday in Arizona federal court claiming that Teslas electric semi, which was unveiled in November 2017, infringes on several of its patents, including Nikolas mid-entry door, fuselage, and wrap windshield that is designed to give the driver an unobstructed view of the road. The lawsuit claims Tesla wilfully copied these patents in creating its electric truck, and Nikola is seeking $2 billion in damages in return. Its patently obvious there is no merit to this lawsuit, a spokesperson for Tesla told media in an email statement. A representative for Nikola Motors said in a statement to The Verge that We are not commenting because it is in the courts. The lawsuit speaks for itself. Nikola was founded in 2014, and the company showed off its first two products an electric four-wheel off-road vehicle and a hydrogen-electric semi in May 2016. It has since added a second semi to its eventual lineup, teased some all-electric personal watercraft, and announced plans for a $1 billion factory in a suburb of Phoenix, Arizona. Nikola Motor is designing and building its own driverless, hydrogen fuel cell-powered Class 8 truck. After posting a design of its Nikola One freight truck in May 2016, the company unveiled the Nikola One in December 2016. It is also developing a Nikola Two day-cab, which will begin testing in fall 2018. Its expected to go into full production in 2021. Four months after Nikola first published its design, Aaron Hoyos, a recruiter for Tesla, reached out to Nikolas chief engineer Kevin Lynk, the lawsuit alleges. In that email, the lawsuit alleges that Hoyos told Lynk that Tesla is building a new team to focus on development heavy Class A trucks and said his background would be a good fit. Tesla released a teaser image of its Tesla Semi in April 2017. Six months later, just days before Tesla would reveal its Tesla Semi truck at a splashy event, Nikola sent a letter demanding the company not proceed with the unveiling until the patent infringement was resolved, the lawsuit says. Nikola says in the lawsuit that Tesla never responded. Nikola has sparred with Tesla before, including how it chose to use the first name of the same famous investor (Nikola Tesla) when founding the company. Most recently, Nikola claimed in April that while it has over $8 billion in pre-orders for the different versions of its semi trucks, all those reservations will be refunded 100 per cent and the startup wont use your money to operate our business statements that appear to be obvious jabs at Tesla, which holds nearly $1 billion in customer deposits for the Model 3 and other various announced products, according to recent filings. The lawsuit also highlights an increasingly heated competition in the trucking industry. Dozens of other companies, from established truckmakers like Daimler, Navistar, and Volkswagen to startups like Peloton and Embark as well as Ubers Otto and Waymo, the erstwhile Google self-driving vehicle project, are pursuing what they believe is the next generation of trucking. Task force presents report on coalition for derisking region's infrastructure The task force set up to recommend ways of establishing a regional coalition for building a disaster-resilient infrastructure, has recommended a step-by-step implementation plan and analysis in order to build and operationalise a coalition. The report on Establishing a Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), submitted to union home minister Rajnath Singh, presents a business case for the coalition, analyses best practices of international partnerships in disaster risk and other thematic areas and preliminary design of the coalition. During the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in New Delhi in November 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had outlined a 10-point agenda for disaster risk reduction. The prime minister then said India will work with other partner countries and key stakeholders to build a coalition or centre for promoting disaster resilient infrastructure in the region. This will help generate new knowledge for hazard risk assessment, disaster resilient technologies and mechanism for integrating risk reduction in infrastructure financing. With a view to take this agenda further forward, a Task Force was constituted by the ministry of home affairs. Besides the chairperson Preeti Saran who is secretary (east) in the ministry of external affairs, the task force comprises Kamal Kishore of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Sameer Kr Khare who is joint secretary (MI) in the Department of Economic Affairs, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, joint secretary (DM) in the ministry of home affairs and Ila Patnaik, Professor, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). The task force has been mandated to prepare a report by 30 April 2018 on Establishing a Coalition on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Officials of the MEA and other ministries were also co-opted by the committee on need basis. The committee met seven times to work out the report. One international workshop on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure was also held on 15-16 January 2018 in New Delhi to get inputs from potential partner countries. More than 180 delegates, including experts from 21 countries, multilateral development banks, the United Nations, the private sector, academics and national representatives of central and state governments participated in the workshop. US starts probe on dumping of polytetrafluoroethylene resin by China and India The US commerce department has decided to investigate dumping of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin by Indian and Chinese companies allegedly at prices far below the market value of these products. US Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the affirmative preliminary determinations in the anti-dumping duty investigations of imports of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) resin from China and India, following a petition by The Chemours Company FC LLC (Wilmington, DE). The dumping of goods below market value in the United States is something the Trump Administration takes very seriously, said Secretary Ross. "The Department of Commerce will continue to stand up for American workers and business in order to ensure that everyone trades on a level playing field. On a preliminary investigation the commerce department determined that exporters from China and India have sold PTFE resin in the United States at 69.34 to 208.16 per cent and 18.49 per cent less than fair value, respectively. The department of commerce will instruct US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to collect cash deposits from importers on imports of PTFE resin from China and India based on these preliminary rates. In 2016, imports of PTFE resin from China and India were valued at an estimated $24.6 million and $14.3 million, respectively. Since Donald Trump took over as President, the US commerce department has initiated 112 new anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations. This is 75 per cent more than the 64 initiations in the last 466 days of the previous administration. The AD law provides US businesses and workers with an internationally accepted mechanism to seek relief from the harmful effects of unfair pricing of imports into the United States. Commerce currently maintains 430 antidumping and countervailing duty orders which provide relief to American companies and industries impacted by unfair trade, the department stated in a release. The department is scheduled to announce the final determinations in these investigations on 18 September. If the US International Trade Commission (ITC) finds real harm to the US due to dumping of these products, the commerce department will issue AD orders. If the final determination of injury is negative, the investigations will be terminated and no orders will be issued, the release added. The Donegal Democrat has been informed of the following deaths: - Mary Robinson, Straleeney, Killybegs - Hughie Melly, Meenagowan, Lettermacaward - John Bonner No 4 The Weavers, Ballybofey formerly of Falcarragh - David Meehan, The Glebe, Roshine Road, Killybegs - Catherine Doherty, Swilly Road, Buncrana and Dun Laoghaire, Dublin Mary Robinson, Straleeney, Killybegs The death has taken place of Mary Robinson, Straleeney, Killybegs. Removal to St. Marys Church Killybegs on Friday afternoon for funeral mass at 2pm. Burial afterwards in the local cemetery. House private please. Hughie Melly, Meenagowan, Lettermacaward The death has taken place of Hughie Melly, Meenagowan, Lettermacaward. His remains will be reposing in McGlynns Funeral Home today from 12 noon to 2pm with removal afterwards going to his late residence. Rosary Wednesday at 10pm and Thursday at 9pm. Funeral Mass on Friday in St Brigids Church, Lettermacaward at 12noon with interment afterward in the adjoining cemetery. Family time only from 10pm to 10am and also private the morning of the funeral. John Bonner No 4 The Weavers, Ballybofey formerly of Falcarragh The death has occurred at Letterkenny University Hospital of John Bonner No 4 The Weavers, Ballybofey formerly of Falcarragh. Remains reposing at his late residence, Wednesday, May 2nd from 6pm until rosary at 10pm. Funeral leaving his home on Friday morning, 4th May at 10:30am for requiem mass at 11am in the Church of Mary Immaculate, Stranorlar, with interment afterwards in Drumboe cemetery. Donations in lieu of flowers, if so desired, to Amyloidosis c/o any family member. The house is private at the request of the deceased, family and friends welcome. David Meehan, The Glebe, Roshine Road, Killybegs The death has occurred of David Meehan, The Glebe, Roshine Road, Killybegs. Remains reposing at his late residence. Removal from there on Friday morning at 10.30am to St.Marys Church, Killybegs for 11am funeral mass. Burial afterwards in the local cemetery. Family time from 10pm to 12noon. Family flowers only please donations in lieu if desired to the Fishermens Mission UK, c/o any family member. Catherine Doherty, Swilly Road, Buncrana and Dun Laoghaire, Dublin The death has occurred of Catherine Doherty, Dublin and formerly of Swilly Rd, Buncrana, and late of Dun Laoghaire Community College. Funeral Mass in the Church of the Holy Spirit, Kimmage Manor, Dublin, at 12 noon on May 8th. Should you wish to have a death notice included on our website, contact us with the details via this email address: editorial@donegaldemocrat.com Please include a contact number for verification. A programme of works worth almost 6 million to protect Lifford from floods has been announced. The scheme is the first in a number of flood relief measures for the county as part of the CFram (Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management) programme being launched today by the Office of Public Works (OPW). Donegal TD Joe McHugh announced the funding this morning. Funding for Burnfoot, which was badly hit by last Augusts flood in Inishowen is expected in the coming weeks. Three other smaller scale flood relief projects for Donegal have also been included in the CFram programme. Some 870,000 will be spent on a scheme in Downings, 550,000 will be spent in Glenties and 3,000 in Kerrykeel. Mr McHugh, Government Chief Whip and Minister for the Irish language, the Gaeltacht and the Islands, said: Todays CFram announcement is the culmination of detailed work going back to 2012 when 300 communities around the country were initially identified as being most likely to be impacted by flooding. "This 5.94million investment in much-needed flood relief infrastructure in Lifford is just one step in the Governments long-term plan to protect communities in at-risk areas. And this Government is committed to completing more relief works for other parts of the county. For years the countrys finances were in too dire a state to make significant investment in infrastructure like this but thanks to the initiatives and prudent planning pursued by this Government we have turned a corner and we can now making the much-needed funding available. I witnessed on a number of occasions in the last few years the life-changing impact that floods have on families, businesses and communities, including the unprecedented devastation wreaked across Inishowen last August." Engineering research and analysis Mr McHugh said: Years of painstaking engineering research and analysis has gone into this stage of the CFram plan in order to progress this initial programme of works and I want to assure other communities that the work does not end there. I am extremely conscious that there are a number of smaller scale relief programmes that we need to progress in Donegal and I will have further discussions with the Office of Public Works on those plans. As part of todays announcement the Government is increasing funding for the Minor Works Scheme to 5 million to ensure local flood problems can be tackled and the Government is seeking more submissions from Donegal County Council on proposed smaller scale relief works. The 5.94 million Lifford scheme will now immediately move to the design, planning and construction phases with the intention that the project be fast-tracked. "These schemes will provide valuable jobs for local construction workers, civil engineers, sub-contractors, plant hire businesses, quarries and other suppliers to the construction industry. This will keep workers from Donegal in Donegal and it will be an important boost to the local economy." Outlines of the proposed flood relief works for Lifford are being published online at floodinfo.ie. Burnfoot Minister McHugh added: Lifford is just one of a number of flood relief schemes in Donegal which are being examined by experts in the Office of Public Works. While the major relief programme for Burnfoot is not included in this section of the nationwide CFram plan, I understand that experts in the Office of Public Works are continuing to analyse the best options on a scheme to minimise flood risk there and they have been on site with Donegal County Council in recent weeks. I expect that an announcement on a programme of works for Burnfoot will be made separately in the next four weeks. A Magh Ene student has spent his summers directing music videos for different artists and enjoying the success of his debut single 'Wine'. Leaving Certificate student, Richard Thien, has an exceptional talent that is coming to the fore in the music world. Magh Ene teacher, John O'Reilly, said when Richard created a 'Zombie' video in first year he knew that the young man had a natural gift. His work stood out. Mr. O'Reilly likes to work with transition year students and encourage them to focus on their natural talent, when the opportunity arises. I encouraged him to do as much as he could. When he did 'A wider path' which we had a week to do, he won numerous awards. He is a really good kid and he is very modest, he said. Recognising the correct music to use for film is one of Richard's definitive talents. Surprised teacher A talented film maker and director, Richard can see the manner in which a scene should and can be shot, in the creative sense. However, he spends a lot of time considering which music will best suit the tone of what is being produced and in doing so perfects the creation, according to his teacher. On one occasion, Mr. O'Reilly was bringing a harpist into the college to record for one of their productions. He sought Richard's help in order to record the harpist. To his astonishment, Richard arrived on the scene, brandished a pair of earphones, cut them and using a hair clip, turned them into a microphone that could captivate a high quality of audio. Everyone was astounded. Richard has made various contacts in Dublin over the last few years. Networking Richard is very adept at networking. Before summer this year, he approached an artist and asked if he could shoot his work for him. The artist Uppbeat immediately asked Richard to come to Dublin where they worked together. Richard really also enjoyed working with the well-known artist, Why-Axis on Wine. I want to do so much. I am trying to experiment and see where I can go with this. I think I might focus on music. I believe music can show a lot and it tells a story, he said. Testament to this, Mr. O'Reilly said that he got Richard to produce a piece of personal work for him. Recently the history and P.E. teacher looked at the video again and he again realised how powerful the music behind the film was. Richard recently traveled to Dublin and was interviewed on a national radio station which he very much enjoyed. Focusing on his career, Richard is keeping his head down this year as he studies for his leaving certificate. Richard knows what he wants to achieve through his college course. A blossoming talent for both film-making and music he will not be short of work, having already being paid by artists for his work. Richard hopes to attend college in Dublin. There is one thing for certain, Richard will undoubtedly go on to produce a high calibre of work for those who ask him to do it. For Richard the future certainly looks bright. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Modern cars are increasingly about high definition displays and how they connect with your smartphone rather than whats under the bonnet or how quickly they can dash to 100km/h. It seems Gen X is more interested in megabytes per second than kilometres an hour. Little wonder the focus for car makers is switching to electronics and connectivity ahead of cylinders and crankshafts. That sentiment is set to shift into top gear over the next few years, with car makers increasingly leveraging increased computing power, more flexible electrical architectures and smarter smartphones. The head of product management for Mercedes Me, Andreas Hafner, says its all about making driving more enjoyable. Basically, we want to ensure the customer has fun, that he has more convenience, he says. Strap yourself in for the ultimate connected ride. Crash protection Telematics have long been available in cars, starting with Holden way back in 2001. It was closely followed by Toyota, but both systems were phased out due to lacklustre demand. Various luxury brands have since stepped up, but it was Ford that became the first brand in Australia to offer a system that connects you directly with emergency services in the event of a crash, even passing on your GPS coordinates to authorities in real time. BMW has an emergency call function as part of its ConnectedDrive system, but it diverts to a call centre, which can then contact emergency services if required. Such technology is now mandatory in Europe, so expect plenty more cars to come with it before long. Carpark bingles The days of coming back to your car to find it with a fresh ding could soon be over. OK, so the ding might still occur, but you could soon have technology on your side to identify or locate the perpetrator. Mercedes-Benz is already using motion sensors in the car to detect when and where a parking crash occurs, notifying the owner in real time via a smartphone app. Benz is also looking to utilise the four cameras that make up the 360-degree camera to identify the perpetrator or their car by taking an image as soon as it occurs. Its an extension of a similar system utilised by BMW on some models as part of the ConnectedDrive app. Every three minutes the new 5-Series can send an image of the car to the users smartphone, for peace of mind everything is OK. Smartphone as your car key Overseas, Mercedes-Benz has near-field communications for its E-Class and upcoming CLS (it could be offered here by 2019), allowing compatible smartphones to unlock and start the car by placing them within the 20mm range of the sensor. It means you can leave the keys at home or one day buy a car without a key at all. But the NFC smartphone key allows all sorts of possibilities, including temporary access for friends or family. Your kids may want to borrow the car, for example, so you can grant them temporary access between a set time range. You may even be able to geo-fence them to a pre-selected area. Just dont lose your phone Learner drivers Taking the virtual key a step further is the ability to allow limited access to certain drivers. You may want to get your friend to collect your car for you, for example, but you dont want them to experience the full potency of your V8 Ferrari or turbocharged Porsche. So, dial up your smartphone app and grant access but with a limit to the amount of power or the top speed. Mercedes says it is working on the technology. You can customise it on a car by car or car by country if the market has a legal issue we could do it, says Hafner. The tech has very real applications for Australia, where P-platers are limited in how much power their car has. Of course, acceptance of such technical limitations would require regulatory approval, and history shows state governments have been ponderous in keeping up with advances in vehicle technology. Destination insight Audis onboard navigation system includes Google maps functionality, which overlays Google earth images with the traditional maps, for a more accurate representation of where youre going. But the brands upcoming Picturebook navigation part of the Audi Connect system thats planned for Australian Audis soon - adds to it utilising your image library to provide a guide of where youre going. Hot and cold BMW already has vehicles that allow remote connections to allow the car to be heated or cooled prior to the driver returning to the vehicle. Mercedes will also soon allow similar functionality, including the ability to open and close windows and sunroofs remotely. Land Rover takes it a step further with its latest Discovery, allowing the middle and third row seats to be configured remotely before you return to the car. If youre at kids sport, for example, offering a lift to friends could require little more than a swipe of your smartphone. In line with software updates to apps, the functionality could be improved to add more features moving forward. Amazon Alexa Such tech may soon bypass an app or button pressing altogether. The latest voice-operated assistants are on the hit list for Mercedes-Benz. Merc is already working with Amazon Alexa to allow remote operation of various features or information from the car. Instead of going to all that hassle of having to open a smartphone app you could simply say what youre hoping to achieve. Alexa, please start my auxiliary heating Alexa, please open the sunroof. Home delivery In Germany Mercedes-Benz is piloting a system that allows selected couriers temporary access to the boot of a vehicle. And its already being used by the Smart brand (no longer available here). So instead of having to wait by the door for your latest wine club delivery or Ebay purchase, you give permission for a temporary electronic key that allows one-time access to the boot. The technology uses a transaction authorisation number (TAN), similar to that used in online banking, making the car similar to a moveable post office box. Thinking ahead Your car could become an extension of the connected home, tapping into its wifi and communicating through the cloud. One option that leverages the GPS coordinates of the car is a system that effectively welcomes the car (and its occupants) home. It could automatically open the garage door, for example, and turn on lights to make parking and the walk to the front door easier. Even the door to the house could be automatically unlocked, allowing a free run to a night cap. Remote parking Cars that can be driven into a parking space are here now. BMW and Tesla offer cars that can be controlled from a keyfob or smartphone app. But Mercedes wants to take it a step further to prepare major parking garages for fully automated parking. Roll up to a valet zone, step out of the car and it will guide itself into a free space utilising a local wifi network and detailed mapping of the environment. The system is already being piloted at the Mercedes-Benz Museum in Stuttgart, something the company hopes to roll out to public parking stations before long. As well as the convenience and less chance of someone banging into your parked car the incentive for parking centre operators to spend up on the electronic infrastructure to make it happen is the lure of being able to fit more cars in an era. Remote parked cars can park much closer together, while double (or triple) parking is also part of the model. At the moment it requires that the carpark is carefully mapped, says Hafner. If the owner of the carpark is interested, we can build it within a period of four weeks. Finding a parking space Cars that can partially guide themselves into a parking spot have been here for almost a decade. Current technology means you can still waste plenty of time finding a free space in the first place. But companies such as Bosch and HERE mapping are working to leverage big data to make it easier to find a parking spot. As well as tapping into data from local carparks and councils the system will also use predictive technology using historical data on where spaces are likely to be free, for example - to steer drivers into streets or locations where a space is likely to be free at that time of day. The next step involves getting other connected cars to feed back to the cloud when they drive past free spaces on streets, thereby alerting other drivers in real time if a space is free. It wont be perfect the car in front could still beat you to the spot but it should reduce the lapping of blocks that can make parking so frustrating. Your next car is ready While BMW has left the door open to in-car advertising possibly allowing companies to access people in certain vehicles or locations Mercedes-Benz has ruled it out for now. However, Benz says customers who agree may receive information on offers from the car company. It could involve an offer from a local dealer or the opportunity to test drive a new arrival. Carefully done, the technology could allow interested parties to connect virtually, or at least learn of upcoming areas of interest. Digital logbook How a car has been used can have a significant impact on what its worth come time to trade it in. But in the future logbooks could be far more accurate, not only giving an electronic signature of exactly how far a car has been driven but also how and where it has been driven. Its a simple as incorporating software that gives would-be buyers a better understanding of how the car theyre looking at has been used. Catch us if you can Data security is massive in this brave new world of the connected car. Already there have been instances where cars have been remotely hacked Teslas have been hacked, leading to software patches, while Nissans Leaf exposed users data collected on a smartphone app - prompting manufacturers to step up their cyber security. We have put a lot of effort into the data protection and data security issues, says Hafner. Our research and development, every couple of months we ask professional hackers so called white head hackers to test everything, all the environment so we always try to keep everything on the highest standard. A Manchester-based haulier has claimed he was sold seven trucks by related firms some of which allegedly had twice as many miles on the clock as he was told when he bought the vehicles. Haulier Cathal Dempsey has sued A&M Commercials Ltd, Castleshane, Co Monaghan and related A&M Commercial Ireland Ltd, Keady, Co Armagh over seven trucks he purchased from the firms in 2009 and 2011. In his High Court action, Mr Dempsey, who is from Co Monaghan, claims it was an express condition of the sale that the units had a mileage record of 500,000km. He claims that despite being given such assurances the vehicles broke down far more often than they should have. They were off the road frequently resulting in damage to his business. He claims that after the vehicles were examined the true mileage was much higher than what he claims was agreed. Some of the units purchased had an estimated mileage of almost 1m km, it is claimed. As a result, Mr Dempsey seeks damages for breach of contract from the defendants. The claims are denied, and the defendants say it was not an implied condition of the sale agreement that each of the vehicles had a correct mileage record of approximately 500,000km and had a reasonable expectation of reliability and a reasonable period of trouble-free usage as claimed. It was also denied that the defendants showed Mr Dempsey that the vehicles had a genuine mileage of approximately 500,000km, or that the vehicle's speedometers were fraudulently altered for the purpose of misleading Mr Dempsey. It is further denied the vehicles were in poor working order, had serious mechanical defects or were manifestly unfit for purpose. Opening the case Dominick Hussey SC for Mr Dempsey said his bought three Scania tractor units for Eur116,000 in 2009 and four MAN trucks in exchange for two vehicles he owned valued at Eur97,000 in 2011 from the defendants. Counsel said that some of the trucks were returned shortly after they were purchased, while others were taken into possession by the company which financed Mr Dempsey's business. Counsel said that it was their case that an expert who examined the trucks for Mr Dempsey said he had never seen anything as 'spectacular' as the differences between the actual mileage on the trucks and the mileage Mr Dempsey believed was on them when he acquired the trucks. Counsel said it was their case the three Scanias had mileages of 1m km when Mr Dempsey bought them The case opened before Mr Justice Donald Binchy on Wednesday. However, the Judge adjourned the case for two weeks after evidential difficulties arose in the case. Mr Dempsey's lawyers argued that certain technical evidence concerning the truck's alleged mileage could be given by its expert. Lawyers for the defendants said that certain technical evidence must be given to the court by the other persons who it is claimed had examined the vehicles, and that hearsay evidence could not be allowed. Noting the seriousness of the allegations being made the Judge, who said he was not prepared to dismiss the action, put the matter back for two weeks. There are 1,619 fewer people on the live register here in Louth compared to this time last year, according to new figures from the CSO, released today. This comes as the monthly unemployment in Ireland fell below 6% for the first time since May 2008. Louth Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick said: The number of people on the Live Register in Louth has fallen by 1,619 or 16% since this time last year. Since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in February 2012, the number signing on has decreased locally by 51% or 8,740 people. The unemployment rate falling below 6% cannot be taken for granted. This has taken immense work and effort by all across the country. Statistics can seem meaningless but this has a real impact on communities all around the country. Only a strong economy supporting people at work can provide the services needed to improve peoples lives. This is also great news for communities across the county, as every job created has a positive knock on effect for local businesses and services. According to the European Commission Spring Economic Forecast, the Irish economy is expected to remain robust, supported by positive labour market trends and investment in construction. The government deficit is moving closer to balance but risks to the fiscal outlook remain." Dundalk woman, Loyola Browne, is currently readjusting to life as a film star. The local lady, who is a former home economics teacher, recently found herself walking the red carpet in Dublin's Lighthouse cinema at the premiere for the critically-acclaimed documentary, Making the Grade. And just a few weeks ago she shared a train back from Cork to Dublin with RTE newsreader Anne Doyle after they both appeared as guests on Today with Maura and Daithi. It's no surprise that theres such an interest in Loyola's story it's not every day that you hear of someone returning to piano lessons after a 35-year hiatus. The charming documentary, directed by Ken Wardrop, follows the relationships between Irish piano students and their teachers. It follows 51 Irish people who are preparing for their Royal Irish Academy of Music examinations. The film was shown the prestigious South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas last March which Browne describes as surreal. The Irish-made film has received rave reviews since its release with one reviewer hailing it as truly life-affirming film-making. Dundalk woman Loyola thinks it may have something to do with its broad appeal. To enjoy the film, you wouldn't have to be taking piano lessons. It's a warm film that focuses on human relationships. It is full of beauty and joy, she explains. Its a film about ordinary people doing what they love to do. It's also a laugh out loud film. Its very funny. And word seems to be getting out locally about the former teacher's star turn in a recent screening at An Tain Arts Centre had to be moved to a different room, such was the demand. I was very surprised and touched by the attendance at the Dundalk premiere for the film. The support and the acknowledgment were unexpected. I didn't realise that I have all the friends I have, said Loyola, who has been living in Dundalk since 1985 after moving from Galway. Playing piano is such a solitary practice, she says. And to be studying again and taking exams as an adult is a very vulnerable thing to do. Its a position Loyola never expected to be in at this stage of her life when most of her peers are winding down in their careers I'm going to reinvent myself as a piano teacher now whilst friends are retiring, she explains with a twinkle in her eye, It's very wonderful to surprise your children and even better to surprise yourself. As you would imagine for someone who took a 35-year break from piano playing, Loyola's path back to music has been a long and winding one. The talented pianist says she had a wonderful childhood growing up in a family of nine in Tuam and began taking piano lessons as a young child with the nuns who lived right beside the family home. By 1979, her Leaving Certificate year, she t had reached Grade 8. In the following years, she made a move to Dundalk and spent eleven enjoyable years teaching home economics at the Louis in Carrickmacross, St Micheals in Omeath and O'Fiach college before retiring to look after her family. With her busy schedule, piano playing fell by the wayside. Browne says she played the keys sporadically. However, music was always there in the background to listen to. I found great joy, beauty, solace, and comfort in it, Loyola explained. It was another 35 years before she was drawn back into the world of piano following a series of tough circumstances in her private life which included a marriage separation and the serious illness of a close family member. During these challenging times, Loyola says she was searching for something that would help her to cope when fate struck and she came across an ad for piano lessons in Dundalk Library. I started playing a piece of music by Liebestraum and the melody was so beautiful. I started to cry. It was a powerful moment. It was a half an hour per week where all I had to do was focus on what notes to play and what fingers to use. It just gave me time out. After that, I never missed a lesson. Loyola also noticed that the more time she committed to playing the piano, the more she regained her confidence and sense of self back. When you go through life, and there are no words to describe what you're going through music is just magic, she explains. Appearing in a critically -acclaimed documentary was another unexpected twist that the Dundalk lady never expected. It's one her adult children and family members are getting a kick out of. Loyola says she first agreed to be in the documentary despite not knowing much about the project. My piano teacher was asked to appear in the film with some of his students. I agreed and they did an interview with a few of the students and I didn't really think much more about it. My sons didn't realise it was going to be a full film. said Browne. The documentary makers followed Loyola as she went through her grades and got to grips with returning to piano lessons after 35 years. And now that Loyola has fallen back in love with playing piano as an adult, she practices as often as possible. Since she has taken up the practice again, just four years ago, she has set a recital exam and achieved a senior certificate. Browne is also an Associate of the Royal College of London, is currently studying for her Licentiate Diploma which she hopes she will achieve by Christmas 2018. Loyola's enthusiasm is infectious when she speaks of her favourite piece of music which she is currently preparing for the upcoming exam. I have an advanced level 40 minute concert-level program to prepare which will be a Rachmaninoff Prelude in G minor. It has huge depth and incredible beauty, Browne says. What I find with Rachmaninoff is that the longer I spend with it, I uncover hidden charms. I'm very excited to be able to do it justice. For now, Loyola says she is looking forward to the next chapter: I'm going to start giving piano lessons in Dundalk in the next couple of months. It will be lovely to be able to share my love for music with others. As for lessons learned from her incredible tale, the Dundalk woman says she urges people to seize the day and follow their passions. I have met some of the loveliest people since going back to piano. Once you follow your passion, you meet like-minded people, says Loyola, What I have found is that there is no reason why any of us shouldn't do the things we loved to do when we were young. I think that when we are using the skills and talents that we have, that's when we are living our best lives. If you would like to contact Loyola about piano lessons you can reach her by email at loyolabrowne@yahoo.ie. Making the Grade is now being shown in selected cinemas across Ireland. Centaine Du Toy van Hees, student at RSG Magister Alvinus in Sneek, won the Dutch national qualification Knappe Waterhoofden, with her research on the Blue Battery, an electrical storage system on water and salt. This allows high school student Du Toy van Hees to represent The Netherlands at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2018. Three different configurations For her research on the best way to store energy in a acid-base salt fuel stack, Du Toy van Hees tested three configurations of her self-made bipolar membrane. One configuration was a Battery Protection. Module (BPM) without a catalyst. The second was a module with an in situ catalyst. The third which proved to function best was a module with an ex situ catalyst. Michel Saakes of the water technology research institute Wetsus advised and trained Du Toy van Hees in the process of developing a membrane for the system. Last year's Junior Water Prize was handed out by Swedish crown-princess Victoria (right) to US students Ryan Thorpe (left) and Rachel Chang (middle) for their novel approach to detect and purify E.coli contaminated water. About the Stockholm Junior Water Prize The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is presented each year to students in the age of 15 to 20 for outstanding water-related projects that focus on topics of environmental, scientific, social or technological importance. Teams from over 25 countries competed for the international honor, which was awarded by an international jury of water professionals and scientists. The international Stockholm Junior Water Prize competition will be held in the last week of August. This news item was originally published on the website of Water ontmoet Water (in Dutch only). Read also on this website 2018 Stockholm Water Prize for waste water treatment biotech pioneer Mark van Loosdrecht, 23 March 2018 Antioxirice crop spray selected as Dutch entry for Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2017, 14 June 2017 Cadmium sensor selected as Dutch entry for Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2014, 16 June 2014 Expertise: Water technology More information Stockholm Junior water prize www.siwi.org/prizes/stockholmjuniorwaterprize Working with Water www.platformwow.nl (in Dutch only) Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor With 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts, real-time security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click - for free! Learn More. Red Hat on Tuesday announced the general availability of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5, which targets the needs of both Linux server and cloud deployment users. With the goal of providing a consistent foundation for hybrid cloud environments, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 includes enhanced security and compliance controls, tools to reduce storage costs, and improved usability, as well as deeper integration with Microsoft Windows infrastructure, both on-premises and in Microsoft Azure. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 addresses the challenge enterprises face by reducing infrastructure complexity and associated costs, while easing the management of hybrid IT environments, the company said. That challenge is a result of the expansion of enterprise IT footprints to encompass a spectrum of environments -- from bare metal to private and public clouds. Organizations have been tasked with pairing existing infrastructure and application investments with emerging digital technologies. "Most of the new features focus on making life easier and more productive for system administrators," said Charles King, principal analyst at Pund-IT. "That fits in with the efforts many or most companies are pursuing to gain cost and efficiency improvements in their IT efforts and budgets," he told LinuxInsider. Enhances Enterprise IT RHEL 7.5 targets unification efforts and the integration of four vital infrastructures. The future of enterprise IT does not exist solely in the data center or in the public cloud, said Denise Dumas, vice president of platform engineering at Red Hat. Rather, it is a fusion of environments spread across four footprints of IT: physical, virtual, private cloud and public cloud. "Red Hat Enterprise Linux serves as a scalable, flexible and robust bridge across these footprints," she said. The latest version of the RHEL platform provides capabilities that expand from security at scale to increased storage efficiency to drive hybrid cloud forward in the enterprise, Dumas noted. RHEL generally has been listed in second place among Linux server distros, behind Ubuntu, according to King. However, the company's close ties with vendors including IBM, Dell and HPE help it maintain a solid footing among their enterprise customers. "Not surprisingly, the new and updated features in RHEL 7.5 closely align with the interests and needs those clients," said King. RHEL 7.5 is a great step forward, said Howard Green, vice president of marketing at Azul Systems. Red Hat is the dominant enterprise Linux vendor, accounting for well over 60 percent of the enterprise Linux market, he told LinuxInsider. Key Changes This latest release contains several significant changes, noted Steve Almy, principal product manager of Red Hat Enterprise Linux at Red Hat. The most critical changes: Full support for Buildah, an open source utility that enables developers to build containerized applications without requiring a full container runtime engine or daemon; Enhancements to Cockpit, an open source systems management tool that simplifies complex system management tasks, including network and storage configuration, with a simplified Web interface; Virtual Data Optimizer, a feature that helps reduce storage costs significantly, both on-premises and in the cloud; Enhanced security through OpenSCAP integration with Red Hat Ansible Automation, which helps organizations remediate compliance gaps at scale. These latest improvements to Red hat Enterprise Linux will drive more enterprise adoption of hybrid cloud systems, the company predicted, as an effective hybrid cloud deployment starts with the operating system. The flexibility, scalability and overall security of the OS plays a major role in whether a hybrid cloud strategy succeeds or falters. "Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 builds upon the existing enterprise-grade capabilities ... and extends them further to address real issues impacting hybrid IT operations -- storage efficiency, interoperability, management, security and so on," Red Hat's Almy told LinuxInsider. Possible Hybrid Cloud Driver The new release is likely to drive hybrid cloud adoption to a point, acknowledged Pund-IT's King, but it's not likely to be a primary driver. Some of the new features -- including enhanced cluster management, improved integration with Windows-based systems, and support for container deployments -- can have a place in hybrid cloud environments, he said. However, "I am not sure that RHEL 7.5 will be a primary driver in those deployments. It is probably more accurate to say that the new distro proves that Red Hat is an effective partner for hybrid cloud-bound customers and is working hard to make those transitions as simple and efficient as possible," King remarked. While Red Hat may not single-handedly be driving enterprises toward hybrid cloud deployments, the company clearly has been focusing on configuration management, simplified development and deployment, and -- above all -- security, said Azul's Green. "Red Hat lives in a world of large-scale, complex and business-critical enterprise applications, and the new version of RHEL continues to highlight their leadership in the enterprise space," he maintained. Consistency Helps Red Hat Enterprise Linux provides a consistent foundation across bare metal, virtual, private and public cloud environments, noted Almy. That matters, even though very few hybrid cloud deployments will look the same. "It is this capacity for consistency, regardless of the footprint, that makes Red Hat Enterprise Linux so well suited for hybrid cloud deployments, no matter an enterprises' current stage of adoption," he said. Design Upgrades Key features in the latest release include enhanced hybrid cloud security and compliance, plus Improved storage performance and efficiency. Hybrid IT environments present unique security challenges as IT teams handle multiple deployment footprints. To meet those challenges from hybrid computing, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 provides enhanced software security controls to mitigate risk, while also complementing, rather than hindering, IT operations. The OS also integrates OpenSCAP with Red Hat Ansible Automation to enable the creation of Ansible Playbooks directly from OpenSCAP scans, which allows faster remediations across a hybrid IT environment. Sensitive data can be secured better across varied environments with enhancements to Network-Bound Disk Encryption that support automatic decryption of data volumes. Improved storage performance and efficiency comes from Red Hat's use of a virtual data optimizer to reduce data storage costs in the cloud and on-premises by up to 83 percent, based on Red Hat's internal research. VDO reduces data redundancy and improves effective storage capacity through de-duplication and compression of data before it lands on a disk. A better storage optimization strategy lets enterprise users extend existing IT investments both to support hybrid cloud deployments and reduce overhead costs. Simplified management in RHEL 7.5 reduces the overall learning curve for new Linux systems administrators, troubleshooters and developers by making complex tasks like systems management easier through enhancements to the cockpit administrator console. RHEL provides this feature as a simplified Web interface. These enhancements eliminate many of the complexities involved with managing Linux-based systems, including network and storage set-ups. Better Cross-Infrastructure Access Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 brings more reliable integration with Windows-based infrastructure, including improved management and communication with Windows Server implementations and more secure data transfers with Microsoft Azure. The new release also provides performance improvements for complex Microsoft Active Directory architectures. Those enhancements can help provide a smoother transition for organizations seeking to bridge the scalability and flexibility of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 implementations with existing Windows-based IT investments, according to Red Hat. "Despite the version numbering, this is a major new release," said Azul's Green. "We are particularly interested in Red Hat's focus on compatibility with Windows and the Azure cloud, which aligns well with the needs of many tier 1 accounts." Linux Containers to Go Containerized applications and container-based infrastructure frequently form a foundational component for many digital transformation strategies. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 makes container-based technologies more production-ready. Developers enhanced container security by adding proactive security and compliance configuration at build, along with finer-grained security and host-layer access controls. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 also adds full support for Buildah, an open source utility designed to help developers create and modify Linux container images without a full container runtime or daemon running in the background. This functionality enables IT teams to build and deploy containerized applications more quickly without needing to run a full container engine. It reduces the attack surface and removes the need to run a container engine on a system not intended to do so in production. RHEL 7.5 Availability Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5 is available across all supported architectures, including x86, IBM Power, IBM z Systems and 64-bit Arm. This release also brings support for single-host KVM virtualization and Open Container Initiative (OCI)-formatted runtime environment and base image to IBM z Systems, Red Hat said. This latest RHEL release is available via the Red Hat Customer Portal to all customers with an active Red Hat Enterprise Linux subscription. Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open source technologies. He has written numerous reviews of Linux distros and other open source software. Email Jack. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 With the free app, 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts + security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click. Download now! Facebook has taken down more than 270 pages and accounts operated by the Internet Research Agency, a Russian troll farm, CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced Tuesday. IRA trolls and ads were involved in Russia's attempts to interfere with the 2016 United States presidential elections, and the trolls have published hate speech and incitements to violence on their Facebook pages. The pages were removed "solely because they were controlled by the IRA, and not based on the content they shared," Zuckerberg said. The purge helped Facebook identify a network IRA has used to manipulate people in Russia, Zuckerberg remarked, and this is "the next step towards removing them from Facebook entirely... . We don't want them on Facebook anywhere in the world." Americans "were all too quick to retweet Russian propaganda, and whatever Facebook shuts down may simply pop up elsewhere," said Alan Hall, a senior analyst at the Socionomics Institute. "Facebook's worst enemy may be its business model," he told The E-Commerce Times. Breaking Down the Takedown Facebook shut down 70 Facebook accounts and 65 Instagram accounts, along with 138 Facebook Pages, according to Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos. Facebook also removed ads run on many of the pages. Ninety-five percent of the pages taken down had Russian content and were targeted at Russians in Russia or Russian speakers worldwide, including in neighboring countries. About 1 million people followed at least one of the Facebook pages removed, and about 500,000 followed at least one of the Instagram accounts purged, Zuckerberg said. Facebook's Other Moves Facebook will update its Help Center tool in the next few weeks so members can check whether they liked or followed one of the pages removed. It also will increase its security and content review workforce from 15,000 to 20,000 by year end. Further, Facebook has clamped down on how much data developers can pull from the Facebook and Instagram APIs. Among other things, they can't access guest lists or posts on users' event walls on Facebook. Further restrictions are in the works. Meanwhile, Instagram has reduced the API limit from 5,000 calls per hour to 200. "This doesn't get to the fundamental issues," said John Simpson, a spokesperson for Consumer Watchdog. Those are "the possibility of Facebook using its platform to promote its own political interests, and a business model that relies on exploiting users' data," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Trolls, spambots and attackers change their tactics as modifications like this takes place," noted cybersecurity expert Ralph Echemendia. "It remains to be seen how effective this will be in the months to come, or how disruptive it will be to legitimate use of the platform," he told the E-Commerce Times. The Price of Ignoring Privacy Facebook last year acknowledged it had uncovered 470 accounts that promoted about 3,000 ads pushing Russian propaganda. It subsequently told Congress that Russian propaganda had reached 150 million Americans. Democratic lawmakers have demanded new rules for governing political ads on social media, and called on Facebook and Twitter to release information about Russian ties to the #releasethememo campaign, believed to have been promoted by Russian bots. Zuckerberg is set to testify before Congress next week. Six privacy and consumer groups, including Consumer Watchdog, have demanded that Facebook cease campaign contributions and electioneering activity until it ensures the integrity of all apps on its platform and can provide public transparency for all election-related activities. Facebook should retain an auditor, such as former president Jimmy Carter and the Carter Center, to monitor its management of users' personal information with respect to election ads, the groups also recommended. Meanwhile, Facebook has announced that 87 million people were impacted by the Cambridge Analytics data harvesting rather than 50 million as previously reported. It's "difficult to say" what else Facebook can do to prevent trolls and bots from interfering with elections, Echemendia said. "Using technology in a way not initially envisioned is on one hand called 'innovation,' and on the other 'disruptive.'" Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard. DUSSELDORF Esprit, which has around 50 stores in the Netherlands, has become the first fashion brand to become a signatory of the joint initiative between the German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Dutch Agreement on Sustainable Garments and Textiles (AGT). This marks a significant step for the relatively new collaboration since it was announced in January that the two organisations had signed a collaborative agreement with the goal of supporting companies in the implementation of due diligence by harmonising sustainability requirements. The black rhino will return to the Central African nation of Chad after five decades of poaching drove the species to local extinction. Six black rhinos were airlifted Thursday from South Africa to Zakouma National Park in Chad, a journey of more than 3,000 miles. According to the WWF, black rhino numbers dramatically dropped 98 percent between 1960-1995 mainly due to human appetite for their distinctive horns. There are around 5,400 today. Much of its population is in South Africa, which is home to about 2,000 of the pachyderms. Reuters reported that the two bulls and four cows were sedated and confined in special crates to ensure they do not cause an in-flight commotion. Once the mammals are settled, the hope is that they establish a breeding herd. The conservation initiative came after the governments of South Africa and Chad signed a memorandum of understanding in October 2017 to enable the translocation of the rhinos. The aim is to aid the long-term survival of this critically endangered animal. According to the campaign website, "this is a hopeful story about the revival of a highly threatened species, as well as the trajectory of Zakoumaa park that was once ravaged by poaching and insecurity but has been transformed into a secure and flourishing park since 2010." Zakouma National Park is managed by the non-government organization African Parks in partnership with the government of Chad. "Usually headlines on rhinos are about their demise; today it is about their brighter future," said African Parks CEO Peter Fearnhead in a statement. African Parks has successfully translocated the animals before, including 18 black rhinos to Akagera National Park in Rwanda in 2017. The organization also reintroduced black rhinos to Majete Wildlife Reserve in Malawi in 2003. By Richard Denison In June 2016, Congress had the rare success of passing bipartisan legislation to update our nation's badly broken chemical safety system. It finally gave the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the power to strengthen health protections for American families. Fast-forward 22 months and the implementation of that law is now in jeopardy. The Trump administration is systematically weakening the EPA and seeking to dismantle key new authorities and mandates Congress just gave it under the reformed Toxic Substances Control Act. This with the goal of shifting critical policies to serve the chemical industry's agenda instead of protecting public health. Here are five actions Trump's EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and his handpicked political appointees have already taken to undermine the lawpotentially setting us back decades. 1. Shelved proposed bans of three toxic chemicals In January 2017, the EPA proposed to ban high-risk uses of three dangerous chemicals: methylene chloride, N-methylpyrrolidone and trichloroethylene. Methylene chloride, for one, is used in widely available paint strippers and is responsible for dozens of deaths in recent years. Less than a year later, with a new president in the White House, the EPA has indefinitely delayed action on these chemicals by moving the proposed bans from active to "long-term action" status. This effectively puts them on the back burner, going against the very spirit and goal of the 2016 chemical safety reform. 2. Issued new and illegal rules for TSCA One of the first orders of business under the 2016 Lautenberg Act was for the EPA to issue "framework rules" governing how the reformed law will work for years to come. The proposed rulesreleased at the tail end of the Obama administrationwere fair and faithful to the law. But the final rules published in July 2017 did a U-turn from those that had been proposed and now reflect the wish list of the chemical industry. They are also patently illegal, which is why we're suing the EPA. 3. Reversed course on new chemical reviews After the new law passed, the EPA immediately began to conduct the more robust reviews of new chemicals before they entered the market that the legislation called for. But in response to industry demands, the EPA reversed course to instead avoid applying protective measures to speed up the approval process. These changes circumvent clear requirements in the law and essentially return America to an era where few chemicals were adequately assessed or tested for safety as a condition of entering the marketand the public was kept in the dark. 4. Pushed to dismantle key EPA programs Political leadership at the EPA is targeting key programs for "reorganization." Those at risk include: The Integrated Risk Information System program, which provides critical scientific information on chemical hazards to support public health decisions. Attempts by Pruitt's political appointees to weaken or eliminate the program have so far been unsuccessful, but this fight is far from over. EPA's Safer Choice program, which certifies products made with safer chemicals to help shoppers find products that are better for people and the planet. Pruitt has transferred a full third of its staff to another program. Science and research funding critical to furthering understanding of how chemicals affect our health and environment. Pruitt's latest budget request slashed funding for such programs by more than 48 percent. 5. Stacked the agency with industry cronies It's no secret that the Trump administration has placed scores of people with deep conflicts of interest in powerful positions across the federal government. Political appointees to the EPA are no exception. Case in point: Immediately prior to her appointment to the EPA, Nancy Beck was a senior official at the American Chemistry Councilthe chemical industry's primary lobbying arm. In her new job, she is shaping policy on hazardous chemicals, making decisions that directly affect the financial interests of ACC member companies. Among her numerous controversial moves so far: To direct the weakening of the TSCA framework ruleschanges that in some cases mirrored the exact wording of ACC comments on the proposed rules. Beck, while at ACC, actually wrote such comments. By reversing progress on toxic chemical regulation and by crippling the agency charged with its implementation, the Trump administration is consistently elevating industry interests over the protection of our health. Richard Denison is a lead senior scientist at Environmental Defense Fund. By Anna Sophie Gross "The cow is the worst environmental problem in the Amazon, and in the world," says Greenpeace's Paulo Adario, speaking out in a new documentary which this April won the One Hour prize at the Film Research and Sustainable Development Festival ((FReDD) earlier this month. In his ground-breaking documentary, Grazing the Amazon, Director Marcio Isensee e Sa alerts audiences to the fact that approximately one fifth of the Amazon has already been cut down, and attests that nearly 80 percent of this deforestation is attributable to the cattle industry. The film traces the history of the Amazon's invasion by entrepreneurial ranchers, and examines the responsibility of all major actors in the supply chain, including livestock growers, slaughterhouses and government. Documentary director, Marcio Isensee e Sa in action aboard an IBAMA environmental agency helicopter during a federal operation to crack down on illegal deforestation inside Jamanxim National Forest, Novo Progresso municipality, Para state. Bernardo Camara Throughout the documentary, Amazonian ranchers operating in deforestation hotspots voice a recurring theme: a sense of entitled impunity which flies in the face of government land use restrictions and imposed environmental fines. According to analysts, ranchers' flaunting of the law is largely facilitated by the bancada ruralista, the agribusiness lobby which has a huge influence on Brazilian politicsthis powerful caucus includes just under half of all deputies in the lower house of congress, dominates policymaking by the Temer administration, and often panders to ranchers' interests. In perhaps the most explosive revelation of the film, which documents this marriage between agribusiness and politics, former Minister for the Environment, Jose Sarney Filho, tells the filmmakers that he has advance knowledge of the impending Carne Fria (Cold Flesh) sting operation, which took place in March 2017, and saw huge meatpacking companies penalized for deforestation taking place within their supply chain. This interview takes place mere days before Sarney Filho released a video directed at key agricultural sector players, apologizing for the untimely nature of the federal operation, and claiming that he had not been warned in advance by Brazil's environmental agency that the sting was going to take place. Cattle Ranching Long Linked to Deforestation The documentary provides considerable historical background as to how ranching originally came to drive Amazon deforestation. Using interviews and archive footage, Sa shows how the Brazilian government began incentivizing occupation of the then largely untouched Amazon by entrepreneurs and ranchers in the 1960s, looking to colonize the land before foreigners did. Nationally funded roads were cut through the rainforest throughout the 1970s, and would-be ranchers were encouraged to transform public land into pasture. The incentive: If the ranchers did not deforest at least 50 percent of the property they were working, they were not awarded a land title by the government. Often, the tree cutting was accomplished by manual labor working in conditions analogous to slavery. One rancher tells how he and a neighbor coerced 200 men into felling trees on their parcel of land in 1994. "We rented a big shed, hired and set up a cook inside and gave plenty of cachaca [an alcoholic drink made from sugarcane] to these men. We went to every brothel, hotel and street corner and picked up men, paying their bills and leading them inside the shed. Two gunmen stayed at the front door and two at the back so no one could flee. Kind of held there against their will, right? We wouldn't let them leave." He tells how the police supported the operation, marching the captive men single file from the shack to a ferry so that they could not escape. Upon landing, they were force marched through 15 kilometers (9 miles) of forest and told to begin cutting down trees. "Was this forced labor?" he asks, laughing. "Perhaps it was, but there really wasn't an alternative. That was the reality of that world." It wasn't until the 1990s that environmental NGOs got wind of the alarming rates of deforestation taking place in the Amazon. In 2004, news that a forest area had been lost equivalent in size to Belgium resulted in international pressure being placed on slaughterhouses to stop buying meat from ranchers who had illegally deforested their land. In 2009, the three major Brazilian slaughterhouses operating in the AmazonJBS, Marfrig and Minervasigned zero-deforestation agreements with Greenpeace and the Brazilian government in which they vowed to only buy cattle from ranchers who had behaved within the law. Documentary director, Marcio Isensee e Sa filming illegal cattle pasture in Jamanxim National Forest, a protected area located in Novo Progresso municipality, Para state. Bernardo Camara Cattle Washing According to the Brazilian Forest Code, landowners in the Amazon can only legally cultivate 20 percent of their property; the rest must be preserved as native vegetation. However, in the historical context of governmental support for deforestation, along with current official lenience regarding enforcement of the law, many ranchers remain reluctant to comply with the forest code, seeing little benefit in it for them, and seeking loopholes by which they can transform their land from unprofitable forest to lucrative pastureland. Many interviewees in the film are strikingly candid concerning their self-interest. One rancher explains that it is simply much more profitable to raise cattle on land in the Amazon than it is to produce anything else: "I'll never stop raising cattle. Never. As long as I'm still blinking my eyelids, I'll keep struggling on," he says. This man claims that his fellow ranchers find ways to keep on illegally selling livestock to slaughterhouses, even after being caught deforesting. One technique: continue fattening cattle on illegally deforested land, then transfer the stock to a friend's legally cleared pasture just days before the animals go to the slaughterhouse, concealing their true origin. Or the ranchers may falsify records, putting portions of the land they own and graze under other family members' names. These techniques are known collectively as "cattle-washing," and are rife in the Brazilian Amazon, say experts. Recent research, published in January of this year, corroborates the stories told in the film, offering evidence that the zero-deforestation cattle agreements made with slaughterhouses are having little to no effect on ranchers' behavior. The researchers cross-checked data compiled regarding the locations of cattle vaccinations, and found that hundreds of thousands of cattle continue to graze on areas in Southwest Para state which were meant to be excluded from the beef supply chain, per the terms of slaughterhouse cattle agreements. A key problem: the lack of transparency in the nation's beef supply chain. The major meat companies in Brazil operate through a complex supply chain; livestock owners are constantly buying, selling, and reselling cattle, moving them from ranch to ranch, which makes it exceedingly difficult to determine the origin of each head of cattle. While meat companies JBS, Marfrig and Minerva have achieved good oversight of their direct suppliers, they have little to no insight into their indirect suppliersand that, say experts, is where the grand majority of cattle washing occurs. Smoke signals the use of fire, a primitive but effective tool used to clear away forest in Marcelandia, Mato Grosso. Marcio Isensee Sustainable Beef Offers Hope for Forests Not all the news is bad for forests. The documentary strikes a hopeful tone when it focuses on sustainable cattle ranching, practiced by a few Amazonian landowners. One interviewee describes how he makes grazing on already degraded land 14 times more efficient than that achieved by other ranchers: he divides up his land into quadrants, plants lots of grass everywhere, then rotates his cattle from one grassy segment to the next. "We wanted to include people [in the documentary] that are more progressive and are trying to do the right thing," explained Paulo Barreto, a senior researcher at Imazon who worked on the documentary. "We knew that these people existed and it's good to have them saying in their own words that we don't need to deforest anymore." The challenge faced by environmentalists: how to scale up these rarely practiced, but viable, sustainable ranching techniques. "These methods are pretty straightforward. However, they require some skill and lots of investment to work, which are both conditions that are rarely met by Amazonian farmers," said Eduardo Pegurier, professor at PUC University in Rio de Janeiro, editor of the ((O)) eco news service in Brazil, and one of the co-creators of Grazing the Amazon. Government laxness regarding cattle-driven deforestation, and a failure by the state to offer incentives to encourage sustainable ranching, are partly to blame. There are at present few promising initiatives aimed at improving pasture productivity, and at accurately monitoring the deforestation that occurs along the indirect and direct supply chain leading to slaughterhouses. One existing sustainability program is run by Pecsa, a ranch-management firm based in Mato Grosso state which helps farmers transform highly degraded land into productive pasture, thereby reducing new deforestation. Pecsa takes over ranches for between six to eight years, and has a record of making the properties it supervises roughly seven times more productive, while also tracking indirect and direct cattle suppliers. The firm, which currently manages 10,000 hectares (25,000 acres), receives external funding from The European Investment Fund, which means that contracting ranchers pay nothing for the service. "We intend to expand in our region of Mato Grosso," the firm's creator, Laurent Micol, told Mongabay. "Once it reaches an adequate scale, we'll be ready to replicate it elsewhere in the Amazon." However, Barrreto warns, the success of such sustainability schemes rests heavily on a swift response from the market. Amazon deforestation is currently very profitable for cattle ranchers, and that needs to change if sustainable livestock raising is to have a chance. Many argue that in order to sever the link between deforestation and cattle, the government needs to put financial deforestation disincentives in place. Ranchers must either face substantial fines or prison terms for breaking the law, and be prevented from supplying to the national and global market when they deforest. Barreto believes that the government's current lack of enforcement capacity, and its unwillingness to severely punish environmental offenders, indicates the need for a new approach. International and national beef producers, he says, should enforce strict rules regarding who slaughterhouses are buying from, and who they are funding. Recently deforested land in the Brazilian Amazon being used to raise cattle, Novo Progresso municipality, Para state. Marcio Isensee Putting Added State Pressure on Slaughterhouses Many environmental activists advocate for the application of increased legal pressure on slaughterhouses who buy beef from inside Legal Amazonia. They note that just 110 slaughterhouses are responsible for the processing of 93 percent of all cattle in the Brazilian Amazon. With state pressure, supply chain transparency could be increased among these meat processors, allowing them to trace all of the meat they purchase, including that coming from indirect suppliers, the source of most of the deforestation. At the moment, none of the three major slaughterhouses have such monitoring programs. Barreto emphasized the critical role that Brazil's independent Federal Prosecutor Offices could play in investigating slaughterhouses and holding them accountable for failing to monitor their supply chains. In fact, many Amazonian federal prosecutors have recently called on slaughterhouses to submit supplier audits. Para state became the first to release this type of detailed data last month. Meatpacking companies were asked to answer questions relating to the cattle they purchased in 2016 and, according to the data, more than 146,000 head of cattle were acquired from deforested land. JBS performed worst in comparison to other audited companies. The firm accounted for 84,420 head of cattle, 57 percent of livestock that had come from illegally deforested areas that year, and it received a 19 percent non-compliance score. The MasterBoi company raised the second highest livestock count on deforested land, at 28,231 head, with Frigol the third highest at 8,290 head and Alianca the fourth highest at 7,530 head. In what is deemed a disappointing response by environmentalists, the Federal Prosecutors' Office in Para chose not to adopt sanctions against the slaughterhouses who performed badly in the cattle deforestation audits. According to Attorney General Daniel Azeredo, who has been at the helm of zero-deforestation agreements since 2009, it is now up to the market to reward the companies with the best audit results, something few experts expect to happen. The Mato Grosso state Prosecutors' Office has yet to release the results of the livestock/deforestation audits it has received from slaughterhouses. The Attorney General of Mato Grosso told Mongabay that no date for the release of this data has been set, because prosecutors have been unable to overcome the slaughterhouses' data protection policies. One of the cattle producers interviewed for Grazing the Amazon summarized the current situation: "The law is weak, it punishes nobody." For now, with the government actively employing neither stick nor carrot, it seems little will happen to change the status quo or to end illegal deforestation due to cattle ranching in the Amazon. It is conceivable, though analysts say unlikely, that the situation could change with October's Brazilian elections. Following the Money Barreto believes that there are other things that could be done to solve the problem besides penalizing those who buy cattle fattened on newly deforested land. Banks have historically been major funders of big meat processing conglomerates in Brazil, and these financial institutions could bring pressure to bear on slaughterhouses with known connections to illegal deforestation within their supply chains. For example, Brazil's gigantic national development bank, BNDES, has a 21 percent stake in JBS, and so could put economic pressure on the meatpacker. In fact, the government-run Norwegian Oil Fund, which invested $144,000 in JBS, came under fire earlier this month for failing to call into question proven deforestation in the meatpacking company's supply chain. Perhaps as importantly, the public needs to be made aware of the alarming extent of rainforest destruction occurring at the hands of the cattle industry. Which is where Grazing the Amazon comes in, a film produced by ((O)) eco and Imazon, and sponsored by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad). It offers invaluable insight into the environmental damage caused by ranchers, and provides a model for a sustainable and economically lucrative alternative. The ultimate practical solution is clear: Academic researchers and environmentalists agree that there is already a wealth of degraded land in the Amazon which could be profitably utilized by cattle ranchers; there is simply no need to deforest further. All that is required is the will, the sanctions and the market incentives, to bring positive change into being. Reposted with permission from our media associate Mongabay. Drought is being blamed for the deaths of 111 wild horses on Navajo Nation land in northern Arizona, according to tribal officials. The horses were found dead in a muddy stock pond near Grey Mountain over the past week. The Associated Press reported that animals usually drink from the stock pond but dry conditions left it with little water. Navajo Nation President Russell Begaye tweeted Tuesday that "due to drought conditions, the horses became stuck in the mud and were too weak from thirst to climb out." "This is the beginning," Begaye warned. "The Navajo Nation has over 70,000 feral horses." In March, Begaye signed a drought declaration issued by tribal emergency management officials. The Associated Press published grim photos of the dead horses with dried mud caked on their bodies. Tribal officials are trying to determine how best to deal with the carcasses. The Navajo reservation is the largest and most populous in the country, spanning northeastern Arizona, southeastern Utah and northwestern New Mexico. The Arizona region has been grappling with severe drought and limited precipitation, which has caused a shortage of water and feed for livestock and wildlife, Fronteras reported. Gloria Tom, director of the Navajo Department of Fish and Wildlife, told Fronteras that the Navajo ecosystem cannot support the heavy populations of wild horses. "The impact is tremendous. We have horses competing for food and water. There's potential for disease outbreaks," Tom said. Begaye and Vice President Jonathan Nez were in Tuba City Wednesday working on solutions for the drought conditions that led to the horses' deaths, according to a Facebook post from their office. The office said that they are working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Navajo Rangers and the Navajo EPA to assess the situation and mitigate any environmental effects. This March, McDonald's announced that it would phase out plastic straws in its UK restaurants, The Telegraph reported. But now its board of directors is dragging its feet about doing the same on this side of the pond. On May 24, McDonald's shareholders will vote on a proposal to launch a study that would consider the "business risks" of continuing to use plastic straws in U.S. restaurants and look into alternatives, The Mercury News reported Monday. But the chain's board of directors is urging shareholders to vote no, saying the proposal would divert resources from their other environmental initiatives, such as a pledge made in January to source all packaging from renewable or recycled sources by 2025. "[T]he requested report is unnecessary, redundant to our current practices and initiatives, and has the potential for a diversion of resources with no corresponding benefit to the company, our customers, and our shareholders, particularly in light of our ongoing packaging sustainability efforts," materials given to shareholders before the vote and reported by The Mercury News read. The vote comes as activist group SumOfUs has gathered almost half-a-million signatures on a petition urging McDonald's to ban plastic straws worldwide. "Plastic pollution is one of the biggest threats to our oceans and straws are one of the most common plastic items found in beach cleanups," Sondhya Gupta of SumOfUs told The Mercury News. In fact, The Mercury News reported that plastic straws were the fifth most common beach trash item in the U.S., according to data compiled by 5-Gyres Institute. The SumOfUs petition praised the UK phase-out, but said it wasn't enough. "On 28 March 2018, McDonald's announced it is ditching plastic straws from its UK restaurants, phasing them out from May. This is great news, but we need McDonald's to stop using plastic straws worldwide, so keep signing and sharing!" an update added to the petition said. McDonald's in the UK will begin offering paper straws at some restaurants in May, and will keep plastic straws behind the counter, available only upon request. "Customers have told us that they don't want to be given a straw and that they want to have to ask for one, so we're acting on that," The Telegraph reported that McDonald's UK chief executive Paul Pomroy told Sky News. But U.S. executives seem to have a different view, though they might not have a choice in the matter. California is considering legislation that would ban restaurants from offering plastic straws unless specifically requested by the customer, The Mercury News reported. McDonald's in the UK acted ahead of the UK government, which announced plans to ban single-use plastics including straws this April. (Photo: L'Osservatore Romano)Lutheran World Federation President Archbishop Panti Filibus Musa as the LWF presents Pope Francis with a replica of the Christ of Bojaya statue at the Vatican on Dec. 7, 2017. The Lutheran World Federation has presented Pope Francis with a replica of the Christ of Bojaya, a powerful Colombian symbol of conflict and reconciliation in a town where a divisive massacre occurred. The statue replica comes from an area in Colombia where Lutherans and Catholics jointly work for reconciliation in a society that has long been afflicted by internal conflict. The original crucifix, a torso without arms and legs, hangs in the village church of Bojaya, bearing strong witness to the destruction caused by the armed conflict in Colombia, and the power of reconciliation. The Bojaya massacre was a May 2, 2002 massacre. It occurred Colombian town of Bojaya in Choco department in western Colombia. There FARC guerrillas seized the town seeking to take control of the Atrato River region from paramilitaries from the AUC drug trafficking group. Nearly 120 civilians were massacred in the apparently indiscriminate attack. LWF general secretary Rev. Martin Junge on Dec. 7 presented the gift to Pope Francis, citing the biblical verse Isaiah 53:5 that says "looking at the wounded Christ, we are drawn into God's reconciling presence that heals our wounded world and calls the church into unity." The mutilated image of Christ became a national symbol after the massacre. During the firefight between the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrilla and the right-wing paramilitaries, an explosive thrown by the FARC exploded inside the church. The bomb killed 119 people, many of them children, and wounded 89 seeking shelter inside the building. The explosion also blew away the arms and the legs of the crucifix, leaving only the torso. On his visit to Colombia in September 2017, Pope Francis prayed before the Christ of Bojaya. "Today, we bring a replica as a visible sign of our joint work among people seeking justice, peace and reconciliation in their lives and communities, responding to the call of being ambassadors of reconciliation in our world," Junge sadi. DEPARTMENT OF CHOCO The department of Choco, located on the Colombian Pacific coast, is inhabited predominantly by the African-Colombian and indigenous population. During the internal conflict, the area was contested territory between armed groups for its natural resources, and a favored route for drug and weapons trade. The region has a long history of human rights' violations, which predominantly affect the already marginalized communities. LWF and the Catholic group Caritas have been working to support the Colombian peace process as well as affected communities like Bojaya. They supported the community when the massacre was brought to court in 2015. During the peace negotiations between FARC and the Colombian government in 2015, the guerrillas went to the community asking the people of Bojaya for forgiveness. Remarkably, in the referendum about a peace accord between the Colombian government and FARC, 96 percent of the people of Bojaya voted in favor of making peace. At the same time the majority of the country had voted against the accord, resulting in the rejection by a small percentage. The accord was later re-negotiated and finally signed in November 2016. A national effort led by the White House and Silicon Valley has pushed computer science education onto the radar screens of 70 percent of school principals, according to a new national survey of school leaders by the Education Week Research Center. But one-third of school leaders view computer science as an occasional supplement, rather than the type of comprehensive academic discipline that computer science proponents advocate, according to the survey of principals, assistant principals, and other school-based leaders. And high school leaders in smaller districts tend to be the most enthusiastic about the promise of computer science educationeven as they face the biggest obstacles to making it a reality for their students. Those dynamics are highlighted by the 2,100-student district in Lamesa, Texas, located about five hours west of Dallas, and the 700-student district in Putnam County, Mo. We know were living in a computer-based world, and our students need to know about that, said Douglas Morris, an assistant principal at Lamesa High, which recently added classes in game design, 3D printing, and, beginning next year, computer programming. But as in many smaller districts, the focus in both places is on preparing students for information technology and networking jobs available right out of high school, rather than preparing prospective computer science majors in college. And even with that as their goal, schools in smaller districts such as Lamesa and Putnam County face huge obstacles. In Lamesa, for example, Morris said its a challenge to find qualified computer science teachers willing to settle in a rural town where life revolves around corn, cattle, and cotton. And Putnam County faces the same problemplus fluctuations in funding levels and student interest, which leads to variations in the types of computer-science-related courses the high school can offer year to year. The net result is that teachers are often not teaching computer code, said Principal Jeremy Watt, but they are teaching our students to use technology that they wouldnt otherwise be exposed to. Nationwide, its hard to say exactly how many schools now offer computer science courses. But over the past decade, the idea of computer science for all has attracted bipartisan support from two presidents and dozens of governors and state legislatures. Its also garnered hundreds of millions of dollars in philanthropic support from such tech-industry titans as Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, and Salesforce. The rationale that has helped take the movement mainstream? Jobs. Tens of thousands of computer-science-related positions are projected to remain open through the next decade, and K-12 public schools are increasingly seen as a critical part of the talent-development pipeline. Given that backdrop, its probably no surprise where principals think the push for computer science education is coming from. Forty-seven percent of the school leaders surveyed by Education Week said they feel mild or strong pressure to expand computer science from vendors and the technology industry. Thats compared with 28 percent who said they feel such pressure from parents and 23 percent from teachers. In places like Lamesa, the focus is clearly on workplace preparation. The schools technology-related classes mostly fall under its Business & Industry career pathway, which focuses on getting students certified in specific IT skills. Our community wants children to leave here ready to step right into jobs, said Morris, the assistant principal. Such perspectives are not unusual, said Leigh Ann DeLyser, the co-founder and managing partner of CSforALL, a nonprofit promoting K-12 computer science education. Ideally, said DeLyser, a former high school teacher, principals would see computer science as a way of also infusing a broad set of skills such as collaboration and problem-solving throughout their schools and across their curricula. But just 7 percent of the school leaders surveyed by Education Week described computer science as central to their mission and operations. So for now, when it comes to principals, computer science proponents generally have more modest goals. Theyre looking to build on the 45 percent of school leaders who see computer science as one part of a well-rounded education. Often, that means encouraging principals to give official course codes to computer science classes, encourage a diverse array of students to sign up, and provide meaningful feedback to classroom educators who may be teaching the subject for the first time. Were spending millions of dollars to provide professional development for teachers, but those teachers arent empowered to go back to their schools and put a computer science class on the master schedule, DeLyser said."Without principals, computer science for all will never work. Sign up to get Education Weeks latest ed-tech news in your inbox. One of the challenges to getting more principals on board is that computer science can often feel somewhere between unfamiliar and intimidating, said Kecia Ray, the executive director of the nonprofit Center for Digital Education. I dont think people, even principals, understand computer science well enough, Ray said. If you come from a liberal arts background, it can feel completely foreign. But the far more imposing hurdles are curriculum and staffing. Take Lamesa High. Back in the 1980s, current technology teacher Lisa Telchik was a student at the school. She took a class in BASIC, an early programming language. But the teacher of that course left more than 20 years ago, Telchik said. Its been a struggle to find a replacement ever since. Younger educators arent interested in moving to a small town without much to do. Until recently, the school has had constant leadership churn. State budget cuts have made everything harder. As a result, the foundational course in Lamesa Highs Business & Industry program still focuses on teaching students basic productivity applications, such as Microsoft Word and Excel. And there are currently no plans to add one of the broad survey courses, such as Exploring Computer Science or Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles, that proponents have touted as a strategy for helping schools bring a more academic version of computer science to a wider range of students. Groups like Code.org, a nonprofit that has spearheaded efforts to change state policies and spur computer science adoption, say they can help. Often, said Alice Steinglass, the groups president, that starts with introductory exposure opportunities, such as Code.orgs popular Hour of Code events. Even principals without a computer science background of their own see students enthusiasm, she said, and embrace the idea of doing more. From there, Steinglass maintained, its about addressing school leaders misconceptions. One is that adding computer science necessarily means losing another subject. Another is that every school has to find its own highly trained teacher with a background in computer science. Most rural schools are not going to have a full-time computer science teacher, but they should be able to have computer science, Steinglass said. We have thousands of teachers with backgrounds in history, English, and art who have gone through our professional development and are now teaching computer science successfully. Not everyone buys fully into that philosophy, though. CSforALL, for example, sees it as a stop-gap that is necessary in the short term. But long term, the group believes its important to improve training and preservice opportunities for computer science educators, so there is a bigger pool of qualified teachers for schools to hire from. The reality, said DeLyser, CSforALLs managing partner, is that such disagreements highlight that the field of K-12 computer science is still in its early days. For school leaders across the country, that means considerable uncertainty, even as they welcome the trend. Were seeing that principals now accept the premise that computer science has value, and theyre starting to look at the landscape and lay out the constraints theyre facing, DeLyser said. The good news is that principals are some of the most amazing problem-solvers on the planet. Federal oversight of school desegregation goes back to the civil rights erait predates the existence of the U.S. Department of Education itself. And cases involving the issue remain controversial to this day. But the volume of such casesat least as reported by school districtsappears to have fluctuated dramatically in recent years: The number of districts reporting they were party to such orders or plans nearly doubled from the 2013-14 Civil Rights Data Collection to the 2015-16 collection that was released by the Education Department last month. Thats in sharp contrast to the dramatic, 86 percent drop between the 2011-12 collection and the 2013-14 collection in the number of districts reporting they had desegregation orders or plans. Defining 'Desegregation' Orders The U.S. Department of Education revised the definition districts use in reporting school desegregation orders between its 2011-12 data collection and the 2013-14 data collection. Previous Definition A desegregation plan either ordered by a court or entered into with the Office for Civil Rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Revised Definition A desegregation order or plan is an order or plan: (1) that has been ordered by, submitted to, or entered into with a federal or state court; the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), U.S. Department of Education, its predecessor the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, or another federal agency; or a state agency or official, and (2) that remedies or addresses a school districts actual or alleged segregation of students or staff on the basis of race or national origin that was found or alleged to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and/or state constitution or other state law. A school district remains subject to such a desegregation order or plan until the court, agency, or other competent official finds that the district has satisfied its obligations and has been released from the order or plan. Source: U.S. Department of Education, Civil Rights Data Collection But its not clear that anyoneincluding federal education officialscan provide a clear answer as to why those numbers have changed in the departments biennial report. Desegregation orders or plans can involve a variety of factors at the school district level, including those involving racial isolation of schools, the diversity of school faculty members, and classroom conditions and resources. Many of these orders have been on the books since the 1960s and 1970s, after the Elementary and Secondary Education Act was passed but before the Education Department began operations in 1980. They can be the result of a court mandate, although districts that are the subject of complaints can also enter into voluntary agreements with the office for civil rights under the Civil Rights Act of 1964, or with other agencies. According to the most-recent three reports from the Civil Rights Data Collection: For the 2011-12 school year, more than 1,200 districts reported they were subject to a desegregation order or had a desegregation plan. For the 2013-14 year, only 171 districts reported this. For the 2015-16 year (the data just released), 334 districts reported such orders or plans. And a closer look at the data shows a trend thats hard to reconcile with the recent history of these orders or cases. The 2015-16 data collection reports that 137 districts reported they were subject to a desegregation order or plan in 2015-16, but not in 2011-12 or 2013-14, even though the general landscape and recent history of desegregation orders makes the phenomenon hard to explain. Cannot Be Directly Compared So what changed from 2011-12 to 2013-14, and then from 2013-14 to 2015-16? One answer: the definition for desegregation orders and plans that districts use in deciding whether to check that box. But its unclear whether that definition was changed in a substantive way that could account for the striking rise and fall in the number of reported cases. Here is the definition in the CRDC from 2011-12: A desegregation plan either ordered by a court or entered into with the Office for Civil Rights under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The new definitionnearly 150 words longwent into effect for 2013-14 and expanded the scope to include any order or plan that involves other federal or state agencies, and it specifies what such an order or plan addresses. An Education Department spokesman in an email said the definition was changed to provide both clarity and additional detail and that the department did not consider the change a new data element because it did not alter the underlying type of data being collected. The change was meant to capture desegregation orders or voluntary agreements outside of just the courts or the federal office for civil rights. For that reason, the department spokesman said, the CRDC asked school districts to report different information than previously requested by the CRDC about the issue. At the same time, the spokesman said that, Due to the change in definition, the data submitted for the 2011-12 CRDC cannot be directly compared to the data submitted for the 2013-14 and 2015-16 collections. The department has not conducted any across-time analyses. The spokesman also said, The Department of Education takes no position on why numbers go down, up, or remain stable. The data is self-reported and self-certified by school district superintendents or their designees. Asked who made the change, which occurred under the Obama administration, the spokesman would only say that it was senior leaders with OCR. Frequency of Districts Reporting Desegregation Orders or Voluntary Plans Over the last three Civil Rights Data Collections, the majority of districts reporting that they were in desegregation orders or plans did so only once. Fewer districts reported they were in them for all three years, and still fewer reported being in them for two years. Source: Education Week Research Center analysis of civil rights data, 2018. The Department of Justice also has a list of cases involving school districts that have been the subject of legal complaints regarding the educational opportunities they provide on the basis of race. But only 65 cases are listedthe Justice Department is not necessarily a plaintiff in all school desegregation casesand they are not all in the same place in the process. Wayne County schools in Mississippi, for example, are under a consent order in a case dating back to 1970, while Wicomico County schools in Maryland reached a settlement agreement with the Justice Department early in 2017 that lasts until 2019. The Education Department spokesman said it is unlikely that the Department of Justice would have the complete numbers of desegregation orders fitting into all categories described by the CRDC question (i.e. state agencies and state officials). Dramatic Change Its possible districts back in 2013-14 might have gotten tripped up by things like the newer definitions reference to the Department of Health, Education, and Welfarea predecessor to the Education Departmentsaid Zoe Savitsky, the deputy legal director for childrens rights at the Southern Poverty Law Center, who was a lawyer in the educational opportunities section of the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice during the 2011-12 school year. (The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare included an office for civil rights that monitored desegregation.) But ultimately, she said, I am not sure, looking at these definitions, how this could account for the dramatic change for 2013-14, when the numbers plunged. Share of Districts in Desegregation Orders or Voluntary Plans by Year The U.S. Department of Education reports civil rights data every other year. During the last three reports, more than three-quarters of the school districts that said they had desegregation orders or plans in place did so only for the 2011-12 report. Nearly 10 percent of districts only reported that status for 2015-16. Source: Education Week Research Center analysis of Civil Rights Data, 2018. Savitsky estimated that there are roughly 300 to 350 active desegregation court orders on the books. Groups like the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund also act as plaintiffs, in addition to the Justice Department. Still, that estimate does not cover voluntary desegregation agreements with federal or state agencies. It is very rare, she noted, for the Education Department to refer a desegregation case to the Justice Department. As a general rule, Savitsky said, many of the court desegregation orders have been on the books for decades. And there hasnt been a surge in the number of districts submitting to court-ordered desegregation plans or voluntary agreements with the office for civil rights, said Daniel Losen, the director of the Center for Civil Rights Remedies at the University of California, Los Angeles. Losen also said he saw nothing in the change in definitions from 2011-12 to 2013-14 that would account for the dramatic drop or the subsequent increase. It could be an error. It could be a lack of clarity that was provided to districts. ... Maybe there was confusion about what the definition change meant or didnt mean. Maybe that got clarified the second time around, he said. As far as he can tell, Losen said, there hasnt been some doubling of desegregation cases. Outside Information In May 2014, Education Week reported that there were more than 1,200 local education agenciesincluding districts and charter schoolsthat were covered by a desegregation order or plan. Those districts educated about 7.7 million students at the time. And in December 2014, Nikole Hannah-Jones and Yue Qiu at ProPublica published a database reporting hundreds of open court desegregation orders and voluntary orders, with some districts covered by more than one order. However, Hannah-Jones noted at the time that the recordkeeping of the court desegregation orders was in disarray. Hannah-Jones also pointed out that the second Bush administration worked to significantly curtail court desegregation orders. But that drop-off during the 2000s does not cover the drop-off that took place between the 2011-12 and the 2013-14 CRDC collections under the Obama administration. Then theres districts awareness of the issue itself: One lawyer for a Mississippi district under a desegregation order told Hannah-Jones that he had never read the order and didnt know if it was still in effect. The Indian River County district in Florida reported that it was under a desegregation order or plan for 2015-16 but not for the previous two years. However, last year, the district filed to lift parts of a desegregation order that stretched back roughly 50 years. Asked for comment about its reporting for 2011-12 and 2013-14 data collections, Indian River district spokeswoman Cristen McMillan responded in an email that, We cannot comment on open litigation. Simply put, civil rights data can get messy. There are a lot of concerns with the quality of the CRDC, said Savitsky. No Recollection of Changes If anything, the new definition for 2013-14 should have led more districts to tell the department they had desegregation orders or plans, not fewer, said one Obama administration official. Seth Galanter, a former principal deputy assistant secretary for human rights in the OCR, said he had no recollection of a change being made, why the definition was changed, or who initiated it. But he rejected the idea that the newer definition would lead to a big dip in the number of districts reporting they were subject to desegregation orders or plans, or lead to a subsequent increase. Its better, because it captures a broader range of schools that are under an obligation to someone, be it a court, a federal agency, or a state agency, to desegregate, Galanter said of the newer definition. For that reason, he said, it was troubling that the number of districts that believed they had to say they were under desegregation orders or plans plunged from 2011-12 to 2013-14. For the 2015-16 data collection, Galanter said, districts would have been notified if their answer to the question about desegregation orders or plans was different from what it was for 2013-14. In what he termed a soft defense of school systems, Galanter noted that district leaders often delegate the job of providing information for the data collection to lower-level staff, leading to potential problems in the information thats entered. But aside from this broader challenge districts face, Galanter added, Not being able to accurately identify every school district that has not fully met its desegregation obligations denies the federal government the opportunity to monitor those districts. Galanter also said, The odd pattern of significant shrinkage in affirmative responses followed by a doubling of responses warrants close review by OCR. Those Things Are Still Going On Unlike other statistics released on issues such as discipline and school safety at individual schools, the CRDC is not the sole source of information about desegregation casesthere are federal court records, for example. Still, theres an element of irony about the big fluctuations in these civil rights data with respect to the past administration. Thats because one of the priorities for Obama education officials was highlighting the benefits of integration and the potential harm of racially isolated schools. That was particularly true under U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr., whose tenure lasted a little less than a year. (King was not working at the department when the definition regarding desegregation orders and plans was changed for the 2013-14 collection.) In 2016, for example, the Government Accountability Office reported that racial as well as economic isolation in schools was increasingin effect, the analysis found that a major resegregation of American schools was underway. A few weeks before that report came out, King spoke to reporters about the positive power integration has for schools. Through a spokeswoman, King declined to comment on the recent statistics about desegregation orders. Losen expressed skepticism about the gap between what districts were telling the Education Department and the reality in those districts around the country. What theyre basically saying is: Those things are still going on, were just not reporting it that way any more, Losen said. Im against innovation in educationas currently conceived and conducted. Im not against small-scale educational experimentation, where new methods are tested, refined, and proved before they are widely implemented. But Im against our inordinate obsession with whats new at the expense of what workswith exceedingly superior (if much older) evidence-based practices. The difference in impact isnt slight: Michael Fullan, an international authority on education, believes that our best high-leverage methods produce stunningly powerful consequences in schools. And they will do so, as professional-development expert Bruce Joyce has noted, very rapidly. Our willingness to recognize and act on this difference may be the central educational issue of our time. Consider John Hatties research on the power of formative evaluation and feedback. His exhaustive studies confirm what weve known since the 1960s: that ongoing monitoring and adjustments to teaching, informed by feedback, may have more impact on learning than any other instructional factor. Doug Lemov concurs. In his mega-best-selling book, Teach Like a Champion, he identifies checking for understanding as the pivotal element in an effective lesson. I know teachers in two different schools in the same district whose adoption of these methods contributed to enormous one-year, whole-school gains on their state writing exam. After learning of these incredible gains, I joined these teachers to advocate the expansion of their efforts in their districtbut their successes were entirely ignored. To our astonishment, their respective school leaders opted to pursue a string of popularbut weak or unproveninnovations, including SmartBoard training and standards-based grading. Perhaps the most promising fact about the best evidence-based practices is that they are currently the least implemented." Or what of New York Citys New Dorp High School? With the struggling school in danger of closure by city officials, the principal decided to go all in on exceedingly traditional instruction in reading, public speaking, and writing in every discipline. In just two years, the school made immense gains and is now a mecca for visitors. As author Peg Tyre explained in a 2012 article in The Atlantic, the schools success was not a function of innovation or experimentation, but of old, proven instructional fundamentals that schools have devalued or forgotten (my emphasis). As Tyre points out, the fundamentals-first instructional model on which New Dorp based its program would not be unfamiliar to nuns who taught in Catholic schools circa 1950. And then theres the simple power of curriculum. Nothing cutting-edge here. Yet meta-analytic evidence from Robert Marzano and other researchers indicates that a coherent curriculumif implementedhas more impact on learning than any other in-school factor. Not long ago, I attended an award ceremony for a school in Arizona that ranked in the top three for statewide gains in math. They achieved this in a two-year period, a direct result of having teams of teachers map out, for the first time, what they would teach in each math course, by grading period. Im friends with an elementary school principal in Boston who persuaded his faculty members to do the same for every course at his high-poverty school. Scores rose, in his words, with amazing speed": from the bottom to the top third in the state, in a single school year. Finally, consider working-class Brockton High School, in Massachusetts. Brockton was among the lowest-achieving schools in the state. The faculty responded to dire performance indicators by making reading, writing, speaking, and reasoning in every subject area their mantra. In 2001, the first year of their effort, the states education commissioner called to inform them that Brockton had made the largest gains in the commonwealth. In the next few years, Brockton rose from the bottom rungs to the top 10 percent in Massachusetts. Perhaps the most promising fact about the best evidence-based practices is that they are currently the least implemented. Because of that, their use would have a swift and substantial impact in thousands of schools and on millions of students. But not if they continue to be supplanted, as they now are, by innovations like the flipped classroom, student-centered learning spaces, teaching with mobile apps, gamification, or the now-ubiquitous variations on personalized learning. Not one of those ranks high on any list of whats most effective. What researchers Thomas B. Corcoran, Susan H. Fuhrman, and Catherine Belcher wrote years ago in their study of professional development is still true: Those in charge of what teachers learn are not an evidence-based community. They are driven, on the contrary, by whims, fads, opportunism, and ideology. When I donated a kidney to my sister, the doctors didnt experiment on her with the latest anti-rejection drugs. They gave her the best, evidence-based anti-rejection medicine available at the timeCyclosporine. And it saved her life. We have a pretty stark choice: We can either implement the best we know or continue to treat students and teachers like lab rats. Its time for education to make the leap to a more authentic professionalismby giving innovation its due, but never letting it supplant or precede those practices that would produce stunningly powerful consequences in our schools and in the lives of students. Cavendish returns from injury at Tour de Yorkshire Mark Cavendish racing for Team Dimension Data earlier this year Manx cyclist Mark Cavendish says he's looking forward to getting back racing at the Tour de Yorkshire this afternoon. He's suffered three crashes so far in 2018, preventing him from representing the Isle of Man at last month's Commonwealth Games. Despite the injuries, Cavendish has vowed to bring a positive approach to stage one, which runs from Beverley to Doncaster. First discovered in 1998, SQL injections (SQLi) are still a devastatingly effective attack technique and remain a top database security priority. SQL, or Structured Query Language, is the command-and-control language for relational databases such as Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2 and MySQL. In modern web development, relational databases are a critical resource on the back end of web applications and content management systems written in PHP, .NET, Java EE, Hibernate, SQLite, or other scripting languages. Given most websites are built on data in a database server, a malicious SQL injection can be lethal. Attackers can access sensitive information, modify web content, and in catastrophic cases, delete your data. This article looks at how your organization can detect vulnerabilities and steps you can take to prevent SQL injection attacks. See our picks for top database security tools to help protect your company from SQL injection attacks. Are you vulnerable to a SQL injection attack? The first step in preventing a SQL injection attack is establishing which, if any, applications are vulnerable. The truth is, any website that interacts with an SQL database is at risk. We dive into the types of automatic detection for SQL injection vulnerabilities, what detection tools do, and vendors specializing in detecting such attacks. Self-Imposed Attacks & Detection Types For detecting SQL injection vulnerabilities, industry advice is personally launching attacks against your application or website. SQL and its variants can be tricky, but attackers know all too well how to construct code snippets that can compromise a database. With automatic detection tools available, testing for vulnerabilities couldnt be easier. Almost a decade ago, the US-CERT published Practical Identification of SQL Injection Vulnerabilities to help web administrators fight SQL injection attacks. Their research outlines the types of detection methods to test an applications responses to specially crafted queries. They include: SQLi Type Description In-band The most popular attack type, in-band SQL injections uses the same communication channel and come in two forms: Error-based: by testing what queries receive error messages, attackers can craft targeted SQL injections based on the database structure. Union-based: by employing the UNION SQL operator, attackers can combine SELECT statements and send results to the GUI. Inferential Commonly referred to as blind SQL injection attacks, an actor can send payloads reconstructing the structure of the database. The two types of inferential SQLi attacks are: Boolean-based: by sending SQL queries that force the application to return different results of TRUE or FALSE, attackers can infer if specific payloads return legitimate results. Time-based: similar to the latter, this method sends SQL queries asking the database to wait a specific number of seconds before responding. In both instances, inferential SQL injection attack methods are quite difficult considering attackers must enumerate data character by character. Out-of-band The least common of SQL injection attacks, the out-of-band method relies on the database server to make DNS or HTTP requests delivering data to an attacker. Testing for SQL Injection Vulnerabilities There are several free or commercial penetration tools for your organization to determine your SQL injection vulnerability position. Typically, these tools start by probing your site to determine what type of database is in use. With that knowledge, the program can build queries to examine the characteristics of the database. With little SQL expertise required from the end-user, the detection tool can potentially extract fields, tables, and sometimes even full data dumps from a target. Perhaps most importantly, many tools offered include an error-fixing feature that can help remove some of the vulnerabilities discovered. Because many powerful SQL injection tools are available open-source, your organization must test your applications before strangers do. Also Read: Best Penetration Testing Software for 2021 Utilizing an SQLi Detection Tool Several cybersecurity vendors and open source developers offer automatic SQL injection tools to identify potential vulnerabilities. For open-source detection tools, SQLMap and jSQL continue to be two of the most popular, with others including: Also Read: With So Many Eyeballs, Is Open Source Security Better? Steps to prevent SQL injection attacks Though SQL injection attacks are still the most dangerous threat to web administrators, the good news is that there are plenty website owners can do to mitigate the danger. Here are 18 steps you can take to significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to a SQL injection attack: 1. Validate User Inputs A common first step to preventing SQL injection attacks is validating user inputs. First, identify the essential SQL statements and establish a whitelist for all valid SQL statements, leaving unvalidated statements out of the query. This process is known as input validation or query redesign. Additionally, you should configure inputs for user data by context. For example, input fields for email addresses can be filtered to allow only the characters in an email address, such as a required @ character. Similarly, phone numbers and social security numbers should only be filtered to allow the specific number of digits for each. While this action alone wont stop SQLi attackers, it is an added barrier to a common fact-finding tactic for SQL injection attacks. Also Read: IBM AppScan Takes Aim at Input Validation 2. Sanitize Data by Limiting Special Characters Another component of safeguarding against SQL injection attacks is mitigating inadequate data sanitization. Because SQLi attackers can use unique character sequences to take advantage of a database, sanitizing data not to allow string concatenation is critical. One way of doing this is configuring user inputs to a function such as MySQLs mysql_real_escape_string(). Doing this can ensure that any dangerous characters such as a single quote is not passed to a SQL query as instructions. A primary method of avoiding these unauthenticated queries is the use of prepared statements. Also Read: Apple White Hat Hack Shows Value of Pen Testers 3. Enforce Prepared Statements and Parameterization Sadly, input validation and data sanitization arent fix-alls. Its critical organizations also use prepared statements with parameterized queries, also known as variable binding, for writing all database queries. By defining all SQL code involved with queries, or parameterization, you can distinguish between user input and code. While dynamic SQL as a coding technique can offer more flexible application development, it can also mean SQLi vulnerabilities as accepted code instructions. By sticking with standard SQL, the database will treat malicious SQL statements inputted like data and not as a potential command. 4. Use Stored Procedures in the Database Similar to parameterization, using stored procedures also requires variable binding. Unlike the prepared statements approach to mitigating SQLi, stored procedures reside in the database and are called from the web application. Stored procedures are also not immune to vulnerabilities if dynamic SQL generation is used. Organizations like OWASP say only one of the parameterized approaches is necessary, but neither method is enough for optimal security. Crafting parameterized queries should be done in conjunction with our other recommendations. Also Read: Are Your Databases Secure? Think Again 5. Actively Manage Patches and Updates Vulnerabilities in applications and databases that are exploitable using SQL injection are regularly discovered and publicly identified. Like so many cybersecurity threats, its vital organizations stay in tune with the most recent news and apply patches and updates as soon as practical. For SQLi purposes, this means keeping all web application software components, including database server software, frameworks, libraries, plug-ins, and web server software, up to date. If your organization struggles to consistently patch and update programs, a patch management solution might be worth the investment. 6. Raise Virtual or Physical Firewalls We strongly recommend using a software or appliance-based web application firewall (WAF) to help filter out malicious data. Firewalls today, including NGFW and FWaaS offerings, have both a comprehensive set of default rules and the ease to change configurations as needed. If a patch or update has yet to be released, WAFs can be handy. A popular example is the free, open-source module ModSecurity, available for Apache, Microsoft IIS, and nginx web servers. ModSecurity provides a sophisticated and ever-evolving set of rules to filter potentially dangerous web requests. Its SQL injection defenses can catch most attempts to sneak SQL through web channels. Also Read: Firewalls as a Service (FWaaS): The Future of Network Firewalls? 7. Harden Your OS and Applications This step goes beyond mitigating SQL injection attacks in ensuring your entire physical and virtual framework is working intentionally. With the big news of supply chain compromises in 2020, many are looking to NIST and other industry-standard security checklists to harden operating systems and applications. Adopting application vendor security guidelines can enhance an organizations defensive posture and help identify and disable unnecessary applications and servers. Also Read: Guarding Against Solorigate TTPs 8. Reduce Your Attack Surface In cybersecurity, an attack surface refers to the array of potential entry points for attackers. So in the context of SQLi attacks, this means disposing of any database functionalities that you dont need or further safeguarding them. One such example is the xp_cmdshell extended stored procedure in the Microsoft SQL Server. This procedure can spawn a Windows command shell and pass a string for execution. Because the Windows process generated by xp_cmdshell has the same security privileges as the SQL Server service account, the attacker can cause severe damage. 9. Establish Appropriate Privileges and Strict Access Given the power SQL database holds for an organization, its imperative to enforce least privilege access policies with strict rules. If a website only requires the use of SELECT statements for a database, theres no reason it should have additional INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE privileges. Further, your database should only be accessed with admin-level privileges when necessary, nevermind granting others access. Using a limited access account is far safer for general activity and ultimately limits an attackers access if the less-privileged credential is compromised. Read Also: Top Privileged Access Management (PAM) Software 10. Limit Read-Access Connected to the principle of least privilege for SQL injection protection is configuring read-access to the database. If your organization only requires active users employing read-access, its undoubtedly easier to adopt. Nevertheless, this added step is imperative for stopping attackers from altering stored information. 11. Encryption: Keep Your Secrets Secret Its best to assume internet-connected applications are not secure. Therefore encryption and hashing passwords, confidential data, and connection strings are of the utmost importance. Encryption is almost universally employed as a data protection technique today and for a good reason. Without appropriate encryption and hashing policies, sensitive information could be in plain sight for an intruder. While only a part of the security checklist, Microsoft notes encryption, transforms the problem of protecting data into a problem of protecting cryptographic keys. Also Read: Best Encryption Tools & Software for 2021 12. Deny Extended URLs Another tactic by SQLi attackers is sending excessively long URLs causing the server to fail at logging the complete request. In 2013, eSecurityPlanet reported on how attackers exploited Foxit by sending users long URLs that would trigger a stack-based buffer overflow. Microsoft IIS, as another example, is built to process requests over 4096 bytes long. However, the web server software fails to place the contents of the request in the log files. Attackers can then go undetected while performing queries. To avoid this, set a limit of 2048 bytes for URLs. 13. Dont Divulge More Than Necessary in Error Messages SQL injection attackers can learn a great deal about database architecture from error messages, ensuring that they display minimal information. Use of the RemoteOnly customErrors mode (or equivalent) can display verbose error messages on the local machine while ensuring that an external attacker gets nothing more than the fact that his or her actions resulted in an unhandled error. This step is critical in safeguarding the organizations internal database structure, table names, or account names. Also Read: How to Bake Better Security into Applications 14. No Shared Databases or User Accounts Shared databases by multiple websites or applications can be a recipe for disaster. And the same is true for user accounts that have access to various web applications. This shared access might provide flexibility for the managing organization or administrator, but it also unnecessarily poses a more significant risk. Ideally, any linked servers have minimal access to the target server and can only access the mission-critical data. Linked servers should have distinct logins from any process on the target server. Also Read: Cloud Bucket Vulnerability Management in 2021 15. Enforce Best Practices for Account and Password Policies While it might go without saying, organizations must follow the best account and password policies for foolproof security. Default and built-in passwords should be changed upon receipt and before usage, with regularly scheduled password updates. Suitable passwords in length and character complexity are essential for all SQL server administrator, user, and machine accounts. 16. Continuous Monitoring of SQL Statements Organizations or third-party vendors should continually monitor all SQL statements of database-connected applications for an application, including documenting all database accounts, prepared statements, and stored procedures. With visibility into how SQL statements function, its much easier to identify rogue SQL statements and vulnerabilities. In this continued review, admins can delete and disable unnecessary accounts, prepared statements, and stored procedures. Monitoring tools that utilize machine learning and behavioral analysis like PAM and SIEM can be excellent add-ons to your network security. Also Read: Best SIEM Tools & Software for 2021 17. Perform Regular Auditing and Penetration Testing Regular audits of your database and application security are becoming increasingly necessary, including auditing logs for suspicious activity, group and role memberships privileges, and variable binding terms. Just as crucial as auditing for malicious behavior is conducting penetration tests to see how your defenses respond to an array of potential attacks, including SQLi. Most penetrating testing companies can find threats such as cross-site scripting, retired software, unpatched vulnerabilities, injections, and insecure passwords. Also Read: Automating Security Risk Assessments for Better Protection 18. Code Development & Buying Better Software In the vast market of software solutions, theres certainly a hierarchy of solutions. While enterprise organizations can cover the cost of expensive third-party solutions and might even develop the software further in-house, smaller organizations rightfully work with less or consider free, open-source tools. Though, to a great extent, vendor code writers are ultimately responsible for flaws in custom applications for a client. Organizations considering vendors must be keen on this and ensure the contract terms reflect this code review duty. Also Read: Securing Web Application Code at the Source Stopping SQL injections recap Much like the spirit of zero trust security, mitigating SQL injection attacks means leaning into the fear that all user-submitted data could be malicious. Instead of giving attacks any leverage over SQL vulnerabilities, we encourage you to consider our recommendations and make a plan to review your SQL security posture. While first database security steps like input validation, sanitization, prepared statements, and stored procedures are essential, they are the floor. To maximize protection against SQLi attacks, organizations need to also consider solutions like: This updates an article written on August 16, 2012 article written by Aaron Weiss, updated by Paul Rubens on May 2, 2018, and updated by Sam Ingalls on March 11, 2021. See our complete list of top GRC vendors Company Description Enablon is a provider of sustainability, environmental, health, and safety (EHS) management and operational risk management software. It became an operating unit of Wolters Kluwers legal and regulatory division in 2016. Wolters Kluwer is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands. It was founded in 1987 from a merger between Kluwer Publishers and Wolters Samson. It trades under WKL on the Amsterdam market. Product Description Enablon GRC solutions encompass risk management, mobile safety and inspection, mobile audits, internal controls, internal audits, insurance & claims, incident/event management, reporting, continuous assessment, change management, business continuity management, and action plans. They deal with achieving company objectives by addressing uncertainty, establishing a global view on all regulatory compliance obligations, and identifying, analyzing and evaluating risks and opportunities. New Features Enablon recently added automatic submission for compliance with OSHA injury and illnesses electronic reporting. It is delivered via an API that connects with OSHA applications. Markets and Use Cases Customers are generally in highly regulated environments, looking for industry-specific content and solutions. Analyst View Forrester classifies as Enablon as a Strong Performer, its second-highest rating. The analyst firm writes: If your organization is looking to manage corporate social responsibility initiatives, environmental health and safety, enterprise risk management, or incident/event management, Enablon should be on your short list. Metrics More than 1,000 global companies and one million users rely on Enablon solutions. Delivery Software Pricing Not available The number of children suffering from intestinal worm infections could be dramatically reduced around the world by treating adults as well as children, based on the results of a new pilot study in Timor-Leste led by The Australian National University (ANU). Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs), including roundworm, hookworm and whipworm, infect about 1.5 billion people around the world, mainly children in poor countries, including those in Southeast Asia, the Pacific and Africa. Researcher Dr Naomi Clarke from ANU said the new findings provided the first evidence from a field trial to support the hypothesis that a community-wide control program was more effective at reducing STH infections in children than a school-based program. "The odds of intestinal worm infection more than halved among children in communities that were given a community-wide intervention, compared to the school-based intervention only," said Dr Clarke from the ANU Research School of Population Health. Lead researcher Associate Professor Susana Vaz Nery said current guidelines on STH control prescribed the distribution of deworming drugs to children through school-based deworming programs. "Children from the poorest communities suffer from consequences of infestations, such as poor growth and development, and chronic intestinal blood loss and anaemia in some cases," said Dr Vaz Nery, who conducted the study at the ANU Research School of Population Health. "These worms infect some people in remote Indigenous communities in northern Australia, but these infections are not common across Australia." Dr Clarke, Dr Vaz Nery and colleagues enrolled six communities in Timor-Leste in a pilot study. Three communities received only a school-based deworming and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) program, while three received an additional community-based deworming and WASH program. Worm infections were measured in school-aged children at baseline and six months after deworming. The results of the new study are published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases: http://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0006389 (this link will become live once the embargo has lifted). Dr Vaz Nery will conduct a large-scale trial in the Philippines to test these findings. ### FOR INTERVIEWS: Dr Naomi Clarke Research School of Population Health ANU College of Health and Medicine M: +61 400 127 356 E: naomi.clarke@anu.edu.au Associate Professor Susana Vaz Nery Dr Vaz Nery conducted the study at ANU Research School of Population Health, but she is now at the University of New South Wales. M: +61 467 076 047 E: snery@unsw.edu.au For media assistance, contact Will Wright on +61 2 6100 3486, the media hotline on +612 6125 7979 or at . WACO, Texas (May 3, 2018) - Using an innovative initiative, Latin American researchers from academia, government agencies and businesses leaders identified priority research questions for the region to tackle pressing environmental quality issues. In an article published recently in the journal of Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, Bryan W. Brooks, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Environmental Science and Biomedical Studies and director of the environmental health science program at Baylor University, led the Global Horizon Scanning Project (GHSP), which focuses on identifying environment and health issues internationally. Brooks also facilitated GHSP workshops in Africa, Australia, Central and Southeastern Asia, Europe and North America. "The GHSP was initiated to identify multidisciplinary scientific research needs that, if answered, would achieve more sustainable environmental quality around the world," Brooks said. Tatiana Heid Furley, the study's first author and director of Aplysia Environmental Consulting in Brazil, said the GHSP was "an extremely important project because it offers the opportunity to prioritize environmental issues that need to be investigated and addressed in the short and medium-term future." As part of the study, members of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry's (SETAC) Latin America geographic unit, environmental scientists and engineers completed Internet-based surveys to identify the most pressing issues facing Latin America. "The process was intentionally inclusive, bottom-up, multidisciplinary, multisector and transparent," Brooks said. "It is not one academic coming up with an idea. It is not one arm of government. It is not one business. It really is groupthink, which is needed across disciplines and sectors. It facilitates a healthy environment that allows people to think together." At a workshop on Buenos Aires, Argentina, Brooks and his Latin American colleagues analyzed the survey responses, identified 20 priority research questions and organized them into six themes: Risk assessment Environmental chemistry Ecotoxicology Health, contaminants of emerging concern, and environment Spotlight on Latin America Environmental management and policy The Latin American region "holds 40 percent of the world's biological diversity, 30 percent of the Earth's available freshwater and almost 50 percent of the world's tropical forests" making the GHSP execution and timing important, according to the article. "This project is part of a larger effort to identify important international research needs. It is essentially, for the first time, a research roadmap towards achieving more sustainable environmental quality," Brooks said. The GHSP project already has led to forward movement in South America, culminating with the announcement of significant grant funding for environmental research. "In Brazil, the results of this project arrived at an excellent time," Heid Furley said. "The eighth World Water Forum was held March 22 in Brazil. Nineteen of the 20 priority issues raised by Latin American participants relate to water. A call for proposals was prepared based on the GHSP Latin America results and announced at the forum," Heid Furley said. "We face palpable global environment and health challenges, which require innovative understanding, tools, products and systems to prevent, diagnose and manage adverse outcomes to public health and the environment. The GHSP is identifying timely research questions that are important to all of us," Brooks said. ### ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 17,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions. ABOUT BAYLOR COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES The College of Arts & Sciences is Baylor University's oldest and largest academic division, consisting of 25 academic departments and seven academic centers and institutes. The more than 5,000 courses taught in the College span topics from art and theatre to religion, philosophy, sociology and the natural sciences. Faculty conduct research around the world, and research on the undergraduate and graduate level is prevalent throughout all disciplines. Batteries might seem like they come in every shape and size that you can imagine. But as electronic devices become tinier and skinnier without reducing their power and energy demands, they challenge engineers to design batteries that can fit into smaller and smaller spaces without compromising on performance. Researchers in the United States have used non-traditional techniques to fashion one possible solution - a powerful 3D lithium ion battery with a footprint on the order of one hundred grains of salt. Their work appears May 3 in the journal Joule. "For small sensors, you need to re-design the battery to be like a skyscraper in New York instead of a ranch house in California," says senior author Bruce Dunn, a professor of materials science and engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). "That's what a 3D battery does, and we can use semiconductor processing and a conformal electrolyte to make one that is compatible with the demands of small internet-connected devices." Even the most innovative two-dimensional batteries are limited in the shapes they can take - the basic battery takes a slice of anode and a slice of cathode and packs an ion-conducting electrolyte between the two to complete the circuit. On the other hand, there are in principle innumerable ways to craft a 3D anode and a 3D cathode that snap together like puzzle pieces (still necessarily separated by a small amount of electrolyte). The setup chosen by Dunn's group is called a "concentric-tube" design, where an array of evenly spaced anode posts are covered uniformly by a thin layer of a photo-patternable polymer electrolyte and the region between the posts is filled with the cathode material. Despite this apparent simplicity, many researchers have only been able to build half of a 3D battery, creating anodes and cathodes that are stable on their own, but fail when trying to assemble these electrodes into one functional battery. Meanwhile, nearly all of the 3D batteries which have been assembled have not been significantly better than ordinary two-dimensional versions. Dunn and postdoctoral scholars, Janet Hur and Leland Smith, overcame these hurdles by taking methods normally used to make semiconductors and modifying them to carve silicon into a grid of precisely-spaced cylinders that they wanted for the anode. "That's something the battery world just does not do," Dunn says. To complete the battery, they applied thin layers of electrolyte to the silicon structure and poured in a standard lithium-ion cathode material, using the anode as a mold to ensure that the two halves would fit together just right. The resulting battery achieved an energy density of 5.2 milli-watt-hours per square centimeter, among the highest reported for a 3D battery, while occupying a miniscule 0.09 square centimeter footprint and withstanding 100 cycles of charging and discharging. Dunn cautions that this particular 3D battery has not yet reached its full potential, as he hopes that he and his team can boost its energy density with further tuning of battery components and assembly. "Another challenge with batteries is always the packaging," he adds. "You need to seal them up, keep them small, and make sure they function just as well in the real world as in the glovebox." ### This work was supported by the Office of Naval Research. Joule, Hur et al.: "High areal energy density 3D lithium ion microbatteries" http://www.cell.com/joule/fulltext/S2542-4351(18)30139-9 Joule (@Joule_CP) published monthly by Cell Press, is a new home for outstanding and insightful research, analysis and ideas addressing the need for more sustainable energy. A sister journal to Cell, Joule spans all scales of energy research, from fundamental laboratory research into energy conversion and storage up to impactful analysis at the global level. Visit: http://www.cell.com/joule. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com. A study by scientists of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) points to a novel potential approach against Alzheimer's disease. In studies in mice, the researchers were able to show that blocking a particular receptor located on astrocytes normalized brain function and improved memory performance. Astrocytes are star-shaped, non-neuronal cells involved in the regulation of brain activity and blood flow. The findings are published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM). Alzheimer's disease is a common and currently incurable brain disorder leading to dementia, whose mechanisms remain incompletely understood. The disease appears to be sustained by a combination of factors that include pathological changes in blood flow, neuroinflammation and detrimental changes in brain cell activity. "The brain contains different types of cells including neurons and astrocytes", explains Dr. Nicole Reichenbach, a postdoc researcher at the DZNE and first author of the paper published in JEM. "Astrocytes support brain function and shape the communication between neurons, called synaptic transmission, by releasing a variety of messenger proteins. They also provide metabolic and structural support and contribute to the regulation of blood flow in the brain." Glitches in network activity Similar to neurons, astrocytes are organized into functional networks that may involve thousands of cells. "For normal brain function, it is crucial that networks of brain cells coordinate their firing rates. It's like in a symphony orchestra where the instruments have to be correctly tuned and the musicians have to stay in synchrony in order to play the right melody", says Professor Gabor Petzold, a research group leader at the DZNE and supervisor of the current study. "Interestingly, one of the main jobs of astrocytes is very similar to this: to keep neurons healthy and to help maintain neuronal network function. However, in Alzheimer's disease, there is aberrant activity of these networks. Many cells are hyperactive, including neurons and astrocytes. Hence, understanding the role of astrocytes, and targeting such network dysfunctions, holds a strong potential for treating Alzheimer's." Astrocyte-targeted treatment alleviated memory impairment Petzold and colleagues tested this approach in an experimental study involving mice. Due to a genetic disposition, these rodents exhibited certain symptoms of Alzheimer's similar to those that manifest in humans with the disease. In the brain, this included pathological deposits of proteins known as "Amyloid-beta plaques" and aberrant network activity. In addition, the mice showed impaired learning ability and memory. In their study, the DZNE scientists targeted a cell membrane receptor called P2Y1R, which is predominately expressed by astrocytes. Previous experiments by Petzold and colleagues had revealed that activation of this receptor triggers cellular hyperactivity in mouse models of Alzheimer's. Therefore, the researchers treated groups of mice with different P2Y1R antagonists. These chemical compounds can bind to the receptor, thus switching it off. The treatment lasted for several weeks. "We found that long-term treatment with these drugs normalized the brain's network activity. Furthermore, the mice's learning ability and memory greatly improved", Petzold says. On the other hand, in a control group of wild type mice this treatment had no significant effect on astrocyte activity. "This indicates that P2Y1R inhibition acts quite specifically. It does not dampen network activity when pathological hyperactivity is absent." New approaches for research and therapies? Petzold summarizes: "This is an experimental study that is currently not directly applicable to human patients. However, our results suggest that astrocytes, as important safeguards of neuronal health and normal network function, may hold the potential for novel treatment options in Alzheimer's disease." In future studies, the scientists intend to identify additional novel pathways in astrocytes and other cells as potential drug targets. ### Original publication "P2Y1 receptor blockade normalizes network dysfunction and cognition in an Alzheimer's disease model", Nicole Reichenbach et al., Journal of Experimental Medicine (2018), DOI: 10.1084/jem.20171487 First demonstration of self-assembling and self-disassembling silicon microparticles could form the basis for designing artificial muscles and reconfigurable computer systems DURHAM, N.C. -- Researchers at Duke University and North Carolina State University have demonstrated the first custom semiconductor microparticles that can be steered into various configurations repeatedly while suspended in water. With an initial six custom particles that predictably interact with one another in the presence of alternating current (AC) electric fields of varying frequencies, the study presents the first steps toward realizing advanced applications such as artificial muscles and reconfigurable computer systems. The study appears online on May 3 in the journal Nature Communications. "We've engineered and encoded multiple dynamic responses in different microparticles to create a reconfigurable silicon toolbox," said Ugonna Ohiri, a recently graduated electrical engineering doctoral student from Duke and first author of the paper. "By providing a means of controllably assembling and disassembling these particles, we're bringing a new tool to the field of active matter." While previous researchers have worked to define self-assembling systems, few have worked with semiconductor particles, and none have explored the wide range of custom shapes, sizes and coatings that are available to the micro- and nanofabrication industry. Engineering particles from silicon presents the opportunity to physically realize electronic devices that can self-assemble and disassemble on demand. Customizing their shapes and sizes presents opportunities to explore a wide-ranging design space of new motile behaviors. "Most previous work performed using self-assembling particles has been done with shapes such as spheres and other off-the-shelf materials," said Nan Jokerst, the J. A. Jones Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Duke. "Now that we can customize whatever arbitrary shapes, electrical characteristics and patterned coatings we want with silicon, a whole new world is opening up." In the study, Jokerst and Ohiri fabricated silicon particles of various shapes, sizes and electrical properties. In collaboration with Orlin Velev, the INVISTA Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at NC State, they characterized how these particles responded to different magnitudes and frequencies of electric fields while submerged in water. Based on these observations, the researchers then fabricated new batches of customized particles that were likely to exhibit the behaviors they were looking for, resulting in six different engineered silicon microparticle compositions that could move through water, synchronize their motions, and reversibly assemble and disassemble on demand. The thin film particles are 10-micron by 20-micron rectangles that are 3.5 microns thick. They're fabricated using Silicon-on-Insulator (SOI) technology. Since they can be made using the same fabrication technology that produces integrated circuits, millions of identical particles could be produced at a time. "The idea is that eventually we're going to be able to make silicon computational systems that assemble, disassemble and then reassemble in a different format," said Jokerst. "That's a long way off in the future, but this work provides a sense of the capabilities that are out there and is the first demonstration of how we might achieve those sorts of devices." That is, however, only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Some of the particles were fabricated with both p-type and n-type regions to create p-n junctions -- common electrical components that allow electricity to pass in only one direction. Tiny metal patterns were also placed on the particles' surfaces to create p-n junction diodes with contacts. In the future, researchers could even engineer particles with patterns using other electrically conductive or insulating materials, complex integrated circuits, or microprocessors on or within the silicon. "This work is just a small snapshot of the tools we have to control particle dynamics," said Ohiri. "We haven't even scratched the surface of all of the behaviors that we can engineer, but we hope that this multidisciplinary study can pioneer future studies to design artificial active materials." ### The research was conducted through a seed grant from the Research Triangle Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC). Launched in 2011, the center is a national resource for materials science and engineering research and education located in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area of North Carolina. The center encompasses faculty and students at Duke University, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Central University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The National Science Foundation supports 21 MRSECs across the country to support cutting-edge, collaborative research in materials science. This research was supported by the National Science Foundation (DMR-1121107, ECCS-1542015). CITATION: "Reconfigurable Engineered Motile Semiconductor Microparticles," Ugonna Ohiri, C. Wyatt Shields IV, Koohee Han, Talmage Tyler, Orlin D. Velev and Nan Jokerst. Nature Communications, May 3, 2018. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04183-y Almost every cell in the human body, from beating heart cells to bacteria-gobbling immune cells, is powered by chemical energy produced by specialized organelles called mitochondria. The process of energy generation creates waste products that can be highly toxic, so, like real power plants, these organelles require tight quality control and oversight. This life-or-death task ensures the survival of the cell and the organism to which it belongs. Malfunctions in a cell's ability to remove damaged mitochondria have been linked to conditions ranging from cancer to neurodegenerative disease--particularly Parkinson's, in which power-hungry neurons are highly vulnerable to the toxic effects of defective mitochondria. In the April 19 issue of Molecular Cell, Harvard Medical School scientists report having developed a new technique to analyze, with unprecedented quantitative precision, how cells initiate the removal of defective mitochondria by the cell's autophagy, or "self-eating," system. The methodology allowed them to study, for the first time, this process in human neurons derived from stem cells. By taking "digital snapshots" of the protein landscape as cells mark damaged mitochondria for autophagy, the research team generated the clearest picture to date of the dynamics of this process, including absolute measurements of protein modification reactions and their abundance and changes over time. The results set the stage for detailed studies of the connections between mitochondrial damage, cell death and disease, and establish a technological approach that can be used to uncover the mechanisms of defective cellular pathways in many other contexts, the authors said. "If there is ever going to be a drug that targets this pathway with the goal of treating Parkinson's or other neurodegenerative diseases, we are going to need this level of detail to understand how drug candidates work," said senior study author J. Wade Harper, the HMS Bert and Natalie Vallee Professor of Molecular Pathology and Chair of the Department of Cell Biology. The molecular alarm system for mitochondrial quality control involves two enzymes: the protein kinase PINK1, which chemically modifies proteins with phosphate, and the ubiquitin ligase PARKIN, which marks target proteins with a molecule called ubiquitin. Under normal conditions, healthy mitochondria carry little PINK1 on their outer surface. When damaged, however, mitochondria accumulate PINK1, which transfers phosphate to PARKIN to activate it. Once activated, PARKIN transfers ubiquitin to a variety of different proteins, creating a "ubiquitin coat" on the mitochondrial surface. When a certain threshold of ubiquitin is reached, the recruitment of the cellular "self-eating" machinery is triggered, leading to degradation of the mitochondria. Mutations in both PINK1 and PARKIN have been linked by numerous studies to Parkinson's disease, which involves the death of certain neurons and a buildup of improperly folded proteins in the brain. Researchers have made great strides in describing the PINK1-PARKIN pathway, but many of its critical features have remained poorly understood. Tailoring the coat Ubiquitin is known to mark its target proteins on specific residues of the amino acid lysine. This occurs for only a small subset of lysine residues, however, and determining precisely which lysines are modified and why has been a challenge for the field--especially for the more than a dozen PARKIN targets on the mitochondrial surface. In addition, the abundance of these targets was unclear, which could impact the ubiquitylation process. Previous work by the Harper lab, in collaboration with Steve Gygi, HMS professor of cell biology, had established methods that allow detection of individual lysine residues in proteins that are linked with ubiquitin. The research team extended this approach in the current study. Spearheaded by lead author Alban Ordureau, HMS research fellow in cell biology, they developed a new method--PARKIN target-parallel reaction monitoring (Pt-PRM)--to assess the landscape of protein ubiquitylation involved in mitochondrial quality control at an unprecedented level of detail. They also created a library of reference peptides that allowed them to measure the precise abundance of PARKIN targets and individual ubiquitylation events on damaged mitochondria. In essence, the reference peptide library enabled the researchers to "count" ubiquitylation events in a site-specific manner across more than a dozen mitochondrial surface proteins simultaneously in a mass spectrometer. When combined with time-dependent measurements after mitochondrial damage, the method produces a "digital snapshot" of ubiquitylation events across the mitochondrial surface, revealing not only the site specificity of modification but also providing a quantitative picture of the mitochondrial landscape. By including reference peptides that detect PINK1-dependent phosphorylation events, the team was also able to integrate target phosphorylation with ubiquitylation. "This is one of the most detailed analyses of the ubiquitin pathway that's ever been done. There's no other study that uses this level of sophistication to analyze such a process," Harper said. Digital snapshot The new technique allows for accurate, absolute measurements of protein ubiquitylation events, in stark contrast to previous methods that are nonquantitative and do not provide ubiquitylation-site specificity. "This approach now gives us the full dynamic range," Harper said. "We can measure over three orders of magnitude to better understand kinetics, stoichiometry, spatial organization, integration with phosphorylation and many other features," Harper said. Enabled by improved precision, the team performed the first quantitative analysis of native ubiquitylation-related events in neurons derived from genetically modified human stem cells, a system more relevant to the study of human disease than previous models. This included an analysis of dopaminergic neurons, the loss of which is a primary characteristic of Parkinson's, done in collaboration with Lee Rubin, professor of stem cell and regenerative biology at Harvard. Thus far, most research in this area has been conducted on immortalized human cancer cells (HeLa) engineered to express PARKIN at unnaturally high levels so that scientists could measure their activity. Harper, Ordureau and colleagues compared the two cell models in their analyses, identifying similarities and differences in the specificity and timing of modification events. They also found specific lysine residues on proteins that were selectively ubiquitylated in neurons but not in HeLa cells, and vice versa. The biological implications of these differences remain unknown, and are targets for further study, the authors said. The analyses helped shed new light on currently debated questions in the field, such as whether ubiquitin chains indiscriminately tag proteins on the mitochondria or whether they precision-target specific ones. The answer may be "it depends." In general, ubiquitylation appears to scale with the abundance of protein, but the researchers found evidence for selectivity as well, particularly within certain structural elements within the target proteins. The robustness of the experimental system also allowed the authors to examine several mechanistic aspects of the pathway, including, for example, a determination of the role of PARKIN phosphorylation by PINK1 in stem-cell derived neurons. "We want to know how these mechanisms work because we want to be able to target them for drug discovery, or find ways to bypass disease-causing mutations in patients," Ordureau said. "We can now analyze this critical process in neuronal cells in extreme detail, and do so at scale in one experiment. With previous methods, you had to run dozens of experiments to achieve similar or less accurate results." The efficacy of their new method now enables improved studies of the PINK1-PARKIN pathway and of its role in diseases such as Parkinson's, as demonstrated in this work for small-molecule activators of PINK1. The approach can also be adapted to uncover the mechanisms of defective pathways in other systems and diseases, the authors said. "Ubiquitylation is a foundational mechanism that cells use to remove damaged or unneeded components to maintain their own health and integrity," Harper said. "It's relevant not only for mitochondria, but for removal of bacteria, protein aggregates and other organelles. This technology could be employed to shed light on the biochemistry of many different systems." ### Additional authors on the study include Joao A. Paulo, Wei Zhang, Tim Ahfeldt, Jiuchun Zhang, Erin F. Cohn, Zhonggang Hou, Jin-Mi Heo and Sachdev S. Sidhu. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (R37 NS083524, R01 GM095567, R01 GM067945, K01DK098285), the Michael J. Fox Foundation, the Lefler Center in the Department of Neurobiology at HMS, a Genome Canada Disruptive Innovations in Genomics grant and a generous gift from Ned Goodnow. About Harvard Medical School Harvard Medical School has more than 11,000 faculty working in 10 academic departments located at the School's Boston campus or in hospital-based clinical departments at 15 Harvard-affiliated teaching hospitals and research institutes: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Hebrew SeniorLife, Joslin Diabetes Center, Judge Baker Children's Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear/Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Spaulding Rehabilitation Network and VA Boston Healthcare System. In a new research article, a team of international researchers argue that the Tapanuli Orangutan--a species discovered last year in Sumatra, Indonesia, and one of the rarest animals on the planet--could lose its battle for survival, unless decisive steps are taken to rescue it. "In forty years of research, I don't think I've ever seen anything this dramatic," said Professor William Laurance from James Cook University in Australia, leader of the research team. "This is just the seventh species of Great Ape ever discovered, and it could go extinct right before our eyes," said Professor Jatna Supriatna from the University of Indonesia, a co-author of the study. "Fewer than 800 of the apes survive, and they're under assault from mega-projects, deforestation, road building, and poaching," said Dr Sean Sloan, lead author of the article in Current Biology. "Their entire remaining habitat is unbelievably small--less than a tenth the size of Sydney, Australia," said Sloan. The authors say the most imminent threat is a planned U.S.$1.6 billion mega-dam--the Batang Toru project--that would be constructed by a Chinese state-owned corporation, Sinohydro, and funded by Chinese financiers. "If it proceeds, the dam will flood crucial parts of the ape's habitat, while chopping up its remaining habitat with new roads and powerlines," said Supriatna. The team discovered the ape survives only in areas with virtually no roads, which promote illegal logging, clearing, and poaching. "This is a critical test for China and Indonesia. They say they want sustainable development--but words are cheap," said Laurance. "Without urgent action, this could be ecological Armageddon for one of our closest living relatives." ### For further information: Distinguished Professor William Laurance James Cook University, Cairns, Australia E-mail: bill.laurance@jcu.edu.au (monitored continuously; Professor Laurance can speak via phone or Skype) Reference: Sean Sloan, Jatna Supriatna, Mason Campbell, Mohammed Alamgir, and William F. Laurance. 2018. Newly discovered orangutan species requires urgent habitat protection. Current Biology 28:R1-R3. Short video on northern Sumatra (Greater Leuser Ecosystem, where the new ape species is found): https://www.global-roadmap.org/videos/leuser/ Plant scientists have taken the crucial last steps in a 60-year quest to unravel the complex chemistry of Madagascar periwinkle Plant scientists have taken the crucial last steps in a 60-year quest to unravel the complex chemistry of Madagascar periwinkle in a breakthrough that opens up the potential for rapid synthesis of cancer-fighting compounds. The team in the laboratory of Professor Sarah O'Connor at the John Innes Centre have, after 15 years of research, located the last missing genes in the genome of the periwinkle that are devoted to building the chemical vinblastine. This valuable natural product has been used as an anti-cancer drug since it was discovered in the 1950s by a Canadian research team. A potent inhibitor of cell division and used against lymphomas and testicular, breast, bladder and lung cancers, it is found in the leaves of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus). Until now, the complex chemical mechanisms the periwinkle uses in the production of vinblastine have not been fully understood. Consequently, access to its life-extending chemistry has been laborious - it takes approximately 500 kg of dried leaves to produce 1g of vinblastine. But the new study - lead author Dr Lorenzo Caputi - which appears today in the peer-review journal Science, uses modern genome sequencing techniques to identify the final missing genes in the pathway. This research also identifies enzymes that build vinblastine precursor chemicals, which include catharanthine and tabersonine. These can be readily chemically coupled using synthetic biology techniques to give vinblastine. "Vinblastine is one of the of the most structurally complex medicinally active natural products in plants - which is why so many people in the last 60 years have been trying to get where we have got to in this study. I cannot believe we are finally here," said Professor O'Connor. "With this information we can now try to increase the amount of vinblastine produced either in the plant, or by placing synthetic genes into hosts such as yeast or plants." Its attractive white or pink flowers have made the Madagascar periwinkle a popular ornamental plant in homes across the world. But for decades it has been the focus of increasingly competitive research probing its natural chemistry and potential pharmacological activity. Professor O'Connor also pointed out that this new study builds on the work of numerous other research groups around the world who contributed to the elucidation of the vinblastine pathway over the years. Having assembled the genetic pathway and the formidable chemical structures, the team are now in a position to use the information to create more compounds much more quickly using synthetic biology techniques. Professor O'Connor anticipates that her group or another in this competitive field will be able to produce microgram quantities of vinblastine or its precursors vindoline or catharanthine in the next 12 to 18 months. The John Innes Centre team were joined in the research by the Courdavault group based at Tours, France. They employed modern sequencing and genomic techniques along with some traditional chemistry relying on a blend of intuition and some literature dating back to the 1960s and 70s. In total the team counted 31 steps in the chemical chain from the primary chemical precursor to the final product, vinblastine. One molecule in the chain so volatile that Dr Caputi came to know it as "angry-line" instead of its true scientific name dihydroprecondylocarpine acetate. The full findings can be found in the paper: Biosynthesis of the Vinblastine and Vincristine Precursors, Caranthine and Tabersonine, in the journal Science. ### Pictures/Media and captions: Photographs: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1otKHNTWnjD_EBIwBFx_DTT0uo_HbBJJo Notes for Editors Contacts Press Contact: Adrian Galvin - Adrian.Galvin@jic.ac.uk Tel: 01603 450238 Out of Hours Tel: 07881 255193 About the John Innes Centre The John Innes Centre is an independent, international centre of excellence in plant science and microbiology. Our mission is to generate knowledge of plants and microbes through innovative research, to train scientists for the future, to apply our knowledge of nature's diversity to benefit agriculture, the environment, human health, and wellbeing, and engage with policy makers and the public. To achieve these goals we establish pioneering long-term research objectives in plant and microbial science, with a focus on genetics. These objectives include promoting the translation of research through partnerships to develop improved crops and to make new products from microbes and plants for human health and other applications. We also create new approaches, technologies and resources that enable research advances and help industry to make new products. The knowledge, resources and trained researchers we generate help global societies address important challenges including providing sufficient and affordable food, making new products for human health and industrial applications, and developing sustainable bio-based manufacturing. This provides a fertile environment for training the next generation of plant and microbial scientists, many of whom go on to careers in industry and academia, around the world. The John Innes Centre is strategically funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). In 2015-2016 the John Innes Centre received a total of 30.1 million from the BBSRC. The John Innes Centre is also supported by the John Innes Foundation through provision of research accommodation and long-term support of the Rotation PhD programme. The John Innes Centre is the winner of the BBSRC's 2013 - 2016 Excellence with Impact award. For more information about the John Innes Centre visit our website http://www.jic.ac.uk About BBSRC The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) is part of UK Research and Innovation, a non-departmental public body funded by a grant-in-aid from the UK government. BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. Our aim is to further scientific knowledge, to promote economic growth, wealth and job creation and to improve quality of life in the UK and beyond. Funded by government, BBSRC invested 469 million in world-class bioscience in 2016-17. We support research and training in universities and strategically funded institutes. BBSRC research and the people we fund are helping society to meet major challenges, including food security, green energy and healthier, longer lives. Our investments underpin important UK economic sectors, such as farming, food, industrial biotechnology and pharmaceuticals For more information about BBSRC, our science and our impact see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk For more information about BBSRC strategically funded institutes see: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/institutes A simple method that uses hydrogen chloride can better control the crystal structure of a common semiconductor and shows promise for novel high-powered electronic applications. The electronic components used in computers and mobile devices operate at relatively lower power. But high-power applications, such as controlling electrical power grids, require alternative materials that can cope with much higher voltages. For example, an insulating material begins to conduct electricity when the field is high enough, an effect known as electrical breakdown. For this reason, power electronics often use nitride-based semiconductors, such as gallium nitride, which have a very high breakdown field and can be epitaxially grown to create multilayered semiconductors. However, ever-increasing energy demands and the desire to make electricity distribution more efficient requires even more electrically robust materials. Gallium oxide (Ga2O3) has a theoretical breakdown field more than twice that of gallium-nitride alloys and so has emerged as an exciting candidate for this function. The latest challenge however is a simple way to deposit high-quality gallium oxide on the substrates commonly used for power electronics, such as sapphire. Haiding Sun, Xiaohang Li, and co-workers from KAUST worked with industry partners Structured Materials Industries, Inc. in the U.S. to demonstrate a relatively simple method to control the crystal structure of gallium oxides on a sapphire substrate using a technology known as metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD). "We were able to control the growth by changing just one parameter: the flow rate of hydrogen chloride in the chamber," explains Sun. "This is the first time that hydrogen chloride has been used during oxide growth in an MOCVD reactor." The atoms in gallium oxide can be arranged in a number of different forms known as polymorphs. ?Ga2O3 is the most stable polymorph but is difficult to grow on substrates of other materials. ?Ga2O3 has been grown on sapphire but its growth rate has been difficult to control. Different polymorphs of gallium oxide can be grown in a MOCVD chamber by controlling the flow of hydrogen chloride. Different polymorphs of gallium oxide can be grown in a MOCVD chamber by controlling the flow of hydrogen chloride. Reproduced with permission from reference 1 2018 American Chemical Society Led by Li, Sun and the team show that they can achieve precise control of the growth rate by adding hydrogen chloride gas to triethylgallium and oxygen in their MOCVD chamber. When they added the hydrogen chloride at a low flow rate, ?Ga2O3 formed on the sapphire substrate. But as they increased the flow rate, they were able to create ?Ga2O3 and even ?Ga2O3. "We are now using kinetic models to unveil the whole mechanism of the crystallization process when hydrogen chloride is used," says Sun, "while also working on fabricating transistors using the three phases of gallium oxide films." KAUST have begun a close collaboration with Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, an integrated-circuit foundry that provides semiconductor technology services, to fulfill its mission to pursue gallium-oxide semiconductors for practical power-electronic applications. ### The day of the week on which a patient has a lung cancer operation has no significance for their survival. This has been demonstrated by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, in a new study published in the journal Chest. The team of researchers wanted to find out if the day of the week on which a patient had a lung cancer operation has any importance as regards survival as earlier studies have pointed in different directions. One study for example showed that the weekday for heart surgery had no significance for survival while another showed a better prognosis for patients who underwent surgery for oesophageal cancer on a Monday or Tuesday than those who had operations at the end of the week. "We do not know why there are patient groups who have poorer survival the later in the week they have their operations. One possible explanation is that surgeons, who perform very demanding operations, are more tired at the end of the week and that fewer specialists and fewer staff at the weekend lead to poorer care," says Veronica Jackson, thoracic surgeon at Karolinska University Hospital and post-doc at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Institutet, who led the study. Patient data for the present lung cancer study was taken from the Register for General Thoracic Surgery in Sweden (ThoR). The study included all patients in ThoR who had undergone an operation for lung cancer between 2009 and 2015. Of the approximately 4,500 patients, most, 25 per cent, had their operations on a Monday and the lowest number, 11 per cent, on a Friday. When in April 2017 the researchers followed up on whether the patients were still alive using the Swedish National Population Register, they found no connection or significant differences in long-term survival linked to the day of the week of the operation. "Our findings are important because they indicate that there is no reason to restructure the system so that more lung cancer operations are performed at the beginning of the working week. But it is still of course possible that the day of the week for other kinds of surgery in general has an impact on the prognosis. If such a connection exists, it can have sizable consequences for both patients and healthcare as regards planning operations and allocating resources," says Ulrik Sartipy, thoracic surgeon at Karolinska University Hospital and associate professor at the Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery at Karolinska Institutet, one of the researchers behind the study. ### The study lacks specific financing, but the researchers receive funding from The Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation, The Mats Kleberg Foundation, Karolinska Institutet Foundations and Funds, The Swedish Heart and Lung Association, The Ake Wiberg Foundation, The Magnus Bergvall Foundation and the regional ALF agreement between Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet. Publication: "Weekday and survival after pulmonary resections for lung cancer - a Swedish nationwide cohort study" Jackson V, AL-Ameri M, Sartipy U Chest, online 3 May 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2018.03.022 Journal website: https://journal.chestnet.org Karolinska Institutet -- a medical university: http://ki.se/english BOZEMAN -- A Montana State University professor of Earth sciences whose work over the past four decades has greatly impacted the fields of geology, geography and ecology has been elected by her peer scholars to be a member of a distinguished national organization committed to the advancement of science. Cathy Whitlock is among the newest members of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, one of the highest honors a scientist can receive. According to the academy's announcement, published May 1, members are elected in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, and membership is widely accepted as a mark of excellence in science. MSU President Waded Cruzado lauded Whitlock's achievement and the impact of her research career on the state and beyond. "Montana State is immensely honored to have a scientist of Cathy's caliber among our outstanding faculty," Cruzado said. "The National Academy of Sciences has recognized her career of truly distinguished science, teaching and leadership that will benefit Montana and the world for years to come." Whitlock is the first scientist from a Montana institution to earn the distinction. She will be formally inducted at the 2019 NAS annual meeting next spring in Washington, D.C. "I am thrilled and honored by my election to the NAS and for the opportunity to represent my discipline at a national level," said Whitlock, a professor in the Department of Earth Sciences in MSU's College of Letters and Science and a fellow of the Montana Institute on Ecosystems. Nicol Rae, dean of the College of Letters and Science, said he "could not be prouder" of Whitlock taking her place among the now 2,382 distinguished U.S. members of the organization. "Cathy's election to the National Academy of Sciences is a great honor for the College of Letters and Science, and well-deserved recognition for an outstanding scientist whose leadership in research, teaching and mentorship will have a major impact on the future of Montana and the American West," Rae said. Over the course of her nearly 40-year career, Whitlock has produced a broad body of groundbreaking research that has led her to national and international recognition for her scholarship and leadership in the field of past climate and environmental change. She was lead author of the 2017 Montana Climate Assessment, a report released by the Institute on Ecosystems that focuses on climate trends and their consequences for Montana's water, forests and agriculture. The first in a planned series, the assessment is the result of two years of research conducted in collaboration with the Montana Climate Office, Montana Water Center and Montana State University Extension. Whitlock has published more than 190 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on the topics of vegetation, fire and climate history in leading scientific journals such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Nature, Science, Ecology, PLOS ONE, and BioScience, among others. Additionally, she has been recognized for her outstanding contributions with numerous awards and appointments, including her selection as a fellow of the Geological Society of America and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. In 2014, she received the international E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Technology Pioneer Award, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions to the preservation of biodiversity. Upon joining the MSU faculty in 2004, Whitlock established the MSU Paleoecology Lab. The lab supports post-doctorate, graduate and undergraduate students and visiting scientists from around the world. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation, Joint Fire Sciences Program, National Park Service, Department of Energy, USDA Forest Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. Her current research extends from Yellowstone and the western U.S. to New Zealand, Tasmania and Patagonia. At MSU, she served as founding director of the Institute on Ecosystems from 2011 to 2017. She is currently the lead investigator on the National Science Foundation Wildfire Partnership in Research and Education (WildFIRE PIRE) project and is the MSU co-investigator for Montana's NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR RII Track 1) project. Prior to coming to MSU, Whitlock earned her doctorate in geological sciences from the University of Washington in 1983 and her bachelor's degree from Colorado College in 1975. MSU Vice President of Research Renee Reijo Pera said of Whitlock's election that she is "most deserving of this honor and we are proud to call her our colleague." "Cathy is an outstanding scientist who has dedicated her professional career to research that greatly impacts our future," Reijo Pera said. "Her work on climate change, fire, decision-making and the environmental history of the Northern Rockies and Yellowstone forms a foundation for the research of future generations." Whitlock said she is grateful for the support she has received at the state's flagship research university, and for the "endless opportunities for research and learning that come with being in Yellowstone's backyard." "MSU is an exceptionally collaborative home for researchers and I'm grateful for the support that I've received from this university through the years. "Throughout my career, I've been fortunate to have had inspiring and supportive mentors who encouraged me along the way, dynamic and engaging colleagues who have kept the science interesting and fun, and some of brightest graduate students anywhere," Whitlock said. "Together, we've shared amazing moments of discovery, lots of challenging but unforgettable field experiences, and many moments of laughter." ### A $5-million gift from McGillians G. Garvin Brown IV, BA'91, and his wife Steffanie Diamond Brown, will make a major contribution to research and teaching at McGill's Max Bell School of Public Policy by establishing an endowed Chair in Democratic Studies. The Chair will promote further scholarship and public outreach, encourage public discussion of key challenges facing the world's democracies, and contribute to evidence-based policy decision-making. In addition to the Diamond-Brown Chair in Democratic Studies, the gift will also support an annual conference in Montreal designed to promote public debate of ideas, alternatives, and data solutions that can improve electoral processes and enhance citizen engagement. "We are grateful to Garvin Brown and Steffanie Diamond Brown for this generous and timely gift in support of McGill's new Max Bell School of Public Policy," said McGill's Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Suzanne Fortier. "Their gift will allow McGill researchers and students to explore some of the most pressing challenges currently facing democratic institutions around the world." The Chair will be jointly appointed in the Max Bell School of Public Policy and McGill's Department of Political Science, teaching in the programs of both units, and in conjunction with the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship, a group of scholars from five Quebec universities who collaborate on research related to democratic citizenship. "The Chair supports one of the key themes of the School and will tap into existing expertise within both the Department of Political Science and the Centre for the Study of Democratic Citizenship to ensure that its public impact is maximized," said Chris Ragan, Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy, Associate Professor of Economics at McGill. Brown is a Canadian-American, raised in Montreal, and now based in the United Kingdom. With American roots in Kentucky, his great-great grandfather founded Brown-Forman Corp. in 1870, whose brands include Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey. Brown has chaired the Board of Brown-Forman since 2007. A Faculty of Arts graduate with a keen interest in political science and history, Brown's steadfast support of McGill includes the establishment of the Hon. Paul and Yvonne Casey Arts Internship Award, named for his grandparents, and the Susan Casey Brown Fund to support international student internships in the Faculty of Arts, named for his mother. He has also served as a juror for McGill's Cundill History Prize. "Steffanie and I couldn't be more pleased to support McGill's work in developing the next generation of policy makers and helping to provide a forum for dialogue and debate in democratic studies," said Brown. "As McGill's Max Bell School of Public Policy gains momentum, we hope that this Chair helps serve as a catalyst for the strengthening of our democratic institutions, over the long-term." ### About the Max Bell School of Public Policy Launched in 2017 with the generous support of Max Bell Foundation and residing in McGill's Faculty of Arts, the Max Bell School of Public Policy brings together faculty and students from across Canada and around the world to create the next generation of national and global policy leaders with expertise across multiple domains and disciplines. Under the leadership of inaugural Director and Associate Professor of Economics at McGill, Christopher Ragan, the School will be committed to the research and teaching of sound public policy, outreach with the general public on significant policy issues, and close engagement with policymakers in the design and implementation of policies. About McGill University : http://www.mcgill.ca A team of chemists has developed an MRI-based technique that can quickly diagnose what ails certain types of batteries--from determining how much charge remains to detecting internal defects--without opening them up. "The use of alternative energy and electrically powered vehicles will further increase the demand for better and safer batteries," observes Alexej Jerschow, a professor in New York University's Department of Chemistry, who led the research team. "However, there are currently only a very limited set of tools available to diagnose a battery's health without destroying the battery--our non-invasive technique offers a faster and more expansive method for making these assessments." The work, described in the journal Nature Communications, also included Andrew Ilott, an NYU post-doctoral fellow at the time of the study and now a research investigator at Brisol-Myers Squibb; Mohaddese Mohammadi, an NYU doctoral candidate; and Christopher Schauerman and Matthew Ganter, research scientists at the Rochester Institute of Technology. "Ensuring cell quality and safety is paramount to the manufacturing process that can save companies significant cost and prevent catastrophic cell failures from occurring," says Ganter, co-director of the RIT Battery Prototyping Center. "This work not only supports the battery industry as a whole, but also the growing energy storage ecosystem in New York," adds Christopher Schauerman, co-director of the RIT Battery Prototyping Center. The research focuses on rechargeable Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which are used in cell phones, laptops, and other electronics. Notably, rechargeable batteries are at the heart of new technologies, including electric cars or storage for renewable energy sources. However, recent malfunctions in hand-held devices and electric vehicles have highlighted the difficulties in designing batteries for these cutting-edge technologies. In addition, engineers often cannot determine the nature of defects or even impending battery failures without taking apart the device, which typically results in its destruction. In general, magnetic resonance (MR) methods provide the ability to measure tiny changes in magnetic field maps and, as a result, create a picture of what lies inside a structure--for example, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) can produce images of the human body's organs in a non-invasive manner. In their Nature Communications work, the scientists adopted a procedure similar to MRI. Here, they measured tiny magnetic field changes surrounding the battery's electrochemical cells. In their experiments, they examined Li-ion batteries in different states--various levels of charge (i.e., battery life) and conditions (i.e., some damaged and others not). Such cells were prepared by collaborators at RIT's Battery Prototyping Center. With these cells, the NYU team was able to match magnetic field changes surrounding the batteries to different internal conditions, revealing state of charge and certain defects. These included bent and missing electrodes as well as small foreign objects in the cell, which are flaws that can occur during the normal manufacturing process. "With future enhancements to this method, it could provide a powerful means of predicting battery failures and battery lifetimes as well as facilitate the development of next-generation high-performance, high-capacity, and long-lasting or fast-charging batteries," adds Jerschow. ### The research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation (CHE-1412064) and NYU's Technology Acceleration and Commercialization award. Jerschow and his NYU colleagues have also recently received a $150,000 grant from PowerBridgeNY, a New York State-backed accelerator that supports scientists and entrepreneurs to commercialize clean technologies, to continue to enhance this and related techniques. DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04192-x PORTLAND, Oregon/BOSTON, Massachusetts - An algorithm that uses artificial intelligence can automatically and more accurately diagnose a potentially devastating cause of childhood blindness than most expert physicians, a paper published in JAMA Ophthalmology suggests. The finding could help prevent blindness in more babies with the disease, called retinopathy of prematurity, or ROP. Musician Stevie Wonder went blind due to this condition. The algorithm accurately diagnosed the condition in images of infant eyes 91 percent of the time. On the other hand, a team of eight physicians with ROP expertise who examined the same images had an average accuracy rate of 82 percent. "There's a huge shortage of ophthalmologists who are trained and willing to diagnose ROP. This creates enormous gaps in care, even in the United States, and sadly leads too many children around the world to go undiagnosed," said the study's co-lead researcher, Michael Chiang, M.D., a professor of ophthalmology and medical informatics & clinical epidemiology in the OHSU School of Medicine and a pediatric ophthalmologist at the Elks Children's Eye Clinic in the OHSU Casey Eye Institute. "This algorithm distills the knowledge of ophthalmologists who are skilled at identifying ROP and puts it into a mathematical model so clinicians who may not have that same wealth of experience can still help babies receive a timely, accurate diagnosis," said the other lead researcher, Jayashree Kalpathy-Cramer, Ph.D., of the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, who is also an associate professor of radiology at Harvard Medical School. Leading cause of childhood blindness Retinopathy of prematurity is caused by abnormal blood vessel growth near the retina, the light-sensitive portion in the back of an eye. The condition is common in premature babies and is the leading cause of childhood blindness globally. The National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health reports that up to 16,000 U.S. babies experience retinopathy of prematurity to some degree, but only up to 600 become legally blind each year as a result. The condition is becoming more common as medical care for premature babies improves. The disease is diagnosed by visually inspecting a baby's eye. Physicians typically use a magnifying device that shines light into a baby's dilated eye, but that approach can lead to variable and subjective diagnoses. Computational smarts Artificial intelligence, also called AI, enables machines to think like humans and is a growing field in health care. Last month, the FDA approved an AI device that detects diabetes-related eye disease. Others have tried developing computerized systems to diagnose retinopathy of prematurity, but none have been able to match the accuracy of visual diagnosis by physicians. This algorithm specifically uses deep learning, a form of AI that mimics how humans perceive the world through vision, including identifying objects. The MGH researchers combined two existing AI models to create the algorithm, while the OHSU researchers developed extensive reference standards to train it. They first trained the algorithm to identify retinal vessels in more than 5,000 pictures taken during infant visits to an ophthalmologist. Next, they trained it to differentiate between healthy and diseased vessels. Afterward, they compared the algorithm's accuracy with that of trained experts who viewed the same images and discovered it performed better than most of the expert physicians. The full research team is now working with a collaborator in India to see if the algorithm can diagnose ROP in Indian babies as well as it did for the group of primarily Caucasian babies involved in this study. They are also exploring whether the algorithm can diagnose the condition in images of other parts of the retina besides vessels. The ultimate goal is to enable physicians to incorporate the technology into their clinical practices. ### The paper's co-lead authors are James Brown, Ph.D., a research fellow at MGH and Harvard Medical School, and J. Peter Campbell, M.D., M.P.H., an assistant professor at the OHSU School of Medicine. The paper was published on the same day as talks about the algorithm at ARVO 2018, the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology. The institutions involved in this study were OHSU, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Illinois at Chicago, Northeastern University, University of Miami, Columbia University Medical Center, William Beaumont Hospital, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, LA Biomed at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, and Asociacion para Evitar la Ceguera en Mexico. This research was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants R01EY019474, P30EY10572, P41EB015896 & T90DA022759/R90DA023427), the National Science Foundation (grants SCH1622542, SCH1622536, SCH1622679), Research to Prevent Blindness, and the Oregon State Elks. PAPER: James M. Brown, J. Peter Campbell, Andrew Beers, Ken Chang, Susan Ostmo, R.V. Paul Chan, Jennifer Dy, Deniz Erdogmus, Statis Ioannidis, Jayashree Kalpathy-Cramer, Michael F. Chiang, "Automated diagnosis of plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity using deep convolutional neural networks," JAMA Ophthalmology, May 2, 2018, DOI: 10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2018.1934, https://media.jamanetwork.com/news-item/can-an-algorithm-detect-signs-of-a-serious-eye-disease-in-premature-infants-like-human-experts/. ARVO 2018 talks: J. Peter Campbell, "Artificial intelligence in retinopathy of prematurity: clinical validation of a fully automated deep learning system (i-ROP DL) for plus disease diagnosis," Presentation No. 3936, 8:45 a.m. Hawaii time, May 2, 2018. Stanford Taylor, "Automated Computer-Based Image Analysis in Monitoring Disease Progression for Retinopathy of Prematurity, Presentation No. 3937, 9 a.m. Hawaii time, May 2, 2018 James Brown, "Artificial intelligence in retinopathy of prematurity: development of a fully automated deep convolutional neural network (DeepROP) for plus disease diagnosis," Presentation No. 3938, 9:15 a.m. Hawaii time, May 2, 2018 More info: NIH website on retinopathy of prematurity: https://nei.nih.gov/health/rop/rop Michael Chiang, M.D.: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/casey-eye/research/research-faculty/chiang-lab.cfm OHSU Casey Eye Institute: http://www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/casey-eye/ Jayashree Kalpathy-Cramer, Ph.D.: https://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu/user/8165 Massachusetts General Hospital's Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging: https://www.nmr.mgh.harvard.edu Related: 4/6/18 OHSU news story, "Telemedicine provides accurate diagnosis of rare cause of blindness in preemies," https://news.ohsu.edu/2018/04/06/telemedicine-provides-accurate-diagnosis-of-rare-cause-of-blindness-in-preemies COLUMBUS, Ohio - Bacterial toxins can wreak mass havoc within cells by shutting down multiple essential functions at once, a new study has found. The discovery could one day open the door to exploring better ways to fight life-threatening infections, said lead researchers Elena Kudryashova and Dmitri Kudryashov of The Ohio State University. The study focused on how one bacterial toxin called ACD (a type linked to cholera and poisoning by raw oysters) modifies an abundant cellular protein called actin and converts it into a secondary toxin. Actin is involved in a host of processes including muscle contraction, cell division, cellular communication and immune response. The researchers wanted to better understand how a relatively small amount of bacterial toxin could do such swift, significant damage to a strong network of actin. Their study appears in the journal Current Biology. In theory, the actin's abundance within every single human cell should make it a difficult to disable - and disabling targets is the business of a bacterial toxin looking to gum up the immune system and make a human or animal sick. "You can think of actin like the bones and the muscles of the cell - and a barrier to what comes into and out of the cell," said Kudryashov, an associate professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Ohio State. "It's clearly beneficial for bacteria to paralyze it in some way and we now think we know how that happens for one actin-specific toxin." When the Ohio State research team looked at what was happening in real time in a living cell, they were able to understand how quickly and efficiently the toxin took over - and how that happened. The toxin cripples the action of "instructor" proteins, many of which share a common property - the ability to bind several actin molecules at once. By permanently linking together several actin molecules, ACD toxin converts them into a new universal toxin that binds tightly to those "instructors" and blocks their activity. This amplifies toxicity and disorganizes the cell, and it doesn't take much. A tiny fraction of actin - about 2 percent within a given cell - is affected. The toxin is then redirected toward less-abundant targets, which leads to a cascade of cellular changes that break down normal function. Previous work led to a better understanding of this activity outside of a living cell. "This is basically like crippling a nation by disabling all its instructors: political and military leadership, teachers and others. The population (actin) is there, but without proper instructions most transportation, imports and exports, border protection and other normal activities are halted or disorganized all at once," Kudryashov said. Work such as this is especially important in light of growing concerns about antibiotic-resistant infections, said Kudryashova, a research scientist in chemistry and biochemistry at Ohio State. "The bacteria are becoming 'smarter,' and so we must become much smarter as well," she said. Toxins are the key to bacteria's power to make people and animals sick. A single molecule of some of the most lethal toxins - those released by bacteria that cause whooping cough and dysentery, for example - can kill an entire cell. "When antibiotics worked effectively, we worried less about these processes in the cell, but today we must better understand how bacteria thrive in our bodies so that scientists might someday find alternative ways to fight them," Kudryashova said. The research team's previous work found that this particular bacterial toxin goes after the abundant actin proteins as opposed to the more-expected targeting of less-common molecules that send important cellular signals. ### Other Ohio State researchers who worked on the study were David Heisler, a former graduate student who is the co-lead author of the study, as well as former undergraduate students Blake Williams and Kyle Shafer. The National Institutes of Health supported this research. CONTACTS: Elena Kudryashova, Kudryashova.1@osu.edu, and Dmitri Kudryashov, 614-292-4848; Kudryashov.1@osu.edu Written by Misti Crane, 614-292-5220; Crane.11@osu.edu What happens in a crocodile's brain when it hears complex sounds? An international research team headed by Dr Felix Strockens from the Department of Biopsychology at Ruhr-Universitat Bochum (RUB) has provided the answer to this question. In a first, the researchers examined a cold-blooded reptile using functional MRI. They were thus able to determine that complex stimuli triggered activation patterns in the crocodile's brain that are similar to those in birds and mammals - a deep insight into evolution. The results were published in the journal Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences on April 25, 2018. Link to dinosaurs Crocodiles count among the most ancient species of vertebrates and have barely changed over the space of more than 200 million years. Accordingly, they constitute a link between dinosaurs and bird species today. "Analyses of crocodile brains thus provide deep insights into the evolution of the nervous system in mammals and may help us understand at which point certain brain structures and behaviours associated therewith were formed," explains Felix Strockens. Overcoming technical obstacles The objective pursued by the team of researchers from the Iran, South Africa, France, and Germany was to study Nile crocodiles and to ascertain the way sensory information is processed in their brain. To this end, they deployed functional MRI (fMRI) - a method that is routinely used in clinical diagnostics and research, but which has never yet been utilised to study a cold-blooded reptile. "In the first step, we had to overcome a number of technical obstacles," says research team member Mehdi Behroozi. "For example, we had to adjust the scanner to the crocodile's physiology, which differs massively from that of mammals in several aspects." Astonishing similarity of patterns Subsequently, the researchers exposed the animals to various visual and auditory stimuli, including classical music by Johann Sebastian Bach. At the same time, they measured the animals' brain activity. The results have shown that additional brain areas are activated during exposure to complex stimuli such as classical music - as opposed to exposure to simple sounds. The processing patterns strongly resemble the patterns identified in mammals and birds in similar studies. Processing patterns formed at an early stage Consequently, the researchers assume that fundamental neuronal processing mechanisms of sensory stimuli formed at an early evolutionary stage and that they can be traced back to the same origins in all vertebrates. By successfully deploying fMRI for the examination of a reptile for the first time worldwide, the researchers, moreover, demonstrated that the method does work for poikilothermic organisms. This non-invasive technology can thus be used for many other species that have not yet been studied in depth. ### Funding Funded by the National Research Foundation of South Africa, Thuthuka Grant (TTK14051567366), the German Research Foundation (Gu227/16-1) and the Collaborative Research Centre 874. Original publication Mehdi Behroozi, Brendon K. Billings, Xavier Helluy, Paul R. Manger, Onur Gunturkun, Felix Strockens: Functional MRI in the Nile crocodile: a new avenue for evolutionary neurobiology, in: Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2018, DOI: 0.1098/rspb.2018.0178, http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/285/1877/20180178 Press contact Dr Felix Strockens Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience Department of Biopsychology Faculty of Psychology Ruhr-Universitat Bochum Phone: 0234 32 26845 Email: felix.stroeckens@rub.de RESTON, VA -- A novel PET tracer developed by Korean researchers can visualize joint inflammation and could provide early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, a common autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of joints and can lead to deformity and dysfunction. The study is reported in the featured basic science article in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine's May issue. Activated macrophages, white blood cells that helps protect the body from harmful bacteria and infected cells, are known to play a pivotal role in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) development. Focusing on the translocator protein (TSPO), which is abundant in activated macrophages, researchers developed fluorine-18 (18F)-FEDAC, a radiolabeled ligand that targets TSPO and binds to it. "This study is novel because it showed the value of 18F-FEDAC PET as an inflammation biomarker for early detection of rheumatoid arthritis, even before onset of clinical symptoms of joints," explains Gi Jeong Cheon, MD, PhD, of Seoul National University College of Medicine in Seoul, Korea. For the study, 18F-FEDAC was tested in a mouse model, using both 18F-FEDAC and 18F-FDG PET imaging. Microscopic examinations of tissue were performed to evaluate macrophages and TSPO expression. Results showed increased TSPO mRNA and protein expression in activated macrophages, and uptake of 18F-FEDAC in activated macrophages was higher than it was in non-activated cells. In addition, 18F-FEDAC uptake by arthritic joints increased early on (day 23), whereas 18F-FDG uptake did not. However, 18F-FDG uptake by arthritic joints increased at later stages (day 37) to a higher level than 18F-FEDAC uptake. This early study demonstrates that 18F-FEDAC makes it possible to see active inflammation sites in arthritic joints by targeting TSPO expression in activated macrophages, and it suggests imaging with 18F-FEDAC could be useful when RA is suspected. Cheon points out, "Early treatment can reduce the progression of joint destruction and enhance the effect of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or target drugs, because the burden of inflammatory reaction is smaller in the very early phase of RA." He notes, "We observed that 18F-FEDAC uptake increased in paws of murine RA models in association with TSPO expression of activated macrophages, even before the onset of clinical symptoms of arthritis. 18F-FEDAC can help us to find which patients will actually progress to clinically significant rheumatoid arthritis and need treatment." Reflecting on the comparison of 18F-FEDAC PET with 18F-FDG, Cheon states, "From our data, we found that each tracer may be useful for different information about arthritis--18F-FEDAC for early detection of subclinical arthritis and 18F-FDG for measuring disease activity of symptomatic arthritis. These findings are expected to contribute to the improvement of personalized therapeutic outcomes by expanding the scope of molecular imaging and nuclear medicine." ### Authors of "18F-FEDAC as a Targeting Agent for Activated Macrophages in DBA/1 Mice with Collagen-Induced Arthritis: Comparison with 18F-FDG" include Seock-Jin Chung, Mi Jeong Kim, Yun-Sang Lee, Jae Min Jeong, June-Key Chung, and Gi Jeong Cheon, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea; Hai-JeonYoon, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea; Hyewon Youn and Keon Wook Kang, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea; and Lin Xie and Ming-Rong Zhang, National Institute of Radiological Sciences, National Institutes for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan. This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), funded by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI14C1072). Please visit the SNMMI Media Center to view the PDF of the study, including images, and more information about molecular imaging and personalized medicine. To schedule an interview with the researchers, please contact Laurie Callahan at (703) 652-6773 or lcallahan@snmmi.org. Current and past issues of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine can be found online at http://jnm.snmjournals.org. ABOUT THE SOCIETY OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING The Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) is an international scientific and medical organization dedicated to advancing nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, vital elements of precision medicine that allow diagnosis and treatment to be tailored to individual patients in order to achieve the best possible outcomes. SNMMI's more than 15,000 members set the standard for molecular imaging and nuclear medicine practice by creating guidelines, sharing information through journals and meetings and leading advocacy on key issues that affect molecular imaging and therapy research and practice. For more information, visit http://www.snmmi.org. LA JOLLA, CA-- May 3, 2018 --You could say Hollis Cline's lab at The Scripps Research Institute is building better tadpoles. To better understand how humans learn, Cline, PhD, Hahn Professor of Neuroscience and co-chair of the Department of Neuroscience, leads experiments designed to spark learning in tadpole brains. Over the years, her lab's work with tadpoles has shed light on neuroplasticity--how new experiences flood brain cells with proteins that fuel brain development and learning. Now the lab's latest study, published in eLife, suggests a key to neuroplasticity is not just the presence of new proteins, but how the brain makes proteins in the first place. The research also points to a possible new role for proteins in sensory processing in some people with autism spectrum disorder. "The idea that visual experience can influence how we make proteins is something brand new," Cline says. "This is interesting to think about because we live in a very busy sensory world." The researchers used tadpoles that naturally have translucent skin--which makes them an excellent model for peering into the wirings of a living brain. The tadpoles were kept in the dark and then exposed to either ambient light (for the control group) or a screen with moving bars (simulating normal visual experience) for four hours. Working closely with Professor John Yates, PhD, of the Scripps Research Department of Molecular Medicine, Cline's team measured changes in protein expression--the production of proteins in cells--before and after each experiment. They found that the expression of 83 proteins shifted either up or down in the experimental group. Many of these were effector proteins--the proteins doing specific jobs in cells. But the team also spotted three outliers: proteins eIF3A, FUS and RPS17. These three are regulatory proteins, meaning they construct the machinery that makes the effector proteins further down the line. Cline was surprised. She and her colleagues always thought regulatory protein expression would hold steady even when visual experience varied. "We just thought the regulatory machine would be just humming along," Cline says. "So, we were surprised to see them on our list. We thought, 'Is this accurate? Is this true?'" It turned out that these regulatory proteins are essential for learning from visual experience. Cells are better at building connections and reinforcing learning when they synthesize these proteins at a certain rate during visual experience. In fact, researchers could tag neurons with fluorescent proteins to see the physical signature that visual experience left in the brain. Thanks to eIF3A, FUS and RPS17, tadpoles had significant neuronal growth--seen in how their neurons sent out branch-like tendrils--after just four hours of visual experience. Next, the scientists investigated whether changes in protein expression affected tadpole behavior. How important were these proteins for teaching tadpoles? To find out, the researchers took advantage of a natural tadpole behavior: the instinct to avoid any large shape that may be a looming predator. The researchers had tadpoles swim above a screen that projected large, predator-like spots. Then they tracked whether a tadpole would turn to avoid the dark spots. The tadpoles with exposure to visual experience did significantly better on the avoidance test than tadpoles in the control group. This suggests they had formed the neural circuits to better process visual information. Interestingly, tadpoles did not do as well on the test--even after exposure to visual experience--when they could not express all three key proteins (eIF3A, FUS and RPS17). This finding further confirmed the importance of the regulatory proteins in neuronal plasticity. Finally, the researchers were curious whether the 83 total proteins they identified were expressed differently in human brain disorders, so they cross referenced their list with two databases--one of people with risk factors for autism spectrum disorders, and one with people with fragile X syndrome, which has similar characteristics as autism. The results came as a surprise. Twenty-five percent of the proteins on the Scripps Research list overlapped with the database lists of genes thought to cause autism spectrum disorder and fragile X syndrome. That was a much bigger number than Cline expected, and it prompts new questions about what makes an autism "risk factor" actually risky. Cline thinks mutations in regulatory proteins might keep some people from expressing the other proteins needed for processing sights, smells, textures, tastes and sounds. "This brings to mind a new dimension for understanding autism," Cline says. Cline says future studies could focus on understanding all 83 synthesized proteins. She says the work has also made her consider the visual experience humans take in every day. "It's fascinating to think about how sensory experience affects the brains of our children," says Cline. "We may wittingly or unwittingly affect how their brains develop." ### Additional authors of the study, "Role of the visual experience-dependent nascent proteome in neuronal plasticity," were first author Han-Hsuan Liu, Daniel B. McClatchy, and Lucio Schiapparelli of Scripps Research; and Wanhua Shen of Scripps Research and Hangzhou Normal University. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health (grants EY011261, EY019005, MH099799, MH067880 and MH100175), DartNeuroScience LLC, the Helen Dorris Foundation and an endowment from the Hahn Family Foundation. About The Scripps Research Institute The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) is one of the world's largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. TSRI is internationally recognized for its contributions to science and health, including its role in laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. An institution that evolved from the Scripps Metabolic Clinic founded by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps in 1924, the institute now employs more than 2,500 people on its campuses in La Jolla, CA, and Jupiter, FL, where its renowned scientists--including two Nobel laureates and 20 members of the National Academies of Science, Engineering or Medicine--work toward their next discoveries. The institute's graduate program, which awards PhD degrees in biology and chemistry, ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation. In October 2016, TSRI announced a strategic affiliation with the California Institute for Biomedical Research (Calibr), representing a renewed commitment to the discovery and development of new medicines to address unmet medical needs. For more information, see http://www.scripps.edu. When light of specific frequency hits a semiconductor crystal, it is absorbed and produces a excitation, a state of higher energy. In solar cells, this energy can be converted into electricity and used. In two-dimensional crystals, which consist of only a few atomic layers, so called "excitons" are the protagonists of these processes: These excitations from light incidence consist of one particle of positive charge and one of negative charge. Yet, two-dimensional crystals host a sheer zoo of excitons, making it hard to tell the kind of excitons dealt with in specific situations. Researchers of TU Dresden, in collaboration with an international team, now identified the nature of interlayer excitons in two-dimensional crystals. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Physics. The two-dimensional crystals are a kind of "sandwich" made of single layers of molybdenum disulfide and tungsten diselenide. Each layer has a thickness of only three atoms. In the laboratory, the layers are stacked on each other one by one by hand. "What makes interlayer excitons so special is the two charged particles being separated in space. So far, it was assumed that the positive one is located in the Tungsten diselenide and the negative one in the molybdenum disulfide," says Dr. Jens Kunstmann from the Chair of Theoretical Chemistry of TU Dresden. "We were now able to clearly show that particles of positive charge can be found in both layers, and thence, the interlayer excitons are bound to each other in a much stronger way than presumed formerly." Theoretical as well as experimental groups were working hand in hand in the course of this global collaboration. The Dresden group contributed theoretical calculations and analyses in cooperation with Prof. Andrey Chaves of the Universidade Federal do Ceara in Fortaleza, Brazil, and Prof. David R. Reichman of the renowned Columbia University in New York City, USA. The experiments were conducted by the group of Prof. Tobias Korn of the Universitat Regensburg: among them Fabian Mooshammer and Philipp Nagler, who contributed to this research in the course of their master and doctoral theses. "We are still at the beginning, we still don't know for sure how interlayer excitons in other two-dimensional crystals look like," Dr. Kunstmann points out. "But we are fascinated by these excitons anyway. The spatial separation of the charges could enable the condensation of excitons to a macroscopic quantum state, as well as the construction of highly efficient solar cells." ### BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The idea of using energy from the sun to evaporate and purify water is ancient. The Greek philosopher Aristotle reportedly described such a process more than 2,000 years ago. Now, researchers are bringing this technology into the modern age, using it to sanitize water at what they report to be record-breaking rates. By draping black, carbon-dipped paper in a triangular shape and using it to both absorb and vaporize water, they have developed a method for using sunlight to generate clean water with near-perfect efficiency. "Our technique is able to produce drinking water at a faster pace than is theoretically calculated under natural sunlight," says lead researcher Qiaoqiang Gan, PhD, associate professor of electrical engineering in the University at Buffalo School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. As Gan explains, "Usually, when solar energy is used to evaporate water, some of the energy is wasted as heat is lost to the surrounding environment. This makes the process less than 100 percent efficient. Our system has a way of drawing heat in from the surrounding environment, allowing us to achieve near-perfect efficiency." The low-cost technology could provide drinking water in regions where resources are scarce, or where natural disasters have struck. The advancements are described in a study published on May 3 in the journal Advanced Science. The project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), was a collaboration between UB, Fudan University in China and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. UB electrical engineering PhD graduate Haomin Song and PhD candidate Youhai Liu were the study's first authors. Gan, Song and other colleagues have launched a startup, Sunny Clean Water, to bring the invention to people who need it. With support from the NSF Small Business Innovation Research program, the company is integrating the new evaporation system into a prototype of a solar still, a sun-powered water purifier. "When you talk to government officials or nonprofits working in disaster zones, they want to know: 'How much water can you generate every day?' We have a strategy to boost daily performance," Song says. "With a solar still the size of a mini fridge, we estimate that we can generate 10 to 20 liters of clean water every single day." Modernizing an age-old technology Solar stills have been around for a long time. These devices use the sun's heat to evaporate water, leaving salt, bacteria and dirt behind. Then, the water vapor cools and returns to a liquid state, at which point it's collected in a clean container. The technique has many advantages. It's simple, and the power source -- the sun -- is available just about everywhere. But unfortunately, even the latest solar still models are somewhat inefficient at vaporizing water. Gan's team addressed this challenge through a neat, counterintuitive trick: They increased the efficiency of their evaporation system by cooling it down. A central component of their technology is a sheet of carbon-dipped paper that is folded into an upside-down "V" shape, like the roof of a birdhouse. The bottom edges of the paper hang in a pool of water, soaking up the fluid like a napkin. At the same time, the carbon coating absorbs solar energy and transforms it into heat for evaporation. As Gan explains, the paper's sloped geometry keeps it cool by weakening the intensity of the sunlight illuminating it. (A flat surface would be hit directly by the sun's rays.) Because most of the carbon-coated paper stays under room temperature, it can draw in heat from the surrounding area, compensating for the regular loss of solar energy that occurs during the vaporization process. Using this set-up, researchers evaporated the equivalent of 2.2 liters of water per hour for every square meter of area illuminated by the regular sun, higher than the theoretical upper limit of 1.68 liters, according to the new study. The team conducted its tests in the lab, using a solar simulator to generate light at the intensity of one regular sun. "Most groups working on solar evaporation technologies are trying to develop advanced materials, such as metallic plasmonic and carbon-based nanomaterials," Gan says. "We focused on using extremely low-cost materials and were still able to realize record-breaking performance. "Importantly, this is the only example I know of where the thermal efficiency of the solar evaporation process is 100 percent when you consider solar energy input. By developing a technique where the vapor is below ambient temperature, we create new research possibilities for exploring alternatives to high-temperature steam generation." ### Challenges and differences in opinion are inevitable when working in a team. But new research from the UBC Sauder School of Business suggests some of these conflicts can be reduced, or even avoided, through team mindfulness. Team mindfulness refers to a shared belief within a team of focusing on the present moment and ensuring team members interact with one another without judgment. While individual mindfulness has gained traction around the world, research has yet to properly delve into the benefits of mindfulness in a group setting, which the researchers say could be achieved through activities such as meditation or yoga practiced as a team. The study is the first to challenge the common belief that mindfulness is a solitary activity, and explores how team mindfulness can be beneficial to teams. "Mindfulness has been proven to increase job satisfaction and psychological well-being and decrease stress in employees, so we wondered how these benefits may or may not transfer to a team environment," said Lingtao Yu, the study's lead author and assistant professor at Sauder. "We found that when teams are more mindful, this reduces interpersonal conflicts and helps teams better focus on the task at hand." For the study, the researchers conducted two field studies with a total of 394 students in Masters of Business Administration programs in the United States to develop a scale of team mindfulness and to test the benefits of team mindfulness in reducing conflict. A third field study tested the benefits of team mindfulness within a different work culture using 292 health care workers in China. The researchers found that, when teams are more mindful, the degree of interpersonal conflict decreased. Team members were also less likely to transform their frustration with a particular task into a personal conflict with their colleagues. This helped the team members detach from the task and eliminated strong emotions and feelings of prejudgment. "Our research shows that interpersonal conflict can further spill over into interpersonal social undermining behaviours, harming teamwork as a whole," said study co-author Mary Zellmer-Bruhn of the University of Minnesota. "Team mindfulness can act as a safeguard against this and ensures that the task, rather than the person, remains the focus of reactions. It can also limit the intensity of one's opposition and negative emotions, thereby limiting escalation." The researchers argue that more companies should consider making a concerted effort to be mindful-- not only for individual employees, but as a team. Organizations such as Google, Target, General Mills and UBC have been early adopters of individual mindfulness practices and recognize the benefits of it. For example, companies could benefit from bringing a meditation expert to carry out meditation sessions for teams. "Given that more companies are employing a team-based organizational structure, where team interactions are critical and stress levels are high, we hope to design an evidence-based team mindfulness program that organizations can offer," said Yu. "We believe teams may benefit from doing meditation or yoga together, and setting aside time to share experiences so that team as a whole becomes more mindful." The study was recently published in the Academy of Management Journal. ### An international study, involving researchers from the University of Granada, has established that the escalation of armed conflicts in the Sahara-Sahel region is leading to a dramatic population decline of species such as the African elephant and dorcas gazelle. The research paper calls for greater emphasis on environmental factors in the peace process initiatives that aim to bring an end to the conflicts. According to the study, led by the Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources (CIBIO-InBIO) at the University of Porto, the increase in the number of armed conflicts and other factors in the Sahara-Sahel region in Africa is accelerating the population decline of endangered local animal species. Specifically, the rise in the number of firearms available, the over-exploitation of resources, and human intervention in previously remote areas have resulted in the extinction or near-extinction of 12 of the 14 species of large vertebrates in the region. Published in the prestigious scientific journal Conservation Letters, the study involved the collaboration of 20 international academic institutions, including the UGR, represented by Juan M. Pleguezuelos Gomez, a professor at the Department of Zoology. The Sahara-Sahel region is vast and stretches over several countries, among them Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan and Tunisia. In order to obtain useful data, the scientists mapped the spatial and temporal occurrence of conflicts and other threats to local wildlife in the region, such as the exploitation of natural resources. Next, they contrasted these threat factors with the distribution and decline of large endangered animal species, including gazelles, addax, antelopes and African elephants. The researchers warn that armed conflicts in the region, which have been escalating since 2011 and now represent 5 per cent of all conflicts in the world are wiping out animal species such as the African elephant and dorcas gazelle at an alarming rate. "Likewise, oil drilling in the region has given rise to the progressive extinction of the addax, a type of antelope, underscoring a catastrophic decline in fauna in this part of Africa", the team explains. The data collected also supports the theory that illegal animal hunting is more common in regions already affected by human trafficking, terrorism and organised crime. "There's a vicious circle connecting arms trafficking, conflicts, migration and the extinction of animal species", they explain, also condemning the negative impact of EU and US military interventions in Libya. How do we stop the slaughter? The study concludes that local fauna can be protected by raising awareness about the situation, encouraging sustainable resource exploitation and by imposing sanctions on those who do not abide by the regulations designed to protect the wildlife. It warns, however, that these proposed measures must be implemented as a matter of urgency to prevent a major environmental disaster. Jose Carlos Brito, the principal investigator of the project, points out that: "Areas where fauna is seriously endangered due to the rise in conflicts need to be identified, and effective policies need to be implemented in order to reduce the impact of these conflicts on biodiversity." In terms of immediate interventions which would help to achieve the necessary changes, the researchers call for "the introduction of environmental factors into peace strategies, the disarmament of civilians and extremist groups, and restrictions on the purchase of firearms and ammunition." The most important message this study sends, however, is that the issue can only be tackled by achieving a greater balance between environmental preservation and socio-economic development. ### Brito JC, Durant SM, Pettorelli N, Newby J, Canney S, Algadafi W, Rabeil T, Crochet PA, Pleguezuelos JM et al. (2018) Armed conflicts and wildlife decline: Challenges and recommendations for effective conservation policy in the Sahara-Sahel. Conservation Letters. DOI: 10.1111/conl.12446 Plant cells share a strange and surprising kinship with animal neurons: many plant cells have proteins that closely resemble glutamate receptors, which help to relay nerve signals from one neuron to another. While plants lack a true nervous system, previous studies have shown that plants need these glutamate receptor-like proteins (GLRs) to do important things such as mate, grow, and defend themselves against diseases and pests. A study led by University of Maryland researchers suggests a new model for how GLRs function in plant cells. Working with Arabidopsis thaliana pollen cells, the researchers found that GLRs form the basis of a complex communication network inside individual plant cells. Their findings also suggest that GLRs rely on another group of proteins, called "cornichon" proteins, to shuttle GLRs to different locations and regulate GLR activity within each cell. With the help of cornichon proteins, GLRs act as valves that carefully manage the concentration of calcium ions--a vital aspect of many cell communication pathways--within various structures inside the cell, the study found. The research, which could inform many new studies of cell-to-cell communication in plants and animals alike, is featured on the cover of the May 4, 2018, issue of the journal Science. Researchers from the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia in Portugal and the Universidad Nacional de Autonoma de Mexico co-authored the study. "Calcium concentration is one of the most important parameters inside all cells. It is so well regulated that it allows cells to encode information. Put another way, calcium is the lingua franca of cell communication," said Jose Feijo, a professor of cell biology and molecular genetics at UMD and the senior author of the study, noting that calcium is also vital to the function of animal neurons. "Our results suggest that GLRs play a role in this basic communication system in plants, and we also propose a mechanism for how the system works in plant cells." The similarities between GLRs and animal glutamate receptors suggest that the proteins date back to a common ancestor--a single-celled organism that gave rise to both animals and plants. However, Feijo noted some important differences between GLRs and their counterparts in animal neurons. To begin with, glutamate--the most common neurotransmitter in the human brain--does not play a major role in the plant system. Also, while glutamate receptors are known to sit on the outer surface of animal neurons, some of Feijo's earlier experiments suggested that GLRs might instead be located on various structures inside plant cells. "This would be the only way to consistently explain the results we were getting," Feijo said. "Our results suggest that GLRs are indeed redistributed to other compartments inside plant cells, forming a complex network that cooperates to regulate calcium concentrations and enable calcium signaling. This is a novel insight that opens completely new avenues to understand calcium signaling in plants." Feijo and Michael Wudick, a postdoctoral researcher in cell biology and molecular genetics at UMD and lead author of the paper, suspected that plant cells use a specific mechanism to control the locations of GLRs throughout the cell. This led Wudick to investigate cornichon proteins, which are linked to the activity of glutamate receptors in animals. Initially identified in fruit flies, cornichon proteins are named for the pickle-like appearance that a specific cornichon gene mutation imparts to fruit fly embryos, Feijo said. In their experiments with Arabidopsis pollen cells, Feijo's team found that cornichon proteins actively shuttled GLRs from one location to another within the cell, enabling various compartments inside the cell to maintain different calcium ion concentrations. Cornichons also act as gatekeepers for GLRs, switching the receptor molecules off and on like a valve in response to changing conditions inside the cell. All told, the team's results suggest a model for plant cell communication that is unlike anything found in animals. While animal neurons use glutamate receptors to conduct signals from cell to cell, Feijo suggested that plants depend on communication strategies that operate at the single-cell level. "Why should plants have receptors like the ones that make neurons work? Our results support the idea that individual plant cells have a level of autonomy that animal cells do not," Feijo said. "Each plant cell has its own immune system, for example. And they have more communication channels to deal with the fact that they are stuck in place. Every flowering plant has more GLRs than animals have glutamate receptors. Our proposed model for plant cell communication suggests one reason for this abundance of GLRs." Further progress toward decoding plant communication could result in reliable tests to diagnose diseases, nutrient deficiencies and other maladies in plants, Feijo said. Such measures could help to ensure food security, as climate change and other stressors begin to take a toll on major agricultural crops. Feijo also noted that a deeper understanding of GLRs could reveal new insights into animal glutamate receptors and their defects, which could be the cause of some neurodegenerative conditions. "Some researchers have suggested that neurodegeneration is caused by over-active glutamate receptors. This is not settled, but there are some conditions in both humans and dogs that have been linked to mutations in glutamate receptor genes," Feijo said. "It is possible that our model could help investigate these conditions. The advantage is that our protocol is very easy to use." ### The research paper, "CORNICHON sorting and regulation of GLR channels underlie pollen tube Ca2+ homeostasis," Michael Wudick, Maria Teresa Portes, Erwan Michard, Paul Rosas-Santiago, Michael Lizzio, Custodio Oliveira Nunes, Claudia Campos, Daniel Santa Cruz Damineli, Joana Carvalho, Pedro Lima, Omar Pantoja and Jose Feijo, was published in the May 4, 2018 issue of Science. This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation (Award Nos. MCB 1616437/2016 and MCB 1714993/2017), the Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (Award Nos. PTDC/BEX-BCM/0376/2012, PTDC/BIA-PLA/4018/2012, SFRH/PD/70739/2010 and SFRH/PD/70820/2010), the Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Award No. 220085), and the Direccion General de Asuntos del Personal Academico-Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (Award No. IN-203817). The content of this article does not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations. Media Relations Contact: Matthew Wright, 301-405-9267, mewright@umd.edu University of Maryland? College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences 2300 Symons Hall College Park, MD 20742 http://www.cmns.umd.edu @UMDscience About the College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences The College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences at the University of Maryland educates more than 9,000 future scientific leaders in its undergraduate and graduate programs each year. The college's 10 departments and more than a dozen interdisciplinary research centers foster scientific discovery with annual sponsored research funding exceeding $175 million. Canadian researchers say industrial sea fishing may be exposing people in coastal and island nations to excessively high levels of mercury The amount of mercury extracted from the sea by industrial fishing has grown steadily since the 1950s, potentially increasing mercury exposure among the populations of several coastal and island nations to levels that are unsafe for foetal development. These are the findings of a study carried out by researchers from Universite de Montreal's Department of Biological Sciences and published this week in Scientific Reports. The study combined data on the amount of mercury fished out of oceans and seas from 1950 to 2014 and the weekly consumption of fish and seafood by the populations of 175 countries between 1961 and 2011. By comparing this data, which was published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), postdoctoral fellow Raphael Lavoie was able to estimate these populations' per capita intake of methylmercury (MeHg), a highly toxic form of mercury. Working under the direction of Professor Marc Amyot, Lavoie estimated that the people of 38 per cent (66 of 175) of the countries examined by the study might be exposed to methylmercury levels higher than the maximum deemed safe for foetal development. The highest-risk countries include the Maldives, Iceland, Malaysia, Lithuania, Japan, Barbados and South Korea. When humans ingest excessively high levels of methylmercury, the toxin's molecules can penetrate the blood-brain barrier and impact cerebral development, especially in children and foetuses. Industrialization has released vast quantities of mercury into the atmosphere, which have settled in oceans and waterways. This mercury is absorbed by sea creatures, many of which are consumed by humans. Since 1950, demand for seafood has skyrocketed while technological breakthroughs have enabled more intensive forms of industrial fishing. Since the 1990s, when overfishing drastically reduced stocks, industrial fishing has gradually migrated to deep-sea and international waters. "The global marine catch totals 80 million tonnes of fish per year, which means that we are also pulling out increasingly large amounts of mercury," said Amyot. Of the industrial fishing areas listed by the FAO, the Northwest Pacific currently exports the most fish - and the most methylmercury. The Western Central Pacific holds second place, while the Indian Ocean ranks third. "Together, these three fishing areas exported 60 per cent of the mercury resulting from global seafood production in 2014," said Lavoie. The people in these regions are some of the world's top seafood consumers. Species high up on the food chain contain the highest concentrations of mercury. From 1950 to 2014, large fish represented approximately 60 per cent of the global catch (by weight) and nearly 90 per cent of the mercury ingested by consumers from fish. To be safe for foetal development, the threshold for methylmercury consumption is 1.6 micrograms for each kilogram of a person's body weight per week (1.6 g/kg/week). "By comparing FAO data on global seafood consumption, we observed that from 2001 to 2011 the populations of 38 per cent of the 175 countries we analyzed would have been exposed to weekly doses of methylmercury far above the maximum safe level of consumption for foetal development," said Lavoie. "Many of these populations are in coastal and island nations, especially developing countries." For instance, during that 10-year period, people in the Maldives would have consumed an average of 23 micrograms of methylmercury per kilogram of body weight each week, or more than 14 times what's deemed safe. The next highest-ranking were people in Kiribati (8 g/kg/week), Iceland (7.5 g/kg/week), Malaysia and Samoa (6.4 g/kg/week), French Polynesia (5 g/kg/week), Lithuania, Japan and Barbados (4.8 g/kg/week) and South Korea (4.7 g/kg/week). By contrast, the global average for mercury exposure over the same 2001-2011 period was estimated at 1.7 g/kg/week. In Canada, exposure totalled 1 g/kg/week. (See the pdf for a chart of select nations and their estimated exposure.) Lavoie and Amyot said their estimates are conservative. The global catch by the fishing industry, including artisanal and illegal fishing, is probably 50 per cent higher than the FAO data indicates, they said. Both researchers believe these estimates could help authorities find ways to reduce the risk of mercury exposure, especially among high-risk populations such as children and pregnant women. Some methods of preparing and consuming fish seem to reduce the risk of methylmercury contamination, they pointed out. In a recent study, they found that cooking fish or consuming it in combination with certain polyphenols contained in foodstuffs like tea could reduce the bioavailability of methylmercury in the human body. Which is good news, because contrary to prevailing opinion, the methylmercury we consume may not be fully absorbed ### About this study "Mercury transport and human exposure from global marine fisheries," by Raphael A. Lavoie, Ariane Bouffard, Roxane Maranger and Marc Amyot, was published April 30 in Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-24938-3 The islands of Puerto Rico, Cuba, Hispaniola, and Jamaica -- collectively known as the Greater Antilles -- are home to more than 100 species of Anolis lizards. The success of this colorful group of reptiles is often attributed to the evolution of distinct body shapes and behaviors that allow species to occupy different ecological niches. A new study from an international team of biologists including from the University of Missouri reports that the evolution of physiological differences that allow these lizards to take advantage of different microclimates (e.g., sun vs. shade) may have been just as important as these physical differences. The study, which was published recently in The Proceedings of the Royal Society B, has implications for predicting how well these lizards will cope with climate change. "Why are there so many species of anoles? That's the big question," says Manuel Leal, an associate professor of biological sciences at MU and one of the authors of the report. "The notion that morphological differences alone drove the amazing diversity of anoles is missing an important part of the puzzle." For scientists, the Greater Antillean anoles represent a classic example of an evolutionary process known as adaptive radiation. After appearing on each of the four islands about 50 million years ago, the colorful lizards quickly diversified to exploit different niches on the island's trees, including the canopy, trunk near the ground, mid-trunk, and other twigs. Each new species developed its own distinct body type, called an ecomorph, adapted to the niche where it lived. According to Leal, this focus on differences in appearance leaves some important questions unanswered. "How can similar species coexist without outcompeting one another? One of the tenants of evolutionary ecology is that when a structural niche is filled, species diversification should either slow or come to an end due to competition. There must be some other way they are sharing that habitat to avoid competition," he said. The researchers hypothesized that the evolution of physiological traits related to temperature tolerance also facilitated the maintenance of biological diversity by providing an additional axis of co-existence. Working with Alex Gunderson with the University of California at Berkeley and D. Luke Mahler with the University of Toronto, Leal set out to test this hypothesis. The team caught and collected thermal physiological data on over 300 anoles. Most of the anoles belonged to the Puerto Rican cristatellus group, which includes four pairs of sister species, each of which occupies a different thermal niche. They also included data on Jamaican anoles. The researchers measured two aspects of thermal physiology: maximum thermal tolerance and optimal temperature for sprint performance, which they used as a measure of fitness. They asked if a species heat tolerance correlated with its optimal sprint performance. They expected that sister species would diverge in one or both of these physiological traits. They found that all Puerto Rican species pairs diverged in at least one of the two physiological traits. In three of the four pairs, the species that preferred the warmer environment had a higher thermal maximum temperature. In two cases, the species that preferred the warmer environment also had had a higher optimal temperature. They found a similar pattern among the Jamaican anoles. "These findings show that when morphologically similar species co-occur in Puerto Rico and Jamaica, they differ in thermal physiology. We can say that thermal physiological differentiation is important for increasing local species richness," said Leal. An additional insight was that thermal physiology evolved slower than morphology. This evolutionary interplay, Leal said, has real-world implications when one considers the rate at which the world's climate is warming. "This is not good news for the ability of anoles to adapt to climate change," said Leal. "The data suggest that the rate at which physiology changes in anoles is not fast enough to cope with how fast temperatures are rising." ### The study, titled "Thermal niche evolution across replicated Anolis lizard adaptive radiations," was funded by the National Science Foundation. PITTSBURGH, May 2, 2018 - On May 6, the National Institutes of Health will open national enrollment for the All of Us Research Program--a momentous effort to advance individualized prevention, treatment and care for people of all backgrounds--in collaboration the University of Pittsburgh and other partners. The overall aim at Pitt, NIH and other research partners is to enroll more than 1 million volunteers, particularly from communities that have been underrepresented in research, to make the program the largest, most diverse resource of its kind. Volunteers will join more than 25,000 participants across the United States who have already enrolled in All of Us as part of a year-long early enrollment to prepare for the program's national launch. People ages 18 and older, regardless of health status, will be able to participate. NIH has funded more than 100 organizations throughout the U.S. to be partners in the program, including Pitt. The total amount awarded to Pitt is anticipated to top $60 million. "The time is now to transform how we conduct research--with participants as partners--to shed new light on how to stay healthy and manage disease in more personalized ways. This is what we can accomplish through All of Us," said Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D., director of the NIH. Precision medicine is an emerging approach to disease treatment and prevention that considers differences in people's lifestyles, environments and biological makeup, including genes. By partnering with 1 million diverse people who share information about themselves over many years, the All of Us Research Program will enable research to more precisely prevent and treat a variety of health conditions. All of Us seeks to transform the relationship between researchers and participants, bringing them together as partners to inform the program's directions, goals and responsible return of research information. Participants will be able to access their own health information, summary data about the entire participant community and information about studies and findings that come from All of Us. "All of Us Pennsylvania has the potential to shift the practice of modern medicine. The ability to approach patients with unique prevention strategies and treatment options based on each person's lifestyle, environment, and genomic data is what makes it precision medicine," said Arthur S. Levine, M.D., Pitt's senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and John and Gertrude Petersen Dean of Medicine. "The All of Us Research Program will change the way diseases are prevented, diagnosed and treated based on individual differences. By engaging one million Americans nationally, this study will create the largest health research database of its kind to advance precision medicine - an individualized approach to health," said principal investigator Steven E. Reis, M.D., associate vice chancellor for clinical research, Health Sciences, professor of medicine, and director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute at Pitt. "The future of health care is precision medicine and UPMC, along with our partners at Pitt, is proud to lead the way in redefining care for our patients and our community," said Steve Shapiro, M.D., chief medical and scientific officer, UPMC. Participants are asked to share different types of health and lifestyle information, including through online surveys and electronic health records (EHRs), which will continue to be collected over the course of the program. At different times over the coming months and years, some participants will be asked to visit a local partner site to provide blood and urine samples, and to have basic physical measurements taken, such as height and weight. To ensure that the program gathers information from all types of people, especially those who have been underrepresented in research, not everyone will be asked to give physical measures and samples. In the future, participants may be invited to share data through wearable devices and to join follow-up research studies, including clinical trials. Also in future phases of the program, children will be able to enroll, and the program will add more data types, such as genetic data. Ultimately, the All of Us Research program will be a rich and open data resource for traditional academic researchers as well as citizen scientists. ### To learn more about the program and how to join, please visit Join All of Us PA. Note: "All of Us" is a registered service mark of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). About the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences include the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences and the Graduate School of Public Health. The schools serve as the academic partner to the UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center). Together, their combined mission is to train tomorrow's health care specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease and participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Since 1998, Pitt and its affiliated university faculty have ranked among the top 10 educational institutions in grant support from the National Institutes of Health. For additional information about the Schools of the Health Sciences, please visit http://www.health.pitt.edu. About UPMC A $16 billion world-renowned health care provider and insurer, Pittsburgh-based UPMC is inventing new models of patient-centered, cost-effective, accountable care. UPMC provides more than $900 million a year in benefits to its communities, including more care to the region's most vulnerable citizens than any other health care institution. The largest nongovernmental employer in Pennsylvania, UPMC integrates 80,000 employees, more than 30 hospitals, 600 doctors' offices and outpatient sites, and a 3.4 million-member Insurance Services Division, the largest medical insurer in western Pennsylvania. As UPMC works in close collaboration with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside on its annual Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals. UPMC Enterprises functions as the innovation and commercialization arm of UPMC, and UPMC International provides hands-on health care and management services with partners around the world. For more information, go to UPMC.com. http://www.upmc.com/media PHILADELPHIA - Noah Pernikoff is back to his life in New York City after becoming the first patient in the world to undergo a complex three-part, robotic-assisted surgery. The robotic arms made it possible for the multidisciplinary team at Penn to successfully remove a rare tumor from Noah's neck, where the skull meets the spine. The ground breaking surgery was completed by a multi-surgeon team, led by Dr. Neil Malhotra, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in August 2017 over a span of two days and more than 20 hours. Chordoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull base and spine. A chordoma tumor usually grows slowly and is often asymptomatic for years. In the case of 27-year-old Noah Pernikoff, a 2016 car accident revealed his surprising diagnosis. Among his injuries from the accident, Noah--who was working in New York City for a commercial contracting firm--tore his rotator cuff and had several herniated discs. More important, however, was his post-accident nagging neck pain, which lead to an x-ray that revealed a concerning lesion in his neck, on his cervical spine. The lesion was clearly unrelated to the accident, and far more concerning than the minor injuries he had endured. After making a recovery from the accident, Pernikoff's father, a physician, encouraged his son to see a neurosurgeon for evaluation of the injury. The neurosurgeon Pernikoff saw ultimately recommended a biopsy of the spot, which resulted in a diagnosis of chordoma. "I'm lucky because they caught mine early. For a lot of people, if it's not found and treated early, it's lethal," Pernikoff said. "The doctor said if I hadn't discovered it through the car accident it probably would have kept growing until it came to a point on my spinal cord where it caused paralysis or death. I feel very lucky in that regard." Unfortunately, the neurosurgeon explained to Pernikoff, while surgery is known to be the best option for chordoma, Pernikoff's would be too difficult to resect and he would have to try the second option, radiation with proton therapy. Chordoma is extremely rare; it affects only one in 1 million people each year. Pernikoff's specific type of chordoma, located on his C2 vertebrae, is even rarer, making treatment a challenge. Pernikoff's neurosurgeon immediately referred him to Penn, where a multidisciplinary team reviewed his case, and his options, and began crafting a treatment plan--not through radiation, but a complex surgery that had never been performed before. Neil Malhotra, MD, an assistant professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery and the vice chair of operations in the department of Neurosurgery, gathered a multidisciplinary team of physicians to treat Pernikoff's chordoma. Malhotra planned to remove the tumor through a rare and complex spinal surgery approach. Bert W. O'Malley Jr., MD, a professor and chairman of the department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, planned to aid Malhotra's approach and improve Pernikoff's recovery by using a trans-oral robotic (TORS) approach for the second part of the surgery. TORS is the world's first group of minimally invasive robotic surgery techniques, invented at Penn, to remove benign and malignant tumors of the mouth and throat. "This would be a first ever use of a robot in this manner--a rare approach to an already rare and complex case," Malhotra said. "Our team needed to reconstruct the removed area of Pernikoff's spine using bone and rods, and that was only the beginning." The stakes were high. Because of the placement of the tumor, Malhotra said removal could compromise the structural integrity of Pernikoff's spine, causing permanent paralysis. There was also a risk of complications such as bone and tissue breakdown, loss of sense of smell, fine motor skill issues, and complete paralysis. And, he said, "if we couldn't remove the entire tumor, it would likely grow back, perhaps more aggressive than before." The surgery was performed in three parts. First, the neurosurgeons went through the back of Pernikoff's neck and cut the spine around the tumor to prepare for the second stage, removing the tumor through his mouth. The key to this stage would be to make ultrasonic bone cuts--removing a piece of bone--around the tumor without touching it, and without injuring the spinal cord that lay between the neurosurgeon and the tumor/spinal column. With stage one success, O'Malley and a team of three head and neck surgeons used the surgical robot to clear a path so Malhotra could remove the tumor, and part of the spinal column, in its entirety through the mouth. Finally, the team reconstructed Pernikoff's spinal column, which was now missing an important bone in his neck, using some of Pernikoffs' own bone from his hip and rods to finalize stabilization of the newly built portion of his spine. "The capability of this technology and procedure is revolutionary," O'Malley said. "This surgery was groundbreaking and it's a wonderful example of how versatile TORS is for tumors in the head, neck, and now spine." Now, nine months after the surgery, Pernikoff is already back to work in commercial contracting and says he's forever grateful for the car accident that revealed his diagnosis and the life-saving care that he received at Penn Medicine. ### Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital - the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided $500 million to benefit our community. Human activities have contributed to global warming subsequently leading to increasing erosion of land. This results in conductive minerals being washed increasingly into water streams. The inflow of conductive particles can enable unusual electric partnerships between microbes leading to additional emissions of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Microbes work in mysterious ways. Some thrive in extreme cold, under extreme pressure, in extreme heat, in extreme salinity or in extreme acidity. Some feed on organic material, while others prefer rock, chemical compounds or heavy metals. In the journal mBio, researchers report their encounter with microbes that go for something completely different when looking for attractive living conditions. - In The Baltic Sea we discovered microbes that share a meal, which neither could efficiently eat alone. They establish their odd interaction by transferring electricity from one species to another via conductive particles. So they use the conductive particles to interact electrically with each other and outcompete anyone else that might be enticed by the same food source, explains lead author Amelia-Elena Rotaru from University of Southern Denmark. The bad side of 'electric' microbes This rather bizarre electric relationship via conductive particles is not only a biological curiosity - it also prompts the production of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. The SDU-lead team showed that the microbes required the conductive particles in order to thrive and release methane. Such particles can be of many different origins, as many materials are conductive. One example is magnetite, which is an abundant iron-oxide mineral in Baltic Sea sediments. Magnetite is a type of particle which can be supplied to the seawater from land erosion. Microbe alliances to keep away the foes Two microbes established a conductive particle driven alliance. These microorganisms are named Geobacter and Methanosarcina. The study shows that as long as conductive particles were available, they both persisted, but when conducting particles were taken away, Geobacter went extinct and Methanosarcina dramatically decreased its activity. Not only do the two studied bacteria species benefit from this collaboration - they also manage to keep other microbes (Methanothrix) attempting to compete for the same resources away. In the Bothnian Bay, conductive particles can be supplied from river runoff from the eight rivers entering the bay from Sweden and Finland, and also via the runoff from the forestry industry and various coastal industries. "This was the first time we could scientifically document a conductive particle based associations between bacteria and methanogens from environmental samples. We are now finding similar trends in other aquatic environments such as an oceanic oxygen minimum zone, or in lake sediments", said the lead author. The good side of 'electric' microbes Amelia-Elena Rotaru and her team presently focus on finding a way to make microorganisms work for us to produce the chemicals of the future. - If we can find a way to use the electric properties of microbes to store carbon and electricity while producing biodegradable and safe materials similar to those made today from fossil fuels we would have achieved our ultimate goal to foster a sustainable society, said Amelia-Elena Rotary. ### Amelia-Elena Rotaru is funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Danish Research Council and Innovation Fund Denmark. Reducing carbon emissions in order to prevent climate change requires developing new technologies for sustainable and renewable biofuel production. Molecular hydrogen is regarded as one of the most promising energy carriers due to its high energy density and clean, carbon-free use. A research group from the University of Turku, Finland, has discovered an efficient way for transforming solar energy into the chemical energy of biohydrogen through the photosynthesis of green algae that function as cell factories. During photosynthesis, green algae utilise harvested solar energy to split water, release oxygen into the atmosphere and produce biomass that functions as an excellent feed-stock in the blue biorefinery. Green algae are also efficient biocatalysts and can transform solar energy and carbon dioxide directly into different valuable compounds, such as vitamins, antioxidants, polymers, and carbohydrates. - When algal cells are first incubated under anaerobic conditions in the dark and then exposed to light, they start producing hydrogen efficiently, but unfortunately only for a few seconds, says the leader of the research group, Yagut Allahverdiyeva-Rinne, Associate Professor of Molecular Plant Biology at the University of Turku. Researchers have already for decades believed that the main obstacle to the longer-term hydrogen production in algae in light is the destruction of the hydrogenase enzyme, a key element in this process, which is caused by oxygen. - Since algae constantly release oxygen during their photosynthesis that occurs simultaneously with the production of hydrogen, maintenance of anaerobic conditions in illuminated cultures has been particularly troublesome, says Senior Researcher Sergey Kosourov, a member of the research group. New and Ecologically Sustainable Method to Produce Biohydrogen The researchers at the University of Turku decided to apply the knowledge retrieved from the basic research on the photosynthesis of algae and established a new method for producing hydrogen that does not expose green algae to additional nutritional starvation and, thus, without applying any significant stress to the cells. The researchers showed that the production of hydrogen could be significantly extended by simply exposing the anaerobic algal cultures to a train of strong yet short light pulses, which are interrupted by longer dark periods. - Under these conditions, algal cultures exposed to sunlight do not accumulate oxygen in the medium. In addition, algae steer the electrons resulting from the decomposition of water and charged by sunlight into hydrogen production instead of biomass accumulation. The process lasts for, at least, several days and the maximum rate of the production of hydrogen occurs during the first eight hours, Kosourov says. The research indicated clearly that a major obstacle to efficient hydrogen production is not oxygen but a strong competition between two metabolic pathways: carbon dioxide fixation leading to the biomass accumulation and the hydrogenase enzyme catalysing photoproduction of hydrogen. - The study opens up new possibilities for the construction of efficient living cell factories for the production of biofuels and different chemicals directly from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. The research provides important information on how to avoid 'wasting' solar-driven energy in biomass production and how to apply this energy directly for the production of useful bio-products, Allahverdiyeva-Rinne says. The new method developed by the researchers is valuable both for the basic research of the photosynthesis of algae and for the research and development work of the industrial sector when producing new technologies for the large-scale production of carbon neutral biofuels. ### The research is funded by Kone Foundation and the NordAqua Nordic Centre of Excellence of NordForsk Bioeconomy programme. The project is part of the Centre of Excellence in Molecular Biology of Primary Producers funded by the Academy of Finland and led by Academician of Science Eva-Mari Aro from the University of Turku. Sergey Kosourov, Marina Jokel, Eva-Mari Aro & Yagut Allahverdiyeva: A new approach for sustained and efficient H 2 photoproduction by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Energy & Environmental Science, 2018, http://doi.org/10.1039/c8ee00054a The state mining firm in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gecamines, and Belgian multi-millionaire businessman George Forrest have announced the settlement of a dispute that has stalled cobalt production. At a time of high global demand for cobalt and copper, notably to make rechargeable batteries and provide superalloys to the aviation industry, the two parties on Wednesday jointly announced a deal on the exploitation of a vast slag heap at Lubumbashi, the main city in the Katanga region. The dispute concerned management of metallurgical waste in the slag built up during previous mining operations. This waste is taken by the Groupement du Terril de Lubumbashi (GTL, Lubumbashi Slag Heap Consortium) to be turned into a white alloy containing cobalt and copper. However, the electric furnace in the biggest smelting plant in Africa is in need of repairs to produce the alloy, which is shipped to a cobalt treatment plant at Kokkola in Finland. Under the agreement, GTL transfers full ownership of the Lubumbashi plant to Gecamines, which undertook to repair the furnace. Gecamines hands over its 30 percent share in GTL to the Forrest Group, which hitherto held 70 percent, the joint statement said. The Congolese state firm will also pay a compensatory indemnity to GTL. The Forrest Group transfers its holdings in a Congolese subsidiary processing the slag to Gecamines, under the deal, which reconciles two giants of the Congolese economy. Forrest, 78, was born in Lubumbashi under Belgian colonial rule and has always been close to the vast central African country. Between 1999 and 2001, he served at the head of Gecamines. He is one of the richest people in French-speaking sub-Saharan Africa with an estimated fortune of $800 million. The smelting plant at the heart of the transactional agreement produces about 5,500 tonnes of cobalt per year, with 3,500 tonnes of copper, according to a member of GTL staff. The slag mountain in the southeastern city consists of copper treatment residues accumulated between 1924 and 1992, with an estimated weight overall of 14.5 million tonnes. Cantons are set to receive CHF18,000 ($18,000) for every refugee or asylum seeker allowed to stay in Switzerland. The money should go towards their integration into the labour market. How will it be spent? swissinfo.ch asked the authorities of canton Bern. The Swiss government has agreed to triple its financial contribution to help speed up the integration of refugees into the labour market and to ultimately save on welfare spending. It is estimated that about 11,000 people will benefit from the new schemes which will be phased in from spring 2019. The goals include everyone securing a basic knowledge of a national language within three years. Two-thirds of 16- to 25-year-olds should be in basic vocational training after five years, and half of the adults should be integrated into the labour market after seven years. How will canton Bern spend this new federal money to achieve the goals? It is not very clear right now. In Bern, various services deal with integration issues, including the Population and Migration Office, the Directorate of Public Health and Social Security, and the Directorate of Police and Military Affairs. Andrea Blaser, deputy secretary general of the Directorate of Police and Military Affairs, told swissinfo.ch: In canton Bern, federal contributions go into one pot. They will not be used on a case-by-case basis according to a set arrangement. To help look after asylum seekers, the Bern authorities work with six external agencies such as the Salvation Army and the Integration Competence Centre. These organisations receive funds to cover services such as accommodation and care. They are also responsible for organising and paying for training courses. These include basic integration courses to help newcomers adapt to Swiss life and the workplace, language courses, and schemes to help with reading, writing and computer skills. Federal integration scheme In 2015, the Federal Council (executive body) announced the launch of a refugee integration project a one-year programme designed to prepare participants for a Swiss apprenticeship. Some 800 people are set to begin the scheme this summer. According to the government, the training programme costs CHF13,000 per individual. The NZZ newspaper reports that canton Bern will start in August with 70 people; however, traineeships are still being sought. Translated from German by Simon Bradley Two German potato packing firms landed in hot water Thursday as competition authorities pounded them with a massive fine for secretly agreeing prices for their sacks of spuds. Officials at the Kartellamt in Bonn squeezed 13.2 million euros ($15.8 million) from two businesses, Boehmer and Kuhn, which collaborated to fix prices for potatoes and onions in their contracts with retail group Metro. The figures the firms cooked up meant that price competition between the two main suppliers of the Metro group was effectively eliminated, competition watchdog chief Andreas Mundt said in a statement. Authorities only sniffed out the unsavoury scheme when another firm in the sector reported the collusion in exchange for leniency. Germanys food sector is no stranger to scandal, as sausage makers and brewers alike have suffered fines after being caught collaborating to skim off extra profits in recent years. Supervisors have also fined truckmakers who hitched their prices together in a cartel of their own. Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. Around 100 journalists held a vigil outside the BBC's Broadcasting House in London on Thursday to highlight ongoing attacks against their colleagues following a tragic week in which 10 reporters were killed in Afghanistan. BBC reporters held a minutes silence to mark World Press Freedom Day, carrying photographs of Ahmad Shah, a 29-year-old reporter with the corporation in Afghanistan, who was killed on Monday. He was a brilliant guy and his brilliant career was short-cut by forces of evil, said the BBC Afghan services Inayatulhaq Yasini. He was a very quiet person, but he had plenty of ideas and was very energetic, but unfortunately he left behind his wife-to-be. Shah was reportedly shot dead in the eastern Khost province while riding on his bicycle. Nine other journalists, including AFP photographer Shah Marai, were also killed on Monday, in a suicide attack in Kabul. It will have a long-lasting effect on freedom and speech, warned Yasini. Working as a journalist is a nightmare in that country. They were the sole supporters of their families. Now what will happen to them? The BBC had already planned to mark World Press Freedom Day to highlight the treatment faced by Iran-based family members of journalists working for its London-based Persian service. Director of BBC News, Francesca Unsworth, who addressed the crowd, told AFP that the event was incredibly apposite following the events in Afghanistan. Its been a bad week in journalism. We felt the need to mark it in some way, she said. It shows that the world is getting worse for journalists, the atmosphere for journalism is becoming increasingly hostile, its being normalised by politicians that journalists are not there to serve the people, that they are the enemy in some way. Its a very dangerous precedent. Britains public broadcaster has lobbied the United Nations Human Rights Council to help raise awareness about what it describes as a sustained harassment campaign by the Iranian regime against its Persian-language reporters. BBC Persian journalists have been put on charges of conspiracy, which means their families are harassed routinely in Tehran, brought in for questioning, even they have nothing to do with the BBC, explained Unsworth. Britain said Thursday it was "urgently seeking information" from Iran about the arrest of an Iranian-British national, while the British Council said an Iranian employee had also been detained. Mahan Abedin is a journalist specialising in Islamic affairs and an analyst of Middle East politics who is head of the research group Dysart Consulting. Asked about his reported arrest, a Foreign Office spokesman said: We are urgently seeking information from the Iranian authorities following reports of the arrest of a British-Iranian dual national. Abedin would be the second British-Iranian dual national arrested in Iran in less than a month. Iranian media last week confirmed that Abbas Edalat, a London-based British-Iranian computer scientist and peace campaigner had been arrested. An Iranian national Aras Amiri, who lives in London, was also held while on a private trip, according to the New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran. A spokeswoman for the British Council, the countrys international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, on Thursday said: We are aware that one of our staff has been detained in Iran while making a private family visit. The colleague is an Iranian national. Despite an assertion that this individual has travelled to Iran for work this is not the case. The British Council does not have offices or representatives in Iran, she said. Iran's ambassador to Britain said Tehran will consider walking away from the nuclear deal if the United States withdraws from the agreement, in an interview aired Wednesday. Hamid Baeidinejad, the countrys top envoy in London, said Iran would be ready to go back to the previous situation if America pulls out of the 2015 pact, as threatened by US President Donald Trump. When the United States is out of the deal, it means that there is no deal left, he told CNNs Christiane Amanpour. Because (an) important party of the treaty has abrogated and violated in clear terms the treaty. Trump is reportedly poised to scrap the agreement, negotiated in 2015 between Tehran and six world powers, ahead of a May 12 deadline for Washington to renew its support for the deal. The agreement imposes strict restrictions on Irans nuclear programme in return for the loosening of economic sanctions. Baeidinejad said Tehran was exploring various responses to such a move from the US including restarting nuclear activities. It could be enriching uranium, it could be redefining our cooperation with the agency and some other activities that are under consideration, he added. That is something very real, in fact very realistic. The ambassador denied Iran would restart any nuclear weapons production. The country has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have been pressing Trump to strengthen rather than abandon the three-year-old deal that took more than a decade to reach. Macron, who met Trump in Washington last week to try to convince him to not walk away, admitted Wednesday he still did not know what decision the US leader would take. Trump has pilloried the agreement designed to curb Irans nuclear programme as insane and ridiculous and called for fresh measures to counter Irans ballistic missile programme and support for militant groups across the Middle East. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had new proof of an Iranian nuclear weapons plan that could be activated at any time. Baeidinejad said international observers final assessment ahead of the 2015 agreement contradicted Israels claims. A miner was killed and five others were missing underground after an earthquake hit a gold mine in a suburb of Johannesburg, the Sibanye-Stillwater company said Thursday. Thirteen miners were initially trapped about three kilometres (two miles) below the surface but rescuers managed to get several out, company spokesman James Wellsted told AFP. One of the miners later died from his injuries. The epicentre (of the quake) was very close to where the miners were working, Wellsted said. Eight miners remain underground, the company said. Three have been located but five are missing. The Congress of South African Trade Unions, the largest union in the country, said it was alarmed by the deteriorating and poor safety record of Sibanye Stillwater mining company. In February, nearly 1,000 miners were trapped underground for 30 hours following a power cut caused by a storm in another mine owned by Sibanye-Stillwater. A few days later, two miners were killed after ground collapsed at a mine also belonging to the group. Mine accidents are common in South Africa. In 2016, 73 people died inside mines across the country, according to statistics from the Chamber of Mines. APICS Inland Empire 2018 Spring Symposium Features Industry-Leading Supply Chain Sponsors: Arbela, Manufacturing Executive Institute, Reveel CLAREMONT, CA May 3, 2018 APICS Inland Empire Chapter (APICS-IE), the leading association for supply chain and operations professionals, is proud to recognize key sponsors for the Fall 2018 Networking Symposium and Expert Panel. The event is themed: "Managing Rapid Growth when Manufacturing & the Supply Chain are HOT!". The event will be held on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, CA. This event marks the sixth year that APICS-IE convenes a Spring conference and expert panel to share insights on global supply chain trends and strategies. In addition to insightful take-aways, engaging dialog and collegial networking, APICS-IE serves as a resource for supply chain professionals seeking certifications and industry connections. "As manufacturing in the Inland Empire continues to be fueled by growth and opportunity, the supply chain needs to respond. Managing growth takes being vigilant to ensure that the customer, operations and financial objectives are aligned. The Amazon Effect and the Internet of Things have changed the way we think about, respond to and manage supply chain" commented Lisa Anderson, APICS-IE Chapter Leader and President of LMA Consulting Group. Manufacturers need to look at all aspects within the supply chain and outside influences like the most recent tax law changes if they plan to thrive and take advantage of the opportunities. "While opportunity abounds, it's important to share experiences and best practices among professionals. Our sponsors are uniquely positioned in supporting the end-to-end supply chain to contribute directly to manufacturing and logistics success," she concluded. The symposium attracts industry professionals from throughout the Inland Empire and Southern California and is supported in large part by sponsors that benefit from and support supply chain professionals. This year's platinum sponsors include: The Manufacturing Executive Institute, Arbela and Reveel. Each organization works with manufacturers to establish best practices, improve customer support and increase profits. The APICS-IE 2018 Spring Symposium, "Managing Rapid Growth when Manufacturing & the Supply Chain are HOT!" will be held Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 8:00-11:30 AM at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont. Fees to attend are $15 for members, $25 for non-members and students are free. A breakfast buffet is included. Register online at: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07ef4pwwp2fd66c6f0&llr=pd7pgykab&showPage=true Students at two local high schools left class Wednesday as part of a student-led nationwide effort to show support for the Second Amendment. The event, called Stand for the Second, followed similar recent demonstrations by students supporting tighter gun control legislation in response to the Feb. 14 shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school. About 20 students walked out of Steele High School in the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District, district spokesman Ed Suarez said. The campus handled it the same way it did when students demonstrated in favor of gun control legislation April 20, he said. Students refrained from making speeches, but Principal Jana Cervantes made several comments, Suarez said. After 15 to 20 minutes of a peaceful and quiet demonstration, students returned to class without incident. None wwas disciplined or received an unexcused absence, Suarez said. Participation had been organized at Clark and Holmes high schools in the Northside Independent School District, according to a Tea Party Patriots website that touted Wednesdays event. Northside spokesman Barry Perez said, though, that only Clark reported students walked out, with about 20 leaving classrooms and returning after 16 minutes. Administrators at the school will decide whether to count it as an unexcused absence, he said. The April 20 protest saw several thousand students join walkouts or school-sponsored events at San Antonio-area schools. Northside had issued a notice to parents April 19 stating: As educators, we value our students opinions and acknowledge their concerns. However, to preserve time devoted to their studies and for safety reasons, we discourage any type of walkout or absence. Wednesdays counterprotest was organized by New Mexico high schooler Will Riley, who told the Carlsbad Current-Argus he was motivated by media coverage of the previous walkouts. Im watching the news and I see theyre saying, Well we have to do something about this. We have to enact some sort of gun control legislation because this is what the kids are asking for. And Im thinking, Im not asking for that, Riley said. I look at my friends and I think Theyre not asking for that. I wanted to give a voice to all the people who feel that theyre being misrepresented by the media. krista.torralva@express-news.net Staff Writer Lauren Caruba contributed to this report. They were 16 Spanish families trapped by economics and distance on remote volcanic islands off the coast of Morocco in the early 1700s. Farmers and fishermen mostly, they faced drought, starvation and epidemics that might have killed them if they hadnt accepted an offer from King Philip V to sail across the Atlantic Ocean to the New World with the promise of free land and cattle. As compelling as the Pilgrims and Plymouth Rock, the tale of the Canary Islanders who came in 1731 to establish San Antonio seems like swashbuckling lore that would hold any audience. But tell that to an elementary school teacher. What do you know about San Antonio? Meredith Jacobsen asked her class of 17 sharp-as-prickly-pear fifth graders Wednesday at Salinas Elementary in Converse, in the Judson Independent School District. We were part of Mexico. Were one of the oldest cities in America. We have a large construction industry students replied, all of them engaged. They were getting a heaping dose of tricentennial education courtesy of the Tricentennial Commission, which asked Jacobsen in January to prepare a lesson plan on one of the more fascinating immigration stories in American history. It eventually got distributed to some 250 area schools as part of the commissions effort to bring the tricentennial to classrooms. But Im embarrassed to say, though Ive lived here a good while, I did not know the story of the Canary Islanders, confessed Jacobsen prior to class. You know the Alamo, the Missions, the River Walk, but you just dont know what you dont know. This week Jacobsen joined dozens of her colleagues in area school districts in rolling out the lesson plan for the first time. It was geared toward elementary grades, though a Northside ISD instruction specialist partnered with the commission to create a 7th grade version that could be taught at the districts middle schools, Laura Elizabeth Mayes, a communications stategist at the commission, said via email. These kids definitely like to act things out and put themselves in the shoes of people theyre studying, said Jacobsen, who has taught at Judson ISD schools for 11 years. Well see how it goes. She fired up her laptop - every kid had one - and zipped through a lesson that had clips on the Canary Islanders from a local TV station, photos of downtown historical markers, maps, interviews with local historians, but no droning narrators. Heres the flyover version: To discourage the French in then-Louisiana from venturing into what would become East Texas, King Philip was urged to send 400 families - 200 from the Canary Islands, Galicia, Spain or Havana, Cuba, and 200 more from Mexico - to populate the missions in Texas. San Antonio de Bexar was just a tiny speck on the frontier back then, a presidio established in 1718 on the San Antonio River, highlighted by what would become the citys world-famous landmark, a mission called San Antonio de Valero, later nicknamed the Alamo. With their numbers cut due to expenses, only 25 families sailed for America in 1730, according to The Handbook of Texas. The trip took almost a year, with some settling in Havana. The last leg began in Veracruz, Mexico only 18 hours to San Antonio today by car, but a far more arduous route back then, through San Luis Potosi and Saltillo. The trek was made dangerous by thorny brush and cactus, a lack of fresh water and disapproving indigenous tribes. On March 9, 1731, more than seven months after leaving Veracruz, 56 Canary Islanders, making up 16 families, finally arrived. Many of their untold thousands of descendants became the thinkers and pioneers who shaped San Antonio. So, get your rulers out, use the political map you have and tell me how far it is, as the crow flies, from the Canary Islands to San Antonio, Jacobsen told Lilly, Emma, Nataly, Autumn, Shawn, Elijah, Giomel, Jennifer, Alex and her other Salinas Rangers. Miles or kilometers? asked a boy wearing a T-shirt that read, Homework Kills My Vibe. It wasnt customary for them to use miles, advised Sean, thinking metric. In a few moments, another boy chirped, with confidence, Four thousand, eight hundred and thirty-six miles. I was on a cruise ship once, said Lilly. It stopped in the Bahamas. Do you think, asked Jacobsen, that the Canary Islanders trip on their boat was like Lillys cruise ship? Less barfing, came one reply, not too seriously. One woman was pregnant during the voyage, Jacobsen said. Imagine what it would be like to give birth on a ship back then. On the large screen up front, local historian Anthony Delgado appeared in a video clip, expressing disappointment that the role of the Canary Islanders is not made more publicly prominent in San Antonio. The kids nodded. If your relatives were Canary Islanders, wouldnt you want more people to know what they did? Jacobsen asked. The seeds of Wednesdays lesson breezily-paced, full of questions and propelled by different information media seemed to fall on fertile young minds. There were so many teachable moments today, Jacobsen said later, as her crew studied in the library and ate a San Antonio birthday cake. I wish we had more time for this kind of history. Theyre just so inquisitive, but there are limitations on the curriculum, and the STAAR (Texas standardized test) is coming in two weeks, she said. The take-away for today was appreciation. The kids appreciate what the Canary Islanders did. That will spark them. Bruce Selcraig is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. | BSelcraig@express-news.net A Bexar County program intended to divert low-level offenders from jail has wrapped its 60-day pilot period, but law enforcement agencies across the county, including San Antonio police, have still not received implementation instructions. On Jan. 31, Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood said deputies with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office would serve as guinea pigs for his new program, which allows certain offenders to avoid jail time and a criminal record if they complete a class and pay a $250 fee. The crimes include: Class A and B possession of marijuana less than 4 ounces, Class B criminal mischief, Class B theft, Class B theft of service and Class B driving with an invalid license. After initial confusion over what departments the program would be available to during the pilot, Leslie Garza, a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office, said officials there would use the 60-day pilot to evaluate the program and reach out to other police departments in Bexar County with information on how to use it. RELATED: Law enforcement in Bexar County are not sure how to feel about cite-and-release Garza said in an email this month that all law enforcement agencies were informed of the program, but officials with county's largest police department said they have not been given any information on the program since it was first announced. "Chief McManus hasn't had any further discussions regarding this program, as of now, we're waiting on the district attorney's office," a statement from the San Antonio Police Department reads. In addition to SAPD, departments in Castle Hills, Windcrest, Kirby and Universal City have not received any official notice the program was in place, officials said. Officials with the Alamo Heights Police Department and Terrell Hills Police Departments said they were notified via a letter of the program's existence. "We have not heard anything from the district attorney's office on the specifics of that," said Kirby Police Chief Kevin Bois on the program. In an email, Garza said, "Implementing instructions will be provided after we've had the opportunity to review the results of the pilot program to determine if any procedural changes need to be made." She previously said the district attorney's office found no changes that needed to be made to the program. The Bexar County Sheriff's Office will continue to use the cite-and-release program, said spokeswoman Sandra Altamirano-Pickell. She said the department found no issues with the program. So far, 31 cite-and-release notices have been issued, she said. Of those, 10 defendants have shown up and been processed and six have not. The rest are still within the 30-day reporting window to complete the program, Pickell said. RELATED: Bexar County's cite and release program for low-level marijuana possession now in effect Representatives from the district attorney's office attended a March 1 Alamo Area Police Chiefs Association meeting to clarify the first 60 days of the program would be restricted to the sheriff's office. "They said that it was misrepresented in that it was a pilot project," said Windcrest Police Chief A.O. "Al" Ballew. "I can understand them wanting to test it first." "We have not been told anything officially yet, that probably is soon to come, I'm sure," said Universal City Lt. Tina Vitacco. In Harris County, the Houston Chronicle reported the area's similar decriminalization program saved $27 million annually and diverted 3,209 people from jail for minor marijuana charges. However, the newspaper found that whether an offender got diverted from jail depended on where they were in the vast county. The Chronicle reported 12 police agencies out of the 61 in Harris County do not use the decriminalization program, which was enacted in March 2017. Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg has detailed her misdemeanor program online. LaHood's website includes a news release from when he announced the program was in its beginning stages in September 2017. However, if a Bexar County resident wanted to look up information about the program, they would not be able to find a detailed description of the policy online. Additionally, it is unclear if agencies in Bexar County can move forward with the program without instructions on how to use it. For now, they are waiting on the district attorney's office. Kelsey Bradshaw is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| kbradshaw@express-news.net | Twitter: @kbrad5 Two psychiatrists one hired by the prosecution, the other by the defense believe the man accused of killing the Elmendorf police chief in 2014 was insane at the time of the crime, his lawyer said Wednesday. The development makes it more likely that Joshua Manuel Lopez, 28, will not go on trial. Instead, he would enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity, and if a judge agrees, be committed to a state hospital indefinitely. If hospital officials determine at any point he is no longer a danger to society and is able to care for himself, he could be released. The family of the late police chief, Michael Pimentel, said they met with officials from the Bexar County District Attorneys Office on Tuesday. They confirmed that the two experts hired by the opposing sides issued opinions that Lopez was insane at the time of the slaying. It was devastating to hear, said Malinda Pimentel-Lanford, the chiefs daughter. Trial normally helps family have details and answers to questions that happened that day. Trial can normally bring closure and bring a close to it all. When you dont have a trial, you dont have a closing to that final chapter. The trial was going to be the end, but we dont have that, she added. A spokeswoman for the Bexar County District Attorneys Office said a judge will conduct a sanity hearing for Lopez in early June but did not respond to follow-up questions about the case. The turn of events is seemingly unusual. Joel Perez, Lopezs court-appointed attorney, said he remembers only two instances in his 30-year career of an expert hired by the prosecution siding with the defense and neither instance was in a capital murder case. Usually, its a battle of the experts, Perez said. Perez will consult with his client and prosecutors with the Bexar County District Attorneys Office to determine the next step. Typically, though, in a case like this, Perez said the defendant will enter a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity and agree to waive a jury trial, at which time the defendant is committed indefinitely to a state mental facility. To be found legally insane, the judge has to agree with the evaluation that Lopez could not tell right from wrong at the time of the slaying on Aug. 23, 2014. Pimentel, who stopped Lopez for a traffic violation in the small town 20 miles southeast of San Antonio, was shot at point-blank range. Pimentels family said that while they were crushed by the news that a trial is unlikely, they are galvanized to advocate for mental health and criminal justice reform. In the process, they hope to keep Pimentels memory alive. They say Pimental, 64, was a loving father, brother and grandfather who spent his life serving as a police officer throughout Texas and enjoyed riding his Harley-Davidson on the weekend. A lot of people are talking about the fact that he was the chief of police, Pimentel-Lanford said. To me, he was not the chief of police. He was my dad. Case stalled It appears to have been several years since a local defendant in a capital murder case has used the insanity plea. In 2010, a San Antonio mother named Otty Sanchez, who gained national attention after she killed and mutilated her newborn son, was found not guilty by reason of insanity after three psychiatrists determined she was insane at the time of the crime. The case against Lopez has stalled for several years. In January 2015, five months after he was arrested, then newly elected District Attorney Nicholas Nico LaHood announced that his office would not seek the death penalty in the case. LaHood said at the time his staff made the decision collectively after considering Lopezs mental health problems and his lack of a criminal record. Perez said at the time that in his experience it was rare for one district attorney to lean toward the death penalty and a new administration to reverse course. Perez, who has been trying capital murder cases since 1994, said there was never an official declaration from then District Attorney Susan Reed that prosecutors intended to seek death. But in conversations, they suggested the case was heading in that direction, he said. Later that year, in September, two court-appointed experts determined that Lopez was not yet competent to stand trial, according to court records. In legal proceedings, there is a difference between competency and insanity. Competency determines whether a defendant is able to appear at trial and understand the proceedings. Sanity indicates whether a defendant can be held responsible for their actions. Thus, a defendant who is competent to stand trial may still be found guilty, innocent, or not guilty by reason of insanity. A judge agreed with the experts analysis and sent Lopez to a maximum-facility mental facility in Vernon until he was ready to stand trial, according to court records. In 2016, and again in 2017, a judge ruled that Lopez was still not competent to stand trial, the records show. It wasnt until January of this year, after Lopez was deemed competent, that the case advanced. When Pimental was killed, he had served as the Elmendorf police chief for a little over a year. He had graduated from Holy Cross High School in San Antonio before getting his degree in criminal justice from Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi. After college, he enlisted in the Army and served in Vietnam before starting his career in law enforcement. He worked at police departments in Austin and Corpus Christi before he was hired by the Brownsville and San Antonio independent school districts. During his short time in Elmendorf, Pimental had left an impression on the community, family and friends say. He was a charming, very well-mannered, strong, God-fearing man, his sister, Patty Pimentel-Gonzales said. He was a good person. Emilie Eaton is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | eeaton@express-news.net | @emilieeaton SEGUIN A lawsuit seeking $50 million in damages has been filed against Robert E. Fadal II, the physician who court records indicate admitted fatally shooting a neighborhood couple outside his home Feb.25. And records recently released show Fadal had set booby traps at his two-story home and turned the top floor into a fortress with several weapons, according to investigators. Fadal, 56, was taken into custody at the scene and is being held in Guadalupe County Jail in lieu of $5 million bail on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. A local grand jury is expected to consider the case today. Court records quote Fadal as saying he shot Anthony Strait, 27, and his wife, Tiffany Strait, 30, because he feared they were agents of an international criminal organization intent on harming his mother in retaliation for him discovering its alleged manipulations of the stock market. Robert stated he became increasingly worried about his personal safety due to the ongoing threats and he had made preparations within the home to defend himself, Guadalupe County Deputy Mark ZuaZua wrote in an affidavit used to secure a search warrant for Fadals residence. A shotgun, two pistols and a rifle believed to be the murder weapon were seized there. The Straits, who owned a landscape company, went with their three young sons to the gated Fadal family compound at the end of Timber Elm Road to help Fadals mother move some belongings, according to family members, noting theyd visited there several times before. Investigators also obtained a warrant for a blood sample from Fadal, whom they suspected may have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the shooting based on his paranoid demeanor when interrogated. The suit against Fadal was filed by Xiomoara Strait, Anthony Straits mother, on April 9 in district court. Decedent Anthony Ray Straits injuries result from defendants malice, says the petition, filed by attorney Oscar Garza, who could not be reached Wednesday. The suit, which Xiomara Strait brought both as an individual and as a representative of her sons estate, says she has suffered severe mental depression over the slaying of her son, as well as loss of his company and support. Fadals medical license was suspended by the Texas Medical Board after the shootings. Agency officials could not say when patients were last seen by Fadal, whose home address was listed for his practice. Fadals attorney, James Millan, filed a writ of habeas corpus three days after the shooting, asking the court to reduce Fadals initial bail from $2 million. The state opposed the reduction in a counterpetition filed March 2, which successfully urged the judge to instead increase it to $5 million. Describing Fadal as a continuing threat with the means to post $2 million bond, the states petition quotes the suspect as saying he had access to $250,000 in cash and that other people were still trying to harm him, and he is willing to go into combat against them. Attached to the states pleading was an investigative report by ZuaZua, which says Fadal, increasingly concerned about being targeted by a criminal group in the days before the shooting, had booby-trapped his home and fortified its second floor, which was stocked with guns, ammo and food. Robert stated he took up a ready position in the bunker and practiced shooting stances all night long, says ZuaZuas report, dated March 1. Robert explained that he is not crazy and his actions were purely in response to the organization and their existence and capabilities. Robert stated he was brave and thats why he shot the victims. Robert stated he believed they were bad evil people and he needed to kill as many of them as he could. zeke@express-news.net The main campus of Texas A&M University-San Antonio, once used as ranch land by indigenous people and early pioneers, is now in the direct path of development, officials said at a Tricentennial forum Wednesday. Since becoming a stand-alone university a decade ago, enrollment has exploded to about 6,500 students. It is projected to grow to 10,000 by 2021 and is developing a master plan for its South Side campus to accommodate up to 50,000 students. Rodolfo Valdez Barillas, associate professor of biology, said he and his students are trying to devise ways to conserve natural resources of the area, which is believed to have served as ranch land for Mission San Jose. What were trying to do is like a race against time, Valdez said during a round-table discussion, one of several events held on the designated History and Education Day during the Commemorative Week of San Antonios Tricentennial Celebration. The dilemma that the university faces in the 21st century is common to one San Antonio has encountered since a mission and presidio were founded in May 1718, Valdez said. Related: Air Force Federal Credit Union acquires San Antonio lender For a long time, this was just nobodys land. Now, its become prime real estate for development, he added. The forum followed the dedication Wednesday of a blossoming Texas red oak from the George W. Bush Family Farm near Waco, as part of the planting of 300 trees at local colleges and universities during the yearlong celebration. A majority of trees in the Tree-Centennial will be planted in the fall. Valdez said his department is studying the geology of the campus and its varying clay-based or sandy soils, to advise the universitys master plan committee on ways to preserve green space, plant or relocate trees, minimize water use and preserve habitats for birds, bats and other wildlife. Because of a three-mile buffer promised by the city to the Toyota plant, the school cannot expand southward to add dormitories, but will instead have to use wooded land to the east, Valdez said. Sadly, that area is going to have to be bulldozed for dorms, he said. Students who attended the forum heard stories of the lands human occupation, from prehistoric people more than 10,000 years ago to a historic family cemetery that remains intact. Before the advent of the bow and arrow about 1,500 years ago, nomadic hunter-gatherers used a two-foot-long, stick-like device called an atlatl to hurl darts with stone points to hunt, said Mike OBrien, provost and professor of history. Anybody who knows what he or she is doing can toss that thing about 35 yards with deadly accuracy, OBrien said. Amy Porter, associate professor of history, said theres a good possibility that early 1800s rancher Ignacio Perez, who owned land where the Toyota site stands, also held property that now serves as the campus. Perez was a major landowner near the end of the mission era and a Spanish military officer who participated in the 1813 Battle of Medina the deadliest battle ever fought on Texas soil that crushed an independence movement and resulted in the death of some 800 to 1,000 rebels. I think he had more land at one time than the documents that we have would show. We dont know for sure, Porter said. His son-in-law, a man named Fernando Rodriguez, acquired some of the land, filing a title with the Republic of Texas in the 1830s. Rodriguez is believed to have later sold much of his land to Asa Mitchell, possibly because of a debt, according to documents in the Bexar County Spanish Archives. Mitchell, a Pennsylvania native who came to Texas in 1822, fought in the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto and moved to the area south of San Antonio three years later. Read more: Seguin spending $2.9 million on "one-stop shop" for city development services Porter said she hopes to learn more about the debt Rodriguez accrued, at a time when land was taken from Tejanos in various ways sometimes violently, by force or through lack of access by Tejanos to the new credit structure that was put in place by Anglo-Americans. Details about Rodriguez and African American slaves who later worked for Mitchell are among the mysteries that Porter and history students at TAMU-SA hope to uncover, she said. The Mitchell family later was linked through marriage to the Mauermanns, a family of Austrian descent. The Mitchell-Mauermann Cemetery, designated a Texas historic cemetery in 2007, has 11 marked graves and is on a detached piece of land owned by the university. Porter said there is much more work to be done on really important, often neglected African-American history in this area. As a historian of Texas, when we talk about slavery, this area, San Antonio, is often ignored, she said. The focus is certainly further east, where cotton grows a little more easily. So I think this is really going to change the narrative of history. Scott Huddleston is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | shuddleston@express-news.net | @shuddlestonSA Citing President Donald Trumps disrespectful rhetoric and potential lost spending from Mexican nationals, Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Calvert and a coalition of community and faith leaders urged the City Council Wednesday to reject the idea of hosting the 2020 Republican National Convention in San Antonio. In a press conference at the Bexar County Courthouse, held the day before the council plans to discuss the matter in a private meeting, Calvert made clear that Trump was a motivating factor behind his opposition. There are those who said we are simply being partisan because its a Republican convention, said Calvert, a Democrat, as he spoke at a lectern in front of a cluster of local activists. I can't speak for everyone behind me, but I can say as for me, I would actually be for a Republican convention in San Antonio, but not with this president at the top of the ticket, and his disrespectful rhetoric. Calvert at one point acknowledged Trump campaign manager Brad Parscales argument that hosting the convention would greatly benefit the local food and catering industry. But who do you think is cooking the food? Who do you think is going to be serving the food? Calvert said. And in the words of (state) Sen. (Jose) Menendez, who isn't here because his wife is in the hospital, I would hate to eat the mole (sauce). Parscale, a San Antonian who started a design and marketing firm here and was Trumps 2016 digital director, has lobbied hard for Mayor Ron Nirenberg to bid for the convention while calling the mayor Weak-Kneed Ron multiple times on Twitter. In an interview, he called Calverts statement disgusting, and blasted Nirenberg and city officials for not opposing it. That means you can go to a restaurant, and possibly get sick, if he doesnt agree with your political views, Parscale said. Parscale referred back to his various tweets, saying he was coming at the issue as a longtime San Antonio resident who wants to see the city benefit from the boon to business that typically follows national conventions. I cant understand why the mayor and city officials would block such an economic boost, he said. Hours after the press conference, Parscale tweeted, Can't believe that a San Antonio elected official, Phony Tommy Calvert, said that food would be poisoned for Republicans in San Antonio. The San Antonians I know would never do that. Democrats should immediately ask for his resignation for promoting poisoning of people. Horrible! Opinion: What S.A. needs to consider on the RNC Calvert did not specifically mention the word poison during his speech, and he said in an interview that he didnt ask anybody to poison anybody. But Calvert also said he was trying to do the Republican Party a favor because restaurant workers can do things to food if they dont like you. The only thing phony is whats coming out of Brad Parscales mouth. He has to lie to people in the tweet because he cant argue with me on the facts, Calvert said. He also thanked Parscale for likely helping him boost his campaign fundraising. Calvert further noted during the press conference that holding the convention here would put San Antonio at the epicenter of the American political civil war, which would draw outside leftist militant forces, violent ones. Calvert, representing Precinct 4, also said the potential lost investment by Mexican nationals in the local economy, in the form of economic development and travel and leisure, would outweigh the estimated profits from the convention. Some have disputed the extent of the profits, though Calvert cited a total of $180 million Wednesday. Calverts opposition to pursuing the convention puts him at odds with Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and Precinct 3 Commissioner Kevin Wolff, the lone Republican on the court. In an interview Wednesday, Nelson Wolff largely echoed the points Kevin Wolff made in an op-ed in the San Antonio Express-News, saying opponents should consider the value of democratic institutions. If we're going to let a Republican state convention be here, I don't see much difference between the state leadership and the national leadership in the Republican Party, Nelson Wolff said, referring to the state GOP convention being held here June 14-16. Wolff, a Democrat, said he was further convinced by the argument, made by local GOP business leaders at meetings and in a letter to Nirenberg and Council, that the federal government has typically issued $40 to $50 million to cover convention security costs. Asked if he had a sense whether the council would move forward on bidding for the convention, Wolff said he knows Nirenberg is not enthralled with it, but Ive never made it a habit to lobby the council on anything. Councilman Greg Brockhouse said Tuesday he had asked the city attorney to review whether Nirenbergs decision to hold the meeting behind closed doors violates Texas Open Meetings Act, a statement that drew support from the Bexar County Republican Party on Tuesday. Republican Party principles support any discussions regarding the use (of) tax payer money to (be) held in public and not behind closed doors, Laura Koerner, the local GOP communications director, wrote in a statement. We feel that hosting a convention of this magnitude will bring economic gain to San Antonio and the surrounding areas, and local Republican Party officials are looking forward to having the opportunity to present the benefits of hosting the convention on the City Councils public agenda. Jasper Scherer is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | jscherer@express-news.net | @jaspscherer AUSTIN Former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez and Houston businessman Andrew White are showcasing their careers in their battle for the Democratic nomination for governor, but their records also are used as weapons against them. Valdez issued a lengthy apology and explanation after giving a vague answer when she was questioned at a Latino groups forum about her allegedly anti-immigrant record. Her mea culpa came after she had already lost the endorsement of the group, Jolt, over the question of her cooperation with federal immigration authorities seeking the detention of inmates for possible deportation. Valdez said shell work to fix the relationship, but she didnt back down from defending her work in an interview with the San Antonio Express-News. It almost angers me that I have worked so hard I have worked so hard to bring back the trust of law enforcement, and people accuse me of sitting down and doing nothing, Valdez said. What I want to say to that you want to see my scars? White, who won the Jolt endorsement despite being pushed with questions at its Sunday forum over his border security technology company, said last week that he plans to sell the business. Its something that the candidate said he had started thinking about after the death of his father and partner in the business, Democratic former Gov. Mark White. But Andrew White made the plan public only after Jolts Cristina Tzintzun raised the idea on the Texas Standard public radio program. Tzintzun said White should divest from Geovox Security if he becomes the gubernatorial nominee because he would be aiming for a position in which he would oversee the state budget and its border priorities. White and Valdez are vying for the Democratic nod in the uphill battle against Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in November. White has been pressing for a debate, which Valdez agreed to last week. The two are expected to meet Friday, although initial plans to have the debate at the University of Texas at Austin were scrapped when UT said its rules wouldnt allow outside groups to host the forum on campus. A new venue is expected to be announced soon. White was appreciative of the Jolt endorsement in the May 22 runoff, as he was of the earlier backing of Houstons GLBT Political Caucus in the primary. Acknowledging the assumption that Valdez would get both groups backing she was the first woman and Latina to be elected Dallas County sheriff, and she is lesbian White said, To their credit, people from those communities said its not enough to look like us or be like us. You have to represent us and fight for us. Valdez also has received endorsements, including from multiple lawmakers and the Texas Equity PAC, the political arm of Equality Texas, which works for equality for LGBTQ Texans. White wouldnt say how much he hopes to get for Geovox, but he said he is in discussions with one group over it. The companys heartbeat technology, which can be used to find people hidden in vehicles, is sold around the world but isnt used on the border, although White said his company has demonstrated it to the Border Patrol. It is used in this country at nuclear stockpiles, military facilities and federal prisons. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice also is a customer. White told the Express-News on Wednesday that he would look into a headline touted on the Geovox website saying the technology successfully catches 2,500 illegals in the U.K. I think it is a disrespectful term. It may be that its quoting a newspaper source, White said. The item is identified as an excerpt from a 2003 article about the heartbeat technology. Tzintzun said use of the word illegals is deplorable. White said he doesnt intend at this point to sell any other companies in which he has invested through his firm, Sweat Equity Partners, because Geovox is the only one with government contracts. But White said he would sell his other businesses if he wins the November election. Whites most noted business sale came in 2012, long before he thought about politics, when NRG Energy bought his Allied Warranty and the affiliated Lone Star Repair. A source on his campaign said he put in about $150,000 of his money to start the business and raised $1.5 million from investors. It was sold to NRG for $62 million, according to the source, with Whites share about $40 million. As for Valdez, the allegation that she had anti-immigrant policies during her time as sheriff was a turn from the narrative that typically highlights her battles with Abbott over immigration. As sheriff, she was among law enforcement officials who opposed the 2017 sanctuary cities ban championed by Abbott that some fear would lead to profiling. Valdez also was targeted by Abbott in 2015 for saying she wouldnt comply with all federal requests to detain undocumented immigrants past their release date if the immigrants were accused only of minor offenses. She said she still cooperated with the federal government and that as of December 2015 hadnt denied any detainers. Last week, Valdez said there have been some detainers that were denied especially when we thought they were American citizens. Valdez said she felt like I did what I could and went beyond what I thought was acceptable in her policy on detainers. But she said she couldnt change federal law and was unwilling to risk the loss of grant money for local programs that went beyond jail services. Tzintzun said other sheriffs went further, and she criticized Valdez for allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement access to the jail. Our young Latino leaders decided to endorse White because they felt not that he was completely aligned with us, but that they could push him more to live up to our values, she said. Peggy Fikac is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | pfikac@express-news.net | @pfikac Last week, the comedian Bill Maher threw down a gauntlet on his HBO talk show Real Time, declaring that the most important thing we have to do in America right now, is start penalizing liars by taking them to court. Former President Barack Obama should sue (President Donald) Trump for saying that he wiretapped him, the host said. Im just saying that I dont think we can leave this in the court of public opinion anymore. Thats what the liars want. Clearly, Maher was venting his spleen at the president, whose falsehoods have continued to accumulate since his inauguration. Theres a problem, though, with Mahers righteous call to action: Not all lies are created equal. That point is illustrated locally in the tiny burg of Castle Hills, where a councilman running for re-election in Saturdays election has sent cease-and-desist letters to two of his opponents supporters, threatening legal action unless they retract defamatory statements about him. I feel like Ive done a really good job for the city, Councilman J.R. Trevino told me Wednesday. I think the fact that people are going to vote against me based on a lie, it bothers me. One of the alleged liars is Lesley Wenger, a former Castle Hills councilwoman and supporter of Trevinos challenger, Clyde Skip McCormick. (Wenger is running again for council this year, but not against Trevino.) The other supposed liar is Wengers husband, Robert Anderson. More from Chasnoff: Tricentennial turns it around in time for Commemorative Week Last month, the couple were served with cease-and-desist letters accusing each of making separate false statements about Trevino. Anderson is accused of lying to residents that Trevino supports closing a roadway, while Wenger is accused of lying to residents that flyers were dispersed at a fundraiser for Trevino in support of an impound lot. It would appear that your conduct is a willful attempt to sabotage our client politically and professionally, the letter to Wenger stated, before threatening to assert additional grounds of liability in a potential lawsuit, including invasion of privacy, costs, prejudgment and post-judgment interest, punitive damages, and recovery of attorneys fees. Trevino is miffed that Anderson and Wenger have dimmed his electoral prospects. People have told me, he said. They dont even want to hear me out. They say, No, youre for the impound lot. On Wednesday, Wenger called the whole kerfuffle silly and such a small matter. Shes right. But its also an illustration why, in many cases, its inappropriate to start penalizing liars, as Maher put it. The reason is the First Amendment. The Supreme Court has held that, even if criticism of a public official is inaccurate, it only can be punished as libel if the critic knew or suspected the criticism was false. Thats called actual malice, something no one has proven Wenger possessed. Trevino said his legal action was inspired by a previous defamation lawsuit that emerged from the Castle Hills political scene two years ago. More: Trump makes it easy to write a script for Cornyation Days before the 2016 council election, former Castle Hills Councilman and Mayor Bruce Smiley-Kaliff sued his opponent, Councilman Douglas Gregory, for circulating campaign material that claimed Smiley-Kaliff had engaged in raw political corruption. A state district judge issued a temporary restraining order requiring Gregory to immediately and publicly retract the claims and barring him from making any other facially defamatory statements about Smiley-Kaliff. A three-judge panel of the 4th Court of Appeals, however, quickly overturned the order. The appeals court was right to do so. In that case, as in Trevinos current claim, actual malice had not been proven. Absent a finding of libel, forcing a retraction would constitute prior restraint. (Gregory ultimately settled the suit with a $29,000 payment.) The First Amendment also covers many of Trumps brazen falsehoods even if the president himself doesnt believe them. Maher, though, was right in one respect: Obama likely has a strong case of libel against Trump. As the First Amendment scholar Geoffrey Stone wrote last year in the Chicago Sun-Times, There seems no doubt that Trumps statement was false, defamatory, and at the very least made with reckless disregard for the truth. bchasnoff@express-news.net Re: San Antonio isnt an ideal place for rapid transit system, Randal OToole, Other Views, April 27: Randal OTooles piece on why San Antonio is unsuited for a rapid transit system was filled with facts and figures that were very persuasive. If, as in the past, the Express-News intends to urge its readers to support rapid transit in San Antonio, you will need to address Mr. OTooles points. Good luck with that. Ken Phelps Fealty to the queen Re: Obey authority, Your Turn, Saturday: This letter writer quotes Scripture (Romans 13:1-2). Rather than rebutting her scriptural exegesis, lets just accept and follow her interpretation. In 1776, our Founding Fathers committed grievous sin in resisting the God-ordained authority of King George III. I call upon the United States to repent and humbly apply for membership to the British Commonwealth. God save the Queen! Dave Searcey Stick to the facts Re: Were all of immigrant origin, so why do we condemn them? Rudy Apodaca, Opinion, Sunday: It is true; if a lie is repeated often enough, people begin to believe it. Especially if its something they want to believe. Once again, in the Opinion section, a writer states we are condemning immigrants. Wrong. Fake news. Except for a few wacko holdouts of the Know Nothing Party, no one is doing that. They are saying that too many immigrants at once is not a good thing and immigrants should be checked to see if they have a criminal background. This is a far cry from condemning immigrants, but that doesnt stop the racial politicians from saying it again and again and again and again. Apodaca adds insult to more insult by weaseling around the facts: the talk about MS-13 is out of proportion to its national threat. But its still a threat. Not all MS-13 members are here without documentation. What difference does that make? He says we dont know the history of Hispanics in U.S. history. Again, that means nothing. U.S. citizens dont know the history of anything. Newspapers think that since its an opinion, the contributors dont have to pay attention to the facts. Alvin Ronnfeldt Springtime is busy at any soil and water conservation district in Ohio, with tree sales, drill rentals, technical calls for drainage assistance and school programs. Another spring project that we enjoy is helping local high school students prepare for the area and state Envirothon program. Ohio hosts five area envirothon competitions around the state in late April or early May. High school students in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate. The Envirothon competition is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources. Teamwork The Envirothon also encourages cooperative decision making and team building. While each student on the team is challenged to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of the competition is the team score. A team consists of five students from the same high school; an adult adviser must accompany the team but is not permitted to assist the team during competition. The Envirothon tests students knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology and current environmental issues. Test questions for the Envirothon are prepared by natural resource professionals from a variety of agencies, organizations, universities and businesses. These individuals also staff the various resource stations at each competition. The top four high scoring teams from each area competition earn the opportunity to compete at the Ohio Envirothon, a three-day event that incorporates field testing and a team presentation requirement that further challenges the students. Upcoming event The Ohio Envirothon is held in different parts of the state each year and Cedarville University will host this years event, June 10-12. These top 100 students from across the state will compete to be the Ohio Envirothon champion. This champion team will then have the honor of competing at the National Envirothon, July 22-28 at Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. Why should this matter to you? It matters because this Envirothon student may be a future leader in your community. During my 29 years with soil and water, this program and working with these students has been a highpoint of my career. Satisfying experience How satisfying it has been to see past Envirothon students become teachers, firefighters, farmers, small business owners, wastewater plant operators and soil and water conservation district employees. Little did I know that when I helped host the Area 3 Envirothon in 1996, one of the students participating would become my SWCD board chairman. The Envirothon program offers young people the opportunity to get outside and learn accurate information about natural resource issues of our time. Youth and adult education is an important part of local Soil and Water Conservation District programs and the Envirothon program is one of our best. Contact your local SWCD if you are interested in learning more about this program. Last week a reader wrote, Scott, I recently read a report that said the federal government killed 624,845 red-winged blackbirds, 357 gray wolves, and 69,041 adult coyotes last year. That cant be true, can it? Sadly, it is. USDA According to its website, the USDAs APHIS Wildlife Services (WS) mission is, to provide Federal leadership and expertise to resolve wildlife conflicts to allow people and wildlife to coexist Program biologists apply the integrated wildlife damage management approach to provide technical assistance and direct management operations in response to requests for assistance. WS research scientists are dedicated to the development of wildlife damage management methodsThe Programs efforts help people resolve wildlife damage to a wide variety of resources and to reduce threats to human health and safety. APHIS APHIS is a multi-faceted agency with a broad mission area that includes protecting and promoting U.S. agricultural health, regulating genetically engineered organisms, administering the Animal Welfare Act and carrying out wildlife damage management activities. Its mission is, To protect the health and value of American agriculture and natural resources. These efforts support the overall mission of USDA, which is to protect and promote food, agriculture, natural resources and related issues. Most state and federal wildlife agencies exist to help wildlife populations prosper, but who deals with problem wildlife? For example, if beaver dams flood a low lying road, if Canada geese feces make a high school ball field unplayable, or if mountain lions kill ranchers lambs and calves, who you gonna call? When such problems persist and seriously impact human activities, eventually the public finds its way to Wildlife Services. Its a little-known office within the U.S. Department of Agriculture that deals with such problems. Tough job Sometimes its employees simply remove (kill) the offending animals. This can be done with guns, traps, or poisons. Other times large groups of offending animals can be dispersed from favorite resting or roosting areas. I cant begin to list the complete findings for 2017. Killing wildlife as a job cannot be enjoyable, and I suspect it can take a psychological toll. Its nasty work, but someones got to do it. By the numbers Last year Wildlife Services killed 2,307,122 problem animals. It dispersed another 34,465,659. By species, heres a partial list of animals killed for 2017. Opossums, 2,832 Black-tailed prairie dog, 15,233 Raccoons, 10,313 Badgers, 353 River otters, 587 Black bear, 537 Beavers, 23,644 Bobcats, 983 Feral cats, 472 Feral swine, 65,264 Coyotes, 69,041 Timber wolves, 357 Mountain lions, 316 White-tailed deer, 7,524 Canada geese, 21,488 Black vultures, 7,503 Turkey vultures, 1,474 Great blue herons, 564 Killdeer, 3,357 Red-tailed hawks, 1,701 Feral chickens, 2,712 Rock pigeons, 74,990 (160,489 dispersed) Mourning Doves, 22,924 American Robins, 451 (18,149 dispersed) European Starlings, 733,773 (22,151,292 dispersed) Brown-headed Cowbirds, 285,657 Common grackles, 51,869 Red-winged blackbirds, 624,845 (1,364,685 dispersed) American crows, 7,346 Common Ravens, 7,950 For complete results of Wildlife Services activities dating back to 1996, visit aphis.usda.gov, click on Wildlife Damage, then click Reports and WS Pubs, then click Program Data Reports. CAMP HILL, Pa. Pennsylvania farmers, who use high tunnels to grow fresh fruits and vegetables, will no longer face the burden of having to meet state regulations intended for commercial and residential development now that Governor Wolf has signed House Bill 1486. Law The new law, which was a priority issue for Pennsylvania Farm Bureau (PFB) in 2018, prevents municipalities from requiring farmers to submit stormwater management plans on high tunnel structures that meet the laws commonsense and easily understood guidelines. PFB President Rick Ebert said High Tunnels should not be required to meet the same regulatory standards as permanent commercial office buildings or housing developments. Interest Farm Bureau notes that there has been an increased interest among farmers to use high tunnels to extend the growing season for the food they produce, but many farmers held off assembling the temporary structures due to uncertainty over how they would be regulated and the cost, time and paperwork involved in meeting stormwater management standards. PFB recognized Representative Dave Zimmerman of Lancaster County, who sponsored the legislation in the House, and Senators Scott Martin, Ryan Aument and Gene Yaw for building support for the bill in the Senate. CANFIELD, Ohio The Mahoning County Junior Fair Board held its April meeting at the Colonial Inn at the Canfield Fairgrounds. Junior Fair Board members broke into committees to discuss plans for the upcoming months and reported to the rest of the board. The board plans to sell shirts, key chains and car decals with 4-H designs as a fundraiser. Members also discussed visits to two county fairs this year: Big Butler in Pennsylvania, and Wayne County Fair in Wooster. Market livestock tagging is May 12, at the Canfield Fairgrounds Dairy Complex from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The next Junior Fair Board meeting is May 18, at the Hay and Grain Building on the Canfield Fairgrounds and is a picnic and training meeting. Senior Fair Board members and livestock committee members will be guests of the Junior Fair Board. Individual pictures begin at 5:30 p.m. and a group picture is at 6 p.m. Guest motivational speaker will be Dave Kohut from Talk Is Cheap. Payments worth 38 million to Scottish beef producers will arrive in farmers bank accounts in the coming weeks, easing cash flow worries. Faced with a long, wet winter and a cold, damp spring, NFU Scotland had asked Scottish Government to consider bringing forward payments made under the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) to help with cash flows. A similar request has been made on behalf of hill sheep farmers who benefit from payments under the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme (SUSSS). Favourable exchange rates have helped to boost the value of payments being made under the beef calf scheme to 99.49 per animal for Mainland beef calves and 144.22 per animal for Island beef calves. However, the number of animals claimed under the scheme has declined from 395,000 in 2015 to 387,000 in 2017. Harsh weather NFU Scotlands Livestock committee chairman Charlie Adam, who keeps beef cows in Aberdeenshire, welcomed the news. The beef calf scheme helps ensure that producers around the country are encouraged to keep producing beef calves to underpin the production of quality Scotch beef, Mr Adam said. Given the weather endured in the past six months or more, that has been very challenging with bank accounts being drained to keep on top of rising feeding and bedding bills. Having this money heading into bank accounts ahead of schedule is a very welcome development. Our hill sheep sector faces the same challenges and we will continue to urge the Scottish Government to bring forward the timetable for payments made under SUSSS. Mr Adam said the value of such support cannot be underestimated, as beef calf scheme claims are down and suckler cow numbers have been slipping, raising concerns about the industry's capacity to produce quality beef in the future. If we are to maintain our beef production in the post-Brexit era, then returns for suckled calf producers must be maintained or increased, he added. The European Commission has proposed a 5 percent reduction in Common Agricultural Policy funding in its first multi-year budget after Brexit. The Commission has examined where savings can be made and efficiency improved as the UK's exit from the EU leaves a hole in its finances, of up to 15bn per year. The Commission is proposing that funding for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is reduced - by around 5% - to reflect the "new reality of a Union at 27". The CAP will, however, be modernised to ensure it can still deliver with less and even serve new priorities. Farm subsidies are to be better balanced, benefiting medium-sized and smaller farms. The Commission has also proposed a subsidy cap per farm. The overall cut in the CAP budget is 5 percent and I regard this as a fair outcome to farmers, particularly given the challenging backdrop of a 12 billion euros Brexit, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Phil Hogan told reporters. 'Unthinkable' France, an agricultural powerhouse and the largest beneficiary of the CAP, has swiftly condemned the new measures, calling it "unthinkable". For Stephane Travert, the Agriculture and Food Minister, such a drastic, massive and blind cut is simply unthinkable, the ministry said in a statement. It poses an unprecedented risk to farms viability by seriously impacting farmers incomes, for whom direct aid is an essential safety net. France cannot accept any decline in direct income for farmers. EU agricultural co-operative Copa and Cogeca reacted with "strong disappointment" to the cuts. A strong budget is needed for a sustainable, modern EU agriculture sector delivering on various fronts, the group said. Children raised on farms and in the rural environment grow up to have more stress-resilient immune systems and have a lower risk to mental illness. According to new research from the University of Ulm in Germany and CU Boulder in the US, children raised on farms, surrounded by animals and bacteria-laden dust, grow up healthier than their city counterparts. The study adds to mounting evidence supporting the "hygiene hypothesis," which posits that overly sterile environments can breed health problems. The study recruited 40 healthy German men between 20 and 40 years old. Half had grown up on a farm with livestock, and half had grown up in a large city without pets. On test day, the men were asked to give a speech in front of a group of stone-faced observers and then asked to solve a difficult maths problem while being timed. Blood and saliva were taken five minutes before and five, 15, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after the test. Those who grew up in cities had significantly higher levels of immune system components called peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) after the stressful experience. They also showed prolonged elevation of the inflammatory compound interleukin 6 and muted activation of the anti-inflammatory compound interleukin 10. "People who grew up in an urban environment had a much-exaggerated induction of the inflammatory immune response to the stressor, and it persisted throughout the two-hour period," said co-author Christopher Lowry, a professor of integrative physiology at CU Boulder. "This exaggerated inflammatory response is like a sleeping giant that they are completely unaware of." Microbial environment Previous studies have shown that those with an exaggerated inflammatory response are more likely to develop depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) later in life. Research has also shown that immunoregulatory response to stress develops in early life and is shaped largely by the microbial environment. More than 50 percent of the world's population now lives in a urban areas, meaning humans are exposed to far fewer microorganisms than they evolved with, the authors note. "If you are not exposed to these types of organisms, then your immune system doesn't develop a balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory forces, and you can develop a chronic, low-grade inflammation and exaggerated immune reactivity that makes you vulnerable to allergy, autoimmune disease and, we propose, psychiatric disorders," Mr Lowry added. Research leader Stefan Reber, a University of Ulm Professor said: "A lot of research still needs to be done. But it looks as if spending as much time as possible, preferably during upbringing, in environments offering a wide range of microbial exposures has many beneficial effects." Farmers will bring their #CowsOnTour to a school next week in an innovative way to tell the farming story to children. #CowsOnTour consists of a group of farmers from Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, who have in the past visited schools in London and Cardiff. They will now be heading to Marshfield Primary School in Newport on Friday 11 May, offering a day full of farming fun and facts to over 450 children. The farmers believe teaching farming and food education is an important element of the school day, giving pupils an opportunity to engage with farmers themselves. Ian Williams, NFU Cymru County Chairman said: One day they will be making a career choice and if we can provide any source of education or provide any help to them in choosing a career path - that would be fantastic. The initiative aims to get children to understand where their food comes from and the journey from farm to plate. It starts by explaining where milk and flour comes from and then shows the steps involved in achieving the end product, as a way of illustrating how the entire food chain works. Matthew Shervington-Jones, Chairman of #CowsOnTour said: We will be working with children ranging from three to eleven and hope to incorporate how agriculture has progressed and developed through generations in order to ensure that food is produced for the nation. We have also committed to clearing out the school pond and landscaping an area where pupils can enjoy the wildlife and natural habitat so they understand that farmers care about the landscape, the environment and food production, and all aspects go hand in hand. The school visit follows news released last year that shows there are some serious misconceptions children have about food. According to research by the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF), which spoke to more than 27,500 children across the UK, cheese comes from plants, tomatoes grow underground and fish fingers are made of chicken. In 2015, a survey showed that more than four in five primary age school children said they would visit a farm to find out more about where their food comes from. The first estimates for 2017 show total income in farming rose by 41 percent, thanks to increased productivity and higher farm gate prices. Productivity levels are also estimated to have increased by 2.9% between 2016 and 2017, to the highest level recorded. Total income from farming is the profit from all UK farms in a calendar year, measuring the return to all businesses for their management, labour and capital invested. The first estimates by Defra published on Thursday (3 May) show total income from farming rose by 1,683 million from 2016 to 2017 to 5,742 million, an increase of 41%. The increased productivity recorded in 2017 also shows farmers are producing more with less, which suggests they are using smarter more efficient methods and embracing innovation. The volume of all outputs increased by 3.6% compared to 2016 whilst the volume of all inputs increased by just 0.7. A strong harvest in 2017 helped to drive productivity higher for 2017, with a 7.3% increase in the volume of all crops estimated. Livestock outputs for meat and other products also rose by 1.8% from 2016. More productive farming across all sectors is directly benefitting farmers bank balances as the total income from farming per person engaged in entrepreneurial labour in the sector rose by 41% in real terms to 29,794 a year. Farming Minister George Eustice said applauded the figures: Estimates show 2017 was a good year for the farming industry, in particular those in the arable and livestock sectors. Whilst the increase in farm gate prices has helped, its also encouraging to see signs that productivity is on the up. Farming is a volatile business and individual businesses will face many different challenges in a year, but these estimates show an industry that is ready to make the most of the opportunities leaving the EU will present. Volatility NFU Deputy President Guy Smith said the figures show positive news for the industry and demonstrates the significant contribution agriculture makes to the wider economy. However, he said the NFU are concerned whether this performance can be sustained in the years ahead. The increased profitability of our sector is particularly good news, as farmers have experienced a full year of higher commodity prices due to the devaluation of the pound which occurred after the EU referendum, he said. It is important to remember that this rise comes after three years of falling profits and margins, and increased price volatility for many across the industry. However, the NFU is concerned whether this performance can be sustained in future years. In addition to the effects of the recent wet weather, the cost base of the industry has been rising. Some farm commodity sectors are also witnessing falls from the recent historic highs seen in 2017. Milk price, for example, has fallen nearly 8% in the past three months. Lower farm gate prices will feed through to a lower bottom line for 2018 and it would be reckless to draw from these figures that farming is entering a period of sustained profitability. Mr Smith added: In order to put farmers in the best position to continue producing food for the nation, this sort of volatility needs to be addressed in future agricultural policies. The NFU believes that with the right government policies, Britains farmers can continue this impressive performance. The government has been urged to rethink its refusal to extend the remit of the Groceries Code Adjudicator in light of the proposed merger between Asda and Sainsburys. Unfair practices within the retail supply chain led the Government to establish the Groceries Code Adjudicator (GCA) in 2013 to oversee direct supply contracts between retailers and suppliers. However it recently refused to extend the remit to include oversight of relationships further upstream between farmers and processors which could be impacted by the dominance of retailers. Defra stated that there was "not enough evidence" to support extending the remit of the GCA. But the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA) is now calling for the government to rethink its approach, following the proposed merger between Asda and Sainsbury's to create the UK's largest retailer. The deal between Asda and Sainsbury's will create a grocery giant overtaking Tesco as number one in the sector, with combined revenues of 51bn. The two retailers have promised to slash prices on products by up to 10%, creating huge concern within the farming industry. 'Dysfunctional supply chain' TFA Chief Executive, George Dunn said "alarm bells rang" across the industry when Sainsbury's boss Mike Coupe announced the price slash. It is suppliers who will be expected to shoulder the cost of these savings," Mr Dunn explained. There is a growing recognition that the food supply chain in the UK is dysfunctional and all too often it is the farming community which bears the brunt of the problems that this produces. Poor returns, last-minute changes in orders and specifications, unfair competition from abroad and poor labelling are all contributing to the pressures at farm level. Given that the vast majority of farm produce passes through at least one processor, if not more, before it hits supermarket shelves, the Adjudicator is therefore unable to consider the impact of retailer activity on many farmers, added Mr Dunn. GCA remit In the House of Commons, Business Minister Andrew Griffiths referred to the work of the GCA, but he failed to address why the Government had decided to do nothing to protect primary suppliers. This was despite being challenged by Labours Shadow Agriculture Minister, David Drew on how the Government planned to tackle further potential supply chain unfairness between farmers, processors and retailers. On the whole, the farming industry agrees that the GCA has had a positive impact on the groceries market by ensuring there is a greater focus on fair trading. However, the TFA has said the extent of the influence of the GCA is limited by its current legislative powers both in terms of the scope of its remit and its ways of working. The Government needs to act now to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to guard against future abuse in the light of further concentration in the retail sector, said Mr Dunn. Well-meaning initiatives aimed at improving supply chain relationships on a voluntary basis have failed to have the necessary traction across the board. We must deepen and broaden the GCAs powers to allow it to look at the whole of the supply chain and not just direct supply contracts to ensure fairness in supply chains. An industry-led initiative to tackle pollution from agriculture head-on in Wales will now commence. The work by the Welsh government's Farming Connect programme and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) will provide support, advice and guidance to farmers to help improve water quality in Welsh rivers. While general advice on reducing pollution risks will be available to all farmers across Wales, those with land around 28 priority catchments will be encouraged to take advantage of a programme of support through Farming Connect. The new campaign will focus on supporting farmers to take action to prevent pollution through the improved management of manures, slurries and soils and a reduction in the use of chemicals such as pesticides. Zoe Henderson, Chair of the Wales Land Management Forum, said agricultural pollution is "severely affecting" the natural environment in Wales. NRW staff deal with between 115 and 165 substantiated agricultural pollution incidents to water every year, Ms Henderson said. Through the WLMF, everyone involved is working together in a new way to address agricultural pollution. Other support mechanisms include; a one-to-one mentoring service, where farmers can receive up to 22.5 hours of mentoring from another experienced farmer who has addressed issues and introduced solutions on their farm, and planning surgeries, where farmers can access an hours worth of advice free of charge from a planning expert. Ofcom has been urged to present a stronger challenge to mobile network operators on improving 4G coverage in the countryside. In its response to the Ofcom consultation on coverage obligations in the award of the 700 MHz spectrum band, rural organisation the CLA has pointed to the reluctance of mobile operators to deliver coverage in rural areas. The CLA has therefore asked Ofcom to take a more robust stance to best serve the interests of consumers, many of whom are farmers who receive non-existent connections. The organisation has called for Ofcom to raise the proposed coverage obligations for the 700 MHz spectrum sale award so they align with the Government ambition for 95% geographic coverage by 2022. 'Rubbish signals' CLA Deputy President Mark Bridgeman has met with Ofcom to discuss these concerns this week. He said farmers and rural residents are "fed up with rubbish signals and empty promises" from the mobile network providers. It limits rural businesses, hampers efforts to work more efficiently, presents a safety concern and keeps communities in a digital dark age, Mr Bridgeman said. It is clear that mobile operators will only invest in rural coverage if they are forced to do so. Ofcom must take a stronger line. They can do this by requiring legally binding targets that will deliver on the Governments stated ambition of 95% geographic coverage by the end of 2022, and robustly challenge the industrys constant excuses for not investing in rural areas. Mr Bridgeman said Ofcom should make operators accountable to rural residents by requiring them to publish details of existing infrastructure and roll out plans for countryside areas. As well as delivering necessary accountability, this measure would lead to far more sharing of masts and significant cost savings for the industry, he added. Digital wilderness Ofcoms Connected Nations report in December 2017 revealed that while people inside 90% of UK premises can now make telephone calls on all four mobile networks, this falls to 57% in rural areas. A CLA report in March 2018 based on FOI responses found that mobile network operators have not been putting in planning applications for new masts in some of the rural areas with the poorest mobile coverage. As an example in Rutland, which has the worst 4G coverage of any local authority area in England and Wales at 3.42% 4G coverage from all operators, not one application for a new mast was put forward in 2015, 2016 or 2017. Janhvi Is One Doting Daughter! This picture of Janhvi Kapoor taking care of her emotional dad, Boney Kapoor during the award ceremony, speaks volume about Janhvi's caring nature. Boney Gets Teary-eyed Boney Kapoor and Janhvi Kapoor get teary-eyed, while Khushi Kapoor looks on. Boney Kapoor also said it was a special moment for the family and they missed her a lot. Sridevi Won The Award For Mom Sridevi, who died at the age of 54 in Dubai on February 24, won the award for her portrayal of a revenge-seeking mother in Hindi film, Mom. Daughters Janhvi and Khushi accompanied Kapoor to the ceremony. Its Unfortunate Sridevi Is Not Here: Boney Kapoor "I wish she was here. She truly deserved this award. It's so unfortunate that she is not here with us today to celebrate. I am grateful to the government of India, the I&B Ministry and the jury. It is a proud moment for all of us but sadly she is not here," Boney told reporters ahead of the ceremony. Its A Special Moment: Janhvi Janhvi Kapoor said, "I want to thank the jury and the government of India for recognising the hard work my mother has done. It is very special for us as a family." Sisters For Life! A beautiful picture of Janhvi Kapoor & Khushi Kapoor, holding hands of each other at the 65th National Awards ceremony. Both of the daughters of Sridevi, looked immense pretty in their desi avatars and we can't take our eyes off them. Akshaye Khanna Collected Vinod Khannas Award Sridevi and her Chandni co-star Vinod Khanna were recognised posthumously at the National Film Awards this year. Khanna was named this year's Dadasaheb Phalke award winner. The award was received by son Akshaye Khanna. It's Incredible, Says Prabhas The 'Baahubali' star was quoted as saying, "We are all excited to be shooting in Abu Dhabi - friends in the industry have told me that it's an incredible filming destination boasting awe-inspiring landscapes, and it is certainly living up to that reputation. I've been impressed at the level of support we've received from twofour54, the local crews, the fans, and the government, who are all going out of their way to make things as smooth as possible!" Are You Ready For Some Mind-Blowing Action? Prabhas will be seen in a completely different avatar and has even cut his hair short after years of doing the two-period films, adding that Hollywood action choreographer Kenny Bates, who has films like Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Pearl Harbor and Armageddon to his credit, is designing the action for Saaho. Kenny has also worked on the Rajinikanth and Akshay Kumar starrer 2.0. The Viral Pictures Recently, Prabhas was spotted in an all-black outfit combined with a leather jacket as he rode a bike while shooting for Saaho in Dubai. His biker look immediately went viral on social media. Neil Nitin Mukesh Pumps It Up Neil Nitin Mukesh, who plays an antagonist in the film, reached the UAE capital last month and has been training with weapons for his part. He even shared a sneak-peek of his rigorous workout on his Instagram page. Prabhas Is All Praises For Shraddha Kapoor "I have never worked with a Bollywood actor before and she is the best choice for the role. We are very lucky to have her on board. Her character is not just like coming and going or just there for the songs. The character is very important and adds a lot of weight to the story. It is one of the most important characters in the film. She has some amazing action sequences also. It is a very strong character. She is a very hard-working actor and she is very comfortable (on the set)," the actor was quoted as saying by a leading daily. 102 Not Out Movie Review: Amitabh Bachchan | Rishi Kapoor | Umesh Shukla | FilmiBeat Rating: 3.5 /5 Star Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Rishi Kapoor, Jimit Trivedi, Mukesh Hariawala, Paresh Rawal Director: Umesh Shukla 'Baap Cool, Beta Old School'- These four words aptly describe what Umesh Shukla's 102 Not Out has in store for you. A narrative majorly revolving around two characters isn't an easy feat to pull off but trust me, the film-maker gives you enough reasons to rejoice in this one. This Amitabh Bachchan-Rishi Kapoor starrer is a beautiful blend of emotions which gives you plenty of minutes to go 'ha-ha'; but at the same time, it also has scenes which has your eyes welling up! Saaho: Prabhas Turns A Biker Boy, His Leaked Photos From The Sets Are Droolworthy! To quote Joey Comeau's words- 'It doesn't matter if the glass is half full or half empty, I am going to drink it with this crazy straw'. '102 Not Out' too tells you why you should live every moment irrespective of what 'good' and 'bad', it throws at you. Coming to the plot, the film opens with a montage of creatives featuring the famous landmarks of Mumbai before introducing us to Shanti Nivas whose occupants include a 102 year old Dattatraya Vakharia (Amitabh Bachchan) and his 75 year old son Babulal (Rishi Kapoor). For Dattaraya, age is just a number and he is someone who believes in living life to the fullest. On the other hand, his son is a hypochondriac who sees the red stoplight in every opportunity and holds back from stealing away the precious moments in life. The father-son duo bicker a lot but at the same time have immense love and respect for each other. Adding more drama to the Vakharia household is a simpleton Dhiru (Jimit Trivedi),their Man Friday. One fine day, Dattatraya makes an announcement that he wants to outlive the world's eldest person by living up to the age of 118. But Babu's morose outlook towards life poses a threat to this thought and hence the fun-loving father decides to pack him off to an old-age home. Terrified by this idea, Babu agrees to go through a set of challenges in order to get permission to stay under the same roof like he has been living so far. The rest of the film revolves around how Dattatraya brings a change in him and makes him confront a painful thought. '102 Not Out' is narrated from the perspective of three main characters and that what makes it more intriguing. The landscape of the film has a limited scope but Shukla utilizes it to fullest and turns it into his strength. The film, adapted from a popular Gujarati play under the same name written by Saumya Joshi impresses when it comes to the writing and has its own quirks. On the flipside, one of the twists in the second half looks a tad unconvincing and makes you question yourself if a change of a heart is such an easy thing. The absence of Dattaraya's backstory too is a minus point. Sanju New Poster: Ranbir Kapoor With His Long Tresses Looks Ditto Sanjay Dutt From The 90s! '102 Not Out' relies on the sturdy shoulders of two men- Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor and both the acting stalwarts prove why they are amongst the few best talents in the industry. Big B's 'chivalrous and cool' dad act makes you clap and cheer. On the other hand, Rishi Kapoor is totally adorable as the grumpy son! These two with their stellar acts make '102 Not Out' a winner! Jimit Trivedi is hilarious as Dhiru. Speaking musically, Sonu Nigam's vocals in 'Kulfi' melts your heart! 'Bachche Ki Jaan' and 'Phir Laut Aayi Zindagi' too, make for a good listen. Laxman Utekar's cinematography blends well with the film's theme whereas Bodhaditya Banerjee's crispy editing deserves a clap. In a nutshell, '102 Not Out' warms the cockles of your heart and its gamut of emotions make it an enjoyable ride with the stellar performances winning a special place in your hearts. Without getting preachy at any point, the film delivers a strong message that's relatable to every age bracket. This one is best enjoyed with your near and dear ones! I am going with 3.5 stars. Sonam Kapoor- Anand Ahuja Wedding: Anil Kapoor Reacts To Reports About His Daughter Getting Married How Vlad Tried To Sell Wedding Ring & Rolex Watch? Regarding the wedding ring that she had brought for Vlad, Sofia told Spotboye, "He said he was not taking the wedding ring, but I now realise he took that too. It is worth Rs 10 Lakh. I have asked him to give the ring back." How Sofia Came To Know That Vlad Was Trying To Sell The Ring & Watch? Sofia claims that her husband was in touch with leading perfumer Roja Dove's team to sell the ring and a Rolex watch to any interested party. The watch and the ring were gifted by Sofia to him back during their happier days. Vlad Was Desperate To Sell & Make Quick Fortune! She shared Vlad and Roja's Executive Assistant, Christian Martin's chat describing a prospective buyer for the ring and watch, which was a proof that Vlad was desperate to sell and make a quick fortune on. Sofia Found Missing Property Papers In Vlads Bag The ex-Bigg Boss contestant was upset as she had also found missing property papers in Vlad's bag. She was quoted by the website as saying, "Documents relating to my property went missing and I found those in his bag. He was doing this (hanky-panky) with his ex-wife, I caught their messages regarding this on his phone." Sofia Has Forgiven Vlad! Now, Sofia says that she has forgiven Vlad, but is not ready to accept him. She was quoted by the website as saying, "I forgive him for what he has done. My heart hurts. I am not a mean person and throwing someone out of my home is a horrible thing to do." She Doesnt Want Him To Return To Her! She added, "He needs to grow-up a lot. His past karmic energy is too strong. Although I helped him heal, I guess it was not enough. Sometimes you have to set a bird free so that it can learn to fly. I cannot take that risk of having me back in my life right now. I am concentrating on my healing. I truly wish him luck and abundance and joy." Sofias Instagram Post She concluded by saying, "A part of me will always love him but I cannot be with him." Meanwhile, on Instagram, she had shared a video, in which she was seen crying (hurt). She wrote, "Break ups are hard..you gotta cry and let it go.." I Do Not Hate Vlad! She further wrote, "It is not easy to lose a child and husband at the same time..it is ok to cry....my heart doesn't want any more pain.. I do not hate Vlad..quite the opposite but I have to let go for what he did..." NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2018 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Cemex, S.A.B. de C.V. ("Cemex" or the "Company") (NYSE: CX) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 18-cv-02352, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Cemex American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between August 14, 2014 and March 13, 2018, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Plaintiff seeks to recover compensable damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. If you are a shareholder who purchased Cemex ADRs between August 14, 2014, and March 13, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until May 15, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] Cemex is a global building materials company that produces, distributes, and markets cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, and related building materials. Cemex operates throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) Cemex executives had engaged in an unlawful bribery scheme in connection with the Company's business dealings in Colombia; (ii) discovery of the foregoing conduct would likely subject the Company to heightened regulatory scrutiny and potential criminal sanctions; (iii) the Company lacked adequate internal controls over financial reporting; and (iv) as a result, Cemex's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On September 23, 2016, post-market, Cemex disclosed the Company's dismissal of two senior executives after an internal probe found that payments worth $20 million relating to a land deal in Colombia had breached company protocols. On this news, Cemex's American depositary receipt ("ADR") price fell $0.17, or 2.28%, to close at $7.26 on September 26, 2016. On December 9, 2016, Cemex disclosed receipt of a subpoena from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission seeking information about irregular payments made at the Company's Colombia unit. Then, on March 14, 2018, Cemex disclosed that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the Companyoverpaymentss made by the Company related to a cement plant it is building in Colombia to determine whether any violations of federal bribery laws occurred. On this news, Cemex's ADR price fell $0.12, or 1.64%, to close at $7.21 on March 14, 2018. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 2, 2018 / Pomerantz LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against BRF S.A. ("BRF" or the "Company") (NYSE: BRFS) and certain of its officers. The class action, filed in United States District Court, Southern District of New York, and docketed under 18-cv-02213, is on behalf of a class consisting of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired BRF American Depositary Receipts ("ADRs") between April 4, 2013 and March 2, 2018, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), seeking to recover damages caused by Defendants' violations of the federal securities laws and to pursue remedies under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, against the Company and certain of its top officials. If you are a shareholder who purchased BRF ADRs between April 4, 2013 and March 2, 2018, both dates inclusive, you have until May 11, 2018, to ask the Court to appoint you as Lead Plaintiff for the class. A copy of the Complaint can be obtained at www.pomerantzlaw.com. To discuss this action, contact Robert S. Willoughby at rswilloughby@pomlaw.com or 888.476.6529 (or 888.4-POMLAW), toll-free, Ext. 9980. Those who inquire by e-mail are encouraged to include their mailing address, telephone number, and the number of shares purchased. [Click here to join this class action] BRF S.A. is a food processor and the world's largest poultry exporter. Its portfolio includes established brands in Brazil and abroad, such as Sadia, Perdigao, Qualy, Chester, Perdix and Paty. The Company provides meat (poultry and pork), foods processed from meats, pizzas, kinds of pasta and frozen vegetables. The Complaint alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company's business, operational and compliance policies. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (i) BRF employees paid bribes to regulators and politicians to subvert inspections in order to conceal unsanitary practices at the Company's meatpacking plants; (ii) the foregoing conduct, when it came to light, would foreseeably subject the Company and its officers to heightened regulatory enforcement and/or prosecution; and (iii) as a result of the foregoing, BRF's public statements were materially false and misleading at all relevant times. On March 17, 2017, news outlets reported that Brazilian federal police had raided the offices of BRF and dozens of other meatpackers following a two-year investigation into alleged bribery of regulators to subvert inspections of their plants. The probe, known as "Operation Weak Flesh", had uncovered some 40 cases of meatpackers who had bribed inspectors and politicians to overlook unsanitary practices, such as processing rotten meat and running plants with traces of salmonella. According to media reports, police found evidence that the companies were tampering with packages to sell products that had already expired and that higher-than-permitted levels of parts such as "pig heads" were mixed with sausages and cold cuts. Police arrested three BRF employees, as well as 20 public officials. On this news, BRF's ADR price fell $0.99, or 7.73%, to close at $11.81 on March 17, 2017. On February 23, 2018, the Company held an earnings conference call with investors and analysts to discuss the Q4 2017 earnings results. In the call, Chairman of the Board Abilio Diniz and CFO Lorival Luz discussed the impact of "Operation Weak Flesh." On this news, BRF's ADR price fell $0.76, or 8.00%, to close at $8.73 on February 23, 2018. On March 5, 2018, Reuters reported that Brazilian federal police arrested BRF's former Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") Pedro de Andrade Faria ("Faria") on charges that he and other executives, including the Company's Vice President of Global Operations Helio dos Santos Junior, were aware that BRF committed fraud by trying to avoid food safety checks. According to the report, the "police cited evidence that five laboratories accredited by the Agriculture Ministry colluded with the analysis department of BRF to "falsify" test results related to the safety of its industrial process." In a court ruling authorizing the arrests, Brazilian federal judge Andre Duszczak said: "Faria and other BRF officers sought to cover up claims of possible food contamination, as shown in certain laboratory tests, made by a former employee in a labor lawsuit." On this news, BRF's ADR price fell $1.83 or 19.42% to close at $7.59 on March 5, 2018. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com SOURCE: Pomerantz LLP Angle And Qiagen Present Poster At Leading Cancer Conference Demonstrating Utility Of Angle's Parsortix System In Conjunction With Qiagen's Adnatest Assay First joint marketing material released under ANGLE and QIAGEN logos GUILDFORD, SURREY / ACCESSWIRE / May 3, 2018 / ANGLE plc ( AIM:AGL OTCQX:ANPCY), a world-leading liquid biopsy company, is pleased to report that its co-marketing agreement with QIAGEN announced on 11 September 2017 is progressing well. Work on combining ANGLE's ParsortixTM system to harvest circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in prostate cancer with QIAGEN's downstream AdnaTest gene expression analysis kit is being presented today as a joint scientific poster at ISMRC 2018, the 11th International Symposium on Minimal Residual Cancer in Montpellier, France. A joint marketing document has been prepared under both companies' logos describing the combination of Parsortix and AdnaTest and with particular reference to the measurement of AR-V7 in prostate cancer. Measurement of the expression of AR-V7 on CTCs obtained from a blood test provides new insights into tumour biology and has been found to correlate with the patient's expected response, or lack of, to key drugs used in the treatment of prostate cancer. The joint marketing document is available here https://angleplc.com/translational-research/mens-health/prostate-cancer/ and the poster here https://angleplc.com/library/publications/ ANGLE Founder and Chief Executive, Andrew Newland, commented: "Partnering is a core part of ANGLE's strategy to secure widespread adoption of the Parsortix system right across the market, leveraging the customer base and distribution channels of established players and today's news demonstrates the good progress we have made in our collaboration with QIAGEN towards offering combined solutions for the treatment of cancer." For further information ANGLE: ANGLE plc +44 (0) 1483 343434 Andrew Newland, Chief Executive Ian Griffiths, Finance Director finnCap Ltd (NOMAD and Joint Broker) Corporate Finance - Adrian Hargrave, Simon Hicks, Kate Bannatyne Corporate Broking - Alice Lane, Nikita Jain +44 (0)20 7220 0500 WG Partners (Joint Broker) Nigel Barnes, Nigel Birks, Andrew Craig, Chris Lee +44 (0) 203 705 9330 FTI Consulting Simon Conway, Mo Noonan, Stephanie Cuthbert Evan Smith, Anne Troy (US) +44 (0) 203 727 1000 +1 212 850 5612 For Frequently Used Terms, please see the Company's website on http://www.angleplc.com/the-parsortix-system/glossary/ About ANGLE plc www.angleplc.com ANGLE is a world leading liquid biopsy company with sample to answer solutions. ANGLE's proven patent protected platforms include an epitope-independent circulating tumor cell (CTC) harvesting technology and a downstream analysis system for cost effective, highly multiplexed analysis of nucleic acids and proteins. ANGLE's cell separation technology is called the ParsortixTM system and it enables a liquid biopsy (simple blood test) to be used to provide the cells of interest. Parsortix is the subject of granted patents in Europe, the United States, Canada, India, China, Japan and Australia and three extensive families of patents are being progressed worldwide. The system is based on a microfluidic device that captures live cells based on a combination of their size and compressibility. The Parsortix system has a CE Mark for Europe and FDA clearance is in process for the United States. ANGLE's analysis technology for proteins and nucleic acids of all types is called Ziplex and is based on a patented flow through array technology. It provides for highly multiplexed, rapid and sensitive capture of targets from a wide variety of sample types. A proprietary chemistry allows for the capture and amplification of over 100 biomarkers simultaneously in a single reaction. These technologies can be combined to provide fully automated, sample to answer results in both centralised laboratory and point of use cartridge formats. It is ideal for measuring gene expression and other markers directly from Parsortix harvests. ANGLE has established formal collaborations with world-class cancer centres. These Key Opinion Leaders are working to identify applications with medical utility (clear benefit to patients), and to secure clinical data that demonstrates that utility in patient studies. Details are available here http://www.angleplc.com/the-company/collaborators/ About QIAGEN www.qiagen.com QIAGEN N.V., a Netherlands-based holding company, is the leading global provider of Sample to Insight solutions that enable customers to gain valuable molecular insights from samples containing the building blocks of life. Our sample technologies isolate and process DNA, RNA and proteins from blood, tissue and other materials. Assay technologies make these biomolecules visible and ready for analysis. Bioinformatics software and knowledge bases interpret data to report relevant, actionable insights. Automation solutions tie these together in seamless and cost-effective workflows. QIAGEN provides solutions to more than 500,000 customers around the world in Molecular Diagnostics (human healthcare), Applied Testing (forensics, veterinary testing and food safety), Pharma (pharma and biotech companies) and Academia (life sciences research). As of June 30, 2017, QIAGEN employed approximately 4,600 people in over 35 locations worldwide. Further information can be found at http://www.qiagen.com SOURCE: Angle PLC via RNS, the company news service from the London Stock Exchange LEVERKUSEN (dpa-AFX) - German conglomerate Bayer AG (BAYZF.PK, BAYRY.PK, BYR.L) reported that its Core net income from continuing operations for the first-quarter 2018 declined to 1.985 billion euros from 2.016 billion euros last year. Earnings per share declined by 6.3% to 2.24 euros in the first quarter of 2018 from last year 2.39 euros, while core earnings per share from continuing operations decreased by 1.3% to 2.28 euros from 2.31 euros in the previous year. income before income taxes was 2.440 billion euros, compared to 2.131 billion euros in the prior year. The financial result included a gain of 275 million euros from the sale of Covestro shares at the beginning of the year and pro-rata income of 80 million euros from the interest in Covestro accounted for using the equity method. The financial result included 236 million eurosin positive special items (35 million euros in negative special items last year), primarily in connection with the aforementioned gain from the sale of Covestro shares, which was partially offset by special charges in connection with the planned acquisition of Monsanto. After income tax expense of 494 million euros and adjusting for income from discontinued operations after income taxes and noncontrolling interest, net income for the first quarter of 2018 amounted to 1.954 billion euros, compared to 2.083 billion euros in the prior year. EBIT of the Bayer Group declined 4.8% year-over-year to 2.310 billion euros, after special charges. The special charges consisted primarily of expenses of 61 million euros in connection with the planned acquisition of Monsanto and of 13 million euros resulting from efficiency improvement programs. EBIT before special items declined by 5.6% to 2.388 billion euros from the prior year. Group sales in the first quarter of 2018 rose by 2.0%, Fx & portfolio adjusted, to 9.138 billion euros (reported: ?5.6%). Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Rolls Royce Holdings plc (RYCEF.PK, RR.L, RYCEY.PK), which is holding its Annual General Meeting in Derby today, said that 2018 has started well and trading is in line with the company's expectations. Rolls Royce Chief Executive Warren East said, 'We continue to make significant progress with our simplification programme; we have slimmed down the Group to three divisions from the previous five and we are making good progress with the diagnostic phase of the restructuring programme that we announced in January, the results of which will be shared in June.' Rolls Royce said that it April, it gave a further update on the Trent 1000 in-service performance issues that the company noted in its full year results for 2017. According to the company, the most recent update noted the need for an accelerated inspection program on the Package C engine fleet. Roughly two-thirds of the initial program of accelerated inspections has now been completed, with the remainder of initial inspections scheduled to take place within the next six weeks. Rolls Royce said it regrets any disruption these inspections may cause and continues to work closely with Boeing, the company's customers and the regulatory authorities to minimize this. Looking ahead, Rolls Royce said it will announce its half-year results on Thursday 2 August and expects trading to follow the pattern of previous years with first half cash outflows reversed in the second half; and group profit also heavily second-half weighted. The company noted that the 2018 outlook excludes the year-on-year effect of foreign exchange translation and any acquisition or disposal activity on its reported results. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de New appointments by Cambridge Assessment English will enhance support for language learning and assessment across a region which stretches from Africa to the Middle East, and South Asia as well as Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asia. Based in the Dubai offices of Cambridge University's assessment arm, the newly assigned Regional Commercial Head Nassim Abu Ershaed and Strategic Development Head Ramiz Haddadin will work with a wide range of stakeholders in education, government and commercial organisations to offer the benefits of internationally recognised language qualifications to a growing number of learners throughout the region. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005101/en/ Nassim Abu Ershaed, Regional Commercial Head, Cambridge Assessment English (Photo: AETOSWire) Nassim has worked in education for 15 years and joins Cambridge Assessment English from Pearson, where he was Head of Arabian Gulf and Levant, as well as the Regional Portfolio Director of Pearson Qualifications International across the Middle East, Africa, and the Caribbean. Nassim has an MBA and an MSc in Information Systems. He is passionate about social and economic development, both of which benefit from improved education systems and better-equipped organisations and leaders. Nassim's current role entails supporting our Cambridge English authorised centres' network from a business development and marketing perspective and shaping the strategy to move forward across the Central Region. Ramiz has been working with Cambridge English for the past two years and has been responsible for increasing the number of candidates taking Cambridge Assessment English exams in several key countries in the region. He has extensive experience in the field of educational qualifications and worked in the USA, Jordan, and Iraq for ten years in the university sector as a university instructor and certified trainer, qualifications and assessment expert and ELT specialist. He also has substantial experience in international relations, communications, the charity and NGO sector and the petrochemical industry. He is a holder of a bachelor's degree in English and German, and two master's degrees in American Studies and in Communications. Ramiz's role involves supporting Cambridge's work with Ministries of Education and other government departments throughout the region across the Central Region from curriculum review and language policy review to professional development of teachers and other English language consultation services. Ramiz and Nassim join Regional Director Liam Vint as the senior management team of Cambridge Assessment English's Central Region, which covers the Middle East, Africa and South Asia as well as Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the Caucasus and Central Asia. The regional team is responsible for helping Cambridge Assessment English to deliver on its mission to help people learn English and prove their skills to the world. *Source: AETOSWire View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005101/en/ Contacts: Cambridge Assessment English Omar Al-Sharif, +97144378077 mea@cambridgeenglish.org Usabilla B.V. (www.usabilla.com) is proud to have been selected by BSH Home Appliances AB, that hold brands like Bosch, Siemens and Neff, as the company's Voice of Customer solution to capture real-time feedback from users on its website. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005026/en/ Being the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe and one of the leading companies in the sector worldwide, BSH Home Appliances AB has implemented Usabilla as dedicated Voice of Customer Solution. In order to support its customer-centric approach, BSH Home Appliances AB continuously collects real-time feedback from its website visitors. According to Torbjorn Persson, Web Manager at BSH Home Appliances AB: "Usabilla helps driving our customer-centric strategy as it allows us to gather real-time input from our customers. It serves as the foundation for optimizing our digital channels and improving our customer experience continuously." With Usabilla's Voice of Customer Solution, BSH Home Appliances AB is now able to actively translate incoming customer feedback into actionable insights that are put into practice to optimize the customer experience. Maria Hort, Business Development Manager at Usabilla explains, "We are very excited to partner with BSH Home Appliances AB and help them with their customer-centric strategy. With our Solution, we are confident that we can improve the online shopping experience for all users About Usabilla Usabilla helps brands like KLM, Tommy Hilfiger, Philips and Booking.com to improve the performance of their websites, apps, and emails with live user feedback. Our clients utilize our software to stop guessing what users want, and start listening to what they need. Headquartered in Amsterdam, Usabilla was founded with the belief that continuous user feedback is the key to any successful website, product, or service. Over 20,000 clients worldwide use our Voice of Customer solutions to improve user experience, increase conversions, and boost customer satisfaction. For more information, visit www.usabilla.com About BSH Home AppliancesGroup BSH Home Appliances Group is the largest manufacturer of home appliances in Europe and one of the leading companies in the sector worldwide. Today, BSH operates some 40 factories worldwide. Together with a global network of sales and customer service firms, the BSH conglomerate today is made up of about 80 companies in 50 countries, with a total workforce of more than 61,800 people. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005026/en/ Contacts: Usabilla Marketing Manager EMEA Julia Pilkes +31646185699 julia.pilkes@usabilla.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - M2 Cobalt Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: MC) is pleased to announce that it has mobilized trenching crews and has commenced trenching its Waragi and Bombo Targets at the Bujagali Property. Both targets comprise large-scale cobalt ("Co"), copper ("Cu") and nickel ("Ni") anomalies recently discovered by M2 Cobalt through the Company's ongoing exploration programs. Anomalous soil and rock samples at the Waragi target contain 1.24% Co and 0.4% Cu and anomalous soil and rock samples at Bombo contain 0.65% Co, 0.4% Cu and 0.15% Ni. Trenches are designed from 30 to 90 meters in length cross cutting stratigraphy to: test mineralization at depth; better understand local stratigraphy; and sample buried bedrock in preparation for drilling. Maps showing the areas of trenching can be viewed on our website at www.m2cobalt.com/index.php/projects/bujagali. At M2 Cobalt's Kilembe Area Properties, Geotech Ltd. has now completed the helicopter-borne VTEM B-Field and horizontal magnetic gradiometer geophysical survey over the Company's northernmost exploration license in Bunyangabu District (Kilembe Area Property). The survey was flown at 100-metre spaced lines and was designed to identify priority geophysical anomalies analogous to that of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits ("VMS") for follow-up exploration. The past producing Kilembe copper - cobalt deposit is considered a VMS deposit. Once final data is received M2 will provide further target information. A number of priority anomalies have been identified from the initial data interpretation which will be utilized to focus ground crews who will undertake: mapping and prospecting; detailed ground geophysical surveying; and, soil and rock sampling to further define key target areas within the Exploration License. The helicopter survey will now be focused on the Company's License in Kasese District, south of the former Kilembe Mine and thereafter will be utilized, as required, on a focused basis to support the ground program currently underway at the Bujagali Property. Simon Clarke, CEO stated, "Our detailed trenching programs will provide increased definition and delineation across our recently announced discoveries at Bujagali with the additional goal of locating mineralized host rocks.This phase of our program is focused on enabling us to identify key drill ready targets and line of sight to initial resource numbers at Bujagali." Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Company's Technical Advisor and exploration program manager stated, "Our crews continue to make extremely good progress in the field and our program is generating numerous targets and discoveries. The airborne survey results from our Kilembe area properties will enable the most efficient approach to exploring these Licenses. Not only does the airborne data provide detailed geological information within our Licenses, but, by identifying a number of high priority targets, it will enable our ground crews to focus their efforts on specific targets early on." About M2 Cobalt M2 Cobalt Corp. is focused on discovering and developing world-class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. The Company has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production and on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates. Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry. The Company has a highly experienced management team and board of directors, which has been involved in funding and advancing resource projects globally. The Company also owns licenses over 2,800 hectares of land in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. Further information on the Company and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Technical Advisor of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For further information, contact Simon Clarke at sclarke@m2cobalt.com or Andy Edelmeier at andy@m2cobalt.com. On behalf of the Board, M2 COBALT CORP. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to exploration work to be undertaken in Uganda, the reliability of third party information, and certain other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Yeastar (www.yeastar.com), a leading manufacturer of VoIP PBX systems and VoIP Gateways, and Snom Technology GmbH (www.snom.com), a leading German manufacturer of SIP-based telephones, today jointly announced the enhanced interoperability partnership, integrating the best of breed PBX and IP phone technologies. Yeastar auto provisioning support of Snom devices dates back to its first-generation MyPBX. Investing resources and energies, Yeastar and Snom spared no efforts to guarantee interoperability. Now, the full range of Snom IP phones, including the latest Snom D785 advanced desk phone and C520 WiMi conference phone with DECT microphones, have successfully passed all interoperability tests with the Yeastar S-Series VoIP PBX and can be automatically provisioned easily and quickly. "We're excited to further expand our long-term partnership with Snom," said Alan Shen, CEO of Yeastar. "As more and more companies and telcos choose Snom IP phones, this auto provisioning support in Yeastar S-Series PBX is both essential and welcome to our joint customers. Yeastar and Snom are also working on bringing Snom auto provisioning support to the latest Yeastar Cloud PBX offer." Snom's Head of Interop and Integration, Mark Wiegleb, is also very excited about the closer partnership with Yeastar: "The Yeastar S-Series PBX is cutting edge business telephony technology and works in perfect tandem with the Snom range of IP desk phones and IP conferencing devices. With the Snom product portfolio continuing to expand as part of our aim to become the world's number one IP phone manufacturer, it's great to have interop partners such as Yeastar." You can see Snom and Yeastar's products and meet the teams in person at this year's CeBIT in Hanover, Germany between 11-15 June 2018 on Stand C84(Snom), and Stand D134(Yeastar), Hall 13. About Yeastar Yeastar specializes in the design and development of innovative telecommunications equipment, including VoIP PBX systems and VoIP gateways for the SMB. Founded in 2006, Yeastar has established itself as a global leader in the telecommunications industry with a global partner network and over 100,000 customers worldwide. Yeastar products have been consistently recognized in the industry for their high performance and innovation. For more information about Yeastar or to become a Yeastar partner, please visit https://www.Yeastar.com. About Snom A leading global premium brand for innovative professional and enterprise VoIP phones, Snom is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. Founded in 1997, Snom is a pioneer in the VoIP industry, launching the world's first IP phone in 2001. Today, Snom's product portfolio meets the full spectrum of business communications requirements of call centers, conference rooms and executive management through to safety-conscious industrial environments. A subsidiary of VTech Holdings Limited since 2016, Snom has offices in Italy, the UK, France and Taiwan and enjoys an excellent global reputation in the Voice-over-IP market. Snom's products are renowned for their technical innovation, aesthetic design, user-friendliness and outstanding audio quality. The current product portfolio is universally compatible with all leading PBX platforms and Snom products have won numerous awards around the world from independent experts. Engineered in Germany, Snom's IP solutions also make an excellent choice for vertical markets, such as healthcare and education, when searching for specialized solutions in business communications, IoT and smart technologies. Visit www.snom.com to find out more about Snom Technology GmbH. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005064/en/ Contacts: Yeastar Information Technology Co., Ltd. AVIVA LI, +86-592-5503301 Ext: 6090 marketing@yeastar.com Regulatory News: GeNeuro (Paris:GNRO) (Euronext Paris: CH0308403085 GNRO), a biopharmaceutical company developing new treatments for autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis and type-1 diabetes, informs its shareholders that the Annual General Meeting will be held on 24 May 2018 at 2.30pm at its head office, 3, chemin du Pre-Fleuri, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates, Geneva, Switzerland. The notice for the meeting, including the agenda of the day as well as the motions put to the vote, has been published today in the Feuille Officielle Suisse du Commerce. The documents and preliminary information concerning this meeting are being made available to the shareholders and can be consulted on the website of the Company: www.geneuro.com, under the section Investors Documentation Shareholders meeting. It is also possible to consult the documents at the Company's headquarters, chemin du Pre-Fleuri 3, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates. Each shareholder has the right to request a hard copy of those documents. About GeNeuro GeNeuro's mission is to develop safe and effective treatments against neurological disorders and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Type 1 Diabetes, by neutralizing causal factors encoded by HERVs, which represent 8% of human DNA. GeNeuro is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has R&D facilities in Lyon, France. It has 29 employees and rights to 16 patent families protecting its technology. For more information, visit: www.geneuro.com Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains certain forward looking statements and estimates concerning GeNeuro's financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is designed to," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "objective," "should," or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on management's current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the company's control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of GeNeuro or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and GeNeuro undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005596/en/ Contacts: GeNeuro Miguel Payro CFO +41 22 552 48 00 investors@geneuro.com or NewCap (France) Julien Perez (investors) +33 1 44 71 98 52 or Nicolas Merigeau (media) +33 1 44 71 94 98 geneuro@newcap.eu or Halsin Partners Mike Sinclair (media) +44 20 7318 2955 msinclair@halsin.com or LifeSci Advisors Chris Maggos (investors) +1 646 597 6970 +41 79 367 6254 chris@lifesciadvisors.com Sysdig integration provides unified container security, monitoring, and forensics for Docker and Kubernetes running on Google Cloud Platform Sysdig, Inc. today announced its partnership with Google Cloud to bring container runtime security capabilities to the Cloud Security Command Center (Cloud SCC), a security and data risk platform helping enterprises to gather data, identify threats, and act on them before they result in business damage or loss. Sysdig takes a services-aware approach to bring container runtime security and forensics capabilities to the Cloud SCC. With this integration, DevSecOps can protect their workloads by gaining full visibility of actionable intelligence to stop threats before they impact operations. Effective container runtime security hinges on security response teams being able to quickly detect and respond to security threats on live containers from detection, to remediation, to forensics. With new container security capabilities and partners available through Cloud SCC, customers can view security alerts for Kubernetes Engine clusters in a single pane of glass, and choose how to best take action. By bringing together container visibility and a native Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) integration, Sysdig Secure provides the ability to block threats, enforce compliance, and audit activity across the infrastructure through microservice aware security policies. Security events are enriched with hundreds of container and Kubernetes metadata before being sent to the Cloud SCC. This process brings relevant signals to the attention of Google Cloud customers and correlates Sysdig events with other security information sources to have a single point of view and the ability to react accordingly at all levels. "We chose to develop on Google Cloud for its robust, cost-effective platform. Sysdig is the perfect complement because it allows us to effectively secure and monitor our Kubernetes services with a single agent," said Ashley Penny, VP of infrastructure, Cota Healthcare. "We're excited to see that Google and Sysdig are deepening their partnership through this product integration." The benefits of Sysdig integration with Google Cloud Security Command Center Continuous security with runtime analysis: Certain suspicious activities, such as unexpected outgoing connections, anomalous file access or unauthorized process behavior often only come to light post deployment. By leveraging system calls, Sysdig is able to provide deeper container visibility, which can be used to detect, alert, and block suspicious activity post deployment. Less time spent manually correlating event information: The Cloud SCC gives enterprises consolidated visibility into their cloud assets and generates curated insights that provide users with a unique view of threats to their cloud assets. Cloud SCC integrates with a number of security tools, including Sysdig Secure, providing a one-stop-shop for all information collected and a more robust view of the infrastructure at any given time. Security compliance and audit for containers in Google Cloud: Sysdig Secure results can be viewed directly in the Cloud SCC, enabling DevSecOps practitioners to easily browse deployment configuration, container events, and every user command executed without having to log into another system. All encompassing forensics and post-mortem analysis for better decision making: Sysdig records all activity, including commands, processes, network, and file system operations, enabling post-mortem analysis and forensics from the time of the attack, as well as pre-attack activity trails. The continuous recordings from Sysdig can be used in conjunction with other microservice data to make more informed decisions. "Enterprises are rapidly adopting containers to create a more agile, secure development environment for their next generation microservices applications," notes Loris Degioanni, CTO and founder, Sysdig. "We're happy to be one of the first to partner with Google in this way and to bring the monitoring, security, and forensics capabilities of the Sysdig Container Intelligence Platform deeper into Google Cloud through our Cloud SCC integration." "At Google, we've had a decade's worth of experience building and securing containers. We are constantly developing new solutions to ensure customers are armed with the tools needed to combat today's security challenges," said Andy Chang, product manager, Google Cloud. "With new container runtime security capabilities in Cloud SCC, and technical integrations like the one from Sysdig, we are giving customers access to the tools they need to protect containers." Resources Read the latest Sysdig blog, "Kubernetes Security for Google's Cloud Security Command Center," for more information on Cloud SCC. Visit the website, "Google Cloud monitoring and security with Sysdig," to learn how to get started with Sysdig Monitor and Sysdig Secure with GKE. Read "Exploring Container Security: Using Cloud Security Command Center (and Five Partner Tools) to Detect and Manage an Attack," a blog post from Google about their new Cloud SCC. About Sysdig Sysdig (Twitter: @sysdig) has created a unified platform to deliver security, monitoring, and troubleshooting in a microservices-friendly architecture. Our open source technologies have attracted a community of millions of developers, administrators, and other IT professionals looking for deep visibility into systems and containers. Our container intelligence platform monitors and secures millions of containers across hundreds of enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies and web-scale properties. Learn more at www.sysdig.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005545/en/ Contacts: 280blue, Inc. Amanda McKinney amanda@280blue.com Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced that Radisson Hotel Group, one of the world's largest hotel groups, has appointed Accenture Interactive as its global experience agency to increase the digital presence of the company's brands and hotels and transform the digital experience to improve customer acquisition and retention. Accenture Interactive will provide digital marketing services for Radisson Collection, Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Inn by Radisson and Country Inn Suites by Radisson, covering more than 1,100 hotels in operations across 80 countries. Accenture Interactive will draw on the hospitality expertise of Accenture's Travel Industry Group, apply technology and data for personalized and targeted campaigns across all digital channels, and curate unique tailored content with the aim of increasing qualified traffic to drive new business for the group. Accenture Interactive has already helped to create the group's unique chatbot designed especially for meeting and events planners. "In a crowded hospitality space, Radisson Hotel Group is striving to differentiate itself from the rest through personalized and meaningful experiences, and making every moment matter for our guests starting from a simple Google search to a memorable stay at one of our hotels, post-stay engagement and loyalty. We are delighted to partner with a digital industry leader like Accenture to help us achieve this vision," said Remy Merckx, Vice President Digital, Radisson Hotel Group. "Accenture Travel Industry Group aims to support leading travel companies as Radisson Hotel Group to transform their marketing capabilities to improve the experience and engagement of their digital customers," said Mercedes Oblanca, Managing Director leading Accenture Travel Industry Group in Europe. "Accenture has examined the impact on travellers' perception of personalized marketing campaigns. Travellers engagement improves significantly when brand communications are personalized consistently across the different channels and along the traveller journey." Anatoly Roytman, who leads Accenture Interactive in Europe, Africa and Latin America said: "As Radisson Hotel Group's experience agency, we can offer a new approach to build creative digital campaigns, as well as a solid channel strategy to raise brand equity, revenue growth and customer love. Taking a holistic approach to data, creativity and marketing technologies means we can support Radisson Hotel Group to deliver market-leading digital campaigns." About Accenture Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions underpinned by the world's largest delivery network Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With approximately 442,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com. Accenture Interactive helps the world's leading brands transform their customer experiences across the entire customer journey. Through our connected offerings in design, marketing, content and commerce, we create new ways to win in today's experience-led economy. Accenture Interactive is ranked the world's largest digital agency in the latest Ad Age Agency Report. To learn more, follow us @accentureACTIVE and visit www.accentureinteractive.com. Copyright 2018 Accenture. All rights reserved. Accenture, its logo, and High Performance Delivered are trademarks of Accenture. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005477/en/ Contacts: Alexandra Annable, +44 7918780916 Accenture alexandra.annable@accenture.com or Anthony Hatter, +44 7810 756 138 Accenture anthony.hatter@accenture.com MONTREAL (dpa-AFX) - Bombardier (BBD_A.TO) announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Downsview property for gross proceeds of approximately $635 million to the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments). The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2018, increasing cash by more than $550 million net of transaction and other associated costs. Pursuant to a lease agreement with PSP Investments, Bombardier will continue to operate from Downsview for a period of up to three years following closing, with two optional one-year extension periods. Bombardier also entered into a letter of agreement with the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) for a long-term lease of approximately 38 acres of property at Toronto Pearson International Airport on which the company is planning to open a new centre of excellence and final assembly plant for its Global business jets. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTC Pink: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold") through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nevada Select Royalty, Inc ("Nevada Select") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive sale agreement with Renntiger USA, a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of VR Resources Ltd ("VR Resources"), a British Columbia corporation listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV: VRR), whereby VR Resources has acquired a 100% interest in six unpatented mining claims (the "Kraut Claims" or "Kraut") located in Nye County, Nevada (the "Sale Agreement"). The total consideration for the claims is US$60,000 and 100,000 VR Resources common shares. Nevada Select will retain a 2.0% net smelter returns royalty ("NSR"). The Sale Agreement is subject to approval of the TSX-V and final documentation (the "Closing"). The acquisition of the Kraut property allows VR Resources to expand its epithermal gold exploration strategy within the southern part of the Walker Lane belt in west-central Nevada. As shown on Figure 1, of this news release, the Kraut property is located approximately 5 kms northwest of VR Resources' Danbo property. The Kraut and Danbo Projects are hosted by silicic volcanic rocks. The properties sit on the edge of a caldera similar to of the Round Mountain deposit, 45 kms east, with gold production over a 15-year period. Nevada Select acquired the Kraut Claims as part of the Platoro West acquisition announced in a June 23, 2017 news release. Nevada Select also acquired a 3% NSR on eight Danbo claims, from Wolfpack Gold, announced in a press release dated September 15, 2017 Trey Wasser, President and CEO of Ely Gold stated, "We are very pleased to assist VR Resources in the consolidation of the Kraut and Danbo Projects. Our business model, predicated on the consolidation of district scale projects identified by using our proprietary data base, continues to generate fresh under-explored projects in Nevada. This Option adds another exciting exploration royalty while significantly expanding the coverage of our Danbo Royalty. VR Resources is an excellent exploration partner with three projects now in our growing Nevada asset portfolio." The Sale Agreement Under the terms of the Sale Agreement, VR Resources will acquire a 100% interest in the Kraut Claims by undertaking the following payments: US $ 10 ,000 and 50,000 VR Resources shares at Closing ; and US $50,000 and 50,000 VR Resources shares once an initial drill program begins on any of the Kraut Claims included in the Sale Agreement VR Resources shall have the right, at any time, to purchase up to one percent (1.0%) of the NSR at a cost of $500,000 for each one half of one percent of the NSR for a maximum cost of $1,000,000, thus reducing the NSR to a minimum of one percent (1.0%). The NSR will include an area of interest which includes the two sections surrounding the Kraut Claims. VR Resources has also agreed to amend the Danbo Royalty to include 30 additional claims acquired by VR Resources and any subsequent claims acquired at Danbo. Figure 1. Location of Danbo and Kraut mineral properties, VR Resources Ltd., Nye County, Nevada. Cannot view this image? Please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4181/34428_a1525295260744_97.jpg Stephen Kenwood, P. Geo, is director of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Kenwood has reviewed and approved the technical information in this press release. About Ely Gold Royalties Inc. Ely Gold Royalties is an emerging royalty company with interests in 70 precious metal properties, primarily in Nevada. 41 of these properties are being explored by majors, producing mid-tiers and high quality junior exploration companies. 21 properties are in the Company's royalty portfolio and 20 properties are being purchased under option contracts. All the Company's option properties will produce royalties, if exercised. Ely Gold is also actively purchasing existing third-party royalties. Ely Gold maintains a strong cash position and a gold stock equity portfolio. Ely Gold is well positioned with its current portfolio of 29 available properties to generate operating revenue and royalties through additional option and sale transactions. The Company has a proven track record of maximizing the value of its properties through claim consolidation and advancement using its extensive, proprietary data base. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Signed "Trey Wasser" Trey Wasser, President & CEO For further information, please contact: Trey Wasser, President & CEO trey@elygoldinc.com 972-803-3087 Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer jjobin@elygoldinc.com 604-488-1104 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs, geological interpretations, receipt of property titles, potential mineral recovery processes, etc. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) Assistant Executive Director Sophia Chong (L) and Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association Chairman Ir Professor Andros Chan (R) introduce highlights of the Medical Fair at today's press conference. The Belun Ring monitors the user's heart rate, blood oxygen saturation level and body movements to help doctors diagnose obstructive sleep apnoea and gauge treatment performance. (Exhibitor: Belun Technology Company Limited; Booth no.: 3F-H03) Bike Labyrinth displays scenic routes in front of the home trainer, allowing disabled people to enjoy a bike ride around the world and making exercise a fun experience and it is widely used in rehabilitation and elderly care facilities. (Exhibitor: Janley Ltd; Booth no.: 3F-G03) Selina Fan, Tel: +852 2584 4898, Email: selina.mi.fan@hktdc.org HONG KONG, May 3, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - The HKTDC Hong Kong International Medical Devices and Supplies Fair (Medical Fair) will take place at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre from 7 to 9 May. Organised by HKTDC and co-organised by the Hong Kong Medical and Healthcare Device Industries Association (HKMHDIA), the three-day fair will showcase the latest medical equipment, technology and related services, providing a one-stop business platform for the medical and healthcare industry.Speaking at today's press conference, HKTDC Assistant Executive Director Sophia Chong said: "Ageing populations and increased health awareness around the world are creating growth potential for the medical equipment and supplies market, an opportunity that should not be missed." Hong Kong's medical equipment and supplies exports reached HK$3 billion in the first three months of 2018, up 5.2 per cent year on year.Citing Deloitte's 2018 Global Health Care Outlook report, Andros Chan, HKMHDIA Chairman Ir Professor Andros Chan noted that global healthcare spending is expected to increase at an annual rate of 4.1 per cent from 2017 to 2021, indicating good prospects for the market.Record-breaking fair scaleThe Medical Fair attracted more than 10,000 buyers last year. This year, the fair will feature a record of 280 exhibitors from 12 countries and regions. The fair will welcome new group pavilions from Taiwan, Guangdong Association for Medical Devices Industry from the Chinese mainland and SoCalBio from the US, as well as returning enlarged pavilions from the Czech Republic, the Wielkopolska region of Poland and Ningbo Association for Medical Devices Industry from the Chinese mainland. HKMHDIA will once again organise a group pavilion comprising 38 companies.With the rapid technological development, the medical industry also keeps pace to innovate by leveraging technological advantages. "The HKTDC has been providing support to start-ups. Innovation and technology is also an important driving force for the medical devices and supplies industry. Therefore, the Medical Fair will continue to feature the Startup zone this year, providing an ideal platform for startups to present their creative ideas and meet potential suppliers, buyers and investors," said Ms Chong.Participating startups will bring a range of innovative products and services, such as artificial intelligence robots and medical service platforms, automatic shower devices and anti-snoring sleeping masks. Another highlight zone, Tech Exchange, will feature a number of higher education institutions to present the latest technology or prototypes.Specialised zones for easy sourcingA total of 18 thematic zones will be set up to facilitate sourcing at the fair. The World of Health & Wellness will return to present healthcare products and services including fitness products, functional food and beverages, and health supplements. The Rehabilitation and Elderly Care zone will showcase products and services for elderly care and rehabilitation, such as wheelchairs, crutches, orthopaedic instruments and health monitoring equipment.The Hospital Equipment zone will showcase specialist technology including ultrasound and other imaging equipment, as well as a range of surgical instruments. The Building Technology and Hospital Furniture zone will focus on hospital construction and design, as well as security systems and medical beddings.Exploring medical industry trendsA series of seminars will be held during the fair to examine a range of industry topics, including trends in medtech and smart healthcare, as well as updates on procurement guidelines and medical device regulations. Experts from the Czech Republic pavilion will present their latest innovations in medical equipment and services. The Hong Kong Health Care Federation and Hong Kong Doctors Union will conduct workshops to discuss the interpretation of medical device Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) system and management of acute coronary syndrome.The Hospital Authority Convention 2018 (7-8 May), another influential event for medical professionals in the Asia Pacific region, will be held on the first two days of the Medical Fair at the HKCEC, creating strong synergy with the fair. Over 5,000 attendees are expected to join the event, while some 90 distinguished overseas and local speakers will share their professional insights.Highlighted Products: https://goo.gl/QiV77sFair website: www.hktdc.com/hkmedicalfair/Photo Download: https://bit.ly/2HKkKdTAbout HKTDCEstablished in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong's businesses. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Follow us on Google+, Twitter @hktdc, LinkedIn.- Google+: https://plus.google.com/+hktdc- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/hktdc- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/hong-kong-trade-development-councilSource: HKTDCContact:Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - Volkswagen Group's (VKW.L, VLKAF.PK, VOW.BE) new chief executive officer, Herbert Diess said that he expects 2018 to be another good year for the company. The company will expand its internal whistleblower system further. The company will also reinforce the compliance organization and make it even more professional. 'We expect 2018 to be another good year for the Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen will not only keep its operating business on track, but will also continue its realignment, 'focused, with more energy and more momentum'. Our goal and my goal is to transform the Volkswagen Group into one of our industry's leading companies in terms of profitability, innovative power and sustainability,' Diess said. 'The Volkswagen Group is in robust shape in both operational and financial terms. Our strategy is gaining traction. We are systematically tackling the major automotive issues of the future. However, the longest part of our journey still lies ahead. The crucial years in our transformation have yet to come,' Diess said at the Annual General Meeting of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft in Berlin. As the speed of change in the auto industry continues to accelerate, the Volkswagen Group's realignment based on Strategy 2025 must gather even greater momentum, Diess added. This is particularly the case for the cultural change at Volkswagen, which the new CEO believes is crucial for future corporate success. In this regard, Volkswagen has to become more honest, more open, and more truthful. In other words: an upstanding corporate citizen,' the CEO underlined. The new CEO also took the opportunity offered by the Annual General Meeting to explain to shareholders the further development of the Volkswagen Group management structure announced at the time he took office on April 13. At the Annual General Meeting, the CEO also reiterated the Group's fundamental optimism for fiscal year 2018. The records for vehicle sales and sales revenue at the start of the year and, once again, very good results for the first quarter were promising, he said. In light of this, the Volkswagen Group is reaffirming its forecast for fiscal year 2018: in the current year, deliveries to customers are expected to moderately exceed last year's record figure. Sales revenue is expected to increase by up to five percent. The Volkswagen Group anticipates an operating return on sales of between 6.5 and 7.5 percent for the operating profit. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (ALNY) announced it has reached alignment with the U.S. FDA on a pivotal study design for lumasiran, an investigational RNAi therapeutic for the treatment of primary hyperoxaluria type 1, or PH1. The company and the FDA have aligned on a primary endpoint for the pivotal study based on reduction of urinary oxalate at six months, a biomarker directly linked to the pathophysiology of PH1 and known to be well correlated with disease progression. Alnylam and the FDA have also aligned on a study size of approximately 25 patients with PH1. Based on the discussions with the FDA, the company said it is on track to start the Phase 3 study in mid-2018 and is now guiding that it expects to report topline results in 2019 and, if positive, to submit an NDA in early 2020. Lumasiran was recently granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation from the FDA and Priority Medicines (PRIME) designation from the European Medicines Agency. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Reno, Nevada--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - Scandium International Mining Corp. (TSX: SCY) ("Scandium International" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Eck Industries Inc. ("Eck"), based in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, USA. Eck is a privately held manufacturer of precision sand cast parts, and engineering services, using both aluminum and metal matrix composite alloys, servicing a significant global customer base. The LOI calls for the Company to contribute aluminium-scandium master alloy 2% ("MA"), for mixing and trial-testing of proprietary alloys by Eck, in their commercially available product lines. The test work will be undertaken at Eck's production facilities in Manitowoc, at small production scale. Eck intends to report the results of the testing program utilizing their scandium-containing alloys, as does SCY, upon completion of the testing period, which extends a minimum of 6 months. LOI AGREEMENT HIGHLIGHTS: LOI defines MA contributions and sourcing support to E ck programs, E ck commits to mix scandium-containing alloys and cast currently available parts, Casting results are to be shared , understood, possibly publicly disclosed, recognizing any intellectual property discovery, E ck is a recognized leader in various cast ing technolog ies , servicing customers in commercial aircraft, automotive/transport, and defense applications , and Successful test work program forms basis for future use of scandium alloy by Eck. DISCUSSION: Eck Industries Inc. was founded in 1948 (as Eck Foundries), formed by William Eck, Walter Davidson, Robert Davidson and Andrew Bell. The business was built on orders from Harley-Davidson, Wisconsin Motors, West Bend Outboard and Johnson Motors. By 2007, the die casting operations were phased out and replaced with a complete dry sand molding loop, additional melt capacity, thermal sand reclamation and a knockout area. Today Eck Industries operates a 210,000 sq. ft. facility with over 250 employees, 110 customers, and produces about 4,000 tonnes of precision aluminum alloy parts per year. Customer segments include commercial aircraft parts, automotive and trucking cast parts, military drivetrain casings, marine propulsion system castings, and military aerospace components. Eck is known in the casting industry as an innovator. They employ over seven different molding techniques, including gravity feed, precision low pressure systems, permanent mold casting, and direct squeeze casting. Eck also works with multiple aluminum alloy types: A355/A356 represent about 50% of current production, but the more exotic A201 and A206 are also employed, along with Alcoa's latest alloys, the A351 SupraCast for cylinder heads and engine blocks, and the A354 VersaCast for structural applications. ECK is now also working with aluminum-cerium alloys for high heat applications. Scandium additions could potentially play a valuable role in any of these alloys. Scandium-containing aluminum casting alloys should be specifically suited to high-heat applications, aligning well with Eck's specialized focus on high performance castings. George Putnam, CEO of Scandium International Mining Corp. commented: "We are pleased to add Eck Industries to our growing list of innovative casting partners, excited to test scandium additions in their production foundries, and on their current products. Eck has a recognized passion for quality, they sell into applications that rely on that quality, and they have experience developing alloys and using scandium. They represent a perfect group to investigate the advantages of scandium in their business." Dave Weiss, VP Engineering/R&D for Eck Industries commented: "Our customers want us to give them stronger, more versatile alloys that operate at high temperatures. The use of scandium gives us additional options to meet those needs. We continue to grow our marketplace advantage of premium castings supported by industrial scale research and development. We have the background to utilize scandium in a cost effective way to support our customers." QUALIFIED PERSONS AND NI 43-101 TECHNICAL REPORT Nigel J. Ricketts, BAppSc (Metallurgy), PhD (Chemical Engineering), MAusIMM CP (Metallurgy), holds the position of VP Projects and Market Development, Australia in the Company, is a qualified person for the purposes of NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the technical content of this press release on behalf of the Company. ABOUT SCANDIUM INTERNATIONAL MINING CORP. The Company is focused on developing its Nyngan Scandium Project, located in NSW, Australia, into the world's first scandium-only producing mine. The project has received all key approvals, including a mining lease, necessary to proceed with project construction. The Company filed a NI 43-101 technical report in May 2016, titled "Feasibility Study - Nyngan Scandium Project". That feasibility study delivered an expanded scandium resource, a first reserve figure, and an estimated 33.1% IRR on the project, supported by extensive metallurgical test work and an independent, 10-year global marketing outlook for scandium demand. For inquiries to Scandium International Mining Corp, please contact: Edward Dickinson (CFO) Tel: (775) 233-7328 George Putnam (CEO) Tel: (925) 208-1775 Email: info@scandiummining.com This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company and its business. Forward looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and include, but are not limited to statements regarding any future development of the project. The forward-looking statements in this press release are subject to various risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or implied by forward looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without limitation: risks related to uncertainty in the demand for scandium, the possibility that results of test work will not fulfill expectations, or not realize the perceived market utilization and potential of scandium sources that may be developed for sale by the Company. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, opinions and expectations of the Company's management at the time they are made, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update its forward-looking statements if those beliefs, opinions or expectations, or other circumstances, should change. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures were flat Thursday morning after the IMF threatened to expel Venezuela over lack of transparancy with its financials. 'The [Executive] Board noted that adequate data provision was an essential first step to understanding Venezuela's economic crisis and identifying possible solutions,' an IMF statement said. The IMF is giving the beleagured government six months to comply. June WTI oil was down 10 cents at $67.85 a barrel. There was little reaction yesterday to news that U.S. crude oil inventories surged by much more than anticipated last week. The Energy Information Administration said U.S. commercial crude oil inventories (excluding those in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve) increased by 6.2 million barrels from the previous week. Analysts expected a weekly build of around 1 million barrels. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC Pink: EQTRF), ("Altamira" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that additional trenching commenced on April 26th, 2018 within the Baldo East target area at the Cajueiro project located in western Brazil. The trench program will consist of at least 1000 meters and is designed to further extend the strike of several high-grade east-west trending mineralized structures in the Baldo East target area of the Cajueiro project. Previous trenching at Baldo East confirmed the discovery of at least two continuous high-grade gold mineralized structures in the Baldo East target area - the northern most of these two structures Baldo East 1 and the zone immediately south of this, Baldo East 2. Both zones remain open to the east. Results from the most easterly trenches on both structures returned the following results; Baldo East 1 - Trench TCBL-29 previously returned 10m @ 1.82 g/t gold and 7m @ 1.79 g/t gold including 1m @ 7.23 g/t gold Baldo East 2 is located 200m south of the Baldo East 1 zone. Trench TCBL-28 previously returned 29m @ 3.03 g/t gold including 7m @ 5.42 g/t gold and 4m @ 8.07 g/t gold The current trenching program at Baldo East area (see map) is aimed at defining the easterly extensions of both the Baldo East 1 and Baldo East 2 zones and identifying other possible parallel zones within the Baldo East area, which was originally identified through a gold-in-soil anomaly. There are some indications of a third structure immediately south of Baldo East 2 (eg. 2m @ 8.30g/t gold in trench TCBL-25). Figure 1: Altamira Continues Trenching Program to Further Extend its High-Grade Baldo East Zone at the Cajuiero Project, Brazil To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/34435_figure1.jpg Mike Bennett, Altamira's President & CEO commented, "We are very pleased with the new high-grade discoveries made at Baldo East last year and are optimistic that the two structures identified thus far will continue to the east. Baldo east represents approximately 10% of the area covered by gold-in-soil anomalies within the Cajueiro property package suggesting excellent potential for further discoveries." Figure 2: Altamira Completes the First Trench of 2018 to Further Extend its High-Grade Baldo East Zone at the Cajuiero Project, Brazil To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4500/34435_figure2.jpg About Altamira Gold Corp. The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits within western central Brazil. The Company holds 12 projects comprising approximately 200,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Company's advanced Cajueiro project has an NI 43-101 compliant resources of 8.64Mt @ 0.78 g/t Au (for 214,000oz) in the Indicated Resource category and 9.53Mt @ 0.66 g/t Au (for 204,000oz) in the Inferred Resource category and an additional 1.37Mt @ 1.61 g/t Au in oxides (for 79,000oz in saprolite) in the Inferred Resource category. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, ALTAMIRA GOLD CORP. "Michael Bennett" Michael Bennett President & CEO Tel: 604.676.5660 info@altamiragold.com www.altamiragold.com For more information please contact: Sean Kingsley VP, Corporate Development Telephone: + 1 778 588 6623 Toll-Free: +1 833 604 6271 Email: skingsley@altamiragold.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor it Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Company's actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update these forward looking statements. Aspire Lifestyles, the global leading B2B Concierge service, announced today that it is the Official Concierge Partner of The World's 50 Best Restaurants Award 2018 for the second consecutive year. The World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards will be held in June in Bilbao, Spain. Aspire Lifestyles is not only the Official Concierge Partner of The World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards, but also the Official Concierge Partner of Asia's 50 Best Restaurants and Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants. As part of the partnership, Aspire Lifestyles sponsors the Highest New Entry Award, which recognizes the chef with the highest debut ranking on the World's 50 Best list. At the 2018 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants Awards held in Macau, Aspire Lifestyles CEO Martin Conneen presented this award to Chef Yusuke Takada of La Cime in Osaka, Japan. Aspire Lifestyles also participates in the Welcome Dinner, Chefs' Feast, #50BestTalks and Awards Ceremony. After each event, Aspire Lifestyles conduct a series of interviews with award winning chefs, which are featured on both the World's 50 Best and the Aspire Lifestyles websites. "The relationship between Aspire Lifestyles and The World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards, along with many award-winning chefs, continues to grow each year," said Martin Conneen, CEO of Aspire Lifestyles. "As a result of relationships that are developed via our partnership with The World's 50 Best, we are able to provide our clients with unprecedented access to leading restaurants and award-winning chefs. With nearly 200,000 restaurant bookings a year through our platform, our clients look for our recommendations on the best new restaurants globally. These events celebrate the best chefs and the passion they bring to their craft." "We value our partnership with Aspire Lifestyles due to their commitment to the restaurant industry and providing their clients with access to an incredible dining experience throughout the globe," added William Drew, Group Editor of The World's 50 Best Restaurants. "We look forward to continuing this mutually beneficial partnership for years to come." The 2018 World's 50 Best Restaurant Awards will be held in June in Bilbao, Spain. Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants Awards will be held later this year in Colombia. For more information on Aspire Lifestyles, follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/aspire.lifestyles/, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AspireLifestylesGlobal/ and on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspire-lifestyles. You can visit Aspire Lifestyles online at https://www.aspirelifestyles.com/en. About Aspire Lifestyles Aspire Lifestyles believes that the best stories are told by those who have lived the experience. Whether it is an amazing Chef's table, an unforgettable trip to a bucket-list worthy destination or a once-in-a-lifetime event like a marriage proposal, our mission is to make these amazing stories happen every day. Stories our customers can share with their friends and family. With over 25 years' experience, Aspire Lifestyles is a global leader in B2B benefit solutions and concierge services. Our wide range of custom-build programs is designed to anticipate the needs of our client's most valued customers and delight them with every interaction. Globally, Aspire Lifestyles has over 1,800 Travel Lifestyle Concierges in 24 fully owned centers across 21 countries, on-hand 24/7 to assist in over 30 languages. From client services to training, marketing to product development, every Aspire Lifestyles location is fully staffed with the expertise necessary to ensure a best-in-class approach to innovative program design and delivery. As a testament to our strong values and heritage, Aspire Lifestyles won the Leading Concierge Service Award at Wealth APAC International Private Wealth Management (IPWM) Forum in both 2016 and 2017. About The World's 50 Best Restaurants Organised by William Reed Business Media, The World's 50 Best Restaurants list has been published since 2002. Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants and Asia's 50 Best Restaurants launched in 2013. William Reed Business Media is solely responsible for organising the awards, collating the votes and producing the list. To see more details on The World's 50 Best Restaurants voting process, visit www.theworlds50best.com/the-academy/manifesto. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005775/en/ Contacts: Aspire Lifestyles Linda Sperling, 703-299-4422 Linda.sperling@aspirelifestyles.com New collaboration demonstrates full potential of decentralized clinical trials by being more representative of "real life" settings, improving patient access and experience Science 37, a trailblazing company focused on "site-less" clinical trials, announced today a strategic collaboration with global pharmaceutical leader, UCB, to improve the clinical trial experience. With the use of Science 37's decentralized approach, participation in UCB studies will offer greater patient value and resulting data will be more representative of the real life experience of patients. Not only will this approach provide more diverse and relevant data related to the development of new treatments for conditions, but product development timelines also have the potential of being shortened, allowing for certain treatments to hit the market faster. Initial studies in this partnership will be focused in the areas of neurology and immunology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005639/en/ "We created Science 37 to uniquely combine telemedicine technology, decentralized physician networks, and in-house experienced clinical study staff to take on new and exciting research studies," said Noah Craft, MD, PhD, and co-founder and CEO of Science 37. "We are thrilled to join forces and collaborate with UCB for an even better, more realistic patient experience moving forward." The partnership will enable a more integrated study design process where the patient-centric mindset will guide early protocol development. Science 37's proprietary, cloud-based mobile research platform, the Network Oriented Research Assistant (NORA), enables end-to-end remote clinical trials and adheres to the highest industry quality and regulatory standards. Unlike other mobile health technology companies in the space, Science 37's Metasite or "site-less" model helps researchers engage directly with trial participants through every stage of planning, from screening and recruitment to data lock. This direct connection online allows for greater retention of patients, increased diversity across trials, and significantly faster recruitment. "UCB's patient value strategy aims to deliver unique outcomes and the best experience to as many patients as possible. Science 37's decentralized clinical trial approach combines technologies that can fundamentally change the way clinical trials are run," said Prof. Dr. Iris Loew-Friedrich, executive vice president, and chief medical officer, UCB. "With this collaboration, we see an opportunity to not only provide a better patient experience, but also to innovate and accelerate our clinical studies in a patient-focused way with the aim to bring new solutions to patients faster." People interested in joining or supporting the Science 37 community, as well as partners and clinicians interested in learning more about Science 37's industry impact and unique approach to clinical trials, can visit the Services page of the company website. About Science 37 Headquartered in Los Angeles, Science 37 is a technology-enabled clinical research company built by a team of doctors, scientists, and technologists whose mission is to accelerate biomedical research by putting patients first. They are revolutionizing clinical research with a decentralized operating model the Metasite which connects all people to science. Network Oriented Research Assistant (NORA) is their cloud-based, patient-centric mobile platform that safely and securely supports end-to-end clinical trial services from recruitment to complete "site-less" trial execution. Researchers can find the right patients and patients can find the right trials, resulting in more access for everyone. By removing geographic limitations, Science 37 has demonstrated greater participant diversity and increased clinical trial efficiency and speed. Ultimately, Science 37 enables higher quality, people-powered science to advance digital health innovation. Learn more at http://science37.com, and follow Science 37 on Twitter @Science37x. About UCB At UCB, everything we do starts with a simple question: "How will this make a difference to the lives of people living with severe diseases?" We have a passionate, long-term commitment to discovering and developing innovative medicines that transform the lives of people living with severe diseases. We do that by connecting with patients and their families around the world living with the physical and social burdens of severe disease. Those connections offer new perspectives, drive innovation, and offer the hope of a new generation of therapies that are helping to transform lives. With a team of approximately 7,500 employees and operations in more than 40 countries, we are a global biopharmaceutical company investing more than a quarter of our revenue in cutting-edge scientific research to meet unmet patient needs. Global headquarters are in Brussels, Belgium, with U.S. headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Additional U.S. UCB sites include global clinical development at our Research Triangle Park, North Carolina campus (UCB Biosciences, Inc.), and research supporting UCB's pipeline in Cambridge, Massachusetts. UCB is listed on Euronext Brussels (symbol: UCB). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005639/en/ Contacts: For Science 37 Aunny Bathe pr@science37.com 17 Million Filters and Parts Shipped Annually Donaldson Company, Inc. (NYSE:DCI), a leading worldwide manufacturer of filtration systems and parts, celebrated the grand opening of its expanded 45,000 square meter (484,000 square feet) distribution facility in Brugge, Belgium. The facility serves 164 countries and has an annual outbound goods volume of 17 million units. "In support of our growth strategy and commitment to having a global reach with a local touch, we continue to invest in new capacity around the world that aligns with our focus on in-region customer support," said Tod Carpenter, Donaldson's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "This latest investment recognizes Brugge for its strategic location, strong transportation infrastructure and superior workforce. We are excited about having this new capacity available to drive future growth with our customers in Europe." The newly expanded facility was first put into service in 1996 as a 10,000 square meter (108,000 square feet) factory to support the company's gas turbine filtration applications. In 2006 the company converted the facility to a distribution center, and at the same time more than doubled its size to 22,000 square meters (237,000 square feet). "More than a quarter of Donaldson's sales last year came from Europe and a third of the total turnover of our European sales passes through our Brugge distribution center," said Wim Vermeersch, Donaldson's vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa. "With this investment, customers will be able to consolidate orders and receive products from fewer locations, which provides our valued customers with the high-quality customer service experience they have come to expect from Donaldson." For a video of Donaldson's warehousing and distribution capabilities at the Brugge facility, go to https://youtu.be/VRd6XV9B4Do. About Donaldson Company Founded in 1915, Donaldson Company is a global leader in the filtration industry with sales, manufacturing and distribution locations around the world. Donaldson's innovative filtration technologies are designed to solve complex filtration challenges and enhance customers' equipment. For more information, visit www.Donaldson.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005872/en/ Contacts: Donaldson Company, Inc. Becky Cahn, +1 952-703-4590 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - Sunniva Inc. (CSE: SNN) (OTCQX: SNNVF) ("Sunniva" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has selected the 126 acre Okanagan Falls, British Columbia site to build its Sunniva Canada Campus. The Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, Sunniva Medical Inc. ("SMI"), has entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire the entire 126-acre industrial zoned property for a purchase price of $7 million. As part of the site selection process, the Company reviewed several options, including leasing land from the Osoyoos Indian Band in Senkulmen Business Park, Oliver, British Columbia. After consideration of a number of factors, including the ability to purchase and own the land and future expansion opportunities, the Company determined that the Okanagan Falls site provides superior benefits and flexibility. Sunniva is also pleased to announce that it has selected the following vendors in respect of the project: Certhon Projects B.V. - supplier of the greenhouse superstructure, electrical, irrigation systems, lighting system and heating, cooling and CO 2 systems. systems. EllisDon Corporation - construction manager and general contractor. MQN Architects - architect consultant. Urban Systems Ltd. - civil and landscape engineers. The Company's preliminary due diligence review of the property has been completed; however, the acquisition remains conditional upon finalization of certain due diligence items and other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. Closing is expected to occur on or about June 15, 2018. Pursuant to the terms of the agreement, grading work has commenced on the property and the Company has submitted its development applications in advance of the closing date. About Sunniva Inc. Sunniva, through its subsidiaries, is a vertically integrated medical cannabis company operating in the world's two largest cannabis markets - Canada and California - where we are committed to delivering safe, high-quality products and services at scale. Our vision is to become the lowest cost, highest quality cannabis producer in the markets we serve by building large scale purpose-built current good manufacturing practices greenhouses, offering better quality assurance with cannabis products free from pesticides, providing better patient and doctor access to cannabis education and sourcing better therapeutic delivery devices. Sunniva's management and board of directors have a proven track record for creating significant shareholder value both in the healthcare and biotech industries. Sunniva operates through its wholly owned subsidiaries: Sunniva Medical Inc. - SMI is a late stage Access Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR") applicant in final review and is building the Sunniva Canada Campus, 700,000 square feet of purpose-built cGMP compliant greenhouse facilities in British Columbia. The total campus is expected to produce over 100,000 kg of premium medical cannabis a year and over 25,000 kg of trim used for extraction. The facility will produce pesticide free products and will convert trim to extracted products such as cannabis oil. The oil can be used for drug delivery formats such as capsules, dissolvable strips, vaporization cartridges, tinctures and creams. As the facility is not yet under construction, revenue and costs are not known, therefore, profitability cannot be assured. CP Logistics, LLC ("CPL") - Through CPL, Sunniva has commenced construction of the Sunniva California Campus, state-of-the-art, purpose-built greenhouse facilities in Cathedral City, California. The Sunniva California Campus is planned in two phases and has been cGMP designed. Phase 1 is designed to be 325,000-square feet producing in excess of 60,000 kg of premium cannabis a year. The total campus is expected to produce over 100,000 kg of premium cannabis a year after Phases 1 and 2 are complete. At this facility, it is estimated 30% of all product will be used for higher margin extracted products and all products will be produced free from the pesticides commonly used within today's industry. As the facility is not complete, revenue and costs are not known, therefore, profitability cannot be assured. Natural Health Services Ltd. ("NHS") - NHS owns and operates a network of 7 clinics in Canada specializing in medical cannabis under ACMPR. NHS connects patients with safe and effective medical cannabis products through Licensed Producers ("LPs"). NHS has in-house physicians and nurse practitioners specializing in the endocannabinoid system providing expert consultation, education, and recommendations for patients. NHS' proprietary technology infrastructure assists physicians, patients and LPs to comply with the rules of Health Canada. NHS has more than 150,000 active medical documents outstanding and 95,000 active patients. Full-Scale Distributors, LLC ("FSD") - FSD, through its brand, Vapor Connoisseur, is a provider of custom, private-label vaporizers and accessories. FSD currently serves the needs of over 80 brands in the North American marketplace. Vapor Connoisseur is recognized for its high quality and innovative vaporization devices. Products are tailored to client needs, ensuring both safety and reliability and FSD will continue to provide these services in coordination with the large supply from both Sunniva Campuses. For more information please visit: www.sunniva.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation, statements regarding relating to the closing conditions of the property purchase, future estimates, plans, programs, forecasts, projections, objectives, assumptions, expectations or beliefs of future performance, statements regarding Sunniva's plan to cultivate, produce and distribute a broad range of solutions focused on patients' needs and Sunniva's plans, timing and estimates of production for its facilities, are "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, events or developments to be materially different from any future results, events or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, the risk factors included in the Sunniva's continuous disclosure documents available on www.sedar.com. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Although Sunniva has attempted to identify important risk factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other risk factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in forward-looking statements. Sunniva assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, even if new information becomes available as a result of future events, new information or for any other reason except as required by law. Contact Information: Dr. Anthony Holler Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Investor Relations Contact: George Jurcic Manager, Investor Relations 587-430-0680 ir@sunniva.com Corporate Communications Contact: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) New York, New York www.NetworkNewsWire.com 212.418.1217 Office Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - Icon Exploration Inc. (TSXV: IEX.H) ("Icon" or the "Company") advises that further to its news release of March 14, 2018, relating to its proposed change of business resulting from the acquisition of City View Green (the "Proposed Transaction"), the parties are in the final stages of completing their due diligence on each other. Assuming satisfactory due diligence, Icon expects to be in a position to sign off on final terms on the definitive securities exchange agreement in the near future. As previously disclosed, City View Green ("CVG") is a private company incorporated under the laws of Ontario that has an exclusive 5 year lease (with an option to renew for 5 years) with a further exclusive right to lease any future buildings and has added the option to buy the building and land owned by the building owner located in Brantford, Ontario. Additional buildings can be constructed and leased totaling approximately 120,000 ft of building space. City View Green has submitted an application to Health Canada for an Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations ("ACMPR") license and has received a file number indicating receipt of the licensed producer application under the ACMPR and further correspondence that CVG is currently under security review. About City View Green CVG is targeting entry into the Canadian Medical and Recreational market in 2018 as a high quality, large-scale cannabis producer. CVG is an ACMPR applicant strategically located in Branford, Ontario, which is in close proximity to one of Canada's largest cities - Toronto, Ontario. Upon issuance of the license, CVG proposes to operate out of a 40,000 ft facility and intends to grow pharmaceutical grade cannabis to be sold in the current medicinal market and the upcoming recreational market, upon legalization. CVG is currently advancing the design and retrofit of the Brantford facility through experienced contractors with extensive knowledge of building construction in the pharmaceutical and medical marijuana industries. CVG intends to incorporate innovative growing strategies which may be based on technological advancements in LED lighting, advanced HVAC and dehumidification technology, and automation. This progressive growing technology is expected to improve the quality, safety, output and consistency of its cannabis production. CVG's management believes that its strategic location in Brantford, Ontario should enable it to be able to draw on the best talent available in the market which is in close proximity to several agricultural learning centres, colleges and universities. FDi, a division of Financial Times Limited, ranked the City of Brantford at the top spot as the most business-friendly city in the micro city category in the 2017/2018 FDi report. Further Disclosure Icon will provide further disclosure on the Proposed Transaction as final terms are negotiated and information becomes available to it, including any concurrent financing or any changes to Icon's Board and management that may be effected on closing of the Proposed Transaction. Cautionary Note Completion of the Proposed Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Proposed Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Proposed Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Proposed Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of Icon, if reinstated prior to completion of the Proposed Transaction, should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange Inc. has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Kingsdale Capital Markets Inc., subject to completion of satisfactory due diligence, has agreed to act as sponsor in connection with the transaction, if an exemption from sponsorship is not obtained or available. An agreement to sponsor should not be construed as any assurance with respect to the merits of the transaction or the likelihood of completion. For further information contact: Icon Exploration Inc. Rob Fia, CEO & Director Email: rfia@iconexploration.net ABOUT ICON EXPLORATION INC. Icon is a publicly traded company on the NEX Exchange (TSXV: IEX.H) our primary objective is to create a well-diversified company that will produce long-term returns for its shareholders and investors. Our current focus is on assessing potential acquisition targets in the cannabis industry. www.iconexploration.net Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking statements and information that are based on the beliefs of management and reflect Icon's current expectations. When used in this press release, the words "estimate", "project", "belief", "anticipate", "intend", "expect", "plan", "predict", "may" or "should" and the negative of these words or such variations thereon or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. The forward-looking statements and information in this press release include information relating to the business plans of Icon and City View, the status of the ACMPR license application, any financing Icon may undertake in conjunction with the closing of the Proposed Transaction, the Proposed Transaction (including Exchange approval, shareholder approval and the closing of the Proposed Transaction) and the board of directors and management of the Company upon completion of the Proposed Transaction. Such statements and information reflect the current view of Icon. Risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in those forward-looking statements and information. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: there is no assurance that any financing will be completed or as to the actual offering price or gross proceeds to be raised in connection with such financing. In particular, the amount raised may be significantly less than the amounts anticipated as a result of, among other things, market conditions and investor behaviour; there is no assurance that due diligence will be satisfactory to each of Icon and City View Green or that Icon, City View Green and all of the holders of City View Green securities will be able to come to negotiated agreement on final terms of the Proposed Transaction; there is no assurance that Icon and City View Green will obtain all requisite approvals for the Proposed Transaction, including the approval of the Exchange, or approvals of their respective shareholders, and any such approvals may be conditional upon amendments to the terms of the Proposed Transaction; there is no assurance that City View will obtain an ACMPR license from Health Canada; following completion of the Proposed Transaction, Icon may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations. Financing may not be available when needed or on terms and conditions acceptable to it; new laws or regulations could adversely affect Icon's business and results of operations after completion of the Proposed Transaction; and the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies. These fluctuations may adversely affect the price of Icon's securities, regardless of its operating performance. There are a number of important factors that could cause Icon's actual results to differ materially from those indicated or implied by forward-looking statements and information. Such factors include, among others: limited business history of City View Green; disruptions or changes in the credit or security markets; results of operation activities and development of projects; laws, rules and regulations relating to the medical marijuana industry; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses, and general market and industry conditions. Icon cautions that the foregoing list of material factors is not exhaustive. When relying on Icon's forward-looking statements and information to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Icon has assumed that the material factors referred to in the previous paragraph will not cause such forward-looking statements and information to differ materially from actual results or events. However, the list of these factors is not exhaustive and is subject to change and there can be no assurance that such assumptions will reflect the actual outcome of such items or factors. THE FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE REPRESENTS THE EXPECTATIONS OF ICON AS OF THE DATE OF THIS PRESS RELEASE AND, ACCORDINGLY, IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER SUCH DATE. READERS SHOULD NOT PLACE UNDUE IMPORTANCE ON FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION AND SHOULD NOT RELY UPON THIS INFORMATION AS OF ANY OTHER DATE. WHILE ICON MAY ELECT TO, IT DOES NOT UNDERTAKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION AT ANY PARTICULAR TIME EXCEPT AS REQUIRED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS. This press release is not an offer of the securities for sale in the United States. The securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - International Lithium Corp. (TSXV: ILC) (the "Company" or "ILC"), announces that it has closed the first tranche of previously announced $1,800,000 non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") of secured convertible debentures (the "Debentures") to raise proceeds of $275,000. The Debentures will mature on June 30, 2019 and bear interest at a rate of 15% per annum, payable quarterly. The debentureholders may convert at any time, all or a portion of the convertible loan principal into common shares of the Company at a price of $0.085 per common share. The Debenture will be secured by a general security agreement against the Company's assets. All private placement securities will be restricted from trading for a period of four months and one day from closing. The Company has the right to give notice of repayment of the convertible debenture, at any time after three months from the date of advance, although in this event the debenture holder has the right to convert into shares rather than receiving repayment. Directors and officers of the Company participated in the Private Placement. The issuance of private placement securities to non-arms' length parties constitutes a related-party transaction under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Because the Company's shares trade only on the TSX Venture Exchange, the issuance of securities is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 and exempt from the minority approval requirements of Section 5.6 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Section 5.7(b). The Company did not file a material change report 21 days prior to the closing of the private placement because the Company wished to complete the Private Placement in a timely manner. About International Lithium Corp. International Lithium Corp. has a significant portfolio of projects, strong management, and a strategic partner and keystone investor, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., ("Ganfeng Lithium") a leading China-based lithium product manufacturer. The Company's primary focus is the strategic stake in the Mariana lithium-potash brine project located within the renowned South American "Lithium Belt" that is the host to the vast majority of global lithium resources, reserves and production. The Mariana project strategically encompasses an entire mineral rich evaporite basin, totaling 160 square kilometres that ranks as one of the more prospective salars or 'salt lakes' in the region. Current ownership of the project is through a joint venture company, Litio Minera Argentina S. A., a private company registered in Argentina, ownership of which will be revised shortly to 82.754% by Ganfeng Lithium and 17.246% by ILC in order to reflect each party's current JV interest. In addition, ILC has an option to acquire 10% in the Mariana project through a back-in right. Complementing the Company's lithium brine project are three rare metals pegmatite properties in Canada known as the Mavis, Raleigh, and Forgan projects, and the Avalonia project in Ireland, which encompasses an extensive 50km-long pegmatite belt. The ownership of the Avalonia project is currently 55% GFL and 45% ILC. GFL have an option to earn an additional 24% by either incurring CDN$10 million expenditures on exploration activities or delivering a positive feasibility study on the project, at which time the ownership will be 79% GFL and 21% ILC. The Mavis and Raleigh projects are under option to strategic partner Pioneer Resources Limited (ASX: PIO) pursuant to which Pioneer can acquire up to a 51% interest in the projects. The Mavis, Raleigh and Forgan projects together form the basis of the Company's Upper Canada Lithium Pool designated to focus on acquiring numerous prospects with previously reported high concentrations of lithium in close proximity to existing infrastructure. With the increasing demand for high tech rechargeable batteries used in vehicle propulsion technologies and portable electronics, lithium is paramount to tomorrow's "green tech", sustainable economy. By positioning itself with solid strategic partners and projects with significant resource potential, ILC aims to be one of the green tech resource developers of choice for investors and to continue to build value for its shareholders. International Lithium Corp.'s mission is to find, explore and develop projects that have the potential to become world-class lithium, potash and rare metal deposits. A key goal is to become a well funded company to turn that aspiration into reality. On behalf of the Company, John Wisbey Chairman and CEO www.internationallithium.com For further information concerning this news release please contact +1 604-449-6520 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release may include: the timing and anticipated results of drilling on the Mavis Lake Project, the expectation of feasibility studies, lithium recoveries, modeling of capital and operating costs, results of studies utilizing membrane technology at the Mariana Project, budgeted expenditures and planned exploration work on the Avalonia JV, and continued agreement between the Company and Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. regarding the Company's percentage interest in the Mariana project. Such forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to those discussed in the sections entitled "Risks" and "Forward-Looking Statements" in the interim and annual Management's Discussion and Analysis which are available at www.sedar.com. While management believes that the assumptions made are reasonable, there can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate. Should one or more of the risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking information. Forward-looking information herein, and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on expectations, estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the time of such statements, are subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to sell any of the securities in the United States. The securities referred to herein have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - NetworkNewsAudio announces the Audio Press Release (APR) titled "Smart Money Flowing into Lithium Market," featuring Lithium Chile Inc. (TSXV: LITH) (OTC: LTMCF). To hear the NetworkNewsAudio version, visit http://nnw.fm/BU97n To read the original editorial, visit http://nnw.fm/lV1nC Lithium Chile's wholly owned assets include 66 square kilometers on the Salar de Atacama, Chile's largest mineral salt flat, which is the source of about 30 percent of the world's lithium production. The Salar de Atacama offers multiple competitive advantages in lithium production, including good infrastructure, high concentrations of salar brines, low processing costs, superior evaporation rates and favorable year-round weather. Chile also is mining friendly and provides a clear, streamlined permitting process that contributes to the country being the lowest-cost lithium producer in the world. Field testing has identified multiple high-priority target areas at Lithium Chile's Salar De Atacama and Salar Ollague properties where near-surface brine values of up to 1,330 milligrams per liter of lithium and 1140 milligrams per liter of lithium, respectively, have been discovered. Drilling is expected to commence this year (http://nnw.fm/85Lu2). Steve Cochrane, president and CEO of Lithium Chile, commented, "We are delighted with the discovery of such impressive drill target areas at Atacama and Ollague. The results also follow the recent discovery of a 60km2 target area at another of our top Chilean projects - Helados. . . .We have an aggressive multi-project drill program planned for this year, which includes all three of these exciting projects, and we look About Lithium Chile Lithium Chile Inc. is advancing a lithium property portfolio consisting of 140,100 hectares covering sections of 13 salars and 1 laguna complex in Chile. The properties include 56 square kilometres on the Salar de Atacama which hosts the world's highest concentration lithium brine production and is currently the source of about 30% of the world's lithium production. Lithium Chile also owns a significant Copper/Gold/Silver property portfolio consisting of 28,184 hectares over 6 different properties located in Chile. The company is currently engaged in the spin out of the copper gold assets into a separate company. Lithium Chile Inc.'s common shares are listed on the TSX-V under the symbol "LITH". For more information, visit the company's website at www.LithiumChile.ca. About NetworkNewsAudio NetworkNewsAudio (NNA) , a NetworkNewsWire (NNW) Solution, allows you to sit back and listen to market updates, CEO interviews and a Company AudioPressRelease (APR). These audio clips provide snapshots of position, opportunity and momentum. NetworkNewsAudio (NNA) is another NetworkNewsWire (NNW) Solution that can assist your company by cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNA brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is where news, content and information converge. NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a comprehensive provider of news aggregation and syndication, enhanced press release services and a full array of social communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and distribution company with an extensive team of journalists and writers, NNW has the unparalleled ability to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public with an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the nation. For more information, visit: www.NetworkNewsAudio.com About NetworkNewsWire NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content distribution comp any that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets, (3) enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with NNW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge. For more information, please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com. Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Corporate Communications Contact: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) New York, New York www.NetworkNewsWire.com 212.418.1217 Office Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - OSPREY GOLD DEVELOPMENT LTD. (the "Company" or "Osprey") (TSXV: OS) (OTCQB: OSSPF) is pleased to announce the commencement of its 2018 exploration programs on the ground in Nova Scotia, Canada. The first phase of work has begun at the Caribou Gold Project ("Caribou"), located approximately 80 kilometers northeast of the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia. "We are happy to start our 2018 exploration with work at the Caribou project. Through the winter, we've been busy with desktop data compilation and interpretation, and have prioritized several key areas where we believe near surface mineralization may be present within the host rock argillites," said Company President Cooper Quinn. "This program will look to advance these areas, especially the Dixon-Truro Trend and Elk Zone targets, to a drill ready stage. We'll also be working to identify additional stockwork or "fissure vein" style mineralization at Caribou, as these zones historically provided some of the best grades and widths in the area, both in historic production records and previous exploration." Figure 1 - Caribou Project overview, showing surface expression of veining, and overall anticline structure. The Elk and Dixon-Truro trend will be the focus of near-term exploration. To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/5059/34444_a1525324992306_47.jpg This initial phase of work at Caribou will consist of re-analysis of historic core, surface sampling and mapping, followed by mechanical trenching. Analysis of previous drilling will start on two zones where previous work left large intervals of potentially mineralized sediments outside the gold-bearing quartz veins unsampled. The Dixon-Truro Trend on the south limb of the anticline was drilled by Seabright Exploration in 1988; the Elk Zone, on the north limb of the anticline at the boundary of the Goldenville and Halifax sedimentary formations, was subject to a limited drill program in 1987, with five holes focused on one vein target. Several holes from each zone will have unsampled zones split and submitted for analysis. A mechanical trenching program will follow this work, and will be focused on extensions of both zones with the goal to fully develop new drill targets on the property. About the Caribou Property Strategically located, 8 kilometres north of Atlantic Gold's Touquoy Mine and Moose River Consolidated mill site and completely surrounded by Atlantic Gold claimholdings (see Figure 1 below); Historic drill results in stockwork zones include 11.2 metres grading 10.86 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold in Hole CM-98-01 and 9.8 metres grading 12.2 g/t gold in Hole SB-88-11; Project area includes broad areas of Halifax Group argillites, a favored host rock for disseminated gold and which at the Caribou Project are largely unexplored; Reported past production of over 100,000 gold ounces between 1869 and 1955, as reported in a historical technical report prepared for Scorpio Gold Corporation by Guy Mac Gillivray, P.Geo. of W.G. Shaw and Associates Limited in a report dated October 8, 2008 (the "Historical Report"); An inferred historic resource of 94,763 ounces of gold in 350,305 tonnes grading 8.81 g/t gold, uncut (the "Historic Estimate"); and Using a grade cap for gold of 47.0 g/t (to compensate for nugget effect) the Historical Estimate for the Caribou Gold Property is 350,305 tonnes grading 5.83 g/t gold, or 67,425 ounces of gold; The reader is cautioned that a qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify this Historical Estimate as current resources and Osprey is not treating this Historical Estimate as a current mineral resource. While this estimate was prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 and the "Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Definition Guidelines" in effect at the time, there is no guarantee that it would be consistent with current standards and it should not be regarded as consistent with current standards. The Historical Estimate is relevant to obtain a reference to mineral potential present on the property. The Company has not undertaken any verification of the historical data upon which the historical estimates are based on. About Goldenville and Osprey Osprey is focused on exploring five historically producing gold properties in Nova Scotia, Canada. Osprey has the option to earn 100% (subject to certain royalties) in all five properties, including the Goldenville Gold Project, Nova Scotia's largest historic gold producer. Goldenville hosts a current NI 43-101 Inferred Resource of 2,800,000 tonnes at 3.20 g/t gold for 288,000 ounces of gold (2,800,000 tonnes at 4.96 g/t gold for 447,000 ounces of gold uncapped) near the town of Sherbrooke, NS. All five properties in Osprey's current portfolio have a history of high-grade gold production. A copy of the Company's technical report titled "Technical Report on the Goldenville Property, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia Canada" prepared by David G. Thomas, M.Sc., P. Geo. and Neil Pettigrew, M.Sc., P. Geo. is available under the Company's profile at www.SEDAR.com. A Quality Control/Quality Assurance program, including the insertion of Standards and Blanks, has been implemented. The 2018 exploration program on the Company's properties is performed under the supervision of Perry MacKinnon, P.Geo, Vice-President of Exploration of Osprey Gold Development Ltd. and a 'Qualified Person' under NI 43-101. Mr. MacKinnon has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. Additional information regarding Osprey and the Goldenville property is available under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com and at www.ospreygold.com. For further information please contact: ON BEHALF OF OSPREY GOLD DEVELOPMENT LTD., "Cooper Quinn" Cooper Quinn, President and Director For further information please contact Osprey at (778)986-8192 or cooper@ospreygold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. All statements in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, are "forward-looking information" with respect to Osprey within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Osprey provides forward-looking statements for the purpose of conveying information about current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. By its nature, this information is subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that may be general or specific and which give rise to the possibility that expectations, forecasts, predictions, projections or conclusions will not prove to be accurate, that assumptions may not be correct and that objectives, strategic goals and priorities will not be achieved. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to exploration findings, results and recommendations, as well as those risks and uncertainties identified and reported in Osprey's public filings under Osprey's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com. Although Osprey has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Osprey disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise unless required by law. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - Commander Resources Ltd. ("Commander") (TSXV: CMD) is pleased to report that its project partner K2 Gold Inc. ("K2") (TSXV: KTO) has recently completed a re-interpretation of the geochemical soil data from Commander's Flume Property and confirms two distinct soil anomalies now known as Ferris and Pirate. The Flume Property is in the west-central Yukon Territory in the Traditional Territory of Tr'ondek Hwech'in First Nation. The gold system footprint at Ferris increases to 2.5 km x 1.5 km and is marked by a distinct circular Mo and Sr halo, possibly indicative of a skarn type deposit. The gold footprint at Pirate increases to an area covering 3.5 km x 1.5 km and correlates well with As and coincident magnetic structural features that are typical of an orogenic style system. First pass historical 2012 diamond drilling at Pirate (FL12-06; 5.76 g/t Au over 2m, FL12-07; 1.57 g/t Au over 1.12m, and FL12-08; 1.35 g/t Au over 2m) were encouraging, but intersected gold values that may be marginal to the best mineralization. (See TSX.V:BRZ press release of November 14, 2012). The distinct geochemical signatures of the both Ferris and Pirate anomalies may indicate that there are multiple modes and sources of gold on the Flume property. Re-interpretation of the existing rock, soil, and drill sample geochemistry was conducted by Chris Benn, a respected geochemist with 33 years' practical experience in mineral deposit recognition, including 27 years with majors, most recently with Gold Fields Ltd. The 2018 exploration program is currently being planned and program details will be released when available. As announced on March 16, 2017, K2 may earn a 100% interest. To earn an initial 60% interest K2 must spend $2 million in exploration, make cash payments totaling $400,000, and issue 1,000,000 shares to Commander. K2 will have the right to earn a further 40% (total 100%) in the property over the 3 years following the 60% earn-in by making an additional $3 million in expenditures and making additional cash payments of $250,000 and issuance of a further 2 million shares to Commander. If K2 has acquired 100% interest the Company and announces a decision to commence production, it will pay Commander a balloon payment of either $10 million cash or $5 million cash and $5 million value in shares of K2. Commander retains a 1% net smelter royalty (NSR). Robert Cameron, P. Geo. is a qualified person within the context of National Instrument 43-101 and has read and takes responsibility for the technical aspects of this release. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4050/34445_Flume-Storck-2018-Flume NR 06.JPG About Commander Resources: Commander Resources is a Canadian focused exploration company that has leveraged its success in exploration through partnerships and sale of properties, while retaining equity and royalty interests. Commander has a portfolio of base and precious metal projects across Canada and significant equity positions in Maritime Resources Corp. (MAE-TSX.V) and Aston Bay Holdings (BAY-TSX.V). Commander also retains royalties from properties that have been partnered, optioned or sold. On behalf of the Board of Directors Robert Cameron, P. Geo. President and CEO For further information, please call: Robert Cameron, President and CEO Toll Free: 1-800-667-7866 info@commanderresources.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable laws. The "Global Kiwi Trade Analysis Segmented by Geography Growth, Trends, and Forecast (2018 2023)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. New Zealand is the largest exporter of kiwi in the world, exporting 583,177 metric tons in 2016, while Spain is the largest importer of kiwi in the world, importing 161,794 metric tons. Kiwi fruit exports in New Zealand have overtaken the exports of wine for the first time, helping increase export returns to USD 5.1 billion for the year ending June 2016. Spain is the Largest Importer: Spain imports most of its kiwi from New Zealand, Belgium, Italy, and Greece. New Zealand and Belgium are the top two exporters of kiwi to Japan. Spain bought 49,239 metric tons from New Zealand in 2017 and 36,219 metric tons from Belgium during the same year. New Zealand is the Largest Exporter: The major countries importing kiwi from New Zealand are the European Union, Japan, China, Spain, and Taipei. In 2018, there is a fear of appreciation of the New Zealand dollar, which means the earnings from exports are likely to decrease. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research Scope Methodology 3. Trade Dynamics 4. Market Segmentation 5. Outlook 6. Appendix 7. Disclaimer For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/6s2f3q/global_kiwi_trade?w=4 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005887/en/ Contacts: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 Related Topics: Fruit and Vegetables Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - With exports climbing and imports falling, the Commerce Department released a report on Thursday showing a significantly narrower U.S. trade deficit in the month of March. The Commerce Department said the trade deficit narrowed to $49.0 billion in March from a revised $57.7 billion in February. Economists had expected the trade deficit to narrow to $50.0 billion from the $57.6 billion originally reported for the previous month. The narrower deficit was partly due to a jump in the value of exports, which surged up by 2.0 percent to $208.5 billion in March from $204.4 billion in February. Exports of civilian aircraft, foods, feeds, and beverages, and crude oil and other petroleum products showed significant increases during the month. On the other hand, the report said the value of imports tumbled by 1.8 percent to $257.5 billion in March from $262.1 billion in February. The decrease reflected notable declines in imports of consumer goods, computer accessories, telecom equipment, semiconductors and crude oil. The release of the report came as U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is leading a delegation to China for highly anticipated trade talks. The Commerce Department said the trade deficit with China widened to $35.4 billion in March from $34.7 billion in February, as imports rose by more than exports. 'Looking ahead, the surveys suggest that import growth will accelerate over the coming months,' said Andrew Hunter, U.S. Economist at Capital Economics. 'But surveys of new export orders are also at a high level and the weaker dollar should still be providing a significant boost to external demand.' He added, 'Accordingly, assuming the Trump administration backs down from its protectionist threats, the outlook for exports is also fairly bright.' The Commerce Department noted the goods deficit narrowed to $69.5 billion in March from $77.0 billion in February, while the services surplus rose to $20.5 billion from $19.2 billion. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Santa Clara - ServiceNow today announced that it has been positioned as a Leader in the 2018 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise High-Productivity Application Platform as a Service. The Now Platform is used by business analysts and professional developers at the world's largest companies to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. Customers recognize the Now Platform for the following: Sophistication and maturity of enterprise-wide workflow, the bedrock of digital transformation Advanced features such as chatbots, AI and mobile A large partner ecosystem and a rapidly growing developer program "ServiceNow was founded as a platform company with a very simple idea: to make work easier, and that's what we're doing," said Josh Kahn, general manager, Platform business unit, ServiceNow. "We feel that our positioning as a Leader in this Magic Quadrant is consistent with our customers' ability to create and deploy intelligent apps on our platform. In our view, digital transformation requires great employee and customer experiences to make the world of work, work better for people." A complimentary copy of the complete report is available here. New Innovations Delivered in Now Platform: Flow Designer and IntegrationHub ServiceNow today announces two new platform solutions: ServiceNow Flow Designer and ServiceNow IntegrationHub. With Flow Designer, non-traditional application developers, business analysts and IT generalists can create codeless workflows, or flows, using a new natural language environment and intuitive user interface. This enables these flow builders to focus on the business outcome, rather ... Den vollstandigen Artikel lesen ... WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - President Donald Trump has admitted that he reimbursed his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 payment he had made to a porn actress to hush up an affair she says she had with Trump. That clarification from Trump ran counter to previous statements from the president himself, who had told reporters last month that he did not know about the payment, and denied Stormy Daniels' claims of an affair with him 12 years back. But he insisted that the money was paid not from his presidential election campaign fund, but from his pocket. Using campaign funds for personal matters constitute a violation of federal law. Trump made a detailed statement on Twitter Thursday morning after Rudy Giuliani contradicted the president's account of what he knew of the nondisclosure agreement in an interview. 'I'm giving you a fact that you don't know,' Giuliani told Fox News host Sean Hannity Wednesday. 'It's not campaign money. No campaign finance violation. They funneled through a law firm and the president repaid it,' said the former New York Mayor who recently joined the president's legal team. 'Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA,' Trump said on Twitter. 'These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels),' he added. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claimed to have had sex with Trump in 2006, and filed two lawsuits against him. Trump explained, 'The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair.' 'Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in this transaction,' according to the billionaire-turned politician. After telling the New York Times in February that he made the payment from his personal funds and was not reimbursed, the FBI raided Cohen's home and office. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Standard Life Aberdeen and Phoenix said they were making progress with the proposed sale of Standard Life's insurance business to Phoenix. Planning for the separation of the business and integration with Phoenix is under way, the companies said in an update for investors. Standard Life is talking to its regulators about prudential supervision of the group and is considering a substantial return of capital to shareholders. Phoenix said it had made good progress with the financing of the deal. ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. draglet GmbH, a leading blockchain development company, is offering its proprietary exchange and ICO platform source code for outright purchase. This makes draglet the first exchange development company to make its source code available for sale to operators of cryptocurrency exchanges or companies launching an ICO. Competitors in the space keep their source code hidden from customers. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006059/en/ draglet is offering its proprietary exchange and ICO platform source code for outright purchase. (Graphic: Business Wire) "We felt there were a lot of unreliable scripts on the marketplace. None of them offered the enterprise-level security and scalability that our script offers our customers," said Peter Kohlschmidt, Managing Director at draglet. "By offering our exchange script for sale, we'll reach a wider audience and create an industry standard for software behind cryptocurrency exchanges and ICOs." draglet's exchange and ICO source code has been available for purchase on draglet's website in pre-launch alpha since late April. Customer interest and feedback from previous clients has been positive, indicating strong interest in source code for purchase. draglet Exchange Architecture The industry-leading exchange and ICO software is designed for speed, security, and overall usability. The flexible architecture of the draglet software allows customers to build their own applications atop the existing code. In fact, the same source code powers both white label cryptocurrency exchanges and ICO crowdsales with minimal modification. Features and functionality can be customized to the user's liking. The code is structured into five different modules. Each is independent of the other modules, but all modules communicate with one another. In addition to these five core modules, customers who purchase the source code can add their own features and services as well. In the near future, draglet will offer optional add-on services that allow customers to purchase additional features as-needed. Creating an Industry Standard draglet aims to create a new industry standard for cryptocurrency exchange. The new business model revolves around not just selling world-class software, but also providing the training, specifications, certifications, and support necessary to create industry-wide adoption. This new initiative positions draglet as a global leader in creating, operating, training, and supporting global cryptocurrency exchange. As a result, draglet customers can now expect an all-around solution for implementing a new exchange or ICO. Business concerns like accounting/compliance, technical software/hardware implementation, and training on exchange administration/management are part of the complete package. For more information about draglet's software source code, please visit: https://www.draglet.com About draglet GmbH draglet is a German company founded in 2013, specializing in developing blockchain applications and bitcoin/cryptocurrency exchange software for businesses. Based in Munich, Bavaria, draglet has been an early leader in blockchain services and smart contracts. With its renowned custom, white-label exchange software, draglet has set new standards in the cryptocurrency market. draglet solutions are in use in over 20 countries worldwide. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006059/en/ Contacts: draglet GmbH Contact: Stefan Chun Yin Phone: +49 151 466 388 68 Email: stefanchun.yin@draglet.com PYONGYANG (dpa-AFX) - Three Americans held in a North Korean prison are set to be released today, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Thursday. Giuliani, who recently joined President Donald Trump's legal team but is not a White House employee, revealed the news in an interview on 'Fox & Friends.' 'We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today,' Giuliani said, referring to Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak-song and Kim Sang Duk, also known as Tony Kim. The comment from Giuliani comes after Trump hinted at the release of the prisoners in a post to Twitter late Wednesday. 'As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!' Trump tweeted. While the tweet seeks to blame former President Barack Obama's administration for the men's imprisonment, two of the three were detained after Trump's inauguration. The potential release of the prisoners comes amid easing tensions between the U.S. and North Korea, with Trump due to hold an historic meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump previously referred to Kim as a 'maniac' and a 'madman' but described the repressive dictator as being 'very open' and 'honorable' in remarks last month. (Photo: Gage Skidmore) Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Program launch meeting held on April 13th with 12 participating sites Theraclion's third sale in 2018 Regulatory News: THERACLION (Paris:ALTHE) (Alternext, FR0010120402 ALTHE), a company specialized in leading-edge medical equipment for echotherapy, announces today its first sale of a system to be utilized in the French "Forfait Innovation". The "Forfait Innovation" (reimbursement for innovation) is a measure taken by the Ministry of Health whose objective is to facilitate patient access to innovative technologies. It consists of a derogatory and transitional reimbursement of treatments performed with the new technology. Theraclion is the first company to have obtained the Forfait Innovation since its reform in 2015. The Forfait Innovation allows a partial financing of a health-economic study which has as its objective to demonstrate that the treatment of breast fibroadenomas by Echotherapy (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound HIFU) is less expensive and as effective as surgery. This study will include 300 patients in 12 centers. Patients will be followed up for eighteen months. After the completion of patient inclusions, the 12 participating centers will be able to continue to offer Echotherapy routinely using the same reimbursement code. The program's kick-off meeting with the 12 centers was held on April 13th. "According to the HAS (Haute Autorite de Sante), the "Forfait Innovation" is a fast track to obtain, following the study, the general reimbursement of the procedure" says Anja Kleber, Theraclion Vice President Marketing and Head of sales in France. "This study will, thanks to the "Forfait Innovation," be beneficial well beyond French borders. The study represents the first randomized study worldwide and the first health-economic study of Theraclion's completely non-invasive treatment solution." The system was sold to EDAP, a French company specialized in HIFU. EDAP designs and manufactures equipment for the non-invasive treatment of prostate cancer. EDAP offers the system for sale but has also developed a model to offer shared systems. These mobile systems are rented to different users on a fee-for-service basis. This same logistics will be used for this first Echopulse from Theraclion. "This is a first step in a partnership that will make it possible to implement the synergies of our respective portfolios and to exploit the commercial potential of HIFU," adds Pierre Reboul, EDAP TMS France BU Director. "The collaboration with EDAP makes it possible to offer hospitals a broader HIFU portfolio," concludes David Caumartin, Theraclion's CEO. "This sale of an Echopulse is already the third sale this year for Theraclion and the first in France since 2014 when Theraclion sold an Echopulse to the American Hospital of Paris. We are pleased to see the impact of the "Forfait Innovation" coverage on our national market". About Theraclion Theraclion is a French company specializing in high-tech medical equipment using therapeutic ultrasound. Drawing on leading-edge technologies, Theraclion has designed and manufactured an innovative solution for echotherapy, the Echopulse, allowing non-invasive tumor treatment through ultrasound-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound. Theraclion is ISO 13485 certified and has received the CE mark for non-invasive ablation of breast fibroadenomas and thyroid nodules. Based in Malakoff, near Paris, France Theraclion has brought together a team of 35 people, 50% of whom are dedicated to R&D and clinical trials. For more information, please visit Theraclion's website: www.theraclion.com Theraclion is listed on Euronext Growth Paris PEA-PME eligible Mnemonic: ALTHE ISIN Code: FR0010120402 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503005939/en/ Contacts: Theraclion David Caumartin CEO Tel.: +33 (0)1 55 48 90 70 david.caumartin@theraclion.com or Theraclion VP Marketing, Market Access Sales Francophonia Anja Kleber Tel.: + 33 (0)6 07 95 44 39 anja.kleber@theraclion.com Investors in Ireland-focussed hotel operator Dalata Hotel Group were told how trading in the first four months of 2018 had been slightly ahead of the board's expectations on Thursday. The AIM-traded firm, which was holding its annual general meeting in Dublin, said that revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth in its Dublin properties had been marginally ahead of expectations, while RevPAR growth at its regional Ireland properties was in line with expectations. "STR have reported weaker market ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Regulatory News: Gecina (Paris:GFC) has signed three leases with outstanding tenants concerning three iconic buildings from its development pipeline, representing almost 36,000 sq.m. These three leases have been finalized with WeWork, Lacoste et MSD well upstream from the delivery of these assets. Thanks to these transactions, the pre-letting rate for the committed project portfolio is now up to 55%, highlighting the solid rental market trends for the Paris Region's most central sectors. 7 rue de Madrid (Paris 8th, 11,800 sq.m) Gecina has signed a firm 12-year lease with WeWork for the whole building from the second quarter of 2020. MAP-Montmorency (Paris 16th, 13,800 sq.m) Gecina has signed a firm seven-year lease with Lacoste from mid-2019 for the entire building. Carre-Michelet (Paris La Defense, 36,800 sq.m) Gecina has signed a lease for almost 30% of the building, i.e. 10,600 sq.m, with the pharmaceutical laboratory MSD for 10 years from mid-2019. Meka Brunel, Chief Executive Officer: "The buoyant economic environment combined with the central positioning of our buildings is enabling us to continue creating value with our developments, while being able to count on the efficiency and effectiveness of our teams". Gecina, living the city in a different way Gecina owns, manages and develops property holdings worth 19.6 billion euros at end-2017, with nearly 93% located in the Paris Region. The Group is building its business around France's leading office portfolio and a diversification division with residential assets and student residences. Gecina has put sustainable innovation at the heart of its strategy to create value, anticipate its customers' expectations and invest while respecting the environment, thanks to the dedication and expertise of its staff. Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60, Euronext 100, FTSE4Good, DJSI Europe and World, Stoxx Global ESG Leaders and Vigeo indices. In line with its community commitments, Gecina has created a company foundation, which is focused on protecting the environment and supporting all forms of disability. www.gecina.fr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006175/en/ Contacts: GECINA Financial communications Samuel Henry-Diesbach, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 52 22 samuelhenry-diesbach@gecina.fr or Virginie Sterling, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 62 48 virginiesterling@gecina.fr or Press relations Julien Landfried, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 65 74 julienlandfried@gecina.fr or Armelle Miclo, Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 51 98 armellemiclo@gecina.fr BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - The Swiss stock market ended Thursday's session in the red, along with the rest of Europe. After a weak start, the market quickly recovered and climbed during the first few hours of trade. However, the market pared its gains around midday and slipped further in the afternoon following the weak open on Wall Street. Traders were in a cautious mood ahead of tomorrow's widely followed U.S. jobs report. Investors are also keeping a close eye on trade talks between the U.S. and China. The Swiss Market Index decreased 0.61 percent Thursday and finished at 8,842.29. The Swiss Leader Index dropped 0.6 percent and the Swiss Performance Index lost 0.52 percent. Index heavyweight Roche was one of the few bright spots of the session, rising 0.6 percent. Novartis fell 0.5 percent and Nestle lost 0.8 percent. Geberit climbed 2.6 percent after its first quarter report met expectations. Richemont dropped 1.1 percent after chief technology officer Jean-Jacques Van Oosten resigned. Rival Swatch forfeited 1.6 percent. Credit Suisse weakened by 1.8 percent, UBS surrendered 1.5 percent and Julius Baer lost 0.5 percent. In the broad market, Logitech International surged 6.5 percent. After posting better-than-expected quarterly results, the Swiss provider of personal computer and mobile accessories said it aims to increase its profitability target in the future. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Volume growth across industries continues to exceed available capacity New bi-weekly transpacific air freighter meets demand for additional, secure capacity for US customers on transpacific trade lane DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post DHL Group, is deploying a second dedicated Boeing 747-400 Freighter to connect the US, Europe and Asia. The division is responding to strong growth in demand for air freight, chiefly for outbound services out of Asia and on the conventional transpacific route, fueled by almost all industries. This second flight is in addition to the first around-the-world air cargo service that was established in September 2017. The first flight was a crucial step in responding to the increasing exports of the Norwegian seafood industry and generating significant, reliable and efficient capacities for customers along that route from Brussels to Oslo, Seoul, Shanghai, Cincinnati and back to Brussels. Both flights underscore the creative and customer centric approach of the Global Forwarding division in meeting customer expectations and needs. "Demand is currently exceeding supply mainly due to the world's largest economies performing strongly. Volumes are high on major trade lanes, but capacities are low a trend that will continue. To increase our operational efficiency and to offer our customers the best-possible solutions, we decided to create further capacities and accessibility to our global logistics network," said David Goldberg, CEO DHL Global Forwarding, US. With a capacity of up to 100 tons per flight, the aircraft provides significant and reliable freight space on the transpacific route from Shanghai Pudong Airport to Cincinnati, US, from where it returns to Incheon, South Korea. Afterwards it will connect Korea to Wuxi, China, continuing to Frankfurt-Hahn in Germany and then going back to Shanghai-Pudong Airport. With the re-routing of the first service to Wuxi Airport as well, DHL Global Forwarding will offer twice weekly departures from Wuxi, China, to Frankfurt-Hahn Germany. The increasing demand for air freight capacities on Asian routes is fueled by all major industries, specifically electronics, electric motors, electrical and mechanical appliances as well as medical equipment. Due to the strong performance of global trade, volumes are also increasing from the US and Europe into Asia. The positive development of world trade and its continuation is also clearly shown by the DHL Global Trade Barometer. The index recently increased to 66 points in March from 64 points in January when the newly created barometer was initially published. With an index value clearly above 50, the DHL Global Trade Barometer signals solid further growth for global trade for the next three months. "The gap between the high demand for cargo space driven by well-performing world trade on the one hand, and a difficult capacity situation on the other side, has supported our decision to further deploy self-controlled capacity to the market in the form of this second around the world flight," said Goldberg. "As the international leading logistics provider we are committed to always support our customers with effective and efficient logistics solutions." The cargo aircraft has been leased from Atlas Air through an aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance agreement (ACMI). You can find the press release for download as well as further information on dpdhl.com/pressreleases On the Internet: dpdhl.de/press Follow us at: twitter.com/DHLAmericas DHL The logistics company for the world DHL is the leading global brand in the logistics industry. Our DHL family of divisions offer an unrivalled portfolio of logistics services ranging from national and international parcel delivery, e-commerce shipping and fulfillment solutions, international express, road, air and ocean transport to industrial supply chain management. With about 360,000 employees in more than 220 countries and territories worldwide, DHL connects people and businesses securely and reliably, enabling global trade flows. With specialized solutions for growth markets and industries including technology, life sciences and healthcare, energy, automotive and retail, a proven commitment to corporate responsibility and an unrivalled presence in developing markets, DHL is decisively positioned as "The logistics company for the world". DHL is part of Deutsche Post DHL Group. The Group generated revenues of more than 60 billion euros in 2017. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006361/en/ Contacts: Deutsche Post DHL Group Media Relations: Verena Gross, +201-766-2517 verena.gross@dhl.com WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Former FBI Director James Comey has come to the defense of agents at the bureau after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani compared them to 'stormtroopers.' In a post on Twitter on Thursday, Comey suggested the country would be better off its leaders were more like FBI agents. 'I know the New York FBI. There are no 'stormtroopers' there; just a group of people devoted to the rule of law and the truth,' Comey said. He added, 'Our country would be better off if our leaders tried to be like them, rather than comparing them to Nazis.' The tweet from Comey comes after Giuliani suggested in an interview with Fox News' Sean Hannity that FBI agents who raided the offices and home of President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen behaved like 'stormtroopers.' Giuliani described the raids as 'big stormtroopers coming in and breaking down his apartment and breaking down his office.' The term 'stormtrooper' originally referred to German specialist soldiers in World War I but has also been applied to members of the paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party. During the interview with Hannity, Giuliani also offered a new explanation for why Trump decided to fire Comey as FBI Director last year. 'He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasn't a target of the investigation,' Giuliani said. 'He's entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that and he couldn't get that.' Comey privately told Trump he was not under investigation but did not initially reveal the information publicly despite pressure from the president. The White House initially attributed Comey's firing to a recommendation by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, although comments from Trump later suggested the move was due to the investigation of Russian meddling in the 2016 election. However, in a post on Twitter last month, Trump claimed Comey was not fired because of the 'phony Russia investigation.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de FORT LAUDERDALE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / May 3, 2018 / The epic battle between Gigi Stetler CEO of RV Sales of Broward and defendants Marcus Lemonis CEO of Camping World and Mark Bellissimo of the Bellissimo Entities began over a decade ago with no apparent end in sight, and despite vast and conspired efforts to silence her, Stetler stands firm in her position and won't back down. The truth will eventually come to light of the boundless attempts by defendants to use governmental and legal connections to try and silence Stetler once and for all. The legal proceedings are tantamount to watching a Mario Brothers video game with roadblocks and hurdles being constantly thrown in the way of reaching the truth. Such attempts at unfair tactics and legal gamesmanship is no stranger to Stetler who vows to see the legal process through every channel available. Today, Stetler finds herself headed for the next legal stage, the Fourth District Court of Appeal where the court will be asked to reverse a ruling entered into by Judge Richard Oftenale ironically on his last day on the bench as he headed for retirement. The defendants filed a motion for summary judgment claiming that Stetler did not suffer damages because they claimed even if they wronged Stetler she was broke before their actions came into play. At the conclusion of that November 27th hearing in 2017, Oftedale showed his bias seeking a proposed order for consideration solely by counsel for the defendants and not even remotely concerned about a proposed order by Stetler. The order finally entered cut Stetler to her knees, eliminating the obvious damages she sustained and despite numerous motions for reconsiderations and hearings challenging the ruling, the die was cast. No judge would reverse a ruling of a now retired judge. This left Stetler with only one place to go - up the chain of legal command to the appellate court. "I believe the appellate court will recognize there were genuine issues of material facts in the record and submitted as evidence that should have prevented any order on summary judgment," says Stetler. "Whether it was palpable bias or the judge's attempt to clear his desk, the damage was done," Stetler says. I can't help but feel this was a personal message to the only woman in the sea of the good ole' boys club - move on lady and find somewhere else to assert yourself. ABC Story- https://www.local10.com/news/bob-norman/reality-star-business-guru-marcus-lemonis-sued-for-business-practices Deposition of Marcus Lemonis- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naCWD00L4Is Click here to read the complaint. SOURCE: Planet RV Regulatory News: In connection with AP Alternative Assets, L.P.'s ("AAA"; Euronext Amsterdam: AAA) equity investment in Athene Holding Ltd. ("Athene"; NYSE: ATH), AAA informs its investors that Athene has furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a current report on Form 8-K setting forth its financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2018. A copy of the report is available for free on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. About AP Alternative Assets AAA was established by Apollo Global Management, LLC and its subsidiaries ("Apollo") and is a closed-end limited partnership established under the laws of Guernsey. Apollo is a leading global alternative investment manager with 27 years of experience investing across the capital structure of leveraged companies. AAA is managed by Apollo Alternative Assets, L.P. For more information about AAA, please visit www.apolloalternativeassets.com. This announcement does not constitute or form part of an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction. This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to future events and circumstances. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from the historical experience and expressed or implied expectations of AAA. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and AAA does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements unless required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180503006687/en/ Contacts: AP Alternative Assets Gary Stein (New York), +1-212-822-0467 WOLFSBURG (dpa-AFX) - An indictment was unsealed earlier today by the U.S. regulators charging Martin Winterkorn, the former chairman of the management board of Volkswagen AG (VKW.L), with conspiracy and wire fraud in connection with the company's long-running scheme to cheat U.S. diesel vehicle emissions requirements. The superseding indictment was issued by a federal grand jury sitting in the Eastern District of Michigan and charges Winterkorn with four counts of violating federal law. In March 2017, Volkswagen pleaded guilty to criminal charges that it deceived U.S. regulatory agencies and paid a criminal penalty of $2.8 billion. Winterkorn is the ninth individual against whom U.S. criminal authorities have announced charges in connection with this matter. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Santoshas agreed to sell its non-core Asian portfolio to UK-based Ophir Energy for US$221 million.The news of the deal came just as the company released details of their AGM.Santos strategy is to exit from Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh.All Santos employees associated with these assets will transfer to Ophir as part of the sale.Proceeds from the sale will be applied to further reduce Santos net debt, which stood at US$2.5 billion at the end of March this year.Shares in Santos are up 0.48 per cent to $6.23. The exit of Abrol comes days after its larger rival IndiGo had said that its president and whole-time director Aditya Ghosh would step down from the position in July. Mumbai: Low-cost carrier AirAsia India on Wednesday announced the exit of Amar Abrol its MD & CEO, making him the second top-rung official to deboard the carrier in a little over two years. Abrol will step down next month and return to the parent company in Malaysia, the airline said in a statement. The first CEO and MD of the Tatas-controlled airline Mittu Chandilya also had left the airline abruptly in February 2016 after serving the airline for less than two years after joining in June 2014--right before its launch. "Abrol will be moving back to the AirAsia Group headquarters in Malaysia to work on group strategic projects effective June 2018," AirAsia India said. The exit of Abrol comes days after its larger rival IndiGo had said that its president and whole-time director Aditya Ghosh would step down from the position in July. Abrol, according to the airline, had expressed his desire to return to Malaysia to be closer to his family. The joint venture of the Malaysia-based AirAsia Group and Tata Sons "where the latter has controlling stake" started operations in June 2014 with just one plane. Abrol's departure also comes at a time when the airline is waitng in the wings to fly abroad and has chalked out its plans to go public. Chandilya, the high-street headhunter heading Egon Zehnder International's Asia Pacific operations then and a part-time model before that, was handpicked by AirAsia group founder and chief executive Tony Fernandes himself, had to quit the company early February 2016 after a string of allegations surfaced including financial fraud under his nose and is now suing the ex-employer and auditor Deloitte for allegedly damaging his reputation. Now Chandilya is heading the logistics arm of the Gautam Adani group. During Abrol's time, AirAsia has expanded its fleet to 18 aircraft from six and the people and network by three-folds. The Bengaluru-based airline had reported its first profit in the December 2017 with a nominal Rs 13.24 crore of net income, will be completing four years next month. The airline now connects 19 cities, including Kochi, Goa, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Pune, Guwahati, Imphal, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad, Srinagar, Bagdogra, Ranchi, Bhubaneswar, Nagpur, Indore and Chennai from its three bases of Bengaluru, New Delhi and Kolkatta. Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao on Thursday called for progressive taxation and government policies, including universal healthcare Manila: Asian Development Bank President Takehiko Nakao on Thursday called for progressive taxation and government policies, including universal healthcare, to shield workers from job losses in the advent of newer technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence. In the 'Asian Development Outlook 2018' released last month, Asian Development Bank (ADB) had said that workers need to upskill or face the risk of lower wages and even unemployment as the application of new technologies will boost productivity but displace certain jobs. "We need policies to support people who are behind the technological development and some people may lose jobs as they are not trained. We need to support people income, not the basic income, but to provide the minimum protection of life to the people. Also, we need (to provide) universal healthcare to those people and education for kids of those people," Nakao said at a press conference on the eve of the 51st annual meeting of the ADB. Policymakers need to address the risk of job losses by way of providing adequate training and education and skills, he suggested. Stating that inequality is growing in countries, he advocated for a "more progressive system of taxation" including levy of individual income tax, inheritance tax and property tax. "I think how to look at tax system to adapt to the new reality over growing inequality is a very important political issue for countries," Nakao said. "We cannot just let market decide everything. We need proper redistribution system by taxes. For instance, China needs more stronger individual taxation system to cover more people," he said. The Asian Development Bank is formulating its long-term 'strategy 2030' to deal with climate change and gender issues as well as the impact of technology on jobs. The strategy paper would be discussed by the bank's board later this week, adopted by the end of this year. In the draft 'strategy 2030' document, ADB said income inequality has risen in several countries and social disparities remain. "Close to 80 percent of the region's population lived in countries with widening inequality between the 1990s and 2000s. Poverty incidence remains higher in rural than urban areas, and significant disparities exist in school participation and learning achievement and in access to electricity, water sources, and sanitation. "Systemic gender gaps in productivity, wages, and income poverty persist, particularly in households headed by women. Growing inequality could undermine social cohesion, endanger social and political stability, and hamper the region's economic prospects," ADB said. Smartworks plans is to grow its footprint by nearly 400 percent with its new centres in other tier-1 cities of Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. India has seen a surge in shared workspace providers in recent years. The demand for co-working spaces is increasing. Start-ups and SMEs could save as much as 1520 percent by working out of a co-working space, while enjoying the benefits of a plug-and-play modern office. Lots of investments are being made into co-working space and several start-ups are looking to expand with their alliance with builders, according to a Knight Frank report. The player to expand its footprint lately is Smartworks, which has opened a new facility in Bengaluru with a footprint of three lakh square feet and 6,000 seats. That takes the companys total office space to 10 lakh square feet across India. The companys plan is to grow its footprint by nearly 400 percent with new centres in other Tier-1 cities: Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. With the Bengaluru launch, Smartworks now operates 15 centers in India, across nine cities, namely, Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai and Hyderabad. Besides Bengaluru, Smartworks is expanding in Chennai due to the rising demand there, a company statement said. The first facility in Chennai in Guindy was booked out 100 percent within two months of its launch which led to the new 1,500 seater facility in OMR across 85180 sq. ft. area which has been presold 50 percent prior to its launch, the company claimed. Similarly, the Hyderabad facility has also been presold 50 percent, owing to an increased demand for workspaces in southern states of India. While in Mumbai, the company is adding another 900 seat capacity centre in Fleet House, in addition to the facility at Indiabulls in Lower Parel and Hyderabad next to be launched soon. Neetish Sarda, Founder, Smartworks, said: With our upcoming expansions, we are reaching exponential growth levels, both in terms of revenue and office experience for our employees. Competition Besides Smartworks, the other players in this space include WeWork, Office Pass, Awfis, myHQ, AltfCoworking, amongst others. On an average, in the NCR, the cost per seat per month in a co-working centre in the Delhi central business district (CBD) is in the range of Rs 10,00015,000, while in the Gurugram CBD it is Rs. 12,50015,000 in CBD Gurugram. With prime rentals in Gurugram averaging Rs 250 per sq ft per month, an office space of 700 sq ft, housing 10 employees, would cost a whopping Rs 75,000 per month. Currently, the NCR and Mumbai figure prominently on the seat availability front, followed by cities such as Bengaluru and Kolkata. Mumbai accounts for a substantial amount of transactions as well, the Knight Frank report said. By Allison Lampert and Tim Hepher MONTREAL/PARIS (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc and Airbus SE named new leaders for the CSeries jetliner programme on Wednesday, in a further step towards finalising a deal for the European planemaker to take control of the Canadian project, according to memos seen by Reuters. Airbus agreed last year to take control of the programme for a symbolic Canadian dollar after the small, lightweight jetliner failed to win enough buyers and ran over-budget. Philippe Balducchi, head of performance management for Airbus Commercial Aircraft, will be chief executive of the joint entity controlled by Airbus with six executives from each side, according to memos to staff of both companies By Allison Lampert and Tim Hepher MONTREAL/PARIS (Reuters) - Bombardier Inc and Airbus SE named new leaders for the CSeries jetliner programme on Wednesday, in a further step towards finalising a deal for the European planemaker to take control of the Canadian project, according to memos seen by Reuters. Airbus agreed last year to take control of the programme for a symbolic Canadian dollar after the small, lightweight jetliner failed to win enough buyers and ran over-budget. Philippe Balducchi, head of performance management for Airbus Commercial Aircraft, will be chief executive of the joint entity controlled by Airbus with six executives from each side, according to memos to staff of both companies. Balducchi, who is well-known to aerospace analysts after a stint running investor relations at Europe's largest aerospace group, reiterated the deal should close by mid-year. "This is good news because there is a lot of appetite for this remarkable aircraft in the market," he wrote in one of the memos. Airbus and Bombardier both declined to comment. The companies have said Airbus' global sales network and greater bargaining power with suppliers should boost sales and lower the CSeries' manufacturing costs. Montreal-based Bombardier's stock rose 1.8 percent in late-afternoon trading, breaking a three-day losing streak. Sources familiar with the matter have said the companies have an internal target of closing the deal by the end of May after winning final regulatory approvals. Bombardier is also due to announce quarterly earnings and hold its annual general meeting on Thursday. In an effort to reassure Quebec's roughly 2,000 CSeries workers, Balducchi reiterated the partnership would remain headquartered in the Montreal area and that the 110-to-130-seat jet would continue to be built there for global customers. A separate facility in Alabama, alongside an existing Airbus plant, will be used for deliveries to U.S. buyers. In other appointments, Airbus troubleshooter David Dufrenois was named head of CSeries sales with the task of winning over more airlines to the plane, which Airbus once saw as a threat to its smallest models but which it now regards as complementary. The Airbus sales executive led a team focused on stabilizing sales of the A380 superjumbo and handled key accounts such as Qatar Airways, one of the industry's most demanding buyers. Rob Dewar, a Bombardier vice president seen by many as instrumental to the CSeries, will oversee support and engineering, according to one of the memos. The CSeries deal leaves Quebec's flagship industrial group with an aerospace business focused on regional jets and turboprops, as well as business jets and trains. In one memo, Bombardier CEO Alain Bellemare said Commercial Aircraft President Fred Cromer - one of a number of former leasing executives originally hired to keep the CSeries afloat - will continue to lead its regional aircraft business. (Reporting by Allison Lampert in Montreal and Tim Hepher in Paris; editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Richard Chang) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Liana B. Baker LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. By Liana B. Baker LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - U.S. companies with more cash on their balance sheets thanks to tax reform are coming under greater scrutiny from activist investors, a top Goldman Sachs Group Inc investment banker said this week. Some 73 campaigns by U.S. and European activist shareholders were launched in the first quarter of 2018 against the boards of companies with market capitalization exceeding $500 million, the highest quarter on record, according to data from Lazard Ltd . John Waldron, the co-head of Goldman Sachs investment bank division, said at the annual Milken Institute Global Conference that U.S. tax reform was a driver behind the rise in such campaigns. "There's excess cash for most companies laying on the balance sheet and shareholders are going to press for answers of what they are going to do with it," Waldron told the Milken Conference in Los Angeles. Sweeping tax reform was U.S. President Donald Trump's first major legislative triumph since he took office in January 2017. Among the changes were a lowering of the headline corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and the introduction of a one-time mandatory cash repatriation tax. Waldron, whose bank advises companies on how to defend themselves against activist investors, said that a big question on his clients' minds is whether shareholders are going to give companies the time they need to decide how to deploy cash. "Is pressure going to mount to come out with a capital allocation plan that's fairly defined? How much is going into the business, how much is going to return capital to shareholders and how much will go to M&A?," Waldron said. Share buybacks have been a popular tool among companies to return money to impatient investors. For example, Apple Inc earlier this week promised shareholders $100 billion in additional stock buybacks, the starkest example yet of how companies are using the mountain of overseas cash suddenly freed up by the tax overhaul. Other companies announcing plans to return cash to shareholders recently include Facebook Inc , AbbVie Inc and Broadcom Inc . Activist shareholders are paying attention. TCI Fund Asset Management said in March that Altaba Inc , a company with a market capitalization of $57 billion that used to be a part of Yahoo Inc and holds large stakes in Alibaba Group Holdings and Yahoo Japan Corp <4689.T>, should take advantage of U.S. tax cuts and liquidate its assets. "We're seeing more (activist shareholder) campaigns this year than in the past three years," Waldron said. The proliferation of activist campaigns is like "throwing gasoline on the fire," boosting mergers and acquisitions, Waldron added. (Reporting by Liana B. Baker in Los Angeles; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Disinformation over lack of jobs is so pervasive and rampant that many assumptions have become axiomatic truths. The debate over jobs has become shrill and is expected to become shriller still in the ongoing election season. Democracy survives on debates. This debate, in particular, should be encouraged because nothing concerns a demographically young nation more than the creation of good quality jobs. In the absence of credible and timely data, and devoid of 'big data', however, these debates carry little meaning. A lack of reliable reference points degenerates such debates into shouting matches or partisan political posturing. The lack of dependable data and analytical tools force the government and policymakers to operate within a fog of disinformation, and subsequently, policies run into unseen obstacles and fail in objectives. At this stage of its development curve, India cannot afford such laxity. Disinformation over unemployment is so pervasive and rampant that many assumptions have become axiomatic truths. For example, the notion that 12 million youth are entering the Indian workforce every year and that the Narendra Modi-led government has failed to create enough employment opportunities to absorb them, leading to a debilitating job crisis. Variations of this alarmism are available in reams and reams of newspaper columns and zettabytes of digital data. The Opposition has latched on to it, trying to create a narrative of incompetence around Modi. In seeking to sensationalise the issue and turn it into a poll plank, some often lose the focal point of the problem and make outlandish claims that carry little credibility. For instance, during a rally in Himachal Pradesh last year, Congress president Rahul Gandhi said: "The Chinese government creates over 1 lakh jobs in a span of two days, while in India only 450 jobs are created in a day. Isnt that shameful?" He repeated the charge this year during a rally in Karnataka, which goes to the polls on 12 May. PM said every year, he will give employment to 2 crore youth. China gives employment to 50,000 youth in 24 hours, Narendra Modi gives employment to 450 people in 24 hours. This is truth of the PM : Rahul Gandhi in Raichur #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/8Cy5yGt3Yj ANI (@ANI) February 12, 2018 Rahul Gandhi's data (he didn't provide any source) suggests that India, under Modi, generated 6,48,000 jobs in four years. Curiously, the Congress government in Karnataka had claimed last year that the state generated "13.91 lakh jobs in the last four years and is inching closer towards meeting the government's target of creating 15 lakh jobs by 2019," according to a PTI report quoting R V Deshpande, the minister for large and medium industries in November 2017. If only 6,48,000 jobs were created under the Modi government in four years, then it is unclear how Karnataka managed to add nearly 14 lakh jobs in that same period. This anomaly has been highlighted by rebel Congress leader Shehzad Poonawalla in a tweet. Rahul ji says @narendramodi govt created only 450 jobs/day which means 13500jobs/month & 162000jobs/yr!!6,48,000 jobs created ACROSS India in 4years!Siddaramaiah claims he created 15lakh jobs only in Karnataka (which is a part of India ) in same 4 yr period!Umm So who is lying? pic.twitter.com/N6TYklSf0f Shehzad Jai Hind (@Shehzad_Ind) May 2, 2018 During his tour of the US last year, the Congress president lambasted Modi for inflicting "tremendous damage" on India's economy with "reckless and dangerous" policies. On that occasion, while addressing students at the University of California, Berkeley, he said: "30,000 new youngsters were joining the job market every single day and the government was only creating 500 jobs a day.." He also identified (rightly so) creation of jobs as the country's "central challenge" and noted that roughly 12 million young people join the Indian job market every year, according to a PTI report. Once again, the source of Rahul Gandhi's data wasn't clear but that figure is now a common refrain in political discourse. If India is adding one million employable youth every month and the government is failing to create enough opportunities for them, it stands to reason that Modi has failed in his primary task and legitimate questions should be raised about his performance. However, this criticism is valid only if it is based on credible data. Former Niti Ayog chief Arvind Panagariya posits that the figure of "12 million youth entering the job market every year" is likely misleading, and points out that basing all debates and analyses on a piece of unverified statistic is problematic. Panagariya, a professor of economics at Columbia University, cites economist Rahul Ahluwalia's work to claim that the "approximate number of jobs seekers (is) a good 4.2 to 4.5 million smaller than the 12 million figure that is defining the current debate and policy formulation." In his column for The Times of India, he acknowledges that these figures are not definitive, and writes that the "LFPR (labour force participation rate) during 2016-21 may turn out to be different from those in the NSSO and MoL surveys. But even applying the LFPR in the 2004-05 NSSO survey, the highest such rate observed during the past 25 years, the number of new entrants per year rises to only 8.5 million, a far cry from 12 million." Panagariya's key contention is simple. Not all working-age individuals who are added monthly or annually to the population are active "job seekers", which is to say that it is not necessary for policymakers to take '12 million' as the definitive target. He clarifies that "it is nobodys case that fewer entrants to the workforce than previously thought make our jobs problem go away. The point, instead, is that our debates and policy analyses need to be conducted using as accurate numbers as may be available." This is the nub of the debate. If the numbers are inaccurate, then there is little to choose between economics and political commentary because both are subjective and hence vulnerable to bias. If politicized interpretations are propagated in the name of objective analysis then it squeezes the space for reasoned debate. As R Jagannathan summarises Panagariya's argument in an article published in the Swarajya magazine, "the simple number to focus on is probably this: there may be a gap of two to three million jobs at current LFPR rates, and the jobs created may also be of poor quality. The other challenge is to get female work participation rates up, as it is currently abysmally low at just 13.6 percent, according to CMIE. This is essentially Indias real jobs challenge." The focus is on data. Payroll data released by the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and the National Pension System (NPS) record that over the six-month period to February, 3.1 million new additions have taken place, "of which those in the 18-25 age group, considered a proxy for new jobs, amount to 1.85 million In the case of the NPS, new accounts opened in the central and government sector stood at 350,000 during this period, corresponding to new jobs and taking the total to 2.2 million," The Economic Times points out in a report. This supplements the findings of Soumya Kanti Ghosh, chief economic adviser at the State Bank of India (SBI) and Professor Pulak Ghosh of the Indian Institute of Management, who had estimated in a paper published earlier this year that the Indian economy may create seven million employment opportunities in the 2018 financial year. In a subsequent column for The Times of India, the authors had elaborated on their methodology and stressed on the "downward bias" of their estimates to err on the side of caution. They wrote: "Based on these (EPFO, ESIC, NPS and GPF), our total stock of payroll is around 9.2 crore (including zero contributions, it is around 10 crore) and is much lower than NSSO estimate. Based on all estimates, we believe that 7 million formal jobs are being added to payroll on a yearly basis." The authors also contended that the "formal sector payroll number may be enlarged further" if data from ICAI, ICSI, the National Bar Council, the Medical Council of India and income tax payees are taken into consideration. The thrust of their argument was that big data analytics must be relied upon to make policymaking more effective. Critics have pointed out that Ghosh and his postulation is faulty, because an increase in state-run social security fund accounts does not necessarily mean an increase in employment. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh and Praveen Chakravarty, head of the Congress party's Data Analytics Department, countered the paper in an article for The Hindu, where they claimed that "cherry-picking data points (EPFO data) and time periods (FY-2017 and FY-2018) are old, time-tested statistical tricks to arrive at fallacious conclusions." Economist V Anantha Nageswaran has rebutted Chakravarty and Ramesh, positing that Ghosh and Ghosh's paper has fallen prey to "politicised interpretation" that ignored the conservative bias in their findings. In his article for Livemint, Nageswaran cites "healthy growth in job creation by large corporations, RBI surveys of manufacturing companies, funding constraints for businesses and informal employment" to note that "Ghoshs have done is a very good starting point." Giving an example of how partial information clouds our understanding of market forces, he contends that it is too simplistic to claim that private investments are not picking up because banks are not lending to corporates. Quoting the International Monetary Fund (IMF), he writes, "corporates increased private debt placements and issued commercial paper, replacing bank funding with market sources" which is a sign of greater diversification in Indian financial system. Once again we find our judgement being hampered due to an inability to look at the bigger picture, which won't be possible until we harness big data for policymaking. Using payroll data is a step in the right direction. As the Mint rightly pointed out in an editorial, "the sort of credible monthly data that is available in more advanced economies is extremely difficult to deliver here. However, it is good that the first steps towards overhauling employment statistics have been taken with the release of the payroll data Rising wages across all job categories over the past decade are strong proof that the extreme narrative about jobless growth is just not true." In another report, Niranjan Rajadhyaksha said that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is finally stepping into the world of big data. The central bank reportedly plans to set up a "data sciences laboratory that would employ professionals with skills in computer science, data analytics, statistics, economics, econometrics and finance. The unit is expected to begin work in December." The author contends that "such a unit could help monetary policymakers get a better sense of how prices are moving in real time." Basing policies on big data, as against on sample surveys, could improve accuracy, effectiveness and also raise the bar of debates. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded the World Bank (WB) to take India's Aadhaar approach to other countries. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), on Thursday, said it follows a "stringent enrolment and updation process" for issuance of Aadhaar cards, and that it has blacklisted over 50,000 operators for various violations, amid reports of a breach in its enrolment software. The UIDAI said its enrolment software incorporates the necessary safeguards and checks to protect against any manipulation, and the Authority discredited claims in the report as "baseless and false". The statement follows reports of alleged tampering of the Aadhaar enrolment software, supposedly being sold in the black market, which purportedly bypasses operators' biometric authentication and facilitates issuance of Aadhaar cards without any documents. Emphasising its "zero tolerance policy" when it comes to ensuring security and safety of its processes, the UIDAI said that any operator found to be violating its stipulated processes, or those indulging in any type of fraudulent or corrupt practices, are blocked, blacklisted and also face a stiff penalty of up to Rs 1 lakh per instance. "Also, all such enrolment attempts get rejected and Aadhaar is not generated. As on date more than 50,000 operators have been blacklisted," the UIDAI added in a statement. The UIDAI said its system matches all 10 fingerprints and both irides of a resident enrolling for Aadhaar with the biometrics of all Aadhaar holders before issuing the 12 digit unique identifier. Bill Gates endorses Aadhaar The Aadhaar technology does not pose any privacy issue and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded the World Bank (WB) to take the approach to other countries as it is worth emulating, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said. The 62-year-old multi-billionaire philanthropist said Nandan Nilekani, the Infosys co-founder who is considered as the chief architect of Aadhaar, is helping the World Bank on the project. Asked if India's Aadhaar technology is worth emulating by other countries, he replied, "Yes". "The benefits of that (basic ID -- Aadhaar) are very high," he told the PTI this week "Yes, countries should adopt that approach because the quality of governance has a lot to do with how quickly countries are able to grow their economy and empower their people," Gates said in response to a question. "We have funded the World Bank to take this Aadhaar approach to other countries," he said. "Aadhaar in itself doesn't pose any privacy issue because its just a bio ID verification scheme," Gates, the head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said when asked about the concerns about privacy issues raised by certain quarters in India. A 17-year-old girl from Nuh district in Haryana committed suicide on Monday after eight men allegedly abducted and raped her on Sunday. A 17-year-old girl from Nuh district in Haryana committed suicide on Monday after eight men allegedly abducted and raped her on Sunday, ANI reported. DSP Virendra Singh told the news agency that an FIR has been lodged and an investigation is underway. The girl was allegedly abducted when she was alone at her home as her parents were visiting a relative. The men came on two bikes and a car and forcibly took her away, The Times of India quoted the police as saying. Later, the accused left her outside her house the next morning after raping her. The minors father told the police that she identified the accused and they had stalked her in the past, Hindustan Times reported. The police have registered a case of abduction, gangrape and abetment to suicide.However, no arrests have been made so far, according to the report in The Times of India. As per The Tribune, the girls father has claimed that the accused belonged to an influential family and was pressurising them to withdraw the complaint. We are in trauma, the father said. "My wife has not uttered a word since we saw her body. We want the death penalty for the accused", he said. A 19-year-old woman was allegedly gangraped by an autorickshaw driver and four others on Wednesday night near Sohna road in Gurugram. A 19-year-old woman was allegedly gangraped by an autorickshaw driver and four others on Wednesday night near Sohna road in Gurugram, as per ANI. The police has registered a case and investigation is underway. The survivor, a native of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, had taken the auto from Sohna and was going to Gurugram. The police suspects that the auto driver had informed his friends in advance about the woman passenger. He stopped the auto at a secluded place near Sohna road where four of his friends were already present. They then took turns to rape the woman and fled from the scene, according to a report in The Times of India. The woman, who had noted the registration number of the auto, reached a police station to file a complaint on late Wednesday night. A Radio Mirchi employee died in Noida in the early hours of Wednesday after her car plunged into a 10-feet-deep drain as she negotiated a bend near the Sector 85 roundabout, according to media reports. A Radio Mirchi employee died in Noida in the early hours of Wednesday after her car plunged into a 10-feet-deep drain as she negotiated a bend near the Sector 85 roundabout, according to media reports. According to The Hindu, the deceased, identified as 26-year-old Tania Khanna, was a sales manager and a resident of Kavi Nagar in Ghaziabad. Khanna was driving to a friend's house when the incident occurred. The autopsy report listed the cause of death as drowning, according to The Times of India. The report mentioned that Tania had followed her friends car from Noidas Atta market. When they approached the Sector 85 roundabout, her friend drove on but Tania appears to have lost her way. She went too far to the left, went over the footpath and fell into the drain near Om Sai Nursery, a police officer was quoted as saying in The Times of India report. The Fire Department was called to extract the car from the drain after an eyewitness informed the Sector 85 roundabout chowki in-charge about the incident, according to The Hindu. The entire operation took around half-an-hour and the car was taken out of the drain. The windscreen was broken and Tania was lying on the back seat. She was rushed to a hospital, where she was declared brought dead, The Hindu report quoted Satendra Kumar Rai, Station Officer, Phase 2 police station as saying. Tania is believed to have been trapped in the car for at least 20-25 minutes before the police was able to extract her, according to The Times of India. Police indicated that Tania was not drunk at the time of the incident, The Hindu noted. According to The Times of India, Tanias younger brother Kunal blamed the sheer negligence of civic officials for his sister's death. Such a huge drain has been left uncovered and there is no proper mechanism of streets lights in the area. There is also no CCTV camera installed there. We are shattered, he was quoted as saying in the report. Tania, who was part of Mirchis sales team in Delhi, was well-known within the organisation as a vivacious, ambitious and loved colleague. This tragedy has left a huge hole in all our hearts, Radio Mirchi said in a statement, according to The Times of India. A high-intensity dust storm has left 45 people dead and 38 injured in Uttar Pradesh, the state relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar said. A high-intensity dust storm left 45 people dead and 38 injured in Uttar Pradesh, the state revenue and relief commissioner Sanjay Kumar told PTI. Agra was the worst hit, accounting for 36 deaths and leaving 35 injured. According to ANI, Kumar said, "Around 40 to 50 people have been killed after a dust storm hit Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday. Relief will be given to the affected within 24 hours". Besides Agra, the other affected districts were Bijnor, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. Taking note of the havoc caused by the dust storm, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath directed concerned officers to personally monitor relief operations and provide all necessary medical facilities to those affected. He also said that no laxity will be tolerated in providing succour to the needy, PTI reported. According to CNNNews18, the local administration said that the MeT department didn't give concrete information to ensure that a precautionary alert was sounded in time. Meanwhile, the prime minister's office tweeted to express grief over the unfortunate deaths in the sudden calamity in the northern region. Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected: PM PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 3, 2018 With inputs from PTI Rights watchdog Amnesty on Thursday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure no impunity was given to those responsible for civilian killings, including the gunning down of three men by unknown gunmen earlier this week. Srinagar: Rights watchdog Amnesty on Thursday urged the Jammu and Kashmir government to ensure no impunity was given to those responsible for civilian killings, including the gunning down of three men by unknown gunmen earlier this week. "In the past one week, there have been several reports of civilians, including children, being targeted, allegedly by unknown gunmen and protesters," Amnesty International India's senior campaigner Zahoor Wani said in a statement. "Attacks on civilians, some of which have resulted in deaths, are condemnable. State authorities should immediately investigate these incidents and bring perpetrators to justice." On 30 April, three civilians were killed by unknown gunmen in Baramulla town. On 1 May, seven tourists were injured when a group of men allegedly threw stones at vehicles carrying local residents and tourists in Pahalgam. This was followed by a similar attack on 2 May at a school bus carrying 50 children in Shopian in south Kashmir. Two children were injured. "These incidents reveal the sorry state of law enforcement in Jammu and Kashmir. Attacks on children are particularly reprehensible and show an utter contempt for human life," Wani said. The Supreme Court (SC) pulled up the Karnataka government on Thursday in the Cauvery river dispute and told it to give four tmc of water to Tamil Nadu, according to several media reports. The Supreme Court pulled up the Karnataka government on Thursday in the Cauvery river dispute and told it to give four tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Tamil Nadu, according to media reports. The apex court said Karnataka must release water in April-May and warned the state government of "consequences" if it did not comply with the order, News18 reported. It said that even if the Centre has not framed the scheme, Karnataka, under the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award, was obliged to make monthly releases to Tamil Nadu. ANI reported that Attorney General KK Venugopal submitted to the Supreme Court that the Cauvery Management Board draft has to be tabled before the Union Cabinet, and that the draft isn't approved yet because the prime minister is in Karnataka currently, campaigning for the upcoming Assembly election in the state. Before that the prime minister was abroad (in China)." The Centre's submission was countered strongly by senior counsel Shekhar Naphade, appearing for Tamil Nadu, who said: "Sorry to say, the Central government is politicizing the issue. They are worried about their electoral fate in Karnataka. Election in Karnataka is on 12 May and somehow they don't want to do it till then. We have enough of it. It is brazen partisanship of the Union of India. It is the end of co-operative federalism." The apex court then directed the Centre to file an affidavit in the matter and scheduled the next hearing for 8 May. In April, the Supreme Court asked the Centre to formulate and file the draft Cauvery management scheme before it by 3 May, and directed the authorities of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other stakeholders to ensure peace in the meantime. A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it had considered the award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) while deciding the water share of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry in its judgment. The bench, also comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud, said that its judgment has to be complied with all the stakeholders. The court said the authorities are required to ensure peace till it peruses the draft scheme and finalises it for proper distribution of Cauvery water. The apex court, in its verdict, had asked the Centre to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its 465-page judgment on the decades-old Cauvery dispute. It had modified the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award of 2007 and made it clear that it will not be extending time for this on any ground. The top court had on 16 February raised the 270 tmcft share of Cauvery water for Karnataka by 14.75 tmcft and reduced Tamil Nadu's share, while compensating it by allowing extraction of 10 tmcft groundwater from the river basin, saying the issue of drinking water has to be placed on a "higher pedestal". With the apex court's verdict, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry would annually be entitled to 404.25 tmcft, 284.75 tmcft, 30 tmcft and 7 tmcft of Cauvery water respectively out of the total of 740 tmcft. With inputs from agencies In a bid to assert his dominance in the underworld, Rajan had made calls to four journalists after Dey's murder and claimed responsibility for the attack, Hindustan Times reported. Gangster Chhota Rajan was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey on Wednesday by a special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court in Mumbai. According to The Times of India, Rajan was confident of an acquittal in the murder case owing to a lack of direct evidence. However, a live TV interview in which the gangster acknowledged his involvement in the murder ultimately became his undoing. "He was confident that he would be acquitted in the J Dey murder case as there was no direct evidence. However, the journalist fraternity stood by the prosecution and gave voice samples of Rajan's live TV interview openly admitting to have ordered Dey's killing, claiming that the latter was trying to tarnish his gang's image," a police officer was quoted as saying in the report. This proved to be the evidence that sealed Rajan's fate. In a bid to assert his dominance in the underworld, Rajan had made calls to four journalists after Dey's murder and claimed responsibility for the attack, Hindustan Times reported. The gangster contacted Jitendra Dixit, Sunilkumar Singh, Nikhil Dixit and Aariz Chandra at different times from some foreign countries and "accepted" that he had ordered Dey's murder as he was "miffed" with the senior journalist over his articles and proximity to Dawood Ibrahim, The Free Press Journal reported. The court observed that Rajan's extrajudicial confession (made out of court and not part of the investigation) was "cogent, trustworthy and reliable", the Hindustan Times reported noted. It went on to add that when Rajan contacted the journalists, he was located hundreds of miles away from India and Mumbai, and hence was a free man with "no fear of Indian law enforcement agencies". The court asserted that Rajan had told the journalists "the truth". The court also noted that Rajan did not make any attempt to deny his involvement in the senior's journalist's murder once news of the call gained steam. This made the court accept the extrajudicial confession as crucial evidence against the gangster. As many as 64 cases relating to murder, attempt to murder, extortion were filed against Rajan between 1978 and 2011, The Times of India reported. The verdict in the J Dey murder case was Rajan's first conviction in India after he was deported to the country following his arrest at Bali airport in Indonesia in 2015. Dey, 56, was shot by two motorcycle-borne men on 11 June, 2011, in suburban Powai when he was returning home. At the time of his death, he was a senior editor with the tabloid Mid-Day. The prosecution alleged that the murder was carried out at the behest of Rajan, who was reportedly "unhappy" with the negative reports that Dey had been writing on his health and his diminishing clout in the underworld. A cyclonic circulation over Haryana was the trigger for the deadly dust storm that swept parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. New Delhi: A cyclonic circulation over Haryana was the trigger for the deadly dust storm that swept parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, weather experts said on Thursday, estimating that the wind speed during the storm may have gone up to 100 kilometres per hour. The winds were so violent that a number of houses collapsed and electricity poles and trees got uprooted, as the severe dust storm swept parts of these states. The phenomenon was restricted to these two states, largely because of external and domestic reasons, experts said. There were primarily four reasons that lead to the thunderstorm excessive heating, availability of moisture, instability in atmosphere and a trigger for the storm, India Meteorological Department (IMD) Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said. "The north Indian plains have been witnessing temperatures of over 40 degree Celsius. There were two sources of moisture a western disturbance over north Pakistan and adjoining Jammu and Kashmir and easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal," Mohaptara said. The cold winds from the western disturbance was making atmosphere unstable. "The trigger was a cyclonic circulation over Haryana," Mohapatra said. This led to the formation of two cloud patches, said Mahesh Palawat, Vice President (Meteorology and Climate Change) of Skymet, a private firm that provides weather forecast. One patch moved to north of Delhi, while another patch moved over the Alwar, Agra, and Dholpur belt, which was more deadly. Mohapatra said it was difficult to record the wind speed as the phenomenon was restricted to only small patches. In Delhi, where a milder version of the dust storm and thunderstorm struck, the wind speed was recorded as 69 kmph. However, Palawat estimated that the wind speed would have been more than 100 kmph. Laxman Singh Rathore, former Director General of the IMD, said wind speed is normally around 50 kmph in a thunderstorm. "In case of a dust storm, due to excessive heating, the water from the clouds evaporates before it could land. So soil is dry and the severe winds lift up this soil up to 500 metres above the land. "The wind speed can rise up to 100 kmph and in some case it can reach 130 kmph making conditions severe," Rathore, who is also a member of the National Disaster Managment Authority, said. By Vincent West and Miguel Pereira SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (Reuters) - Thirty-three years after Basque separatists ETA killed police chief Carlos Diaz Arcocha with a car bomb, his daughter says the group, whose dissolution was made public on Wednesday, achieved nothing and sowed only fear and sadness. By Vincent West and Miguel Pereira SAN SEBASTIAN, Spain (Reuters) - Thirty-three years after Basque separatists ETA killed police chief Carlos Diaz Arcocha with a car bomb, his daughter says the group, whose dissolution was made public on Wednesday, achieved nothing and sowed only fear and sadness. "In principle it is good news that they are not killing. Of course, it's great that there are no more victims, but under no circumstances should we be thanking ETA," Teresa Diaz Bada said. "All these years of terrorism were for nothing," she said in her office in the coastal town of San Sebastian, where a black and white photograph of her father sits on the desk. Diaz Arcocha was one of around 850 people ETA killed in an ultimately futile 50-year campaign to create an independent state in northern Spain and southern France, a toll for which it apologised last month. ETA had been expected to announce its final dissolution, ending Western Europe's last significant militant movement, later this week. But a letter dated April 16 and published by Diario online newspaper on Wednesday declared that ETA had "completely dissolved all its structures and ended its political initiative". In the letter, ETA said it wanted to "open a new political cycle". But the end of its campaign has not erased bitterness towards militants who killed 21 people in a single attack at a Barcelona supermarket in 1987. In 1980, the bloodiest year in ETA's history, it was responsible for about 100 deaths. Arnaldo Otegi, leader of Basque pro-independence party EH Bildu, who served time in jail for his links with ETA, emphasised the group's renunciation of violence. "A chapter in which the independence movement used violent methods is closing," he said. But he criticised the Spanish government, which holds around 225 ETA members in jail. He compared Spain's treatment of the Basque independence movement to that of the northeastern region of Catalonia, where Madrid has imposed direct rule to curb a secession bid, and judges have jailed pro-independence leaders. "They keep laying out coercive measures, not just against the Basques but against the Catalans," he said, adding that creating a Basque republic "could only be done through peaceful and democratic means". ECONOMIC PROSPERITY The savagery of ETA's bomb attacks contributed to an erosion of popular support. Some say the Spanish state, which responded with illegal armed squads known as Anti-Terrorist Liberation Groups (GAL), should also apologise. Several government and security officials later served jail time for their involvement in the GAL campaign. "There were deaths and victims on all sides," local pensioner Inaki, who declined to give his last name, said in a central square in San Sebastian. "There were victims on ETA's orders that there should never have been, but there shouldn't have been so many victims of the state either," Inaki said. Between 1983 and 1986, the GAL killed 27 people, at least nine of them unconnected to ETA, and wounded many more, according to Paddy Woodworth, who has written in depth about ETA. The Spanish government has said that all it wants from the situation is the dissolution of ETA. Polls on support for independence vary, but one carried out in November by the university of Deusto showed just 14 percent of people in favour. One factor credited with reining in popular agitation for Basque independence is economic prosperity tied to a high level of fiscal autonomy. The region has one of the highest rates of economic output per capita and one of the lowest unemployment rates in Spain. The Basque tax arrangement, which has its roots in the 19th century, is among the most generous of any region in Europe, and has been jealously eyed by pro-independence politicians in Catalonia. "With such high levels of economic wellbeing, employment and all that, I think there were political deals made so as not to disturb the beast that was ETA," said Teresa Diaz. But Otegi said the economic deal left the region with control over around only half of its public resources, and his party would push for more. "We demand our total sovereignty in economic and social matters," he said. (Additional reporting and writing by Isla Binnie; Editing by Richard Balmforth and Mark Heinrich) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A 55-year-old German national has claimed that he was molested by an employee of the hotel he was staying in Ghaziabad's Kaushambi on Tuesday. A 55-year-old German national claimed he was molested by a hotel employee in Ghaziabad's Kaushambi on Tuesday, according to several media reports. CNN-News18 reported that the victim alleged he was molested inside his room by an employee of the hotel's sales department. The victim accused the employee of trying to touch his private parts and lodged a complaint on 2 May, according to the report. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, the Indirapuram police lodged an FIR and booked the employee for causing hurt and indulging in obscene acts under the Indian Penal Code. ANI reported that the employee has been suspended. We have lodged the FIR and will thoroughly investigate the incident as reported by the foreign national. We are continuing with our investigation, said Sachin Malik, Station House Officer, Indirapuram. We are questioning the staff in order to get more details, Malik added, according to the Hindustan Times report. Nowhera Shaik & her All India Mahila Empowerment Party have made a loud entry into the Karnataka elections arena. She speaks about her chances in the polls. Bengaluru: Nowhera Shaik says the people of Karnataka know her because of the social work she has been spearheading for the last 20 years. In any case, she has been pretty hard to miss this election season looming billboards and full-page newspaper advertisements have ensured that she and her All India Mahila Empowerment Party made a loud and splashy entry into the Karnataka elections arena. Between being an abaya-clad woman championing women's rights, to launching the party in November 2017 and contesting elections within a few months, the partys national president has drummed up a lot of curiosity. She purportedly had to wait four years for the election commission to grant her party the symbol of her choice a diamond. Conducting her campaign from presidential suites and private jets, the chairperson of Heera Group very early on declared her intent to field candidates across all 224 constituencies, though she herself is not contesting from any constituency. She released her manifesto way ahead of any of the mainstream parties, which included many women-focused promises, like special help desks at all police stations to cater to women, evening and Sunday courts to speedily resolve cases of crimes against women and dedicated economic zones and incentives for women entrepreneurs. This author caught up with Shaik for an exclusive interview at a seven-star hotel in Bengaluru the day she introduced her partys star campaigners Bollywood actors Arbaaz Khan and Sohail Khan. Edited excerpts follow: You are primarily a businesswoman and philanthropist. Do you remember the moment you decided you would enter electoral politics? Yes, I do. It was in 2012. A case was brought to our notice where a young woman had been tortured and murdered by her husband and in-laws, and was being denied even a post-mortem. Her parents were being threatened to not pursue the case. We women's rights activists stood firm and demanded an investigation and on the basis of a post-mortem, which identified over 70 wounds on the young womans body, her husband was arrested. Then came the local MLA's phone call, after which the man was quietly released. This wasn't the first time; we had seen so many such instances. That was when we sat down together and decided, that when power was being used to perpetrate such injustice then why shouldn't we come to power and use it for good instead. What's unique about your partys approach to women's rights. How is it different from that of other mainstream parties? MEP itself is unique. No one has floated a political party with women's issues as the central platform. But it's not enough to be just unique, it's the need of the hour as well. Parties may talk about women's empowerment and 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao'. They make a lot of promises to women; but when it comes to the practicalities of giving security to women and tackling crimes against them, they fall behind badly. We need extremely tough laws, especially when minors are involved. The perpetrators should be hanged in public so that no one even thinks of committing such crimes. When MEP comes to power, we will fulfil all the promises we are making on security for women. This is our first time fighting elections and we are fielding 52 women candidates. Even on the national level, no party has fielded so many women candidates before. Mainstream parties say that finding winnable women candidates is difficult... They say that but they can be winnable only if they are allowed to enter the fray, right? If they are not even given the opportunity, not even allowed to come on to the platform, where is the option? If they aren't even on the ballot, how will people press the button? Give us the option, let some of us contest and lose, that's okay. Next time more will come. What are the challenges you faced in launching MEP on such a massive scale, especially without much of a political background? In the beginning, people laughed. To work past that was a challenge in itself. They asked me how it was going to be possible to field 224 candidates like I promised when even 100-year-old parties think so much before fielding a hundred candidates. Then the pressure tactics started. People threatened me to quit, saying they won't let me stay and campaign here. I got calls from all quarters trying to bribe me to reduce the number of candidates. They even started levelling all kinds of accusations. Some said she is with BJP, some said in Islam women aren't allowed in politics. I have faced these challenges and answered all of them. I am confident that I am right. I only wanted to work towards women empowerment and justice for humanity. I am reiterating this. I am not under pressure from anyone and neither will I be in the future. No one can buy my allegiance. Also, I have studied our politics for a while. I think there are some organisational similarities between running a party and a business, and me being a businesswoman has helped me handle most of the challenges that have come our way. Going forward after Karnataka elections, we'd be better prepared for any political challenge. There have been questions raised about how you are funding these huge operations... I have always been funding my social work, and now that I have formed a party I am not alone in running it. We get the support of all those who wanted to come together to form a political platform for women. We function just like any normal political party, with the district, state and national-level infrastructure in place. Just that my personal contribution may be slightly more. How do you think you'll be able to convince the people of Karnataka to vote for a brand-new party with no performance record? We have already convinced them. That's why we were able to attract so many candidates to come and fight elections on our platform. We received 5,700 applications for people who wanted to contest on our ticket. People want change. They want my manifesto to be implemented. And I feel victorious just knowing how strong and determined my candidates are to fight the electoral battle. I salute them. They have been harassed to withdraw, threatened... saying their children will be kidnapped if they dont. People with bags of money reached their homes asking them to reconsider contesting. But except one or two, none of my candidates withdrew. I feel my victory is apparent just from the fact that my candidates are ready to brave all this. I am confident that I will win 100-150 seats. In certain constituencies with large Muslim populations, religious leaders have made it clear that their only criterion is to defeat BJP. They have discouraged other Muslim candidates, even forced some to withdraw, in the fear of splitting the Muslim vote. But you have gone ahead and fielded Muslim candidates in these seats. Do you feel you'll be seen as working against the sentiments of the Muslim people? My vote bank is the entire of India. Not just Muslims or Hindus or Lingayats. I will only look at them as citizens and human beings. I want to end religion-based electoral politics. If I had to ever fight on a religious basis, I will dissolve the party. I want to bring the people of India together, not break them apart. Coming to the question, I am fielding candidates who will appeal to everyone. There is majority Muslim population there, so the candidate is also Muslim. What you are saying is a wrong way of thinking: 'This is against the Constitution'; 'If you are so scared of splitting the votes, then please stay back in Delhi, and I will go ahead and contest as per my plan'; 'Maybe you should withdraw your candidate and let me win'; 'I am also a secular party after all'. Ultimately, all this is just the talk of politicians, not of the common people. Recently, you personally were caught with Rs four lakh of unaccounted cash, which was confiscated. Would you care to comment on that? It wasn't unaccounted cash. It was withdrawn from my personal account and even had the bank seal. I was returning home from Tirupati via a private jet after attending a celebration at one of my schools. My mother had put the money in my bag so that I would have some spending cash. I had left from Bangalore in the morning and returned in the evening, and in the rush, I forgot it was in my bag. On arrival, I found Election Commission people waiting there, asking to examine the bags. They told me I couldn't hold more than Rs 50,000. It's the law of the elections, so I don't blame them. They are just doing their job. It's not a big deal. They even sent a notice saying I can get proof from the bank and reclaim the money, which I will do soon. At the press conference, one of your party workers asked you if you had chief ministerial ambitions. I havent even thought of being MLA. I don't have any love for a seat, no personal ambitions in that regard. But for the sake of justice when it is necessary, I will be ready to take up any position. And if there is someone who I think can do a better job delivering justice, then I will make way for them. I will make MLAs, MPs, chief ministers and prime ministers, but I am not particularly interested in being one. The author is a Bengaluru-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. In Hyderabad-Karnataka, people can easily understand Hindi, but in Mumbai-Karnataka it is a bit tough to interact in the language,' said Hanumanthappa Doddamani, 45, electrician. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to appoint a Kannada translator for his rallies in poll-bound Karnataka is being seen by many as a softening of the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) stance towards recognising linguistic diversity. But, in a few instances, Kannadigas felt that the prime minister did better without having his speech translated. With Congress accusing the BJP for undermining the Kannada identity, the party's top brass, including Prime Minister Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath focused their campaigns on identifying their party with Kannadigas. But, despite focusing on Kannada pride, BJP leaders choosing to deliver speeches in Hindi rather than offering a translation, might not please voters across the state. "We did not like the Kannada translation. We liked his Hindi speech but the translation was not good. In the beginning he talked about our heritage and culture in Kannada, so we were impressed; later he started talking in Hindi. Chamaraj Nagar is a very backward village and most of us do not understand Hindi. Very few people understood. We were finding it difficult to understand what he was trying to tell in his speech," said PN Shantha (45), a Mysuru resident. However, Raju N, 40, another Mysuru resident said, "I am a Modi fan and it does not matter in which language he gives his speech. Even if he would have spoken in Kannada, most of his message would be lost in translation. This is my personal opinion and I did not have a problem with him giving the speech in Hindi." In Chikodi, where Modi focused his speech on accusing the Congress of dividing people on the grounds of caste and creating an atmosphere of fear, most residents said that there was no linguistic barrier between them and the prime minister. Gurulinga Chinchane, a 39-year-old florist said, "Most of us here understand Hindi. We understood every word Modi said. Besides, he started his speech in Kannada." Basavaraj Chowkdar, 30, owner of a provisional store who also attended the prime minister's 1 May rally in Chikodi, said, "Modi started his speech in Kannada and later on switched to Hindi. He spoke about the Congress following the policy of divide and rule and several other issues. It's good that he spoke in Hindi because in the border areas all people do not speak both Marathi and Kannada. If he would have spoken in Kannada, the Marathi people might have felt bad and vice versa. It's good for his party as they can garner votes from both Kannadigas and Marathis living in the region." In Bengaluru, where a large portion of the population understands Hindi, the Prime Minister faced no hurdle in delivering his message. "I know Hindi so I had no problem understanding. There was no translator that day so it was difficult for others to follow his speech. Since Modi has a flow while giving speeches in Hindi, it would be difficult for a translator to explain hard words and convey the right message to people," said Gopal Krishna, a 28-year-old engineer. "Superb speech as always, Language is no barrier. He is the Prime Minister. He started his speech in Kannada and I dont think any other politician is as fluent as he is in the language. A majority of Indians understand Hindi, so I didnt really have any problem. There are people who are translating his speech in Kannada as well. But when Rahul Gandhi can talk in Hindi in all his rallies, why can't Modi ? He is doing his best to reach out to the people," said Rashmi Naik, 25, who also attended the gathering in Bangalore. However, in Akkol, 48 year old Anil Akkole said they wanted the Prime Minister to address the gathering in the local language. "We wanted him to talk in Kannada and it would have been good if he spoke in Kannada; but, nevertheless, since we all understand Hindi we did not have any problem understanding his speech," he said. Even for BJP chief Amit Shah, who has been touring the state for a few weeks trying to reach out to voters, Kannada pride has been something he has implicitly tried to focus on. From visiting the birthplace of Kannada poet laureate KV Puttappa, popularly known as Kuvempu and quoting litterateur DR Bendre in Kannada, the BJP president has tried to send home the message that his party is in favour of the Kannada pride. But despite this, Shah, like Modi, has decided to not interrupt the flow of his speeches and address the party rallies in Hindi; and local residents felt that language was not a barrier in delivering the party's message. "He started his speech by telling Namaste in Kannada. His rallies were in places where people could understand (Hindi). In Hyderabad-Karnataka, people can easily understand Hindi, but in Mumbai-Karnataka it is a bit tough to interact in the language," said Hanumanthappa Doddamani, 45, electrician. "He addressed gatherings in Hindi. Hubli, Dharward, Karwar, Belguam, Gadag, Bhagalkot, Gulburgi, Bidar. In all of these regions, 60 percent of people can understand Hindi. In Hubli, a lot of Rajasthanis and Gujaratis have settled for several years; so even if we didn't understand a few words, they translated it for us," he added. In the Udupi constituency in Chikamagaluru, where the Congress has won eight times, and the BJP thrice, Prime Minister Modi initially addressed the gathering in Kannada with the help of a translator. Akash Hebbar, a 22 year old journalist, said that the translator was translating every bit of the prime minister's speech. "Later Modi asked us if we had any trouble understanding the language. Most of us responded by saying we had no problems. Hence, he continued the speech in Hindi," he added. Agreeing with Hebbar, 55 year old Babu Pai of Udupi, said, "Modi asked us if we want a translator and most of us said we understood Hindi and do not need any translator. So, he continued his speech in Hindi." Identifying the prime minister as being a leader from north India, Pai added, "He is a leader from the north and we can't expect him to speak in Kannada. It doesn't make sense. He can talk in whichever language he is comfortable in." In Gulburga too, the Prime Minister started his address in Kannada and then switched to Hindi but continued to focus on Kannada culture and heritage. Gulburga-based journalist, Sreekant Savur, said, "He spoke in Kannada initially about the culture and heritage and about this place. People can understand both Hindi and Kannada here and most people prefer Hindi." In his third round of campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka, Modi is expected to address 15 more gathering between 5 May and 9 May. Adityanath, who addressed five meetings on 3 May, will continue his campaigning for the next two days, addressing six more gatherings. The author is a member of The NewsCart, a Bengaluru-based media startup. Two days after a woman officer who was leading a demolition drive in Himachal Pradesh's Kasauli was shot dead, police have arrested an accused. Two days after a woman officer who was leading a demolition drive in Himachal Pradesh's Kasauli was shot dead, police have arrested an accused, ANI reported. A team comprising Himachal Pradesh and Delhi Police personnel arrested Vijay Singh who shot dead Assistant Town Planner Shail Bala Sharma on Tuesday, they said. "The accused Vijay Singh was arrested from Mathura-Vrindavan area this evening. It was a joint effort of the Himachal Pradesh Police and a Delhi Police special team," Solan SP, Mohit Chawla told PTI. The accused was on the run and kept changing locations, he said. He even stayed near the Mathura refinery and the Banke Bihari temple, Chawla said adding the accused would be brought and produced before a court here. He had disguised himself to evade arrest, a police official said. According to The Indian Express, the accused had sent a text message saying he was going to surrender. The man is accused of killing assistant town and country planner Shaila Bala Sharma on Tuesday. He had fired two rounds in the air as employees began the demolition drive in Dharampur area following Supreme Court orders. A stray bullet hit Sharma, killing her on the spot. A labourer, Gulab Singh, also received a gunshot injury in the abdomen. District officials were removing illegal structures in 13 hotels and resorts in Kasauli area when the crime was committed. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of her killing, terming the incident as "extremely serious". "We might stop passing any orders if you are going to kill people," the bench observed after the issue was mentioned before it. The apex court had also questioned as to what the police team, which had accompanied government officials during the sealing drive was doing when the hotel owner allegedly shot at the woman. With inputs from agencies The Supreme Court said on Thursday that the murder of a woman officer in Kasauli was because of the non-implementation of the state law prohibiting unauthorised construction New Delhi: The Supreme Court said on Thursday that the murder of a woman officer in Kasauli, when she was supervising the demolition of unauthorised construction in hotels and resorts, was because of the non-implementation of the state law prohibiting unauthorised constructions. Directing Himachal Pradesh to file a status report on its investigation into the killing of Shail Bala Sharma woman Assistant Town Planner the bench of Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta said that the unfortunate incident took place not because of its orders to demolish unauthorised structures but non-implementation of the law prohibiting illegal construction. Telling the state counsel that the death of the woman officer was not because she was enforcing the top court's order but the failure of the government in not acting in time and enforcing the law prohibiting illegal construction, the court said: "You have to ensure rule of law and implementation of law related to unauthorised constructions." The top court also directed the Himachal Pradesh government to apprise it of the steps taken by it to stop illegal construction in the state and to prevent the "unfortunate incident". Postings the matter for further hearing on 9 May, the court asked the state to file an affidavit giving the details sought by it. The top court had on Wednesday took suo motu cognizance of the killing and described the incident as "extremely serious". Sharma who had gone to Kasauli to supervise the demolition of unauthorised constructions at 13 hotels and resorts as ordered by the top court was shot dead on 1 May by Vijay Singh owner of Narayani Guest House in Dharampur area. A labourer was also injured. The court had pulled up the Himachal Pradesh government for not providing adequate security to the officials carrying out the demolitions as it termed as "serious" that the accused killed the official in daylight and police could not catch him. On 17 April, Justice Lokur and Justice Gupta directed the demolition of unauthorised constructions in Kasauli built in violation of sanctioned plans. It noted that some hotels and resorts were supposed to construct only two-storeyed buildings but built six-storeyed buildings. The court order of demolition had came on pleas filed by the owners challenging a National Green Tribunal 30 May, 2017 order which had directed the demolition of unauthorised portions of the hotels affecting the environment, ecology and natural resources. The hotels included Hotel Pine View, Narayani Guest House, Bird's View Resort, Hotel Neelgiri, Hotel Divshikha and Guest House. A citizens' group which conducted an individual probe into the Kathua rape incident on Thursday claimed that the charge sheet filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the case had discrepancies New Delhi: A citizens' group which conducted an individual probe into the Kathua rape incident on Thursday claimed that the charge sheet filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police in the case had discrepancies and the investigation was botched-up. The group of intellectuals and academicians (GIA) will hand over a fact finding report in the case to Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Friday. "We met more than 25 people including the victim's family, the accused family members, the influential people from the Bakarwal community and others," GIA's convener Monika Arora said. She said that there are "discrepancies in the charge sheet" filed by the Jammu and Kashmir Police crime branch and the entire "investigation was botched-up." "We demand a free and fair investigation of this case from the CBI," Arora said. An eight-year-old girl from the Bakarwal community was allegedly abducted, drugged, gang-raped, tortured and killed in January. According to the charge sheets filed by the crime branch, the abduction, rape and killing of the girl was part of a carefully planned strategy to remove the nomadic community from the area. A separate charge sheet was filed for the juvenile, who is accused in this case The Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) result 2018 has been declared by the education minister Professor C Raveendranath from Thiruvananthapuram, according to reports The Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) result 2018 has been declared by the education minister Professor C Raveendranath from Thiruvananthapuram, according to reports. The pass percentage reportedly is 97.84 percent. NDTV reported that the Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan will release the result after announcing it officially. According to Hindustan Times, the time for the declaration of the result was earlier set at 3 pm, but it was changed to 10.30 am keeping in mind the minister's availability, the report added. The results for SSLC (regular), SSLC (private students) and THSLC (private) will be declared on its official website kbpe.org. Students can also check the result by downloading Saphalam App, NDTV reported. The Kerala Board of Public Examination (KBPE) is an independent department functioning under the ministry of secondary education, state government. The department is responsible for conducting the various public examinations such as SSLC, KGTE, THSLC, ALEVEL, TTC, HSC, KTET and SSC. Steps to download the result - Go to the official website kbpe.org - Look for the notification Class 10 exam result - Enter your registration number and other details required - Save the result and take a printout for future reference The Maharashtra government has submitted a proposal to the Centre to ban four insecticides. Over 60 farmers had died last year due to insecticide poisoning. Months after the deaths of 63 farmers and farm labourers due to insecticide poisoning in various districts of Maharashtra, the state government recently submitted a proposal to the Central government to ban four insecticides. The Maharashtra government's action came pursuant to an order of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on 22 March directing it to move the Central government to ban certain insecticides. A letter has been written in this regard by Bijay Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary (Agriculture) in the Maharashtra government to the Central Insecticides Board and Registration Committee of the Union agriculture ministry. The letter seeks the permanent banning of Acephate 75% SP, Monocrotophos 36% SL, Diafenthiuron 50% WP, Fipronil 40% + Imidacloprid 40%WG, and Profenofos 40%+Cypermethrin 4% EC. Out of these, Monocrotophos is considered as the most hazardous substance, and it is part of the red triangle (extremely toxic) category. According to this report, at least 12 deaths in Yavatmal district alone were caused by this pesticide alone. Reacting to the proposal, Kishor Tiwari, the chairman of a state government committee to alleviate farm distress said, "The state government's move is a welcome one. The Union government must now act promptly to ban the highly toxic insecticides listed by the Maharashtra agriculture department. Substances like Profenofos are already banned in several other countries." Tiwari also added that many farmers and farm labourers are not educated, and hence, it is unfair to blame them for such deaths. Further, a report on Down to Earth says that substances like Monocrotophos and Oxydemetonmethyl are banned in several countries, including the European Union, due to their high toxicity. However, these are widely used in India. The report quoted data from the Union agriculture department which states that Class 1 pesticides (which are the most toxic) accounted for about 30 percent of the country's total usage in 2015-16. HC directs enhanced compensation The direction to the Maharashtra government to propose the banning of certain pesticides was only a part of the order of the Bombay High Court. The court also directed the state government to pay Rs 4 lakh in total to the family of each farmer who died due to such poisoning. Earlier, the state government had paid Rs 2 lakh to each of the bereaved family. A bench consisting of Justice BP Dharmadhikari and Justice Swapna Joshi said that this amount was "not sufficient." The petitioner, Anand Narayanrao Jammu, had pointed out that in other cases of accidents, the state government paid a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, and the Central government has also paid an equal amount to the family. The high court, in its order, also passed a number of other directions. It directed the state government to frame a policy to decide a minimum amount of compensation to be paid to the bereaved family in cases of such accidental deaths. "No room should be left for the argument that in a particular accident, an amount of Rs 10 lakh has been paid, while in another accident, a meagre amount was given," the bench observed. The court has also ordered the Maharashtra government to investigate whether there were lapses by officials with respect to monitoring sale and distribution of pesticides, and taking steps to check the spread of crop diseases. Similarly, it also directed the government to find out whether companies which manufactured the pesticides are liable for compensation, and for criminal action. Firstpost has reported extensively on the deaths reported in eastern Maharashtra due to pesticide poisoning. This report pointed out that multiple agencies had sought to pass the blame for the tragedy. Some police stations in the state have booked local dealers for causing death due to negligence, while dealers have said that they cannot be faulted as they sell insecticides which are manufactured by companies and approved by the government. Activists have pointed to the need for increasing awareness among farmers and banning highly toxic pesticides. Farmers/farm labourers need to adhere to a number of safety protocols while using insecticides, such as wearing masks and gloves and using the correct proportions of the substance. The Maharashtra Police recently released an advertisement announcing a bounty on five most-wanted members of CPI (Maoist), including top leaders such as Malojulla Venugopal, Sahyadri Teltumbde and Narmadakka The Maharashtra Police has announced bounty up to Rs 60 lakhs on five most-wanted members of the banned organisation CPI (Maoist), including its top leaders Malojulla Venugopal, Sahyadri Teltumbde, and Narmadakka. The police released an advertisement with printed photographs of the five Maoist leaders wanted for various criminal offences and said that those with information about them can approach the superintendent of police in Gadchiroli, Maharashtra. The move comes after a team of C-60 commandos, a specialised combat unit of the Gadchiroli police and CRPF personnel, killed 16 Naxals in an encounter with the police on 22 April. It was touted as the biggest success ever in the Dandakaranya area by any anti-Naxal force. Here is a brief profile of the five most-wanted Maoists: Malojulla Venugopal With a Rs 60 lakh cash award on his head, Malojulla Venugopal is the most wanted Maoist leader by the Maharashtra Police. This CPI (Maoist) politburo member leads Maoist activities in south India and hails from Peddapalli in Karimnagar district in Andhra Pradesh. His numerous aliases include Bhupathi, Sonu, Vivek, Laxminarayan and Lachhana Abhay. His older brother Mallojula Koteshwara Rao alias Kishenji, the former number three Maoist, was killed by CRPF personnel in West Bengal on 24 November, 2011. Following this, the then-51-year-old Venugopal, replaced Kishenji in the highest decision making body of the CPI (Maoist), according to an India Today report. His mother, Madhuramma, wife of a deceased freedom fighter, had told India Today she may not live to see her son. "This is war," she said, "They kill the police... the police kill them." Venugopal is the head of the Dandakaranya Special Zonal Committee of the CPI (Maoist). According to a Times of India report, he issues statements on behalf of the Maoist central committee under the nom de guerre Abhay. He took charge of the south India operations in 2011 after the formation of a new regional committee which controls areas on either side of Western Ghats, from Goa to Idukki in Kerala. As per the report, he was tasked with carving out a new guerilla zone in the south. A bomb expert, Venugopal was credited with orchestrating a landmine blast on 1 February, 2017, in an armoured vehicle of Odisha State Armed Police, killing five policemen and injuring 20 at Mogarguma village, near Pottangi in Odisha's Koraput district. Sahyadri Teltumbde Hailing from Rajur village in Yavatmal district in Maharashtra, this Maoist leader carries a Rs 50 lakh bounty for anyone who provides information about him. Sahyadri believed to be Milind Teltumbde, a top CPI (Maoist) operative goes by several aliases such as Dipak, Miling, Pravin, Arun and Sudhir and is the secretary in-charge of the CPI (Maoist) in the state. According to some reports, he is a Dalit Maharashtrian from Chandrapur. An engineer by education, Sahyadri is a central committee member and is known for his intellect, according to The Hindu. "Suvez Haque, an upright police officer, had inflicted huge setbacks on the Maoists in Gadchiroli of Maharashtra.... But once Mr. Haque was transferred out of Gadchiroli, Milind has rebuilt the party organisation in a very short span of time," a party insider told The Hindu in 2015. Teltumbde also has links to Dalit icon BR Ambedkar. According to The Indian Express, his brother Anand is married to the sister of Prakash Ambedkar, Babasaheb's grandson. Narmadakka A senior Naxal leader and the only female member of the central committee of the CPI (Maoist), Narmadakka aka Alluri Usharani Kirankumar hails from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. She was appointed as the divisional secretary of South Gadchiroli division prior to 2012. She is the second female member, after Anuradha Gandhi, to be appointed as a central committee member, according to the Hindustan Times. Narmadakka played a crucial role in gathering women tribal folk for the ultra-left movement in the Dandakaranya region. She also set up an "aggressive military force" with the latest arms and ammunition and communication technology to counter the state machinery. Fifty-three cases are registered against her in Maharashtra, reported The Hindu. She hit the national headlines when Delhi University lecturer GN Saibaba was convicted for aiding Naxal commanders Narmadakka and Ramdhar. However, reports in 2012 suggested that she was believed to have been killed in a police encounter in Hiker village in Chhattisgarh. As the recent ad released by the Maharashtra Police, Rs 25 lakh has been offered as a cash award for any information on her whereabouts. Joganna A top Naxal leader, Joganna has a Rs 20 lakh bounty for his whereabouts. He hails from Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and has multiple aliases such as Ghisu and Chimala Narsayya. Joganna is believed to be the district division chief for CPI (Maoist)'s Gadchiroli unit. According to a Times of India report, he was the divisional commander of Etapalli dalam (Naxal band), Platoon dalam and Kasansur dalam. Pahad Singh A dreaded guerilla Maoist leader, Pahad Singh belongs to Rajnandgaon district in Chhattisgarh and has a bounty of Rs 16 lakh on his head. He goes by the aliases of Ashok, Tipu Sultan, Kumarsai Katlami and Baburao Topha. According to a report in the South Asia Terrorism Portal, Pahad Singh currently heads the North Gadchiroli-Gondia-Balaghat Divisional Committee. As per a letter he wrote in 2014, he wants his daughters to become doctors, reported The Hindu. The Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) has announced the results of the Mizoram HSLC Class 10 examination on its official website mbse.edu.in, according to media reports The Mizoram Board of School Education (MBSE) has announced results of the Mizoram HSLC Class 10 examination on its official website mbse.edu.in, according to media reports. The Secondary Examination (HSLC) and Higher Secondary Examination (HSE) for the academic session year 2017-2018 were conducted between February and March 2018, The Times of India reported. The MBSE Board HSLC Results 2018 have been declared. Students are required to key in their roll number and registration number to view their result, according to Hindustan Times. Students can also check their results on indiaresults.com, according to News18. Follow these steps to check your result: Visit the official website mbse.edu.in Locate the link 'MBSE Board Class 10 results' and click on it Enter your MBSE Board Class 10 roll number and other required details and click submit Once you hit submit, your result will appear on the screen Download your result and take a printout for future reference The MBSE, which was set up in 1975 under the Mizoram Board of School Education Act, is the primary academic authority for management of school education in Mizoram, DNA reported. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said its two-member team last week questioned female Islamic State recruiter Karen Aisha Hamidon in Manila for her involvement in radicalising several Indian men online. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday said its two-member team last week questioned female Islamic State recruiter Karen Aisha Hamidon in Manila for her involvement in radicalising several Indian men online. The NIA team questioned Karen Aisha Al Muslimah alias Karen Aisha Hamidon during its visit to Manila between 24 April and 28 April. "The questioning of Karen has resulted in confirmation of several facts and also provided significant leads about her associates in India, who were active online, to propagate the ideology of the Islamic State and also about a few Indians residing abroad who have helped her financially," an NIA statement said. It said the leads obtained are being investigated and that the execution of the Letters Rogatory (LR) by the Philippines authority is expected soon. An NIA official said the execution of the LR would provide substantial evidence to strengthen the cases against chargesheeted accused in the Islamic State-related cases filed in 2015 and 2016 in which three personsMohd Naser, Mohd Sirajuddin and Adnan Hasanwere in contact with Karen on messaging applications Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. Naser, a resident of Tamil Nadu, along with Sirajuddin and Hasan, both from Karnataka, were chargesheeted and are now facing trial in their respective cases, the NIA said. In its investigation, the NIA found that Karen was also in online contact with many other Indians through different Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels for motivating, radicalising and instigating her online associates from different countries including India to fight on behalf of terror group Islamic State. NIA officials, privy to the case, said Karen was also in telephonic contacts with many other Indian nationals. To ascertain Karen's role in the crime, requests under LR, issued by the special NIA courts in Delhi and Jaipur, were forwarded through proper channels to the competent judicial authority in the Philippines in 2017 seeking legal assistance in the investigation. Karen was arrested by the National Bureau of Investigation, the Philippines on 11 October, 2017 and she has been charged for incitement to rebellion. A photojournalist of a Malayalam daily was injured on Thursday when some RSS workers stormed the press club in Malappuram and allegedly attacked him. Malappuram: A photojournalist of a Malayalam daily was injured on Thursday when some RSS workers stormed the press club in Malappuram and allegedly attacked him, police said. The RSS workers attacked him after he attempted to take a video of their alleged manhandling of a two-wheeler rider during a protest march taken out near the press club, they said. Police said case a has been registered against 10 RSS workers under various sections of IPC including those related to unlawful assembly and rioting besides the Kerala Public Way Restriction of Assemblies and Procession Act. The case was registered based on a complaint by photojournalist Faud Sanea, who suffered injuries in the legs and has been hospitalised. The incident, which occurred on the World Press Freedom Day, was condemned by the media fraternity in Kerala. Journalists took out a march to the Secretariat in Malappuram protesting against the attack on media personnel. They raised slogans condemning the incident and lit candles to mark their protest. Police said the trouble broke out when around 150 RSS workers took out the procession protesting the attack on an RSS office in the district two days ago. The protesters blocked the road causing traffic snarls. The two-wheeler rider, on seeing the march, tried to leave the spot but the RSS workers intercepted him and took possession of the vehicle's key, they said. On seeing Sanea taking some video shots on his mobile phone at that time, a section of the RSS workers barged into the Press club and allegedly assaulted him and snatched away his phone. Police later recovered the mobile phone from the workers and returned it to the photojournalist. Separatists and pro-India leaders condemned the attack on the school bus in Kashmir. Shopian, Kashmir: The yellow school bus trudged slowly before talking a left turn, going down the sloping road which takes 32 children of Rainbow International School from a small village of Keller to Shopian town every day. But on Wednesday, 2 May, the volatile town in south Kashmir was observing a strike to protest security forces gunning down militant commander Sameer Bhat alias Tiger. The driver of the bus knew there was a risk of getting caught in an ugly situation. When we reached the Zawoora crossing, I heard a thud, as if something hit the bus. I did not look right or left but drove faster. I knew something wrong had happened, Bashir, a driver who works at Rainbow International School, told Firstpost. At least six to seven boys, mostly teenagers, were moving around suspiciously in the area. One of them hurled a stone at the bus. It was around 9:15 am. Rehan Gorsi, 10, was sitting on the left side of the bus when he was hit by a stone in the head. The Class 2 student had to be referred to Srinagar for specialised treatment. He was sitting in the second row. Unfortunately, the windshield was not closed and the stone hit his head directly, Sajad Ahmad Khan, the principal of Rainbow International School, which is located in the heart of Shopian town, told Firstpost. On Wednesday, the streets of Pulwama and Shopian were deserted. This correspondent travelled from Srinagar to Drabgam village, the home of Sameer Ahmad Bhat, alias Sameer Tiger, who was killed in an encounter two days ago. Only seven vehicles were spotted during the more than 40-kilometre journey. The roads were deserted and protesting crowds had to be cajoled to allow the car to move forward. When Sameer was killed, the Hurriyat Conference called for a day-long strike in the Valley. But the four districts of south Kashmir remained shut even on Wednesday. All shops, educational institutions and business establishments were shut. Hardly anyone was moving on the streets and after every 500 metres, young boys, particularly teenagers, blocked roads with stones and wooden logs. Stone pelting was also reported from many areas. When the bus reached Zawoora crossing, before it descended into town, it came under attack by a group of teenage boys waiting to strike. Hamid Hussain Shah, a doctor at the SMHS Hospital, said Rehan was stable but an X-ray showed he had a fractured skull because the stone apparently hit him directly. He will be discharged soon. He hasnt got any stitches but he has a fracture, Shah added. Gorsi's father Noor said he dropped his son to the school bus almost a half hour before the incident, but was worried, like every other day when the school is open during a Hurriyat-backed shutdown call. Since 2014, I've preferred to keep my children at home on such days because the protesters control the roads, he said. But what can one do. You want to give best education to children. How long can you keep them indoors because every week there is strike call? The incident sparked an uproar in the Valley. It was widely and unequivocally condemned by both pro-India politicians as well as separatists. We must condemn all that is unacceptable in a civilised society. Targeting a school bus with stones is deeply distressing, Facebook user M Gulzar said. So is a hate crime in Kathua where a young boy was stabbed to death. Media should be fair. There is nothing like pro and anti in these senseless acts. Utter nonsense and madness. We are slowly bleeding ourselves to death, Riyaz Ganai, a Kashmiri added on Facebook. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted: Shocked & angered to hear of the attack on a school bus in Shopian. The perpetrators of this senseless & cowardly act will be brought to justice. Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) May 2, 2018 The Opposition National Conference also condemned the attack. Separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Yasin Malik and Mirwaiz Umar Farooq also added their voices to the outrage. Our strength lies in discipline, Geelani said in a statement. We should keep strict vigil over those involved in these incidents, saying in resistance movements we need to demonstrate our mature thinking and follow discipline. As the news of the attack on school children dominated prime time news and debates, another teenager, Omar Ahmad, was killed and six others injured after locals clashed with security forces engaged in an encounter with militants in Shopian district and Pulwama. There were protests near an encounter site in Shopian's Turkuwangam village from where militants managed to flee after locals pelted security forces with stones. We have decided to keep the school closed today. We can no longer risk the safety of our kids. Although there is no strike call of the Hurriyat, these young boys pay no need to such calls anyway. In such anarchy, situation gets out of control, Khan, the principal of the Rainbow International School, said. The Supreme Court rejected the Centre's demand for a stay on its verdict on the SC/ST Act and said it favoured the protection of the rights of these communities. The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the Centre's demand for a stay on its verdict on the SC/ST Act and said it favoured "100 percent" the protection of the rights of these communities and punishing those guilty of atrocities against them. The top court also strongly disagreed with the Centre's contention that its 20 March verdict had led to loss of lives in the violence that had broken out later in several states. The Centre told the top court that its 20 March verdict, laying guidelines putting certain safeguards on the immediate arrest of a person for offences, countermanded the law enacted by the legislature and should thus be stayed and the case referred to a larger bench. However, a bench of Justices Adarsh Goel and U U Lalit refused to stay the verdict and said various aspects and earlier judgments of the top court were considered before arriving at this conclusion. "It's not that the judgement says there shall be no registration of crime. It's not that accused shall not be arrested. The safeguards were for the purpose that a person should not be readily arrested or an innocent punished because there was no provision of anticipatory bail under the SC/ST Act," the bench said. The top court said under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, theoretically a person cannot get anticipatory bail, but soon after his arrest, he can get regular bail even in offences where the punishment is just six months. "The anticipatory bail provision was not there in laws like TADA and MCOCA, where the offences were supposed to be of greater magnitude. If there is a grave offence, this judgement will not come in the way of arrest," the bench said. It clarified that the court has not asked for non-registration of an FIR for the offences under the SC/ST Act, but sought verification before registration of FIR, so that innocents do not get penalised. However, Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for Centre, said after the 20 March verdict, there has been loss of lives in several parts of country and that the order contradicts the existing provisions of SC/ST Act. "There are separation of powers which is part of the basic structure of the Constitution and the court can only lay down guidelines for disposal of a case but cannot lay guidelines in general in the nature of law, for the whole country," he said. The bench disagreed with the submission of the AG and said there were several apex court verdicts by which rules were framed including bringing in the existence of collegium system for appointment of judges. Venugopal said that courts can fill up the gap in legislation but cannot lay down the guidelines which are inconsistent with the law made by the legislation. The bench, said that it has not added a single new word in the law and just incorporated in its order, what was already existing in the law. The Attorney General said that the 20 March judgement is in direct contradiction of Section 18 of SC/ST Act (anticipatory bail), section 4 of SC/ST Act (lodging of FIR) and Section 41 of CrPC (power of arrest). He said that this judgement can be termed as "judicial activism of the court" in view of a seven-judge verdict of 2002 which dealt with "what amounts to legislation by courts". "This is a matter which required to be settled by a larger bench as one other bench has gone into this issue and decided the law. This 20 March judgement has resulted in loss of lives," Venugopal said and sought stay of the verdict. The bench rejected the submission and said "No, this judgement cannot be blamed for the loss of lives. We are hundred percent for the protection of rights of SC/ST community. Those who took law into their hands should be punished in accordance with law. Those at fault needs to be punished". The bench clarified that as far as Section 4 of the SC/ST Act is concerned which deals with lodging of FIR, safeguards were put to avoid false implication of an individuals. "If a DSP rank officer is satisfied with the allegation, he can certainly proceed forward and lodge an FIR against the accused under the Act. Our concern was that without verifying of the allegation, no case should be lodged against an innocent," it said. The bench said all these were done to avoid harassment of public servants from frivolous complains and there are several verdicts of the top court in this regard. The apex court also dismissed a recall application filed by the original applicant BK Gaikwad, who had lodged the FIR in the case. The hearing remained inconclusive and would continue on 16 May. The Centre had moved the apex court on 2 April seeking review of its judgement by which safeguards were put on the provisions for immediate arrest under the SC/ST Act. The top court had on 3 April refused to keep the 20 March verdict in abeyance till it decided the Centre's review petition. The apex court had on 20 March said that on "several occasions", innocent citizens were being termed as accused and public servants deterred from performing their duties, which was never the intention of the legislature while enacting the SC/ST Act. Several states were rocked by wide spread violence and clashes following a 'Bharat Bandh' call given by several SC/ST organisations protesting the top court's order, that claimed eight lives. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a two-day visit to Myanmar from 10 May during which key bilateral and regional issues, including the situation in the Rakhine state from where thousands of Rohingya Muslims had fled following violence last year, are likely to be discussed. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will pay a two-day visit to Myanmar from 10 May during which key bilateral and regional issues, including the situation in the Rakhine state from where thousands of Rohingya Muslims had fled following violence last year, are likely to be discussed. Swaraj would hold talks with the top leadership of Myanmar and both sides were expected to ink several key agreements covering diverse aspects of the bilateral relationship, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. "The External Affairs Minister will hold discussion with Myanmerese leadership on various bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interests," he told reporters without elaborating. Kumar said both sides were also expected to review the progress made on decisions taken during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Myanmar in September 2017. Myanmar is one of India's strategic neighbours and it shares a 1,640-kilometre border with a number of northeastern states, including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur. On the Rohingya issue, the MEA spokesperson said India has been maintaining that normalcy would return to the Rakhine state with the return of displaced persons. He said India is also of the view that long term solution to the problem in the Rakhine state would be to ensure its socio-economic development. An estimated 6,00,000 Rohingya Muslims had fled Myanmar's Rakhine State since August last year after large-scale violence there. In December last, India had announced a development assistance of $25 million for the Rakhine state. India has been concerned over some militant groups from the Northeast region taking shelter in Myanmar. The country has been assuring India that it would not allow any insurgent groups to use its territory against India. The issue of cross-border activities by certain insurgent groups may figure during talks between Swaraj and the Myanmarese leaders. According to agency reports, heavy storms lashed Alwar, Dhaulpur and Bharatpur regions in Rajasthan leaving at least 10 dead and over 25 injured in separate road accidents on Tuesday. A high-intensity squall followed by thundershowers lashed Alwar, Dhaulpur and Bharatpur regions in Rajasthan leaving at least 22 people dead and over 100 injured in separate road accidents on Tuesday, according to several media reports. "So far, 27 people have died due to the disaster, including 12 in Bharatpur, 10 in Dholpur and 5 in Alwar. The squall was reported mainly in three districts," secretary, disaster management and relief, Hemant Kumar Gera told PTI in Jaipur. He said nearly 100 were injured in the disaster. 20 were injured in Alwar, 32 in Bharatpur and 50 in Dholpur respectively. Gera said contingency funds have been released to the respective district administration. He said Rs 4 lakh will be given to family members of deceased, Rs 2 lakh to persons sustaining 60 percent injuries and Rs 60,000 to people with 40 to 50 percent injuries. According to a report in DNA, a ruckus was caused in Alwar after electricity poles and trees fell on cars and roads, creating several blockages. Authorities are still taking stock, but early reports indicate heavy damage. The toll plaza collapsed, power has been cut in the entire region, and the collector ordered all schools to remain closed on Thursday, according to the report. Bhanwar Jitendra Singh, a Congress leader from Alwar, asked the Vasundhara Raje government to compensate the affected: I pray for safety for all effected by the storm the administration should provide all support along with, compensation to all affected. Bhanwar Jitendra Singh (@BhanwarJitendr1) May 2, 2018 Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje expressed grief over the calamity and said authorities concerned in the districts have been directed to ensure all possible help to victims. "Condolence for families who lost their loved ones," Raje tweeted. Congress National General Secretary Ashok Gehlot cancelled his birthday celebrations at his official residence in Jaipur. "We are extremely grieved at the loss of lives in the state and stand with the victims in this hour of tragedy. I cancel all celebrations at my residence today. Blood donation camps and Janhit programs can be continued by organisers," he told PTI. Meanwhile, 15 flights arriving at Delhi Airport were diverted due to a sudden change in weather. Private weather forecasting agency Skymet predicted dust storms and thundershowers over Punjab, Delhi, Haryana, North Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh. According to a report in ABPlive, in Punjab, farmers wheat stored in dana mandis was destroyed due to heavy rains as they were unable to protect their crops. Farmers are now demanding compensation from the government and amenities to protect their crops. They are also seeking for their crops to be transported from the mandis so that further wastage can be avoided, according to the report. With inputs from PTI India has been ranked 133rd among 156 countries in the United Nations (UN) World Happiness Report 2018, 15 places down from its position in 2015. By Charu Bahri Mount Abu, Rajasthan: India has been ranked 133rd among 156 countries in the United Nations (UN) World Happiness Report 2018, 15 places down from its position in 2015. This is despite the reports finding that Indias per capita gross domestic product (GDP), a measure of the standard of living, and healthy life expectancy, a marker of well-being, have trended upwards over the last three years. Further, participants surveyed during 2017 for the current report expressed greater satisfaction with their personal freedomthe freedom to make life choicesas well as greater confidence in their national government. Then what makes Indians less happy today than they were three years ago? And why are Indians the least happy people in the Indian subcontinent? Myanmar (130), Sri Lanka (116), Bangladesh (115), Nepal (101), Bhutan (97) and Pakistan (75) all rank higher than India, while neighbouring China stands at 86. Indians are suffering the impact of weaker social support networks, a less generous society, and fewer reasons to experience positive emotions such as laughter, at a time when they are feeling more negative emotions such as worry and anger, social scientists have told IndiaSpend. At the same time, socio-economic inequity is preventing per capita GDP growth from translating into happier people. Why higher per capita GDP has not made Indians happier In July 2011, a UN General Assembly resolution recognised that the gross domestic product indicator by nature was not designed to and does not adequately reflect the happiness and well-being of people. It invited member-nations to develop measures to better reflect the pursuit of happiness and well-being to guide public policy. Since 2012, with the exception of 2014, the UN has been publishing a report on the state of happiness in countries around the world, remarking on the causes of happiness and misery, and their policy implications, primarily based on the Gallup World Poll that specialises in tracking citizens opinions. India recorded a higher growth rate in real GDP at constant prices between 2014-15 and 2016-17 than in the previous three years from 2011-12 to 2013-14, according to data from the World Bank. Per capita GDP is frequently used as an indicator of standard of living. However, that only works in a society where the distribution of income and wealth is reasonably equitable. In India, income, wealth or other forms of human capital inequalities are starkly visible, Hema Swaminathan, chairperson of the Centre for Public Policy at the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, told IndiaSpend. Here, an accident of birth decides your lifes prospects, and with the steady erosion of the structures that could help individuals achieve mobility, such as the primary education system and public health system, little scope exists for social or economic mobility, she said. While per capita GDP is rising, socio-economic inequality is, too. In 2014, India recorded the widest income inequality since 1980, according to a report by the World Inequality Lab. In 2013, 390 million Indians, making up the bottom half of Indias earning population, earned 67 percent of the share of the top 1 percent, which consisted of 7.8 million people. In 1980, Indias bottom 50 percent had earned 319 percent of the income of the richest 1 percent. Social inequities militate against happiness, as a seminal study on the topic showed in 1970s US. Richard Easterlin, a professor of economics at the University of Southern California, showed how increases in income from 1946 to 1970 coincided with flat levels of reported happiness. Recent data from the U.S. bear out this association, economist Jeffrey Sachs, co-editor of the World Happiness Report 2018, noted in the report. He added that absolute increases do matter for happiness, albeit with a clearly declining marginal utility of income. More recently, scientists from the London School of Economics and Political Science examined data from the Gallup World Poll and the World Top Incomes Database and found that the more income is held by the richest 1 percent of a nation, the more likely individuals are to report lower levels of wellbeing, life satisfaction and more negative daily emotional experiences. This is not to say that higher income does not matter. Very poor people, when their income increases, become happier as their basic needs are met. However, once these needs are fulfilled, they stop experiencing greater happiness with rising income if there is also growing inequality, as it leads to unfavourable comparisons, said Shreya Jha, a doctoral candidate in Social and Policy Sciences at the University of Bath, UK, who has studied well-being in the Indian context. Indians worry more, feel sadder and angrier In the last three years, Indians have reported experiencing fewer positive emotions and more negative emotions, two variables that influence World Happiness rankings. Did you experience happiness and enjoyment during a greater part of yesterday? Did you smile or laugh a lot yesterday? Participants responses to these questions made up the positive emotion variable, called positive affect. To what extent did you experience worry, sadness and anger yesterday? Participants responses to these questions made up the negative emotions variable, called the negative affect. In India, the effect of positive emotions has been reducing since 2015, while the effect of negative emotions has been increasing as compared with the previous three years (2012-2014), the World Happiness Report shows. This means that Indians perceive fewer reasons to smile and more reasons to worry and feel angry. Research suggests that negative circumstances could have a stronger effect on our emotions, Jha said, adding, Essentially, negative circumstances take precedence in our attention especially when there are no other factors that can alleviate their negative effects. Social scientists believe the current political climate can partly explain the current mood of gloom in the country. In the current political climate, prominent identity qualifiers such as caste, religion and gender are being stoked for short-term gains, Swaminathan said, The ensuing negative emotions of distrust, hate, prejudices and so on against the other are not conducive to a state of happiness. At the same time, fewer Indians reported having someone to count on to help tide over troubled times in 2017, the World Happiness Report noted. It is known that relationships both in the family and broader environment affect happiness, Jha said. Greater confidence in government, yet perception of greater corruption Indian citizens surveyed in 2017 for this years happiness report expressed greater confidence in the national government than in the previous few years. Trust in the government is a measure of social capital, or the quantity and quality of social relations in a community, to cite the first World Happiness Report, which also concluded that trust adds to life satisfaction. But Indians also reported perceiving greater corruption in government and business, which seems to take away from their happiness gains. Sweeping measures such as demonetisation and implementation of the Goods and Services Tax made people think this government was capable of taking bold steps to improve the economy, Swaminathan said. People thought corruption would reduce, at least in the ordinary transactions involving the common person. However, with new scams unfolding, that perception has changed. Confidence in this government is still high, Swaminathan said, because this government has a sophisticated marketing machinery and an active public relations network that gives the impression of a system that is responsive to citizens. Why India must measure its peoples happiness Happiness is a subjective feeling. However, that is not to say that it is immeasurable or that the government should brush it aside as irrelevant to public policy. Happiness is, after all, everyones life goal. Some Indian states are already starting happiness surveys, but national co-ordination would be invaluable, John F. Helliwell, co-editor of World Happiness Report 2018, told IndiaSpend. In 2017, the Madhya Pradesh state government declared it would gauge the happiness quotient of its people, the maiden such initiative by an Indian state. Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said feedback from the happiness survey would be factored into our government policies and public expenditure priorities. You should petition your statistical agency to start measuring satisfaction with life in surveys large enough to show how life is going in different states, and for people in different life circumstances, said Helliwell, who is professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia and senior fellow at the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. Then you and we could see more clearly why the Indian ranking as a whole has fallen relative to others in recent years, he said. (Bahri is a freelance writer and editor based in Mount Abu, Rajasthan.) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah will arrive in Bhopal on Friday to address party workers in the state where Assembly polls are due later this year. Bhopal: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah will arrive in Bhopal on Friday to address party workers in the state where Assembly polls are due later this year. Shah will arrive in Bhopal from Bengaluru and address the state-level meeting of the BJP workers and office-bearers at the Dusshera Maidan on Friday, a party spokesman said. Due to Shah's busy schedule in view of the Karnataka Assembly polls scheduled to be held next week, the BJP chief's other meetings in the state capital have been cancelled, he said. After addressing the party workers at the Dussehra Maidan, Shah will go back to Bengaluru, the spokesman added. The Assembly polls in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh are due around the end of this year. The Congress had last month appointed Kamal Nath as the Madhya Pradesh party president to revive its fortunes in the state where it is out of power for over a decade. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that Mohammed Ali Jinnah cannot be given respect in India, according to media reports. Breaking his silence on the row in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) over a portrait of Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that Pakistan's national leader cannot be given respect in India, according to media reports. In an interview to India Today, Adityanath, who is in Karnataka to campaign for the Bhartiya Janta Party said, "Jinnah divided this country. How can we celebrate his achievements?". He also said that the matter shall be probed thoroughly. He said that the report is expected to be submitted to him by Friday, Financial Times reported. Controversy had erupted after a BJP MP wrote a letter to AMU's vice-chancellor Tariq Mansoor objecting a a portrait of Pakistan founder's picture on the walls of the AMU student union office. In their defence, the university has stated that the portrait has been hanging there for decades, since Jinnah was a founder of the university and was granted life membership of the student union. The Uttar Pradesh chief minister, is currently on a two-day Karnataka visit, where he is scheduled to address public meetings in Sirsi, Sagar, Balehonnuru, Belur, and Honnali on Thursday. In his rally in Sirsi, Adityanath alleged that law and order situation in Karnataka has collapsed. Deecan Herald, quoted him as saying, "The Karnataka government has failed to act despite an increase in number of murder of Hindu activists. The law and order situation in any state is a reflection of the mindset of the party in power". He also said that the Congress party was sheltering Jihadists, while his government had been successful in curbing them, the report added. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress too was quick to respond to the Chief Minister's campaign. The party accused Adityanath for campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka even when people of his state were reeling under the impact of the severe dust storm that has left many dead. "Even if people of Uttar Pradesh are suffering, I am busy culling out 'jumlas' (gimmicks) in Karnataka elections Adityanath, missing chief minister, Uttar Pradesh," tweeted Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala. The swipe at him follows the death of as many as 45 persons in the high-intensity dust storm that hit the state overnight. With inputs from PTI While the JD(S), by and large, retains its Vokkaliga vote share, losing seven MLAs to the Congress is a jolt, especially as it is fighting for relevance. Narasimha Raj, 41, says he will not vote for the same party in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections. But the vote will still go to the same candidate. A farmer, hailing from the village of Halathi in Mandya district, Narasimhas constituency is Nagamangala, where 3-time MLA Chaluvarya Swamy has defected from the Janata Dal (Secular) to the Congress. I have always voted for Swamy, says Narasimha. He has been accessible, and ensured development through roads, hospitals in the constituency. I will vote for him irrespective of the party. Now that he is in Congress, I will press the Congress button on 12 May. Interestingly, Narasimha does not harbour much affection for the sitting chief minister Siddaramaiah. He is casteist, and will work only for certain communities, he says. He has gone out of his way to appease Lingayats, but does not care for us Vokkaligas. Nagamangala is dominated by the Vokkaliga community, like the old Mysore region it falls in. It is the foremost peasant caste of old Mysore. 50 MLAs across parties in the current Assembly are Vokkaligas. It has been a core vote base of the JD(S). Its patriarch Deve Gowda, and his son and party leader HD Kumaraswamy, also hail from the same community. Vokkaligas in this belt are miffed with Siddaramaiah, for they believe he has favoured his own Kuruba community, along with Scheduled Castes, Schedule Tribes, OBCs and Muslims, in important posts in the bureaucracy, while ignoring the Vokkaligas. In Nagamangala, almost half of the 2 lakh voters are Vokkaligas, with SCs, STs and Kurubas the largest OBC group in the state being the other important communities. Most of the Vokkaligas remain loyal to JD(S) and Kumaraswamy. Lakshamma, 42, says the candidate does not matter when she goes to polls. Kumaraswamy is our leader, she says. We want to see him as the chief minister. He works for the poor. Lakshamma, who sells vegetables in Nagamangala town, says she does not like Modi for the precise reason. He took us apart with demonetisation, she says. I used to make 1500 rupees a day. After demonetisation, it came down to 200 for about 6-8 months. Only I know how I managed during that period. An overwhelming majority in Nagamangala, like most of the old Mysore region, are farmers, and the rest own petty businesses, shops and bakeries. And most of the Vokkaligas have a different opinion of Modi than Lakshammas. SR Krishnamoorthy, 31, a farmer cultivating veggies and coconuts in Samakahalla village, says he voted for the BJP in the 2014 general elections only because of Modi. In fact, in 2014, BJP had bettered the JD(S) and Congress in terms of the Vokkaliga voteshare. Modi is good at the Centre, says Krishnamoorthy. He is hardworking, and is a task master. But BJP is not even in the race here. Kumaraswamy is our communitys pride. We will always vote for him at the state. When he was the chief minister of Karnataka in 2006, he worked for farmers. Even now, he is promising loan waivers if he comes to power. Just outside the APMC in Nagamangala, selling tea and biscuits, Meenakshi, 35, leans more towards Narasimhas line of thought. For her, the candidate is more important than the party. After all, it is the MLA that is directly accountable to you, she says. You cannot knock the chief ministers door for water in your constituency. Swamy has a connect with us for a long time. He knows us. He knows the constituency. In spite of the fact that most of the dominant community is likely to stay with JD(S), over the past 15 years, Swamy, himself a Vokkaliga, seems to have cultivated his own support base that might go with him despite the anger against the incumbent chief minister. Even if Swamy takes a significant chunk with him, he could limp across the halfway mark with other communities majorly backing the Congress. Swamy is one of the seven rebel JD(S) MLAs that defected to the Congress after cross-voting in Rajya Sabha elections of 2016. Zameer Ahmed Khan, Iqbal Ansari, Balakrishna, Ramesh Bandisiddegowda, Bheema Nayak and Akhanda Srinivas Murthy were the other six. It is said that BM Farooqs JD(S) candidature for the Rajya Sabha was not discussed with the MLAs, and Zameer, particularly, was upset at the proposition, and he was the one who instigated others to cross-vote for the Congress instead. Srinivas Murthy, speaking to Firstpost, said, Zameer is our leader, we followed him. Both Zameer and Murthy are MLAs from Bangalore. Zameer, three-time MLA from Chamrajpeth, is said to be a king of his constituency. A moneyed man with his own travel company, Zameer has a hold on his constituency that predominantly comprises of Muslims. The staff at the Victoria hospital in his constituency says he is the first one to arrive in case of any emergency that requires intervention. Murthy, too, is a two-time MLA from Pulakeshinagar, and used to be with the Congress earlier. People in his constituency are with his ghar wapsi. Ashwaq Khan, selling lime juice in the busy vicinity of Devara Jeevanhalli, says, Murthy is a Congressman at heart. Even his father was with Congress for a very long time. It does not really matter what party he represents. Murthy, himself, is confident about the outcome. I have been working in the constituency even when my party was not in power at the state, he said. It is easier to develop the constituency when one is in a party that rules the state. The narrative is not very different in Bandisiddegowdas constituency of Srirangapatna in Mandya. This constituency has a similar demography to Nagamangala and Bandisiddegowda has been a two-time MLA here. 40-year-old Kantaraj, who sells sugarcane juice in the town, says he is confused about who he is going to vote for. I like Kumaraswamy, but I feel a kind of loyalty with Bandisiddegowda, he says, refusing to be photographed. He has been a good public servant, and also supported the temple over here. I would not want to desert him. The upcoming elections are a battle of existence for the JD(S). The party has had two back-to-back dismal performances in the Assembly elections of 2008 and 2013, where it won 28 and 40 seats respectively. While it, by and large, retains its loyal Vokkaliga vote share, losing seven MLAs to the Congress is surely a jolt to the party. It may not look like a large number in isolation but seven out of 40 is significant in the context of fighting for relevance. For all their fallacies, they are sitting MLAs, who have nurtured their constituencies over a significant period of time, and they know how to win an election. Conspiracy theories, fanned by Congress leaders on social media, that Yeddyurappa may not make it as chief minister even if the BJP comes to power has meant the Lingayat voter is still mulling his options Basavaraj Horatti is a busy man. Sitting in his office in Hubli in north Karnataka, the president of the Jagathika Lingayat Mahasabha peruses the member application form of the Mahasabha. More than 70,000 Lingayats have enrolled as members, contributing Rs 14 lakh to the association's kitty. The Mahasabha was formed six months ago, the result of a demand to have Lingayats declared as a separate religion. It now exults that it has tasted success. "A lot of people think Siddaramaiah's decision to give separate religion status (to Lingayats) was only political. We do not look at it this way. We have been making this demand on behalf of the community for several years now," says Horatti. Horatti incidentally also wears another hat, that of the Leader of the JD(S) in the Karnataka legislative council. But given his party's image as a Vokkaliga-dominated outfit from the old Mysuru region, it's unlikely that Horatti spearheading the Lingayat cause will bring about any electoral benefits to the JD(S) in the Mumbai-Karnataka region. This part of Karnataka is Lingayat territory and a majority of the 50 seats spread over six districts will see a Congress versus BJP electoral fight. The Lingayats have traditionally backed the BJP, thanks mainly to community strongman BS Yeddyurappa at the helm of affairs. In 2008, the Mumbai-Karnataka region helped the BJP, by giving it 34 seats. However, following Yeddyurappa's exit from the BJP to form his Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP), the BJP's tally came down to 13 seats in 2013, KJP winning from two constituencies. "Yeddyurappa did not open his mouth during the Lingayat struggle. He was always backing the Veerashaivas. 80 percent of the community are Lingayats and 20 percent are Veerashaivas. So Lingayats are angry with the BJP, and this will prove to be a setback for the party," says Horatti. When senior Lingayat leader Veerendra Patil of the Congress was unceremoniously sacked as chief minister in 1990 by then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi, the community practically deserted the party. They swore their allegiance first to the Janata Dal under Ramakrishna Hegde, and then the BJP under Yeddyurappa. "It is not as if Lingayats are now gung-ho about the Congress. There is still a lot of aversion to the party. But the community is equally angry about the BJP's silence when Lingayats and Veerashaivas were engaged in street fights," says Vikas Soppin, a farmer in Navalgund. In 2013, roughly 10 percent of the Lingayat vote moved from the BJP to KJP, which was seen as proof that the community vote was not loyal only to the Lotus. Dharwad-based political analyst Harish Ramaswamy sees a shift this time as well. "I expect about 8-10 percent of the Lingayat vote to the Congress because of its decision to accord separate religion status," says Ramaswamy. But on the ground, apart from the Lingayat card, one gets the impression that Yeddyurappa for a different reason will still hold the key to which way the vote goes. Hardcore Yeddyurappa supporters belonging to the Lingayat-Veerashaiva community are looking at the developments within the BJP with anxiety. Their apprehension stems from the manner in which Yeddyurappa was not allowed to field his son BY Vijayendra from Varuna constituency. Though Narendra Modi attributed it to the BJP's opposition to dynasty politics, Yeddyurappa backers question how two Reddy brothers and B Sriramulu and his nephew Suresh Babu were given tickets. Conspiracy theories, fanned by Congress leaders on social media, that Yeddyurappa may not make it as chief minister even if the BJP comes to power has meant the Lingayat voter is still mulling his options. In this part of Karnataka, the grapevine is abuzz with the possibility of HD Kumaraswamy heading a BJP-JDS coalition government with B Sriramulu as his deputy. The theory is that the possibility of this happening increases should the BJP not do too well in Lingayat-dominated constituencies. "The diminishing of Yeddyurappa's stature is visible to all," says GB Patil, general secretary of the Lingayat Mahasabha. "The fact that Modi is not even sharing the dais with him at all public meetings is not seen as a good sign by the Lingayat community. It is hurting everyone." Modi's praise of HD Deve Gowda during his public meeting in Udupi too has not gone unnoticed. While the rest of India sees it as a case of a former prime minister being praised, in caste-obsessed Karnataka, the Lingayats see this as the tallest leader of the BJP making overtures to a Vokkaliga leader. The two communities are the most influential, politically speaking in Karnataka, competing with each other to wield power. Add to this the absence of a single Lingayat minister in the Union Cabinet despite Karnataka sending nine Lingayat MPs of the BJP to the Lok Sabha. After the lone Lingayat minister GM Siddeshwara was dropped in 2016, Yeddyurappa had lobbied for another Lingayat MP to be inducted in his place but did not succeed. The community understandably feels left out of the power matrix in New Delhi. In Jamkhandi in Bijapur district, a group of sugarcane farmers say they are hardcore supporters of Yeddyurappa. "We vote for the BJP because Yeddyurappa from our community is leading the party. That alone determines our decision to stick by the BJP. We will not like it if Yeddyurappa is not in the forefront of the party," says Neelkanth, a farmer. For the record, the BJP insists Yeddyurappa is its chief ministerial candidate. Yeddyurappa himself has tried to allay any misgivings among his followers by claiming he will take oath as the chief minister on 18 May, in Narendra Modi's presence. This self-confidence, the BJP and Yeddyurappa hope, will be enough to ensure the 14 percent Lingayat vote does not betray them in the privacy of the polling booth on 12 May. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Fridayinteract with the office bearers and workers of the BJP's Karnataka women's wing through the NaMo App New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Fridayinteract with the office bearers and workers of the BJP's Karnataka women's wing through the NaMo App. Modi would talk about the initiatives taken by the government for women's empowerment. During the interaction, which comes days before the Assembly polls in the state, he will also answer questions of the workers of the party's women wing. "Narendra Modi will directly interact with the office bearers and karyakartas of Karnataka's BJP Mahila Morcha through Namo App via video bridge, at 9 am," the BJP said in a statement. Modi addressed three public rallies in the state on Thursday. To stay in touch with the BJP workers and people, Modi often holds discussions directly with them through the Namo App, the party said. On Wednesday, Modi had directly interacted with members of BJP's Kisan Morcha through the App. Similarly, last month also on 26 April, he directly interacted with BJP candidates, office bearers and party's elected representatives from Karnataka. On 6 April, he had interacted with lakhs of Twitter followers on the occasion of BJP's establishment day. More than 5,000 youths from the fishermen community in coastal Karnataka's Karwar have defected from BJP to Congress after the party failed to nominate a candidate from the community in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly polls Karwar: The fishing community in coastal Uttara Kannada district is angry with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Community leaders in Karwar, who have been the partys mainstay for more than three decades, have joined the Congress after the BJP denied them an opportunity to contest the upcoming Assembly elections. Their desertion could damage the partys prospects in three constituencies. "We have been in the forefront to establish the BJP in coastal Uttara Kannada since Jan Sangh days," says Umakant Harikantra, a former member of the Karwar taluk panchayat and president of the Seabird Project Land Losers Cooperative Society, a collective of people displaced by the naval base in Karwar. He recalls how fishermen youth acted as the foot soldiers of the Sangh Parivar to create a solid base for Hindu organisations in the region. "In the early 1980s, the BJP was perceived as the party of Brahmins and fishermen in this region. It was the muscle power of the fishing community that played a major role in the surge of Hindutva in coastal Karnataka. The BJP owes its growth in the region to the unflinching support of the Kharvi, Harikantra and Gabith groups, who constitute about 65 percent of the fishing population," Harikantra explains. The Hindu fishermen of Uttara Kannada comprise the Harikantra (Kannada speakers), Ambiga, Pagi, Gabith, and Kharvi (Konkani speakers). They are classified as other backward castes (OBCs) while another fisher group, the Mogers, are a scheduled caste (SC) group. These are deep-sea fishermen, while the Padthis fish in the regions rivers and streams. The population of the community in the district is around 1.25 lakhs. 'Hopes belied, joined Cong in protest' "After the death of Paresh Mesta, the BJP held a fishermen's convention in Udupi and declared that one fisherman will be given a ticket in Uttara Kannada, says Jagadeep Govekar, former general secretary of the BJPs OBC Morcha who recently joined the Congress. Mesta, a fisherman, died under mysterious circumstances in Honavar town last December. His death sparked district-wide communal riots. The BJP promised the agitated fishing community a ticket to contest the next Assembly election. "The BJP high command had told Ganapati Ulvekar (a fishermen leader from Karwar) they would give him the ticket to contest (from) Karwar. But Roopali Naik, a new entrant to the party, was given the ticket. We were hoping that at least one seat would be given to us and we waited till the BJP declared its fourth list of candidates. But our hopes were belied. To protest, we resigned from the party and joined Congress, says Govekar. Ulvekar says although he was given the impression by state BJP leaders that he would be the party candidate from Karwar, he isnt upset. "I respect the decision of the party and am working for the official candidate," he says, adding, "I wont quit BJP." But Harikantra says more than 5,000 youths from the community have defected from the BJP in Karwar after the party declared its candidate list. The BJP, however, says that the figures are exaggerated. "A few hundreds might have left the party," admits Rajesh Nayak, BJP spokesperson in Uttara Kannada. We understand their pain. We dont deny that the fishermen leaders who quit our party were loyal workers. The party must have another calculation. We will persuade them to return to the BJP fold before the election, he says. Peeved with Hegde Fishermen leaders are particularly aggrieved with Member of Parliament and Union minister Anant Kumar Hegde. Harikanta says that Hegde always plays the Hindutva card for his political benefits. "He was instrumental in choosing the candidates in the district. Money played the major role in the ticket distribution. I was not an aspirant for a ticket or any post in the party. But there are many people who have the ability to do good work by becoming members of the Legislative Assembly. Congress has given a ticket to a fisherman, Mankal Vaidya, in Bhatkal. But BJP is using us as a vote bank. Enough is enough. Anant Kumar should remember that there is only one year left for the Lok Sabha election. We will see how he gets re-elected, he warns. Political analysts say the BJP committed a monumental blunder by not giving a ticket to the fishermen community, particularly when it was trying to leverage the anger of the community over the murder of Mesta, allegedly by Muslim youths. By giving the fishing community just one of the six Assembly constituencies in the district would have benefited the party in the entire coastal belt of Karnataka. Instead, the BJP has now given a handle to the Congress to say that BJP uses fishermen as just a vote bank and to arouse communal passions. "When it comes to sharing power, it (BJP) always prefers other communities," says Deepak Shetty, a senior journalist from Karwar. 'Sangh supporters won't defect over fishermen' These developments have worried the BJP high command and the Sangh Parivar. According to a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functionary who belongs to the fishing community, this time the BJP has only considered the 'winnability' of the candidate in the district. In each constituency in coastal Uttara Kannada, the fishing community has between 15,000 and 20,000 votes. To win, a candidate needs to poll a minimum of 50,000 votes and there is no guarantee that all the other voting groups would support a candidate from the fishing community. We are not sure whether the hardcore supporters of the Sangh Parivar, who have always supported the BJP in past elections, will suddenly cross over to Congress just because fishermen were not given a ticket, says the RSS official. Though some disgruntled fishermen leaders claim that they would defect to Congress, grassroots workers in the community will remain with the Hindutva movement. Everybody knows how the Siddaramaiah government treated the fishermen and slapped serious cases like attempt to murder and rioting on them after the murder of Paresh Mesta. Many are still hiding and trying to get bail while others still rotting in jail. This being the case I dont think the fishing community would support Congress, he said. The Congress on Thursday complained to the Election Commission against the BJP's Karnataka unit for 'getting published false and misleading advertisements' New Delhi: The Congress on Thursday complained to the Election Commission against the BJP's Karnataka unit for "getting published false and misleading advertisements" in newspapers to malign the public image of Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Congress said it was a violation of the Model Code of Conduct as the print advertisements were published with an intent to malign their leaders' images by "levelling false and unverified allegations and distortions against them". The party urged the EC to enquire into and take strict and prompt action against the state BJP leadership. It also said this is "clearly a sign of BJP's frustration". Congress leaders, including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Rajeev Shukla and Pramod Tiwari, submitted a memorandum to Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat. "We bring to your kind notice the blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct by the Karnataka BJP in the ensuing Assembly elections. "Your kind attention is drawn to specific incidents of publishing false and misleading advertisements in various newspapers on Thursday across the state with the object of securing votes by casting undue influence on unsuspecting voters," said the memorandum. "The Karnataka BJP has made false, baseless, unfounded and unsubstantiated allegations using cutouts, shadow images and likeness of Rahul Gandhi and Siddaramaiah being fully aware that the Model Code was in force," it added. Singhvi later told reporters: "We told the EC about the highly objectionable advertisements being released in Karnataka. They are highly objectionable not only because they are a direct violation of the MCC but also of the criminal law. "The Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act have been quoted... there are provisions to prevent inflammatory, provocative, divisive and personal enmity between groups." Singhvi claimed that attempts to gain electorally were happening in a brazen manner. "We have demanded and immediate stop on these. Also, we are advising our Karnataka leaders to take action, including filing of an FIR and following it up." Technologist, policymaker and staunch Congressman Sam Pitroda was in Bengaluru over the weekend to discuss highlights of the Congress manifesto in front of an audience of voters and senior party leaders. Bengaluru, Karnataka: Technologist, policymaker and staunch Congressman Sam Pitroda was in Bengaluru over the weekend to discuss highlights of the Congress manifesto in front of an audience of voters and senior party leaders. On Monday, he also led a press conference to highlight the role of non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the upcoming elections as the chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, an office he has held for a year. There are 30 million Indians living outside of India. They are not only in big numbers, but are also well-accomplished, influential and have strong ties back home. We decided in the Congress party some time ago that we need to revive our communications and connection with NRIs. This is why Rahul Gandhi recently spent some time in countries like US, Bahrain, Singapore, Malaysia, etc, to meet with people at various levels and sectors. The idea behind this was to learn how they can contribute and also help and encourage them to remain connected with India, he says. The idea is to take their help to stem the populist tide currently being witnessed, both at home and abroad. The world over we are seeing populist governments using patriotism as an excuse to prejudice a group of people. Not just in India, but in the US and Europe too, we are seeing that there is a knee-jerk reaction to globalisation, that the world is becoming one and boundaries wont matter in the long run. Technology has no boundaries and people with brains are useful everywhere. But political leaders dont know how to address this yet, Pitroda says. Edited excerpts of an interview follow: What role does Congress hope that NRIs would play in the Karnataka elections? Pitroda: There are many people from Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh who are here to help during the elections because they believe strongly in the Congress ideology and plan. They have seen the manifesto and they identify with the values and the work the party has outlined. Only last week I spoke to Dr Dayanand Naik, and he immediately said I want to come and help. He is a busy man, a cardiologist and professor, but he is now here for ten days to help. The role of NRIs in campaigning can be as effective as they want to make it. But they have to be here. They can't be effective sitting there. So, if ten people come here, they can be ten times as effective. Depends on how much time and energy they are willing to put in. But if they can just convince their families and friends and communities, that's good enough. In the 2019 election, I am counting on NRIs to play an important role. What was your role in the formation of the Karnataka Congress manifesto? Pitroda: Unlike in Gujarat, I did not play an active role in this manifesto. But I shared with the committee the process I used when I was working on the Gujarat manifesto. I didnt want to get into micromanagement when it was being handled by a senior man like Veerappa Moily. But I will point out that for the first time in our manifesto, we included several activities related to NRIs: For example, giving official recognition through NRI cards in Karnataka, creating migration resource centres in Bengaluru, Mangalore and Hubli, issuing Pravasi identity cards, giving rebates to NRI investors to encourage them to start industries and special concessions for investments in some areas. If you are given the opportunity to lead another new revolution post-2019, what would it be? Pitroda: I would focus on agriculture technology of all kinds. Because this country of 1.2 billion people not only needs to produce enough food, but also needs to improve nutrition. And we could be the food capital of the world. We are blessed with enough land and rivers, but we have not used the right technology in the past, and opted for the use of wrong kinds of fertilisers and chemicals. Small farms are okay as long as they are high-tech. Technology wise, there's a lot of effort in agriculture: Research projects that focus on increasing the yield from an acre of land by 150 times, innovations in quality of the food, cost, packaging, storing, distribution, processing, nutrition and genetic experimentation. I am for us becoming a world leader in food tech. You have spoken about redesigning our thinking to suit the new age. How would you like to see this implemented in the Indian political space? Pitroda: I think we need new conversations in the country. A youthful country with 500 million people under the age of 25 should be having a different kind of conversations. But we are still talking about caste, religion and other bogus things which are for people in their 70s. No one is talking about future, only the past, about Ram and Hanuman. I dont want to be involved in that. The conversation has to change and be about the future, science, logic, possibilities, innovation and creating opportunities: That should be the national conversation. The press is also to be blamed. Everyone goes ahead to report and publicise these because we love all this gossip. Is Congress still functioning like it was in the 80s? What has to change? Pitroda: It has to change and it will change now. Rahul knows this. There is no other option, otherwise we are finished. Earlier, there was too much resistance from the old guard. Now that he is in charge, he will do it. Rahul is bringing in a lot of young people and putting systems in place for the future. The party is using computerisation more effectively to manage, monitor and understand big data analytics. Take a simple example: We never had booth-level management in Karnataka. No one knew who was managing the booths. For the first time, we compiled a complete list of 54,000 booths with names, locations, people in charge and list of people supporting the booth manager. So, over half a million people have been identified for the first time and put in a database. This had never been done but it should have been done a long time ago. Thanks to computerisation, you can now tell the booth guys directly what their roles are and how they can bring more people in to vote. It will make a big difference. Ayswarya Murthy is a Bengaluru-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda denies any arrangement with the BJP in the event of a Hung Assembly in poll-bound Karnataka. Though the battle in Karnataka is between the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), former prime minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo HD Deve Gowda has lately been dominating the news. Hes been accused of having cut a deal to support the BJP in the event of a hung Assembly. Recent praise for him from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reports from the ground suggest something is afoot. Gowda denies any such understanding and in an interview with Y Maheswara Reddy of 101Reporters for Firstpost explains why he thinks the JD(S) will come to power. You and your son (HD Kumaraswamy) have been saying there will be no tie-up with the BJP. Prime Minister Modi has criticised Congress leaders for making defamatory statements against you saying he would welcome you to his residence. What is going on? Prime Minister Modi made such statements after gathering information on what is going on in Karnataka and how immature Congress president Rahul Gandhi is to speak against me. I am aware of Gandhis speech asking me to come clean (on the rumoured BJP tie-up). People are watching Rahul Gandhi. They know Deve Gowdas contribution to Karnataka. We need not give too much credence to Modis statement. Modi is a smart person. He is capable of issuing different statements or delivering different speeches in different states in the country. Modi might have made such statement out of sympathy or respect towards me. You made a statement that your son will be disowned by you and family members if he supports the BJP. What do you say to Siddaramaiahs allegation of Kumaraswamys understanding with Amit Shah? There is no truth in Siddaramaiahs allegation. My son Kumaraswamy did not travel on the same flight as BJP national president Amit Shah. Kumaraswamy has already filed a complaint with the Election Commission against those who made such baseless allegations. Siddaramaiah has been making baseless allegations against the JD(S) leaders. He is describing the JD(S) as the BJPs B team. It is Siddaramaiah who sought BJPs help to become the chief minister when he was with the JD(S). I know it. He thinks that I am not aware of it. In 2014, you said you would quit the Lok Sabha if Modi becomes prime minister, but you still remain the MP from Hassan. Why? I met Modi three days after he became prime minister. I told him about my decision to quit. He advised me not to take seriously the statements and speeches made during the election campaign. So, I decided to continue as an MP. During the Lok Sabha elections, Modi advised me to come to Gujarat and promised to look after me well. Why should I go to Gujarat when I have four sons and two daughters? After that, I met him on a few occasions to discuss farmers issues. I am not able to understand his silence on serious issues such as Mahadayi and farmers suicides in Karnataka. Surveys indicate that the Congress will emerge as the largest party in the House but may not secure a majority. In that scenario, will JD(S) join hands with the BJP? I have made it clear that there is no need for us to have a tie-up or an understanding with any political party in Karnataka. I know that we are competing against two national parties, but I am sure of JD(S) coming to power. On what basis do you say that? We have a tie-up with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) that has contested elections in the state. The JD(S) candidates got defeated in around 50 Assembly seats by a margin of 1,000 to 1,500 votes. I believe the tie-up with the BSP will help the JD(S) to get additional votes in those constituencies. Telangana chief minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu have appealed to Telugu-speaking people to vote for JD(S) candidates. The Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) leader is also ready to campaign in support of JD(S) candidates. So, with support from all these political parties, I have no doubt that JD(S) candidates will romp home in the elections. What is your opinion on Siddaramaiah contesting from two constituencies? It will not be easy for Siddaramaiah to win from both the constituencies. A variety of forces are working against him. He will pay the price for dividing the Lingayat community. He is also trying to split Muslim votes, but it will be very tough for him. Muslims know what I have done for them. It is not so easy for Siddaramaiah to take away Muslims from the JD(S). People are aware of Siddaramaiahs contribution in weakening the Karnataka Lokayukta by establishing the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Siddaramaiah is worse, though smarter, than BJP state president BS Yeddyurappa. Why did you promote your son Kumaraswamy as state JD(S) president and no one else? You have mistaken me and people who have such a notion are also mistaking me. What do you want me to do when no one is ready to take up that responsibility? I visited former Congress minister A Krishnappa at midnight to convince him to become JD(S) state president. After his untimely death, I appealed his daughter Poornima Srinivas to take up the responsibility. I assured her my full support. The post was vacant for more than six months. I was compelled to ask my son Kumaraswamy to take up the responsibility. There was competition among your family members to contest the elections. Isnt this dynastic politics? Yes, some of our family members wanted to contest the elections but they withdrew their claims after Kumaraswamy issued a statement stating that only he and his brother Revanna will contest. Two brothers contesting in the Assembly elections is not dynastic politics. Congress and BJP leaders would have accused the JD(S) of encouraging dynasty politics had Prajwal Revanna been given the ticket to contest. Attempts are being made to revive the third front. Do you think it is viable? Yes, attempts are being made to revive the third front to counter the BJP in the Lok Sabha elections. There are two groups of political parties on the formation of the third front. While the one is in favour of the third front without the Congress, the other one wants the Congress to be part of the third front. I am not interested in national politics. I became the prime minister by chance and my entry into politics itself is also accidental. I was a small-time contractor before entering politics. The author is a Bangalore-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. A few days ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, over 20,000 government officers belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are being demoted across all government offices in the state A few days ahead of the Karnataka Assembly polls, over 20,000 government officers belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities are being demoted across all government offices in the state. Acting on a Supreme Court order that revoked reservation in promotions, the Karnataka government has started the process of demoting officers. "It is an act of prejudice," said R Mohan Raj, state president of the Republic Party of India (RPI) and former Dalit Sangharsh Samiti leader, adding that it goes against Article 16A (equal opportunities in matters relating to employment) of the Constitution. Raj said that implementing the order has irked members of the SC/ST community and this will reflect in the upcoming Assembly elections. "The (SC/ST) communities have been deeply affected by the order and their inability to change things. They have lost faith in both the BJP and the Congress," he said. KG Jagadish worked as an executive engineer in the Public Works Department (PWD) in Chitradurga, and was demoted as per the Supreme Court order. He rued all his life's work has yielded nothing. "I helped make our office the best in the circle when it comes to operations. I have worked as a loyal employee from the time I joined and made sure that my service was worthy. But all that I did is now worth nothing," he said. "From the post of an executive engineer, I have been demoted to Grade I assistant engineer. The Supreme Court has taken its decision on the case and we cannot do anything about it," he added. While hearing the BK Pavitra and others vs Union of India case in February last year, the Supreme Court ordered the striking down of seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees, and in March, it ordered the Karnataka government to implement the ruling. Following this, in November last year, the Karnataka Assembly unanimously passed the Karnataka Extension of Consequential Seniority to Government Servants Promoted on the Basis of Reservation (to the post in the civil services of the state) Bill, in an attempt to avoid demoting employees. But the bill was returned by the president's office and the state government was asked to use its own discretion to decide on the matter. Later, this year, hearing a contempt petition filed by AHIMSA, a group representing people from the general category, backward classes and minorities, the Supreme Court ordered the Karnataka government to furnish exhaustive details of all promotions and demotions by 9 May. The Supreme Court in its order also stated that neither the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) nor the high court could grant a stay in any of the orders by the state government. "Our petition has been turned down by the KAT (Karnataka Administrative Tribunal) due to the Supreme Court's order. There is no proper law and order in India. People from the SC/ST communities who were in lower positions and were working under me have been promoted, but I was demoted; I feel I have been insulted socially. We need a life with pride and integrity, not discrimination," said Jagadish. But AHIMSA president M Nagaraj believes the demotions are being done to accommodate "deserving individuals from the general category who were deprived of a promotion". "The demotions are as per the Supreme Court order. The Supreme Court had given several interim orders; at that time, the government took note of it and in every instance of promotions based on reservations, it said that it was subject to the final outcome of the Supreme Court," he said. Pointing out that reservation in promotions is to the extent of 15 percent for SCs and 3 percent for STs, Nagaraj said, "There is no provision in the Constitution to give representation to Christians or Muslims or other communities." Several officers, who were demoted due to the Supreme Court order in favour of Pavitra, a Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) engineer who had challenged concessional seniority in promotions awarded to SC/ST employees in the state, feel the government is to blame for not implementing the Reservation Act properly and that the order is based on flawed input. Thippeswamy AC, who worked as deputy director at the information department, was demoted to the post of a superintendent. "The government has a roster system according to the Reservation Act. It states that 15 percent of Scheduled Castes and 3 percent of Scheduled Tribes should be given reservation. Do you think the government is following this system?" he questioned. Mohan Raj believes that reservation has not been adequately implemented in the last 50 years and the SC/ST communities continue to live on the sidelines of society. He blamed government apathy in maintaining proper records for the situation. "Several departments like the revenue department and the agriculture department have not been able to meet the reservation quota. Several individuals, not just those belonging to the SC/ST communities, have not received their time-bound promotions," he said, adding that lack of proper maintenance of seniority lists and the cycle of promotions has resulted in members of the general category believing there are excess numbers of people from the SC/ST communities in public offices. "Several files have not been maintained properly and the home secretary has not taken up responsibility on the issue," he said. Social insult? Several employees who were demoted are suffering tremendous mental pressure, and some have even requested resignation. Jagadish said his colleague, unable to bear the insult of being demoted, suffered a cardiac arrest. "My colleague Lingaraju got demoted as a Grade II assistant engineer and he could not take the pain. He had a heart attack and passed away," he said. "The news of his demotion was confirmed on 27 April and he was informed about it on 28 April. He wanted to retire instead of being demoted, but his senior officer, Jagadish, asked him against taking any hasty steps. But he could not bear the insult and had a heart attack on 29 April," said Mallikarju, a close friend of Lingaraju. "The SC/ST community is losing hope from the government. The Supreme Court had asked (Karnataka) chief secretary Ratna Prabha to submit a report on whether there was inadequate representation in work due to reservation, and has reservations in promotions become inefficient. The reports show that the SC/ST community is not being given proper reservation in accordance with the (Karnataka State Civil Services) Act," he added. "After 19 years of service, I was promoted as an assistant administrative officer (AAO) under the unreserved category on 1 July, 2013. I was eligible to become administrative officer and they gave me charge; but on 16 April, 2018, I was demoted to post of a superintendent. I am the most experienced person in my office and yet I have not been given a rightful promotion. Now, I am not going to work and I am on leave till 23 May," said Thippeswamy. "An ordinance was formed by the government of Karnataka for reservation, and if the president approves it, we would see what happens. Over 22,000 people are suffering due to this. It is like a life sentence for all of us. People from the SC/ST communities have become one now; we will fight for our rights," he added. Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha said the government will release details of officers who have been demoted after a Supreme Court hearing, scheduled for 9 May. The authors are members of The NewsCart, a Bengaluru-based media startup Modi alleged that the Congress had insulted the Indian Army by questioning the truth behind 2016 surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan. Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi took Karnataka election campaigning to a feverish pitch on Thursday and launched scathing attacks against each other ahead of the 12 May voting to elect a new government in the state. The two political heavyweights, pitted against each other for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, addressed a number of rallies in the state. While Modi played a nationalism card and accused the Congress of promoting only one family, Rahul took a swipe at him for his "personal attacks" that "doesn't behove" of a person holding a high office. Modi alleged that the Congress had insulted the Indian Army by questioning the truth behind 2016 surgical strikes against terrorists in Pakistan. "After surgical strikes, our Army Chief was called a goon by the Congress. I want to ask you, in our country, has even an uneducated person committed the sin of calling our brave soldiers goons. "A newspaper said that Pakistan had to remove casualties on their side in trucks after the surgical strikes. This was the bravery our soldiers showed and the Congress said 'Modiji show us the evidence of this'. Do you need evidence?" He said the Congress was spreading "lies" by accusing the BJP of being anti-Dalit, anti-Muslim and anti-women. "We made a Dalit, the President of India, gave the country its first woman Defence Minister. They spread lies that we are from the Hindi belt and have nothing to do with the south. But our Vice President is a south Indian." He said the BJP gave India a Muslim President in APJ Abdul Kalam and the Congress could not even deliver on making its senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge, the Chief Minister as promised in the last Assembly election. "The Congress is seeking votes of Dalits. Khargeji is a big leader of the Congress. In the last election, the Congress promised they will make him the Chief Minister. But he was sidelined. See, how they misled the Dalits." Rahul, who has been at the receiving end of Modi's salvos during BJP's poll campaign in Karnataka, said the Prime Minister's personal attacks implied he had no answers to the issues raised by him. He questioned his silence over the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi who defrauded the Punjab National Bank of thousands of crores of rupees. "There should be truth in the words that come out of the Prime Minister's mouth. There should be some weight in his words." He said Modi had promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh each in poor citizens' bank accounts but didn't do it. Rahul said Modi also promised two crore jobs to the youth every year and higher minimum support price to farmers but he did none of this. "Then what does he actually do? He helps only 15 persons. He helps the Reddy brothers (Janardhana, Karunakara and Somashekara Reddy) and wants to field them in the elections." Rahul said Modi had little to speak about Karnataka, its farmers and youths, and therefore he was resorting to personal attacks against him which "will not make any difference" to him. "Modiji has very little to speak in this elections. He cannot speak about farmers because he neither waived off their loans nor provided suitable MSP. "He cannot speak of education, healthcare or developemntal issues because the state's Congress government has performed excellently on all fronts. So he is resorting to personal attacks on me. But this does not behove of a Prime Minister of India." He added since Modi was the Prime Minister of India "I will not launch a personal attack against him". The 47-year-old Congress leader asked Modi why he remained silent when Nirav Modi fled the country with thousands of crores of rupees of public money and on BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay Shah's firm allegedly registering windfall profits after the BJP took power at the Centre in 2014. "Why is Modiji silent on this? He has made fun of me but has not answered my questions." Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing three rallies across poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday, in Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru. Auto refresh feeds Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address his first rally in Karnataka ahead of the state Assembly election at 11 am on Tuesday in Santhemarahalli village in Chamarajanagar. He will address a gathering in Udupi district at 3 pm and then address a rally in Belagavi district at 6 pm. This will be Modi's first visit to the southern state since the Assembly election dates were announced. The prime minister will kickstart his election campaign from Chamarajanagar district, where he will address a public rally in Santhemaranahalli at 11 am. Modi will seek the blessings of the Pejawar pontiff Vishwesha Teertha Swamiji, said to be close to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and will address a public meeting in town. Reports say top police officials have asked the mutt to restrict visitors after noon on Tuesday. Where Rahul Gandhi refuses to tread, Narendra Modi rushes in. The BJP will kick off the final leg of its Karnataka campaign on Tuesday, with three rallies planned for the prime minister, one of them in Udupi, well-known not just for the ubiquitous Udupi restaurants all across the country but also for its famous Krishna temple and ashta mutts (eight mutts). On 5 May, he is scheduled to visit Tumkur, Shivamogga and Hubbali, while he is expected to address rallies in Raichur, Chitradurga and Kolar on 7 May. On 8 May, Modi is scheduled to be in Vijayapura, Mangaluru and Bengaluru. After Tuesday, Modi is next expected to address rallies on 3 May in Gulbarga, Ballari and Bengaluru, The Indian Express reported, citing a tentative schedule by the Prime Minister's Office. BJP chief Amit Shah is scheduled to be present in Chikkamagalore district to attend two public meetings on Tuesday. He will also attend a gathering in Hassan district at 4.30 pm. In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Siddaramaiah demanded that Modi "end the hypocrisy" on his stand on corruption. "Would G Janardhan Reddy be joining your rallies here? You have given his family and friends eight tickets, hoping it will help BJP in (winning) 10-15 seats. And then you lecture us on corruption," the Congress leader said. With Prime Minister Narendra Modi beginning his Karnataka campaign trail with a series of rallies on Tuesday, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged him to address concerns surrounding the Reddy brothers, BJP chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa, and farmers' woes. "In Delhi, we keep getting news of Assembly polls in Karnataka. The news say that there is a BJP wave in Karnataka. The reality is, it's not a wave, it's a storm in Karnataka," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in Chamarajanagar. "Gujarat and Maharashtra are celebrating their statehood day today. Today is also Labours' Day and I want to dedicate this day to our hard working and diligent labourers." Prime Minister Narendra Modi said at a public rally in Chamarajanagar "You don't listen to former prime minister Manmohan Singh (on electrifying villages), at least listen to your mother Sonia. Why are you fooling the nation," Modi said in a dig to Rahul. "Perhaps due to over excitement, the newly-elected Congress president Rahul Gandhi forgets decency. He did not even bother to congratulate the hardworking labourers due to whom India's villages are getting electricity," Narendra Modi said in Chamarajanagar. "Those who keep abusing us day and night do not tell why there are still 4 crore households without electricity. We have vowed to electrify these 4 crore households through Saubhagya Yojana," he said. "There were 39 villages in Karnataka which did not have electricity in 2014. But because of our governance at the Centre, these villages were electrified. What did Congress government do for these villages before we came to power at the Centre," asked Narendra Modi. "Even if he speaks for 15 minutes, it would be a big deal," Modi said. "The Congress president (Rahul Gandhi) recently challenged me. He said that if he spoke in the Parliament for 15 minutes, then Modiji won't be able to sit at all," Narendra Modi said. "We are kaamdaars. Our level is not such that we can sit with people like the Congress president, who look down upon us," Modi said. Calling Rahul Gandhi naamdaar, Narendra Modi asked the gathering how the Congress president would know about the efforts of kaamdaars. "Congress has a habit of doing politics even in progress. For five years, the rail project in Chamarajanagar has been stalled under Congress rule," said Modi "Why are the people of Chamarajanagar not getting access to proper drinking water, jobs and why is the tourism potential here not being harnessed. What is the state government doing," Modi asked at a public meeting. "If chief minister has a 2+1 formula, then his ministers have 1+1 formula. The relatives of those ministers are fighting polls. This is hurting the workers of the Congress," Modi said at the gathering. "There is 2+1 formula which being practiced in Karnataka. It is a version of the Congress's family politics in Karnataka. Kabhi kabhi jaagnewale aur zyadatar soonewale yahan ke chief minister ka yeh political innovation hai(This is the political innovation of the chief minister who's asleep more than he's awake)." "What moral right does BJP have to talk about corruption? For the last four years, the Central government has not appointed a Lokpal. When he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi never appointed a Lokayukta," Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying by ANI . He said that he had no objection to Modi coming to Karnataka, but asserted it won't "have any impact". BJP chief ministerial candidate attacked Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah on Twitter for contesting for two constituencies and allowing his son to contest from Varuna. Congress tweeted out a news report which claimed that a ground report proves that the government's claim of having electrified all villages is not true. Minutes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi targetted Congress over Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna, their rural electrification scheme, Congress has slammed the BJP for falsely claiming to have electrified all villages under Saubhagya Yojna. However, the Congress party has compiled images of the prime minister dressed in expensive suits, including the one where his own name was embroidered on the fabric in miniscule lettering. Narendra Modi, responding to Rahul Gandhi's challenge for a 15 minute debate in Lok Sabha, said this: "Congress President has challenged me, if he speaks for 15 minutes in Parliament Modi will not be able to sit. He is correct, there is no way ordinary people like me, who do not even dress well, can sit with such high and mighty people like the Congress President" Modi says he doesn't dress well enough to match Rahul Gandhi's status; Congress responds with 10 crore suit jibe Starting his Udupi rally with a greeting in the regional language, Modi said that the people seemed to have decided to punish Congress. He said that he shares a special relationship with the region. "We will leave no stone unturned to fulfill aspirations of people of Karnataka and ensure all round development of the state," Modi said. Modi said that the people of the Udupi region have given him so much love that language is no bar between us. He thanked the people for waiting for his rally in scorching heat and added that he will repay the people's love with development. Love between me and people of Udupi is such that language no barrier between us: Modi He said that the Congress party, which has a habit of running the country from the perspective of select few, has kept the poor people out of banks. Modi said that the Udupi is popularly known as the land of temples but few people know that it is also the land of banking for India as the sons of this land has given important contribution to the banking sector. He claimed that the Congress allowed the banks to be looted and misused the sector. He said that under his predecessors, the poor were intentionally not made a part of the system; they were asked for loan guarantees when they sought small loans for self-employment. "We opened bank accounts for the poor. Over 31 crores accounts have been opened under Jan Dhan Yojana. If the Congress had ensured their bank accounts, the poor would have contributed so much to the economy," Modi said. Narendra Modi said that Congress has halted work on crucial projects in the state. He said that the region was naturally blessed with coastal plains and yet it had failed to develop under the Congress. "There might be political differences between parties but civility & respect should be maintained. Whenever former PM Deve Gowda Ji visits me in Delhi I always welcome him with respect and always give him time. I meet him at my door and open his car door for him. The way Rahul Gandhi talked about him recently is shameful," Modi said. Calling the Congress leaders rrogant, Modi said "Congress' disrespect towards Shri Deve Gowda ji is not acceptable. If such is their mindset, how can they think good for people of Karnataka." Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was prompt to react on the allegations levelled by Modi during his Udupi speech. Siddaramaiah claimed that the prime minister was only spreading lies. He challenged him to debate the law and order situation in Karnataka vis-a-vis other BJP-ruled states. "I was reading in newspapers about 2+1 & 1+1 formula in Karnataka. This is nothing but a version of family politics of the Congress. Karnataka election is a battle between 'Naamdaars' and Kaamdaars, between family politics and peoples politics," Modi said. "Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has declared himself a Kannadiga. Becoming Kannadiga means accepting Kannada language, naada geete (state anthem), naadadwaja (state flag)," he said. "Will you become true Kannadiga by giving approval to Karnataka's nada dwaja? #AnswerMadiModi," Siddaramaiah tweeted in Kannada. The Centre today said the Karnataka government's proposal to approve an official flag for the state was put on hold as the election code of conduct came into force due to the upcoming Assembly polls. Siddaramaiah took to Twitter to debunk some of the claims made by Modi in his speech, while he also dared him for an open debate. Now the chief minister has indulged in a Twitter squabble with Yeddyurappa over Twitter. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has started his rally in Belagavi district. He continued his speech in Hindi, without the Kannada translations, as he observed that the region is an exemplar of a diverse society. He said that people here speak several language. It is a well-known fact that the Congress party has mistreated Baba Saheb Ambedkar. The party never accepted Baba Saheb's view and today they are spreading lies before every election. "Congress is jealous because it was our government that got the majority and a person for humble background became the prime minister," Modi said. And that is why "they are spreading lies, dividing people on the grounds of caste," he added. Prime Minister Modi assailed Congress party in his Belagavi speech. He said that the Congress party, when out of power, is like a fish without water. Recalling the period of Emergency, Modi said that Congress was the first to assault the Constitution, just to ensure that they remain in power. "Siddaramaiah government did nothing for the farmers in Karnataka. Why did they not ensure proper irrigation facilities to the farmers?" the prime minister asked. He said, "Farmer welfare is a priority for us. We brought the soil health cards, ensured MSP at 1.5 times of input cost, implemented the Fasal Bima Yojana." Congress left behind a chronic ailment of 60 years, and we are working hard to rid the country of it. "We want our farmers to become prosperous. That is why we ensured neem coating of urea. This significantly helped the farmers and stopped black marketing of urea to chemical industries," Modi said. Speaking in Belagavi, Modi said that many take pride in calling themselves political pundits and they attempt to analyze elections every time. "Earlier too attempts were made to analyse elections and these people said that it will be a hung House in 2014 Lok Sabha polls. Again, similar lies were repeated. But mark my words, every time you hear the poll pundits rambling about a hung house it means that the Congress is up for a massive defeat. This is just a way to defend Congress," Modi said. "I urge people of Karnataka to fulfill Mahatama Gandhi ji's wish of disbanding the Congress party. Now, its Karnataka's turn and you should grab this opportunity," Modi said in his speech. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also address the Kisan Morcha workers in Karnataka through the Narendea Modi app. The step is latest in a series of moves to reach out to farmers, including those in poll-bound Karnataka. In an outreach to farmers, the Modi government is organising 'Kisan Kalyan Karyashala' on Wednesday at the block level across the country, with the BJP asking its MPs to attend the programme. Meanwhile Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah had the following questions for the prime minister as he alleged that Modi dwelt on the trivial rather an issues of importance. Prime Minister Narendra Modi assailed the Congress government in Karnataka for initiating the culture of "ease of doing murder", dared Rahul Gandhi to first learn to pronounce Viswesvaraya properly before calling him for a debate, and bashed Siddaramaiah for the alleged increase in crime rate in state, as he launched the second leg of his campaign blitz. Narendra Modi assails Congress on first day of campaigning; Siddaramaiah has 5 questions to ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing three rallies across poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday. The prime minister will be attending rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari, and Bengaluru. Amid loud cheers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the venue in Kalaburagi to address a rally ahead of the Karnataka polls. Modi waved to the crowds before taking his place on the dais. The prime minister began his speech with 'Bharat Mata ki Jai' amid loud cheers. He also spoke in Kannada, invoking Basavanna, leading to crowds going berserk over his speech. "To this pure land, I salute," he said in Kannada, welcoming the crowds in Kalaburagi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins addressing his rally at Ballari. "Looking at the number of people who have arrived at this rally in Ballari I can already see that Congress is going to lose its last bastion soon," says Modi. Congress is going to lose its last bastion very soon: Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi says that Congress leader Sonia Gandhi had promised Rs 3,000 crore packages for development of Ballari when she fought from here but once the Congress came to power, she forgot about it. Sonia Gandhi had promised Rs 3,000 crore package for Ballari but forgot about it later, says Modi Despite the Tungabhadra dam, farmers are not getting water for their farms and people are not able to get water in their homes. The people have been complaining about this for long but the Congress government refuses to hear about it, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Now that the elections are near, they are waking up to the various concerns but what were they doing for so long?"said Modi. The prime minister said that desilting for a year can bring relief to the people of the region. Modi talks of illegal mining in Karnataka, says corruption is everywhere in state Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "Look at the rising illegal mining in the state. The Congress government here couldn't even frame a strong mining policy. Karnataka has a 'Sidda-Rupaiah Sarkar'. It has created a debt-burden for the state." Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress party is busy doing politics on Dalits and Muslims. "The PM Fasal Beema Yojana has given strength to the farmers across the nation. Congress has the habit of doing vote bank politics. They are not the party for backward class. We wanted OBC Commission to get constitutional status but the Congress did not let it happen," said Modi. We wanted OBC Commission but Congress did not let it happen, says Modi Narendra Modi said that the Congress government in Karnataka is in 'sleep mode.' and they did not spend the funds allocated by Central government for the development of the state. "Congress used to term us as 'Mahila Virodhi'. But see, now we have a Defence Minister who is a woman and she is a member in the Parliament from Karnataka itself, " said Modi. Modi mentions that Congress will lose their last bastion soon with the political pundits forecasting that JD(S) is going to trail at number 3. "A sensible voter would never vote for them". He added that Congress has changed garden city into garbage city. Mentioning that the Congress government has no concern for the city's issues like potholes, rising corruption and crime. Prime Minister Narendra Modi did a wordplay on the steel bridge project in Bengaluru and says, "There was a concept of a 'Steel bridge' in Bengaluru. Congress government turned it into 'Steal bridge'. They did nothing to check and put an end to corruption in the state." The money went to all state ministers' homes, added Modi. He also said the ease of doing business is becoming ease of doing murder in this city. Prime Minister Narendra Modi brings up issue of Bellandur Lake, says,"Bengaluru is known for its lake but now it has changed into the city of burning lakes. The photos of Bellandur Lake (spilling toxic foam) speak for the govt's inefficiency." The youth of Karnataka has power to change things, but the corrupt Congress govt should be defeated first: Modi A master craftsman, Modi showed how to build narratives, switch narratives, shape-shift between the roles of a raconteur, public speaker, leader, propagandist and end speeches with a flourish. His political rallies are a complete performance an oratorical tour de force. They give us an inkling into the factors behind his popularity that stem overwhelmingly from his ability to connect with the masses, even at places where the audience needs a translator. At the end of his speech on Thursday in Ballari, for example, Modis broken Kannada was enough to drive the crowd to a frenzy as he raised both his hands and punched into the air and received a thunderous applause in return. A translation of Modi's speech is being played as well to reach out to the non-Hindi speaking masses. "Congress played the poverty card and cheated the poor. In 70 years, if Congress had paid attention to the farmers, today, my farmers wouldn't be committing suicide today. People are tired of Congress. The present condition of farmers is because of the Congress, and we're stuck washing away their sins and blunders," Modi said. The prime minister is set to address two more rallies in Shivamogga and Mangaluru at 4 pm and 6.30 pm on Saturday. He had earlier spoken at a public meeting in Tumakuru before his speech in Gadag at 2 pm. Modi said that Congress only knows how to spread lies and put false allegations. Lying has become a habit for the Congress party, the prime minister added while addressing a rally in Shivamogga. Modi said that there is no difference between the 'C' of corruption and the 'C' of Congress now. He said that the party only knows how to spread lies. No difference between the 'C' of corruption and 'C' of Congress: Modi Modi said that the people of Karnataka will see a new government being formed under the leadership of BS Yeddyurappa on 15 May. Karnataka will see a new govt on 15 May under the leadership of Yeddyurappa: Modi Yeddyurappa visited homes of the poor and Congress even mocked that, he said. Modi said that Congress leaders' personal attacks on Yeddyurappa are unacceptable. The people should teach the Congress a lesson, he added. The prime minister will address another rally on Saturday in Mangaluru at 6.30 pm He had earlier spoken at a public meeting in Tumakuru before his speech in Gadag at 2 pm and then at Shivamogga at 4 pm. "Congress' excuses will not work. The people who were sitting in the Parliament with support of 400 people, who did not face any opponents, got arrogant. The chief minister was not even ready to care for the people. That's why all of Congress' forts have now been demolished," he said. "But the Congress can say whatever it wants. They are going to get punished for the five years of corruption," added the prime minister. "They have also started their propaganda. They keep saying that Modi tampered with EVMs. So, the EVMs work fine in the places in which they win and when they lose, they start singing about EVM tampering," said Narendra Modi. Congress can complain about EVM tampering but they will get punished for five years of corruption: Modi Chitradurga is soon going to become a hot spot of science and technology: Modi Proud that preparation for mission Chandrayan 2 is going on in Chitradurga: Modi "Look at the Congress leaders, they do not know whom they should remember and celebrate. Congress insulted the people of Chitradurga by celebrating Tipu Sultan Jayanti. They did it for votes," Modi said at a public gathering in Chitradurga. Addressing a rally in Chitradurga, Modi reminded people of the Chitradurga's valiant history and accused Congress of ignoring its leaders. "Instead of observing the jayanti of Chitradurga's last ruler Madakari Nayaka, Congress is celebrating jayanti of sultans. They have insulted the people of Chitradurga," says Modi. Modi also accused Congress of distorting history and facts for political benefits while naming historical figures from Chitradurga and how they gave away their lives against foreign aggression. He said, "Congress is a party which indulges in vote bank politics and has a habit of distorting history for political gains." "Congress keeps chanting about the poor to win elections but since a poor mans son become prime minister their time to cheat people has ended," he said. "It feels like Bharat Ratna was only reserved for only one family under Congress' rule. They never gave Ambedkar the credit he deserved. But then Atal Bihar Vajpayee government was formed, which is when Ambedkar got his due," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said . "I am from the deprived class. I am one of you, and that is why I am committed to your welfare, Modi further said. "When Modi became the prime minister, we had sufficient power to decide who would become the president. But we made Ram Nath Kovind a Dalit the President of India," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said. "Congress is obviously uncomfortable today because the highest offices of the land are occupied by people from poor and humble backgrounds. That is why now Congress prefers to mislead in the name of the Dalit community," he said. Speaking at Chitradurga, Narendra Modi said, "It is our government that has strengthened the SC/ST Act. We will always work for justice for the SC and ST communities," "I was curious why the Congress leaders were so interested in beds. That's when someone told me that they have the habit of hiding money under their beds," he said. Alleging that the Congress indulged in corruption in borewell schemes, Narendra Modi said, "They consumed the money for the water, they even took away the money granted for the constructed of beds in adivasis hotels. If they are in power for more days, they might even take away pillows from your house. He urged the voters to ensure a "clean sweep" against the Congress in the upcoming Assembly polls. "Congress does not care about 'dil' (people's hearts and feelings) or Dalits. They only care about deals. The party which is not ready to think about your welfare, it's time you give them a farewell," he said. "The Congress ministers are such that they have character certificate ready in their suitcases. Whenever someone points a finger at them, they produce the certificate to convince the public that they are honest," Narendra Modi said in Chitradurga. Raichur inspires me and BJP, our bond is unbreakable. When people were protesting for a separate statehood here, only Bharatiya Jan Sangh supported you while Congress opposed it," said Modi. "Friends of Raichur, your region is steeped in history and cultural heritage. It is the land of Haridas. Here, lot of traditions have traditions, but it is unfortunate that Congress has learnt nothing from here. If they had learnt something, they would never have committed the sin of diving Karnataka. "Congress only makes false promises and never fulfilled any when they were in power. Have they ever given you a account of what they have done for the state? Apart from levelling charges against me, do they have done any other work here? It is time to bid them farewell," said Modi. "Who will change people's future here? The election is here to decide that. The polls are a way to express people's aspirations. BJP is committed to development while Congress is opposed to it at every step. The Congress protects the corrupt," Modi said. "Congress doesn't let the Parliament function. They are afraid Modi is actually doing some work and so they disrupt the functioning. But BJP is committed to people's development and nobody can stop us as much as others try to," said the prime minister. "Congress newest mantra is: speak lies, lie as many times as possible, lie loudly, lie again, the Congress has launched a campaign to spread lies. The ecosystem is such people around them spread all these rumours. So till the polls, be careful and understand what Congress is trying to do," said Modi in Raichur. "Our Raichur is Karnataka's main switch in terms of electricity. In Bengaluru, the chief minister gets 24 hours of electricity, but in Raichur, where electricity is generated, people sit in the dark," said Modi. "Raichur is known as the rice bowl. It cries for water. But this Congress govt knows how to milk cream from water too. Will such people do anything for the state?" said Modi. "A Dalit was chosen as president. Even after a year, Sonia Gandhi has not given a courtesy call," he added at the rally. "In a democracy, to win or to lose is a part of elections. One must accept their defeat. But the Congress are 'naamdaars'. They did not congratulate us, the 'kaamdaars'. Such is their arrogance that they even did not pay a courtesy call to the president upon his win," Narendra Modi said at a rally in Jamakhandi. PM says 'arrogant' Congress did not have the 'courtesy' to call the president after his election Modi also accused the grand old party of supporting antinational elements. "Congress leaders are standing on the stage with the antinational people who chant slogans like 'Bharat tere tukde honge,' they give such people their ashiravaad," Modi said at the public meeting. "Shamelessly, the Congress questions the valour of the army when they conducted the surgical strikes," Narendra Modi said in Jamakhandi. Modi also accused the grand old party of supporting antinational elements. "Congress leaders are standing on the stage with the antinational people who chant slogans like 'Bharat tere tukde honge,' they give such people their ashiravaad," Modi said at the public meeting. "Shamelessly, the Congress questions the valour of the army when they conducted the surgical strikes," Narendra Modi said in Jamakhandi. "I urge people of Karnataka to remain vigilant of the divisive politics of the Congress. We will not accept any division of Karnataka on the basis of caste," Narendra Modi said during a public meeting in Jamakhandi. Bhatkal is no ordinary constituency. Call Bhatkal a "terror town" in front of a Bhatkali and you are more than likely to see a frown, a serious look of disapproval on his face. Unfortunately, for this coastal town in Karnataka, the involvement of terror masterminds Yasin and Riyaz Bhatkal, whose family name of Siddibappa got replaced with the town's name, meant Bhatkal and terror became synonymous with each other. Just about every Bhatkali resents it and having to put up with an extra layer of security check at the airport the moment the officer sees the name 'Bhatkal' on the passport. BJP's concoctions continue unabated. Be it Gujarat or Karnataka, Pakistan is sadly invoked to try to get electoral gains within India. People see through these desperate games. Contest elections on your own issues and on your own strength; don't drag Pakistan into it. "BJP's concoctions continue unabated. Be it Gujarat or Karnataka, Pakistan is sadly invoked to try to get electoral gains within India. People see through these desperate games. Contest elections on your own issues and on your own strength; don't drag Pakistan into it," he tweeted. Pakistani foreign affairs spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal took to his personal Twitter account to say that the saffron party is invoking Pakistan for electoral gains. "We expected a dignified language from him (Modi). But what he spoke was the BJP's language and not the one of a civilised person. He spoke at a very low level...this is not the language of the prime minister," he told reporters in Bengaluru. PTI Siddaramaiah also mocked the Karnataka BJP, saying it solely depended on the prime minister as regards the 12 May state Assembly polls as it had no leader with a "face value". The prime minister was using a language that did not befit the office he held, the Congress leader said, taking exception to Modi calling his dispensation a "10 percent government" and "seedha rupaiah sarkar" while attacking him over alleged corruption. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to hurl barbs such as "seedha rupaiah sarkar" to target him, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Sunday lashed out at him for making "personal attacks" and speaking at a "low level". Siddaramaiah slams Narendra Modi for speaking at 'low level', says PM's language does not befit the office he holds During the campaigns across Chitradurga, Raichur and Bagalkot districts, spoke about @BJP4Karnataka 's priority areas such as rural development, more houses for the poor, better irrigation networks for famers, enhanced connectivity and invigorating Karnataka's agriculture sector. pic.twitter.com/Z0EtXMESY6 Narendra Modi posted a tweet about his rallies in Chitradurga, Raichur and Bagalkot distrcits, saying he spoke of issues such as rural development, better irrigation networks for farmers, housing, enhanced connectivity and invigorating Karnataka's agriculture sector. Inspired by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, NDA Government has undertaken many efforts to positively transform the lives of the SC and ST communities. On the contrary, Congress has always disliked and humiliated Dr. Ambedkar. pic.twitter.com/sAAn945rLx "The Congress has insulted Ambedkar. They have never accepted him. The Congress never had any time for him," Modi said at a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rally in Chitradurga, about 200 km northwest of Bengaluru. The tweet also had a video which displayed Modi slamming the Congress for ignoring the interests of Dalits. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier said that the party had also insulted the architect of India's Constitution BR Ambedkar. "Inspired by Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, NDA government has undertaken many efforts to positively transform the lives of the SC and ST communities. On the contrary, Congress has always disliked and humiliated Dr Ambedkar," Modi said in a tweet. Modi also slammed the Opposition for criticising welfare measures for women. I do not understand why the Congress mocks noble initiatives like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao, building toilets and other welfare measures being undertaken for women, Modi said in Jamakhandi according to Hindustan Times. Modi also questioned the state government for failing to deliver on the promise of building textile parks. I urge the people of Bagalkot to ask a question to the Karnataka chief minister. Ask him about his promise of textile parks. Ask him what happened to that promise. Is there a single textile park here? He did not fulfil his promises, he said. He also spoke of the Centre's SAATHI scheme for the weaver community. "The Congress government and the present chief minister (Siddaramaiah) is insensitive towards the plight of sugarcane farmers in the Karnataka. They did nothing for their welfare," Modi said at a public meeting in Jamakhandi. "In September 2013, Siddaramaiah went to attend World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in China and there he met Vijay Eswaran, who is an absconder. There was another absconder and Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) has called both a national threat," BJP spokeperson Sambit Patra said at a press conference in Bengaluru. Narendra Modi in Karnataka LIVE updates: Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his address at Ballari, says Congress will lose its fortress soon. Attacking the Congress, the prime minister said the Opposition divides people on the lines of caste and religion. Modi reiterates the fact that the number of people at rallies across the state shows that Congress is going to lose fortress soon. Stating that Kalaburagi is famous for tuar dal, Narendra Modi said that farmers in the region haven't received the fixed Minimum Support Price (MSP). "The Congress government is not sensitive towards the farmers. The peasants are yet to receive the MSP for their yields," Modi said. Addressing the rally in Kalaburagi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the Congress was being ousted from every corner of the country. "From every corner in the country, Congress party is losing power everywhere, in the last four years," he said. "People have a new kind of faith in the BJP today. This election is not about which party will win, or lose; it is about deciding the future of Karnataka's youth," Modi added. Amid loud cheers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at the venue in Kalaburagi on Thursday to address a rally ahead of the Karnataka polls. Modi waved to the crowds before taking his place on the dais. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be addressing three rallies across poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday. The prime minister will be attending rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari, and Bengaluru. As per the official BJP Twitter handle, he will attend the rally in Kalaburagi at 12.30 pm, and address the gathering at Ballari at 3 pm, and end the day in Bengaluru (North) at 5.30 pm. The prime minister, who started his campaign trail from 1 May, is expected to address about 15 to 20 rallies in the state to boost the BJP's chances in the keenly contested state polls. Modi addressed three rallies on Tuesday, in Chamarajanagara, Udupi, and Belagavi, which the BJP claimed pulled huge crowds. He assailed Congress heavily on issues related to the availability of drinking water, agriculture, Kannada pride, and law and order. The prime minister also interacted with workers of the state BJP's farmers cell through his Narendra Modi app on Wednesday. Next, he is scheduled to hold a dialogue with the Mahila Morcha Karyakarta through the app on 4 May. According to BJP sources, Modi is expected to address three rallies a day on 5, 7 and 8 May across the state. While party president Amit Shah has been actively campaigning in Karnataka, Modi remained absent from the electoral battlefield ever since the Assembly elections were announced, giving the Congress a chance to taunt BJP over Modi's absence. Modi was in the state last on 27 February when he addressed another election rally in Davangere. Polling for the 224-member Assembly will be held on 12 May, and results will be declared on 15 May. Playing the nationalism card, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of 'insulting national heroes' and the Indian Army by 'questioning' the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes Kalaburagi: Playing the nationalism card, Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the Congress of "insulting national heroes" and the Indian Army by "questioning" the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes. He also said Congress president Rahul Gandhi "disrespected" the National Song Vande Mataram. "Forgetting the national heroes, patriots and history is the nature of a family in the Congress. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and VK Krishna Menon insulted General (KS) Thimayya, who had to resign. They neglected General (KM) Cariappa," Modi told an election rally in Kalaburagi in Karnataka, as he sought to connect with the voters of the home state of the two legends of the Army. Invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the prime minister said independent India's first home minister was instrumental in forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad, who controlled the region where Kalaburagi is located, to accede to the country. "But one family in the Congress loses its sleep whenever Sardar Patel's name crops up," he said. Seeking to appeal to patriotic sentiments of voters, the prime minister raked up the issue of cross-LoC surgical strikes, claiming the Congress questioned the genuineness of the assault by the Indian Army. "They (Congress) sought proof about the genuineness of the surgical strike. Bodies of Pakistani soldiers were carried on trucks, a newspaper said that... and they need proof. Should our soldiers go on such operations with a camera or a gun?" he said. The prime minister said a Congress leader even called the army chief a goonda (gangster) after the surgical strike. He reached out to farmers of Karnataka, saying his government would take up farming of pulses in a big way. Rejecting the Congress' claim that it was a champion of Dalit causes, Modi referred to "atrocity" on a Dalit girl in Karnataka's Bidar. "But the state's ruling party did not speak about it. they had no candlelight protests," he said. "This party (Congress) only knows how to prostrate before the members of one family. But we have decided to construct memorials to the tribals who fought against the British since 1857 to 1947 when India became independent," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address rallies in Gulbarga, Ballari, and Bengaluru in poll-bound Karnataka today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address three rallies across poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday. While he is scheduled to address a rally in Gulbarga at 10.30 am, Modi is expected to address another one in Ballari at 2.30 pm. The prime minister will wrap up his campaigning for the day by addressing a public rally in Bengaluru at 5 pm. The prime minister, who started his campaign trail from 1 May, is expected to address about 15 to 20 rallies in the state to boost the BJP's chances in the keenly contested state polls. Modi addressed three rallies on Tuesday, in Chamarajanagara, Udupi and Belagavi, which the BJP claimed pulled huge crowds. He assailed the Congress heavily on issues related to availability of drinking water, agriculture, Kannada pride, and law and order. The prime minister also interacted with workers of the state BJP's farmers cell through his Narendra Modi app on Wednesday. Next, he is scheduled to hold a dialogue with the Mahila Morcha Karyakarta through the app on 4 May. BJP sources said a final programme of Modi's election tour is still being finalised. He is scheduled to be in the state on 3, 5, 7 and 8 May, addressing three rallies a day. The saffron party is making all-out efforts to oust the Siddaramaiah dispensation from power in the only big state where the Congress governs, apart from Punjab. Opinion polls have forecast a close fight between the two parties, with some of them even predicting a hung House. The BJP believes that Modi's whirlwind campaign in the final days before the polls can tilt the scale in its favour. Party president Amit Shah has been frequenting the state for months, holding rallies, meeting religious heads, addressing community events and toning up organisational machinery in the run-up to the election. However, the prime minister remained absent from the electoral battlefield ever since the Assembly elections were announced, giving the Congress a chance to taunt the BJP over Modi's absence. Modi was in the state last on 27 February when he addressed another election rally in Davangere. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, in contrast, has already toured different parts of the state extensively. Polling for the 224-member Assembly will be held on 12 May, and results will be declared on the 15 May. Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant demanded imposition of the President's rule in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming a 'miserable failure' of law and order in the state. Mumbai: Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant on Wednesday demanded imposition of the President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, claiming a "miserable failure" of law and order in the state, where a school bus was attacked by stone-pelters in militant-affected Shopian district. The Sena's ally BJP is the junior partner in the PDP-led government in the border state. Sawant also said the PDP-BJP government has "failed" on all fronts. "There is no law and order left in Jammu and Kashmir. If stones can be pelted on students, who is safe there? The government there has miserably failed on all fronts, including law and order," he told reporters. The Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai South said while the government talks about reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it should first get its own house in order. "Earlier, the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir (Mehbooba Mufti) supported those who had pelted stones on our jawans. She used to justify their actions. Today, children are being made scapegoats," he said. Sawant demanded imposition of the President's Rule in Jammu and Kashmir, saying it will help in restoring law and order in the state. "Imposing the President's Rule is not the solution. However, at least there will be some law and order in the state when there is none," he said. A Class II student suffered a head injury when the bus carrying him and others was pelted with stones on Wednesday morning, triggering angry reactions from the chief minister and other political leaders. Police said the bus of a private school was attacked by stone pelters in Zavooora area, injuring the student identified as Rehan Gorsai. The bus was carrying close to 35 students. The incident evoked sharp reaction from Mufti, who said perpetrators of this senseless and cowardly act will be brought to justice soon. Asheeta Regidi Editor's Note: This copy was published on 3 May, 2018. It is being republished in light of the Supreme Court's verdict on the constitutionality of Aadhaar likely being pronounced tomorrow. On Day 35 of the Aadhaar hearings, advocate Zoheb Hossain concluded his arguments on the issue of the furtherance of socio-economic rights via Aadhaar. He also discussed the issues of disclosure of information in the interest of national security, the filing of complaints by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) only under the Aadhaar Act, and on the Aadhaar-PAN linkages being applicable to individuals only and not to corporates. The Attorney General then continued his arguments on the money bill issue, arguing that Aadhaar was, at its core, a money bill and that Section 57 was just an ancillary provision. Aadhaar advances socio-economic rights Advocate Zoheb Hossain continued his arguments on behalf of the UIDAI and the State of Maharashtra, arguing on the issue of advancement of socio-economic rights and their harmonisation with civil and political rights. Aadhaar, he argued, was a project that ensures peoples socio-economic rights. He further pointed to the Justice Wadhwa Committee Report on the public distribution system. Next, he pointed to the case of D.K. Trivedi vs State of Gujarat, in which the Supreme Court observed that the validity of a statute conferring discretionary powers on the executive or an administrative authority, could not be judged on the assumption that the said authority would act in an arbitrary manner in the exercise of that discretion. He further made reference to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), and the reference made to them in previous judgments of the Supreme Court like in Unni Krishnan vs State of Andhra Pradesh. He argued, based on the ICCPR, that all human rights are equally important, indivisible and interconnected. Socio-economic rights are thus as important as civil and political rights. PIL on the right to privacy? In order to judge the proportionality of restrictions imposed on privacy, he argued that their reasonableness would have to be considered from the perspective of the general public and not that of an individual. At this juncture, he also questioned how a public interest litigation could be filed for the violation of the right to privacy, when privacy is essentially a personal right, and none of the petitioners were alleging a violation of their privacy. In furtherance of this, he cited a US congressional report on the development of the Social Security Number (SSN), which describes it as a quasi-universal personal identification number, used for a variety of purposes such as identifying convicted criminals, obtaining a loan or insurance, etc. He argued that individuals in the US could be denied benefits if they fail to produce their SSN. As an example, he cited a US case where the firing of an employee for failing to produce her SSN was not seen as a violation of her privacy. Disclosure of information for national security Next, arguing that there were adequate safeguards for records under the Aadhaar Act, he cited Section 33(2) of the Aadhaar Act, which allows the disclosure of information in the interest of national security. He pointed to the safeguard under the proviso of this section, which requires every such direction under it to be reviewed by an Oversight Committee. He argued that the Aadhaar Act prescribes more oversight than even that prescribed under the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) case on telephone tapping. On the issue of national security, he further argued that a party could not expect strict adherence to the principles of natural justice during times of emergency. Filing of complaints by the UIDAI only He further argued on the challenge to Section 47 of the Aadhaar Act, which prevents the people from filing a case under the Act. He argued that since the person could file a complaint before the UIDAI through its grievance redressal system, he wouldnt be left remedy-less. He argued that it was best left to the UIDAI to file complaints since they have a better understanding of the highly technical nature of the Aadhaar system. He also pointed to the judgment of the Supreme Court in State of NCT v. Delhi,, where a similar provision under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act was discussed. Further, he argued that the UIDAI may authorize a person to file a complaint if they felt that it was genuine since there was no bar to do this under the Aadhaar Act. Additionally, there were remedies available under the Information Technology Act, such as for identity theft and the violation of privacy, for actors outside the CIDR. For the CIDR, there were adequate provisions under the Aadhaar Act. Promoting redistributive justice via Aadhaar-PAN Next, he argued that the purpose of the Aadhaar Act as well as Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act on Aadhaar-PAN linking is to promote redistributive justice and ensure substantive equality, along with furthering the dignity of the individual. He argued that the term distribute under the Directive Principle of State Policy under Article 39(b) of the Constitution, includes revenue leakage control in furtherance of distributive justice. He also quoted the Puttaswamy judgment, arguing that rights of an individual could be curbed in the interest of prevention of tax evasion, curbing black money and prevention of money laundering. He further argued that the Aadhaar Act and the Income Tax Act were stand-alone acts, and it cannot be said that the Parliament cannot, in the exercise of its legislative wisdom, make Aadhaar mandatory by way of an amendment. This argument, further, had already been decided by the Supreme Court in the Binoy Viswam case. The objects of the two statutes, he argued, are different, and they could run parallel to each other, with no intersection and thus, no conflict. Aadhaar-PAN can resolve dummy directors and fake companies Next, turning to the issue of why only individuals had been asked to link their Aadhaar with PAN, he argued that the rule for equality did not mean that the State has to strike all evils at the same time. Companies and individuals, he argued, were treated differently under the Income Tax Rules. Further, the linking for individuals will also cure the evils vis-a-vis companies. For instance, under the Companies Act, a person can be a director for only 20 companies at a given time. The linking of Aadhaar with PAN, he argued, would allow the verification of whether a genuine person is the director of the companies. This could thus enable the deduplication of Director Identification Numbers. The genuineness of the companies can also be verified this way. With this, the counsel concluded his arguments. Aadhaar is at its core a money bill The Attorney General then commenced his arguments on the issue of money bill. He argued that Aadhaar was, in pith and substance, a money bill, and ancillary provisions in relation to appeal, revision, etc., which are needed to make the Act complete, do not fall outside the ambit of Article 110 of the Constitution (which defines a money bill). He argued that the term targeted delivery of subsidies contemplated the expenditure of funds. This expenditure was to the tune of thousands of crores from the Consolidated Fund of India. This, he argued, in itself brought the Aadhaar Act under the ambit of a money bill under the Constitution of India. He argued that even though the law has ancillary provisions, the main aim of the Act was the delivery of services and benefits. He argued that Sections 7, 24 and 25 brought the Aadhaar Act under the ambit of a money bill. Not a single provision, he argued, was unnecessary or unrelated to the main purpose of the Act. Section 57 is an ancillary provision The Bench here pointed to Section 57, describing the allowing of body corporates and individuals to use Aadhaar as a concern with the link of the Act to the Consolidated Fund of India. This provision, they stated, did not involve the distribution of benefits and subsidies under the Aadhaar Act. To this, the Attorney General argued that the Section merely allows the existing infrastructure to be used for other purposes so long as the purposes are legitimate. Thus, this was just another ancillary provision. He further argued that the Court could judge the validity of a contract for the use of Aadhaar under this Section only if it was before them for consideration. He further pointed to Article 110 of the Constitution of India, which defines a money bill and includes clause (g), which allows a money bill to include provisions on matters incidental to any of the matters which are the primary subject of a money bill. When the Bench pointed out that under Article 110, a money bill could only involve the matters as listed from clauses (a) to (g), the Attorney General argued that the term only implied that the matters listed under these clauses could only be dealt with as a money bill. The Bench, here, remarked that such an interpretation would constitute rewriting the Constitution. The arguments will continue 3 May. Sources of arguments include live-tweeting of the case by SFLC.in and Prasanna S, and LiveLaw Reports. You can read our complete coverage of the Aadhaar Supreme Court case below: Why SC needs to look into technical evidence of Aadhaars surveillance capabilities Lack of governmental ownership of CIDRs source code can have serious consequences Will State give citizens rights only if they agree to be tracked forever, asks lawyer Shyam Divan Coalition for Aadhaar: A collective of private companies wants to ensure that Aadhaar ID and related services continue to be offered Petitioners argue on centralisation of data and challenge Aadhaars claims on savings Petitioners argue for a voluntary ID card system that does not collect user data Petitioners argue that receipt of govt benefits cannot be at the cost of compromising fundamental rights Aadhaar is architecturally unconstitutional, argue the petitioners Petitioners argue that Aadhaar violates dignity by objectifying and depersonalizing an individual Petitioners seek compensation for starvation deaths and extension of March 31st deadline Section 7 exception in Supreme Courts interim order greatly affects peoples constitutional rights Entire Aadhaar project is beyond the stated objectives of Aadhaar Act, argue petitioners Petitioners conclude their arguments on 'the number of the beast' Aadhaar, highlighting various issues Aadhaar hearing: Political liberties cannot be foregone for economic and social justice, states the Bench Aadhaar hearing: UIDAIs presentation discusses Aadhaar enrolment, updation and authentication processes in detail Aadhaar hearing: Supreme Court expresses concerns with data breaches, Aadhaar security and profiling Aadhaar hearing: Petitioners question UIDAI on verification of residency requirement, de-duplication rejections and authentication failures Aadhaar hearing: Attorney General argues that pervasive collection of fingerprints meets proportionality requirements Aadhaar hearing: Bench criticises the argument that Aadhaar can prevent bank frauds and terrorists from acquiring mobile numbers Aadhaar hearing: Additional Solicitor General argues Aadhaar-PAN linkage enables deduplication, prevents fraud and widens the tax base Aadhaar hearing: Not necessary to prove least possible invasion of privacy, argues Additional Solicitor General Aadhaar hearing: Counsel argues that Aadhaar is more secure than a data protection law, SC disagrees Aadhaar hearing: Supreme Court questions why both the right to privacy and right to food cannot be secured under the Constitution Aadhaar hearing: Senior counsel Rakesh Dwiwedi argues that the UIDAI is constantly improving and upgrading its systems Aadhaar hearing: Aadhaar has the support of two governments, argues the State Aadhaar hearing: The Act is a well balanced law of which a few provisions should be struck down, argues advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan The author is a lawyer and author specializing in technology laws. She is also a certified information privacy professional. IANS To make Google Assistant better, the company has announced a new investment programme for early-stage startups to build an enhanced digital assistant ecosystem. The new initiative will include investment capital from Google to provide additional financial resources for the development, hiring and management of these startups. The startups will get advice from Google engineers, product managers and design experts to share technical guidance and product development feedback. "We're welcoming companies across a diverse range of fields, including startups that are developing technologies that broaden the Assistant's set of features," Sanjay Kapoor, Vice President, Corporate Development at Google said in a blog post on 2 May. The programme will let startups access to the Google Cloud Platform the suite of cloud computing services that run on the same infrastructure that it uses for products like Google Search and YouTube. The first batch of investments has startups like "GoMoment", a creator of "Ivy", a 24/7 concierge for hotel guests, capable of providing instant answers to common questions. Another early-stage startup is "Edwin" that prepares students looking to take English as a foreign language tests such as the "Test of English as a Foreign Language" (TOEFL). "Edwin" combines advanced AI technology with the expertise of professional English teachers to tailor lessons according to individual needs, learning style and pace. "BotSociety" startup has created a tool that allows developers to design, prototype and user test voice interfaces. More than 30,000 developers worldwide have designed their voice assistant applications using "Botsociety". "With aPulse Labs', developers can test their applications with real people, quickly acquire in-depth insights, and use that feedback to refine the experience," Google said. IANS NASA has said that it successfully demonstrated a new nuclear reactor power system that could enable crewed missions to the Moon, Mars and destinations beyond. NASA announced the results of the demonstration, called the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment on Wednesday at its Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The Kilopower experiment was conducted at the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's Nevada National Security Site from November 2017 through March. Such a demonstration could pave the way for future Kilopower systems that power human outposts on the Moon and Mars, NASA said in a statement. "Safe, efficient and plentiful energy will be the key to future robotic and human exploration," said Jim Reuter of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington. "I expect the Kilopower project to be an essential part of lunar and Mars power architectures as they evolve," Reuter said. Kilopower is a small, lightweight fission power system capable of providing up to 10 kilowatts of electrical power enough to run several average households continuously for at least 10 years. Four Kilopower units would provide enough power to establish an outpost. The pioneering power system is ideal for the Moon, where power generation from sunlight is difficult because lunar nights are equivalent to 14 days on Earth, said Marc Gibson, lead Kilopower engineer at Glenn. "Kilopower gives us the ability to do much higher power missions, and to explore the shadowed craters of the Moon," said Gibson. "When we start sending astronauts for long stays on the Moon and to other planets, that's going to require a new class of power that we've never needed before." The prototype power system uses a solid, cast uranium-235 reactor core, about the size of a paper towel roll. Passive sodium heat pipes transfer reactor heat to high-efficiency Stirling engines, which convert the heat to electricity. The purpose of the recent experiment in Nevada was two-fold: to demonstrate that the system can create electricity with fission power, and to show the system is stable and safe no matter what environment it encounters, said David Poston of National Nuclear Security Administration's Los Alamos National Laboratory. "We threw everything we could at this reactor, in terms of nominal and off-normal operating scenarios and KRUSTY passed with flying colours," said Poston. tech2 News Staff For a while, reports of Samsung Gear S4 being under-works have been making rounds. Now a report has added more weight to that speculation, along with revealing a bunch of specifics about the smartwatch. Codenamed Galileo, and carrying the model number SM-R800, the next Samsung smartwatch is apparently being worked on in the US and it is expected to be released by end of this year. According to a SamMobile report, the Samsung Gear S4 will carry LTE connectivity and will be available for purchase from three major US carriers, namely, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. India release and availability hasnt been spoken about in the report. The report also suggests that the Gear S4 will come in two different sizes. There is believed to be a smaller size for women and a bigger one for men. The smartwatch is expected to come with an improved hardware and a more advanced health and fitness features. An improved sleep tracking feature is something that is widely expected. (Also Read: Samsung Gear Sport review: A smartwatch to go for if you are not invested in the Apple ecosystem) Similar to the Gear S3, the Samsung Gear S4 will also run Tizen OS, which is Samsungs own operating system for smartwatches. The operating system is totally unrelated to Android and features its own apps, that are available on the Tizen Store. More specifications of the smartwatch are still unknown. For perspective, the Samsung Gear S3 features a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. The watch is fully waterproof and dustproof with IP68 certification, and its display is protected by Gorilla Glass SR+. For connectivity, the Gear S3 supports GPS, Wi-Fi and LTE, as well as a useful and accurate heart rate sensor. Reuters Cambridge Analytica, the firm embroiled in a controversy over its handling of Facebook data, should not escape scrutiny through its decision to shut down, the chairman of a committee of British lawmakers said. Cambridge Analytica and its parent, SCL Elections, said on Wednesday they would begin bankruptcy proceedings after losing clients and facing mounting legal fees following reports the company wrongly harvested Facebook users personal data from 2014. They are party to very serious investigations and those investigations cannot be impeded by the closure of these companies, Damian Collins, chairman of parliaments Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee which is scrutinising Cambridge Analytica told Reuters. I think its absolutely vital that the closure of these companies is not used as an excuse to try and limit or restrict the ability of the authorities to investigate what they were doing. tech2 News Staff Amidst competition between Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India did not want to be struck down and left behind. The telecom operator announced a revamped Rs 349 prepaid plan that will now get customers an additional 500 MB of data per day. The Rs 349 plan for prepaid customers would earlier offer benefits of 2.5 GB of 3G/4G data. The new and revamped plan brings an additional 500 MB giving customers total free usage of 3 GB per day. When put together, the Rs 349 plan offers customers a total of 84 GB of data for 28 days. Apart from the data, Vodafone Indias Rs 349 prepaid plan also offers 100 free SMS per day. Vodafones move to offer more data to its customers comes after Bharti Airtel recently announced that they would up their respective plans to offer 3 GB data daily. Airtel too has a similar Rs 349 plan that offers benefits of 3 GB 3G/4G data per day with unlimited calls and 100 free SMS. However, the operator that sits at the very top, is Reliance Jio, with its cheaper Rs 299 plan. Jios Rs 299 plan offers similar benefits with 3 GB 4G data per day, meaning users get 84 GB with a 28 day validity. Jios plan also delivers 100 SMS per day and offer unlimited local and national calls. Jios plan also includes access to Jios bouquet of services that include JioMusic, JioMovies, JioTV and others. Disclaimer: Firstpost is part of Network18 Media & Investment Limited which is owned by Reliance Industries Limited. tech2 News Staff Smartphone and connected device maker Xiaomi filed for a Hong Kong initial public offering on 3 May, in what is expected to be one of the largest listings by a Chinese tech company in almost four years. The announcement came as the company posted revenue of CNY 114.62 billion ($18 billion) in 2017, up 67.5 percent against 2016. It also said it made a net loss of CNY 43.89 billion versus a profit of CNY 491.6 million in 2016. Operating profit for 2017 was CNY 12.22 billion, up from CNY 3.79 billion a year ago. Alongside smartphones, Xiaomi makes dozens of internet-connected home appliances and gadgets, including scooters, air purifiers and rice cookers, although it derives most of its profits from internet services. In 2017, Xiaomi had begun asking banks to pitch for an initial public offering and was floated to be the largest IPO listing of 2018. It has enlisted Goldman Sachs, CSLA and Morgan Stanley for its proposed listing. Meanwhile, Xiaomi's founder Lei Jun had said that he intends to distribute the profits from its hardware business amongst Xiaomi's users. How he would do that hasn't yet been specified. With inputs from Reuters. AP New York: Cambridge Analytica, the Trump-affiliated data firm at the center of Facebook's worst privacy scandal in history, is declaring bankruptcy and shutting down. The London firm blamed "unfairly negative media coverage" and said it has been "vilified" for actions it says are both legal and widely accepted as part of online advertising. Cambridge Analytica said it has filed papers to begin insolvency proceedings in the U.K. and will seek bankruptcy protection in a federal court in New York. "The siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the company's customers and suppliers," Cambridge Analytica said in a statement. "As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business." Facebook said it will keep looking into data misuse by Cambridge Analytica even though the firm is closing down. And Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy, a digital advocacy group in Washington, said criticisms of Facebook's privacy practices won't go away just because Cambridge Analytica has. "Cambridge Analytica's practices, although it crossed ethical boundaries, is really emblematic of how data-driven digital marketing occurs worldwide," Chester said. "Rather than rejoicing that a bad actor has met its just reward, we should recognize that many more Cambridge Analytica-like companies are operating in the conjoined commercial and political marketplace." Cambridge Analytica, whose clients included Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, sought information on Facebook users to build psychological profiles on a large portion of the U.S. electorate. The company was able to amass the database quickly with the help of an app that purported to be a personality test. The app collected data on tens of millions of people and their Facebook friends, even those who did not download the app themselves. Facebook has since tightened its privacy restrictions, and CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress for the first time in two days of hearings. Facebook also has suspended other companies for using similar tactics. One is Cubeyou, which makes personality quizzes. That company has said it did nothing wrong and is seeking reinstatement. Cambridge Analytica suspended CEO Alexander Nix in March pending an investigation after Nix boasted of various unsavory services to an undercover reporter for Britain's Channel 4 News. Channel 4 News broadcast clips that showed Nix saying his data-mining firm played a major role in securing Trump's victory in the 2016 presidential elections. Acting CEO Alexander Tayler also stepped down in April and returned to his previous post as chief data officer. Cambridge has denied wrongdoing, and Trump's campaign has said it didn't use Cambridge's data. On Wednesday, Cambridge Analytica said an outside investigation it commissioned concluded the allegations were not "borne out by the facts." Facebook's audit of the firm has been suspended while U.K. regulators conduct their own probe. But Facebook says Cambridge Analytica's decision to close "doesn't change our commitment and determination to understand exactly what happened and make sure it doesn't happen again." Cambridge Analytica has said it is committed to helping the U.K. investigation. But the office of U.K. Information Commissioner Elizabeth Denham said in March that the firm failed to meet a deadline to produce the information requested. Denham said the prime allegation against Cambridge Analytica is that it acquired personal data in an unauthorized way, adding that the data provisions act requires services like Facebook to have strong safeguards against misuse of data. 18-year-old Ely Serna was sentenced to 23 years in prison for the January 2017 shooting at West Liberty-Salem High School that critically injured Logan Cole and slightly hurt another student. Urbana: Logan Cole remembers in graphic detail being shot at his Ohio high school, in the bathroom where he had popped in to check his hair before a mock trial competition. He remembers the impact to his chest, the splatter of his own blood on the wall, his front teeth cracking on the floor as he fell. He remembers thinking he might die and pleading with the masked classmate with the shotgun to stop, to get help. Cole recounted the scene in court on Wednesday as he urged a Champaign County judge to give teen gunman Ely Serna the maximum possible sentence for the January 2017 shooting at West Liberty-Salem High School that critically injured Cole and slightly hurt another student. The judge obliged, sentencing the 18-year-old Serna to more than 23 years in prison. Defense attorney Dennis Lieberman blamed Serna's actions on mental illness, saying the then-17-year-old believed he was following a deity's orders when he opened fire with his own shotgun in a bathroom and at classrooms of the school in West Liberty, roughly 45 miles (72 kilometers) northwest of Columbus. Serna told the court he didn't have a particular motive or target. Lieberman said he was disappointed that Serna's mental health wasn't given greater consideration in the sentencing, noting that psychologists have diagnosed Serna with major depressive disorder and concluded he didn't know right from wrong at the time of the shooting. He said Serna's family is considering whether to appeal the judge's decision. County Prosecutor Kevin Talebi acknowledged mental illness was a factor but argued that Serna knew his actions were wrong and that he deserved the maximum sentence. Lieberman sought leniency, pointing out that Serna was remorseful and pleaded guilty to charges of attempted murder, felonious assault and inducing panic because he wanted to spare others from enduring a trial and reliving what happened. Another 10 counts were dropped with that plea. Cole, who still has hundreds of lead shotgun pellets in his body, said the shooting ravaged him physically and emotionally. He forgives Serna, he said, but "there is a difference between forgiveness and justice." By Margarita Antidze and Hasmik Mkrtchyan YEREVAN (Reuters) - The leader of a protest movement that has rocked Armenia on Tuesday called a pause in a campaign of civil disobedience while he seeks assurances that the ruling party will back him to be the next prime minister. After a day of protests that blocked roads and railways and brought parts of the country to a standstill, a senior official with the ruling party hinted it may be willing to back Nikol Pashinyan when his candidacy for the premier's job comes up for a vote in parliament next week. That would signal a dramatic shift in power in Armenia and cause disquiet in Russia, which sees the ex-Soviet state as a strategic ally and does not want any changes that could pull the country out of its orbit By Margarita Antidze and Hasmik Mkrtchyan YEREVAN (Reuters) - The leader of a protest movement that has rocked Armenia on Tuesday called a pause in a campaign of civil disobedience while he seeks assurances that the ruling party will back him to be the next prime minister. After a day of protests that blocked roads and railways and brought parts of the country to a standstill, a senior official with the ruling party hinted it may be willing to back Nikol Pashinyan when his candidacy for the premier's job comes up for a vote in parliament next week. That would signal a dramatic shift in power in Armenia and cause disquiet in Russia, which sees the ex-Soviet state as a strategic ally and does not want any changes that could pull the country out of its orbit. Pashinyan - a 42-year-old former journalist who has spent time in jail on charges of fomenting unrest - said that on the face of it the ruling Republican Party was conceding defeat. But he said he needed to be certain it was not a ruse. "Tomorrow, we will stage no actions," Pashinyan, who has won a large following by accusing the ruling elite of corruption and cronyism, told tens of thousands of supporters gathered in a square in the capital, Yerevan. "You will be resting tomorrow. We will be working in parliament and we will try to get the necessary guarantees that the statements made by the Republican party are true." He urged his supporters to listen out for further announcements, saying that if the talks did not go to plan, he may need to call them back out on to the streets. "We should be vigilant," he said. Earlier on Wednesday, the head of the Republican Party in parliament, Vahram Baghdasaryan, told reporters that when lawmakers vote on who will fill the vacant prime minister's post, his party will not put forward its own candidate. He said it will back whoever is nominated. So far, Pashinyan is the only nominee. Baghdasaryan did not say explicitly, though, that this meant his party would back Pashinyan. His party has already sown confusion over its intentions, saying last week it would not stop Pashinyan becoming prime minister, and then opposing his candidacy when it was put to a vote in parliament on Tuesday. The re-run of the vote is scheduled to take place on May 8. If parliament fails on the second attempt to choose a new prime minister, the legislature will be dissolved and early parliamentary elections called. Armenia hosts a Russian military base and is nestled strategically between Turkey and energy exporter Azerbaijan, with which it has been in a state of conflict since the Soviet Union's collapse. Pashinyan says that if in power he will keep close ties with the Kremlin. But Moscow is wary that Armenia could go the same way as Ukraine in 2014, where an uprising swept to power new leaders who moved their country closer to the West. STANDOFF The crisis in Armenia has pitted Pashinyan's movement against a ruling elite that controls parliament, the security apparatus, and has Moscow's backing. Throughout Wednesday in Yerevan all main streets were blocked by cars, minibuses and garbage bins. Protesters marched shouting "Nikol! Victory!", waving flags and blowing horns. Police tried to persuade them to open roads, but did not use force. In a sign of cracks in the ruling elite, acting Culture Minister Armen Amiryan resigned, according to his spokeswoman. She said protesters came to his ministry, and after meeting them he came outside and announced he was quitting. By evening, blockades on roads outside the centre of the capital had been lifted. For most of the day, roads leading in and out of the capital were blocked, including the road to the international airport. A spokesman for the civil aviation authority said one flight had been cancelled. Residents and local media reported protests in several other cities in the country of three million people. The national railway operator said it was forced to suspend some rail services because tracks were blocked. The crisis was sparked when Armenia's veteran leader Serzh Sarksyan, forbidden by the constitution from standing for a third term as president after a decade in office, tried to become prime minister last month. His switch to the new job triggered protests by people who saw it as a cynical ploy to hang onto power, and he stepped down after just a week. The ruling elite has since dug in its heels and resisted ceding power to Pashinyan. Not all Armenians back the protests. Some see Pashinyan as a demagogue who is trying to oust the country's democratically elected leaders by whipping up public anger. Reuters reporters witnessed two incidents in Yerevan when the drivers of vehicles remonstrated with protesters blocking their path. "The country can't exist like this. I couldn't get to work today," said Zhanna Petrosyan, a 56-year-old doctor. (Additional reporting by Polina Ivanova in MOSCOW; Writing by Christian Lowe; Editing by Hugh Lawson) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Cambridge Analytica, the firm embroiled in a controversy over its handling of Facebook Inc user data, and its British parent SCL Elections Ltd, are shutting down immediately after suffering a sharp drop in business, the company said on Wednesday Cambridge Analytica, the firm embroiled in a controversy over its handling of Facebook Inc user data and its British parent, SCL Elections Ltd, are shutting down immediately after suffering a sharp drop in business, the company said on Wednesday. The company will begin bankruptcy proceedings, it said, after losing clients and facing mounting legal fees resulting from the scandal over reports the company harvested personal data about millions of Facebook users beginning in 2014. "The siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Companys customers and suppliers," the statement said. "As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration." Allegations of the improper use of data for 87 million Facebook users by Cambridge Analytica, which was hired by President Donald Trump's 2016 US election campaign, has hurt the shares of the world's biggest social network and prompted multiple official investigations in the United States and Europe. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," the company's statement said. The firm is shutting down effective Wednesday and employees have been told to turn in their computers, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier. The Cambridge Analytica sign had been removed from the reception area of its London offices on Wednesday. At SCL's Washington, DC office, a man declined to answer questions from a Reuters reporter. After the announcement, Britain's data regulator said it would continue civil and criminal investigations of the firm and will pursue "individuals and directors as appropriate" despite the shutdown. "We will also monitor closely any successor companies using our powers to audit and inspect, to ensure the public is safeguarded," a spokeswoman for the Information Commissioner's Office said in a statement. Cambridge Analytica was created around 2013 initially with a focus on US elections, with $15 million in backing from billionaire Republican donor Robert Mercer and a name chosen by future Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon, the New York Times reported. Cambridge Analytica marketed itself as a provider of consumer research, targeted advertising and other data-related services to both political and corporate clients. After Trump won the White House in 2016, in part with the firms help, Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix went to more clients to pitch his services, the New York Times reported last year. The company boasted it could develop psychological profiles of consumers and voters which was a "secret sauce" it used to sway them more effectively than traditional advertising could. One unanswered question in Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into whether there was any collusion between Trump's campaign and Russia is whether Russias Internet Research Agency or Russian intelligence used data Cambridge Analytica obtained from Facebook or other sources to help target and time messages during the campaign that were anti-Hillary Clinton, pro-Trump and politically and racially divisive. Bannon was a former vice president of the London-based firm, and Mueller has asked it to provide internal documents about how its data and analyses were used in the Trump campaign, according to sources familiar with the investigation. SEOUL/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's state councillor Wang Yi met North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in Pyongyang on Wednesday to discuss bilateral ties and issues regarding the Korean peninsula, North Korean state news agency KCNA and China's foreign ministry said. China's foreign ministry said in a statement published on its website late on Wednesday Wang congratulated the leaders of the North and the South for their successful recent meeting. China fully supports North Korea's commitment to denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula as well as its decision to concentrate its efforts on economic development, it said. SEOUL/SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China's state councillor Wang Yi met North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in Pyongyang on Wednesday to discuss bilateral ties and issues regarding the Korean peninsula, North Korean state news agency KCNA and China's foreign ministry said. China's foreign ministry said in a statement published on its website late on Wednesday Wang congratulated the leaders of the North and the South for their successful recent meeting. China fully supports North Korea's commitment to denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula as well as its decision to concentrate its efforts on economic development, it said. "We hope the dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the United States will be conducted successfully and that substantial progress will be made," Wang said, according to the statement. (Reporting by Christine Kim in SEOUL and David Stanway in SHANGHAI; Editing by G Crosse and Paul Tait) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's state media said on Thursday that China's state councillor Wang Yi met with the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in Pyongyang where they discussed bilateral ties and issues regarding the Korean Peninsula. The report from state news agency KCNA did not go into detail on the issues discussed SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea's state media said on Thursday that China's state councillor Wang Yi met with the North's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho in Pyongyang where they discussed bilateral ties and issues regarding the Korean Peninsula. The report from state news agency KCNA did not go into detail on the issues discussed. (Reporting by Christine Kim, editing by G Crosse) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. US President Donald Trump added a top impeachment attorney to his legal team Wednesday after the lead White House lawyer for the Russia meddling investigation stepped down. Washington: US President Donald Trump added a top impeachment attorney to his legal team Wednesday after the lead White House lawyer for the Russia meddling investigation stepped down. The recruitment of Emmet Flood, who represented president Bill Clinton when he was impeached by the House of Representatives and tried by the Senate in 1998-99, signaled that the White House is going on the offensive as it girds for a tough battle over presidential powers and possibly obstruction allegations with Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who leads the Russia probe. "Emmet Flood will be joining the White House Staff to represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt," Trump's Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Flood joined the team as Ty Cobb, who had urged the president to be more conciliatory with Mueller, stepped down from his role managing White House relations with the year-old investigation. Both Cobb and John Dowd, who quit the president's legal team in March, were reportedly displeased that Trump was not following their advice in the case, especially with his repeated attacks on Mueller. The changes come as the White House is under increasing pressure from the probe. Mueller is investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 election, as well as possible obstruction of justice by Trump. The investigation has already yielded 19 indictments, including of three top campaign aides and advisers. If obstruction or other charges are ultimately levelled against the president, it could possibly lead to his impeachment. Belying their concerns, Trump and Republicans in Congress have threatened to remove Mueller and other senior Justice officials, a move that top members of Congress have also warned could result in Trump's impeachment. Turmoil in legal team Trump's legal team has been deeply divided on strategy since last year, especially on the issue of whether Trump should accept to be interviewed by Mueller, or claim his executive privilege to refuse. At least in March, Trump was reportedly inclined to an interview, believing it would lead to a quicker end to the probe. Dowd vehemently opposed it. Now, however, the situation appears to have shifted. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that last month, Mueller threatened to subpoena Trump to appear before a grand jury if he declined to be interviewed. Trump meanwhile has stepped up his counterattack. "There was no Collusion (it is a Hoax) and there is no Obstruction of Justice (that is a setup & trap).... Witch Hunt!" Trump tweeted on Wednesday. Flood has experience in the highest of high-profile white collar cases. He represented Bill Clinton when he was impeached by the House of Representatives but avoided conviction in a Senate trial for lying in the so-called Monica Lewinsky scandal. Flood also defended vice-president Dick Cheney in a civil suit over leaking the identity of Valerie Plame, a covert CIA operative. That lawsuit was ultimately dismissed. While Flood could signal a more combative approach with Mueller, Trump's team remained open to the idea of an interview. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani, who joined Trump's legal team two weeks ago, told The Washington Post on Wednesday that he could support a relatively short interview between Mueller and the president, with a limited number of questions. "Some people have talked about a possible 12-hour interview. That's not going to happen, I'll tell you that. It would be, max, two to three hours around a narrow set of questions," Giuliani said. A high-powered U.S. delegation arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese officials aimed at defusing the tensions, though analysts say they appear unlikely to yield a breakthrough given the two sides' intensifying rivalry in strategic technologies, where China lags behind the U.S. Beijing: Chinese and U.S. officials met face-to-face Thursday in an attempt to resolve a dispute over technology that has taken the world's two largest economies the closest they've ever come to a trade war. A high-powered U.S. delegation arrived in Beijing for talks with Chinese officials aimed at defusing the tensions, though analysts say they appear unlikely to yield a breakthrough given the two sides' intensifying rivalry in strategic technologies, where China lags behind the U.S. U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin is leading the group, which includes Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Liu He, President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser, headed the Chinese side in the talks, which are expected to end Friday. The dispute has deepened as China has stepped up efforts to overtake western industry leaders in advanced technologies, especially for semiconductors, the silicon brains required to run smartphones, connected cars, cloud computing and artificial intelligence. Under Xi, a program known as "Made in China 2025" aims to make China a tech superpower by advancing development of industries that in addition to semiconductors includes artificial intelligence, pharmaceuticals and electric vehicles. The plan mostly involves subsidizing Chinese firms. But it also requires foreign companies to provide key details about their technologies to Chinese partners. U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to cut the chronic U.S. trade deficit by $100 billion and gain concessions over the policies that foreign companies say force them to share technology in order to gain market access. His administration has threatened to impose new tariffs on roughly $150 billion in Chinese goods. That prompted China to announce its own tariffs on U.S. goods, and Beijing also looks unlikely to cede any ground on its strategic blueprint for technology. "The Made in China 2025 industrial policy concerns China's long-term development plan, so the overall direction won't change at all," said Yu Miaojie, professor at Peking University's National School of Development. Yu says China would rather cut the trade deficit by importing high-tech products from the U.S. that are currently tightly restricted. The state-run Global Times newspaper said Thursday in a commentary that it's "our sovereign right to develop high-tech industry and it is connected to the quality of rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It will not be abandoned due to external pressure." Washington's recent decision to ban Chinese telecom gear maker ZTE from importing U.S. components in a sanctions-related case drove home to Beijing its costly vulnerability to foreign sources for advanced microchips. The "Made in China 2025" plan calls for domestic producers to supply 70 percent of the country's chip demand. The Trump administration's efforts may actually spur China to ramp up efforts to develop its domestic industry as it strives to fulfill Xi's vision, said Jian-Hong Lin, an analyst at research firm TrendForce. China now consumes nearly 60 percent of the world's semiconductors but supplies only about 16 percent, according to PWC. The country spends more than $200 billion a year on foreign-made semiconductors, which in 2015 surpassed crude oil as the country's biggest import. Experts say Chinese chipmakers are five years behind their U.S. and Asian rivals and that increasingly high technological hurdles and a meager talent pool are hindering the effort to catch up with dominant U.S., Japanese, South Korean and Taiwanese manufacturers. As Chinese researchers and chipmakers strive to catch up, the technology is evolving, with new materials transforming the future landscape of the electronics industry. The latest advanced chips are highly complex to make because of increasingly tiny "nodes" that make them faster and more power-efficient. Beijing has been backing up its towering ambitions in the semiconductor sector with money and tax breaks. The government set up the National Integrated Circuit Industry Investment Fund in 2014, seeded with 140 billion yuan ($22 billion) in capital to invest in chip companies. A second round of fundraising for as much as 200 billion yuan is underway, Chinese media report. The state-controlled Tsinghua Unigroup project, associated with Tsinghua University China's equivalent of MIT has emerged as a national champion. It's building two massive memory chip factories, including a $30 billion facility in Nanjing that will churn out 100,000 wafers a month and is expected to exert a "siphon effect," drawing microchip industry suppliers and experts to the area. It's unclear how successful those efforts will be as foreign regulators push back against Beijing's strategy of acquiring overseas chipmaking-related firms. Washington has scuppered multiple China-linked bids for semiconductor-related firms following a call from a White House advisory panel to do more to protect the U.S. industry because of China's industrial policies. Market leaders like Samsung, Intel and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing are investing aggressively as they fight for market share. "Even though they've (the Chinese) committed a lot of money to the investment fund, the reality has sunk in that it's harder than just throwing money at the problem. The Samsungs of the world, the TSMCs have a large head start," said Alexander Wolf, an economist at Aberdeen Standard Investments. "Certain products, you can't really reverse engineer." Companies like Huawei and ZTE are avidly pursuing advanced semiconductor technology, but experts say overall Chinese research and development spending is a fraction of the multibillion-dollar budgets of the big players. That's one reason Beijing's success is anything but a given. "These things are built from thousands of engineers of different disciplines pulling it together," said Christopher Thomas, a Beijing-based partner at consulting firm McKinsey, who estimates it will take a decade for China's efforts to result in any meaningful shift. "You've got to solve all the complexity to catch up. You can't just solve one thing." What's next? Trade talks continue Friday, with more meetings scheduled before the U.S. delegation departs Beijing on Friday evening. Trump said on Twitter at the start of the talks that he expected relations to stay on an even keel. "Our great financial team is in China trying to negotiate a level playing field on trade!" he tweeted. "I look forward to being with President Xi in the not too distant future. We will always have a good (great) relationship!" On Thursday, the U.S. delegation had meetings with U.S. Ambassador Terry Branstad at the U.S. Embassy then went to a state guesthouse for meetings with the Chinese, followed by dinner. There were no public statements from either side afterward. The consulting firm Eurasia Group said in a research note that rival views in Washington, reflected in the makeup of the U.S. team, could undermine the U.S. negotiating stance. "The U.S. delegation headed to Beijing is too large and unwieldy to accomplish much; it is a reflection of inter-agency rivalry on the U.S. side and this will produce more posturing than actual negotiations with the Chinese," the firm said. "The trip will produce few results and increases the risk that tariffs are adopted in the near future," it added. Iran's ambassador to Britain said Tehran will consider walking away from the nuclear deal if the United States withdraws from the agreement, in an interview aired on Thursday. Iran's ambassador to Britain said Tehran will consider walking away from the nuclear deal if the United States withdraws from the agreement, in an interview aired on Thursday. Hamid Baeidinejad, the country's top envoy in London, said Iran would "be ready to go back to the previous situation" if America pulls out of the 2015 pact, as threatened by United States (US) president Donald Trump. "When the United States is out of the deal, it means that there is no deal left," he told CNN. "Because (an) important party of the treaty has abrogated and violated in clear terms the treaty." Trump is reportedly poised to scrap the agreement, negotiated in 2015 between Tehran and six world powers, ahead of a 12 May deadline for Washington to renew its support for the deal. The agreement imposes strict restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme in return for the loosening of economic sanctions. Baeidinejad said Tehran was exploring various responses to such a move from the US including restarting nuclear activities. "It could be enriching uranium, it could be redefining our cooperation with the agency and some other activities that are under consideration. That is something very real, in fact very realistic", he added. The ambassador denied Iran would restart any nuclear weapons production.The country has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. European leaders, including French president Emmanuel Macron, have been pressing Trump to strengthen rather than abandon the three-year-old deal that took more than a decade to reach. Macron, who met Trump in Washington last week to try to convince him to not walk away, admitted today he still did not know what decision the US leader would take. Trump has pilloried the agreement designed to curb Iran's nuclear programme as "insane" and "ridiculous" and called for fresh measures to counter Iran's ballistic missile programme and support for militant groups across West Asia. On Tuesday, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had new "proof" of an Iranian nuclear weapons plan that could be activated at any time. Baeidinejad said international observers' final assessment ahead of the 2015 agreement contradicted Israel's claims. The nuclear deal was designed to limit Iran's nuclear weapons program in exchange for the easing of international sanctions on Iran Tehran: Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday ruled out renegotiating the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal or holding talks over his country's missile programme. "Let me make it absolutely clear once and for all. We will neither outsource our security, nor will we negotiate or add onto a deal we have already implemented in good faith," Zarif said in a video message on Twitter. He made the remarks as the 12 May deadline looms for US President Donald Trump to decide whether to leave or to stay in the deal. The nuclear deal was designed to limit Iran's nuclear weapons program in exchange for the easing of international sanctions on Iran; however, Trump has been criticizing the "sunset clauses" in the deal, which allow Iran to restart its uranium enrichment programme after 2025. In January, Trump extended sanctions relief on Iran under the deal for the last time, threatening to withdraw from it if the US Congress and his European allies cannot fix the alleged "disastrous flaws." "In the coming days, the United States will have to decide whether to finally abide by its obligations," Zarif said, adding that "if the United States continues to violate the agreement, or if it withdraws altogether, we will exercise our right to respond in a manner of our choosing." "Bluster or threats won't get the US a new deal particularly as it is not honouring the deal it has already made," he said. The Iranian minister also criticised the European parties in the deal for what he called their "concessions" to US pressure. "This appeasement entails promises of a new deal that would include matters we all decided to exclude at the outset of our negotiations, including Iran's defence capabilities, and regional influence," Zarif said. Washington should honour its commitments under the deal, otherwise should accept responsibility for the consequences of withdrawal from it, he added. On Monday, new US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US will work with its allies to counter Iran's "malign" influence and support for terrorism in the region. The allegations have been strongly rejected by Tehran. Afghanistans Ministry of Defence is of the view that the Kabul cell of Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISK), which claimed responsibility of 30 April blast, is none other than the Haqqani network itself, carrying out attacks in the name of the dreaded Syrian-Iraqi group to generate support from Iran and Russia When writing on Afghanistan, one tends to run out of adequate adjectives to describe the unending horror of the conflict that has been going on for over three decades. The recent suicide bombing in Kabul seemed, however, particularly bizarre. News of the event got out slow because almost all of the journalists who were present at the site of the explosion were killed in a second blast deliberately timed to hit those who hurried towards the first explosion. Those, on whom, we depend to provide us with the news, were literally blown apart. Courageous journalists are always in danger, but this 'ten at one stroke' hits particularly hard. The attack was claimed by Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISK) via its Amaq News agency. The ISK as a group is strategically negligible in Afghanistan. If it were not, the Afghan government and diverse intelligence agencies would be queuing up with a separate 'negotiation strategy' with its leaders. As of now, no such outreach is discernible, and major ISK leaders are being picked off in drone attacks in a surprisingly short time. At any rate, the ISKs cadres, which are an amalgam of disgruntled Taliban leaders and some 'foreign' fighters, are largely operating to the north and the east where some inchoate leadership is perceptible. Qari Hekmatullah, for instance, was a former Taliban and before that, was part of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. He relabeled himself as ISK and was operating a motley group of insurgents in the north before he was killed last month. That is by and large the profile of ISK 'Emirs'. In Kabul, however, the group seems to operate quite differently. Since 2016, since the ISK first made its presence felt in the city, the United Nations documented some 51 attacks on places of worship till the end of 2017 that caused more than 700 casualties. Prior to that, there were only 5 such incidents in six years, which is unsurprising given that Afghans are traditionally tolerant of other religions and practices. In addition, no one really knows who the ISK Kabul reports to or the identity of its leadership. Afghanistans Ministry of Defence is of the view that the Kabul cell is none other than the Haqqani network itself, carrying out attacks in the name of the dreaded Syrian-Iraqi group to generate support from Iran and Russia. The fact that both countries are now supporting the Taliban in diverse ways, in a somewhat dramatic turn around of policy, seems to lend some credence to this view. Which brings the whole "whodunit" of attacks back to the Taliban and the fact that its second-in-command is none other than Sirajuddin Haqqani who operates the hugely capable Haqqani network. Some facts on the ground need to be underlined to get a perspective on the violence. First, on 25 April, the Taliban announced their so-called "Spring Offensive" called Al Khandaq. The spring offensive is an annual military thrust to take advantage of better weather conditions which essentially means that the passes from Pakistan are once again open after winter to bring supplies in the form of explosives, ammunition, etc. Second, the Taliban statement announcing the new offensive explicitly states its biggest grievance as the newly adopted war strategy of (Donald) Trump (that) has been ruthlessly implemented in the villages and rural areas for the past nine months". The Trump strategy was announced in April last year and reiterated in the larger National Security Strategy in end 2017. As the United Nations indicates, the Taliban did escalate violence in this period, particularly with a significant spike in large attacks between 15 December 2017 and 15 February 2018. The UNs report also observes that the Taliban made no major gains in this period, which must annoy its leaders considerably, to put it mildly. Third, statistics indicate that the Trump strategy is being implemented on the ground. Together with the fledgling Afghan Air Force, air strikes have gone up with 950 air strikes recorded in 2017 representing a 67.6 percent increase compared with the same period the previous year, according to UN Figures. Data by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism reports more than 900 close air support flights this year, and about 38 reported air strikes. Thats a lot, and it could increase. And the possibility that this could spread into Pakistan is a threat that has been held out. The Taliban has to "win", which means gaining enough ground for a strong bargaining position, and win quickly. That requirement puts in perspective the increasingly indiscriminate attacks ever since the "new" strategy was announced. According to the February 2018 report of the Secretary General of the United Nations, 1,500 of the 2,258 civilian casualties in the first quarter of 2018 could be attributed to the Taliban and ISK, marking a six percent increase over previous figures. The so-called "layha" or Code of Conduct issued by the Taliban leadership in 2006 and updated till 2010, which advised its cadres to avoid civilian casualties seems to have been completely set aside. After a spate of international reports accusing the group of atrocities, there had been some adherence to this code last year, when attacks mainly targeted the military and security forces. In fact, the announcement of the Spring Offensive has a reiteration to cadres that civilian casualties must be avoided and advises civilians, in turn, to stay away from foreign military targets. However, the fact that most severe Taliban/ISK attacks have been against purely civilian institutions gives the lie to this apparently meritorious statement. To that, add the fact that like the present attack, most of these have killed fellow Afghans. This means that much of this carnage is a political message to the government of President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai to showcase it as being unable to stop the violence, despite US support. The puzzle is just who else could be sending this unambiguous message. There is enough to conclude that negotiations with sections of the Taliban have been underway for some time with Ghanis specific peace proposals outlined in February 2018. No one is expecting anything to happen immediately, but clearly, there is some movement. Past data shows that Taliban attacks usually do go up before political negotiations when all actors vie for dominance. Equally, there are sections, like the Haqqanis, who are not directly included in this dialogue. True, the network did release13 Afghan soldiers as a goodwill gesture early this year. However, it would also have every incentive to keep up the pressure as the negotiations proceed. However, neither the Haqqanis nor any other group represented in the Military Commission can control Taliban actions entirely, without the agreement of their mentors. Taliban leaders who tried to double cross Pakistani intelligence have met with a sticky end. Pakistan is running out of time more than any other actor in this tragic mess. Remember that the Trump strategy for the first time named Pakistan as a terrorist perpetrator noting, We can no longer be silent about Pakistans safe havens for terrorist organisations, the Taliban, and other groups that pose a threat to the region and beyond. Pakistan has much to gain from partnering with our effort in Afghanistan. It has much to lose by continuing to harbour criminals and terrorists." Thats as clear as it gets. Islamabad or rather Rawalpindi will be forced sooner than later to produce some Taliban willing to negotiate an end to this bloodbath. There is also a rumour that the Kabul attack was a 'revenge' message from Pakistani intelligence to the Afghans not to meddle in the Pashtun issue. The Pashtun resistance is an outcome of decades of being embroiled willy-nilly into the Afghan conflict and is similar, to an extent, to 'peace marches' in Helmand. Everyone on the ground wants an end to this, maybe even many of the Taliban, but try convincing the Pakistanis. As the US administration gets more and more distracted by its own internal squabbles, Pakistan and its allies are likely to stay the course until the various other actors, who are, in all fairness, also stirring the pot, throw up their hands and prepare to get out. Thats probably not going to happen soon. After all everyone is fighting over Afghan dead bodies. The analysis is part of Reveal's ongoing coverage of modern-day redlining in America, which found 61 metro area s, from Jacksonville, Florida to Tacoma, Washington, where people of color were significantly more likely to be denied a conventional home loan than their white counterparts. Trident Mortgage Co. helps more families buy homes in Philadelphia and neighboring Camden, New Jersey, than any other company, but it primarily serves one demographic: white people. That is no coincidence. All of Trident's offices are in white neighborhoods, where it makes the overwhelming majority of its loans to white homebuyers. And Trident employs a nearly all-white team of mortgage consultants. It's a division of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the giant holding company led by Warren Buffett, which has dramatically expanded its mortgage brokerage portfolio in recent years, reporting nearly 28,000 loans worth $7.3 billion last year. The potential for more growth clearly caught the eye of the octogenarian investor. "HomeServices is on track to do only about 3% of the country's home-brokerage business in 2018," Buffett wrote in his most recent shareholders report, referring to HomeServices of America Inc., which controls Trident and two other mortgage companies. "That leaves 97% to go." But as they've become major players in cities across America, Berkshire Hathaway's affiliated mortgage companies have followed a consistent pattern. Government lending data reviewed by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting shows the companies direct their lending toward white borrowers and white neighborhoods, even in metros like Philadelphia where a majority of residents are people of color. The analysis is part of Reveal's ongoing coverage of modern-day redlining in America, which found 61 metro area s, from Jacksonville, Florida to Tacoma, Washington, where people of color were significantly more likely to be denied a conventional home loan than their white counterparts. This was true even when people of color earned the same amount of money as white loan applicants, wanted to take on the same size loan or buy in the same neighborhood. Reveal's analysis also found people of color were far more likely to be denied a loan in many of Berkshire Hathaway's largest markets, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. It makes loans through three firms , Trident Mortgage, HomeServices Lending LLC and Prosperity Home Mortgage LLC. Here's a breakdown: In Philadelphia, Trident Mortgage made 1,721 conventional home purchase loans in 2015 and 2016, 47 of them to African Americans and 42 to Latinos. In Atlanta, HomeServices Lending made 1,358 conventional home purchase loans, 63 to African Americans and 46 to Latinos. In Washington, D.C., Prosperity Home Mortgage made 2,650 conventional home purchase loans, including 167 to African Americans and 144 to Latinos. Legal experts said Berkshire Hathaway's mortgage companies were carrying out the very practices outlawed by the Fair Housing Act, a 50-year-old law that banned racial discrimination in lending, by locating their branches in white neighborhoods, employing mortgage consultants who - from their websites - appear to be overwhelmingly white and lending mostly to white borrowers. "It sounds to me like they are intentionally avoiding doing business with people of color," said Allison Bethel, director of the fair housing clinic at the John Marshall Law School in Chicago. Representatives of Berkshire Hathaway and its affiliated mortgage companies declined to give interviews for this story. In a statement , HomeServices of America said it was "categorically false" to imply its "lenders are trying to ensure that they don't get applications from people of color." Berkshire Hathaway's "lenders have constantly focused on improving access to mortgage loans in minority communities," the statement said, adding that the companies "actively recruit diverse candidates and are committed to cultivating a diverse workforce." "Respectfully, a mortgage officer is not the only relevant employee to consider," the company said in a follow-up email. Trident's entire staff is 82 percent white, it said, as is HomeServices Lending's. Prosperity Home Mortgage's staff is 70 percent white. Reveal conducted a market share analysis covering millions of loan records, made available under the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act, employing techniques the Federal Reserve and the Department of Justice use to spotlight lending disparities. The analysis compared the racial breakdown of mortgage lending for every lender in every city in America. It showed Berkshire Hathaway's mortgage companies took in a far greater proportion of their conventional loan applications from white homebuyers than their competitors in its largest markets in 2015 and 2016. The figures were especially stark for Trident, which placed all of its 55 loan centers across Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania in majority-white neighborhoods, Reveal's analysis found. The analysis also showed 92 percent of the company's conventional home loan applications came from borrowers in majority-white neighborhoods. When it did lend in neighborhoods where the majority of residents were people of color, most of the loans still went to whites. Berkshire Hathaway's mortgage business has the hallmarks of one that could be prosecuted for "failure to serve" under the Fair Housing Act, according to Eric Halperin, a former federal prosecutor who oversaw fair lending cases during President Barack Obama's first term. That's when "you take a series of actions that ensure you don't get applications from people of color," he said. The lack of diversity in Trident's staffing and lending disturbed Beth Warshaw, 38, a white manager at a local arts nonprofit, who last year bought a two-bedroom brick row house in a primarily African American neighborhood of South Philadelphia. Warshaw worked with a white loan real estate agent and white loan officer from Trident. "It struck me how white everything was," she said. "Somebody is not asking themselves the right questions, including me." The government lending data analyzed by Reveal also showed Trident served a much smaller and whiter section of the Philadelphia area than the region's No. 2 lender, Wells Fargo, which overall took in a slightly smaller number of conventional home purchase applications. Trident made 26 times as many conventional loans to white homebuyers as blacks in Philadelphia in 2015 and 2016, the government data show. For Wells Fargo, that ratio was seven to one. In its statement, HomeServices of America said Trident plans this June to launch "a campaign in many Philadelphia majority-minority areas as well as in Camden, New Jersey and Allentown, Pennsylvania to attract minority applicants." Leaders in Philadelphia's African American community - including those who work to promote homeownership - said they had never heard of Trident. In Nicetown, a section of North Philadelphia where vacant, boarded-up row homes dot the landscape, the chief operating officer of the local community development corporation said she would love it if Trident's loan officers would attend one of her homebuyers clubs. "It would help us a lot," said Majeedah Rashid. "This community needs help. It needs investment." By Shoon Naing and Yimou Lee YANGON (Reuters) - A judge in Myanmar declared on Wednesday that a witness who said two Reuters reporters accused of possessing state secrets were framed by police was credible, dealing a blow to the prosecution in what has become a landmark press freedom case. In what defence lawyers said was a key ruling in favour of the two reporters, the judge accepted the testimony of Police Captain Moe Yan Naing, who said a senior officer had ordered police to 'trap' one of the two journalists arrested in December. Defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said the judge ordered police to bring Moe Yan Naing to the next hearing on May 9, after a police officer told the court he was not present because he was sentenced last week to one year in prison for violating the Police Disciplinary Act By Shoon Naing and Yimou Lee YANGON (Reuters) - A judge in Myanmar declared on Wednesday that a witness who said two Reuters reporters accused of possessing state secrets were framed by police was credible, dealing a blow to the prosecution in what has become a landmark press freedom case. In what defence lawyers said was a key ruling in favour of the two reporters, the judge accepted the testimony of Police Captain Moe Yan Naing, who said a senior officer had ordered police to "trap" one of the two journalists arrested in December. Defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw said the judge ordered police to bring Moe Yan Naing to the next hearing on May 9, after a police officer told the court he was not present because he was sentenced last week to one year in prison for violating the Police Disciplinary Act. "We need to question him more," Judge Ye Lwin told Police Captain Myo Lwin, one of the officers who had escorted the two journalists to the courthouse, at the end of the proceedings. Prosecutors had called Moe Yan Naing to testify against Wa Lone, 32, and Kyaw Soe Oo, 28, but last week asked the court to declare him an unreliable witness after the account he gave about the reporters being "set up" appeared to undermine their case. "Today, the court has proved itself as a court of justice," defence lawyer Khin Maung Zaw told reporters at the end of the hearing, adding that the ruling was "a big step" because Moe Yan Naing's testimony supported the accounts given by the reporters. Lead prosecutor Kyaw Min Aung did not respond to a request for comment after the hearing. Myanmar's civilian government spokesman Zaw Htay declined to comment, citing the ongoing proceedings. Police spokesman Colonel Myo Thu Soe said he was not aware of the events in the court and declined to comment. As he left court, Wa Lone told reporters: "The injustice that they did to us will be revealed soon." Follow latest updates on detained reporters here https://www.reuters.com/subjects/myanmar-reporters "NOT UNRELIABLE" The court in Yangon has been holding hearings since January to decide whether the Reuters journalists will be charged under the colonial-era Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison. At the time of their arrest, the reporters had been working on an investigation into the killing of 10 Rohingya Muslim men and boys in a village in western Myanmar's Rakhine state. The killings took place during an army crackdown that United Nations agencies say sent nearly 700,000 people fleeing to Bangladesh. Moe Yan Naing said in his testimony that he had been interviewed by Wa Lone in November about police operations in Rakhine. Defence and prosecution lawyers made legal arguments in front of the judge a week ago on a motion filed by prosecutors following Moe Yan Naing's April 20 testimony. Prosecutors argued that the police captain had told a different story to investigators when he was arrested. They also said Moe Yan Naing held a grudge against the police authorities because he was facing charges. Judge Ye Lwin ruled on Wednesday that the police captain's testimony did not contradict earlier statements made to the investigators at the time of his own arrest. The judge said Moe Yan Naing was a member of the police force so "it is not suitable to consider him as an unreliable witness". Moe Yan Naing was arrested on Dec. 12, the same day Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were detained by police. Moe Yan Naing told the court that earlier that day he had witnessed Police Brigadier General Tin Ko Ko order a lance corporal to arrange a meeting with Wa Lone at a restaurant in Yangon that night and hand over "secret documents" to entrap him. Reuters has been unable to contact Tin Ko Ko for comment. A police spokesman said after Moe Yan Naing's testimony that the brigadier general "has no reason to do such a thing". The courtroom was packed on Wednesday, with diplomats from France, the European Union, the United States and Australia among those attending. (Reporting By Shoon Naing and Yimou Lee; Additional reporting by Thu Thu Aung, Sam Aung Moon, Simon Lewis and Antoni Slodkowski; Editing by Alex Richardson) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A group of the United States House of Republicans is seeking the Nobel Peace Prize for president Donald Trump because of his work to ease nuclear tensions with North Korea. Washington: A group of the United States House of Republicans is seeking the Nobel Peace Prize for president Donald Trump because of his work to ease nuclear tensions with North Korea. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un are working out the details of a historic summit that could take place by the end of May or early June. Yet an agreement by which the North would give up its nuclear weapons and allow for the world to confirm it still seems far off. The United States has reached aid-for-disarmament deals with North Korea before, but they've ultimately failed. Recent comments from the leaders of the two Koreas have raised hopes. Trump's supporters on Capitol Hill are pushing the idea that he deserves a Nobel, and Trump clearly enjoyed it on Saturday when supporters at a Michigan rally began chanting "Nobel" as he talked about North Korea. Rep. Luke Messer, R-Ind., made the suggestion in a letter on Wednesday sent to members of the Norwegian Nobel Committee. It was signed by 18 Republicans. The letter said North Korea has ignored international demands to cease its aggression but that Trump's "peace through strength policies are working" and bringing North Korea to the negotiating table. It said the Trump administration united China and others in imposing strict sanctions. "The sanctions have decimated the North Korean economy and have been largely credited for bringing North Korea to the negotiating table," the nomination letter stated. Messer is running for the Senate in Indiana, where support for Trump has become a litmus test for Republican voters. The lawmakers who signed the letter are among the most conservative in the House. The group includes several other lawmakers who are also running for governor or senator in the Republican-leaning or strongly Grand Old Party (GOP) states. In a startling revelation, Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said that the US president had repaid his personal attorney the hush money for Stormy Daniels In a startling revelation, Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on Wednesday that the US president repaid his personal attorney $130,000 in a deal made just before the 2016 election to keep porn star Stormy Daniels quiet about her tryst with the president, directly contradicting Trump's statements about the hush money. Trump previously told reporters that he was not aware of the payment and that he didn't know where Michael Cohen had gotten the money from. Giuliani made the revelation during an appearance on Fox News Channel's Hannity. He also said that the payment "is going to turn out to be perfectly legal" because "that money was not campaign money". The former New York City mayor and US attorney said the money to repay Cohen had been "funnelled... through the law firm and the president repaid it". Asked if Trump knew about the arrangement, Giuliani said: "He didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this... like I take care of things like this for my clients. I don't burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people". Meanwhile, Daniels attorney Michael Avenatti is calling for "serious consequences" for Trump after Giulianis revelation. He said on Wednesday: "This is a stunning revelation. Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people". Contradictions in Trumps statements The comments contradict statements made by Trump several weeks ago when he said he didn't know about the payment to Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement she signed days before the presidential election. Asked aboard Air Force One whether he knew about the payment, Trump said flatly: "No." Trump also said he didn't know why Cohen had made the payment or where he got the money. In a phone interview with Fox and Friends last week, however, Trump appeared to muddy the waters, saying that Cohen represented him in the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal". Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, says she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, months after his third wife gave birth to his youngest child, and was paid to keep quiet as part of a nondisclosure agreement she is now seeking to invalidate. She has also filed a defamation suit against Trump after he questioned a composite sketch she released of a man she says threatened her to stay quiet. The White House has said Trump denies having a relationship with Daniels. Cohen had said previously: "Neither the Trump Organisation nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly". He notably did not include the president personally. Asked about Cohen's denial, Giuliani said that he didn't know if Cohen made the payment without asking Trump but that he had "no reason to dispute that". Storm over hush money The revelation from Giuliani came as Cohen was under escalating legal pressure. He is facing a criminal investigation in New York, and FBI agents raided his home and office several weeks ago seeking records about the nondisclosure agreement. Daniels' lawsuit over the hush deal has been delayed, with the judge citing the criminal investigation. The payment to Daniels has raised numerous legal questions, including whether it was an illegal campaign contribution and, now, loan. Law firms advance expenses for clients as a matter of course, and so there's nothing inherently improper about a lawyer covering a particular payment and then being reimbursed for it. In this case, though, the client who apparently reimbursed the expense was running for president and the money was paid just days before the election, raising questions about whether Cohen's law practice was functioning as a vendor for the campaign and whether the expense was, therefore, an unreported campaign expenditure. If so, that could be legally problematic. A key question is timing. If Cohen or Trump could establish that discussions with Daniels over the payment long predated his run for office, that could help them with the argument that the money was a personal rather than political expense. "It obviously increases the president's exposure to potential campaign finance violations, but it also makes him look terrible", said Sol Wisenberg, a defence attorney who was a deputy independent counsel during the Starr special counsel investigation into President Bill Clinton. "I don't understand the Giuliani strategy," he added. "Maybe it's been too long since he's been in the criminal justice field." Trump bracing for multiple-front legal battle According to a New York Times report, Trump on Wednesday hired the Washington lawyer who represented Bill Clinton during his impeachment, a sign that the White House sees no immediate end to its legal problems. The new lawyer, Emmet T Flood, will replace Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer who persuaded Trump to cooperate with the special counsel for the first year of its investigation, the report said. "I've done what I came to do in terms of managing the White House response to the special counsel requests," Cobb told CNN. "I'm extremely grateful to the president and Chief Kelly for the opportunity to serve my country." With inputs from AP By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States announced on Wednesday the first transfer of a prisoner from the Guantanamo Bay detention centre under U.S. President Donald Trump, lowering the prisoner population at a facility Trump has signalled he would like to repopulate. By Phil Stewart WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States announced on Wednesday the first transfer of a prisoner from the Guantanamo Bay detention centre under U.S. President Donald Trump, lowering the prisoner population at a facility Trump has signalled he would like to repopulate. The U.S. military said Ahmed Muhammed Haza al-Darbi's transfer to Saudi Arabia brought the prisoner population down to 40 detainees from 41. The last time a prisoner left the facility in Cuba was on Jan. 19, 2017 - the day before Trump was inaugurated. Reuters reported in March that Darbi's transfer was advancing. Commander Sarah Higgins, a Pentagon spokeswoman, noted that the transfer was provided under the terms of a 2014 plea deal, which will allow al-Darbi to serve out the rest of his 13-year sentence there. "The United States coordinated with the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to ensure the transfer took place in accordance with established standards for security and humane treatment," Higgins said. The prison, opened by Republican President George W. Bush to hold terrorism suspects captured overseas after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks came to symbolize harsh detention practices that opened the United States to accusations of torture. Trump's Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama, reduced the inmate population to 41 from 242, but fell short of fulfilling his promise to close the jail before leaving office last year. In contrast, Trump pledged during his campaign to repopulate the prison, saying he wanted to "to load it up with some bad dudes." Trump signed an order in January to keep the detention centre open and hinted in his State of the Union address to Congress this year that Islamic State or al Qaeda fighters could be added to the prison population. Trump also asked the Pentagon to re-examine the U.S. military's detention policy. To that end, the Pentagon said on Wednesday it updated its guidance on criteria for transferring new detainees to Guantanamo Bay. "This policy provides our warfighters guidance on nominating detainees for transfer to Guantanamo detention should that person present a continuing, significant threat to the security of the United States," said Higgins. A White House National Security spokesman confirmed that it had received the new detainee criteria. "We have no further comment at this time," the spokesman said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Grant McCool and Peter Cooney) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - About 3,800 artefacts, including Sumerian cuneiform tablets dating to 2100 B.C., that were illegally smuggled to retailer Hobby Lobby Stores Inc will be returned to Iraqi officials in Washington on Wednesday. By Gina Cherelus (Reuters) - About 3,800 artefacts, including Sumerian cuneiform tablets dating to 2100 B.C., that were illegally smuggled to retailer Hobby Lobby Stores Inc will be returned to Iraqi officials in Washington on Wednesday. Iraqi Ambassador Fareed Yasseen and Deputy Foreign Minister Nazar Al-Khairullah are scheduled to attend Wednesday's handover, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said in a statement. Hobby Lobby, the Oklahoma City-based arts-and-crafts retailer, agreed in July to surrender the antiquities, which made in what is now Iraq about 4,000 years ago, and pay $3 million to settle civil proceedings brought by the U.S. Justice Department. Shipping labels on the packages the artefacts arrived in described them as "tile samples," federal prosecutors said. The company began assembling a collection of historically significant manuscripts and other antiquities in 2009, prosecutors said. The company's president, Steve Green, is the founder of the Museum of the Bible, which opened in Washington, D.C., in 2016. Privately held Hobby Lobby has said the seized artefacts were not intended for the museum. It has not said what it planned to do with them. The forfeited packages included tablets with cuneiform script, one of the earliest systems of writing. Many of the tablets come from the ancient city of Irisagrig and date to 2100 B.C. through 1600 B.C. primarily, known as the Ur III and Old Babylonian periods. Two clay cones also were inscribed with royal inscriptions from the Early Dynastic Lagash II periods, around 2500 B.C. Justice Department officials have said Hobby Lobby's 2010 purchase of $1.6 million in ancient artefacts through dealers in the United Arab Emirates and Israel was "fraught with red flags," saying the company had ignored warnings that the items could have been looted from archaeological sites in Iraq. When the company disclosed its $3 million settlement with the Justice Department in July, Green said Hobby Lobby should have "carefully questioned how the acquisitions were handled." A representative of the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Hobby Lobby and the Green family drew headlines in 2014 when the Supreme Court ruled the craft store chain and Conestoga Wood Specialties of Pennsylvania could refuse to cover contraceptives in their employees' health insurance due to its owners' religious beliefs. (This story has been refiled to delete extraneous word "the" in last paragraph) (Reporting by Gina Cherelus in New York; Editing by Scott Malone and Bill Trott) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. A shrinking pool of available workers has led to a ripple effect across the entry-level employment market. Many companies have had to increase their pay rates above the minimum wage to find quality people, or even anyone at all, to fill open positions. Target (NYSE:TGT) has been ahead of that curve. The company first raised its minimum hourly rate to $9 an hour -- up from the federal minimum wage of $7.25 -- in April 2015. It later raised the rate further to $10 an hour. Now it has increased its minimum hourly rate once again, and made a promise for the future. What did Target do? The retail chain, which has over 1,800 stores in the U.S., raised its lowest hourly pay rate to $11 in October. That increase applied to both its permanent workers and the temporary holiday workers it was hiring at the time. "Target has always offered market competitive wages to our team members," said CEO Brian Cornell in a press release. "With this latest commitment, we'll be providing even more meaningful pay, as well as the tools, training and support our team needs to build their skills, develop professionally and offer the service and expertise that set Target apart." Target has also committed to reaching a $15 per hour minimum wage by 2020 for all its workers. The company has not provided a timetable or schedule for moving from $11 to $15. How does Target compare? WalMart (NYSE:WMT), arguably Target's biggest brick-and-mortar rival, has also raised its minimum hourly rate to $11. WalMart has not committed to hitting $15 an hour by 2020, however. Target noted on its website that an $11 per hour minimum wage is higher than the minimum wage in 48 states, while matching the rate required in Massachusetts and Washington. The chain employs roughly 160 people per full-sized location, and about 25% of its store management started in hourly positions. This is good business Both WalMart and Target are accomplishing two things by raising wages. First, they are giving their stores a chance to hire higher-quality workers. Both companies' recruiting efforts are also helped by both chains offering hourly workers a path to promotion. In addition, both companies are treating their employees better, and lowering the chances of protests or other negative publicity over their wages. Target in particular looks good by naming a date it will get to the $15 an hour minimum that has become a rallying cry for activists. ` Virgin America gained a big following in California with its mood lighting, upscale amenities, and hip image. However, Alaska Air (NYSE:ALK) acquired Virgin America in late 2016 and it recently retired the Virgin America brand. In this episode of Industry Focus: Energy, the team talks about whether retiring the Virgin America brand poses a risk to Alaska Air's financial performance. Most travelers are motivated by price and convenience more than brand loyalty. However, Virgin America did have a passionate base of fans who valued its luxurious -- and expensive -- first class seats. A full transcript follows the video. This video was recorded on April 26, 2018. Sarah Priestley: One move that they did make is, obviously, reuniting the Virgin America brand under the Alaska brand. Some have argued that this maybe alienated some Virgin Atlantic loyalists. I don't know how many loyal air travel passengers there are. [laughs] Maybe I'm just speaking from my own experience, but I feel like a lot of people are really going with the cheapest or most convenient option, as opposed to sticking with a carrier, unless they're a credit card follower for the points and the miles and things like that. Adam Levine-Weinberg: Yeah. I would say, the biggest risk to Alaska from the Virgin America merger is not in losing the volume. The vast majority of people who are flying Virgin America would fly Alaska, or at least would consider flying Alaska. Virgin America was known for having this eight-seat first-class cabin in all of its planes, which was very fancy, basically one flight attendant for just those eight people, humongous seats that were really cushy, all kinds of other perks. And it was a seat where you weren't allowed to get an upgrade just for flying a lot, you had to actually pay for the seat. People liked that because it was exclusive, so there was a certain small class of people who were paying $1,000, $1,500 one way for these seats on routes, and that's obviously very profitable. On the other hand, it was only eight seats per plane, so it's still not the majority of Virgin America's revenue by any means. But, it was an important part of that business. Alaska will still have a first-class section. It's actually going to be a little bit bigger. But, the seats themselves won't have as much legroom, and they just won't be as much of a standout, so the revenue premium that it's getting there will probably be smaller. But, you look at the economy cabin, I don't expect to see much pushback from former Virgin America customers at all. Priestley: Yeah. I think that Virgin America did a fantastic job with a lot of their marketing, but as you said, it's probably not going to hamper Alaska much at all. I just bought a 2018 F350 Platinum from Boonville Ford in Indiana. I paid the same price, if not a tad bit lower. They are great to deal with and you could potentially learn from me and negotiate a bit lower. Their online price doesnt include the shipping and document fee's which are then added on. I misread the fine print. I also had the 3K Private Cash offer, so that helped. They did throw in extras as well like mudflaps and ordering my Dura tracs at a competitive price. Thousands of Scottish beef producers will receive a share of 38m of funding to help ease cashflow worries after a difficult winter. NFU Scotland (NFUS) asked the Scottish government to bring forward payments made under the Scottish Suckler Beef Support Scheme (SSBSS) after a long, wet winter and cold, damp spring. A similar request has been made on behalf of hill sheep farmers under the Scottish Upland Sheep Support Scheme. See also: Beef farmer adopts dairy mindset to overhaul grazing Fergus Ewing, rural economy secretary, said in the next few weeks SSBSS funds will be awarded to 6,485 farm businesses producing beef calves from suckler cows. We have worked hard to get these vital payments out earlier than expected in order to aid our suckler herds, which form the backbone of quality beef production in Scotland and provide environmental benefits in fragile areas, said Mr Ewing. Favourable exchange rates have helped to boost the value of payments being made under the beef calf scheme to 99.49 for each mainland animal and 144.22 a head for island stock. However, the number of animals claimed under the scheme has declined from 395,000 in 2015 to 387,000 in 2017. NFUS welcome early payments NFUS livestock committee chairman Charlie Adam, who keeps beef cows in Aberdeenshire, said the early payments are a welcome development and the value of such support cannot be underestimated. The beef calf scheme helps ensure that producers around the country are encouraged to keep producing beef calves to underpin the production of quality Scotch beef, he said. Given the weather endured in the past six months or more, that has been very challenging, with bank accounts being drained to keep on top of rising feeding and bedding bills. If we are to maintain our beef production in the post-Brexit era, then returns for suckled calf producers must be maintained or increased. Rockstar Games finally released the third Red Dead Redemption 2 trailer. The sequences showcased in this new trailer were intense and they all were pointing towards the storyline/plot. So those who were asking for Rockstar Games to share more details about the plot of Red Dead Redemption II, this third trailer is an answer from the development team. You guys can watch it below. The events in Red Dead Redemption II is set in 1899 which means its roughly 12 years before the first Red Dead Redemption game (the Red Dead Redemption plot was set in 1911). Immediately after the launch of Red Dead Redemption Trailer #3, Rockstar Games updated their official website with the following text: America, 1899. The end of the wild west era has begun as lawmen hunt down the last remaining outlaw gangs. Those who will not surrender or succumb are killed. From the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America at the dawn of the modern age. Coming October 26, 2018, to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One systems. And more details were shared via the YouTube description of Trailer #3: After a robbery goes badly wrong in the western town of Blackwater, Arthur Morgan and the Van der Linde gang are forced to flee. With federal agents and the best bounty hunters in the nation massing on their heels, the gang must rob, steal and fight their way across the rugged heartland of America in order to survive. As deepening internal divisions threaten to tear the gang apart, Arthur must make a choice between his own ideals and loyalty to the gang who raised him. There were multiple cinematic sequences in this new trailer that gave hint towards the appearance of John Marston. Check out the screenshots below. Lastly but not the least, Rockstar Games also released the final box art of Red Dead Redemption II. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. From Georgia to Lebanon: exploring the best wines of the ancient world - GeorgianJournal 10 castle villages of Georgias Tusheti Region to be studied and rehabilitated - GeorgianJournal Council of Europe welcomes new peace initiative of Georgia to promote interaction with Abkhazia and Tskhinvali - GeorgianJournal Facebook teams up with RED to create Professional VR camera News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Facebook has revealed that virtual reality camera will be able to capture high-resolution 3D images using 6DoF' or six degrees of freedom'. Facebook is holding is the Developer Conference F8 in San Jose, California this year. At the first day of the event, Facebook made some announcements regarding the updates that it will be rolling out for its services and apps. One such announcement made by the company yesterday. The announcement hints that many new initiatives are in store for the users. This also included a few initiatives taken by Facebook. The initiatives taken proves that the company wants to explore other platforms rather than being just a social networking platform. Following the Cambridge Analytical scandal, Facebook dropped the plans of announcing its rumoured smart speakers. However, the social media giant has given the hints that it is interested in the hardware department. So it might not be a surprise that we might see a Facebook-backed device in the future. As per some sources from the web, Facebook is working towards a professional-grade virtual reality camera. The company says it is in a development stage. The social media giant has teamed up with digital cinematography company, RED Digital Cinema. Facebook has not given any demo of the device during the F8. However, the company has revealed that virtual reality camera will be able to capture high-resolution 3D images using '6DoF' or ' six degrees of freedom'. Belkin Boost Up Wireless Charging Pad Quick Look Further, it is also being reported that the device will combine Facebook's depth detection technology with RED's low-light performance. This combined technology will produce high-quality VR imagery. It can further be explored in real-time using a VR headset similar to that of Oculus Rift. Facebook has also said that it has been working on an immersive capture technology for quite some time now. The company had first shown off its Surround 360 cameras at the F8 which was held back in 2016. Facebook has also made an announcement back then that it is working with a number of hardware companies in order to achieve their goal. However, there is no information regarding the pricing or the availability of the device. It is also being speculated that the device is not going to be announced anytime soon. This is due to the fact that Facebook didn't give a prototype demo on stage. This means that we still have no idea about how the device might look like. Also, it would be worth noting the fact that RED manufactures cameras for professionals and comes with a heavy price tag. The company's latest flagship device which is the Weapon 8K VV is priced at $79,500 (Rs 52,99,867.50 approx). This implies that the camera that will be rolled out by the joint-venture could come with a hefty price tag. Best Mobiles in India You won't believe what Amazon is planning next News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Amazon wants to conquer all the retail categories. Amazon seems to be on a quest to conquer every single retail category. In addition to its efforts the company now has a new venture. According to Bloomberg, the e-commerce giant is stepping into the pet business with its own dog food. The new pet-centered branch will be called Wag. The new venture is named after Wag.com, which Amazon acquired back in 2011. The website now directs to an Amazon landing page. The dog food comes in different varieties. The categories include chicken, beef, salmon, lamb, and turkey. It comes for both puppies and adult dogs and is sold in five-, 15-, and 30-pound bags. Since its hard to determine good food for your pet, the food providers have to put their products through various tests. The Wag line passes ingredients test, with the primary protein source and meat meal as the top two ingredients. The food line also comes with a label "no grain added," which means that they aren't using foods like corn and wheat as filler ingredients. Amazon's new venture in the pet market can prove to be profitable for its revenue. Americans are projected to spend more than $72 billion on their pets in 2018. Bloomberg's report also claims that the company has made about $2 million last year with its AmazonBasics branded pet carriers. While there are other players in the pet food business, there's plenty of room for Amazon to blend in. On top that the company will offer two-shipping through Amazon Prime membership. Besides, Amazon seems to be working on domestic robots that will be launched in 2019, reports Bloomberg. The project is dubbed as Vesta, after the goddess of home and family in Roman mythology. The company will most likely begin testing the robots by the end of 2018, while targeting a 2019 launch. Amazon Echo Spot First Impressions Amazon has a robotics division that develops industrial machines that perform the automated work in its warehouses, but the new project is lead by Gregg Zehr, president of Amazon's Lab126. The lab is based in California and houses the hardware team that is responsible for the Echo and Fire line of products. It has also posted several robotics-related positions on jobs page. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Cambridge Analytica announces closure amid Facebook data scandal News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Cambridge Analytica files for bankruptcy. You must be aware of Cambridge Analytica after Facebook's data scandal broke out. Well, after being in the spotlight for months for its participation in Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign, political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica and its parent company SLC Group have announced that they are shutting down. "The Company is immediately ceasing all operations," the company said in a statement posted on its website. The announcement was first spotted by Gizmodo, which had obtained documents that includes a directive to American employees to return their respective keycards immidiately. It was later confirmed by SLC Group founder Nigel Oakes in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. This doesn't come as a surprise, since the company has been fighting accusations of misusing Facebook user data. The allegations claim that the firm invaded user privacy to support Trump's campaign. In response the company released a statement denying any wrongdoings. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the Company's efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas." "Cambridge Analytica maintains unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully." The company launched an independent investigation on the matter. Its chief executive Alexander Nix was sacked following the allegations of the wrongdoings. According to the company, the investigation supports its "unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully." Cambridge Analytica said to have retained private data from more than 50 million Facebook users while claiming to have deleted it. Many users and politicians in response and even Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg called it a 'breach of trust.' Earlier, Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg apologized for the Cambridge Analytica scandal. They put out ads in US and UK Sunday newspapers. The ads suggest that a quiz app built by a Cambridge University researcher leaked Facebook data of millions of users four years ago. Following this matter, it was also found out that Facebook collected user's personal data such as contact numbers and text messages from Android phones. The company in response to the reports said that the call and SMS data was uploaded to secure servers and come only from Android users who opt to allow the sync of data. Best Mobiles in India Xiaomi files for the largest IPO after AliBaba; 100 billion valuation likely News oi-Karan Xiaomi will be looking to sell at least $10 billion in shares in Hong Kong at a valuation of $100 billion. The IPO could end up being the largest in the world since 2014. In January there are reports which have suggested that the Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi is expected to go public sometime this year. Now it's been official that the company will be looking to sell at least $10 billion in shares in Hong Kong at a valuation of $100 billion. Xiaomi will be the first company ever to go public in that country after the rules are changed. The IPO could end up the largest in the world since 2014 when China's Alibaba raised $25 billion. Xiaomi as a smartphone manufacturer stepped into the mobile market in August 2011. The company has seen some good results just after the launch of its phone, within some time it became the top handset maker across the globe. According to IDC, Xiaomi is the fourth largest smartphone, and it has seen global shipments for its smartphone 87.8 percent year-on-year during its first quarter. The smartphone maker has shipped 28 million smartphone units from January through March compared to 14.8 million delivered in the same quarter last year. Which gives Xiaomi an 8.4 percent of the worldwide smartphone market at the end of the three month period. After the expansion in India, the shipment during the first quarter was increased to Xiaomi. It was a grand slam for the company as the expansion doubled its market share. The company could also be making its long-awaited entry into the U.S. market. According to reports, the company is talking to U.S. carriers about selling its flagship phones in the states, maybe later this year, or in early 2019. According to Bloomberg's report, "Xiaomi could be the biggest IPO since Alibaba's $25 billion debuts in 2014. Though it suffered through a challenging 2016, the company bounced back by revamping its sales model and expanding in India, where it rivals Samsung Electronics Co. as the biggest vendor." Apart from smartphones, Xiaomi has also supported dozens of startups producing a wide spectrum of products, which includes wearables to rice cookers. The total sales collected from its ecosystem doubled to 20 billion yuan in 2017. Google Home Unboxing and Setup process - GIZBOT Source Best Mobiles in India GREENWICH Every year, the Run/Walk for Hope brings hundreds of people together and raises thousands of dollars for the Greenwich-based Breast Cancer Alliance. This year, the event is expanding beyond the borders of Greenwich to allow people anywhere to take part and make a difference in the lives of those living with breast cancer. The annual 1-mile stroll added a 5K run in 2016, both to bring in more participants and to emphasize the important role of fitness in prevention and recovery. The new component this year will be Walk or Run Where You Live, which will allow people throughout the U.S. to support the cause and the work of the BCA by running or walking in their hometowns. Even though the walk is here, we want to bring this event to everyone everywhere, said Susan Weis, one of the co-chairs for the event. People in California, Ohio and New Hampshire have already committed to take part, and anyone throughout the country is invited to walk around their neighborhood or a nearby track to support the mission of the BCA. This years walk and run steps off at 8 a.m. Sunday, with hundreds of participants expected to fill Greenwich Avenue and the downtown area, many dressed in the BCAs signature pink gear. According to BCA Executive Director Yonni Wattenmaker, the organization funds three critical areas in the fight against breast cancer. The first is breaking down barriers of access and helping to secure screening, treatment and support for the uninsured and underserved. There are lots of women in our area who, even if they have access to health care, cant afford the co-pays or the deductibles, or are juggling lots of jobs, Wattenmaker said. We are committed to working with institutions to help combat some of the costs for women, to make it easier for them to have access to quality breast health care. The second facet of BCAs mission is to fund the training of future surgeons. Working with institutions accredited by the Society of Surgical Oncology, the BCA provides fellowship grants to train physicians to be dedicated breast surgeons who will go on to improve quality of life and survival rates for their patients. Finally, the organization funds breast cancer research, focusing on innovative work performed both by leading scientists and by scientists who are just starting their careers. There is so much work that needs to be done in breast cancer research, even though so many advances have been made already, Wattenmaker said. Since its founding in 1996, the BCA has given more than $25 million in grants, including 163 research grants and 184 education and outreach grants. Its really grown from a local, well-intentioned organization doing meaningful work, to a really thoughtful organization thats now making a national impact, she said. Weis has been co-chair of the event for the past three years. She first became involved with BCA after she was diagnosed with DCIS, an early form of breast cancer. Weis was inspired by the powerful women working in the organization, and wanted to do her part to help and to spread awareness. People need to get together because this disease affects people on so many levels, Weis said. She said the turnout for the event every year is incredible. Its amazing to see the amount of people who come out to rally around this cause. The Run/Walk will begin and end Sunday morning at Richards, located at 359 Greenwich Ave. Check-in and walk-in registration begins at 7 a.m., with the 5K stepping off at 8 a.m. and the walk beginning at 8:15 a.m. Prizes and a complimentary breakfast will be handed out, and all participants will get a T-shirt. Dogs are also welcome to join in the walk. The cost is $40 for adults, or $30 for students ages 8 to 18. For the Walk or Run Where You Live, the fee is $20 for adults, and $10 for students ages 8 and 18. Children ages 7 and under can take part in either event for free. For more information, go to breastcanceralliance.org. To take part, visit https://www.flipcause.com/index.php/secure/event_step1/Mjc1NTM= HARTFORD Republican gubernatorial candidate Peter Lumaj held a press conference Wednesday to complain that a profile of him by Hearst Connecticut Media was fake news. I am the victim of a character assassination, Lumaj said. He offered no verifiable evidence of mistakes in the story, but rather took to the Capitol stairs in front of four reporters to protest a story that pointed out wide gaps between his campaign speeches and what the record shows. In particular, Lumaj makes broad claims abut his criminal and immigration law practice, but officials at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law from which Lumaj graduated in 2007 said he was granted a Master of Law degree not a Juris Doctorate, which most states require to sit for the Bar exam. He is a member of the Bar in the District of Columbia, which does not require a J.D. Lumaj, 50, offered few more details on his law practice Wednesday. He said he now has 300 active cases and waved at reporters a spiral notebook containing a handwritten list of what he said were the 1,119 cases he said he has handled. Lets go to court together, he told reporters. Kathryn Mattingly, a spokesman for the Executive Office of Immigration Review under the U.S. Department of Justice, told Hearst that Lumaj is registered to practice before the immigration court and the Board of Immigration Appeals. But his eRegistry account has been deactivated due to lack of activity. Connecticut Democrats said Lumaj was merely copying President Donald J. Trumps strategy of attacking the press. These attacks on the press lauded by the Connecticut Republicans and their candidates are directly from the Trump playbook, Christina Polizzi, communications director for the Connecticut Democrats, said in a statement. Peter Lumajs attacks on the media are jarring, but its not hard to see where he got idea. One of 12 GOP candidates for the states top job, Lumaj received only one vote out of 62 at the Republican Town Committee in his hometown of Fairfield Tuesday night. Reporting contributed by Kaitlyn Krasselt. The Nest Temperature Sensor has been on pre-order since it was announced back in March this year and now it has finally started shipping. It's available with for $39. You can order the accessory from both Google Store as well as Nest's official website, although it's currently showing as out of stock at the former. You can place these sensors in your rooms so that your Nest thermostat is aware which room should be a certain temperature at a certain time of day. Keep in mind that the device is only compatible with the Nest Thermostat E or the 3rd gen Nest Learning Thermostat. For those looking to purchase multiple units, Nest if offering a 3-pack for $99 ($18 off). Source 1 2 These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Published on 2018/05/03 | Source Added final episodes 31 and 32 captures for the Korean drama "The Great Seducer" (2018) Advertisement Directed by Kang In-I, Lee Dong-hyun-IV Written by Kim Bo-yeon-I Network : MBC With Woo Do-hwan, Joy, Moon Ga-young, Kim Min-jae-I, Kim Seo-hyung, Shin Sung-woo,... 32 episodes - Mon, Tue 22:00 (2x35min) Formerly know as "Love Game" and "Love Game: The Great Seduction" ( - , leo-beu-ge-im - wi-dae-han yu-ok") Synopsis Based on the 2003 "Untold Scandal", this drama centers on an aristocratic man and woman engage in a bet. If the man can convince a virtuous widow to sleep with him, then he can finally have the aristocratic woman. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2018/03/12 More Liam Edwards, 14, playing the older Wilbur, talks to Rachel Dean, playing Charlotte, Wednesday night in the Litttle Theatre at Montana State Univeristy Northern during a rehearsal of the Montana Actors' Theatre production of "Charlotte's Web." The Joseph Robinette adaptation of E.B. White's children's classic opens Friday at 8 p.m. Friday will be the opening night of the Montana Actors' Theatre production of "Charlotte's Web," written by Joseph Robinette and adapted from the book by E.B. White. The director of the play, Oriah Williams, who is also making her debut as a director on the main stage, said that they aimed this production toward children, but she is sure all ages will enjoy it. MAT's website echoes that sentiment. "Charlotte, Wilbur and all the rest of the lovable characters will be present in this heartwarming tale which is sure to delight both children and adults alike," the entry on the site says. Auditions were held in late February with practices starting in early March. Williams said that they asked for children and adults to come audition and the cast consists of adults and children, with a majority of the ensemble being children. Williams said working with so many younger actors has its own issues. "It is fun and challenging," Williams said, adding that all the kids are great. She described them as confident and dedicated. Williams said she was happy with how well the children did at memorizing their lines. Since many of the cast consisted of children, Williams said, she tried to end rehearsals around 8 p.m. each night, but for he last two weeks rehearsals usually lasted until 9 p.m. as they added costumes and lights to the production. Williams said another good thing about working with the children was how supportive the parents and families of the actors were. She said the parents were always asking what they could do as well as donating props to the show. Williams said she is also appreciative of the wonderful set for the play that was designed by Montana State University-Northern theater classes. She said she hopes that the performance will inspire budding area actors to join the KidsMAT summer theater camp for children ages 5-15, being held in Havre and Chinook. A performance of "Bugsy Malone," which will be starring middle school and high school students and directed by the 2018 Summer Youth Interns, is opening in July. "Charlotte's Web" will run May 4-6, 10-13, and 17-19 at 8 p.m. in the Little Theater in Montana State University-Northern's Cowan Hall. 2 p.m. matinees are set for Sunday and May 13. Doors and the backstage lounge will open a half hour before each production starts. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, seniors and military, and $5 for children K-8. Tickets are available locally at fivehead's, Computer Center and Bear Paw Meats, or online through http://www.mtactors.com/. This production is sponsored by Havre Ford The cast list, which includes a mix of ages is: Fern: Shay Hauer Arable: David Chambers Ms. Arable: Kate Hagen Avery: Ethan Davison Zuckerman: Martin Holt Mrs. Zuckerman: Michelene Edwards Havre Daily News/Ryan Welch Lurvy: Deanna Stevenson Young Wilbur: Asher Brinkman Older Wilbur: Liam Edwards Templeton: Koby Preputin Charlotte: Rachel Dean Goose: Jamie Lynn Sherman Gander: Bill Chambers Sheep: Angela Murri Lamb: Marlee Thivierge Ensemble: Mark Cichosz, Jeremy Woodwick, Toby Fisher, Allyssa Schoen, Kate Hemmer, Mara Edwards, Dentin DePriest, Izzy Hagen, Kelcee Garcia, Tyley Hemmer, Maddy Hagen, Becca Dean, Dever Everingham. Volunteers needed at Big Creek Outdoor Education Center and Field Camp to prepare for summer programs and camps Press release The Glacier Institute is hosting its annual volunteer work day Saturday, May 19, starting at 9 a.m. Volunteers are invited to join Glacier Institute staff at both the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center about 21 miles north of Columbia Falls and Field Camp just inside the West Glacier entrance to Glacier National Park to assist with campus upkeep and light construction. Projects include painting, light carpentry, raking, sweeping and cleaning. Volunteers are encouraged to bring tools including rakes, brooms, shop vacuums, wheelbarrows and work gloves. Lunch will be provided at both camps and the day will end with a barbecue for all volunteers at Big Creek. People who are interested in participating are asked to RSVP to [email protected] or call 046-755-1211. Volunteers will receive an email confirmation before the event with more details. About The Glacier Institute Solely dedicated to education, the Glacier Institute serves adults and children as an educational leader in the Crown of the Continent ecosystem, emphasizing outreach and field-based learning experiences. The non-profit Institute provides an objective and science-based understanding of the areas ecosystem and its interaction with people. Marking 35 years of educational programs, the Glacier Institute is a long-time educational partner with Glacier National Park, Flathead National Forest, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and Flathead Valley Community College. The Institute offers family programs, youth science adventure camps, Discovery School at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center and adult educational programs. The Institute has never turned away a child who has requested an educational scholarship and has welcomed over 33,500 Flathead Valley elementary school children to the Discovery School three-day immersion learning program at the Big Creek Outdoor Education Center. Havre Fire Department Firefighter Kessler Leonard poses Wednesday in the fire department's new mascot costume, Sparky, which the department purchased with a grant it received from the FM Global insurance company. Wednesday morning at the Havre Fire Department, the department received a grant from FM Global as well as unveiling its new Sparky the Fire Dog costume they purchased with the grant. The fire department purchased the costume to use when it presents educational programs and events in the area. FM Global, a multinational insurance company that is based in San Francisco, has awarded many prevention grants over the years to fire departments across the United States. "Our focus is on safety," David Peterson of FM Global said as he presented a plaque to Havre Fire Department Chief Mel Paulson and Assistant Chief Kelly Jones. Peterson said that as an insurance company, they know that fire safety is a top concern for people and they want to reward the nation's firefighters and those who contribute to the education of fire safety. "Gentlemen, like you, who put your life on the line," he said as he thanked the Havre firefighters gathered in the room. Several hundred applicants applied for this grant, Peterson said, but the Havre Fire Department's application stood out because of what they wanted the $2,700 grant for - a full-sized Dalmatian costume dressed in a firefighter outfit which they could use when talking and interacting with the children in Havre and Hill County. This costume matches the dalmatian in the remote-controlled car the fire department uses to teach children. Paulson said the fire department is looking forward to using the costume when they go through the area schools teaching the children about fire safety. "We are ecstatic about getting the grant," Jones added, "It will help with the education for the kids." They also plan to use it for Fire Prevention Week in October, when the firefighters often do tours for families and plan fun activities for kids as well as other various other community events that involve the children of the community. Dottie Wilson poses for a photo Wednesday in her bakery, The Infinity Bake Shoppe. Her business is featured this year by the Small Business Development Center Network as a success story. A Havre business has been featured as one of the The Montana Small Business Development Center Network successes. The SBDC annual report contains success stories from across the state, with one being new Havre business, The Infinity Bake Shoppe. A poster listing the success of the shop describes how The Infinity Bake Shoppe owner Dottie Wilson began her career in baking by baking for children at her day care. She then worked at a bakery before opening her own shop March 28, 2017. Wilson said the process of her shop was "actually pretty smooth." The regional director of the SBDC in Bear Paw Development Corp. in Havre, Joe LaPlante, was the one who assisted Wilson in opening her shop. Wilson said that LaPlante was always willing to work with her and help her out when she needed it. "We were able to open without financial help (from the network or loans)," Wilson said, "but Joe was still always willing to help." "Dottie was able to obtain financing and created 2 full-time jobs and 4 part-time jobs. In her first day of business, she sold out of her products in just over an hour," the success story poster states. Wilson said she is pleased with how her business worked out. "I am proud of the whole atmosphere," she said. "Everyone is happy." Some small businesses SBDC has assisted - one of which is located in Havre - will be celebrated at the 2018 Small Business Administration Awards today in coordination with United States Small Business. The Montana SBDC said that they are excited to celebrate all the small business across the state. The press release added that "small businesses are truly the backbone of Montana's economy." United States Small Business Administration small business week is this week April 29-May 5. -- The Infinity Bake Shoppe: Havre Regional Success Story poster can be found on the SBDC Montana website http://sbdc.mt.gov/Portals/131/shared/SBDC/docs/SuccessStories/2018/HavreSBDCPoster.pdf/. Did you ever hear the joke about the Army Ranger, the Recon Marine, a Navy SEAL, and a Delta Force member sitting around the campfire? If not, well have to save that one for another day. Instead, lets say its an Army Ranger, a Navy SEAL and the United States Secretary of Interior sitting around a campfire in the Flathead National Forest. Thats actually not that hard to imagine, since our current Secretary of Interior is Whitefishs own Ryan Zinke, a former Navy SEAL. And Im a former Army Ranger living in the Flathead I served five years with 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment. So, if I was sitting around the campfire with Ryan Zinke, after some small talk, a few beers, a handful of war stories, even though I hate talking politics, Id probably say this: What happened to Teddy Roosevelt conservation, man? I was hopeful that sending Zinke to Washington could do great things for Montana. As a congressman representing Montana, Secretary Zinke was an ardent supporter for a very important source of protection for Montanas public outdoor spaces the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the principal source of federal dollars for expanding Americas parks, wildlife refuges and other heritage lands. It has done more to protect open space and develop outdoor recreation opportunities than any other federal program in American history. Since its launch in 1964, the program has enjoyed wide bipartisan support through more than 10 administrations, protected more than 7.6 million acres of land and supported more than 41,000 parks, ballfields, and other recreation projects that meet state and local priorities. Over the years, Montana has benefited from $580 million from LWCF, creating better access to places like Tenderfoot Creek, the Flathead National Forest, and the Beartooth Mountains, as well as fishing access sites and trails across Montana. And during his Senate confirmation hearing Secretary Zinke vigorously pledged support for permanently reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund. You have my full commitment, he said. Even as recent as September of last year he called the LWCF state grant program a resounding success across the nation. But now, on Secretary Zinkes watch, our president has proposed a budget for 2019 that virtually eliminates LWCF, reducing its funding level to an unprecedented and appallingly inadequate $8 million. Thats less than 1 percent of the $900 million authorized. Unfortunately to date, Secretary Zinkes influential voice to protest the drastic cuts to the preservation of our great outdoors has not been heard. So, if I was sitting around a campfire with Secretary Zinke in the Flathead National Forest, Id use some colorful language to try to get him to go back to D.C. and fight like hell to restore LWCF funding. To be fair, Secretary Zinke presides over one of the largest departments in the federal government and is no doubt subject to intense lobbying from all sides. Im guessing that after spending some time out in the woods and out of the swamp in Washington, D.C., he might just rediscover that Teddy Roosevelt conservative deep down inside him. Secretary Zinke, if you do make it back home in the Flathead, give me a call. Lets go camping. If nothing else, it will give me a chance to tell you that joke about what happened that time when the Army Ranger, the Recon Marine, a Navy SEAL, and a Delta Force member were sitting around the campfire. Jim McCormack is a former Army Green Beret and Army Ranger. He and his family live in Kalispell. So often we voice our opinions expressing how imperative it is to elect good people into office. We talk about the presidency, we talk about our national senate and congress, we even talk about electing people with integrity to our state legislature. But what about our Public Service Commission? We hardly think about the PSC but it is just as vital as the other publicly held offices to have someone who has integrity and strong conservative values. We have known Randy Pinocci for over 20 years. He is a man of high moral character and grounded in the biblical principles of service to God and others before himself. Randy is not swayed by big money corporations or outside interest groups. Randy has lived his whole life in this district and will serve PSC district 1, with the integrity we can only hope from all our elected officials. Randy served as a representative in the 2015 Montana legislature, working closely with the PSC. The Montana Family Foundation gave Randy 100% for voting for Family Values, his opponent Rob Cook, scored the lowest of all the Republicans, voting against family values 55 percent of the time. Randy does not support the largest federal water grab in Montana history known as the CSKT Compact and Rob Cook voted for it. Randy will always stand up for Montanans. He will make sure the people are represented well, not big corporations, ensuring the lowest rates possible for the ratepayer. Contact Randy at Pinocci @ 3rivers.net. Vote for Randy Pinocci June 5th. Ken and Peggy Miller Laurel Currently, Regan receives a base salary of $2 million and incentives that could add roughly $7 million to his pay. The British exec also earned an impressive sign-on bonus of $8.5 million. While a majority of shareholders lodging proxy votes in advance of todays meeting are supportive of our remuneration approach a significant percentage did not approve, said chairman Marty Becker. Additionally, a number expressed reservations about the size of Pats award of conditional rights in the context of the companys 2017 results. Investors have been forced to endure further downgrades and a dividend cut, prompting backlash to Regans apparently excessive remuneration. Naturally we are very disappointed by this, however, we have heard your concerns, said Becker. The board will use this feedback from shareholders on our remuneration approach and review what changes we want to make going forward. Retirement benefit would help volunteer firefighter recruiting Edneyville Fire Chief Robert Griffin, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey and Brian Taylor, of the state's fire marshal's office, talk about turnout gear. Robert Griffin, chief of Edneyville Fire & Rescue, knows its tough to recruit and keep volunteer firefighters and knows one big reason why. We cant get firefighters because of the housing costs, he says. That and fulltime job demands, busy schedules and other factors make it hard for volunteer fire departments statewide to sustain a steady force of firefighters. State Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey heard that familair refrain from Chief Griffin on Thursday morning. Thats the biggest problem rural fire departments have, Causey said during a visit to the main Edneyville fire station on U.S. 64. Theyre struggling to recruit volunteers and struggling to keep volunteers. Volunteer firefighters get a retirement benefit for a $10 a month contribution; some volunteer fire departments cover that for their volunteers; others dont. Probably the biggest request I get is help get our retirement up,'" said the insurance commissioner, now in his second year on the job. A former agency owner, Causey defeated Democratic incumbent Wayne Goodwin in 2016 in a rematch of the 2012 election that Goodwin won. Fire coverage in rural areas is a challenge across the state, said Causey, who is also the state fire marshal. One of the things county commissioners have seen fit to do is help fire departments get funded so they can have a paid firefighter at the department all during the week. Mutual aid agreements compound the firefighting force when volunteer response is lowest, during the work week. Henderson Countys fire service had demonstrated that four hours earlier, when the Mountain Home, Fletcher and Bat Cave departments assisted Edneyville at a house fire in Tall Timbers off U.S. 64. During his daylong visit to Henderson County, Causey also toured the new Western North Carolina crime lab at the Justice Academy and visited the Mike Earle insurance agency in Hendersonville. It makes all the difference in the world, Causey said of the on-site visits to rural firehouses. You can take to them on the phone or look at their website but nothings ever going to match being on the ground, seeing first-hand the type of equipment they have, the building and the response capacity of that department to the community. Causey asked Griffin about Edneyvilles fire rating review, which comes up in a few weeks. Griffin said hes confident that the department will improve its rating a notch, from a 5 to a 4. The better the rating of the fire department, the better chance people living in the fire district have of holding down their homeowners rate, Causey said. When a department has a rating higher than 5, an improved rating can be worth $120 per point per year in fire insurance. Although a drop from 5 to 4 wont make much difference in a homeowners cost, it might be the difference between a house being saved or burning to the ground, Causey said. This has been a bad year so far for fire deaths in North Carolina. The state has recorded 70 fatalities already, versus 83 in all of 2017. Causey attributes the cold winter for many deaths. I was told by a fire chief that North Carolina leads the nation in fire deaths this year, he said. Among the prevention strategies hes put in place is greater education about smoke detectors. Blue Cross Blue Shield donated $1 million to the Sound the Alarm campaign, a Salvation Army program to install as many working smoke detectors in these low-income homes as they can. Causey also won appropriations from the Legislature to hire 42 more inspectors to catch up on a backlog of inspections of 1,354 fire stations and 18 more law enforcement officers to investigate arson, fire insurance fraud and white-collar crime. Democratic candidates differ on Balfour Parkway, NC 191 For the first time in many years, Democratic voters have a primary election choice for a seat on the Henderson County Board of Commissioners. Michelle Antalec and Patricia Pat Sheley, both residents of Flat Rock, are running for the nomination for the District 1 seat currently held by county commission Chairman Michael Edney, who has no opponent in the Republican primary. Antalec, a risk manager for a corporation, has a degree in political science from Millsaps College in Jackson, Miss., and a masters in finance from Louisiana State University. She has lived in Flat Rock since November 2015. Sheley is a retired psychiatric mental health nurse with 40 years of nursing at outpatient and inpatient psychiatric facilities in North Carolina. She was employed at Dorothea Dix, Duke and UNC in charge of units that treated mental illness and addiction. She also served as a mental health nurse for four counties outpatient clinics. She owned and operated a small business with her husband of 51 years. Here are the candidates answers to the Lightnings questions on issues currently before the Board of Commissioners. Why are you running for election to the Henderson County Board of Commissioners? Antalec: My reasoning was to bring a new perspective to the commission and to ensure all of the whole county benefits from the taxes paid. Sheley: I am an advocate for more transparency and community input to the board. The citizens of Henderson County should be kept abreast of major projects in the county prior to implementation. The board needs to listen to the peoples concerns and act in the best interest of the county. The board needs to be fiscally responsible to the taxpayers. Budget spending priorities must be set by the board. I often hear Well need to raise taxes at commission meetings. Are you in favor or opposed to the proposed Balfour Parkway? Why? Sheley: I am not in favor of bulldozing 200-400 homes. The residents affected by the Balfour project are doing everything in their power to save their homes and quiet communities. They are asking to be heard by the NCDOT and their local government. Some residents located in the path of the proposed routes have actually worked as professional engineers and know what they are talking about. I am listening to their voices. Antalec: I am in favor of the Parkway. This is an amazing area to live in and to keep it that way we need the infrastructure to keep it that way. We are already seeing traffic congestion that given our growth will only be worse. This can be relieved with the north bypass. On the subject of the N.C. 191 widening, do you favor a four-lane divided highway, a three-lane highway with center turn lane or no widening at all? Antalec: I would prefer to see a four-lane divided highway for safety reasons. Sheley: I attended the N.C. 191 public meeting. As I have said before, it looks like a done deal. There does seem to be some continued local public input. The Mills River Town Council has made proposals to NCDOT for three-lane highway from Schoolhouse Road to Banner Farm Road and a four-lane highway from Banner Farm Road to N.C. 280 with a multi-use path. Are you in favor of or opposed to a law enforcement training center? Why? Sheley: I am not in favor of duplicating services already available to Henderson County law enforcement. The Justice Academy in Edneyville offers a firing range and training center to Henderson County law enforcement. The sheriff is not utilizing all available training hours available to his officers. There are also outdoor ranges available for training in the area. Henderson County has more pressing issues. School safety budget must be our top priority. Antalec: I am opposed to law enforcement training center because it would be providing a redundant service our law enforcement personnel can access nearby for significantly less expense. The sheriff has pulled out of providing animal control service in cities (except Mills River, which has an $800,000-a-year contract for policing). Would you be in favor of revisiting this issue and funding the officers the sheriff says he needs to provide animal control services in Hendersonville, Laurel Park, Fletcher and Flat Rock? Antalec: Yes! Sheley: The Sheriff chooses to not offer services to incorporated areas that pay Henderson County taxes. Previously all Henderson County had full services from the Henderson County Sheriffs Department. Maybe we all need to read the North Carolina statute which the sheriff keeps saying allows him to deny services to Henderson County taxpayers. Henderson County has a budget fund balance of $50 million. From some points of view, thats larger than it needs to be. Would you be in favor of keeping it where it is, a property tax rollback or spending that money on a service or capital projects? Sheley: I would vote to look at capital projects that would benefit the County. For example, the board actually refused to apply for a grant of $500,000 to do upgrades to Jackson Park. They refused to set aside $500,000 from the budget, just in case they did not receive the grant from the state. The Board voted unanimously Not to apply for the grant despite the number of citizens who use and enjoy the park. After the opioid forum they say they believe in community, yet when the opportunity arose to improve a valuable resource, they let us down. Antalec: The fund balance is in excess of what is reasonable for a county of 8-12 percent. The money could be used to cut taxes. Aoife Colohan and Eva Troy, from Dunboyne, struggled with conditions at the Fairyhouse races at the start of April Parts of Ireland experienced the wettest April since World War Two, while the rest of the country endured above average rainfall and below average sunshine. In the monthly weather summary from Met Eireann that was published yesterday, the Valencia weather station in Co Kerry recorded the wettest April since 1940. The 197.9mm of rain that fell there was more than twice its normal long-term average for the month. The same station also rec- orded the greatest rainfall in one day when 46.2mm was recorded on April 16 - the wettest April day there since 2003. Cork Airport also endured a soggy month, recording rainfall for 24 out of 31 days, while also recording rainfall under 0.2mms for 28 "rain" days, compared with Malin Head, Co Donegal, which had 11 wet days with rain exceeding 1mm and 14 rain days. Both Cork Airport and Valencia also recorded seven very wet days. Unsettled The only consolation to a wet and dreary month - which was largely unsettled except for a few fine days during the third week - was that the monthly mean temperatures were slightly above average. Dublin's Phoenix Park and Malin Head were treated to a blast of warm air and sunshine on April 18 when temperatures soared to 20C. At the other end of the scale, the mercury dipped to -5.3C in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, on April 5 - its lowest daily temperature since the same date in 2013. The amount of sunshine nationally was also below the monthly average, with Cork Airport receiving only 65pc of its average monthly sunshine at 104.9 hours - its dullest month since 1987. By contrast, Casement Aerodrome in Dublin recorded 165.4 hours of sunshine for the month, with April 20 having 14.9 hours, the most recorded on that day since 1964. While the start of May has been marked by unseasonably cold and blustery weather, that is set to change from tomorrow, according to Met Eireann meteorologist John Eagleton. "The weather is pretty optimistic for the bank holiday," he told the Herald. While today will start off "a bit misty and drizzly", conditions will start improving and get progressively better over the weekend, with more dry and sunny weather kicking in from tomorrow. Monday will be the best day, with temperatures soaring to 22C, though it will be cooler along the eastern coast. A lawsuit with striking similarities to the Vicky Phelan case was settled in secret four years ago. The woman at the centre of the case, taken against a US laboratory and the HSE, had to sign a confidentiality agreement as a condition of her settlement, which involved no admission of liability. She took the case, which was settled in 2014, after a smear test analysis missed abnormalities. The woman only discovered she had cervical cancer the following year, after tests when she became pregnant. Striking Despite the HSE being listed as a co-defendant in the proceedings, its director general Tony O'Brien told an Oireachtas committee yesterday that the organisation has no awareness of the case at all. The primary defendants were New Jersey-based firm Quest Diagnostics, one of three laboratories used as part of CervicalCheck, the national cervical cancer screening programme. The woman also sued the HSE, a Dublin hospital and a hospital consultant in the action. However, it is understood the lawsuit was primarily defended by the laboratory. The lawsuit has striking echoes of Ms Phelan's case, in which the 2.5m settlement with Clinical Pathology Laboratories also came with no admission of liability. She was also requested to sign a confidentiality agreement, but refused to do so. The woman at the centre of the earlier case underwent a smear test in 2011, but abnormalities were missed when this was analysed. She discovered she had cancer when she became pregnant in 2012. The baby was safely delivered by caesarean section and she recovered from the cervical cancer. However, the woman was unable to have more children, as she had to undergo a hysterectomy. Quest Diagnostics did not respond to queries submitted by the Herald. There was also no response yesterday from the HSE press office. Mr O'Brien told the Oireachtas Health Committee he only learned of the settled case after seeing a reference to it in a media report. The reference to the settled case was in an Irish Independent article published yesterday. "We're aware from media reports today of another case that the State Claims Agency (SCA) was not involved in. It was a private case. It was reported that it was settled by one of the laboratories," he said. The SCA handles negligence claims on behalf of 146 public bodies, including the HSE. Labour TD Alan Kelly asked whether the HSE or Department of Health were aware of this case "and if so, are they aware that a non-disclosure agreement was signed on the case?". Mr O'Brien replied: "The report in the media makes that reference. We had no awareness of that case at all." The committee heard there is "no mechanism" for the SCA to alert the HSE or Department of Health when a number of similar cases are lodged. In total, the committee heard there are 10 "active cases" involving the CervicalCheck programme. Warned Six of these have reached the point of legal proceedings, while the other four were described as being at "pre-legal proceedings". The SCA has now also warned the HSE about one further "potential claim". It comes as it emerged around 200 more women who developed cervical cancer may have been the victim of an incorrect smear test result. They are among a group of up to 1,500 cancer sufferers whose diagnosis was not notified to CervicalCheck since 2008, the national screening service. Their cases were recorded by the National Cancer Registry, which compiles disease statistics. But CervicalCheck never asked for the information to be passed on to its service. It meant these cases were never audited. Senior doctors estimate less than 200 of these women could potentially have been through cervical screening service but wrongly got the all-clear. Gardai at the scene of the incident on Coolmine Road which left Francis Dhala in a critical condition in hospital A man has been remanded in custody after a car mounted a footpath and hit two pedestrians in west Dublin. Paul Connolly (36) appeared yesterday before Dublin district court, where he was charged in relation to the incident. He is facing two counts of dangerous driving causing ser-ious bodily harm to Francis Dhala and Michael Igoe on Coolmine Road on Tuesday morning. Mr Connolly, of Cregg Court, Robertstown, Co Kildare, also faces a charge of failing to keep the vehicle at the scene of the incident. The court also heard that he had two warrants outstanding at the time of his arrest, and when this was put to him he replied: "I was in custody at the time." He was arrested at Blanch- ardstown Garda Station at 10.10am yesterday and charged at 3.30pm. Feared Objecting to bail, Gda Emma Gilmore cited the seriousness of the charges against him, as well as the maximum sentence of 10 years for dangerous driving if convicted. Gda Gilmore also feared that Mr Connolly would commit further offences of dangerous driving if given bail. Judge Alan Mitchell remanded the accused in custody. He is due to appear before Cloverhill district court next Tuesday morning. Mr Dhala (19), from Tyrrels-town, was on his way to university when the incident happened. He was rushed to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown by ambulance, and his family told the Herald that he is in a critical but stable condition. "The doctors are draining the bleed on his brain and trying to reduce the pressure on his brain," Mr Dhala's father Egide said yesterday. "Whether he has surgery or not depends on the situation. He also has a broken leg." A 32-year-old man who has twice been arrested in relation to the murder of his wife has told investigating officers that someone else killed her at his home. The body of Polish woman Natalia Karaczyn (30) was recovered near Lough Gill, Co Sligo, shortly after 10am on Tuesday following a large-scale search effort by local gardai. She had been strangled. Expand Close Rafal Karaczyn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rafal Karaczyn Her husband, Rafal Karaczyn (32), was arrested for a second time on Tuesday morning by gardai investigating the disappearance and then death of his wife. He remained in custody last night and was expected to appear before court this morning charged in relation to his wife's death. Missing Gardai have been trying to establish if there was any third party involvement in the murder. Mr Karaczyn is understood to have previously given officers detailed information about where they might find his wife. The mother-of-three had been missing for more than 48 hours after returning to her home in the Crozon Park area of Sligo from a night out with friends. Her husband was initially arrested on Sunday evening while his wife was still missing. He was questioned for more than 24 hours before being released without charge just after 5am on Tuesday. However, it is understood that he was contacted by associates of his wife, who persuaded him to return to the garda station. Mr Karaczyn was then re-arrested. Shortly after 10am on Tuesday, the body of a woman, since identified as Ms Karaczyn, was recovered near Lough Gill, more than 2km from where she was last seen. Detectives believe she may have been killed in a "crime of passion". As part of the investigation, gardai gathered CCTV footage from properties and businesses near Crozon Park. According to her family, footage from a pub near their home showed Ms Karaczyn walking along the road at 6.30am on Sunday. Separate images from a neighbour's property showed a vehicle leaving the Crozon Park area that same morning, before returning a short time later. This vehicle was seized on Tuesday afternoon by gardai and was still being examined last night. On Monday, Ms Karaczyn's family appealed for information about her disappearance. Her sister, Magdalena McMorrow, wrote on social media: "My sister Natalia went out and has not come back. "Please, if you have any information, seen her, or maybe have CCTV outside your house in the area, get in touch with Sligo Garda Station or myself." The investigation is being led by Ballymote gardai. Sensitivities Chief Supt Aidan Glackin of the Sligo/Leitrim garda division had previously said the investigation was still live following the discovery of Ms Karaczyn's body. "As you are aware, this find comes from the reporting of a missing young lady to us on Sunday morning," he told reporters in Holywell Road, near where the body was found. "We have worked earnestly with the community in Sligo to try to find that person. "As I said, we've got great help from the community and this has led to this discovery here today. "The investigation is still very live, but I do want to reiterate that there are sensitivities here. There's privacies that need to be afforded to the families that are involved. "I want to thank the community in Sligo for the great assistance we've got and I can't stress that enough." 'Liability was conceded in the case. The 3.1m is for the next seven years, after which Jasveen will come back to court for her future care needs to be assessed' (stock photo) A toddler who was rushed to hospital choking on a popcorn kernel later sustained brain damage after she was misdiagnosed with croup cough. The kernel was not removed for three days from Jasveen Gill, now 11, the High Court heard. The HSE and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, apologised to Jasveen as the legal action was settled with an interim payout of 3.1m. Her counsel, Dr John O'Mahoney, said the "profoundly sad case" had been a nightmare for Jasveen and her family. Jasveen was a perfectly happy child for one year and 10 months, but was now brain damaged and had difficulties with balance and poor speech. Gasping Three days after she was admitted to the Drogheda hospital, the toddler had a choking and gasping fit and emergency resuscitation was begun. She was transferred to the Children's Hospital, Crumlin, where a bronchoscopy examination found the popcorn kernel lodged in her right lung. Unfortunately, counsel said, it was too late for Jasveen who was in a very serious condition and remained unconscious for 30 days. Yesterday the HSE and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital apologised unreservedly to Jasveen and her family "for the shortcomings over care" and the "distress and suffering" this had caused. "As a result of the critical incident review completed in 2008 in relation to Jasveen's management, valuable lessons were learned and recommendations were implemented in order to prevent a reoccurrence," a statement read. Liability was conceded in the case. The 3.1m is for the next seven years, after which Jasveen will come back to court for her future care needs to be assessed. Actions brought by her parents Tajinder Gill and Amandeep Kaur for nervous shock were also settled, the court heard. Jasveen, of Seafield Court, Rush, Co Dublin, sued the HSE through her father. On May 10, 2008, Jasveen was at home when she swallowed some popcorn. Counsel said the kernel went into her airway and she began coughing and was very quickly in a crisis situation. Her grandmother and a neighbour tried to resuscitate her and she was rushed to Lourdes Hospital. She was kept in for observation and had a further episode of choking and ended up in the intensive care unit where she was re-examined. On May 13, she had a very severe bout of coughing, went in to cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated. Counsel said that in the ambulance en route to the Children's Hospital, she had two further severe seizures. Failure It was claimed that at Lourdes Hospital Jasveen was incorrectly diagnosed with croup cough. There was an alleged failure to carry out appropriate investigations at Lourdes Hospital and an alleged failure to diagnose the existence of a foreign body in her respiratory tract or lung. An expert from outside of Ireland is to be recruited to conduct a preliminary investigation into the cervical cancer scandal. The "scoping exercise" will be expected to provide answers to many of the questions raised in recent days by the end of June. Health Minister Simon Harris met with Opposition TDs last night to agree a path forward. Sources who attended the meeting said there was agreement that the priority is to get quick answers to key questions. While the option of establishing a full-blown Commission of Investigation remains on the table, it will not be invoked until after the initial process is completed. Recruiting The minister is to spend the coming days recruiting a suitable expert from outside of Ireland and will bring detailed proposals to Cabinet next Tuesday. "The scoping exercise will be different from previous ones of this kind. Its objective will be to provide initial answers," a source said. "It can also recommend terms of reference for a Commission of Investigation if this is viewed as necessary." Two clinical reviews, which are already under way, will feed into the inquiry. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said in the Dail yesterday that the "most effective route to restoring confidence is for a competent, comprehensive inquiry that will get to the truth". "The precise model is not actually the key - the key is the chair, the personnel and the terms of reference," he added. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted there are "limitations" to a Hiqa inquiry. "There are problems also with a commission of inquiry and what we know what they are as well," he said. The Labour Party has been particularly critical of the Hiqa approach originally proposed. It argued that it would not have the ability to take sworn evidence or the capacity to cross-examine personnel. However, Mr Varadkar has expressed concern that a commission would be a much more cumbersome and lengthy process, as individuals were likely to hire legal representatives. It has emerged that women who suffered a delayed cancer diagnosis will have to wait until after the investigation to receive redress from the State. Mr Varadkar said that the Government will look at "a scheme of redress for women whose cancer was missed and should have been detected beyond normal error, and for women where there was a breach of duty to inform them of the audit results". However, he indicated that compensation would not be paid out until all of the facts have been established. Around 70 doctors and nurses have now been drafted in to staff a helpline for people concerned about the cervical cancer scandal, which is receiving 2,000 calls a day. The Department of Health has said the number of calls is "much higher than expected". It has had to assign extra medics and the department is now receiving assistance from experts who normally work with the Irish Cancer Society and Marie Keating Foundation. Women have complained that they are struggling to get through. Even when they do, most are simply asked to supply their details and told they will be called back at some stage over the coming days. HSE chief clinical officer Colm Henry defended the process, saying the calls take some time to deal with properly. Of the 5,035 calls to the helpline up to Tuesday, 4,876 require a call back. Ireland is on target to become the fattest country in Europe It will take more than the new sugar tax to tackle the childhood obesity epidemic, a leading expert has said. Dr Cathal McCrory, a senior research fellow at Trinity College Dublin, told a Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs hearing that one in four three-year-olds are now overweight or obese. He added that Ireland is on target to be the fattest country in Europe by 2030, according to World Health Organisation. "We need to act urgently to address this problem," he said. Unhealthy The introduction on Tuesday of the sugar tax, which saw the price of some sugar-sweetened drinks being hiked, may lead to a reduction in unhealthy food consumption, but other strategies are also necessary, Dr McCrory said. He told the meeting of the Joint Committee that he welcomed the introduction of the sugar tax. "There does seem to be some relationship between increase in cost and reduced demand for these items," he said. "What I will say on the other side is this is only one way to approach the problem. "We recommend that the Government give a political commitment to tackling childhood obesity and develop an action plan to achieve this." Dr McCrory called for the implementation of a national screening programme that would see Body Mass Index (BMI) and waist circumference being measured in school-age children on a yearly basis. Fine Gael senator Catherine Noone said that in relation to such a screening programme "I would have thought that we had the perfect opportunity with the under-sixes GP care to ensure that that's happening". However, Dr McCrory said he had spoken to a few GPs who had given him pretty candid feedback on this. "A lot of them said to me that quite simply they are too busy to do this in their clinics," he said. "I think the best way to achieve this is an annual assessment done through the schools as part of a public health visit. "We have previously shown that a child is 3.2 times more likely to be obese if one parent is overweight or obese and 9.5 times more likely to be obese if both parents are overweight or obese. "Breastfeeding has been shown to be protective against the development of obesity." Dr McCrory urged that measures to increase breast feeding rates should be a national priority. By Ssebuliba Samuel. Parliament has been asked to control governments appetite to borrow which has led to overwhelming swelling of Ugandas debt stock. Current statics from bank of Uganda indicates that by the end of December 2017, Ugandas debt stock stood at Shs37.9 trillion, representing an increase of 9.4 per cent relative to June 2017. Speaking during plenary session yesterday, the Budadiri west Member of Parliament Nathan NandalaMafaabi said that the rate at which government is borrowing is unsustainable. He said that parliament must come up with stringent parameters to consider while approving some of these none productive loans. Yesterday this same parliament approved the proposal by government to borrow up to us $75.82 million to support the national oil palm project. By Ssebuliba Samuel. The attorney has counseled parliament not to consider terminating the contact of SGS a motor inspecting company because its not legally viable. Eelier, parliament had asked the attorney general to study and advise parliament on findings of infrastructure committee that sighted some loopholes in this contract While addressing parliament the deputy attorney general Mwesigwa Rukutana, said that this contract is in line with all constitutional provision and thus terminating it will be illegal The minority report of the infrastructure committee of parliament recommended the termination of the contract describing the SGS vehicle inspection as a commercial venture with exorbitant costs to the vehicle owners. Week 6 football: 'Game of the year' is big for different reasons now sports Hardly a week passes without yet another story about the Artificial Intelligence race between China and the US. China has allocated massive funding to AI to enable new capabilities in transportation, surveillance and weapons. China is all in on AI, with Chinese private funding in AI in the last decade growing seven-fold faster than US funding. India has largely ignored AI. No Indian university or think-tank figures as a serious AI research entity measured by citations or other measures of innovation such as victories in prestigious AI contests, where algorithms compete on standard problems. China now increasingly features such winners and boasts two AI institutions in the top 10 globally who work closely with the government. In contrast, India lags behind in terms of vision, infrastructure and the funding required to become a major player in AI innovation. Is it too late for India to play catchup in AI? Interestingly, the answer is that it isnt too late. Indeed there could be advantages in letting others do the heavy lifting in creating the algorithms, and focus on vision and data instead. Why? The truth is that algorithms make their way into the public domain almost instantly. For example, the various deep learning algorithms that have revolutionised image recognition and language processing are commonly available. In contrast, data, which powers the algorithms, are very difficult to obtain and almost never shared. Tesla and Google dont share their autonomous vehicle data for good reason. Knowledge springs from a combination of unique data and general-purpose algorithms, and increasingly so when cloud power can be pooled and storage is cheap. Chinese companies and the government are focused on collecting their own data, leveraging the algorithms that were developed almost entirely in North America. In reality, data are the bottleneck, the assembly of which usually takes up the majority of the work in AI projects. Indeed, the surge of novel machine learning algorithms in image and language processing was driven by the elimination of the data acquisition bottleneck the fact that raw data from autonomous vehicles or smartphones can be streamed directly into algorithms without any human input has been a huge win for machine learning and AI. Availability of gobs of clean training data enable machines to improve their decision making without human intervention with each passing day. If data are the bottleneck and the source of advantage, Indias focus should be on creating a data infrastructure in multiple areas. This will provide the grist for machine learning algorithms that will pay dividends in the years to come. Specifically, the real win for India would seem to be in creating a data infrastructure that will improve the quality of life at an everyday level, specifically in air, transportation, water, food, governance, and education. For example, Indian urban centres are a mess: polluted and chaotic. Better air quality and transportation would mitigate many basic health and quality of life issues. Imagine the impacts on health and productivity if air quality and commute times improve by an average of 10% or 20% over the next decade through more intelligent sensory and administrative systems driven by data coupled with sensible incentive systems. Efficiency in governance is an equally pressing challenge in terms of the capacity of the State to provide basic services such as law and order, transportation and power. Surveillance technology offers huge promise in helping deploy scarce human resources on demand without sacrificing privacy or freedom at the individual level. If we can define sensible metrics such as crime reduction, problem resolution times, etc., progress will be well defined and measurable. The good news is that India boasts the worlds biggest success in identity and real-time authentication through the Aadhaar platform. It would be fruitful for India to replicate this infrastructure success by creating similar data platforms that improve the lives of its people. China was quick to copy the algorithms developed in North America and apply them to their own data in military and commercial applications. It has a draconian policy towards data ownership that ignores privacy or human rights concerns. That model will not work in India, but nor is it necessary to make progress towards what matters to India. Assembling the right kinds of data will be challenging, and requires careful planning and foresight. That is the place to start, and there is little time to waste. Vasant Dhar is Professor at the NYU Center for Data Science and the Stern School of Business. His research focuses on when we should trust data-driven learning machines with decisions. The views expressed are personal The 200-odd pieces on display at the India and the World convey that we share our history and legacy with continents, countries and people in way we cannot even imagine. Journalist Italo Calvino wrote in Invisible Cities, The more one was lost in unfamiliar quarters of distant cities, the more one understood the other cities he had crossed to arrive there. Identity and history were in the past elemental to sharing a present. But they have of late become a battleground for assertion, chief among them of the idea that all nations were perhaps islands that survived and thrived all on their own. We were all migrants, Naman Ahuja says, as we meet in the lawns of the National Museum. It is eerily quiet for a summer afternoon, a far cry from the exhausting last couple of months he has spent. Ahuja is co-curator of India and the World: A History in Nine Stories, a mammoth, time-travelling, crossover epic of an exhibition that will set foot in the national capital this week. THE GENESIS The seed for India and the World was sowed back in 2010, with the former director of the British Museum Neil MacGregors landmark book A History of the World in 100 Objects. The book and the exhibition were a huge hit, Naman says. A lot of museums across the world wanted to have similar exhibitions. But when the idea was mooted in the context of India, many people suggested that Indians would be more interested in learning about their own country. The core team, which included MacGregor, decided to then call it India and the World, and look at Indias history in relation with the outside. The exhibition, a collaboration between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) of Mumbai, the British Museum (BM) and the National Museum, Delhi (NMD), has taken three years to come to fruition. Of the 200-odd pieces on display, several have been loaned from an additional 20 institutions or collections. It is a colossal effort. There wasnt a day when we were not working. There were teams in Delhi, Mumbai and London, constantly meeting and planning. The list of objects, and the stories we wanted to do, were finalised after several curatorial meetings, Ahuja says. Having co-curated with the British Museums JD Hill, Ahuja admits that disagreements were inevitable and welcome.Every time I was raising the bar to say something that hadnt already been said in the Indian context, it was natural that the same would happen for the world from his side. How else could we have had a rewarding conversation? SHARED HISTORY India and the World is divided into nine broad sections, and the story of each section is told through objects and artefacts that date back thousands of years. Its intention is to juxtapose parallel histories to offer a way out of the isolated view we have come to cultivate of ourselves in recent times. But while some objects talk to each other right away, there is a case for things that seem incontrovertibly impossible to connect. We have to accept in certain cases, for example with the dancing girl of Mohenjo Daro, that at some point our idea of culture, time and faith was indeed different, Ahuja says. The last leg of the exhibition titled Time Unbound hits home the idea of this uniqueness and in a way, Naman says, even questions the premise of the exhibition. When even our idea of time and calendars is different, how can we assimilate everything into one, he adds. As for the shared histories, nothing is perhaps as inseparable from India as its painful colonial past, something the British Museum has done an admirable job of confronting in the section Quest for Freedom that focuses on the Empires imperial legacy. This exhibition is the result of equal partnership between the BM, the CSMVS and NMD. We wanted to use objects to look at key moments in Indian history in the context of world history. The exhibition does not shy away from difficult periods of colonial/imperial history which are integral to Indias past and present and these are represented through objects in the exhibition, says Dr Hartwig Fischer, director, British Museum. The idea that India not only lent, but also borrowed, in terms of culture and trade, isnt a popular one these days. Superiority, it seems, has come to pass as the sole objective of inquiring the past. How then does one reconcile an exhibition like this that challenges a popular notion? A Deccani textile, by the name of Kalamkari [Indian Ocean Traders section] shows a sanyasi. We have always heard stories of how the sanyasi is distracted in his tapasyaby an apsara. But if you look closely, you see him marvelling at a pineapple. It is evidence of a newfound love, of curious wonder at something that has appeared out of nowhere. Pineapples were of course imported, indicating how India had begun to trade and expand its network as early as the 1600s, Ahuja says. The exhibition best presents the idea of shared histories and cultures through its many juxtapositions. A curious Rembrandt painting of Jahangir receiving an officer alongside a watercolour painting of the emperor holding a portrait of the Virgin Mary is a wonderful conversational piece about cultural overlap. Rembrandt famously of course studied Mughal miniatures. A statue of Nataraj (Shiva) alongside a crucifix discovered in France, from roughly the same period, show how contrastingly we see those we seek to worship - positions of strength or vulnerability. Of the many novel approaches employed in the exhibition, including an effort to look beyond city-centric histories in First Cities and mapping parallels in the propagation of religion through State and Faith, perhaps the most crucial is the re-positioning of certain ideas from the perspective of women. There is massive scope to think about history from a feminine point of view, says Ahuja, When you think of the nature of people, and the bodies that are taken as evidence, we discount the fact that women were not allowed inside temples at a point of time. Everything true of a temple is considered true for the whole country. But when you consider that that is obviously not true, nothing remains to show for the history of the others, like that of women. STITCHING THE PAST The scale of exhibition is such that it was inevitable that certain moving parts were either to start creaking or simply fall out. Scheduled to open in March in Delhi, after it travelled from CSMVS in Mumbai, the exhibition has already suffered from delays and logistical issues leading to some artefacts and pieces failing to make it to the Delhi leg. Certain objects were too heavy and difficult to move. It was impossible to fly them in. They were first supposed to go to Dubai, but eventually the British Museum took the decision to fly them back home, says Dr BR Mani, director of the National Museum. Mani also believes that certain objects were unnecessary and in one case even derogatory, to be included in the exhibition. We only wanted things that were relevant to the exhibition, he says about a piece titled Unicode, by artist LN Tallur, so we took a call on a couple of things. It is a huge effort to get everything in place. We have been given so little time. But Mani is optimistic about the possibilities of large crowds visiting the museum despite the simmering heat of Delhis summer. Hill and Ahujas task can be adjudged by the fact that they had to carefully curate lists and have three to four backup options for each object they wanted to bring in. For example, folios from the Baburnama had to be used instead of the Akbarnama, because the latter was in too delicate a condition to be transported from Patna. But not all challenges are logistical. Sometimes ideas can be so overwhelming, it becomes difficult to convey them convincingly. I think that was one of the biggest challenges. To not lose the idea, but speak in a language that everyone understood. I must be honest, it is demoralising at times, but I would still say, come and see it once. Dont make up your mind. I am just giving you a new way to look at the world. I am not saying I know it all. I know I dont, Ahuja says. India and the World, given its ambition and scale, is perhaps the longest journey you can take, under one roof. It seeks to unravel, to explore, to question because in a time where history has become the language of politics, it is important to know all sides, for as Calvino wrote, There is no language without deceit. Visitors to the exhibition can buy a sumptuous 230-page all-colour catalogue of India and the World A History in Nine Stories, published by Penguin. It has beautiful pictures of the exhibits with accompanying text, written by Prof Naman Ahuja and J.D Hill, which gives wonderful details about each exhibit as also their significance in the Indias millennia-old connectedness with the world. WHAT: Exhibition India and the World: A History in Nine Stories WHEN: Till 30th June, 10 am - 6 pm (Mondays closed). Entry with museum ticket. WHERE: Special Exhibition Hall, First Floor, National Museum, near India Gate, Delhi From cooking to directing a film, celebrity chef Vikas Khanna has made the leap from one art to another. His first film, The Last Color, is based on a book of the same name that he wrote some years ago. The one hour 26 minute film stars veteran actor Neena Gupta and child artists, and the plot revolves around the Supreme Court order against an age-old tradition of not allowing widows in Vrindavan to play Holi. The films teaser will be unveiled at the Cannes film festival (May 8-19). Excited to be talking about it for the first time, Vikas says, Its a very simple story capturing the richness of India. I found this story so compelling that I couldnt resist telling it to the world. I mean, imagine being denied the right to touch colour. My life is all about colour in the form of spices and vegetables; the thought that if someone took that privilege away from me, drove me crazy. Recalling the first reactions to his idea, Vikas shares, Even when I wrote the book, everyone asked me, Why fiction? And Id tell them that I want a surprise element in my career. Honestly, I didnt think Id make the film I never had the time. But when I realised that the subject means so much to me, I was convinced that nobody would be as close to the story as I am. This is the most organic work I am going to do in my entire life. About this switch, Vikas calls it one of his hardest experiences. Filmmaking is the most difficult form of storytelling, but the most effective. In the kitchen, you do things on a repeat mode but here [on the sets] a scene has never been shot before. Also, a dish disappears in some time, but a film stays with you for the rest of your life, he says. Vikas Khanna with the cast of his film, The Last Color. Vikas visited Varanasi ashrams to do his research for the script. The film is likely to do a round of festivals for a year before its theatrical release. Asked what he expects in terms of audience reaction, Vikas says, When you worry so much about the result, youll never be able to create a whole new organic thing. So, dont think about the right audience. Make the right movie and the audience would follow. Interact with Monika Rawal Kukreja at Twitter/@monikarawal Rajkummar Rao is playing Omar Saeed Sheikh, a dreaded terrorist involved in many gruesome acts, in director Hansal Mehtas Omerta. He talked about the mind of a terrorist, nudity and his synergy with director Hansal Mehta. Rajkummar says it wasnt easy for him in the scenes involving nudity. He says, It doesnt come naturally. There is certain amount of nervousness that I have to do a nude scene, but I trust Hansal Mehta. With him, I know it will be aesthetically shot. Read: Who is Omar Saeed Sheikh, the terrorist Rajkummar Rao plays in Omerta? The actor describes his thought process while shooting for Omerta. He says, I felt a lot of anger, a lot of internal violence inside me and its a very, very uncomfortable space. He adds, There are a lot of silences in the film and the violence doesnt always have to be physical. It could be in your looks, your silence, in how you are planning things around, because Omar Sheikhs mind is always working. He is never at rest. Once he has taken up a job, he would make sure he does it the best way possible. Rajkummar continues, Then there are scenes in the film where there is violence as well. There is a big scene between him and Daniel Pearl and the whole scene was improvised. Was he nervous before the film? He says, I was nervous of course. It was a very unfamiliar territory to me. I didnt know anything about these guys or Omar Saeed. So which side would he take? I would take the side Omar believes in. I cant let my personal ego come in the way. If I dont have conviction in my lines then how will people react to it! Omar Sheikh is still awaiting his final punishment in a Pakistani jail. (Photo: Getty Images) Hansal Mehta explains how he planned the film. Hansal says, I created his world. There was research. I read a lot about the history of fundamentalism. It gave me an understanding of the world. But there was this responsibility that I shouldnt be glorifying and justifying any of Omar Saeeds acts. The big challenge was how do you take that research and not over-humanise it. Humanising evil is as much a human characteristic as empathy is. Rajkummar chips in and says, This is how we made Shahid as well, in fact all of our projects together. The script would be there, but we tend to explore more on the sets. We dont really plan things. We know about the scene we are getting into, we know about the characters but we just let it go. We dont really go by the formula. Hansal tells us the story behind the films title and reveals it was actor Mukul Devs story. Initial reason for calling it Omerta was very frivolous. In 2005, Mukul Dev gave me the idea and I pitched it to a couple of producers. One of them said lets make it but dont tell anybody about it. I didnt like the untitled film. When the first page of the script is blank, it feels its never going to get written. Then I decided I will call it Omerta. The name stuck with me. Omerta will hit the screens on May 4, 2018. You can watch the interview here: Interact with Rohit Vats at Twitter/@nawabjha Rajkummar Rao will be seen as Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh in his next film, Omerta. Directed by Hansal Mehta, the film will chronicle the series of terrorist activities he participated in. Also known as Umar Sheikh, the 44-year-old man of Pakistani origin has links to some of the worlds most dreaded terrorist organisations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Al Qaida. Omar first hit headlines when he was arrested in 1994 in a case related to the kidnappings of four foreigners from Indias capital. Omar Sheikh, who was associated with Harkat-ul-Ansar then, befriended the tourists under a pseudo name, Rohit Sharma. His organisation demanded 10 Kashmiri prisoners to be freed in exchange of these tourists. The police, however, rescued all the abducted foreigners and arrested Sheikh. Watch: In conversation with Rajkummar Rao and Hansal Mehta ahead of Omerta Born to Muslim Pakistani parents, Saeed and Qaissia, in Wanstead, east London in 1973, Omar was the eldest of three siblings and his parents, who emigrated from Pakistan in 1968, ran a prosperous clothing business. The store continues to function in London. According to a schoolmate of Omar, who wrote an article in The Guardian, Omar was a member of the British arm-wrestling squad during his schooling days when he studied at the private Forest school in Snaresbrook, east London. Alex Hannaford wrote in the article, He was the toughest boy in school but he was able to laugh at himself. Hannaford further claims Omar discussed the worsening situation in the Balkans when he was merely 15-year-old and often fought with younger kids at school. Omars family moved to Pakistan in 1987 and he joined Aitchison college in Lahore, but was soon expelled from the college for fighting. Omar Sheikh is still awaiting his final punishment in a Pakistani jail. (Photo: Getty Images) Omars family returned to London in 1991 where he later joined the London School of Economics. This was the phase of his life when he was reportedly introduced to the idea of terrorism and the world of Islamic militancy. According to a Telegraph.uk report, Omar saw videos of atrocities against Bosnian Muslims during his stint at LSE and which reportedly transformed the public schoolboy into a terrorist. In 1999, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen hijacked Indian flight IC-814 on its way to Delhi from Nepal. The terrorists demanded a safe passage for Omar Saeed, and two other terrorists, in exchange of the passengers. The Indian government met the demand. He quickly rose in the ranks after that. His name constantly got featured in newspapers and media in general. Meanwhile, he was working on a plan that would change the way terrorists were dealt with. He masterminded the kidnapping and murder of Wall Street Journal journalist Daniel Pearl. The video of his Pearls beheading was later circulated across the globe and terrorised the entire world. It was bound to get the focus back on Omar Sheikh. Read: No gifts for Sonam Kapoor on wedding because Im broke, says brother Harshvardhan In July 2002, Omar was sentenced to death by a Pakistani court for Pearls murder. According to a report in The Independent, Omar threatened to kill the judge after he was awarded the sentence. It quoted Omar in a statement as syaing, I will see whether who wants to kill me, will kill me first, or get himself killed ... It is a decisive war between Islam and Kafirs, and everyone is individually proving on which side he is. Currently, Omar is awaiting the hearing for his plea against the judgement and is living in a Pakistani jail. Follow @htshowbiz for more A US-based Khalistani body has issued a threat to Punjab jail minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa for his opposition to its referendum on creation of a separate homeland for Sikhs. The Sikhs for Justice group put out a video and tweeted the threat to the minister. Referendum 2020 - Responds to Punjab Jail Minister - Will you come to Canada or should we handle you in India, said the tweet by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, a human rights lawyer and legal adviser to Sikhs For Justice. The threat came in response to Randhawas criticism at a presser of the referendum they had launched in Canada and the United States. The jail minister had said that the people who were pitching for Khalistan from their cosy confines were playing with the sentiments of innocent Sikhs in India and they had no knowledge of the reality in Punjab. Advising the separatists to create a state of Khalistan in the country where they were presently living, Randhawa said, If someone talks about Khalistan while sitting in Canada, he is the citizen of that country, and it is the problem of (Canadian prime minister, Justin) Trudeau and not mine. In a video message tweeted on April 2, the representative of Sikhs for Justice said, We will make Khalistan in Punjab and we guarantee this. Using foul language against the minister, he asked the latter to enter any gurdwara without his bodyguards or security, and our men will teach you a lesson. A group of Sikh separatists in Canada are working to raise anti-India propaganda and create a separate Sikh homeland, Khalistan. On several occasions, India has raised the issue related to pro-Khalistan activities and activists with the Canadian government. The summer stubble burning season has started in Punjab and Haryana and reports of farmers setting fire to their crop residue have already started pouring in. Officials of various state pollution control boards, however, claimed that this year, the number of crop burning incidents appear to be lesser. It has been estimated that cases of stubble burning in the current season so far is 50% less than that of previous summer, said Kahan Singh Pannu, chairman of the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). S Narayanan, member secretary of the Haryana Pollution Control Board, also said that the situation seem to be better this season as the number of incidents are lower. Till May 2, 164 cases of wheat stubble burning has been detected from Sonepat, Jind, Pawal and other places in Haryana and around 250 cases have been detected in Punjab in places like Amritsar and Sangrur districts. Farmers are being issued challans for burning crops. In 2015, the National Green Tribunal had banned the burning of crop residue in Rajasthan, UP, Haryana and Punjab. The state or central government has not given any bonus to the farmers for managing stubble despite an NGT order, said Kawalpreet Singh Pannu, who is associated with Kisan Sangarsh Committee, a farmers body. Experts said that unlike the paddy stubble burning in October-November, wheat crop residue burning during this time of the year is not a major issue. Paddy stubble has more silica, which is why it is not eaten by cattle. Cattle in Punjab and Haryana mainly feed on wheat straw. Secondly, during the winter harvest the farmers are left with a gap of 10-15 days before they go for the next crop. In summer, the time gap is comparatively more, said Polash Mukerjee, senior research associate (air pollution) at Centre for Science and Environment. HPBOSE 10th result: Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) announced the result of Class 10 exams on May 3. 63.39% students passed the exam. Of the 1,09,678 students who appeared for the exam, 68946 passed. 15,214 students got compartment. You can check your results by clicking here. Candidates can also check their results at official website of Himachal Pradesh Board of School education at hpbose.org Here is the direct link to check result. More than 109,780 students appeared for the Class 10 exams, which were held from March 7 to March 20. Last year, 67.15% students cleared the Class 10 exams. The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) had earlier declared the results of Class 12 board examinations on April 24. 70.18% students passed the exam. Authorities installed closed-circuit television or CCTV cameras in the examination halls to deter students from copying during the exam. Over 100 flying squads were also deployed at the block level to deal with the problem. The answer sheets were evaluated at designated centres to avoid any discrepancies and for a time-bound declaration of the results. Kerala SSLC result 2018: Kerala Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) or Class 10 board examination result will be declared on Thursday. According to the state Pareeksha Bhawan sources, the state education minister, professor C Ravindranath, will hold a press conference at 10.30 am to announce the result. Earlier, the time for declaration of the result was 3 pm. The time has been changed keeping in mind the availability of the minister. Kerala Pareeksha Bhavan announced the result at the following websites: www.kerala.gov.in, keralaresults.nic.in and keralapareekhabhawan.in 10:17am: Kerala SSLS results in 30 minutes. All arrangements have been done, said State Pareeksha Bhawan. 10.20am: Education Minister Prof C Raveendrantha to hold a press conference in the state capital to announce results. 10.30am: Results will be available on these sites after the ministers press conference examresults.net/kerala, result.inc.in, kbpe.org 10.34am: Kerala SSLC result 2018 to be announced anytime now. 10.46am: Results declared, 97.84% students pass. The result websites may take some time to load due to heavy traffic. Students are advised to keep checking. 11.01am: Students can check their results directly by clicking here. Heres how to check the result: Log on to result.kerala.gov.in and select result type. Enter your register no, date of birth and click on get result. The result will be displayed on the screen. Take a printout. 11.30am: The Kerala SSLC result pass percentage has gone up by 2% this year compared to 2017. The pass percentage was highest in Ernakulam district (99.12%) and lowest in Wayanad (93.87%). 11.40am: The minister said out of 4,41,482 students who appeared in the examination 4,31,162 qualified for the higher education. 12.15pm: At least 34,313 students scored A Plus in all subjects and 517 schools got A Plus in all subjects. More than 4,40,000 students appeared for the Kerala Class 10 board examination. The process of evaluating the answer sheets of the exam, which began on March 4 and ended on March 27 this year, started in the first week of April. Data from the directorate of public instructions (DPI) shows 441,103 regular students 2,24,564 boys and 2,16,539 girls from 3,046 schools across the state and 2,751 privately registered candidates appeared for the exam this year. Besides this, 1,300 students wrote the exam from Gulf countries and Lakshadweep. Over 4,50,000 students appeared for the exam in 2017 and the overall pass percentage was 95.98%. Manipur board Class 12 result 2018: The result of the Manipur Class 12 board exam has been announced by the Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur. Students can check their results using their roll number and other details at manresults.nic.in Manipur board Class 12 result 2018: Heres how to check: * Log on to the official website manresults.nic.in * Click on link for result * Enter your roll number * Click submit and view your result * Take a printout as well as download the result The Manipur Class 12 board exams were held in February this year. Heres the direct link to check results Manipur Class 12 board exams 2018: The Manipur board Class 12 examination began amid reports of question paper leak on social media. The incident triggered panic among the students, who were making their last-minute preparations for English exam, an official of the Council of Higher Secondary Education Manipur (COHSEM) had said. The council was quick to dismiss the leaked English paper as fake and said those involved in the matter will face appropriate action. L Mahendra Singh, the chairman of COHSEM, said, The objective of those involved (in the matter) is to misguide the public and malign the image of the council. The case has been handed over to the cyber crime unit of the State Police. The council had appointed flying squads to ensure to ensure that the examinations are conducted in a smooth and fair manner. (With inputs from PTI) For the conservation of Indus dolphins - one of the worlds rarest mammals - the Punjab government along with WWF-India are conducting the first organised census on their population, officials said on Thursday. Found only in India and Pakistan, the Indus dolphins are confined to only a 185 km stretch between Talwara and Harike Barrage in Indias Beas river in Punjab. Officials from the Department of Forests and Wildlife Preservation, Punjab and WWF-India are currently working in two teams and will come to an estimate regarding the dolphin population over the five-day exercise. We are trying to establish their near accurate population as to plan their conservation accordingly. It is the first organised census, previously we had merely spotted them, Kuldeep Kumar, Chief Wildlife Warden, Punjab told IANS. According to Suresh Babu, Director River Wetland and Water Policy, WWF-India, the most flourishing population of the Indus dolphin, platanista gangetica minor, is found across Pakistan where their numbers are estimated to be around 1,800 over a stretch of 1,500 km of the Indus river. In India, a tiny population survives in this small stretch of the Beas river. Experts say they were also found in Sutlej decades back, however, river pollution is believed to be a major cause of their extinction from the habitat. Dolphins are a key indicator of river health- if a river is healthy the dolphins will be there and if not, we have the example of Sutlej, Suresh Babu told IANS. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), construction of critical barrage is associated with the large-scale decline in the area of occupancy, which have not ceased. IUCN suspects the population size of the Indus river dolphins has reduced by more than 50% since 1944. A blind species that communicates through echo like bats do, Indus dolphins are one of the seven freshwater dolphins found across the world. Jean Paul Gaultier. Ralph & Russo. Elie Saab. Sonam Kapoor is a fan of big designer labels. But underneath and in between her statement-making, often custom-made luxury pieces, the actor tends to sprinkle in finds from more accessible brands. A little Masaba Gupta here, a little Rheson there, some Bhane thrown in for good measure and youve got the perfect Sonam Kapoor wardrobe. A post shared by APPEARANCES (@appearances.in) on Apr 30, 2018 at 12:59am PDT If youre into Sonams versatile and experimental street style, and youve been keeping up with her wardrobe then you might have noticed that the PadMan star keeps wearing a lot of neutral, sporty separates. In fact, Sonam seems to have a penchant for one brand in particular, Bhane, which is known for its uncomplicated, sporty and somewhat conservative silhouettes and specialises in oversized hoodies and shirts and edgy denims pieces. For instance, on Tuesday, the frequent flyer was seen in a roomy and stylish airport look at Mumbai A black and grey Clove dress, a Hermes leather bag, oversized black sunnies, and a Rs 3,700 distressed denim jacket with a four-pocket design from Bhane. While the look is right up Sonams alley, it probably doesnt hurt that Bhane happens to be her to-be-husband Anand Ahujas label. The duo is getting married on May 8, 2018. A post shared by Sonam Kapoor (@sonamkapoor_.forever) on Nov 13, 2017 at 9:49am PST Sonam has been showing off her love for Anands clothing line by donning Bhane outfits on the regular and shows no signs of slowing down. We cant help but think its the ultimate romantic gesture. So we rounded up her most memorable moments sporting her husband-to-bes designs, below: A post shared by BollyStyleFile (@eattweetblog) on Apr 24, 2018 at 3:04am PDT 1. Sonam Kapoor wearing a NorBlack NorWhite top and Bhane jeans in April 2018. A post shared by Sonam Kapoor FC (@sonamkapoorteam) on Apr 14, 2018 at 6:36am PDT 2. Sonam wearing Bhane flared shorts in April 2018. A post shared by Sonam Kapoor (@fc_sonam) on Oct 16, 2017 at 3:16am PDT 3. Sonam wearing Rheson dress and Bhave denim jacket in October 2017. 4. Sonam wearing Bhane jeans in August 2017. A post shared by A Fashionista's Diary (@afashionistasdiaries) on Sep 26, 2017 at 6:07pm PDT 5. Sonam wearing a Bhane top in September 2017. A post shared by Sonam Kapoor (@sonamkapoor_.forever) on Sep 19, 2017 at 4:35am PDT 6. Sonam wearing Bhane in September 2017. A post shared by anand ahuja (@anandahuja) on Jul 29, 2017 at 8:31am PDT 7. Sonam wearing striped oversized dress from Bhane that she paired with a blue distressed denims in July 2017. A post shared by BollyStyleFile (@eattweetblog) on Jul 6, 2017 at 1:47pm PDT 8. Sonam wearing Pringle of Scotland dress and cardigan, Bhane denim jacket and Nike sneakers in July 2017. A post shared by Fashion from Globe (@fashionfromglobe) on Jun 13, 2017 at 8:45pm PDT 9. Sonam wearing a dress and jeans from Bhane in June 2017. A post shared by BollyStyleFile (@eattweetblog) on Jun 30, 2017 at 12:50am PDT 10. Sonam wearing MAD IN LA dress, Bhane jacket, Roberi & Fraud sunglasses, Louis Vuitton backpack and Nike shoes in June 2017. A post shared by Y O U N G S T E E L E R (@youngsteelerofficial) on Jun 12, 2017 at 1:43pm PDT 11. Sonam wearing Bhanes moms high waisted jeans and Rheson wrap dress in June 2017. A post shared by Film Scoops (@filmscoops) on May 12, 2017 at 7:35pm PDT 12. Sonam wearing Bhane in May 2017. A post shared by BollyStyleFile (@eattweetblog) on Apr 10, 2017 at 11:45am PDT 13. Sonam wearing Bhane shirt, jeans and jacket with Ulyana Sergeenko sunglasses and Repetto shoes in April 2017. A post shared by Bollywood Stylefile by Simi (@bollywoodstylefile) on Nov 18, 2016 at 4:07pm PST 14. Sonam wearing Bhane and Payal Pratap in November 2016. A post shared by Shopcade India (@shopcadeindia) on Oct 17, 2016 at 11:50pm PDT 15. Sonam wearing Bhane shirt, Mark Cross bag and Maison Margiela boots in October 2016. A post shared by Glamour Saga (@glamoursaga) on Aug 3, 2016 at 4:57am PDT 16. Sonam wearing Bhane denims in August 2016. Not only Sonam, her Veere co-star Kareena Kapoor Khan and actor-father Anil Kapoor too seem to be Bhane supporters, often seen wearing the label, everywhere from airports to press events. Heres proof: A post shared by BollyStyleFile (@eattweetblog) on Nov 24, 2017 at 8:38pm PST Kareena wearing a Bhane shirt in November 2017. A post shared by Pinkvilla Fashion (@pinkvillafashion) on Dec 18, 2016 at 10:44pm PST Kareena wearing a Bhane shirt in December 2016. A post shared by High Heel Confidential (@hhcguiltfree) on Oct 19, 2016 at 9:24pm PDT Kareena a wearing Bhane dress in October 2016. A post shared by @theffjournal on Jun 22, 2017 at 12:55pm PDT Anil Kapoor wearing Bhane sweatshirt, Corneliani suit and pocket square and Whitesoul shoes in June 2017. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more A 19-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by an auto-rickshaw driver, who gave her a lift, and four other men in Bhondsi area of Gurugram on Tuesday evening, police said on Thursday. The Gururgram police on Thursday arrested the auto-rickshaw driver, who was identified as Akash Kumar, 22. The auto-rickshaw used in crime was also recovered from him. Raids are being conducted for the arrest of remaining four accused, the police said. The woman told the police that around 8pm she was waiting for a bus to Aligarh at Sohna bus stand when the auto-rickshaw driver asked her where she wanted to go. According to the victim, the driver told her the bus to Aligarh had left and that she could take a train from Gurugram, while offering her a lift. She agreed to take the lift. After a few minutes, the driver took a turn towards Raisina Stone Crushing Zone and did not stop despite her protests. The accused stopped the vehicle at a secluded spot where there were a lot of bushes and four other persons were waiting there. The accused caught hold of me and they took turns to rape me. When I tried to fight them off, they pinned down my hands and legs, the victim told the police in her statement. Police said that when the victim fell unconscious, the driver poured some water on her face. They also threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the rape. The woman reached the Sohna police station after seeking help from few locals.The woman also told the police the name of one of the men they were calling out during the assault. A case was registered at Bhondsi police station after the woman lodged a complaint on Wednesday. The number of crime against women in Gurugram has been rising. Last year, the police filed 135 cases of rape up from 131 in 2016. High levels of some types of fat molecules in the brain could be an early indicator of Parkinsons disease, according to a recent study. This research could have major implications for identifying patients who could be at risk of developing Parkinsons disease, so that early treatment takes place. Parkinsons disease (PD) is a degenerative, progressive disorder which leads to a significant reduction of nerve cells, especially dopamine neurons which are involved in movement initiation, in the brains area called substantia nigra. For several years, the reason for losing these nerve cells was said to be due to the toxic accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein. However, in the last 15 years, researchers have been looking into the relationship between the risk of having PD and a group of disorders called lysosomal storage diseases - in particular Gaucher disease, which happens due to mutations, leading to the loss of function in the glucocerebrosidase (GBA) gene. This means that lipid accumulation may also be important in PD, and scientists have previously shown that there is an elevation of a class of lipids, called glycosphingolipids, in the substantia nigra of patients with PD, said Ole Isacson, professor at Harvard Medical School in the US. Recent studies have shown that there is a risk of developing Parkinsons disease in patients with a group of disorders called Lysosomal Storage Disorder (LSD) especially Gauchers Disease,which is caused by bi-allelic mutations in GBA1,the gene that encodes acid beta-glucocerebrosidase. The enzyme glucocerebrosidase leads to the break up of fat and in the absence of this enzyme in childhood fat (lipids) accumulate in the brain. In a subset of patients affected with Gauchers later they develop symptoms of Parkinsons disease, says Dr R.Sureshkumar Professor, Department of Neurology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi. Researchers from McLean Hospital in the US and the University of Oxford in the UK worked together for measuring glycosphingolipids levels in the aging brain, using young and old mice. They discovered that the same glycosphingolipids whose levels go up in the brains of Parkinsons disease patients also rise in the brains of aging mice. These results lead to a new hypothesis that lipid alterations may create a number of problems inside nerve cells in degenerative aging and Parkinsons disease, and that these changes may precede some of the more obvious hallmarks of Parkinsons disease, such as protein aggregates, said Penny Hallett, lead author of the study published in the journal Neurobiology of Aging. This potentially provides an opportunity to treat lipid changes early on in Parkinsons disease and protect nerve cells from dying, as well as the chance to use the lipid levels as biomarkers for patients at risk, Hallett said. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more With inputs from PTI In 1962, Rays family magazine for children, Sandesh published a science fiction story by Satyajit Ray entitled Bankubabur Bandhu. It was the spring board for the concept of The Alien. By the middle 60s, Satyajit Ray was in contact with Mike Wilson (a professional diver from Ceylon), a friend of the noted science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke. After hearing a brief outline of The Alien from Satyajit Ray, Clarke discovered potential of an international film in it. In 1966, Satyajit Ray visited London and held talks with Clarke. Baba was invited by Stanley Kubrick to view the shooting of 2001: A Space Odyssey. He visited the Elstree Studio set and was really impressed. Upon his return, he penned a script entitled Avatar in English, his son, Sandeep Ray recalls. Bankubabur Bandhu illustration by Satyajit Ray Satyajit Rays journey to Hollywood was in 1967. He, accompanied by Mike Wilson went to the offices of Columbia Pictures. A number of copies of the script were presented to them by Ray. Reminiscences Sandip Ray, Baba had initial talks with Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen. They were impressed by the story but were too busy with other projects. Then he was reminded of Robert Redford, but the upcoming actor was not approached due to many reasons. Peter Sellers wrote to Satyajit Ray in 1968, in which he apologised to Ray, for using a phrase from the script of his film, The Alien. Peter Sellers was ideally suited to perform the character of a Marwari businessman in Avatar. Sellers was initially ready to play the roll but was later reluctant. There were differences between him and Ray, as the former wanted his character modified. Stanley Kubrick wrote to Satyajit Ray in 1967 asking him to work with his lawyer Louis Blau. Says Sandip Ray, Columbia Pictures wanted the title Avatar to be changed in English. So it was named The Alien. Besides Baba was warned to keep away from Mike Wilson who was a dubious character. Satyajit Ray sadly shelved The Alien. He later viewed Steven SpielbergsET: The Extra-Terrestrial at the Venice Film Festival in 1982 and was astonished to notice strange resemblances to his script of The Alien. He wrote about this to Arthur C. Clarke. But Clarke warned Ray that, if he resorted to legal action he would have to devote his entire time travelling to USA, attending court sessions. With his ailing health, Satyajit Ray decided to abandon The Alien. Very few know Spielberg was one of those who were instrumental to recommend Ray for the Lifetime Achievement Oscar. Follow @htshowbiz for more At least 35 were killed and more than 200 injured in different parts of Rajasthan as a high-speed dust storm on Wednesday night wreaked havoc in Bharatpur, Alwar and Dholpur districts and left a trail of destruction, uprooting hundreds of trees and electricity poles. According to preliminary reports, 17 people were killed in Bharatpur, nine in Alwar, nine in Dholpur and one each in Jhunjhunu and Bikaner. Rajsthan disaster and relief minister Gulab Chand Kataria has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of those who died. The storm caused major destruction in Alwar where more than 100 trees were uprooted, many of which fell on stationary vehicles and snapped electricity cables. The power distribution company switched off electricity to prevent further damage. More than 1,000 electricity poles were uprooted in the storm, plunging the city in darkness. It will take us at least two days to restore supply, said Alwar power distribution company executive engineer DP Singh. Meanwhile, Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje tweeted that she had directed ministers to monitor relief work in the affected districts and asked officials to restore utilities. Have directed Ministers and concerned officials to affected areas to begin relief work immediately and restore utilities. An unfortunate incident, we have been working closely with local authorities to mitigate the situation. Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) May 3, 2018 Raje announced that Kataria will monitor relief work in Alwar, social justice and empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi in Dholpur; health minister Kalicharan Saraf in Bharatpur and mines minister Surendrapal Singh in Jhunjhunu. The state government rushed the State Disaster Relief Force to affected districts and issued an alert. Private schools in Alwar city are closed on Thursday. By Thursday morning, electricity supply had been restored in Bhiwadi, Tapukda and Tijara. The power supply was also restored in the Alwar government hospital. A survey for damaged property has been ordered, Alwar district collector Rajan Vishal said. Bharatpur divisional commissioner Subir Kumar said a compensation of Rs 50,000 from the Chief Minister Relief Fund will be given to the families of the deceased. Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee general secretary and former Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot cancelled his birthday celebrations, tweeting: Very sad to know about 22 people have died and over 100 injured due to dust storms and strong winds in #Rajasthan.. We are extremely grieved at the loss of lives in state and stand with the victims in this hour of tragedy I cancel all the celebration programs at my residence on todays occasion. Blood donation camps and Janhit programs can be continued by the organisers. (With inputs from HT Correspondents in Alwar and Bharatpur) A chain of powerful thunderstorms, a freak pre-monsoon phenomenon that experts blamed on a confluence of three weather factors, pounded parts of north and north-west India overnight Wednesday, killing at least 117 people and leaving a trail of destruction in at least six states. Hundreds more were injured in the storms that packed windspeeds of up to 130 km per hour, and wrecked mud houses, damaged crops, uprooted trees and electricity pylons, cutting off power supplies and disrupting train traffic in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab and Haryana. Western Uttar Pradesh and neighbouring eastern Rajasthan bore the brunt of the storms; 111 people died in the two states, most of them from house collapses. A cyclonic circulation, induced by a western atmospheric disturbance, high moisture levels brought by easterly winds and a recent spell of unusually high temperatures that soared to 45 degrees Celsius were responsible for the thunderstorms, Kuldeep Srivastava, a senior official at the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said. The result was a squall line or a chain of thunderstorm clouds that emerged on Wednesday afternoon from north Rajasthan to eastern Uttar Pradesh, passing over Delhi as well. People remove the logs of uprooted trees from a road after strong winds and dust storm in Alwar, Rajasthan, on May 3, 2018. (Reuters) It can be called a freak incident, Mahesh Palawat, chief meteorologist at Skymet Weather, a private forecaster, said. Dust storms are usually not this intense, nor do these systems cover such a large area. Of the 75 deaths in UP, 46 were reported from the Agra division. Deaths were also reported from districts such as Kanpur, Hamirpur, Bijnore and Meerut as the storms cut a wide swathe starting at 7 pm on Wednesday. In Rajasthan, 36 deaths were reported, most of them in Bharatpur, a district neighbouring Agra. In northern Madhya Pradeshs Bhind region, two children died and more than a dozen people were injured. In Uttarakhand, a hailstorm killed two in the Kumaon division. In Punjabs Patiala, two people were killed in a thunderstorm. Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed central officials to coordinate with states in ensuring speedy relief and rehabilitation efforts. Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India, he tweeted. Uttar Pradesh chief secretary, Rajive Kumar, said the commissioners of Agra and other divisions have been directed to distribute relief supplies and compensation to victims. Rajasthan chief minister, Vasundhare Raje, instructed her cabinet colleagues to take charge of the relief work in affected districts. An unfortunate incident, we have been working closely with local authorities to mitigate the situation, Raje tweeted. Although no deaths were reported, normal life was also hit in many places in Punjab and Haryana on Wednesday after a high-velocity dust storm swept the states. A vast quantity of freshy harvested wheat was drenched by heavy rain in many parts of the two states. Apart from traffic snarls, 15 flights, including two international ones, were diverted because of bad weather, airport officials in Delhi said. Railway traffic was also affected, with about 50 trains delayed, railway officials said. The weather department predicted more thunderstorms in parts of north and central India in the next two days. The hill regions of Himachal Pradesh and Uttararkhand may experience hailstorms.The intensity of the storms may be much less than the Wednesday nights chain of storms, the India Meteorological Department said in a statement. Climate scientists attributed an increase in the frequency of storms to climate changes stemming from global warming, caused by heat-trapping greenhouse gases. Thunderstorms, flash floods and heat waves are likely to increase in future and their intensity will be more visible in northern India. This is also mentioned in the fifth assessment report of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said Venkatesh Dutta, an associate professor in the department of environmental science at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU), Lucknow. Indias Aadhaar technology does not pose any privacy issue and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded the World Bank to take this approach to other countries as it is worth emulating, Microsoft founder Bill Gates has said. The 62-year-old multi-billionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist said Nandan Nilekani, Infosys founder who is considered as the chief architect of Aadhaar, was consulting and helping the World Bank on the project. Asked if Indias Aadhaar technology is worth emulating by other countries, he replied, Yes. The benefits of that (basic ID -- Aadhaar) are very high, he told PTI. More than a billion people in India have enrolled in Aadhaar, the worlds largest biometric ID system. Yes, countries should adopt that approach because the quality of governance has a lot to do with how quickly countries are able to grow their economy and empower their people, Gates said in response to a question. We have funded the World Bank to take this Aadhaar approach to other countries, he said. It is believed that several countries, including some from Indias neighbourhood, have approached New Delhi for assistance in this matter. Aadhaar in itself doesnt pose any privacy issue because its just a bio ID verification scheme, Gates, the head of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, said when asked about the concerns about privacy issues raised by certain quarters in India. The individual applications that use Aadhaar, you have to look and see whats been stored and who has access to that information. And so, application by application, you have to make sure thats well managed. In the case of the financial bank account I think its handled very well, he said. (It uses) Aadhar to set up the accounts so that you can both get your cell phone and get your bank account, he added. Observing that Aadhaar was started before Prime Minister Narendra Modi came into office, Gates said that it was very much to his credit that he was willing to embrace it. Im both good friend and an admirer of Nandan Nilekani and some of the initiatives of digitisation efforts that can help with education that can help with governance, he said. In his lecture on Technology for Transformation organised by NITI Aayog on November 2016, Gates had said that Aadhaar is something that had never been done by any government before, not even in a rich country. Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number for Indians, based on their biometric and demographic data. The data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2009 by the Government of India. An uneasy calm prevailed over the Aligarh Muslim University campus on Thursday even as Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath joined the growing calls for the removal of Mohammad Ali Jinnahs portrait, protests over which had led to violent clashes the day before. Students, angry over Wednesdays police action, staged a day-long sit-in at the campus gate. The portrait of Pakistans founder at the students union hall was briefly taken off, apparently for cleaning, and was put up again on Thursday by AMU students. Some minor skirmishes between students and police were reported later in the evening. The police alleged students pelted stones at them. The situation is under control, a police officer said even as agitating students refused to heed the growing demands from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the removal of the portrait. No way, sir... The portrait will remain there. Whatever it is, you cant erase history and Jinnah is part of the history of undivided India, said Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani, the AMU Students Union president. Chief minister Adityanath, campaigning for BJP in Karnataka, sided with the growing chorus within the BJP against the Jinnah portrait on the AMU campus. An aide said an angry chief minister had sought a report from the local administration on Wednesdays developments. I think the glorification of Jinnah is unfortunate. My government would act strictly against all those who were behind the trouble (on Wednesday), he said at an election rally. Taking a cue, the Hindu Yuva Vahini, an outfit founded by Adityanath, demanded an FIR be registered against those who had put up the portrait on at AMU. In fact, the portrait needs to be replaced with that of Baba Ambedkar, said Raghvendra Singh, state in-charge of HYV. AMU students, meanwhile, accused senior police officers of taking orders from the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and BJP leadership. They accused BJP of fuelling discontent on campus. Students raised slogans against the Hindu Jagran Manch, blaming it for provoking varsity students, leading to one sided police action. AMUSU secretary Mohammed Fahad who was injured in Wednesdays clash with the police, demanded that the National Security Act be invoked against BJPs Aligarh member of Parliament Satish Gautam, who initially demanded the removal of the portrait. It was he who stoked the fire, Fahad, who is recovering in hospital, said. He said a delegation of students would approach the police seeking FIR against BJP leaders, including the local MP, as well as members of right wing groups who had burnt Jinnahs effigy on campus. Jinnahs portrait installed at the AMU students union hall since 1938 became the focus of the controversy after Gautam on Tuesday wrote to AMU vice chancellor Tariq Mansoor seeking justification for the portrait of a leader whom the RSS held chiefly responsible for the partition of India. I stand by my demand to remove the portrait, said Gautam. Other BJP leaders have now joined in. There is no justification for the portrait and it must be removed forthwith, said BJP MP Jagdambika Pal. Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said Jinnahs portrait anywhere in India was unfortunate. I fail to understand what relevance Jinnah has in present day India. He is a traitor and his name shouldnt be taken in present day India, Maurya said. UP minister Om Prakash Rajbhar, the chief of the Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party, a BJP ally, too demanded that the portrait be removed. Congress leader Ashok Singh took potshots at the BJP on the issue. Why was this issue allowed to snowball? Whose government is it in UP? Moreover, what has the party got to say on its leaders who had visited Jinnahs mazaar (grave) and some who had written a book( on Jinnah), Singh said in a reference to BJPs patron LK Advani, who had angered the RSS by visiting Jinnahs grave in Pakistan and later praising him, and BJP leader Jaswant Singh, who wrote a book on Jinnah. In his 240-page detailed order in Rohtaks Apna Ghar sexual abuse case, CBI judge Jagdeep Singh said people like main accused Jaswanti were monsters in the garb of social activists and deserved no leniency. He sentenced Jaswanti (in-charge of Apna Ghar), his brother-in-law Jai Bhagwan and driver Satish to life imprisonment last week. He is known for sending Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim to 20-year jail in a rape case in August last year. The judge, however, stated in his order that there was no sufficient evidence to prove grievous charges against Jaswantis daughter and other accused who were left with sentence already undergone by them during the trial. Jagdeep Singh stated that Jaswanti and her kin, who were entrusted with custody and protection of destitute children, not only crossed limits of breach of trust, but also turned NGOs into organisations violating chastity of such destitute homes. He added that convicts took advantage of physical and social weaknesses of inmates of protection home called, Apna Ghar, knowing fully well that such destitute inmates are already victims of nature. Therefore, such abominable acts of convicts, who indulged in sexual abuse of inmates, dont deserve any leniency The judge said that the conduct of Jaswanti Devi further aggravated the situation by roping in others in the ghastly acts perpetrated by her inside the premises of the welfare organisation. Jaswantis son-in-law Jai Bhagwan and driver Satish were also sentenced to life imprisonment in the case. Justifying sending the three convicts to life, he said courts must not only keep in view the rights of the victims but also the society at large while considering the imposition of appropriate punishment. Tore into defence arguments During arguments, defence counsels representing these convicts said that there were contradictions in victims statements. To this, judge observed that when any destitute person had been at the mercy of perpetrators of crime, then minor contradictions in the statement of victims cant be given much importance, especially when there is no evidence to suggest that a victim had any motive to falsely implicate the accused. Even otherwise, these victims come from poor strata of society and they may not be able to express properly the sequence of the events. Judge tore into defences argument casting aspersion on the bad character of the victims during the trial. He said this argument was quite misconceived. It is settled law that even a woman of easy virtue is not available to be sexually exploited without her will or without her consent. He added that law does not permit rape of such women even. Even if a woman is of easy virtue, it would not give licence to anyone to commit sexual offences against her. Therefore, the argument of the accused that women raped were of easy virtue cannot escape punishment, he added. During trial, the defence also argued that Jaswanti and her kin were charged that they used to click nude photos of inmates but there was no recovery of any nude content in expert reports. On this, judge said that the mere non-finding of any nude content cant be made basis to discredit the entire case Prime Minister Narendra Modi may end up addressing 21 election rallies in Karnataka, instead of the 15 planned earlier, in a late campaign blitz before the May 12 assembly polls, two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders familiar with the matter said. Modi began on Tuesday the second round of his campaign in the southern state, addressing three rallies in Chamrajanagar, Udupi and Belagavi. He returned to Karnataka on Thursday to address three more public meetings in Gulbarga, Ballari and Bengaluru. In the first round, he address about half a dozen rallies before poll dates were announced on March 27. The original plan had three more public meetings each on May 5, 7 and 8, the first of the two leaders cited above said on condition of anonymity. Now he will also address rallies on May 6 and 9. He may end up addressing 21 rallies instead of 15. The second BJP leader said the number of rallies Modi is to address were increased because of the positive public response to his public meetings on Tuesday. He is our only hope. So the party wanted him to spare as much time as he could for campaigning, he said. May 10 is the last day of campaigning for the Karnataka elections. A couple of opinion polls have predicted a close contest between the Congress and the BJP in the southern state, and political rivals accused Modi of shying away from the campaign for fear of a loss. BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao said in an interview on Monday that any comparison between the number of rallies Modi addresses in Karnataka and bigger states like Uttar Pradesh, which has almost two times the number of assembly seats, was unnecessary. Karnataka has a 224-member legislative assembly and the 21 rallies Modi may end up addressing in the state are fewer than the 34 he spoke at in Gujarat, which has a 182-member assembly. He addressed 24 rallies for last years multi-phase polls to the 403-member Uttar Pradesh assembly. The BJP increased number of Modi meetings in the middle of the Uttar Pradesh campaign; spent three days in and around his parliamentary constituency Varanasi and the move benefitted the BJP, which swept to power in Indias most populous state. Karnataka is seen as the BJPs prospective gateway to the south. It is also the largest of the states that the Congress governs now. On Tuesday, Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress and chief minister Siddaramaiah, as he floated 2+1 theory to target the dynasty Congress. Siddaramiah is contesting two assembly seats, Chamundeshwari and Badami, while his son is the Congress candidate from Varuna. PM Modis rally on May 1 not only energised the BJP cadre, it even built momentum against the Congress. We hope more rallies of the PM will tilt the balance in the BJP s favour, the first BJP leader said. The Congress has earlier accused the BJP of limiting the number of Modi rallies in Karnataka sensing an impending defeat. The BJP has rejected the claim. A delegation of Congress leaders on Thursday met the Election Commission officials and demanded immediate action against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), alleging that the saffron party had issued advertisements in clear violation of the model code of conduct and criminal law. The delegation comprising senior party leaders Abhishek Singhvi, Rajiv Shukla and Pramod Tiwari apprised the officials about the advertisements issued by the BJP. They alleged the advertisements aimed to vitiate and communalise the atmosphere in Karnataka a week before the state assembly elections. We apprised the Election Commission about the highly objectionable advertisements taken out by the BJP in Karnataka, Singhvi told reporters after the meeting. They are not only a direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct, but it is a criminal act. They are a clear violation of the criminal law in India. We will also file a criminal complaint and lodge an FIR under the criminal law, he said. The Congress leader claimed that it was happening in a brazen manner and a ban must be imposed on them immediately. He said the EC officials heard them patiently and took the issue seriously. The EC has assured us of looking into the issue and action, he said. This is clearly a sign of defeat by the BJP and of their frustration, Singhvi claimed. Shukla alleged that the BJP was dubbing Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and Karnataka chief minister Siddharamaiah, who holds a constitutional post, as murderers which was a criminal offence. They are trying to vitiate and communalise the atmosphere, he alleged, adding that the BJP feared imminent defeat in Karnataka and that was why they were resorting to such measures. The Congress delegation also handed over a memorandum to the EC along with details of the objectionable advertisements taken out by the BJP. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Kerala police have arrested two persons for the rape and murder of a Latvian woman, whose decapitated body was found near the famous Kovalam beach last month. Fifty days after the woman was reported missing, Kerala director general of police Loknath Behra on Thursday said a drug-peddler and an unauthorised tourist guide had been arrested and charged with rape, murder, illegal confinement and under narcotic substances act. The 33-year-old victim was reported missing on March 14 from an Ayurveda hospital on the outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram where she had come along with her male companion and sister in February for treatment for depression and other related ailments. Her decomposed and headless body was found from an isolated mangrove near Kovalam beach on April 21 and was identified by her sister based on the dress she was wearing. Police sources said the tour guide, who was fluent in many foreign languages, was the first to spot the woman sitting on a deserted beach, and befriended her. He reportedly took her to the isolated mangrove on his fibre boat and told his friend. Both reportedly offered her some drugs and raped her. They allegedly strangled her when she was about to leave, fearing she will alert police. Later, they tried to disguise it as a suicide and tied her body on a tree meticulously, they said. The case got national attention after her sister and companion started a vigorous campaign to locate her, including on internet. They pasted notices at important places and offered a reward of Rs 1 lakh to help locate her. Kovalam being a major tourist destination, the case brought much embarrassment for the state too. An auto-rickshaw driver later told the police that he had dropped her at Kovalam beach, 16km south of Thiruvananthapuram, on the day she disappeared. Although police found it hard to get clues initially and came under criticism from the victims sister, they cracked the case scientifically, Behra said, adding that all investigation team members will be honoured. It is an unfortunate incident and it should not have happened in a state like Kerala, the DGP said, adding that her sister had expressed satisfaction with the probe and lauded the investigating team. The state government has given Rs 5 lakh compensation to her sister and had announced it will bear all the expenses of taking her body to her country. Later, her sister said the body will be cremated in Thiruvananthapuram and she will take only ashes to her country. In a press conference recently, she said her parents were yet to come to terms with the tragedy. A special function will be organised in the state capital on Sunday to pay tribute to the victim. The right to information law meant to empower Indians and bring transparency in governance appeared to be losing steam with the number of queries going down mainly because of stone-walling of information by officials and slow disposal of appeals, studies based on government data show. The trend, activists say, is a blow to the concept of a vibrant democracy. The information watchdog, the Central Information Commission (CIC), in a report released in March, said the number of applications seeking information from Central government departments has gone down for the first time since the groundbreaking law was enacted in 2005. A 6% fall between 2015-16 and 2016-17 was reported in RTI applications filed with the 1,950 public authorities of the Central government, which receives maximum information applications followed by Maharashtra and Karnataka. This trend is worrying because people are increasingly finding that getting information from the government is becoming difficult, said Shailesh Gandhi, a former central information commissioner. There are multiple reasons for the trend. RTI users say the first roadblock in most cases are the information officers, who either dont respond or provide incomplete information. Earlier, we were scared, said an information officer with a Central government department, adding they have realised now that taking action against them for not providing information is a long drawn process. The applicant will first have to file an appeal with the first appellate authority, an officer senior to the information provider in the same department. Only after the authority had decided on appeal, a second appeal can be lodged with the information commission. The RTI users say by the time information commissions decided on an appeal average of two to five years the information officer is transferred out. Government data from the CIC and other information commissions show that penalty imposed on errant officers for not responding on time or providing incomplete information was going down. Our analysis shows that penalty is imposed in just 4% of appeals where it can be done, said Venkatesh Nayak, a programme coordinator with the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI). The total penalties collected by commissions were Rs 1.29 crore till 2016-17. Another concern highlighted by activists are the commissions, set up to safeguard RTI, as the pendency of cases are rising and quality of the orders going down primarily because many posts of commissioners remaining vacant for long periods. Appointments to SICs have become highly politicised and mostly retired bureaucrats are being selected for these posts, shows our latest rapid review, Nayak said. The latest example is Kerala, where there is only the chief information commissioner. Governor and former chief justice of India P Sathasivam had rejected the names for information commissioners twice citing complaints against the names proposed by the state government. About one-third of positions in the CIC are vacant, according to an analysis done by CHRI in March 2018, which also said that 25% of information commissioners posts in state information commissions was also vacant. Andhra Pradesh has no information commission since 2014 when Telangana was carved out as a separate state. The Gujarat Information Commission is headless since this January and Nagaland since October last year. There are huge vacancies in the information commissions of Haryana, Karnataka, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Anjali Bhardwaj of the National Campaign for Peoples Right to Information (NCPRI) said the result of this is that a majority of the cases are being disposed off with a single-line order instead of a speaking order, which provides legal justification for the decision. A speaking order gives detailed legal reasons for the decision. As a result, in the 23 information commissions, including the central, over two lakh appeals and complaints were pending till November 2017. A NCPRI study said that at the present pace of disposal, the West Bengal information commission will take 43 years to hear all cases, Kerala 6.5 years and Maharashtra five years. The study said the CIC in 2018 was hearing appeals filed in 2016 and pendency was rising. My appeals in the central information commission on some important policy matters are pending and still they are not listed for hearing, said Lokesh Batra, a Noida-based RTI activist. Former defence secretary and present CIC chief RK Mathur did not respond to a text message seeking his comments. CIC joint secretary, Anil Gehlot, in an email response said the number of pending cases has fallen in the last one year from 26,449 in 2016-17 to 23,259 in 2017-18. But the data provided by him showed that during this period registration of cases have also gone down. He, however, did not comment on the activists claim that the quality of orders was going down and that there were vacant posts in the commission. An information commissioner of the southern state, who was not willing to be quoted, admitted that the government recognises that if the information commissions are weak, implementing an effective RTI law will become difficult. There are also many positives of the RTI law even though there are emerging difficulties, said Vinson M Paul, Keralas chief information commission. I believe that 60-70% of the RTI applicants benefit from the law which has also improved transparency in the government. Yes, there is misuse, but it is not by more than 2-3% of the applicants, Vinson M Paul said. Former National Advisory Council member and member of the committee that drafted the RTI law, Aruna Roy, said there are many empowering success stories about RTI which the governments should emulate to strengthen the law rather than making attempts to weaken it. She was referring to the latest government proposal to dilute the status of the central information commissioners by downgrading their equivalence from that of Supreme Court judges to that of secretary, government of India. Last year, the Centre had proposed new RTI rules allowing an applicant to withdraw his appeal and abatement of an appeal if the applicant dies. This is dangerous considering that RTI applicants are regularly attacked by those whom they intend to expose. Till March this year, 67 RTI activists have died and 385 cases of assaults have been reported, Nayak said. Despite increasing hurdles for RTI users, both the government and activists agree that the RTI has changed governance in a big way. RTI has helped in improving transparency and accountability, prime minister Narendra Modi said while inaugurating a CIC meeting last month. Roy said the RTI is a success story of Indian democracy and a celebration of its people, who understood and struggled to make constitutional principles come alive in practice and added that any attempt to make the law ineffective will weaken the democratic pillars of India. Days before the deadly dust storm hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Met department had issued a severe thunderstorm activity warning for several places, but none were in these two states. Specific warnings were issued for May 2 and 3 for Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha along with other places in eastern and northeastern India as per the advisory issued on April 30. There was no mention of such activity over Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. M Rajeevan, secretary, ministry of Earth Sciences, however, said the India Meteorological Department had issued alerts for Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, where dust storm, coupled with rain, has killed nearly 100 people. On April 30, the IMD issued a detailed advisory that a cyclonic circulation lay over east Bihar, West Bengal and Jharkhand and a trough runs from this cyclonic circulation to Manipur across Meghalaya in lower levels. An east-west trough also runs from Punjab to southeast Madhya Pradesh across Haryana and west Madhya Pradesh, it had said. Under the influence of these systems, scattered to widespread rainfall/thunderstorm activity was very likely over east and northeast India during next 3-4 days, it said. For May 1, it said thunderstorms accompanied with squall, and hail was very likely at isolated places in Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and the seven northeastern states. For May 2, it had said thunderstorms accompanied with squall was likely at isolated places over the Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha, while thunderstorms with gusty winds may hit isolated places in Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Jharkhand. Under its severe weather warning for May 3, it had said, Thunderstorm accompanied with squall (are) likely at isolated places over Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha. The newly constituted overarching Defence Planning Committee (DPC) headed by national security adviser Ajit Doval and mandated to drive the countrys military and security strategy discussed the geostrategic landscape and agreed to implement plans in a time-bound manner in its first meeting on Thursday, a defence ministry spokesperson said. The panels ambit includes preparing draft reports on national security strategy, international defence engagement, building a defence manufacturing ecosystem and boosting military exports. Apart from the three service chiefs, the committee comprises the defence secretary, the expenditure secretary, the foreign secretary and the Chief of Integrated Defence Staff, who also serves as member secretary. The members deliberated upon the geo-strategic landscape and agreed to chart a time-bound action plan in keeping with its broad mandate, the spokesperson said in a statement. The committee has been constituted at a time when the Indian military has complained that lack of resources are hurting its modernisation while China and Pakistan are swiftly upgrading their military capabilities. Meeting defence production goals is likely to figure prominently in the panels future discussions, officials familiar with the matter said. The draft Defence Production Policy-2018, released in March, visualises India as one of the top five countries in the aerospace and defence sectors in the coming years, with defence goods and services expected to account for a turnover of Rs 1.7 lakh crore by 2025. Analysts believe that decisions on military purchases could happen faster through the DPC as the prime ministers office, the defence ministry, the finance ministry and the services are part of the same committee, which will submit its reports to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The Indian government will continue with its enquiry into the Cambridge Analytica data leak issue, irrespective of the British firm announcing closure of business, senior IT ministry officials said on Thursday. The UK-based data analytics and political consulting firm has been under fire in various countries for allegedly harvesting data from almost 87 million Facebook users and leveraging them for political campaigns. The Indian government too has shot-off notices to both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, confronting them with questions on data breach issue. The last date for the two companies to respond is May 10. On Wednesday, however, Cambridge Analytica announced its closure in a statement on its website and claimed it had been vilified for activities that are legal and considered a standard component of online advertising. Indian officials familiar with the questioning and notices sent in the data leak matter said the ongoing probe will continue as the liability of the company existed prior to the closure announcement. They, however, declined to divulge further details in the matter, saying that both Facebook and Cambridge Analytica have time till May 10 to send written responses to official questioning. In fresh notice sent to Cambridge Analytica last month, the government asked what kind of data was collected in India and the research instruments used to capture such data. It also asked whether the company harvested any data through third party apps and whether or not mining of such data was done with user consent. Quizzing the British firm on the non-disclosure pacts signed by the company with its associates and clients for Indian assignments, the government also asked it to share the templates that were used in signing such agreements. The latest notice by the government had also flagged the cryptic and evasive reply given by Cambridge Analytica to the first notice. On the other hand, the notice to Facebook had taken note of the US social networking companys candid admission of unauthorised use of its user data by Cambridge Analytica. Facebook was asked to list out the security architecture proposed to be created so that data concerning Indians are not pilfered or manipulated again for extraneous purposes including to influence the elections. While Facebook had previously admitted that nearly 5.62 lakh people in India were potentially affected by the data breach incident, Cambridge Analytica had claimed that it does not have any Facebook data on Indian citizens. The British firm yesterday said it is shutting down and cited a sharp drop in business behind its decision. In its statement, Cambridge Analytica said, Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the Companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar on Thursday said it is shameful that the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah hangs in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) but people, who are protesting against it, should also oppose the temples made to honour Godse. The 73-year-old writer took to twitter to voice his opinion on the ongoing controversy at the Aligarh university which was triggered after Aligarh MP Satish Gautam objected to the Pakistan founders picture on the walls of the AMU student union office. Jinnah was neither a student nor a teacher of Alig Its a shame that his portrait is there The administration n students should voluntarily remove it from there n those who were protesting against this portrait should now protest against the temples made to honour Godse. Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) May 3, 2018 AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai had defended the presence of the portrait, which has apparently been hanging there for decades, saying that Jinnah was a founder member of the university court and was granted life membership of the student union. Traditionally, photographs of all life members are placed on the walls of the student union office. The row sparked violence at the campus on Wednesday which resulted in at least six people being injured when the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students, who were demanding the arrest of the protesters who had earlier barged into the campus shouting slogans. The AMU students alleged that the protesters were from Hindu Yuva Vahini, and were allowed to leave a police station even after being initially detained. (The story has not been modified from its original version, only the headline has been changed) Madhu Sudan Sharma, the judge of the special SC/ST cases court in Jodhpur metropolitan, was transferred on Wednesday evening. He has been posted as joint secretary (law) in the law and legal affairs department, Jaipur. Judge Sharma delivered the verdict in the Asaram rape case on April 25, sentencing the rapist to life in jail until his death. The Rajasthan High court had earlier directed the special SC/ST court to pronounce its verdict on the jail premises owing to security concerns. The registrar general of Rajasthan high court, in two separate orders, transferred five judicial officers in the district judge cadre and nine other judicial officers, on Wednesday. Prabu Lal Ameta has been appointed member (judicial) in the Rajasthan Civil Services Appellate Tribunal, Jaipur. Rajesh Narayan Sharma has been appointed judge of the industrial tribunal-cum-labour court, Jodhpur. Ashutosh Kumar, who was secretary (law) in the law and legal affairs department in Jaipur, has been posted as district and sessions judge of Jaisalmer. Sanjay Kumar has replaced him in the law department. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday urged the people of Karnataka to vote for a change in the Assembly elections, saying their mandate would decide the future of farmers and youths. This election is going to decide the future of Karnataka, its farmers and youth. It is about the safety of women. Do not assume that it is only about electing an MLA, it is much beyond that, Modi told an election rally at Navodaya Vidyalaya Grounds in Kalaburagi, about 630 km northwest of Bengaluru. Modi, who is campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for a second day, addressed the rally for some 30 minutes in Hindi. Accusing the states Congress government of being indifferent to farmers, Modi said the state failed to ensure that the benefits of central governments schemes reached the farmers. Kalaburagi is known for dal (pulses) cultivation. Our farmers are working hard here but the Karnataka government is insensitive towards their condition, Modi said. He said the BJPs Chief Ministerial face, BS Yeddyurappa, was a farmers son who understood the concerns of the farmers. In Yeddyurappa, we have a leader who is devoted to the welfare of the farmers. For him, their (farmers) welfare is top priority. PM slams Congress for disrespecting soldiers Modi also criticised Congress for questioning the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes. Karnataka is synonymous with valour. But, how did the Congress Govts treat Field Marshall Cariappa and General Thimayya? History is proof of that. In 1948 after defeating Pakistan, General Thimayya was insulted by PM Nehru and Defence Minister Krishna Menon, Modi said. Modi will later address rallies in the mining district of Ballari and in Bengaluru. Prime minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi were in Karnataka on Thursday as a part of their election campaigns in the state ahead of the May 12 assembly election. Modi began his second round of campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday with a rally in Kalaburagi. Later on Thursday, Modi also addressed a rally in Bengaluru. The BJP has also lined up a galaxy of leaders, including Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, to address public meetings in the next few days. Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi held corner meetings in Aurad, Bhalki and Humnabad in Bidar district on Thursday. Polling for the 224-member Assembly will be held on May 12, and results will be declared on the 15th of the month. Here are the live updates: 6:18pm: I promise the Delhi government (Modi government) is with the Karnataka people. We are with you to give you a bright future, says Modi. 6:16pm: Congress is trying to fool the people of Karnataka with its manifesto. Congress in 2013 had promised to build one super speciality hospital in every district. But in 2018, this got changed to one super speciality hospital for every three districts, the Prime Minister says. 6:15pm: Congress in its Hawa Hawai manifesto said if it is elected again in the state, the IT sector will get 300 billion dollars. Please come back to earth and tell lies which are at least believable, Modi says in Bengaluru. 6:10pm: Congress is not answering what promises it fulfilled from its manifesto. It is not telling what all it did in the last five years, but keeps asking what Modi did, says PM Modi. 6:05pm: We are working towards promoting Ease of Doing Business, Congress is ensuring Ease of Doing Murder in Karnataka, says PM Modi. 6:00pm: Modi says Bengalurus identity is its lakes. The city of lakes has turned into a city of burning lakes under the Congress government. The photos of Bellandur Lake (spilling toxic foam) speak for the govts inefficiency. 5:59pm: Modi says the BJP government has brought in a provision to hang the rapists of girls below the age of 12. 5:58pm: Under the Congress, women safety has become the biggest cause of concern. Earlier, people used to go to Goa and Bengaluru to celebrate New Years. But the photos on social media from the celebrations have stopped the people from coming to Bengaluru, says Modi in Bengalurus Kengeri. 5:56pm: Modi tells youth that they have the power to bring a change in Karnataka. Congress is a gold medallist in corruption. If u dont remove them, they will keep creating troubles for you. 5:54pm: There was a concept of a steel bridge in Bengaluru. Congress government turned it into Steal bridge. They did nothing to check and put an end to corruption in the state, says Modi. 5:50pm: Modi says every day, new records are being broken in corruption under Congress. 5:47pm: Bengaluru was known as the Garden city but the Congress has converted it to Garbage city: Modi. Bengaluru was a cosmopolitan city, which has been turned into a culture of chaos, the PM adds. 5:45pm: The youth and the people of Bengaluru made the city a Silicon Valley. In the last five years, the Congress has made Silicon Valley into a valley of sin, says Modi. The computer capital has been turned into a crime capital under the present government (Congress). 5:42pm: PM Modi says surveys have shown that JD(S) will be a distant third, they cannot form a government so no one should waste their vote on them. 5:40pm: When Congress starts talking about hung assembly it means it is confirmed that the BJP will come in power in Karnataka under Yeddyurappas leadership on May 15, says Modi. JD(S) will not be able to form a government in Karnataka. 5:35pm: PM Modi greets people in Kannada. People of Karnataka have decided to demolish Congress last held fort on May 15, says Modi. 5:25pm: After massive rallies in Kalaburagi and Ballari, I am heading to Bengaluru. Everybody knows how Congress has promoted corrupt and lumpen elements in Bengaluru and ignored the citys infrastructure needs. @BJP4Karnataka will serve Bengaluru with utmost diligence and dedication. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 3, 2018 3.44pm: PM Modi ends his adddress at Bellary. Later on Thursday, hell hold a public rally at Bengaluru. 3.42pm: Congress insulting Bellary by portraying as if only thieves and looters live here, says PM Narendra Modi in turf of Reddy brothers. 3.40pm: Congress government in Karnataka is in sleep mode. They did not spend the funds Centre allocated for development of the state, PM Modi says in Bellary. Congress never promoted the textile sector and cloth industry in Karnataka. BJP has formulated a new textile policy which will significantly benefit the sector as well as generate employment opportunities for people: Modi. 3.35pm: Congress used to term us as Mahila Virodhi. But see, now we have a Defence Minister who is a woman and she is a member in the Parliament from Karnataka itself: PM Modi. 3.30pm: I would like to ask the Congress people who carried out a candle march in Delhi where were your candles when a Dalit girl was tortured in Bidar, says PM Modi. 3.28pm: We (BJP govt) wanted OBC Commission to get Constitutional status but the Congress did not let it happen: PM Modi. The Congress does vote-bank politics. They divide people on the grounds of caste. They are insensitive towards the tribal communities and the OBCs, adds Modi. 3.24pm: PM Modi on central policies: Ours is a sensitive government which looks after the aspirations of people and then formulate policies. Through the Fasal Bima Yojana we have been able to ensure welfare of farmers. 3.19pm: When we had got the opportunity to serve people of Karnataka earlier, so many development initiatives were undertaken. But sadly, the Congress could not even ensure proper water supply despite the state being rich in water resources, alleges Narendra Modi. 3.14pm: Not even a single work is possible without corruption and bribery. Look at rising illegal mining in the state. Congress government in Karnataka could not even frame a strong mining policy, says PM Modi. 3.11pm: Karnataka has a Sidda-Rupaiah Sarkar. It has created a debt-burden for the state. People can no longer tolerate them. They will give a strong reply on 12th May: PM Modi. 3.10pm: Free press makes for a stronger democracy, says PM Modi. 3.05pm: Congress has ruined the rich history and legacy of Ballari. By defaming Ballari, they have disrespected the people of this district: PM Modi. 3pm: PM Modi begins his address in Bellary. 1.40pm: Rahul Gandhi on Narendra Modi: He has to have something to say...cant talk about roads, education, farmers, development etc... So lets talk about Rahul Gandhi...but you are the PM of India, this kind of speech doesnt behove your position 1.33pm: Rahul Gandhis advice to Modi: Talk about what you will do for the youth of India, for Karnataka. Tell small businessmen how you will save them from Gabbar Singh Tax. Tell the people what you will do to save them from the effectes of demonetisation 1:28pm: Whenever Narendra Modi is afraid, he makes a personal attack. The difference between me and him is that no matter what he says about me, I wont be affected. He is the prime minister of India and I wont make a personal attack on him. However, I can question my prime minister on the promises that he had made: Rahul Gandhi in Aurad. 1:26pm: This election is not about Modi or Rahul Gandhi, it is about the future of people of Karnataka, says Congress president 1:24pm: GST or Gabbar Singh Tax has put an end to all businesses. In the movie Sholay,there was Gabbar Singh, you brought the Gabbar Singh Tax but now you gone even further...Now you are trying to put the entire Gabbar Singh team in the Karnataka assembly...Gabbar is there, Samba is there Kalia is also there...the entire gang of Reddy brothers, who were in jail, you are trying to place them in the assembly: Rahul Gandhi 1:23pm: The amount Congress put into MNREGA (Rs 30,000 crore) is the amount Nirav Modi ran away with. When I asked PM Modi it, he made fun of me, says Rahul Gandhi 1:22pm: You come to Karnataka, you talk about corruption yet BS Yedyurappa is your CM candidate, says Rahul Gandhi 1.20pm: Instead of waiving your loans, he (PM Modi) gave the money to his corporate friends. Whenever Modi is anxious, he makes personal attacks. I will never make personal attack on Modi, simple because he is the PM,doesnt matter how much he attacks me, says Congress president 1:18pm: Congress president Rahul Gandhi is addressing a rally in Bidar in Karnataka. 1.10pm: My job is to worry for the farmers, says PM Modi. 1.05pm: Last time Congress promised to make Kharge CM, but did not keep their word. Did they not let down the Dalits of the state, says Narendra Modi at Kalaburagi rally. 1pm: You may not be able to speak the truth, but at least you can keep quiet: Modi to Congress on Swaminathan report. For several years, Congress government tried to hide the Swaminathan Comission report in the cupboard, claims Modi. 12.56pm: Congress doesnt respect the sacrifices of our soldiers. When our soldiers carried out surgical strikes, the Congress party questioned them. They kept on asking proof of the strikes from me, says PM Modi Karnataka is synonymous with valour. But, how did the Congress Govts treat Field Marshall Cariappa and General Thimayya? History is proof of that. In 1948 after defeating Pakistan, General Thimayya was insulted by PM Nehru and Defence Minister Krishna Menon, adds Modi. 12.51pm: The enthusiasm in Kalaburagi shows the people of Karnataka will even bear the May heat, but they can no longer stand Congress government: PM Modi. 12.50pm: This election will decide the future of Karnataka. It is about security of women, the development of farmers. Do not assume this is only about electing MLAs, it is much more than that: PM Narendra Modi in Kalaburagi. 12.45pm: Congress is on its way out in Karnataka, says PM Modi. 12.42pm: Narendra Modi begins his address in Kalaburagi. 10.40am: The Prime Minister began his second leg of campaign for Karnataka in May 1, addressing three rallies in Chamrajanagar, Udupi and Belagavi district that covered 48 assembly constituencies. He launched a blistering attack on the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as he floated 2+1 theory to target the dynasty Congress. Siddaramiah is contesting from two assembly seats, Chamundeshwari and Badami, while his son is a Congress candidate from Varuna. The Kasauli hotelier who allegedly shot dead a woman official during a Supreme Court-ordered drive to remove unauthorized construction was arrested from Mathura in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, police said. Vijay Singh, the owner of Narayani guest house in Kasauli, was arrested in a joint operation by Himachal Pradesh Police and the special cell of the Delhi police from a temple in Mathura, where he had fled to after allegedly shooting assistant town planner Shail Bala Sharma last Tuesday, Solan Superintendent of Police Mohit Chawla said. Police said according to information from local villagers, Singh fled the guest house at which he allegedly shot Sharma and reached the road to Sanawar, 6km away, by using a forest trail through a nearby hill. Police said after shooting the official, Vijay called up his friends for help. He asked one of his acquaintances to arrange a vehicle for him. Anticipating that police might track his location, he switched off his phone, said police. However, he later made a call that allowed his location to be traced. On Singhs trail, police combed the Sanawar forest area and questioned his family who lived on the top floor of the hotel. They also scanned video footage of the demolition drive recorded by the town and country planning department as questioned four policemen deputed to assist the drive . The SP said the accused boarded a Rohru-Chandigarh bus from the Shimla-Kalka highway. We also scanned closed-circuit television footage from Chandimandir which showed a man resembling him sitting in the bus, said the SP. The bus conductor told the police that Vijay alighted from the bus at Tribune Chowk. He was enquiring about a bus to Delhi, the conductor said. To conceal his identity, Singh shaved off his moustache and got a haircut, said the SP. Acting on the information, the team contacted the Delhi Police crime branch. His location was traced to Mathura refinery after he called somebody from his cellphone. The police finally found him at a temple, said Chawla. Police will bring Vijay to Solan on Friday where he will be produced in a local court, he said. Chief minister Jai Ram Thakur on Wednesday ordered a magisterial probe into the killing of assistant town and country planning officer in Kasauli. On Tuesday, officer Shail Bala Sharma had gone to supervise the demolition of unauthorised construction at Kasaulis Narayani Guest House where its owner Vijay Singh allegedly shot at her. She later succumbed to injuries. The CM said Shimla divisional commissioner will conduct inquiry into the killing of Shail Bala. The divisional commissioner has been asked to enquire all relevant aspects of the incident, including the circumstances that led to the incident and fixing of responsibility of the person responsible for this lapse. The probe report has to be submitted to within 15 days. The CM also said an ex gratia of Rs 5 lakh will be given to kin of the deceased and the state government will also bear the expenses of treatment of all the injured in the incident. He said that the government will submit a status report on the incident in the Supreme Court on Thursday. Following the incident, the CM had called a high-level meet on Tuesday evening with state chief secretary Vineet Chawdhary, director general of police Sita Ram Mardi and officials from the state home department. Police search on for the accused Armed policemen have been deployed at the residence of Singh, also a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited employee, who absconded after the incident. Meanwhile, over five dozen policemen and a dog squad have been combing the nearby forests for the suspect since Wednesday morning. We have pasted the suspects image at various locations too, said Solan SP Mohit Chawla. A policeman said the demolition drive had been temporarily halted after the incident. As the other workers were scared, the district administration held a meeting with the police, he added. The drive has begun now, confirmed sub-divisional magistrate Solan Ashutosh Garg. A post-mortem of Sharmas body was conducted at the IGMC in Shimla earlier in the day, and preparations are on to transport it to her hometown in Mandi district for cremation. Gulab Singh, a PWD worker who was also injured in the shooting, is being kept under observation at the PGIMER, Chandigarh. Playing the nationalism card, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of insulting national heroes and the Indian Army by questioning the veracity of cross-border surgical strikes. He also said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi disrespected the national song Vande Mataram. Forgetting national heroes, patriots and history is the nature of a family in the Congress. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and VK Krishna Menon insulted General (KS) Thimayya, who had to resign. They neglected General (KM) Cariappa, Modi told an election rally at Kalaburagi in Karnataka, as he sought to connect with the voters of the home state of the two Army legends. Invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the PM said independent Indias first home minister was instrumental in forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad, who controlled the region where Kalaburagi is located, to accede to the country. But one family in the Congress loses its sleep whenever Sardar Patels name crops up, he said. Seeking to appeal to patriotic sentiments of voters, the prime minister raked up the issue of cross-border surgical strikes, claiming the Congress questioned the genuineness of the assault by the Indian Army. They (Congress) sought proof about the genuineness of the surgical strike. Bodies of Pakistani soldiers were carried on trucks, a newspaper said that... and they need proof. Should our soldiers go on such operations with a camera or a gun? he said. The PM said a Congress leader even called the Army chief a goonda (gangster) after the surgical strike. He reached out to farmers of Karnataka, saying his government would take up farming of pulses in a big way. Rejecting the Congress claim that it was a champion of Dalit causes, Modi referred to atrocity on a Dalit girl in Karnatakas Bidar. But the states ruling party did not speak about it. They had no candlelight protests, he said. This party (Congress) only knows how to prostrate before the members of one family. But we have decided to construct memorials to the tribals who fought against the British since 1857 to 1947 when India became independent, he said. The mother of the hotelier, who is on the run after shooting a woman government official dead on Tuesday in Himachal Pradeshs Kasauli town during a demolition drive, said on Thursday she was worried for her son but wants him to give himself up to the police. Vijay Singh, a Himachal Pradesh State Electricity Board Limited employee, allegedly chased and shot at assistant town and country planner Shail Bala Sharma after an argument over the demolition of the unauthorised construction in his Narayani Guest House after a recent Supreme Court order. I know he has done wrong and it should not have happened but I fear that he may kill himself, 73-year-old Narayani Devi said as she was surrounded by her three grandchildren and other relatives in the partially demolished building in Kasauli. I am still shocked. How could he do so? He loves his children so much. The day before yesterday, he (Vijay) was planning to go to St Mary School where his three children study, she said Devi said 52-year-old Singh told her he could die and asked her to take care of his children as he was leaving. Sharma and her team launched the demolition drive on Tuesday in keeping with an April 17 directive of the Supreme Court that 13 hotel and resort owners in Kasauli pull down unauthorised structures on their premises within 15 days. They were also asked to pay a fine of up to Rs 15 lakh each. Devi said as per the town and country planning department, two floors of their house were illegally constructed and that they pulled down one floor and closed the ground floor. She (Shail Bala) did not listen to our version. We have a map of this building and also paying taxes since long. This building did not come up overnight. We have been living here for decades, she added. Our life has been ruined. What would I do if he kills himself or anyone else? My grandchildrens future is at stake now, said she, pointing towards children, who were busy playing with their pet. Singhs wife did not utter a word and constantly looked at her children. We constructed this house in 2000 and developed it into a guest house later. Over these years, no officer came to tell us that it was illegal. We had hopes from the Supreme Court but no one pleaded for us, Devi said. He (Vijay) was upset for the last few days. He had left no stone unturned to make authorities understand that we would pull out illegal portion. Singh, an additional private secretary with the electricity board, has been suspended from his services. He was appointed as an additional private secretary in 2013, over 25 years after he joined the board in 1985. Police have launched a massive manhunt to trace Singh, who absconded after the incident. The search operation is on and we are hopeful of nabbing him, Solans superintendent of police Mohit Chawla said. The police are also combing the forest areas in Kuthar and Jagjit Nagar, officials said. There are reports that Vijay Singh had walked his way towards Shimla side, a police officer said requesting anonymity. A team of special security unit was also dispatched from Shimla to assist the police in their search operation. The team also questioned Singhs family members and looked at the video of the incident recorded by officials of the town and country planning department. They also questioned four policemen who were a part of the quick response team deputed to assist the officials in the demolition drive. Members of the demolition team have alleged that the policemen present at the site fled after Sharma was shot at. The policemen were unarmed. Police have announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for information that could lead to Singhs arrest. Prime Minister Narendra Modi may address more election rallies than what was originally planned in Karnataka as the BJP raises the campaign tempo to wrest back the only southern state it has ever ruled, two party leaders familiar with the matter said. The BJP has planned 15 rallies of the prime minister between May 1 and 8. The number could go up to 21, the one of the two BJP leaders said. May 10 is the last day of campaigning for the May 12 election in Karnataka. The PM may spare one more day from his schedule for campaigning. His programmes are being rearranged, the second leader said. Karnataka is headed for a close contest between the BJP and the Congress with the former largely depending on Modis popularity to regain power in the state after a gap of five years. Karnataka is seen as BJPs gateway to south and is the largest the state that the Congress now rules. On May 1, Modi launched a blistering attack on the Congress and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, as he floated 2+1 theory to target the dynasty Congress. Siddaramiah is contesting from two assembly seats, Chamundeshwari and Badami, while his son is a Congress candidate from Varuna. PM Modi rallies on May 1 not only energised the BJP cadre, it even built a momentum against the Congress. We hope more rallies of the PM will tilt the balance in the BJPs favour, the first BJP leader said. The Congress has earlier said the BJP was limiting the number of Modis rallies In Karnataka which was a sign of an impending defeat. The BJP had rejected the charge. BJP general secretary P Muralidhar Rao said in an interview on Monday that any comparison between number of Modis rallies in Karnataka and bigger states like Uttar Pradesh, which has almost two times the number of assembly seats, was unnecessary. The Prime Minister launched his second leg of campaign for Karnataka in May 1, addressing three rallies in Chamrajanagar, Udupi and Belagavi district that covered 48 assembly constituencies. On Thursday, he travels to Karnataka again to address rallies in Gulbarga, Bellary and Bangaluru. These rallies will cover 47 assembly seats in Gulbarga, Bidar, Yadgiri, Bellary, Kopal and Bengaluru. Modi will return to Karnataka again on Saturday to address public meetings in Tumkur, Shivamogga and Gadag covering 49 seats. Opposition parties are discussing the possibility of fielding a joint candidate against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the May 28 by-election to the Kairana Lok Sabha seat in Uttar Pradesh, three leaders familiar with the matter said. While there has been engagement at multiple levels between the Congress, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), it is BSP chief Mayawati who holds the key to such a unity and determining the candidate, the leaders said. Negotiations between different forces centre on two issues can all four non-BJP parties come together, and who would be the candidate said an RLD interlocutor familiar with the political dialogue underway. We have learnt from Gorakhpur and Phulpur. We need to stay together if we want to defeat the BJP, said a SP leader, recalling the SP-BSP alliance that defeated BJP in the recent bypolls. But the west UP political theatre has an additional player Ajit Singh-Jayant Choudhary-led Jat-dominated RLD. Everyone is in touch with everyone else. Rahul Gandhi and Jayant Chaudhary, Jayant and Akhilesh, Akhilesh and Mayawati, and even Jayant and Mayawati have met. There is a recognition that we must come together in some form to defeat the BJP, said the RLD functionary quoted above. There are over five lakh Muslims in the constituency, close to two lakh Dalits and Jats, a substantial section of Gujjars, and then other upper castes and OBC communities. The BJP candidate is likely to be Mriganka Singh, daughter of the late MP Hukum Singh, whose death necessitated the bypolls. She happens to be from the Gujjar community. The RLD sees itself as a natural claimant in west UP and Choudhary himself is open to being the candidate, provided he is backed by the Congress, SP, and BSP. The SP, however, does not want to let go of the opportunity either, and wants to build on the success in recent bypolls. We are looking ahead to 2019, and of course, we believe SP should get the seat, said a key party leader. The name of Lucknow University professor Sudhir Panwar, a Jat who contested on an SP ticket in the last assembly poll, is doing the rounds. The Congress is open to supporting a unified opposition candidate. However, the key will be in the hands of Mayawati. The BSP was inclined to contest from Kairana, after its unity with the Samajwadi Party ensured BJPs defeat in Gorakhpur and Phulpur earlier this year. But Mayawati decided to stick with her self-imposed rule of not contesting a by-election. She remains the swing force though. The BSP is inclined to support a Samajwadi Party candidate, a BSP leader said. Given its history of supporting the BJP, the RLD cannot be trusted. But an RLD leader said Mayawati and Choudhary have met too. When asked if they would contest separately if BSP backed SP, the RLD leader said, I doubt it. The aim is to defeat BJP. We will stick to the opposition alliance. The BJP won the Kairana seat in 2014 with a margin of 2.36 lakh vote. Hukum Singh polled 5.65 lakh votes, compared to Samajwadi Partys tally of 3.29 lakh and BSPs 1.60 lakh votes. While the BJP candidate was a Gujjar, the SP and the BSP fielded Muslim candidates in a communally charged contest. The BJP retained its hold over five assembly segments Nakur, Gangoh, Kairana, Thana Bhawan and Shamli of Kairana Lok Sabha seat in the 2017 assembly election, but the BSP improved its tally. A tussle between Tripura chief minister Biplab Deb and the partys in-charge for the northeastern state, Sunil Deodhar, has the BJPs leadership in Delhi worried, two leaders familiar with the matter said. The tug-of-war between the two leaders comes at a time Deb is in the midst of controversies over his outrageous remarks over the past few weeks. The duo of Deb and Deodhar is credited with bringing down the 20-year-long CPM rule in Tripura, but the two fell out soon, one of the two leaders cited above said on condition of anonymity. Deodhar had opposed the elevation of the 47-year-old Deb as the chief minister in March and the chief minister is now getting back at him, the first leader added. Deodhar wanted Congress turncoat Sudip Roy Barman, currently the health minister, as Tripura chief minister according to this person. The second leader, who asked not to be identified, said the equation between the two took a hit during the ongoing controversy over Debs remarks. The chief minister brought to the notice of the party leadership that Deodhar liked on his Facebook page certain critical remarks against the CM and added that the party in-charges loyalists were amongst those that shared fake news reports about PM Narendra Modi summoning the CM to Delhi to give him a talking to. The sparring hides a larger problem, the second leader admitted. As in-charge of the state, Deodhar wants to have say in Tripura. As chief minister, Deb wants to be in total command. The problem lies here, this person said. This has also resulted in uncharacteristic behaviour, according to the second leader. For instance, Deodhar has started taking part in private events such as the inauguration of an automobile showroom in Agartala last week, this person added a move that did not find favour with BJP top brass in the state and Delhi. Deodhar was missing from the BJPs state executive committee meeting in Tripura last month, and also skipped a workers conference in Agartala on Tuesday. A call to the Chief Ministers office for a reaction to this story did not elicit a response. Deodhar said the reports about differences between him and the chief minister are totally incorrect. I needed to win the state. It was a difficult state, so I spent two years here. After victory I had a backlog of work for my organization, which I am completing now, Deodhar said. Deodhar said now he spends only two to three days in a fortnight in Tripura and had informed the party that he would not be able to attend the meeting in Agartala because of his prior engagement with a programme organized by the Agra unit of the RSS. He added that he doesnt remember anyone liking antiDeb comments on his Facebook . Earlier I used to run my page and like all positive comments to encourage interaction. I am not handling it on my own (now), but I have not posted anything (against Deb). I will check. Pakistan has raked up the issue of alleged human rights violation in Kashmir at the UNs Committee on Information to which India raised strong objection, saying it was irrelevant to the work of the panel. Pakistans delegate Masood Anwar, addressing a session of Committee on Information yesterday, raised the issue of Kashmir alleging that human rights violations are taking place against the people of Kashmir. The world we live today is marred with conflict and strife while we maintain unity in fighting terrorism and extremism. Countering the narrative of this twisted ideologies is imperative, Anwar said during a General Debate on Committee on Information. He said the UNs Department of Public Information (DPI) can play an important role in defusing tensions and promoting interfaith harmony. Human rights violations in particular are a matter of serious concern to the international community, he said. He urged DPI to highlight situations where grave violations of human rights are taking place, especially against the Rohingya, Kashmiris and Palestinians. India strongly rejected Anwars reference to Kashmir, saying his remarks are irrelevant to the work of the Committee. We have seen another attempt here today to make reference to issues extraneous to the agenda of the Committee. We completely reject these remarks as they have no relevance to the work of the Committee, S Srinivas Prasad, Minister in the Indian Mission to the UN, said during the session. In his statement, Prasad said India supports the DPIs work on counter-terrorism. India is opposed to all forms of terrorism and believes that effective cooperation among countries is necessary to combat the threat, he said. He referred to the production of the documentary Surviving Terrorism: Victims voices on the survivors of the Norway terror attack of 2011, saying civilians affected by terrorism is an untold story and hoped that the DPI will pick up more such stories from terrorist violence affected countries. He, however, voiced concern over declining financial resources that have presented a serious constraint on the ability of the DPI to carry out its mandated tasks especially in non-official languages. DPI needs to look at innovative ways to raise resources beyond the regular budgetary allocations, including through voluntary contributions to continue and expand its global outreach activities, especially in the widely-spoken non-official languages, he said. Prasad voiced appreciation over expansion in the number of languages in which UN guided tours are offered. He pointed out that guided tours of the world body have been very popular with Indian tourists in the city, urging the addition of a guided tour in Hindi to facilitate Indian tourists. Prasad also noted that the Department facilitated the on-location filming of Bollywood film Padman at the United Nations headquarters in November 2017. Akshay Kumar-starrer Padman was the second movie after Half Girlfriend to use the UN as a backdrop of its story. The film is based on menstrual hygiene, an issue relating to the Sustainable Development Goal number four that focusses on achieving inclusive and equitable quality education for all. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Nepal on a two-day visit on May 11 while external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj will travel to Myanmar, also on a two-day visit, on May 10, the ministrys official spokesperson, Raveesh Kumar, said on Thursday. HT had first reported that the PM would travel to Nepal, his third during his tenure but first after the promulgation of the new Nepali constitution in 2015. This comes barely a month after Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis three-day visit to India in April. Oli was accompanied by his wife Radhika Shakya and an entourage of ministers, members of Parliament, secretaries and other high-ranking officials of Nepal government. He had highlighted Indias commitment to link Nepal with the waterways along with the railways links to increase the connectivity. During Olis visit, both India and Nepal recognised the untapped potential of inland waterways, in order to contribute towards the overall economic development of the region Swaraj will pay a two-day visit to Myanmar from May 10 during which key bilateral and regional issues, including the situation in the Rakhine state from where hundreds of thousands of persecuted Rohingya Muslims had fled following violence last year, are likely to be discussed. Swaraj would hold talks with the top leadership of Myanmar and both sides were expected to ink several key agreements, the MEA spokesperson said. Visit of experts to Pakistan normal, says MEA The spokesperson termed as normal the visit of a group of Indian experts to Pakistan to revive Track II diplomacy, but asserted that there was no dilution in its policy towards Islamabad that talks and terror cannot go hand-in-hand. This is a meeting between two civil societies, this is a meeting which is part of people to people exchange...There is nothing new in it, he told reporters, responding to queries on the issue. More than 75 people were killed and hundreds injured as a high-intensity dust storm followed by thunder showers hit several parts of western and northern India. This is what we know so far about the damage caused by the storm: At least 42 people were killed in four districts of western Uttar Pradesh. Thirty six people were killed in Agra, three in Bijnore, two in Saharanpur and one in Bareilly. Houses were damaged after trees fell on them. (HT) According to preliminary reports, 31 people died in Rajasthan. Sixteen people were killed in Bharatpur, nine in Dholpur, six in Alwar and one each in Jhunjhunu and Bikaner. Vehicles overturned leading to many casualties. (HT) Uttarakhand Disaster Mitigation & Management Centre (DMMC) said at least two people were killed in Kumaon and few more injured in other parts after rains and thunderstorm lashed the hill state on Wednesday night. In Delhi, the dust storms caused traffic snarls across the city. Fifteen flights, including two international, were diverted due to the bad weather. Labourers work at Noida stadium amid a sudden heavy dust storm. (HT/Virendra Singh Gosain) Normal life was also hit in many places in Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, on Wednesday after a high-velocity dust storm. Light to moderate rains also lashed many places. The Rajasthan government rushed the State Disaster Relief Force to affected districts and issued an alert. A detailed report of the disaster is awaited even as relief and rescue teams have been pressed into service to clear debris and restore power supply, said Secretary, Disaster Management and Relief, Hemant Kumar Gera. Bharatpur divisional commissioner Subir Kumar announced a compensation of Rs 50,000 for the families of the those killed in the dust storm from the Chief Ministers Relief Fund. The storm caused major destruction in Alwar where more than 100 trees were uprooted, many of which fell on stationary vehicles and snapped electricity cables. The power distribution company switched off electricity to prevent further damage. Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje condoled the deaths and said in a series of tweets that she has directed ministers and officials in the affected areas to begin relief work and restore utilities. Private schools in Alwar city are closed on Thursday. South Korean President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap By Kim Rahn President Moon Jae-in and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan agreed to expand cooperation in trade, the defense industry and energy, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. The two leaders made a joint press announcement after their summit during Erdogan's state visit to Korea. He was the first Turkish president to visit here since the two nations upgraded their ties to a strategic partnership in 2012. According to the announcement, the leaders agreed to intensify cooperation regarding international organizations. They decided to develop MIKTA, an informal partnership among Mexico, Indonesia, Korea, Turkey and Australia, into a forum for leaders of these countries. Moon and Erdogan also agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in solar energy development, nuclear power plant construction, the defense industry, transportation, and science and technology. They especially sought to swiftly implement an agreement on the service industry and investment within the framework of the South Korea-Turkey free trade agreement. They welcomed the establishment of a Turkish culture center in Seoul which will open soon. Moon said Korea and Turkey have been close throughout history, saying South Koreans think of the Turks as "blood brothers" who fought for them during the Korean War (1950-53). "Based on such a traditional friendship and trust, the two nations have been improving exchanges at both governmental and civil levels," Moon said. Erdogan recognized Friday's inter-Korean summit, expressing his support for South Korea's efforts to open a new era of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, in Northeast Asia and the world. "I believe the inter-Korean summit was successful and will contribute to world peace," Erdogan said. "I hope the reconciliatory atmosphere will continue forever. If North Korea resolves the nuclear issue through negotiations with South Korea and other nations involved, I believe more successful outcomes will be made." After the summit, ministers of the two nations signed four memoranda of understanding in higher education, information and communication technology, trade, and healthcare. Erdogan invited Moon to Turkey, an offer Moon accepted. Later in the day they had dinner and enjoyed a cultural performance. Protests have erupted in Assam against the Centres Adopt a Heritage project that proposes handing over of four sites in the state to companies and individuals to develop them, amid similar opposition to the governments move to allow leading corporate group to maintain the iconic Red Fort in Delhi. Three Ahom-era monuments in Sibsagar and Kaziranga national park are proposed to be handed over as part of the scheme, which envisages the development of amenities for nearly 100 sites including the Red Fort and Char Minar in Hyderabad. The scheme, launched in September last year by President Ram Nath Kovind, is being opposed by organisations like All Assam Students Union (AASU), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) and others in the northeastern state. These properties are the pride of Assam. We will oppose tooth and nail any move to hand over them to private entities under the guise of maintenance, KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said. Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi also opposed the move. Assamese people are the owners of these properties. How did the Centre make such announcement without asking the owners? he questioned. The states Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has decided to write to the Centre and also held talks with protesting groups after the opposition to the project. We will write to the Centre for Kazirangas exclusion. We respect the protests. Under directions from the chief minister, we will meet protesting groups to sort out the issue, tourism minister Chandan Brahma said. Chairperson of Assam Tourism Development Corporation (ATDC) Jayanta Malla Baruah also expressed surprise at Kazirangas inclusion in the list. He stressed that the scheme would focus only on maintenance of facilities like toilets, parking etc. by companies and individuals. Besides Kaziranga, the three other sites are Rang Ghar, an eighth-century amphitheatre, Kareng Ghar, the Ahom royal palace and Siba Doul, a Lord Shiva temple. The three Ahom-era monuments are under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and Kaziranga - the only national park in the list - falls under the state forest department. Opposition parties have questioned the Union tourism ministrys decision last week to allow the private entity to maintain the Red Fort with the Congress accusing the government of bartering away symbols of Indias freedom movement. The Dalmia Bharat Group, under the memorandum of understanding, would maintain the 17th-century monument and build basic infrastructure around it and has committed a sum of Rs 25 crore for the purpose over a period spanning five years. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has not shown any disrespect towards JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda as claimed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the party said. Hitting back, the Congress said it was Modi who disrespected his two predecessors Manmohan Singh and Gowda and sought an apology from him for it. There was no disrespect ever towards Deve Gowda by Rahul Gandhi... it is not the Congress culture to insult, deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma told reporters in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Modi, addressing an election rally on Tuesday, had lashed out at Gandhi for insulting Gowda, saying it showed his arrogance. Accusing the prime minister of assaulting the dignity of his office with his expressions and language, the Congress leader said Modi had said things during his campaign speeches that were not true. This governments very foundations are on false promises, lies, deceit, propaganda and boastful claims, Sharma alleged and said Modi and his government were in the departure lounge. When Deve Gowda ji was prime minister, his government had full support of the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi has not said anything derogatory about Shri Deve Gowda, he said. Sharma alleged that Modi and BJP chief Amit Shah had created an opportunistic understanding and unholy nexus with the JD(S), and that was the reason a criticism was levelled. Sharma insisted that Modi apologise for repeatedly insulting former prime minister Manmohan Singh, whom he described as one of the respected elders, leaders and statesmen. The country had seen how insulting and disrespectful Modi had been towards Singh in Parliament itself. So let him apologise, the senior Congress leader said. He recalled Gowda had in the run-up to 2014 elections said he would take political sanyas if Modi became the prime minister. Modi had also said he would send Gowda to an old age home, Sharma alleged. Let him also apologise to Deve Gowda ji... Let the people of Karnataka know this prime minister has a forked tongue and basically he is a master in the art of duplicity and hypocrisy, he added. Attacking the government on a host of issues including womens safety, farmer issues, bank fraud and Rafale deal, Sharma said Modi should know the time has come and the countdown for BJP will start from Karnataka. ...he is in the departure lounge; his government is in the departure lounge. People of India are not disappointed but fed up of untruth, lies, false promises and false claims, insulting the wisdom of the people and they are waiting to send them off, he charged. Charging that the announcement on creation of 15 million jobs in the country had been made with an eye on Karnataka polls, he said this is yet another lie. A Rajasthan man, who was out on bail in a 2017 case of rape with a minor, was arrested on Wednesday on the charges of raping a 3-year-old, police said. He was produced before a court on Thursday and remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. Police said Budhram Bavri, 20, of Gharsana village in Ganganagar district was caught by locals on Wednesday evening while he was sexually assaulting the 3-year-old daughter of a man who works on a brick kiln. Gharsana police station SHO Vikram Singh Chouhan said the man had been booked for rape and sexual assault under different sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The officer said his age according to the documents was 20 but police will get it medically verified. In the FIR, the girls father said his daughter was playing near the kiln when she suddenly disappeared. When people started searching for her, they heard her cries and caught the accused sexually assaulting her. Police said Bavri was earlier arrested on December 1, 2017 on the charges of raping a 10-year-old. He was in jail and was released on bail on March 12. Four days after a six-year-old girl of Cuttack district succumbed to her injuries after being sexually assaulted, the man who allegedly assaulted her tried to commit suicide inside a jail on Wednesday. Mohammed Mushtaq, the 25-year-old man accused of brutalizing the girl in a village of Cuttack on April 21 after luring her with chocolates, tried to kill himself using a gamchha in the toilet of Salepur sub-jail. Salepur police station inspector Debendra Mallick said Mushtaq did not come out of the washroom for a long time triggering suspicion among other prisoners who alerted the jail staff. When the undertrials alerted the jail officials, they forcibly entered the toilet and found Mushtaq trying to strangle himself with a gamchha, said Mallick. However, Mushtaq was rescued on time. Police said Mushtaq was depressed over the humiliation fellow prisoners heaped on him after the girl died on April 29, eight days after she slipped into coma following his brutal assault. The accused who is married, has a child who is a little younger than his victim. He used to paint houses in the village for a living. The girl had stepped out of her house in the evening when Mushtaq, her neighbour lured her to a nearby shop with the promise of chocolates. Police Mushtaq took the unsuspecting child to a shop in the village from where he bought some chocolates. He then took her to a nearby deserted school building where he tried to have sex with her. When the girl cried in pain, Mushtaq throttled her and banged her face on a wall thrice injuring her face. He then left the victim there thinking her to be dead. On Thursday, police charged Mushtaq under section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Odishas director general of police (DGP) Rajendra Prasad Sharma has asked investigating officers to submit the charge sheet against the accused in 15 days. The victims family was given Rs 5 lakh as compensation. Officials said Mushtaqs will be the first case in Odisha after the Union Cabinet approved an ordinance last month sanctioning death penalty for an accused convicted of raping a child under 12 years of age. A case under sections 302 of IPC, Sections 376 (A)(B) and 302 of IPC and Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been registered against Mushtaq. Under the amended IPC, anyone who sexually assaults children under the age of 12 years can be given death sentence. Similarly, under the amended POCSO Act whichever punishment is higher between POCSO and IPC will apply. The governments decision to hand over the historic Red Fort to leading corporate group Dalmia Bharat for maintaining tourist amenities under the adopt a heritage scheme has not only stoked a controversy among political parties but also sparked a feud among historians with contrasting ideologies. Last week, opposition parties had questioned the government on the decision. The Indian History Congress (IHC), a body of leftist historians, issued a statement on Wednesday demanding suspension of the deal with Dalmia Bharat till the whole arrangement is impartially reviewed by the Central Advisory Board of Archaeology or any other recognised body of experts. While right wing historians have rubbished the IHCs allegations, tourism minister KJ Alphons said that IHC has not read the memorandum of understanding (MoU) it has signed with Dalmia Bharat. It is greatly perturbed at the announcement that Dalmia Bharat, a cement company with no known experience of maintenance of monuments is being made the custodian of the Red Fort of Delhi, a major national monument, Prof R Mahalakshmi, secretary of the IHC said in a statement. Calling the conditions of handing over Red Fort to Dalmia Bharat disturbingly broad she said, The company can construct as well as landscape, and it will run an interpretation centre as well. The IHC further apprehends that to attract tourist traffic it may propagate false or unproven interpretations of particular structures in the complex. Once such claims are set afloat, especially when they are of a sectarian character it is found extremely difficult to get rid of them, said the press statement. Tourism minister Alphons dismissed the IHCs fear as completely unfounded and said that IHC hasnt read the MoU the government signed with and Dalmia Bharat. Had they studied the MoU, they wouldnt have made such statements, said Alphons. Historians with allegiance with the right wing also rubbished IHCs statement and alleged that it is spreading rumours. Well-known historian Prof Makkhan Lal says that hundreds of monuments were buried along the Yamuna in the passage of time in Delhi and UP but IHC never bothered about them and when the government was trying to bring public participation in improving tourism amenities at Red Fort, IHC was misinterpreting it. Any government can only save monuments when public participate in the exercise. See what has happened to Tughlaqabad Fort. Two-third of the fort has been encroached. Can IHC issue any statement on that? asked Prof Lal. Another historian Prof Kapil Kumar from the Centre for Freedom Struggle and Diaspora Studies, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) criticised IHC for expressing imaginary fears. I am surprised that Indian History Congress had no resolution to pass when the former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had ordered excavation for finding a treasure on the dream of a so-called baba, said Prof Kumar. He was referring to an excavation project at a fort in Daudiyakheda village of Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh by the Archaeological survey of India in 2013, ostensibly to find gold after a local seer Shobhan Sarkar claimed that 1,000 tonnes of yellow metal was buried there. The issue of heritage Protection, Management and Marketing need to be looked professionally in Modern context rather than spreading rumors that the Red Fort has been kept in mortgage, Prof Kumar added. The Supreme Court on Thursday sought a status report on the probe into the Kasauli incident, in which a hotel owner allegedly shot dead an officer during a demolition drive. The court also asked the Himachal Pradesh government to keep it informed about the status of the implementation of its order to demolish illegal constructions at 13 hotels in Kasauli. Terming Tuesdays incident as unfortunate, the top court said it was a result of non-implementation of laws related to unauthorised constructions. Assistant town and country planner Shail Bala Sharma was shot at by Vijay Singh, the owner of Narayani Guest House. Sharma was overseeing the demolition of unauthorised construction there. She later succumbed to injuries. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court had pulled up authorities for their failure to ensure safety of government officials. Taking serious note of the killing of the officer, who was supervising the demolitions following a court order, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta termed it a brazen act and asked the state government why the police could not stop the alleged assailant from fleeing. We might stop passing any orders if you are going to kill people, the court said after the matter was mentioned before it. Dubbing the incident as extremely serious, the top court pulled up the authorities for their failure to ensure safety of officials and said it was quite clear that there was absolutely no regard for the rule of law as the public servants had gone there to do their work as per the directions passed by the apex court. (with PTI inputs) Rural women in Himachal have joined a long drawn war against the drug mafia active in the region for over the last three decades. Kullu districts Diyar panchayat has decided to impose Rs 1,000 fine on persons caught consuming liquor and drugs in public places. For years we have been telling the police to take steps to check the burgeoning drug and liquor trade, but time has come that we take initiative on our own. We have passed a resolution in the gram sabha to impose the fine on each person found involved in drug or liquor trade besides those found drinking in public places, said Manorama Thakur, Diyar panchayat pradhan. We are encouraging the nearby panchayats to join the initiative, she said. The move came after the Kullu police launched a drive Sehbhagita Aapki Aur Humari in February this year to motivate women and youth to fight the increasing drug menace in the district which is known world over for cannabis cultivation. Diyar Panchyat passes resolution imposing Rs 1,000 fine on persons found involved in drug trade . A growing problem The drug trade in Kullu district alone is estimated at Rs 2,000 crore annually. The burgeoning drug menace in the district has been a cause of concern for successive governments, but they have failed to chalk out an effective strategy to contain drug cartels that have been active in the region for past three decades. Traditionally, the villagers in Kullu used hemp fibre to make basket ropes and slippers, which were sold in the market. However, the foreigners visiting the landlocked villages in the late 70's taught villagers to rub charas plant to extract intoxicating resin. Villagers then took up the drug trade to turn their fortune. Locals cultivate hybrid seeds of marijuana brought by foreigners. The high hybrid varieties are sold under different brands such as skunk, red hair, turbo diesel, early girl, white widow, flower power, morning California, haze skunks and AK-47. Besides the marginal villages of Kullu, the menace has spread to others parts of state including the Chuhar valley of Mandi district, Tissa in Chamba and Bara Bhangal area of Kangra, where people have abandoned cultivation of other crops. The cost of cannabis, which is produced locally, is anywhere between Rs 50,000 and Rs 60,000 per kilogram, depending upon quality of the charas extracted from plants. High hopes from initiative Started by Kullu superintendent of police Shalini Agnihotri, the campaign aimed to encourage women and youth to tackle the menace of drug peddlers and cartels. Police had written letters asking the mahila mandals and the volunteers of Nehru Yuva Kendra to join them in the war against drugs. There is a target to involve all the 3,500 Nehru Yuva Kendras and mahila mandals to join us. So far, the results are encouraging. Women have started to come forward, Agnihotri said. The rural women in the valley now also play the role of police informer as they apprise the cops of illegal drug trade, she said. At the end of April, India reiterated that it did not believe that the atmosphere was conducive to hold the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit. The issue of cross-border terrorism from Pakistan persisted, and till this was resolved, Indian officials argued, participating in the summit, to be held in Pakistan, was not possible. The Indian policy stand has once again stirred up a debate on both the utility and relevance of SAARC and New Delhis approach to it. Issue SAARC has had a long and complex history, laced with more failures than successes. When it was first set up in 1985, India was sceptical and saw it a platform where the smaller neighbours could potentially gang up against India. But sometime in the early 2000s, there was a shift in the Indian attitude towards the region. As its global ambitions grew, India recognised that a peaceful periphery and greater regional economic integration were essential. SAARC could be an instrument to achieve these goals, it felt. And New Delhi thus invested more political attention and energy, along with making unilateral commitments. But bilateral disputes particularly between India and Pakistan have always struck and impeded the growth of the organisation. Given that SAARC operates on the principle of unanimity, even if one member decides that they would not participate in the summit, it stands cancelled. India exercised this right at the end of 2016, when after a militant attack on Uri, for which it held Pakistan responsible, New Delhi pulled out of the summit. Bangladesh cited Pakistans interference in its domestic politics, Afghanistan cited increased level of violence and terrorism, and Bhutan said it shared concerns of other states on terror. The summit was eventually cancelled. It has not been held since. Significance Indias decision to maintain its stance comes in the backdrop of Pakistans intensified diplomacy. Last time, Islamabad was caught on the defensive as other states bandwagoned with India. To prevent such a scenario, Pakistan has been reaching out to other neighbours. Its Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, visited Nepal,which remains the SAARC chair since the summit was last held in Kathmandu in 2014. Islamabad hosted the Sri Lankan president Maithripala Sirisena recently and its army chief visited Maldives. Nepals Prime Minister KP Oli, too, emphasised the importance of reviving SAARC. With New Delhi being adamant, these efforts seem set to fail. It is unlikely that the SAARC summit will now be held till at least till the 2019 general elections, which would mean that for close to five years the organisations leaders would not have met. Debate Those who agree with the Indian stance suggest SAARC is anyway a moribund organisation; its summits are mere photo-ops; Pakistans commitment to regional integration is quite hollow; and India should focus on cooperation, but through the bilateral route or even the multilateral route, rather than the SAARC route. Officials also argue that at a time when Indian diplomatic efforts are focused on isolating Pakistan internationally on the question of its support to terror, it would be counter-productive to let Islamabad earn international legitimacy by hosting such a summit. There is an unstated argument too it would not be politically prudent for PM Narendra Modi to visit Pakistan in the run up to the elections. But others, who advocate a more proactive approach towards SAARC and believe India should participate in the summit, have a set of counter-arguments. One, SAARC may be weak and ineffective but it remains the only organisational platform for the entire region; it gives a chance to all leaders to get together and both formally and informally cement ties; incremental as it may be, it also helps advance the cause of regional cooperation, in which South Asia sorely lags behind any other regional groupings. Two, they suggest that the stance is counter-productive for India too, for SAARC holds greater importance for smaller neighbours. Last time, India was successful in isolating Pakistan, but they say that Delhi must prevent a situation where it becomes isolated in the region on the question of SAARC. And finally, if the policy goal is getting Pakistan to end state support to terror, is non participation in SAARC a useful lever at all? Could participation and more engagement actually be more helpful? Even as some critics believe that India may not have chosen the wisest course, New Delhis establishment is clear this is not the time for SAARC. Bishop of Jaipur Oswald J Lewis has written to the Catholic Diocese of the city asking them to fast and pray for Georgish Britto, a priest who was booked under the POCSO Act last month for allegedly sending indecent messages to a Class 9 student at an Alwar school. The accused is currently in jail. Britto, deputy principal and coordinator of the school, was accused of sending inappropriate messages on WhatsApp to the 15-year-old girl. Sheeshram Meena, SHO of Alwars Aravali Vihar police station, said Britto and the minor got close and started chatting after he stood up for her when she was bullied by some schoolboys. During the chats, Britto wrote some inappropriate things. In the FIR, she also stated that Britto touched her inappropriately in school, Meena added. The FIR was lodged by the minors parents on April 18 and Britto booked under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. On April 24, Bishop Lewis wrote a letter to the clergy as well as members of Jaipurs Catholic Diocese stating: I request you to fast and pray that we may tide over this situation and that Fr Georgish Britto may have the strength and courage to bear the cross that the Lord has given him. Speaking on behalf of Bishop Lewis, Father Prasad from Bishops House said the messages sent by Britto were taken out of context. He also added that the Bishops messages only highlighted the fact that the diocese could not disown Britto. We are like a family. Since he joined the diocese as a full-time priest, he is also a part of the family. Bishop is his father now. So even if he has committed a mistake, we cannot disown him. If any crime is proved against him, he will undergo punishment as per the law. We cant help it. Even then, we wont disown him, Prasad said. Two men were on Thursday arrested on charges of raping and murdering a Lithuanian tourist who went missing from Kovalam last month, Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra said. Accused Umesh and Udayan are relatives and were working as unregistered tourist guides, the DGP told the media. Inspector General of Police Manoj Abraham, who led the probe team, said the accused will be presented in a court in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday for remand. The woman was lured by the accused and supplied with narcotics. She was later sexually assaulted and attacked when she resisted. The probe will continue as we want to find out if there are more people involved in the crime, said Abraham. A day earlier, the Lithuanians sister IIzie told the media in Thiruvananthapuram that the funeral of the 33-year-old deceased will be performed at the public crematorium here on Thursday and ashes taken to her home country. She had also met chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his office. The victim, her partner Andrew and Ilzie had arrived in Kerala for ayurvedic treatment at a facility on Thiruvananthapurams outskirts when she went missing on March 14. The victim was last seen hiring an auto-rickshaw to Kovalam. She was not carrying her passport or mobile phone with her when she went missing. On April 20, her highly decomposed body was found in a marshy area near the famed Kovalam tourist destination. An autopsy pointed to strangulation. Once murder was confirmed, police questioned several area residents and had taken four of them in custody. By Park Si-soo A group of lawmakers is moving to legalize the launch of new cryptocurrencies in South Korea. Rep. Hong Eui-rak of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea is leading the move championed by 10 other lawmakers. They are working to have a bill backing the move endorsed this year. This is the first parliamentary challenge to the government's ban on domestic initial coin offerings (ICO) imposed late last year to curb speculative investment in digital currencies such as bitcoin. "The bill is aimed at legalizing ICOs under the government's supervision," Hong said during a forum on ICOs and blockchain technology at the National Assembly on Wednesday. He said the bill was based on a joint study by his office and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA). "The primary goal (of the legislation) is helping remove uncertainties facing blockchain-related businesses," Hong said. The bill does not seek unlimited ICOs, but ones initiated by public organizations and research centers committed to promoting and developing blockchain technology. Their ICOs will be subject to tight supervision by the Financial Services Commission and the Ministry of Science and ICT, according to the bill. At the forum, National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun underscored the lawmakers' role in removing political uncertainties facing cryptos and blockchain technology. "Blockchain and cryptos can be used in various public sectors for good causes," Chung said. "Given their potential, we need to work to help reduce political uncertainties they face." A key dealer in a racket that supplied meat from discarded animal carcasses to restaurants in Kolkata was arrested on Thursday even as opposition parties staged demonstrations demanding a thorough investigation. Biswanath Ghorui was arrested from Sonarpur in the South 24 Parganas on Wednesday night, taking the total number of arrests in the case to 11. The masterminds of the racket are yet to be traced. Ghorui, along with Sunny Mullick, who was picked up from Bihar about a week ago, allegedly used to supply meat from carcasses discarded in dump yards to hotels and restaurants in Kolkata. The racket was exposed on April 20 at Budge Budge in South 24 Parganas district, about 28 km from Kolkata. Eleven people, including Manik Mukherjee, a former CPI(M) leader who was expelled in 2010, have been arrested so far. In separates protests, BJP and Congress leaders on Thursday blocked roads outside the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) headquarters at S N Banerjee Road in central Kolkata. The BJP demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the racket, alleging that the special investigation team (SIT) formed by the Bengal Police was not conducting a proper probe. The SIT will follow orders from Trinamool leaders. People will never come to know the truth, alleged Raju Banerjee, Bengal BJP general secretary. Noted environmental activist Subhas Dutta filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Calcutta high court, seeking directions to the government to ensure public safety and standard of food sold in markets and eateries. Earlier, Citizens For Social Justice, an NGO, submitted a notice in the Calcutta high court for filing a PIL. On Thursday, Atin Ghosh, member, mayor-in-council, Kolkata Muncipal Council, visited several eateries and collected food samples. Since we dont have adequate infrastructure, these samples will be sent to the state forensic science labs. Kolkata and neighbouring districts have witnessed a massive fall in the sale of raw, processed and cooked meat after the police investigation indicated that the carcass meat was supplied to several popular and ordinary restaurants and fast food outlets. Thousands of messages, containing the names of several eateries and shops, have surfaced on social media, prompting some restaurant owners to initiate a counter movement on social media. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) on Monday asked its food suppliers in the state not to store frozen meat. After getting senior journalist Jyotirmoy Dey, 56, shot dead on June 11, 2011, gangster Chhota Rajan, to assert his dominance in the Mumbai underworld, called up four journalists and claimed the responsibility for the drive-by hit. These calls were the main evidence against him and his henchmen, resulting in their life imprisonment. The special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court, constituted to conduct trial of all cases against Rajan, sentenced him and eight others to life imprisonment, and acquitted two others, including journalist Jigna Vora. Another accused died last year owing to multiple ailments. The court noted that the extrajudicial confession (made out of the court and not part of the investigation) by Rajan is cogent, trustworthy and reliable. The extrajudicial confessions have passed the test of credibility, can be accepted, and can be the basis of a conviction, observed the court. The court went on to point out that when Rajan made the phone calls to journalists in Mumbai, he was not under the control of any investigating authority in India, and that he was a free man. As he was located hundreds of miles away from India and Mumbai, he had no fear of the Indian law enforcement agencies. He was not in a position of weakness He did not feel threatened in any manner by the Indian law enforcement agencies or any other agency, said judge Sameer Adkar. The court contended that Rajan had called the journalists and told them the truth. In this background, if the news regarding the phone call made to these witnesses was really fake, nothing prevented him from immediately picking up his phone and calling the media, denying his involvement in the murder of J Dey. But Rajan did not do so, which made the court accept the extrajudicial confession as a key piece of evidence. Why do criminals phone the media and claim responsibility for the crime committed by them? Most people like being seen as an authority and getting the attention that make them feel important. Additionally, a criminal or an accused may want to give his side of a story if he feels that he is being misrepresented as he would not like it if he is put in a false light, observed the court. The court stated that it could be because criminals have a desire to promote themselves. They may not be paid for the interview, but they also do not have to pay to the journalist either, said Adkar. It is an easy way of generating publicity, noted the court. Apart from the calls, the court also relied on the confessions of his henchmen Deepak Sisodia and Paulson Joseph recorded under section of 18 of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act. The court said, It is considered as substantive evidence not only against the men who confessed but also against others. The court also considered material evidence in the form of a revolver, cartridges and others seized from accused Rohit Thangappan Joseph alias Satish Kaliya, who shot J Dey, and mobile phones and SIM cards recovered from other accused. In the last 10 years, the Maharashtra forest department has seized 600 tonnes of red sanders, a kind of red sandalwood. In a first-of-its-kind global auction, the Thane forest circle will be auctioning 80.46 tonnes of the wood in a 24-hour auction between May 16 and 17. This is the first time Maharashtra will be auctioning wood from the protected species, which according to the forest officials, has an estimated value of 1 crore for one tonne of wood in the black market. Red sandalwood (Pterocarpus santalinus) is a hard and fragrant timber and is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. There is an international market for the red sanders wood across China, Japan, the Middle East, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal, where it is used to make decorative and ornamental items, as also oriental musical instruments. In Maharashtra, smuggling cases have been reported from Thane, Dhule, Nanded, Raigad, Kolhapur, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district, said forest officers. Red sanders wood is majorly found in southern districts of Andhra Pradesh, which is the main source for the timber. From here it is smuggled across the neighbouring states, coastal cities from many decades, said Rajendra Kadam, chief conservator of forest, Thane forest range. Majority of the seized 600 tonnes is being stored at Sajgaon depot in Khalapur range of Alibaug forest division. Read more: Red sanders smuggling racket busted in Mumbai; four people held with logs worth 2.85 crore After receiving all permissions and completing the documentation with central government, we have been allowed to bring back 80 tonnes of this protected timber into the white market. We have divided the 80 tonnes into eight lots, of about 10-12 tonnes each, under four categories - A to D (see box). Grade A is estimated to cost 1 crore and above, while grades B and C are between 50 lakh and 1 crore. Grade D is the lowest quality wood, said Kadam. He added that the starting price for the bids is confidential and will only be revealed on the day of the auction to the bidders. After the bidding process is completed, the wood will be transported by the bidders themselves, as all documentation for the sale will be provided. They (bidders) will not have any issues for transporting this wood, said Kadam. Forest officers said while the demand in the black market for the product is still high, smuggling cases across the state had reduced after a major crackdown by the Andhra Pradesh police in various southern states, including the arrest of 84 people in March this year. 20 people who were caught smuggling were killed along the Tamil Nadu-Andhra border in 2015. There has been a considerable decline in black market trade since there is more vigilance and awareness among implementing authority, said Kadam. However, apart from their use in ayurvedic medicines, there is a belief that red sanders can absorb nuclear radiation, and it can be used in nuclear reactor construction, which further escalates the demand. Auctioning protected timber will help regulate illegal trade, boost forest conservation: Experts Experts working in the field of reducing wildlife trade said if the government can destroy the black market for red sanders trade and control it in a systematic way, the country can look at sustainable harvesting in future. This is high value timber and this process of regulating the trade is the only way to control smuggling. There is marginal decline in red sanders trade in India as compared to the last decade. However, internationally the price of red sanders will crash as Australia is developing 7,000 hectares of red sanders wood, to be traded globally, said Jose Louies, who leads the wildlife trade control and litigation division at Wildlife Trust of India. The red sanders trade still stands at a multimillion dollar black market business under an organised crime network. It stands a threat to the country as the network operating under this is very much the same as those involved in wildlife poaching and trade. If this trade can be controlled, it will help curtail illegal wildlife trade as well, said Tito Joseph, programme coordinator, Wildlife Protection Society of India. Details of auction Website: www.mstcecommerce.com Auction time: 12am May 16 to 12am May 17 IST Quantity: 80.46674 tonnes Inspection of logs by bidders between: April 23 and May 15 (10am to 5pm) at Sajgaon depot in Khalapur range of Alibaug forest division Grades of red sanders identified by union environment ministry The union environment ministry has identified grading rules for red sanders based on guidelines prescribed by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department for commercial sale: -Best quality -Straight or nearly straight bark -Minimum length of 75 cms -Top end girth of 36 cms or above. -The logs are further graded into A, B, C or D (Non-Grade) according to the following characteristics. A-Grade (Cost estimated to be above Rs1 crore) * Sound or nearly sound with few or no defects * Surface gives a ripple reflection B and C grades range between Rs.50 lakh and Rs 1 crore B Grade -Semi-sound A grade logs with more defects -A grade logs with bends -Logs with some defects -Logs with medium long and medium deep wavy grain clearly visible C-Grade -Long and shallow wavy grain or straight grain -Logs sound or semi-sound with some or no defects -Utilisable A-grade logs with many defects -Utilisable B-grade logs with many defects D Grade: Utilisable logs of all grades (depends on highest price) (Source: Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change) The banned CPI(Maoist) has vowed to avenge the death of 40 cadres in two encounters with security forces in the Rela-Kasnasur and Nainer forests of south Gadchiroli last month. Posters put up by the Left-wing extremists across south Gadchiroli on Wednesday night claimed that they would avenge the murder of their comrades in what was clearly a violation of human rights. They also vowed to punish the traitors who facilitated the police operations. As many as 34 rebels were shot dead by security forces in the Rela-Kasnasur jungle on April 22, and the rest were eliminated in a forested area near Nainer the next day. Two senior Maoists Srinu alias Srikanth and Sainath alias Dolesh Madhi Atram were among those killed. The posters, allegedly issued by the south Gadchiroli committee of the CPI(Maoist), also called for a bandh on Friday to protest the fake and one-sided massacre. However, Gadchiroli deputy inspector general of police Ankush Shinde maintained that both the encounters were genuine. We do not need to stage fake encounters. All the claims they are making are false, he said. The police officer termed the two encounters as the biggest blows to the rebels in recent years. We virtually finished four armed dalams (squads) of rebels with this, he said. The district police have also announced reward money running up to crores for information leading to the capture of its five most notorious members, including Malojulla Venugopal alias Bhupati, Milind Teltumde and Narmadakka. An advertisement with photographs of the leaders has already been released in this regard. Bhupati, who was once the secretary of the CPI(Maoist)s Gadchiroli unit, commands the highest reward money of Rs 60 lakh. The younger brother of Kishenji, who was killed in West Bengal in 2011, he is now a politburo member. Police have offered Rs 50 lakh for information leading to the capture of Teltumde, who previously served as the secretary of the CPI(Maoist)s Maharashtra unit. Currently a central committee member, his wife Angela was arrested by the state police a couple of years ago. Anybody offering information on Narmadakka, the lone woman activist in the organisations central committee, will get Rs 25 lakh as reward money. She earlier served as the CPI(Maoist) south Gadchiroli secretary. As Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray held a rally on the rocky plateau outside her village, Sagve Katradevi, in Ratnagiri district, promising locals support in their protest against Nanar oil refinery project in their backyard, 56-year-old Shubhangi Rane stayed away. At the rally held 413km from Mumbai on April 23, Thackeray promised locals the mega oil refinery would not come up in Konkan. Sena minister Subhash Desai at the time unilaterally announced the industries department notification that declared 15,000 acres in Rajapur and Devgad taluka as part of an industrial area would be cancelled. Rane was among hundreds from her village, who had boycotted the rally, to register their anger against the party that a majority of villagers have supported for decades. Sagve village in Rajapur taluka of Ratnagiri district is one of the 16 villages that will lose its fields and orchards to the US $50 billion oil refinery and petro-chemicals complex. My family has always voted for Shiv Sena, but we are disappointed with the partys approach. Thackeray promises us support, but it was his minister, who first issued a notification giving our land to the refinery. After Desai announced the notification was cancelled, the CM said he doesnt have the power to do so. How long will these politicians fool us, asked Rane, who will lose 350 of her familys alphonso trees, the mainstay of their income, to the project. Where was the Sena when the local police and revenue administration clamped down on us during the joint land survey, taking even women in police vans? Even if we hold a meeting here, the local administration issues a notice to ban it as unlawful assembly. Our youngsters have cases against them, but where is our Sena MP or MLA, asked ND Kulkarni, whose family owns 300 acres. For the past three years since the Sena joined the Bharatiya Janata Party-led state government, it has played the role of the opposition, even as it stayed in power. However, the Nanar refinery issue is likely to be its undoing in its bastion in the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg belt of Konkan. The Sena holds the Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg Lok Sabha seat as well as five of the six assembly seats within this Lok Sabha seat. What happens in Nanar could have an impact on adjoining constituencies in Konkan belt and also in Mumbai as a significant number of Konkan families have migrated to Mumbai and form part of the Senas support base. An indication of the strong support that Sena enjoys in this region is a running joke among locals in Rajapur taluka, of which 14 villages fall in this project, that people will vote for even a rock as long as Sena founder Bal Thackeray terms him his candidate. Bhai Samant, leader of the Konkan Refinery Shetkari and Macchimar Samiti, an organisation that has been protesting against the project since September, will not lose his land as his village falls in the (Kunal Patil/HT Photo) But, now this unwavering loyalty is under a cloud. Those protesting against the refinery are loosely organized under two groups the Konkan Refinery Virodhi Sangharsh Sanghatana, including Mumbai residents who will lose their land, led by Ashok Walam and the locals Konkan Refinery Shetkari Machimaar Samiti led by Bhai Samant. The Sena support base is the Konkani manus. What the party does over this project will be watched with keen interest in Konkan, including Raigad, Palghar, Thane and Mumbai. Our MP and MLAs are from Sena, but until we organized ourselves and undertook nine protests, these leaders did not support our agitation. Thackeray landed only in April, nearly seven months after we started our agitation, said Walam, who had close links with the Sena earlier through the guardian minister Ravindra Waikar. At his home in Kumbhavde, an eco-sensitive village that will not lose land but will surrounded by the refinery, Bhai Samant said, People are angry because instead of supporting our agitations, various methods were used to break it. If the Congress or NCP support us, we will support them. The Sena has until July, the monsoon session of the state legislature, to make its stand clear. Sensing an opportunity ahead of the 2019 polls, the Opposition rallied against the project. On Wednesday, state party chief of Congress Ashok Chavan held a rally at Katradevi, the same plateau where Thackeray held his rally ten days ago. The rally was held days after a delegation led by Walam met Congress president Rahul Gandhi, asking him to intervene in the issue. Gandhi has supposedly promised the delegation he would visit Nanar and also take up a legal fight against the project. Chavans rally and petitioning Gandhi in the issue is an indication of changing winds in this area. A certain image had been created about Gandhi ahead of the 2014 polls. But he is more level-headed than he is made out to be. The BJP has forced the project on us through unfair means. Instead of using the Land Acquisition Law of 2013, the MIDC Act was used. The Land Acquisition Law calls for consent of 70% of locals and bars acquisition of horticulture and fertile lands. In an underhand fashion, the party has tried to grab land through Gujarati and Marwari investors, said Omkar Desai, a farmer from Nanar. Why shouldnt we support Congress or Gandhi, if they support us? The fishing community is against the project. (Kunal Patil/HT Photo) Both the Congress and NCP had base in Konkan and the Ratnagiri belt earlier. At least two of sitting Sena legislators from this belt including, minister Deepak Kesarkar and Uday Samant, were with the NCP earlier. For us, this is an opportunity to win back lost ground. The refinery project, just like the bullet train or Mumbai-Nagpur highway, is being thrust on locals to grab land. This anti-farmer narrative will help us in 2019 polls, said a senior Congress leader and former minister. After the farmers strike in 2017, the long march by tribal cultivators and protests against land acquisition for the Mumbai-Nagpur highway and the bullet train project, the Nanar refinery is the latest trouble for chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. Despite its victory run in 2014, the BJP has no base in Konkan. Recently, senior Congress leader Narayan Rane was roped in as an ally to help increase the party base. With the Nanar controversy, however, the BJP has waded into more trouble and added to its anti-farmer image. The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between three oil majors with Saudi Arabian Oil company (Aramco) on April 11 to set up the integrated oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Ratnagiri led to loss of face for CM among the locals. Less than a month ago, on March 14, Fadnavis had promised a delegation of locals that their dissent would be conveyed to the Centre and no decision would be taken without their support. Suresh Sakaram Pujari, 57, was injured during the protest. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo) Across the 16 villages in Konkan, there are several posters calling Fadnavis a liar. Our farmers dont commit suicide. We havent asked the government for jobs. Instead we have created jobs for at least a lakh of labourers and workers in our mango orchards. After all this, the BJP wants to grab our lands. If BJP leaders come here, they are in the danger of getting beaten up, said Pramod Kelkar, a mango cultivator and farmer from Rameshwar village, who is a member of the samiti. A senior BJP leader said the decision to announce the MOU had come as a surprise even for the CM, but given the scale of the project, it would be `naive to oppose it. I think one of our big mistakes with this project was that we didnt publicise it enough before issuing the notification. The Sena local leaders also thought they could handle the agitation, but it got out of hands as the estimates of the government about the terrain of the land and mango orchards here and the reality are very different. The government records are not updated and could be 60-80% off the mark, said a senior BJP leader. He said the attempt to use Maharashtra Industrial Development Act instead of the Land Acquisition Law of 2013 may also backfire on the government legally. As HT has reported while the government estimates are that only 60,720-odd alphonso trees could be impacted by the project, cultivators claim 12.30 lakh alphonso mango trees and a lakh cashewnut trees could be impacted. Samantha Akkineni is keeping busy these days with multiple movies in her kitty and two films awaiting release -- Mahanati on May 9 and Tamil film Irumbu Thirai on May 11. The actor took to Twitter to share her excitement about her releases and wrote, #MahanatifromMay9 #IrumbuThiraiFromMay11. Am I being greedy ? HELL YEAH !!! #GodGiveMe #2hits.... #nopressure .. lol truth is I am dying inside The actor who was present at the audio launch of Mahanati said, I am proud to play a small part in this film about Savitri garu. I have taken a risk with this film because I am not the main character, but I am proud to be a part of this film because it is a story which must be told. I signed this film for that one scene, which is an ode to one of the greatest heroines we know. I am thankful to Nag Ashwin for giving me a chance to be a part of this wonderful story. While Mahanati is a biopic of veteran actor Savitri and is made on a grand scale, Irumbu Thirai is an urban action film starring Vishal in the lead role. This is Samanthas first collaboration with actor Vishal, in which she plays the role of a psychologist, Dr Rathi Devi. Samantha has completed work on the Sivakarthikeyan starrer Seema Raja and will be seen alongside Vijay Sethupathi in Super Delux. The actor also began shoot for the remake of Kannada film U-Turn recently. In Tollywood, she will be working with her husband Naga Chaitanya.The couple were last paired on screen for Manam in 2014. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Actor Sri Reddy, who shook the nation with her semi nude protest against sexual harassment, claimed that if Pawan Kalyan doesnt stop his fans, she will go to court. According to The Hindu, the actor said at a press conference on Wednesday, I am going to file defamation cases against all those who abused me on social media in the court of law. The actor was present with her lawyer, MK Kalanidhi, where she also stated that women trolls would be shown mercy. She also wondered why the Movie Artistes Association is supporting Pawan Kalyan through all this. She said, I am surprised that the so-called MAA is supporting Pawan Kalyan and no action was taken against his supporters and fans who were against the media. The actor also pointed out that Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CASH) is a farce; the reason being the members of the committee. Rana Daggubati happens to be one of the members of this committee. Sri Reddy had earlier alleged that it was his brother Abhiram Daggubati who has sexually exploited her in one of their film studio. Hence, she would not accept CASH. Ranas brother Abhiram Daggubati resorted to sexual exploitation in one of their studios. How can they include him in the committee? she asked. Sri Reddy was also accompanied by two other character artistes, a person called Sona Rathore. She also spoke about how she has fallen prey to online abuse and claimed that she faced crass and crude comments by alleged fans of the superstar. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop In his remarks at the forum the Head of State said that Kazakhstan is among the sparsely forested countries. The area of Kazakhstans forest fund totals 30 million ha or 11% of its territory. According to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan is planning to plant 2 billion trees by 2025. Hawaiian tourism has been on a roll. On any single day of 2017, the average number of tourists roaming its islands and beaches topped 230,000 people. During a January visit for a meeting of the James Beard Restaurant Committeeand more eating than youd think wise during a three-day tripit became clear that Honolulu, which we dubbed the next global foodie destination two years ago, has been steadily lifting its food-and-drink bar even higher. Here are the top three reservations you need for your next tripplus a half-dozen more, from local breakfasts to no-frills poke to a food hall that actually merits a visitto ensure whatever beach bod you had when you arrived, has a healthy glow when you fly back home. Senia Despite being one of the more scenic cities in the country, Honolulu restaurants tend to hide behind oft-gritty, unassuming facades. Not the year-old Senia, with big windows looking onto the street from its airy brick-walled dining room. Chris Kajioka and Anthony Rushboth Per Se alumsrethink Hawaiian fare, as well as the Continental cuisine that used to give the island a bad reputation. A post shared by @restaurantsenia on Apr 7, 2018 at 7:52pm PDT The chefs serve snacks of poke on puffy, jet-black crackers. Their do-it-yourself bites are particularly fun: delectable pork belly you wrap with green pancakes and pickles; a platter of bone marrow, beef cheek marmalade; and red-clay and black-lava salts meant to be slathered and sprinkled on glazed Hawaiian sweet rolls. A standout on the $185 chefs counter tasting menu is an elaborate, pastry-wrapped fish Wellington. The 150-bottle wine list has a mix of old and new world selections. From the short, sweet cocktail list, a cardamom vodka-spiked plantation tea with grilled pineapple did me right. Sushi Sho If Hawaiian sushi sounds suspiciously like a rebranding of spam musubi, the nori-wrapped spam-and-rice snack served at 7-Elevens around the state, its time to set the the record straight. And Sushi Shos Keiji Nakazawa, revered in Tokyo for aging fish (and unrelated to the other Nakazawa), is the chef to do it. His invigorating, Edo-styled menu at a 10-seat, irregularly shaped counter costs $300 and requires plenty of advance booking. Tuna tartare is dotted with Maui onion and macadamia nuts; Washington State oysters are topped with yuzu; and Japanese hamachi is aged for several days to become intensely rich. Just behave: Nakazawa once famously kicked out a Michelin Guide inspector for rude, unappreciative behavior. Bar Leather Apron Justin Park co-owns this dressed-up, reservation-only bar on the mezzanine level of an anonymous office building. He and his team craft excellent classicstheres an Daiquiri as well as the now-ubiquitous Manhattanbut the signature drinks are the move here, such as the Imperial Old Fashioned, a mix of Suntory Toki and Hakushu 12-year whiskies with shiso essence. The most dramatic option, when it is on the menu, is the Tavern Keeps Treasure, a smoked cocktail presented under a glass dome. Bar Leather Apron also offers a deep, pricey whisky collection and a small selection of bar snacks such as smoked Alaskan salmon spread with tobiko. A post shared by Bar Leather Apron (@barleatherapron) on Mar 23, 2018 at 5:20pm PDT Best of the Rest Breakfast: Koko Head Cafe You cant reserve a table at Koko Head. But you can walk into the bustling diner every day, starting at 7 a.m., for an epic brunch beloved by locals and lucky tourists. The menu pulls influences from Japan, Korean, and China to make Hawaiian originals, such as a particuarly over-the-top breakfast congee stocked with chunks of bacon, Portuguese sausage and ham, as well as a poached egg and cinnamon-bacon croutons. A cornflake-crusted French toast with black pepper-infused maple syrup is another best-seller. Chef and owner Lee Anne Wong, a Top Chef finalist, says she hasnt met anyone who has officially eaten their way through the 30 or so items on the menu. But I am pretty positive we have regulars who are working on it, she says. Local Favorite: Mud Hen Water Set on a corner with a large patio, Mud Hen Water evokes a party and is a standout from Ed Kenneys local Honolulu food empire. Here, he features such addictive, Hawaiian-accented comfort food as a pig ear-and-kimchi omelette with scallion ketchup, and coal-buried fish with coconut cream. Even the bucatini carbonara feels like a local specialty, thanks to a generous addition of smoky meat. To drink, theres a mix of cocktails such as the tequila- and mezcal-spiked And Dont Call Me Shirley, plus Big Island brews and a handful of food-friendly wines. International Grazing: Waikiki Yochoko Food Hall Honolulu has taken to food halls in a big way. Among the newest and fanciest is star chef Michael Minas the Street, on the upper level of the $350 million International Market Place. A block away and down an escalator is Yochoko and the opportunity to dive into the greatest hits of Japanese food and drink. Among the stands in the brightly lit, light-wood maze are an outpost of the Michelin-listed Baikohken, which specializes in shoyu ramen; Scichimusubi, with jewel-like, freshly made triangles of rice with stuffings such as pickled plums and spicy tuna; and Nanas Green Tea, which has a menu of matcha lattes and eyecatching sundaes. Matcha sundaes at Nanas Green Tea. (Kate Krader/Bloomberg) Hole in the Wall: Ethels Grill If you want to feel like a local, go to Ethels Grilland make sure to show up hungry. The restaurant, on a small street in Honolulus industrial district, feels like a grandmothers kitchen, with linoleum flooring and a handful of wobbly tables. Platters of the signature tataki sashimi abound: The deep-red, just-seared tuna is layered on a mound of shredded cabbage and bean sprouts and doused with a fried garlic and shoyu sauce; its only $8. The runner-up is mochiko fried chicken, with a puffy, super-crunchy crust and a dressing of ponzu dipping sauce, which goes for $9.50. You might as well order both. Tataki sashimi at Ethels. (Kate Krader/Bloomberg) More Casual Japanese: Sushi Izakaya Gaku Exceptionally fresh sashimi and sushi are Gakus hallmarks: The chefs source product from Chinatown fish markets and Honolulus own tuna auction, a local version of the world-famous Tsukiji auctions in Tokyo. Inside the crowded dining rooms, the menu has a strong Japanese vibe. Besides such izakyaka items as fried Kurobuta pork and sweet shrimp cakes, theres an array of fish, from Japanese mackerel and snapper to toro and the house special: housemade tofu with uni. No-Frills Poke: Ono Seafood Ono, a favorite of chefs around the city, is a no-frills take-out spot that specializes in one thing: poke. Snag one of the few tables out front to dig inor better yet, bring it all to the beach. Order a sampler and make sure to include the Hawaiian style ahi, which has a pop of seaweed and heat from chiles mixed with the silky cubes of raw fish; even more potent is the sinus-clearing wasabi oil ahi. The signature is Shoyu ahi, which comes with scallions, sesame oil, and an all-important secret sauce. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Basque separatist group ETA formally declared its dissolution on Thursday, marking the definitive end to western Europes last armed insurgency. Created in 1959 at the height of Francisco Francos dictatorship, ETA was blamed for hundreds of killings and kidnappings in its fight for an independent Basque homeland in northern Spain and southwest France. In what it said was its final statement, the group announced it had completely dismantled all its structures and put an end to all its political activity. The statement was released to international media and was also read out at the lakeside Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue in Geneva, which for the past 15 years has been involved in mediating the Basque conflict. ETA was blamed for the deaths of at least 829 people during its armed campaign. The groups highest-profile killing was that of Francos prime minister and heir apparent, Luis Carrero Blanco, in a Madrid car bombing in 1973. Weakened in recent years by the arrest of its leaders, ETA announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011 and began formally surrendering its arms last year. Noise and propaganda ETA had already announced that it would be fully disbanding in a letter leaked Wednesday and addressed to various groups and figures involved in recent peace efforts. International mediators will hold a peace conference in southwest France on Friday. Irish former Sinn Fein party leader Gerry Adams and representatives of several Spanish political parties are expected to attend. Spains conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy earlier on Thursday dismissed the planned announcement of ETAs disbanding as noise and propaganda and vowed there would be no impunity for the groups crimes. ETA can announce its disappearance but its crimes do not disappear, nor do the efforts to pursue and punish them, he said in the northern city of Logrono. We dont owe them anything and we have nothing to thank them for. Dark chapter While an overwhelming majority of Basques welcome the end of violence, many still want independence. The separatist coalition EH Bildu, the second largest grouping in the regional parliament, won 21 percent of the votes in the 2016 regional elections. While Bildu leader Arnaldo Otegi welcomed ETAs announcement, he vowed to keep pushing for independence for the wealthy northern region, saying it does not know peace or freedom. A man walks past a painting depicting the Basque country between a French flag, right, and the Spanish flag, in Bayonne, southern France, on Thursday. (AP) We will not stop trying to achieve them until we reach them because of our work and our daily activity, he added in a brief appearance before the press in the Basque seaside town of San Sebastian. Bildu has long called for the roughly 300 ETA prisoners held across Spain and France to be transferred to jails closer to the Basque region and their families. The regional leader of Spains Basque Country, Inigo Urkullu of the nationalist PNV party, said he hoped Madrid would now bring ETA prisoners closer to the Basque region. ETA never should have existed. It puts an end to a dark chapter of 60 years, he added in an interview published earlier on Thursday in Spanish newspaper El Pais. Victims reject farce announcement ETAs announcement was rejected by victims groups, who argue the separatist group should first and foremost condemn its history of violence and shed light on more than 350 unsolved crimes. A partial apology by the separatist group last month in which it acknowledged the harm done and apologised to some of its victims -- but not to those it considered legitimate targets such as police -- has done little to temper the criticism. The director of the Spanish branch of Amnesty International, Esteban Beltran, said ETAs disappearance does not reduce one bit the groups responsibility to help clear up its unsolved crimes. Apart from ETA victims, there were also at least 62 separatists killed by far-right groups and death squads backed by members of Spains security forces, in what has become known as a dirty war campaign. According to a December report commissioned by the Basque regional government, more than 4,100 complaints of police torture were made between 1960 and 2014. Those victims are also demanding they be acknowledged. If you dont recognise part of the suffering, its very difficult to create conditions for... reconciliation, said Ane Muguruza, 28. Her father Josu, a lawmaker for Herri Batasuna, ETAs political wing, was murdered in 1989 by far-right militants she believes were state-backed. Its very difficult when there are open wounds, she said. China on Thursday defended the deployment of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the disputed South China Sea, saying it has indisputable sovereignty over the area. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims almost all of South China Sea. Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha (known as Spratly) islands and its affiliated islands, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing in Beijing when asked about the reported of deployment of the missiles. Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims over Spratly islands. Chinas activities in the South China Sea is to uphold our sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is our right, she said. Virtually confirming the deployment of the missiles, Hua said, relevant deployment is not directed against any country. The relevant parties should not be concerned about this and should view this in an objective way. The US media reports earlier said China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea. The reports said the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. In April, the Chinese military held its largest ever maritime drill in the disputed South China Sea during which it displayed for the first time the countrys aircraft carrier strike group and the most advance weaponry of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA). The drill was held amid frequent forays made by US naval and aircraft into the South China Sea to assert the freedom of navigation especially around the artificial islands built by China, where it has also established garrisons. The strategic South China Sea is rich in energy reserves, fishery resources and is a busy shipping route. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, US news network CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports. The installations, if confirmed, would mark the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratly islands, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims. China has made no mention of any missile deployments but says its military facilities in the island are purely defensive, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory. Chinas defense ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest report. The foreign ministry said China has irrefutable sovereignty over the Spratly islands and that its necessary defensive deployments were for national security needs and not aimed at any country. Those who do not intend to be aggressive have no need to be worried or scared, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing. China hopes relevant parties can objectively and calmly view this, she added. CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to US intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. The US defense department, which opposes Chinas installation of military facilities on outposts it has built up in the South China Sea, declined comment. We dont comment on matters of intelligence, a spokesman said. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washingtons Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank, said deploying missiles on the outposts would be important. These would be the first missiles in the Spratlys, either surface to air, or anti-ship, he said. He added that such deployments were expected as China built missile shelters on the reefs last year and already deployed such missile systems on Woody Island further to the north. Poling said it would be a major step on Chinas road to dominating the South China Sea, a key global trade route. Before this, if you were one of the other claimants ... you knew that China was monitoring your every move. Now you will know that youre operating inside Chinese missile range. Thats a pretty strong, if implicit, threat, he said. CNBC said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles allowed China to strike vessels within 295 nautical miles. It said the HQ-9B long-range, surface-to-air missiles could target aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. Last month, US Admiral Philip Davidson, nominated to head US Pacific Command, said Chinas forward operating bases in the South China Sea appeared complete. The only thing lacking are the deployed forces, he said. Once these were added, China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania. Davidson said China could use the bases to challenge the U.S. regional presence, and would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants. China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States, he said. The widow of Chinese Noble Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo has said she is willing to die in protest against authorities holding her under house arrest. Liu Xia has been under house arrest since 2010, when her husband was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Liu Xiaobo, Chinas most well-known political dissident, died last July, days after he was abruptly released from detention following the revelation that he was suffering from terminal liver cancer. Earlier this week, Liu Xias long-time friend, Liao Yiwu, a Chinese author based in Berlin, managed to speak to her on phone from Berlin. Now, Ive got nothing to be afraid of. If I cant leave, Ill die in my home. Xiaobo is gone, and theres nothing in the world for me now. Its easier to die than live. Using death to defy could not be any simpler for me, Liu Xia told Liao, according to the website China Change, which publishes write-ups by dissidents. Though Liu Xia has never been charged with any crime, her movements have been severely restricted, rights activists said. Activists said the 57-year-old poet and artist suffers from deep depression following years of living under surveillance and needs urgent treatment and counselling. The government has said Liu Xia has the freedom to go anywhere she chooses but has remained home to cope with her husbands death. A key leader of the pro-democracy Tiananmen movement, which left an unknown number of Chinese, mostly students, dead, Liu Xiaobo was repeatedly jailed. He wasnt allowed to receive the Nobel prize and Beijing harshly cricticised the granting of the award to him, describing it as interference in the countrys internal affairs. Furious that Liu Xiaobo had been given the prize, China all but downgraded diplomatic ties with Norway. In a related development, Germany said on Thursday that Liu Xia was welcome to travel and stay there. The German foreign ministry told The Associated Press the government has been discussing Liu Xias case with China and will continue to do so. According to the information available to us, Liu Xia has not been accused of any crime, the ministry said in emailed comments. She should be allowed to travel, also for humanitarian considerations. Should she choose to come to Germany, Liu Xia would be welcome here at any time. Asked about the case, Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said she had no understanding of the situation but Liu Xia is a Chinese citizen and relevant authorities would handle the issue in accordance with the law. She did not elaborate. Islamic State suicide bombers attacked Libyas election commission in the capital on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people in the worst such attack in years that aimed to disrupt a nation-wide vote planned for later this year. The two bombers infiltrated the building in central Tripoli and fired on people inside, then detonated their explosives when their ammunition ran out, IS said in a statement circulated by its affiliated Amaq news agency. The Health Ministry earlier said the attack also set fire to the building, which could be seen in online videos showing thick black smoke billowing upward and security forces engaging in a gun battle. IS and other Islamic extremists in Libya oppose democratic elections, which the United Nations and Libyas foreign backers are urging to take place this year despite security problems in the oil-rich North African country. Militants have often targeted elections in other countries, and IS has called for attacks on voting infrastructure in Libya. (It) is a clear manifestation of everything that is wrong with the current shortsighted narrative of fake security and progress, said Hanan Salah of Human Rights Watch in a post on social media. Her group has underlined how elections will be difficult while Libya remains dominated by a patchwork of armed groups who continue extra-judicial killings, property confiscation, forced disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture. Foreign embassies, observers and other institutions promptly condemned the attack as an attempt to undermine stability in Libya as it heads toward the general election later this year. The U.N. mission to Libya said that violence will not deter Libyans from moving forward in the process of establishing national unity and the rule of law and institutions. Libya was plunged into chaos following the 2011 uprising that toppled and killed Moammar Gadhafi, and is now split between rival governments, each backed by an array of militias. A U.N.-backed government is based in Tripoli, which in recent years hasnt seen such brazen attacks. U.S. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert condemned the attack in a statement and said the U.S. is committed to working with the Government of National Accord to deny IS safe haven in their country. This terrorist attack against a key pillar of Libyas fragile democracy only deepens the United States commitment to support all Libyans as they prepare for credible and secure elections, she said. Earlier this week, the international Quartet trying to help bring order to Libya said it supports holding presidential and parliamentary elections this year, and will provide observers and electoral assistance to ensure the voting is free and fair. In a joint statement following a meeting in Cairo on Monday, the European Union, the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations said Libyans must commit in advance to respect and abide by the results and avoid violence or intimidation. The election commission said later in the day that its electoral database was safe after the attack, dispelling rumors that it had been specifically targeted and damaged. In a statement it said that it remained committed to and ready to hold the elections this year. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and reaffirmed the U.N.s commitment to the plan to restore peace to Libya, U.N. deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said. The United Nations and various envoys to Libya have praised recent efforts to register millions of Libyan voters, underlining how the move constitutes progress despite the countrys myriad troubles and overarching lack of security amid militia impunity and general lawlessness. The young mother stepped onto the scale for the doctor. Even with all her black robes on, she weighed only 84 pounds 38 kilograms. Umm Mizrah is pregnant, but starving herself to feed her children. And her sacrifice may not be enough to save them. The doctors office is covered with dozens of pictures of emaciated babies who have come through Al-Sadaqa Hospital in Aden, casualties of a three-year war in Yemen that has left millions of people on the edge of famine. Mothers like Umm Mizrah are often the only defense against the hunger that has killed thousands. They skip meals, they sleep to escape the gnawing in their stomachs. They hide bony faces and emaciated bodies in voluminous black abaya robes and veils. The doctor asked the mother to get back on the scale holding her son, Mizrah. At 17 months, he was 5.8 kilograms (12.8 pounds) around half the normal weight for his age. He showed all the signs of severe acute malnutrition, the most dire stage of hunger. His legs and feet were swollen, he wasnt getting enough protein. When the doctor pressed a finger into the skin of his feet, the indentation lingered. Around 2.9 million women and children are acutely malnourished; another 400,000 children are fighting for their lives, in the same condition as Mizrah. Nearly a third of Yemens population 8.4 million of its 29 million people rely completely on food aid or else they would starve. That number grew by a quarter over the past year. Aid agencies warn that parts of Yemen could soon start to see widespread death from famine. More and more people are reliant on aid that is already failing to reach people. The war, now three years old, drags on interminably between Yemens Shiite Houthi rebels who hold the countrys north, and the Saudi-led coalition, armed and backed by the United States. which has sought to bomb the rebels into submission with a relentless air campaign in support of the Yemeni government. It is unknown how many have died, since authorities are not able to track cases. Save the Children late last year estimated that 50,000 children may have died in 2017 of extreme hunger or disease, given that up to 30 percent of children with untreated cases of severe acute malnutrition die. Unfortunately, now Yemen is considered to be the worlds largest humanitarian emergency, said Stephen Anderson, the Yemen director of the World Food Program. Some 18 million people do not know where their next meal is coming from. Even before the war, the Arab worlds poorest nation struggled to feed itself. It is a country of deserts and mountains where only 2 to 4 percent of the land is cultivated, so almost all of its food and supplies must be imported. The war has shattered everything that kept Yemen just above starvation. Coalition warplanes blasted hospitals, schools, farms, factories, bridges and roads. The coalition has also clamped a land-sea-and-air embargo on Houthi-controlled areas, including the Red Sea port of Hodeida, once the entry point of 70 percent of Yemens imports. Now far less gets in as coalition ships off shore allow through only UN-inspected and approved commercial ships and aid, often with delays. In many places there is food in the markets, but people simply cant afford it, since salaries are going unpaid, work is harder to find and the currency has collapsed in value. Umm Mizrah and her husband, who have three young daughters in addition to Mizrah, usually eat one meal a day, often just bread and tea. The Associated Press is identifying her by the nickname she often goes by meaning mother of Mizrah to protect her privacy. When the doctor in Aden told her malnutrition can be fatal, she trembled. The parents felt helpless. Cigarette burns were visible on the babys belly. Desperate, the father had turned to a Yemeni folk cure called maysam, or branding using burns to expel evil spirits. I dont know what is right, she said quietly. He was playful and doing fine then he started to get sick and stopped breastfeeding and playing. Awsaf, a 5-year-old Yemeni girl, eats bread and drinks tea _ which on many days is the only food she has _ crouching next to her mother in their hut in Abyan, Yemen. (AP) The AP travelled across southern Yemen, territory held by the coalition-backed government, and visited several districts among the 107 areas nationwide that the U.N. warns are most likely to fall into outright famine. It is a landscape of desperation. Death by Starvation A video filmed by a doctor shows 8-month-old Fadl in his last days of life. The baby twitches his legs in pain. Hes crying but he is so dehydrated his eyes cant produce tears. His belly is inflated as taut as a balloon. You can easily count the 12 rows of protruding ribs on his rapidly palpitating chest. His desperate parents plastered his head with black henna, a dye that is used as a folk cure. Fadl was born in the wilderness. His mother, Fatma Halabi, was eight months pregnant when she and thousands of others fled the area around her district of Mowza as government forces descended on the Houthis. Separated from her husband, Halabi led her four children and two goats across the Great Valley, the arid plain spilling down from the mountains toward the city of Mocha on the Red Sea. These desolate stretches are historically a site of death. More than 400 years ago, a Muslim ruler forcibly sent almost the entire Jewish population of Yemen here for refusing to convert. Chroniclers say two thirds of them died in the heat and deprivation. Halabi and the children hid in thorn bushes to avoid artillery and airstrikes along the shifting front line. One day in April last year, she went into labor and, alone, gave birth to Fadl under a tree. And then fainted. Eventually, she and her husband reunited and settled in an abandoned hut in the valley. Speaking from inside her makeshift home in February, Halabi sat with a rope cinched around her emaciated waist, her blue robe sliding off her bony shoulder. She spoke in short, exhausted sentences. When asked what she had eaten that day, she said, Bor, the local Arabic word for flour. We stay patient, she said. We have to feed the children. When she gets hungry, she lies down and tries to sleep. Often she and her husband eat one meal in the morning, and nothing again until the next day. Unable to breastfeed Fadl, she gave him goat or camel milk, which lack the nutrients of breast milk or formula. The newborn kept getting fever and diarrhea, so she repeatedly borrowed money to take him to the hospital in Mocha. The hospital has seen 600 malnutrition cases over the past 10 months, but is so short on supplies it doesnt even have pain relievers for headaches, said one doctor, Abdel-Rehim Ahmed. It has no therapeutic feeding center. None of its doctors have been trained in treating malnutrition. And Mocha is swelling with 40,000 displaced people. Left untreated, prolonged malnutrition causes the body to lose its stock of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The body starts to eat itself. The brain struggles to find energy, the heart shrinks, and the skin cracks, exposing the body to infections. The kidney and the liver stop functioning properly, so toxins build up inside the body, leading to a vicious cycle of disease. Fadls last visit to the hospital was Nov. 29. At eight months old, he weighed 2.9 kilograms (6 pounds), a third of the normal weight. The circumference of his upper arm, a common measure for malnutrition, was 7 centimeters, less than 3 inches. That indicated severe acute malnutrition. Unable to pay for a hospital stay, Fadls parents took him home. He gave his last breath not long after in the arms of his grandmother. His exhausted parents were asleep on the floor. The grandmother woke them and told them their boy was dead. The only image of Fadl from his short life of hunger and pain is the video, taken by the head of the nutrition center. His parents dont have mobile phones or a camera. Sometimes I wake up in the morning and I remember hes no longer there and I start to cry, Halabi said. Who wouldnt cry for their children? Liberated and still starving Even in parts of Yemen that are wrested from Houthi rule, starvation persists or gets worse. In late February, mothers carrying babies mobbed the nutrition center at the main hospital in al-Khoukha, a little town on the Red Sea, expecting to receive monthly allotments of baby formula and nutrient supplies. They left empty-handed. The center ran out of supplies weeks ago. Some of the women, cloaked in black abayas, pushed and shoved feebly. But most were too weak to complain and silently shuffled away. Al-Khoukha was taken back from the Houthis in December by coalition-backed forces marching up the coast. In rebel hands, the town had been directly connected to the Hodeida port farther north, the biggest entryway for international aid into Yemen. Now cut off from the port, no supplies have come from the south. We have no vaccinations. There are shortages in medicines. The aid stopped, said Abdullah Doubala, head of al-Khoukha health department. The burden is increasing as families fleeing fighting elsewhere stream into al-Khoukha, bringing more thin and hungry children. Doctors estimate that 40 percent of the children in the town suffer from malnutrition. Barefoot kids fill the centers corridors, many visibly emaciated, some with malaria or cholera. Some can barely stand. Nine-month old Galila, her ribs sharply outlined, her eyes bulging in shrunken sockets, sat in the lap of her mother, Aisha. The baby girl caught malaria and began to lose weight. Now she is all of 4.5 kilograms (9.9 pounds), compared to the average of 6 to 8 kilograms (13-17 pounds) for a 9-month-old girl. Her mother is tiny as well, ravaged by giving up food for a family that is constantly growing. Aisha has been giving birth each year; Galila is her 14th child. Her husband, a woodcutter, can hardly find any work. Even coming to the hospital is too expensive; if she wants to come, she has to wait for her brother, who has a motorcycle, to take her. Staff measure the middle upper arm of Salima Ahmed Koryat, a 6-month-old Yemeni girl, to test how malnourished she is at the main hospital in Mocha, Yemen. (AP) I eat whatever is available or wait till next day, Aisha said. A meal once a day. The mothers hunger is repeated over and over throughout the war-ravaged country. A Mothers Hunger It isnt just those driven from their homes who suffer. Isolated in a mountain valley, the 450 residents of the village of Qibli are wasting away. Boys and girls running around barefoot in the dirt paths are stunted. Most of the men here are soldiers, who havent been paid for months, or farm laborers, who can no longer find work. Any money they have goes in search of food. The nearest market is 13 kilometers (8 miles) away, which means paying high gas prices on top of the cost for the food itself, which have doubled over the past year. Sitting on the floor of her home, Sherine fed her two children scraps of bread dipped in besbas, a sauce of tomato and garlic. She took no bites herself. Her 1-year-old daughter Amal, has been diagnosed with acute malnutrition and can no longer stand up. The family lives largely on bread and tea. Her husband is among the ranks of unpaid soldiers. His father, a retired soldier, still gets a meager pension, but uses that to help all his children and grandchildren, a family of 16 in total. Aid hasnt come to Qibli since 2016, according to relief volunteer Rashid al-Khoushbi. Only four families in the area were on the World Food Program lists for food aid. Most households here are considered to have a male breadwinner, making them a lower priority. In the areas main town, al-Mallah, doctors were nowhere to be seen at the hospital. No one pays them so many staffers often dont show up. Sitting in bed, Umm Molham was so weak she could barely lift her 13-month-old son. When the AP met her, she had been at the hospital for three days waiting for someone to examine him. The toddler had been vomiting, coughing and suffered from diarrhea. The family can only afford to give him formula once a day. His body is emaciated, his eyes sunken, his belly His mother sat helplessly, the baby in her lap. She is not breastfeeding, said her husband, Anwar Said. She doesnt eat well and has no milk. Umm Molham didnt say a word, even when asked questions, lost in her internal world of frailty and hunger. Pakistans top security body with representation from the civilian and military leadership has directed authorities to pursue what it described as Indias violations of the Indus Waters Treaty with the World Bank, which is the guarantor for the most durable pact between the two countries. A meeting of the National Security Committee on Wednesday was briefed on a new water policy and a water charter by the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission. The Committee also directed the Water Resources Division to forcefully pursue the violations of the Indus Waters Treaty by India with the World Bank, said an official statement issued after the meeting. It did not give details. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, was attended by interior minister Ahsan Iqbal, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Gen Zubair Hayat, army chief Gen Qamar Bajwa, navy chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, air force chief Mujahid Khan, Inter-Services Intelligence chief Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and National Security Advisor Nasser Janjua. The committee hailed the water policy approved by the Council of Common Interests and the water charter signed by the prime minister and four chief ministers. The committee said the approval of the water policy was a very significant achievement and if properly implemented could prove instrumental in averting the water crisis that was seriously threatening Pakistan. Following the completion of the Kishanganga hydropower project by India, Pakistan had asked the World Bank to recognise its responsibility under the Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 and address its concerns over the project on the Neelum river and the Ratle hydropower project on the Chenab. The committee, while reviewing Pakistans economic performance, asked the government to address potentially destabilising factors. Pakistan on Thursday dismissed rumours that the decision to move Shakeel Afridi, the doctor who helped the CIA track Osama bin Laden, from a prison in Peshawar to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi was part of a possible deal with the United States government to free him. Afridi was a senior medical officer in the Khyber tribal region when he was arrested shortly after US special forces killed bin Laden in a raid in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011. He was imprisoned the following year for his alleged links to a banned militant group. Foreign Office spokesman Muhammad Faisal told a weekly news briefing that authorities were not planning to swap Afridi for Aafia Siddiqui, a Pakistani national convicted in the US of the attempted murder of an American soldier in Afghanistan and given a 86-year prison term, or former Pakistani ambassador Husain Haqqani, who lives in the US and has been accused of involvement in the Memogate scandal that surfaced in 2011. Faisal rejected questions about media reports that claimed the Central Intelligence Agency had tried to stage a jailbreak in Peshawar to rescue Afridi, and said he had no information about the matter since it concerned the interior ministry. Afridi, a former senior surgeon believed to be in his mid-50s, was arrested after it emerged he had passed on intelligence about the former Al Qaeda chief to the CIA. He was accused of helping the CIA track bin Laden in Abbottabad. However, he was never tried on those charges. It emerged in May 2012 that he had been tried under the Frontier Crimes Regulation and sentenced to 33 years in prison after being convicted of ties to the banned Lashkar-e-Islam, a charge he has always denied. The sentence was later reduced to 10 years by the FCR commissioner. Last week, Afridi was airlifted by a helicopter from Peshawar jail amid tight security and taken to Adiala Jail. US President Donald Trump has all but decided to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear accord by May 12 but exactly how he will do so remains unclear, two White House officials and a source familiar with the administrations internal debate said on Wednesday. There is a chance Trump might choose to keep the United States in the international pact under which Iran agreed to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, in part because of alliance maintenance with France and to save face for French President Emmanuel Macron, who met Trump last week and urged him to stay in, the source said. A decision by Trump to end U.S. sanctions relief would all but sink the agreement and could trigger a backlash by Iran, which could resume its nuclear arms programme or punish U.S. allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, diplomats said. Technically, Trump must decide by May 12 whether to renew waivers suspending some of the U.S. sanctions on Iran. One of the White House officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said it was possible Trump will end up with a decision that is not a full pullout but was unable to describe what that might look like. A presentation by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday about what he said was documentary evidence of Tehrans past nuclear arms programme could give Trump a fresh argument to withdraw, even though U.N. inspectors say Iran has complied with the terms of the deal. Iran has denied ever seeking nuclear weapons and accuses its arch-foe Israel of stirring up world suspicions against it. The pact between Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - was among former U.S. President Barack Obamas signature foreign policies but has been described by Trump as one of the worst deals I have ever witnessed. The White House official said Trump was most of the way there towards pulling out of the deal but he hasnt made the decision and that he seems poised to do it but until a decision is made by this president it is not final. Top aides are not seeking aggressively to talk Trump out of withdrawal because he seems intent on it, a second White House official said. EUROPEANS LOSING HOPE Trump gave Britain, France and Germany a May 12 deadline to fix what he views as the deals flaws - its failure to address Irans ballistic missile programme, the terms by which inspectors visit suspect Iranian sites, and sunset clauses under which some of its terms expire - or he will reimpose U.S. sanctions. While European officials continue to work towards such a fix, they believe the odds are against reaching one. One of the main sticking points has to do with the sunsets, where the United States in effect wishes to find a way to extend some of the limits on Irans nuclear programme beyond their expiration dates under the agreement. The source familiar with the debate said U.S. negotiators are hamstrung by the fact that they do not really know where Trumps red line is and so they cannot tell the Europeans what would secure Trumps blessing. Trump could refuse to renew the waivers but give new U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo time to negotiate more with the Europeans, exploiting the deals dispute resolution mechanism or the time before the most draconian sanctions take effect. Several sources familiar with the negotiations said that if Trump pulls out, a question for the Europeans will be whether this would be the start of a much harder U.S. line towards Iran, including military confrontation. The Europeans are not keen to be dragged into a regional conflict by the U.S., said one source familiar with the talks. Two U.S. intelligence officials said they were particularly concerned about Iranian retaliation in harder-to-trace actions such as cyber attacks on the United States or its allies and attacks on soft targets by people without obvious ties to Tehran. Such attacks are considered more likely than actions that might trigger a U.S. military response against Iranian nuclear and military targets. (The story has not been modified from its original version, only the headline has been changed) Appointment 3 May 2018 Maietta, who has served as interim President of the Foundation since May of last year, currently serves as senior vice president of communications and marketing. As AHLEF President, Rosanna will lead the Foundation and its team to advance its mission of ensuring a strong and viable future for the entire lodging industry by fueling the talent pipeline. She will be responsible for raising the Foundation's profile and overseeing its scholarship, research, and career development programs. She will also oversee the administration of AHLA's intermediary contract with the U.S. Department of Labor to expand apprenticeship programs. Created in 1953, AHLEF initially focused on providing scholarships to a small group of promising hospitality students. Since that time, the Foundation has taken on a much greater mandate: ensuring a strong and viable future for the entire lodging industry. Underscoring the industry's stories of opportunity, growth, and success, AHLEF priorities include scholarships, research and career development programs. In 2017, the Foundation awarded a record $851,500 in academic scholarships to 372 promising hospitality management students. "I am honored for the opportunity to execute on our Board's vision and lead a talented team who are committed to ensuring the future health and vitality of the hotel industry," said Maietta. "We are so grateful for the support of our industry leaders and donors who make our work possible and fund these critical programs to advance this great industry's workforce. We are a vibrant, innovative industry that is full of opportunity, and I'm excited to build on our past successes and ensure we continue to advance." In 2017, the Foundation developed a new program, the Empowering Youth Project, to bridge the growing jobs gap and train Opportunity Youth for jobs in the hospitality industry. AHLEF and AHLA partnered with the national nonprofit Grads of Life and committed $500,000 in grants for local community organizations to train 1,000 young people over the next two years. AHLA and AHLEF have also committed to enrolling 2,250 apprentices in the hospitality industry through the next five years, as part of its apprenticeship contract with the Department of Labor. In February the Foundation launched a groundbreaking pilot program in partnership with Pearson's AcceleratED Pathways program to offer hotel industry employees access to a college degree at no cost to the employee. This program is the first of its kind within the hospitality sector and demonstrates the hotel industry's commitment to providing employees with the pathways, training and resources they need to achieve their career goals. Maietta, who will continue to serve in her role as senior vice president of communications and marketing, joined AHLA after some eight years at the Washington, D.C. public relations firm FleishmanHillard, where she was a senior strategic counselor and manager responsible for developing communications strategies and public education campaigns. She previously served as media relations manager for Newsweek and started her career as a journalist based in Rome, Italy where she was a radio anchor and reporter for major outlets including Market News Service International and Bloomberg News. Supplier News 3 May 2018 Miami, FL: Caveau, the all-in-one software platform custom-built for the travel industry for safeguarding sensitive data exchanged at the point of transaction is providing businesses around the world with fast and affordable solutions for achieving GDPR and PCI DSS compliance. With looming deadlines on May 25 and June 30, 2018, respectfully, hotels and agencies are looking for efficient ways to meet strict new requirements going into effect. Most recently, the company announced it is working with Aparto Suites Muralto, an "All Suites" hotel service in Madrid, Spain, to assist in bridging the gap in its credit card collection process, specifically in transactions made directly to the hotel by telephone, email or fax. Jose Luis Alonso, the Director of Aparto Suites Muralto, is charged with adapting all procedures and structures to meet the latest tourism business standards. According to Alonso, it was a struggle to find a provider who understood their need for a GDPR and PCI DSS-compliant method to collect credit card details but not automatically take the payment when guaranteeing client reservation. "After months of searching, I couldn't find a solution that was not a payment gateway through a bank and linked to the web page. Since our problem was unique to the hospitality industry, Caveau were the only ones that understood what I needed," he says. Within a matter of days, Caveau was able to deliver the tools Aparto Suites Muralto required to collect and protect its client's credit card data no matter the method it's provided. Says Caveau CSO, Brian Dass, "This was another case of our experience and understanding of the travel space coming into play in helping hotels reduce the risks of GDPR and PCI DSS compliance. Our personalized credit card vault technology is designed to limit dangers relating to processing, storing and transmitting credit cards and personal data in a GDPR, PCI and PII-friendly format. We're proud to offer flexible and affordable solutions for meeting critical new industry regulations, protecting your Guests Data experience, your valuable assets and your online reputation." With Caveau, hotels accepting financial information are able to send a time-sensitive link to the client to safely collect the data. "We have inserted this tool in our reservation process inside the property management system and those confirmed by email, increasing the reliability and the security of direct reservations. We're pleased to have found an answer that fit our budget and completely solved our problem, and our customers are happy knowing their personal information is 100% secure," says Alonso. Caveau has also delivered a customized solution for filtering emails containing credit card numbers and personally identifiable information and is working to set up a payment gateway through a bank to process direct, web and OTA reservations. "I am pretty sure we are now leaders and pioneers in the compliance of the PCI DSS thanks to our partnership with Caveau!" In 2016, Johnny Manziel was charged with misdemeanor assault over a violent incident with his then-girlfriend, Colleen Crowley. Now, TMZ has obtained photos and witness statements from the case, as the files have now been released by the Dallas Police Department. According to Crowley, she and Maziel had met up at a hotel on the night of January 29, when a discussion eventually led to Manziel "being with a girl who had caused us problems in the past." Manziel then threw her onto the bed. After exclaiming her intentions to leave, Manziel forced her down again, only to eventually agree to drive her to her car. Once they were in the car, Crowley attempted to escape, but was eventually caught by Manziel and thrown back into the car, causing bruises. He then allegedly open palm slapped her in the face, rupturing her left eardrum. After reaching Crowley's apartment, she claims that Manziel grabbed her phone and smashed it. Crowley ended up grabbing a knife and running to her neighbors house. Manziel was eventually charged with misdemeanor assault, ordered to complete anger management training, and forbidden from contacting Crowley in the future. Manziel has now completed all the terms in his plea deal, which is why the Dallas Police have released all the files from the case. The quality of the photos taken after the incident are low, but it's possible to see some visible bruising in many of the pictures. "She felt like she was going to die or get beaten really bad," said the police report. According to sources close to TMZ, Kanye West has left California and returned to the Cowboy State to continue piecing together his projects. He flew out of Los Angeles on Wednesday for the remote location he rented in Wyoming. The much maligned rapper has spent a lot of time in isolation in the past few months, only to resurface in April flaring his nostrils. According to reports, Kanye's abrupt departure was in part sparked by his fallout at TMZ live. The now infamous interview produced a few jaw-dropping quotables which left the hosts at a loss for words. Afterwards, a TMZ staffer approached Kanye with resignation, telling his once "hero" was "unbelievably hurt by the fact that you (he'd) morphed into something thats not real." The premise of his staycation in Wyoming is much the same as in previous months. Kanye West will fly in/receive frequent visitors until the patchwork is complete. Pusha T's album is due on May 25th, 4 other albums will follow. Hopefully Kanye's visit will include a state of rest, and less media consumption. All fingers points to him needing a handle for his addictive personality. It is absolutely necessary to find a healthy balance between productivity and regenerative health. While the world has celebrated Meek Mill's release from prison, his case was only a high profile example of a criminal justice system that continues to exploit and imprison people wrongfully. Not satisfied with resting on his laurels, Meek is taking a stand for criminal justice reform, using his own example as a starting point. Today, according to TMZ, Meek made a speech during a press conference alongside Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, as well as other state leaders, in order to address the issues that need to be addressed in the justice system. During that speech, he delivered a shocking revelation: Meek at one point was addicted to opiates, but was so scared of going back to prison that he couldn't ask for help in getting treatment. Thankfully, he eventually gathered the courage to ask his PO for help, and she was empathetic enough to ensure he went into a rehab facility rather than a prison, but Meek brings up an important point. When you're under probation like Meek was, and still is, just coming into contact with police can be enough cause to get locked up again. Meek brings up the example of the two men who got arrested recently at a Starbucks as an example, saying that if it were him there he could have been sentenced to two to four years in prison even if he didn't do anything wrong. Governor Wolf, with Meek's support, is proposing legislation to fix these issues, and others that would be relevant to Meek's case. Shyne recently sat down with Max Glazer for an in-depth Red Bull Radio interview in which he discussed a number of topics including his Bad Boy days, NYCs link between rap and reggae, and the Notorious B.I.G. The moment in time that defined me was the Bad Boyz video, but the song definitely was an undeniable song. I think Im old timer status now but back in our time, we called that a banger, a missile. Id never forget with all the questions and associations and even criticisms, that I had to be the greatest thing ever, but I could never be greater than B.I.G. I dont think anyone could, certainly coming from New York, coming from Brooklyn its blasphemy. Not even Jay, you know HOV, Jigga, Jay Z the king, thats B.I.G. I had to come with the best record, the best video, the best everything. There was so much pressure. Its like if I was playing for the Bulls if Michael Jordan is dead and youre a part of the team. Its like Kobe and Shaq. I dont know how to describe it but there was tremendous pressure to be great out the gate. Nearly 20 years after his involvement in a nightclub shooting with P. Diddy and Jennifer Lopez, which resulted in a ten-year prison sentence, Shyne has since been deported to his home of Belize, where he chopped it up with Max Glazer for his first interview in nearly a decade. During their discussion, Shyne also speaks on his involvement in Belizean politics, his conversion to Orthodox Judaism, the halcyon days of New York City hip-hop and why his life is a "story book." "When you talk about the pressure, that was nothing in comparison to growing up in the community of Brooklyn where every day could be your last day, every step could be your last step. Bullets walking to the train station. Your mom is doing menial jobs to put food on the table, coming home at 11 oclock at night on the D train youve got serial rapists, serial killers on the news. Women found dead, murdered. Theres nothing that could shake me growing up under those circumstances. Thats why my life is a story book: I was destined to face every obstacle, every challenge that I ever did because I was conditioned due to the circumstances. When you survive Flatbush, Church Avenue, theres nothing after that that could shake you. Even being incarcerated, I was already conditioned in the jungle of Brooklyn. The fact that I made it off the streets, that I survived to put out an album and sign a record deal, that was a miracle in and of itself for Afro-Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, who are destined to die or go to jail. I was shot when I was 15. Whatever I was facing at 19 as a recording artists was nothing I was facing at 12, 13, 11." You can check out the interview in it's entirety via the Facebook post below. Texas companies paid law firms that represent them a record-setting amount of money in 2017 and an increasing percentage of those legal fees are going to national law firms that have recently opened offices in Houston, Dallas and Austin. Exclusive new financial data collected by The Texas Lawbook shows that the 50 largest corporate law firms operating in Texas nearly all of them with offices in Houston employed essentially the same number of lawyers in 2017 as they did in 2016 and 2015, but those law firms are charging higher rates and making considerably more money. RELATED: One of Texas' oldest law firms merging into multi-state powerhouse Nearly two-dozen law firms in Texas, led by Houston-based Vinson & Elkins and national firms Kirkland & Ellis and Winston & Strawn, generated record high revenues last year as a result of them routinely charging corporate clients $1,000 an hour or more. At the same time, several large Texas legacy law firms are struggling for survival or at least seek stability. "The Texas corporate legal market is experiencing dramatic changes and these changes are expensive," said Chicago law firm consultant Kent Zimmerman. "The numbers confirm that the rich law firms are getting richer and some long-time Texas law firms are getting left behind." Legal industry analysts say the most important statistic in The Texas Lawbook data is the fact that revenue per lawyer at 14 law firms operating in Houston now exceed $1 million a year an amount previously achieved by the most elite and expensive national firms. Only two of the 14 firms V&E and Baker Botts are headquartered in Texas. "The formula for success is simple," Zimmerman said. "The law firms that pay the most get the best lawyers. The best lawyers get the best clients and the best work. The best clients pay the highest rates and generate the best revenues. And then you can use those revenues to pay the best lawyers and the cycle starts over again." RELATED: Energy company's bankruptcy generating Enron-sized legal fees The 50 largest legal practices in the state generated $5.65 billion in revenues from their lawyers who office in the state a 2.4 percent increase from 2016. But the data also shows that elite national law firms that have opened offices in Houston and Dallas during the past few years are growing considerably faster than law firms headquartered in Texas and that growth is mostly at the expense of locally based firms. Two excellent examples are Chicago-based Kirkland & Ellis and New York-based Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Kirkland opened its Houston office in April 2014, but it now has more than 130 lawyers and generated an estimated $187 million in revenues in 2017, making it the 11th largest legal operation in Texas. Simpson Thacher, which debuted in Houston in 2011, has witnessed significant growth the past three years from $25.6 million in revenues in 2015 to $47 million in 2017, an 83.6 percent jump. The Texas Lawbook analysis of the exclusive data involving the 50 largest corporate law firms operating in Texas shows that: Nearly 40 percent of the 7,000 corporate lawyers in Texas are now employed by law firms headquartered outside of the state; The Texas offices of national law firms generated $2.57 billion in 2017 a 38 percent increase from just two years ago; By contrast, lawyers for Texas-based law firms brought in $3.1 billion in revenue in 2017, which is the same amount as the previous two years; and Thirty-three of the top 50 law firms by revenue generated from their Texas offices were based outside of the state up from three of the top 50 just seven years ago. To be sure, large Texas legacy law firms V&E, Baker Botts, Bracewell and Locke Lord, for example still generate billions of dollars in combined revenues, employ thousands of lawyers and still do a huge majority of the legal work for businesses in Texas. Many of them are experiencing tremendous financial success. The Texas Lawbook obtained the financial data from interviews with law firm leaders, law partners who recently departed the firms and legal industry analysts. Only one law firm Houston-based Susman Godfrey refused to provide any kind of statistics to The Texas Lawbook. The 2017 data shows that Houston-based V&E is now the largest legal operation in Texas by revenue. V&E lawyers in Austin, Dallas and Houston brought in an estimated $484 million a 6.6 percent increase over 2016 and a 15.5 percent jump from 2015. "We had a truly fabulous year a record year," said V&E Chairman Mark Kelly. "Demand was up, which was good. We have 112 summer associates coming in. So, we are ramping up for another great year and for expansion." While national law firms have raided V&E for scores of lawyers during the past seven years, legal industry analysts say that V&E has also benefited from the national invasion in one simple way: the elite national law firms with dramatically higher rates provided cover to V&E to significantly increase the rates it charges clients. Most Texas-based law firms decided to use their lower hourly rates as a marketing tool to retain business. But V&E, according to legal consultants, took the opposite approach. "The challenge for law firms is attracting and keeping the best legal talent," Kelly said. "For law firms with revenues less than $1 million per lawyer, it will be tough for them to compete. We want the high-end work and that means we need the top talent." Lawyers in the Texas offices of Baker Botts had $378 million in 2017 revenues for its Texas offices. Haynes and Boone and Jackson Walker are two Texas-based law firms that increased their lawyer head count and their revenues at their Texas offices. Haynes and Boone increased its Texas revenues to $272 million, which is 15.3 percent higher than in 2015. Jackson Walker's revenues hit $249 million in 2017, which is a 12.6 percent jump from two years earlier. "2017 was our best year ever," said Haynes and Boone managing partner Tim Powers. "We saw strong performances across the board and we benefited from our clients doing some really great things. "We are cautiously optimistic about 2018," Powers said. "The tax reform law will hopefully drive significant investment in Texas and infrastructure legislation could mean good work in the next year. But a trade war could have a devastating impact." Thirteen law firms have seen their revenues in Texas grow by 20 percent or more from 2015 to 2017. All but one Houston-based Gray Reed is headquartered outside the state. Gray Reed, which has 140 lawyers in Houston and Dallas, has seen its revenues grow from $50.4 million in 2015 to $65.7 million last year a 30.5 percent jump. "We've had three consecutive years of record revenues," said Gray Reed managing partner J. Cary Gray, who added that the firm has no interest in growing outside of Texas or merging with another firm. "There are certain legal services that people and businesses need handled by high quality lawyers, but they don't want to pay $1,000 an hour for it. That is our sweet spot." For a longer version of this article, please visit TexasLawbook.net. If you've noticed Gallic charm wafting through town as naturally as accordion music in a Left Bank bistro, you'd be correct in thinking that French culinary passions are trending in Houston. It's not just that everyone is drinking rose, pining for steak frites and scooping spoonfuls of caviar. The French spirit - exemplified by an appreciation for the finer things and an effortless yet studied perfectionism - has taken hold. It even has its own soundtrack, as evidenced by the house soundtrack at the French-twist bar Victor, which blends disco, soul, funk, jazz and world beat into a frothy exuberance. Waiter, more champagne! CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Democrats sense a growing opportunity to unseat Republicans as part of a national wave that could put the House speaker's gavel back in their party's hands. There's just one catch: Many Democratic contenders aren't willing to say they support returning their party's leader to power. "I've said since Day One that I wouldn't vote for Nancy Pelosi as speaker," said Dan McCready, 34, who is running in a North Carolina district that stretches from Charlotte's suburbs into more rural counties. "I think we need a whole new generation of people in D.C. That's part of why I'm running; we need some new blood." Democrats across the country are locked in an awkward dance in which candidates sensing a chance to win GOP-held seats are increasingly distancing themselves from the party's longtime liberal leader from San Francisco - at the same time that the 78-year-old congresswoman is boldly holding on to power. So far, 10 Democratic candidates have said they would oppose Pelosi's return to the speakership, while at least another 10 have conspicuously declined to express support for her, according to interviews with several candidates and a Washington Post review of statements collected by Republicans. They are following in the footsteps of newly elected Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb, who scored a stunning upset in March in a Republican Pennsylvania district after saying he would oppose Pelosi. This clamor for change at the top underscores the generational tensions within the House Democratic caucus as younger lawmakers look to replace not only Pelosi but also two other septuagenarians - Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md., 78, and Assistant Democratic Leader James Clyburn, D-S.C., 77. Pelosi stands as the Democratic conundrum, a prolific fundraiser and skilled politician, as well as a deeply polarizing figure used by Republicans as a club against Democrats. The dynamic sets the stage for a potential showdown - should Democrats win the majority - between Pelosi allies, who would relish the historic moment of returning a woman to one of the most influential positions in the country, and her critics, many of whom would have won office by promising a change in leadership. "We will win. I will run for speaker. I feel confident about it. And my members do, too," Pelosi told a meeting of Boston Globe reporters and editors on Tuesday. Earlier, at an event in New York City, she introduced several of her fellow House Democrats to the crowd by highlighting which committee they would lead next year, assuming a Democratic majority. "It's important that it not be five white guys at the table, no offense," Pelosi said in Boston, a reference to the top leaders in the House and Senate and President Donald Trump. "I have no intention of walking away from that table." There is the question of whether Pelosi would have the votes to win the job. Unlike other leadership posts, which are selected by secret ballot in the respective caucuses, the entire House must vote for the speaker in early January. The minority party never votes for the majority's speaker-designate, so it would require Pelosi to get at least 218 votes from her side of the aisle. So, if Democrats ended up with a caucus of 235, Pelosi could afford to lose 17 votes when the speaker vote is held on the floor. Pelosi's strength comes from several sources, the first among equals being her fundraising on behalf of candidates and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Her advisers attributed 45 percent of the committee's $34 million raised in the first quarter of 2018 to Pelosi. But there are other, beneath-the-radar reasons Pelosi feels confident in her post. Despite GOP claims, Pelosi is not as unpopular as she was eight years ago when she was speaker. Back then, 58 percent of Americans had an unfavorable view of Pelosi, including 41 percent who held a strongly unfavorable view. In a Washington Post-ABC News poll last month, just 44 percent of Americans held an unfavorable view, with those strongly disliking her down to 29 percent. That played out in Lamb's victory. Outside Republican groups spent more than $6 million on TV ads in southwestern Pennsylvania, the lion's share of it on commercials trying to tie Lamb to Pelosi. But the 33-year-old Democrat ran an ad making clear he would not support Pelosi, calling for new leadership on both sides of the aisle. It helped to inoculate him against the Pelosi attack line. GOP operatives now worry that other Democrats will follow Lamb's lead and that there will be even less potency in the anti-Pelosi campaign that they have been hoping will save their majority in the fall. Most Democrats have distanced themselves from Pelosi but have tried to avoid taking a hard-and-fast position on how they would vote if she is the Democratic nominee for speaker. Kathy Manning, a Democratic candidate here in western North Carolina, said in an interview that she would like to see an open contest for party leader. "I would make that decision like I make all my decisions: Get as much information as I can, find out who's running, find out what their positions are, then vote for the person who'd make the best leader," Manning said. This sort of nuanced answer - she never explicitly says she opposes Pelosi - is one that Republicans will use to try to turn her into a Pelosi clone. North Carolina Republicans have already begun highlighting Manning's $500 and $1,000 donations to Pelosi's political committees in 2002 and 2004. Hill Democrats score a seat at the table, but they're still looking for a legislative win Pelosi and Hoyer have held the top two spots in leadership for more than a dozen years, while Clyburn has held the No. 3 post since 2011. Clyburn raised eyebrows a few weeks ago when he told Politico that this year's midterm elections were an up-or-out moment for the trio, that all three would have to step down if Democrats failed to secure the majority. Democrats are not demanding a loyalty pledge from candidates who might flip the majority their way. McCready and Manning have been added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's "Red to Blue" list, denoting them as candidates who can expect party support in their primaries and the general election. In an interview, Elissa Slotkin, a "red-to-blue" candidate in a GOP-held southwest Michigan district, said she would prefer an alternative to Pelosi. "I think it's clear that on both sides of the aisle, people are seeking new leadership, and I'm going to be looking for someone who best represents my district and what we care about here. And I believe that's a new generation of leaders," said Slotkin, a former Defense Department official running her first congressional race. Some House Democrats are openly advising these candidates to oppose Pelosi. "If Republicans want to do the same thing to Elissa Slotkin that they did to Conor Lamb, all Conor Lamb had to do was point to the front page of the newspaper that said 'Conor Lamb will not vote for Nancy Pelosi.' It's phony. It's played out," said Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., who traveled to Michigan this week to campaign for Slotkin. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced this week that Texas, joined by six other states, had filed suit against the federal government over the Deferred Action against Childhood Arrivals program. The news was applauded by some of Paxtons fellow Republicans, although others, including Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, remained silent on the subject. And it was greeted with outrage by many Democrats. Ending DACA would be catastrophic for Texas, costing the state $6 billion in annual GDP and thousands of jobs, tweeted State Rep. Ana Hernandez, whose district runs from east Houston to Channelview. She added the state would stand to lose up to 2,000 DACA-recipient classroom teachers, denying our kids quality educators. Her colleague Armando Walle, whose district covers northeast Houston, characterized the decision as gutless, heartless, and not Jesus-like. Texans want these young people to be protected; we dont want families torn apart, tweeted Justin Nelson, a Democrat seeking to unseat Paxton this fall. READ MORE: Texans are tired of being insulted I dont disagree with any of those assessments, exactly. But to my mind, Paxtons decision is one that deserves to be received with derision. The attorney general has repeatedly declared his opposition to DACA, which was created in 2012 by an executive order of President Barack Obama. Last September, Paxton threatened to sue the federal government over the program, which provides temporary protection from deportation, and renewable work authorizations, for certain immigrants who were brought to this country illegally as children. President Donald Trump has said he has great love for Dreamers, but his administration responded by announcing that it would phase out the program. However, DACA remains in effect thanks to a pair of injunctions issued earlier this year the first by a federal judge in California, the second by a federal judge in New York. Last week, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., went a step further and ordered the government to reopen the program to new applicants. Arguably the people of Texas should give Paxton some credit for acting on his frequently stated convictions even if they disagree with him about the merits of the program itself, as polls suggest that most of us do. The same is true of most Americans, actually; polls have consistently found that the vast majority of Americans believe that DACA recipients should be allowed to stay in this country and given a path to legal status, if not citizenship. READ MORE: Dreamers don't need forgiveness, they need and deserve documents But in Texas, the issue at hand is not an abstract one. As of last September, according to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, about 690,000 people were enrolled in the program. Some 113,000 of them were living in Texas. And in a white paper released that month, the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce noted that DACA recipients, as a group, outpace national averages in terms of their workforce participation rate, purchasing power, and educational attainment. That makes sense, given the parameters of the program itself; young immigrants who drop out of high school, or commit a serious crime, dont meet the criteria for enrollment. And it explains why ending DACA would have adverse implications for Texas as a whole; as the Houston Hispanic Chambers report put it, wed be removing a relatively young and upwardly mobile group of people from the local and state economies. As a general matter, I dont think Texas should do things that are counterproductive to the public interest even if our states Republican leaders have ambitions for higher office, as Paxton possibly does. (For that matter, Paxtons wife Angela is also seeking office this year, a state Senate seat). I also dont think we should break up families, or treat DACA recipients with punitive intent. The attorney general would like us to believe that he doesnt necessarily want to do any of those things here. Our lawsuit is about the rule of law, not the wisdom of any particular immigration policy, Paxton said at a press conference Tuesday. I find that hard to believe, unfortunately, for several reasons. For one thing, Paxton himself is under indictment. He was charged with three felony violations of state securities law in August 2015, less than a year after being elected attorney general. And he has repeatedly cast himself as a victim of the legal process, rather than evincing any concern over whether he may have, if only by accident, violated the laws of Texas which he is charged with enforcing. Also, in response to an inquiry from Abbott, Paxton last week issued an opinion arguing that a court would likely sympathize with the governors desire to suspend relevant state election laws in order to call an emergency special election in the 27th Congressional District. The seat was formerly held by Republican Blake Farenthold, who abruptly resigned last month amid sexual harassment allegations. READ MORE: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was wrong to suspend state election laws for Farenthold district Furthermore, the Texas-led DACA lawsuit has no immediate effects, and is unlikely to bring a speedy end to the program.Paxton isnt so much forcing the issue as pretending to do so. As Texas attorney general, Paxton is empowered to do things like that. But his latest lawsuit will likely prove to be nothing but a waste of time and money, and there is no evidence that his actual motive, in filing it, has anything to do with the rule of law. erica.grieder@chron.com twitter.com/ericagrieder When Ricky McGinn's mother came to watch her son die, she put on her Sunday best. Wearing her floral dress and pearls, she fought to stand up from her wheelchair and press her hands against the glass outside the Huntsville death chamber. Almost 20 years later, that's what Michelle Lyons remembers most about McGinn's death - those wrinkled hands, that look of desperation. For some of the executions she watched, Lyons doesn't remember anything. In her time at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, she saw more than 200 people put to death - and at some point they started to blend together. Or at least, they would have blended together were it not for the journals of meticulous notes she kept on the dozens of men and women she watched die during her time in Huntsville - first as a reporter, then as a spokesperson. For more than a decade, the bubbly Galveston native was the unlikely face of the nation's largest prison system, and busiest death row. Like any good reporter, through it all she kept notes - files and files of notes. But now, she's laying it all bare in a memoir, starting with her days at the Huntsville Item. Lyons took over the prison beat there in 2000, when Texas set a grim record of executing 40 men and women in one year. A few years later, she jumped the fence and became a TDCJ spokesperson, a job that also required witnessing executions. Ultimately she resigned over time sheet disputes, then later sued the department. And it's all detailed in "Death Row: The Final Minutes," a 320-page read out this month in the U.K. It's haunting, dark and hard to put down. Houston Chronicle: So first of all - why now? There's been a lot of discussion around whether the death penalty is dying and at times it seems there's a waning interest the topic. Why was this the time to write an expose about the prison system and death row? Michelle Lyons: It wasn't meant to be an expose - it was just me recounting my own experiences witnessing executions. Overall my opinion of the death penalty didn't so much change; it was just that it had a cumulative effect on me. I think the biggest takeaway from the book is that when I was young and started out as a journalist, everything was very black and white, I had no issue with witnessing. I was pro-death penalty. I was able to go in, witness, leave, compartmentalize, done. And as the years went on and I had more and more execution experiences under my belt and more life experiences, more things nagged at me and it became harder and harder to do. HC: This comes across as utterly you - as obscene, angry and vulnerable as you are in conversation. Did you have any hesitations about putting out something so raw? ML: It's scary. Because in some ways it's almost like having a diary and then making that diary available to the world. It feels so incredibly vulnerable - but it's really the only way to be honest. Some of it's uncomfortable for me, especially some of the entries from the earlier days. I feel like I come across very abrasive and I wish I could go back and change some of that but I can't - that's who I was, that's what I was. HC: I know you say it's not an expose. But at the least this is very critical of the prison system and certain people in it. Are you worried at all about fallout from this? ML: Honestly, no. The things that I depict and recount are exactly as they happened. The only controversial portions of the book pertain to my departure from the agency, and obviously that was a very tough time for me. But everything I'm recounting is as it happened. It's not just my recollections. HC: You started working on this with Larry Fitzgerald, another longtime face of the prison system. He died last year before the book came out, but there's also long passages included in his voice. I'm curious what your writing process looked like for this? ML: Larry and I began working on it in 2017, when Larry had become ill. Larry had actually begun taking notes and jotting down and we had a ghostwriter who did interviews and because I knew that Larry was very ill, I traveled to Austin and recorded him for many hours. These are our words and thoughts. HC: You relive, in detail, years of trauma - you detail crying after executions, you have that scene with the chaplain instructing prisoners how to die best, you recount hearing the chemicals gurgling into the line in one execution. Was this hard to write? ML: Some parts were harder than others. I was very good about taking notes during and after the executions and some of it I had actually forgotten about. Some have always stuck with me. The scene about the man there alone on the gurney with the single tear running down his face has never left me. It was amazing to me all the details I have in my notes. I have an entire file cabinet - and it's all pretty dark. HC: Clearly you've figured out some coping mechanisms for things not very many people deal with - what does coping look like for you? How do you take care of yourself? ML: This book, that's my way of taking care of it. But what made it so incredibly difficult was that - I'm gonna get emotional here - was that I just started feeling so bad for everybody. I used to be so good at just going in there and doing my job, but I just started feeling so broken-hearted for everyone. You've got this victim's family, the parents who lost a child. And then you have in the inmate's family, about to watch their child die. And then you have the chaplain with their hand on a man who's dying. At the core I still believe the death penalty is an appropriate punishment for some, but I felt bad for everyone there and then I felt bad for feeling bad, because I felt like it wasn't my right to feel bad. HC: It seems like there's been some shifts at the department since you left, and since Larry left. What do you think his view of TDCJ today would be? ML: He would absolutely be disgusted. Larry 's philosophy was that the agency should operate as transparently as possible, because just about everything the agency does is funded by taxpayer money. HC: That job - and reporting before it - was clearly a huge and defining part of your life for a long time. Do you miss it, still? ML: No. HC: We started this off with a question about the timing in relation to whether the death penalty is dying but I guess that is based on the premise that it is. We've already seen five executions this year, Texas is trying to get approved for expedited appeals, and President Donald Trump is suggesting the death penalty for drug dealers - do you think we're going to see any sort of resurgence? ML: The short answer is no. I think that in Texas, we have seen a decline in the death penalty and I think probably the biggest factor in that has been the introduction of life without parole. I think that prior to having that as an option there were so many instances where a jury felt uncomfortable with the idea that for certain crimes an inmate may one day be released into society because the crime was just that bad - but they didn't have the option for life without parole. HC: Your book is hard to put down - but it's also a really dark read. How did you hope to make the reader feel in writing this? ML: I didn't really set out for it to have any particular tone. It was really just me trying to tell the story of my experience, witnessing all these executions. Unfortunately it is a dark topic. I would hope that my personality comes through. My personality can be a little bit dark, but I also have a pretty quirky and wicked sense of humor and I hope that that shines through. I hope that the fact that I've been resilient comes through. It's really just about the fact that it was a struggle. It was a tough job. And I came out of it forever changed - but I came out of it. A petition Houston firefighters submitted last summer seeking pay parity with police contains enough valid signatures to trigger a referendum election, City Secretary Anna Russell reported to Mayor Sylvester Turner and the city council Thursday. Russell finished verifying the signatures a day ahead of a deadline given to the city by a state district judge last month. The judge originally set a deadline of April 27 after the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association sued the city last December, complaining Russells office had not validated its referendum petition in time for either the November 2017 or May 2018 ballots. Judge Dan Hinde agreed to give Russell another week after city lawyers said additional staff and overtime had been approved to finish the count. Russells memo to the mayor and council said her office checked 26,708 signatures against Harris Countys list of qualified voters; 20,228 were verified. State laaw requires 20,000 qualified signatures on a petition to get a referedum on the ballot. It is unclear when the item will appear before voters. City attorneys argued in court that the Turner administration does not intend to schedule a vote before the next regular municipal election cycle in November 2019, but the mayor, when asked about the petition count Wednesday, said the city council would have to discuss the matter. Fire union president Marty Lancton, who was a plaintiff in the case, cheered the ruling and thanked Russell and her staff for their work. This is another victory for Houston firefighters and citizens who petitioned the city for fair pay for firefighters, he said. With our recent court victory and this validation of the petitions, we urge the city of Houston to respect the will of voters and put this issue on the next election ballot in November 2018. READ MORE: Firefighters, frustrated with contract talks, plan to ask voters for a raise Firefighters submitted the petition last July asking for a ballot referendum that, if approved by voters, would grant firefighters the same pay as police officers of corresponding rank. Turner has estimated the cost of implementing that proposal at about $60 million per year; the city faces projected deficits of more than $100 million in each of the next five years. Turner said Wednesday he presumed the petition contained enough names to trigger a vote, but suggested the proposals lack of clarity could undermine its validity, noting, for instance, that hundreds more firefighters than police officers carry the rank of captain. I dont know what parity means, Turner said. Does it mean you scale everything down? If the voters vote on something, the voters need to know what theyre voting (on). READ MORE: Rancor between firefighters, mayor flares anew over petition count State law sets no timeline on which charter petitions must be validated, and Russell said her staffs other other duties prevented them from validating the firefighters petition in time for the November or May elections. Leaders of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association responded by suing the city in December. Russell received three petitions last year, one of which fell under a chapter of state law that forced her to count it within 30 days. After doing so, she returned to tallying a pension-related petition to amend the city charter that her office received in April. The firefighters petition, which also would amend the charter, was submitted in July. READ MORE: Judge sides with Houston firefighters, orders city secretary to validate pay parity petition The secretarys office is charged with verifying that a sufficient number of the names on submitted petitions belong to registered voters who live inside the city of Houston. Thoughout the petition fight, the fire union also has pursued a lawsuit against the city over stalled contract talks. Firefighters have been without a contract for almost four years, have received just a 3 percent raise since 2010, and were irate over Turners successful push to reduce city workers pension benefits at the Texas Legislature last year. A Houston father whose history of domestic abuse triggered a change in how domestic violence cases are handled in Harris County pleaded guilty Wednesday to murdering his girlfriend. Albee Lewis, 32, fatally shot his girlfriend as she fled their apartment last year. She had previously reported him for domestic violence assaults five times in three years, but responding police never arrested him. The shooting death of Ashanti Hunter in front of her three children last April was a catalyst for an extensive initiative by the Harris County District Attorneys Office and area law enforcement to document and prosecute choking incidents more severely. Hunters case highlights research that suspects who strangle or choke their significant others during assaults are more likely to kill them later, prosecutors say. In this case, there was prior abuse and at least two of those cases included strangulation, said Carvana Cloud, a chief prosecutor in Harris County District Attorneys Office who recently created a strangulation task force. Her case has been the impetus for all the change weve got going on in Harris County. A non-fatal strangulation is often the last step before domestic violence turns deadly, usually in a fatal shooting, according to prosecutors and experts. Strangulation continues to a clear indicator of homicide, Cloud said. Its unfortunate that we lost this life, but it proves what weve been saying: We need to hold these people accountable before it turns fatal. Lewis pleaded guilty to murder in state District Judge Denise Bradleys court in exchange for a 50-year prison sentence. He admitted to killing the 32-year-old mother of his child at a north Harris County complex as she fled their apartment on April 30, 2017. His attorney, Beth Exley, declined to comment on the case. In court, Hunters mother Debra Wright, gave a victim impact statement saying she was disappointed in Lewis because she had treated him like a son after her daughter fell in love with him. Its been tough, but were getting through it, she said after the hearing. At least I still have my grandchildren. Lewis and Hunter started arguing in their apartment that day around 3 p.m. It escalated into a physical fight, witnesses told responding deputies with the Harris County Sheriff's Office. Hunter tried to escape with her three children, one of whom was Lewis' child, by running out the apartment and getting in a car owned by a cousin. The cousin had just stopped by with her three kids. Lewis followed Hunter out of the apartment and fired multiple shots at her as she was getting in the car, fatally wounding her. He then ran away. One of her children called authorities. At least one other child, an 11-year-old, was in the car during the shooting, deputies said after the arrest. Lewis went to a Studio 6 hotel in the 16000 block of the North Freeway. It was there, sheriffs deputies said, that he called 911 and turned himself in. Cloud said abused women who call 911 often do not have physical signs of trauma so police chalk up the incident to a case of he said/she said and do not arrest either party. Cloud and area partners in law enforcement, like HPD Chief Art Acevedo, changed that by requiring officers to go through a short checklist to determine if there has been strangulation. The officer will then document the evidence, like suspicious bruising or victims seeing stars which bolster the case for prosecutors. We know that visible injuries are not going to be present in 60 percent of these cases, Cloud said. So now, officers know to ask about their breathing, any voice changes, any loss of consciousness, anything that will prove that bloodflow or airflow was impeded. Hunters murder was preceded by a string of violent attacks by Lewis, none of which resulted in the arrest of her boyfriend. Hunter reported called police in 2014 and reported that Lewis grabbed her by the neck, choked her and punched her. He was not arrested. A year later, he choked her until she thought she was going to pass out and told her she would die if she left him. He was not charged then either. Five months later, in 2015, she reported that he assaulted her again. Lewis was not arrested then. In 2016, police arrived to find Hunter holding a knife in self-defense. She told officers Lewis had thrown her to the ground in an argument over money. In February 2017, Hunter reported that Lewis hit her in the face but declined to file charges after being told Child Protective Services would be contacted. She also did not want him jailed because he helped support the family. It was 82 days later when Lewis gunned down Hunter as she tried to run for her life in a relatives car. brian.rogers@chron.com The death of a 10-month-old puppy on a United Airlines flight March 12 was caused by suffocation, according to a new report. The cause of death was detailed in a necropsy from Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., ABC 7 reported. The death of the frenchie, Kokito, captured headlines around the globe after its owner was told by a flight attendant at Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport to put the dog and its carrier in an overhead bin. By the time the plane landed at New York's LaGuardia, the puppy was dead. LOCAL RESPONSE: Harris County DA investigating puppy's death "He was smart, intelligent," owner 11-year-old Sophia Ceballos told ABC 7. "He was one of a kind." The airline claimed that while the passenger told the flight attendant there was a dog in her carrier, "our flight attendant did not hear or understand her, and did not knowingly place the dog in the overhead bin." "We have spoken to the family, our crew and a number of passengers who were seated nearby," the airlines said in a statement March 14. "As we stated, we take full responsibility and are deeply sorry for this tragic accident. We remain in contact with the family to express our condolences and offer support." Now Playing: Sophia Ceballo, 11, talks about her beloved dog 'Kokito,' who died after being placed in an overhead bin on a United flight. Video: Fox5 United refunded the family's money for their tickets and in-cabin pet fee. The airline also altered its pet policy starting in April. United will start issuing brightly colored bag tags to customers traveling with in-cabin pets. The dog's family is now considering a lawsuit against the airlines, ABC 7 added. Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @fernalfonso. A Spring woman who admitted to embezzling $1.2 million killed herself hours before being sentenced to prison earlier this week, according to court records filed Thursday. Paige Moody Bisher, a 43-year-old who worked part-time as an administrative assistant for a small Houston company, shot herself in the chest in the parking lot of an Humble Wal-Mart hours before she was expected to be sent to prison, according to records of the Harris County Institute of Forensic Science. Her death was ruled a suicide by the medical examiner. Bisher admitted her guilt to the embezzlement in January, and was expected to be sentenced Wednesday by state District Judge Nikita Harmon. The judge did not return a call about the sentence she would have handed down. Now Playing: Texas News & Crime Video: Houston Chronicle Prosecutor Lester Blizzard, who filed a dismissal in the case, said Bisher faced life in prison and he was planning on asking for a lengthy prison sentence for the first-degree felony theft of more than $300,000. It is a very tragic event and we will pray for the healing of all those involved in this sad case, Blizzard said, in an e-mailed response about the case. Bishers attorney, Ned Barnett, did not return repeated phone calls for comment. Bishers scheme was allegedly discovered after the owner of the company asked to see the books and instead of showing him the accounts, Bisher quit. That triggered a full scale audit that found she had written checks to herself from the company's coffers. The case was referred to the Harris County District Attorney's Office financial crimes division, which obtained an indictment against Bisher. Bisher and her husband opened a barbecue restaurant in Magnolia in 2017 that has since closed. Her husband could not be reached for comment Thursday. Recent sentences handed by judges in Houston and across the state in cases involving thefts of a million dollars or more indicate that Bisher likely faced substantial jail time. In 2012, a Katy man was sentenced to 35 years in prison for stealing $1 million from a homeowners association. That same year, a Montgomery County jury sentenced a woman who stole more than $1 million to 65 years in prison. On Friday in Brownsville, county worker Gilberto Escamilla was sentenced to 50 years in prison for stealing $1.2 million in fajita meat over nine years from the Cameron County juvenile center where he worked. He pleaded guilty to theft by a public servant. Bryan Vaclavik, the chief fraud examiner at the Harris County DAs office who took part in the investigation of Bisher, said the case was unique because of the amount Bisher took. The abuse of trust in this case was unparalleled in the 24 years Ive been investigating white-collar crimes, he said. AUSTIN Derek Robledo can't wait until the National Rifle Association's annual convention opens in Dallas on Friday. He wont be inside listening to President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and most all of the state's Republican officials cheering the Second Amendment. Instead, the 20-year-old University of Texas student will be outside railing against the NRAs outsized political influence that be blames for the continued mass-shooting violence in schools. This convention is a huge gift to Democrats, because it represents the need for significant change in our political process and why the blue wave is coming to Texas this year, he said. Having all these Republicans on stage at the NRA convention for photo ops will motivate Democrats to turn out this fall like never before. Or not. While Robledo, a self-professed Latino activist who has been working for months to increase turnout among young millennial voters to break the GOP domination of Texas politics, political consultants from both parties say the value of any gift from the weekend may be short-lived. The guest list at the convention just shows the political power the NRA continues to exert in the United States and in Texas, said Mark Jones, a political scientist at Houston's Rice University who has been following the so-called "gun politics" in the Lone Star State for years. (President) Trump and (Vice President) Pence with Abbott and (U.S. Sens. Ted) Cruz and (John) Cornyn wont hurt them in Texas. If it was in the Northeast, those two would be like a 50-pound weight around the necks of state Republicans. They'd go straight to the bottom and drown. But this is Texas, he added. Thousands of protesters and gun-control activists are expected outside the Dallas convention hall where where the NRA convention opens Friday, an austere downtown landmark named for former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, the Republican who preceded Cruz. In some ways, both Democratic activists and Republican insiders insist the protests will help their causes. Democrats hope that large crowds outside will bolster the optic that large numbers of Texans are fed up with Republican rule. And Republicans believe it will boost GOP turnout and help stave off a political invasion by liberals. Its just a show Large angry protests demanding we surrender our rights wont sell in Texas, Paul Chu, a process engineer and NRA member, said Wednesday as he left an Austin gun store with several boxes of ammunition for a weekend shooting competition at a private range. The timing of the convention may be bad, right after the Parkland school shooting in Florida, but the NRA will put on their show and make their point and go home. Its just a show, just politics. After all, a friend standing nearby noted, The NRA met in Denver just after Columbine, in 1999. Life went on. That scaled-back convention, where an estimated 8,000 protesters outnumbered NRA members 4-to-1, ended with the organization exuberantly defiant and uncompromising in its defense of the Second Amendment. Each horrible act cant become an ax for opportunists to cleave the very Bill of Rights that binds us, then-NRA President Charlton Heston told the cheering overflow crowd at the Denver meeting, many wearing blue-and-silver Columbine memorial ribbons fastened with NRA buttons. This year in Dallas, both the president and vice president will appear, in support of an organization that was credited with helping pump more than $30 million in contributions into their successful 2016 campaign. The NRA has weathered the storm after the (Parkland) shooting, and I think they're looking for this convention in Dallas, not to lick their wounds, but to get their war hoop back up about the Second Amendment, said Cal Jillson, a political scientist at Dallas' Southern Methodist University. Even though there may be some over-the-top celebration of gun culture that Democrats might use, there's probably not a lot of downside for Republican leaders in Texas in the fall. Well see Ed Espinoza, executive director of Progress Texas, a progressive grassroots group generally aligned with Democrats, thinks that Republican leaders are in for a surprise. Such a national display of support by the Republican leadership for an organization that has fought against gun control is tone deaf, even in Texas, which in recent years has coped with mass shootings at Fort Hood and SutherlandSprings, as well as having schools routinely go on lockdown across the state over gun threats. What this event shows is that Texas Republicans are so confident they think they can do anything they want without any consequences, he said. We'll see. In recent months, Democratic candidates in various statewide and legislative races have called for tougher gun laws: universal background checks, closing the gun show loophole on sales, raising the age for purchase to 21, prohibiting domestic abusers from possessing guns and outlawing so-called bump stocks that allow rifles to become rapid-fire weapons among others. This convention allows us an opportunity to talk about common-sense solutions Democrats are proposing, that most Texans agree with, while the Republicans just want to hold hands with the NRA and Donald Trump, said Manny Garcia, deputy executive director of the Texas Democratic Party. Texans should be rightly concerned that Washington and Austin have not addressed these issues. At a political town hall of Democratic candidates on Sunday in Austin, Miguel Suazo, an Austin energy and natural resources attorney running for land commissioner, said although he is a gun owner who supports the Second Amendment, new laws are needed to better protect the public. That blue wave is coming and we need it to hit the shore hard in November because we need change in Texas, he told the crowd. mike.ward@chron.com twitter.com/ChronicleMike GALVESTON In just 80 years, with sea levels expected to be nearly 2.5 feet higher than today, a storm similar to Hurricane Ike would cause catastrophic damage with a head-on hit to Galveston Bay, bringing an extra 10 feet of water or more into the area at landfall, according to new research. The number of people displaced by the storm would be 65 percent higher than today, and five times more buildings would be damaged, scientists concluded. The study, conducted by Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi's Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies, was presented Thursday at the National Association of Counties' Gulf States Counties and Parishes Caucus Meeting in Galveston. IKE DIKE: A big seawall for Southeast Texas could save money. There's none. "Based on this study, the storm surge reaches further inland with the increase in sea level rise and it also increases the vulnerability of coastal communities," said Mukesh Subedee, a scientist at the institute's Coastal and Marine Lab and one of the investigators on the study. Subedee presented the findings Thursday at the meeting, which drew county and parish elected officials from Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida and Mississippi areas that still are recovering from Hurricanes Harvey and Irma in 2017. The next step, Subedee said, is to model the entire Texas coast for the impacts of sea level rise. "The Texas coast is flat and low-lying, and so it's sensitive to sea level rise," Subedee said. "The Texas coast is prone to hurricanes, so we wanted to investigate the socio-economic impacts of a storm surge increase." More than 60 percent of the Gulf Coast and most bay shorelines are retreating and 25 percent of Texas' population is living in these areas, Subedee said. CLIMATE CHANGE: Rise in sea level makes hurricanes worse The study assumes that the sea level will have risen 2.4 feet by the year 2100. Using that assumption, researchers looked at how a storm like Hurricane Ike which bore down on Texas and the Gulf Coast in 2008 and caused billions of dollars in damage would impact communities now and in 2100 in Brazoria, Chambers, Liberty, Harris and Galveston counties. The study found that the 2100 sea level rise would result in up to 10 feet of water inundating the area 12 hours prior to the hurricane's landfall, and that flooding would worsen after the storm comes ashore. The study showed that about 650,000 people would be displaced in 2100, compared to just under 400,000 who would be displaced today by a comparable storm. And about 80,000 buildings would likely be damaged in 2100 compared to fewer than 20,000 today, with about 540 schools at risk compared to the 320 at risk in the current scenario, according to the study. The result would mean billions of dollars more in damage. The study found that present-day devastation would cost about $42.3 billion. In 2100, this devastation would increase costs to $69.7 billion, Subedee said. All numbers are based on 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data and dollar values. SILENT SPILLS: Texas officials ignore spread of dioxin in San Jacinto River Sea levels have been rising around the world for more than 100 years, and the Upper Texas Coast is "particularly vulnerable" because the land is sinking through subsidence, according to the institute's web site. "For this low-lying coastal zone, the costs, both economic and ecologic, could be substantial," according to the site. "Climate change, including sea level rise, will result in increased frequency, duration, and depth of storm surge flooding." The Houston region will experience the highest rate of sea level rise in Texas and among the highest in the world because of subsidence, according to the website. To help combat the problem, the state is trying to work with the National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration to develop Living Shorelines along the coast, said David Green, the state General Land Office's deputy director of coastal resources, who also attended Thursday's meeting. MORE: Does climate change mean more big storms? The shorelines are protected, stabilized coastal edges made of plants, sand, rock or other natural materials. They provide wildlife habitats, as well as "natural resilience," according to NOAA. The shorelines serve to purify water, buffer floods, reduce erosion, store carbon, and attract wildlife to habitat, according to NOAA. But that might not be enough to stop a significant storm surge, Subedee said. "During landfall, there were 110 mph winds from Ike and that was able to move water inland," he said, "but in the future, when water surface elevation has increased, the water will move even further inland." Alex Stuckey covers science and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey. The Environmental Protection Agency has reached a long-awaited agreement for cleaning up the San Jacinto Waste Pits, a move praised by activists who have pressed for years for removal of contamination at the Superfund site east of Houston. The agreement Monday between the EPA and two companies responsible for the clean-up sidesteps a potential court fight over initial opposition to the plan. The development lays the ground work for removal of about 212,000 cubic yards of material containing cancer-causing dioxin, a tiny fraction of which is believed to have spilled out along the San Jacinto River during Hurricane Harvey. The removal is estimated to cost $115 million. Design for the clean-up is expected to take about 29 months, with the clean-up to follow, officials said. Its a big deal for us and the community, said Rock Owens, an environmental attorney for Harris County, which will have input into the clean-up process. This is a very important step - now were officially onto the step where the (companies) are cooperating. The EPA, along with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, will oversee the design work for the cleanup by International Paper Co. and McGinnes Industrial Maintenance Corp. The San Jacinto Waste pits were used into the 1960s to store waste that was taken by barge from a nearby paper mill. The site was originally on the riverbank in eastern Harris County, but over time, subsidence, dredging and construction of the Interstate 10 bridge near Channelview altered the path of the river and the site became partially submerged. The pits became a federal Superfund site in 2008 and were capped in 2011 partly in response to prior reports of leaks and fears of damage from hurricanes. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said Monday in a statement that the agreement will expedite remediation of the waste pits. EPA will ensure that the remedial design removes all the contamination as quickly and safely as possible and permanently protects the health and safety of the surrounding communities and the San Jacinto River, Pruitt said. RELATED STORY: Waste pits cleanup still could be a year away from starting International Paper Co. said in a statement that it is committed to protecting public health and the environment and we believe that remediation planning for the San Jacinto site must be rigorous, transparent and science-based and lead to engineering standards that will protect the river and the community. McGinnes also provided a statement, saying it will continue to work collaboratively with the agency and other responsible parties to ensure a safe, protective and effective remedial design for the site. The EPA announced in October plans for removal of tons of toxins from the waste pits, but the companies at the time said they opposed the plan as being too risky for the environment. The opposition could have forced the EPA to go to court to carry out the plan, resulting in years of litigation and cleanup delays. The announcement Monday will allow clean-up to proceed. Jackie Young, founder of the Texas Health and Environment Alliance, said she was happy to hear of the agreement and cautiously optimistic as we move forward. Scott Jones, director of advocacy for the Galveston Bay Foundation, said the foundation will remain vigilant until the last of the wastes are removed. RELATED STORY: Neighbors, officials praise EPA decision to clean up San Jacinto waste pits The EPAs removal announcement in October came just two weeks after officials confirmed that a concrete cap used to cover the waste pits since 2011 had sprung a leak during Harvey's flooding. After Harvey, agency officials found dioxin in sediment near the pits at a level more than 2,000 times the EPA standard for cleanup. Subsequent testing, done after the cap was repaired, showed far lower levels of dioxin in that area, officials said in a December meeting. U.S. Rep. Pete Olson, R-Sugar Land, said in a statement Monday that he's pleased to see state and federal officials taking the next step toward removal. Our community deserves to know the water is clean and safe, he said. I look forward to seeing this site addressed as quickly and safely as possible so that folks don't have to worry about this in the future. The U.S. Department of Justice and EPA now will start working with the companies to agree on construction phase of the cleanup. Lets lay down the sword, pick up the shovel and start digging, Owens said. Lise Olsen contributed to this report. Michelle R. Smith, STF / Associated Press Prepare yourself: Over the next few months youre going to be hearing a lot about the 2020 census. Some people are worried about whether theres enough money to properly conduct it. Others are concerned about the kinds of questions that will be asked, and whether it will provide an accurate count of the U.S. population, which it is constitutionally mandated to do. With that in mind I offer some good news and some caution. Congress included more money in its Fiscal Year 2018 spending bill to prepare for implementation of the census. Thats important because at one point funding was $3 billion short of what was needed to test new technologies that will be used in an effort to keep costs down and provide reliable data. Recriminations and castigations are abound since last week, when the Houston Independent School Districts board of trustees deliberated a dunderheaded plan to temporary abandon underperforming schools ones in underserved, African-American and Hispanic neighborhoods and give them to charter groups in order to stave off state receivership. Parents were rightfully livid. Police dragged some out of the room. Bellaire gets rebuilt; Kashmere gets privatized. Last week, after input from the community, namely Mayor Sylvester Turner, HISD relented and said it will not offer any plans. A showdown now looms with the state. I welcome it. Come and take it. HISDs actions were inexcusable, and its proposal was foolish, but the greatest heap of blame for this crisis should be leveled at state officials, namely Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and the Texas Supreme Court. The issue comes back to the perennial Texas topic of school finance, and the equally perennial failure to do any sort of reform of consequence on the matter. The state constitution mandates that our schools be not only free and public, but efficient. And so my entire lifetime, the courts have grappled with what, exactly, being efficient requires. The old system, where poor districts kept their crumbs and the rich their cash, was declared unconstitutional, along with three substitutes the Legislature suggested. On the fourth try, the incumbent system originated. It is nicknamed Robin Hood, because the state is supposed to redistribute the excess money from the rich to the poor. But the sheriff of Nottingham might as well be the arbiter of wealth, because Houston among other big cities are considered rich because of valuable property without respect to poverty and other challenges among the actual student body. So Houstonians must send millions to the state, when in reality we need to keep it all, and probably a little more, to efficiently run our schools. Many other districts have the same problem. So a few years ago they sued and tried to enforce the constitution. A district judge in Austin agreed, but the Texas Supreme Court reversed unanimously. A 2016 opinion penned by Justice Don Willett who is now a judge on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found the way Texas funds its schools to minimally pass constitutional muster. More damning, Justice Eva Guzman wrote a concurrence wherein she cautioned that just because the system is acceptable today does not mean the same will necessarily be true tomorrow. Professor Lynn Baker, who specializes in state and local government law at the University of Texas School of Law, told me this was a roundabout way of the court declaring the controversy over efficient schools to be not justiciable, which is to say a political question only answerable by the Legislature. So in the 2017 legislative session, some brave lawmakers attempted to make the system better. House Speaker Joe Straus and state Rep. Dan Huberty, chair of the House Education Committee, fastened some minor progress. It was dead on arrival in Patricks Senate. Patrick, instead, advocates the idea that we would be better off destroying the public system in favor of vouchers for private schools. And in a session where Straus and Patrick bickered about much else, Hubertys bill was a collateral casualty. Then Abbott called a special session on topics of his choosing, as he has the unfettered discretion to do as governor. He picked 20 issues. One was the now-infamous Bathroom Bill. Another was state pre-emption of local tree regulations. Still, one was the establishment of a commission to review the school finance system; not actual fixes, but a commission. The house is in flames, and Abbott wanted a commission to discuss calling the fire department. It appears school toilets were more important than school finance. And now, we are here. A broken, barely-constitutional system that clips HISDs wings is threatening our future and cheating schoolchildren, who are shamefully deprived of the efficient education to which they are entitled. Bad options are galore because of a feckless governor, a malicious lieutenant governor and an abdicating judiciary. It is true that the constitution also prohibits a statewide property tax and makes a state income tax functionally impossible, drastically limiting funding options. But those parts of the state constitution do not matter more than the part about what the kids deserve. Our politicians and judges take oaths to that constitution, and for all their constituents. They need to fix this problem. Now. And if they dont, they need to be voted out of office. Horwitz is a student at the University of Texas School of Law As the National Rifle Association opened its annual meeting in Dallas, the former CIA director said that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott got trolled by Russians in his response to the feds' Jade Helm exercise three years ago. Michael Hayden, a former CIA chief and head of the National Security Agency, said in an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe show that the Jade Helm controversy in 2015 was stirred by the Russians as a test to see how much influence they could exert through online means. After Abbott put the state guard on call to monitor the federal training exercises, Hayden speculated that the Russians decided to expand their disinformation campaign. Explained Hayden: "They took their game to North America in 2015, and I won't belabor it here, but there was an exercise in Texas called Jade Helm 15 that Russian bots and the American alt-right media convinced most many Texans was an Obama plan to round up political dissidents. "It got so much traction that the governor of Texas had to call out the National Guard to observe the federal exercise to keep the population calm. At that point, I'm figuring the Russians are saying 'We can go big time' and at that point I think they made the decision, 'We're going to play in the electoral process." No comment from Abbott. But Democrats quickly blasted him for being "a Russian pawn and a useful idiot for Russian efforts to instill fear and distrust in our American institutions" and insisted he was "duped by Russian bots." Back to the NRA: With President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Abbott and other big-name Texas Republican officials slated to be on stage for the festivities in Dallas along with social media personalities Lynnette Hardaway and Rochelle Richardson -- better known as Diamond and Silk -- the breaking news just keeps on coming. Add to the week's list a just-agreed debate between the two Democrats running for governor, new controversy over DACA and disgraced former U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, telling Abbott to go pound salt on the governor's request that pick up the tab for a special election to pick his replacement. Our sponsors this week: Texas Association of Counties and Lone Star Targeting. With Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, and Mike Ward, Austin Bureau chief for the Houston Chronicle, with special guest Ryan Poppe, Texas Public Radio's Capitol reporter. Texas politics are entertaining but never boring, as this edition of the state's leading political podcast, produced in collaboration with partner Texas Public Radio, clearly shows. While the technology has been widely slammed by critics around the world, the Post also reported that the brain-scanning technology is government-backed and currently in use across the electronic equipment, electric power supply and telecommunications industries, as well as the military. Despite the criticism, a number of employers that have implemented the technology told the Post that it actually benefits employees as leaders are able to monitor workers stress levels and adjust shift patterns and breaks accordingly. Cheng Jingzhou, an official in charge of the monitoring system at the State Grid Zhejiang Electric Power in Hangzhou, said the system had been hugely successful and drove profits by around two billion yuan after it was rolled out in 2014. There is no doubt about its effect, he told the news outlet. The strong growth path of Athens continues. In Q1 2018 international arrivals increased by a stunning 27.1% y-o-y and RevPAR at Athenian hotels increased by 14.6% y-o-y as a result of both increasing occupancy levels and room rates. The strong growth path of Athens continues. In Q1 2018 international arrivals increased by a stunning 27.1% y-o-y and RevPAR at Athenian hotels increased by 14.6% y-o-y as a result of both increasing occupancy levels and room rates. In Thessaloniki international arrivals at the airport dropped in the first quarter of 2018. However, Fraport confirmed that due to maintenance works at the airport of Thessaloniki, some airlines were forced to reroute passengers to the airport of Kavala. During Q1 2018 32,000 international arrivals were registered in Kavala, which normally would have been served by Thessaloniki. Adding these arrivals to Thessaloniki, an increase of 9.9% y-o-y would have been recorded for Thessaloniki and 112% y-o-y for the rest of Greece. The latter is mainly due to the performance of the airports of Iraklio and Corfu, who received 10,749 and 5,817 more international passengers respectively during Q1 2018 compared to same quarter last year. For the hotel sector in Thessaloniki the first quarter showed drops in occupancy and an increase of ADR, resulting in an improvement of 1.4% y-o-y of RevPAR. However, compared to 2016 room supply increased significantly effecting occupancy levels. In terms of rooms occupied a small increase was recorded during Q1 compared to same quarter last year. For those resort hotels that were open during Q1 2018, the year started well with an increase of the total revenue per available room of 33.8% y-o-y. However, Q2 2018 will give a more realistic view on the course of the resort hotels this year. Overall the south of Europe had a positive start of the year with an increase of RevPAR of 6.8% y-o-y YTD March 2018. Rome and Madrid both improved occupancy levels, while ADR grew even faster, leading to an increase of RevPAR of 7.7% and 11.5% y-o-y respectively. Click here ( Adobe Acrobat PDF file) to download the complete article. GBR Consulting is a leading Greek business consultant firm. GBR Consulting supports clients develop their businesses in a structured manner leading to growth. The firm offers their clients, who are mainly active in the tourism, retail, food, construction and energy sectors, lasting solutions in the field of strategy, marketing, organisation and finance, while also delivering litigation support. GBR Consulting 4 Sekeri Street, 106 74 Athens, Greece T (+30) 210 36 05 002 F (+30) 210 36 06 935 www.gbrconsulting.gr gbr@gbrconsulting.gr Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest all industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hospitality Trends Imperial Valley News Center Widespread Praise for Gina Haspel, President Trumps Nominee for CIA Director Washington, DC - Widespread Praise for Gina Haspel, President Trumps Nominee for CIA Director: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): [Haspel] has dedicated her professional life to the national security of the United States, and has repeatedly proven to be a consummate intelligence officer and leader. I look forward to supporting her nomination. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC): I know Gina personally and she has the right skill set, experience, and judgment to lead one of our nations most critical agencies. Im proud of her work, and know that my committee will continue its positive relationship with the Central Intelligence Agency under her leadership. I look forward to supporting her nomination, ensuring its consideration without delay. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL): I think the fact that she is a 30 year professional is a good sign. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL): Met with Gina Haspel, nominee to be the next director of the @CIA. Given her experience as a career intelligence officer, I am confident that Gina will be a great leader for the CIA. Sen. James Risch (R-ID): Gina Haspel is well-respected in the intelligence community. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): [Haspel] is very highly qualified. Mr. Clapper supports her. Leon Panetta supports her. Mr. Hayden supports her. She is excellent at what she does Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX): Gina Haspel is a patriot. She will be first woman director of the CIA and the first operations officer as opposed to a political appointee or an analyst in the last 40 years. This is an enormously popular pick, and shell do a great job. Rep. Ralph Abraham (R-LA): Not only is she the most qualified, Ms. Haspel will be the first woman in this powerful position. The president continues to break glass ceilings at every level. Former CIA Directors, Deputy Directors, and Intelligence Professionals Former CIA Director John Brennan: Gina is an exceptionally well-respected professional within CIA. She has held a number of senior-level positions over the years, and has acquitted herself very competently. And I think she has the experiencethe breadth and depthon intelligence issues in dealing with these meddlesome foreign policy issues for many, many years so that she will be able to provide that unvarnished, apolitical, objective intelligence input to Donald Trump and to others. Former CIA Director Leon Panetta: She served the CIA well. Im glad they have a first woman as head of CIA, and Im glad its Gina, because frankly, she is someone who really knows the CIA inside out. Former CIA Director Michael Hayden: [Haspel] is the absolute best choice to be Director of CIA. Former CIA Deputy Director and Former White House Deputy National Security Advisor Avril Haines: Gina Haspel is intelligent, compassionate, and fair. Moreover, Gina has an unparalleled understanding of the institution, the Agencys work, and she will support the workforce all attributes the Agency needs from its Director. Former Acting CIA Director and CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell: She is capable. She has integrity. She cares deeply about the mission of the agency and she cares deeply about the men and women of the agency. Former Acting CIA Director and CIA Deputy Director John E. McLaughlin: If you were picking a professional officer to head the agency I cant think of a better person than Gina. Former CIA Deputy Executive Director Carmen Landa Middleton: I had the privilege of working with Gina for several years, and in addition to a highly effective senior leader, I found her to be a generous and self-effacing individual. Former CIA Deputy Director for Operations David Cohen: Everyone I know who worked with her raved about her. She will be a successful CIA director because of her knowledge of the agency: operational, analytical, technical, and supportive elements. She understands intelligence, the agencys role, and its capabilities. Former CIA Deputy Director of Intelligence Carmen Medina: I think Gina Haspel would do quite well as director of CIA. She is a thoughtful professional who has a balanced understanding of CIAs role: she knows firsthand the operators world but also understands the importance of analytic rigor and objectivity. Former Director of U.S. National Clandestine Service Frank Archibald: I never saw the moment be too big for her. Former Director of U.S. National Clandestine Service John Bennett: [Haspel] is one of the most accomplished officers of her generation, having held a series of major field commands and headquarters positions. She is extremely smart, strong and unfailingly honest. She is totally committed to the CIAs mission. It will be very reassuring for the CIA work force that the president has selected a respected career professional to be the next DCIA. Former Director of U.S. National Clandestine Service Mike Sulick: [She is] calm, very unflappable, very smart. Former CIA Assistant Director for Collection Charles Allen: As a CIA officer who served 47 years at the Agency, I welcome the Presidents decision to nominate Gina Haspel to be the next Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Gina is a consummate intelligence professional who deeply understands CIAs extraordinary global capabilities, and the vital role it plays in helping keep the country safe. Former CIA Acting General Counsel and Senior Deputy General Counsel Robert Eatinger: If confirmed, Gina will be a great CIA director. She is a very experienced and thoughtful operations officer who has held a series of leadership posts. She has the experience independently to assess the potential for success of proposed operations. She is also uniquely positioned to weigh anticipated intelligence gains against potential long-term losses. That strength in leadership, especially when learned in the school of hard knocks, is today often undervalued by those seeking only the satisfaction of retribution. Former State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Deputy Chief of the CIA Counterterrorist Center Henry Crumpton: [Haspel] is the best candidate, I think, in the last generation. She is a terrific combination of operational skill and field leadership if confirmed, she will be the first operations officer to lead the CIA in more than 40 years. Former Deputy Director of CIAs Counterterrorist Center Paul R. Pillar: An insider obviously brings a depth of knowledge about the arcane business of intelligence that no outsider would have. Such a candidate also will be attuned to long-term institutional standards and equities and to the importance of finding ways to buffer the agency from political vicissitudes so that it can accomplish its mission. Haspel, who presumably will bring such knowledge and awareness to the job, gets high marks from other intelligence professionals who have worked with her. Former CIA Acting Director and Associate Director of Operations Jack Devine: The first thing you think of is a professional. I think she will show extremely well. Former CIA Associate Deputy Director of Operations Robert Richer: I worked closely with her for many years and know that she is the right person to lead the CIA as the agency addresses a world of threats. The Gina Haspel I know is a courageous leader, a selfless officer, and someone devoted to the men and women she has worked with and led. She is a person with no political agenda, high moral character, great integrity and compassion. Former CIA Chief of Station Alex Bolling: Gina Haspel has taken the hard field assignments and grappled with complex collection issues. She, like the organization, has been tempered in the crucible of mission-critical collection operations designed to protect our country at a time of war. The American people will be well served by a DCIA with firsthand experience from the front lines and deep behind the enemys lines in our nations longest conflict. Former CIA Chief of Station Daniel Hoffman: Having served multiple times as a senior leader in headquarters and the field, Ms. Haspel is adept at collaborating within the CIA and the intelligence community. She can disentangle the most complex challenges by rallying stakeholders in common cause. She fosters an inclusive environment by respecting different backgrounds and viewpoints and strives for the 360-degree optic, which best serves the mission. Congress should have no trouble recognizing the key traits that make Ms. Haspel the right choice to lead the CIA: integrity, substantive expertise in the art of intelligence, leadership excellence and commitment to our mission and people. She earned tremendous respect and admiration from CIA and U.S. government colleagues, as well as senior foreign leaders. Former CIA Case Officer Robert Baer: I supervised Gina Haspel when I worked at the Central Intelligence Agency. I found her to be smart, tough and effective. Foreign liaison services who have worked with her uniformly walked away impressed. Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs and CIA Officer Mary Beth Long: Gina will do a fantastic job. She knows how the building works. Most importantly, she has the admiration and respect of the workforce. Intelligence and National Security Officials Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats: [Haspel is an] exceptional, professional, and talented individual. Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence Susan (Sue) Gordon: She is so solid, so true, and so not breathless that she will be an amazing leader of CIA. This woman is the right person at the right time. Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: I think the world of Gina; she is capable, smart, very experienced, well respected by the Agency rank and file, and a great person. Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Admiral James G. Stavridis: She is a professional. She has a 30-year track record at the agency. She is a field operator. She is very, very popular among CIA rank-and-file as well as the senior leaders there. I endorse her, and I think she will be a very strong CIA director. Im hopeful she will be confirmed. Former Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI): I can say without hesitation that Gina Haspel is an exceptional leader and committed to the mission to keep America safe. She has demonstrated the grit and savvy needed in difficult situations that have earned her the respect of colleagues and adversaries alike. She will make an excellent Director of the CIA. Her commitment to the mission and rule of law are unparalleled. Former Attorney General Michael Mukasey: Gina Haspel is superbly well qualified to head the CIA, not only by experience in directing the Agencys operations but also by the well-earned esteem she has throughout the intelligence community. Anyone concerned with protecting this nations security should welcome her nomination. Former Defense Intelligence Agency Deputy Director Doug Wise: [Haspel] has been tested by some of the toughest battles this nation has seen, and she is up to the task. As long as Ive known her, shes taken the tough jobs. She understands our business and our culture from a perspective that no outsider could possess. Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel and Senior Fellow at the London Center for Policy Research Tony Shaffer: She could be the most qualified person ever to be nominated to be CIA Director. She has been extensively versed in all the global operations CIA conducts. I think thats one of the key things. She is not someone who has been pigeonholed in a certain area her entire career. I think she has had a wide range of operational assignments, which gives her a broad view. Former Counselor to the Attorney General for National Security and International Matters Amy Jeffress: I worked closely with Gina during my government service. She is thoughtful, conscientious, and committed to the rule of law. She is very well respected within the Agency and is an excellent choice for Director. Commentators and Thinkers American Thinkers Elise Cooper: Haspel should be confirmed as CIA director because she is on the side of justice and patriotism. Haspel never concentrated on her career path, but instead focused on the national security of this country. Columnist & Former Pentagon Official Douglas MacKinnon: In her long career at the CIA, Haspel has served under both Republican and Democratic presidents and is a real-life Wonder Woman of our time who has saved the lives of countless American citizens and other innocents around the world. National Review Editor Rich Lowry: No one doubts her professionalism. The Washington Post Columnist Hugh Hewitt: [W]e know she has received one of the agencys highest awards for operational success and we know she has dedicated her adult life to protecting the country, often in far-off, dangerous places and with extraordinary competence over a very long time. [T]he president needs the strongest national security team possible heading into the summit with North Korea, as well as standoffs with Russia and accelerating competition with China. The country needs a depoliticized, extremely competent CIA. We need Director Gina Haspel as soon as possible. The Weekly Standard Editorial Board: She is a career intelligence officer and has served as CIA station chief in locations around the globe, including the crucial London station. Her integrity and skill are unchallenged. She has, moreover, a reputation for impartiality. Gina Haspel is a strong and capable woman. She would be the first female to lead the CIA, and we can expect she will do so with great skill and professionalism. Washington Examiner Commentary Writer Tom Rogan: President Trump has picked agency veteran Gina Haspel to replace Mike Pompeo as CIA director. Her candidacy has the support of every CIA director in recent memory including John Brennan and Mike Morrell and the overwhelming majority of CIA employees. Haspel deserves appointment as the director of central intelligence. FARMER program to help farmers upgrade equipment, reduce pollution Sacramento, California - Funds will soon be available to expedite the purchase and use of cleaner agricultural equipment to help farmers reduce their exposure to harmful diesel exhaust, improve local air quality, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the California Air Resources Board has announced. The Funding Agricultural Replacement Measures for Emission Reductions (FARMER) Program provides $135 million for farmers to acquire cleaner heavy duty trucks, harvesting equipment, agricultural pump engines, tractors and other equipment used in agricultural operations. The funds, available this summer, will be administered through Californias regional air districts. Emissions from agricultural equipment are a significant source of air pollution, especially in the San Joaquin Valley. Reducing that pollution is necessary to protect public health and meet air quality standards, CARB Executive Officer Richard Corey said. Although tough new engine standards are in effect now and will eventually lower emissions, most agricultural equipment lasts for decades. We cannot wait for the older dirtier equipment to phase out naturally, so we are taking action to improve air quality sooner by helping farmers to buy cleaner farm equipment now. This will help improve air quality throughout the state, but particularly in the San Joaquin Valley which suffers from unacceptably high levels of fine particle pollution. FARMER funding allocations come from proceeds from the states cap-and-trade program ($85 million), the Air Quality Improvement Fund ($15 million) and the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund ($35 million). The California Legislature directed funds from these three sources to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector through grants, rebates and other financial incentives. Because the San Joaquin Valley has the vast majority of Californias agricultural operations and experiences the greatest negative health impacts from agricultural emissions, 80 percent of the funding $108 million will be distributed by the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District to farmers in the region. Legislators placed special emphasis on purchasing vehicles and equipment that use advanced technologies such as clean diesel or electricity in order to accelerate improvements in air quality. Justice Department Announces First Criminal Illegal Entry Prosecutions of Suspected Caravan Members San Diego, California - The Department of Justice Monday filed criminal charges against eleven different suspected members of the so-called caravan in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California, announced Attorney General Jeff Sessions and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California Adam Braverman. All defendants are alleged to have illegally entered the country in violation of 8 U.S.C 1325, and one defendant is also alleged to have been previously deported and was charged with 8 U.S.C 1326 (illegal reentry). When respect for the rule of law diminishes, so too does our ability to protect our great nation, its borders, and its citizens, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The United States will not stand by as our immigration laws are ignored and our nations safety is jeopardized. U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman and his team should be commended for quickly filing illegal entry charges for individuals apprehended along the southwestern border. We will continue to work with our partners in each U.S. Attorneys Offices to aggressively pursue prosecutions of criminal illegal entry. The American Dream has beckoned immigrants from across the globe because of the promise that prosperity and success are within reach for all, said United States Attorney for the Southern District of California Adam L. Braverman. Those immigrants have contributed their voices and perspectives to make up our uniquely American experience. But the foundation for the American Dream, and what allows our democracy to flourish, is commitment to the rule of law. These eleven defendants face charges now because they believed themselves to be above the law. Those seeking entry into the United States must pledge fidelity to the law, not break them, or else face criminal prosecution. According to the complaints, defendants were apprehended by Border Patrol in the following areas known as: Goat Canyon, 35 Draw, Eucci Grove, and W-8. Goat Canyon, 35 Draw, and Eucci Grove are approximately four miles west of the San Ysidro, California Port of Entry, and W-8 is approximately two miles west of San Ysidro. The complaints allege that the defendants knowingly and willingly entered into the United States at a time and place other than as designated by Immigration Officers, and eluded examination and inspection by Immigration Officers. A complaint contains allegations, and a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Cigarette Companies to Post Court-Ordered Statements in Tobacco Racketeering Suit on Company Websites and Cigarette Packages Washington, DC - Monday, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia entered a consent order requiring the countrys major cigarette companies to begin posting corrective statements on their websites starting on Monday, June 18. The order, part of a long-running lawsuit against the cigarette companies, also requires them to attach the same statements to cigarette packages for two weeks at a time, for a total of twelve weeks over two years. The order will also apply to any social media campaigns by the companies to promote cigarettes. The statements address the effects of cigarette smoking and the fact that cigarettes are deliberately designed to create and sustain addiction. As a result of a previous court order, the statements are currently running on television five times per week, and previously ran as full-page ads in about fifty newspapers across the country. The statements specifically state, among other things: That smoking cigarettes causes numerous diseases and on average 1,200 American deaths every day; That the nicotine in cigarettes is highly addictive and that cigarettes have been designed to create and sustain addiction; That so-called light, low-tar, and natural cigarettes are just as harmful as regular cigarettes; and That secondhand smoke causes disease and death in people who do not smoke. The corrective statements were ordered as part of a 2006 permanent injunction against cigarette companies, including Altria, its Philip Morris USA subsidiary, and R.J. Reynolds Tobacco, to prevent and restrain further deception of the American people regarding tobacco use. The order also applies to ITG Brands, which purchased Winston, Kool, and other cigarettes brands from companies in the case. Numerous Justice Department attorneys have played a role in this case over the years. In the most recent phase of the litigation, the United States was represented by Trial Attorneys Daniel K. Crane-Hirsch and John (Josh) Burke of the Justice Departments Consumer Protection Branch, and Linda McMahon of the Commercial Litigation Branch. Six public health organizations the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Americans for Nonsmokers Rights, National African American Tobacco Prevention Network and the Tobacco-Free Kids Action Fund joined the Department of Justice case as intervenors in 2005. Phillips, Slaughter, and Chopra Sworn in as FTC Commissioners Washington, DC - Noah Joshua Phillips, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, and Rohit Chopra were sworn in today as FTC Commissioners. President Trump named Phillips, a Republican, to a term that expires September 25, 2023; Slaughter, a Democrat, to a term that expires September 25, 2022; and Chopra, a Democrat, to a term that expires September 25, 2019. Phillips, Slaughter, and Chopra were confirmed by the U.S. Senate on April 26, 2018. FTC Chairman Joseph Simons, who was sworn in the previous day as the head of the agency, welcomed the new Commissioners. I look forward to working with my new colleagues, Noah, Rebecca, and Rohit. With such a strong group of Commissioners, I know we can carry on the agencys legacy of advancing the interests of American consumers and promoting competition in the U.S. economy. Commissioner Phillips Before coming to the FTC, Phillips served as Chief Counsel to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, of Texas, on the Senate Judiciary Committee. From 2011 to 2018, he advised Senator Cornyn on legal and policy matters including antitrust, constitutional law, consumer privacy, fraud, and intellectual property. Prior to his Senate service, Phillips worked as a litigator at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, in New York City, and Steptoe & Johnson LLP, in Washington, D.C. Phillips began his career at Wasserstein Perella & Co., an investment bank in New York City. Phillips received his A.B. from Dartmouth College in 2000 and his J.D. from Stanford Law School. Commissioner Slaughter Prior to joining the Commission, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter served as Chief Counsel to Senator Charles Schumer of New York, the Democratic Leader. A native New Yorker, she advised Leader Schumer on legal, competition, telecom, privacy, consumer protection, and intellectual property matters, among other issues. Prior to joining Senator Schumer's office, Slaughter was an associate in the D.C. office of Sidley Austin LLP. Slaughter received her B.A. in Anthropology manga cum laude from Yale University. She received her J.D. from Yale Law School, where she served as an editor on the Yale Law Journal. Commissioner Chopra Before joining the FTC, Chopra was a Senior Fellow at the Consumer Federation of America and a Visiting Fellow at the Roosevelt Institute. He was previously Assistant Director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Secretary of the Treasury also appointed him as the agency's first Student Loan Ombudsman. Chopra later served as Special Adviser to the Secretary of Education. Prior to his government service, he worked in the private sector, at McKinsey & Company, where he served clients in the financial services, health care, and consumer technology sectors. Chopra holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University and a master's degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He was also the recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Yamamoto Travel to East Africa Washington, DC - Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Ambassador Donald Y. Yamamoto will travel to Eritrea from April 22-24 for bilateral consultations with Eritrean government officials, to meet with the diplomatic community, and to visit the Embassys staff based in Asmara. He will then lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S.-Djibouti Binational Forum April 24-25 in Djibouti, our annual dialogue on matters of political, economic, assistance, and security cooperation. Ambassador Yamamoto will travel to Ethiopia on April 26 to meet with Ethiopian government officials to discuss shared interests and concerns. Attack on Libyan High National Elections Commission Washington, DC - The United States strongly condemns todays ISIS-claimed attack on the Libyan High National Elections Commission in Tripoli. We offer condolences to the families of the victims and wish a quick recovery for those injured. We stand with all Libyans in the fight against terrorism and remain committed to working with the Government of National Accord to deny ISIS any safe haven in their country. This terrorist attack against a key pillar of Libyas fragile democracy only deepens the United States commitment to support all Libyans as they prepare for credible and secure elections. Ranveer Singh: My Decision to Debut on TV with The Big Picture has Nothing to Do with Theatres Being Shut Your company has an engagement problem, and it's costing you big dollars. According to Gallup's 2017 State of the Global Workplace Report, less than 35 percent of employees described themselves as engaged at work; engaged employees describe themselves in this survey as "involved in, enthusiastic about and committed to their work and workplace." If this survey data is true for your company, two-thirds of your team members are doing less than they otherwise could to help you grow your business. Across the United States, that costs companies like yours over $500 billion a year. Your secret weapon in your fight to keep your team engaged: transparency. Here's why: Transparency creates trust. Trust is the foundation of any healthy work environment. As the leader, your primary responsibility is to communicate a clear vision for where the organization is going. If strong trust hasn't been established between you and your team, or between the members of your team, then the clarity of that vision will become murky as individuals question leadership's true intentions. Nothing builds trust faster than full transparency. In the absence of details, people tend to fill in the blanks with "worst case scenario" information: "We aren't backfilling that department manager position? The company must be getting ready to downsize the entire department!" When important events unfold, ask yourself, "Is there a message that I need to deliver to my team to help them understand why these decisions were made?" If the answer is yes, give them the full spectrum of information. Team members that feel trusted are more likely to be engaged in their work. Transparency reduces friction. Payroll is the single largest expense for most businesses, so it's critical that your team operates at the highest possible level of efficiency. That state can only be achieved if your team has the information it needs to make critical decisions. Every time an employee has to stop what they're doing to ask a manager what to do, it costs you money. Every time a manager postpones a decision because they're afraid to make the wrong decision, it costs you money. Most of the time, these slowdowns are avoidable. The team lacks the information or the context they need to make a confident decision in the moment, and feels the needs to ask permission from someone else. These moments of indecision really add up over time, and you can attack this problem quickly with an increase in transparency. Does your team understand how their role fits into the larger goals of the organization? Are they provided with the data they need to feel confident in these moments, or are you playing gatekeeper, forcing them to seek out information as it's needed? When getting work done is more difficult than it needs to be, engagement suffers. Transparency creates peer accountability. Nothing drives employee engagement quite like publicly posting individual and team results. By giving your team access to everyone's performance data, you're harnessing the power of human nature and communicating that there's an expectation of self-management and accountability. If you find yourself looking at performance metrics at the leadership team level, but struggling to drive engagement at the frontline level, consider sharing this data across the organization and getting out of the way. You'll be amazed at how quickly people begin to obsess over their numbers; you'll start dealing with a whole host of new issues related to data quality ("My numbers are wrong, how do we fix that?"). Arguably, those are great issues to be solving. Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. Air travel safety is on many minds. After the horrific Southwest Airlines incident two weeks ago -- and another troubling incident involving the same airline yesterday -- some are questioning whether planes are being flown at their limits, or even beyond. What about pilots? Are they being pushed beyond endurable hours in order to make sure that planes arrive on time and are ready to leave for their next destination? The National Transportation Safety Board just released its report on an incident last July in which an Air Canada flight, arriving at San Francisco Airport, came extremely close to landing on top of four planes occupying a taxiway. As the San Jose Mercury News reports, the Board found that the crew complained of fatigue during the flight. What's most frightening, perhaps, is new footage the NTSB released to accompany its report. It shows that the Air Canada plane came extremely close to a Philippine Airlines aircraft. You can see the Air Canada flight landing, aimed straight at the planes on the ground. It seems to come within feet -- some experts suggest the distance was as little as 5 feet -- of the Philippine plane. It's as if you want to scream at the pilot to abort the landing, which he eventually did The NTSB said in its report that the Air Canada plane was just 60 feet from the ground at its lowest point. The problem was that the pilots had been cleared for landing, but instead of heading for runway 28R, they aimed for the taxiway. Some pilots had, earlier that evening, complained that lights from construction work had affected their vision. But not to be able to see planes below, on a seemingly clear night, seems bizarre. An Air Canada spokesman told me the airline continues to work with the NTSB's of Canada and the U.S. and that it won't comment on an incomplete investigation. He added, however: "The airline operates in a continuous improvement environment and, based on preliminary review within the airline, we have already implemented measures to change procedures, training and technology to further advance safety at Air Canada." Passengers get on planes and often feel reassured by the voices of pilots who tell them they expect the flight will be smooth -- or even warn of a few bumps. They place their trust in the pilots' abilities to do their job. However, as with any job, mistakes can happen. Inattention can lead to a multiplication of errors. In this case, the co-pilot had reportedly been turned down twice for promotion, one of the reasons allegedly being his "lack of situational awareness." Currently, airlines are desperately trying to find more pilots. Some are going out of business because of it. In some cases, they're even hiring people with no experience and training them from scratch, sometimes for free. The exceptional recent safety record of the world's airlines -- including Air Canada -- can lull one into believing that everything will always be alright. The whole air traffic system, though, is under constant and considerable strain, In the Air Canada incident, it was partly thanks to a United Airlines pilot on the ground who alerted Air Traffic Control as to the perilous trajectory of the Air Canada plane, that disaster was averted. But ensuring pilot competence is a constant issue for airlines. The Air Canada pilots' bodies were telling them it was 3 a.m. (when it was just before midnight, Pacific Time) when they approached their landing. Silicon Valley and the Bay Area generally has long reigned as the world's undisputed startup capital, but recently cracks are starting to show in the area's dominance. Eye watering cost of living is the primary culprit in this decline, but the growing vibrance of other scenes, as well as allegations of groupthink in the Valley, are playing a role too. The truth is, all reigns, no matter how long and fruitful, must eventually end. So when Silicon Valley declines, what cities or regions will be passed the crown? Predicting the next big tech hub is a long-running parlor game for startup insiders, and the current historical moment is no exception. Only now, thanks to changes in government policy among other factors, the cast of contending princelings is shifting, causing one big name VC to publicly bet on an less-often-mentioned possibility -- Canada. Startup talent not welcome. What has made our northerly neighbor suddenly such a contender for startup talent? As Foundry Group investor Brad Feld explained on his blog recently, the answer can be summed up in three words: Trump's immigration policy. In the post, Feld, a long-time advocate for a "Startup Visa" to allow more international entrepreneurial talent to come to the U.S. to build businesses and create jobs, remarks on just how hard the current administration has fought to keep the program from going into effect. "The year-old program has been constantly under assault since the election of President Donald Trump," is the summation of one article on the issue Feld sites. Unsurprisingly, talented would-be founders have proven to be mostly unwilling to apply for a program with such an uncertain future. The grand total of applicants so far is a measly ten, and as of yet no one has actually been granted a visa. (This will give you a sense of the type of people the government is fighting to keep out.) From his position on the frontlines of startup decision making, Feld has already seen the effects of these policies. He writes: This is a gift to Canada around entrepreneurship, and I've already seen the impact of it in many places. The Toronto/Waterloo startup community is on fire. Many companies I'm involved in are exploring offices in Canada, especially Vancouver (for the Seattle folks) and Toronto (for the east coast folks) since it's so difficult to get work visas in the U.S. for employees. Other entrepreneurs from around the world are simply opting to start the company in Canada rather than the U.S. because of all the uncertainty around visa status. Canada's ascension to the startup throne is far from guaranteed, Feld implies, as it remains to be seen if the government there will take advantage of America's fumble. Elon Musk's typical bravado was on full display Wednesday during Tesla's first quarter earnings call. The Tesla CEO answered questions boldly and even defiantly at times, at one point going on an anti-media rant and at another point challenging the head of a major competitor. Musk, who tends to respond to criticism with bombast and address missed goals by setting an even more ambitious one, didn't disappoint. Tesla has been in a precarious position of late: In March, the National Transportation Safety Board revealed it was investigating a fatal California crash involving the driver of a Tesla vehicle; the company's stock subsequently tumbled to a 14-month low. In early April, Tesla announced that it had again fallen short of its Model 3 production targets. The company had been striving to make 2,500 cars per week by the end of the first quarter, but came in at just over 2,000. When asked about the timeline for bringing fully autonomous vehicles to market, Musk used it as an opportunity to sound off on the press. "There are 1.2 million auto deaths per year and how many do you read about? Basically none of them," he said. "But if it's an autonomous situation then it's headline news. They shouldn't really be writing a story, they should be writing about how autonomous cars are actually safe. But that's not the story that people want to click on. It's really outrageous." Musk blamed the negative media coverage for slowing down regulatory approval of self-driving cars. "Regulators respond to public pressure and the press," he said. "If the public is laboring under the misapprehension that autonomy is less safe because of misleading press, this is where I find things to be very difficult. It's really incredibly irresponsible of any journalist with integrity to write any article that would lead people to believe autonomy is less safe, because people might turn it off and then die. I'm very upset by this." Musk later turned his attention to Daimler global head of trucks Martin Daum, who recently implied that Tesla's electric trucks, which the company claims will be able to travel 500 miles on a single charge, would have to defy the laws of physics to be real. "He doesn't know much about physics. I know him," Musk said with a laugh. "I'd be happy to engage in a public discussion with him. I actually studied physics in college." Musk added that Tesla could already achieve a 500-mile range on its trucks, which it says will roll out in 2019, with the technology it currently has. Musk wasn't asked on the call about an investigation into Tesla's Fremont, Calif. auto plant opened by California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health in April. The announcement of that investigation followed an earlier report from the Center for Investigative Reporting in which former Tesla workers claimed that serious injuries were going unreported. Nor was he asked about an April 26 Bloomberg report that shareholders will vote in June on whether to replace him with an independent director as chairman of the company's board. As promised, Musk took questions from an everyday citizen who tweeted at him earlier this week. After several questions from investors about gross margins and run rates, Musk interrupted with, "These questions are so dry--they're killing me," before turning the floor to Gali Russell, a 25-year-old self-described financial nerd with a YouTube channel about Tesla. The sale of White Dog Cafe had more strings attached than the Philadelphia Orchestra. Judy Wicks, the co-founder of Urban Outfitters, launched the restaurant in 1983 on the edge of the University of Pennsylvania campus as an early bastion of the sustainable food movement. Before selling White Dog in 2009 she required the new owners to sign a "social contract" that preserved much of what she'd put in place, such as buying only from local farmers; maintaining the ratio between the highest and lowest paid employees; relying on 100 percent renewable energy; and--to prevent the company from metastasizing into a chain--requiring that 51 percent of the ownership of any new White Dogs live within 50 miles of the business. Wicks purposely kept her company small--revenues never exceeded around $5 million--to protect her values. In April, two miles from White Dog, another entrepreneurial business appeared to betray its own. Protestors, police, and news crews swarmed a normally peaceful corner of Philadelphia's affluent Rittenhouse Square neighborhood after a manager called the police to arrest two black men who asked to use the bathroom without having ordered, and then refused to leave. As crowds descended chanting "Starbucks coffee is anti-black" the company launched a full-throated mea culpa, announcing it would close 8,000 stores for a day of racial bias training. (On Wednesday, Starbucks announced it had settled with the men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, for an undisclosed amount and a free college education. The city of Philadelphia reached a separate agreement, a symbolic $1 each; the city will also contribute $200,000 to a grant program for aspiring high school entrepreneurs.) Starbucks' founder and executive chairman Howard Schultz was among the most visible faces of the company's contrition. Schultz, who grew up in a housing project in the Canarsie section of Brooklyn, NY, is an icon of social entrepreneurship. Starbucks was one of the first employers to provide health insurance to full- and part-timers. The company offers employees free college tuition and aggressively recruits from overlooked communities, including veterans, refugees, and ex-offenders. It was Schultz who drove the 2015 campaign to engage employees and customers in conversations about race. That effort--#racetogether--was an epic debacle. But Schultz at least was trying to do the right thing. For many socially minded founders, the image of Schultz unburdening during a CBS interview ("I was sick to my stomach. I was embarrassed. I was ashamed,") must have been a there-but-for-the-grace-of-God moment. Schultz talked about the dangers of "unconscious bias," which quickly became the catchphrase for this particular crisis. What he did not mention was another contributing factor: scale. Wall Street analysts have hammered Starbucks for overexpansion because that strategy can dent unit sales growth. But size also affects the company's ability to enforce its values. Small companies famously reach a point--conventional wisdom says it's around 150 people--at which founders look around with dismay, realizing they no longer know everyone by name. More importantly, they no longer know everyone: how this employee regards women or how far that one will go to close a sale. Yet every day leaders give their cherished missions and their reputations into the hands of these strangers. The vast majority will likely do them proud. Some small percentage will not. And when, like Starbucks, you employ upwards of 250,000 people, that small percentage presents a real vulnerability. The problem is compounded by the now commonplace practice of pushing decision-making down the ranks. It's an admirable trend that bestows dignity and raises morale while exploiting workers' smarts and creativity. To convince employees of their own autonomy, leadership touts taking risks and the freedom to fail. But no one can afford to take risks with ethics. No one can afford to fail on mission. That's what happened in the Rittenhouse Square Starbucks. And no amount of corporate indoctrination can protect a business against that single bad decision made unconsciously--or in some cases, consciously--by one employee among hundreds of thousands. Ethics isn't rules. It isn't best practices. Ethics is personal moral principles. That's a tough thing to "cascade" through the business, as scaling experts advise. Which isn't to say entrepreneurs shouldn't do everything in their power to grow. If you care deeply about human beings and the environment, arguably the bigger you are the more good you can do. But also the bigger you are the more your values become vulnerable to dilution, distortion, or disregard resulting from ill intent or carelessness, particularly at the business's extremities. The threat is greatest when fast-growing companies absorb large numbers of people in mighty gulps; and the tight labor market makes things worse by reducing choices. Leaders talk about prioritizing attitude over aptitude, which can work. But the non-negotiable has to be character, which is something you can't train for. Of course even those companies that resist gigantism can't protect against every threat to ideals or reputation. But midsized businesses like Patagonia and Eileen Fisher have soldiered on for decades with nary a deviation from their missions. It will be fascinating to watch how Mod Pizza--a social champion on a growth tear--will handle the challenge. The tension between scale and ethics should concern every entrepreneur who gives a damn about something beyond profits. If the mission comes first, how much control can you afford to lose? As you promote risk-taking and autonomy, have you made explicit the boundaries no one may cross? Are you so concerned about shoveling onboard bodies that you disregard the minds that come with them? When A. Conrad Huffman was ready to retire from the Glendale, California, company that he co-founded with his wife, Helen, the succession seemed pretty straightforward. Their son, Eric W. Huffman, says he'd been groomed to succeed Conrad by working in every division of the company, Vege-Kurl, which specializes in making white-label cosmetics and other personal care products. By the late 1990s, Eric was ready and eager to take over. Father and son worked out a deal that allowed Conrad to remain on the payroll as his son slowly bought the company stock, a process that lasted a decade. Vege-Kurl also brought in a partner who could handle inventory, accounting, and general management while Eric specialized in sales, marketing, and R&D. The transition worked, and the company thrived. Now, two decades later, Eric is 58 and mulling succession plans again, knowing that he and his partner want to retire in three to four years. "I have 110 employees, which means I have 110 families relying on me," Huffman says. "We take succession very seriously." Planning how to hand off your business can be dizzyingly complex. You need to consider who can best run things--but also who can afford to buy you out. "The closer you get to the actual succession, the fewer opportunities you have to structure the right sale, to save on taxes, to prepare your employees and yourself," says Joan Crain, global family wealth strategist at BNY Mellon Wealth Management, based in New York City. So what should you be doing, and when should you do it? Ten years out: Groom a successor The more complex your business--and the more complex your ideal succession arrangement--the longer you need to plan, as the Huffmans discovered. If you don't have a family member prepared to take over, consider whether a nonrelated employee can be groomed to operate your company and potentially buy it out over time. Promoting from within can build loyalty among your employees--and identifying a possible heir several years before your departure will give your successor time to muster the economic wherewithal to buy you out. Five years out: Meet with money experts Eric Huffman has spent the past three to four years talking to CPAs, attorneys, and other business advisers, in part to explore potential M&A options. If Vege-Kurl wants to consider a deal, it will need to show growth, either organic or through acquisitions--and to have several years of audited financial statements. The process is what Chris Snider, chief executive of the Lakewood, Ohio-based Exit Planning Institute, calls the "value acceleration methodology." He suggests that, at this point in your retirement planning, you formally check in on your business every 90 days and identify specific personal, financial, and business goals to achieve in each three-month "sprint." One year out: Start talking Once you've finalized a buyer or successor, it's important to communicate your plan to family, employees, and major customers. You especially don't want family members or other interested parties to feel blindsided by your plans, which might inspire an attempt to sabotage any potential deal. You also want to keep an eye on how employees will be affected; many deals have covenants that could be triggered if the business loses too many key employees or customers within a set period following the sale, warns Crain. Google wants you to bring your whole self to work. That sounds good, in theory, but they are learning that sometimes it's best to bring your work-self to work and leave your home-self home. The Wall Street Journal reports: "Activists at Google" helped organize a rally critical of President Donald Trump's policies. "Militia at Google" members discussed their desire to overturn a prohibition on guns in the office. "Conservatives at Google" allege discrimination against right-leaning job candidates. "Sex Positive at Google" group members are concerned that explicit content is being unfairly removed from Google Drive file-sharing software." "Googlers For Animals" invited the PETA president, only to be undercut by members of the "Black Googler Network." Question: Just what does Google do these days? It sounds more like a conglomeration of social groups that occasionally does something with the internet. That's not really a good position to be in. What you want in a company is unity. Unity isn't the opposite of diversity. You want different ideas, but you want to be focused on helping the company succeed. When you're so focused on pointing out your differences and slotting everyone into groups, it's difficult to achieve unity. Of course, Google feels like they can do whatever they want because they are simply the best at what they do. But, with all this time spent focused on the extra-curricular, will they lose that place? Culture is extremely important in a business, and the startup vibe of Silicon Valley, where we're all hip and cool hasn't translated well into big, established companies. But you cannot forget the purpose of the company. Being involved in politics and encouraging discussion among employees doesn't seem to be working all that well for Google. They are currently embroiled in lawsuits saying they discriminated against conservatives (political expression is protected in California), white males, transgender people, and women. You would think that a company couldn't discriminate against all these groups at the same time, but when you consider the size of the company and how important "free expression" is in this company, you are going to run into problems. While when you allow people to speak their minds, you find out what makes them tick, and that's a good thing. But, as a business owner, you also open yourselves up to liability if they say things that can be perceived as discriminatory against any particular group. If you have a manager expressing one view and an employee expressing another, all on a company sanctioned message board, you're setting yourself up for disaster. So, here's a suggestion. Let's not bring our whole selves to work. Let's all go home after work. Let's develop friendships outside of work. Crazy, right? George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States, only served one term in office but oversaw an eventful tenure. Defeating Democrat Michael Dukakis in the 1988 election, the decorated former Navy aviator, CIA director and US Ambassador to the United Nations had a front row seat at the fall of the Berlin Wall and for the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. He led the US into the Gulf War against Saddam Hussein, signed the North American Free Trade Agreement and saw a major tax increase passed by Congress before losing out to Bill Clinton in 1992 when the economic tide turned against him. Recommended Donald Trump has at least made American satire great again All of which made him ripe for satire on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Mr Bush was skewered by Dana Carvey, a character comedian probably best known to British audiences as skittish heavy metal fan Garth Algar in Waynes World (1992) and its sequel. He was also a highly skilled mimic and SNL institution. The show incorporated political sketches since its inception in 1975 and a send-up of the incumbent president quickly became a fixture of its set list. However, some statesmen were easier to lampoon than others. Barack Obama, for one, seemed to create problems for SNL, with controversy surrounding the casting of Fred Armisen in the role, the comic being of Venezuelan and German heritage rather than African-American. Jay Pharoah later succeeded him. With other presidents, the show would be spoilt for choice. SNL had the luxury of both Robin Williams and Phil Hartman playing Ronald Reagan at different times while the possibilities for Mr Bushs son, George Dubya Bush, seemed endless until Will Ferrell made the part his own. Alec Baldwin has likewise cornered the market in Donald Trump impersonations for SNL despite an underrated showing from Johnny Depp, wearing heavy prosthetics, in Funny or Dies competing short film The Art of the Deal, a spoof adaptation of The Donalds ghost-written 1987 business manual/memoir. The Trump years have meanwhile created unforgettable roles on SNL for the likes of Kate McKinnon as Hillary Clinton, Kellyanne Conway AND Jeff Sessions, Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer and John Goodman as Rex Tillerson. Dana Carvey rematerialised on Stephen Colberts The Late Show last month to play John Bolton, President Trumps new National Security Advisor, presenting him as a mad-eyed hawk with an ever-growing white moustache. What makes him such a superb impersonator is his acute eye for the telling detail, that peculiar tick that reveals the real person behind the public bluster. Mr Carvey, 31 years younger than his target, presented President Bush as an insecure geek determined to prove himself a strongman on the international stage. Recommended Why The Simpsons is the perfect microcosm of American society Unable to hide his nasal Connecticut accent or discomfort in addressing the average working man the president having spent his civilian career among the wealthy Texas oil set Mr Carveys George HW Bush came across with all the style and ease of an Episcopalian pastor attempting to warn teenagers away from the dangers of marijuana. A bright man, a war hero and a scion of Americas political elite who had rarely been brushed by personal scandal, on the surface Mr Bush appeared as untarnished as the young Tony Blair. Dana Carvey picked away at that superficial sheen to expose the frailties below. Little devices like an over-reliance on emphatic hand gestures and a habit of emitting nervous chuckles (Little joke for ya there) revealed a nervous man prone to mixing his metaphors and hubris regarding his approval rating. Barbara Bush: life in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Barbara Bush: life in pictures Barbara Bush: life in pictures An infant George W. Bush with his mother Barbara Bush and his father George Bush posing for a portrait in New Haven, CT, April 1947. Barbara Bush: life in pictures George W. Bush (C) poses with father George Bush and his mother Barbara Bush in Rye, New York, summer 1955. Getty Images Barbara Bush: life in pictures George Bush, candidate for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate, gets returns by phone at his headquarters in Houston as his wife Barbara, beams her pleasure at the news, in June, 1964. AP Barbara Bush: life in pictures George Herbert Walker Bush poses with his wife Barbara during his campaign for Congress in the 1960's. AFP/Getty Images Barbara Bush: life in pictures George Herbert Walker Bush poses with his wife Barbara in Beijing in 1974. AFP/Getty Images Barbara Bush: life in pictures First Lady Barbara Bush talking to her dog Millie as she and granddaughter Barbara Bush, age nine, wait for US President George Bush to return to the White House. September 1991, in Washington,DC. AFP/Getty Images Barbara Bush: life in pictures US First Lady Barbara Bush (L) as she prepares to throw a rugby ball. February 1992,in Washington,DC. AFP/Getty Images Barbara Bush: life in pictures First Lady Barbara Bush and her son George Bush Jr attend the 1992 Republican National Convention on August 17, 1992 in Houston. AFP/Getty Images Barbara Bush: life in pictures U.S. President George Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush work their way through a crowd gathered to welcome them in August 1992, in the Astroarena. AFP/Getty Images Barbara Bush: life in pictures First Lady Barbara Bush greets the delegates attending the Republican Convention before beginning her speech. August 1992, in Houston, Texas. AFP/Getty The Simpsons also did wonderful work spoofing President Bush in the 1996 episode Two Bad Neighbours, focusing on his outmoded conservative social values and characterising him as a local busybody in retaliation for his remarks about the poor example the show was setting for American families at the 1992 Republican National Convention. Neither portrayal was cruel and both arguably helped humanise a somewhat stiff and apparently mirthless politician. The Simpsons iteration did not reach audiences until well into the succeeding Clinton administration, however. By contrast, Dana Carveys work was immediate, skewering the president week-by-week and securing SNLs place as a Greek chorus commenting on the follies of the White House in the process, an invaluable service to democracy. Avengers: Infinity War has finally reached cinemas, Marvel fans leaving cinemas wishing the still as-yet untitled follow-up was already out. While the directors the Russo Brothers have remained tight-lipped about the upcoming blockbuster, theres now enough information available to have an educated guess at what's to come. So, whatsgoing to happen in Avengers 4? Lets take a deep dive into where the sequel could go, including some possible spoilers and lots (and lots) of guess work. First off, let's talk about how Infinity War finishes. The Avengers loose. Thanks to Thanos accumulating all six Infinity Stones, half the universe's population has perished, including Star Lord, Black Panther, Spider-Man, and Doctor Strange. Despite such destruction, the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe actually looks relatively certain. With the original Avengers left un-snapped, all of whom do not have sequels announced (unlike Spider-Man and the Guardians), we are looking at a sequel that will see them somehow save those who have perished but not without losing some OG Avengers along the way. So, that leaves us asking: how will the Avengers defeat Thanos once and for all during Avengers 4? And how will they bring back those who died? Well, one theory currently regards time travel and entering the quantum realm. 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Show all 27 1 /27 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Black Panther Released: 12 February 12 February Director: Ryan Coogler Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Greatest Showman Released: 1 January 1 January Director: Michael Gracey Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Darkest Hour Released: 12 January 12 January Director: Joe Wright Cast: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Released: 12 January Director: Martin McDonagh 12 JanuaryMartin McDonagh Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones > Twentieth Century Fox 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Coco Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Lee Unkrich ,p>Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Renee Victor 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Downsizing Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Alexander Payne Cast: Matt Damon, Christopher Waltz, Jong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Early Man Released: 26 January 26 January Director: Nick Park Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Fifty Shades Freed Released: 9 February 9 February Director: James Foley Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Kim Basinger 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Maze Runner: The Death Cure Released: 9 February 9 February Director: Wes Ball Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Shape of Water Released: 16 February 16 February Director: Guillermo del Toro Cast: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Annihilation Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Lee, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Dark River Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Clio Barnard Cast: Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Red Sparrow Released: 2 March 2 March Director: Francis Lawrence Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Tomb Raider Released: 16 March 16 March Director: Roar Uthaug Cast: Alicia Vikander, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Dominic West, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 A Wrinkle in Time Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Ava DuVernay Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Zach Galifianakis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Pacific Rim: Uprising Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Steven S. DeKnight Cast: John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Roman J Israel, Esq Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Dan Gilroy Cast: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo Columbia Pictures 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Isle of Dogs Released: 30 March 30 March Director: Wes Anderson Cast: Bill Murray, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ready Player One Released: 30 March 30 March Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, Simon Pegg 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Avengers: Infinity War Released: 27 April 27 April Director: The Russo Brothers Cast: Robert Downey, Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Untitled Han Solo Film Released: 25 May 25 May Director: Ron Howard Cast: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Released: 8 June 8 June Director: J.A. Bayona Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pine, B.D. Wong, Toby Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Deadpool 2 Released: 1 June Director: David Leitch 1 JuneDavid Leitch Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Zazie Beetz, Josh Brolin 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ocean's 8 Released: 22 June 22 June Director: Gary Ross Cast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway, Olivia Munn, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Matt Damon 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ant-Man and the Wasp Released: 29 June 29 June Director: Peyton Reed Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Soldado Released: 29 June 29 June Director: Stefano Sollima Cast: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Incredibles 2 Released: 13 July 13 July Director: Brad Bird Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson Screen Rant previously published an in-depth article titled Avengers 4 Is Definitely A Time Travel Film citing numerous spoiler-y sources, the biggest being set photos of multiple members of the Avengers dressed in their old costumes. These include Captain America in his old-fashioned costume, Thor with long hair, and Tony Stark wearing S.H.I.E.L.D. gear, despite them being defunct. There are also multiple characters who have died beforehand who have been reportedly spotted on the Avengers set. Then there are the movies between Infinity War and Avengers 4 that add greater weight to this theory. First up, we have Ant Man and the Wasp, which will see the duo attempt to traverse the quantum realm to find Janet van Dyne (Michelle Pfeiffer), AKA the wife of Hank Pym who was previously thought dead. The quantum realm has many implications, including the possible use of the Ant Man technology to travel back in time, along with the multiverse (more on that later). Following Ant Man and The Wasp comes Captain Marvel, a movie that will introduce Brie Larsons hero and will take place in the 80s. Reports have indicated various characters from other movies such as Agent Coulson, Nick Fury, and Ronan the Accuser will appear in the movie. More importantly, a renown real-life quantum physicist who helped Marvel create Ant Mans quantum realm and Doctor Stranges multiverse has said he also worked Captain Marvel although was not at liberty to say how. Considering Larson's hero was teased during the Infinity War post-credit scene, we expect her to save the day somehow, and probably with her knowledge of the quantum realm. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Recommended How to watch every Marvel film and TV show in chronological order Where does this all leave us? Should Avengers 4 be a time-travelling movie, then we can likely see the Avengers revisit past events to decipher a way to beat Thanos, or perhaps warn their past selves about the impending threat, therefore trying to come up with the one situation where they actually win. The most obvious way they can travel back would be using the Time Stone from Doctor Strange however, considering Thanos has the stone and Doctor Strange is dead, Ant Man, the Wasp, and Captain Marvel could very well save the day. Adding heat to this theory comes recent reports that Pfeiffer, along with Michael Douglas, have been spotted on the set of Avengers 4. Chances are, the shrinking team who, it should be noted, are not present in Infinity War will end up helping save the day with Captain Marvel. At least, thats how the theory goes. Theres only one reason for hesitance regarding the time-travel theory, and thats because of select comments made by the Russos. Its interesting because photos always leak, and theres lots of conjecture about what those photos mean, one of the brothers previously said. Certainly, there is a five-minute sequence in Civil War around a piece of technology that was laid in for a very specific reason. If you go back and look at that film, you may get a hint as to the direction. That piece of technology is almost certainly Binary Augmented Retro-Framing (BARF). For those who need a reminder, you can watch the introduction of BARF below. Its basically a machine that allows people to augment their memories could the Avengers be using this, rather than time travel, to discover the key to beating Thanos? One last idea, which also follows on from the time travel theory. Rather than travel backwards to defeat Thanos, perhaps the Avengers use their new quantum knowledge to somehow traverse the multiverse to discover a way to beat Thanos and bring back those who were snapped. Through this, they can also revisit their former selves (explaining the old costumes) and eventually save the future stars of the franchise (Black Panther has made too much money to be gone for good) from being snapped. Whatever the case, our Avengers Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, the ever missing Hawkeye are not likely going to survive, and everyone who died outside of the snap (including Loki, Gamora) will probably perish for good. A bittersweet ending for the supergroup, but one that would probably appease fans whose expectations are through the proverbial roof. However, we are just speculating and we should keep in mind these recent comments from Infinity War screenwriter Christopher Markus. [Avengers 4] doesn't do what you think it does, he told BuzzFeed. It is a different movie than you think it is. Also... [the deaths are] real. I just want to tell you it's real, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you will be able to move on to the next stage of grief. Avengers 4 reaches cinemas 3 May 2019. Many of Leonardo DiCaprios greatest performances have been delivered under the guidance of Martin Scorsese. The pair have a total of five collaborations thus far, with a sixth and seventh officially on the way. Ahead of filming on forthcoming serial killer adaptations The Devil in the White City and Killers of the Flower Moon, the Oscar-winning star reflected upon his experiences working with the filmmaker, praising his talents and revealing what he has learned under his tutelage. As a young actor standing beside him during the creative process of making a movie, I discovered that just like a painting, a sculpture, music or theatre, film was just as essential, relevant, as a matter of fact, the most integral art form of our time, DiCaprio said while presenting the GoodFellas director with the inaugural Robert Osborne Award at the TCM Classic Film Festival in 2018. I felt I could truly own the term artist by working alongside him. The actor, who first collaborated with Scorsese on 2002 film Gangs of New York, stated that no one is more knowledgeable, more committed, or draws more inspiration from the film art than the director. He added: There is almost no aspect of his life, creative or personal, where he doesnt reference the history of movies. DiCaprio also starred in The Aviator, Shutter Island, The Wolf of Wall Street and The Departed, which won Scorsese his first Oscar for Best Director. Scorseses most recent film was Netflix gangster epic The Irishman starring Robert De Niro, Al Pacino and Joe Pesci. In 2019, DiCaprio starred alongside Brad Pitt in Quentin Tarantinos Oscar-winning Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. Pamela Des Barres, 26 April 2018 OK, Im pushing 70 and Im doing pretty well. I was thinking earlier today, when I couldnt sleep look at this stuff Im still doing! Its pretty amazing, when I remember what I tried to imagine myself as at 70, it certainly wasnt this. Im very single and Id like to meet someone who can deal with me. It takes a strong guy, really, someone pretty fearless. The things that happen in Im With The Band arent now, and people dont quite understand that. I wanted to be there. And so people have got quite bored with my answers when they ask about consent and #MeToo, because theyre looking for some kind of new scandal. And it wasnt like that for me. Someone the other day pointed out about Noel Redding leaving me downstairs well, these things happen! He forgot, he was so stoned he forgot I was even down there. But, of course because I was young I took it very personally. I didnt hold back in the book, I dont hide disappointment. Everybody in this world has relationships that fall apart. Even the heartbreak was intense, and electrifying. And I was so dramatic! Of course you are in your teens and early twenties. And I didnt know I was writing for anybody, then. Extract from Im With The Band by Pamela Des Barres (Its A Gas Gas Gas) 18-25 November 1969 Mick Jagger was really a very intelligent person, but I wanted to treat him like a stud, and maybe even get into a little dehumanizing. My new friend, Ray Davies, was playing with his group, The Kinks, at the Whisky, and I dressed up like a cream-puff coquette, heady for conquest. I knew the Stones were leaving town the next day and would most likely be luxuriating in the red plastic booths; swigging down the overpriced cognac, leering and bleary-eyed, cheering on the British. I was right. Leering the least, however, was the highly dignified Mr. Jagger, who was wearing a two-tone velvet suit from Granny Takes A Trip, the trendola trippy hip shop on the Kings Road in London. I passed right in front of them, pretending I had no interest in whoever might be occupying booth number one (it was always someone very interesting), and what I was hoping would happen did. Why, if it isnt Miss Pamela, looking just lovely... I was invited to squeeze into the booth next to Mick, and no bomb threat, no terrorist action, no fervid groupie manoeuvrings, no desperate urge to pee, could have convinced me to remove myself from his presence. He ordered me two Harvey Wallbangers at a time, and my hands developed a mind of their own. Under the table I got a hold of the inspiration for the abstract oil painting that got me an A in my Cleveland High School art class. I slunk down in the seat, transcendental with desire, glancing up at Mick, who was all dimples, and I knew I would finally see his trousers down around his ankles. In my teen dreams they had always been corduroy, but velvet would so just fine. He gave new meaning to giving head, which did not surprise me in the slightest; those lips!!! Please!! But looking down and seeing Mick Jagger between my legs kep me from surrendering with the wild-animal abandon I had anticipated. We made love for hours, but I kept flashing back to squatting in front of my hifi, touching myself for the first time while Mick groaned about being a Kingbee coming inside, and here he was, right on top of me, doing just that. It was all too much. I was dizzy of the reality of that very instant. I was dying for him to say Let me put it in, it feels alright, but it probably would have left me comatose. November 25... I am extremely happy. I left with dear Mr. Jagger last night, and we got along so well; honesty, freedom and joy. Genuine. I helped him pack his seven suitcases, and he gave me some lovely clothes. One is a black velvet beauty that was made for me. The sexual experience was quite a joy. The most luscious plating and kisses. Youre warm, Miss Pamela... I really like you, youre a sweet, kind lady. I wish you had decided to stay with me weeks ago. Think of all the time weve wasted. Enjoy unlimited access to 70 million ad-free songs and podcasts with Amazon Music Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up All I really care about is the fact that he LIKES me, genuinely. He told me about the craziness of the road... Detroit tonight. There was a mad rush for the plane, Gram took Keith to Nudies on his motorcycle, and they came back late. Keith scares me, hes like a foreign object, and my sweet Gram is becoming his clone. Such a beautiful, wonderful time Ive had, but I wish I had someone to cuddle with every night. If only I could settle for some normal groovy guy. Good Heavens, hell have to be some super-human person because right now, the only people I could see myself being with are (get this...) Mick (how absurd), Jimmy (useless), or Chris (totally unthinkable). What a pathetic case. Why cant I meet a nice engineer or CPA? Its too late now. Im With The Band is out now via Omnibus Press MPs and activists have launched a drive for a post-Brexit ban on imports of foie gras the livers of ducks that have been force-fed. Campaigners believe the UK leaving the EU is an opportunity to close the door on the delicacy considered so cruel that it is illegal to produce it in Britain. A Tory MP at the forefront of the new campaign says he believes there is a very good chance of making Britain foie gras-free. Recommended Labour proposes foie gras ban as part of animal welfare plan Michael Gove, the environment secretary and Brexiteer, has signalled he is open to halting its importation after Brexit, and now several MPs, veterinary experts and animal welfare experts have joined forces to urge him to do so. Labour has already said it will halt foie gras imports, and included the pledge in a list the party published early this year of 50 proposals to improve animal welfare. Foie gras is the liver of ducks or geese that have been enlarged through force-feeding and then served as pate, terrine or as part of a meal. It is high in fat. Producing foie gras has been judged to cause too much suffering to be allowed in Britain - but according to Statista, 219,000 tonnes of it are imported each year, mostly from dozens of farms in France and Spain. Conservative MP Henry Smith, who argued the case for a ban to a group of MPs and campaigners, said: Force-feeding is an awful way to treat these gentle creatures. I don't want to be complacent but I think there's a very good chance Michael Gove will impose a ban. There's a groundswell of opinion on this that the government would do well to listen to. Toni Shephard, director of animal protection group Animal Equality, which has documented the effects on birds of the technique, said the group had had harrowing findings when it investigated 12 foie gras farms. Geese being hung before their livers are extracted (Getty) The process involves feeding ducks through tubes put down their gullets several times a day, called gavage, designed to swell the birds livers to 10 times their natural size. Critics have long said there is evidence that birds suffer perforated and damaged oesophaguses, with scarring, and animal-welfare campaigners have published photos showing geese with bloodied bodies. Force-feeding has prompted so much opposition that one bird farmer in Spain produces ethical foie gras, made from livers of birds that are well fed rather than force-fed. Under EU rules, Britain cannot unilaterally stop any legal trade, regardless of animal-welfare concerns, and Mr Gove has previously said Brexit is a chance to outlaw the export of live animals for slaughter. Biologist and farm animal expert Professor Donald Broom, of the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Cambridge University, said force-feeding was abhorrent and the cramped housing the birds are kept in caused intense mental and physical suffering, with birds fearing the approach of workers about to carry out the procedure, and many attempting to avoid having the pipes put down their throats. They have to overcome their gag reflex for the pipe, he said. They overheat because their livers are so large. After the tubes are removed, birds collapse with exhaustion and pain. Most ducks are brought almost to the point of death from liver disease but up to 10 per cent of birds - that is millions - die during the two-week gavage period, he said. Recommended House of Lords takes foie gras off the menu Emma Milne, a vet who regularly appears on TV as a guest expert, branded Britains importing foie gras indefensible. A ban is backed by TV wildlife host Chris Packham, Downton Abbey actor Peter Egan, comedian Ricky Gervais, actress Joanna Lumley, Harry Potter star Evanna Lynch and bird enthusiast and former comedy star Bill Oddie. Egan told The Independent foie gras was disgusting and horrifying and should be banned as soon as possible. Kerry McCarthy, a former shadow environment secretary, said: You can't possibly have something that is beyond the pale if we make it but is fine if it's made overseas. Oddie five weeks ago delivered a petition to Parliament signed by more than 70,000 people calling for a ban on imports. The petition was launched in June after 77 per cent of respondents to a poll backed a ban. Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the blockbuster films, has posted on Instagram: Foie gras is a brutally cruel practice that needs to be stopped and Animal Equality are working to gain 75,000 signatures to show the government that the public wont tolerate this horrific practice. Michael Gove is currently deciding whether or not to ban foie gras imports from Britain so now is the time to speak up against it. Come on, Michael Gove!! The Independent has asked European Federation of Foie Gras Producers to comment on the effect of a ban, as well as Harrods and Fortnum and Mason, which sell foie gras. Some of the worlds largest clothing retailers have pledged to stop selling products made with mohair fabric over allegations of animal cruelty at farms. Topshop, Gap, H&M and Zara said they would ban mohair garments, made from the lush hair of Angora goats, after footage released by Peta showed the animals being mutilated and violently handled at farms in South Africa. In the video, some of the goats filmed by the animal rights charity are heard crying as they are forcibly shorn before being thrown across the floor by workers. Recommended Peta releases video of chickens being kept next to carcasses at farm Others have their throats slit or necks snapped by farm staff while fully conscious. It is unclear whether any of the retailers sourced mohair from the 12 farms investigated by Peta. H&M, which has 4,700 shops across the world, said the supply chain was challenging to control. Therefore we have decided to ban mohair fibre from our assortment by 2020 at the latest, a spokeswoman said. She added: For us, it is of utmost importance that animals are treated well and we have therefore decided to permanently ban mohair. We have been in close dialogue with Peta for several years and fully agree with them on this matter. We will now look into what other alternative materials we can offer our customers. Gap vowed to stop selling mohair products by spring next year. The ban will also apply to the companys brands Athleta, Banana Republic and Old Navy, said spokeswoman Laura Wilkinson. She added: We take the matter of animal welfare seriously and over the years have worked closely with stakeholders to take positive, proactive steps to address these important issues. Arcadia said it would no longer place orders for mohair for any of its eight fashion brands, which include Topshop, Topman, Burton, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins. The Arcadia Group was concerned to learn of video footage obtained by Peta showing poor treatment of Angora goats to obtain mohair fibre, a spokesman said. We have therefore committed to stop sourcing any new goods containing mohair. Inditex, the Spanish clothing company that owns Zara, said it had committed to stop sourcing any new goods containing mohair by 2020. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mohair is prized as a silky, resilient, luxury fibre and is often used to make jumpers, cardigans, coats and winter scarves. More than half of the worlds supply comes from South African farms. Peta said it witnessed animal cruelty at all 12 farms it investigated in January and February this year. The charity has submitted its undercover footage to police in South Africa as evidence of what it alleges were breaches of the countrys Animal Protection Act. At one farm, Peta said, a worker cut the throats of unwanted, conscious goats with a dull knife before snapping their necks. One animal was filmed being beheaded. The charity said its undercover investigator also witnessed many goats having their ears mutilated by pliers. One farm worker was filmed admitting thousands of goats died of exposure to the cold wind and rain after being sheared. Baby goats were left screaming in pain and fear on the shearing floor, all for mohair sweaters and scarves, says Peta director of corporate affairs Anne Brainard. Peta is urging shoppers to check clothing labels carefully and, if it says mohair, leave it on the rack. In 2013 leading clothing retailers including Marks and Spencer, Asos, Next and H&M stopped selling products made with Angora rabbit wool after Peta released footage of workers ripping the fur from screeching animals in Chinese factories. Gigi Hadids appearance on the cover of this months Vogue Italia is mired in controversy after fans accused the prestigious fashion title of darkening the models skin. Shot by acclaimed fashion photographer Steven Klein, the 23-year-old fronts the fashion title alongside male model Justin Martin wearing a sequin bodysuit and golden crown by Dolce & Gabbana. However, the artistry of the cover image has been entirely upstaged by claims that Hadid looks completely unrecognisable in the snap. Recommended Kate Moss snubs Gigi Hadid in Instagram post The American model uploaded a shot of the cover on Instagram on Wednesday and has since been inundated with accusations of excessive photoshop and blacking up. You dont even look like yourself, wrote one fan. Is this supposed to be Gigi? Because you photoshopped her into an entire different girl," added another confused commenter. Another blackface attempt failing miserably, quipped another. Some people suggested that Vogue Italia shouldve reconsidered casting Hadid for the cover shoot. Gigi Hadid appears to be mocking Asian facial traits while holding a Buddha-shaped cookie to her face Your worst cover in years. You had to make her look black and her expression is so bad. Just hire a model of colour to do the job, one person wrote. There are so many talented and beautiful models out there who could actually make a better cover. However, some members of Hadid's loyal fan base ignored the criticisms and happily lauded the cover: "Beauty beyond the face and a personification of strength. Love you so much Gi. And the cover is amazing," wrote one adoring commenter. Responding to the backlash, Vogue Italia has released the following statement: Throughout its history, Vogue Italia has respected and encouraged the creative viewpoints of commissioned photographers. In our latest cover shoot by Steven Klein, the vision was to create a beachwear-themed story with a stylised bronzing effect. We understand that the result has caused some debate with our readers, and we sincerely apologise if we have caused any offence. Hadid has also issued an apology on social media. The controversial cover marks Hadids second for the title, given that the model was also accused of cultural appropriation when she fronted Vogue Italia in 2015 sporting an afro-style blue wig. With prom season in full swing, teens across the US are donning their glad rags for the seminal high school moment, prompting one student to get a little creative with his outfit. Donyell Meredith II subverted sartorial norms by wearing a short-sleeved and cropped suit to his prom, a look that has polarised the internet after the Indianapolis-based teenager posted a series of snaps of his outfit on Twitter. In the original tweet, which has now garnered more than 20,000 likes, the 18-year-old uploaded four photos featuring himself, his prom date and his family, writing: You can buy designer, one thing you cant buy is swag #Prom2k18. Posing alongside his friends, all of whom were clad in traditional long-sleeved tuxedos, Merediths look certainly stood out from the crowd. The suit was originally purchased from K&G Fashion, however, Meredith explained that he had it tailored so that the sleeves were made shorter and the trousers were cropped. I always like to dress different and not necessarily wear the in things or expensive designer clothing. I really enjoy putting together outfits, he told Yahoo. Many praised the innovative teen for his out-of-the-box aesthetic: Come on short sleeved suit!! wrote one person on Twitter. Not going to front when I saw the subtweet about a short sleeve suit I got ready to see how horrible it was going to look, but you honestly pull it off, added another. However, not everybody was quite so complimentary: Sorry... fashion fail, wrote one person. Looks like he got a kid's jacket and pants too short. Meanwhile, others labelled the look tacky and weird. Fortunately for Meredith, the majority of comments were positive, with most people congratulating the teen for doing something a little bit different: Maybe its not something I would wear but I like that hes standing out, wrote one person, trying something new, and being different. You dont have to dress like everybody else. While it might not be a look one sees on the everyday suit-wearing gentleman, short-sleeved suits are no stranger to the fashionistas of menswear. In 2015, plush Swedish brand Acne released a series of short-sleeved suits as part of its spring summer menswear collection, prompting GQ to label the transgressive style as "happening". Will Meredith's tweet prompt a renaissance for this unique and summer-friendly style? Stay tuned. You may be making your tea wrong, as an afternoon tea expert has just revealed the proper way - and milk does not come first. According to sommelier and tea expert Neil Phillips, there are quite a few ways people unintentionally botch their tea. First, and most importantly, the milk must always come last - if you are concerned about appearances. Milk added first stems from the servants of a large house who used to drink from unrefined clay mugs which could crack when hot tea was poured, so they popped a bit of milk in, before, to act as a coolant, Phillips revealed. The upper-class, or the upstairs of the house, drank from fine bone china - meaning they didnt have to worry about their tea cracking their teacups, according to Phillips. So if you want to appear more refined, or follow proper etiquette, Phillips, who has curated a menu of the perfect afternoon tea for the May 5-6th QIPCO Guineas Festival at Newmarket, recommends drinking your tea as if you were a member of the royal family. Additionally, most British people are actually guilty of under-brewing their tea, as the typical two minutes is just not enough. Although it does depend on your tea - green tea typically does not have to brew as long - Phillips recommends that most tea brew for at least four minutes. 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Tea-drinkers should also consider how they are stirring their tea and how they are holding their cups - as both are indicative of how refined you are. A clear giveaway of your elegance when it comes to stirring is how you remove the excess tea from your spoon. While a light flick is fine, even elegant, bashing the spoon on the side of the cup is not, according to Phillips. Finally, before you accept an offer to high tea you may want to reconsider - as high tea was originally for commoners and servants. Afternoon tea is vastly different from high tea (Stock) First and foremost, you should be clear that afternoon tea is not the same as high tea, Phillips warned. Afternoon tea was typically served to the upper-class around 4pm, whereas high tea was when servants ate - typically around 6pm after the rest of the house had been served. And to properly enjoy your quintessentially British afternoon tea, complete with the perfect cup of tea, Phillips insists only crustless sandwiches are served, and, of course, jam before cream on your scones. In September of 2016, shortly before his company helped propel Donald Trump to an historic upset, Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix took to the stage at a conference to talk about tailoring political messages to voter preferences. Touting the power of big data and psychographics in the electoral process, referring to his companys targeting technique, Mr Nix talked about slicing up the electorate and persuading voters with distinct appeals. Of the two candidates left in this election, he said, one of them is using these technologies and, its going to be very interesting to see how they impact the next seven weeks. Two years later, the term big data has become more likely to evoke abuse than technical wizardry. Cambridge Analytica announced it would cease operations, succumbing to the firestorm ignited by revelations that the company had improperly obtained data encompassing as many as 87 million Facebook profiles. The company denies wrongdoing, saying it deleted disputed data - contradicting Facebooks account - and denying using the data for the Trump campaign. But as the scandal metastasized, virtually all of its customers fled, the firm said in a statement. Cambridge Analyticas collapse punctuated a broader political reckoning. As politicians sought to understand the twinned political cataclysms of Brexit and Mr Trumps election, question about online privacy and targeted data would become paramount. During the 2016 presidential election, few political observers believed the poorly-polling Trump campaign would prevail over Democrat Hillary Clintons operation. When American voters chose Mr Trump, campaign officials credited a sophisticated online advertising campaign that maximised the precision of Facebook - and at first, Cambridge Analytica. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty We found that Facebook and digital targeting were the most effective ways to reach the audiences, top aide Jared Kushner told Forbes in November of 2016. After the primary, we started ramping up because we knew that doing a national campaign is different than doing a primary campaign We brought in Cambridge Analytica. The Trump campaign paid some $5.9m (4.35m) to the firm, according to federal disclosures, a windfall that came on top of the $5.8m that Cambridge Analytica had earned from vanquished Republican challenger Ted Cruz. Those payments were not Cambridge Analyticas only ties to the Trump campaign. The firm also drew financial backing from billionaire Robert Mercer and his daughter Rebekah. The family was reportedly a major benefactor of the far-right website Breitbart News, whose chief Steve Bannon would become a central adviser to Mr Trump. Mark Zuckerberg admits my mistake as 87m Facebook users could have seen data accessed by Cambridge Analytica But by October, campaign officials were backing away. In an interview with 60 Minutes, the campaigns data guru Brad Parscale trumpeted the power of Facebook cast doubt on the efficacy of Cambridge Analyticas psychographic targeting tactics, echoing anonymous Republican officials who were increasingly quoted disparaging the technique. I dont believe its sinister, Mr Parscale said. I just dont think it works. Later that month, in a preview of the storm to come, Cambridge Analytica would face an initial wave of scrutiny over its election tactics after it was reported Mr Nix had reached out to WikiLeaks Founder CEO Julian Assange - whose organisation released a cascade of documents buoying the Trump campaign - to locate emails Ms Clinton had allegedly deleted from a private server. Mr Assange confirmed the contact occurred. Swiftly moving to create distance, Trump campaign executive director Michael Glassner pointedly did not mention Cambridge Analytica in a statement about the campaigns data operation, lauding the Republican National Committees analytics work as the most sophisticated data-targeting program in modern American history and saying its experts were our main source for data analytics. Recommended Cambridge Analytica whistleblower to give evidence to US Congress Any claims that voter data from any other source played a key role in the victory are false," Mr Glassner said. The House Intelligence Committee hauled Mr Nix in for questioning. Later, after the Facebook data scandal broke, Democrats on the committee would accuse Mr Nix of lying when he came before them. In 2018, Mr Nix was again facing politicians - but this time in Parliament, where legislators pressed him on allegations that Cambridge Analytica had boosted the Brexit campaign. While Mr Nix denied that Cambridge Analytica did not work on the referendum with any organisation, he was contradicted by whistleblower Christopher Wylies testimony and documents published by MPs that showed Cambridge Analytica had a tentative agreement with the group Leave.EU. By the time Mr Nix appeared before Parliament, Cambridge Analytica had been booted from Facebook, UK authorities had raided his companys London office and he had been suspended as CEO after an undercover video showed him discussing bribery and entrapment as political techniques. But Cambridge Analyticas fall may well be remembered for embodying surging scepticism of politicking in the age of big data. In a statement announcing its closure, the company faulted having been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising. The top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff of California, saw it differently. The dark arts have arrived in full force online, Mr Schiff told Channel 4 News, and they need to be ferreted out. Sonos is about to launch its next product. But it's not clear what it is. The company will hold a mysterious event at the beginning of June. A range of different rumours have appears in recent weeks, suggesting that new products are on the horizon. Official filings appear to suggest that the company is working on a new speaker for the TV, for instance, which might include microphones for voice control and the ability to use those to control the television it is attached to. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty Filings show the speaker as having the codename "S14" and describe it as "a high-performance all-in-one home theater smart speaker and part of Sonos home sound system". It also shows it with an HDMI port, which previous speakers haven't had and could allow for new kinds of audio technology and control. If true, the updated soundbar or similar product would be the second speaker with voice control built in. Towards the end of last year, the company released the One which has Amazon Alexa included and so can be controlled using only your voice. It will also be the third Sonos speaker specifically made to go in the living room. It makes both the Playbar and Playbase already and though the soundbase was only announced last year, the soundbar is now more than five years old. The invitation sent out to the media appears to add more to those rumours. It depicts a whole set of old-looking remotes, with the message "You're better than this" written next to them. The event will happen on 6 June, in San Francisco, according to the invitation. By coincidence, that is very near to Apple's WWDC event which happens on 4 June in San Jose and the two companies have had an up-and-down relationship over the last year or so. Sonos announced that it will use Apple's newest speaker technology last week, for instance, but the two companies had little jibes at each other after Apple announced that it would enter the smart speaker market. The speaker could come at an important time for Sonos, which has been rumoured to be readying to go public in an IPO as soon as this summer. Someone, somewhere really should have thought a bit more about the timing of RBSs latest branch-cull announcement. Just days after an overwhelming and still ongoing TSB technology catastrophe locked thousands of customers out of their accounts but still charged them, inadvertently shared details and financial records between different customers, and a whole host of other nightmare scenarios that leaves us more than nervous about the reliability of online banking, RBS has added a further 162 branches to its existing list of those to axe. Around 800 staff will lose their jobs thanks to the decision made at the majority taxpayer-owned bank. In fact, the additional closures bring the RBS/NatWest branch closures to 432 this year alone. Overall, consumer group Which? calculates that since 2015 more than 2,100 bank branches have been closed or have been earmarked to close in total, with Lloyds Banking Group closing 98, Barclays shutting 43 and Yorkshire Building Society relinquishing eight already this year, as well as the RBS/NatWest and Ulster Bank announcements. But its not just little old ladies who will now have to find new ways of banking. For small businesses the consequences of the closures could be profound. When a town loses a bank branch it hurts vulnerable consumers, high street footfall and small business revenues, said Mike Cherry, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. Weve seen challenger banks who are expanding their branch networks also report strong results, so we know its an approach that works from a commercial perspective. He added: If a small firm cant deposit and withdraw cash easily it has to store more on site, making it a target for theft. Equally, many small business owners have working relationships with branch staff that go back years. Thats not something that can be replaced by an app. If the developments at TSB over the past few days have taught us anything, its that sometimes you just have to visit a branch in-person. Alongside branch closures, the big banks are now trying to force through a cut in funding for cash machines. If LINKs proposed reduction to the ATM interchange fee is allowed to go ahead, serious damage to high streets could be done. The regulator must intervene before that happens. Why so many closures? For RBS the circumstances are fairly complicated. As part of its bailout deal during the financial crisis back in 2008, the 63 per cent taxpayer-owned was due to create a challenger bank Williams & Glyn. But that plan has now been abandoned, leaving the business with two networks of branches often in very close proximity. But theres of course no question that the rise of online, mobile and telephone banking prompted by the appetite of many, but not all has fundamentally changed the ways banks interact with every one their customers. RBS reports that while branch transactions are down by almost a third since 2014, mobile transactions are up by almost three quarters. Is it so bad? Indeed, numerous studies show that those engaged with online and mobile banking keep a far closer eye on their money than customers with traditional relationships with their bank. One in five UK adults use online or mobile banking services to check their balance or look at what they have been spending once a day or more. More than one in three do so at least once a week. By contrast, people using paper statements are much less likely to scrutinise their finances regularly, according to data from Santander. One in five havent checked their statement in the past three months, rising to nearly two in five for those in the 18- to 34-year-old age group. All about the tech The truth, as weve all experienced many times over recent years, is that IT glitches are far from uncommon in the retail banking world and will continue thus for a whole host of reasons. TSBs was simply the most serious and long-lasting in recent memory. There will certainly be more. These old-school leviathans have struggled to keep abreast of fintech developments and customer appetite for new ways to bank, leaving them trying to bolt-on, fresh-looking functionality to creaking back office systems and databases. Add in the legacy systems and processes smashed together over decades of mergers and acquisitions, as well as the massive changes demanded to comply with seemingly endless regulatory tinkering and you get IT soup. While personal finances are abstract and entirely devoid of emotion or sentiment simply rows of numbers in columns and on screens the lives lived on their foundations are not. So right now British consumers are angry, theyre seething. And rightly too, because they feel fundamentally insecure and dismissed whichever way they turn. The resistance to internet banking is not about failing to move with the times. The incandescence over tech failures is not being unable to check your direct debit has come out this month. Its all about being confident that you can live your life on paper or on screen. Right now we are under siege if we do one or at the mercy of the whimsical tech gods if we embrace the other. Thats no way to treat the customer who pays the final bill. When pop group Steps were arranging their 2017 comeback tour, they knew signing to a record label wouldnt work for them like it had in the past. We werent really a good prospect for a major, says Claire Richards from the band. So it was a choice of deals which werent right for us, or doing it ourselves. There were certain things the band could do alone or with help from management, like making a record. But when it came to releasing the record and the licensing, marketing and manufacturing that goes along with it, they needed to employ experts with all the knowledge and experience that comes from working at a label. Enter Absolute Label Services. Absolute was started by Henry Semmence and Simon Wills 20 years ago. But it has grown rapidly in recent years as music industry margins have shrunk and artists have sought more control over their profits. All three UK major labels now have a label services division: Universal has Caroline, Warner Music has ADA and Sony has RED, which merged with The Orchard in 2017. Absolute has stayed independent, offering artists that once belonged to majors an alternative especially heritage acts that can rely on a fanbase to buy tickets to shows. Mark Dowling (left) and Simon Wills (right) are the directors of Absolute Label Services (Courtesy Photo) Absolute started distributing records in 1998 when physical albums were the only product. We offered a service where we could get records to record shops, says director Wills. The company introduced more services over the years as artists needed more resources to make the most of their recordings. It added digital delivery, syncing and licensing operations, and other services to make sure bands get royalties when their music is used. It continues to develop its proprietary digital portal, which gives real time information on sales and streaming, so artists can see if sales spike in a certain territory after a show, for example. Mark Dowling, Wills and Semmence maintain full ownership of the company alongside Deborah Cutting, finance director. This independence can be an appealing prospect to new artists. As major labels have become more cautious, acts often have to do some of the ground-breaking themselves before they can hope for a contract. Absolute can tailor campaigns to suit any budget, from 500 into the hundreds of thousands. Dowling says: [Artists] can build up an audience pretty quickly communicating with new fans, selling tickets for shows and getting big numbers under their own steam. No artist has proved the potential of self-releasing more than Stormzy. He was reportedly offered record deals with all three major labels and turned them down, choosing instead to distribute his 2017 album Gang Signs and Prayer through Warner label services division ADA, with Warner/Chappell handling publishing. Absolute works with growing artists including Gizmo Varillas, Ferris & Sylvester, 67 and Guvna B. But its bread and butter has been returning acts including Bananarama, Lisa Stansfield and of course, Steps. Absolute have plugged a gap in the market for heritage act which is really an act who have come out the label system and come out the other side, says Jon Webster, a music industry consultant. Richards herself says: Its a different time. The whole music industry has moved on so much. Steps signed a traditional record contract with Jive Records when they formed in 1997 that gave them a 20 per cent cut of the royalties, while the label took the rest. Richards says the band never really knew who was paying for things: I remember being plonked on private jets to take us from Birmingham to London. It was so extravagant. But the amount of records that you sold in those days far outweighed the money that was spent. Steps sold 2.5 million copies of their first album worldwide, establishing a huge fanbase that the band hoped would still be behind them when they started hatching plans for the reunion. Everyone had their hopes, but we didnt know what a Steps album would sell, says Richards. Its very difficult to get a record deal anyway, there are fewer deals and less money than in 1997. Plus they were wary, second time around, of being ripped off: Its only from being ripped off that we learned our lesson. We wanted to make sure that this time we knew whats going on and being with Absolute gives us that. Working with Absolute gave Steps the opportunity to agree budgets up-front: Its nice to know where every penny is going and how it will affect your album. Its all very much linked. The campaign exceeded all expectations. The album Tears on the Dancefloor landed at number two on the charts, selling 115,000 copies. A 22-date UK area tour sold out. By the end of the tour, they had played to 250,000 people and appeared on prime time slots on Saturday night TV. Steps had done the hard part of connecting and engaging an audience, Dowling says. If youve got that audience there, why would you go to a label and sign away the control? Recommended How independent artists have changed the music industry The prospect of running their own campaign is too much work for many emerging artists. Its bloody hard work to do it yourself, says Webster. If you have something that explodes, youve got to be on top of your game to do all those deals. I always say to people, This is really hard work its not just put out a single and employing a plugger and a press officer. Yet for some heritage and emerging artists, label services are providing an important alternative. It takes a lot of getting used to but at the end of the day, we are in control of the budget and at no point do we have to do something we don't want to do, says Richards. Back in the day, we had no choice. Donald Trumps trade war is already hitting one of his core domestic constituencies. After the US president announced plans in March for $60bn (44bn) of tariffs on Chinese imports, Beijing issued a counter-threat of swingeing levies on imports of US agricultural products. Those Chinese tariffs have not yet been formally implemented, but the US agribusiness Bunge said on Wednesday that US shipments of soybeans had already been effectively halted anyway. Nobodys willing to take the risk of committing to US soybeans to China in the current context, knowing that there could be a $100 penalty from one day to the other, and no way of managing that risk, said Bunges CEO, Soren Schroder said in an interview . Recommended These farmers voted for Trump but they fear a trade war will ruin them The current price of a ton of soybeans exports to China is $420. Chinas threat of a retaliatory tariff of 25 per cent on US produce would translate into roughly a $100 penalty. The claim that the trade is drying up is backed by official US trade figures, which show soybean sales to China over the last month down 10 per cent from on a year earlier. In the two weeks to 19 April, China cancelled a net 62,690 metric tons of US soybean purchases according to Bloomberg. Mr Schroder added that other soybean exporters, such as Brazil and Canada, have been ramping up their China sales as the US supply contracts. Theyre buying beans in Canada, in Brazil, mostly Brazil, but very deliberately not buying anything from the US, he said. Soybeans are Americas most valuable export crop. And half of US soybean production is exported, with 60 per cent of that going to China. The trade was worth around $12bn in 2017. Production is also heavily concentrated in the Mid West of America, a political heartland for the Republicans and a stronghold for Trump. In Missouri, Trump beat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election by a margin of 56 per cent to 38 per cent. In some farming counties the margin was much higher. China imports around 90 per cent of its annual 110 million ton soybean consumption, making it the worlds biggest customer for the crop. Mr Schroder said that uncertainty over trade prospects was also disrupting US farmers investment plans. The trade stuff has been another layer of uncertainty that nobody really knows how to price yet, he said. A new analysis by two researchers from the University of Tennessee estimates that a 25 per cent Chinese tariff could cause US exports to fall to $7.7bn. There could be profound implications for US soybean exports and farm-level losses for US soybean producers, wrote Andrew Muhammad and Aaron Smith. Communications regulator Ofcom has revealed the best and worst broadband and phone service providers across the UK, with Plusnet, Sky and Giffgaff ranking highly. The watchdogs research, based on complaints data, shows Plusnet had the largest proportion of satisfied broadband customers, at 83 per cent, with only 13 per cent having a reason to complain. TalkTalk fared the worst among its rivals, with only 72 per cent of customers saying they were satisfied and 18 per cent having a reason to complain. How broadband providers scored (Ofcom) The broadband provider customers are most likely to recommend to a friend is Virgin Media, according to the findings. While Plusnet ranked highly for broadband, in landline service it had the lowest percentage of satisfied customers, at 81 per cent, with EE and Sky tying in top place with 90 per cent. Sky also had the lowest proportion of customers with a reason to complain. The firms ranked for landline service (Ofcom) For mobile service, Giffgaff came out on top, with 98 per cent of its customers satisfied and only 1 per cent stating a reason to complain. Virgin Media came bottom for satisfied customers, with 86 per cent, while Vodafone had the highest proportion of customers with reason to complain, at 7 per cent. Firms rated for mobile service (Ofcom) Ofcoms consumer group director Lindsey Fussell said: People often focus on price when theyre choosing a phone or broadband provider. But there are big differences in the customer service offered by providers. Were encouraging people to look beyond the price and consider customer service too. In such a competitive market, companies simply cant afford to let their service standards slip. If they dont up their game customers can vote with their feet. A grieving husband has described his shock at realising his wife may have been among those whose lives were cut short due to a breast cancer screening error. Health secretary Jeremy Hunt said a computer algorithm failure dating back to 2009 had meant many women aged between 68 and 71 in England were not invited to their final routine screening. He said it was not currently known whether any delay in diagnosis resulted in avoidable death, but that it is estimated between 135 and 270 women had their lives shortened as a result. Recommended What to do if you think you missed cancer screening due to NHS error Brian Gough said his wife never received a letter inviting her to go for routine screening in 2009 and that after she later found a lump, a scan in October 2010 revealed she had stage three breast cancer. He said he was watching the television on Wednesday when the news of the screening error broke, leaving him shell shocked. It just hit me and I thought, Good God, the 77-year-old from Norfolk said. He said he was convinced his wife was a victim of the massive error because her illness struck right absolutely plum in the centre of when this happened. Despite his shock, Mr Gough said he admired the health secretary for getting up and not trying to hide the truth. I am glad the truth has come out, and I just hope that people take more notice of these glitches, he said. It really does affect peoples real lives, devastatingly, it really devastates. Potentially we are talking about 450,000 women who could have died, it is all very well saying only a percentage but we are not born as a percentage of anything, we are a person. And those people have got families, friends and lives to lead, and they have been cut short. Mr Hunt faced questions about the speed with which women who have been affected by the mistake will be contacted, and was asked by Labours Liz McInnes whether the alarm had been raised by GPs wondering why their patients had not been invited to a screening. Trixie Gough, 76, died three days after Christmas in 2015 from breast cancer (Brian Gough/PA) Mr Hunt said: Im not aware of any such instances but thats exactly what we want to look at in this review. It does seem strange that people didnt come forward who were expecting to be invited and didnt get an invitation and that didnt set hares running, so thats one of the things we need to look at. The health secretary apologised wholeheartedly and unreservedly for the suffering caused on behalf of the government, Public Health England and the NHS. He told MPs that all those living in the UK who are registered with a GP would be contacted before the end of May, with the first 65,000 letters going out this week. The letters will tell women under 72 they will automatically be sent an invitation to a catch-up screening, and those aged 72 and over will be given access to a helpline to decide whether a screening is appropriate for them. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA Mr Gough said that following her diagnosis, his wife Trixie underwent an operation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and then scans every three months during which her cancer was under control. But he said it returned again, prompting another two years of chemotherapy and treatment during what he described as an horrendous situation. He said his wife of 56 years died three days after Christmas in 2015, and that the 76-year-old never once complained during her cancer ordeal. Mr Gough said she missed the wedding of her grandson as she was too ill to attend, and died just before her granddaughters nuptials. All of that she missed because she didnt get diagnosed and she didnt know anything about it until a year too late, he said. Mr Gough believes that maybe, just maybe his wife might have come through the first lot of cancer treatment and survived if it had been diagnosed earlier. It has happened, we cant reverse it, he added. I cant express how sad it is, I know we cant be certain it would have picked up her cancer as it may not have developed, or that she would have survived. But it is possible. Press Association An international team of archaeologists has found evidence that humans were living in the Philippines over 700,000 years ago hundreds of thousands of years earlier than previously thought. Ancient stone tools and the remains of a butchered rhino discovered on the island of Luzon have sparked debate among scientists about the early colonisation of South East Asia. These ancient humans were likely closely related to Homo erectus, as modern humans did not arrive in the region until around 50,000 years ago. Recommended Finger found in Saudi Arabia reveals secrets of human migration The new study, led by scientists at the French National Museum of Natural History and published in the journal Nature, has also prompted a re-think of tiny ancient humans popularly known as hobbits. Our hypothesis is that the hobbit ancestors came from the north, rather than travelling eastward through Java and Bali, said Dr Gerrit van den Bergh, a palaeontologist at the University of Wollongong who contributed to the work. Homo floresiensis the scientific name for these small human ancestors were found on the Indonesian island of Flores, which is around 1,200 miles south of Luzon. Until recently, it was assumed ancient human ancestors would not have been able to reach the Philippines due to their lack of boats. However, this thinking was turned on its head in 2003 when the first hobbit remains were discovered, followed by other remains of ancient humans from neighbouring islands. Further exploration has unearthed evidence that hobbit ancestors were present on Flores around the same time as the newly discovered hominins were present on Luzon. Researchers at Tel Aviv University shed new light on early modern human evolution This suggests ancestral humans came to Flores from the north, hopping from the mainland across Luzon and other islands until they reached the southern part of Indonesia. There could therefore be a link between the humans inhabiting Luzon and the hobbits that ended up flourishing further south. As for how humans crossed the vast expanses of ocean between the two islands, Dr van den Bergh and his team think it is unlikely they constructed rafts of any sort. Instead, he suggests an altogether more extreme mode of transport. They may have been caught in a tsunami and carried out to sea those kinds of freak, random events are probably responsible for these movements of humans and animals, he said, citing the case of people who were dragged out to sea by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. This region is tectonically active so tsunamis are common and there are big ones every hundred years or so. Recommended Evidence of first ever humans to colonise North America found These ideas are supported by the pattern of animals found living on the islands of South East Asia, which appears to mimic the proposed dispersal pattern of humans. If you look at the fossil and recent faunas you see that there is an impoverishment as you go from north to south, said Dr van den Bergh. On Luzon you find fossils of stegodons [relatives of elephants], elephants, giant rats, rhino, deer, large reptiles and a type of water buffalo, he said. Then on Flores, you only had stegodons, Komodo dragons, humans and giant rats, thats all. If animals did reach these islands by chance, by entering the sea and following the currents south, then you would expect the further south you go the fewer species you would find and thats what we see. There are still a lot of unknowns in researchers understanding of the first colonisation of South East Asia by humans. However, Dr van den Bergh said it is a region that provides scientists with excellent insights into the evolution of our ancient relatives. Missiles have been thrown during the funeral procession for a criminal who was stabbed while burgling a pensioners home. Tensions in the Hither Green area of south-east London have been high since 37-year-old Henry Vincent died a month ago, and his funeral was marked by a heavy police presence over fears of potential clashes. His coffin was carried in a silver Mercedes with a floral arrangement spelling out daddy, followed by a long convoy of vehicles carrying flowers, including a caravan and a boxing ring. As mourners approached a group of press photographers on the route, several stuck up their middle fingers and others shouted abuse and threw a bottle. Later, a group walking on foot alongside the procession were accused of throwing rocks and eggs at bystanders. One man, who did not want to be named, said he was hit by an egg as the cars looped around the area and would be making a complaint to the police, adding: I'm lucky I'm on the way back from a job interview, not to it. Police warned members of the public and journalists to leave the area around where Mr Vincents funeral was being held at St Mary's Church in St Mary Cray. A teenager was arrested on suspicion of assault near the churchyard. A passenger gestures from a vehicle that forms part of the funeral cortege of burglar Henry Vincent, near St Marys Church in St Mary Cray on 3 May (PA) He has been released under investigation to report to a police station at a later date, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said. There had been concerns that tensions over Mr Vincents death, in a violent struggle with Richard Osborn-Brooks, and a bitter row over floral tributes could boil over. Police had previously claimed the funeral procession would not directly pass the 78-year-olds house in South Park Crescent or enter the borough of Lewisham. One local resident used his car to block the entrance to the residential road on Thursday morning, and another man claimed police warned him he had been named on a hit list after removing floral tributes to Mr Vincent. Iain Gordon said the community would not tolerate people climbing into other people's houses. "It's good that there's enough humanity within the general population that they're willing to stand up and say 'we've had enough of this crime', he added. We're not going to tolerate it. Scotland Yard, Kent Police and local councils mounted a plan to prevent potential disorder and minimise traffic disruption, with police patrolling the area and a van of officers parked nearby through the day. Burglary suspect Henry Vincent was killed during an alleged break-in (Kent Police) To provide community reassurance, there will be high-visibility patrols in the Hither Green and South Park Crescent area on the day of the funeral, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police had said. Mr Osborn-Brooks and his wife are understood to be living in a safe house under police protection over fears of reprisals from the career criminals family and his friends in the traveller community. Flowers and tributes that piled up opposite the house, including from Mr Vincents daughters, have repeatedly been torn down, in one instances being stamped on by a man carrying a sign reading: Stick your flowers where the sun dont shine. Senior Metropolitan Police officers were forced to intervene in the dispute, saying they did not want anyone to feel intimidated or that they are not being allowed to respond in a dignified way to a tragic death. Deputy Commissioner Sir Craig Mackey said: This is a tragedy for the family who have lost a loved one. It is also a tragedy for the homeowner forced to take the action he did. Mr Osborn-Brooks was initially arrested on suspicion of murder, causing outrage from supporters who said he had the right to defend his home, but he was later released without charge. An online fundraising campaign launched to cover any potential legal costs subsequently raised thousands of pounds. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 5 October 2021 Members of Insulate Britain outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London, before a hearing over the injunction banning the environmental activists from blocking the M25 PA UK news in pictures 4 October 2021 A delegate passes a street cleaner on the second day of the annual Conservative Party Conference being held at the Manchester Central convention centre AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters Detectives said Mr Vincent threatened the pensioner with a screwdriver after he and an accomplice were disturbed shortly after midnight on 4 April. The burglar was found collapsed in nearby Further Green Road with a stab wound and was later pronounced dead in hospital, while Mr Osborn-Brooks suffered injuries to his arms. His suspected accomplice, 28-year-old Billy Jeeves, was later arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary, theft and possession of a controlled substance in Kent. The pair were the subject of a wanted notice released by police in January over a distraction burglary in Farningham. Mr Vincent and Mr Jeeves pictures and names were put out after jewellery and valuables were stolen from an elderly man. He had opened his door to a woman who claimed to have been assaulted and be seeking refuge, until a white Ford Transit van which had been stolen the previous day picked her up. Mr Vincent is believed to have served several years in prison after being among several family members jailed for 29 years at Croydon Crown Court in 2003 for conning vulnerable pensioners across London and Kent of almost 500,000. Mr Vincent and his father were jailed again in 2011 for taking 72,000 from an 81-year-old man for unnecessary building work. Additional reporting by PA A judge has said he will not grant a legal challenge by relatives of murdered toddler James Bulger against an order protecting his killers identity in its current form. James father and uncle launched their bid on Tuesday over an injunction preventing the real name of Jon Venables, who was 10 years old when he tortured and killed James with Robert Thompson in 1993, from being revealed. Ralph and Jimmy Bulger say the High Court judge who banned the identification of Venables, his picture, name or whereabouts in 2001 could not have known he would reoffend. While living under a new identity, Venables has been sent back to prison twice for possessing child abuse images, most recently being sentenced to another 40 months in February. But Sir James Munby, the most senior family judge in England and Wales, said they had not set out precisely the respects in which they contend that the injunction should be varied or discharged. Until this is done it is difficult to see how the matter can properly proceed, he said in a ruling handed down on Thursday. It is not clear what the applicants want: a change in the wording of the injunction; some kind of general review of that injunction; or its setting aside in its entirety insofar as it relates to Venables. He ordered representatives of the Bulger family to submit further information by 4 June and dismissed an application for future hearings to be held in private because of the public interest. Solicitor-advocate Robin Makin has asked to see material held by the Ministry of Justice dating back 25 years to prepare his case and complained of a delay obtaining it. Sir James said the departments stance was entirely understandable and that the applicants could not demand material to build their case. The judge noted the reasoning of Dame Elizabeth Butler-Sloss, who granted the contested injunction in December 2001. She said that if Venables or Thompsons new identities were revealed, it would have disastrous consequences, including the real possibility of serious physical harm and possible death from vengeful members of the public or from the Bulger family. James Bulger's mother says Jon Venables 2018 sentence a "farce" If their new identities were discovered, I am satisfied that neither of them would have any chance of a normal life and that there is a real and strong possibility that their lives would be at risk, Dame Elizabeth added. The risk might come from any quarter, strangers such as vigilante groups. The new legal challenge is not supported by James mother, Denise Fergus, despite her belief that the eight years her sons killers served in a young offenders institution was not long enough. But to this day, Ive always said I dont want them dead, because I dont want blood on my hands, she told BBC Radio 5 Live. I dont agree with killing someone. I just think that all Ive ever wanted was justice for James and getting that justice would be them two going from young offenders to a proper prison and spend proper time in there. Venables and Thompson had been playing truant from school and stealing from shops when they spotted two-year-old James at the New Strand Shopping Centre in Bootle on 12 February 1993. The pair led him out of the area by hand and walked him across Liverpool past dozens of people, telling people who challenged them that James was their younger brother or lost. They tortured James on a railway line near a disused station, leaving him with so many injuries that none could be ruled a fatal blow. Venables and Thompson then left his body on the tracks to be mutilated by a passing train in a failed attempt to present his death as an accident, later becoming the youngest convicted murderers of the 20th century. The horrific case shocked Britain and sparked national debate about the age of criminal responsibility and how to deal with child offenders. It has sparked several rounds of subsequent legal action, including a failed claim to the European Court of Human Rights where Thompson and Venables lawyers claimed their trial had not been impartial. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA In 1999, James parents applied to the same court in an attempt to be awarded rights over the length of the killers prison sentences, but it was not granted. It was a murder which shocked and horrified the country, Sir James said. James Bulgers parents and wider family have had to live with the dreadful consequences ever since. A masked knifeman stormed into a McDonalds and threatened staff before fleeing with a box of Monopoly stickers. Footage shows the hooded man marching up to the restaurant counter before opening the gate and entering the kitchen area while clutching a blade. He is seen to grab the box, containing dozens of promotional Monopoly cards and vouchers, from a tray before waving the knife at a cashier who attempts to intervene. Still holding the weapon, he runs backwards before turning and fleeing the branch in Hayes, west London. Police have released the footage in an attempt to trace the suspect following the robbery on Coldharbour Lane on 23 March at 2pm. He is described as a black man, dressed in a dark and grey two tone hooded top, with white gloves, black trousers and black shoes. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA Detective constable Emma Brookes, of Hillingdon CID, said: We are appealing for anyone who may know who was involved in this robbery. "Although he had his face covered, it is possible that someone may recognise his clothing or may have heard someone talking about this robbery. SWNS Two teenage boys planned to kill everyone at their Yorkshire school in a Columbine-style massacre using bombs and guns, a court has heard. The defendants, who cannot be named because of their age, were 14 when they were arrested by counter-terror police over the alleged plot in the town of Northallerton. The older boy graphically described his ambitions in a diary that showed his love of mass murderers including the Columbine High School shooters and Charles Manson, Leeds Crown Court heard. F***, I hate my school. I will obliterate it. I will kill everyone, he allegedly wrote in October. I have a plan, a great f***ing plan. The document said the boy would lay low in Catterick before murdering his ex-girlfriends parents and stealing her fathers guns, the court heard. Ill make some explosives then well find a way back to Northallerton and well begin our assault on that f****** school, it continued. The document, written when the boy was 14, allegedly said: I just want to kill every single one of you f***ers. "Everyone is filthy and deserve to be shot, including me. Ill play the role of god and decide who a let live and die. Humans are a vile species which needs to die out. New York High school students walk out on 19th anniversary of Columbine to protest gun violence The court heard one entry ended: Sorry if this is found I have committed one of the worst atrocities in British history or I killed myself. The younger boy confessed part of the plan to school staff and police but the court heard investigators did not respond to the threat until a specialist counter-terror unit took over the probe and arrested the boys. Prosecutor Paul Greaney QC said a hideout was found in Catterick Garrison that contained "various items, including materials that were capable of being used in bomb-making". "This was no teenage fantasy; it was real, he added. They intended a re-enactment of the Columbine High School Massacre although fortunately, in the result, they were stopped before their plans were put into action. He told the jury the boys hero-worshipped Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold - the teenagers who killed 12 students and a teacher in Colorado in 1999 using 99 explosive devices, firebombs, car bombs and guns that they eventually turned on themselves. The suspects, now both 15, allegedly emulated the Columbine killers' habit of wearing trench coats and shared a list of people they wanted dead. "In that attack, they intended to shoot and kill other pupils and teachers against whom they held a grievance, Mr Greaney said. "They also, like their heroes, intended to deploy explosives and researched bombing-making techniques to that end." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA One of the defendants was wearing school uniform as the trial opened on Thursday, with both boys sitting with one of their parents as they listened. Both deny conspiracy to murder, with the younger suspect claiming his friend was serious about the mass killing, whereas he was not, but the older one maintaining that no-one was serious about any of it. The older boy also pleaded not guilty to unlawfully wounding his girlfriend and the aggravated burglary of her parents' house. Prosecutors said the pair started a relationship in June last year and he later carved his name into her lower back. The girls father had a store of seven shotguns in a locked cabinet, but the boy allegedly asked about them regularly and sought access to them as part of the plan to attack the school. After the girl's parents banned the pair from seeing each other, the teenager went to her house dressed like Eric Harris and wearing a T-shirt on which he had written a slogan in pen that was a threatto her parents, Mr Greaney said. He allegedly fled carrying a large knife that was later found with the word "Love" written on the blade. The trial continues and is expected to last four weeks. Additional reporting by PA Afghan interpreters who served alongside British troops fighting the Taliban should be allowed to stay in the UK, the defence secretary has said, after it emerged they could be deported. More than 150 interpreters who served on the front line in Helmand Province were granted sanctuary in the UK in 2012 under a five-year visa set to expire next year. They wrote to the home secretary this week saying they had been left in limbo and had been let down by the Home Offices shameful rules. Each has been told they need to pay 2,389 if they wish to be granted the indefinite right to remain in the UK. Recommended High Court halts deportation of Afghan man who worked with UK Army But on Thursday the defence secretary, Gavin Williamson, told the BBC the Home Office should waive the fees. These are people who have served alongside our armed forces and they have done so much ... so we have made it absolutely clear they should be staying in this country," he said. We want to do everything we can do to make sure they are able to do that, and we have been in touch with the Home Office making that position clear, and I am quite confident the Home Office will be supporting us and making sure that happens as quickly as possible. Home Office sources told The Independent on Thursday afternoon the department was considering the measure. An official statement was pending. The interpreters were allowed into the UK under a five-year relocation scheme and once it expires they will need to apply for indefinite leave which would incur the fee. We took great risk because we believed in the integrity of the British Army, only to be let down by politicians who see us as [a] number and not as people who have sacrificed more for this country than many of its citizens, the letter says. Signatories said the fee of more than 2000 was so great it is unaffordable for many. The letter also details how interpreters whose children were born in the UK were facing problems trying obtain documentation for them. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Williamson said British troops have worked hand in glove with the brave translators and said he knows everyone across government will be working with us to get this matter resolved as swiftly as possible. He said he would be amazed if they were kicked out of Britain, stating they have every right to be here. We have a personal duty to do the right thing by them and I know that is something that is felt right across government, he added. Mr Williamson's statements come after the threatened deportation of Hafizzulah Husseinkhel, a 26-year-old Afghan interpreter who was sent to a detention centre last December. He was eventually released after the Home Office failed to contest a bail application lodged by his barrister. PA contributed to this report The conviction of the man found guilty of the Lockerbie bombing is to be reviewed. Abdelbaset al-Megrahi was jailed in 2001 for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am flight 103, which killed 270 people. He was jailed for 27 years but died of prostate cancer in 2012 after being released on compassionate grounds in 2009. Megrahi dropped an attempt to overturn his conviction in 2009, ahead of his return to Libya. He continued to protest his innocence until his death and his family last year lodged a new posthumous appeal. The Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission (SCCRC) said it believes Megrahi abandoned an appeal against his conviction as he held a genuine and reasonable belief that such a course of action would result in him being able to return home to Libya when he was suffering from terminal cancer. SCCRC chief executive Gerard Sinclair said: In any application where an applicant has previously chosen to abandon an appeal against conviction, the commission will, at the first stage of its process, look carefully at the reasons why the appeal was abandoned and consider whether it is in the interests of justice to allow a further review of the conviction. Having considered all the available evidence, the commission believes that Mr Megrahi, in abandoning his appeal, did so as he held a genuine and reasonable belief that such a course of action would result in him being able to return home to Libya, at a time when he was suffering from terminal cancer. On that basis, the commission has decided that it is in the interests of justice to accept the current application for a full review of his conviction. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA A statement issued on behalf of the Megrahi family by solicitor Aamer Anwar welcomed news of the review. The reputation of the Scottish law has suffered both at home and internationally because of widespread doubts about the conviction of Mr al-Megrahi, it said. It is in the interests of justice and restoring confidence in our criminal justice system that these doubts can be addressed However, the only place to determine whether a miscarriage of justice did occur is in the appeal court, where the evidence can be subjected to rigorous scrutiny. Press Association contributed to this report Ten people were injured after a bonfire lit as part of celebrations for a Jewish holiday in north London exploded into a fireball. Paramedics were called to a Lag BaOmer event in Stamford Hill on Wednesday evening, treating several people for minor burns after the blast on a residential street. Video of the incident circulated online shows a large group of people crowded around waiting for the fire to be lit. The bonfire, which was reportedly soaked in oil, erupts violently as a torch is used to ignite it, engulfing those standing closest in flames. Hatzola, a Jewish volunteer ambulance service that responds to emergency calls in north and east London, said it sent a "mega response team" to the explosion. London Ambulance Service said it had provided assistance to Hatzola in dealing with the incident, treating multiple patients. "We have a long-standing, mutually respectful working relationship, and together we help to save lives," it added on Twitter. Jewish news outlet Yeshiva World reported claims by eyewitnesses that several smartphones had been thrown onto the bonfire after a Rebbe, a religious teacher, had given a speech on the dangers of the technology. "It appears that the explosion was caused by fuel and not the smartphone, although there definitely were multiple smartphones placed inside the pile to be burned," it said. London Fire Brigade said firefighters had spent roughly 15 minutes at the scene, but the cause of the explosion was not being investigated. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty Met Police said the fireball had left 10 people hurt, although no one had been seriously injured. It added officers had not received reports of any criminal offences being committed. Lag BaOmer is a minor Jewish festival held on the 33rd day of the Omer, a 49-day period between Passover and Shavuot. It is traditionally marked by lighting bonfires and is the only day of the Omer on which observant Jews are permitted to get married or have their hair cut. The president of the European Commission has appealed to Belgium to offer citizenship to the hundreds of British EU officials who face an uncertain future after Brexit. Around 800 British nationals working for the European Commission in Brussels and an unknown number working for other institutions have not been given a definitive answer to what will happen to them when the UK leaves the EU and they lose their European citizenship. After a speech by Charles Michel, the Belgian prime minister, in the European parliament, Jean-Claude Juncker asked him to think of British officials, who he said deserved better than to be booted out. Recommended Brexit talks to resume this week after EU warning on Irish border Brussels is a warm, welcoming environment and were very happy to be here, the commission president said. Id also like the Belgian authorities to apply the same generosity when it comes to extending Belgian citizenship to the British officials here in Brussels they deserve it. I know that the prime minister is often overflowing with generosity and will hear our wishes. Belgian citizenship can be applied for after living in the country for five years and contributing to its social security system. Some applications by British EU officials for Belgian citizenship have however been rejected because commission officials have a special diplomatic tax status. I know that the Prime Minister is often overflowing with generosity and will hear our wishes Jean-Claude Juncker, European Commission president The European Commission says that EU citizenship is a pre-condition for employment of EU staff members and that the employment of EU officials of UK nationality may be terminated under the rules of the staff regulations in the event of Brexit. Guidance issued to staff says they can request an exemption. Mr Juncker however last month told British staff they would not be fired once they ceased to meet the requirements for an EU job which usually includes EU citizenship. Speaking in the same European Parliament debate former Ukip leader Nigel Farage launched an attack on the very concept of Belgium. Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters Nobody ever dares tell the truth about Belgium: Belgium is not a nation. Its an artificial creation, he said, citing the fact the country has multiple languages before adding: We want to live in nation states not artificial creations. But Mr Michel hit back: I should thank Nigel Farage for his good advice on the future of Belgium He sorted out the future of the UK with Brexit and we see where thats ended up in the UK. Commission recruitment aims to make its staff representative of the unions population though Britain has always lagged behind other countries. Just 3 to 4 per cent of commission staff are British despite British subjects making up around 12 per cent of the EUs population. Millions of voters will head to the polls in England today in the first electoral test since Theresa May lost her parliamentary majority in last year's general election. The local elections will determine leadership in some 150 council areas but also offers the first chance to test public opinion on Ms May's leadership after a turbulent period dominated by Brexit and the recent scandal over the treatment of Windrush generation. Jeremy Corbyn will be hoping to build on Labour's surge in snap election through major gains in London, although the party's potential success could be hampered by the row over antisemitism in its ranks. Recommended This is why you should care about the local elections Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats are hoping their promise of a second referendum on Brexit could bear fruit, while the Greens are contesting nearly half of all seats. Which areas are voting? More than 4,000 council seats are up for grabs in some 150 council areas, including all 32 London boroughs and major metropolitan areas across the country such as Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Mayoral elections are taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Watford and the Sheffield City region. There will also be a by-election in West Tyrone, Northern Ireland, after Sinn Fein MP Barry McElduff resigned in January after being accused of mocking victims of the Troubles. Where is my local polling station? Voters are sent polling cards by their local council with details of their polling station, which tend to be venues such as churches, schools and community centres. You can contact your local council to find your polling station or search online at wheredoivote, which will provide the address and directions. It is not necessary to bring the card with you to vote, but you can contact your local council for information if you misplace it. Bromley, Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking are all running voter ID pilots, where people will be asked to prove their identity before voting. What time do the polls close? The polls open at 7am and close at 10pm. When do the results come in? The first results are expected to start coming in from midnight in councils such as Broxbourne and Sunderland, with a steady stream of declarations expected from 2am. Barnet, one of the key battlegrounds, will declare at 4am, while Kensington and Chelsea, the scene of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, will declare about 5am. Results will continue to trickle in throughout Friday, with the final councils expected to declare around 7pm. Local elections 2018 in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Local elections 2018 in pictures Local elections 2018 in pictures Jeremy Corbyn outside a polling station in Islington Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures Theresa May and her husband Philip arrive at a polling station to vote in local elections in central London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Boris Johnson leaves after voting in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable with his wife Rachel at Twickenham polling station Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures A man enters a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A man fixes a sign to the door of a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A poll clerk hangs a polling station sign outside the Victoria and Jubilee Halls in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, some 45 miles west of London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Voters at The Vyne polling station in Knaphill, part of the Woking borough, which is one of five councils working with the Cabinet Office to trial the use of ID in polling stations PA Where are the key battlegrounds? All eyes will be on the north London borough of Barnet, where Labour had been hoping to make inroads. However the recent row over antisemitism in the party could have an impact on the polls among the area's large Jewish population. Labour is also eyeing Wandsworth, which has been held by the Tories since 1978, and Westminster, which has been Conservative since it was created in the 1960s. Councils to watch for the Tories include Portsmouth, Basildon, Thurrock, Peterborough and Colchester, while Kensington and Chelsea could prove interesting in the wake of the Grenfell Tower fire. The Liberal Democrats will hope to hold onto their strongholds in areas such as Sutton and Cheltenham, as losses could put pressure on Vince Cable's leadership. It is a perfect spring morning in late April when an upbeat Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, bounds into a park in Barnet to address a large crowd of activists. The recent political climate has not been so sunny. Jeremy Corbyn has spent the last few days embroiled in a raging row about antisemitism in his party. On the day Khan visits, his party leader has just been forced to apologise for defending an antisemitic mural. Days earlier, upwards of 1000 people had gathered in Parliament Square to protest against his response to anti-Jewish abuse. The two main Jewish community groups have accused the Labour leader of ignoring their concerns, and demanded change. The row has been particularly pertinent in this part of north London. Barnet has one of the UKs largest Jewish populations - around one in five of all Jews in England and Wales live in the borough. It is also one of the countrys most marginal councils, and Labours top target in today's local elections. The borough is on a knife edge: the Conservatives retained control in 2014 by just 46 votes. This week, Labour is widely expected to win it back for the first time in 16 years indeed, any other outcome would be a sign of an unexpectedly bad night for Jeremy Corbyns party. Doing so will not take much. The council is currently under no overall control. The Conservatives had a majority from 2002 until this March, but lost it when one of their councillors, Sury Khatri, resigned after not being selected for re-election. Khatri has since urged people to vote Labour on Thursday. Barnet is Labours top target, and one it looked certain to secure. But then came the national row over antisemitism, throwing the political fate of the borough into doubt. In an area where more than one in seven people are Jewish the highest anywhere in London it is hardly surprising that this should be having an impact. Except, according to local activists, it isn't. The predictions that the scandal could scupper Labours chances of taking the borough do not seem to be playing out. Instead, campaigners say, it is Brexit and local matters that are much more frequently coming up in doorstep conversations. Local elections 2018 in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Local elections 2018 in pictures Local elections 2018 in pictures Jeremy Corbyn outside a polling station in Islington Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures Theresa May and her husband Philip arrive at a polling station to vote in local elections in central London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Boris Johnson leaves after voting in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable with his wife Rachel at Twickenham polling station Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures A man enters a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A man fixes a sign to the door of a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A poll clerk hangs a polling station sign outside the Victoria and Jubilee Halls in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, some 45 miles west of London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Voters at The Vyne polling station in Knaphill, part of the Woking borough, which is one of five councils working with the Cabinet Office to trial the use of ID in polling stations PA I can't say it's never come up but it's not the only issue," says Councillor Barry Rawlings, the leader of Barnet Labour and the council-leader-in-waiting, when asked about antisemitism. If you ask what comes up more often, you can guess: it's potholes and pavements and bins. If there was a way of freezing dog poo to put into the potholes, we would walk every election. [Antisemitism] is an issue but its not necessarily the main issue if you're talking about what comes up on the doorstep. Brexit is a more common concern on the doorstep, he says - in part because one in 13 people in the borough are EU citizens. Unable to vote in the EU referendum or last year's general election, this is their first real chance to voice their views on Brexit. Two of Barnets three Conservative MPs Matthew Offord and former cabinet minister Theresa Villiers - backed Leave (the other, Mike Freer, eventually supported Remain, although by his own admission he is hardly the most vocal of politicians on the matter). The borough voted 62 per cent for Remain. Thats not to say antisemitism isnt a factor in local politics it is. But Labour councillors say the concerns felt by many Jewish voters about the party did not begin when Jeremy Corbyn became leader. It was hostility towards Ed Miliband, and the various Hitler-related comments made by former London mayor Ken Livingstone, that did the damage. Jewish voters who had backed the party under Blair left in their droves. They are yet to return. Protesters gather outside Parliament in opposition to antisemitism in the Labour Party Recent events involving Corbyn and his approach to antisemitism have cut through but, in Barnet at least, they do not appear to have changed many minds. Voters worried about anti-Jewish sentiment on the left had already abandoned Labour. The latest controversies might have solidified their view, but, local campaigners say, they do not seem to have changed many other people's voting intentions. Antisemitism sometimes comes up on the doorstep but if people have been put off the Labour Party by antisemitism, that happened with Ken Livingstone two years ago, says Rawlings. I haven't seen a big transformation recently. There is also the fact that Barnet Labour has done everything it can to distance itself from its party leadership on the issue. Rawlings and other Barnet councillors attended the Enough is Enough demonstration in Parliament Square against their own party leader. Rawlings says that, whenever Mr Corbyn has visited the borough, he has pleaded with the Labour leader to take a tougher stance against antisemites in the party, but believes he still has a bit of a way to move. Jeremy Corbyn, who I've got a lot of time for, has a lot of good qualities - but he seems to have a blind spot when it comes to antisemitism, he says. There are signs that that is moving but it's moving too slowly. At first he didn't attach it with other forms of hate crime, and I think that has moved. I'm more hopeful that the Labour Party will end up in the right position, but it's not there yet. 11 of the 63 Labour candidates in the borough are Jewish, including a prominent liberal rabbi, Danny Rich. Another, Adam Langleben, is a sitting councillor and prominent figure in the Jewish Labour Movement. Last year he was the victim of alleged antisemitism from another party member. He has no doubts about the problems within his party. A lot bigger than I thought a month ago, he replies when asked how big he thinks Labours antisemitism problem really is. That by no means means a majority of Labour members are guilty of this, but you only have to look through the Labour Party Facebook forums and the reactions to the very legitimate rally held by the Jewish community in Parliament Square. The reactions went from the idea that this was a set-up plot by the Tories or Israel conspiratorial antisemitism and I saw thousands of these posts in the immediate days afterwards. Jeremy Corbyn and Sadiq Khan slam Conservative cuts as they launch Labour local elections campaign Khan is here to rally the troops and help shore up support amid speculation about the impact the relentless coverage of antisemitism will have. The truth is, no one really knows and the Mayor is counting no chickens. Khan has himself faced criticism in the lead-up to the elections following a spike in knife crime in the capital. He is optimistic Barnet will turn red, but cautiously so. It's hard, he tells The Independent. It's basically about getting the vote out on 3 May. It's neck and neck - 30-30 [councillors] - so it's all to play for. If I were to call it I think we're probably going to do it, but it's going to be tough. He admits fears about left-wing antisemitism could cost the party votes. I'm not going to pretend that there aren't Londoners of Jewish faith - and Barnet is the borough with the largest number of Londoners of Jewish faith who are concerned, he says. An impression has been created, in my view unfairly, that somehow the Labour Party tolerates antisemitism. We've got to do all we can to reassure those Londoners who for genuine reasons think there are issues with antisemitism in the Labour Party. Our job is to reassure them that there aren't. He, too, believes the problem predates Corbyn: My experience is that, for a number of elections now, there has been a concern from some Jewish Londoners that the Labour Party is not for them. That troubles me and upsets me. I saw it in 2012 during the mayoral elections when Ken Livingstone stood, I saw it in 2015 during the general elections, I saw it in 2016 because of the Ken issues when I was standing, and we're seeing it now. [But] we can't escape the fact that in the last two or three months in particular there have been concerns. You saw the 'Enough is Enough' demonstration. You've seen some of the views expressed by some of the respectable leading members of the Jewish community, who aren't political but are apolitical." Two other factors boost Labours chances of seizing this flagship Tory borough. First, the council seats it needs to win are not in the areas with the highest population of Jewish voters - those, presumably, who would be most likely to turn away from the party after recent events. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 October 2021 Margaret Thatcher-themed mugs for sale at the annual Conservative Party conference in Manchester EPA UK news in pictures 2 October 2021 A couple make their way through a flooded underpass in Bristol as a yellow weather warning for rain and wind is issued for parts of the UK Tom Wren/SWNS UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA Instead, the wards where Labour needs to make inroads are in other parts of the borough: stereotypically suburban Hale, where the Tories currently hold two seats and Labour one, and diverse Childs Hill, where 60 per cent of children do not speak English as a first language at home. Secondly, Conservative-run Barnet Councils record is contentious to say the least. The council is well-known for its penchant for privatisation. It has enthusiastically outsourced numerous public services, mostly to private sector giant Capita, in a series of multi-million-pound contracts totalling more than 300m This has earned it the nickname easyCouncil. Some Tories highlight the borough as a case study in how to deliver public services at a time of swingeing budget cuts. Many residents are not so impressed. The local Conservatives have made their campaign entirely about local matters: bin collections and council tax. One leaflet focused heavily on what it said were Labour plans to reduce weekly bin collections a move, the Tories are warning residents, that will lead to more foxes and rats infecting their streets. The Conservatives have also criticised Khan for, they say, not allocating Barnet its fair share of police officers. Labour is quietly confident that it is its own message - about housing, living costs and parking - that is cutting through. The antisemitism row does not look likely to stop it winning control of Barnet. Talking to activists, though, it is hard to avoid the feeling that, if Labour does indeed regain this leafy part of north London, it will be despite national events, not because of them. People have been denied the right to vote in local elections for the first time due to a controversial new pilot of checks that force voters to prove their identities before casting their ballot. A 76-year-old man who has lived in Bromley for 40 years told The Independent he was shocked to be turned away because he did not have a bank card or passport. This is a nonsense scheme, Peter White added. Gosport, Swindon, Watford and Woking are also running the pilot schemes, which have long raised fears that people will be wrongly disenfranchised. Mr White's wife, Kathleen Milward, said that although she does have the relevant identification, she will not be voting out of principle. "I'm angry because I don't believe in carrying ID. Having the vote is a basic human right in a democracy, and this is supposed to be a democracy, the 72-year-old added. "I'm choosing not to vote, and I've never done that before. I think people who have problems with their ID will certainly be disenfranchised, even if they've lived here for many years. "As we know from this last week or two, there are a lot of people out there who are in this situation. I have to make a stand from that point of view too, because I know that they will be either disenfranchised or will not feel happy to come down and vote." Under the pilot scheme, voters are required to produce accepted identity documents including a passport, driving licence, European ID card or Oyster 60+ London Pass. Peter White, 76, and his wife Kathleen Milward, 72, at a polling station in Bromley, south-east London (May Bulman) If the voter does not possess any of the documents specified, they are required to present two forms of non-photographic ID, like a debit card, bank statement or utility bill. Cleo Lighfoot, who has lived in Bromley for 25 years, said she was infuriated by the fact that the government was bringing in voter ID checks, as it meant her son was unable to vote. My son doesnt have a drivers license or a passport because he cant afford it what will he do? He hasnt got ID; he wont be able to vote. So I dont think its a good idea, she said. Its stopping people voting... is it the Conservatives doing this because they know that people who are wealthy are going to have ID and the poorer people arent? I dont know, but you do wonder if its all to do with politics. Other voters were in favour of the scheme, saying it showed that the government was cracking down on people breaking the rules. Mark Webb, who came to vote with his wife Debora, was initially told he couldn't cast his ballot after he turned up with no ID, but he said this was a "good" thing. My wife told me I had to have an ID, but I didnt hear her because I was in the garden. So I went there and they said I wasnt allowed to vote, he said. Its good. People can make out theyre someone else. I think its a good idea. Even saying to them that Im married to my wife, they wouldnt let me vote, and I think thats good. Too many people are getting away with murder these days, and its about time it was cracked down on. Ministers claimed the scheme will help combat electoral fraud but critics argue it will suppress turnout, particularly among the elderly, migrant communities, asylum seekers and disadvantaged people who have the right to vote may have no stable residence or the proof required. Local elections 2018 in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Local elections 2018 in pictures Local elections 2018 in pictures Jeremy Corbyn outside a polling station in Islington Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures Theresa May and her husband Philip arrive at a polling station to vote in local elections in central London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Boris Johnson leaves after voting in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable with his wife Rachel at Twickenham polling station Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures A man enters a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A man fixes a sign to the door of a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A poll clerk hangs a polling station sign outside the Victoria and Jubilee Halls in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, some 45 miles west of London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Voters at The Vyne polling station in Knaphill, part of the Woking borough, which is one of five councils working with the Cabinet Office to trial the use of ID in polling stations PA Demanding a rethink of the policy in March, a group of 40 charities and academics said Electoral Commission figures showed there were only 28 allegations of impersonation out of almost 45 million votes in 2017, and one conviction. Decades of international studies show that restrictive identification requirements are particularly disadvantageous to certain voter groups who are less likely to possess approved ID for a variety of socio-economic and accessibility reasons, said a letter to the government. Voter ID reforms could therefore affect young people, older people, disabled people, transgender and gender non-conforming people, BAME communities and the homeless." During polling on Thursday, Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society (ERS), said: There is anecdotal evidence emerging from the pilot areas that people have been denied their democratic right to vote because of the voter ID requirements. This is exactly what we feared: that this draconian measure would result in blameless individuals being disenfranchised. Electoral fraud is a serious matter, but requiring voters to show ID is not the right approach. There has not been a single example of personation the type of fraud the trials are intended to prevent in any of the pilot areas in the last decade. Cat Smith, Labours shadow minister for voter engagement, accused the government of implementing a "mistaken policy" with the "full knowledge that voters could be disenfranchised". This was always going to be a sledgehammer to crack a nut. The Electoral Commission found that out of nearly 45 million votes cast in the local and general election in 2017, there were only 28 cases of alleged voter fraud," she said. The fact that voters were denied their right to vote is proof that voter ID has no place in our democracy. Arguing that the measures were necessary, Chloe Smith, minister for the constitution, said local authorities could help people find the documents required and "eligible voters who have none of the required identification will be accommodated for". She added: Voter ID is an important step to ensuring the public can have confidence in the systems that underpin our democratic system. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA "We already ask that people prove who they are in order to collect a parcel from the post office or rent a car. We believe it is proportionate and reasonable to take the same approach to protect voting rights." The government pointed out that many other countries require ID to vote, including Northern Ireland, which brought in the measure in 1985. There have been no reports of voter impersonation since 2003. Across England, more than 4,000 seats are being contested in around 150 councils including all 32 London boroughs, as well as every ward in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle. Close Local Elections 2018: The results so far Labour has urged the government to scrap controversial ID pilots, which saw some voters turned away during local elections in England. Parties faced mixed results at the polls, although Jeremy Corbyn insisted Labour was "absolutely ready" for a general election, despite failing to deliver on its pledge to snatch key councils from the Tory clutches. While Labour made gains in areas like Plymouth and Trafford, it was unable to win the Tory "crown jewels" in London, such as Wandsworth and Westminster. Recommended Deadlock after Labour fails to make local election gains The party had hoped to seize Kensington and Chelsea from the Tories in the wake of public outcry over the Grenfell Tower tragedy but failed to do so, while its chances in Barnet - which has a large Jewish population - may have been damaged by the recent antisemitism row. The Conservatives capitalised on the near-collapse of Ukip, and gained control of councils in Peterborough, Southend and Basildon, with a small swing in their favour outside London. Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats won several councils - including target seats of Richmond-upon-Thames and Kingston-upon-Thames - while the Greens elected a string of new councillors. British Lords have paved the way for Donald Trump to speak in parliament when he makes an official visit to the UK, despite a ban from commons speaker John Bercow. The Independent understands that peers are pushing for the US president to be given the opportunity to make a speech in the Royal Gallery, a room outside of Mr Bercows direct control. It would see President Trump follow in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, who both made historic addresses in the gallery lined with portraits of monarchs. Recommended UN chief says Trump scrapping Iran nuclear deal risks war But it would also be a challenge to Mr Bercows authority, at a moment when the commons speaker is already under intense pressure over disputed bullying allegations. Any invitation to the president will certainly prove controversial with the British public, with campaigners having promised mass protests whenever the US leader comes. The plan to bring Mr Trump to Westminster has arisen because while the government was planning a state visit last year, Mr Bercow unilaterally vetoed any event involving the president in Westminster Hall a part of the Palace of Westminster he has some influence over. Barack Obama made a speech there in 2011. But with Mr Trumps July visit now pending, peers have launched a drive to open parliament to the president. Lord Cormack told The Independent: He is the President of the United States, our most important ally. Sadiq Khan: UK should be honest with US as Trump visits My own personal views on him are completely irrelevant we should give him the opportunity to speak to both Houses. He added: He should be received with proper good manners, and as far as a speech is concerned ... he would speak where most other presidents have spoken in the Royal Gallery. Trump is the democratically elected leader of our largest trading partner, our biggest inward investor and the guarantor, when alls said and done, of our security Lord Jones While any event in Westminster Hall must be approved by the rooms three keyholders the commons speaker, the lord speaker and the lord great chamberlain Mr Bercow has little sway over events in the Royal Gallery. He is known to have irritated the other key figures in parliaments hierarchy by vetoing Westminster Halls use without first consulting others. Lord Jones said: I think [bringing the president to parliament] would be an excellent idea. Trump is the democratically elected leader of our largest trading partner, our biggest inward investor and the guarantor, when alls said and done, of our security. The bosses of China and Saudi Arabia are happily invited. Donald Trump 'working visit' to UK confirmed Mr Trump recently confirmed he will travel to the UK for a working visit on Friday 13 July, coinciding with a trip to Europe for a Nato summit. It is possible that the US President could speak in the Royal Gallery at that point, though a major speech is more likely to take place on the full state visit being planned by Downing Street, for which a date is yet to be scheduled. Number 10 would not comment about the potential for a visit to parliament in July, but sources said arrangements for the visit are on-going. Another Conservative peer confirmed to The Independent that using the Royal Gallery would be possible, and argued that Mr Bercows decision to block the use of Westminster Hall had interfered with the diplomatic interests of the country. The peer added: You have to accept that in the democratic world you do business with whoever is elected, and in this instance, in relations with the US, Britain has let France steal a march on it. The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses members of parliament and invited guests in the Royal Gallery AFP/Getty The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures Queen Elizabeth II is accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as they proceed through the Royal Gallery before the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords Getty The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures German Chancellor Angela Merkel addresses both Houses of Parliament in the Royal Gallery of the Palace of Westminster in 2014. AFP/Getty The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures The Royal Gallery during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords Getty The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures China's President, Xi Jinping addresses MPs and peers in Parliament's Royal Gallery in 2015. Getty The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivers a speech in the Royal Gallery in the Houses of Parliament as Britain's Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow listens Getty The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures Yeoman of the Guard, wearing traditional uniform walk through the Royal Gallery during the ceremonial search before the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords Getty The Royal Gallery, Houses of Parliament in pictures India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses members of parliament and invited guests in the Royal Gallery at the Houses of Parliamen in 2015. AFP/Getty Given the way the world is evolving we need to be friendly with the US. I think that the adverse reaction to Trump on a personal level is understandable, but on the diplomatic level it is extremely foolish. Former cabinet minister Lord Tebbit said he would like to see the lord speaker offer to host the US president for a speech in the upper house and argued there would be support from a lot of peers for doing so. Speaker John Bercow says he would oppose a speech to the House of Commons by Donald Trump He added: John Bercow took a unilateral decision. I am not sure he has the power to. We can normally rely on him doing anything that is against the Conservative party. Parliamentary sources are certain the lord speaker could offer the use of the Royal Gallery without getting approval from Mr Bercow first. The commons speaker also appeared to indicate this in the statement he made to MPs as he blocked use of Westminster Hall in 2017, when he said: So far as the Royal Gallery is concerned ... I do not perhaps have as strong a say in that matter. Lords speaker says he has an open mind to a Donald Trump speech in Parliament The lord speaker, Lord Fowler, rebuffed Mr Bercow the following day, indicating he is prepared to consider proposals for Mr Trump to speak. He said: My view is that I will keep an open mind and consider any request for Mr Trump to address parliament if and when it is made. Currently the Royal Gallery is being used to house paintings that are being restored. But there is not thought to be any obstacle to its use by the time of any state visit. Ronald Reagan addresses Parliament in 1982 It is lined with the portraits of kings and queens and their consorts, while the doorways and the bay window are flanked by gilded statues of Richard I and Edward III. There are two large wall paintings depicting decisive moments in British history victory at Waterloo and Trafalgar. In 1982, Mr Reagan was watched by Margaret Thatcher and other parliamentarians as he predicted the eventual downfall of Communism, famously stating that it would be left on the ash heap of history. King Juan Carlos of Spain, German chancellor Angela Merkel, Mr Clinton, Haile Selassie, Nikita Khrushchev, and Francois Mitterrand are among others to have spoken there. Social media is already buzzing with talk of UK anti-Trump protests to coincide with the July trip, with campaigners having promised a march of millions if the US president comes. Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Show all 30 1 /30 Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Threatening to shut down Twitter after being fact-checked After the president tweeted that voting by post would be "substantially fraudulent", Twitter attached a warning label to his tweet and referred readers to a site which explained how the claim was "unsubstantiated". Trump then said Twitter was "stifling free speech" and that he may have to shut it down, something which he would not have the power to do AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Flippantly dismissing a serious allegation of sexual assault When author E Jean Carroll accused Trump of raping her, the president responded: Number one, shes not my type. Number two, it never happened. It never happened, OK?" AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Insulting the Mayor of London as he landed in London Just before touching down at Stansted Airport for his state visit, Trump took time out to @ the London mayor Sadiq Khan on twitter. He said that Khan has done a "terrible job"as mayor and that he is a "stone cold loser" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Taking plenty of "Executive Time" The president's official schedule sets aside the hours from 8 to 11am daily for "Executive Time". Further intermittent periods of "Executive Time" are scheduled throughout any given day, ranging from 15 minutes to 3 hours. His duties in these hours have not been officially disclosed, though Axios reports that he spends them watching TV, reading the newspapers and tweeting Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Shutdown the government for over a month in an effort to secure funding for his wall With Mexico declining to pay for the wall, the president has faced difficulty in raising the required $5bn at home. Due to his demand that the money for the wall be included in the budget, and Congress's refusal, the government partially shut down on 22 December 2018. It remained shut for over a month, the longest period in history Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Joking about the Nazi occupation of France to President Macron In this tweet from 13 November 2018, the president mocks Emmanuel Macron's suggestion of a "true, European army" by invoking the conflict between France and Germany in the world wars Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Railing against the Mueller investigation The president has repeatedly claimed that the Mueller investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, is a "rigged witch hunt" Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting a US intelligence report on Russian meddling in the presence of Vladimir Putin In the press conference that followed his landmark meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin, Trump stated that he saw no reason why Russia would have meddled in the 2016 US election. This contradicted a 2017 report by the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence that found evidence of Russian interference in favour of Trump Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Contradicting his contradiction of a US intelligence report on Russian meddling Following furious backlash in the US, the president claimed that he meant to say that he saw no reason why it would not have been Russia who meddled in the 2016 US election. As to why he would have intended to use such bizarre phrasing, he did not comment Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Colouring in the US flag wrong The president coloured in the US flag wrongly during a visit to a children's hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He added a blue stripe where in tradition, and statute, there have been only white and red stripes AFP/Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing a Secretary of State over Twitter The president announced on Twitter that he was appointing Mike Pompeo as Secretary of State, much to the surprise of then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Quoting a catchphrase from a reality TV show when discussing police brutality While addressing the issue of black athletes not standing for the national anthem in protest of police brutality, the president made reference to his catchphrase from reality TV show "The Apprentice": you're fired! Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Calling African nations "S***hole Countries" Ever one for diplomacy, the president reportedly referred to African nations as "s***hole countries". Asked to confirm this when meeting with Nigeria's President Buhari, Trump stated that there are "some countries that are in very bad shape". Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Defending Russian President Vladimir Putin Trump appeared to equate US foreign actions to those of Russian president Vladimir Putin, saying: There are a lot of killers. You think our countrys so innocent? Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Asking for people to 'pray' for Arnold Schwarzenegger At the National Prayer Breakfast, Trump couldnt help but to ask for prayers for the ratings on Arnold Schwarzeneggers show to be good. Schwarzenegger took over as host of The Apprentice which buoyed Trumps celebrity status years ago Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Hanging up on Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull Early in his presidency, Trump reportedly hung up the phone on Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the foreign leader angered him over refugee plans. Mr Trump later said that it was the worst call he had had so far Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... The 'Muslim ban' Perhaps one of his most controversial policies while acting as president, Trumps travel ban targeting predominantly Muslim countries has bought him a lot of criticism. The bans were immediately protested, and judges initially blocked their implementation. The Supreme Court later sided with the administrations argument that the ban was developed out of concern for US security Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Praising crowd size while touring Hurricane Harvey damage After Hurricane Harvey ravaged southeastern Texas, Trump paid the area a visit. While his response to the disaster in Houston was generally applauded, the president picked up some flack when he gave a speech outside Houston (he reportedly did not visit disaster zones), and praised the size of the crowds there AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... 'Little Rocket Man' During his first-ever speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Trump tried out a new nickname for North Korea leader Kim Jong-un: Rocket Man. He later tweaked it to be little Rocket Man as the two feuded, and threatened each other with nuclear war. During that speech, he also threatened to totally annihilate North Korea Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Attacking Sadiq Khan following London Bridge terror attack After the attack on the London Bridge, Trump lashed out at London Mayor Sadiq Khan, criticising Khan for saying there was no reason to be alarmed after the attack. Trump was taking the comments out of context, as Khan was simply saying that the police had everything under control Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming presenter Mika Brezinkski was 'bleeding from the face' Never one not to mock his enemies, Trump mocked MSNBCs Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski, saying that she and co-host Joe Scarborough had approached him before his inauguration asking to join him. He noted that she was bleeding badly from a face-lift at the time, and that he said no MSNBC Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming the blame for Charlottesville was on 'both sides' Trump refused to condemn far-right extremists involved in violence at 'the march for the right' protests in Charlottesville, even after the murder of counter protester Heather Heyer AP Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Retweeting cartoon of CNN being hit by a 'Trump train' Trump retweeted a cartoon showing a Trump-branded train running over a person whose body and head were replaced by a CNN avatar. He later deleted the retweet Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Tweeting about 'slamming' CNN Trump caught some flack when he tweeted a video showing him wrestling down an individual whose head had been replaced by a CNN avatar. Trump has singled CNN out in particular with his chants of fake news Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Firing head of the FBI, James Comey Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey landed him with a federal investigation into Russias meddling in the 2016 election that has caused many a headache for the White House. The White House initially said that the decision was made after consultation from the Justice Department. Then Mr Trump himself said that he had decided to fire him in part because he wanted the Russia investigation Mr Comey was conducting to stop Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Not realising being president would be 'hard' Just three months into his presidency, Trump admitted that being president is harder than he thought it would be. Though Trump insisted on the 2016 campaign trail that doing the job would be easy for him, he admitted in an interview that living in the White House is harder than running a business empire Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Accusing Obama of wiretapping him Trump accused former president Barack Obama of wire tapping him on twitter. The Justice Department later clarified: Obama had not, in fact, done so Reuters Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Claiming there had been 3 million 'illegal votes' Trump was never very happy about losing the popular vote to Hillary Clinton by 2.8 million ballots. So, he and White House voter-fraud commissioner Kris Kobach have claimed that anywhere between three and five million people voted illegally during the 2016 election. Conveniently, he says that all of those illegal votes went to Clinton. (There is no evidence to support that level of widespread voter fraud.) Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Leaving Jews out of the Holocaust memorial statement Just days after taking office, Trumps White House issued a statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, but didnt mention jews or even the word jewish in the written statement Getty Donald Trump's least presidential moments so far... Anger over Inauguration crowd size Trumps inauguration crowd was visibly, and noticeably, smaller than that of his predecessor, Barack Obama. But, he really wanted to have had the largest crowd on record. So, he praised it as the biggest crowd ever. Relatedly, Trump also claimed that it stopped raining in Washington at the moment he was inaugurated. It didnt, the day was very dreary Reuters But the move to allow Mr Trump to attend parliament comes at a critical moment for the commons speaker, who is facing calls to quit following fresh bullying claims denied by Mr Bercow from a former private secretary. Angus Sinclair has said Mr Bercow undermined him by mimicking him, swearing and shouting, and once even smashed a mobile phone in front of him. David Leakey, who retired from his powerful parliamentary job of being Black Rod, said Mr Bercow was bringing parliament into disrepute and called for a full probe into his behaviour. The lord speaker has signalled that it would be possible for Donald Trump to speak in parliament without John Bercows permission. Lord Fowler said the US was a trusted ally of Britain and that previous guests had been to speak in the Royal Gallery without Mr Bercows involvement. He spoke out in response to The Independents report that Lords were pushing for Mr Trump to speak in the gallery following a ban imposed by commons speaker Mr Bercow on the president speaking in Westminster Hall. Lord Fowler said: Since becoming Lord Speaker in 2016 I have welcomed both the King of Spain and the President of Colombia to Parliament. Both addressed members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords in the Royal Gallery, the use of which was approved by myself together with Black Rod. While he said no conversations have yet taken place between the House of Lords and the government regarding President Trump coming to the Royal Gallery, he said requests would be discussed. He added: The United States is a long-standing ally and friend of the United Kingdom. The move would see President Trump follow in the footsteps of Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, who both made historic addresses in the gallery lined with portraits of monarchs. But it would also be a challenge to Mr Bercows authority, at a moment when the commons speaker is already under intense pressure over disputed bullying allegations. Any invitation to the president will certainly prove controversial with the British public, with campaigners having promised mass protests whenever the US leader comes. Mr Trump is due to embark on a state visit to the UK at a later date(Getty) (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) The plan to bring Mr Trump to Westminster has arisen because while the government was planning a state visit last year, Mr Bercow unilaterally vetoed any event involving the president in Westminster Hall a part of the Palace of Westminster he has some influence over. Barack Obama made a speech there in 2011. But with Mr Trumps July visit now pending, peers have launched a drive to open parliament to the president. Lord Cormack told The Independent: He is the President of the United States, our most important ally. My own personal views on him are completely irrelevant we should give him the opportunity to speak to both Houses. Mr Trump recently confirmed he will travel to the UK for a working visit on Friday 13 July, coinciding with a trip to Europe for a Nato summit. It is possible that the US President could speak in the Royal Gallery at that point, though a major speech is more likely to take place on the full state visit being planned by Downing Street, for which a date is yet to be scheduled. Parliamentary sources are certain the lord speaker could offer the use of the Royal Gallery without getting approval from Mr Bercow first. The commons speaker also appeared to indicate this in the statement he made to MPs as he blocked use of Westminster Hall in 2017, when he said: So far as the Royal Gallery is concerned ... I do not perhaps have as strong a say in that matter. The 2018 local elections have been controversial already. And not for the campaigning or any potential results for the fact that people have been stopped from voting. For the first time, trials are being conducted of new voter ID laws, which require people to bring proof of who they are. The new guidelines have proved controversial, both among people who disagree with the principle, and those who have fallen foul of them. They have already prompted intense anger from those who were turned away from their polling station. One voter in Bromley said he was outraged by the change and that he would not be voting in protest. "I'm angry because I don't believe in carrying ID. Having the vote is a basic human right in a democracy, and this is supposed to be a democracy, the 72-year-old added. "I'm choosing not to vote, and I've never done that before. I think people who have problems with their ID will certainly be disenfranchised, even if they've lived here for many years. "As we know from this last week or two, there are a lot of people out there who are in that situation. And means I have to make a stand from that point of view too, because I know that they will be either disenfranchised or will not feel happy to come down and vote." A controversial biomedical executive who became famous for injecting himself with an untested herpes drug in front of an audience has been found dead. Aaron Traywick founded Ascendance Biomedical, a biohacking company that encourages people to conduct medical research outside the pharmaceutical industry. The 28-year-olds body was discovered in a spa in Washington DC on Sunday, police said, adding they had not found evidence suggesting foul play. An autopsy is scheduled to take place on Mr Traywicks body. According to Vice news, Mr Traywick had been using a flotation therapy tank when he died. Mr Traywick claimed his company had developed a compound that could cure HIV, Aids and herpes, but he had no independent proof. The Food and Drugs Administration described biohacking companies as dangerous, but many skirt the law by testing drugs on themselves and encouraging others to do the same. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Business associate Tristan Roberts described Mr Traywick as a passionate visionary in a statement sent to Vice. While many in the biohacking scene disagreed with his methods, none of them doubted his intentions. He sought nothing short of a revolution in biomedicine; the democratization of science and the opening of the flood gates for global healing. A white supremacist has been found guilty of assaulting a black protester at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia last summer. Jurors found Jacob Goodwin guilty of malicious wounding after he admitted to repeatedly kicking DeAndre Harris in a parking lot outside the rally in August. The jury recommended a sentence of 10 years in prison for Goodwin, with the option of suspending some time and paying a $20,000 fine. The 23-year-old attended the Unite the Right Rally along with hundreds of other white supremacists, who marched on the town to protest the removal of a confederate statue from a local park. Recommended Black man beaten at rally cleared of assaulting white supremacist Goodwin and several others attacked Mr Harris in a parking lot after witnessing a scuffle between the 20-year-old and white supremacist Harold Ray Crews. The groups attack left Mr Harris with a spinal injury, a broken arm and head lacerations that required eight staples. Goodwins attorney, Elmer Woodard, argued that Mr Harris had provoked the attack himself, and that Goodwin had acted in self defence. Goodwin testified that he was scared for his life after watching the fight with Mr Crews, and was trying to neutralize a threat, according to the Washington Post. Nazi shouts "Hey n****" and fires gunshot at counter-protester in Charlottesville Goodwin has previously described himself as an advocate for white civil rights, and a member of white supremacist Billy Ropers ShieldWall Network. He wore pins bearing the number 88, code for Heil Hitler, to the rally, according to the Post. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nina-Alice Antony challenged the defence teams version of events, reminding jurors that Goodwin was dressed in a helmet and goggles and carrying a plastic shield and at the time he attacked Mr Harris. Does Jacob Goodwin see someone over there and go help? she asked the jury. Or does he outfit himself for battle and run in to do battle? Before the nine women and three men deliberated on their recommended sentence, Ms Antony reminded them that Goodwin had yet to express any remorse for his actions. Presiding judge Richard E Moore will sentence Goodwin in August. Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism. Mr Harris was found not guilty of assault in the scuffle with Mr Crews earlier this year. At the time, defence attorney Rhonda Quagliana told The Independent she was happy and relieved at the outcome. DeAndre is a 20-year-old young person and the things that happened to him on that day, and the difficulties that hes endured after the last several months, have been nothing short of overwhelming for someone his age, she said. Three other men have also been arrested in connection with Mr Harriss attack. Alex Michael Ramos will start trial this week. Daniel Borden and Tyler Watkins Davis will both stand trial this summer. A fourth man is facing first-degree murder charges stemming from the same rally. James Alex Fields is accused of killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer when plowing his car through a crowd of counter-protesters at the rally. He has yet to enter a plea. Cinco de Mayo is a cultural phenomenon in the United States. Its a time to celebrate Mexican culture and, for some, an opportunity to indulge in margaritas and a few cervezas. But it is also a frequently misunderstood holiday. Here is what Cinco de Mayo, coming up on Wednesday, 5 May, is all about. What is Cinco de Mayo? People often mistake Cinco de Mayo for a celebration of Mexican independence. But theyre wrong. The holiday celebrates a failed French invasion after a fledgling Mexican state defaulted on debt payments to European governments. In 1861 Mexico was suffering from financial ruin following years of internal strife. This was exploited by the French President Napoleon III, who thought it would be a fantastic time to try and build an empire there. Mexico had defaulted on debts with Britain and Spain as well, but those two countries negotiated with the country and withdrew their navy. The French invaded Mexico in late 1861 with well-armed forces and stormed Veracruz, forcing the Mexican government and its forces to retreat into northern Mexico. Confident of further victories, French forces focused their attention on the city Puebla de Los Angeles. Anticipating the attack, Mexican President Benito Juarez brought together a group of 2,000 men to fight back, many of whom were indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry. When the French finally attacked, on May 5, 1862, the battle lasted from daybreak to early evening. The French ended up retreating after losing almost 500 soldiers. The Mexicans lost fewer than 100. Was the battle significant? Strategically, not really. The battle represented more of a symbolic victory for the Mexican forces and added to the resistance. French forces didnt leave until 1867 after years of fighting. Mexicans were helped in part by the end of the Civil War, when the US was able to send their own troops to help out their besieged neighbour. 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Show all 17 1 /17 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Famers harvest cempasuchilt and velvet flowers to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico. The flowers will be sold at the 'Market of the flower EPA Does all of Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo? People in Puebla celebrate, as thats where the unlikely victory occurred, but the festivities arent nationwide. Cinco de Mayo isnt a federal holiday so the day is just like any other day for most people in Mexico. When does Mexico celebrate its independence? Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16. On that day in 1810, Mexican revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla made a famous call to arms for his fellow men and women to resist Spanish colonial government. Why is it celebrated in the United States? The holiday is widely seen as a celebration of Mexican cultural heritage for Americas growing Hispanic population. Latino activists raised awareness for the holiday in the 1960s. In large part, those early holidays in the US were a forum to celebrate the fact that a group of indigenous people were able to successfully hold back French forces. The holiday has really taken off in the US since then and people today celebrate with parades, parties, mariachi music, and traditional Mexican foods. Has Cinco de Mayo become particularly significant in recent years? Donald Trumps election had bred some uncertainty and fear amongst some people of Mexican heritage in the United States. Mr Trump favoured anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric, including a promise to deport all undocumented immigrants in the country and build a wall on the border with Mexico to keep people out. In 2017, Mr Trump tweeted out a photo of him eating a taco bowl (which is not a traditional Mexican dish) on Cinco de Mayo with the statement I love Hispanics. But Mexican-Americans arent necessarily encouraged by that tweet or the presidents actual positions since, and some have said they are fearful of celebrating Cinco de Mayo during this administration because Mr Trump has stepped up immigration enforcement since taking office. Since that 2017 photo, Mr Trumps administration has overseen a particularly brutal crackdown on immigrants and has received plenty of attention for its separation of migrant families arriving at the US-Mexico border seeking asylum. Mr Trump has in turn used the issue to drum up political support, and has demanded billions to build a border wall as a result of the immigration crisis he says is threatening the US. The first person has died as a result of the nationwide food poisoning outbreak of E coli in romaine lettuce, which has left a total of 121 people sick in 25 states, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. The individual was not immediately identified, but the CDC says they died in California. The number of sick people spiked by 23 since the CDC gave its most recent update on Friday. During that time, people became sick in at least three new states as well: Massachusetts, Utah, and Kentucky. Officials have urged people to throw away any store bought romaine lettuce, unless they know for certain that it did not come from the area surrounding Yuma, Arizona. Recommended E Coli outbreak prompts warning to throw away Romaine lettuce The rate of infection has left this latest outbreak coming ever closer to the scale of the 2006 E coli outbreak that affected baby spinach, where 205 people became ill and five people died. The latest E coli strain of bacteria produces a toxin that can result in several worrisome symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhoea, and in some cases kidney failure. Most E coli strains are not actually harmful to humans, however, but a select few produce those toxins, and are usually felt by an individual three to four days after they ingested the germ. Most people who do experience symptoms related ot the bacteria are able to recover within a week. So far, 52 people have been hospitalised in this latest outbreak, and 14 of those individuals were admitted with kidney failure. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty E coli bacteria normally live in the intestines of animals like cows or pigs. Most E Coli infections in the 1990s came from contaminated hamburger meat, but the outbreaks are now more commonly sourced from leafy greens. The CDC and federal investigators have not yet explained the origins of this latest outbreak, which has wondering what, with the scale of those infected, is taking so long. Its 2018, and were basically a month into this outbreak, and they cant link it to a farmer or a farm or a processor? I mean, candidly, thats ridiculous, Bill Marler, a food safety lawyer in Seattle who has been involved in lawsuits related to food illnesses for decades, told The Washington Post. The CDC has emphasised that consumers should make sure at this point that any romaine lettuce they buy in the store did not originate from outside of Yuma, Arizona, which provides a hefty chunk of the leafy greens America consumes during the winter months. Production from the Yuma region generally tapers off in mid-March or early April, and shifts to a different area in central California. Lettuce from that area is not currently believed to be implicated in this outbreak. An earthquake could destroy hundreds of buildings along Californias famed Sunset Strip, a new study has found. An analysis conducted by the city of West Hollywood, an upscale enclave of Los Angeles that hosts much of the colourful route, found that more than 800 buildings in the area are uniquely vulnerable to a powerful tremblor. A significant earthquake will not only affect life safety, but also loss of shelter and significant economic loss, the city said in announcing the numbers. The study grew out of a city ordinance adopting a plan to seismically retrofit at-risk structures, guarding against the likelihood of the earth shaking. Many of the vulnerable buildings identified are wood-frame structures, the kind of old housing stock that is more likely to collapse during a quake. Fault lines running under California make the state especially susceptible to earthquakes, and urban planners are continually working to safeguard buildings and infrastructure. Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Show all 8 1 /8 Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake A woman and two girls pass by a house which collapsed during the quake AFP/Getty Images Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake Technicians watch as a building seriously damaged by the September 19 earthquake is demolished AFP/Getty Images Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake A concert was held in aid of the victims of the September 19 earthquake, at the Zocalo Square in Mexico City on October 8 AFP/Getty Images Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake Rodrigo Diaz Mejia climbs over a crushed car into what was a second-story apartment AP Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake Presentation of the cultural program of Days of the Dead in Mexico City EPA Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake Workers tear down an earthquake-damaged building AP Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake Clowns take part in the 22nd Latin American clown convention at Revolucion monument in Mexico City REUTERS Mexico City: How it's rebuilding after the September earthquake Mexico City rebuilding after September earthquake A worker fills a water tank in the neighbourhood affected by the earthquake REUTERS Looming large is what seismologists call the near-inevitably of The Big One, or a major quake on par with the magnitude 7.8 quake that leveled much of San Francisco in 1906. As cities have sought to impose tougher retrofit requirements, elected officials have been working for years to establish and fund an early warning system that could give residents a crucial heads-up. Male eagle takes flight after earthquake rocks nest in Santa Cruz, California After a 7.9 earthquake reverberated off the coast of Alaska in January, spurring tsunami warnings up and down the west coast of the US, California Sen Dianne Feinstein emphasised the importance of better preparing residents. Terrifying to think that this mornings 7.9 quake could have happened in San Francisco or Los Angeles, Ms Feinstein said on Twitter. Another reminder that we need to swiftly implement an earthquake early-warning system. A prisoner at Guantanamo Bay has been sent back to his native Saudi Arabia to serve out the remainder of a 13-year sentence, making him the first detainee to leave the US prison in Cuba since Donald Trump took office. The Pentagon announced the transfer of Ahmed Mohammed al Darbi in a brief statement on Wednesday. He had originally been scheduled to return home as part of a plea deal no later than 20 February. Al Darbi pleaded guilty before a military commission at the detention centre in 2014 to charges stemming from an Al Qaeda attack on a French oil tanker. He is expected to serve out the rest of his sentence, about nine years, in a Saudi rehabilitation program as part of a deal that included extensive testimony against others held at Guantanamo His main lawyer, Ramzi Kassem, said the transfer was the culmination of 16 long and painful years in captivity by the US at Guantanamo and in Afghanistan, with his children growing up without him and his own father dying. Recommended Donald Trump could face subpoena to appear before Russia probe While it may not make him whole, my hope is that repatriation at least marks the end of injustice for Ahmed, said Mr Kassem, a law professor at the City University of New York who has represented the prisoner since 2008. Al Darbi was captured at the airport in Baku, Azerbaijan, in June 2002 and taken to the US base in Bagram, Afghanistan. He has testified to being kept in solitary confinement, strung up from a door in shackles, deprived of sleep and subjected to other forms of abuse as part of his early interrogation. In a statement released by Mr Kassem, who was part of a legal team that included two military officers, al Darbi described what he expected to be an emotional reunion with his family in Saudi Arabia. I cannot thank enough my wife and our children for their patience and their love. They waited 16 years for my return, he said. Looking at what lies ahead, I feel a mixture of excitement, disbelief, and fear. Ive never been a father. Ive been here at Guantanamo. Ive never held my son. Al Darbi, 43, pleaded guilty to charges that included conspiracy, attacking civilian objects, terrorism and aiding the enemy for helping to arrange the 2002 Al Qaeda attack on the French tanker MV Limburg. The attack, which killed a Bulgarian crew member, happened after al Darbi was already in US custody and was cooperating with authorities, according to court documents. His transfer brings the number of men held at Guantanamo to 40, which includes five who are facing trial by military commission for their alleged roles in planning and supporting the 11 September, 2001, terrorist attack. Another is charged in connection with the attack on the USS Cole in October 2000. Guantanamo Bay gained notoriety in the years after 9/11 due to reports of mistreatment of prisoners who were held without trial. In 2014 Barack Obama admitted that we tortured some folks and that we did some things that were contrary to our values. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Al Darbi could have received a life sentence but instead got 13 years in the plea deal. He provided testimony against the defendant in the Cole attack as well as against a Guantanamo prisoner charged with overseeing attacks on coalition forces in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2006. Neither case has gone to trial. General Mark Martins, the chief prosecutor for war crimes proceedings at Guantanamo, said in a February Defence Department memo that al Darbi provided invaluable assistance to the US. Al Darbis testimony in these cases was both unprecedented in its detail regarding Al Qaeda operations and crucial to government efforts to hold top members of that group accountable for war crimes, Gen Martins wrote. The agreement to repatriate al Darbi was made under president Barack Obama, whose administration sought to gradually winnow down the prison population with the aim of eventually closing the detention centre. Mr Trump reversed that policy and has vowed to continue using the controversial site. In a separate statement on Wednesday, the Defence Department said it had sent the White House a proposed set of guidelines for sending prisoners to Guantanamo in the future should that person present a continuing, significant threat to the security of the United States. A Pentagon spokeswoman declined to provide any details about the new policy. Additional reporting by AP A horse is suing its former owner for neglect after it suffered extreme pain, distress and permanent injury. The equine, named Justice, is taking Gwendolyn Vercher to court to recover $100,000 (74,000) in damages to pay towards future care costs. The stallion is represented by the Animal Legal Defence Fund in Portland, Oregon. Justice will need care for the rest of his life (Animal Legal Defence Fund) Justice, who was called Shadow at the time Vercher was caring for him, was found to be 300lb underweight, riddled with lice and suffering from a bacterial skin infection. His penis had also prolapsed due to severe frostbite, according to the lawsuit filed at Washington County Circuit Court. He will require surgery, and care for the rest of his life. Where not to visit if you love animals Show all 9 1 /9 Where not to visit if you love animals Where not to visit if you love animals Monkey shows Chimpanzees are forced to perform demeaning tricks on leashes and are often subject to cruel training techniques. Animals who are confined to small, barren enclosures and forced to perform unsurprisingly show symptoms of stress and depression. Chimpanzees have been documented rocking back and forth, sucking their lips, salivating and swaying against enclosure perimeters in distress. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Marine parks Some parks confine orcas to concrete tanks and force them to perform meaningless tricks for food - many die in captivity. Orcas are highly intelligent and social mammals who may suffer immensely, both physically and mentally, when they're held in captivity. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Tiger shows Tigers are forced to live in an unnatural and barren environment and have to endure interactions with a constant stream of tourists. Since tigers never lose their wild instincts, across the world they are reportedly drugged, mutilated and restrained in order to make them safe for the public. However, every year, incidents of tiger maulings are reported at this type of tourist attraction. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Donkey rides Sunning on the beach is great for humans we can take a quick dip or catch a bite to eat when we get too hot or hungry. But it's pure hell for donkeys who are confined to the beach and forced to cart children around on the hot sand. Some donkey-ride operators at beach resorts in the UK even keep the animals chained together at all times. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Swimming with dolphins Some marine parks use bottlenose dolphins in performances and offer visitors the opportunity to swim with dolphins. Unfortunately, people are often unaware that these animals are captured in the wild and torn from their families or traded between different parks around the world. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Canned hunting Lions are confined to fenced areas so that they can easily be cornered, with no chance of escape. Most of them will have been bred in captivity and then taken from their mothers to be hand-reared by the cub-petting industry. When they get too big, they may be drugged before they are released into a "hunting" enclosure. Because these animals are usually kept in fenced enclosures (ranging in size from just a few square yards to thousands of acres), they never stand a chance of surviving. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Running of the Bulls Every year, tourists travel to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls. The bulls who are forced to slip and slide down the town's narrow cobblestone streets are chased straight into the bullring. They are then taunted, stabbed repeatedly and finally killed by the matador in front of a jeering crowd. The majority of Spaniards reject bullfighting, but tourists are keeping the cruel industry on its last legs. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Horse-drawn carriages City streets are no place for horses. The animals toil in all weather extremes, suffering from respiratory distress from breathing in exhaust fumes as well as numerous hoof, leg and back problems from walking on pavement all day long. As easily spooked prey animals, horses subjected to the loud noises and unexpected sounds of city streets are likely to be involved in accidents, even deadly ones. Getty Where not to visit if you love animals Zoos The zoo community regards the animals it keeps as commodities, and animals are regularly bought, sold, borrowed and traded without any regard for established relationships. Zoos breed animals because the presence of babies draws visitors and boosts revenue, yet often, there's nowhere to put the offspring as they grow, and they are killed, as we saw with Marius the giraffe in Denmark. Some zoos have introduced evening events with loud music and alcohol which disrupt the incarcerated animals even further. EPA He was extremely emaciated -- about 300lb below bodyweight for a horse -- and most significantly, he suffered from penile frostbite as a result of his exposure to the cold, and that was left untreated for months, Matthew Liebman, Justices lawyer from the Animal Legal Defence Fund, told ABC News. Vercher told the outlet she disclosed Shadows injuries when she put him up for adoption and paid for his care as part of a guilty plea when his new caretakers took her to court. Any money won by Justice would go towards paying for his treatment, the lawsuit said. The thousands of ancient artefacts that were smuggled into the United States and delivered to the head of Hobby Lobby, the arts and crafts chain, have been returned to the Iraqi government. The devout Christian owners of the chain agreed to pay a $3 million fine last year to settle a lawsuit over the companys role in smuggling the artefacts, which include clay tablets, seals, and other archaeological objects that authorities have said were looted from the war-ravaged Middle Eastern country. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced that the artefacts had been returned Wednesday to Iraqs US ambassador, Fareed Yasseen. Prosecutors who worked to return the objects say that Steve Green, the president of Hobby Lobby, bought more than 5,500 artefacts in 2010 for $1.6 million. The scheme allegedly involved many middlemen, misleading invoices, and paperwork that allowed the artefacts to be smuggled past US customs agents. An email to Hobby Lobby for comment was not immediately returned. The prosecutors said that some ancient cuneiform tablets were labelled as ceramic tiles originating in Turkey or Israel, and that other artefacts were deliberately undervalued at $1 each, even though they were actually clay bull that were worth a combined $84,120. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Green who financed the $500 million Museum of the Bible that opened in Washington last year and his associates also shipped the artefacts to multiple addresses in Oklahoma City to avoid drawing the attention of customs agents, prosecutors said. Mr Green pleaded naivety in his business dealings with the individuals from the Middle East, even though he began collecting ancient artefacts in 2009. Prosecutors said that Hobby Lobbys lawyer had warned that acquiring the ancient artefacts carried considerable risk, since many ancient objects for sale may be stolen. Early on, we were always trying to find the best experts we could to help us as we were acquiring antiquities, Mr Green told the Associated Press last year. And so as mistakes are made, we learn from those mistakes and put processes and procedures in place to try to improve on that. ... Theres a lot of complexities in areas that Im still a novice at. But we are engaging the best experts we can to advise and help us in that process. Selling ancient artefacts can be a good source of revenue for terrorist organisations, including Isis. Bob Murowchick, an assistant professor in archaeology and anthropology at Boston University, told the AP that most antiquities are not legally removed and that collectors need to ask the right questions in order to make sure they are not financing terrorism. Its a very formal business in some areas, Mr Murowchick said. You collect things because you love them. Sometimes you dont ask the things that need to be asked. Hobby Lobby, an Oklahoma-based private company, fought for and won a legal battle in the Supreme Court that granted the organisation an exemption from providing certain contraceptive coverage for employees in 2014. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Kim Kardashian West is lobbying Jared Kushner to pardon a 62-year-old great grandmother named Alice Marie Johnson. The celebrity mogul has contacted Kushner about Johnson's case since he's been working on his own prison-reform bill. Johnson - who was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996 - was convicted of a first-time non-violent drug offence. Kardashian West's petition for clemency was rejected by the Obama administration, but now the celebrity mogul is hoping to convince President Trump to pardon Johnson. The case is now being reviewed by White House lawyers, reports Mic. "It'd be nice if she got out before Mother's Day," Johnson's daughter Catina Scales told the BBC. "I'm grateful to God for bringing Kim along." Last fall, Johnson's story caught Kardashian West's attention after seeing a video about the case. She then shared the video with her 59.9m followers with the video acquiring 3.84m views. Kardashian West requested her personal lawyer Shawn Holley get involved in Johnson's case. "We would provide her with the documents to corroborate all the things she was saying about Alice being a wonderful person who's served her time very well," says Ms Holley, who passed along messages between Johnson and Kardashian West. When Johnson was convicted, she was an unemployed, recently-divorced single mom who became a "telephone mule," passing messages between drug distributors and sellers. Johnson received a life sentence without parole partially due to the fact that she went to trial. "I participated in a drug conspiracy and I was wrong," she wrote in 2016. "It's hard to imagine that I have now served 20 years of my life sentence for that one mistake." Johnson was denied parole despite the fact that she fit the guidelines for the Obama-era Clemency Project 2014, serving over a decade in prison with good behaviour and no gang ties. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty However she was denied release just before Obama left office. While the program no longer exists in the Trump administration, the president has pardoned three individuals while in office: former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, former Navy sailor Kristian Saucier and to former adviser to Vice President Dick Cheney, Scooter Libby. Trump's response to Kardashian West's request on behalf of Johnson could come any day now as conversations with the White House have "intensified." Los Angeles has sued a group of pharmaceutical companies for fuelling a rise in opioid addiction with deceptive marketing and sale tactics. The lawsuit, filed by Los Angeles city attorney Mike Feuer in a California district court, accuses the companies of borrowing from the tobacco industrys playbook to exaggerate the benefits of opioid use and downplay the risks. Manufacturers and distributors of these highly addictive and potentially fatal drugs must be held accountable for driving the opioid epidemic and the significant impacts of their reckless and irresponsible business practices, Mr Feuer said in a statement. A representative for the pharmaceutical industrys trade association declined to comment on the lawsuit but noted it has announced policy prescriptions that include seven-day prescription limits. While much of a national opioid crisis has played out in small towns and rural America, densely populated Los Angeles has not been spared. Hundreds of people die of opioid deaths annually in Los Angeles County, and the numbers of deaths and overdose-related hospitalisations has risen in recent years. In seeking to hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for the epidemic, Los Angeles became the latest jurisdiction to adopt a tactic that has also caught the attention of Donald Trump. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Officials in both rural West Virginia and New York City have sued opioid manufacturers and distributors in recent years, and during a recent speech highlighting the issue Mr Trump suggested he would have the Justice Department penalise over-prescribing companies. Our Department of Justice is looking very seriously into bringing major litigation against some of these drug companies, Mr Trump said during a speech in Manchester, New Hampshire. Some states are already bringing it, but were thinking about bringing it at a very high, federal level, he added. Trump: Justice Department looking at bringing 'major litigation' against drug companies The Justice Department has not publicly described plans for legal action against drug companies. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has advocated more aggressively prosecuting drug traffickers, including by seeking the death penalty in some cases. Mr Trump has also advocated executing drug traffickers, saying If we don't get tough on the drug dealers, we are wasting our time, and that toughness includes the death penalty. A transgender inmate says she was raped at a mens prison hours after a judge threw out her request to block corrections officers from keeping her in a disciplinary unit. Lindsay Saunders-Velez claims she had been threatened, harassed and assaulted since entering Colorados prison system last spring for violating her plea deal in a menacing case. The prisoner filed a lawsuit against the states corrections agency in July, branding the system discriminatory and dangerous for transgender offenders. Last month, her lawyers requested a judge not send Saunders-Velez to her jails punishment pod for a disciplinary infraction, saying she could end up with inmates who had tormented her. The judge said the attorneys failed to prove an imminent risk, and rejected their request . However, the 20-year-old was attacked during her time in the pod and needed more than a week in the infirmary recover, according to her attorney, Paula Greisen. This issue is not going to go away, she said: Were going to fight it until these individuals are treated with the respect they deserve. Author Juno Roche debunks common misconception about transgender people Federal law requires prisons to individually asses where to house each transgender person, said Demoya Gordon, an attorney with LGBTQ+ advocacy group Lambda Legals transgender rights project. But, she added, almost all facilities still housed inmates based on their genitalia or birth gender, resulting in many transgender women being abused or raped during their sentence. Saunders-Velez entered Colorados foster care system as a child, then spent years in its youth corrections system, according to her attorneys and court records. The prisoner says she has been out as a trans female since the age of four and was diagnosed with gender dysphoria in 2016, beginning hormone treatments in 2017. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Her lawsuit states that it was after she entered an adult prison on a three-year jail term in May last year and was sent to Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility that her problems with other inmates began. Court records detail incidents in which male prisoners frequently pulled down a privacy screen shielding Saunders-Velez from view as she used the bathroom in her cell. She said other prisoners threatened her, and in December she reported an inmate sexually assaulted her during a brief transfer to another Colorado prison. To escape, Saunders-Velez swallowed razors and was sent to a hospital before being reassigned to territorial, her attorneys said. Prison staff denied her requests to be called Lindsay and to be identified with female pronouns, according to the complaint, as well as refusing requests to be searched by a woman. The most recent Bureau of Justice statistics from 2012 suggest around 3,200 inmates in Americas state and federal prisons identified as transgender. Some 40 per cent of transgender inmates reported being a victim of abusive sexual contact by another inmate or a staff member, 10 times the rate among the general prison population. Several authorities, including the San Francisco and New York City jail systems, have begun to house transgender prisoners by the gender they identify as. In Colorado, at least one other inmate is suing the corrections department over its treatment of transgender people. The agency said it was unable to comment on ongoing litigation. Additional reporting by AP Rapper Kanye West has recently drawn attention to himself and his forthcoming album with a deluge of highly eccentric tweets. In addition to shocking the world with his conclusion that "slavery was a choice", Mr West has been busily tweeting an array of pronouncements about brands he approves of and the creative process like "energy is contagious" and "we're starting WORLD LOVE 1 right now the opposite of a WORLD WAR". The artist only recently returned to Twitter after suffering a nervous breakdown in 2016 - an experience he now considers a "breakthrough" - during which time he visited then-president-elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower, an endorsement the latter was only too happy to accept. One of Kanye's more intriguing posts has been his expression of support for right-wing pundit Candace Owens: Ms Owens, who works as communications director for the conservative think-tank Turning Point USA, responded in kind: Candace Owens is a controversial figure in America who has expressed opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, suggesting the "spoiled toddlers" who comprise its membership foster a "victim mentality". She has also attracted criticism in the past for branding the Women's March on Washington "a joke". Kanye West and Candace Owens (Getty/Fox) Despite outrage at the mutual backslapping from many of Kanye's fans, he duly met with Ms Owens in California on 29 April in the company of Donald Trump Jr and her Turning Point colleague Charlie Kirk. Kanye said afterwards he hoped her influence would "allow people to recapture freedom of thought" while she in turn said she believed he had a "wonderful, beautiful vision for the future of America". He previously expressed the same idea in a heated private phone call with radio's DJ Ebro, telling the host her example would help "to de-programme people... to have people think differently than they have before." Ms Owens, still just 28, was raised in Stamford, Connecticut, before graduating with a BA in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island and working for Vogue and as an administrative assistant in private equity. She subsequently founded the websites Degree180 and Social Autopsy, the latter intended to expose online trolls and bullying but proving controversial in practice and leading to accusations of harassment by doxing. She thereafter launched Red Pill Black in 2017, a YouTube channel in which she espouses right-wing political views targeted at an African-American audience, part of a growing movement in the US speaking up for black Republicanism and against complacent assumptions that African-Americans can be relied upon to vote Democrat. The likes of Chance the Rapper and Trump super-fans Diamond and Silk have aligned themselves similarly. Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Show all 22 1 /22 Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Kanye West and President-elect Donald Trump speak with the press after their meetings at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images Kanye West meets Donald Trump in Manhattan Singer Kanye West arrives at Trump Tower December 13, 2016 as US President-elect Donald Trump continues to hold meetings in New York. Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images The influence of Candace Owens, who has appeared on Alex Jones' conspiracy-minded InfoWars talk show, perhaps explains Kanye's slavery remarks in his interview with Charlamagne Tha God this week: "We definitely are dealing with racism but I wanna push future concepts. That was the moment I wanted to use bitcoin, when I saw Harriet Tubman on a $20 bill. It's like when you see all the slave movies, it's like why you gotta keep reminding us about slavery? Why don't you put Michael Jordan on a $20 bill?" When challenged that Tubman and Nat Turner led the opposition to slavery, the artist countered: "I know this is gonna cause an uproar but certain icons are just too far in the past, they're not relatable, and that's what makes them safe. Like they'll let you go on the Grammys and talk about slavery and racism and all that because it's not talking about buying stock, it's not talking about buying property. It's not talking about economic empowerment." One of the many people troubled by the alliance between hip-hop's leading light and Candace Owens is Frank Ocean, the latter countering on Tumblr: "I love the way Michelle Wolf thinks." Mr Ocean appeared to be arguing that the comedian who caused such a furore with her acidic takedown of the Trump administration at the White House Correspondents' Dinner was the better role model, a gentle chiding of Kanye's inconsistent political outlook and bloated ego. Political candidates have long appeared with guns in campaign ads holding guns, firing guns and even assembling guns blindfolded. Earlier this month, Georgia gubernatorial candidate Hunter Hill aired an ad showing him loading an assault rifle. The video title? Liberals wont like this. And now, a new ad in the race for Georgia governor in which a candidate points a gun at a teenager did not sit well with some Georgians. After all, it aired just one state away from the Florida secondary school where 17 people were killed in a mass shooting. In the campaign ad, Brian Kemp, currently Georgias secretary of state, sits in a room surrounded by firearms handguns on a table to his right, rifles on the table in front of him and what appear to be two AR-15 style guns leaning on the wall behind him. Across his lap he holds a double-barrelled shotgun, cleaning it off as he speaks into the camera. Next to him sits a young man in khakis and a tucked-in flannel shirt. Im Brian Kemp, this is Jake, a young man interested in one of my daughters, he says, motioning to the teenager next to him. Yes, sir, Jake responds, looking nervous as he fidgets with his fingers. Jake asked why I was running for governor, Mr Kemp says. Prompted by the candidate, Jake proceeds to list off the reasons from memory to cap government spending, to take a chainsaw to regulations and to make Georgia number one for small business. And two things if youre going to date one of my daughters? Mr Kemp asks the young man. Respect, Jake responds and a healthy appreciation for the Second Amendment, sir. Mr Kemp then closes the gun, as if it was ready to fire, pointing it towards the teenager. Were going to get along just fine, Mr Kemp says, as the young man grins anxiously. To Mr Kemps supporters, the campaign ad is a lighthearted portrayal of a protective, gun-wielding southern father vetting a potential suitor for one of his daughters. But to many viewers, the ad for a Georgia gubernatorial candidate came across as intimidating and a particularly bad example of how to handle a shotgun safely. The ad, which was posted on Mr Kemps campaign social media accounts and aired on local television stations, prompted a backlash from viewers. Many people, including numerous gun owners, took to social media to criticise Mr Kemps handling of a potentially loaded firearm. Since when is it okay for an adult to hold a weapon on a minor, ever? Are you crazy? one comment on YouTube read. I get the frenzy to be the most pro-gun guy in the race, but hes breaking the first two rules of gun safety: treat every gun as if its loaded and dont point a gun at anything or anyone you dont intend to kill, another observer wrote on Facebook. The National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence wrote that the ad delivers a message perpetuating domestic violence and misogyny while modelling egregiously unsafe behaviour. One YouTube commentator wrote that the ad is almost symbolic in light of the teenagers speaking out about gun violence following the Parkland shooting. Its like 'Hey, kid, you dont have a say in what happens, because I get to decide who pulls the trigger', the observer wrote. This is either brilliant satire or one of the most absurd political ads in history, wrote another viewer on YouTube. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Many viewers sent messages to local television stations, such as 11Alive, asking them to stop airing the ad. Made me and my family very uncomfortable, wrote one person. We are gun owners and we are outraged, said another. The station said it was not allowed to take down political ads under FCC rules. Mr Kemp appeared to shrug off the criticism, almost revelling in it. Im conservative, folks. Get over it! he tweeted. He loves his daughters, values our 2nd Amendment rights and will be an unapologetic fighter for our families as Georgias next governor, Ryan Mahoney, Kemp for Governor spokesman, said in a statement to 11Alive. In an email to supporters, Mr Kemp said the overreaction is insane but Im not surprised, according to the Gwinnett Daily Post. He painted critics as liberal activists. Most are offended by my arsenal of firearms, Mr Kemp told supporters. Others think Im being too protective of my daughters. Some are questioning the legitimacy of my southern drawl and a liberal lawyer/blogger is even considering a criminal investigation. He may have been referring to former Georgia state representative LaDawn Jones, who wrote a blog post accusing Mr Kemp of simulating a crime on television. As a prosecutor, I prosecuted dozens of individuals who pulled out a weapon and pointed it at someone with the intent to cause fear in that person, she wrote. Intentionally pointing or aiming a gun or pistol at another without legal justification is a misdemeanour under Georgia law, whether or not the weapon is loaded. But many observers came out in support of Mr Kemps ad, calling it hilarious and clever. Others argued that Mr Kemp was not clearly pointing the shotgun directly at the teenager. A politician who doesnt feel the need to do things the politically correct way and stands for his beliefs, despite knowing that masses of our soft society will be offended, wrote one YouTube observer. Im sold! Great commercial. Mockingly blasts through todays hyper-PC nonsense, another person wrote. Georgias primary is on 22 May. A poll released on Friday by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Channel 2 Action News shows Mr Kemp in second place in the race with 10 per cent of respondents supporting him, behind his Republican rival lieutenant governor Casey Cagle, with 41 per cent. The Washington Post Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani says that President Donald Trump fired former FBI Director James Comey in part because he would not tell him that the president was not personally a target in the intelligence agencys probe into Russias interference in the 2016 election. Mr Giuliani, who is a recent addition to Mr Trumps legal team charged with helping deal with special counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe, made the comment during an appearance on Fox News. He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasnt a target of the investigation, Mr Giuliani told the cable networks Sean Hannity, who has himself been a vocal supporter of Mr Trump. Hes entitled to that. Hillary Clinton got that and he couldnt get that, Giuliani said, apparently referring to Mr Comeys decision to announce that the FBI had concluded its investigation into Ms Clintons emails during the 2016 campaign. So he fired him and he said, Im free of this guy, Mr Giuliani said. The statement is the latest in an ever-lengthening history of justifications for why Mr Trump chose to fire Mr Comey last year. Just recently, Mr Trump tweeted that he did not fire Mr Comey because of the phony Russia investigation. Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst But, Mr Trump did indicate that the investigation played a part in his decision making process just after the firing, during an appearance on national television. Regardless of recommendation, I was going to fire Comey, Trump said during that interview with NBC News, referring to the alleged recommendation from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to fire the former FBI director. There was no good time to do it. Before that interview, Mr Trumps White House team had indicated that the decision to fire Mr Comey was a decision made at the Department of Justice. Mr Rosenstein later indicated that Mr Trump had already made up his mind to fire Mr Comey when he wrote a letter expressing concerns about his performance which was then described as a recommendation to fire him. And in fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, Trump continued during the NBC interview. Since joining Mr Trumps legal team, Mr Giuliani has taken on the task of negotiating an interview between Mr Trump and Mr Muellers team. He has said that he is seeking an interview that falls under several conditions, including a time limit of just a few hours, and an interview that only addresses a narrow set of questions. Republican leader Paul Ryan has reversed his decision to have an official chaplain resign amid a bipartisan uproar. Shortly after House of Representatives chaplain Father Patrick Conroy rescinded his resignation, defying Mr Ryan and suggesting his ouster was politically motivated, Mr Ryan relented. I have accepted Father Conroys letter and deed that he will remain in his position as Chaplain of the House, Mr Ryan said in a statement, adding that his initial move to have Fr Conroy resign was made to ensure that the House has the kind of pastoral services the it deserves. In a two-page letter to Mr Ryan released earlier in the day, Fr Conroy said he had not heard from the Republican leader until Mr Ryans chief of staff approached him last month and asked him to resign. Fr Conroy said he had not committed any offences that could merit his being pushed out. I have never been disciplined, nor reprimanded, nor have I ever heard a complaint about my ministry during my time as House chaplain, Fr Conroy wrote. Instead, Fr Conroy suggested, the decision may have been related to my November prayer - an apparent reference to a speech in which he issued a plea for fairness as Congress was debating a major tax overhaul. The measure was a priority for Mr Ryan, who has advocated tax cuts throughout his political career. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty May [legislators] efforts these days guarantee that there are not winners and losers under new tax laws, but benefits balanced and shared by all Americans, he said in the November 2017 speech. Mr Ryans decision to ask for Fr Conroys resignation stoked controversy, with legislators from both parties questioning the move and signing onto a letter demanding more information. A letter from more than 100 members of the House warned of the politicisation of the process for hiring and dismissing a House chaplain and pointed to questions of religious bias. In a prior interview with the Independent, Virginia Democrat Gerry Connolly said some members suspected Fr Conroy was being punished for his political beliefs. Paul Ryan announces he will not seek re-election in 2018 midterms There is a view that Mr Ryan did not want a chaplain who talked about social justice, and he found a way to rid him of this troublesome priest, Mr Connolly said. Mr Ryan denied at an event in Milwaukee last week that his decision to ask for Fr Conroy's resignation was about politics or prayers. A number of our members felt like the pastoral services were not being adequately served, or offered, Mr Ryan said. Donald Trump reimbursed his personal lawyer Michael Cohen for a payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, Rudy Giuliani has said. The president personally refunded $130,000 paid by his attorney to cover up an alleged affair a decade earlier, the former New York mayor told Fox News, apparently contradicting Mr Trumps claims he did not know about the hush money. He didnt know about the specifics of it... but he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, said Mr Giuliani, who recently joined the presidents legal team. Recommended Giuliana says Trump fired Comey over Russia probe Mr Trump and the White House have repeatedly insisted the affair never happened and the president claimed last month that he did not know any payment was being made. Mr Cohen, whose offices and hotel room were recently raided by federal officials, has said that he made the payment with his own money. The US Attorneys office in Manhattan later indicated they raided Mr Cohens properties following months of investigation. Mr Giuliani told Fox News Sean Hannity the payment to Stormy Daniels was going to turn out to be perfectly legal because that money was not campaign money. Mr Hannity asked: Because they funnelled it through the law firm? Funnelled it through the law firm, and the president repaid him, replied Mr Giuliani. Asked if Mr Trump knew about the arrangement, the former New York mayor said: He didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this for my clients. I dont burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people. Michael Avenatti, Daniels attorney, described the revelation was stunning and said the American people had been blatantly lied to about the payment. Asked aboard Air Force One last month whether he knew about the payment, Mr Trump said flatly: "No." He has claimed he did not know why Mr Cohen made the payment or where he got the money. The White House has said the president also denies having a relationship with Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, who claims she had a sexual encounter Mr Trump with in 2006 months after his third wife gave birth to his youngest child. She says she was paid to keep quiet as part of a non-disclosure agreement that she is now seeking to invalidate. The payment to Daniels has raised numerous legal questions, including whether it was an illegal campaign contribution - or, now, an unreported loan. "Mr. Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people," Mr Avenatti said. Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst "If this is true then it looks like Cohen may have made an unreported loan to the campaign rather than a contribution," said Richard Hasen, an expert in election law at the University of California. He said that might be better for Mr Cohen, but not for Mr Trump, because it undermines the argument that his lawyer was acting independently. "The greatest significance is that it implicates the president directly," Mr Hasen said. Andrew Herman, an specialist in campaign finance law at legal firm Miller and Chevalier, said Mr Giuliani's argument that the money was a private payment unrelated to the Trump campaign appeared to be "pretty far-fetched" given the timing weeks before the election. The payment to Daniels was also made as Mr Trump was under fire for his conduct towards women after a recording emerged in which he spoke of groping women without their consent. Mr Giuliani joined Mr Trumps legal team last month to deal with special counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Since starting the role, the former New York City Mayor has outlined restrictions before Mr Trump will agree to be interviewed by Mr Mueller and his team. Those restrictions include keeping the interview to just a few hours, and keeping the line of questioning to a narrow set of questions. A team of elite US soldiers called the Green Berets were deployed in secret last year to the Saudi Arabia-Yemen border to help defeat the Houthi rebels. Since the Yemen conflict began three years ago, Houthi rebels have launched ballistic missiles towards Riyadh and other Saudi Arabian cities on numerous occasions and the kingdom has responded with its own airstrikes. Twelve Green Berets were deployed to the border in December 2017 just weeks after Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman renewed his call for American support claimed the kingdom had intercepted the latest missile, shot at the Riyadh airport. Officials from President Donald Trumps administration as well as European and Arab diplomats, told the New York Times the troops are helping locate and destroy training sites and missiles of the Houthis. Part of their mission is to also train Saudi troops on how best to defend their border with Yemen. The newspaper reported that the rebels pose no direct threat to the US. The Pentagon had previously said its role in the conflict was limited to refuelling, logistics, and general intelligence sharing. The war in the region's poorest country began in 2014 when Houthi rebels took control of Sanaa and pushed south towards Aden. Saudi Arabia and its coalition, fearing that the rebels were being backed by its rival Iran, then launched a series of air strikes to restore control for the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The Houthis, who hail from northern Yemen, control Sanaa and much of the country's north - which borders Saudi Arabia - and the key Hodeida port on the Red Sea coast. Since the air strikes began, at least 10,000 people have died as a result and 40,000 have been wounded. The conflict has also played a large part in causing a cholera epidemic and leaving millions facing famine and severe malnutrition. UK government says its heart 'goes out' to relatives of Yemen wedding airstrike victims but refuses to halt arms sales to Saudi There is no indication that the American commandos have crossed into Yemen as part of the secretive mission, the newspaper reported and the Pentagon have cited security reasons for not commenting on the matter save to say that the operation includes limited non-combat support, such as intelligence sharing, according to Major Adrian Rankine-Galloway. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Armed Services Committee, called the Green Berets mission a purposeful blurring of lines between train and equip missions and combat. He has renewed his call for Congress to pass a new authorisation of use of military force (AUMF), since the US Congress is the only body that has the ability to declare war. The US has been operating in several conflict zones around the world under the same AUMF since 2001, which were war powers passed just days after the September 11th attacks when the US military began its ongoing war in Afghanistan. The situation in Yemen Show all 14 1 /14 The situation in Yemen The situation in Yemen Houthi supporters trample on a US flag during a gathering mobilizing more fighters into several Yemeni battlefronts, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen People carry the coffins of men, who were killed in the recent Saudi-led airstrikes during their funeral, in the Old City of Sanaa, Yemen AP The situation in Yemen Pro-government fighters give food to Yemeni children on the road leading to the southwestern port city of Mokha. Yemeni rebels are putting up fierce resistance in a key Red Sea port city where they are encircled by pro-government force Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni stands in front of a graffiti protesting US military operations in war-affected Yemen, in Sana'a, Yemen. According to reports, US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen US Special Forces troops allegedly disembarked from US helicopters in the Yemeni town of Yakla and attacked several houses belonging to members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda, killing three high-ranking Al-Qaeda members and nine civilians, six women and three children. One American serviceman has been killed and three injured in the attack EPA The situation in Yemen A Yemeni female fighter supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, takes part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen Yemeni female fighters supporting the Shiite Huthi rebels, and carrying weapons used for ceremonial purposes, take part in an anti-Saudi rally in the capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A boy shouts slogans next to pro-Houthi fighters, who have been injured during recent fighting, during a rally held to honour those injured or maimed while fighting in Houthi ranks in Sanaa, Yemen Reuters The situation in Yemen Balls of fire and smoke rise from a Houthi-held military camp following alleged Saudi-led airstrikes, in Sana'a, Yemen EPA The situation in Yemen Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty Images The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy looks on as Yemenis search under the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa Getty The situation in Yemen A Yemeni boy sits amidst the rubble of damaged houses following reported Saudi-led coalition air strikes on the outskirts of the Yemeni capital Sanaa AFP/Getty The situation in Yemen Marine One with US President Donald Trump flies with a decoy and support helicopters to Dover Air Force Base in Dover, Delaware, for the dignified transfer of Navy Seal Chief Petty Officer William 'Ryan' Owens who was killed in Yemen Getty Images The situation in Yemen US President Donald Trump aboard the Marine One to greet the remains of a US military commando killed during a raid on the al Qaeda militant group in southern Yemen on Sunday, at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, US Reuters There are also US intelligence experts in the southern Saudi city of Najran that have been working with Saudi troops. Despite Mr Trumps ever-closer ties to Saudi Arabia, he had asked the kingdom to end a blockade on Yemeni ports last December, possibly around the time the Green Berets had been deployed. Mr Trump had said in a statement that he had directed US officials to call Saudi Arabian leaders and request they "completely allow food, fuel, water and medicine to reach the Yemeni people." He said at time that Yemenis "desperately need it. North Korea is reported to have freed three detained Americans from a labour camp and moved them to a hotel near Pyongyang ahead of a planned meeting between Kim Jong-un and Donald Trump. The US president appeared to take credit for the trios imminent release, which he claimed his predecessor Barack Obamas administration had long been asking for... to no avail. However, two of the three prisoners were only jailed after Mr Trumps inauguration last year and amid an escalating feud between the Republican and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The US government has been pressing for the prisoners to be freed as a show of goodwill ahead of the two leaders unprecedented summit, planned for late May or early next month. US officials on Thursday said they had received no confirmation of the detainees release, first reported in the South Korean media, but Mr Trump hinted at developments in a tweet. As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail, he wrote. Stay tuned! Only one of the American citizens, Kim Dong-chul, has been in custody since before the Republicans election. The two others, Kim Hak-song and Tony Kim, were detained after last spring as tensions between the US and North Korea ramped up. Last month Mr Trump said his government was working very diligently to get the three Americans back. A South Korean activist with contacts in the Pyongyang said the detainees had been moved to hotel in early April following instructions from authorities. The US and North Korea seem to have decided on a date to release these people, said the activist, Choi Soung-yong. North Korea probably wants to straighten out their affairs, rehabilitate them. The activist added the three were being kept in separate rooms in the same hotel and said he did not know what had happened to them since they were relocated. We cannot confirm the validity of these reports, a US State Department spokeswoman said. The welfare and safety of US citizens abroad is one of the highest priorities of the Department of State, she added. We are working to see US citizens who are detained in North Korea come home as soon as possible. Randall Brandt, a spokesman for Tony Kims family, said: While we are encouraged by overall momentum, the family has no indication of a release. He said the family had heard nothing of Mr Kim since Joseph Yun, the State Departments former North Korea negotiator, saw the detainees on a visit to Pyongyang in June. Tony Kims son, Sol Kim, said on social media that he was optimistic but had received no information. We are hopeful but we have no indication that they have been released. Thank you for your continued prayers and efforts to help bring them home, he wrote. Escape from North Korea Show all 16 1 /16 Escape from North Korea Escape from North Korea Jeong Min-woo A hat belonging to Jeong Min-woo in Seoul. Min-woo is from Hyesan, on the border with China. He was a commissioned officer in the Korean People's Army, and left in his uniform. South Korean intelligence confiscated it, but he persuaded his North Korean military contacts to send him a new one. Reuters Escape from North Korea Jeong Min-woo Jeong Min-woo, 29, poses for a photograph in Seoul Reuters Escape from North Korea Kang Kang, 28, who wanted to be identified only by her surname, poses for a photograph in Seoul. The parents of Kang sent out a coat across the Chinese border after she reached the South in 2010. "I didn't ask my mother to send me this coat," said Kang. "But she knew I feel the cold easily and sent it to me. She sent some honey too, but it went missing on the way. The coat is made of dog fur. I don't know what kind of dog. In 2010, it cost about 700,000 North Korean won ($88 at the unofficial rate). It was really expensive. A North Korean friend went to China to pick it up for me. I liked this coat when I got it. I thought my mother must've spent quite a lot of money on it. Reuters Escape from North Korea Kang The dog fur coat belonging to Kang, "My father was a party officer. Our family had a car and we lived in a special apartment. Ordinary people couldn't afford to wear this kind of coat, not even soldiers. Commissioned officers could afford them. Border guards would wear them. It wasn't easy to buy this kind of coat, but as time went on, fake ones began to appear. The state often clamped down on this item. It's technically military supplies so the state monitored people who altered the design of the coat. I know just from looking at this coat that it's a counterfeit one, not the official version. The counterfeit ones look quite different from the original ones. Military officials preferred the fakes to the original because the design looked much better. The children of rich families would wear them. I look too chubby in this, so don't wear it here. I thought I could probably wear it if I altered it." Reuters Escape from North Korea Lee Oui-ryuk Lee Oui-ryuk is from Onsong, near the border with China. He defected in 2010, and brought his ID card with him. "I brought my ID with me when I left North Korea. Juche 95.11.7 (the date in the North Korean calendar, which equates to Nov. 7, 2006) is the date I was issued with my ID. It says here my blood type is "A", but I'm actually an "O." For the 23 years I lived in North Korea, I thought my blood type was "A." They wrote down my blood type without even doing a test. They just wrote whatever they wanted to. I was caught trying to defect to South Korea around Kim Jong Il's birthday. They strengthen border security just before and after that date." Reuters Escape from North Korea Lee Oui-ryuk "The bottom of the lamp is dark," as the saying goes, and I thought I'd be able to cross right under their noses. The soldiers shot at me as I tried to run away from the Tumen River. I managed to get away and hid, but someone reported me and I was caught. That's when I was taken to the bowibu (North Korean secret police) for three months of interrogation. The state ruled that I had tried to defect to South Korea, and I was sent to a camp for political prisoners. I escaped when they were transferring me to the camp. I hid and managed to make it to my big sister's house - that's when I grabbed these photos. I couldn't go home easily, so decided I had to hide in the mountains or somewhere remote. I needed my ID to move around without getting caught. and I took these 12 photos with me in case I wanted to look back and reminisce. I wrote on the back of them so as not to forget." Reuters Escape from North Korea Ji Sung-ho Ji Sung-ho, 35, from Hoeryong, near the border with China. He left North Korea in 2006 with a pair of wooden crutches. "I lived as a child beggar in North Korea. I was stealing coals from a train when I fell off and lost my leg and my hand. I had to bring the crutches with me. If I didn't have them, I wouldn't have made it here. The state doesn't help you in North Korea, and people who need crutches make their own. Mine are therefore not factory-made, so they're not perfect and break easily. I had several pairs of crutches but they all broke, and this was the last pair. I used these crutches for 10 years, until I was 25, when I arrived in South Korea. I would steal coal from moving trains and fall off, destroying my crutches. Or I would get beaten up by the police and they'd take and then break my crutches. When they broke, I would make new ones. When I had new ones, I could go back outside." Reuters Escape from North Korea Ji Sung-ho "When I first arrived in South Korea I thought about throwing them out. South Korea's intelligence agency gave me a prosthetic leg. My friends said I should throw the crutches out and not think about North Korea. They said I should show Kim Jong Il I was living a new life in South Korea and throw out everything I had from the North. Some asked if I got upset when I saw my crutches. But I couldn't just throw them out. To make my crutches, my friends had given me some wood that they had bought, and someone I knew in North Korea who had carpentry skills had made them. It was my father who added the final touches. There is a lot of love from my North Korean friends and family in these crutches. So I didn't throw them out. The South Korean government gave me some new crutches because the wood from my North Korean ones is hard and painful. But I still keep them, so as not to forget those memories." REUTERS Escape from North Korea Kim Ryen Hui Kim Ryen Hui, 48, is from Pyongyang. She says she never wanted to defect. In 2011, she says, a broker helped her go to China for treatment on her liver. But the broker tricked her, she said, and she ended up in South Korea. She is campaigning to return, which Seoul says would be against the law. "I miss my parents even more than I miss my daughter. They're everything to me. For the first few years, I couldn't even breathe properly when I thought of them. My little brother lives with them in Pyongyang now. My mother can't see out of one eye. The thing I fear the most is finding out they've passed away before I have the chance to go back. Reuters Escape from North Korea Kim Ryen Hui "My daughter and I have been writing letters and sending photos to each other. My cousin lives in China, so she's been sending them on. My daughter's name is Ri Ryon Gum. She was born on February 15, 1993. I don't want her to live out her life with me here. When she was young, she did taekwondo. She wanted to get involved in espionage operations against South Korea. She was so fearless. That's why she was doing taekwondo - to get involved in anti-South espionage. So I was really surprised to hear she became a chef. In a video of her I received, she explained why. She said that after I had left, she moved in with her father in Pyongyang and had been cooking for him. She said she decided to become a chef so she could fulfill my role at home. I was sad when I heard that." Reuters Escape from North Korea Lee Min-bok Lee Min-bok, 60, was a researcher at North Korea's Academy of Agricultural Science. He first tried to defect, unsuccessfully, in 1990. He eventually left North Korea in June 1991 and came to South Korea in 1995. His family sent him these diaries. "I have a bit of an academic side. According to Kim Il Sung's teachings, people are supposed to keep diaries. Everyone in North Korea should strictly follow Kim Il Sung's teachings, so I did as I was supposed to and kept a diary. Even though Kim Il Sung is a villain here, in North Korea he's above everything. We learned that he studied well and gave our lives purpose. I lived according to those teachings. I wrote these out of loyalty to the Leader. That was our ideology, and I lived my life in strict adherence to it. No one could think differently." Reuters Escape from North Korea Lee Min-bok "I got hold of these diaries 10 years after I arrived in South Korea. I had been sending money to my family in the North and they sent them to me. I didn't write any complaints in diaries. I would've been in big trouble if I did. My diaries are a record of my history in North Korea. I am thinking about turning these diaries into a book. I'd like to publish a book about how to change North Koreans' thinking when unification happens. These diaries show how North Koreans think and how their minds are constructed. People need to make these into a textbook, because they need proof. Talking is not as effective." Reuters Escape from North Korea Song Byeok Song Byeok was a propaganda artist. His father drowned trying to cross the Tumen river, in 2000. When the artist finally left North Korea in 2001, he brought photos of his family with him. "We left that August to find food," Byeok recalled, describing the first attempt. "We were from a town further inland, and we weren't sure where the river was high and where it was low. I didn't know at the time but the river was swollen because of the rainy season. I thought we had to cross it anyway. All I could think about was getting to China to buy food. I took off my clothes and tied them into a rope to strap us together. I told my father not to let go. As we approached the middle of the river, the strap felt lighter. I looked back and saw my father drifting away. I was devastated." Reuters Escape from North Korea Song Byeok "He was going under the water and couldn't get out. I rushed up to the (North Korean) border guards and asked them to save him but they just said why did I come out, why didn't I die too. They handcuffed me and took me away. It was Aug. 28. I was tortured by the "bowibu" (North Korean secret police) in Hoeryong, then jailed for four months in Chongjin prison camp. But after I was released from the camp I felt like I needed to survive and carry on living. Right before I tried to defect again, I went back home and grabbed my family photos. Even if I died trying, I thought, at least I would have this picture with me. I never found my father. After I came to South Korea, I went back to China in 2004 and held a memorial service for him by the river. My heart still aches." Reuters Escape from North Korea Baek Hwa-sung Baek Hwa-sung, 33, left Sinuiju, on the border with China, in 2003 and resettled in South Korea in 2008. He kept a diary as he defected. "In 2004, I started to write down all my thoughts in a diary. I didn't know if I'd get caught. I just wanted to let it be known where I was from, and where I wanted to go. After I left the North, I became very depressed, hiding in the mountains alone for a while. The people who were watching over me told me not to come down to the village and left me by myself in a mountain shelter. Alone, with no one to engage with or talk to, I felt like I would go insane. So I wanted to leave something behind in case I died there or got caught - that's why I started to write. Reuters Escape from North Korea Baek Hwa-sung "Alone in the mountains, I desperately sought something to talk to. That was my diary. My diaries are proof of my life's journey. I read them when I want to remember home. I can't return home, and I already have no memories of my hometown. But when I go through my diaries, there are notes which detail the vivid memories of that time. Sometimes I might forget my father's birthday, but when I go back to my diary, his birthday and my mother's birthday are there. My diaries are a record of my life. They prove I'm alive." Reuters Tony Kim, an accountant in his 50s, was detained on espionage charges in April 2017 after spending a month working at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST). Some officials at PUST told me his arrest was not related to his work at PUST, said Chan-mo Park, the chancellor of the university, which predominantly teaches the children of North Koreas elite. He had been involved with some other activities outside PUST, such as helping an orphanage, he added. Another of the detainees, Kim Hak-song, had also worked at PUST before he was held on suspicion of hostile acts in May 2017. He had reportedly moved to Pyongyang to start an experimental farm at the university. Kim Dong-chul, a pastor in his 60s, was detained on spying charges in 2015 and sentenced to a decade of hard labour the next year. In an interview with CNN in January 2016, he said he had lived in Fairfax, Virginia, before moving to the Chinese-North Korean border to run a business involved in international trade and hotel services. Im asking the US or South Korean government to rescue me, he said. Popular childrens cartoon character Peppa Pig has been blocked from an online video channel in China after becoming associated with a gangster subculture. The search term #PeppaPig was removed from video app Douyin, making as many as 30,000 videos of the playful pink piglet unreachable, according to reports in Chinese media. The censorship came after Peppas likeness became popular with a subculture of internet users known as "shehuiren" or society people - a group who some say hold anti-establishment views and gangster attitudes. Users have reportedly been using the character in subversive memes, spoof videos or in the context of vulgar or lewd jokes. The Global Times explained said society people who have embraced Peppa as their unlikely symbol, are those who run counter to the mainstream value and are usually poorly educated with no stable job. They are unruly slackers roaming around and the antithesis of the young generation the (ruling Communist) Party tries to cultivate." The piglet, who is usually seen playing with friends in the mud or taking part in other wholesome adventures in the original British show, is presented in a different context entirely in the memes. One example features a scene where Peppa says: "I like this. It's very grown-up," at the start of a lewd rap song. Other videos are reportedly sexually suggestive. Many such clips have gone viral, and despite the ban, related terms including "PigPig" or "PeppaPeppa are still searchable. Peppa has even become a popular image for tattoos with Douyin reportedly users encouraging each other to get one. While some tattoos are real, many have opted for temporary versions, with tens of thousands bought by consumers online. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The catchphrase, "Get a tattoo of Peppa Pig, give a round of applause to 'gangsters,"' was also blocked from being searched on the microblogging platform, Weibo which posted a message saying it was acting "in accordance with relevant legal regulations." It is not clear whether the censorship of Peppa on Douyin was prompted by a government mandate. Despite the controversy, Peppa Pig has proved popular in China with both children and adults since it was launched there in 2015. There are even plans being considered to open two new theme parks in the country based on the cartoon. Censorship on the internet in China has been on the rise, after a controversial cybersecurity law was introduced last June as part of President Xi Jinping's efforts to tighten control over what China's public can see and say online. It is also not the first time a cartoon character was targeted. Winnie the Pooh was previously blocked by censors, after the tubby bear was compared by internet users to President Xi Jinping. Recommended China bans Winnie the Pooh online after comparisons with Xi Jinping One particular image that was blocked as part of the crackdown showed the bear hugging a jar of honey beside the quote, "find the thing you love and stick with it." The image was widely shared after the government removed the two-term limit on the presidency, potentially allowing Mr Xi to remain in charge indefinitely. Bytedance, the company that owns video site Douyin, did not respond to requests for comment. The companys social networking app Neihan Duanzi was suspended by the State Adminstration of Radio and Television last month after authorities decided the type of humour posted on the site was unhealthy. Associated Press contributed to this report. On Thursday, Armenias popular uprising inched towards a successful conclusion, with the news that the ruling Republican Party would support protest leader Nikol Pashinyan in his bid to become prime minister. For the camouflage-wearing former journalist and contemporary revolutionary, it completed a remarkable turnaround. In the space of two months, he had not only stopped the countrys longtime president Serzh Sargsyan from becoming a lifetime prime minister he had also moved the margins of politics to become Armenias latest messiah, with an apparent ability to control hundreds of thousands. For those that knew him before, little has changed; instead, the political atmosphere around him has changed. Mr Pashinyan was always a charismatic leader, they say, with unlimited energy, righteousness, and an appreciation for troublemaking. Born in the regional town of Ijevan near the north-eastern border with Azerbaijan, Mr Pashinyan moved to the capital Yerevan to study journalism in the early 1990s. He was a straight-A student, one of the brightest in the year, but he never managed to finish his degree. Officially, he was expelled for missing classes, but classmates said he had angered superiors by writing an article, published in a newspaper, alleging corruption. He was always for the truth, says Alina Ordyan, who studied with him at Yerevan State University. Then and now, he believed he was right, and he had the intellect to back it up. In the late 1990s, Pashinyan became the editor of his own newspaper, Armenian Time. As the country cascaded into authoritarianism over the next decade, his newspaper came to be known as the countrys most fearless. The transition to politics was a natural next step. He began by aligning himself alongside Levon Ter-Petrosyan Armenia's first president, from 1991-1998 who was again standing in the February 2008 presidential elections. Mr Ter-Petrosyan's bid was unsuccessful, and he lost to Republican Party chairman Serzh Sargsyan in a disputed vote. Pashinyan led protests against it protests that were only dispersed violently on 1 March, culminating in 10 deaths. The former journalist was forced into hiding for several months. The shadow of 2008 has loomed large over Armenias latest uprising. Throughout his campaign to remove Sargsyan from government, Pashinyan has referred to the need for a proper investigation and punishment into the deaths. On 22 April, at a critical crossroads in the revolution, Sargsyan also made an ill-advised reference to the events. He warned the protest leader that he had not learned the lessons of March 1. People interpreted that thinly-veiled threat as a confession, says opposition activist Mikayel Hovhannisyan. And it was an easy rallying call. People who had never been to a demonstration before came out on street only because of that sentence, he said. Supporters of protest leader Nikol Pashinyan attend a rally in downtown Yerevan on 1 May (AFP) Later that day, a record number of protestors gathered on Yerevans Republic Square. Pashinyan, two fellow opposition MPs, and 200 others were removed from the crowd and arrested. But under intense pressure, the very next day, Sargsyan relented, released them and resigned. Nikol Pashinyan was right. I was wrong, Sargsyan wrote in his dramatic final statement. Pashinyan, who in the space of a couple of weeks emerged as the undisputed leader of the masses, pushed for the absolute capitulation of Mr Sargsyans party. With the power of the street behind him, he had political momentum. But on Tuesday, the ruling Republican Party pushed back by blocking his candidacy for prime minister. The protest leader responded by orchestrating a national shut-down the very next day. This seems to have quickly changed minds inside the ruling party. Leading figures in the Republican Party were already conceding defeat when contacted by The Independent on Wednesday morning. One of Pashinyans leading critics, Armen Ashotyan, vice chair of the Republican Party, contended that it would have been political hypocrisy to have supported Mr Pashinyans candidacy in his initial bid. Yet, they will now back him, he said, at the second vote, scheduled for this coming Tuesday but only after defending the institution of opposition. Footage from the scene of a major protest in Armenia following transport shutdown Pashinyans main success was choosing the right moment, says political analyst Mikael Zolyan. His decision to begin the protest at the point where Sargsyan attempted to transition from president to prime minister was a masterstroke, he said: He knew when to strike in a power vacuum and when Sargsyan could give the order to crush, it was already too late. Pashinyan has also managed to come to power while giving little away on his actual political programme. In parliament on 1 May, the former journalist said he would not describe himself according to old divisions of left and right, which no longer worked. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Some suggest that he has deliberately maintained an opaque vision of any ideology in order to preserve a broad opposition coalition. But those who know him talk of a liberal at heart, a self-assured populist in practice, and a pragmatic politician when he needs to be. He stands for fundamental human values, meritocracy, egalitarianism, says Arsen Kharatyan, one of the seven founders of Pashinyans Civil Contract Party. Hes principled, once he makes a decision he never goes back on it but he has an ability to listen. The probable future prime minister consults with about 20 voices in his war cabinet, Mr Kharatyan reveals. If there isnt consensus, we dont go with it. Yesterday we couldnt agree on whether to close down the banks, so we didnt do it. Not that any one of them had any doubt Pashinyan has risen, Christ-like, to a position above them all. We joke with him about it, says Mr Kharatyan. When we were preparing him for a speech the other day, we suggested getting him a donkey for his entrance into the crowds. All the other states signatory to the Iran nuclear agreement stress that it is working, as does the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Secretary General of the UN and scientists and intelligence services of the West, Russia and China. But US President Donald Trump, it appears, is determined to sabotage the deal and, in the process, make the world a place less safe. Even in the US, a poll found that public backing for the agreement is the highest ever, with 56 per cent supportive of keeping it, with 26 per cent opposed, and the vast majority of experts on the subject in the country pointing out that Iran is keeping to its side of the commitment, which in turn is helping to prevent nuclear proliferation in the region. The poll was taken after Benjamin Netanyahus revelations, presented with much drama, about Irans supposed secret plans for a nuclear arsenal. But what the Israeli prime minister produced was swiftly dismissed as old material, examined and addressed by the IAEA three years ago. Mr Netanyahus show was trumpeted, so to speak, as offering the evidence which will allow Mr Trump to effectively kill off the landmark JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) which had been achieved after years of hard bargaining. The other parties to the agreement Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China have pointed out that, in reality, there was no such credible evidence. In Israel, no fewer than 26 highly senior former officials from the intelligence services, armed forces commanders and the head of Israels Atomic Energy Agency have also stressed the vital need to keep the agreement in place. They said in a message to Washington: As former officers and leaders in Israeli security agencies, we believe it is in Israels best interest that the United States maintains the nuclear agreement with Iran. The International Atomic Energy Agency has consistently and repeatedly found Iran to be in compliance with the agreement. The consensus among the military and intelligence agencies around the world including Israels own defence community is that the pact is working... In Israel a Netanyahu-supporting newspaper complained the international community had treated the prime ministers information with derision. But that was not the case with those in Washington who are believers in taking an aggressive stance with Iran and want to scupper the deal. Those who were a restraining influence on Mr Trump in his chaotic administration have left one by one and been replaced by ultra-hawks: Rex Tillerson at the State Department by Mike Pompeo, and Lieutenant General HR McMaster as National Security Advisor by John Bolton. General James Mattis and General John Kelly are still there as Defence Secretary and Director of Homeland Security but the question now is for how much longer? Mr Pompeo, who had met with Netanyahu in Israel just days before his spectacle, declared that it was proof beyond any reasonable doubt that the Iranian regime was not telling the truth. John Bolton, the new National Security Advisor, who had, in the past, advocated bombing Iran, spoke of the need for the US and Israel to coordinate on action. Mr Trump, who had vowed to tear up the agreement when running for the presidency, said he had seen Mr Netanyahus presentation and the situation was not acceptable. Just how bad can it get? Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the UN, has warned of a real risk of war unless the agreement is protected. Antonio Guterres stresses the importance of the Iran nuclear agreement It was an important diplomatic victory, we should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative, he said. We face dangerous times. It is Mr Boltons role which will be watched closely as events unfold. The Vietnam draft dodger has a record of being keen on other people going to war. He remains an avid supporter of the Iraq invasion, which was based on fake dossiers of weapons of mass destruction, and had advocated armed US intervention in a number of countries since. Shaul Mofatz, a former Israeli defence minister and chief of staff, has revealed how Mr Bolton, when US ambassador to the UN, tried to pressurise him to order air strikes against Iran. He tried to convince me that Israel needs to attack Iran, said Mr Mofatz. I dont think this is a smart move not on the part of Americans today or anyone else until the threat is real. Mr Bolton also has a record of wrecking agreements designed to avert conflicts. He was the undersecretary of state for George W Bush Srs administration in which capacity he helped tear up the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with the Soviet Union. He also persuaded Mr Bush to jettison the Agreed Framework Bill Clintons administration achieved with North Korea which had forced it to commit to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT, and had put inspectors on the ground to check on infringement. The result of that agreement ending was North Korea going full steam ahead to develop its nuclear arsenal. It is a matter of great irony that the House Republicans have now nominated Mr Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize just for a planned meeting with Kim Jong-un while he and his national security advisor sabotage another international agreement. The first step for that could be on 12 May when Mr Trump can end the waiver on sanctions. Some US sanctions still remain because Mr Trump has failed to certify Iranian compliance with the terms despite the other signatories holding that Tehran has done so. But this was done in a way which did not re-impose full sanctions. If Mr Trump does end the sanctions waiver on 12 May, it will mean that nuclear sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran will lock back into place, affecting all countries which purchase oil from Iran, the countrys main export, and also have interaction with the US economy. The obvious result is that international banks and major financial houses will not be keen to do business with Iran with the threat of punitive American action hanging over them. There are other deadlines for the JCPOA and the US. The most significant is the day before Friday 13 July when Mr Trump is supposed to visit the UK. He is due to sign another sanctions waiver on that date. Waiting until then would give the other signatory states another two months to find a solution. It is, however, something they are extremely unlikely to achieve. The US, by its actions in May or July, will be in breach of the JCPOA. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (Reuters) (Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters) There is a dispute resolution mechanism, Article 36, which can be invoked. But there would be very little to discuss by then as the US position, as long as Mr Trump remains, would seem irrevocable. The Iranian reaction, with the deal gone, could be to go full throttle to acquire nuclear weapons, as some senior figures in Tehran have stated. The most immediate move, as a senior official suggested on Wednesday, would be to cut down access by UN inspectors to what is stipulated for member states of the NPT, and raise uranium enrichment to 20 per cent. Mohammed Javad Zarif, Irans Foreign Minister and one of the main architects of the JCPOA, has appeared on a video stating: On 11 occasions the UN nuclear watchdog has confirmed that Iran has implemented all of its obligations. In contrast, the US has consistently violated the agreement, especially by bullying others from doing business with Iran. Let me make it absolutely clear once and for all, we will neither outsource our security nor will we renegotiate or add on to a deal we have already implemented in good faith. In the footage, posted on Mr Trumps favourite social network, Twitter, Mr Zarif had a message to the construction business owner-turned US president: To put it in real-estate terms, when you buy a house and move your family in it or demolish it to build a skyscraper, you cannot come back two years later and renegotiate the price. But the Iranians should surely know by now that when it comes to Donald Trump, normal rules do not apply. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said Donald Trump risks war by scrapping the Iran nuclear deal, warning the region is in a very dangerous position. Mr Guterres stressed the importance he held in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreed in 2015 to curtail the Iranian atomic weapons programme. Speaking to BBC Radio 4s Today programme, the former Portuguese prime minister warned the current agreement should not be torn up without a good alternative. Asked whether the Iran situation would be the next war, Mr Guterres said: I think the risks are there, I think we need to do everything to avoid those risks. I believe the JCPOA was an important diplomatic victory and I think it would be important to preserve it. But I also believe that there are areas in which it will be very important to have a meaningful dialogue because I see the region in a very dangerous position. I understand the concerns of some countries in relation to the Iranian influence in other countries in the region, so I think we should separate things. I think the risks are there, said UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (Getty) Mr Trump is reportedly considering withdrawing the US from the agreement, in which Iran pledged to curb its nuclear programme in return for a relaxation of sanctions. A decision by the US president to scrap the deal could trigger a backlash from Tehran, either in the form of a resumption of its atomic weapons projects or the punishment of American allies in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Lebanon, diplomats have warned. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed what he claimed was documentary evidence that Iran had not disclosed part of its nuclear arms programme as required under the JCPOA. UN inspectors say Iran has complied with the deal, while Tehran itself has denied the claims, accusing Israel of attempting to stir up tensions. Mr Guterres said the Iran deal was an important achievement, which needed to be preserved, a sentiment echoed by European allies the UK, France and Germany. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty I think that this agreement is an important achievement; if one day there is a better agreement to replace it, thats fine, he added. But we should not scrap it unless we have a good alternative. Additional reporting by Reuters In 2011, 26-year-old Tunisian Mohamed Bouazizi died after dousing his clothes in petrol and setting himself on fire in front of a local government office. His actions provided the catalyst for Arab Spring revolutions across North Africa and the Middle East. In the last seven years, many have since been snuffed out or have descended into full-blown conflicts but Tunisia, where Arab hopes for a brighter future began, remains a light in the darkness. In elections which are the first of their kind in North Africa, the country is gearing up for its first ever municipal elections on Sunday 6 May. The polls will give remote corners of the country representation for the first time, and include diversity quotas for female, young and disabled candidates. [This is] an historic moment; a triumph for Tunisian democracy and for all supporters of democracy around the world, Rached Ghannouchi, president and co-founder of Ennahdha, the Tunisian Muslim Democrat party, told The Independent. Taking power out of Tunis and giving it to locally accountable representatives is a moment for history, a seismic shift against the tradition of centralised power in North Africa. Until he fled to Saudi Arabia after the country's Arab Spring Jasmine Revolution, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali ruled Tunisia for 24 years, consistently returned to power in sham elections in which he won more than 90 per cent of the vote. Recommended Pain amid progress in Tunisia seven years after the Jasmine Revolution Repressive 20th century Middle Eastern power structures were almost exclusively built on a culture of strong men rulers with highly individualised platforms. Since change swept across the region in 2011, pro-democracy campaigners have been working hard to change the status quo, emphasising the importance of ground up movements. Mr Ghannoucis Ennahdha party has been at the forefront of initiatives designed to safely guide Tunisia where the lagging economy and government corruption are still the frequent target of street protests into a future where all citizens enjoy their full democratic rights. The new 2014 Constitution has promised Tunisians fully devolved government for rural areas, long marginalised by Tunisias rich coastal cities, which have not yet seen any benefits of the 2011 revolution. This will completely change the development model in Tunisia, said Riadh Mouakher, the minister for local communities. An entire new generation of politicians will be created on 7 May. There are around 7,000 seats to fill in 350 newly created municipalities and for Ennahdhas lists at least, 43 per cent of those candidates are under the age of 35. Tunisia: 'I have lost my son, but I am proud of what he did' Show all 3 1 /3 Tunisia: 'I have lost my son, but I am proud of what he did' Tunisia: 'I have lost my son, but I am proud of what he did' 538818.bin Reuters Tunisia: 'I have lost my son, but I am proud of what he did' 538885.bin AP Tunisia: 'I have lost my son, but I am proud of what he did' 538886.bin Reuters Ennahdha and Nidaa Tounes, the two main parties of the national Unity Government, have legally-mandated diversity quotas. Fifty per cent of lists must be headed by women, and all lists must include one candidate under 35 in the top four and a disabled person in the top 10. A woman, Souad Abderrahim, is running for mayor of Tunis for the first time, and independent candidate Simon Slama who has made headlines because he is Jewish is also running on an Ennahdha slate. Mr Ghannouchi of Ennahdha hopes that the diverse lists will reflect a healthy mix of society at polling stations. We hope this is a sign the young turn out en masse to vote on Sunday. They are a generation for which democracy must deliver, he said. We urge every Tunisian citizen, no matter their political leanings, to exercise their right to vote. "The establishment of representative local governance is essential to truly complete Tunisias democratic transition and to form a strong basis for the economy to flourish." Ruth Wade, a Ryanair passenger from Lisbon to Manchester in March 2016, was told 75 minutes after the flight was due to depart that it was cancelled because of an air-traffic control strike. The airline was unable to offer an alternative flight for a further two days, so Ms Wade bought a new ticket with TAP Portugal. After accommodation and meal expenses were added, she ended up 750 (then about 600) out of pocket. Ms Wade believed she was entitled to claim the extra costs back under European passengers rights rules. So she applied to The Retail Ombudsman, with whom Ryanair is registered for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Recommended UK passengers have stronger rights to flight compensation post Brexit After five months, the organisation rejected her claim, saying: Mrs Wade is not entitled to receive a refund for her alternative flight, evening meal or refreshments from Ryanair. At this point she showed the Final Determination to The Independent. It appeared the adjudicator had misinterpreted the law about the duty of care to passengers. When The Independent questioned the decision, the organisation said: The adjudicator acted on information at hand which did not include any response from Mrs Wade. In the absence of such response the initial decision was fair. However, it then became apparent that this was a miscommunication and on this basis Mrs Wade was given the opportunity to provide a response which was then put before the adjudicator. This made a material difference and on this basis the decision was reversed in her favour. The ADR scheme was launched in 2015 to help consumers in disputes about flight delays or cancellations and lost or damaged luggage. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the official National Enforcement Body for European passengers rights rules, but it is unable force airlines to pay individual claims. So the CAA granted powers to The Retail Ombudsman and the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), the worlds largest conflict management and resolution consultancy. CEDR signed up British Airways, easyJet, Thomas Cook and TUI, while Ryanair, Virgin Atlantic, Flybe and Norwegian agreed terms with The Retail Ombudsman whose airline business is now known as AviationADR. But an investigation by Which? Travel, headlined Second Rate Justice, reveals a system which isnt working, according to the investigator, Trevor Baker. He says problems began to emerge almost at once: For a start, consumers were confused about where to send complaints and the airlines were in no hurry to enlighten them. TUI, for example, doesnt mention anywhere on its website that its a member of CEDR. Recommended Ryanair court case shows why flight delay compensation is flawed A fundamental flaw, he says, is that the two private companies are competing to attract carriers to their scheme. In 2015, Ombudsman Services, a well-established not-for-profit dispute resolution provider, urged the CAA to appoint only one ADR scheme, saying: It avoids confusion in the mind of the consumer and prevents companies from trading one ADR scheme off against the other and selecting the scheme that favours it the most in the decisions it makes. Mr Baker says: The only people who benefit from competition between different arbitration schemes are the airlines, as they can choose their own judge and jury. Even the CAAs latest figures imply that fewer than half of the consumers whove used an ADR scheme have actually received compensation. More than 8,500 were still waiting for their complaint to be resolved. The CAA told Which? Travel: Since its introduction two years ago, the two CAA-approved ADR providers have received over 23,000 cases for decision. Of the cases decided up to the end of last year, over 11,000 (or over 76 per cent of cases where a decision has been made) have been upheld (in full or in part) in favour of the consumer. Dean Dunham, the chief executive of AviationADRs parent, Consumer Dispute Resolution Ltd, says: Our role is to ensure all parties receive a fair and reasonable outcome. From time to time every ADR scheme will make a mistakes. The important point is that such mistakes are recognised and put right so that there is no consumer detriment. Which? has called for flight delay compensation to be paid automatically a concept strongly resisted by the airlines. Meanwhile, says the investigator, Trevor Baker: Although we have grave doubts about the way that the system is working, we still have to glumly advise you to use AviationADR, CEDR or even the CAA if you want to pursue compensation. Voter turnout in local government elections is rarely high. In council elections in England last year it was just over 35 per cent. This years figure is unlikely to be any better. In this context, there will be considerable debate about the impact of the voter ID trial which has been conducted at polling stations in Woking, Gosport, Bromley, Watford and Swindon. In these places, at the recommendation of the Electoral Commission, voters were only able to cast their ballot if they produced valid proof of identity. Those who did not bring the relevant documentation were turned away; not all came back. Critics have long expressed concern that forcing voters to prove their identity will disenfranchise sections of the electorate especially vulnerable groups who do not have a stable residence or who lack the proof required. Certainly the timing of the trial could hardly have been worse, coming so soon after the exposure of the Windrush scandal, which centred on individuals being forced to show documentary evidence of their citizenship status. The Labour Party made the point forcibly, describing the ID trial as the same hostile environment all over again, shutting our fellow citizens out of public life. Whats more, questions remain as to the proportionality of identity checks given that the problem of electoral fraud in this country is relatively small tiny, to borrow the Electoral Reform Societys description. Local elections 2018 in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Local elections 2018 in pictures Local elections 2018 in pictures Jeremy Corbyn outside a polling station in Islington Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures Theresa May and her husband Philip arrive at a polling station to vote in local elections in central London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Boris Johnson leaves after voting in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable with his wife Rachel at Twickenham polling station Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures A man enters a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A man fixes a sign to the door of a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A poll clerk hangs a polling station sign outside the Victoria and Jubilee Halls in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, some 45 miles west of London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Voters at The Vyne polling station in Knaphill, part of the Woking borough, which is one of five councils working with the Cabinet Office to trial the use of ID in polling stations PA Indeed, where evidence has emerged of electoral malpractice in recent times, it has tended to do so in relation either to campaign spending rules or to the misuse of postal votes. There is very little evidence to suggest that elections have been manipulated by individuals popping up at multiple polling stations, impersonating others in order to cast or control several votes. When the Electoral Commission recommended ID checks in 2014, following its review of electoral vulnerabilities in the UK, it concluded that fraud had been attempted in no more than a handful of wards in any particular local authority area (notably of course in Tower Hamlets). Its proposal to require voters to prove their identity appeared to be premised on the potential risk of personation fraud, rather than overwhelming concern about the reality. As the commission put it: polling station fraud could become more vulnerable as other processes (including electoral registration and postal or proxy voting) become more secure. Yet that prophesy appears not to have been scrutinised: the trial is an attempt to deal with a problem that is not at the moment upon us. Those who support the scheme point to the fact that ID checks in Northern Ireland have not generally presented difficulties for individuals wishing to exercise their democratic right. Voter turnout there has not, on the face of it, been affected since checks were first used in 1985 (or since legislation was passed in 2002 specifying which forms of ID could be used). Local elections: All you need to know Yet in Northern Ireland, confidence in the integrity of the electoral process had been low. That is not true for the most part in the rest of the UK. Moreover, experience elsewhere for instance in the United States has given weight to the notion that making ID requirements more stringent has a disproportionate impact on potential voters from black and ethnic minority groups, and among the oldest and youngest portions of the electorate. There is, it cannot be denied, a superficial attractiveness to the notion that you should prove who you are before you cast a vote. Protecting the integrity of the democratic process is vital to maintaining public confidence in governmental institutions; and for the overwhelmingly majority of people, taking proof of identity to a polling station is no more than an inconvenience. Yet the fact remains that we should be removing barriers to participation in Britains democracy, not putting them up. As things stand, it seems likely that most people in this country are more likely to be worried by the low turnout at most elections than by the reality of personation fraud. Full assessments of the trial which has been conducted at the present elections must be conducted in an open-minded way. But one thing should be clear: cracking nuts with sledgehammers can cause considerable collateral damage. Lets not make democracy seem even more remote than to some it already does. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:42 am Can art and music bring peace to the world? Skeptics need to spend time with people like Karim Wasfi, conductor of the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra. Thanks to YouTube, Wasfi is known around the world for parking himself and his cello into 19 steaming craters of bombedout Baghdad neighborhoods so far. Wasfi cut a striking figure at an unusual event sponsored by Lansings Sister Cities Commission Friday. He played the cello with a new friend, formidable Detroit pianist and composer Alvin Waddles, whom he had met two days before. Instead of just talking about peace, the two musicians played a completely improvised work that followed a sorrowful yet hopeful emotional arc. After some coaxing from Barbara Roberts Mason, president of Lansings Sister Cities Commission, he agreed to talk to the group as well. The only reason I performed at these bomb sites was to defy terror and intimidation, and every one of us has this inside of them, Wasfi said. In Baghdad and other parts of Iraq, Wasfi started three youth orchestras and nurtured the Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra back to life after the chaos following the American invasion and 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein. We had military fighters who gave up their Kalashnikovs and became members of orchestras performing in different parts of Iraq, Wasfi said. The Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra is an intermittently uneasy mix of Shia, Sunni, Kurds, Turkmen and other ethnic and religious groups. Integration is essential, even if we disagree or even if we dont tolerate each other, Wasfi said. Coaxed by Mason, Waddles walked away from the piano and lifted his stentorian voice in support of his new friend and colleague. He told the group what it was like to play improvised duets with a man he just met, from another musical tradition. His musical language isnt mine, but while playing with him, its a matter of listening, Waddles said. Waddles is known mostly for jazz, musical theater and classical music, but he adapted sensitively to Wasfis modern, free-floating idiom. Its an honest combination, without bending, without breaking, without fighting, Waddles said. That sounded to many people in the room, including Wasfi, like a roadmap to peace. Seeing everything the same way isnt peace, Waddles said. Its not even realistic. We were created to listen, to hear one another. Among the 50-odd listeners in the room was Mark Auslander, director of the MSU Museum. Listening to Wasfi and Waddles play, Auslander told the group he had a vision. It reminded him of a verse the 137th Psalm: By the rivers of Bablyon we sat and wept. The captors ask the captives to sing songs of joy, which is the most terrible pain, and yet is suffused with the pleasure of the memory of the lost home, Jerusalem, Auslander said. He marveled as the music evolved from quietude to agitation to a fragile tranquility. It was honest and yet it returned to the trickle of the water, Auslander said. Everything was the same and everything was different. The mention of the rivers of Babylon reminded Mason of trips the Sister Cities Commission has made to Akuapim South District in Ghana, one of seven sister cities of Lansing. There, the delegation visits slave river, where people took their last bath before the boats carried them away to their new life as slaves. We sing by the rivers of Babylon every time we go, Mason said. The same reference reminded Woonsik Chong, a pastor at Northwest Minister Presbyterian Church in Lansing and a painter with a masters degree in fine arts, of that days headlines, proclaiming a new round of peace talks between North and South Korea. Chong said it took three generations to turn the suffering of the Jewish diaspora into the poetry of the 137th psalm about the same interval since the start of the Korean War in 1950. Im not surprised that it is the third generation in Korea that must make beauty out of what has been a chaos, violence and destruction, Chong said. Also listening at a table in the back of the hall was Zeline Jatu Pritchard, retired chief of women and adolescent health unit at the World Health Organization, who was in Lansing to visit family. Pritchard spent decades working in wartorn African countries like Liberia. Ive seen a lot of death, she said. Ive seen babies on the backs of dead mothers that have been shot. Her voice was a blend of authority, sadness and delight. I listened to the music, she went on. You heard the two gentlemen. They didnt know each other before. But they compromised. They gave and they took. Please continue. This is a worthy cause. The argument that the Lords is not democratic seems to accept that most votes in the House of Commons are taken not on opinions freely made but on instruction from party whips. At least in the Lords there are neutral members and, perhaps more importantly, views from people who are not professional politicians. Is it not possible that this represents democracy? Michael Hale Stourbridge, West Midlands We must put everyday people first I dont doubt that members of the House of Lords are doing their job (Nick Haward, Letters), but that rather misses the point. It is questionable, to say the least, whether the House of Lords should have that job in the first place as it is currently constituted, given that members are either appointed by the state or are there either by accident of birth or history. Whether he or Linda Johnson (Letters) like it or not, a majority of those that voted in the referendum voted out and may well question the legitimacy of the House of Lords to impede that in any way. Its fairly straightforward, the people are sovereign in this matter and nothing should get in the way of that. Mark Thomas Histon, Cambridgeshire It is a pity that Colin Bower (Lords, take note) did not quote the rest of the dictionary definition of democracy but then that would have resulted in no letter. According to my copy of the Oxford English dictionary, the definition goes on to include the statement typically through elected representatives. Now I know that the members of the House of Lords were not elected but then, as I am sure Colin Bower is aware, despite its name the Lords is the junior chamber and can only ultimately advise the Commons. The real problem at the moment seems to me to be the failure of so many parliamentarians to realise the true, full definition of democracy. Both government and opposition MPs must accept their responsibility to uphold their democratic duty to support the true needs of the people they represent, according to their highest knowledge and ability regardless of how popular, or indeed unpopular, that may make them. The result of a referendum does not alter this overriding requirement. Our parliamentarians should have the integrity at least to know that there is never an excuse to create legislation that is likely to be harmful to the health, wealth, security or safety of the UK or its people. In this regard, the Lords did its job. David Curran Feltham Talk of democracy in your letter pages has overlooked the important constitutional principle that no parliament can bind its successor. The previous parliament agreed to commit to abide by the referendum result, but when May called a general election we gained a new parliament with the authority to make its own decisions. This parliament can and should come to its own conclusions, and no constitutional principle is transgressed thereby. Francis Beswick Stretford The breast screening IT mistakes will put more strain on the NHS The breast screening IT gaffe announced by Hunt yesterday is unfortunate and embarrassing. However, the real scandal is that, without any prior discussion with the units who have to deliver it, he has pledged that a recovery plan will be implemented and completed by the end of October. This places an immediate 15-20 per cent increase in workload on breast screening units, most of which are struggling to keep up with current workload. I wonder if he would explain how we are to achieve it? Dr P Kember, breast screening director at Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust Devon I was interested to note that no reference was made to the outsourcing of the breast screening service in your editorial, neither was there mention of the company responsible for the computer systems involved. Its very important to place the responsibility where it belongs and its all too easy to blame the NHS. This, in my view, is disingenuous. Susan Greenall Gainsborough The government must prioritise citizens health over money I was advised that automatic recalls for scans were not automatically offered beyond the age of 70 to continue with them at three year intervals you had to actively request them, which is what I have done so far. If they were available on request, one questions why they were not automatically offered, and the patients could, as before, choose to accept or ignore the advice to continue? Of course, as with many other things, not offering the options saves the government money, apparently their priority on almost anything for which they are now responsible. Wendy Draper Winchester Dropping May Some comments on the Letters page of Tuesday 1 May express surprise that Amber Rudd, having left her job under a cloud, is receiving support from so many fellow MPs. But perhaps they are cheering her because she may have dropped Theresa May into the mire. Susan Alexander Frampton Cotterell, South Gloucestershire The British Museum must make amends Regarding Ethiopia demands Britain return all countrys artefacts held by Victoria and Albert Museum. The Victoria and Albert Museums long-term loan offer of Ethiopian artefacts conceals a crucial fact: the Ethiopian items in the museums possession are stolen from Ethiopia. Offering to lend a stolen item to its rightful owner, to put it mildly, is offensive. And, sadly, the audacious offer came as Ethiopians solemnly observe the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Magdala. Emperor Tewodros II, the visionary and legendary Ethiopian king, lost his life during that historic event in April 1868. The end of the battle also inflicted one of the most brazen embezzlement campaigns in African history. The invading British army took with it loads of objects, including ancient manuscripts, royal regalia, jewellery and personal belongings of the deceased king. Many of the items were auctioned off along the way. Numerous others are currently housed at several museums across Great Britain. The looting has enriched some while robbing Ethiopia of its treasures. Indeed, every piece that was removed from the country is a priceless item that has great importance to its national heritage. Many of the stolen objects that currently adorn the vaults and display cases of British museums also have significant religious meanings to their place of origin, especially to the followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. No monetary value can be placed on that. The entire affair, from the initial theft of the objects to the current loan offer, is wrong and should be corrected for the sake of justice. Every piece of stolen treasure, therefore, must be returned to Ethiopia unconditionally and permanently. Once that task is fully completed, Ethiopia, I presume, will favourably consider loan requests of selected items for exhibitions around the world. Loan arrangements should be conducted in this manner, not as the British museum unashamedly proposed. I hope the British government, and officials of all institutions involved in acquiring and keeping the stolen materials, will see the need for an honourable resolution to this long-delayed issue. Stolen African treasures, no matter where they are, should be returned to their rightful owners in this case the people of Ethiopia. Tewodros Abebe Maryland, USA A positive future? As an ardent Remainer I have been contemplating the future. The only possible bright spot is the annihilation of the Tories at the ballot box by 2025. By then voters will have suffered 15 years of Tory mismanagement and incompetence. Voters of my age will have died or been rendered senile, and the younger generations will have endured a worsening standard of living and limited prospects. Few, apart from the delusional, will vote Tory. Maurizio Moore Brentwood To most Americans, and certainly for people around the world, Rudolph W Giuliani will be most remembered for what he did, said and how he looked, after the attacks of 9/11. For some time after the first of the Twin Towers collapsed, some of his colleagues had no idea where he was. It transpired Giuliani had been two blocks from the south tower, and would emerge, walking northwards amid the smoke, his head and arms covered in ash, offering words of comfort where he could. At a press conference with New York Governor George Pataki a few hours later, he spoke what seemed like truth from the heart. (Reuters (Reuters) The tragedy were undergoing right now is something that weve had nightmares about, he said, before being asked how many deaths and injuries there might be. He replied: The number of casualties, will be more than any of us can bear ultimately. Giulianis performance in those days won over many of his critics, and provided him with a national and international profile - for a time he was nicknamed Americas mayor - that would later lead him to seek the Republican nomination for president. In the 2016 race, he became an early supporter of Donald Trump, spoke at the Republican National Convention and after the reality television stars victory was frequently talked of as likely cabinet member. As it was, his loyalty did not earn him such a post. He still appeared on cable television, defending the president and his administration, but with no official role. Had Trump forgotten him? Apparently not. Giuliani is now back, and how. The 73-year-old is heading the Trump legal team seeking to protect the president against the persistent, probing enquiries of Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller, who is investigating Russias alleged meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion between Trumps campaign and Moscow, has more than 50 questions he wants to put to Trump. He has also let it be known, he is ready to subpoena Trump if he does not agree to be interviewed voluntarily. The Giuliani who has returned to this battlefield is not the man of 9/11. Rather, it is the brawling, knuckle-dustered political fighter, willing to defend the seemingly indefensible and seemingly sharing the opinion of both his boss and his bosss former top strategist Steve Bannon, that the best form of defence is to attack someone and keep on attacking until they drop. Rudy Giuliani says Donald Trump fired James Comey because he wouldn't assure him FBI was not targeting him in Russia probe On Wednesday night, in an appearance that veered from focussed to freewheeling, he spoke to Fox News Sean Hannity for more than half-an-hour, plenty of time in which to make a series of headlines. Primary among these, was the confirmation that Trump had reimbursed his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, $130,000 for a hush money settlement paid to adult actress Stormy Daniels. They funnelled it through a law firm and the president repaid it, Giuliani said. He didnt know about the specifics of it, as far as I know, but he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this. Plenty of people thought that Giuliani, pleased to be back in the spotlight, had slipped up and caused trouble for the president. Last month, Trump told reporters on Air Force One he knew nothing about the $130,000 paid to Daniels on the eve of the election. Daniels lawyer Michael Avenatti leapt up on the comments. This is a stunning revelation, he claimed. Mr Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty But Giuliani did not think he had erred. The same evening, he told the Washington Post Trump had seen his interview with Hannity and was very pleased. And as Trump followed up on Thursday morning with a series of three tweets about the payment that appeared to have written under legal guidance, Giuliani was back on Fox News, revelling in the attention and saying that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should terminate Muellers inquiry. He also claimed the payment to Daniels had been partly made to protect the Trump family from a six year old, false allegation that Trump had had an extramarital affair. If we had to defend this as not being a campaign contribution, I think we could do that, he said. This is for personal reasons. The was the president had been hurt personally, not politically, personally so much - and the First Lady - by some of the false allegations. Not everybody wanted the job that Giuliani now holds. A succession of lawyers, who had counselled Trump to cooperate with Muellers probe, have recently parted company with the president. But it may be Giuliani has been retained less for his legal skills than his loyalty and his willingness to defend Trump down to the wire. Because, for all the media attention given to Muellers probe, Trump knows that just as important as the legal fight is the battle of public perception. Most people by now already have their minds made up about the president, his style and whether or not they are disturbed by the idea of him having sex with an adult actress little more than a year after he married his current and third wife. Trumps priority is not simply to prepare for Muellers questions, but to undermine the credibility of his entire enquiry. And for that, there is no one better equipped than Rudolph Giuliani. Fresh back from Damascus, I was taking my coffee on the Beirut Corniche this week when a neat little Greek warship hove into sight. I picked up my French mandate binoculars they must have travelled in and out of Beirut many times between 1922 and 1946 and espied that F465 was the frigates hull number, of which more later. It was stooging along the Lebanese coastline on an utterly useless task and was supposed along with other naval vessels of the UN force to be preventing Hezbollah from shipping weapons into Lebanon. That was the whole idea conceived by the UN back in 2006 after the latest Hezbollah-Israeli war which Hezbollah did not win and which Israel definitely lost and which also finally did for Tony Blair the following year, we might remind ourselves and which brought yet more international troops to Lebanon. But for some strange reason, it was assumed back in 2006 that Iran was sending weapons to the Hezbollah across the Mediterranean, even though everyone in Lebanon knows that Iran is to the east of Lebanon and that its weapons have always reached Lebanon via Syria which, since it is also to the east of Lebanon, makes sense. In any event, now that Syria is playing the civil war role that Lebanon played between 1975 and 1990 with the Russians, the Americans, the Iranians, the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Iraqis, Afghan militiamen, Isis, Al-Nusrah, Kurds, Turks and Uncle Tom Cobbly all playing their various roles it might surprise readers to know that it is to yet another country that the Syrians have recently been paying attention. For some days ago, Bashar al-Assad held a private meeting of Syrian journalists in Damascus and informed them that relations had resumed at a very low and humble level between Qatar and Syria. They were not under any circumstances to quote him as saying this, nor to give any presidential credence to the story. But they could mention it in passing, stressing that this was not a resumption of relations, merely two nations maintaining contact. But it makes an intriguing story. Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution Show all 10 1 /10 Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution The reconstructed Khaled Bin al-Waleed Mosque is framed by a damaged building, in the old city of Homs AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution Sumaya Bairuty, 38, an English-language teacher who works in the capital Damascus, speaks with The Associated Press while as she walks to her parents house in the war-damaged Bab Dreib neighborhood of Homs AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution Bairuty walks to her parents house AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution A family that returned to live in their apartment inside a heavily damaged building hang their carpets in the sun AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution A car drives through a devastated part of the old city AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution A pigeon keeper watches his pigeons fly from the roof of his home AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution Two people carry goods on a bicycle in the war-damaged neighborhood AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution Children play football in the street AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution It has been almost four years since the last rebels and civilians withdrew from the remaining strongholds in the ancient heart of Homs in Syria AP Inside Syria's obliterated capital of the revolution A man rides his bicycle past a banner showing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad AP For years ago, nearer the start of the Syrian war, a clutch of nuns were released by their kidnappers in Syria through the joint intervention of Assad, the Emir of Qatar and General Abbas Ibrahim, the doyen of the Lebanese intelligence service. Indeed, the said nuns actually expressed their appreciation to both Assad and the Emir. Rumour had it that a lot of money was paid for their release so much that, as I have reported before, they must have been the most expensive nuns in the world. But it is Qatar which we should be thinking about. Qatar is great because it has oil and liquid gas and the al-Jazeera television channel. But it is alone, praying that the Saudis and the Emiratis dont invade it, a tiny peninsula containing a huge American military base but much abused by Donald Trump himself. Its royal families might be emperors but they have no empire; imagine Britain without India. But if Qatar was to rescue Syria when the war there is over if its vast wealth could rebuild that ancient land then Qatar would have an empire for its emperors. Not that Qatar would ever own Syria far from it, Syrians would fight to stop that but it would have, as we say in the Middle East, considerable influence. It would have power. And a power with a Mediterranean coastline that even Saudi Arabia doesnt have. Is that what we are seeing the start of right now? Of course, the Russians would also be involved and lets remember that the Saudi king was a guest of Putin not that long ago and perhaps the Iranians, in a marginal way. The idea, by the way, that the Iranians dominate Syria is a myth, much repeated by Benjamin Netanyahu. Nor, I might add, are they terribly popular. On all my travels, I havent seen an Iranian on the Syrian front lines for more than a year. Hezbollah, yes. And of course, the Syrian army would play a prominent part in the rebuilding of Syria. If Assad survives and Ive yet to meet anyone in Syria who thinks otherwise then the army will survive. Syrian president Bashar Al-Assad releases footage of him walking into work hours after air strike Not many weeks ago, Syrian television showed troops, tanks, transporters and trucks heading south for the final battle at eastern Ghouta. It was assumed that the purpose was to frighten the remaining Islamists in Ghouta. But the real reason was quite different. The army wanted to find out how quickly it could move 25,000 troops from Aleppo and the north to Damascus and the south. It took just 48 hours. In other words, this is not just a fighting army which has survived. It is a mobile one. Which brings us to another little point that bothers Syria. Along its border with Israeli-occupied Golan, there are a variety of militias some of them Islamists who have a marginally good relationship with Israel. The Israelis have even taken some of their wounded to Israeli hospitals. The Israelis have never bombed them. They have only bombed the Syrians and the Iranians and Hezbollah. So what, if the war ended, would the Israelis do with this little cul-de sac below Golan? Watch Assads soldiers take it back? Or try to set up a Syrian version of the occupation zone which Israel controlled in southern Lebanon from 1982 till 2000? In other words, would Israel try to take some Syrian territory in the aftermath of the war and claim that it was necessary to do so to keep the Iranians, the mythic Persian hordes, from the Israeli border? Now theres a thought, albeit that the wiser generals in the Israeli army would not wish to take on the most ruthless and battle-hardened army in the Middle East which is the Syrian army. An interesting thought to ponder as I finished my coffee on the Beirut Corniche this week and padded to my office to look up the name of Greeces frigate in the Mediterranean. Hull Number F465, it transpires, is a ship named Themistocles. So that was the chap I was looking at. Ancient Athenian. Conqueror of the Persians, wasnt he? Vince Cable was not in favour of overstating things when I met him at the Liberal Democrats HQ across Parliament Square from the House of Commons last week. Would his partys opposition to Brexit help in the local elections? Its helpful in some areas, but I wouldnt overstate it. Did he think a Labour breakaway might force a realignment of the centre of politics? I wont say its likely but its possible. Im not overstating it. I think people are getting a bit excited at the moment. No one could accuse Sir Vince of getting carried away. He predicted modest net gains in Thursdays elections, but pointed out the party is defending huge majorities in Eastleigh, Sutton and South Lakeland. He said the Lib Dems had worked hard to ensure European nationals can exercise their vote, and he said there are a number of areas where traditional Tory voters are disgusted by Brexit. Local elections 2018 in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Local elections 2018 in pictures Local elections 2018 in pictures Jeremy Corbyn outside a polling station in Islington Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures Theresa May and her husband Philip arrive at a polling station to vote in local elections in central London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Boris Johnson leaves after voting in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable with his wife Rachel at Twickenham polling station Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures A man enters a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A man fixes a sign to the door of a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A poll clerk hangs a polling station sign outside the Victoria and Jubilee Halls in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, some 45 miles west of London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Voters at The Vyne polling station in Knaphill, part of the Woking borough, which is one of five councils working with the Cabinet Office to trial the use of ID in polling stations PA On Brexit itself, he said he was genuinely baffled by Theresa Mays governments resistance to a customs union: They could have bought off an awful lot of business opposition. They could have simply quietly accepted staying in the customs union: it is perfectly compatible with Brexit. It wouldnt leave Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, with much to do, I said: Well, thats not a terribly powerful reason for persisting with it. How seriously did he take the threats from hard Brexiters of resignations? Ive always assumed that the Brexit people would almost stomach anything to get past independence day, but theyre making quite a good impersonation of people who will do silly things. Assuming Brexit happens, would the Lib Dems become the party of re-entering the EU? He was cautious: That is a debate weve got to have if Brexit goes ahead. We havent had it yet. I do recognise the practical problems You would have to make the case for Europe on a different basis. We dont know whether it would include monetary union probably not but it would be used in the argument. He would rather stick with the pre-Brexit debate now is the time to take avoiding action but I wanted to know if he thought our actual departure from the EU would finally unfreeze British politics and allow a new centre party to form. There are 33 new parties registered in the last few months, he said. The only one people pay much attention to is one individual who claims to have lots of money. I havent met the guy. So Im not sure how serious this stuff is. We are the party occupying that space at the moment. I have an open mind about how we would work with other people. It doesnt have to be in any particular form. Ive been through the SDP history, so Im well aware of the pitfalls and the positives of that. House of Lords vote out proposal for 'checks and controls' at Irish border after Brexit So if we do get a substantial breakaway from the Labour Party, then, yes, post-Brexit realignment might happen. There are all kinds of scenarios and I dont want to be dogmatic about them. He insisted that there is a gap in the market: Whether or not Jacob Rees-Mogg is head of the Conservative Party, certainly his soulmates will be, and the Labour Party is now very firmly under the grip of the Corbynites. So there is ample opportunity for a party that is liberal and social democratic, which is what we are. Something else that might disrupt politics would be another recession. He is famous for having predicted the last one. Is another one due? Again, overstatement is not his style: Theres a reasonable possibility, two years down the track, that things might get very difficult. Whats happened in the US is clearly unsustainable. Running a pro-cyclical deficit on a massive scale and protectionism: its a lethal combination. There are these recent signs that the resurrection of the eurozone probably wasnt as vigorous as we had hoped so there may be trouble there; and, when Britain is struggling with post-Brexit transition, you can see a constellation of quite difficult things. On the other hand, he does not expect the political landscape to change that much. When I asked which Tory leader he expected to be fighting at the next election, he said: I think Theresa May actually. Shes got a lot more stamina, and it serves a lot of peoples interest to have her there. Would Tory MPs really risk another campaign under her, I asked. Well, if she digs in and says, Come and get me, shed have to do something pretty bad to be pushed out. I dont know. A politician refusing to overstate things and admitting he didnt know the answer to a question? The Liberal Democrats certainly continue to be different. Today, for the first time since universal suffrage was introduced, British voters were denied the right to vote despite being on the electoral register. Five councils are trialling the voter ID scheme, requiring voters to bring proof of identity to with them to the polling station. But whilst they claim that the scheme is defending democracy, the government are using a sledgehammer to crack a nut and, in the process, further disenfranchising those who are already least likely to participate in elections. Whats more, their obstinate approach to the policy suggests they have more sinister motivations. Whilst we can all agree that electoral integrity is important, there is no evidence that widespread voter impersonation is taking place. None of the five trial boroughs, for example, have reported a single case of voter impersonation taking place in the last decade. In the 2017 general election, only one conviction for it was made out of nearly 45 million votes cast. To improve democracy, we should constantly seek to widen participation and engage people. Any barrier to voting, therefore, should be backed up by substantial evidence of voter fraud. In this case, no such evidence exists. Local elections 2018 in pictures Show all 8 1 /8 Local elections 2018 in pictures Local elections 2018 in pictures Jeremy Corbyn outside a polling station in Islington Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures Theresa May and her husband Philip arrive at a polling station to vote in local elections in central London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Boris Johnson leaves after voting in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures Liberal Democrats leader Vince Cable with his wife Rachel at Twickenham polling station Rex Local elections 2018 in pictures A man enters a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A man fixes a sign to the door of a polling station as voting begins in local government elections in London Reuters Local elections 2018 in pictures A poll clerk hangs a polling station sign outside the Victoria and Jubilee Halls in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, some 45 miles west of London AFP/Getty Local elections 2018 in pictures Voters at The Vyne polling station in Knaphill, part of the Woking borough, which is one of five councils working with the Cabinet Office to trial the use of ID in polling stations PA Even if voter impersonation was happening, it is almost impossible that it could affect election results on a large scale. Because of the way elections operate in the UK, it is only possible to steal one vote through impersonation. To meaningfully influence an election by impersonation, it would take thousands of fraudsters and a near impossible level of organisation. It is simply too impractical to change an election result through voter impersonation. As it stands, the voter ID scheme would disenfranchise more people than the number who have ever had their vote stolen. The real problem with the voter ID proposal is that it poses a bigger threat to democracy than the fraud it seeks to prevent. According to government figures, around 10 per cent of us dont have a passport or a driving license. Under the proposed system, these people could be denied a vote. Universal participation in elections is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy, it should not be conditional on whether you have ID. Recommended British voters furious at being denied right to cast ballot over ID The government has argued that you need an ID to pick up a parcel, so why shouldnt we need an ID to vote? The difference is that requiring an ID to vote could prevent millions of people from taking part in our democracy. And unlike picking up a parcel, if you forget your ID to vote you cant come back the next day. Exercising your democratic right should not be treated like a simple transaction, it is an integral part of citizenship which politicians should encourage, not restrict. Although most people in the UK do have some form of ID, there are certain groups that would be disproportionately affected by voter ID requirements. They are also the groups that are already the least likely to vote young people, the unemployed, ethnic minorities and people in poverty. This is a particularly worrying aspect of the plan that could worsen the already woeful representativeness of our democratic institutions. In the wake of the Windrush scandal, we should be all too mindful of those people who, through no fault of their own, do not have important pieces of documentation. Fine you might think this is just a trial. But the government has already been warned of the disastrous effects of voter ID. Charities and democracy groups have already pointed out that the proposals could damage participation and disproportionately affect certain groups so why are they plowing ahead regardless? The answer may lie in the groups that are likely to be excluded, those who tend to be poorer, younger and more diverse. They are all groups who also tend to vote Labour. Whilst I hope that the Government would never try to subvert democracy so blatantly, it is deeply unsettling that Conservative voters are likely to be the least affected by the measures. As chaos unfolds in the areas that have trialled voter ID requirements today, I hope the government sees sense and abandon their plans. The ability to turn up to a polling station, give your name, and have a say in how the country is run is one of the best aspects of our political system. It would be a grave mistake to threaten this for the sake of a problem that doesnt exist. A cancer charity has accused health chiefs of significant mixed messaging on the cervical cancer screening scandal as the Chief Medical Officer confirmed the tests are 99% reliable. Donal Buggy, of the Irish Cancer Society, said women in Ireland feel confusion, concern, frustration and fear after it emerged that women with the disease were not told about wrongly interpreted smear results. He was speaking at a press conference in Dublin convened by Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan aimed at giving a clear message to women concerned about their tests and potential cancer risk. Expand Close CervicalCheck programme / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp CervicalCheck programme At the start of the week it was revealed that an audit by CervicalCheck the national screening programme of 1,482 women diagnosed with cervical cancer since 2008 had found potential errors in 208 cases, as tests showed no abnormality when they should have been given a cancer warning. The majority of the 208 women 162 were not initially told of the outcome of the audit. Of the 208, 17 have since died. It has since emerged that a further 1,518 women with the cancer in the same period have not been audited but health chiefs stress the number affected by potential errors in this group is likely to be lower. Senior health figures remained unable to give numbers on Thursday for the second group on how many women have since been audited, found to have potential test errors or contacted regarding this but said this work is ongoing. @SimonHarrisTD @campaignforleo @morningireland As the woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and prompt but also PUBLIC. Too much has already happened behind closed doors. #CervicalCheckScandal https://t.co/uoRaRxm6mV Vicky Phelan (@PhelanVicky) May 3, 2018 Mr Buggy said: I am here this morning following a week of confusion, concern, frustration and fear for very many women right around Ireland. There has been significant mixed messaging and thats something I feel we need to get right and needs to stop today. He said he wanted clarity for the 3,000 women diagnosed with cervical cancer in the past 10 years and for women involved in the screening programme who had been given negative results. No women will be reassured by an investigation, a commission or a political conversation this weekend. They need to have clear information. Under questioning, Dr Holohan agreed that the screening programme was 99% reliable, with National Cancer Control Programme director Dr Jerome Coffey saying there is a tiny proportion of false negatives less than one in 100. Dr Holohan said: The evidence that we have before us is not evidence of a clinical failure in relation to the programme. Its not evidence that people who have been through the programme can have less confidence in what the programme has said about their result. He said people with normal smears have no need for an emergency repeat test but will be given one after contact with their GP if wished. Meanwhile, Health Service Executive director-general Tony OBrien is to take temporary leave of absence from the board of a US company he joined earlier this year. In the Dail, deputy Joan Burton confronted Health Minister Simon Harris. She said: At a time when women are really, really hurting to most women this is just extraordinary that the CEO would be allowed by you as minister or the previous minister to take a second lucrative appointment. Mr Harris said the contract allowed the health service chief, who has faced calls to step down immediately ahead of his planned contract end in summer, to take up employment, where the minister sanctions it, if for less than five hours a month. He added: Quite rightly, considering the very important issues you highlight for womens health and the need for him to focus on that absolutely exclusively for the remaining few weeks of his term, he has appropriately taken a leave of absence. Tanaiste Simon Coveney said Mr OBrien would be focused on contributing in a positive manner to the work needed to put the problems right. I think that is the appropriate course of action. Bank of America Merrill Lynch will relocate 125 jobs to Dublin as it overhauls its banking business in the UK and Europe in preparation for Brexit. Documents filed in the UK show the US banking behemoth intends to begin moving employees across to offices in Dublin in July and aims to compete the relocations by the end of year with the conclusion of a cross-border merger of its EU and UK banking entities. It also confirmed the reorganisation will trigger a recruitment drive. The filings state BAML will achieve the role changes by the "voluntary relocation of relevant staff" as well as "new hires". BAML announced its intention to recruit more staff in Dublin last year when it unveiled its Brexit plans. The group's decision to pick Ireland as its new EU hub delivered a much-needed boost to the Government's efforts to attract Brexit-related jobs after a number of prominent corporations like AIG and Lloyds of London opted for other European cities. Corporate documents filed in Ireland and the UK reveal the North Carolina-based giant fired the starting gun on its Brexit overhaul in March. The overhaul will result see BAML splitting its existing EU headquarters in London into a broker dealer and a banking business in Dublin to serve EU clients. Its new Dublin headquarters will be bolstered by sales and trading operations in Paris as well as its London-based entity. According to a merger notice filed at Companies House, the majority of the relocated positions relate to "control and support function roles (including but not limited to finance, risk, compliance and technology and operations)". The document also states wholesale credit are also likely to be swept up in the move. BAML's new Dublin unit will be led by vice-chairman Bruce Thompson, a former group chief financial officer and head of risk for the Bank of America group and chaired by Anne Finucane, vice chairman at BAML, a member of the group's executive management team. Ms Finucane is also on the board of the American Ireland Fund. In March, Alex Wilmot-Sitwell, head of BAML's European operations resigned from the bank, in an unexpected but reportedly amicable move. Mr Wilmot-Sitwell played a pivotal role in the bank's Brexit planning and had been named as chairman of the Dublin-based unit earlier this year. There are now five Robert A.M. Stern Architects projects similar to 15 Central Park West under construction in Manhattan Robert Stern, the former dean of the Yale School of Architecture, has designed dozens of buildings in widely varied styles across New York City. But then he designed 15 Central Park West, a soaring limestone condominium built in 2008 in a faux-prewar style. Ever since, developers have mostly wanted one thing from him: more of the same. It's understandable. Before it was even completed, 15 CPW broke New York records. In 2007, Sanford Weill, then chairman of Citigroup Inc., set a city record by paying more than $6,400 a square foot for his $43.7m penthouse. Celebrities, including Alex Rodriguez, Robert De Niro, and Sting, filled its halls. In the initial frenzy, apartments were being flipped just months after they were bought. During the financial crisis, when the rest of the real estate market floundered, the building became its own overheated market. In 2010, Min Kao, the executive chairman of Garmin Corp., paid almost $10,000 per square foot via an LLC for his 41st-floor condo. There are now five similar Robert A.M. Stern Architects projects under construction in Manhattan. Developers hope each will have the specific appeal that became 15 CPW's hallmark: all the graciousness and convenience of a prewar co-op without any of the hassle. Unlike the 100-year-old buildings that line much of Fifth Avenue and Central Park West, 15 CPW is relatively new, which means everything works. The apartments are configured for a modern family (large kitchen, fewer bedrooms, expansive living areas) rather than, say, a household that relied on multiple live-in staff members. And most important, it's a condominium, which means that if a buyer has the cash, she can move right in - New York co-ops have notoriously restrictive boards known to reject celebrities and foreign buyers. And unlike many co-ops, residents of 15 CPW can rent out their apartments. "Fifteen Central Park West changed real estate," says Donna Olshan, president of Olshan Realty Inc. and publisher of the Olshan Luxury Market Report. "All of a sudden it became extremely cool and elitist to live in that building, and it set the tone for condominiums that came after." It may seem odd to try to build an exact copy of 15 CPW, albeit smaller or at a less prestigious address. But "it was seen as a successful template," says Jonathan Miller, president and chief executive officer of Miller Samuel Inc., a real estate appraiser and consultant. "Why on Earth would 220 Central Park South use the same architect as a building that's a quarter-mile away facing the park? Because it sold." And Miller says Manhattan isn't even close to saturated with Stern condos. Unlike buildings by other starchitects such as Frank Gehry or Jean Nouvel, which are often meant to stand out with striking designs, 15 CPW and its ilk are meant to blend in. And that's why Stern is building more of them than his peers. "The genre of [starchitecture] is defined by creating something unique," he says. "The multiple versions of 15 Central Park West are a conservative version of something new." Editor's note: Data below excludes penthouses, which can throw off average prices. 20 East End Ave Location: The far eastern reaches of the Upper East Side, with river views for some apartments. Neighbouring buildings: Mostly postwar co-ops. The story: Thirty-four of the original 41 units have sold. That includes a couple of units that were purchased and flipped. The building already has residents and an active buyer pool, with demand consistently matching availability. The most expensive unit, aside from the penthouses, is an 11th-floor, five-bedroom apartment with almost 5,000 square feet, which is listed for $15.5m. Average price per square foot: $2,860 250 West 81st St Location: The heart of the Upper West Side, nestled among reliable restaurants and shops. Neighbouring buildings: To the west of Broadway, you'll find endless rows of gracious brick co-ops along either side of West End Avenue. A few blocks over are the co-ops of Central Park West. The story: 250 W. 81st has 25 active listings, 20 of them in contract. The apartments are fairly manageable in size, ranging from 1,571 sq. ft. to 3,836 sq ft, and relatively affordable: A two-bedroom on the fifth floor costs $3.9m; at the top end, a five-bedroom on 16 goes for $14.8m. The price per square foot is a bargain, too. "They didn't try to kill everybody with the price," Olshan says. "They built the right mix of product, and it moved." Average price per square foot of all active/in-contract listings: $2,891 30 Park Place Location: Straddling the edge of Tribeca and the Financial District, the building went up in one of the wealthiest ZIP codes in the US. Neighbouring buildings: There's a combination of office buildings, lofts, and super-high-end luxury condominiums. The newly converted-to-residential Woolworth Building, with its $110m penthouse, is next door. The story: The building contains a Four Seasons Hotel and an affiliated set of apartments. The 157 residential units occupy its upper floors and offer access to all of the Four Seasons' amenities, including a 75-foot pool, double-height gym, spa, salon, and catering. The cheapest apartment, according to StreetEasy, is a two-bedroom unit on the 53rd floor that costs $4.4m. The most expensive, excluding the penthouses, is a 19-room, 8,100-sq ft apartment on 74 that's asking $26.2m. Average price per square foot: $3,330 520 Park Ave Location: Technically the Upper East Side, but on the border of Midtown East, an area dominated by massive offices and banks. Neighbouring buildings: It's a few blocks south of the traditional limestone beauties that crowd most of Park Avenue. On the flip side, residents are only half a block from Barneys New York. The story: There are currently two active listings and 10 past listings, not including the penthouses, according to StreetEasy. Every apartment takes up an entire floor, offering 360-degree views of the city. Because none have closed, the only information available is the asking price, which means that true prices could be below what's listed. The two active listings on the 19th and 32nd floors, respectively, range in price from $4,443 a square foot to $6,838 a square foot. Average price per square foot, taken with a grain of salt: $5,144 220 Central Park South Location: Just north of Billionaires' Row, this does its peers on 57th Street one better by being directly on Central Park South. Carnegie Hall, should you want it, is a short walk away. Neighbouring buildings: It's in expensive company, standing side by side with some of the world's priciest residential real estate. The story: We don't know much, to be honest. Given that 220 Central Park South isn't releasing sales information, there are no active or past listings on StreetEasy, and the website lists zero availability. However, there's one indication that easily puts it at the top of the pack: Vornado Realty Trust CEO Steven Roth, the building's developer, is on record saying it will cost more than $5,000 per sq ft to build. Developers, as a rule, aren't in the business of losing money - so the average price per square foot here should easily soar above those of its peers. Average price per square foot: Well above $5,000. (Bloomberg) SJP Properties Co. and Aetna Realty are set to spend up to $1bn on a project beside a Newark, New Jersey, commuter-rail hub, the latest in a spree of upscale developments that have brought new optimism to the long-suffering city. SJP, of Parsippany, and Aetna, of New York, envision offices, stores, a hotel, homes and a large public plaza next to the Broad Street hub. The station is one of two in New Jersey's largest city, the other being Newark Penn Station, a mile to the southeast. Steven J. Pozycki, founder and CEO of SJP, said it will be critical to find a company to anchor the development. The location, which is accessible by mass transit and car, and minutes from Newark Liberty International Airport, should act as a magnet, he said. The 2 million square-foot (185,000 sq m) project will run along University Avenue and Orange Street, on the site of a former Westinghouse Electric Co. factory. Back in the 1960s, riots scared developers away from Newark. With a reputation for crime and poverty, the city, just 10 miles (16 kilometres) west of Manhattan, has largely missed out on the urban revival other US cities have enjoyed. Developers plan to spend $700m to $1bn on the project. Other projects include the construction of a new Prudential Financial office tower, the development of an abandoned department store into a mixed-use property that includes a Whole Foods supermarket, and the conversion of the old New Jersey Bell skyscraper into apartments. SJP helped build the Prudential tower and a headquarters for Panasonic Corp. (Bloomberg) Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:42 am Patrick Patterson and the Volunteers of America Michigan, which named him president and CEO just last July, have parted ways over differences. After Pattersons departure, four members resigned from the VOAs nine-member Lansing committee, which is a subcommittee of the board of directors. Patterson was a longtime VOA executive in Lansing before he took the statewide post. VOA Board Chairman Don McCann confirmed the departure of Patterson, which is being called a resignation. He said that Pattersons predecessor, Alex Brodrick, has come out of retirement to return to his old post on an interim basis while the VOA looks for a new chief executive. Meanwhile, in another development, the financially stressed VOA and Holy Cross Services announced they are discussing a take over by the latter of Lansing services. Holy Cross is a Catholic organization based in Clinton with services around the state, including a womens facility in Lansing. Weve gotten so big up there that our resources may not be able to fund it for the long term, said Brodrick, who is in VOAs Southfield headquarters. Were trying to make sure theres someone there to take care of the 7,200 people served by VOA in Lansing. Brodrick said he could not comment on whether the proposed takeover played a role in Pattersons departure. He said he and the VOAs chief operating officer have been looking at this for a long time. A spokeswoman for Holy Cross Services said Patterson was not involved in the new development. City Pulse learned of Pattersons departure, which was effective Feb. 28, from a source last week. The VOA had announced neither his departure nor Brodricks return. Asked what happened with Patterson, McCann issued what he said was a joint statement by the VOA and Patterson that extolled Patterson personally and said: We had some differences of opinion on how to run the agency and grow into the future and have respectfully agreed to part ways. McCann declined to comment on the boards differences with Patterson because they were a personnel matter. Asked if Pattersons departure resulted from either his or the boards desire to make changes in VOA operations, McCann said, It was a little of both. Patterson joined the VOA in Lansing in 2000 after working for the city of Lansing and serving on the VOAs board. He rose to executive vice president while overseeing Lansing operations. Patterson was a highly regarded local leader during that time who was known for innovative programming and a get-thingsdone attitude. One Lansing fundraising executive, who asked not to be named, said his departure was a shock. Patterson is credited with developing medical and dental programs as well as one that helps to identify government benefits to which homeless individuals may be entitled. McCann confirmed that three or four members of the Lansing committee had resigned. He declined to name them or provide a list of Lansing committee members. One of those who quit, Jerry Jennings of East Lansing, declined to comment on whether the resignations were connected to Pattersons departure. I felt my services to the VOA had reached an end, Jennings said about his own resignation. The other three who quit are local developer Kevin McGraw, who was the committee chairman; attorney John Pepich; and Samuel Johnson, an executive with NorthWest Initiatives. They could not be reached for comment. Jennings was the only committee member who also served on the board, from which he also resigned. Jennings said he was the only board member not from southeast Michigan. THE export lairage yard of Charleville cattle exporter Jerry Casey was a hive of activity last week as he and his handlers prepared a consignment of live Aberdeen Angus maiden heifers for export to Romania. Located at Bulgaden in County Limerick, the loading of the 90 cattle aged from one and a half to two years was being supervised by veterinary inspectors from the Irish Department of Agriculture and from the Romanian cattle importing company, who were importing the cattle to improve the breeding stock of the suckler herd in Romania. The cattle were being moved in two specially equipped transporters, each with two drivers to comply with international long-distance haulage regulations. Their itinerary took them from Ireland via Rosslare ferry to France for one of the four regulation stop-overs on their journey which took them through Germany, Austria, Hungary before reaching Romanian territory. Animals can be a little wild and skittish after being out on the grazing pastures and out of contact with humans, so the health and safety of both the handlers and the animals is top priority at the lairage yard. Jerry Casey, who comes from a Charleville family long associated with the cattle trade in the south of Ireland, explained that it is imperative that every precaution is taken to ensure the safety of the handlers. We also have to be certain that the animals are in top condition leaving Ireland, and that they will maintain that condition on arrival at their destination, hence the presence of the veterinary inspectors, he said. The consumption of beef in Romania is low at 5.6kgs per capita, when one considers that 29kgs of pork is eaten per capita. They also eat 2.3kgs of sheep and goats meat per capita respectively. The aim is to grow the beef market in the country, hence the drive to improve the quality of the national herd by importing live heifers from Ireland. The potential impact of Brexit on the Irish economy, particularly on the Irish agri-food sector, has been discussed and debated the length and breadth of the country for the last year and a half and it will continue up to and beyond March 29 next, when the UK leaves the European Union. For Irish farmers, one of the key concerns relates to the impact that Brexit might have on the EU budget and, especially, on the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) budget post-2020. The European Commissions Reflection Paper on the Future of EU Finances, published last June, acknowledged the gap in EU finances from the United Kingdoms withdrawal and from the financing needs of new priorities and concluded that hard choices will have to be made. The commissions contribution to the Informal Leaders Meeting on February 23 noted that the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the union will mean the loss of a significant contributor to the financing of the unions policies and programmes. In a speech I gave to more than 700 farmers in Kilkenny two weeks ago, I said that in the absence of more money from member states, there will be a cut to the CAP budget, and theres no point trying to sugar-coat that fact. Remember, the European Commission cannot run a financial deficit. So, against the backdrop of Brexit and the 12bn hole it is blowing in the overall European budget as well as other priorities such as security, migration and defence that have grown in prominence in recent years the CAP budget is being cut by less than 5pc. I regard this as a very fair outcome for Irish farmers, particularly given the challenging circumstances in which the budget has been framed. Moreover, it vindicates the argument I have been making that the CAP needs to be adequately funded to support farmers and the wider agri-food sector, which supports millions of farmers throughout the EU and which is Irelands largest indigenous sector. Of course, if member states agree to contribute more money, this cut will be reduced. Everywhere I go throughout Europe and every time I meet Irish farmers and farm leaders, I am constantly reminded of the vital importance of direct payments as essential income support. I have listened very carefully to these messages and have, therefore, decided to prioritise the protection of direct payments in the new budget. As a result, direct payments will not fall by more than 4pc in any member state. In fact, the proportion of the overall CAP budget accounted for by direct payments will now increase slightly to around 72pc of the budget (from 70pc presently). Moreover, we are proposing a cap of payments at 60,000 per farmer. The savings generated from this capping can be redistributed to smaller farmers. This should serve to further mitigate the impact on the incomes of the small and medium-sized farms, which are the heartbeat of rural Ireland. Rural development is also a very important part of the CAP. Reflecting that rural development is a shared endeavour, funded by both the EU and at a national level, our proposal is to achieve savings at EU level by asking the Irish Government and the other member states to increase their contribution to rural development. This will allow public support to rural development to remain largely unchanged and ensure that farmers who are working the land in areas of natural constraint (ANCs) will not receive any reduction in this support. This budget was prepared on the basis that there would be no increase in member states contributions to the EU budget. However, member states can still decide to contribute more, and both the Budget Commissioner Gunther Oettinger and I have been calling for them to do so. A number of EU leaders, including Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, have supported this call and it could yet well be the case that the European Council will agree to increase the size of the budget, with potentially positive consequences for the CAP budget and the support for Irish farmers. This budget has been about choices, and the European Commission has chosen to maintain a strong and well-funded Common Agricultural Policy. We have also chosen to prioritise the protection of direct payments, recognising their vital contribution to farm incomes and, through capping, we have chosen to focus on small and medium-sized farmers. In the coming weeks, the commission will publish its legislative proposals for the next CAP, which will include a specific set of measures to support young farmers. This is a fair budget, which will ensure EU support of 365bn for millions of European farmers, including tens of thousands in Ireland. Phil Hogan is EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Proposed cuts to the CAP budget will make farming less attractive to young people, a farmer in the west warned. Padraic Joyce, who is a dairy and beef farmer in Islandeady, near Castlebar, Co Mayo, told the Irish Independent that conditions in the west of Ireland make farming already a difficult task. "Some farmers rely on payments for the majority of their income. It's more costly to farm in this region than other parts of Ireland because of conditions, and a cut will mean less farmers going forward," he said. "It's an increase in CAP budget we need here, not a decrease." Mr Joyce, who has a 100-cow dairy herd, added that more needs to be done to show consumers how important the CAP budget is when it comes to supplying high quality, affordable food to supermarkets. "There's a disconnect between consumers and CAP at the moment. In the 1960s, 30pc of shoppers' incomes went on groceries but today that is 13pc - that's because of CAP regulation. An education programme needs to be put in place to communicate this to consumers and bridge the divide." He said that many farmers used the CAP payments and other payments to help pay for extra feed during the recent fodder crisis and that a possible cut wouldn't be good for farmer morale. "There was an eight-month winter where farmers would've used the CAP budget to buy feed or pay merchants. The Government and TDs have to highlight the importance of CAP and ensure we get an increase in the budget." Mr Joyce and his wife Breege are one of four farms across the country that will be opening their gates as part of Agri Aware's National Open Farm Day, with the aim of promoting CAP this bank holiday Monday, May 7. IFA President Joe Healy said the announcement by Agriculture Minister Michael Creed on the imposition of compulsorily electronic sheep tagging on all sheep from October 1 is adding insult to injury after the fodder crisis and the financial challenges sheep farmers have had to endure this winter. He said it is astonishing that Minister Creed would impose further costs and bureaucracy on farmers on the same day that Brussels has proposed a cut to CAP Direct Payments. The Minister is ignoring farmers and appears to be dancing to the tune of the meat factories, which are pushing hardest for EID. Sheep farmers will be really angry with this announcement from the Minister as they see everybody benefiting except farmers, who will have to pick up all of the costs. In addition, it comes on top of the Clean Sheep policy which the Minister imposed earlier this year and it has caused immense hardship for the sector. Read More IFA National Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said it was unacceptable that Minister Creed did not engage in any meaningful consultation with farmers on this move. He said it appears that a small few people are dictating the pace and 35,000 farmers are being asked to pick up the bill. This is unfair and not a good way to do business. Minister Creed has tried to argue EID is necessary to win some additional market access. However, he said the real issue holding up market access to the US, Japan and China on sheep meat is TSE and scrapie and this is not being addressed by the Department of Agriculture. Neither the Minister nor the Department of Agriculture can explain how New Zealand enjoys access to all of these markets and they have no tagging or identification system at all for sheep, he said. Meanwhile, ICSA sheep chairman John Brooks has described the introduction of compulsory EID tagging for all sheep as completely over the top on the part of the Department of Agriculture. It would appear the Department have been hoodwinked on this. Up to now even the most ardent supporter of EID tagging consented that it should never be a requirement for lambs moving from farm of origin to the meat plant. In addition, there has been no promise of a reduction paperwork for the farmer. Costs have been mounting up for sheep farmers in recent months. In the middle of a busy spring we had the confused roll out of Clean Livestock Policy (CLP) for sheep and now this. There is no justification for adding this extra cost burden onto sheep farmers at a time when so many are struggling to stay afloat. Amid criticism from farming organisation over the introduction of mandatory electronic tagging for the sheep sector, Meat Industry Ireland has said the move is necessary. The Minister for Agriculture announced that electronic identification for all sheep sold would be necessary from October 1. Farming organisations said the move is unnecessary. IFA President Joe Healy said it is adding insult to injury after the fodder crisis and the financial challenges sheep farmers have had to endure this winter. However, a spokesman for, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) has said that it is a necessary step to further underpin our sheep traceability system and will put the sector on a sound footing for future development. Cormac Healy of MII said: The extension of EID to all sheep ensures that Ireland keeps pace with developments in other major sheep producing member states in the EU. "This is critically important to the positioning of Irish lamb in the marketplace and to competing for key customer accounts. He went on to say that while the industry is working to gain access to new international markets such as the US, Japan and China, this announcement will be an important enabler to progressing these applications and ultimately delivering new international market access opportunities for Irish lamb exports. IFA National Sheep Chairman Sean Dennehy said it was unacceptable that Minister Creed did not engage in any meaningful consultation with farmers on this move. He said it appears that a small few people are dictating the pace and 35,000 farmers are being asked to pick up the bill. According to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe no more than 10 companies have claimed tax relief under the Government's scheme. Photo: Justin Farrelly The take-up of the Government's Knowledge Development Box (KDB) tax-relief scheme by companies has to date fallen far short of initial estimates. According to Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe no more than 10 companies have claimed tax relief under the Government's scheme - costing the State around 5m to date in tax relief. The KDB was introduced in the 2015 Finance Act and it is a tax relief on the profits earned from the exploitation of patents, copyrighted software and Intellectual Property (IP) for small companies, provided that the IP was developed through R&D carried out in Ireland. The figures have been provided in a written Dail reply to Fianna Fail finance spokesman, Michael McGrath. Mr McGrath said yesterday: "While it may be too early to draw any definitive conclusions on the scheme, the take-up so far is dramatically less than the Government predicted back in October 2015. "At that time, the estimate was that the tax foregone from the scheme would be 31m in 2016 and 50m in a full year. The promotion of value-added Research and Development is an important part of our investment offering and the effectiveness of this scheme needs to be kept under review." In his written Dail reply, Mr Donohoe said that the figures provided are preliminary. He added that the first corporation tax returns in which relief could be claimed were due for filing up to September 23, 2017. "However, as the regime is complex and a company must make an irrevocable election into the KDB, the legislation provided that companies had a 24-month period in which to make their claim for relief," said Mr Donohoe. "Therefore, most companies have until the end of this year to submit their claims for their 2016 accounting periods. "At the outset it was anticipated that companies would make full use of that 24-month period to make a decision on whether or not to elect into the KDB." He said that the figures are preliminary and should not be used to assess the impact of the relief until they are finalised after December this year." Drinks giant Coca-Cola is to close its manufacturing plant in Kildare with the loss of 82 jobs. The company said yesterday that following a review of its concentrate manufacturing, it is transferring production from its Athy plant to the high capacity facility at Ballina Beverages, Co Mayo. Of the 82 direct jobs being lost, 43 will transfer to the plant in Mayo, and employees affected by the Athy closure will have the option to transfer, the company said. Coca-Cola will commence a period of consultation with employee representatives at Athy International Concentrates in respect of the closure. "It is with regret that we are announcing the proposed closure of the plant in Athy," said Manqoba Khumalo, general manager of Athy International Concentrates. "The site has been in operation for 45 years, with Coca-Cola acquiring the plant in 2000. "Employees have made a valuable contribution to Coca-Cola's international business." In addition to a redundancy package, the company said it would provide workers with other supports including financial advice and retraining. Together with its bottling partner, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, the Coca-Cola brand employs almost 1,600 people here. Online is still evolving and rather than price, product, design, advertising and all the other issues marketers normally home in on, one currency may prove to be the biggest benchmark for success: customer experience (CX). As consumers choose one brand over another they ask: was value added? Laura Pollard, managing director of new property search platform PerfectProperty.ie, was headhunted from Australia by investors to help start the business in Ireland - taking on established property websites Daft and MyHome. PerfectProperty.ie has a direct feed for estate agents to load properties coming on stream. With a CV in real estate, marketing and tech, Pollard says her platform can offer a host of features and functionality advantages over its competitors. The focus is increasingly on user experience (UX), on creating seamless touchpoints and allowing visitors to negotiate sites with relative ease. Pollard says UX mapping and analysing available data, such as heat maps and variances in leave or stay metrics, is now a high priority in web development. Brand owners zoned in on providing a web or app experience. However, too few focused on the less tangible metrics: customer experience (CX). To help correct that, marketers must talk to customers. Don't be afraid to send out what could be a pesky survey - you'll be surprised at the response. Avoid just sending it to customers you know had a positive experience. That won't tell you why the other 90pc chose to leave. If you legitimately have their details, then they are customers and their opinion could be make or break. Remember to segment audiences, assess responses, be humble and honest and follow up. Pollard says marketing isn't just about reach and penetration, it's about whether every consumer who interacts with your brand feels valued, heard and better for the experience. To better connect the brand and the consumer, Perfect Property launched a concierge service, providing home hunters with a personal consultant to hold their hand through the process. The initiative saw a trebling in daily sign-ups and allowed useful data to be legitimately collected in real time. ***** Retailers, hotel and restaurants are being asked to sign up to the One for Ireland charity this bank holiday weekend and help raise funds in support of the 3,755 Irish children without a home. Backed by the Irish Youth Foundation (IYF), the drive sees retailers ask shoppers to add 1 to their bill when they pay at the checkout. IYF chief executive Niall McLoughlin says around 800 retailers have pledged support, including BWG (Spar, Eurospar, Mace, Londis and XL), Applegreen, Starbucks and the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU). The seven charities that stand to benefit are Focus Ireland, Simon Community, Irish Refugee Council, Sonas Domestic Violence Charity, Barnardo's, Novas and Merchants Quay Ireland. Expand Close Britvic managing director Kevin Donnelly. Photo: Aidan Oliver / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Britvic managing director Kevin Donnelly. Photo: Aidan Oliver ***** Three Irish marketers who made it to CEO and top leadership roles form the basis of the Marketing Society's May breakfast seminar. 'CMO to CEO: Why Marketing Matters' will discuss the power of marketing in driving business growth and show how the value of proven strategies allow access to senior management positions and boardrooms. Lined up to address the event in the Royal College of Physicians on Kildare Street next Wednesday are Eir's newly-appointed CEO Carolan Lennon, Mary Lambkin-Coyle, professor of marketing at UCD's Smurfit Graduate Business School and Britvic managing director Kevin Donnelly who was named Marketer of the Year in 2012. The Marketing Society Future Council's summer event, Shifters & Shakers, will be staged in Number 22 on South Anne Street on Thursday, May 24 at 6pm. ***** Walsh PR has formed alliances with another two UK agencies through its membership of the Iprex global network of independent agencies. The agencies concerned are MC2 in Manchester and Yellow Jersey in London. MC2 specialises in private equity tech businesses. Yellow Jersey's focus is financial, corporate and brand communications. The partnerships add to Walsh PR's ongoing relationships with London-based Mason Williams and The Communications Business in Edinburgh. Run by Caroline Heywood, Walsh clients include Astra Zeneca, Glanbia, Flahavan's, Dalata hotels, Air Canada Rouge, Dr Oetker and SVP. ***** Staying with PR, Paul Allen & Associates is handling tech services group Version 1, whose marketing manager is Susan Grant. Version 1 develops Cloud, ERP and CRM business systems and provides data processing and online supports for car insurance quotes. Clients include Aer Lingus, the Houses of the Oireachtas and government departments in the UK and Ireland. ***** And finally ... Carat has retained the Bank of Ireland media account after a review involving Mindshare, OMD, IPG Mediabrands and Accenture. Renault is once again working with Publicis in Dublin after a stint with the French group's London agency. Michael Cullen is editor of Marketing.ie; cullen@marketing.ie Developing and retaining a skilled, diverse workforce that feels included in the company's vision is crucial to the success of any organisation, according to Dell EMC's EMEA president, but it's important not to forget one thing. "You can never compromise. You should always appoint the best person for the job, regardless of culture, gender, etc - and you can never deviate from that," Aongus Hegarty told the Irish Independent. Limerick-born Hegarty faced challenges in establishing a diverse team when he was appointed Dell's head of Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2011, with a significant gender imbalance at the top of the company. Almost seven years on, he has organised the business under six managers in six regions - UK, France, Germany, Middle East and Africa, Eastern Europe and the rest of Europe. "The good news is that, at the moment, three of these leaders are women and three are men. That's another balance that you have to drive." But it's always the right person for the job at the end of the day, according to Hegarty. We spoke at the Dell Technologies World 2018 event in Las Vegas this week. Hegarty noted that during Michael Dell's presentation on the first day of the event, the company founder shared the stage with two female executives from his leadership team. "It has to start at the very top of the company, it has to be driven, and you have to walk the walk," said Hegarty. "But it's not just gender. If I have a more diverse team it means I have differences of experience and differences in dominance of competencies. Ultimately, you have a stronger team." On Monday, Dell Technologies' venture arm announced that it had boosted its investments since emerging from stealth mode a year ago. Of 11 exits in the last 12 months, Dell Technologies Capital said that the initial IPOs of three - DocuSign, MongoDB and Zscaler - had a combined market value of $11bn. The company's focus is on creating companies Dell can work with, to help to get started and grow and develop their businesses, said Hegarty. "Good economic growth means a good investment and expansion in technology, which is good for our businesses," he said. "The second piece is that we want the skills of the entrepreneur - the risk-taking, the creativity, the innovation - in our own company, so we really encourage our team to work with these companies." In terms of diversity in the startup arena, the group runs the Dell Women's Entrepreneur Network Summit, which takes place in Toronto this July. "It's our effort to try and bring more diversity around entrepreneurship. Only 20pc of entrepreneurs are female, so we're trying to create a greater degree of diversity of private entrepreneurs and startups," said Hegarty. The summit was held in South Africa in 2016, he said, as 50pc of the entrepreneurs in Africa are female. "If you go to countries like Kenya and Ethiopia there's a very strong culture of small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurs - and often it is the female who is driving that on behalf of the family." Ireland is an important location for the global Dell group and the EMEA region, not least due to its access to a skilled pool of talent. With an objective that 40pc of employees are 'early career' with three years or less experience, the company has relationships with universities across the island. "The idea of that is that you bring in also new ideas, new thinking - you get a really positive mix of experience and knowledge," said the University of Limerick graduate. Dell's hubs in Cork, Limerick and Dublin employ over 5,000 people, and jobs website Indeed named the company the 'Best Place to Work in Ireland' in 2018 for the second year running. "We have very low, single-digit attrition so we have very high retention - and yet we operate in an environment which is fast changing and requires people to be flexible to want to learn and build up skills. "You bring the team together and you tell them: 'This is where we need to get to, but here's how we help you navigate through that change'. Communicating with people and putting that support in place to explain the reason why, that's very important in terms of retention." Hegarty, who joined Dell almost 20 years ago, said the company has undergone huge changes, including the 'key significant milestones' of going private and, more recently, the merger with EMC. But the "energy and passion and vision for the future" of the group's founder, who is still at the helm, remains constant, he said. "You can have diversity, but if you don't have a leader that listens, engages and empowers that diverse team, you won't hold on to them for very long. "And you won't get the benefit of diversity from that team." In terms of preparing for the impact of Brexit, Hegarty said the industry is reacting in different ways to an unusual situation, as "we really don't know what that end plan is". "Some companies are recognising that they don't have services or manufacturing capabilities in the UK and are looking to put them in place. But we're also seeing a more general trend of decisions of investment, in technology and otherwise, as being deferred and pushed out more. "Ultimately, it's not having a negative effect on the confidence on the rest of Europe or Ireland, as economic growth is probably the strongest we've seen it in two decades. "The UK is still a very big market for us and we're still fully committed and fully engaged. Companies are still going through digital transformation and they need to invest in technology." Denis Naughten has vowed that no matter how far people are from Leinster House they will have access to highspeed broadband Are you concerned that first thing the new owners have done with Eir is to let 750 people go? DN: Naturally, any job losses are a concern. I haven't had an opportunity to meet the new company yet, but I will in the next fortnight. I'm anxious to see what the company's plans are and how they intend to invest in the telecoms sector in this country. But the one thing that is exciting about it is that we now have a telecoms company taking over Eir. It's the first time for a long time that the owners of Eir are in the telecoms sector themselves. This company probably wouldn't have bought Eir unless they see that there's an opportunity there for them. It'll be interesting to see exactly where they see their niche. Obviously, Eir has changed ownership many times in its history. But after a lot of financial trouble, it has recently established a fairly sound fiscal footing and started to invest in regional infrastructure. Do you have any fear of Eir now being sweated and flipped? DN: I actually don't. The fact that the owner is a telecoms company, the fact that what they seem to be doing in other jurisdictions is building out infrastructure. To be sure, in those other jurisdictions they're competing against the incumbent and now they're becoming the incumbent here. But they've been about building out infrastructure. I hope and believe that it will look at a new phase of investment in telecoms here. Because we haven't seen it to any great extent in Eir in the past, other than the investment in the 300,000 regional fibre homes. Are you worried at all about the company's ability to deliver on that plan to roll out 300,000 regional fibre-broadband connections when they downsize to such a degree? DN: Well, of course I'll be asking them about the delivery of the 300,000 regional homes that they've committed to. Do you have any indication that they'll go beyond the 300,000? DN: I've absolutely no idea. And that's why I'm anxious to meet them. What about Enet getting access to Eir's infrastructure, to make it easier in building out the National Broadband Plan? DN: That's an issue that has been ongoing with Eir over the last number of weeks between my own officials and Eir. And it will be an issue with the new owners when I meet them early next month. We are anxious to see progress on that. It's in everyone's interest to build out this infrastructure. Would you be willing to force that issue through the courts to ensure access for the NBP? Otherwise there is possibly a very large bill to be added to it. DN: Everyone knows the difficulties we've had in relation to regulation via the courts in this country. I have flagged, before Christmas, and it got Government approval, to draft legislation specifically in relation to infrastructure access for the National Broadband Plan. And that is part of the overall discussion we're having with the company at present. Could 5G play a part in bridging the gaps? DN: I remember when Eir pulled back [from the National Broadband Plan] some people were saying that 4G was the solution for rural areas. But we know from when the National Broadband Scheme was initially launched [in 2009], that was a 3G solution which was going to provide broadband in rural areas. But we know that the day it went live it was obsolete. Because it just doesn't have the capacity. In fairness, we could say the same about the 30Mbs nominal limit that the Government has as its definition of high- speed broadband and which determines whether your home needs intervention via the National Broadband Plan or not. DN: Absolutely. When the 30Mbs benchmark was set, it was seen as a good target. The reality is now, you really need to be delivering a service that's at least 100Mbs. With fibre, we're talking up to 1,000Mbs. And I'm even told it's up to 10,000Mbs. Fibre is the solution, it's the only way to future-proof this network. We were the first country in the world to bring electricity to every single home. We're now going to be the first country in the world to bring high-speed broadband to rural areas through the National Broadband Plan. But we're also aware of urban areas as well, to address those anomalies where people don't have access there, even in the centre of cities. And we now think that in urban areas the only way to future-proof this is to come with a universal service obligation. It's worked very well for us in relation to voice services, as everyone in Ireland can get access to a landline and they have a legal right to that. The same will be there in future in relation to broadband. So you're saying there will be a universal service obligation for broadband? DN: Yes. We have been negotiating this as part of discussions taking place at European level in relation to the European digital and social market where the state can set a minimum level of service for broadband that is a real practical level of service. At the moment you have this definition of functional broadband which is a joke. It's minuscule. So you'd have a proper threshold that would be set. Which company would this be placed on? The existing USO for voice is on Eir. DN: That would have to be regulated as to who is deemed the company responsible for that. It will be an issue for ComReg in the future. But what we want now is the tools to be able to bring that in, to ensure that for any anomaly that is there, for any premises that doesn't have access to high-speed broadband, that there is a legal guarantee that they can get broadband in the future. Does a legal guarantee mean they can sue? And if so, who? DN: That will be up to each member state, in this case Ireland. It could be the case that there will be a pool of money there for companies to dip into, to provide that service. But the intention is that everyone in this country, no matter how far they are from Leinster House, has access to high-speed broadband. When do you see this coming into effect? DN: That's part of the negotiations at the moment. We have it accepted, in principle, at a European level. That will be incorporated into the new directives which will probably be approved, we're hoping, later this year. It will then be enshrined in Irish law after that. Is the National Broadband Plan currently on track? DN: Yes. There is significant progress now on how we're going to build it out. I'm determined that we sign that contract this year. Do you think we could get to Christmas with no contract signed and an start to work in sight? DN: I hope that won't happen. You can never be absolute in relation to this, I wish I could be. But I would be very surprised if we were reading [that it hasn't been signed] coming up to Christmas. But yes, it has been frustratingly slow. I'm 20 years talking about broadband, so I have been keeping the pressure on my officials and on the whole operation to make sure it happens as quickly as possible. I know the frustration that's out there. At the moment it's mainly business that's frustrated and also families. But the opportunities that this provides are absolutely immense. I don't think we can fully comprehend it. Electrification changed the whole rural economy. I think broadband can do the same. Now that there's one bidder, is there less pressure on them now to provide the best value given they're the only remaining bidder? DN: People tend to forget the type of contract it is. Many of these issues have already been bottomed out and signed off when there were two or three bidders in the process. There are other aspects, too. This has to go through a value-for-money assessment and has to be signed off by the Department of Expenditure and Reform. The European Commission will also have to sign off on it, as will Cabinet. But won't those entities obviously sign off on it? Who would block it? DN: At the end of the day, this will be assessed by the comptroller and auditor general. No one wants to be in a situation two or three years from now where the comptroller and auditor general comes out and says this was bad value for money. So that is something that we're all very conscious of and something that is to the fore of these discussions. Mobile coverage is also a big issue for lots of people, particularly in rural areas. Is there any progress on a mobile coverage map? DN: Yes. Ofcom, the UK equivalent of ComReg, has a coverage map for all of the mobile phone operators in the UK. We're currently working with ComReg to do the same thing. And by the end of this year we will have a mobile phone coverage map available. So if you live in Roscommon, you'll be able to see if operator A has better coverage in your area than operator B. One of the things we've found is that when people complain about mobile coverage, you can nearly predict which operator they're with depending on where they live. Is this data that the operators themselves feed in? DN: Yes. So how will we know whether they're accurate? Is there any verification? DN: Absolutely. That's one of the things we're talking about. There will be a facility on it where you can download an app that actually feeds back your actual coverage. And this can feed back to update that map. So if operator A says there's coverage in a bit of Roscommon but actually you don't have coverage there, that's fed back into the map. Don't apps like Speedtest already have this kind of information? DN: Yes, but this will be publicly available. When will this be up and running? DN: ComReg expects this to be operational by year end, which will be a big boost coming into the Christmas market. Why are electric car sales still so low? DN: There were huge targets in relation to it. We have about 4,500 registrations of electric vehicles. We're doing a lot of work. There has been anecdotal evidence that people are importing second-hand vehicles from the UK. The big problem I'm told is that companies cannot get enough EVs to meet demand. Demand is actually outstripping supply and there is a pinch point. The changes that the Government made in last autumn's budget are actually having an impact. There are far more queries in relation to it but there is a squeeze in relation to EVs and they're hoping by the middle of the year when the second round of registrations come along, that we will see a significant increase in the numbers. Why don't you drive more electric vehicles in government? DN: We're working on that at present. We've set aside a fund of 5m specifically to promote EVs. We're also providing funding for private companies and semi-state companies to convert some of their fleet to electric. The gardai have six electric vehicles at the moment, while the defence forces are in the process of purchasing them. The OPW is looking at it and our own department are looking it. But what about you and your own car? DN: I've a Toyota Prius. It's a hybrid. I would love to be able to get an electric vehicle but the range just isn't there at the moment. Sadly, I don't live near enough to Dublin that that isn't an issue for me. Down the line if we do all change to EVs, how does the government replace all the taxation that we're going to lose from petrol and diesel and VRT? DN: That's a big question, not just here in Ireland, but right across the OECD. How do we replace the lost revenue? A substantial amount of revenue comes in from fossil fuels at the moment. And it is a far bigger issue than just Ireland. To hear Mr Naughten's full interview, download or stream 'The Big Tech Show' podcast from iTunes, Soundcloud or Independent.ie/podcasts. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:42 am Friday, May 11, @ The Loft, 414 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. 18kknd, $25, 9 p.m. The southern hip-hop duo of Jelly Roll & Struggle Jennings perform Friday at The Loft. Now embarked on their Waylon & Willie Tour, the Tennessee-based emcees released their second collaboration, the Waylon & Willie II LP, last month. In March, the pair also dropped the moody track Cant Go Home the debut single and music video thats racked up over 1 million views on YouTube. Jelly Roll, born Jason DeFord, has been a fixture in the Nashville rap scene since his solo debut, Halfway House, in 2005. But it was his collaborations with Lil Wyte and Haystak that gained him an international following. Meanwhile, Struggle Jennings the grandson of Waylon Jennings was sidetracked in 2011 with a five-year prison sentence for drug charges. After his 2016 release, Jennings, born Will Harness, dropped his Return of the Outlaw solo EP, which features Yelawolf on the title track. Friday, May 4, @ MSU Community Music School, 4930 Hagadorn Road, East Lansing. All ages,$20, $18 members, $5 students, 7:30 p.m. Musicians Ken Whiteley and Reggie Harris celebrate the 99th birthday of folk-music icon Pete Seeger Friday at the MSU Community Music School. The event is the last show of the Ten Pound Fiddles 43rd season. Attendees are welcome to sing along to the renowned Seeger catalog, which includes If I Had a Hammer, Where Have All the Flowers Gone? and Turn! Turn! Turn!, to only name a few. As for the performers, both are folk vets who knew Seeger personally. Harris, a Pennsylvania native, is a songwriter, storyteller and lecturer who often sings and speaks on themes of unity and social justice. Whiteley is a Grammy-nominated Canadian roots-music legend known for his work on guitars and mandolin. On May 5, Whiteley returns to the Community Music School for a 10 a.m. show geared toward children ages 3-13. Friday, May 4, @ The Avenue Cafe, 2021 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing. 21kknd, FREE, 8 p.m. The Avenue Cafe has hosted numerous free shows since last year, and this Friday the venue is back at it. This time around, Alpha Rabbit, a Trenton, New Jersey indie-punk group, performs along with the Sailor Kicks, a Grand Rapids-based ska outfit. Rounding out the bill are two Lansing bands: The Plurettes, mostly 60s girlgroup covers funneled through a punk-rock filter, and the chaotic alt-rock sounds of Disappointed Dad. As for Alpha Rabbit, the trio has just one four-song EP under its belt, and its streamed at alphaalpharabbit.bandcamp. com. The band began as the solo project of Jaime Parker, but soon grew into a three-piece band after members of Honah Lee and the Shallow joined in. All the members share songwriting duties and describe their sound as a mix of the dark, the bright, the melancholy and the hopeful combined with a healthy dose of dance beats. The Central Bank here is to launch simulated cyberattacks on banks, to stress test the resilience of the sector to sophisticated hacking. The attacks will conform to an ECB framework for controlled and bespoke tests against cyberattacks in the financial market based on earlier models developed in the UK and the Netherlands. It is not yet clear whether customers could, temporarily, lose access to banks while attacks are in progress. The ECB designed the new test simulating cyberattacks on banks, stock exchanges and other regulated firms deemed critical for the functioning of the financial system, it said yesterday. The move follows a string of heists and attacks by hackers on lenders and central banks over the past two years, including one that disrupted online and mobile services at the Netherlands' three top banks earlier this year. The ECB initiative aims to create a single framework for testing the cyber-resilience of EU financial firms, including cross-border institutions. The framework envisages, among other tools, 'red teams' (RTs) of external hackers hired to find and exploit vulnerabilities in the companies being tested, a technique derived from the military world and widely used in the private sector. "The test objectives... are the flags that the RT provider must attempt to capture during the test as it progresses through the scenarios," the ECB said. But its European Framework for Threat Intelligence-based Ethical Red Teaming (TIBER-EU) will simply serve as a guideline and it will be for authorities on the ground, including the Central Bank of Ireland, headed by Governor Philip Lane, to carry out any test. "It is up to the relevant authorities and the entities themselves to determine if and when TIBER-EU based tests are performed," the ECB said. Regulators here have already warned banks here that their technology infrastructure must be up to standard, in order to be allowed to operate. The ECB said firms won't be punished for succumbing to the cyber stress-tests. "Tests will be tailor-made and will not result in a pass or fail - rather they will provide the tested entity with insight into its strengths and weaknesses, and enable it to learn and evolve to a higher level of cyber maturity," it added. In of the most high-profile cases to date, hackers breached the central bank of Bangladesh's systems in early 2016 and tricked the Federal Reserve Bank of New York into sending as much as $81m to accounts in the Philippines. (Additional reporting Reuters) Eurozone economic growth slowed as expected at the start of 2018, although economists said temporary factors were partly behind the weakness and that the economy should continue to expand strongly this year. The growth rate pushed the eurozone behind the United States, but still ahead of Britain - which registered its weakest growth since 2012. Gross domestic product across the 19 countries sharing the euro currency expanded by 0.4pc in the first quarter compared to the last quarter of 2017 and by 2.5pc year on year, EU statistics agency Eurostat said on Wednesday. Eurostat's preliminary flash estimate was in line with economists' forecasts, but well below the 0.7pc quarterly rises seen in the previous three quarters. Economic sentiment data slipped in March but remained broadly unchanged in April, leading analysts to forecast that the eurozone economy will ease back to still-healthy growth levels of about 2pc year-on-year in the coming quarters. But it was seen as unlikely to match the 2.5pc expansion of 2017. Any slowdown would be a challenge to French President Emmanuel Macron's reform agenda. "Temporary factors, including unseasonably cold weather, striking workers, short-term bottlenecks and even an outbreak of the flu, appear to have weighed on GDP growth in Q1," economists at Capital Economics said in a note to clients. "Given the high level of consumer confidence, we suspect that consumption growth will pick up in Q2 and help to push quarterly GDP growth back to around 0.5pc or 0.6pc." Confidence took a dip in part over concerns about a trade war with the US, which could still be sparked if Washington imposes tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from the European Union. A decision on this is due by June 1. In a separate statement, Eurostat said unemployment in the eurozone was stable in March at 8.5pc. (Reuters) The author of Atonement has told of his joy at discovering Saoirse Ronan will once again be playing one of his characters in the film adaptation of On Chesil Beach. Ian McEwan wrote bestseller Atonement which later became a film starring Saoirse, Keira Knightley and James McAvoy and saw the then 13-year-old nominated for an Oscar. McEwan told how the Carlow actress charmed the set during filming. "Even then, she showed an extraordinary ability to take control of the material, to morph from a sparky Irish kid into an upper-class English girl with cut-glass accent to match," he said. Expand Close aaaaa / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp aaaaa "She knew how to convey a particular form of inwardness, of an imagination running riot. "She also completely charmed and hypnotised the set." Expand Close Saoirse Ronan was just 12 in her break out role in Atonement / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Saoirse Ronan was just 12 in her break out role in Atonement Now starring as the female lead in On Chesil Beach, Saoirse (24) told how she was eager to bring another of McEwan's creations to life on the screen. "Ian is someone who writes women incredibly skilfully, with a well-rounded perspective. I'd like to play another one written by him every 10 years," she said. In On Chesil Beach, Saoirse stars as Florence, the daughter of an unloving mother and a wife to Edward, who is played by Billy Howle. BEAUTY Video of the Day "Saoirse has gifts of immediate emotional insight that any novelist must envy," added McEwan. "She can make herself the ordinary girl next door and then, by a shift of expression, a turn of the head, assume great and unusual beauty. "But above all, it's her intelligence that I cherish." Atonement proved to be the film that launched Saoirse's career after her critically acclaimed performance. She has since gone on to even greater success, with two more Oscar nominations under her belt, as well as a Golden Globe for Lady Bird. But McEwan believes the Lovely Bones actress has not let fame get the better of her. "Burgeoning fame hasn't swamped her. She remains firmly herself, and it's a lovely self, in which the natural 12-year-old child still retains a fun-loving role," he said. Bob Geldof at the National Library of Ireland when he announced that the Band Aid Trust is donating its archive to the NLI (Brian Lawless/PA) Bob Geldofs Band Aid archive has arrived in Ireland. An archivist will spend up to two years cataloguing memorabilia from the famous 1984 campaign for those affected by famine in Ethiopia, the National Library of Ireland (NLI) said. The Boomtown Rats frontman is giving the Irish state hundreds of letters, artwork, poetry and musical recordings after it was accumulated in a warehouse in London. Much of it will be digitalised and put on display for the world to see at the NLI in Dublin. Expand Close Midge Ure and Bob Geldof at the Ivor Novello Awards for 1984 where they won a joint award for Do They Know Its Christmas? (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Midge Ure and Bob Geldof at the Ivor Novello Awards for 1984 where they won a joint award for Do They Know Its Christmas? (PA) A statement from the library said: In April 2018 the archive was brought from London to Dublin. A contract archivist will spend 18-24 months cataloguing the collection, at which point it will be available to all researchers through the National Librarys Special Collections reading room. Selective digitisation will be carried out thereafter, and the digitised materials launched online with free access anywhere in the world, subject to copyright and data protection restrictions. Geldof and co-writer Midge Ures first version of Do They Know Its Christmas? raised 8 million for famine relief in Ethiopia. They gathered a group of musicians together in 1984 for the charity single. It featured Geldofs fellow Irishman Bono, George Michael, Duran Duran, Phil Collins and Bananarama, among many others. Video of the Day Expand Close Bob Geldof sings at Live Aid at Wembley on July 13, 1985 (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bob Geldof sings at Live Aid at Wembley on July 13, 1985 (PA) It helped inspire the Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia on July 13 1985, and the Sport Aid campaign in 1986, all of which raised millions more. The library statement added: The NLI will develop a major exhibition in the National Photographic Archive to engage visitors of all ages and from across the world and explore opportunities for an international travelling exhibition. The archive reveals the enormous level of organisation behind Band Aid. A trove of documents, many on fading fax paper, captures the work of those who looked after fleets of ships and trucks which distributed relief. It was the era of strikes in Britain but many workers suspended their industrial action to help, Sir Bob has said. Revealing letters from public figures will be among those disclosed as well as reports on projects helped in Africa since 1985. Anti-repeal posters depicting babies yawning and kicking at nine weeks are "not factually accurate" and are causing "extreme distress" among pregnant women, the master of Rotunda Maternity Hospital, Professor Fergal Malone, said yesterday. The "idea of a foetus yawning is not factually accurate, because a foetus in the womb is under water and there is no air in the uterus", the professor told the Irish Independent. "A yawn is an inhalation of breath." He said that yawning or kicking or any such conscious movement at nine-weeks gestation is "also misleading". Prof Malone said it was "disappointing as a specialist of foetal medicine to see the factually inaccurate" characterisations on posters, particularly the billboard-sized images outside maternity hospitals. He said the hospital was also forced to call gardai because a small subgroup picketed the front of the hospital with "supersize" posters with fairly graphic imagery with dead foetuses - "holding them up to the faces of people walking through the hospital". "People could not get past without having them in their faces," he said. The hospital management was not trying to prevent people's right to express their values, but it was "extremely distressing" for several patients and their families, he said. Some of the posters from anti-repeal groups say that the proposed legislation from the Government means that abortions up to six months will be permitted. Prof Malone refuted this claim based on the fact that such an arbitrary description of viability at a certain date is impractical. There is no clearly defined time-frame as to when a baby in the womb becomes "viable", he said. Prof Malone added that viability depends on the overall health of the baby; whether it has certain defects, weight or abnormalities. He said babies have been delivered at 23 weeks, but in other cases, babies at 25 weeks have not survived premature birth. What will "happen in all cases" in the event of an intervention where the health of a mother is at serious risk is that "a team of specialists get together", involving those dealing with "maternal health and foetal health and we will balance the situation where we will do the best for both". As a doctor, he added, "there is no question but that doctors can be trusted to do good for both patients", said Prof Malone. An 80-year-old Dublin man, who fell and fractured his leg while on a Mediterranean cruise, has settled a 60,000 damages claim against MCS Cruises Limited for an undisclosed sum. In a claim before the Circuit Civil Court Anthony Harris, of Dunard Walk, Navan Road, Dublin, alleged he had just disembarked from the cruise liner Fantasia when he tripped and fell on a dangerous and uneven cobbled surface while walking towards Customs. The accident had happened after the Fantasia berthed at Haifa, in Israel on February 26 2016 and he had gone back on the cruise ship for treatment by the ships doctor as he had not wanted to attend hospital abroad. His leg had been X-rayed and he had been prescribed a course of paracetamol. When he had returned home he had been treated by Mr Keith Synnott, consultant orthopaedic and spinal surgeon, for a fracture of his right leg, Mr Harris and his wife had in September 2015 booked an 11-night 2000-plus cruise of the Greek Isles and Israel from February 21 until March 3 with Travel Escapes, The Hyde Building, The Park, Carrickmines, Dublin. Mr Harris sued the MSC Cruises Limited, of Roundwood Avenue, Uxbridge, England, on the grounds of breach of contract and for negligence as a consumer under the General Sale of Goods and Supply Services Act 1998. Barrister Abdulla Morgan Kamber, who appeared with John Synnott Solicitors for Mr Harris, told Judge Terence OSullivan when the case was called that there were ongoing talks in the case and asked for time. Following negotiations with barrister Aaron Shearer, who appeared with Anne Dolan and Co Solicitors for MCS Cruises, Mr Morgan Kamber told the court the case had been settled. Judge OSullivan adjourned the case for mention in four weeks to facilitate completion of the undisclosed settlement. MSC Cruises is part of the Mediterranean Shipping company which has 17 cruise liners sailing the worlds oceans including three new ships recently added to the fleet. FREDDIE Thompson's fingerprints were found on the rearview mirrors of two cars which were allegedly used as spotter vehicles in the murder of David Douglas, a trial has heard. Mr Thompson's DNA was also found on an inhaler plainly visible of the floor of one of the cars. The 37-year-old, with an address at Loreto Road, Maryland, Dublin 8, has denied the murder of David Douglas (55), who was fatally shot in his partners shoe shop at Bridgefoot Street, Dublin 8 on July 1, 2016. The accused is not alleged to have shot Mr Douglas, but it is the States case that he provided logistical support in the planning and execution of a murder and that he was the driver of one of two spotter vehicles. Gardai have alleged that four vehicles were used in the murder, a silver Mercedes, which was the getaway car, a silver Suzuki Swift, a blue Mitsubishi Mirage and a silver Ford Fiesta. Detective Garda Ronan Lawlor, from the Ballistics Section, told the Special Criminal Court that he examined the Suzuki Swift and Mitsubishi Mirage on July 5, 2016. Gda Lawlor said he completed a firearms residue kit and took wet and drive swabs of the vehicles. He said he identified a number of exhibits in the cars, including a chisel, petrol card, burnt hat or gloves and an inhaler. In cross examination, Michael O'Higgins SC revealed that Mr Thompson's DNA was found on the inhaler. Gda Lawlor said the inhaler was perfectly visible on the floor with a number of other items. "If you're into criminal activity and you leave an item like that it's a bit like a beacon in terms of connecting you to the vehicle", Mr O'Higgins said. "Could be, yes", said Gda Lawlor. "But not much assistance as to when the inhaler was thrown there". "Correct", said the garda. In his evidence, Detective Garda Raymond Kane said that he lifted a number of finger and palm prints from the cars and compared them with Mr Thompson's fingerprints, taken when he was arrested in November 2016. Gda Kane said he had "no doubt" that Mr Thomspn's fingerprints matched the prints found on the rear view mirror of the blue Mirage and on the rear view mirror of a Ford Fiesta. Gda Kane said a fingerprint matching Mr Thompson's was also found on a birthday card in the Mirage. Earlier, a number of garda technical experts had given evidence, beginning with Garda Brian Cleary from the Mapping Section, who provided maps outlining the scene of the fatal shooting, and the area at Spitalfields where the getaway vehicle, a silver Mercedes, was found burnt out. Detective Garda Caroline Hughes gave evidence of taking photographs of the scene at Bridgefoot Street and at Spitalfields. Detective Garda Alan Curry, from the Ballistics Section, said he attended the fatal scene at Bridgefoot Street and found a semi-automatic pistol on a floor mat, with its muzzle facing the front door. Gda Curry said the weapon was photographed and DNA swaps were taken of it. Gda Curry said the weapon was loaded at the time, and he could see a live round in it. He made the weapon safe by ejecting the magazine and round. He said the Spanish-made Star pistol was in very good condition. The serial number on the gun had been milled away. Gda Curry said there were a number of spent casings on the ground. Gda Curry said he was later given a 9mm bullet recovered during the post-mortem on Mr Douglas. He said he examined it and concluded that it came from the same weapon which was found at the scene. The court previously heard that four vehicles were used in the execution of the murder. One of them, a Suzuki Swift, was found burnt out by gardai at Strand Road, Dublin 4 on July 4, 2016. Garda Darragh Lynch, Garda Darren Reid and Detective Garda Robert Fitzharris all gave evidence that they were on the way to Strand Road in an unmarked patrol car when a vehicle went past them at speed on Parnell Street. Gda Lynch said there was a man in the driver's seat and a second male was crouched in the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle eventually stopped, there was a strong smell of petrol from the car and gardai arrested Mr C and Mr F. Gda Kane also gave evidence that Mr F's fingerprints were found in the blue Mirage while Mr C's were found in the Ford Fiesta. The trial continues before Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding, with Judge Gerard Griffin and Judge Flann Brennan. It is expected to last two weeks. Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding will pay 20,000 (22,700) costs as part of the settlement of their privacy lawsuit with the BBC. The outcome was hailed as a vindication of the broadcaster's journalism. Mr Jackson and Mr Olding, who were both unanimously cleared of raping the same woman, sued the BBC over coverage of their questioning by police. Writs seeking damages for misuse of private information had been issued after details were published online in November 2016 - months before charges were brought. Their legal teams contended they weren't given sufficient notice for a right of reply before the story appeared. They claimed it was a private matter and raised issues about how the information was obtained. The BBC defended the claim, contending its reporting was factual and in the public interest, due to the two players' profile, interest in provincial and international rugby, and the nature of the police investigation. In March, Mr Jackson (26) was acquitted of rape and sexual assault of a woman at his Belfast home in June 2016. Mr Olding (25) was also cleared of raping the same complainant. A conduct review after the trial saw both players having their contracts revoked by the IRFU. In court yesterday, counsel for the BBC Richard Coghlin announced proceedings were being brought to an end on terms outlined. The barrister also asked Ms Justice Keegan to make an order for Mr Jackson and Mr Olding to pay 20,000 plus Vat towards the BBC's costs. Following the outcome, BBC Northern Ireland's Head of News, Kathleen Carragher, said: "We argued throughout this case that our reporting was responsible, accurate, in the public interest and observed the BBC guidelines. "We are pleased that the players have accepted this outcome and have also agreed a contribution to our legal costs." Josephine Hoey (38) of Banbridge, Co Down, leaves the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today where she was given a four-year suspended sentence after she was found in possession of heroin worth over 37,000 A woman who described herself as a drugs mule has walked free from court after a judge said she had been unlucky in life. Josephine Hoey (38) of Banbridge, Co Down, was given a four-year suspended sentence after she was found in possession of heroin worth over 37,000. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possessing the drugs for sale or supply at Clonshaugh Woods apartment complex on September 19 last. Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan said Hoey had been transporting drugs from Dublin to the North in a bid to pay off a debt for her own long-standing drug addiction. Judge Nolan said Hoey had rendered herself vulnerable by taking drugs. He said her teenage son had been threatened and she had found herself under considerable pressure to transport these drugs. She has been quite unlucky in the way her life has treated her, said the judge, after he asked counsel for Hoey his opinion as to her moral culpability. If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas, replied Pieter Le Vert BL for the defence. Mr Le Vert said Hoey was well aware that she had put herself in this situation but he said that given the almost unfathomable struggles she had gone through in her life from an early age, it was not surprising that she had serious problems which led her into addiction. There are very, very few people who are as vulnerable as Ms Hoey who come before this court, said Mr Le Vert. Detective Garda Neil Plunkett told Cathleen Noctor BL, prosecuting, that two cars were stopped on the night in question after gardai noticed they were parked in a suspicious manner. Hoey was the passenger in one of the cars and gardai found tinfoil on the floor of the car which they thought was going to be used for smoking heroin. She handed gardai a package from her handbag containing over 260 grammes of heroin, valued at 140 per gramme. Hoey and the driver of the car, who is also before the courts, were arrested and gardai found a further quantity of heroin on her person. The total value of the drugs seized was just over 37,300. Mr Le Vert said Hoey had been a passenger in a car, along with a dog, in the mistaken belief that their presence would provide some sort of cover for the transportation of drugs. It's a well-known tactic and it simply doesn't work, said Mr Le Vert. Hoey told gardai that her role was as drugs mule to bring drugs back to the North in order to clear her own debt of about 1,800 for her heroin addiction. She said she was under duress and that threats had been made against her 15-year-old son. They know I don't give a f*** about my own life so they bring up my son. What if he had an accident on his way home from school, how would you know it was an accident? she told gardai. Hoey has three previous convictions for theft in Northern Ireland, none of which carried custodial sentences. The court heard Hoey had worked for most of her life up until five years ago. Mr Le Vert said she was assaulted repeatedly by a family member at a very early age and also suffered an extremely serious attack at the age of 14. She has had mental health difficulties from then on, he said, which included constant cleaning, numerous hospitalisations and incidents of self-harm. Hoey thanked Mr Le Vert tearfully as she left the court and promised the judge that she was going to work on her mental health and never take drugs again. It's nice to be a hero for a day, Judge Nolan remarked to Mr Le Vert, who replied that in the nature of his job, it would only be for one day. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:42 am (UPDATE: An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that Slotkin and her husband claim their Washington home as their homestead for tax purposes.) The subject is Michigans cratered roads. Lansing, Rochester, Howell, Brighton. Wherever Elissa Slotkins travels in her quest for the 8 th Congressional District seat, the number one complaint isnt all that different. How many people here have had to take their car to the shop in last 12 months for a bent rim or some other repair because youve hit a pothole? Lets see a show of hands, Slotkin asked this gathering of a few dozen people at East Lansings Hannah Center. Most everybodys right hand shoots up. Slotkins guest, U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Ill., lets out an audible gasp. Slotkin had put together a panel Monday at Foster Community Center on Lansings east side to talk about Michigans cruddy roads. Michigan Rep. Tom Cochran, D-Mason, lamented that Republicans havent gotten the job done. If only politicians would quit worrying about the next election and raise taxes to the correct levels A former Lansing roads engineer, Jan Dykema, said basically the thing. Every Michigan road thats built or fixed must meet certain state and federal standards. You couldnt purposely build a bad road if you wanted to. The bottom line: Roads arent fixed or replaced unless you pay for them. The hour-long campaign event was following a familiar pattern: A politician shares a hand-wringing catharsis with local experts and some members of the public over a seemingly unsolvable Rubiks cube. The politician promises some vague action. Everyone goes home feeling like they did something. But as the event closed, Slotkin deviated from the script. I wanted this issue to be more complicated than it is, but it is all about money, she told the room. Its about choices and its about leadership. Its as simple as that. If we invest in ourselves, we will have the roads we deserve and the water system our kids deserve. Until then, we will not. So, lets recap. The Democratic frontrunner to face U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, this fall endorsed raising taxes for roads, implicitly endorsing the U.S. House Democrats plan to raise the federal gas tax a penny a year for the next 30 years. That is something we havent seen for a long time somebody who is honest about what we need to do, said a smiling Annie Woiwode, a former Meridian Township trustee, as she left the event. Ingham County Democrats are getting giddy about Slotkin. They believe the 41-year-old former defense security adviser and CIA agent under presidents Bush and Obama will break 20 years of solid Republican representation in a district that includes typically red Livingston and northern Oakland counties, usually more than offsetting blue Ingham County. CNN and NBC News are among the national news outlets that have used Slotkin as the public face of the national trend of more professional women running for public office in the post-Donald Trump world. Between Jan. 1 and March 30, no other Michigan congressional candidate Republican or Democrat, incumbent or non-incumbent raised more money or had more cash in the bank than Elissa Slotkin. A year ago, nobody knew Elissa Slotkin Theresa Rosado/CityPulse from Eve. Last month, Slotkin trailed Bishop, a two-term incumbent, in a head-to-head Target Insyght/MIRS News poll 45 to 39 percent. And she hasnt even dipped into her purse, for mailers, TV ads, radio spots or Internet banner ads. Two years ago, Practical Political Consultants Mark Grebner described Democrats attraction to Michigans 8 th Congressional District to a moths attraction to candles. The closer they get, the more likely they are to get burned. Made sense. After Dianne Byrum lost by 111 votes, Democrats have made varying degrees of effort to win back a seat thats been since gerrymandered in such a way that the Republican should win with at least 55 percent of the vote, all things being equal. Since 2002, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers and Bishop have defeated their Democratic opponents an average of 59.25 to 38 percent. At no time did they win by less than a 10 percent margin. When asked Tuesday about Slotkins chances, Grebner threw his crystal ball into the trash. All predictions are less certain this year because the situation is so different from the world we have known, Grebner said cryptically. Partly because Trump has changed things, and partly because there may be an immense anti-GOP wave. Or not. How are things different? Look around the country. Last week, a Republican won a congressional seat with 52.61 percent of the vote that the prior Republican won in 2016 with 68.6 percent of the vote. Democrat Conor Lamb narrowly won his Pennsylvania congressional seat after Republicans had held it every year since like Michigans 8 th Congressional 2002. Democrats arent winning every special election, but in those educated, suburban districts where Trump did worse than he should have, Dems are funneling money from excited progressives from the east and west coasts and making life uncomfortable for Republican officeholders. Elissa Slotkin fits squarely into that playbook. I consider her one of the top candidates in the entire nation, Bustos said. The path to a Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives goes right through Elissa Slotkins district. In past years, national Democratic and progressive money flooded the Lansing TV stations with ads against U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg in the Eaton County/Jackson County-based 7 th District. This year, the Cook Political Report has Michigans 8 th in the Lean Republican category while the 7 th is in the less-certain Likely Republican slot. Outside of Michigans open 11 th Congressional seat, the big money will be on the 8 th because of people like Kathleen VanPoppelen. The self-described Rochester Republican has voted Republican as far back as you want to go Reagan, Bush, McCain. She did vote Libertarian Gary Johnson last year. She couldnt stomach Trump or Hillary. Nowadays, she and her old nursing pals complain about the despicable rhetoric from Washington. She dodged a metal tie bar poking out of a gutted-up Macomb County road the other day. Its terrible, she said. I feel that there are people yelling at each other from both sides and we have to find someone who will just get some things done. Begrudgingly, VanPoppelen accepted her more liberal sisters invitation to meet Slotkin at an event. She didnt really think shed connect with a Democrat. And, yet, she did. On Monday, VanPoppelen took up a challenge from her nursing friends to get involved. She showed up at Slotkinsponsored breakfast at a cute Rochester diner with about 15 other Republican and independent women. This is somebody who knows how to get this done, VanPoppelen said. We need more people like here. How can she say that? Slotkin moved back to her familys Holly farm last year from D.C. To the best of anyones research, shes never voted in the 8 th Congressional District before, let alone voted on any public board or commission. Who is this woman? Slotkin grew up in Holly, where her grandfather set up a family cattle farm to supply his meat business, Hygrade Foods. Back in the day, Tiger Stadium was looking for hot dogs that wouldnt shrivel up by the 8 th inning so the company created the Ballpark frank, which plumps when you cook it. The hot dog was a hit, even though ironically Slotkin doesnt like hot dogs and her adult brother grew up to be a vegetarian. Growing up, her family was one of means. Her parents divorced when she was at home and she moved around Oakland County. The meat company was gradually sold and the cattle gone by the 1980s. She went to private Bloomfield Hills boarding school Cranbrook, where she did well enough to get accepted into the Ivy League school Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York. She got her bachelors there. She got her Masters from another Ivy League School, Columbia University, in New York City. While at Columbia, she said she felt a calling to military service after the Sept. 11 attacks and joined the Central Intelligence Agency as a Middle East analyst, before moving to the White House as National Security Council staff. In total, she served three tours in Iraq, never having served as a political appointment. She returned to Michigan for a spell after her mother, a breast cancer survivor, lost her health coverage and struggled to find comparable insurance with her preexisting condition. A short time later, Judith Slotkin, a Detroit-area public relations professional, was diagnosed with stage four ovarian cancer. Her family resumed her previous coverage via a loophole, Slotkin said, but her family had to cut checks up to $6,000 for MRIs and other services. Judith Slotkin died March 14, 2011. Elissa doesnt shy away from talking about it. She feels she can relate to those who have needed Obamas Affordable Care Act so they didnt gut their personal savings or fall into bankruptcy to pay medical bills. Right about the time Trump became president, Slotkin left her Washington job and returned to that family farm to reset. The animals are gone and a neighbor leases the land to grow soybeans. I was looking for my next step after being in government for 14 years and I was asked to do some work on an Iraqrelated matter, she said. Every time Ive had a sort of life change, Ive come back to Michigan to reset, to find out whats going on. Thats always the place I come back to figure out what my next steps. She said she set up a consulting business called Pinpoint Consulting until she decided the next step for her was a run for Congress. The enthusiasm within Democratic circles was immediate, suspiciously so for Republicans. They see Slotkin as a D.C-transplant recruited by national Democrats to parachute into the 8 th Congressional District with her impressive resume. A sharp female candidate with some family money who has served in national security under presidents of both major parties? You couldnt draw a better candidate with a pencil and blank paper. Shining a light on her absence from the district most of her adult life is what Ingham County Republican Party Chair Yavonne Whitbeck did in her comments on Slotkin and Bustos tour this week. D.C. insiders Cheri Bustos and Elissa Slotkin both know very little about Michigans 8 th District, Whitbeck said. Neither has voted here and neither owns property in the 8 th s District. Nancy Pelosi is flooding Michigans 8 th District with out-of-state money to help Elissa Slotkin and now she is sending in one of her top lieutenants. Folks who have vested interest in our community, and actually pay property taxes in Michigan, we are not buying this charade. (As a side note, when asked if she would support Pelosi for House speaker if elected with a Democratic majority, Slotkin said this month, People are saying they want new leaders and we need to hear that. They want a new generation and someone who represents my district, my state and that is someone new.) Slotkin and her husband, Dave Moore, claimed their Washington home as their homestead for tax purposes when she launched her campaign, but they quit doing so after Bishop attack her for doing so. Moore works in D.C. four days a week as a counter terrorism planner for the Pentagon. The couple needs the paycheck, she said. During a 1320-AM WILS interview, Bishop compared his latest challenger to Georgias Jon Osseff. Both are funded with out-of-state money and have little adult ties to their respective districts. I dont believe she knows the district, Bishop said. The first vote she has will be for herself. Slotkin is not deterred, saying that such a line of attacks smells of someone who hasnt felt competition from a very long time. If a sitting representative needs to attack on that issue, it means they have nothing to be proud of with their record, she told City Pulse during a Michigans Big Show radio interview. State Rep. Cochran said Bishop is struggling in Lansing. Hes not accessible. He doesnt hold regular coffee hours. Slotkin herself conceded she wouldnt have run against Rogers, a national security expert, because Rogers had a national security background and kept an office in Lansing. Bishop closed the office and is rarely seen in Ingham County. Slotkin pledged to re-open the office, and thats alluring to folks like Cochran. Her town hall six months before she could be elected to anything shows him shes dedicated to meeting with constituents. She claims thats what shes been doing the last few months. Going door to door in the snow, learning whats on peoples minds. Thats what helps make the engaging Slotkin a rare candidate, Bustos said. Shes connecting at least in the eyes of people who want that connection to happen. You need to be available. Most people want to have the ability to sit and talk with that person. Have a conversation. They want to be heard, said Cochran before making this bold predication: She will be our next congressperson. (Kyle Melinn is news editor and co-owner of MIRS, a Capitol newsletter.) Since the February 1 CAO deadline, most applicants have probably set aside consideration of college course choices to focus on their studies and the oral and practical exams. But the opening of the 'change of mind' process later this week - on Friday, May 4 - will set many minds thinking again about what course of study they want to pursue in college. The CAO 'change of mind' period remains open until July 1. Over this time, CAO applicants may make changes to the list of chosen courses already submitted. There are some restrictions on what changes can be made. For instance, it is not possible for applicants to add restricted entry courses to their CAO at this time. Restricted entry courses are courses that require applicants to complete a requirement beyond points or subject requirements for entry. This may include an audition, a suitability test, an interview or portfolio. However, it is possible to re-order courses, remove courses and add any courses that may not have previously appeared in their CAO choices, if they are not restricted entry. There is no charge for applicants to make changes to their CAO during the 'change of mind' period and applicants may make as many changes as they wish during this time. The most convenient way to make changes is to use the 'my application' section on CAO.ie. If applicants prefer, it is possible to make changes through a postal application. When approaching the 'change of mind' process, applicants could begin by reviewing the list of preferences they submitted in January. As a starting point, they could consider each course listed and ask themselves, would they still be happy if they received a place on each of these courses? If an applicant has a course listed for which they would not accept a place if one was offered, they should consider removing it from their choices. Then, applicants should consider their order or preference. The CAO form should always be completed in genuine order of preference. Applicants should ask themselves this: "Out of all of the courses in which I am interested, which do I want the most?" This course should be listed in the first box. The answer to this question may have changed since January and that is ok. Next, applicants should revisit their course research. They may have discovered more courses for which they would like to apply since the first CAO deadline in February. These courses can be added to the list and, once again, should be added in genuine order of preference. In addition, applicants should check the college alert lists available on CAO.ie for new courses that have been released since the CAO handbook was published. These courses can also be added to the CAO application at this time. Applicants may wish to do this for both their Level 8 preference list and Level 6/7 preference list, paying particular attention to any list they may have neglected when originally applying. It is important to use as many of the 20 course choices (10 each at Level 8 and Level 6/7) as possible, as the CAO can only offer applicants a place on courses for which they have applied. Aoife Walsh is a guidance counsellor at Malahide Community School, Co Dublin Q I am hoping to return to college to undertake postgraduate study. I am concerned about funding as many masters and postgraduate programmes seem very expensive. Is there any funding available for this? A It can be difficult to find funding for postgraduate study, but there are a number of options available depending on your circumstances. Postgraduate grants For a number of years there was no possibility of State funding for postgraduate study. Thankfully, this has now been reintroduced. Those considering postgraduate study can apply for this, means-tested support. The minimum income threshold is based on the number of dependants in a household. Applicants with four or less dependants in the household must earn less than 31,500 to receive a fee contribution of 2,000. All applications should be made through susi.ie. Scholarships It is prudent for anyone considering applying for postgraduate study to fully research scholarship and refund scheme options. Many colleges, professional organisations and trusts offer support. One example of such funding is the Aspire scholarship programme at Smurfit Business School, UCD. This programme provides 50pc funding for MSc and MBA for 12 candidates and is one of many scholarship programmes available at the Smurfit Business School alone. Applications can be made through smurfitschool.ie. by May 11. Applicants must have received an offer for the course. Patrick ODriscoll, Politics and Society teacher at Colaiste Dun Iascaigh, Cahir, discusses the referendum with his pupils. Photo: Don Moloney/Press 22 The issue of abortion is being debated in schools as thousands of pupils, aged 18 or over, prepare to vote for the first time in the referendum on May 25. They belong to the age cohort that is most strongly in favour of repealing the Eighth Amendment on abortion in the Constitution, according to the most recent polls. But there are strong opinions on both sides in classrooms. The outcome of the referendum could depend on how many young people actually come out to vote. Research by the National Youth Council of Ireland shows that 22pc of young people aged 18 to 29 were unregistered last year. Raising a highly controversial issue like abortion can be a delicate matter for teachers and principals, particularly when a school has a strong Catholic ethos. How do teachers set aside their own opinions and ensure students are well informed and can debate the issue freely? Abortion can come up in a number of ways across the curriculum, including Civic Social and Political Education (CSPE), Relationships and Sexuality Education (RSE), Religious Education, and the new Leaving Cert subject, Politics and Society - about 900 candidates in 41 schools are sitting the first exam in June. Clive Byrne, Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals (NAPD), says "students should feel free to ask questions about it if it comes up in class. "We should have reached a point where students can discuss issues without it being precluded by a school's ethos." At Colaiste Dun Iascaigh in Cahir, Co Tipperary, the referendum has excited a lot of interest among pupils in the sixth year Politics and Society class, according to teacher Patrick O'Driscoll. "Most of the students are of voting age and are registered to vote in the referendum, so they are very interested in the topic." O'Driscoll says the parameters for discussion are well established. "The students know each other well, and are used to engaging in debate in a respectful and structured manner. "They are a very thoughtful class and they will have considered the issue carefully, read about it and discussed it by the time they go in to vote." Teachers may have strong views on the issue on both sides, but O'Driscoll says he never gives his personal opinion. "The students will not know how I am going to vote in the referendum," he says. He does not believe it would be a good idea to invite campaigners on either side to talk to a class, unless it was a well-structured debate with both sides represented. While he is in favour of open discussion, Clive Byrne of the NAPD says he believes "most principals would discourage overt campaigning with the use of posters or the wearing of badges by teachers in school". The NAPD has received a number of queries from members about graphic anti-abortion posters that have been placed near schools. So how is the topic raised in schools with a Catholic ethos, when the patron is strongly opposed to abortion? This can pose problems, particularly when a teacher has opinions that might differ from Catholic teaching on abortion. A CSPE teacher in a Catholic school, who did not wish to be named, said: "It does cause difficulties. The referendum comes up in class and I would never discourage students from taking part in a discussion. "In order to cover myself, I would state clearly the Catholic position on abortion, and then allow a free discussion to take place." In most Irish schools, religious education now tends to be broad-based, covering a number of different faiths and cultures. As well as general religious education, there is also an exam subject, Religious Education. Caitriona Smith, a teacher of Religious Education for Leaving Cert at Ratoath College, Co Meath, says abortion is discussed in class as well as issues such as the death penalty, euthanasia and cloning. "I cover it every year. We tend to explore it in a very factual way first and then look at it as an issue of ethics and morality, without telling students it is right or wrong. Students would be encouraged to discuss it." Smith says she would not encourage single groups to come in to give talks. "I believe if you have one single group coming in to talk about it, students would be confused rather than enlightened." Brendan O'Sullivan, teacher of Politics and Society at Gorey Community School, Co Wexford, says "students coming up to the Leaving Cert are excited because they are exercising their vote for the first time. We would actively encourage students to register to vote." O'Sullivan says the referendum comes up on the curriculum in a number of areas. "We would look at decision-making, who has power, the Constitution and what a referendum is. We also look at human rights and the rights of women." Students tend to set the agenda for discussion in the Gorey Politics class and O'Sullivan says the abortion issue comes up a lot. "I am very conscious of being impartial so that I do not influence students one way or the other. We try to create a safe environment for discussion. "Some students have strong opinions and are very vocal, while others are quite apathetic, or they are very private about their opinions." The Gorey teacher has no doubt that the Leaving Cert Politics course has helped to raise awareness of current affairs among students. "I held a survey in the class recently and the vast majority of students felt that their understanding had improved over the last two years." Patrick O'Driscoll of Colaiste Dun Iascaigh believes the Politics course helps students to look beyond the sound bites on both sides. "This course will encourage active citizenship and engagement with the political process." Around 70 doctors and nurses have now been drafted in to staff a helpline for people concerned about the cervical cancer scandal that is receiving 2,000 calls a day. The Department of Health has said the number of calls being received is much higher than expected. As a result, it has had to assign extra medics to the helpline and is now receiving assistance from experts who normally work with the Irish Cancer Society and Marie Keating Foundation. Women have complained they are struggling to get through to the call centre. And even when they do, most are simply asked to supply their details and told they will be called back at some stage over the coming days. HSEs chief clinical officer Colm Henry defended the process, saying the calls take some time to deal with properly. He said in some instances doctors were spending 25 minutes on the line to individuals. A report compiled by the Serious Incident Management Team, which is overseeing the response to the ongoing scandal, said that between Saturday and Tuesday the helpline received 5,305 calls. This is understood to have accelerated again following news that the number of women affected by delayed diagnosis is likely to be much larger than the 208 originally reported. Of those 5,305 calls, there is a requirement for a call-back in the case of 4,876 women. A specialist team has been put in place to provide these call-backs and this is being supplement due to the volume of requests for information, the report stated. It also acknowledged that there were technical issues with the service when it was set up last Saturday, and again on Monday. The HSE has apologised for the problem. There has been a much higher than expected number of calls and the helpline staffing has been increased to respond to this demand, it said. Fianna Fails health spokesman Stephen Donnelly told the Oireachtas Health Committee that women needed to be reassured about their own cases and the validity of the national screening programme. There is a lot of fear out there and it seems the helpline put in place is not adequate to address the fear, he said. It has been an emotional week for women who have developed cancer after being through CervicalCheck, the national screening service. Our Health Correspondent, Eilish O'Regan answers the questions you need to know: If I regularly get smear tests, is there something I should be doing now? The advice is to always be alert for potential symptoms of cervical cancer. Never ignore them. In most cases, vaginal bleeding is the first noticeable symptom of cervical cancer. It usually occurs after having sex. Bleeding at any other time, other than your expected monthly period also considered unusual. This includes bleeding after the menopause. Visit your GP for advice if you experience any type of unusual vaginal bleeding. Or, if you have any worries, it is possible to ring the CervicalCheck helpline 1800 45 45 55. Can women find out what lab their own smear tests were read in? It is not automatically available in the information they receive after a test. However, it is possible to ring the CervicalCheck helpline 1800 45 45 55 and request the information. If someone does not have confidence in the cervical screening programme, is there a way to get a smear test privately or is there any alternative to a smear test? Yes, the Dublin Well Woman Centre and other services provide a private service. It can cost 85 to 100. Are we any nearer to relieving womens worries? A small step was made yesterday in identifying 208 women whose smear test gave a false negative result. They went on to develop cancer. It was quite shocking for an audit team to find 162 of these women were not told of an internal CervicalCheck review of their case. Read More These reviews were a look-back, they had already been diagnosed with cancer. It was an examination of what went wrong. Were they better off not knowing about the internal reviews? No. They had an absolute right to be told a review was carried out and the findings. Crucially, these reports told them how they developed cancer. Abnormalities were missed in a test. The women would not have known that. These reports contain vital information. Why were so many kept in the dark? The audit deep who did a deep dive of relevant records last weekend said they could not speculate on why women were not informed. Some detail on this was included in a briefing note prepared for Health Minister Simon Harris such audits were carried out to determine how cancers are diagnosed and develop. Before 2015 these audits were intended for "education and training purposes". "In 2015 a decision was taken by the HSE, in line with international best practise, to provide information on outcomes of clinical cancer audits to treating clinicians for onward communication to patients as appropriate," the briefing note states. Are many of the women dead? Yes, 17 are dead. Just two knew their report findings before passing away. Which laboratories were the tests read in? The audit team said they did not know. Was there some cluster of mistakes? No. The cases go back 10 years since the service started. Will more women with wrong tests emerge? It cannot be ruled out. Hiqa, the patient safety body, is to probe CervicalCheck. It is very good at this kind of detective work. Had the audit team anything to say about the quality of testing? They had no evidence that it is below standard. They also said out-sourcing half of smear tests to a lab in the US is not a risk. When was Vicky Phelan pressed to agree to sign a confidentiality agreement? At the back of it all is Vicky Phelan, the Limerick mother fighting cancer. She refused to sign a confidentiality agreement to prevent this being made public. She was put under pressure by lawyers for CervicalCheck and the Texas lab where her test was misread. It happened at a mediation hearing of her case on April 9. Health Minister Simon Harris was told of her High Court case on April 16. Did he take any action? No. Sadly Vicky had to have a full days hearing in the High Court on April 19. There was a shocking revelation about an internal CervicalCheck report on her case. But she was not told for three years about it. It was striking and led to an instant HSE press query from the Irish Independent. Did Mr Harris act on the revelation and order CervicalCheck to release the review? It seems not. It took several days for the gravity of Vicky disclosures to prompt action. A lawsuit with striking similarities to the Vicky Phelan case was settled in secret four years ago. The woman at the centre of the case, taken against a US laboratory and initially the HSE, had to sign a confidentiality agreement as a condition of her settlement, which involved no admission of liability. She took the case after a smear-test analysis missed abnormalities. The woman discovered she had cervical cancer only the following year after undergoing tests when she became pregnant. Despite the HSE being listed as a co-defendant in the proceedings, its director general Tony OBrien told an Oireachtas committee yesterday the organisation had no awareness of the case at all. The primary defendant was New Jersey-based firm Quest Diagnostics, one of three laboratories used as part of CervicalCheck, the national cervical cancer screening programme. The woman also initially indicated she was suing the HSE, a Dublin hospital and a hospital consultant in the action. However, it is understood the lawsuit was primarily defended by the laboratory. The case was settled by the laboratory in 2014 and the other co-defendants were not pursued further. The lawsuit has striking echoes of the Vicky Phelan case. Ms Phelans 2.5m settlement with Clinical Pathology Laboratories also came with no admission of liability. She was also requested to sign a confidentiality agreement but refused to do so. The woman at the centre of the earlier case underwent a smear test in 2011, but abnormalities were missed when this was analysed. She discovered she had cancer when she became pregnant in 2012. The baby was safely delivered by caesarean section and she recovered from the cervical cancer. However, the woman was unable to have more children, because she had to undergo a hysterectomy. Quest Diagnostics did not respond to queries submitted by the Irish Independent. There was also no response yesterday from the HSE press office. HSE director general Mr OBrien told the Oireachtas Health Committee he learned of the settled case only after seeing a reference to it in a media report. The reference to the settled case was in an Irish Independent article published yesterday. Were aware from media reports today of another case that the State Claims Agency (SCA) was not involved in. It was a private case. It was reported that it was settled by one of the laboratories, he said. The State Claims Agency handles negligence claims on behalf of 146 public bodies, including the HSE. Labour TD Alan Kelly asked whether the HSE or Department of Health were aware of this case and if so, are they aware that a non-disclosure agreement was signed on the case. Mr OBrien replied: The report in the media makes that reference. We had no awareness of that case at all. The committee heard there was no mechanism for the State Claims Agency to alert the HSE or Department of Health when a number of similar cases are lodged. In total, the committee heard there were 10 active cases involving the CervicalCheck programme. Six of these have reached the point of legal proceedings, while the other four were described as being at pre-legal proceedings stage. The SCA has now also warned the HSE about one further potential claim. Earlier in the Dail, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he did not wantto sick or terminally ill people dragged through the courts. Nobody wants to see prolonged legal cases going on for years. The public does not want that either. It is not in anyones interest. It is not in the interest of taxpayers in the long run, he said. Mr Varadkar claimed that records provided by the National Treasury Management Agency and the State Claims Agency show that 98pc of medical negligence cases are settled or dropped and do not go to trial. Only about 2pc go to a contested court hearing and those 2pc often go to court because facts or claims are contested. There will always be a certain percentage where the facts or claims are contested, Mr Varadkar said. In Vicky Phelans case, as the deputy knows, the case against the HSE was struck out but the laboratory settled for 2.5m without accepting liability. While there may not have been legal liability on the State, I think there was moral liability on the State to ensure that she got the information about the case that she should have got. There was a breach of duty to ensure that occurred. Vicky Phelan has called for a Commission of Investigation "that is both urgent and prompt but also public" into the cervical cancer scandal. The Limerick mum-of-two, who has terminal cervical cancer, exposed the cervical smear controversy after she settled her High Court action against a US laboratory for 2.5m. It has emerged since that as many as 1,500 more women are at risk of being dragged into the continually escalating cervical cancer scandal. Writing on Twitter this morning, Ms Phelan said "too much has already happened behind closed doors". "As the woman who exposed this scandal, I want to see a Commission of Investigation that is both urgent and prompt but also PUBLIC. Too much has already happened behind closed doors. #CervicalCheckScandal," she wrote. She later added; "In fairness, @SimonHarrisTD has been frank and honest in his discussions with me and his actions have been swift and reassuring." Expand Close Brave mum Vicky Phelan / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brave mum Vicky Phelan Ms Phelan addressed her tweet to both Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Health Minister Simon Harris following the revelation that an expert from outside of Ireland is to be recruited to conduct a preliminary investigation into the cervical cancer scandal. The 'scoping exercise' will be expected to provide answers to many of the questions raised in recent days by the end of June. Speaking on RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland, Ms Phelan's solicitor Mr Cian O'Carroll said any hearing should be held in a public forum. He also said that a scoping exercise could be beneficial because it gives everyone an overview and also "would allow any key documents to come out at an early stage". He said a decision could then be made on a follow-up investigation. Expand Close ORDEAL: Vicky and Jim Phelan leaving the Four Courts after the 2.5m settlement of their action for damages. Photo: Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp ORDEAL: Vicky and Jim Phelan leaving the Four Courts after the 2.5m settlement of their action for damages. Photo: Collins "It would give people info they don't have at the moment," Mr O'Carroll said. He said Commission of Investigations "are good - but they tend to be held in private." "You just heard the thoughts of Vicky Phelan on that and I think she's right," he said. "There are halfway houses which could be achieved perhaps through legislative change as well," Mr O'Carroll continued. Expand Close STRENGTH: Vicky Phelan with her husband Jim and children Amelia and Darragh. Photo: Fergal Phillips / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp STRENGTH: Vicky Phelan with her husband Jim and children Amelia and Darragh. Photo: Fergal Phillips "One would be wary of going down the tribunal route if there wasn't an alternative. "But any alternative must guarantee that the information that comes out, details of the wrongdoing of various parties, and allowing wopmen to tell their story if they so wish in a public forum, that must be achieved. "But you have to strike a balance somewhere and that's where the scoping inquiry comes in. "If a scoping inquiry can give a good sense of what has gone on, you simply have to take the next step. "Unfortunately if you're before a forum where people's integrity is being questioned, they must be afforded the right to legal representation and the right to defend their name." Mr O'Carroll said, in Ireland, there are traditionally two routes of investigation one can take. "The choice is... we either go down the secretive route which can offer you a quicker remedy, or we must go down the more public forum. "We've had a number of serious scandals in our health system, this one goes to affect so many people it does justify a public forum even if it does take longer and it does cost more money. "More will be known and a better decision can be made once the scoping inquiry has completed its work." Meeting Health Minister Simon Harris met with Opposition TDs last night to agree a path forward. Sources who attended the meeting said there was broad agreement that the priority is to get quick answer to a list of key questions. While the option of establishing a full-blown Commission of Investigation remains on the table, it will not be invoked until after the initial process is completed. The minister is to spend the coming days recruiting a suitable expert from outside of Ireland and will bring detailed proposals to Cabinet next Tuesday. A source said: "The scoping exercise will be different from previous ones of this kind. It's objective will be to provide initial answers. It can also recommend terms of reference for a commission of investigation if this is viewed as necessary." Two clinical reviews which are already underway will be feed into the inquiry. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said in the Dail yesterday that the "most effective route to restoring confidence is for a competent, comprehensive inquiry that will get to the truth". Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted there are "limitations to a Hiqa inquiry. "There are problems also with a commission of inquiry and what we know what they are as well." The Labour Party has been particularly critical of the Hiqa approach originally proposed. They argued that it would not have the ability to take sworn evidence or the capacity to cross-examine personnel. However, Mr Varadkar has expressed concerned that a commission would be a much more cumbersome and lengthy process as individuals were likely to hire legal representatives. Meanwhile, it has emerged that women who suffered a delayed cancer diagnosis will have to wait until after the investigation to receive redress from the State. Mr Varadkar said that the Government will look at "a scheme of redress for women whose cancer was missed and should have been detected beyond normal error and for women where there was a breach of duty to inform them of the audit results". But he indicated that compensation would not be paid out until all facts have been established. THE Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) has slammed the treatment of elderly people in Ireland as "worse than cattle at a cattle mart." INMO delegate Sandra Morton emotionally hit out at the treatment of some elderly patients within a healthcare system that is stretched to the limit in terms of resources. "They (elderly people) are treated worse than cattle at a cattle mart," she said. "If we don't stand up for these people today, what are nurses and midwives for?" "We are the only people in this country stopping death." "A very clear message needs to go back to the HSE and to Tony O'Brien." Ms Morton was speaking at the INMO's 99th delegate conference in Cork dealt with motions on stopping the privatisation of home care services and the provision of medical cards to people based on nursing need rather than means testing. The conference also overwhelmingly passed a motion from Dublin North INMO branch calling for a support system for nurses and midwives facing Fitness To Practice (FTP) hearings. Dr Edward Mathews , INMO Director of Social Policy and Regulation, warned that such FTP processes exert enormous strain on nurses and midwives - with some admitting the strain was so great they even suffered from suicidal ideation. In 2017, the INMO spent Euro 600,000 in supporting members in such FTP hearings. A single FTP case can cost up to Euro 20,000 just for the preliminary process and, if it goes to full hearing, it can cost as much as Euro 80,000. The time taken to go to hearing is increasing and the devastation experienced by our members is very concerning," he said. This is a reality colleagues. It is the worst time in peoples lives and it is perfectly common for us to encounter suicidal ideation, paranoia, depression, and anxiety as part of this process." "More must be done by both the Nursing and Midwifery Board and employers to support nurses and midwives who are the subject of regulation in this way. It cant all fall to us to support people." Regulation is a fact of life, and we have to support those who are regulated as well as regulating them." Just remember this - the level of media coverage associated with a FTP hearing is equivalent to someone going into the Central Criminal Court on a serious criminal charge." It will be dealt with on every national broadcaster, every local broadcaster, national print media and local print media." "This is the type of environment that nurses and midwives exist in, that is the level of responsibility and accountability placed on the first day that you walk on the ward." Dr Mathews said the INMO is now seeking that the FTP process be expedited, that hearing be in private but the outcome be published and that regulators support nurses and midwives rather than just pursuing them. Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder...Undated handout photo of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, who was murdered in Ireland 14 years ago. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday April 24, 2010. Ian Bailey will appear at the High Court in Dublin today in connection with the death in west Cork of Sophie Toscan du Plantier, 39. See PA story IRISH France. Photo credit should read: Handout/PA Wire ...A BRITISH freelance journalist Ian Bailey (60) has confirmed he will take a European Court of Human Rights challenge after he lost an appeal to the French Supreme Court against a Paris-based murder prosecution. The Manchester-born freelance journalist had just a single avenue of appeal left to block French plans to stage an historic Paris trial over the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier (39) in west Cork in 1996. Mr Bailey had repeatedly warned that the French would attempt to try and convict him absentia for the brutal killing, having successfully fought an extradition bid by the French six years ago. That trial is now expected to take place in early 2019. The French film executive and mother of one was found battered to death on a laneway leading to her isolated holiday home at Toormore outside Schull on December 23 1996. No one was ever charged with her killing in Ireland. A French-based investigation was launched 10 years ago when the Irish authorities admitted it was highly unlikely anyone would ever be charged here for the crime. Mr Bailey confirmed he is now to take a European Court of Human Rights challenge to the French-based prosecution which, he said, was aimed at wrongly convicting an innocent man of the crime. "I have been informed by my French lawyer, Dominique Tricaud, that I have failed in the French Supreme Court in my challenge of the decision to charge me with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier 22 years ago," he said. "Mr Tricaud said he was very surprised at that decision. "I am less surprised although clearly disappointed that a prosecution repeatedly rejected by the Irish authorities could make muster in France. "I am also angry that as part of the French investigation somebody here in Ireland in authority made the decision to not inform me that I had the right to participate in the French investigation. "Where do I go from here? "My French lawyers will in due course take my challenge to the false allegation that I am somehow unexplainedly connected with the murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier to the European Court of Human Rights. "Even if I am tried for murder in France and found guilty under their Napoleonic Code of law all they will have done is convict an innocent person and merely managed in France what the members of An Garda Siochana tried to and failed," Mr Bailey said. No-one was ever been charged with Ms du Plantier's death in Ireland despite one of the biggest garda murder investigations in history. Mr Bailey, who moved to Ireland in 1991, was twice arrested by gardai for questioning. He was released without charge on both occasions in 1997 and 1998. Since then, Mr Bailey has insisted that "sinister attempts" were made to frame him for the crime. He has vigorously protested his innocence and sued eight Irish and British newspapers for defamation in 2003 over their coverage of the murder. The journalist has also sued the State for wrongful arrest though he lost that case and last month was informed he faced paying the costs for the action. Earlier this year the Chamber d'Instruction in France rejected his appeal against being charged and prosecuted. His challenge to the French Supreme Court was his last avenue of appeal in France which could have allowed the trial to be blocked. I believe this will all only end with my death, he warned. Or, the second alternative is if the French convict me of murder in my absence at a Paris trial. Mr Bailey also said he discovered in February 2013 that a letter was on file in the Department of Justice which afforded him the opportunity to offer his evidence directly to the French magistrate and police. However, he was never facilitated in telling his story directly to the French. "There was one document in particular which jumped out at me when I went through it (the file)," he said. "It was dated February 2013 where the French authorities had written to the Department of Justice informing them that I had the right of being interviewed by them and putting my side....the French authorities asked the Department to write to me to help set up this meeting. That letter was never written. "Why wasn't I afforded my Constitutional right?" The three judge 'Chamber d'Instruction' in Paris ruled that there were "sufficient grounds" for Mr Bailey (60) to face a prosecution in France. The French failed in a 2012 bid to have Mr Bailey extradited with the Irish Supreme Court rejecting the application. A fresh European Arrest Warrant (EAW) was issued two years ago but has never been triggered. Mr Bailey's Irish solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said it was "farcical" what was happening in Paris. He pointed out that the French authorities intend pursuing the prosecution despite the fact they are believed to have precisely the same information which the late Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Ireland, Eamon Barnes, rejected as grounds for any prosecution here. Mr Buttimer described such evidence as "totally discredited." "It will effectively be a show trial, if it ever happens," Mr Buttimer said. "The evidence on which I believe it (the prosecution) intends to rely is no more than the evidence which was rejected 20 years ago by the late Mr Barnes. "It also subsequently rejected repeatedly by the other two DPPs in this jurisdiction. Mr Barnes described it as 'the thoroughly flawed and prejudiced' evidence gathered by the Irish police." French authorities launched an investigation under Paris-based Magistrate Patrick Gachon into Ms du Plantiers death 10 years ago when the Irish authorities confirmed there was now little prospect of a prosecution here. The French are confident that the majority of 40 Irish witnesses, the bulk of whom were interviewed as part of the original Garda murder probe, will agree to travel to Paris for the planned trial. However, they cannot be compelled to attend. Under France's Napoleonic Code, Mr Bailey can be tried in absentia. The only requirement for such a homicide trial to be staged is that the deceased involved was a French national - it does not matter under French law where the alleged incident occurred. Furthermore, French law allows for sworn witness statements to be entered into evidence even if the witness is not present in court. A French judge is also allowed to permit sworn statements from witnesses who are now deceased. Several of those interviewed in west Cork as part of the original Garda murder investigation have since died. If Irish witnesses decline to travel to Paris for the hearing, their statements can still be offered in evidence. The French received special permission from Ireland to allow an elite team of Paris detectives to visit west Cork and re-interview the original Garda murder file witnesses. Those interviews were also video-recorded. Full access was also given by Ireland to the forensic data obtained by gardai in west Cork. The French investigation involved the exhumation of Sophie's body, a battery of fresh forensic tests and re-interviewing all the original garda witnesses. Sophie's killing now ranks as arguably Ireland's highest profile unsolved murder. Sophie's son, Pierre-Louis Bauday Vignaud, has paid tribute to the French authorities for their commitment to the investigation - and hevowed that his family will never cease their campaign for justice for Sophie. "It (the prosecution) is very good news - it is news that we have waited a long time for. It is news that we have waited more than 20 years for." For almost two decades, Sophie's elderly parents, Georges and Marguerite Bouniol, travelled each year to west Cork to attend a Mass for their daughter and to appeal for public help to track down her killer. Their family admitted their biggest fear was that they would not live to see someone held accountable for Sophie's brutal death. Gardai outside the home of Natalia Karacyzn in Crozon park in Sligo. A 32-year-old man has been charged with the murder of his wife and mother-of-three, Natalia Karaczyn (30). Rafal Karacyzn of Crozon Park, Sligo has been remanded in custody to appear at Harristown District Court, Castlerea on a charge of murdering his wife at their home on Sunday. The accused made no reply when the charge was put to him at 7.43pm on Wednesday night having been arrested for the purpose of charge at 6.58pm at Ballymoate Garda Station. It was agreed in court that the accused should be put on suicide watch. Her family, who were in court for the hearing, were in support of the request. Expand Close Natalia Karaczyn who lived at Crozon Park with her husband and three children. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Natalia Karaczyn who lived at Crozon Park with her husband and three children. Legal aid was granted to the accused. The body of Natalia Karaczyn (30) was recovered near Lough Gill, Co Sligo, shortly after 10am on Tuesday following a large-scale search effort by local gardai. The young mother had been strangled to death. Both the murder victim and her husband are members of the Polish community. Expand Close Rafal Karaczyn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rafal Karaczyn The mother of three had been missing for more than 48 hours after returning to her home in Crozon Park on Sunday morning after a night out with friends. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 9:42 am Since this building was built in 1965, it carries the characteristics of its Midcentury Modern predecessors, expressing them in a more mature version of the eras style that introduces regional influences in the work. The flat roof and minimal overhangs that often define early modernism are replaced with deep eaves and a low-pitched roof. Small-scale ornamentation is not incorporated, but the buildings larger features provide an elegant composition. The main entrance is marked by a great, open-gabled roof covering the porte cochere, which provides both an urbanscaled marker of the main entrance and cover for both pedestrian and vehicular arrivals. This gateway is supported on exposed glue-laminated beams and narrow-profile brick columns. Ribbons of grouped casement windows reach around corners, or are stopped when the perpendicular exterior walls continue beyond in wing walls extending beyond the buildings main profile. Located at the edge of a residential neighborhood, the building supports good planning principles by employing a strong residential appearance for its light commercial use, subtly separating the commercial street from the homes beyond. Located on one of East Lansings major streets, it allows easy access for clients of the law firm that occupies it, Brookover and Carr, without drawing excessive traffic through the neighborhood beyond. Eye candy of the Week is our weekly look at some of the nicer properties in Lansing. It rotates each with Eyesore of the Week. If you have a suggestion, please e-mail eye@lansingcitypulse.com or call Berl Schwartz at 999-5061. A 32-year-old man who has been twice arrested in relation to the murder of his wife has told investigating officers that someone else killed the tragic woman at his home. The body of Natalia Karaczyn (30) was recovered near Lough Gill, Co Sligo, shortly after 10am on Tuesday following a large-scale search effort by local gardai. The young mother had been strangled to death. Her husband Rafal Karaczyn (32) was arrested for a second time on Tuesday morning by gardai investigating the disappearance and then the death of his wife. Expand Close Natalia Karaczyn who lived at Crozon Park with her husband and three children. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Natalia Karaczyn who lived at Crozon Park with her husband and three children. He remained in custody last night and is expected to appear before court this morning charged in relation to his wife's death. Gardai have been frantically establishing if there may have been any 'third-party' involvement in the murder, since early yesterday. Mr Karaczyn is understood to have previously given officers detailed information about where they may find tragic Natalia. Both the murder victim and her husband are members of the Polish community. Expand Close Rafal Karaczyn / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rafal Karaczyn The mother of three had been missing for more than 48 hours after returning to her home in Crozon Park on Sunday morning after a night out with friends. Her husband was initially arrested later that evening while his wife was still missing. He was held for more than 24 hours for questioning before being released without charge after 5am on Tuesday. However, it is understood that he was contacted by associates of his late wife, who persuaded him to return to gardai. Mr Karaczyn was then re-arrested by gardai. Passion Shortly after 10am, the body of a woman, since identified as Ms Karaczyn, was recovered near Lough Gill, which is more than 2km from where she was last seen. Detectives believe that she may have been killed in a "crime of passion". As part of the investigation, gardai gathered CCTV footage from properties and businesses near Crozon Park. According to her family, footage from a pub near their home shows Ms Karaczyn walking along the road at 6.30am on Sunday. Separate images from a neighbour's property show a vehicle leaving the Crozon Park area that same morning, before returning a short time later. This vehicle was seized on Tuesday afternoon by gardai and was still being examined last night. On Monday, Ms Karaczyn's family made a heartfelt plea for information on her disappearance. Ms Karaczyn's sister Magdalena McMorrow wrote on social media: "My sister Natalia went out last night [Saturday] and has not come back. Please, if you have any information, seen her, or maybe have CCTV outside your house in the area, get in touch with Sligo garda station or myself." The investigation is being led by gardai at Ballymote. Body Chief Superintendent Aidan Glackin, of the Sligo/Leitrim Garda division, previously said that the Garda investigation was still "live" following the discovery of the body. "As you are aware, this find comes from the reporting of a missing young lady to us on Sunday morning," Chief Supt Glackin told reporters at the scene on Holywell Road. "We have worked earnestly with the community in Sligo to try to find that person. "As I said, we've got great help from the community and this has led to this discovery here today." He also thanked the local community for their help throughout the investigation into Ms Karaczyn's disappearance. "The investigation is still very live but I do want to reiterate that there are sensitivities here, there's privacies that need to be afforded to the families that are involved. "I want to thank the community in Sligo for great assistance we've got and I can't stress that enough." IRISH nurses and midwives voted to ballot for industrial action if major progress is not achieved over long-standing pay and working conditions grievances. Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) delegates voted overwhelmingly at their 99th annual conference in Cork to immediately ballot for industrial action, up to all-out strikes, if the outcome of Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) negotiations next month are rejected. INMO members warned that the PSPC talks now hinge on the issue of pay parity being resolved - and slated the fact nurses and midwives were routinely treated as "the poor relations of the entire healthcare system." "They are going to be hit by the INMO juggernaut unless they address the pay issue right now," INMO official Tony Fitzpatrick warned. "There is a recruitment and retention crisis for nurses within the Irish healthcare system by the Health Service Executive (HSE) are in denial." The INMO slated as "a total disgrace" the fact Ireland now has less acute hospital beds today than under former Taoiseach Charles Haughey and the swingeing health cutbacks of 1987. Ireland also has 2,000 less nurses working today than Ireland had in 2008. An INMO survey of Fourth Year nursing students found that 71pc are now considering quitting Ireland and working overseas because of pay and working condition concerns. INMO delegate Margaret Frahill warned that unless the issue of low pay is tackled, graduate Irish nurses will flood out of the system to better paid overseas jobs. There is now almost a 25pc pay differential between Irish nurses and their Australian counterparts. INMO delegate Siobhan O'Brien warned the crisis facing the healthcare system will only get worse if firm action is not taken. "We as nurses are the cornerstone of the health service - we need that recognition and we need to be valued. It is just unbelievable to consider that someone without a professional qualification is on a higher pay grade than nurses?" INMO President Martina Harkin-Kelly warned that nurses will not tolerate any further excuses or delays in tackling pay and working conditions. "Our members will not accept any further delays in addressing these two fundamental issues of pay and working conditions," she warned. "We believe the evidence of low pay affecting nurses and midwives decision to leave the Irish public service is very real and a cause of major concern to the INMO." INMO General Secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha stressed that the pay and working conditions crisis now dominates the nursing profession. "The pay gap is having real and sustained effect on the ability to recruit and retain nurses and midwives and therefore growing the service for the future is simply not going to be possible." INMO delegates also hit out at the treatment of elderly people in Ireland as "worse than cattle at a cattle mart." INMO delegate Sandra Morton emotionally hit out at the treatment of some elderly patients within a healthcare system that is stretched to the limit in terms of resources. "They (elderly people) are treated worse than cattle at a cattle mart," she said. "If we don't stand up for these people today, what are nurses and midwives for?" "We are the only people in this country stopping death." "A very clear message needs to go back to the HSE and to Tony O'Brien." Ms Morton was speaking at the INMO's 99th delegate conference in Cork dealt with motions on stopping the privatisation of home care services and the provision of medical cards to people based on nursing need rather than means testing. The conference also overwhelmingly passed a motion from Dublin North INMO branch calling for a support system for nurses and midwives facing Fitness To Practice (FTP) hearings. Dr Edward Mathews , INMO Director of Social Policy and Regulation, warned that such FTP processes exert enormous strain on nurses and midwives - with some admitting the strain was so great they even suffered from suicidal ideation. In 2017, the INMO spent Euro 600,000 in supporting members in such FTP hearings. A single FTP case can cost up to Euro 20,000 just for the preliminary process and, if it goes to full hearing, it can cost as much as Euro 80,000. The time taken to go to hearing is increasing and the devastation experienced by our members is very concerning," he said. This is a reality colleagues. It is the worst time in peoples lives and it is perfectly common for us to encounter suicidal ideation, paranoia, depression, and anxiety as part of this process." "More must be done by both the Nursing and Midwifery Board and employers to support nurses and midwives who are the subject of regulation in this way. It cant all fall to us to support people." Regulation is a fact of life, and we have to support those who are regulated as well as regulating them." Just remember this - the level of media coverage associated with a FTP hearing is equivalent to someone going into the Central Criminal Court on a serious criminal charge." It will be dealt with on every national broadcaster, every local broadcaster, national print media and local print media." "This is the type of environment that nurses and midwives exist in, that is the level of responsibility and accountability placed on the first day that you walk on the ward." Dr Mathews said the INMO is now seeking that the FTP process be expedited, that hearing be in private but the outcome be published and that regulators support nurses and midwives rather than just pursuing them. TWO people have been arrested in connection with the murder of Liga Skromane. Police in the Indian region of Kerala have arrested two men as part of their probe into the death of Liga (33), who was strangled. Liga (33) was originally from Latvia and had been living in Dublin for five years with her partner Andrew Jordan, she had travelled alongside her sister Ilze to Kerala to attend a holistic retreat. She went missing on March 14 and her remains were found by a local fisherman on April 21. An autopsy found that she had been strangled, forensic reports confirmed there were blood clots in her brain, there were also bruises on her neck and legs. Senior police officials told NDTV: "The postmortem report didn't reveal much because the body was badly decomposed." Expand Close Liga Skromane (33) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Liga Skromane (33) Read More Liga's funeral and cremation is taking place in Thiruvananthapuram today, her ashes will then be flown back to Latvia, where a public memorial will be held on Sunday, which her family has called "a triubute to her life". Her sister Ilze told NDTV: "I am aware of the police investigations and they have been in touch with me. For now I am focusing on the funeral. "She loved Kerala and had received a lot of love and support, we don't want to leave India with only bad memories. "The funeral will be a private affair and on Sunday there will be a memorial, which will be open to public. It will be a tribute to her life." She continued to say that she is happy with the ongoing police investigation. Ilze commented: "Senior police officer Manoj Abraham has been in regular touch with me. I know they are doing their best give us justice. "I am satisfied with what they are doing, and don't want to delve into the past." Independent.ie has contacted Kerala Police for a comment. HSE boss Tony O'Brien intends to stay in his 192,000 job until his planned retirement in August, despite being at the centre of the storm over the cervical cancer scandal. He is likely to be in line for a lucrative pension but the HSE did not last night clarify what his entitlements will be. That's despite a claim in the Dail that Mr O'Brien will "sail into the sunset with a large pension and a hefty gratuity". Mr O'Brien told the Oireachtas Health Committee that recent events have been a "personal blow" to him. But he also defended the original controversial decision to outsource the examination of cervical test samples to the US while he was at the helm of the screening service a decade ago. Mr O'Brien has been paid a combined total of more than 1m since he first took on the role as director general designate in 2012. He is currently on a salary of 192,000. The HSE did not respond when asked what his pension entitlements will be when he steps down after his contract expires in August. Sinn Fein has been pushing for Mr O'Brien to be sacked over the cervical screening controversy. Fianna Fail TD Fiona O'Loughlin also said Mr O'Brien should step aside, but her party as a whole hasn't called for his head. Health Minister Simon Harris last night said that Mr O'Brien's time in charge of the HSE ends in 12 weeks and his priority is for the director general to finish that term. He said he was pleased to hear Mr O'Brien apologise for the actions of the HSE and his commitment to focus on screening for the remainder of his time in the job. Speaking earlier in the Dail, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald claimed: "It is a scandal that Tony O'Brien is left in post for those weeks to sail into the sunset with a large pension and a hefty gratuity, having left a scene of devastation... behind him." She put it to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that if he was serious about reassuring women, he would "remove that incompetent man". Her remarks prompted Leas-Cheann Comhairle Pat 'The Cope' Gallagher to remind TDs that individuals outside the House were "entitled to fair procedure". Mr Varadkar said that allegations that have been made must be investigated and said this is why the Government is setting up a statutory inquiry into the screening controversy. He said this "isn't just about targeting individuals or looking for heads to roll" and that for him the issue was about women and their health. Mr O'Brien was the chief executive of the National Cancer Screening Programme in 2008 when the decision was made to outsource the testing of cervical screening samples. He told the Oireachtas Health Committee that he still believes it was the correct thing to do. He said that at the time there was no potential to provide a national cervical screening programme based on the laboratory system that was in place in Ireland. "The labs were not accredited. Women were waiting for up to a year for their results. Some of those slides were being read on kitchen tables," he added. In his opening statement, Mr O'Brien said he welcomed the establishment of the statutory inquiry into the screening controversy. He said he began his career in the public service in BreastCheck and for that reason "recent events are indeed a personal blow to me". Fine Gael's Kate O'Connell asked if he intends to stay on as HSE director general. Mr O'Brien replied: "Yes, I've already indicated I intend to use the remainder of my time to focus on this issue." She replied: "With respect, it's a pity you didn't focus on it before now." Liga Skromane and (inset l-r) Udayan and Umesh who are accused of murdering the Dublin woman Two men have been arrested in connection with the alleged rape and murder of Liga Skromane. Police in the Indian region of Kerala have arrested two men as part of their probe into the death of Liga (33), who it is believed was strangled. The Dublin resident was found in a mangrove forest in the area on April 21. The accused have been identified as Udayan (24) and Umesh (28), who both only use one name. Expand Close Umesh, who uses only one name, 28 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Umesh, who uses only one name, 28 State Police chief Loknath Behera told the media at a press conference that the accused lured the victim to the isolated, marshy area and drugged her. It is believed the young woman was sexually assaulted before she was killed. It was a brutal homicide. The investigation was dependent on the circumstantial evidence and we were able to crack it based on the scientific evidence, said Behera. Both of the accused have a string of unrelated criminal charges pending against them. Behera said the circumstantial evidence led the probe team to the suspects and by corroborating it with scientific evidence, the cases would be made watertight against the duo. IG Manoj Abraham said: "There were no eyewitnesses because the locality is isolated". A "sustained and scientific probe" led to the arrests, the police officer said. Expand Close Udayan, who also uses only one name, 24 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Udayan, who also uses only one name, 24 Both the accused have been charged with first-degree murder, rape and under the section 20B of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS Act.) An autopsy confirmed last week that she had been strangled. The accused dumped the body in a way that would make people think it as a case of suicide, but they were wrong, Behra said. On being asked as to why there are no security cameras in the tourist areas, he said: We have installed cameras in the busy areas and the main city, but installing a camera in the tourist area would breach the freedom of the foreign tourists. Kerry TD Danny Healy-Rae said he has sought legal advice after being branded a "road traffic terrorist" by Transport Minister Shane Ross. Mr Healy-Rae took issue with the minister in the Dail last night after Mr Ross criticised him for opposing the introduction of new drink-driving laws. The Kerry TD has been outspoken in his opposition to the minister's proposals to introduce automatic bans for people caught driving under the influence. Mr Ross said opposing the measures is costing lives. He wants motorists banned if they are detected with 50 to 80 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood. He appealed for Mr Healy-Rae and other TDs speaking out against the measures to allow the Road Traffic Bill to pass through the Dail without opposition. "I'll take this opportunity to appeal to Danny Healy-Rae and his gang to stop the filibuster," said Mr Ross. "They are behaving like road traffic terrorists. "There is a kind of guerilla warfare going on that is costing lives. "I appeal to those very few people left opposing this in the Dail to stop the filibuster, stop the guerilla warfare and to allow this legislation through, which is the will of the Dail." The minister was speaking at a road safety awareness drive urging people to express caution over the upcoming bank holiday weekend. Last night, Mr Healy-Rae told the Dail he has taken legal advice because he was "hurt" by the minister's comments. "I don't understand why I am being called a terrorist," said Mr Healy-Rae. "I have to say to you minister that I have a family at home as well and I don't think you or anyone in here or outside or anywhere would like to be called a terrorist. I will be dealing with that in another fashion and I have sought legal advice." Mr Healy-Rae, who does not drink, has repeatedly said small volumes of alcohol do not impair a person's ability to drive. He accused the minister of discriminating against people living in rural areas because automatic bans would have a greater social impact there than in urban areas. A record 1bn Irish payment into the European Union budget was a significant factor in a deterioration in the State's financial position last month and will bring home the stakes in difficult talks due to kick off in Brussels. April's Exchequer Returns record a "slight deterioration in the budgetary position", analysts at Davy said last night. The figures show a deficit of 3.43bn for Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe's department, almost 900m worse than at the same time last year - driven largely by higher outgoings, including the payment to Brussels. That gap is likely to close during the year as tax receipts pick up. Ireland is one of nine richer member states which are net contributors to the EU at a time when the overall structure of funding is up for review. Yesterday, the European Commission proposed an enlarged, multi-year budget that will have to make up for the shortfall of Brexit next year. The commission sees the budget talks as an opportunity to expand programmes in relation to investment, security and defence and refugee resettlement despite the loss of UK funds. The Dutch have already led the charge for states unwilling to step into the Brexit breach. "A smaller EU should have a smaller budget," the Netherlands' Prime Minister Mark Rutte said. His nation has positioned itself in a leadership role among northern countries, including Ireland. However, its position will be challenging for the Irish Government, including when it comes to funding farmers through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). France's agriculture minister said it was "simply unthinkable" to implement a policy of shaving 5pc off Brussels' hefty spending on farm subsidies. As part of its opening bid, the commission has proposed a new mechanism to cut the flow of funds if authoritarian governments in member states impinge on independent judges - a policy aimed at right-wing regimes in Poland and Hungary in particular. TRIBUTES have been paid to former Fine Gael TD Monica Barnes who has died aged 82. Ms Barnes, who represented Dun Laoghaire for 15 years, having been first elected in 1982, has been remembered as "an advocate for women". Taoiseach Leo Varadkar led tributes and noted her contribution to the party and national politics. She was particularly inspirational for women and younger members of our party," he said. She was first elected to the Dail in 1982, having been encouraged to enter the political arena by Garret FitzGerald, as a result of her work in the womens movement. Monica spent her political career as an advocate for women and a champion of policies to bring about progressive change. She was always willing to speak her mind and she was a fearless campaigner for change at a time when it was not always easy." Frances Fitzgerald also expressed condolences, describing Ms Barnes as a "brave and forthright representative". Private land in towns and cities close to essential services including public transport will be acquired by the State to build affordable homes. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy told the National Construction Summit that land used in an "inefficient way" to sell "couches, cars and trucks" could be compulsorily acquired by a new regeneration agency to help boost output. The summit also highlighted concerns about the capacity of the construction sector to build homes and complete the 116bn investment programme proposed in the National Development Plan (NDP). Maurice Buckley, chairman of the Office of Public Works, also said there was too much of a "disputes and claims" culture which was delaying projects. "Everywhere in Government people are very worried as to what impact it (the 116bn NDP spend) will have," he said. "There's a report on demand for skills up to 2020 and addressing the challenges, and it identified capacity bottlenecks in certain sectors and skills shortages. "Do we have people trained up to cope with building regulations, especially in SMEs?" He said the industry needed to upskill to allow companies to compete for major projects, including a 1bn flood defence programme to be built over the next decade. "There's too much of a disputes and claims culture, especially with the public sector. "It's delaying things and costing more," he said. "It won't be tolerated. It's only a handful of companies but collectively we have to get that sorted." The conference was told that the number of homes under construction and with planning permission has risen, with the Central Bank suggesting 23,000 new homes would be completed this year and 27,000 in 2019. "These are dramatic increases in what we've seen before. If we are successful in achieving these numbers, it will show Rebuilding Ireland is working," Mr Murphy said. Affordable units would be delivered by the new National Housing and Regeneration Agency, expected to be formally established later this year, which would identify State-owned sites to deliver affordable homes. It would also, if required, compulsorily acquire private land. "The State has to become directly involved in our key land banks. That means a regeneration agency for site assembly and new home building. It will also involve private land," Mr Murphy said. He cited land around the Naas Road in Dublin, which was within the canals, connected to the M50 and close to the Luas. "All key pieces of infrastructure, but the lands around it are used in a very inefficient way to sell couches, mattresses, cars and trucks," he said. "This is a key strategic land bank. If we're going to achieve compact growth, if we're going to take advantage of key pieces of infrastructure and face down climate change, we have to take land like that and repurpose it for homes and work places. "The new regeneration agency will have the mandate to tackle issues like that." Farah Elle (right) from Libya, with Annie Waithira, from Kenya, at the launch of Africa Day 2018 yesterday. Photo: Mark Stedman Parts of the south experienced the wettest April since World War II as the rest of the country endured above-average rainfall. According to the monthly weather summary from Met Eireann, published yesterday, the Valentia weather station in Co Kerry recorded the wettest April since 1940. The 197.9mm of rain that fell was more than twice its normal long-term average for the month. The same weather station also recorded the most rain falling in one day when 46.2mm was recorded on April 16 - the wettest April day there since 2003. Cork Airport also endured a soggy month, recording rainfall for 24 out of 31 days, while also recording rainfall under 0.2mm for 28 'rain' days, compared to Malin Head, Co Donegal, which had 11 'wet days' with rain exceeding 1mm, and 14 'rain days'. The only consolation to a wet and dreary month, was that the monthly mean temperatures were slightly above average. Dublin's Phoenix Park and Malin Head were treated to a welcome blast of warm air and sunshine on April 18 when temperatures hit 20C. But there were some notable exceptions when the mercury dipped to -5.3C in Mullingar, Co Westmeath, on April 5. The amount of sunshine nationally was also below the monthly average. with Cork Airport receiving just 65pc of its average monthly sunshine at 104.9 hours - its dullest month since 1987. By contrast, Casement Aerodrome in Dublin recorded 165.4 hours of sunshine for the month, with April 20 recording 14.9 hours of sunshine - the most sunshine recorded on that day since 1964. While the start of May has been cold and blustery, that is all set to change, according to Met Eireann's John Eagleton. "The weather is pretty optimistic for the bank holiday," he said. While today will start off a "bit misty and drizzly", conditions will get better over the weekend, with more dry and sunny weather kicking in from Friday. Monday will be the best day of the bank holiday weekend, with temperatures soaring to 22C, although cooler along the eastern coast, he said. "Everyone is going to get a bit of something good," he said with regards to the national weather picture. The European Commission's opening shot for negotiations on the next EU budget calls for a bigger cash injection in spite of a smaller and less wealthier EU after Brexit. The so-called Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), would see an increase in "commitments" by the remaining 27 member states to 1.27 trillion. This is in spite of the fact that the bloc will be reduced by one member state - a net contributor - but with a population of 65 million, punching a budget hole of around 12bn. The increase relates to a 10pc increase in commitment for member states. Ireland is also now a net contributor state - one of nine only - and its total budget contribution will translate into 1.11pc of the gross national income (GNI). The MFF negotiations trigger the start of the hardest-fought deliberations of EU members; highlighting the conflicting interests and requirements of different economies. It lays bare the profound difference and priorities among certain governments. In his speech to the European Parliament in January, and nailing Ireland's colours to the mast - conscious of the difficult talks ahead - the Taoiseach said Ireland was willing to pay more in to the budget. This was in spite of the reduced size of the bloc and our new-found position as a net contributor. Part of our willingness to do so is undoubtedly influenced by our positioning as good Europeans who've gained significantly since joining in 1973. But crucially, the Government will be calling on all of its EU partners for a return on its investment - in the name of solidarity throughout the forthcoming Brexit slog. Our European credentials have never been in question, but we're on board with the controversial ambition of European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and other federalists who believe that part of the remedy for Brexit is to accelerate the development of the single market, and invest deeper in the European project in order to enrich and develop trade opportunities. "The new budget framework will decide the future of our Europe of 27 and will determine our legacy to forthcoming generations," said Mr Juncker. "The level of the budget is not without consequence. It is directly linked to our ambitions." The budget must be agreed unanimously by all member states. Already countries like Austria, the Netherlands and Denmark have hit out at Mr Juncker's apparent lack of restraint which bypassed the agreed cap of 1pc of GNI for member states. He has added funding for new areas of focus for Brussels such as security and defence and migration. Mr Juncker's demands for more money for Brussels threaten to disrupt the remarkable period of strength and unity which followed Britain's Brexit vote. It's worrying for Ireland, but opportune for hard-line Brexiteers as they can point to Brussels' intransigence and unyielding tendency to be always 'on the take'. In one example of how fraught the budget negotiations will be, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte hit out at the distribution of funding, saying "the costs of funding the budget are not shared fairly". Brexit is already set to hit the Netherlands' economy hard. While Ireland will pay more, it may translate that we have stronger clout over how the money is spent; ensuring certain projects which suit our economy and demographic are protected. Cohesion funds which support badly needed infrastructure and Erasmus, as well as Brexit-specific adjustment funding will likely form part of Irish demands. Vicky Phelan from Annacotty, Co. Limerick, pictured speaking to the media on leaving the Four Courts Picture: Collins Courts There is something happening to women in Ireland right now. Were at breaking point. Last week Vicky Phelan from Annacotty in county Limerick settled a High Court action for 2.5 million against a US laboratory. Vicky Phelan may have more money than you or I, but I doubt she and her lawyers toasted the victory with prosecco. In 2011, Vicky Phelan had a smear test and was told she was fine. Vicky Phelan is now dying. Vicky Phelan is 43. She has two children they are 7 and 12-years-old. She has a husband, Jim. Vicky Phelan could have been saved. The test missed abnormalities. CervicalCheck, Irelands cervical screening programme, became aware of the mess-up in 2014 following an audit. They did not inform Vicky Phelan, who that same year had another smear test. Those results came back with a diagnosis: cancer. In 2016, CervicalCheck told doctors about their patients result being audited. It would be another year until Vicky Phelan discovered that had she gotten the bad news in 2011, she may have been offered a preventative treatment. We now know that 206 other women with cervical cancer who took part in CervicalCheck should have received earlier intervention. There will be more Vicky Phelans. They may not die of cervical cancer, but they will die. Every Irish woman knows this. Were used to cases like Vicky Phelans and routine almost-manslaughters. Women up and down the country live in fear of being the next Vicky Phelan. The next Savita Halappanavar, who died in University Hospital Galway in 2012 of sepsis, days after suffering a miscarriage. The next Susie Long, a public patient placed on a seven-month waiting list for a colonoscopy during which time her terminal bowel cancer spread. The next clinically brain dead female body kept alive over Christmas, all because she is incubating a foetus and this is a nightmare we can live here. The next Ann Marie Copse, dead at 23 in 2012 from bacterial meningitis. She presented at the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick with an earache and days later she died from acute bacterial meningitis. Last year, her family settled a High Court action against the HSE for over half a million euro. Every woman in Ireland right now, under a healthcare system which sees us as undeserving of full transparency and care, is a hostage to misfortune. This cannot go on. Were not even asking for much, just a small acknowledgement of our humanity. This isnt politics. Every person who wants to think in the future tense should feel wretched in their bones. Women, half of the human race, deserve better. Please listen to us, after all, were begging for our lives. The early weeks of pregnancy can feel like a drag, but it's not long until time starts passing at a much faster rate and the finish line is suddenly visible in the distance. As D-Day and labour draws closer, it's natural to feel a little apprehensive, particularly if it's your first baby or if you've previously had a difficult birth experience. There are, however, a few things that you can do to prepare for labour and birth - things that can help to relieve some of the trepidation that you may be feeling and help to ensure you're in the best possible place when baby decides it's time to meet its adoring public. Attend Antenatal Classes. These classes are often run in the maternity hospital, but they can also be accessed privately and locally. During the classes, you will learn all about the stages of labour, how breathing techniques can help you to manage the pain, the pain-relief options that are available, and what to expect if your baby needs to go to the SCBU (Special Care Baby Unit). You'll also learn what to expect in those first minutes and hours after baby's birth and how different your experience may be depending on whether you have a vaginal or Caesarean-section delivery The classes are a fantastic resource and a comfortable environment in which to ask any of those awkward or embarrassing questions that you may have. Classes that take place in the hospital sometimes also include a tour of the labour ward, which can be a demystifying experience as you'll find there's not a single weapon of torture in sight. Furthermore, antenatal classes are not just for first-timers. Refresher classes are available for those who have had a large gap between pregnancies or possibly had a C-section the first time around. As they say, "knowledge is power". Massage your perineum This didn't sound too appealing the first time that I heard of it, or even manageable to be honest, taking into account the size of my bump. It's claimed that massaging your perineum with a lubricant such as almond oil or Vitamin E oil, in the weeks beforehand, can help the area to stretch during childbirth and reduce tearing. It seemed to help me the second time around and anything that might work is definitely worth a try. Estimated due date is just that - estimated Approximately 5pc of babies actually arrive on their due date, and yet we place huge emphasis on it. If the day comes and goes without as much as a peep from baby, it can lead to you feeling very frustrated and completely fed up. Patience is a virtue that you may need to call upon here. Some babies just need that little bit longer to be ready, and most hospitals won't consider an induction until you are over 41 weeks pregnant The flip side of this is that other babies arrive without warning and before that aimed-for date, surprising mum and possibly leaving her totally unprepared in the process. For that reason, pack your hospital bag well in advance, and always make sure there's petrol or diesel in the car. If you have other children, make sure the person who has agreed to take care of them keeps their mobile phone switched on, and if you have your hospital chart or notes at home, make sure they're easily to hand at all times. Allow for the unexpected While we might create an ideal birth scenario in our heads, the reality is that birth can be unpredictable. In the weeks leading up to the big day, try not to over focus on a 'picture perfect' birth that you're aiming for, and allow yourself to consider the possibility that things may turn out differently. Sometimes intervention is required and while everyone accepts that mother and baby's safety is of paramount importance, it can still be upsetting if you end up needing a C-section for example, when your heart was set on a natural birth. The same can be the case if you planned a drug-free birth, but decided during labour that you needed some pain relief. Keeping an open mind is important. Speaking with trusted friends and family members about their own birth experiences can help you to feel more prepared for every eventuality. Distract from the scheduled Scheduled inductions and elective C-sections are usually planned for medical reasons and not, contrary to some suggestions, because mum is "too posh to push" or wants to give birth at a convenient time. Medical necessity aside, an elective C-section is usually a much calmer affair than its emergency equivalent, while a scheduled induction can mean that a potentially panicked middle of the night hospital run, is ruled out. In spite of appearing very civilised, organised and calm, it's not unusual to feel very nervous in the days beforehand. With the surprise element of when things will happen supposedly removed, there is great awareness about what's coming. Distraction is the best tool here. Go for a cuppa with your friends, do some last-minute shopping, get your hair done, anything that removes your focus from your flagged D-Day. And, if the night before you really can't sleep, don't torture yourself trying, watch a boxset and chill. But be warned - even babies scheduled for delivery can upset the applecart. My sixth child decided to begin his entrance into the world in the middle of an end-of-year dinner with some fellow senior infant mums. Along with providing plenty of material for the after-dinner chit-chat, his planned elective section for three weeks later became an emergency one instead! Get moving Those last few weeks can be exhausting, as the weight of a burgeoning bump and late pregnancy niggles kick in. There can be a real temptation to take up residence on the couch and only move when you absolutely have to. However, maintaining some degree of fitness in pregnancy is linked to an easier delivery and a quicker recovery. Getting out and about for a walk can help you to feel better, both mentally and physically, and as you get closer to your due date, may even encourage a comfy lodger to vacate his/her womb cocoon-like premises. In addition to this, your fitness levels can contribute to how quickly you get back on your feet after delivery. Beware of Scaremongering As advantageous as it can be to hear birth stories and coping methods from friends and family, there are always those happy to share horror stories and traumatic tales. If you find yourself in the company of someone only too keen to tell you their terrifying and dramatic childbirth anecdotes, explain that you're nervous and you'd rather not hear them. There is no point in listening to something that will only stress you further. And chances are, the story is wildly exaggerated anyway. Treat yourself Doing something nice for yourself, or taking a little break with your partner before baby's arrival is a great way to relax and get into the right frame of mind ahead of the birth. Everyone knows that the early weeks and months with a baby are pretty full on, so doing something relaxing, before your bump is too big to truly enjoy it, can help you to recharge your batteries and enjoy the special time that's left. Inform your birth partner of your wishes Chat with your birth partner ahead of your baby's birth about the ways in which you would like him/her to support you during labour. Remember to cover every eventuality. Birth partners can feel at a bit of a loss during the whole process so speaking with them in advance gives them a clear indication of what you would like and offers you the comfort of knowing that there is someone else to vocalise your wishes while you're coping with the contractions. You might decide that you'd like your partner to reveal the gender, if you don't already know, or cut the umbilical cord if that option is available to you. Talking all these things through in advance makes them more likely to actually happen. Trust your instincts Prepare as much as you can and educate yourself as much as you can, and then accept that much of it will depend on how the actual birth goes on the day. Trust your instincts and if you have any worries in the build-up, contact your doctor or midwife immediately. Above all, remember that it's not true that a baby's movements reduce as you get closer to labour or your due date. Normal fetal movements vary from baby to baby. If you notice any change in the frequency or pattern of what is normal for your baby, don't delay in seeking medical attention. Apart from all that, relax and enjoy what's left of your pregnancy. The rollercoaster of parenthood awaits! Hospital Bag Checklist For you Old nightdress or oversized T-shirt for labour 3 pairs of PJs (button front are easier for breastfeeding), or more if you know you're having a C-section Slippers Light dressing gown (hospitals are very, very warm) Several pairs of oversized dark knickers (the disposable ones tear too easily) Nursing/maternity bras 2 packs maternity pads (have more at home, at the ready) Breast pads Toiletries 3 dark-coloured towels Flip-flops for the shower Going home clothes (you'll most likely still need maternity clothes) For baby 6 babygros 6 baby vests 2 baby cardigans Baby hat Baby scratch mittens 2 baby towels Bibs Newborn nappies Cotton wool Petroleum jelly 2 baby blankets Moses basket-sized sheets *Remember all baby items should be pre-washed **Don't also forget to bring things like your phone charger, hairdryer, books/magazines, camera and above all, your hospital notes if you keep them at home. Common infection: In a typical nightclub in Ireland, about a quarter of the people will be infected with a strain of genital HPV We know that 300 women in Ireland are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer each year. We know that 90 women will die from the disease each year. But how much do we know about human papillomavirus (HPV), the insidious virus that causes 99pc of cervical cancers? A recent survey conducted by pharmaceutical company MSD found that 65pc of Irish adults are not aware that the virus can cause cancer, while 59pc are unaware that a vaccine exists to prevent such cancers. At least nine in 10 of the population will be exposed to HPV at some point during their lifetime, yet 87pc of those interviewed believed they have never or will never be exposed to the virus. "False information regarding HPV has been widely circulated and we are now reaching a critical level here," says Dr Robert O'Connor, Head of Research at the Irish Cancer Society. Here he debunks some of the most pervasive myths that are associated with the virus. MYTH: HPV is a rare virus At least nine in 10 of the population will be exposed to HPV in their lifetime. It's an extremely common infection. In a typical nightclub in Ireland, about a quarter of the people will be infected with a strain of genital HPV. MYTH: There is only one type of HPV There is somewhere in the region of 180 different strains of HPV. Some of those strains cause the external warts that we are very familiar with. About 40 strains are known to infect the genitalia, rectum or throat of human beings. Of those 40, about 12 have some sort of risk of causing a form of cancer. That risk isn't equal amongst those 12. We know that Strain 16 and, to a slightly lesser extent, Strain 18, are highly carcinogenic. Strain 16 alone is responsible for half of all of the HPV cancers. Strain 18 is responsible for about another 20pc. MYTH: HPV has symptoms Some HPV strains cause conventional warts; a couple of strains cause genital warts which lead to a very unpleasant outer infection of the genitalia. There are about 12 strains that cause a high risk of cancer and these are generally without any symptoms so people will not know they are infected. MYTH: You only get HPV if you've had multiple sexual partners While the risk of HPV infection goes up the more sexual partners you've had, infection only requires close intimate contact with one infected person. And it's not just about penetrative sexual contact but intimate contact, including various types of heavy petting and oral sex. MYTH: Once you have HPV, you have it forever Fortunately, most people will clear it from their system within about two years but about one in 10 people will be left with an infection that continues unabated unless it's treated. Women tend to clear the infection a little easier. The male immune system doesn't seem quite as good at clearing it. MYTH: Only women can get cancer from HPV Both men and women can develop HPV-related cancers. The National Cancer Registry estimates that HPV infection causes up to 420 cancer cases a year: 335 in women, 85 in men. MYTH: Only women should get vaccinated for HPV Early research linking HPV with cancer originally associated it with cervical cancer. So it was logical to only vaccinate women. However, researchers have investigated its link to other forms of cancer and it has become increasingly clear that HPV can lead to penile cancer, anal cancer and cancers of the mouth, throat, and larynx. Both genders should be vaccinated, especially if we want to eliminate the virus entirely. MYTH: Gay women don't need to have smear tests Any form of sexual contact - heterosexual or homosexual - runs the risk of developing a HPV infection. Indeed, there are some research papers that show that a very small percentage of virgins have also been infected with HPV. MYTH: Getting the HPV vaccine makes girls more promiscuous That has been completely debunked. It has no impact on sexual behaviour whatsoever. What the evidence shows is that there are lower rates of unexpected pregnancy and lower rates of sexually-transmitted infection among vaccinated girls. There is also evidence to show that, within a short period of time, girls completely forget they were vaccinated, so it doesn't have an impact on their behaviour. (The HPV vaccine is available free of charge from the HSE for all girls in first year of second-level school.) MYTH: HPV can be treated with antibiotics HPV is a virus so it can't be treated with antibiotics. There are no drug-based treatments for HPV at present. The only treatment is prevention, which is very effective and which is why we are so keen on making sure that everybody possible gets vaccinated at the appropriate age before exposure. In conversation with Katie Byrne A friend of mine, a fellow yogi, was recently asked to demonstrate a yoga posture during a class. The teacher was trying to explain a certain twist that starts from the base of the spine and she singled out my friend as one of the few people in the room who could do it properly. Yoga teachers always remind students not to compare themselves to others but my friend said she couldn't help but feel like 'The Chosen One' as the class gathered around to watch her perform the posture. She had an audience to impress, or so she thought, which is why she pushed past the point of comfort to produce the most exaggerated possible version of the pose. She remembers feeling something pop in her ribcage area but the admiration of a dozen strangers more than made up for it... The next day, she could barely get out of bed. A week later, and she still hasn't recovered from the self-inflicted injury. All l can tell her is that I totally relate. I've been that halfwit. In fact, I'd estimate that most of my injuries - some of which haven't yet healed - were caused by showing off, both on and off the mat. We're always told to listen to our bodies yet we often ignore the glaringly obvious signs: The telltale niggle that tells you the weight you just lifted is too heavy. The nausea that tells you it's time to put on the brakes and stop running. The eyelid twitch that tells you that you've pushed yourself too hard and rest is now imperative. We ignore the warnings of our bodies, a vastly intelligent system, because we think we know better than it. There are lots of exciting things happening in science and medicine around 'embodied cognition' - the idea that the body influences the mind just as the mind influences the body. And still many of us continue to treat our bodies like a conveyance that gets us from A-B - and just about. Some people simply don't trust their bodies. Like a lazy mule that eats too much and sleeps too much, they think it just needs a good kick up the arse. Instead of acknowledging the body's superior intelligence, they try to outsmart it with another double-shot of espresso. Instead of listening to the body's pain signals, they look for the easiest way to numb the pain and get on with their lives. The body is like the friend who gives you the cold, hard truth. Deep down, you know she's right, but you don't want to listen. The mind is like the frenemy who tells you what you want to hear but, really, couldn't care less about your wellbeing. You know she can't always be trusted but you don't know how to extricate yourself from the complicated dynamic. When we listen to the mind, we first have to quiet down the chatter. We have to ground the ego, compromise with the inner critic and negotiate with hundreds of cognitive biases and limiting beliefs. When we listen to the body, we don't have to second-guess. Don Miguel Ruiz, author of The Four Agreements, puts it better: "Go inside and listen to your body," he writes, "because your body will never lie to you. Your mind will play tricks, but the way you feel in your heart, in your guts, is the truth." Those who have learned to listen to their body tend to live a more mindful, joyful, peaceful life. Here's how: They have a morning ritual, even if it's just a few minutes long. Instead of stretching across the bed for their smartphone the moment they wake up, they get out of bed, stretch and let some light into their eyes. They see their body as an ally rather than an enemy, and they've noticed that there is more harmony in their life when mind and body are on the same team. They think of food as a source of nourishment and pleasure; not shame and guilt. Likewise, they don't think in terms of 'good days' and 'bad days': they think in terms of 'hungry' and 'not hungry'. They are in touch with their body's natural rhythms and cycles. They know the time of the day when they have the most energy, and they act upon it. Likewise, they know when their energy is likely to flag so instead of a mid-afternoon caffeine hit, they just take a break. They regularly 'check in' with their body. If they're feeling a little flighty, they take a moment to connect with their breath and notice the feeling of their feet against the ground and their hands in their lap. They know the importance of movement and they know that running on a treadmill doesn't quite cut it. They move to connect with their body, and often practise dance, yoga or martial arts. They know the people, places and things that are good for them because it feels like every cell in their body is vibrating with their surroundings. Because they listen to their bodies, they become better at noticing the body language of others. They pick up on subtle shifts and become better at 'reading' a situation. They have learned to trust their gut feelings, and they've noticed that this instinct becomes more precise with practice. David Goodall (R) poses with Carol O'Neill of Exit International, which advocates for voluntary euthanasia, in Perth. Goodall, Australia's oldest scientist, wearing a top labelled "ageing disgracefully", has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. Photo: AFP/Getty Images A 104-year-old man left Australia for Switzerland this week to end his life, saying he regrets living until the age of 104. David Goodall, a botanist and ecologist, wore a top labelled "ageing disgracefully" as he arrived at Perth airport for his flight to Switzerland, which has allowed assisted suicide since 1942. He has an appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel, Switzerland. He got on a plane in Perth last night and bid goodbye to his family and friends. "I should be glad when I get on the plane - so far, so good," he told 9 News. "I have some of my family here - there are three grandsons here, I believe and my daughter Karen... It's very good that they shall be here to see me off". He told ABC: "I am 104 years old so I haven't got much time left anyway. I might as well not have (my health) getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes." Mr Goodall will spend several days with other family in Bordeaux, France, before travelling to Switzerland where he is due to end his life on May 10. 'I don't want to go to Switzerland, though it's a nice country,' he told 9 News. "But I have to do that in order to get the opportunity of suicide which the Australian system does not permit. I feel very resentful." When Dr Goodall suffered a serious fall in his apartment last month, he was not found for two days. Doctors said he needed 24-hour care in his home or to be moved into a nursing home. This incident hastened his decision to end his life. Last year in Australia, assisted dying was legalised by the state of Victoria after a contentious debate, but eligibility requires a person be terminally ill. Dr Goodall told ABC last month: "I greatly regret having reached that age." "I'm not happy. I want to die. It's not sad particularly. What is sad is if one is prevented." During his career, Dr Goodall edited a 30-volume book series called Ecosystems of the World and he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his extensive work. Armed gunmen have stormed into the International Committee of the Red Cross compound in Somalia's capital and abducted a female staffer, the aid group said. A senior police official said the nurse was German. The kidnapping in Mogadishu was the latest in a series of targeted attacks on aid workers in the long-chaotic Horn of Africa nation. It came a day after a Somali employee with the World Health Organisation was shot to death by two men who approached her in a busy market in the capital. The German woman was abducted despite the presence of several security guards, police Captain Mohamed Hussein told The Associated Press. He said the guards had been arrested. "We are deeply concerned about the safety of our colleague," Daniel O'Malley, the deputy head of the Red Cross delegation in Somalia, said in a statement. "She is a nurse who was working every day to save lives and improve the health of some of Somalia's most vulnerable people." The statement said the Red Cross was in contact with "various authorities" to try to secure the woman's release. In late March, a local Red Cross staffer died of his injuries after a bomb attached to his vehicle exploded near the organisation's office in Mogadishu. Another staffer was wounded. The Somalia-based extremist group al-Shabab, which is linked to al Qaida, claimed responsibility. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Wednesday night's attack. The targeting of aid workers has sent shockwaves through the aid community in Somalia, which is one of the world's most dangerous places for humanitarian groups. Many have died in bombings by al-Shabab extremists, who continue to control large parts of rural Somalia and often attack the capital. At least 30 aid workers were killed in 2016 and 2017, the United Nations has reported. Violence against aid workers went up sharply last year, including the abductions of more than 30 humanitarian staffers, in part because of scaled-up relief operations during a severe drought. What happens to your arm when youve been sanding wood for an hour? Well this. Personally I thought my arm looked like parmesan cheese, artist Lucas Farrar, 36, told the Press Association. The Americans arm post-sanding has drawn a lot of attention on Reddit, with more than 47,000 upvotes. I was sanding a block of poplar with craft resin on top, said Lucas, from Lewiston, Maine. The dust was really fine and lightweight, it actually felt kind of soothing like baby powder. It all came off at once with one quick shake of my arm. Once finished, the poplar blocks are used by Lucas to make ambient LED lamps like the ones below. Expand Close The finished pieces of poplar / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The finished pieces of poplar Lucas has made a Kickstarter for his inventive lamps, which you can support here. Regional dialect can sometimes bamboozle people not in the know. But the official Hansard reporters at the House of Commons cant let an unknown word go unchecked. Thats why Livingston MP Hannah Bardell was tasked with explaining the word fankle. Perhaps she had said or meant tangle? When you describe the UK Government as being in a fankle and the official recorder of the House of Commons (Hansard) dinnae ken whit yer saying..... so they send you a note..... and you get to explain! #hansard #houseofcommons #scotslanguage pic.twitter.com/LXAEWm7mti Hannah Bardell SNP MP (@HannahB4LiviMP) May 3, 2018 She shared the official urgent request for clarification on social media and her response, proudly explaining that fankle was a Scottish verb meaning entangled. Bardell dropped into a stronger regional voice when she wrote on Twitter: When you describe the UK Government as being in a fankle and the official recorder of the House of Commons (Hansard) dinnae ken whit yer saying.. so they send you a note.. and you get to explain! #hansard #houseofcommons #scotslanguage. That got em all in a fankle, eh?? Alec Proffitt (@GinnerWina) May 3, 2018 But its not the first time the word has come up within Hansard. A search of the official register returns seven results five in the House of Commons and twice in the House of Lords both by Lord Foulkes of Cumnock. As for the five mentions in the Commons 1. Joanna Cherry (Edinburgh South West) April 12, 2016 I have my notes in a bit of a schmozzle, as we say in Scotland - or as they say in Ireland, to be accurate. In Scotland they would say they were in a fankle. 2. John Nicolson (East Dunbartonshire 2015-2017) October 18, 2016 The BBC got itself into a bit of a fankle... 3. Michael Gove (Surrey Heath) April 27, 2011 I am afraid that he has got himself in what we call in Scotland 'a bit of a fankle'. Gove was born in Edinburgh and brought up in Aberdeen. 4. Anne McLaughlin (Glasgow North East 2015-2017) November 29, 2016 In short, the Government have got themselves into a complete and utter fankle in this area. 5. Gregg McClymont (Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East 2010-2015) September 2, 2014 I am reminded of the fankle that the Government have got themselves into over the governance of individual defined-contribution pensions. Top Pope aide Cardinal George Pell could face two separate trials as he fights to clear his name over historic sexual offence allegations, an Australian court heard yesterday. A Melbourne judge on Tuesday ordered the Vatican finance chief (76) to stand trial on multiple charges, making him the highest-ranked Catholic to face such allegations. Mr Pell pleaded not guilty, and half of the charges initially filed against him were thrown out. The exact details and nature of the alleged offences remain confidential, other than they involve "multiple charges and multiple complainants", and that they date from the 1970s and 1990s. Some of the alleged offences were at a swimming pool in the town of Ballarat in Victoria state where Mr Pell was a priest in the 1970s, and a second set of alleged actions was at Melbourne's St Patrick's Cathedral in the 1990s. Split At yesterday's brief directions hearing in the Victoria County Court, Mr Pell's barrister Robert Richter argued that because the charges related to different locations and were 20 years apart, they should be split and heard in two trials. Another court hearing was set for May 16 when final decisions and trial dates are expected to be set. Mr Pell, who entered the court surrounded by a police cordon, is on bail and has had his passport confiscated. The former Sydney and Melbourne archbishop has been on leave from the Vatican, returning to Australia to fight the allegations, the most serious of which have been dismissed due to inconsistencies in the evidence. Mr Pell was one of Pope Francis's most trusted aides, handpicked by him in 2014 to make the Church's finances more transparent. It cemented a meteoric rise by the Australian, who was Archbishop of Melbourne and then Sydney before being named to the Vatican's powerful College of Cardinals at the behest of Pope John Paul II in 2003. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Bill Cosbys wife has called for a criminal investigation into the suburban Philadelphia prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case was mob justice, not real justice. Camille Cosby also said the case that could put the 80-year-old comedian in prison for the rest of his life was a tragedy that must be undone. She made her first comments on the verdict in a three-page statement sent to the media through a family spokesman a week after a jury found her husband of 54 years guilty on three counts of aggravated indecent assault. Expand Close Andrea Constand embraces prosecutor Kristen Feden, right. (Matt Slocum/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Andrea Constand embraces prosecutor Kristen Feden, right. (Matt Slocum/AP) She said chief accuser Andrea Constand was a liar whose testimony about being drugged and molested at Cosbys home in January 2004 was riddled with innumerable, dishonest contradictions. She echoed Cosbys lawyers, who argued Ms Constand framed him to score a big payday. Ms Constands lawyer bristled at the statement and asked: Why would any reputable outlet publish that? Twelve honourable jurors peers of Cosby have spoken, lawyer Dolores Troiani said. There is nothing else that needs to be said. Ms Constand said in a tweet last week that truth prevails. Twelve honourable jurors - peers of Cosby - have spoken. There is nothing else that needs to be said.Lawyer Dolores Troiani Mrs Cosby compared the dozens of other women who have accused her husband to a lynch mob spurred on by the medias frenzied, relentless demonisation of him. She compared his treatment to that of Emmett Till, the black teenager who was kidnapped and murdered after witnesses said he whistled at a white woman in a Mississippi grocery store in 1955. Mrs Cosby said her husbands prosecution was politically motivated, repeating his teams contention that he had been a pawn in a heated race for district attorney. Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele attacked opponent Bruce Castor in campaign ads over his decision not to charge Cosby in 2005 and announced Cosbys arrest a month after winning the November 2015 election. Expand Close Bill Cosby leaves court after he was found guilty (Matt Slocum/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bill Cosby leaves court after he was found guilty (Matt Slocum/AP) She said Mr Steele and his team were exploitative and corrupt and their primary purpose is to advance themselves professionally and economically at the expense of Mr Cosbys life. If they can do this to Mr Cosby, they can do so to anyone, she said. Mrs Cosby, 74, stayed away from both of her husbands trials, except for the defences closing arguments. Before the jury came in last week, she went to the defence table and put her arm around Mr Cosby, who is legally blind. When it was the prosecutions turn to argue, she left the courtroom, and Ms Constand entered. Cosby is on house arrest while awaiting sentencing that could put him in prison for the rest of his life. Mrs Cosbys statement comes as colleges around the country continue rescinding honorary degrees awarded to the comedian and as the TV academy said it is reviewing his inclusion in its Hall of Fame. Colby College in Maine said on Wednesday it was rescinding an honorary degree, while Yale University did the same on Tuesday. Bill Cosbys wife has called for a criminal investigation into the prosecutor behind his sexual assault conviction, saying the case was mob justice, not real justice. Camille Cosby commented on the case for the first time on Thursday, in a statement issued through a spokesman, a week after her husband of 54 years was convicted of aggravated indecent assault. Ms Cosby called her husbands chief accuser Andrea Constand a liar. She compared the dozens of other women who have accused the TV star to lynch mobs and his treatment to that of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old black boy lynched in 1955 over false allegations that he flirted with a white woman. Cosby, 80, is under house arrest awaiting sentencing that could put him in prison for the rest of his life. Emmanuel Macron has raised eyebrows during his visit to Australia by calling Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's wife Lucy "delicious". At the end of a joint news conference between the two leaders, the 40-year-old French president turned to thank Mr Turnbull for his hospitality. "I want to thank you for your welcome," he said, before adding: "Thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome." Mr Macron's choice of words prompted instant mirth on social media, amid some confusion over his intent. The jury appears to be out over whether it was a deliberate play on words or a linguistic slip-up. Despite his deadpan delivery, some felt the French leader may have been making a joke. Mr Turnbull had just mentioned Mr Macron's imminent lunch with members of Sydney's French community, and had followed with comments about French gastronomy and wine. Pardoning generalisations about the French obsession with food, Mr Macron minutes earlier had also been talking about prawns, picking up on Mr Turnbull's comment relating to China's growing influence in the South Pacific, when the Australian leader said: "Big fish cannot eat little fish, and little fish cannot eat shrimp." Others suggested Mr Macron, who prides himself on speaking fluent English, simply fell foul of a "false friend". The French word for delicious - delicieux - can also translate as delightful. The more mischievous may have even considered Mr Macron's comment to possibly be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Donald Trump's visit to Paris last year, when he was caught telling Mr Macron's wife Brigitte she was "in such great shape", before looking to her husband and saying, "Beautiful." The moment made headlines in Australia as a somewhat comedic ending to a serious news conference focusing on violent May Day protests in Paris, the Iran nuclear deal and China's growing influence. If it was a linguistic slip, Mr Macron is by no means the first leader to experience translation problems. Arguably the most infamous gaffe was John F Kennedy's claim: "Ich bin ein Berliner", which could mean "I'm a Berliner" or "I'm a doughnut". In 2009, France's Europe minister Pierre Lellouche branded then UK prime minister David Cameron's pledge to reclaim EU powers "pathetic". The term in French is often translated as "moving", "touching" or "poignant". Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Vienna's Wien Westbahnhof railway station, where the alleged killer is said to have met his victim (Photo: Sven Gross-Selbeck/Wikimedia) An Austrian man has been accused of murdering and dismembering a woman before storing some of her body in a freezer to eat later. The 63-year-old, from Vienna, has allegedly confessed. Prosecutor Verena Strnad told reporters on Wednesday that the suspect, whose name was not released, admitted to authorities he killed the unidentified woman in his flat at the end of March and cut her into pieces. The womans torso, head and other parts were discovered in mid-April in the Neusiedler See, a lake southeast of Vienna where the suspect had a cabin and boat. Austrias APA news agency reported that police dogs had found DNA traces near the cabin. The body parts in the freezer were found during the ensuing search of his apartment. According to a report in the Salzburger Nachrichten newspaper, the victim was believed to have been aged between 20 and 30, slim, and between 155cm and 165cm tall. Austrias State Office of Criminal Investigation is conducting an international search to establish her identity, the paper reported. Investigators reportedly believe she met her suspected killer near Vienna's Wien Westbahnhof railway station. Masked ETA members raise their fists in unison following a news conference in 2011. The group yesterday announced that it had 'dissolved all its structures.' Photo: Gara via AP, File Basque separatist group ETA has completely dismantled all its structures, ending a 50-year guerrilla campaign, it said in a letter dated April 16 and published by online newspaper 'El Diario'. The group had been expected to announce its final dissolution later this week, after its ultimately unsuccessful drive for an independent state in northern Spain and southern France that killed 853 people. "ETA has completely dissolved all its structures and ended its political initiative," said the letter, which 'El Diario' said had been sent to several Basque organisations. ETA (Euskadi Ta Askatasuna, or Basque Country and Freedom) declared a ceasefire in 2011 and handed over weapons in April 2017, bringing Western Europe's last major armed insurgency to a close. These decisions were aimed at "shaking off the situation of the last decades and building a future from a new starting point," ETA said in the new letter. Anger in the Basque region of northern Spain over political and cultural repression under the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco prompted the founding of ETA in 1959. Violence escalated in the 1960s and Franco's regime responded in kind as the group assassinated politicians, including prime minister Luis Carrero Blanco, and officials as well as bombing public places. Attacks including a 1987 car bomb at a Barcelona supermarket, which killed a pregnant woman and two children, horrified people in Spain and abroad, and effective crackdowns by Spanish and French police weakened the organisation. Polls on support for independence vary, but one carried out in November by the University of Deusto in Bilbao showed just 14pc of people in favour. ETA apologised earlier in April for the harm caused to victims and their relatives. The April 16 letter said that while ETA is now consigned to history, the drive for Basque independence would continue. "The conflict did not start with ETA and it does not finish with the end of ETA's journey," it said. Responding to the announcement, Spanish interior minister Juan Ignacio Zoido vowed to keep investigating unresolved crimes attributed to ETA. He said police will "continue to pursue the terrorists, wherever they may be". Musician Kanye West's claim that 400 years of slavery was a "choice" has been heavily criticised as "insulting" and "harmful" by historians. The rapper and fashion designer caused outrage during an interview with celebrity news outlet TMZ. "When you hear about slavery for 400 years, 400 years? That sounds like a choice. Like, you was there for 400 years, and it's all of y'all? It's like we're mentally imprisoned," West (40) said. Following a backlash, he defended his comment on Twitter as "an example of free thought" and said "we can't be mentally imprisoned for another 400 years". But the comment went "a bridge too far", said Professor Manuel Barcia, a historian at the University of Leeds. "He is basically ignoring the past to look at the future so he's trying to clean sweep the past of African Americans, which I think is obviously very insensitive and wrong," Mr Barcia said. "Families were split, many of them got killed, the slavery they faced across the Atlantic was far more brutal than what they faced in Africa. "The transatlantic slave trade was a crime. Voluntary for whom? People didn't sell themselves into slavery, they were sold," he added. An estimated 12.5 million African people were taken by European traders against their will from throughout Africa and transported across the Atlantic. Dr Andrea Livesey, lecturer in slavery at the University of Bristol, said it was incorrect to assume that slaves were "mentally enslaved" - many of them took on acts of resistance as well as engaging in revolts against slave owners, such as Nat Turner's rebellion in Virginia in 1831. Donald Trump has been formally nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for the US President's efforts to solve the North Korean nuclear tensions. A group of 18 of Mr Trump's biggest Republican supporters in the House of Representatives sent a letter to the Norwegian Nobel Committee urging it to consider Mr Trump for next year's award in recognition of "his tireless work to bring peace to our world." Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are working out the details of a historic summit that could take place by the end of May or early June. Yet an agreement by which the North would give up its nuclear weapons and allow for the world to confirm it still appears far off. The United States has reached aid-for-disarmament deals with North Korea before, but they've ultimately failed. Recent comments from the leaders of the two Koreas have raised hopes. But as remarkable as the imagery and symbolism have been recently, many analysts point out that it is too early to speculate on the outcome of ongoing negotiations with a regime that has been led with an iron fist by the Kim dynasty for nearly 70 years. "It's surreal in the sense that it's clearly premature to be talking about giving anybody a Nobel Peace Prize," said Aaron David Miller, a former US diplomat and negotiator in several Democratic and Republican administrations. But "if in fact the diplomacy goes the right way," the scenario is "conceivable," he told AFP. The Nobel chatter also reflects an impassioned debate taking place over the exact role of America's president in the ongoing diplomatic overtures. On both sides of the US political divide, the reasoning has bordered on the absurd, with one camp asserting that Mr Trump played no part in the ongoing detente on the Korean peninsula, while the other attributes it solely to his intervention. In Washington's fevered political climate - in which "it's virtually impossible for one party to give credit to the other" - Mr Trump's personality and "inability to think about the 'we' rather than just the 'me'" is further reinforcing the antagonism, Mr Miller said. "The aversion to giving him the Nobel on the Democratic side is caught up in the aversion to him." The award of the prize to Mr Trump's Democratic predecessor, just a few months after he took office, had itself aroused surprise and strong reactions. "I am at the beginning, and not the end, of my labors on the world stage," Barack Obama said on December 10, 2009 in Oslo, as he acknowledged "the considerable controversy" surrounding the committee's decision at the dawn of his first term. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Compare the clownish, wholly unmeritorious efforts by House Republicans to draft articles of impeachment against Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein with the four dozen or so questions Robert Mueller has prepared for Donald Trump, as reported by the 'New York Times'. The farcical impeachment scheme to rid themselves of Rosenstein demonstrates once more that House Republicans are unserious people who should not be entrusted with power. Mueller's questions, by contrast, demonstrate that the right person is in the job to probe exactly the right questions: Was Trump privy to collusion between his campaign and Russia? Did he have corrupt intent necessary to prove he obstructed justice through a series of actions intended to impede an investigation into himself and his associates? One can draw conclusions from the questions. First, it's impossible to imagine Trump getting through an interview without contradicting himself or others' whose testimony Mueller already has. Second, the questions, contrary to Trump's assertions, suggest that collusion is very much on the table. Questions such as "When did you become aware of the Trump Tower meeting?" and "What knowledge did you have of any outreach by your campaign, including by Paul Manafort, to Russia about potential assistance to the campaign?" are designed to probe Trump's awareness of the dozens of interactions between members of the Trump team and Russians during the campaign and transition. Mueller might have information from other witnesses that would contradict Trump if he denies knowledge of Russian collaboration. A question such as "What communication did you have with Michael D Cohen, Felix Sater and others, including foreign nationals, about Russian real estate developments during the campaign?" doesn't come out of nowhere. Prosecutors have documents and other witness interviews that might give them a picture of Trump's communications. Denying his involvement with others involved in plotting with Russians, in that case, will put Trump at risk of being charged with lying to the FBI. Third, reporters, mimicking the White House spin, act as though Trump's testimony is optional. Given how specific the questions are and their obvious relevance to identifiable crimes (obstruction, witness tampering, illegal solicitation of foreign campaign assistance), Mueller would in all likelihood get a subpoena and find a judge to enforce it if Trump refused to testify. Trump would then find himself either in the entirely untenable legal position of refusing to abide by a court order or in the untenable political position of taking the Fifth Amendment. Fourth, Mueller clearly doesn't buy the argument that the president cannot obstruct justice by exercising his constitutional authority (eg, firing the FBI director). The questions are largely directed at determining whether Trump exercised his powers with corrupt intent. Did he fire FBI director James Comey to protect himself from the Russia investigation? Did he craft a cover story about the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting with the intent to deceive the public and prosecutors? Those arguing Trump "can't obstruct justice when he's acting as president" will need a new rationale to defend him. Fifth, if Mueller is bound by the standing Justice Department memo that concludes a sitting president cannot be indicted, Trump's status as a subject, not a target, makes sense. The facts are already there, one might readily conclude, to make out a case for obstruction, so how could he not be a target? The answer: Trump cannot be a target since he is not (currently) capable of being indicted. If Mueller finds Trump did commit criminal acts, he can suggest in his report that impeachment is appropriate and/or recommend that Trump be indicted after he leaves office. ( Washington Post) US President Donald Trump watches Mike Pompeo take the oath during his ceremonial swearing-in as US Secretary of State, as wife Susan Pompeo, son Nick Pompeo and US Vice President Mike Pence, right, look on. Photo: SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images A letter from US President Donald Trump's New York physician released by his campaign in 2015 declaring he would be "the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency" was composed by the candidate himself, the doctor has revealed. Harold Bornstein, Mr Trump's long-time personal doctor, described the alleged incident in a number of interviews, during which he also claimed Mr Trump's bodyguard took possession of the president's medical records in an episode that felt like a "raid". Expand Close Ex-bodyguard Keith Schiller took possession of President Trump's records, doctor claims. Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ex-bodyguard Keith Schiller took possession of President Trump's records, doctor claims. Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images With his long flowing hair and large glasses, Dr Bornstein became a colourful character in Mr Trump's unlikely 2016 campaign for the presidency. In a letter released in December 2015, Dr Bornstein wrote that Mr Trump would "unequivocally" be the healthiest president in history and deemed the celebrity businessman's condition "astonishingly excellent". Dr Bornstein has said in the past he wrote the note about Mr Trump's health in five minutes while a limo sent by the candidate waited outside his office. He elaborated on that, saying the missive was composed by the candidate himself. "He dictated that whole letter. I didn't write that letter," Dr Bornstein told CNN. "Mr Trump has had a recent complete medical examination that showed only positive results," said the letter signed by Dr Bornstein, who said he had treated Mr Trump since 1980. "Actually, his blood pressure, 110/65, and laboratory results were astonishingly excellent. His physical strength and stamina are extraordinary," the letter said. "If elected, Mr Trump, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency." Mr Trump read out the language as Dr Bornstein and his wife were driving across New York's Central Park, the doctor told CNN. "(Trump) dictated the letter and I would tell him what he couldn't put in there," he said. Dr Bornstein also told NBC News that Keith Schiller, the president's long-time bodyguard and former director of Oval Office operations, showed up at his office in February 2017 along with two other men to collect the records, leaving Dr Bornstein feeling "raped, frightened and sad". White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders disputed the doctor's characterisation of the episode. "As is standard operating procedure for a new president, the White House medical unit took possession of the president's medical records," she told reporters at a White House briefing. As for Dr Bornstein's description that it had the feel of a raid, she said: "No, that is not my understanding." Dr Bornstein told NBC that Mr Schiller and another "large man" were in his office about 30 minutes and "created a lot of chaos". The doctor said the two men were joined by Alan Garten, the chief legal officer for the Trump Organisation. A spokeswoman for the Trump Organisation did not respond to a request for comment. The incident at Dr Bornstein's office came two days after the doctor told 'The New York Times' that Mr Trump takes propecia, a drug for enlarged prostates that is often prescribed to stimulate hair growth in men. Dr Bornstein told the 'Times' that he prescribed Mr Trump drugs for rosacea and cholesterol as well. Dr Bornstein told NBC that Mr Trump's long-time personal secretary called him after the story ran and said: "So you wanted to be the White House doctor? Forget it, you're out." Dr Bornstein said he wasn't given a form authorising him to release Mr Trump's records, but said Mr Schiller and Mr Garten took the originals and copies of Mr Trump's charts and lab reports, including records filed under pseudonyms the office used. Questions were raised about the legality of the seizure. Patients have a right to a copy of their medical records but the original physical record belongs to the doctor, said Dr Matthew Wynia, director of the centre for bioethics and humanities at the University of Colorado. "If a patient wants a copy, they can have a copy, but they don't get the original. "Patients can also ask for their records to be transferred to a new doctor, but that also involves making copies (ie, transferring the information), not literally packaging up the originals and sending them off," Dr Wynia said in an email. Most states require doctors to keep and maintain records, Dr Wynia said. Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Two black men who were arrested in Starbucks while they were waiting for a friend have settled with the city of Philadelphia for $1 each. But, in addition to the symbolic payment, the city will also be donating $200,000 to a programme dedicated to supporting young entrepreneurs. I am pleased to have resolved the potential claims against the city in this productive manner, Mayor Jim Kenney told the Associated Press. This was an incident that evoked a lot of pain in our city and put us under a national spotlight for unwanted reasons. The arrest of Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson on April 12 sparked outcry when the pair were led out of a Starbucks coffee shop in handcuffs after a manager called the police. Captured on video, the police were called to the scene after a manager told Nelson and Robinson to leave because they had not ordered anything while they waited for a business associate to join them. The viral video prompted a personal apology from the Starbucks CEO, Kevin Johnson, who told Good Morning America: The circumstances surrounding the incident and the outcome in our store on Thursday were reprehensible, they were wrong. @Starbucks The police were called because these men hadnt ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs for doing nothing. All the other white ppl are wondering why its never happened to us when we do the same thing. pic.twitter.com/0U4Pzs55Ci Melissa DePino (@missydepino) April 12, 2018 And for that, I personally apologise to the two gentlemen who visited our store. Starbucks has also announced it reached a separate settlement with the two men but did not elaborate on whether they would also donate to the entrepreneurship programme. According to Mayor Kenney, Nelson and Robinson wanted to make something positive come of this. He said: We thought long and hard about it and we feel like this is the best way to see that change that we want to see, referring to the entrepreneurship program which will benefit Philadelphia public high school students. The Spanish prime minister has dismissed the disbanding of ETA as noise and propaganda and vowed to carry on prosecuting the militants. A day after an ETA letter emerged stating that it had completely dissolved its structures, Mariano Rajoy said the separatist group had failed in imposing through violence an independent Basque state. A final public declaration from ETA, which Spain regards as a terrorist group, is expected later on Thursday. Whatever ETA does or says, it won't find any loophole for impunitySpanish PM Mariano Rajoy Whatever ETA does or says, it wont find any loophole for impunity, Mr Rajoy said. ETA can announce its disappearance, but its crimes or the action of the judiciary wont disappear. ETA, which stands for Basque Homeland and Freedom, killed 853 people, most of them after Spain transitioned to democracy in the late 1970s. President Donald Trump has hired a veteran lawyer who represented Bill Clinton during his impeachment process as the White House shifted to a more aggressive approach to the Russia investigation that has reached a critical stage. The White House announced the hiring of lawyer Emmet Flood after disclosing the retirement of Ty Cobb, who for months has been the administrations point person dealing with special counsel Robert Mueller. It is the latest shake-up for a legal team grappling with unresolved questions on how to protect the president from legal and political jeopardy in Mr Muellers Russia probe, which is nearing its one-year anniversary. White House spokesman Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that Mr Cobb had been discussing the decision for weeks and would retire at the end of May, and that Mr Flood would be joining the White House staff to represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt. The replacement of Mr Cobb with Mr Flood may herald a more adversarial stance toward the Mueller team as Mr Trumps lawyers debate whether to make the president available for an interview with the special counsel and brace for the prospect of a grand jury subpoena if they refuse. Though Mr Cobb did not personally represent the president, he functioned as a critical point person for Mr Muellers document and interview requests, coordinated dealings with prosecutors and worked closely with Mr Trumps personal lawyers. Expand Close Special counsel Robert Mueller (J Scott Applewhite/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Special counsel Robert Mueller (J Scott Applewhite/AP) He had repeatedly urged cooperation with the investigation in hopes of bringing it to a quick end, and viewed his role as largely finished now that interviews with dozens of current and former White House official have been completed. Yet Mr Flood, who was embroiled in the bitterly partisan Clinton impeachment fight 20 years ago, may well advocate a more confrontational approach. His law firm, Williams & Connolly, is one of Washingtons most prominent, with a reputation for aggressive advocacy for its clients and a history of tangling with the government but also representing senior White House officials, including presidents. Mr Flood, a former law clerk to the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, has defended former vice president Dick Cheney in a lawsuit brought by former CIA official Valerie Plame and represented George W Bush in executive-privilege disputes with Congress suggesting he is well-versed in the powers of the presidency and may invoke those authorities as the Mueller investigation moves forward. Mr Flood was always the top choice of White House counsel Don McGahn for the job Mr Cobb was given last summer, according to a person familiar with the hiring decision who described Flood as a fighter. Mr Cobb and Mr McGahn had different views on how cooperative the White House should be with the special counsel investigation. Mr Cobbs retirement, though not a surprise, was nonetheless the latest evolution for a legal team marked by turnover. Mr Trumps lead personal lawyer, John Dowd, left in March. Another lawyer who Mr Trump tried to bring on ultimately passed because of conflicts, and the president two weeks ago added former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and a pair of former prosecutors, Martin and Jane Raskin, to work alongside mainstay lawyer Jay Sekulow. Critical decisions lie ahead. The presidents legal team has not committed him to an interview with Mr Mueller, who has dozens of questions on a broad array of topics he would like to ask. Mr Trump initially said he was eager for an interview, but he has not said so recently. His view of Mr Mueller soured further after raids last month that targeted one of his personal lawyers, Michael Cohen, in a separate investigation. Those interview negotiations are hugely consequential, especially after Mr Dowd confirmed to The Associated Press this week that Mr Muellers team in March raised the prospect of issuing a grand jury subpoena for Mr Trump, an extraordinary idea that would seek to force a sitting president to testify under oath. It was not immediately clear in what context the possibility of a subpoena was raised or how serious Mr Muellers prosecutors were about such a move. Mr Mueller is probing not only Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates but possible obstruction of justice by Mr Trump after he took office. If Mr Muellers team decides to subpoena Mr Trump as part of the investigation, the president could still fight it in court or refuse to answer questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment protection from self-incrimination. Mr Trump lashed out against the investigation in familiar fashion on Wednesday, saying on Twitter: There was no Collusion (it is a Hoax) and there is no Obstruction of Justice (that is a setup & trap). Also on Wednesday, Mr Trump echoed the concerns of a small group of House conservatives who have been criticising the Justice Department for not turning over certain investigation documents. What are they afraid of? Mr Trump tweeted. At some point I will have no choice but to use the powers granted to the Presidency and get involved! It was unclear what Trump meant by get involved. Several Republican House committee chairmen have recently negotiated deals with the Justice Department to turn over documents related to Russia investigations into Trump and also a 2016 investigation into Democrat Hillary Clintons emails. The Justice Department says that dozens of members and staff from both parties have viewed thousands of classified documents and House staff members have temporary office space in the department to review additional materials. But some politicians who sit on those committees remain unsatisfied, particularly members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. Some of them have asked for an unredacted version of a Justice Department document that sets out the scope for Muellers probe, a request that the department immediately denied because it pertains to an ongoing investigation. The Goods and Services Tax (GST) has changed the way businesses are done in India. Introduced on July 1, 2017, the indirect tax has had a significant impact on the international trade of goods as it brought about changes in the structure of import and export taxation and withdrew various indirect taxes and exemptions. In the pre-GST regime, the imports of goods and services were subject to multiple state and federal levies such as customs duty, countervailing duty (equivalent to excise duty), and special additional duty (equivalent to value added tax). The single integrated goods and services tax (IGST) under the GST has replaced all these taxes. The import of certain goods, however, continue to attract basic customs duty, education cess, and other protective taxes, such as the anti-dumping duty and safe-guard duty, in addition to the IGST. Integrated Goods and Services Tax Imports under GST are treated as inter-state supply. Since GST is a destination-based tax, Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) is levied in the state where the imported goods are consumed and imported services are received. IGST can be paid using input tax credit of central goods and services tax (CGST), state goods and services tax (SGST), and IGST. The input tax credit is the credit that dealers can avail for taxes paid on their purchases, at the time of paying final tax on their sales. In the case of CGST and SGST, no cross utilization of input tax credit is allowed. This means that input tax credit of CGST can only be utilized for CGST and IGST, and an input tax credit of SGST can only be utilized to pay for SGST and IGST. Import of services under GST Under GST, the import of service is taxable if The supplier of service is located outside India; The recipient of service is located in India; The place of supply of service is in India; and, The supplier of service and the recipient of service are not merely establishments of a distinct person. Tax returns An importer is required to file monthly tax returns under GST. Under the previous law, the importer was required to file returns under state tax law for the purchase of goods (import of goods) and under central tax laws for claiming countervailing duties. While filing monthly returns, importers must declare the goods imported in table-5 of the GSTR-2 form, and services imported in table-6 of the GSTR-2 form. Exemptions Previously, the transportation of goods by aircraft and inbound shipment was not liable to service tax. Under GST, there is no such exemption. Impact on exports Under GST, exports are treated as zero-rated supplies. That is, supplies on which the GST rate is fixed as zero. If GST is paid at any point of supply against exports from India, a trader may either export without the payment of IGST under bond or letter of undertaking or may pay the IGST and claim a refund later. In both cases, an exporter must provide details of the GST invoices in the shipping bill. The invoice must contain the following details: Name, address, and GSTIN of the supplier; Name and address of the recipient; Invoice number and date; HSN code of the goods along with description; Total value and quantity of goods, and, The signature of the supplier. To claim the refund of IGST, the exporter can file the details of the tax paid, GST invoice, and shipping bill in table 6A in the form GSTR-1 of the relevant month. Editors Note: This article was first published in July 2017 and is updated on May 15, 2019, to incorporate latest developments. Image of Rahul Gandhi: Facebook page of Rahul Gandhi Bengaluru, May 3 (IBNS): As Karnataka is heated up with poll campaigns, Congress President Rahul Gandhi has accessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's performance in the state by preparing a report card, in which the latter got grade F. Rahul took to Twitter on Thursday to share a self-made assessment of Modi's performance. Terming as report card, the Congress President has hit out at the PM for his poor performance in the agricultural sector. He has also alleged the central government of not supporting the farmers in the southern state, which will go to polls in little more than a week's time. Rahul's tweet reads, "Mr Modis Report Card State: Karnataka Sub: Agriculture 1. Contribution to Cong State Govts 8,500 Cr Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs 2. PMs crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt insurance companies make huge profits. 3. No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F" Both Rahul and Modi are campaigning hard in Karnataka. The poll is scheduled to be held on May 12. The poll results will be out three days later on May 15. Karnataka is one of the last few states which are ruled by the Congress. BJP, under the leadership of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, is eyeing on to return to power. Image: twitter.com/narendramodi Bengaluru/New Delhi, May 3 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday greeted Union minister Uma Bharti and Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das on their birthdays. Wishing Bharti, Modi tweeted, "Birthday wishes to @umasribharti Ji. Uma Jis passion towards a clean Ganga is well known. From a young age, she devoted herself to public service. I pray for her long and healthy life." Bharti, 59, is presently the minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation in the Modi government. Greeting Das on Twitter, Modi said: "Greetings to Jharkhands hardworking Chief Minister, @dasraghubar Ji. His humility has always been endearing. He has been working round the clock to fulfil the aspirations of the people of Jharkhand. May Almighty bless him with a long and healthy life." 63-year old Das leads the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Jharkhand. He was sworn-in as the CM of the state in 2014. Image: twitter.com narendramodi Bengaluru, May 3 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold three rallies in poll-bound Karnataka on Thursday. Modi will address the rallies in Kalaburagi, Ballari and Bengaluru. Both Congress President Rahul and Modi are campaigning hard in Karnataka. The poll is scheduled to be held on May 12. The poll results will be out three days later on May 15. Karnataka is one of the last few states which are ruled by the Congress. BJP, under the leadership of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, is eyeing on to return to power. Lucknow/Jaipur, May 3 (IBNS) : Heavy rains, hail storm, lightning and a spell of severe dust storm wreaked havoc in Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan on Wedensay killing at least 70 people and leaving a trail of destruction in three more northern India states- Uttarakhand, Punjab and Haryana, media reports said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has tweeted on the storm that has affected several parts of the country. "Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon.Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected," PM Modi tweeted. The reports said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has asked officials to personally monitor relief work, provide medical aid to affected in the state. Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje condoled the deaths and said in a series of tweets that she has directed ministers and officials in the affected areas to begin relief work and restore utilities. According to NDTV, 45 people died in Uttar Pradesh after heavy rains, hail storm and lightning struck western parts of the state-Agra being the worst hit accounting for 36 deaths. Altogether 38 people were reportedly injured in the calamity. Bijnore, Saharanpur and Bareilly are the other badly affected districts of UP. In Rajasthan, 27 people were killed and several injured after a powerful dust storm swept through the state. The storm uprooted trees and disrupted power supply in a vast area beyond the the state. The Hindustan Times said Bharatpur suffered the maximum damage in Rajasthan in terms of loss to life as 16 people were killed in the district. Nine people died in neighbouring Dholpur in the high-speed dust storm that started around 7pm. Most deaths were caused by house collapse due to the storm. Normal life was also hit in many places in Punjab and Haryana, including Chandigarh, on Wednesday after a high-velocity dust storm. Light to moderate rains also lashed many places. New Delhi/Bengaluru, May 3 (IBNS): Th Supreme Court (SC) of India, on Thursday, asked the Karnataka government to release at least 4 tmc feet of water to Tamil Nadu for April and May by Monday, according to media reports. Meanwhile, the Centre on Thursday informed the apex court that it was not able to frame the draft of Cauvery water sharing scheme between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as many of the ministers of the central government, including PM Naendra Modi, are travelling, reports said. SC, on April 9, had given May 3 as the deadline to submit the draft scheme. Irked by the Centre's failure to submit the draft, senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, for Tamil Nadu, accused the Centre of a brazen attitude and playing politics to favour the BJPs fortune in the state, instead of governance, reported The Hindu. On the other hand, Karnataka has claimed that it has already released an excess amount of water to Tamil Nadu, reports said. Guntur, May 3 (IBNS): Andhra Pradesh Police has said that search is on to nab the alleged culprit blamed of sexually assaulting a minor girl in Guntur, according to media reports on Thursday. According to NDTV, on Wednesday, a 50-year old rickshaw-puller allegedly sexually assaulted the minor girl. According to local reports, the attack came to light when the girl complained of pain and was taken to a doctor by her parents. Hearing of the incident, local people raised slogans, burnt tires and also blocked a part of the highway, reports said. Bengaluru, May 3 (IBNS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again attacked the Congress for its alleged involvement in corruption while addressing a rally in Bengaluru on Thursday. Modi, who is presently in poll bound Karnataka, said: "Congress is a gold medalist in corruption." The PM has said the "enthusiasm" of the people of Karnataka clearly state the ruling Congress will be ousted from power. Comparing the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) rule with that of the Congress, Modi said: "We are working towards promoting 'Ease of Doing Business', Congress is ensuring 'Ease of Doing Murder'." He also took on H. D. Deve Gowda's Janata Dal (Secular) in his third rally of the day. He said: "You ask any political pundit. Everyone is of the opinion that JD(S) will finish at number 3. A sensible voter would never vote for them." Both Congress President Rahul Gandhi and Modi are campaigning hard in Karnataka. The poll is scheduled to be held on May 12. The poll results will be out three days later on May 15. Karnataka is one of the last few states which are ruled by the Congress. BJP, under the leadership of former Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, is eyeing on to return to power. New Delhi, May 3 (IBNS): President Ram Nath Kovind will visit Tamil Nadu on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, the President will inaugurate the centenary celebrations of the Christian Medical College in Vellore. On the same day, he will also inaugurate the Kidney Transplant Unit and Cardiac Unit of the Sri Narayni Hospital and Research Centre in Vellore. On Saturday, the President will commence his day with paying his tributes to Giani Zail Singh, former President of India on his birth anniversary. Later in the day, he will attend the 160th convocation of the University of Madras. He will also be present at the 42nd convocation of the Guru Nanak College and inaugurate the Guru Amar Das Block and Shaheed Baba Deep Singh Auditorium of Guru Nanak College in Velachery, Chennai, before returning to New Delhi. Shimla, May 3 (IBNS): Solan police on Thursday arrested hotel owner Vijay Singh Thakur for allegedly killing assistant town and country planner of Kasauli, Shail Bala, during a demolition drive in Mando Matkanda area of Kasauli on Tuesday. Singh was arrested from Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh. He was a since absconding since the murder. This comes after the Supreme Court took a suo motu cognizance over the Kasauli violence, in which the town planner was shot to death by the hotel owner as the former was implementing the Supreme Court's directive of demolishing illegal constructions in the hill town of Himachal Pradesh, media reports said. Singh, the owner of Narayani Guest House, fired when a team of Public Works Department (PWD) started pulling down a part of the hotel at Mando Matkanda. The firing injured another officer seriously. When a team of police, which was present in the adjacent building, reached the spot, Singh took to his heels. When Shail reached the spot with an intent to executive the top court's order, she had received resistance from Singh and his mother Narayani Devi. The Supreme Court on Apr 17 reportedly directed the Himachal Pradesh government to demolish all illegal constructions, rejecting the pleas of hoteliers against a National Green Tribunal. Mumbai, May 3 (IBNS): Leading swimwear brand Speedo has announced Bollywood actress and fitness enthusiast Parineeti Chopra as their new fitness ambassador. As the new face for Speedo India, Parineeti will be joining an esteemed roster of Olympians, athletes and trainers from around the globe. Speedo as a brand, is synonymous with performance swimwear, and via its global campaign #GetSpeedoFit, it has been working to elevate the status of swimming for fitness and reinforce that water workouts are the next big trend to get fit and achieve a total body workout. Commenting on her association with the brand, Parineeti said, Im excited to come on board as the fitness ambassador for Speedo India. Ive grown up wearing Speedo swim suits and for me swimming is synonymous with Speedo. A favourite around the world, I love that Speedo now celebrates fitness and overall health. Swimming has always been a great workout which Ive often resorted to, to cut the monotony of working out in the gym. Now, with the growing trend of water workouts there is so much more one can do in the pool to get in shape than lane swimming and Im happy to help Speedo reinforce their commitment to fitness by encouraging more and more consumers to change their fitness routine and make the pool their new gym, Parineeti added. Shamir Genomal, Chief Strategy Officer, Speedo India said, We're really excited to welcome Parineeti Chopra as our new fitness ambassador. We remain committed in encouraging more and more people to switch their fitness regime and take up swimming or water workouts. With a fitness enthusiast like Parineeti on board, we hope to reach a lot more consumers. In addition to being the innovators of swimming, Speedo has an overarching mission to be the swimwear of choice for all, from the recreational swimmer to the Olympic champion, Genomal added. The actress will be seen sporting Speedos new fitness range meant for workouts in and out of the pool called Speedo H2O Active. Fashionable and functional, the H2O Active collection comes in confident and bold colours teamed with energetic prints inspired by water. The new collection includes crop tops, capris, shorts, and briefs, allowing it to be mix-and-matched to reflect personal style and use. Riddhi Sen, who has entertained the audience with his acting in several Bengali films in recent times, became the youngest actor to receive the national award. Ahead of receiving the award from President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday, IBNS/TWF correspondent Souvik Ghosh interacts with the 19-year old actor What was your first reaction after hearing that you have earned a national award? I got the news while I was in the middle of a shoot. So I think the best possible thing which could have happened was to getting back to shoot. I kept on shooting for the next three days. So thats the best way to celebrate such a news because I got the award for only acting and my love towards it. It is the blessing for any actor to just celebrate it amidst shoot. How do you feel becoming the youngest actor to get the award? It feels great. Who doesnt like an award? (smiles) But again there are amazing artists all over the world who didnt receive any proper recognition but nothing stopped due to it. For instance, Christopher Nolan didnt get an award but nothing had stopped. I guess it is ultimately the innate love towards profession that keeps one driving. So I am really happy and elated to get this award (national award) but as long as I am enjoying it, nothing else matters. How tough was it to play the role of a transgender in Nagarkirtan? It was definitely tough to get into the state of mind of a particular gender, which is not mine. So I guess there lies the mastery of director Kaushik Ganguly, both as an actor and writer. The entire guidance he provided me on set along with my upbringing helped me to learn to see different things in life. Sometimes parents do not sit and teach one something but he can draw ideas, perspective from their actions. So that was first step of preparation for doing any character. The sort of parenthood and education I get from my family plays a big role. Did you go through your own preparations? Yes I have my own process for separate characters but again the biggest process is to draw inspiration from life and what is happening around us which is the biggest motivation for any artist. You had been a part of a very different kind of film in Bollywood- Parched. How the film helped you grow as an actor? I think working with every director helps me. It is not about completing a particular film but also drawing a lot of inspiration and learning and getting to see a lot of things in a different way. So every director and film was like an individual class for me which kept on building me as an actor. How do you access your works? Do you watch it? I watch my film repeatedly and hate my performances. This allows me to see where I went wrong and prevents me from repeating the same mistake in the next film. Is it an added advantage to have parents who are also actors? Yes, thats a huge blessing because there are lot of people who go to acting schools or struggle. But I have an acting school at my own place. So nothing can be a bigger blessing for me. Tell me something about your next Bollywood film. I am shooting for Pradip Sarkars film Ela produced by Ajay Devgn. Kajol ma'm (Kajol, actress) is also in the film. We have shot eighty percent of the film and twenty percent left. The film will release very soon. I thoroughly enjoyed the shooting. How was the shooting experience so far? The shooting is still going on. The best thing was working with Pradeep Sarkar because in a platform like Bombay (Hindi film industry), it is very difficult to get through. This man (Pradeep Sarkar) trusted me as an actor so much that he cast me for the film without any audition or such process. You have tasted successes quite early in your life and career. Is it an extra pressure for you? No because it is your love towards your acting (which matters). As long as I am enjoying my acting, it shouldnt turn out as a pressure. If it turns out as a pressure, then I will understand that I am not a good actor anymore. Who is Riddhi Sen to you? A person who is very afraid of death. He is a person who is afraid that life will end very soon, so all the fun will be over. So he wants a proper utilisation of time. Images: Facebook page of Riddhi Sen,Twitter handle of Kaushik Ganguly, Avishek Mitra/IBNS New York, May 3 (IBNS): At an event commemorating the Day of Vesak, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged the global community to draw inspiration from the Buddhas teachings and message of tolerance, empathy and humanism. The world faces numerous challenges, from conflict to climate change, from prejudice to growing inequality. We see people turning inwards and we see a crisis of solidarity, said the Secretary-General in his address. The Buddhas teachings can inspire us to become global citizens [] the Buddhist world view teaches us to see ourselves as a part of this world and not as its masters. Vesak, the Day of the Full Moon, generally in the month of May, is the most sacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. It was on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, in the year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. It was also on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlightenment, and it was on this Day that the Buddha in his eightieth year passed away. In his message, the Secretary-General highlighted Buddhisms emphasis on non-violence as a powerful call for peace and said that the teachings of the Buddha remain very relevant in the work of the UN. The focus in Buddhism on the inherent dignity of life finds resonance today in our 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, he said, urging everyone commit to overcome differences, care for the most vulnerable and truly leave no one behind as we navigate the path to a better future for all. Speaking alongside Mr. Guterres, Miroslav LajAak, the President of the General Assembly also underscored the importance of the timeless principles of Buddhism to the work of the UN. They offer insights and ideals on improving the condition of the planet; they show us the way to a more sustainable future. They remind us to recognise the inherent dignity of all people. They shine a light on the path to peace peace among nations, and peace within people, he said. In 1999, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it recognized the Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution that Buddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, has made for over two and a half millennia and continues to make to the spirituality of humanity. UN News/Vibhu Mishra UN Photo/Rick Bajornas new York, May 3 (IBNS): Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said that the United Nations stands ready to discuss possible forms of support to further inter-Korean talks over denuclearizing the Peninsula, and working towards a lasting peace. That call for support includes UN assistance in verifying the imminent closure of a nuclear test site in the north, and transforming the buffer zone separating the two nations into a peace zone. The UN confirmed Tuesday evening that Guterres and the Republic of Koreas President Moon Jae-in spoke by phone on Monday, in which the latter sought the support of the United Nations to verify the shutting down of the nuclear test site in the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK). Moon also asked the UN to help implement the recent agreement by the two nations to transform the demilitarized zone. In response, the Secretary-General reiterated the full support of the United Nations to furthering the inter-Korean dialogue and in this regard pledged that the United Nations stands ready to discuss possible forms of support, according to a read-out issued by the world body. On 27 April, the leaders of the two nations agreed on a number of measures, including realizing the common goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and pursuing talks to declare an official end to the Korean War, which devastated the Peninsula, beginning in June 1950. An armistice brought about a ceasefire in 1953, but the conflict never officially ended because the parties failed to reach agreement over a formal peace treaty. Prior to last weeks historic inter-Korean summit, DPRK leader Kim Jong Un had announced his intention to suspend nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile launches, including the closure of the countrys nuclear test site, according to news reports. The DPRK has conducted six nuclear tests since 2006, and in recent years launched numerous test missiles, in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. The 15-member body has regularly reacted to these violations through punitive measures. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) monitors the DPRK nuclear programme, including through the use of satellite imagery, but its inspectors have not had access to the countrys nuclear facilities since April 2009. New York, May 3 (IBNS): The United Nations peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic (CAR) has appealed for calm following fresh violence in the capital Bangui which claimed the lives of several civilians, including a religious leader. MINUSCA [the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR] condemns attacks against civilians and places of worship and emphasizes that such attacks are contrary to national and international laws, the UN Mission said in a statement. It reaffirmed that only mandated State authorities have the right to enforce justice and that any acts by non-state actors, such as the attacks Tuesday morning, are illegal. The sponsors and the perpetrators of such acts will be held responsible, added the Mission. The clashes were sparked off by the arrest of a member of a criminal group by the countrys security forces. In the ensuing violence, a church was attacked on the edge of the predominantly Muslim PK5 neighbourhood, and a pastor was killed. Health facilities and medical staff were also reportedly threatened. The violence later spread to other parts of the city. The Humanitarian Coordinator in the CAR, Najat Rochdi, denounced the targeting of a religious institution by attackers, saying that it demonstrated a lack of respect due to all places of worship. I am shocked by the death of Father Tougoumale-Baba who was one of the defenders of the pact of non-aggression, she said, recalling that the agreement enables Muslims in the surrounding area to give their dead a befitting burial according to the precepts of Islam. Also in a subsequent attack, two MINUSCA peacekeepers were wounded one seriously after they were reportedly pelted with stones by a crowd. In accordance with its mandate, MINUSCA has deployed reinforced patrols to secure key locations in Bangui in close cooperation with the national security forces and is monitoring the situation. It has also strengthened its presence in other parts of the country. New York, May 3 (IBNS):The surge of violence in South Sudans Unity region "looks set" to continue despite the ceasefire accord signed last year by warring parties, the top United Nations official in the African country said on Wednesday. All sides need to abide by what they agreed to and have their actions on the ground carefully monitored and scrutinized, said David Shearer, the Secretary-Generals Special Representative and head of the UN peacekeeping mission in the country, known as UNMISS, referring to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in December 2017. The intensification of the conflict is having a serious human impact. Hundreds of people are sheltering next to the UN base, he said. We saw tukuls (huts) burnt to the ground. We were told that elderly people and children had been killed and medical clinics ransacked. Shearer made his comments during a visit to Leer and Dublual in the Unity region to see first-hand the impact of the deteriorating security situation on communities. I met a little girl who had been shot through her stomach and back. She is just one example of dozens of people injured and killed over recent weeks, said Shearer. We also know that hundreds, if not thousands, of people have fled into the swamps and are surviving on wild vegetables and fruit. Shearer and his mission team met with both Government and opposition leaders in the area, urging them to lay down their weapons, reconcile, and work together to build durable peace. He said the signing of the Agreement last year had given the peace process momentum, but that it was at risk of unravelling without genuine political will. Earlier this year it felt like we were moving in the right direction. But after seeing the effects on civilians of this conflict, I believe there is a real risk that the situation will deteriorate further and undermine the chance for lasting peace. Shearer said UNMISS would continue to fulfill its mandate. Our job is still to protect people and help them get through these dark times so that the peace process can work and we can find a durable solution. We will do all we can to support the people of South Sudan, he said. UNMISS/Eric Kanalstein New York, May 3 (IBNS): The dangers of working as a journalist in Afghanistan have been dramatically underlined by an attack in the capital Kabul on Monday in which nine Afghan photographers and reporters were killed. They had gone to report on a suicide attack, and were targeted by a second suicide bomber when they arrived on the scene. The cold-blooded murder took place just days before World Press Freedom Day marked annually on May 3rd. Outside the Afghan capital, the dangers of reporting the news, particularly as a woman, have never been so apparent. Sediqa Sherzai is the news director of Radio-TV Roshani, a media organization In Kunduz in the north of Afghanistan. Her female reporters are under constant threat not only from insurgents but also from men who do not want women to work in the media. When insurgents seized Kunduz in 2015, they came immediately for our station because they didnt like our content focused on womens rights, she said. Even though most of our reporters fled in advance of their arrival. They looted our equipment and destroyed what they could not take. Elections Despite the challenges of working as a woman in the media in a conservative and conflict-affected country, Sediqa Sherzai is committed to ensuring that the voices of Afghan women area heard ahead of the countrys elections slated for October this year. In the volatile province of Kunduz where some territory is beyond government control, women say they fear to speak to the media and talk about human rights, much less advocate openly for democracy and change. Even Sediqa Sherzai and her staff of women shy away from photographs, cautiously protecting their identities. Elections are considered essential to solidify fragile the social and human rights advances made during the last 17 years. The struggle for full womens suffrage in Afghanistan, reminiscent of similar fights in centuries past in other nations, has gained broader international support in the last two decades. UN in Afghanistan Pushing for change, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has supported initiatives that offer space for Afghan women from across all sectors of society to advocate against oppression and conflict, and also to stand up for basic human rights, including their right to vote. UNAMAs chief, Tadamichi Yamamoto, said on the occasion of World Press Freedom Day that the UN continues to push for the government to implement measures to improve journalist safety and foster an open media where no voice is silenced through fear. As news director in a city besieged by war, she faces the dilemma of trying to dispatch reporters to the field. We cant say we are accurately reflecting the views of women when even our own female reporters are under constant threat, she said.Ms Sherzai said the unwritten code to silence women runs deep in Kunduz. Women dont want to talk because they are under threat, but also because of traditional restrictions, including fathers and husbands forbidding them from talking. Democracy Even if Kunduz, a bustling city of some 500,000 citizens, was not enduring near-constant conflict, there would still be immense obstacles standing in the way of womens full participation in democracy, according to media officials and human rights advocates. This is a pervasive issue across our society as even highly literate men in business and in government dont want their women to vote, said Lida Sherzad, an advocate working with the Afghanistan Womens Network (AWN). There is an immense price to pay in terms of psychological damage and pressure on women, including their children, and these mothers are asking me why they should even participate in elections if no one is protecting them. The right for women to vote goes hand in hand with several of AWNs efforts to create new social networks and connect different groups of women in a common effort to speak out for womens leadership and to end violence against women. Womens rights advocates say that while progress has been slow at times, the last 17 years have witnessed immense gains for Afghan women, who under Taliban rule in late 1990s and through most of 2001 were confined to their homes and prevented from obtaining an education. Many women working in the media in Kunduz left during the Taliban rule, but Sediqa Sherzai said that stand if the insurgents re-enter the city for a third time in five years, she will defend the station if necessary. UNAMA/Fardin Waezi London, May 3 (IBNS): Cambridge Analytica, the data firm which was at the centre of a massive data breach scandal recently, on Wednesday announced it will cease operations and even declare bankruptcy in the US and the UK. "Earlier today, SCL Elections Ltd., as well as certain of its and Cambridge Analytica LLCs U.K. affiliates (collectively, the Company or 'Cambridge Analytica') filed applications to commence insolvency proceedings in the U.K. The Company is immediately ceasing all operations and the boards have applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP to act as the independent administrator for Cambridge Analytica," the company said in a statement. "Additionally, parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced on behalf of Cambridge Analytica LLC and certain of the Companys U.S. affiliates in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York," the company said on its issue of bankruptcy. The company said over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of 'numerous unfounded accusations' and, despite the Companys efforts to correct the record, has been 'vilified for activities that are not only legal', but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas. In light of those accusations, noted Queens Counsel Julian Malins was retained to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations regarding the Companys political activities. Malins report, which the Company posted on its website today, concluded that the allegations were not borne out by the facts. Regarding the conclusions set forth in his report, Malins said: I had full access to all members of staff and documents in the preparation of my report. My findings entirely reflect the amazement of the staff, on watching the television programmes and reading the sensationalistic reporting, that any of these media outlets could have been talking about the company for which they worked. Nothing of what they heard or read resonated with what they actually did for a living. Speaking on the issue of job loss, the company said: "While this decision was extremely painful for Cambridge Analyticas leaders, they recognize that it is all the more difficult for the Companys dedicated employees who learned today that they likely would be losing their jobs as a result of the damage caused to the business by the unfairly negative media coverage." "Despite the Companys precarious financial condition, Cambridge Analytica intends to fully meet its obligations to its employees, including with respect to notice periods, severance terms, and redundancy entitlements," it said. Social networking site Facebook last month said that over 87 million user accounts were compromised due to a data breach. The said data was siphoned by UK based political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica. In March, whistle-blower Christopher Wylie had quoted the figure at 50 million. The saga surfaced after Cambridge Analytica were named in an investigative report by Britain's channel 4, in the month of March. The firm was accused of harvesting data of up to 50 million Facebook users without permission and using them to help politicians. According to Wylie, among the political parties which benefited from the CA was the Indian National Congress. Image: Google Maps Tehran, May 3 (IBNS): At least 80 people have been injured in an earthquake which struck western Iran on Wednesday morning, reports said. Local IFP news quoted health officials as saying that 84 people have been taken to the hospital for treatment, one of whom is said to be critical. The earthquake, measuring 5.2 on the Richter Scale, hit Irans western city of Sisakht in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province at around 8:30 am. According to footage aired by state media, the quake destroyed several buildings. Last year, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit villages and towns in Irans western Kermanshah province, killing at least 620 people and injuring thousands. In 2003, a 6.6 magnitude quake killed over 26,000 people and destroyed the historic city of Bam. Image: UN Photo Against the backdrop of unrelenting violence, a double bombing in Kabul and a shooting in Khost on Monday marked the deadliest day for journalists since the conflict in Afghanistan began in 2001. The Kabul bombings killed 29 people and wounded 45 others. Afghanistans journalists are among the bravest in the world. Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs. At a time when many have sadly turned their attentions away from the country, and the work of a journalist means constantly putting your life at risk, they have continued to confront injustice and give voice to victims, said Omar Waraich, Amnesty Internationals Deputy Director for South Asia. Nine of the journalists killed had rushed to the site of bombing in Kabul during rush hour. A second bomber, posing as a journalist and presenting a fake press card, worked his way towards a crowd of journalists before detonating his device. The survivors put down their cameras and their equipment to help the victims around them. The second attacker deliberately sought out journalists to kill after the first bomber had drawn them to the scene. Mere moments after killing one group of civilians they targeted another, committing multiple war crimes on the same spot, said Omar Waraich. Afghanistans journalists had barely registered the Kabul tragedy that robbed them of some of their finest colleagues when news came that Ahmad Shah, a reporter for BBC Afghan, had been shot dead in Khost province, near the border with Pakistan. According to the Afghanistan Journalists Safety Committee, at least 80 media workers have lost their lives while working in the country since 2001. Journalists killed The 10 journalists included Shah Marai, the legendary AFP photographer, who had powerfully captured the tragic aftermath of several attacks in Afghanistan until he was killed in one of them. He was the father of six children, the youngest, a daughter, who was born just a fortnight ago. Yar Mohammad Tokhi worked for TOLO TV a fiercely independent Afghan television station that has mourned colleagues before, including after a 2016 bombing that killed seven staff members and wounded 26 others. When Yar Mohammad Tokhi's loved ones laid him to rest, they discovered on his person a blood-stained wedding band. He was due to be married next month. Mahram Durani, a producer and presenter with Salam Watandar radio, was one of Afghanistans rising generation of women journalists. Ebadullah Hananzai was also a radio journalist, working for Radio Azadi. Ghazi Rasooli was a reporter with 1TV, and Nowroz Ali Rajabi was a cameraman for the same media organization. Saleem Talash was a reporter and Ali Saleemi was a cameraman with Mashal TV. Sabawoon Kakar was a journalist with Radio Azadi. Civilian casualties Mondays killings represent the latest in a series of unremitting attacks on civilians in Afghanistan. A week earlier, 60 people were killed as they waited at a voter registration centre in Kabul. For each of the past four years, more than 10,000 people have been killed or injured in attacks in Afghanistan, according to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. These attacks have taken place all across the country, with the capital Kabul being the hardest hit. They have included brazen war crimes, such as when the Taliban claimed responsibility for an attack that killed more than 100 people and wounded at least 235 when an ambulance laden with explosives struck the busy Kabul shopping area known as Chicken Street on 25 January 2018. Civilians have also been victims of attacks by government forces. On 2 April, an Afghan military strike killed at least 70 people and wounded 30 others when it struck a mosque in the northern province of Kunduz. At the same time, Afghans continue to be forcibly returned, violating the principle of non-refoulement: under international law, people cannot be sent back to a country where are at risk of serious human rights violations. European countries continue to force thousands of Afghans back to danger. Last week, Turkey boasted of its target of 10,000 deportations to Afghanistan, in a matter of a few weeks. There is no one who can credibly claim that Afghanistan is safe. And yet we see European, Turkish, Iranian and Pakistani governments persist with the forcible returns of Afghans, turning their backs on the countrys suffering while putting people in harms way, said Omar Waraich. Text: Amnesty International Toronto, May 3 (IBNS): Toronto police have suspected the car's suspension from a city bridge to be a prank, media reports said. According to BBC, police have suspected some pranksters could be responsible for the incident on Wednesday. A blue sedan was seen dangling through a rope under the Millwood Overpass Bridge in Toronto. In a video which was aired by CTV Toronto, the car could be seen spinning in the wind. The inside of the car was burnt while the windows were broken. With the help of the firefighters, the car was brought down after 10 am. The onlookers while talking to CTV Toronto said that they haven't seen such thing before. They were amazed. Police told CTV News that the right southbound lane of the Don Valley Parkway was blocked at Millwood Road. The incident had unnerved daily commuters on Wednesday morning. Toronto Mayor John Tory told the media that he could not understand the incident. Tory has been quoted by CTV News, "When I was shown the pictures I was just shaking my head in disbelief that it could have happened." If its a prank, then obviously the law should apply to people who are doing things like that. (Reporting by Suman Das) Ottawa, May 3 (IBNS) Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is still sticking with his government's much-maligned timeline for legalizing marijuana, despite a growing call for delay from senators, Indigenous leaders and others, media reports said. Trudeau said the plan to make recreational pot legal by this summer is on course. That declaration follows comments Wednesday that pointed at he being open to slowing down the process, following a Senate committee report calling for more consultation with First Nations on taxation, education materials and addictions treatment. The Prime Minister said every single day that marijuana remains illegal, Canadians are being harmed, reinforcing the fact that the current approach is not working. He said legalizing marijuana will take control away from criminal organizations and drug dealers. He also said that it is a process, one that will involve continued cooperation with provinces, municipalities and Indigenous leaders to ensure the law is enforced properly. (Reporting by our Canada bureau with additional inputs from Sayantan Banerjee) "Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors." | "KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary." | "No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account." www.indiainfoline.com is part of the IIFL Group, a leading financial services player and a diversified NBFC. The site provides comprehensive and real time information on Indian corporates, sectors, financial markets and economy. On the site we feature industry and political leaders, entrepreneurs, and trend setters. The research, personal finance and market tutorial sections are widely followed by students, academia, corporates and investors among others. Love clicking away with your phone camera? Or any camera, for that matter? If you dont heres another reason you probably should; even if its just a couple on a daily basis. According to a recent study, clicking a picture a day is good for our wellbeing. Unsplash The study found that clicking pictures can improve your wellbeing through self-care, community interaction and enhancing the potential for reminiscence. A study co-authored by Dr Liz Brewster of Lancaster University and Dr Andrew Cox of the University of Sheffield recorded what photos people took, what text they added and how they interacted with others on the photo-a-day site for two months. Taking a moment to be mindful, and looking for something different or unusual in the day were seen as positive well-being benefits of the practice. Heres what some of the participants involved in the study had to say: Unsplash One participant said: "My job was a very highly stressful role... There were some days when I'd almost not stopped to breathe, you know what I mean... And just the thought: oh wait a moment, no, I'll stop and take a photograph of this insect sitting on my computer or something. Just taking a moment is very salutary I think." Another participant said: "It encourages me out of the house sometimes when I could just sit on my backside with a cup of tea. I'll think maybe I'll take a walk down on to the seafront and before I know it I'm two miles along the coast." The online contact helped people to manage loneliness and grief as well as meeting new people with shared interests. Unsplash Several participants had taken early retirement and found that the contact established via photo-a-day replaced some of the daily office chatter that they missed. "There's the banter in the workshop or the office or the place where you work. And perhaps [photo-a-day] offers that... Because I'm having conversations with people that I would perhaps have had in the workplace," said another. The online interactions created a community based on the photos and accompanying text. Unsplash "It could be a rubbish photograph but if somebody commented on it, it made it worthwhile." The online text was used to provide personal narratives, reminiscences, and explanations of repeated images. "I'm ever feeling down or something it's nice to be able to scroll back and see good memories. You know, the photos I've taken will have a positive memory attached to it even if it's something as simple as I had a really lovely half an hour for lunch sitting outside and was feeling really relaxed." Unsplash The researchers said the practice is "an active process of meaning making, in which a new conceptualisation of wellbeing emerges." Whats more is that it also led to more exercise and gave a sense of purpose, competence and achievement. So get out there and start clicking! Particularly during my sojourns in South Africa, it may not be possible for me to perform the moderation function speedily. I regret the necessity of moderation but it has been rendered inevitable by the behaviour of a particular commentator whose contributions will always and without exception be rejected. No correspondence will be entered into regarding moderation decisions. Readers are invited to comment on blog posts. All comments require to be pre-moderated by me, and I shall reject all (a) that are not related to the Lockerbie disaster or (b) that fail to meet my -- perhaps idiosyncratic -- standards of courtesy towards other contributors. Comments will not be rejected simply because I disagree with them or because I, or other contributors, find them irritating. But comments will be rejected if they distort or misrepresent the evidence; are defamatory; or if they risk embroiling me, as publisher, in defamation proceedings. I am perfectly relaxed about being sued in respect of material which I personally have posted -- but not in respect of material that others wish to post as comments and which, in any case, I often strongly disagree with. Most of us prefer hitting the couch with a packet of munchies or soda to unwind, isnt it? It is rare to go for healthier options such as fruits, soups or fresh juices. Well, there is a scientific reason behind this kind of behaviour! www.foodtribute.com Researchers at Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University in Chicago recently presented their results of a study looking into the effects of sleep deprivation upon high-calorific food consumption at the Cognitive Neuroscience Society's annual meeting in San Francisco, reports Science News. Participants were allocated different amounts of sleep, eight hours or four hours, and then their reaction to smells of high-calorie foods was tested. Participants slept for both lengths of time, separated by a week of normal sleep. On the day after they either had a full or partial sleep, participants rated the pleasantness and intensity of sweet and savoury high-calorie food smells such as crisps and cinnamon rolls. They were then asked to rate the smell of non-foods like fir trees. authoritynutrition.com Researchers found that those who were sleep-deprived had "specifically enhanced" brain activity to the food smells compared to when they had a good night's sleep. The experiment supports the long-held association between sleep deprivation and excessive eating and weight gain. So, if you want to stop reaching for the chocolate every day, perhaps a few extra hours sleep is all you need. reuters/representational image Fourteen of the worlds 15 most polluted cities are in India. India fares worst in global pollution deaths with 2.5 million people dying early because of effluence. This is a wake up call. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) Dust Storm Wreaks Havoc In Rajasthan, 22 Killed, 100 Injured; Take A Look At Devastation Across States PTI The sudden dust storm that hit parts North India on Wednesday wreaked havoc in Bharatpur, Alwar and Dholpur districts and left a trail of destruction, uprooting hundreds of trees and electricity poles. Read more 2) Separate Religion From Politics Or India Will Become Pakistan, Warns Prakash Raj BCCL Actor-politician Prakash Raj, who is on a Just Asking campaign trail against BJP, has condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not answering some of the questions put up by him. Read more 3) Taking A Step Towards Development, 18 Students From Naxal Affected Dantewada Clear JEE Main Moving towards development, at least 18 students from Naxal affected Dantewada have cleared Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2018. "It's our dream to get into IITs or NITs. We feel very happy. We are preparing for Advanced and are determined to perform well," a student said. Read more 4) Railways Slaps Fine Of Rs 1 Lakh On Vendor After Video Shows Him Using Toilet Water To Make Tea A vending contractor has been slapped with a fine of Rs. 1 lakh by the Railways after a video surfaced suggesting mixing of water from a train toilet in tea and coffee, the South Central Railway (SCR) said on Wednesday. Read more 5) Ghaziabad Madrassa Rape Case: Accused Not 17-Year-Old, Will Be Tried As Adult After Test Reports bccl/representational image The Juvenile Justice Board on Wednesday said that an accused held in connection with the rape of a 10-year-old girl inside a madrassa in Ghaziabad will be tried as an adult after the bone ossification test report indicated he was not a juvenile. Read more Actor-politician Prakash Raj, who is on a Just Asking campaign trail against BJP, has condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not answering some of the questions put up by him. I will continue to pose questions until I get answers. This should also be done by people to have good governance in the country, he said. What happened to the promise made by you (Prime Minister) to generate two crore jobs and bring back the black money stashed in foreign banks? Why are income tax raids continuing even after demonetisation? Why is cash not available in ATMs? You are talking about rooting out corruption. Then how would you explain your party fielding persons with tainted image, being part of Ballari Reddy brothers group, in this election? These are some of the questions I have put forth and the Prime Minister has not yet answered, the actor said while talking to presspersons in Ballari, Karnataka on Wednesday. BCCL In an interview to The Quint, Prakash Raj said that if BJP doesnt separate religion from the State, India will end up like Pakistan. He also said that there is a growing mistrust among people and that there is no way BJP is coming back to power in 2019 elections. He accused BJP and Modi of rousing communal tensions through speeches in all public meetings. He said that Modi should instead focus on development and talk what he is doing. Demonetisation has hit the people hard and many have lost their jobs. The Goods and Service Tax (GST) introduced was only to loot the common people. Till today, the government had not yet given details of how much black money was curbed after demonetisation. If demonetisation was successful, then why are Income Tax raids being conducted? All these facts need to be told to the people, he emphasised. PTI He said that people must start asking questions. He cleared that he is not campaigning for Congress. When I started, I was all alone. Now I have been getting whole-hearted support from all sections of the society. We will continue the campaign towards having a just society, he said. China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, US news network CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports. The installations, if confirmed, would mark the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratly Islands, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims. Reuters China has made no mention of any missile deployments but says its military facilities in the Spratlys are purely defensive, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory. China's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest report. The foreign ministry said China has irrefutable sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and that its necessary defensive deployments were for national security needs and not aimed at any country. "Those who do not intend to be aggressive have no need to be worried or scared," ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters in Beijing. China "hopes relevant parties can objectively and calmly view this", she added. CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to US intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. Representational Image The US Defense Department, which opposes China's installation of military facilities on outposts it has built up in the South China Sea, declined comment. "We don't comment on matters of intelligence," a spokesman said. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank, said deploying missiles on the outposts would be important. "These would be the first missiles in the Spratlys, either surface to air, or anti-ship," he said. He added that such deployments were expected as China built missile shelters on the reefs last year and already deployed such missile systems on Woody Island further to the north. Poling said it would be a major step on China's road to dominating the South China Sea, a key global trade route. "Before this, if you were one of the other claimants ... you knew that China was monitoring your every move. Now you will know that you're operating inside Chinese missile range. That's a pretty strong, if implicit, threat," he said. CNBC said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles allowed China to strike vessels within 295 nautical miles. It said the HQ-9B long-range, surface-to-air missiles could target aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. Representational Image Last month, US Admiral Philip Davidson, nominated to head US Pacific Command, said China's "forward operating bases" in the South China Sea appeared complete. "The only thing lacking are the deployed forces," he said. Once these were added, "China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania". Davidson said China could use the bases to challenge the US regional presence, and "would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants. "China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States," he said. Deep in the Gulf of Oman, miles away from land, is a particularly strange piece of the ocean. Its a place where where underwater life cant survive, and not because of anything like nuclear radiation or an underwater volcano eruption, or plastic pollution. No, the dead zone as its called is just a large swathe of water where theres no oxygen to breathe. Images courtesy: Reuters Scientists have known of this dead zone for a while now, but havent been able to study it much until now thanks to a combination of privacy concerns and geopolitical tension in the region. Now, researchers are finally able to pilot remote-controlled submarines into the depths to figure out just what is happening here. Dead zones, or Oxygen Minimum Zones (OMZs) as theyre officially called, are areas mostly devoid of oxygen. In the ocean, these naturally occur between 200 and 800 meters deep. The largest such dead zone in the world is in the Gulf of Oman, a strait bordered by Iran, Pakistan, Oman, and the UAE. It occupies a whopping 165,000 square kilometres of the water body, an area bigger than even the state of Tamil Nadu (130,060 square kilometres). Thanks to recent submarine excursions and computer simulations, scientists have revealed some uncomfortable facts. Not only has this dead zone dramatically grown in size since the 1990s, its also increased in severity. Recent data indicates the area is now almost entirely anoxic (no oxygen) or suboxic (very little oxygen). Our research shows that the situation is actually worse than feared. The area of dead zone is vast and growing. The ocean is suffocating, lead researcher Bastien Queste said in a statement. All fish, marine plants, and other animals need oxygen, so they cant survive there. It's a real environmental problem, with dire consequences for humans, too, who rely on the oceans for food and employment. The growing dead zone is also a bad sign for climate change experts. In areas where theres no oxygen, the nitrogen cycle is also altered. Basically, the region is naturally producing more nitrous oxide, which has a greenhouse effect roughly 300 times worse than carbon dioxide. Even worse, as the oceans grow warmer because of climate change, their capacity to hold oxygen slowly decreases. Global warming is making more dead zones, which hastens along global warming, and so on. The researchers simulations show that oxygen content in our oceans will continue to drop over the next century, and more dead zones will pop up around the world. And you thought the most dangerous thing in the open ocean was sharks. We launched Justice Teams Network today to build power against systemic State Violence in all its forms. We launched today in Los Angeles at an event hosted by Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and Dignity and Power Now . On May 4, the Anti Police-Terror Project in Oakland will launch their 21st Century Survival Program at Santa Rita Jail and May 5 we will launch at the State Capital with a rally hosted by Black Lives Matter Sacramento . We welcome you to join us as we pass through your city this week, and we encourage you to share with us stories you have of personally experiencing State violence. We are coming together to share stories of police violence and discuss what we are going to do about. The Network is a statewide coalition of rapid response organizations across the state of California that will mobilize communities to respond radically to state violence. The Network will focus heavily on legislation as well as a public information campaign around the Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights, the single largest obstacle to police accountability. In California, police consistently shoot over 100 people every year. Last year in the United States, nearly 1,200 people were killed by police officers. These deaths destroy families and rip apart communities while law enforcement responsible for even the most egregious cases are rarely, if ever, held accountable. This needs to stop. The Network is grounded in the rapid response model developed in the Bay Area by the Anti Police Terror-Project (APTP) project, and a model for healing justice developed by Dignity and Power Now in LA. The network launch signals the adoption of these models by activists and organizations across the State. Firstly, allow us to share an example of how APTPs rapid response mode works. As part of the model, we conducted a Peoples Investigation that successfully rewrote the polices narrative after Richard Perkins was murdered by Oakland Police Department in November 2015. APTP created a process whereby community first responders investigate incidents of police terror. This process proved helpful after police shot and killed him. Perkins had voluntarily informed police on the scene that he was in possession of a toy gun while attending an evening sideshow on 98th and Bancroft. The Peoples Investigation rewrote the polices narrative propagated by a willing media that criminalized Perkins who was attempting to be a law-abiding citizen. Additionally, the Perkins family was denied the autopsy report for four months but received the report within 48 hours after threats of an APTP shut-down of their office. Secondly, Healing Justice is an approach Dignity and Power Now developed over the years of dealing directly with State Sanctioned violence against Black and Brown people. For example in Ferguson, Missouri we created a healing justice space. This was a room with low lit candles where a crew of healers provided massages, acupuncture and talk therapy. We created an art space where people could paint and draw what they could not speak or name. We had an altar for people who have passed and pillows for people to rest on. In the fullness of our humanity, we need this, too, along with protests, and the discussions about public policy, a place to rest, to renew. A place to restore. With Stephon Clarks murder by 20 police bullets in Sacramento on March 18 and Sahleem Tindles murder from 3 bullets to the back on January 3 in Oakland, the case for retribution for officers who break the law is again at the top of the agenda. Despite the outrage were not seeing change in behavior, nor are officers of the State being held accountable because they are being protected by the State. This is because police officers have the licence to kill with impunity. The added layer of rights granted under the Police Officers Bill of Rights makes it practically impossible to investigate officers and hold them accountable. It remains the major obstacle to justice. This State legislation is a set of due-process rights for police officers under internal investigation for alleged misconduct. It affords officers additional rights during an investigation that are not afforded to civilians, like secrecy and rules about how they will be investigated. For example: It limits the publics access to police officers personnel records; it prevents investigations from searching a suspects locker except in his presence, or with his consent, or unless a valid search warrant has been obtained or where he has been notified that a search will be conducted; and The officer under investigation shall be informed prior to the interrogation of the rank, name, and command of the officer in charge of the interrogation, the interrogating officers, and all other persons to be present during the interrogation. Practically speaking, this means in cases like the killing of Stephon Clark this law specifically prevents information about police misconduct from being released to the public. That means Sacramento officials are not allowed to say whether the officers who killed Stephon Clark end up being fired or disciplined. In the name of due process police officers literally get away with murder without accountability. This truly is a key element of our lack of responsiveness to cases of excessive force. Its time to end murder with impunity and we are starting with California and going to 14 States that have these laws on the books. We will not stop unless the Police Officers Bill of Rights is repealed by every single state. Throughout our history, Black and Brown people have come together as a community to fight violence. We have often worked in silos and with the launch of the JTN we will bring together these radical voices from the silos into the frontlines for our fight to end systemic and institutional state terror against black people and all people of color. We are coming together as people, as organizations and as a community commitment to eradicating state violence from our communities within a powerful network that shares resources, information, and campaign strategy in real time; strengthening impact and resilience. Authors: Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter and the Justice Teams Network Cat Brooks, co-founder of the Anti Police-Terror Project and founder and Executive Director of the Justice Teams Network Contact: press@justiceteams.org Regardless of the SCVWDs decision next week, this fight is far from over," said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta. "We will pack up our picket signs and head home when Governor Brown, or the future Governor of California puts a stop to MWDs relentless process to see this project through at any cost." Photo - Left to right: Tony Estremera, District 6; Richard Santos, District 3; John L. Varela, District 1; Gary Kremen, District 7; Barbara Keegan, District 2; Nai Hsueh, District 5; Linda J. LeZotte, District 4. Photo courtesy of Santa Clara Valley Water District. The Santa Clara Valley Water District Board of Directors decided at a special meeting on May 2 to put off their decision on whether to participate in Governor Jerry Browns controversial Delta Tunnels project, citing the requests by Board Members for additional time to review the large volume of materials provided to them by staff.The board will revisit the issue on Tuesday, May 8, at 9:30 a.m. in the board room at the district headquarters, 5750 Almaden Expressway, San Jose, CA 95118..Board directors requesting more time to review the materials included Chair Richard Santos, Director Linda J. LeZotte, Director Nad Hsueh, and Director John L. Varela. In fact, Chair Santos requested a delay on the vote until July when the District would receive confirmation of potential funding for the expansion of Pacheco Dam on Pacheco Creek, a tributary of the Pajaro River.The district in October approved support for the project on the condition that Brown reduce the project to just one tunnel, but the staff recommended that the board commit to the full project at a cost of $650 million.At one point during the meeting, Santos asked if the Delta Tunnels would bring the district more water. Staff said the project would sustain existing water supplies; in other words, it wouldnt provide any new water.Santos said, Whats the rush? In my opinion, we need to sit down as a group and really discuss these things. This is too fast.Thirty-seven people spoke during the public comment section of the five-hour-long meeting, the vast majority ratepayers opposed to the project.Delta Tunnels advocates were encouraged by the Boards decision to delay the vote and urged them to vote no on the project at the next meeting.The Santa Clara Valley Water District Directors made a good choice to delay the vote tonight, said Brenna Norton, the Senior Organizer for Food & Water Watch. And come Tuesday they should oppose. Governor Brown and Metropolitan Water District are engaging in desperate measures telling Santa Clara Directors they wont get their existing water resources if they dont pay up.The board also requested that staff add a water affordability analysis to next week's discussion, in addition to a comparison of local alternatives that would affect water rates, noted Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta.There are so many better solutions for creating a sustainable water supply in California, and we hope that this delayed vote, the addition of a water affordability analysis, and a comparison of local self-sufficiency projects will allow Santa Clara Valleys board of directors to realize that the Delta Tunnels is not the project that will bring our state water management into the 21st century, said Barrigan-Parrilla.What we witnessed this evening at SCVWD was the Department of Water Resources exercising a bully strategy to strongarm SCVWD into participating in the Delta Tunnels. We hope that with more review the board will be empowered to stand up against MWD and make the right decision for all of California, she said.Regardless of the SCVWDs decision next week, this fight is far from over. We will pack up our picket signs and head home when Governor Brown, or the future Governor of California puts a stop to MWDs relentless process to see this project through at any cost, concluded Barrigan-Parrilla.Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), co-chairman of the California Delta Caucus, released the following statement after the District Board voted to delay their vote on the California WaterFix:I welcome the Santa Clara Valley Water Districts decision to delay making a decision on whether to commit hundreds of millions of dollars to the ill-conceived Delta twin tunnels project. However, the Boards continued support for the potentially disastrous tunnels is disappointing because of the threat they pose to the Delta. I urge the Water District to protect its ratepayers and reject the tunnels proposal and find better alternatives to secure future water supplies. I also urge anyone who cares about the Delta and is concerned about its future to call the SCVWD at (408) 265-2600 and voice their opposition to the tunnels.Tonights meeting came in the wake of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern Californias decision to fund the Twin Tunnels on April 10. Norton said MWDs decision to commit a blank check for the project may be illegal.The move likely violates state propositions requiring local government taxes and water fees to be proportional to the services provided. MWDs proposal would allow Southern California residents to be taxed to subsidize wealthy corporate agriculture in Central Valley, she added.The tunnels are waste of taxpayer and ratepayer dollarsthey wont increase water for California residents, but rather concentrate control over this precious resource in a few hands, said Norton. There are communities still without access to clean drinking water throughout California.If SCVWD decides to commit up to $650 million to the tunnels, the addition of MWDs $11 billion cost share and the Kern County Water Authoritys contribution of $1 billion is still over $4 billion short of fully funding the $16.8 billion project, Barrigan-Parrilla pointed out.A broad coalition of fishing groups, Tribal leaders, conservation organizations, environmental justice groups, Delta residents, elected officials, cities, counties and water districts opposes the Delta Tunnels.Opponents say the California WaterFix would hasten the extinction of Sacramento River winter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon, Central Valley steelhead, Delta and longfin smelt, green sturgeon and other fish species, as well as imperil the salmon and steelhead populations on the Trinity and Klamath rivers. Opponents also point out that the project would increase the cost of water for ratepayers in water districts funding the tunnels without providing any new water.Deirdre Des Jardines of California Water Research also reveals that the proposed WaterFix/Delta Tunnels go through the West Thornton-Walnut Grove and River Island gas fields, just east of the Rio Vista gas field, the largest natural gas field in California.She points out that neither the California Department of Water Resources or the Metropolitan Water District have followed independent reviewer recommendations on gas wells. In light of SoCalGass Aliso Canyon natural gas blowout that forced thousands of Porter Ranch residents out of their homes beginning in October 2015, this news is very alarming. For more information, go to: https://cah2oresearch.com/2018/04/30/waterfix-tunnel-construction-gas-wells/ The board meeting on May 8 at 9:30 a.m. is open to the public and attendance is encouraged. For meeting documents, go to: https://scvwd.legistar.com/Calendar.aspx Corn Futures Working Lower Through Midday Barchart - 40 minutes ago Midday corn markets are 2 1/2 to 5 cents lower so far after fading initial midweek gains. EIA data reported ethanol producers averaged 978k barrels per day through the week that ended 10/1. That was up... ZCZ21 : 533-0 (-0.84%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.1072 (-0.76%) ZCH22 : 541-6 (-0.78%) ZCZ21 : 533-0 (-0.84%) Lean Hog Prices Falling at Midday Barchart - 40 minutes ago Midday hog trading has midweek prices $0.85 to $1.40 weaker. USDAs National Average Afternoon Base hog price for Tuesday was $1.26 lower to $70.03. The CME Lean Hog Index for October 1st was $94.05,... HEV21 : 89.650 (-1.46%) HEG22 : 84.400 (-0.71%) KMV21 : 108.600 (-1.63%) Coffee Prices Consolidate After This Week's Losses Barchart - 1 hour ago Dec arabica coffee (KCZ21 ) this morning is up +0.90 (+0.47%), and Nov ICE Robusta coffee (RMX21 ) is up +1 (+0.05%). Coffee prices this morning are slightly higher as they consolidate after this week's... KCZ21 : 193.55 (+0.86%) RMX21 : 2,116s (+0.24%) ^USDBRL : 5.52474 (+0.91%) Poland raises interest rates, seeking to tame inflation AP - 1 hour ago WARSAW, Poland (AP) Poland's central bank unexpectedly raised interest rates on Wednesday as the central European nation faces an accelerating inflation rate that is currently the highest in the European... $SPX : 4,312.95 (-0.75%) $DOWI : 34,061.62 (-0.74%) $IUXX : 14,605.74 (-0.47%) Energy Prices Retreat as Weekly EIA Inventories Climb Barchart - 1 hour ago November WTI crude oil (CLX21 ) this morning is down -1.74 (-2.20%), and November RBOB gasoline (RBX21 ) is down -0.0550 (-2.33%). November Nymex natural gas (NGX21 ) is down -0.471 (-7.46%). Nov WTI... CLX21 : 77.41 (-1.93%) RBX21 : 2.3077 (-2.13%) NGX21 : 5.684 (-9.95%) Weekly U.S. Ethanol Production Vaults to 8-Week High, Stocks Retreat to Lowest Since May Renewable Fuels Association - 1 hour ago Report on U.S. ethanol production, usage, and stocks for the week ending October 1, 2021. BTCUSD: Forecasting The Recent Rally after Zigzag Correction ElliottWave-Forecast - Wed Oct 6, 10:16AM CDT In this article, we will look at the correction in BTCUSD during the month of September and how we called the rally after it completed a Zigzag Elliott wave correction. Chart below is from 28th September... ^BTCUSD : 54,601.16 (+6.28%) Getting Cornered Monica Kingsley - Wed Oct 6, 10:15AM CDT S&P 500 rally fizzled out overnight as stagflation worries are gaining firmer ground. The focus shifted to more Chinese property developers, and German factory orders drop was larger than expected ... Bit Digital ($BTBT) Priming a wave 3 breakout ElliottWave-Forecast - Wed Oct 6, 10:14AM CDT The last time I analyzed Bit Digital was in August 2021 (article can be read here). At the time, I had called the low in Red II, and was looking for an impulsive leg up to take place. Bit Digital is... BTBT : 11.76 (+13.62%) From the get-go, no one says, I want to be in insurance as they grow up, but when they start it is usually a lifelong career, Kerekes told Insurance Business. Its the fact that what you do has such a profound impact on peoples lives. They turn to the insurance company when they are at their most vulnerable to get their life back to normal as soon as possible. An international career has seen Kerekes lead teams in Australia, South Africa and the US. He moved to Australia as chief claims officer for Real Insurance following a three-year stint leading North American operations at the Innovation Group. After close to five years with Real Insurance, Kerekes became head of transformation retail at Hollard before moving to Claim Central in February. Kerekes now finds himself at the cutting edge of industry technology at Claim Central. He said that understanding the customer and what the customer wants will be one of the biggest challenges and opportunities facing the industry moving forward. Insurtech gives the market the opportunity to do just that, but it is not just insurtech alone; it needs to be combined with design thinking to really understand where to use it, Kerekes said. The industry is in an extremely exciting phase with so many new technologies being utilised and many more to come, but only those insurance companies that truly embrace customer centricity will survive. Related stories: Driverless cars will reduce perhaps dramatically the need for auto insurance if theyre safer, Buffet told Yahoo Finance. If driverless cars are successful and people dont hack into em, that will reduce auto insurance premiums and perhaps drastically reduce them. The legendary investor and CEO said the potential lowering of premiums won't be necessarily bad for business. Car insurance will likely remain as the government requires a degree of it in many states. Also, the added safety doesn't just mean cheap premiums, but also cheap payouts. You want safer cars. Safer cars mean lower insurance. Safer driving means lower insurance costs, Buffett told the news website. The 87-year-old Nebraskan also noted that there is still uncertainty around the timeline, which means the insurance business is under little pressure to change. The recent incidents with Uber and Tesla have put a stop on what had been a surging pace of technological development. How fast that comes or anything, I dont know, Buffett told Yahoo Finance said. I think its a long time off. Related stories: "The calibre of entries this year again demonstrates the continual development and professionalism of our broker partners, and that's also evident as we work together to meet our customers' ever-evolving expectations, said James McCauley, regional manager for Victoria and Tasmania at QBE. Congratulations to Penny and Mark on being named regional finalists. We are delighted to recognise Penny and Mark, who have both demonstrated excellence in broking practice, NIBA CEO Dallas Booth said. The Victoria/Tasmania regional winners will be announced at the NIBA Victorian gala lunch on May 25 at the Crown Palladium, Melbourne. The regional winner will then compete for the Stephen Ball Memorial Award for Insurance Broker of the Year, which will be announced at the 2018 NIBA Convention in Hobart, Tasmania. Related stories: The City of Paris invites the insurance and reinsurance companies, gathered in Paris for the meeting of the Geneva Association at the end of May, to commit to opposing air pollution and to withdraw their support from projects and companies in the coal sector, notably in the European Union and more particularly in Poland, the motion stated, according to Unfriend Coal. The council said that major European insurance and reinsurance companies, such as Allianz, SCOR and Generali, massively support, insure and invest in the coal industry in Poland. It added that the council encourages the insurance companies with which it holds contracts not to invest in coal sector companies, but to increase their investments in the renewable energy sector. A number of insurers have distanced themselves from the coal industry in recent months as pressure from environmental campaigners has mounted. Generali has defended its climate change strategy, and Allianz has outlined its approach to assessing risk following criticism. According to the Unfriend Coal, a network of NGOs and social movements calling for insurance companies to divest from and cease underwriting coal, the industry is the single biggest source of CO2 emissions and pollution from coal can cause strokes, heart and lung disease and lung cancer. Related stories: To be renamed Swiss Re Africa Limited, the unit will have the status of a subsidiary of Swiss Reinsurance Company Limited, Zurich. Our existing service to short-term insurers in South Africa is consistently ranked as best in class by clients and brokers, said Tavaziva Madzinga, market executive Middle East & Africa for Swiss Re. With this move, we take the next step and unlock the full potential of Swiss Re's capabilities for South African and Southern African clients. This is a vote of confidence for South African insurance and a clear signal that Swiss Re is backing growth in the region. Based in Cape Town and headed by Thys Nieuwoudt, operations under the new license took effect this month. Our expansion in South Africa lays the basis for Swiss Re to upscale its market strategy in Africa, said Jean-Jacques Henchoz, chief executive of Swiss Re Reinsurance EMEA. By shifting the centre of gravity of our African business back to Africa, we are sending a clear signal that we believe insurance in Africa has a strong future. Swiss Re will be a force for enabling the industry to capitalise on the opportunities in South Africa and elsewhere on the continent. Related stories: A Massachusetts family whose 5-year-old special needs daughter was left stranded for hours on a cold school bus has settled a lawsuit against the school district. A lawyer for the Gloucester family told The Gloucester Daily Times on Monday that the negligence lawsuit has been settled for an undisclosed amount. The citys insurance carrier paid the settlement. According to police, the girl was left on an empty bus for about two hours in January 2015. When she was found, school staff didnt take the child to a hospital and waited an hour to notify her parents. The family sued, seeking $1 million in damages. The bus driver and bus monitor were fired. No one was ever criminally charged. Superintendent Richard Safier refused to comment on the settlement. Information from: Gloucester (Mass.) Daily Times Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Education Massachusetts QBE Insurance Group Limited (QBE) through its QBE Ventures, has closed an investment into HyperScience, a machine learning company focused on building artificial intelligence products for automating office work. In addition to its investment, QBE has entered into a multi-year commercial use agreement to roll out HyperScience products across QBE globally. HyperScience helps large organizations across verticals like insurance, financial services, healthcare, and government reduce their manual data entry operations. Its AI can facilitate straight-through-processing, even for handwritten and low-resolution documents and unlock unused data trapped in unsearchable documents. This is a practical use of artificial intelligence that will, in a short time, add tangible value to our business, David McMillan, group chief operations officer, QBE Insurance Group said. Peter Brodsky, CEO of HyperScience, said the partnership is starting with manual data entry but the AI applications are expected to eventually go beyond that. For example, were working together with QBE to rethink key aspects of their operational platform in a way that enables them to serve their customers in a more scalable, effective, and personalized manner, he said. QBE Ventures, launched in 2017, has also invested in artificial intelligence startup Cytora that focuses on risk selection and pricing and RiskGenius, a machine learning company that analyzes policy and endorsement language and aids in product development. Topics InsurTech Data Driven A former marketing director at Banque AIG told a London court that he was repeatedly assured hed receive his bonuses, even as he helped clean up a company crumbling from its role in the global financial crisis. I asked and received the same answer frequently, that there would be a plan, said Charles Scheyd, who helped oversee Nordic marketing. Scheyd joined AIG Management France SA formerly known as Banque AIG in 2002. He left in 2011 after weathering one of the roughest patches in the companys history. Scheyd was involved in winding down AIG Financial Products, the unit responsible for money-losing derivative bets backing subprime mortgages that nearly shuttered American International Group Inc. Scheyd is one of 23 ex-staff fighting AIG for $100 million in bonuses that were set aside under a deferred compensation program and retention plans. The plans provided for a sharing of the risks and rewards of AIGs financial products business, according to court filings. This meant that if AIGFP sustained a loss, compensation accounts would be hurt. In 2007 and 2008, AIGFP struggled with liquidity. The Fed loaned $85 billion to AIG and Andrew Cuomo who was New York Attorney General at the time said in a letter to Edward Liddy, the incoming chief executive of AIG, that no funds will be distributed out of AIGFPs bonus pools on the basis that these pools should not be used to reward executives ahead of taxpayers. As a result of AIGFPs massive losses, employee bonus accounts were reduced to negative balances. The 23 claimants say that as a result of political and media pressure, AIG didnt pay the sums earned between 2002-2008, despite none of them being responsible for those parts of AIGs CDO, CDS or mortgage securities businesses which led to the bail-out, according to a court filing. Lawyers for the former employees say AIG is obligated to restore the amounts deducted under the terms of the plans. There is no obligation to adopt a restoration plan whilst AIGFP remains loss-making and balance sheet insolvent, lawyers for AIG argued in a court document. Nevertheless, Scheyd said senior managers were aware of a need to formulate some kind of restoration plan, although it wasnt clear what the terms would be. I expected to see a plan at some point, he said Tuesday. A spokeswoman for AIG in London declined to comment on the case. A spokeswoman for law firm Stephenson Harwood, which is representing the ex-executives, also declined to comment. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics AIG A southwest Missouri man who was injured twice at the BNSF Railway Co. rail yard in Springfield has been awarded more than $5 million in damages. A Greene County jury found for former conductor James Mitchell last week after a week-long trial. BNSF spokesman Andy Williams says the company will appeal the decision. The Springfield News-Leader reports Mitchell was injured in August 2015 when a handrail on a rail car ladder broke, causing him to fall and injure his back and shoulder. He returned to work in 2017, and was injured in February of that year while operating a defective lever that separates rail cars. BNSF denied liability in the case. An orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Paul Olive, testified Mitchell will require several spine infusions and cannot return to railroad work. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Missouri Berkshire Hathaway Insurance broker Lockton will pay a $7 million fine for administering National Rifle Association (NRA) member insurance programs in New York that officials say violate several state laws. The settlement with Lockton is the first in what is a broader investigation by New York regulators that is also looking into the involvement of Chubb, Lloyds and the NRA in insurance programs for NRA members. The main NRA program of concern in New York, Carry Guard, is underwritten by Illinois Union Insurance Co., an excess and surplus lines carrier subsidiary of Chubb Ltd. Lockton administered it through its Lockton Affinity subsidiary, which is a licensed excess line broker in New York. The program provides NRA members with personal liability insurance protection in the event they are charged with a crime after defending themselves with a firearm. The program also includes a safety training program. Those who purchase the program also receive a free one-year NRA membership. The insurance promises to mitigate the financial and legal consequences that might arise from armed encounters, even if the member did everything right. Carry Guard came in for scrutiny following the mass shooting at Parkland high school in Florida on February 14. Gun safety advocates called for the NRA to stop offering the program and for Chubb and Lockton to withdraw from it. One gun control group has referred to the program as murder insurance. New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) officials determined that some of the coverages themselves and limits are not permissible under the states law; that the NRA is not a licensed broker in the state yet Lockton paid the group royalties and profit-sharing; that the tying of the insurance to a free membership valued at more than $25 is illegal; and that Lockton Affinity neglected to obtain the necessary declinations from standard markets on policies placed in the excess and surplus lines market. As for the coverage, the DFS said the Carry Guard program improperly provided coverage in any criminal proceeding against the policyholder including coverage for bail money, premiums on bonds, attorney consultation fee and retainer expenses, expenses incurred for the investigation or defense of criminal charges, and costs taxed against the insured or the insureds resident family member in a criminal proceeding arising out of a shooting. In response to the consent order, Lockton issued a statement stressing its commitment to compliance. It is our responsibility to ensure we are fully compliant. We believe this settlement is the best way to resolve these issues, the company said. The Lockton statement, provided by Dean Davison, director of communications, further stated in part: When we learned of New York regulatory issues in our Affinity business in the course of an investigation by the New York DFS, we immediately went to work to begin resolving them. As part of our settlement, we will continue to cooperate with the New York regulators to remediate any issues or concerns. In February, Chubb said it had pulled out of the NRA gun insurance program several months earlier. In February, Lockton tweeted that it was also withdrawing from the program: Lockton Affinity has notified the NRA that it will discontinue providing brokerage services for NRA-endorsed insurance programs under the terms of its contract. The NRA website suggests that the withdrawals are still in progress and that the insurance programs are still available in other states. The site continues to identify Chubbs Illinois Union Insurance Co. as the insurer for the program and Lockton Affinity as the administrator. The site does say that the program is no longer available in New York. No other state insurance regulators have indicated they are probing the NRA programs. The New York DFS investigation found that Lockton issued 680 Carry Guard insurance policies to New York residents between April and November 2017. As administrator for the Carry Guard program, Lockton handled marketing the insurance, binding the insurance, collecting and distributing premiums and delivering policies to insureds. According to New York officials, Carry Guard was not the only program Lockton ran for the NRA. From approximately January 2000 through March 2018, Lockton and the NRA offered at least 11 additional insurance programs through Lloyds to new and existing NRA members in New York and elsewhere. Between approximately January 2000 and March 2018, Lockton collected $12,056,627 in premiums and $785,460 in administrative fees from insureds, under the Carry Guard Program and other NRA programs. No claims have been filed under the Carry Guard program, according to the DFS report. As part of he settlement, Lockton agreed to cooperate with Chubb and Lloyds in canceling any New York policies in the NRA programs and refunding premiums. The broker also agreed to not offer any similar program in the state in the future. New York officials did not indicate what, if any, action will be taken against others involved in the NRA program but the order does confirm that the department has been investigating Chubb, Lloyds and the NRA, as well as Lockton, since October 2017. DFS found that the NRA marketed the Carry Guard and other programs even though it is not a licensed broker in New York. The NRA acted appropriately at all times, said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and counsel for the NRA, in a prepared statement. The NRA relied upon Lockton and its assurances that the program complied with all applicable state regulations. Lockton, as the subject matter expert, was obligated to oversee the administration, marketing and promotion of this insurance program. Brewer added that the NRA will continue to work cooperatively with the DFS in connection with its inquiry and to promote the interests of NRA members and law-abiding gun owners who participated in this program. Chubb had not responded to a request for comment by press time. In the wake of the Florida tragedy, MetLife, United Airlines, several car rental firms and banks announced they were ending benefit offerings for NRA members as did Symantec, which offered an identity protection product called Lifelock. Related: Topics Agencies Excess Surplus New York Lloyd's Chubb Lockton Makers and distributors of the prescription opioids that triggered a U.S. public health crisis are responsible for a rise in health insurance premiums, according to first-of-their-kind lawsuits filed in five states. The suits open another front in the burgeoning litigation against drugmakers including Purdue Pharma Inc. and the Janssen Pharmaceuticals unit of Johnson & Johnson and distributors such as McKesson Corp. and Cardinal Health Inc. The suits, which seek unspecified damages, seek to represent people who bought health insurance policies in those states since 1996. All of the defendants in this action share responsibility for creating, sustaining and prolonging the opioid epidemic in pursuit of corporate revenue, lead plaintiff Edward Grace alleges in a complaint filed Wednesday in Boston. Similar cases were brought in New Jersey, New York, Illinois and California, said plaintiffs lawyer Travis Lenkner of Chicagos Keller Lenkner law firm. He said a group of firms hes working with consider these to be the first such cases over insurance premiums. The companies are accused of conspiring, racketeering and creating a public nuisance. Opioid abuse has killed more than 350,000 people since 1999, while costing private businesses and American governments $500 billion annually. Opioid manufacturers, including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and AmerisourceBergen Corp., were also named as defendants in the Boston suit. The drug manufacturers said theyve tried to address the crisis. Our actions in the marketing and promotion of these medicines were appropriate and responsible, Janssen Pharmaceuticals said in an emailed statement. The allegations made against our company are baseless and unsubstantiated. Purdue Pharma is deeply troubled by the prescription and illicit opioid abuse crisis, and we are dedicated to being part of the solution, said Bob Josephson, a company spokesman. Kristin Hunter Chasen, a spokeswoman for McKesson Corp., said the company is deeply concerned about the impact the opioid epidemic is having across the country. Weve offered a number of impactful policy solutions and support programs and partnerships that we believe can have a meaningful impact on this challenging issue, including the formation of a foundation dedicated to combating the crisis. A representative of Teva declined to comment while AmerisourceBergen didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. About 500 cities, counties and states have sued the same companies, seeking to hold them responsible for increased costs of crime, incarceration and treatment. Most of the federal suits have been aggregated for pretrial proceedings before a U.S. judge in Cleveland. The Massachusetts case is Grace v. Purdue Pharma, 18-cv-10857, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts (Boston). The New Jersey case is Sardella v. Purdue Pharma, 18-cv-8706, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits USA Pricing Trends New Jersey The Arkansas Supreme Court has halted a fourth judges ruling exempting some farmers from an herbicide ban that took effect last week. Justices has stayed a Clay County judges order prohibiting the state Plant Board from enforcing its ban on dicamba against a group of farmers in that county. The Boards dicamba ban took effect last week and will run through October 31. The ban was issued after the board received nearly 1,000 complaints last summer that the herbicide drifted onto neighboring crops and caused damage. Justices have previously stayed similar rulings by judges in Pulaski, Mississippi and Phillips counties. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Legislation Texas Mutual Insurance Company, which provides workers compensation coverage to more than 70,000 business owners and 1.4 million employees, announced it will distribute $280 million in dividends in 2018. Nearly 75 percent of policyholder owners will receive a check from Texas Mutual in recognition of providing safe work environments for their employees. These exemplary safety practices contribute to the financial strength of Texas Mutual, allowing the company to pay dividends that, in turn, help drive the states economy. This is the 20th consecutive year the company has distributed dividends, bringing the total to $2.5 billion delivered back to Texas businesses. More than half has been paid in the last five years alone. Texas Mutual shares its success with its customers who ensure that their workers are able do their jobs safely and return home every day. Many of these employers also work with Texas Mutual to help those who are injured on the job recover and return to a productive life. Bob Barnes, chairman of Texas Mutuals board said in the companys announcement that Texas Mutual has distributed over $1 billion in dividends to our policyholder owners over the last four years alone, which have supported programs to keep countless Texas workers safe on the job. Were proud to reward our policyholders, but were even prouder to partner with them to keep Texans safe. Texas Mutual President and CEO Rich Gergasko said the dividend distribution has the power to positively affect individual business owners and their employees. Many employers use dividends to help support their businesses financially, or even invest in safety programs that will keep workers safer in the future. Its a privilege to play a small part in the success of Texas businesses and their employees, Gergasko said. Gergasko noted that while Texas Mutual has awarded dividends each year since 1999, they are based on performance and therefore are not guaranteed. Additionally, dividends must comply with Texas Department of Insurance regulations. Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Company Topics Texas Commercial Lines Business Insurance Newport, Beach, California-based Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has added the experience and versatility of Stan Rorison to its growing New Orleans team. The longtime property and casualty expert will serve as vice president, where he will provide his proven brand of regional expertise to a diverse roster of clients throughout the Gulf Coast region. Rorison joins Alliant with extensive experience designing and deploying property, casualty, and professional liability insurance products and services to clients in a broad array of industries and disciplines. His longstanding track record of success in the region stems from his strong carrier relationships and ability to deliver highly customized risk and insurance programs. Prior to joining Alliant, Rorison was vice president with a Louisiana-based insurance and employee benefits firm, servicing a large client base with both regional and national operations. Source: Alliant Insurance Services The father of a student killed in a mass shooting at a Florida high school is suing the armed officer who stood outside the building as people were massacred within. Meadow Pollack was among the 17 killed on Valentines Day in a freshman building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Her father, Andrew Pollack, said Scot Peterson, the former sheriffs deputy and the schools resource officer, is his main target in the wrongful death lawsuit filed Monday in Broward County. He let my daughter get shot nine times at point-blank range, Pollack told the Miami Herald. He had the opportunity to go in and instead, let all those people get murdered. The lawsuit also names 19-year-old shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz; the estate of Cruzs mother, who died in November; and James and Kimberly Snead, the couple who took Cruz in after his mother died. It also names three behavioral and mental health facilities that evaluated Cruz at some point before the shooting. Peterson, 54, was suspended with pay and then immediately resigned and retired on Feb. 23, when video surveillance footage from the school showed he never entered the building when the gunfire began. Broward Sheriff Scott Israel condemned Petersons actions, saying he should have gone inside. Peterson is my main target, Pollack said. He could have stopped it. Could have saved my kid. Nobody should be able to not do their job, receive a pension and ride off into the sunset. The lawsuit details Cruzs troubled life, saying the teen suffered from severe mental illness and was prone to violence. When Cruz arrived at the high school on Feb. 14, the lawsuit claims a pusillanimous Peterson cowered in a safe location between two concrete walls as the gunman rained bullets upon the teachers and students. Peterson, a 33-year veteran law enforcement officer, pushed back against critics in a statement issued by attorney Joseph DiRuzzo shortly after the shooting. Allegations that Mr. Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently untrue, the statement said. Pollack said he wants to let people know that Peterson is a coward. My daughter died crawling by a doorway shielding a classmate who also ended up dying waiting for someone to come help her. Help never came. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits A suspended North Carolina volunteer fire chief has been arrested on felony insurance fraud and embezzlement charges, according to a statement from the North Carolina Department of Insurance. Kenan Wayne Kearney, 44, of Four Oaks in Johnston County was arrested on April 25 and charged with six counts of insurance fraud and seven counts of embezzlement. He was placed under a $25,000 secured bond. Kearney was chief of the Blackmans Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department. He was suspended from the chiefs role following a prior arrest by the Johnston County Sheriffs office. Special agents with the NCDOI Criminal Investigations Division accuse Kearney of falsely presenting statements supporting insurance claims on an American Alternative Insurance Co. policy. NCDOI said he is also accused of converting $25,889.31 in insurance claim payments intended for the fire department to his own use. Kearney is alleged to have turned in claims for four portable radios, a portable air pack, and a thermal imaging device, claiming they were lost or damaged, when in fact they werent lost or damaged. Its heart-breaking to see a person charged with the trust of volunteer firefighters accused of such serious crimes, said North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said. I hope the firefighters and the people in the fire district will rally around the department as it moves forward following this sad news. Insurance fraud costs American consumers approximately $80 billion dollars a year. According to Causey, fraud costs North Carolinians between 15 and 20 cents of every dollar paid on insurance premiums. Source: North Carolina Department of Insurance Topics Fraud Abuse Molestation North Carolina Arson The federal government will provide $340 million to help Florida citrus farmers recover from Hurricane Irma. The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the grant on Tuesday, nearly eight months after Irma struck the state causing more than $2.5 billion in damage to the states agriculture industry. The money will help citrus growers plant new trees, replace damaged irrigation and other equipment and make up for losses expected in the 2018 to 2020 growing seasons. USDA Secretary Sonny Purdue said in a department press release that he is working with Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam to make sure that citrus continues to be a signature crop for the state. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Florida Agribusiness Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Bellevue, Wash.-based ClearPoint Financial Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Paul Grutzner, Michael Brown and their associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Norbert Chung, head of Gallaghers Western employee benefits consulting and brokerage operations. ClearPoint Financial is a retirement plan consultant and investment analyst serving the corporate retirement plan marketplace across the Northwestern U.S. Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based Arthur J. Gallagher is an insurance brokerage, risk management and consulting services firm. Topics Mergers Washington A.J. Gallagher We have updated our privacy policy to be more clear and meet the new requirements of the GDPR. By continuing to use our site, you accept our revised Privacy Policy. The state has argued in court that a climate change lawsuit filed by 16 young Alaska residents should be thrown out because climate policies must be decided by the state Legislature and the executive branch, not the courts. The state and plaintiffs argued their cases this week before an Anchorage judge in a hearing to decide if the lawsuit should advance, Alaskas Energy Desk reported. The plaintiffs, ranging from children in elementary school to college students, say the state is violating their constitutional rights by failing to limit greenhouse gas emissions. Assistant Attorney General Seth Beausang asked the court to dismiss the case, citing the Alaska Supreme Courts dismissal of a similar climate change case in 2014 setting precedent. The court said that weighing all those interests was a policy decision entrusted to the political branches, and not to the courts, Beausang said. The 2014 case and the current one were both filed with help from an Oregon-based nonprofit, Our Childrens Trust, which has filed legal actions on behalf of young people across the country demanding action on climate change. The plaintiffs said that in the years since the 2014 Supreme Court ruling, Alaska has implemented a de facto climate policy by continuing to encourage activities like oil and gas production. The states climate and energy policy is causing catastrophic harm to Alaskas climate system and endangering plaintiffs lives and liberties and their very futures, Our Childrens Trust attorney Andrew Welle said. These claims are squarely within the authority of the court. Attorneys for both sides said they expect a ruling within the next six months. Related: Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Climate Change Alaska Catch up on all this morning's headlines... GET INFORMED ... IRELAND: At least 10 more women have begun legal actions over the cancer screening controversy as pressure mounts on the Government to launch a full inquiry. Meanwhile, the head of the HSE has refused to take full responsibility for the CervicalCheck scandal. IRELAND: A solicitor representing another woman who was diagnosed with cancer after receiving an incorrect smear test result believes the scandal is far broader than just cervical screenings. IRELAND: Children should have their weight screened every year in school because GPs find it difficult to challenge parents on their childs weight. IRELAND: Hes on his way and the weather and economic forecast is looking good. Global superstar Ed Sheerans record-breaking nine-concert Irish tour which kicks off in Cork tomorrow could be worth a staggering 185m to the Irish economy. VIEWS: The altruism of Heide Roche to her adopted home of Kinsale benefited the town and dozens of people in need of shelter. SPORT: Kerry GAA is set to appoint Maurice OMeara as a full-time commercial fundraiser in the coming weeks, as the Kingdom step up efforts to generate new revenue streams. SPORT: The 2018 Champions League final will be contested by Real Madrid and Liverpool after the Reds overcame Roma on aggregate. ... SOME DISTRACTION LIFESTYLE: Childrens author Deirdre Sullivan appears at the Towers and Tales festival in Lismore on Saturday. She also works as an SEN teacher, and currently lives in Dublin. LIFESTYLE: Why is there a picture of a baby on that sign? Whats abortion? Trying to answer these questions can be a nightmare for any parent. Geraldine Kelly, parenting expert with registered charity, One Family, has come up with some helpful age appropriate tips to talk with your child about this most awkward of subjects. SHOWBIZ: Fans of Coronation Street will have the chance to wander the soaps famous cobbles as the TV set is opening to the public. By Padraig Hoare The Government cannot become complacent about the risk to more than 650 jobs at Aughinish Alumina in Limerick even though fears are easing about the Trump Administrations targeting of its Russian owner Rusal. That is according to Limerick TD, Niall Collins who was speaking as the White House moved to further soften its stance against Rusal, whose majority owner Oleg Deripaska was accused of having too close ties to the Kremlin. Some 450 jobs and more than 200 agency roles were under threat at Aughinish, as sanctions imposed on Mr Deripaskas companies played havoc with metal markets over the past number of weeks. Shares in Rusal plummeted as sanctions sent the entire aluminium industry scrambling to restore supply chains. Rusals refining operations, which stretch from Aughinish to Jamaica, are a vital cog in a global supply chain. Global mining firm Rio Tinto has plants in Dunkirk, France, and Iceland that use the Irish alumina, and Liberty House Groups Scottish smelter also depends on the site. Rio Tinto, which buys and sells to Rusal and jointly owns an alumina refinery in Australia, said last month it would declare force majeure on some contracts, which allows a firm not to deliver on contracts due to circumstances outside its control. An amendment by the US Treasury to its Russian sanctions programme may greatly reduce the restrictions on Rusal, Rio Tinto chief executive Jean Sebastien Jacques said yesterday. The US Treasury this week gave investors an additional month to divest or transfer their holdings in sanctions targets, including Rusal. Shares in Rusal have begun to recover since the crisis saw it lose more than half its value. They were up more than 8% yesterday. The US has said previously it would consider lifting sanctions if Mr Deripaska, who holds a 48% stake in Rusal, ceded control of the firm. Mr Deripaska has agreed to cut his shareholdings. Under the latest US Treasury amendment, the deadline to divest financial holdings in sanctions targets would be extended to June 6 from May 7. Mr Collins said the new deadline gave time and space for Rusal to get its house in order, thereby reducing the worry among the Limerick-based workers, who were inadvertently caught up in a diplomatic spat that had little to do with them. The best case scenario is for Mr Deripaska to divest his interest. However the Government cannot rest on its laurels and must keep the dialogue open to ensure the jobs, which are vital for the area, are preserved, he said. By Ann O'Loughlin Update 5.10pm: The Supreme Court has reserved its judgement on barrister Sean Guerins appeal over Alan Shatter's successful challenge to sections of Mr Guerin's report concerning the former Justice Ministers handling of complaints of Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe. The appeal is against a Court of Appeal decision that "seriously damaging" conclusions in the report were reached in breach of Mr Shatter's rights to fair procedures and natural and constitutional justice. The appeal court declined to quash the disputed sections, saying that was a matter for negotiation between Mr Shatter and the government that commissioned the report. The report was given to then Taoiseach Enda Kenny in May 2014 who later published it. Mr Shatter (pictured arriving at court today) resigned after the Taoiseach said he could not express confidence in the then Minister. Mr Shatter was in court for the one-day appeal hearing on Thursday. Mr Justice Donal ODonnell, presiding over the five-judge court, said it was reserving judgment. In arguments for Mr Guerin, Paul Gallagher SC argued Mr Shatter was not entitled to take proceedings against Mr Guerin over a scoping exercise report which involved no conclusions. The matter was non-justiciable, he submitted. To allow any minister sue over a scoping report commissioned by government would be a recipe for mayhem concerning how government operates, counsel said. A government would face significant difficulties if someone asked by it to produce a report, sometimes within a very short period of time on a matter of urgency and importance, could be later subject to judicial review. There are daily instances in government where civil servants at different levels are asked to provide information to government which will invariably contain criticism of someone. The idea of such reports being subject to judicial review creates a huge impediment for the government and the court should consider the future effect on any person asked to produce such reports, he urged. This was first and foremost a political issue and Mr Guerin, a private person, was asked by the government, then including Mr Shatter, to compile a report for the purpose of a political decision being made, whether to establish a commission of inquiry. The fact the report was published and that Mr Shatter resigned did not alter the position, he submitted. All of this was part of a political process and what happened were consequences of political decisions and political choices. Opposing the appeal, Paul Sreenan SC, for Mr Shatter, said his case involved a simple claim his good name was attacked in the report without his being given the most basic right of fair procedures, the right to be heard. It was not about some asserted right to remain as Minister, he said. There was no appeal over the Court of Appeals descriptions of the criticisms of Mr Shatter in the report as gravely damaging to Mr Shatters good name, he said. The issue for the court to decide was whether his clients constitutional rights were impermissibly infringed in a manner that gave rise to a right, and a duty, on the court to intervene. The report was a formal report by an eminent senior counsel, not a political exercise, he said. It involved Mr Guerin interviewing witnesses but while Mr Guerin met Sgt McCabe four times over 19 hours, he had not met Mr Shatter. Mr Guerin could have sought a meeting with the then Minister or put the proposed criticism to him and sought his response but he had not done so and had not explained why, counsel said. Even after the Court of Appeal ruling of November 2016, the report remained on the Governments website, counsel added. Earlier: Alan Shatter was not entitled to take legal proceedings against barrister Sean Guerin over a scoping exercise report which included criticism of the former Justice Ministers handling of complaints by garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe, the Supreme Court has been told. To allow any minister sue over a scoping report commissioned by government would be a recipe for mayhem concerning how government operates, Paul Gallagher SC , for Mr Guerin, said. A government would face significant difficulties if someone asked by it to produce a report, sometimes within a very short period of time on a matter of urgency and importance, could be later subject to judicial review, he said. There are daily instances in government where civil servants at different levels are asked to provide information to government which will invariably contain criticism of someone. The idea of such reports being subject to judicial review creates a huge impediment for the government and the court should consider the future effect on any person asked to produce such reports, he urged. Counsel was opening Mr Guerins appeal over Mr Shatter's successful challenge to sections of Mr Guerin's report concerning Mr Shatters handling of complaints of Sgt McCabe. The appeal is against a November 2016 Court of Appeal decision allowing Mr Shatter's appeal against the High Court's rejection of his challenge, brought against Mr Guerin only, to the report. The Court of Appeal held Mr Shatters constitutional rights were in jeopardy by reasons of "seriously damaging" conclusions Mr Guerin was proposing to include in his report and Mr Shatter should have been let respond before the report was given to the Taoiseach who later published it. The Court of Appeal declared the disputed findings were reached in breach of Mr Shatter's rights to fair procedures and natural and constitutional justice but declined to quash them, saying that was a matter for negotiation between Mr Shatter and the government that commissioned the report. The Supreme Court later agreed to hear an appeal by Mr Guerin. A core issue is whether the Guerin report could ever have been subject to judicial review when Mr Shatter was a member of the government which sought the report from Mr Guerin, a private citizen, with a view to deciding whether to set up a commission of investigation. Other issues concern the applicability and scope of fair procedures and constitutional issues to a task of the kind undertaken by Mr Guerin. Today, Mr Gallagher told the five judge court this was first and foremost a political issue and Mr Guerin, a private person, was asked by the government, then including Mr Shatter, to compile a report for the purpose of a political decision being made, whether to establish a commission of inquiry. The fact that, on receipt of the report in May 2014, the then Taoiseach Enda Kenny decided he could not express confidence in Mr Shatter, who then resigned, did not make the report amenable to judicial review, he argued. The report was quintessentially political, is non- justiciable for all purposes and the court should not ignore the consequences for government of finding otherwise, he urged. Government cannot operate in that way. If you have to go through a process every time you put something on paper and express a view, then government is not going to work. The fact the report was published and that Mr Shatter resigned did not alter the position, he also argued. All of this was part of a political process and what happened were consequences of political decisions and political choices. Mr Justice Peter Charleton asked counsel was this not about public fact finding and did that not involve a need to exercise restraint. The judge also queried how the finding of facts in such reports is consistent with the Supreme Court courts findings concerning the requirements for Oireachtas committees to adhere to fair procedures. Mr Gallagher said the Guerin report did not include finding of fact but rather expressions of opinion. Even where there are findings of fact, that does not make such a report justiciable, he submitted. The person compiling a scoping report must have freedom to say how they interpret the material before them. The appeal continues. By Gordon Deegan Gardai were today searching for a father who has failed to return his son to the mans estranged wife and has disappeared with the boy. Already this year, Gardai have issued an adult caution to the man after he wrote graffiti and erected signs around his ex-partner's house in Co Clare and glued the lock on her home in a bid to intimidate the woman. The couple have separated, with the mother residing in Clare with their son and the father residing on the European mainland. At the family law court in Ennis on Thursday, solicitor for the mother, Frank Doherty said that the father returned from his home overseas for a family law case in Ennis and asked for access for his son on Wednesday. However, Mr Doherty said that the Gardai are now searching for the man and his sons whereabouts after the boys mother alerted Gardai that the father had not brought the boy to school on Thursday morning. Mr Doherty said: He is now gone with the child and he hasnt contacted the boys mother or the Gardai to advise where the child is. The man was travelling back to Ireland to be at the family law court where his ex-wife was seeking a Safety Order against him. In court, Judge Patrick Durcan granted a three year Safety Order for the woman after hearing that earlier this year, the man returned to Ireland and wrote graffiti and erected signs in the womans locality and around her home house. Photos of the graffiti and the signs were handed into Judge Durcan to inspect. Mr Doherty said: These were signs that were to intimidate the woman and to let her know that her husband was in the locality. Mr Doherty said that when the woman returned to her house in Co Clare, her lock was glued and she reported this to the Gardai. Mr Doherty added: The activities were admitted by the husband and an adult caution was given. Mr Doherty told Judge Durcan that the woman is afraid of this man. The solicitor said that previously, the couple lived together in their native country and due to the violent relationship the woman left her native country. Mr Doherty said that a similar three year Safety Order application was granted to the woman in her native country. Judge Durcan said that he would grant the Safety Order for three years. By Louise Walsh The HSE have refused to re-test up to 2,600 heart patients whose echocardiogram results were sent to GPs with a disclaimer over the quality of the machine. GPs in Meath have raised concerns after seeing the disclaimer from staff saying they could not stand over the results, due to the outdated machine at Our Lady's Hospital in Navan, Co Meath. The HSE say that a locum consultant cardiologist at the hospital "instructed the technicians to put a disclaimer on the echocardiograms without the knowledge or approval of the hospital management". The questionable results were generated by the machine over a period of a year. The issue is to be raised in the Dail by hospital campaigner and local Sinn Fein TD Peadar Toibin, who believes it raises questions concerning confidence in the health service, after he met with a number of health professionals on the matter. He said: "I understand that Navan hospital applied for funding to replace the machine in early 2016 but the machine was not replaced until late 2017. "During that time, the reports had a disclaimer added to them which left a question mark over their accuracy. This serious issue was brought to my attention recently by a GP treating patients with heart conditions. "I'm told that up to 2,600 patients were scanned on this machine during this time. "To be fair to Navan Hospital, the technicians who calibrated the echocardiogram machine during this period told me that the echos operated within the confidence levels required. However health professionals are at odds over the accuracy of this machine." "I was of the understanding that the HSE were to re-echo hundreds of the patients as soon as possible due to the lack of confidence in the machine but this is now not the case. This does not give me confidence in the HSE. "Its important that we avoid the creation of unnecessary fear among patients but surely if a senior hospital staff member felt the need to put a disclaimer on the results and GPs were concerned enough to raise it with me, this must be taken seriously - especially in light of the ongoing cervical cancer debacle." The HSE says that an application for funding for a new machine in 2016 was not received as part of the Capital Equipment Replacement Programme until 2017 and the new echocardiogram machine was commissioned into use before the end of that year. "Service contracts on the old machine were still in place until the end of 2017 and these contracts provide full traceability documentation which demonstrates the machine performing within acceptable parameters. "An echocardiogram is a very subjective diagnostic tool and can vary for a number of reasons depending on the patient being reviewed. All echocardiograms conducted in Navan hospital, where anomolies or visual complexities were identified were escalated for enhanced imaging and referring consultant informed." A decision not to retest was taken after HSE officials met with Our Lady's Hospital in Navan in recent weeks to discuss the process and decided if a recall was necessary. "The Ireland East Hospital Group and management at the hospital are satisfied that there is no requirement to recall patients who had an echocardiogram in the period referenced," said the HSE after the meeting. It would be a "retrograde step" if a consultation on legacy issues in Northern Ireland fails to consider a statute of limitations for those involved on both sides of the conflict, a senior Tory MP has said. Julian Lewis said ministers "can't always have your cake and eat it", as he again called for action on the issue to protect British veterans from prosecution for their action during the Troubles. Mr Lewis, chairman of the Defence select committee, was one of four leading MPs on defence to write to the UK Prime Minister last year calling for an effective amnesty that would cover security force members and paramilitaries suspected of involvement in Troubles crimes. Speaking in the Commons, he said legal advice given to his committee suggested that a statute of limitations and a so-called "truth recovery process" for everybody "could indeed be entirely legitimate in the face of any form of international legal regime". He added: "The purpose of my raising this yet again today is because of my concern about one particular point. The previous secretary of state for Northern Ireland... he initiated a consultation exercise that is supposed to be going ahead. "And he specifically said that the question of whether to introduce a statute of limitations on the basis which I have described would be an option included in that consultation exercise. "I don't expect the Deputy Leader of the House to be able to answer this today, but I do expect him to take away my query, which is that I'm concerned that there have been suggestions that that option may not now be included in the consultation when it eventually happens after all. I think that would be a retrograde step. As we have seen over the issue of Brexit, sometimes you can't always have your cake and eat it. "Sometimes you've got to decide whether you're going to have, i.e. keep your cake, or whether you're going to eat your cake, and you can't put off that point of making a direct choice forever. "If that is true about Brexit, it is also true about this ongoing problem of the vulnerability of our armed forces to one-sided prosecution, and the Government needs to grip this matter." Mr Lewis raised the issue in a general debate before MPs adjourn for the May bank holiday. Paul Maynard, the Commons Deputy Leader, said: "We've always been clear that as part of our work to implement the Stormont House Agreement, we seek to ensure that the new legacy bodies will be under legal obligations to be fair, balanced and proportionate. "The current process is not working for anyone, including victims and survivors. That is why we want to reform it, so that there will be no prioritising of deaths caused by the security forces. At the same time, we want to ensure our veterans, the overwhelming majority of whom served with great distinction in Northern Ireland... that they are not unfairly treated or disproportionately investigated. "I have noted his specific query, and I will make sure my officials bring this to the attention of the relevant department." PA By Ann O'Loughlin A 17-year-old student who suffered a laceration to a finger when he was cut by a saw in his school woodwork class has settled his High Court action against the school for 42,500. Robin Reinplu has been left with a scar on his right index finger after the accident when another student in the class pushed the piece of timber he was cutting with a band saw. Robin Reinplu of The Drive, Meadowvale, Arklow, Co Wicklow had through his father Reimo Reinplu sued Edmund Rice Schools Trust (ERST, the operators of Arklow CBS, Coolgreaney Road, Arklow) as a result of the accident on January 13, 2016. It was claimed that Robin, while at woodwork class, was cutting a piece of wood on a band saw when a fellow classmate allegedly pushed the piece of wood he was cutting which caused Robin's right index finger to come in contact with the saw blade. It was claimed there was an alleged failure to take any reasonable steps or precautions for the safety of the schoolboy and it was further claimed there was an alleged failure to readjust the blade guide and by association the guard for each piece of timber being cut. This should have also formed, it was claimed, part of the schoolboy's learning on how to use the saw safely. Robin sustained a laceration injury and was referred to hospital where he had to have surgery. He has been left with scarring on the finger. He was off school for a number of weeks and also required hand therapy . The claims were denied. Michael Byrne SC told the court Robin, who is now studying for his Leaving Cert, suffered a very nasty laceration and also a small fracture. He said Robin and his family are hoping to return to their native Estonia after he sits his Leaving Cert. Mr Justice Kevin Cross who examined the boy's finger approved the settlement. By Sonya McLean Three youths have been sentenced to five years in prison for their roles in an 11-hour long rampage at a detention centre during which a roof was set on fire and missiles were thrown at staff, gardai and fire officers. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard that 3m worth of damage was caused to a unit at Oberstown Children Detention Campus as it was rendered unsafe and demolished. A further 500,000 worth of damage was caused to other units when inmates ransacked it, smashing televisions and windows. The teenagers escaped from their bedrooms after threatening staff and demanding keys. Initially three youths were let out of their rooms before two further teenagers escaped when the windows of their rooms were smashed in and they were encouraged to get involved. One staff member was injured when a door was pushed in on him leaving him needing stitches to his face. The court heard that at one stage one of the youths was heard saying; The rapist was in room one. Let's burn the fucker out of his room. The teenagers all ultimately climbed onto the roof of one building and proceeded to smash up roof tiles which they then used as weapons to fire at staff, gardai and later fire officers who arrived on the scene to put out a blaze they started. Staff, fire officers and gardai, including officers in riot gear and garda negotiators all had to retreat from the situation because of the dangerous missiles being rained down on them by the accused. There were serious concerns, not only for the professionals involved in trying to calm the situation but also the inmates themselves. There were genuine fears that if a teenager fell off the room he would be killed. Clayton Brennan (18) of Dunawley Grove, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, Nathan Ginty (19) of Upper Carrowbeg, Westport, Mayo and Luke Cronin (18) of Mount Saint Josephs Close, Bakers Road, Gurranabraher, Cork pleaded guilty to arson, criminal damage and violent disorder at Oberstown on August 29, 2016, although it was accepted that Cronin's plea was entered on the basis that he didn't actually start the fire but added fuel to it. A 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named as he is still a juvenile pleaded guilty to the same charge. His case was adjourned further to May 30, next. Jack Walsh (19) of Woodlawn Park, Ballysimon Rd, Limerick is the only one of the five who was not charged with arson. He pleaded guilty to violent disorder and two charges of criminal damage on the same date. His case was also adjourned to May 30, next. Ginty had 22 previous convictions and the 17-year-old also had 22 convictions. He was on remand at the time awaiting sentence for assault causing harm. Cronin had convictions for offences including criminal damage while Walsh, who was serving a 12-month sentence for theft, had 45 previous convictions. Brennan had seven convictions and was on remand awaiting sentence at the time. Judge Martin Nolan said the teenagers had destroyed or had tried to destroy an institution. Four of them tried to burn the place down or at least set it on a fire. He said they went on a rampage and caused significant damage. It was a very frightening situation for everyone involved, the judge said. They obviously broke the rules and disregarded the instruction from staff, Judge Nolan said before he accepted that all five were very young at the time and have expressed their remorse. Incident began at midday Garda Nicky Duane told Lorcan Staines BL, prosecuting that the incident began at midday and the last inmate came down from the roof shortly before 11pm that night. There was industrial action on the campus that day and the centre had been made aware of this two days previously. CCTV footage was played in court which showed the youths ransacking a recreational room and showed the five teenagers on the roof firing missiles. It also showed the roof of one of the units being set alight around 7pm that evening and the teenagers adding numerous items to the blaze to refuel it. At various stages firefighters used their water cannons on the teenagers in attempt to inhibit them from firing missiles, preventing them from focusing their attention on the blaze itself. A victim impact report, read into the record, stated that the teenagers gained control of the centre and caused a substantial disturbance. It said they caused total destruction to one unit and their challenging and aggressive behaviour made it difficult for staff to care for them appropriately. The report indicated that 3m worth of damage was caused to one unit and 500,000 to others. The centre suffered financial loss of 80,000 to cover staff who had to remain out of work for some time in the aftermath as they were affected by the riot and 75,000 has been spent in providing support to staff. Gda Duane accepted a suggestion from Tara Burns SC, defending the 17-year-old that three witnesses heard her client say stop, don't hit that fella after the group gave chase to a group of staff. He accepted a suggestion from Garnet Orange SC, defending Walsh, that he hadn't been involved in starting the fire, procuring items for the fire or fuelling the fire. He has not come to garda attention since his release from Oberstown. Gda Duane agreed with Michael O'Higgins SC, defending Brennan that he was the first youth to surrender and come down off the roof. He accepted he wouldn't be the worst and was a follower rather than a leader. He accepted a suggestion from Keith Spencer BL, defending Cronin that he was one of the teenagers freed by the other inmates and also one of the first to surrender. Gda Duane agreed with Giolliosa O Lideadha SC, defending Ginty that his client told gardai in interview I feel shit and bad about doing it. He said he wasn't proud of himself and it was a stupid thing to do. By Ann O'Loughlin An Irish truck driver has won his legal challenge against a tax penalty demand for 1.5m from Greece. Eamonn Donnellan sued the Revenue Commissioners concerning a demand that was served on him by Revenue over 10 years after his arrest, conviction and subsequent acquittal of smuggling cigarettes in Greece. At the High Court today, Mr Justice Tony O'Connor made a declaration that Revenue is not entitled to enforce the Greek authorities request to recover the demand of 1.5m from Mr Donnellan. Mr Donnellan was notified by Revenue of the demand in November 2014, which arose following a demand made by the Greek tax authorities in April 2009. The declaration came after last week's finding by the ECJ that under EU law, bodies like Revenue are not precluded from refusing requests from other member states to seek demands from persons on the grounds the person who the demand was made against was not properly notified of the demand. The case was referred to ECJ in 2015 by Mr Justice O'Connor, who welcomed the resolution of the proceedings. The Judge also awarded Mr Donnellan his legal costs against Revenue. Mr Donellan of Culkeen, Cloonfad, Co Roscommon, was jailed in 2002 after a Greek court found him guilty of allegedly smuggling after a consignment of 176,000 packs of contraband cigarettes was found concealed in his truck. Mr Donnellan, who at all times maintained his innocence, served more than four months in jail before his conviction was overturned and he was released. He returned home and heard nothing until November 2014 when he was notified by the Irish Revenue Commissioners that he owed the Greek authorities 1.5m. The demand was made under EU Council Directive 2010/24 and European Communities Regulations dealing with requests for mutual assistance for the recovery of certain levies, duties and taxes. Mr Donnellan, represented by Paul McGarry SC opposed the demand, claiming it was procedurally flawed and an abuse of process. He also was informed the demand was a penalty in respect of a criminal offence of which he was acquitted. His lawyers claimed the Greek authorities didn't comply with the provisions of the EU Directive before requesting the assistance of Revenue. He claimed he was never properly notified of the demand nor was he given an opportunity to contest it was a breach of his rights. He subsequently discovered the judgment was made against him in 2009, resulting in him bringing proceedings aimed at having the demand set aside. Revenue, which had opposed Mr Donnellan's application, consented to the declaration in Mr Donnellan's favour. Noel Travers SC for Revenue told the court it was consenting after the ECJ had brought clarity to the matter. When the Greeks made the request, counsel said Revenue believed it had an obligation under EU law to serve the demand on Mr Donnellan. The ECJ had found that directives concerning mutual assistance in relation to the recovery of taxes, when read in the light of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU, must be interpreted as not precluding a member state from refusing to enforce a request to recover a fine imposed in another member state. This the ECJ found was because the decision imposing that fine was not properly notified to the person concerned before the request for recovery was made. Update: It was announced today that the first tranche of funding as part of the 1bn flood risk management plan has been given the green light. The Minister of State for the Office of Public Works and Flood Relief, Kevin Boxer Moran launched the 257m in funding for 50 new flood relief schemes in Athlone this morning. The minister said that the new schemes, in addition to the 75 projects already underway, would protect most of the 34,500 properties at risk of flooding across the country. As part of todays announcement, there will also be 14m made available to 19 local authorities to lead on delivery of 31 of these schemes. Also attending at the launch was the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Flooding can have a devastating impact on families, communities and businesses," he said. "If your home or business is badly damaged or destroyed by flooding, the emotional and financial impact is immense. It also has a huge cost to the economy. For all of these reasons, the Government will spend 1 billion on flood relief and prevention over the next decade under Project Ireland 2040, our national development plan." Earlier: 1bn flood risk management plan to be unveiled today Taoiseach Leo Varadkar will announce a new billion euro flood risk management plan in Athlone today. Researchers looked at 300 areas in a six-year study which focused on communities across the country that are potentially in danger of flooding. Over the next 10 years, 1bn will be spent on the initial 29 flood managament schemes nationwide. 118 schemes are to be completed in total, with 50 of them to be brought forward in the short term. The study was carried out by the Office of Public Works' Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management programme. Many of the schemes will focus on vulnerable areas such as Tralee, Limerick and Dundalk which are often the worst affected areas for flooding. - Digital Desk Childrens author Deirdre Sullivan appears at the Towers and Tales festival in Lismore on Saturday. She also works as an SEN teacher, and currently lives in Dublin, writes Des ODriscoll Favourite childrens book ever: This is such a hard one. I loved Roald Dahl, particularly Matilda and The BFG as a young reader, and I adored June Considines The Luvenders Trilogy, and Orla Mellings The Druids Tune, as well as Michael Scotts collections of Irish Myths and Legends. But the collected works of Beatrix Potter my Dad gave me for a childhood birthday holds a special place in my heart. As well as a collection of wonderful stories, its a collection of memories, of being read to, of being loved. Best recent book youve read: I recently finished a collection of essays by Laura Bates called Misogynation, which I really liked, and Im just after finishing a verse novel called The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo, which made me cry in the hairdressers. Best recent film: Isle of Dogs. Best recent show youve seen: Tara Flynns play with thisispopbaby Not A Funny Word was the best piece of theatre Id seen in ages. Best piece of music youve been listening to lately (new or old): I Want It That Way by the Backstreet Boys. Because sometimes you just want things a certain way, you know? First book that really moved you: The Little Mermaid. It was the first fairytale I encountered without a happy ending and theres a seashell shard of it still stuck inside my heart. The best gig or show youve ever seen: There was a Nick Cave gig I went to where I was happy for weeks after. Tell us about your TV viewing: Im rewatching Veronica Mars at the moment and its still very good. I love Crazy Ex Girlfriend, and The Handmaids Tale. Radio listening and/or podcasts: Im in a podcast. Its a horror one called Down Below the Reservoir, and we read stories written by my friend Graham Tugwell. As a listener, I enjoy Lets Not Meet, Dear Prudence, Dreamgun and The Black Tapes Youre curating your dream literary festival which three authors are on the bill, living or dead? Maeve Brennan, Dorothy Parker, Angela Carter. I have a type. Your best celebrity encounter: I met Bosco when I was three. I was the cutest leprachaun in the St Patricks day parade and he gave me a skipping rope and a complete and unabridged copy of Treasure Island which I made my poor dad read to me. I still remember how bored and betrayed I felt. Like, this was BOSCO. My best friend from the telly? How could he have gotten my tastes so wrong? Would a talking animal show up and save the day? I had to give up. Also I couldnt skip. You can portal back to any period of human cultural history or cultural event where and why? See Id be a peasant in history, and it was kind of tough for peasants in history. Theres a lot of lurking Id like to do, but if I were whooshed back to fancy history, Id be mopping the floors till I got sent to a Magdalene laundry. So, Id have to go full Celt I reckon. Any interesting ancestors or family? I have a great grandmother who hid guns under a baby. Unsung heroes: People with disability. They get lauded as heroes a lot, and thoroughly dismissed even more. Id like to live in a world where people are just people and we shape the world to welcome them appropriately. You are queen for a day whats your first decree? I dont really like the idea of being a queen. But I would like the world to be kinder, and repealing the Eighth would be a good start to that. Id also like non-verbal communication to be highlighted more in schools, because we need to listen to all kinds of people, not just the ones who can emit the right series of sounds to communicate their meaning at the appropriate time. Giving people the space to be themselves, and respecting that there are all kinds of selves to be, and worth being is something that I value and work towards. Ellie OByrne chats to Kevin Doyle about his debut novel, To Keep A Bird Singing KEVIN DOYLE sits in a Cork city centre cafe, looking out at a bustling street scene. Cork in 2018, with its grandiose plans for the future, seems a far cry from the Cork of Doyles debut novel, To Keep A Bird Singing, which is set in austerity-riddled 2010. Expenditure is now as high as before the boom, Doyle says, surveying a street where young women walk busily by, laden with bags from high-street clothing brands. Looking back, that era became the past more quickly than I expected it to. It still left a mark, though: the corruption, and the wider disaster were still left with, of the debt and so on. In Doyles debut novel, protagonist Noelie Sullivan is amongst the many lay-offs of the late Noughties. An unemployed former punk living on Douglas Street, Sullivan is browsing a second-hand shop when he stumbles upon his old record collection, which had been stolen at the height of an earlier recession, in the 1980s. Repurchasing the collection, Sullivan discovers an intriguing clue inside an album cover, leading him down a trail of murder and corruption that leaves none of Corks elite untainted. Its got all the ingredients of a thriller: an underdog hero, scenes of action, including near-drownings and torture, and shadowy, powerful figures lurking in the background. Its been branded Emerald Noir, a nod to the Nordic Noir movement in crime writing, which presents readers with a similarly gritty view of the world. But this is Cork Noir, set very firmly in Irelands little second city, on Doyles own stomping ground. Certain similarities between Doyle and his main character are evident: Doyle, like Sullivan, graduated from UCC and worked in the chemical industry in Ireland and then in the States before moving home. How autobiographical is the novel? Well, I did have a collection of punk records that was robbed in the 1980s, Doyle says. It was quite a good collection. At the time I was pretty miffed. I was very into that scene when I was in college: I was one of those people who went to the Arcadia and went to all the gigs and everything. Doyle even gets a mention of legendary Cork punk act Nun Attax into his book. Sullivan, then, like Doyle himself, is rooted amongst a cohort of men and women who were a part of Corks punk movement throughout the 1980s, and the political ideologies that went with it. Hes come to realise that the old rebellion that he identified with isnt really the norm, Doyle says of his protagonist. There was an article last year about the drummer from The Clash becoming a chiropractor. You can look at punk with rose-tinted glasses, but the reality is that lots of old punks have just gone totally mainstream. Police, clergy, politicians, developers: the authority figures in Doyles novel are rotten to the core. His heroes are very much the little people: an unemployed man, victims of child sex abuse and the industrial school system, and a harried and overworked journalist at a local paper. Its a book in which Doyles own politics hes currently campaigning for a Yes vote in the forthcoming Eighth Amendment referendum, and in the past was involved in the water charges protests and the campaign to retain public access to the Old Head of Kinsale are evident on every page. Is this the first socialist whodunnit? He laughs heartily. I like that. Doyle touches upon many hidden elements of Irish society, like clerical sex abuse and IRA informants dealings with the police. Cork is small, and such subjects, while fictionalised and infused with drama in his novel, might be a little close to the bone for some readers. Is he worried that people wont respond well to his taking a microscope to the citys underbelly? He looks genuinely concerned. Initially I avoided writing about Cork but this one was set in Cork from the beginning: Douglas Street, Sundays Well, he says. I grew up on the northside, near the Glen, and I realised I had all these great locations in my head. A lot of the action might be things people feel dont happen in Cork, but they have happened in other places. To Keep A Bird Singing, published by Blackstaff Press, is out now The altruism of Heide Roche to her adopted home of Kinsale benefited the town and dozens of people in need of shelter, write the friends of Heide Roche. AT A time of widespread homelessness, the commitment of a private couple, 25 years ago, to provide 30 homes for the single elderly in their community in need of shelter, is especially salutary. And, when the 25-year anniversary of the Guardwell Homes in Kinsale is marked later in 2018, the memory of the work of the recently deceased Heide Roche will be rightly acknowledged. German-born Heide Roche set up the charitable organisation Guardwell Sheltered Homes in her adopted town of Kinsale: To date 75 elderly single people have had accommodation provided when necessary. Its calculated that over 204,000 days of purpose-built residential accommodation to otherwise potentially homeless elderly men and women have been delivered by this personally driven altruistic act alone. As well as initiating the project, which saw 30 homes in all built in two phases, in 1993 and in 2000, and personally funding much of its shortfalls over the years with her late husband Stanley, Heide Roche, until shortly before her death, remained hands-on and involved in an almost daily basis with its residents, interacting in cooking, talking, playing cards and bingo, organising day trips and buses, leading sing-songs, and even having individually wrapped Christmas and Birthday presents for everyone. The rare level of philanthropy and altruism, kindnesses and personal drive, was driven by a deep commitment to Kinsale and surrounding areas, and especially its older citizens, across a range of services, from Guardwell (which benefited to the tune of in excess of 1.5m) to Kinsale Community Hospital, as well as youth services like Saile, and Corks COPE Foundation. Keen to remember that charity didnt just start at home, Heide and Stanley Roche also supported projects as far away as Childrens Trusts in Thailand, care for mentally handicapped in Africa and SOS Bahine in Nepal, which supports vulnerable young girls in education. The full breadth of the late Heide Roches generosity only became apparent as her estate is settled, following her passing away last October, nine years after the death of her husband Stanley Roche, of the Roches Stores retail dynasty which started in Cork. The couples love affair made headlines in the early 1970s in a different, pre-divorce times Ireland as both had been married to other partners, which resulted in a widely reported High Court case. They subsequently married and reared a family at nearby Belgooly, while coverage of the case encouraged them to live a life out of the public eye, yet once very much within and committed to the Kinsale community. Heide Roche was born in war-time Germany in 1942, at Ladenburg, near Heidelberg, had first married in 1960 and moved to Ireland in the 1960s, then to Kinsale, where she opened the Bistro Restaurant in 1974, became a leading presence in the towns noted Good Food Circle and, subsequently, the Gourmet Festival. Unsurprisingly, her Bistro restaurant also hosted the annual Kinsale Senior Citizens Christmas parties. Following the death of Heide Roche, it was quickly confirmed that the couples philanthropy not only ran into the realm of many millions of euro, but her initiative at Guardwell Homes had also saved the State and the exchequer many millions more in keeping so many vulnerable elderly single people in safe keeping over the past 25 years. Separately, and in more recent times, Heide Roche initiated and oversaw the complete renewal of Newborough House at Ballinclashet Creek, a period listed property gutted by fire in 1960, roofless for half a century and painstakingly rebuilt between 2013 and 2017 and intended to be a private nursing home, for her own old age and for her friends. Predeceased by her husband Stanley and stepson Peter, Heide Roche is survived by her children Bronwen, Owen, Morgan and Ondine, her stepson Nicholas and by her many grandchildren. Her body was donated to medical research, and her death notice concluded with a line from Leonard Cohen: Dance me to the end of love. An abandoned building occupied by squatters in Sao Paulo has caught fire and collapsed, sending fiery debris crashing into neighbouring buildings and surrounding streets, Brazilian officials say. Firefighters said at least one person had been killed in the collapse and that there could be more. The building, a former headquarters of the federal police, caught fire around 1:30am local time. Firefighters set up a perimeter and worked to evacuate people. A few hours later, as flames engulfed the building of at least 20 stories, it collapsed. Globo TV, which was covering the fire, captured the destruction. Images showed the floors falling in on themselves and debris flying in all directions. Romulo de Souza, 49, said he was part of a squatter occupation in the neighbouring building. He said that when the fire began on the fourth floor of the former police headquarters, families began evacuating. "Happily the majority got out," he said. Mr de Souza said that residents believed the fire could have been started by a gas leak. Firefighter Lt Andre Elias told Globo TV that at least one person had been killed in the collapse. Authorities were working to locate several others who were missing. The fire and collapse will put a spotlight on occupations in Sao Paulo, South America's largest city. Several dozen buildings have been occupied in the city centre by highly organised fair-housing groups that take over and then fight for ownership. Many such dwellings are run like regular apartment buildings, with doormen and residents paying monthly fees and utility bills. Others are less established and more precarious. Digital Desk Noreen ONeill and Vera Twomey are backing the Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016, which has cleared the first two stages in the Dail, but remains in the third, committee stage. Both women say their children have benefited from treatments from oils such as cannabidiol (CBD) oil and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which are derived from cannabis. Ms ONeill from Kilgarvan, Co Kerry said her son Michael, who will turn two later this year, has stopped suffering debilitating seizures since she started treating him with CBD oil. He was diagnosed with bilateral frontal polymicrogyria and global developmental delay at just three months old and subsequently suffered several seizures a day. An open letter Ms ONeill sent to Health Minister Simon Harris earlier this year, outlining her plight, was widely shared online. In the letter, she notes: At his worst, Michael was having up to 20 seizures in one day. Can you imagine what its like to watch a baby convulsing, Minister? During those times, a typical day in the hospital would be me waking up to get sick before I did anything else. She said the improvements to Michael since treating him with the oil are life-changing but that further licensing and laws are needed to give parents access to the medicines they need to treat their children. The Irish Examiner first reported on Ms Twomeys campaign for medicinal cannabis more than two years ago. Her daughter, Ava, suffers from Dravet syndrome, a rare but severe form of epilepsy. Ms Twomey, too, says CBD oil has helped her daughter. Ms Twomeys campaigning was last month recognised at the People of the Year Awards. She used her speech at the ceremony to plead directly to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, who was in the audience, for legislation on medicinal cannabis to give people an opportunity to live their lives: To live and to grow and to be happy with a brighter future because everyone deserves that right now and into the future, not just seven people who have been granted licenses in Ireland to date but the thousands of other people who are watching here tonight, hoping and praying that legislation would be brought through to ease their suffering and their pain. Ms ONeill and Ms Twomey will give a press conference in Cork tomorrow. As the Government scrambles to get a handle on the number of women affected, thousands are still waiting to get advice on a special helpline set up to address concerns. HSE boss Tony OBrien is also facing growing calls to resign as furious ministers struggle to avoid political damage. The Irish Examiner understands potentially hundreds of women could be eligible for compensation from the State. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar admitted yesterday that there would be a redress scheme for women whose cancer was missed and should have been detected beyond normal error and for women where there was a breach of duty to inform them of audit results. A scoping exercise is now likely to be carried out by an international expert with a view to drafting terms for a full commission of investigation. Up to 3,000 tests for women diagnosed with cancer over the last decade will now be reviewed. The revelations come after a US laboratory contracted to analyse smear tests for the Cervical Check programme agreed to pay 2.5m to Limerick mother-of-two Vicky Phelan whose abnormal smear test was missed and who is now terminally ill. The Department of Health said yesterday it had been informed by the State Claims Agency that six similar legal actions had commenced. In three of those, the State had received indemnities from laboratories involved. In four more cases, correspondence was received from solicitors which indicated legal proceedings would be issued. The details were provided to the Oireachtas health committee which heard there was also notification of another case which was currently considered a potential claim. Tony OBrien, the director general of the HSE, said he had separately sought details on claims similar to Ms Phelans and he agreed with the Department of Healths tally. Mr OBrien also revealed that just two of the 17 women who have died were told of the wrong test results before their death. The Government were forced to defend Mr OBrien over revelations he is working part time with a US firm chaired by an Irish businessman but still overseeing the Irish health service. There was no conflict of interest, said Mr Varadkar. Mr OBrien will leave his position in August but Sinn Feins Mary Lou McDonald argued that it was scandalous he was allowed to sail into the sunset with a large pension and a hefty gratuity, having left a scene of devastation, upset and trauma behind him. Health Minister Simon Harris last night said he was mad as hell over the communications failures from health chiefs as the drip feed of numbers and test checks continued. He agreed he felt let down and misled. Opposition TDs pushed Mr Harris last night in a meeting to scrap a planned Hiqa-led clinical investigation and instead opt for a more powerful commission of investigation. This would have powers of compellability and could make clear adverse findings. Agreement is being sought on a scoping exercise around the scandal led by an international expert and draft terms for a commission of investigation by June which would include key questions around the screening errors. Opposition TDs must submit their ideas by tomorrow. Minister Harris will then bring the cross-party recommendations back to government. However, the Government are reluctant about an inquiry going on for years. A further Cabinet meeting next week will consider all options. The escalating crisis has prompted the Government to cover fees and retest costs for women concerned about their smear tests. Despite this commitment, 4,867 women were still waiting on a call back from a special helpline by yesterday evening. Fianna Fails Stephen Donnelly said: Thousands and thousands and thousands of women across Ireland are scared and they cant get through to anyone. Meanwhile, the HSE has drafted in its chief emergency management official, Damien McCallion, who led responses to Hurricane Ophelia and snow storms to oversee the crisis-hit CervicalCheck service. Neil Duggan, aged 45, of Riverside Rise, Rushbrooke, Cobh, resorted to this crime because of a gambling addiction, his barrister Brendan Kelly said at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. Duggan was scheduled to face trial by judge and jury on two counts of demanding money with menaces yesterday. Last month he pleaded guilty to two related charges. He admitted threatening the same victim at the Silver Key bar and restaurant, Ballinlough, Cork, on April 17, 2017. Publishing details of those two pleas of guilty was not allowed last month pending the outcome of the trial. That was the evidence yesterday at Cork Circuit Criminal in the trial of Ian Jennings, 24, of Skahana, Union Hall, Co Cork, who denied assault causing harm to Adam Harris on Main St, Union Hall, on January 23, 2016. Adam Harris testified that he and Jennings were best friends for five or six years and had gone on holidays together a few times. On the night of the disputed incident, they were attending a darts match at The Boatmans Inn in Union Hall. Mr Harris stepped outside in the early hours of the morning and said there was no build-up to the alleged assault: I went out for a cigarette. Before I knew it I got hit like a ton of bricks. I turned around and said, why the f*** did you hit me? Later, Ian Jenningss mother was driving her son home and agreed to bring Adam home to Castletownshend. When she saw him she said: In the name of God, what happened you? He said he fell. Sinead Behan, defence barrister, asked him why he did not say he was assaulted if that was what happened. He said he did not want to be telling his friends mother that her son was the one who assaulted him. He said he just wanted to get a spin home at that point. Mr Harris said he had about 12 drinks. Ms Behan suggested he had about 15 drinks and the defendant had paid for most of them. Mr Harris said they bought their own drinks and bought each other one or two but that Jennings did not pay for most of the drinks. In hospital, he was found to have a fractured cheekbone for which two titanium plates had to be inserted and he also suffered damage to lower side of his eye socket. He said there was no build-up to the alleged assault. He said Jennings texted him the next day saying sorry and that he would pay the hospital bill. Ms Behan said: In relation to the text he felt responsible because he got you drunk and you fell. He was concerned for you. Mr Harris disagreed and said that was not correct. The case continues today before Judge Sean O Donnabhain and a jury of eight men and four women. This years Cork Midsummer Festival, which runs from June 15-24, will feature 56 events, including a world premiere. Festival highlights include Camille OSullivan with the Cork Opera House Concert Orchestra (June 22); the world premiere stage adaption of Asking For It by author Louise ONeill at The Everyman (June 15-23) and Picnic in the Park (June 17) which will feature a special performance to celebrate 250 years of circus. Hip hop circus fusion, Union Black, come to Neptune Stadium (June 15-17), while dance theatre company Junk Ensemble performs Man At The in Sunbeam Bingo Hall, Blackpool (June 15-17 and 22-24). In theatre, Katie Hollys Crowman, starring Jon Kenny (DUnbelievables), will premiere at The Granary (15-20 June), while Corcadorca Theatre Companys The Numbered by Elias Canetti takes place at Fitzgeralds Park (18-30 June). A musical highlight will see composers Peter Power and Michael Gallen join forces for In Clouds (June 15-17), to celebrate 40 years of the Triskel Arts Centre. Meanwhile, Bristol-based installation artist, Luke Jerram, creator of last years hit Museum of the Moon, returns with 1,000 Flowers. The unique experience, where flowers are passed from person to person, will be documented using #1000flowers. Other international artists include Oscar-nominated composer Hauschka who will appear at the Cork Opera House (June 23), while award-winning Catalan-based street theatre company, Kamchatka, takes to the streets on the festivals opening day. The festivals first artist-in-residence, bilingual poet Doireann Ni Ghriofa, presents Nine Silences with artist Alice Maher at St Lukes (June 17), A City In Flames with composer Linda Buckley at St Peters the following day and Life In Art, Art In Life with artist Aideen Barry at The Glucksman (June 21). Marking Midsummers Day, June 21, events will take place from dawn to dusk. Cork schoolchildren will launch art installations created for three city bridges, while an evening of music takes place at Tory Top Park, Ballyphehane. Speaking at the programme launch in the River Lee Hotel last night, festival director Lorraine Maye said they will present more than 30 Irish premieres this year. Across those 10 days in June, midsummer magic descends on Cork, and we invite everyone, of all ages and interests, to take the cultural adventure with us, Ms Maye said. corkmidsummer.com Bjorn Kjos, whose airline fought for more than two years to secure a licence to operate transatlantic flights from Ireland, is to be invited to appear before the committee, along with the head of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), as political pressure builds in the wake of Norwegians surprise decision last month to suspend the Cork to Boston/Providence service from October until next March. The airline blamed lower demand and said it is part of a wider package of suspensions of winter services, which also hit Edinburgh and Shannon. However, the airline has announced a significant expansion of its services out of Dublin Airport. It consistently cited growth opportunities out of Cork Airport during its lengthy battle to secure a foreign carrier permit from the US authorities. The airline was backed by a massive political and business lobby at regional, national, and EU level. This issue was even raised with Barack Obama during a St Patricks Day visit by former taoiseach Enda Kenny. The decision to axe the Cork US service came just six months after its launch. The decision has cast doubt on the airlines commitment to launch a Cork to New York service. Now, politicians who spearheaded the political support here and in Europe which helped secure the licence, want to grill the airlines boss and DAA chiefs. Seanad leader and Cork Fine Gael Senator, Jerry Buttimer, confirmed yesterday that the Oireachtas transport committee has agreed to his request to invite the Norwegian boss, and the head of the DAA, to appear before it: It is important that answers are provided as to why Norwegian cut the Cork to Providence route in its infancy. I am happy to have received confirmation that the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport has agreed to my request that the CEOs of Norwegian Airlines and the Dublin Airport Authority appear before the Committee to defend the decision to cut routes from Cork and also to outline how the Dublin Airport Authority are going to make sure Cork Airport is allowed to continue to grow. Fine Gael MEP, Deirdre Clune, who advocated strongly at EU level for Norwegian to be granted the foreign carrier permit in line with the EU-US Open Skies agreement, has also written to Mr Kjos asking him to reconsider the decision, and to express disappointment at the suspension of the route for the winter, so soon after its launch: I am very conscious that Norwegian must make its own commercial decisions but I must note that the licence for Norwegian Air International, which was so strongly resisted in the US, was headlined throughout the process on providing year-round transatlantic services from Cork to the US, and this received huge support from the political and business communities in the region. The idea was put forward by obesity expert Dr Cathal McCrory who told the Oireachtas Committee on Children and Youth Affairs that his research has shown that parents perceptions of their childs weight was at odds with the reality of their actual situation. Dr McCrory, a Senior Research Fellow at Trinity College, has published his research on obesity using the Growing Up in Ireland study of a large nationally representative sample of children over a number of years. Obesity is considered to have reached epidemic proportions in both adult and child populations. According to figures provided by Growing Up in Ireland, 19% of children aged three years are overweight and 6% are obese, he said. Worryingly, our research shows that 54% of parents of overweight children and 20% of parents of obese children in the Growing Up in Ireland childhood cohort reported that they are about the right weight for their height, he warned Oireachtas members. He said a co-ordinated action including a number of government departments, parents, schools, community based-organisations, and healthcare providers will be required to tackle the many factors contributing to Irelands obesity problem. Ireland is on target to be the fattest country in Europe by 2030 according to the World Health Organisation. We need to act urgently to address this problem, he warned. Among his recommendations is the implementation of a national screening programme for BMI and waist circumference in school-age children. He said his research has shown how children in Portugal have their weight assessed on every GP visit, but said he does not think such a system will work here. I spoke to GPs who gave me pretty candid feedback, Dr McCrory told the committee. A lot of them told me theyre too busy to do this in their clinics. The second thing is they find it difficult to challenge parents about the weight of their children because theres a fear of stigmatisation. People are fearful of the word obese, to be told a child is obese, or having to relay that information to the parents is sometimes quite tricky. I think the best way to achieve this is an annual assessment done through the schools as part of a public health visit, he said. Dr McCrory said school assessments would ensure that fewer children miss having their weight measures, as some children would attend their GP less frequently than others, or not at all. Dr McCrory also said that childhood overweight and obesity is more heavily concentrated in lower socio-economic status (SES) households. He said while the Growing Up In Ireland study has shown that while babies born in such households weigh less at birth compared to babies born to parents from professional social class backgrounds, they tend to gain weight at a faster rate. He also cited Irelands low breastfeeding rate as a problem, given that it has been shown to be protective against the development of obesity. Ireland has the lowest breastfeeding rate in Europe with initiation rates just above 50%. Women from lower SES backgrounds are 80% less likely to breastfeed. Measures to increase rates of breastfeeding should be a national priority, and resources allocated to increase breastfeeding rates among more disadvantaged groups, he said. James McSweeney has called for any review or investigation to take in other screenings including breastcheck as he knows from experience and other cases that the entire system is failing women. He is now representing another woman who is taking a case and who similar to Vicky Phelan, was diagnosed with cervical cancer after she received a false negative CervicalCheck result. The case being taken by Mr McSweeney was lodged with the High Court in 2016 and is still ongoing. Mr McSweeney told the Irish Examiner he has taken a number of cases for women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, which the HSE has fought tooth and nail against. He added that in many, many instances, confidentiality clauses are sought. If the one thing that comes out of this is that light on the manner in which cases are fought, that would be a good outcome, he said. One woman we represent has now been told that her cancer may be terminal. Her case will be fully defended in my experience. Mr McSweeney said: I suppose my concern would be that any review isnt limited to cervical cancer screening and testing. I think the investigation needs to be more broad than is being reported. We represent a number of women who are affected by delayed diagnosis. However, it is really important not to get too focused on one aspect of an entire system that is failing women. A fatality as a result of a failure or delay in the breast cancer screening and treatment is no less disgraceful than the cases in the news today. He highlighted cases surrounding delays in testing for breast cancer which would fall into the category of urgent referrals as defined by the HSE but were not seen until significantly after the deadlines. He said that delays have had significant negative consequences for the women involved. Several women that we have represented have had to undergo radical surgery and aggressive treatment that would not have been needed if they had been seen within the HSE guideline time or if there had been a proper follow up, the solicitor said. That was the message delivered to Health Minister Simon Harris last night as TDs from all parties met with him amid efforts to get to the bottom of the controversy. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has already committed to a clinical inquiry which would be led by the health watchdog Hiqa. But opposition TDs say this will have limited powers and more than likely end up leading to a more powerful commission of investigation. This type of inquiry would have powers of compelability and could also make adverse findings, unlike one conducted by Hiqa. Amid more confusion and public outrage over the botched cervical cancer tests crisis, a meeting was held in Leinster House last night to find agreement on the best way forward. Mr Harris and the Government have concerns that a commission of investigation could last for years and involve many lawyers but ultimately not get answers for women or their families for some time. Vicky Phelan, the Limerick mother who has helped expose the screening controversy, also has suggested a commission of investigation may take too long. But after listening to opposition TDs last night, government sources said Mr Harris was supportive of suggestions on how to set up a commission of investigation. Under the suggested plans, a scoping exercise would be carried out by an international expert. The expert after a month would then possibly report back with drat terms for a commission of investigation. This would address key questions raised by TDs. The scoping exercise and possibly terms would also benefit from a clinical review being carried out into some 3,000 women who have been diagnosed with cancer over the last decade. This will be finished at the end of this month. While the creation of a commission of investigation has yet to be agreed, it is understood all opposition parties are of the view a Hiqa-led inquiry is no longer plausible. Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said Mr Harris told TDs at the meeting he wants them to provide their formal recommendations to him by tomorrow evening. She said that in addition to the scoping exercise, she is in favour of a commission of investigation being launched as soon as possible on the strict condition there are guarantees it is short and does not last for years. Ms Smith also called for the potential commission of investigation to include other State cancer services such as bowel cancer and Breast Check, adding the scoping exercise must take account of the potential role of outsourcing in the scandal. Social Democrats TD Roisin Shortall said while she is in favour of a wider commission of investigation, she told Mr Harris there were potential pitfalls with such a move and that these would need to be careful examined as part of the scoping exercise. The smoking rate among teenagers dropped by 28% over a 20-year period, with researchers claiming that the rate of adolescent smoking will reach the Tobacco Free Ireland target of 5% by 2025, given the rate of decline. The research, published in medical journal BMJ Open, looked at trends in smoking among Irish adolescents aged 1516 years between 1995 and 2015 and the factors associated with their smoking behaviours between 2007 and 2015. Using data from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs Ireland, it found the prevalence of smoking in that age group had dropped from 41% in 1995 to 13% in 2015. It noted a number of trends which emerged over the research period, including peer smoking and difficulty in getting tobacco in the first place. For example, in 2007 and 2011, only about 12% of the students reported that none of their friends smoked, but by 2015 this figure had increased to 34%. The proportion of students who claimed most/all of their friends smoked fell from 20% in 2007 to 11% in 2015. Access to cigarettes had also become more difficult, with students who reported that it was difficult to obtain cigarettes increasing from 12% in 2007 to 28% in 2015. More students also claimed that their parents always know where they spend Saturday nights, from 48% in 2007 to 63% in 2015. Back in 1995 smoking was more prevalent among teenage girls than among boys in the same age group, but by 2015 for the first time a higher percentage of boys, 13.1%, said they had smoked over the preceding 30 days than girls, at 12.8%. When it came to predicting adolescent smoking, the study said peer smoking has the strongest effect, while family appears to play an important role in adolescent smoking. Students whose parents usually do not know their whereabouts on Saturday nights are about three times more likely to smoke than the ones whose parents always know. Students who skip more days off school are also more likely to smoke. Professor Luke Clancy, director of the Tobacco Free Research Institute Ireland, said: The role of increased efforts to highlight the risks involved in smoking and the positive role that parental involvement can make is clear from the results. Now that we have established these positive influences, we can examine ways of maximising their impact. The stations director general, Dee Forbes, will insist the situation is addressed during a meeting with TDs today, claiming the inadequate resources it is given are undermining its battle against rival stations and online firm Netflix. In a statement to the Dail Public Accounts Committee before a public meeting this afternoon, Ms Forbes will say while it may appear to some RTE has plenty of money, she believes the multimillion-euro taxpayer-funded stationhas inadequate resources. Hitting out at the threats the broadcaster is facing from the likes of Virgin, Sky, BBC and Netflix, she will claim the urgent and substantial financial challenges which face RTE, which pays its highest-profile presenters six-figure salaries, mean the unfit existing TV licence system must be addressed. It would be remiss of me as director general, at a time of such turbulence in the media when so much of what we have relied upon for our news not to impress on this committee the urgent and substantial financial challenges facing RTE. There is an obligation on policymakers and the Government to modernise the TV licence system which is fundamentally unfit for purpose and unreflective of how people consume and interact with public service media and content today, she will say. Evasion levels in Ireland are over twice that in the UK and collection costs are more than double other European counterparts. That is not something RTE is responsible for, but it is something that has a massive bearing on our capacity. Why is it acceptable the TV licence system in this country is so inefficient that over 60m goes uncollected every year? RTE is not asking for additional money from households. We are simply asking that the money the State itself believes is appropriate as a TV licence should be collected. She will tell the PAC that as a direct result of what she claims are inadequate resources, the broadcaster is failing to invest properly in drama, childrens programme, arts, and the Irish language. She will also claim it is why funding for independent programming has been slashed in half over the past decade, why foreign correspondent positions have been scrapped, why investigative journalism budgets have dwindled, and why the RTE orchestra may need to be downgraded. Asia Malaysia's Mahathir Stirs 1MDB Debate Among Rural Voters Ahead of Election Former Malaysian Prime Minister and candidate for opposition Alliance Of Hope, Mahathir Mohamad, waves to his supporters after his nomination, on Langkawi Island, Malaysia, April 28, 2018. / Reuters BUKIT GOH, Malaysia Just days ahead of an election, opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad worked a crowd of palm planters in Malaysias rural heartland to stir up debate about a financial scandal, hoping to shift their loyalty away from Prime Minister Najib Razak. At 92, former premier Mahathir is leading an opposition alliance united in the goal of unseating Najib, who it blames for rising living costs and billions of dollars allegedly lost due to graft at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Hundreds of thousands of palm planters, the majority ethnic Malays, have been a rock-solid vote bank for the United Malay National Organization (UMNO)-led ruling party and have backed Najib despite the scandals and accusations of mismanagement. But Malay loyalty to the coalition that has ruled Malaysia for six decades has been tested by a steady flow of stories over the past three years about 1MDB, and by reports that nearly $700 million from the fund ended in Najibs personal bank account. Speaking about 1MDB to a group of voters on Wednesday in a Felda settlement in Bukit Goh, Pahang, Najibs home state, Mahathir said the prime minister believed cash is king. When elections come he offers cash and promises promises to give more if he wins, Mahathir said at the settlement of state-owned palm oil agency Felda. I think, lets make him lose, he said to the cheers of a small but enthusiastic crowd. Najib, who chaired 1MDBs advisory board, has consistently denied any wrongdoing over the billions of dollars lost by the fund, but a Department of Justice investigation into 1MDB in the United States has kept the scandal on the frontburner. To cement his authority and protect himself, Najib needs to lead UMNO to a convincing victory in the May 9 general election. The opposition bloc is making gains and will likely win the popular vote, but Najib is still expected to retain power, according to a survey by pollster Merdeka Center. Mahathir and other opposition leaders are making a push to explain the alleged graft and money laundering at 1MDB to rural Malay voters, who will undoubtedly decide the outcome of the polls. The issue, however, has largely failed to resonate among rural Malaysians, many of whom appear indifferent to the complex money transactions and legalities involved in the case. Analysts believe rural Malaysians will vote over issues like rising costs and unemployment. Mahathir told the group that the scandal affects all Malaysians. 1MDB had a starting capital of 1 million ringgit, and then he went and borrowed 42 billion ringgit. Imagine that, you only have a starting capital of 1 million ringgit and you can borrow 42 billion ringgit, Mahathir told the planters at the event. He asked them to go out and vote to ensure the opposition wins by the tens of thousands. Mohd Ashraf Mustaqim Badrul Munir, an opposition party candidate from the area, said opinion was starting to shift among local Felda settlers. Its going to be a battle, but I can say that this is no longer a fortress for UMNO, he said. Burma Under a Dark Cloud: Censorship in Burma The scanned cover of The Irrawaddy Magazine 17 years ago with a cover story on censorship in Burma. On World Press Freedom Day, The Irrawaddy revisits this article published in The Irrawaddy Magazine in January 2001 about how writers and publishers remained targets of one of the worlds most draconian censorship systems. Writers and publishers in Burma remain targets of one of the worlds most draconian censorship systems. Early one morning in December 1994, a group of Military Intelligence Services (MIS) officers and police surrounded a house in the northern quarter of Mandalay, Burmas second city. The house was a bookshop called Ottaya Lwinpyin (Northern Plain), which belonged to Than Htay. Though they had no search warrant, they broke down the door and searched the whole bookshop. After a comprehensive search, they found a lot of pages that had been torn from books, magazines and periodicals. All the pages contained the slogan of the military regime and an official denunciation of the democratic forces, which must be printed on the first page of all materials published in Burma by order of the military. After the search of his bookshop, Than Htay was arrested and sentenced to seven years imprisonment by a summary court. Now Ko Than Htay is in Mandalay Prison, where he suffers torture and mistreatment like all other political prisoners. Although Ko Than Htay was a democracy activist, he had never been involved in any political organization, including the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi. He opposed the military as an individual and in his own way. His bookshop was the biggest in Mandalay, and he was the main distributor of all published materials for the market in upper Burma, with a population of 20 million. What Ko Than Htay had done was very simple. As a distributor to the upper Burma market, he regularly received packages of books, journals, magazines, and periodicals. Before he distributed them to customers and retail shops, he tore the first page out of every book as his own action against the military. Therefore, people who bought the books from his Northern Plain bookshop didnt have to see the slogans of the military regime. This was the extent of Ko Than Htays revolutionary activity, but it was not to last very long. This event illustrates the oppressive censorship of the press in Burma, a situation that has existed for several decades now. In 1962, the military government, which called itself a Revolutionary Council and was led by General Ne Win, introduced a State Publishing Act as a new law. As a result of this law, Press Scrutiny and Registration Board (Board of Censor) was formed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. All the officers appointed to this board come from the MIS and a special branch of the police. Their duty is to scrutinize all the books, novels, magazines, and periodicals that have to be submitted to them before publication. They have the authority to reject, cancel, delete, and delay permission to publish without reason. They can demand that the publisher cover with silver ink any paragraph that they suspect contains a criticism of the regime. They can also demand that the publisher omit any pages that they dont like, or insist that an author or columnist explain what he or she wrote and why he or she wrote it. They can delay publication, which can cause the publisher to suffer great financial losses. Even now, the military regime is still using this law and this board of censorship. Unofficially, it is known as the Gestapo board of literature, after those who guarded Hitler in Nazi Germany in the 1940s. After the bloody suppression of the pro-democracy movement in September 1988, the military regime began to rule Burma with an iron fist. They accused all democratic forces of being destructive elements, the pawns of foreigners and the puppets of Western capitalists. At the same time, they declared themselves to be patriots, supreme loyalists to their nation, the only institution that could save the country. First, they wrote all their slogans and denunciations on billboards and placed them in every corner of the towns. Then they put their slogans on the first page of their own newspapers Myanmar Ahlin (New Light of Myanmar) and Kyemon (The Mirror). After that, they issued orders to all publishers to put these slogans on the first page of their published materials. Therefore, when anyone opened a book that had been published in Burma, they would see the militarys slogans and denunciations on the first page. After 1988, as instructed by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), the board of literary censorship also insisted that all authors and publishers submit a personal biography. The purpose of this was to enable the censorship board to check authors, journalists and publishers for any political party involvement and other undesirable connections. According to a member of the board of literary censorship, they have a list of authors, poets, journalists and publishers who are involved in any political movement, or who are suspected of having any connection with the democratic forces. Sadly, writers whose names have appeared on have never been allowed to publish their work. One young poet who had spent four and half years in prison for his involvement in an anti-military movement was honored when his poems were selected by the editors of Hanthit (New Style) and Shwe Wut Mhone magazines. However, the poems were omitted five times by order of the board of literary censorship because of his prison record. It appears that these editors were warned not to publish his work by the officers of this board. It is common practice in Burma that many published materials are incomplete. It is necessary to read those works without an introduction or a conclusion or a part of the main body or an illustration. In Burma, November is Literature Month. During this month in particular, literary talks or speeches are held nationwide. On these occasions, invited authors or poets come and give a speech about literature to the public. But the military regime forces some literary speeches to be cancelled by refusing to issue a permit for public gatherings. In some places, the authorities want to be involved in selecting the authors to be invited. Some famous authors who the people respect highly are forced to withdraw by the authorities, as they dont like their political background. Furthermore, the authorities brief all authors not to speak about political issues. Members of the MIS attend these events and tape all the speeches. If they suspect that any speech touches on a political issue, action will be taken against the author and organizers of the event. Generally, Burmese people have a great admiration for literature, and a great fondness for authors and poets. They can be strongly influenced by an author whose work is respected and admired, such as Aung Thinn. Many people want to invite Aung Thinn to give a literary speech in their region, but some regional authorities dont allow the invitation to be made, as they are worried about Aung Thinns ability to agitate and organize. He is only allowed to talk in a few limited places with a lot of restrictions. Since he cannot go to talk with the people personally, tapes of his speeches have been distributed all over the country. In places where these traditional literary talks are banned, people gather in one place and listen to these tapes together. Concerned about Aung Thinns influence on the people, the military authorities have announced that the distribution of these tapes is illegal. Tin Moe is a poet much loved by the Burmese people for his simplicity, kindness, and honesty. He was one of the founding members of the NLD and a close aide of Aung San Suu Kyi. He was put behind bars for 3 years along with other party leaders. After he was released from prison, he was not allowed to publish any poems and books, and he was banned from giving speeches at literary ceremonies. As a result he fled from Burma to Belgium, and gave a literary speech in Sydney, Australia in December 2000. Away from the stifling censorship of his homeland, he can now talk freely, independently, fearlessly and openly. Frequently, privately owned magazines are ordered to print articles supporting the military, written by pro-military authors, which always denounce Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD. Publishers have no choice but to accept these orders. The worst experience for authors is when they are told to write for the military regimes propaganda magazines, such as Myawaddy and Myatkhinthit. This is a nightmare for authors whose loyalty is to the people and democracy. If they refuse such a command, their lives are in grave danger. If they agree, they are misunderstood and lose the respect of the people. Besides these problems, there are many military officers who are also given responsibility to investigate authors, such as Colonel Chit Naing (a.k.a. Chit Naing), Colonel Maung Maung Oo (a.k.a. Tin Than Oo), Colonel (retired) Tin Kha (a.k.a. Takkatho Tin Kha), Colonel (retired) Soe Nyunt (a.k.a. Htila Sitthu), etc. Their main function is to find authors who will support the military regime by offering them a piece of land, a literary award or a publishing license. Another of their duties is to find out which authors are anti-military. One of the senior reporters of Myanmar Ahlin, the official government mouthpiece, said he had a special duty to gather news about authors and publishers and report to Col Soe Nyunt, who at the time was deputy minister of the Ministry of Information. He said there were many government reporters with special assignments from Htila Sitthu (Soe Nyunts alias), who rewarded them with cash and other things. He added that Soe Nyunt collected the news from his disciples and reported directly to Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt, Secretary 1 of the State Peace and Development Council. These few examples show the complete lack of freedom of the press in Burma. To anyone living in a democratic country, this situation may seem unbelievable, but unfortunately it is true and similar things have been happening in Burma for many years. Some authors have been detained in prison for their support of anti-military movements, while others have fled the country to escape from the military dictatorship; the really unlucky ones have been forced to collaborate with the military. The sad reality is that years of repression have systematically eliminated press freedom in Burma. Aung Din is a writer and poet living in exile. Burma More than 3,000 People Now Trapped by Fighting in Kachin State Displaced persons in Injangyang, Kachin State / Hkun Awng Nlam MYITKYINA More than 3,000 poeple are now trapped in conflict zones amid clashes between the Myanmar Army (or Tatmadaw) and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) in Kachin State, according to the Kachin Baptist Council (KBC). Temporary shelters in Shangaw and Hkawam [in Waingmaw] are not yet safe. Clashes occur there frequently. Displaced persons trapped in Lai Nawng Hku and Injangyang are not safe either, said Khali, who works for the KBC. The total number of displaced persons in Tanai, Kamaing, Namti, Waingmaw, Chipwe and Injangyang towns has increased by over 6,100 since April 1, Khali said. Of this group, around 2,800 people are taking shelter at churches in Myitkyina and Namti townships, and nearly 3,400 remain trapped in unsafe places. Some are trapped in conflict zones as the Tatmadaw has barred them from leaving, Khali said. We want to flee, but the military wont let us. We are short of food, and want to move to a safe place, a displaced person trapped in Lai Nawng Hku in Hpakant said on condition of anonymity. A total of 320 displaced persons taking shelter at churches in Shangaw and Hkawam villages in Waingmaw Township sought to go to Myitkyina or Waingmaw. Over 400 displaced persons taking shelter at Kachin Baptist Church in Chipwe also want to move somewhere safer. Around 2,000 displaced persons from Awng Lawt village in Tanai Township have been trapped in forests since April 11 and are running out of food, Khali said. Around 160 displaced persons trapped in Kamaing, and 500 more taking shelter at a Buddhist monastery in Injangyang also need to be evacuated. The Tatmadaws Northern Command distributed a written notification in Burmese and Kachin on April 20 addressed to displaced persons stating that it was only attacking KIA outposts and had taken steps to ensure that villages and locals were not affected. It also promised to provide assistance to those returning to their homes. The Tatmadaw also said it had provided food and other supplies to villagers returning to their homes in Man Wai and Lai Nawng Hku. Both the government and military leadership should allow them to go anywhere they like, as they are citizens, Khali said. On April 30, around 5,000 Kachin staged a protest calling for government intervention to rescue displaced persons trapped in forests amid clashes. Since then, over 100 Kachin youth have staged a sit-in, which they said would continue until those trapped by clashes are rescued. The Myitkyina-based KBC sent a letter to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on April 27 urging her to intervene and see that those trapped in clashes are rescued immediately. Burma Myanmars New First Lady First Lady Daw Cho Cho. / Htet Naing Zaw / The Irrawaddy When we talk about the struggle for democracy in Myanmar, what might come to mind first is the plight of political activists who died or grew gravely ill behind bars. A lot has been written about the sacrifices they have made. But few would think of the struggles of the women who supported those men along the way. Daw Cho Cho is one of these women. She has given unconditional support to her husband, the newly elected President U Win Myint, ever since the pro-democracy uprising in August 1988. Both of them were born and raised in Danubyu, a township in Irrawaddy Region. Daw Cho Cho was born to a well-off family, while U Win Myint was born to a farmers family. The two went to the same school and became classmates and childhood friends. Daw Cho Cho finished her schooling at matriculation, but her husband-to-be went to Yangon University and graduated in geology and law. He became a lawyer in 1985. Daw Cho Chos parents accepted U Win Myint as their son-in-law due to his honesty and industry. The two tied the knot, had two children, and their life together in Danubyu was going along smoothly until U Win Myint threw himself into the pro-democracy uprising in 1988. U Win Myint was imprisoned for his political activities during the uprising and after his release, he contested the 1990 general elections representing the National League for Democracy (NLD). U Win Myint had to compete with Major-General Hla Oo from the National Unity Party in Danubyu, said U San Htwe, a Danubyu Township lawmaker in Irrawaddy regional parliament. The National Unity Party is the reincarnation of the Burma Socialist Program Party, which was led by military dictator Gen Ne Win. He faced a lot of difficulties. But Daw Cho Cho willingly let her husband engage in politics. She gave a lot of support. She cooked for the campaign team and folded campaign pamphlets, added U San Htwe. U Win Myint won 56 percent of the votes and Daw Cho Cho was quite happy, but her happiness did not last long. The military regime of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) rejected the 1990 election results, imprisoned many elected lawmakers and destroyed their livelihoods. U Win Myint continued working as a lawyer in Danubyu after the election. But, no one hired him for fear of the authorities. So, they had no income, said U San Htwe, who also worked as his campaign manager in the 1990 election in Danubyu. The SLORC government convened the National Convention in Yangon in 1993 to draft a new Constitution, which was approved in a national referendum in 2008. U Win Myint, as a NLD lawmaker, moved together with his family to Yangon to attend the National Convention. The military regime kept him and his family under constant surveillance, and not only in Yangon. Whenever U Win Myint visited his mother and sisters in Pathein [in Irrawaddy Region], the military intelligence kept an eye on them. They tailed Ma Cho [Daw Cho Cho] whenever she went to the market or anywhere outside, and they watched who she met, said Daw Hla Hla Htay, a former neighbor of U Win Myints in Pathein. Back in Yangon, U Win Myint had to move from one house to another because authorities put pressure on the homeowners. They finally settled after they sold their house in Danubyu and managed to buy an apartment in Tamwe Township. While U Win Myint was being detained for the second time by military intelligence, their only son Than Win Htike died of typhoid at the age of 16. Daw Cho Cho was overcome with grief as her husband was under detention and her only son died. She had to organize the funeral on her own and U Win Myint was only allowed to attend the Buddhist ritual at their home seven days after the death of his son. Daw Cho Cho was the perfect wife for a politician. She supported her husbands political aspirations all the way with courage, said Lower House lawmaker Daw Khin San Hlaing of Pale Township. Without a job or income after the release of U Win Myint, Daw Cho Cho had to sell her jewelry to support the family and provide schooling for their daughter Phyu Phyu Thin. Phyu Phyu Thin graduated and got a job at a company. But troubles never end. Authorities forced her employers to sack her time and again. So, she later dared not to take the bus straight to her work, said Lower House lawmaker U Wai Hlaing Tun of Pathein Township. She had to change a number of buses to get to her work so that military intelligence would lose sight of her and not find out where she was working, he said. She could not bear it long and later went to Singapore to work, sending money back to her parents, he added. U Win Myint served at the NLD Headquarters in Yangon and contested the 2012 by-election from Pathein. Daw Cho Cho followed her husband along the campaign trail, even in the Bay of Bengal amid stormy weather. We went to Baw Mi village from Thabaw Kan village for the by-election campaign. Everyone was afraid when stormy seas arose. We could finally exhale after we got to the embankment. Daw Cho Cho followed her husband on such trips, U Wai Hlaing Tun recounted of his experiences on the campaign trail. U Win Myint won the by-election and moved to the municipal guesthouse in the administrative capital Naypyitaw. Daw Cho Cho followed her husband. Some of the lawmakers neighboring U Win Myint were single. They didnt bother to cook and Daw Cho Cho also cooked for them. They love her. She is so good-natured, and never stingy, said lawmaker Daw Khin San Hlaing. Daw Cho Cho is therefore known as Mother Cho among younger NLD members. U Win Myint also won the 2015 election and became the speaker of the Lower House. After U Win Myint became the Lower House lawmaker, he came and visited with Mother Cho in Pathein in 2017. Both he and Mother Cho cordially greeted us as they did before, said NLD member Ko Aung Min Htike. Some of the people in the ward would not greet them because of their superior status. But then, they told them to treat them as usual, he said. Mother Cho has not changed at all though she became the spouse of a high-ranking official. U Win Myint was elected the tenth president of Myanmar on March 28, 2018, to succeed U Htin Kyaw. We are very glad and very proud to see them as the president and the first lady. Especially, I am glad for Ma Cho who endured years of trouble to support her husband. I think it is the return from their goodwill to the country, said Daw Hla Hla Htay, one of their neighbors in Pathein. When asked if she thinks Daw Cho Cho will treat them as usual when they meet again, Daw Hla Hla Htay, a grilled meat vendor, said: I believe she will treat us as she did before. She is not a person who will forget her past, or behave high and mighty due to her current status. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko. Burma SSPP Likely to Sign Nationwide Ceasefire, Peace Broker Says SSPP soldiers based in northern Shan State. / Kyaw Kha / The Irrawaddy YANGON The Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army-North (SSPP/SSA-N) is likely to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), according to a peace broker between the government and the SSPP. The governments Peace Commission and the SSPP met at the partys Wan Hai headquarters in northern Shan States Kehsi Township for two days on May 1-2. The government delegation was led by Peace Commission vice chairman U Thein Zaw, accompanied by its secretary, former Lieutenant-General Khin Zaw Oo. The SSPP was represented by vice chairman Lieutenant-General Khay Tai, the partys patron General Sae Htin, Major-General Sai Htoo and Sao Khun Seng. Shan Nationalities Development Party chairman Sai Aik Pao, who was present at the negotiations as a peace broker, told The Irrawaddy, They [the SSPP] do not oppose the NCA, and they accept it. They said they would take the NCA path. So it is expected that they will sign the NCA. They will meet again, and plan to discuss the date. He said the level of trust between the two sides improved during the meeting, adding that the SSPP would consider joining the upcoming third session of the 21st-Century Panglong Peace Conference if the government invited it. U Hla Maung Shwe, an adviser to the Peace Commission, said he had heard that the talks were optimistic. The SSPP was invited to take part in political dialogue. And the talks indicate some development in the peace process. SSPP leaders could not be reached for comment on the talks. The party entered bilateral ceasefire agreements at the state and union levels in 2012. It was one of the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that contributed to the process of drafting the NCA and was a member of the United Nationalities Federal Council ethnic bloc, which is no longer an active alliance. It resigned from the bloc last year, but has stopped short of fully disavowing it. The SSPP currently belongs to the seven-member Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee, a northeast-based armed alliance. The FPNCC, which rejected the NCA and has demanded an alternative path to it, has a policy of insisting on holding collective talks with the government. Despite the policy, however, two of its members the Kachin Independence Army and the United Wa State Army have met government delegations separately on previous occasions at the behest of Chinese officials. Burma Yangon High Court to Weigh Changes to Charges in U Ko Ni Murder Case in Late May The accused appear at Yangon North District Court on May 3. / Myo Min Soe / The Irrawaddy News China Installs Cruise Missiles on South China Sea Outposts: CNBC Report An aerial view of China occupied Subi Reef in the Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea, April 21, 2017. / Reuters WASHINGTON China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, US news network CNBC reported on Wednesday, citing sources with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports. The move, if confirmed, would mark the first Chinese missile deployments in the Spratly Islands, where several Asian countries including Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims. Chinas Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. CNBC quoted unnamed sources as saying that according to US intelligence assessments, the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. The US Defense Department, which opposes Chinas installation of military facilities on outposts it has built up in the South China Sea, declined comment. We dont comment on matters of intelligence, a spokesman said. China has made no mention of any missile deployments but says its military facilities in the Spratlys are purely defensive, and that it can do what it likes on its own territory. Greg Poling, a South China Sea expert at Washingtons Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said deploying missiles on the outposts would be important. These would be the first missiles in the Spratlys, either surface to air, or anti-ship, he said. He added that such deployments were expected as China built missile shelters on the reefs last year and already deployed such missile systems on Woody Island further to the north. Poling said it would be a major step on Chinas road to dominating the South China Sea, a key global trade route. Before this, if you were one of the other claimants you knew that China was monitoring your every move. Now you will know that youre operating inside Chinese missile range. Thats a pretty strong, if implicit, threat, he said. CNBC said the YJ-12B anti-ship cruise missiles allowed China to strike vessels within 295 nautical miles. It said the HQ-9B long-range surface-to-air missiles could target aircraft, drones and cruise missiles within 160 nautical miles. Last month, US Admiral Philip Davidson, nominated to head US Pacific Command, said Chinas forward operating bases in the South China Sea appeared complete. The only thing lacking are the deployed forces, he said. Once these were added, China will be able to extend its influence thousands of miles to the south and project power deep into Oceania. Davidson said China could use the bases to challenge the US regional presence, and would easily overwhelm the military forces of any other South China Sea-claimants. China is now capable of controlling the South China Sea in all scenarios short of war with the United States, he said. Commentary Getting the News Out by Bicycle, under Cover of Darkness On World Press Freedom Day, we publish this 2010 recollection by The Irrawaddys senior editor of his days printing a clandestine political journal, defying the then military government for freedom of expression. Squatting on the floor, I roll a 2-foot-long fluorescent tube across a sheet of heavy waxed paper, careful not to exert too much pressure. On the paper is a political statement written with a stencil pencil by one of my student friends. A plate of glass is placed underneath. Ink has been applied evenly to the surface of the glass with a wooden ruler. Our hands stained with ink, we roll out up to 100 sheets of paper. Our clandestine printing house is my bedroom and we operate after midnight. After printing, we rush to wash our hands and clean the place thoroughly to erase any evidence. It is already in the wee hours. Our next move is what I would call a surprise attack. It involves two bicycles, each carrying two people, taking action under cover of darkness. The person pedaling each bicycle races against time, flying along as fast as they can. The passenger applies glue to the back of the printed statements, using the pedalers back for support. When the bicycle stops, the pillion rider jumps off and sprints to a tree trunk, lamppost, bus stop or brick wall and hastily pastes a statement to it. Keeping our eyes open, we ensure that no one is following us. By dawn, we have covered the neighborhood. In the morning, people read the statements and share them with friends and family. Soon, the local authorities arrive and tear down our work. The mission, however, is accomplished. In the morning, we sit in a teashop and start planning our next surprise attack. This was just before the countrys pro-democracy uprising in 1988. Our underground printing house eventually progressed into publishing a political journal, named O-Way. It consisted of critical, political and democracy-related articles. By then, we had also upgraded our printing tool to a duplicating machine. After three years of churning out our journal I was caught. One of the main charges was my involvement in publishing it. A special military court of the ruling regime sentenced me to 10 years imprisonment in the notorious Insein Prison. My colleagues soon became my fellow inmates. Two decades later, tools and methods have certainly changed: Today information is spread immediately inside and outside Burma by digital means. However, little has changed regarding freedom of the press in my country. One recent example is Hla Hla Win, a 25-year-old journalist who was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment on Dec. 31, 2009. Her crime was sending information to members of exiled media organizations by email. She was charged under the Electronic Act, which prohibits using the Internet to send text, photos or video that could harm the Burmese regime abroad. Seeing the regime clamp down on journalists like Hla Hla Win, I wonder about the future of press freedom. How many more will be sent behind bars? How many more will end up like me in exiled media? Today 22 years after my colleagues and I operated that makeshift printing house in my bedroom I find myself working for an exiled media organization, The Irrawaddy, based in Thailand. Over the past two decades, Burmese exiled media organizations have mushroomed, which is concrete proof that inside the country, press freedom has been muzzled. My country has won a reputation as an enemy of the press. Note: Hla Hla Win was released (together with some other political prisoners) under a presidential amnesty in January 2012. The Irrawaddy senior editor Kyaw Zwa Moe wrote this article in 2010 while in exile on the Thai-Burma border. It was originally published by the Fojo Media Institute at Linnaeus University in Sweden. Opinion New Government, New Fears for Journalists in Myanmar Irrawaddy reporter Lawi Weng (center) arrives at the Hsipaw Township Court in Shan State for a hearing. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy Since my release from prison in September, I no longer dare to travel to conflict areas. I tell my friends I want to. But when I consider the case of the two Reuters reporters arrested in Yangon in December, I grow worried for my security. I do not want to go back to prison. I was detained for two months and six days in Hsipaw, in northern Shan State. Some friends have asked me whether the rule of law in Myanmar has improved much since the NLD came to power in early 2016. My own case has taught me that law enforcement still favors the army. Me and my two friends from the Democratic Voice of Burma were the victims of a wrongful arrest. During our trial for unlawful association with a rebel group, however, the judge never asked us if we wanted to make a statement. The judge only asked the soldiers who arrested us. When it took power, the NLD promised to improve the rule of law. But more than two years on, the rule of law is still broken. I was only doing my job as a conflict reporter and was breaking no laws. So why did the army arrest me? The two Reuters reporters, Ko Wa Lone and Ko Kyaw Soe Oo, were also doing their jobs investigating the killing of Rohingya civilians by army soldiers and were breaking no laws. We have the right to travel to conflict areas. Our job is to tell people what is happening in conflict areas, even when that means reporting on rights abuses. I used be a journalist in self-exile, based in northern Thailand. I returned to Myanmar in November 2012. Many other self-exiled journalists returned to the country around the same time, all with high expectations of the government, which had just begun to open up to the world after decades of military dictatorship. Then President Thein Sein invited those of us in self-exile to come back, calling the press the fourth pillar of his democratic reform agenda. But we all wondered whether the army, government and public saw the press the same way. Many people supported the NLD and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and dismissed journalists as mere troublemakers whenever we criticized them. The NLD itself takes criticism very badly. Under the countrys new semi-civilian government, journalists still have a very small voice. Before, whenever I heard of a flare-up of communal violence or a new outbreak of fighting in an ethnic area, I packed my clothes for the journey. I told my editors my plans and they were quick to approve the trip. I have been to Kachin, Shan, and Rakhine states many times. I never had any problems with the army during the previous government. When I met soldiers in northern Shan, we chatted like friends. They checked my wallet and my phone, to see if I had had any contact with rebel groups, then let me on my way. I was only arrested after the NLD came to power and now wonder why I was never detained before. The Constitution gives the army a great deal of power. The government cannot tell the army what to do, so the army can do what it wants. The army does not want the NLD to take credit for the countrys reform. So the army arrested us to show that it still has power. In a democratic system, the army cannot arrest journalists who work for the people. So I believed the army could not arrest me for doing my job. But when the army did arrest me, it was merely for visiting a rebel-controlled area and meeting rebel leaders, all as part of my work. I learned that in Myanmar the law is in the armys hands. We reporters are like fish in a pond, and the army can catch us whenever it wants. Those who believe in democracy believe in telling the truth; the army does not. Since my arrest, I watch for taps on my phone. I am careful about what I say on social media. On my way home, I sometimes wonder if someone is tailing me. If you ask me if I feel safe as a journalist under this government, I would say not yet. Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 (8:37 am) - Score 1,171 The state aid supported Better Broadband for Suffolk project in England is expected to start signing some new contracts with ISPs in the latter part of June July 2018, which could help them to achieve their ambition of 100% superfast broadband (24Mbps+) coverage by the end of 2020. At present around 93% of Suffolk is already covered by fixed superfast broadband networks and a big chunk of that is due to the aforementioned project, which has been working with the governments Broadband Delivery UK programme and Openreach (BT) to extend the availability of their FTTC (plus some FTTP) based broadband networks (123,684 premises have already befitted from this). The current deployment deal (Suffolks third contract) should extend superfast connectivity to over 98% of local premises by around mid-2020, although the county council has long held an ambition to reach 100% by the very end of 2020. Unfortunately that final 2% also happens to represent some of the hardest to reach areas, many of which exist on the East Suffolk coast. Last year the local authority moved to tackle this challenge by establishing the Suffolk Coastal Enabling Broadband Programme Board and this week the East Suffolk council released a small but useful update (here) on its progress, which states that new tenders could be agreed this summer. Council Statement A Viability Event was held on 26th February 2018 at East Suffolk House to present the Councils plans to potential suppliers of broadband services and generate discussion on the feasibility of potential delivery options. Six interested providers attended and received a clear understanding of what the Council was trying to achieve and likely funding available. The event was successful with an agreed decision to proceed on the basis of a Framework Agreement approach. The Framework Agreement approach would allow interested companies to qualify for a framework which would enable them to express interest in and tender for the items of work in the build phase. The build phase will involve identifying a number of current nobuild areas and asking for proposals for the provision of a broadband service to those premises. The first phase build will be followed by another phase leading to full coverage or to the extent that the limited resources will allow. Likely timescale based on compliance with standard procurement processes should enable completion of Framework qualifying process within May and tenders for the first of the build areas awarded between the latter part of June July 2018. Work is currently being undertaken to determine the detail and document the service specification and selection criteria to be used for the procurement process. As the Framework will be valid for up to four years, then efforts will be made wherever possible to ensure sufficient flexibility so that it could be used to address similar broadband availability issues across wider East Suffolk area should additional funding be available. The Enabling Broadband Programme has a budget of 250k, 200k of which has been agreed as part of the approved 2017/2018 MTFS (Medium Term Financial Strategy) and a further 50k from the return of a contribution made by Suffolk Coastal District Council (via SCLSP) to the Suffolk Better Broadband Programme thereby giving a total fund of 250k. On the other hand 250,000, even when matched with private investment, wont take them very far because its always disproportionately more expensive to tackle the most remote and sparse rural communities. So far Suffolks existing project has already contracted around 54 million of public funding (26.94m from BDUK and 26.67m from local bodies/councils) and thats before we factor BTs private investment. On the other hand theres still a question mark over how much reinvestment of public funding might in future be returned by BT due to strong take-up of the new service (gainshare / clawback under the existing contract), which could be used to further improve local broadband coverage. Hopefully more details will surface in a few months. Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 (9:33 am) - Score 4,369 Security researchers working for VPN Mentor have tested many random GPON ISP routers and discovered that all were vulnerable to two new exploits that could enable a hacker to hijack the device. Related routers are used by Gigabit full fibre (FTTH/P) broadband providers around the world. At the time of writing full details of the two vulnerabilities CVE-2018-10561 and CVE-2018-10562 have not yet been published and so we dont know exactly which manufacturers were subjected to the random testing. The group used Shodan to estimate that over a million Gigabit Passive Optical Networks (GPON) routers are currently affected, mostly in Mexico, Kazakhstan and Vietnam (mercifully only a very few were in the UK). Essentially the first flaw exploits the authentication mechanism of the device (bypassing it), while the second is based around a command injection vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute commands on the device. Both can be combined to completely takeover a router, which then leaves the end-users network open to abuse, such as traffic hijacking and or the loss of personal data etc. VPN Mentor Statement During our analysis of GPON firmwares, we found two different critical vulnerabilities (CVE-2018-10561 & CVE-2018-10562) that could, when combined allow complete control on the device and therefore the network. The first vulnerability exploits the authentication mechanism of the device that has a flaw. This flaw allows any attacker to bypass all authentication. The flaw can be found with the HTTP servers, which check for specific paths when authenticating. This allows the attacker to bypass authentication on any endpoint using a simple trick. While looking through the device functionalities, we noticed the diagnostic endpoint contained the ping and traceroute commands. It didnt take much to figure out that the commands can be injected by the host parameter. Since the router saves ping results in /tmp and transmits it to the user when the user revisits /diag.html, its quite simple to execute commands and retrieve their output with the authentication bypass vulnerability. Apparently many of the vulnerable GPON routers are made by the South Korean firm Dasan Networks, which allegedly did not respond to the researchers (possibly due to a language barrier). The question now is whether or not such flaws will be patched by the responsible company(s). Router manufacturers often have fairly short life-cycles on their devices, which can result in a lack of support after only a fairly short period. UPDATE 8th May 2018 We have the following statement from Dasan. Thursday, May 3rd, 2018 (5:12 pm) - Score 1,696 Cable broadband operator Virgin Media has announced that it is to cut 772 jobs (including 220 roles from SITEL) by shutting its call centre in Llansamlet (Swansea, Wales), which is expected to complete by the autumn of 2019. The good news is that most of these will be shifted to elsewhere in the UK. Various reports suggest that some 470 of Virgin Medias own staff will be transferred to the companys Manchester base, while their on-site sub-contractor (SITEL) employees will be transferred to Glasgow. Naturally many will find it difficult to relocate to such distant locations. Tom Mockridge, CEO of Virgin Media, said: Last year Virgin Media began a three year property investment programme to create fewer, higher quality work places to better support our people, our business and growing customer base. As part of this we intend to create four regional customer operations hubs while increasing the flexibility of our customer services resources. As a consequence, we have proposed the customer operations roles currently based at our Swansea site will transfer to either one of our partners or to a soon to be refurbished site at Wythenshawe near Manchester. The majority of the remaining roles will relocate to alternative sites across the UK. We are now working with and supporting all employees who have been asked to relocate, who may be in a role at risk of redundancy or who may wish to take another role with Virgin Media or one of our partners. Suffice to say that the news has not gone down well in Swansea, where Rob Stewart (Council Leader) said: Along with our colleagues in Welsh Government we will be seeking an urgent meeting with the company to see what can be can be done to retain these jobs in Swansea. We hope Virgin Media will work with us because the company owes the people of Swansea a debt and therefore a legacy. Ok, ok, so Sydney isn't really being snubbed, it's just that travellers to Melbourne find Airbnb a very popular option compared with travellers to Sydney, according to the latest research. Roy Morgan has released its latest stats on Australians who have been on a trip in the last 12 months, with Melbourne noted as being "way ahead of Sydney as an Airbnb hub". We're told that Australians are "increasingly choosing to stay in rented houses or rented serviced apartments when they travel". Indeed, some 10.4% of travellers "stayed in this type of accommodation on their last trip, according to Roy Morgan travel research conducted in the year to March 2018. This is substantially higher than a decade ago when only 7.1% stayed in rented accommodation". Roy Morgan tells us that "Melbourne is Australias favoured destination with Airbnb travellers", and that "11.6% of people who visited Victorias capital city on their last trip stayed in either rented houses or rented serviced apartments on that trip, up 3% on a decade ago". This is compared to "only 8.5% of people who visited New South Wales capital Sydney on their last trip stayed in either rented houses or rented serviced apartments on that trip, up 1.3% on ten years ago". But what about a couple of other top Australian capital cities? Here, we're told that "Queensland capital city Brisbane has also seen strong growth in this type of accommodation being utilised with 11.4% of people who visited Brisbane on their last trip stayed in either rented houses or rented serviced apartments on that trip compared to 7.2% in 2008". Meanwhile, in post mining boom Perth, the trend is reversed as now "only 4.2% of people who visited the WA capital on their last trip stayed in rented houses or rented serviced apartments on that trip, less than half the levels of a decade ago when the mining boom was in full swing". Here's Roy Morgan's chart on "Australian travellers who stayed in rented houses or rented serviced apartments on last trip". Source: Roy Morgan Single Source (Australia), April 2007 March 2008, n=14,599. April 2017 March 2018, n=9,893. Base: Australians who have been on a trip in the last 12 months. Gary Morgan, executive chairman, Roy Morgan, and candidate for Melbourne Lord Mayor, says the increasing prevalence of short-term Airbnb type accommodation proliferating is a huge problem for Australias capital cities: Airbnb was founded in mid-2008 and over the last decade has been a spectacularly successful business for its investors and for travellers worldwide looking for cheap accommodation. Unfortunately, there is a price to pay for this cut-rate accommodation and it is being paid for by apartment buyers and developers who are suffering from a reduction in apartment values caused by short-term travellers. Melbourne has seen a huge surge in apartments being used for Airbnb short-term accommodation over the last decade and this has cut the value of apartments. These apartments werent originally bought or sold on the understanding they would be used as a revolving door by travellers from both Australia and overseas. It is vital that the Lord Mayor of Melbourne pushes for legislative action from the State Government to ensure that people renting such apartments stay for a minimum of one month which forces the traveler to invest in the maintenance of the apartment and surrounding amenities. As Lord Mayor I will ask (forcefully) for the State Government to prevent apartments being used (and vandalised) by short-term visitors that downgrades the value of apartments and leads to a poorer overall amenity for the city and for residents in Melbourne, Morgan concluded. Civica has announced its latest partnership with BaptistCare (NSW and ACT) to supply its Cx Housing Management solution in a first for the A/NZ region, in a five-year deal. With BaptistCare a leader in the social services industry for its housing, aged care, and community services to marginalised individuals, it needed a solution that could cope with BaptistCare's needs, and those of the people it cares for. Prior to partnering with Civica, BaptistCare tells us that it "conducted an extensive market review of existing system providers", and we're about to find out why it chose Civica CX. Civica tells us that its Civica Cx is "a new Web-based housing management solution that enables teams to work from any device at any time". It uses a "tenant-centric approach" that "allows frontline employees to respond to a customers enquiry faster, improving productivity and customer satisfaction". We're told that "the solution integrated design permits information to be collated and shared effectively with stakeholders", and that "subsequently, managers are able to access up-to-date business information, enabling them to take corrective action when needed whilst improving operations". Mike Furner, general manager Housing and Retirement Living at BaptistCare, said: Our partnership with Civica will allow us to expand our community housing in a sustainable and cost effective manner reducing overall costs, improving our productivity and efficiency, and ensuring the limited funds we have are invested where it really matters, in social and affordable housing for our various communities. We were looking for a system that placed the tenant at the centre of the solution, providing us with the ability to match tenants with the most suitable properties for them. "One that could provide all the information needed at the fingertips of our BaptistCare employees so that they understood the tenant and the property and so could really support and deliver services to the tenants in the field as well as in the office. "We also wanted a tenant portal flexible enough to enable the tenant to choose a communication channel best suited to them smartphone, tablet or PC, call centre or at BaptistCare locations. Cx offers us all of these requirements in a modern, responsive design. Civica explains its Cx solution is one that can "grow alongside BaptistCare with employees able to configure and administer changes without the need for extensive IT support. "It is also designed to work with external tools to minimise manual data handling and is backed up with cloud grade data privacy and security". Richard Fiddis, managing director for Civica International, said: "Were delighted to be working with BaptistCare on this landmark deal for Civica in ANZ. As a global business one of our key strengths is being able to rapidly share best-in-class solutions like Cx across our group companies. "Cx has proved highly successful since its launch in the UK. We believe this is the first of many deals to come in for our housing and tenant management solutions in the region. It also reaffirms the growth in Civicas international business and the continued successful execution of our strategy including expansion into wider markets. Here's Civica's corporate video: Here's one of BaptistCare's many videos: Officials at the US Department of Defence have moved to stop the sales of phones made by Chinese telecommunications equipment companies Huawei and ZTE in retail outlets on US military bases, claiming the devices may be a security risk. The Wall Street Journal quoted Army Major Dave Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, as saying: "Huawei and ZTE devices may pose an unacceptable risk to the departments personnel, information and mission. In light of this information, it was not prudent for the departments exchanges to continue selling them. Eastburn was referring to the sales outlets at or near military bases around the globe that sell to US soldiers or sailors, About 2400 Huawei and ZTE phones were sold at these shops last year. Contacted for comment, a Huawei spokesperson told iTWire: "Huawei's products are sold in 170 countries worldwide and meet the highest standards of security, privacy and engineering in every country where we operate globally, including the US. "We remain committed to openness and transparency in everything we do and want to be clear that no government has ever asked us to compromise the security or integrity of any of our networks or devices. "Huawei is an employee-owned company and will continue to develop its global business through a significant commitment to innovation and R&D as well as to delivering technology that helps our customers succeed." The Pentagon advice is the latest step that the US has taken against Huawei and ZTE, in an ongoing war against the Chinese companies against the backdrop of a trade dispute between the two countries. Recent reports said the Justice Department was investigating whether Huawei has violated US sanctions on Iran. The WSJ said TKS, a subsidiary of Vodafone that runs stores on US bases in Germany, had already stopped selling Huawei phones. Theyve been removed from our portfolio to comply with guidance from the Army & Air Force Exchange Services, a TKS spokesman told the newspaper. Last month, the US Department of Commerce slapped a seven-year ban on ZTE, claiming the company had made false statements during talks in 2016 over a charge of shipping telecommunications gear to Iran and North Korea. Prior to that, ZTE had paid a fine of US$890 million after admitting that it violated a law that controls export of sensitive goods by shipping US telecom equipment to Iran. As a penalty, US firms have been blocked from selling parts to ZTE for seven years. Also last month, iTWire reported that Huawei and ZTE would not receive any subsidies from the Universal Service Fund that the US uses to subsidise equipment bought by rural and small carriers, and Huawei is reportedly cutting back US sales efforts as a result. The US began its efforts to force Huawei out of local contracts after the 2012 Congressional report alleged the company was a threat to national security. In December, President Donald Trump signed a bill to ban Huawei and ZTE equipment from nuclear weapons systems in the US Defence Department. And earlier this year, Trump stopped a takeover of US processor maker Qualcomm by Singapore-based Broadcom because of national security concerns; Huawei's ties to Broadcom were mentioned as a concern. Last year, multinational electronics corporation Best Buy said it would no longer stock the company's smartphones. This came after AT&T cancelled a deal to start selling Huawei smartphones on its plans and Verizon took the company's devices off its shelves. The Australian Government has been urged not to trade off short-term budget savings for the country's long-term prosperity by making changes to the $3 billion R&D Tax Incentive and restricting claims for software R&D. Australian Information Industry Association chief executive Rob Fitzpatrick said if changes were made to the R&D scheme, then the likelihood of ICT companies relocating to other countries to pursue their idea was very high. The R&D Tax Incentive seeks to improve the quality and quantity of R&D investments and is a broad-based program that is accessible to all industry sectors where businesses get a refund or tax offset for undertaking R&D activities if requirements are met. Fitzpatrick pointed out that the New Zealand Government had announced recently that it was reinstating its R&D Tax Incentive program. "Once enacted there will be a good incentive for Australian ICT companies to relocate to New Zealand for a more supportive R&D scheme. As a result, Australia is at risk of losing its ICT companies to other countries if further cuts are made to the R&D Tax Incentive," he said. Fitzpatrick underlined the fact that restrictions for software R&D were "particularly problematic". "IT research is the biggest component of business R&D, and one of the few fields where research spending has grown over the last decade," he said. "ICT spending is now a significant proportion of GDP. Without adequate government support, businesses will under-invest in R&D in Australia because the full public benefits of new knowledge cannot be captured by private investors. As our ICT companies become increasingly globalised they will be encouraged to seek innovation incentives offered by other countries. ICT is a highly mobile, high skilled labour-based industry and businesses will move their scarce labour resources to where there is better support. R&D must be seen as an investment that can prevent this brain drain." He said industry acknowledged the importance of ensuring the R&D Tax Incentive was well designed, but constant changes were preventing businesses from investing with confidence. Efforts to restrict claims are supposedly motivated by concern that the system is being abused, but evidence has not been presented that this is a widespread problem - despite a number of requests - and the proposed changes will mainly punish legitimate research," Fitzpatrick said The AIIA and its members have been closely engaged with AusIndustry on the update of the guidance material on software R&D. Unfortunately its our view that changes were designed to restrict claims rather than to clarify them. The AIIA cited the cases of a number of companies which had developed innovative solutions to technological problems: In the case of QPay , a payments platform for university students, its MasterCard offering would have been delayed for at least 12 months without an R&D claim. , a payments platform for university students, its MasterCard offering would have been delayed for at least 12 months without an R&D claim. In the case of SalesPreso , which is used for creating customised presentations, the AIIA said the investment in innovation would have been restricted without the R&D claim. , which is used for creating customised presentations, the AIIA said the investment in innovation would have been restricted without the R&D claim. A third case, that of TOTECS , which offers readymade eCommerce websites, the company would have shut down had it not been for the R&D money. , which offers readymade eCommerce websites, the company would have shut down had it not been for the R&D money. Health solutions provider ToukanLabs was clear that it would not have been able to set up shop in Australia without an R&D claim. was clear that it would not have been able to set up shop in Australia without an R&D claim. Predictive crop health diagnostics firm FluroSat said it would have been unable to invest in its novel sensor technology without the R&D claim. Two other companies who preferred anonymity said development would be slowed if not for the R&D claims. Fitzpatrick said that the ICT industry was particularly concerned about the proposed intensity test, which limits the R&D incentive to both large and small businesses with a particular level of R&D activities. There is little evidence that an intensity test will increase additionality and it may in fact do the opposite. In general, Australia is dominated by industries with relatively low levels of R&D intensity," he said. "The R&D Tax Incentive is crucial to encouraging firms in these industries to make small investments in R&D that may later lead to broader research programs. Often research units in large firms begin because one or two employees are able to convince management to take a small risk. These initiatives would be strangled by the introduction of an intensity test, and for most firms committing one per cent (of total expenditure) to an unproven research project is not feasible. We have spoken to a number of successful Australian businesses who would not be here today if not for the R&D Tax Incentive. They explain what the R&D Tax Incentive did for them and what it would mean if they couldnt claim in the future." Cambridge Analytica, the data analytics firm that was recently embroiled in a scandal over obtaining data from Facebook, has shut down its operations. The decision was taken because the company was losing clients and looking at growing legal costs, The Wall Street Journal said, citing a person familiar with the matter. It said Cambridge Analytica was closing down from Wednesday and that it had told its employees to return their computers. The scandal around Cambridge Analytica broke in March after a former employee, Christopher Wylie, aired allegations about the company's operations to London's Observer and The New York Times. Data was collected in 2014 by Aleksandr Kogan, a researcher, using an app that requested people to take a personality test for academic research. About 270,000 people took the test; Kogan called the app he was using a very standard vanilla Facebook app". Given the terms of service of the app and the existing Facebook API, the app also collected the data of friends of those who responded. Kogan later passed on the data to Cambridge Analytica. The two newspapers reported that what was handed over was information about more than 50 million people. Additionally, the same month Britain's Channel 4 News carried a report of an undercover operation by one of its own staff who met top executives of Cambridge Analytica, pretending to be someone who wanted to throw mud at a political rival. Chief executive Alexsandr Nix was suspended soon after this footage went to air. The founder of Cambridge Analytica's British affiliate, the SCL Group, Nigel Oakes, confirmed to the WSJ that the two firms were shutting down. Amazon has announced its second Australian fulfilment centre, to be located in Sydney's southwest. The centre will be within the Goodman Centenary distribution centre In Moorebank, which provides easy access to the M5 and M7 motorways. The 43,000 square metre facility will employ an unspecified number of people. The company said it is recruiting to fill a range of roles including operations, support and technical positions, but at this time, Amazon's jobs site only shows five management vacancies. "We are thrilled to be establishing our next fulfilment centre in Sydney and working with incredible people in the local community around Moorebank. Sydney represents another important development for our growth strategy in Australia, following a steady and progressive increase in customer demand," said Amazon Australia operations director Robert Bruce. "This new facility builds on the capabilities of our first centre in Dandenong South, allowing us to continue to fulfil our commitment to fast and reliable deliveries for Australian customers. "This investment will benefit both customers and the local economy by generating new jobs and providing small and medium sized Australian businesses who sell on amazon.com.au and use our Fulfilment by Amazon program, with an opportunity to more easily access millions of customers across the country." Liverpool mayor Wendy Waller said: "We are pleased to welcome the Amazon fulfilment centre to Moorebank. This is a great win for our local community; the Amazon facility will be a boon for South West Sydney and we look forward to having good jobs for people close to where they live and having a partner involved in the local community. "We expect the Sydney fulfilment centre will become a key logistics hub thanks to its strategic position in southwest Sydney." Amazon plans to open the centre in the second half of 2018. Social media giant Facebook says it will classify news sources by their "trustworthiness", telling a select group of well-known media outlets that data from users would be used to grade various new brands. Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg made the announcement at the company's annual F8 developer conference. The website Buzzfeed quoted Zuckerberg as saying: We put [that data] into the system, and it is acting as a boost or a suppression, and were going to dial up the intensity of that over time. "We feel like we have a responsibility to further [break] down polarisation and find common ground. Facebook has come under pressure from the US Government in the wake of reports that fake news reports were rampant on the platform during the US presidential election in 2016. Adding fuel to the fire, the company was embroiled in a data leak scandal recently, with the data analytics firm Cambridge Analytica found to have obtained personal details of millions of users during its work for Donald Trump's election campaign. Zuckerberg was made to appear before Congress on two days last month to answer questions about the data leak. The media outlets invited to Zuckerberg's announcement included BuzzFeed News, The Information, Quartz, The New York Times, CNN, The Wall Street Journal, NBC, Recode, Univision, Barrons, the Daily Beast, The Economist, the Huffington Post, Insider, The Atlantic, the New York Post, and others. Only two of these organisations are considered to lean towards the right: The Wall Street Journal and the New York Post, both publications owned by News Corporation. Kantar's latest smartphone OS data shows Samsung S8 ranks first in Australia, followed by the iPhone 8, X and 8 Plus, with iOS share up to 40.6% as Android dips to 57.7%. Kantar Worldpanel ComTech's latest smartphone OS shares have been revealed, showing that in the three months ending March 2018, "competition within Android continued to intensify as Huawei and Xiaomi expanded their global presence". Meanwhile, iOS share has held steady across the big five markets in Europe, the US and Australia, in contrast to continuing growth in urban China. Dominic Sunnebo, global director for Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, said: With Huaweis entry to the US market effectively blocked by the government, the business has increased the focus and resources it is aiming at Europe. "Despite the well-reviewed Huawei P20 flagship not being released until April, the results are already showing. Huawei has managed to significantly increase its presence across the big five European markets and it now holds almost a fifth of sales in the three months to March 2018 19.0%, up from 14.4% a year earlier. "Most encouraging for Huawei are the signs that progress is finally being made in the UK, with share rising to 5.9% it needs to conquer this market if its going to realise its ambition of becoming a premium choice for consumers. The top three brands in the big five European markets, Samsung, Apple and Huawei, made up 71% of smartphone sales in the latest quarter, but Kantar tells us "newcomer Xiaomi has quietly taken fourth spot, with a 4.4% share. This is made all the more impressive given that growth has come predominantly from just two markets, Spain and Italy". Sunnebo continued, Despite being a household name in China and India, Xiaomi has turned its attention to Europe late, though it has quickly proven to be a worthy opponent. "In Asia, Xiaomis business model has been focused online and while this remains an important factor in its European model it is local partnerships with key players like Media Markt, Media World and Carrefour that has allowed it to accelerate sales so quickly. In Australia, Tamsin Timpson, the Strategic Insight Director for Worldpanel ComTech APAC, said: "iOS share increases in the 3 m/e March 2018 to 40.6%, up from 39.1% in the 3 m/e March 2017. "The iPhone 8, iPhone X and iPhone 8 Plus are ranked 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively behind Samsungs Galaxy S8. Whilst the iPhone X share has grown since the Q4 17 period to 7.6%, the iPhone 8 share peaked in Dec 17 with a share of 12.1% and has now dropped back to 9.4%. "Android share falls from 59.8% in 2017 to 57.7% in the latest 3 months. Samsung share declines slightly on a year ago from 35.1% to 34.4%, although experiences a strong uplift on share from the previous Q4 17 period (where Apple share peaked at 46%) with the Galaxy S8 the top-selling smartphone with a share of 11%. "Samsungs performance varies by price tier, where share has been under pressure at the low end but has increased in both the high ($600-$900) and premium ($900+) tiers. "Whilst early days for the new flagship Galaxy S9 and S9+ devices, sales are strong, so far, attracting a young female customer, who is influenced by advocacy and exclusive promotions. In addition to the core features such as the screen clarity, camera quality and processor speed, consumers have chosen these premium devices for their wireless charging, expandable memory and waterproof capability". Timpson continued: "Interestingly, a new trend within Android has emerged this period, whereby the established global brands have clawed back some much-needed share, largely driven by Sony and Motorola, with Sony now taking 4th place behind Huawei with its Xperia XZ Premium driving share in the high tier. "Having seen consistent growth over the last few quarters, the C-brands as a group experience some decline year on year (from 13.4% to 10%), with Huawei, ZTE and Alcatel mirroring this trend. An exception, however, is Oppo, whose share increases by 1ppt year on year to 3.2%, placing the brand in 5th position in total smartphone". Article continues below image, please read on an OS market share chart is at the end of the article. Meanwhile, over in the US, Kantar tells us that "Apple and Samsung have managed to eke out year-on-year share gains, up 0.1% and 1.4% respectively. Google has achieved its highest ever quarterly sales share of 3.4%, up from 1.7% a year earlier, thanks to the success of its Pixel line. ZTE, also under pressure from the US government, saw its sales share fall to 2.5% in the latest quarter". "In the US and the European top five markets, iPhone 8 sold in marginally higher numbers than the flagship iPhone X, indicating that as early iPhone X demand is fulfilled the price difference between the two devices is playing a notable role in consumers choices. "In urban China, iPhone X continues to be not only Apples top performing model but the best-selling model in the market, helping Apple share to increase strongly to 22.1%." NZ network vendor TeamTalk is transforming into a critically resilient communications service provider, and with Nokia's equipment and help will deliver "solutions and services including emergency services, connected service vehicles, wireless technologies, private LTE and Internet of Things". The announcement of Nokia and TeamTalk's partnership was made at the Critical Communications Conference in Auckland, and sees TeamTalk will become a reseller partner of Nokia equipment, software and services. The companies will also work together on "delivering solutions focusing on IP/MPLS-based critical and resilient communications services, emergency services, connected service vehicles, wireless technologies, private LTE and Internet of Things (IoT)", with TeamTalk set to use "Nokia's IP/MPLS backhaul network solution for its new digital radio system". TeamTalk, which proudly boasts of being operating in New Zealand for the past 20 years, is "looking to transition from a pure network vendor into a critical and resilient communications service provider. The partnership with Nokia will allow TeamTalk to deliver emergency service vehicle edge, private LTE and IoT technologies to New Zealand". Andrew Miller, chief executive of TeamTalk, said: "Today, a substantial portion of the New Zealand market is not adequately covered by a mobile network, and this raises issues for emergency service responders. "Our goal is to deploy a country-wide solution that will provide critical communications to the majority of New Zealand's emergency services. We found Nokia to have the right product set and partnerships to make this project a reality." Stuart Mac Hendry, head of transportation, energy & public sector for Asia Pacific and Japan at Nokia, said: "Thanks to TeamTalk, this partnership will help us increase our presence in key vertical segments - starting with emergency services and soon extending to all networks requiring resilience such as transport, airports, ports and utilities. "The depth and breadth of our technology expertise and significant presence in the New Zealand market were the determining factors for TeamTalk to partner with us." 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The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/ Reddit Email 187 Shares Rudy Giulianis so-called defense of Donald J. Trump on Sean Hannitys nightly One Hour of Hate involved outing the presidents money laundering deal with Michael Cohen whereby he paid him a regular retainer for undisclosed services and then expected him to spend from his own bank account on fixer jobs for Trump. This arrangement helps explain why Cohen maintained he was not reimbursed for his hush money of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels. He was reimbursed, but it was via a supposedly unrelated retainer. Since the retainer functioned to repay Cohen for intervening in a matter that could have otherwise thrown the election, it may have been illegal under election campaign laws, regardless of Giulianis denials. Ms. Daniels attorney alleged that the arrangement itself was illegal, inasmuch as it involved falsified invoices and receipts between a lawyer and client. Im not qualified to pronounce on that charge. If it is true, then Giuliani has inadvertently increased Trumps legal problems. He certainly further tarnished Trumps tattered reputation when it comes to ever telling the truth. It may be that Giuliani made the revelation because Trump had earlier lied about it, maintaining he did not pay Cohen or reimburse him for the Daniels payment, and Giuliani wanted to get the truth out in order not to have to defend a lie down the road if the matter went to trial. Giuliani also alleged that Trump fired FBI director James Comey because Comey refused to assure him that he was not under investigation. Comey implied he was fired because he declined to assure the president that he would bury the investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Flynn had acted as a go-between to Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak for Manchurian Candidate Trump. The long and the short of it is that Giuliani revealed that Trump lied, yet again. The Washington Post estimates that he is up to 6 falsehoods a day. A president who serially lies is a particular problem for foreign policy. Trump is on the verge of pulling out of the 2015 Iran Deal, in part on the grounds provided by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in his stunt retailing old intelligence before 2003 which he attempted to portray as relevant to 2018. Trump appears to have bought the lie, what with being truth-challenged and all. Netanyahu has predicted an Iranian nuke as often as most people predict it will get cold this winter. Netanyahu has several hundred nuclear bombs himself and it has been alleged that he was personally involved in smuggling triggers for them out of the United States. Iran has no bombs or any prospect of one. So Trump will tell us that he is pulling out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action because he believes the Iranians are cheating, or that it was a bad deal in the first place (he shows no sign of knowing what was in it), or because, I dont know, Iranians are X. He makes things up. Trump has no credibility to make important foreign policy decisions because he is a fundamentally dishonest personality. In an ideal world, Congress would use its control of the budget to stop Trump from implementing new sanctions on Iran or of practically withdrawing from the JCPOA. But I fear that currently a majority of our national legislature consists of dedicated liars, as well. Reddit Email 185 Shares Benjamin Netanyahu created a global media storm when he announced ownership of new documents that would question Irans nuclear deal. Twitter feeds were full of conjecture debating what he would reveal most probably some information showing Iran had continued its nuclear activities clandestinely after the nuclear deal had been reached between Iran and the so-called P5+1 powers (China, France, Russia, the UK, the US and Germany) in 2015. But in the end, all Netanyahus presentation revealed was that Israel is still questioning the credibility of the deal in itself. Netanyahus main argument was that the newly obtained documents showed that the deal was built on lies. He claimed that while Iran has always denied that it was pursuing nuclear weapons before the deal, the documents acknowledge that Iran had, under a project dubbed Project Amad, tried to develop nuclear weapons before 2003. He also added that Iran had in the past strived to fit a nuclear payload onto its Shahab 3 ballistic missile. World leaders reacted to Netanyahus remarks differently. Donald Trump, whos labelled the nuclear accord a bad deal, said that Netanyahus press conference proves him 100% right. Irans foreign minister, Javad Zarif, derided Netanyahus comments as a stunt meant to influence Trumps decision on whether stay in the nuclear deal or not. Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, responded more coolly: What I have seen from the first reports is that Prime Minister Netanyahu has not put into question Irans compliance with (the] post-2015 nuclear commitments. But beyond the diplomatic flurry Netanyahu surely intended to provoke, his press conference shows why preserving the deal is so vital. And while international organisations such as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) certainly need time to study the files that Netanyahu is referring to, he hasnt actually done much to undermine the deals credibility. Truth and lies First of all, one of the principal reasons why reaching an agreement on Irans nuclear programme took more than 10 years was that the two sides could not trust each other. As former US president Barack Obama famously stated, the deal is not based on trust. Its based on unprecedented verification. Given that Irans statements about its nuclear activities are immaterial as far as the deals premise is concerned, Netanyahus argument that false statements about past activities invalidate the deal doesnt make sense. More importantly, the IAEA report indicates that the international community was aware of Irans clandestine nuclear activities. For instance, in its 2015 Final Assessment on Past and Present Outstanding Issues regarding Irans Nuclear Programme, the IAEA specifically mentions Project Amad and Irans attempts between 2002-2003 to integrate a new spherical payload into the existing payload chamber of the re-entry vehicle for the Shahab 3 missile. In other words, the nuclear deal in fact came about partly because of the IAEAs concerns about Irans nuclear activities, not in spite of them. And thanks to the deal according to a statement by director general Yukiya Amano: The IAEA now has the worlds most robust verification regime in place in Iran. The P5+1 powers who negotiated the deal with Iran trust the IAEAs data and the fact it exists at all shows just how much the deal matters for Iran and the world. Without the Iran nuclear deal, Iran would never accept such rigid observations on its nuclear sites. Whatever Trump and his more hawkish advisers might say, this is still a good deal. Meysam Tayebipour, PhD Candidate, Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion, Lancaster University This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. the Telegraph: Barack Obama: nothing new in Benjamin Netanyahus Iran speech LONDON and CALGARY, Alberta, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mkango Resources Ltd. (AIM:MKA) (TSX-V:MKA) (the "Company" or "Mkango") is pleased to provide a corporate update. Songwe Hill Rare Earths Deposit Following receipt of the 6 million investment by Talaxis Limited (Talaxis) in January 2018, the initial phases of the feasibility study for Songwe have commenced. Preparation is well advanced for the largest diamond drilling programme to date at Songwe. Drilling is targeted to commence within the next month, once all drill roads and pads are completed. The programme is for a minimum of 5,000 metres and will be focused on infill, step-out and geotechnical drilling, the latter for the purposes of mine design. The drill plan is based on a refined geological model developed in-house by Mkangos technical team in consultation with The MSA Group and Bara Consulting, who have been appointed resource and mining consultants, respectively. Cartwright Drilling has been appointed as drilling contractor, with a combined Canadian and Malawian drilling team to operate two diamond drill rigs both running 24 hours. Over 50 drill pads are being constructed for the drill programme, as well as an enlarged camp to accommodate the larger team versus previous drill programmes. Mkango has run two successful drill programmes at Songwe in 2011 and 2012, culminating in a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate, also previously working with Cartwright Drilling, the MSA Group and Bara Consulting. Mkango is targeting completion of an updated Mineral Resource Estimate by the end of 2018. In terms of other aspects of the feasibility study, metallurgical optimisation is underway at laboratories in Australia and Canada. The work programme has been scaled up following receipt of the Talaxis funding and is focused on flotation, hydrometallurgy and acid regeneration. The Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment is underway and being completed in accordance with World Bank Standards and Equator Principles. Appointment of Alternative Resource Capital Mkango has appointed Alternative Resource Capital as Joint Broker and corporate sponsored research provider, effective May 2, 2018. Alternative Resource Capital is a trading name of Shard Capital Partners LLP (ARC), which is authorised and regulated by the FCA. ARC is a London based broker with a focus on small to mid-cap listed resource companies. Under the terms of the agreement (Agreement), ARC will provide corporate broking and research services to the Company, and provide general market intelligence, feedback on the markets view of the Company and on market activity in the shares. The Agreement provides for a monthly fee of 2,083 per month in connection with the provision of research services and runs for an initial term of 12 months with a two month notice of termination provision. About Mkango Resources Limited Mkango's primary business is the exploration for rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, a country whose hospitable people have earned it a reputation as the warm heart of Africa. The Company holds interests in three exclusive prospecting licenses in Malawi, the Phalombe licence, the Thambani licence and the Chimimbe Hill licence. The main exploration target in the 80% held Phalombe licence is the Songwe Hill rare earths deposit, which features carbonatite hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s. Mkango completed an updated Pre-feasibility Study for the project in November 2015 and is currently commencing a Feasibility Study. Under the terms of an agreement with Talaxis, Talaxis will fully fund a feasibility study for Songwe by investing 12 million (C$21 million) for a 49% interest in the project (via Mkango subsidiary Lancaster Exploration Ltd). Talaxis will also have the option to acquire a further 26% interest by arranging funding for project development. If Talaxis exercises its option, Mkango will retain a 25% interest, free carried to production. To date, Talaxis has invested 5 million (C$8.8 million), which is funding the initial phase of the Feasibility Study, for a 20% interest in the project with Mkango holding 80%. By investing a further 2 million (C$3.3 million), Talaxis will acquire a 49% interest in Maginito Ltd, a new subsidiary of Mkango focused on neodymium alloy powders, magnet and other technologies. This includes the collaboration with Metalysis Ltd announced in September 2017, which is focused on advanced alloys using neodymium or praseodymium with other elements for permanent magnet manufacturing. Permanent magnets are critical materials for most electric vehicles, direct drive wind turbines and many other high growth applications. Neodymium is a key rare earth component at Songwe. To date, Talaxis has invested 1 million (C$1.8 million) for a 24.5% interest in Maginito with Mkango holding 75.5%. The main exploration targets in Mkangos remaining two 100% held licences are, in the Thambani licence, uranium, niobium, tantalum and zircon and, in the Chimimbe Hill licence, nickel and cobalt. For more information, please visit www.mkango.ca. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure Certain information contained in this announcement may have been deemed inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 until the release of this announcement. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of that term under applicable securities laws) with respect to Mkango, its business and the Project. Generally, forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or is expected, scheduled, estimates intends, anticipates, believes, or variations of such words and phrases, or statements that certain actions, events or results can, may, could, would, should, might or will, occur or be achieved, or the negative connotations thereof. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements with respect to the global market for products using the rare earth metals the Company is exploring for, completion of the feasibility study and of the transactions contemplated in the Agreement, as well as the use of proceeds from the investments into the Company by Talaxis and the timing of such expenditures. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, market demand for the metals and associated downstream products for which Mkango is exploring, researching and developing, the positive results of a feasibility study on the Project, delays in obtaining financing or governmental or stock exchange approvals. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. For further information on Mkango, please contact: Mkango Resources Limited William Dawes Alexander Lemon Chief Executive Officer President This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. UK: +44 207 3722 744 Canada: +1 403 444 5979 www.mkango.ca @MkangoResources Blytheweigh Financial Public Relations Tim Blythe, Camilla Horsfall, Nick Elwes UK: +44 207 138 3204 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker Jeff Keating, Caroline Rowe UK: +44 20 3470 0470 Alternative Resource Capital Joint Broker Alex Wood, Rob Collins UK: +44 20 7186 9004; +44 20 7186 9001 The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act. Vancouver, Canada / TheNewswire / May 2, 2018 - Guyana Goldstrike Inc. (the "Company" or "Guyana Goldstrike") (TSXV: GYA, OTC: GYNAF, FSE:1ZT) provides a corporate update on its Marudi Gold Project ("Marudi" or the "Property") located in the Guiana Gold Belt, Guyana, South America. Mr. Peter Berdusco, President and CEO stated, "We are proud of our accomplishments to date which include Zijin Fund's strategic investment of C$3.2 million and the Mazoa Hill zone mineral resource estimate. In addition to Mazoa Hill, the Property also encompasses a second gold zone, Marudi North, which is one kilometre to the north of Mazoa Hill. Now that we are funded and actively engaged in a multi-phase exploration program our primary objective is to expand existing resources and discover additional mineralized zones." Key Highlights The Company has accomplished the following milestones: Produced a mineral resource estimate report on the Mazoa Hill zone containing 259,100 indicated gold ounces within 4,428,000 tonnes grading 1.8 grams/tonne (g/t) and 86,200 inferred gold ounces within 1,653,000 tonnes grading 1.60 grams/tonne (g/t) Completed a C$3.2 million strategic investment with Zijin Global Fund and Zijin Midas Exploration Fund LLC Completed 3D interactive models of the legacy drill data from the Mazoa Hill and Marudi North zones that can be viewed on the Company's website Received gold royalty payments from local alluvial mining activities Commenced phase one of a multi-phase exploration program Multi-phase Exploration Currently underway with the objective of delineating additional ounces through exploration of the current mineralized zones and exploring the additional 95% of the Property which is largely unexplored Expand on the mineralized areas at the Mazoa Hill and Marudi North zones Continue with extensive trenching and sampling throughout the Property Complete an airborne geophysical survey of the entire Property Generate drill targets for the planned phase one diamond drill program Property Geology Gold mineralization at Marudi is regarded as being related to iron-formation-hosted gold ("IFG") deposits that occur in other cratonic greenstone belts around the world. These deposits can be large and long in mine life. They have a strong association between gold and iron sulfide minerals, the presence of gold bearing quartz veins and structures, the occurrence of deposits in structurally complex terranes, and the absence of lead and zinc enrichment. Examples of some existing IFG deposits are: the Homestake Mine, Lupin Mine, and Musselwhite Mine. The Homestake Mine is located in South Dakota USA and was the largest and deepest gold mine in North America. It has reported production of 43.9 million ounces of gold (source: Click Here and was in production from 1878-2001. The Lupin Mine located in Nunavut, Canada, no longer in production, produced approximately 3 million ounces of gold (source: Click Here). The Mussellwhite Mine has estimated reserves of 2.29 million ounces of gold (source: Click Here) and is owned and operated by Goldcorp and will be in production until 2020. About the Marudi Gold Project The Company is developing the Marudi Gold Project located in Guyana, South America, the project is unique in that it has a 20-year mining license in good standing, all-season road access, infrastructure in place, with an established mining camp serviced by employees, service buildings, and a full-time mining manager. The Property has three known gold bearing areas, specifically the alluvial areas, the saprolite, and the underlying hard-rock. There has been 42,000 metres of historic diamond drilling (141 holes) completed on the Project by prior operators. The Company has recently completed a mineral resource estimate on the Mazoa Hill zone containing 259,100 indicated gold ounces within 4,428,000 tonnes grading 1.8 grams/tonne (g/t) and 86,200 inferred gold ounces within 1,653,000 tonnes grading 1.60 grams/tonne (g/t). There exists excellent exploration upside through the development of previously identified mineralized bedrock targets on the Project. For information concerning the mineral resource estimate and the Project, readers are encouraged to review "Technical Report: Marudi Property Mazoa Hill Mineral Resource Estimate", a technical report prepared for the Company by Global Mineral Resource Services and is available on the Company's website in the investor's section and under the Company's profile on SEDAR www.sedar.com. About Guyana The Republic of Guyana is located in South America between Venezuela and Suriname. The country is English speaking and under British Common Law with a democratically-elected government. It has an established mining act and a rich history of gold production. In 2016, 690,000 ounces of gold was produced by operators mining in the country. The Fraser Institute's 2016 Annual Survey of Mining listed Guyana as the third best mining jurisdiction with regards to investment attractiveness in the Latin America and Caribbean Basin sub-group. The Guiana Shield is the geographic gold-hosting region, and is world-recognized as a premier gold belt that is highly prospective, under-explored and has geological continuity with West Africa.* In 2016, two mines in Guyana declared the commencement of commercial production: the Aurora deposit (Guyana Goldfields) and the Karouni deposit (Troy Resources). * Independent Technical and Environmental Review Karouni Gold Project - Guyana, Behre Dolbear Australia Pty Ltd, April 29, 2016 Option Grant The Company also announces that it intends to grant 1,500,000 incentive stock options to certain directors, officers and consultants of the Company. These options will vest immediately and will be exercisable at a price of $0.25 for a period of sixty-months. Qualified Person Locke Goldsmith, M.Sc., P. Eng, P. Geo, Chief Geologist and Exploration Manager for the Company, is a Qualified Person in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Goldsmith has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical content of this news release. On behalf of the Board of Directors of GUYANA GOLDSTRIKE INC. Peter Berdusco President and Chief Executive Officer Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for gold, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Guyana, status of artisanal mining activities and associated rights, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - M2 Cobalt Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: MC) is pleased to announce that it has mobilized trenching crews and has commenced trenching its Waragi and Bombo Targets at the Bujagali Property. Both targets comprise large-scale cobalt ("Co"), copper ("Cu") and nickel ("Ni") anomalies recently discovered by M2 Cobalt through the Company's ongoing exploration programs. Anomalous soil and rock samples at the Waragi target contain 1.24% Co and 0.4% Cu and anomalous soil and rock samples at Bombo contain 0.65% Co, 0.4% Cu and 0.15% Ni. Trenches are designed from 30 to 90 meters in length cross cutting stratigraphy to: test mineralization at depth; better understand local stratigraphy; and sample buried bedrock in preparation for drilling. Maps showing the areas of trenching can be viewed on our website at Click Here. At M2 Cobalt's Kilembe Area Properties, Geotech Ltd. has now completed the helicopter-borne VTEM B-Field and horizontal magnetic gradiometer geophysical survey over the Company's northernmost exploration license in Bunyangabu District (Kilembe Area Property). The survey was flown at 100-metre spaced lines and was designed to identify priority geophysical anomalies analogous to that of volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits ("VMS") for follow-up exploration. The past producing Kilembe copper cobalt deposit is considered a VMS deposit. Once final data is received M2 will provide further target information. A number of priority anomalies have been identified from the initial data interpretation which will be utilized to focus ground crews who will undertake: mapping and prospecting; detailed ground geophysical surveying; and, soil and rock sampling to further define key target areas within the Exploration License. The helicopter survey will now be focused on the Company's License in Kasese District, south of the former Kilembe Mine and thereafter will be utilized, as required, on a focused basis to support the ground program currently underway at the Bujagali Property. Simon Clarke, CEO stated, "Our detailed trenching programs will provide increased definition and delineation across our recently announced discoveries at Bujagali with the additional goal of locating mineralized host rocks. This phase of our program is focused on enabling us to identify key drill ready targets and line of sight to initial resource numbers at Bujagali." Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Company's Technical Advisor and exploration program manager stated, "Our crews continue to make extremely good progress in the field and our program is generating numerous targets and discoveries. The airborne survey results from our Kilembe area properties will enable the most efficient approach to exploring these Licenses. Not only does the airborne data provide detailed geological information within our Licenses, but, by identifying a number of high priority targets, it will enable our ground crews to focus their efforts on specific targets early on." About M2 Cobalt M2 Cobalt Corp. is focused on discovering and developing world-class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. The Company has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production and on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates. Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry. The Company has a highly experienced management team and board of directors, which has been involved in funding and advancing resource projects globally. The Company also owns licenses over 2,800 hectares of land in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. Further information on the Company and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Technical Advisor of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For further information, contact Simon Clarke at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Andy Edelmeier at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . On behalf of the Board, M2 COBALT CORP. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to exploration work to be undertaken in Uganda, the reliability of third party information, and certain other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 03, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Avrupa Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:AVU) (OTC:AVPMF) (FRANKFURT:8AM) is pleased to present an update on the Alvito Project in South Portugal. Exploration work is funded by OZ Minerals, who are spending A$ 1 million on exploration to earn-in to 51% of the 300-square kilometer Project. To date Avrupa has completed ground magnetics and gravity geophysical surveys, geological mapping, rock chip sampling, and drill targeting. Avrupa and OZ geologists consider the targets to potentially fit into the exploration model for iron oxide (magnetite) copper gold (IOCG) deposits. Originally, a 1500-meter drilling program was slated to be completed during Q3/4 2017, but ongoing ground exploration yielded positive results from additional areas, and that work continued right up until the end of 2017. The proposed drill project has now been increased to 15 holes and approximately 2,100 meters at seven separate target areas. Targeting has been based on positive results from ground magnetics and gravity surveys along with coincident copper and gold geochemical anomalism. Target Name Target Characteristics Magnetite IOCG Drill holes planned Planned hole lengths Entre Matinhas Magnetite breccia, boundary fault 5 100-150 m Manisela Fault (gossan) 1 200 m Entre As Matas Fault, fracture zone 2 150-175 m Mata Contact and fault intersection; magnetite breccia and quartz vein 1 100 m Monte do Outeiro Dikes and fault, gossan 2 150-175 m Cova Das Minas Quartz vein and fault zone 3 100-150 m Ribeira Dikes and faults 1 150 m Table 1. List of target areas for the Alvito Magnetite IOCG Project, initial phase drilling program. Drilling will start in the Entre Matinhas target area, and continue in the Manisela, Mata, Outeiro, Entre as Matas, Cova das Minas, Ribeira, and Vale Nogueira areas (see news release of January 22, 2018). Holes will range in depth from 100 to 200 meters. The program is expected to continue for 1 to 2 months, with results anticipated by the end of Q2 2018. Map Alvito license drill targets Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa, commented We are certainly ready and excited for the start-up of the drilling program after a year of exploration around the license. Our partner OZ Minerals has continued to provide funding and technical support for the program, and we are looking forward to seeing the results of this first truly systematic exploration program in the Alvito Project area. Avrupa Minerals Ltd. is a growth-oriented junior exploration and development company focused on discovery, using a prospect generator model, of valuable mineral deposits in politically stable and prospective regions of Europe, including Portugal, Kosovo, and Germany. The Company currently holds eight exploration licenses in three European countries, including five in Portugal covering 2,911 km2, two in Kosovo covering 47 km2, and one in Germany covering 307 km2. Avrupa now has six active option and joint ventures, five in Portugal and one in Kosovo, including: The Alvalade, Marateca and Mertola properties with an international mining company on the Iberian Pyrite Belt in southern Portugal. The Alvito Option Agreement with OZ Minerals Limited covering one license in the Ossa Morena Zone in southern Portugal, for IOCG deposits; The Covas JV, with Blackheath Resources, covering one license in northern Portugal, for intrusion-related W deposits; and Avrupas partner at the Slivovo Gold Project in Kosovo is fully funding the program, allowing Avrupa to dilute its ownership in the JV operating company Peshter Mining JSC. If AVU ownership goes below 10%, the interest in the project converts to a 2% NSR. For additional information, contact Avrupa Minerals Ltd. at 1-604-687-3520 or visit our website at www.avrupaminerals.com. On behalf of the Board, Paul W. Kuhn Paul W. Kuhn, President & Director This news release was prepared by Company management, who take full responsibility for its content. Paul W. Kuhn, President and CEO of Avrupa Minerals, a Licensed Professional Geologist and a Registered Member of the Society of Mining Engineers, is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators. He has reviewed the technical disclosure in this release. Mr. Kuhn, the QP, has not only reviewed, but prepared and supervised the preparation or approval of the scientific and technical content in the news release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 3, 2018) - Altamira Gold Corp. (TSXV: ALTA) (FSE: T6UP) (OTC Pink: EQTRF), (Altamira or the Company) is pleased to announce that additional trenching commenced on April 26th, 2018 within the Baldo East target area at the Cajueiro project located in western Brazil. The trench program will consist of at least 1000 meters and is designed to further extend the strike of several high-grade east-west trending mineralized structures in the Baldo East target area of the Cajueiro project. Previous trenching at Baldo East confirmed the discovery of at least two continuous high-grade gold mineralized structures in the Baldo East target area the northern most of these two structures Baldo East 1 and the zone immediately south of this, Baldo East 2. Both zones remain open to the east. Results from the most easterly trenches on both structures returned the following results; Baldo East 1 - Trench TCBL-29 previously returned 10m @ 1.82 g/t gold and 7m @ 1.79 g/t gold including 1m @ 7.23 g/t gold - Trench TCBL-29 previously returned and Baldo East 2 is located 200m south of the Baldo East 1 zone. Trench TCBL-28 previously returned 29m @ 3.03 g/t gold including 7m @ 5.42 g/t gold and 4m @ 8.07 g/t gold The current trenching program at Baldo East area (see map) is aimed at defining the easterly extensions of both the Baldo East 1 and Baldo East 2 zones and identifying other possible parallel zones within the Baldo East area, which was originally identified through a gold-in-soil anomaly. There are some indications of a third structure immediately south of Baldo East 2 (eg. 2m @ 8.30g/t gold in trench TCBL-25). Figure 1: Altamira Continues Trenching Program to Further Extend its High-Grade Baldo East Zone at the Cajuiero Project, Brazil Mike Bennett, Altamiras President & CEO commented, "We are very pleased with the new high-grade discoveries made at Baldo East last year and are optimistic that the two structures identified thus far will continue to the east. Baldo east represents approximately 10% of the area covered by gold-in-soil anomalies within the Cajueiro property package suggesting excellent potential for further discoveries. Figure 2: Altamira Completes the First Trench of 2018 to Further Extend its High-Grade Baldo East Zone at the Cajuiero Project, Brazil About Altamira Gold Corp. The Company is focused on the exploration and development of gold deposits within western central Brazil. The Company holds 12 projects comprising approximately 200,000 hectares, within the prolific Juruena gold belt which historically produced an estimated 7 to 10Moz of placer gold. The Companys advanced Cajueiro project has an NI 43-101 compliant resources of 8.64Mt @ 0.78 g/t Au (for 214,000oz) in the Indicated Resource category and 9.53Mt @ 0.66 g/t Au (for 204,000oz) in the Inferred Resource category and an additional 1.37Mt @ 1.61 g/t Au in oxides (for 79,000oz in saprolite) in the Inferred Resource category. On Behalf of the Board of Directors, ALTAMIRA GOLD CORP. Michael Bennett Michael Bennett President & CEO Tel: 604.676.5660 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. www.altamiragold.com For more information please contact: Sean Kingsley VP, Corporate Development Telephone: + 1 778 588 6623 Toll-Free: +1 833 604 6271 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor it Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Statements in this document which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. It is important to note that actual outcomes and the Companys actual results could differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we do not undertake to update these forward looking statements. TORONTO, May 3, 2018 /CNW/ - First Cobalt Corp. (TSX-V: FCC; ASX: FCC; OTCQX: FTSSF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that results of recent drilling have doubled the strike length of the mineralized zone in the Kerr area to over 200 metres. Further potential for mineralization exists along strike of this newly-identified mineralized zone, located south of Kerr Lake in the Cobalt North area of the Canadian Cobalt Camp. The Kerr area contains several drill targets, with the Kerr #2 target now a priority for follow up. Highlights New assay results confirm the mineralized zone at the Kerr #2 target has doubled in strike length from the previously reported 100m to over 200m to over The zone contains a polymetallic network of veins and disseminated mineralization with cobalt, silver, copper, lead and zinc High grade intercepts include 0.56% Co over 1.8m as well as 1.45% Co, 940 g/t Ag and 0.44% Ni over 0.3m within longer intervals of mineralization including 5.0m of 0.10% Co and 4.6m of 0.27% Co A silver intercept of 8.0m of 31 g/t Ag is part of the same vein network, highlighting the potential for undiscovered cobalt-rich areas near the historic mines Mineralized zone remains open along strike and drilling in the area is ongoing Trent Mell, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented: "In short order First Cobalt has doubled the strike length of a newly discovered cobalt-rich zone and there is potential to increase this further. This is a testament to the integrated geological model our team has developed and continues to update with new data. The presence of a network of veins and disseminated mineralization across more than 200 metres is encouraging for our strategy of identifying open pit targets in this historic Canadian mining district. Our 2018 drilling program will continue targeting 15 areas containing past-producing mines, but the Kerr area is now a high priority for exploration work." Drilling in the Kerr #2 target in Cobalt North has confirmed that a zone of cobalt mineralization recently identified by First Cobalt (see March 26, 2018 press release) extends across more than 200 metres, double the size initially recognized. A network of multiple veins, at various orientations, containing cobalt and several other metals has been intersected along with disseminated mineralization. Further potential for mineralization exists along strike and additional drilling will continue to test the target. Drill holes are designed using a 3D geological model of the entire Kerr area compiled by First Cobalt and based on digital compilation of historic mine workings, integrated with exploration drilling and surface bedrock geology maps. At the Kerr #2 target, elevated silver was intersected by historic drilling but not developed by underground mining. Four holes were initially planned to test this intersection along the general trend of mineralization in the area. Assay results from two holes, FCC-18-0021 and FCC-18-0023 collared over 160m apart, showed cobalt mineralization also occurs with grades including 10.4m of 0.15% Co and 44 g/t Ag. Mineralization in these two holes is considered continuous and is now extended by two additional holes, FCC-18-0022 and FCC-18-0032, based on oriented drill core interpretation (Figure 1). Figure 1. Bedrock geology and location of drilling stations in the Kerr #2 target area. Silver-cobalt veins are compiled from historic maps and locations should not be considered exact. Two distinct zones of mineralization were intersected in FCC-18-0032 with cobalt-bearing veins occurring along with veins containing copper, zinc and lead. Silver and nickel occur within the cobalt-bearing veins (Table 1). Assays from FCC-18-0032 returned 5.0m of 0.10% Co, including 1.45% Co, 940 g/t Ag and 0.44% Ni over 0.3m. Additional intercepts include 4.6m of 0.27% Co, including 0.56% Co and 11 g/t Ag over 1.8m and 0.21% Co over 0.3m. A separate cobalt-bearing vein was also intersected containing 0.21% Co and 10 g/t Ag over 0.3m that reflects an extension of this network beyond these two zones. Within the network, veins occur in varying directions as measured in oriented core. Hole FCC-18-0022 was collared in the same location as FCC-18-0021 drilling eastward and intersected an 8.0m zone of fractured rock with thin calcite veins containing elevated silver along with copper, zinc and lead. This silver mineralization is considered part of the same network of veining containing cobalt in the nearby drill holes and demonstrates a similar metal zoning seen throughout the Cobalt Camp. Table 1: Summary of assay results Hole ID From (m) To (m) Width (m) Co % Ag g/t Ni % Cu % Pb % Zn % FCC-18-0032 87.0 92.0 5.0 0.10 65 0.04 0.22 0.57 0.26 including 89.0 89.3 0.3 1.45 970 0.44 0.16 2.34 0.01 FCC-18-0032 172.7 173.0 0.3 0.21 10 0.02 < 0.01 0.36 0.01 FCC-18-0032 187.4 192.0 4.6 0.27 11 0.03 0.21 < 0.01 0.38 including 188.0 189.8 1.8 0.56 22 0.07 0.47 < 0.01 0.68 FCC-18-0022 42.0 50.0 8.0 0.01 31 0.01 0.07 0.18 0.14 Drilling lengths are as recorded downhole and do not necessarily represent true widths of mineralization as multiple vein orientations have been intersected. The northeast trend of the mineralized zone is roughly parallel to the trend mined at both the Kerr Lake and Drummond mines. Similarly, the trend of the contact between the Nipissing Diabase and Archean sedimentary rocks occurs in the same orientation. A regional fold structure is interpreted from compiled map information also trending northeast and is considered the major control of the location of the vein network developed at Kerr Lake. North-south vein orientations similar to those occurring at the historic Hargrave Mine may have developed parallel to the orientation of the sedimentary rocks. Intersections between the regional fold orientation and sedimentary rocks are high priority targets for further exploration drilling. Coarse cobalt minerals occur within veins with and without calcite. Nickel and silver are also concentrated within the cobalt-bearing veins. Copper, zinc and lead occur as separate minerals and are often in separate veins or disseminated within the host rocks. The host to the mineralization zones are fine grained sedimentary rocks considered to be part of the Archean sequence below the unconformity with the Proterozoic sedimentary rocks. In places the Archean sedimentary rocks contain up to 5% disseminated iron sulphide mineralization that predates the veins. For a table of drill hole locations and assay results to date, visit https://firstcobalt.com/projects/greater-cobalt-project. Cobalt North The Kerr Lake area contains several historic mines including Crown Reserve, Kerr Lake, Lawson, Drummond, Conisil and Hargrave, and produced over 50 million ounces silver mainly between 1905 to 1950. Other historic mines owned by First Cobalt in the Cobalt North area include the Silver Banner, Juno, Silverfields, Hamilton, Ophir mines. The Kerr Lake Mine consisted of thirteen separate shafts with underground development over 20km. The deepest shaft was less than 200m. Cobalt was not previously an exploration focus in this area although some cobalt, nickel and copper were produced as secondary metals at the Kerr Lake and Drummond mines. Cobalt had not been assayed within the mines or in exploration drill holes previously, so the potential for an extensive polymetallic mineralization system remains to be explored. Limited exploration activities in the 1970s and 1980s around Kerr Lake examined copper-zinc-lead mineralization within the Archean rocks. Silver-bearing veins are concentrated along a northeast-trending corridor beneath Kerr Lake, but north-south trending veins were also mined, specifically at the Drummond and Hargrave mines. The 2018 Cobalt North drill program consists of 17,000 metres with over 7,000 metres in the Kerr Lake area designed to test trends in mineralization found in historic drilling and major structures interpreted to be associated with mineralization. Disseminated polymetallic cobalt-silver-copper-zinc-lead mineralization has been recognized in samples from underground material in muckpiles from the Drummond mine showing a wide range of styles occur in this area (October 26, 2017 press release). Quality Assurance and Quality Control First Cobalt has implemented a quality control program to comply with common industry best practices for sampling and analysis. Samples are collected from drill core from a range of 30 to 100cm length. Half-core samples are submitted for analysis. Standards and blanks are inserted every 20 samples. Duplicates are made from quarter core splits every 20 samples. Geochemical data were received from AGAT Laboratories in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. All results have passed QA/QC protocols. AGAT has used a sodium-peroxide fusion and ICP finish for analyses on all samples. High silver values (>20 g/t) are determined by a separate three-acid digestion and ICP finish. Qualified and Competent Person Statement Dr. Frank Santaguida, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 who has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release. Dr. Santaguida is also a Competent Person (as defined in the JORC Code, 2012 edition) who is a practicing member of the Association of Professional Geologists of Ontario (being a 'Recognised Professional Organisation' for the purposes of the ASX Listing Rules). Dr. Santaguida is employed on a full-time basis as Vice President, Exploration for First Cobalt. He has sufficient experience that is relevant to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. About First Cobalt First Cobalt aims to create the largest pure-play cobalt exploration and development company in the world. The Company controls over 10,000 hectares of prospective land covering over 50 historic mines as well as mineral processing facilities in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. The First Cobalt Refinery is the only permitted facility in North America capable of producing cobalt battery materials. First Cobalt seeks to build shareholder value through new discovery, mineral processing and growth opportunities, with a focus on North America. On March 14, 2018, First Cobalt announced a friendly merger with US Cobalt Inc. (TSX-V: USCO, OTCQB: USCFF), which remains subject to regulatory approvals. This transaction will strategically position First Cobalt as a leading non-DRC cobalt company with three significant North American assets: the Canadian Cobalt Camp, with more than 50 past producing mines; the Iron Creek Project in Idaho, which has a historic mineral resource estimate (non-compliant with NI 43-101) of 1.3M tons grading 0.59% cobalt; and the only permitted cobalt refinery in North America capable of producing battery materials. US Cobalt is scheduled to hold a shareholder vote on May 17, 2018 with the transaction expected to close by the end of May 2018. On behalf of First Cobalt Corp. Trent Mell President & Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws and the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance and opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such forward-looking statements. In particular, forward-looking information included in this news release includes, without limitation, the anticipated closing date of the Transaction, the receipt of final court approval and other regulatory approvals. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set forth in the management discussion and analysis and other disclosures of risk factors for each of First Cobalt and US Cobalt, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although First Cobalt and US Cobalt believe that the information and assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by applicable law, First Cobalt and US Cobalt disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Historic Estimates US Cobalt considers the cobalt and copper tonnage and grade estimates above as historical estimates. The historical estimates do not use categories that conform to current CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves as outlined in National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") and have not been redefined to conform to current CIM Definition Standards. They were prepared in the 1980s prior to the adoption and implementation of NI 43-101. A qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as current mineral resources and US Cobalt is not treating the historical estimates as current mineral resources. More work, including, but not limited to, drilling, will be required to conform the estimates to current CIM Definition Standards. Investors are cautioned that the historical estimates do not mean or imply that economic deposits exist on the Iron Creek property. US Cobalt has not undertaken any independent investigation of the historical estimates nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the accuracy of the information. US Cobalt believes that the historical estimates are relevant to continuing exploration on the Iron Creek property. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 20, 2020) - New Energy Metals Corp. (TSXV: ENRG) (OTC Pink: NEMCF) (" New Energy Metals " or the " Company ") is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Ross as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of... Read More Members of the United Nations Security Council have told Myanmars leaders there must be a proper investigation into a military crackdown in Rakhine State last August, which displaced almost 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to Bangladesh. British envoy to the UN Security Council, Ms Karen Pierce, said there were two routes to achieving this. One is an ICC [International Criminal Court] referral. The second would be for the Burmese government to do it themselves, she said. Her remarks came at a press conference in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, which marked the end of a high-profile UN Security Council visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar. This was the councils first visit to Southeast Asia since ambassadors visited East Timor in 2012. The delegation visited northern Rakhine State yesterday by helicopter, where they met local government representatives and members of civil society. Pierce said council members had raised the need for an independent inquiry during separate meetings with State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Senior General Min Aung Hlaing in Nay Pyi Taw on Sunday. Aung San Suu Kyi was helpful and asked the council to share evidence with Myanmar authorities, she said, adding that the Security Council would reflect on how best to respond to the State Counsellors Office, including an investigation mechanism to provide it with evidence. She did not comment on Min Aung Hlaings response. The military chief posted a summary of his meeting with the UN envoys on his official Facebook page, in which he attributed the refugee crisis to terror acts of extremist Bengali terrorists. He denied that soldiers under his command had committed sexual violence during the crackdown, contradicting hundreds of testimonies recorded by international organizations in Coxs Bazar. No sexual violence happened in the history of Myanmar Tatmadaw, he added, telling UN envoys they should study documentary evidence supplied to them by the military in order to learn the truth. Over 750,000 Rohingya refugees have fled Myanmar since October 2016, when Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants launched coordinated attacks on police outposts. The military responded with clearance operations that have seen it accused of atrocities, including murder, rape and the destruction of scores of villages. Since then, Washington has been conducing an examination that could be used to prosecute the armed forces for crimes against humanity. Reuters reported last week that US investigators have been documenting accusations of murder, rape, beatings and other possible crimes through more than 1000 interviews with Rohingya men and women in refugee camps in Coxs Bazar. The examination, led by the State Department, is modelled on a forensic investigation of mass atrocities in Sudans Darfur region in 2004. That investigation led to a US declaration of genocide and the imposition of economic sanctions against the Sudanese government, the news agency said. Myanmar is aware of the investigation, U Aung Kyaw Zan, deputy permanent secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told Frontier earlier this week. He said he did not believe the Trump administration would pay serious attention to the findings. We already have a top-level connection between Myanmar and the US, to discuss how to solve the Rakhine crisis, including these cases, he said, referring to the alleged atrocities. So the investigation cannot have that much impact. Conditions, restrictions Kuwaits ambassador to the UN Mr Mansour Ayyad Al-Otaibi told reporters yesterday that the Security Council wants refugees to return to their homes in Rakhine State, but this cannot take place until Myanmar officials remove conditions and restrictions on their return. Most of the Rohingya, whom the government refers to as Bengalis, are stateless and have been denied access to citizenship under Myanmars 1982 Citizenship Law, which critics say is discriminatory. Myanmar has asked the Rohingya to accept National Verification Cards, which some refugees have said are inadequate because they do not guarantee citizenship. Al-Otaibi stressed the necessity of UN involvement in the repatriation process and negotiations between Myanmar and the UN refugee agency on potential cooperation. What we really want is just to speed up the process of the safe and voluntary, dignified return, he said. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed a bilateral agreement last November that recognised the need for a long-lasting and comprehensive solution to the crisis and the voluntary return of refugees under international law. In January, the two countries agreed to complete the process in two years. On November 6, the UN Security Council adopted its first presidential statement on the country since 2008, condemning the Rakhine attacks and the ensuing violence and calling on the government to address the root causes of the crisis. In Franz Kafkas novel The Trial, Joseph Ks friend Ms Burstner says: I find stories about justice extremely interesting. Justice has a strange power of seduction, dont you think? This is a terrible irony given the trial in the book, which has become a symbol of totalitarianism and tyranny. Justice and press freedom are good indicators of overall freedom in a country. The UN ritually celebrates press freedom for one day on May 3, and this year the theme is Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law. It is right to link justice and media, even if their practices and ways of operating are not the same. A journalist should not be a judge, even though both must respect the rights of victims and treat the accused as innocent until proven guilty. Transitional justice, which our website covers, is a good illustration of the importance for rule of law. Justice, remembrance, reparations and fair trials should allow communities divided by the horrors of crimes against humanity, genocide or dictatorship to live together again. The path to reconciliation is long and difficult, but we think that the media can help guide the way. Obstacles Attacks on press freedom have never been so prevalent, in both developing and developed countries. Journalists are often the first to pay the price when freedoms are under attack. The press has become the constant verbal target of the US President, whilst in countries like Myanmar, Egypt, Burundi, Hungary, Malta, Afghanistan and the list goes on , dozens of journalists are threatened, murdered and prevented from doing their work. Another obstacle is indifference, and here we are all guilty. Indifference to the reconciliation processes, the slow work of Truth Commissions, the interminable trials of the International Criminal Court, seen as not spectacular or sexy enough for much coverage in the media and on social networks. Not seductive enough, as Ms Burstner would say. We at JusticeInfo.net will try, humbly but determinedly, to remove this obstacle. We find stories about justice extremely interesting. 245 Shares Share Like most medical trainees my age, I step into the hospital with the entire knowledge base of the world in my pocket. I have apps on my phone to look up disease symptoms and diagnoses, reference drug doses and side effects, estimate the 10-year risk of having a heart attack, determine the correct timing and type of vaccine administration and screening tests, and even display the risks, benefits, and statistics of various types of contraception. Importantly, this incredible ability to access and share information quickly has changed not only how we practice medicine, but also how we teach and learn it. The difference that technology has made in modern medical training was evident from the first day of medical school. Lectures are video-captured and can be played back over the internet at any time. Furthermore, our upper-class colleagues advised us of a breathtaking proliferation of internet-based resources, which often take advantage of videos, animations, and other multimedia to disseminate content. No longer are students routinely attending a lecture while taking notes in the margins of a thick, dense textbook; instead, we design their own learning plans using a buffet of resources. This culture shift has led to something of a generational rift between current trainees and those who learned medicine in an earlier era. Many of our outstanding faculty and physician-mentors trained in an era when a more hierarchical transfer of knowledge was the norm. I hesitate to speak for my senior mentors, but I can imagine that without the internet at your fingertips, the best sources of knowledge are the teacher at the front of the room and the textbook on your desk. Any deemphasizing of the lecture could unfortunately also be seen as a devaluation of the expertise and years of training that our senior professors have achieved. In contrast, the entire premise of crowdsourcing is that everybody has the right and ability to contribute on an equal level any hierarchical barriers are disrupted. In the age of Google and Wikipedia, my generation is accustomed to accessing information ourselves, quickly and in summarized form, and sharing it with others. The result is that there is less tolerance of the traditional lecture-plus-textbook format of learning; why place full reliance on only one person and one textbook, when the wisdom of millions of people is available at the click of a button? The good news is that I firmly believe that this gap can, and will, be bridged. We are seeing more and more examples of this here at Stanford and, from what I hear and read, at medical schools throughout the country. In-class sessions are beginning to avoid drilling material that can be referenced on a smartphone app or easily memorized using a deck of electronic flashcards; this is in the wheelhouse of the millennials self-study habits. Instead, sessions are being crafted around conceptual explanations rather than facts, interactive learning that immediately challenges students to apply facts and knowledge, and chalk talks that avoid relying on stale PowerPoint slides. On our end, my colleagues and I need to be careful not to close our minds prematurely to certain curriculum material just because it might be accessible to us in some other form. The internet is a great supplement, but not a perfect substitute, for a human being who has accumulated years of experience and even the most self-sufficient learners can benefit from a trusted and experienced guide. Nathaniel Fleming is a medical student who blogs at Scope, where this article originally appeared. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Korea Times and Hankook Ilbo Chairman Seung Myung-ho delivers a welcoming address during the opening ceremony of The Korea Forum 2018 at The Shilla Hotel Seoul, Thursday. The one-day forum, titled "From Crisis to Peace: Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and A New Order in Northeast Asia" was co-hosted by The Korea Times and its sister paper the Hankook Ilbo. It attracted hundreds of dignitaries including top government officials, leaders of political parties, ambassadors and senior embassy officials from 27 countries, international security experts and executives from multinational companies. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 0 Vote(s) - 0 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Farage Mocks EU Parliament again and Rocks it :) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: kaput 05-04-2018 12:54 AM Post: #1 Farage Mocks EU Parliament again and Rocks it :) Advertisement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg2ZOngoUdo [ ]European Union, Belgium Are Artificial Creations - Farage Mocks EU Parliament[/size] Nigel Farage taunted his globalist colleagues on the floor of EU Parliament during a lively address in which he compared Belgium and the European Union as unpopular, synthetic constructs. Known for consistently delivering bold rejections of the internationalist agenda from the heart of the viper pit, Farage assumed the air of a man who knows his side is winning the battle for hearts and minds. He heralded the impending collapse of the European project, using former Belgian prime minister and current MEP, Guy Verhofstadt, as his whipping boy while select members cheered and laughed, and Verhofstadts confederates observed with visible distaste and unease. Quote: There are some like Mr. Verhofstadt here, who seem to think that this [EU] flag represents a European identity, and he clearly identifies as a European - many of you in this room identify as Europeans, Farage said. But youre missing something: the peoples of Europe do not identify with that flag. They do not identify with these institutions. Farages comments were met with protest and outrage, to which he replied, Well if youre on the payroll, its easy to say it works, isnt it? Actually, out there in the real world, there is not a European demos, there is not a European identity. Quote: But there may be one exception, and that could be Belgium, because nobody ever dares tell the truth about Belgium, Farage proposed. Belgium is not a nation - it is an artificial creation. Quote: The truth is, there are two parts of Belgium; they speak different languages; they dislike each other intensely; theres no national TV station; theres no national newspaper. Belgium is not a nation - and maybe thats why youre happy to sign up to a higher European level. Farage cited recent election results in Italy and Hungary as unmistakable omens portending the imminent demise of the totalitarian superstate - just the latest in a series of events set into motion by the 2016 Brexit referendum, of which Farage was an architect. Quote: Youre losing votes, Farage concluded. Brexit is the first brick out of the wall. Youve learned none of the lessons. The days of this project are over. We want to live in nation states - not false, artificial creations. https://europe.infowars.com/european-uni...arliament/ [ ]European Union, Belgium Are Artificial Creations - Farage Mocks EU Parliament[/size]Nigel Farage taunted his globalist colleagues on the floor of EU Parliament during a lively address in which he compared Belgium and the European Union as unpopular, synthetic constructs.Known for consistently delivering bold rejections of the internationalist agenda from the heart of the viper pit, Farage assumed the air of a man who knows his side is winning the battle for hearts and minds.He heralded the impending collapse of the European project, using former Belgian prime minister and current MEP, Guy Verhofstadt, as his whipping boy while select members cheered and laughed, and Verhofstadts confederates observed with visible distaste and unease.Farages comments were met with protest and outrage, to which he replied, Well if youre on the payroll, its easy to say it works, isnt it? Actually, out there in the real world, there is not a European demos, there is not a European identity.Farage cited recent election results in Italy and Hungary as unmistakable omens portending the imminent demise of the totalitarian superstate - just the latest in a series of events set into motion by the 2016 Brexit referendum, of which Farage was an architect. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 05-04-2018 01:52 AM Post: #2 RE: Farage Mocks EU Parliament again and Rocks it :) Good find. London, May 3 (AFP) Iran's ambassador to Britain said Tehran will consider walking away from the nuclear deal if the United States withdraws from the agreement, in an interview aired today. Hamid Baeidinejad, the country's top envoy in London, said Iran would "be ready to go back to the previous situation" if America pulls out of the 2015 pact, as threatened by US President Donald Trump. "When the United States is out of the deal, it means that there is no deal left," he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "Because (an) important party of the treaty has abrogated and violated in clear terms the treaty." Trump is reportedly poised to scrap the agreement, negotiated in 2015 between Tehran and six world powers, ahead of a May 12 deadline for Washington to renew its support for the deal. The agreement imposes strict restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme in return for the loosening of economic sanctions. Baeidinejad said Tehran was exploring various responses to such a move from the US -- including restarting nuclear activities. "It could be enriching uranium, it could be redefining our cooperation with the agency and some other activities that are under consideration," he added. "That is something very real, in fact very realistic." The ambassador denied Iran would restart any nuclear weapons production. The country has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have been pressing Trump to strengthen rather than abandon the three-year-old deal that took more than a decade to reach. Macron, who met Trump in Washington last week to try to convince him to not walk away, admitted today he still did not know what decision the US leader would take. Trump has pilloried the agreement designed to curb Iran's nuclear programme as "insane" and "ridiculous" and called for fresh measures to counter Iran's ballistic missile programme and support for militant groups across the Middle East. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had new "proof" of an Iranian nuclear weapons plan that could be activated at any time. Baeidinejad said international observers' final assessment ahead of the 2015 agreement contradicted Israel's claims. (AFP) CK (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, May 3 (PTI) On his maiden foreign visit after assuming office, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu will travel to Guatemala, Panama and Peru from May 6-12 and hold talks with the top leadership of those countries to boost ties in areas such as trade and information technology. Naidu will first travel to Guatemala on May 6 in what would be the highest-level visit from either side. The visit would focus on various areas of mutual cooperation such as protection of wildlife, human resource and training, and information technology among others, Preeti Saran, Secretary East in the Ministry of External Affairs, told reporters during a briefing here. During his visit, Naidu will meet Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales, Vice President Jafeth Cabrera and Speaker of Parliament Alvaro Arzu Escobar. Naidu will then reach Panama on May 7 for the second leg of his visit. In Panama, Naidu will hold meetings with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and Vice President and Foreign Minister Isabel Saint Malo and discuss cooperation in key areas such as agriculture, education and economic cooperation. The vice president will also visit the Panama Canal, Saran said. On the third and final leg of his visit, Naidu will visit Peru. He will hold talks with Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra and Vice President Mercedes Araoz among other leaders. He will also attend an event to mark the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Peru. The vice president's discussions with the leadership of that country will cover the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including trade, commerce investment, IT, medicine, space, defence and culture, Saran said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kathmandu, May 3: It will be a public holiday in Nepal's Province No. 2 on May 11 when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Janakpur to offer prayers at the famous Janaki Temple and attend a felicitation ceremony, the provincial government announced today. More than 50,000 people from all eight districts of the province are expected to gather at the Barhabigha ground, where the felicitation ceremony would be organised to honour Prime Minister Modi, officials said. There will be a public holiday in all eight districts of the province on the day, according to the provincial Cabinet. The province, bordering India, is Nepal's second most populous province. Security has been stepped up in Janakpur, 225 km south of Kathmandu, which is famous for Janaki Temple, the early 20th-century shrine. Modi will fly directly to Janakpur, famous for Janaki Temple, from Bihar's capital Patna on May 11 during his two-day official visit to Nepal. From Janakpur, Modi will fly to Mustang. Later in the day, he will fly to Kathmandu. May 2, 2018, 7:04pm ET Pranksters hang car from Toronto overpass Police have initiated a \"public mischief investigation\" that could lead to charges. Some Toronto commuters noticed an odd sight this morning after apparent pranksters suspended a car from a bridge. The gutted Honda Civic was presumably hoisted into the air overnight, leaving it dangling in midair from beneath the Bloor viaduct near the Don Valley Parkway. Whoever was responsible for the prank placed caution tape around the area below the vehicle. Police nonetheless kept a presence in the popular hiking area until the car could be cut down. Dangling car off Toronto bridge - the moment it is cut down!#prank? #danglingcar @TorontoPolice say this is now a criminal investigation. @CTVNews pic.twitter.com/yJUu7k0rti Peter Akman (@PeterAkman) May 2, 2018 "It definitely is not something that we endorse, and definitely something that we do not recommend," Const. Victor Kwong told the National Post. "Any unauthorized access to bridges, to truss systems like that, could potentially impact the safety of many." Authorities have launched a "public mischief" investigation that could lead to charges. The leading theory focuses attention on engineering students. May 3, 2018, 3:58pm ET US prosecutors charge former VW chief Winterkorn The executive is accused of conspiracy to defraud the US and violations of the Clean Air Act. US prosecutors have reportedly filed charges against former Volkswagen chief executive Martin Winterkorn over his alleged role in the diesel emissions scandal. An indictment filed in federal court in March and unsealed this week lists Winterkorn among several former executives hit with charges of violating the clean air act and conspiracy to defraud the US. "The indictment unsealed today alleges that Volkswagen's scheme to cheat its legal requirements went all the way to the top of the company," Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement. "These are serious allegations, and we will prosecute this case to the fullest extent of the law." Winterkorn was among the first wave of executives ousted by VW Group as the emissions cheating debacle came to light late in 2015. German authorities are unlikely to arrest and extradite Winterkorn. It is unclear, however, if German prosecutors are pursuing a parallel investigation that could lead to charges in the disgraced executive's home country. A book of evidence has been served on a Carlow man in connection with an incident in which an Irish Rail worker in Laois was assaulted and locked in the boot of his car for some eight hours. Before Portlaoise District Court was Patrick Cunningham (20), Myshall, Carlow, charged with robbery at Kilbricken, Mountrath, on December 5, 2017. State's evidence in the case outlined that on that date, an Irish Rail employee had started work at 5am. While he was sitting in his car, the right side window of the vehicle was smashed with a wrench, before the man was punched to the head, causing damage to his eye. The man was then robbed of his phone and told to get into the boot of the car, where he was locked in for approximately eight hours He was eventually freed by a work colleague. A book of evidence was served on the accused at last weeks court by Garda Erica Sweetman. Inspector Maria Conway said that the DPP had directed that the accused be sent forward on a signed plea of guilty, or be sent forward for trial to the next sitting of Portlaoise Circuit Court on June 26 next. Bail with certain conditions was fixed on the accuseds own bond of 100 and an independent cash surety of 3,000. The 2017 Laois Rose Maeve Dunne will this weekend place the sash on the shoulders of her successor, after a busy year that was a dream come true for her. Maeve, 28, an event organiser with Croke Park, cannot believe how fast her year as Laois Rose has flown by. It has been such a quick year. To become a Rose was a childhood dream come true. It has been so special to live a dream, it has been an absolutely fantastic year. It has really lived up to my expectations, boosted my confidence and created friendships and I am so thankful, she said. Among many duties she performed as Laois Rose, her volunteer trip to the Vesnova children's asylum with a many other Roses for Chernobyl Children Ireland, stands out in her memory. The Chernobyl trip is number one, it's something that I would always love to have done, but might never have put my mind to, without being a Rose. It was truly rewarding, and it opened my eyes to what is important in life, she said. The trip to New York to march in the St Patrick's Day Parade with all lthe Roses was also a huge moment. It was great as after the parade, we had time to relax together and have the craic. They are all such outgoing girls, and I can see myself always being friends with them always , she said. She found a special little friend in her Rose Bud from the Tralee festival, Aoibheann from Tralee. We have kept in touch since and when I go to Tralee in August I will go and visit her and her family, she said. Maeve is proud to be the first Laois Rose from Mountmellick, and to share that honour with her parents Ger and Geraldine whose family business Emmet Stores Gala was her sponsor. The town really got behind me, and it gave my parents such a boost, I am glad I got the opportunity to give that to them, she said. Her charity was the Grow mental health organisation, which reopened meetings in Mountmellick this year. I hope I helped to get their name out there, said Maeve. Laois Rose Maeve Dunne pictured with some of the entrants to Laois Rose 2018. She has already met some of the 17 entrants to the 2018 Laois Rose selection. It was lovely to meet them, and to answer their questions. They were the same questions I had myself a year ago, little worries about what to wear and how to answer questions, she said. Her advice to them was simple. At the end of they day, if you are not yourself, it will show, so just be yourself, you don't need to know answers in advance, she said. Handing over that sash will be a little sad, the end of an amazing year for me, but it is so nice to able to support the new entrants. One of them will make it to Tralee , Laois Rose Maeve said. Laois Rose Selection night takes place in the Midlands Park Hotel this Sunday May 6 at 7pm. Read all the profiles of the new Laois Rose entrants, and the latest news on Laois Rose 2018, here. Exclusive sex party organisers, Killing Kittens, are bringing one of their events to a country house in the Midlands this summer. The Ireland Summer White Party will take place at a "beautiful country house and estate built in the 1700s," according to the KillingKittens website. The property is said to be located in Co. Laois. They promise members "a night of debauchery" with fellow Kittens and Toms. The event is for members of the KillingKittens community which has grown to an online community of over 100,000 people since 2005. They describe their parties as an "electrically-charged environment where women, men and couples can explore their sexuality...where gentlemen are gentlemen and women can be whatever they want." Tickets for the event set at 130 per couple and 40 for single women. They are also offering people overnight packages with a party ticket and accommodation setting you back 400 per couple. On purchasing your ticket youll then receive an email 24hrs before the party with rules, regulations and the address. The messages are exchanged on a KIK messenger group exclusive to Killing Kittens members. Killing Kittens host parties all over the world, from "New York penthouses, St. Tropez super-yachts to uber-exclusive luxury locations," and now Laois, apparently. Staff at Portlaoise hospital have urged asthama sufferers to have a plan to cope with the condition as the good weather arrives bring with it the usual asthma season. To mark the 20th annual World Asthma Day, the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise hosted a free information day for public and staff to improve asthma awareness and care. As part of the talk, the Hospital Paediatric team are highlighting that 1 in 5 children in Ireland have asthma and are providing useful tools and techniques to parents for asthma management. The key points are explained by the acronym ICE and highlight the importance of; I - Inhaler technique C - Compliance and E- Exacerbating triggers. Dr Muhammad Tariq, Consultant Paediatrician with Respiratory and Allergy, opened the event. We are delighted to host the information day for patients, public and staff. Asthma is under-diagnosed and under-treated, creating a substantial burden to individuals and families and possibly restricting individuals activities for a lifetime. Asthma attacks cause adults to miss work and children to miss school. These dangerous and sometimes life-threatening episodes reduce the quality of life for people with asthma. "The good news is that we can raise awareness about asthma and how it can be controlled. People with asthma can prevent asthma attacks if they learn how to avoid asthma triggers like tobacco smoke, mould, outdoor air pollution, and colds and flu. Asthma episodes can also be prevented by using inhaled corticosteroids and other prescribed daily long-term control medicines correctly, he said. The multidisciplinary paediatric respiratory team from Portlaoise Hospital were on hand to answer asthma related questions, provide support and advise on how asthma can be identified and treated, including identifying triggers, treating the condition effectively with medication and asthma relievers, using a peak-flow test, and putting in place an asthma plan to deal with attacks. Lisa Egan candidate ANP Paediatric Respiratory also spoke about the importance of having a plan. Asthma is one of the most common illnesses of our time, and also one of the most treatable. It is important our patients and their families have an asthma plan and importantly make your own assessment of your own health by identifying triggers and managing your exposure. Many seasonal asthmatics suffer in the summer. The Asthma Society of Ireland has a wealth or resources available online at www.asthma.ie to help patients review their asthma care and stay in regular contact with your healthcare provider, she said. Pictured Dr Muhammad Tariq, Consultant Paediatrician with Respiratory and Allergy interest. Stephen Patten, Services & Development for Asthma Society of Ireland also attended. We are delighted to support Portlaoise Hospital raise awareness for World Asthma Day. There are approximately 5,000 asthma admissions each year in hospitals and more than 20,000 presentations annually to Emergency Departments across Ireland relating to Asthma. We would encourage patients and public diagnosed with Asthma or experiencing signs or symtoms relating to Asthma to contact our Asthma Advice line 1850 44 54 64. Michael Knowles, Hospital Manager said it is important for the hospital to engage on the illness. We are delighted to host the Asthma Awareness event for the second year running. It is important to engage with our hospital community on this serious health condition. I would like to thank the Asthma Society of Ireland for supporting this initiative and Dr. Tariq and his team for their work in providing high quality service to patients in treatment and health promotion for the wider community," he said. Anne- Marie O'Shea, Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) presents key information guide on managing Asthma for adults and children This years World Asthma Day theme is NEVER TOO EARLY, NEVER TOO LATE. Its always the right time to address airways disease. The theme provides a call to action for both patients and healthcare providers worldwide to evaluate symptoms regardless of the timepoint in ones life they may occur and take actions to ensure that the asthma is controlled. According to WHO estimates, 235 million people suffer from asthma, which can cause wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing. Although asthma cannot be cured, it is possible to control asthma to reduce and prevent asthma attacks, also called episodes. Ireland has the fourth highest prevalence of asthma in the world. 7.1% of 18+ and 18.9% of 13 15 year olds have asthma, while 38.5% of 13 15 year olds reported wheezing. More than 1 person a week dies from asthma, with approximately 29% of asthma patients missing school or work because of their condition. The Hospital clinical team practice using the BTS, GINA and the NICE (National Institute for health and Care Excellence) guidelines to ensure the most up to date and robust evidence based literature guide the asthma management for patients and their families. In addition, Peak flow measurements, Spirometry to assess airway reversibility to bronchodilator therapy and the piloting FENO (fractional exhaled nitric oxide) as a tool to measure the amount of inflammation in the lungs to help diagnose asthma and assess compliance with asthma treatments are also provided as part of the full suite of services at Portlaoise Hospital. Further information about GINA and World Asthma Day can be found at GINAs website: www.ginasthma.org or World Health Organization from http://www.who.int/ respiratory/asthma/en/ The mother of a baby who died at Portlaoise hospital belives the good doctors and nurses who work there should be cut some slack by the public. Kilcavan native Roisin Molloy also said that the improvments that have taken place at the Midlands Regional Hospital Portlaoise are the result of herself and her husband Mark's fight for the truth about what happened during the care of their son when he died there in 2012. However, both Roisin and her husband Mark spoke last week about their frustration that nobody has been held to account over the death of Mark. They also believe that many questions remain unanswered following the outcome of a Medical Council inquiry into a doctor who was involved in managing her labour. Dr A, an obstetric and gynaecological doctor, was cleared of five of seven charges against him. The doctor no longer works in Portlaoise but is still working in Ireland. Speaking to the Leinster Express last week Ms Molloy said the outcome reveals huge gaps. It exposes very publicly that there is no legislation for accountability in our health service. There is no process to hold anyone to acccount, she said. However, she said the experience she and others, such as Vicky Phelan have gone through, is like climate change. The problem for the HSE is that it is a bit like climate change, the storms are coming much more frequently. I think the public is getting sick of them. The same mistakes are being made and the same rhetoric comes out - 'we are so sorry, lessons will be learned'. We don't want that anymore, we just want people to do their jobs, she said. She urged the politicians who are responsible for holding the HSE's managment to account to focus their concern on patients and good staff. I think it is time to cut us patients who were injured and damaged some slack, and cut front line staff some slack and instead start focusing on the managment and the absolute mess they have made of Portlaoise hospital, she said. Ms Molloy said herself and her husband do feel feel sympathy for 'the good nurses and doctors'. I know nurses that are getting a dreadful time in there who are getting the brunt of it. I think the nurses should be supported. It is a shame that the management do not support them and provide them with proper equipment and they are not getting proper supervision and staffing numbers. They are spending their money on cover-ups and investigations. We never blamed the public or doctors or don't expect the public to do it, she said. She claimed it suits HSE's top management to see problems with patients in dispute with under pressure staff. At the top you've got top management looking down at the squabbling at the pain and the hardship. And, they are sitting in their ivory towers making the decisions. They are just looking on. They need to be held accountable, she said. It is hard to believe that so many people failed to provided appropriate care and still not one person can be held to account for that. I still cannot get my head around that, she said. She said the sad thing is that there is no obligation on staff to tell patients that something has gone wrong during their care. She said all rests with the 'integrity' of a hospital. She said it is a shock to people that the hospitals do not have to tell the truth. For me going public was the only way and, even at that, we are still learning six years on. No other case within the HSE has been investigated more than ours. The HSE as an organisation does not have integrity and does not put patients first,she said. She said she has not seen evidence of the HSE telling staff to tell the truth. She said there is no legal backing for an obligation of open disclosure. Ms Molloy realises that some local people want them to stop talking because of the adverse attention the issues have attracted to the hospital. However, she believes the truth will benefit. If they would only see what we are doing is going to benefit them in the long run and they have a better service there because of what we have done, she said. She says people who have a good experience were 'one of the lucky ones. Mark Molloy told RTE their son is not forgotten. You think of him so often. The local team are training in Under 6s and Under 8s and he should be down there. Last September, the first day of school was very upsetting for us when we saw all the boys and girls going in that would have been his classmates. We are reminded every day when we look back at pictures of our other boys when they were aged five and six and all the memories we have of them," he said. The grey skies this morning seemed to reflect the mood at the Athy based Coca-Cola plant less than 24-hours after employees were told that it is to close in 2019. The staff car park was full and it looked, from the outside in, that it was business as usual at the 45-year-old manufacturing plant. Except that there was nothing usual about today. Yesterday Coca-Cola announced that Athy International Concentrates will close on a phased basis from September 2018 to December 2019. Following a review of concentrate manufacturing, employees were told that it is proposing the transfer of production from its Athy International Concentrates plant to Ballina Beverages in Co Mayo. One long term Coca-Cola employee at the plant, who wished to remain nameless, told the Leader that employees are still in shock after yesterdays announcement that it is to close with the loss of 82 jobs locally. It is a big blow to the town Athy did not need this, he said We are all local employees with generations of families working here through the years. Everyone is still in shock here today. The mood is one of shock and disbelief. We hope that we will be treated now with respect, compassion and dignity otherwise it will become a lot more public. Another employee, who also wished to remain nameless, said Coca-Cola has always been a good local employer. They are a good employer and they pay good wages especially for younger people, he said. The time is right for some people who are here longer than 40 years but most of us are at that awkward age where even if we retrain who is going to hire us here? The closure would result in the loss of 82 direct jobs, with 43 of those roles transferring to the Ballina plant. Employees from Athy would have the option to transfer. While the plant has been in operation in Athy for the past 45 years, Coca-Cola only took over operations from Schweppes in 2000. Coca-Cola will now commence a period of consultation with employee representatives at Athy International Concentrates. Kildare South Deputy Sean O'Fearghail TD has expressed his disappointment at the news. He said that in addition to the 82 full time jobs to go, up to 30 full time contractors and seasonal workers will also be impacted by this decision, as well as a loss of 16 Million to the local economy. This comes also as a huge set back to the town of Athy which continues to suffer from disproportionate high levels of unemployment," he said. "Given the phased nature of the closure, time at least exists for the state agencies to intervene to try and source additional employment for Athy which is so very badly needed. For my part, I will be in direct contact with the chief executives of Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to see what can be done to generate job opportunities in Athy in South Kildare Last March 2017, the drinks manufacturer announced that in the region of between eight and ten employees at the plant would be made redundant. The job losses came that time as part of an operational re-org that was to see up to 50 redundancies across several other plants including Drogheda, Ballina and Athy. The news of the re-organisation appeared at the time online before it had been announced to all employees. Described at the time as a 'handful of employees' that were impacted the news came as a huge shock to all involved at the plant located at Townparks Industrial Estate in Athy. READ MORE:Utter devastation in Athy LifeStyle The best Lifestyle shows are right here, from Australia and around the world. Catch up with the experts on home design and interiors, food and cooking, the property market, and get fresh ideas with the savviest of renovators. Whether you need inspiration for cooking up a storm, to refresh a tired room, or tips to sell your property, Foxtel Lifestyle will always something new for you to watch. Enjoy your favourite experts like Andrew Winter and Neale Whitaker, or Shaynna Blaze and Jamie Oliver live or On Demand. THE GREEN Party in Limerick has mooted the idea of establishing Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in the city, provided they are tightly-regulated. The local Green Party branch, led by Brian Haugh, is also calling for the decriminalisation of cannabisan illegal, psychotropic class-C drug. Mr Haugh said that it his partys view that if a cannabis cafe were to open it would be tightly-regulated, both in the form and strength of cannabis sold. This is based on best practice across other jurisdictions around the world who have adopted a similar approach. This would ensure that customers would be assured that the cannabis purchased was a known quantity and that they could consume it in a safe and controlled environment. A lot of parallels can be drawn with the licensing of alcohol for sale in on-licensed premises; this ensures that people can enjoy it in a safe environment where they can be assured of the quality and safety of the product, Mr Haugh told The Leader. On the issue of decriminalisation, the Green Party representative said that current laws have made criminals out of decent people and that they need to change. The party proposes to remove criminal offences for people, aged 18 and older, who are in possession of five grams or less. It's clear that the current policy of prohibition and criminalisation of a drug that is in many ways less harmful than alcohol, serves only to line the pockets of criminal gangs and waste enormous amounts of garda resources. Weve seen in Limerick the violence caused by gangs who are funded through the trade of illegal drugs and should welcome this proposal as a means of cutting off a major source of their funding. This approach is not radical and has been highly successful in other jurisdictions which have adopted similar policies. The policy would also likely have an overall health benefit for society. In many jurisdictions in which cannabis has been either legalised or decriminalised, there has been a reduction in the harm caused by the abuse of more harmful drugs. Mr Haugh is also calling for the use of medicinal cannabis. A West Limerick family has taken the idea of giving back to heart and raised an extraordinary 22,200 for Milford Care Centre so that it can continue its invaluable work. The money was raised earlier this year and involved an ascent of Irelands highest mountain, Carrauntoohill in Co Kerry. Milford Care Centre is, unfortunately, a place well known to the Conroy family, Liz Conroy told the Limerick Leader, explaining the background to their big undertaking. Sadly, she added, three family members have died there. Lizs parents Bill and Kit both died peacefully at Milford - Bill in 2008 and Kit in August last year just weeks after she received a diagnosis. Josie Meehan, who was married to Lizs brother, Bill, also died there in 2015. But familiarity with Milford sparked a huge admiration for the work done at the centre among the extensive Conroy family. In the weeks leading up to Kits passing, we spent a lot of time with Kit and we were discussing how good Milford had been to us as a family, particularly as they look after the relatives as well as the patient, Liz explained. We got to thinking how many Conroys could we get to the top of Carrauntoohil and how much could we fundraise for Milford so as to give a little something back, she continued. Nothing came of the idea for some time but Christmas brought a new impetus and the date of February 17 was set. The names came piling in from Liverpool, Wales, Cork, Galway, Meath, Wicklow, Dublin, Limerick and Clare. In the end, a 16-strong group made it to the top on what was a pet, spring day. Led by brothers Daniel and Pat Conroy, the group was in good hands, though the descent was at times treacherous. It was genuinely an epic challenge with some of the team really pushing through their comfort zone and having to really dig deep to get to the top and back, Liz admitted. The Conroys, through their own efforts, successfully raised 12,200 and this was topped up with a whopping donation of 10,000 by Holland and Barrett. The Louvre is the worlds largest museum and houses one of the most impressive art collections in history. Shutterstock.com) (Image credit: kan_khampanya The Louvre is the world's largest museum and houses one of the most impressive art collections in history. The magnificent, baroque-style palace and museum LeMusee du Louvre in French sits along the banks of the Seine River in Paris. It is one of the city's biggest tourist attractions. History of the Louvre The Louvre was originally built as a fortress in 1190, but was reconstructed in the 16th century to serve as a royal palace. "Like many buildings, it was built and rebuilt over the years," said Tea Gudek Snajdar, an Amsterdam-based art historian, museum docent and a blogger at Culture Tourist. During its time as a royal residence, the Louvre saw tremendous growth. Nearly every monarch expanded it, according to History.com. Today, it covers a total area of 652,300 square feet (60,600 square meters). In 1682, Louis XIV moved the royal residence to Versailles, and the Louvre became home to various art academies, offering regular exhibitions of its members' works. During the French Revolution, Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were forcibly removed from Versailles and imprisoned in Tuilleries Palace, which was then adjacent to the Louvre, according to the Louvres official website. They were beheaded there in 1793. The National Assembly opened the Louvre as a museum in August 1793 with a collection of 537 paintings. The museum closed in 1796 because of structural problems with the building. Napoleon reopened the museum and expanded the collection in 1801, and the museum was renamed Musee Napoleon. The line to see the Mona Lisa can get quite long. Shutterstock.com) (Image credit: Alessandro Colle "It was Napoleon Bonaparte who created the foundation for the world famous museum the Louvre is today," said Gudek Snajdar. "He wanted to be in charge of creating a collection of art in Louvre. That's why he renamed it in 1802 to the 'Napoleon Museum.' He wanted to create a museum of France with a wonderful collection of art from all around the world. He enlarged its collection by bringing art from his military campaigns, private donations and commissions he made." Napoleon's contributions included spoils from Belgium, Italy, Prussia and Austria, according to Napoleon.org. In 1815, when Napoleon abdicated with the Treaty of Fontainebleau, almost 5,000 artworks were returned to their countries of origin. France was allowed to keep only a few hundred works, and the Louvre reverted to its original name. Many artifacts from Napoleon's conquests in Egypt remained, according to History.com. After Napoleon, the Louvre continued to expand. The multi-building Louvre Complex was completed under the reign of Napoleon III in the mid-19th century, according to napoleon.org. Louvre paintings & other works The Louvre's collection includes Egyptian antiques, ancient Greek and Roman sculptures, paintings by the Old Masters (notable European artists from before 1800), and crown jewels and other artifacts from French nobles. Its works span the sixth century B.C. to the 19th century A.D. More than 35,000 works are on display at any given time. The displays are divided into eight departments: Near Eastern Antiquities; Egyptian Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculptures; Decorative Arts; Paintings; and Prints and Drawings, according to the Louvre website. Without question, the Louvre's most famous work is Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa," who enchants hordes of visitors with her enigmatic smile. This small, iconic painting it is only 21 by 30 inches (53 by 77 centimeters) is covered with bullet-proof glass and flanked by guards, according to the Louvre website. This protection is the result of it being stolen in 1911. (It was recovered in 1913.) Crowds also flock to see the armless beauty of the "Venus de Milo," and "Winged Victory," the ancient Greek sculpture also known as "Nike of Samothrace." Other popular works include a stele inscribed with the Code of Hammurabi, da Vinci's tragic sculpture "The Dying Slave" and Antonio Canova's 18th-century sculpture "Psyche Revived by Cupid's Kiss." Eugene Delacroix's "Liberty Leading the People," which depicts the bare-breasted Liberty goddess leading a charge in the French Revolution, and is thought to have inspired Victor Hugo's "Les Miserables," and Jacques-Louis David's "The Coronation of Napoleon" was commissioned by Napoleon himself and is a good reminder of the Louvre's history. Gudek Snajdar gave Live Science some unique Culture Tourist recommendations. Some of her favorites come from the collection of Near Eastern Art. She recommends the "Frieze of Archers" from the sixth century B.C. and "Winged Bull with a Human Head" from the eighth century B.C. She also suggests viewing another masterpiece by da Vinci, "The Virgin and Child With Saint Anne," which is very close to the "Mona Lisa." "Instead of getting lost in a crowd in front of the 'Mona Lisa,' I would definitely take a look on that painting and enjoy the work of this Italian painter in a peace and quiet," she said. Also, "a few of Johannes Vermeer's paintings are definitely not to be missed (especially when you know there are only 34 of them in the world). It's a great opportunity to see some of them." Architecture of the Louvre "Although today its collection is the most interesting part of the museum, the building itself is an important exhibit, too," said Gudek Snajdar. The building is primarily of Renaissance and French Classical style, she said. The first medieval elements from the old fortress can still be seen underground, beneath the pyramid, around the lobby area. "Probably its most famous part is Claude Perrault's 'Colonnade' on the eastern facade of Louvre," said Gudek Snajdar. "It was built in the 17th century and it's a wonderful example of a French Classicism. It's composed of paired Corinthian columns with pavilions at the corners of the facade." She said had influenced many buildings the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum in New York being just some of them. The Louvre pyramid, installed in 1988, provides light to the underground lobby. Shutterstock.com) (Image credit: lsantilli The Louvre pyramid In 1983, the Louvre underwent a renovation plan known as the Grand Louvre, according to History.com Part of the plan called for a new design for the main entrance. Architect I.M. Pei was awarded the project, and he designed an underground lobby and modern glass pyramid structure in the courtyard. Inaugurated in 1988, the pyramid would become a celebrated element of the landmark museum's design. "It is my personal favorite," said Gudek Snajdar. "Combining traditional style with modern architecture, it shows the Louvre's timeless beauty." In 1993, the Inverted Pyramid, a skylight dipping into the underground lobby, was unveiled, according to the Louvre website. Louvre tickets & hours Because of its size and the scale of its collection, it is impossible to see the entirety of the Louvre in one visit. The museum reported about 8.1 million visitors in 2017 so prepare for crowds, especially around the most popular works. The museum offers a variety of tools to help visitors plan their days, including the "Masterpieces Visitor Trail, timed at about 90 minutes and covering the 10 most famous works, maps of floor plans and advanced ticket options. The Louvre is open every day but Tuesday and the following holidays: Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and International Workers' Day (May 1). The hours are: Monday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. As of 2018, admission to the entire museum costs 15 euros (17 euros if ordered online). Admission is free for those under 18, as well as other individuals with proper documentation, such as art teachers, pass holders and people with disabilities. Admission is also free on certain special days, such as Bastille Day (July 14). This Amenemhat I carving dates back about 4,000 years and was discovered near the pyramid of Amenemhat I. Two massive limestone blocks decorated with hieroglyphs and carved images have been discovered beside the Pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht in Egypt. Archaeologists led by Mohamed Youssef Ali, of Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities, rescued the blocks from looters who were digging near the pyramid in January 2011, a discovery reported recently in the Egyptian Archaeology magazine. The rescue effort was dangerous, as the archaeologists essentially risked their lives to carry them out of the desert, an act that required both physical grit and ingenuity. [The 25 Most Mysterious Archaeological Finds on Earth] Pharaoh suckling a goddess One of the blocks is nearly 5 feet by 2 feet (1.5 by 0.5 meters) and shows pharaoh Amenemhat I (reign circa 1981-1952 B.C.) suckling a goddess identified as the "Wadjet of Buto" in hieroglyphs engraved into the block. The fertility god Khnum stands beside the pharaoh and the goddess, saying, "I give to you water. The entourage of the gods," according to translated hieroglyphs. The colors on the Amenemhat I carving are well preserved, particularly its blue background. (Image credit: Photo courtesy Mohamed Youssef Ali) The scene suggests that Khnum and the Wadjet of Buto are the parents of pharaoh Amenemhat I, Ali said. The "water" likely symbolizes Khnum's sperm, which impregnates the goddess, allowing for the pharaoh to be born, Ali said. Pharaohs are normally shown as adults and not infants, which may explain why Amenemhat is suckling the goddess even though he is depicted as a grown man, according to Ali. Ali noted that this block was part of a larger carving. Another block from this carving was discovered at Lisht in 1908 by archaeologists with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. That block has an image of the sky god Horus on it and is now on display at the Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 108, according to the Mets website. Another mysterious block Ali's team also rescued another limestone block near the pharaoh's pyramid in January 2011. That block "shows a group of six foreigners, perhaps Libyan men, with three children," Ali wrote in the Egyptian Archaeology article. The block, which is nearly 5 feet wide and 2 feet high (1.5 by 0.5 meters), likely dates back centuries before the Amenemhat I block, Ali noted. "The men are bare-chested over short kilts, and have beards and long hair. There are no inscriptions on the block to inform us who these people were, and whether this scene relates to a specific event, such as a war or a trading mission," Ali wrote in the article. Dramatic rescue At the time of the rescue, during a revolution in Egypt, Ali was director of Dahshur and Lisht, two archaeological sites to the south of Cairo. [Reclaimed History: 9 Repatriated Egyptian Antiquities] Rescue excavations in progress by the pyramid of Amenemhat I at Lisht. (Image credit: Photo courtesy Mohamed Youssef Ali) "It was the first month of the January revolution in Egypt, the ministry of the interior withdrew all the troops from the country, the police station was burned by the revolutionaries and the prisoners escaped from the prison, everything and every place became unsafe in Egypt, everybody was trying to protect his home and his family from the criminals who were escaping from the prisons who attacked the houses for the sake of food, money and sex, too," Ali told Live Science. In this chaos, looters started digging at Dahshur and Lisht. Ali said he heard that two groups of looters were digging by the Pyramid of Amenemhat I. The two groups were arguing over who should take possession of the looted artifacts, and one of the groups had called the military in hopes of exchanging the blocks for a reward. It was a dangerous situation. "No one can help me or protect me and my team if I decided to go to Lisht," Ali said. Despite the danger, he and his team, which included two other archaeologists and two unarmed guards, went to investigate. One of the looters, a young guy who had called the military, guided Ali's team to the place where the two limestone blocks were found. The looter asked Ali about receiving a reward from the government for showing the team the spot holding the limestone blocks. "I answered him, 'Yes, of course you will have a reward,'" Ali said, knowing that the government could not pay an award. "I was a liar, [but] I had to," Ali said. A government law stipulates that an award could be paid to someone who finds artifacts in their house but not at an archaeological site, Ali said. Once they had excavated the two blocks, Ali's team decided to take them to a storage facility at Dahshur. However, the car Ali was using couldn't "carry these huge stones, and the other [problem] is the second group of looters waiting for us on the way to Dahshur," Ali said. This second group of looters, who were unaware that Ali's car could not handle the stones, would be waiting to ambush Ali's team when they left the pyramid. One of the team members "gave me a very good idea to resolve this problem and secure the monuments and save our souls at the same time," Ali said. "He is from the village [located near the pyramid] and knows a good car used to move the vegetables from the village to the city every day. We hired it and [towed the blocks] upon it and moved to Dahshur; and we left my car in front of the pyramid," fooling the second group of looters into believing the team was still at the pyramid, Ali said. The plan worked and the team, along with the two blocks, arrived safely at the storage facility in Dahshur. Ali is the general director at the Ministry of Antiquities and the general director at the Registration Department at the Giza Pyramids. Originally published on Live Science. Archaeologists have discovered a sprawling, possibly 3,000-year-old house that suggests a biblical kingdom called the United Monarchy, ruled by King David and later Solomon according to the Hebrew Bible, actually existed. The archaeologists who excavated the house, at a site now called Tel Eton, in Israel, said in an article published online March 13 in the journal Radiocarbon that the date, design and size of the house indicates that a strong organized government existed at Tel Eton around 3,000 years ago. They added that this government may be the United Monarchy. The site is located in the central part of Israel in a region called the Shephalah. The Hebrew Bible states that the United Monarchy collapsed after the death of King Solomon (an event some historians believe occurred around 930 B.C.). After that collapse, two rival Jewish kingdoms popped into existence Judah (based around Jerusalem), and a kingdom to the north of Jerusalem that retained the name Israel. [Biblical Battles: 12 Ancient Wars Lifted from the Bible] However, whether the United Monarchy actually existed and, if it existed, how large was it, are topics of debate among archaeologists and historians. Fewwritten records have been discovered in Israel that date back to the alleged Monarchy, and some scholars have contended that the surviving archaeological remains indicate that a powerful United Monarchy did not exist. Regarding written records, archaeologists have discovered a 3,200-year-old Egyptian stele written in the name of pharaoh Merneptah that mentions the name"Israel" briefly. Massive house Excavated between 2006 and 2015, the two-story house is constructed partly of ashlar stones. The ground floor is about 2,500 square feet (230 square meters) in size, putting it among the largest 1 percent of buildings that existed in the region around 3,000 years ago, Avraham Faust, an archaeology professor at Bar-Ilan University who leads excavations at Tel Eton, told Live Science. A composite aerial photograph of the massive house on the highest part of the mound of Tel Eton in the central part of Israel. (Image credit: Sky View and Griffin Aerial Imaging, edited by Yair Sapir) "[The house] is located in the highest part of the mound, in an area which dominates large parts of the city as well as agricultural lands and roads below it," and was likely occupied by a senior official, wrote Faust and archaeologist Yair Sapir, in the Radiocarbon article. Before construction of the house began, a 3,200-year-old chalice was buried in what archaeologists call a foundation deposit. To confirm when the house was constructed, the archaeologists radiocarbon dated four artifacts a piece of charcoal found by the chalice, another piece of charcoal found within the remains of a floor above the chalice and two olive pits found within the remains of the house's floor. The house is oriented toward the east and consists of a long house that is divided into four areas three long spaces at the front and a long space in the back that are then subdivided. Israelites frequently built houses with this type of design; non-Israelites did not, Faust told Live Science. This evidence strengthens the argument that the United Monarchy existed and had some degree of power at Tel Eton, he said. [The Holy Land: 7 Amazing Archaeological Finds] Additionally, the archaeologists found that Tel Eton was fortified around 3,000 years ago, something they believe strengthens their argument that a powerful government existed at Tel Eton. They also point out that other sites dating back 3,000 years ago have been found in Israel that could be connected to the United Monarchy, including Khirbet Qeiyafa, a fortified hilltop city located 19 miles (30 kilometers) southwest of Jerusalem. 'Old house effect' In their paper, Faust and Sapir argue that evidence supporting the existence of the United Monarchy is often not studied because of a problem they call the "old house effect." The site of Tel Eton, including the massive house, was destroyed by the Assyrians during the eighth century B.C. As such, the house held a vast amount of remains dating to that century, but relatively few remains that date to 3,000 years ago when the house was first built. This "old house effect" is a problem commonly seen in Israel and at archaeological sites in other countries, the archaeologists said. "Buildings and strata can exist for a few centuries, until they are destroyed, but almost all the finds will reflect this latter event," wrote Faust and Sapir, noting that archaeologists need to be careful to dig down and find the oldest remains of the structures they are excavating so they don't miss remains that could provide clues to the United Monarchy. Reaction and debate Israel Finkelstein, a professor at Tel Aviv University who has written extensively about the United Monarchy debate, expressed skepticism about the results. Two of the four samples used for radiocarbon dating are olive pits, which pose a problem, he said. "The single olive pits come from fills [material that accumulated on the surface of the floor before the floor broke apart]. They have no importance whatsoever [for] dating the building. At Megiddo, my dig, samples like this, single items/fills, are not being sent to the lab to be dated, because they enter bias into the dating system," Finkelstein said. "There is no connection whatsoever between the finds at Tel Eton and the biblical description of the United Monarchy." Faust told Live Science he expects that some archaeologists would be critical of the use of material found in the remains of the floors for radiocarbon dating. He noted that all the radiocarbon dates, those from the olive pits and from the charcoal, converge around 3,000 years. "The convergence of the dates suggest that we are on safe grounds," Faust said. He also noted that one of the charcoal samples is not from the floor but from the foundation deposit (the chalice), strengthening the conclusion that the house was built around 3,000 years ago. Originally published on Live Science. An image of a chicken vertebra bone in a man's lung. The bone, highlighted with a red arrow, is in the bronchus," the airway passage that branches off from the trachea into the lung. It really did go down the wrong pipe: A striking new image shows a chicken bone lodged in an Australian man's lung. What's more, the bone was stuck there for five days before it was discovered. The 78-year-old man initially went to the emergency room right after he choked while eating chicken, according to a new report of his case. He told doctors that he felt like he had something stuck in his throat; however, an X-ray of his neck and chest didn't show anything suspicious. So, doctors assumed that whatever had been stuck had been dislodged, and the man was sent home. However, five days later, the man was back in the ER he had developed a fever and shortness of breath, and there was a high-pitched wheezing sound when he inhaled, according to the report, published yesterday (May 2) in The New England Journal of Medicine. [11 Weird Things People Have Swallowed] This time, doctors performed a CT scan, which showed a chicken vertebra bone in the right "mainstem bronchus," the airway that branches off from the trachea into the lung. An area in the man's right lung wasn't inflating properly, but this symptom was minor, the report said. But how did an inhaled chicken bone go undetected for five days? When an adult accidentally inhales a foreign body, the diagnosis can sometimes be delayed by weeks or months or even years. A 2013 report from Canada described the case of a woman who went 22 years with a bone fragment lodged in her bronchus. And last year, a 47-year-old man in England learned that he had a tiny toy traffic cone lodged in his airway, from an incident 40 years earlier. A delayed diagnosis can happen because, if a foreign body is relatively small and doesn't completely block the airway (which would cause asphyxiation), it can pass into one of the lungs and cause less-severe symptoms than it would if it completely blocked the airway, according to a 2012 report of a case of foreign-body inhalation. What's more, up to 80 percent of foreign bodies are not visible on chest X-rays alone, according to the 2013 report. Dr. Robert Glatter, an emergency-medicine physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City who was not involved in the man's case, said it wouldn't be unreasonable to discharge a patient who came in for a choking episode if the patient didn't have breathing or swallowing problems and their initial X-rays didn't show a foreign body (as was the case for the Australian man). In some cases, doctors may do a CT scan in addition to the X-ray, if they suspect a foreign body in a person's lungs. But "the problem is that so many patients [show these symptoms] and they clear their airways [on their own], and they go on to do fine," Glatter told Live Science. Only a small proportion of people end up having a delayed presentation of a foreign body in the lungs, although it's still a problem that doctors worry about, he added. A delayed diagnosis can lead to complications, including post obstructive pneumonia, or inflammation that occurs around the foreign body in the lungs, Glatter said. In the Australian man's case, he received a bronchoscopy, a procedure in which a long, flexible tube with a camera is inserted into the lung, to remove the chicken bone. The patient "recovered well after the procedure" and was discharged from the hospital three days later, the report said. Original article on Live Science. In "The Funeral" (Groundwood, Ages 5 to 8), Matt James offers a lighthearted - yet not irreverent - look at the rituals of death, through the eyes of a child. Young Norma spends a day out of school to attend her great-uncle Frank's funeral. She practices her sad face in the mirror but looks forward to seeing her younger, favorite cousin, Ray. She tries sounding out the word on the flag attached to their car: FUNeral. "Mom, Uncle Frank was really old, right?" Norma asks. At the church, out in the countryside, the funeral seems very long, "with all that talk about God and souls, and not very much talk about Uncle Frank." Norma and Ray are allowed to slip away from the reception into the nearby meadow, filled with flowers, under a pink-blossomed tree. The clear blue sky seems huge with the church looking "as though it might fall off the ground and fly away in the heat of the afternoon." The world seems very wide. The two children find a little graveyard and a small pond, look for frogs, and play in the tall grasses. "Mom," says Norma on the car ride home, "I think Uncle Frank would have liked his funeral." Sweetly, gently funny and poignant at the same time, "The Funeral" is perfectly pitched to a child's understanding. This uncomplicated story will also charm adults who recognize that being remembered is a gift. - Kathie Meizner At one point in the new documentary "RBG," Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her granddaughter Clara Spera are looking over a scrapbook Ginsburg's late husband, Marty, put together for her. Marty's idea was to solicit letters from his wife's admirers on the occasion of her 50th birthday. His own submission said that Ginsburg could take great pride in her accomplishments as a lawyer and judge but that there is "no way you take greater pride than I do." Spera asks her grandmother: "Do you read these often?" Ginsburg answers nonchalantly, never looking up: "No, I never read them." "You should. They're very nice," Spera says. "If you ever need a boost of self-confidence." Seems unlikely. Self-assurance would be an essential attribute for a woman born in the 1930s, the first in her family to go to college, one of nine women among a Harvard Law School class of more than 500, the second female to sit on the nation's highest court after about 200 years of only men. Now, she's the Notorious R.B.G. and she has created a whole new way for the public to look at a Supreme Court justice. The documentary adds to the fame, of course, but also reveals how it emerged and why it's unexpected, given the life that preceded the meme. The Ginsburg without photoshopped sunglasses and a crown fueled a revolution with lawsuits instead of protests. She believed in incremental progress instead of bold gestures. She was projected to be a conciliator on the court, not its pre-eminent liberal dissenter. Now, "everyone wants to take a picture with me." Has Ginsburg too eagerly embraced the fame? All of the speaking engagements and interviews have presented Ginsburg a platform to speak about the #MeToo movement, the need for an Equal Rights Amendment, Colin Kaepernick and, most notably, Donald Trump. It has not endeared her to those who believe Supreme Court justices should be read and not heard. And it is particularly surprising given that Ginsburg has always been recognized as big in the brains department and underserved in pizazz, especially compared with the gregarious Marty and her larger-than-life best friend on the court, the late Justice Antonin Scalia. And yet, lines stretch for blocks when she appears on college campuses and at synagogues, and her octogenarian likeness is tattooed on millennial muscles (she disapproves: "so permanent"). "RBG," the documentary work of Betsy West and Julie Cohen, launches this weekend. A feature film called "On the Basis of Sex," with Felicity Jones as Ruth and Armie Hammer as Marty, is scheduled for the fall. There's a limited TV series based on her and Sandra Day O'Connor in the works. She has been featured in a comic opera and a workout book. There's a popular Tumblr fan blog, a children's book, a compilation of speeches. She has her own impersonator on "Saturday Night Live." Her face is on tote bags and coffee cups and T-shirts, which she has been known to give to friends. "She has become perhaps the best-known justice in the history of the court," Michael Yelnosky, dean of the Roger Williams University School of Law, said when he welcomed Ginsburg to his school in February. It was among 13 speaking engagements the 85-year-old has made so far in 2018. Her liberal supporters once wanted her to retire so President Barack Obama could appoint her replacement, and now, that ship having sailed, depend on her to outlive Trump's time in office. The feminist Jewish blog Lilith has published "A Prayer for RBG's Long Life." "How's your health?" is the question that opens the documentary, and co-director West said she believes Ginsburg allowed them to film her regular workout planks and push-ups to show "she's proud of keeping herself in shape to do this job." Ginsburg is used to being doubted. She recalls in the film that when she arrived at Harvard, a woman told her that Marty, in the class ahead of her, had been boasting to everyone that his wife was so smart she was going to make law review. The woman added: "You look like a little twerp." --- A surprise for some in the documentary about the feminist icon may be the importance of the man in her life, who died in 2010. At the recent Washington premiere, the actress Michelle Hurd rose during the question-and-answer session with the filmmakers to address Ginsburg. "Thank you so much, if I could, Notorious R.B.G.," Hurd said. "For not only your service, but for the love story that you shared." In the film, Ginsburg recalls that her mother, who died of cancer as the young woman nicknamed Kiki graduated from high school, gave her two pieces of advice. Be a lady, which meant not giving in to unnecessary emotion, such as anger. And be independent. That meant, Ginsburg said, it will be great if Prince Charming comes along, but be prepared to "fend for yourself" if not. At Cornell, she found Marty early on, when she was still 17, he a year older. He was, she said, the first boy she had ever gone out with "who cared that I had a brain." "Meeting Marty was by far the most fortunate thing that ever happened to me," she says in the film. The filmmakers found a trove of home movies that show a beautiful young couple, laughing with school friends and posing on vacation. They married when Ginsburg finished college; he served in the Army, and they had two children, Jane and James. Ginsburg has said she believes women can have it all, but perhaps not all at the same time. It was radical for her to join her husband at law school. But when he graduated and found work at a firm on Wall Street, she followed him to New York and finished her final year at Columbia. While he concentrated on making partner as one of the city's top tax lawyers, she did the lion's share of work at home. But the woman's movement came along, and as a law professor and at the American Civil Liberties Union, Ginsburg became perhaps its leading legal strategist. Marty, too, saw the importance of what was happening, and their roles switched. "I became the person whose career came first," she says in the film. She argued six cases at the Supreme Court aimed at laws that treated men and women differently, and won five. Jane, as the story goes, once told people that there was an equal division of labor in the Ginsburg household: Her dad did the cooking, and her mom did the thinking. When President Jimmy Carter nominated her to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, Ginsburg says, everyone was shocked that her husband followed her to the new job, giving up his partnership to teach at Georgetown University. And when there was an opening on the Supreme Court in 1993, Marty mounted an extraordinary letter-writing campaign - overzealous, some said - to make sure President Bill Clinton considered his wife for the job. Ruth was not one to toot her own horn, their friend and law professor Arthur Miller says in the film, so Marty became "the New York Philharmonic." At the premiere, co-director Cohen talked about their partnership. "You know, Marty Ginsburg and Ruth Bader Ginsburg's marriage would be extraordinary by today's standards," Cohen said. "It's almost hard to imagine a relationship like that starting in the 1950s." --- After Marty's death, there was a period of mourning, granddaughter Spera says, and then Ginsburg threw herself back into her work. By then the senior justice among the court's four liberals, she issued pointed dissents when the conservative majority prevailed in important cases. Her status among liberal college students, particularly women, rose almost overnight. "She called out the majority," said Shana Knizhnik, who created the Tumblr (and, with Irin Carmon, subsequent book) "Notorious R.B.G." after a friend used the term as a hashtag. It's a play, of course, on the rapper Notorious B.I.G., and Ginsburg had to ask her clerks for the connection. Now it is part of her shtick: "We were both born and bred in Brooklyn." Ginsburg can get a laugh, of course, just by saying the word "rapper." "I think the 'notorious' thing was organic, it's not something she sought out," said co-director West. "I think we were all so hungry to hear from Ruth Bader Ginsburg," said Aminatou Sow, who helped create the "Can't Spell Truth Without Ruth" meme. Ginsburg stepped up the speaking engagements and interviews, and conservative commentators argued that she sometimes was too free with opinions about issues that might come before the court. Even her supporters were surprised by her comments on Trump. In interviews in the summer of 2016, Ginsburg called him a "faker" and worried about the fate of the court and the country if he were elected. Several days later, she issued a statement: "On reflection, my recent remarks in response to press inquiries were ill-advised and I regret making them. Judges should avoid commenting on a candidate for public office. In the future I will be more circumspect." In the film, criticism comes from Helen M. Alvare, a professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. It's "not just a matter of decorum, it's not understanding her constitutional role," she says. NPR legal affairs correspondent Nina Totenberg, a friend of Ginsburg's long before she became a judge, says she was "flabbergasted" by the comments about Trump. Totenberg pauses before delivering judgment. "It's inappropriate." The filmmakers asked Ginsburg, and it is the one time in the film the justice seems less than sure-footed. "The notion that I don't comprehend that my job is to interpret the law fairly, that I'm going to vote one way based on who I might have voted for president, is just ..." she trails off. "None of us, even if we wanted to, could be successful if that's the attitude that we have." But the most surprising aspect of the Ginsburg in the film, Cohen said, is the sober judge has a good sense of humor. As they were finishing shooting with Ginsburg, they showed her clips of Kate McKinnon's impersonation on "SNL," with her huge glasses, black robe and white jabot. The justice simply can't stop laughing as she watches. "It's marvelously funny," Ginsburg says finally. Does it remind you of yourself, she's asked. "Not one bit," Ginsburg replies. And then, with a beat of her own comedic timing: "Except for the collar." I spoke with 39-year-old Clark High School graduate Amy Chozick one week after the release of her first book and 10 weeks after the birth of her first child. Q: Your book provided a critique of the way presidential campaigns are covered. What is the solution going forward? A:You have the question of whether the campaign bus is relevant. For one, you can watch these speeches live-streamed, sitting in your cubicle. I think its incredibly important for political reporters to get out in the country and not cover it from New York and Washington. But is the best way to do that to be embedded with a candidate who doesnt give you any access, where you cant even really talk to many voters because youre always being rushed in and out of these rallies? Q: The New York Times decided to assign you to cover Hillary Clinton very early, nearly two years before she announced for the 2016 campaign. Her campaign team was very unhappy about that. A: I understand why her aides were not happy. She had 70 percent approval ratings after leaving the State Department and she wanted to bask in her high approval ratings before getting the scrutiny of a political campaign. I think it was a difficult call because she was, for all intents and purposes, the front-runner for the presidency. Every 2016 hopeful was being covered, they just were in office. Scott Walker was being covered, Marco Rubio was in the Senate, so he was being covered. Joe Biden was being covered by our White House reporters. Its just that Hillary, all of a sudden was a private citizen, so she didnt fall into (our existing) beat structure. Q: Hillary Clinton was a more spirited campaigner in 2008 than she was in 2016. What do you think accounts for that change? A: In 2008, she was a senator from New York and shed worked hard to win over her constituents, especially upstate, which is much more representative of some of those Rust Belt states that she had trouble connecting with in 2016. And she always became a better candidate when she was losing, when she was running scared. And we saw that in 2008 when she got really scrappy, would schmooze with her press corps and let her guard down, because she didnt have anything to lose. But to your bigger point, she became secretary of state, traveling a million miles to all of these countries. And while she was focused on foreign affairs, Occupy Wall Street happened and bank bailouts happened and rage over health care happened and the opioid crisis happened. And when she got back to Chappaqua, I think she was more detached from that. Gilbert Garcia Gilbert Garcia is a San Antonio Express-News columnist. Read more of his stories here. | ggarcia@express-news.net | @gilgamesh470 Pink is set to fly again in Houston. Fresh off a pair of shows at Toyota Center, Pink has announced a round of 37 new dates for her Beautiful Trauma World Tour. SKY HIGH: Pink soars at Toyota Center show She returns March 19 to Toyota Center. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. May 11. In my review of her recent show, I called Pink "one of pop music's most potent voices, using traditional formats to spread messages of hope, inclusion and rebellion." Seriously, get your tickets if you missed her last month. The FBI released a report Thursday on active shooter incidents in the U.S. between 2016 and 2017, including six Texas cases that include the Sutherland Springs shooting and an active shooter in Houston. The 18-page report identified 50 FBI incidents in the two-year span in which an active shooter engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a populated area, according to the FBI. The report shows there was a spike in deaths and injuries in that two-year span. That increase was attributed to three incidents that include the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas where 58 people were killed, the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando where 50 people were killed and the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Spring, where another 26 people were shot to death. Furthermore, the report shows that there were 943 casualties in active shooter situations. Of those, 221 people died and 722 were wounded. That count is up from the agency's 2014-2015 report in which there were 92 deaths and 139 injuries. Additionally, the FBI's report notes that of the 50 incidents, the FBI's data showed that armed and unarmed residents engaged the shooter in 10 cases. Their actions successfully ended the shootings in eight of those cases. The shooters in each case were male, the report reveals. And each acted alone. The shooters ranged in age from 14 to 66 years old. Eight shooters were stopped by citizens, 18 were apprehended by police, 11 were shot and killed by police officers and 13 committed suicide. john.harden@chron.com twitter.com/jdharden About 180 members of the National Guard filed their way in to the Laredo Energy Arena early Thursday morning, marking the arrival of the first boots on the ground in Laredo since President Donald Trump signed an order for their deployment in April. Jason D. Owens, acting chief patrol agent for Laredo Sector Border Patrol, said these guardsmen will be here to help with Border Patrol's efforts at least until October, but perhaps even through Fiscal Year 2019. Laredo drivers sat in more than 1.6 million hours of traffic in 2017, a new report shows. The Texas A&M Transportation Institute detailed their findings in a report listing the most congested roadways across the state. More than 1,700 roads made the list. Six Laredoans were ordered Wednesday to forfeit more than $13 million following their convictions related to a money laundering scheme that used car nationalization businesses as facades. Visiting Judge Keith P. Ellison sentenced Juan Carlos Cerda, 39, Alejandro Cerda, 44, Elias Ibanez Flores, 51, Gerardo Cadena, 38, Ofelia Jenkins, 67, and Adrian Reyna, 37, to time already served. All of them had pleaded guilty to multiple criminal charges stemming from different roles they performed in the conspiracy. The U.S. Attorney's Office declined to comment as to the lenient sentences. READ ALSO: 'They were pretty mean': Texas teen accused of fatally stabbing neighbors gave interview before arrest The investigation, dubbed Operation Conundrum, was a joint effort by the FBI, IRS-Criminal Investigation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration. During their investigation, agents identified an unlicensed money transmitting business used as a conduit to funnel payments from Laredo car nationalization companies to various recipients in Mexico and the United States, court documents state. Car nationalization is the process by which someone imports a U.S. vehicle into Mexico, such as registering the vehicle with the Mexican government. The Mexican government has specific customs laws or regulations regarding vehicle importation. A car nationalization business helps its customers navigate through these regulations for a fee. The Cerdas, along with Reyna and Jenkins, who were unlicensed to operate such a business, engaged in the business of transmitting money when they acquired bulk quantities of currency from Grupo MCA Importaciones and other vehicle nationalization businesses operating in Laredo. They then opened Texas bank accounts and transmitted the cash to others for a fee, records state. The banks accounts received and transmitted more than $24 million in U.S. currency during a 16-month period, according to court documents. RELATED: 3 wrapped in international drug trafficking ring plead guilty to money laundering The Cerdas had pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and making false statements on tax returns. They were collectively ordered to forfeit real property valued at more than $7.4 million and approximately $5.2 million. Jenkins and Reyna, who had pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, had to forfeit $45,000 and a $15,000, respectively. Ibanez Flores and Cadena, who owned and operated Grupo MCA, admitted to structuring U.S. currency into Mexico at increments of less than $10,000 to avoid reporting requirements. They had pleaded guilty to structuring international monetary transactions. Each was ordered to forfeit $250,000. Additionally, Ibanez Flores and Cadena's plea agreements state that the investigation revealed that the conspiracy involved the bribery of Mexican officials associated with the nationalization of U.S. vehicles into Mexico. Roberto Cuevas, a remaining co-defendant, will be sentenced at a later, unspecified date. Cuevas, 42, has pleaded guilty to structuring international monetary transactions. An undercover operation by the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office led to the seizure of nearly $13,000 and more than 100 electronic machines late last week, police said. Detectives received an online tip about the Triple Crown Bingo Hall in the 10500 block of Jones Road claiming bingo was a front for illegal gambling. Deputies with the constable's office went undercover to scout out the bingo hall and found several of Texas' anti-gambling laws were being violated. Washington President Donald Trump has hired Emmet T. Flood, the veteran Washington lawyer who represented Bill Clinton during his impeachment, to replace Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer who has taken the lead in dealing with the special counsel investigation and has decided to retire, the White House said Wednesday. In a phone interview, Cobb, 67, said he informed the president weeks ago that he wanted to retire. He said he planned to stay at the White House, likely through the end of the month, to help Flood transition into the new job. "It has been an honor to serve the country in this capacity at the White House," he said. "I wish everybody well moving forward." Flood is expected to take a more adversarial approach to the investigation than Cobb, who had pushed Trump to strike a cooperative tone. Flood initially spoke with the White House last summer about working for the president, but the talks ultimately fell apart because Flood did not want to deal with Trump's longtime New York lawyer Marc E. Kasowitz, who was overseeing the president's dealings with the special counsel at the time. "Emmet Flood will be joining the White House staff to represent the president and the administration against the Russia witch hunt," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement, referring to the special counsel investigation. "Ty Cobb, a friend of the president, who has done a terrific job, will be retiring at the end of the month." It was not clear what prompted Flood to sign on. The president's legal team for the special counsel investigation has been marked by turnover and uncertain strategy, complicated by a client liable to dismiss his lawyers' advice. That factor prompted Trump's lead lawyer on the case, John Dowd, to quit this year. Rudy Giuliani, the former mayor of New York who is a longtime confidant of the president, has come on board pledging to negotiate an interview for the president with the special counsel. Emerging as part of those negotiations, a set of questions show that special counsel Robert Mueller wants to quiz Trump on an exhaustive array of subjects, including his contacts with Russia as well as his mindset leading up to and during a number of acts that could be construed as an attempt to obstruct the inquiry itself. Flood was part of a team of lawyers who represented Clinton during his impeachment proceedings. Though he did not have a high-profile role, Flood did attend the Senate's deposition of Clinton's lawyer and confidant, Vernon E. Jordan Jr. Flood was also the lead lawyer in the White House Counsel's Office during George W. Bush's second term in dealing with congressional investigations, including the examination of the Bush administration's decision to dismiss seven U.S. attorneys. In private practice, Flood represented former Vice President Dick Cheney. Flood is well-regarded in the conservative legal world and has connections with key players that could make him more effective than his predecessors on the legal team, including a good relationship with Don McGahn, the White House counsel. Flood is seen as a prospective replacement for that job, potentially providing a smooth exit ramp for McGahn, who has clashed privately with Trump and whose departure has long been rumored. Five conservative judges on the federal appeals court in San Francisco accused the court Wednesday of flouting U.S. Supreme Court protections for economic free speech by upholding a states limits on political contributions. The case involved a Montana law, but the judges were inviting a new ruling by the high court that might also apply to campaign finance limits in California. Donor contributions are a form of political speech that merit the respect the First Amendment requires, Judge Sandra Ikuta wrote in an opinion dissenting from the refusal by a majority of the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to grant a new hearing in the case. She said the Supreme Court has required evidence of actual or apparent quid pro quo corruption trading money for votes to justify contribution limits, but the appeals court has concocted its own, more lenient standard. Judge Raymond Fisher, writing for the court majority, said there was evidence in Montana of attempts to exchange campaign dollars for official legislative acts that justified the states contribution limits. He also noted that 40 states and the federal government limit the amounts individuals can give to political candidates, restrictions the Supreme Court has left intact while striking down other campaign finance restrictions. In its 2010 Citizens United ruling and follow-up cases, the high court allowed corporations to give unlimited amounts to independent political committees as an act of free speech, but did not disturb restrictions on donations to individual candidates. But the Ninth Circuit dissenters Ikuta and Judges Consuelo Callahan, Carlos Bea, Milan Smith and N. Randy Smith invited their fellow conservatives on the Supreme Court to take up the Montana case and rewrite the rules for campaign contributions. The court may be receptive, said Richard Hasen, a UC Irvine law professor and election law commentator. If the high court looks at this case in the same way it has considered other campaign finance issues, it is hard to see how it will conclude many campaign contribution limits will stand in any state, Hasen said on his Election Law blog. The court may not want to go down that road, given how disruptive and crazy such a ruling would be. James Bopp, the lawyer for challengers to the Montana law, said he was encouraged by the dissents and hoped the Supreme Court would use the case to strike down limits in Montana, California and other states. Contribution limits in the vast majority of states are way too low and were passed for illicit reasons ... to stop as much private spending on campaigns as they can, said Bopp, general counsel for the James Madison Center for Free Speech. Referring to Californias limit of $4,200 for individual contributions to legislative candidates, he said, jokingly, You cant even buy a Democrat for $4,200. But Los Angeles attorney Robert Stern, former general counsel of the states Fair Political Practices Commission and co-author of the 1974 ballot measure that first regulated campaign financing in California, noted that the states limits are higher than the federal law maximum of $2,700 for individual donations to candidates for Congress, U.S. Senate or president. I dont see how this (case) has much effect on California unless the court says, and its a possibility, that all contribution limits are unconstitutional, Stern said. In addition to the $4,200 limit on legislative contributions, California allows individuals to give as much as $28,200 to a candidate for governor and $7,000 to a candidate for another statewide office. Montana, with a far smaller population and much less expensive campaigns, allows donations of $1,320 to candidates for governor, $660 for other state offices and $340 for legislators. A federal judge declared the limits unconstitutional, but an appeals court panel led by Fisher reversed that ruling in November, and on Wednesday, the full court said a request for a rehearing had fallen short of a majority. In a separate opinion Wednesday endorsing that decision, Fisher cited a letter one legislator sent to fellow Republicans, urging them to vote for an insurance bill in order to keep the contributions coming our way from a lobbying group. Such evidence showed enough of a risk of ... corruption to support contribution limits, Fisher said. But Ikuta, in dissent, said it fell far short of showing actual vote-buying. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko WASHINGTON - Another high-level aide to Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt is leaving the agency this week, as federal investigators continue to scrutinize the administrator's spending and management decisions. Liz Bowman, the agency's top spokesman, is stepping down to become communications director for Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa. Her departure follows the exit of two other top Pruitt aides this week. Albert "Kell" Kelly, who was Pruitt's banker in Oklahoma and hired to revitalize the agency's Superfund program cleaning up toxic sites nationwide, resigned Tuesday. So did Pasquale "Nino" Perrotta, the head of Pruitt's personal security team who has come under congressional scrutiny recently for unusual spending on Pruitt's protective detail. "I leave extremely thankful for the opportunity to serve the Trump Administration and Administrator Pruitt," Bowman wrote in a statement. "Being a member of the EPA team has allowed me to further my skills, learn from my mistakes, and make lifelong friendships. It has also provided me the opportunity to develop a new, and deep, respect for the public servants who serve the American people, day in and day out, to ensure that we all have access to clean air, land, and water." Under Bowman, the EPA's press shop aggressively defended Pruitt's work, often in news releases singling out news outlets and reporters whose coverage the agency said was misleading or inaccurate. After Hurricane Harvey hit Houston last year, the agency's press office charged a D.C.-based journalist at the Associated Press with "reporting from the comfort of Washington," even though other AP reporters co-wrote the stories from Houston. The AP had reported on the flooding of toxic Superfund sites in the hurricane-hit city that EPA employees had not yet been physically able to visit. In a statement at the time, Bowman accused the news wire service of "cherry-picking facts" and of practicing "yellow journalism." "What Liz brought to the table at EPA was good judgment, good management, good organization," EPA chief of staff Ryan Jackson said in a statement. "She has a great opportunity ahead of her at the Senate. She will work for a great member that has a great future in front of her." Before working at the EPA, Bowman directed communications at the American Chemistry Council, the lobbying arm in Washington of the chemicals industry. Her last day at the EPA will be May 11. Perrotta and Kelly, the other two Pruitt aides who announced their departures in recent days, have become flashpoints of controversy within the EPA. Perrotta was scheduled to be interviewed by investigators at the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee this week to explain his role in adding personnel to Pruitt's security detail as lawmakers question whether the EPA is spending too much money on the administrator's security. Democratic lawmakers are also worried about a $125,000 fine Kelly received from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, which later banned him from banking industry altogether. FDIC had found reason to believe Kelly "violated a law or regulation, by entering into an agreement pertaining to a loan" without FDIC approval, according to a consent agreement that Kelly signed in May 2017 and that E&E News obtained. In the agreement, Kelly did not admit or deny wrongdoing. In the middle of February, one-third of the ice covering the Bering Sea off Alaska's West Coast vanished within a week when an enormous pulse of heat swept over the Arctic. Scientists were stunned. This rapid meltdown precipitated a record-shattering decline in Bering Sea ice through the winter and into spring, which has threatened the very way of life in Alaska's coastal villages - reliant on the ice cover for navigation and hunting. February and March ice levels were as low as far back as scientists can reconstruct, dating back more than 160 years. Now, the ice is almost entirely gone - just 10 percent of normal levels as of the end of April. "We've fallen off a cliff: very little sea ice remains in the Bering Sea," tweeted Rick Thoman, an Alaska-based climatologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, on April 29. Thoman said that the ice disappeared this year four weeks earlier than in any other year except 2017, when its extent was also well below normal. The ice extent over the Chukchi Sea, just north of the Bering Sea abutting Alaska's northwest coast, is also abnormally depleted. It recently began its melt season earlier than ever before measured. The ice loss has real consequences for the people in the region, say scientists. "The low sea ice is already impacting the lives and livelihoods of people in Western Alaska coastal communities by restricting hunting and fishing which are the mainstays of the economies of these communities," Thoman said in interview. "Without the ice, it's very difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table," added Brian Brettscheider, a climate scientist with the International Arctic Research Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In April, this research center released a report, detailing the myriad effects of the low ice. Perhaps, most significantly, the lack of ice severely restricted travel in the region. "The ice that formed was too thin and unstable for snowmachines, and the unpredictable appearance of jostling ice floes from Arctic waters made boat travel dangerous," the report said. "At times, there was not enough ice to harvest marine mammals, fish, or crabs." The lack of ice also also exposed vulnerable infrastructure directly to the elements. Along the shores of the Bering Sea, the ice typically acts as a buffer, protecting villages from powerhouse storms and their giants waves. "As a result of increased open water, storm surf flooded homes and pushed ice rubble onto shore," the report said. "Jumbled ice covered beaches, essential infrastructure (such as the helipad at Diomede Island), and driftwood." In late February, when a storm slammed into Little Diomede Island, some waterfront homes and buildings crumbled as towering waves battered the shore. Scientists say no one thing caused the ice to melt so far so fast, but rather a convergence of many different factors, connected to long-term climate change and this year's weather pattern. To begin, temperatures in the Arctic have warmed for decades, more than anywhere else on the planet, and sea ice levels are trending sharply downward. "[T]he warmed state of the Arctic has primed the region for low ice values," said Brettschneider. Both ocean and air temperatures were well above normal in the region leading up to and during the meltdown. Meanwhile, air currents over the Arctic guided storms through the Bering Sea from south to north repeatedly, often drawing abnormally mild air from tropics and mid-latitudes into the region. "[The low sea ice] is likely a result of anomalous southerly winds, well above average air temperatures, unusually stormy conditions with high wave action, and well above average ocean temperatures," said Zack Labe, a climate scientist at the University of California-Irvine. "I suspect the warm ocean likely played a major role, as the weather itself was not that unusual compared to other low sea ice years in the Bering Sea." This year's extremely low sea ice in the Bering Sea is just one of many indicators of abnormally warm conditions in the Arctic over the past several winters. In four of the past five, massive plumes of heat have swelled over the Arctic all the way to the North Pole. Such events were highly uncommon in the past. "I think it is particularly noteworthy and alarming to see all of the recent Arctic extremes now during the wintertime, whereas previously they were more confined to the summer and fall," Labe said. While these changes may seem remote, Thoman called for residents in the Lower 48 to pay attention. "Fellow Americans are suffering from a natural disaster," he said. "While low sea ice is not as dramatic as a wildfire or an Interstate 95 snowstorm, the impacts and hardships it produces are just as real." Thoman, Labe and Brettschneider further stressed that what happens in the Arctic doesn't stay in the Arctic. "The Arctic is part of the interconnected Earth system, and its changes will certainly have far-reaching effects," Labe said. The Land of Goshen Community Market will celebrate its 22nd season in Downtown Edwardsville, Illinois this Saturday, May 12 from 8 am to Noon. Every Saturday, from the second weekend in May until the last weekend in October, the Goshen Market inhabits a one-block stretch of St. Louis Street - from Main to Second as well as the adjacent parking lot and "Market Green" to accommodate the Market's rapid growth. For two decades, the Market has provided a venue for area producers to sell locally-grown fresh fruit and vegetables, annuals, perennials, baked goods, custom art, textiles, and a variety of handmade and homegrown items. Live local music, demonstrations, activities for kids, and even yoga classes are part of the weekly experience. The Goshen Market Foundation (the 501c3 created in 2016 to facilitate the longevity of the Market as well as pursue other local food and sustainability projects) has several exciting projects kicking off this Market season, including a Farm-to-School program launching at Edwardsville's Lincoln Middle School and a Mobile Market making stops all over Madison and St. Clair Counties. (Special thanks to the Edwardsville Community Foundation and Market Supporters for their generous support to the Mobile Market effort.) The Foundation will also be hosting its 3rd Annual "Burgers & Brews" event on Saturday evening, July 7, "Know Your Grower Day" on June 16, and, in the fall, a limited-capacity, localvore-inspired, sit-down Harvest Dinner. For more information about The Land of Goshen Community Market or to support the efforts of the Goshen Market Foundation, please visit www.goshenmarketfoundation.org or find us on Faceboo The Land of Goshen Community Farmer's Market is a 501(c)4 organization whose mission is to The Japan News-Yomiuri Stand-alone photo: People in special costumes parade with gorgeously decorated vehicles in Fukuoka, Japan, as part of the Hakata Dontaku festival on Thursday. To be held Thursday and Friday, the festival is a large tourist attraction. Does it bother anyone that President Donald Trump has been caught lying? Does it bother anyone that this is not new? Does it bother anyone that the president has been shown to be a liar? These questions are again front and center before the country. People will answer them differently, depending on their views about Trump. Some will condemn the behavior. Some will condone it. Many, no doubt, will try to look away, even if that has become more and more difficult. The questions won't go away. They are part of the fabric of this presidency. Thanks to Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor and current member of the president's legal team, Trump has been exposed flat out about the $130,000 in hush money that his attorney Michael Cohen paid to adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford (a.k.a. Stormy Daniels) to cover up an affair that the president denies having with her. In a remarkable exchange with Sean Hannity of Fox News Channel on Wednesday night, Giuliani almost casually dropped the bombshell that, of course, the president reimbursed the money Cohen paid to Daniels. The circumstances of the transaction - Giuliani said it was a retainer to Cohen that ultimately went to Daniels - provide the president the ability to claim lack of knowledge. On Thursday morning, Trump blasted out three tweets in defense of himself, describing how common such arrangements are "among celebrities and people of wealth." Are they common among presidents of the United States? Cohen had claimed that the money came from his personal finances. "The funds were taken from my home equity line and transferred internally to my . . . account in the same bank," he said in a statement in March. Trump had claimed that he knew nothing about any of it during an exchange with reporters on Air Force One in April. Asked whether he knew where the money had come from, he said, "No, I don't know." Asked whether he had ever set up a fund from which Cohen could draw money, Trump didn't respond. On Wednesday night, Giuliani said there are many instances in which lawyers do things for clients without letting them know, "like I take care of things like this with my clients." That, apparently, is how things work with celebrities and people of wealth. Time to move on. What isn't entirely clear is whether Giuliani's version, which obviously contradicts the president's, is the full story. No one who might know what happened took issue Thursday with the claim that Trump repaid Cohen. But without some documentation, the full circumstances of the transaction can't be known to outsiders. It would not be surprising to find that some details are still missing. Trump isn't the first president to tell lies. Bill Clinton lied about his relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky when he wagged his finger and said, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky." Other presidents have lied about events and policies. So this president has some company. But from serial exaggerations to disregard for the facts (his claim that millions of people voted illegally for Hillary Clinton in 2016) to obvious falsehoods, deliberate or unconscious, Trump has a pattern and practice that is often breathtaking in its audacity. The Washington Post's Fact Checker reported this week that during Trump's presidency, the number of "false or misleading claims" has now reached 3,000, an average of 6.5 per day. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders decided not to try to decipher or explain or acknowledge the contradictions between the president's and Cohen's earlier statements and what Giuliani said Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Citing "ongoing litigation," she said, "I don't have anything else to say." At her afternoon briefing, she declined to engage fully when questioned, claiming Trump learned only later of the payment. "We give the very best information we have at the time," she said. The Stormy Daniels episode wasn't the only instance in which Giuliani provided a new account of events. He also offered a new explanation for the president's firing of FBI Director James Comey. It was the third attempt to describe a dismissal that ultimately led to the ongoing Russia investigation being turned over to Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Recall the sequence of events a year ago when Comey was suddenly fired while on a trip to California. The initial account from the White House was that Trump fired Comey after receiving a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein criticizing Comey for his handling of the investigation of Hillary Clinton's emails. It was, of course, Rosenstein who selected Mueller to oversee the inquiry, and it is Rosenstein who is now the target of the president and House conservatives, who want him removed. That cover story crediting the Rosenstein memo for the firing lasted until the president sat down with NBC's Lester Holt. He told Holt, "In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, 'You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story. It's an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.' " Giuliani provided yet another version to Fox News, saying Comey was dismissed because he "would not, among other things, say that he [Trump] wasn't a target" of the Russia investigation. Trump, by his own admission, was irritated that Comey would not publicly clear him. Perhaps Giuliani's explanation is partly consistent with Trump's comment to Holt - it was in one form or another "the Russia thing" that cost Comey his job. Mueller's team and Trump's new legal team appear headed for a major collision over the terms of a possible interview with the president, one that could lead to the Supreme Court for adjudication. Trump allies fear what could happen if the president is required to answer questions verbally, given his tortured relationship with the truth, which is why many have said he should not agree to do so. There are also potential legal ramifications involving the payment to Daniels, now that the facts of the transaction are becoming clearer. Campaign finance and other lawyers will sort through the possibilities. All of this will play out in the coming weeks or months. In the meantime, the question of the public's tolerance for the president's behavior remains in the forefront. After nearly three years in the political arena, Trump has shown his ability to withstand controversies of many kinds. That may continue to be the case. But that doesn't make the uncomfortable questions about truth and the president any less important. Will three U.S. citizens detained by North Korea finally be allowed to leave the country? President Donald Trump seems to think so. On Wednesday night, he tweeted out a message that suggested the Americans could soon go free. Trump tweeted "As everybody is aware, the past Administration has long been asking for three hostages to be released from a North Korean Labor camp, but to no avail. Stay tuned!" (Two of the three prisoners were in fact detained by North Korea after Trump's inauguration.) Former New York City mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, now a member of President Trump's legal team, also indicated the possibility of release on Thursday in an interview with Fox News. "We got Kim Jong Un impressed enough to be releasing three prisoners today," he said. Neither Trump nor Giuliani offered any details as to why they believe a release may be imminent. South Korean media outlets have recently reported a claim by an activist that the three Americans were moved from a labor camp, according to NBC News, but the State Department has said it "cannot confirm the validity of these reports." Here is a look at the three men who might soon go free: --Kim Hak-song Hak-song was detained by North Korean officials last year. The agricultural consultant is being held on accusations of having planned "hostile acts," a vague term that has been used to charge individuals with attempts to overthrow the regime in Pyongyang. Not much is known about Hak-song. He was likely born in China, but he later moved to the United States and became a U.S. citizen. He subsequently returned to the Yanji area in China, which is a hub for North Korea-China trade. After studying agriculture there, according to the BBC, he moved to North Korea's capital, Pyongyang. Hak-song was associated with the Pyongyang University of Science & Technology, or PUST, a privately run institution that was founded in 2010 and is financed by Christian groups that face severe repression in North Korea. --Kim Dong-chul Dong-chul is the only one of the three prisoners who was detained before Trump's inauguration, in October 2015. The former Virginia resident is now in his mid-60s and was living in the Chinese city of Yanji, near the North Korean border, before he was detained. Dong-chul is believed to have moved to Yanji in 2001 and was working for a hotel services company when he was detained. North Korea sentenced Dong-chul to 10 years in prison for allegedly spying on and trying to subvert North Korea. --Tony Kim The 59-year old accountant, who was born in South Korea but was a naturalized U.S. citizen, had been teaching at the Yanbian University of Science and Technology in Yanji for more than 15 years. The university is associated with PUST, its North Korean sister school. Tony Kim also made multiple trips to North Korea for humanitarian work and teaching assignments, according to The Washington Post's Anna Fifield, most recently teaching finance and management in Pyongyang for several weeks at a time. He was detained by North Korean authorities on April 22, 2017, as he was trying to leave the country with his wife, who has since returned to the United States. He was subsequently accused of "acts of hostility" and aiming to overthrow the regime. In a video disseminated on social media, his son directly addressed his father earlier this year as tensions between North Korea and the United States mounted. "We want to tell him that he's soon going to be a grandfather. My brother and sister are [each] expecting their first child," Sol Kim said. --- http://wapo.st/2sLMgAz Washington President Donald Trump is asking a federal judge in Maryland to dismiss a lawsuit that argues that his acceptance of payments from foreign and state governments at his Washington hotel violates the Constitution. A private lawyer for Trump wrote in court papers this week that the suit should be tossed because the president cannot be sued either as an individual or in his official capacity. At issue is the Constitution's "emoluments" clause, which prohibits government employees from accepting gifts and payments from foreign or state governments without congressional approval. In this case, the payments come from foreign governments that have patronized the Trump International Hotel near the White House since his inauguration in January 2017. Ethics experts had warned that this kind of situation could arise because Trump refused to divest from his financial holdings when he became president. Trump instead promised to turn over profits from foreign government business at Trump Organization properties to the U.S. Treasury. The first such annual payment was made earlier this year for $151,470 but the company would not say how that figure was determined. Maryland and the District of Columbia originally sued Trump only as president, but later accused him as a private citizen after U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte raised that legal issue at a hearing in January. Messitte noted at the time that the original suit was "not challenging a presidential function. They're challenging the president as an individual." Associated Press WASHINGTON - As Congress prepared to impeach former President Bill Clinton in 1998, the president's lawyers had a question: How exactly would this little-used, high-stakes process work? To find an answer, they turned to Emmet Flood, a serious, low-key lawyer on Clinton's personal legal team, who dove deeply into Congress' historical records to figure out exactly how an impeachment and trial of a president would unfold. Flood's legal colleagues said the unusual inside knowledge he learned working the Clinton case, combined with a career spent navigating complex legal matters that also involve tricky political calculations, have made him a natural choice to join President Donald Trump's legal team. The White House announced Tuesday that Flood will replace Ty Cobb in the White House Counsel's Office, serving as a point person for the White House's response to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. "Emmet's a terrific lawyer - smart, savvy and ethical - and one who lived through a special counsel's investigation of a president," said George Conway, a lawyer who advised the legal team of Paula Jones, who had accused Clinton of sexual harassment during the Clinton investigation. Clinton was impeached by the House of Representatives but spared conviction and removal from office by the Senate. People who know Flood say he is a thorough, straight-arrow attorney who bears a deep skepticism of overreach by the government and its prosecutors. "He feels strongly that this whole investigation is essentially an attempt to undermine an election," said a Flood confidante, one of a number of his colleagues who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the Russia investigation. "He doesn't like the idea of an independent counsel." Flood, 61, brings to the White House an impeccable resume in the conservative legal community and a top-notch reputation among Republican and Democratic colleagues. "He's a very, very good lawyer," said David Kendall, who has served as Bill and Hillary Clinton's chief lawyer since the 1990s. "He's bright as can be," said Richard Cullen, a former U.S. attorney and Republican Virginia attorney general who now represents Vice President Mike Pence in the Russia matter. "A lot of times, you get bright guys who are not practical. He's both." Flood declined to comment. After brief stints as a high school teacher and philosophy professor (he holds a PhD in philosophy), Flood graduated from Yale Law School and clerked for a conservative legal hero, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. He has spent most of his professional career at the white shoe Washington firm Williams & Connolly, where he served on Clinton's legal team but also represented former Vice President Dick Cheney in a civil lawsuit filed by former CIA officer Valerie Plame, whose identity was provided to the media by a Cheney aide. But he left the firm for two years in 2007 so he could serve as special counsel to President George W. Bush, where he handled Bush's response to investigations of his midterm firing of seven U.S. attorneys. After Bush left office, Flood returned to Williams & Connolly. In the Bush White House, Flood convened a daily 10:30 a.m. meeting in his office to provide updates on ongoing congressional requests for documents and interviews, said Tony Fratto, who served in the communications office at the time. "He's a rules follower, and he's unflappable," Fratto said. "I've never seen him angry or excited. He's a very steady hand. Maybe that will be a calming influence in this White House." Fratto also said Flood had thought deeply on the prerogatives and privileges of the president, experience that Trump could find useful. Flood had first discussed leaving his firm and joining the White House Counsel's Office nearly a year ago, in the weeks after Mueller was appointed and Trump was beefing up his legal team to respond. He interviewed then for the job he has now accepted, a position on the White House staff in which his primary responsibility will be to defend the institution of the presidency, rather than Trump personally. He was a favorite of White House Counsel Donald McGahn, a longtime Flood friend, but he initially declined the post after clashing with Marc Kasowitz, the combative New York lawyer who at the time served as Trump's chief personal lawyer. Kasowitz, however, was soon replaced by John Dowd, who brought on Cobb to serve as the White House's point person on the Mueller probe. But Dowd resigned in March, prompting a total overhaul of Trump's team that has now led to Flood's hiring. Friends say he also advises clients to curb public comments about ongoing investigations that prosecutors could exploit. The advice could spark clashes with Trump, who comments on the Russia investigation on Twitter on a nearly daily basis. In 2013, that advice caused conflict between Flood and another high-profile client, the then-governor of Virginia, Robert McDonnell, who at the time was under federal investigation for accepting gifts and loans from a wealthy campaign supporter. People familiar with that case have said Flood advised McDonnell to stay quiet about the case but the governor felt he needed to speak publicly to improve his political position. Ultimately, Flood quit, in part as a result of the dispute. McDonnell was indicted and convicted on public corruption charges, but his conviction was overturned by the Supreme Court. "Emmet has little patience for clients who misinterpret legal jeopardy for public relations jeopardy," said a lawyer who has worked closely with Flood. Still, a person familiar with the matter said Flood has been spotted at the White House several times over the past several months, discussing with members of Trump's team the possibility of joining. "He's a big boy, and he's going in with eyes wide open," the person said. Courtesy / J. Horry BANDERA Local residents who wants to replace City Councilwoman Christine Morse, who resigned in April after less than four months in the post, must apply with the city by May 17 to be considered for the appointment. Mayor Suzanne Schauman said Morse, who couldnt be reached for comment, did not give a reason for stepping down immediately upon submitting a resignation letter on April 7. AUSTIN Russian bots helped fuel fears in Texas over the Jade Helm military exercise three years ago in a test by Moscow that led to a misinformation campaign in the U.S. electoral process, the former CIA director asserted this week. Michael Hayden, in an interview on MSNBC's Morning Joe show on Wednesday, said the Jade Helm controversy in 2015 was stirred by the Russians as a test to see how much influence they could exert through online means. After Gov. Greg Abbott put the state guard on call to monitor the federal training exercises, Hayden speculated that the Russians decided to expand their disinformation campaign. Hayden, a retired Air Force four-star general who also ran the National Security Agency under President Obama, appeared on the show promoting his new book. "They took their game to North America in 2015, and I won't belabor it here but there was an exercise in Texas called Jade Helm 15 that Russian bots and the American alt-right media convinced most many Texans was an Obama plan to round up political dissidents," Hayden said on the show. FROM THE ARCHIVES: With Jade Helm nearing, the suspicious turn on the monitor "It got so much traction that the governor of Texas had to call out the National Guard to observe the federal exercise to keep the population calm. At that point, I'm figuring the Russians are saying 'We can go big time' and at that point I think they made the decision, 'We're going to play in the electoral process.'" FROM THE ARCHIVES: Texas governor orders troops to 'monitor' Jade Helm Hayden said the Jade Helm misinformation campaign affirmed that they could use cultural and political splits to generate controversy in the United States a strategy that reports indicate they have continued to use to sow division on other issues since then, including in the 2016 presidential election. Abbott's office had no comment. Democrats jumped on the report. Manny Garcia, deputy executive director of the Texas Democratic Party, in a statement reaffirmed the party's criticism of Abbott's decision and called the governor "a Russian pawn and a useful idiot for Russian efforts to instill fear and distrust in our American institutions." "Michael Hayden knows a Russian operation when he sees it," Garcia said. " . . . It doesn't take an intelligence expert to see that Trump Republican Greg Abbott calling the Texas National Guard on the U.S. Military was downright idiocy." Other state officials noted that Abbott did not call out or activate the Texas National Guard. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez said the report confirms that Abbott "was duped by Russian bots. "He indulged in awful conspiracy theories against our own men and women in uniform," she said in a statement. "He was a puppet in a Russian infowar that sowed distrust amongst Americans and paved the way for foreign intervention in our elections. This is who is lecturing us on being smart on security and integrity in our electoral process?" Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, covers Texas politics and the governor's office and the executive branch, along with criminal justice and ethics issues. Follow him on Twitter @ChronicleMike and send him story tips at Mike.Ward@Chron.com. All eyes are on this years Bealtaine Festival which officially opens in Co Longford this week with a Tea Dance in Abbeylara Parish Centre at 5pm on May 3. Hosted by Abbeylara ARA, entry is 5 with a free door draw. Booking is essential through the club or directly with Denis Fahy on 087-2510072. Meanwhile, there is an array of activities across the county to celebrate the event throughout the month of May, and something everyone is looking forward to is the Spring Into Summer Art Exhibition at Longford Branch Library. This exciting exhibition includes beautiful and original paintings by Dan Flynn, an artist living in the county and the event will be hosted by the library from May 1-31. Longford Co Librarian, Mary Carleton Reynolds told the Leader this week that there was something for everyone to enjoy in Co Longford this May. It is a wonderful occasion for everyone and one that will bring everyone together, she added. Meanwhile, the Bealtaine Festival, which encourages and celebrates older people's engagement with the arts, was the culmination of a process which started in the late 1980s when Age & Opportunity and a number of other organisations including the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA); Dublin City Council and the Eastern Health Board organised Active Age weeks alongside a short arts festival called the Maytime Festival in 1995. And, the rest, as they say is history! For details of all Bealtaine events in Co Longford, log onto www.longfordleader.ie Two hundred new jobs are to be created in Longford town at the Avery Dennison Corporation (Finesse Medical). The company, based on the Ballinalee Road in the town, this morning announced substantial expansion plans. Caption: Michael Johansen, Avery Dennison, Peter Burke TD and Martin Shanahan IDA Addressing attendees at the jobs announcement, Longford/Westmeath Fine Gael TD, Peter Burke said this is a further vote of confidence in Longford as great place to set up a business and a sign that more companies are recognising the benefits of being based in the county: Having seen first-hand the world class facilities here at Avery Dennison, I am delighted that the company has selected its Longford arm to expand. The company is linked in with the IDA and I am happy that the government agency has further supported their growth and capacity in Longford town. These are well paid, highly specialized posts which will be recruited for locally and which add to the recent jobs boost Longford town has enjoyed. Project construction is set to begin this September and be completed by Summer 2019. A new clean room and further manufacturing capacity will be established, with an extra 6,000 square facility being invested in by the company to house new employees and increased capability. "Avery Dennison expects the capacity expansion to increase employment at the Longford operations over a four-year period. This model of expansion shows that both private companies and the Government working together are committed to increasing job creation in rural and regional Ireland, with companies happy with the quality of employees and the services available to them here in the Midlands. "Longford and its surrounds is a great place for companies to be based, with an educated work force, a high quality of life on offer for employees and their families and with recent significant investment in the form of infrastructure and rural amenities. We need to show this off and market Longford aggressively. We must continue to ensure that we have the right conditions and supports in place to encourage job creation right across the country. Avery Dennison Industrial and Healthcare Materials is deeply committed to its medical businesses, to the continued development of its outstanding medical manufacturing capabilities, and to the vibrant professional community here at Longford that has generated this remarkable success story, said Michael Johansen, vice president and general manager of Avery Dennisons Industrial and Healthcare Materials business. We believe that focusing our medical converting manufacturing operations in Longford and investing to build capabilities will open up an exciting array of opportunities, for our company, our customers and our employees. CEO, Martin Shanahan, of IDA Ireland said: News that this global company is to expand its medical product manufacturing operations in Longford is very welcome. It shows a very strong commitment by Avery Dennison to the Longford Finesse Medical site. Winning investment for regional locations is a key focus for IDA Ireland and the resulting increase in employment this expansion will create is very welcome in what is a key region for us. I wish the company every success with this new venture. Also read: Exclusive - Longford firm Finesse Medical to make 'significant' jobs announcement tomorrow Also read: Longford set for further jobs boost Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: May 03 2018 Abel Hernandez, 21, called the woman and requested money to keep the victims grandson out of jail, police report. Lindenhurst, NY - May 3, 2018 - Suffolk County Police today arrested a man who scammed a Kansas woman out of cash after falsely claiming her grandson was in jail. Abel Hernandez knocked on the front door of a residence on North Kings Avenue in Lindenhurst at approximately 9:45 a.m. and asked the female homeowner for a package that allegedly belonged to him. The female resident became suspicious and called police after Hernandez was unable to properly identify the name on the package. When police arrived, they discovered the package contained $9,900 cash. On Saturday, April 28, 2018, a separate package had been delivered at the same residence and it was given to Hernandez by another resident after Hernandez claimed the package belonged to him. An investigation by First Squad detectives revealed the money belonged to a 77-year-old female from Riley, Kansas. Detectives worked closely with the Riley County Police Department and discovered the victim was told her grandson was in jail in New York for driving while intoxicated. The caller claimed to be an employee of the Public Defense Department and requested $6,500 to keep the victims grandson out of jail. After receiving the first package, another call was made to the victim claiming the bail amount had increased and the victim sent an additional $9,900 in cash. The second package, containing $9,900 was intercepted today by First Precinct officers. When Hernandez was arrested, he had $5,300 in his pocket from the original package. Detectives recovered more than $15,000 of the victims money. Abel Hernandez, 21, Farmingdale , was charged with two counts of Grand Larceny. He will be held at the First Precinct and was arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip on May 2. Local News, Crime, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: May 03 2018 Governor also Announces Legislation to Extend Background Check Waiting Period from Three Days to 10 Days. Albany, NY - May 3, 2018 - Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation to remove guns from domestic abusers and close a loophole in state law that will ensure domestic abusers are required to surrender all firearms, not just handguns. The Governor also announced he is advancing new legislation to extend the waiting period for individuals who are not immediately approved to purchase a firearm through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System from three days to 10 days. "In a time when gun violence continues to relentlessly torment communities across the country while our federal government refuses to act, New York must lead the charge to end this epidemic once and for all," Governor Cuomo said. "With this legislation, we can sever the undeniable connection between domestic abuse and deadly gun violence, and continue to build upon the strongest gun laws in the nation." "My mother dedicated her life to helping victims of domestic violence and our family started a home to help these survivors," said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. "We've seen firsthand the fear created when a gun is present in the home of an abuser. This new law today is a dramatic step forward eliminating the vulnerability of these women and their children. While the federal government fails to address the issue of gun violence, we continue to fight to keep guns out of the hands of those who could devastate our communities and our residents." Removing Guns from Domestic Abusers Previously, New York law narrowly prohibited the possession of firearms for individuals either convicted of a felony or a limited number of misdemeanor "serious" offenses, excluding many misdemeanor offenses that are undeniably serious. This bill (S.8121 Phillips/A10272 O'Donnell), which the Governor signed in ceremony today, expands the list of "serious" crimes that require the loss of a gun license and the surrender of all firearms to ensure no domestic abuser in New York retains the ability to possess a firearm once convicted of a disturbing crime. In addition, this legislation will preclude any individual wanted for a felony or other serious offense from obtaining or renewing a firearm license. Under previous New York law, despite being subject to an arrest warrant, an individual was still legally eligible to obtain a firearm license even as police worked to locate and detain them. This change ensures that the law enforcement who are actively seeking to arrest a wanted individual, as well as innocent bystanders, are not needlessly endangered by a wanted individual who has been able to obtain new firearms. Extending the Waiting Period Governor Cuomo has introduced legislation to establish a 10-day waiting period for individuals who are not immediately approved to purchase a firearm through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Current federal law requires gun dealers to conduct the NICS background check on a potential purchaser prior to selling a firearm, which immediately provides the dealer with one of three possible notifications. These notifications include "proceed", "denied", or "delayed". In the case of a "delayed" response, the dealer must wait three days before the sale is eligible to go through, even though the FBI continues to investigate these individuals past the three-day timeframe. Oftentimes, by the time it has been determined that the potential purchaser was, in fact, ineligible, the individual has already been sold the firearm upon completion of the three-day waiting period. Extending the waiting period to ten days would allow sufficient time to complete the expanded background check and builds on legislative efforts to ensure that only those eligible to own a firearm are able to do so. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said, "Today, New York continues its inspirational leadership in addressing the gun violence epidemic by enacting legislation that recognizes the deadly connection between intimate partner abuse and the tragedy of gun violence. Yet, while New York leads, Republicans in Congress refuse to act. As gun violence and domestic abuse exact a daily toll of horror and heartbreak in communities across the country, saving lives and protecting families shouldn't be a partisan issue. Democrats know that there is a commonsense, bipartisan path forward and we will continue to press for progress on this critical issue." Congressman Jerrold Nadler said, "I am proud to stand with Governor Cuomo as he signs legislation to remove all guns from domestic abusers. These measures will close dangerous loopholes in our gun laws and enhance public safety. There is simply no reason why one who has committed an act of domestic violence should maintain ownership of a firearm. Since the Republican Congress has failed to address the national epidemic of gun violence, I commend Governor Cuomo's leadership in working to enact reasonable gun safety legislation that will protect New Yorkers." Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney said, "We know that individuals with a history of domestic violence are five times more likely to murder an intimate partner when a firearm is in the house. This bill, to remove guns from domestic abusers, is just commonsense. I was proud to stand with Governor Cuomo today as he signed this important bill that will save lives into law." Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez said, "Gun violence is a plague on our nation and our city that too often shatters lives. The steps being announced today will help keep firearms away from those who should never have access to them. We must do more and Congress must act at the federal level. Nonetheless this effort is a good start and shows New York is leading the way to tackle this horrible problem." Congressman Adriano Espaillat said, "Domestic violence affects all communities. I commend Governor Cuomo on today's announcement to remove guns from domestic abusers and close a loophole in New York to ensure domestic abusers are required to surrender all firearms. Domestic violence impacts each of our communities, and today we are standing united with victims, survivors and families of domestic abuse to say enough is enough. I vow to continue my work in Congress to end domestic abuse and violence. Today's landmark legislation is a historic step in our efforts to protect the victims of domestic violence and help keep individuals and our communities safe." Senator Elaine Phillips said, "Domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be killed when their abuser owns a firearm. I thank the Governor for signing my legislation into state law, which requires the removal of firearms from individuals convicted of domestic violence. This commonsense legislation keeps firearms out of the hands of those who are convicted of domestic violence, closes the gap in federal law, protects women, men and children from their abusers and will prevent further tragedies." Senator Diane Savino said, "This legislation continues our work to strengthen New York State's nation-leading gun laws. We are closing a loophole that allowed people convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor to keep their firearms, and by doing so we are further protecting the victims of domestic violence across this state. No one should have to live in fear of their abusers, and thanks to working with Governor Cuomo on this legislation, we are helping to ensure that they no longer have to." Assemblyman Daniel O'Donnell said, "Being one of the first bills I sponsored in my 16 years in the New York State Assembly, I'm proud to see this common sense legislation that prevents those with incidents of violence from possessing firearms be signed into law. Firearms are force multipliers whose presence often makes incidents of domestic violence deadly. I truly believe this is just the beginning of more firearm regulation passing the legislature and being signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. Assemblywoman Amy Paulin said, "Research says that one in three women in the United States will be assaulted by their domestic partner during their lifetimes. In many of those cases, firearms often play a role. This bill signing sends a message that New York State does not value gun rights above public safety and that it's not going to stand by idly. This move not only closes the loopholes in the state law, but it ensures that anyone convicted of domestic violence will lose access to their gun license and firearms." Connie Neal, Executive Director of the New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence said, "The connections between domestic violence and gun violence cannot be clearer. We applaud Governor Cuomo and the members of the New York State Legislature who voted to take a strong stand to remove firearms from domestic violence offenders. The urgency to act was irrefutable, and New York has now made a significant step forward in preventing domestic violence homicides. Because of Governor Cuomo's leadership, we will now have a strong safeguard in place for protecting countless New Yorkers." Kris Brown, Co-President of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence said, "The numbers are very clear. Abused women are five times more likely to be killed if their abuser owns a firearm, and domestic violence assaults involving a gun are far more likely to end in death. By requiring domestic abusers to surrender their firearms, Governor Cuomo closed a glaring loophole in state law. I applaud the Governor's action, as his advocacy for common sense gun laws will help save the lives of vulnerable people all across our state and prevent family fire." Amy Barasch, Executive Director of Her Justice said, "As our nation grapples with how to confront the spread of gun violence, we are proud to work and live in a State who has such a leader on this issue: Governor Cuomo. At Her Justice, where we provide free legal assistance to thousands of victims of partner violence every year, we know all too well how dangerous guns are in the context of abuse in the home. This new legislation will ensure guns are taken out of the hands of more convicted domestic abusers. Thank you, Governor, for moving us forward." Cicely Fields, Domestic and Gun Violence Survivor said, "As a domestic violence survivor, I am a living testimony to why the signing of this bill today is so important. I know firsthand the connection between domestic violence and gun violence is undeniable, as my abuser was able to possess a firearm that injured me within inches of my life. The wound may have healed, but I will still be physically damaged for the rest of my life and my four children, who rely on me for support, will continue to suffer due to the actions of this domestic abuser. I thank Governor Cuomo for ensuring the passage of this law." Joe Torre, Chairman of the Joe Torre Safe At Home Foundation said, "Domestic violence victims are five times more likely to be killed if their significant other owns a gun. Today, New York State is taking a strong stance by keeping guns away from abusers - thereby saving countless lives." June Rubin, Volunteer Co-Leader for the New York Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America said, "Today we took another important step towards protecting New Yorkers from gun violence. While this is a meaningful day, we know this legislation is just one of many steps needed to prevent future acts of gun violence. We look forward to working with lawmakers and Governor Cuomo on future steps such as the passage of lifesaving Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation." Rebecca Fischer, Executive Director of New Yorkers Against Gun Violence said, "Under previous law, where people convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor were able keep their firearms, the lives of both their victims and the general public were unnecessarily put at risk. Thanks to Governor Cuomo, this legislation ensures that everyone convicted of a domestic violence crime is held to the same standard, guaranteeing that these dangerous individuals will lose their gun license and their firearms. This is common sense legislation that was long overdue, and we applaud the Governor for seeing it through." Martha Kamber, CEO, YWCA Brooklyn and member of YWCAs of NYS said, "The YWCA supports the governor's bold action to protect the lives of survivors of intimate partner abuse from gun violence. As one of the largest statewide networks of domestic violence service providers, the YWCA understands first hand how important this legislation is for survivors in New York State and, as part of a national YWCA network of domestic violence providers serving over 2 million women and children in 46 states, we commend the governor for his leadership in this area and hope New York State's legislation will promote domestic violence and gun safety legislation across the country." Under Governor Cuomo, New York has passed the strongest gun control laws in the nation and with the passing of this legislation, New York's gun laws have been further strengthened to ensure that the well-known link between domestic abuse and deadly gun violence can be eliminated. In nine of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in United States history, including Las Vegas and Sutherland Springs, the shooter had an existing record of committing violence against women, threatening violence against women, or harassing or disparaging women. In addition, when an abusive partner is permitted to access firearms, the risk that the other partner will be killed increases fivefold. In 2016, firearms were used in 35 domestic homicides in New York. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: May 03 2018 Mark Caraway of Central Islip, 42, was convicted by a jury and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6. According to the Suffolk DA, Mark Caraway of Central Islip, 42, has been convicted of stabbing a Suffolk County Police officer in the face. Riverhead, NY - May 3, 2018 - Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the trial conviction of Suffolk County District Attorney Timothy D. Sini today announced the trial conviction of a man who stabbed a Suffolk County Police officer in the face while the officer was responding to a 911 call at a home in Central Islip on August 13, 2016. Police officers put their lives on the line every time they report for duty, and we will not tolerate violence against those who are sworn to keep us safe, District Attorney Sini said. I commend Assistant District Attorneys Laura Newcombe and Kathleen Kearon for ensuring that this individual was held accountable for his actions and for delivering justice for the police officers harmed in this attack. Mark Caraway, 42, was convicted by a jury of Attempted Aggravated Murder of a Police Officer, a class A felony, and five counts of Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer, a class B felony. On August 13, 2016 at approximately 1:20 p.m., Suffolk County Police responded to a 911 call requesting a welfare check on Caraway, who was at a residence on Oakland Avenue. Caraway was reportedly acting irrationally, threatening to hurt himself and others in the residence, and had barricaded himself in the basement of the house. The officers could hear Caraway throwing things around and making noise in the room, District Attorney Sini said. When the noise stopped, police thought the defendant might have injured himself so they entered the barricaded room to check on his wellbeing. It was during this attempt to check on his welfare that the defendant attacked responding officers. When police officers entered the room, Caraway, who was armed with two knives, slashed one of the officers in the face several times, nearly severing his nose. The officer, a 24-year veteran of the department who was assigned to the Emergency Services Section at the time of the incident, underwent four hours of surgery for his injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital Caraway refused to drop the weapons and officers discharged a Taser in an attempt to subdue him. After multiple attempts to tase the defendant, he continued to be aggressive and another responding officer fired a single shot at Caraway, striking him in the abdomen. Caraway was treated for his injuries at Southside Hospital in Bay Shore , where he was arraigned on an indictment and remanded without bail on September 12, 2016 by Suffolk County Court Justice Stephen L. Braslow. The trial began on April 23 and the jury deliberated for approximately six hours before delivering a verdict of guilty on all charges. Caraway was remanded without bail and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 6 in front of Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice John B. Collins. He faces a maximum sentence of 25 years to life in prison on the Attempted Murder and a maximum sentence of 25 years in prison determinate on the Assault charges for a total maximum sentence, if run consecutively, of 50 years to life in prison. This attack was a stark reminder of the sacrifice our officers make each and every day to protect our communities, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said. On behalf of the police department, I thank the Suffolk County District Attorneys Office for bringing this perpetrator to justice. by Chuck Martin , May 3, 2018 The number of connections to Googles Assistant has grown substantially and now the search giant is opening an investment program to advance digital assistance even further. The Google Assistant can now connect with more than 5,000 smart home devices, an increase from 1,500 in January, including every major device brand, according to a company announcement. Devices it can connect to include thermostats, security systems, lights, plugs, dryers, doorbells, dishwashers, fans, locks, heaters and refrigerators, among others. Millions of people already have access to the Assistant on smart TVs powered by Android TV, and we're still seeing tremendous growth, stated Michele Turner, director, smart home ecosystem at Google. Google also announced that it plans to fund early-stage startups to advance what digital assistants can do. The new program comprises investment capital for startups, advice from Google engineers and product managers, Google partnership programs to provide early access to upcoming features and promotional support through Google marketing channels. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, May 3, 2018 Microsoft took the first step to integrate data from its LinkedIn acquisition into a new advertising platform that launched Thursday. Microsoft Audience Network, a platform powered by artificial intelligence focused on audience segments, aims to help businesses connect to consumers showing interest in specific topics throughout their buying journey across search, web and apps. The new advertising option, built on the Bing Ads platform, goes beyond the search engine page and enables marketers to extend their media buys into other Microsoft owned and operated assets such as Edge, MSN and Outlook using data from services such as LinkedIn, according to Steve Sirich, general manager of Bing search ads at Microsoft. This service -- a performance auction based on a cost per click -- is the first to integrate LinkedIn data into the platform to assist in reaching the correct targeted consumer with the ideal message. It combines tens of billions of intent signals -- as well as LinkedIn data and continuous signals from Microsofts massive consumer online services -- to power the new audience marketing solution. It also taps one of Microsofts largest AI initiatives -- Bing. advertisement advertisement Its a first foray for Microsoft Advertising where were beginning to use, as part of the Microsoft Graph, the profile data from LinkedIn, Sirich said. The profile data is around professional experience, industry and company. For marketers, its no longer about optimizing a media spend by channel but rather understanding customers and their interests and preferences through data and other intent signals, and integrating it with the Microsoft Graph. Kohls, Lending Tree and HomeAdvisor are among the companies adopting the Microsoft Audience Network ads in beta and seeing early results in line with expectations. The service is available today in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia, with more markets to follow shortly. Microsoft Audience Network sits within the Microsoft Consumer Business unit, along with Bing Ads, and other offerings related to advertising. The Bing Ads user interface will enable marketers to see performance across Audience Network and other Microsoft platforms. Microsofts search advertising business brings in nearly $7 billion annually, with the more than half a million active advertisers using the global Bing Ads platform in multiple languages. New data from Microsoft also estimates that Bing reaches 63 million total PC searchers who are not searching on Google. About 51 million searches are related to the retail industry, and 35 million in finance and business. While mobile remains a growing media, 77% of retail e-commerce still occurs on PCs, which have a 52% higher conversion rate, Cady Condyles, senior product marketing manager at Microsoft, told MediaPost Search Insider Summit attendees last week in Captiva, Florida. by Tanya Gazdik , May 3, 2018 Tesla is making significant progress on the Model 3 ramp-up, according to a letter sent to shareholders Wednesday detailing the automakers first-quarter results. The companys automotive revenue in Q1 2018 increased by 19% over Q1 2017, mainly due to Model 3 deliveries and adoption of the new accounting standard described below. Tesla posted adjusted losses of $3.35 per share with revenues on $3.4 billion. However, the questions swirling around Tesla go far beyond the automakers financials, says Karl Brauer, executive publisher for Autotrader and Kelley Blue Book. advertisement advertisement "Several high-level executives have left in recent weeks, production of the Model 3 continues to lag Elon Musks claims, and competitive offerings from more established brands are fast approaching," Brauer says. "All of this sits on top of a rapid cash burn and questions of when Tesla will need a capital infusion. The financial numbers, or Musks spin on the financial numbers, will have to be pretty amazing to keep the stock heading in a positive direction. Prior to a planned shutdown in mid-April to further increase production, the company produced more than 2,000 Model 3 vehicles for three straight weeks, and hit 2,270 in the last of those weeks. Even at this stage of the ramp, Model 3 is already on the cusp of becoming the best-selling mid-sized premium sedan in the U.S., and our deliveries continue to increase, according to the letter, co-written by Telsa Chairman and CEO Musk and Chief Financial Officer Deepak Ahuja. Consumers have clearly shown that electric vehicles are simply more desirable when priced on par with their internal combustion engine competitors while offering better technology, performance and user experience. Musk was in rare form when confronting his critics but made it clear that the short-term focus of Tesla continues to be squarely on the Model 3, says Jessica Caldwell, executive director of industry analysis at Edmunds. The company's future hinges on its ability to create a solid profit margin for the Model 3, and a major component of that is the successful ramp-up to its goal of 5,000 vehicles per week, she says. While it seems that Tesla has tackled some of its massive production hurdles, Elon still appears to hedge on whether this goal will be met by July, Caldwell says. The corporate restructuring he casually mentioned may be the monkey wrench that gets thrown into these plans, which can have serious ramifications on a company already plagued with high turnover." Tesla seems to be finally getting some momentum, she says. Tesla showed signs of picking up steam in April, which bodes well for the company's prospects this year, Caldwell says. Elon hasn't always been a man of his word, but if things keep up at this pace, Tesla is on a better track to hit its Model 3 production commitment by July, which could be a blessing and a curse. Tesla will have to play a delicate production balance between Q2 and Q3 to hedge when it runs out of tax credits, and while Model 3 reservation holders aren't exactly known for being pragmatic, Tesla likely wants to keep the rebate carrot out there for as long as possible, she says. The automaker opened nine new store and service locations during the first quarter, resulting in 339 locations worldwide at the end of the quarter. We continue to expand our service capacity mainly through growth of our electrified Mobile Service fleet, according to the letter. Such service capacity is quicker to deploy, incurs lower upfront and operating costs and has continued to generate significantly higher customer satisfaction rate at an average of 98%. There are about 300 mobile service vehicles in operation today, which is an equivalent of approximately 60 service locations. At the end of the first quarter, 25% of all service carried out in North America was done without customers having to visit a physical service center. Meanwhile, Nikola Motor Co, which makes hydrogen-powered semi trucks, filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against the automaker alleging design patent infringements. Teslas Semi, its first electric heavy duty truck, is "substantially" similar to Nikola's design, Nikola Motor said in a court filing, according to Reuters. Nikola claims it was issued six design patents by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office between February and April 2018 for its wrap windshield, mid-entry door, fuselage, fender, side cladding and the overall design of the Nikola One. The automaker estimates its harm from Tesla's infringement to be in excess of $2 billion, according to the filing. Tesla rejected the claims. "It's patently obvious there is no merit to this lawsuit," a Tesla spokesman told Reuters in an email. by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 3, 2018 McCann Worldgroup has named Chris Macdonald and Nannette Dufour to new leadership positions as Luca Lindner, who has been president of McCann Worldgroup, has opted to retire from that full-time role and will serve as a consultant to the leadership team. Linder's retirement from his full-time duties is set for mid-2018. Macdonald has been promoted to president, advertising and allied agencies, and Dufour to president, global clients and business leadership. McCann Worldgroup CEO Harris Diamond, stated: Nannette and Chris will work along with Bill Kolb, who is president, diversified agencies, to further drive creative marketing solutions that will help our clients thrive in this business environment. Others on the leadership team including global creative chairman Rob Reilly and global chief strategy officer Suzanne Powers, along with discipline and operational leadership will also contribute to that effort, Diamond noted. advertisement advertisement With his promotion, Macdonalds responsibilities are being expanded from North American regional to global with oversight of McCann Worldgroups advertising and allied agency resources. Macdonald first joined McCann London in 2005, where he was promoted to CEO. In 2013, he became president of McCann New York and was promoted in 2016 to president of McCann North America. Dufour will add operational oversight over all of McCann Worldgroups global and key regional accounts. She is tasked with ensuring that all clients receive the required geographic and discipline resources. Dufour first joined McCann Worldgroup in 2012 and was named chief client officer in 2015. by Larissa Faw , May 3, 2018 Former RAPP Los Angeles and London executive creative director Nick Platt is ramping up his new creative shop LO:LA (London: Los Angeles) with a nine-person team, up from three partners when the agency unofficially started as a "soft launch" in March 2017. Platt specifically devised his agency to depart from what he calls the "politics, process and profits" that dominate most major global agencies. "Clients paid a ton and got layers of process and no real work to show for it," he says. Instead, LO:LA's approach is that everything is "Made with Love," says Platt, from the client approach, to the creative, to the consumers each brand is trying to reach. "We want to prove that creative can be simultaneously quick, nimble, quality and cost-effective," he says. The agency's current roster of clients includes Total Wine & More, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar, GRRRRL, Halo Circus and The Creative Coalition. advertisement advertisement This account work has typically expanded beyond a one-off project, says Platt. To that end, LO:LA created new "Just Round the Corner" brand positioning for Cycle Gear to increase awareness of the brand and its 135+ stores nationwide. The brand wanted LO:LA to create something that would speak to all riders, rather than just hardcore athletes. "Its the one thing every rider has to do regardless of ride type," he says. The effort began with OOH billboards in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta that contributed to a significant sales lift, prompting the creation of a television spot. In its first year, the agency has won 13 ADDY Awards and won a Webby Award Official Honoree this year. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, May 3, 2018 Facebook is seeking to immediately appeal a judge's decision allowing group of Illinois residents to proceed with a class-action alleging that the company violated a state biometrics privacy law. The company initiated the appellate process this week by filing a sealed petition with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, according to court records. The move comes shortly after U.S. District Court Judge James Donato ruled that all Facebook users in Illinois who had their "faceprints" stored by the company since 2011 could pursue a class-action. The users who are suing alleged in a 2015 complaint that Facebook's photo-tagging feature violates the Illinois Biometric Privacy Act, which requires companies to obtain written releases from people before collecting biometric data, including scans of face geometry. That measure, passed in 2008, also requires companies that gather biometric data to notify people about the practice, and to publish a schedule for destroying the information. The law provides for fines of up to $5,000. advertisement advertisement Facebook's photo-tagging function recognizes users' faces and suggests their names when they appear in photos uploaded by their friends. To accomplish this, the social networking service draws on its vast trove of users' photos. Facebook asked Donato to dismiss the lawsuit for several reasons, including that Facebook doesn't have servers in Illinois. The company also contended that a class-action wasn't appropriate because any injuries to consumers would require a person-by-person analysis. Donato rejected those arguments in a ruling issued two weeks ago. Facebook isn't the only company facing suit for allegedly violating the Illinois law. Google and Shutterfly are also battling lawsuits accusing them of collecting faceprints. Judges in those cases have so far rejected the companies' attempts to have the lawsuits dismissed. by Sarah Fay , May 3, 2018 At the Complexity Symposium Have you ever set out to add complexity to a problem or project? Probably not. In the history of business, the typical goal is to simplify, focus in, and define problems and solutions to be grasped and broken down into digestible pieces so teams can move forward without becoming paralyzed by the enormity of the task. However, some believe the increased pace of change is calling for deeper dives in shaping new solutions. The Complexity Symposium in Providence, R.I., held jointly by Infosys and RISD last week, explored the need to inject more complexity into thinking and strategic planning. Attending it, I took away some lessons about applying AI. At the conference, Indy Johar, co-founder and executive director of Dark Matter Labs, said its impossible to take on big challenges with point solutions. Too often, strategists are guilty of improving the fringes of business, without going deep enough to define goals that will create true progress. Johar pointed to London, which addressed climate change by banning plastic straws -- a positive move, but hardly a game-changer when considering the enormity of the problem. By contrast, Toronto identified the goal of promoting veganism, which could actually make a dent in the climate issue -- but is a massively ambitious undertaking. In this tale of two cities, one is actually recognizing the size and scale of the problem and what it will take to fix it. Like Lucy and Ethel at the candy conveyor belt, businesses try to adopt and apply innovation as quickly as possible, ratcheting up ROI in hard-fought-for increments. Meanwhile, entirely new models threaten to eat their lunch in one bite. Johar mentioned an organization in the Netherlands called Buurtzorg that has developed a community healthcare business run on a technology platform empowering nurses to manage their own schedules and assignments. It employs 10,000 nurses in the field, with just 50 central staff to manage the business -- sort of like an Uber of nursing, and a disruptor of the status quo. Other providers in the space will have to turn business on its head to compete with this model. More to the point, every business needs to be thinking about how it might be disrupted instead of just focusing on incremental gains. To illustrate how to invite complexity, Global Head of Digital at Infosys Scott Sorokin pointed to a chair: We can all see this is just a chair. But if you step back, you can note how its placed in the room, and from farther back, where in the building -- and if you keep zooming out, you gain an even broader perspective of how the chair fits into the city, the country, the world, etc. Sorokins point is that a broader perspective is necessary to understand how each node relates to the bigger picture. And technology development considerations need to extend further than ever before for organizations to operate seamlessly across their ecosystems. All this is relevant to the way AI is being applied to create intuitive systems and processes. Before determining the algorithms that will power their businesses, companies need to begin with organizing their data, right? No, back up. They need to begin with how decisions will be made across their organizations. Back up even further. They need to consider how they will operate and what kind of business they are in. Beyond that, they actually need to consider the cultural implications of new architectures and how they fit with the values of the organizations being (re)created. This may feel like trying to boil the ocean and hurts the head. But given the massive shifts that are occurring, companies looking to survive and grow will have to grapple with this process. In doing so, they will need to hire the right kind of talent. Mariana Amtullo, associate professor, strategic design and management at Parsons School of Design, cited a study from Unesco, The Futures of Learning Report, which projects that the top four skill sets most valued by institutions around the world will be critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and collaboration, and creativity and innovation. The people with these skills are the ones you will want working together to create more ambitious goals by adding complexity to the thought process. There are big challenges ahead, along with the chance to create entirely new models for working and living. Inventors will need to embrace complexity in order to envision and realize the future -- and that's a good thing. Every year, employees at Hisamitsu Pharmaceuticals around the world spend a day passing out thousands of samples of its Salonpas pain patch to passersby. Its marketing, and because it always happens on May 18, its also honoring a little company tradition. Salonpas Day is on that day because because 5/18 in Japanese sounds similar to ko (5) ri wo i (1) Ya(8) su and that translates to Relieve stiffness. The Japanese traditionally like things wrapped in neat little packages and, in this case, that even extends to marketing. This year, Hisamitsu will come to Philadelphia, passing out samples of its patch everywhere from the Liberty Bell to the 72 steps to the top of the art museum that Rocky made famous. The company has bought billboards on major highways leading into town. On May 18, a skywriter will hype the event. advertisement advertisement Salonpas traces its roots to Kyushu, a southwestern Japanese island well known for its herbal remedies. Hisamitsu started peddling a pain poultice door-to-door 171 years ago. That became the precursor to the Salonpas transdermal drug patch idea, started in Japan in 1934, that is now sold over the counter today. It also explains the giveaways. Sampling is very much in our DNA, says John Incledon, the president of Hisamitsu America. The mission statement for Salonpas Day has been, Sampling for all customers. Everything for our customers. Its the same message from Tokyo to Tiananmen Square to Singapore, and last year, to New York Incledon has passed out the pain patch on the streets, too. I learned about the general politeness of the people, he tells Marketing Daily. That was in Japan. In New York, Incledon says, It was a little mixed. Some people were maybe not so happy. But even in New York, most were appreciative. Theyd say, Oh, I always wanted to try that. Salonpas takes its name as a kind of a mash-up of its active ingredient, methyl salicylate, and how it works, passing through the skin to arrive right where the pain is. Even without free samples, many people have tried it. It has grown from a $17 million brand in 2010 two years after it got FDA approval as the first and only topical analgesic pain patch to a $119 million brand that Incledon says sold almost 700 patches per minute to consumers last year. It comes in several varieties including gels; the newest patch has a touch of lidocaine. Salonpas is a regular advertiser on network evening newscasts, which are something of a de facto marketplace for older viewers. Incledon says over the counter pain relievers come aimed at two different groups; people under 40 or so who are mainly looking for headache cures, and older people for whom pain is mostly about aches. Thats a growing groaning group. As good as weve done, Incledon says, theres still a lot of opportunity. One thing more about those commercials. All Salonpas spots end with a brief ID sting, with female voices singing, Hisamitsu. It seems to produce the kind of ear bug that lingers. Though it takes only a couple seconds, thats a good chunk of space in a 15-second spot and company executives argue its merits. Incledon can defend it. Our company is trying to get more global, he says, noting its drive to get its name more recognizable evidenced by it newly announced status as an official sponsor of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics games. He also admits a lot of consumers tell Hisamitsu they think the sting is a kind of a pain. by Ray Schultz , May 3, 2018 A new study by Spiceworks shows that 61% of UK companies feel they are prepared for the General Data Protection Regulation, compared with 46% in the rest of Europe and 26% in the U.S. Most firms are not concerned about potential GDPR penalties, so they havent put compliance on the front burner, Spiceworks says. Only 14% of UK firms, 9% of EU organizations, and 3% of U.S. companies believe they will be fined for not complying by the May 25 deadline for GDPR. This conflicts with a study by Enlighten, showing that 45% of UK companies expect to be fined for not being ready on time. It also found that 61% would file for an extension, if possible. According to Spiceworks, however, UK outfits are better prepared all around. Over 60% are conducting data audits, compared with less than 50% of firms in Europe and around 33% of U.S. companies. advertisement advertisement In addition, 59% are training employees in the UK, versus 54% in Europe and 21% in the U.S. Finally, 30% of the IT departments at British firms are spending more than 120 hours preparing, compared to 21% in Europe and 18% in the U.S. And almost 60% of the U.S. entitles expect their IT units to spend less than 40 hours. The reasons for missing the deadline? Lack of time and resources is cited by 60% of those that are lagging in the UK, and 64% elsewhere in Europe. But 40% of IT pros in the U.S. say that being prepared for GDPR is not a priority for their firms. On the whole, IT pros are in favor of the GDPR, with 75% in the UK saying so, along with 70% in the rest of the EU. But 53% of the U.S. respondents have no opinion on this. However, a recent Spiceworks poll found that 66% in the U.S. believe the country should implement regulations similar to the GDPR, in the wake of recent Congressional hearings and privacy disclosures. "On paper, most IT pros support the principles of the GDPR and want to protect personal data, but in practice, many hurdles are keeping organizations from becoming compliant in a timely manner," said Peter Tsai, senior technology analyst at Spiceworks. He adds: "As a result, European regulators might have their hands full, considering many organizations won't be GDPR compliant for months or years to come, and few believe they will be penalized." Research has shown that our first line of defense against disease is not our bodys immune response, but an automatic behavioral change that leads us to avoid potential sources of contagion as soon as we perceive the smallest sign of disease. Can this also affect our dating prospects? Share on Pinterest Youre on a date and everything is going well, but all of a sudden, your partner for the evening starts coughing. What will your reaction be? A little over a decade ago, Mark Schaller, who is a psychological scientist at the University of British Columbia in Canada, suggested that in our daily interactions with the world, our minds are very good at automatically picking up subtle signs of disease, such as a person coughing or sneezing. This, he argued, sends an alarm signal telling us to avoid the potential source of contamination, so, almost without thinking, we do our best to stay away from the person who we perceive wrongly or rightly as contagious. Schaller coined the term behavioral immune system to refer to this defense mechanism, which he deemed to be our most basic form of defense against disease. In an article that was published in 2011, he explains that to fight environmental pathogens after they have entered the body, our systems have evolved sophisticated physiological mechanisms (the immune system). But, he adds, it can be costly to actually mount an immune response. Therefore, [] an additional set of mechanisms [evolved] that serves as a crude first line of defense against pathogens what can be called a behavioral immune system. These mechanisms detect the presence of pathogens in the immediate environment and facilitate the avoidance of those pathogens before they make contact with the body. Mark Schaller Behavioral immune system always alert It makes sense for this behavioral defense mechanism to kick in when we are on our commute to and from work or in the office, so we can stay out of harms way and preserve our health. But what happens when we are looking to forge an intimate, romantic connection with someone? Will our behavioral immune system trigger automatically when it is faced with the subtlest sign of disease, despite the fact that forming a good romantic relationship can have such high stakes for emotional well-being and reproduction? This is the question that researcher Natsumi Sawada and colleagues from McGill University in Montreal, Canada, recently asked themselves and set out to answer. To do so, the reseachers conducted three separate studies with three sets of participants. The first two studies tested whether individuals were likely to express avoidant behavior toward peers who they perceived as presenting potential threats to their own health in different social situations. Studies one and two demonstrated that participants chronic level of [behavioral immune system] activation [] was associated with decreased affiliative interest in two different social situations, the researchers note in the paper that they recently published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Following these results, in the third study, the team decided to manipulate the participants level of wariness regarding the potential for contagion before sending them on a blind date simulation experience. To this purpose, Sawada and colleagues worked with 154 participants aged under 25 all of them single and seeking, heterosexual, college undergraduates, and all of whom were based in Montreal. When we see danger, we react. Whether we choose to run and hide or confront our threat head-on, our instant decision is the result of a complex brain mechanism that integrates visual data and triggers an appropriate response. How does this occur? A new study explains. Share on Pinterest We may soon be able to turn on a courage switch in the brain, helping people to overcome symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. In the animal kingdom, vision is vital for survival. This important sense informs the brain about predators and other threats, and in turn, the brain generates an appropriate reaction: courage or fear, fight or flight. But how does this process take place? How do animals humans included integrate visual information with the appropriate brain circuits that control firstly our emotional states, and afterward, our behavior and actions? New research brings us closer to an answer. Scientists led by Andrew Huberman, an associate professor of neurobiology and ophthalmology at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, have found the brain circuits responsible for the decision to either fight or flee in the face of danger. Although the study was conducted in mice, the findings are relevant for humans. In fact, the results have important implications for understanding and managing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and phobias. Lindsey Salay is the first author of the paper, which has now been published in the journal Nature. The brain circuit of fear To examine the rodents response to a threat, Salay and team simulated the approach of a bird of prey and used the c-Fos neuronal marker to track the activity of the mices neurons. The researchers found increased activity in neurons that were grouped in a structure called the ventral midline thalamus (vMT). Using brain mapping, the scientists were able to see what sensory information comes in and what information goes out of the vMT. They revealed that the vMT receives information from a wide range of brain areas that process internal states, such as that of fear, but that it sends information out very selectively, to only two main areas: the basolateral amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex. The amygdala processes fear, aggression, and other emotions, while the medial prefrontal cortex uses its executive function to modulate emotional responses. The area is also deeply involved in anxiety. Additional analysis shed yet more light on the trajectory of the brain circuit involved in the rodents response to the ominous predator. Apparently, a nerve tract starts from the xiphoid nucleus a cluster of neurons in the vMT and continues to the basolateral amygdala. Another tract follows an analogous path, this time from the so-called nucleus reuniens another cluster of neurons built around the xiphoid nucleus and leading up to the medial prefrontal cortex. Advertisement The improved monitoring of the way MS patients walk will help clinicians more easily assess the effectiveness of existing treatments and disease progression in MS patients.The pioneering study, free-living and laboratory gait characteristics in patients with multiple sclerosis is assessing the way a person walks (gait) is often used as an indicator in the early stages of MS - a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Mobility problems affect 75 per cent to 90 per cent of people with MS.Up until now, gait analysis has only been carried out in laboratories. Doctors at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals approached researchers at the University of Sheffield and asked them to help find a way to measure how patients walk in 'real life' conditions.Dr Claudia Mazza, a researcher based at the Insigneo Institute for in silico Medicine at the University of Sheffield, said: "The measurements we take of people with MS in a lab may not be an accurate representation of their everyday condition. Having data from real life scenarios will help clinical staff assess a patient's condition more accurately. For patients this will mean better treatment as a result of clinicians being more informed about their condition."We started off by checking that our portable sensor was accurate, comfortable and able to give the same results as a lab based sensor. We then developed an algorithm (computer program) specific to the patient's condition (in this case MS) which processed the measurements taken from this sensor."We ensured this algorithm was capable of handling and processing data from complex movements outside labs. Although this is a small study, the results are encouraging and it gives us enough information to progress to a large scale clinical trial."Dr Sivaraman Nair, Consultant Neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals, said: "Assessing the changes in the way patients with MS walk is key to understanding the progression of disability. It is particularly important to look at these indicators at an early stage as it can also tell us about the effectiveness of the medication they are taking."Currently, mobility of MS patients is assessed in specialised gait laboratories. The relevant technologies can be expensive and require highly skilled personnel. The impact of this research could therefore be significant for patients as well as cost-effective."The potential applications of this research are not just limited to MS but could be used for other conditions that could benefit from monitoring gait, such as Parkinson's disease."The next stage of the research will involve working with the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (for Translational Neuroscience) to conduct a larger clinical study.Innovative Medicine Initiative and pharmaceutical companies are investing 50 million in research linking digital assessment of mobility to clinical endpoints to support regulatory acceptance and clinical practice.Source: Eurekalert Who is Josh Brolin? Exactly! His is a name you probably won't recognize. But, he's been a part of the MCU for as long as Mark Ruffalo's Hulk. He's the guy who plays Thanos. Instagram/Josh Brolin When you look at that perfect jaw, the first thing that comes to mind is, why cover it all up with CGI and a mo-cap? At least Ruffalo gets a chance to show his face as Bruce Banner. What about Brolin, he's going to be purple forever? Well, it's kind of good in a way since it means the world isn't going to call him Thanos for the rest of his life. Ruffalo, on the other hand, will be called the Hulk forever. I already know what you're thinking. How is Brolin/Thanos related to 'Deadpool 2) ?' Well, the characters in 'Deadpool 2' are also a part of the Marvel Universe but that doesn't mean we're going to be seeing Thanos come destroy half the universe there too. How is Brolin involved then? Well, once you've seen what the actor who plays Thanos looks like, I'm sure you've realised he bears a shocking resemblance to another character we're going to be seeing on the big screen soon, Cable. That's because it's the same guy. Yeah, Josh Brolin is both Thanos and Cable! Before you go ballistic in the comments telling me what an idiot I am and why I should stop writing, save your hate for later. I'm not done. Most people wouldn't have even known that Josh Brolin is playing both characters. No one will blame you since the CGI on Thanos does a pretty good job of covering up what he actually looks like. I bet no one could tell it was Brolin unless they already knew. Now, this creates a unique problem for Disney. They have two movies releasing around the same time and the same person is playing the bad guy in both. I don't think this has ever happened in the past. As much as Brolin has helped propel 'Infinity War' to new heights in terms of box-office success, he is also going to be the reason 'Infinity War' doesn't become the highest grossing movie ever. Just think about it. Two weeks from now, you want to go watch a movie over the weekend. In an ideal world, there would be nothing cool to watch and you'd go just go watch 'Infinity 'War again. But, with 'Deadpool 2' coming out on the 16th of May and all the hype that Fox (another Disney company) is undoubtedly going to try and create around it, people will prefer going to watch that wouldn't you think? What would you do? How does a movie become the highest grossing ever? By being unlike anything else at the cinema at the time. By running unchallenged for months on end. 'Infinity War' clearly won't be able to do that. It's not the movie's fault honestly. It's just bad timing. To add to their woes, 'Solo: A Star Wars Story' will be coming out just a week after that. There go all the Star Wars fans who have been waiting decades for a movie on Han Solo. No one is going to be watching Avengers by then or care about Thanos. It's just the world we live in. Preferences change fast. Sometimes, too fast! So, while Brolin is clearly the main man who carried 'Infinity War' on his shoulders, he will probably work just as well in 'Deadpool 2' and end up cutting not just the universe but their earnings in half too. Who does not wish to have a laser-like focus like Sherlock Holmes? The ability to see things differently and more accurately sounds like a dream which can become something of a superpower if worked upon. With these scientifically proven ways, you can have enhanced cognitive skills like sharp memory, focus, and increased productivity. 1. Look At The Color Red Thinkstock/Getty Images Looking at different colors can have a certain psychological effects on our brain. According to a 2009 study published in Science it was found that when people saw the color red while they were focusing on certain tasks, not only did their performance but their memory and attention to detail saw an improvement. 2. Listen To Classical Music You might be thinking why classical alone and not a rock or rap album instead? Well, researchers at Stanford University have found out that classical music in particular triggers the part of the brain that is responsible for paying attention and focus. According to to the research, our mind often tends to wander while listening to music but because classical music has more transitional points where there is silence, it helps us keep aware and attentive. Easy right? 3. Get Dressed Up Thinkstock/Getty Images The saying 'dress to impress' is not just a saying anymore, according to a research, students who wore white lab coats while conducting their experiments made half the amount of errors as compared to the students who were dressed regularly. Dress up in order to prepare yourself for a particular project or task, and you will see your ability to focus and energy go straight up. Suit up. 4. Turn Up The Heat This one is pretty straight, simple and scientific. According to a study, a warmer workplace helps focus better and be more productive. The study showed that a group of workers in a room set to 68 degrees made nearly 44 percent more errors and were half as productive as compared to workers in a 77-degree room. Keep yourself warm to have a laser-like focus. 5. Meditate Thinkstock/Getty Images There are so many advantages to meditation ranging from reducing stress to increase your intuitive powers, now a research has found out that after three months at a meditation retreat, people came out with an incredible ability to focus and see an overall improvement in their cognitive functions. Few minutes of conscious breathing can change your life. 6. Sleep You need to restart your system once in awhile and give it some rest so it can start afresh again to give it's hundred percent and so is the case with our brain and body. According to the National Sleep Foundation, quality sleep is one when you sleep for seven to nine hours, and it helps us think clearly, and make better decisions. If you are keeping short on your sleep this usually results in an inability to pay attention and focus, slower reaction times, lower productivity, and forgetfulness. 7. Go Green Thinkstock/Getty Images We all have heard of growing plants around our surrounding as they have innumerable benefits to our brain and keeps our lives light and cheerful, well now there is one more reason to go green. For this, you even don't need plants but it is only the color that will do the work for you. In a study, it was found that by taking a 40-second break and simply looking at a computerized image of a green roof, employees' focus on a particular task improved a lot. 8. Stop Multitasking You may love multitasking but it actually is not helping if you observe your results. According to the American Psychological Association, multitasking actually takes away your focus because in that time, you do not allow yourself enough time to adjust to one thing. 9. Take A Break Taking breaks once in a while or maybe after 45 minutes can help your brain feel refreshed and process information better, than it would do if you keep grinding it for long hours. According to Psychology Today, Research suggests that, when faced with long tasks (such as studying before a final exam or doing your taxes), it is best to impose brief breaks on yourself. Brief mental breaks will actually help you stay focused on your task. 10. Drink Some Coffee Let's get it straight. Excessive consumption of coffee is definitely not a good idea(overdoing it can result in dehydration, anxiety, and headaches.) but here is how much you should consume that would help you stay focused when you need to. According to a study, a moderate amount of caffeine, around one to two cups a day is beneficial to a person's focus, mood, alertness, and performance. 11. Do Some Cardio Thinkstock/Getty Images According to Harvard Health, study it was found that an aerobic(with oxygen) exercises increases the size of the hippocampus in the brain, which in turn results in better memory and thinking skills. Remember not to confuse it with weightlifting which has no such cognitive benefits. 12. Work Under A Natural Light Source Working where there is an availability of sunlight is best as compared to when you are working under artificial lights. Natural sunlight does not mess with your natural circadian rhythm and has many other helpful benefits as well. A study suggests that people who work in offices filled with natural light experience lesser eye strain, blurred visions, and headaches, all of which disturbs your focus. 13. Take A Cold Shower Thinkstock/Getty Images Do you know cold water immersion facilitates physical and mental wellness and when practiced regularly, it provides long-lasting changes to your body's immune, lymphatic, circulatory and digestive systems? A 2007 study found that routinely taking cold showers can help treat depression. It also increases your attentiveness and gets you ready to kickstart your day. The country agreed to limit exports of steel products to the US to 180,000 tonnes per year, based on the average of steel exports during the past three years plus an additional 35%. Such exports will be exempt from a 25% tariff imposed on steel from several countries following the Section 232 investigation into US imports on national security grounds."It is a very positive outcome, as it will allow the country to maintain exports and production levels," Acero Argentino executive director Carlos Alberto Vaccaro told Metal Bulletin on Wednesday May 2. "We are very satisfied with the negotiations."Although the quotas are not split by products, Argentina has been exporting mostly seamless tubes to the US, and this trend will continue, according to the association."The additional 35% was defined because steel exports in 2015 and 2016 were too low, influenced by the poor performance of the oil and gas sector," Vaccaro said.Last year, Argentina exported around 200,000 tonnes of seamless tubes to the US.The US government announced that it reached agreements in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil with respect to steel and aluminium quotas, but it did not give further details. Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Giorgos Katrougalos represented Greece at the 5th Conference of the Euro-African Dialogue on Migration and Development, which was held today in Marrakesh, Morocco, with the participation of over thirty European and African countries. In his speech, Mr. Katrougalos stressed the solidarity shown by the Greek people, in conditions of extreme economic crisis, with the refugees and migrants. Greece firmly and actively supports the dialogue for a comprehensive approach to the migration crisis, as an issue that concerns both development and human rights. Migration, Mr. Katrougalos highlighted, is not a passing phenomenon, but is one of the components and manifestations of globalization. For this reason, it must be dealt with holistically, with emphasis on its root causes, the extreme inequalities between and within states, and absolute poverty, with an active front against xenophobia and racism. In this context, Greece supports regional cooperation and initiatives, like that of Rabat, as well as the significant effort of the UN to establish a Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration. Tomorrow, Mr. Katrougalos will be in Casablanca, heading the Greek business mission organized in cooperation with SEV and SEVE, and he will participate in the Greece-Morocco Business Forum. The Third Ministerial Meeting between Greece, Albania, Bulgaria and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia will take place on Thursday and Friday, 3-4 May, in Thessaloniki, with the participation of the respective Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Interior, and Transport. Talks between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs will focus on issues of common interest, with an emphasis on recent developments in the Middle East and the Eastern Mediterranean and their impact on the Balkan region; the prospects of accession of the Western Balkan countries; the Future of Europe and the strengthening of cooperation to execute common planning in the region. In parallel meetings, the Ministers of Transport will examine ways of strengthening and upgrading connectivity between the road and rail networks of the participating countries. Similarly, the four Ministers of Interior will delve into issues of cross-border cooperation, with an emphasis on police cooperation, cross-border crime and fire protection. Greece will be represented by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, N. Kotzias, who will be chairing the proceedings, as well as by the Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, C. Spirtzis, and the Alternate Minister of Public Order and Citizen Protection, N. Toskas. Minister of Foreign Affairs, N. Kotzias, is expected to give a press conference upon conclusion of the proceedings, on Friday 4 May. CASEVILLE -- The members of the Caseville Historical Society conducted their monthly meeting recently with 20 members and two guests present. Vice President Dave Vizard opened the meeting and welcomed all in attendance. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, the treasurer's report and the minutes from the previous meeting were presented to the group. Both were approved and placed on record. Rich Bass and Carole Shereda had recently attended the Historical Society of Michigan Conference in Sterling Heights and gave a recap of the workshops they attended. The next "Zoom" video will be available at the museum on June 13. It will be the third presentation via Zoom video and each one improves on the previous. The presentation on June 13 will be, "Under the waves: Remembering the Rockaway: An archaeological discovery of an early schooner near South Haven." On Aug. 8, "Hear the Roar: the Detroit Tigers Tale," is scheduled for viewing. A list of future Zoom videos is available at the museum office. Bass, Harold Hoelzle, and Donna McCormick recently attended the Tri-County Historical Meeting in Gagetown. The Huron County Historical meeting will be on May 10 at the Port Austin museum. That meeting's topic will be Oral Histories. The Historical Society of Michigan has several bus trips planned. They include a Founding of America tour, a Michigan Maritime tour, and a Color and Culture tour of New England. Anyone interested in these trips will find more information at the museum office. Vizard said 12 students have applied for the newly developed Caseville Historical Society Annual Scholarship award. Following review of all applications, a winner will be announced. The 25th anniversary of the founding of the Caseville Historical Society is June 22. Plans are being considered to mark the day. Vizard thanked the Caseville DPW for their help in keeping the driveway and parking areas clear of snow. He also thanked the Caseville Police Department for keeping an eye on the building. Bass said there are five more major jobs that need to be completed at the museum, most are dependent on the weather. Vizard said a thank-you has been received from The Pinnebog Historical Society for allowing them to utilize space in the museum. Vizard circulated a sign-up sheet requesting volunteers to work at the museum over the next month. Memorial bricks are available and will be ordered soon. Cost per brick is $50. Membership Committee Chair Mary Taylor had no new members to report. Vizard reviewed the planned events for the year. They include: The Ice Cream Social on May 27; a painting party on June 2 where up to 30 participants will complete a sunset picture of Michigan; the Ladies Luncheon on June 13; anniversary celebration on June 22; Cheeseburger Museum Aug. 10-19; Huron County's All Museum Weekend Sept. 29-30; the Classic Car Show on Sept. 29; and the Fall Feast and Auction on Nov. 11. Reporting for the Archival and Museum Committee, Bass said 19 visitors had toured the museum over the past month. He said new items have been donated by Jon Barrett and John Depner. New display themes at the museum include Wild Fowl Hunting and a display of Maccabee artifacts. Items are still being accepted for the Wild Fowl Hunting display. Barb Eimers continues to be available the first Thursday of each month at the museum to help persons wishing to research family or building histories. Eimers has research materials available and will gladly explain their use to interested parties. Bass is working on completing the first oral history interview following the purchase of recording equipment to use in collecting these interviews. Anyone in the area who thinks they might be interested in completing an oral history may contact the museum for more information. Virginia Leipprandt told the group about a recent visit she made to a sugar cane museum in Florida. Kerry Chapin spoke about O.P. Chapin who lived and hunted in the Caseville area in the 1800s. The next meeting is scheduled for May 17 at Maccabee Hall. All meetings are open to the public and everyone is invited to attend. Meetings are a fun way to become involved in preservation of the history of the Caseville area. For more information, call 989-856-9090, visit the website at www.casevillemuseum.org, e-mail chscm@comcast.net or like the group on Facebook. Elkton couple to participate in Boston Marathon Monday When Matthew Lewis was 5 years old, he struggled to keep pace with his father, Mark Lewis, as... North Huron students taking care of chicks The North Huron Schools FFA recently received 350 chicks for its students to care for, as has... Like mother, like daughter: Breault and Kuhl a volleyball... After her mother amassed nearly 1,000 career victories as a volleyball coach, Sam Kuhl has some... HARBOR BEACH -- Harbor Beach Community Hospital is hosting its annual Spring Health Fair next week. The fair will run from 3 to 7 p.m., Wednesday in the administration building conference center. It will offer free services including blood sugar checks, body posture analysis by Dr. Sami with Health Quest, body fat analysis, blood pressure checks, oxygen saturations and information on various health topics. MSU Extension is offering Cooking Matters at the store with up to $10 in free groceries. There will also be giveaways. For additional information or questions email, jferriby@hbch.org. Cambridge Analytica, a data-mining firm embroiled in a scandal over its work for U.S. President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, said it's shutting down all operations effective immediately. The firm said Wednesday that it has begun insolvency proceedings in the U.K. and is also filing for bankruptcy in the U.S., according to a statement on Cambridge Analytica's website. The company said it lost "virtually all" customers and suppliers after the New York Times, The Observer of London and other publications reported Cambridge Analytica improperly obtained information from tens of millions of Facebook Inc. users. The breach helped the company develop political ads and other techniques that underpinned its work on Trump's campaign, according to the New York Times. It's unclear what effect, if any, the ads, which were targeted to individual users' "psychographics," had on actual voting, but the method that an academic working with Cambridge Analytica used to gather the Facebook data touched off a debate about how much information Facebook shares with third parties, and how it can be potentially used to manipulate views. Cambridge Analytica has denied any wrongdoing. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the company's efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," the company said in the statement. "It has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration." The company said that despite its "precarious financial condition," it plans to meet all its obligations to employees. Days after the initial stories emerged, Cambridge Analytica suspended Chief Executive Officer Alexander Nix as the bad news piled up. Nix was caught on camera, as part of a four-month undercover operation by Channel 4 News, boasting about the firm's willingness to use bribes, entrapment with sex workers and other tactics to undermine political candidates. Nix had earlier told Bloomberg News that it was involved in as many as 10 campaigns for prime minister and president every year, including in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America. For one campaign in Latvia, according to documents given to prospective clients, the British affiliate of Cambridge Analytica, known as SCL Group, spread misinformation that was designed to stoke tensions between Latvians and ethnic Russians, blaming Russians for unemployment and helping a nationalist candidate to victory. The scandal has caused significant problems for Facebook as well, which estimates that as many as 87 million users may have been affected. The company spent weeks explaining, apologizing and adding more privacy features to the service and faced both a #deleteFacebook campaign and lengthy congressional hearings for Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg. However, Facebook is so large and powerful that the outcry has so far had little impact on its business. The company last week reported quarterly revenue that topped analyst estimates. Good news for Connecticut Republicans? After Rep. Elizabeth Estys abrupt abandonment of her 2018 re-election bid, the authoritative Cook Political Report downgraded the 5th District from solid Democratic to likely Democratic. Less good news for Republicans? State Rep. Dr. William Petit Jr.s decision not to run for the Esty seat, after briefly considering it. I was a little disappointed, said Rep. Steve Stivers, R-Ohio, chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee, the partys branch for coordinating House races. If he had run, he wouldve won. In a briefing last week for regional reporters in Washington, Stivers suggested Petit was the only one with the right political credentials and, sadly, the name recognition. Petit, of course, is the lone survivor of the horrific 2007 home invasion in Cheshire where Esty also lives. His wife and two daughters were murdered. Petit has since remarried and has a young son. He cited family considerations and a deep-seated commitment to the people I now serve as reasons for not seeking the Esty seat. But hope springs eternal in a district thats no slam-dunk for Democrats. Stivers said hes talked to five potential nominees for the position. He declined to name them for fear that a decision not to run would be portrayed as a recruiting failure. Those Republicans announced include Ruby ONeill, a native of Honduras who is vice chair of the Connecticut Commission on Equity and Opportunity, former Meriden Mayor Manny Santos, and Craig Deangelo of New Britain. For Stivers, its all about candidate quality. If we have the right candidate, we can win that seat, he said. And if not? It may mean that Connecticut 5 is not on our list. Dubious endorsement Let it never be said Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is lacking in self-deprecation. Heck, love him or hate him, he couldnt have survived eight bruising years in Hartford without having at least some sense of humor about himself. So when he was in Washington for a speech on racial-profiling stat collection, I asked about whether he plans to endorse a Democrat in the race to claim Rep. Elizabeth Estys seat? I havent made any decisions about any of that, he said. And, quite frankly, if its helpful to a Democrat that I endorse a Republican, Ill do that, too! Unanswered questions Now that the Republicans on the House intel committee have written their no collusion report and shut down their probe of the Trump 2016 campaign connections to Russia, Rep. Jim Himes should have gotten his life back. Himes had jested that working as a Democrat on the secretive investigation was tantamount to another full-time job. But, in a variation of the famous Yogi Berra phrase, Himes would tell you it aint over because it aint over. Democrats on the committee will keep trundling along as best they can, without subpoena power, or any ability to push back on White House officials (or former ones like Hope Hicks) who assert executive privilege. Ultimately, the ball likely is in special counsel Robert Muellers court. But, Himes said, the infractions of law and prosecutions that ensue may not adequately tell the story Americans want to hear: How could Russia subvert the 2016 election? How was America so unaware, so unprepared? And what must we do to prevent it from happening again? Despite its no collusion conclusion, Himes believes the GOP report did get a number of things right for instance, Donald Trump Jr. and other Trumpians meeting with a Russian purported to have dirt on Hillary Clinton was probably ill advised. But the assertion theres no evidence of collusion (between the Trump campaign and Russia) only shows we didnt try very hard, Himes said. You dont find what you dont look for. dan@hearstdc.com PORTLAND Some two-dozen residents came forward Wednesday to plead for the life of Rocky, a 4-year-old mixed-breed pit bull slated to be put down after savagely attacking a dog walker more than two years ago. Several speakers called upon the Board of Selectmen to let Rocky go home. Rocky has been kept in the Portland pound for more than two years while the state Department of Agriculture, which has the final say on ordering a dog to be put down, reviewed the case. The victim in the Jan. 31, 2016, attack was taken to Middlesex Hospital, where he required stitches to close bite wounds to his ankles, thighs and groin region after he was attacked while walking his dog. The victims wife said her husband had to karate-kick Rocky to escape. The matter drew renewed attention following a large article about the case in last weeks edition of the weekly Rivereast newspaper. After she finished reading the story, Annabella Maruschock, 10, was so upset she typed up a petition calling on the selectmen to spare Rocky, Annabellas mother Kim Maruschock said. When she posted the petition online, Annabella got 40 signatures almost immediately. Her mother suggested Annabella use the website Change.org. Wednesday night, Annabella said she had gathered 1,150 signatures. Im not going to quit until Rocky comes home, she insisted. Kim said the fight over Rocky is the right topic at the right time for her daughter, who is so committed to animals that No spider in our house gets hurt. Annabella was the first speaker to address the selectmen Wednesday. Its time to let Rocky come home, she said, adding, Even people get second chances when they do worse crimes. She was followed to the microphone by Alana Tuttle, who described herself as a volunteer dog rescuer and foster owner. I have two children and two dogs, and they really are my children, too, so I have four children. Im familiar with many different types of dogs and breeding and training, Tuttle said, adding while Rocky needs training, so too does his owner, Paul Bell. She called upon the selectmen to give Rocky the chance he deserves. Natalie MacNeal, who said she was a rescue advocate for dogs all my life, said Rocky is not aggressive dog. He just didnt get enough time with his owner, so they could both be trained. My evaluation of him is that hes a great dog. He wants to learn and he wants to please. However, Rocky was a victim of human error. MacNeal, who owns three pit bulls, said, You have to be clear with dogs and set boundaries. She, too, called upon the selectmen to give Rocky a chance and give me a chance as his trainer. Carolann Violissi, who said, I am new here, admitted, I dont know much about the case. However, I love dogs more than humans. I want to find a solution. I dont want a fight. She suggested mounting a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help build a fence to keep Rocky in his own yard if, as she hopes, he is released. But Violissi also claimed when a police officer said Bell could not walk Rocky outside a fenced-in area at the pound, the action was political and feels like retaliation. Hartford attorney Thompson G. Page, an animal rights litigator, challenged the towns assertion it could be liable if Rocky was released and then attacked another resident. If the town released Rocky with the understanding that he be muzzled when outside, kept in a fenced-in area, and all sorts of restraints, Bell, and not the town, would be liable if Rocky attacked again. We could debate this forever, Page said, adding, Most of my clients are irresponsible dog owners. He demanded the selectmen search town records looking for any claim against the town for releasing a dog under the conditions he described. He said they would find none. First Selectwoman Susan S. Bransfield said the town is working with its legal firm Murtha Cullina to find a reasonable solution to the issue. Rockys advocates left promising they would return to future meetings and keep up the pressure until Rocky can, at last, go home. Reporter Jeff Mill covers East Hampton, Cromwell and Portland for the Middletown Press. Contact him at jeff.mill@hearstmediact.com. All But One Marine Injured in the Deadly Attack at Kabul Airport Released from Walter Reed The injured Marines were among the survivors of an ISIS-K attack at Hamid Karzai International Airport during the final days... STUTTGART, Germany -- Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, who was slated for promotion until he was faulted for disrespectful conduct toward a congressional staffer, retired from the Army on Tuesday. Gonsalves' retirement comes six months after an Inspector General's probe determined the commander violated an Army policy that requires treating others with "dignity and respect." "Maj. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves officially retired 1 May 2018," Army spokeswoman April Cunningham said in a statement. In July, Gonsalves, who commanded the 4th Infantry Division, was nominated for a third star and was a contender to be the next head of U.S. Army Europe. The IG determined that Gonsalves, during meetings at his headquarters in Fort Carson, Colo., was dismissive of a female congressional aide, calling the staffer "sweetheart" at one point during the Oct. 2016 meeting. Gonsalves' nomination was formally withdrawn on Nov. 27. Gonsalves, who could not be reached for comment and has not spoken publicly about the incident, served for nearly 35 years with assignments that included deployments to Iraq. As head of 4th ID, Gonsalves was responsible for preparing numerous units for deployments to Europe. In recent years, multiple senior commanders have faced IG probes regarding accusations of misconduct. Often, the accusations deal with sexual improprieties or misuse of funds, and are career ending. In Gonsalves' case, it was verbal slights that brought an early end to a career that was on the rise. An anonymous complaint was made to the IG on July 20, days after Gonsalves' nomination for a third star and one week after Stars and Stripes reported he was in contention to serve as the next commander of U.S. Army Europe. Gonsalves' pending nomination prompted an angry reaction from a staffer of Rep. Jim Langevin, a Democrat from Rhode Island, according to the IG report. The Army IG report, obtained by Stars and Stripes, redacted the names of the female congressional staffer and about 10 other people who were present during the October 2016 meeting at Fort Carson. The report included testimony from members of Gonsalves' staff who took part in the session. The complaint cited accusations that Gonsalves took issue with the female congressional staffer's youth, and that the general said she should take detailed notes on why the military needed funding "since she was a Democrat and did not believe in funding the military," the IG report stated. Multiple members of the congressional delegation described Gonsalves' remarks during the meeting as "sarcastic and unprofessional," the report states. Another male staffer described the remarks as "sexist, inappropriate and unprofessional," according to the report. At one point during the meeting, the female staffer passed a note to a colleague that read: "Did this guy really just call me sweetheart?" the report states. Some people in attendance defended Gonsalves, saying he acted professionally. "Although MG Gonsalves testified that he did not refer to (the female staffer) as 'sweetheart' during the meeting, the evidence did not support his recollection," the IG report states. Two U.S. airmen were slightly injured by laser beams directed at their aircraft from the Chinese military base in Djibouti, Pentagon officials said Thursday. "This activity poses a true threat to our airmen," said Dana White, the Pentagon's chief spokesperson. "It's a serious matter, so we're taking it very seriously." "You'd have to ask the Chinese about their motivations" for targeting U.S. aircraft in Djibouti, the tiny Horn of Africa state where American and Chinese military bases are about four miles apart, she said. The U.S. has issued a formal complaint to China in the form of a diplomatic "demarche," she added. U.S. Africa Command has its headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, but the main hub for the estimated 6,000 U.S. troops in Africa is at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti. The base also serves as the operations center for U.S. Special Operations Command for actions across the Red Sea in Yemen. After White's briefing, Maj. Sheryll Klinke, a Pentagon spokeswoman, told reporters that the two injured airmen were pilots of a C-130 Hercules aircraft that was targeted by "military grade" laser. The pilots are not expected to suffer any long-term effects from the incident, she said. White said the incident in which the pilots were injured was one of several in recent weeks in which U.S. aircraft flying out of Djibouti were targeted by lasers. She did not specify a number, but said it was more than two and less than 10. The U.S. has expressed concerns about potential friction since China last year obtained a 10-year lease from Djibouti for its first military base in Africa. The Chinese facility is also the first overseas base for the People's Liberation Army. Last summer, China's Xinhua news agency reported that the base will "assist China's contribution to peace and stability both in Africa and worldwide." Djibouti also provides bases for France and Japan. The African outpost will be "conducive to China's performance of international obligations" in anti-piracy sea patrols in the region and other commitments with the United Nations, Xinhua said. In addition to those posted to Djibouti, China has about 2,200 troops serving throughout Africa in peacekeeping operations. Marine Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, AFRICOM commander, told the Senate Armed Services Committee last year that he had conveyed his concerns about the Chinese base to Djibouti's President Ismail Omar Guelleh. Without giving details, Waldhauser said he had "expressed our concerns about some of the things that are important to us about what the Chinese should not do at that location." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. An evolving U.S. mission in Iraq may send some 10th Mountain Division soldiers home early, but nine-month brigade rotations will continue as long as Iraqi forces work to cleanse their war-torn country of Islamic State terrorists, according to the former commander of land forces in Iraq. The recent defeat of ISIS fighters occupying Iraq prompted the Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command (CJFLCC) headquarters to deactivate at the end of April. The 10th Mountain's 3rd Brigade Combat Team is wrapping up its nine-month rotation and will soon return home to Fort Polk, Louisiana as scheduled. But portions of the recently arrived 10th Mountain Division headquarters battalion may be sent home early, before the end of its nine-month deployment, Maj. Gen. Walter Piatt, former CJFLCC commander, told Military.com. The former CJFLCC has merged into Combined Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve, so some soldiers in the battalion HQ may no longer be needed, he said. "What this merge means is we do change our identity. We are not wearing the 10th Mountain patch ... we become part of the CJTF," Piatt said. "And some of those forces that we have over here, their positions will no longer be needed and, when their positions are no longer needed, they will begin to go home. We are here to achieve the mission, not to be here for a certain amount of time." This story was first reported by Army Times. The next phase of the mission, known as Reliable Partnership, means U.S. and coalition forces will be "partnered [with] the Iraqi Security Forces at the strategic and operational level to make sure that they have the institutional structures in place to sustain the security they have fought so hard to achieve," Piatt said. The ISF has greatly evolved under the recent test of extended combat with ISIS, he said. "ISIS threatened to overrun this nation, and they were literally 40 kilometers or less from the capital, Baghdad," Piatt said. "It was the Iraqis themselves that mobilized, that fought back against this threat. Yes, with lots of help from the coalition. And they fought this enemy all the way back, liberated their cities, city after city, all the way up the Tigris River until the big fight in Mosul." It was the Iraqi forces themselves that took back Mosul, street by street, he added. "Nothing builds a professional military like a victory of that magnitude," Piatt said. "And it came at a cost, probably over 1,700 Iraqi Security Forces lost their lives just in Mosul." Iraqi forces are now scouring the country in search of small pockets of ISIS fighters in hiding, which means that U.S. and coalition forces will take on a broader support role, he said. The Iraqi Army doesn't "need coalition forces to accompany them and to fight alongside them; they are good at that. What they need is help with sustainment, planning operations, things that you would see at the operational and strategic level," Piatt said. This means that the 3rd Cavalry Regiment stationed at Fort Hood will deploy to Iraq as scheduled to replace the 10th Mountain's 3rd BCT, he said. Piatt said he could not speculate on how long Iraqi forces will need coalition support. For now, "I think deployments will stay scheduled," he said. "What we have to understand is ISIS is not totally destroyed and the conditions that allowed ISIS to grow could still exist here," he continued. "So it's still not over because it's a critical phase of the operation. If you don't secure the peace, you could find yourself back at war." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. The Marine Corps is hoping industry can make lightweight .50 caliber ammunition that provides machine-gunners with a 30 percent weight savings over existing linked belts of .50 caliber ammo. Marine Corps Systems Command recently released a request for information to see if commercial companies have the capability to produce lightweight .50 caliber ammo that "will provide a weight savings when compared to the current M33 .50 cartridge in the DODIC A555 linked configuration," according to the document released on FedBizOpps.gov. "A belt of 100 Lightweight .50 Caliber cartridges with 101 links shall have a threshold overall weight of 24.6 lbs. or 15 percent weight savings compared to the legacy A555 configuration," the document states. "A belt of 100 lightweight cartridges with 101 links shall have an objective overall weight savings of more than 20.3 lbs. or 30 percent compared to the legacy A555 configuration." Lightweight ammunition is not a new concept. Commercial companies continue to work new methods to lighten one of the heaviest necessities of warfare. The Chesapeake Cartridge Corporation showed off its new line of nickel ammunition at SHOT Show 2018 in Las Vegas. The shell casings, made of aluminum-plated nickel alloy, are lighter and stronger that traditional brass casings, Ed Collins, Chesapeake's director for business development, told Military.com in January. The company is working toward creating ammunition that's 50 percent lighter than conventional brass ammo. Currently, the company makes military calibers such as 9mm, 5.56mm and 7.62mm NATO, but it plans to make it in additional calibers in the future. Companies such as PCP Ammunition make polymer-cased ammunition, which offers up to a 30 percent weight savings compared to brass-cased ammo. Textron Systems makes case-telescoped weapons and ammunition. The ammo concept relies on plastic case rather than a brass one to hold the propellant and the projectile, like a conventional shotgun shell. Over the past decade, the U.S. Army has invested heavily in Textron's concept, formerly known as Light Weight Small Arms Technology. Textron doesn't currently make .50-caliber, case-telescoped ammunition, but its 5.56mm CT ammo weighs about 37 percent less than standard belted 5.56mm. Companies have until June 1 to respond to the RFI, the document states. -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Key Select Mineral List Type Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Dana Chemical Elements Detailed Mineral List: Gold Formula: Au Reference: Bell, J.M., Fraser, C. (1912) The geology of the Waihi-Tairua Subdivision, Hauraki Division. New Zealand Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 15, New Zealand Government, Wellington, 192 pages. Hematite Formula: Fe 2 O 3 Reference: Collection of RJ Martin Kaolinite Formula: Al 2 (Si 2 O 5 )(OH) 4 Reference: Bell, J.M., Fraser, C. (1912) The geology of the Waihi-Tairua Subdivision, Hauraki Division. New Zealand Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 15, New Zealand Government, Wellington, 192 pages. Pyrite Formula: FeS 2 Reference: Evening Post newspaper (1908) Mining News. The Tairua Goldfields-Golden Hills, Vol. LXXV, issue 111, 11 May 1908 Quartz Formula: SiO 2 Reference: Bell, J.M., Fraser, C. (1912) The geology of the Waihi-Tairua Subdivision, Hauraki Division. New Zealand Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 15, New Zealand Government, Wellington, 192 pages. Quartz var. Chalcedony Formula: SiO 2 Reference: Bell, J.M., Fraser, C. (1912) The geology of the Waihi-Tairua Subdivision, Hauraki Division. New Zealand Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 15, New Zealand Government, Wellington, 192 pages. List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification Group 1 - Elements Gold 1.AA.05 Au Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts Pyrite 2.EB.05a FeS 2 Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides Hematite 4.CB.05 Fe 2 O 3 Quartz 4.DA.05 SiO 2 var. Chalcedony 4.DA.05 SiO 2 Group 9 - Silicates Kaolinite 9.ED.05 Al 2 (Si 2 O 5 )(OH) 4 List of minerals arranged by Dana 8th Edition classification Group 1 - NATIVE ELEMENTS AND ALLOYS Metals, other than the Platinum Group Gold 1.1.1.1 Au Group 2 - SULFIDES A m B n X p , with (m+n):p = 1:2 Pyrite 2.12.1.1 FeS 2 Group 4 - SIMPLE OXIDES A 2 X 3 Hematite 4.3.1.2 Fe 2 O 3 Group 75 - TECTOSILICATES Si Tetrahedral Frameworks Si Tetrahedral Frameworks - SiO 2 with [4] coordinated Si Quartz 75.1.3.1 SiO 2 Unclassified Minerals, Mixtures, etc. Kaolinite - Al 2 (Si 2 O 5 )(OH) 4 Quartz var. Chalcedony - SiO 2 List of minerals for each chemical element H Hydrogen H Kaolinite Al 2 (Si 2 O 5 )(OH) 4 O Oxygen O Kaolinite Al 2 (Si 2 O 5 )(OH) 4 O Quartz SiO 2 O Quartz var. Chalcedony SiO 2 O Hematite Fe 2 O 3 Al Aluminium Al Kaolinite Al 2 (Si 2 O 5 )(OH) 4 Si Silicon Si Kaolinite Al 2 (Si 2 O 5 )(OH) 4 Si Quartz SiO 2 Si Quartz var. Chalcedony SiO 2 S Sulfur S Pyrite FeS 2 Fe Iron Fe Pyrite FeS 2 Fe Hematite Fe 2 O 3 Au Gold Au Gold Au References Sort by Year (asc) Year (desc) Author (A-Z) Author (Z-A) Thames Star newspaper (1908) Tairua Golden Hills, Vol. XLIV, issue 10172, 13 January 1908. Ohinemuri Gazette newspaper (1910) Mining. Tairua Golden Hills. Meeting of Shareholders, Vol. XXI, issue 2665, 13 July 1910. Bell, J.M., Fraser, C. (1912) The geology of the Waihi-Tairua Subdivision, Hauraki Division. New Zealand Geological Survey, Bulletin No. 15, New Zealand Government, Wellington, 192 pages. Thames Star newspaper (1920) New Golden Hills Mine, Vol. LVI, issue 14374, 04 October 1920. Simpson, M.P., Mauk, J.L., Merchant, R.J. (2011) Bonanza-grade epithermal veins from the Coromandel and Thames districts, Hauraki goldfield. AusIMM New Zealand Branch Annual Conference 2011, Queenstown, New Zealand. Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality Australian Plate Tectonic Plate New Zealand North Island Island This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary. The foundations of the Golden Hills battery can be seen on a walk from the Broken Hills campground.The Auckland based Tairua Golden Hills Gold Mining Company was formed in 1907 to mine gold on Davey's Reef. B. Barker was appointed mine manager. The company was reconstructed in 1910 as the Tairua Golden Hills Limited, when it had exhausted its capital to develop the mine after erecting the battery.Gold was first discovered at the site in 1893, and 11 tonnes of ore was extracted from Daveys Claim for 47 ounces of gold, but it was abandoned shortly after. The 20 (or 10 depending on the source) stamp battery and cyanide plant was erected in 1910, linked to the mine on the opposite side of the river by an aerial tramway. For the next two years the mine produced a total of 3406 tonnes of ore for 2739 ounces of gold.The mine closed in 1914, and remained idle until 1920 when tributer J.M. Agnew extracted 603 tonnes of ore for 826 ounces of gold. Work ceased when no more payable ore was found.The reef is hosted by altered banded spherulitic rhyolite, the veins containing altered rhyolite fragments cemented by chalcedonic quartz. Au-Ag is found in kaolinite filled fissures, while the quartz veins are barren to low grade in Au-Ag. Mineral List Regional Geology The first news found of opals at this site was 1897, stating the Opal Mining Company was obtaining blocks of stone traversed by opal veins. In 1898 it is reported Blair, Tregoweth and party are mining the stone. In the same year another of the party writes to a newspaper stating stone from the mine is on display at the Mines Department in Auckland, and requesting investment as they had run out of capital.All falls silent until 1912. In this year newspapers report the site as a new discovery of precious opal (having ignored their own reports in 1897-1898). One at least explains the site is a private farm, which limited prior development, however it had now been purchased by a syndicate who plan to form a company.Journalists wax lyrical about the gemstones being found. They come in blues, bluey-green, purple, fiery reds, multi-coloured or what is termed black opal, with iridescence, and brilliant flashing colours. Some is opaque or probably what is termed potch. Bore holes are sunk surrounding the original reef, and we are told in one solid opal 33 feet thick was uncovered. The outcropping reef contains masses of opal in a sinter formation. The opal bearing outcrop is 800 feet long by 300 feet wide, running up a ragged cone or cap 150 feet above the surrounding plain, opal in boulders on the surface everywhere, scintillating in the sun. The whole hill we are told is one opal infused strata. The opal is better than Australian opal, and in fact un-equalled in the world. There is so much opal, making jewellery alone out of it, would not use all the opal in a lifetime.Specimens go on public display. Various experts report it is true precious opal. A. Jarman states the opal is streaked with cloudy hydrophane to true opal. Leslie McArthur states it is opal matrix in rhyolite andesite, traversed by chalcedony. A. Larsen, a lapidarist from Auckland declares it true precious opal, supported by un-named opal miners who arrive from the opal fields in Australia. The Tairua Opal Limited is formed in 1912, and there is a rush on the shares. The gushing of the experts on how profitable the new opal mine will be, leads to a suspicion that they have a financial interest in the enterprise, but this remains speculation. The New Zealand Geological Survey states in 1913, that it is precious opal but difficult to extract from the matrix, but says no more.We would now expect a large amount of information about mining development, and how New Zealand has flooded the world with opals. The silence is deafening. The next report is 1929, however the description of the deposit is very different. It states precious opal occurs in small veins in an outcrop of sinter or rhyolite, with several parcels around 1912 sent to Germany. There are frequent finds of opal fragments in nearby rivers at the time. Peter and Jocelyn Thornton in 1985 are even more dismissive, stating the deposit was small, and the opal even smaller. A picture shows three very small specimens with possibly precious opal pin-head size through the rock.The only conclusion that can be reached as to the original reports, is a small amount of impressive stone was uncovered for public display, while the rest of the information was an outright speculation con.The deposit is near the confluence of the Tairua River and Hikuai Stream, on what was at the time Marsh's farm, on a hill near the confluence. Mindat co-ordinates are therefore very approximate. Other parts of New Zealand are not known for precious opal deposits. (2018, Similar material eg thin seams and small lenses of precious opal, is now known from Mayor Island and also from the Ongaroto Road flood deposits in Whakamaru)According to Railton & Watters, minor amounts of opal were found in the area but believe that most of the opal "found" was in fact of Australian origin.The present status of this deposit (2018) is that the farmer is rumoured to have dynamited the outcrop some years back (pre 2000) due to constant requests for access and also a large number of unauthorised entries.1 valid mineral. This geological map and associated information on rock units at or nearby to the coordinates given for this locality is based on relatively small scale geological maps provided by various national Geological Surveys. This does not necessarily represent the complete geology at this locality but it gives a background for the region in which it is found. Click on geological units on the map for more information. Click here to view full-screen map on Macrostrat.org Data and map coding provided by Macrostrat.org, used under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary. References Key This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary. Coca-Cola | Brand Value: USD 56.4 billion | Brand Revenue: USD 23 billion | Industry: Technology Beverages major Coca-Cola plans to take its Indian softdrink brand Thums Up to neighbouring markets, including Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, besides ASEAN countries, a top company official said today. Coca-Cola has already introduced the brand Thums Up in Bangladesh last month, as part of its larger expansion plans. Besides, Coca-Cola India also expects Thums Up, which was acquired by it from Parle Bisleri in 1993, to become a USD 1 billion brand by the end of this year or probably by next year. "We have launched Thums Up Charged already in Bangladesh. It is being scaled up across Bangladesh now. We have also launched Rim Zim already last month there," Coca-Cola India and South West Asia President T Krishnakumar told PTI. He further added: "Next we are planning to move to Nepal in the next couple of months with Thums up Charge. We are going to launch as big as in Bangladesh. Once we see success, we would take it to other markets." On being asked about any specific markets Coca-Cola is looking is eyeing for the brand Thums Up, he said: "We believe that we can do the entire south Asian markets." "We can go places like Sri Lanka also. Then we can talk to our global HQ and go to some of ASEAN countries. Even at a later date, we can look at possibly Pakistan also. We could have more and more markets in Asia," he added. Coca-Cola would export the brand in those markets and would get it locally manufactured. "We would give brand name and all the ingredients and most of the time it would be manufactured locally and but would carry the Thums Up brand," Krishnakumar said. Last year, Coca-Cola said that it expects Thums Up to be a USD 1 billion (about Rs 6,500 crore) brand in the next two years. "I think we are well on the way. By the end of this year, we would be close to it and in the worst case scenario, it would be 2019 we should get to 1 billion dollar (brand)," he added. He further said that another Indian brand Maza would be the next candidate from the stable of Coca-Cola India to join the USD 1 billion club but would take some more time. Besides, Thums Up, Coca-Cola India is looking over possibility to take three other Indian brands to global markets - Limca, Maza and Rim Zim. "These are four brands in our stable which have potential to (go to) other markets and we are obviously creating more and more products as Aquarius Gluco Charge, which has creation in India... It can also go out to other similar markets," he added. Coca-Cola India today forayed into enhanced hydration and nutritious dilutables market here by launching Aquarius Glucocharge, packed with Glucose, essential Minerals (Potassium, Sodium, Calcium) and fruit juice. Besides, Coca-Cola also launched Minute Maid Vitingo. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Price Waterhouse (PW), the former auditor of Vakrangee, cited absence of adequate and relevant information and explanations in the companys books of accounts, as the reason for its resignation on April 27. In a letter to the company's board, of which Moneycontrol has a copy, the chartered accountancy firm said it got no reasonable assurance whether the financial statements were free from material misstatements, whether due to fraud or error. Vakrangee describes itself as a technology-driven company, focusing on last-mile retail points-of-sale, to enable people to benefit from financial inclusion, social inclusion, Digital India, Skill Development, government programmes and a wider access to basic goods and services. In the letter, PW said the auditor had sought information from the company on several matters pertaining to its election books, bullion and jewellery business. After repeated follow-ups, Vakrangee furnished some information, which the auditor said either did not answer some of the queries raised by us or is inadequate or contradicting earlier explanations and thus do not provide us with appropriate audit evidence required as per professional standards to enable us to carry out the statutory audit engagement. PW met the companys Audit Committee on April 18, and told the members of its intention to resign. However, the Audit Committee asked PW to consider some additional information which would be shared on April 27. But the additional information provided to PW was not satisfactory, the chartered accountancy firm said. As a result, the auditor said it would not be able to obtain assurance whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In a statement to exchanges, Vakrangee said the the management would like to assure that the company has provided all the information with respect to business and affairs of the company to the auditor and the audit committee, and the financial statements present the true and fair view of the state of the affairs of the company. The company is fully compliant with the Ind-AS accounting standards. The Audit Committee has also reviewed the financial statements and has been fully satisfied with all the information and explanations provided by the company, the company said. Shares of Vakrangee, which manages several government services such as Aadhaar enrolment, issuance of passports and railway tickets, have been under pressure amid recent speculation over price manipulation. The company was investigated by the stock exchanges, and later got a clean chit from SEBI. (Read the interview of the company management here.) The company was also the subject of an investigative piece by The Ken, which questioned, among other things, whether the company had as many service outlets as it claimed, and how it managed the revenues that it did. (Read Vakrangees clarification here.). Since its inception in 1990, the company has changed its name five times to reflect the diversification of its business. The Vakrangee stock rose from as little as 50 paise in 2009 to a high of Rs 515 earlier this year. Since then, it has fallen over 80 percent, and trading in the stock has been frozen with only sellers at Rs 90, at the time of writing this article. Shares of PC Jeweller, in which Vakrangee bought 20 lakh shares earlier this year, have also been in a freefall even as the PC management has denied any link with the latter. (Correction: A previous version of this article had erroneously mentioned Vakrangee had bought 20 percent stake in PC Jeweller, instead of 20 lakh shares. This has been corrected.) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The departure of Aditya Ghosh as the top boss of IndiGo - the countrys biggest success story in a sector known to be a graveyard for ambitious businessmen and corporate houses is a chilling reminder of the vagaries associated with the corporate world. Ghosh was the face of the company as it embarked on its journey to achieve a healthy financial growth and robust passenger traffic. After being at the helm for 10 years and steering the airline to profitability, Ghosh's decision to hang up his boots received extensive media coverage and even attracted nervousness for investors. Ghosh was probably the only Indian who stood out in a crowd of foreigners and expats calling the shots in the Indian skies. In comparison, Jet Airways CEO Vinay Dube is an expat while his predecessor Cramer Ball was Australian. Recently, Austrian Wolfgang Prock-Schaue was the CEO of GoAir and has joined IndiGo. The question is why are there so few Indians holding top positions at Indian airlines. Jitendra Bhargava, former ED, Air India, feels that part of the problem can be traced back to the working culture of Air India. Also Read: SEBI probes plunge in IndiGo stock ahead of Ghosh's resignation When Jet started its operations, they took people from Air India and so did other airlines when they launched. Air India was a great airline but it did not have a culture of mentoring people and creating leaders. I dont see any reason why people who come from outside should be given preference. But there is paucity of talent and no one is willing to take up the challenge and say I can run an airline or revive an airline," he told Moneycontrol. "Though that has changed over the years. After so many years, the sector ought to have produced more leaders despite the Air India baggage because the private airlines have been in operation for more than 10 years and hence the likes of Ghosh exist today, he added. With regards to Ghoshs exit, Bhargava feels that there was room for improvement in the airline but that does not mean Ghosh underperformed. If we do a fair appraisal, then IndiGo could have performed much better. They still dont fly to Europe and USA. I am not undermining Adityas performance. He did a great job but IndiGo, given its performance and momentum, ought to have started operations in Europe and USA, Bhargava said. The road ahead for IndiGo may not be as arduous as it was 10 years ago but with Indian aviation sector set to scale new heights under the UDAN scheme, it is imperative to note the talent crunch (read: Indians) at the top in leading airline operators. We are in the last phase of the September quarter earnings season, and the results announced by the BSE 500 companies so far have shown signs of a sharp recovery, as compared to the June quarter, when the economic activity in the country was compromised due to lockdown in various regions. From the BSE 500 list, 216 companies have announced their September quarter results so far. We excluded banking and financial companies. Along with the index stocks we also analyse each sector quarterly earnings. (Data Source: ACE Equity) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More HT Media reported over a two-fold increase in consolidated net profit at Rs 75.04 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, helped by lower expenses. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 25.55 crore in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal. Total income during the quarter under review grew by 1.79 per cent to Rs 645.51 crore as against Rs 634.14 crore in the year-ago period, HT Media said in a regulatory filing. Total expenses during the quarter stood at Rs 532.11 crore, down 6.26 per cent, compared to Rs 567.7 crore in December quarter of the previous fiscal. For the full financial year, HT Media's consolidated net profit stood at Rs 307.17 crore as against Rs 170.25 crore in 2016-17. The total income in fiscal 2017-18 was at Rs 2,591.68 crore as against Rs 2,681.55 crore in 2016-17. The board of directors of the company... has recommended payment of dividend of Rs 0.40 per equity share for the financial year ended on March 31, 2018. The board of directors also approved an investment up to Rs 10 crore in digital media firm Editorji Technologies Pvt Ltd (ETPL) by way of subscription to equity share of ETPL. HT Media said its Chief Executive Officer Rajiv Verma has decided to step down from his post. "Rajiv Verma will continue in his current role till his successor joins. Post the new CEO joining, Verma would continue to remain associated with the company in an advisory role," it added. A bird flies by the Vedanta office building in Mumbai August 16, 2010. India-focused miner Vedanta Resources said it will buy 51-60 percent of Cairn India for about $8.5-9.6 billion in cash to be funded via debt and cash resources, a move that would represent Vedanta's first foray into oil and gas, and help Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy fund an expensive drilling programme in Greenland. REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui (INDIA - Tags: BUSINESS ENERGY) - RTXSAAV live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Vedanta is likely to report a consolidated profit of Rs 2,577.1 crore in Q4 FY18, a rise of 25 percent from Rs 2,053 crore posted during the previous quarter. According to a Reuters analyst poll, the metals major is likely to report revenues of Rs 24,815.2 crore as against Rs 24,361 crore quarter-on-quarter, a marginal rise of two percent. Profit during this quarter may be lower due to an impairment loss of Rs 1,800 crore after the Supreme Court ordered closure of its Goa iron-ore mining operations. During the corresponding quarter of last year, the firm had reported a profit of Rs 2,971 crore, while its revenue was Rs 22,371 crore. Among segments, Motilal Oswal expects operating profit to rise 16 percent quarter-on-quarter to Rs 710 crore on the back of higher LME (London Metal Exchange) volumes. This may be partly offset by higher costs. Operating profit of its zinc business is expected to rise five percent to Rs 3,410 crore due to higher zinc and silver volumes. - Progress on ramp-up of 1.25 mtpa smelter - Movement in base metal prices The company had reported a consolidated profit of Rs 2,053 crore for the quarter-ended December against Rs 2,133 crore in the same quarter last year. A one-time loss of Rs 158 crore could have impacted the result. Consolidated revenue had risen 26 percent YoY at Rs 24,361 crore. 8 | Infosys | Market Cap for the week ended October 30: Rs 4,51,753.23 crore crore | Loss during the week: 26,152.79 crore. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Software major Infosys has claimed to suffer financial loss due to deletion of important data by former chief financial officer (CFO) Rajiv Bansal from his official laptop. The IT major, which is undergoing arbitration with Bansal over his severance payment of Rs 17.38 crore, believes that Bansal's actions to erase data will influence the final verdict in the case, said people familiar with developments in a report of The Economic Times. However, Bansals lawyer has defended his action by calling it normal during a hearing that took place a week ago before the sole arbitrator former Supreme Court (SC) Justice RV Raveendran. The lawyer said it is normal for senior executives who leave an organisation to delete data in their official systems and the company should have stored such sensitive data on its servers", as per sources quoted in the report. In 2015, Bansal resigned from the company, which was led by former chief executive officer Vishal Sikka at that time. The company had decided to pay Rs 17.38 crore as severance payment at the time of Bansals resignation, but it reportedly only paid Rs 5 crore to him, holding back Rs 12 crore. During the hearing, Bansals legal team also questioned the company on his severance payment case. It said the company is backtracking on its commitment to pay and that the pact was not from an individual (Sikka) but from an organisation that has standing in the corporate world. The hearing is complete and the two parties are required to submit their comments in writing to Justice RV Raveendran. May 03, 2018 / 03:37 PM IST Market Closing: Benchmark indices closed lower following global weakness amid US-China trade talks, with the Nifty settling trade below 10,700 levels. The 30-share BSE Sensex was down 73.28 points at 35,103.14 and the 50-share NSE Nifty fell 38.30 points to 10,679.70. More than two shares declined for every share rising on the BSE. Jet Airways, SpiceJet, InterGlobe Aviation, Radico Khaitan, Emami, United Spirits, United Breweries, MRF, Apollo Tyres, Ceat, JK Tyre, Cera Sanitaryware, Bharat Forge, Biocon, Venkys, Dabur India, Idea Cellular, Just Dial, NIIT Technologies Cadila Healthcare, Gati, Havells and Can Fin Homes fell up to 11 percent. PC Jeweller rebounded 11 percent after sharp fall in morning. Kwality was up 10 percent and Manappuram Finance gained 4 percent. Date: September 25 | Extent of loss: 504 points (1.29 percent)| Reason: Concerns over the health of the economy, news of impeachment inquiry against US President Donald Trump, tension in the Middle East and uncertainty over the US-China trade deal kept the market under pressure. (Image: Reuters) Indias weight in the MSCI Emerging Market (EM) index is likely to fall 20 basis points by August on inclusion of China A-Shares. The latters weight could rise to five percent in two tranches by August, media reports quoting Morgan Stanley suggest. In June 2017, MSCI had announced that beginning June China A-shares will be included in MSCI EM and MSCI ACWI (All India World Index) indices. The inclusion of China A-shares and fall in Indias weightage by up to 20 bps could results in outflows of around $540 million by passive funds. Global passive funds tend to mirror MSCI indices and often make adjustments to their portfolios when the index composition changes, the report stated. Indias weightage in the MSCI EM index is 8.5 percent at present. The MSCI will announce results of its semi-annual index review on May 15 and the changes will be effective June 1. Morgan Stanley, media report suggests, believes that Power Grid and Pidilite Industries may be the two high conviction names that could be included in the MSCI India index. Stocks like Avenue Supermarts, Future Retail, HDFC Standard Life Insurance and InterGlobe Aviation are the other likely contenders. Morgan Stanley is of the view that Tata Motors DVR and Vakrangee could be excluded from the index. The drop in free float market capitalisation of both stocks could be the rationale for their exclusion, the report stated. Markets regulator Sebi has amended the service regulations allowing its employees to encash ordinary leaves annually as compared to once in two years permitted currently. Further, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) said that an employee should have a minimum leave balance of 180 days after encashment. It said that ordinary leave can be accumulated up to a maximum of 300 days. "Where an employee has to his credit 286 days or more of ordinary leaves, the further credit of 15 days ordinary leave shall be done at the beginning of each half year (on April 1 or October, 1 ) to the employee's additional ordinary leave account and the ordinary leaves availed during the six month period thereafter ending on September, 30 or March, 31 shall be deducted from such account," Sebi said in a notification dated April 27. This is will be applicable provided that if ordinary leaves sanctioned is for less than 15 days, the balance will be credited to the ordinary leave account subject to the ceiling of 300 days at the close of that half year. Earlier, an employee was permitted to encash ordinary leave once in two years for a minimum of 10 days and maximum of 30 days, provided that at the time of encashment, the person needed to avail such holiday for at least 10 days and also has to his credit a balance of leaves which should not be less than the leave so encashed. Hero MotoCorp (HMCL) continues to cruise well as is evident from its Q4 and FY18 results. The largest player in the Indian two-wheeler (2W) segment posted strong volume and revenue growth and maintained its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) margin on the back of tight cost control measures. Strong leadership in the 2W segment, revival in rural growth, slew of new launches, structural changes from upcoming product rejig, focus on exports and reasonable valuations make it a stock worth buying for long-term investors. In terms of quarterly performance, HMCL registered a year-on-year (YoY) volume growth of 23.4 percent, aided by improving rural sentiment on hopes of an abundant monsoon. The management expects the sales momentum to continue going forward. On the back of robust volumes, the company registered a 23.7 percent YoY growth in net revenue from operations as realisations remained largely flat. For FY18, volume and realisation growth of 13.8 percent and 1.4 percent YoY, respectively, led to a 15.4 percent YoY growth in revenue from operations. Despite a rise in raw material prices, the company was able to report a 217bps YoY expansion in its Q4 EBITDA margin. The same remained flat on a full-year basis. The expansion was aided by tight cost control as is evident from the 99.5bps YoY fall in other expenses as a percentage of net operating revenue. Staff cost too witnessed a 25.3bps YoY contraction in the quarter gone by. What makes this a long-term bet? HMCL is a formidable player in the 100/110cc segment and maintains its pole position on the back of its strong distribution network and brand recall. The management expects to continue to achieve volume growth better than the industrys double-digit growth rate on the back of a normal monsoon, market share gains and network reach. Given that the company is under-represented in the growing premium motorcycle segment, the management has started reworking its product strategy. The management unveiled two 200cc motorcycles XPulse and Xtreme 200R at Auto Expo 2018, the sales of which would begin in FY19. The company has launched Passion PRO, Passion XPRO and Super Splendor to strengthen its leadership in 100-125cc motorcycle segments. The management has forayed into high growth 125cc scooter market by launching Maestro Edge 125 and Duet 125 at Auto Expo 2018. The company continues to maintain its strong focus on electric vehicles and invested Rs 201 crore to acquire 30 percent equity in start-up Ather Energy to build EV scooters. The management said Ather will start retailing its smart electric scooter S340 soon. The management has earmarked Rs 2,500 crore over the next two years for capacity expansion, technology upgrade and digitisation. It has commenced construction of its eighth manufacturing facility in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh and started commercial production at its second manufacturing facility outside India, in Bangladesh. The companys focus on exports continues. The management plans to expand its presence in the fast growing markets of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal. It commenced production at its second global manufacturing facility in Bangladesh in May last year. The plan is to expand to as many as 50 countries by 2020 from the current 35. The management sees positive momentum in many countries going forward. The stock currently trades at 16.8 times FY19e and 14.9 times FY20e earnings. With an efficient execution and transformation strategy in place, the emerging macro tailwinds make the counter an ideal candidate for long-term accumulation. Follow @NitinAgrawal65 For more research articles, visit our Moneycontrol Research page live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More State-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC) will hire international oil service companies for the first time to raise output from mature oilfields. India's top oil and gas producer has shortlisted Schlumberger, Halliburton and GE subsidiary Baker Hughes for raising output from Kalol field in Gujarat and Geleki field in Assam, according to tender document floated by the company. Other oilfield service providers meeting pre-qualification criteria can also bid for the job by May 25, it said. The service providers will be paid a fee for raising output beyond an agreed baseline production. "To achieve the objective of production enhancement of oil and gas from mature fields, ONGC invites global oil and gas service providers having firm commitment to invest and processing capabilities to bid," the document said. "The service provider will be required to invest in capital expenditure and operating expenditure to increase production from the existing 'baseline' production." ONGC is looking to raise domestic output quickly to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi's target of cutting import dependence by 10 per cent by 2022. India currently imports over 80 per cent of its oil needs. Originally, ONGC had on December 7, 2016 signed a Summary of Understanding (SoU) to give Kalol field to Halliburton and Geleki field to Schlumberger for raising production above the current baseline output. Though the contracts were signed in presence of Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, ONGC rescinded them last year on fears of courting controversy for handing fields on nomination basis. Thereafter, the company in June 2017 floated an expression of interest (EoI) from service providers for undertaking production enhancement. "Following are the names of vendors meeting the pre-qualification criteria (of EoI) : Schlumberger Asia Services, Halliburton Offshore Services Inc and Baker Hughes Singapore PTE Ltd," the firm said in the document seeking final bids by May 25. The 15-year Production Enhancement Contract (PEC) will require the oilfield service producer to commit to investing in capital expenditure and operating expenditure to increase production from the existing 'baseline' output. A tariff will be paid in USD per barrel of oil and USD per million British thermal unit for gas for any incremental hydrocarbon produced and saved over the baseline. The baseline shall be prepared by ONGC and vetted and certified by a third party of international repute. All the oil and gas produced will belong to ONGC and the service provider arrangement is being entered into to get the best technology available, sources said. Besides Schlumberger, Halliburton and Baker Hughes, ONGC was also in talks with Weatherford International. Sources said based on the experience of Kalol and Geleki, the PEC model may be extended to other onshore fields. Property buyers can now fetch exact locations of Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA)-registered projects on the Maharashtra RERA website. A Geographical Information System (GIS) will be available on the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA) website to enable such a search. GIS is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present spatial or geographic data. Other cities such as Hyderabad and Delhi NCR are also treading the GIS route as a part of the government's smart city and digitisation initiatives. GIS will not only ease the home buying experience for buyers but also help the real estate developers in recognising and analysing potential locations for real estate development, said Santhosh Kumar, Vice Chairman, ANAROCK Property Consultants. He believes the real estate sector will benefit from adoption of this technology. In the following piece, let us understand more about GIS and its benefits. GIS is a toolset which will allow users to digitally represent real-time geographical features through which one can perform analysis, visually interpret three-dimensional patterns and trends in the form of reports, maps, charts etc, Kumar explains, In simple terms, a home buyer will be able to locate the projects on a map and also look around the locality for the presence of social and physical infrastructure which includes schools, hospitals, metro station, railway station etc. Ankur Dhawan, Chief Investment Officer, PropTiger.com pointed out, Until now on MahaRERA website it was not possible for any visitor to find the location of a project. This was forcing buyers to move to developer website to find the location on Google map of the project. Now, at the click of a button, all desired details will be available to a potential home buyer which speeds up the decision making process. According to Ashok Mohanani, Vice President NAREDCO (West), Chairman Ekta World, GIS can be used to differentiate between developed and developing areas. It can ascertain cost and time of transportation and housing, which can help ascertain the potential areas which can be acquired. Rajeev Jain, Director of Nirmal Lifestyle believes, Buyers can filter through various options which includes tracking the exact location of the project and identifying different modes of transport available to travel. It aids buyers in knowing how far it is from particular location and amenities available in the neighborhood. GIS is an expensive software and requires an enormous amount of data to be accurate. Amit Wadhwani, Director, Sai Estate Consultants explained, As the accuracy depends on the data it comes from, the data may not be able to service different contexts, particularly if that data is not applicable. If property buyers are to interpret the GIS map or the design, data availability is a major issue.Most consumers use portals to narrow down choices in their location. For real estate professionals, these portals generate leads, bring more tenants and buyers that eventually helps them in closing deals. A GIS technology brings much more to the table in terms of insightful data that is easy to understand as compared to the data derived from these current portals. Mohanani explains, GIS helps to develop interesting graphics on the realtors websites that increase the interaction of the buyers and differentiate the websites from its competition. On the other hand, real estate portals are not as advanced as GIS as this new application allows and improves collaborations across the real estate business. However, Dhawan believes, Most real estate portals have user-friendly interface and provide additional information compared to the RERA website which includes pricing of projects, resale options, rental options compared with buy options. So, the buyers of realty should make the best use of available resources using RERA website and real estate portals while making a decision to purchase. Moneycontrol News The Kashmere Gate Metro station has been adjudged the best Delhi Metro station at Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)s 24th foundation day. It is the only station where three corridors meet Red, Yellow and now the Violet line. Former president of India Pranab Mukherjee graced the 24th Foundation Day celebration of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and said that every citizen of Delhi feels proud of the Delhi Metro. Everyone who is a Delhiite, lives in Delhi, feels proud of an organisation, that is, DMRC, Mukherjee said, adding that the same has been possible due to the complete dedication of the employees, working in different sections of the organisation. Individual excellence, we find many-a-times. But that excellence to be converted and combined into collective excellence is not easy. The secret of successful corporation management is to build up this teamwork. I am happy that DMRC, from the very beginning, has built up this teamwork and this team spirit is the root of the success of the Delhi Metro, the former president said. The Chief Secretary of Delhi Anshu Prakash, appreciated the Delhi Metro and said, we have witnessed phenomenal growth from Phase 1 which was about 65 kilometres to over 252 kilometres now. In the next one year, we will add another 100 kilometres. This is indeed remarkable and makes DMRC one of the largest Metro networks in the world. The additional secretary of the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Manoj Kumar also lauded the efforts of DMRC as an organisation and said, Delhi Metro has indeed played a stellar role in the growth of Metro rail network in Delhi and NCR and its massive expansion and popularity in less than two decades of operations tells a great story of people-centric policies, timely implementation, hard work and an unending drive to address the transportation issues of the vast agglomeration, that is Delhi. DMRCs managing director, Mangu Singh, in his welcome address, informed that in the last one year, Delhi Metro had opened about 40 kilometres of new lines across three different corridors and another 35 kilometres of new sections were now ready for operations. The National Green Tribunal today said it would examine whether the proposed alternate landfill sites at Sonia Vihar and Ghonda Gujran areas here are located on the Yamuna floodplains. A bench headed by acting NGT Chairperson Justice Jawad Rahim, which did not issue notice on the pleas filed by rebel AAP MLA Kapil Mishra and others, directed them to file a brief note within a week mentioning the grounds on which they were opposing the setting up of the two landfill sites. "We will examine and consider if the two sites fall on the Yamuna floodplains. We will be considering all the issues," the bench, also comprising Justice S P Wangdi, observed. Besides Mishra, AAP spokesperson Dilip Kumar Pandey and others have also sought directions to restrain the DDA from allotting an area of 130 acres at Sonia Vihar and a 50-acre plot at Ghonda Gujran to the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) for handling and processing waste. The sites were proposed as the existing site at Ghazipur was saturated. The order came after the green panel was informed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) that a similar matter was pending in the Supreme Court. Advocate Balendu Shekhar, appearing for EDMC, said Ghazipur landfill site has got saturated and there was an urgent need for an alternate landfill site to avoid any untoward incident. The lawyer told the bench that land was identified after NGT's indulgence when a chamber meeting was held where senior DDA officials had assured the tribunal about the availability of these sites. He said the DDA had granted in principle approval for these sites based on the recommendations of Central Pollution Control Board and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI). Advocate Ritwick Dutta, appearing for Mishra, alleged that the EDMC had concealed information that these sites were part of the active floodplain of Yamuna river and fell under the O-Zone as per Master Plan of Delhi, where no development can take place. He said the two sites were rejected twice by the Principal Committee, formed to see execution of Yamuna cleaning, which had decided that these sites were unsuitable. The NGT, however, questioned the petitioners and said the issue of landfill sites in the national capital was going on since long and why have they approached it at this juncture. The matter was listed for next hearing on May 21. While Mishra had alleged that EDMC has with a "malafide"intention not revealed that these sites are part of the active floodplain of Yamuna river and fell under the O-Zone as per Master Plan of Delhi where no development can take place, the petition filed by Pandey and others had said the project will adversely affect the eco-system of the area as there were several densely populated colonies and villages nearby. "The entire area being low lying goes under deep waters during monsoon rains and the ground water table being very high, it suffers from aquifer flooding during high floods in river Yamuna. The ground conditions make its development as land fill site not only illegal but also susceptible to flooding risks. "That with respect to the site in Ghonda Gujran, it can easily be surmised that it is in Zone O, as the site is said to be opposite the Usmanpur Village. And since the only open space opposite the Usmanpur Village is in the active river floodplain in Zone O, clearly the site is most unsuitable and impermissible as per the Siting Criteria under the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 which is statutory in nature," Mishra had said in his plea. The plea, filed by Pandey and others, had said the "mindless setting up of a land-fill site adjacent to Yamuna, a natural water resource will be affecting the integrity of the flora and fauna of the water resource, which would affect overall ecology of the area which resulted the bad health condition of the people who are living nearby allotted land". It had said the approval given on the basis of recommendations of the Central Pollution Control Board and NEERI is based on wrong facts and it violated the Solid Waste Management Rules 2016. "Restrain the DDA from allotting the lands in question falling within the active floodplain of River Yamuna, i.e. 130 acres in Sonya Vihar and 50 acres in Ghonda Gujran for the purpose of developing Solid Waste Management facility. "Impose heavy penalty and direct penal action against officials of EDMC for wilful and deliberate concealment of material facts before this tribunal," the plea had said. The DDA had earlier told the tribunal that based on the reports of the CPCB and NEERI and its analysis, an area of 88 acres at Sonia Vihar and a 42.5-acre plot at Ghonda Gujran can be given to the EDMC for handling and processing waste. Flipkart Walmart Amidst all the news surrounding Walmart's looming acquisition of Flipkart, its rivals are of the view that healthy competition will be a good sign for the e-commerce industry. "Consolidation is happening...it is good for the investors," said Amit Sinha, chief operating officer of Paytm Mall. However, he added that while some investors will exit, many others are still going to be in the market for the long run. "Thankfully, we have investors who are very clear that they are in for the long haul," he said. According to data sourced from business intelligence platform Paper.vc, Flipkart's largest investor, SoftBank, currently holds 20.79 percent stake in the firm. Tiger Global's stake is 20.58 percent stake. Naspers, Accel and Ebay have stakes of 12.83 percent, 6.44 percent and 6.11 percent respectively. Apart from SoftBank, majority of the investors are looking forward to exiting the company post the deal. Sinha also stressed that the e-commerce market currently is at a very nascent stage and is barely a fraction of the entire retail market of the country, which is bound to grow by leaps and bounds.According to a recent report by research firm Morgan Stanley, online retail in India is expected to grow to USD 200 billion by 2026, up from USD 15 billion in 2016."It is very small and virtually nothing in terms of the size of the business of about USD 650 billion retail market in the country," he said. Talking about a potential competition with US-retail giant Walmart if it acquires Flipkart, Sinha said that Paytm Mall will continue with their differentiated strategy of O2O to fight the competition. "Our O2O thing is very different from Walmart or Amazon," he said adding that the company has partnered with 15 million shopkeepers in the country. He said that instead of focusing only on the online retail market, Paytm Mall will be targeting a USD 1.1 trillion dollar retail market by 2020 with its O2O strategy. It is expected that the online retail by 2020 will be about USD 50-60 billion market. "We firmly believe that this country needs a model which is more suited to what we are doing rather than any other single retailer because we are not a country of big box retail," he said. "At one point of time people were saying that the big box retail would just swipe away the shopkeepers but it hasn't happened. And there is a reason that the shopkeepers add a lot of value to the retail ecosystem," he added. Paytm Mall which raised about Rs 3,000 crore from SoftBank last month, is targeting a Gross Merhandise Value (GMV) of USD 9 billion by March 2019. The two founders, Sachin Bansal and Binny Bansal, reportedly have a little over 5 percent stake each in the company. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Kridhan Infra rose 3 percent intraday Thursday as company has won order worth Rs 566 million (SGD11.3 mn) in Singapore. The companys subsidiary Swee Hong has successfully won these contracts from the public utilities board for work in respect of proposed sewers in Punggol North Area. Kridhan has evolved into a leading EPC company in Singapore through the acquisition of Swee Hong. Kridhan has recently strengthened it India business through the strategic acquisition of Vijay Nirman Company, holding 41.47 percent stake and is in the process of acquiring 50.5 percent stake in Vijay Nirman. At 10:47 hrs Kridhan Infra was quoting at Rs 103.35, up Rs 2.30, or 2.28 percent on the BSE. Posted by Rakesh Patil By Satish Gupta of astrostocktips.in Todays planetary position: Moon will be transiting in Scorpio. Jupiter in Libra. Lord Saturn in Sagittarius. Ketu & Mars in Capricorn. Mercury in Pisces. Sun in Aries. Venus in Taurus. Lord Rahu in Cancer. Pluto in Sagittarius. Neptune in Aquarius & Uranus in Pisces. RAHUKAL TIME: - 13.30 15.00 Following sectors will be receiving astrological support: Infornation & Technology: Tata Elxsi, Mindtree, NIIT Tech, Infosys, Tata Consultancy Services, etc. PREDICTING BULLISH SECTORS OF NEXT SAMVAT 2075 Every year with commencement of new Samvat (Hindu New Year), astrologically, based on planetary position, certain new sectors start getting strong astrological support & start outperforming, while some others sectors which were performing earlier start underperforming. Some sectors/stock remains laggard. Based on our experience of over 20 years as Financial Astrologer, stocks of astrological supported sectors outperform resulting in exorbitant gains irrespective of market behavior, either bull market or bear market. Every year we release sectors of new Samvat in the month of March/April when new Samvat starts. This time new Samvat started from 18th MARCH 2018. We firmly believe that these special astrological positions present very unique opportunities to investors and traders both. This opportunity, if utilized properly, can safeguard your existing portfolio and simultaneously optimize your future investments and trading also. So contact us at early and subscribe or renew the Sectors of Samvat 2075. After all Successful investing and trading is all about GOOD TIMING only. Needless to mention our innumerable past predictions, where most stocks from the SECTORS of SAMVAT gave exorbitant returns & certain stocks appreciated by over 500 percent. After gap of many years, sugar sector started getting astrological support in the year 2015 & many stocks i.ie; Dwarikesh Sugar, Mawana Sugar, Uppar Ganges & Uttam Sugar etc shot up by 500 900 percent. In the year 2016 dyes/chemical sector got astrological support and stocks like Bhageria Industries, Thirumalai Chemicals and Sudarshan Chemicals were up by 490- 650 percent. During last Samvat 2074 (2017-2018), among other sectors - food processing sector was predicted, which received strong astrological support. Many stocks from this sector appreciated exorbitantly. Sectors which get very strong astrological support are not normally affected by downfall in the market. Sectors which get strong astrological support also start getting favorable news along with all kind of positive support by regulatory authorities in that industry, resulting in strong growth & super positive results. Most of problems also start resolving. : The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi Karnataka 2 Multiplicity of ideas and human expression make us more vibrant as a society and a free press makes for a stronger democracy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on the World Press Freedom Day. "Today on #WorldPressFreedomDay, let us reaffirm our commitment towards steadfastly supporting a free press. It is the multiplicity of ideas and human expression that makes us more vibrant as a society," he said in a series of tweets. Modi applauded all those who have been working tirelessly to uphold the freedom of press. "It is due to these countless women and men that the spirit of a free press is significantly enhanced ...would once again like to appreciate the proactive role of everyone on social media for their commendable work towards safeguarding the freedom of press and expression," the prime minister said on his Twitter handle @narendramodi. The United Nations General Assembly had declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness about freedom of press. India's economic relations have significantally improved over the years with Egypt, one of its most important trading partners in Africa, the outgoing Ambassador to Cairo, Sanjay Bhattacharya, has said. During a farewell meet with the media yesterday, he said some of the landmark events that took place during his tenure included the high-level contact between the governments of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. "I think the biggest change that has happened (in India-Egypt ties) has been in the economic field. Through the last few years, a large number of Indian companies have kept coming in to Egypt... also the volume of investments has grown tremendously," he said. He said that some big names in the Indian market are now present in Egypt across sectors such as automobiles, agriculture projects, electronics and information technology. He said another "big achievement" on the economic front has been Egypt agreeing to having the line of credit from India. "India has a USD 10 billion line of credit facility for countries in Africa. It is the cheapest kind of long term credit. It's a great opportunity that is going to bring much closer collaboration in the economic field," he added. India is Egypt's 11th largest trade partner. India's imports from Egypt were worth of USD 1.2 billion during 2016-17 financial year, while exports were recorded at USD 2 billion, according to information on Ministry of External Affairs website. The Ministry of External Affairs had recently announced Bhattacharya's appointment as the next Ambassador of lndia to Turkey after serving in Cairo for three years. Rahul Kulshreshth, who is presently the Ambassador of India to Turkey, will replace him. Bhattacharya also highlighted India's increased participation in different international cultural festivals held in the cities of Egypt. "India has also been organising its own cultural programmes like 'India by the Nile', 'Glimpses of India' and 'Tagore festival'," he said. 07:22 PM IST Narendra Modi addresses a public meeting in Bengaluru: BJP is a grounded party which strives to work for the interests of the common man. We do not indulge in mahakaavyas, we make promises and fulfill them. Our manifesto is in the form of a set of promises-- to end corruption, to provide sufficient water for irrigation, for getting higher price for crop produce, for skilled development and for employment. We have made a promise to provide a conducive environment for entrepreneurship. We have made a promise to provide safety to the women of Bengaluru. And in the first meeting that the party addresses after ovrthrowing the Siddaramaiah government, the roadmap for these promises will be prepared. The Supreme Court today pulled up authorities for their failure to ensure safety of government officials after a woman officer leading a demolition drive was shot dead in Kasauli town of Himachal Pradesh, even as the accused continued to evade arrest. Taking a serious note of the killing of the officer, who was supervising the demolitions following a court order, a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta termed it a "brazen act" and asked the state government why the police could not stop the alleged assailant from fleeing. "We might stop passing any orders if you are going to kill people," the court said after the matter was mentioned before it. Assistant Town and Country Planner Shail Bala Sharma had yesterday gone to supervise the demolition of unauthorised construction at Kasauli's Narayani Guest House where its owner Vijay Singh allegedly shot at her. She later succumbed to injuries. Dubbing the incident as "extremely serious", the top court pulled up the authorities for their failure to ensure safety of officials and said it was quite clear that there was "absolutely no regard" for the rule of law as the public servants had gone there to do their work as per the directions passed by the apex court. "It is quite clear that some of the appellants (hotels, guest houses) are acting with complete impunity and have absolutely no regard for the rule of law or the orders of this court," the bench said. "Insofar as Vijay Singh, owner of Narayani Guest House is concerned, he has committed a brazen act of defiance of the order of this court amounting to a challenge and has allegedly killed one officer in broad daylight who went to implement the orders of this court," the court said. This is something extremely serious and we are of the view that suo motu notice of contempt of court must be issued in this matter and we do so accordingly, it said. The apex court was informed that an official of Public Works Department (PWD) had also sustained severe injuries in the firing incident. When the counsel representing Himachal Pradesh told the bench that police officials were also accompanying the public servants during the demolition drive, the bench shot back, "what were they doing? Watching her get killed?". "One question has to be answered. When he (the accused) fled, police officials should have apprehended and stopped him. The police official does not get hold of him. Why? How did he just flee? They (government officials) were implementing our order," the bench asked the counsel. The counsel said the demolition drive was going on "peacefully" where two guest houses, including Narayani Guest House, are located side by side. He said after having lunch, Sharma went to Narayani Guest House with two other officials where the owner allegedly opened fire and when the persons present there tried to catch hold of him, he fled the spot. "That does not seem to be borne out from the video and the newspaper reports," the bench observed. Senior advocate P S Patwalia, who is assisting the court as an amicus curiae, told the bench that officials associated with the demolition work at Kasauli were being threatened. At the outset, advocate Surya Narayan Singh, who had earlier appeared for the state in the National Green Tribunal (NGT) where Kasauli hotels matter was initially going on, mentioned the incident before the bench and said Sharma was shot dead when she had gone to comply with the court's order. He said as per reports, an arrest warrant was issued earlier against the hotel owner as he had threatened to commit suicide if his property was sealed or demolished. However, the counsel representing the state said that demolition work was going on as per the court's order and they would file an affidavit in this regard. The court directed that the matter to be placed before the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on the administrative side today itself for assigning it to an appropriate bench for hearing tomorrow. Meanwhile, the man accused of killing the government officer continued to evade arrest even as police carried out searches and announced a reward of Rs 1 lakh for clues. Initial probe showed the accused Vijay Singh was a state electricity board employee, a police official told PTI adding the guest house in Kasauli area that he may have been running was registered in the name of one of his family members. Intensive combing operations were on in the forest area where he is learnt to have fled, they added. Singh's mother Narayani said her son had looked disturbed. "His mind was disturbed for the past many days but I neither saw him opening fire nor do I know who killed her (the officer). We did everything the authorities asked us to do, said Narayani, after whom the guest house was named. Sharma's body was handed over to family members after post-mortem. She was cremated at her native village in Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district, officials said. The state government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of the deceased. Meanwhile, an enquiry into the incident, to be conducted by Divisional Commissioner, Shimla, was ordered, officials said. The enquiry report will be submitted within 15 days, they added. SP, Solan, has also held a preliminary enquiry into the alleged lapses, they said. Tune in to the Moneycontrol podcast on Flipkart and the journey of the Bansals' May 03, 2018 / 09:01 PM IST / 09:01 PM IST High NPA may restrict credit growth to 8% in FY19: Report The high quantum of impaired assets will restrict the credit growth for fiscal 2018-19 to 8 percent, and India Inc will borrow more from cheaper sources abroad, a report said today. External commercial borrowings (ECBs) will go up to USD 27-32 billions on the back of relaxed norms announced by the Reserve Bank of India and the high rate of borrowing domestically, ratings agency Icra said. May 03, 2018 / 08:59 PM IST Tune in to the Moneycontrol podcast on Flipkart and the journey of the Bansals' As Indias most recognizable online brand looks set to be subsumed into one of the giants playing the great game of global retail wars, tune in to the Moneycontrol podcast to know more about the Flipkart story and how two boys in Koramangala in Bangalore blazed a trail that that every Indian entrepreneur hopes to emulate in some form. May 03, 2018 / 08:52 PM IST May grant Rs 25 lakh compensation: SC to ex-ISRO scientist The Supreme Court today said it may consider granting Rs 25 lakh as compensation to former ISRO scientist S Nambi Narayanan and ordering a probe to ascertain the role of SIT officers who had framed him in the ISRO espionage case. May 03, 2018 / 08:30 PM IST Tata Motors says its board approves the sale of defence unit Tata Motors said that its board has approved the sales of Tata Advance Systems Limited (TASL), according to CNBC-TV 18 report. May 03, 2018 / 08:18 PM IST India can create 1 crore sales jobs in 3 years on reforms: Report India has the potential to create one crore sales jobs in the next three years on regulatory reforms such as consolidation of 44 central labour laws into four labour codes, among others, according to a report. Other reforms which can aid the job creation are unique enterprise number (UEN), employee salary choice, PPC compliance portal, the Factories Amendment Bill 2016, Small Factories Act, among others, staffing firm TeamLease Services said in its report. May 03, 2018 / 07:56 PM IST Hexaware Q1 net profit up 18% to Rs 134 crore Mid-sized IT services firm Hexaware Technologies today posted a 17.9 per cent rise in consolidated net profit at Rs 134.3 crore for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. This is against a net profit of Rs 113.9 crore in the same period a year ago, Hexaware said in a statement. May 03, 2018 / 07:44 PM IST NGT asks Delhi, northern states to respond to WHO report on most-polluted cities The National Green Tribunal today asked the Delhi, four northern states and Bihar to respond to a recent World Health Organisation (WHO) report on 20 most-polluted cities in the world. According to the WHO global air pollution database, 14 out of the 15 most- polluted cities in the world in terms of PM 2.5 concentrations are in India -- the worst being Kanpur with a Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 concentration of 173 micrograms per cubic metre, followed by Faridabad, Varanasi and Gaya. May 03, 2018 / 07:18 PM IST May 03, 2018 / 07:17 PM IST Cyclonic circulation over Haryana was trigger for dust storm: experts A cyclonic circulation over Haryana was the trigger for the deadly dust storm that swept parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, weather experts said today, estimating that the wind speed during the storm may have gone up to 100 kilometres per hour.The winds were so violent that a number of houses collapsed and electricity poles and trees got uprooted, as the severe dust storm swept parts of these states. May 03, 2018 / 07:16 PM IST May 03, 2018 / 06:52 PM IST Major fire at ISRO research centre in Ahmedabad, none hurt A major fire broke out at a research facility located in the Space Application Centre (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) here this afternoon, officials said.Nobody was reported injured in the blaze, they added. The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that it had not received any fresh information on Nirav Modi. Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said that inelligence agencies had last approached the ministry with Hong Kong as a possible location. The MEA will come in when we receive a request from the agencies vis-a-vis a particular country. We announced when it was Hong Kong. As of now, there has been no new information, said Kumar. Last month, the ministry had said that it had informed the authorities in Hong Kong about Nirav Modi. In a reply to the Parliament, the ministry had stated Nirav's location as Hong Kong. Late last month, there were reports of Nirav having escapes to New York. However, Kumar on Thursday asserted that there was no fresh information on the fugitive. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a two-day visit to Nepal from May 11, the Ministry of External Affairs announced today. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said Indian and Nepalese sides are working on various aspects of Modi's visit. "This visit of the Prime Minister to Nepal will be taking place on May 11 and 12. Apart from Kathmandu, the possibility of a visit to Janakpur and Muktinath is being explored," he told reporters. Last month, Nepal's Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli had visited India during which both sides had vowed to step up the overall engagement and take the relationship to newer heights on the basis of "equality, mutual trust and respect". In his talks with Modi, Oli had invited him to visit Nepal. Oli's visit was seen as an attempt to repair Nepal's ties with India. In 2016, Oli had publicly criticised India for interfering in Nepal's internal matters and accused it of toppling his government. After talks with Oli last month, Modi had said India would always stand by Nepal in its quest for all-round growth, asserting that deeper cooperation between the two neighbours would strengthen democracy in that country. Nepal's Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa on Tuesday said Modi will fly directly to Janakpur, famous for Janaki Temple, from Bihar's capital Patna on May 11. Release 4 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu, or face consequences that was the ultimatum the Supreme Court issued to the Karnataka government. In a recent development, the Supreme Court has asked Karnataka to give 4 thousand million cubic feet (4 TMC) of water to Tamil Nadu. In its verdict on February 16, the apex court had marginally cut Tamil Nadus share of Cauvery water and had allotted it to Karnataka on account of depleting ground water reserves in the state and acute shortage of water for drinking and domestic purposes in the capital city of Bengaluru. The latest verdict of the Supreme Court on the Cauvery Dispute is our Story of the Day. Having grown up in Bangalore, one is almost conditioned to groan every time one hears the phrase Cauvery dispute. Again?!, Now what?!, Why cant they sort this thing out once and for all?!, Therell be protests? Man, wont be able to get an Uber are the sort of responses my brood of cosmopolitan, city-dwelling, politically unmotivated millennials often have. But, the more I age, the more I realise that being able to say I am not invested or interested in politics is a statement of elite arrogance. Ignorance in matters such as this one involving a river that is the lifeline of two large southern states and upon which the livelihoods of millions of people depends is a luxury. You can afford to not be affected because you are cocooned by whatever privilege you may be born into. You can afford to not give a damn because your livelihood is not directly dependent on how many tmc of river water gets released because, well, you will never face a shortage of water to water your lawns. I am not suggesting that anyone should take any one side, but as conscientious individuals, we should at least aim to stop gazing at our own navels and other navels much like our own, and attempt to at least get a basic understanding of what this Cauvery Dispute, one that gets so many millions of people so charged, is all about. And that is what we hope to do today. But first things first what happened at the Supreme Court today? The Supreme Court has asked Karnataka to release 4 tmc of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. In its earlier ruling on the 16th of February, the Supreme Court had cut 14.75 thousand million cubic feet of water from Tamil Nadu and allocated it to Karnataka, increasing Karnatakas share of Cauvery water from 270 to 284.75 thousand million cubic feet. The apex court has also asked the Centre to file an affidavit regarding the matter, scheduling the next hearing for May 8. This new verdict comes in the wake of massive protests in Chennai against the Centre related to the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) for division of water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka; Karnataka has been opposed to the constitution of the board. Multiple sessions of both the Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha during the Budget Session were interrupted due to protests by members of AIADMK, DMK, among others, and millions in taxpayer money lost along the way. Earlier, the apex court had reprimanded the Centre for postponing the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and skipping the March 31 deadline to submit a draft regarding the same. The Centre had sought more time to submit a draft scheme on the Cauvery water-sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The court had also asked the Centre to make its intention clear vis-a-vis the formation of the CMB by May 3. Why has the government not been able to table a draft on the Cauvery Management Board? Well. Karnataka Elections. Or at least, that is what the Attorney General of India, KK Venugopal, told the three member bench headed by Chief Justice Deepak Misra and also consisting of Justice Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud. The Centre, apparently, has been unable to table a draft on the Cauvery Management Board before the Union Cabinet as the Prime Minister is in Karnataka for election rallies. Venugopal also sought more time from the court, requesting it to defer the issue till the Karnataka assembly elections are over. Much dramatics ensued in the court, your honour. Upon Mr Venugopals request for an additional ten days on behalf of the Centre, Senior advocate Shekhar Naphade, arguing for Tamil Nadu, lashed out at the Centre, accusing them of a brazen attitude and playing politics to favour the BJPs fortune in the State, instead of governance. The Hindu reports that, Chief Justice Misra kept repeating that Centre has a responsibility to frame the scheme. At one point, the CJI referred to the Centres stand as a reality. But Mr. Naphade submitted that they (Centre) are worried about their electoral fate in Karnataka... Centre does not want to frame the scheme before the elections on May 12... If you (SC) allow this to happen, there will be nothing left of the rule of law and co-operative federalism. What do we tell the people of Tamil Nadu? That the Supreme Court passed its Cauvery judgment in February and we have still not been able to get water. Summer temperatures are rising... there is no drinking water... It is time for you (SC) to call a spade a spade, Mr. Naphade urged the court. Shyam Divan, arguing for Karnataka, said that Karnataka already released water in excess to Tamil Nadu. CJI said Karnataka should take instructions and come back on Tuesday to inform the court about how much they would release to Tamil Nadu. You have to release water or face the consequences, CJI Misra told Karnataka. Tamil Nadu has filed a contempt petition against the Centre delaying the framing of the scheme as per the apex courts February 16 judgment. The court, meanwhile, directed Mr. Venugopal to respond on Tuesday about what steps the Centre has taken so far to frame the scheme. They (Centre) will dilly-dally... this is too serious an issue, Mr. Naphade issued another scathing retort. We head now to Harihar, a town in Karnataka, to a man in the middle of many storms CM Siddaramaiah. "I still have to get details on the matter. But where is the water for us to release? I will discuss with legal experts on our next course of action," the Karnataka CM told reporters at Harihar in the middle of a campaign tour. Politically, this decision could not have come at a more inopportune time for Siddaramaiah. Any softening of stance on a matter as politically charged as Cauvery water may influence voters in the more than 65 seats in the Old Mysore region, a region the CM himself is seeking re-election from. The state goes to polls on the 12th of May. The receding water levels in Karnataka's major reservoirs and the poor inflow into the Krishnaraja Sagara (KRS) dam, built across the Cauvery in the district, have been a cause for concern. The water level in the reservoir was recorded at 72.07 feet against the full reservoir level of 124.80 feet on Wednesday. The flow into the reservoir was hovering at the rate of 1,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) till November owing to rains in the catchments areas. However, the trend in declination of inflow rate started from the second week of December. Currently, the inflow is 344 cusecs against an outflow of 935 cusecs. Getting the Cauvery or not could make or break a political party, both in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. I cannot think of a day in my entire adult life when the issue has not been a capital I issue. As a child, Cauvery disputes and protests were a source of joy even it meant we would not have to go to school. Even as I heard of fasts by Jayalalithaa, or people sacrificing themselves for the cause on either side, or when the words Tribunal or TMC or entered my lexicon, the issue became what anything becomes if bandied about constantly constant, and therefore unimportant. But, it is anything but. So, in the coming days, that is what we promise to do here. A deep dive into the river of discontent we call Cauvery. When did the issue begin? What is the timeline? Who are the players? What kind of cultural significance does Cauvery play in Kannadigas and Tamilians lives? What role do Tamizh and Kannadiga pride play in all of this? And is there a solution in sight? To find out all of that, youll just have to stay with us right here on Moneycontrol. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The Supreme Court on Thursday warned the Karnataka government of "consequences" if it does not release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra also pulled up the central government for not framing the water distribution scheme till date, and observed that elections in Karnataka cannot be cited as a reason for delay. While asking the Centre to apprise the court of steps it has taken so far, the bench asked the Karnataka government to come back on Tuesday with a categorical statement on how much water it will release for Tamil Nadu. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today held discussions with her Serbian counterpart Ivica Davic to bolster cooperation in key areas of trade, defence, and science and technology. The two ministers discussed a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of common interest. Dacic's visit comes after last year's visit of the Serbian Prime Minister to India in January 2017. "EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Serbian Foreign Minister Dacic had good discussion on expanding cooperation in trade and investment, agriculture, food processing, pharma, S & T, IT, defence, tourism, civil aviation, education & culture, and exchanged views on regional and global issues. "Expanding a close and historic relationship! EAM @SushmaSwaraj welcomes Ivica Davic, First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of #Serbia to India. The two countries are celebrating 70 years of establishment of diplomatic relations," External Affairs Minister Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. An agreement on cooperation in the field of culture, sports, youth and mass media was signed by the two ministers, a statement by the External Affairs Ministry. In a lecture at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), Davic said Serbia can learn a lot from initiatives such as Make in India, Start Up India, Smart Cities and Skill India. He said several Indian companies have invested in the areas of Information Technology, agricultural machinery and vehicles. Indian firms can take advantage of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) Serbia has with Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kazakshtan and Turkey, he said. Increasing economic activities is in mutual interest of both countries. India and Serbia enjoy a close and historic relationship. Bilateral trade between India and Serbia has increased substantially in recent years. According to official figures, bilateral trade between the two countries was at USD 157.1 million during January to October 2017, registering an increase of 32.2 per cent as compared to January-October 2016. Dacic said that Serbia had eased visa norms for India since September last year. It had abolished visas for visiting Indian nationals, while India extended e-Visa facility to Serbian nationals. Stating that Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru are popular personalities in Serbia, he pointed out that Belgrade has streets named after these two leaders. "Last night I had a meeting with Tara Gandhi, the grand-daughter of Mahatma Gandhi, and it is a breaking news in Serbia today," he said referring to the warmth between the people of the two countries. Responding to a question on Serbia's joining of the European Union, Dacic said geographically, Serbia belongs to Europe and it is surrounded by the European Union. "It opens up the possibilities for Serbia, primarily for economic development," he said. Dacic, however, said that Serbia would like to become a member of the European Union but, "not to the detriment of its national interests and not to the detriment" of its "good relations with friendly countries". The NCP today accused the BJP of raking up the issue of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's portrait at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for political gains. The Sharad Pawar-led party also dared Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to accept the demand of BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha to demolish"the Jinnah House, once the Mumbai residence of Pakistan's founder. Addressing a press conference here, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said"Jinnah's portrait is on display at the AMU since 1938. "If the (central) government felt it (Jinnah's photo) should be removed (from the AMU), the HRD ministry could have done so. The BJP rules in the state (Uttar Pradesh) as well as at the Centre," he said. In a letter written to AMU Vice-Chancellor Tariq Mansoor, BJP MP from Aligarh Satish Gautam objected to the Pakistan founder"s picture on the walls of the university's student union office. The BJP MP has done so for political gains, Malik said. Referring to Lodha's demand to demolish the Jinnah House in South Mumbai and set up a cultural centre there, the NCP spokesman dared Fadnavis to raze the British-era structure. "The BJP rules at the Centre and also in Maharashtra. Instead of making demands,"the government should raze down the building. The NCP will felicitate Fadnavis," Malik said. He said the BJP is engaging in politics over Jinnah to hide its "failures". Referring to the killing of two NCP activists in Ahmednagar"district on April 28, Malik said it indicates "lawlessness" and demanded the resignation of District Guardian Minister Ram Shinde. In a recent development, the Supreme Court has asked Karnataka to give 4 thousand million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu. In its verdict on February 16, the apex court had marginally cut Tamil Nadus share of Cauvery water and had allotted it to Karnataka on account of depleting ground water reserves in the state and acute shortage of water for drinking and domestic purposes in the capital city of Bengaluru. The Supreme Court had cut 14.75 thousand million cubic feet of water from Tamil Nadu and allocated it to Karnataka, increasing its share of Cauvery water from 270 to 284.75 thousand million cubic feet. The Supreme Court has also asked the Centre to file an affidavit regarding the matter, scheduling the next hearing for May 8. The verdict comes in the wake of massive protests in Chennai against the Centre related to the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). Earlier, the apex court had reprimanded the Centre for postponing the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and skipping the May 31 deadline to submit a draft regarding the same. The Centre had sought more time to submit a draft scheme on the Cauvery water-sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The court had also asked the Centre to make its intention clear vis-a-vis the formation of the CMB by May 3. The Attorney General of India, KK Venugopal, told the Supreme Court that the Centre was unable to table a draft on the Cauvery Management Board before the Union Cabinet as the Prime Minister is in Karnataka for election rallies. He also sought more time from the court, requesting it to defer the issue till the Karnataka assembly elections are over. Yogi Adityanath The Congress today took a dig at UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka even when people of his state were reeling under the impact of the severe dust storm that has left many dead. "Even if people of Uttar Pradesh are suffering, I am busy culling out 'jumlas' (gimmicks) in Karnataka elections -- Adityanath, missing chief minister, Uttar Pradesh," tweeted Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala. The swipe at him follows the death of as many as 45 persons in the high-intensity dust storm that hit the state overnight. Adityanath is scheduled to address election rallies in Karnataka today and tomorrow. Harsh Vardhan1 Union Minister for Science and Technology Harsh Vardhan today exuded confidence that BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will return to power in the next general election. Speaking at an event to lay the Foundation Stone of a new building of his ministry, Vardhan said the structure would be ready by 2021 and Modi would be inaugurating it as the prime minister. "On May 3, 2021, we will have it inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I am not hesitating in giving this statement. I am confident that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate this building in 2021," Vardhan said, implying the BJP will win the general elections next year. "But I am not sure whether I will be in this position (in-charge of the ministry). But since you also call former officials (of the ministry), I would like to attend the event (in 2021)," the Chandni Chowk MP added. A five-time MLA from Delhi, Vardhan was inducted in the Modi Cabinet in 2014. He initially held the Health and Family Welfare portfolio but was later moved to the Ministry of Science and Technology. After the death of Anil Dave, he was also handed over the charge of Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change. Apple Valuation: $241.5 billion Change in valuation: 16 percent Change in rank: 0 Apple Inc on Tuesday reported resilient iPhone sales in the face of waning global demand and promised USD 100 billion in additional stock buybacks, reassuring investors that its decade-old smartphone invention had life in it yet. Apples quarterly results topped Wall Street forecasts, which dropped ahead of the report on growing concern over the iPhone. The Cupertino, California-based company also was more optimistic about the current quarter than most financial analysts, driving shares up 3.6 percent to USD 175.25 after hours. Suppliers around the globe had warned of smartphone weakness, playing into fears that the company known for popularizing personal computers, tablets and smartphones had become too reliant on the iPhone. Sales of 52.2 million iPhones against a Wall Street target of 52.3 million was a comfort and up from 50.7 million last year, according to data from Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Apple bought USD 23.5 billion of stock in the March quarter, and said it planned to hike its dividend 16 percent, compared with a 10.5 percent increase last year. Analysts believe the heavy emphasis on buybacks will bolster share prices, but some investors wished Apple had found different uses for the cash. Id hoped for more on the dividend side or maybe a strategic investment, said Hal Eddins, chief economist for Apple shareholder Capital Investment Counsel. I assume Apple cant find a strategic investment at the current prices that will move the needle for them. The USD 100 billion buyback is good for right now but its not exactly looking to the future. The cash Apple earmarked for stock buybacks is about twice the USD 50 billion market capitalization of electric car maker Tesla Inc. Apple posted revenue for its March quarter of USD 61.1 billion, up from USD 52.9 billion last year. Wall Street expected USD 60.8 billion, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Average selling prices for iPhones were USD 728, compared with Wall Street expectations of USD 742. The figure is up more than 10 percent from USD 655 a year ago, suggesting Apples iPhone X, which starts at USD 999, has helped boost prices. Analysts had feared the high price was muting demand for the iPhone X, but Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said it was the most popular iPhone model every week in the March quarter. This is the first cycle that weve ever had where the top of the line iPhone model has also been the most popular, Cook said during the companys earnings call. Its one of those things like when a team wins the Super Bowl, maybe you want them to win by a few more points. But its a Super Bowl winner and thats how we feel about it. The iPhone X has shaped up to be a good, not a great product. There was a time prior to its introduction that investors expected it to be a great product, said Thomas Forte, an analyst with D.A. Davidson Companies. Now that we know it is a good product, as investors have lowered expectations, that is enough, in my view, for shares to go higher from current levels. Positive iPhone news boosted shares of chip suppliers. Skyworks Solutions Inc rose 2.9 percent, Broadcom Inc was up 2 percent, while Cirrus Logic gained 4.3 percent. Apple also predicted revenue of USD 51.5 billion to USD 53.5 billion in the June quarter, ahead of the USD 51.6 billion Wall Street expected as of Monday evening, and the share repurchases in the March quarter drove Apples cash net of debt down slightly to USD 145 billion. We are returning the cash to investors as we have promised, Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri told Reuters in an interview. Profits were USD 2.73 per share versus expectations of USD 2.68 per share, as of Monday, and up from USD 2.10 a year ago. Apples services business, which includes Apple Music, the App Store and iCloud, posted USD 9.1 billion in revenue compared with expectations of USD 8.3 billion. Heading into earnings, investors were hopeful that growth in that segment could help offset the cooling global smartphone market. Julie Ask, an analyst with Forrester, said Apples services segment results were positive but warned that Apple needed to continue to boost subscriptions on its platforms, which reached 270 million users in the March quarter and includes people who subscribe to third-party apps on the iPhone as well as Apples own services like iCloud. Apps are carrying most (services revenue) right now, but Apple needs to get to a place where its mostly subscriptions and monthly fees and not just one-off downloads, Ask said. Apple traditionally updates its share buyback and dividend program each spring, and the USD 100 billion it added this year compares with an increase of USD 50 billion last year. In February, Apple said it planned to draw down its excess cash, although Cook had downplayed the possibility of a special dividend. But investors have had concerns around Apple because of brewing trade tensions with China. Greater China sales rose 21 percent from a year earlier, Apples best growth rate there in 10 quarters, to USD 13.0 billion. While there has not yet been a tariff on devices such as Apples iPhone, Cook traveled last week to Washington to meet with US President Donald Trump at the White House to discuss trade matters. China only wins if the US wins and the US only wins if China wins, Cook said on the call, when asked about a possible trade war. Im a big believer that the two countries together can both win and grow the pie, not just allocate it differently, he said. Apple has been emphasizing its contributions to the US economy in recent months, outlining a USD 30 billion US spending plan and highlighting the tens of billions of dollars it spends each year with US-based suppliers. In recent months, Apple has been emphasizing the size of its overall user base, which includes used iPhones, rather than focusing strictly on new device sales, a sign of the increasing importance of making money off users without selling them new hardware. The Indian government is not only working towards giving unique identity to citizens of the country but also to its cattle population. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced Rs 50 crore to assign 40 million cattle with Unique Identity Cards (UIC) as he announced the Union Budget this year. And it looks like the Madhya Pradesh government is doing its bit to achieve the target. After stamping 250,000 cattle with unique identities in Madhya Pradesh, the state government is now aiming to give UICs to its 2.77 crore cattle population within a year, reports The Times of India. A cattle dossier, comprising the animal's age, breed and other characteristics, is created, which is then uploaded onto the Information Network for Animal Productivity and Healths (INAPH) Information Technology Application so that each cow or buffalo's unique identity is available on gadgets. The cattle UID is then linked to the Aadhaar number of its owner which in turn would check illegal sale and purchase, smuggling and abandoning of cattle. The cost of tagging per cattle is Rs 10 and around six lakh breedable cattle population has been tagged so far in the state. Priyakant Pathak, additional deputy director of animal husbandry directorate, said 90 lakh cattle would be tagged with assistance from the Centre, while the cost of tagging the remaining 1.87 crore cattle will be met by the state government. The decision to have unique IDs for all cattle has come after public representatives from the Bundelkhand region of the state pushed for it. They said they receive several complaints of cattle damaging standing crops and when villagers seek compensation, the owner of the stray cattle discard them. Now, with unique IDs, the owners cannot disown the cattle. The cattle can be tracked by the click of a mouse and its details of ownership can also be ascertained. In case of stray animals damaging crops, it would be easy to shift them away. Representative image In 2017, India witnessed an uptick of 13 percent in the number of citizens taking vacations abroad, according to a report released by global timeshare firm RCI. The firm also reported an 8 percent growth in domestic travel, with Goa being the preferred choice. Where do Indians prefer to holiday for international vacations? According to the report, US was the most preferred destination in 2017-18 and for those headed for Europe, Switzerland and Spain were the top choices. The report has studied holiday and vacation patterns of 50,000 RCI members in India. Among the South-East Asian countries, the top picks were Indonesia and Malaysia. The report also mentioned that Australia enamours Indian travellers as a destination for exploring the Great Barrier Reef and its beautiful coastal road trips, followed by Finland, which marked its entry on the top 10 travel destinations for RCI members. Neighbouring nations like Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Burma, Maldives also saw more Indians preferring these countries as travel destinations. A huge pattern that has emerged is that Indian RCI members are opting to travel international, to newer destinations like Greece, Mexico and Finland, said Aruna Jathar, Director, Marketing and Operations, RCI India. Preferred places for domestic travel In India, Goa tops the chart of the most preferred travel destinations in the country and has been the number one choice for domestic travel both in 2016 and 2017. Taking the number two spot is Coorg, followed by Munnar, Ooty and Kodaikanal. Other places making it to the top 10 list include hill stations like Mussoorie, Manali and Shimla along with destinations like Pondicherry and Lonavala. What is leading to the growth in travel trends? Sabina Chopra, Managing Director, RCI India, said that factors like increased disposable income, cheaper airfares and low tariffs for budget hotels are resulting in exponential rise in international travel plans amid general Indian travelers. Pakistan opened its largest airport for the public on Tuesday, after decades of delays and controversies over kickbacks and substandard equipment. The airport in Islamabad which spans 4,238 acres (17.15 sq km) was inaugurated by Pakistans Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The airport boasts four-level passenger terminal, two runways and parking bays for wide-body aircraft. As part of the inauguration ceremony, a Pakistan International Airlines flight from Karachi landed at the airport formally opening it to the general public. (Picture source: Facebook/New Islamabad International Airport Pakistan) The complete operation from the airport commences on Thursday, the Airport authorities informed. The airport was conceived in 1984 to ease the pressure on the Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA). Though it took 34 years to complete the work. It cost 100 billion Pakistani Rupees to build this airport, reported Hindustan Times. A Civil Aviation Authority official present at the ceremony informed that the BBIA handles 4.5 million passengers annually and the load is growing at the rate of 14 percent every year against the national air passenger growth of less than 4 percent. The new airport is capable of serving nine million passengers and 50,000 metric tonnes of cargo every year in its first phase. The capacity can be expanded to serve up to 25 million passengers per year by 2025. There is no final decision yet on the name of the airport and several names have been proposed. The authorities have, though, rejected the proposals to name it after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Other proposals have suggested it to name after Fatima Jinnah, the sister of Pakistans founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah or the first prime minister of the country Liaqat Ali Khan. The nameplate of political consultancy, Cambridge Analytica, is seen in central London, Britain March 21, 2018. REUTERS/Henry Nicholls - RC1C17A29580 Cambridge Analytica, the embattled UK-based data consulting firm that worked on Donald Trump's election campaign, has shut down citing a loss of business amidst a raging scandal that it compromised the personal information of 87 million Facebook users, including that of over 500,000 Indians. The company is accused of mapping the behaviour of voters in the run-up to the 2016 US election won by Trump. In a statement, Cambridge Analytica said it would immediately cease operations and bankruptcy proceedings would soon begin. The decision was made less than two months after Cambridge Analytica and Facebook became embroiled in the scandal. Revelations about the misuse of data, plunged Facebook into crisis and prompted regulators to open investigations. Cambridge Analytica denies any wrongdoing, but says that the negative media coverage has left it with no clients and mounting legal fees which has forced it to resort to closure. "Despite Cambridge Analytica's unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the company's customers and suppliers," the company said in a statement. "As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration," it added. US-based social media giant Facebook has said that nearly 5.62 lakh people in India were "potentially affected" by its global data breach involving Cambridge Analytica. Facebook has informed the government that "only 335 people" in India were directly affected through the installation of an app and another 562,120 people were "potentially affected" as friends of those users. Facebook has over 20 crore users in India. Cambridge Analytica's board has also applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill to act as the independent administrator. Additionally, parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced on behalf of Cambridge Analytica and certain of the Company's US affiliates in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. The report of an independent investigation released by Cambridge Analytica said that it was involved in several elections in India since 2010, but refuted allegations that it interfered in the poll process. The firm was accused of improperly obtaining personal information on behalf of political clients. According to Facebook, data on up to 87 million of its users was harvested by an app and then passed on to the political consultancy. Facebook has said its own probe would continue. Meanwhile, British authorities today said that their investigation into the data breach scandal involving Cambridge Analytica will not be impacted with the shutdown of the political consulting firm. A spokesperson for Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said investigators will "examine closely" the details of the closure and will "closely monitor any successor companies". "The ICO will continue its civil and criminal investigations and will seek to pursue individuals and directors as appropriate and necessary even where companies may no longer be operating," she said. The chair of a UK Parliament committee investigating the firm's activities also raised concerns about CA and SCL Elections' move to shut down. "They are party to very serious investigations and those investigations cannot be impeded by the closure of these companies," said MP Damian Collins. "I think it's absolutely vital that the closure of these companies is not used as an excuse to try and limit or restrict the ability of the authorities to investigate what they were doing," he said. Cambridge Analytica has been linked to US President Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Trump's campaign denies having used CA's data. It sought information on Facebook to build psychological profiles on a large portion of the US electorate, media reports said. The company was able to amass the database quickly with the help of an app that appeared to be a personality test. The app collected data on tens of millions of people and their Facebook friends, even those who did not download the app themselves. Facebook has since apologised and tightened its privacy restrictions. A postcard supposedly written by the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper active in London in 1888 has fetched about Rs 25 lakh (27,280) at an auction on Monday in Kent. The postcard was bought by a British private collector for 10 times the expected price. The postcard auctioned by Grand Auctions UK belonged to a widow of a UK police officer who was handed over the postcard as a retirement gift in 1966. The widow, though, decided to part with the letter after 52 years. The letter has just 43 words but is enough to run shivers down the spine. The letter dated October 29, 1888 just 11 days before the body of Mary Kelly, the woman is thought to be Jacks final murder victim was found pre-announces her gruesome murder. Beware there is two women I want here they are bastards and I mean to have them my knife is still in good order it is a students knife and I hope you liked the half of kidney. I am Jack the Ripper (Sic), the letter reads. The letter is addressed to Ealing Police Station. Though there were hundreds of letters written to police stations and the news agencies, not many are considered to be authentic. The authenticity of the auctioned letter is also not proven. Jack the Ripper is far and away the most discussed serial killer in the world and is still big news. We have a card allegedly written by Jack the Ripper and are in the fortunate position of nobody being able to say the card was not written by Jack, but equally, we cannot prove it was, Jonathan Riley of the Grand Auctions UK said ahead of the auctions. In other famous letters which have been documented by historians and authorities, there are four which are alleged to be written by the actual perpetrator of the crimeFrom Hell letter, Saucy Jacky postcard, Openshaw letter and Dear Boss letter. One of these four, the From Hell letter also mentions about a kidney which the killer claimed to have eaten. Donald Trump US President Donald Trump's lead lawyer for dealing with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe is stepping down at the end of the month, the White House confirmed today. The New York Times, which first reported the development, said Ty Cobb would be replaced by veteran Washington lawyer Emmet Flood, adding that his hiring has not been made final. Cobb's announced departure is the latest in a series from the president's legal team amid an internal debate over whether or not Trump should agree to be interviewed by Mueller. "For several weeks Ty Cobb has been discussing his retirement and last week he let Chief of Staff (John) Kelly know he would retire at the end of this month," White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. Flood represented Bill Clinton during his 1998-99 impeachment proceedings. Cobb took the lead of the White House team after the previous lead lawyer, John Dowd, quit in March convinced that Trump was not following his advice. Dowd vehemently opposed Trump submitting to an interview, but the US president at the time was reportedly inclined to talk to the special prosecutor, believing it would lead to a quicker end to the probe. Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani joined the president's legal team last month, amid reports he intends to negotiate with Mueller on an interview with Trump. The Washington Post reported today that Mueller had warned Dowd in March that he could issue a subpoena for the president to appear before a grand jury if he declined to be interviewed. Questions submitted by Mueller's team show he is probing possible obstruction of justice by the president in the firing of former FBI director James Comey. Mueller also wants to ask Trump what he knew about attempts by campaign aides to seek Russian assistance during the 2016 US election campaign, according to the questions leaked to the New York Times. British authorities today said that their investigation into the data breach scandal involving Cambridge Analytica will not be impacted with the shutdown of the political consulting firm. Cambridge Analytica (CA) is accused of acquiring data from up to 87 million Facebook profiles for use in political campaigns around the world. It denies wrongdoing and yesterday it announced that the company and its parent, SCL Group, would be wound down due to loss of business as a result of the scandal. This could have an impact on the group's Indian arm, headquartered in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. According to documents made public on social media in March, SCL India has regional offices in Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Cuttack, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Indore, Kolkata, Patna and Pune. A spokesperson for Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said investigators will "examine closely" the details of the closure and will "closely monitor any successor companies". She said: "The ICO has been investigating the SCL Group and Cambridge Analytica as part of a wider investigation into the use of personal data and analytics by political campaigns, social media companies and others. "The ICO will continue its civil and criminal investigations and will seek to pursue individuals and directors as appropriate and necessary even where companies may no longer be operating," she said. The company is accused of mapping the behaviour of voters in the run-up to the 2016 US election and European Union (EU) referendum. The company also allegedly did election-related work in India for the Congress and JD(U) parties, according to revelations by former CA employee turned whistleblower Christopher Wylie. Damian Collins, chair of the House of Commons select committee for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) which is conducting its own investigation as part of a wider inquiry in fake news, said: "Cambridge Analytica and (parent company) SCL Group cannot be allowed to delete their data history by closing." "The investigations into their work are vital," Collins said. He said the committee is determined to ensure that the closure is not an attempt to "run and hide" and that the companies are not closing down to try to avoid them being rigorously investigated over the allegations that are being made against them. Earlier in the week, Collins repeated a request for Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg to appear before the committee, saying evidence provided by the company's chief technology officer Mike Schroepfer last week "failed to answer fully" MPs' questions. In a firmly worded letter to Facebook's public policy chief, Rebecca Stimson, he said: "We hope that he (Zuckerberg) will respond positively to our request, but if not the Committee will resolve to issue a formal summons for him to appear when he is next in the UK. Facebook has apologised to users for a "breach of trust" and claims to have tightened its privacy restrictions. Cambridge Analytica yesterday said it had been the subject of "numerous unfounded accusations" and had been "vilified" for activities that were both legal and accepted as a "standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas". It blamed a "siege of media coverage" for driving away customers, meaning the company's continued operation was no longer viable, leaving it "with no realistic alternative to placing the company into administration". The company said that its parent company, SCL Elections, would also be commencing bankruptcy proceedings. Woolworths [ASX:WOW] sales figures grew throughout the third quarter. Today, their shares rose by 2.22% alongside their food sales, which grew by almost 5% Woolworths have managed to outperform Coles in a short period of time. Their increased customer service is helping innovation and key profit growth take place within the business. Their shares are valued at $28.57. Supply chains reporting strong figures Woolworths have had most of their ventures turnover strong growth figures. Food sales grew by 4.7% while Big W and Hotel sales also grew by over 3%. Its locational stores increased sales by 4.4% too. The Easter period contributed to the surge in sales, increasing by 3.4% during the period. But it wasnt just the busy period that helped Woolworths. Management have also been working hard on improving the companys overall customer satisfaction. Last year, Woolworths increased its customers satisfaction by a total of 81%. Reduced prices also contributed to sales. BWS and Dan Murphys saw sales figures rise after adjusting for the Easter period. Online sales contributed to 20% of its growth. Rask media reported that Woolworths CEO, Brad Banducci stated: We are pleased with the progress we are continuing to make against our key priorities as we pivot from turnaround to transformation. We remain energised by the number of opportunities we see to continue to improve our business. Woolworths transformation consists of improving its customer service, while growing the online platform and opening a new front in sales prospects. They are aiming to further grow and improve its digital experience overtime. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, For Money Morning PS: Chinas New Boom: How three Aussie investments could be set to soar into 2018 and beyond, thanks to these international trendsetters. Get your free report. Im going to put my old congressional hat on for a second, Mulvaney said. We had a hierarchy in our office in Congress. If you are a lobbyist that never gave us money, I didnt talk to you. If you are a lobbyist who gave us money, I might talk to you. Mulvaney also said that lobbyists from his home state were granted an audience regardless of whether they donated to his political campaigns. In the letter, the senators said that Mulvaneys remarks appeared to be an admission of pay-to-play in Congress and seemed to urge bank lobbyists to increase campaign donations. Mulvaneys comments drew criticism from both sides of the aisle, but the six Senators are taking it a step further, insinuating that the acting CFPB director may have broken the law. The Hatch Act prohibits government officials from using their positions for political gain. Using an official speech to solicit campaign donations would violate this law, a news release from Feinsteins office said. Our We the People republic depends on public officials serving the public, not using their public trust to consolidate power or enrich themselves or their associates, which is exactly why the Hatch Act exists, the senators wrote. As we see in countries across the globe, the abuse of public office undermines governments legitimacy and representative democracy. An attorney based in Lake Jackson, Texas, has pleaded guilty to a charge that he participated in a mortgage fraud scheme that resulted in a loss of about $5.3 million to lenders including Wells Fargo Bank, the Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Texas announced. Kirk Brannan admitted that from 2005 to 2009 he conspired with others to induce mortgage lenders to lend inflated amounts for purchases of fraudulently appraised homes. Under the scheme, Brannan sold 10 beach homes to straw buyers at exorbitant prices. Straw buyers recruited by co-conspirators misrepresented their address, employer, income, and expenses to lenders. Their loan applications also suggested they were much better credit risks than they actually were. Brannan also created settlement statements which included exorbitant prices for the sale of three of his properties. These were used by appraisers as comparable sales in appraising Brannans remaining properties. The beach properties were sold at two to three times the appraised values, with the lenders deceived into approving the loans. For the second-straight week, the average price of gasoline in Midland jumped higher than the average around the state, according to AAA Texas. The price in Midland has increased to nearly 25 cents higher than the state average. The average price in Midland, according to the organization, jumped 5 cents to $2.84 a gallon. The price hike this past week in El Paso was 6 cents. Customers in Odessa saw an increase of nearly 9 cents this past week. The average price in Odessa is $2.83 a gallon. Distributors have told the Reporter-Telegram there are many complexities in the fuel business that impact pricing. They pointed to the high cost of transportation from Gulf Coast refineries and the distance Midland is from pipelines. The average price in Midland is 24 cents higher than the state average and two cents higher than the national average ($2.82). Last year, the average price in Midland was $2.35 again the highest in the state. The 49-cent increase since May 2017 was 10 cents more than the average across the state. Following record demand in April, market analysts note that retail gas prices may continue to increase potentially another 10 cents through Memorial Day, according to AAA Texas, and then likely will stabilize during the summer. However, if demand spikes during summer months, prices are likely to follow. As Texas families begin making plans for summer road trips, they should start budgeting now for gas prices that are nearly 40 cents more per gallon compared to this time one year ago, said Daniel Armbruster, AAA Texas/AAA New Mexico spokesman. Before embarking on any road trip, drivers should make sure their vehicle is up to date on any maintenance needs, including tires. Underinflated tires or low tire tread not only take away from fuel economy, but both are dangerous and can create a deadly situation. Oil prices were mostly stable over the last week, but remained near the three-year highs they reached in April, according to AAA Texas. Meanwhile, U.S. crude production exports surged to the highest weekly estimate ever on record according to the Energy Information Administration. Demand for gasoline in the U.S. has slowed some compared to last week and is now closer to normal levels for this time of year, but market analysts note that demand could increase again as Memorial Day approaches. The cheapest gas among the 20-plus communities AAA Texas surveys could be found in San Antonio and Texarkana ($2.51 per gallon). AAA Texas reported the following averages across West Texas: $2.56 in Amarillo, $2.72 in Abilene, $2.63 in Lubbock and $2.53 in San Angelo. Gas prices in Midland Cheapest price: $2.56 (Sams Club, SH 191/Tradewinds) Cheapest price (non-membership store): $2.69 (H-E-B, Wadley/Midkiff; H-E-B, Andrews Highway/Loop 250; Murphy USA, Midland/Briarwood) Most expensive: $2.89 Most common price: $2.89 Cheapest prices in West Texas: San Angelo $2.39, Lubbock $2.52, Abilene $2.56, Midland $2.56, Odessa $2.59 Average prices in West Texas: San Angelo $2.53, Lubbock $2.63, Abilene $2.72, Odessa $2.83, Midland $2.84 Mid-Odessa Texas Thursday $2.840 $2.591 Last week $2.740 $2.559 Last month $2.611 $2.423 Last year $2.315 $2.207 Source: TexasGasPrices.com Technical innovation has revolutionized the oil and gas industry in the Permian Basin, and the industry has helped companies advance their innovations. Since the downturn in oil prices began in 2014, those innovations have been driven by two goals: optimization and efficiency. "The downturn made people honest," said Casey Bechdol, general manager, U.S. well monitoring with Reservoir Group. "It also made them more efficient and come up with cost-saving solutions." His company was one of several that recently displayed their latest technology to customers and potential customers. Weatherford International recently hosted a two-day technology showcase at the Petroleum Museum displaying its technical innovations and various services. "Weatherford has a long history in the Permian, with roots dating back to the 1920s, and our presence has only grown in recent years as U.S. shale has become a dominant force in the global market," said Bill Marchant, Weatherford's vice president, US Geozone. "Safety and efficiency are perennial touchstones for our industry, and we always keep these factors in mind when developing new tools," he said. "Given the high level of activity in the Permian Basin, we are increasingly designing tools with Permian shales in mind. For example, our new Rotaflex long-stroke pumping unit, Magnus rotary steerable system and Minima composite frac plug are all optimized for deployment in the Permian." The Rotaflex long-stroke pumping unit towered over the museum in the west parking lot. It was designed to eliminate the need for intermediate-lift methods and allows producers to optimize productivity with its longer stroke, more complete barrel fillage and less wear on surface and downhole equipment. At the other end of the height spectrum was Weatherford's Minima composite frac plug, which was on display in the museum's auditorium. Designed for multizone plug-and-perf completion operations and stimulation of unconventional, vertical, deviated and horizontal wells, its short length about 12 inches minimizes composite material in the wellbore. Powder-metal buttons on the composite top allow for quick drillouts, and the bottom slip can be configured with either cast iron ring or composite slip. The plug's lightweight cuttings can be easily circulated out of the wellbore. Weatherford also unveiled its Magnus rotary steering system, which was designed to speed drilling time and improve directional control through three independent pads and real-time near-bit data from azimuthal gamma ray and inclination measurements from as close as 6 feet to the bit. Bechdol cited partnerships being formed to help develop and install new technology. His Reservoir Group company and Well-Sense have teamed up to unveil OptiDrop, a disposable compact fiber optic system as a new discipline of well intervention. It utilizes the FiberLine Intervention tool from Well-Sense and incorporates the use of bare fiber optic strands spooled inside the housing that feed out of the tool as it is dropped into the wellbore. "It's a gamechanger for fiber optics," he said. Alan Sanderson, technical sales specialist, well monitoring with Reservoir Group, said customers have been turning to fiber optics since the downturn, but cost-effective, one-shot systems such as the disposable OptiDrop will give producers real-time data on cementing assurance and will help optimize gas lift and eventually help assess interference in neighboring wells. Real-time logging and getting the samples faster, logging faster and providing more data readings is in demand, said Bechdol. Sanderson said quickly transferring that data to customers' reservoir engineers is also a key demand. Bechdol said Reservoir Group is working on techniques to extract longer cores from wellbores. He said the company has extracted 300-foot and 360-foot cores and is looking at extracting 600-foot cores. "We ask ourselves daily how we can be more efficient, how we can help our customers improve their designs, improve procedures," Bechdol said. It was a leisurely Sunday afternoon and Yesha Callahan was in the mood for Italian food. Through Yelp, she placed an order for a burger platter and Italian-style doughnuts from a new restaurant in her town of Sterling, Va. The food arrived 30 minutes later, delivered by a friendly man who asked Callahan to leave a Yelp review. La Porchetta had recently opened, and Yelp reviews are known to make or break restaurants. Callahan, who recounted the events in an April blog post on The Root, for which she is deputy managing editor, wrote a review as promised. It was not what the delivery man had in mind. In her three-star writeup, Callahan critiqued the dry cheeseburger and lamented the soggy zeppoles. "Maybe next time I'll try the pizza," she wrote. Later that night, around 10 p.m., Callahan said she heard a knock on her door. The phone rang. The caller hung up. It rang again. This time, they left a voicemail: "Hello, this is [inaudible name], the manager of La Porchetta. I am outside your door. I want to speak to you about your Yelp review," Callahan recalled. Callahan said she called the police, who arrived some time later and took a police report. She also tweeted at Yelp. The restaurant review website, which offers delivery via its partner GrubHub, apologized to Callahan over Twitter. The company said GrubHub is investigating and "taking appropriate action, including terminating the restaurant's contract for violation of their terms of service." Yelp and GrubHub did not respond to SFGATE's requests for comment. A representative from La Porchetta called the experience a "great lesson for us." They claimed the employee returned to Callahan's house to attempt a "second delivery" to "correct the first mistake." The spokesperson said GrubHub included the wrong description of the hamburger, spurring Callahan's discontent and three-star review. "I think our emotions just got the best of our business judgment," the La Porcetta representative wrote. "We should have waited for a better solution. We sincerely just wanted to fix our mistake." A 54-year-old Houston woman died in a two-vehicle wreck early Thursday morning in Glasscock County, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety. Estrella L. Gonzalez-Dominguez was driving an International truck-tractor towing a semi-trailer southbound on Ranch-to-Market Road 2401. A truck-tractor towing a semi-trailer driven by a 40-year-old Midland woman was westbound on Farm-to-Market Road 1357. Sen. Sam McCann has filed a lawsuit against Senate Minority Leader Bill Brady, the top-ranking Republican, saying Brady violated the First and 14th amendments by taking away McCanns resources after he announced he is running for governor as an independent. The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, lists McCann and his constituent Bruce McDaniel as plaintiffs and Brady, the Illinois Senate Republican Caucus and the Illinois Republican Party as defendants. According to the lawsuit, which gives only one side of a story, McCann announced his intention to run for governor as a Conservative Party candidate and the Republican Caucus responded by shutting down his access to caucus funds generally available to all senators in the caucus. The suit also claims that, on April 19, the same day McCann announced his run for governor, Brady ejected McCann from the caucus without a hearing, denying him access to taxpayer-funded operational resources. The same day, Brady released a statement saying that McCann had voluntary offered to resign from the caucus, following that up with a tweet. (T)he Illinois Republican Party didnt leave Sam McCann, Brady tweeted. He left the Republican Party with his lockstep votes to support Mike Madigans agenda of unbalanced budgets and putting the interests of public sector unions ahead of Illinois Taxpayers. McCann, during an interview with news media, denied that he had resigned. I did not offer my resignation from the Republican Caucus today, McCann said. In fact, I responded to the caucus with that clarification. I offered my resignation as minority spokesman on committee. I am still a Republican until I complete the requisite legal requirements to establish a new party, which doesnt occur until June. The minority caucus, comprising all Republican members of the state senate, has a number of legislative resources at its disposal that are supposed to be accessible to all in the caucus. McCann claims in his lawsuit that he was denied those resources as of April 19. Illinois statute requires that the Senate president and minority leader evenly split their total funds, in this case $5,295,074, with all senators, leaving each with $73,000 for spending within their district. In the suit, McCann said he is concerned about what little funding remains accessible to him, specifically funds to be used for rent and utility payments for his district office. Other than direct funding, the lawsuit claims that other resources denied to McCann include communications staff; staff analysis on the Senate floor; staffers to help with various tasks, including writing, filing and running bills; and access to digital platforms such as an officeholder website. McCanns website couldnt be accessed Wednesday. The suit also notes an April 26 incident in which McCanns request for the staff photographer to take photos of a Girl Scout troop event was denied and the photographer was instructed not to take any requests from McCann, no exceptions. Given the limitations placed on McCann by the lack of funding and staff support, McCanns suit claims, Brady and the other defendants have infringed on McCanns freedom of speech in their official capacities and violated his right to due process. The First Amendment protects against State prohibition of political speech, the suit reads, and, conversely, State punishment or penalty for the exercise of free speech rights, especially where the states action infringes upon the political speech of a duly elected legislator in his capacity as such. The defendants violated the 14th Amendments equal protection clause, the suit claims, because denying McCann resources denies his constituency equal protection and because McCann was ejected from the caucus without a hearing. Brady was unavailable for comment Wednesday. Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper. No School for Menstruating Girls: Old ... Scott and Maggie Little of the country music group Cottonwood Creek, were Thursdays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Scott Little grew up in Mariposa County and Maggie is from the Central Valley. The married country duo has gained rapid popularity throughout northern and central California. As a two person band, they take turns with the lead vocals. Maggie plays the banjo, a snare drum and a tambourine. Scott plays acoustic guitar and the harmonica, while his left foot plays a kick drum and his right foot plays a tambourine. They released their debut CD last year, which was recorded in Nashville. We went all out, said Scott. We decided not to skimp on it, since our music is everything to us. We wanted to give this CD what it deserves. Cottonwood Creek has written and performed with some notable names in country music including Mark Chestnut, Jamie Johnson, Jake Owen, Love and Theft, Lauren Alaina, and Joe Nichols. We have national ambitions said Maggie, Its somewhat difficult for us as an independent group without a major record label, but we are touring a lot. Cottonwood Creek will be performing for free this evening inside of the Willow Creek Lounge at Black Oak Casino Resort. The show begins at 8PM. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. Tree Work sign View Photos Update at 6 p.m.: A Phillips and Jordan Tree Service spokesperson has updated that the victim in the tree accident was not a local resident, but a man from Texas. She adds that his name is not being released out of respect for the individual. Further details on the incident can be viewed below. Original post at 4:30 p.m.: Crystal Falls, CA PG&E has confirmed to Clarke Broadcasting that a tree faller was injured in an industrial accident in Crystal Falls yesterday afternoon. The contract employee, with Phillips and Jordan Tree Service out of Knoxville, Tennessee, was working on cutting down a tree on Crystal Falls Drive West when he was injured. PG&E spokesperson Brandi Merlo details how the man was injured, The crew was working on our bark beetle dead tree removal and he was involved in an accident. He was taken to the hospital and since released. She did not have any information regarding the worker or whether he was from the area or not. Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office indicates that the call came in around 1:30 p.m. and a 28-year-old male was transported by mediflight to a Modesto hospital. Officials from Phillips and Jordan confirmed that he was flown from the scene as a precautionary measure adding that an internal investigation into the incident and to evaluate safety measures in ongoing. Merlo adds, We have a robust safety program and we are thankful this gentleman seems to be okay. Soni Wolf, a founding member of Dykes on Bikes who had been named community grand marshal at the upcoming San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade in June, died before she got a chance to make one last motorcycle ride up Market Street. Wolf died April 25 of complications of pneumonia and pulmonary disease at Seton Medical Center in Daly City. She was 69. Her death was confirmed by her friend Brooke Oliver, attorney for the San Francisco Dykes on Bikes Womens Motorcycle Contingent, as it is officially called. Dykes on Bikes manifests the unequivocal demand that now is the time for liberation and free expression, said mayoral candidate and former state Sen. Mark Leno. Soni was a bold and indefatigable leader who led by example. That example was set at the Gay Freedom Day Parade in 1978. Wolf, an Air Force medic who had relocated to San Francisco after her discharge, was among a small group of lesbians who decided to ride their motorcycles in the parade. So that their bikes wouldnt overheat idling behind marchers, they moved to the front of the procession. They revved their Harleys and Indians and rolled. Somewhere along the route, someone in the group or in the watching crowd called them Dykes on Bikes. A Chronicle reporter picked up on it, and the name appeared in print. Nobody knows to this day who coined the phrase Dykes on Bikes, but everybody knows who ran with the nickname, protected it, and fought for it all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States twice. Soni was the founding mother of Dykes on Bikes, Oliver said. She was the inspiration and the mentor that allowed Dykes on Bikes to flourish all over the world. According to Oliver, Wolf grew up in Rhode Island and joined the Air Force during the Vietnam War. She served as a medic, treating wounded combat veterans at a hospital in Texas. Her discharge papers identify her as Soni S.H.S. Wolf, a name she had adopted during her time in the service. She never told anyone what S.H.S. stood for, Oliver said, and she never talked about her time in the service because the treatment of the vets coming back from war had been so traumatic for her. In San Francisco, Wolf settled in the Castro district, finding work managing copy centers for brokerages and law firms. With each passing Pride Parade, the Dykes on Bikes contingent at the front became bigger and bolder. There have been more than 400 riders in some parades. Leading the way for 40 years was Wolf in her leather vest bearing the triangular Dykes on Bikes logo and chaps. When it came to treating all people with respect and dignity, she had no patience for anything less, Leno said. Dykes on Bikes grew to 16 chapters and thousands of members throughout the United States, Britain and Australia. Wherever there is a Pride Parade, Dykes on Bikes are at the head of the pack. A Wisconsin woman saw the marketing potential in this and decided to launch a clothing line called Dykes on Bikes, and Wolf was not flattered by the news. Thats not what were about, she told The Chronicles Joe Garofoli in 2005. That word (dyke) has been used for years to tear us down. And we said, OK, were going to take it back. That decision led to years of court battles. Twice, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected the Dykes application, on the grounds that dyke is vulgar, offensive and scandalous. Patent office attorneys even pointed to Websters dictionary, which says dyke is often used disparagingly. Dykes on Bikes took the fight to court. Two dozen experts testified that the groups use had changed Dykes on Bikes from an epithet to a rallying cry for lesbian dignity. With Oliver as lead pro bono attorney and Wolf as primary witness for the applicant, the case took five years as it made its way through three levels to the Supreme Court. In 2007, the high court declined to hear the case, rendering a decision in favor of protecting the name Dykes on Bikes in the court of appeals binding. It rhymes, Wolf said of her fierce defense of the name. Just kind of rolls off the tongue. Then it took another 10 years in court to protect the logo. This time the Supreme Court heard oral arguments. The battle was finally won in January, when the court upheld their right to trademark the logo. By then, Wolf was in the hospital at the start of her decline, never to ride again. She had moved from the Castro to Pacheco in Contra Costa County. As one of six community grand marshals for Pride, Wolf will be represented at this years parade on June 24 by the painted gas tank from her bike, riding in a convertible at the front. After the parade, there will be a memorial to Wolf on the main stage in front of City Hall. Soni was a treasured member of the Pride family, said George F. Ridgely Jr., executive director of San Francisco Pride. She encouraged us all to live as loud as the motorcycles that lead the Pride Parade every year. Wolf is survived by Dykes on Bikes around the world. Sam Whiting is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: swhiting@sfchronicle.com Instagram: @sfchronicle_art DowDuPont Inc. is getting a lift from rising oil prices that boosted profit at the chemical giant's Dow plastics unit, scheduled to be spun off in a separate company next year. Increased production and higher resin prices helped drive a 23 percent increase in first-quarter earnings at the Dow materials-science unit, the company said in a presentation Thursday. A recovery in the crude market is driving up global plastic prices as producers who use oil-based raw materials try to recoup escalating costs. That's a boon for U.S. producers, who can turn to cheaper natural gas liquids produced domestically, such as ethane, a byproduct of the shale boom. To capture that profit-margin advantage, DowDuPont's Dow unit has invested billions of dollars on new and expanded factories in the U.S. that convert ethane into ethylene and polyethylene plastics. "The plastics side looks really good," Hassan Ahmed, an analyst at Alembic Global Advisers, said before results were released. The company said it expects second-quarter sales to increase about 14 percent to a range of $23.3 billion to $24 billion. Operating earnings will climb about 23 percent to between $5.3 billion and $5.5 billion. Analysts had predicted second-quarter revenue at $22.4 billion and earnings at $5.18 billion, according to the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Three-Way Split DowDuPont, created in August from the merger of Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co., plans to split into three separate companies by June 1 next year. The materials-science business that churns out plastic will reclaim the Dow name and lead the spinoffs at the end of March. That will be followed by the separations of a seed and pesticide company, dubbed Corteva Agriscience, and the specialty products business, to be named DuPont. Chief Executive Officer Ed Breen is in the process of cutting annual costs at the combined company by $3.3 billion, giving an added boost to earnings. Investors also benefited from $1 billion of share repurchases in the quarter, part of a $4 billion buyback program, DowDuPont said in a statement. Adjusted earnings rose to $1.12 a share, beating the $1.09 average of analysts' estimates. Revenue rose 5 percent on a pro forma basis to $21.5 billion, compared with the $21.4 billion analysts expected. Results in the new Dow business helped lead the way. The company's massive Sadara Chemical complex, built in partnership with Saudi Arabian Oil Co., has begun contributing significantly to sales. Earnings rose in all three Dow segments, with packaging and plastics business up 17 percent, performance materials and coatings unit up 31 percent, and the industrial intermediates and infrastructure segment gaining 28 percent. Seguin-based heavy equipment manufacturer Alamo Group generated record profit and revenue during the first quarter as new tax laws and acquisitions boosted results. Profit rose almost 20 percent on $14.6 million in earnings, or $1.24 a share, in the three months ended March 31, the company said in reporting its results today. That compares with $12.2 million, or $1.05 a share, in the same period last year. Sales rose $22.7 million, or 10.5 percent, to $238.1 million in three months ended March 31, the company said. Changes in U.S. corporate tax rates dropped Alamo Groups effective income tax rate to 27 percent in the latest quarter from 34.7 percent a year ago, contributing $1.5 million to its bottom line. Last years acquisitions of Santa Izabel Agro Industria, a Brazilian manufacturer, Old Dominion Brush Co., a Virginia-based manufacturer of brooms for street sweepers, and R.P.M. Tech, a Canadian maker of heavy duty snow removal equipment, contributed $14.7 million in sales and $700,000 in profit in the first quarter, Alamo Group reported. Alamo Group CEO and President Ron Robinson said that its markets, while not being robust, continue to show signs of incremental improvement. This should benefit us throughout 2018 though it is uncertain how issues such as tariffs and geopolitical events will ultimately impact us, he said in a statement releasing the companys results. Sales of its snow removal products returned to more normal conditions this past winter compared with recent years that had milder winters, he added. Alamo Group had a sales backlog of almost $238 million as of March 31, a 62 percent increase from a year earlier. This is certainly a healthy level for us and in some areas a little too healthy as several of our units lead times are beginning to lengthen, Robinson said. Alamo Group is adding staff and outsourcing more to address demand. It also is increasing capital spending for the next few years to improve overall production capacity. The company also named a new chairman of the board Thursday. Roderick Baty will succeed Robinson, who had been serving as interim chairman since November of 2017. Baty has served as an independent director of Alamo Group since 2011 and as chairman of the audit committee since late 2016. The company, founded in 1969, makes and sells equipment used to maintain agricultural land and infrastructure in the Americas, Europe and Australia. Patrick Danner is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | pdanner@express-news.net | @AlamoPD The New York Times Co. added 139,000 digital-only subscribers in the first quarter of 2018, a 25.5 percent increase from the same period a year ago, helping to fuel total revenue growth and offset a decline in digital advertising. The company said Thursday that about 40,000 of the new subscribers came from digital products like the cooking and crossword apps. The gains helped push the companys total digital-only subscribers to roughly 2.8 million. The company said total revenue was about $414 million, a 3.8 percent increase from the first quarter of 2017. Subscription revenue increased 7.5 percent to about $260 million, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the companys total revenue. Retention of our core digital news product remains a very encouraging story, Mark Thompson, the companys chief executive, said during an earnings call with investors. We continue to retain the postelection cohorts, some of whom are now well over a year into their subscriptions at least, as well as earlier cohorts. Despite the growth in subscribers, however, the company saw a 6 percent decline in digital advertising revenue from the same period a year ago. It was the first time since the second quarter of 2016 that digital advertising declined. In the first quarter of 2017, digital advertising increased 19 percent, part of the so-called Trump bump. The character of our advertising model, with its increasing reliance on strategic commercial partnerships and often large individual campaigns, means more lumpy results than was the case, say, three years ago, as individual partnerships and campaigns come on and off stream, Thompson said. Digital advertising revenue was $46.7 million, making up 37 percent of the companys total advertising revenue. Thompson said he expected a continued decline in digital ad revenue into the second quarter but was confident that it would recover in the third quarter of 2018. In a rapidly evolving digital ad marketplace, we believe that our differentiated offering, the safety of our environment and the growing desire of the worlds biggest brands to associate themselves with The Times position us for success, he said. In a bit of a surprise, print advertising revenue stayed stronger than in years past, with Thompson calling it the best since the third quarter of 2015. With just a 2 percent decline year over year, the loss was significantly smaller than in the first quarter of 2017, when it slid by 18 percent from a year earlier. The adjusted operating profit, the companys preferred method of assessing performance, was $55.5 million in the quarter, about 10 percent higher than the $50.2 million of a year ago. Operating costs in the first quarter were $378 million, nearly $11 million more than the first quarter of 2017, largely because of increased compensation costs. Looking ahead, Thompson said the company was focused on new ways to expose its work to different audiences, specifically with television and film. First up at the end of May is an independent Showtime documentary, where The Times newsroom and our coverage of the first year of the Trump administration is the subject, Thompson said. And, we have our own projects in the works, including a recently announced agreement with Anonymous Content that will help us accelerate moving Times journalism into film and TV. He pointed to the success of the podcast The Daily as an example of how The Times can adapt to different formats. The Daily podcast demonstrated our ability to translate the quality, the authority and the humanity of Times journalism in audio and we think we can do the same in television, Thompson said. We think this could be a way both to generating revenue but, again, getting Times journalism in front of new audiences and further the reputation of The New York Times. WASHINGTON The day in which unmanned ghost ships ply the seas laden with cargo is fast approaching. But dont expect the drone vessels to be flying a U.S. flag. The United States is not among the global hot spots where a revolution in autonomous commercial shipping is unfolding. One needs to look to places like Norway, Finland, Singapore and China to observe the competition for unmanned shipping. A shipyard in Norway will soon begin building a 237-foot battery-powered electric container ship that will operate with nary a sailor aboard by 2020. Announcement of that project and several others over the past year have rippled through maritime circles worldwide. Finland is looking at prototypes for an autonomous ferry. China has set aside a 225-square-mile ocean area to test crewless ships. And Japanese shipping lines have formed a consortium with the goal of having 250 remote-control cargo ships by 2025. Its kind of a space race, said Sean T. Pribyl, a maritime attorney with the Washington firm Blank Rome. It was a total surprise for everyone in the industry. U.S. shipping firms are not even in the game. We, the U.S., are behind, said Deputy Administrator Richard Balzano of the U.S. Maritime Administration, the arm of the Transportation department that deals with shipping. American commercial shipping firms are on life support. Our fleets are aging out. Were not globally competitive like, say, the Chinese. Our tax systems, our standards of living, our pay rates, our union labor costs, these things all drive us to be less than competitive, Balzano said. Battered by foreign competition, U.S. shipping lines run a total of 81 ocean-going vessels that conduct international trade, the lowest number in modern times, Balzano said. Other factors that have hindered the commercial shipping industrys move toward autonomy include a lack of designated open-water areas to conduct testing, sea lanes that are heavily transited, and regulatory obstacles. The U.S. isnt losing the race because a lack of technological know-how. In fact, U.S. technology in autonomous systems is world beating but its largely confined to the military. Earlier this year, the Navy took control of a 132-foot sensor-rich unmanned vessel, dubbed Sea Hunter, that can remain away from port for months at a time. Other anti-submarine robot ships are on order. Pribyl estimated that U.S. commercial shipping interests lag at least five years behind some of their foreign counterparts in moving toward crewless commercial vessels. The U.S. commercial maritime industry is somewhat conservative in adopting new technology, and so theres a bit of wait-and-see as to whats happening in Europe, Pribyl said. Interest is awakening in Silicon Valley to work with European firms. Six months ago, Google partnered with the British engine maker Rolls-Royce to develop machine intelligence software to help make autonomous ships a reality. In January, Rolls-Royce opened a state-of-the-art research facility in Turku, Finland, to focus on autonomous shipping. Proponents say unmanned ships could be safer and more environmentally friendly. But the real driver is a desire to lower costs. In five to 10 years, they are going to start pulling people off of the ships. The largest cost to operate a vessel is the people. You have to feed them. You have to train them. You have to have facilities on board for them. It costs a lot of money, said Tim Barton, maritime chief engineer at Leidos, a U.S. defense company in Reston, Virginia, that helped develop the Sea Hunter. Without crews, ships have no need for kitchens, sleeping quarters, sick bays, recreational facilities and plumbing, making more room for cargo. The Norwegian drone vessel that will be the worlds first autonomous ship is a joint project between YARA, a fertilizer conglomerate, and Kongsberg Maritime, an offshoot of a defense business. Once the ship, christened YARA Birkeland, enters autonomous operation, toting up to 120 20-foot containers per journey, it will pull congestion off Norwegian highways. They are replacing 40,000 truck journeys per year between their factory and their two export ports, said Peter Due, director of autonomy at Kongsberg Maritime. The factory is in Heroya, site of a large industrial park. The crewless drone vessel will haul fertilizer along a fjord to ports in Brevik and Larvik, a journey of up to 30 nautical miles through crowded waters. No longer will trucks pass through high-density areas with schools, leaving emissions, dust, sound and traffic safety (concerns), Due said. Such coastal routes are where experts see the biggest near-term opening for autonomous vessels. By remaining in the territorial waters of a single nation, shipping lines dont have to deal with a vacuum of international regulation regarding autonomous ships. In a second project, Kongsberg Maritime has developed a prototype for an ocean-going light-duty utility ship, dubbed the Hronn, that could take supplies to North Sea oil rigs without a crew aboard. One of the success factors that make Norway a leader in this is that we are a small nation, 5.3 million people. Its very, very easy to get to decision makers. Were on a first name basis with our prime minister, Due said. Autonomy is farther off for large, ocean-going ships. Those vessels already have comparatively small crews, and a fraction of the labor costs of coastal vessels, which can eat up a third or more of operating expenses, Due said. Bigger ships will incorporate automation more slowly. I dont think youll see an unmanned oil tanker for quite a while, said Jan Hagen Andersen, business development manager for the Houston office of DNV GL, a global adviser and registrar to the maritime industry. But Andersen said the autonomy revolution is coming fast in other corners of shipping. If youd asked the maritime industry four or five years ago about autonomy or unmanned vessels, we wouldve said, no, thats all science fiction, Andersen said. But I think today you see real commercial projects that are being developed. In some functions, crewless boats make particular sense, such as fireboats that must get near burning ships and can be operated remotely, and tugboats, experts said. Autonomous ships also could sidestep the human error that Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, a marine risk firm, estimates cause 75 percent to 96 percent of marine accidents. Avoidance or reduction of human error is a significant element of the move toward autonomous shipping, Mark Johnson, a former Royal Navy commander now at the Shipping Group of law firm Reed Smith in London. Insurers do see benefit in it. Autonomous vessels will be cheaper to build, and more energy efficient. If seized by pirates, there is no crew held hostage to use as leverage for ransom. But they do have down sides. No immediate repairs are possible on an unmanned ship. If you were to lose the remote-control link, what happens to the vessel? Johnson asked, saying such questions are yet to be worked out in international convention. The future of many mariners is to have dry shoes, confined to control rooms at shipping lines, monitoring data from unmanned cargo vessels thousands of miles away. They cant fight it. Its coming and they know it, Balzano said. When Amy Chozick decided to name her new book, Chasing Hillary, she wasnt kidding around. Chozick, a New York Times reporter who grew up in San Antonio, spent the bulk of the past decade in urgent pursuit of Hillary Clinton racing along icy roads in New Hampshire in a rental car; traveling in a press bus that trailed Clintons on her way to campaign rallies; scurrying for tidbits of information about the candidates plans; making repeated futile efforts (47 in the 2016 campaign alone) to get a sit-down interview with the candidate; and always seeking some understanding of the inscrutable. By Chozicks own account, she came to obsess over Clinton (still dreaming about her several months after Clintons stunning 2016 presidential defeat to Donald Trump), someone she witnessed in daily acts of mundane political theater, but could never truly get a handle on. Clintons willful elusiveness and her thinly concealed disdain for the press corps that followed her means that Chozicks book is more about the process of covering Clinton than it is about Clinton herself. But that perspective is important because the American press always consumed by the next big story, the latest hot take rarely pauses for self-reflection. And the 2016 presidential campaign was an instance where the press became the story as much as it reported the story. One of the admirable elements of Chasing Hillary is Chozicks unrelenting candor, the fact that she doesnt spare herself or withhold anecdotes that might prove embarrassing. She tells about reflexively joining an audience in applauding for Clinton at a 2007 town hall in Iowa, about not knowing what a caucus was when she started covering the 2008 campaign and about being manipulated by The Guys who worked on Clintons 2016 campaign to brand people they didnt like as poseurs in the Clinton orbit. She also questions her own participation in the media onslaught of coverage on Russian-hacked Democratic National Committee emails. More Information Chasing Hillary By Amy Chozick Harper, $27.99 See More Collapse Along the way, Chozick offers some revealing insights into the candidate she chased. She writes about Clintons consistent preference for the company of men, her belief that the Times had been out to get her since the 1990s and her struggle to snap out of her robotic tendencies on the campaign stump. Chozick also suggests that Clintons biggest 2016 mistakes came about because she never mentally adjusted to the modern medias voracious, 24/7 need for clickbait. Chozick proves to be a deft stylist, flexing literary muscles that she didnt get to use while cranking out daily dispatches from the campaign trail. Her healthy appreciation for the absurd strikes the right tone for a book contemplating a campaign cycle that set new standards for absurdity. Chozick spent much of the 2016 campaign facing derision from Clintons handlers and feeling convinced that Clinton despised her. So maybe it shouldnt be surprising that, by the time the book hit the stores on April 24, the author found herself the subject of criticism from Clintons daughter Chelsea, who disputed Chozicks contention that the former first daughter used keratin to straighten her hair and that she popped a bottle of Champagne on election night in 2016, prematurely celebrating a victory that didnt come. The campaigns may be over for Hillary Clinton, but Chozicks fraught relationship with the Clintons carries on. Gilbert Garcia is a San Antonio Express-News columnist. Read more of his stories here. | ggarcia@express-news.net | @gilgamesh470 The catchiest of Selena songs bonds two estranged sisters as they mourn their late mother on Sundays premiere of Vida, a new half-hour drama with comedic moments. Its one of the more moving scenes in this candid and scrappy slice-of-life series, which may speak most intimately to cities with predominantly Hispanic audiences, including, of course, San Antonio. The story showcases female sexuality straight and gay in raw, heated depictions. In other words, folks, you may need to shepherd the kids out of the room. RELATED: Selena's brother gives shout-out to Fiesta reveler with hat honoring Queen of Tejano Another dominant theme is an issue every fairly sizable city faces these days gentrification of neighborhoods. Here, the focus is an old neighborhood in East Los Angeles thats predominantly Hispanic. However, slowly but surely, big-business types are turning it into a whiter, less culturally specific place with higher rents and restaurant chains around every corner. Vidas six weekly episodes debut at 7:30 p.m. Sunday on Starz, the second half of a new hour of sexy, addictive and mercifully compact fun on the premium cable network. Read further down for more on "Vida" and that significant Selena tune. Leading into it is Sweetbitter at 7 p.m. Sunday a series that also may have special appeal for San Antonio, as our city increasingly becomes a center of interesting food and drink. It brings to TV the bestselling novel by Stephanie Danler, a kind of fish-out-of-water tale of a young woman named Tess from a much smaller, more provincial town who travels by herself to New York City. She begins a journey of self-discovery when she takes a job at a swank downtown restaurant. RELATED: The Selena movie cast then & now There, Tess (a perennially wide-eyed Ella Purnell), who goes from trainee to server, becomes intoxicated by the chaotic, adrenalized world behind-the-scenes: tasting expensive wine, exploring dive bars, learning who she can trust and falling for the restaurants moodily handsome bartender Jake (Tom Sturridge). However, her best scenes are with female co-worker Simone (Caitlin Fitzgerald, Master of Sex), who, among other things, teaches Tess about wine and the importance of using different parts of her tongue to taste its distinct and varied flavors. This adaptation lacks some of the delicious bite of the book, which concentrates much more on the central heroines developing palate, her appreciation of the sweet, sour, salty and bitter in both food and drink. When it does tackle this aspect, the scenes are memorable. But after watching four of the six episodes, Id say Sweetbitter a la Starz turns our attention more toward the bedroom than the kitchen. A much more satisfying experience is delivered by Vida. The series' beauty is the earthy, naturalistic feel it brings to a sensual and generally unvarnished look at how reunited Mexican-American sisters Lyn and Emma Hernandez cope with the death of their Mami and other issues involved in coming home. Its also about their mothers legacy an old bar and apartment building in deep financial trouble that has been bequeathed to her daughters, as well as to her lesbian roommate Eddy, who is played with a lovely softness by Ser Anzoategui. Vidas writer and executive producer Tanya Saracho, a gay Latina whose past projects include Looking on HBO, described the half-hour as her most personal and precious creation thus far. I always was missing that female, brown, queer perspective. And I think in Vida, we have a lot of that. And a lot of the things I wanted to touch on, deal with, I get to do here, so its really exciting, Saracho told TV critics at a recent press session. The nice thing about it, too, was that we could feel the love of everyone involved and the passion to tell this story and to bring these characters to life and give voice to characters that are not really seen in mainstream media, that are not represented, added Michelle Barrera, who plays younger sister Lyn. However, Saracho emphasized that Vida shouldnt be pigeonholed as a niche show because it tells a universal and highly relatable story about two sisters coming from a fractured family retaking their place in this neighborhood. You can basically say that the sisters are polar opposites, because they chose two very different paths to get out of their neighborhood, Barrera said. Lyn chose men, she added, because she was told from an early age, like many young women, that shes pretty. Thats all the compliments that they ever get, not that theyre smart or that theyre creative. So she stayed with that and decided that was the only thing that she had, and so shes taking the easy way out and living off men, and that does not sit well with Emma. By contrast Emma, played by Mishel Prada, is a successful businesswoman based in Chicago. She realized really early that if she didnt take care of herself nobody else would, Prada said. So she essentially pulled herself up from her bootstraps and really made something of herself/ Though openly gay, she never really dealt with the emotional part of it, so she just lived behind this really strong wall not letting anybody close to her, because the only people that she did when she was younger hurt her. Still, beyond the rivalry and bickering, were reminded of certain things that keep the sisters close. One of the most engaging scenes happens at the end of the first episode. Lyn has ferreted out an old home movie, and Emma finds her watching it. In the video, the two girls are getting a cumbia dance lesson from their young, vibrant mom. The tune is Selenas Bidi Bidi Bom Bom, and the three happily sing along while swaying and laughing. The memory prompts tears from Emma for the first time, and the sisters embrace, gifting the viewer with a rare poignant and peaceful moment. Jeanne Jakle's column appears Thursdays and Sundays in mySA. Read more of her columns here. | jjakle@express-news.net | @JakleJ There are now two places to chuck axes at wood in San Antonio. San Antonio Axe Throwing's Class Axe and Stumpy's Hatchet Throwing announced their grand openings within hours of each other on Wednesday. San Antonio Axe Throwing is located downtown, at 1203 E. Commerce St., and is part of the Great Room Escape. For $32 per thrower, the business welcomes birthday and bachelor/bachelorette parties, couples on date nights and league competitions, according to their website. The admission price includes an hour and a half session, practice time and a group tournament led by a trained expert to end the experience. RELATED: New San Antonio business touts Instagrammable rooms for social media mavens Stumpy's Hatchet Throwing, at 758 Isom Road, was originally set to open in January. According to the business' social media channels, the San Antonio location will host a grand opening "at last" on June 9, making it the second location nationwide. At Stumpy's, throwers will be taken to a pit with a wooden target and hatchets to throw along with instruction and safety information. Guests can bring their own beer and have food delivered, according to a previous San Antonio Express-News story. Pricing depends on group size. Parties with one to four people will be charged $20 per person for an hour of throwing, those with five or more throwers will pay $32 per person for a two-hour session. Both venues encourage customers to set up reservations now. See what to expect at each of the axe-throwing spots by checking out what the franchises look like in other cities in the gallery above. BRIDGEPORT Bridgeport Health Care Center, Inc., has filed for bankruptcy, court records indicate. The nursing home filed for bankruptcy on April 18. The center must pay a $1,717 filing fee by May 18 a month after filing. The most recent update on the bankruptcy filings was submitted Thursday, which scheduled the next hearing for the filings to be held at 11 a.m. on May 8 in a New Haven courtroom. A request for comment from the center was not returned as of Thursday evening. Just over two weeks before the center filed for bankruptcy, workers had complained about issues with their paychecks. As previously reported by Hearst Connecticut Media, employees reported to their union representative at Bridgeport Health Care Center that they were not getting paid on time, there were insufficient funds in their credit union and the company wasnt paying the third-party administrator that manages their health care benefits. The U.S. Department of Labor sued the nursing home and its chief financial officer, Chaim Stern, in Sept. 2016. The lawsuit alleged that Stern diverted $4 million in retirement plan assets to New York-based religious corporation and himself. / Contributed photo BROOKFIELD A military official will discuss his time hunting down Iraqi War criminals at an event at the Brookfield Museum at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Joseph Cerreto will recount his experiences while serving in Iraq as a senior legal adviser to the war crimes investigation team. He helped U.S. forces find the 52 most-wanted Iraqis who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. 1 Family planning lawsuits: Two major organizations that promote birth control filed lawsuits in federal court Wednesday seeking to block the Trump administration from shifting national family planning policy to stress abstinence and potentially limit counseling for adolescents. One of the suits was filed by Planned Parenthood, which serves 41 percent of the 4 million low-income Americans who receive subsidized services through the Title X family-planning program. The other suit was filed by the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association, which contends the policy shift would reduce access to the most effective contraceptive methods and result in more unintended pregnancies. 2 Voter ID law: Arkansas highest court on Wednesday said the state can enforce a voter ID law in the May 22 primary election despite a judge declaring the measure unconstitutional. By a vote of 6-1, the Supreme Court overruled a Pulaski County judge who had blocked the laws enforcement. The state Supreme Court did not elaborate on its reasons for the decision in its one-page order. NEW CANAAN When asked to describe what her position entails, Crista Rizzuti took a moment to ponder. Im an English as a Second Language case manager its a new position this year, 46-year-old Rizzuti, a Westport resident, said. But its hard to write up what (Lizette DAmico) and I do as a job description, its a little bit of everything. DAmico, the administrator for world languages and the ESL departments, nodded in agreement as she glanced at the files on her desk. In their roles, the duo helps ESL students transition into New Canaan schools. Some of these students have had prior studies in English while others arrive knowing no English at all. Were usually running around the different schools. Sometimes well bump into each other throughout the day and sometimes we wont be able to connect until 10 p.m., DAmico, 49, said. DAmico started out as a dual-language teacher in the Rochester City School District in New York before going to Stamford, Greenwich and eventually New Canaan. People will joke that we look alike, DAmico said. We tag team and its been really effective. Rizzuti focused on teaching Italian and Spanish, weaving through different school districts in the Bronx and Bedford Village in New York, and Stamford. We definitely have the experience, Rizzuti said with a smile. DAmico, whose office is decorated by a wall-sized map of the world, said there are 59 ESL students throughout the five New Canaan public schools. The ESL population in New Canaan has grown. These students take a home language survey when they arrive to the school district and we work with an individual plan from there to assist them, Rizzuti said. Stamford schools, which are more diverse and have a larger ESL student population, have the staff and personnel numbers to accommodate them. New Canaan public schools, on the other hand, have recently created Rizzutis position to help students transition into their new environment. If you think of the typical New Canaan student, you have an image in your head. When we started to get different types of students who didnt fit that mold, we needed someone who understood that child and that family and help them fit in and be happy, DAmico, a New Canaan resident, said. The students in the New Canaan public schools system come from all over the world. Rizzuti and DAmico, with almost 20 years of combined experience in New Canaan schools alone, have built an informal network of contacts that allows them to connect families in similar situations with each other. There is no set protocol to this, but over time you meet different people and they will reach out if you put them in touch with people who are undergoing a similar situation, Rizzuti said. One way or another, both teachers have found ways to connect students from similar backgrounds. We cant speak every language but we can find a person who can. Its really a grass-roots effort, Rizzuti, who speaks fluent Italian and Spanish and conversational French, said. Because were small, we know our kids like that. Some families need more support than others and more help within the community. While the teachers acknowledge they play a small part in the growth of ESL students, they credit the childrens work ethic and effort despite being in a wholly new environment. When you move into New Canaan and dont speak English, you really have to work at two or three times the pace than the other person who has always lived here, DAmico said. Making sure the kids are happy and taking advantage of the opportunities the schools provide is the most important thing, the instructors said. You share part of those small moments and small victories, Rizzuti said. humberto.juarez@ hearstmediact.com Starting May 15, parents in Wisconsin can log on to a state-run website, answer a few questions, and sign up to get checks worth $100 per child. To Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who drove the one-time tax payout into law, it's a chance to turn a state budget surplus into a bonus for parents who could use some extra cash. To his critics, who note Walker is a few months away from a tough re-election run, it looks like campaign-year bribery of the up to 671,000 families who could receive checks. And to independent economists, it's a mystifying piece of tax policy that has no clear, long-term economic purpose and few if any recent comparable examples, given that tax breaks are traditionally incorporated for tax filing season - not in the months before an election. "This is really weird. I have never heard of anything like this," said Richard Auxier, who tracks state tax policy for the Tax Policy Center, a nonpartisan think tank. Scott Drenkard, a tax expert at the Tax Foundation, a right-leaning think tank, was also puzzled. "This is definitely odd and unique. I haven't seen anything like it before," he said. "It's political catnip, but it's hard to see how it improves economic outcomes." Walker says his universal child tax credit, to be paid out of a state budget surplus, reflects years of prudent fiscal stewardship since his ascension to the governor's mansion in 2011 and offers meaningful relief for cash-strapped families. Families can sign up to have their checks mailed to their homes or deposited directly into their bank accounts. "A couple hundred dollars more in the family budget could really make a difference, particularly when getting ready for the next school year," Walker said in a news release. "We are giving this money back to the hard-working taxpayers because it is their money to begin with." To critics, Walker's tax break looks like a brazen publicity stunt by a vulnerable incumbent at a time where Democrats appear to hold the political momentum. "It's literally a guy saying, 'I'm Scott Walker running for re-election, have some money!,'" said Mandela Barnes, a Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor in the state. "Everyone I've talked to sees it as a blatant payoff." The tax credit is expected to cost about $122 million, as an estimated 671,000 families and their 1.22 million children in the state qualify for the program. The legislation also created a "back to school" sales tax holiday, waiving the state's five percent sales tax for the first five days in August on some purchases of schools supplies, clothing and computers. Walker's approval ratings have held relatively steady, but the governor has warned that a "blue wave" fueled by greater liberal enthusiasm could crash over the state GOP this fall. "Tonight's results show that we are at risk of a #bluewave in [Wisconsin]," Walker tweeted on April 3 after a liberal won a Wisconsin state Supreme Court seat. On Jan. 17, after a Democrat won a state senate race, Walker wrote: "WAKE UP CALL: Can't presume that voters know we are getting positive things done in Wisconsin." Walker's tax break is notably unlike the Republican tax law that passed Congress this fall. The proponents of that overhaul say it has increased take-home pay by changing withholdings, but acknowledge taxpayers might not notice it until they file their returns in April 2019, months after Republican lawmakers face voters in the midterm elections this fall. By contrast, Wisconsin families can sign up to claim Walker's tax cut starting May 15 and have until July 2 to do so. The state has set up a separate website, advertising the program and Walker's role in advancing the credit. Had Walker gone the more conventional route of offering a child tax credit through state income taxes, it would have taken effect in 2019 - after the election. "Claiming it midyear is a real departure from how we usually interact with the tax system," said Elaine Maag, another tax expert at the Tax Policy Center. "It's very difficult to understand the policy rationale here. There's not some crisis in Wisconsin where people need cash today, as opposed to when they were filing their returns a few months ago." Tax experts said the only similar recent tax break that came to mind was in 2014 when New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat, passed a more targeted, three-year middle-class family cut ahead of his re-election bid, according to Meg Wiehe, a tax expert at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. At the time, Cuomo faced fierce criticism from New York Republicans that he was unfairly manipulating the tax system for partisan ends since checks were mailed directly to taxpayers that year. Walker says he has cut state taxes since 2011 by more than $8 billion. Unemployment in the state has dipped below 3 percent amid strong business investment. But Democrats say the state's rainy day fund remains depleted and that the governor has done little to alleviate income inequality or poverty. Walker's office noted that three Democrats, including a state senator, voted for the legislation, which passed the state Senate on a 17-15 vote. "Returning surpluses to taxpayer is what the governor has stated he would do, and he is doing it," said Amy Hasenberg, a spokeswoman for Walker. "The opposition has politicized what was a bipartisan vote for returning the surplus to taxpayers." State Rep. Jason Fields, a Democrat who represents a part of Milwaukee, said he voted for the package because his constituents could use the extra money from the state. He said he thought Walker's opponents should not overestimate the potential impact of the measure on the election. "Nobody will vote or not vote for the governor over $100," Fields said. A northeast Texas student who walked one hour to school and one hour home every school day will have an easier commute thanks to the Gregg County Sheriff's Office. Joseph Alvarado, a student with Longview ISD, got a new bike from the sheriff's office after deputies discovered he walked a pretty long way to get to class everyday. Deputies met Alvarado after they received a call about a student walking near Forest Park Middle School in Longview. That's when they learned Alvarado sought extra tutorials everyday before school started. A Bexar County Jail inmate has died, five days after he attempted to hang himself, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Domingo Altamirano Jr., was arrested on March 23 on suspicion of sexual assault of a child and possession of a controlled substance, according to the release. Ronald Diaz recently joined a small, select club of people who have called Animal Care Services to report an unusual sight: a pig in their yard. Diaz was alarmed when he spied a portly black-and-white Vietnamese pot-bellied pig wandering into his garage around noon last Wednesday in the 6000 block of Camier Cove near Eisenhauer Road. The pig limped toward him, with a noticeable gash on her ear. The Northeast Side resident said the porcine visitor seemed dehydrated as she slurped away all of the water he placed before her. Then the pig ambled over to his porch and settled at the front door. When ACS Officer Crystal Newell arrived an hour later, the pig had retreated to Diazs backyard. She was able to coax out the porcine visitor with hot dog buns Diaz brought from his kitchen. The pig nibbled her way along a trail of three buns that the ACS officer had laid out to her truck. Then came the capture. At first the pig squealed in protest, but she quieted down as Sewell lifted her into a kennel on the ACS truck. After the ACS officer secured her in a pen at the ACS campus, staff members named her Petunia. ACS spokeswoman Lisa Norwood said the pig is friendly and had obviously been handled by people. Petunia is a polite pig, but thats not always the case with roaming animals, she said. Its about being safe. If she was pushy, rather than polite, she certainly couldve hurt somebody. Last year, it was 20 mini-donuts and a marshmallow that proved to be the irresistible lure for another pot-bellied pig named Buttercup. ACS officers had responded to several calls about the pig that residents had seen at Cathedral Rock Park, outside of Leon Valley. Finally, six ACS officers and three medical staff members caught her at dawn in the park with a trail of the white-powdered doughnuts. They said she didnt like the chocolate ones. In the last seven months, ACS officers have picked up 42 roaming livestock, including 17 horses, 6 pigs and 3 Angus cows. Theyve also taken in a flock of 107 birds, including 22 ducks, a goose and a peafowl. At the ACS stables, staff members made Petunia a mudhole that she wallows in when shes not gnawing away at pig-feed pellets. Norwood said no one has called to claim the pig, who will be taken to an animal rescue outside of the city. Swine continue, as they have been for many years, to not be allowed in the city limits of San Antonio, Norwood said. There is a reason we have a law in place about pets remaining on property, including livestock. vtdavis@express-news.net A student at Stacey Junior-Senior High School on Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland was charged Wednesday with making a threat on the internet after he allegedly posted a message on social media of himself holding a toy gun. The school was locked down briefly Tuesday while investigators looked into the posting on the Snapchat account of Rico Jermaine Mayo, according to court records. The records said the posting is of a hand holding a gun partially under a backpack, with a devil emoji accompanying this message: I told yall not to come to school. Mayo, 18, was removed from class during the lockdown and officials found a gun in his backpack that looked real, but it was determined to be a toy replica, according to a criminal complaint affidavit. Mayo told Air Force investigators that he brought the gun, handcuffs and a police badge to school for a project for his government class, the affidavit said. He said he created the posting while he was in the bathroom that same day, between noon and 1 p.m. Tuesday, the affidavit said. The affidavit said Mayo also made a second posting saying the gun is fake and that it was a joke. Mayo received messages from current and former classmates, and Mayo responded to a few of them that the gun was real, and to others that the gun was fake, the affidavit said. Mayo was arrested, and after spending the night in jail, he appeared in federal court Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors did not seek his detention, so U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard B. Farrer released him on $50,000 unsecured bond and set his case for a probable cause hearing on May 11. If convicted, Mayo faces up to five years in prison. In an email, Lackland ISD Superintendent Burnie L. Roper said the district took the matter seriously and placed the school on lockdown for 15 to 20 minutes. Roper also said the district plans on taking appropriate disciplinary action, separate and apart from the criminal case. Roper did not identify the student by name and said the district could not provide further information because of privacy issues. Roper also said the district sent parents and staff of the 164-student high school an electronic message to inform them of the incident. The district has also shared a message of concern with the student body and reinforced its message of zero tolerance for threats of violence, and provided a call to action for all to share with administrators and staff any information or concerns about such threats, Ropers email said. On a final note, I can tell you that we have determined there is no current threat to campus safety at this time, and that we will continue to work with the applicable law enforcement agencies in connection with this matter. Guillermo Contreras is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | gcontreras@express-news.net | @gmaninfedland A founder of the Hells Angels testified Thursday at a racketeering trial here for two former top leaders of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club that a man killed by Bandidos members in 2006 in Austin was not a member of his club. Ralph Sonny Barger, who is arguably one of the best known outlaw bikers in the world, also said he did not know of any problems between the Bandidos and the Hells Angels, and denied that the two clubs are enemies. RELATED: Woman arrested in 10-hour standoff is suspected robber known as 'Asian Jade' No, sir, Barger, now 79, testified via Facetime video transmitted to San Antonios federal courthouse from the federal courthouse in San Francisco. Barger, who cant travel for medical reasons, was called as a defense witness by lawyers for the Bandidos former national president Jeffrey Fay Pike, who is being tried in San Antonio with his former vice president, Xavier John Portillo. Bargers testimony challenged earlier assertions by government witnesses who testified that Anthony Benesh was shot by Bandidos members because he had ignored the groups warnings to not set up a chapter in Texas and to stop openly displaying insignias of the Hells Angels in the Lone Star state, which is considered Bandidos territory. That was not a Hells Angel, Barger said, his raspy voice hard to hear because he does not have vocal cords. He also testified that the Hells Angels emblem on the back of Beneshs motorcycle vest was a fake, after he compared a photo of that emblem to a photo of a Hells Angels vest from a chapter in Nevada. Barger, who co-founded the Hells Angels chapter in Oakland, California, in the late 1950s, has been a member of that club for more than 60 years. He did stints in prison for crimes that included conspiracy to use explosives to kill or damage buildings in a plot in the late 1980s targeting the rival Outlaws Motorcycle Club. RELATED: Teens accused in fatal S.A. home invasion He also testified that no one ever came to him in 2005 or 2006, when he was living in the Phoenix area, to ask for permission to start a Hells Angels chapter in Texas. He could not recall, though, if anyone called him for permission. His testimony contradicted that of Michael Burford, who testified earlier that he and Benesh were trying to establish a Hells Angels chapter in Texas in 2006 and that Burford traveled to Phoenix to meet with Barger and other Hells Angels honchos for their blessing. According to Burford, a tattoo artist in College Station at the time, the Hells Angels gave permission but added they would deny doing so if anything bad took place with the nascent Texas chapter. Beneshs killing is one of three murders listed in a 13-count indictment charging Pike and Portillo with leading a racketeering conspiracy that used violence, extortion and intimidation to expand the Bandidos power and reach. A former high-ranking Bandido who pleaded guilty in Beneshs killing testified that Pike also sent down orders to kill Burford, but he was not found. On cross-examination, prosecutor Eric Fuchs asked Barger if he would be OK if the Bandidos set up a chapter in California. Im not sure I would really like that, but I dont think I could do anything about it, said Barger, who added he hasnt been an officer with the Hells Angels since 1972. And, he asked Barger if he was aware that six Hells Angels members from Massachusetts had stabbed four Bandidos from Texas during a fight in Arkansas in 2007 to retaliate for the Benesh killing. Barger said he was unaware. But he also testified that the Hells Angels local chapters, are autonomous. In other testimony, Larry Pina a then-Bandidos member who reportedly was with the six-man hit crew that killed Benesh, was called as a defense witness by Pike but jurors did not see him in court. Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra listened to Pinas brief testimony outside the presence of the jury as Pina chose not to answer eight of nine questions posed by lawyer Dick DeGuerin, including whether Pina is a member of the Bandidos and whether he was present during Beneshs killing. On the advice of my lawyer, I decline to answer based on my rights under the Fifth Amendment, Pina said. Pina answered yes when DeGuerin asked him if law officers interviewed him in March 2017, while investigating Beneshs murder. Johnny Downtown Romo, a former national sergeant-at-arms for the Bandidos, testified earlier in the trial that he put together a crew to track and kill Benesh on orders from Pike that were passed down by Portillo. Romos brother, Robert Romo, testified that he shot Benesh with a rifle. The Romos and another ex-Bandido member who testified in the trial, Edward Tiger Trevino, said Pina was in one of two vehicles the crew used to follow Benesh to a pizza restaurant in North Austin, where he was shot. In connection with the Benesh killing, the Romos have pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm during a racketeering murder, while ex-Bandidos Jesse James Kronic Benavidez and Norberto Hammer Serna Jr., both of San Antonio, have pleaded guilty to discharging a firearm during murder in aid of racketeering. Trevino, one of the crew members, was granted immunity. Pina didnt get immunity at all, his lawyer, Allen Cazier, said in an interview. He has not been formally charged, although there were some discussions. Thats all I can say about it at this point. Were aware hes a subject of the investigation, Cazier added. He hasnt even been designated a target. Guillermo Contreras is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | gcontreras@express-news.net | @gmaninfedland Authorities on Tuesday arrested an 18-year-old woman who set fire to her West Side home while her infant was inside and texted photos of the blaze to her boyfriend, according to court records. Israel Reyes now faces two charges of endangering a child and one arson charge. She was booked into the Bexar County Jail on a $30,000 bond. RELATED: Suspect arrested after 10-hour standoff was suspected robber known as 'Asian Jade' According to her arrest warrant affidavit, Reyes and her boyfriend got into an argument on March 2. The boyfriend left the home around 1 p.m. and returned a few hours later to find his TV destroyed and Reyes gone. Throughout the day Reyes destroyed more property and became more erratic, authorities said. Police visited the home for a welfare check but did not detain her. Around 11 p.m., Reyes allegedly sent her boyfriend photos of a small fire in their kitchen. "The picture showed a purple towel and a roll of toilet paper on fire," the affidavit says. "A few minutes later [the boyfriend] received another text with a picture of the same fire in a larger state of combustion." RELATED: SAPD: Multiple suspects at large after shooting at West Side home leaves 1 hospitalized The couple's 2-month-old child was inside the home with Reyes when she started the fire, according to the affidavit. Firefighters responded to the home and extinguished the blaze. Arson investigators determined Reyes had intentionally started the fire, according to the affidavit. "[Reyes] intentionally started a fire with the knowledge that the fire was located on property belonging to another and was reckless about whether the burning would endanger the lives of her infant daughter and persons living in the adjoining properties," the affidavit says. "Additionally, the defendant recklessly engaged in conduct that placed her child in imminent danger of death, bodily injury or physical or mental impairment." Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns A North Texas gun rights activist arrested in March by Olmos Park police is no longer facing charges in Bexar County. The district attorney's office confirmed to mySA.com Wednesday that all charges against CJ Grisham, the founder of Open Carry Texas, were dropped. Grisham, 44, was arrested in the midst of an open carry demonstration targeting an Olmos Park city ordinance that prohibited anyone other than police officers from carrying a loaded rifle or shotgun on public streets. He was charged with assault of a police officer RELATED: Controversial Olmos Park arrest sets off wave of gun ordinance repeals in San Antonio suburbs The protests made headlines across Texas and led to the Olmos Park City Council voting to repeal the ordinance. Alamo Heights and Hollywood Park soon followed suit. In a YouTube video, Grisham called the dismissal "good news," but continued to criticize the police department and called Police Chief Rene Valenciano "the most corrupt" police chief he knows. He also called on the department to arrest Valenciano and any other officer who he claimed assaulted and threatened protesters. "In the Olmos Park Police Department, there is no such thing as a good cop," Grisham said. Grisham said he is planning to file a civil lawsuit against the police department and Valenciano. "I look forward to seeing (Valenciano) in court and taking possession of everything he owns and giving it to charity," he said. Valenciano did not respond to requests seeking comment. Grisham could not be reached for further comment. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA An alleged drunk driver was arrested Thursday after leading authorities on a brief chase through the North Side. The chase began around 12:50 a.m. near Loop 410 and Jackson Keller Road, according to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office. It's unclear what prompted the chase, though deputies said the suspect may have been in a stolen vehicle. Two teenagers were arrested last week after authorities discovered their plan to commit a mass shooting at a junior high school in Uvalde, according to the Uvalde Leader-News. The teens, aged 13 and 14, are now facing charges of conspiracy to commit murder and have been booked into a juvenile detention center in Del Rio. RELATED: 'They were pretty mean': Teen accused of fatally stabbing neighbors gave interview before arrest According to the Leader-News, the teens had originally planned to carry out the shooting on April 20, 2022, which would coincide with the Columbine shooting anniversary during their senior year of high school, but one of the suspects persuaded the other to commit the shooting this year at Morales Junior High, where the 14-year-old was a student. The teens allegedly created a list prioritizing which students they would kill and planned to steal their neighbors' weapons. They planned to detonate explosive devices at the beginning of the attack, hunt down and kill the students on their list and then indiscriminately kill as many students as they could before committing suicide. Police have not said the teens actually acquired any weapons. They appear to have been inspired by the Columbine shooters, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, and often referred to each other using those names, the Leader-News reports. "One of the students had numerous writings and drawings which depicted weapons capable of causing mass destruction," according to a news release from the Uvalde Police Department obtained by the newspaper. "He wrote about being 'God-like' and killing police and other persons. He had an academic analysis of one of the Columbine shooter's journal." RELATED: Mugshot: Suspect in 10-hour S.A. standoff known as 'Asian Jade' A student at Morales Junior High learned of the plan and reported it to school officials, who then notified law enforcement authorities. With the assistance of the Texas Rangers, the Uvalde Police Department was able to identify the two suspected teens and arrest them. According to the Leader-News, authorities are still processing evidence, including messages regarding the attack that the two suspects sent each other through school-issued iPads. Text "NEWS" to 77453 for breaking news alerts from mySA.com Caleb Downs is a crime reporter for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here.| cdowns@mysa.com | Twitter: @calebjdowns One man required four titanium screws and two plates to keep his jaw together after he was assaulted by two men while leaving a Whataburger, according to San Antonio police. Police arrested Christopher Saldana on suspicion of aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury Tuesday in connection to the March 18 assault. Jennifer Tran, who police arrested Wednesday evening following a 10-hour SWAT standoff, was a robbery suspect known to authorities as Asian Jade, according to San Antonio police. San Antonio police tried to arrest Tran and Steven Brown, both 32, on Wednesday morning after receiving information that they were staying at the Travelodge near downtown in the 1100 block of South Laredo Street. The suspects barricaded themselves in the motel room when they saw Lone Star Fugitive Task Force members coming to carry out the warrants. RELATED: Two suspects arrested after hours-long standoff near downtown San Antonio hotel More information on both suspects was released after they were brought into custody, 10 hours after officers arrived at the hotel. Tran was wanted in connection with a March 31 robbery, according to her arrest affidavit. That night, a man agreed to meet up with Tran through a dating app on which she used the alias "Asian Jade," according to the affidavit. Tran took the man up to a room at a motel in the 11000 block of Interstate 10 and shortly after, another man came into the room, according to the affidavit. The suspects assaulted and choked the victim until he was unconscious, police said. A third suspect could be seen on surveillance footage driving off with the man's truck, according to the affidavit. Though it's unclear if Brown is a suspect in that incident, he was wanted in connection to separate robbery reported early Monday at the Family Dollar in the 5900 block of Old Pearsall Road. RELATED: SAPD looking for suspected robber known as 'Asian Jade' Brown and a female suspect robbed the store using a handgun, according to a preliminary police report. An employee told police Brown forced him to open the safe. The suspects fled the store with cash and an employee's cell phone, police said. Tran is being held without bond in Bexar County Jail due to a parole violation, according to jail records. She is also facing robbery and possession of controlled substance charges. Brown, who did not yet go in front of a magistrate judge as of Thursday morning, does not have a bail amount set. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA The city of San Antonio will not submit a bid to host the 2020 Republican National Convention, a decision announced after council members met Thursday in closed session to discuss the matter. The cost of pursuing the event an international spectacle that could draw 40,000 visitors, including 15,000 reporters outweighs the potential economic impact that could be $200 million, Mayor Ron Nirenberg and most council members agreed. The host city, through a local committee that would be composed of business leaders, would be expected to raise about $70 million, including about $6 million from public coffers. As a whole, the City Council did not feel it was worth it to move forward, Nirenberg said shortly after concluding the closed-session meeting with his colleagues. FROM OUR SUBSCRIBER SITE: City rejection of RNC complicates relationship with business community He said there was absolutely no discussion about politics, and the discussion centered on economic issues. Council members Greg Brockhouse and Clayton Perry chided the decision, saying they believe the city is missing a golden opportunity to put San Antonio in the international spotlight and bring jobs and millions of dollars of spending to the city. Though there was no actual vote in the councils executive session, the mayor said the consensus in the room was not to proceed with a bid for the multi-day convention scheduled for August of 2020. The decision, he said, extends to the Democratic National Convention. San Antonio has not bid on a national political convention in two decades, Nirenberg said. RELATED: Editorial: San Antonio should bid on GOP convention The RNC issue has come to the forefront because party leaders specifically asked for a bid from San Antonio, and the GOP representative in charge of site selection visited San Antonio in March to personally ask for leaders here to consider submitting a bid. At a late-March lunch, when Ron Kaufman, the chairman of the site-selection committee, dined with several local leaders, including the mayor, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff and former Mayor Phil Hardberger, it was apparently made clear there wasnt much interest in pursuing the convention. Those who attended the lunch say they thought the matter was closed. The following day, Nirenberg received a call informing him that the RNC was no longer interested in San Antonio as a potential location. Then, last week, Brad Parscale President Donald Trumps current campaign manager and former San Antonian began making phone calls urging the city to bid on the convention and ultimately took to Twitter to trash Nirenberg for not immediately submitting one. Nirenberg informed council members that there appeared to be renewed interest in San Antonio and convened Thursdays executive session on the matter. Meanwhile, local business leaders have circulated a couple letters, insisting that theres a strong desire to bring the convention to San Antonio and solicit the requisite funds for hosting the event. One letter claims that the RNC has relieved the city of a requirement to put up public dollars toward the cost of the convention. Historically and in most cases with political conventions the city and county would each allocate $2 to $3 million towards the overall cost of the convention, according to a letter from B.J. Red McCombs, John Montford, Dennis Nixon and Eddie Aldrete. However, the RNC has informed San Antonio that as long as there is a genuine commitment of a hand-in-hand partnership to ensure a successful convention, the citys financial commitment can be made up with funds that are raised privately. City officials say theyve not heard from the RNC, but one noted that the RNCs request for proposals indicates that the host city may be on the hook for the conventions total cost if the host committee doesnt wrangle enough funding. From the RFP: The Citys and/or Host Committees financial obligations must be assured through a guaranty agreement providing for the guaranty of the Citys and/or Host Committees financial obligations. The guaranty must be supported by a combination of an acceptable Letter of Credit from a federally insured banking institution and an earnest money deposit. The guaranty agreement must cover all financial obligations resulting from the 2020 Convention, and the Letter of Credit and earnest money deposit must be available to be drawn upon automatically to make up any deficit in funds received (not merely committed) by the applicable deadline set forth in the budget timetable and until all such financial obligations are satisfied. City Council members have been quiet on the issue leading into Thursdays executive session, though Brockhouse blasted the decision to do it behind closed doors. In a press release this week, he said the discussion should be held in a public session, an idea supported by the Bexar County Republican Party. Mayor Nirenberg has called for a Closed Meeting (Executive Session) to discuss proceeding with a potential bid submission for the 2020 Republican National Convention (RNC). I asked the City Attorney to review this request to ensure compliance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. Generally speaking, City Council cannot and should not make decisions or enact policy in Executive Session, he said in the release. While I wait for the legal guidance, it is my belief the decision to bid should be held in an Open Meeting. If we are truly striving to be a welcoming and inclusive City, deciding whether or not to deny an organization based on their political beliefs is a dangerous precedent that shouldnt be done behind closed doors. The public deserves total transparency and to know where elected officials stand on this critical decision. Nirenberg has said that the discussion would be one about the economics of the convention, not its politics. He has also said he would resist spending public funds on the DNC. That sentiment has been echoed by former councilman and current Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, a Republican. Wolff has said that while he thinks San Antonio should pursue the convention, neither the city nor the county should spend any tax dollars on incentives. Taxpayers here, Wolff has said, are politically diverse, and their dollars shouldnt be spent to support either political party. AUSTIN Russians were behind the Texas furor over the Jade Helm 15 federal military exercise, which drew so much concern that Gov. Greg Abbott directed the State Guard to monitor the operation, former CIA director Michael Hayden said on MSNBC. Hayden, a retired Air Force general who also headed the National Security Agency in 1999-2005, was on Wednesdays podcast by Morning Joe. He has a new book, The Assault on Intelligence: American National Security in an Age of Lies, and discussed Russias focus on information warfare. Rusians took their game to North America in 2015, said Hayden, who was CIA director under President George W. Bush. There was an exercise in Texas called Jade Helm 15, he said. Russian bots and the American alt-right media convinced most many Texans that Obama planned to round up political dissidents. It got so much traction the governor of Texas had to call out the National Guard to observe the federal exercise to keep the population calm, Hayden said. At that point, Im figuring the Russians are saying, We can go big time. At that point, I think they made the decision, were going to play in the electoral process. Contrary to Haydens comment, Abbott did not activate the Texas National Guard but instead called out the Texas State Guard to observe the Jade Helm 15 operation. The State Guard is an all-volunteer entity that assists with state missions, such as hurricane recovery. The San Antonio Express-News, which obtained correspondence to and from Abbotts office regarding the exercise, found that many people wrote or called with concerns about the possibility of martial law and closed Walmarts being prepared as detention camps. The Texas Democratic Party drew attention to Haydens comments and jabbed at Abbott, calling him a Russian pawn and a useful idiot for Russian efforts to instill fear and distrust in our American institutions. Abbotts staff didnt have an immediate comment. The Democrats who are battling in a runoff for their partys nomination to face the Republican governor in November joined in the criticism. Governor Greg Abbott was duped by Russian bots. He indulged in awful conspiracy theories against our own men and women in uniform. He was a puppet in a Russian infowar that sowed distrust amongst Americans and paved the way for foreign intervention in our elections, former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez said in a statement. This is who is lecturing us on being smart on security and integrity in our electoral process? Houston businessman Andrew White said on Twitter that Abbott thought the movie Red Dawn was really happening ... except with USA forces invading the USA... Truth: Russia fooled Greg into calling out the State Guard. pfikac@express-news.net @pfikac AUSTIN Former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez has agreed to debate Houston businessman Andrew White just ahead of the start of early voting for the May 22 runoff for the Democratic nomination for governor. The matchup is expected to take place at the University of Texas here on May 11, Valdezs campaign said. Early voting starts May 14. White has been pressing for a debate since mid-March. Valdez, in finally agreeing to a specific forum, took an early jab at her opponent, who has said his moderate positions are in line with most Texans. I have long known what my values are. Im a Texas Democrat. I look forward to seeing which opponent shows up, the very conservative Democrat or moderate Republican, Valdez said. Most importantly, I look forward to discussing the concerns I have heard on the campaign trail from so many Texas families. It was a reference to an early line used by by White, who told the San Antonio Express-News in November: You can call me a moderate Republican. You can call me a conservative Democrat. I dont care. It was a repeat of a sentiment he expressed when Texas Monthly first reported he was exploring a challenge to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. White, who came in behind Valdez in the March primary election, was just happy that a forum has been set. Democratic voters are looking for the best candidate to beat Greg Abbott, and I welcome the opportunity to convey my message of common sense, sanity, and doing right by Texas, he said. He called himself the underdog but said momentum has been building. Peggy Fikac is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | pfikac@express-news.net | @pfikac Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) says it barred political activist Linda Masarira from sitting in the VIP tent because she wanted to disrupt Workers Day celebrations. Masarira who is MDC-T (Khupe) spokesperson had intended to sit in the tent which was dominated by members from MDC-T (Chamisa), where the likes of Paurina Mpariwa, Gift Chimanikire, Murisi Zwizwai, Job Sikhala, Eric Murai, Costa Machingauta, Jacob Ngarivhume, Raymond Majongwe and others where sitting but she was kept out by security manning the entrance gate. In an interview ZCTU president, Peter Mutasa said they had officially invited only political parties which are represented in Parliament but others were free to attend and that they kept Masarira out because they heard from the security that she wanted to cause a scene at the event. last night I got a call from our sister Comrade Linda Masarira because she has been in the trade union, she was asking if we are also inviting them to the celebrations and I told her that Workers Day celebrations are open to everyone and they can come. As someone who is already in the union she could have just come and get into the ground, but I heard that there was a problem because, at the gate, our security overheard her saying she wants to come and sit at the top table and cause a scene. So if security hear such things they act without having to consult with anyone, so they said if she wants to cause a scene during Workers Day, we dont think its proper for people to display their political disputes at the such an event so she was barred from coming to the VIP tent but she was free to sit with people in the terraces no one was going to bar her from sitting there that is what I heard from security, he said. However, in an interview, Linda Masarira said what happened yesterday is a clear testimony that the labour union has been hijacked and is now involving itself in MDC-T factional politics. When I got here I was told I cannot get in because I was not on their invitation list but I told them I was invited yesterday by their President Peter Mutasa but the security was adamant and they came in full force to block me. Secondly I am also a worker I was affected by the Zuva judgement and I have every right to be here like any other politician who is at this event, what I see is factional politics which actually entails there are some people who want to hijack the workers struggle. I came here representing the workers in Zimbabwe but for the security which is here to close me out and say I cannot attend this event shows that we have high levels of intolerance in Zimbabwe. Honestly I dont know why I am being denied accesses to the stadium because I was also invited the very same way the other people from the Nelson Chamisa faction were invited, she said before eventually leaving the venue. Since the death of Morgan Tsvangirai in February this year, ZCTU has been associating itself more with the Chamisa led faction and it has sent its representatives to give solidarity messages to almost all of the MDC Alliance rallies that have been held across the country. Thokozani Khupe and Nelson Chamisa are currently fighting over the control of the party and are both leading factions which are calling themselves the legitimate MDC-T. The Chamisa led-faction tried to bar the Khupe faction from using party symbols and name but their court application was thrown away with costs as Justice Bere declared that both politicians are factional leaders. OpernParly Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News THE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) says it will mobilise workers to vote against the ruling Zanu PF party in the forthcoming elections. ZCTU President Peter Mutasa told hundreds of workers gathered at Dzivarasekwa Stadium to mark International Workers Day Tuesday that Zanu PF was no longer an option as it had failed workers for the past 38 years. The current government is not our government, he said. We currently dont have a peoples government, so we will be telling you soon which one deserves to be president. Mutasa said the Emmerson Mnangagwa administration had proved it was not for the workers by snubbing the workers day commemorations despite getting an invite. We are going to be clear about who we are going to support, he explained. We know that no one is clean but, there is a better devil, and, in our scheming, those guys are not with us. We are going to tell workers not to vote Zanu PF. Mutasa said the government had shown its insensitivity to the plight of workers by summarily firing striking nurses who were exercising their constitutional right. He said insisted that workers had the right to get into politics, adding they would use political means to achieve their goals. Politics is about who gets what, when and how. So, we are going to make our workers get what is due to them through politics, he said. Mnangagwas Zimbabwe is open for business mantra spells disaster for workers as it means they would be stripped of their rights as government bids to incentivise investors. They want to privatise everything and sell government assets to themselves and their cronies which they have always been working with, said Mutasa. Our government is now loved by London, Beijing and Moscow and we know why; they (foreigners) have been promised lots of minerals. The ZCTU boss said they had expected Mnangagwa to come up with a transitional authority after the resignation of former President Robert Mugabe. When we marched at Zimbabwe grounds we did not endorse anyone. Zimbabwe had a coup and we are emphatic about that. NewZimbabwe Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News - Senator Bukola Saraki has condemned Ibrahim Idris' refusal to appear before the Senate - The Senate president described it as a threat to Nigeria's democracy - He accused the police IG of disobeying lawmakers Senate president Bukola Saraki has expressed displeasure over the non-appearance of Ibrahim Idris, the inspector-general of police before the Senate. Idris was supposed to appear a week ago but went with President Muhammadu Buhari to Bauchi and instead sent a deputy IG, Joshak Habila. He, however, failed to appear again on Wednesday, May 2, prompting condemnation from lawmakers. Saraki via his official Senate president titter page condemned Idris refusal to appear before the upper chamber, describing it as a threat to democracy. The Senate president said the police chief disobeyed them the same way he disobeyed President Muhammadu Buhari when he asked him to go and stay in Benue but he refused. READ ALSO: Just in: Nigerian troops capture another killer herdsman in Benue He said: I dont want us to labour too much. At the upper chamber, we must show maturity and statesmanship. I dont think anybody who has been around enough to observe the practice of our democracy knows that this action cannot be right. Under constitutional powers, it requires the IG to come and give a report on the incident involving a colleague and the incessant killings happening in the country. He has felt that he cannot come and wants to delegate it to a junior to come, No IG has ever refused to appear before the Senate since we started practicing democracy. I dont think that has happened before. But we must know these actions are danger to our democracy. Again, we cannot say it is just to us because the President told us that he told him to go to Benue and the man refused to go to Benue and he is sitting there and he is doing this. I want to appeal to our colleagues, let us approach this in two ways. One way, we give him another period for him to reflect the enormity of his action because whatever happens today sets a precedence for future and as such it is important that we do not allow issues like this. The leader of the Senate and the Chairman on Police should engage with the executive and send our position. There are powers we can exercise which are not in the interest of us making progress in this country. Since the beginning of the year, over 500 or 600 have been killed and we believe that the man in charge of enforcing this does not think he needs to sit down with Senate to engage with us when there is something wrong somewhere. So let us hold and give them time within a week and come back to us and I am sure that wisdom would prevail. Meanwhile, some masked security men, bearing guns have been reportedly deployed to the National Assembly. Daily Trust reports that the sight of the masked security men has begun to raise tension at the National Assembly complex. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng gathered that at the main entrance of the Senate chamber where the mace was stolen two weeks ago, a masked security man bearing AK- 47 was sighted on Wednesday morning, May 2. It was gathered across all entry points to the National Assembly, policemen were seen mounting surveillance. Are Nigerian Policemen the worst in the world? - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - The police arraigned Senator Dino Melaye before a court in Abuja - He was granted N90 million bail - However, the police re-arrested him after he was granted bail Senator Dino Melaye has been granted N90 million bail by a Wuse Zone 2 chief magistrates court in Abuja. In a dramatic twist however, he was re-arrested by the police shortly after on Wednesday, May 2. Premium Times reports that Melaye was accused by the police of escaping lawful detention and was granted bail. He was picked up immediately by the police again who took him away in an ambulance. READ ALSO: Obasanjo list 3 points he noticed during Buharis meeting with Trump According to a report received by Legit.ng, an FCT high court in Apo, presided over by Hon. Justice Adeniyi ordered that Senator Dino Melaye should be released by the police. The court said the release should be effected immediately after the senator has perfected a N50 million bond to be deposited with the registrar of the court. The senator was granted bail on two charges: 1. Escape from Lawful Arrest and 2. The alleged firearms charge in Kogi. Even though he had been granted bail, after the ruling, he was re-arrested. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng had reported that the Nigerian Police arraigned the senator representing Kogi West senatorial district, Dino Melaye. The lawmaker was arraigned by the police before a magistrate court on Wednesday, Thursday, May 2. The Cable reports that Dino was brought into the courtroom in a stretcher as police officers took over the court premises preventing vehicular movement. Kogi West senatorial district to recall senator Dino Melaye from the Nigerian Senate - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Five Benue youths have been offered automatic recruitment into the Nigerian Army - Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai during a visit to Guma local government area asked for five youths to be selected and screened - He however, said they must meet basic requirements for enlistment The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, has offered five youths of Gbajimba Community in Guma local government area of Benue state automatic recruitment into the Nigerian Army. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buratai made the announcement on Wednesday, while interacting with members of the community shortly after he visited troops stationed in the area to ward off herdsmen attacks. He immediately directed the commander, 72 Special Forces Battalion, Lt.-Col. Suleiman Mohammed, who accompanied him on the visit to select the five youths and screen them. He said they must, however, possess recruitment requirements for enlistment. READ ALSO: Newly established NAF command in Enugu to enhance south-east security, says CAS The youths must be screened today Wednesday and sent to the Nigerian Army Depot in Zaira, on Thursday to join other successful candidates for training," he said. Gbajimba is one of the communities in Benue most hit by the recurring herdsmen attacks which had claimed lots of lives as well as destroyed property worth millions of naira. Between April 26 and May 1, troops captured four killer herdsmen in the community before they could unleash mayhem on the people. Buratai explained that the visit to Gbajimba and other troubled areas in Benue was to assess effort so far made to checkmate the attacks and restrategise againt the menace. He promised that more troops would be deployed to the state. Torvani Dominic, the secretary to Gbajimba community, appealed to the army to deploy more troops in the area, saying that the recurring attacks take place more in the night. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, troops of Operation Lafiya Dole within 7 Division Area of Responsibility have benefited from the benevolence of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Yusufu Buratai. The troops were rewarded with special promotion for for actively participating in Operation Deep Punch II, and they were decorated with their new ranks recently. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) dismisses suggestions that Senator Dino Melayes life is in danger - Police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, says the senator is still in police custody over allegations of conspiracy, gun-running, armed robbery and kidnapping - Police arraigns Melaye before a court in Abuja The Nigeria Police Force has confirmed the re-arrest of the lawmaker representing Kogi west senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Dino Melaye. Daily Post reports that the police spokesman, Jimoh Moshood, said Senator Dino Melaye is safe in their custody and dismissed suggestions that the senators life was in danger. READ ALSO: Obasanjo list 3 points he noticed during Buharis meeting with Trump He said Melaye was arraigned on charges that bordered on escaping lawful custody and attempted suic!de for which he was bailed. Moshood added that the senator is still in police custody over allegations of conspiracy, gun-running, armed robbery and kidnapping which is before a High Court in Lokoja, Kogi state. Legit.ng had earlier reported that Senator Dino Melaye had been granted N90 million bail by a Wuse Zone 2 Chief Magistrates Court in Abuja. In a dramatic twist however, he was re-arrested by the police shortly after on Wednesday, May 2. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Premium Times reports that Melaye was accused by the police of escaping lawful detention and was granted bail. He was picked up immediately by the police again took him away in an ambulance. According to a report received by Legit.ng, An FCT High Court in Apo, presided over by Hon. Justice Adeniyi ordered that Sen. Dino Melaye should be released by the Police. Dino Melaye and 2019 Criminal Conspiracy | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper - A message on social media which alleged that President Buhari is a jihadist or is in support of herdsmen killings has been condemned by a group - The group said the message is misleading and aimed at causing disaffection among Nigerians - It added that the lives of all Nigerians matter more than the sentiments in messages from politicians masquerading as concerned Christians" The Forum of United Nigerians Against Divisive Elements (FUNADE) has reacted to a message shared on social media pages, alleging that President Muhammadu Buhari is a jihadist or is in support of herdsmen killings across the country. In a statement sent to Legit.ng on Wednesday, May 2, the group's national secretary, Arikpo Essien, said the message is misleading and aimed at causing disaffection among Nigerians. FUNADE was of the opinion that it is either the message is from politicians masquerading as concerned Christians or from a truly misinformed concerned person. The group advised Christian bodies to shun divisive and baseless rhetoric aimed at causing disunity among Christians and religious unrest in the country. It noted that President Buhari had always picked southerners and Christians as his running mates, an indication which they said rubbishes the allegation that the Buharis presidency has an Islamist agenda. READ ALSO: Benue police command debunks report of mosques destruction in Makurdi Parts of the statement read: The choice of Yemi Osinbajo in the ACN, ANPP, CPC, new PDP alliance that brought about the APC, was not Buharis choice. It was the choice of the Tinubu-led ACN. An alliance essentially between the north and the south-west of Nigeria. In two previous failed presidential campaigns of Buhari, his running mates were from the south east: Ume-Ezeoke and Chuba Okadigbo. So it's simply nonsense to suggest that Buhari chose Osinbajo in order to buy the silence of Christians. It further noted that the false allegations making the rounds on sections of social media are the handiwork of desperate politicians trying to divide the country by stoking religious tension among Nigerians, especially with the recurrent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in some parts of the country. Pointing out that the killer herdsmen have not only desecrated place of worship of both Christians and Muslims, the group noted that the lives of all Nigerians matter more than the sentiments in messages from politicians masquerading as concerned Christians or from a truly misinformed concerned persons are spreading to further their selfish interests. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, the federal government has expressed shock and outrage over the bomb attacks on a mosque and a market in Mubi, Adamawa state, on Tuesday, May 1, saying, the desecration of a place of worship by criminals is tragic and condemnable. According to a statement sent to Legit.ng by the vice president's spokesman, Laolu Akande, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, expresses the federal government's condolences to the victims and their families, and to the government and people of Adamawa state on the incident. Should Nigerians pick up arms to defend themselves against herdsmen? (Street Interview) on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng Opinion: This man is the best candidate for Osun governorship in 2022 Adebayo Adedeji writes on what the citizen must do to assess best candidate for Osun state in 2022 governorship election. He said factors must be considered. - Atiku Abubakar has called for the review of Nigeria's exclusive list - The former vice president said if he becomes president in 2019, he would achieve the restructuring agenda in six month - According to him, it's all about the willpower which he possesses in abundance Former vice-president and presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described the current composition of the second schedule of Nigeria's constitution as not development driven. Atiku made this declaration while speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the 10th anniversary symposium of Late Senator Abraham Adesanya held at the Muson Center, Lagos on Wednesday, May 2. Shedding light on his advocacy for a proper restructuring of Nigeria, the former vice-president noted that his approach towards achieving the restructuring agenda will be to review the contents of the exclusive, concurrent and residual lists. Atiku joined other dignitaries at the 10th anniversary symposium of Late Senator Abraham Adesanya in Lagos, Photo credit: OGD media team READ ALSO: Buhari 2019: We are not fazed by presidents declaration - Atiku Group His words: I have had people come to me to ask how I intend to achieve the restructuring agenda in six months and my answer to them all is that the process is not a rocket science. A serious minded government that knows how to listen and build consensus can restructure Nigeria for the benefit of all and this I undertake to do when I become the president. Some politicians will tell you it is a daunting task but the reality is that they are not really sincere and committed to ensuring its actualization. They play lots of politics with it and when agitations box them to a corner, they setup smokescreen committees. It's all about the willpower which many will agree I possess in abundance. Indeed the federal government can voluntarily withdraw from most of the items listed in the exclusive lists of our constitution. I believe that the benefits accruing from these first steps will help us as we move towards the changes that require amendments to our constitution. The major task is recomposing the second schedule which does not encourage development and when you enjoy a cordial relationship with the National Assembly and see it as an independent partner in progress rather than as a competitor, you can achieve great things. The anniversary was attended by former president, Olusegun Obasanjo; former head of state and chairman of the occasion, General Abdulsalami Abubakar; former governor of Ogun state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; former secretary general of the commonwealth, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, amongst many other dignitaries. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, a former governor of Kano state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has declared his interest in contesting for the presidency in the 2019 general elections under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Shekarau, 62, who is also the immediate past minister of education, said in an open letter, that his decision to seek for PDPs presidential ticket was informed by clarion calls from Nigerians and after wide consultations. PDP's Magnificent 7 for 2019 on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - A Nigerian Air Force Ground Training Command is to be established in Enugu state - The command is primarily to enhance the security of lives and properties of Nigerians in the southeast of the country - The state governor, Ugwuanyi, said this would further cement the existing cordial relationship between the NAF and Enugu The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar, has disclosed that the establishment of the NAF Ground Training Command (GTC) in Enugu state was primarily to enhance the security of lives and properties of Nigerians in the southeast of the country. He made this known on Wednesday, May 2, during the ground breaking and foundation laying ceremony of the headquarters complex of GTC at Gabon Village in Enugu state. Shortly before the ceremony, the CAS paid a courtesy call on the governor of Enugu state, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, at Government House, Enugu, where he thanked the governor for the states contributions to efforts at ensuring that the new command takes off in earnest. Governor Ugwuanyi performing the ground breaking ceremony of the Ground Training Command, Enugu. Photo credit: NAF READ ALSO: NAF @54: Inter-denominational church service holds in Abuja, other units He added that it was an indication of Governor Ugwuanyis interest in the security of his people and indeed all Nigerians. Furthermore, the CAS reiterated the commitment of the NAF to the security of all Nigerians, particularly those in the southeast, and hence, the siting of the new NAF Command in Enugu, in addition to its 211 Regiment Group in Owerri. The CAS had earlier paid a courtesy call to the governor in his office. Photo credit: NAF He also explained that the GTC is very strategic in the scheme of things as NAF operations are no longer limited to the air, with the advent of its special forces, which operate on the ground to combat Nigerias contemporary security challenges. In addition, Air Marshal Abubakar stated that the NAF was set to deploy its special forces to the recently established Quick Response Wing in Nguroje, Taraba state, as part of efforts at improving nationwide security. Air Marshal Abubakar then revealed the NAFs plans to build a reference hospital in Enugu for the benefit of personnel, their dependants and members of the civil populace. Air Marshal Abubakar also revealed the Nigerian Air Force plans to build a reference hospital in Enugu state. Photo credit: NAF In his response, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi lauded the NAF leadership for its pragmatic efforts at ensuring that the whole of the country is safe for all Nigerians. He noted that Enugu state had enjoyed a long-standing relationship with the NAF, particularly in the area of security. The governor then expressed his delight over the decision of the NAF to locate the GTC in Enugu, noting that it would further cement the existing cordial relationship between the NAF and Enugu state. The governor expressed his appreciation to the NAF for choosing Enugu as a location for the command. Photo credit: NAF During the ceremony, the CAS announced plans to bring additional combat helicopters to the NAF unit in the state towards boosting air operations and internal security in the south-east. He added that plans were on-going to establish a Quick Response Wing in one of the local government areas in the state to bring security closer to the people. The CAS further announced plans to upgrade facilities at the Air Force Comprehensive School Enugu to make it one of the best in the country. He had earlier urged everyone at the occasion to observe a minutes silence in honour of late Air Commodore EO Akinbayo, the former commander of 553 Base Services Group Enugu, who died on the eve of the date originally scheduled for the ceremony. READ ALSO: Youth empowerment: NAF flags off planting season for agriculture programme in Port Harcourt Meanwhile, activities for this years NAF day celebration 2018 are in top gear as all is set for the historic event scheduled to take place at the Nigerian Air Force Base, Kaduna from Friday, May 4 to Saturday, May 5. The theme of this year's celebration is Enhancing Nigerian Air Force Operational Capability for Timely Employment of Air Power in Response to Contemporary Security Challenges. President Buhari commissions first Nigerian drone on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Gravediggers said they have buried 86 people after the recent attack on worshippers in Adamawa state - The victims were killed during the afternoon prayer in Mubi town of the state - According to the gravediggers, most of the victims died overnight from injuries from the attack The attack on worshippers in a mosque in Adamawa state has reportedly left 86 dead, gravediggers in the area have said. Some of the gravediggers who spoke to Al Jazeera said the victims were killed in a double attack by suicide bombers during afternoon prayers on Tuesday, May 1, in Adamawa. The first bomber was said to have detonated his explosives during prayers while the second one exploded about 200 metres away while people feed from the first attack. READ ALSO: 2019: Obasanjo, Atiku reunite in Lagos (photos) One of the gravediggers who pleaded anonymity said: "We buried 86 people yesterday (Tuesday). These people died overnight from injuries, obviously." Confirming the shocking detail, another gravedigger said they only hope the number ends at 86. "We hope we are done with the burials," he said. However, the police in Adamawa had earlier said 27 people were killed from the attack. The police also said that an additional 58 persons were injured in the attack which occurred in Mubi area of the northeastern state. Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that a senator representing Kaduna Central at the Nigerian Senate, Shehu Sani, had urged the federal government to make available bomb detectors and cameras in schools and worship centres. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Sani in a tweet said the recent attack on a mosque in Mubi town in Adamawa state is condemnable. He also called for training of clerics and other religious leader on preventive security by the federal and state government. Nigerian Air Force operations against Boko Haram - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The police in Lagos has arrested a woman who allegedly kidnapped a two-year old child - The suspect, Mary Vera Henry, claimed that the victim looked like her 20-year old daughter - Imohimi Edgal, the commissioner of the force in the state, said the case has been transferred to the gender unit of the command, while investigations are underway There was drama on Wednesday, May 2 at the Lagos police command, Ikeja when a woman, who allegedly attempted to kidnap two children in Yaba area of of the state, arguing that one of the children resembles her missing 20-year-old daughter, who according to a diviner, turned into a two-year-old girl. Mary Vera Henry, the suspect, accosted the children, a 10-year-old boy, Mukaila Yau, and a two-year-old girl, Mariam Jubril, along Herbert Macaulay Way, in the morning of the same day and attempted taking them to an unknown destination, the Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: We will address waste challenges before rainy season - Lagos state government However, things turned around after the Divisional Police Officer heading the Sabo division, Mary Ubangha, a chief superintendent of police, noticed the restlessness as the infant was crying and struggling to break loose from the suspect's grip. Concerning the development, Imohimi Edgal, the commissioner of the force, Lagos command, explained: The DPO suspected that something was amiss and decided to trail the middle-aged woman. The suspect, according to the CP, noticed that she was under surveillance and quickly diverted into Saint Dominic Catholic Church, Yaba. The DPO followed her up and warned the church security men to keep an eye on her and never allow her exit the church without the police ascertaining her identity and those of the children as well as her mission in the church. The security men obliged and brought the woman and the children before the DPO. During interrogation, the woman gave her name as Mary Vera Henry of 6, Akanni Street, Shomolu. It was discovered that she was not the biological mother of the children, who are of different parents. She claimed that she lost her 20-year-old daughter whom diviners told her had been reduced in size and stature to a two-year-old child and that the two-year-old child (Marian Jubril) looked exactly like her missing 20-year-old daughter. The woman was arrested and taken to the station for further interrogation. Moreover, the actual parents of the children, who visited the command, denied the suspect's relationship with the children. Amidu, father of the 10-year-old boy, who was taken over with joy and relieve, informed newsmen that he sent his son on an errand but that two -year-old Marian accompanied him without his consent and knowledge. When interrogated, the suspect stated that one Shatan took her daughter away, without stating when and how. She further said that the allegation of kidnapping was false. She said: I did not do anything. They have my daughter. Yes, the children they found with me are not mine but one of them looked like mine. I was told that my daughter was turned into a two-year-old. My daughters name is Ada. This is all a planned work by Shatan Oji and Mama Blessing. They were paid N50,000 to do this. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Believing that the missing elder brother of the two-year old is an accomplice in the crime, CP Edgal said that the case has been transferred to the gender unit of the command, while investigation are still on. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that a lady, Jennifer Onyebuchi had been arrested by police officers in Lagos after she allegedly stole a nine month old baby in Ajegunle and fled to Okija in Anambra state. Legit.ng gathered that Onyebuchi had only known the mother of the baby, Aina Adetola for two weeks before stealing her child. The two women owned shops in the same area and had started to establish a close relationship. Farmers protest members' kidnap in Lagos - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Photos of a Nigerian and his sweetheart have gone viral - The adorable couple are set to tie the knot on May 26 - As they make arrangements for their special day, they shared adorable pre-wedding photos with Legit.ng They say love is the most powerful force on earth and over time, it's been proven to be true. A young couple met in Federal University Of Technology, Owerri. (FUTO) three years ago and are now making plans to walk down the aisle and they appear to have fulfilled destiny. The groom-to-be Collins Onyewuchi is a graduate of civil Engineering and his woman, Cynthia Chidiobi is the calmest bride as the count down to her special day begins. Their wedding slated for May 26 is set to hold at ST Thomas Chaplaincy, FUTO. The couple are ready to exchange marital vows in the presence of family and friends. Just as they count down, they shared their pre-wedding photos with NAIJ.com. READ ALSO: Reports claim the Porsche Davido bought for Chioma is 'second-hand', car dealer speaks Legit.ng couple Source: Facebook, Legit.ng READ ALSO: Reports claim the Porsche Davido bought for Chioma is 'second-hand', car dealer speaks Lovers set to wed Source: Facebook, Legit.ng Congratulations to the couple! PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app What do you think will happen if women rule the world? (Nigerian Street Interview) on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - Suspected herdsmen militia reportedly launch night attack on 4 Adamawa villages - A source said the two hilux trucks of military personnel retreated on sighting the alleged herdsmen - Soldiers battle Boko Haram insurgents in Borno state An alleged attack by suspected herdsmen on four villages in Adamawa state has reportedly left over 15 people dead. The Sun reports that the villages attacked by the suspected herders included Bolki, Bang, Zumoso and Gon in Numan and Lamurde local government areas of the state. READ ALSO: Obasanjo list 3 points he noticed during Buharis meeting with Trump The newspaper citing local sources, stated that herdsmen militia allegedly arrived the communities, on Wednesday night, May 2, on motocycles and hilux trucks, killing and burning down villages. A source said the two hilux trucks of military personnel retreated on sighting the suspected herdsmen, while two Air Force fighter jets flew over the town before the attack but refused to engage the attackers. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app In another report, soldiers have engaged Boko Haram insurgents in a gunfight at Auno, a community in Kada local government area of Borno state. The Cable reports that the gun battle erupted after the insurgents invaded the village with gun trucks and tricycles. Legit.ng learnt that security operatives however, succeeded in repelling the militants. TY Danjuma, Nigerian army and the herdsmen crisis | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - APC accuses Fayose of raising false alarm over Ekiti July gubernatorial election - The party says no amount of blackmail will derail it from producing a candidate that is acceptable to the people - Opeyemi Bamidele and Kayode Ojo say they never stepped down for Fayemi The Ekiti state chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) on Wednesday night, May 2, reacted to claims by Governor Ayo Fayose that some of its aspirants planned to monetise the party's governorship primary, describing it as figment of his imagination. The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the party, through its state publicity secretary, Chief Taiwo Olatunbosun said what the governor had just displayed by raising false alarm was a sign that he was afraid of an impending loss by his party of the July gubernatorial election. Fayose is frustrated and jittery, let him mind his business. He is not a member of our party so I dont know where he is picking his information from. APC is not like his own party, the Peoples Democratic Party that has stolen our commonwealth and plunged the nation into a state of coma. READ ALSO: Breaking: Dino Melaye arrives Kogi in ambulance, to be arraigned in court Yes, we will mobilise our members for the primary but the allegation that we are sharing that kind of money by the governor is laughable We will do everything that is right and within the constitution to send him out of the Government House, so let him start packing. No amount of blackmail will stop or derail us. The Ekiti people are set for the APC and we will make sure we produce a candidate that is acceptable to the people.he said. At a press conference earlier on Wednesday, May 2, Fayose raised the alarm over alleged movement of heavy cash into the state by some unidentified aspirants of the APC. He said such monies were meant to compromise the delegates. He claimed that the governorship election slated for July 14 in the state might also be compromised by the use of cash, going by the alleged desperation of the aspirants who are jostling for the ticket of the APC. According to him, the way the exercise was being compromised in the build up to ordinary primary, showed that the APC was merely paying lip service to the war against corruption. The governor wondered where the money being spent by the alleged and unidentified aspirants was coming from. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Fayose claimed that one particular aspirant gave each delegate N250,000, and another gave N500,000, with a promise to offer them N1million each on Saturday, May 5, the day of the party primary. He urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other relevant agencies to beam their searchlight into the alleged monetisation of the electoral processes in the state and avoid a repeat of same scenario when it comes to the gubernatorial election proper. Meanwhile, two aspirants for the governorship seat of Ekiti state on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kayode Ojo and Opeyemi Bamidele, have said they are still in the race against claims that they have stepped down for Kayode Fayemi. Fayemi, a former governor and current solid minerals minister, is also in the race with other aspirants on the party platform. On his part, Bamidele also denied stepping down ahead of the primary election of the APC. He described the rumour as laughable as, according to him, there is no reason to quit when he is convinced that he has a good chance of clinching the partys ticket. APC official tells why his party could be voted out in 2019 on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - A four-member committee has been set up by the FEC to oversee the construction of east-west road in the Niger Delta - The committee has also been charged with the responsibility of supervising road construction projects across Nigeria worth N142.5 billion - The minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi revealed that the committee consist of ministers of information and culture, Lai Mohammed; Niger Delta, Usani Usani; and that of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, May 2, approved a four-member ministerial committee saddled with the responsibility of ensuring speedy completion of the east-west road in the Niger Delta and N142.5 billion for construction of roads across the country. The minister of transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, and that of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, made the disclosure when they briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the councils meeting which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: Fela Durotoye asks women to deny husbands without PVC intimacy Amaechi, who spoke on the appointment of the four-member, ministerial committee to be chaired by him, said members of the committee would undertake an inspection tour of the East-West road with a view to ensuring its completion. He said members of the committee included ministers of information and culture, Lai Mohammed; Niger Delta, Usani Usani; and that of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola. The minister disclosed that the council also approved N1.67 billion for the procurement of equipment for the Lagos-Kano narrow gauge in line with an initial interim agreement signed between the federal government and the GE (General Electrical). The council also approved N1.2 billion for the purchase of 18 flat-bed wagons to be operated on the narrow gauge rail line by the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC). The minister of power, works and housing, Babatunde Fashola, said the council approved a total of N99.01 billion for the repair and maintenance works on the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos and construction of various roads across the country. He said N18.874 billion of the amount would be expended on the maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos as part of the federal governments National Bridge Maintenance Strategy. Fashola said the third mainland bridge contract was awarded to one of the original contractors for the project, Borini Prono of Italy. He said the construction company was expected to carry out maintenance works on 33 out of the 177 piles of the bridge which were in critical condition. According to him, part of the repair works on the bridge will also involve the maintenance of general expansion joint replacement and will be completed within 27 months. The minister said the budget for the repair on the bridge was captured in the 2017 appropriation law. He said council also approved N80.19 billion as revised amount for the second section of the 84 kilometres Lagos-Ibadan expressway project. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! Fashiola said: "The federal government has initially approved N96.304 billion for the Lagos-Ibadan road project. With yesterdays approval by FEC, the project has been revised to N176.50 billion. FEC also approved the N38.034 billion for the construction of the 9th mile-Orikam road in Enugu state which is 72 kilometers." Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the sum of 47 billion naira had been approved for three road projects by the federal government. The development was disclosed at the end of the Federal Executive Council meeting on Wednesday, April 11, by Fashola. Legit.ng gathers that Fasola gave the breakdown of the projects to include Baban Lamba-Sharam Road in Plateau state at the cost of 19.2bn, Lagos- Otta- Abeokuta Road for 22 billion and the EnuguPort Harcourt Road for 6.309 billion. Rotimi Amaechi says he is busy on the streets - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - BBNaija winner, Miracle and ex housemate Nina touch down Imo state in style - The housemates honoured the invitation of the state governor and were given a grand welcome - Miracle and Nina shared clips of the fan love they got from their hometown Legit.ng earlier reported how BBNaija 2018 winner, Miracle was named education ambassador for Imo state. The Flyboy shared the news on his social media as he appreciated the state governor for bestowing such honour on him. Just recently, the young pilot, ex housemate, Nina alongside family and friends honoured the invitation of Governor Rochas Okorocha to visit the Eastern heartland. The housemates were surprised to meet the cheering fans who showed them every beat of love as their votes represented back in the BBNaija house. Miracle and Nina shared clips from the grand welcome they got form the good people of Imo state. The Flyboy was proud to see a huge billboard raised to make him feel right home. READ ALSO: Reports claim the Porsche Davido bought for Chioma is 'second-hand', car dealer speaks Here are some photos of them being welcomed below: The housemates were also shown love and support by fans in the state. READ ALSO: Reports claim the Porsche Davido bought for Chioma is 'second-hand', car dealer speaks The handsome N45 million richer pilot was almost cheered on by an army of excited fans who wanted a piece of him for themselves. Pretty Nina also showed channeling her inner Rihanna with her stylish red hair. She also met her loyal who were struggling to take photos with the ivory reality TV game show star. Meanwhile, a Nigerian lady recently called out Miracle for showing off his fleet of Mercedes Benz, saying 'he deceived his poor fans.' PAY ATTENTION: Read best news on Nigeria's #1 news app BBNaija Finale 2018: Nigerians share their thoughts on Cee-C, Miracle on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - Two pregnant women, Mimi Abbas, 21 and Sofia Sulaiman, 25, are charged with theft - The prosecution tells the court it was the fifth time the second accused was committing similar offence The police on Thursday, May 3, arraigned two pregnant women, Mimi Abbas, 21 and Sofia Sulaiman, 25, in a Karu grade I area court in Abuja for stealing four plasma TV sets. Abbas and Sulaiman who reside at Masaka, Nasarawa state, were arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on joint-act and theft, offence they denied committing, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The prosecutor, Edwin Ochayi, told the court that one Favour Eyo of Millipat Lodge, Airport Road in Abuja reported the matter at the Wuye police station in Abuja on April 14, around 11.30am. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Court denies Melaye bail, remands him in police custody He said that the complainant alleged that on April 13, the accused persons who were guests at the lodge, stole four plasma television, valued at N260, 000. Though one of the televisions was recovered along Airport Road, but the suspects were traced and arrested on April 15 at Masaka and they confessed to have committed the crime, Ochayi said. He added that it was the fifth time, Suleiman, the second accused was committing similar offence. According to the prosecutor, the offence is contrary to and punishable under Sections 79 and 287 of the penal code. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The judge, Hassan Ishaq, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with one surety in like sum. Ishag also ordered that the sureties must write a letter of undertaking that the defendants would not commit further offence. He adjourned the case until May 16 for hearing. In another report, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has denied claims that its questions for the ongoing May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) was illegally released before time. In dismissing the allegation, WAEC explained that fraudulent supervisors, invigilators and candidates probably sent snap shots of questions during live exams to criminal website to treat and send answers to their clients online, The Nation reports. The claim was in reaction to a recent media report on examination malpractice syndicates, alleging that leaked questions and answers were provided for candidates writing the exam. Robbers return firearms to Nigerian Police | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Adamawa Command, says it has commenced intensive surveillance on major routes along the Nigeria-Cameroon border. NDLEA said the move was sequel to the federal governments ban on the production and importation of codeine into the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Federal Ministry of Health had directed NDLEA offices across the country to ensure strict surveillance of the borders. READ ALSO: BREAKING: Court denies Melaye bail, remands him in police custody Speaking with NAN on Thursday, May 3, in Yola, Yakubu Kibo, NDLEAs Commander in Adamawa, said that the command has taken strategic measures to comply with the federal governments directive. As you are aware, Adamawa has porous borders with Cameroon Republican; five of the seven local government areas affected by Boko Haram in the state are directly on the border with Cameroon. But we have intensified surveillance in collaboration with sister agencies in these areas to frustrate any attempt to import the substance into the country. Kibo said that the command recently destroyed over 14,000 tonnes of hard drugs, four tonnes of which were cough syrup with Codeine. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app He gave an assurance that the command would frustrate all possible moves to bring the banned drugs into the state and the country in general. Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Senate on Wednesday, May 2, called on its committees on drug and narcotics, and that of heath to ensure full compliance with the ban on use of codeine in cough syrup announced by the federal government. Wednesdays resolution of the upper chamber was sequel to a point-of-order moved by Senate leader Ahmad Lawan, at plenary. Lawan, who said that the Senate had first introduced the debate in October 2017, added that the ban had put the executive and legislature on a common ground. Suspected cannabis traffickers reject Police accusations | on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The principal officers of the Senate have met with leaders from southern and middle belt leaders - Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Edwin Clark, Obong Victor Attah, Chukwuemeka Ezeife and others were in the meeting - The meeting was announced on social media by Senate President Bukola Saraki Senate president, Bukola Saraki and the principal officers of the Senate have met with leaders from the southern and middle belt parts of the country. Officers in attendance include Chiefs Ayo Adebanjo, Edwin Clark, Obong Victor Attah, Chukwuemeka Ezeife, John Nwodo, and Mr. Yinka Odumakin Receiving them were president of the Senate, Bukola Saraki; deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu, and several other senators. READ ALSO: Melaye jumped from vehicle because he was being tear-gassed by police - Senator The Senate president made this known on Facebook when he shared a live update of the event on social media. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the lawmaker representing Kogi west senatorial district in the Senate, Dino Melaye, was denied bail by a magistrate's court 2 in Lokoja Kogi state, in the case of an alleged criminal conspiracy, causing damage to government property and escape from lawful custody. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app The prosecution counsel, Alex Isihon, stated that the court did not have the jurisdiction to entertain the case, Channels reports. Legit.ng noted that in his submission, Mike Ozekhome, counsel to Senator Melaye, argued that the court had the power by virtue of the constitution to try the case. Dino Melaye and 2019 Criminal Conspiracy | on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit The toxic legacy of Canadas CIA brainwashing experiments: They strip you of your soul Guardian (UserFriendly). Todays must read. Hominin Head-Scratcher: Who Butchered This Rhino 709,000 Years Ago? Discover Magazine (Kevin W) Japan: robot dogs get solemn Buddhist send-off at funerals Guardian We Are Talking Billions of People Displaced by Sea Level Rise FAIR (UserFriendly). Has info that may be new to many readers. Climate change is now a Russian plot: Exposed by the booming Russia fearmongering industry: a broad Kremlin campaign to disrupt the booming US energy industry. Evidence includes at least 8 Russian accounts sending at least 16 social media messages, & anti-pipeline protest coverage on RThttps://t.co/BJcxGSSV4W pic.twitter.com/GHmysJ0Zon Aaron Mate (@aaronjmate) May 2, 2018 Some genetic tests apparently cant tell if youre dog or human Furutism (David L) Even funnier: A Home DNA Test Kit For Humans Found This Golden Retriever Would Make a Great Cyclist Science Alert Scientists build synthetic embryos BBC North Korea Denuclearization: Can Trump and Kim Find a Common Definition? Wall Street Journal Aadhaar hearing: Supreme Court questions private companies using citizens details Scroll (J-LS) Aadhaar Fraud is Not Only Real, But is Worth More Closely Examining The Wire (J-LS) India dust storms: Nearly 100 killed in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan BBC Matteo Renzi swings wrecking ball at tie-up with Five Star Financial Times TSB TSB boss Paul Pester got it all wrong as MPs drew blood over banks IT snafu Independent. This really was disgraceful. And the MPs didnt ask anything other than basic questions. See our post today. Brexit May goes back to drawing board to find customs compromise Independent. Translation: Shes kicked the can down the road again. Given that local elections are about to start, this should have been predictable. May defied by senior ministers over plans for EU customs deal The Times. A more pointed take. Sajid Javid joins hard-Brexiters to derail PM on customs plan Guardian. As PlutoniumKun points out (and some other media outlets noted yesterday) the replacement of Rudd has tipped the balance in the Cabinet to favor the Ultras: If this is so, it looks almost certain May will not be able to present the EU with any sort of workable plan. This is happening as the MPs are more and more favoring a soft Brexit. AS he extrapolated (and Richard Smith and I discussed in parallel) this increases the odds of a Constitutional crisis and a crash-out Brexit, which the EU might not mind, since it would mean their hands were clean. Windrush scandal: Tories vote to block release of secret documents as they launch review Independent. With the too-obvioius intent that Rudds resignation will work as a shield for May, who was responsible. Agenda: Give us a timetable for firm action on dirty money Herald Scotland Syraqistan Big Brother is Watching You Watch Tariff Tantrum It appears China has stopped buying soybeans from the US altogether because of trade fight CNBC (Kevin W) Trump Transition Governments Are Nothing Like Households Forbes Police Crack Down on Puerto Rico May Day March Against Austerity Real News Network. We flagged this via a tweet yesterday. Police State Watch Kill Me Now KKR seeks Trump tax boost through restructuring Financial Times Tesla posts record $710m net loss as it struggles to produce Model 3 cars Guardian (Kevin W) Tesla Discloses Worst Quarterly Zinger of a Loss Ever, Burns $1.1 Billion Cash Wolf Richter. EM: Upshot is the following dire ratio: 26% increase in revenues caused a 114% jump in net losses. A.k.a. We lose huge amounts of money on every car we build, but we make it up on volume. Guillotine Watch Class Warfare Antidote du jour (Tracie H). Brown Chinese geese: And an unconventional bonus anecdote from Tam: See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here. Based on reading the Guardians live blog on the Parliamentary hearings on the TSB IT meltdown, plus some additional coverage, no one appears to have comported themselves all that well, but CEO Paul Pester put in such a spectacularly arrogant and disconnected-from-reality performance so as to have somewhat diverted attention from the poor job MPs did of questioning him and other TSB and Sabadell execs. Even though the personal styles were as far apart as one could possibly envision, there was an eerie similarity between Pesters fabulous disconnect from reality and that of former Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf. Recall that Stumpf ran an operationally sound and highly profitable bank that was being discovered to have a sales culture that could only be characterized as criminal. As Elizabeth Warren pointed out, a teller stealing a $20 from a drawer would go to jail, yet Wells was engaged in the same sort of thing at an institutional level. Yet Stumpf blandly kept insisting that this was just a few bad apples in the face of red hot rejection by Senators and Congressmen from both sides of the aisle. It took two rounds of disastrous Washington appearances, plus the press picking apart Stumpfs dodgy claims before the board roused itself to tell Stumpf he needed to resign. It was not hard fto show that the head of retail banking was driving the sales process and punishing any managers who questioned it, and Stumpf kept setting ever-more aggressive targets. But Stumpf held on far longer than I had imagined possible. That was likely due to misguided personal loyalty, compounded by them mistakenly believing that his reassurances were based on better intel than what board members could read in the media. As much as the Parliamentary hearings made clear that Pester is utterly clueless about what is going on with TSBs systems and a PR liability for the bank, hes likely to hang on for an even more unseemly amount of time. First, his bosses at Sabadell seem just as out to lunch, so they are unlikely to see him as a problem, since that means admitting they screwed up disastrously too. Second, who could possibly want to step into this role? Any insider is presumably part of the problem. Who would be willing to take on a bank that could have fundamentally unfixable IT problems, which means having to resolve it in a novel manner? Normally banks go tits up in familiar ways, like stupid loans and embezzlement, as opposed to an institution of scale making such a mess of its records that it dies under the liabilities. A few points from the hearings: Lame questioning by MPs. It was shocking that no one asked even a slightly technical question. As our readers have pointed out, even by looking at Twitter screenshots and connecting the dots from press reports, you can infer quite a lot that is damning on the IT front. Our Clive pointed out one shocking planning failure that should have been a lay-up as a line of inquiry: When I read the communications from TSB, there were a couple of stand-out facts which had me shaking my head. The first was that TSB were moving their entire customer base over to the new system in one go. This required a two day (the weekend of 21-22 April) complete system outage which implied it was only just about feasible to do the transfer and the data load in that timescale. This meant that there was no possibility of pre-live testing. And that there would be a single Critical Success Factor to the migration which was simply measured as getting all the data over to the new TSB system and the imports completing. Whether that data was the right data for the fields being populated in the TSB system and whether fields were mandatory or optional in terms of getting data inputted into them before the start of the on-line day on Monday 23rd was never apparently considered. There are now big gaps in the historic data on the TSB platform Ill cover this more below. And on Tuesday, before the Parliamentary hearings, a Wired story volunteered the notion that TSB had tested its systems over the migration weekend. Um, by the time youve migrated your production system, you are past the point of testing. Vlade poured cole water on this idea: TSB testing on the weekend. Experts, huh? You DONT do testing of migration on the production system at the weekend of the migration. That would be even more idiotic than not doing it at all TBH, as it has all the potential to screw up the production, reduces time available for migration and any inevitable cock-ups (and hence also ability to roll back), and a lot of other problems I could think of. The testing of migration is done on parallel test systems (that are, as far as practicable) perfect copies of production (some brave souls could use the DR site, which of course is ok until a problem strikes and you need that..) so called dry-runs. You may do those on the weekends (to simulate the whole migration, so for example be able to detach/re-attach integrated systems etc., plus it takes a lot more of effort than usual working day), but not on the weekend of migration. Its expensive to have a full parallel system, which is why partial migrations are preferable. But to migrate a full system like TSBs w/o at least two full-population dry-runs (first one tends to find quite a few problems, second hopefully fixes them and establishes better runbook) is negligency par excellence. Of course, then you also need to have a way of testing the dry-run otherwise I can dry-run trivially (>/dev/null will always work ) and claim sucess. In my experience, you might have done a dry-run on the weekend, and then spend the rest of the week testing and evaluating it. There has been more than enough evidence via Twitterverse of other IT horrors, like errors in multiple programming languages (confirmation of the fear that the problems are in many sub-systems), internal testing domains on production, tons of internal error messages visible to customers, and shockingly incomplete customer interfaces when they do work (numerous typos and formatting errors). As Richard Smith said, this looked as if it had been planned and executed by high school kids. As a result, MPs were not able to do more than mildly dent howler assertions by Pester. The MPs should have, between access to IT experts and a better view of at least some of the issues from constituents, should have been able to bore in. Instead the level of questioning was based on grim anecdotes, with Pester able to assert that he had a better view of the situation, and kept repeating the sort of blather that had been getting pushback on Twitter for days, like his assertion that his data showed that almost all customers were getting online. Nicky Morgan did well despite being disadvantaged by not introducing a technical take. She had two colleagues with TSB accounts try logging in during Pesters testimony. Neither could get access. And this exchange, as recounted in the Guardian, was mind-boggling: A secondary school student in Clonmel is looking forward to walking the red carpet at this month's Cannes Film Festival, after her costume was the Southern Region winner at the All-Ireland Junk Kouture Final at Dublin's 3Arena. Designed by Sarah Ni Cheallaigh and Alanna Gilbert and modelled by Alanna Gilbert, the costume entitled 'Expressivo' was a big hit at the national final of Junk Kouture, the leading fashion and art competition for secondary schools that challenges students to create unique, original and innovative outfits from recycled materials and junk. The concept of the costume is about expressing yourself. Inspired by mental health and suicide awareness, and the pressures that some people feel to have the perfect face and body, the inside parts of a piano were used to relay the message that it is what is inside that counts, not the outside. The girls used the musical term expressivo for the name of their costume, which was modelled by Alanna on the Ray D'Arcy show on RTE. She and Sarah will be joined on the trip to the south of France for the world-famous Cannes Film Festival, which runs from May 8-19, by fellow student Keyara Connolly, who did Alanna's make-up, and their art teacher Claire Murphy. 'Expressivo' was one of four costumes from the Presentation school that qualified for the All-Ireland Final. The school is grateful to teachers Mairead Fennell and Claire Murphy and to all the teachers, students and parents who travelled to Dublin to support the teams at the national final. This May the Irish Heart Foundation is seeking volunteers in Clonmel to help sell their iconic happy hearts and raise vital funds to save lives from sudden cardiac arrest, which claims 5,000 lives in Ireland every year. Anyone wishing to help can contact local man Joe OSullivan. If youd like to support the Happy Hearts Appeal by volunteering a few hours of your time and selling pins on 11th May, simply contact Joe O'Sulivan co-ordinator. Email josullivan16@gmail.com or phone: 086 2654577. Money raised for the Happy Hearts Appeal will go towards the Irish Heart Foundations CPR programmes to create lifesavers in every community in Ireland. Starting CPR can double a persons chance of survival. According to the Irish Heart Foundations Basic Life Support Coordinator, Brigid Sinnott, when a person suffers a cardiac arrest and they dont receive prompt CPR or defibrillation their chance of survival decreases by 10 percent for every minute that nothing is done. She said: If you are a bystander when this happens and are willing to do something you can make the difference between life and death. Early CPR can double if not triple your chance of survival. Learning CPR can give you confidence in knowing what to do when faced with a collapse and we know that anyone who has done a CPR course at any stage in their life is 10 times more likely to respond and assist in such an emergency. Cardiac arrest could happen to someone at work, in your community, or at home so its essential to know exactly what to do, and be confident in doing it, according to the Irish Heart Foundation. Joe O'Sullivan, Happy Heart Coordinator in Clonmel for the Irish Heart Foundation said: This years Happy Hearts Appeal target is 350,000; these vital funds ensure that the Irish Heart Foundation can continue to provide essential CPR training in communities like ours. If a loved one or someone you know goes into a sudden cardiac arrest, you are their main chance of survival. Not a passer-by. You and your hands. CPR saves lives and so do volunteers. Now more than ever, we need more volunteers in Clonmel for our Happy Hearts Appeal, so that we can raise funds for programmes like our vital CPR training. Join us and volunteer on May 11th to keep more hearts beating, because we desperately need more lifesavers. The NATO Deputy Secretary General, the Honourable Rose Gottemoeller, will travel to Sofia on Friday, 4 May and Saturday, 5 May 2018. Ms. Gottemoeller will have meetings with the Vice President, H.E. Mrs. Iliana Iotova, the Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Boyko Borissov, the Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mrs. Ekaterina Zaharieva and the Deputy Prime Minister for Public Order and Security and Minister of Defence, H.E. Mr. Krasimir Karakachanov. On Friday, the Deputy Secretary General will attend the Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers and will also participate in a panel discussion at the Sofia Security Conference Towards a New EU Defence Identity. For more information on the conference, please consult www.sofiaforum.bg Still and video imagery will be available on the NATO website after the event. Follow the Deputy Secretary General on Twitter (@Gottemoeller). Also follow us at @NATOPress. (Natural News) Remember when the mere mention of chemtrails in public was immediately shot down by scientific know-it-alls as a wacky conspiracy theory with no basis in reality? Well, chemtrails have now been given an official name geoengineering and even the mainstream media now openly admits that theyre real and being used to combat climate change. Scientists from developing countries like Bangladesh, China, India, and Thailand are actively studying how chemtrails might be used to dim the suns rays by putting a chemical layer between them and the earth. They claim that artificially blocking all-natural sunlight from reaching the earths surface is preferable to facing an alleged impending disastrous rise in global temperatures which is the real conspiracy theory, ironically. Even though theres no credible evidence whatsoever to suggest that global warming is even a real thing, big money is being spent on figuring out how to stop it by keeping sunlight away from humans. So-called solar geoengineering is actually a thing now, as brainwashed researchers the world over seek to artificially create an atmospheric effect similar to the layers of ash that erupt from a large volcano. In other words, by blasting the sky with all sorts of chemicals designed to block sunlight from reaching the earth, these alleged scientists believe that they can seize control of global temperatures and keep them from getting too hot. In turn, this will apparently create the global utopia that climate change fanatics envision sans the sun. Developing countries must lead on solar geo-engineering research, reads a commentary penned by 12 so-called scholars that was recently published in the journal Nature. The overall idea (of solar geo-engineering) is pretty crazy but it is gradually taking root in the world of research, commented lead author Atiq Rahman, head of the Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies. Foolish pseudoscientists trying to block the sun will end up killing millions of people by exacerbating vitamin D deficiency Perhaps not surprisingly, the impetus behind this mass brainwashing of scientists hailing from some of the poorest countries in the world are massive cash infusions from the West. A $400,000 research project known as the Solar Radiation Management Governance Initiative (SRMGI) is behind the push for this type of research, and backing it is the Open Philanthropy Project, a foundation headed by Dustin Moskovitz, one of the co-founders of Facebook. According to Rahman, the project involves investigating how airplanes might be used to spray artificial clouds containing reflective sulfur high in the atmosphere which is exactly what chemtrail activists have been warning is happening for many years now. The technique is controversial, and rightly so, the commentary explains. It is too early to know what its effects would be: it could be very helpful or very harmful. Meanwhile, not a single one of these pseudoscientific hacks is even considering how purposely blocking out natural sunlight will impact vitamin D status in population groups across the globe. The primary means through which humans obtain life-sustaining vitamin D is from the sun, after all and the ultraviolet B (UVB) rays that generate it upon impacting human skin will be a thing of the past if these foolish humans trying to play God are effective in achieving their global chemtrail dreams. This is already happening, by the way, as a result of the sunscreen hoax. Truth be told, chemtrails are already being sprayed day in and day out all over the world, unbeknownst to billions. But those behind this madness are finally coming out of the closet by openly admitting what theyre up to which means its time for informed individuals everywhere to take a bold stand in raising awareness about the insanity of trying to eliminate the sun from the equation of human existence. Read Geoengineering.news for more coverage of chemtrails and other geoengineering attempts. Sources for this article include: Reuters.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Health professionals will one day be able to hunt down the tiniest of chemicals and pathogens, thanks to a new sensor developed by Chinese researchers. According to an article on ScienceDaily, the sensor is small and flexible enough to fit inside small spaces, such as blood vessels. Furthermore, its sensitivity allows it to perform numerous biological and chemical analyses with high accuracy. Optimization could give it the capability to identify individual chemicals, molecules, and viruses. Our new fiber sensor has a simple structure and is inexpensive to make while being small enough for highly sensitive measurement in narrow areas. In the future, it could be used for chemical and biological sensing in a variety of applications, suggested Chao Chen, a researcher from the Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics (CIOMP). The business end of the new sensor is a millimeter long and mounted on the S taper end of an optical fiber. It inspects the refractive index of its target to determine chemical parameters such as concentration and pH. According to the results of the Chinese study, the fiber refractive index sensor is nine times more sensitive than its counterparts. Furthermore, it retains its accuracy despite changes in temperature. The tiny sensor could potentially be used at refineries to detect leaks that might lead to a fire or explosion. The device is sensitive and requires very little sample for analysis, characteristics that could make it useful for detecting contaminants in food, for example, suggested Chen. Chens research team published their report in the journal Optical Materials Express. (Related: New graphene gas sensor inspired by dog noses.) Optical sensor looks for spectral shifts The refractive index sensor works by channeling supercontinuum white light through the optic fiber and into the S taper end. Some of that illumination is deliberately leaked out of the taper so that it could interact with its surroundings. That contact causes the light to shift spectrum. A silver mirror at the end of the fiber collects this altered light and reflects it back down the fiber, where an optical spectrum analyzer is on the lookout for any spectral shifts. Such shifts can provide clues regarding the properties of the sample. The original version of the sensor actively transmitted light through the sample. Its use of an S-shaped taper allowed the sensing portion of the fiber to be smaller than other reflection refractive index sensors, which used tapered fibers that were too long for compact probing. The researchers modified their earlier prototype to use reflected light so that it could fit inside cramped or narrow spaces. The changeover reduced the sensitivity of the device as it went into small beds that it would probably encounter during insertions. New sensor works even in boiling temperatures The first phase of their testing called for immersing the new sensor in different concentrations of glycerin-water solutions at room temperature. Researchers kept an open eye out for any refractive index changes that took place. The results revealed that their sensor showed excellent sensitivity to any spectral shifts that took place in the glycerin-water solutions. For the second phase, the researchers cranked up the heat. They raised the temperature of the solutions in increments of 50 degrees Farenheit (10 degrees Celsius) until they achieved 212 degrees Farenheit (100 degrees Celsius). They reported that the sensor successfully continued accurate operations despite boiling temperatures. For Chen and his fellow researchers, the next step is to determine if increasing the narrowness of the fiber taper will result in increased sensitivity. Another objective is to create a version with specialized material that binds to certain elusive molecules like DNA or viruses. Visit Scientific.news for more scientific breakthroughs in biological and chemical applications. Sources include: ScienceDaily.com OSAPublishing.org What to Know The FBI said the "Golden State Killer" is responsible for approximately 45 rapes, 12 homicides, and multiple residential burglaries In 2016, the FBI announced a $50,000 reward and a national campaign to identify the killer Joseph DeAngelo's six-year career as a cop came swiftly to an end after being busted for shoplifting a can of dog repellant and a hammer from a Pay N' Save store in a Sacramento suburb in 1979. Authorities are now wondering if the items he snatched were intended as tools for the sinister rash of crimes he's suspected of carrying out. DeAngelo, 72, was accused Wednesday of being the Golden State Killer who terrorized suburban neighborhoods in a spate of brutal rapes and slayings in the 1970s and '80s before leaving a cold trail that baffled investigators for decades. He was charged with eight counts of murder in three counties after being linked to the crimes through his DNA. The Sacramento County District Attorney's Office on Thursday confirmed a relative's DNA on genealogy websites helped them track down DeAngelo. Most of the crimes, predominantly sex assaults but also two slayings, occurred in the three years he was an Auburn police officer in the Sierra foothills outside Sacramento. The attacks on sleeping women and sometimes their partners in middle and upper-middle-class subdivisions east of the state Capitol shattered an innocence where people didn't lock their doors and children rode bicycles to school and played outside until dark. Sales of locks surged. Lights burned all night. There was even talk of vigilantes with CB radios patrolling streets to nab the masked, armed man who became known as the East Area Rapist. "It all changed," said Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, who was 12 at the time of the crimes. "The memories are very vivid. You can ask anyone who grew up here. Everyone has a story." Schubert and law enforcement officers refocused their attention on the case two years ago on the 40th anniversary of the first known attack. Source: http://www.coldcase-earons.com/ But until a week ago, DeAngelo, who lived in a neatly kept home in the Citrus Heights suburb where many of the attacks went down and where he was caught stealing, was not in their sights. A break in the case and the arrest came together in "light speed" during the past six days, Schubert said, though authorities refused to reveal what pointed to DeAngelo. Sacramento Sheriff Scott Jones said detectives with "dogged determination" were able to get a sample of DNA from something DeAngelo discarded, though he wouldn't say what the item was. The genetic material was not a match, but there were enough similarities that investigators got a second sample, which proved conclusive. "We knew we were looking for a needle in a haystack, but we also knew that needle was there," Schubert said. In May 1977, as the frequent attacks gained national attention, the rapist told a victim he would kill two people if he saw stories about her attack, according to an Associated Press article at the time. Some eight months later after another nine assaults, he made good on that promise, authorities said. Brian and Katie Maggiore were fatally shot in Rancho Cordova on Feb. 2, 1978 while walking their dog. The number of attacks recorded by police dropped precipitously after he was fired from the police department. But they intensified in violence and moved to Southern California. Nine killings occurred between October 1979 and August 1981. After a rape and killing in Orange County five years later, the culprit appeared to have quit. Although it's unusual for serial killers to stop, Jones said there's no evidence DeAngelo committed any crimes after 1986. "We have no indication of any crimes with a similar or at least a close enough link to his MO and other things that he's done in the past to link him to anything from '86 on," Jones said. "We just have nothing at this point." DeAngelo had one other minor brush with the law Jones wouldn't reveal in addition to the shoplifting incident. The graduate of nearby Folsom High School and U.S. Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam War seemed to settle into his own suburban existence in the modest three-bedroom home on Canyon Oak Drive. For 27 years, he worked in a cavernous Save Mart Supermarkets distribution warehouse in Roseville, a Sacramento suburb, before retiring last year, company spokeswoman Victoria Castro said. "None of his actions in the workplace would have led us to suspect any connection to crimes being attributed to him," she said in a statement. DeAngelo built remote-controlled model airplanes and took meticulous care of his house and manicured lawn, neighbors said. Natalia Bedes-Correnti said DeAngelo appeared to be a "nice old grandpa" who lived with an adult daughter and granddaughter. But he also had penchant for cussing loudly when he was frustrated. "He liked the 'F-word' a lot," Bedes-Correnti said. Deputies kept watch on the house and his comings and goings for several days and took him by surprise Tuesday afternoon as he walked outside. As he was being arrested, he told officers he had a roast in the oven. They said they would take care of it. Investigators have sent letters believed written by an elusive Bay Area serial killer to labs in the hope of creating a DNA profile with new technology that will eventually lead to finding the Zodiac Killer, according to a report. A Vallejo Police detective told the Sacramento Bee that a few months ago his team sent two envelopes containing letters from the Zodiac Killer a man accused of murdering at least five people across the Bay Area in the late 1960s to be analyzed with new technology that was previously unavailable. Someone who claimed to be the killer sent several letters to Bay Area newspapers with coded messages that announced himself as the Zodiac Killer and to taunt police. Detective Terry Poyser told The Bee that he hopes to obtain a full DNA profile of the killer from the letters and use it to find him through genealogy websites, like the investigators did in the Golden State Killer Case that led to the arrest of former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo. "If we get a good profile, then you start tracking back," Poyser told The Bee. "It really comes down to DNA. Without it, you have nothing. It's a 50 years old case." The now-famous sketch of the killer was made after he shot a cab driver in San Francisco in 1969. Witnesses described the killer as a white male with stocky build and about 5'8" to 6 foot tall with heavy-rimmed glasses. Police had several suspects over the years but they were never able to convict anyone for the killings. This new advanced DNA analysis has brought hope to relatives of the Zodiac Killer's victims. On July 4, 1969, 22-year-old Darlene Ferrin and a friend were shot multiple times in a parking lot in Vallejo by a man believed to be the Zodiac Killer. "Its been almost 50 years now," said Ferrin's brother, Leo Suennen. "I want to know who he is, his name." Berkeley police have lifted a shelter-in-place order after a family dispute apparently ended in an area of the city Wednesday, police said. As of 5:09 p.m. the order for the 2300 block of Acton Street had been lifted The dispute was reported to police at about 2 p.m. and officers went to the scene and spoke with one of the parties involved, police Sgt. Andrew Frankel said. Officers tried to speak with the other person but that person apparently left before police arrived. Frankel said no one was injured and no threat to public safety now exists. Police will continue to investigate the dispute. San Francisco Police Department Chief Bill Scott reportedly is looking to return to the Los Angeles Police Department as its top cop. Scott, who left LAPD as a deputy chief to lead SFPD in 2017, is scheduled to be interviewed, the Los Angeles Times reports citing a source. Before joining SFPD, Scott served 27 years with LAPD. He is one of four candidates considered for the LAPD position. Scott did not confirm or deny he has applied for the chief of the LAPD. But NBC sources say he is in the top five and expected to be on the final list of three candidates sent to Mayor Eric Garcetti, who will make the final choice. "Im not going to confirm an unsubstantiated source," Scott said. "I have to be focused on this job. We have a lot of work to do. All the recommendations from the DOJ reform, property crimes were making progress on." Late Mayor Ed Lee chose Scott, wanting an outsider to bring in a new culture to a department embroiled in controversy. There had been racist and homophobic text-messages exchanged by officers and a number of controversial police shootings. In May 2016, after the third officer-involved shooting in one year, Lee asked for Chief Greg Suhrs resignation. The LAPD Commission says it expects to provide a Top 3 list, with its recommendation for its most favored candidate, to the mayor's office around June 1. NBC Bay Area sources say it appears the list may be sent over sooner, meaning if Scott is chosen, he could be gone by next month. LAPD Chief Charlie Beck retires June 27, according to the LA Times. NBC Bay Area's Terry McSweeney contributed to this report. A University of San Francisco professor has developed an algorithm that could change lives and lead to better outcomes for children living with autism. Dr. William Bosl, a neuroscientist at USF, figured out you can see abnormal patterns in brain activity from an age-old source -- EEG sensors -- that capture wavelengths. The research also highlights how autism can be detected just a few months after birth. "If this works, it's a window into the mind that could change our practice of psychiatry and neurology -- the world over," Bosl said. The research was laid out in the prestigious Scientific Reports Journal and put together with two of Bosl's colleagues from Harvard Medical School and Boston Children's Hospital. Amy Fickenscher, who has two children with autism, said the new research will be helpful. "If we had resources like this when my kids were younger, we could have started speech therapy or communication services even earlier," Fickenscher said. Bosl said the goal now is to find funding and resources for a large clinical study. "I hope it's giving them hope, but not false hope," Bosl said. "So, we have these nice research results. It only becomes helpful if we push it into clinical practice." The research comes at a critical time as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a 15 percent increase in autism prevalance -- one in every 59 children -- since the last time it was studied five years ago. What to Know Joseph James DeAngelo is accused of committing a string of killings and rapes in the 1970s and 1980s Jane Carson-Sandler was one of dozens of women raped by a man dubbed the East Area Rapist and the Golden State Killer A DNA match led authorities to arrest DeAngelo in connection with four killings in Sacramento and Ventura counties, officials said Jane Carson-Sandler's morning in 1976 turned from innocence to terror when a masked man broke into her home and entered the bedroom where she lay snuggled with her 3-year-old son. He confronted them with a butcher knife and shone a flashlight in her eyes before tying them up. She said she was paralyzed by fear, afraid the man would kill them. When he untied her ankles, she knew he would rape her. Before assaulting her, he moved her son from her side, but she doesn't know where. After it was over, he put her son back in bed next to her. Carson-Sandler voiced relief after police arrested Joseph James DeAngelo and identified him on Wednesday as the serial killer who committed a string of killings and rapes in the 1970s and '80s in California. Marget Wardlow was just 13 years old when she was bound and raped inside her family's Sacramento home in 1977. Wardlow, who now lives in San Diego, told NBC News she grew depressed over the years when her attacker hadn't been caught. On Tuesday night, more than 40 years after the assault, a retired detective called with news of the arrest. Wardlow said she was thrilled for her "sister survivors" by the news, and called it the "greatest day ever." Carson-Sandler, now 72, wants to face her attacker in person and ask how long he had been watching her and what he did with her son during the attack. "I just wonder when he first saw me, how long he had been stalking me," said Carson-Sandler, who was in the Air Force reserves and studying to be a nurse at the time of the attack. Wardlow, who now lives in San Diego, said. Carson-Sandler was one of dozens of women raped by the man dubbed the East Area Rapist and Golden State Killer, who police say killed at least 12 people and raped at least 45 in the 1970s and 1980s. She was attacked in her home in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights. She and Bruce Harrington, whose brother and sister-in-law were killed in 1980 in Orange County, said DeAngelo's arrest will launch a healing process for victims that has been delayed for decades. "It is time for the victims to begin to heal," Harrington said at a news conference in Sacramento. A DNA match led authorities to arrest DeAngelo in connection with four killings in Sacramento and Ventura counties, officials said. "I feel like I'm in the middle of a dream and I'm going to wake up and it's not going to be true," Carson-Sandler said in an interview with The Associated Press. "It's just so nice to have closure and to know he's in jail." Carson-Sandler, now living near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, said she didn't know DeAngelo or recognize his name. She wrote a book about her experience called "Frozen in Fear." She has spoken with rapists in prison about how the attack affected her. She tells them to close their eyes and imagine she is their mother or sister or lover while she tells her story. She says she hopes to make them understand the trauma they have caused so they won't hurt more people. Harrington's brother, 24-year-old Keith Harrington and his wife, 27-year-old Patrice Harrington, were beaten to death in their home, Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas said. Bruce Harrington applauded law enforcement's pursuit of justice for them. DeAngelo's arrest, he said, will "bring closure to the anguish that we all suffered for the last 40-odd years." President Donald Trump offered his latest teaser Friday for a historic U.S. summit with North Korea: The time and place have been set but he's not saying when and where. The White House did, however, announce the details of a separate meeting later this month between Trump and South Korean President Moon Jae-in, as the U.S. administration pushed back on a report that Trump is considering the withdrawal of U.S. forces from the allied nation. Trump and Moon would meet at the White House on May 22 to "continue their close coordination on developments regarding the Korean Peninsula" following last Friday's meeting between Moon and Kim Jong Un. They will also discuss the U.S. president's own upcoming summit with the North Korean leader, a statement said. Earlier this week, Trump expressed a preference for holding the "big event" with Kim in the demilitarized zone or DMZ between the two Koreas, where Moon and Kim met. He also said Singapore was in contention to host what will be the first summit of between a U.S. and a North Korean leader. "We now have a date and we have a location. We'll be announcing it soon," Trump told reporters Friday from the White House South Lawn before departing for Dallas. He's previously said the summit was planned for May or early June. A meeting with Kim seemed an outlandish possibility just a few months ago when the two leaders were trading threats and insults over North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. But momentum for diplomacy has built this year as the rival Koreas have patched up ties. In March, Trump unexpectedly accepted an offer of talks from Kim after the North Korean dictator agreed to suspend nuclear and ballistic missile tests and discuss "denuclearization." According to South Korea, Kim has said he'd be willing to give up his nukes if the United States commits to a formal end to the Korean War and pledges not to attack the North. But his exact demands for relinquishing weapons that his nation spent decades building remains unclear. Trump said that withdrawing U.S. forces from South Korea is "not on the table." Some 28,500 U.S. forces are based in the allied nation, a military presence that has been preserved to deter North Korea since the war ended in 1953 without a peace treaty. "Now I have to tell you, at some point into the future, I would like to save the money," Trump said later as he prepared to board Air Force One. "You know we have 32,000 troops there but I think a lot of great things will happen but troops are not on the table. Absolutely." The New York Times reported that Trump has asked the Pentagon to prepare options plans for drawing down American troops. It cited unnamed officials as saying that wasn't intended to be a bargaining chip with Kim, but did reflect that a prospective peace treaty between the Koreas could diminish the need for U.S. forces in South Korea. At the inter-Korean summit last Friday, held on the southern side of the DMZ, Moon and Kim pledged to rid the peninsula of nuclear weapons and seek a formal end this year to the Korean conflict where the opposing sides remain technically at war more than six decades after fighting halted with an armistice. But for Trump to contemplate withdrawing troops now would be a quixotic move as he enters into negotiations with Kim whose demands and intentions are uncertain. Two weeks ago, shortly before the inter-Korean summit, Moon said that Kim actually wasn't insisting on a longstanding demand for the withdrawal of U.S. troops as a precondition for abandoning his nukes. National security adviser John Bolton, who met his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong in Washington on Friday, called the Times report "utter nonsense." During his presidential campaign, Trump complained that South Korea does not do enough to financially support the American military commitment. In March, Washington and Seoul began negotiations on how much South Korea should offset the costs of the deployment in the coming years. Under the current agreement that expires at the end of 2018, the South provides about $830 million per year. Before Trump meets Kim, Washington is looking for North Korea to address another persistent source of tension between the adversaries: the detention of three Korean-Americans accused of anti-state of activities in the North. Trump hinted that the release of Kim Dong Chul, Kim Hak Song and Tony Kim was in the offing, but again was sparing on the details. "We're having very substantive talks with North Korea and a lot of things have already happened with respect to the hostages, and I think you're going to see very good things. As I said yesterday, stay tuned," Trump said, referring to an earlier tweet on the issue. Associated Press writer Ken Thomas contributed to this report. Lawmakers on Wednesday considered the veto-loving Republican governor's thumbs-down on about 20 bills and overrode his veto of commercial pot sales and Narcan access legislation. Gov. Paul LePage, who named one of his own dogs Veto, has shattered state records for gubernatorial vetoes that he uses to espouse fiscally conservative principles and lambast lawmakers' work. The Legislature had no plans Wednesday to consider more than 100 bills that address issues including voter-approved Medicaid expansion, opioid treatment, tax reform, school funding and pay for aides serving people with intellectual disabilities. Dozens of people lined the halls of the Statehouse imploring lawmakers to return this year and fund widely supported pay increases for personal care aides that expire this summer. Advocates also say lawmakers will create massive uncertainty for schools ahead of the school year by ignoring a bill that addresses the funding formula for schools. Possible Extension Vote Lawmakers could vote again to add five more legislative days, but partisan tension in recent days has made it unclear whether such an effort would pass. Lawmakers also could get hauled in for a special session by LePage or by legislative leaders with caucus approval. House Republicans blocked a previous extension vote. House GOP leader and gubernatorial candidate Ken Fredette criticized Democrats and Senate Republicans for considering a bill package that includes some Medicaid expansion funding. He said Wednesday he supports a bill package that includes county jail funding, pay increases for personal care aides and drug treatment to address the opioid crisis. He also has demanded that lawmakers support failed efforts this year to roll back the voter-approved minimum wage hike. Commercial Pot Sales Lawmakers overrode the governor's veto of a bill to finally allow commercial marijuana sales as voters called for in 2016. The House voted 109-39 and the Senate voted 28-6. Supporters say the bill provides needed changes to the marijuana law to protect children. It eliminates marijuana social clubs, reduces the number of plants that people can have and prohibits sale near schools. The voter-approved law created a 10 percent sales tax on retail marijuana. The new bill also would require growing facilities to pay an excise tax of $335 per pound of mature marijuana plants and other new fees. The governor has argued that he cannot violate federal law, which prohibits marijuana possession. LePage said the bill doesn't address his concerns that adults seeking marijuana will flock to the state's medical marijuana program. "As I have stated previously, a concurrent medical program with weaker regulation and a lower tax rate will undermine the regulations established by this bill," he said. Naloxone Access Lawmakers overwhelmingly overrode the veto of a bill designed to make the opioid overdose drug naloxone available to all Mainers without a prescription. The state Board of Pharmacy proposed setting an age limit of 18 for such access and has since pushed to limit access to adults age 21 and older at LePage's urging. Democratic Speaker of the House Sara Gideon proposed the bill to specifically allow access to Mainers of all ages. The governor vetoed the bill and called it an effort to undermine the Board of Pharmacy's "reasonable rules." "No health policy rationale supports the extreme position espoused by the Legislature that every resident of Maine, including children, must have access to naloxone," LePage said. A record of 418 people died of drug overdoses in the state last year. Opioids were the cause of 354 of those deaths. Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf called for criminal justice reform at an event held symbolically in the shadow of Independence Hall Thursday morning. The unlikely pair joined other advocates and local lawmakers, including Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Pa., in a "call to action" from inside the National Constitution Center. Mill, whose legal name is Robert Williams, said he was raised in a neighborhood where young black men constantly came in contact with police. "I'm still not a free man," he said. "I always feel like my freedom could be taken." The Philadelphia native battled nerves as he thanked supporters and spoke about wanting to raise his 6-year-old son. He was released on bail last month after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court intervened following a prolonged legal battle dating to November when the 30-year-old was sentenced to two to four years in prison for violating his probation. After his release, Mill celebrated at the Sixers playoff game, where he sat next to Wolf and other celebrities, including comedian Kevin Hart. Speaking on Thursday, Wolf said that Mill's case put a spotlight on the changes needed in Pennsylvania's criminal justice system, which must be "better and fairer for everyone." The debate about how we can fix our criminal justice system is complicated, and over time that debate has changed to reflect the modern realities and issues present in our system, Wolf said. I believe that we can improve the criminal justice system so that we can protect victims while also ending a cycle of incarceration that has left so many people feeling trapped, helpless and without an opportunity to return to society after they have been released. Among other changes, Wolf wants to stop "technical parole violations" from landing people in jail, he said. Echoing that sentiment, Mill said he believes people struggling with addiction should not be punished for drug use. He, too, was addicted to opioids and credited his probation officer for helping him enter rehab, Mill said. The rapper failed a drug test while on probation for his initial 2007 arrest, one of five violations that landed him in prison. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, who did not join Mill and Wolf Thursday, told NBC10 Wednesday that his office is currently reviewing the case. Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley has about 45 days to decide whether she will reverse Mill's conviction, according to Krasner. If she does, his office must then decide whether to drop the case or come up with a resolution. A decision will be made in the same way it has been for a bunch of broke people that are not being reported on in the press but who are in identical positions," Krasner said. "It will be based upon what the law requires. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association also responded to Wolf and Mill by saying they support "responsible reforms." "We are always willing to take a look at smart, balanced reforms," association president and Berks County District Attorney John Adams said. Adams' statement went on to call Mill's case is unique. "We cannot, however, let one individual under very unique circumstances indict an entire system," Adams said. "As this conversation moves forward, it is imperative that policymakers look through the lens of public safety and ensure fairness for defendants and victims. We caution against the wholesale elimination of appropriate consequences and accountability in the criminal justice system cloaked in the concept of reform." Authorities apprehended a Chicago man Thursday after he was accidentally released from Cook County Jail after a court appearance. Shane Sleeper, 31, was in court Tuesday, where he was arraigned on felony charges. Misdemeanor charges were also dropped during the proceeding, and that's when Sleeper was accidentally released from custody. At around 12 p.m. Thursday, Sleeper was apprehended by authorities, according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Details were not available around the circumstances of his capture, but police say he was taken into custody without incident. After Sleeper's release, Sophia Ansari, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriffs office said the only communication her office received was that his misdemeanor charges had been dismissed so he was released accordingly. We were never notified by the States Attorneys office or the Chicago Police Department, that he was to be indicted on felony charges, she said. Nor do the Clerks records reflect that he was indicted on felony charges on (Tuesday). The Cook County State's Attorney's office said Sleeper was in custody when the sheriff's office brought him to court Tuesday where he was indicted on felony charges. "He was arraigned in a felony trial court room where he was assigned a no bail status and left in the custody of the Sheriffs Office," the state's attorney said in an emailed statement. Sleeper had originally been arrested on Feb. 20 by Chicago police in the 3500 block of Lake Shore Drive, police said. Officers went to find him after he was named in six separate cases of harassment, police said. Police found Sleeper in the lobby of a building and he fled when confronted, they said. He was chased down and taken into custody shortly after, according to police. He was charged with several misdemeanors, including harassment, assault and resisting police. Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, said CPD wouldn't have anything to do with indictments and that the miscommunication was in the judicial system between the courts and the sheriff's department. According to the Chicago Tribune, Sleeper specifically made reference to the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida when threatening a Lakeview gay bar. Authorities have located a Chicago man Wednesday who was arrested and accused of threatening Chicago gay bars and then accidentally released from Cook County Jail. Authorities have located a Chicago man Wednesday who was arrested and accused of threatening Chicago gay bars and then accidentally released from Cook County Jail. Shane Sleeper, 31, was apprehended without incident on Thursday afternoon at approximately 12 p.m., according to the Cook County Sheriff's Office. Sleeper was originally arrested on Feb. 20 by Chicago police in the 3500 block of Lake Shore Drive, police said. Officers went to find him after he was named in six separate cases of harassment, police said. Police found Sleeper in the lobby of a building and he fled when confronted, they said. He was chased down and taken into custody shortly after, according to police. He was charged with several misdemenaors, including harassment, assault and resisting police. We are still working on further details, Officer Jessica Rocco said in an email. The Cook County State's Attorney's office said Sleeper was in custody when the sheriff's office brought him to court Tuesday where he was indicted on felony charges. "He was arraigned in a felony trial court room where he was assigned a no bail status and left in the custody of the Sheriffs Office," the state's attorney said in an emailed statement. Sophia Ansari, a spokeswoman for the Cook County Sheriffs office said the only communication her office received was that Sleepers misdemeanor charges had been dismissed so he was released accordingly. We were never notified by the States Attorneys office or the Chicago Police Department, that he was to be indicted on felony charges, she said. Nor does the Clerks records reflect that he was indicted on felony charges on (Tuesday). Anthony Guglielmi, a spokesman for the Chicago Police Department, said CPD wouldn't have anything to do with indictments and that the miscommunication was in the judicial system between the courts and the sheriff's department. According to the Chicago Tribune, Sleeper specifically made reference to the 2016 Pulse Nightclub massacre in Orlando, Florida when threatening a Lakeview gay bar. Ansari said the sheriffs office was working to find Sleeper. (We) are confident he will be apprehended, she said. Anyone with information about Sleeper should call 911 or the Chicago Police Department. Many Chicago-area residents woke up to damage to the homes and cars Thursday after a round of storms passed through the region. Around 200 people were displaced from their homes in the city's Bronzeville neighborhood on the South Side after heavy winds caused the roof of a 90-unit apartment building to collapse Wednesday night. Around 5:45 p.m., the roof collapsed on the building in the 5000 block of South King Drive, according to Chicago police. No injuries were reported, officials said, and the American Red Cross was on the scene assisting residents. On Chicago's Northwest Side, several cars were damaged after a massive tree branch snapped and fell in the 3800 block of West Leland Avenue in the Albany Park neighborhood. [[481608381, C]] No injuries were reported, but the cars remained under the debris early Thursday and police blocked off the street, shutting down Leland between Avers and Hamlin out of precaution. One of the car owners, a woman who drives a Honda Civic that was buried under the branch, said she had a rude awakening. "I was asleep and my mom was like, 'Oh I heard a loud boom,'" said Rozana Martinez. "She said, 'I think it's our car.' So I said,'Let me go down there' and yeah, it is our car. We go down and see this," Martinez continued, gesturing to the damage. A car parked across the street, a Toyota Avalon, was also impacted, leaving the windshield and sunroof shattered. Ten months after watching helplessly as her teenage son was swept away in the Connecticut River, a Meriden mother is on a mission to prevent another family from enduring unspeakable tragedy. Its not easy for Jessica Vega to come to Haddam Meadows State Park. Its the last place she saw her 17-year-old son Jay Agli alive. It was really, really hot that day, she said. But the water was really cold. It was June 11, 2017, the day a family trip to the park ended tragically. Jays sister Kishana was wading on a sandbar when she stepped off a sudden drop-off and was pulled into the water by a strong current. Jay immediately jumped in to try to save his sister. Jessica watched, horrified, as her son was carried away by the swift-moving river. He knew he couldnt swim and he still jumped to get her, Jessica recalled, tears welling in her eyes. He gave everything for his sister until his last breath. A nearby boater helped to pull Kishana to safety, but Jay Agli never resurfaced. Multiple agencies responded for a search and rescue effort that would last two days before Aglis body was eventually recovered. Middletown Fire Department divers were part of that recovery effort just as they were in 2011 when another teenager, 18-year-old Hartford resident Dominic Sobota, drowned in the same spot. Chief Robert Kronenberger said that part of the river can be deceptively dangerous for visitors unfamiliar with the area. The conditions are so different from what you may see on the surface to the bottom, Kronenberger explained. What may look like a nice soft current on top, as soon as you step off it could be running at a couple knots and itll pull you under quick, not to mention the drop-offs. But Jessica Vega said her family had no idea of the dangers that day because there were no signs posted anywhere in the park warning of the current or drop-offs. NBC Connecticut visited the park in March, and the only reference to swimming was visible in small print in Section 23-4-1 (s) of the General Regulations on the parks welcome sign. It reads, Swimming is allowed except where posted as prohibited by the Department of Environmental Protection. NBCConnecticut.com There are no prohibition signs anywhere in the park. A lot of people said, Get a lawyer [to sue] and I said, For what? What happened was an accident, and thats not going to bring him back, she said. Instead, Jessica wanted something else warning signs. Beginning her mission in July, she went to town officials, her state representative, even members of Congress and the U.S. Senate. None would commit to helping her, she said. Nothing. They told me it was state, they didnt have anything to do with it. But Jessica persisted, eventually making contact with the governors office. Finally, in March, she received an update from the Department of Energy & Environmental Protections state parks director, Thomas Tyler. Not only would the state install the warning signs at her request, he said, but they would also include Jay Aglis name and story. Tyler explained the decision in a statement to NBC Connecticut: Haddam Meadows State Park does not have a designated swimming area, but we know that some visitors to Haddam Meadows leave the park to enter the Connecticut River for boating excursions or to recreate on a sandbar in the River. For those who may not be aware of the risks of swimming in a river, and the currents that can exist there, hopefully this type of sign will provide that information. The family of Jay Agli has agreed to have his name and the circumstance of his drowning in the River included on the signage. While it is unusual to include such information on this type of sign, we feel that it helps make it a more powerful message, and we appreciate his familys support in this effort. Chief Kronenberger said his department receives numerous calls for water rescues every summer and believes the signs could help, particularly if theyre added in both English and Spanish. The signs will be installed at Haddam Meadows State Park before the start of this summer season. Jessica said shell be there on the day theyre posted and wants to see similar warnings posted at other state parks elsewhere along the river. She hopes others will be inspired by her example. A lot of people dont know that they can do something, she said. A lot of people told me, I dont know why youre trying; its state-owned, youre not going to be able to get them. And I got them. I said, You know what, if I can save another life and use my son as an example, thats why I did it. Jay Agli would have been a senior at Platt High School in Meriden this year. The school plans to honor him at graduation this June. His sister Kishana will walk across the stage to receive Jays diploma. There are more than 200 school districts throughout Connecticut, some of which have multiple superintendents and multiple school boards. Large portions of state, town and city budgets go toward funding our schools, but currently many districts are facing declining enrollments, deteriorating buildings and cuts in municipal aid. Diana Torres, her husband and children moved into their Torrington home two years ago after searching for a neighborhood with a great school. It was really important for us to buy a home we loved, and find a school nearby that our kids were going to love, and had good ratings, Torres said. They chose their neighborhood mainly because of the elementary school that their sons Felix and Jacob now attend. But because of declining enrollment, the family has learned that their school, East Elementary, will close at the end of the school year. With the closing of East, the district is restructuring into sister schools. They include, on one side of town the Vogel-Wetmore school for kindergarten through third-grade students. Fourth and fifth-grade students will attend Southwest. In the other part of town the Torringford School will serve kindergarten through third-grade students, while Forbes schools will house fourth and fifth graders. Its a decision that Torres believes comes at a price. Dianas son Jacob will no longer be right around the corner from his elementary school. Hes not used to change. Im scared its going to impact him grade-wise, said Torres. The school districts decision to consolidate its schools is sending the family packing. .instrux { font-family: Verdana; font-size: 10px; } .container { position: relative; width: 100%; } .image { display: block; width: 100%; height: auto; } .overlay { position: absolute; top: 85%; bottom: 0; right: 5; left: 0; height: 50%; width: 50%; opacity: 0; transition: 1s ease; background-color: none; } .container:hover .overlay { opacity: 1; } .text { color: black; font-size: 15px; position: absolute; top: 50%; left: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); -ms-transform: translate(-50%, -50%); text-align: center; } Hover over the image and hit play to hear Diana speak Were going to sell our house, just because were not happy with the decision the BOE made, and we pay a lot of taxes into the town, Torres added. Torrington Superintendent of Schools, Denise Clemens, told the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters the district is not involved in any current discussions to join forces with any other district despite their financial issues. The district is one of many in Connecticut facing similar issues including declining enrollment, fewer state dollars and possible school closings. In some instances, it is leading to schools restructuring and talks of cooperative arrangements between districts or even regionalization. Jonathan Costa is the Assistant Executive Director with EdAdvance, one of the states six regional education services centers known at RESCs. He said he is a neutral third-party facilitator who consults with districts for planning purposes, school improvement and discussions on merging districts and services. As state government resources have shrunk, thats putting more pressure on smaller districts, said Costa. Folks are spending a lot of money on systems that are clearly not very efficient. If they could take those same resources and invest in a more efficient system, there are probably more opportunities that could be availed to kids in that system, he added. Could county government help solve the districts financial and enrollment issues? It would certainly be more efficient, the big fear is that small towns with local boards are very responsive to individualized resident needs, Costa said. Costa believes the benefits to regionalization or collaborative arrangements between districts offer an opportunity to broaden a childs educational experience at a more efficient cost. Could the number of school districts in Connecticut be reduced and have the same level of service to students maintained? I think thats clearly true, and there are models for it all over. The challenge is we have a long and storied history of doing it local, Costa said. The majority of school districts in the state of Connecticut operate with one school board. But that isnt always the case. Region 4 schools cover the towns of Chester, Essex and Deep River and has three elementary schools, one for each town. Each elementary school has its own school board and superintendent. The districts Superintendent, Dr. Ruth Levy reports to more than 30 different board members. Their district has attempted to regionalize in the past, but voters stopped that from happening. Both towns involved in a school merge, would have to separately green light the move in a referendum vote. Dr. Levy said that while regionalization might be the right decision for some districts, she thinks the state needs to look at additional options for all districts. Options including what is a called a supervision district, which involves divvying up costs between the different school boards in their towns. For example, the schools share central office administration staff members and elementary school art teachers so those employees are able to work in more than one school. I think more money could be saved, I think we could create better programming for students, Dr. Levy told NBC Connecticut. Lon Seidman, Essexs Board of Education Chairman, said school boards are forced to work around the restrictions put in place by the state. The state allows the schools to share costs, but does not recognize the entity as a school district for the purposes of special education and other programming. I think there is a perception that somehow these towns are not doing more to regionalize or work together because they just dont want to, thats just not the case. When in fact taxpayers are being asked to either maintain an inefficient structure or give up everything they have control over, and thats not a choice for many taxpayers, Seidman said. [[481548561, C]] A New Haven man found guilty of murder is now a free man after being incarcerated since 1999. In a courtroom this afternoon, a marshal removed 39-year-old Marquis Jacksons handcuffs and shackles. Shortly after the hearing during which the judge vacated his conviction, Jackson emerged from the New Haven County Courthouse to celebrate with his family supporters. It feels wonderful, Jackson said. It seems unreal. Jackson is the second man to have a felony conviction vacated for a 1999 murder and robbery at the Dixwell Deli in New Haven. We came in together, Jackson said, We leaving together, we never waiver on each other. Our friendship is strong no matter what through the times, we stuck together and never gave up. Convicted together in 2000 for the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Caprice hardy, Vernon Horn and Jackson have always maintained their innocence. This is a wonderful day for me, 19 years and coming, I always believed that I would be exonerated you know sometimes it was shaky but I kept the faith, Jackson said. In court, New Haven States Attorney Pat Griffin called todays development a necessary act. The reinvestigation of call records made from a cell phone stolen during the robbery found that Horn never had the phone and the states main trail witnesses were not truthful, attorneys said. I will say that the cell phone evidence that convicted these gentlemen has been called into question at best and has been deemed patently false, Jacksons attorney Daniel Lage told reporters. And because of that cell phone evidence we now know where the locations of certain individuals were, those individuals were not Mr. Jackson nor Mr Horn. Jackson is now looking forward to starting a new chapter in his life. Its very interesting because the same justice system that took my liberty gave it back, he said, so Im bittersweet but unfortunately there are several other men who didnt get the lucky break I did today. Jacksons attorneys say they plan to file a wrongful conviction claim with the state. One of them told NBC Connecticut defendants with overturned convictions that served similar time behind bars have received settlements around $6 million. Jackson said one of the first things he plans to do as a free man is go see the blockbuster hit, Black Panther. Dallas urgently needs 20,000 new affordable housing units. For the first time Wednesday, a new policy intended to entice developers to build those units was presented to the full Dallas City Council after more than a year of work by a committee and city staff. Critics have two main complaints. They said the policy excludes too many neighborhoods and includes too few low income people in reduced rent units. Tenant Arlandra Smith, a disabled grandmother, went to City Hall to support more units like the one she has in the Dallas Cedars neighborhood south of Downtown. I worked all my life. I need the system to work for me. I paid into the system, you know, she said. The Cedars is one of the target areas in the new housing policy. A Market Value Analysis was used to select target areas adjacent to areas where values are already stable or on the rise. The thinking is that new city incentives in those areas are more likely to attract more private investment in the future instead of previous city practice that might put city housing incentives in the lowest market value areas. Today is really about trying to change the dynamic of how we invest to maximize our investment and to encourage and entice future development, Dallas City Manager T.C. Broadnax said. Fiji Senior Villas on 11th Street off Corinth Street is an existing project that would not receive city support under the new policy. The ten year old complex with reduced rent for lower income seniors still has an extremely low value neighborhood all around it, but that area is not a target in the new policy and would not receive new housing construction incentives in the near future. Its very much an island here, said tenant Susan Vargas. The tenant who has lived in other parts of Dallas said excluding the area around Fiji now would be a mistake. I think it spoils it because its a stop. I think theyve got to maintain what theyre doing, Vargas said. The area is represented by Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway, whose district has no target areas in the proposed housing policy after many years of prior housing incentives. I have every single problem going on in my area, Caraway said. If we to do nothing, then we only going to increase crime. We only going to increase poverty. Broadnax said home repair programs and other city services would still be provided in Caraways district, even if new housing construction incentives are not. The idea that were going to forsake and not do any work in the southern district, I think is wrong and a fallacy and a mischaracterization of everything this policy stands for, Broadnax said. Councilman Tennell Atkins leads the committee that has been working on the new policy. He said it can always be amended and target areas will change in the future. If we do not come up with a housing policy, we are going to have a hold back on project money, zoning and investment, Atkins said. A City Council vote is scheduled next Wednesday. The Dallas Police Department says they are prepared for and are expecting large protests and counterprotests as the National Rifle Association holds their annual convention in downtown Dallas Thursday through Sunday. We have done extensive planning with all our law enforcement partners and we are ready, said Dallas Police Assistant Chief Paul Stokes. The event, held at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center in downtown, is expected to draw 80,000 people. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are scheduled to attend and speak Friday. The Dallas Police Department said one permitted protest is scheduled for Saturday morning at Dallas City Hall Plaza and another has reserved the plaza that afternoon. Stokes said Wednesday he anticipates numerous additional unplanned protests and counterprotests on public property over the next four days. Stokes said the department expects both protestors and attendees to handle themselves with decorum and civility. They (protestors) will not be able to take the street, we will not tolerate property destruction, we will not tolerate violent behavior, said Stokes. On Saturday, Dallas police will be shutting down the following downtown streets: Young Street between Griffin and Ervay. Akard from Young to Canton. On Friday, Dallas police will be intermittently closing streets ahead of both the presidents and vice presidents motorcade. Additional local and federal law enforcement resources will also be brought in to assist but Dallas police declined to comment on staffing or strategy, as is standard ahead of a high profile event. Dallas police said Wednesday they will be honoring state laws allowing both open and concealed carry of firearms on public property surrounding the convention center; the Secret Service will not allow guns inside where Trump and Pence will be speaking. The latest update on this story is available here. A 17-year-old North Texas student is accused of criminal solicitation of capital murder and making a terroristic threat in an Islamic State-inspired plot to carry out a mass shooting at suburban Dallas mall, officials said. The teen, Matin Azizi-Yarand, who lives with his parents in Plano, was arrested Tuesday at Plano West Senior High School and is now being held at the Collin County Jail on $3 million bond. Under Texas law he'll be tried as an adult and faces up to life in prison for criminal solicitation and up to 10 years in prison for making a terroristic threat. Collin County Jail Officials said in an arrest affidavit Azizi-Yarand talked online with a FBI source starting in December 2017 and told the informant how he wanted to conduct a terrorist attack. Over the course of four months, investigators said the suspect communicated with two informants and an undercover agent about possible targets that included an unnamed school, a Hindu temple and then Stonebriar Centre mall in Frisco. According to the affidavit, Azizi-Yarand stated to the FBI source in the messages, Look at all the other lone wolves. What training did they have yet they simply killed the kuffar? (Arabic for disbelievers), the affidavit said. The brothers in Europe and the brother in New York? Had no limitary training. Its not about numbers its about getting a message across to these taghut countries. Its dangerous to akhi we have to be careful some have gotten arrested. So we good brother? Investigators said the suspected discussed waiting until he turned 18 to conduct an attack so he could purchase the rifle himself. Azizi-Yarand is quoted in the affidavit as saying, But I swear I want to achieve Allahs (Gods) pleasure and kill the kuffar and Ive only been reading ISIS magazine guides for performing operations and making bombs. A 17-year-old Plano student was arrested in relation to an Islamic State-inspired plot to carry out a mass shooting at Stonebriar Centre mall in Frisco, officials said. Matin Azizi-Yarand was arrested on criminal solicitation of capital murder and making a terroristic threat, officials announced Wednesday. Officials said Azizi-Yarand said the goal of his attack was not a high death count, but rather forcing countries to spend more in security -- though a high death count could help "get their attention." Investigators said Azizi-Yarand was inspired by the Islamic State to conduct the attack, which, according to the affidavit, he planned to carry out in mid-May. He said he selected targets where he believed the police response time would be slow. He had also mentioned to the FBI source how he considered traveling to Pakistan and crossing the border into Afghanistan to join the Islamic State. At the time of his arrest, investigators said Azizi-Yarand had sent more than $1,400 to an informant for the purchase of weapons and tactical gear. He sent the source documents and propaganda, including a document authored by Eric Harris, one of the attackers in the 1999 shooting of Columbine High School, the affidavit said. NBC 5 News Prosecutors said Wednesday Azizi-Yarand had written a letter he planned to disseminate, titled Message to America, explaining the reasons for his attack. Wednesday afternoon, Muslim community leaders denounced Azizi-Yarard's alleged actions. "He doesnt speak for us, said Khalid Hamideh, general counsel for the Islamic Association of Collin County. Members of the North Texas Muslim community spoke out on Wednesday following the planned mass shooting by a teenager in the name of Islam. The speakers urged that they condemn daily terrorist attacks against innocent civilians and ask for understanding that Islam is innocent of any sick individual(s) who purports to act out violent acts of hate in its name. Teen Arrested at Suburban Dallas High School Tuesday, authorities arrested the suspect at Plano West Senior High School where he is a student. Plano Independent Schools sent a letter to parents that read, in part, "The student was arrested without incident. Law enforcement officials have confirmed that the offense for which the student was arrested was unrelated to Plano West, Plano ISD or any fellow students." Wednesday afternoon NBC 5 spoke with Azizi-Yarand's father, Reza Azizi, who said he had "no clue" what his son was planning and described his son as a "good kid" and a "good student." We are fortunate that the brave men and women of local and federal law enforcement work around the clock to prevent acts of terrorism and mass shootings, said Collin County District Attorney Greg Willis. Id like to thank the FBIs North Texas Joint Terrorism Task Force and the Frisco and Plano Police Departments for their efforts in this case and their vigilance in protecting the citizens of Collin County. FBI Dallas Special Agent-in-Charge Eric Jackson said they are not aware of any additional threats associated with the teen's arrest and that the FBI "will continue to work diligently to protect and defend the United States and the communities we serve." The FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force, Plano and Frisco police conducted the investigation. Suspect to be Tried as an Adult Attorneys with the U.S. Attorney's Office said though Azizi-Yarand is a juvenile under federal law, the state of Texas considers a person 17-years-old an adult. "We determined that the recourse we had under federal juvenile procedure was inadequate to deal with the seriousness of this offense. Federal law limits our ability to certify a juvenile as an adult for prosecution, and in light of that, we determined that state prosecution of the subject will best address the case," said U.S. Attorney Joseph D. Brown. Brown said his office will work closely with Collin County DA Greg Willis on the case and will provide resources toward the prosecution including designating one of his attorneys to serve as a specially appointed Assistant District Attorney. It is not clear if Azizi-Yarand has retained an attorney. Arrest Affidavits NBC 5's Diana Zoga, Meredith Yeomans, Frank Heinz, Eline DeBruijn and Holley Ford contributed to this report. Police said they have found human remains while investigating after a police standoff and fiery explosion on Quinnipiac Avenue in North Haven Wednesday night that injured 10 police officers. The incident began as a domestic violence situation on Wednesday afternoon, according to police, and authorities said a woman contacted police. North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda initially told reporters that he believed a man was holding his wife inside a home on Quinnipiac Avenue, but police later confirmed that there were no hostages. According to Connecticut State Police Sgt. Marc Gelvin, the man inside the home refused to communicate with police and barricaded himself inside. The South Central Regional SWAT team was called in and while they were clearing the outside of the home, there was an explosion from a barn on the property around 8:30 p.m. North Haven police said Thursday afternoon that 10 team members officers from the tactical team were injured and nine were taken to Yale-New Haven Hospital. They including five East Haven officers, three North Haven officers and one officer from Branford. Police said their injuries were from the explosion and they were held overnight for observation. Ten police officers were injured in a fiery explosion during a SWAT operation on Quinnipiac Avenue in North Haven Wednesday night. Four of the officers have been released and five are still being treated, according to a Facebook post from East Haven Police on Thursday afternoon. Two of the officers released are East Haven police officers, according to East Haven Police. The officers who remain in the hospital have serious injuries that range from concussions to leg injuries, but they are not life-threatening, according to police. Captain Geoff Morgan, of Branford police, said his officer who was injured is "banged up," but the injuries are not traumatic. It is not clear what caused the explosion and the fire marshal is investigating the cause. On Friday, North Haven's fire chief said they found propane tanks, gasoline, containers that possibly held flammable liquids at some time. The chief commended the firefighters for the work they did to protect nearby homes. Our hearts go out to the brave first responders who put their lives on the line, and we wish those injured a safe and speedy recovery. Yesterdays tragedy serves as a stark reminder that domestic violence is a serious issue that must continue to be addressed and remain at the forefront of the national conversation. If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic violence, please know that you have a voice and there are resources available to help, Gov. Dannel Malloy said in a statement Thursday. Lt. Governor Nancy Wyman commended the woman who went to police. I applaud the woman who reported this incident, she showed tremendous bravery and courage. Her actions may have saved lives, including her own, Wyman said in a statement. It's not clear which building on the property the remains were found in and state police said the office of the chief medical examiner will determine who the person is and how he or she died. Demolition has begun on what's left of the property. Although authorities have not identified any of the parties involved in this incident, public records show the couple who lived at the home is currently going through a divorce that the wife filed for on April 18. Quinnipiac Avenue reopened to traffic Thursday afternoon. DroneRanger video shows the massive emergency response on Quinnipiac Avenue in North Haven, where a domestic situation turned into a police standoff and six SWAT team members were injured in an explosion while trying to communicate with the suspect. Neighbors said they could feel the force of the explosion. "I literally saw a flash come from my house, come from that house, and fire went through the window and up through his roof and the flash. It blinded me for a quick second," said resident Shaun Pitts. Neighbors were asked to shelter-in-place and immediate neighbors were evacuated. Connecticut State Police are leading the investigation with the assistance of multiple local police and fire departments. This is a developing story. Check back for updates. A murder in San Juan Capistrano sparked a wider probe that resulted in the arrests of around seven dozen "middle manager" Mexican Mafia gang members in Orange County and the seizure of weapons, drugs and counterfeit currency, officials announced Wednesday. The gang takedown, dubbed Operation Scarecrow, grew out of the investigation into a fatal shooting that occurred on Christmas morning 2016 in the 25000 block of Avenida Cabrillo. Although that slaying remains unsolved, it led to 85 arrests and the seizure of 36 guns, two of which had been reported stolen, 14 pounds of methamphetamine and three pounds of heroin, along with bogus money, credit card readers and stolen cars, according to California Attorney General Xavier Becerra and Orange County Undersheriff Don Barnes. Many women arrested were dubbed "secretaries" for carrying information from inmates out to the streets, officials told NBC4. The name of the operation refers to the street moniker "Crow'' of one of the suspects. "The intelligence gathered helped us to prevent a number of crimes, including an attempted murder,'' Becerra told reporters. The murder investigation "branched off'' into the crackdown on the Mexican Mafia, Barnes said. Investigators executed 37 search warrants in the investigation, resulting in the filing of 31 criminal cases, Barnes said. Barnes acknowledged the arrests are a "drop in the bucket'' against a criminal enterprise as far-reaching as the Mexican Mafia, but he said it would be "disruptive'' to the gang. He also said he expected the Christmas Day 2016 murder to be "solved soon.'' Orange County Mexican Mafia boss Peter Ojeda was sentenced to federal prison two years ago for continuing to run his gang from behind bars, but Barnes said he's "sure'' that Ojeda remains an influence locally. The 85 defendants arrested represent a "very small percentage'' of local gang members, but their incarceration will "significantly'' affect the Mexican Mafia's trade locally, Barnes said. Most of the suspects are members of a local gang that operate under the umbrella of the Mexican Mafia, which has a few hundred actual members in the Southland, authorities said. NBC4's Vikki Vargas contributed to this report. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was unveiled Thursday honoring actress Zoe Saldana. James Cameron, who directed Saldana in "Avatar," and Mila Kunis, who appeared with Saldana in "Get Over It," "After Sex" and "Blood Ties," joined her in speaking at the 11:30 a.m. ceremony at 6920 Hollywood Boulevard, near Highland Avenue. Saldana also portrays Gamora in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Lieutenant Uhura in the recent "Star Trek" films. The star is the 2,637th since the completion of the Walk of Fame in 1961 with the first 1,558 stars. The ceremony was livestreamed on walkoffame.com. The ceremony comes six days after the release of "Avengers: Infinity War," in which Saldana plays the assassin Gamora for the third time following appearances in "Guardians of the Galaxy," and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2." She is set to reprise the role in the untitled "Avengers" film set to be released one year from today, May 3, 2019. Saldana was born June 19, 1978, in Passaic, New Jersey and raised in the New York City borough of Queens and the Dominican Republic. Saldana returned to New York City with her family when she was 17 years old and began performing with the Faces theater troupe, which put on plays geared to provide positive messages for teenagers. Saldana made her television debut in 1999 with an episode of "Law & Order." Her first film was "Center Stage," released in 2000, about young dancers at New York City ballet academy. Saldana's other early film credits include "Crossroads," "Drumline," "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and "The Terminal." Saldana had her breakout role in 2009, Uhura, the USS Enterprise's chief communications officer, in "Star Trek." She reprised the role in 2013 in "Star Trek Into Darkness," and 2016 in "Star Trek Beyond." Later in 2009, "Avatar" was released, with Saldana starring as Neytiri, the daughter of the leader of the Omaticaya clan (Wes Studi). She is set to reprise the role in "Avatar" sequels due out in 2020 and 2021. Saldana's other recent films include the 2016 crime drama "Live by Night" and the 2017 fantasy film "I Kill Giants." She also supplied the voice of the humanoid parrot and jaded pirate captain Captain Celaeno in the 2017 animated musical fantasy film, "My Little Pony: The Movie." What to Know The Air Force said a National Guard C-130 cargo plane crashed A police association photo showed what appeared to be the flaming wreckage of a military plane on a road. Other photos showed black smoke A crew of nine Puerto Ricans were flying an Air National Guard C-130 into retirement in Arizona when it crashed onto a highway in Georgia on Wednesday, and authorities said there are no survivors. The plane crashed onto state highway 21 moments after taking off from the Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, narrowly missing people on the ground and sending an orange and black fireball into the sky. "It miraculously did not hit any cars, any homes," Effingham County Sheriff's spokeswoman Gena Bilbo said. "This is a very busy roadway." Eight hours after the crash, she added: "To our knowledge there are no survivors." The huge plane's fuselage appeared to have struck the median, and pieces of its wings, which spanned 132 feet (40 meters), were scattered across lanes in both directions. The debris field stretched 600 feet (183 meters) in diameter, Bilbo said. The only part still intact was the tail section, said Chris Hanks, a spokesman for the Savannah Professional Firefighters Association. The plane was more than 60 years old, said Isabelo Rivera, Adjutant General of Puerto Rico's National Guard. Belonging to the 156th Air Wing, it was used to rescue U.S. citizens stranded in the British Virgin Islands following Hurricane Irma and ferry supplies to the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria last year. "The planes that we have in Puerto Rico -- it's not news today that they are the oldest planes on inventory" of all National Guard planes nationwide, Rivera said. Puerto Rico's National Guard has five other similar planes, two of which need maintenance and aren't being used, he said. It's too early to say what might have caused the accident, he said. The plane last received maintenance at the base in Savannah in April. All nine crew members had helped with hurricane recovery efforts as part of the 198th Fighter Squadron, nicknamed the Bucaneros, which flies out of Base Muniz in the northern coastal city of Carolina, Rivera said. "This pains us," Rivera said of the deaths. They aren't releasing names until all the families have been contacted, but "most of them already know and have come to the base." Motorist Mark Jones told the Savannah Morning News that he saw the plane hit the road right in front of him, about a mile (less than two kilometers) from the airport. "It didn't look like it nosedived, but it almost looked like it stalled and just went almost flat right there in the middle of the highway," Jones said, describing how people stopped and got out of their cars following the explosion. "I'm still shook up and shaking. My stomach is in knots because I know they're people just like me. I wasn't that far from it and I could have just kept going and it would have been me and we wouldn't be talking right now," Jones said. The U.S. territory's Gov. Ricardo Rossello expressed his sadness, tweeting that "our prayers are with the families of the Puerto Rican crew." President Donald Trump tweeted that he had been briefed on the crash, and sent "thoughts and prayers for the victims, their families and the great men and women of the National Guard." What to Know President Donald Trump said he reimbursed his personal lawyer for hush money paid to a porn star through a monthly retainer Trump previously claimed he didn't know about the payments to Stormy Daniels or the source of them Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani said Thursday Trump didn't know all the details until "maybe 10 days ago" President Donald Trump acknowledged Thursday he repaid his personal lawyer for hush money given to porn actress Stormy Daniels after claiming previously he didn't know about the payments. But the money, paid just before the 2016 election to stifle her claims of an affair, "had nothing to do with the campaign," the president tweeted. Trump said his attorney Michael Cohen received a monthly retainer, which he used to pay the actress to sign an agreement not to talk about her allegations and thus "stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair." Trump's tweets outlining the arrangement came after Rudy Giuliani, one of his new attorneys, said Wednesday that Trump reimbursed Cohen for $130,000 paid to Daniels. During an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity," Giuliani said the money to repay Cohen had been "funneled ... through the law firm and the president repaid it." Asked if Trump knew about the arrangement, Giuliani said: "He didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this for my clients. I don't burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people." Speaking on "Fox and Friends" Thursday, Giuliani said Trump didn't know all the details until "maybe 10 days ago." While stressing that Trump denies the relationship, he said Cohen may have seen $130,000 as "cheap." "They said it wasn't true," Giuliani said. "However, imagine if that came out on October 15, 2016, in the middle of the last debate with Hillary Clinton. Cohen didn't even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job." The comments contradicted statements made by Trump several weeks ago, when he said he didn't know about the payment to Daniels. Giuliani later suggested to The Wall Street Journal that while Trump had repaid the $130,000, Cohen had settled the payment to Daniels without Trump's knowledge at the time. And he told The New York Times that Trump set up reimbursement payments after the campaign was over, totaling about $460,000 for "incidental expenses" incurred on Trump's behalf. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders echoed Giuliani's comment Thursday, telling reporters that Trump wasn't being untruthful when he said he didnt about the payments. She said the nature of the payments was "information the president didn't know at the time but eventually learned." When asked at what point she personally knew about Trump's reimbursement, Sanders said she first became aware of it "during the [Giuliani's] interview last night." Sanders added that Trump "has denied and continued to deny the underlying claim" regarding Stormy Daniels and referred reporters to Giuliani's "pretty lengthy statements" for more information. A source familiar with the matter told NBC News that Giuliani's Fox statement "was not coordinated" with the rest of the president's legal team. And his revelation appeared to take many in the West Wing by surprise as well. In briefings and media appearances, White House aides have sought to avoid staking out a clear position on the matter, directing reporters to Trump's own comments. And the way Giuliani announced details on live television and imprecisely raised fresh worries about the president's uneven legal team. But it was no accident. "Of course" this is a strategy, said former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who led Trump's presidential transition before being fired. "You know, there's an old saying in the law, 'Hang a lantern on your problems.'" Christie said on ABC. "So he comes in, he knows that there's been different stories being told about this payment and how it was made. So the fact is that Rudy has to go out there now and clean it up. That's what lawyers get hired to do." Law firms advance expenses for clients as a matter of course, so there's nothing inherently improper about a lawyer covering a particular payment and then being reimbursed for it. In this case, though, the client who apparently reimbursed the expense was running for president and the money was paid just days before the election. That raises questions about whether Cohen's law practice was functioning as a vendor for the campaign and the expense was therefore an unreported campaign expenditure. If so, that could be legally problematic. Asked aboard Air Force One last month whether he knew about the payment, Trump said flatly: "No." Trump also said he didn't know why Cohen had made the payment or where he got the money. In a phone interview with "Fox and Friends" last week, however, Trump appeared to muddy the waters, saying that Cohen represented him in the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal." The White House referred questions to the president's personal legal team. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and ex-U.S. attorney who joined Trump's legal team last month, said the president had repaid Cohen over several months, indicating the payments continued through at least the presidential transition, if not into his presidency. He also said the payment "is going to turn out to be perfectly legal" because "that money was not campaign money." No debt to Cohen is listed on Trump's personal financial disclosure form, which was certified on June 16, 2017. Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, called Giuliani's comments "a stunning revelation." "Mr. Trump evidently has participated in a felony, and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people," he said. Giuliani spoke initially to Fox host Sean Hannity, who has his own connection to the case. It was recently revealed in court that Hannity is one of Cohen's clients. Hannity has described his personal dealings with Cohen as centered on real estate advice. Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, says she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, months after his third wife gave birth to his youngest child, and was paid to keep quiet as part of a nondisclosure agreement she is now seeking to invalidate. She has also filed a defamation suit against Trump after he questioned a composite sketch she released of a man she says threatened her to stay quiet. "I think there is no question that he is defaming my client," Avenatti said Thursday on "Morning Joe" in response to the president's latest tweets. "We're going to examine what was said. Were going to figure out what our next steps are." He added: "So let me get this straight. He was only lying about the reimbursement but now he's telling the truth?" The White House has said Trump denies having a relationship with Daniels. Cohen had said previously: "Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly." He notably did not include the president personally. Asked about Cohen's denial, Giuliani said he didn't know whether Cohen had made the payment without asking Trump but that he had "no reason to dispute that." Cohen himself is under increasing legal pressure. He is facing a criminal investigation in New York, and FBI agents raided his home and office several weeks ago seeking records about the nondisclosure agreement. Giuliani's revelation seemed aimed at reducing the president's legal exposure. But outside experts said it raised a number of questions, including whether the money represented repayment of an undisclosed loan or could be seen as reimbursement for a campaign expenditure. "If this is true then it looks like Cohen may have made an unreported loan to the campaign rather than a contribution," said Richard L. Hasen, an expert in election law at the University of California, Irvine. He said that might be better for Cohen, but not for Trump, because it undermines the argument that Cohen was acting independently. "The greatest significance is that it implicates the president directly," he said. Associated Press writers Zeke Miller, Jonathan Lemire and Eric Tucker contributed to this report. What to Know Jessica Graham died two years ago and Saturday would have been her 30th birthday. . In grand style, her now four year old daughter Bella was able to ship a cake thanks to local Post Office employees in her hometown. Birthdays just aren't the same without a cake - or at least that's what a young girl from North Florida thought when she decided to send one to her mother in heaven. Jessica Graham died two years ago and Saturday would have been her 30th birthday. In grand style, her now four year old daughter Bella was able to ship a cake thanks to local Post Office employees in her hometown of Edgewater, near Daytona Beach. They mail hundreds of thousands of letters to Santa Claus every year, so heaven wasn't that much further said Laura Fisher, Jessicas mother and Bellas grandmother who bakes cakes for a living and helped to organize the event. Fisher works to keep the memories alive for Bella and for her, birthdays are big. "She started expressing concern that mommy wouldn't have a birthday cake in heaven, Fisher said. Fisher reached out to the Edgewater branch post office, and after she and Bella and extended family whipped up a cake, they brought it in to mail it. Workers even opened up a special line for them. "They said this line was for people shipping to heaven only, said Fisher. They put a stamp on it, they guaranteed her that the cake would arrive before mommy's birthday. Fisher says employees were wonderful giving Bella the gift of time and attention and letting Bella send her gift to mom. She was so happy, she gave me a high five, Fisher said. She was like Mommy's going to have a birthday cake, she's going to have a party. They have no idea how much it meant to her to be able to do that for her mom. A South Florida newspaper apologized after running a gun show advertisement on its front page near two stories and a photo about local mass shootings. South Florida Sun Sentinel Publisher Nancy Meyer issued a statement saying the placement violated the Fort Lauderdale paper's policy banning gun and other controversial ads from the front page. She said "the juxtaposition of certain ads and news stories can appear extremely insensitive, and we failed to prevent such a juxtaposition today." The lead story covered the plea agreement reached in last year's shooting at Fort Lauderdale's airport that left five dead. The lead photo shows high school students mourning at the gravestone dedication for one of February's 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre. Another story covered fundraising efforts for the school. At least one parent of a student who lost their life in the Parkland school was upset. Fred Guttenberg reads the Sun Sentinel every morning but he says Wednesday's front page made his skin crawl. Guttenberg was so upset he called the paper to point out what he thought was a huge mistake. He said he immediately received an apology and was told by the paper's publisher that it would not sell gun advertisements again. "While it was a rough thing to see the first page, I think the outcome of it going forward is terrific and I'd love to see other print media make that same decision, stop selling advertising for these weapons," Guttenberg said. "People should feel free to go and buy whatever they want, but we don't need to be bombarded with those ads." President Donald Trump falsely claimed in a tweet that there were No questions on Collusion in a list of questions the special counsel reportedly has for the president. There are several inquiries about possible collusion among the questions published by the New York Times. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said that President Trump was not involved in the decision of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe stepping down from his position, and also hoped that everyone would get the Russia fever out of their system soon. On April 30, the Times reported that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III had at least four dozen questions on an exhaustive array of subjects he wants to ask President Trump to learn more about his ties to Russia and determine whether he obstructed the inquiry itself. The Times published the list and said it came out of discussions between Trumps lawyers and the special counsels office, which has sought to question the president. The next morning, Trump said on Twitter that it was disgraceful that the questions were leaked, adding that there were none on collusion, which he called a made up, phony crime. But there are several questions in the published list about possible collusion. The Times divided the list into four categories, related to: former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, former FBI Director James Comey, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and campaign coordination with Russia. That last category includes: During the campaign, what did you know about Russian hacking, use of social media or other acts aimed at the campaign? (A U.S. intelligence report released on Jan. 6, 2017, said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign to help elect Trump. The report accused the Russian-based Internet Research Agency of overseeing an extensive pro-Trump social media campaign, and the Russian military intelligence agency of leaking damaging emails about Clinton and her campaign to WikiLeaks and other outlets.) (A U.S. intelligence report released on Jan. 6, 2017, said Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign to help elect Trump. The report accused the Russian-based When did you become aware of the Trump Tower meeting? (This is the June 2016 meeting arranged by Donald Trump Jr. with a Russian lawyer offering incriminating information on Hillary Clinton. Paul Manafort, who at the time was Trumps campaign convention manager, and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, also attended the meeting.) (This is the June 2016 meeting arranged by Donald Trump Jr. with a Russian lawyer offering incriminating information on Hillary Clinton. Paul Manafort, who at the time was Trumps campaign convention manager, and Jared Kushner, Trumps son-in-law, also attended the meeting.) During a 2013 trip to Russia, what communication and relationships did you have with the Agalarovs and Russian government officials? (Russian pop star Emin Agalarov and his father were involved in setting up the Trump Tower meeting.) (Russian pop star and his father were involved in setting up the Trump Tower meeting.) What knowledge did you have of any outreach by your campaign, including by Paul Manafort, to Russia about potential assistance to the campaign? What did you know about communication between Roger Stone, his associates, Julian Assange or WikiLeaks? (Stone, a friend and an informal adviser to Trump, said in Aug. 8, 2016, remarks to the Southwest Broward Republican Organization that he had communicated with Assange, referring to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.) (Stone, a friend and an informal adviser to Trump, said in Aug. 8, 2016, remarks to the Southwest Broward Republican Organization that he had communicated with Assange, referring to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.) What do you know about a 2017 meeting in Seychelles involving Erik Prince? (The Times notes that this meeting brought Mr. Prince, an informal adviser to Mr. Trumps team, together with a Russian investor close to Mr. Putin.) For more on the key moments in the FBIs and special counsels probe of Russias interference in the 2016 election, see our Timeline of Russia Investigation. What to Know Ruthie Ann Miles is a Tony Award-winning Broadway star hurt in a March 5 crash that also killed her young daughter and a friend's toddler Miles was walking with a friend and their kids in Park Slope when a car ran a red light and struck them, police said. The friend was injured Miles is pregnant, according to reports and her social media feeds; she was badly hurt, but the baby is miraculously OK The 44-year-old woman who plowed into a pregnant Tony-winning actress walking with her friend and their two young children, killing both kids, in Park Slope two months ago has been indicted in connection with the case. Dorothy Bruns was arrested at her Staten Island home Thursday on a 10-count indictment charging her with manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, assault and other crimes in the violent March 5 crash at Ninth Street and Fifth Avenue that killed 4-year-old Abigail Blumenstein and 1-year-old Joshua Lew. Bruns had run through a red light just before slamming into the children, Abigail's pregnant mother, pregnant Tony-winning actress Ruthie Ann Blumenstein (stage name Ruthie Ann Miles), and Joshua's mother Lauren Lew in the crosswalk. All four were found on the pavement with varying degrees of injuries. Cops later learned a fifth pedestrian, a 46-year-old man, had also been hit and had been taken to the hospital in stable condition. Bruns told police at the time she had medical issues -- and though her license had been suspended she had not been criminally charged in the case until now. Prosecutors said Thursday that she had in fact suffered a seizure at the time of the collision, and had been driving in direct defiance of a doctor's orders following a hospitalization less than two months prior. That hospitalization stemmed from yet another car crash -- that time just into a parked vehicle. Medical records show Bruns spent two days in the hospital after that Jan. 8 crash in her home borough on Staten Island. She suffered a seizure during her hospitalization and had been told not to drive for a year because of her medical condition; those instructions were memorialized in her medical charts and reiterated in two followup appointments. But between those followup appointments, Bruns did drive and was involved in another fender bender. "Besides having seizures, she also has coronary problems, she also has MS," Assistant District Attorney Craig Esswein said in court. "She is the last person who should have been in a car. It is for selfish reasons she continued to drive." Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement, The loss of Abigail and Joshua was a horrific and avoidable tragedy that devastated their loved ones and hurt so many of their friends and neighbors. Her alleged insistence on driving despite doctors orders and serious medical conditions that prevented her from safely doing so was not only irresponsible, it was unlawful. I intend to now hold her accountable and urge all drivers to heed instructions of medical professionals and never drive a car when told not to." Bruns walked slowly into court Thursday, with her hands handcuffed behind her back. She was barely able to get out of her chair and she leaned on a walker as she left the courtroom, with tears in her eyes. Surveillance footage from the Park Slope scene is chilling; it shows a white Volvo stopped at the intersection. Then the sedan creeps forward, missing pedestrians crossing on the near side of the road and a car that had the right-of-way. It then appears to speed up somewhat as it slams into the group in the crosswalk across the intersection. The car drags Joshua's stroller halfway down the block, hitting a parked car and an unoccupied car, before coming to a stop. According to witnesses, Bruns had her head hanging back when she drove into the intersection, prosecutors said Thursday. First responders observed her to be foaming from the mouth, confused and unsteady on her feet. She suffered a seizure in the ambulance and again at the hospital, prosecutors said. Blumenstein, who also appeared in TV's "The Americans," was taken to the hospital in critical condition after the middle-of-the-day crash. She was recently said to be improving -- and her unborn baby miraculously unharmed. Bruns was ordered held on bail of $75,000 bond or $25,000 cash with a followup court appearance next month. She faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the top charge. It wasn't clear if she entered a plea Thursday, nor was attorney information for her available. The crash shattered the stroller-friendly family community, which has called for action on driving laws in the aftermath of the crash. New York City Councilman Brad Lander said the crash could have been prevented and that the driver -- who police believe had a seizure -- shouldn't have been behind the wheel. Lander had pushed for the district attorney to file charges in the case. Blumenstein won her Tony Award in 2015 for her role as Lady Thiang in "The King and I." She was slated to perform next week at a charity concert called Broadway Baby Mamas in midtown, according to her Twitter account. She also starred in the fourth season of the critically acclaimed FX drama "The Americans," playing the Korean wife of a government worker who befriends the Russian spy couple played by Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys. Roseanne Colletti contributed to this report. What to Know Angelenos will soon be able to indulge in New York City pizza thanks to JetBlue The airlines is rolling out a promotion where it will deliver pizza from Patsys Pizzeria of East Harlem to LA all for less than $20 a pie The promotion runs from May 9 through 11 Angelenos will soon be able to indulge in New York City pizza thanks to JetBlue. The airlines is rolling out a promotion where it will deliver pizza from Patsys Pizzeria of East Harlem to sunny Los Angeles all for less than $20 a pie. There is no delivery fee or taxes, but JetBlue promises that the pizza will be delivered to customers homes hot and ready to eat. Customers will be able to choose between a 16 plain cheese or pepperoni pizzas. The plain pizza will be $12, while the pepperoni will be $15. The only catch? JetBlue will only deliver 350 pizzas a day. Those living in Los Angeles can place their orders at jetblue.pizza. Only certain zip codes of the county will be available for delivery. Customers will also be able to track their flying pizzas from John F. Kennedy Airport to Los Angeles International Airport via jetblue.pizza. The promotion runs from May 9 through 11. What to Know Eight men have been arrested in an alleged sex trafficking ring in which women were smuggled from Mexico to Corona, Queens, authorities say The women were forced to have sex with 30 to 40 men a day and held against their will, according to Homeland Security Dozens of women have been rescued and are getting emotional and physical help, Homeland Security says Dozens of women were smuggled to New York City and forced to sell themselves for a group of men who are now facing charges, prosecutors say. Efrain Granados Corona and Emilio Rojas-Romero were extradited from Mexico to New York on sex trafficking charges Thursday, and escorted in cuffs through JFK Airport by special agents from Homeland Security Investigations, exclusive video obtained by News 4 shows. They're among eight men under arrest. Prosecutors said the men are part of a gang that set up a multimillion dollar illegal business, smuggling dozens of unsuspecting women, adults and minors from Tenancingo, Mexico, to Corona, Queens. The women were forced to have sex with 30 to 40 men a day, and were allegedly held against their will until agents from HSI cracked the case, said prosecutors. They were transported all over the five boroughs, Long Island, up to the Hudson Valley area and even other states. "They're vulnerable women that are taken advantage of, coming here to America for their dream that they see and hear about here in America, to only be taken and victimized by these individuals," said Anthony Scandiffio, acting deputy assistant director at ICE at Homeland Security. They were "basically taken advantage of from the moment they wake up to the moment they put their head down to sleep," he said. The feds said the operation in the tri-state area began in 2000. Authorities say they've rescued dozens of women are now working to get them the physical and emotional help they need after months of torture. "That sends a huge message," said Scandiffio. "It shows that just because you're outside the U.S. doesn't mean that you're not vulnerable for the long arm of justice." With 27 more women alleging former news anchor Charlie Rose of sexual misconduct, a report Thursday calls into question CBS News' claims that his behavior was a surprise before he was fired last November. The Washington Post said that on least three occasions prior to that, women reported discomfort about Rose's actions to superiors. Rose was fired as "CBS This Morning" anchor and PBS cancelled his interview show after an earlier Post report on women who said he groped them, made lewd remarks or walked around naked around them. In one new allegation, a former research assistant said Rose exposed his penis and touched her breasts when they worked at NBC News' Washington bureau in 1976. The Post said Rose, 76, told the newspaper in an email that its story was inaccurate and unfair. Since Rose was fired, CBS News said it has taken steps to ensure a safer workplace, including mandatory misconduct training. Network news President David Rhodes and other key managers have said they were unaware of Rose's actions. Yet the Post outlined three episodes where word had reportedly spread: Annmarie Parr was a 22-year-old news clerk in 1986 when she handed Rose a script and he asked whether she enjoyed sex and how often she liked to have it. She told a senior producer about it and said she didn't want to be alone with Rose, and said her boss laughed and said, "Fine, you don't have to be alone with him anymore." In 2011, a woman who worked at "CBS This Morning" said Rose forcibly kissed her at a holiday party. She complained to the show's top producer, Chris Licht, but asked him not to tell human resources about it. Licht told the newspaper he followed her wishes and also talked to Rose about the incident. A 24-year-old woman who worked the night shift was noticed by Rose last year. He began taking her to expensive restaurants and talked about other jobs. The executive assistant to the show's new producer, Ryan Kadro, said she told her boss about the attention Rose was paying to the young woman, and said he did not seem alarmed. Kadro disputed that she told him about inappropriate behavior. Some of the women told the Post they feared reporting bad behavior to their bosses because the network was more concerned about the male TV personalities. "I had been there long enough to know that it was just the way things went," said Sophie Gayter, 27, who said Rose groped her while they walked down a hall. "People said what they wanted to you. People did what they wanted to you." Eleanor McManus, co-founder of Press Forward, a group of women who have been victims of sexual misconduct in newsrooms, said the Post report illustrated a systematic problem across news organizations that needed to be addressed. "It's pretty clear that there were people in management who were aware that there was a problem, and nothing was done," McManus told The Associated Press on Thursday. With the stories that have come out about the likes of Rose, Matt Lauer and Matt Halperin, the networks are making strides but women need to know they can report wrongdoings without repercussions, she said. Marcy McGinnis, who was senior vice president of newsgathering at CBS News when she left in 2005, said she didn't know Rose but knew he had a reputation as a "ladies man." His behavior never came up at senior staff meetings, she said, and she was surprised as others when she read about Rose's behavior. "This just proves how important it is for people in positions of authority to believe people when they come forward with complaints, instead of brushing them off (by saying) 'boys will be boys' or 'that's just Charlie,'" McGinnis said. CBS News said it could not confirm or corroborate many of the stories told by The Post. "We continue to look for ways to improve our workplace and this period of reflection and action has been important to all of us," the network said. The network recently appointed a working group led by Karen Raffensberger, CBS standards director, to look at the structure of how CBS handles complaints of inappropriate behavior. For many years, Rose did his PBS interview show at the same time he worked for CBS, and the Post story also examined his behavior there. In 2003, a then-20-year-old intern was brought by Rose on a trip to California, where she alleged that he squeezed her breast while on a car ride. The woman said she complained to PBS management and was told that Rose was harmless. A freight train derailment in Delaware County Wednesday night left some SEPTA and Amtrak passengers stranded for hours Thursday morning. Even when Amtrak Northeast Corridor service resumed, the transit agency warned of "significant" delays as SEPTA canceled trains for the remainer of the day. The last two cars of the 88-car the Norfolk Southern train carrying crushed stone derailed under an Interstate 95 overpass in Crum Lynne, near Chester and SEPTAs Eddystone Station, late Wednesday night, the railroad said. No injuries were reported but damage was done to the morning commute: SEPTA suspended service on its Wilmington/Newark Regional Rail Line and Amtrak suspended Northeast Corridor Service between Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Crews are making progress with a freight train that derailed overnight in Delaware County. Amtrak resumed Northeast Corridor service shortly before 8 a.m. but warned of residual delays. At Philadelphia's 30th Street Station, passengers voiced frustration over the "chaotic" handling of the "nightmare" morning commute as they tried to figure out alternative travel plans, NBC10's Katy Zachry reported. Some passengers could be overheard discussing if they should rent a car to get south of the city. Midday, SEPTA announced its Wilmington/Newark service would remain halted for the rest of the day as multiple tracks remained out of service. SEPTA added extra service on its Media/Elwyn Line in an attempt to alleviate the pain of the suspension but that service doesn't help people trying to get to Delaware from 30th Street Station. In the aftermath of a freight train derailment in Delaware County, SEPTA is suspending service for the Wilmington-Newark Line. The derailment impacted Amtrak riders as well. Amtrak resumed service on its Northeast Corridor Line shortly before 8 a.m. but warned customer to "expect significant residual delays throughout the morning due to a reduced number of tracks available." They would later cancel some trains so check with Amtrak before you plan to board. The freight train was traveling from Birdsboro, Pennsylvania to Tasker, Del. when the rail cars tipped, Norfolk Southern spokesman Jon Glass said. A train derailment in Delaware County left Amtrak and SEPTA commuters stranded and frustrated at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station. SEPTA called the needed repairs "extensive." It was unclear if service would be back on track for the Friday morning commute. The cause of the derailment remained under investigation. A new video released as part of a National Transportation Safety Board's open docket showed how close an Air Canada plane came to nearly hitting planes waiting for take-off at the San Francisco International Airport last July. The incident was one of the several close-calls involving aircraft reported in the past 16 months at SFO. The Federal Aviation Administration said most of the incidents were due to pilot error. An Air Canada pilot said he aborted a landing at San Francisco International Airport before hearing from the control tower because "things were not adding up'' when the jet nearly landed on a taxiway occupied by four other planes in July.[[434156983, C]] Capt. Dimitrios Kisses said the airport was dark and the runway "did not look good'' when he opted to go around, the NTSB's document on the investigation released Wednesday said. It also noted that both pilots reported being tired. Air traffic controller Brian Delucchi said the flight path of the plane looked "extremely strange,'' and he ordered the plane to go around. The airport, which many pilots say is notoriously difficult for landings, has been under more scrutiny since the Air Canada incident. A spokesman for the airport said several safety improvements have been made since December 2016, when another plane almost entered a busy runway.[[481526241, C]] More lights have been added to the runways; a confusing taxiway has been closed; and a ground radar system has been reinforced to give pilots a greater level of precision when landing, Airport spokesman Doug Yakel said Wednesday. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration re-certified the airport after an in-depth review of its operations. Top FAA sources previously told NBC Bay Areas Investigative Unit that the Air Canada jet had come a lot closer to hitting planes during a near miss at San Francisco International Airport than official statements implied. On Wednesday, new video that shows the near miss validates their information. Senior Investigative Reporter Stephen Stock reports. JAN. 9: An Aeromexico passenger jet was ordered to abort a landing as it descended toward a runway occupied by another commercial jet. The FAA determined the mistake was pilot error and said Aeromexico provided more training to its pilots for flying into San Francisco and distributed a safety alert to its pilots about the incident. Oct. 22, 2017: An Air Canada flight was cleared to land but a tower controller then instructed the crew multiple times to circle because he was not certain that a preceding arrival would be clear of the runway. The Air Canada crew did not acknowledge the controller's instructions. The FAA's investigation found the crew inadvertently switched from the San Francisco tower frequency to a ground frequency after receiving landing clearance. Feb. 15, 2017: A traffic controller mistakenly cleared a Compass passenger jet lo land on a runway where a Virgin America plane was waiting for take-off, the FAA determined. Dec. 14, 2016: A SkyWest pilot was given taxiing instructions and correctly read them back but then turned onto the wrong taxiway. The aircraft stopped 65 feet from the runway edge, where a United Airlines Boeing 737 was taking off. A spokesman for the airport says several safety improvements have been made since December 2016, when another plane almost entered a busy runway. Airport spokesman Doug Yakel said Wednesday that more lights have been added to the runways; a confusing taxiway has been closed; and a ground radar system has been reinforced to give pilots a greater level of precision when landing. SYDNEYFrench President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday laughed off the global sniggers he prompted after describing the wife of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull as delicious. The faux pasdelicieux in French can also mean delightfulcaused widespread mirth, with one Sydney tabloid mocking up a nearly full-page photo of Macron with the cartoon head of Pepe le Pew, the lovelorn French skunk. A newspaper had some fun and it made me laugh a lot, especially since in the original cartoon the character has a French accent, Macron told reporters shortly before leaving Sydney at the end of a two-day visit. Macron, who demonstrated his excellent grasp of English during numerous speeches and remarks in Sydney, added that there is not a European leader who gives all his speeches in English. The incident occurred at the end of a joint press conference on Wednesday when Macron turned to Turnbull and said: Thank you and your delicious wife for the warm welcome. At a private dinner later that night with Turnbull and wife Lucy, the hubbub over his remark had them laughing a lot, he said. Turnbull also commented on the gaffe, saying his wife was very flattered by the youthful French presidents comment.Shes asked me to say that she found the presidents compliment as charming as it was memorable, he said. President Macron charmed Australia. He certainly charmed all of us, all the Turnbulls. I think he is a great friend of Australia. Some in the Australian media and on Twitter were not so gracious, playing on the French reputation for romantic flair. Ooh La La, its a French miss, headlined the main story in the Sydney Daily Telegraph. The newspapers photo-shopped front page bore the headline President Pepe le Pew, a reference to the Warner Brothers cartoon character who spends most of his time in luckless pursuit of a female cat. You can take the man out of France but... tweeted Buzzfeed Australia journalist Alice Workman, while another user took a light-hearted jab at the Gaul of that man. The controversial CEO of a biohacking company was found dead Sunday in a sensory deprivation tank at a spa in downtown D.C. Aaron Traywick was found inside a sensory deprivation "float pod" at Soulex Float Spa in the 1000 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW, near Mount Vernon Square, a company spokeswoman said. He was 28. The owner of the company went to check on Traywick when his session ended and found him, the spokeswoman said. D.C. police responded about 11:30 a.m. Sunday and found Traywick's body. A death investigation is underway, though police say they have no evidence that suggests foul play. Traywick ran Ascendance Biomedical, which encouraged non-scientists to conduct their own medical research. In February, he took off his pants in front of a crowd at a biohacking conference in Texas and injected himself in the thigh with an experimental, non-FDA-approved treatment for herpes, Gizmodo reported. If we succeed with herpes in even the most minor ways, we can proceed with cancer, he said. Soulex Float Spa provides a "scientifically proven, time-efficient method to unwind and bring regeneration into the daily grind," the company says in a video on its website. Images on the site show round, white pools with lids that close over the person floating. Soulex says on its website that floating can reduce stress, anxiety, depression and pain. The spa's staff is grieving Traywick's death, they said in a statement. "Out of respect for his familys privacy and the ongoing death investigation, we regret that we cannot share all of the details of the incident at this time," the statement said. "However, we can assure our customers and potential customers that floating is a very safe wellness tool and that Soulex observes the highest industry safety standards." "As always, all safety and standard operating procedures were followed," the statement continued. The results of an autopsy on Traywick are pending. Mitt Romney was forced Saturday into a Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat in Utah as he looks to restart his political career by replacing long-serving Sen. Orrin Hatch. Romney remains the heavy favorite overall to win the Senate seat in November. But if he had won the votes of a majority of the far-right leaning party delegates at the state GOP convention Saturday, he would have bypassed a primary altogether. Instead, he was edged out by state lawmaker Mike Kennedy, who got 51 percent of the vote to Romney's 49 percent. Voters will decide between the two in a June 26 primary. Romney previously secured his spot on the ballot by gathering signatures. Romney went up against 11 other candidates at the convention, mostly political newcomers who questioned Romney's criticism of President Donald Trump and the depth of his ties to Utah. Kennedy, a doctor and lawyer, got big applause from the crowd as he railed against the national debt, Common Core education standards and former President Barack Obama's health care law. Romney, 71, asked for delegates' votes after spending two months on the campaign trail visiting dairy farms, taking selfies with college students and making stump speeches in small towns. After his failed 2012 presidential campaign, he moved to Utah, where he is also known for his role in the 2002 Winter Olympics and for becoming the first Mormon presidential nominee of a major political party. He's worked to keep the focus on state issues rather than his history of well-documented feuds with Trump, whom he called a "con-man" and a phony during the 2016 race. Trump fired back that Romney "choked like a dog" during his own White House run. But the two men have shown signs of making peace, and Romney has accepted Trump's endorsement. A community in Vermont's Chittenden County praised the team of first responders who leaped into action last fall to save a police chief's life. "I was dead," Chief Al Buck of the Richmond Police Department said Wednesday, referring to Oct. 20, 2017. "They told my wife I wasn't going to make it." Buck, 60, who had a long career with Vermont State Police before joining the town of Richmond, suffered a major heart attack while chasing burglary suspects in a high-speed pursuit. Buck managed to pull over safely in his police vehicle, but he blacked out. A state trooper behind Buck in the pursuit learned from dispatchers that the chief's cruiser was outfitted with a defibrillator. Richmond is what is known as a HeartSafe Community, because it has taken steps to provide greater access to emergency cardiovascular care including through the addition of defibrillators in places like the town office and in police vehicles. While Sgt. Paul Ravelin worked to deploy that device, the neighboring town's fire chief who just happened to be in the area did mouth-to-mouth on Buck until the ambulance squad got to the scene to continue life-saving measures. "Fate was with me that day," Buck said of the support and equipment that was available to save his life. Today, the chief said he is physically doing better than before. He honored his new personal heroes at a luncheon Wednesday, awarding them with a lifesaving pin, a certificate of appreciation and letters of thanks. Buck expressed his gratitude to Sgt. Ravelin, who first jolted his heart, to Chief Mike Gervia of the Bolton Fire Department, who worked on his breathing, and to the Richmond EMS crew who never gave up on him while racing to the hospital. The Richmond Rescue personnel gave Buck eight shocks with a defibrillator on top of the two he received from Ravelin, Richmond Rescue paramedic Sarah Lamb said, delivering him to the University of Vermont Medical Center with a pulse. "I'm here today because of what these people in this room and this table did to me that day," Buck said of the guests of honor at the luncheon in the town offices. The rescuers said they did for Buck what they would have done for anyone in distress. "I've known Al for a long time," Chief Gervia said, reflecting on how happy he is to see him alive and well today. "It's pretty special." "All the first responders the firefighters, rescue personnel, and other law enforcement officers being part of that team is probably the most rewarding," Sgt. Ravelin said. Chief Buck recently announced his retirement to leaders of the town of Richmond, saying after 41 years in law enforcement, it's time to focus on his family. "And my health and what's good for me at this point," Buck added in an interview with necn. "And that's what I'm going to do." Buck said he expects to make time to hunt and fish more in his next chapter, and should have plenty of life to live, all because of his fellow first responders. "I'm very thankful for that," Buck said of the care and support he received the day of his medical emergency. Also at Wednesday's luncheon, the town of Richmond received a special donation from the New England regional office of the Wisconsin-based company Cardiac Science. Cardiac Science gave the Richmond Police Department one of its new defibrillators, which will go into the one remaining Richmond cruiser that had not yet been outfitted with the life-saving tool. A company representative said the story of Chief Buck demonstrates just how game-changing a defibrillator can be in a cardiac emergency. A wildfire in Maine spanning three towns burned from Wednesday evening through Thursday night. The Maine Forest Service said the fire started near the Kennebunk area around 5 p.m. Wednesday and spread over 341 acres by Thursday morning, impacting the towns of Kennebunk, Sanford and Wells. "We had fire running at quite a quick pace," Sanford Fire Chief Steve Benotti said. "It is one of the largest fires in York County in quite some time." Benotti said more than 80 personnel worked to contain the blaze. While the fire came within 400 feet of residential neighborhoods, it did not cause any injuries or property damage. "It almost came out of nowhere," said Wells resident Tanya Jarosz, who saw thick, black smoke surrounding her street around 6 p.m. Wednesday. "It felt like it was explosion. My husband was a little nervous about the property, saying if we get to the point of evacuation, you guys are going to go." Fire officials are still investigating the origin and cause of the fire. Benotti said the most difficult part was fighting the flames at night, but they had the help of a York County EMA drone, equipped with a heat-sensing camera. Forest rangers said the infrared imaging helped them deploy resources. "The camera is able to detect the heat, so we could actually see where the most intense fire was taking place along the fire line," District Ranger George Harris said. He said a cold April and dry start to May made for idea wildfire conditions. "Things haven't greened up," Harris said. "The dead grassin this area is very conducive in the dry conditions for very intense fires." He said this busy start to wildfire season should remind Mainers to apply for permits and consult local fire officials before burning anything. Fire officials said rain Thursday night should help them put out the York County wildfire by Friday morning. Former Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg announced Thursday he would end his long political career after a scathing ethics report concluded he failed to protect the Senate from his husband, who has been charged with sexual misconduct. In a one-sentence letter delivered to the Senate, Rosenberg said his resignation would be effective at 5 p.m. Friday. The decision came amid mounting calls, including several from his Democratic colleagues, for the Amherst Democrat to resign. He stepped down from the presidency in December when allegations first surfaced against his husband, Bryon Hefner. The couple has since separated. In a statement, Rosenberg said he was leaving the Senate because he no longer had the authority to fully represent the interests of his constituents. He noted that the report found no evidence that he violated any Senate rules, no evidence he was aware of any alleged sexual assaults by Hefner, nor that Hefner asserted any influence over his actions while Senate leader. But Rosenberg acknowledged findings in the report, prepared by investigators hired by the Senate Ethics Committee, faulting him for not doing more to control Hefner's access to information and access to people who worked for or had business with the Senate. "Although, as the report states, I was unaware of many of the events attributed to Bryon, and took steps to address those incidents that came to my attention, that does not diminish my sorrow at what reportedly transpired or my sense of responsibility for what the ethics committee concludes was a failure on my part in not doing more to protect the Senate," Rosenberg wrote. He also conveyed his "sincere apology" to anyone who'd been affected by events detailed in the report. The Massachusetts Senate formally accepted Rosenberg's resignation on Thursday and apologized to anyone who was affected by the events that led to his departure. In a rare statement issued by the entire chamber, Democrats and Republicans, senators thanked witnesses who came forward during an ethics investigation of Rosenberg. "You deserved better. We must do better," the statement read. Investigators concluded that Rosenberg showed "significant failure of judgment and leadership," and knew or should have known that Hefner was "disruptive, volatile and abusive," and had racially or sexually harassed Senate employees. Rosenberg also violated Senate policy by allowing Hefner access to his Senate email and to his cellphone, which Hefner on at least two occasions used to send messages to Senate staffers while pretending to be Rosenberg, the report found. The committee had recommended Rosenberg be barred from serving in any leadership posts or from chairing any committees through 2020, and the full Senate could have imposed further punishment. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, Democratic Attorney General Maura Healey and at least six Democratic senators had publicly called for Rosenberg to quit after the report was released. "I think the report made very clear that there was damage done ... to the Senate and I think it was appropriate for him to step down and I'm glad he did," Baker told reporters Thursday. The governor said he was especially troubled that Rosenberg appeared not to keep a promise he made to Senate colleagues in 2014 to build a "firewall" between his personal and professional life. Baker added that he had appreciated his long working relationship with Rosenberg, dating back to the 1990s when Baker was state Secretary of Administration and Finance and Rosenberg chaired the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The first openly gay person to lead a legislative chamber in Massachusetts, Rosenberg, 68, has served in the Senate for more than a quarter century and helped craft numerous state laws. He also played a key role in convincing the Legislature not to overturn a 2003 ruling by the state's highest court that made Massachusetts the first U.S. state to legalize gay marriage. Hefner, 30, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment last month on charges of sexual assault, criminal lewdness and distributing nude photos without consent. The allegations involve four men. A job listing on Intels official webpage for a senior CPU micro-architect and designer to build a revolutionary microprocessor core has fueled speculation that the company is finally going to redesign its Core-branded CPU architecture after more than 12 years. Intel introduced the Core architecture in 2006, and that was an iteration of the P6 microarchitecture first introduced with the Pentium Pro in 1995. So, in some ways, Intel in 2018 is running on a 1995 design. Even though its tick/tock model called for a new microarchitecture every other year, the new architecture was, in fact, just a tweak of the old one and not a clean sheet design. The job is based in the Intel's Hillsboro, Oregon, facility, where all of the major development work is done. It initially said join the Ocean Cove team to deliver Intels next-generation core design in Hillsboro, Oregon. That entry has since been removed from the posting. Intel has been using codenames that end with Cove on their upcoming Core designs for future chips. So far, it has announced Ice Lake, Tiger Lake, and Alder Lake, which means Ocean Cove will be used in processors that will arrive after Alder Lake generation. So, we likely wont see them until 2020 or 2021. It's time for Intel to rethink the Core architecture While not confirmed that Ocean Cove will be a replacement for the Core architecture, Intel has reached the end of the line with that design and needs to rearchitect its CPUs, said Jim McGregor, president of Tirias Research. They need to take a step back and rethink everything. Intel didnt have to do that when AMD was on the ropes. For its part, AMD looked at every architecture and picked the best ideas from them. Prior to Zen, they always went down the road of 'we could do that but we dont have to, well just make a few simple improvements.' Intels in that boat now. They have to rethink things, he said. There are significant changes in computer workloads now, he noted. Its not so much running native apps but online interaction. Servers are more throughput-centric than compute-centric, so that will drive a lot of change in PC architectures going forward. Whats really interesting here is that just a few days before, Intel hired CPU architect Jim Keller, who brought AMD back to life with the Zen microarchitecture and also worked at Apple on its A4 and A5 smartphone processors. Keller, a serial job jumper, had left AMD in 2016 to join Tesla. But if he were hired to lead the Ocean Cove team, which would be logical, then why run the ad? It seems Keller will work on something else. Intel has been on a hiring spree of late, bringing in a lot of senior-level outsiders, something it was not known for. Intel had been a company of lifers, promoting people up the food chain and who had never worked anywhere else. But now it has Keller, and it recently nabbed the vice president of AMDs Radeon Technologies Group, Raja Koduri, and their marketing head, Chris Hook. McGregor estimates Intel has hired at least 15 top executives in recent months, all reporting directly to CEO Brian Krzanich. They are going to have a significant influence on not only future architectures, but the future of Intel, he said. Don't miss one of West Berkshire's biggest popular event this Bank Holiday Monday THIS Bank Holiday weekend will see the return of the popular Crafty Craft canal race from Kintbury to Newbury. The annual charitable event will see teams of paddlers and charity stall holders decked out in Back to the 80s fancy dress, the theme for the 2018 race on Monday. Rafts will travel along the canal from Kintbury to Victoria Park, where there will be food, music and stalls and activities for all, from 10am until 4pm. Now in its 44th year, the event is one of West Berkshires largest annual events. It is run by volunteers from Newbury Round Table, who have raised thousands of pounds for local charities. See next weeks edition of the Newbury Weekly News for photos and reaction. See next week's edition of the Newbury Weekly News for more details of Mondays Crafty Craft race. Steven Grainger denies murder after wife Simone is found battered and strangled to death A COCAINE addict battered and strangled his wife to death, then coolly rang his drug dealer and a prostitute, a jury heard. All the while, Simone Graingers lifeless body was lying, wrapped in a blanket, on the kitchen floor of their home in Windsor Way, Calcot. Steven Grainger denies murdering his wife, claiming he acted in self defence. At the opening of the trial at Reading Crown Court on Wednesday, May 2, jurors heard how he later fled the scene, leaving it to his wifes cousin to make the horrifying discovery. Forensic evidence showed Mrs Grainger, a 30-year-old mother of two who worked for Triangle Pharmacy in Tilehurst, had been strangled and battered about the head with a blunt object. Traces of her blood were found on the base of a heavy saucepan. Francis Fitzgibbon QC, prosecuting, said neighbours reported hearing a series of thumps in the early hours of November 4 last year and the crowns case is that they were made by Mr Grainger as he murdered his wife. The court heard the couple had a tempestuous relationship and regularly quarreled over 32-year-old Mr Graingers cocaine and alcohol binges during which he would disappear for days at a time. In one angry text read to the jury, she branded him a raging cokehead. In another she pleaded: I want a normal life. I dont want a druggie husband. Youre gradually breaking everything. Why are you so strange? I cant trust you. Normal is cutting the grass without being asked; normal is not taking coke for days. Mr Fitzgibbon said: The crown say these are messages from a wife and mother who felt badly let down by her feckless husband. He also told jurors that Mr Grainger once confessed to a work colleague about an occasion on which he put his hands round his wifes throat and began to strangle her. Mr Fitzgibbon added: Knowing what you do about how she died from strangulation, you may think this is an important confession from the defendant. Matters came to a head when Mr Grainger went missing when he was due to take his wife and children on a family holiday, the jury heard. The relationship continued to deteriorate, prompting Mr Grainger to move out and to move in with his mother, said Mr Fitzgibbon. However, on the eve of her murder, Mrs Grainger had enjoyed a girls night in at her home but also invited her husband to stay over. When her girlfriends went home, Mrs Grainger went upstairs to bed but her husband stayed downstairs. The jury has been told that he often used to creep downstairs as she slept to indulge in solitary cocaine binges. On the fateful night, said Mr Fitzgibbon, she sent him a text message in the early hours which said: What are you doing, weirdo? I dont trust you. He texted back: Im not doing nothing. Ive just got a tight chest and Im restless. Mr Fitzgibbons asked: Did those texts indicate the re-opening of an old quarrel that escalated and turned violent? It was around that time, the court heard, that neighbours heard a series of loud thumps. Mr Fitzgibbons said: Its likely that what they heard was the defendant battering Simones head against something. Following the killing it seems the defendant spent some time trying to clean up traces of blood. Jurors heard that Mr Grainger then made a series of phone calls, including one to his dealer asking for cocaine to be delivered and left under the front door mat. Mr Fitzgibbons said: He then rang a woman called Sandra, asking: You free, mate? Sandra is a prostitute someone who provides escort services, to use a euphemism. And he was communicating with other providers of escort services at this time. He made no attempt to get help. There was no call to the emergency services. It may be the defendants case that he killed his wife unintentionally or in self defence or under such extreme stress that he lost his self control and so what he did wasnt an act of murder. If any of those things happened, you may think that by now the morning after she died he must be wracked by remorse. But instead of calling the emergency services, why is he contacting prostitutes... and asking for drugs? Around 8am that day, Mr Grainger left the house and bought cigarettes and a fizzy drink at a nearby store, then drove to his mothers house, the court heard. By now, Mrs Graingers friends and family were concerned for her welfare as she had not turned up for a hair appointment and was not answering her phone. At 11am, her cousin used her own key to enter the Mrs Graingers home. Mr Fitzgibbon said: As you can imagine, she was horrified to discover her body lying face down in the back of the kitchen. She ran into the street, screaming. The emergency services were called and paramedics attempted resuscitation but it was clear it was too late to save Mrs Grainger, jurors heard. Meanwhile, Mr Grainger had left his mothers home, but around 6.30pm the following day he was arrested as he turned up again on her doorstep. He told officers: I know why youre here, the court heard. Later he made no comment to police questions but, accompanied by his legal representative, gave a prepared statement. It said: I was at home with my wife... I wasnt drunk and I hadnt taken any illegal drugs. He said he and his wife had sex and that he had stayed downstairs. The statement added: Between 1am and 3am she came downstairs and started shouting at me: I just want a normal husband. She tried to hit me multiple times with a clenched fist. Mr Grainger said in the ensuing struggle she fell and hit her head but then went and got a pair of scissors and attacked him with them. The statement went on: She said: I wish you were dead, why dont you kill yourself? I grabbed her neck; I wasnt trying to hurt her, I was trying to restrain her. Mr Grainger said she was still trying to attack him with the scissors when after 30 seconds she felt heavy. I let her go and she fell forward onto the floor. She was lying on the floor muttering and swearing at me. The statement said that he then went to bed and, when he came down at 5.30am, her found her still lying there, dead. He concluded by saying he rolled the body in a blanket and that he was acting at all times in self defence. Post mortem tests showed Mrs Grainger died from compression of the neck and blunt force trauma to the head. In addition, her nose and right cheek had been broken, her nails were torn and her larynx was fractured. Injuries to her mouth suggested something soft had been pressed against it and there were more traces of her blood found on a cushion and the base of a saucepan, the court heard. Toxicology tests showed Mr Grainger was a heavy and regular user of cocaine and there was Viagra in his system. Mr Grainger denies both murder and manslaughter and the trial, expected to last around three weeks, continues. SYDNEYAustralias oldest scientist, wearing a top labeled aging disgracefully, has left the country for Switzerland to end his life at the age of 104, saying he is resentful that he must go overseas to die. David Goodall does not have a terminal illness but his quality of life has deteriorated, and he has secured a fast-track appointment with assisted dying agency Life Circle in Basel. He got on a plane in Perth late Wednesday surrounded by friends and family saying their final goodbyes, euthanasia advocates told AFP. He will spend several days with other family in Bordeaux, France, before heading to Switzerland where he is due to end his life on May 10. I dont want to go to Switzerland, though its a nice country, he told broadcaster ABC before leaving. But I have to do that in order to get the opportunity of suicide which the Australian system does not permit. I feel very resentful. Assisted suicide is illegal in most countries around the world and was banned in Australia until the state of Victoria became the first to legaliZe it last year. But that legislation, which takes effect from June 2019, only applies to terminally ill patients of sound mind and a life expectancy of less than six months. Other states in Australia have debated euthanasia in the past, but the proposals have always been defeated, most recently in New South Wales state last year.Exit International, which helped Goodall make the trip, said it was unjust that one of Australias oldest and most prominent citizens should be forced to travel to the other side of the world to die with dignity. It launched a GoFundMe campaign to get plane tickets for Goodall and his helper upgraded to business class from economy and quickly raised more than Aus$20,000 (US$15,000). Goodall, an honorary research associate at Perths Edith Cowan University, made international headlines in 2016 when he was declared unfit to be on campus. After an uproar and support from scientists globally, the decision was reversed. He has produced dozens of research papers and until recently continued to review and edit for different ecology journals. Goodall told ABC he appreciated the publics interest in his plight and hoped it would spark more discussion about voluntary euthanasia. I would like them to understand it, he said. I am 104 years old so I havent got much time left anyway. I might as well not have [my health] getting worse and worse, making me unhappy as it goes. WASHINGTON Connecticut is the first state to enlist in a nationwide bid to share law enforcement racial profiling data it collects from individual police departments and state police. What I want to see built in the nation is a system thats not based on perceptions or ideas or bias, but thats based on reality, said Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who made the announcement Wednesday at a conference sponsored by the Center for Policing Equity. Crime goes across borders. Mistakes go across borders. Perceptions go across borders. So why wouldnt you want to share that information? Police racial profiling has been a simmering issue for decades, but it exploded into the open after a 2014 shooting and civil disturbances in Ferguson, Mo., revealed a long pattern of racial profiling and harassment of minorities by police. Connecticut has been in the forefront of collecting data from police departments and the Connecticut State Police. But Malloy said the states profiling data analysis remains spotty, because only 50 of 107 police departments statewide share it. Data collection is hit and miss, he said in an interview after giving a speech. Some departments still rely too much on paper. Not everybody is on the same level, he said. Nevertheless, he added, the departments that do participate represent more than half of the states population. Isolating instances of racial profiling from routine law enforcement in minority-dominant urban areas is easier said than done. But Malloy insisted that whatever its imperfections, data collection and dissemination is preferable to guessing and implementing policies based on hunches. What we ultimately have to do is create a set of circumstances by which every state wants to share that data, by which every state wants to be measured, by which every state wants to make decisions based on the real truth, Malloy said. If we start to do that as a nation, we actually will start to undo some of the damage weve done to ourselves. He praised the data collection within Connecticut as being instrumental to reduction of crime and the states prison population. And it has also been important in disproving many common assumptions police have about crime and drugs. For instance, Malloy said, African-Americans and Hispanics are not more likely to drive under the influence or use heroin. Thats absolutely wrong, he said. Heroin in America is a white problem. Racial profiling in Connecticut has been barred under state law since 1999. But the state is not without its blemishes. A statistical analysis last year by the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at Central Connecticut State University identified six municipalities whose police departments exhibit a statistically significant racial or ethnic disparity. They are: Berlin, Meriden, Monroe, Newtown, Norwich and Ridgefield. Among the measures used to separate racial profiling from routine police stops was one known as veil of darkness comparing the ethnicity of the driver in daytime police stops when color is easily discernible to those at nighttime when it is not. In addition, five other departments had problems when data was analyzed in terms of statewide averages, the estimated size of the driving population, and resident-only stops. Those five were: Wethersfield, East Hartford, Stratford, Darien and Trumbull. Were not afraid to be tested, Malloy said in his speech. We want to make our judgments and policies based on reality, as opposed to what we perceive. dan@hearstdc.com The Community Culinary School of Northwest Connecticut in New Milford will offer summer cooking classes, Cooking as a Life Skill, for children ages 8 and older. The summer classes will include four five-day sessions: Aug. 6-10 and Aug. 13-17 from 9:30 a.m. to noon or 1:30 to 4 p.m. Purdue University researchers are developing an app and wearable technology to enable pregnant women to use a smartphone to detect whether they have or are susceptible to a condition that could lead to serious health complications for them or their unborn child. The team, led by Craig Goergen, an assistant professor in Purdue's Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, is developing a low-cost automated early detection sensor of preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication caused by high blood pressure that can cause organ damage and premature birth. "We hope this will allow us to predict and prevent preeclampsia and reduce the number of children born prematurely each year. This could also reduce the long-term health complications for mothers," Goergen said. The researchers received a $100,000 Grand Challenges Explorations grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in November. The program is part of a family of initiatives by the foundation fostering innovation to solve key global and health development problems. The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 10 percent of all maternal deaths in Africa and Asia are associated with hypertensive disorders during pregnancy and 25 percent of all maternal deaths in Latin America. Most of those deaths are avoidable, according to the WHO. "The Gates Foundation is looking for something that's going to have an impact in the immediate future in low- and middle-income countries," Goergen said. "They are interested because the treatment and management of preeclampsia in sub-Saharan Africa, India, China and other developing countries is typically very poor." Dr. David Reuter of Seattle Children's Hospital, a Purdue alumnus and a member of the research team, said the primary goal of pediatricians is to prevent disease. "Addressing the problem of prematurity and preeclampsia could have profound implications for women and children globally," Reuter said. "Our scientific insights provide an exciting road map to start revolutionizing the care of pregnant women." Other team members include George Wodicka, the Dane A. Miller Head of Biomedical Engineering at Purdue, and Kirk Forster, a senior research engineer at the Weldon School. The team is working to combine available existing technologies such as smartphones, a conventional inflatable blood pressure cuff, and a wireless accelerometer (which measures body position) to build an innovative prototype that will detect preeclampsia before it develops. The most innovative aspect of the Purdue researchers' device is that it uses a simple but underused tool called the supine pressor test that can identify the risk for preeclampsia. The test assesses blood flow through the kidney, and 90 percent of women with a positive test eventually develop preeclampsia. The early detection enables more effective prevention strategies. "This is a device that women are going to be able to use at home with a minimal amount of training," Goergen said. The device will measure whether a woman's blood pressure increases when she changes position from lying on her left side to lying on her back. If the diastolic pressure increases enough, it is a warning sign that a woman is susceptible to preeclampsia, Goergen said. The researchers have obtained a provisional patent with the help of the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization. Women will send the results to a doctor's office, a health-care system or a centralized network for the results to be read and where they could receive counseling so they can start management and treatment options as early as possible. A video about the app and wearable device is available at https:/ / bit. ly/ 2HkCqIA. While the Gates Foundation's goal is to help women in developing countries, Goergen said the device the Purdue researchers are working on also could help women in inner cities and rural areas of the United States and other developed countries. They plan on initially testing the device on low- and middle-income women in and around Indianapolis once the researchers receive the necessary institutional approval. "It will be a great way to make sure that these patients are not going down a road that is going to lead to problems for both them and their baby," Goergen said. The American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology issued a report last year estimating the costs to the U.S. health-care system for preeclampsia at $2.18 billion for the first 12 months after birth -- $1.03 billion for mothers, and $1.15 billion for babies. The Purdue research team is looking to partner with companies with technological expertise in these areas as the team works to further develop this technology. Research led by the University of Birmingham has identified a novel unconventional type of immune cell capable of fighting viral infections. The study, published today in Nature Communications and carried out in collaboration with the Academic Medical Center, Netherlands, and Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Russia, focussed on T cells that control our immune system. Specifically the research has defined a subset of 'unconventional V-delta-2 lymphocytes', which are a type of Gamma Delta T cell - an ancient class of immune cell that has been relatively poorly understood. The new findings establish that this subtype is not only present at birth, but persists in adults at low levels, and can increase in numbers massively during virus infections. The researchers examined how this subtype of T cell responded to a virus infection called cytomegalovirus. They found that when these T cells detected signs of the virus infection they both increased in numbers and became 'licensed to kill'. Lead Author Dr Martin Davey, of the University of Birmingham's Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, said: "These cells can clearly adapt to some key challenges that life throws at them. "Upon viral infection, they change from harmless precursors into what appear to be ruthless killers. "They can then access tissues, where we believe they detect and destroy virally infected target cells." The results build on previous work from the same research group, published last month in Trends in Immunology, which also suggests that many gamma delta T cells that control our immune system can adapt in the face of infectious challenges. The team is now trying to better understand the scenarios when these unconventional killer T cells are most important and how to harness them to advance treatments to fight viral infections. Dr Davey added: "We think these cells contribute to defense against viral infection in the liver, a site which is exposed to many potentially dangerous infectious diseases. "They may also be particularly important when other aspects of our immune system are not working at full strength, such as in newborn babies, but also in transplant patients who are taking immunosuppressive drugs to prevent organ rejection. "In these scenarios, boosting the activity of these cells could prove beneficial to patients, and we are now starting to explore how to do that." With the six-month rehabilitation of Boracay, we can expect a drop in tourist arrivals during these summer months. The drop will be a challenge to the Duterte administration, particularly to the Tourism Department. Now they have to tap other destinations to fill the gap. Teo should concentrate on this challenge instead of making ad placements at her brothers media company and taking clerks, drivers and utility workers with her in her many trips abroad. Is Teo still up to the task? *** The Securities and Exchange Commission reacted to my column on the supposed shenanigans there. Some businessmen had complained to me about the agencys failure to process their registration papers so they could do business at once. I believe in presenting both sides of an issue, so I reprint here the SECs letter in the interest of fairness. The Securities and Exchange Commission takes exception to your column item appearing in The Manila Standard. The title, Shenanigans at the SEC, imputes anomalous acts and questionable practices to the SEC, running counter to the SEC consistently being rated number one in the fight against corruption per surveys conducted in 2015 and 2016 by the Social Weather Stations with support from the Australian Embassy The Asia Foundation Partnership in the Philippines, and the United States Agency for International Development, in partnership with the National Competitiveness Council. While the article expressed frustration over the perceived delays of the new process involved in company registration, it did not point out any particular shenanigan, trickery, or any other anomalous act employed by the SEC in choosing and implementing an online company registration system. Surely, full automation and online processing of registration of corporations cannot be considered a shenanigan. In launching the Company Registration System in late November 2017, the SEC was heeding the call of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to streamline government processes. The CRS was intended to make registration easier by making it available 24 hours day, seven days a week. The CRS was envisioned to make the registration process much simpler as it would only entail a registrant to access the CRS website and fill out the CRS application form. The registrant need only visit the SEC to claim the Certificate of Registration and submit the original notarized documents. Verily, applications for registration of new corporations and partnerships have been successfully processed through the online CRS. Moreover, through the CRS, the possibility of corruption is eradicated due to the cessation of face-to-face transactions and manual intervention. Unfortunately, as in all transitions, more so from manual to an electronic system such as the CRS, initial struggles are inevitable. Be that as it may, the SEC is not unmindful of the unintended delays experienced by registrants using the CRS. Upon investigation into the matter, however, it was discovered that the delays experienced during the first few months of implementation of the CRS had been caused by system slowdown during peak hours and registrants non-familiarity and misuse. From its rollout, the SEC saw the need to enhance the CRS to accommodate an ever-increasing number of applications. The SEC is working round the clock literally with a new work-shifting scheme for CRS processors and implementing a stop-gap server infrastructure as a soft solution, while a more concrete systems upgrade is being laid out.As of 19 April 20118, 14,200 (76.43 percent) of the total 18,578 applications in CRS have been pre-processed while 4,378 (23.57 percent) are pending final processing. The total number of completed registration from launching date of the CRS on 21 November 2017 to 19 April 2018 is 5,607. The SEC cannot revert to an outdated system of paperwork, antiquated forms, and face-to-face transactions anymore. Instead it has chosen a more efficient way of serving the public trough the CRS free of any shenanigan. *** You can never please everybody all the time. This is precisely what happened to the executive order signed by the President which in effect put an end to contractualization or the practice of hiring workers for only five months so they cannot be eligible to benefits due regular workers. The problem is that under the Labor Code, employers have the right to hire and dismiss workers and employees. As a result, there is a need to amend the Labor Code, which is outdated anyway. The President was right when he said it is up to Congress to do the rest. Contractualization exists even in government! The problem now is how foreign investors will look at the end of contractualization. The cost of labor has a great impact on how business is run. If the cost of labor becomes prohibitive, foreign investors will go to other places. *** Some people think President Duterte should apologize to the government of Kuwait after the covert rescue operations that went viral. This prompted the Kuwaiti government to expel our Philippine ambassador and order the arrest of the embassy staff involved in the operation. Both Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Ambassador Renato Villa have already apologized while saying that a country is allowed to protect its nationals abroad. For President Duterte to make another apology is too much. A pilot study indicates that artificial intelligence may be useful in predicting which students are at higher risk of perpetrating school violence. The researchers found that machine learning - the science of getting computers to learn over time without human intervention - is as accurate as a team of child and adolescent psychiatrists, including a forensic psychiatrist, in determining risk for school violence. "Previous violent behavior, impulsivity, school problems and negative attitudes were correlated with risk to others," says Drew Barzman, MD, a child forensic psychiatrist at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and lead author of the study. "Our risk assessments were focused on predicting any type of physical aggression at school. We did not gather outcome data to assess whether machine learning could actually help prevent school violence. That is our next goal." The study is published online in the journal Psychiatric Quarterly. Dr. Barzman and his colleagues evaluated 103 teenage students in 74 traditional schools throughout the United States who had a major or minor behavioral change or aggression toward themselves or others. The students were recruited from psychiatry outpatient clinics, inpatient units and emergency departments. The team performed school risk evaluations with participants. Audio recordings from the evaluations were transcribed and manually annotated. The students, as it turned out, were relatively equally divided between moderate- to high-risk, and low-risk, according to two scales that the team developed and validated in previous research. There were significant differences in total scores between the high-risk and low-risk groups. The machine learning algorithm that the researchers developed achieved an accuracy rate of 91.02 percent, considered excellent, when using interview content to predict risk of school violence. The rate increased to 91.45 percent when demographic and socioeconomic data were added. "The machine learning algorithm, based only on the participant's interview, was almost as accurate in assessing risk levels as a full assessment by our research team, including gathering information from parents and the school, a review of records when available, and scoring on the two scales we developed," says Yizhao Ni, PhD, a computational scientist in the division of biomedical informatics at Cincinnati Children's and co-author of the study. "Our ultimate goal, should research support it, is to spread the use of the machine learning technology to schools in the future to augment structures, professional judgment to more efficiently and effectively prevent school violence, adds Dr. Barzman." Noah Pernikoff is back to his life in New York City after becoming the first patient in the world to undergo a complex three-part, robotic-assisted surgery. The robotic arms made it possible for the multidisciplinary team at Penn to successfully remove a rare tumor from Noah's neck, where the skull meets the spine. The ground breaking surgery was completed by a multi-surgeon team, led by Dr. Neil Malhotra, at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in August 2017 over a span of two days and more than 20 hours. Chordoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the bones of the skull base and spine. A chordoma tumor usually grows slowly and is often asymptomatic for years. In the case of 27-year-old Noah Pernikoff, a 2016 car accident revealed his surprising diagnosis. Among his injuries from the accident, Noah--who was working in New York City for a commercial contracting firm--tore his rotator cuff and had several herniated discs. More important, however, was his post-accident nagging neck pain, which lead to an x-ray that revealed a concerning lesion in his neck, on his cervical spine. The lesion was clearly unrelated to the accident, and far more concerning than the minor injuries he had endured. After making a recovery from the accident, Pernikoff's father, a physician, encouraged his son to see a neurosurgeon for evaluation of the injury. The neurosurgeon Pernikoff saw ultimately recommended a biopsy of the spot, which resulted in a diagnosis of chordoma. "I'm lucky because they caught mine early. For a lot of people, if it's not found and treated early, it's lethal," Pernikoff said. "The doctor said if I hadn't discovered it through the car accident it probably would have kept growing until it came to a point on my spinal cord where it caused paralysis or death. I feel very lucky in that regard." Unfortunately, the neurosurgeon explained to Pernikoff, while surgery is known to be the best option for chordoma, Pernikoff's would be too difficult to resect and he would have to try the second option, radiation with proton therapy. Chordoma is extremely rare; it affects only one in 1 million people each year. Pernikoff's specific type of chordoma, located on his C2 vertebrae, is even rarer, making treatment a challenge. Pernikoff's neurosurgeon immediately referred him to Penn, where a multidisciplinary team reviewed his case, and his options, and began crafting a treatment plan--not through radiation, but a complex surgery that had never been performed before. Neil Malhotra, MD, an assistant professor of Neurosurgery and Orthopaedic Surgery and the vice chair of operations in the department of Neurosurgery, gathered a multidisciplinary team of physicians to treat Pernikoff's chordoma. Malhotra planned to remove the tumor through a rare and complex spinal surgery approach. Bert W. O'Malley Jr., MD, a professor and chairman of the department of Otorhinolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, planned to aid Malhotra's approach and improve Pernikoff's recovery by using a trans-oral robotic (TORS) approach for the second part of the surgery. TORS is the world's first group of minimally invasive robotic surgery techniques, invented at Penn, to remove benign and malignant tumors of the mouth and throat. "This would be a first ever use of a robot in this manner--a rare approach to an already rare and complex case," Malhotra said. "Our team needed to reconstruct the removed area of Pernikoff's spine using bone and rods, and that was only the beginning." The stakes were high. Because of the placement of the tumor, Malhotra said removal could compromise the structural integrity of Pernikoff's spine, causing permanent paralysis. There was also a risk of complications such as bone and tissue breakdown, loss of sense of smell, fine motor skill issues, and complete paralysis. And, he said, "if we couldn't remove the entire tumor, it would likely grow back, perhaps more aggressive than before." The surgery was performed in three parts. First, the neurosurgeons went through the back of Pernikoff's neck and cut the spine around the tumor to prepare for the second stage, removing the tumor through his mouth. The key to this stage would be to make ultrasonic bone cuts--removing a piece of bone--around the tumor without touching it, and without injuring the spinal cord that lay between the neurosurgeon and the tumor/spinal column. With stage one success, O'Malley and a team of three head and neck surgeons used the surgical robot to clear a path so Malhotra could remove the tumor, and part of the spinal column, in its entirety through the mouth. Finally, the team reconstructed Pernikoff's spinal column, which was now missing an important bone in his neck, using some of Pernikoffs' own bone from his hip and rods to finalize stabilization of the newly built portion of his spine. "The capability of this technology and procedure is revolutionary," O'Malley said. "This surgery was groundbreaking and it's a wonderful example of how versatile TORS is for tumors in the head, neck, and now spine." Now, nine months after the surgery, Pernikoff is already back to work in commercial contracting and says he's forever grateful for the car accident that revealed his diagnosis and the life-saving care that he received at Penn Medicine. Hyundai has silently launched 2018 facelifted i20 Active crossover in India for a starting price of Rs 6.99 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi). The car has been listed on companys official website and boasts few cosmetic upgrades. The main change that gathers the attention is the new blue and white dual tone paint scheme. Other than that, the car gets silver finish front fog lamp and rear reflector surrounds and black rub strip at the base of the boot lid. Inside the cabin, the car gets a revised touchscreen and button arrangement identical to the 2018 Hyundai i20 which was recently launched in India. The car gets new Alps blue interior highlights that complement the dual tone exterior along with the updated seat upholstery. The Hyundai i20 Active continues to have 1.2 L Kappa Petrol engine that produces 83 Ps and comes mated to 5-speed manual gearbox. The car also have existing 1.4 L U2 CRDi diesel engine that produces 90 Ps and comes paired with 6-speed manual gearbox. Don't Forget to Subscribe to the 'Tech And Auto Show' YouTube Channel In terms of safety, the 2018 Hyundai Elite i20 comes with 6 airbags, parking assist and auto door lock at high speed. In a rather unusual show of civilian-authority collaboration, Michigan State Police used help of 13 long-haul truckers to avoid a suicide attempt on the interstate 696 near Detroit, Michigan in the U.S. The local police noticed a man standing on the overpass at Coolidge Street early morning and quickly shut down the freeway. They then approached the truckers plying on the highway to ask for help, in an attempt to stop him from jumping. According to The Detroit News, Lt. Mike Shaw, a Michigan State Police spokesman, said that the department asked 13 truckers who were earlier stopped as a safety measure as soon as the suicidal man was spotted were asked to park the trucks under the bridge. There is some confusion with the photo taken this morning. This is not an MSP photo as we dont share law enforcement tactics. This photo was taken by a photographer at @FOX2News that was also doing their job this morning at the scene. pic.twitter.com/ONlsDULGys MSP Metro Detroit (@mspmetrodet) April 24, 2018 The idea was to park all the 13 semi-trucks underneath the overpass to prevent the man from jumping to his death, as he would land on trucks, if he chose to jump. Both the sides under the bridge were closed, thanks to the truckers and the man was walked off the bridge. He was later taken by Huntington Woods Police to Beaumont hospital for evaluation. The photo was posted on a Facebook page and one user, Chris Harrison, who claimed to be one of the truckers in the event, said the cops came up and waved 6 or 7 of us through and then stopped us under the bridge. He continued, same thing on the west bound side. I just happened to be one of the guys in the front of the line. Also Watch: Mercedes-Benz GLA Key Hidden feature! However, the Police, on their official Twitter handle commented There is some confusion with the photo taken this morning. This is not an MSP photo as we dont share law enforcement tactics. This photo was taken by a photographer at @FOX2News that was also doing their job this morning at the scene. "You can also call a loved one, member of the clergy or 911," the police wrote on Twitter in an effort to curb other attempts. "There are so many people that can help you make the choice to get help and live! It is our hope to never see another photo like this again." In this day and age, everything is better when it is a bit smarter. With refrigerators and air conditioners communicating with you through your phone, the story is a bit different when it comes to cars. The technology is there, yes, but in order to have the cutting-edge technology on offer in your car, you do have to spend a lot of money. But what if there was, perhaps, a smarter way of having all of those features in the car that you already own? The Rollr Mini device promises to be the answer. As intriguing as that is, we decided to spend some time with the device to see what all it has to offer. EASY TO SET-UP AND USE The Rollr Mini is easy to set up and use. (Image created by News18.com) First thing first, how do you even use this? Well, all you have to do is plug in the device in your cars OBD-II (Onboard Diagnostics) port to activate it. Almost all cars these days have it, and the same can be said for most of the cars manufactured after 2009. And by car, we literally mean any car it does not need to be a Rs 50 lakh luxury vehicle. We tested the device in a 2016-manufactured Maruti Suzuki Alto 800. Next step is to install the Rollr application on your smartphone and yes, it is available on both Apple App Store and Google Play Store, and the app is free to download. Once you have done that, you are required to enter your email address and mobile number. Once verified, you need to name your device and add the serial number of your device. And thats it. The process literally takes a couple of minutes (Provided you know the location of your OBD port). The app itself is fairly simple to use and has a clean and tidy layout. Everything worked alright and we never encountered an app crash or laggy behaviour. The best part? You can chat directly with the Rollr team from the app itself to have your doubts cleared. The home screen of the application tells pretty much all you would need to know. It shows your last trip details of the vehicle along with an overall rating on how you drive your car (more on this below). PROVIDES LIVE GPS-TRACKING WITH LOCATION AND ROUTE HISTORY The Rollr Mini provides GPS location history of your car as well. (Image created by News18.com) At its core, the biggest advantage of having this device plugged into your car is that it transmits the live location of your vehicle with a data refresh rate of 3 seconds and an error margin in terms of accuracy to a maximum of 5 metres. It has an in-built prepaid and preconfigured telematics-grade SIM inside it and all the data that is transferred to the Rollrs servers, as per the company, is encrypted. It also maintains a history of where all your car has been along with what was the start and end location of your car. It also showcases the route that was taken by the car and the duration it took to complete that distance. Whats really helpful, and to an extent reassuring, is that device sends a notification to your device everytime your car is started. So, in case it wasnt you who was operation your car, youll know exactly at what time your car was started, where it went and what route it took. The maps it uses are Google Maps which means, theres nothing really to complain about and it works great. With time, as and when Google updates its maps, the app gets even more precise.s And in case the device is unplugged, you are notified on the application itself, sent an SMS stating the same in case you dont have internet access and also an e-mail informing you of the same. IT CAN TELL IF YOUR CAR IS IN A HEALTHY STATE The Rollr Mini app gives details about the health of your car. (Image created by News18.com) Since it is working pretty much all the time till your car is running, what it does is that it also scans whether your car is in a healthy state or not. The details that you can get for your car include the coolant temperature that your car is running as well as the health of your battery. Then, in case your Malfunction Indicator is on, it notifies you as well. You can dig deeper to find out more about the engine of the car. The details range from Ignition/misfire, speed/idle controls, air-fuel control to the transmission/transaxle health. In case you dont know exactly what kind of an effect these issues can have and what are they all about, the app also informs you of that and that, in our books, is an excellent attention to detail. STATISTICS, STATISTICS AND MORE STATISTICS The Rollr Mini also gives extensive statistics about your car and your driving behavior. (Image created by News18.com) &mnsp; Once you have driven for a substantial amount of time and distance, and theres sufficient amount of data available for the Rollr Mini to analyse it gives you a sort of a report card of your driving behaviour. And it backs it up with a lot of statistics which can be a good place to understand what youre doing right and what youre doing wrong and as a result, you will end up improving your driving style accordingly. The statistics include your average RPM, maximum RPM, average speed and the maximum speed of the car maintained during a trip (along with all the route, time, location details etc as mentioned above). This is for EVERY TRIP made by your car. The data is then compiled in a clean format which allows you to see your statistics of individual trips, trips of the last 15 days as well as monthly details. All of the data combined, and analysed, makes for one large display at the home screen of the application wherein your driving style is divided into four divisions how hard you accelerate, how hard you brake, how fast you go and how much time you spend idling the car. Our daily commute comprises of about a 30-kilometre distance covering some of the worst traffic jam conditions in Delhi NCR and that accurately translated into the statistics showed on the app. For example, there was a lot of idling because of the traffic jams and the average speed of the commute usually is between 10-20 km/h. WHO IS IT MEANT FOR? So now you know exactly what you get with the Rollr Mini. Its a lot, yes, but whats the use of it? And is it worth the Rs 6,499 price tag? Well, the answer depends on the kind of answer you seek from this device. Here are a few scenarios where we believe the device can come in handy. First, has to be the case in which you want to have the peace of mind that you will know for sure in case someone tries to fiddle around with your car or in case it is stolen. Next, is if you want to know more about your driving style and want to improve your driving habits and increase the longevity of your car as well. The next scenario has to be in case your car is chauffeur-driven. You would know exactly when and where your car was started, turned off, the route that was taken by your chauffeur and the places they took your car when you werent around and more importantly knowing how your car is being driven. Is it being driven harshly, is it left turned on letting the car idle and wasting fuel or if the chauffeur is overspeeding at any time. All of this information will be right inside an app of your smartphone, real time. Don't Forget to Subscribe to the 'Tech And Auto Show' YouTube Channel Or perhaps, you are looking to buy a used car and want to have an idea about the health of the cars mechanical parts. You can plug this device in the cars OBD-II port, take a rather long spin, and youll know the health of the car. Last but not the least, the Rollr Mini can be useful in case you have multiple cars at home or in case you look over a fleet of cars. In that scenario, you can attach this device to all the cars and monitor all the details, individually, of your cars. Also Watch: IS IT WORTH THE MONEY? As for whether its worth your money, if you think of it, a price tag of Rs 6,499 is not that high given the use of this device. Yes, there are much more accessible GPS trackers available in the market, but they dont even come close to offering the amount of information, statistics and analytics the Rollr Mini offers making it much more than just a GPS tracking device. And oh yes, lest we forget, they also have purpose-built devices for two-wheelers as well as commercial vehicles. New Delhi: Barely days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi made his trip to Wuhan for an informal meeting with President Xi Jinping, China on Thursday announced that it had exempted import tariffs on 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs. The exemption came into place on May 1st, announced Luo Zhaohui, Chinese ambassador to India. "China has exempted import tariffs for 28 drugs, including all cancer drugs, from May 1st. Good news for India's pharmaceutical industry and medicine export to China. I believe this will help reduce trade imbalance between #China and #india in the future," he announced on Twitter. The tweet came a day after he said that it was the first busy working day since Modi and Xi met in Wuhan. He further said that there was lot of work to do to implement the two leaders consensus. "#China will further improve business environment by halving time required to open a business, State Council decided at an executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang on May 2nd. #Chinas door to the outside world will open wider. #Indian businesses are welcome!" Zhaohui tweeted. The move holds prominence as it comes just days after Modi met Xi, with no agenda. Both countries said that no agreements would be signed but a wide range of issues will be discussed. Alka Acharya, former member of the National Security Advisory Board, said that the move was definitely the first of many. "It sends out a strong signal to the outside world too that businesses can be conducted smoothly. Working out economics of trade is one of the strongest steps that can be taken to strengthen ties," she told News18. China has previously said that its doors were open for the United States of America, but if there is a trade war it will "fight till the end". China imposed tariffs on 128 US imports worth USD 3 billion, including meat, fruit and pork, as retaliation against taxes approved by US President Donald Trump on imported steel and aluminum. New Delhi: At least 109 people have been killed since Wednesday evening in parts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh after a high-intensity dust-storm damaged buildings and brought down trees and electric poles. Meanwhile, another dust storm may hit parts of UP and Rajasthan in the next 48 hours due to cyclonic circulation formation in the region, a MeT official said on Thursday. The warning came even as the two north Indian states were reeling under the impact of a severe overnight dust storm that killed nearly 100 people and left a trail of destruction. Thirty-three deaths were reported from Rajasthan, while 73 deaths have been reported from Uttar Pradesh so far, including 36 in Agra district alone. The UP government has reportedly sounded an alert for the next 48 hours. Other districts affected were Bijnor, Bareilly, Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Firozabad, Chitrakoot, Muzaffarnagar, Rae Bareli and Unnao. Three persons died in Bijnor, two in Saharanpur and one each in Bareilly, Chitrakoot, Raebareli and Unnao districts, he said. "Chief Secretary Rajive Kumar has spoken to Commissioner Agra division and directed him that relief be distributed by the evening and senior officers visit the injured in hospitals," Principal Secretary (Information) Avanish Awasthi said. A number of houses collapsed and electricity poles and trees got uprooted as the severe dust storm swept Agra division. "We have sought a detailed report from the affected districts," the Relief Commissioner said, adding that 156 cattleheads also perished in the calamity. In Rajasthan, the Vasundhara Raje government declared a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the family of those killed. Tweeting condolence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had directed central officials to coordinate with respective state governments for relief work. Saddened by the loss of lives due to dust storms in various parts of India. Condolences to the bereaved families. May the injured recover soon. Have asked officials to coordinate with the respective state governments and work towards assisting those who have been affected: PM PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 3, 2018 The office of UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who is scheduled to campaign in poll-bound Karnataka, tweeted that he had asked officials to personally monitor relief work. Criticising the CM, the Congress questions his absence in UP. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, too, has asked three ministers to monitor situation in three affected districts. Shri Gulabchand Kataria ji shall be monitoring situation at Alwar, Shri Arun Chaturvedi ji in Dholpur; Shri Kalicharan Saraf in Bharatpur & Shri Surendrapal Singh ji in Jhunjhunu. The Govt. stands firmly with its people in this time. Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) May 3, 2018 Secretary of Disaster Management and Relief Hemant Kumar Gera told PTI in Jaipur that nearly 100 were injured in the disaster. (Illustration by Mir Suhail/News18.com) A few are undergoing primary treatment while others were discharged. One critical patient from Dholpur was referred to Jaipur," he said. A detailed report of the disaster is awaited even as relief and rescue teams have been pressed into service to clear debris and restore power supply, he said. At least three persons were killed and several others injured in a norwester that hit six districts of Odisha, an official said on Thursday. While two persons died when trees fell on them in Balasore and Bargarh districts, another died due to wall collapse in Mayurbhanj district during the squall on Wednesday night, Deputy Special Relief Commissioner Pravat Ranjan Mohapatra said. Gera said contingency funds have been released to the respective district administration. He said Rs 4 lakh will be given to family members of deceased, Rs 2 lakh to persons sustaining 60 per cent injuries and Rs 60,000 to people with 40 to 50 per cent injuries. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency questioned Karen Aizha Hamidon, a former air hostess alleged to be a key ISIS recruiter, in Philippines and found fresh leads in its investigation related to the presence of the terror outfit in India. Karen has been named in three chargesheets by NIA for influencing Indians to join ISIS. "She was running different Facebook pages, WhatsApp groups and Telegram channels for motivating, radicalizing and instigating her online associates from different countries, including India, to fight on behalf of ISIS in conflict zones, an NIA spokesperson said. Officials in the know about the interrogation in Philippines told CNN-News18 that Karen not only confirmed NIA's suspicion about how ISIS was spreading its footprint in India but also provided fresh leads. "We have received fresh leads about the money trail. Some Indians living in the gulf offered money to Karen so that she could recruit for ISIS. These are fresh leads which we will now investigate," an official said. Officials said that Karen is suspected to have recruited more than 20 Indians for ISIS. Her name first cropped up during interrogation of an Indian Oil executive named Shirajuddin. Karen told NIA that she knew Shirajuddin and regularly chatted with him on social media. NIA investigations have revealed that Shirajuddin was influenced by Karen to the extent that he was willing to take his newborn child to Syria to do jihad on behalf of ISIS. She also allegedly radicalised four youths from Jammu & Kashmir, one from Daman and Diu, who is engaged in money exchange, two from Hyderabad and one each from Kanpur and Kolkata. In a statement, the agency said that the questioning resulted in confirmation of several facts revealed during the investigation and also provided significant leads about her associates in India, who were active online, to propagate the ideology of the ISIS and also about a few Indians residing abroad who have helped her financially. The 37-year-old is a former Emirates air hostess who was arrested by Manila authorities last year after a lookout circular was issued by NIA. She has been charged for conspiring, recruiting and fomenting a terror attack on south Philippines city of Marawi. Marawi was overtaken by ISIS in 2017 and Karen is accused of recruiting them through her social media posts. Guwahati: A truck filled with nearly 60 dogs being transported for alleged human consumption was intercepted when the vehicle met with an accident near Koliabor in Assams Nagaon district on Wednesday night. This comes amid the massive meat scandal that has recently unfolded in Kolkata where tonnes of carcass meat were being distributed by vendors into the market. Five of the dogs died after being rescued while police claim that the rest of the canines have been released in an agricultural colony 500 metres from Hatibondha area under Sulung police outpost. Both the driver and helper of the mini truck, however, managed to escape. An investigation has been launched following the recovery of the dogs, said Shankar Raimedhi, Superintendent of Police, Nagaon. The incident took place around 10.30 pm on Wednesday when the DI-207 Tata vehicle with the registration number AS 09AC 3302 collided with a Maruti 800 that was moving headed towards Tezpur. Three persons were injured in the accident and were rushed to the hospital. When police reached the spot, they recovered the dogs that were bound with ropes and stuffed into gunny sacks with their mouths tied. The dogs, mostly lifted from streets and illegally being transported without any food or water, were whimpering in pain. Sangeeta Goswami, chairperson of People for Animals (PFA) said she would follow-up on the case and take stock of the dogs rescued dogs. We need to be sure if the dogs were released as the police claims and under what conditions. Illegal transport of dogs has been taking place since a long time. For a little money, many youths have got into this racket where they trap dogs and tie them up in a cruel manner. Sometimes, their mouths are stitched so that they dont make any noise. Dog meat is a delicacy in many parts of the northeast, including Nagaland, Karbi Anglong in Assam, Mizoram and Manipur, said Goswami. She added that without strong laws against animal cruelty and governments efforts to tackle illegal animal trade, the situation is unlikely to change. In May 2017, Nagaon police had rescued around 75 dogs from Samaguri town while being smuggled to the neighbouring Nagaland. Of the rescued dogs, 23 had died due to asphyxiation and hunger. Sources say that dog meat sellers in Nagaland pay Rs 500 to Rs 1000 for a live canine while the meat is sold at around Rs 300-400/kilogram. Thousands of stray and stolen dogs are killed every year in northeast with state governments failing to enforce a ban on dog meat. (With inputs from Dibakar Das) Aligarh: Around 1,000 girls from AMU Womens College on Thursday marched from Staff Club to University Circle to join other AMU students in their protest against Wednesdays lathicharge in which at least 20 students were injured. The girls demanded action against the miscreants who tried to barge into the university premises on Wednesday. They claimed that at least 15-20 miscreants armed with illegal weapons tried to enter the campus. The students complained that during the visit of former Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Wednesday, some outsiders tried to disturb the event. The students demanded strict action against these miscreants and against state police. At least 20 students were brutally injured and were admitted to Jawaharlal Nehru medical college. The girls, along with at least 2,000 other AMU students, staged a dharna at the Bab-e-Syed gate of the university and raised slogans against the district administration, demanding action. Talking to CNN-News18, AMU spokesperson, Omar Pirzada said that the university administration stands with the students in these testing times. Kulsum Salahuddin, a PhD scholar, said, We demand AMU be projected as a historical and secular institution like it has always been in practice. Talking to News18, AMU Students Union President, Makshoor Ahmad Usmani said that Jinnah is a historical figure and his portrait has been there since 1938 in the student union hall. He also said that students may have ideological differences, but they do no stand for the two nation theory of Jinnah. But that also doesn't mean that historical facts should be distorted. Another fellow protester and student, Imtiaz, said that the central government has failed to provide the youth with jobs and employment and now the students are being divided in the name of Hindu and Muslim by some fringe elements. Posted Thursday, May 3, 2018 6:00 am Do you believe in miracles? I do believe one happened at Immanuel Sunday morning. Pastor Cody started teaching on the book of Acts during Bible study, about the disciples being instructed to go out and teach others (mission work). It was also a part of his sermon I am the vine and ye are the branches those who do not bear fruit will be cut off. He talked about how the Rader church was started and how preacher Andrew Rader was responsible through the Holy Spirit for starting many of the churches in the surrounding area. Reverend Rader would hop on his horse, go a days ride, and start preaching to whomever was there. Thus, several home churches were established that grew into larger congregations that still exist today. It so happens that Mary Evelyn Kern was visiting Immanuel from Syracuse (Missouri) Sunday morning and her parents, Helen and Dwight Rader, used to attend church at Immanuel. When they passed away, the family desk was given to their son Roy Vernon Samuel, who moved the desk to California. In that desk, he found an old Bible. When Ray passed away last September, the Bible was sent to Mary Kern. Sunday morning after church, Mary Kern presented that Bible to Pastor Cody. That Bible, printed in 1815, is believed to be the very Bible that was used both at Immanuel and at some of those early churches. After such a moving sermon on mission work, Pastor Cody, as well as congregational members who heard the story, was in awe when the Bible was placed in his hands. What an awesome gift to the congregation! Mark your calendar to attend the special event at Eureka Methodist on May 12. The Heritage Quartet is doing a special performance. They are a great group of vocalists who have been at Eureka before. I am looking forward to attending. This Sunday, Eureka Methodist had guest speaker Brent Shockley giving the sermon at the Communion service. Afterward, there was a potluck dinner in the Eureka Family Center. It was good to have Nina Walke and Betty Terry back at Eureka church. Both of them had not been feeling well during this past week. There are lots of people that need prayers because of illness, including Ann Triplett, Belinda Smith, Donald Gardner, Kelly Shaffstall, Marvin Prosser, Jim Reese, Linda Davis and Choletta Buttram. It was good to hear that Olive Saur, from Phillipsburg, is home recovering from hip surgery. It will be good to see her back at church hopefully very soon. Also, Lloyd Hendrix was back to lead the Sunday school. He has been at home, helping wife Pauline as she is now at home from Webco. Barb Medlock has high hopes of getting her cast off sometime this week. Immanuels next adult in-home Bible study will be at Dusty and Amy Medleys house in Fair Grove on May 20. Seers, the teens at Immanuel, had volunteered to help at the Ozarks Food Harvest April 28, but that event was cancelled. Since the teens had gathered, they ended up having a picnic and playing games at Immanuel. Then they set up tables and chairs for the potluck dinner that was held after church on Sunday. Thank you, Journi Pedersen, Jonas Durham, Braedon Pedersen, Taytum Miller, Adalea Rader, Garrett Yelvington and Abby Gann, as well as Seers group leaders John and Twyla Kennemer, Star Terry and Dusty Medley. Saturday morning, Joe Medlock stopped in to visit Leona Medlock. After he left, Bertha Terry and Leona went to the Morgan Store for lunch. Dixie Bowman stopped in to visit Leona on Saturday evening. The Chattering Chicks Red Hats will be going to La Mexican Kitchen in Lebanon for lunch on Thursday. It is in the Sutherlands mall. Be there by 11:30 a.m. and wear your Red Hat! Do a good deed this week. I wish you many blessings. Event Highlights Students Boycott Classes Heavy Security Deployment Lathicharge on AMU Students Stay tuned for LIVE updates: Read More A day after clashes broke out at the AMU campus over a portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, an eerie silence has descended over the AMU campus today even as thousands of student protesters gathered at the Baab-e-Syed gate, the scene of yesterday's violent incident in which around 20 students were injured after police started lathicharging the protesting students. Violence broke out at the Aligarh Muslim University yesterday after the right-wing protesters barged into the varsity demanding removal of the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah displayed on the campus.Stay tuned for LIVE updates: May 03, 2018 22:25 (IST) AMU students will continue with their protests at the university gate on Friday noon, reports News18's Deepa Rana. May 03, 2018 22:20 (IST) The National Commission for Minorities has sought a report from the Aligarh district administration on police action on students demanding arrest of members of a right-wing outfit which protested displaying of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's portrait on the varsity campus, PTI sources said today. The NCM has asked for a report from the local administration after former members of the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) students' union made a complaint to the panel. May 03, 2018 22:16 (IST) The protesting AMU students said on Thursday night that they will continue to agitate at the campus until justice is delivered. Talking to News18, Students Union President, Makshoor Ahmad Usmani said the union now demands a judicial probe into the matter. The students further demanded an immediate transfer of SSP Aligarh who was incompetent in providing security to the former vice president. The union have also demanded that the university and the Vice-Chancellor must also clear their stand on the issue. May 03, 2018 22:13 (IST) Members of the AMU students union and a large number of students demanded an FIR be lodged against the miscreants and police officers involved in Wednesdays violence. The students alleged that certain right-wing goons were planning to attack former Vice President, Hamid Ansari during his visit to Aligarh Muslim University. They further alleged that the district administration has failed to provide security to the vice president and also the students. May 03, 2018 22:06 (IST) Protesting students of AMU addressing the media: We have ideological differences with Jinnah but he is part of history. It is only a rumour that Jinnah's picture was removed and put up again. There was a cleaning spree going on in the university. The portrait was not removed. AMU students have decided to boycott classes and exams till May 6 and have also asked to reschedule exams. May 03, 2018 21:55 (IST) The Congress today asked the BJP to clear its stand on Muhammad Ali Jinnah and say whether they consider him a patriot as some of its leaders have claimed. "BJP leaders like L K Advani and Jaswant Singh have lauded Jinnah as a patriot. When questions are raised on its leaders, on Jinnah, the BJP keeps quiet. It should clarify its stand on Jinnah before the country," Congress leader Rajiv Shukla said. His demand came as media reports said Uttar Pradesh Labour Minister and BJP leader Swami Prasad Maurya called Jinnah a 'mahapurush' (a great personality) from the time of undivided India. Maurya reportedly praised him when asked to comment on the row sparked by another BJP MP Satish Gautam, who had objected to Jinnah's portrait at Aligarh Muslim University. May 03, 2018 21:51 (IST) Protesters sit outside the AMU campus on Thursday evening. (Image: News18) May 03, 2018 21:46 (IST) As BJP MP Satish Gautam took objection to a Jinnah portrait on AMU premises, UP Labour Minister Swami Prasad Maurya landed himself in trouble when he said Jinnah was a "mahapurush". Another BJP leader sought the expulsion of Maurya for praising Jinnah. May 03, 2018 21:33 (IST) NCP SLAMS BJP | The NCP today accused the BJP of raking up the issue of Muhammad Ali Jinnah's portrait at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for political gains. The Sharad Pawar-led party also dared Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to accept the demand of BJP legislator Mangal Prabhat Lodha to demolish"the Jinnah House, once the Mumbai residence of Pakistan's founder. NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said, "Jinnah's portrait is on display at the AMU since 1938. If the (central) government felt it (Jinnah's photo) should be removed (from the AMU), the HRD ministry could have done so. The BJP rules in the state (Uttar Pradesh) as well as at the Centre. May 03, 2018 21:31 (IST) "We hope that the state government will take strong action against the Hindu Yuva Vahini youths who deliberately tried to disturb peace on the university campus," an AMU spokesperson said. On the other hand, UP CM Yogi Adityanath has reportedly said that there is no place for Jinnah in India. May 03, 2018 21:22 (IST) No untoward incident has been reported from anywhere since last evening but heavy deployment of police and RAF personnel was being maintained at strategic points in and around the campus, District Magistrate, Aligarh, Chandra Bhushan Singh said. The administration is keeping a strong vigil to prevent trouble-mongers from creating law and order situation, he said. May 03, 2018 21:21 (IST) Mazin Hussain, one of the AMU students who were injured during yesterdays clashes, tells News18's Deepa Rana: We were leading a peaceful protest to the local police station against some outsiders who came along with a BJP leader with illegal weapons. The police lathicharged students and we were hit on our heads too. May 03, 2018 21:17 (IST) Muslims living in India rejected Jinnah, his ideology and partition. We are against the presence of such a thing (portrait of Jinnah) & it should be removed: Maulana Mehmood Madani, Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind told ANI on portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah inside campus of Aligarh Muslim university. May 03, 2018 21:16 (IST) Veteran lyricist-screenwriter Javed Akhtar today said it is "shameful" that the portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah hangs in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) but people, who are protesting against it, should also oppose the "temples made to honour Godse". Jinnah was neither a student nor a teacher of Alig Its a shame that his portrait is there The administration n students should voluntarily remove it from there n those who were protesting against this portrait should now protest against the temples made to honour Godse. Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) May 3, 2018 May 03, 2018 21:14 (IST) BOYCOTT CLASSES | The protesting students of AMU have decided to boycott classes for five days while demanding a judicial inquiry into the violence and ruckus created by alleged Hindu Yuva Vahini activists who tried to forcefully enter the campus on Wednesday. The students are also demanding arrest of the right-wing activists who barged into the campus and burnt effigies of Jinnah. The protesters are likely to sit on a dharna the entire night outside AMU's Baab-e-Syed gate. May 03, 2018 20:51 (IST) Aligarh Muslim University's Women's College students take out a protest rally in Aligarh on Thursday. (PTI Photo) May 03, 2018 20:49 (IST) Following yesterday's incident, policemen in large numbers and a RAF contingent have been deployed near the Baab-e-Syed gate to maintain law and order. While the rest of the injured students were discharged after first aid, three of those with serious injuries are admitted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital. According to a hospital official, all the three students are out of danger and recovering. May 03, 2018 20:45 (IST) A probe was ordered on the clashes that broke out in Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) over a portrait of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in the varsity's students union hall. Following the clashes on Wednesday that injured at least two dozen people, hundreds of AMU students are sitting on a dharna outside the university gate demanding action against those who tried to storm into the campus and forcibly remove Jinnah's portrait. May 03, 2018 20:37 (IST) Talking to News18, university spokesperson Omar Pirzada said, The university administration stands with the students in these testing times. PhD student Kulsum Salahuddin said, We demand that AMU be projected as a historical and secular institution as it has always been in practice. Talking to News18, AMU student union president Makshoor Ahmad Usmani said, Jinnah is a historical figure and his portrait has been there in the university since 1938 in the student union hall. The students have ideological difference and do no stand by the two nation theory of Jinnah but that doesn't mean that historical facts should be distorted. May 03, 2018 20:33 (IST) LATHICHARGE ON CAMPUS | A group of representatives of AMU Students Union were lathicharged by the police on Wednesday when they were protesting against the administration for not registering FIR against members of ABVP and HYV for burning the effigy at Baba Sayed gate. The students were lathicharged at University Circle, and tear gas shells were fired by the police on the students demanding FIR against the right-wing group members. May 03, 2018 20:29 (IST) PROTEST IN AMU | Around 1000 girls marched from staff club to university circle today to show solidarity with the students who were lathicharged on Wednesday by the police on campus. The girl students of AMU have demanded action against the miscreants and alleged that atleast 15 -20 miscreants armed with illegal weapons tried to barge into the campus. The students complained that during the visit of former Vice-President Hamid Ansari to AMU on Wednesday, some outsiders tried to disturb the event. May 03, 2018 20:26 (IST) AMU spokesman Shafey Kidwai had defended the presence of the Mohammad Ali Jinnah portrait in AMU, which has apparently been hanging there for decades, saying that Jinnah was a founder member of the university court and was granted life membership of the student union. Traditionally, photographs of all life members are placed on the walls of the student union office. The row sparked violence at the campus on Wednesday, which resulted in at least six people being injured when the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students, who were demanding the arrest of the protesters who had earlier barged into the campus shouting slogans. The AMU students alleged that the protesters were from Hindu Yuva Vahini, and were allowed to leave a police station even after being initially detained. May 03, 2018 20:24 (IST) Violence broke out at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus on Wednesday as the row over Muhammad Ali Jinnah's portrait on the campus triggered a right-wing protest and sparring between two BJP leaders. At least six people were injured when the police lobbed teargas shells to disperse AMU students, demanding the arrest of protesters who had earlier barged into the campus shouting slogans. Load More Thousands gathered at the university gate on Thursday, day after clashes on the campus. (Image: News18) Following Wednesday's incident, policemen in large numbers and a RAF contingent have been deployed near the Baab-e-Syed gate to maintain law and order. While the rest of the injured students were discharged after first aid, three of those with serious injuries are admitted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital. According to a hospital official, all the three students are out of danger and recovering. The AMU students are sitting on an indefinite dharna demanding action against the protesters. The AMU Students' Union (AMUSU) alleged that violence on the campus was a "deliberate and pre-planned attempt" to attack former vice president Hamid Ansari, who was at that time barely 100 metres away at the university guest house, from where the violence erupted. Aligarh: A day after violent clashes and police action rocked the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) campus, thousands of students sat on a dharna outside the university gate in front of which their friends were beaten up on Wednesday. The students declared on Thursday that they will boycott classes till Sunday and also demanded the arrests of the Hindu Yuva Vahini activists and others who were allegedly involved in the violence. Situation at the AMU campus, however, remained "under control" on Thursday with no untoward incident being reported from anywhere, authorities said. The students however said that their protests will resume at the Baab-e-Syed gate again on Friday noon. The protesting AMU students said on Thursday night that they will continue to agitate at the campus until justice is delivered. Talking to News18, AMU Students Union President, Makshoor Ahmad Usmani said the union now demands a judicial probe into the matter. The students further demanded an immediate transfer of SSP Aligarh who was incompetent in providing security to the former vice president. The union have also demanded that the university and the Vice-Chancellor must also clear their stand on the issue. No incident was reported since Wednesday evening but a heavy deployment of police and RAF personnel were seen at strategic points around the campus, Aligarh DM, Chandra Bhushan Singh told PTI. The administration is keeping a strong vigil to prevent trouble-mongers from creating a law and order situation, Singh said. He added that the district administration held a meeting with AMU V-C Prof Tariq Mansoor and some alumni and sought their cooperation in helping restore normalcy in the campus. After a day of protests and violence, an eerie silence descended over the campus on Thursday even as hundreds of student protesters gathered at the Baab-e-Syed gate, the scene of yesterday's violent incident in which around 20 students were injured in police action. Violence broke out at the university on Wednesday after some protesters belonging to Hindu Yuva Vahini and other right-wing outfits tried to barge into the varsity premises demanding removal of a portrait of Muhammad Ali Jinnah displayed on the campus. Wednesdays violence prompted a massive security deployment in the area on Thursday as policemen in large numbers and a RAF contingent were deployed near the Baab-e-Syed gate to maintain law and order. While the rest of the injured students were discharged after first aid, three of those with serious injuries are admitted at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College hospital. According to a hospital official, all the three students are out of danger and recovering. Mazin Hussain, one of the AMU students who were injured during the clashes, said, We were leading a peaceful protest to the local police station against some outsiders who came along with a BJP leader with illegal weapons. The police lathicharged students and we were hit on our heads too. The AMU Students' Union (AMUSU) alleged that violence on the campus was a "deliberate and pre-planned attempt" to attack former vice president Hamid Ansari, who was at that time barely 100 metres away at the university guest house, from where the violence erupted. "Our protest will continue indefinitely till the police takes action against those who were actually targeting the former vice president who had come to the AMU where he was to be granted a life membership of the Students' Union," the AMUSU said in a statement issued here. President, AMUSU, Mashkoor Ahmad Usmani, who was also injured in the police lathicharge, said the students would approach the National Human Right Commission "with the help of all secular organisations of the country" if all doors to justice are closed by the state government. Meanwhile, a spokesman of the varsity strongly condemned the "trespassing" by Hindu Yuva Vahini activists who were raising "highly objectionable and inflammatory slogans". "We hope that the state government will take strong action against the Hindu Yuva Vahini youths who deliberately tried to disturb peace on the university campus," he said. The AMU Teachers' Association (AMUTA) held an emergency meeting on Wednesday night and passed a resolution stating that HYVs action was a "deliberate criminal conspiracy" in which the police instead of punishing the aggressors, indulged in "brutal action" against the students, who had later collected at the gate to protest the failure of the police to prevent the outsiders from entering the campus. It has demanded that an FIR should be lodged against those who "masterminded the entire operation". (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Amid a controversy over renaming of the Dyal Singh (Evening) College as Dyal Singh Vande Matram College, the institution's chairman Amitabh Sinha on Thursday said the Delhi University is an autonomous varsity and the government cannot interfere in its administrative matters. Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar had on Wednesday said the government would not allow the renaming and take action against the management committee of the college for going ahead with it without the ministry's consent. In a press conference on Thursday, Sinha said, "The DU is an autonomous university and therefore, the government cannot have a say in its administrative matters. The HRD Minister should have spoken to me first to know the exact status before making such a statement." The college is affiliated to the Delhi University. A controversy had erupted last year with various sections vehemently opposing the move to rename the college as "Vanade Matram Mahavidyalaya". "When the first time I had a meeting with him (Javadekar), I had insisted that the issue be resolved by the vice chancellor and the governing body and he had shown interest then. We found a midway and named it Vandemataram Dyal Singh College. I don't know whether he is under some pressure or some arm-twisting tactics," he said. The chairman insisted that in renaming the college, its administration had done noting wrong or outside the law. "We have done whatever is necessary. Students had put up banners with the new name in an annual function. Though, the Delhi University is yet to take a final decision on it, the Governing Body (GB) is entirely capable of looking after the administrative duties and if the HRD minister believes a legal action can be taken for that then I welcome such a step," he added. Javadekar had on Wednesday said, "We had earlier also asked them (the university administration) to reconsider the move. We will not allow the college to be renamed. If there are two Dyal Singh colleges, they can call them A and B or 1 and 2 to differentiate but the original name cannot be changed". New Delhi: The Defence Ministry has proposed amendment in the existing offset policy to provide additional avenues for foreign defence companies to invest a percentage of the value of a military deal in India. The ministry has made public the draft amendment in the offset guidelines and sought opinion of the stakeholders on it. According to the defence procurement procedure, foreign arms manufacturers and vendors are mandated to invest a percentage of the value of any deal above USD 50 million in India. The draft amendment says aerospace and internal security-related enterprises will be allowed to fulfil their offset obligations through investment in defence-related infrastructure projects such as setting up of testing labs and skill centres, officials said. They said only the capital costs of these projects would be reckoned for discharge of offset obligations. The foreign firms would also be allowed to meet their offset obligations through sharing of "specified critical technology". Officials said these projects will be implemented through an agency to be identified by the government. The implementing agency may be a public sector entity including defence public sector undertakings, Defence Research and Development Organisation or through a Special Purpose Vehicle to be set up with or without industry participation. The draft amendment also proposed to set up a collegium to recommend projects under various categories. "The investment may be made by the vendor having discharge obligation, by any of its sister companies or affiliates," officials said. The government has set a May 15 deadline for stakeholders to send their inputs to the proposed amendment. Solan: The hotel owner who shot dead a woman assistant town planner in Solan in Himachal Pradesh on Tuesday was arrested from Mathura on Thursday. Shailbala Sharma, 51, was killed by Vijay Thakur while carrying out a Supreme Court ordered demolition drive in the hill district. Additional SP Solan, Dr Shiv Kumar, who was heading the special team formed in the case, said the accused was constantly on police radar. He said the accused was being brought to Solan for further investigations and will be produced before the court on Friday. The DGP, who was camping in Kasauli to supervise the investigations, said that the Solan police had taken the help of their UP counterparts to nab the accused. An official said that police in neighboring states of Haryana, Punjab, Uttrakhand and Delhi were also alerted. His photographs and images were also flashed for identification. Police said the accused had sent a text message to a relative, saying he was going to surrender to the police. According to officials, Vijay had constantly argued with the demolition team and even threatened suicide, saying that the SC orders were wrong. He alleged that the orders had been manipulated at the behest of some influential persons. He had relented after several hours and the police team accompanying the PWD officials and Sharma left for the next demolition site. Soon after, he shot Sharma thrice, killing her on the spot. He then ran into the jungle and had been on the run for the last two days. The Supreme Court had also taken cognizance of the incident and demanded a report. Calling it an unfortunate incident, the top court today said the women officer "wasn't killed because of implementation of the Supreme Court order, but because of non-implementation of the law". Dubbing the incident as "extremely serious", the top court said it was quite clear that there was "absolutely no regard" for the rule of law as the public servants had gone there to do their job, and warned the government it would stop passing orders if the situation persisted. Chennai: Hundreds of students from Tamil Nadu will be forced to travel to Kerala to sit for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on May 6 after the Supreme Court accepted the CBSEs plea that exam centres cannot be changed at such short notice. The Madras High Court had on April 27 asked CBSE to ensure that students be given exam centres in Tamil Nadu, but CSBE had moved an appeal in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court directed the CBSE to ensure that the same doesnt happen from next year. The petitioner representing the students in the case told CNN-News 18 that only Tamil Nadu students have been given centres in other states. Advocate P Guruswami said between 1,000 and 1,500 students will have to travel to Ernakulum and other centres in Kerala. Similar type of complaint was also made in Maharashtra but students were given centres in their own state, but at a faraway place. So its very difficult for the students to appear in NEET examination, he said. The petitioner also blamed the CBSE for not following the Madras High Courts April 27 directive. When the order was passed on April 27, there were more than 10 days for the CBSE to re-allot centres for such students. They only needed five days for sending admit card with the hall ticket and students had to download the new one from the website. They delayed it and now tells the apex court that there is no time for re-alloting centres, Guruswami added. The petitioner urged the state government to provide special buses for students who are appearing for NEET in other states free of cost. But the education minister said this could be done only from next year as there is no time for special arrangements now. Bharati Sri, Tirunelveli student appearing for the NEET said it is devastating news, especially for the underprivileged students. This is the most crucial time which demands all our concentration on the exam but now we have to worry about travelling to a different state, she said. Every year they come up with something or the other to make sure Tamil Nadu students aren't performing at their best. I hope at least my juniors get a fair chance, she added. Another student, Ashwini, said: I have to travel seven hours just to write an exam and it is only possible if I leave a day earlier. Now, I have to worry about the stay which should be preferably near my centre. Initially they gave a choice to select the centre, but later they ignored all our preferences. Travel, transport, language, money are the things which are worrying me now and I couldn't concentrate on studying. This process is especially harder for the underprivileged kids, said Padmani Priya. Bengaluru: The Karnataka government said it was not in a position to release Cauvery river water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu even as the Supreme Court on Thursday sought to know the quantum of water that can be spared. "There is a total of nine tmc water in all the four" reservoirs coming under the Cauvery basin. That 9 tmc water is not enough for our drinking needs and crops. We have shortage," Water Resources Minister M B Patil said. In a video message shared with media on Thursday, he said, "in this circumstance we cannot obey on Thursday's Supreme Court's" order, as we don't have water. We will inform the supreme court about availability"of water currently and our needs." "Even if we want to release we don't have water. We have shortage," he added. During the hearing on Thursday, the court first asked Karnataka to release 4 tmcft water by May 8, then asked it to release 2 tmcft water and at the end, ordered it to apprise the bench as to how much water can be released. "Stating that he was in touch with the legal team, the minister said "we will bring to notice..it cannot be" implemented. We don't have water..." The Centre was on Thursday rapped by the apex court for failing to finalise the draft Cauvery management scheme. It was also flayed by Tamil Nadu for its alleged "partisan" attitude to favour Karnataka by citing the poll campaign in that state for the delay. New Delhi: Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat in an exclusive interview to News18s Deepa Rana said that he does not support state of public funding of elections. Rawat spoke on wide-ranging issues like religion and caste planked campaigning, seizures before Karnataka elections, simultaneous elections and more. The CEC also spoke at length about the poll body's legal position and future outlook on key electoral issues. Why is there a credibility crisis for some Constitutional institutions? Election Commission has often been accused of being a toothless tiger. All lawmakers after they come to power, should remember the days they werent in the position and do things to strengthen the constitutional authorities. Then, they will never have to complain. When you are in power and can frame laws, you should make authorities stronger. There were allegations that you are running a biased campaign. The Commission examines allegations and comes up with a response. It can take action if there is a legal aspect. Even then, some people complain that the EC decision was lenient but it's not so. For instance, in Tamil Nadu, when the commission got to know that money was being floated in, it took action under Article 324 despite there not being a specific law. The Supreme Court had also observed that whenever there is a violation, and in case there is no law to tackle it, the EC then must not act like God without any powers. ECI is entrusted to take superintendence, direction and control. In case of Tamil Nadu, we sent a message to the people. A delegation led by Law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union minister Nitin Gadkari and MA Naqvi complained about senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad trying to influence voters in the name of religion. Earlier, BJP had also complained they are not allowed to put advertisements in Karnataka by the state government. What is the EC doing about this? On the advertisement issue, EC has taken the decision that spaces should be earmarked equitably and distributed among parties so that there is no partisan or any favouritism. The complaint against Ghulam Nabi Azad has come to us. We forwarded it to the Chief Electoral Officer in Karnataka and have requested for the video. Unless we see what was being said, we cannot take action or comment on it. If any party/candidate seeks votes in the name of caste or religion then it is in stark violation of the Supreme Courts ruling. In case a violation is visible, then action will be taken. Should there be simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls? Whats your recommendation to the Law Commission? The commission was asked by the Law Ministry to submit suggestions in 2015 and it did on the necessary constitutional amendments, legal amendments and logistical amendments. Based on those, the EC will have no issue delivering a simultaneous electoral process. So far, though, there is only talk in the media. We haven't gotten any details. In case a legal framework is available and a little support is provided, the EC will be ready to deliver. What suggestions were sent to the Law Ministry? Amendments will be required in Articles 82, 84, 172, 174 and 356. RPI Act, changes in term of government, cases of houses dissolving, no confidence motions etc. all kinds of eventualities were suggested so that in times to come the elections are in sync and not just the one time. Will simultaneous polls not compromise Indias basic federal balance? That is not our domain. EC has been set up under article 324 which says the body shall maintain electoral role and provide superintendence, direction and control of electoral conduct. What is your view on the federal structure? Simultaneous polls were taking place since 1967 and there was no damage to any federal structure. There are countries where this is happening. Can Indians ever vote differently if polls were to be held on the same day? I have enormous faith in the Indian voters. Even some illiterate voters have worldly wisdom on how to exercise their discretion. What are you doing to control black money usage? For instance in Karnataka polls. There are still 10 days to go for the election and this time we have seized over Rs 128 crore till date. About Rs 61 crore in cash, liquor worth Rs 22 crore, Gold valuing Rs 18 crore and drugs worth Rs 40 lakh. During the last elections, it was Rs 14 crore that we had seized, so this time it is huge. Do you think that state funding of polls is the right way ahead? No, I don't think so. Even if public or state funding is done, how can the government ensure there is no abuse of black money or other resources? I think it is not the right time to have state funding in our country as of yet. EVM Tampering is an issue that often crops up after poll results are declared. How are you tackling it? We have conducted an EVM challenge twice once in 2009 and then in 2017. To ensure free and fair election, we have installed EVMs and VVPAT in large numbers. We are also monitoring the situation on ground and have deployed security in every district. During Karnataka polls there was not many complaints or hue and cry about EVMs. But, we have ensured security. How prepared are you for 2019 Lok Sabha elections? We have already started preparing for 2019. We are on schedule and have stepped up our activities to ensure free, fair and credible election. New Delhi: The travel bug seems to be a constant with Indians. According to a recent report in RCI, a global timeshare exchange company, Indian travel trends and timeshare recorded a double-digit growth in 2017. The report states that international travel increased by 13 percent as compared to 2016. There was also an eight percent growth in domestic travels. In a statement, Sabina Chopra, managing director of RCI India, said that the company had seen a significant increase in holiday bookings, both domestic and international, on a year-on-year basis. With increased disposable income, factors like cheaper airfares and low tariffs for budget hotels, international travel plans have seen an exponential rise amongst the general Indian traveller, Chopra said. The company took a sample size of 50,000 of its members and saw that the United States of America (USA) was the most travelled destination in 2016 and 2017. Malaysia and Indonesia were favoured most amongst all the other South East Asian countries by Indian travellers. Switzerland and Spain proved to be the preferred European countries. The list for domestic travel was topped by Goa, followed by the breathtakingly exotic scenery and picturesque countryside of Coorg. Munnar ranked third for its lush greenery and waterfalls, followed by Ooty and Kodaikanal respectively. RCIs data was only till 2017 and it is widely expected that the numbers would increase, especially during summers, this year. A representative at Ixigo, a travel search engine in Gurgaon, said that considering the summer season the average domestic fares dropped by around 9 percent this year as compared to last and average international fares have dropped by around 19 percent this year as compared to 2017. A terror attack on the headquarters of the High National Elections Commission (HNEC) claimed by the Islamic State group (IS) left over 10 people dead and several wounded as the crisis-dogged country prepares for an electoral process with the aim of electing a President. The attack occurred Wednesday after IS operatives, reportedly three of them, stormed the building of the commission located in Ghoat Shaal, in Tripoli. The jihadists first engaged in a gun battle with security forces guarding the building and when they ran out of ammunition, they detonated their suicide belts, the terror group said. The battle and the explosion left over 10 people dead and around 7 wounded. Two of the attackers died on the spot after setting off the bombs. The third was arrested by forces managed by the interior ministry loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), Libya Herald reports. The HNEC came under attack as it computes voters data for this year electoral process sponsored by the UN. Over 2.4 million Libyans have so far registered for the planned legislative and presidential elections. Head of the HNEC told media that the database is still safe after the attack adding that the backup could be re-activated in hours following the attack condemned by the UN, the US embassy and several other foreign missions. The UN has advanced a one-year action plan expected to help end chaos and rivalries between opposed factions vying for the countrys control. The action plan includes an electoral process, which will culminate in a presidential election wished for late this year. This week, the EU, France and Egypt reiterated their intentions to push for the elections, which will endow the oil-rich North African country with a central government. Libya has had two competing administrations, namely the GNA based in Tripoli and its rival based in Beida and backed by countrys internationally recognized parliament House of Representatives (HoR). New Delhi: Judge Madhu Sudan Sharma, who convicted self-styled godman Asaram in a 2013 rape case and sentenced him to imprisonment till death, has been transferred and posted as joint secretary (law) in the law and legal affairs department in Jaipur. According to a report in Hindustan Times, Rajasthan high court registrar general, in two separate orders, transferred five judicial officers in the district judge cadre and nine other judicial officers on Wednesday. Sharma, the judge of the special SC/ST cases court in Jodhpur metropolitan, sentenced the self-styled godman to life inside the Jodhpur Central Jail to prevent a breach of law and order situation in the city. Since the pronouncement of the verdict, Personal Security Officers (PSO) have been deployed for the security of the judge, Mahesh Rajguru, a PSO officer was quoted as saying by News18 Hindi. Armed personnel are deployed outside the court and also accompany the judge 24 hours due to security concern, he said. Among the transferred officers, Prabu Lal Ameta has been appointed member (judicial) in the Rajasthan Civil Services Appellate Tribunal, Jaipur. Rajesh Narayan Sharma has been appointed as a judge of the industrial tribunal-cum-labour court, Jodhpur. Ashutosh Kumar, who was secretary (law) in the law and legal affairs department in Jaipur, has been posted as district and sessions judge of Jaisalmer. Sanjay Kumar has replaced him in the law department. New Delhi: Issuru, a village in Shivamogga district, may have declared Independence from British Raj in 1942 but in democratic India, it is yet to figure in the itineraries of top party leaders. According to a report in The Times of India, Issuru doesnt find a place in history textbooks. But a small non-descript black granite memorial stands in the village to commemorate the sacrifice of six brave villagers. The memorial carries the names of Gorappa, Eshwarappa, Jinahalli Mallappa, Surayanaryanachar, Badkahalli Halappa and Goudrashankarappa who were hanged on March 8, 1943 for revolting against the British and for their alleged involvement in the death of a local revenue inspector. For decades now, Issuru residents have been demanding a bigger structure for the memorial. A report in Eenaduindia.com in 2017 quotes a 111-year-old villager, saying that on August 12 in 1942 they decided not to pay taxes, and from there their demand for freedom gained momentum. On the afternoon of August 12, the villagers gathered in the market place. Meanwhile, the British officials came there to collect taxes. Since we had nothing to give them, we outrightly refused and asked for a sovereign status to be vested in us, 111-year-old Huchuraayapa said. After the demand was put forward, we knew that it would be met with severe repercussions on the villagers. But nothing of such happened. In fact, the British army who came along with the officials asked for our demand. We were dressed in khakis and we called ourselves freedom fighters. Surprisingly, they agreed to our demand and declared us free and left the place, he recalls. The villages history now lives on in the memories of its surviving freedom fighter R Basavanappa, 86, and the widow of Marohalli Budhappa (102). Issuru is located in Shikaripura assembly constituency where BJPs CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa is a contestant. It has a population of 6,000, including 4,800 voters, the TOI report states. In office, Yeddyurappa sanctioned Rs 12 crore for the development of the village and projects like concrete roads, box drains and housing for the poor were sanctioned. But, after his reign, the village has been forgotten, says local lawyer Rudrappaiah, who was previously the BJP president in Shikaripura. Over the last two months, Congress president Rahul Gandhi and BJP president Amit Shah have stopped 47km short of Issuru, at Shivamogga. PM Modi is visiting Shivamogga on May 5 but locals brook no hope of him visiting the village either. Even CM Siddaramaiah, they point out, has not visited the village after taking office. There is a lot of development opportunity for Issuru but parties are not interested in it. We have seen Yeddyurappa come and go, but when it comes to employment there are no avenues, said a grocer. Gram panchayat secretary Pramod says a proposal to develop the memorial under MGNREGA in convergence with the state horticulture department has been placed. But due to the model code of conduct, development works may happen only after the polls, he said. A villager says Issuru is paying the price for Shikaripura being known as a BSY bastion. When it comes to the development of the memorial, BJP is scared of giving credit to Congress. Congress too is not keen on sharing credit with BJP which is ruling the gram panchayat. The real loser in this scenario is Issuru and its rich legacy of the freedom struggle. Sydney/Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for the creation of a new strategic alliance among France, India and Australia to respond to challenges in the Asia-Pacific region and the growing assertiveness of China. On the second day of a visit to Australia, where he hopes to cement defence ties following the 2016 signing of a $38 billion megadeal to supply submarines to the Australian navy, Macron said the like-minded democracies should forge closer ties. "We're not naive: if we want to be seen and respected by China as an equal partner, we must organise ourselves," Macron said in a speech at an Australian naval base. Macron visited China in January, where he warned Beijing that its new "Silk Road" initiative should not be "one-way". He then flew to India in March, where he committed to strengthen a defence partnership that has already seen New Delhi buy French warplanes in 2016. "This new Paris-Delhi-Canberra axis is absolutely key for the region and our joint objectives in the Indian-Pacific region," Macron said. His visit to Australia, only the second by a French president, comes amid heightened tensions in the Pacific, where France has numerous interests. France has island territories spanning the Indo-Pacific: Reunion and Mayotte in the Indian Ocean, and Noumea, Wallis and Futuna and French Polynesia in the Pacific. Australia and New Zealand have each separately warned that China is seeking to exert influence in the Pacific through its international aid programme, an allegation Beijing denies. In case you missed it Nearly seven years after veteran crime journalist Jyotirmoy Dey was gunned down in suburban Mumbai, a city court on Wednesday convicted don Chhota Rajan and eight others in the sensational case and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court, however, acquitted former journalist Jigna Vora, who was charged with instigating Rajan to carry out the killing. Paulson Joseph, who was accused of handling the financial operations concerned with the conspiracy, was also acquitted. The Supreme Court questioned the Centres justification for passing the Aadhaar Act as a Money Bill, saying that if the sole purpose of the 12-digit biometric ID was to disburse welfare measures to the underprivileged then its use by private players goes beyond the mandate of the law. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Dipak Misra referred to Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act which says that "State or any body corporate or person" can use Aadhaar number" for establishing an identity of an individual for any purpose". Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who kicked off his whirlwind tour of poll-bound Karnataka on Tuesday, surprised many by praising Janata Dal (Secular) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda in his first public meeting in the southern-most Chamarajanagar district. Telangana CM K Chandrashekhar Rao met former UP CM and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav and held a detailed discussion over the formation of a proposed federal front, ahead of the 2019 polls. Yadav extended full support to Rao and said that the country was looking for change after the previous regimes disappointed them. Amid the ongoing controversy over the photograph of Mohammad Ali Jinnah at AMU Students Union Hall, members of BJP students wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Hindu Yuva Vahini beat up AMU students trying to stop them as they tried to burn an effigy of Jinnah. Some students lathicharged by the police when they were protesting against the administration for not registering FIR against members of ABVP and HYV for burning the effigy at Baba Sayed gate. Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi, who gained international attention in 2008 after he famously threw his shoes at the then American President George Bush, is now running for Parliament in Iraq. The journalist, who had then been working with an Egyptian television channel called Al-Baghdadia, recently tweeted that he was running for Iraqs Parliament, called the Council of Representatives, ahead of the Iraqi Presidential elections, scheduled to be held on May 12. A minister in the Uttar Pradesh government triggered controversy after he reportedly brought with him his own food, cutlery and water at a dinner hosted at a Dalit household. Suresh Rana, the minister in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, however, rejected the allegation, saying, "The food was prepared in the village, by the villagers themselves." Agree or disagree? Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP leader Chandrababu Naidus intention is to make PM Narendra Modi as unpopular as possible in the eyes of Andhra voters by projecting him as a betrayer. Deserted by allies and faced with corruption charges in Amaravati and Polavaram, Naidu, who often calls himself nippu (pure like fire), is forced to confront the 2019 election all alone. On reel Karnataka Election 2018: The Siddaramaiah VS Modi battle is heating up in Karnataka. Who will win the battle would only be clear on 15th May but the ringside view of the fight is increasingly getting interesting. Get a fresh dose of the news that matters, delivered directly to your inbox, every morning. The perfect way, to get you started and informed, for the day ahead. (Get a fresh dose of the news that matters, delivered directly to your inbox, every morning. The perfect way, to get you started and informed, for the day ahead. Subscribe to News18 Daybreak here.) New Delhi: At least eight people, including a former IAS officer, have been arrested in Chhattisgarh following a News18 report on the movement for self-rule in certain tribal hamlets of the state and in other states like Jharkhand, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. News18 had reported in March this year on the movement for self-rule in certain parts of these states wherein tribal communities were hosting Patthargarhi (installation of stone) ceremonies. These ceremonies would culminate in the constitution of their own gram sabhas and resolution to boycott elections. The communities have not enrolled for government identification, including voter ID and Aadhaar. The movement was believed to have spread to Chhattisgarhs Jashpur, where 10,000 adivasis reportedly participated in Patthargarhi ceremonies over one month. At least two dozen villages in the region are said to have put up boards and tablets declaring self-rule, following which police cases were lodged in Jashpur. The hub of the movement is said to be Khunti region of Jharkhand. Villages that declared self-rule here had even barred state police and elected representatives from entering, while non-Adivasis too had to seek permission before entering, that too on payment of a toll tax. These villages also have plans to ready a force of vigilantes in case of action by security forces. Intelligence and administrative officials have their own versions of why this armed rebellion is mushrooming in their areas officers in Jharkhand claim Patthargarhi to be a front for illegal poppy cultivation aided by Naxals; in Odisha and Madhya Pradesh the political opposition is privately held responsible for using Patthargarhi as a weapon against the parties in power. But what is similar in all these areas, is that thousands of Adivasis, who often have very little in common with each other, who are angry with being left behind by the state and being pushed around by industries, have found in Patthargarhi a unifying expression of dissent. Former Chief Justice SN Dhingra has described this movement as a worrying development for the country. It is unconstitutional, and looks like the beginning for another Naxal-styled movement. The state should have known about it and nipped it in the bud. But the fact that this Patthargarhi drive is going on at this pace is a worrying development for the country. Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh governments claims of improving 108 emergency ambulance services fell flat on Thursday as a resident of Barabanki district, which is hardly 25 kilometres from the state capital, had to be driven to Ghungter community health centre on a hand-cart by his sons, only to find the doctor missing. The incident was reported from Nindura block where one Puran Lal developed some complication after a recent eye surgery. When Puran's sons called the 108 emergency ambulance service of the UP Government, no one turned up. Without further delay, his sons loaded him up in the hand-cart and peddled it for five kilometers to reach the health centre. When they reached there, the doctor in charge was missing from duty. After waiting for some time, the sons decided to take Puran back without treatment. Speaking to News18, chief medical officer of Barabanki, Dr Ramesh Chandra said an investigation will be conducted and proper action will be taken. The 108 emergency ambulance services are being run by a private agency which has been awarded with the contract by the government. So when someone calls on 108, it is directed to a call centre in Lucknow which in turn directs the nearest ambulance to reach the patient. If the ambulance driver has not done his duty then proper action will be taken after investigation. This is not the first case of medical apathy in Barabanki district. Earlier too there have been cases when NHRC had issued notice to UP Government. Earlier, a ward boy was found running a primary health centre in the absence of doctors. Patna: The Bihar government had to reject more than 4,500 applications out of the 5,000 it received for the ambitious startup programme. The reason being that most of the entries were for paan shops or flour mills and were not innovative. The Nitish Kumar-led government had inaugurated the startup scheme last year with a focus on helping budding entrepreneurs of the state. About Rs 500 crore was allocated for the scheme but only 29 entrepreneurs have been beneficiaries to the tune of Rs 71 lakh. The government had spent about three crores on setting up various divisions and departments for executing this scheme. State industry minister Jai Kumar Singh acknowledged the failure and attributed it to lack of awareness. Talking to News18, he said the government would do more to reach out and educate people on a block-level. Applicants, who get selected, would receive Rs 10 lakh as assistance for setting up their businesses, much like what the central government provides under its MUDRA scheme. Unlike the Centres initiative, the applicant here must come up with innovative ideas. Only after it is approved by a committee does an applicant receive the first instalment of Rs 2.53 lakh rupees. Many felt the initial sum of money was not enough to set up a business, hence why they resorted to paan shops and buying auto rickshaws. Therefore, the minister now wants to change the criteria. We will do away with the word innovative and accept any business proposal viable in the area. However, if an entrepreneurs idea is approved from any other agency or bank, then my government will provide him/her with an equal amount of money irrespective of the present ceiling, said Singh. Islamabad: Pakistan top civil-military leadership has directed authorities to "forcefully" pursue the alleged violations of Indus Waters Treaty with India and the World Bank, the guarantor of the agreement. The last round of talks between India and Pakistan over the issue was facilitated by the World Bank in Washington in September. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired the 21st meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) held at Prime Minister's House yesterday. According to an official statement, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission briefed the meeting on the water policy approved by the Council of Common Interests on April 24, 2018, along with a water charter, which was signed by the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers of four provinces. The Committee observed that this was a very significant achievement and if properly implemented could prove instrumental in averting the water crisis that was seriously threatening Pakistan. Under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty, the waters of the eastern rivers -- the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi -- had been allocated to India and that of the western rivers --the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab -- to Pakistan except for certain non-consumptive uses. Pakistan had approached the World Bank in 2016, raising concerns over the designs of two hydroelectricity projects located in Jammu and Kashmir. It had demanded that the World Bank, which is the mediator between the two countries under the water distribution pact, set up a court of arbitration to look into its concerns. "The (NSC) Committee also directed the Water Resources Division to forcefully pursue the violations of the Indus Water Treaty by India with the World Bank," according to the statement. The Committee also reviewed the prevailing situation in the Indian Ocean Region and directed to keep a robust security posture for the maintenance of security and safeguarding national interests of Pakistan. The participants reviewed the proposed administrative reforms package for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. No details of the reforms have been so far shared officially, but according to various media reports the reforms may include steps to further integrate Gilgit-Baltistan with Pakistan. It is through this region that the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor passes. The meeting was attended by the Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Finance, Revenue & Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Zubair Mahmood Hayat, Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Mujahid Anwar Khan, Director General ISI Lt Gen Naveed Mukhtar and National Security Adviser Nasser Khan Janjua. Kalaburagi (Karnataka): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday accused the Congress of "insulting national heroes" and the Indian Army by "questioning" the veracity of the cross-border surgical strikes. He also said that Congress president Rahul Gandhi "disrespected" national song Vande Mataram'. "Forgetting the national heroes, patriots and history is the nature of a family in the Congress. (Jawaharlal) Nehru and VK Krishna Menon insulted General (KS) Thimayya, who had to resign. They neglected General (K M) Cariappa," Modi said at an election rally in Kalaburagi in Karnataka. Invoking Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, the Prime Minister said Independent India's first home minister, was instrumental in forcing the Nizam of Hyderabad, who controlled the region where Kalaburagi is located, to accede to the country. "But one family in the Congress loses its sleep whenever Sardar Patel's name crops up," he said. Seeking to appeal to patriotic sentiments of voters, the prime minister raked up the issue of cross-LoC surgical strikes, claiming the Congress questioned the genuineness of the assault by the Indian Army. "They (Congress) sought proof about the genuineness of the surgical strike. Bodies of Pakistani soldiers were carried on trucks, a newspaper said that...and they need proof. Should our soldiers go on such operations with a camera or a gun?" he said. The prime minister said a Congress leader even called the Army chief a "goonda" (gangster) after the surgical strike. The prime minister reached out to farmers of Karnataka, saying his government would take up farming of pulses in a big way. Rejecting the Congress claim that it was a champion of Dalit causes, Modi referred to "atrocity" on a Dalit girl in Karnataka's Bidar. "But the state's ruling party did not speak about it. they had no candlelight protests," he said. "This party (Congress) only knows how to prostrate before the members of one family. But we have decided to construct memorials to the tribals who fought against the British since 1857 to 1947 when India became independent," he said. (With PTI inputs) Patna: The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar would oppose any changes in terms of reference of the 15th finance commission and support the 2011 census as the benchmark for revenue sharing among the states. An all-party meeting has been called on May 5 to discuss the matter and project a unanimous voice. The meeting will be chaired by Assembly Speaker Vijay Chaudhary. After discussion, a delegation will meet finance commission chairman NK Singh to apprise him about the demands of the state. A note has been circulated by Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI), Patna, on behalf of the government which entails repercussion of changing the terms of reference. A senior BJP leader told News18 that the demands of southern states to stick with 1971 census will adversely affect Bihar whose population has increased by almost 25 percent between 1991 and 2011. On the other hand, southern states were able to check the rising population efficiently and their share in national population decreased from 24 percent in 1971 to about 20 percent in 2011. The southern states, in a meeting in Thiruvananthapuram last month, had sought incentives for better performance in keeping the population in check and opposed finance commissions move to give larger weightage to 2011 census. After the uproar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had tweeted on April 12 that the Centre has suggested to the Finance Commission to consider incentivising states who have worked on population control." Thus, a state like Tamil Nadu, which has devoted a lot of effort, energy and resources towards population control would certainly benefit," he had written. This has raised apprehension that finance commission might change the criteria. Shaibal Gupta Member director of ADRI told News 18, Though it would be difficult now to change the terms of reference it is natural for any state to put forth its demands. We will help the government formulate a memorandum which could be handed over to the finance commission. It is learnt that Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar too raised the issue and sought special treatment for the state during his meeting with Prime Minsiter Narendra Modi on Wednesday. Tunisian Authorities Wednesday announced they have identified alleged killers of Mohamed Zaouari; a Tunisian drone expert affiliated to Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas, ruler of Gaza. Zaouari, 49, was gunned down by two masked men in December 2016 in the city of Sfax, behind his wheel, in front of his residence. The interior ministry then indicated that the assassination bore the hallmarks of a foreign agency but Tunisian authorities stopped short to blame a country. Hamas was swift in blaming Israel that it believed carried out the killing through its foreign spy agency Mossad. The Islamist movement noted that Tunisian aerospace engineer had worked for the resistance. Wednesday, Sofiene Sliti, spokesperson of the state prosecution told AFP that the killers were both from Bosnia. The suspects according to the Tunisian official are currently in custody in Croatia after being arrested in March. Bosnian authorities have refused to hand over the suspects to the North African country despite Croatian authorities intervention, Sliti noted. Zaouaris family late last year reportedly demanded justice to be made on the assassination of the engineer who, according to Hamas, had worked for the resistance movement for over a decade. New Delhi: Congress President Rahul Gandhi today gave an 'F' grade report card to the Modi government on the "subject" of agriculture in poll-bound Karnataka. There has been no contribution from the Centre to the Congress-led government's Rs 8,500 crore contribution in farm loan waivers, Gandhi said on Twitter. Farmers have also suffered due to the prime minister's crop insurance scheme in which insurance companies have made huge profits, Gandhi added. He also said that there has been no MSP (minimum support price) plus 50 per cent for farmers of Karnataka as promised by the Modi regime. Mr Modis Report Card State: Karnataka Sub: Agriculture 1. Contribution to Cong State Govts 8,500 Cr Farm Loan waiver = 0 Rs 2. PMs crop insurance scheme: Farmers suffer; pvt insurance companies make huge profits. 3. No MSP+50%, for Karnataka farmers. Grade = F pic.twitter.com/SLJBE4cXWC Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 3, 2018 Karnataka goes to polls on May 12 to elect a government. While the Congress is trying desperately hold on to power in the southern state, the BJP is out to oust the party. Karnataka is the only big state besides Punjab where Congress has a government. It also has governments in Puducherry and Mizoram. New Delhi: Amidst uncertainty over Uttarakhand Chief Justice K M Joseph's elevation, a PIL has been filed in the Supreme Court seeking his immediate appointment to the apex court. A retired District Judge has approached the apex court seeking urgent action on the recommendation of the Collegium which had suggested Justice Joseph's name for elevation and quashing of the "illegal and unconstitutional" move of the Centre by segregating his name. "The petitioner is aggrieved by the shocking manner in which the Centre has unilaterally and capriciously segregated and rejected the name of Justice K M Joseph recommended by the Collegium for appointment as a Judge of this Court, while at the same time accepting the recommendation for elevation of Indu Malhotra, Senior Advocate, as a Judge of this Court," the petition said. The PIL filed by G D Inamdar, a retired district judge from Solapur in Maharashtra, has also sought a direction to the Centre to issue warrants of appointment for Justice Joseph with consequential seniority. "It is not permissible for the central government to sit as an Appellate Authority over the wisdom of recommendations made by the Collegium. Since the recommendation discusses the seniority issue and endorses Justice K M Joseph in that regard, it is not open for the central government to take a contrary view and return the recommendation. "It is submitted that the basis for returning the recommendation can conceivably be, if there is any new material that was not considered or not available with the Collegium at the time of making the recommendations, but on the same material the central government cannot give its contrary view and return the file," the plea said. The petition said when the Collegium has sent a file recommending names of two judges in a particular order of seniority and if the Centre has any objection, then it should have sent the entire file back to the Collegium and sought due permission from it to process one name and reconsider the other name. "Only after the due approval of the Collegium was obtained, the Warrant of Appointment ought to have been issued for that one name," Inamdar said. The petitioner said this was an example of "direct infringement on the primacy and independence of the judiciary" as under the garb of "reconsideration" the government seeks to veto the decision of the Collegium and "de facto prevent the names of those whom it considers "inconvenient" or "punish". New Delhi: The Supreme Court is likely to hear the Centre's plea seeking review of the judgment on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (SC/ST Act) on Thursday. The Centre had moved the apex court on April 2 seeking review of its judgment by which safeguards were put on the provisions for immediate arrest under the SC/ST Act. The government, in its review petition, told the Supreme Court that its March 20 verdict will violate Article 21 of the Constitution for the SC/ST communities and sought restoration of the provisions of the Act. The apex court had on March 20 said that on "several occasions", innocent citizens were being termed as accused and public servants deterred from performing their duties, which was never the intention of the legislature while enacting the SC/ST Act. Attorney General KK Venugopal had on April 27 mentioned the matter for early hearing before a bench comprising Justices AK Goel and Deepak Gupta and said he had already filed his written submission in the matter. "The last line of your last order says that list the matter after written submission is filed. I have filed my written submission. Four states have also filed review petitions. Please give us a date," Venugopal told the bench. Justice Goel posted it for arguments on May 3. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday warned the Karnataka government of "consequences" if it does not release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra also pulled up the central government for not framing the water distribution scheme till date, and observed that elections in Karnataka cannot be cited as a reason for delay. While asking the Centre to apprise the court of steps it has taken so far, the bench asked the Karnataka government to come back on Tuesday with a categorical statement on how much water it will release for Tamil Nadu. According to Tamil Nadu, it required 2.5 TMC water each for the months of April and May. Its lawyer Shekhar Naphade complained that Tamil Nadu was being treated unfairly by the central government, which appeared concerned only about the upcoming polls in the upper riparian state. When senior lawyer Shyam Divan, appearing for Karnataka, said that no order can be passed without hearing them, the bench shot back: "We will initiate suo motu contempt against you. We will call your chief secretary. You must release water to them for April and May." It also pulled up the Centre, which was represented through Attorney General KK Venugopal. "It was your responsibility to frame the scheme. You should have done it by now. Why do you now tell us what states have to say. You don't have to involve them now. Frame a scheme that we will approve," it told Venugopal. On his part, Venugopal said that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has written a letter on April 26, saying water resources ministers of the four riparian states should be members of the Cauvery Board and that no technical members are required. The AG also said that since the Prime Minister and other Cabinet ministers have been travelling to Karnataka for the elections, the draft scheme has not been approved so far. But the court made it clear that it was only concerned about submission of the scheme and that the central government must now explain the reasons for delay. Chhattarpur: Union Minister Uma Bharti skipped a meal with Dalits during an event organised near, saying she was not Lord Rama who would purify people by having food with them. Later, the BJP leader apologised, saying she was not aware that she was supposed to have food with them. At the event held at Dadri village two days back, the senior BJP leader had said she does not take part in such community meals as she doesn't consider herself Lord Rama, who would purify people by having food with them. "I don't go to the houses of Dalits to have meals, though I support this trait (breaking bread with the people of scheduled caste category)," said the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister while addressing a function in the village. She said that instead, she invites Dalits to her home to have food. "I want to share a secret with you. I don't take part in 'samrasta bhoj' (community meals) because I do not consider myself Lord Rama, who went to Shabri's home and the Dalits became purified," she said, referring to the mythological episode from Ramayana. Since last few months, the RSS and the BJP have been promoting 'samrasta bhoj' to spread across the message of social harmony and to eradicate casteism. "I am not Lord Rama that if I sit with them, they will be purified... Instead if they come to our home and sit in our kitchen, we will be sanctified," Bharti said. She added that she believes that when she serves food to Dalits on her dining table, "her place ... utensils will attain purity." "Come to Delhi...my nephew's wife would prepare food for you, I will serve meal to you, my nephew will collect your plate after you finish eating and wash them," she said. "I invite you to my place but I can't have meal with you because I have already taken it...I love you all. I am with you, always," she had said. Later in a statement, Bharti said she had clarified from the dais itself during the programme that she was not aware that she was supposed to take food in the programme, organised by her close associate Harshu Maharaj. "I had to go to Papoda in Tikamgarh district, which is 150 kms away from, and meet Vidyasagar Maharaj. Therefore, I apologised for not taking meals with them," Bharti was quoted as saying. She added that the time has gone when one needed to have food with Dalits to bring about "samrasta" (harmony). "Instead, now you have to bring them on par politically, socially, in government and administration, among others, to ensure harmony.... Now, we need to bring harmony by overcoming discrimination that is being done with them (Dalits and backwards) in politics," she said. Economic empowerment, societal honour and equal participation in the government and administration are the only basic requirements of social harmony, the statement said quoting Bharti. The Union minister also expressed surprise when media persons asked her after the programme that she did not want to have food with Dalits. "Now people can even talk things like this," the statement said quoting her. The changing face of fashion photography will be on display in an upcoming show at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles that will feature the work of more than 80 photographers over 100 years. Announced last week, "Icons of Style" will include more than 160 photographs, along wth costumes, illustrations, magazine covers, videos and advertisements, with work by Richard Avedon, Guy Bourdin, Inez & Vinoodh, Peter Lindbergh, Man Ray, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn and Herb Ritts, among many others. Through this selection of works, the museum aims to illuminate the aesthetic and technological changes in the field over the course of a century. The exhibition is said to be the most comprehensive exploration yet undertaken of fashion photography, a phenomenon that has not always had a place in museums. "Once overlooked by collectors and museums because of its commercial origins, fashion photography is now recognized as having produced some of the most creative work of the twentieth century...," explains Timothy Potts, director of the J. Paul Getty Museum. "Museums, however, have been slow to embrace this genre. The time seems ripe to present a sweeping overview of the finest examples of fashion photography produced over the past century." The exhibition will open with a key moment in 1911, when French publisher Lucien Vogel challenged photographer Edward Steichen to create fashion photographs that were artistic rather than simply realistic. Over the following decade, photographs reveal changes in women's fashion, from corseted styles to the looser fitting designs exemplified by Coco Chanel; later, the influence of political and economic changes on the fashion industry is seen in photographs produced during the Great Depression and World War II. Works from the 1950s represent the Golden Age of fashion photography, when Richard Avedon and Irving Penn used visually arresting approaches to depict the elegant gowns of Balenciaga and Dior. The youth culture and sexual revolution are seen in works from the 1960s and '70s, followed by the 1980s rise of corporate power dressing and the 1990s turn toward "heroin chic." Brand new possibilities for fashion photography will be examined in the exhibition's final stages, with focuses on Instagram and the rise of street-style blogs such as The Sartorialist. "Icons of Style: A Century of Fashion Photography, 1911-2011" will be on view June 26 to from October 21 at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. As one of the worlds favourite four-letter F words, FOOD make up a large portion of most peoples day (with other F-words presumably filling up the rest of your day by which, of course, we mean films). The best thing about the meal youre having at the moment, after all, is planning the meal that will follow it. No wonder then that Netflix is betting big on bytes of bites. The streaming service has been massively expanding its portfolio of original content over the last couple of years, and if 2018 has shown us anything so far, its that theyre still only building up momentum. With a slew of movies, comedy specials, original series, documentaries, docu-series, being produced by Netflix, comprising country-specific content from the various regions that its present in, there is a surfeit of stuff to watch, whatever your inclination. And with a substantial portion of their latest offerings concentrating on all things food, Netflix clearly isnt counting the calories. While 2018 marked the return of several of its already established series, there were also a lot of new offerings on the table, er, screen. Here are our top picks for your viewing pleasure, and salivation salvation. Somebody Feed Phil Imagine an American citizen of Jewish descent tucking into a serving of hummus at a Muslim eatery in the middle of Jerusalem. Given that that very statement might come off as dangerously loaded to anyone the slightest bit geo-politically aware, it takes a rarified breed of man to actually do it. Netflix found just such a man in Phil Rosenthal, creator of beloved sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, whom they send off on a food trail around the world. Rosenthals unfeigned, nigh childlike, enthusiasm for food and silliness and his complete willingness to make a fool for himself for the benefit of his hosts in cities as far flung as Bangkok (where he runs into Indian chef Gaggan Anand) and Lisbon, among others, make this show a delicious, hilarious food experience. Ugly Delicious Chef David Chang is one of the most exciting and nuanced voices in Americas culinary scene today, so no wonder then that his Netflix series, Ugly Delicious, is a free-wheeling examination of all the things that go into making a particular food or dish popular around the world. In each of the eight episodes, Chang explores a particular dish, from pizza to fried rice, traveling to the most unusual destinations to see the strangest regional iterations of these most common foods, with a litany of guests including actors Aziz Ansari, Steve Yuen and fellow chefs Rene Redzepi and Sean Brock, as well as other celebrities. Rotten This docu-series shows the unpalatable side of the commercial food industry, with each of the six-hour long episodes delving into the unpleasant minutiae of making a profit out of necessity. With stunning visuals - courtesy its high-definition cinematography - and a compelling people-driven narrative, each chapter examines a specific food industry, from the milk in your fridges to the honey in your larders that sweetens it. And of course, the poultry cartel (so spectacularly exposed by John Oliver in Last Week Tonight) has an episode all to itself. While the series doesnt provide as in-depth a picture as other celebrated documentaries, it does provide an explicit glimpse into how your sausage is made, metaphorically. Nailed It Our interpretation of Nailed It is that its Netflix's less-than-subtle dig at the commercially sordid bastardization of reality TV and cooking competition shows, complete with semi-obnoxious host, haughty judge (French, instead of British, in this iteration), and imbecilic contestants. The basic premise is simple (presumably so that those competing can comprehend it): competitors have to recreate carefully-wrought baked confections, as well as complete some asinine challenges, in order to take home a prize of 10,000 dollars. Given the (lack of) skills of the contestants, these challenges usually end in disaster, and even those who end up winning would probably end up being drawn and quartered sans marinade - by Gordon Ramsay and his ilk. Chefs Table With its latest season, the series fourth, concentrating on pastry chefs, Chefs Table continues its behind-the-scenes look into the highly competitive world of the planets best restaurants. The Emmy-nominated series made waves since its very first season, thanks to its incredible cinematography of the art of cooking and the dishes and the ingredients themselves, as well as its in-depth, exquisitely detailed examination of the food and philosophy of the worlds best chefs. The fourth season comprises four episodes, each focused on one patisserie in a different part of the world. Sephora is offering beauty fans an instant skincare fix, with the launch of a new in-store facial. The beauty retailer has teamed up with The HydraFacial Company to offer clients "Perk Hydrating Facials" in more than 100 of its stores across the US. The 30-minute skincare treatment (which is complimentary with a $75 minimum product purchase) aims to exfoliate, hydrate and nourish the complexion by using a special device that uses roller-flex technology that acts as a vacuum to suction impurities from the skin, while simultaneously flushing it with nutrients and hydration. The service will be carried out by specially trained Sephora advisors, who will provide customers with a skincare consultation and a personalized "Digital Skincare Guide" covering different products and application methods. "The Sephora Perk Hydrating Facial is our first in-store spa grade treatment, powered by our own talented consultants who celebrate beauty each day with our clients," said Priya Venkatesh, Vice President of Merchandising for Sephora, in a statement. "By introducing our clients to the right products, based on their own unique skincare concerns and enhanced with a personalized service, we're able to create an emotional connection, build their trust and celebrate the results with them in one comprehensive offering." The move is Sephora's latest interactive beauty initiative -- the retailer already provides a 15-minute "Mini Makeover and Facial" service in-store, as well as custom makeovers and beauty classes in a select number of outlets. Immersive beauty experiences are becoming a major trend across the industry, with brands increasingly seeking innovative ways to engage with consumers. Last year saw French beauty giant L'Occitane en Provence unveil a new multi-sensory digital in-store concept featuring rain shower sinks and fragrance clouds,' while Tom Ford's inaugural stand-alone London beauty store, which opened its doors in November, features several creative initiatives, such as a dramming bar for customized fragrance services and a dedicated Color room' where shoppers can virtually try on makeup using augmented reality technology. Winners of the National Film Awards were left fuming on Wednesday, one day prior to the prestigious awards ceremony (to be held at New Delhis Vigyan Bhawan today afternoon), after they were informed that President Ram Nath Kovind will only be presenting awards to 11 out of the total 140 recipients. As reported by The Print, awardees were informed of the change in proceedings at the last minute, during a rehearsal for the ceremony; as per tradition, the President of India hands out all the awards. This time however, due to President Kovind only being able to spare one hour to attend the ceremony, he will only be giving out 11 awards, with the remaining to be presented by I&B Minister, Smriti Irani, a previous awardee herself. Speaking exclusively with News18.com, a winner who did not wished to be named said, "For now, we all have not yet decided anything. But we might go there and see what can be done. This is a very difficult decision. I also invited my films team members and they are also very disappointed. Im in touch with many winners. Some of them are going while others have decided to skip it. Its extremely disappointing for artistes like us who are very new to this industry. The worst thing is that we dont even know what exactly is happening. Nobody is informing us anything. Honestly, it will be a momentary decision, to be made at the time of the ceremony. Right now I cant really say anything because this is not for today, its more about how were going to take it for tomorrow. This is very difficult for me. But yes, we are just keeping up our spirits right now." Speaking to News18.com, Kaushik Ganguly, whose Bengali-language film Nagarkirtan won four awards, including Special Jury Award (Feature Film), National Film Award for Best Actor (Riddhi Sen), Best Costume Design (Gobinda Mandal), Best Make-up Artist (Ram Rajjak), said, "Its quite unfortunate. They (the government) must not forget that they are national award winners, they are the best in the country. And if the President doesnt have time for them and he cant spare two hours on a prefixed date, its pretty unfortunate. Secondly, the moment you ask a minister to hand over an award it becomes political. Cabinet minister belongs to a party or a government. Only the president and vice president are above everything." While the filmmaker will not be attending the ceremony, he said, "Riddhi will be going because his category is under control, so hell be there. But we wont be taking our award." As reported by various publications, this break in tradition has infuriated many of the winners, with several of them intending to boycott the ceremony. They clarified, however, that this doesnt mean that they will not be accepting the award, merely not attending the ceremony. Reportedly, while Irani personally tried to pacify the winners who made their displeasure apparent during Wednesdays rehearsal, they remain upset, and the ceremony is expected to see a marked absenteeism. Started in 1954, The National Film Awards are considered Indias most prestigious awards for filmmaking. Among the categories are awards for best feature film (fiction and non-fiction), directing, acting, cinematography, screenplay, and various regional cinema, among others. This year, the awards 65th, the jury was headed by director Shekhar Kapur, and included industry luminaries such as screenwriter Imtiaz Hussain, lyricist Mehboob, actor Gautami Tadimalla, director P. Sheshadri, Aniruddha Roy Chowdhury, Ranjit Das, Rajesh Mapuskar, Tripurari Sharma, and Rumi Jaffrey. Cast: Rajkummar Rao,Timothy Ryan Hickernell, Rajesh Tailang Director: Hansal Mehta Theres always a certain risk involved when you decide to showcase the life of an infamous person who has been proven guilty of one of the modern worlds most heinous crimes. How do you actually humanize a person who has been declared a monster in the eyes of the law as well as of the public? Happily then, Hansal Mehtas Omerta stays away from any glorification and sticks to the fact and media representation of a notorious criminal. Omerta dramatises the life of Pakistani origin real-life terrorist Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, known for his involvement in various attacks, including 9/11 and the establishment of terrorism in Pakistan. And if you were wondering, the title is an Italian term for a criminal code of honor that encompasses absolute non-cooperation with legal authorities. The film is a compelling watch that brings to screen a stitched visual file of speculation comprising what is known about the many activities of Saeed, who has been at the forefront of propagating fundamentalist Islamic terror for nearly 25 years now. The film runs in no chronological manner jumping from one-time frame to another while covering the acts and routes of Saeed, and this absence of continuity gives it a distinct flavor. However, in order to not glorify or humanise Saeed, the film refrains from dwelling on his life and this becomes its drawback. There is little to no insight about the motivations behind a smart UK citizen turning into a terrorist in the name of jihad. Mehta, who is known for bringing out unnerving, vulnerable human emotions hasnt taken his signature route this time and it does feel disappointing. One of the strongest points of the film is lead actor Rajkummar Rao who brings to the screen an unnerving character, one who knows exactly what hes doing and feels a sense of pride after butchering people as a means of avenging deaths of various Muslims all over the world. There are instances in the film where even Rajkummar's eyes convey the ruthlessness of Saeeds acts. Omerta once again proves why Rajkummar is the finest actor on the block right now. The makers have tried to pack and exhibit 25 years of Saaed into a short duration of 93 minutes, thus the film feels overstuffed and the lack of insight into Saeeds brain and life makes the experience feel incomplete. There is a series of questions hanging by a thread, which couldve been dealt with or which we at least hoped would be answered, but just like Saeeds life, the film ends with no definitive result. The real Saeed is still said to be operating from Hyderabad jail in Pakistan. The film doesnt preach reality and states right in the beginning that it has been coloured and flavored by the media reports. Omerta is Mehtas liberated biopic that proves to be a fascinating fact-file watch of a man who directly defined fundamentalist terrorism in our times, but the lack of insights and background draws it back from being a perfect presentation. Watch it for the grotesque, unapologetic portrayal of Omar Saaed by Rao and for certain air of familiarity with fundamentalism being defined as the righteous path to building a country. There couldnt have been a better time to release this film. A Canada-based Libyan has lodged with Paris prosecution a complaint against Field Marshall Khalifa Haftar for torture practices and killings, including the slain of his mother, brother and sister in Benghazi during the army commanders offensive against radicals. Ali Hamza lodged the complaint through his lawyer Rachel Lindon on April 26, the same day Haftar left Paris following two weeks of medical treatment in the French capital after he suffered a stroke. The lawsuit was lodged over the possibility of an indictment following the passage of the Libyan warlord on the French territory, Lindon told media. Hamza, according his defense, wants France to investigate Haftar for his role in the massacre and torture practices inflicted on civilians from 2016 to March 2017 in Benghazi; Libyas second city controlled by the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA). In his complaint, Hamza charges the LNA for the death of his mother, sister and brother, killed on March 18 by LNA forces, in their attempt to flee the city under siege. Twelve of his family members were stranded in the city. Haftar in 2017 declared the liberation of the Libyan second city after three years of fierce battle with so-called jihadists. Human rights groups also raised concerns over torture practices and extrajudicial killings of alleged members of the Islamic State group (IS). The LNA vowed to launch probes into alleged crimes but refused to hand over officers involved in the killings to the International Criminal Court. Haftar enjoys international protection. The military commander who has returned to Benghazi after his medical treatment in the French capital is supported by Russia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and even France for his war on terror. Numerous admirers and fans of Satyajit Ray gathered at his Bishop Lefroy Road residence in Kolkata on Wednesday to pay tribute to the legendary filmmaker on occasion of his 97th birth anniversary. According to Ray's son Sandip Ray, the excitement among the film enthusiasts and youngsters to get a glimpse of the collection of works by the Academy Award winning director was remarkable, like every year. "It is a huge thing. People have started coming since early morning. I really have no idea to what extent this trend will rise as every year the footfall is increasing. "Not just that this visits started as early as 7 a.m.... it will go past midnight," he added. Besides being an eminent filmmaker known for classics like The Apu Trilogy: Pather Panchali, Aparajito, Apur Sansar, Charulata, Teen Kanya, Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne and many others, Ray was also a remarkable screenwriter, calligrapher, music composer and author, most notably of the Feluda mystery series. With supernatural elements having been a part and parcel of Ray's works, Sandip Ray denied his father believed in ghosts. "No, I don't think he believed in ghosts but he enjoyed reading and writing about them. His horror film 'Monihara' deserves a special mention, as when I watched it for the first time I literally shivered," he said. "Then his work 'Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne' is another milestone in horror films. He has also written horror stories and his library is also filled with such books. My father was an open-minded person and be it occult or paranormal activities, he had interest in varied topics. His wide interests are reflected in all of his works," he added. Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Rahul Gandhi both were in battleground Karnataka on Thursday, crossing swords over a plethora of issues including corruption, days before the state goes to polls. Seeking to give an adrenaline boost to the BJP's campaign to wrest the state from the Congress and form its government for a second time, Modi addressed three election meetings and Gandhi four during their whirlwind trip. The Karnataka government is a "gold medalist" in corruption and Congress leaders are "drunk on power", Modi told a public meeting in state capital Bengaluru. Gandhi hit right back, accusing the BJP of corruption in Rafale fighter jet deal and protecting fugitive diamantiare Nirav Modi, while questioning the prime minister's "silence". Dubbing the Siddaramaiah government as "seedha rupaiah government" (corrupt), a punning allusion to the chief minister's name, Modi said an ordinary man cannot get done any work without bribing officials. "Because of this seedha rupaiah government Karnataka is immersed in debt," he told an election rally in Ballari. Addressing a rally in Bengaluru, he called the Siddaramaiah government a "gold medalist in corruption where there is competition between departments and ministers over who is more corrupt." "There is lawlessness in the city not because of nothing. A Congress MLA's son beats up innocent people and the government protects him...their leaders are drunk on power," he said, referring to lawmaker N A Haris' son Mohammad Nalapad, who beat up a man at a cafe in Bengaluru some time back. In the line of Congress fire over the BJP granting party tickets to Reddy brothers, accused of involvement in a humongous illegal iron ore mining scam, the prime minister hit back. "This Karnataka government frustrated all attempts by the Centre to stop illegal mining in Ballari....to allow auction of mining blocks. But the Siddaramaiah government failed to formulate a mining policy in five years," he told an election rally in Ballari. Seeking to turn the tables on the Congress for its criticism of the BJP over Reddy brothers, Modi said,"The honesty of Ballari is being insulted...as if only thieves and looters live in Ballari." The prime minister said it was the nature of the Congress to play vote bank politics. "It is an anti-Dalit, anti-Adivasi, anti-OBC party. When we wanted to accord constitutional status to the OBC commission, it blocked our move," he said. Gandhi, who addressed election rallies in Aurad, Bhaki, Humnabad and Bidar, slammed Modi for personal attacks against him. "Whenever Modi is afraid....I would tell you about Modi's character....he launches a personal attack on a person. He will talk ill of a person, will talk wrong of a person. That is the difference between me and him," Gandhi said. Gandhi, however, said whether the attacks on him were right or wrong, he would not make any personal attack on Modi because he was the prime minister. "I will not attack him personally however much insolent his attacks are. But I will ask questions. I am a soldier of the Congress not an RSS man who spreads hatred. "He should answer my question how will he ensure that the farmers get minimum support price (MSP). How will he tackle unemployment which is highest in eight years? But he will not answer these questions. Since he has nothing to talk about farmers, unemployment, corruption and women's safety, he speaks about me and Mallikarjun Kharge," he said. "We will defeat BJP with love," he said. Gandhi also slammed Modi over the BJP giving tickets to controversial mining barons Reddy brothers. "In film Sholay, there was Gabbar Singh. You brought Gabbar Singh Tax (an allusion to GST) but this time you have gone even further. You have fielded the entire gang of Gabbar Singh. "There is Gabbar, Sambha, Kalia, and all of them.... the Reddy brothers gang, which was in jail....You are trying to get them inducted into Assembly, and you tell the country that you are fighting against corruption," he said. Gandhi said Modi can criticise him as much as he wants, but must answer his questions. "Are you not trying to induct the Reddy brothers into the Assembly? Yes or no. Nirav Modi ran off with Rs 30,000 crore. What have you done on that front? Why was your mouth shut? "In Rafale (deal), you snatched contract from (public sector) HAL. The Aircraft which was to cost Rs 700 crore, you bought for Rs 1500 crore. You snatched jobs from youths, and while doing this you gave the contract to your friend. You don't talk about this too," he said. He also referred to the rape and murder of an eight- year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir and another such incident in Uttar Pradesh. "Your words are hollow, you make false promises. Girls are being raped in Kashmir....what your MLA says in UP after a rape incident....Dalits and Muslims are being attacked.... Speak up Modi ji (kuchh to boliye)," Gandhi said. Bengaluru: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has just kicked off his whirlwind tour of Karnataka, challenged Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday to speak for 15 minutes about the achievements of Siddaramaiah government without reading out from a piece of paper. The Congress hit back at the PM within minutes, but the reply did not come from Rahul Gandhi. It was chief minister Siddaramaiah who slammed Modi in a series of tweets, challenging the PM to join a debate with him. The next day he even asked Modi to talk about the achievements of the previous Yeddyurappa government for 15 minutes looking at a piece of paper, which was hailed by the Congress as a masterstroke. It seems the BJP is trying hard to make this election campaign a Modi versus Rahul Gandhi fight because the PM has been attacking Congress president and his predecessors in his election speeches, not saying much about Siddaramaiah or the state Congress. According to political analysts, BJP has realized that their local cadre led by B S Yeddyurappa has failed to enthuse the voters and mount a powerful campaign against the Siddaramaiah government. The BJP central leadership also feels that instead of taking on Siddaramaiah, launching a blistering attack on Rahul Gandhi will benefit them more. Therefore, the Assembly election campaign is now looking like a Parliament poll in which larger national issues are debated, they said. But the Congress is aware of the dangers of allowing BJP to make it a Modi versus Rahul fight, and refuses to walk into that trap. It has asked Siddaramaiah to take on Modi, asking him questions about the state and his governments contributions. A senior leader said, The state BJPs morale is low. They seem to have accepted the defeat even before the voting. Their only hope is PM Modi. But he knows that there is nothing to talk about the previous BJP governments achievements because it was the most corrupt and criminal government. He further said, The Siddaramaiah government has done a lot and looks formidable because of that the PM is trying to make it a Modi versus Rahul Gandhi battle. But we dont want to walk into that trap and Siddaramaiah is leading the attack. BJPs attempts to turn Karnataka Assembly elections into a fight between Modi and Rahul has not gone down well with many Kannadigas. Ramachandra Maharudrappa, an independent political observer, said that it was a state election and only state related issues should be discussed and debated, not the national issues. He said, Modi and Rahul are not issues here. Siddaramaiah, Yeddyurappa and Kumaraswamy are the real issues here. All parties must discuss them. But the BJP has decided to depend more on Modi to turn the tide in their favour in a tough election. Earlier, Modi had agreed to address 15 rallies in five days and now he has agreed to address 21 rallies in the next eight days. They have also roped in UP CM Yogi Adithyanath to play Hindutva card in the elections. BJPs chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, who is now playing a second fiddle to top national leaders of the party, said that there was nothing wrong in Modi leading the campaign. Narendra Modi is our undisputed leader. He is the tallest leader. With his electrifying campaigning we will come to power in Karnataka, he said. However, Yeddyurappa dismissed the claims that the BJP is trying to turn it into a Modi versus Rahul contest. Rahul Gandhi is a non-issue in this election. Siddaramaiah is no match to Modi. We are not worried about them, BJPs CM candidate said. Siddaramaiah, who is also crisscrossing the state, has been attacking both Modi and Yeddyurappa ridiculing them for endorsing corruption and corrupt leaders just to come to power at any cost. He is challenging them to talk about the state and not about national issues. He said, Even if Modi comes hundred times, situation will not change. People are with the Congress and we will return to power. Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha M Mallikarjuna Kharge said that Karnataka BJP was malnourished and Modi was bringing an energy tonic from New Delhi to keep it alive till the voting day. Voters pose outside a polling booth in Karnataka. People were seen standing in queues to cast their votes in the early hours itself, factoring in that the temperature may go up later in the day. Also, it has been raining in different parts of south interior Karnataka for the last couple of days during the evening hours. Senior citizens were seen in good numbers standing in queues at various polling stations to cast their votes early. State BJP chief and party's chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa, and Pradesh Congress Committee G Parameshwara were among the first to cast votes in Shikaripura in Shivamogga and Yaggere in Tumakuru respectively. Former prime minister HD Deve Gowda along with wife Chennamma cast their votes at Paduvalahippe in Hassan district. Film actors Ramesh Arvind, Ravichandran, also scion of Mysuru royal family Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar were among the prominent personalities to cast their votes early today. There are reports about delay in polling due to some technical issues with the electronic voting machines (EVMs) from different parts of the state. Election for the Jayanagara seat in Bengaluru has been countermanded following the death of BJP candidate and sitting MLA BN Vijaykumar. The Election Commission has also deferred the polls for Rajarajeswari Nagar constituency to May 28 after a massive row erupted over a large number of voter ID cards being found in an apartment. Suspecting something fishy, both Congress and BJP have pointed accusing fingers at each other in the matter. "Today people of Karnataka are standing in queues to create history & show the nation the way to liberal, progressive, peaceful & compassionate politics & governance. I thank them for their support & wish them well," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted. Over 2,600 candidates are in the fray-- more than 2400 men and and over 200 women. The total voters including service electors according to the 2018 final rolls are 5,06,90,538, of whom 2,56,75,579 male voters, 2,50,09,904 female and 5,055 transgender voters. Officials said 58,008 polling stations have been set up across the state, of which 12002 have been designated as "critical", with over 3,50,000 polling personnel on duty. Police have made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of polls that will go on till 6 pm. "82,157 people have been deployed for poll duty that includes DSPs, home guards and civil defence, and forest guards and watchers," Karnataka DGP Neelamani N Raju said. This also includes about 7,500 personnel from states like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Chattisgarh, Kerala and Goa, she said, adding, central forces have been deployed. One among the interesting aspects of this election is that four candidates who have served as Chief Minister of Karnataka are in the fray-- Chief Minister Siddaramaiah (Chamundeshwari and Badami), B S Yeddyurappa (Shikaripura), H D Kumaraswamy (Chennapatna and Ramanagara) and Jagadish Shettar (Hubli-Dharwad Central.) Lucknow: The Samajwadi Party has announced that it would declare its own candidate for the Kairana bypolls, which is being seen as a test of the much-touted opposition unity in Uttar Pradesh. The decision was taken at a meeting called by party supremo Akhilesh Yadav. It is being viewed as a signal to RLD to take a step back and not be adamant about fielding Jayant Chaudhary, son of party chief Ajit Chaudhary, for the bypoll. The nomination process for the bypoll, to be held on May 28, started on Thursday. The opposition and the BJP are locked in a fierce battle over it as victory would give bragging rights in the run-up to 2019. Samajwadi Party Spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan rubbished the rumours that SP would not field a candidate and instead offer support to the RLD nominee. The reluctance to announce a joint candidate stems from what unfolded during the Rajya Sabha election in March this year. RLDs sole MLA in the UP Assembly had voted for BJP instead of BSP despite the understanding and the BSP candidate had lost out. Although the MLA, Sahendra Singh, was booted out from RLD, it is clear that SP is in no mood to rely on RLD again. Sajan said the SP was a natural claimant to the seat as they were runner up in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The Kairana Parliamentary seat went vacant after BJP MP Hukum Singh died recently after a prolonged illness. Samajwadi Party was the runner up in Kairana in 2014, so naturally we are the eligible claimants. Right now the name of the candidate has not been decided but that will be decided soon by the party leadership, he said. At present SP and BSP are in a mutual understanding and some BJP people are spreading that there is no alliance. I guess they are scared by their defeat in Gorakhpur and Phulpur. We are very much in alliance and understanding with BSP is firm at the moment, he asked. In a not-so-subtle hint to RLD to withdraw its candidate, he said that if the other parties are really interested in defeating BJP or saving the Constitution, they would support the SP candidate. In the 2017 Assembly polls, RLD candidates stood third in Thana Bhawan, Shamli and Kairana, fifth in Gangoh and eighth in Nakur, the five assembly segments which comprise the Kairana Lok Sabha seat. Even their combined votes were less than BSP and SP separately. Meanwhile, sources suggest that BJP might field Mriganka Singh, daughter of late BJP MP Hukum Singh in an attempt to garner sympathy votes. Mriganka had lost to SPs Nahid Hasan by more than 21 thousand votes in 2017 State Assembly Elections. Bhopal: A remark made in a lighter vein by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday created a flutter in political circles and prompted the Congress to take digs at him. I would like to depart from the program, leaving behind the CMs chair vacant to be occupied by anyone else, said the CM, pointing towards his empty chair before laughing out loud. Chouhan was delivering the Anand lecture at administration academy in Bhopal and had to conclude his speech as he was about to leave for a trip to Jhabua and Alirajpur. In no time, the statement led to speculation about a possible change in BJP leadership in the state. The off-hand remarks were not taken lightly as CM Shivraj was just back from a meeting of BJP Chief Ministers in Delhi and has to meet party chief Amit Shah in MP on Friday. A resurgent Congress did find plenty of spice in the statement while BJP state head Rakesh Singh and party national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya were quick to rebuff rumours of any changes ahead of assembly polls. Newly appointed Congress chief Kamal Nath said Shivrajs comment is indicative of the fact that he has realized that his days on CMs chair are numbered. He has understood that in a matter of few months, the voters of MP would dethrone him from power, he said. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Ajay Singh also weighed in. "Either Shivraj Singh is going to be removed (from chief minister's post) or he has accepted the fact that abki bar-Congress sarkar (this time, it will be Congress government)," he tweeted. Within hours, Shivraj tweeted to clear the air. I just cracked a joke on the chair reserved for me at the program, but it seems to have made some of my friends very happy, he wrote, making it clear that nothing should be inferred from his statement. Chinas central bank on Thursday signed a three-year bilateral currency swap agreement with Nigeria. The agreement will allow the two nations to swap a total of $2.35 billion over the next three years. The move is aimed at facilitating bilateral trade and investment of both sides, the Peoples Bank of China (PBOC) said on its website. According to the Bank, the swap deal will also safeguard stability of financial markets of both countries. According to the Chinese news agency Xinhua, a currency swap deal allows two institutions to exchange payments in one currency for equivalent amounts in the other to facilitate bilateral trade settlements and provide liquidity support to financial markets. Since 2014, the Central Bank of Nigeria had announced that it was looking to increase the percentage of Yuan foreign reserves in its possession from two per cent to seven per cent. According to the Bank, 85 per cent of its foreign reserves were in dollars and it needed to have more in Chinese Yuan, as the country was taking a more important place in global trade. Chinas bilateral trade with Nigeria in 2017 stood at $12.3 billion, according to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN). Nigeria and China established formal diplomatic relations in Feb. 1971. Chennai: Tamil Nadu opposition parties, including the DMK, on Thursday slammed the Centre for not filing a draft Cauvery management scheme in the Supreme Court. The parties said protests would be staged if the state did not get its due share of water. DMK working president M K Stalin said the Centre telling the apex court that the draft scheme could not be placed before the Union Cabinet was only a "lame excuse and a continuation of the betrayal," of Tamil Nadu by the central government. The Centre had told the top court that Cabinet approval for the scheme could not be obtained since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet colleagues were busy in the Karnataka poll campaign. "It appears that there is no other avenue but to go in for very massive protests if the Centre's brazen betrayal continues by seeking more time and avoiding setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB)," Stalin said. "Protests by harnessing people's power will continue till we establish the rights of Tamil Nadu in the Cauvery issue," he said. The DMK leader, who is also the Leader of Opposition, wanted to know if cabinet approval cannot be obtained through e-mail or by using other communication technology. He alleged that BJP was "betraying" Tamil people for "electoral mileage" in Karnataka and hit out at the state government for its handling of the issue. Defending the goverment, state Fisheries minister D Jayakumar said the Centre's stand seeking more time to set up the CMB was not acceptable and the top court has been informed about it. "It is the responsibility of the Centre to fulfil the Supreme Court order on Cauvery," he said. Tamil Nadu cannot accept Centre delaying the issue, he said and added that the state's stand has been effectively put forth in the Supreme Court. "It may be any government (Centre or States), the Supreme Court order is binding. How long can they delay (fulfilling court directive to set up the CMB or release of water)," he asked. The minister said he hoped it would be a "good outcome," for Tamil Nadu on the issue. Farmers leader P Ayyakannu said "only if water is released on June 12 (the traditional date for water release from Mettur dam for cultivation of Kuruvai crop), we will be able to take up Kuruvai crop." Urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take steps to ensure water for Tamil Nadu farmers, he said farmers had no other go but to go in for protests if they do not get justice. PMK chief S Ramadoss and Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam deputy general secretary TTV Dhinakaran also hit out at the Centre. "Are those who hold the reins of power at the Centre not aware that poll campaign is not important than resolving the Cauvery issue?," Ramadoss asked. Dhinakaran slammed the state government for adopting a "soft-approach," against the Centre's "delaying tactics." Protests would continue against both the state and Central governments, he said. The apex court on Thursday took strong note of the Centre for not yet framing the Cauvery management scheme to implement its verdict on river water sharing between four southern states, even as Tamil Nadu attacked the union government for its "partisan" attitude saying this was the "end of cooperative federalism." Bengaluru: Two days after praising former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda to the skies, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did a U-turn on Thursday by asking the people not to waste their votes on the JD(S). Addressing a public meeting in the outskirts of Bengaluru on Thursday evening, the PM said, "JD(S) stands at third place and people should not waste their vote on them. The PM further said JD(S) had joined hands with communal forces of different states who support Naxalites. The JD(S) has tied up with BSP for the upcoming elections. Just like two days ago, the PMs remarks have led to surprise and several interpretations by political analysts and politicians alike. Modis praise of Deve Gowda had given weightage to the theory that the JD(S) is the B-team of the BJP, and both father and son H D Kumaraswamy had spent whole of Wednesday trying to downplay it. Kumaraswamy had said that after realizing that the Deve Gowda government at the Centre was honest, the PM had praised his father. He said, Modi tried to fix my father. But realised that he ran a clean government and has started praising him. Deve Gowda himself clarified that he did not want anybodys praise, including the PM. There are two versions over PMs change of heart within 48 hours. Some argue that he has deliberately asked the people not to vote for the JD(S), keeping in mind that calling it a third place party will actually consolidate Vokkaliga votes behind the JDS and deprive the Congress of some Vokkaliga votes. Another argument is fear of JD(S) losing Muslim votes. Siddaramaiah and Rahul Gandhis claims that JD(S) is a B team gained ground after PMs public approval of Gowda and so, the Muslims may not back the party. According to latest caste census of the state, Muslim population is 16% of the states total population and all of them voting enmasse for the Congress would hit the BJPs chances of wresting power. On Tuesday, the PM had said that he had always treated a senior leader like Deve Gowda with great respect and referred to him as the tallest leader. He had also hit out at Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for personal attacks on Gowda. The statement, made in Gowda heartland Chamarajanagar just 12 days before voting in the most crucial Assembly election, had led a war of words between HD Kumaraswamy and CM Siddaramaiah. It had come as a big surprise as just a day earlier, Gowda had declared that he would disown Kumaraswamy if he goes with the BJP in case of a hung Assembly. Siddaramaiah said that it was the confirmation of a deal between the BJP and JD(S). He alleged that Modi was reaching out to the JD(S), fearing a hung House in Karnataka. He also alleged that Kumaraswamy had travelled to Delhi with BJP chief Amit Shah to finalise the deal. Kumaraswamy, who is not as active on social media as Siddaramaiah, took to Twitter to counter him. He called Siddaramaiah a frustrated man, who was staring at a certain defeat. He also reminded Siddaramaiah that he had come to Deve Gowda's house, seeking his guidance during the Cauvery crisis in 2016 and wanted to know if he had come to clinch a secret deal with the JD(S). Washington: Facebook Inc on Thursday said that it fired an employee accused of bragging on matchmaking app Tinder about his access to private user information. The incident comes as Facebook faces global concerns about personal data privacy, including Congressional hearings at which Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg testified. A Twitter user on Wednesday posted about the Tinder conversation along with screenshots, saying Facebook's security engineer is "likely using privileged access to stalk women online". I really, really hope Im wrong about this. pic.twitter.com/NDkOptx8Hv Jackie Stokes (@find_evil) April 30, 2018 In the unverified screenshot, the employee in question writes of being a "professional stalker" searching for hackers. In a statement, Facebook's Chief Security Officer Alex Stamos said the company quickly investigated the situation and immediately fired the person. Access to sensitive data is logged, and the company has automated systems designed to detect and prevent abuse, Stamos said. "Employees who abuse these controls will be fired period." The firing was first reported by the Wall Street Journal. NASA has said that it successfully demonstrated a new nuclear reactor power system that could enable crewed missions to the Moon, Mars and destinations beyond. NASA announced the results of the demonstration, called the Kilopower Reactor Using Stirling Technology (KRUSTY) experiment on Wednesday at its Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. The Kilopower experiment was conducted at the US Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration's Nevada National Security Site from November 2017 through March. Such a demonstration could pave the way for future Kilopower systems that power human outposts on the Moon and Mars, NASA said in a statement. "Safe, efficient and plentiful energy will be the key to future robotic and human exploration," said Jim Reuter of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington. "I expect the Kilopower project to be an essential part of lunar and Mars power architectures as they evolve," Reuter said. Kilopower is a small, lightweight fission power system capable of providing up to 10 kilowatts of electrical power - enough to run several average households - continuously for at least 10 years. Four Kilopower units would provide enough power to establish an outpost. Also read: Bill Gates Dismisses 'Aadhaar' Privacy Threats; Funds World Bank to Bring it to Other Countries The pioneering power system is ideal for the Moon, where power generation from sunlight is difficult because lunar nights are equivalent to 14 days on Earth, said Marc Gibson, lead Kilopower engineer at Glenn. "Kilopower gives us the ability to do much higher power missions, and to explore the shadowed craters of the Moon," said Gibson. "When we start sending astronauts for long stays on the Moon and to other planets, that's going to require a new class of power that we've never needed before." The prototype power system uses a solid, cast uranium-235 reactor core, about the size of a paper towel roll. Passive sodium heat pipes transfer reactor heat to high-efficiency Stirling engines, which convert the heat to electricity. The purpose of the recent experiment in Nevada was two-fold: to demonstrate that the system can create electricity with fission power, and to show the system is stable and safe no matter what environment it encounters, said David Poston of National Nuclear Security Administration's Los Alamos National Laboratory. "We threw everything we could at this reactor, in terms of nominal and off-normal operating scenarios and KRUSTY passed with flying colours," said Poston. Watch: Nokia 8 Sirocco Review | The Steel Frame Stock Android Flagship Smartphone Canberra: Australia's prime minister said on Thursday his wife was "flattered and charmed" to be described by President Emmanuel Macron as "delicious," a compliment that has sparked lighthearted conjecture during the French leader's first official visit Down Under. Macron raised eyebrows on Wednesday with his description of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's wife of 38 years, Lucy, during a Sydney press conference. "I want to thank you for your welcome, thank you and your delicious wife for your warm welcome," Macron told the prime minister. Turnbull showed no hint of jealousy when questioned on Thursday about the compliment, which the beaming prime minister revealed he also found charming. "Lucy was very flattered," Turnbull told reporters. "She's asked me to say that she found the president's compliment as charming as it was memorable." "President Macron charmed Australia. He certainly charmed all of us, all the Turnbulls," the prime minister said. "Mrs. Turnbull is both flattered and charmed as we all are." The president's comment quickly sparked lighthearted reaction on social media and in the Australian press amid lively conjecture about the French leader's intent. Sydney's best-selling newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, reported the comment on its front page on Thursday under the headline "President Pepe Le Pew," likening Macron to the Warner Bros. love-sick French skunk cartoon character. "A newspaper had some fun and it made me laugh a lot, especially since in the original cartoon the character has a French accent," Macron told reporters shortly before leaving Sydney at the end of a two-day visit. Macron, who demonstrated his excellent grasp of English during numerous speeches and remarks in Sydney, added that "there is not a European leader who gives all his speeches in English". Despite Macron's deadpan delivery, some observers felt he may have been joking. The comment was made just before lunch and he and Turnbull had made previous comments about food. Others felt Macron may simply have slipped up in his use of English, since the French word for delicious delicieux also translates as "delightful." The more mischievous may have even considered Macron's comment to possibly be a tongue-in-cheek reference to Trump's visit to Paris last year, when he was caught telling Macron's wife, Brigitte, that she was "in such great shape," before looking to her husband and saying, "Beautiful." In any case, the moment made headlines in Australia as a somewhat comedic ending to a serious news conference focusing on violent May Day protests in Paris, the Iran nuclear deal and China's growing influence. Macron ended his trip to Sydney on Thursday with a thumbs-up and a farewell wave to the prime minister. Macron's next stop is the South Pacific island nation of New Caledonia, where locals are preparing for a referendum in November on whether the French territory will become independent of France. Dhaka: Bangladesh has initiated a "vigorous process" with the UK government to extradite Tarique Rahman, the "fugitive" son of imprisoned former prime minister Khaleda Zia, who has sought political asylum in Britain. Rahman, 50, who had been jailed during the military-backed interim government, was allowed to visit London for medical treatment following a Supreme Court order in 2007. He has been living in London since then. The main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by Zia, last month said that Rahman "temporarily" sought political asylum in the UK, triggering a political uproar in the country. Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said that the government has initiated a "vigorous process" to bring back Rahman from London. "We have got responses from the UK Home Office as we have already written several letters" for Rahman's extradition, Ali told a media briefing, a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the "fugitive convict" must face the justice. The minister said that further steps would be taken based on the responses from the British authorities and "we will write more (letters) if needed". Rahman appeared on the country's political centre stage since a court sentenced her mother Zia to a five-year prison term on a graft case in February. The foreign ministry's comments came as Hasina on Wednesday said efforts were underway for Rahman's extradition "the way we bring back convicted criminals from other countries. "It should not be forgotten that he is a convict he has been convicted in two cases while several other cases are pending in courts, we will surely bring back a convicted criminal for that we will exhaust the necessary process as per the law," Hasina said. She accused the BNP of "political bankruptcy" for installing a "criminal like Tarique Rahman" as its acting chairman, saying "don't they have any other capable leader for the particular post". Hasina was in London last month for the Commonwealth Summit when Rahman was believed to have mobilised a pro-BNP Bangladesh community for an anti-government demonstration. The premier at that time told a Bangladeshi community reception that the "fugitive convict" must face justice for the crimes he committed. Junior minister for foreign affairs Shahriar Alam later said that Rahman had abandoned his Bangladeshi citizenship by submitting his passport to British authorities, who in turn sent it to Bangladesh High Commission in London for retention. In response, the BNP said that Rahman actually sought asylum in London. Rahman was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment and fined 20 crore taka (USD 2.3 million) by the High Court in a money laundering case in 2016. Several courts earlier issued arrest warrants against Rahman, declaring him a fugitive as he was wanted in a number of criminal and graft cases. According to one of the pending charges, he masterminded the 2004 grenade attack on a rally of the then main opposition and now ruling Awami League, killing 24 people while Hasina narrowly escaped the assault but with a permanent hearing impairment in one ear. British authorities have so far declined to make any public statement on the issue, calling it a "personal matter of an individual". Rahman was BNP's senior joint secretary general when he went to London, and during his overseas stay he became the party's senior vice president and after his mother's imprisonment the party in February installed him as its acting chairperson. Zia's imprisonment has led to uncertainities over BNP's participation in the elections in December this year as the party said it would not take part in the polls without her. The BNP-led four-party alliance, with fundamentalist Jamaat-e-Islami being a crucial partner, boycotted the last elections in 2014. New Delhi: Cambridge Analytica, the UK-based political consulting firm in the middle of the Facebook data breach scandal, has announced that it is shutting down. The company denies any wrongdoing, but says that the negative media coverage has left it with no clients and mounting legal fees which has forced it to resort to closure. The decision follows weeks of intense pressure on the company, hired by Donald Trump's presidential campaign, after allegations emerged it may have hijacked up to 87 million Facebook users' data. It claimed it has been "vilified" by the "numerous unfounded accusations" which torpedoed its business and left the firm with "no realistic alternative" but to go into administration. "Despite Cambridge Analytica's unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully... the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the company's customers and suppliers," it said in a statement. "As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business." The company said its parent company, SCL Elections, would also commence bankruptcy proceedings. This could impact its Indian operations as well. The firm drew attention after former Trump chief strategist Steve Bannon reportedly once sat on its board and was bankrolled to the tune of $15 million (12.5 million euros)by US billionaire and Republican donor Robert Mercer. It first became embroiled in scandal in March when Canadian whistleblower Christopher Wylie, a 28-year-old former analyst for the firm, revealed it had created psychological profiles of tens of millions of Facebook users via a personality prediction app. The revelations instantly reverberated around the world, wiping billions from the social media giant's market value and drawing scrutiny from politicians and regulators on both sides of the Atlantic. To make matters worse for CA, CEO Alexander Nix was suspended within days after he was filmed by undercover reporters bragging about ways to win political campaigns, including through blackmail and honey traps. As the crisis intensified, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg was forced to apologise to its billions of users amid a small but growing exodus from the site. He eventually appeared before Congress for a two-day grilling by lawmakers, and has since vowed to overhaul the way the Facebook shares its users' data. In Britain, regulators ratcheted up a probe into CA, raiding its London offices, and later extending the investigation to 30 organisations, including Facebook. A second whistleblower from the firm also emerged at a parliamentary hearing in April claiming Britons' personal data may have been misused by a pro-Brexit campaign ahead of the 2016 referendum in which Britain voted to leave the European Union. In India, the ruling BJP and opposition Congress have levelled serious allegations of data theft and voter influencing against each other by employing CAs services. Cambridge Analyticas India-affiliate Ovleno Business Intelligence (OBI) carried the names and logos of BJP, Congress and JD(U) in its client list, while the companys vice-president, Himanshu Sharma, boasted of having successfully delivered 272+ seats for BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. In its bid to understand the dimensions of the Facebook data breach, the Indian government had sought clarifications from Cambridge Analytica, but the response it received was said to be "unsatisfactory, cryptic and evasive". Earlier this month, Facebook upped its count of the number of people impacted, admitting that up to 87 million users may have had their data harvested. CA has vehemently denied exploiting that data for Trump's election campaign, claiming it deleted data obtained in breach of the social network's terms of service. At a London press conference last week a CA spokesman claimed the company was "no Bond villain" and had broken no laws. It hired British barrister Julian Malins to conduct an independent investigation into what it termed "a torrent of ill-informed and inaccurate speculation" and posted his report on its website Wednesday. "(The) report... concluded that the allegations were not 'borne out by the facts'," CA said. "(It) has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," it added. But the company conceded the crisis had taken too heavy a toll and said its board had appointed lawyers in Britain to oversee the insolvency process, and would be following suit in America. CA said that although its financial condition was "precarious" it intended "to fully meet its obligations to its employees" Initial reaction to the news in Britain was guarded. Damian Collins MP, chair of a parliamentary committee that held the hearings on the issue and questioned Nix in February and Facebook executives last month, warned CA "cannot be allowed to delete their data history by closing". "The investigations into their work are vital," he added. (With agency inputs) Beijing: China on Thursday defended the deployment of anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems in the disputed South China Sea, saying it has "indisputable sovereignty" over the area. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. China claims almost all of South China Sea. Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. "China has indisputable sovereignty over the Nansha (known as Spratly) islands and its affiliated islands," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing here when asked about the reported of deployment of the missiles. Vietnam and Taiwan have rival claims over Spratly islands. "China's activities in the South China Sea is to uphold our sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is our right," she said. Virtually confirming the deployment of the missiles, Hua said, "relevant deployment is not directed against any country. The relevant parties should not be concerned about this and should view this in an objective way." The US media reports earlier said China has installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea. The reports said the missiles were moved to Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef and Mischief Reef within the past 30 days. In April, the Chinese military held its largest ever maritime drill in the disputed South China Sea during which it displayed for the first time the country's aircraft carrier strike group and the most advance weaponry of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). The drill was held amid frequent forays made by US naval and aircraft into the South China Sea to assert the freedom of navigation especially around the artificial islands built by China, where it has also established garrisons. The strategic South China Sea is rich in energy reserves, fishery resources and is a busy shipping route. Washington: Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who joined President Donald Trump's legal team last month, said on Wednesday that Trump repaid the $130,000 his lawyer gave to an adult-film star to buy her silence about an alleged affair with the president. Trump has said he did not know about the payment to Stormy Daniels, who says she had a one-night stand with Trump in 2006. Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, the money in 2016 to keep quiet about the alleged sexual encounter before the presidential election. In an interview on Fox News, Giuliani, a former federal prosecutor and longtime friend of Trump, said the president knew about the $130,000 payment and reimbursed Cohen. "They funneled it through a law firm and the president repaid it," Giuliani said. "He didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know, but he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this," Giuliani said. He said the payment did not violate campaign finance laws because it was not drawn from Trump campaign funds. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. When asked by reporters on April 5 if he knew about the payment to Daniels, Trump responded, "No." Asked why Cohen made the payment, Trump said: "You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael." Cohen has said he paid Daniels out of his own pocket and was not reimbursed by Trump. The White House has denied Trump had sex with Daniels. Daniels has sued Trump and Cohen to be released from the non-disclosure agreement, saying it was invalid because Trump never signed it. She has also sued Trump for defamation. London: Iran's ambassador to Britain said Tehran will consider walking away from the nuclear deal if the United States withdraws from the agreement, in an interview aired on May 3. Hamid Baeidinejad, the country's top envoy in London, said Iran would "be ready to go back to the previous situation" if America pulls out of the 2015 pact, as threatened by US President Donald Trump. "When the United States is out of the deal, it means that there is no deal left," he told CNN's Christiane Amanpour. "Because (an) important party of the treaty has abrogated and violated in clear terms the treaty." Trump is reportedly poised to scrap the agreement, negotiated in 2015 between Tehran and six world powers, ahead of a May 12 deadline for Washington to renew its support for the deal. The agreement imposes strict restrictions on Iran's nuclear programme in return for the loosening of economic sanctions. Baeidinejad said Tehran was exploring various responses to such a move from the US -- including restarting nuclear activities. "It could be enriching uranium, it could be redefining our cooperation with the agency and some other activities that are under consideration," he added. "That is something very real, in fact very realistic." The ambassador denied Iran would restart any nuclear weapons production. The country has always denied it sought a nuclear weapon, insisting its atomic programme was for civilian purposes. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, have been pressing Trump to strengthen rather than abandon the three-year-old deal that took more than a decade to reach. Macron, who met Trump in Washington last week to try to convince him to not walk away, admitted today he still did not know what decision the US leader would take. Trump has pilloried the agreement designed to curb Iran's nuclear programme as "insane" and "ridiculous" and called for fresh measures to counter Iran's ballistic missile programme and support for militant groups across the Middle East. On Tuesday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he had new "proof" of an Iranian nuclear weapons plan that could be activated at any time. Baeidinejad said international observers' final assessment ahead of the 2015 agreement contradicted Israel's claims Angolan President Joao Lourenco arrived in Zambia on Wednesday to witness the signing of bilateral agreements to strengthen trade and upgrade cooperation between the two southern African nations. Zambias President Edgar Lungu, held bilateral talks with the visiting Angolan President Joao Lourenco. Lungu has called for strengthening of ties between Zambia and Angola in order to foster development for both countries that will benefit the two peoples. Angola values the role Zambia played in its liberation struggle, President Lorenco said, commending the first republican President Kenneth Kaunda for his role in the liberation of Angola. Relations between the Angolan and Zambian governments have not always been so cordial. During Angolas civil war, Zambias then-ruling party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), gave support to the Angolan rebel group Uniao Nacional para a Independencia Total de Angola, and a large number of Angolans sought refugee status over the border in western Zambia. However, when Lungus predecessor, the late Michael Sata, came to power in 2011, he made a concerted effort to reach out to the then Angolas president, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, and to rebuild state ties. Zambia and Angola have been envisaging building a common railway line to boost their two economies. Kabul: Afghanistan's slain journalists were remembered on World Press Freedom Day today, days after the deadliest attack on the country's media since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. Ten journalists, including Agence France-Presse chief photographer Shah Marai, were killed in assaults on Monday, underscoring the dangers faced by the media as the war-torn country slips deeper into violence. "Afghanistan's journalists are among the bravest in the world," said Omar Waraich, Amnesty International's deputy director for South Asia. "Working in some of the most difficult conditions, they have faced threats, intimidation and violence for simply doing their jobs." A double suicide blast in Kabul on Monday left 25 people dead including Marai and eight other journalists, while a BBC reporter was killed in a separate attack in eastern Khost province. Media workers from Tolo News, 1TV, Radio Free Europe and Mashal TV were also among the dead. The deadly assaults have shaken Afghanistan's tight-knit journalist community. Many of them are close friends as well as colleagues who look out for one another as they work in an increasingly hostile environment. But many remain defiant, determined to continue their work despite the risks. "World Press Freedom Day reminds me and my colleagues of the importance of reporting -- reporting for a vibrant democracy and serving people with the information they need and they want," Parwiz Kawa, editor-in-chief of the Hasht-e-Subh Daily newspaper, told AFP. "This day is to renew our commitments and to remember our sacrifices." Afghanistan was last year ranked the third most dangerous country in the world for journalists by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The media watchdog said since 2016, it has recorded the killings of 34 journalists in Afghanistan. Afghan media outlets have condemned the government's failure to protect them, particularly at the scene of suicide attacks where secondary blasts are a constant concern. On the same day as the Afghan journalists were killed, Philippine radio broadcaster Edmund Sestoso was shot by assailants in the southern city of Dumaguete, said Human Rights Watch. Sestoso died Tuesday. "That Sestoso's murder occurred on the same day 10 journalists were killed in Afghanistan made it particularly tragic," said Carlos Conde, researcher in the Asia division of Human Rights Watch. "That he died on the eve of World Press Freedom Day serves as a reminder that much needs to be done for press freedom around the world and end the slaughter of journalists." RSF figures show 50 professional journalists were killed worldwide in 2017, the lowest toll in 14 years.( Amazing Spider-Man #75 reveals Peter Parker's fate - and it's not what you think The truth of Peter Parker's fate is revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #75 GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more REDDING Decades before the home at 14 Old Redding Road was built in 1787, the land it sits on was embroiled in a court battle between one of the towns largest landholders and Reddings namesake. In 1722, Capt. Samuel Couch partnered with Connecticut Deputy Governor Nathan Gold II to buy more than 7,000 unoccupied acres between Danbury and where he lived in Fairfield, said Charley Couch, the town historian and Samuels distant relative. But Redding namesake John Read sued Couch, claiming he and his son John Read Jr. were unfairly prevented from bidding on the property. And although the Couch family won the case, Couch said the Reads werent all wrong the town had waited to hold the auction until the Reads were out of town. The Reads were one of only a few families who could afford the land, Couch said, but John Read Sr. had become an avowed Episcopalian. The Congregational Church was the established church in Connecticut at the time. It was really a religious dispute at the core of it, Couch said. It was a fear that if John Read won the auction, he would try to establish an Episcopalian parish. Read would end up setting up a parish in Redding a few years later, but not the religious kind. He and his son were instrumental in setting up Redding as a parish, or semi-independent subset of Fairfield, in 1729, Couch said. The town was officially incorporated in 1767. The home at 14 Old Redding Road, known as the Simon Couch House, is the last remaining homestead of those the Couch family built on the disputed land, Couch said. The property still has the eaves-entry barn, corn crib and a shed used in its earliest days. Most of them are gone that carry the Couch name, Couch said. Theres been quite a few antique houses that the Couch family members lived in, but this is the last remaining homestead a farm complex where theyre the original ones that built it and put it together. The homes namesake, the great nephew of Capt. Samuel Couch, didnt actually live in the house, Couch said, but owned the property and let his cousin, Thomas, make his home there. The home would pass through four generations of the Couch family into the early 20th century. Thomas Couch was a Revolutionary War lieutenant and served as a clerk for the Patriot Army under George Washington at the Battle of Long Island, Couch said. His grandson, Darius Nash Couch, became a prominent general during the Civil War. President Abraham Lincoln even asked Couch to lead the Union Army at one point, but Couch, who suffered from dysentery, declined for health reasons, Charley Couch said. The house at 14 Old Redding Road has been updated over the years. In the early 1800s, the family changed the exterior of the home from colonial to Greek Revival style, which Couch said became a popular trend in the 1830s and 1840s. Two additions were then built on the sides of the house, one in the early 1920s and another in the 1980s, said listing agent Roni Agress. Features specific to each time period still exist, including a stone fireplace typical of the 1920s and the original well from the 1700s, Agress said. You know that youre in a different period when you come into certain rooms, although theyre quite compatible, she said. Some parts of the house are still a mystery, though, Couch said. He said hes heard there is brick underneath the frame of the home, but hasnt been able to confirm it. Couch also guesses that the barn was used for lumber storage for Thomass brothers saw mill, but doesnt know for sure. But the biggest mystery is exactly how Samuel Couch, a farmer, could afford the 7,000 acres in the first place. Couch said he knows the money was an inheritance from family still in England, but cant be sure why the family there was so wealthy. The family would eventually sell off much of the land in 200-acre parcels, Couch said, but not without continuing the legacy of its original dispute. They were selective in who they sold it to ... they made sure some of the best land on the west side of town went to Congregationalists, Couch said. They did sell land to Episcopalians over on the east side of town, where, eventually, they built the church. RIDGEFIELD Residents recently got the first glimpse at the design of Ridgefields 1.5-mile section of the Norwalk River Valley Trail, which organizers hope to start building next year. The trail eventually will run 33 miles from Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk to Rogers Park in Danbury. Backers, who call themselves the NRVT, were able to raise nearly $20,000 since last summer for the design, engineering and permits for the Ridgefield portion. The next step will be raising $934,000 to build the stretch from Simpaug Turnpike to Bobbys Court near the Redding line. Like its counterpart in Wilton, the trail will be built in sections, the first costing $168,000 NRVT Executive Director Charlie Taney hopes a combination of private donations and grants can help the organization raise this money by the end of the year so Timber and Stone, the trail design company, can begin construction in spring or fall of 2019. The phased construction can help residents experience what the 10-foot-wide, stone-dust trail has to offer as the organization raises the remaining funds, Taney said. In Wilton, with the first section, when people saw what the possibility was that there would be this beautiful trail they quickly understood that and helped raise the rest of it, he said. A tracker set up by the CT Trail Census with UConn gets about 6,000 counts per month on the Wilton trail. Taney said the organization expects a similar level of use for the Ridgefield section, named the Ridgefield Ramble. Taney hopes raising money in Ridgefield can also create momentum for the Redding section of the trail, which is also in the fundraising stage. The NRVT has raised over $40,000 of the $268,000 needed for that section, called the Redding Mile. If the friendly challenge of raising money for both trails simultaneously works out, NRVT will be able to give both towns a preview by first building the northernmost Ridgefield and southernmost Redding sections, which will connect. So far, Taney said, both towns seem excited to contribute. The latest opportunity to donate will be a Mutt Strutt event this Saturday at the Redding, Ridgefield, Wilton and Norwalk trail sites. Trail designer Josh Ryan said people at two recent events in Redding and Ridgefield told him they were interested in the new sections and that they already enjoy existing parts of the Norwalk River Valley Trail. The NRVT projects have become a favorite among his staff, Ryan said, because of the community response. (Its) the sincere appreciation we get from the public not only when were done, but while were building, Ryan said. They will literally cheer us as were building. Thats about as good as it gets. Taney and Ryan agreed that part of the appeal is that the trail, which will comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, is accessible for runners, cyclists, pets and families. The stone-dust surface will create a walkable trail that is more forgiving than pavement, but is durable enough to last through all uses, they said. The reason people are enthusiastic about the trail is they see the value of it to a broad cross-section of the community, Taney said. In both Ridgefield and Redding, there are a lot of trails and lots of open space, but they dont have many that are suitable for a mom with a baby stroller, a parent with little kids on a bike and an older person taking a walk. Ryan said the Ridgefield trail was slightly more challenging to design because of its varied terrain and wetlands. Taney said this is why the Ridgefield section will cost about double the Redding stretch. But the topographical challenges also let the designers take a more scenic route through the woods, he said. They dont call it Ridgefield for nothing, Ryan said. Exposed ledges, big boulders they pose a challenge, but theyre also an opportunity. We weave the trail amongst those features and in doing that the trail meanders through the woods and explores the woods thoroughly, rather than just a straight shot. aquinn@newstimes.com Kenyas president Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday called on Kenyans to forgive him for damaging the unity of the country during the East African nations last presidential polls. In his 5th State of the Nation address to the joint session of the National Assembly and Senate on Wednesday, President Kenyatta conceded that last years elections threatened national unity. He called on Kenyans to forgive him if there was anything he said last year that hurt or wounded them. The president appealed to his fellow leaders to consider changing their approach to political competition. Kenyatta has reaffirmed his commitment to national unity and to work with opposition leader Raila Odinga. He also addressed the issue of the fight against corruption, which was part of the memorandum of understanding the two leaders signed in March. He said the countys economy remained resilient despite the tension during last years elections and the GDP grew to 4.9 per cent, while earnings from tourism increased by 20 per cent. Political turmoil due to the disputed and then re-run presidential election helped cut 2017 economic output growth to the lowest in five years. Kenyas economy will grow 5.5 percent this year compared with an estimated 4.8 percent last year, thanks to less political risk, the World Bank said last month. HARTFORD Gov. Dannel P. Malloy is putting a new cybersecurity plan in place to better protect state government and its offices. Recent events have underscored nationwide vulnerability to cyber penetration, Malloy said. Rwandan police arrested 23 Congolese refugees after two days of clashes in which one refugee died. Rwandan National Police had reported that one refugee had died and 20 others were injured after its officers were attacked by the refugees in western Rwandas Kiziba camp. The camp is home to 17,000 Congolese refugees. It was not immediately clear what triggered the clash, but according to Reuters, Rwandan officials blamed the refugees for provoking the violence. The protests followed a decision of the World Food Program to reduce food assistance to the refugees by 25 percent because of a funding shortage. Some 174,000 Congolese and Burundian refugees living in Rwanda rely on humanitarian assistance for food. They receive either monthly distributions or cash transfers from WFP so that they can buy food in local markets. Most of the refugees fled Democratic Republic of Congo during bouts of instability there over the past two decades. Escalating violence has displaced more than four million people within Congo, according to the UN. Violence in Kasai erupted in September 2016 after government forces killed a tribal chief and militia leader. The conflict added to the woes of volatile eastern Congo where rival militia groups fight for control of the mineral-rich area. China Construction Bank opens a branch in Shanghai run by smiling robots. China Construction Bank (CCB), the nations second largest lender by assets, opened one in Shanghai this week, run by pure technology including facial recognition (FR), artificial intelligent (AI) and virtual reality (VR). Hyped as a first for the Chinese banking industry, the Beijing-based bank says it has already installed 1,600 smart machines at its 360 branches in the city to ramp up its appeal to tech-savvy customers and trim staff costs. Walking through the front door of the branch, users first meet a friendly looking robot that answers inquiries via voice recognition. The 165 square metre ground floor outlet on Jiujiang Road in Huangpu district is equipped with several smart automated tellers capable of a range of services, including account opening, money transfer, foreign exchange, gold investment and the issue of wealth management products. The bank says the new set up will be able to handle 90 per cent of the cash and non-cash demands of traditional banking outlets. The company that makes Dannon Yogurt will begin closing down its only Connecticut manufacturing facility by years end. Danone, a French company whose North American headquarters is based in White Plains, New York, has told state labor officials that it will begin closing its Rado Drive factory in Naugatuck in December. By the time the facility, which produces Dannons YoCrunch brand, closes on March 1, 2019, 147 workers will have lost their jobs, according to a filing the company made with the Connecticut Department of Labor at the end of April. A Farmington-based company that was started four years ago by a group of Yale University scientists has secured $2.15 million in new financing. Azitra Inc. received the financing from a combination of sources, including the state technology investment arm, Connecticut Innovations. The company is using genetic engineering to develop new topical dermatological and skin care treatments, the first of which Azitra officials expect to begin human testing on later this year. The funding announced Wednesday brings the total financing the company has received to $5.4 million. In addition to Connecticut Innovations, Azitra has received financing from Bios Partners, a Texas-based venture capital firm that specializes in early-stage biotechnology and medical device companies, as well as North Carolina-based KdT Ventures. Richard Andrews, president and chief executive officer of Azitra, said the latest round of funding is an effort to support what he called an exciting time for the company. We are preparing for first in human testing this year, demonstrating the broad utility of our platform technology for skin disease and laying the groundwork for ... formulation development and commercialization, Andrews said in a statement. Andrews said the companys drug candidates include a treatment for eczema and ichthyosis vulgaris, an inherited or acquired skin condition that causes dry, dead skin cells to accumulate in patches on the skins surface. The company also is working on a treatment for Netherton syndrome , a rare skin disease. Dan Wagner, Connecticut Innovations managing director of investments, said officials with the technology funding agency are very impressed with the progress Azitra has made in bringing together the power of the microbiome with genetic engineering to form a technology platform that holds great potential to treat skin diseases and conditions. Azitra also is collaborating with scientists at Farmington-based Jackson Laboratories and the University of Connecticut in developing its drugs. One of Azitras founders is Travis Whitfill, an associate research scientist in Yales Department of Pediatrics. Whitfill is the companys chief science officer and was recently named to Forbes magazines 2018 30 under 30 in the health care sector. luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com 'Like' us on Facebook Follow us: Posted on: May 3, 2018 SPIRITUALITY: THE INWARD PATH ARTICLE - 03 The spiritual journey is one that exhilarates and terrifies us at the same time. The exhilaration is of the soul rejoicing on its sojourn back home, the terror is that of the ego fearful of its extinction. That is why, in order to maintain balance, it is necessary for the seeker to take the help of a guide, or a Guru while traversing this path. For a fortunate few, God Himself becomes the Guide. (Read: And the Greatest of All is Love ) As with any journey, this path is also full of ups and downs. One is constantly faced with inner and outer challenges, designed to test the resolve and the mettle of those who have chosen to walk this way. It cannot be over-emphasized how much the Gurus benign Presence and guidance are eagerly sought after by the aspirant. Then imagine the scenario if the Master were to no longer be available, or suddenly disappears from view. How lost the devotee would be; how hopelessly adrift in the sea of life with the helmsman gone away. The month of April is for every Sai devotee, a month of penance, of remembrance, and of strengthening the inner connection with our dearest Master, Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba, who assumed His Cosmic Form on April 24, 2011. That day marked the beginning of the journey for many devotees to seek our beloved Lord, within us. Hence, despite the grief, and the rush of emotion attached to many golden memories, the month of April is also a time for renewal and reconnection. In the latter half of 2010, a small but significant incident happened during darshan. Bhagawan was in the car, returning to His residence after the morning session, when He directed the driver to stop near the gate, up the slope towards Yajur Mandir. A long-time lady devotee of Swami, was waiting to give Him a letter, her hands outstretched in yearning and anticipation. It was Ms. Diana Baskin from the United States of America. She was leaving Puttaparthi that evening. As was the norm those days, most long-standing devotees before returning to their homes, would inform Swami about the same, and take His permission and blessings. Bhagawan blessed her, took her letter, and spoke a few words. People around could see the puzzlement in her face, as Swami once again repeated what He had already said. Later Diana would share that Swamis words to her were, I AM NOT GOING ANYWHERE, in response to her saying that she was going back to the US. Within a few months, on April 24, 2011, finally Diana understood what her beloved Bhagawan had communicated to her as she heard the news that shattered the Sathya Sai community world-wide. In the present article Dr. Susan Boenke too reveals similar profound moments with the Avatar which have been tremendous source of inspiration and strength on her spiritual journey, especially after Bhagawan merged into His Eternal Self. I AM WITH YOU By Dr. Susan Boenke Susan Boenke was born in Germany, and was a student of history, political science, literature and philosophy. After graduation, she worked for the German Government, collaborating on presenting exhibitions and publications about the current history of the State of Bavaria in Germany. Later, she shifted to the University of Munich as part of a research project - Major Science Institutions in West Germany after World War II, where she wrote the history of an institution involved in atomic fusion research. In 1988 she accepted Bhagawan as her guru, guide, God, and as her most understanding and loving friend. Following His call and her spiritual yearning, she came to Prasanthi Nilayam and has since made it her home. For more than two decades she has been actively participating in service activities as a member of the SSIO (Sathya Sai International Organization), Germany. Since many years she has been translating Babas discourses and other Sai literature into German. She has also been the coordinator for German speaking devotees visiting Prasanthi Nilayam, orienting them to the life in the ashram. Swami had graced her many times with personal interviews, mostly as translator for German devotees. She has also actively taken part in several international cultural programs, especially during Christmas. During my nearly thirty years long journey with Swami, I was blessed with many personal interactions during darshans, in interviews and during cultural programs, as part of the Choirs at Christmas time. A precious moment for Dr Susan Boenke - receiving a gift from her Beloved during Christmas 2008 These precious outer interactions were at the same time a path of inner transformation too, as Swami used most of these occasions to promote inner growth and teach many lessons. Life with Swami has been a saga of full-time Sadhana. He often created specific situations and experiences one had to learn from, sometimes the most difficult ones. Every Interaction Outside Strengthened the Connect Inside Sitting in long queues for darshan to have a chance for front lines, waiting for hours in the hot sun or in the rain (till the Sai Kulwant Hall was built in 1994), sitting on the darshan grounds in cramped uncomfortable positions these were all part of sadhana. Running after the outer form conveyed at the same time many lessons in forbearance, adjustment and going beyond body consciousness. Hence, the outer path with Swami strengthened at the same time the inner path. The day was automatically spent with God, the thoughts centred naturally around Him: I have to get ready for darshan, has He already come, when will He come ... and so on. Even apart from darshan, the conversations we had, were about Him - what did Swami do during darshan today? Did He speak with anyone I know? Whom did He call for an interview? What did He say there? The list is endless. Thus, Swamis beautiful form was the outer path. His reactions led us to learn many lessons - understand what had His approval, introspect when He ignored us, and change our behaviour when He seemed annoyed or stern. The outer darshan of Swami prompted us into the inner path and hastened inner growth and transformation. Then how is the spiritual path now, after His Maha samadhi, without the inspiration of the outer form? For many of us Swamis Maha samadhi was devastating, to say the least. Swami Himself explained the dilemma in His Shivarathri discourse 2009, where He hinted at His physical departure: People derive great satisfaction and experience bliss (by worshipping the outer form). It is alright as long as that form remains. Once that divine form ceases to exist, what will you do? The happiness and bliss derived from the worship of a particular form of God are born only out of your illusion For example, you are now attached to this physical body. You worship this body and derive great satisfaction and bliss thereby. But after some time, this body may also disappear like the earlier Avatars. Then you should not feel sad. (February 23, 2009) Now is exactly the time when some of the communication conveyed by Swami to devotees in His physical Presence, becomes important, and is the foundation for the present path. Bhagawan patiently reading a note from the author during Christmas 2010 A Mantra from Swami to Remove All Maladies Even when Swami was physically present, I tended to be a bit worried about my spiritual progress. I was spiritually rather traditional, and believed that personal sadhana like japa, meditation etc. is necessary for spiritual growth. I was concerned that these practices did not find a place in my daily routine in Prasanthi Nilayam; here I was busy with darshan, bhajans, taking part in programs and seva activities. I decided to ask Swami directly for spiritual guidance, hoping for some direction for my personal sadhana. The best, albeit not the most likely one, would have been initiation in some special mantra by the Avatar Himself! So, during one interview I asked Swami directly for some instruction for my spiritual progress. And what did Swami do? He turned towards me, looked at me and said this one sentence: I AM WITH YOU. I did not expect that. Not only was I surprised, I was even a bit disappointed. I had hoped for some specific spiritual discipline, something more precise. We all know after all, at least theoretically, that God is with us, Swami has Himself said it so many times. It was only much later that I started giving more attention to it. There must be a reason Swami said it so specifically to me. Am I aware of this fact that Swami is with me always, in all situations? If I were really aware of it, would I be afraid, have doubts, worries, and more importantly, would I miss His physical attention or form after He left? How would I act if I really believed that Swami is with me? Would I not behave with more self-confidence, love and awareness? So gradually the message that Swami gave me started sinking in. I had a similar interaction with Swami some time before, in another interview with Him. Like many of us, I fell prey to the jumps and bumps of the outer journey with Swamis form, feeling more loved when He gave me outer attention and feeling less loved when He ignored me. I realized, that this turmoil did not lead me anywhere and searched for a solution. So finally, in one interview I asked Swami plainly: Swami, how can I feel Your love always? Swami looked deeply into my eyes and said: SWAMI IS INSIDE YOU, clearly giving the instruction: Dont seek for love outside. Swami is inside. Times of Grace and Times of Trauma There are times when I feel Swamis Presence naturally, without effort. I call it Grace-times. There are other times when I struggle, when I miss the inspiration which came from His lovely form, from His precious darshan. Sometime after His physical departure, I broke down one day in front of Swamis chair, desperately crying from the bottom of my heart as I missed His beloved form so much. Our compassionate Swami decided to come into my dream. In the dream I was sitting in front of Him, and He held a plate full of nutritious food on His lap for me. It seemed as if He wanted to tell me, all nourishment is here, with Me. And then He said to me: IF YOU MISS ME, THEN YOU MISS ME. The message was clear: If you have the feeling of missing Me, you really miss out on My constant Presence, because, like He had told me, and all of us: I am in you, I am with you. Then comes the next dimension, His omnipresence, the cosmic dimension. I remember, once we were sitting with Swami in the interview room, which was jampacked with devotees and the question of some devotees not making it into the interview room came up. Swami responded by saying sweetly: My interview room is small. Only few people fit inside it. But My heart is big now Swami made a wide gesture with His arms showing how big His heart is, and said: The whole universe has place in it. How calming, how reassuring! He is in us guiding us from inside. He is with us - as our companion, friend and guide, as our mother and father. We are safe, being inside His cosmic heart. He is all around us, and in His Omnipresent form He is everywhere. In the same Shivarathri message in 2009, Swami gave specific instructions for all of us on how to experience the inner presence: Over a period, God has incarnated as several Avatars. You should not be attached to the physical form of a particular Avatar; rather you should be attached to Divinity as the formless, attribute-less Supreme Self (Parabrahma) which manifested as different Avatars in different ages. Avatars come, fulfil their mission, and disappear. Therefore, you must meditate upon Divinity, which is true and eternal. Serving the Lord with a single-minded focus - the author with the Children's choir, Christmas 2010 There are three aspects in spiritual practices: concentration, contemplation, and meditation. At the moment, you are fixing your gaze on this form; that is concentration. When this form moves away after some time, you still look at this form with your mental eye; that is contemplation. As a result of this exercise, this form gets imprinted in your heart permanently. That is meditation. As you go on meditating thus, the form remains in your heart permanently. At present, you are confining your spiritual practice to concentration and contemplation only. These two stages are only transitory. It is true that the first step in your spiritual practice is concentration. Concentration has to be transformed into contemplation and later into meditation. In this final stage of meditation, you will continue to visualize the form of God even if you close your eyes. The ancient sages adopted this form of meditation. That is why God manifested before them whenever they wished, talked to them and fulfilled their desires. (Divine Discourse, February 23, 2009) The path therefore is amply clear: no need to go anywhere else or search further. Visualize Swami in your heart. Connect to Swami in your heart for He is there, guiding and guarding you. And when one chooses this path, it is my experience and that of many others that He responds to every prayer and little wish, and His love is tangible at every step. At the same time, it still holds true what He said during His lifetime: You can come to Prasanthi Nilayam to recharge your batteries. Swamis Sannidhi is vibrant and speaks to us. When one passes through the ashram gate one feels an elevating Presence. It is a fortuitous chance, to leave the world for a while and concentrate on the Divinity which can be felt here so vibrantly. It is an opportunity to deepen the inner connection with Sai, to finally experience that He is in us, with us, around us and everywhere. - Radio Sai Team Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy that worked for the Trump campaign and had come under attack for its use of personal Facebook data in other elections, announced on Wednesday it would cease operations and declare bankruptcy in the United States and United Kingdom. The firm said it had lost clients because of revelations in March that it had improperly obtained the personal information of millions of Facebook users. "It is no longer viable to continue operating the business," Cambridge Analytica said in a statement. Cambridge Analytica defended its use of Facebook, saying it was "vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas." The decision by the firm comes as it continues to face potential investigations and sanctions from regulators around the world for charges. The controversial tactics of Cambridge Analytica - whose former vice president, Republican strategist Steve Bannon, later worked for Trump's campaign and in the White House - first came to light in March in news reports that it had amassed data from tens of millions of Americans through a Facebook quiz app. Facebook suspended the firm at the time. In a statement Wednesday, Facebook said, "This doesn't change our commitment and determination to understand exactly what happened and make sure it doesn't happen again. We are continuing with our investigation in cooperation with the relevant authorities." Bannon, who later left the company, did not respond to requests for comment. More News Twitter sold data access to Cambridge Analytica researcher Critics of Cambridge Analytica and the largely unregulated use of personal data for political campaigns said the closing of the company will have little effect on the kinds of abuses that the company is alleged to have committed. "The closing of Cambridge Analytica doesn't stop the problem that voters and consumers face in terms of a growing loss of privacy and a gross misuse of their data," said Jeff Chester of the Center for Digital Democracy. " Cambridge Analytica's practices, although it crossed ethical boundaries, is really emblematic of how data driven digital marketing occurs worldwide. Americans are currently helpless to stop the massive flows of their personal information now regularly fed to Google, Facebook, ISPs and many others." Cambridge Analytica was born of as an American offshoot of London-based SCL Group, whose affiliates had worked in campaigns around the world, including Kenya, Nigeria and India. Initial funding for Cambridge Analytica came from Republican financier Robert Mercer, who invested at least $10 million in the company as it sought to help exclusively GOP candidates across a range of U.S. congressional and state legislative elections beginning in 2014. His daughter Rebekah Mercer was the company's first president. Neither Mercer responded to requests for comment on Wednesday. In 2014, Cambridge Analytica gained access to the Facebook data of tens of millions of people using a technique widely used during that era to collect information on Facebook users. Among its leading clients then was a super PAC controlled by Republican John Bolton, now Trump's national security adviser. Designed by an outside researcher named Alexander Kogan, the tool, called ThisIsYourDigitalLife, collected information not only on Facebook users who approved it but also their friends. In total, Facebook has said that Cambridge Analytica had access to data on 87 million people, including 71 million Americans, in its efforts to create detailed profiles about voters' backgrounds and behaviors, as well as what types of political messages might appeal to them based on their personalities. Cambridge Analytica used this and other data - collected from data brokers and other sources - to fuel its Project Ripon, an effort to win Republican races that was named for the birthplace of the party, Ripon, Wisconsin. Former Cambridge Analytica employees have said that this work was done almost entirely in London, by people employed by the British-based SCL Group, and that some of these foreigners went to work directly on U.S. campaigns. This practice raised questions about whether the company complied with federal election law that limits the roles played by non-U. S. citizens in American campaigns. Cambridge Analytica did not respond to numerous requests for comment on this issue from The Washington Post last month. In 2015, Facebook demanded that Cambridge Analytica delete all the data it had collected. But a former employee turned whistleblower, Christopher Wylie, alleged this year that the data analysis firm continued to rely on Facebook information despite assuring otherwise. The controversy has triggered a groundswell of criticism, investigations into both Cambridge Analytica and Facebook around the world, multiple hearings in the U.S. Congress and the potential for fines and other penalties. Adding to its headaches, Cambridge Analytica's since-suspended chief executive, Alexander Nix, was caught on tape by a UK news broadcaster suggesting that the firm could use bribes and sex workers to entrap politicians it had hoped to defeat. Cambridge Analytica has denied the charges. "Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the Company's efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas," the firm said in a statement Wednesday. Even as it maintained its innocence, Cambridge Analytica acknowledged that the "siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Company's customers and suppliers." SCL Elections, its parent, as well as Cambridge Analytica began insolvency proceedings in the UK, and said they would soon start bankruptcy proceedings in the United States. Eddie Chan, 58, of Norwalk, was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven to five years of probation for filing false tax returns. According to court documents and statements made in court, Chan was employed as a bookkeeper for a private art firm located in New York City. Deputy Foreign Minister of Belarus E.Shestakov meets Ambassador of Ecuador 03-05-2018 On May 3, 2018 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Evgeny Shestakov, received copies of Credentials of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Ecuador to the Republic of Belarus, Leopoldo Enrique Rovayo Verdesoto. During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of bilateral interaction in the political and trade and economic spheres, as well as the perspective areas of cooperation in scientific and technical and educational fields. print version London, UK May 2, 2018Earlier today, SCL Elections Ltd., as well as certain of its and Cambridge Analytica LLCs U.K. affiliates (collectively, the Company or Cambridge Analytica) filed applications to commence insolvency proceedings in the U.K. The Company is immediately ceasing all operations and the boards have applied to appoint insolvency practitioners Crowe Clark Whitehill LLP to act as the independent administrator for Cambridge Analytica. Additionally, parallel bankruptcy proceedings will soon be commenced on behalf of Cambridge Analytica LLC and certain of the Companys U.S. affiliates in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. Over the past several months, Cambridge Analytica has been the subject of numerous unfounded accusations and, despite the Companys efforts to correct the record, has been vilified for activities that are not only legal, but also widely accepted as a standard component of online advertising in both the political and commercial arenas. In light of those accusations, noted Queens Counsel Julian Malins was retained to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations regarding the Companys political activities. Mr. Malins report, which the Company posted on its website today, concluded that the allegations were not borne out by the facts. Regarding the conclusions set forth in his report, Mr. Malins stated: I had full access to all members of staff and documents in the preparation of my report. My findings entirely reflect the amazement of the staff, on watching the television programmes and reading the sensationalistic reporting, that any of these media outlets could have been talking about the company for which they worked. Nothing of what they heard or read resonated with what they actually did for a living. Despite Cambridge Analyticas unwavering confidence that its employees have acted ethically and lawfully, which view is now fully supported by Mr. Malins report, the siege of media coverage has driven away virtually all of the Companys customers and suppliers. As a result, it has been determined that it is no longer viable to continue operating the business, which left Cambridge Analytica with no realistic alternative to placing the Company into administration. While this decision was extremely painful for Cambridge Analyticas leaders, they recognize that it is all the more difficult for the Companys dedicated employees who learned today that they likely would be losing their jobs as a result of the damage caused to the business by the unfairly negative media coverage. Despite the Companys precarious financial condition, Cambridge Analytica intends to fully meet its obligations to its employees, including with respect to notice periods, severance terms, and redundancy entitlements. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Mr. Prevost described to the judge a methodical attack, saying that Mr. Davenport kicked Ms. Hiness legs out from under her, sending her to the ground, then pounced on top of her, holding her down as she twisted. Mr. Davenport then grabbed a hunting knife with a four-and-a-half-inch blade that he had been wearing for a few weeks in a sheath on his belt, Mr. Prevost said, and he stabbed Ms. Hines 14 times in the back, turned her over and stabbed her 11 more times, piercing vital organs. With his final blow, Mr. Prevost said, Mr. Davenport plunged the knife into Ms. Hiness heart and left it there. Witnesses said that as he stabbed Ms. Hines, Mr. Davenport shouted release the demons and I love you, I always loved you, God would want this. Some also said that after the stabbing he lifted his hands to the sky. Police officers said they found him with his hands clasped in front of him, as if in prayer, Mr. Prevost said. Ms. Costanzo said that because of the PCP, Mr. Davenport had suffered a psychotic break. He believed that a demon was inhabiting the body of Ms. Hines and was trying to release it, she said. His brain was just all scrambled up, Ms. Costanzo told the judge, adding that because her client had been suffering from extreme emotional disturbance at the time of the stabbing, he should not be convicted of second-degree murder, the charge he had been indicted on. However, she said, because Mr. Davenport was responsible for the death of Ms. Hines, he should be convicted of second-degree manslaughter. Mr. Prevost countered that Mr. Davenports actions had been deliberate and coordinated. Although he may have suffered from God-themed delusions, the prosecutor added, even someone who is delusional can act with intent. The evidence, he said, indicated that Mr. Davenport had meant to harm Ms. Hines. It is not a coincidence that the defendant attacked her in such a lethal matter, he said. His objective and end purpose was to cause her death. At one point during Mr. Prevosts dry recitation of grisly details, Ms. Hiness mother rose from the gallery, weeping, and rushed outside. Throughout the arguments, Mr. Davenport sat silently. After the proceeding, as he was led from the courtroom in handcuffs, he appeared to glance briefly toward the gallery where Ms. Hiness family and friends sat, then once again gazed straight ahead. Several police officers were injured in a large explosion Wednesday evening during a standoff with a barricaded suspect in North Haven, Conn., officials said. The explosion, in the 300 block of Quinnipiac Avenue, was so powerful that residents up to a mile away said their homes shook. The property where it happened burst into flames, filling the neighborhood with smoke and burning well into the night. Yale New Haven Hospital confirmed on Twitter that it had received nine patients, up from an initial report of seven. The North Haven Police Department said that all nine were members of a SWAT team. As of Thursday afternoon, four had been released from the hospital and five were still being treated for trauma-related injuries, the department said. The towns first selectman, Michael J. Freda, and its third selectman, Sally J. Buemi, said Wednesday that the injuries were not life-threatening. Marcia Hafif, an artist best known for monochromatic paintings that explored the intersection of color, brush stroke, surface and light, died on April 17. She was 88. The Fergus McCaffrey gallery, which represented her, announced the death. It did not say where she died or specify the cause. In a career that spanned some 60 years, Ms. Hafif exhibited throughout Europe and the United States, experimenting with Pop Art, video, text-based works and more. Beginning in the 1970s, though, much of her focus was on monochromatic painting. Deputy Foreign Minister O.Kravchenko meets Member of the German Bundestag M.Hauptmann On May 3, 2018 the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Oleg Kravchenko, met with the Member of the Bundestag, Mark Hauptmann. During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for further development of the Belarusian-German cooperation, including parliamentary dimension, dialogue between Belarus and the EU, topical issues of the bilateral and international agenda. The side confirmed mutual interest in preserving and enhancing the positive dynamics of interaction in various fields. print version Since 1851, obituaries in The New York Times have been dominated by white men. With Overlooked, were adding the stories of remarkable people who went unrecognized. May 2, 2018 When the poet Julia de Burgos left Puerto Rico at 25, she vowed never to return. It was a promise she would keep. It was a bittersweet departure. For much of her short life, de Burgos championed Puerto Rican nationalism and identity through her writing. She self-published her first collection of poetry, Poema en veinte surcos (Poem in Twenty Furrows) in 1938, when she was 24. Her work explored issues like the islands colonial past and the legacy of slavery and American imperialism. In her poem Rio Grande de Loiza, she addressed the pain and violence suffered by natives of the island and African slaves along the Puerto Rican river. Rio Grande de Loiza! ... Great river. Great tear. The greatest of all our island tears, But for the tears that flow out of me Through the eyes of my souls for my enslaved people. Born into poverty, she trained and worked as a teacher before marrying at 20. Divorced three years later, she began an intense romantic relationship with Juan Isidro Jimenes Grullon, a Dominican political exile and an intellectual from a prominent family. Her poetry gave her entree into Puerto Ricos intellectual circles, yet she did not really fit. It was the 1930s, after all, and she was a divorced woman in a conservative Roman Catholic society, as well as working class and of African descent. The Puerto Rican intellectuals shaping the islands identity were not ready to embrace the idea of social justice for African descendants much less feminism. SEATTLE Amazon abruptly escalated a fight with its hometown on Wednesday, halting major expansion plans in Seattle because of a tax being considered by the City Council. The new tax would charge large employers in the city about $500 per employee, with the money going to help alleviate a housing crisis. The tax is squarely aimed at Amazon, which is Seattles largest employer and frequently blamed by many residents for the citys soaring housing costs. The company said it would halt construction of a new building it was planning to erect downtown and reconsider occupying another that is already under construction, putting 7,000 or more jobs in jeopardy. Late Wednesday morning, Drew Herdener, an Amazon spokesman, said that pending the outcome of the head tax vote by City Council, Amazon has paused all construction planning on a large building in downtown Seattle that was scheduled to begin construction later this year. Mr. Herdener also said Amazon was evaluating options to lease out space it had planned to use in another building that is already going up elsewhere downtown. The Boy Scouts of America, in its continued effort to appeal to girls, announced on Wednesday that it would drop the boy from its namesake program next February. The century-old organization also said that it would start welcoming older girls, opening a door for them to earn the organizations highest rank of Eagle Scout. The Boy Scouts, which accepts children 11 to 17 years old, will become Scouts BSA. The change was announced as part of the organizations new Scout Me In marketing campaign, which features girls and boys. As we enter a new era for our organization, it is important that all youth can see themselves in scouting in every way possible, Michael Surbaugh, the chief executive of the Boy Scouts of America, an umbrella organization that will retain its name, said in a statement. That is why it is important that the name for our scouting program for older youth remain consistent with the single name approach used for the Cub Scouts. This summer, Cub Scouts, for children 7 to 10 years old, will welcome girls in the first wave of the organizations push for inclusivity, which was announced in October after the Boy Scouts of America directors voted unanimously for expansion. More than 3,000 girls have enrolled in the Cub Scouts so far. At the time, the organization hinted that girls would eventually be welcomed at all levels. These artifacts are part of Iraqs illustrious heritage and history, said Richard P. Donoghue, the United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and were proud of our role in removing them from the black market in antiquities and returning them to their rightful owners. Hobby Lobby is known for its efforts to cultivate evangelical Christianity, including its owners heavy financial investment in the Museum of the Bible, which opened in Washington late last year. In 2014, it was involved in the landmark Supreme Court case that found that family-owned corporations could claim religious exemptions to the Affordable Care Acts mandate to pay for contraception coverage. Hobby Lobby did not respond to requests for comment about the return of the artifacts. But at the time of the forfeiture in July, Steve Green, the companys president, said the company was new to the world of acquiring these items, and did not fully appreciate the complexities of the acquisitions process. Many of the officials mingling in the ambassadors backyard with glasses of apple cider and hors doeuvres had been involved in the seizure and the return of the artifacts. Others were archaeologists and Middle East scholars who had come forward in support of the items return, collectively admiring the condition and the intricacy of the designs on the seals. They pointed to favorites: the seal with the dancing animals, the etching of what appeared to be a god or a king on a throne. Stunning, one woman whispered, her hands clasped over her chest as she leaned over to get a closer look at the clay cylinders resting in indigo velvet. An archaeologist reached out to carefully straighten one small tablet in line with the others. This is a piece of you, said Safaa Yaseen, the third secretary for the embassy, who helped unpack the artifacts in the ambassadors residence. Its an indescribable feeling. The demand for stolen antiquities always seems to be there, said Katharyn Hanson, the executive director of the Academic Research Institute in Iraq. Its really nice to have these moments. Rudolph W. Giuliani said on Wednesday that President Trump reimbursed his personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, for a payment that Mr. Cohen has said he made to Stephanie Clifford, a pornographic film actress widely known by her stage name, Stormy Daniels. The payment of $130,000 was to keep her from speaking publicly before the 2016 election about an alleged sexual encounter with Mr. Trump. Mr. Giuliani, a member of the presidents legal team, made the statement during an interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News. [Read our article about the interview.] Below is a transcript of the exchange. _________ SEAN HANNITY: My question is, are you concerned within the process of this, we did discover that a foreign national, Christopher Steele, was paid through Fusion GPS, used Russian sources that not only werent verified, but were debunked are you concerned that was paid for, to manipulate the American people in the lead-up to an election? RUDOLPH W. GIULIANI: Isnt that closer to the mandate than Michael Cohen? HANNITY: Why isnt that happening? Wheres Mueller on that, sir? Here are excerpts from a recent conversation at a studio at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Do you know why youre so drawn to dance? I dont have an answer. Its funny to say, but I think Ive always had a dance spirit within, and its only actually working with Merce and seeing a lot of dance that I finally developed the kinesthetic response for something to move me. Is your approach different for every dance? I just respond to what I see. When Im looking at work, I try to see where my eye goes; thats how I decide where to put the camera, so its different for every situation. Someone asked what there was between a good dancer and a good dancer for video. Theres no difference. Its dance. You can destroy their kinesthetic energy or you can enhance it, and I try to enhance it. Why do you like to work with artists who dont play by the rules? Its a challenge, and I think the constant in my work is that I do things I havent done before. Im fascinated by the unknown. Sometimes its risky, but I have a role model: Merce Cunningham. Do you think youre drawn to a particular kind of artist? Extreme. [Laughs] I like people who push boundaries, but at a certain point after having done a lot of these projects with impossible people, I was like, well, just because you love someones work doesnt mean you have to work with them. But Ive had a lot of very long collaborations. I still work with [the choreographers] Douglas Dunn and Michael Clark. Our guide to dance performances happening this weekend and in the week ahead. EPHRAT ASHERIE DANCE at the Guggenheim Museum (May 6, 7:30 p.m.). Ms. Asherie offers a preview of her forthcoming Odeon as part of the museums Works and Process performing arts series. The work scheduled to have its premiere at the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival in June is a collaboration between the choreographer and her brother Ehud Asherie, a pianist and the productions musical director. In it, the performers examine how dances from the African diaspora, including breaking, hip-hop, house and vogue, meld with the music of the Brazilian composer Ernesto Nazareth. The program also features Ms. Asherie in a discussion of her work with the Pillows director, Pamela Tatge. 212-423-3575, worksandprocess.org THE BODY IN ACTION: LIZ GERRING WITH SHANNON GILLEN AND ABBY ZBIKOWSKI at the 92nd Street Y (May 4, noon). The Fridays at Noon series has invited Ms. Gerring to serve as a guest curator, and as such, the choreographer has organized an intimate afternoon of dance and conversation spotlighting the work of Ms. Gillen, Ms. Zbikowski and herself. Ms. Gerring presents her group in rarely seen duets, while Ms. Gillen, the director of the troupe Vim Vigor Dance Company, presents a preview of a new work. Finally, Ms. Zbikowski offers duets that span her career. After the performance, Ms. Gerring leads a discussion with the artists. 212-415-5500, 92y.org DENDY/DONOVAN at New York Live Arts (May 10-12, 7:30 p.m.). The American Dance Festival presents Elvis Everywhere, a collaboration between the choreographer Mark Dendy and the director and designer Stephen Donovan. Inspired by an interview that Donald Rumsfeld gave about an encounter in Las Vegas with Elvis Presley, the production explores our celebrity-obsessed society and illustrates how Presley is a metaphor for our current political climate. The score includes music by Presley, Little Richard, Big Mama Thornton and Arthur Crudup, along with interviews with Presley and Mr. Rumsfeld. 212-924-0077, newyorklivearts.org With its cheerfully crowd-seeking title, Golden Kingdoms: Luxury and Legacy in the Ancient Americas, the Metropolitan Museums exhibition of pre-Columbian art promises an unabashed celebration of splendor. Offering more than 300 objects spanning nearly 2,500 years, and representing cultures from the Moche, Wari and Inca to the Olmec, Maya and Aztec, it delivers in full. Riches abound. But this fascinating show also puts to rest some popular misconceptions. While the conquistadors of the 16th century plundered Central and South American kingdoms for wealth, more recent outsiders have tended to endow the empires with false simplicity. Figurative stone carvings from Mesoamerica several are included here have been celebrated by modern artists for their bold stylization rather than their nuance. Indigenous handicraft traditions popularized for tourism and export have emphasized a legacy of homespun goods. Pointing to a very different aspect of these civilizations heritage, the adornments, utensils and textiles gathered here, most made with precious materials, all demonstrate dazzling sophistication. WEIL AM RHEIN, Germany In May 1985, the Palladium nightclub opened its doors to a Whos Who of the New York art world. Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Larry Rivers were all there to check out the new club billed as a successor to Studio 54, the infamous nightspot that had closed in 1980, known for its wild parties and its unforgiving velvet rope. The two venues defined New Yorks night life in the 70s and 80s and had a lasting impact on pop culture: Studio 54 as the disco-fueled hedonists playground, and the Palladium as a meeting place for the citys cutting-edge artists. The Palladium, designed by the Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, features in a new exhibition, Night Fever, at the Vitra Design Museum here, not far from Basel, Switzerland. Photographs of the venues interior capture Mr. Harings giant mural of dancing figures and the banks of television screens suspended from the ceiling. Frieze, which originated in London, has energetically pursued what seems to be the main art-fair defense, which is to add enough bells and whistles to look as little like an art fair as possible. Maybe even act like a temporary museum. It has an active program of lectures and panels as well as an education program and docents, and great food. This year it inaugurates an Artist Award, sponsored by the Luma Foundation and chosen by a jury from open-call submissions. The winner is Kapwani Kiwanga, a Paris-based artist whose outdoor installation, titled Shady, is made of large swathes of colored semi-transparent agriculture fabric layered on steel frames. It conjures a confusing set of associations, including barriers, escape routes, makeshift shelters, stage sets and Minimal art. Also new this year is Live, a series of performances taking place in various booths and spaces. As if this werent enough, Frieze has established its first themed exhibition, a tribute to Hudson (1950-2014), the visionary art dealer whose gallery, Feature, gave first shows to some of the art worlds current best sellers, including Takashi Murakami, Charles Ray and Raymond Pettibon. This is more than a little ironic, since Hudson rarely participated in art fairs. In addition, Feature was one of the great feeder galleries of the late-20th century: The kind of place whose discovery of new talent has long been essential to the operation of the big galleries that are in turn essential to the fairs. And also the kind of place that rising rents not to mention art fairs themselves threaten to put out of business. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets Ambassador of Germany 03-05-2018 On May 3th, 2018 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Belarus, Peter Dettmar. The parties discussed current state and perspectives of further development of the Belarusian-German relations, expressed satisfaction with the continued positive dynamics in this area. Particular attention was paid to the plans to implement a number of joint activities this year. print version Luke Pritchard and Jonny Laxton were 13 when they met at a boarding school in Crowthorne, England, in 2011. They bonded over a shared love of underground music and in 2014 started a YouTube channel, College Music, to promote the artists they liked. At first, the channel grew slowly. Then, in the spring of 2016, Mr. Pritchard discovered 24/7 live-streaming, a feature that allows YouTubes users to broadcast a single video continuously. College Music had 794 subscribers in April 2015, a year before Mr. Pritchard and Mr. Laxton started streaming. A month after they began, they had more than 18,440. In April 2016, they had 98,110 subscribers and as of last month, with three active live streams, they have more than triple that amount, with 334,000. They make about $5,000 a month from the streams. It was a few hours before the premiere of Marvels Avengers: Infinity War late last month, and Benedict Cumberbatch was not about to violate the studios ban on spoilers surrounding the penultimate chapter of the most lucrative movie franchise ever. Dont ask, he said, in response to a mock-question about his turn as Doctor Strange. All I can give you is a nice recipe for Aperol spritz. But Mr. Cumberbatch was happy to speak volubly about another complex work of serial narrative hitting the screen this spring one that also unfolded over many years, commands an ardent fan base and features him as an unusually intelligent man battling dark forces (albeit armed with vicious wit and bulletproof irony rather than magical orbs). Patrick Melrose, a five-part limited series that debuts on Showtime on May 12, is based on five autobiographical novels by the British writer Edward St. Aubyn, whose exquisite prose and subtle portraiture have won them almost cultish devotion. Published between 1992 and 2011, they follow an upper-class Englishman on a 40-year journey of recovery from horrific childhood abuse, addiction and the soul-killing snobbery of his milieu. Camille Cosby, the wife of the disgraced comedian Bill Cosby, disparaged the media, Mr. Cosbys accusers and his prosecutors in a caustic statement released Thursday, her first public comments since Mr. Cosby was convicted of sexual assault last week. She called for a criminal investigation of the Montgomery County district attorney and repeatedly suggested that Mr. Cosby was targeted because of his race. In a three-page release, Mrs. Cosby explicitly blamed the media for Mr. Cosbys fate in court, citing what she called a frenzied, relentless demonization of him and unquestioning acceptance of accusers allegations without any attendant proof. She went on to say, Bill Cosby was labeled as guilty because the media and accusers said so. [Camille Cosby invokes a cultural touchstone with an Emmett Till reference.] Once again, Mr. Cosby was compared to Emmett Till, a black 14-year-old who was lynched in 1955 after being falsely accused of leering at a white woman. Last week, Mr. Cosbys publicist, Ebonee Benson, went on ABCs Good Morning America and likened Mr. Cosby to Till. THE BIG BANG THEORY 8 p.m. on CBS. Like Maris from Frasier or the Little Red-Haired Girl in Peanuts, Sheldons older brother George has been the topic of many a conversation on The Big Bang Theory but has never been seen. That will change in this episode, in which Sheldons mother tells him that she wont attend his wedding to Amy unless he invites his brother (played by Jerry OConnell). So Sheldon schleps down to Texas in hopes of burying the hatchet. Theres a good chance that a younger George will appear in YOUNG SHELDON, which follows at 8:30. GOTHAM 8 p.m. on Fox. Jim Gordon (Ben McKenzie) tries to chase down the culprit responsible for the chaos at the Gotham City Police Department. A friend of Bruce Waynes (David Mazouz) becomes paranoid and destructive. MARCIA CLARK INVESTIGATES THE FIRST 48 9 p.m. on A&E. Ms. Clark looks into the death of Jam Master Jay, the D.J. of Run-D.M.C. who was shot and killed in 2002 in a recording studio in Jamaica, Queens. The death remains unsolved. Hayden, a self-described internationalist, opposes Trumps trade, immigration and foreign policies. He also blasts Trumps record of exaggeration, falsehood, misstatement and conspiratorial thinking. All candidates shape their message, he writes, but Trump just seemed to say whatever came into his head. Having led one agency where some operatives wore T-shirts saying Deny everything, admit nothing, Hayden is nonetheless impassioned about the importance of empirical data to decision-making. Image Hayden is an institutionalist. What concerns him is the degree to which policymakers operate according to established roles and norms. He sees the virtues of bureaucratic procedure. The idea of this book, he writes, is not that civil war or societal collapse is necessarily imminent or inevitable here in America thank goodness but that the structures, processes, and attitudes we rely on to prevent those kinds of occurrences are under stress, and that many of the premises on which we have based our governance, policy and security are now challenged, eroded or simply gone. Whatever disagreements Hayden may have had with George W. Bush and Barack Obama and he argues that several of Obamas policies were ill conceived Trumps predecessors, he says, largely respected the independence and judgments of the bureaucracy. Trump does not. He not only accuses the F.B.I., Justice Department and other agencies of forming a deep state, but also seeks to challenge, disrupt and exert control over them. Trump does not think in institutional terms, but in personal ones. These lines of criticism intersect over Russia. Hayden acknowledges that intelligence agencies were slow to pick up on the Russian challenge to United States elections: Committed to a path of cyber dominance for ourselves, we seemed to lack the doctrinal vision to fully understand what the Russians were up to with their more full-spectrum information dominance. That lack of vision was compounded by the reluctance of both the Obama and Trump administrations to counterattack. Russia has been actively seeking to damage the fabric of American democracy, Hayden writes, and the Trump administrations glandular aversion to even looking at this squarely, much less mounting a concerted response to it, is an appalling national security lapse. 1. President Trump contradicted his earlier statements that he knew nothing of a payment to Stormy Daniels, the pornographic film actress who says she had an affair with him. Writing on Twitter, Mr. Trump suggested that the payment from his lawyer, Michael Cohen, came from a monthly retainer he paid and could not be considered a campaign contribution. The tweets had far more formal and legalistic language than his typical morning messages to the world, and came after one of his attorneys, Rudy Giuliani, said the same during an interview on Fox News. Sometimes it seems as if were living under a constant barrage of heavy news. But it isnt all bad out there. This feature is meant to send you into the weekend with a smile, or at least a lighter heart. Want to get The Week in Good News by email? Heres the sign-up. Here are seven great things we wrote about this week: These awe-inspiring creatures, once hunted close to the point of extinction, appear to be making a comeback. Females who live and breed in the southern oceans near Antarctica have a higher pregnancy rate and are giving birth to more calves, according to a new study. Sean Todd, who is on the marine science faculty at the College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Me., said that the study confirmed the growing number of humpbacks that he had noticed on annual trips to Antarctica. When he first started going in the early 2000s, he would see a few humpbacks during trips in February and March. Now, he sees them as early as December, he said to the point that you can lose count of how many are around you. Read more How did you connect with 3G? In college, I got a scholarship from a foundation run by the 3G founders. The only agreement was, when you start working, you would pay back 5 percent of your annual salary until you could pay back the loan. There was no signing agreement, there was no debt. It was all about the shake of hands. When I finished my M.B.A., I wrote them. At the time, Alex Behring [a founding partner of 3G] was going to southern Brazil to a railroad project, and he said, Look, why dont you come spend some days there and see what its all about? I remember asking him, Alex, have you read my C.V.? Or my resume? And he said, Why? I said, I know nothing about railroads. And he said, Neither do I. This maybe is going to work . So I went there. How did that work out? It was a broken railroad just being privatized in southern Brazil, with everything to be done. A turnaround case. I started as an analyst. Two years later I became the chief financial officer, and then, when Alex leaves to come to New York to plant the seeds of what 3G is today, I replaced him as the C.E.O. You were pretty young to be a C.E.O. How did you deal with that? We normally think of C.E.O.s as the people who have the answers, right? I think C.E.O.s are the ones that have the questions. If you can provide the right framework and questions, the consumers, clients, customers, factory managers, supply chain they have the answers. The important piece is to recognize and learn fast. New mistakes are welcome. But learn from the old ones. And try to not repeat the same mistakes. That means you are not learning, and that is a problem in any organization. The new team of top Chinese negotiators, few of whom come from the Commerce Ministry, is led by Liu He. Mr. Liu, an economist by training, is a close adviser and longtime friend of President Xi Jinping. Senior Chinese officials and their advisers spoke about economic policy at a three-day Tsinghua University seminar that ended on Monday. Most of them insisted on anonymity for reasons of diplomatic sensitivity. Those attending the seminar said that Chinese negotiators had a warm relationship with Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, who is a member of the American delegation and a former Goldman Sachs executive. He was described as easy to talk to. Chinese officials said they felt less of a connection to the rest of the group, which includes, among others, Robert E. Lighthizer, the United States trade representative, who was described as brusque by people on the Chinese side; Peter Navarro, a top trade adviser and longtime critic of China; Larry Kudlow, who leads the National Economic Council; and Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary. [Read about the divisions on the American side of the table during high-level trade talks in Beijing.] Many of the negotiators representing the United States are more comfortable than their Chinese counterparts with the fine points of trade policy. Mr. Lighthizer, for example, has been immersed in trade issues continuously since the Carter administration, working closely throughout with Mr. Wolff, and has taken a harder stance. By contrast, after a series of bureaucratic reorganizations in recent months, many of Chinas top trade negotiators are now economists and bankers with little practical experience in trade matters. The Commerce Ministrys two main officials for trade talks with the United States, veterans who have negotiated with Washington since the 1990s, were each awarded ambassadorships last year and dispatched to Europe. One senior Chinese official at the seminar who insisted on anonymity said there was deep frustration among his colleagues that, when the two sides talked in the past, American negotiators continually raised details about Chinese trade practices and international trade laws, while those on the Chinese side preferred to discuss a coherent economic strategy. The problem is that most orders in the securities and commodities markets go unfilled, so canceling orders cannot be criminal just by itself. A 2013 study by the Securities and Exchange Commission found that fewer than 5 percent of orders placed on stock exchanges were filled. So simply showing that an investor canceled trades on a regular basis may not be enough to prove the intent necessary for a spoofing violation. The first spoofing conviction involved Michael Coscia, who was charged with creating an algorithm to enter and cancel large orders in milliseconds. Mr. Coscia would simultaneously put in small orders that would be profitable once other traders reacted to the artificial ones. In that case, the government focused on the large number of orders his algorithm generated, making his testimony that he wanted every order filled questionable. The jury returned its guilty verdict after only one hour of deliberation, showing that it found the statistical evidence of large-scale order cancellations persuasive. The prosecution of Mr. Flotron, though, started badly for the government. Jeffrey Alker Meyer, a federal district judge in New Haven, dismissed six of the seven charges in February. The judge found that the trades identified in those charges occurred only in Chicago, where the commodities exchanges operate, so under the constitutional venue requirement no crime was committed in Connecticut. That left just the conspiracy charge. To prove spoofing, the Justice Department relied on two traders who worked for Mr. Flotron to explain how he taught them to enter and then cancel orders to influence the direction of the commodity prices. Both testified after receiving non-prosecution agreements from the government, which meant their claims were open to question about whether they got a deal to point the finger at Mr. Flotron. In Mr. Flotrons case, there was no algorithm or automated trading for the government to point to. Instead, his orders were placed manually, and some were kept open for up to a minute. That made it more difficult for prosecutors to show that his goal was to manipulate other traders, when there was at least a chance the order would be filled. Michael-in-Norfolk disclaims any and all responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, completeness, legality, reliability, operability, or availability of information or material displayed on this site and does not claim credit for any images or articles featured on this site, unless otherwise noted. All visual content is copyrighted to it's respectful owners. Information on this site may contain errors or inaccuracies, and Michael-in-Norfolk does not make warranty as to the correctness or reliability of the site's content. If you own rights to any of the images or articles, and do not wish them to appear on this site, please contact Michael-in-Norfolk via e-mail and they will be promptly removed. Michael-in-Norfolk contains links to other Internet sites. These links are provided solely as a convenience and are not endorsements of any products or services in such sites, and no information or content in such site has been endorsed or approved by this blog. John Legere, the chief executive of T-Mobile, believes in second chances. And he has a point. Mr. Legere said if regulators allow T-Mobiles nearly $26.5 billion acquisition of Sprint a deal they opposed in the past it will help the United States lead in wireless technology. The rationale this time is compelling. As the third- and fourth-biggest mobile companies in the United States by subscribers, T-Mobile and Sprint have a problem. The American government wants the country to be a leader in 5G technology, but for anything but the biggest of operators, thats a challenge if its doable at all. Together, their chances of completing a nationwide network are much higher. The enlarged T-Mobile would put some $40 billion behind the effort over three years, Mr. Legere said. That will be partially funded by $6 billion of annual cost savings and a pledge not to direct the bounty toward buybacks or dividends. The investment would dramatically boost the industrys levels of capital expenditure. The larger rivals AT&T and Verizon, which are competing to be leaders in 5G, dedicated approximately $22 billion and $17 billion to network investments last year. T-Mobile and Sprint together mustered just $6 billion, according to Eikon data. And 5G is an expensive endeavor. New Street Research estimated that Verizon will spend $35 billion over the next five years to cover just 20 percent of the country. The cost ratchets up significantly to expand beyond that, the research firm said. But voters in the district say the escalating trade drama has already begun to complicate their daily lives. Companies that supply construction materials have suspended orders, waiting to see what happens to metal prices. Employees at a builder of truck components say managers have been hastily reassessing supply chains that run through China and Mexico. A local hard-cider brewer is reconsidering an expansion after the steel and aluminum tariffs made new tanks and cans more expensive. And at Boeing, a company that employs grandfathers next to granddaughters and has introduced generations of Washingtonians to their spouses, the unease has been evident from the executive suite to the factory floor. Mr. Trumps hard line on trade didnt used to inspire so much teeth-grinding among Boeing workers. A lot of union mechanics were happy last year when he pulled out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which would have reinforced the nations embrace of free trade. And the president earned a lot of fans in Washington when he criticized the company on the campaign trail in 2015 for setting up a new plant outside Shanghai, saying it would end up taking a tremendous number of jobs away from the United States. Jim McKenzie, a union machinery repairman, remembered that comment when, several months ago, he came across a package of dorsal-fin parts at the Boeing plant in Auburn where he works. Mr. McKenzie pulled back the Bubble Wrap and saw a label that made him feel as if he were sinking into quicksand: Boeing China. We drill it and assemble it, but they ship the parts in from China, Mr. McKenzie said. There are people who have worked here for 25 years making those parts, and theyre proud of that. But Mr. McKenzie, 56, isnt eager to blow up the Beijing relationship. China will just buy all their planes from Airbus, he said, leaning his chair back against a wall in the machinists union hall in Auburn. SunPower is the nations No. 2 commercial solar-power company, employing thousands of workers directly and indirectly. But it makes most of its solar panels abroad, and with the tariffs recently imposed by President Trump costing it as much as $2 million a week, SunPower is fighting for an exemption. One of its rivals, SolarWorld Americas, produces panels domestically. Buffeted by foreign competition, it was behind the original push for the tariffs. Now the two American companies are merging. Its all part of the disruption, distortion and uncertainty from an escalating trade offensive aimed primarily at China. In barely three months, the tariffs the first shot fired by Mr. Trump in that campaign are fundamentally reshaping the solar industry and its prospects. A Chinese player announced plans to open a factory in Florida as early as this fall. With its SolarWorld acquisition, SunPower moved to prevent further loss to its business by locating a bigger share of its production in the United States. Both companies are being hit with tariffs on high-efficiency panels they produce in Malaysia. Remington Outdoor, one of the countrys oldest and largest gun makers, said this week that a bankruptcy judge had approved its reorganization plan, which will transfer ownership of the company to creditors including JPMorgan. After a court hearing in Delaware on Wednesday, Remington said it expected to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings by the end of the month with more than $775 million in debt wiped from its balance sheet. Remington, which sought bankruptcy protection in March after sales fell and its debt piled up, will no longer be owned by the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management. Instead, some of its creditors, including JPMorgans asset management arm, will take control. JPMorgan and fellow Remington creditors may opt to try to sell the gun company. The bank declined to comment on the creditors plans. The Volkswagen emissions scandal reached the highest echelons of the company on Thursday after its former chief executive was charged with conspiracy in the companys rigging of diesel vehicles to feign compliance with federal pollution standards. The indictment of the former executive, Martin Winterkorn, who resigned shortly after the emissions scandal erupted in September 2015, significantly raises the stakes for Volkswagen. The charges contradict the German carmakers steadfast insistence that no members of its management board were involved in the emissions fraud. They also weaken the companys defense in a related suit by shareholders potentially adding billions of dollars to the scandals already astronomical cost. Despite President Trumps efforts to water down auto emissions standards, the indictment indicates that the Justice Department continues to pursue an investigation of Volkswagen that began during the Obama administration. And it provides a rare spectacle: a chief executive facing criminal charges. Friday is the day for couscous at Bab Marrakech in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, as it is in Morocco, where the dish unchanged in recipe from the 16th century, according to the food historian Clifford A. Wright follows noon prayers. The grains, as dainty as a dolls pearls, are rinsed with olive oil and steamed, then rubbed apart and steamed again, until they swell, each a tiny held breath. By tradition, the finished couscous, heaped with whole chickpeas and great logs of carrots, is scooped from a communal plate and rolled between the thumb and the first two fingers, to make a ready mouthful. Here there are spoons but the same seemingly bottomless dish. And the same generosity of spirit: When I arrived for lunch on a recent Friday, the grate was still half pulled down, but a cook peeked her head out, waved me inside and brought me couscous. Ismail Bourrich and his wife, Bouchra Salmi, natives of Morocco he from Casablanca, she from Essaouira, both along the coast opened Bab Marrakech last June in what was once a Chinese-Mexican spot. The restaurants name honors one of the gateways to Casablancas old medina; guests pass through an arched wooden door into the dining room. Although Germanys sweet rieslings are singular and among the treasures of the wine world, its dry rieslings can be equally wonderful and are likewise unlike those from anywhere else. Rieslings from Austria generally feel firmer, denser and more penetrating, while those from Alsace are altogether bigger and more voluminous. If I can speak generally about dry German rieslings, which can vary considerably depending on which region they come from, they are often far more delicate in texture than the others, precise and jewel-like rather than rich. By many accounts, difficult weather made the 2016 vintage tough to manage for many growers, but it produced wines of exceptional balance that amplify many of the best traits of dry German rieslings. The wines we liked best were deep and profoundly mineral, while also resonant and refreshing. What do I mean by resonant? These are wines that feel three-dimensional in the mouth. They have length their flavors proceed in a linear fashion and last long after you swallow and depth, which suggests the sort of complexity that makes you want to taste the wine again and again in an effort to unravel the flavors. But these are also young wines, and the more ambitious among them will benefit from aging five to 10 years to allow these complexities to uncoil while mellowing the rippling acidity. Sabra wondered whether some of them would ever relax, and suggested that maybe 20 years would do it. I dont think it will take that long, but the best of these wines are well worth giving some time. Not all of the wines were exceptional, however. Balance was sometimes an issue. We rejected some wines that were overbearingly acidic punishingly tart and lacking charm. Thats an old complaint about dry German rieslings, and one I was surprised to find might still have legitimacy. But now vintage means anything more than three seasons old, and even less sometimes, Ms. Steele wrote. There is no incentive for collectors waiting until their clothes have aged into fashion history, especially when the latest fashions are on display in museums. And its certainly true that people (and heirs) increasingly seek to monetize fashion collections. Besides, Mr. Silver said, not every museum wants everything. Indeed, before he decided to sell off his clothes, he donated a number of pieces to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art for Reigning Men, a show on mens wear that opened in April 2016. And its not like he wont have anything left. There are still 300 pairs of shoes, he said, and suits in 50 shades of gray from pretty much every designer you can name, since gray suits have become his new uniform. But, Mr. Silver said, it feels great to be free from the pressure to figure out whos the hottest new designer or whats the most important new silhouette. Its a monster of our own creation. But there seems to be a growing (and welcome) consensus that its time to cut off its head. Navigating the Vatican Maze While the Vatican may be enthusiastic about Heavenly Bodies now, it took years for it to warm to an exhibit that Mr. Bolton first envisioned as including many religious traditions. Dealing with one church proved to be enough. In June 2016, a colleague of Mr. Boltons in the Mets European paintings department put him in touch with Arnold Nesselrath, a Vatican museum curator. Mr. Nesselrath arranged for Mr. Bolton to visit the Sistine Chapel Sacristy, a chamber of rooms within rooms containing a hive of numbered wooden doors and drawers bearing embossed strips and containing shawls and stoles, papal tiaras, papal rings and pectoral crosses. Mr. Bolton tried to explain the concept of the exhibition to the keeper of the sacristy, a quiet Slovakian priest named Pavel Benedik. He wasnt quite sure what the request was, Mr. Bolton said of Father Benedik. He was confused. To expedite the process, Mr. Nesselrath suggested that on his next visit, Mr. Bolton meet with Barbara Jatta, now the director of the Vatican museum. For that trip, Mr. Bolton brought along Ms. Wintour. Ms. Jatta arranged several tours for them, including another trip to the Sacristy, where this time Father Benediks assistant, Antonio, showed them around. Ms. Jatta asked how many items the Met intended to borrow, and Mr. Bolton responded: about eight. Ms. Wintour said he needed to ask for at least twice that, prompting a skeptical laugh from Ms. Jatta. (The Met eventually got more than 40.) Ms. Jatta then informed the curator that the lending of the pieces was, anyway, out of her hands. These vestments dont belong to the Vatican Museum, she said, according to Mr. Bolton. They belong to the Sistine Chapel Sacristy. [Read this recent Twitter thread to see Ms. Callimachis responses to readers questions about her work covering ISIS.] In Caliphate you mention how previous interviews with ISIS members left you frustrated and made you question whether they were being truthful. Have you had similar feelings with Abu Huzayfah? I would have to spoil a lot of things if I answered that question. In general on this beat, though, thats the puzzle youre always dealing with. First of all, youre spending so much effort just trying to get even one ISIS member to talk to you. Its so hard to find them. You can somewhat get access to them in prisons in Iraq, but you dont get much time with them. Its also very hard to do these interviews in 20 minutes, 30 minutes because youre just scratching the surface. And then you have a sources story. Imagine how hard it has been to confirm the reporting on Harvey Weinstein, and thats happening in Hollywood, a place with a paper trail and American citizens and people who speak the same language we do. Its so hard with ISIS because youre dealing with a place I cannot go: the caliphate, when it was around. So half the work is just getting the interview and the other half is figuring out if theres any way to corroborate it. Have you been contacted by any law enforcement officials who are concerned that youre communicating with a former ISIS member in Canada? A retired Canadian intelligence analyst started tweeting at me, basically asking if I had a moral responsibility to flag this person to authorities. Obviously, as journalists, we cant act as an extension of law enforcement. That would be the end of me on this beat if I started turning in my sources. At the same time, we are dealing with members of a terrorist group a group that has called for attacks in North America. Youll see later in the podcast that we found a way to keep our journalistic integrity but also answer some of these questions. What are some of the other ethical dilemmas youve discussed? My goal in telling the story of Abu Huzayfah is to try to explain, in a way, the unexplainable: How does a normal-seeming person, who grew up in a middle-class family, with no abuse that I know of, loving parents and a comfortable lifestyle how does that person, because there are so many of them, end up joining this murderous group? Theres a rut in the reporting on ISIS, where its so easy to write about the salacious, awful things they do. Very quickly, we go into this boogeyman narrative about these savage, brutal criminals. We forget that human beings are doing this, and 40,000 people have joined from overseas. Yes, you can find the psychopaths among them. But, in my experience, there are a lot more Huzayfahs than the others. Before reading the article: Watch this Reuters TV video up to 1:27 minutes. What insects and bugs are shown up close in the video? What does the video recommend to prevent insect and bug bites this summer? Now, read the article, Tick and Mosquito Infections Spreading Rapidly, C.D.C. Finds, and answer the following questions: 1. What did federal health officials report on Tuesday, May 1, and what new tickborne diseases are showing up in the continental United States? 2. What do Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials say is necessary to fight the diseases, according to the article? 3. What are the statistics on insect-borne illnesses reported to the C.D.C., and what are the estimates of Americans who get Lyme disease each year? Twenty-odd years ago, Gerald Cyrus wandered into a Monday night jam session at St. Nicks Pub, a jazz club in Harlem. There he found a very different scene from the one downtown, where he had spent years taking photographs at the Village Vanguard and other spots. It was a much more communal atmosphere, like a house party, said Mr. Cyrus. Downtown there was a fine separation between the stage and the audience. Uptown, there was no separation. Musicians made up a large part of the audience. Theyd be listeners one minute, on stage the next. Fifty years ago this month, France erupted. Students lobbed cobblestones at riot police in Pariss Latin Quarter. Millions of union workers went on strike. The government of President Charles de Gaulle tottered. Today, the events of May 1968 are generally regarded as more of a cultural milestone than a political one, a time when the ideals of a rising generation collided with the mores of an older, more powerful establishment. Fifty years later, the legacy of those historic weeks remains a subject of debate between the countrys conservative and progressive factions. It is, as the philosopher Andre Glucksmann described it in 2008, a monument, either sublime or detested, that we want to commemorate or bury. Regardless of ones political persuasion, those who think back on the events of May 1968 are likely to conjure the images of Gilles Caron, whose photographs stand as the most comprehensive and enduring record of the period. To mark the unrests 50th anniversary, the Parisian government and the Gilles Caron Foundation are presenting an exhibition dedicated to the photographer from May 4 to July 28 at the Hotel de Ville in Paris. Mia is in a jam herself. She has no official identification and figures some blackmail might earn her the money to buy a card. In this respect, shes resourceful, but as it turns out, shes also terribly naive. She tries to do business with the puffed-up phony Jian even though she knows he is eager to pimp her out. Many of the characters, with the exception of the child legal advocate Hao, are up to their necks in squalid corruption. The child rapist is a government big shot with a lot of money. He offers to pay the private school tuition of one of his victims, so long as the family doesnt sue. Lily and Mia are trapped by the motel manager in a form of indentured servitude, and Lily is so desperate in her relationship with Jian that she submits to hymen-reconstruction surgery. This all sounds grim, and it is. But the story grabs you. Ms. Qu shoots the sturdily constructed scenario with unshowy sharpness. Film critics and viewers in the West tend to sentimentalize feel-good movies from the East, delighting in their ostensible universality. The moral rot and callous corruption depicted in Angels Wear White has a particularly bracing effect in part because, cultural specifics aside, the inhumanity on display is hardly alien. Mia is a poignant character. Near the end of the movie, she tells Hao that she drifted to the town because its so warm that even if youre homeless you can sleep outside. The matter-of-fact way that Ms. Wen delivers this observation is heartbreaking. So is the ultimate reveal of the giant sculpture, a metaphoric angel instantly recognizable in the West wearing white. The disgraced comedian Bill Cosby and the director Roman Polanski have been expelled from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences following a vote by its board of governors on Tuesday night, the organization announced on Thursday. The action comes after Mr. Cosby was found guilty last week of sexually assaulting a former Temple University employee, though many dozens of women have stepped forward, claiming he drugged and assaulted them too. Mr. Polanski, the Polish-born filmmaker who won the Oscar for best director in 2003 for The Pianist, has been a fugitive from the United States since 1978, after he fled the country while awaiting sentencing for statutory rape. Last year, the academy adopted a code of conduct that reads, in part, There is no place in the academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognized standards of decency. EDWARD II at IFC Center (May 4-10). Part of the canon of New Queer Cinema, the British filmmaker Derek Jarmans adaptation of Christopher Marlowes play, starring Steven Waddington as the king and Andrew Tiernan as his lover, sought to give the Elizabethan text a modern resonance, drawing attention to contemporary homophobia and staging the play with a surfeit of sexual and violent imagery. Where the Marlowe play is a dog-eat-dog political allegory without heroes, the movie is a tract against the oppression of homosexuals through the ages, filmed by a director who is himself openly gay and living with AIDS, Stephen Holden wrote in a review for The New York Times in 1992. Mr. Jarman died in 1994. 212-924-7771, ifccenter.com PANORAMA EUROPE at the Museum of the Moving Image and Bohemian National Hall (May 4-31). This annual series of mostly contemporary European cinema opens on Friday with The End of Fear, a documentary that examines the 1986 slashing of a Barnett Newman painting in Amsterdam and delves into the thorny questions posed by the restoration that followed. The lineup also includes a revival of Case for the New Hangman (on Saturday and May 31), a Czechoslovak movie that was fostered by the liberalization movement of the Prague Spring and was banned by the Communist government. 718-784-0077, movingimage.us SARA DRIVERS BOOM FOR REAL: THE ANNOTATED EDITION at Anthology Film Archives (May 4-29). As a filmmaker, Ms. Driver took part in the same downtown indie scene as the artist Jean-Michel Basquiat, the subject of her new documentary, Boom for Real (opening on May 11). To give a fuller sense of the inspirational crosscurrents flowing at the time, Anthologys retrospective includes films that feature Mr. Basquiat (like Downtown 81, screening on Friday) and movies that were made at that time and place (like Jim Jarmuschs debut feature, Permanent Vacation, showing on Saturday and Wednesday). As a bonus, artists appearing at or otherwise taking part in the series have selected some personal favorites, not necessarily related to the subject at hand. Ms. Driver, for instance, has picked Jacques Rivettes playful Le Pont du Nord (on May 17 and 29) and The Man Who Fell to Earth (also on May 17 and 29), starring David Bowie at his most otherworldly. 212-505-5181, anthologyfilmarchives.org Just as the Duplex opened its doors at 4 in the afternoon, Harry Arkell, 34, a tourist from the United Kingdom, took a seat at the bar and ordered a glass of red wine. The former marketing executive had recently quit his job, ended a relationship and completed a weeklong meditation camp upstate. He would soon be headed for Panama, but not before making a pit stop in New York. I was told by a friend the Duplex is an institution, he said. I came to see what it was about. In 1951 the Duplex opened in a makeshift space above a restaurant on Grove Street. It served as a cabaret theater for Broadway hopefuls and amateur comedians, including a young Joan Rivers said Thomas Honeck, the theaters general manager. It was said Rivers was so bad at the time, they would only let her go last, he said. After going through a discotheque phase in the 70s, the Duplex returned to its cabaret roots, moving to 61 Christopher Street in 1989. On the ground floor, there is a simple piano bar with black vinyl seating that was purchased from a former diner. The wall behind the bar is covered in posters for shows that have long passed. Many of the bartenders have vocal chops, so it is not unusual to find some of them singing musical numbers from Kinky Boots or pop songs by Elton John or Ariana Grande. From the Seventh Avenue and Christopher Street intersection, passers-by can glimpse an often rowdy and enthusiastic crowd singing through its many French doors. The biggest difference between the frame of the Hell Cat and other mountain bikes is its extremely long and sloping top tube, which helps even out a riders weight distribution. This helps both prevent the front wheel from rising up in the air on steep, rocky climbs and from pitching a rider forward on equally steep downhills. I wanted to make sure I wasnt going to go right over the bars on a descent, Mr. Callahan said. Along with the top tube, Mr. Callahan also gave the frame a short rear triangle to make it more nimble on the East Coasts tight single-track trails and to aid in the power transfer while pedaling. Instead of trying to compete with top-of-the-line, full suspension bikes from big brands like Cannondale and Trek these have a giant, shock-absorbing spring or piston built into the frame the Hell Cat is a throwback to the first generation of mountain bikes. It is whats known as a hardtail a rigid, high-grade steel frame, with only a front suspension fork. Its an appropriation of an old design, Mr. Callahan said, adding that he drew influence from mountain bikings founders fathers from the late 1970s and early 1980s. I took that design and pushed and tweaked it to make it more capable on todays trails. Mr. Callahan noted that hardtail bikes are ideal for cyclists on the East Coast who dont have to deal with the massive six-foot drops and big terrain that their cohorts out west do. Instead, the root- and rock-covered trails and punchy climbs around New York require a stiffer frame and the ability to run some of the widest mountain-bike tires on the market. Among those struck were Abigail Blumenstein, 4, and Joshua Lew, 1, who were both with their mothers. Joshua was dragged by the car in his stroller, Mr. Esswein said, and Abigail was knocked to the ground and struck her head. The children were brought to New York Methodist Hospital, where both died, Abigail of a skull fracture and Joshua of a severed spine. Abigails pregnant mother, the Tony-award winning actress Ruthie Ann Miles, was also struck and seriously injured. A witness told investigators that Ms. Bruns appeared to go stiff as her car moved forward through the crosswalk. Another said that after the vehicle came to a rest she was twitching and appeared to be out of it, Mr. Esswein said, and an off-duty police officer who was there observed that she was foaming at the mouth. She had two seizures in the following hours, Mr. Esswein said. Mr. Esswein told the judge the events that led to the collision extended back to Jan. 8, when Ms. Bruns felt unwell while driving on Staten Island and went to Richmond University Medical Center. She was examined for a possible stroke, stayed two days and suffered a seizure while she was there. Ms. Bruns was told then not to drive for a year, Mr. Esswein said, and during a follow-up visit on Jan. 16 she met with a doctor who again informed her that she should not operate an automobile. Four days later, Mr. Esswein said, Ms. Bruns was involved in a minor fender bender while driving on Staten Island but left the scene before the police arrived. Once again, during another medical consultation on Feb. 13, Ms. Bruns was warned about driving, Mr. Esswein said. Amy Taylor, the co-legal director of Make the Road New York said the 10-year myth is pervasive, despite education efforts from her organization and others. The No. 1 question we get from clients is, do I qualify for the 10-year visa? Ms. Taylor said. We say, theres no such thing, why dont we sit down and explain. The promise seems real to some immigrants at first because of a tangible outcome: six months into a pending asylum application, immigrants are eligible to receive a work permit. Because asylum backlogs can last longer than two years, immigrants would not discover the fraud for a while. And under the Obama administration, they were often allowed to stay in the country even though they were subject to deportation. For some, applying for asylum and then gambling on a deportation being overturned could be a viable legal strategy, according to Camille Mackler, the legal policy director of the New York Immigration Coalition, an activist group, But she cautioned that was only if a client had a good-faith claim for asylum, a strong fallback case for canceling the removal, and, above all, that the lawyer advised the client of the deportation risk. E.G.R., 32, a Mexican-born mother of two U.S. citizen children, and one of the plaintiffs, said she did not realize the Hechts had applied for asylum for her until she was told to go to an interview with the government. She asked to be identified only by her initials because she is currently in deportation proceedings. She said the asylum officer with United States Citizenship and Immigration services asked her, Why are you asking for political asylum when youve been here so many years? She was not found eligible for asylum and has a hearing before an immigration court judge on May 18. E.G.R. said she had been skeptical when her accountant, Mr. Guerrero, first referred her to the Hechts. ALBANY Facing considerable political headwinds, another Republican in the New York State Senate announced his retirement on Thursday, as Democrats salivated about possible gains all across President Trumps home state. All told, five Republicans in the last week have said they will not seek re-election, opening up political battlegrounds in potential swing districts from Suffolk County to Syracuse. The latest to do so had earned his right to retirement: Senator William J. Larkin Jr. is 90 years old, and had served in Albany nearly 40 years, including a decade in the State Assembly. On Thursday, Mr. Larkin said that he was, with a heavy heart, giving up a career in public service, which also included military service in World War II and the Korean War. My final battle is with Father Time, he said, in an announcement in Newburgh. This fall, his battle would have been with Democrats, who have long coveted Mr. Larkins Hudson Valley district, the 39th, which has substantially more registered Democrats than Republicans. Still, Mr. Larkin had comfortably been re-elected in 2016, though his physical stamina had been tested during the current legislative session, when he was sometimes brought to and from the Senate chamber in a wheelchair. Mayor Bill de Blasio is championing a plan that would make New York City a pioneer in creating supervised injection sites for illegal drug users, part of a novel but contentious strategy to combat the epidemic of fatal overdoses caused by the use of heroin and other opioids. Safe injection sites have been considered successful in cities in Canada and Europe, but do not yet exist in the United States. Leaders in San Francisco, Philadelphia and Seattle have declared their intention to create supervised sites, although none have yet done so because of daunting obstacles. Among them: The sites would seem to violate federal law. The endorsement of the strategy by New York, the largest city in the country, which last year saw 1,441 overdose deaths, may give the movement behind it impetus. For the sites to open, New York City must still clear some significant hurdles. At minimum, the plan calls for the support of several district attorneys, and, more critically, the State Department of Health, which answers to Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. The city sent a letter on Thursday to the state, asserting its intention to open four injection centers. After Mr. Trump was elected president in 2016, a straw poll of building residents found that two-thirds of the 253 condo owners who participated wanted to remove the name, while 23 percent wanted to keep it. But a lawyer for a Trump subsidiary sent a letter promising to file suit if the board took any action. In the letter, Mr. Trumps lawyer, Alan Garten, said that if the condo made any effort to remove the Trump lettering, Mr. Trump would commence appropriate legal proceedings to not only prevent such unauthorized action, but to also recover the significant amount of damages, costs and attorneys fees. That was no small matter in the minds of many condo owners. Mr. Trump has a reputation as a vigorous if not always victorious plaintiff and defendant whose determination to drag out a court fight could cost a fortune. Mr. Trump, for instance, spent 15 years fending off a class-action lawsuit over the use of 200 undocumented Polish workers at his first signature luxury building, Trump Tower. He settled the matter in 1998 in a once secret settlement in which his opponents essentially got everything they had originally asked for, $1.375 million. Mr. Trump, however, did not admit any wrongdoing. And the battle over the T-R-U-M-P letters at 200 Riverside may not be over. Amanda Miller, a spokeswoman for the Trump Organization, called the judges decision both unprecedented and limited to a technical issue. Under the Obama administration, the federal education department offered guidance to universities conducting Title IX investigations of sexual misconduct that they should use a preponderance of evidence standard. Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, revoked that guidance, but universities still use a lower standard than the criminal courts. Universities like Yale are free to apply any standard within reason, said Geoffrey Stone, a law professor at the University of Chicago Law School. Also, the fact that someone is acquitted of a criminal offense does not mean they cant be held responsible in another context. But Andrew T. Miltenberg, an attorney with Nesenoff & Miltenberg LLP in New York City who has represented many students accused of sexual assault, said the low legal standards and the lack of safeguards of these committees make it nearly impossible for anyone to get a fair and reasonable hearing. Mr. Miltenberg is not representing Mr. Khan. I think we would all like to believe that he could and will get an unbiased and uncompromised hearing by Yale, but I think it is virtually impossible, he said. At the same time, an online petition against Mr. Khans being reinstated had drawn more than 77,000 signatures by Thursday. Alice Provensen, who illustrated and often wrote books for children for more than a half-century, helping young readers learn about animals and aviators, poems and presidents, Aesops fables and Chinese legends, died on April 23 in San Clemente, Calif. She was 99. Her daughter, Karen Provensen Mitchell, with whom she had lived since 2008, confirmed the death. For almost 40 years, Ms. Provensen formed half of an illustrating team that was famous in the world of childrens books. Her husband, Martin, was the other half. Together they illustrated dozens of books for young and very young readers, beginning in the 1940s, and as their careers advanced they wrote many as well. After Mr. Provensen died in 1987, Ms. Provensen was hesitant to continue her career. When Martin died, she told Publishers Weekly, at first I didnt think I would ever be able to work again. But her daughter and an editor friend encouraged her, and she continued to write and illustrate into this decade. James Avery, a self-taught jeweler who built a Southern empire selling his creations, the best known of which were religiously inspired, died on Monday. He was 96. James Avery Artisan Jewelry, the company he founded, confirmed the death in a statement but did not say where he died. An agnostic for much of his early adulthood, Mr. Avery became a regular church attendee only after the dissolution of his first marriage, though he remained skeptical of some aspects of religion. He started designing jewelry shortly after marrying for a second time, and by the end of his life religious items like crosses and chalices made up approximately 20 percent of his companys output, The San Antonio Express-News reported in a 2012 profile of him. The Pentagon and the Trump administration apparently have misled Americans about growing military involvement in a war in Yemen that we should have nothing to do with. In the latest expansion of Americas secret wars, about a dozen Army commandos have been on Saudi Arabias border with Yemen since late last year, according to an exclusive report by The Times. The commandos are helping to locate and destroy missiles and launch sites used by indigenous Houthi rebels in Yemen to attack Saudi cities. This involvement puts the lie to Pentagon statements that American military aid to the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen is limited to aircraft refueling, logistics and intelligence, and is not related to combat. When senators at a hearing in March demanded to know whether American troops were at risk of entering hostilities with the Houthis, Gen. Joseph Votel, head of the Central Command, assured them, Were not parties to this conflict. It was enough to make you want to cheer. On the Upper West Side last week, a middle school principal stood before a crowd of angry white parents furious about a plan to help the poorest students gain access to some of the citys most desirable schools and told them they were wrong. There are kids that are tremendously disadvantaged, Henry Zymeck, principal of the Computer School, told the parents, his voice filled with the disappointment of an educator whose pupils had betrayed their most sacred lesson. To compare these students and say, My already advantaged kid needs more advantage, they need to be kept away from those kids! is tremendously offensive to me. How thrilling it was to hear those words in a city with some of the most segregated schools in the country, a city where black and Latino children are often herded into classrooms with such concentrated poverty that one out of four of the students are homeless, while other children attend public schools with P.T.A.s that can raise $1 million. Later, Mr. Zymeck said in a phone interview that he felt that he had to stand up for the black and Latino children in his district, District 3, who overwhelmingly attend schools with fewer resources and lower test scores while wealthier parents have been able to shape and navigate the citys byzantine public school system to their own advantage. A proposed admissions plan for the Upper West Side district would aim to change that by setting aside 25 percent of the seats at every middle school in the district for children with low scores on state exams, a disturbingly effective proxy for race in New York City. Dubious players from the United States election have also reared their heads here. In a report by Channel 4 News in Britain, Cambridge Analytica executives boasted of working in Mexico. Mr. Lopez Obrador and Mr. Anaya have called for an inquiry into which politicians may have hired the company but none have owned up yet. In December, President Trumps national security adviser, H. R. McMaster, said that Russia was trying to meddle in the Mexican election to stir up trouble on the southern border. Mr. Lopez Obrador responded with a jokey video in which he said that he was waiting for a Russian submarine full of gold and that he now goes by Andres Manuelovich. An admirable attempt to combat fake news has come from a group called Verificado 2018, which investigates whether reports are false. Members rightly point out that it is important to stop politicians using the specter of fake news to attack genuine investigations into their corruption. Other organizations have also done valuable work on the issue: The Public Opinion Center of Mexicos Universidad del Valle has a series of studies on the immense impact of social media on Mexican society. These efforts are doing a good job of showing people what is fake and what is real, which gives some hope, said the journalist Esteban Illades, author of a book about the spread of fake news. But we also need to educate people about news and the media from a young age. We need to undertake a major social effort. The spread of fake news comes as Mexico is still struggling to recover from its authoritarian past and the propaganda associated with it. The Institutional Revolutionary Party held the presidency for most of the 20th century, paying off journalists to report in their favor. At the same time, there is a history of devastating crimes that havent been satisfactorily solved, fueling conspiracy theories. A result is distrust in the government and the news media, while many Mexicans choose to believe what their emotions tell them. In such conditions, it is less that Mexico is entering a post-truth era as it is staying stuck in one. Fake news is yet another obstacle in the way of the many here who are struggling to build an honest and open society. All four are represented by a Republican but were won by Hillary Clinton in 2016. And in all four, a large field of Democratic candidates could leave each of them with small vote totals and allow Republican candidates to finish one-two in the primary, even if the two Republicans combined to win significantly less than 50 percent of the primary vote. In that case, Republicans would be guaranteed of keeping the seat, because they would be the only two candidates in the general election. Write-in votes are banned under the California system. In the long term, the solution should involve changing the law to introduce ranked-choice voting, which allows voters not only to choose one candidate but to rank all in a preferred order. Under that system, the most popular Democrat and most popular Republican would likely advance to the general election. In the short term, though, the law isnt going to change, which means Democrats would be wise to coalesce around one or two candidates with the best chance of advancing. To help make that happen, Democratic candidates lagging in the polls should consider dropping out. I understand why some voters will find this advice frustrating: They want to vote for their preferred candidate, not just an acceptable one who appears to be the most electable. But the stakes in this years midterm elections are too high to let the ideal be the enemy of the acceptable. If Democrats dont retake the House of Representatives, imagine how emboldened President Trump would feel. And the partys chances of winning the House may well depend on Orange County. Wasserman, one of the sharpest election analysts, thinks the risk is real: The closer we get to CAs 6/5 primary, the more Im convinced: high odds Dems botch/get locked out of *at least* one top-two primary in a Clinton/R seat, he tweeted. For more, you can read Kathleen Ronayne of The Associated Press on the same issue; The Los Angeles Timess ranking of the states congressional races; and Nate Cohn of The Upshot on the political importance of Orange County in 2018. More on California. Asian-American voters will play a big role in Californias swing congressional districts, as Sara Sadhwani of the University of Southern California writes on the Monkey Cage blog. Asian-Americans in Southern California have traditionally voted Republican, Sadhwani notes; many are Vietnamese-American, which is among the most conservative Asian-American subgroups. But in 2016, more Asian-Americans in these districts supported Hillary Clinton than Donald Trump, suggesting that many are up for grabs in this years midterms. In a previous newsletter, I wrote about the national role of Asian-American voters. Until Wednesday night, Donald Trump and people in his orbit insisted that the president had known nothing about the $130,000 hush money payment to the pornographic film star Stormy Daniels made by his lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, days before the 2016 election. Last month on Air Force One, a reporter asked Trump about it directly: Did you know about the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels? His response was a categorical no. This denial was always implausible, and now we have new evidence that Trump was lying. On Wednesday evening, Rudy Giuliani, whose appointment to Trumps legal team was announced two weeks ago, appeared on Sean Hannitys Fox News show and casually admitted that Trump had repaid Cohen for the money he gave to Daniels over a period of several months. This was a bombshell. And in the 12 hours that followed, both Trump and Giuliani made a series of statements so seemingly self-sabotaging and undisciplined that observers began searching for some sort of hidden strategy or logic. Were they trying to get out ahead of a coming revelation? To set off a metaphorical smoke bomb that would distract from some other scandalous development? Or were they really as blundering and incompetent as they appeared? I suspect the answer is a combination of the three. But their motivations are less important than the information theyve provided us. Whether they realize it or not, experts say they appear to have admitted that Trump and Cohen broke the law. The question is whether the impunity that Trump has enjoyed so far will hold or whether this farce of a presidency will, at long last, begin to crumble under the weight of its own sleaze. Mr. Ortega has shown that he responds only to pressure. In response to the demonstrations, he rescinded the social security plan that triggered the protests, and he freed some of the demonstrators who were jailed. The pressure must be sustained. The business elite is a key power center. Many business leaders have worked with the Ortega government to advance its policies over the years, but most have apparently taken the side of the opposition following the governments violent crackdown. Without the support of big business, Mr. Ortegas position is much weaker. Business leaders should continue to press the government to embrace the rule of law. The United States also has an important role to play. The Global Magnitsky Act an American law used to punish people around the world for human rights violations and corruption was applied in December to Roberto Rivas, the head of the election commission, who is accused of money laundering and conspiring to keep Mr. Ortega in power. The law should now be used to impose sanctions against government officials responsible for the human rights violations in the protests. And because Nicaragua is a major beneficiary of foreign aid, donor countries should demand government transparency and accountability. The bankruptcy of the Social Security Institute, which led to the proposed pension reforms that triggered the protests, reflected mismanagement and lack of transparency by the government. Though the recent demonstrations revealed the scope of the discontent with Mr. Ortega, the many groups protesting were not unified. The fractured opposition lacks clear leadership and agreement on how the president should be removed from power. Mr. Ortega, a wily politician, is already taking advantage of this lack of unity. Opposition leaders should agree to focus on redress for the recent violence and a just restoration of the countrys political institutions, rather than demanding the presidents ouster, which is unrealistic. But some of his cronies must go, including Mr. Rivas, head of the electoral commission, and the chief of the police, who authorized the crackdown on protesters. With most members of the Election Council and Supreme Court in Mr. Ortegas pocket, the opposition negotiators should also focus on re-establishing rules for the fair selection of Supreme Court judges, members of the Electoral Council, and a new police commissioner. With these changes, parliamentary elections in 2019 can ensure a first step toward leveling the playing field for the opposition. Negotiations are the only viable way forward. Continued authoritarianism and violence in Nicaragua will have the same repercussions on security, human rights and migration as they have had on Venezuela. No one has an interest in the complete breakdown of Nicaragua. This is the opposite of what has happened in special congressional elections since Mr. Trumps inauguration. With two exceptions, the Republican candidate has run between five and nine percentage points behind Mr. Trumps results. One exception, the special election for Third Congressional District in Utah, also should not give Republicans comfort. While the Republican winner John Curtis ran well ahead of Mr. Trumps percentage, that number was artificially low because of the candidacy of the conservative Mormon independent Evan McMullin. Mr. Curtis ran 19 percentage points behind Mitt Romneys percentage in 2012; even when the votes from two conservative minor party candidates are added, the combined Republican-conservative vote was seven percentage points lower than Mr. Romneys. The other exception, however, is in line with what we saw in Virginia. The Republican Karen Handel, in a special election in Georgias Sixth Congressional District, had been a local and statewide official for over a decade before her House campaign. She had also twice run for statewide office, carrying the areas in this district in both races. She was not an incumbent, but voters throughout the district knew her and had previously supported her as they would an incumbent. Despite her Democratic opponent, Jon Ossoff, spending a record $31 million against her, she prevailed relatively easily, winning by 52-48 percent. More important, she ran about 3.5 percentage points ahead of President Trumps showing in that district, in line with what we saw incumbents do in the Virginia elections. These observations suggest that the race to control the House is still one that Republicans can win. Republican-held congressional seats that Mrs. Clinton carried where the incumbent is not running, such as Floridas 27th, are almost certainly lost. So, too, are Republican-held seats with incumbents where Mrs. Clinton carried by five or more percentage points (although some of those incumbents might squeak through). But only 16 seats fall into one of those categories. To win the House, Democrats must take out Republican incumbents or win open seats narrowly leaning to the G.O.P. This will be much harder to do if this analysis proves correct. Most Republican incumbents will prevail if they can simply run equal to President Trumps percentage. There are only an additional 19 Republican-held House seats that Mrs. Clinton carried by less than five points or that Mr. Trump carried with less than 50 percent of the vote. Republican incumbents could do much worse than their Virginia House of Delegates counterparts and still largely retain their seats. That in turn would mean that either Democratic control of the House after the midterms would be very narrow or, shocking as it would be to many now, the Republicans could retain control. Incumbent officeholders do tend to run equal to or ahead of their partys presidential candidate even in terrible election years for their party. For example, three of the five Senate Democrats defeated for re-election in 2014 ran ahead of President Obamas share of the vote two years earlier. They lost mainly because they were representing very Republican states in a highly partisan age. Most Republican-held House seats are not in predominantly Democratic areas. As noted above, there are not enough G.O.P.-held seats in places Mrs. Clinton carried by five percentage points or more what we might think of as normally Democratic territory to enable the Democrats to retake the House. The government of President Bashar al-Assad is resurgent in Syria, steadily retaking terrain lost to the rebels. This may bring to an end one set of conflicts, but it could spark newer, potentially more dangerous confrontations. The key to preventing the Syrian civil war from splintering into an even more chaotic and deadly phase will be Russia, whose September 2015 military intervention gave it control of Syrian airspace and placed it politically in the drivers seat. But the United States, too, could still play an important role in preventing matters from getting worse. To understand how perilous the situation in Syria is, look at the map: In the northwest, in Idlib Province, a de-escalation zone that is monitored by the Turkish Army remains tenuous. The Assad government is keen to drive the Turks out, as well as jihadists and other rebels. In the northeast, the Kurds have established a form of self-government, led by the militia called Y.P.G., an American ally in the fight against Islamic State. But that group is the Syrian affiliate of the P.K.K. in Turkey, and is therefore in the Turkish militarys cross hairs. Further to the east, remnants of the Islamic State still roam the desert near the Iraqi border, pursued by the United States and the Y.P.G. as well as by the Syrian regime, and backed by Iran and associated militias. The greatest danger lies in the south, along the armistice line that divides Israel and Syria. Recent tit-for-tat attacks between Israel and Iran and its allies have raised the risk of escalation. In February, only a phone call from President Vladimir Putin of Russia to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel induced Israel to call off further airstrikes against Syrian government and Iranian targets after an Iranian drone invaded Israeli airspace. More recently, Israel piggybacked on international outrage over an apparent regime chemical attack to carry out a second round of strikes, reportedly killing 10 Iranian military personnel and several others at a Syrian airfield. Iran vowed to respond, and is likely to do so at a time of its choosing. This is a game of chicken that could easily spiral out of control. Well, if Antioch College has its way, campus smooching will involve so many questions and answers. You might want to bring your lawyer along. These are the rules. I dont think the sexual offense policy was anti-sex. I loved sex then, and I love sex now. I had a problem and I still have a problem with people feeling like they cant slow down enough to figure out what the other person is really feeling. #MeToo. MeToo. The person of the year is the #MeToo movement. The same conflicts that we had in our discussions in the early 1990s at Antioch College are happening now. What is misconduct, and what isnt? Is it the job of men to now decide when women are capable of consent? We did this 25 years ago. Its just crazy to me that its still an issue. As it reaches the bedroom, as it reaches this male-female coming together, women are saying what? Women are saying, Us too. I see consent as a human issue. If, from the point you meet somebody, youre not seeing them as a person, thats a problem. The difference is not necessarily that we are where we want to be. The difference is that people are talking about it now. Thats the difference. Consent. Thats a tough one, isnt it? Nonverbal, its very tricky. I think you have to be verbal. All of these questions that we were talking about at Antioch in our so-called bubble have now become dinner table conversation. Were going to talk to you all about sexual health and S.O.P.P. [cheering] This is a vagina. And this is the butt. This is actually simple. If someone doesnt want to have sex with you, dont have sex with them. [applause] So in 1991, a group of women at Antioch began a campaign to promote a culture free of sexual violence at Antioch. This was Antioch in the 90s. Antioch has a history of being a fairly radical place. It was really pretty wild, very small. When I came that fall, I look out, and there are two people dancing around in the rain naked. Im like, where in the world did my mother leave me that people dance around in the rain naked? The campus foments this energy to make changes to better our society. And it always has had a safe feeling about it. Antioch has this openness. And I like that. And then there was finding out that two women had been raped on the campus. So we decided that we should talk to other women on campus. And so we called a meeting. And I said, Im going to that meeting. I need to get a napkin. O.K. There were so many women in the room that night. There werent enough chairs for them. We had hit a nerve. At Antioch, we were playing with empowerment. We were pretending we were empowered. I know I was. So when we discovered that there was a rape on campus, we played with saying exactly what we wanted, which was [bleep] that. We decided to draft a list of demands. We wanted people to understand that breaking someones consent in even the smallest of ways was connected to the most violent of assaults. But it didnt take long for us to figure out that we had to define consent. How do you have sex at Antioch College? Very carefully. You have to ask permission before each and every action, from smooching to you-know-what. At the time, that was considered outrageous because it de-sexes the whole thing. Political correctness and campus feminism run amok. Sex is supposed to be mysterious and a little dangerous. So weve got radio and TV spots The Sanford Florida Herald, The Daily Times Call in Longmont, Colorado. This went viral before going viral was even a thing. Is how students get from first base to second base really any of Antioch Colleges business? This idea of women as asexual, things like the Antioch rules. You now have to regulate romance in the interest of protecting women. A lot of erectile difficulties. We were the laughing stock. I was standing in our bookstore when someone from S.N.L. called. And they said, Can we get one of your football jerseys? And we laughed. [laughs] We dont have a football team. The joke was on us. Live from Antioch College in Antioch, Ohio, its time to play Is It Date Rape? The idea that we were involved in some anti-sex crusade was so laughable. May I kiss you on the mouth? Yes. I would like you to kiss me on the mouth. Antioch was a very sex-positive culture. ...sexual intimacy by feeling your buttocks? Yes, you have my permission. We wanted to have as much of a sexual cornucopia as we wanted, but we wanted to be asked if we wanted it. Thats it. I was devastated. Frustration, anger, disappointment. I was so embarrassed, and I felt humiliated. I ended up leaving school. I quit. I think that S.N.L. talked about S.O.P.P. in 1995, which is when I was born. 93? Then I wasnt born. I wasnt even a twinkle in my mothers eye yet when they did that. Going in to Antioch, I had only heard about S.O.P.P. through that skit. All I could think of was Im going to the school that got made fun of. Can anybody think of a time where there was a movie that actually showed affirmative consent? Anybody see Frozen? At the end of Frozen, when that dude is like, Can I kiss you? May I? We me? I mean, may we? Wait, what? We may. This is the first time in a Disney movie that somebody asked for consent. [laughter] The S.O.P.P. is Antiochs formal attempt at ending sexual violence while fostering a campus culture of positive consensual sexuality. ...give you all a little bit more information. It seems like its such a big part of the way of thinking now. Sex is like cooking. I want to cook for you. But if I cook for you now, will you expect me to cook for you later? And if I do cook for you later, will you expect me to cook for you all the time? I want to cook for you. But what if you think my cooking sucks? I want to cook for you, but can we talk about it before I start cooking? [applause] I feel like its good that this was here to give people permission to talk about this. In high school, relationships, its like a game. You have to swoon a girl and make her you have to it feels like theres a lot of gray area when it comes to ones first experience with sexual intimacy. But with this, its so much easier to become intimate with someone if you know exactly where theyre at and where youre at yourself using verbal consent. Its just more of a worldwide thing that we can talk about things now. And with social media, that has just exploded. Somebody can say, hey, that happened to me, and I didnt realize thats what that was. I didnt realize that that counts as sexual assault. Does it mean that women are empowered enough now to say, not anymore? Well, this is just the start. And Ive been saying from the beginning that its not just a moment. Its a movement. Me, too. Me, too. I have been sexually harassed. We have to support each other, and stand together, and say thats it. Were done. No more. [chanting] Do I feel vindicated, like you all finally caught up to us? No. Im glad. At the core of this whole conversation is a question of, what does it mean to be heard? And how is a person supposed to get themselves heard? When you are bare with somebody else alone, and this is the most intimate side of you, and you ask somebody if theyre O.K., I think that that is incredible. It shouldnt feel like a novel idea, but it is. The horse had arthritis when it died. It is possible, too, that it had bone cancer in one ankle. That can happen to any horse once it gets to be a certain age. This one is nearly 16,000 years old. Paleontologists last week identified the skeleton of a horse from the ice age in Lehi, Utah a particularly unusual discovery given that much of the western part of the state was underwater until about 14,000 years ago. Buried for thousands of years beneath seven feet of sandy clay , the remains were discovered only when the Hill family began moving dirt around their backyard to build a retaining wall and plant some grass. Laura Hill said she and her husband, Bridger, uncovered the skeleton last September, but didnt think much of it at first. They wondered if it was a cow; Lehi is about 15 miles from Provo and was once mostly farmland that hugged the edges of nearby Utah Lake. She consulted a neighbor, a geology professor at Brigham Young University, who examined the bones, and guessed they were from a horse from the Pleistocene Era. Denise Gough stood on the edge of the New York City AIDS Memorial Park, on the corner of Seventh Avenue and West 12th Street, and looked across the street. A row of luxury condominiums and ground-level retail spaces now stands on the site of the demolished St. Vincents Hospital. In a couple of hours, Ms. Gough, 38, would head uptown to the Neil Simon Theater, where she is performing as Harper Pitt in the Broadway revival of Tony Kushners Angels in America, a play that has just been nominated for 11 Tony Awards, including one for Ms. Gough as best featured actress. Right now, though, she was struck at what had happened to the Greenwich Village institution that plays a critical role in the play. In the 1980s the hospital was home to many of the citys AIDS patients, and it is where the lead character of the play, Prior Walter (Andrew Garfield), spends much of his time battling his illness and feverishly hallucinating about the afterworld that seems to be beckoning him. I dont know if I would be able to live there, in a place where all that happened, she said quietly, her eyes squinting in the harsh sun. The hospital should never have been torn down. It should have been left alone and remained as a memorial. This is like a precious site. It held the lives of all those people. There are also quotes or ideas from Frantz Fanon and Paul Celan, whose famous poem Death Fugue is militantly declaimed in French by Abdoul Kader Traore, an actor and rapper from Burkina Faso. Europeans have ceased to be the subjects of history; they have become its objects, Faust says, quoting Jean-Paul Sartres analysis of the Algerian war of independence. Mr. Castorf seems to view Faust as the product of an impotent and irrelevant civilization that should be overthrown. Mr. Castorfs method is often described as deconstructive, but here it seems to work more by way of association. Hes far less interested in Goethes text than the intellectual, cultural and historical ideas he relates it to. So when Faust seduces and abandons the virginal Margarete, it inspires an extended detour into Zolas Nana. When, in part two of the play, Faust becomes a wealthy landowner, Mr. Castorf makes it a pretext for some lengthy scenes in Algeria, which include footage from Gillo Pontecorvos 1966 film The Battle of Algiers. Throughout the long evening, a loud, zany soundtrack that includes opera, cheesy fantasy film soundtracks, Jacques Brel, Tom Waits and Blood, Sweat & Tears sustains a near-manic level of intensity. Montage has always been a key concept for Mr. Castorf. In addition to its strikingly cinematic aspects, the production ingeniously crosscuts between both parts of Goethes tragedy (which are radically different from each other), with the play often doubling back on itself in what suggests an endless loop. Image Frank Castorfs production of Faust is one of 10 works selected for this years Theatertreffen, the springtime festival that celebrates the best of German-language theater. Credit... Thomas Aurin The ending, in which the three main characters quarrel about whether Faust won or lost his wager with Mephisto, is a theatrical masterstroke worth waiting for. Yet it is also one of the precious few places where the production actively engages with the meaning of Goethes play, since Mr. Castorf stubbornly refuses to confront the moral and philosophical quandaries of Germanys most emblematic text. The fearless Valery Tscheplanowa gives the most consistently exciting performance in a variety of roles, including Margarete and Nana. The dynamic Alexander Scheer (in the role of Lord Byron, whose poem Manfred is quoted from at length) and the high-strung Daniel Zillmann (playing a Parisian theater director) easily outshine the plays central duo: Martin Wuttke plays Faust with a thuggish gruffness that quickly gets tiresome; Marc Hosemanns muscular and mischievous Mephisto was more impressive until this endurance test of a production took its toll and he began to lose his voice toward the end of the evening. Aleksandar Denics revolving set is brilliant and intricate, incorporating a club, a haunted house and an extremely realistic mock-up of the Stalingrad metro station in Paris, complete with subway platform and train. LOS ANGELES Two and a half years ago, the playwright David Henry Hwang approached the composer Jeanine Tesori with an idea for a show. Mr. Hwang had seen a recent revival of The King and I at Lincoln Center, which got him thinking about how much he loved that classic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical (the songs, the story, the moment the king dies, which never failed to make him cry), and yet, how much he didnt (the plays history of showing a mostly white cast in yellowface, its implicit racism). How about a story that took all that and upended it? What if, instead of an English governess meeting the king of Siam and bringing the blessings of civilization to his backward-thinking country, we had a Chinese guy meeting Hillary Clinton on the eve of the 2016 election? And then what if, 50 years on, a la The King and I, that chance encounter became the stuff of myth, the basis of a blockbuster musical in China? The music would be gorgeous and entrancing thats where you come in, Jeanine in the tradition of the golden age of Broadway musicals. It would be a play with music, or maybe a play that becomes a musical. There was nothing on paper, Ms. Tesori recalled. I dont even remember an outline. Even so, she assented, persuaded by Mr. Hwangs genuine and ferocious passion for the project. The product of their alliance, Soft Power, has its world premiere at the Ahmanson Theater here when it opens on May 16, signifying the first collaboration between the Tony Award-winning creators (Mr. Hwang for M. Butterfly, Ms. Tesori for Fun Home). Joining the pair is Leigh Silverman, who has directed several of Mr. Hwangs plays, including Yellow Face and Chinglish, and who received a Tony nomination for her work on Ms. Tesoris Violet in 2014. Those, and a few chairs, are just about the only props youll find in Mr. Cummingss production. As the artistic director of Transport Group, he is known for minimalist, or essentialist, stagings, like an endearing unisex version of I Remember Mama in 2014. Doing more with less is also the house style of Classic Stage under John Doyle, who has revived musicals as different as Sweeney Todd and The Color Purple by depriving them of distracting stagecraft. But this Summer and Smoke has been scraped too close to the bone. Dane Laffreys big white shoe box, or coffin, of a set conveys all too well Almas empty prospects but offers nothing to suggest either the suffocating trap of her Victorian circumstances or the richness and romance of her imagination. Her statue of Eternity is not even stone; its a framed photograph. Williams specified minimalism no doors or windows but he meant something more poetic by it. In his production notes he refers to de Chirico and Renaissance paintings as a way of suggesting the natural world Alma must finally embrace. Which is not to say Summer and Smoke is hopeful; Alma and John convert each other too late, ending up, once again, on opposite sides of love. But it mustnt play out its bleakness too soon or theres nothing to lose, and thus no drama. Ms. Irelands imagination is so well calibrated that she manages, almost single-handedly, to correct for that distortion. If this Summer and Smoke were performed silently you could still understand the story from her physicalization of Almas character. More than that, her manic laughter, gulping breaths and drooping shocks are carried off with such authenticity that they reframe hysteria as a natural, even brave, response to deprivation and constant insult. But of course a silent performance would not be Williams, and if much of the dialogue has a high butterfat content, Ms. Ireland delivers it naturally. Mr. Darrow, properly dashing and tortured as John, hasnt quite achieved that facility; his emphasis on the characters self-loathing and cynicism sometimes makes him seem hollow instead of harrowed. Williams is partly to blame. Johns feelings for Alma arent as clear as hers are for him, and he often hovers, like the rest of the residents of Glorious Hill especially the stereotypically passionate Mexican family that runs the local casino on the verge of caricature. Williams tried to solve these problems with massive rewriting; the result was The Eccentricities of a Nightingale, which puts the main characters in a rather different framework. Eccentricities is an improvement, but Summer and Smoke is nevertheless Williams, with veins of rich pathos to be mined from its melodrama. Surely its central question remains profound: Why do we fall in love with a persons struggle instead of with the person himself? If this revival doesnt address that question convincingly except in its central performance, I dont blame the cast, which also features Tina Johnson as the local busybody, Ryan Spahn as a traveling salesman and Hannah Elless as a pupil of Almas who turns out to be a rival. No, its the parsimony of the production thats at fault, offering little thats lovely except Michael John LaChiusas original music, in an apt neoclassical mode. Perhaps its fitting that music should be the one element that gives you a taste of what this Summer and Smoke might have been with such an eloquent Alma if it hadnt, like her, spent so much energy stifling its passion. PEACE FOR MARY FRANCES at the Pershing Square Signature Center (previews start on May 8; opens on May 23). The invaluable Lois Smith isnt ready to write her last will and testament. Instead she is starring in Lily Thornes play about a nonagenarian trying to put her affairs in order as three generations of her family help and hinder. For the New Group, Lila Neugebauer directs a cast including J. Smith-Cameron, Johanna Day and Heather Burns. 212-279-4200, thenewgroup.org A PINK CHAIR (IN PLACE OF A FAKE ANTIQUE) at the Performing Garage (in previews; opens on May 9). The Wooster Group pays homage to another avant-garde art star, the visionary Polish director Tadeusz Kantor. Under the direction of Elizabeth LeCompte, the company explores one of Kantors late works, I Shall Never Return. Kantors daughter, Dorota Krakowska, serves as the pieces dramaturge. 212-966-3651, thewoostergroup.org TIMES JOURNEY THROUGH A ROOM at the A.R.T./New York Theaters (previews start on May 10; opens on May 20). Lives arent usually upended by events as extreme as an earthquake and a tsunami and a nuclear catastrophe. But thats what afflicted the people of Fukushima, Japan, and its the subject of Toshiki Okadas new play, his third exploration of the disaster. Dan Rothenberg directs Aya Ogawas translation for the Play Company. 866-811-4111, playco.org WOMAN AND SCARECROW at the Irish Repertory Theater (previews start on May 9; opens on May 20). Marina Carr, one of Irelands most celebrated and haunting playwrights, has never been a woman in need of a brain. In this play, directed by Ciaran OReilly and starring Pamela J. Gray, Stephanie Roth Haberle, Aidan Redmond and Dale Soules, a mother facing death wrestles with an alter ego. 212-727-2737, irishrep.org Last Chance ADMISSIONS at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center Theater (closes on May 6). Joshua Harmons uneasy comedy of white privileges and pieties, directed by Daniel Aukin, accepts its final audiences. Jesse Green described this play, set at a semi-elite prep school, as an extraordinarily useful and excruciating satire of the left, by the left, for the left for today. 212-239-6200, lct.org HARRY CLARKE at the Minetta Lane Theater (closes on May 13). David Cales solo play about a shy Midwesterner who invents an irresistible alter ego ends its Audible-sponsored encore run. Jesse Green wrote that the plays star, Billy Crudup, appears to be having the time of his life in a sly role terrifically suited to his gifts. 800-982-2787, minettalanenyc.com LOBBY HERO at the Helen Hayes Theater (closes on May 13). The security guards at the center of this play will finally lock the doors as the revival of Kenneth Lonergans comic drama, starring Michael Cera, Brian Tyree Henry, Chris Evans and Bel Powley, finishes its run. Ben Brantley wrote that in Trip Cullmans meticulously acted production, the combined wit and non-wisdom of these fallible (i.e., human) beings offers a fascinating reflection on those shaky internal compasses we call moral instincts. 212-239-6200, 2st.com WE LIVE BY THE SEA at 59E59 Theaters (closes on May 6). A theater work devised by the company Patch of Blue and directed by Alex Howarth, this story of an imaginary dog and two teenage sisters (Alexandra Brain and Alexandra Simonet), one of whom is on the spectrum, finishes its run. Elisabeth Vincentelli praised the companys ability to create an expansive world out of seemingly little. 212-279-4200, 59e59.org O n May 1, Hawaii became the first state to pass a bill banning the sale of sunscreen containing chemicals believed to harm coral reefs. The legislation prohibits the distribution of sunscreens containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate that scientists have found contributes to coral bleaching when washed off in the ocean. The Hawaii sunscreen bill now awaits the signature of the governor . The new rules will go into effect Jan. 1, 2021. An estimated 14,000 tons of sunscreen is believed to be deposited in oceans annually with the greatest damage found in popular reef areas in Hawaii and the Caribbean. In 2015, the nonprofit Haereticus Environmental Laboratory surveyed Trunk Bay beach on St. John, where visitors ranged from 2,000 to 5,000 swimmers daily, and estimated over 6,000 pounds of sunscreen was deposited on the reef annually. The same year, it found an average of 412 pounds of sunscreen was deposited daily on the reef at Hanauma Bay, a popular snorkeling destination in Oahu that draws an average of 2,600 swimmers each day. Sunscreen isnt the only enemy of healthy reefs; other polluters include ocean warming, agricultural runoff and sewage dumping. But banning harmful chemicals, say environmental advocates , is one variable swimmers can control. Los Angeles may be home to the glamour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills, but that doesnt mean an upscale visit to the city is out of reach for travelers who dont have big budgets. Dan Ilves, a Los Angeles native and senior vice president for leisure at TravelStore, said that a high-end trip here can be had even without deep pockets. Heres how. Avoid a Summer Visit If youre looking to save on lodging, whether its in mid-tier or luxury hotels, plan your trip to L.A. during the fall, spring or winter (this doesnt apply to times when big events, like the Oscars, are happening best to check your dates in advance). Prices for hotel rooms are higher in the summer because thats when the most tourists come, Mr. Ilves said. If the summer is the only time you can visit, try to plan your trip during the week instead of on the weekend, when hotel rates are often lower. Rely on Ridesharing to Get Around Los Angeles is infamous for its never-ending traffic, and driving around the city is usually a painful process. And if youre staying at a hotel, daily parking fees can add up quickly. Avoid aggravation and save money by relying on Uber, Lyft or other ridesharing services as your primary means of transportation. They are very efficient to use and affordable, Mr. Ilves said. Plus, being chauffeured around town is a true luxury. Restaurant owners are also worrying about increased immigration enforcement: Nearly 20 percent of workers are foreign-born. With unemployment at a 17-year low, businesses everywhere are struggling to find workers. Fast food is feeling the pinch acutely, especially as one important source of workers has dried up. In 2000, about 45 percent of those between 16 and 19 had a job today its 30 percent. We used to get overwhelmed with the number of people wanting summer jobs, Mr. Miller said, adding that he now gets maybe a handful of such applications, at most. I dont know what teenagers do all summer. Gavin Poole, a 17-year-old senior at Montville Township High School in New Jersey, likes the idea of being his own boss thats one reason he created a small business out of after-school landscaping and handyman work. The money has helped cover his cellphone bill and the payments on the Jeep Wrangler he leased last year. I want to be prepared for the future, because you dont know, financially, what situation you could be in, he said. A recent analysis by economists at the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that an increased emphasis on education and getting scholarships had contributed to the decline in working teenagers, reflecting both the rising costs of education and the low wages most people that age can earn. Now, after years of benefiting from low-cost labor, many employers are starting to pay more. Fast-food wages began rising in 2014, and have increased faster than overall wages since. But at $10.93 an hour, the pay is still less than half the average for an hourly employee, pushing companies to offer more incentives like dental insurance, sign-up bonuses and even travel reimbursement to entice workers. Cyntoia Brown, a Nashville woman who is serving a life sentence for killing a man who picked her up for sex while she was being trafficked as a teenager, will receive a hearing that could lead to her release, officials said on Thursday. The clemency hearing, set for May 23, will be the first for Ms. Brown, 30, since she was sentenced nearly 13 years ago, said Melissa McDonald, a spokeswoman for the state Board of Parole. [Read the Timess review of the Cyntoia Brown Netflix documentary, Murder to Mercy.] The board, appointed by the governor, will hear Ms. Browns petition and decide whether to recommend that she be released from the Tennessee Prison for Women, where she is serving a life sentence for fatally shooting Johnny Allen, 43, in 2004. It is up to the governor to decide the process after we make our recommendation, Ms. McDonald said. The governor may act on it or choose not to act. When she was 16, Ms. Brown, who had run away from her adopted family, lived in a motel with a pimp known as Kut Throat who raped and abused her while forcing her to become a prostitute, Charles Bone, her lawyer, said last year. The connection between the New Hampshire case, known as the Bear Brook Murders, and the Golden State case helps fill out the picture of how detectives were able to crack one of Americas most notorious and vexing serial murder cases after more than four decades of traditional police work led to one false lead after another. In January, investigators began piecing together genetic links between the suspect and users of the ancestry site GEDmatch, which had also been used in the New Hampshire case, and within four months had found their suspect. Mr. Holes, it turned out, was linked to both cases. Years earlier, when he was already tracking the Golden State Killer, he had investigated a man for a murder in California who was later tied to the New Hampshire killings. He had since moved on to other cases, but last year Mr. Holes was briefed by a California detective, on a conference call, on how the New Hampshire case was solved, using ancestry websites and the help of genealogists. Im listening and Im thinking, how can I use this technique in my other big case? he said in an interview. And thats when I went on a deep dive with this technology. Its kind of weird how interconnected this thing was and how these things all came together, he added. After identifying distant relatives of the Golden State murder suspect in an online DNA database, Mr. Holes and other investigators spent months, working with genealogy consultants and using traditional police methods such as scouring death and census records, to build out about 25 family trees going back as far as the suspects great-great-great grandparents, who lived on the East Coast in the 1800s, according to Mr. Holes. By scouring hundreds of names, the investigators narrowed in on a man living in a suburb of Sacramento, who matched physical descriptions of the suspect and, in his early 70s, was the right age. They decided to focus on the man, sent a surveillance team to retrieve an item the suspect discarded near his home, tested it for DNA and got a match with the killers genetic profile. The Facts False. Of the three Americans currently known to be held in North Korea, two were arrested after Mr. Trump took office meaning the Obama administration would not have sought their release. Kim Hak-song was arrested on May 6, 2017. He worked at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, a university founded by American evangelical scholars. Tony Kim, also known as Kim Sang-duk, was detained on April 22, 2017. He taught at the same university in Pyongyang for a month. The third hostage Kim Dong-chul has been held in North Korea since October 2015. He is the only one of the three who was detained during the Obama administration. WASHINGTON President Trumps lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani has contradicted Mr. Trumps rationale for firing James B. Comey as the F.B.I. director, saying he was dismissed because he would not say publicly what he had told the president privately: that Mr. Trump was not under scrutiny in the Russia investigation at the time. He fired Comey because Comey would not, among other things, say that he wasnt a target of the investigation, Mr. Giuliani said in an interview late Wednesday with Sean Hannity of Fox News. Hes entitled to that. Mr. Giulianis assertion contradicted the myriad explanations that the president and his aides have given for the firing, and was the first public acknowledgment by a Trump adviser for what Mr. Comey has maintained: that he was fired for his handling of the Russia investigation. At the time of Mr. Comeys dismissal last May, both Mr. Trump and his aides cited his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clintons use of a private email server and his decision to say publicly during the 2016 presidential campaign that Mrs. Clinton, the Democratic candidate, would not be charged with a crime. In 2015, a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia began bombing the Houthis, who have responded by firing missiles into the kingdom. Yet there is no evidence that the Houthis directly threaten the United States; they are an unsophisticated militant group with no operations outside Yemen and have not been classified by the American government as a terrorist group. The Green Berets, the Armys Special Forces, deployed to the border in December, weeks after a ballistic missile fired from Yemen sailed close to Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The Saudi military said it intercepted the missile over the citys international airport a claim that was cast in doubt by an analysis of photos and videos of the strike. But it was enough for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to renew a longstanding request that the United States send troops to help the kingdom combat the Houthi threat. A half-dozen officials from the United States military, the Trump administration, and European and Arab nations said the American commandos are training Saudi ground troops to secure their border. They also are working closely with American intelligence analysts in Najran, a city in southern Saudi Arabia that has been repeatedly attacked with rockets, to help locate Houthi missile sites within Yemen. Along the porous border, the Americans are working with surveillance planes that can gather electronic signals to track the Houthi weapons and their launch sites, according to the officials, all of whom spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the mission publicly. During a meeting on Capitol Hill in March, senators pressed Pentagon officials about the militarys role in the Saudi-led conflict, demanding to know whether American troops were at risk of entering into hostilities against the Houthis. Pentagon officials told the senators what had already been said publicly: that American forces stationed in Saudi Arabia only advised within the kingdoms borders and were focused mostly on border defense. We are authorized to help the Saudis defend their border, Gen. Joseph L. Votel, the head of United States Central Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 13. We are doing that through intelligence sharing, through logistics support and through military advice that we provide to them. WASHINGTON Speaker Paul D. Ryan reinstated the Rev. Patrick J. Conroy as the chaplain of the House of Representatives on Thursday, after the chaplain sent him a letter rescinding his forced resignation and daring the speaker to fire him. I have accepted Father Conroys letter and decided that he will remain in his position as chaplain of the House, Mr. Ryan said in a statement. He added, It is my job as speaker to do what is best for this body, and I know that this body is not well served by a protracted fight over such an important post. Father Conroy, a Catholic priest who has been the chaplain since 2011, intimated in a letter to Mr. Ryan on Thursday that the speaker did not have the authority to fire him, noting that the chaplain, who is selected by the speaker, is elected by the members of the House. He suggested his Catholic faith had contributed to his dismissal. And in an interview, Father Conroy said he had hired a lawyer to press his case. This is so contentious, and I think it is so historic, Father Conroy said, adding, Its not over. WASHINGTON Democrats learned the hard way in 2016 that the right is much more animated by judicial fights after Republicans refusal to consider the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick B. Garland helped rally conservative voters behind Donald J. Trump so he could fill a vacancy held open for nearly a year. Now a new group is emerging on the left in an aggressive effort to counter that imbalance. Demand Justice, a nonprofit being formed by veterans of Capitol Hill, the White House and the Clinton and Obama campaigns, hopes to become a permanent fixture motivating progressive voters on issues related to the federal judiciary while influencing the Senate on judicial nominees. The organization, which expects to raise $10 million in its first year, is not planning to devote its energy to changing the views of Republicans. It instead wants to instill the same kind of zeal in progressives when it comes to the courts, to make the argument that in the current political environment, it is the federal courts that are the final authority on issues important to progressives such as immigration, abortion, gay rights, social policy, the environment and corporate power, to name a few. The group will be led by Brian Fallon, the former spokesman for Hillary Clinton who had previously worked at the Justice Department and on Capitol Hill for Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader. He said he is giving up a role as a television analyst to concentrate on the new push. The changing accounts about the president, the payment and the pornography actress came as a surprise to the attorneys of Ms. Clifford and Mr. Cohen and are forcing some of Mr. Trumps advisers to prepare for a new round of questions from the public. As of a few hours before Mr. Giuliani went on television, his revelations were not part of a wider strategy, beyond whatever conversations Mr. Giuliani and Mr. Trump had, two people close to the presidents team said. Some of Mr. Trumps allies were frustrated that they, once again, had no advance warning of the new narrative, making it more difficult to discuss it adequately as surrogates on television. The presidents tweets on Thursday had far more formal and legalistic language than his typical morning messages to the world, which often include words in all capital letters and are punctuated with exclamation points. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction, Mr. Trump wrote. It was not immediately clear whether the tweets were composed by Mr. Trump or if they were written by one of his attorneys or advisers, which happens on occasion. On Thursday morning, Mr. Giuliani said Mr. Cohen was just doing his job when he made the payment. Imagine if that came out on October 15th, 2016, in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton, Giuliani told Fox Newss Fox & Friends. Cohen didnt even ask. Cohen made it go away. He did his job. Mr. Cohen had worked for Mr. Trump for a decade and has said he would take a bullet for him. Mr. Trump, however, treated Mr. Cohen poorly over the years, people familiar with their relationship have said. Ms. Clifford is suing Mr. Cohen to try to be released from the nondisclosure agreement. And Mr. Cohen is under federal investigation for bank fraud, raising concerns in the presidents inner circle that Mr. Trumps longtime personal lawyer will cooperate with the government. Federal agents raided Mr. Cohens office and home last month and seized documents that included information about payments to Ms. Clifford. Mr. Cohen recently invoked his constitutional right to take the Fifth Amendment in the ongoing Stormy Daniels case. As of last week, the American public had been told that President Trumps doctor had certified he would be the healthiest individual ever elected. That the president was happy with his legal team and would not hire a new lawyer. That he did not know about the $130,000 payment to a former pornographic film actress who claimed to have had an affair with him. As of this week, it turns out that the statement about his health was not actually from the doctor but had been dictated by Mr. Trump himself. That the president has split with the leaders of his legal team and hired the same new lawyer he had denied recruiting. And that Mr. Trump himself had financed the $130,000 payment intended to buy the silence of the actress known as Stormy Daniels. Even in the current political environment that some derisively call the post-truth world, the past few days have offered a head-spinning series of revelations that conflicted with the version of events Mr. Trump and his associates had previously provided. Whether called lies or misstatements, Mr. Trumps history of falsehoods has been extensively documented, but the string of factual distortions that came to light this week could come back to haunt him. The shifting statements also illustrated starkly why some of the presidents lawyers have urged him not to submit to an interview by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, who is investigating whether Mr. Trumps campaign cooperated with Russia during the 2016 presidential election and whether the president obstructed justice to thwart that investigation. Those lawyers have said Mr. Mueller is setting a perjury trap for Mr. Trump. What they do not say publicly is that they worry the president would be unable to avoid contradicting himself. BOSTON A new lawsuit has accused St. Pauls School, an elite boarding school in Concord, N.H., of a decades-long pattern of negligence related to sexual misconduct and accused a former teacher who had not previously been publicly named in connection with the abuse. The suit, filed on behalf of two alumni of St. Pauls and one of their wives, accused Gerry E. Studds, a former United States representative from Massachusetts who had taught at the school, of inappropriate conduct. Mr. Studds died in 2006. His family members could not be reached on Thursday for comment. St. Pauls was a haven for sexual predators, and the school was negligent in failing to prevent the sexual abuse of its students, said the lawsuit, which was filed this week in Merrimack County Superior Court New Hampshire. It also accused four other educators of sexual misconduct, all of whom have previously been named in investigations released by the school. The lawsuit marks a new round of allegations against a boarding school that has been mired in reports of years-old abuses and questions about its handling of more recent allegations of sexual misconduct by students. Last year, investigators hired by the school named 13 former faculty and staff against whom substantiated claims of sexual abuse and misconduct have been made; the investigators added more names in a follow-up report. The school is the subject of an investigation by the New Hampshires attorney general. At first glance, the mountain in the Peruvian Andes, with its bands of soil the color of turquoise, lavender, red-violet and gold, seems Photoshopped. But the otherworldly sight, standing 16,000 feet above sea level, is real. People living nearby call it Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain. The varicolored mountain, with sediment created from mineral deposits over millions of years, was discovered only about five years ago, locals say. But it has become a must-see attraction for hikers, bringing much-needed cash to the area but also prompting concern about possible damage to the previously unspoiled landscape. BEIJING As North Korea holds summit meetings with its archenemies first South Korea, and soon the United States China is hustling not to lose influence. Its foreign minister, Wang Yi, returned Thursday to Beijing after two days in North Koreas capital, Pyongyang, where he met with the countrys leader, Kim Jong-un, shoring up Chinas position as the Norths best friend. China holds substantial economic leverage, but in the heightened strategic competition between it and the United States, it worries that Mr. Kim is using that rivalry to reduce dependence on China, his countrys longtime benefactor. One of Mr. Wangs jobs was to try to stop Mr. Kim from veering toward the United States under President Trump, some Chinese experts said. SEOUL, South Korea The last time his liberal political party was in power, Moon Jae-in saw his boss at the time, Roh Moo-hyun, then South Koreas president, walk across the Demilitarized Zone into North Korea for a summit meeting that resulted in a peace declaration and promises of abundant aid. He then saw those deals discarded a year later, in 2008, by a newly elected president who sought closer ties with President George W. Bush, who had branded the North part of an axis of evil. Now, as president of South Korea, Mr. Moon is keen not to repeat past failures as he stakes his own political career on brokering a deal between the unpredictable leaders of the United States, his nations protector, and North Korea, long its mortal foe. As chief of staff during the Roh administration, from 2003 to 2008, Mr. Moon did not participate in the negotiations with the North, led at the time by Kim Jong-il, the father of the current leader, or join Mr. Rohs overland visit to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. But he did help Mr. Roh organize those talks, held in October 2007. David Goodall, 104, an accomplished Australian scientist, isnt terminally ill, but he wants to die. Mr. Goodall says his quality of life has deteriorated so badly that he has no reason to live, and he would like to end his life through assisted suicide. But he cant do it in his own country, where the practice is banned. So on Wednesday, he took what was expected to be his last flight, bound for Europe, to accomplish his goal and his quest has renewed a debate in Australia about the right to end ones life and what role others should play. Mr. Goodall left his home in Perth to fly to an assisted-dying agency in Basel, Switzerland, a country where assisted suicide has been allowed for decades. Did you know The New York Times publishes close to 30 film reviews each week? Every month, well curate the most relevant and interesting reviews specifically for our Australian audience, based on the local release dates. [Prefer not to go out? Check out our Australian Netflix guide for May instead.] Starring: Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson Directed by: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo What is it? A synergistic expression of the corporate interests of Marvel Studios and the Walt Disney Company. Youll like it if you liked: Guardians of the Galaxy, Thor, Black Panther, or anything in Marvels cinematic universe. LONDON About 50 to 100 grams of liquid nerve agent was used in the March 4 attack on the former Russian spy Sergei V. Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, according to the director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. That quantity a range from slightly less than a quarter-cup to a half-cup of liquid is significantly larger than the amount that would be created in a laboratory for research purposes, meaning that it was almost certainly created for use as a weapon, the director general, Ahmet Uzumcu, said in an interview. He added that he did not know the precise amount. He said he had taken steps to add the nerve agent, one of a series of chemicals created under the code name Novichok, to the list of chemical weapons monitored by the O.P.C.W., a global body created to oversee the elimination of stockpiles after the end of the Cold War. After that, countries that are signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention like Russia, the United States and the United Kingdom will be required to declare production or stockpiling of Novichok beyond the 5 to 10 grams needed for research purposes, or to develop an antidote, he said. The Center for Human Rights in Iran, a New York-based advocacy group, said in a posting on its website that Ms. Amiri has been incarcerated in a wing of Tehrans Evin Prison operated by the Intelligence Ministry, which is holding her without access to a lawyer on national security charges. Without identifying Ms. Amiri by name, the British Council said, We are aware that one of our staff has been detained in Iran while making a private family visit. The British Council also denied that she had traveled to Iran on its behalf. This colleague does not travel to Iran for work, it said in its mailed statement. She works in the U.K. to support and showcase the Iranian contemporary art scene. At least one other Iranian with British connections arrested recently is a dual citizen of Britain and Iran. Abbas Edalat, an academic and antiwar activist, was arrested in mid-April, an Iranian judicial official confirmed last week. Mr. Edalat, a professor of computer science and mathematics at the Imperial College of London, had been invited to speak at an academic event in Tehran. Image Abbas Edalat, a professor at the Imperial College of London, was arrested recently by Iranian intelligence. Credit... Imperial College of London The fate of another British-Iranian dual citizen, Mahan Abedin, is somewhat murkier. A writer and analyst generally favorable to the Iranian government, Mr. Abedin failed to return as scheduled on April 29 from a visit with family in Iran, said his publisher, Michael Hurst. His only contact with Mr. Abedin, he said, has been a brief note saying he was fine and to please stop contacting me. Iran Wire, a news website run by expatriate Iranian journalists, said on Monday that Mr. Abedin had been arrested on suspicion he conspired in an infiltration operation. Britains Foreign Office disputed that account. The countrys crises are many: a million Syrian refugees are straining public services; a shaky economy is increasingly teetering; garbage is piling up; fear is spreading of a new war between Hezbollah and Israel; and the political class has failed to find solutions. But despite the countrys pride in being a rare Arab democracy, few expect the long-awaited elections to do much to solve its pressing problems. Is this going to bring a new government that is able to change things? said Sami Atallah, the director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies. No, because we have a system that has successfully undermined all accountability mechanisms. As long as these are not in place, I cant see how these politicians will be able to deliver to the people. Lebanons political system is an unwieldy compromise based on sect-based power sharing. Half the seats in Parliament are assigned to Christians and half to Muslims. Most parties are based on sect and their supporters look to them for protection and patronage more than for sound policies. Some are still led by warlords from the countrys 15-year civil war, or their offspring. Since 2009, the government has collapsed twice and the country went without a president for more than two years because the factions could not agree on one. We have no choice, Naoufel Jammali, a lawmaker of the Islamist-leaning Ennahda Party and a former cabinet minister. We have to strengthen our ties with the international institutions which advise us to take these steps. Everyone keeps talking about a new economic model, but we have no idea how to create a new model. Politicians attribute the economic hardships to the lingering aftereffects of the global financial meltdown a decade ago as well as troubles in neighboring Libya, an oil-rich behemoth that once provided jobs, businesses and remittances but that is now a source of security threats, including terrorist attacks that have damaged Tunisias tourism industry. They also blame political infighting in Parliament and the street protests, factors that would have been easier to suppress under the dictatorship. In February, Parliament exploded into shouting matches over the process for naming a new central bank governor. Before there was always one strong boss to make decisions, said Mohamed Saidane, a lawmaker and member of the secular Nidaa Tounes party. Now, were changing. There are 270 deputies and 25 parties and no one has a majority. The electoral system is slowing down the economy. But others pinpoint specific decisions made by the countrys leaders at the behest of the monetary fund and other Western powers that have worsened Tunisias problems. Last year the I.M.F. delayed a loan disbursement because it said the government wasnt moving fast enough to sell off three banks and slash government jobs. It also coaxed Tunisia into adopting higher sales tax rates in an effort to reduce the 2018 budget deficit. Tunisians were stunned when the funds Tunisia mission chief, Bjorn Rother, told Bloomberg last month that the dinar should fall even lower, a sentiment that baffled economists who worry that consumers are already suffering under soaring fuel and food costs and that the government is squeezed by debt payments denominated in dollars and euros. A Tunisian business website marveled, Does Bjorn Rother want to kill the Tunisian economy? The story of a 2016 payment from President Trumps personal attorney to a pornographic film actress took another dramatic turn on Tuesday when the attorney, Michael D. Cohen, said in court that he made the $130,000 payment at the direction of Mr. Trump. Mr. Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations related to the payment. Mr. Cohens account contradicted his own earlier statements about the payment, as well as those made by the president and other advisers. Those explanations have ranged from outright denial of the presidents involvement to suggesting that Mr. Trump reimbursed Mr. Cohen but had no earlier knowledge of the payment. Related article President Trump once again vehemently denies any such occurrence. In an email sent to The New York Times after The Wall Street Journal reported about the payment, Mr. Cohen, the presidents longtime personal lawyer, did not address the payment but denied that Stephanie Clifford, better known as Stormy Daniels, and Mr. Trump had had an affair. Its old news that wasnt true then and not true now. After In Touch magazine published excerpts from a 2011 interview with Ms. Clifford in which she said she had a sexual relationship with Mr. Trump, Mr. Cohen again denied that such a relationship existed. This is not breaking news, he said in an email to The New York Times. I used my own personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford. In a statement to The New York Times, Mr. Cohen acknowledged for the first time that he had a role in the payment, adding, Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly. There was no knowledge of any payments from the president. Ive had conversations with the president about this, said Ms. Sanders, the White House press secretary. He has denied all these allegations. No. This was Mr. Trumps response when he was asked by a reporter if he knew about the payment to Ms. Clifford. In what were his first public remarks about the matter, Mr. Trump denied knowing about the $130,000 payment. He added, Youll have to ask Michael Cohen. He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me. In a telephone call to Fox & Friends, Mr. Trump distanced himself from Mr. Cohen but acknowledged that Mr. Cohen represented him in connection with Ms. Clifford. The president repaid it. Mr. Giuliani, one of the presidents lawyers, told Sean Hannity, the Fox News host, that Mr. Trump reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the payment. Mr. Giuliani also referred to the payment as a retainer. The statement contradicted what Mr. Cohen said about using his own money to pay Ms. Clifford. It also contradicted Mr. Trumps statement that he was not aware of the payment. They set up a reimbursement, $35,000 a month. In an interview with The New York Times shortly after his Fox News appearance, Mr. Giuliani said that over all, Mr. Cohen was paid $460,000 or $470,000 out of Mr. Trumps personal family account after the campaign was over. He did not use the word retainer in relation to these payments, which he said also included money for incidental expenses that Mr. Cohen had incurred on Mr. Trumps behalf. Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer. In a series of Twitter posts, Mr. Trump confirmed he made the payments to Mr. Cohen. He said the money for Ms. Clifford was paid out of a retainer, which appeared to contradict Mr. Giulianis initial description of a monthly reimbursement plan out of his personal family account. Over all, however, Mr. Trump seemed to be backing up Mr. Giuliani. Having nothing to do with the campaign. The president also said that the money was in no way related to the campaign. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no role in the transaction, Mr. Trump tweeted. Imagine if that came out on Oct. 15, 2016, in the middle of the, you know, last debate with Hillary Clinton. Mr. Giuliani, in an early morning interview with Fox & Friends, seemed to speculate over what would have happened if allegations of the affair resurfaced during the campaign. He appeared to suggest that timing of the payment was connected to the contentious presidential election, contradicting Mr. Trumps Twitter statements, as well as his own. Mr. Giuliani said Mr. Cohen was just doing his job by making it go away. Virtually everything said has been said incorrectly. The president undercut Mr. Giulianis statements about the payment, saying the former New York City mayor is still learning the subject matter and will get his facts straight. He said Mr. Giuliani would be issuing a statement. There is no campaign violation. In his statement, Mr. Giuliani merely reiterated that Mr. Trumps payment to Mr. Cohen was not a campaign violation and added that references to timing were not describing my understanding of the presidents knowledge, but instead, my understanding of these matters. At the direction of the candidate. Know more about Vikram Maan, a young PR and Social Media conglomerate from Rajasthan 35 dead as storm, rains play havoc in Rajasthan India oi-Deepika By Deepika Unprecedented rainfall and heavy dust storm created havoc late on Wednesday night claimed 35 lives in Bharatpur and in Alwar district of Rajasthan. At least 100 people were injured in the dust storm and rainfall in these two districts. Many villages were under the dark and power supply was not be restored till Thursday. Total 35 people dead so far including 17 people in Bharatpur, 9 in Dholpur, 9 in Alwar, 205 people injured. In Karauli, the wall of a building collapsed, injuring two women and three children. They were rushed to Hindaun City's government hospital. More than two-dozen people were injured after a thatched house collapsed, power poles and trees were uprooted in the two districts as high-intensity squall struck the Matsya region comprising Bharatpur, Dholpur, Alwar and Dausa region, police said. A detailed report of mishaps is awaited even as teams were pressed into service to rescue trapped people from damaged houses. The injured have been admitted to government hospitals. A sudden change in the weather was witnessed in the New Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) too. Heavy rains also lashed parts of the city, bringing down the maximum temperature to 28 degrees Celsius. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted that monsoon is likely to be normal this year. A private weather forecasting agency Skymet mentioned that these pre-Monsoon activities are triggered on account of activation of heat-low which is seen over parts of Rajasthan and Haryana that happens due to the passage of an active Western Disturbance. The weather report also stated that dust storm and thundershower activities are also expected over Punjab, Haryana, North Rajasthan and West Uttar Pradesh. PM Modi expresses grief over Motihari bus accident which left 27 dead India oi-Vikas By Vikas Prime Minister Narednra Modi on Thursday expressed grief over the bus accident in Bihar's Motihari which left 27 people dead. "My thoughts are with those who lost their loved ones due to a bus accident in Bihar's Motihari. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest," Modi tweeted. At least 27 people died in Bihar's Motihari district on Thursday after the bus they were travelling in overturned and caught fire. Bihar disaster management minister Dinesh Chandra Yadav said the vehicle caught fire after it fell into a ditch, news agency PTI reported. The bus was travelling from Muzaffarpur to Delhi on the NH 28 when the accident occurred. The vehicle toppled while the driver was taking a turn, and immediately caught fire, HT reported. "It is a really painful incident. Local administration officials are present at the spot. We will extend all possible help to the families of those who died," said chief minister Nitish Kumar while speaking at a public function in Patna, according to ANI. Meanwhile, the hospitals in Motihari and Muzaffarpur districts have been put on alert as the death toll may rise. National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force teams rushed to the spot. No more 'Gorakh Dhanda' in Haryana: State government bans the use of phrase Another shocker from Haryana: 19-year-old gang-raped by auto rickshaw driver and his friends India oi-Deepika By Deepika A 19-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped by an autorickshaw driver, and four others near Gurugram's Sohna road. The woman, a native of Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh, had taken an auto from Sohna and was going to Gurugram. The auto driver stopped the auto at a secluded place near Sohna road where four of his friends were already present. In another incident, a 17-year-old girl committed suicide after she was allegedly gang-raped by eight men in Haryana's Nuh district. An FIR has been lodged and an investigation is underway. The incident has come at a time when the entire nation is still seething with anger over the numerous rape cases that are reported from Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir. In a similar incident recently, a 19-year-old Dalit nursing student was allegedly gang-raped in Varkala. The victim, a second-year BSC nursing student, was raped by an autorickshaw driver and two of his friends near Ayanthi bridge in Varkala. A case under IPC 376 (2) (g) (gangrape) was registered against the accused, who are absconding. In poll bound Karnataka, Gowda continues to keep all guessing India oi-Vicky Nanjappa H D Deve Gowda has kept everyone guessing on what the JD(S) would do in the post-election scenario in Karnataka. With several opinion polls suggesting a hung house, the JD(S) is expected to play kingmaker. It may be recalled that Gowda was praised by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, which set of speculation that the BJP and JD(S) are in an alliance. Gowda, however, downplayed Modi's statements and requested the media not to read too much into it. Gowda had both praise and criticism for the PM and said that he is a very intelligent man who does his homework before saying anything. "He (Modi) understands what is happening in Karnataka. He knows exactly what to say in each state he visits. He said he used to come to receive me at my car and then drop me back when I went to visit him. There is nothing special in that and there is no need to take any meaning out of this," Gowda said. He, however, criticised the PM for his silence on the Mahadayi dispute. He addressed a rally at Belgavi. Could he have not spoken at least something about the issue, Gowda asked. We can understand his character now. Did he have one word for the farmers, Gowda further asked? 'Modi's praise for me does not mean JD(S)-BJP alliance', says Deve Gowda Gowda also said that he had said he would resign if Modi became PM. "After that, I had met Modi and he told me not to resign. He said he needed my guidance", Gowda also added. Gowda said that the PM's praise stems from the fact that he is an ex-PM and there is nothing more to that. He also said that a Kannadiga had become the PM of the country and Siddaramaiah tried to demolish Kannada pride. "This is how Congress gives respect to Kannada pride", he also said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had some kind words for Deve Gowda during one of his rallies he addressed in Karnataka on Tuesday. He criticised Rahul Gandhi for taking on Deve Gowda and said that even though he is a novice, he criticises a veteran like Gowda. The generous praise on Gowda is being seen as analysts as an attempt by the BJP to keep the JD(S) happy in the eventuality of a hung verdict in Karnataka. H D Kumaraswamy had earlier said that the mistake of the past will not be repeated. "Would I be working so hard in the heat of north Karnataka, if I was in an alliance with the BJ?. North Karnataka is considered to be a strong region for the BJP. Kumaraswamy also adds that he has made several promises to the voter and those cannot be fulfilled if his party enters into an alliance. If we cannot form the government we will either sit in opposition or face a fresh election", he also says. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 Mohammad Ali Jinnah: Why is he such a controversial figure in India? Jinnah contributed as much to freedom struggle as Gandhi, Nehru did: SP MP Those backing Jinnah are the same people who stood by Afzal Guru: BJP's Sudhanshu Trivedi Jinnah's portrait there even at Sabarmanti Ashram, why no protest on that, asks AMU VC Jinnah row: UP Deputy CM refuses to comment on SP Maurya's remark India pti-PTI Kanpur, May 3: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya today steered clear of the controversy over his ministerial colleague Swami Prasad Maurya's reported remarks in "praise" of Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Keshav said the matter concerns the party and will be resolved there. "Jinnah has no place in the country...he was an enemy of the country and will remain as one," he told newspersons when asked to comment on the controversy over Swami's reported statement. Swami's reported statement that Jinnah contributed to India's freedom before partition had kicked up a row with even his own party leaders raising objections over it. He had, however, dismissed the allegations levelled against him a day later. At least 28 students were injured in police lathicharge on Wednesday at the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University, which has been witnessing a row over a decades-old photograph of Pakistan founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Earlier on Wednesday, Rapid Action Force of the Uttar Pradesh police was deployed after students and some right-wing activists almost came to blows. The right-wing activists were demanding the removal of Jinnah's photo, to which the students objected. PTI Karnataka: Will Congress not allow Kumaraswamy to be CM for full 5-year term? Is it chief minister Kumaraswamy or chief manager of Congress Ktaka ATM? BJP has an answer All is well between Congress, JD(S)? Kumaraswamy meets Rahul as Karnataka waits for full cabinet Karnataka elections: 'Divide and rule is the Congress formula to win,' says Sambit Patra India oi-Madhuri BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday said that the ruling Congress party in Karnataka is fighting the election on communal agenda. While addressing media, Patra said, "Congress leaders are urging Muslims to vote for the party en masse. Divide and rule is the formula for Congress this election." He also said, "Our agenda is only development but Congress is polarizing Karnataka, in a rally senior leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Ghulam Nabi Azad openly asked Muslims to vote for Congress en masse.'' Question Congress for not allowing saffron flags to fly in few temples in Udupi, Patra said''Saffron flag does not belong to the BJP, it belongs to the ideology of the crores and crores of people.'' ''Are you fighting with the religion? No! This is a political, ideological, democratic battle. Not a religious battle where you would like to do away with Saffron flag, codes & tradition of temples,'' he also said. Patra further said,''Poor Muslims in Karnataka, they have been looted of the Waqf property worth 2,30,000 crores. Looted by the once who are affluent at the behest of the Congress. Why is the Congress silent today? Why was Siddaramaiah silent for last 5 yrs?.'' Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 Karnataka elections: I dont want a BJP-mukt Bharat, says Rahul Gandhi India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Bengaluru, May 3: While the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is determined to eliminate the Congress from across the nation, president of the grand old party, Rahul Gandhi, has a fresh view on the whole matter. If the BJP wants a "Congress-mukt Bharat", Rahul does want a "BJP-mukt Bharat". In an exclusive interview to Deccan Herald, Rahul said, "I am saying that the BJP view is a fact in India, and I do not want a BJP-mukt Bharat. I will fight them, I will defeat them, but it is an expression and I accept that all voices must be heard. Where I draw the line is violence. Where I draw the line is hatred. My main concern with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) view and the BJP view is violence, hatred, animosity." Rahul's comment on the whole matter came at a time when the Congress and the BJP are pitted against each other in the fierce battle for Karnataka. The southern state is going to polls on May 12. The results of the Assembly elections will be out on May 15. The elections will be held for 224 Assembly seats in Karnataka. "You might have noticed Mr Modi (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) talks very disparagingly about me, about other Congress leaders. I will always respect the post of the Prime Minister. You will not see me using the same type of language," the 47-year-old Congress chief told Deccan Herald. Talking about the upcoming polls in Karnataka, Rahul said, "The central fight in Karnataka is between the BJP ideology and the Congress ideology." Rahul also asked the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) to be clear whether it is going to join hands with the BJP after the elections. "And Mr Deve Gowda (JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda) has to be clear. He has to tell the people of Karnataka, is he on this side, or on that side." The scion of the Gandhi family, who was attacked by PM Modi in Karnataka recently, said that his party's aim was to ensure that the RSS does not crush the voice of Karnataka. "Do not allow Karnataka or any other state for that matter to be controlled by the RSS," he said. "Because that is what this election is all about. The election is about Nagpur and the RSS trying to control the voice of Karnataka. And ensure that those elements in the society are fought." Both Rahul and PM Modi are in Karnataka currently to campaign for their respective parties. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 3, 2018, 13:34 [IST] Karnataka elections: With Shimsha River drying up in Maddur, farmers fight for water, livelihood India oi-Maitreyee Maddur, May 3: Almost 80 kms away from Karnataka's capital city of Bengaluru lies the otherwise quaint township of Maddur in Mandya district, which is bustling with activities these days, thanks to the upcoming Assembly elections in the state. As vehicles mounted with loudspeakers and plastered with posters of political parties zoom past the narrow lanes of the township in south Karnataka, residents come out in sizeable numbers to collect colourful leaflets left behind by the supporters of candidates contesting the polls. The election to the 224-member Karnataka Assembly is scheduled on May 12. The results will be declared on May 15. Amid the noise and excitement associated with any Indian election, the Shimsha River placidly flows through the heart of Maddur, famous for its sugarcane, coconut and paddy cultivation. Over the years, Shimsha, a tributary of Cauvery River, has turned into a shadow of its former self, making it look like a sluggish pond struggling to survive incessant sand digging, lack of rainfall in the past few years and pollution. All these years, Shimsha River has been the lifeline for the people of Maddur, predominantly engaged in agriculture. Almost 70 per cent of the people in Maddur constituency are farmers. Now, the river, especially during the summer season, can't fulfil the water demands of the farmers, forcing them to dig massive borewells in almost every km in Maddur. Lack of availability of irrigation water is a major election issue in Maddur, which most political parties are not ready to talk about in details. Farmer HP Bala Raja Gowda, who owns several acres of land, told OneIndia that water is scarce in Maddur and neighbouring villages which is causing a lot of distress to cultivators. "Water is the main election issue here. We also need regular supply of electricity to pump water into our fields. Streets here are in bad shape as anyone can see that easily. The drainage system is almost non-existent in Maddur," said Gowda. Echoing similar sentiments, his friend and fellow farmer, Ramchandra KH, stated that non-availability of water has forced digging of a large number of borewells in the town and neighbouring areas which in turn has resulted in the depletion of ground water. Last year, as drought-like condition prevailed in Karnataka, the incumbent Congress government carried out cloud seeding in Maddur, Ramanagar and Kanakpura. A sum of Rs 300 crore was spent on the 'experiment' with the hope of bringing "good rainfall" to the "parched land". Unfortunately, the effort did not yield much result and farmers of Maddur feel that the entire exercise caused "harm to the environment". Lack of irrigation water, high input costs, piling debts, non-payment of dues by buyers and shrinking of individual land holding to name a few problems have brought a lot of misery to the farmers in Maddur. The manifestation of their miseries could be well-gauged from the number of suicides the entire district of Mandya, the sugarcane belt of Karnataka, has witnessed in the past few years. According to reports, out of at least 3,500 suicides of farmers in Karnataka in the last five years, around 200 farmers in the district have killed themselves in 2015 and 2016. If water is scarce, so is electricity. The farmers complained that they get only three hours of electricity a day to irrigate their fields. Most often frequent power cuts ensure that electricity supply remains available for not more than an hour a day. Talking about using generators to irrigate their lands, Ramchandra said that they were in no position to do so because of high fuel prices. "I have to sell my land if I start using diesel generators," he said. Ramchandra suggested that instead of giving farm loan waiver, which anyway is of meagre amount, farmers should be given Minimum Support Price (MSP) for all their yields as stated by the Swaminathan Commission report. Experts say the Siddaramaiah government's Rs 8,165-crore farm loan waiver last year was aimed at wooing voters ahead of the elections. SH Linge Gowda, the former excise officer-turned-politician who is contesting the polls from Maddur constituency as a candidate of the Swaraj India party, said that agriculture is in doldrums in the region and unfortunately no politician was ready to have a conversation on it. Linge Gowda is one of the 13 candidates contesting elections from the Maddur constituency which has 2,02,418 voters. "As water crisis looms large over Maddur, farmers are a worried lot. Majority of the people here are engaged in agriculture. Over the past few years, farmers are facing several problems. This has also led to rise in unemployment," Linge Gowda told OneIndia. The residents of Maddur are not very hopeful about their future looking at the way the whole election campaign is unveiling. "The candidates host big rallies and deliver speeches. They don't talk to us to understand our issues. They don't want to know what we want from them," said a youth, who works in a private company in Bengaluru. The constituency has elected the Janata Dal (Secular) (JD(S)) candidates in the previous two Assembly elections in 2008 and 2013. The supporters of sitting JD(S) MLA from Maddur, DC Thammanna, expressed confidence of his win once again from the home turf of HD Deve Gowda family. With both Congress and BJP houses divided in Maddur as the parties saw their 'loyalists' leaving their parties in quick succession to join 'opponents' since last year, Thammanna does have an upper hand in the elections. But it is debutant like Linge Gowda, who aims to introduce "alternative politics", that is the key to understand the actual needs of the local people. Election or not, farmers of Maddur say they will till the land and grow crops till they can. Water, of course, remains a headache for the cultivators, but the green, lush fields of sugarcane, paddy and millet dotting Maddur are a testimony of human determination to cross all hurdles. And Shimsha River is a witness to all that. No fresh request concerning Nirav Modi: MEA India pti-PTI New Delhi, May 3: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday said it has not received any fresh request from any probe agency for action against jeweller Nirav Modi, key accused in the PNB loan fraud case. "At this point of time, we have not received any specific request from our agencies regarding it," MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters. He was asked about reports that Modi was in New York and whether the MEA was aware of it. "I cannot indulge in speculation. There are reports of him being in many countries. As far as the MEA is concerned, we come into the picture, once we receive a specific request from our agencies vis-a-vis from a particular country," Kumar said. On April 5, Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh had told the Rajya Sabha that the MEA has submitted a request to Hong Kong authorities for provisional arrest of Modi. Modi had fled the country before the PNB fraud came to light. The MEA had revoked Modi's passport on February 23. Kumar said after revoking Modi's passport, the MEA had followed laid-down norms to inform all passport issuing authorities as well as its missions abroad about the action. PTI How the MYD factor in Uttar Pradesh is likely to hurt the BJP Politicians eating at homes of Dalits is a fake show': Savitri Bai Phule India oi-Vikas By Vikas Coming down hard at politicians who visit Dalits homes and have a meal there for the sake of votes, BJP MP Savitri Bai Phule dubbed such acts as a 'fake show'. The sharp comments from the Bahraich MP come in the backdrop of a controversy over the recent visit to a Dalit home by a UP government minister belonging to her own party. "85% people of India belong to backward caste & these people are poorest. Those eating food at the residence of Dalits they are neither using utensils of their house nor are they eating the food cooked there. This is all a fake show and is not going to help," Phule said. She said statues of B R Ambedkar were vandalised but the culprits not put behind bars and added that mere propaganda will not serve any political purpose. "No action is being taken against people who are vandalizing BR Ambedkar's statue, they should do justice with the people of backward castes. The Constitution exists because of a man who belonged to the backward caste," she added. "I disagree with the trend of politicians going to Dalits' homes. The father of our Constitution Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar was against caste system so those who follow him should not use caste for political purposes. Why only Dalit bhojs (meals) are hyped in the media and not similar events at places belonging to any other caste?" an angry Phule asked while speaking to PTI. Raising more questions, the parliamentarian asked why even after decades of independence she was referred to as a 'Dalit MP'. "The President is termed as Dalit President. Had Dr Ambedkar's Constitution been followed in letter and spirit, the situation would have been different," she asserted. She said if anyone wanted to enhance the honour of Dalits, they should have meals cooked by them and in their utensils. "Statues of Dr Ambedkar are damaged but arrests are not made. Dalits are murdered. Instead of ensuring justice to them, this propaganda will not help anyone", Phule said. In recent times, several leading politicans, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, had dinner at Dalit households. A recent such visit by a UP government minister Suresh Rana got mired in controversy as there were reports suggesting he may have brought his own food and water. The minister and his aides reached the home of a Dalit family in Aligarh to dine with them, but ordered food, mineral water and cutlery from outside as the family was not aware of the minister's visit, according to reports. Pictures of a well laid out dining table with an assortment of dishes and cutlery went viral on the social media. Minister Rana however rejected the allegations saying, "In fact, food was prepared in that village by the villagers themselves." Last month, BJP MP Phoole had taken part in a rally in Lucknow to protest against her own government alleging there was a "conspiracy to end reservations". She said "there was a conspiracy to end reservation and her government just playing the role of a mute spectator". Significantly, Phoole is not the only senior BJP leader who has raised questions about the trend of leaders rushing to Dalit homes for meals. At the event held at Dadri village near Chhattarpur in Madhya Pradesh two days back, the Union Minister Uma Bharti had said she does not take part in such community meals as she doesn't consider herself Lord Rama, who would purify people by having food with them. "I don't go to the houses of Dalits to have meals, though I support this (breaking bread with the people of scheduled caste category)," she said. Bharti said instead, she invites Dalits to her home to have food. OneIndia News with PTI inputs For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 3, 2018, 22:16 [IST] Rahul never disrespected Gowda, says Cong after Modi's attack India pti-PTI The Congress on Wednesday said its president Rahul Gandhi has not shown any disrespect towards JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda as stated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Hitting back, the party said it was Modi who 'disrespected' his two predecessors (Manmohan Singh and Gowda) and sought an apology from him for it. "There is no disrespect expressed ever towards Deve Gowda by Rahul Gandhi ... it is not in the Congress culture to insult," deputy leader of opposition in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma told reporters here. Accusing the Prime Minister of assaulting the dignity of his office with his expressions and language, he said during campaign speeches he had said things that were not true. "This government's very foundations are on false promises, lies, deceit, propaganda and boastful claims," he alleged adding PM Modi and his government were in the "departure lounge". He said Congress knew Gowda was a very senior and respected leader. "When Deve Gowda ji was prime Minister his government had the full support of the Congress party. Rahul Gandhi has not said anything derogatory about Shri Deve Gowda," he said. Sharma alleged there was an "opportunistic understanding and unholy nexus" with the JDS that the Prime Minister and BJP chief Amit Shah had sought and created. That was the reason a question had been asked and criticism levelled, he said. "In remarks that raised eyebrows in political circles," PM Modi addressing an election rally yesterday, had lashed out at Rahul Gandhi for 'insulting' Gowda, saying it showed his 'arrogance'. Sharma insisted that PM Modi apologise for repeatedly insulting former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whom he described as "one of the most respected elders, leaders and statesmen." The country had seen how "insulting and disrespectful" Modi had been towards Manmohan Singh in Parliament itself. "So let him apologise," the senior Congress leader said. He recalled Gowda had in the run up to 2014 elections said he would take political sanyas if Modi became the Prime Minister. Modi had also said he would send Gowda to a "old age home," Sharma alleged. "Let him also apologise to Deve Gowda ji ... Let the people of Karnataka know this Prime Minister has a forked tongue and basically he is a master in the art of "duplicity and hypocrisy," he added. Attacking the government on a host of issues including women's safety, farmer issues, bank fraud and Rafale deal, Sharma said, Modi should know the "time has come" and the countdown for BJP will start from Karnataka. " ... he is in the departure lounge ; his government is in the departure lounge. People of India are not disappointed but fed up of untruth, lies, false promises and false claims, insulting the wisdom of the people and they are waiting to send them off," he charged. PTI Raviji, the same thing just happened to me: Shashi Tharoor to seek explanation from Twitter What is itat e-dwar the new e-filing portal of the IT appellate tribunal Social media companies free to do business, but should be accountable to Indian laws: Ravi Shankar Prasad Big step towards transparency: Prasad on first compliance report by Google, FB under new IT rules If over 45 countries use Pegasus, why target just India?, asks Ravi Shankar Prasad 'Reconsideration of Justice Josephs elevation not revenge', says Ravi Shankar Prasad India oi-Staff By Oneindia Staff Writer Union Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad has rejected the narrative that the government had turned down the elevation of Justice K M Joseph to the Supreme Court due to his judgment on president's rule in Uttarakhand. The government is well within its right to seek reconsideration of proposals sent by the Collegium of the Supreme Court, he also said. He also cited a Supreme Court judgment to make his point. "I wish to deny with all authority at my command that it has nothing to do with it (Justice Joseph's decision) at all, for two obvious reasons. Firstly, a proper (BJP-led) government with a nearly three-fourths majority has been elected in Uttarakhand. Secondly, that order was confirmed by Justice (J.S.) Khehar of the Supreme Court," Prasad said in response to a media query. Meanwhile, a crucial Collegium meet to discuss the issue was postponed on Wednesday. The five-member collegium, comprising Chief Justice Misra and Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph were to discuss threadbare the note sent to the CJI by Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad while returning the file relating to the recommendation to elevate Justice Joseph as a Supreme Court judge. Justice Joseph's name was recommended along with the senior advocate Indu Malhotra on January 10 for their elevation as Supreme Court judges. The government had on April 26 declined to accept the recommendation of the Collegium and asked it to reconsider his name. Indu was sworn in as the judge of the Supreme Court on April 27. Justice K M Joseph, who had headed the bench that had quashed the Narendra Modi government's decision to impose President's rule in the Congress-ruled hill state in 2016, was not considered to be elevated as a Supreme Court judge by the Centre. It said the proposal was not in accordance with the top court's parameters and there was the adequate representation of Kerala in the higher judiciary from where he hails. His seniority was also questioned by the Centre which said "he stands at Sl. No.45 in the combined seniority of High Court Judges on an all-India basis." Justice Joseph, who turns 60 this June, has been the Chief Justice of the Uttarakhand High Court since July 2014. He was appointed a permanent judge of the Kerala High Court on October 14, 2004, and assumed charge of the Uttarakhand High Court on July 31, 2014. The members of the Collegium, including Justices Chelameswar, Gogoi, Lokur and Kurian Joseph had expressed concern over the delay in clearing the name of the Uttarakhand Chief Justice as the Supreme Court judge. Notwithstanding the letters written by the collegium members to the CJI, which had come into the public domain, the centre disregarded the recommendation about Justice Joseph. Ayodhya: SC trashes plea for summoning IICF Trust records says its interference in 2019 verdict How can highways be blocked perpetually, asks Supreme Court; says executive's duty to implement law What are the farmers protesting about? We have stayed the farm laws says SC Released more Cauvery water than what TN is due: Karnataka India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Karnataka has told the Supreme Court that it has released more Cauvery water than Tamil Nadu is entitled to receive. The submission comes in the wake of the Supreme Court directing Karnataka to release 4 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu. Mohan Katarki who is part of Karnataka's legal team said that they submitted that Karnataka has ensured more water than what TN is entitled to receive at the inter State border. The Supreme Court has directed Karnataka to file an affidavit to this effect. The State of Karnataka would file its affidavit submitting that the share of TN in this distress water year (upto end of April 2018) was 98.06 TMC. However Karnataka has ensured 116.74 TMC - the surplus being 18.68 TMC. Besides,Karnataka would also submit that the live storage in Mettur in TN is 9.56 Tmc which is sufficient to meet its drinking water needs in TN. Karnataka would also submit that the live storage in its four reservoirs is 9.93 TMC which is entirely required for meeting the drinking water needs of rural and urban areas including Bangalore. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 3, 2018, 17:31 [IST] Home Minister Amit Shah likely to visit Jammu and Kashmir, his first visit after Aug 2019 School bus attack in Shopian: Is situation in Kashmir all time worse since 1947? India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff Srinagar, May 3: On Wednesday, the trouble-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir witnessed a ghastly incident when a school bus was attacked by stone-pelters in Shopian district. The attack left a student badly injured and other kids scarred for life. Condemning the attack, Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Gulam Ahmed Mir said the "situation in the Valley is all time worst since 1947". A class 2 student suffered a head injury when the school bus carrying him was attacked by stone pelters in militant-infested Shopian district of south Kashmir on Wednesday morning. The bus was carrying close to 35 students. "The situation in Kashmir is all time worst as this government and the Centre was not able to tackle it rightly. Militancy was there for the past three decades but the previous governments managed to deliver, run the schools, carried forward the developmental work," Mir told reporters. "Besides the bloodshed, the democracy has also suffered under this government. The by-elections were cancelled one day before polling (Lok Sabha polls in Anantnag parliamentary constituency in south Kashmir last year). The government first announced the holding of Panchayat and local bodies elections, then decided against it," he added. Mir also announced the completion of the membership drive and the election process in the state unit of Congress, saying a record number of 10 lakh members have enrolled themselves. Asked about the Congress' stand on amnesty given to first-time stone-pelters, he said any proposal coming from the state government needs a nod from the home ministry. "The Congress never took such a shortcut. We follow the law of the land, the Constitution and will not endorse anything which is wrong. A wrong is a wrong," he said. Mir added the Congress was ready for mid-term elections. "We supported elections, whether for bypolls to fill vacant Assembly or Lok Sabha seats, panchayats and local urban bodies. We believe in democracy," he said. Mir alleged that the PDP-BJP coalition has wasted the previous three years. "They are cutting ribbons of the projects which were started by the previous UPA government like national highway, construction of tunnels and hospitals and had not come out with a single project till date. They have only made promises and shown dreams to the public," he said. Asked about the recent reshuffle in the state cabinet, Mir said, "It was not a routine exercise, no matter how much they put a veil on it. Haseeb Drabu (former finance minister) and two BJP ministers (Lal Singh and Chandra Prakash Ganga) were shown the door otherwise there was no possibility of induction of new faces." Regarding the return of Kashmiri migrant pundits to the Valley, he said nobody is averse to it. "Even the people in Kashmir have always welcomed their return saying they are a part and parcel of the Kashmiri society," he said. The Shopian school bus attack has sparked uproar in Kashmir. Several separatists and pro-India leaders have condemned the incident. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti tweeted, "Shocked & angered to hear of the attack on a school bus in Shopian. The perpetrators of this senseless & cowardly act will be brought to justice." Former CM Omar Abdullah said some "goons" have taken advantage of the amnesty given to stone-throwers in Kashmir. How do naxals procure sophisticated weapons: It was the LTTE which aided them Abducted CoBRA jawan Rakeshwar Singh Manhas released by Naxals after six days of captivity AK-47s stolen from COD Jabalpur supplied to naxals, criminals says NIA in chargesheet Naxals from Telangana were in the process of making grenade launchers, IEDs: NIA Security forces gun down 2 Naxals in Chhattisgarh India oi-Vikas By Vikas The security forces on Thursday conducted an operation in Chhattisgarh in which two Naxals were killed and around 15-20 were injured. Arms and ammunition were also recovered. "DRG and STF teams conducted an operation in which body of 2 naxals have been recovered and 15-20 naxals were injured. 1 AK-47, 1 SLR, 6 grenades and paraphernalia recovered," DG Anti-naxal Operations, DM Awasthi, told ANI. Yesterday (May 2), two police jawans were killed in an attack by naxals in Gariaband district in Chhattisgarh, police said. The naxals first triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) and then opened fire in a forest area under Mainpur police station around 2.30 pm, when a team of District Force was on a search operation. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 3, 2018, 21:35 [IST] Siddaramaiah shielded Jihadis, I curbed them says Yogi in Karnataka India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Yogi Adityanath drew a parallel between the law and order situation in Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh, the state of which he is the Chief Minister. The law and order in UP is very much under control, but it has collapsed in Karnataka, he said. The Karnataka government is sheltering Jihadis, but UP has managed to curb them, he further added. He said that the Karnataka government despite an increase in the murder of Hindu activists had failed to act. The law and order situation in any state is a reflection of the mindset of the party in power, Yogi also said. The statements were made during his campaign in Sirsi, Karnataka. While giving his blessings to the BJP candidates, Yogi said that Karnataka needs to move on a path of development and for this the BJP needs to be in power. Many farmers have committed suicide, but the Congress government has failed to provide justice to them, he also said. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 3, 2018, 16:56 [IST] UP minister triggers row after taking own food, water for dinner hosted at Dalit household India oi-Staff By Oneindia Staff Writer A major controversy has been triggered after a minister in the Uttar Pradesh government reportedly brought with him his own food and water at a dinner hosted by a Dalit household in Aligarh. Suresh Rana, the minister in the Yogi Adityanath cabinet, however, rejected the allegation on Wednesday, saying, "The food was prepared in the village, by the villagers themselves." The BJP leader's clarification came against the backdrop of reports that he and his aides had gone to the house of the Dalit family to dine with them on Monday night but ordered food, mineral water and cutlery from outside as the family was not aware of the minister's visit. Pictures of the well laid out dining table with an assortment of dishes and cutlery went viral on the social media. Asked to comment on the house owner's claim that he was unaware of the dinner he was supposed to host and that he was woken up from his sleep at around 11 pm to entertain the guests, Rana said, "This is a piece of information you are giving me. The entire family was sitting with me during the dinner. I saw a news clip that claimed that food was brought from outside or some hotel. The food was prepared in that village itself by the villagers." When reporters confronted him by claiming that the food was served by a caterer and it did not look like it was cooked at a poor Dalit house, the minister said, "I am reiterating that the food was prepared at the house of a Dalit. The village head is a Dalit, the local MLA is a Dalit, the programme was organised by them and there was a community feast. An issue is being made out of this as some people have problems with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath." Claiming that those who did politics from their "plush drawing rooms, five-star hotels and AC rooms" had problems with the BJP reaching the "gaaon, gareeb and Dalits (the villages, the poor and the Dalits)", Rana said, "I will invite them to spend a night in Lohagarh village and only then will they realise." In 2017, soon after the BJP took charge in Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Adityanath's visit to a soldier's house had triggered a controversy after it was reported that an air-conditioner was installed and a carpet, a saffron sofa and saffron towels were sent to the house before his arrival. Later, members of the Musahar community, who are among the poorest in the state, had alleged that they were given soaps and shampoo by the local administration, ahead of a visit by the chief minister. Kim meets Chinese foreign minister, says hes committed to denuclearisation International oi-Shubham By Shubham North Korea showed on Thursday, May 3, that it is yet consistent with its stance on peace as its leader Kim Jong-un reiterated his commitment to denuclearisation while meeting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi who visited Pyongyang the week following the historic Korean Summit at Punmunjeom on April 27, Reuters reported China's foreign ministry as saying. China's foreign minister Wang Yi paid a visit to North Korea in the wake of the Kim's summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Pyongyang's invite, according to Beijing. During their meeting, Kim told Yi that the positive changes that took on the Korean Peninsula of late were in favour of a peaceful resolution, a statement issued by the Chinese foreign ministry said, according to Reuters. Yi reportedly praised Kim saying Pyongyang had seized the day and made a decisive decision and brought positive changes, Reuters added. Yi reached North Korea on Wednesday, May 2, and also met his North Korean counterpart Ri Yong Ho. According to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency, Yi and Ri had an "in-depth" discussion on the issues that pertain to developing "friendly and cooperative" relations between North Korea and China following a summit between Kim and Chinese President Xi Jinping in late March, Yonhap reported. It was the two foreign minister's second meeting inside a month after their April 8 talks in Beijing. Kim's surprising visit to Beijing in an armoured train to meet Xi was one of the foremost moves in North Korea's diplomatic quest of reaching out to the international community. Kim is now set to meet US President Donald Trump in a widely awaited event inside a month, culminating into a peaceful Korean Peninsula which the world has been eagerly seeking. China supported an end to the state of war on the peninsula, North Korea's shift to economic development and the resolution of North Korea's legitimate security concerns during the denuclearisation process, he said. Kim and Moon pledged during the summit to end the Korean War which is technically on, with the help of powers like the US and China. Experts believe China is eager to engage with North Korea more for it does not want to be sidelined in the peace process which is gathering steam on its neighbour's soil. Talks are already on whether Trump should be awarded a Peace Prize, something South Korean President Moon has also supported, and this could leave the Chinese a tad worried over losing a soft diplomatic battle to the Americans. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, May 3, 2018, 16:48 [IST] Trump enters US state department for first time as his favourite Mike Pompeo takes over as secy International oi-Shubham By Shubham He became the US secretary of state a month after the ouster of Rex Tillerson, the first incumbent in the Donald Trump presidency and he made it riding a close majority in the Senate voting, but Mike Pompeo seems to have an open field ahead. On Wednesday, May 2, Pompeo took over the reins of the department of state and he had a strong endorsement from none other than Trump, who himself made his maiden visit to the department amid a loud reception from a several hundred strong crowds. Trump praises Pompeo, his man for the moment Trump praised Pompeo's words that North Kore must commit to dismantling its nuclear armament programme, saying the spirit of the state department impressed him. He also lauded Pompeo's record as the chief of the Central Intelligence Agency, the post he served before taking over as the secretary of state. Pompeo had made a secret visit to North Korea during the Easter holidays as the CIA director to meet its leader Kim Jong-un to pave the way for Trump's much-awaited meeting with Kim in another few weeks over North Korea's denuclearisation. Trump sacked Tillerson in March over public disagreements over North Korea, Russia and Iran. The department itself was made less significant on a major foreign policy matter and the spree of resignations by senior diplomats did not help its cause either. It was only after the hawkish Pompeo arrived on the scene that Trump started believing the department again. He told Pompeo that he had full faith in Pompeo to make America proud again before Vice President Mike Pence administered the oath in Pompeo's swearing-in. Pompeo already rushed to West Asia to get anti-Iran alliance strong Pompeo has already visited West Asia to meet the American allies to end disputes between them so that they all could take on Iran, the country which the Trump administration has targeted, together. Trump-Pompe-Bolton: The troika is complete The new secretary of state's urgency to take up the Iran issue indicated how aggressively the Trump-Pompeo duo is going to conduct Washington's foreign policy. And then there is the ultra-hawkish John Bolton who took over last month as the third national security adviser in less than a year and a half into Trump's presidency. Pompeo said during his formal inauguration that Pyongyang must commit to getting rid of its nuclear armament programme and added that the efforts to denuclearise North Korea were still in the earlier stages and the final outcome was still not known. Pompeo's words came almost a week after Kim met South Korean President Moon Jae-in in a historic Inter-Korean Summit at the border village of Punmunjeom. He also echoed Trump's take on the nuclear deal with Iran saying Washington was considering the next steps on a "flawed" nuclear agreement with Iran. He also spoke about the USA's preparations on confronting an aggressive Russia. Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Thousands of terrorists might have been airlifted out of Kabul: Trump slams Biden Never in history has withdrawal from war been handled so badly: Trump Trump in mess again? Giuliani reveals he repaid Cohen for Stormy Daniels money International oi-Shubham By Shubham The Donald Trump administration is in an ethical mess again. Days after the US president denying any knowledge of his private counsel Michael Cohen paying hush money worth $130,000 to porn actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election to remain silent about her alleged affair and sexual encounter with Trump more than a decade ago, former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani said that Trump had indeed given Cohen to money which was used to pay off Daniels. He said the money was "funneled it through the law firm" and Trump "repaid them". In an interview to Fox News on Wednesday, May 2, Giuliani also defended the pay saying it was "perfectly legal" for it was "not campaign money" and there was no "campaign finance violation". Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's team to fast settle the investigation on alleged collusion between Trump and Russia during the 2016 election by special counsel Robert Mueller. He came aboard following the exit of Trump's former counsel John Dowd. Trump's denial of knowledge about the secret payment had earlier sparked a controversy and calls came up to file a lawsuit against him. When the White House was approached over Giuliani's revelations by Fox News, Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said it was a litigation underway and referred the queries to Trump's outside lawyer, MSN reported. Giuliani reiterated his words of Trump paying Cohen back the money and that it was not any violation in another interview later on Wednesday - this time with The Wall Street Journal. He also said that his words contradicting what Trump said on board Air Force One in April was not an issue. As per the WSJ, Giuliani said Trump perhaps wasn't aware of when Cohen made the payment to Daniels. Giuliani's revelations made Daniels's lawyer happy. He said it was something they had predicted and it is something over which each American should be outraged, Avenatti told CNBC, the Guardian reported. ViGE 2018 Once Again Set to Gather Top Level Experts from the Gaming Industry Published May 3, 2018 by Ivan P ViGE 2018 will focus on the growth of the eSports industry and discuss new opportunities for the operators, especially in the regulated markets. Vienna International Gaming Show (ViGE) 2018 will be taking place on May 31, 2018, at Melia Hotel situated in Austria's capital. Like every time so far, the Expo is set to gather a great number of industry leaders, experts, and insiders looking to share their knowledge, insights, and experiences, with the least of scheduled speakers and exhibitors still expanding. Addressing Burning Industry Topics: Focus on eSports The conference part of ViGE 2018 will consist of three separate stages and the announced speakers will cover a wide array of current industry topics, such as artificial intelligence (AI), new casino technologies, combating fraud and match fixing, business opportunities provided by new regulated markets, cryptocurrencies, eSports, and more. One of the latest speakers to be included in the event's agenda is Tom Lemke of Unikrn, a company offering eSports betting services for fun and real money. Lemke is an experienced eSports insider who started his career playing Counter-Strike, becoming one of the top German players. Later on, he went on to co-found successful eSports teams such Mousesports and BIG. In 2007, he became involved in the betting industry, joining Unikrn in 2015 and taking on the role of the company's General Manager in 2017. Lemke is one of several speakers who will talk about eSports during this year's ViGE. The industry has been experiencing a tremendous growth over the last few years, with the market value expected to reach $1 billion in 2018. This creates expansion opportunities for the European operators, which will be the focus of Mr. Lemke's presentation. New Technologies Creating New Opportunities ViGE 2018 panelists will also give insights into the latest technological developments that could take the gaming industry to a whole new level. The Augmented (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) stage will see a number of experts and enthusiasts from these particular fields share their breakthroughs and ideas. Anna Solovyova is one of them, speaking on behalf of Human Interface Technologies, the company she co-founded, focused on bringing the actual and virtual reality closer together. A part of the conference will focus on new opportunities created by cryptocurrencies in the gaming industry in general and in eSports in particular. It will see presentations from the likes of Tomas Draksas, founder of the Ethereum-based casino Edgeless.io and other cryptocurrency insiders. Large Demo Zone and Networking Opportunities Apart from the speeches and presentations, participants will also be able to see many of the new technologies presented at the ViGE 2018 Demo Zone, where 15 companies will have their spaces. Some of the already confirmed exhibitors include Game Mentorz, BetConstruct, and ViARSys. Of course, with so many industry insiders gathered in one place, Vienna International Gaming Expo 2018 will also provide great networking opportunities. There are scheduled networking parties as well as a dedicated networking space located in the Demo Zone. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Smirking Chimp There was controversy about it, but the Inuit famously and really do have at least 50 words for snow. The Scots have 241! The Sami people of northern Scandinavia and Russia use more than 1,000 words for reindeer. Sanskrit, the language of the Kama Sutra, offers 267 words for love. Languages tend to evolve to reflect the cultural and practical priorities of the societies that speak them. This linguistic truism came to mind recently when, as part of research for one of my cartoons, I turned to Google Translate in search of a French translation for the English word "geek." There wasn't one. Nor in Spanish. All the Romance languages came up short; Google suggested "disadattato" in Italian, but that's different -- it means "misfit," or "a person who is poorly adapted to a situation or environment." A "geek" -- "a person often of an intellectual bent who is disliked," according to Merriam-Webster -- is decidedly distinct from a misfit. You can tell a lot about a culture from its language. I had stumbled across a revealing peculiarity about American English: we insult people for being intelligent. That's not true about most of the rest of the world. At least among Western cultures and compared to many others, we Americans enjoy the dubious distinction of having a high degree of linguistic diversity when it comes to mocking the smart and the educated (who, I can attest as the expellee-cum-graduate of an Ivy League school, are not always the same). Bookworm. Brain. Brainiac. Dork. Dweeb. Egghead. Freak. Grind. Grub. Longhair. Nerd. Poindexter.Pointy-headed. Smarty-pants. Techie. Esoterically, doubledome. You have to journey far away from the areas dominated by the Indo-European language group in order to find direct equivalents of words like "nerd." On the other hand, languages like French are extremely rich in insults for stupid people: "bete comme ses pieds," or "dumb as hell," literally means "as stupid as his/her feet." Apparently this derives from the fact that feet are the body part furthest away from your brain. More zoologically, "blaireau" (badger) refers to an idiot. When you think about it -- which, being American, we rarely do -- it should come as little surprise to realize that few insults sting the French more effectively than being called stupid. France, after all, is a country with a 385-year-old parliamentary body composed of academics and other notables who rule on the usages, vocabulary and grammar of the national language, the Academie Francaise, and where one of the most popular television programs in history featured intellectual authors smoking like chimneys as they ruminated over the cultural and political controversies of the day, "Apostrophes." After food and wine, the French worship the life of the mind. The United States, on the other hand, elected Donald "Celebrity Apprentice" Trump over Hillary "I Have a 12-Point Plan" Clinton. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Other Words Bankers are claiming they have a legal right to profit by cheating their own customers out of their retirement savings. "Greed is good," proclaimed Gordon Gekko, lead character in a 1987 film lampooning the low ethics of the high finance barons of Wall Street. You might think that, surely, this Hollywood portrayal is a gross exaggeration. But check out an egregious example of Gekko-level greed being pushed by today's Wall Street sharks. Big shot financiers have been going all out to kill a sensible Labor Department rule meant to protect people's retirement accounts from the self-serving guile of financial manipulators. The rule simply requires firms that manage these accounts to put our money in investments expected to produce the best returns for us, rather than in investments that pay the highest management fees to them. It's hardly harsh to require them to treat us common customers with basic honesty, applying what amounts to a Golden Rule for bankers. But -- oh, howls of outrage exploded from the Wall Street baronies! Lobbyists swarmed into Washington, and scores of lawyers rushed into courts. To defend their right to be dishonest, the greed-fueled bankers resorted to more dishonesty, claiming that the fiduciary rule would hurt "smaller investors." Huh? Well, they prevaricated, only by misdirecting small retirement savers into high-fee investments can we make enough profit to give "affordable financial advice" to workaday folks. Again, huh? These banks are wallowing in unconscionable levels of profits, but the only "affordable" advice they want to offer to us is bad advice, funneling our retirement stash into deals that benefit them at our expense. Bankers claiming that they have a legal right to profit by cheating their own customers is a level of gluttony so gross that it would even gag Gordon Gekko. For more information, connect with Consumer Federation of America: www.ConsumerFed.org. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Woman smoking electronic cigarette creating cloud of vapor E-Cigarette | Electronic Cigarette | E-Cigs | E-Liquid | Vaping | Cloud Chasing (monochrome) (Image by The Electric Tobacconist) Details DMCA Cash-strapped Pakistan government is encouraging people to smoke more and contribute to the national kitty. The cigarette-manufacturing companies--just two companies account for 98 percent market share--are laughing all the way to their bank. The smuggling mafia is celebrating as well; it is meeting almost half of the demand for cigarettes. Annual cigarette consumption in Pakistan is around 86.7 billion sticks -- up from 49 billion in 1997. Local production averages just above 57 billion sticks a year. So smuggled cigarettes and illegally manufactured cigarettes--illegitimate market in the local trade jargon--have patrons by hundreds and thousands. According to various studies, between 2010-11 and 2015-16, illicit cigarette consumption has increased by 69 percent. All this is having a disastrous effect on the health of the nation, which, with some help from the British, was founded in 1947 as the home for Muslims of the Indian sub-continent. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Informed Comment Rudy Giuliani's so-called defense of Donald J. Trump on Sean Hannity's nightly One Hour of Hate involved outing the president's money laundering deal with Michael Cohen whereby he paid him a regular retainer for undisclosed services and then expected him to spend from his own bank account on fixer jobs for Trump. This arrangement helps explain why Cohen maintained he was not reimbursed for his hush money of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels. He was reimbursed, but it was via a supposedly unrelated retainer. Since the retainer functioned to repay Cohen for intervening in a matter that could have otherwise have thrown the election, it may have been illegal under election campaign laws, regardless of Giuliani's denials. Ms. Daniels' attorney alleged that the arrangement itself was illegal, inasmuch as it involved falsified invoices and receipts between a lawyer and client. I'm not qualified to pronounce on that charge. If it is true, then Giuliani has inadvertently increased Trump's legal problems. He certainly further tarnished Trump's tattered reputation when it comes to ever telling the truth. It may be that Giuliani made the revelation because Trump had earlier lied about it, maintaining he did not pay Cohen or reimburse him for the Daniels payment, and Giuliani wanted to get the truth out in order not to have to defend a lie down the road if the matter went to trial. Giuliani also alleged that Trump fired FBI director James Comey because Comey refused to assure him that he was not under investigation. Comey implied he was fired because he declined to assure the president that he would bury the investigation of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Flynn had acted as a go-between to Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak for Manchurian Candidate Trump. The long and the short of it is that Giuliani revealed that Trump lied, yet again. The Washington Post estimates that he is up to six falsehoods a day. A president who serially lies is a particular problem for foreign policy. Trump is on the verge of pulling out of the 2015 Iran Deal, in part on the grounds provided by Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in his stunt retailing old intelligence before 2003 which he attempted to portray as relevant to 2018. Trump appears to have bought the lie, what with being truth-challenged and all. Netanyahu has predicted an Iranian nuke as often as most people predict it will get cold this winter. Netanyahu has several hundred nuclear bombs himself and it has been alleged that he was personally involved in smuggling triggers for them out of the United States. Iran has no bombs or any prospect of one. So Trump will tell us that he is pulling out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action because he believes the Iranians are cheating, or that it was a bad deal in the first place (he shows no sign of knowing what was in it), or because, I don't know, Iranians are X. He makes things up. Trump has no credibility to make important foreign policy decisions because he is a fundamentally dishonest personality. In an ideal world, Congress would use its control of the budget to stop Trump from implementing new sanctions on Iran or of practically withdrawing from the JCPOA. But I fear that currently a majority of our national legislature consists of dedicated liars, as well. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Free Press is slowly becoming a dinosaur in countries like war-ravaged Syria, Yemen, and Iraq and in countries like Pakistan that are witnessing an Islamist resurgence. Indians may claim that they are not on the same page as Pakistan when it comes to media freedom; they may love to assert that free press is as much an article of faith as fundamental right under their constitution. But a recent Reuters report from New Delhi, and India's ranking at 138th place in the World Press Freedom Index released by the Paris-based Reporters without Borders (ahead of the World Press Freedom Day on May 5), present a different picture. Reuters' dispatch speaks of journalists facing 'intimidation' and from being 'stopped' from writing anything critical of Prime Minister Modi's government. The resignation of Harish Khare, editor-in-chief of The Tribune, a leading English daily, was front-page news recently. He is a veteran journalist and highly respected political commentator. And a known trenchant critic of Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The Tribune is more than a century-old- daily, which started from Lahore, the present-day cultural capital of Pakistan. The daily is managed by a non-profit trust. Khare offers an interesting take. "It (the Modi government) will use every resource in its command to pressurise, manipulate, misguide media or any other voice which seeks to be independent of the government," he says and adds that restrictions on reporting are "likely to intensify heading into the election." India will go to vote in early 2019. Khare told Reuters that his relations with the Tribune's controlling trust nosedived after the newspaper "exposed" flaws in Aadhaar, Modi's flagship programme for creating a national data base with the biometrics of every citizen. Privacy Ayatollahs consider Aadhar as Modi's version of Big brother's surveillance of everything everyone does across the large country. And have challenged its validity in the apex court. The Tribune trust rejected Khare's accusations. "To the contrary, the Tribune Trust gave an unprecedented award of 50,000 rupees ($765) to the correspondent (who wrote the story) in recognition of the work," Officiating Editor K.V. Prasad was quoted as saying in an e-mail to Reuters. His punchline was: "The editor-in-chief's (Khare) departure came close to the end of the tenure (contract period)." These claims and denials notwithstanding, India has no reason to sport a smile. One year ago, it was at 136th position on the media-freedom index. Now it has slipped to 138th position. A big plus for India are in-built checks and balances, its democracy offers. Is Pakistan's case different? Well, it is. Here in the land founded by a U.K.-educated constitutionalist seven decades ago, the military is calling the shots. The judiciary is kowtowing the army. A powerful civilian prime minister has been disqualified from Parliament for daring to take on the Khakis. The result is that Pakistani media, which found its voice under a military dictator, General Perevez Musharraf (his stint from 1999 to 2008 saw a mushroom growth of TV channels and daily papers), is running for cover from attacks targeted by both state and non-state actors, says Reporters Without Borders, also known as Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF). And the country finds itself ranked 139 out of 180 countries on the 2018 World Press Freedom Index. "The traditional dynamism of Pakistani press is still under the double pressure of the state on one hand, and several armed groups, especially religious extremists, on the other," RSF told The Express Tribune (a Karachi daily published in collaboration with the New York Times) in an exclusive statement. Nearly 120 journalists had been killed in Pakistan since 2002. The country-specific analysis, which accompanied the publication of the annual listing, presents a disturbing picture. Just two quotes will suffice. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. (Image by Roy Eidelson) Details DMCA It's bad enough that the business-friendly Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and other establishment Democrats are aggressively tipping the scales in favor of their hand-picked "moderate" candidates in primary contests around the country. It's even worse that they've now taken to defending this strategy by comparing unwelcome progressives to the likes of Roy Moore. We learned this last point just last week, with the release of a secretly taped conversation between Levi Tillemann and Democratic Party bigwig Steny Hoyer. Tillemann is running for Congress in a Colorado primary against DCCC-backed corporate attorney Jason Crow. In their meeting, Hoyer tells Tillemann that he wants him to drop out of the race, that regardless the DCCC will continue shoveling money into Crow's campaign coffers, and that the DCCC's meddling is in order to prevent a Roy Moore scenario, where someone deemed unelectable in the general election was allowed to win the primary. Hoyer's invocation of Moore is offensive and worrisome. The former Alabama judge, who lost a special Senate election last December to Democrat Doug Jones, has justly earned his pariah status among those concerned about basic decency and democratic values. That's not only because of well-documented allegations that he sexually molested young teenage girls. It's also because he's claimed that homosexual activity should be outlawed, Muslims shouldn't be allowed to serve in Congress, and the US Constitution should be ignored in deference to the Ten Commandments. In short, Moore represents the ugliest strain of the Republican Party: the mistreatment of all who fall short--according to the racist vision of White supremacists. He obviously bears no resemblance whatsoever to progressive candidates resolutely committed to defending the disenfranchised and protecting the common good. Let's also remember that, in large measure, Moore lost as a result of strong turnout from the African American community, young voters, and other "anti-Trump" voters--all groups not likely to be put off in 2018 by a candidate's progressive credentials. But these particular bullying measures from Hoyer and the DCCC, aimed at discouraging primary competition against their preferred candidates, are just specific instances drawn from a much larger repertoire of manipulative persuasion tactics. Indeed, my current work as a psychologist focuses on the "political mind games" of our country's super-rich and powerful. These deceptive appeals are used with regularity to exploit of our core concerns about vulnerability (Are we safe?), injustice (Are we treated fairly?), distrust (Who should we trust?), superiority (Are we good enough?), and helplessness (Can we control what happens to us?). More often than not, the most notorious purveyors of lucrative lies and false promises are the likes of Wall Street CEOs, right-wing think tanks, GOP stalwarts, and Fox News. But they don't have a monopoly on such appeals, and key elements of the Democratic Party establishment--beholden to corporate interests--are making this increasingly clear. In fact, several of the mind games I've identified are likely to be recurrent weapons in the DCCC's efforts to undercut support for progressive primary candidates. Here are three representative examples. Change Is Dangerous. This is a manipulative vulnerability mind game, used by status quo-defenders whenever they want to obstruct initiatives that could interfere with their ambitions and the established order that serves them so well. It's a prominent appeal whether we're talking about tax increases for the wealthy (new investments stifled!), minimum wage hikes (forced layoffs!), new regulations to address climate change (U.S. businesses unable to compete!), reductions in mass incarceration (crime waves!), or gun control measures (defenseless citizens!). For the DCCC, their own evidence-free claims are similar: Support for progressive candidates in our primaries will catastrophically backfire and leave everyone worse off when the GOP wins the general election. They're Misguided and Misinformed. With this distrust mind game, political elites depict their opponents as naively wrongheaded, arguing that they lack an adequate appreciation of complex issues. So, we're told that reformers don't understand the real causes of the problems they seek to fix, and that their proposed remedies will only make matters worse. When these negative characterizations stick, the public becomes less likely to mobilize in support of change agents because we doubt their credibility.This ploy became standard operating procedure in the 1%'s campaign to discredit Occupy Wall Street, and it remains a familiar tactic aimed at marginalizing opposition to overreaching government policies. In a similarly disingenuous manner, DCCC leaders portray themselves as the pragmatic experts and progressive hopefuls as the unsophisticated novices who don't merit the party's support. Resistance Is Futile. When it's successful, this helplessness mind game squelches the political mobilization necessary to challenge an unjust status quo. Psychologically, if we feel our actions are futile, that to persevere is a waste of time and energy, sooner or later we stop trying.Without perceiving some reasonable likelihood of success, the natural response is to abandon the fight. In the broader context, we see this appeal used by one-percenters to perpetuate racial inequities in education and incarceration, to exploit low-wage workers, and to exercise control over our electoral politics. For the DCCC, this same appeal is used to demoralize, ostracize, and ultimately sideline progressive candidates who dare to disobey the leadership's rules about who's allowed to run and who isn't. For some, this may appear to be nothing more than behind-the-scenes hardball politics. As Hoyer dismissively explained to Tillemann when questioned about the DCCC's placing its thumb on the scale, "Staying out of primaries sounds small-D democratic, very intellectual, and very interesting." But let's recall that the Democratic establishment used similar strategies and mind games in confidently working to ensure that Hilary Clinton was the candidate running against the supposedly unelectable Donald J. Trump in 2016. Especially with recent polling in swing districts showing clear enthusiasm for a progressive agenda, these candidates--and voters too--deserve better this time around. ### Roy Eidelson is the former executive director of the University of Pennsylvania's Solomon Asch Center for Study of Ethnopolitical Conflict, and a past president of Psychologists for Social Responsibility. The ideas presented here are explored in greater depth in his new book, POLITICAL MIND GAMES: How the 1% Manipulate Our Understanding of What's Happening, What's Right, and What's Possible. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From The Nation Sanders visits Puerto Rico, meets with governor and San Juan mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz (Image by YouTube, Channel: All News) Details DMCA Thousands of Puerto Ricans marched on May Day to protest the brutal austerity agenda that has been imposed on the commonwealth by an unelected and unaccountable federal oversight board. Established in 2016 after enthusiastic lobbying by House Speaker Paul Ryan and his cronies on Wall Street and in Washington, the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico was designed to address a debt crisis by overruling local democracy. And it is doing just that. This month, the board moved to cut pensions that sustain families across the islands, which were ravaged by hurricanes and tropical storms in 2017; to force the consolidation of agencies that are essential to rebuilding Puerto Rico; to reduce sick leave and vacation pay for the public workers who struggled to maintain civil society; to slash aid to Puerto Rico's 78 municipalities; and to cut funding for its largest public university. The board's interventions and proclamations were described in a recent Bloomberg Markets report as "buttressing the optimism among investors that they stand to recover more on the bankrupt island's [sic] debt than they previously expected." But they have proven to be exceptionally unpopular with Puerto Rico's elected leaders and the massive crowds that took to the streets on May Day. And rightly so. As a dissenting board member, Ana Matosantos, explained when the mid-April vote was taken: "I am simply not willing to support massive cuts to the safety net. I cannot support too much pain with too little promise." Gerardo Portela, the executive director of elected Governor Ricardo Rossello's fiscal agency, was blunter, arguing that the board's assault on the islands, which have suffered not merely from hurricane hits but from an 11-year-long recession, was "inhumane." Inhumane, and strikingly antidemocratic -- as the appointed board members (who were recommended by Ryan and his fellow congressional leaders) are shaping Puerto Rico's fiscal policies without taking direction from the voters of Puerto Rico. Click Here to Read Whole Article Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Rob Kall is tapping in, exploring, assessing, and clarifying this important new way of thinking that has been influenced by the civil rights movement; women's movement; and new, more effective ways of doing business. This will be an important book that can make changes in our world." Dr. Linda Seger, author of twelve books, including the best-selling Making a Good Script Great, Spiritual Steps on the Road to Success and The Better Way to Win. Dairy Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their diaries after publishing them. To see if the diary was renamed or re-published, please click here.